2000 follower giveaway

Hi everyone! 
At the beginning of August my little blog reached 2000 GFC followers ( and over 6000 followers via all networks!)  WOW! I still can't believe it! When I started blogging (8 months ago) I didn't expect to gain so many lovely readers!  To thank you all for reading my blog, commenting, tweeting and being absolutely amazing I promised to do a 2000 follower giveaway and here it is :) Finally :)

Every single comment means a lot and I really appreciate the fact that so many of you take the time to visit my blog.

This giveaway is international and includes 24 items (23 beauty products and a hamsa necklace)

THANK YOU AGAIN AND GOOD LUCK!


Accessorize Lovely Day palette review

I have been trying to get my hands on Accessorize eye shadow palettes for ages, but I couldn't find them in Superdrug, Accessorize or online. I was lucky enough to be sent two gorgeous Accessorize palettes to review and today I am sharing my thoughts and swatches of the "Lovely Day" palette.
"Your are everything" palette will be reviewed separately.

The Accessorize Lovely Day palette consists of 32 eyeshadows. The variety of shades is great, although you won't find any "crazy" colours inside. The finish of most eyeshadows is shimmery, but there is also a couple of neutral matte shades included. The choice of colours is perfect for somebody who likes a little bit of colour, but nothing too brave. You will find lovely browns, creams, pinks, greys, greens, violets and blues and you will be able to create many looks.
I used the palette for daytime makeup and also for night time smokey eye looks. It is very versatile.
The quality and pigmentation of the shadows is amazing for the price. If used with a primer, the shadows stay put all day. Without a primer they last for around 4 hours.
The fallout is minimal and they apply beautifully.
 The packaging is beautiful and girly. I like the leopard print and pink roses. 
Lovely Day palette also comes with a mirror inside. It is perfect for traveling and would make a lovely gift.
I am very impressed and I can't believe I used to spend a fortune on Urban Decay instead of buying cheaper palettes that are just as good.

You can buy Accessorize palettes in selected Superdrug and Accessorize stores 

MUA lipstick in shade 15/Juicy

MUA Lipstick in shade 15/Juicy (£1.00)

Juicy is a peachy coral shade, but I was expecting it to be more pigmented after swatching it on my hand. When I applied it onto my lips the colour payoff wasn't that great, but I still like it :) After all, I only paid 75p for it :)  Unlike other MUA lipsticks, this shade actually has a name- it is called Juicy/ shade 15.

I was very impressed with shade 3 and the consistency and colour of it were amazing but shade 15 is slightly less creamy and less glossy. To make sure it doesn't look patchy, I used a lip scrub and a lipbalm before applying the lipstick and the final effect was quite nice, but it didn't have as much shine as I would like. The colour  lasted on my lips for 2 hours, which isn't that bad for a £1 lipstick.



Remember when I mentioned all the lipsticks being different sizes? Yeah... What is that all about? ;)


Review: NYR mineral foundation in shade 03 medium cool

Hi everyone. 
Today I am reviewing a mineral foundation from Neal's Yard Remedies. NYR is a natural and organic British brand I mentioned on my blog a couple of times. 
I reviewed some products from their makeup range (here) and also 2 of their skincare must haves (here). 
A couple of weeks ago I also blogged about NYR's Bee Lovely campaign and I really hope that all of you lovely ladies and gentleman signed the petition to help save the bees. If not, please do so here
It will mean a lot and will only take you a minute.

"Smooth, silky-soft natural finish. Create a radiant, natural, beautifully silky-soft finish with our loose, mineral-rich skin-kind foundations. Light, easy to blend, our buildable Mineral Foundations are a blend of natural minerals and super-fine organic corn starch, with natural light-reflecting mica to minimise the appearance of lines and blemishes, and give a beautifully soft, smooth, lasting, natural finish. All are enriched with protecting antioxidant white tea, sea kelp and vitamin E, with organic skin-nourishing shea butter and oils of sweet almond and sunflower. Talc free. 18% Organic 67% Mineral. No talc. No parabens. No silicone. Certified by the Soil Association"

I have been using NYR's mineral foundation for the past 2 weeks and I really like the way it looks and feels on my skin. It is a very light powder and gives light/medium coverage. I wouldn't say that you can build it up to achieve full coverage, but you can easily build up 2-3 layers, as it blends beautifully, especially with Real Techniques buffing brush. The finish it gives looks very natural and the shade I got (medium cool) is perfect for my light olive skin tone.  I found three uses for it:
  • I used it as a foundation on good skin days, to cover minor imperfections, blemishes and redness.
  • It can be used as a finishing powder on top of liquid foundations. I have been using it on top of Ginvera's BB cream and my old time favourite Lancome Teint Miracle and it gives a lovely full coverage finish, without looking cakey.
  • I use it to set concealer underneath my eyes, it is very lightweight and keeps concealer in place all day. 
After trying INIKA's mineral foundation, I had very high expectations for this one. It is a lovely product, but the coverage it gives isn't as good as I expected. That's why I started using it as a finishing powder and this way it really works for me. I am sure that when my bad skin days are over I will be able to use it on it's own again. It is perfect for summer and enriched with ingredients full of goodness for your skin.


How To Cope With A Significantly Reduced Libido

Pexels - CC0 License


Let us preface this article by saying a reduced libido is not always something you need to “solve.” If it decreases as you get older, as you’re dealing with health considerations, stress at work, or perhaps even pregnancy, then the causes are obvious and won’t require intervention. Moreover, it may just be that your interest has waned over time, and there’s nothing wrong with that nor do you have to justify it to anyone. However, it’s worth communicating this with maturity in your relationship.

NOTD

After trying glitter tips with grey I thought I will try a different combination. I used Barry M in Fuchsia and added a matte top coat. On the tips and the accent nail I used Deborah Lippmann Happy Birthday.
It doesn't look as good as the last one, but I liked the way matte and glitter polishes look together :)

Have you tried the grey and black manicure yet?

Special Edition Rose and Lavender Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish


Hi everyone. 
I am very excited to share this news with you. Here is a sneak peek of the new Special Edition Rose and Lavender Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. It will hit the shelves on the 6th of September!
I am a big fan of the original cleanse and polish and it is my holy grail cleanser so I can't wait to try the special edition one! Here is the press release:

"This year we have been working with Rebecca Taylor - a young entrepreneur supported by The Prince’s Trust - who is being mentored by Liz for the Tomorrow Campaign. The Tomorrow Campaign was created to inspire the next generation and paired six Trust-supported young people with iconic mentors to create a product that will be retailed nationwide to raise funds for The Prince’s Trust. Together, Liz and Rebecca have given our original Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser a new twist. Our award-winning formula has been updated to include rose and lavender essential oils. The calming and relaxing lavender oil combined with the soothing properties of rose make this product ideal for night-time use, and gives our much-loved beauty essential a new twist for an exceptional cause.  In addition, we will donate £2.00 from every product purchased to The Prince’s Trust, helping young people into jobs and training."
 
“Our Special Edition Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser includes the same award-winning concentrated cream formula to remove daily grime and make up to leave skin clear, smooth and exceptionally clean, but with a special twist - a unique blend of rose and lavender essential oils to calm and relax your senses, ideal for use to ensure a good night’s sleep. Perfect partners; use our original Cleanse & Polish in the morning and our Special Edition in the evenings.”

PS. Liz Earle is currently giving customers free p&p on all UK orders to celebrate their recent CoolBrands award win! A panel of experts and over 2,000 consumers voted Liz Earle Beauty Co. as one of the nation’s coolest brands for CoolBrands 2012/13. This exciting offer is live right now and runs until 3pm on the 31st August, so don't miss out.

ARK SKINCARE: Age Prepare Skin Purifying Masque and Clearing SkinResponse Serum review

I have been trying out two ARK  skincare products and I am quite impressed with both of them.
I received the Age Prepare Purifying Mask and Clearing Skin Response Serum.
ARK Age Aware Skincare introduces a revolutionary way to look at skin defined by your skin’s changing needs as you age rather than by skin type.  "Age appropriate" products are divided into 3 age-related categories: age prepare (Teens to early 30s), age maintain (Mid 30s to 50) and age repair (50s and beyond). I really like the idea of creating skincare appropriate for our age and the products I've been using worked really well for me. 



"For congested skin our purifying masque is ideal. A marvellous multi-tasker, it absorbs excess oil, reduces the size of pores and diminishes blemishes. Skin is left feeling calm and clear. Drama over."

I love face masks and I use them every day or every second day. They always make my face look more radiant and fresh and make me feel good. I was very excited to try Ark's Prepare Skin Purifying Masque. I love clay based masks, because they are perfect for my skin type and my age.
My skin isn't at it's best at the moment and I am doing everything to control the situation. I am getting quite a lot of breakouts and I am more on the oily side. I always had normal/combination skin, but at the moment it feels like my skin is going through some major changes and not looking good at all.

I use the mask every second day and it helped with reducing the irritation and redness. It does exactly "what it says on the tin" and calms and clears my skin. Some masks I use leave my skin a bit red, but this one leaves my face looking very fresh and clear and after a couple of uses I noticed a massive difference. My pores are under control and my skin feels less clogged.
I apply a thin layer of the mask onto my face after cleansing, leave it on for 10 minutes and wash off with warm water. It dries totally after a couple of minutes, but it is really easy to remove.
Overall, it is a really good face mask, worth trying if your skin feels congested.
"This serum draws out impurities and tightens pores with a blend of sebum regulating botanicals and the astringent properties of Margosa Leaf. Minimises the appearance of breakouts and skin congestion. Maintains normal sebum secretion and diminishes the look of shiny skin. Reduces the appearance of redness and itching caused by oil build-up and skin irritation."

Serums are my favourite skincare products and I really enjoy using them. I have been using serums for normal skin for the past few years, but after a sudden wave of breakouts  and excess sebum I switched to ARK Clearing Skin Response Serum.
Just like the masque, the serum is perfect for congested skin and helps to reduce the appearance of redness and enlarged pores, minimises breakouts and prevents them. It is very light and absorbs quickly, leaving no residue. It makes my skin feel less oily instantly and the effect lasts all day. I use it twice a day and I adore it. Most of the time I use it on it's own and skip moisturising, unless I feel like my skin needs a bit more moisture. I am really happy with the results and would definitely repurchase this product. It is a bit pricey, retailing at £39, but  I paid this amount of money for other serums before and longs it keeps my skin happy- I will buy another bottle.


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