Mini beauty haul!

Hey folks! 

I've been so tired this week, and I don't think i've done much out of the ordinary...just my usual 5 day full time working week. But man I'm exhausted. Today I've got a mini beauty haul for you! I ordered these all online from boots which came instore the next day?! Which I think is pretty damn good, seeing as you have to wait like a week for a new look order to arrive instore. I still love you though New Look, still love ya.

We'll start with my all time favourite beauty product, eyeshadow palettes. I've seen these extremely often on majority of the blogs and youtube video's i've been watching/reading recently. Its the Collection Eyes uncovered 'Nude Palette' When I was listening to the reviews I was like YES! This is right up my street! I love a good nude palette. I also picked up at the same time the Little Mix 'All About The Eyes' palette. Which at the time I thought were completely different palettes, which I suppose you could say they are because the Little Mix palette is a lot lot more shimmery than the other. When I opened the nude palette, I was sort of semi-dissapointed...purely because I thought this was going to be an all matte palette but it wasn't. I still think the pigmentation and staying power of the shadows are incredible for the price. Just not what I was expecting from it really. I do however have what I was expecting from the Little Mix palette, it was all shimmer and more. Its stunning for the price, and the pigmentation and lasting power is incredible. Such a good product to have in your make up stash. 

Next onto Lip liners and eye liners - I've wanted to try NYX products for a while, I don't know why I haven't to be truly honest. I ordered these off amazon, I was scrolling through the beauty section and just popped them in my basket with the though 'Meh, i'll try those!' I picked up the NYX Lip liner pencil in 'Natural' and the NYX eye pencil in 'White'. I've been searching for a white pencil for a while to try and brighten up my eyes and to use it in the waterline. I love these pencils, they're so pigmented and last such a long time.

Lastly is the Smashbox Photofinish Foundation Primer - I've heard so many good things about this product and i've been on the hunt for a new primer for a while. I'm not too sure if primers are a scam and if they actually benefit my make up at all. I really need to try that one half face primer one half face not thing. It has a really strange texture, not what I expected at all...really silicone-like and greasy? I wasn't actually that impressed by it, also I didn't want to buy the full size one incase I didn't like it. So I purchased the travel size one for £12 and its absolutely tiny, I know its 'travel size' but come on! I'm still deciding on whether this was a good buy or not.

What have you picked up lately from the drugstore? :)

Love Lauren xx

A few favourites!

Hello guys! :) 

I've seriously missed blogging, I really don't know where I've been with it all to be honest. Well firstly, I went to back to work after 10 lovely days off *groans* but nevertheless, I AM BACK. With my swish new laptop might I add! I've only had it a couple of days but it is honestly the best item I have bought! I saved and saved for the new Macbook pro, and it is finally mine! I absolutely loveeeee it. 

I have an odd blog post today, its sort of a favourites...but a mini version? I'm sure there will still be a April favourites at the end of this month! But lately, i've been trying not to divulge into new products I'm seeing and rekindle an old love with products I already have. One of these is the Urban Decay 'Naked On The Run' palette. When I bought this it was almost an impulse 'I need an urban decay palette and this will be the one' Which I kind of regret doing because I'm now lusting after the Naked Original palette but heeeey. I kept putting this palette to the back of my collection, and the reason for that was because I was buying more and more products which were so similar to the products already in this palette...So my initial thinking was "well why would I use that...when I have this?" bad habits, bad habits. ANYWAY - I've told myself I must get some use out of it and I'm loving it already! I think its so easy when you're a make up hoarder *cough, like me* to forget about good products and push items to the back of your drawer, because they're simply replaced with the newest product on the market. 

So starting with eyes, as previously stated I rekindled my love for my gorgeous palette. 

Now if you had asked me about 2 or less years ago, ever fancy wearing some eyeshadow? I would have looked at you in disgust and just shunned you. Joking, bit dramatic. But seriously, eyeshadow was never something I desired or ever wanted to wear...at all. It all sort of began when I began watching youtube videos and actually saw how nice it looked and how beautiful you can really make it. Now, I absolutely love them and I simply want them all. I'm a neutral, bronzey eyeshadow kinda gal... and this palette simply has them all. Its an eyeshadow lovers dream basically. You have colours perfect for the lid and perfect for the crease to create an amazing smokey eye. Seeing as it was quite expensive for me anyway, I have a feeling some people will be thinking..."its not that expensive to be honest" but oh well, to me its something I actually want to get use out of and make it worth the money I spent.  The colours are so well pigmented and buttery they blend like a dream. However, it does come with many other products too which just makes me think WHY ARE YOU NOT USING THIS PALETTE? I am using the Urban Decay 'Perversion' mascara that it comes with though, which I love with all my heart. Hands down one of the best mascaras I have ever used, when It runs out I sure as hell am going to purchase the full size. I also use quite frequently the '24/7 glide on eyepencil' that it comes with, its insanely pigmented and stays on all day. Now... The lipgloss that comes within this set...I don't know what it is, I just cannot get on well with them. I think its purely because any that i've ever had have always been sticky and uncomfortable to wear. I have never actually worn this on my lips when I've gone out, I've always put it on...then taken it off immediately... I quite like the colour...just not lip glosses. Finally, this palette also includes a bronzer, blush and a highlight. I'm trying to leave my Benefit Hoola Bronzer in my make up bag, but it just stares at me begging to be used. But i'm getting there. 

Carrying on with the 'would you ever wear...' theme... Eyeliner. Liquid..liner? Are you kidding? I would have laughed, now i've sat in my room infront of a mirror so many times I couldn't count, trying to do liquid liner. And it just wouldn't of worked for me. And I truly believe it now when people say 'it takes practice' my god it takes practice. Unless your a wizard and are just born with the skill. But I picked up a much talked about Liner the 'LOreal Super liner' I love this so much, I just love it. Its so easy to apply and stays on all day. Theres nothing else that I can say apart from its crazy affordable too. 

I've also been on the hunt for a new powder, I've seen this product reviewed a few places in the blogging world, but I thought I would give it a go. Its the 'Maybelline Matte Maker' in the shade 'natural beige' I love this powder, I think its my new favourite. Infact it is my new favourite. There isn't enough good things I could say about this, it pro-longs my foundation on my face but also does what it says on the tin...a mattifying powder, it doesn't fail on giving me the look I want! 

Being a bad make up lover, I got a tad lazy with highlight. I've recently put it back into my weekend make up routine and I'd forgotten how much I'd loved it! I'm back in-love with my Make Up revolution 'Baked Highlighter' in the shade 'Peach Lights'. 

And  finally, I've been on the hunt for a new body scrub and I've found a holy grail. Its the Soap and Glory 'Pulp Friction' Firstly, this smells incredible. There are no words. But it leaves your skin so smooth and flakey-skin free. I also use this on my face sometimes, which I know isn't the desired use. But wow this product is incredible! 

Have you got any early April favourites? I'd love to know :) 

Love, Lauren xx

Trip to Brighton - Beauty Essentials!

Hey loves! Today marks the start of my many days off from work, and I'm currently l-o-v-i-n-g it! Can I always have Mondays off? Anyway, I'm off to Brighton this week with my gorgeous other half, and its safe to say I'm so so excited! I've always wanted to go to Brighton, and from all the pictures I've seen it looks so beautiful! I'm extremely excited to see/ take some pictures of some beach huts (its the little things in life ay?) So I thought i'd write a post on what I'm going to take with me beauty wise! I love reading these kinds of post because it gives me such good ideas as on what to take if I was going to go? I'm also super nosy and love seeing whats in peoples bags/make up bags. But hey, who isn't?

When I was prowling (yes, prowling) the aisles of Boots, I came across my one of my favourite sections...Soap & Glory. Now I always have to lug my 500ml Tresemme shampoo and conditioner with me whenever I stay round Jacks. They're amazing products, just not all that practical to travel with. So when I was hunting down a body scrub in this section, I came across these mini baby shampoo and conditioners from their range. Not only did I buy them because they were mini and the most adorable thing. But also because they're so lightweight and will take up practically no space. I also picked up their mini shower gel version too, because I mean normal size shower gel isn't light either.

Now when It comes to perfumes I'm a kinda go big or go home kinda gal. So for my trip i'm choosing Lady Gaga's 'Black Fluid' perfume, one of my absolute favourites. I've always found when I've carried samples around with me, they run out so quick and I just wish I'd brought a full sized one with me. Now this one isn't all that heavy so I often have it in my hand bag anyway so I can spritz away when I feel like I need to. Always choose a perfume you're used to wearing and that you know you like, there is nothing worse than taking a product away that is new to you, and it turns out you hate it. Then you're kinda stuck. Who would wanna be in that situation? 

Next up, carrying on with the 'packing light' theme, I've chosen my Clinique Moisture Surge moisturiser, Now I got this when I bought a few items from the Clinique counter in Debenhams as I wanted to try it but then didn't want to buy the full size and find out it didn't work for my skin. Damn you sensitive skin. I've had this for such a long time now, granted I haven't used it everyday as I switch it up with my Clarins Hydra-Quench Moisturiser, but that is one HEFTY tub. This is a small mini pot which is perfect for taking away. 

For the 'Make-up' part, always have a make up bag which you know will hold everything in. No one likes the struggle of trying to zip up a make up bag which just ain't gonna zip. I chose my Victoria Secret one 1) Because its too pretty to not love and 2) It holds all ma goodies.

So I'm taking away my current favourite foundation which is the Rimmel True Match, again take away a product which you know you love and you know matches your skin so thats one thing you wont have to worry about in photos and things. Now I've chosen three shadows to take with me which I know are neutral and can be worn in different ways, I find this easier than taking a great big palette with me when I probably already know what colours I want to use. 

I chose MAC 'all that glitters' and MAC 'charcoal brown' following with Maybelline Colour Tattoo in 'on and on bronze'. For lips I carried on with the neutral theme with my Topshop lipliner in 'ceramic' and my Nars Velvet Matte Pencil in 'Bahama'. 

Two colours which could with every outfit. I then packed my Bodyshop Pore Minimiser primer, because I'll be in Brighton I want my make up to last all day so that I won't have to touch it up often. 

Then followed by my favourite mascara at the moment which is the Max Factor 'Transform' mascara and my Natural Collection Mineral Powder. No make up is done without brows, so I packed my Make Up Revolution 'Focus & Fix' kit, cant do my eyebrows without this. Lastly a new purchase, my Maybelline Age Rewind concealer which I love! And my trusty faithful Hoola bronzer by Benefit.

Hope you enjoyed this post, what are your 'trip away' beauty essentials? 

Urban Decay "On The Run" Palette

So for a while now I've had my eyes on this palette. My first ever one from the Urban Decay 'Naked' collection, so for me this was super important to then consider the other palettes. I've already purchased a Urban Decay gel eyeliner as my first ever product from this brand, and let me just say it did not disappoint (going way off subject there!) Anyway, back to this palette! The palette comes in the most gorgeous packaging which I for one don't want to throw away (infact I haven't...its still in my draw happily) The palette has a beautiful big mirror which is PERFECT for travelling, its got all you need in one palette?! It includes...

1. A mini "Perversion Mascara" - I've always wanted to try this product as I've heard amazing reviews, having this come within this palette is amazing! It allowed me to try the product in a mini version - and totally persuade me to buy the full size version! Its one of my new favourite mascara's, it has quite a large applicator which is good for creating full fat lashes. However, it also separates my eyelashes like nothing before!! It creates fuller fatter lashes, but also separates them at the same time! Its now one of my all time must haves! 
2. Full size Naked lip gloss in the shade "Sesso" - Okay, I've never been one for lipgloss purely for my long hair which just doesn't mix well with typical windy British weather. But this colour is beautiful, it's a rosy pink which enhances your natural lip colour. I'm not sure if i'll use this product as much as the others in this palette, but I sure will give it a try! 
3. A mini "24/7 glide on eye pencil" in the colour "Stag" - I have discovered a holy grail in this palette! I cannot express how much I LOVE this eye pencil!! It is so easy to apply and the staying power is incredible! Its a super pigmented eye pencil which gives the most amazing dark look, perfect with a smokey eye! I wouldn't be able to recommend this product enough to anyone! You don't have to keep reapplying over the same line if you were creating a 'wing liner' look, one glide and your totally set! love love love.
4. 6 brand new eyeshadows in the shades "Dive, Fix, Resist, Dare and Stun" - Included in this palette are six new shadows which are perfect for a natural or smoky look! The 6th shade is an allover shade but can also be used on the cheeks as a highlight (a double duo!) The shadows are extremely pigmented and are super easy to apply! So many choices and so many looks can be created! 
5. Blusher and Bronzer - Finally, this palette includes a beautiful pink blusher which is perfect for every skin tone. The colour is simply gorgeous and looks beautiful on the skin. It applies so well onto the skin and just gives such a fresh glow to the cheeks. And for the bronzer, it is a very matte bronzer which is good for contouring the cheekbones. It goes extremely well with the blusher for an allover bronzed look.  

x - x - x