April Beauty Favourites

April Beauty Empties

Beauty Before Bed #2

I've had the same evening "before bed" beauty routine for quite a while now and the same four products have been making an appearance. I wrote a beauty before bed post a little while back at the end of last year so I thought I'd do a follow-up post before I completely shake up my routine!

Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist 15ml* |  rrp £21.50/100ml

As much as I love toners, I do often forget to use them. My usual toner is Murad's Hydrating Toner* but this lives in my bathroom, so if I forget to use it I have my mini Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist to-hand by my bedside. I simply mist this all over my face and just leave it there, I find that it dries down relatively quickly but still leaves my skin feeling more refreshed. I haven't tried anything else from Jurlique before I do really love rosewater and the packaging - even of this mini - feels wonderfully high quality. It's definitely a brand I'd like to explore more in the future, and this little bottle of Balancing Mist will be staying on my bedside until it's all used up!

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream 10ml* | rrp £20.00/20ml

This has been my go-to evening eye cream for months and months - but sadly this is my last tube, and it's very close to empty! Balance Me's Wonder Eye Cream is light enough to not overload my skin but still does enough to keep me completely hooked. Not only does the skin around my eyes look better than it did before but it's no-longer dehydrated, which will make a difference to the appearance of my eyes in the long-term. I've also found that using an eye cream has transformed the way that makeup wears on my skin throughout the day. Under eye concealer lasts so much better on skin that's in condition, and I no-longer find that it disappears throughout the day. It's a really worthwhile part of my beauty routine and I'll definitely be repurchasing this eye cream in the future as I'm incredibly happy with it.

Steamcream "Message Neko" 75ml* | rrp £13.95

Steamcream is one of those products that just hooks you. It's a natural moisturiser with an incredibly light feel but it sinks into my skin quickly and acts as the finishing touch of my beauty routine. It really gently rehydrates my skin without feeling heavy or aggravating - it's perfect for those with sensitive skin types. I've been using Steamcream for about six weeks now and I'm about a third of my way through the tin. In my opinion, this makes the product quite good value for money as a little goes a long way. I really like that it's lightweight feel and I think it will be especially nice to use in the summertime. I don't think I'm going to continue using it all up in one go, but I will be reaching for it again in the future. And I'd definitely repurchase it for myself or even for friends and family as the tins are just so aesthetically pleasing and the product itself is a great all-rounder that would work for so many different people. It's been a real pleasure to use this moisturiser and with it's availability on sites like FeelUnique I'm surprised that more people don't snap it up!

FairSquared Almond Hand Cream 100ml | rrp £4.49

I don't think that you can go wrong with this hand cream, it's just wonderful on so many levels. Once I know I'm completely finished with my skincare routine I always like to apply a handcream before going to sleep. I have really dry skin on my hands and FairSquared's Almond Hand Cream has a gorgeously thick and nourishing texture that still absorbs quite quickly. It's the perfect thing to use if you're not really "into" hand creams but you'd still like something to keep your hands looking and feeling soft. It's always a bonus to go for a natural and sustainably sourced option, and even with it's affordable price tag  FairSquared includes Fairtrade ingredients from Chile and Pakistan. I like supporting brands like this one but I'd very happily repurchase the product for the quality of the cream alone. In my book, this makes FairSquared a winner all round. 

Have you tried any of these before?

What beauty bits have made it onto your bedside table?

Have you entered my international beauty giveaway? Win a new lipstick for everyday of the week

Unusual Beauty Extras Worth Trying Out

One of the really exciting parts of being a beauty blogger is that I often have the opportunity to try new and interesting beauty products. Over the last couple of months I've been accumulating some unusual beauty finds and I thought that in today's post I'd share my thoughts on some of them. 

A Natural Energy Booster

My Pick: Les Fleurs de Bach's Energy Elixir*

I'm going to start off by saying that I can't really tell you if this does or doesn't work. I've tried it and sometimes I'm like "YES!" and other times I just don't think it does anything... But in principle, I find the whole idea of these natural essences really interesting. The Energy Elixir contains essences of Crab Apple, Gentian, Hornbeam, Red Chestnut, Rock Rose, Walnut and Wild Rose, and you consume it by adding drops to water. I find it completely tasteless which makes it a pretty easy addition to my routine. The Energy Elixir is specifically designed for those who are "physically or mentally tired" helping you to "regain energy, vitality and enthusiasm for life". Like I said, sometimes I think that it really does make a difference - but I think that to an extent it's about your mindset, much like the "placebo" effect. 

Les Fleurs de Bach offer lots of different elixirs, helping with everything from sleeplessness to break-ups. They're all made using organic methods of product and the elixirs themselves were created by Dr. Bach, a Harley Street doctor who left his practice to explore more natural non-traditional methods of treating his patients. He identified plants that could be used to stabalize emotional imblances, and this began the slow evolution of natural elixirs bearing his name. Personally, I'm still sceptical as to the effectiveness of these elixirs, but at the same time I don't think that the entire idea is preposterous. If you have a specific health or well-being issue that you're looking into seeking help for then I wouldn't rule-out natural remedies, but I would certainly always recommend doing so in tandem with conventional medicine. But, for instance, if you're about to enter essay or exam season and you're keen to try anything that might make seemingly endless study sessions slightly more bearable then I don't see any harm in trying out a natural remedy such as Les Fleurs de Bach's Elixirs. I certainly wish I'd known about this sort of thing when I was writing my dissertation last year, I certainly could have used extra bursts of energy, even if they were sporadic!

An unusual toothpaste

My Pick: Beverly Hills Formula Perfect White Black Toothpaste*

It's always nice to find ways to make everyday essential tasks a little bit more fun. Well, I've been using Beverly Hills Formula Perfect White Black Toothpaste for quite a while now and I thought it deserved a mention on my blog. I've never come across a black toothpaste before and I was genuinely excited to give it a try. It's colour comes from the inclusion of charcoal, but it still has a traditional minty taste that leaves teeth feeling lovely and clean. It's supposedly a whitening toothpaste but I can't say that I noticed any noticeable improvement in the appearance of my teeth. However, I would repurchase it and recommend it purely for the novelty factor!

A New Facial Oil

My Pick: Pure Marula Facial Oil* from John Paul Selects

I'm always on the look-out for a good facial oil so, last month, when John Paul Selects offered to send me a bottle of their fair-trade and sustainable Pure Marula Facial Oil I very kindly accepted. Marula Oil is extracted from the nuts of the Marula tree and is packed full of fatty acids and antioxidants that make it great for use on the skin. Traditionally, Marula Oil has been used by Tsonga people of South Africa and Mozambique as a body moisturiser and as a massage oil for babies. I've been really impressed with my experience with Marula Oil so far. I've found that it's very different from Rosehip Oil (which has been a long standing favourite of mine), with a lighter and thinner texture and a much more pleasant scent, and it absorbs incredibly quickly into the skin with instant results. Because Marula Oil absorbs so quickly, leaving almost a matte finish on the skin, it makes it a great product to use in both the morning and evening,  it's easy to layer other moisturising products or primers over the top of it without overloading your skin. A little goes a very long way and, like other high-performing facial oils, although it's an expensive product it's an investment that will pay dividends for months and months. During my research into Marula Oil I've discovered that although I didn't know much about it before, John Paul Selects' Pure Marula Oil is an incredibly popular product in the US - with 4034 "loves" and 190 reviews on Sephora's webiste, 146 of which are 5 star reviews (link here). Additionally, although I can't personally comment on it's effectiveness, John Paul Selects Pure Marula Oil is very highly rated as an anti-ageing skincare product - offering to reduce the appearance of fine-lines and wrinkles, for softer smoother skin. Overall, I'm really impressed with my first experience of Marula Oil - and if you're interested in trying it for yourself then it's available online from John Paul Selects as well as from Holland and Barrett. 

A Bi-phase Cleanser or Makeup Remover

My Pick: Sephora's Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover

A bi-phase cleanser is a product that consists of both an oil based and a water based liquid. They appear seperatated in their container until it is shaken, at which point the two merge into a mixture that you then use to cleanse your face or remove your makeup. Due to the oil content, biphase cleanser isn't as light as a micellar water but it can be a lot more effective at removing stubborn eye makeup. I really like Sephora's Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover as it's a fantastic affordable biphase cleanser - it's incredibly effective at removing makeup and it doesn't feel too heavy on the skin. It basically speeds up makeup removal without compromising on being gentle - so bi-phase cleansers will be a great option for anyone with sensitive skin, especially around their eyes. Sephora's bi-phase makeup remover isn't easily available in the UK but I'd definitely recommend picking it up next time you're within reach of a Sephora. If you're interested in finding a bi-phase cleanser in the UK then I know that Nivea (£3.59) and Decleor (£21.00) have them in their range.

Have you tried any weird or wonderful new beauty bits recently?


Have you entered my international beauty giveaway? Win a new lipstick for everyday of the week

Haul: Luxury Nail Polishes at Discount Prices

So, I know what I said in my last Fragrance Direct Haul but with our brief glimpse of sunshine here in the UK I just got a hankering for some new summer nail polishes. I spotted some gorgeous Essie shades on Fragrance Direct, as well as some Orly Polishes - a brand I've wanted to try for a really long time. I also went on a bit of a mission to find a specific China Glaze Nail Polish that just screams summer, and I found it at a really good price.

China Glaze Nail Lacquer in Are You Jelly?

This is the nail polish that sort of set everything off. I can't remember exactly where I first saw it but I do remember that I instantly wanted it, mainly because of its name. I ordered it from Nail Polish Direct (for the discounted price of £3.95) and expected that the shade would be purple - based on their colour guide and online swatches. However, the nail polish I recieved is a really bright - almost neon - fuchsia pink. It definitely leans slightly more purple in the bottle than when applied to your nails, so I'm not sure if I've recieved a mis-labelled bottle (as it does look a lot like the shade You Drive Me Coconuts). Regardless, I think it's a lovely colour and it's actually my first China Glaze nail polish so I'm excited to properly test it out and see if I should invest in some other shades.

Orly Nail Lacquers (left to right): Pink Chocolate, Terra Mauve and Clear

I always spot Orly polishes on one of my favourite blogs - Rotten Otter - so when I spied them on Fragrance Direct for the low price of £1.99 (reduced from £10.95) I just couldn't help myself. I picked up three polishes, two pinks that I thought would be easy to wear throughout the spring and summer as well as a clear polish. Despite always having a pedicure, I usually don't wear coloured polish on my hands - it's just one of my quirks - but I do love a clear glossy polish. I thought it would be nice to pick up one from Orly as I know I'll get a tremendous amount of use from it. I haven't properly tested these out yet but my first impressions of them are really swayed by their incredible packaging. The rubber handle makes the bottles so easy to open - so if this is something you often struggle with then I'd highly recommend them.

 Essie Nail Polishes (left to right): Geranium,  Merino Cool, Take it Outside and Summit of Style

Are these not some of the most chic shades you've ever seen? Fragrance Direct always stock a fantastic range of Essie shades but these four were my absolute favourites out of the shades available on their website. Geranium is a gorgeous orange toned red, Merino Cool is a beautiful dark purple-toned-grey, Take it Outside is a much cooler lighter shade and Summit of Style is the most beautiful gold glitter top coat that would look gorgeous over any of these polishes. I'm particulalry happy with these four shades, and at £2.49 each they were also a bit of a bargain!

Do you have any of these nail polish shades already? Which is your favourite shade out of the ones that I bought?

Have you entered my big beauty giveaway? Win a new lipstick for everyday of the week

Busaba Eathai Kingston Riverside - The Relaunch

This week Busaba Eathai's Kingston Riverside restaurant celebrated it's relaunch, and I was very kindly invited along. My first experience of Busaba Eathai occurred on my eighteenth birthday when my family and I stumbled into the Tottenham Court Road restaurant for a celebratory lunch. It was pretty much love at first everything - the food was delicious, the drinks were refreshing and I enjoyed the distinct ambience of Busaba Eathai's dining experience. 

Time has flown by since then and Busaba Eathai has continued to grow, expanding further and further afield from it's flagship restuarant on Wardour Street. The brainchild of restauranteur Alan Yau - also responsible for Wagamamas, Hakkasan and Yauatcha - Busaba Eathai offers a modern take on thai food, with absolutely delicious dishes at very reasonable prices.

Mac Lipstick Collection: Mac Syrup Lipstick (Lustre)

Mac's Lipstick in Syrup is one of the easiest lipstick shades to wear in my entire collection. Not only do I love Mac's Lustre formula but the shade itself is very much a my-lips-but-better colour, imparting a delicate wash of mauve that goes with pretty much everything.

When I first bought Mac's Syrup I thought that it might be a little bit too mauve in tone and that it could occasionally look a little bit stark against my pale skin. However, I've sort of grown into the shade and although I love Plumful I definitely wear Syrup the most out of my Mac Lipsticks. The Lustre formula doesn't wear terribly well on my lips and I get about one to two hours before I need to reapply. However, as Syrup is such a sheer and natural shade I find that it's easy to reapply on-the-go so I don't really mind touching it up throughout the day.

If you'd like to see what other shades are in my Mac Lipstick Collection then click here.

What do you think about Syrup as a shade? What Mac Lipsticks do you own or would like to own?

Have you entered my international beauty giveaway? Win a new lipstick for everyday of the week

Natural and Organic Products Show 2015

On Monday, I attended my first ever trade show. Don’t know what a trade show is? Well, it’s a big event attended by lots of brands and distributors where they showcase their existing and new products in the hopes of finding new buyers and distributors – or press coverage. They’re big work events and Monday’s show was the Natural and Organic Product Show, packed full of natural beauty, lifestyle and food and drink brands.

It would be fair to describe my feelings on the way to the trade show as apprehensive. I was a little bit nervous about my place at this kind of event and what sort of interaction I’d have with brands and their representatives. I met Lauren from Britton Loves – who had very kindly invited me to accompany her, courtesy of Fuel PR – at Victoria and then we made our way to the Excel Centre together. I felt a lot more excited about the day once the two of us joined forces and we started to discuss all the gorgeous natural brands we were going to meet throughout the day.

We started off being led around the Show by Robyn from Fuel PR and she introduced us to some her clients. We began by meeting Herbatint, a herbal hair colouring brand that's entirely ammonia free that's suitable for even chemically straightened hair. I loved the range of hair colourants that they offer and I'd definitely consider using Herbatint the next time I dye my hair. They're a particularly good or regular root touch ups as you can reseal Herbatint, keeping whatever product you don't use for later applications.

Lauren and I then went to see Eterno Naturals' stand - which on the day was home to MyChelle Skincare among other gorgeous brands. I finally got to meet Anna in person (who I've been emailing with recently) and I was introduced to some of the other exciting products that Eterno Naturals stocks. I'm already familiar with their Les Fleurs de Bach products but I was introduced to a newly released haircare line from Noah which I'm now trialling for review next month. Eterno Naturals were incredibly generous and also gave me some other samples from Pur and Royal Green to try out for myself.  

After we parted company with Robyn, Lauren and I explored the rest of the show. We made a concerted effort to talk to as many different brand representatives as we could. I was so happy to see Sukin's stall - as they're a brand I've been interested in for quite a while. They actually launched their new Super Green range at the show, and were kind enough to gift me the Super Green Facial Serum which I'm looking forward to trying out! We also stumbled across Konjac Sponge Conpany's stall which I was very excited about as their sponges are an absolute staple in my skincare routine. Lauren hadn't heard of the brand before so she was happy to learn more about their products. We saw so many other gorgeous beauty brands on our wander around the show and one of the last brands that really excited me was Nourish. I haven't ever tried Nourish's products in person so it was an absolute treat to be able to talk through their range with their representative Lydia - who was an absolute pleasure to chat to! 

On top of all the new beauty brands, Lauren and I also had the chance to explore the natural, vegetarian and vegan food section. Some of my favourite discoveries were Chimpanzee & ZooT (natural energy bars), Frill (who make frozen smoothies - essentially healthy ice cream) and Inspiral's new Kale-O kale crisps - especially the pizza flavoured ones which are just incredible. We also had some delicious tea from Pukka and Kromland Farm.

Overall, attending the Natural and Organic Trade Show 2015 was a really valuable experience. I discovered new brands, learnt more about brands I already love and also got a much better insight into the natural and organic product sector. I'll be writing more about the brands who very kindly gifted me products to take home on my blog and also on my instagram and twitter accounts, so if you want to hear more about natural beauty and food products then definitely give me a follow over there. 

I have to say a big thank you to Lauren and Fuel PR for giving me the opportunity to come along - if you also attended then I'd love to know how you found the show?

Drugstore Beauty: Superdrug Makeup Haul

On the whole, I'm definitely becoming more and more of a fan of high-end, luxury makeup but I'll be the first to admit that there are some wonderful brands and products available on the hightstreet. As you might be able to guess, I'm a big lover of reading beauty blogs and the majority of products that I go out and buy are recommendations from other bloggers. So, when I popped into Superdrug recently I already had quite a few makeup items on my wishlist. I didn't buy everything I wanted - a couple of things were annoyingly out of stock - but I found almost everything that I was looking for.

I made the most of Superdrug's 3 for 2 offer and as you can see from my photos I picked up six items from a variety of brands. In case you're interested in exactly what I bought - or want to know how much each product costs - I've listed them all with links below.

MaxFactor False Lash Effect Marie Curie Mascara

available online from Superdrug for £7.99

Rimmel Lasting Finish High Coverage Foundation in True Ivory (03)

available online from Superdrug for £7.99

Lottie London Tan Time Brush

available online from Superdrug for £7.99

L'Oreal Brow Artist Plumper

available from Superdrug for £4.99

Makeup Revolution The One Blush Stick in Matte Rush

available online for £5.00

Rimmel Good to Glow Highlighter in Soho Glow (003)

available online for £4.99

I can't wait to start using all of these new beauty bits! Let me know in a comment if you've tried any of these products - or if you'd be interested in seeing reviews.

FOTD: Trying New Things #3

If you're anything like me then you'll love to experiment with new makeup. Each month I get the opportunity to try quite a lot of new makeup and it's always really fun to choose some of my favourite new discoveries to share with you. So today I've gathered together four new makeup products that I've been trying out this month and shared my thoughts on each of them. 

Docteur Renaud Apricot BB Eyes* | rrp £14.50

I'm always looking for natural beauty products that I can swap into my everyday makeup routine. Docteur Rendaud's Apricot BB Eyes is a colour correcting product that helps disguise the appearance of undereye circles. It only comes in one "universal" shade which is a light, slightly peachy-pink shade. It has a very thick consistency that makes it a little bit difficult to blend if you draw it straight onto your undereye area. I prefer to draw some on one of my fingers, rub two of my fingers together to warm up the product and then I pat it onto my skin. I find that the heat from my fingers really helps to make the product more blendable. It does a good job of colour correcting and really changes the appearance of my under eyes, but it isn't a straight up concealer so I'd definitely couple this with a light concealer for maximum coverage. However, if you have very dark, blue or purple toned bags under your eyes then this will definitely make a noticeable improvement. Docteur Renaud's BB Eye Cream isn't available online, but can be ordered from Skin Evolution by calling this number: 01452 864574

Glo & Ray Fumo Silky Eyebrow Pencil* | rrp £5.50

I started using Glo & Ray's Eyebrow Pencil in the shade Terra Brown earlier this month and it has pretty much been love at first application. It marries together so many good qualities - the product itself is really pigmented but when you apply it gently it creates really natural looking hair-like strokes. Once you've applied it, the product sets down and then doesn't budge throughout the day. For the price I really don't think you could find a better brow pencil!

Claudia Louch Compact Pressed Powder* | rrp £52.50

This pressed powder from Claudia Louch is one of those products that I didn't know I needed but now I've tried it I just couldn't go back! It's a talc-free powder that's pigmented enough that you can actually use it as a mineral foundation. The powder is incredibly finely milled and just glides onto the skin leaving behind a matte base. It doesn't give very high coverage, but it does create a more even and smooth canvas upon which you can apply other products. Personally, I'm not a massive fan of mineral foundations so I like using this powder to add extra coverage to specific areas of my face. It works really well to set your undereye concealer and add a little bit of brightening coverage. I also like using it across my t-zone as it not only mattifies but also helps to blur the appearance of my pores and imperfections. It's definitely an expensive investment, but if you're a fan of powder foundations or are looking for a really high-quality talc-free powder then this is definitely a good option to consider.

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Pale Pink* | rrp £17.50

I featured Bobbi Brown's Pot Rouge in Pale Pink in a post earlier this month but I promised that I'd show what it looks like when used on my lips. As you can see in my photos below, it's a really pretty and wearable everyday shade and because the formula is so creamy it works really well on the lips. It doesn't last for ages and ages but because there's a big mirror inside the lid it's really easy to reapply - and it doubles up as a handy compact mirror.

What new makeup have you tried this month?

International Giveaway: L'Oreal Color Riche Lipsticks

Today's an exciting day because I've got an International Beauty Giveaway to share with you. I've picked a selection of shades L'Oreal's new Color Riche Lipsticks in a range of shades that I hope will suit anyone who wins. I'll be giving away seven L'Oreal Color Riche Lipsticks to one lucky winner, so whoever wins will have a new lipstick for every day of the week!

The shades I'll be giving away are:

(pictured left to right in all my photos)

Androgyne (130)

Flamingo Elegance (136)

VIP (228)

16 Place Vendome (364)

Fuchsia Declaration (431)

Erotique (640)

Oud Obsession (703)


There will also be a second prize which I will be giving away on my twitter page - this is also an international competition. All you have to do to enter the compeition (which will run for the same duration as the rafflecopter competition below) is to invent your own unique, new lipstick name and tweet it to me at @OneLittleVice with the hashtags #NameMyLipstick and #Bbloggers- for example "I'd #NameMyLipstick {enter your unique, new lipstick name} @OneLittleVice #bbloggers". I'd also really like it if you could tell why you chose your final lipstick name. I'm looking for witty or elegant names - but I'm especially looking for memorable ones!

I'll be sharing some of my favourite entries and I'll pick a final winner once the competition closes. This person will win a brand new makeup bag containing some secret beauty treats, including at least one Color Riche Lipstick.

To enter this giveaway all you have to do is follow the instructions in the rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway