Bourjois Color Boost Glossy Finish Lipstick in Plum Russian Review

The Hype
Bourjois Color Boost is a lip crayon with a difference. It has a melting formula that leaves lips moisturised whilst adding a subtle veil of colour.

The crayon has silk extract for added comfort whilst the hydration keeps lips moisturised for up to 10 hours.

There are 9 shades available to try, and they all have SPF 15 to avoid unnecessary sunburns to your lips. Shades vary from a baby pink to a dark brown and there is bound to be a colour that you like.

The Lowdown
For the purpose of the review I am testing Bourjois Color Boost in Plum Russian. I got this shade free as part of a offer on Boots but I did like the shade. It's a dark maroon colour that is quite different to my normal red. It has a really lovely smell, almost cherry vanilla like.

The product is very moisturising and applied really smoothly with no resistance at all. I did feel the colour transfer was very limited though and it gave me the impression that it is more of a lip balm than a lipstick. My lips felt really moisturised and were really glossy.

I was expecting more of a colour impact so I was disappointed in that aspect but it makes lips feel soft and so moisturised. If you tend to have chapped lips a lot then you will love this product as it makes your lips feel so comfortable.

I give it 3/5

Get it for £7.99 here 

Advantages

• Available in 9 shades with a tone that is suitable for most tastes
• Gorgeous smell
• Leaves lips feeling and looking really moisturised
• Really easy to apply and glides on with ease

Disadvantages

• I am disappointed with the overall colour transfer as I was expecting a stronger colour

What is strobing?

You may have heard on the beauty grapevine of the new trend that is all the rage, strobing. It may have got you wondering, what is strobing?

Strobing is quite simply a fancy term for highlighting. Unlike contouring, strobing is a lot easier to master and will give you a shimmery, more youthful glow. The idea is to get a dewy complexion by 'strobing' your skin.

So how do you achieve it?

1. First you'll want to use a really good hydrating moisturiser to rid your skin of any dry patches.

2. Use a highlighter shade that matches your skin tone. You'll want a shade that complements your skin for a subtle shimmer.

• If you have fair skin opt for champagne tones
• If your skin is light-medium pink champagne will suit you
• Olive skin suits golden toned highlighters
• Dark skin benefit from terracotta tones

3. Use your highlighter on spots that would normally catch the light, these include your cheekbones, your nose, below your brow, in the corners of your eyes and your cupid's bow. By only highlighting these areas you will enhance your natural features without looking like a ridiculous glitter ball. Everyone knows that's not a good look. If your have oily patches such as your forehead avoid applying highlighter as you don't need added shine.

4. Once you've applied your highlighter blend it out with a fan brush, your fingers or a damp makeup sponge so you don't have any harsh lines or obvious blobs of product showing.

5. For those with oily skin try to keep the rest of your products as matte as possible. Use a matte foundation, bronzer and blush so it's only the highlighter adding extra shine. If you have any spots or blemishes don't highlight that area as it will become very noticeable.

Do you ladies highlight much? I love the glow highlighting can give, it really makes you look so much healthier. What do you think?

My Three Favourite Beauty Products

This month I've been trying a few new products, and a few old favourites and there's a few that have really taken my fancy.

L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Foundation
True Match is one of the newer foundations from L'Oreal that uses Micro Match Technology which works with your skin shade and undertone to create a accurate skin match. It has a very slight shimmer which gives your skin a subtle glow without looking like you've plastered a load of glitter all over your face. I like the coverage it gives me which isn't too heavy but it does work well in concealing most of my blemishes. It contains SPF 17 so you have some coverage when you're out and about. I love how it's really natural yet makes me look really healthy with a subtle inner glow.

Available for £9.99 at Boots 

Makeup Revolution Hidden  Lights Highlighter
I simply love this highlighter, it produces the most gorgeous glow. I got this as part of the Makeup Revolution advent calendar but I do think they have a alternative on sale at the moment. The highlighter has a gold base and produces a really shimmery effect as soon as it's applied. The highlighter is velvety soft to the touch and sweeps on really easily. I mainly use it on my cheekbones but you can also use it under the brow bone to draw attention to your eyes.

Closest you can get is Golden Lights at Superdrug for £3.00 

Maybelline Color Drama in Fab Orange
Despite the name this lip crayon is actually more of a strong red shade. As you know I love strong red lip colours and this one really ticks all the boxes. It has quite a creamy consistency and has only the slightest resistance when I apply it. It feels really moisturising which I love and the colour transfer is fantastic.

Available for £4.99 at Boots 

My Skincare Routine

Since I was fairly young my skincare routine has always been quite important to me. I have always had quite good skin (lucky I guess!) but I do still get redness and the odd spot so value the importance of using the right products.

My skin tends to be normal in pretty much all areas apart from my t-zone which is oilier. Over the years I have developed a routine which works and I tend to stick to it pretty religiously, although I do try different products.

For 4 days of the week I use Nivea Daily Essentials foaming cleanser which gives my skin a good wash and helps to clear dead skin cells sitting on the surface, oil, dirt and makeup residues.

On the remaining 3 days I use Nspa Grapefruit Raspberry face scrub to exfoliate my skin and remove the dead skin cells. I found this brand in Asda and absolutely love them. They smell amazing and my skin feels really soft after use. They have a wide range of reasonably priced products including body wash and moisturisers. I highly recommend you take a look at the products and see what takes your fancy.

In the morning I moisturise with L'Occitane Ultra Gentle Moisturiser. This gets my skin prepped for my makeup base and leaves my skin soft and smooth.

At night I have started to use The Body Shop Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask. The mask is quite unusual in that it literally bounces back after you have used some of the cream. The cream does feel a little bit sticky when I rub it into my skin but that disappears after a while. I'm hoping it will really help reverse the fine lines on my face!

Do you like to keep a regular skincare routine? Let me know in the comments below what you use to keep your skin blemish free.

Sheer Cover Studio Deluxe Kit Spring Time Tutorial and Review

Sheer Cover is a mineral based cosmetic that has been designed to get amazing coverage without feeling too heavy.

Worn by ambassadors like Brooke Burke-Charvet the brand is so advanced it has the ability to hide complex blemishes like large strawberry birthmarks or scars. Coverage is maintained whilst still looking as natural as possible.

With no oils, fragrances or preservatives the range is very natural with 100% mineral content and is perfect if you have sensitive skin.

I was approached by a PR to try the new Sheer Cover Studio which for comes with 9 fabulous products. You get five of the products as the core kit (foundation, concealer trio, bronzing minerals, lengthening mascara, lash extending fibres) plus the primer and the nourishing moisturiser. There are also three free gifts including the sophisticate palette, foundation and concealer brush.

• Perfect Shade Mineral Foundation (core)
• Conceal and Brighten Trio (core)
• Lengthening Mascara and Lash extending fibres (core)
• Sun kissed bronzing minerals (core)
• Sheer Cover studio makeup brushes (free gift)
• Sheer Cover Nourishing moisturiser (extra)
• Sheer Cover Base Perfector Primer (extra)
• Sheer Cover Sophisticate Palette (free gift) 

Whilst I don't have any major blemishes I do have quite a uneven skin tone due to dark circles. I tend to opt for High street brands normally so it will be interesting to see if this more expensive range gives me a different look.

With the set I will create a basic Springtime look. Watch on to see how the products performed and my final look.

You can get the 7 piece (plus free gifts) full size VIP kit at Sheer Cover for £89.97 (RRP £119.97). You don't have to pay it all in one go and can pay in three installments of £29.99.

Do let me know what you thought of my look and whether you think you will try Sheer Cover Studio.

Time Out Body Cream and Washbag review and competition

Storyhorse is a delightful clothing, accessories and beauty company based in Belfast.

With colourful knits and funky umbrellas they have a unique product that is suitable for every taste.

To introduce the brand I am reviewing Story Horse Time Out Body cream. The body cream is infused with a Sweet Almond oil that gives the skin a deep moisturising.

On the first use the body cream took many, many pumps to get the product to reach the nozzle. This was slightly annoying but I persevered. The cream is quite thin and took a little while to rub into the skin. Afterwards my skin felt slightly sticky but it was moisturised. It has a very strong perfume scent that is very sweet but quite nice, and the almond is very faint. The bottle has a cute nature design on a silver bottle, although this kind of packaging does have the disadvantage of not knowing how much is left. At £20.00 it's a bit expensive so it may be something you buy as more of a treat.

Time Out Body cream is a lovely little product that will your skin moisturised (albeit slightly sticky) and smelling great. Good if you want to splurge.

Get it for £20.00 here

I give it 3/5

Advantages

• Strong but nice perfumed scent that you don't get with a lot of body creams
• Skin is moisturised

Disadvantages

• A bit expensive
• Leaves skin feeling slightly sticky 
• Took a while to rub into the skin

Want the chance to try Story Horse Time Out Body Cream without buying it? Glitz and Glamour Makeup has teamed up with Story Horse to give you the opportunity to win the body cream and a gorgeous washbag. To enter you simply need to follow the Rafflecopter instructions. Some options are mandatory and if you don't complete these but say you have you won't be entered. The competition will run from 22nd February 2016 to 22nd March 2016 and will start and close at 12am. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nail of the day: Barry M Gelly Hi Shine in Sky Blue

Today I have tested another nail varnish from the Barry M Gelly Hi Shine range in Sky Blue. For some reason I had a bit of a struggle with this varnish as it kept bubbling and I had to redo it a lot (highly annoying). It is however a gorgeous baby blue shade that has a delightful shine. Check out Barry M Gelly Hi Shine in Fondant and Grapefruit.

Get Fit with UFit: Win a UFit Power Pack

For many people losing weight was high on the list of New Year resolutions.

Dieting however can be a struggle, especially with temptation all around you. There are many diet aids out there such as Weight Watchers or Slimming World but they don't suit everyone. Another option to consider is UFit, a protein shake that has added fibre, vitamins and mineral with no added sugar. Instead of your usual crisps or chocolate bar supplement them for the UFit shakes and you'll soon see the pounds falling off.

Glitz and Glamour Makeup has teamed up with UFit to offer 3 lucky winners a #UFit power package to help with your dieting.

Each package is full to the brim with treats including:

• Energy packed food
• UFit shakes
• Happy egg co eggs
• Bounce balls
• Nike wristbands
• Karrimor running bottle
• Lonsdale leather skipping rope

So what are you waiting for? Get entering!

Terms and conditions
The competition will run from 19th February 2016 to 19th March 2016 starting and finishing at 12am. To enter please follow the rafflecopter instructions. Certain entries are mandatory and are required to enter. If you say you have but haven't you will be disqualified. Good luck.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winter clothing and beauty haul | Quiz | Debenhams

I don't know about you but recently I've come to really love Quiz and their gorgeous dresses and tops. I like stylish clothing that has a pretty touch to it and they really tick all the boxes. I found some great buys in a sale recently along with some other bits from Debenhams.

Have a look at what I bought and let me know what you think! Did you find any fabulous finds in the sale?

Barry M Make Me Blush in Rhubarb Crumble review

The Hype
Give yourself the ultimate rosy glow with Barry M Make Me Blush cream. The cream blushers have delightful fresh colours that are packed full of Vitamin C. Infused with Jojoba oil and Shea Butter it glides on to give a beautiful even coverage.

Available in three shades Peach Melba, Rhubarb Crumble and Raspberry Charlotte these fruity blushers are almost good enough to eat (although I wouldn't recommend it)

The Lowdown
Cream blushers are great when they give just the perfect amount of colour without being too strong or light. I tried a few recently that really disappointed me (Maybelline Baby Blush and Sleek blush) so I was hoping this would work better. For the purpose of the review I am testing Rhubarb Crumble.

The blush is really creamy and only took a short time to fully rub into my skin. I did have to apply a few layers of the blush as a small amount only gives a really light colour application. The colour is really buildable and I soon got the rosy glow I was looking for. It isn't heavy and looks really natural, the best bit is you don't get any of that nasty colour residue by your hairline.

Rhubarb Crumble is a lovely natural shade that gives the perfect natural rosy glow.

I give it 4/5

Available for £4.49 at Boots 

Advantages

• The colour is buildable so you can get the finish you want
• Comes in three shades
• Has a light rosy glow
• Isn't heavy

Disadvantages

• None that I can see

Get beautiful clear skin with Zuzka Cocoa Spa Cleanser

The Hype
Get your skin looking and smelling good enough to eat with Zuzka Cocoa Spa range. The unique products incorporate key ingredients such as cocoa, coffee bean and vanilla pod for an uplifting feel good sensation.

The key ingredient of chocolate is important as it has a high mineral and antioxidant content that can help get to the base layers of your skin to plump and firm its appearance. It can revitalise a dull appearance and give it a warm inner radiance. The vanilla pod helps to prevent moisture loss by providing a skin protecting barrier. Coffee is a fantastic ingredient often utilised in skincare product that can help restore your skin's natural youth by encouraging lymph drainage which can cause skin to swell.

Included in the range are:

• Organic chocolate cleansing cream
• Vanilla and orange flower facial spritz
• Organic orange and vanilla pod exfoliating gel
• Organic chocolate therapy revitalising mask
• Espresso concentrated serum
• Organic white chocolate revitalising cream

The Lowdown
For the purpose of the review I am testing the organic chocolate cleansing cream. I'm a huge fan of chocolate and I was super excited to be offered the chance to try this product. The delightful chocolate scented cream is perfect for cleansing skin and melting away makeup and impurities.  Not only does it smell great but the chocolate aroma encourages your brain to release feel good hormones. The ingredient list is fairly basic and the components all seem quite natural which is good considering its designed to rid your skin of impurities.

The cleanser had a really thick creamy consistency that went on really easy. The smell was simply amazing and it certainly doesn't disappoint, it's like rubbing your face in liquid chocolate. I massaged it into my skin and the makeup simply melted away without any resistance. After my skin felt smooth and soft and I still could detect the scent of chocolate.

At £20 the cleanser is quite expensive so I would see it as more of a luxury me time treatment product rather than a everyday product. However it smells amazing, gets rid of makeup really easily, leaves skin soft with a long lasting chocolate scent.

Simply delightful!

I give it 5/5

Buy the cleanser 

Advantages

• The chocolate aroma releases feel good hormones
• Mostly natural ingredients
• Great for some pampering 'me time'
• Smells amazing
• Scent is long lasting
• Leaves skin feeling really soft
• Melts away makeup with ease

Disadvantages

• Quite expensive

Chocolate Indulgence Caramel Brownies

The recipe that follows is not for the faint hearted and is certainly not low in calories but it simply tastes amazing and is too good to miss. The brownie has the perfect combination of egg to chocolate ratio which tickles the palate but does not give you the sickly sweet chocolate overload that a lot of brownies can give.

Firstly preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4.

£10 Makeup Challenge | Budget Beauty Makeup Tutorial

Lets face it makeup can be expensive and when you have more important stuff to pay for it can take a back seat. It is possible however to create a nice look for just £10. I'm not pulling your leg, it really is possible.

Last year Poundland launched Makeup Gallery, a fabulous range of beauty products for only £1 each. Watch on to see the kind of look I managed to create with their products.

Get your smile up to 3 shades whiter with Colgate Max white Expert White Toothbrush and whitening pen

The Hype
Transform your smile with the brand Colgate Max White Expert White Toothbrush and whitening pen.

The brand new product has been developed with a clinically proven system that utilises peroxide to get your teeth up to 3 shades whiter.

Whilst there are many whitening products on the market, very few actually use peroxide which can limit the effectiveness and longevity of the results.

The Lowdown
When a PR company approached me about this brand new tooth whitening product I was keen. I was also a little bit surprised to see it actually contained peroxide as it is often only used by dentists. The whitening pen comes with a toothbrush which has a secret little compartment in which you can store the pen. I thought that little aspect was pretty awesome and you certainly won't lose it.

The system is really easy to use, you simply brush your teeth with the toothbrush, turn the knob to apply the pen and then put the pen inside the brush. I found storing the pen in the brush a bit fiddly and it doesn't fit in snugly like I had imagined it would. Instead it looks about a mile long and you'll have trouble storing it comfortably in your bathroom cupboard.

For best results you should apply the pen morning and evening for 3 weeks until the pen is empty. After one use my teeth do actually seem a lot brighter so I'm quite impressed and looking forward to the end results.

Over the next three weeks I will be recording my result every morning and I will post the final review in three weeks time. Don't forget to come back to see if I get a whiter smile.

Wow Beauty goody bag contents revealed!

Everyone at the Wow beauty event (read more about the event here) got to go away with a little goody bag. Inside were some fabulous products including some gorgeous looking makeup that I'm super excited to try.

1. Vita Coco natural coconut water
A natural coconut water for those that want to stay healthy. Not really my cup of tea as I like my drinks to be a little more unhealthy.

2. Wow Beauty cupcake
If you read my review of the event, you'll note that I thought the cupcakes were delicious! They tasted so fresh and the consistency of the cake was perfect.

3. Fashion Fair lip teaser Chocolate Raspberry
I love the vibrancy of this shade it is just the perfect shade of vivacious pink. The lip gloss does look great but has a rather odd smell.

4. Fashion Fair lip liner in Chocolate Raspberry
Another part of the set is the lip liner which is a rich raspberry shade. The colour is strong and has good staying power.

5. Fashion Fair lipstick in Chocolate Raspberry
The final part of the set is the lipstick which has the same gorgeous vibrant raspberry shade as the lip gloss. It looks creamy with a buttery consistency and has a pleasant vanilla scent.

6. REN Wake Wonderful Nighttime facial
This REN cream is designed to give skin more radiance. Best used over night so your skin can repair itself.

I love trying new things and it's great that they've included a range of products all in the same shade so that I can use them together. What do you think of the goody bag, do you love the colour of the lip products? Do let me know what you think!

Wow Beauty event review

Wow Beauty was a small but cosy event held at the stylish Charlotte Hotel. The event was very much about celebrating a womans inner beauty which people often conceal.

It was hosted by Denise Rabor a makeup artist with over 15 years experience who's worked for the likes of Elle and Vanity Fair.

Around the room there were a few brands showcasing the products but the main event was a series of conversational talks between a small panel.

The talks from the panel were quite amusing and it was interesting to hear each speaker's story. I was amazed to hear the ages of some of these women as they looked so young. For example the lady on the second left in the second picture is in her 40s and the lady on the end in the first picture has a son in his 40s. I'd love to know what they've been bathing in!

I was expecting a bit more interaction from the event as it had been implied there were beauty showcases so I was thinking nails, makeup artists etc. It could have benefitted from that but as a small event it probably didn't fit. I went away with a nice goody bag the contents of which you can see here!

I must say the cakes were delicious and that's always a important factor in any event!

Valentines Day Tutorial

With Valentine's day coming up you  may be busy planning your outfit and what makeup you're going to wear. Finding a way to stand out on Valentine's day can be hard, especially if you don't normally experiment that much.

In this video I'll give you a simple feminine look to follow that will make your man (or woman) whisper sweet nothings all night long.

Do let me know what you thought and subscribe to my Youtube if you want to see more! :)

Win Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette

It was released just a few months ago and is already a cult hit.

The Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette  was influenced by the music icon herself and incorporates a insane range of neutral and jewel tones.Each shade in the palette was inspired by Gwen's own life and is perfect for recreating some of her most famous looks.

In addition to the amazing palette you will also win a sample of the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani lipsticks. How's that for a prize!

Glitz and Glamour Makeup is giving you the chance to win this amazing palette and all you need to do is follow the Rafflecopter instructions. The competition will run for one month from 8 February 2016 to 8 March 2016 and will start and finish at 12am.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

My weekend in London at K West Spa and hotel

Last weekend me and my mum headed to the K West spa hotel in London for spot of adventure.

The hotel was situated in Shepherds Bush virtually on the doorstep of Westfield shopping centre. A dangerous combination if I ever saw one!





The package did include continental breakfast, a two course dinner and use of the spa. The room was luxurious and had a delightful king size bed. We did ask for two twin beds but a kingsize gave us enough room to still have our personal space. There was a comfy couch and a large bathroom with complimentary bath and hair products.


After checking in we headed to Westfield's for a spot of shopping. I hadn't been to that centre for a number of years so I didn't really remember what shops there were. It had a large number of designer shops but all the typical high street brands too. After a few hours our feet were killing us so we headed back to the hotel to chill before dinner.





There was a set menu included as part of the package which was quite limited. I chose the hamburger with chips which to my surprise was delicious. Often I avoid burgers when I'm out as they don't taste very nice but this one had all the factors needed to make a great burger. Dinner was followed by a selection of two ice creams, strawberry, vanilla and a apple sorbet. The strawberry was so fresh, creamy and fruity and was certainly something to remember.

The next morning after a breakfast of fruit, cereal and toast we headed to the Crime Museum exhibition at The London Museum. The exhibition was very busy which ruined it a bit but was quite interesting.

A varied weekend that  rushed by in a flash. I didn't get to experience the spa but was impressed by the home comforts and styling of the hotel. Not to mention the delicious food.

Osmo Blinding Shine Hair Care Range Review

The  Hype
The Osmo Blinding Shine is a budget friendly range that has been designed to help restore your hairs natural vitality. It has a gentle formula that helps to purify and revitalise hair whilst boosting natural vibrancy and shine. Irritated scalps are soothed by Cedarwood whilst Rosemary helps to add a rich gloss to your hair.

The range has a number of products including:

• Osmo Blinding Shine Shampoo
• Osmo Blinding Shine Conditioner
• Osmo Blinding Shine Serum
• Osmo Blinding Shine Illuminating Finisher
• Osmo Blinding Shine Definer
• Osmo Blinding Shine Conditioner
• Osmo Blinding Shine Illuminating Mask 

The Lowdown
You probably know if you read my blog I'm always on the look out for a product that gives your hair the glossy swish you see in adverts. So when I was approached by a PR company who wanted to send me some new hair products I was really keen to see how they'd perform. For the purpose of the review I tested the shampoo, conditioner and illuminating mask. The products which are often used in salons had a delightful fragranced scent. The packaging was quite girly but didn't overly stand out. Whilst they can be used seperately ideally the products should be used together in a sequence. The shampoo applied amazingly well and lathered up almost instantly. I followed this with the concealer and finally the moisturising mask. I didn't use any extra products when drying and styling my hair. The finished look was smooth and easy to manage with healthy looking shine.

A nice range of products that will leave your hair easy to manage with natural shine.

I give the range 4/5

Get the products here

Advantages

• Gorgeous fragrance
• Leaves hair easy to manage
• Natural shine
• Hair looks healthier

Disadvantages

• I wouldn't say you get blinding shine

Get personalised gifts this Valentine's day with Sabon

This Valentine's day Sabon have released a super cute valentines day range 'Love Beyond Words.

For the first time ever the Sabon Valentines day range will have a personal touch with gifts carrying messages like 'Always in my Heart', 'Dreams do Come True', 'My One and Only and 'Be My Valentine'.

Sabon has stayed true to its roots and included a number of key products in the range including its signature Body Scrub, Silky body milk and Lipgloss. Each product has a rich indulgent fragrance such as refreshing Apple and Lavender which is perfect for giving you the feel good feeling.

The Lowdown

Too Delightful is a set of three hand creams that are part of the Love Beyond Words range. They come in a small but cute box which has gold edging and a unique pattern on the side. Inside are three butter hand creams each uniquely scented with Delicate Jasmine, Lavender Apple and Patchouli Lavender Vanilla. They look very posh and a lot more expensive than they are. The hand creams are quite dainty and I simply love the patterns as they are all different and signatory of that scent.

The skin on my hands is suffering thanks to the contrast in temperatures and is calling out for some moisture. I probably should use hand cream more often but I'm quite lazy so I can go a while without rubbing cream in (whoops). The cream is very rich and took a little while to rub in but once it had absorbed my skin felt really smooth and there was no greasiness.

Delicate Jasmine is a very gentle subtle scent whilst Lavender Apple is very strong with a strong kick of lavender. Patchouli lavender has strong vanilla notes but I feel it is overpowered again by the lavender. My favourite would have to be Delicate Jasmine as I prefer the light airy scent.

This is a adorable set that would make the perfect gift for Valentine's day. It has a premium look, makes your skin feel great and is budget friendly too.

I give it 4/5

You can buy the range here

Advantages

• Rich fragrances
• Looks more expensive then it is
• Leaves skin feeling really moisturised and soft

Disadvantages

• Very hard to find