November 2014 Favourites

I'm back!

It's been a while since I last posted, but I have a good excuse (I think so, anyway) - I started University!  I'm studying Journalism & English and I've been busy learning and filling my head with all sorts of knowledge etc.

But that doesn't mean I haven't been spending my student loan on new products to try...

I thought I'd try something new, and attempt a 'favourites' blog.  Some of the things I mention may get their own, more in-depth blog posts, but this is what's happening right now, and I'm ok with that!

There were a WHOLE heap of things I was loving in November, and it definitely helped that it was my birthday on the 1st, and my lovely and amazing fiance took me into Boots and told me, basically, to choose my weapon.

I chose the Naked 3 palette from Urban Decay.

I haven't tried a Naked palette before, shocking I know.  But I was just ready.  I was ready to try out these shadows that everyone just KEPT banging on about on YouTube and blogs and in my actual IRL life.

I'm now one of those people.  It's Christmas soon and the other two palettes are on my list for Santa (aka Chris).

The shadows are super pigmented, last all day with a primer, and most of the day without.  The colours in Naked 3 are beautiful pink and brown tones, and it's perfect for creating a more natural smokey eye look.

The brush that comes with it is okay, but I prefer using my Real Techniques brushes to apply and blend.

My typical everyday eye look is Limit in the crease, Nooner on the outer corner, Strange and Dust as an inner corner highlight and Trick on the lid.  I might add in some Darkside or Blackheart on the upper lash line if I want a more defined/dramatic look.  

I love it, I'm not sure how I lived without it, and I recommend that everyone read the rest of this post and then go out and buy it.

The Naked 3 Palette retails at £37, and despite searching far and wide, I haven't managed to find it any cheaper.

Next up on my Oh-My-God-How-Did-I-Live-Without-This list is the 1995 lipstick by Jaclyn Hill for Gerard Cosmetics.

Holy crap, did I even have a mouth before I bought this lipstick?  If yes, why wasn't I wearing this lipstick sooner?

I'm not even slightly exaggerating when I say that this is the best lipstick in the world and you need to own it.

Again, I'd seen it reviewed over and over on YouTube and figured it was just being hyped up because they were sponsored posts etc.  It wasn't until my friend Jess reviewed it that I even considered getting it.

I ordered it through the Gerard Cosmetics website, and it arrived from the US within about 10 days, which is pretty good going, I think.  Most things I order from the UK take about that long to get to me.

I tried it on and fell in love.  It's a matte shade, but it's creamy and moisturising and doesn't make my mouth feel all weird and gross like some others have in the past.  It's the most beautiful shade, and whilst I admit I expected it to be lighter, I really love that it's a few shades darker than my natural lip colour.

It has pretty good staying power if I wear it alone, but it's better if I line my lips with the Topshop lip liner in the shade Ceramic.  If I want really long wear from it, I'll put a bit of LipCote on top.

I've ordered two more of the exact same shade, to make sure I don't run out, and I'm 99% sure that it won't be my last order.

It retails at around £12 + P&P, but if you want to get free international delivery and 20% off to make it £9 total (who wouldn't?) just use the code FREEDELI at the checkout :)

Those are the two things I've loved the most for the past month, but there are a few other things that have definitely been up there on my list of things that made my life even better than it was. (They aren't beauty related, but they are great).

Prison Break.

I've been re-watching Prison Break with Chris, and I know I said I want the other two Naked Palettes for Christmas, but Santa, if you're reading this, I would gladly accept either Wentworth Miller or Dominic Purcell as an alternative.  Both if you think I've been really good this year.

The show is fantastic, it has a great concept, excellent actors and just... I mean, Prison Break!

10/10, all the awards, do watch.

Emma by Jane Austen

I've always thought about reading those Classic novels everyone always mentions, and never had the will-power to do it.  

Then, when Emma was on my assigned reading list for uni, I didn't have a choice not to read it (well, I did, but I would fail my course).  

Emma is perfect.  The story, not the character. 

Emma herself is full of imperfections and has an ego the size of the moon, and once I got past the 18th century language, I really enjoyed the book.  It was well written (obviously), interesting and funny.  I never expected it to be funny, I'm not sure why.

If you're ever thinking of reading this, don't put it off, you can pick it up for literally about 10p on amazon or eBay.

I may have saved the best 'till last here.  

Myself and Chris would like to announce that we have added two new members to our family...

Introducing Lumos and Knox, our incredibly adorable chinese dwarf hamsters, whom I love more than life itself, even when they pee on me.

They are tiny and cute and I just want to spend all my day watching them stuffing food into their faces and running through tubes and on wheels and up and down ladders.  They are perfect and I love them :)

Feel free to share your favourite things from the past month in the comments below, let me know the things you love, and tell me new things to try out.

Thanks for being patient with me whilst I've been MIA, and I'll try and keep up with the posts from now on :)

Rach xo

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Review: Glossybox January 2013

Glossybox is a monthly subscription of 5 high-end beauty product samples (with some full-size products sometimes, too) for £10 + £2.95 p+p)

You can Glossydots by reviewing the products in a quick survey, or by inviting friends, and redeem points for a free box.  Each survey is worth 50 points, so if you review 5 products a month, every 5th Glossybox should be free.  You get 200 Glossydots for every friend that signs up and places an order (1000 Glossydots = 1 free box)

The January Glossybox has a Detox theme, and the products I received were mainly organic, natural and paraben free, which I love!

The first product in the 01/13 Glossybox was the Skin Glow Facial Exfoliator by Elemis, from their Teens To Twenties Freshskin range.  The key ingredients are aniseed, bitter cherry, glycerine, jojoba beads, mandarin and sweet almond oil.  The Elemis Freshskin range is also free from Parabens, SLS, SLES, Mineral Oils, Artificial Colours & Silicones.  They use active plant extracts to provide fresh, natural skincare.

The Skin Glow Facial Exfoliator works really well, you massage it into wet skin using 'gentle but fast' circular motions all over your face, and then rinse with warm water and pat your face dry with a towel.  

It smells amazing, and it gets all that dead skin off your face whilst boosting the circulation, so you get a nice tingly-clean feeling after using it.  It cleans right down into your pores and mine looked visibly reduced after use.  My skin felt soft and fresh and I would definitely recommend this product.

(RRP. £12/100ml, Available from ASOS with free delivery)

The second product in the box was a Warming Aromatic Mask from Monu, which claims to help increase vitamin and mineral absorption.  Again, this product uses all natural ingredients - with Attapulgite Clay, Beeswax, Camphor (Rosemary) Essential Oil, Coconut Oil and Lavander Essential Oil.  The clay deep cleans your face whilst stimulating and renewing cell health, leaving the skin 'clear, boosted and radiant looking', and the Beeswax and Coconut oil 'soften, nourish and hydrate skin.'

Used once or twice a week after cleansing, it is applied to the face and neck with fingertips and left for 10-15 minutes.  It won't dry so keep your hair back and don't go headbutting people, it'll make a mess.  Your face instantly starts to warm up, but not too hot, just a soothing sensation - like a hug for your face - it's really relaxing. 

When I washed it off, my skin felt tighter and softer, but I don't think this justifies the price tag.  However, if you feel you can spend the money, by all means try this mask.

(RRP. £24.95, available for £22.95 from FeelUnique.com)

Third in the box was a Mandarin and Bergamot body lotion from Duck Island - a range of skincare products used in hotels.  

It smells citrus-y and floral at the same time, and is extremely moisturising.  It doesn't soak in to skin too quickly so you have to stand around for a bit once you've used it, waiting for it to dry.

Whilst it's a really nice body lotion, I'm confused as to why it was included in the Glossybox - It's available to buy in cases of 200 30ml bottles for £166.78 each - what?

(The cheapest I've found it is £3.32/250ml with £4.99 shipping, from DW Supplies)

Next was a Balance Rescue Face Tonique from Premae - a mattifying and rejuvinating toner, which claims to 'cut through dirt and excess oil, and close clogged pores.'  It does all of those from my experience, and I really like it.

It uses a paraben free, alcohol free, fragrance free, 100% Allergy UK Certified formula of Sandalwood Oil, Rose Water and Lemongrass Oil to nourish and revitalise skin cells.

It is applied with a cotton wool pad, and left on the face (just a thin layer, so it can soak in).  Excess can be removed with another cotton wool pad.

So far, I really like this, and I've been looking for a toner with Rose Water, so I'm very happy about that, too.  The only down side is the price - you could make this yourself for hardly anything, yet Premae are charging £21.50/100ml, and that seems extortionate to me.

The final product in the box is my favourite, and I love it, and I will never stop using it.

It's a Lips Bee Healthier from Jason, a lip balm stick made with 70% organic ingredients.  It's a mass of moisturising miracle ingredients which started to help heal my chapped, dry lips instantly.

Its ingredients include Beeswax, Vitamin E, Green Tea Extract, Shea Butter, Sweet Almond Oil, Coconut Oil, Cocoa Seed Butter, Aloe Vera, Marigold Extract and Peppermint Oil.  

The peppermint oil gives the lip balm its fantastic minty smell, and gives a slight tingle to your lips as the mint boosts blood flow.  My chapped lips healed in about 2 days with multiple applications of this balm, and I could not be happier with it. 

It has no lanolin, no GMOs, no petrolium, no mineral oils and no parabens, is water resistant and non-greasy, has UVA and UVB protection and stays on even when I'm eating.

Another thing I love is the packaging - the twist-up bit that's usually on the bottom (and gets caught on everyhting and anything and gradually works its way up and smushes your lip balm all over the lid...) is at the top - by the lid.  I love that. 

I hadn't actually looked at the price until just now, as I was scared it'd be something stupidly high and I'd never be able to buy it again, but it's only £1.99!!  For this miracle balm! I'm now in love with this company and want to try ALL their products.

(RRP. £1.99/4.6g, available from JasonNaturalCare.co.uk)

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