Makeup Your Mind - Makeup and Beauty Inspiration and Tips - Festive Makeup Menu.

Hi!!!

Blogmas Day Sixteen is one for the makeup fans - or for those trying to buy Christmas presents for the makeup fans (I get it, navigating beauty counters isn't as easy as it looks). Hopefully, whoever you are, you'll find some inspiration from this Christmas Makeup Menu, be it for creating new looks, buying gifts or treating yourself. There's a mix of high-end and high-street products, so there's something for everybody.

FACE:

Rimmel London Match Perfection Fix & Perfect Primer, £6.99

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation £30

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer £3.99

Sleek Blush in Rose Gold £4.99

Rimmel Match Perfection Powder, £6.99

Collection Glam Crystals Glitter Eyeliner £2.99

Urban Decay Chill Setting Spray £23.50 (currently reduced to £18.80)

These are, in many ways, the staple products in my collection. I don't always wear a full face of primer, foundation, etc. but when I do, I use all of these products. The foundation is amazing and is medium coverage (however it is buildable) so it's a good bet for most people. I swear by Collection concealers and Rimmel powders, and even when I'm not wearing the rest of the products, I will probably still be wearing those. The Sleek Blush is a great budget dupe for Nars' bestselling blush and it is really highly pigmented. I couldn't possibly post a Christmas makeup menu without encouraging you to wear glitter on as much of your face as is humanly possible. I love wearing glitter in the same way I'd wear a highlight - on the highpoints of my face - but I also love the glam rock inspired way of wearing it under the eyes (and I will sure as Santa's beard is white be sporting that look throughout December). I've recommended some glitter eyeliners which I'll elaborate on in the 'eyes' section but, in short, I think they're amazing. I also wanted to mention, for those looking for a more chunky glitter, that I've heard wonderful things about the glitters from The Gypsy Shrine (I haven't tried them so they aren't in the big official list but I certainly wouldn't mind finding some under the tree!). The setting spray boasts temperature control qualities and it does make a difference to how long my makeup lasts.

EYES:

Rimmel Undercover Eyeshadow Primer £4.99

Lancome Doll Eyes Eyeshadow Palette, £39.50

Sleek Eyeshadow Palette, £8.99

Maybelline 24 Hour Colour Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow, £5.99

Lancôme Doll Eyes Hypnose Mascara £24.50

Collection Glam Crystals Glitter Eyeliner £2.99

There are so many options for eye makeup that I have decided to stick to what I get the most wear out of.

There's more glitter - I advocate wearing glitter all year round, everyday if possible, and so of course I have squeezed more glitter onto this makeup menu. I swear by glitter eyeliners for making sure your glitter lasts and stays exactly where you want it to and Collection offer a great colour range and great quality glitter liners at a very reasonable price. There's also my all time favourite mascara, Lancôme Doll Eyes Hypnose, which would make a wonderful present for someone if you have a bit more to spend. It's formula is wonderful and it really is black (win). I've included Rimmel's eyeshadow primer because you hardly want your eyeshadow to melt off your face on Christmas Day. I'm also going to recommend two great eyeshadow pallettes. One is from Lancôme - it is their Hypnose Doll Eyes palette and it is gorgeous. The colours are well pigmented, the formulas are really lovely to work with and are buildable and if you're looking to create a more natural, neutral but enhanced and maybe smokey eye, I'd highly recommend this (maybe one to put on your Christmas list?). The other is a bit of a cheat but anything from Sleek - their mattes palette is amazing for creating more neutral looks and their brights are simply wonderful. Sleek offer great products with great colour selections, especially for the price. If cream eyeshadows are more your thing, or you're looking for a good coloured base for your powder eyeshadow, then check out the Maybelline Colour Tattoos (great value, last for ages as a product, last for ages on the face and are great for when you don' have loads of time or tools available to you).

LIPS:

MAC Lipstick in Ladybug £16.50

Max Factor Lipstick in Pink Brandy, £7.99

Lipstick is my favourite and so I could have listed at least ten different ones in every colour of the rainbow. I've picked out my all time favourite red lipstick, which you'll have spotted me writing about before if you've been here for a while, because I know December is truly a time for red lipstick to shine. MAC's Ladybug is a lovely blue-toned red in a lustre texture. It's comfortable to wear, has a great finish and is my idea of the ultimate red shade. I've also picked out Max Factor's Colour Elixir Lipstick in the shade Pink Brandy because I have worn it so much this year. It is a great formula and the colour is amazing - it's a peachy pink which is super wearable but doesn't just blend and become my normal lip colour, if that makes sense? You can tell I'm wearing lipstick and you can tell it's a lovely colour but it's on the more natural colour spectrum. It's definitely one of my favourites that is available on the high street. One bold lip, one more natural. One high end product, one high street product. I think I've handled this category well.

I hope you enjoyed this post and found it useful.

What are your favourite makeup products to wear at Christmas? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Leave a comment to let me know.

Thanks for reading.

I hope you have a beautiful day!

GingerSnaps xxx



All Things Bright and Beauty-Ful - Beauty Reviews - Festive Nail Polish Picks.

Hi!!

It's Blogmas Day Nine and I'm going to do that really annoying thing and ask - how are we already at Day Nine? Today's post is a beauty related one. I always say that one of my favourite easy ways to feel festive is to paint my nails in a super Christmassy fashion and today I wanted to share my favourite products for doing so.

For most beauty-lovers, Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without red nail polish and I must say I agree. Maybelline Colour Show nail polish in the shade Downtown Red has been my go-to red nail polish for ages now. It's a slightly darker, wine-like red than a bright cherry red but I really like it because it's really wearable and it has quite a winter-y feel to it. It lasts well and I can usually get a good few days out of it before it starts to look a little worse-for-wear.

If you're looking for something different but still very festive, then I'd recommend a forest green shade like this Barry M's Gelly High Shine polish - the one in the photo is the shade Watermelon but I can't find it online so I've linked the very similar shade Black Pistachio. It's the darkest shade of all the products I'm showing you today and as such it makes an amazing base for glitter polishes and also looks very sophisticated when worn alone, making it ideal to wear to any slightly more formal or fancy Christmas parties. This one also has a fair amount of staying power, which is a big plus.

From the darkest shade of the bunch to the lightest, next up is a clean, crisp, white shade, like Rimmel's 60 High Shine polish in White Hot Love (I adore Rimmel nail polishes, they are amazing, they last so, so well and have great pigmentation). I love white nail polish, I think it looks so effortlessly cool and it's perfect for Christmas-time because I'm sure all of us dream of a White Christmas (and if you don't, then you're wrong and you should). It's also a versatile choice that will look good with nearly all of your outfits and makeup looks so if you've got lots of plans that are all polar opposites (haha) to each other, then this could be a good choice for you.

  

My current favourite way to jazz up a manicure is to paint each of my nails a different colour - wearing the red, green and white on alternate nails and I absolutely love it - it looks really cool and super pretty and a little bit different.

Thanks for reading Blogmas Day Nine!

What are your favourite nail polishes to wear at this time of year? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments.

I hope you enjoyed today's post!

Have a beautiful day!

GingerSnaps xxx

Makeup Your Mind - Makeup and Beauty Inspiration and Tips - An Ode To My Rouge Coco Shine.

Hi!!!

Bonjour, how are you? Good, I hope. I want to talk makeup today, so lets begin.

 

This lovely lippy is from Chanel. It is a Rouge Coco Shine in the shade Boy (number 54) and I love it. The formula is absolutely divine and it certainly feels high end. I'm told by the Selfridges site that it contains jojoba, sunflower and mimosa waxes, which is probably why it is such a hydration, comfortable lipstick.

 I really love the colour, too, its perfect for creating a soft, more natural look with an added glamour which makes it well suited to special occasions. The shades are all named after some of the most important people in Chanel's life, which is a nice touch.

The packaging is obvs stunning, too. It's just such an elegant lipstick in terms of colour, formula, packaging (and brand, but maybe that's a superficial thing to say...) and I adore it. I know it's pricey, but it is one to put on your birthday wishlist, gal pals (that's how I got mine).

 

Thank you for joining me today. I hope you've enjoyed this and that I might have helped you discover a new beauty favourite - I'm always happy to be the instigator for your beauty buys.
What are your favourite beauty products? Have you tried any Chanel products? What did you think? Got any comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments.
Enjoy the rest of your Tuesday!

I hope your day is full of fun!

 

GingerSnaps xxx 
 
 

Shopping for Treats - Wishlisting - A Few Current Beauty Wants.

Hi!!!

Nice to see you here, thanks for dropping by! Today, I thought I'd d a bit of a different post; I say a bit of a different post because although I have never published a wishlist/wants list on my blog before, I have done a number of beauty/makeup posts. If you have been here a while, you may recognise the "Shopping for Treats" part of the title as I used it for a little beauty haul last summer. If you're interested in that, head on over (HERE).


Today, however, it is the beauty products - specifically bath/bodycare and makeup products - I'm very keen to get my paws on at the moment, that is the focus.

In no particular order...

My Current Beauty Wants.

• Raspberry Shower Gel, Body Butter or Body Lotion and Body Scrub from The Body Shop. 

When in Covent Garden recently, I popped into The Body Shop to look at their new bits and bobs and stumbled upon this range. The products smell utterly gorgeous; summery, fresh, sweet (but not sickly) and nearly edible. All the products in the range look exciting, I'm particularly looking forward to buying the scrub - it looks like jam!

To find the whole range (there are additional products), head on over (HERE).

• Bubblegum Lip Scrub from Lush is next up on my lists of  Wishes/Wants at the moment...        

I think this looks like an interesting product. It will be very good for lip care, and will also help provide a smooth base for my lipstick. I also love the idea of the flavour which sounds good enough to eat... Did I mention, after use, you can lick/eat away the remains?

Find the scrub, (HERE).

• Revlon Parfumerie Scented Nail Enamel in Wild Violets available from Boots .

If you didn't already know, violets are one of my favourite flowers in the world and also one of my favourite smells in the world. I am also a huge fan of nail polish. As you can imagine, this product seems pretty awesome to me. The colour of this is a really rich, deep purple from what I could see in the bottle, and the concept of a scented polish fascinates me. I would also like to point out that the Autumn Spice and Wintermint colours/scents look very nice too, and I will probably be trying them at some stage.

Find this polish over, (HERE).

• No 7 Lash Impact Mascara from Boots.

I am basically in this product for the packaging - it is red and sparkly and everything packaging should be; it almost reminds me of old Hollywood glamour. Speaking of glamour, this product promises good things and I personally would buy it in the brown shade because I think the off-black (it is never a true brown) often suits me better and will be applying one coat, lightly. But yes, mainly packaging here since I don't always like to wear mascara. Is the packaging thing superficial?

Find this mascara, in its lovely packaging, over (HERE).

• Soap and Glory Smoothie Star Breakfast Scrub from Boots.

 I smelled this in store recently and I think it is amazing! It smells sweet, familiar, a bit like pancakes (probably the maple fragrance... not blended pancakes) and just... really nice. The texture also looked great in the tub. I think it will go nicely with the rest of my collection, which I haven't been let down by so far.

Find the scrub (HERE).

That is my list for the minute, then. There is more, but I should probably try and limit it. No doubt the rest of my wishes/wants will be appearing in the next few weeks, so if you are interested in that then do keep an eye out.

What is currently on your beauty (or other) wish/wants lists? What do you think about the things on mine? Any recommendations? Do you like beauty products? Any comments, ideas or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments.

As always, thank you very much for reading. I hope you enjoyed this post.

Have a totally brilliant day!

GingerSnaps xxx

And Relax... - Pamper Evening Tips and Tricks.

Hi!!!

How is everybody today? I hope your well and if you aren't then I'm sorry to hear that, and hope things start going your way soon.

I don't know about you guys, but I love a Pamper Evening. I relish (totally didn't just rob that word from THIS post by Lauren...) time spent unwinding, since I'm often busy or just feel busy.  Also, being a lover of beauty products, I find a Pamper Evening is a great way to try the far too many products I own. Plus, I always find that I sleep better after a Pamper Evening.

I've decided to share with you some of my tips, tricks and favourite products for when I have a Pamper Evening, in the hope of inspiring you all and to ramble about stuff I like. OK, let's do this!

I'll talk you through my steps first, and at the end I'll include a list of products and brands I like to use.

The Basic Steps.

First things first I like to wash my hair and have a shower. My hair is very heavy and so it tends to be easier for me to wash my hair in the shower. In the shower, I like to use lovely soaps, shower creams/gels and scrubs with amazing scents. I then wrap my hair up in a towel, and dry off.

You can skip my next step if you are an 100% shower person, and if you are highly eco-conscious, please do not hate me, because I don't have full on Pamper Evenings all the time, so it isn't that bad.

I like to run a nice warm bath. As much as I like to shower - good job too since I do it everyday - I find that baths are much more relaxing. While the bath is running, I sometimes like to light some candles and put them around the bathroom, but not all the time. I also like to grab myself a drink of water.

Whilst the bath is running I cleanse/exfoliate my face. The steam from the bath is great for cleansing the skin and opening the pores, so its always wise to ensure you have removed the day's grime before you get in the bath. And, it saves doing it later.

I am also a complete lover of bath bombs, bubble baths, bath soaks etc., so I love to use these on a pamper evening. They add something a bit more special to the bath, plus they give you a reason to stay in the bath that little while longer.

I like to just get in, soak for a while and think. I do sometimes like to play music or read a book, however I do just tend to fall into sloth mode.

Once I jump out of the bath, dry off and moisturise with a body lotion or butter. Moisturising as soon as you can after having a bath/shower means that the skin absorbs it better.

These steps are the basis of all my Pamper Evenings, and whether I add more steps or not depends on what I feel like doing. Even these steps alone make me feel so much more relaxed.

The Additional Steps.

If I feel like it, have the time, or am going somewhere, I add some steps to amp up the Pamper Evening.

One thing I sometimes like to do is give myself a manicure. I trim my nails and if I desperately have to, I file them, even though I hate the sound of nail files... *shudder*. I then paint them with a base coat, colour and top coat. Finally, I like to apply a rich hand cream.

Sometimes, I like to apply a face mask. This isn't something I do very frequently as I find that face masks can be too rich sometimes, but every now and then, I think it is quite nice.

The Final Steps.

On a Pamper Evening, watching a film or some good old telly is a good way to unwind. Something that is unbeatable for me on many a level is watching a film or the TV in my pyjamas/onesie.

I do also enjoy reading books and listening to music to relax.

After all that Pampering, I feel an early night is in order. Not ridiculously early but even just half an hour earlier than normal can really make a difference, trust me.

Brands and Products and Picks.

Hair Products.

I like L'Oreal Hair Care products, as I find that they work well with my hair, work efficiently, and have good effects. I do also like Herbal Essences, but I use L'Oreal more often as I think I prefer it.

A link to L'Oreal Hair Care (HERE) and a link to Herbal Essences (HERE).

Shower Creams, Gels and Soaps.

Soap and Glory rock! I love the witty names, and the products are so good.
I really love Soap and Glory Body Washes/Shower Gels, as they smell out of this world and are very nourishing. 

My top picks from Soap and Glory are the Sugar Crush Body Wash, the Rich and Foamous Body Wash and the Clean, Girls Body Wash.

Links (HERE), (HERE) and (HERE).


Link to all Soap and Glory Body Washes and Shower Gels (HERE).

The Body Shop have some excellent Shower Gels and Cream. The formula is lovely, the scents are unique but familiar and they lather nicely. My favourite is the Satsuma Shower Gel (HERE), it is just my complete stand out. There are some other really nice gels/creams so check them out. There are also solid soaps.


Link to all The Body Shop Body Cleansers (HERE).


Body Scrubs.


I like the Scrub 'Em And Leave 'Em Body Buff from Soap and Glory, and it matches the Clean, Girls Body Wash in scent.
Find it (HERE).


Find the other Soap and Glory Scrubs (HERE).


The Body Shop have some really nice scrubs, and (THIS) Satsuma Body Polish is probably my favourites.


(HERE) is a link to them all.


Candles.


A family friend makes candles, and they are so amazing. Plus, we get extreme mates rates on them, so they are an obvious choice. She doesn't have a website at the moment, so I can't link her, but I will when I can.
I just like candles in general, plain or scented, however I will link you to the John Lewis Candles Page and the Yankee Candle Page to start you off.

(HERE) and (HERE).

Skincare.

I use only one brand of skincare, because I have sensitive skin. I use the Aloe Range from The Body Shop and my cleanser, exfoliator and face masks as mentioned in this post are all from this range.

I love this range and couldn't be without it, because it is just so blooming good!

Link to the range (HERE).

Bath Bombs and Bubbles.

I am a Lush addict. Their products are so good!!! 

My favourites are their bath bombs - they are amazing - and I always have a stash somewhere in my house. I love how much diversity they add to the bath. They are really beneficial to the skin and they smell so good. Plus, they usually have seasonal collections alongside their permanent products, so there is always something you haven't tried.

I also like Radox Bubble Bath as it creates lots of bubbles, is very relaxing and smells great.

Lush Bath Ballistics/Bombs - (HERE).

Lush Bubble Bars (HERE).

My preferred Radox Bubble Bath (HERE) - I know its a guy's one by category, so please don't feel the need to tell me.

Music and Books.

To see Music and Books that I like, see my Blogger profile.


Obviously, we all have different taste in music and reading material, so by all means ignore me and carry on like you normally would.


If you feel inclined to buy a new CD or a new book, then (HERE) is a link to HMV and a link (HERE) to Waterstones, my favourite book shop.

Body Lotions and Butters.

Soap and Glory, again, are really great here. I find that their butters and lotions are really effective and while they can take a while to sink in, they have amazing effects.
I really love their Daily Smooth Body Butter and the Sugar Crush Buttercream.

Links (HERE) and (HERE).

Link to range (HERE).

Dove Moisturisers are also lovely and work great - (HERE).

Nail Polish.

I really like Barry M nail polishes, particularly the Gelly Hi Shine in Dark Green - according to the Boots website this is the colours name, I'm not 100% sure about this though..

It has a lovely finish and I really love the deep colour of this polish as it suits my very pale skin.

Gelly Hi Shine range (HERE) and all polishes (HERE).


I also think that the Maybelline Colour Show polishes are really good. They last well on my nails and I find that the brush is good to work with.
My favourite shades are Brick Shimmer and Downtown Red.


All colours (HERE).


Hand Cream.


A friend of ours gave me a bunch of really nice things for Christmas, and one was a Neom Complete Bliss Hand Cream. This hand cream is rich, and yet is absorbed quickly. I love it!
I do like the scent of this however the scent Inspiration is looking increasingly good to me.


Both creams are fragranced with one of my two favourite flowers, which I think is pretty cool.


Complete Bliss Hand Cream (HERE).
Inspirations Hand Cream (HERE).


Movies and TV shows.


See my Blogger Profile for my favourite movies.
I love sitcoms on TV, and any other form of comedy shows. I love them and they are really suitable for pamper evenings because they relax you and make you happy. I love Miranda, Not Going Out, F.R.I.E.N.D.S, The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother.

And that, I think, is finally that! Phew! I didn't expect that to take as long as it did, so I apologise. I hope this post was helpful to you, and that it didn't bore you terribly.

Has this post inspired you to have a pamper evening? What do your pamper evenings entail? What products do you like to use?

Have a fabulous day today!

GingerSnaps xxx

All Things Bright and Beauty-ful! - Beauty Product Review - The Body Shop Ginger Sparkle Range.

Hi!!!

Christmas time is a special time. The time off from day to day life and hard work is a great time to relax and soak up the festivities. I know one way of relaxing that always works is a spot of pampering. I tend to dedicate an evening to it, and indulge myself in stunning bath and body products, skincare and hair care. I don't know about you guys, but my favourite stops for pamper essentials are The Body Shop, Lush and Soap and Glory. So, it only feels right that I talk about some of the bath and body products that I like to use at Christmas time.

(I do not work in partnership with any brands, and have no interest in doing so. I just wanted to share some products with you that I enjoy and have no motives other than sharing my favourite kinds of things with you. This post is not sponsored by anybody or any company. It's just not how I roll.)

I want to tell you about some of the Limited Edition products for Christmas from The Body Shop.

 

My favourite one of their Limited Edition ranges is Ginger Sparkle.

 

Last year, I tried and tested some Ginger Sparkle products on Christmas Eve and fell in love with them.

One of my favourite scents in the world is ginger, and so when this range was first introduced last year, I was very happy. This year, it is back and better than ever.

 

The products I have used are the Shower Gel, the Body Butter, the Lip Balm, and the Hand Cream.

 

First things first, lets start with the Ginger Sparkle Shower Gel, found (HERE).

This Shower Gel smells utterly amazing. It is very fresh and "zingy" (is "zingy" a word?), but still has a deep and festive scent. It smells like actual ginger, as opposed to a gingerbread kind of smell, but I feel like this is a nicer scent for a Bath and Body range. I found that this lathered nicely, but it does take a while to get it going.

The packaging is practical and sturdy, but the little gingerbread man on the front is really cute.
I like this product lots.

 

Second up is the Ginger Sparkle Body Butter (HERE).

Again, this has the unique scent. I often find that when you venture into the Limited Edition ranges, the product lacks. This is not the case here. This product is just as moisturising as the other Body Shop Body Butters. They do wonders for many people, and this will carry out those wonders very well, if you are one of those people. Even if they don't work said wonders, the Body Butters do still provide moisture to the skin and are very effective. The Ginger Sparkle Body Butter has a rich consistency, providing a sense of pampering.

Also, the packaging is sweet and festive, which appeals to the Christmas bug that I am.

This product is an effective moisturiser to keep dry skin at bay this Christmas.

 

Next up is a handbag essential for me at Christmas time. I'm talking about the Ginger Sparkle Lip Balm, which you can find over (HERE).

Rather unsurprisingly, this lip balm tastes/smells like the other products in this range... oooh yum...

It is very compact, so great for your handbag, but is not so compact you have to use it sparingly. You get a lot of bang for you buck with this one. The balm has a slight tint and gentle shimmer to it, which gives an added boost and also spreads a bit of festive sparkle. It moisturises my lips really well, and locks it in. It works very well.

The packaging is very unique, a dome in which the raised balm sits. You can apply with your finger, but I prefer to push the dome onto my lips, as this is effective for on the go use.

I love this product.

 

Finally, the Ginger Sparkle Hand Cream (HERE).

Big shocker now - it smells like the other products in this range... Oh, how I love that smell... Be still my beating heart. This hand cream is very luxurious, more so than it's price tag would suggest. It is very rich, but is not oily whatsoever. It is the perfect size to keep in your bag, and is really effective. You only need a small amount to moisturise both of your hands nicely. This really does beat it's price tag.

Ginger Sparkle Hand Cream comes in an easy to use squeezy tube and has that cheeky little gingerbread man on the front.

This product is great.

 

To see the rest of the products in the range, mosey on over (HERE).

 

Overall, I highly recommend this range and hope that you will go out and try one or two pieces from this range. As far as I'm concerned, it is completely worth it. If you do become obsessed like I am, I suggest you stock up while you can, since it is only around at Christmas time.

This range would also make a great gift. Just check out this Ginger Sparkle Shower, Scrub & Moisture Collection (HERE). Isn't that tin just the cutest?

 

 

That's that for today then, everybody. I hope that you've enjoyed this post and that it has inspired you to take out some time to relax during the buzz of the festive season. If you have any questions about the products, any ideas for festive posts you'd like to see, let me know in the comments. Also, if you have any ideas for other festive bath and body products that might be of interest, let me know and I'll check them out.

 

Have a day filled with (ginger) sparkle!

 

GingerSnaps xxx

Makeup Your Mind - Makeup and Beauty Inspiration and Tips - Festive Day Makeup

Hi!!!

How are we all today, guys? It's December now, which means it's Christmas time now. Christmas time is my favourite time of the year. I like to try and make everything special, and that includes my makeup. I want to share some of my tips and tricks for festive daytime makeup.

(These ideas are just that - ideas. If these ideas don't suit you, I do apologise, but at the same time, they are just things I like to do. Please be nice about what I say. I am very passionate about makeup.)

If I feel like it, I pop on some primer and foundation. I don't do this everyday, but I do always use concealer. I use Nars Pore Refining Primer (HERE), either Nars Sheer Glow Foundation (HERE)- find my review (HERE) - or No7 Instant Radiance Foundation (HERE), which I had match made. At the moment, I'm still using Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (HERE), but want to switch to something more moisturising, as its becoming too dry now its Winter.

Obviously, red lipstick is an item of makeup most people associate with the festive season. I, however, don't have the energy to keep up lip liner, lipstick etc. unless I'm going out, out (Mickey Flanagan fans?). Therefore, I like to choose something which has more of a balm texture, as it is more comfortable for the day, and is easier to maintain.

 I recently bought a Rimmel Lasting Finish Colour Rush Balm, in the colour The Redder, The Better (HERE). So far, I like this product but when I've used it some more, I'll review it. It does work as a balm nicely, smells like vanilla and, considering it's a balm texture, it lasts well.

 

I find that a brown eye goes nicely with a red lip, but I like to keep it soft and pretty during the day, rather than packing it on to a highly intense pigment.

One of my favourite palettes is the Sleek iDivine Ultra Mattes V2 "Darks" Palette, (HERE). When you get these palettes, the cellophane sheet over the shadows has the names of the colours on it. If you keep this, I use "Paperbag" or the brown shade, all over the lid, blending it loads into a very soft brown, yet still layering it for staying power (does that make sense? - apply, blend, repeat, repeat, repeat. Yeah?). Then I use either "Pillow Talk" or "Dune", to highlight the inner corner and under the brown bone.

Then it's lashing of mascara on my top and bottom lashes.

 

From there, I tend to add some blusher - usually a peachy/pale coral shade, as I find some pink blusher worn with red lipstick can be a bit much.

I don't really have too much of a preference. I will recommend Sleek Blushers to you though - they have a great formula and colour range.

 

I also powder over my skin with my Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder (HERE) - best thing ever!

 

I use Real Techniques brushes for application. They are utterly amazing! Find their Boots page  (HERE).

 

So, I hope you enjoyed that. It's a different kind of post for me, and pictures probably would have helped, but hey ho! Anyway, I hope that's been helpful or has inspired you to get a bit festive with yo faces!

 

Have a glamorous day! 

GingerSnaps xxx



All Things Bright and Beauty-ful! - Beauty Product Review - NARS Sheer Glow Foundation Review.

Hi!!!

If you read THIS post a little while ago, you'll know that I treated myself to NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Mont Blanc. I'd been eyeing this foundation up for absolutely ages and one of the reasons I was so interested in this foundation was because of all the brilliant reviews that it had from all the wonderful bloggers and YouTube beauty gurus. So, I thought since I used their reviews as an excuse to buy this product, I thought I'd write one so that you can use mine as an excuse to purchase it, as well as all the others.

 

 

The Product. 





 

 

 

 

 

What NARS Promise. 

 

 

In their own words, NARS promise a "glowing, natural radiant finish foundation" that has "sheer" yet "buildable" coverage, that "evens out skin tone". NARS claim that it will leave skin "hydrated, more luminous, softer and smoother". NARS also claim that if  "used daily, Sheer Glow Foundation improves the skin's brightness and texture".  

 

According to NARS, Sheer Glow Foundation contains powerful anti-oxidants that will protect against skin damaging free radicals. It also contains turmeric extract that supposedly improves the skin's tone and radiance.

 

NARS recommend this foundation for Normal, Normal to Dry and Dry Skin Types. If you however have an oily skin,  NARS also sell NARS Sheer Matte Foundation, available (HERE).
 

What I think of NARS Sheer Glow Foundation.

 

I really love this foundation.

 

This foundation feels beautiful on the skin - it's cool on application and it doesn't feel heavy on the skin. It really does make the skin look more glowing and radiant and it has such a beautiful finish. My skin doesn't feel or look cakey or dried out after using it.

Also, it's brilliant for someone like me with sensitive skin because it's fragrance free and dermatologically tested.

This foundation wears brilliantly on the skin and lasts for most of the day (between 5 and 7 hours depending on how hot it is outside)  - please do note that I use this foundation, as I do with every foundation I wear, with primer.

 I apply it at a medium coverage, but it is definitely buildable. Also, if you prefer a lighter coverage, just use it sparingly and consider applying with your hands.

 I tend to apply it with a Real Techniques Buffing Brush - part of the Core Collection (HERE) - or just with my hands. Both give a really lovely finish. I don't think that there is a bad way to apply Sheer Glow.

 

NARS Sheer Glow photographs beautifully. It contains no SPF which is great if your moisturiser has an SPF in (since you aren't supposed to layer SPF's) and also means that it won't flashback in photographs.

 

Something else that really impressed me was the packaging - a sturdy yet elegant glass bottle which is cool to the touch and fits perfectly in my makeup bag as well as looking beautiful on my dressing table with an almost velvety lid. My only issue with the packaging is the fact that the lid does pick up foundation covered finger prints and marks very easily... But you can't have it all I suppose.

 

I can't vouch for the improvement of the brightness of skin and texture that comes from using it everyday because I don't wear foundation everyday - sorry (I don't see the point if I'm just going to Tesco and popping round to see my Auntie). However, since this foundation delivered on everything else, I'd imagine that it would on this, even just a bit.

 

Would I recommend it?

 

I would highly recommend this product to anyone with a normal, normal to dry, or dry skin who is looking for a premium foundation that will photograph beautifully and make their skin look stunning. I cannot recommend this highly enough. It's worth all the hype that it has received. It's my dream foundation to date...

 

Where you can buy NARS Sheer Glow and how much does it cost.

 

 NARS Sheer Glow retails for £30.50 and is easily accessible to purchase at Space NK (website HERE) and Selfridges & Co (website HERE) stores. It is also available on the NARS website (HERE). The NARS website also has a list of stores that stock NARS products - mentioned above and others - and their locations, so its worth a look.

 

The final word.

 

 That's it for today then, guys. I hope that you've enjoyed this post - my first beauty review. If you have enjoyed it then do let me know in the comments. Do you have NARS Sheer Glow? Do you agree with what I've said? And if not, have you got your eye on it? I assume you have.

 

I hope that your day is absolutely brilliant.

 

GingerSnaps xxx

 



Shopping for Treats - Little Beauty Haul - Shopping at Space NK

Hi!!!

So, my birthday has been and gone and I was lucky enough to get a bit of money. Well, I say a bit - it was more than I had expected it would be. This meant that, as any decent human would I went shopping. No, I didn't spend it all at once, I just did a tiny bit of shopping. I was out and about a week or so ago and saw a Space NK... It would have been rude of me not to go in.... And buy at least one item... So I did...

(P.S - I know, there are no pictures in this post but, Blogger seems to hate me and won't let me upload any form of picture/image/stock photo. This means that to view the products, you'll just have to use the links. I've been trying for days to get the pictures into this post but no such luck. Yes, I could have spend another few days trying but I wanted to get this post up as soon as possible so it was still relevant and to make up for the lack of posts last month. Sorry guys!)



The first thing that I bought was Nars Pore Refining Primer (HERE). I don't have massively visible pores - I never have had (thankfully). However, what attracted me to this primer was the fact that it didn't have any oil in it. I didn't want my skin to feel greasy and I find that some primers can make my skin this way, which isn't something I'm used to with normal skin. Also, in this warm weather, foundation will quite happily do as it pleases and run down your face, which doesn't leave you with a particularly attractive look. A primer will help keep it where you put it. Finally, I want my foundation to last as long as possible. Primers help it last much better as well as helping it look better for longer too.

The other item I bought was a complete cult product from Nars to go with my primer... You might have already guessed that it is Nars Sheer Glow Foundation (HERE). I got it in the colour Mont Blonc. I have heard such amazing reviews about this foundation from practically everyone who has tried it which is why I bought it. If you have an oily skin, this may still work but they do also do a Nars Sheer Matte Foundation instead (HERE) which comes in the same colour range as Sheer Glow and is the same price - just in case.

 

The shop assistant who was helping me out that day was very friendly, chatty and helpful as well as having a good knowledge of the products. As if this wasn't nice enough, she threw in a load of sample products that she thought I'd like... I love Space NK...

 

I was given these two sachets of the Eve Lom Rescue Mask (HERE). I'm not sure how this will bode with my sensitive skin however if it doesn't rile up my skin, it sounds right up my street (deep cleaning, clearing and brightening - yes please!) and will be a great treat either now or in the upcoming colder months (feel free to hate me because I reminded you of the dreaded colder months!!!).  

 

The next samples I received were two of the Beautannia Brideshead Bath and Shower Gel's (HERE) in a handy duo pack with a Beautannia Brideshead Body Cream (HERE) in each pack. I was chuffed to be given these for free as the Body Cream alone is £42. The skin on my body is still sensitive just not as sensitive on my face so I'll have to see how I go with these but I look forward to using them and I hope they are as good as they sound. I love the packaging here - it's just lovely.

 

The last duo of samples that the shop assistant gave me were perfumes. They were two mini Acqua Di Parma Eau De Toilette in the fragrance Blu Mediterraneo (HERE). They are around the size of "Travello" bottles (if your unfamiliar with them, they are small bottles to decant your perfume into - view HERE). I think that these will be great for my handbag and I love wearing perfume - I feel weird without it! - plus I know for sure that I will get on with these!

So, overall, I had a lovely experience shopping at Space NK - as always I was highly impressed with the staff and everything else. I know I'm lucky to have bought what I did and I love all the products I walked away with.

Thank you for reading. If you have anything to say about this post or any of the products mentioned, feel free to leave a comment.

I hope your day is wonderful!

 

GingerSnaps xxx