Calvin Klein Delicious Truth Lipstick in Retro

Hi, Hope you are feeling great! Today I'm sharing my most used lipstick (in the past few weeks). Its Calvin Klein's Delicious Truth in the shade Retro. I recently made a few purchases at Fragrance Direct this being one of them. I'd never tried anything from the Calvin Klein range before and when I noticed this reduced from £15.00 to £1.99 I couldn't resist it.

I must admit that the packaging is less than impressive, plain black, dull and boring. Even more shocking the lipstick didn't have it's own box. I know this lipstick was reduced and in the sale but when If I was spending above £10.00 on a Lipstick I'd expect a box (If you don't know already, I love boxes and packaging!!).

The lipstick isn't what I expected at all. It is rather opaque and shiny with just a hint of colour. I do normally prefer a matte colour but that aside, its a very nice natural day to day colour. The image of the colour on the website is VERY misleading, Its more of a bubblegum candy pink than the deep pink I was expecting. There are a few other shades available on the website.

The longevity of this lipstick is quite fair, it lasts an hour or so but after that touch ups are needed to keep that shiny lipstick look. Its an ideal pop in your handbag lipstick for day to day use. My niece (who is still in school) really loves this as its so subtle she can wear it in class. I'd say I'd buy from Calvin Klein in the future although I'd be really reluctant to buy on line without knowing the product or trying a sample. I'm not sure if it was an error by Fragrance direct or Calvin Klein but the description of this lipstick just didn't match the product.

Anyone else found the descriptions a little flawed? Or fell in love with this lipstick?

Much Love
Amy
xoxo

ELF: Eyes Lips Face HD Blush Showstopper

Hello there beautiful! I feel like I've been really neglecting my little blog these past few days and I've even missed two #bbloggers chat's on twitter, shame on me! Unfortunately sometimes life takes over and you just have to put blogging on the back burner. BOO. I do have a little more time to myself these coming days so I will try and schedule and write as often as I can. I'm currently looking for our first family home too, so if any of you lovely lot have interior design or make up storage posts please get in touch! (Email, Twitter or just leave a comment).

Today's post is about ELF HD Blush in Showstopper. I had a little spare cash floating around in a paypal account and decided to buy myself some new make up, I wanted to try something that I wouldn't normally go for and this really caught my eye. I do absolutely adore blush but always seem to go for palettes, powders or creams so this squirty bottle was something a little new to me. I'd never normally buy plum colour blushes, I'm very much a coral or pink girl but I do feel that sometimes I miss out of discovering some fantastic products for fear of the unknown. The colour doesn't look as Harsh once its been blended properly although it is still a really strong well pigmented colour. I would like to try more colours from the range,because as much as I do love this I feel it would suit my skin tone better in winter months. It does look more of a deep plum pink on the skin.

The Blush isn't the easiest of blushes to use. The tiniest amount goes a LONG way. If you do buy this use the smallest amount you can and build it up to get the desired effect that you want, otherwise that blob is really going to make you look clown like. I did squirt this onto the palm of my hand and use my Real Techniques Stippling brush and after a little practice I managed to get this to sit and look perfect and flawless. The product is very fluid and personally I feel it adds a little stain to the cheek. Its best to be quick with this Blush. I'm not so sure where the HD comes into it in my opinion Bourjois cream blushes photograph and wear better.

The packaging is really quite nice. Its plain and sophisticated. Its great that you can see the colour of the product through the casing. The pump works brilliantly and its easy to choose how much or little you want to dispense. This blush cost me £3.75 for 10 ml. It Isn't as cheap as some other blushes made by ELF but I think they have the pricing just right. I wouldn't pay any more for this as as its fiddly to apply but I feel that once its on, it deserves its price tag. Maybe a tweak in formula to make this a little creamier would be the answer. Overall a good cheap cream blush, good pigmented colour but a little monster to apply.

Anyone else got this blush? or a HD blush? What do you think?

Much Love
Amy
xoxo

NOTD Nail Of The Day Essie Tour De Finance

Hello lovelies! After placing a naughty little order from Fragrance Direct I was excited when this lovely bottle of Essie Nail polish dropped through my letter box. I've never used an Essie nail polish before (shock horror!) quite simply because there were no local retailers I was aware of without travelling all the way to the Metro Centre. When I spotted the varnish on the website I couldn't help but add it to my basket. To the best of my knowledge Essie polishes normally retail at around £7.99 so this was just a snip at £1.99. I chose the shade Tour De Finance as I really love pink nails. A touch of pink and i feel so incredibly girly and ready to take on the summer sun. I really like the Essie brand and will purchase more from them BUT I must say, I will remain loyal to Barry M as its cheaper and equal in quality, unless there is a alternate shade I really want. The wider applicator brush is great too.

I do think the colour would look gorgeous with nice neat long nails. Unfortunately I'm continually snipping and filing my nails so I don't snag them and scratch my little boy. So they don't look at feminine as I would like. Never Mind. The flash of Pink is all I need to add a touch of Glam.

I hope you like this shade as much as me. What are your fave nail shades? How many Essie Varnishes do you own?

Much Love
Amy
xoxo

Baby Soft Skin... Baby Bath Borrows.

Hey there. There's no denying we all strive for fresh looking, young skin. If you think of who in the world has the most perfect skin, it's got to be a babies hasn't it? So why not take heed from our little loved ones and lend their bath time basics? I use so many of my little boys products for my own vanity purposes and I always feel like I'm using something pure and gentle when I use something of his. Manufacturers of baby products must have spent millions on designing perfect products for the most sensitive skins. What's even more satisfying than knowing I'm using something gentle is the cost. Baby products these days are so very inexpensive these days and they could really give some premium high end beauty products a run for their money. All of the products I've featured retail at around £2.00 and they are available pretty much anywhere! I buy my baby basics from Boots as I collect points so I can buy myself a little something nice now and again.

Johnson's Cotton Buds:

I absolutely adore these buds. They are really versatile, If ever I have a little imperfection with my Make-Up I use a little bud dipped in remover and I can clean up the error with precision. I enjoy painting my nails but unfortunately I'm not blessed with the steadiest of hands so again a little nail varnish soaked on the end of a bud and it works like the eraser on the end of a pencil. 

Baby Oil: 

Baby Oil comes in really handy for removing false eyelashes. A little bit on the end of a cotton bud and a few rubs and viola! removal without pulling out pretty lashes. A few drops of baby oil in your bath or massaged onto the body works wonders for dry skin. It can be used to aid tanning to  but personally I feel that it should be avoided and we should always use a sun screen or something with SPF designed to enhance tan. Burnt red skin never looks good. 

Johnson's Baby Powder: 

This is one of the products i don't tend to use as often BUT it still has its place. If I run out of dry shampoo and don't have time for a wash I massage the tiniest bit through my roots and ends and my hair looks a lot cleaner. I use the powder after a bath or swimming too, It always makes clothes or pyjamas feel soo much better and you can't beat the smell of talcum powder. 

Johnson's Baby Shampoo: 

My most used baby borrow. I'm guessing if you are taking time to read my beauty blog you wear make up right? So that means you'll use make up brushes to apply lovely goodies? Well that means you need Baby Shampoo in your life. Its really important to wash your brushes/ sponges and keep everything sanitised and hygienic so that you not only get best results but prevent infection too. I have tried a million and one brush cleaners and I feel baby shampoo achieves the deepest most gentle clean. I really like MAC's brush cleaner but it is a lot more expensive and when you need to clean on a regular basis and you have a lot of brushes it works out a dear do. The shampoo leaves my Real Techniques brushes feeling like brand new. 

Pampers Baby Wipes:

I know how important skincare routine is but as a new mummy I don't always get time to adhere to routine as much as I'd like. So If I don't have time to remove all of my make up, cleanse, tone and moisturise, I use a baby wipe for a quick freshen up and to remove any grime. The wipes hold their moisture too so they last a long time. They are very gentle so even the most sensitive of skins can use wipes. I have a horse and when I do have time to go out riding, some of the tracks and routes I use can be very dusty so when I return from my ride, Its nice to give my face and neck a quick once over to feel clean and free from pore clogging dust. ERGH!

Do you have any products that you use for a different purpose? Or have any Baby goodies you use? 

Much Love 

Amy

xoxo

Garnier Skin Naturals Moisture Match

Hello there beautiful. Hope you have had a lovely weekend! I want to introduce you all to my newest little addition to my skincare routine and oh what a shooting star it is. I requested a moisturiser trial from Garnier a little while ago and they sent me three different samples from the Moisture Match range. There are five different combinations so ideally I feel they should have sent a trial of them all to ensure I had all the combinations to tailor the products to my skin type. That said, It was really easy for me to decide which moisturiser would be best for me. The range includes Protect and Glow, Start Afresh, Goodbye Dry, Wake Me Up ans Shine Be Gone. There was no doubt about it I'd need Goodbye Dry. I was going to wait for my current moisturiser to run out and then purchase the Garnier but I quite simply couldn't wait when I noticed the amazing offer in ASDA whereby these moisturisers were just £3.00 Yes, you read that right. What a bargain.

First of all isn't this packaging just the sweetest? It's very girly yet fresh looking. I love that the moisturiser comes in a little box too, I don't know why but I do have somewhat of a love affair with pretty packages in boxes. The instructions are clear and simple and easy to read.
Secondly wow! This Moisturiser is just the best. I don't even know where to start. From the first application my skin felt so very hydrated, It simply drank this product. It absorbed into my skin very quickly. Brilliant if you are in a rush. I do tend to find I'm prone areas of skin that can be exceptionally dry and my make up and other cosmetics never really sit well where my skins imperfections stamp their feet. I say stamp their feet because I have tried scrubs, moisturisers and everything in between to try and tackle these problem areas but nothing that doesn't break the bank has ever really worked (Yes SK-II, I would have loved to have repurchased you but you are just too darn costly!) This moisturiser has literally balanced my skin. To look at now, anyone would think I have normal skin with a really healthy glow.

The consistency of the cream is just beautiful. It didn't feel gloopy or greasy. It is very rich so just a small amount goes a long way. The cream smells very pleasant too. I have noticed a really big improvement to the texture of my skin, it's less flaky, less patchy and I have barely had an imperfection since using this moisturiser. I don't know about you but I do tend to find my sensitive skin can flare up when I alter my skincare routine so it was nice to use a product that is so gentle, my skin didn't notice a change only improvement.

I simply cannot rave about these moisturisers enough. Brilliant value for money even at full retail price (Still under £10.00). They all appear to do exactly what they were designed to do. There are a million and one moisturisers out there on the market but if you want one to work, use Moisture Match. The easiest way to achieve the desired finish you want for your skin.

Anyone else in love with Garnier? What Variant will suit your skin type?

Much Love
Amy
xoxo

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

Hi! Having a six month old can be very tiring and sometimes sleep just doesn't happen. A mixture of these two can leave your skin feeling rather undesirable. I think all new mums (and mums who have been mums for quite a while) always want to look at there best and like they have had a good nights sleep (even if they haven't). I need something to "Wake Me Up" and say bye bye to tiredness. 

I've been a blog reader for quite some time now and although I do occasionally jump on the "hype" bandwagon, when this product started popping up all over, left right and centre on every blog page going, It didn't appeal to me. Its only since becoming a mummy that It's started to gain my interest. I have followed the lovely Kayleigh at her Couture Girl blog since she started it, I really love some of the products Kayleigh features and after whilst searching for a miracle product I noticed this foundation popping up on her blog quite a lot I decided to give it a try! Thanks for the posts Kayleigh keep up the good work!  

The Packaging is really nice. I love the bright acid orange cap. It makes it so easy to find this foundation when your rummaging around in your make up bag. The instructions and information are clear, well written and easy to follow. As far as appearance goes, this drug store foundation is a winner. No one can accuse this of being boring. 

This Foundation is really very versatile. No matter what skin type you have, it seems to adapt to give you good coverage and it really hides problem areas. My mum uses this foundation now too and no matter what age you are it just seems to work. It doesn't sit in any lines, it blends really well (I use fingers or my Real Techniques Brushes). 

My normal Foundation is Chanel and as much as I love it, I prefer the consistency of Rimmel. It isn't as runny or liquid so it is easier to apply. It feels more like a face cream than a foundation. Rimmel have really got the formula right as its not heavy or "cakey" either. The Foundation is build-able so no matter what type of coverage you want, you can achieve those results. 

This foundation does contain a slight shimmer but it is barely noticeable, the little hint of shimmer simply makes you look more freshened. It's a really dewy foundation and it brightens up your face without leaving you concious of feeling like a disco ball. The foundation sits on the skin really well and doesn't look patch or uneven.When the foundation is applied flaws are barely visible, so if like me you suffer from the occasional blemish, or like my mum who has rosea, this will hide everything. Team it with a good primer, good concealer and even the most problem of skins will look perfected. Hd photograph ready. 

The product has really good staying power, even after a long day of running around doing the shopping, washing, bottles, hoovering, mopping, cooking, cleaning and having my six month old spit his broccoli at me and, I still maintain a bit of glam. 

A yummy mummy essential, and if like Kate Moss you like to party, its perfect for you too, and your nan. 

Anyone else use this? What do you think? 

Much Love

Amy

xoxo

  

Barry M: Turn My Lips Pink: The Green One: Lipstick

Hey there! Hope you are feeling well! Today I'm sharing yet another lip product with you all. I'd say that my favourite beauty product is blush, yet I always seem to own more lipsticks than anything else. I suppose it's a woman's prerogative!

I really love Barry M, I think its a really affordable brand they have a nice wide choice of products and colours. In the past I have mainly stuck to using Barry M nail varnishes, Check out my summer shades post here), but I decided to branch out and try a lipstick for a change.

TMPL Really caught my eye. On first inspection I was a little puzzled, surely nobody wears green on their lips right? I know Jennifer Lopez has gone all yellow on us all but she's Jennifer Lopez. TMLP or Turn My Lips Pink does exactly what it says on the casing. In the Casing the lipstick is a really bright slime green colour, It reacts with the PH level in your lips and turns the correct shade of pink for whoever uses it. Its personalised lip stick, what's not to love?

I've swatched the lipstick on my hand (I know that's not ideal but I really couldn't get the product to stand out on my lips to photograph, the images just didn't do the product justice), For me this lipstick turns a pale pink colour just ever so slightly darker than my own natural pout colour. I'm happy that it looks natural as I have LOTS of lip products that completely change the appearance of my lips whereas this seems to accentuate them.

The lipstick is really easy to apply, It doesn't go "cakey" and smells quite nice too. Its very moisturising and doesn't dry your lips out. Barry M say that the product lasts 6 hours and I agree with the longevity provided there' no food or drink involved. I picked up TMLP from Boots and it cost £4.49, so It's fairly priced.

If you want a change from standard lip products, give it a go!

What shade did you get? Do you like the unknown?

Much Love
Amy
xoxo