FashionistA Cosmetics review

I received some FashionistA Cosmetics recently and after yesterdays FOTD post I am reviewing all the products I used to create the latest look.

I used FashionistA bronzers in shades Tokyo and Barcelona, blusher in shade Milan, Eyeshadow in shade Trend-Setter, a 2 step mascara and a brow kit. 

FashionistA Custom Palette - Black* £5.00

I always wanted to have a custom palette, so getting this one was a nice surprise. It is perfect for storing your favourite FashionistA blushers, bronzers and eyeshadows, makes them easy to find and saves space. It is very sturdy and the mirror inside is huge. I have been using it every day when I do my makeup. Great little investment and really good quality.

 FashionistA Bronzer Tokyo* £4.00

This bronzer is perfect for contouring and for adding a warm glow to my face. The shade I got is perfect for my skin tone, but I am sure it would work on lighter skin as well. 

There isn't much fallout and it stays on my skin for a couple of hours. 

If I use a setting spray on top of my makeup it stays on all day.

FashionistA Bronzer Barcelona* £4.00

This bronzer is totally different than the ones I tried before. It is quite shimmery, creamy and not very pigmented, but it adds a nice glow to my face. 

If your skin is quite dark, you will be able to use it as a highlighter. 

I apply it on top of the Tokyo bronzer and it looks really nice and adds an extra shimmer to my cheekbones to make them stand out more.

FashionistA Blush Milan* £4.00

Absolutely gorgeous shade, a medium, warm pink with a bit of shimmer. The consistency is really nice too, it applies beautifully with minimal fallout. It is very pigmented, so don't go crazy. Start with a small amount and build up the colour if you love a lot of blusher on your cheeks. 

It is a bargain at £4 and I am looking forward to swatching more shades in Superdrug. 

Let's hope my local one stocks FashionistA cosmetics.

FashionistA Brow Kit* £7.00

This product is my favourite from the ones I received. I own a couple of brow kits- Urban Decay, Benefit and some cheap ones too and this one is comparable to the high end ones. 

The thing I like the most is the colour choice, you get 3 different shades of brown, so it is suitable for blondes and brunettes. There is also clear wax to smooth the eyebrows down and keep the shape in place all day. The kit comes with tiny tweezers and a brush, so it includes everything you need to have perfect eyebrows. I am very impressed with this set. It is much cheaper than the other ones I own and does the exact same job.

FashionistA Double Take Baked Eyeshadow in Trend-Setter* £4.00

I wasn't sure about this eyeshadow when I first opened it but as soon as I applied it onto my eyelids I fell in love with the colour. All the shades blend together to create a multi dimensional colour and if you use  a wet brush the pigmentation is amazing. There is specks of yellow, white and purple, but the final colour is a gorgeous deep blue. I used a primer with this eyeshadow, because there was a lot of fallout. My face was covered with glitter! I will be more careful the next time :)

FashionistA Double Ended Mascara Black Brown* £8.00

 This is the only product I didn't like. I am not a fan of two step mascaras, because they seem to turn my eyelashes grey, or in this case-they don't give me any extra volume or length. I usually skip the first step, but for review purposes I followed the instructions. The white coat never dries... and once I applied the actual mascara it wasn't sticking to my lashes at all. I am very confused about this one.

You can get the new FashionistA range in Superdrug stores.

L-R: Trend-Setter eyeshadow, Milan blusher, Tokyo Bronzer, Barcelona Bronzer

Neal's Yard Remedies Bee Lovely campaign - help save the bees!

Hi everyone. 

Today I would like to ask you to do one small thing that could make a big change.

 Neal's Yard Remedies is running a campaign to save the bees and you can help!

Bees are vanishing from around the world. In Britain they're disappearing faster than in the rest of Europe. 

DDT is a chemical pesticide that was used widely across Britain, Europe and the US – until it was shown to have chronic effects on the nervous system, liver, kidneys and immune system. It was banned in Britain in 1984. 

Neonicotinoids are 7,000 times more toxic than DDT. 

 Neonicotinoid pesticides have been linked to the dramatic loss of honeybees around the world. British beekeepers have lost up to 80% of their hives in recent years, more than any other country in Europe.

Please sign our petition to get the British government to join France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia in banning these powerful pesticides, and help protect our precious bees.

New Bee Lovely range

Following the incredible demand for the Bee Lovely Hand Cream, NYR is proud to introduce the new family friendly Bee Lovely range.
With moisturising organic honey and energising orange and mandarin essential oils.
5% of the RRP of every Bee Lovely product will be donated to a charity or good cause.

BEE LOVELY AND HELP SAVE THE BEES! :)

 Bee Lovely Hand Cream* 50ml £10.00

"Softens hands and helps SAVE THE BEES. Care for your hands as you help save the bees with our original Bee Lovely Hand Cream. Moisturising organic honey is blended with energising orange essential oil to nourish the skin and lift the spirits. Our bee-utifully scented Limited Edition Hand Cream flew off the shelves when we first launched it, now, thanks to overwhelming demand from our customers, we’re proud to say it’s back and here to stay.Gentle enough for the whole hive, including children aged 3 years and over."

This hand cream is a lovely addition to my collection. It smells absolutely beautiful and makes my hands feel unbelievably soft and perfectly moisturized. It doesn't leave a residue and absorbs quickly.
I also use it on my elbows, knees and feet
5% of the RRP goes to charity, so it could be your next guilt free purchase :)

Lulu & Boo Organics review

Hi everyone. Today I am reviewing some gorgeous products from an organic brand Lulu & Boo Organics including: Jasmine & Vanilla Bath Oil, Vanilla Sugar Body Scrub, Fruits & Vitamins Brightening Mask, Echinacea and Tea Tree Gel and Baby Bottom Balm.

Lulu & Boo Organics is an award-winning organic skincare company. All their products are specially formulated with the finest certified organic essential oils and active plant extracts, are animal friendly and vegetarian or vegan. You will never find irritating chemicals such as Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), Parabens or synthetic fragrances or colourants in Lulu & Boo products. The production methods used by the company are 100% environmentally friendly and the packaging is fully recyclable. The range includes skincare, bodycare, mother and baby products and gift boxes.

Last day with Konad

After getting tons of request about doing more NOTD posts including stamping with Konad I decided to do a full week of Konad nail art. I think that on day 3 it became boring and there was less interest in the posts. Anyway... I will have a break from nail art and write beauty reviews this week.

If you own a Konad kit try out the designs on paper to see if you like the outcome or if the colours you picked look nice together etc. I always like to see the effect before I start stamping my nails :)

The most tricky design is the one with musical notes. It is really hard to do and I never get it right, because there is too much detail!

Liz Earle Summer Essentials

Hi everyone!  I hope you are having a lovely Sunday! I am finally publishing a review of must have summer essentials from Liz Earle.  The products I am reviewing today are: Botanical Aftersun Gel, Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion, Foot Spritzer and Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer. 

I thought I will never get a chance to properly try these ;) The weather has been terrible for a couple of weeks, but surprisingly, the past few days were nice and sunny. I spent a lot of time outside with my baby boy and  caught some rays. I was covered with SPF30 though, so I didn't get a tan. All the products featured in this post are perfect for summer and help to sooth and hydrate the skin.

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer* 200ml £13.00 link

"This heavenly floral-scented, non-drying toner refreshes, soothes and brightens your skin. Gentle and alcohol-free, it also adds a fine layer of moisture.  Naturally active ingredients include organic aloe vera to revitalise and soften and calendula, chamomile, cucumber and natural source vitamin E to soothe and refresh the skin"

 The Skin Boost Tonic Spritzer  is my favourite toner and the one I always reach for. 

It smells beautiful and is very soothing for my skin. I reviewed it already a couple of months ago here.

It is perfect for summer, if you want to refresh your face when sunbathing  or if you need to give your skin a boost of energy when you are on the go. The bottle is a generous size and the price is very affordable. For me it is a must have product and the one I will always repurchase.
 

Liz Earle Botanical Aftersun Gel* 200ml £13.50 link

"Our light, rehydrating gel cools, calms and nourishes sun-exposed skin by replacing lost moisture. Premium high-altitude lavender is soothing and cucumber refreshing, while antioxidant natural source vitamin E helps counteract the damaging effects of the sun’s rays.Massage into the skin as often as needed after exposure to the sun.Containing cooling organic aloe vera and refreshing cucumber, plus natural source vitamin E to help counteract the damaging effects of the sun’s rays.Suitable for all skin types"

I love the feeling of a cool gel on my skin, after a long day in the sun! It is amazing! I tried this gel yesterday and I love it! It cools the skin, makes it feel refreshed and hydrated. It is full of natural ingredients chosen especially to soothe the skin after exposure to the sun. 

I also used it on my legs a couple of times, when I needed something to relief the annoying pain I get after a long day on my feet. 

Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion* 150ml £10.25

"Wake up and revitalise eyes with cotton wool pads soaked in this gentle, soothing herbal lotion.

Non-oily, it is ideal for irritated eyes and suitable for contact lens wearers.Apply to a cotton wool pad to clean and wake up your eyes first thing. Naturally active ingredients include eyebright, witch hazel, organic aloe vera and cornflower to help tone, cool and refresh tired, puffy eyes.Suitable for all skin types" 

The Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion is something I always wanted to try. My eyes are very sensitive, constantly sore an itchy. I also get tears in my eyes for no reason all day. I finally found my saviour!
 I can't even describe what a difference it made to my eyes and my life! The itchiness and the feeling of tired eyes are gone! I use it in the morning on cotton wool pads to refresh and soothe my tired eyes. If i don't wear make up I try to use it in the afternoon as well. At night, I put a face mask on, I soak two cotton wool pads in the lotion and place them on my eyes for 15 minutes. It helps to reduce redness, puffiness, irritation and the appearance of dark circles. 

I am very impressed with Eyebright! If you are looking for something to soothe your sensitive eyes, this product will change your life. (Hopefully!) Well... It really changed mine!

Liz Earle Foot Spritzer* 75ml £7.75 link

"Spritz your feet, legs and ankles with a cooling and invigorating burst of nine essential oils. This fast drying spray fights odour-causing bacteria to help keep feet fresh. It’s the perfect wake-up for weary feet, leaving them revived and revitalised.Spray whenever you need cooling, instant relief. Follow with Liz Earle Foot Repair Moisturiser.Naturally active ingredients include cooling menthol and hydrating aloe vera. Peppermint and rosemary essential oils leave feet smelling sweet."

The last product I want to mention is the Foot Spritzer. I am a big fan of cooling sprays and mists for my feet. I don't like to use foot creams and gels. They usually leave a residue and I don't want that feeling on a hot summer day. The spritzer is perfect, it absorbs instantly and leaves my feet refreshed and smelling lovely! It also helps to fight bacteria and hydrates the skin. It costs only £7.75 so I will definitely buy a new bottle when it runs out.

I really enjoyed using all the products and they made the hot days easier to handle :)
My favourite must be the Eyebright lotion, because it really helped to soothe my sensitive eyes and became a part of my everyday routine.

NOTD: week with konad: day 6: green, orange and hearts

It is day 6 of Konad stamping :)

Today's manicure reminds me of Louis Vuitton scarves and bags with graffiti print in neon colours :) 

I used: Essence Lime Up! as a base, Orly in Ruby for stamping, Essie in Braziliant for the line and a cheap neon green polish to colour some of the hearts.

It isn't as neat as previous ones, but it looks really nice in real life :)

Yasmin and Gogo Philip vintage bijoux collaboration

I am a big fan of Gogo Philip jewellery and I always buy it from asos. When I was asked if  I would like to feature something from the new collab collection with singer Yasmin I jumped on the chance :)

I received two Gogo Philip designs: gold earrings and a neon orange fabric bracelet.

The earrings are from the new collection, but I couldn't find them on the website. You can get similar ones online though. To see more designs click here. 

The bracelet is something I wasn't sure about, but as soon as put it on my wrist I fell in love. 

It is very comfortable to wear and looks lovely layered with other bracelets.

You can buy the new YASMIN x GOGO PHILIP collection in selected Topshop and Selfridges.

NOTD: week with konad: day 5: pink a black leopard print edge

This is my fifth manicure this week. 

Another two and I will have a little break from NOTD posts.  I really missed my stamping tools ;) and I thought that a week with konad will be a great challenge for me. 

This time I used Barry M Bright Pink as a base and black h&m nail polish for stamping. 

This must be one of my favourite designs ever. I added a post with a peach and black combo before using the same plate. Here is a link.

NOTD: Week with Konad: day 4: lilac and purple

Another Konad manicure and three more to go :) I mentioned my extremely dry cuticles... here they are... I am very confused, I moisturise them at least five times a day with cuticle creams and butters, I use hand creams and oils. Two  minutes after using anything, they are back to being really dry. I hope  it is just temporary and they will be back to normal soon. It could be the change in my diet that's causing it and I already know that I need to drink more water.

For the manicure I used Barry M in Berry Ice Cream as a base with a matte top coat, Essence in True Love for stamping and a clear glitter top coat on top of the pattern to make it stand out more.

Nourish skincare: Radiance and Balance range review

I absolutely love natural and organic skincare and I am always excited to try out new products and add them to my routine. In this case I changed my whole routine and started using Nourish products from the Radiance range for normal skin and the Balance range for combination skin.

As soon as I received the package I fell in love with the beautiful apple scent of the Balance range. I think I actually tweeted that I am taking my make up off to try Nourish products, because I couldn't resist it :) Honestly... the apple scent is heavenly!

 

Radiance Purifying Cleanser* 100ml £9.95 link

"Blend of soft emollients and foxberry to help brighten the skin. Recommended for normal skin to maintain a healthy and youthful glow. 97% Organic."  

 I really like cream cleansers for removing makeup and to start my cleansing process at night and this one is perfect. I use it after removing my eye makeup and follow with a gel cleanser. 

It is very gentle, leaves my face soft and keeps the moisture in my skin.

If you don't wear make up, or wear a small amount it will be perfect to use on it's own.

I always double cleanse my face to make sure it is 100% clean.

Radiance Refreshing Toning Mist* 100ml £8.95 link

"Blend of soothing botanical extracts. Perfect hydrator to help refresh the skin. Recommended for normal skin to maintain a healthy and youthful luminosity. 97% Organic."

Toner is an essential part of any skincare routine. I am still shocked when I hear some bloggers saying that they don't use a toner. What? Using a toner helps to restore the pH balance of the skin after cleansing, shrinks pores, protects, moisturizes and prepares the skin to absorb goodness of your serums and creams. This toner smells lovely and feels very refreshing on the skin. I always use toners on a cotton wool pad after cleansing, but sometimes I like to spray it directly onto my face , to cool it down.

Balance Nutritious Peptide Serum* 30ml £16.95 link

"With a unique blend of vitamins and minerals, this peptide serum is a refreshing, light textured and effective hydrator that leaves skin visibly healthy and well balanced. Recommended for combination skin, it helps to renew the skin’s natural surface revealing a richer and harmonised look. 80% Organic."

I started using serums about 5 years ago when  found out that they exist. They are packed with goodness and usually sink into the skin right away. This one is amazing- it smells like fresh apples, absorbs quickly and I only need half a pump to massage it onto my face and neck. 

The serum is a generous size and the bottle should last for about 6 months, or longer. 

Combined with the Balance Essential moisturser it hydrates my skin and keeps the sebum under control. I really enjoy using it every day and it is my favourite product from the full range.

I find most pump dispensers too generous with the amount of product that comes out with each pump, but that's something all brands should consider and improve. 

  

Balance Essential Moisturiser* 50ml £14.95 link

"This unique cream complex contains a superior selection of vitamins and minerals to stimulate the skin to create a healthy equilibrium. With properties to control sebum and restore the skin's natural barrier. 89% organic"

I am very impressed with this face cream. It is amazing at keeping my face oil free. If I use it in the morning, I don't need to worry about my face being oily, or shiny. It keeps my T-zone perfectly matte all day! It absorbs instantly and smells heavenly! It is definitely something everyone with oily skin should try, because it does an amazing job at keeping my skin balanced, hydratetd and soft.

 Argan Skin Rescue Treatment* 15ml £18.95 link

"Natural collagen enhancer to help protect from signs of ageing and restore skin when in distress. Its active ingredients combat the formation of wrinkles by strengthening the protein bonding structures. It neutralises harmful free radicals and reduces the blotchiness and scarring associated with injury, acne, eczema and psoriasis. It inhibits dehydration and simultaneously brings the skin back to equilibrium. Easily absorbed 90% Organic."

Everybody likes a bit of luxury in their skincare routine. If  want to indulge my skin, I use facial oils and treatments to give it an extra boost of radiance and hydration. This treatment does everything I expected from it and more. It leaves my skin really soft and supple and helps to reduce the appearance of discoloration marks and redness. The effect it has on my skin is comparable to the effects of more expensive treatments I used, so I am very impressed. I love using it at the weekend, when I have more time to pamper my skin and I can see and feel the effects the morning after.

NOTD: Week with Konad: day3: Yellow and neon pink leopard print

Hi everyone. I posted a picture of this manicure on instagram last night and I got asked to do a tutorial. Well... I did it the exact same way as the previous manicure, I just used different colours. 

I used Ciate Big Yellow Taxi as a base and a cheap scented nail polish in neon pink for stamping. The cheap nail varnish was a bit gloopy and it actually worked much better than any other one I've tried before. I am still loving neon colours and as you can see I got more neon rings  from asos :) haha

link to the stamping tutorial: here

link to the haul post with the rings I am wearing: here

Ginvera Green Tea Nude Cover BB cream review

Hi everyone.

I am sure this isn't the first time you will hear about the Ginvera Green Tea Nude Cover BB Cream. It is one of the most hyped about products in the blogosphere :) I received mine two weeks ago and I can't stop using it since.

Ginvera is a brand I wasn't familiar with, until I heard about this miracle BB cream. All Ginvera products are distributed in UK by a company called Janiro and you can get them here.

 

GINVERA Green Tea Nude Cover BB CREAM*  25ml £20.00 link