The perfect moisturiser?

Caudalie Daily Fluid and Serum

Now when I received my Caudalie Beauty Elixir there was a lovely little surprise also in the box - 2 samples of their moisturiser and Serum. Like, I said in previous posts I have had an on and off skincare relationship but I was willing to try and commit to saving my skin. 

The moisturiser is a 10ml sample (top swatch) and is similar to a foundation in colour and texture. It doesn't really smell of anything but when applied it sinks into the skin quickly and leaves NO residue behind. It actually makes my skin feel smooth and moisturised and I have actually been using it as a night moisturiser (its a daily fluid by nature) due to my skin not liking heavy, thick moisturisers I have tried in the past.

The serum is a 3ml sample (bottom sample) and a watery white liquid that takes a little longer to sink into my skin (pre moisturiser) and has little smell to it.I feel that is something that I don't think has had any added extra effect to my skin so I am a little disappointed with this but none the less it has been a sample and I have at least tried to love it!

The actual full size price of £34 is the thing that is really putting me off actually buying it. Is £34 too much? I am going to carry on using it till the sample is all gone and see if I can justify the £'s?

Wishlist purchase.....

Korres Lip Butter in Mango

This lip balm is something I have been ogling at for ages now. Ever since I have seen it on YouTube and blogs its been on my wishlist - so I thought why not just give in and buy it- hmmmmm. The gorgeous red lip tint it gives to your lips along with the buttery texture to it is beyond gorgeous. The reviews its always got have been amazing so can it live upto its name...review coming soon....

Mascara Madness

Max Factor 24 hour False Lash Effect

So, I know I am pretty picky with my mascaras but with oily eyelids and mascara that loves to smudge like a bleeding panda I have to be! This mascara comes in at around £9 and at first I couldn't understand the hype about it. Its a pretty standard brush and the product inside is not too gloopy and not too dry.

Its great that product doesn't automatically cling to the brush and that it gives you the flexibility and time to work on your lashes. The effect is that you definitely get definition and length and perhaps maybe a little volume. With the correct eye curlers your eyes do appear more fluttery and this lasts all day long. The product really holds a curl well and does not smudge under the eyes no matter how long you wear it.

Obviously long lasting product is what we all love in a beauty item and this certainly delivers. Its only downfall is that it is hell to remove at a night - 2 lots of my beloved Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish and vigorous rubbing just about gets this bad boy off my eyes. So advice is, don't wear this on a night out otherwise you will find you will find yourself down the slippery slope of not removing your makeup and then its even worse to remove the following morning! Not good!

For a drugstore branded mascara this certainly delivers on length, longevity and definition but is an absolute pain to remove - so has this ticked off all my requirements of being a perfect mascara????

Glossified

Barry M Lipgloss in Number 11 Coral

I remember Tanya Burr from pixi2woo always raving about this lipgloss and for around £4 I was dying to try it. For some reason, I never got around to buying it until 2 months ago and swear to you I have not stopped using it.It is a gorgeous pink toned coral and it tastes amazing!!!! The colour pay off is superb and it does to tend to last on my lips extremely well and will set off any pink or coral toned lipstick off to a tee. Its neither too matt or too glossy and you certainly don't get the hair stick to your lips look when you get windswept - not particularly attractive!

This lipgloss could rival any high end lip product as the pigmentation, glossiness (is that even a word?)taste (always important - who wants to smell a dodgy lipgloss!) and general appeal would win any contest hands down!

The Caudalie Effect

Caudalie Beauty Elixir

Frankly I was trying to avoid buying this item, not for any particular reason, just so I wouldn't fall in love with it and keep re-buying it. At nearly £10 a pop for such a small bottle I am pessimistic to how this will perform to earn its money. I picked mine up from Feel Unique (to which I had never bought from there before but I have to say Bravo!! as the speed and delivery was amazing - 2 days!) .

Like everyone has said way way way before me this product is pretty dam good. I have always struggled to settle into a skincare routine but since buying this I have forced myself into one. I use it before my moisturiser and even use it after I have cleansed at night and before my night moisturiser. It hasn't broke me out, which to be honest I was scared about, it has kept me spot free and my skin smooth - now I don't know whether this has a direct relation to the fact I have been using this but I am going to 'hope' that this is contributing to this fact!

I have had it now for 2 weeks and even the distinct herbal/minty fresh smell has not put me off! I have hardly used any at all and for now it is definitely worth the money and the hype it has been getting!

The L.A Lifestyle

L.A Candy by Lauren Conrad

I was sceptical about this book when I purchased it on my Kindle as I thought it was going to be too young for me. How wrong was I?

I bought it when I was going on a holiday along with a number of other books thinking that if I finished all the rest of them I would read this as a last resort. I literally read this in one day! I had only decided to read a few pages of it to get the jist and then read it last!

This book draws you in completely (especially if you have watched the reality show The Hills which seems it is loosely based on) and you will not put it down until you have finished it. It is about a young girl and her friend who move to L.A and get get asked to do a reality show! It goes through the trials and tribulations of being on such a show and the life and loves of the characters. The characters are easy to understand and have same problems as us mere mortals but the glamour of L.A grabs you and pulls you along in this girly, romantic novel.

Like I said, I think it is loosely based on The Hills (which Lauren Conrad starred in) but is a fabtastic summer read and it Book 1 of a trilogy. I am currently on Book 2 and the addiction to the books is still going....

Hauling away again......

Boots Haul

As I was shopping for my sisters birthday present (see here) I 'accidentally' treated myself - and yes I know I really don't need to keep on buying things but I just could't resist and at least it was only 2 things!!!

Botanics Mattifying Shine Away Daily Moisturiser

I got this for £4.99 as I decided to carry on the endless search for a moisturiser that doesn't leave my skin feel even more oilier than usual. The moisturiser comes in a simple white pot and has very little smell to it - the usual Botanics smell of herbal and mint. The cream is a light consistency and sinks into the skin thoroughly leaving no residue behind. On first impressions its doing well so let's keep our fingers crossed as a review will be coming soon.

Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stain in Cherish

I, as you already have noticed, I have already got 2 of these lip stains but this is the ' one' I had being eyeing up for a while. I had already fell in love with how these lip stains feel on the lips and the fantastic colour pay off they have and lets just say this one has not disappointed me.

It reminds of Angel from M.A.C as it is 'your lips but better' but with a girly pink kick to it. I have not had it off since I bought it 2 days ago and I adore it!

I am putting myself on a spending ban for the next few weeks as with my cars's MOT, tax and insurance due I have to keep a hold of the pennies. Let's hope I don't lapse......

Birthday Surprise

Thomas Sabo Bracelet and Charm

This weekend it is my little sister's Alice's 18th birthday and because its a 'big' birthday I splashed out on her.

But my sister is the hardest person to buy for - not because she is picky but she is just so indecisive and really 'doesn't know what she wants'. So after many ideas I decided to go ahead and buy her a Thomas Sabo bracelet which is classic but fashionable as well.

They cost around £29.95 for this bracelet but they do slightly cheaper ones with the rope fastening for around £25. This style of bracelet also comes in a pearl, blue and a baby pink colour but I settled on black as it would go with more.

I also picked up this feather charm for £19.95 to go with it on behalf of my other sister for Alice's birthday. This is so dainty and simple but won't look out of place in anything that she decides to wear.

I have to say she is going to be one spoilt 18 year old as my mum has bought a Tiffany bracelet which is absolutely gorgeous and if I can get a picture of it on Saturday I'll attach it to this post.

I know this is quite a random post but I did say in my What to do Katie post that I would post a picture of what I decided to buy her. Lets hope she likes it (fingers crossed)

What to do Katie.....

What to Do Katie????

So its is Back!

I am going to properly start my What to Do Katie...... every Sunday and post pictures and a post up the following Sunday of the things I achieved!

What To Do Katie To Do List W/C 12/08/2012:

1. Olympics - sit down and enjoy the Olympic storm that is weeping the country! I have currently watched bits and bobs but I want to enjoy the last week of the Games and be proud of what our country has achieved!
2. Continue Blogging away - I have been absent from blogging (although I had only just started blogging a few months ago) and Twitter for a while now so I am back in the swing of the things and I really enjoy the whole process - from taking pictures and writing about them to getting excited if someone views a post! So long may it continue!
3. Work - less stress and enjoy! I love my job at times but at certain points it can be quite STRESSFUL and I do tend to take the world on! So I am going to TRY (and I say that with the best intentions) and calm myself and delegate delegate delegate so my life doesn't come consumed with it!
4. Its my sister's 18th birthday next weekend so present buying and wrapping is on the cards - I am intending in getting her something that she can keep forever! (check this out here!)
5. Payday - I can't wait to welcome it with open arms!! There is car insurance, car M.O.T and car tax to pay for along with birthdays and maybe a cheeky purchase for me later in the month! Roll on Friday.

This is only a short but sweet to do list but I want them to be achievable and of course I will photograph each one so you can see the outcomes!!

See you next Sunday

Smokey eyes....

Revlon Colourstay Smokey Shadow Stick in 201 Torch

The instant attraction to this creamy eyeshadow stick was the pale pink and brown tones - it was perfect for me, as I like to do simple smokey eyes for the daytime. I had been looking for a deep chocolate brown eyeshadow that when blended it felt very 'Kim Kardashian'! This creamy colour stick ticked all these boxes.

You are supposed to use the chocolate brown colour all over the lid and then use the pale pink to highlight in the tear duct and under the brow. However, I put the palest colour from tear duct outwards for a third of my eye and then the brown on the rest of lid and then gently smoked it out. The effect it gave me was a very basic smokey eye but the colours blended amazingly together and made my blue-grey eyes pop!

The texture and general effect this product gave me was outstanding - the eyeshadows were soooo easy to blend and lasted all day with and without a primer which as you know for me this is truely amazing as I ALWAYS have a wear a primer underneath to stop eyeshadow sliding off my lids.

I realise that they come in more colours but for me I only wear neutral shades as other colours don't really suit me. But if you love a pop of colour or you just want a gorgeous smokey eye then pick up a Revlon Shadow stick and give it a whirl!

Oooh you smell nice.....

The Olivia Collection Perfume Holder

I decided to give in and finally buy a small 'Travelo-esque' from Amazon. It is from a brand called The Olivia Collection and since using it, for a few days now, I now wonder how I lived without one for so long.

It only cost me £6.95 and for this money it so utterly worth it. It is a bright girly pink and weighs virtually nothing once filled with your favourite perfume. For years, I have always put a full size bottle of perfume in my handbag and carried it around with me and lets be honest they do weigh your bag down a considerable amount. But with this little travel perfume holder your bad back will disappear!. They are so easy to fill up and mine has not leaked one bit.

If you are lucky to have more than one perfume this idea would be great for you as you could fill up several of these and have one easily ready to throw in your bag if you decided to change your perfume regularly!

For £6.95 I am utterly impressed and advise anyone to purchase one of these!

Shock my Lashes

YSL Shocking Mascara

How luxurious does this mascara look? Is the £23 price tag worth it?

Absolutely! I have had an ongoing battle in finding the 'perfect' mascara. Is it too much to ask for a mascara that doesn't smudge, gives you instant volume and length and lasts all day?

Well this beauty absolutely delivers all the above requirements. The brush is of average size and has a hexagonal shape to it. The formula is not too wet or too dry and the bristles are small (sorry for my awful description of a mascara). When you apply it you get an instant eye opener - in how it gives 'Shocking' volume to your lashes as well as lengthening them. The brush allows you to get to every lash, top and bottom, with ease and control to make your eyes appear fluttery 'Kim Kardashion-esque'. You do have to be careful not to apply too much because you could get a 'clumpy' effect and that is not attractive whatsoever!

I can safely say this mascara does not budge all day and I found it easy to remove at night (but god help you if you got caught in a bad rain shower as you would come out looking like a panda as once water touches this bad boy you start the panda eye transformation!). Other people have said that they find it difficult to remove but with the good old Liz Earle Cleanse Polish at the ready it sweeps off immediately!

Shockingly pricey as this mascara is I will be sticking with it and I think I may have found the 'perfect' mascara after all these years?!

Will this powder last?

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Powder

I always like to set my foundation once it has soaked into my skin as I suffer from oily skin in certain areas. My makeup in the past has known not to stay on my face all day so sweeping powder over my foundation to set it is a must.

I have used all different brands and to be honest none of them have really made a lasting impression. This powder which I picked up at Boots for £2.99 I had high hopes for as the concealer in the same range is amazing and is highly rated in the beauty world.

The powder that I got was in medium and that is quite unusual because I am really pale but the Light version was too light for me. The powder went on really well and didn't look cakey at all but the downside of it is - it did just NOT last all day on my skin. I have to top it up throughout the day so my face stays matte. It just tends to go shiny on random patches and different ones each day.

I know it was only £2.99 so its not going to break the bank but I am quite disaapointed it didn't work! Maybe it is just my face that is random but unfortunately the face powder didn't really live up to the expectations I had for it but that's not to say it won't go the distance on other people's skin but this is just not for me.

Let's gloss over this.....

Revlon Lipgloss in Peach Petal

I have had this lipgloss for a number of years (I know, I know you aren't supposed to keep them that long!) and its still ticking all the boxes!

It has a rich and creamy texture which reminds me of the M.A.C lipglasses and the colour in particular is an exact dupe for M.A.C Florabundance (which I also own). The pale peach colour would suit most skin types on its own but I tend to wear it over nude lipsticks such as M.A.C Hue as it really sets off the lipstick to its full potential. There is little stickyness and even though I have it for years it hasn't gone 'gloopy' and I still believe they sell it in Boots and Superdrug for around £6/7.

I think I will be going back to buy some more of the colours if this is anything to go buy - a definite winner in my eyes!

Balmy!!!

Figs and Rouge Lip balm in Rambling Rose

I have recently returned to using this lip balm after a long time away from it. It is a more traditional lip balm in its taste and texture.

I took it away with me on holiday as I suffer from dry lips in the sun but this kept them hydrated and flake free. The lip balm is thicker in texture than most lip balms and has no colour to it. It does however smell of a traditional rosey lip balm my nan would use but this does not take away from the fact of how well it does its job!

I bought it about a year back so I think it was around £3/4 but I have to say even in rainy old Manchester weather and temperatures I wouldn't be without it!

Forever Shopping.....

Little Forever 21 Haul

I have always wanted to visit a Forever 21 store and so when I heard one was opening up in rainy old Manchester I was beyond excited. The problem was I decided to go after a long stressful week at work so my mind wasn't fully on the job.

The new Forever 21 is at the Trafford Centre and the interior is stunning. Simple and chic. However, I did find the layout a bit overwhelming. Now, I work in retail and I found the customer 'journey' quite confusing - the layout was all over the place. There was no clear dividing sections and I didn't know where to look first!

There has been reviews tht the clothes weren't trendy and lacked fashion inspiration but I have to disagree with this. The clothes seemed catwalk inspired and to be honest I found that they reminded me of H & M in their simplicity and aesthetic appeal!

So, for me on that day I decided clothes shopping wasn't going to be a goer as my mind was all over the place so I decided to head straight for the jewellery for an instant pick me up! The jewelley is immense! I have never seen so much jewellery in one shop! The styles rival any Topshop pieces and the prices are in comparison to H & M and even Primark! You also feel that the quality hasn't been missed and this sets it out from the rest.

I only treated myself to these studded earrings (not that my jewellery box isn't already busting with them) but £3.15 for 4 sets of earrings wasn't too pricey. I couldn't buy too much more as my bank manager would have been screaming at me as I had bought some more sneaky makeup bits and bobs minutes before (see other post here).

My initial impression of Forever 21 is positive but I think I will visit again shortly with a more stress-free mind ready to take on their challenging layout and indulge in some cheeky purchases!

Undress my Makeup

MUA Undressed Eye Palette

Bargain!

Strong words but this palette is worth all the £4 I paid for it and more! Now I am a keen lover of M.A.C eyeshadows and at £13.50 a pop I think they are worth it, for their excellent pigmentation and long lasting finish but I feel they have competition on their hands.

This MUA eye palette has a variety of neutrals and a mix of matte and shimmery shades. The eyeshadows themselves are soft and blendable and create a mix of natural and smokey eyes. The saying a little goes along way applies here and as you can see from the pictures the colour intensities are extreme.

You could have many M.A.C eyeshadow dupes from this palette but I actually think some of the eyeshadows in this palette are better than my beloved MAC ones.

I can't say enough good things about the MUA brand, especially their eye palettes, but this product has surpassed my expectations. I challenge anyone who loves blendable, pigmented and longlasting eyeshadows to try this and not to fall in love with it?

Cheap yet chic!

Stain Away....

Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stain

These lip stains definitely rival the Clinique Chubby sticks in my eyes. I recently went in to Sefridges and sampled the Chubby sticks and on the same day I also swatched the Revlon stains and from there I tested out the longetivity on my hand ( I know, I know this isn't exactly an exact science but the thought was there - heehee).

Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stains are creamy in formula and minty in taste. They are currently on offer in Boots and Superdrug for £5.99 and I have to say based on what I have seen I would have paid more!

Darling Cherie 010 (right of the first picture above and bottom on the second picture) is a cool lilac/pink Autumn inspired toned stain and although would look fantastic on some skin tones this tends to wash me out unless I wear a lot of bronzer to brighten up my face. However, this does not take away from the fact the stain lasts all day and can be worn day or night under lipgloss or on its own.

Lovesick 020 (left of first picture and top of second picture) is a deep cerise and is my absolute favourite across all the colours. The deep and strong pigmentation lasts once the initial colour has slowly worn off, leaving a light pink tint to your lips which lasts for hours. The formulation of these lip stains is balm like (does exactly what it says on the tin - heehee) and does not dry your lips out at all. There is no streaky-ness and the colour payoff is amazing.

The Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stains are a perfect mix of intense colour and lasting perfection! Try them!

Lets start Hauling!

So this is an easy post to write and to start me off!

I recently treated myself to some new bits and pieces and of course makeup was involved.

Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift

I have been ogling this perfume since seeing it on Fleur de Forces blog and hearing her talk about it months and months back on one of her videos! Although, I usually wouldn't buy any 'celebrity' perfume, the reviews on this have been extremely positive. 

Now I am no perfume expert whatsoever so me describing perfume is not a goer! All I can say is, this is a girly and feminine smell but will appeal to all ages. It lasts a long time on my skin and a little goes a long way! (which is hard to find nowadays). Lets not forget how stunning and gorgeous the bottle is - the purple two-toned colour with little charms around the the neck is simply beautiful and looks lovely on my dressing table!

I picked up this 100ml bottle in Superdrug, where you get a free overnight bag (this also applies to Boots), for £37.50. 

YSL Shocking Mascara

This was the main thing I headed out for on this trip as I had seen amazing reviews everywhere! It is pricey I am not going to lie - £23 is no laughing matter but if it works I will be shouting it from the roof tops. Review coming soon....

MUA Lipgloss and Mascara

So, I go from one end of the price scale to the other. MUA, although cheap, produces products that can rival some higher end makeup. This lipgloss in Shade 3 is super pigmented and glossy but not sticky at all. Not forgetting it has a yummy toffee smell and taste which I know sounds weird but this makes this product even more attractive! 

The clear mascara I use for setting my brows and does the job brilliantly. Why pay for a brow gel which is more than 10 times more expensive when you can get this mascara and it does the same job?

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Powder

I would usually have bought the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder but I decided to give this one a go and at £1.99 it wont break the bank. I usually the powder to set my foundation and stop me from looking shiny throughout the day so lets see if this powder does actually last the 16 hours it claims too. Review coming soon......

Revlon Colourstay Smokey Shadow Stick in 201 Torch

When I saw this eye combination (£5.99) there was no doubt I was buying this. The pink creamy colour and texture teamed with a deep chocolate brown is a match made in heaven. There will be a definitely be a review coming soon.....

So thats my wee small Haul but I am absolutley in love with everything I bought and I am looking forward to reviewing them for you.....

I'm Back.....

I know I have been MIA over the last few months but I am now stress free and ready to blog to my hearts content.


With work being super busy, my little nephew being born and allowing myself to have a holiday, blogging has not been my usual space to destress!
So, I have revaluated my life and priorities and decided that I have to stop worrying about the unknown and enjoy my life. Blogging is my way of sharing my beauty and fashion hobby and because I read tons of blogs are a daily basis I want to share my little reviews and hauls to everybody (or whoever wants to read my ickle blog. 


So... i have took a ton of photos (albeit it on my iPhone as my brother has my big camera - i.e. taking photos of my little nephew)and I am sat down and ready to blog......