My Lash Lift Experience With Yasmin Lashes

 I’ve been wanting to try lash lifts for a long time, having previously worked in a salon that offered LVL it had always tempted me. I finally took the plunge and booked in with the lovely Yasmin (https://yasminlashes.co.uk/). Based in Cambridge, she was super easy to get to, if lash extensions are more your thing then she’s also your gal! She also runs classes to train in lashes for all those future lash bosses in the making.

Here is my before and after from my lash lift and I’m soooooo happy with how they turned out! Why hadn’t I booked sooner! They last up to 6 weeks as well! 

Go check out Yasmin on Instagram and Facebook @yasminlashes 

Isle of Paradise HYGLO Self Tan Serum First Impressions

With all this sunny weather we've been having its time to dust off the summer clothes and get the legs out! I'm certainly a newbie to self tanning and when I saw the lovely Jules who created Isle of Paradise launch a new Hyaluronic Self-Tan for face and one for body I just had to give it a go! I had used a gradual tan face serum that they made as a one off for QVC last year and really enjoyed being able to control the depth of tan for my face, so when I saw this I had to try it immediately! Can we just take a second to appreciate how nice the packaging is, with glass bottles and a pipette applicator, I already love it just to be on my vanity!

I ordered both the Face HYGLO Self-Tan Serum *and Body HYGLO Self-Tan Serum* as I thought I'd like to give both a go. With being new to self-tan I thought by choosing a buildable formula I could just keep topping up till I get my desired effect. I've only had the product for just over a week so this is very much a first impression. The formula of the product is packed full of go to skincare ingredients. The hyaluronic acid in the formula helps draw moisture into the skin aiding with intense hydration to leave skin looking plump and dewy. They also as brand use a signature blend of avocado, coconut and chia seed oil that help hydrate and nourish skin. There isn't a guide colour but it glides so effortlessly I haven't found it streak on my skin when I've been really careful to smooth it out.    
  
This picture is my skin after three applications of the Face HYGLO Self-Tan Serum * and I have to say it certainly gave me the most amazing glow and really plumped my skin. I think the shade looks super natural and sun kissed, you wouldn't tell it was from a bottle! I used maybe 4-5 drops on each application but it does say you can use more if you want to. You could definitely tell the skincare benefits were working because my skin felt so hydrated. I have to say I think this will definitely be a staple for me this summer and when I wanted that added glow all year!




This is the before and after of my leg after 2 applications of the Body HYGLO Self-Tan Serum*. I certainly think I could have used a lot more drops than I did but I was cautious to start with. I still think there was a difference in colour to my legs and it did look really healthy and glowy. I think I need to experiment with it a bit more but based on first impressions I do really like it. The dry down time is really quick and there's no unpleasant smell or sticky feeling after application. Again as with the face serum there isn't a guide colour but with practise I'm sure I'll get better!

Overall if you are new to tanning or a pro I really think these are good products. Especially if you are nervous to try tanning having the ability to control it so easily its a good entry into the world of glowing skin. Without having to use mitts you can just spread it on with your hands (Don't forget to wash them afterwards though) it makes it even simpler! They are also all cruelty free and vegan!


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NARS Tinted Glow Booster

With summer on the approach we are all looking to get that sun-kissed glow. One of the newest additions to my makeup has been the NARS Tinted Glow Booster*. This is such a multi-use product, you can have it under your base for an allover glow, mix with your foundation or layer it on top as a highlighter. It comes in four shades; Kalvoya*, Simos*, Tangsi *and Barbuoa*.



It has a very lightweight formula with micropowders to give a sheer luminosity and the pearlescent pigment to give that lustre effect to your skin. I think it is comparable to the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter  but I do think its a finer finish and looks a bit more natural. Its also oil free, paraben free and fragrance free. Infused with a NARS's exclusive Jojoba Complex Hydraglow Complex, the illuminator nourishes and hydrates the skin to create a dewy finish and extend the wear of makeup for up to 16 hours, thanks to a combination of Jojoba Elixir and Jojoba Gel.



I personally have used it on its own more often than mixing it as I rarely wear foundation, but when I have tried putting it under it does create a nice glowing complexion. I have found applying it with your fingers blends it better than with brushes or sponges and I think the formula likes to be warmed a little before application. I use shade Kalvoya*.



Top left is just an application of the tinted glow booster, bottom right is the glow booster under foundation and on the right is the tinted glow booster under foundation and concealer.


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HAUS LABORATORIES Kit First Impressions

Its been a while since I've reviewed any new beauty products, and when I had seen a few other influencers talking about Haus Laboratories I decided to pick some bits up! I picked up the Haus Of Goddess collection as I thought all the gorgeous pinky shades would go nicely with my current makeup collection.



The collection contains; Aphrodite Glam Attack Liquid Shimmer Powder, Myth RIP Lip Liner and Venus Le Riot Lip Gloss. I also picked up another lip liner in Slayer. I really love all the colours of this collection as you can make either a really natural look or full glam.

 In the swatches below the order is Myth, Layer and Aphrodite. (p.s. I appear to have misplaced my lip gloss so unfortunately couldn't swatch it, but I had been using it and it is a really lovely pinky nude!)



The lip liners blend really easily and are perfect for doing an all over lip colour or just as liner. I've used the shade Slayer as a nice berry lip with a bit of gloss over it quite a few times. The Myth liner reminds me a bit of Charlotte Tilbury Pillow talk in terms of shade. One thing I do find with the blendability is that sometimes it can smudge if I've knocked it, so maybe keep a mirror to hand or set it by blotting.

The liquid shimmer powder is truly beautiful, the shade, the consistency the shine, I just can't fault it. It looks pretty on its own or layered. My personal favourite way to use it is to layer it over my Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk palette to add a real shine and sparkle to it.

All in all I really like the formula and shades. I'd definitely like to try some of the other shades out and maybe the eye liners! I do think they are a good price point for the quality of them as well. The packaging makes it feel really high end and special. Go give the products a go and let me know what you think!

Christmas Gift Guide 2019🎅🏻

With Christmas coming up we all face the struggle with what to buy people for presents! I decided to compile a few ideas from John Lewis & Partners that I picked up myself! Disclaimer, I do work for John Lewis & Partners but this is not AD or gifted I purchased them all myself!



One of the first gift ideas I picked up was a Choose Your Favourites Customised Quality Street Tin. I love the personalisation of this and it means you don't end up with flavours you don't like! New this year were two exciting flavours; Chocolate Caramel Brownie and an exclusive flavour to John Lewis & Partners Crispy Truffle Bite! Its priced at £15 for the personalised tin with pick and mix flavours and then you can refill the tin for £10 (because we all know these tins never make it to Christmas without being eaten!). *Available in store only



Chocolate not your thing? Why not go for more adult crackers with Fevertree Gin and Tonic Crackers! There were so many options to choose from and you can buy a set of four you pick yourself for £32 or £8 per cracker. You can go in store to the Oxford Street branch to select your flavours but can can still order these online!



This next one is another foodie gift! The Kit Kat experience is perfect for chocolate lovers that want that personal touch! You can create your own eight finger Kit Kat; you first pick a chocolate for the base then three toppings and then it its made and put into a personalised box! I went for milk chocolate with chocolate brownie, mini marshmallows and caramel chunks! This service costs £14 and it available at Oxford Street. There are also Best of British Flavours or Special edition flavours you can buy in selected stores and online! These would also make great Secret Santa gifts!



Men can be notoriously difficult to shop for at Christmas time. The two gifts I picked out can always be changed for personal preference but the Chanel Bleu De Chanel Parfum is a really timeless fragrance that is a aromatic, intensely woody fragrance. It opens with powerful freshness, then lingers with a precious accord of New Caledonian sandalwood that gives it sophisticated full smell. The other thing I chose was a John Lewis & Partners RFID Blocking Leather Flip Card Wallet in Brown which I thought for £38 was really nice quality with 8 cards slots, 2 additional slots, 2 note slots, a printed lining, and flipover section complete with four extra card slots and a transparent ID slot. Again a very classic design so I'm sure it would be a good gift! 



For any accessories lovers I discovered Stackers that make all sorts of storage from tiny travel boxes to big jewellery storage. Due to my rather large collection of Olivia Burton watches I decided to gift myself this Stackers Watch Box in White. I love how I can see my watches while the box is shut and the pads to keep your watches on are so soft and secure. I think this could be a nice gift for males or females and does come in other colours! The joy of it as well is as the name might suggest you can stack it with other layers to add a jewellery one underneath!



Of course I had to get a new watch to go with the watch box! This gorgeous Olivia Burton Winter Wonderland Mesh Bracelet Strap Watch is so perfect for Christmas! With a little frosted trees and a little reindeer I couldn't think of a better watch to have for Christmas. The pale rose gold strap is also a perfect metal colour for a piece of subtle winter bling! 



Two beauty picks for the lady in your life I decided on this year are the Charlotte Tilbury Starry Eyes to Hypnotise Eyeshadow Palette and Chloé Nomade perfume. I really feel like the Charlotte Tilbury eyeshadow palettes are a good investment for any beauty lover. The colour selection and pigmentation quality are just top notch, you can create so many looks from this palette and it just looks stunning. The Chloé Nomade Eau de Parfum is my go to fragrance and it is certainly popular amongst other people I know, it has an intense character of oak moss, shrouded in the sweetness of cherry plum and the freshness of freesia. 

Thats it! Just a small selection of gift ideas to either inspire you on what to get your loved ones or yourself (I'm not judging?). 

Lush Christmas 2019🎅🏻

This might just be my favourite time of the year to shop at Lush because the amount of new products that come out is far too exciting for me! I was kindly invited to the Christmas launch at my local store in Cambridge and this is what I picked out of the Christmas collection! There were so many other products but I just picked out what I thought I would like most so check out their website to see the full collection!



The first thing I picked up was the one I was drawn to most! The new Rudolph Bath Bomb was certainly the cutest reindeer design I've seen Lush do so far. This little guy has a sweet marzipan scent and makes a pretty warm orange coloured bath. You can even write on the antlers like a gift tag!



The second thing is new for the Christmas collection this year are shower bombs! They brought out a Polar Bear Nose (left pic), Rudolph Nose (right pic) and Snowman Nose. These are perfect if you're feeling left out the bath bomb club if you only have a shower, you can finally have a shower with one by simply letting them bubble up in your hands under the shower and then wash with it like you would a shower gel.



This is possibly the most exciting the Amazeballs! I picked up three of the four designs because I just couldn't decide! From left to right Snow Fairy, Holly Golightly and Don't Let The Bells End. These are bath bombs with hollow centres that are filled with bath bomb dust and bath salts and a little lid to keep it all safe inside. You can use it all at once in an epic bath or split it into three by using the filling, the lids and bath bomb shell separately. I think I shall crack one out for my Christmas Eve bath!



This little guy is the Not So Secret Santa which reveals himself as he fizzes around the bath tub releasing a citrusy scent. At £3.95 he also makes the perfect secret Santa present if you have a small budget. He creates a pretty candy cane coloured bath so leaves you feeling in the festive spirit.



The Bomb Bomb's are back and this year I decided to p-p-p pick up the Penguin Bomb Bomb. This citrusy penguin turns your bath a really pretty blue colour making it the perfect bath bomb for refreshing yourself after a long day of Christmas shopping! You can save him for one epic bath or half him to make him last!



Chris the Camel Bath Bomb will be your ride into the colder nights and keep your skin ready for winter. With spice and warming clove bud oil and black pepper oil its the perfect winter warmer and the addition of date syrup helps the skin retain moisture so this has all the skincare goodness in a cute shape of a camel!



This little Snowman Dreaming bath bomb is one for everyone. With secret colours that appear as he drifts around the bath making it perfect for bath art. The Chinese cedarwood and lavender oil its perfect for helping little ones and big ones get to sleep with all the excitement at Christmas.



This pretty emerald green bath bomb is Santa's Grotto, covered in lilac gems and plastic-free glitter.  It has a lot more of a floral scent so if spice is not your thing and you want more of a fresh bath this be more up your street.



Lush have also brought out Bath Oil Tablets with little bits of string on them so you can hang them on your tree before popping them in the bath! I went for the Santa's On His Way filled with Tangerine and Bergamot oil and it makes a pretty pink bath. You can also split it up into multiple baths so perfect for using over the festive period!



This smiley Santa is a new Bubble Bar for this Christmas with cheery notes of uplifting neroli, zingy lime and crisp lemon myrtle it all leaves you feeling uplifted and refreshed. I love combining bubble bars with bath bombs to create bath art so this one is a perfect base leaving an orangey-red water!



Wash away your winter blues with this cutie, Polar Bear Plunge Bubble Bar. With the Spearmint oil and Fine Sea Salt it'll leave you feeling fresh. It also makes a bubbly white bath so again will be a really good base for bath art. He's almost too cute for me to use!

Lush Halloween 2019 🎃

Its that time of year where Lush releases all of it's amazing new seasonal goodies, so of course it's time for me to pick up the new Halloween bits for this year! I was kindly invited to a pre-launch at my local store so I got to see the collection the night before it was released but I went back and purchased the new collection myself the next day! Some of my previous favourites like the Monsters Ball and Bewitched have returned again this year (see my post on them here) but I thought I would show you what's new!



The first thing I picked up really intrigued me was the Boo Shower Slime. This thick black sparkly slime is surprisingly scented like the Christmas favourite snow fairy! You simply have to scoop it out and slather it on in the shower and it smooths and cleanses with the bamboo stem extract and cornflower. I'm really excited to get using this after trying it out in the store on my hands!



The second thing I picked up was the one I was most excited to try! Pumpkin Spice Lip Scrub! Anyone that knows me knows that pumpkin spice is my weakness so the fact I can have it as a lip scrub is amazing. With a comforting mix of clove bud oil, ginger oleoresin and cinnamon powder its brings all the autumnal feels and the pumpkin butter and jojoba oil soften as the caster sugar buffs away any dry skin in the colder months!



This little Punkin Pumpkin Bath Bomb is another new addition for this year. If you are wanting a warming pumpkin, cinnamon and with a citrus kick scented soak this will be your go to! I do find this has a fresher softer scent so if your not into the really strong lush scents this will be a good one to try. He also glows in the dark so watch out for him in the night!



And finally the Mercury Retrograde Bath Bomb is a new addition to Lush this year. This is a new scent and it certainly packs a punch. With Sicilian Lemon oil and stimulating Ginger oil it will lift your senses and refresh your body. Even though it is citrusy it still has that comforting warmth coming from cinnamon leaf oil to keep you in the autumnal spirit. The coarse sea salt also helps cleanse and soften your skin which is the perfect pairing with the antibacterial properties of the ginger and antimicrobial buchu oil. This is not just a pretty bath bomb it really has some good skin benefits built in so I'm looking forward to trying this out!

So that's the end of my little round up of the new halloween Lush goodies! Let me know if you have tried any of these out as well!

Revlon PhotoReady Candid Collection

I'm always on the lookout for new products hitting the beauty shelves, especially on my hunt for the best base products. I was watching This Morning with Sunday Times Beauty Director, Sarah Jossel  mention the new Revlon Photoready Candid Anti-Pollution Foundation * as a good under £10 new product and decided to investigate further. When I went to pick it up from the shop I also picked up the Revlon Photoready Candid Anti-Pollution Concealer *, they also had Revlon Photoready Candid Anti-Pollution Setting Powder* which I decided not to pick up as I'm not much of a setting powder gal. The setting powder was available in three shades; Translucent, Deep and Medium, which I thought was good that they had options.



The Revlon Photoready Candid Anti-Pollution Foundation * comes in 31 shades which I think for a high street brand is good going, including a variety of different tones and shades with different undertones. It is a natural-finish medium coverage foundation that feels very weightless on your skin. It boasts a skin-protecting formulation that blends anti-pollution, antioxidant and anti-blue light ingredients, preventing further signs of fatigue and dullness. Also it claims it feels better without: oils, parabens, phthalates, synthetic dyes, and harsh fragrances.



The Revlon Photoready Candid Anti-Pollution Concealer * with medium coverage (available in 18 shades) camouflages dark circles and puff, with a jolt of caffeine to help wake up tired skin. Like the foundation its formula includes a protective antioxidant, along with anti-pollution and anti-blue-light ingredients and feels better without: oils, parabens, phthalates, synthetic dyes, or harsh fragrances—making it ideal for delicate under eye skin and a great concealer for sensitive skin! It also has a really nice flexible doe-foot applicator which makes it so easy to apply, I find blending with either a brush or my fingers is super simple. 

Here is a quick picture of me using the foundation and concealer. It was super easy to use and I think it looks really natural. I used shade 250 Vanilla foundation and shade 010 Vanilla concealer. If I had gone online I may have ordered a different shade foundation but I went for the closest match that was available in the store I bought it. It is certainly a buildable formula as you can see I did not use much to cover my face in the picture, but I could add more coverage if I wanted. 


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Lush Easter 2019 🐣🐰

Hey chicks, its time for another Lush launch! Easter is round the corner and I've got a round up of this years new products to show you!



Lamb Bomb Bomb and Bunny Bomb Bomb are hopping into your bathroom this Easter with two baths worth of fun. Lamb Bomb Bomb is a mint chocolate scent with peppermint oil and cocoa absolute, leaves a less colourful more milky soft bath waters. Bunny Bomb Bomb has much more of a spring in its step with popping candy livening up your bath water and transforming it into a citrussy pink dream with bergamot and Brazilian orange oil. Two baths worth of joy out of both of these, plus their super cute design has to be a go-to this Easter. 



Hatching this year are four new fun eggs; Bunny Fun Egg, Chick Fun Egg, Brontosaurus Fun Egg and Stegosaurus Fun Egg. Again as with the Bomb Bombs you get more than one bath out of these bath bombs; up to three to be precise! The fun animals inside the bath bomb eggs can be used in multiple ways, it is a 4-in-1 product can be used as a solid shampoo, bubble bar, soap, or even just to play with. The Bunny and Chick egg have the same scents of geranium and peppermint and the Brontosaurus and Stegosaurus egg smell to me of a citrus sherbet sweet smell with grapefruit  and bergamot.



On the theme of carrots Lush have given us the Carrot Cake Lip Scrub and Carrot Shower Oil. The Carrot Cake Lip Scrub is now top of my list of Lush's lip scrub scents and flavours. It has a moreish maple-syrup-esque flavour that is almost as satisfying as eating the cake itself, made from key ingredients of caster sugar, cold-pressed carrot seed oil, walnut oil and fair trade organic cinnamon powder. To keep your body and smooth and soft as you lips will be after the scrub the new Carrot Shower Oil. This product is a new invention for Lush and is sulphate and palm-free shower cleanser. Fair Trade organic cocoa butter and shea butter help moisturise your skin as well as the cold-pressed carrot seed oil and fresh carrot in sunflower oil help protect and soften skin. It has a sweet smell of caledonian sandalwood, grapefruit and geranium flower for a floral finish.



Two new body scrubs have also been added this Easter; Cocoa and Coco. Cocoa Sugar Scrub is the answer to a vegan (non-edible) chocolate bunny. Granulated sugar, cocoa absolute, cocoa butter and vanilla absolute help exfoliate and moisturise your skin. Coco Sugar Scrub is full of lovely organic virgin coconut oil, vanilla absolute and vetivert oil for a shower of coconut dreams and silky soft skin.



And finally to leave you smelling of roses the Rose Bombshell Egg is here to save the day. This pretty pink bombshell will set you back £12.95 but it is a show stopper. You could use it over two baths or use it all in one to have a super luxurious rosey bath. Encased between two bath bomb halves tied together with raffia, cleansing sea salt and dried rose petals. Scented with damask rose absolute and rose oil from Turkish fields, rose-jam perfumed bath is perfect for rose jam lovers. 



Thats my Lush Easter round up for this year! Any of these products hopping into your bathroom any time soon? Let me know if you have tried any!

My Clarins Skincare 🥥🌸

My Clarins is the latest collection to be produced by Clarins and it certainly caught my attention after seeing Caroline Hirons video (also meeting the amazing woman at her Clarins event at the store I work at!). This new line is aimed at 18-25 year olds, but of course that's only a guide at its demographic so everyone can use elements of it still. It is also one of the first of their ranges that is 100% vegan and have made the commitment to only be available in markets that do not require animal testing; so if you are looking to make your skincare more vegan friendly this is a good place to look. Its also a good introduction to a premium skincare routine but for a more budget friendly price.    

I decided to test out a few elements of the collection out for myself and picked up the RE-MOVE Micellar Cleansing Milk*, RE-FRESH Hydrating Beauty Mist*, RE-BOOSTING Comforting Hydrating Cream* and RE-CHARGE Relaxing Sleep Mask*. 



RE-MOVE Micellar Cleansing Milk* was the part of the collection I was most interested in trying out as I have been using micellar cleansing waters for year but not tried a milky formula before. This is one of the simplest things to do in a skincare routine and takes seconds to sweep this across your skin on a cotton pad. If you are lazy with your routine this is the perfect way to start without reaching for dreaded facial wipes (trust me see Caroline for more on this). It gently cleanses and removes make-up to leave your skin still feeling hydrated and clean. Moringa extract helps cleanse the skin's surface and remove traces of pollution while Fig extract has a super moisturising to leave your skin feeling comfortable. It retails at £17 but a little goes a long way so it will last you a while!  



RE-FRESH Hydrating Beauty Mist* is slightly less of as necessary step in a basic routine but a nice one to add in for that extra boost of hydration. This lovely glass bottle contains a floral, fruity beauty water to help moisturise, promote radiance and prep skin for the day or night. With Clarins Healthy Skin (In&Out) Complex: coconut water and Alpenrose extract to help rebalance and boost your skins radiance. Fig extract is also in this mist with its moisturising power, acerola seed for a fresh complexion and robinia flower water to soften skin, and to top it off its alcohol free! Its suggested use it on cleansed skin before your moisture but you can use it whenever you feel the need for some extra hydration. I'm a big fan of mist just for that extra boost so this has joined my vanity! The spray on the nozzle is also really nice and even.      



RE-BOOSTING Comforting Hydrating Cream* has been my moisturiser of choice in the mornings. It has a light whipped cream texture and a little goes a long way.  With 95% natural ingredients its super charged with coconut water and Alpenrose extract to help rebalance and boost radiance. While goji berry extract gives skin an energy boost, fig extract with super moisturising power, shea butter to comfort and sooth skin and finally acerola seed extract and tamarind pulp acids for a fresh, rosy complexioned smooth skin texture. I found my skin still felt hydrated at the end of the day which I haven't found with a lot of other products I have tried over the years and feels plump and refreshed so I'm really impressed.  



RE-CHARGE Relaxing Sleep Mask*has a really light texture but its still just as powerful. Again it is infused with the Healthy Skin (In&Out) complex of coconut water and Alpenrose extract. It also has acerola seed extract, fig extract and huang qi extract to help detox and hydrate overnight. This product can be used as a super soothing night cream or 1-3 times a week as a sleep mask. This is the most expensive part of the collection but again for £24 I don't think that's bad for a product that's 93% natural ingredients and lasts as a little goes a long way. I love putting this on before bed because it not only smells amazing, I also wake up with soft, hydrated skin in the morning!   

I've really been enjoying adding these to my skincare routine and can say they'll be staying there for a while! Obviously the products I wrote about are what my skin needs and there are a few more in the line for if you have more of an oily complexion that they offer. They also have a CLEAR-OUT Blemish Targeting Gel* and PORE-LESS Blur and Matte Stick* which are more targeted treatments for oilier complexions. Along side a RE-MOVE Purifying Cleansing Gel* and RE-BOOST Matifying Hydrating Cream for Oily Skin*  which are all more suited to oily skin. All of the products range from £15 to £24 which I don't think is bad for a premium brand.  Let me know if you have tried any of these new My Clarins products!

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