Estée Lauder Pure Colour Crystal Lipstick

Estée Lauder as a brand, always promise great quality for a steep but highly justifiable price. I am sure everyone has heard of their cult classic foundation, Double Wear and almost everybody has spent what feels like forever, wishing they would bring back that limited edition 'Tease' blush that seems incomparable with anything else. Yet, I have never heard much talk about their lip products so I decided to bite the bullet and buy one myself. The Estée Lauder Pure Colour Crystal Lipstick (£21) in Crystal Baby has a creme formula and a sheer pigmentation. It is perfect for an everyday lipstick that you can just throw on without a mirror handy. The colour is a nude pink with a subtle shimmer that sounds scary but do not worry, it is a far cry from being frosty so you will not be looking like a 70-year-old cougar. The packaging is weighty with a gold finish that feels the epitome of luxury, a good thing considering the price. This type of lipstick has an abundance of beneficial ingredients including Shea Butter thus feeling completely comfortable on the lips and leaving them moisturised but still with a decent wear time. If you are after an everyday lip product or want to splash the cash on a high-end lipstick that you are guaranteed to get your money's worth out of, then definitely go and check these out!

Let me know what you think in the comments!

Have you tried any Estée Lauder lip products? 

Fragrance Favourites for S/S

Besides make-up, fragrance is my all time favourite thing to purchase wether its because they're often cased in killer packaging or because it adds a feminine touch to any look. Nothing seems to be more uplifting than spritzing on a tantalising perfume before walking out the door. Switching up your fragrance choices is the perfect segue for the transition from the winter to spring. So this is why I decided to share three of my all time favourite fragrances for the warmer months, so you can feel inspired to shake up your fragrance stash ready for spring/summer. 

First up is the MAC Turqautic fragrance (£38.50 for 50ml) that featured in my March favourites. I know what you're thinking - MAC do perfume?! Not only do they do perfume but those clever clogs at MAC headquarters have created the most amazing summer scent, cased in a gorgeous oblong-shaped cube that connotes cool underwater vibes. I spritzed this on my wrist when making a purchase at the counter and ten minutes later I was back in store, picking it up to purchase. The aquatic packaging mimics the the fragrance ingredients as it contains anemone, lotus and Corsican blue cedar to name a few. The fragrance lasts well throughout the day so rarely requires a top up and has already drawn in many compliments from others. If you are looking for a new fresh scent for this summer, I seriously recommend checking this out! 

Next up is the plenty raved about fragrance, Molecule 01 from Escentric Molecules. The innovative idea behind this product is what initially sold it to me in the first place. The fragrance is unisex so pretty much everybody in your household can use it, making the steep price tag of £65.50 for 100ml, slightly less horrifying. The main ingredient in this fragrance is the chemical iso E super, the base note that is often used to create allure in a scent. Therefore, this perfume has a unique scent for everybody meaning no two people will smell the same but they will still most definitely smell good. The undertones of this perfume are subtle and sultry but work all year round. If you purchase this bottle, you can be ensured you can wear it all day, everyday, through every single season. Therefore, it's more an investment piece, right? The only downside to this fragrance is that it is fairly difficult to smell on yourself thus giving the false conception that it's worn off yet the compliments will still be flooding in from everyone else around you. Trust me. 

Finally, is of course the number one summer fragrance in my eyes. The Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess. This only comes out once a year during summer, is incredibly limited edition and is basically summer in a bottle. A spritz of this fragrance is enough to make you crave a tropical vacation in paradise. Featuring ingredients such as coconut milk, lemon mandarin and magnolia petals, this scent is addictive. The scent is light but alluring and is enough to get anyway excited for the heat of summer. I have already written a raving review about this fragrance last summer on my blog so do go and check that out if you want to know more about what this fragrance contains. 

I would love to know your thoughts in the comments.

What are your favourite fragrances for S/S? 

August Favourites 2014

It's the beginning of September, so that means it's August favourites time! This month I pretty much established an 'everyday make up routine' due to the fact that I found a palette of colours and finishes that worked well for me. So seeing as I've been using pretty much the same products on a daily basis, this meant that it was pretty simple to round up my favourite products from the month of August.

First things first, a rather overused and well-loved eyeliner pencil from Rimmel. This is the Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal pencil in the shade Nude. Nude eyeliners are simple but extremely effective when it comes to making the eyes appear more bright and wide awake. I've used this everyday this month and traded it in for my typical black eyeliner to adopt a fresher brighter complexion for the sunny months. This is ultra pigmented and honestly stays in place all day, I highly, highly recommend it! Next up is one of my all time favourite (and expensive) blushers I own. This little sleek, black package of beauty is the Le Blush Créme De Chanel in the shade 64 Inspiration. This gives a beautiful, natural flushed appearance to the cheeks with a satin finish that lasts and lasts all day, better than any other blush I've tried. The colour is build-able so wether you want a slight wash of colour or an intense pop to the cheeks, it's really up to you. Another product that I've used non-stop this month is the Dior Addict Gloss in the shade 257 Venus. This is just a really pretty pinky-nude with a shimmery, ultra-shine finish that looks beautiful with any make up look. This is my go-to lipgloss on a daily basis as it looks so natural but still very lovely. This next favourite is definitely my 'most loved' of the month and that is my MAC Pro Palette, I've been using at least one of the four shades in this palette everyday this month and I honestly can't get enough. My favourite eyeshadow combination that I've fallen in love with is the shade Naked Lunch washed over the lid with Mythology blended through the crease and then Nylon dotted onto my tear duct, all of which creates a simplistic but 'pretty in pink' smokey eye. Next up is a fragrance favourite,  this being Estée Lauder's Modern Muse - a repurchase of mine that I bought and loved all through A/W 2013 and used up way before the first signs of Summer. I then tried to dabble in some other perfumes that were more fitting for the S/S months but now the weather is cooling down and thicker coats and leather boots are making an appearance on the runway, I decided to repurchase this beautiful fragrance and have loved it even more. Last up is a revolutionary product when it comes to self-tan. Of course, it's by St Tropez, my favourite fake-tan brand and it's their Self Tanning Express Bronzing Mousse which is basically a beautifully bronzed self-tan in a bottle where you can choose the depth of colour depending on when you wash it off. You can let it develop for just an hour for a light wash of colour of three hours for a deep, dark bronzed glow that carries on developing for up to eight hours and the colour pay-off can last up to a week. If you love fake-tan then I seriously suggest splashing the cash on this one!

Let me know what you think in the comments.

What products have you been loving in the month of August? 

Fragrance| Limited Edition Esteé Lauder Bronze Goddess

Introducing the most perfect summer fragrance which has awarded a special place on my fragrance shelf and has tempted me on numerous occasion over the past few years to stock up on copious amounts of these limited edition bottles so I will never be without this gorgeous, gold packaged, Goddess. Esteé Lauder's Bronze Goddess 100ml (£47) truly is Summer in a bottle, with scents that remind me of sandy beaches, salty sea water and coconut sun cream. This fragrance radiates warmth making you feel heavenly bronzed a unique touch for a Summer fragrance. 

Esteé Lauder themselves state that this is the fragrance 'that worships every inch of you' and I really do agree. The fragrance is heavy but not overwhelming and applies more like a body spray that lasts all day giving off addictive bursts off fragrance that create a sense of nostalgia and is enough to win over even the biggest Summer Scrooge. 

The Bronze Goddess fragrance is concocted with various different ingredients which awaken the senses allowing them to be whisked away to a hot, Summers day. Picture this: The Warmth of the Sun  created with the likes of Amber, Sandalwood, Coconut Milk and a personal favourite of mine, Myrrh and that is really just to name a view. Then we have the Warmness of the Golden Sand best served between our toes and created with Lemon, Mandarin and Orange. And finally the Bronzed Skin that most woman crave in summer which is made up of a mixture of different floral scents including Jasmine, Lavender and Magnolia Petals. When all of this is wrapped up in a beautiful gold, reflective bottle, there really is little to no reason why everyone shouldn't have this in their collection ready for S/S. 

I can honestly say I loved it the first time I smelt it two years ago and it hasn't left my mind since until I finally bought it for this Summer.  For any of you that do want try it, you are certainly in for a treat. This fragrance is the ultimate womanly scent that everyone needs in their collection. Be quick though, as this scent is only around for a limited time only and if you don't snap it up quick you may find yourself having to wait a whole other year till next Summer, like my silly self, until you're finally reunited with it again. 

I hope you enjoyed this review.

Let me know what you think in the comments.

What's your favourite Summer fragrance? 

Beauty| High End HAUL! ft. Mac and Zoeva

Earlier this week I uploaded pictures of my Drugstore Cosmetics Haul which marked the end of my six week spending ban. A monumental occasion, I know. Unfortunately, (but also quite fortunately) the money spending didn't stop there and I decided to dabble a bit online with endless scrolling on websites such as Mac Cosmetics, to name a few. I personally cannot get enough of other peoples high end shopping hauls as at times I find myself to be a cosmetics snob and get much more pleasure and excitement when buying things from a premium brand. A blessing for me and my skin but definitely a curse for my bank balance. I've made a personal agreement with myself that once I have bought all of the items below I will lay the card to rest for a bit, at least until next pay day anyway. Here is a brief rundown of each item. I will be doing separate and more in-depth reviews on every said item below, on the blog, in the next few weeks so keep your eyes peeled! 

                                     

Elizabeth Arden's 'Untold' 30ml £35

A sexy, womanly fragrance that's sophisticated yet pretty and perfect for all ages. Not to mention the beautiful, diamond-like bottle that shares a similar resemblance by shape and shine to a huge engagement ring.

                                       

Estée Lauder's 'Bronze Goddess'  100ml £47

The perfect summer fragrance. One spritz takes me back to sandy beaches, a hot sun and coconut smelling sun cream. The long-lasting smell is also a nice touch too. 

Mac Pro Palette x 4 £6.50 and 'All That Glitters' £10

The second of a Mac Pro Palette which has started off with a bang with a beautiful, iridescent pinky nude that I just can't wait to try. This also warrants more shopping as I can't just leave all those empty spaces! 

Mac Mineralize Skin Finish in 'Soft & Gentle' £22

Probably one of my all time favourite cosmetic items. A beautiful highlighter that transforms the face and emphasises the high points. This beauty will always have a place in my heart and make up bag. 

Zoeva Rose Golden Luxury Set £48

I have waited a long, long time for these and they were sure worth the wait. Never have I seen such beautiful brushes. I think my soft spot for rose gold plays a key part in this love affair. The quality of these brushes are amazing and the softness is slightly overwhelming. I'm almost too scared to use these encase a damage the beautiful exterior. 

I hope you enjoyed this High End Beauty Haul. As I said before I will be doing full reviews on these items over the next few weeks. I really hope you enjoyed having a little look in and if you have done anything similar please comment down below!

I'm also running a Giveaway on my blog where one lucky person can be in for the chance of winning three Essie Nail Varnishes. To enter click here and complete each entry on the Rafflecopter. Good luck!

Let me know what you think in the comments.

Have a good day! 

Beauty| Estée Lauder Sumptuous Waterproof Mascara

 Estée Lauder, for me, is the go-to brand when on the hunt for good quality products in excellent packaging. I've been an avid lover of their Double Wear Foundation (review here) for years and have recently nominated their Sumptuous Extreme Mascara (review here) as one of my all time favourites. This is why it hits even harder to home when you find a product that is less then satisfactory in terms of quality and being cost effective. After being very impressed with their Sumptuous Extreme Mascara I decided to branch out ever so slightly and purchase the Sumptuous Waterproof Mascara to see how this performed. I've never really given many Waterproof mascara's a go because the forever-staying quality never acted as much of an attraction but I was eager to know what I might be missing which in this case, wasn't much!

This mascara promises to be 'bold and uplifting' a quality I definitely agree with. This really did give me lengthened, thicker lashes and performed in that area almost perfectly much like the original Sumptuous Extreme. Alas, there was already a negative surfacing at this point and this is the incredible amount of clumping that comes with the application. The formula is most definitely not build-able and often found myself having to give up and go out into the world with spiders legs for lashes - not my ideal look. It was hard to manipulate once the lashes had been coated which often led to even more clumps or one big monstrous eyelash which I don't think anyone really aims for. 

Estée Lauder also state that the lashes will be 'virtually indestructible' which is another trait thats very accurate. Once applied there isn't much they will make this budge for a standard length of time. Come wind, rain or shine your lashes will be coated base to tip in this product. The same goes when trying to remove this product. No wet wipe, cleansing cream or balm will effectively get this off. I've put my most highly commended cleansers to the test and none of them have managed to rid me off the panda eyes look the following morning. This might be a quality some of you may look for but I personally like to remove my make up quickly and effectively, an impossibility with this. The main negative of this mascara was the fall out which became an ever-growing problem once the formula had gotten wet. If you were to be caught in the rain wearing this expect hard, clumps of mascara in your eye, a massive issue for something that needs to be effectively waterproof. It became a vicious cycle after a while. My lashes got wet, clumps fell into my eye, made my eyes water, more clumps fell - not great! I just thank the heavens it was fragrance free. 

One definite positive that comes at no surprise with Estée Lauder products is the packaging. A gorgeous metallic blue colour with the signature gold in a band along the top of the base. The only negative to this being that it's reflective and so taking pictures of it proved to be a challenge but that really is a minor set back. It feels classy and expensive in a decent sized tube that allows for plenty of product effectively making it last a long time.  I can't majorly fault the brush either. For something so thin it really was great at thickening my lashes and adding heaps of length and was good enough at getting the hard-to-reach lashes along the edges. I just think it could improve on its separation technique!

Priced at £20.50 it's expensive and almost not really worth the steep price tag. I feel there are many high street mascara's out there that are just as good if not better! All in all not an overly positive review on a product from one of my favourite brands. I am in no means trying to convince you out of buying this product as it does the job it's intended to do excellently and it seems for every negative review regarding this mascara there are a few positives but I personally will not be repurchasing this once the tube has eventually ran out. 

Let me know what you think in the comments.

What products have not exceeded your expectations?

Make Up| Estée Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara

Hi everyone!

Today I'm reviewing one of my all time favourite Mascara's which is the Estée Lauder Sumptuous Extreme in Extreme Black. I have naturally long eyelashes but still look for something that will multiply as well as magnify. I mainly look for Mascara's that can give me a good amount of volume and this item definitely promises that! The actual product contains a blend of three different fibres in a mousse-like base that helps to create the excessive amount of volume in which I crave. 

I love the look of the packaging especially. Like most of Estée Lauder's products, it looks luxurious and classy with the gold finish and the logo printed elegantly in italics along the side. I love the size as well as at first glance my mind instantly thinks big, bold packaging gives a look to match this. 

The brush is pretty big which I can appreciate isn't for everybody as it most definitely isn't ideal when trying to coat the hard to reach lashes (enter the Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara review here) but the two types of bristles carry a good amount of product. The fibres are also fairly solid meaning they work well when separating each lash to give that false lash effect. This product can often clump especially in the first few applications but I found this was no longer an issue after a short while. 

I would definitely say this Mascara promises you a good amount of volume and long, curvy eyelashes. What more could you possibly want? Priced at £22 this would have to be the biggest downside. I don't necessarily think this particular high end Mascara is miles in front of a decent drugstore product when it comes to quality. Especially when a drugstore mascara would probably be half the price but it's still nice to splash the cash and treat yourself to a bit of luxury once in a while, isn't it? 

Thanks for reading!

Let me know what you think in the comments.

What's your favourite Mascara? 

Fragrance| Estée Lauder Modern Muse

Hello!

A nice early morning post for you all today.

I'm going to give you a quick review about one of my favourite fragrances the 

Estée Lauder Modern Muse Eau De Parfum.

I've had this for about 3 months and I honestly can not get enough of it.

This fell into my hands by accident and I blame the sales assistant because she did the usual Estée trick and sprayed the tissue paper that was covering my foundation (Estée Lauder Double Wear review here) and I was hooked!

First of all, it's like a love hate relationship with the packaging. I love the clear simplistic style of the body of the bottle and I love the bow elements but I don't know if it looks necessarily 'right' framing the square spray but I do think it looks really classy all the same. Well it IS Estée Lauder. The scent is a mixture between floral and sensual woods such as Suede Musk, Amber Wood and Honeysuckle Nectar with a hint of Vanilla and the contrasts between the two dominative notes makes the smell even more so amazing. The smell itself is meant to resemble the Modern Day woman, the contrast being between her life and personality and I definitely agree that it captures her creative energy and femininity as it does to whoever is wearing this. 

I have most definitely received the most comments on this fragrance then any other. I find the smell is actually distinctive and lasts a long time - perfect!

I would also honestly say, being Estée Lauder, this is perfect for all age types. 

I have no preference on wether to wear this in Summer or Winter as I feel the floral hints make it a perfect Summer fragrance where as the sensual woods have a heavy, Wintery musk that make it feel warm and feminine. 

Priced at £44 for the 30ml, I must say, I was expecting a lot worst and I happily shoved my card into the machine without a second thought.

Have you tried it? What did you think?

Tell me your favourite fragrance in the comments, I'm always on the hunt for something new!

Make Up| Everyday Make Up Look

Hi everyone! 

This is just a quick photo post on my usual everyday make up!

I'm currently loving a eyeshadow combo of Half Baked and Chopper from the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette (review coming soon!)

Liquid or gel eyeliner is a must in my everyday make up routine. I feel naked without something lining my eyes! 

I like to go for a dewey finish which is usually achieved with the help of my Urban Decay Illuminator (review here) and Clarins primer (review here).

Let me know what you guys think!

What product do you wear everyday without fail? 

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Make Up| FOTD Amateur

Hi everyone!

Thought I would do a quick face of the day with some shameless selfies. This is just a really simple eye look with a nudey-pink lip. I'll put all details on what I'm wearing below! 

Face

Clarins Eclat Minute Instant Light Complexion Perfector in 00 Rose Shimmer

Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation in Shade 2.0

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer in 02 

Mac Mineralize Skin finish in Light

Sleek Face Contour Kit in Light

Accessorize Baked Blusher in 5 Sensation

Urban Decay Illuminated Powder (review here)

Eyes

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette - Half Baked, Snake Bite, Busted

Benefit Browzings in Medium

Benefit They're Real Mascara

Lips

Bourjois Rouge Edition in 06 Rose Coquette 

I'm aware I am no professional, I thought I'd just put this on for an extra bonus post for today!

Let me know what you think?

What can't you leave the house without? 

Make Up| Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation

Hello!

Today I am reviewing my all time favourite foundation the Estée Lauder Double Wear. I, like I suspect most of you, have tried many different foundations from drugstore to high end and have tested powders, gel-based, liquid, mousse the list goes on! I'm not saying that I have never liked another foundation but it always seems no matter how long I have ventured away I always end up coming back to this one because it is just perfect for me! 

                                                   

Mine is in the colour 1C0 shell which I find to be a perfect match. They have a large range of colours that are broken down into three groups: cool, neutral and warm and which offer different undertones for each and every person and all contain SPF 10. It is definitely a medium to high coverage so for those of you who prefer something a bit natural, this might not be for you. It's said to have 15 hour lasting power and to be honest I don't disagree, I would be able to put this on in the morning before a long shift at work or a day at uni and not have to really touch it again at all. I feel it gives a flawless finish and despite it being a heavier coverage it does look natural on the skin. It also doesn't feel to heavy once applied and considering it's both heat-proof and water-resistant it's still suitable in the hot conditions as it doesn't just feel like it's melting of your face like some foundations I have tried! 

The packaging is glass and looks as well as feels expensive. The only problem I really find with it is that it has no pump as such so the liquid is there to pour out freely meaning there's a threat of wasting some of the product and priced at £28.50 this is really not ideal!

All in all it is a great product and I could not recommend it highly enough!

                                                 Have you tried it? What do you think?

                               

                                                                            xx