Category: BEAUTY

What's In My Glossybox? | August 2016

14/8/2016

Hello Everyone
Happy Sunday!
Today I'll be showing you what I received in my Glossybox for the month of August.
This month, Glossybox have teamed up with the accessory label Rae Feather, as it is Glossybox's 5th birthday! Happy Birthday Glossybox.
I haven't had chance to test run all of the products yet, so I'll just be giving you my initial thoughts today and if I think something is worth buying, I'll do a mini review on my Instagram.

What's In My Glossybox? | August 2016 | abibailey.co.uk

MUA 'Hall Of Fame' Eyeshadow Palette

This month we got to choose from four MUA eyeshadow palettes, so when I first opened my glossybox I was a bit miffed as I hadn't received the one I picked! I wasn't too bothered as the palettes are only £4 so I could always pick up the one I had wanted, but a couple of days later I got an email from Glossybox saying that there was a technical error and I had been sent the wrong palette, so they're sending me the palette I originally chose, in the September box! I do love Glossybox, purely for their great customer service.

Anyway onto the actual product: I've always liked MUA and think the quality and price point are brilliant, these shadows swatched really well and felt like a creamy powder consistency, I haven't had chance to put them to use yet but if they're anything like the other MUA palettes I have I'm sure they'll be fab!

Perfect for only £4.

Mudmasky Facial Detox Purifying Recovery Mask

When I squeezed a bit of this onto the back of my hand I could already tell that I am going to like this. I've been getting more into face masks lately so I'm excited to try this out as it has a gritty (not a great choice of word) texture to it so I think this'll be great at exfoliating the skin.
The RRP is a whopping £53 (say whaaat?!) but it claims to do a multitude of things for your skin such as: detoxify, refine and tighten pores, hydrate, brighten, smooth skin and just generally give it a boost. It is also PH balanced and contains no parabens. I can't wait to give this a go and see if it lives up to it's expectations.

Cowshed Wild Cow Invigorating Body Lotion

This body lotion smells amazing- a bit like gingerbread - and it is packed with 'skin loving essential oils' such as lemongrass, ginger and rosemary. It's a lovely creamy consistency and absorbs into the skin really nicely without leaving it feeling sticky.
RRP:£20, not sure I'd pay that much but if you like to splurge on body lotions, you wouldn't be disappointed.

Rae Feather Mini Monogram Pochette

Rae Feather Mini Monogrammed Pochette | What's In My Glossybox? | August 2016 | abibailey.co.uk

If I'm honest, I thought this was a bit of cheat to include it as one of the 5 items. I'm not really a canvas fan nor a make up bag fan (sorry, 'pochette' fan) so I probably won't use this. I might have felt different if it had my own initials monogrammed onto it, haha!
It has a wipe clean inside though which I thought was a clever touch because the inside of make up bags can get really grubby, really quickly.
RRP: £20, I wouldn't pay that but if you're into Rae Feather then you'd probably like this.

Spa To You Deep Pore Cleansing Facial Brush and Massager

Spa To You Deep Pore Facial Cleansing Brush and Massager | What's In My Glossybox? | August 2016 | abibailey.co.uk

I am SUPER excited to test this cleansing brush out and will probably use it with the Mudmasky mask.
The bristles feel really soft but very effective, like they'll gently but thoroughly exfoliate the skin. The green silicone 'cushions' help to massage the face which in turn, increases blood flow and better rejuvenation and radiance. Brill!
You use it with your normal cleanser/face mask to get a deeper clean as it helps to buff away dead skin cells.
RRP: £7 which I think is a great price, whether it turns out to be gimicky or not we'll have to wait and see, but from first glance I think it'll be worth the money.

So those are all the goodies I received in my August Glossybox.
If you're a Glossie, were you pleased with what you received?
Leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading and I'll be back next Sunday.

Abi xxx

To see my other Glossybox reviews click here.
To see last week's post 'Nyx Haul' click here.

P.S you can follow me on Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin' | Pinterest

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Nyx Haul

7/8/2016

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Hello Everyone!
Happy Sunday!
My local Boots finally has a Nyx stand which I am thrilled about so obviously I had to pick up a few bits while I was there.

Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in 'Pink Lust'

I am seriously obsessed with this colour - it's an electric pink, and a colour I've been trying to get hold of for months. Unfortunately the quality just isn't there; it's so streaky and settles in all the lines of my lips, plus you can't layer it because it makes the whole situation much worse. Such a shame!

Round Lipstick in 'Doll'

The colour of this lipstick is a perfect brownish nude (all swatches are below) and the consistency of this is so creamy yet so pigmented, it glides on and really packs a punch. A really great lipstick for only £4! I'll definitely have to pick some more shades up next time I'm in town.

Jumbo Eye Crayon in 'Milk'

Obviously this is a cult favourite among bloggers and I had been trying to get it on Amazon for weeks with no success, so this was the first thing I picked up. I really like it; it glides on and blends out well without losing the pigment. It made a great base for my eyeshadow and helped make the colour pop. Will definitely be picking up a few more as I can't get enough of eye shadow crayons.

Vivid Brights Liquid Eyeliner in 'Violet'

I have only tested this on the back of my hand but it's really pigmented and the brush is really flexible so I think it'll be easy to control. I don't use liquid eyeliner generally so I think this'll be a fun way to mix things up a bit. It did stain my hand a bit so I'm hoping it won't stain my eyelids, haha!

Nyx Haul | 'Doll' Lipstick / 'Pink Lust' Cream Lipstick / 'Milk' Jumbo Eye Crayon / 'Violet' Liquid Eyeliner | abibailey.co.uk

From the top down :
'Doll' Lipstick / 'Pink Lust' Cream Lipstick / 'Milk' Jumbo Eye Crayon / 'Violet' Liquid Eyeliner

I'm really pleased with my purchases and will definitely be picking up more soon (#NoSelfControl).
Are there any Nyx products that you love and that I should try?
Leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading and I'll be back next Sunday.

Abi xxx

Read my last post here: Holy Grail Beauty Products

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Holy Grail Beauty Products

31/7/2016

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Hello Everyone!
Happy Sunday!
This is the first weekend I've had off in three months so it's been lovely to actually have time to enjoy creating this post.
Today I'll be sharing with you my holy grail/can't live without, beauty products.
I've been wearing make up 'properly' since I was 16 and I'm now nearly 21 and I've been so much more serious about make up since I started blogging about it almost 3 years ago.
I have tried and tested a vast variety of products over the years and have built quite the collection of 'ryde or die' products, hence why there a lot of products mentioned in this blog post!
Some are fairly new, others I've been using for years.
Brace yourselves, it's going to be a looong post.

Holy Grail Beauty Products | abibailey.co.uk

Here we have:
Face:
- The Body Shop Oils Of Life Revitalising Facial Oil
- Garnier Moisture + Matte Moisturiser
- L'Oreal Infallible Mattifying Base primer
- Revlon Colorstay Combination/Oily foundation in '180 Sand Beige'
- L'Oreal True Match The Concealer in '4 Beige'
- Rimmel London Stay Matte pressed powder in 'Sandstorm'
- Freedom Makeup blush in 'True Loved'
- Gerard Cosmetics Star Powder highlighter in 'Marilyn'
- Urban Decay De-Slick Make Up Setting Spray
Eyes:
- GOSH Forever Eyeshadow Stick in 'Bright Copper'
- Makeup Revolution Fortune Favours the Brave eyeshadow palette
- Urban Decay Naked eyeshadow palette
- Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in 'Black'
- Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara in 'Extreme Black'
- Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara in 'Black'
Lips:
- Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 'Revlon Red'
- Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 'Cherries in the Snow'
- GOSH Velvet Touch Lipstick in 'Temptation'

Face

L'Oreal True Match Concealer / Revlon Colorstay Foundation / Freedom Blush / Gerard Cosmetics Highlighter

I always use The Body Shop face oil and Garnier moisturiser every night before I go to bed as it intensely hydrates my skin. I always moisturise in the morning too so that my skin is prepped for make up.
To achieve a flawless base that lasts all day I rely on the L'Oreal Infallible Mattifying Base as it mattifies my skin and gives my foundation something to cling to. I used the L'Oreal Matte Infallible foundation for a while but I found that TOO matte and it just made my skin look dry and cakey.
The Revlon Colorstay foundation is a favourite amongst bloggers and I can see why; it's the best matte foundation I have ever used. It doesn't make my skin look dry or cakey and it lasts all day. It actually looks better once it's been worn for a couple of hours! It looks like skin and not a mask on your face, has great wear time and doesn't melt off of my nose.
I don't often use concealer but when a pesky spot breaks out, I like to hide it with the L'Oreal True Match Concealer as it has great coverage and the shade blends well.
I set everything with the Rimmel Stay Matte powder to keep everything in place all day.
To bring a bit of colour into my face I love the Freedom blush (at only £1 may I add!), the pigmentation is great and it lasts well. I like the Make Up Academy blushes too for the same reasons. To glow up my skin I use the Gerard Cosmetics Star Powder; it is beautifully pigmented and blends like a dream. It's also the most gorgeous gold shade.
Lastly I practically drown myself in the Urban Decay's De-Slick Setting Spray (once all of my make up is done) to keep everything on point for the rest of the day. This stuff is epic!

Eyes

Holy Grail Beauty Products | Eye Products | abibailey.co.uk

Caffeine Fix / Fortune / Golden Coins from the Fortune Favours the Brave palette

Dark Horse / Smog / Half Baked from the Naked palette

The two most well loved palettes I own are the Naked palette and the Fortune Favours the Brave palette. They are so well loved because of the pigmentation and blendability of the shadows. Fortune Favours the Brave has a wider range of shadow colours but the Naked shadows pigmentation lasts longer on the lid. I've been reaching for the Fortune Favours the Brave palette literally everyday since I first used it!
The GOSH eyeshadow stick makes an incredible eyeshadow base and really makes the metallic shadows stand out, it lasts all day too! I have a bunch of these shadow sticks as they're so easy to use and are so versatile. The dry down pretty quick though so you have to blend them out as soon as you've put them on.
My number one gel eyeliner and the only eyeliner I ever use is the Maybelline one, I've been using it for over 6 years (obviously not the same pot - eew) and don't know what I'd do without it. Although they've changed the brush and the formula over the years (boooo) , it's still the best eyeliner I've ever used. The formulation is great, it glides on and lasts all day on the lid and in the waterline - it stays jet black. I love love love it.
I always find myself coming back to the Lash Sensational mascara and I've recently bought the 'Extreme Black' version and I like it so much more than the original, it's obviously much more pigmented and the formula is just much better, it's more buildable. It separates and lengthens each and every lash thanks to the spoon shaped brush.
I bought the Better Than Sex mascara a little while a go and didn't like it much at first. Now that it's had time to dry out a bit, I love it. I use it every day on top of Lash Sensational to add volume to my lashes. A perfect duo for amazing lashes.

Lips

Holy Grail Beauty Products | Lip Products | abibailey.co.uk

T to B: GOSH Temptation / Revlon Revlon Red / Revlon Cherries in the Snow

I always recommend Revlon to people who are looking for great but affordable lipsticks. I own at least five and have gone through so many tubes of 'Revlon Red'!
I'm definitely a red lipstick girl and this is my all time favourite red. A recent addition to my Revlon lippies is 'Cherries in the Snow' - a beautiful pink with plum undertones. It's such an incredible colour and I think it'll work in all seasons and suit many skin tones. They both have a 'Super Lustrous' finish meaning they have a slightly glossy sheen to them. The colour payoff and longevity of these lipsticks is just unbeatable - better than the 3 MAC lipsticks I have!
I also love my GOSH lipstick in 'Temptation' as it's a perfect pink colour with a slightly red undertone. The pigmentation and longevity of this is also amazing and such great value at £7.

So those are all of my Holy Grail Beauty Products.
What are some of yours? Leave me a comment!

Congratulations if you got to the end of this post - it was a big'un.

Thanks for reading and I'll be back next Sunday with a little NYX Haul.

Abi xxx

Read my last post here: What's in My Glossybox? | July 2016

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What's In My Glossybox? | July 2016

24/7/2016

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Hello Everyone!
Happy Sunday.
Did you catch last week's post my Mini Amazon Beauty Haul (here)?
Today is another installment of 'What's In My Glossybox?' for the month of July. A bit of a mixed bag (more like box) of things this month.

Blank Canvas Cosmetics F20 Face Brush

This is by far my favourite item this month!
I was aware of Blank Canvas Cosmetics but didn't know much about the quality or anything so I was really pleased with the incredible quality of this foundation brush!
If you follow me on instagram you'll have seen me rave about this- the synthetic bristles are super soft and the brush isn't too dense so it blends out your foundation like a dream. It honestly looks so airbrushed and didn't leave a single streak. This brush has topped my Real Techniques Buffing Brush AND my XO Beauty Flat Top Face Brush!
For £11.95 I think this brush is a must-have and can't wait to try some more of their brushes.

Icona Milano Emotion Allowed Waterproof Mascara

This mascara is great for lengthening and separating your lashes and the waterproof formula makes it very buildable. I wore it to work (where there is no air conditioning) and it didn't flake or irritate my eyes, nor did it melt onto my face. The brush is great at catching each lash and the formula wasn't difficult to remove at the end of the day.
It's a nice mascara but I personally wouldn't pay £13 for it.

Hawaiin Tropic Island Berry Lipgloss

This lipgloss smells so delicious, I just kept licking my lips!
It's very sheer, so it doesn't add much colour to your lips but it gives them a gorgeous glossy finish. The texture is quite smooth so it doesn't feel sticky while you wear it. It is also moisturising and has SPF 25 in it which is fab because your lips are often forgotten when applying sun protection!
Lovely lipgloss but I'm not a lipgloss person so I wouldn't pay £6.99 for it, but that's not to say it isn't worth the money.

Utan & Tone Nourishing Night Creme

I can't really comment on this as I'm not a self/fake tan person as I used fake tan when I was about 14 and went oompa-loompa orange (oops), I also can't be bothered with the upkeep!
This is a night cream with self tan in it so you'll wake up with a bronzy glow. I've given this to my sister as she's more likely to use it. It sounds lovely from the description though, as it's packed with vitamins and antioxidants to help repair skin. It also claims not to stain your pillow or leave you with that biscuity fake tan smell. Thinking about it, I might need to pinch this back from my sister!
It's £12.50 , like I said, I wouldn't purchase this personally but it could be worth the money if it lives up to it's expectations!

Hairon De-Tangle Brush

I tried this de-tangle hair brush and I wasn't too impressed; I have quite thick hair so this just glided through it and smoothed everything but when I ran a comb through my hair, it wasn't de-tangled at all. Saying that, I gave this to my sister and she loves it- she has much finer hair than me and it's naturally curly. It detangled her hair really well so she was impressed with it!
So this may work better on people with finer hair as opposed to the unruly mess that I have, haha!
For £6.99 I'm not sure I'd pay that for any hair brush, but it might be worth it if you suffer from fine/curly/ unruly hair.

So those are all the goodies I received this month!
Are you a Glossy? What was your favourite item? Leave me a comment!

Click here to read all my Glossybox reviews.

Thanks for reading and I'll speak to you next Sunday.

Abi xxx

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Mini Amazon Beauty Haul | Rimmel & Avon

17/7/2016

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Hello Everyone!
Happy Sunday!
Did you see my Holiday Lookbook last week (here)?
I impulse bought a couple of beauty bits from Amazon recently, as I have no self control and it was 'prime day' or something, so there were loads of deals on and thought I'd show you them and tell you my first thoughts.

Mini Amazon Beauty Haul | abibailey.co.uk

So this is what I bought:
- Rimmel Match Perfection Silky Loose Powder in '001 Translucent'
- Avon Eye Shadow Primer in 'Light Beige'
- Rimmmel Volume Colourist mascara in 'Extreme Black'

Rimmel Match Perfection Silky Loose Powder in '001 Translucent'

Rimmel Match Perfection Loose Powder in '001 Translucent' | abibailey.co.uk

Rimmel Match Perfection Loose Powder in '001 Translucent'

The first thing that struck me about this powder is that a little powder puff came with it, which I thought was a nice added touch, it's not often you get a little freebie! It's finely milled so it goes on smoothly without looking cakey. I know the pierced lid (I don't know the correct term!) is meant to stop it from spilling everywhere but I'd rather just dip my brush straight into it and deal with the mess, haha. It's a nice powder and it set my make up well.

Avon Eyeshadow Primer in 'Light Beige'

I've been looking for an eyeshadow primer for a while now and thought this one looked good as I know Emma Pickles raves about it and it looked similar to the MAC Paint Pots so I thought I'd give it a go. It's a nice smooth texture and is a soft shade, hardly noticeable once it has dried, but creates a smooth base for eyeshadows. I applied a thin layer but it went a bit flaky when I added a second thin layer. It made blending eyeshadow much easier and it looked seamless! It didn't make the colours stand out as much as I was hoping though.

Rimmel Volume Colourist Mascara in 'Extreme Black'

I was intrigued about the lash tinting complex and I can never have enough mascaras! Plus it was only £4. From first use it separated, lengthened and gave my lashes a little bit of volume. I like the brush, it's not too big and the bristles catch each lash. I'll keep trying it and see if I notice a difference in the colour of my lashes and report back!

I love picking up beauty bits from Amazon, have you picked up anything worth me trying?
Leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading, I'll be back next Sunday with this month's Glossybox.

Abi xxx

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What's In My Hand Luggage?

26/6/2016

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Hello everyone!
Happy Sunday!
Did you see last week's post about the June Glossybox? (Here)
On Friday I flew out to Spain with my family so I thought you'd like to see what I crammed into my hand luggage!
As we were travelling as a family, my dad had all of our important documents and passports so I didn't have to worry about that!

Just as an FYI, as I'm on holiday, I'm writing this blog post and next week's post on my phone, so if the layout is a bit different or the photos are huge, that's because I can't change too much! I'll fix them when I'm home.

What's in my hand luggage? | abibailey.co.uk

I bought a new bag for holiday from boohoo. I had my eye on a gorgeous gold one from ASOS but it was constantly out of stock, so I settled for this one instead. The next day the gold one was back in stock! I do like this one though as it looks very nautical, and it comes with a little matching zippy purse too.

This is what I had in my hand luggage (not all pictured as some where thrown in last minute):

- Electricals:
iPhone, iPad, camera, earbuds

- Necessaties:
tissues, hand sanitiser, a pen

- Beauty:
compact mirror, pressed powder, travel powder brush, lippie, nail glue, hair brush, sunglasses

- Edibles:
chewing gum, jelly beans, fruit crumbles

Once we'd got through security and everything I bought more travel snacks and a bottle of water too.

What do you take on the plane with you? Leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading and I'll be back next Sunday with a 'Summer Skincare Essentials' post.

Abi xxx

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What's In My Glossybox? | June 2016

19/6/2016

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Hello everyone!
Happy Sunday!
Did you see last week's post? It was my Gerard Cosmetics Haul (here).
Today I'll be showing you what goodies I received in my Glossybox for June.
As the products are very holiday orientated I am saving them for my holiday next week, so I won't be reviewing them as such, more telling you about them. If I think something is particularly great, I'll be sure to keep you all informed!

Ladival Sun Protection Spray SPF 15

This is the first product I am saving for my holiday; Suncream! As it has been either incredibly overcast, storming or chucking it down with rain in the UK lately, I've not had a chance to use this yet. It says on the box that it is an 'advanced infrared-A protection system' and that it protects against 4x more of the sun's UV rays, gives immediate protection, is suitable for sensitive skin and is water resistant! Super handy for 10 days in Spain.
Obviously as with all suncreams, you will still need to keep applying this throughout the day, especially after being in the water, despite how water resistant this proves to be. Looking forward to using this on holiday!
Full size is £19.99

De Bruyère Aftersun Lotion Monoï

I am also saving this for my holiday, but I can tell you that is smells deliciously coconutty, is very cooling and soothing and doesn't feel sticky. I smoothed some over the back of my hand and a little goes a long way! It's also the perfect size to throw in your bag on the go.
My Glossybox card tells me that this can also be used to help prolong a tan! It also says that this aftersun milk is enriched with Monoï (gardenia petals soaked in coconut oil) as well as vitamin E and that it will hydrate, nourish and calm the skin. It's also free from paraben and silicone.
Not bad for less than a tenner!

Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturizer

I have used this a few times and it is really lovely. It smells citrusy and really does wake up the skin. Work has run me ragged recently so when I woke up this morning I really did look tired and my skin looked tired too. I popped some of this energy boosting moisturiser on and noticed a difference in minutes! My complexion looked more even, hydrated and plumped up.
It says that it combines skin-boosting ingredients like coffee beans and panax ginseng (a plant) so that lack-lustre skin will be a thing of the past.
It's a nice moisturiser and it does what it says but I'm not sure I'd pay £24 for it as I still love my Garnier matte+ moisturiser!

Emité Make Up Lip & Cheek Tint

This is another item I haven't really tried out other than on the back of my hand, but the formula is lovely, it blends out nicely and gives a subtle boost of colour. Brilliant for that sun kissed look on the cheeks or to add a wash of colour across the lips in a 'my lips but better' kinda way.
£12.50 for the full size and it's a decent sized tube so it's going to last you ages as a little goes a long way. It also has a doe foot applicator which we all know I love.

Spa To You Konjac Sponge

This is a very intriguing product and I was not expecting it to be wet when I opened it, haha!
My Glossybox card tells me that a Konjac Sponge is the latest cleansing trend from Japan and Korea. The sponges are made of natural fibres from the Konjac (a porous root vegetable from Asia) and is known for its ability to hold water. It's also more gentle than a scrub but has skin-buffing capabilities.
Looking forward to using this to prep my skin for the sun. If you're a skincare fan, at only £6.99 it'd be worth giving it a go, even just for the novelty.

Aussie Hair Care 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Conditioner

As a bonus product this month (thank you Glossybox!) I received this Aussie hair mask to restore manageability and shine. It's for damaged hair, and let's be honest, now that I'm straightening my hair more, my hair is crying out for some deep conditioning! I don't know whether to use this before I go away to try and restore my hair a bit, or when I come back to rescue my hair from the sun.
At only £1.09 they are definitely worth trying!

That's it for this month's Glossybox.
Lots of lovely products for the summer!
See last month's box (here)

Leave me a comment about what your favourite product is.

Thanks for reading, pop back next Sunday for my 'What's In My Hand Luggage?' post.

Abi xxx

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Gerard Cosmetics Haul

12/6/2016

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Hello everyone!
Happy Sunday!
Did you see last week's post about my Updated Skincare Routine (here)?
I've bought a couple of bits and pieces from Gerard Cosmetics recently so I thought you'd like to see them.

Packaging

Let's just take a moment to acknowledge how pretty the packaging is! I love the black and gold with the dainty dots. The gold is so shiny on the actual items and looks so glamorous. I really like the font too. The little added cover on the highlighter is such a great touch; it keeps it protected and is something I've not seen before.

Hydra Matte Liquid Lipsticks

Gerard Cosmetics Hydra Matte Liquid Lipsticks in Mercury Rising | abibailey.co.uk

I already have Immortal (a deep red) and loved it so I thought it was necessary to pick up Mercury Rising (orange) and Ballet Slipper (soft pink). Immortal is crazy pigmented so I was hoping these two would be as well, but unfortunately they just don't have the same intensity. Ballet Slipper is very sheer and would take quite a few coats to get an opaque coverage. Mercury Rising is a bit better but the application is quite streaky. Maybe I just got a couple of dud ones!
Obviously they are a matte formula but they are really comfortable to wear, they don't feel too drying like other matte lip products. They doe-foot applicator is very precise but you do have to be accurate because if you keep layering it, I found Immortal to go a bit patchy.
Swatches are below with the lip pencil :).

Lip Pencil

Gerard Cosmetics Lip Pencil and Hydra Matte Liquid Lipstick Swatches | abibailey.co.uk

Top to bottom: Lip pencil in Immortal / Hydra Matte Liquid Lipsticks in Immortal / Mercury Rising / Ballet Slipper
The lip pencil is creamy and glides on nicely and like the liquid lipstick, is also very pigmented and long lasting. This is also called Immortal and I bought it to go with the Hydra Matte Liquid Lipstick. It's more of a cherry red but it matches the liquid lipstick really well and helps with a neat application! It isn't a twist up liner so when it starts to get blunt, you'd need to sharpen it. That doesn't bother me but I know it does some people.

Star Powder

Gerard Cosmetics Star Powder in Marilyn Swatch | abibailey.co.uk

This is the Star Powder in the shade Marilyn and it is the most beautiful gold highlighter ever. EVER.
I am in love and have been using it everyday. It really adds a glow. It's so smooth and so beautifully pigmented. It lasts all day too; even after about 15 hours wear, my cheek bones are still glowing.
It's a definite summer staple and would look amazing with a tan. Definitely my most favourite thing I've bought for a while.

Have you ever bought anything from Gerard Cosmetics?
What are your thoughts on any of these products?
Leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading and I'll be back next Sunday with this month's Glossybox!

Abi xxx

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Updated Skincare Routine

5/6/2016

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Hello Everyone!
Happy Sunday!
I hope you enjoyed last week's post about the Fortune Favours The Brave palette (here).
Today I'll be showing you my updated skincare routine as its been ages (i.e. nearly two years) since I last talked about it (here).

I'm a bit lazy when it comes to exfoliating, but I always without fail, remove my make up and make sure to moisturise.

Here's the run-down of products I use to keep my skin at it's best:

- Garnier Cleansing Wipes for Normal to Combination Skin
- Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water for Combination & Sensitive Skin
- Superdrug Oval Face Pads
- Garnier SkinActive Pure Active 3-1 Scrub
- Primark Face Scrubber
- Garnier Moisture + Matte Moisturiser for Combination to Oily Skin
- The Body Shop Oils Of Life Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil

Removing Make Up

To remove my make up I always use the Garnier Cleansing Wipes soaked in the Micellar Water to remove my eye make up. I know make up wipes are naughty but it hurts my eyes too much to use a cotton pad soaked in Micellar Water. Once I've used the wipe to remove my eye make up, eyebrows and any remaining lipstick, I use a couple of cotton pads to remove my face make up and make sure there are no traces of foundation or blush still on my skin.

Cleansing

Updated Skincare Routine | Garnier SkinActive Scrub | abibailey.co.uk

I try to cleanse/exfoliate my skin once a week to remove any remaining make up or oils that could clog my pores. I should probably do it more often but like I said, I'm lazy and find it a chore. I tend to do this in the morning to leave my skin refreshed for the day.
I like this particular scrub as you can use it as a wash, a scrub or a mask.
I like to wash my face with water, apply the mask and let it set and then use my scrubber to exfoliate it off. It leaves my skin feeling super soft and refreshed.

Moisturising

Updated Skincare Routine | Garnier Moisture + Matte moisturiser and The Body Shop Oils of Life Facial Oil | abibailey.co.uk

If you remember in my April Glossybox post (here) I talked about The Body Shop Oils of Life and I am STILL loving it! Absolutely obsessed, it has completely turned my skin around. My complexion is much smoother, it has faded my spot scars and leaves my skin so hydrated.
In April I wasn't sure if I'd buy the full size as it's £28 but I will definitely be picking it up once my tester has run out (it's on its last legs). I was never much of a skincare person but this little miracle oil has totally changed my mind!
Before I go to sleep, I drop a few drops on my cheeks, nose, chin and forehead and gently pat it in to make sure it definitely absorbs into the skin. I then apply the Moisture + Matte moisturiser all over the face to help seal in the oil and add maximum hydration.
I always make sure to moisturise (minus the oil) before I do my make up too, to create a smooth base for my make up.

How do you take care of your skin and what are your holy grail products?
I'd love to know, so please leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading and I'll speak to you next Sunday.

Abi xxx

P.S. You can follow me on Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'

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Fortune Favours The Brave Palette | Review

29/5/2016

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Hello Everyone!
Happy Sunday!
Did you see last week's post about the May Glossybox (here)?
Today's post is all about the beautiful Fortune Favours The Brave eyeshadow palette which is a collaboration between the beauty blogger BristishBeautyBlogger and Make Up Revolution.
I love Make Up Revolution and always want to help support other bloggers, plus I loved the variety of shades so I knew I just had to have it!

First let's talk about the packaging, it isn't a beauty review without talking about the packaging!
I love the gold as it's a total contrast to the usual black packaging and the addition of a giant mirror is always nice. The palette looks expensive and fancy even though it's so affordable.
There are a total of 30 shades in the palette. Some of the shades are marbled and make the palette look really eye catching and classy.
The shadows are a mix of shimmers/glitters, sheens and mattes. The shades vary between neutrals like creams/golds/bronzes, browns and pinks and then bolder colours such as purples, blues and olive/khaki green. Definitely a few shades here to suit everyone.
Each shade has a fun name too which just makes me love the palette even more!

The consistency of these shadows is like a creamy powder, really smooth, pigmented and blendable. The pigmentation is really good and long lasting. I haven't had chance to use all of the shadows yet, such as the blues and purples but I've been loving the left side of the palette and have been using it everyday. I can't wait to use the bolder colours too. There is such a huge variety of shades in just one palette! I'll definitely be taking this on holiday with me.
30 great quality shadows for £10 is such a steal.

What do you think of the Fortune Favours The Brave palette?
I think it's a lovely palette and is versatile for all skin tones and all seasons.
It'd definitely make a great present too.

Leave me a comment from your lovely brain!
Thanks for reading and I'll speak to you next Sunday.

Abi xxx

P.S. You can follow me on Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'

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What's In My Glossybox? | May 2016

22/5/2016

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Hello everyone!
Happy Sunday.
Did you catch my Big Beauty Haul last week? (here)
I have to say I am much happier with the contents of this month's Glossybox than I was last month (here).
This month's is a collector's edition, hence the funky different packaging.
The boxes are based around city breaks so all the products are tailored to travel necessities.

The Packaging

I received the New York version (you could get Paris, New York, London or Berlin) and the box is incredible! It depicts iconic images from the city such as the Statue of Liberty. All of the collector edition boxes were designed by the illustrators at OMY Studio. I really like the cartoony images and that the look is so different to the usual (equally as lovely) design of a Glossybox.
The tissue paper was orange as was the inside of the box to match the font on the front. The shredded tissue was white which created a nice contrast against the orange. Gave it a summery vibe. It's just lovely and I look forward to the next collector's edition box!

The Contents

As a delicious added extra, there was a packet of Proper Corn included with the box! It really was 'done properly' and was quite easily the nicest popcorn I've ever had. If Glossybox wants to start including food pressies in the regular boxes, I'm all up for that!

Crabtree and Evelyn Hand Therapy

This hand cream smells delicious; really fruity and floral. It absorbs quickly without feeling sticky and is very moisturising. For £5 I think it's great and would love to try out the different scents. I also like the twist off top as it reminds me of a paint tube and I like that it's a bit different.

Revlon Ultimate All-In-One Mascara

Last month, I received an email from Glossybox (as did other Glossies) saying that you could pick one of the 5 new Revlon mascaras! I was really pleased because I had been wanting to try these mascaras but didn't know which one to choose. At £10 each I didn't want to pick one and then it be the wrong choice.
I chose the All-In-One and its lovely. Really black and you get a lot of product on the brush (I had to scrape some off the first time I used it!) which I prefer as I hate when the brush looks like it's barely touched the mascara, I mean how am I supposed to get it on my lashes when it's like that?
I've been using it on top of my regular mascaras and it separates and lengthens my lashes. The tiny brush makes it excellent for the bottom lashes too. It hasn't crumbled off in the day or irritated my eyes.
I definitely want to try the others out now!

Bee Good Youth Enhancing Plump & Firm Moisturiser

I've found this moisturiser a bit hit and miss. I think this would be a good moisturiser for more mature complexions as it is 'youth enhancing' and is supposed to 'plump & firm' - all skin concerns I don't currently have at 20 years old.
I found the scent a little off-putting too as it's a strong concoction of lavender and zesty lemon (well it is to me) and it's just a bit full on.
I struggled to rub it into my skin on its own as it's quite sticky and doesn't want to move around the face. On top of the Body Shop Oils of Life (which I am still loving) it makes moving the moisturiser around a lot easier.
I just think this moisturiser is not tailored to me at all, like I said it'd probably be a better moisturiser for a more mature lady. At £23.50 I do not think it is worth the money!

Absolute New York Velvet Lippie

This was disappointing but I knew it would be the second I looked at it!
Lip creams are not my thing, purely because I don't think the quality is there neither is the staying power.
This colour doesn't suit me at all, the colour is streaky, it lacks pigment and I just know that if I'd blotted it, 89% of the product would have been left on the tissue! I do like the packaging though and the doe-foot applicator is good but at just under £5, it's not worth the money.

Loceryl Nail Gel

A bit of an odd product to receive, but a useful one, none the less!
As I have stick on acrylic nails attached to my natural nails 90% of the time (except for right now as I'm trying to give them a break) my nails are basically destroyed so this little nail gel has come at just the right time. It's a clear gel that you rub into your clean/bare nails and you're supposed to apply it twice a day (although I'm just doing it before I go to bed). It's supposed to help restore damaged nails by restoring the natural water content. I've been using it for about 3 nights and I haven't noticed too much of a difference but they do look more hydrated. It's great to have this around to apply each time I take my acrylics off and I'm looking forward to seeing some results.
It's £17 so it wouldn't be something I would buy but I'm enjoying using it.

A fab collectors edition Glossybox!
Are you a Glossie? What did you think of this month's box?
Leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading and I'll be back next Sunday.

Abi xxx

P.S. You can follow me on Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'

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Big Beauty Haul | Colourpop, Makeup Geek and More

15/5/2016

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Hello everyone!
Happy Sunday!
Did you see last week's post about what you need for a Make Up Brush Starter Kit? (Here)
I've been shopping on Amazon and Beauty Bay and have ordered a few bits (you may have seen on my instagram) and thought I would share my thoughts with you.

Big Beauty Haul | Colourpop, Makeup Geek and More | abibailey.co.uk

Eyes

Zoeva Classic Liner Brush | abibailey.co.uk

Here we have
*Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in the colours Bella Sand and Bella Champagne
*Makeup Geek singular shadow in Masquerade
* Zoeva Classic Liner Brush
*W7 Absolute Lashes Mascara
*Maybelline Define-A-Lash Volume Mascara

The Milani shadows are nice but not uber pigmented, they're quite sheer but give a nice glossy look to the lid. Very subtle.
Masquerade is lovely and pigmented like most MUG shadows. I've just bought a purple eye crayon to use as a base and I'm dying to try them out together.
I've been on the hunt for a new liner brush as I'm getting bored of my current one. This Zoeva Classic Liner Brush is good, but I'm struggling to get a sharp point at the end of my eyeliner wings.
The W7 mascara is a great dupe for the Benefit They're Real mascara! I love that the tip has extra bristles so you can use it to coat the lashes you missed.
Maybelline Define-A-Lash was my holy grail mascara when I was at school until they stopped stocking it! So I just had to try the Define-A-Lash Volume version! It's a fantastic mascara; coats all your lashes evenly, separates them and lengthens them.

Face

*W7 Bronzer (has no name)
* Morphe MB30 Brush

Contouring is so popular in the beauty world and I really wanted to try it to see what all the hype was about.
I bought the Morphe MB30 Brush as I don't really have a contour brush (this one reminded me of the NARS ITA brush but for a much more affordable price). It's a nice brush with dense bristles.
I've only used it once so far as I really need to practice contouring (on a day when I'm not going anywhere so I can avoid looking like a muddy mess) as I struggled to blend the bronzer out well enough. In Hindsight I probably should have bought a contour powder as opposed to a bronzer but oh well.
I have been loving the W7 Bronzer on my eyes though! It's amazing as a crease colour or to dust over the lid to add some definition. It has great pigmentation and blends out really nicely.

Colourpop Ultra Satin Lip | abibailey.co.uk

Colourpop Ultra Satin Lip Swatches | Frick 'n' Frack and Echo Park | abibailey.co.uk

Now we all know how obsessed I was with the Ultra Matte Lip liquid lipsticks (here) and a girl on instagram suggested I try the Ultra Satin Lip liquid lipsticks so I bought a couple.
I have the shades Frick 'n' Frack and Echo Park.
Frick 'n' Frack is a dark, brick red sort of colour; quite nineties.
Echo Park is a pinky nude shade.
These are much more comfortable to wear than the Ultra Matte ones as they're not as drying.
The formula is really nice and very pigmented. The doe-foot applicator is very precise which is good. The longevity of these is also brilliant, hardly had to retouch them at all throughout the day.

Overall very pleased with all my purchases!
Have you tried any of the these items?
I'd love to hear your thoughts on them!

Thanks for reading and I'll be back next Sunday with May's Glossybox.

Abi xxx

P.S. You can follow me on Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'

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Make Up Brush Starter Kit

8/5/2016

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Hello everyone!
Happy Sunday.
Did you see last week's post reviewing the Shaaanxo Palette (here)?
I was also nominated for the Liebster Award! You can read more about that here.
Today I'll be showing you what you need for a starter make up brush kit.
I have loads of make up brushes because I have no self control, but these are the ones that I think are most important.
Obviously you don't need to get the same ones as me, these are just ideas.
A lot of my brushes are from Real Techniques because a) I think Real Techniques are amazing brushes and b) a lot of them came from the Brushes and Train Case gift set that I got for Christmas (here).

Face Brushes

Here we have the:
*Powder Brush
*Blush/Contour Brush
*Foundation Brush
*Setting Brush

All you really need for your base is a brush to blend out your foundation/concealer, a big powder brush to set your whole face, a setting brush to set smaller areas like under your eyes, and a blush/contour brush to add a bit of colour to your face.

I bought the powder brush from Wilko for around £4.
The blush/contour brush is from Luxie which I received in my Glossybox (here). Sadly, the shipping to the UK is so expensive, otherwise I would love to buy more!
The foundation brush is the Expert Face Brush from Real Techniques.
The Setting Brush is also from Real Techniques.

Eye Brushes

Next we've got the:
*Brow Spooli
*Eyeshadow Brush
*Eyeshadow Blender Brush
* Eyeliner Brush

An eyebrow spooli is a necessity even if you don't put any product through your brows; it's just a good idea to give them a brush through and tame the hairs.
An eyeshadow brush and a blender brush come hand in hand as you don't want any harsh lines.
A liner brush is important even if you don't wear gel eyeliner (but I recommend you try it because it's the blackest, longest lasting eyeliner formula I've ever used) because you could always use it to soften pencil liner or to fill in your brows.

The spooli came from a huge set of brushes that I bought from Amazon ages ago for around £10 .
The eyeshadow brush and the blender brush both came from the Real Techniques gift set I mentioned earlier.
The eyeliner brush is quite old (ew) because it came with the orginal Maybelline Gel Eyeliner (which I can't believe they stopped doing because I LOVED it and the new one is just not the same and the brush is now rubbish!)

Here's a little photo chart of all the basic essential brushes you need!

These are a few brands that I've used that I think do great brushes and are quite reasonably priced:

*Real Techniques
*E.L.F
*Revlon
*Make Up Revolution

Have I missed any key brushes? I tried to keep it as basic as possible so you just have the necessities to start with and then you can expand your collection (and become a brush obsessive like me!).

Leave me a comment from your lovely brain!

Thanks for reading and I'll speak to you next Sunday.

Abi xxx

P.S. You can follow me on Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'

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Shaaanxo Palette | Review

1/5/2016

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Hello everyone!
Happy Sunday!
Did you see last week's post about the April Glossybox? (Here)
Today's post is all about the Shaaanxo Palette that was created by Shannon Harris (Shaaanxo on Youtube) in collaboration with BH Cosmetics.
It's an 18 colour eyeshadow and lip colour palette and it's just lovely!
As I signed up to the mailer, I got early access to the pre-order which also made it slightly cheaper.
I got the email and went straight to the link to pre-order it and it was $14.50 (about £9.92) and then the shipping on top of that which was only about a £5 which I was thrilled with because usually American shipping is horendous!
I think the price is so good for 9 eyeshadows and 9 lip colours.

First, let's talk about the beautiful packaging! I love the pale pink with the white bubbles and the shiny silver font just adds to the elegance.
I also love that the eyshadows are on one side and the lip colours are on the other so you haven't got to worry about getting eyeshadow in the lippies! Both sides have a mirror too which is handy.
The palette contains the nine eyeshadows that vary from everyday neutrals to bold evening shades and nine lip colours that vary from nudes, pinks and reds and there's even a purple shade too! Definitely enough colours to suit everyone.

Eyeshadows

The shadows are really lovely; they're a powder to cream consistency and blend really well.
The pigmentation is really good but I'm struggling to get the impact onto my eyelids but I think that's more down to my rubbish primer and lack of appropriate eyeshadow brushes, so I'm going to have a play around and see what works for me.
The variety of shades is great, the lightest shade (that you basically can't see in the swatch) is a lovely highlighter for the inner eyes and brow bone. The next two shades on the top row and the middle shade on the middle row are very wearable shimmers.
You then have the yellow and brick red shades (middle row) which can be used as transition colours.
Lastly you have the bottom 3 shades which are duo-chrome, meaning that depending on where you look at it, it can look two different colours in the light. I don't have any duo-chrome shades so I'm excited to try these.

Lip Colours

These are a lovely sticky, balmy consitency. Not a sticky feel on the lips though.
I can't get the impact onto my lips, but again I think it'll just be a case of playing around with different lip brushes and maybe using a lipliner as a base.
Otherwise these give a beautiful wash of colour which will be perfect for a fresh look for summer.
I love the variety of shades as you can go from day to night or subtle to dramatic.
They go great with the eyeshadows too.
My only bug bear with the lippies is that it'd be difficult to touch up during the day as I won't be taking the palette with me everywhere! Great for travel though.

A fab palette for the money! Such a reasonable price.
Plus I love Shannon so I wanted to support her.
What do you think of the Shaaanxo Palette?
Do you have any tips on how to get more impact from the shadows or lip colours?
Leave a comment from your lovely brain!

Thanks for reading and I'll speak to you next Sunday.

Abi xxx

P.S, You can follow me on Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'

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What's In My Glossybox | April 2016

24/4/2016

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Hello Everyone!
Happy Sunday!
Did you see my Freedom Makeup Haul last week? (HERE).
This is my third Glossybox that I've received (Starter box) (March box)
I wasn't as thrilled with this one to be honest, but then not every box can be spot on!
I did get a couple of items that I am loving, though.

Essence Mosaic Compact Powder

A nice compact powder, mattifies the skin well and adds a touch of coverage and colour. I don't like how much glitter there is though - I'm not trying to be Edward Cullen.
It looks nice swept over the cheekbones and nose to add a bit of a shimmer.
Full size is only £3.

The Body Shop Oils of Life Facial Oil

I'm a little bit in love with this one! I love the little pipette too.
At first I was a bit reluctant to use it as I've never used a facial oil before and it frightened me a bit, so I read up on how to use it (I know, what sort of beauty blogger am I?) and have been loving it.
It claims to be an 'intensely revitalising facial oil' and I agree with that statement.
Once I've taken my make up off, I dab this along my T-Zone and the rest of my face using my finger tips, and then sometimes pat my moisturiser over the top to lock in the moisture while I sleep.
I wake up with healthier looking, hydrated skin.
The full size is £28 so I'm not sure I would pay that but I love this little tester and it is a great facial oil.

Leighton Denny Miracle Mist

I was a bit sceptical of this one too as I already have lots of nail drying sprays and this doesn't really scream 'beauty' at me, but I used it and loved it.
It actually did dry my nails in about 2 minutes, and I am talking dry dry not touch dry.
I also love that it doesn't have a chemical smell that sucks all the oxygen from the room like some others do. It really is a great nail drying spray.
Full size is £12, a bit pricey but it is worth the money.

STYLondon Temporary 'Henna' Tattoos

Now this was the dud item in the box - this is not beauty to me.
I haven't worn temporary tattoos since I was about 12 and don't intend to again.
I haven't tried them so I can't tell you anything about them (sorry !).
These will be going in my nail art draw in case I ever feel inspired to use them on my nails.
Full size is £5.99.

Studio 10 Brow Lift Perfecting Liner

Essence Mosaic Compact Powder / Studio 10 Eyebrow Pencil and Highlighter

This is a lovely eyebrow pencil, it's a really hard consistency so you can create a really natural brow look and create tiny fine lines to resemble hairs. It's double ended so you have the defining pencil on one end and the highlighter pencil on the other. Personally I would have preferred a spooli as opposed to a highlighter pencil, purely because I just don't get on with highlighter pencils.
It's a tiny bit warm toned for me but I'll definitely be using it again.
Full size is £22.

So not my favourite Glossybox but I got a couple of goodies out of it!
What did you think of the April Glossybox?
I'd love to hear your thoughts so leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading and I'll be back next week.

Abi xxx

Pssst, you can follow me on Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin', y'know, only if you want to...

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Freedom Makeup Haul

17/4/2016

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Hello Everyone!
Happy Sunday!
I hope you enjoyed last week's post 'The 5 Product Face' (here), it's so difficult to narrow it down.
As you may know, I made a big ol' Freedom Makeup order the other week, so today I'll be showing you what I bought and what I think of it.

Freedom Makeup is SUPER affordable, is a sister brand to Make Up Revolution and doesn't test on animals.
Here's the run down of what I bought:
- Pro 12 Audacious 3 eyeshadow palette, £4
- Mono Eyshadows in Glided 217 and Gilded 218, 75p each
- Pro Studio Priming Water, £6
- Blush Professional Pro Blush 3 in 'True Loved', £1
- Pro Lipstick Pink 103 in 'Pink Lust', 75p
- Makeup Artist Pro Favourites Collection (5 lipstick set) £3.50

Freedom Makeup Pro 12 Audacious 3 | abibailey.co.uk

Freedom Makeup Pro 12 Audacious 3 swatches | abibailey.co.uk

Mono Eyeshadow in Glided 217 (left) and Gilded 218 (right)

Eyeshadows

The eyeshadows swatch really nicely, but when applying them with a brush they're not overly pigmented.
They are glittery as opposed to shimmery,
They blend well,
They don't crease.

They're not fantastic but when you're getting 12 eyeshadows for £3.50, what can you expect?

Verdict: Probably wouldn't buy again.

Blush Professional Pro Blush 3 'True Loved' | abibailey.co.uk

Priming Water

I only have good things to say about these two items!
I was a bit sceptical about the priming water as I thought 'how is vitamin water going to make a difference?' but oh man was I wrong.
It is packed with multi vitamins which is supposed to hydrate the skin for hours, boost radiance and revitalise your complexion.
I spray it on top of my usual primer as a boost and it makes my foundation apply so much nicer! It stops it from looking cakey and it makes me look less shiny throughout the day.
It's also stopped my make up from breaking up on my nose.
Plus who doesn't want revitalised skin?

Verdict: Absolute must have!

Blush

The blush gives a subtle pink 'flushed' look to the skin, it looks quite natural which is nice.
It blends really well and didn't go patchy.
It isn't the most pigmented but at least that way you can build up the intensity.

Verdict: Lovely blush, especially for £1

Freedom Makeup Pro Lipstick 'Pink 103 Pink Lust' | abibailey.co.uk

Freedom Makeup Makeup Artist Pro Favourites Collection | abibailey.co.uk

Freedom Makeup Makeup Artist Pro Favourites Collection swatches | abibailey.co.uk

(Left to Right) Pink Lust, Untouched, Candy Sweet, Expression, True Power, Dusk Till Dawn

Lipsticks

The lipsticks in this 5 set are the 'favourite' picks from each of the other available 5 sets:
Untouched is from Bare (111)
Candy Sweet is from Pink (102)
Expression is from Red (108)
True Power is from Now (120)
Dusk Till Dawn is from Vamp Noire

They're very smooth,
Not overly pigmented but give a nice wash of colour,
Didn't bleed,
Absorbs quite quickly, so needs topping up often.

Verdict: Probably wouldn't buy again, but it was nice to try new shades.
If you like a wash of colour as opposed to opaque colour, you'll like these.

Over all not a bad little spending spree!
Absolutely love the priming water and the blush is great too.
Nothing was 'bad' but the eyeshadows could be better, even at the cheap price they are, I would expect more from them.

Have you bought anything from Freedom?
What are your thoughts?
Leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading and I'll speak to you next Sunday.
Next week's post is 'What's In My Glossybox? April 2016'
So look out for that (or follow me on Bloglovin' so you don't miss it)

Abi xxx

You can follow me on Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'

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The 5 Product Face

10/4/2016

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Hello everyone!
Happy Sunday!
Did you see last week's post about the TRESemmé Beauty-Full Volume Reverse System (here)?
Today I thought I'd do the '5 Product Face' tag as I thought it'd be a challenge as I am not a minimal make up kinda gal.
The idea is pretty self explanatory; if you could only pick 5 products to wear, what would you pick and why?

The 5 products I chose, and can be considered my 'ryde or die' products, are:

- L'Oreal Infallible 24-H Matte foundation (here) in '12 Natural Rose'
- Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara in 'Very Black'
Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in 'Black/Brown'
- Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 'Revlon Red'
- Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner in 'Black'

Considering I wear 12 make up products a day, narrowing it down to just 5 essentials was quite difficult but I figured I could look quite put together with the items I chose.

I could easily survive without concealer, as my foundation gives a lot of good coverage and it dries matte so I could skip powder too.
I would miss my blush but I could get by without it!

There is no way in hell I'm leaving the house without my eyebrows so my eyebrow pencil is a non-negotiable must have.

I would really miss my eyeshadows and eyeshadow crayons but just eyeliner and mascara would give a nice classic look so I could get by without them, although it pains me just to think about it!

I need lipstick in my life and I pretty much always wear Revon Red. Paired with a classic winged liner look and lashings of mascara I think it would add to the classic 1940's look.

Maybe one day I will actually do the look!

I'd love to hear what your 5 Product Face would consist of so please leave me some comments!
If you've done the tag please link me to it as I'd love to give it a read.

As always thanks for reading and I will speak to you next Sunday.
My Freedom Make Up order arrived the other day so I'm hoping to blog about that next!

Abi xxx

You can follow me on Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'

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Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip | Beeper and Solow

27/3/2016

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Hello everyone!
Happy Easter!
Happy Sunday if you don't celebrate!
Last week I talked about one of my favourite make up products: Mascara. The Covergirl Full Lash Bloom Mascara to be specific (here), today I'll be talking about another of my favourites: Lip products.
In particular, these gorgeous liquid lipsticks from Colourpop.
Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip in the shades Beeper and Solow.

Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip in Beeper and Solow | abibailey.co.uk

I think I saw Shaaanxo (she's a youtuber, she's fab) do a lip swatch video of these and they really caught my eye. 'Beeper' is also one of those products that had been in the notes in my phone for months so I thought it was about time I got round to buying it.

Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip in Solow | abibailey.co.uk

The packaging alone is gorgeous, I love the holographic print on the 'Ultra Matte Lip'.
They come as a twist off lid with a doe-foot applicator. The applicator is a nice size and is very soft so it absorbs enough pigmented product to cover your lips without having to dip back into the tube every 30 seconds. The little applicator means you can get a precise application, especially around the cupid's bow.

Beeper

I love Beeper so much. I was a bit taken aback when it arrived as I had ordered it knowing I liked it months ago and didn't do any follow up research before I ordered it, so when I realised it is a reddish brown colour I was a bit uncertain as to whether I would actually wear it.
I wore it out to dinner the other night and I was so thrilled! I love the colour, I didn't know if it would be too out there for me as I usually live in red or pink lipstick but this nude chocolately colour is definitely for me.

- The consistency is lovely- really smooth.
- The pigmentation is incredible.
- The longevity is really good, I only had to touch it up slightly after eating an oily pizza. (oils will break down the formula).
- It didn't go patchy after reapplying .
- Feels really comfortable on the lips, not too drying.

Solow

I was so pleased with Beeper that I thought I'd order more of a pinky nude colour as I'm trying to wear less bright lip colours, to mix things up a bit.
I ordered both colours from Amazon for around £16 each, from different distributors but I am really disappointed with Solow as the quality is just not there. I don't know whether I'm the exception and just got one from a bad batch, or what.

- It applies nicely but dries terribly, it's too drying to the point where it looks cakey and flakey on my lips.
- The pigmentation is nice
- I can't comment on the longevity because I haven't worn it for very long because it just shows up every imperfection and line on my lips.
- Doesn't feel comfortable on the lips.

They're like polar opposites!
Have you had any issues with Solow or did I just get a dud one?
I love the colour so I might just order another one from a different distributor.

I am delighted with Beeper though and plan to buy more Colourpop Cosmetics in the future.

Leave me a comment from your lovely brain!

Thanks for reading and I shall speak to you soon,

Abi xxx

P.S. You can follow me on Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'

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Covergirl Full Lash Bloom Mascara

20/3/2016

1 Comment

Hello everyone!
Happy Sunday.
Did you see my March Glossybox post last week? (here)
A huge thank you to Glossybox for all the support! I've had the biggest smile on my face all week!
Today I'll be talking about the Covergirl Full Lash Bloom Mascara.

Covergirl Full Lash Bloom Mascara | abibailey.co.uk

If you know anything about me, you'll know that mascaras and lipsticks are my favourite make up products. I've tested just about every mascara except for this one.
The Full Lash Bloom Mascara has been in my notes in my phone for months since Lauren Curtis raved about it ages ago (at least I think it was this one, awks if not) and had been meaning to buy it and try it. Now I have!

I'm wearing loads of coats of the Full Lash Bloom Mascara in these photos.

It gives your lashes lots of length

I bought it on Amazon for £13.91. I don't think any shops in the UK stock Covergirl and I was making an Amazon order anyway (I have no self control when it comes to online shopping) so I just added it to my order as it was about time I tried it out.

The Covergirl Full Lash Bloom by Lashblast Mascara claims that:
"the Full Lash Bloom brush, with short and long bristles, creates volume from root to tip and combs and coats lashes evenly for full separated volume"

On the website it says that:
"With Full Lash Bloom Mascara, get exceptional full lashes that are soft - even to the touch. With our new petal-shaped brush and mousse formula with natural beeswax, lashes are never stiff or brittle. Perfect for everyday wear."

Pros

- The unique brush design ensures that it separates and defines each lash.
- It works especially well on the bottom lashes.
- It works wonderfully as a base mascara and 'primes' my lashes. I then load up my lashes with Maybelline's Lash Sensational; this combo is a match made in make up heaven!
- It doesn't flake off.
- It's a nice inky black colour.
- It's very buildable.

Cons

- It doesn't volumise my lashes at all.
- It has a bit of a chemical scent to it which might be off putting, although it doesn't bother me too much.
- I'm not a fan of the mousse formula; it prevents the brush from picking up lots of product.

Full Lash Bloom is a fab mascara and if you like the natural lash look then I don't think you'd be disappointed.
I'm more of a 'wear as much mascara as physically possible' kinda gal.

Covergirl have a lot of mascaras on their site so I might need to pick up some more in the future, are there any you recommend?

Leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading and I shall speak to you soon.

Abi xxx

You can follow me on Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'

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What's In My Glossybox? | March 2016

13/3/2016

8 Comments

Hello Everyone!
Happy Sunday.
I hope you enjoyed last week's post talking about the L'Oreal Infallible 24-H Matte Foundation (here).
As you may know I recently signed up to Glossybox, I was thrilled with what I received in my Starter Box (here) so it I thought it might be nice to post about what I get in each Glossybox, each month and make it a bit of a series here on the blog.

It arrived on Thursday and just like last time, it came beautifully packaged and was tied up with a bow and a little card explaining what each item is and how much it costs full size.

Olay Regenerist Skin Tone Perfecting Cream

I've used the Olay Skin Tone Perfecting Cream twice and I'm already in love with it.
Such a nice formula and feels so lovely on the skin. You can actually feel it improving your skin and it smells delicious too.
You can apply it day and night, I apply mine at night but I think it would make a perfect base for make up. It's supposed to even out dark spots and fine lines and such, so obviously I'll need to keep using it before I comment on that! I really do like it though and if it helps fade my spot scars then I will be buying it full size when it runs out!

Hey Honey Honey Silk Facial Serum

I haven't had chance to use the Hey Honey Facial Serum yet, but as it says on it 'Good Morning' I think I'll use it before I apply my make up. It's a different consistency to the Olay face cream; it's a wetter formula and doesn't absorb as quickly (having smeared it across my hand) but that's ok. It is described as a 'light and luxurious moisturising serum and under make up primer' and it is packed with all sorts of healthy ingredients and vitamins. I think this'll really replenish my skin and I'm looking forward to using it to refresh my skin each morning.

So Susan Light Diffuser Illuminator & Bronze Duo

In my starter box I got the So Susan Highlighter Pencil and wasn't too impressed with it and I'm not blown away with this either. I just don't think it's a brand I'm going to get on with. The quality is ok, the pigmentation is quite subtle so you may enjoy it if you have a fair skin tone. The highlighter is a nice gold shimmer and the bronzer has a shimmer to it too. I think it'd be nice in the summer but it's just not for me! They might make nice eyeshadows though, so I'll persevere.

Luxie 504 Large Angled Face Brush

I've heard of Luxie as I watch Desi Perkins on Youtube and she's been using a lot of their brushes lately and I can see why! The bristles are really soft and the I love the pink handle and rose gold ferrule (metal bit). Ideal for contouring and applying highlighter.

-417 Catharsis Vitamin Mineral Shampoo and Conditioner

I've not heard of this company before but I love the packaging. Apparently they're packed with 'Dead Sea moisture balancing minerals, energising vitamins and essential oils to leave your hair super gleaming, hydrated and lustrous'.
I used it and I liked how it left my hair, it feels clean, smooth and healthy. It's not overly shiny or hydrated but I always blow dry my hair so it's quite damaged! I'll keep using it and I'm sure I'll notice a difference.

Again, I love what I've received and it's such a good saving.
The whole experience is very enjoyable and definitely worth the money in my opinion.
Plus who doesn't love a monthly box of treats?

Are you a Glossie?
Are there other subscription boxes I should know about?
Leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading and I'll speak to you next week!

Abi xxx

You can follow me on Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'

8 Comments

L'Oreal Infallible 24H-Matte Foundation

6/3/2016

4 Comments

Hello Everyone!
Happy Sunday and Happy Mothers' Day too.
I hope you enjoyed last week's post about my first ever Glossybox (HERE).
Today I'll be talking about the L'Oreal Infallible 24H-Matte foundation.
I'm on my second tube of it, so I thought it was about time I talked about it here on the blog.

L'Oreal Infallible 24H-Matte Foundation Review | abibailey.co.uk

On the back of the tube it gives you a run down of the sort of foundation you are getting, which I think is great because you can tell whether it'll be for you, or not, very quickly.
The L'Oreal Infallible 24H-Matte Foundation says it has a medium texture with high coverage and, obviously, has a matte finish.
I agree with all of those statements.
The texture is a thick liquid, thin enough to move around the skin but not so thin that it gives minimal coverage.
The coverage is really good; thick enough to fade out dark spots and blemishes, just make sure you blend, blend, blend as it sets quite quickly.
It is very matte, to the point where you don't need to set it with powder (although I still do) . If you do use powder, use a very light hand as otherwise it can move the foundation around or look cakey. Ew.

Blended lightly straight from the tube.

Set/Oxidised.

I wear the shade '12 Natural Rose'
It only comes in 6 shades though, all for fair to medium skin tones, hopefully they'll expand the range so there are shades for darker skin tones.
Like most foundations it oxidises as it dries, meaning it sets a little bit darker than first applied. It's not noticeable and the only reason I noticed it is when I looked back at the swatch photos I took!
It lasts really well, I find sometimes it looks better at the end of the day!
Not too much wear, and as a gal with quite oily skin, I find I am only a tiny bit shiny on my nose by the middle of the day. Much better than I have been with some other 'mattifying' foundations.
It's a really lovely foundation for those with oily skin.

Do you use the L'Oreal Infallible 24H-Matte foundation?
What do you think of it?
Do you have any recommendations for mattifying foundations?
I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks for reading and I'll speak to you soon,

Abi xxx

You can follow me on Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'

4 Comments

What's In My Glossybox? | First Ever Box

28/2/2016

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Hello Everyone!
Happy Sunday.
I hope you enjoyed last week's post reviewing the E.L.F 'Need It Nude' Eyeshadow Palette (HERE)
Recently, I signed up to Glossybox which is a beauty subscription box service, you pay £10 a month plus postage. I had heard a lot about them and knew they were quite popular, especially among bloggers, and was curious to find out more. I was a bit apprehensive as I was worried it was going to be mainly skincare whereas I'm more of a make up person but when it arrived I was absolutely thrilled with what I received!

What's In My Glossybox | abibailey.co.uk

It comes so beautifully presented - I was blown away!
I love the classy font and the pretty pastel pink of the box; it reminds me of Chanel.

All the items come perched on a bed of tissue paper ribbons and are even tied up with a bow!
You get a card telling you about each item and how much they cost if you were to repurchase them or if you're sent a miniature, how much it'd cost full size - it really is quite a saving.
The first box is like your 'starter kit', once you've filled out your profile with things like skin type, hair type, preferences etc, they'll start being more tailored to you.

Glossybox Eyeshadow in 'Glossy Mauve'

A lovely shimmery purple tone with hints of brown. As a brunette with brown eyes I think this'll suit me just right! Quite pigmented but I haven't had chance to use it yet so I'm not sure how long it lasts.

So Susan Highlighter Pencil

A creamy pale pink highlighter; not a fan of it as a highlighter as it blends away to nothing, but it might be nice as an inner eye brightener on the waterline.

Royal Apothic Cream Crème Moisturising Body Lotion

A really lovely body lotion. It has a really delicate scent; almost unnoticeable. It's not greasy and absorbs quickly which I love, because I can't stand feeling sticky! It's fab and when it runs out I will most certainly be buying more. Essentially everything you could want in a body lotion.

Nailsinc Nail Varnish in 'Uptown'

A beautiful dusky rose - it is really pigmented and has a lovely smooth formula, dries quickly too.

NickaK Professional Airbrush FX Blending Sponge

I was really pleased to receive this as I've been meaning to pick up a beauty sponge for a while now, especially as they're so popular at the moment. I want to know what the hype is about! Looking forward to using this.

All in all, I was blown away with how much I loved this!
I didn't really know what to expect but I am thrilled.
Some really lovely picks and a total variety of skincare, make up and nail care.
Definitely something to please everyone and I can't wait to open my next one.

Maybe I'll make this a continual thing here on the blog? Would that be something you'd be interested in?

Are you signed up to Glossybox? What do you think of it?
Leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading and speak to you soon,
Abi xxx

Follow me on Instagram | Twitter | Bloglovin'

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E.L.F 'Need It Nude' Eyeshadow Palette

21/2/2016

1 Comment

Hello everyone!
Happy Sunday!
Hope you enjoyed last week's post about my Top 5 Pink Lippies.
There's also a new poll at the bottom of it, so if you wanted to answer it that'd be really helpful - I want to create a Facebook page for the blog but I want to know your thoughts first.
Today I'll be showing you the E.L.F 'Need It Nude' Eyeshadow Palette.
I've bought a few things from E.L.F recently which I was a bit disappointed with, but this palette has redeemed my faith! It's fab.

E.L.F Need It Nude Eyeshadow Palette | abibailey.co.uk

The E.L.F 'Need It Nude' Eyeshadow Palette is £12.50 and you get 10 shades in the palette, mainly shimmers with a couple of matte shades. There's a mix of beautiful pinks, golds and browns which I think would suit most skin tones and eye colours.

The variety of colours means you can use them to highlight the brow bone, cover the lid or add some definition with the darker tones. I love that you can create some really pretty, delicate looks or go more dramatic and go for a smoky eye.

The consistency of these shadows is really nice - a creamy powder - it blends really lovely and the pigmentation is really good. They don't stain your skin either which is always a plus!
They don't crease and the pigmentation lasts for hours.

It's a lovely slim palette, so it doesn't take up too much space in your make up bag (or make up draw, in my case) and would be excellent for travel. It has big pans of shadow too which I love because I cannot stand eyeshadow palettes that you have to struggle to get your brush into.

A really lovely eyeshadow palette, I think the price is right and the consistency and pigmentation are great - what more could you want?

Are you a fan of E.L.F Cosmetics? I've been using the same E.L.F eyeshadow brush for years and I wouldn't want to be without it!

Let me know your thoughts- I always love hearing from you!

My new blog is on it's way! It's just taking longer than I had hoped as I've faced a couple of setbacks, but it's getting there I promise.

Thanks for reading and I'll speak to you soon,
Abi xxx

Follow me on Instagram | Twitter | Bloglovin

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Milani 'Luminoso' Baked Blush

7/2/2016

0 Comments

Hello everyone!
Happy Sunday!
As I mentioned in last week's post (here) today I'll be talking about the Milani Baked Blush in the colour 'Luminoso'.

Milani 'Luminoso' Baked Blush | abibailey.co.uk

I know everyone raves about Milani and especially the blushes so I was quite surprised at how reasonable the price point is; I bought this from Amazon for around £4 which I don't think is bad at all! Their cosmetics are generally under £10 and given the high quality of them I think that is pretty damn good.

'Luminoso' is a beautiful glowy peach colour with minute flecks of gold, it is so pigmented and would be perfect as a highlighter too. It's creamy powder consistency and blends lovely.

As a lovely added bonus, there's a mirror and a little brush in the base of the blush.
I probably won't use the brush as I love the blush brush I already use but it'd be perfect to take on the go or if you travel a lot. It might be nice to use to highlight the tops of your cheekbones too.

So those are my thoughts on the Milani 'Luminoso' Baked Blush.
I definitely want to try more Milani cosmetics in the future - are there any you have tried that I'm missing out on? Leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading and I shall speak to you soon!
I'm thinking it'll probably be an E.L.F haul next week so pop back for that.

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram | Twitter | Bloglovin'

Abi xxx

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Real Techniques Deep Cleansing Gel | Review

31/1/2016

2 Comments

Hello Everyone!
Happy Sunday!
I know in last week's post (here) I said that this week's post would be either an E.L.F haul or a Gerard Cosmetics haul, but I picked up this brush cleanser in Superdrug, used it, and was so blown away I just needed to blog about it. The hauls will have to wait!
Everyone knows how good the Real Techniques brushes are so it is no surprise that their brush cleanser is just as fantastic.

Normally, cleaning my brushes is something I put off - I doubt I'm the only one!
It takes ages, you get all messy and they're never 100% clean.
Usually I use liquid soap and make up remover to clean my brushes and it takes me at least 20 minutes minimum.
I used the Real Techniques Deep Cleansing Gel and it took me about 15 minutes to clean 12 brushes!
Here's how dirty my brushes were to start with:

Even the handles were mucky from sitting in my brush pot. Not good enough!
I will get to the review, but first I want to talk about a little silicone brush cleaner I recently bought that sits on your finger tips. I think Real Techniques have bought their own one out but I just bought mine from Amazon and it's made a world of difference!

It cost around £2 and it is so worth the money.
It cleans your brushes better than just using your finger tips and I don't know about you, but I always end up getting pruney fingers and a sore palm!
You just pop it on the end of your index and middle finger like a little glove and you're good to go.
It has two textures so you can clean big brushes such as foundation brushes and little brushes like eyeshadow brushes.

I was going to do a pros and cons list, but I just can't find anything I don't like about it!
So here are the pros:
- It smells delicious; it reminds me of Calippo ice lollies in the summer- it's very fruity.
- It cuts brush cleaning time in half
- A little goes a long way so it'll last you ages
- It costs £6.99 which I think is a reasonable price to pay especially as you get so much of it.
- It's a lovely gel formula which foams up
- It rinses clean really easily.
- I actually enjoyed cleaning them! I know right.
Look how clean my brushes are now!

So those are my thoughts on the Real Techniques Deep Cleansing Gel!
I will definitely be washing my brushes more often from now on.

Leave me a comment from your lovely brain and I will be back next week reviewing the Milani Baked Blush in the colour Luminoso, so pop back for that!

Speak to you soon,
Abi xxx

Don't forget you can follow me on Instagram | Twitter | Bloglovin

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MUA 'Hall Of Fame' Eyeshadow Palette

Mudmasky Facial Detox Purifying Recovery Mask

Cowshed Wild Cow Invigorating Body Lotion

Rae Feather Mini Monogram Pochette

Spa To You Deep Pore Cleansing Facial Brush and Massager

Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in 'Pink Lust'

Round Lipstick in 'Doll'

Jumbo Eye Crayon in 'Milk'

Vivid Brights Liquid Eyeliner in 'Violet'

Face

Eyes

Lips

Blank Canvas Cosmetics F20 Face Brush

Icona Milano Emotion Allowed Waterproof Mascara

Hawaiin Tropic Island Berry Lipgloss

Utan & Tone Nourishing Night Creme

Hairon De-Tangle Brush

Rimmel Match Perfection Silky Loose Powder in '001 Translucent'

Avon Eyeshadow Primer in 'Light Beige'

Rimmel Volume Colourist Mascara in 'Extreme Black'

Ladival Sun Protection Spray SPF 15

De Bruyère Aftersun Lotion Monoï

Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturizer

Emité Make Up Lip & Cheek Tint

Spa To You Konjac Sponge

Aussie Hair Care 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Conditioner

Packaging

Hydra Matte Liquid Lipsticks

Lip Pencil

Star Powder

Removing Make Up

Cleansing

Moisturising

The Packaging

The Contents

Crabtree and Evelyn Hand Therapy

Revlon Ultimate All-In-One Mascara

Bee Good Youth Enhancing Plump & Firm Moisturiser

Absolute New York Velvet Lippie

Loceryl Nail Gel

Eyes

Face

Face Brushes

Eye Brushes

Eyeshadows

Lip Colours

Essence Mosaic Compact Powder

The Body Shop Oils of Life Facial Oil

Leighton Denny Miracle Mist

STYLondon Temporary 'Henna' Tattoos

Studio 10 Brow Lift Perfecting Liner

Eyeshadows

Priming Water

Blush

Lipsticks

Beeper

Solow

Pros

Cons

Olay Regenerist Skin Tone Perfecting Cream

Hey Honey Honey Silk Facial Serum

So Susan Light Diffuser Illuminator & Bronze Duo

Luxie 504 Large Angled Face Brush

-417 Catharsis Vitamin Mineral Shampoo and Conditioner

Glossybox Eyeshadow in 'Glossy Mauve'

So Susan Highlighter Pencil

Royal Apothic Cream Crème Moisturising Body Lotion

Nailsinc Nail Varnish in 'Uptown'

NickaK Professional Airbrush FX Blending Sponge

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