Skincare Favourites from 2014

Haircare Favourites from 2014

Body Care Favourites from 2014

I discovered some incredible new body products this year, but I've also thrown in two long standing favourites that I would highly recommend!

Lola's Apothecary Rose & Geranium Body Oil*

First on my list is this incredibly nourishing and hydrating body oil from Lola's Apothecary. It makes an incredible difference to the feel of my skin and I found that the results I get from this body oil are better and more long lasting than any other moisturising product that I've tried so far. It has a pretty hefty price tag but it is absolutely worth the money. If you haven't already tried anything from Lola's Apothecary then you need to keep your eyes peeled, they're definitely a brand to watch!

Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier Ultra Nourishing Oil*

This is another incredible body oil and the scent is absolutely gorgeous! It isn't quite as nourishing as my previous mention but I've found that the product goes quite a lot further thanks to its handy spray top. This is a wonderful option for those with dry skin who are looking for long-lasting results with the addition of a beautiful fragrance. I've loved using this, I reach for it a lot and I've been really impressed at how long it's lasted me. It's a product that's definitely worth investing in!

Balance Me Rose Otto Body Wash*

I really love Balance Me's products and their Rose Otto range is quite simply beautiful. I've been a big fan of the scent of Lush's Flying Fox Shower Gel this year, but the quality of Balance Me's Body Washes completely won me over. It was a real pleasure to find something so nice to use that's also sulphate-free. I'll definitely be repurchasing it and I'm really looking forward to trying more products from Balance Me over the coming year.

Lanolips Intense Rose Hand Balm*

This was a last minute rediscovery! I loved this hand balm last year and got through a full-size tube pretty darn quickly because I couldn't put the stuff down. I recently was sent a half-size tube and it's been sitting in my handbag ever since. I can't believe I forgot to repurchase it this year, I think that in terms of effectiveness its on par with L'Occitane's Shea Hand Cream but I definitely prefer the formula of Lanolips' Intense Rose Hand Balm.

L'Occitane Almond Milk Concentrate
This will forever be a favourite of mine - it's one of those beauty products that I've loved from the moment I discovered it. Tom very kindly gave me a L'Occitane Almond Gift Set for Christmas and it's completely rekindled the fire in my heart. If you like gel-textured moisturisers that smell sweet and musky all at once, then L'Occitane's Almond Milk Concentrate might just be the next product that you need to try.


What have been some of your favourites from 2014?

Makeup Favourites from 2014

It was quite hard to narrow down my makeup favourites of the year because I discovered some incredible new products, especially over the last three months. I've basically just included the things that I reached for the most as well as a couple of newer products that I just really, really love.

For my Eyes

There's only been one eyeshadow palette that I've been reaching for throughout the year, and that's The Balm's Nude'tude Palette. My favourite shades are definitely 'Stand-offish' and 'Selfish', but all the shades are really wearable in a gorgeous buttery formula. My other eyeshadow favourite is Maybelline's Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze which I've used so much that I've nearly finished it! Honourable Mention: Wild About Beauty's Eyeshadow in Eva 

For my Face

My most used foundation has definitely been Revlon's Colorstay Foundation for Combination/Oily Skin in the shade Buff. I've just finished my bottle and have repurchased it in a slightly darker shade so that I can wear it next summer. My favourite concealer of the year has definitely been Seventeen's Stay Time Concealer, it's so light and blendable and gives a really natural looking finish. Honourable Mention: Real Techniques' Makeup Sponge

For my Cheeks

In terms of blush, the only powder blush that I've been wearing pretty much all year is Green People's Powder Blush in Peach*. However, the competition for my favourite cream blush has been fierce, but I think that I've definitely reached for Stila's Convertible Colour Trio in Cool the most out of the blushes in my collection. But my favourite new discoveries of the year by far have been from RMS Beauty - I have completely fallen in love with their Living Luminizer and Buriti Bronzer, I've been wearing them everyday since I discovered them. Honourable Mention: Benefit's Highbeam

For my Lips

I've discovered some incredible new lipsticks this year and I've picked a couple of my favourite formulas and shades. Hands down my favourite formula is Glo & Ray's La Amo Creamy Matte Lip Colour*, it's lightweight but offers opaque colour and it lasts really well. I've also been loving Ilia's Lip Conditioner in the shade These Days*, a really beautiful frosted bronze in a creamy and moisturising formula. Colour wise, two other favourites of mine are from Oriflame and Wild About Beauty. Oriflame's The One 5 in 1 Colour Stylist Lipstick in Fuchsia Hype* is an absolutely stunning, bright pink. Whereas Wild About Beauty's Nurtrilips Balm in Hannah* is a gorgeous, easy-to-wear, sheer berry that seems to work with everything. Honourable Mention: Living Nature's Lipstick in Summer Rain*

What have been some of your makeup favourites this year?

A'kin Orange Blossom & Chamomile Refreshing and Soothing Toner Review

This month, I've absolutely been loving A'kin's Orange Blossom and Chamomile Refreshing and Soothing Toner*. During the winter - expecially December - my skin can be quite temperamental, and it often tends to reach for the extremes, getting quite a lot drier and oilier than usual. To compensate, I like to swap in gentle products that will help refresh and restore my skin to a happier middle-ground. 

A'kin's Orange Blossom and Chamomile Toner* does a wonderful job of removing those last traces of cleanser, makeup and sebum - helping to regulate the oilier parts of my face without causing any stress to the drier areas. It's suitable for even sensitive skin and I for one can't get enough of its beautiful, natural fragrance. A'kin are a really lovely Australian brand whose products are all-natural and certified vegan, using ingredients that are all animal-testing free. If you're looking for natural, cruelty-free skincare that not only works but feels great to use, then I'd definitely recommend trying out some of their products. You can find A'kin's Orange Blossom Chamomile Refreshing and Soothing Toner on MyPure.co.uk for £12.00*.

My Picks from Yves Rocher's Boxing Day Sale

I tried out some new products from Yves Rocher earlier this month and I really enjoyed them, I was especially fond of their Moisturising Cream Lipstick and Lash Plumping Mascara! If you're looking to try out some products from the brand then its worth noting that they've got a pretty good Boxing Day Sale going on at the moment with discounts of up to 60%! There are tonnes of discounts on all sorts of beauty products and I've shared a few of my top picks from their sale below.

Fruits Noir Eau de Toilette - £8.50 (reduced from £14.50)

Fruits Noir Silky Body Cream - £4.50 (reduced from £8.95)

Ultra Long Lasting Cream Eyeshadow - £6.25 (reduced from £14.00)

Radiant Glow Fluid Foundation - £6.50 (reduced from £14.50)

Cleansing Milk - £5.85 (reduced from £10.00)

Concealer - £3.85 (reduced from £8.80)

Have you bought anything in the Boxing Day Sales yet?

A Lipstick Overview

Over the two months or so, across my Blog, Twitter and Instagram accounts, I've featured a fair few lipsticks, but there have been seven main culprits. I thought that today I'd do a round-up of all these lipsticks as I thought that this would be a good way for me to help put them all into a larger context, helping you to identify which one(s) might be right for you.

left to right: Living Nature's Lipstick in Summer Rain*, Ilia's Lip Conditioner in These Days, Honeybee Gardens Lipstick in Superstitious*, Glo & Ray's Lipstick in Fallin'*, Yves Rocher's Moisturising Cream Lipstick in Rose Alba* and Rimmel's Moisture Renew Lipstick in Oxford Street Fuchsia*.

Best Natural Lipstick Formula & My Favourite Winter "Berry" Lipstick

The two lipsticks in these categories are Ilia's Lip Conditioner in These Days* and Living Nature's Lipstick in Summer Rain*. I definitely think that Ilia's Lip Conditioner has the best formula of any natural lipstick that I've tried so far - it's similar to Living Nature's in that they're both creamy and moisturising, but Ilia's Lip Conditioner lasts better on my lips and feels more comfortable to wear. However, I do absolutely love the colour of Summer Rain, it's just gorgeous and I'd definitely recommend it.

My Least Favourite New Discovery 

Sadly, I really didn't like for formula of my new Honeybee Gardens Lipstick in Superstitious*. It was patchy and difficult to wear, with the colour applying unevenly and fading irregularly. The colour was really gorgeous though and inspired me to look for something similar in a better formula! I think I've found something which I'll be sharing soon.

The Best Lipstick Formula of the Bunch

If you're looking for something easy to wear, something that feels lightweight on your lips but gives opaque colour that lasts well, then you need to take a look at Glo & Ray's Lipsticks*. I was very kindly sent the shade Fallin' and although it isn't my perfect colour, I do really like the formula. It isn't as long-lasting as matte lip products, but out of all my new finds it's the easiest and most comfortable lipstick to throw on as I can really trust it to wear well and stay looking good throughout the day.

Out of My Comfort Zone - but worth considering!

This month I tried too very "different" lipsticks - Wild About Beauty's Lipstick in Cherrie* and Rimmel's Moisture Renew Lipstick in Oxford Street Fuchsia*. Cherrie is and incredibly glossy, high impact, bold, bright, show-stopping red - a gorgeous find for red lipstick lovers and a perfect party makeup piece. It is, however, a formula that would work best for more natural shades and although I love the colour it definitely isn't for the faint hearted! Oxford Street Fuchsia is similarly out of my comfort zone as it's a very blue-toned pink, almost Barbie-pink, which I don't think suits me. However, I  do like the creamy formula and I'd definitely purchase other shades in the line. But, overall, I would repurchase Wild About Beauty's lipstick formula over Rimmel's.

Pretty but not Perfect

I've really enjoyed wearing Yves Rocher's Moisturising Cream Lipstick in Rose Alba*, it's a very easy to wear pink in a sheer-to-medium coverage formula, giving either a wash of colour of a full-on lip depending on how much you apply. It isn't super creamy and I don't think it should really be called a "moisturising" lipstick, but it isn't drying either. However, if you are specifically looking for something hydrating then I'd recommend Living Nature and Ilia's lipsticks which are actually very nourishing on the lips!

What lipstick(s) have you been wearing this month?

Skincare Revelations

Ten Party Makeup Picks for Under £12

Looking for some affordable new makeup for your Christmas or New Year's Looks? I've gathered together some of my highstreet favourites that all come in at under £12. I was planning on doing an "under £10" round-up but I just couldn't exclude the Revlon PhotoReady SkinLights in Bare Lights which comes in at £11.99. It's such a gorgeous highlighter that I love to use a primer when I'm going out for an evening, the bronze colour works really well at masking any redness in your skin. Anyway, here's my ten budget makeup picks for the party season.

Revlon PhotoReady SkinLights in Bare Light

W7 Liquid Eyeliner*

MaxFactor Creamy Touch Blush 

Glam Crystals Dazzling Gel Liner in Funk

Maybelline Colour Drama Velvet Touch Lip Pencil in Red Essential

Seventeen Stay Time Concealer

Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Lipstick in 111

Maybelline the Falsies Volum' Express Mascara

Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze

BeautyUK Baked Blush in Halo

Do you have any affordable makeup recommendations?

A Last Minute Gift Idea: Lanolips' Artist Tin

I wanted this Lanolips Artist Tin* ever since I first spotted it on twitter! Its the result of an exciting collaboration between Lanolips and Australian Fashion Illustrator Kelly Smith, and I for one think that it's just lovely. I've been a big fan of Lanolips ever since I discovered the brand last summer. All of their products are 100% natural and contain high levels of "ultra pure grade" lanolin (a really hydrating ingredient that holds up to 200% it's weight in moisture). I've gotten along really well with everything I've tried so far - particularly their body oil which I think is one of the best ones that you can find on the highstreet!

Inside the Lanolips Artist Tin you'll find a full size Lanolips 101 Ointment* as well as a mini Intense Rose Balm*. I already really love both of these products - the 101 Ointment is a great all-purpose product and I've already written up a review of the Intense Rose Balm. It's a seriously impressive body balm and I love using it as a hand cream. It doesn't sink into the skin instantly but it does seriously work wonders on even my dry and eczema-prone skin - so I'm so happy to have this half-sized tube to throw in my handbag!

Now that I've opened my tin, I'm going to be using it to store all of my various Lanolips products (you can see that I have quite a few!). It's a really cute addition to my beauty storage and I'm going to be keeping it close to hand on my bedside table.

You can find Lanolips' Artist Tin* in Wholefoods stores for £15.28 - this works out as quite a good deal as Lanolips'  Intense Rose Balm costs £9.18 for 50ml (£4.58 per 25ml) and Lanolips 101 Balm costs £11.22, so essentially you're getting the beautiful tin for free! If you're on the hunt for a last minute Christmas gift then I'd definitely recommend hunting this down in your local Wholefoods store, plus it's limited edition so it won't be around forever.

Green People: Impressive Natural Makeup

I "discovered" Green People in September and ever since day one I've been really impressed with their products. I've tried their facial oil (which is just beautiful), their makeup remover (which I loved) as well as talc-free powder blush, and I wasn't disappointed! Today I've got three more of Green People's beauty products to share with you - their Volumising Mascara, their Illuminating Eye Duo and their Night Forest Eye Duo. I've been trying these out for a while now and I've been very glad to have some more natural makeup in my routine, especially some talc-free eyeshadows. I've shared my thoughts on each product in a mini-review format but if there's anything else that you'd like to know then please do leave me a comment or tweet me (@OneLittleVice) for a quicker response.

Green People Volumising Mascara in Black*

available online for £14.75

As far as I'm concerned, Green People's mascara wands are totally on point - I love these sorts of lash, separating and defining brushes which seem to add tremendous length! The formula is also really good, especially for a product that contains 98% natural ingredients, using natural pigments to achieve it's dark black colour. However, I don't personally think this mascara offers much in the way of volume but it does seriously lengthen my lashes and lasts from morning until night without any flaking or smudging. I actually found that on my lashes it outperformed my Maybelline the Falsies Mascara in terms of longevity, and I feel much more comfortable reaching for a Green People's makeup especially when it comes to an everyday essential like mascara! Overall, I'm really impressed and I'll be reaching for this mascara over others that I own because I really like it. 

Green People Illuminating Eye Duo* (pictured above left)

available online for £17.50 (currently on offer for £10)

Green People's Illuminating Eye Duo really does what it claims - it brightens and enlivens eyes, making your face look brighter and more 'awake'. The shades are subtly different, one is a pure shimmering white and there other is a very pale, pearlescent pink. I love using both of these on the inner corners of my eyes, but I do find that I need to use a primer to help them last throughout the day. Because these eyeshadows don't contain talc (to which my skin is sensitive) I can also use them as skin highlighters - applying them on my brow bone or across my cheek bones. I really like both of the colours, they're very wearable and aren't too stark, and they aren't too powdery. These will be particularly good for anyone ensitive to talc who's looking for an easy-to-wear, multi-tasking addition to their everyday beauty routine.

Green People Night Forest Eye Duo* (pictured above right)

available online for £17.50 (currently on offer for £10)

The Night Forest Duo really appealed to me because I loved the look of the colours - a deep brown that's perfect for a brown smokey eye, and a lighter, golden brown that's good for both brightening the eye area and adding some subtle definition. I find that these eyeshadows need an eye primer to last throughout the day on my oily eyelids but they also work really well when used as liners. Below, I've included photos of me wearing the dark brown shade along my upper and lower lash line. You can see that it gives a deep smokey look that isn't too dark or harsh. I love that these eyeshadows contain Jojoba Oil and Vitamin E, and I feel as though Green People offers wonderful skin-friendly makeup that I feel really comfortable reaching for on an everyday basis. 

Have you tried anything from Green People before? Did you like the look of any of the products featured in today's post?

New Additions: High End Makeup

I've been a very lucky girl this month and everything pictured in this post is the result of me winning two separate blog giveaways. I don't think I've ever seen so many "big name" brands together in one place… and all of these products are a first for me! This is my first Mac Eyeshadow Palette* (housing Satin Taupe, Brun, Star Violet and Nylon), my first Nars Dual Intensity Eyeshadow* (Giove), my first Kevin Aucoin Creamy Glow Blush* (Liquifuschia), my first Chanel Lipstick* and my first Bobbi Brown Gel Liner*. And as if this couldn't get any better, I actually also forgot to include a Laura Mercier Lipgloss* which is just beautiful too. Honestly, it isn't even Christmas and I've already been totally spoilt by the generosity of others. I haven't shared these in order to brag but as they will all be making appearances on my blog soon I wanted to make you aware that these aren't press samples that I've been sent for review, but that I haven't bought them with my own money either. So, with that in mind, if you'd like to see any reviews, swatches, comparisons, FOTDs, or anything like that, then do let me know. If I had bought any of these for myself then I'd have done copious research first, so I know how helpful honest and thorough reviews can be when it comes to deciding what's worth spending your money on! 

Have you added any luxury beauty bits into your routine recently? 

Looking for Dupes

Ever found something that you really love but there's just that little something wrong with it… it's limited edition or discontinued or maybe contains an ingredient to which you're sensitive. Well, this is exactly my problem. I've got a couple of products in my collection that I absolutely adore but I need to find a dupe. 

First up is my Mac Cremesheen Lipgloss in the shade Colour Saturation. It's a beautiful product, I love the formula so much and the shade is just dreamy. It's that perfect berry tone that's effortless to wear but looks so damn good. Sadly, it was a limited edition shade and I now have to hunt down an alternative become mine is definitely past it's use by date.

Then we have my Vichy Dermablend Powder* which is hands down the best setting/mattifying powder I've found so far. It just holds my makeup in place for ages and does such a terrific job of keeping my oily t-zone matte. However, this is 100% talc - straight up, talcy goodness. Or, in my case, badness, because my skin doesn't get on with talc all too well. I've had to swap this out of my routine (I've replaced it with a mattifying balm) but I'd love to find a powder that's as  effective that doesn't contain talc.

Lastly, we have my Dainty Doll Powder Blush in Money Talks, the perrrrfect neutral blush that effortlessly works to sculpt and shape my face. I love the colour so much but once again talc is the main ingredient, and my skin just doesn't love this blush. I've only hung on to it for this long because I want to try and colour match a dupe. If anyone has any recommendations of where to look then please do let me know in the comments - I'm dying to find a replacement. 

Are there any dupes that you're looking for?

A Sneak Peek into Wild About Beauty's Party Collection

I was first introduced to Wild About Beauty by my October YouBeauty Box, in which I received one of their powder eyeshadows in the shade Eva. I've used that eyeshadow so much over the last couple of months (reaching for it over others because it's easy to blend and it's very long lasting) and I've become more and more interested in Wild About Beauty's extensive botanical beauty line which is full of easy to wear everyday shades as well as some more vibrant 'pops' of colour that I love incorporating into my evening makeup looks. I was very kindly sent three products from Wild About Beauty's Party Collection, which is full of products that are just perfect to wear to upcoming Christmas and New Year parties.

Wild About Beauty Mattifying Balm

available online for £21.00*

For anyone like myself whose skin is sensitive to talc, this Mattifying Balm is a wonderful alternative to traditional mattifying powders. I have combination skin and my t-zone can get really oily, and if I want my makeup to last then mattifying products are a must-have in my make-up bag. Wild About Beauty's Mattifying Balm is really easy to use; it comes with a flat, round sponge (that you could easily wash and/or replace when you felt it was getting unhygienic) which you press into the balm and then press onto the areas of your face that you would like to mattify. I typically apply it from my forehead, down my nose and across my chin and whilst it doesn't leave me looking as matte as when I reach for a powder it works really well at keeping my face from looking overly shiny. I think this is a great product to reach for if you want to look good in Christmas party photos as it will help you look glowing rather than greasy! Another real benefit of using this balm over a powder is that I feel more comfortable using this on-the-go as, unlike with a pressed powder, there's no risk of it shattering and, unlike a loose powder, there's no risk of it opening and making a mess in my bag. This makes touching up really easy, which is exactly what I'm looking for from this sort of product. And if you want another reason to give it a try, the you should know that it was actually shortlisted as a finalist in the 2013 CEW (UK) Beauty Awards in the 'Best New Makeup Product - Face' category. 

Wild About Beauty Nutrilips Balm in Hannah 

available online for £14.00*, pictured in the image above on the left

This is a good'un, a sheer wash of hydrating colour that's enough to perk up your complexion but that's so hassle-free that you don't even need a mirror. I love it, and Hannah is just the perfect colour too. It's a very wearable deep pink/light berry with a glossy finish - and it's completely petroleum free. It's much thinner in consistency than similar products that I've tried (such as the RMS Lip Shines and the Lanolips Lip Ointments with Colour). This means that it doesn't intensely hydrate lips but I find that it is much easier to apply on-the-go which makes it perfect to pop in your handbag for touch-ups. It looks great worn alone (as pictured above on the left) but it also works well applied over lipsticks. The Nutrilips Balm is my favourite product out of the three I was sent and I've been wearing it a lot. If you also like the look of Hannah then scroll down to the bottom of this post for an exciting offer!

Wild About Beauty Nutrilips Lipstick in Cherrie 

available online for £15.00*, pictured in the image above on the right

Cherrie is a bright, bright, red lipstick with just the tiniest touch of orange. It has a sheer but buildable formula that feels light on the lips and is easy to wear very lightly or as a vivid full-on red lip. It's a standout colour that will make people do a double-take and whenever I've worn it out of the house I've felt full of a confidence that only red lipstick gives me. My personal preference is for long-lasting, matte red shades as they're usually less effort to maintain. However, I've really enjoyed the boldness of Cherrie and the formula wasn't as tricky to wear as I thought it might be. I much preferred it to my Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Revlon Red, which is equally bold but I find it far too "slippy" to wear out of the house! Unlike that lipstick, Cherrie doesn't end up on my teeth every other minute and it didn't bleed beyond my lip line. For £15.00*, I think that it has a very nice, hydrating formula (full of mango butter and argan oil) and I'd love to try some of the everyday pink or nude shades, such as Maddy or Eve.

Left to right: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Revlon Red, Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Lipstick in 111, Wild About Beauty Nutrilips Lipstick in Cherrie*, MaxFactor Colour Elixir Lipstick in Ruby Red, Maybelline Colour Drama Velvet Intense Lip Pencil in Red Essential.

All in all, I've been left very impressed by these products and I'm so glad to have stumbled across Wild About Beauty's makeup range. If you're interested in the brand or in the products I've featured then Wild About Beauty are currently running an offer where you can get a free Nutrilips Balm in Hannah with any purchase from their Party Collection. With over 20 products to choose between, with everything from eyeshadows to nail polishes, there may just be something there that you'll fall in love with!

Winter Updates from Roger & Gallet

Roger & Gallet have consistently impressed me with their high quality products and gorgeous fragrances. Today I'm really pleased to be able to share some of their new (or newly repackaged) products with you! 

I was very kindly sent their Revitalising Fleur d'Osmanthus Body Lotion* and a Hand & Nail Cream Trio*. I haven't tried any of Roger & Gallet's Body Lotions before but I was really, really impressed by the Ultra Nourishing Oil so I've got high expectations for Fleur d'Osmanthus Body Lotion. I did, however, receive a similar trio last Christmas and I've been using the hand creams throughout the year - they have a light consistency, are easily absorbed and they smell incredible. I think this would make a wonderful gift - and you could even split the hand creams up, giving one out to three different friends. I'm nearly coming to the end of my beloved Roger & Gallet Ultra Nourishing Oil in Fleur de Figuier* so I'm happy to now have a Fleur de Figuier Hand Cream as it's my favourite Roger & Gallet scent! That's definitely the one that you might consider keeping for yourself…

New Additions from Yves Rocher

Yves Rocher is one of France's best-selling beauty brands and I was introduced to their products earlier this year. I was really impressed at their expansive beauty range, which features almost every scent and shade that you might ever want! Although the brand isn't readily available in the UK in terms of shop-fronts, it does have a very impressive website teeming with special offers and free gifts with purchase. A couple of weeks ago I was very kindly sent a couple of products to try out (the Flowerparty by Night Eau de Parfum, the Lash Plumping Mascara and a Moisturising Cream Lipstick in the shade Rose Alba) and I've shared a mini-review of each product below.

Yves Rocher Flowerparty by Night Eau de Parfum*

This is an interesting perfume, it's quite sweet but it's heavy and rich. As the name suggests, I'd definitely call this an 'evening' perfume as it's quite strong. It's sweetness comes from vanilla and bitter almond, and its muskiness probably comes from the star anise - although I don't think it smells much like liquorice at all. Overall, I really like wearing this perfume as I find that it lasts really, really well and as it's quite a strong scent a little goes a long way. The packaging also really reminds me of Marc Jacob's Daisy perfume range (which is one of my favourites) so that's also a selling point for me!

Yves Rocher Lash Plumping Mascara - Waterproof Black*

I've been quite impressed with this mascara, but I don't think that it entirely lives up to its claims. I like it because it offers quite a bit of length (which is what I tend to like) as well as some added thickness to my lashes, and it does so in an easy to wear formula that doesn't smudge throughout the day. It really is a wonderful example of a waterproof mascara as it sticks around on your lashes until you introduce a make-up remover. However, it isn't difficult to remove so you won't cause unnecessary stress to your delicate eye area. All in all, I don't think it offers that much "lash plumping" but I do love using it as an everyday, daytime mascara that gives me long-lasting length and colour without needing to be touched up throughout the day.

Yves Rocher Moisturising Cream Lipstick in Rose Alba*

When I received Rose Alba it wasn't exactly love at first sight as the colour (a baby pink with a cool toned frost) is very much out of my comfort zone. However, once applied to my lips I saw first hand just how pretty it is and how easy it is to wear! Rose Alba is a lovely alternative to all the red shades that I've been reaching for, it's a delicate shade and it has a formula to match. The Moisturising Cream Lipstick formula is very light, sheer and buildable - somewhat similar to Mac's Lustre formula, although Yves Rocher's formula is slightly thinner and less creamy. The formula is definitely better suited to lighter and more 'natural' lipstick shades as you do have to retouch and reapply the lipstick regularly to maintain an noticeable, opaque colour. That being said, Rose Alba is an easy shade to reapply and this hasn't stopped me reaching for it! You can see me wearing it in the image below, along with the Lash Plumping Mascara.

Have you tried anything from Yves Rocher before? Do you like the sound of the products featured in this post?

My Christmas Beauty Wishlist

It really isn't that long until Christmas so I thought that I would share my Christmas beauty wish list with you. By no stretch of the imagination do I expect to receive all of these goodies as gifts but I am lusting after them all. I definitely think I'll keep an eye out for a couple of these in the Christmas sales (especially the Laura Mercier body creme which is far too pricey for me to ever otherwise seriously consider buying). If you like the look of anything on my wish list then I've linked everything below (and all my images are taken from the sources that I've linked).

Illamasqua's Multi Facet Palette in Aura 

Original Beauty Blender Pro Sponge 

Laura Mercier's Mini Caviar Stick Eye Colour Collection

RMS Un-Powder

Clinique's Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes in Ample Amber

Nars Digital World Lip Pencil Coffret 

Mac Lipstick in Cyber 

Mac Cremeblend Blush in Brit Wit

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter 

Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Soufflé Body Creme

What beauty products are on your Christmas wish list?

Love Lula December Beauty Box Review

I received my December LoveLula Beauty Box over the weekend and I couldn't have been happier with the contents! LoveLula is a monthly beauty subscription (£12.50 per month inc. postage) service featuring natural and cruelty free beauty products. This month's box featured some really lovely brands, and I was particularly happy to see a bottle of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap - a product that I already absolutely love. I was also really happy to see some Joik products in the box as they're a brand that I've been really keen to try for the longest time. The Salcura Hand Hydrator is another lovely inclusion, although I've seen so many beauty subscription boxes featuring hand creams so I have quite a few to get through now. Lastly, there were also two FairSquared Lip Balms in the box, I didn't love the Pomegranate scent but I adore the smell of Spearmint so I can't wait to try that out. Overall, I'm really happy with all the brands included in the box and I feel as though there was a great range of products too. As per usual, LoveLula has really impressed me and I'm already looking forward to January's box!

Are you subscribed to any beauty boxes? What do you think about LoveLula's Beauty Box this month?

Makeup Look: The Anti Cat Eye

A couple of weeks ago I posted about a makeup look called "the soft underline" and it went down so well that I thought I'd write another, similar post sharing a makeup look that I often wear. This time, the makeup look is called "the anti-cat eye" and it's all about lining your upper and lower lines at the outer corners. I'm wearing it in the photos above and it you can also see me wearing it in the post I wrote about my Illamasqua lipsticks. For anyone like me with hooded eyelids, this is a really easy way to wear liner and it isn't too much to rock during the daytime.

It's a really simple eye make-up look and all you need is a pencil liner and some eyeshadow to smudge over the top of it with a brush. I used Gosh's pencil eye liner in Truly Brown and lined half way around my eyes - from the middle of my eye to the outer corners on both my upper and lower lash line. I then went over this with a mixture of two shades from the Balm's Nude'tude palette - Sexy and Silly. The finished result is supposed to be a little bit messy and not too perfect. But what it does do is draw attention to the corners of your eyes, making your eyes stand out. Unlike when you use eyeliner all the way around your eyes, this eye makeup look doesn't make your eyes look smaller and you can improvise with shades to make it more dramatic or subtle depending on when you want to wear it.

Let me know if you ever wear your makeup like this or if you'll be giving it a go for the first time!