My favourite new lip colours

There's nothing like a pop of colour on the lips to help brighten up my face and give a polished look to my make up. Here are 3 of my new favourites:

For low maintenance lips, you can't go wrong with a lip stain. Gosh long lasting lip marker in Soft rose is non drying, gorgeous in colour and has good staying power. It works well by itself, but I think it looks even better when layered with a clear lipgloss.

The choice of colours in Bourjois' Colorissimo lip palette in Roses muses means it's the perfect product for my handbag. All 3 shades are super wearable, and although sheer, can be built up for a deeper colour. Packaging wise, the plastic case is sturdy and closes tightly, so there's no worry about it accidentally opening in my bag.

I'm loving all the new hybrid lipsticks. This particular one (The body shop colourglide shine lipstick in Vintage rose) feels more like a balm, is very moisturising and gives a nice glossy finish. The finish is just a bit too frosty for my liking but it's a lovely 'my lips but better' colour. It even comes in sleek silver packaging which looks far more expensive than it's £9 pricetag.

What do you think about these 3 lip products? Do you prefer a lipstick, lipgloss or lipstain?

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L'oreal Lumi magique

Lumi magique pure light primer
This reminds me of the much raved about MAC strobe cream and indeed I see it more as an illuminating fluid. You only get 20mls of product, but the actual primer is light and easy to use. I tend to use it alone under some powder, mix it in with my BB cream or as a highlighter for the cheeks.

Lumi magique light infusing foundation
I'm going through a no foundation phase at the moment, so haven't fully tested this out. However on first impressions, it has a lightweight feel, buildable medium coverage and a dewy radiant finish.

Lumi magique touch of light highlighting pen
This is similar to touche magique, an old favourite of mine. The yellow toned concealer helps to disguise my dark circles and any areas of rednesss. The light formula means it doesn't settle into any fine lines, it lasts well throughout the day and I love the rose gold packaging.

Have you tried any of these products? What's your favourite undereye concealer?

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New skincare products from Origins, Ren and Nspa

A quick round up of some new skincare launches:

Following on from the success of the mega mushroom range, Origins are bringing out a new Dr Weil mega bright skin tone correcting serum. I found the serum to be light, quick absorbing and easy to wear under moisturiser. It contains ingredients such as rosa roxburghii, white peony and licorice, which works together to reduce dark spots, promote luminosity and even out the skintone.

Ren are now most famous for that advert, but they've also brought out 4 new products. Of the 4, I'm most excited about trying the clarifying toning lotion and photoactive sun veil. The clarifying lotion gently exfoliates and claims to reduce pore size and oiliness (something that I definitely need help with!). The sun veil is light in texture and offers UVA & UVB protection, making it my ideal choice for daily sun protection.

Finally, a new Nspa beauty rituals skincare range from the team at Nirvana spa. The range is divided into 4 steps (cleanse, exfoliate, treat and moisturise) and available exclusively in Asda stores. The melting cleansing gel looks similar to the more expensive Clarins one and I like the vitamin toning mist for refreshing my face throughout the day.

Have you tried any of the above products? What are you using at the moment?

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Bourjois Spring/Summer 2012

Bourjois are fast becoming one of my favourite high street brands, and this spring/summer they're bringing out lots of exciting new products:

April launches

A 5 piece Sweet Paris collection. Inspired by the colourful world of
patisseries, this range includes a choice of lip glosses, nail varnishes
and a pastel pink eyeshadow.

Magic 1 second nail polish remover - with exacts of sweet almond
oil, the formula soaked foam makes nail varnish removal quick and easy.

A new 123 perfect foundation and 123 correcting concealer stick.

June launches

14 new 1 seconde nail enamels. I'm especially loving Rose cupcake,
Rainbow apparition and Figue Chic.

4 colorissimo lip palettes. The 2 in the above photo are
Nudes dandy and Roses fashion.

Finally, 6 new Khol and contour shadow and light pencils. Each
pencil has a complimentary dark and light shade and are designed to act
as a khol, definer and illuminator.

Bourjois spring/summer 2012, available now from Boots and Superdrug

What do you think about the new releases? Any product in particular catch your eye?

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No 7 Glitter top coat

Being the magpie that I am, I was instantly drawn to the No 7 glitter top coat at a recent press event:

It contains a mix of large and small glitter flecks, which are all suspended in a clear nail varnish. I've tried it over several base colours, but the silver one in particular, looks best over a light/neutral shade.

For my base colour, I opted for Bourjois Rose satin, a pastel pink shade which works perfectly with the silver glitter. Here I've applied it quick thick, but you can just apply one coat for a random sprinkling of glitter.

The glitter top coats will be released as part of the No 7 summer of dreams collection, and will be available from 16th May.

Are you a fan of glitter top coats? What's your favourite No 7 product?

Glossybox- the Harrods edition

After weeks of hype, it was finally revealed that the March Glossybox would be in collorabation with luxury department store Harrods:

Compared to previous boxes, this month's content was by far the most varied. I wasn't lucky enough to receive a Burberry lipstick, but I do like 4 out of the 5 products in my box.

Bliss blood orange and white pepper body butter

Revive intensite creme lustre spf300
Leighton Denny 3 times a lady nail polish
Versace vanitas eau de parfum
Clarins extra firming body cream

I love citrus scents, and the Bliss body butter smells exactly like a bowl of freshly cut oranges. The Versace perfume is light and easy to wear, and I like the fact that it's a mini bottle as opposed to a 2ml sample. The nail varnish is very pretty and the Clarins body cream will come in handy for my gym bag.

On the whole, I'm really happy with this box. There weren't any full sized products, but all 5 samples were decently sized and with the exception of the face cream, I'll get lots of use out of all the products.

For more information and to sign up for your own Glossybox, click here.

Have you tried any of the above products? What did you get in your Glossybox?

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New accessories and shoes

It's been a while since I've done a haul post, and as I've been doing quite a bit of shopping recently, I thought I'd showed you some of my recent purchases:

I've been on the lookout for a new purse for months, but with no joy on the high street, I turned to British favourite Cath Kidston. I originally had my eye on the Victoria rose wallet, but once in store, I fell in love with this cute design, which was on sale for only £20.

This is actually quite an old purchase, but I think it's still available from Accessorize, priced at £4.

With Spring just around the corner, I've been updating my shoe collection in preparation for the warmer weather.

First up is this lovely pair of ankle boots from H&M. Priced at £29.99, it's easy to walk in, and perfect with a pair of leggings or skinny jeans.

Small shoes can be quite hard to find on the high street, so when I spotted these in Zara, I snapped them up straight away. Priced at £17.99, they're versatile enough to be worn with jeans or smart work clothes.

Finally I couldn't resist these platform court shoes from M&S. I really wanted the nude colour, but sadly they'd all been sold out. Still at £19.50, they're a great bargain and I'll no doubt get lots of wear out of them.

Have you done much shopping recently? What's your favourite store for accessories/shoes

Giveaway winner redraw

Unfortunately the original winner has yet to get in touch, so it's time for a redraw:

And the new winner is... Georgie (Dreams that Glitter)

Well done Georgie! Can you please email me your address by 23rd March and I'll get your prizes posted asap!

In the meantime, Don't forget to check out my spa giveaway for your chance to win luxurious SPC treatment.

NOTD - Bourjois Paris Rainbow apparition

How gorgeous is the new Rainbow apparition 1 seconde nail enamel from Bourjois Paris?

For a glitter polish, it's surprisingly pigmented. The above photo shows 2 coats and you can see it's enough to hide my nail line. The polish also works well as a sheer top coat and I can't wait to try it over a lilac or purple shade.

Rainbow apparition will be priced at £5.99 and will be available at Boots/Superdrug from June 2012.

Are you a fan of glitter polishes? What do you think about the new colour?

Sneak preview: Boots No 7 and 17 Summer 2012

A few weeks ago, I was invited along to the Boots summer press show. There were lots of products on display, but what really stood out was the new summer collections from No 7 and 17.

First up, is the gorgoeus Summer of dreams collection by No 7. The range was designed by Lisa Eldridge and includes everything from bronzers, glitter top coats, eye crayons and 2 beautiful nourishing lip shines.

As someone with oily skin, I was delighted to see that 17 are bringing out a Miracle matte range. The range includes a skin primer, as well as a choice of pressed or loose powder.

No 7 summer of dreams and 17 miracle matte products will be available from 16th May.

Both brands will also be launching a new mascara this summer:

No 7 Fanomenal lashes will be available in June. It has a helix shaped fan brush and promises volume, lash separatation and extra length.

17 Blow out will be available a month later in July. This has more of a traditional big barrel brush and promises to thicken and condition the lashes.

What do you think about the new collections? Which product are you most excited about?

Clinique all about eyes review

This has been on my wishlist for quite some time now, and having finished my last eye cream, I thought it was about time I finally tried it out:

All about eyes has a light creme gel formula, which absorbs almost instantaneously. This means it's ideal for use during the day and because it's not at all greasy, it's the perfect base for any eye make up.

The cream leaves my skin feeling hydrated and keeps any puffiness at bay. It also helps to plump up my fine lines, making them less obvious. I've yet to find an eye cream which gets rid of dark circles completely, but this does as good a job as any in reducing their appearance.

The product comes in a little jar, which isn't the most hygenic, but I actually really like it. I find it's easier to control how much you apply and it won't be a struggle to get the last bits out.

On the whole, I'm really impressed with this eye cream. It delivers on all it's promises and I can definitely see why it is one of Clinique's best sellers.

Have you tried this eye cream? What's your favourite Clinique skincare product?

Pixiglow magic tink tint

Released as part of the limited edition Tinker bell collection, Magic tink tint is a chunky crayon style lipbalm. The milky pink balm applies clear, but quickly reacts to your lip's natural pH before developing into a unique colour.

On me, it turns into a beautiful plummy pink shade. The balm has a slight tingly sensation, but I find it both moisturising and glossy. I'm a big fan of tinted lipbalms anyway, and I love that this particular shade is pigmented enough to add some colour, but still subtle enough for daytime wear.

Have you tried anything from this collection? What's your favourite daytime lip colour?

Disclosure- PR sample

Two new favourites

I've always been a fan of dry shampoo, but the new Batiste Cherry scent is my favourite one yet. Compared to previous ones, it's not as powdery, instead it has more of a light fruity scent.

As always, I simply spray over the roots, wait for about a minute, then rub in until the white powder disappears. I tend to go through dry shampoos quite quickly, so I love the fact that they now come in a bigger 200ml can.

No matter how carefully I paint my nails, I always mess up around the cuticle or get varnish on the sides of my finger. Previously I've had to use a cotton bud but the new Rituals nail varnish corrector pen is so much better.

The pointed nib fits right into the nail bed and makes removal of any excess varnish so much quicker and easier. The formula is enriched with jojoba oil to nourish the skin and there are even 3 interchangable nibs stores in the base of the pen.

Have you tried either of these 2 products? What's your favourite beauty tool/cheat?

Disclosure- PR samples

Baglioni spa giveaway

Baglioni spa (located in Central London) have kindly offered to give away a complimentary spa visit and treatment for one lucky reader. The prize will include a 55 minute treatment of your choice, welcome herbal teas, reviving foot soak and use of the facilities.

For your chance to win:

- 'Like' Peonies and lilies on facebook
- Visit Baglionispa.co.uk and find out 'which essential oils are
used in the SPC detoxifying ginger scrub treatment'
- Email your answer to baglionispa@spc.co.uk
- Leave a comment below (just so I know you've entered)

Please note travel expenses are not included as part of the prize

This giveaway will be open until 11:59pm on March 25th and the winner will be announced in a later blogpost.

Good luck!

Illamasqua Human fundamentalism

Illamasqua have always been about celebrating your individuality, but the launch of a new collecton always leads to intrugue and excitment. Well, now the wait is over, and this Spring, they are making their mark with a 15 piece 'Human Fundamentalism' collection.

'Human fundamentalism is an explosion of your alter ego. It's

becoming who you are and not who you're told to be. Because
beauty isn't conformity, but the fundamental human desire to
express your inner self on the outside'

Let's take a closer look at the products:

Neutral palette, Fundamental palette and powder eye shadows

Scribe precision ink

Lipstick in Apocalips (teal) and Box (scarlet)

Nail varnish in Stance (mauve), Nomad (jade) and sealing gel

There's also a limited edition Au (gold) skin base foundation which you can just about see in the top photo.

I love the fact that no matter how bright the Illamasqua collection, there are always a couple of neutral/conservative shades. The neutral palette is so wearable, the deep scarlet 'box' lipstick looks beautiful and I love the gorgeous purple 'stance' nail varnish.

Human fundamentalism will be available both in stores and online from 14th March.

What do you think about the new collection? Do you prefer neutral or bright shades?

L'oreal super liner perfect slim and gel intenza

As someone with less than impressive lashes, eyeliner is a must have for my make up bag. For the last few weeks I've been putting these 2 from L'oreal to the test:

Perfect slim super liner
Pen eyeliners are my favourite, and this one didn't disappoint. The fine nib allows for a precise application, but it can be easily built up for a thicker line. Application aside, I thought the eyeliner was very pigmented, and once dried it stayed smudge proof right until my removal at the end of the day.

Super liner gel intenza
Gel eyeliners have been on the market for quite some time, but I'm pleased to see that high street brands such as L'oreal are making them more affordable. This particular one also comes with a small eyeliner brush. Compared to the pen, it does take a bit more skill to apply, but if you regularly use eyeliner then it should be easy. I thought the gel was pigmented, creamy and once dried, it remained smudge proof till the end of the day.

Top - Perfect slim
Bottom - Gel intenza

On the whole, I was impressed by both these eyeliners. The pen remains my favourite, simply because it's quick and easy for everyday use. However, for a night out, I'd go for the gel version. It has a thicker, more dramatic effect and gives my eyes some much needed extra definition.

Have you tried either of these 2 eyeliners? What's your favourite type of eyeliner?

Disclosure - PR samples

Giveaway winner

Firstly, a big thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway. I loved reading all your comments, and I really hope you have all a fantastic 2012.

So after numbering all the valid entries, I used random.org to select a winner. And the winner is.....Summer Loren!

Well done Loren. Can you please email me your address by 10th March and I'll get your prize posted asap.

Thanks again for all your entries and look out for another giveaway later this week!

Superdrug Spring/Summer 2012

Now that the weather's finally getting warmer, I thought I'd show you what Superdrug have got planned for Spring/summer 2012:

Launching in April, the new Arora range aims to bring a touch of luxury to everyday life. Priced at £3.99 and there are 4 products to choose from (bath shimmer, shower nectar, body scrub and body butter). Of the 6, my favourite scents are the pomegranate and chocolate espresso.

Elemis customers will soon be able to buy the Freshskin range in Superdrug stores. There will also be a new Super boost moisturising serum.

Of course it wouldn't be summer without sunscreen. This year, they've reformulated the Solait range so that it's lighter and more easily absorbed.

One of the highlights of the day was meeting the lovely Kaushal, who was there to promote the new Glam repulic faux eyeliners. She was wearing the eyeliners and I thought they looked very natural, but with perfectly drawn on flicks.

There will also be a new range of We are faux eyelashes. With sparkly decorations, and dramatic lashes, these will be perfect for a night out.

Make up wise, I loved the new GOSH lip markers and MUA BB cream. Sleek make up were also showcasing some of their new releases. Click here for more information and photos.

Are you looking forward to Spring/Summer? What do you think about the new products?