Saturday 31 December 2011

Frontcover Style Queen - picture heavy

This was a wonderful present from my mum. Got it 2 days ago as she found it hidden away in her caravan.

this is the inside that shows the make-up artist tips.

Layer one has 7 baked dome shadows, 6 satin shadows, 6 glosses, shadowline, cheekdomes, 2 pigment shadows and a mascara

The bottom layer has 6 brushes, a sharpener (for the vast numbers of pencils included, oh no wait, none!) and a mini eyelash curler - none of these have been tested yet.

This is a closer view of the shadows and glosses. Swatches will be from left to right following the box.

These are the baked shadows. I have these from some sets I got last Christmas, which are much better than these ones, these seem really pale in comparison. I will use these wet to intensify them or they just won't do it for me.

These are the satin swatches, much more depth of colour, but just basic shadows really.

The glosses helpfully came with a sticky tape type cover, which for now I am leaving on. Nowt worse with pallets and boxes like these than powder getting in the glosses! The glosses are a good consistency, but nothing really stands out colour wise.

These are the cheek domes, not quite a blush, not quite a bronzer, not quite a highlighter...

These are quite heavy swatches of the domes, I would use more of the reddish one and use the other more as a highlighter as otherwise you could risk looking like a robot!

Ah, the pigments, now these I like. Especially coal hoal!

These swatches show the pigments first dry and then used over the shadowline. Personally I would not dip shadowline in the pigments, I would draw my line and then go over with a thin brush with the loose pigment.

This picture is the pigments after I wiped my hand with a dry tissue, the dry has come right off but the pigment with the shadowline was harder to budge and I had to wash my hands with soap to get it off!

Finally we come to the brushes, this is where the value for money really comes in, the brushes are fabulous quality and I would use most of them. Minimal shedding, soft and nicely made.

Frontcover is one of Boots fastest selling make-up brands, now companies say that a lot, but honestly when this was Boots gift of the week they were flying off, empty shelves in 3 stores I visited within that week! Plus lots of the other sets were often sold out. They do have a range in larger Boots stores that have an empty pallet to which you add the single bits you want and sets are currently half price in Boots stores but be quick!

Monday 26 December 2011

How was your Christmas? Update and a review inside!




Hope you all got spoilt and had a wonderful time!

I got mostly beauty gifts, of course! Including 3 BareMinerals sets, Soap and Glory's Hey Big Splendour, Stila Blockbuster colour palette, some funky kitchen tins, a make-up bag and mirror, slippers, a dress, a new charm for my bracelet, a cupcake shaped cookie jar, a Willow Tree trinket box, a photo canvas, and a Mandara Spa ultimate getaway pamper bag which I will be part reviewing today.

Now this I was looking forward to getting! I haven't had a bath in about 6 months, I just prefer the speed of showers! But today I had a nice bath using my Amber Heaven products from my Mandara spa collection, which I love so much I have just bought more stuff in the sales on Sainsbury's! Anyhoo, back to the review!
I used the Amber Heaven Indulging bath and the shower cream and the smell is divine! Quite strong but very relaxing, and the shower cream is delicious feeling, soft and very foamy even though it is free from SLS, SLES, parabens, mineral oil and DEA.
The smell didn't last particularly long on the skin, but am getting the body lotion soon to layer it up.

Mandara Spa products are a sister brand to Elemis, but more affordable and the quality, naturalness and environmental goodness shows through.
Available at larger Sainsbury's store and from www.timetospa.co.uk

Saturday 24 December 2011

Christmas Wishes to you all (all 33 followers and likers, hehe!)



So Chrsitmas eve is upon us, my 5 year old has gone insane, as well as these festive goodies I have baked 50 mince pies, made and rolled stuffing balls and prepared the potatoes, carrots and parsnips for the big day. The presents are all under the tree, sacks (well pillow cases) have been dug out to place on the end of the kids beds and the chinese will be here at 7pm! Bliss!


Emmy has already got on her new festive pj's and Callum will be in his later tonight! That is one of our traditions, others include a visit to the panto, on Christmas eve we watch Muppets Christmas Carol, Father Christmas, Diney Christmas Sing-a-long songs and any other festivities we can find!




Do you have any family traditions you have passed on to your children or still do now?

Friday 23 December 2011

Elemis Pure Melt Cleanser

This is my first dabble in Elemis facial products, and boy, its a good one!The tiny amount shown was all I needed to cleanse my whole face, which lets be honest here, is a bit of a must at £20 ish per 125ml tube.
The gel spread like a dream, you apply it from the tube with dry fingers, all over the face, wet fingers and the gel melts into soft, delicate foaminess. The scent is fresh and not at all overpowering.
I rinsed off using my Emma Hardie cloth and the picture shows the dirt taken from my face on a NON make-up day, wasn't sure whether to be horrified or impressed! I am usually a double cleanse gal, going for a face wash as well as a balm or oil but the few times I have used this I have felt no need. Joy!



Overall, this is a cleanser I am likely to purchase myself (this was from a swap) and having tried a few other things (more posts another time) I think I will dabble in the Elemis range a LOT more!
Elemis is available from QVC, www.timetospa.co.uk and John Lewis amongst others.

Thursday 22 December 2011

Christmas time, mistletoe and......

mental illness, alcoholism, domestic violence, child abuse or even simply feeling like it's all a bit much?
Christmas maybe a time of joy and fun for lots of people, but for some it highlights the pain and suffering they maybe going through in life.

If this is you then here is a list of number to keep to hand. If you don't need these but think you may know someone who does, then please share this


MIND
www.mind.org.uk
0300 123 3393

Samaritans
www.samaritans.org
08457 90 90 90

Alcoholics Anonymous
0845 769 7555
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/newcomers

Stonewall
Info line 08000 50 20 20
www.stonewall.org.uk
London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard
0207 837 7324

SANELine
0845 767 8000
www.sane.org.uk


Preventing young suicide
www.papyrus-uk.org

For people in Northern Ireland
www.lifeline.info
0808 808 8000

Childline
www.childline.org.uk
0800 1111

Depressionalliance

www.depressionalliance.org

Refuge

www.refuge.org.uk
0808 2000 247

Eating Disorders Association
www.edauk.com
0845 634 1414

Shelter
www.shelter.org.uk
0808 800 4444

NHS Direct
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
0845 4647

No Panic
0808 808 0545
www.no-panic.co.uk

Merry Christmas to one and all, enjoy yourselves but please think of those who maybe struggling or alone at this time of year.

Kelly x

This post comes with help from Kellie over at http://big-fashionista.blogspot.com/ who compiled the list and sent it out to any Bloggers who wanted to put it out there x

Wednesday 21 December 2011

NOTD - Festive Flair nail 4

Models Own Pink Fizz, well its not reeeeealy festive, but it is a full on glitter explosion! It is opaque in 3 coats, or as it is pink glitter suspended in a clear gloss it would be a great layering polish, I might try it over a black base soon.
Recently I remember a way I took my polish off as a teen if I ran out of remover and updated it for glitter removal. Coat nails in a layer of cheap or unused polish and swiftly remove with a pad soaked in remover. Perfect removal!



I got my bottle from Republic but you can buy it from http://www.modelsownit.com/nails/nail-polish/pink-nail-polishes.html and http://www.boots.com/

Saturday 17 December 2011

NOTD - Festive Flair nail 3

Ok, I know I was going to do more face posts but well, it is nearly Christmas, busy busy busy!
Instead here is a festive nail from the queen of glitter polishes Deborah Lippmann!
This one is a beauty! Deep raspberry base, with reddish pink glitter of all sizes in it. Application was ok, had to load up the brush to avoid dragging at the cuticle, but this is a multi use wonder, one coat over another colour leaves a hint of shimmer. This is a festive nail so went for 3 coats to fully cover. Drying time was longer than average for a glitter polish but the base is a jelly type which I find do dry slower. Top coat helped stop some of the gritty feeling.


Deborah Lippmann polishes are available from http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=deborah+lippmann&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=9509422505&ref=pd_sl_28v1uscna9_e House of Fraser

Thursday 15 December 2011

NOTD - Festive Flair nail 2


This is undoubtedly the best festive colour ever! If like me you have a preference for block colours.
This is Nails Inc Chelsea Embankment and this is a 4 coat application. This can be used over another colour as a single coat to create a glittery shimmer.

I left this review until removal as I wanted to let you know what it was like, uh, shall never get back that half an hour of my life! I tried my hardest to pull it off in one swoop, but alas my hands were adorned with glitter afterwards and took mch washing before it went!
Wear was excellent and the glitter was small enough not to feel too bumpy and gritty.

Nails Inc is available at Boots and Nails inc



Monday 12 December 2011

NOTD - Orly Velvet Rope



or my Cadbury's nails as I call them, the colour is honestly an almost perfect match to Cadbury's colouring! These picture was taken after 5 days of wear, as you can see there is tip wear but no chips, bar my poor broken little finger nail!
I seem to be doing a lot of NOTD blog posts lately, must do more face make-up, especially my amazing new mascara! Trouble is the light is rubbish for facial shots lately! But will try and do some soon.

Orly is available from Boots in the mini sizes and also Feel Unique in the full size.

Application is lovely, but load up the brush when using mini's or it can drag at the cuticle. Wear is fabulous, just tip wear but that's from typing, no chips though!

Sunday 4 December 2011

NOTD - OPI Designer De Better

Designer De Better? Well all the better for meeting this beauty! The first two pictures show this in natural light, at first glance it is a silver foil, but it actually has pink and bronze micro shimmer running through it.

The last 3 pictures are in artificial light and if you look closely the shimmer is apparent.
I got this in a set of mini's from the new Muppets collection but think this will be a repurchase in the full size!
OPI can be purchased from QVC, Lena White and Chemist Direct