I had been wanting to buy this set for so long and a month or so ago I finally convinced myself to buy them! I've waited a while to review them so I could get used to working with them and really give an honest review. 

First things first the packaging, now I know every beauty blogger under the sun has already raved about it so I'll try not to go on too much but isn't it pretty! The luxury set comes with a beautiful makeup bag and the brushes themselves are stunning. 

I'll go brush by brush...

106 Powder: This is a perfect mix between a big fluffy brush but a dense structured brush too, I've been using it to apply my face powder and it distributes the perfect amount of powder over the face without making you look cakey.

102 Silk Finish: This is much denser than the RealTechniques Buffing brush, it can be used to buff well though. I've found that it needs washing much more often than other buffing brushes I've used too. The brush really helps when you're doing a full coverage look.

110 Face Shape: This has been described as the perfect brush for cream contouring which sadly means I've not been able to try since I don't have any cream contour products but what contouring I have used it for has been great.

127 Luxe Sheer Cheek: I honestly thing the description is perfect for this one. This brush sweeps the perfect amount of product over the cheeks and seems to perfectly fit my face making it so easy to do my cheek makeup in just a few sweeps.

142 Concealer Buffer: Again this one needs washing  quite often, it's super dense and almost a little stumpy so you can really buff in your concealer in a way that will make sure it lasts all day.

227 Luxe Soft Definer: There's really not much to say about this one other than it's an almost perfect dupe for the MAC 217. If anything it's a little fluffier but other than that they're identical.

231 Luxe Petit Crease: I love using this one for a darker colour through the crease. The tapered tip lets me use the very tip to apply the colour and the rest of the brush to blend it out perfectly. It fits in the crease beautifully too.

317 Wing Liner: This brush creates the absolute perfect wing. It's a little longer than most slanted brushes which really helps it glide along the eye. The brush itself is very thin which allows you to have a really thin and defined line too. I'd say it's a drawer between this one and the 110 to be my favourite brushes of the set!

xxx

Review: La Roche - Posay Effaclar Duo:

Moisturiser has never been anything I've been overwhelmed by, don't get me wrong I've certainly been impressed by one or two and even repurchased a couple but never have I had one that has left me genuinely looking forward to using it again the next day, until now that is.

 La Roche-Posay is a brand that I've heard of before from many a bloggers review for their wide range of skin care benefits. I heard wonderful things about the good they do to blemish prone skin which sadly before now I have never had to deal with. A few months a go now I picked up the Effaclar Duo on nothing more than a whim in Boots and I couldn't have been more pleased with the results.

The products is mainly focused on acne prone skin so it really does pack a punch when beating spots, but I haven't found it to be too harsh because of this. My skin isn't so bad to call it acne just a few spots here and there that leave bad red marks. The formula claims to be unclogging so no only does it help remove spot but prevents new ones breaking out too. It also contains an anti-irritant which helps remove redness, as well as boasting benzoyl peroxide amoung it's ingredients meaning it really does remove spots. You may think that all of this would really strip your skin but that is so far from the truth. I find that it sinks in super fast but still leaves your skin feeling well moisturized and light. Not like you never used a product in the first place.

I found that in the long run the constant use of this product has given me the confidence to bare my skin to the world much more often. I feel much more confident in my own skin now and I really would say it's thanks to this product.

Have you used this product before? Let me know your thought, good or bad!

xxx

Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot:

This powder wasn't actually supposed to be used for a few months yet since I was still working through my old one, however on a recent (drunken I might add) night out it fell out of my bag and smashed into tiny little pieces. The silver lining to that heartbreaking moment was that when I got home this little beauty was there waiting to be opened up.

The packaging is beautiful, retro just my style and the way they've thought it all through is so clever too. The mirror is the size of the whole lid which means you don't have to worry about carrying a mirror around with you too.  

I love the POWder print on the product itself too. This is something I really like about the brand as a whole they always add little thoughtful details which make you smile and enjoy using it just that little bit more. It comes with a puff too which may not be ideal for all but for taking it out during the day this is a dream come true. 

The powder itself is beautiful. I've fallen well and truly in love with it already! It's a super fine powder which has just the right consistency to be lightly dusted over your face with a brush or packed on a little thicker with a puff. It seems to last almost all day so far although it's not been too hot and sunny lately so I'll have to update you as to how it deals with heat. It mattes out the face but not in a way where you look dead it allows some dewiness to shine through, but at the same time it's not so light that you're left constantly reapplying through out the day. 

At £12 it's not dirt cheap but hardly pricey either. If you're looking for a new powder I'd recommend giving this a go. 

xxx

Review: Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Range:

I finished these products all at different times and so one by one they added themselves to my empties pile (video should be coming soon) until I saw the three of them together and thought why not write up a review of the range as a whole. I hope you enjoy the review and who knows it may lead to you enjoying the range yourself.

The first thing I'll say about the range overall is that if you want to buy it then you should do so now whilst it's getting warmer because the lime infused sugary sweet smell is a Summer's dream! 

As for each of the products themselves I'll start with the body wash. This claimed to be "fresh and foamy" and it certainly didn't disappoint. The formula created lots and lots of fresh almost cool feeling bubbles and the smell of limes really helped wake up the senses. This often left my skin feeling so smooth that I almost didn't feel the need to moisturize afterwards. The 500 ml was enough product to last me a good few months so you get great value for money too. All in all I'd say that as long as you're a fan of sweet citrus scents this is an absolute dream of a body wash.

An alternative to the wash was the scrub, this was sugar based so it could be quite harsh at times. The sugar was held together in what almost seemed like a gel consistency. I do quite like the fact it felt a little harsh though because every so often I like to really give my skin a hard scrub to remove any dead skin cells and get me blood circulating. I find it really helps you wake up, also this would be the perfect type of scrub to use if you're about to fake tan because there's no way any scaly bits would survive.

Last in the trio of goodies comes the Body Buttercream. This I found was different to the brands usual body butters as it was a little lighter (both in consistency and scent). It left my skin feeling very well moisturised but at the same time it sank in super quick so you got the best of both worlds really. The scent was the same throughout the range which I really liked. Personally I think it smells exactly like lime Starburst sweets but most people tell me it smells like Drumstick sweets (apologies if you're not a British reader and have no idea what these sweets are!).

All in all I really enjoyed the range, if you've used it before let me know what you thought and if you haven't would you like to?

xxx

Review: Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel:

I've featured this cleansing gel in a haul before but realised I had promised to update you all on it but never did. So better late than never I thought it was high time I gave it the full review it deserves.

This cleansing gel is bright orange out of the pump but melts into the skin completely when you rub it in. As soon as you begin to wash it off with water it turns into what I could almost describe as a white bubbly paste, it's very thick.

It has a very luxurious smell and works amazingly at taking every scrap of makeup off with minimum effort involved. It instantly melts away your makeup. When you wash it off you can feel that you have very clean and fresh skin, it doesn't leave a layer of oil or anything like that but you don't feel as though your skin has been stripped either.

All in all I would say that this a my dream cleanser, it doesn't break me out, removes makeup quickly and easily, feels luxurious and does great things for the skin. I would say that this is definitely worth treating yourself with whenever you fancy something a little more high end.

xxx

Review: LUSH Butterball Bath Ballistic:

I've been told I was allergic to bath bombs ever since I was around 5 and had a reaction to one. Since then I've been far too nervous to try one but always wanted to. I finally caved in and guessed that LUSH would be the best way to go when I wanted to try out one since they use natural products. 

Butterball was the ballistic I chose since it was the one I enjoyed the smell of the best, it contains cocoa butter and ylang ylang oil. After dropping the bomb into the water it fizzed away happily and I thought that would be all but all of a sudden yellow blobs of oil  began to appear floating along the top of my bath. 

As soon as I was in the bath I felt it instantly sink into my skin (mine must have been drier than I thought) and it instantly felt so much softer. Even after getting out of the bath I had the softest of skin even for days afterwards.

xxx

Review: The Body Shop Peppermint Foot Spray:

This foot spray is something I got for free with other purchases and at the time I remember thinking oh thanks a lot I'll never use this. Since then however, I've got a job when I need to be on my feet non stop and have to walk back and forth to University almost every day. To cut a long story short my feet get really painful and hot!

This product has become an absolute saviour. I spray it onto my feet before applying foot cream in bed. I The smell is almost exactly like polo mints which I quite like, but my mum hates it so I guess it's subjective. I find the effect it has on the feet is instant and they stop hurting almost straight away. I also find that it doesn't leave the feet wet and the liquid soaks in straight away which means I can use my foot cream straight away.

I honestly don't know where I would be without this now so if you're in a similar situation to me then I'd seriously consider picking it up the next time you're in The Body Shop.

xxx

VO5 Miracle Concentrate:

I'm in desperate need of a haircut lately and my roots have been getting a little dry. This miracle concentrate is another one of those products that was used once or twice then relegated to the back of the drawer. I picked it back up again a while a go and I've been using it a lot the past couple of weeks.

I'd say it very nearly lives up to it's miraculous name. It makes my hair feel instantly better, smoother, more nourished and shiny. Also as the name suggests you only need a very small amount, it's an entirely oil based product. The oil is argan oil which is well known for being a very good product to use in hair.

If you feel like your hair is in need of a treat then I'd definitely recommend this product, especially considering it's around that time of year when we all could do with saving a few pennies. This is a very inexpensive product compared to most hair oils out there.

xxx

Soap & Glory No Clogs Allowed Mask Review:

I bought this face mask ages and ages a go but it's only within the last month or so I've been using it on a regular basis. I have found it's been a real treat for the skin, especially come winter. 

As it's a self-heating detox mask this is just what my skin needs at the moment. The fact it's heating is perfect for the Winter months and the fact it's detoxing is perfect for the amount of junk food I've been eating lately which has really broken my skin out. 

It's a very strange product to use as it's white as you rub it into the face, but after rubbing in some water as the instructions say it becomes bright blue and heats up quite intensely, so if you're not a fan of that feeling you will not like this product. I wouldn't say it's ever gone completely hard and dry on my skin like a typical face mask it does get firmer though.. The strangest part for me is that once you wash it off your skin feels ice cold and almost minty and tingly for a good ten minutes afterwards. This may well be a placebo but it really does feel as though dirt and oil have been sucked out of your skin. 

Have you been giving your skin a Winter pamper lately? Let me know what you've been using! 

xxx

Sarah Chapman Skinesis Overnight Facial:

I featured this in my second Space.N.K haul but I've only just got around to using it. I was actually surprised by how oil based this product was and I'll admit that when I pumped this out into my hand to use for the first time I had a little panic. I assumed that it would be far too oily for my skin and break me out. It actually didn't luckily and I have to say I've really fell in love with it despite the fact that I've only been using it for about a week.

When you first use it it is extremely oily and you think it's going to be all to much but continue to do as the instructions say and give yourself a proper facial and keep massaging and you'll literally feel the oil sink into your face. You'll still be oily as you go to bed but since anyone you'll see before bed you should be comfortable enough with to see you like that you should be fine.

I've never had a facial before but this product has genuinely made me wan't one because I feel so pampered whenever I use it. I remember the fist time I used it I was demanding that everyone I knew touched my face as it had never felt so soft. I also remember waking up and seeing that almost all of my spots had gone down hugely! I'd say this is a perfect pamper product for Winter as it'll really look after your skin.

It contains Vitamin A, Vitamin E and Vitamin C along with many oils that'll give your skin a real treat, it's certainly a treat retailing at £45!

xxx

Once In a "Blue Moon":

As you guys know I'm never allowed to paint my nails whilst working so whenever I have a few days off I've been reaching for my favourite polishes. One of my all time favourite polishes is Barry M's Blue Moon.

I think pastel colours are by far my favourite no matter the season. This pastel blue is one of the best pastel's I've come across. The consistency is very thin, almost to the level of watery which some may think is awful and usually I would too, however the photo I've used here is only two coats and it's fairly opaque. I've also never had a problem with this polish chipping, so I'm usually able to leave this one on for usually at least a week.

This may not be a very Autumn/Winter colour but I still love it. 

xxx

Reve de Miel Lip Balm Review:

I bought this lip balm a long time ago now. In fact it was in my first ever Space NK Haul. Despite the fact I use it pretty much every day it still looks almost brand new. It's such a rich creamy consistency that it lasts all day. I only use this twice during the day. Once after brushing my teeth and the before I go to bed. I find that those are the only times I need them as it really does stay on the lips all day. The balm contains plant extracts and oils but it's actually quite a firm texture as opposed to a very slippy oily one. It's ultra-nourishing and so will be perfect for the harsh Winter months. I've found that whenever my lips are feeling extremely sore (usually when I've been away from this product for a few days) one application and I feel a million times better instantly. I know this is a fairly expensive product (£9.50) compared to the likes of Vaseline, but that's simply because it's so much better, lasts so much longer and you get so much more products.

All in all I would hugely recommend this to anyone looking for some seriously luscious lips.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water Review:

If you saw my skincare routine post then you'll probably know how I use this products already. If not then I use this on nights when I haven't been wearing any make up, just to make sure my skin is really nice and clean before I go in with serums and moisturisers. 

It claims to be fine even for sensitive skin, and to remove make up, cleanse and soothe in just one step. I have used it to remove make up before on very lazy days and it is good at it though it doesn't remove everything. It also doesn't feel as luxury as a gel or balm cleanser would, although for a micellar water I'd say that's to be expected. It would make a good step up if you're just using makeup wipes at the moment though. 

As for how it works the way I use it, it's really good. It does soothe like it claims to and you really don't need to rinse as it says. Even though I wash my face every night it doesn't feel properly cleansed unless I swipe this over with a cotton pad as well. Even though it has no claims to I'd actually say this helps with blemishes too. The fact it cleans away the skin and soothes any sore patches makes it a good skincare product for all skin types from sensitive to oily and acne prone. 

I'd definitely pick this up or a similar type of product as I've found it comes in really handy for lazy days and it's also nice and cheap for when I don't want to use up my higher end cleansing balms on days I don't have any make up. 

xxx 

Seventeen Flawless Poreless Primer Review:

I thought it was high time I reviewed this product since it's now sitting in my empties collection box having been completely used up. When I first started using this I have to say I really wasn't a fan, I thought the texture was too hard and took far too long to get over the face. The about halfway through the product I started using it with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush and fell totally in love with it. 

When I used it with the brush it smoothed everything over my skin so much easier, and I really felt as though it helped my pores look smaller. As a base for foundation with the right amount of buffing I didn't have to sit around waiting for the product to sink in before I could start applying my make up. I also found that when I began to use the Buffing Brush that my foundation lasted all day and I really mean all day, with no patching or sinking in and disappearing. 

All in all I'd say that this is an amazing primer to get if you have a buffing brush because it really doesn't work well with fingers at all! Now I know that I would 100% buy this again and I have to say I'm less of a fan of the primer I'm currently using as it's really nothing compared to this one.

xxx

Review: Sephora Nourishing Hand Cream:

This hand cream is my first ever Sephora product and was a lovely present from my Boyfriend when he went on holiday over the Summer.  Bless him he even kept the bag in case I'd want to use it for my blog! He also told me he wanted to get me some make up but was totally overwhelmed by the sheer amount of it all and had to get me something small so it wouldn't be taken off him at the airport.

On to the actual hand cream itself, I have to say that this is the best hand cream I've ever used! It smells amazing, I first used it amongst friends and all of them turned to me as I was rubbing it in saying how amazing it smelt. I'm having trouble deciding what it smells like and nothing on the bottle is giving me any help, but just an overall pampered scent nothing fruity or floral. 

What the bottle does say is that it has no parabens, is nourishing, has purifying ingredients which remove pollution and penetrates instantly. I have to say I agree with all those claims! It certainly makes my hands feel cleaner and smoother at work, which is high praise considering I'm touching everyone's change and dusty, dirty box packaging all day! It also sinks in extremely fast, I tend to use this in my little gaps between lectures and I'm never left unable to hold my pen properly or anything like that when the lectures do start. I'd say the texture is fairly similar to Soap & Glory's Hand Food so if you've used that then you'll know what I mean, very smoothing and soft instantly.

I would definitely recommend picking this up if you have a Sephora near you or know of anyone who could get it for you (lucky you!)

xx

Review: Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick:

This was one of my first ever high end lipsticks, in fact I'm fairly sure it was my first. It was an anniversary present, which if you want to you can read more about here. As you can tell by the date of that post this review has been a long time coming.

I have the colour Native, although I've had my eye on some of the others for quite a while now I have to say. The colour is very similar to a baby pink but it has a warmer undertone to it so I don't look to washed out when I wear it. I like that I can wear this whenever I want to as it goes with almost all makeup looks both natural and fairly done up. The packaging is beautiful too. I like the metal look and the fact the logo is fairly small and minimalist. I also really like the colour that the purple of the inner packaging.

As for the formula, it's fairly creamy with a subtle shine to it. It does move around a little however this isn't too much of an issue I feel as I've never had it smudge onto my face. In terms of longevity I find that it can last a fair few hours, you may have to bring along with you in yor handbag if yo want to be on the safe side.

xxx

Review: MUA Pearl Eyeshadows:

Eye shadow's are one of my favourite items of make-up and MUA has always been one of my favourite brands. With that in mind how could I not love their pearl shadows.

I have shade 24, which is a gorgeous almost rose gold colour which you can blend out to be an almost purple toned pink or pack on to an light shimmery brown.

I also have shade 22 which is a opalescent baby pink which reflects light blues and pinks in the light. I tend to use this as a highlight. 

As you can see by the pictures they're very highly pigmented but sheer out well too. I've said before and I'll say it again that when it comes to MUA as a brand you're paying drug store prices for a high end quality product. The shadows stay all day and have a soft buttery texture, which at just £1 is a complete and utter dream come true! I would definitely recommend picking up these shadows next time you're out shopping whether you're just getting into make-up or have loved it for years 

xxx

Latest Obsession! Accessorize Bombshell Blusher:

Ever since I made myself start using this blusher again in my Shop My Stash post I've been head over heels in love with it. It seems to be the perfect mix of pink, brown and shimmer that makes it an amazing blush, bronzer and highlight all in one. You'd think with the product all mixed in together that you'd find you got the wrong colour in the wrong place but that's never been the case for me. I find that when you run the product over your face with a big fluffy blush then you get just the right amount and it all hits the right areas. It seems that no matter what angle it reflects the light perfectly making it seem as though you have an inner glow. I don't even feel the need to contour when I use this product, which is something I used to do every single day. It does have a quite orange tone too it but I'm yet to see it go patchy or muddy on my face so don't let that scare you off.

Review: Nspa Coconut Body Set:

I bought this set a long time ago but it's taken me a while to get through it because of all the products I had. The set includes a rich body butter, a shower and bath gel and a daily refresh shower scrub.

I worked through the scrub the fastest, although I have a sneaking suspicion that my family have helped me getting through. It had plenty of particles in it but they didn't seem very scrubby. They're very good for refreshing your skin and getting the blood flowing but less good if you want to actually scrub off dead skin cells. 

The shower gel was very nice and very strong smelling, I used it not only as a shower gel but also as a bubble bath. It made lots and lots of sweet smelling long lasting bubbles and made my skin feel really clean and soft.

As for the body butter it had a good balance between thick and moisturising but light and able to sink into the skin straight away so you're not left feeling sticky and left unable to put your clothes on for a while. This too left my skin feeling very soft and well looked after.

All three products claim to be full of natural vitamins good for the skin and they really must be because I have to say whilst using the set my skin felt so soft that I can't remember it ever feeling so good, the scent also lingered well in between washes. The coconut scent is lovely for summer but there are plenty of other scents available and I'll definitely be tempted to try them out now I've finished these.

I hope you enjoyed this post and if you've got any other skin care suggestions then please do let me know.

xxx

Review: The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisturiser's:

As the massive fan of The Body Shop that I am I'm sure you won't be surprised to know they make up most of my skincare routine. I've tried their moisturisers before and they've never disappointed me.

I went for the Vitamin E cream because Vitamin E is just a great skin vitamin all round. Both the day cream and the night cream are amazing and do absolute wonders for my skin. 

The day cream is a very light formula but you can still feel that it moisturises the skin. It sinks in as soon as you rub it into the face so if you wanted to you could start putting your make up on straight away. It is very moisturising which is very good considering it is marketed as a moisture cream. After using it there's not a dry patch of skin to be felt and everything feels very soft and smooth. If you don't have any problems in particular with your skin or perhaps a little dryness then I'd definitely recommend picking this up.

The night cream is marketed as nourishing, which is certainly true. When waking up having put it on the night before your skin genuinely does feel like it's been really well looked after . It is a much thicker formula than the day cream but it's still fairly light and sinks in well to the skin. Not that this has anything at al to do with how well the product works but I also love the fact it's a cute baby pink colour. 

All in all I'd say that the body shop skincare is pretty much as close to perfect as you can get. They've a wide range for every skin type and their products don't break the bank. But what do you think? Let me know if there's any amazing brands or products I've been missing out on!

xxx