Obsessed (Mariah Opi Mini Set)

 I seem to be gathering quite a collection of these Opi minis and I have been waiting for the release of this one for a while. I am and have never been a fan of Mariah,don't get me wrong I like a few of her songs but I am by no means a fangirl (ugh).

Credit

 I don't really know what to make of her to be honest but if she really had anything to do with this collection then I could see myself becoming a fan.When I intially saw the colours I didn't really associate them with with Mariah. I expected Pinks, Purples and where are the butterflies and rainbows?. As for Liquid Sand? its basically matte glitter which doesn't sound as exciting. I love the choice of colours, with these sets there is usually at least one dud shade or a bottle of Opi rapid dry that is not appreciated.

From L-R

Stay the Night (Matte black with red glitter)3.75ml

The Impossible (Matte Fuschia)3.75ml

Can't Let Go (Matte Purple)3.75ml

 Get your Number (Matte Blue) 3.75ml

I have had a look at the rest of the collection and have my eye on A Butterfly Moment, Pink yet Lavender & Sprung. I may or may not have already purcahsed these!

I purchased my set from Ebay. The seller is linked here

What do you think of this collection? What is your favourite shade?

Favourite Products of 2012 (15 days late...)

C/O: www.anuneducatedpalate.com

Happy New Year!! 

This post has taken me ages to do not just because there were so many products but because Blogger lost my first attempt(not cool). That aside this 2012 has signalled a move back to high street make up which was a big step for me and an introduction to French pharmacies. I have been very strict with this list and have managed to get it down to products that I have been using pretty much everyday. I have included a mixture of make up, skincare and nail care products. Enjoy!!

Simple Moisture Boost

I never really got to grips with the whole facial sprays especially the Claudalie hype. For a long time I couldnt even understand what I was supposed to be doing with the stuff. The only time I ever spray my face is on the beach. That aside, I trialled a few but this was the one that had me repurcahsing. I am not really a Simple user (my mum swears by the stuff) I like bells and whistles and I'm afraind to say fragrance with my skincare. This is a great little spray. It releases a fine mist and doesn't irritate my eyes or skin. I find this a God send in winter and tend to spray it on twice (I let the first lot sink in and then re apply) and follow with my moisturiser. You don't get as much product as with other brands but this is decidedly cheaper and much more readily avaliable.  

Monu Moisture Rich Collagen Cream

I did a review on this recently so won't babble on too much but this is just a great moisturiser. Its light, moisturising and smells gorgeous. Buy it!!!! Review here

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in Shade 53

 It was going to be a cold day in hell before I gave up high end foundations but after years of being let down and despairing at having another break out from another Mac foundation I was on the prowl. This foundation had great reviews and was on a 3 for 2 so was rude not to really. I have found this a God send for a start it matches my skin perfectly which many high street brands and high end had failed to do. I find this is light but buildable; had great staying power 8+ hours on my dry skin, doesn't transfer a much as other brands and gives a nice semi-matte finish which I think is very natural. Of all of Bourjois recent foundation offering this is by far the best. Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer I know it could be considered lazy to use a concealer from the same brand as your foundation but this is a real winner.I'm a bit of a concealer nut and did not expect to fall in love with a high street concealer. I find some concealers are better for certain tasks, this is great for concealing any blemishes and/or scars. This typically lasts me the whole day and doesn't crease or dry out like some. I am very fond if the liquid to almost powder finish I am left with.

Models own in "Hedonist"

I had never used Models Own up until 2012 but thanks to some great deals by Boots I have well and truly stockled up. This is probably my go to colour of all I have purchased. I pretty much wore this all summer. I like that it dries matte, if i need a bit of shine I layer with a topcoat of Seche Vite. I find I get about 5 days wear out of this which is pretty good. Just writing about this makes me want to put it on. 

Seche Vite C/O www.screenface.co.uk

 I was never really bothered painting my nails properly until I got this as I could never get the drying part right. Nail dryers, sprays, hairdryer (the shame) all failed me. I still however, managed to aquire quite a collection of nail varnishes despite this and a number of top coats that claimed to be "quick drying". All paled in comaprison to this beauty. Review here (Cringe).

  

Sleek Brow Kit in Light (Excuse the state of it, it's well loved!)

I have dabbled in using eyshadow on my brows but never found the right match. This little kit does the job. I can't compare it to any of the high end versions as I haven't tried them but this definetly stumps the high street versions. With this kit you have one powder and one coloured wax. I bought the kit in light but I still think it is pretty dark so if you are blonde then I wouldn't recommend this. The product comes with two brushes which I didn't throw away for once (getting really good at this high street makeup lark). I tend to apply the wpoder first and then apply the wax (very sparingly) as it has a tendency to darken the brows further. I have tried to use pencils after this but really don't get the same effect.  

Body Shop Grapefruit Body Butter

I loved The Body shop as a child/teeneager but we fell out of love. Since I reintroduced myself to the brand it has changed so much . These body butters aren't new and have been around for ages! There has been an update of the range, since my BodyShop days and I love this Grapefruit body butter. I love the citrusy smell which is not too cloying and lasts most of the day. The texture of this butter is spot on, very often we are fobbed off with lotions packaged in tubs. This keeps my skin moisturised for the whole day, which is no mean feat with super dry skin. A must buy.  

Clarins Treatment Fragrance in "Eau des Jardins"

 I have reviewed this already but this had to be mentioned. I have had to force myself to ration this as I was becoming obsessed with it, spraying it at every chance I got. Surprisingly there is about a quarter left. Time for a top up me thnks. Review here

Clinique Chubby Sticks in Whole Lotta Honey & Whoppin Watermelon (I did try to find my other colours but Sod's law they could not be found!)

These never left my handbag over the summer, they are a dream! I am not really a lip product person, yes I will purchase them but it's very rare that I finish a whole lip product. What I loved most about the Chubby sticks is the practicality of them. One of the reasons I don't reapply lipsticks, glosses etc is because you need a mirror and a steady hand which are not always avaliable. This isn't the case here. I love the variety of colours and of course since their initial release Clinique have introduced Chubby Sticks Intense which are much more pigmented. If you want a moisturing, sheer lip colour for when you're on the go I would recommend these.

 I hope you have enjoyed perusing my fave products of 2012. I can't wait to see what 2013 has to offer! 

MONU

This was from the Earth day Glossybox which imo was the best box they ever produced. I had never heard of this brand and so was a bit dubious and if I'm honest didn't expect much.Apologies about the pics, camera has died :(


What is it? 
An organic cream aimed at those with dry, very dry or dehydrated skin.

What MONU say:
"A rich luxurious cream to relieve dryness and smooth fine lines".

This is definetly a rich cream. I feel it has a balmy texture without being too heavy. It sinks into the skin perfectly and doesn't leave any residue.

What's in it?

• Rose essential oil
• Gerainium essential oil
• Evening Primrose
• Blackcurrant seed oil
• Shea butter
• Sodium hyaluronate 
• Marine collagen
• Plant flavinoids
• Betanes
  

The main ingredients are Rose and Geranium essential oils. I remember reading Rose is good for dry skin so this an excellent addition.  Evening Primrose and Blackcurrant seed oil provide essential fatty acids which are supposed to repair the skins lipids. Shea butter & Sodium Hyaluronate should improve the skins barrier function and marine collagen to should smooth any fine lines. This is also a paraben free product.

How do I use it?
A little goes a long way so I alternate between just using it where I need it or a very light layer over my face. It is recommended that this is used in the morning after cleansing and toning which is exactly what I did.

What I think:
Having used this pretty much everyday since I got it I am so impressed with this moisturiser. I can vouch for it keeping my skin moisturised without leaving any stickiness which you can get with creams that are slightly balmy. This really just sinks in to my skin with ease. I do have some fine lines due to dryness and I have noticed that they have reduced. The flakiness I tend to experience on my nose and around my mouth is not a problem when I wear this although it still helps to exfoiliate.  I have also used this around the eye area which isn't suggested by the product but didn't really affect my sensitive eyes but helped with the dryness in that area. I know a dealbreaker for some people is the smell of the product, this smells of Rose which is very pleasant. The smell isn't too heavy and once it has sunk in you really don't smell it anymore. It's very rare that I repurchase and rarer still if I actively use my repurchases so I must be really impressed! 

The low down:
You can purchase this from MONU website @ £17.50 for 50ml
Its also avaliable on Look Fantastic & Amazon uk

 

Keeping up with a Kardashian.....

This is a Kim Kardashian related post, I don't think you'll see too many more of these on here!
This post was concieved when I was searching through some broken/unloved handbags and came across a very old tube of NARS Turkish Delight lipgloss.I originally purchased this in the early days of KUWTK. I had read in numerous places that this along with MAC Angel (Which I also purchased) was Kim K's go to lip colour. I don't know if I was under the illusion that I was ever going to look anything like her (early days that is) but I was damn well going to try and off I trounced to Selfridges.

What is it?
A pink, milky blue toned lipgloss.

What NARS say?
 Described as "Pink Sherbert" this gloss is said to be:
"Ultra-smooth, non-sticky, comfortable wear" 

What's in it? 
Vitamin E to keep lips soft.

How do you use it?
Turkish Delight comes with it a doe foot applicator. It can be worn alone or is commonly paired with MAC Angel.

What I think?
This as with all Nars glosses has a lovely consistency. Turkish delight is quite creamy and has quite pigmented. I get about 3 hours from one application. Sounds promising but personally, the colour on me personally is a major fail. I find this colour washes me out way too much (MAC NC30/35 for reference). This would be idealwith a tan or for those with a much darker skintone.It looks marginally better when paired with the Angel lipstick but that is also from a similar colour palette so again doesn't help. If you love these kind of shades I would urge you to try this because it is a gorgeous colour and I cannot bring myself to get rid of it. I would say don't be too generous with your application as it is very rich so has a tendency to gather between the lips.

The Lowdown:
Turkish Delight is avaliable from NARS priced at £17.50

For those of you who love the colour but feel that this is a little pricey, I did a little research and have found Dollface gloss  by Tarte which seems to be the closest match I could find. The link is to the website which is American.

What do you think of this gloss?

Yes Nurse hand cream

This was a feature in the Earth day Glossybox, I didn't get one in my box but had seen this in a few other peoples boxes.

What is it?
Yes Nurse is a hand moisturiser designed for Nurses and those with dry/cracked hands.

"Yes! Nurse was co-founded by a young paediatric nurse at the beginning of 2009. Having been signed of work with dry, cracked and sore hands, she noticed that many of her colleagues were suffering in the same way. Trying numerous hand creams with little or no effect she decided to research and develop a unique formula that actually worked".



What do Yes Nurse say about it?

• Non-Greasy
• Super Hydrating Formula
• Protects against hand washing

 Whats in it?

• Active Manuka Honey +15 
• Pomegranate Seed Oil
• Aloe vera 
• Wheat Germ Oil
• Passion fruit seed oil
• Sweet almond oil
• White willow bark extract 
• Vitamin B5
• Vitamin E

How do you use it?
You are advised to apply it 3 times a day (it says per shift but obviously if you are not a nurse this won't apply)

• You would apply in say in the morning and it acts as a barrier (Before shift)
• I would probably touch up at lunch time which is known as maintenance (Break time)
• Then in the evening or before bed which aids soothing and healing (After shift)

My thoughts:I suffer terribly with dry skin on my hands. I am a constant hand washer so you imagine my skin is depleted of all natural moisture. I hadn't been having much luck with hand creams at the time I purchased this and so by time I got this I was desperate. Most creams will leave my skin feeling moisturised and then after 30mins the dryness startes to come back. Prior to using this I had some visibly cracked skin and after 1 days application it was about 80% healed & this is no exaggeration.What I love about this is that you dont have to apply it every time you wash your hands. Even just using this once a day does alot more than most other hand creams. The texture is slightly thicker than most creams but not at all balmy. There is no residue and skin has a light sheen afterwards and generally feels soft. It has a gorgeous smell, mainly of honey. The packaging was very cute and I loved the personal (hand written) message I received which was a nice touch.

This is a really good product and I can honestly say I will definitely repurchase.
 
The Lowdown:
You can purchase Yes Nurse from Victoria Health or  Goodies For Nurses
You can also purcahse from the Yes Nurse website as a one off purchase or as a subscriber.

• One off price £5.49
• Subscription £4.99 or £3.63 if you refer a friend (bottles delivered monthly or bi-monthly)

Would you use Yes Nurse?What do you use for dry skin?

Victoria's Secret coconut passion Fragrance mist

This was a bit of an unexpected love for me as I'm not too interested in Victoria's secrets as a brand and because I haven't used a body mist since secondary school which, for those of you that are interested  interested was 12 years ago. I always thought mists were a bit dated anyway, a few months back my local PAKS (hair and beauty shop) started to stock these VS mists I decided to give into the hype. I think I was in one of my "I need to buy something stat!" moods and just randomly picked up this scent on the basis that I love coconut and vanilla. I'm so glad that I did as it smells amazing and lasts a surprisingly long time.  This pretty much smells as its supposed to (coconut and vanilla) I'm not great at describing smells! I have had a lot of people complement me when I'm wearing this which is always nice. This would be ideal for a holiday instead of using perfume.

I paid around £7 for this, I have seen it on Amazon for the same price (£5 for p&p!), ebay (various prices)  pretty sure these will be available in VS shops. There are also perfumes  and body lotions available with this scent that I will be trying out!!!

Be warned not all fragrances are nice. I had the misfortune of picking up the Apple blossom and ylang ylang mist. Definetly not a mist have (ha.sorry)

What do you think of VS body mists?

                      Monday's Child

Clarins Eau des jardins

This was a love affair that almost never was...

I received this as part of a gift set for Christmas that was never opened and remained in my office draw for 6 months. Sacrilege, I hear you cry but I have good reason. Clarins has always been a brand that has confused me. None of the products have ever really appealed to me. One of the brands most popular products (Flash beauty balm) really goes over my head so I honestly could never have imagined. I finally dusted this off and realised perfume was involved. A quick spray of this and I was hooked. To me this was like summer in a bottle.

The product is described as a treatment spray which incorporates
essential oils such as wild rose, beech and plant extracts of blackcurrant buds and sorbier (a French fruit). The result to me is a very zesty, slightly fruity smell. This is  supposed to relax, refresh and moisturise the skin. I can't really vouch for any moisturisation claims as my skin doesn't feel any more moisturised then usual but I don't feel really refreshed and strangely relaxed which is an effect I've never felt from a fragrance. In terms of lasting power this is similar to that of Eau d'toilette so doesn't last all day but for a few hours.

When I eventually got this home I  did a little research and found some other treatment sprays including Eau Dynamisante  which I have seen on many occasions and tested. Coincidently its also celebrating its 25th year! I also came across two other fragrances Eau Ressourçante and Sunshine fragrance which is an online exclusive but is not currently available.

Eau des jardins retails at £29.00 for 100ml (loads!) You can purchase it from Clarins beauty counters and the Clarins website.

What do you think of treatment sprays?

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