Kylie Minogue Pink Sparkle

 Now I'm not normally into celebrity perfumes, I'm a little bit of a snob that way, but this perfume is 'okay' because I didn't buy it, I swapped for it, just so I could 'try' a celeb perfume.

Kylie Minogue's Pink Sparkle. 

 Now when you read the blurb for this perfume it sounds as though it should be wonderful;

 'A cocktail of red grapefruit, white peach and lily of the valley which dive into a playful heart composed of champagne and white flowers bouquet – gardenia and Arabic jasmine. Multilayered base incorporates Bourbon vetiver, Bourbon vanilla and musk.'

The only problem is doesn't smell anything like what it's meant to. To me, at first it smells like sweet effervescent lemon/citrus. Like pink lemonade. And then it drys down to.......

Well, nothing really. 

After about half an hour there is no scent left, unless you've sprayed a ton of it onto yourself and then there's a slight muskiness.

(Very slight, as in nose to the wrist slight)   

If they sold this as a longer lasting body spray (much cheaper) then I'd buy it, it's not bad for using at work to freshen up. 

But at £8.99 for 15ml or £19.95 for 30ml. I don't think it's worth the price.

Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush in Cherub

 Imagine my delight when, in response to my queries on twitter as to if there were any Feel Unique discount codes flying around so I could get myself a Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush, the man himself contacted me offering to send me a bottle in a colour of my choice.

After much squealing and bouncing around I accepted his very kind offer and went for Cherub which is, according to the Feel Unique website;

'The best selling shade. A delicate sheer, pastel pink that's perfect for fair/medium skin tones that want the daintiest, youthful flush of colour.'

Well I'm fair and I want a dainty flush of colour without looking like a clown.. so here it is

Cherub.  

 

It arrived as I was off out to work so I took it with me to have a play with at lunchtime, I swatched it on my hand to have a look at the colour and isn't it just the most natural flushed look? 

 And even though I washed my hands several times during the afternoon, the colour didn't rub off or budge till I really set to it in the evening.

Here is is on my cheeks, this is a double application. I applied one drop to either cheek and blended, and then to create a deeper colour I applied a second drop to each cheek and blended. 

 So easy to use, and it doesn't create any mess, one tiny droplet on a fingertip per cheek and there is no left over.

 

Normally £14.50 from Feel Unique. 

"The Cosmopolitan award-winning Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush contain a light synthetic rose fragrance called Timbuktu to make application a nice experience. It contains Vitamin E and Jojoba to enhance application and nourish skin. Daniel Sandler chose synthetic as there's very little chance of an allergic reaction. 

Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush is silicone based, oil free, doesn't clog pores and suits every skin type. The silicone makes it virtually rub-off proof plus waterproof. Lifts all skin types with an instant radiance."

OPI I Lily Love You.

 Until very recently I've not owned an OPI full polish, but when Lena White had a sale on with an extra discount on checkout I went and bought three, all sparkly, bottles of loveliness.

(L-R, I Lily Love You, Excuse Moi and Servin' Up Sparkle.)

 I knew that I wanted/needed to wear I Lily Love You over a base colour, as on its own it is a pale pink jelly with glitter suspended in it, which imo would take a lot of layering to create depth.

 So I went for a hot pink base (also the name of the No7 polish I used) and applied two coats of I Lily Love You over the top.

  

 

I absolutely love this colour, to the point I don't want to change my manicure yet, and for me that is quite unusual.  I've taken to describing my nails as 'candy with hundreds and thousands' and 'pink jelly nails with extra sparkle'. 

 One thing though, the glitter and flakes in I Lily Love You are very noticeable as bumps in the polish once it's dried, so it needs a generous layer of topcoat to finish.

Normally £10.50 a bottle, I got mine of mine on offer for £4.50. 

NARS Sex Appeal Blush

Another NARS blush today, I've gone from owning Orgasm on it's own for two years to having two more in the space of a month.

This one I picked up unused from a blogsale.

NARS Sex Appeal. 

A super soft matte peach shade with the slightest hint of pink 

 

 The colour payoff you get is very much as you see in the pan, it is very light colour but can be layered for more depth. When I used this I applied it fairly heavily over my cheekbones and up towards my temples then popped a slightly brighter shade (Deep Throat) on the apples of my cheeks and it looked really natural.

 

 You can see from this swatch how gentle the colour is, definitely for paler people as I don't think it would show up on darker/tanned skin, unless perhaps used as illuminator.

 Hopefully when the weather improves I'll be able to add a photo of me wearing it on my face. 

Superdrug Colour Vibrance in Fire Red

At the beginning of the month I used Colour B4 on my coloured hair to strip it back to a much lighter shade (ginger) in readiness for dying it a hotter/brighter shade of red.

The new hair dye was a change from the Scwarzkopf Live Colour XXL in Real Red I'd been using all last year. And I found it in Superdrug for £2.99 (on offer)

Called Fire Red it really is an amazing red shade.

 So I followed all the instructions on the leaflet (normal hair dying instructions) and applied it to my (ginger) hair.

  I might have made a little mess in my bathroom with this on my head, it actually went on purple, prompting me to double check I'd got the right shade, but I had (phew) and it slowly turned red.

To this gorgeous hot shade...

 Look at that shine, look at that colour, and all for £2.99.

Amazing.

I'll admit the colour has settled a little now, but there has been a lot less lost in a wash than there was when using the other dye. With that one the water would run red/pink for weeks after colouring my hair. With this dye it ran clear after about four days.

It has now settled to this colour, still vibrant, still very red and much brighter/lighter than it used to be.

 I am one happy red head.

Have you used Superdrugs hair dyes, if so how do you rate them? 

Thierry Mugler Womanity

I've always hated perfumes by Thierry Mugler so when I decided I wanted Womanity I wasn't sure if it was because I loved or hated the scent so much. I still don't know for sure if I love it or hate it but I know I love the design of the bottle.

 The bottle brings to mind Giger's artwork to me. (Being a bit of a nerd and all) 

(Source) 

Agree/Disagree? 

The actual perfume itself is as unique as the bottle it comes in. It is quoted as having the sharp notes of citrus, the complex notes of woods, the sweetness of fig and the saltiness of caviar.

To me the perfume smells quite creamy, almost delicate but with a sharpness that stops it being soft, it's extremely long lasting and doesn't fade away at any point. There are times when I can't stop sniffing it and there are times when I'd rather not smell it again. 

 I did find out after getting this perfume that Lady Gaga wears it. So that should tell you a bit about how unique it smells. And look at the detail in the bottle, the chain around it, and did I mention it's refillable. That's right you can refill the bottle time and again.

Is this one you have tried, or want to try?

Available from all good department stores, usually £50 for 50ml.

Mine was in a sale and was £42 for a giftset including body lotion (Thank you Mr Red for buying it me)

If you like perfume posts check out my  Emporio Armani Diamonds Intense and Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia posts.

L'Oreal True Match in Ivory.

It's been a while since I did a foundation post because I've been using the same foundation for some time, but recently I decided to try another brand.. mostly because they had an offer on, of buy two items for £14.

And so I picked up L'Oreal True Match in N1 Ivory

 

 With claims of 'ultra fine pigments to perfectly match your skin tone, super blendable without caking...your skin only better' I thought it a good substitute for the No7 foundation I'd been using for a while.

It also helped that when I swatched it the foundation was actually pale, not 'pale on the label but orange on your skin,' but honest to goodness pale.

See here freshly applied on my hand. 

 And here blended in, it's a perfect match.

 But don't believe just the swatch on my hand, here's me wearing it on my face.

 Not an orange streak in sight... (like my new hair cut btw?)

 I'm also wearing NARS Deep Throat blush in this picture.

Emporio Armani Diamonds Intense

Impulse buys are generally a bad thing, you wouldn't even think about buying it IF it wasn't on offer.

Well that's how I came to own Georgio Armani Diamonds Intense.

Normally I wouldn't have bought it because I thought the little 'diamonds' on the box made it look tacky and because a girl I work with wears the original Diamonds, but Superdrug (damn them) had it down from £30+ to £19.99 so I might have just picked it up and popped it in my basket as a 'oh well lets try it'.

 Can I say now, I am glad I got it. I LOVE this perfume. LOVE IT.

Unlike Diamonds (which I find very bubbly and fleeting) this has a deep, warmer scent to it. It makes me feel all warm and cosy to smell it and one spray lasts all day.

A lot of reviews I read before I used it said that it was rose based, and fruity smelling. Well I disagree, it smells neither rose like nor fruity to me.

There's a spicy vanilla-ness, a warm pepperiness and a slight floral-ness to it. It isn't sweet to me, definitely a night time scent (although I wear mine all day) 

 Definitely one I will want again and again and again.

Have you tried it, do you love or hate it? 

John Frieda Hair Tutorials - Body.

I've realized recently I don't do a huge amount to my hair, I love my shampoos but rarely use conditioner. I colour my hair, but rarely style it.

On Friday I had an amazing layered cut done for me at my local salon and I've realized now I need to use products to create the look I'm after (funky/edgy)

And on that note I received information on John Frieda Hair Tutorials on Youtube to go watch. Now some of them aren't for me as my hair is fairly short but this one I loved.

How to get body into your hair... yes please John Frieda.

Doesn't that girl look amazing at the end of the video?

Are these tutorials useful to you?

I've picked up a few hints and tips from this one about creating some oomph in my otherwise flat hair, I hope it helps you too. 

Nails Inc Old Park Lane

 Continuing the Nails Inc Heavy Metals set I received as a gift, is this little beauty.

Old Park Lane 

 

 I called Old Park Lane a gold before because that's how it looks in the bottle, but I was quite surprised when I applied it to see an almost rosy/lavender sheen to it, so I now re-classify it as a Rose Gold.

  

It applies beautifully, one coat is enough for full coverage and it drys very rapidly. 

 

 It really is a beautiful colour, one I didn't expect would suit my pale skin but one that does nevertheless. 

I don't think you can buy this polish separately from the set is I think the only drawback to it.

Available from department stores or the Nails Inc website. 

Giorgio Armani: Acqua di Gioia

 I first smelt this perfume in a magazine, from one of those little soaked cotton squares they have to advertise new fragrances.  

This was September 2010, how do I recall this you ask?

I was reading the magazine on the train, visiting my family back in Birmingham and the scent of this perfume stuck with me as a lovely, fresh, clean smell. One I knew at some point I would have to own.

A year and a half later I saw the gift set on offer in the Debenhams January sale and promptly snapped it up. 

 Giorgio Armani's offering of Acqua di Gioia (Water(s) of Joy) is a sheer scent, there is nothing to reach out and hit you round the head with, it keeps in accord with the imagery presented by the bottle, fresh, watery and somewhat floral. 

For me the there is a predomination sense of soft mint and fresh water, like a Mojito without the alcohol.

But with the drydown comes a floral, slightly warm, sweet scent. Very nice and rather long lasting too for something that starts out so delicate. All contained in a bottle that resembles a droplet of water caught in glass (or crystal if you're fancy)

The notes of the perfume contain; crushed mint leaves, limone primo fiore, aquatic green accord, pink pepper, jasmine sambac, peony, cedar, labdanum and brown sugar accord.

Normally £39 for 30ml 

(I got mine in the sale)

Fake MAC Alert

I've been on eBay recently just doing a little research into MAC sold on there, and I have come across some corking fakes that I just HAD to share the kind of thing people expect you to fall for.

Now I'm no expert on fake MAC but even I spotted these a mile off.

In the following screen shots I'm afraid some of the info is small 

(I can't figure out how to get it to open in a separate window, but the pictures should be clear enough to see these fakes, plus you'll find the sellers info above the picture of what they are selling)

£36 for a faketastic 'MAC' palette. 

  

 

 This one is £25.00 for a faketastic palette and one has already been sold.

 

£5.50 and counting with 6 unsuspecting people already bidding.

And the seller who was very, very rude when I contacted them. The lovely (might be a lie) PammyWammy2011. Up three times on my wall of shame. 

 

 

9 bids on one 13 on the other, it makes my heart sink to see people taken in by so much FAKERY. 

 £18.00 for this and two already sold.

As I said before, I am no expect on fake MAC, but I know that MAC have NEVER produced palettes like any of these, they all look cheap and tacky and the giant 120 e/s palettes look more like Coastal Scents (who aren't instigators of fakes btw) than anything like real MAC.

I would love to be able to provide you with the 'hows' to spot them but I can't, what I can do is link you to an amazing read on fake spotting that I found here, and recommend NEVER buying MAC off eBay unless you are 110% positive it is the real deal.

People ask why not buy fake if it's cheaper.. well the real answer to that is because you DO NOT KNOW what is in the fake product. It could contain lead (poisonous) or other dangerous heavy metals. It could contain chemicals that could BURN (want that near your eyes) really who wants to risk their EYESIGHT for the sake of saving a few pennys?

(Lecture over) 

ZOMG! Stop Press.

Oh, look at what popped into my inbox, all the lovely information about the latest Rockalily Lipstick.
I was invited to the launch event too but unfortunately I can't make London. (gentle sobbing) 

A New Limited Edition Lipstick Shade from Rockalily (right)

(in Collaboration with Beauty Blogger The London Lipgloss)  (left)

(All the lovely ladies in these photos are wearing ZOMG!) 

ReeRee Rockette from Rockalily Lipstick wanted to release a shade to celebrate her love of social media and who better to collab with than Zozo from The London Lipgloss a 'social media exec' and beauty blogger.

 That partnership has produced ZOMG! which Zozo describes as 'the perfect fuchsia pink'.

 “It's red toned enough to suit darker skinned girls but also blue toned enough to suit pale girls - like me and ReeRee! It'll make your teeth look whiter, will last all night long and is so pigmented you'll hardly believe your eyes. Trust me, I've tried a lot of lipsticks and Rockalily's are by far the best!”

ZOMG! (pronounced Zo My God) comes from an enthusiastic typo of OMG, and it represents all the fabulousness that social media and the internet adds to life (and of course it is named after Zozo!)

 The London Lipgloss definitely knew what shade she wanted, and ReeRee and Zozo worked hard together to get it right! They wanted a fun, brave and awesome lipstick which would represent both of their go-getting natures and love of make-up! 

There is a #ZOMGbloggersbash party on January 30th to celebrate the lipstick and social media, and all that it brings to their lives, and the lipstick will be available to purchase from www.rockalily.com after this date.

So keep your eyes peeled lovely ladies and get one when it comes out. As an owner of some of ReeRee's other lipsticks I can honestly say the lipstick will be fabulous.  

It will cost £14 (plus p+p)

Guess what I'll be buying as soon as it's available!

NARS Deep Throat Blush

I wasn't going to post this till I was able to get a photo of me actually wearing it on my face, but of course the weather is conspiring against me and I fear if I wait I will do what I usually do and forget all about the post.

For now I'll have to show my photos and swatches of;

NARS Deep Throat Blush.

Finally mine all mine, I already own Orgasm which I love, love, Love. And now I have another NARS blush to add to my love affair. 

Very similar to Orgasm, Deep Throat is a peachy pink blush with a very subtle gold shimmer which is possibly more noticeable in the second of each of the photos here as they were taken using flash.

(Swatches are very heavily layered so they could be photographed) 

 Daylight

Flash 

  Daylight

 Flash

 The difference to Orgasm is that Deep Throat is a less intense blush and is perfect for those of us with winter white skin, I'd say that on darker skin tones the peach/pink would be less noticeable and the gold would be more noticeable perhaps, but I'm (obviously) not 100% on that so if you know give me a shout.

As it is I can see this becoming my HG blusher when my Orgasm, which is nearing it's end, finishes.

Edit: 

I now have a picture of me wearing it here and a close up of it here;