Mini Motivational Monday & Which Giveaway Item(s)?

Hey guys, so this is going to be a really quick post. 

I promised I'd do a 25 follower giveaway, and I have passed that number but I am still doing one!!

I just wondered what item or items you would be interested in winning?

Here are a few of my ideas -

1. MAC Eyeshadow - Winner would choose the colour

2. MAC lipstick - Winner would choose the colour

3. MUA Items - These would be chosen by me - e.g. Eyeshadow palettes, single eyeshadows, lipsticks, blushes etc.

4. Nail Polish - Either Essie or OPI. Winner would choose colour



I have a poll in the sidebar of my blog so vote there, also comment below if you want!!

Voting will be open until 29/08/12 at 11am GMT so get voting :)



Here is a motivational quote for today - Mini Motivational Monday!!

The truth, right there!

Thanks for reading.

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Haul - Boots, Superdrug and H&M - 3/08/12

I went shopping yesterday and got a few fashion, makeup and skincare items. Hope you enjoy!!

Boots:

Botanics 'Shine Away Mattifying Day Cream SPF15' - £3.33 from Boots (normally £4.99)

Ok so firstly, I bought a new day cream. I am currently using the 'Kiehl's 'Ultra Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15' but that has almost run out (See here in my Current Morning Skincare Routine. The Kiehl's moisturiser is alright but I didn't really want to spend another £17 for such a small bottle. I went with this moisturiser because I wanted something with SPF (which this has) and also wanted something to help with my oiliness (which I don't think my Kiehl's one does). Also, this moisturiser smells amazing, slightly citrusy and orangey!! The one downside in my opinion is that it's in a jar instead of a bottle with a pump...


I was so intrigued by the Botanics Range in Boots and I really want to try the Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask, the 100% Organic Rosewater Toning Spritz and maybe even the 82% Organic Softening Cleanser when my Clinique cleanser runs out.

Soap & Glory 'The Fab Pore Facial Peel' - £8.00 from Boots (Currently on 3 for 2 promotion)
I bought this from reading the glowing reviews on the Boots website and because it was suited to my skin type, i.e. 'ideal for greasy, spot prone or problem skin, or for a strategic attack on a misbehaving T-zone. I also liked the idea that you could leave the mask on for 5 minutes for a 'quick refresher' or 15 minutes for a 'real deep-cleaning do it yourself kind of facial'. I also love that this mask contains Salicylic Acid. The texture of this mask is perfect. It is thick and creamy just how I think masks should be. However, it doesn't seem like much of a 'peel' to me..

Soap & Glory 'Off Your Face 25 Cleansing Cloths' - £4.50 from Boots (I got these FREE with the 3 for 2 deal)

Ok, so I am loving my No7 Wipes (which I bought with a £5 off voucher making them £2) at the moment but I am almost out so I needed some new face wipes. I wasn't about to fork out £7 for some more of the No7 wipes so I decided to get these as my free product. I don't know how I feel about these yet. Personally, I think my No7 wipes are better at taking off my makeup (particularly mascara) as they are slightly wetter. Also, I don't really like the smell, it is quite herbal and almost minty. Other than that, they are fairly good and also, the packaging is so stinking cute!

Soap & Glory 'Clean On Me Creamy Clarifying Shower Gel' - £5.50 from Boots (Currently on 3 for 2 promotion)
I needed a new shower gel and thought this looked really nice. This amazing smelling, creamy shower gel with built in body lotion comes in a 500ml pump bottle which should last a while! I used it last night and it lathers really well, and leaves my skin feeling silky smooth!! I love this stuff already and I've only used it once. Try it, you won't be disappointed.

Yardley 'Hand Cream - Peony' - £3.99 from Boots
I didn't really need a new hand cream to be honest because I love Soap & Glory's 'Hand Food'. However, I walked past this and it immediately caught my eye because of the pink details! Anyway, I smelt it and honestly, this stuff smells so good - I put it in my basket straight away. I tried this when I got home and it is quite a thick hand cream which I like. It also sinks in really quickly and is not greasy at all. However, I did think my hands felt drier quicker when using this as apposed to my trusty Hand Food. However, I really like it and you also get a pretty decent amount (100ml).

Superdrug:

MeMeMe 'Flawless Cream Foundation - 01 Porcelain Pure' - £12.50 from MeMeMe Cosmetics

I wanted to try out a new foundation instead of my Revlon Colorstay Foundation and after watching Zoella's Foundation Review Video I decided to try this one out. I was a bit hesitant because of the price and the shoddy shade selection (only 4 colours in total) but I took the plunge and purchased the lightest of the 4 (which I tested on my hand in Superdrug and it looked fairly close to my skin colour). Anyway, when I got home, I tested it out again this time on my face and it matches ok but is slightly orange/yellow toned. I think this will match me perfectly when I fake tan so I am going to do that in the next few days when I get a chance! Other than that, I really like the airless pump bottle and think it looks sleek and stylish. I also think it is medium coverage but I can make it full with concealer and powder. However, I do think £12.50 is perhaps a bit steep!!

 MeMeMe 'Shimmer Stack - Bronze' - £9.99 from MeMeMe Cosmetics (On offer for £7.99 from Superdrug)
Swatches - Individual shades, then swirled together
I partly just bought this to do a comparison between this and Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Brick but also because it looked like such a pretty product and was on offer. I like the packaging and the big mirror however it is a bit bulky. I also like the fact that the individual colours can be sussed as eyeshadows as well. I think this is a multi-use product however after I have used it for a bit, I might give it to my sister because I do have the Bobbi Brown version and I don't need two of the same product..

Cosmopolitan 'Perfect Finish Make-Up Sponges' - £2.19 from Superdrug

I bought these sponges to try and do ombre nails. I will post a tutorial if I'm successful!! I also thought they were cuter than the other sponges because they were flower shaped :)

MUA 'Lip Boom - 02 Bring It' - £3 from Superdrug

This product has a matte lipstick at one end and a shimmery, glittery lipstick at the other. It also has a removable cap with some kind of product in. If anyone knows what this is or even if you are meant to use it then leave a comment because I am confused by it. Anyway, they lipstick is very pigmented and so is the gloss. They can be paired together or worn separately. I think the lipgloss looks like it might be a bit chunky so I'll see how I like that but otherwise it looks like a good product!

H&M:

H&M '4-Pack Hair Claws' - £1.99 from H&M

I bought these to just get my hair out of my face when I can't be bothered to do anything with it.. They are just simple, black hair clasps that you can pretty much find anywhere!

H&M Jumper - Navy and Coral - £14.99 each from H&M

I have this exact jumper in a cream colour and I love it for Summer in the UK because it's never really that hot. It is thin and soft and amazing and you should go and get one right now!!

WOW, that was a long post. Hope you didn't give up half way.

I will be doing a giveaway when I get to 20 followers and will be including some MUA products!

Thanks for reading. xoxo 

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Beaming for Bronze - Olympic Special

This is the final post in my Olympic Special series and is exploring everything beautiful and bronze!

Beauty:

OPI 'Brisbane Bronze' - £11.00 from Beauty Bay
If you look at swatches of this colour it looks like such a gorgeous bronze colour. You can also find this cheaper on eBay for £7.99 and if you search around, you can probably find it cheaper still!

Max Factor Max Effect Mini Nail Polish 'Red Bronze' - £2.99 from Superdrug
This polish is a cheaper alternative to the OPI polish. It is still a beautiful bronze colour and from swatches I have seen online, it looks like an all round amazing polish.

St Tropez Bronzing Lotion Self Tan Starter Kit - £11.75 from ASOS
This kit comes with a 'Body Polish' to prep and exfoliate the skin prior to tan application; a 'Tan Optimiser' to moisturise the skin and keep your tan looking bronzed for longer; and finally, St Tropez's classic 'Self Tan Lotion' which promises to deliver a 'long-lasting, even tan with a subtle fragrance for a natural looking glow.' This kit looks perfect to keep your skin bronzed and beautiful during the Summer months.

MUA Mosaic Bronzer 'Sunkissed Glow' - £2.50 from Superdrug
This bronzer looks extremely pretty and is a very reasonable price for a bronzer. I might even have to purchase this one for myself!!

MeMeMe Shimmer Stack 'Bronze' - £9.99 from MeMeMe Cosmetics

I was drawn to this due to its similarities to the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in 'Bronze' which is £32 from House of Fraser. This is considerably cheaper than its more expensive counterpart and the only difference I can see from photos is that the MeMeMe bronzer has slightly less shimmer than the Bobbi Brown bronzer (which I actually have). I would love to try this out and see how it compares to the Bobbi Brown product. Leave a comment if you'd be interested in seeing this!!

NARS Eyeshadow 'Fez' - £16.50 from ASOS
I have seen swatches of this product and it is a deep bronze shimmery eyeshadow that looks like it would be really nice in the crease or outer corner. It also looks dark enough to use as eyeliner if you want!

Fashion & Accessories:

Motel Bodycon Dress - £25 from ASOS
I prefer this dress to the ones I chose in my Going for Gold and Shooting for Silver posts because it is more understated and not so metallic however still with a hint of bronze. I feel like this is slightly more wearable than the gold dress but perhaps a bit less wearable than the silver dress. I just personally prefer this dress to the others. Tell me what you think and which dress is your favourite!!

Bronze Woven Tassel Duffel Bag - £17.99 from New Look

This bag looks really nice and because metallic are currently in trend, I feel like you could wear this without it being too garish and shiny. Also, from the picture on the New Look website, it looks fairly big and would be great for an everyday bag!

Orelia Facet Bead and Coin Bracelet - £6 from ASOS

I put this on here because I love how dainty and delicate this bracelet looks. It is so cute and it would be awesome for layering with other bracelets and even a watch - ARM CANDY!!!!

Bronze T-Bar Platform Court Shoes - £36 from Next

These shoes are super shiny and fairly high but would look awesome with a dress of any colour. I think you could also pair these shoes with the dress above because the dress does not have too much bronze in it.

Hope you enjoyed this post and well done to Team GB for getting their first 2 gold medals today!!!!!

Thanks for reading. xoxo

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Make Up Academy 'Immaculate Collection Palette' Review and Swatches

MUA 'Immaculate Collection Palette' - £8.00 from MUA Store

As you can see, this palette comes with 24 shades. There are 4 matte shades in this palette - Shade 4, Shade 13, Shade 16 and Shade 20.

My favourites out of these 12 shades are definitely Shade 2, Shade 7 and Shade 11. Shade 4, the matte black is fairly pigmented - I had to layer a few layers to get it that opaque though. 

My favourites out of these shades are Shade 14, Shade 15, Shade 18 and Shade 21. 

Shade 15 and 24 are both really pretty and unique. Shade 15 is a green/gold duo chrome and Shade 24 is a pink/purple duo chrome colour. 

Shade 16, a matte grey is fairly pigmented and would make a good crease / blending colour. 

However, the other two mattes in the palette - Shade 20 (matte white) and Shade 23 (matte brown) - are not pigmented at all. You have to really dig your finger in to get some colour!! 

All of the shimmery shades have good pigmentation and texture and the matte shades are questionable to say the least. 

Pros:

- Price. At £8 for 24 eyeshadows (around 33p per eyeshadow) - most with great pigmentation and texture- you can't really go wrong. 

- Quality. 20 of the eyeshadows have amazing pigmentation and texture!

- Colour selection. There is a great range of colours in this palette. You get everything from neutrals to brights!!

Cons: 

- Packaging. I don't know if its just mine or what but I struggle to open this palette. The opening is very stiff and I feel like I'm going to break it every time I open it - However, I haven't yet!!

- Mattes. Bad pigmentation for the most part.

Overall:

Packaging: 3/5

I like the clear window that allows you to see all the colours; however, the palette is fairly difficult to open. Perhaps to secure..

Product: 4/5

The majority of the shades have amazing pigmentation and texture. However, MUA need to work on the formulation of their matte shades.

Price: 5/5

£8 for 24 shadows (33p a shadow). Amazing!!!

Leave a comment with your thoughts on this palette!

Thanks for reading. xoxo

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Shooting for Silver - Olympic Special

So, this is the second instalment of my Olympic Special posts. This post is inspired by the Silver medal and will feature all things shining, sparkling and more importantly SILVER!!

Beauty:

Maybelline Colour Tattoo 'Eternal Silver' - £4.99 from Superdrug

I have one of the Colour Tattoos in 'Bad to the Bronze' and I really like it. 'Eternal Silver' would be the perfect base/primer for the MUA shadow below!

Make Up Academy Pearl Eyeshadow 'Shade 3' - £1.00 from Superdrug

I have two of these eyeshadows in 'Shade 6' and 'Shade 8'. The pigmentation is crazy good and they have a really buttery texture. They are also really good value for money at only £1 each!! I will be posting swatches and a review of the Immaculate Collection Palette tomorrow so keep a look out!

Mavala 'Sparkling Silver 5ml' - £3.50 from Beauty Bay

This polish looks super sparkly and shiny hence the name 'Sparkling Silver.' I also like that it is a small bottle because I have way too much nail polish and a small bottle might actually be used up!

Yves Saint Laurent Volupte Sheer Candy Lipstick '04' - £23.50 from House of Fraser

I have this lipstick and it is the perfect colour for Summer. It is (as the name suggests) a sheer balm-like lipstick but I like that occasionally. The packaging is so sleek and luxurious but the price tag is not quite so desirable.

Fashion & Accessories:

Lipsy Cutwork Dress - £29.00 from ASOS

This dress would be great for a night out. The shiny silver cutout detail looks almost tribal which is very on trend. I really like the overall look of this dress.

Mirror Ballerina Pumps - £19.99 from Zara

These shoes look very shiny! I think they might look good with skinny jeans or a dress of any colour really - apart from silver and maybe gold. They are good for tying an outfit together especially if you find it difficult to walk in heels like I do.

Jewelled Party Box Bag - £49.99 from Zara

This clutch is the perfect way to add some sparkle to an outfit. Perfect to carry your phone, cash, cards and any necessary makeup for an evening out. Isn't it so pretty and shiny!!

Marc by Marc Jacobs Bracelet Watch - £179 from Asos

This watch is really simple and would go perfectly with any outfit. I also love the rhinestones on the 'Marc'. They add some bling to this understated watch. Again, I would prefer it in rose gold but silver is so classic and I think everyone should own a silver and gold watch some day!

Hope you enjoyed this post and are looking forward to the post dedicated to bronze!

Thanks for reading. xoxo

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