One-Sweep Shadows, Part 2: Something Different

Hello all!

Yesterday I did a post about one-sweep shadows - shadows that you can just sweep across your lid and go - in hues of brown and beige. I know when I reach for something early in the morning on those days where I don't have time to play around with much makeup, I usually pick up the same taupey-brown shades. But sometimes I get bored with the same-old same-old, so I also have a few shades in my rotation that look great on their own as all-over colour but also add a bit of variety to the lazy morning makeup routine.

Bottom to Top: Nougat, Stash, Pétale De Glace, Knight Divine

1. B. Cosmetics B. Vivid Eyeshadow in Nougat (£4.99): This olive-gold is an extremely subtle eyeshadow that looks beautiful if you're going for a bold lip. The above swatch is quite heavy-handed, so know that you can sheer this one out or build it up as you so desire. The B. line is exclusive to Superdrug and has lots of other great nude and earth-tone shades that would work well as one-sweep shadows . 

2. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Stash (£15.00/C$24.00/US$20.00): So I cheated a bit on this one, because it's not actually an eyeshadow but an eyeliner. However, I love colouring my eyelids with this gorgeous khaki shimmer and sheering it out for low maintenance and long-lasting colour. Bring it under your eyes and smudge it out to complete the quick and easy look! 

3. Bourjois Colour Edition 24 Hr Eyeshadow in 03 Pétale de Glace (£6.99): For days when you want something soft and feminine, reach for this icy rose cream eyeshadow. It has great staying power and a formula that turns from cream to powder upon contact. The hint of shimmer and colour is an instant eye-brightener.

4. MAC Knight Divine (£12.50/C$17.00/US$14.00): For days where I want a little more drama, I love using a dark grey eyeshadow, sheering it out over my lid then contouring in the crease with a heavier hand. The soft shimmer and blue-toned grey of this shadow make my eyes pop and give some smokiness without taking up the time a smoky eye would.

What colours work for you as one-sweep shadows?

xo hannah  

One-Sweep Shadows, Part 1: Browns & Bronzes

Hello friends!

Some days I like to spend a lot of time on my makeup, playing with different colours and looks. However, on days where I'm destined for a long haul at the library or am strapped for time, I like to use eyeshadows that can be swept over the entire lid so that I can look polished without fiddling about with contouring and blending.

This post will be in two parts: firstly, the browns and bronzes that tend to be the go-to shade for one sweep shadows, and secondly, some colours that may be a bit out of the ordinary but still look amazing.

I have blue eyes, so I find that shimmery browny taupes and bronzes can really make my eyes pop without putting in too much effort. Some of my all-time favourites are the MAC classics - Woodwinked, Satin Taupe, and Mulch to name a few - but they have been blogged about to death, so I've decided to show you a few browns and bronzes that don't always get the air time they deserve!

Bottom to Top: Aubersheen, Koala, On and On Bronze, Antiqued

1. Soap and Glory's Aubersheen (£10.00 for the quad): This shade is part of Soap and Glory's What's Nude quad, which is a great budget option for a quality neutral pallette. This metallic taupey-brown  is a universally flattering shade that looks natural but still adds that dimension to your eyes. The formula is finely-milled, soft, and long-lasting.

2. Fyrinnae's Koala (US$6.25 for full, $2.25 for mini): Described as a "rosy taupe" with a Satin finish, this loose pigment eyeshadow from the indie brand Fyrinnae packs a crazy-good colour payoff with the smallest amount of product. Fyrinnae's eyeshadows are known for having great dimension, and this one is no exception. It almost contours by itself! Grab a mini and try it out...you won't regret it!

3. Maybelline 24 Hour Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze (£4.99/C$8.99/US$6.99): Maybelline Colour Tattoo Cream Eyeshadows have been lauded by just about every beauty blogger in town, and for good reason: they last all day and are beautifully pigmented. On and On Bronze (Bad to the Bronze in North America) is a gorgeous bronze-gold that can be quickly applied with your finger tips and still manages to look fantastic! For the price point, you can't go wrong.

4. MAC Antiqued (£12.50/C$17.00/US$14.00): Antiqued has been in my collection forever, and I will always have this shade on hand because I think it's a stunning choice for blue eyes. It's an orange-toned copper that can be sheered out or packed on for a colour that is vibrant without being too in-your-face. I think this is one of MAC's unsung heroes!

 What browns/bronzes do you reach for on your lazy days?

xo hannah 

Current Haircare Favourites

Greetings!

Today was the first day I've styled my hair in ages...the sun has made me a bit lazy I'm afraid! I got to reacquaint myself with some old friends, as well as my favourite everyday post-wash products. I thought I would give you a rundown on my top five haircare favourites right now.

Up first are my two everyday products which I always pull out of my drawer every time I wash my hair. Herbal Essences Beautiful Ends Split End Protection Cream (£4.79) is a product I've never seen in North America, but something I will definitely have to stock up on before I leave the UK. It is a leave in conditioner that is meant to protect from split ends and breakage. It makes my hair smell like raspberries and leaves it feeling incredibly soft and silky. It also lasts forever, as all you need is one pump to distribute through your hair. I've noticed a difference in the health of my hair since starting to use this product.

My second every day product is the Haus of Gloi Hair Oil in "Imp" (US$12.00). These hand-formulated hair oils from my favourite indie bath and body company contain a mixture of beneficial oils and can be scented with any of the general scents from their catalogue, as well as limited edition and seasonal scents. I usually use about 4 drops and distribute it through the lower half of my hair, paying special attention to my ends. I don't find that this product makes my hair greasy, and I love that I can choose the scents!

I have also chosen three styling products that I don't use every day, but that I often reach for when I am styling my hair. The first is the got2b Beach Matt Mermaid Look Texturizing Salt Spray (£3.99/US$5.99). This salt spray is one of the best I've tried. It gives you beautiful beachy curls and is super easy to use: just spray as much as you want on wet hair, scrunch it, and go. I like that it never makes your hair feel crunchy as some salt sprays do, so you can spray to your heart's content.

Another got2b product that I constantly use whenever I heat style my hair is my got2b Guardian Angel Gloss Finish Flat Iron Balm ( £3.99/U$S5.99). It's called a balm, but it really is a spray that protects up to 425F and smells lovely to boot. I really like the fact that the spray nozzle is designed so that the product doesn't squirt in one stream onto your hair, but comes out in a mist so that you don't miss any areas. Note that the bottle is black in the UK!

Lastly, a recent find that I am totally in love with. Beauty bloggers were raving about the Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce Texturizing Spray (£6.99), so I decided to give it a try. I have brutal luck with "volume" products because I have such bottom heavy hair that gravity just pulls everything down. I also have a super strong middle part that refuses teasing and backcombing efforts. This spray has made all the difference. One spray and a ruffle with my fingers provides instant volume and the promised "backcomb effect" that is listed on the can. It lasts forever as well, so you can keep fluffing your hair throughout the day. Volume challenged girls, this one is for you.

What's in your hair care arsenal these days?

xo hannah

Making Orange Lips Work

Hello friends!

I've been seeing orange lips everywhere lately...it seems as this vibrant hue is the "it colour" of the spring and summer seasons. Obviously, orange is not the easiest (or most practical) colour to pull off...luckily, if you aren't quite brave enough to rock that bright true orange, then orange's little sister coral might be more up your alley, and will still give you the same summery pop of colour!

I've put together a gradient of oranges, starting with a barely there coral to a full-blown orange/red. One is bound to work for you!

Left to Right: Bourjois Rouge Buzz, Too Faced Coral Fire, Body Shop 110 Coral Blush, NYX Peach Cobbler

Bottom to Top: Bourjois Rouge Buzz, Too Faced Coral Fire, Body Shop 110 Coral Blush, NYX Peach Cobbler

For an everyday coral flush: If you're looking for a sweet hint of orange that's appropriate for day time wear, look no further than The Body Shop's Colour Crush Lipstick in 110 Coral Blush (£10.00/C$13.00). This formula applies beautifully, feels hydrating on the lips, has a lovely faint rose scent, and won't break the bank! This leans more orange than pink, unlike some corals. A stunning choice for those who want to dabble in the orange trend without going full-out.

For those looking for a little more oomph: If I'm looking for a juicy, vibrant coral, I immediately go for my Too Faced La Creme Lipstick in "Coral Fire" (£18.00/C$26.00/US$22.00). It reminds me of ripe papayas, and gives an amazing shine and pop of colour. This is my all time favourite lipstick formula...it is astonishingly creamy and glossy.

For those who prefer a gloss: My favourite orangey/coral gloss this season is the beauty blogger favourite, NYX Butter Gloss in "Peach Cobbler."(£5.00/US$5.00) These are non-sticky, emollient glosses with great colour pay off, a yummy candy scent, and a buttery texture. For those who want shine with their colour, I can guarantee the shine factor is off the charts. It's summer in gloss form!

For those who go bold or go home: When I went on a hunt for a true orange - and I did a lot of hunting, I can tell you that - the colour I ultimately chose was Bourjois Rouge Edition Lipstick in 10 "Rouge Buzz" (£7.99). It's dubbed a red-orange, but for me it pulls totally orange, and it's such a gorgeous showstopper! This isn't the creamiest formula, but what you lack in hydration you get back in long-lasting colour. I can't wait to play with this in the summer.

Obsessed with Bourjois' bright orange!

Will you be debuting an orange lip this spring?

xo hannah

How to Fake "Awake"

Hello lovelies!

As classes and early mornings resume, I have been waking up more often than not with tired, red eyes and dark circles. Luckily, I have a few products in my arsenal that work wonders for brightening up the eyes and making you look awake. It's foolproof!

First step: Concealing those dark circles. I've found that concealers that have been developed specifically for the under-eye area work the best, because they are usually formulated in the pinker/peachier tones that counteract darkness. I'm fond of these shades because they look much more natural than my regular concealers, which tend to look too pale and stark around my eyes. My all-time favourite undereye concealer is Pixi Correction Concentrate Concealer in "Brightening Peach," (£12.00/US$12.00) which is a peachy-salmon shade that blends beautifully into the eye area. It's creamy and long lasting, and when finished off with a swipe of translucent powder, doesn't crease. Another product that I've been getting a lot of use out of is the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Highlighting Pen in "2-Medium" (£8.49) Following in the footsteps of the cult favourite YSL Touche Éclat, this highlighting pen doesn't cover up as much as brighten, instantly opening your eyes when blended. Used together, they make the perfect dark-circle combatting duo.

Second Step: Curling the Lashes. Curling your eyelashes is a simple trick that really opens up your eyes. I use the Vintage Cosmetic Company Lash Curler (£7.00), which is a cheap but effective alternative to some of the more pricey tools (do your research though...not all curlers are made equal!) Follow with a swipe of mascara for eyes that look more alert. 

Third Step: Brightening your eyelids. I find that shimmery champagne shades are the absolute best when I feel like my eyes need a pick-me-up. My favourites are Urban Decay "Easy Baked" (£14.00/C$22.00/US $18.00) and MAC Paint Pot in "Bare Study" (£13.50/C$24.00/US$17.50) As well as being super low maintenance - just a wash of one of these across the eyelid is all that's required - they also do wonders for brightening your eye area. Finish with a swipe of a jewel-toned eyeliner. I like Tarina Tarantino Eye Dream Hyperliner in "Cute Robot" (US$15.00), which is a metallic navy blue. I find navy shades especially effective, as they emphasize the whites of your eyes and counteract redness.

From Bottom to Top: UD Easy Baked, MAC Bare Study, Tarina Tarantino Cute Robot

Fourth Step: Illuminate. I like to illuminate my cheekbones in a c-formation, so that my eyes are framed by glowing, healthy looking skin. I've been using Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Illuminating Serum for ages, and I like it because it can be mixed in with foundation or used by itself for a subtle and natural (not shimmery!) glow. I believe this product might have been discontinued in favour of the illuminating BB cream, which retails for US$34.00. 

What's your routine for faking an awake look?

xo hannah 

April Empties!

Hello everyone!

I have four products that I used up this past month, so I figured I would share them with you and provide mini reviews of my experiences with them. This will be a happy post, because I loved everything that I finished this month!

The first empty is a hair product, James Brown Detangle Leave-In Conditioner ( £6.99 at Boots). Detanglers can be tricky things...the particularly effective ones are often loaded with silicone, stripping hair of its oils. However, this product managed to detangle my hair successfully without making my hair greasy or lifeless. It has a faint, pleasant nutty scent that doesn't linger (perhaps a by-product of the Kukui Nut oil that features as a main ingredient), and it's water-like texture makes it easy to spray. I found that the lightweight nature of this spray meant that I could use as much as I needed without overloading my hair. I bought it mainly as a detangler, and can't say much about it's efficacy as a leave-in conditioner, but if you have stubborn tangles like I do then this is a worthy investment. It's definitely the best thing I've tried from the James Brown line, which I haven't had much luck with in the past (I'm looking at you, Photo Fabulous Intense Gloss Rescue...ugh). This product might give me some renewed faith in this brand.

I finished two body scrubs this month. Because I am super picky with my body scrubs (I like to use something with a little more scrub power on my lower body and a gentler pick on my upper body), I usually buy trial sizes if they're available before I invest in a full size one. The first trial size scrub I picked up was The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Body Scrub-Gelee (£5.00, £12.50 for full size). This looked a bit wishy washy in the tub, but I couldn't resist the scent...I think pink grapefruit is one of The Body Shop's most unique, refreshing, and non-artificial scents and I've always been a fan. However, my doubts about this scrub dissipated as soon as I used it. The gelly texture makes it easy to distribute over your arms and legs, as you aren't stuck working a clump of product over your skin and losing half of it down the drain. Once it's spread, the granules come out full force and do an excellent scrub job. I'll definitely repurchase this.

The second body scrub was the Soap & Glory Scrub 'Em and Leave 'Em Body Buff  (£2.50, £8.00 for full size). This one was really effective for my lower body, as it was a heavier scrub with fine but powerful granules that had excellent buffing power. It has a much more "sandy/gritty" texture than the Body Shop scrub, or indeed some of the other Soap & Glory scrubs, so you can really get good results with a dollop of this and some pressure. The scrub is scented with the Mist You Madly Soap & Glory Fragrance, which has notes of mandarin, bergamot, blackcurrant, magnolia, freesia, patchouli, and sandlewood (whew!). It made a nice change from the usual fruity scrubs I choose, and smelled luxurious without being overpowering. This is another one I will definitely buy again.

Lastly, I am on the last legs of a moisturizer that I've had on the go for quite a while, Haus of Gloi's Zazz Pumpkin Butter (US$10.00). I absolutely adore Haus of Gloi, a handmade vegan bath and body brand located in Oregon, USA. Their pumpkin butters (so named because of the pumpkin oil ingredient, not because of a pumpkin scent) are rich and non-greasy, as moisturizing as the cult favourite Body Shop Body Butters without being so thick. They have a massive general catalogue, but this particular scent is a Summer Release from last year (which should be coming around again this month, so keep your eye out!) Zazz is "tart cranberry, pink grapefruit, sparkling champagne, and crushed ginger root," and its a scent that tickles your nose and wakes you up with its zesty fragrance. It reminds me of a cranberry-ginger ale cocktail, and I absolutely love it. For the price of these products, not to mention their lovely ingredients and cute packaging, I would say these are the best body moisturizers around. You can order them from http://www.hausofgloi.com/. 

Haus of Gloi Pumpkin Butter

That's it for my empties! What did you finish this month?

xo hannah 

MAC Alluring Aquatic

Hello lovelies!

I just had a serious MAC Moment.

As with any good beauty addict, I tend to stalk MAC news and am well aware of all the incoming collections (and their release dates). So imagine my surprise when I walked by Debenhams today and saw a window display for the Alluring Aquatic Collection. Obviously, I ran inside and promptly started fangirling over this collection and its packaging.

 Why has it already been released in the UK when it just showed up on Temptalia an hour ago, and is registered to hit North America mid-May? I don't know, but I'm not complaining. I picked up two products, which I've shown below.

MAC Alluring Aquatic

Left: Cremesheen Lipstick in "Mystical", Right: Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Sea Worship

After I recovered from the excitement induced by this sneak-attack MAC Collection, I started trying everything. This is a fairly substantial collection with six face products, six eyeshadows, five lipsticks and lipglasses, two eye liners, three nail varnishes, and two brushes. The colours range from beautiful sea shell nudes to deep violets. Beware all matte lovers: this is a shimmery collection. Think the sun hitting the ocean. Sparkle and iridescence galore. Even more impressive, especially considering this is a MAC collection, is that there are only a few repromotes. It's a goldmine for new products!

The packaging is a stunning metallic teal with textured raised bubbles. They hit the nail on this one! Even the names are gorgeous. Lorelei, Goddess of the Sea, Aphrodite's Shell...be still my heart!


I love the buttery formula of the extra dimension eyeshadows, so I picked up Sea Worship. Sea Worship is a burnished golden olive, and the colour pay off and texture are superb. Most of the other shadows in this collection had a lot of glitter, but the glitter in this one is toned down, making it a lovely iridescent shade that catches the light. It retails for £16.50/C$22.50/US$19.50.

MAC Sea Worship

The lipstick range leaned towards nudes, but of the two brighter shades I picked up Mystical, which is a muted rose cremesheen. I think I have stumbled across my new "My Lips But Better" shade. I can see this looking flattering on quite a few skintones. The formula is typical cremesheen...its moisturizing without being slippery and sliding everywhere. So creamy and versatile...and though I hate to admit it,  just made better by the packaging! It retails for £16.50/C$21.00/US$17.50

MAC Mystical

UK readers, can we just take a moment to squeal in excitement about how this got here so fast!

Even though I really didn't need more products (I have the MAC x Proenza Schouler ombre blush and lipstick waiting for me back in Canada), this packaging was simply too beautiful to pass up, and I'm so happy the products delivered.

What will you be picking up from this collection? Anyone as excited as I am about MAC pulling off some decent packaging (without tacky decals) for once?

xo hannah

Charles Worthington Haircare: Two Shining Stars

Hello all!

Let me start this post by confessing that, save for a few special products, I'm not particularly loyal to any haircare brand. I like shopping around and trying new things! However, I think I might have found my new go-to high street salon brand in the form of Charles Worthington. I bought two of his products when they were on offer at Boots, and instantly fell in love! These two products were the Salon at Home Strength & Repair Longer & Stronger Hair Masque and the Salon at Home Moisture Seal Shampoo.

Empty and looking a bit worse for wear, but well-loved!

I chose these two products because I have quite long, dry hair that has been damaged with years of heat styling. I wanted products that would replenish my hair's moisture and breathe some new life into my sad dry ends.

Firstly, let me rave about the Moisture Seal Shampoo. It's very rare that I actually think one shampoo is much better than another, except for maybe personal fragrance preference. But this shampoo was beyond divine. Right away, I noticed that it smelled amazing, with a slightly citrus-y fragrance that wasn't artificial or overpowering, but just right. When I began to shampoo, I was immediately blown away by the lather. People, the lather on this baby is LUXURIOUS. I love shampoos that give a good lather because I feel like it allows me to really cleanse my hair without using tons of product...not to mention there is just something so enjoyable about those suds! It also left my hair feeling soft and considerably less dry and frizzy, perhaps due to the infusement of argan oil. I also loved the fact that it had a built in heat protectant, so I felt like my hair was protected when I used my blow dryer (although I still used a spray protectant when straightening). This shampoo really blew the other salon brands I've used in the past out of the water.

Onto the Salon at Home Strength & Repair Longer & Stronger Hair Masque. I like to use a hair masque about once a week all over my hair, and usually coat the ends in it every wash for an extra dose of conditioning where my hair needs it the most. I was attracted to this masque because of its promise to prevent hair breakage by 92%. Begone, split ends! This lightly scented masque wasn't overly thick or putty-like, but had the consistency of a heavier conditioner. Its detangling effect was noticeable: just a dollop onto particularly nasty tangles and I had no problem smoothing them out. My ends were sleeker and smoother with continuous use, and when I used it as a hair masque all over my hair I was left with soft, healthy feeling hair that was never left feeling greasy or heavy after I washed the masque out. A huge selling point on this masque was the packaging: instead of a screw top, the lid on the masque is attached for easy access. No more fiddling about with screwtops with wet hands!

The nifty pop top!

I can't wait to get my hands on more of the Charles Worthington hair products (perhaps when I get through the things I already own...I'm a bit of a haircare hoarder). I can't recommend these two products enough. The shampoo and masque both retail for £5.99 at Boots, although Charles Worthington is often on offer (usually 2 for £8)...in fact, I believe they are currently on offer, so run to your nearest Boots and scoop these up!

Have you tried any Charles Worthington products that shine as brightly as these two?

xo hannah

butter London "Cheeky Chops" - Review

Hello everyone!

Lately, I've been loving the look of bright nails. Maybe it's because spring appears to have finally come and cast the rain away! So when the sun started shining, I reached for this yellow nail polish that I recently purchased, butter London's "Cheeky Chops" 

It's funny...I ordered this colour online because I thought it was a nice yellow that wasn't too "banana" coloured, but that turns out to be the exact description on the official site! It still doesn't scream "banana" to me, however...it's not a deep yellow, but much brighter, closer to a daffodil-yellow.

I loved the colour,  but was not overly impressed with the formula. I own quite a few butter London nail lacquers, and I've noticed that the formula is not consistent across the board; while some perform beautifully, some are a lot more difficult to work with. This was one of the latter. I found the formula to be a bit thick and gloopy, and for this reason it was difficult to apply evenly. Even when I added a second coat it still looked patchy. A third coat amped up the opacity, but there were still sheerer patches that were visible in the light.

Three coats of butter London "Cheeky Chops"

All butter London nail lacquers are "3 Free" - No Formaldehyde, Toluene, or DBP. That's definitely a plus, but at the expense of these polishes (£12.00/C$18.00), I would have hoped the formula would be more consistently high quality. This is a fun, beautiful colour, but it's also pretty dupe-able - a friend of mine noted that Barry M's "Lemon Ice Cream" is quite similar. I'd save your money on this one, and look for a cheaper alternative if you're craving a dose of sunshine for your nails!

I'd really love to find a softer yellow for the spring. Any suggestions?

xo hannah

Worn and Well-Loved: My Loyal Repurchases

Hey everyone!

As I've been scraping the pan of my beloved Benefit Hello Flawless powder foundation for quite some time now, I thought it was time to do a post on my "worn and well-loved" products that I have repurchased before and will repurchase again.

Repurchases are a rare thing for me. If I finish a product, I usually don't go rushing back to replace it...I'd rather spend the money trying out something similar from another brand or something totally different. There's too much out there to limit yourself to the same set of products! However, I do have five products that I have immediately replaced in the past upon hitting the pan, and will continue to do so.

The first is Benefit Hello Flawless! Custom Powder in Me, Vain? Champagne (£25.50/C$42.00/US$34.00). If I had to choose one Holy Grail product out of my entire makeup collection, it would be this beauty. I'm at the end of my second and am soon going to repurchase my third, no questions asked! It is the perfect foundation, coverup, and setting powder. It comes with a sponge and brush, so it can be applied with a heavy hand for a full coverage look using the sponge, lightly patted onto the skin for days where your skin doesn't need too much concealing, and brushed over foundation to set it and give it a flawless finish. It never looks cakey and doesn't feel heavy on the face, and I love that you can build it up or apply as lightly as you want so you always have the coverage level you need. My Hello Flawless love knows no bounds.

Second, I have the MAC Liquidlast Liner in Point Black (£15.00/C$23.00). Black liquid liner is my go-to for many makeup looks, and I have never had any complaints with this one. I like that it's a brush instead of a felt-tip applicator, so you can control the amount of product you use and don't have to worry about it drying up. I find it incredibly easy to apply, and the staying power is second to none. I know it's becoming a lot harder to find as MAC has discontinued all of the Liquidlast line except this one, and stores don't always carry it. However, it can still be found on the MAC website, and I located it at a duty free kiosk, so it's still out there!

Buxom Lash Mascara in Blackest Black (C$24.00/US$19.00) has been my go-to mascara when all else fails. I have serious difficulty with my eyelashes: they are such tiny little nubbins that I need a heavy duty mascara to make them stand to attention! Now, I wouldn't say this mascara performs miracles, but I have tried many in between my last tube and my current one, including the much-hyped Benefit They're Real! mascara, and I've come back to this one and probably will again unless I find something better. The brush is thick and allows me to build up volume with several coats, and if I use the tip I can usually add some extra length as well. It doesn't flake away, and is formulated without parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals, and all those yucky things I don't want near my eyes. I haven't been able to figure out if it's available in the UK, but since Sephora now ships here, you should be able to order it if you so desire!

Up next is MAC Eyeshadow in Vex (£12.50/C$17.00/US$14.00), which is frustratingly impossible to swatch. You need to see this one in person...it's an insanely gorgeous muted frosted silver that turns lilac or pale green depending on how you catch the light. Shall I wax poetic? I always think it looks like powdered moonlight. It's so versatile and can be played up or down, and I've never seen a good dupe of it. It's a unique and beautiful eyeshadow to add to your collection!

And finally, we have Lipstick Queen's Medieval (£20.00/US$22.00). I have had a love affair with this lipstick for quite a while. It's a moisturizing, sheer red that really just adds a blush to your natural lipcolour, making your lips look like something out of a fairytale. It's another one that needs to be tried out to do it justice...and you should try it out, as it's designed to be universally flattering. As you can see by the above photo, my tube is looking a bit worse for wear and I'm right down to the dregs...looks like it's time for number 3! I've included a swatch below so you can see how it looks on my lips.

Lipstick Queen's Medieval

What products do you rush to repurchase? Are you close to hitting the pan any time soon?

xo hannah

Barry M "Birthday" for Superdrug's 50th - Review

Hello all!

In honour of Superdrug's 50th birthday, several cosmetic lines have released special commemorative products in Superdrug's signature pink and white. I spotted Barry M's Birthday on the shelf a few days ago, and picked it up for £2.99.

Two Coats of Barry M Birthday

Barry M's Birthday is a special edition hot pink nail polish imbued with silver, pink, and purple hexagonal confetti. It is a sheer jelly formula (think jelly as in consistency, not "gelly" as in the Barry M Gelly line) that is chock-a-block full of fun, girly confetti...just like a birthday in a bottle!

Three Coats

You need at least two coats for the hot pink to near opacity, although I chose to do three to fill in the more transparent spots. The confetti particles are not glitter, and therefore apply a bit unevenly. You have to manipulate them with the brush to make sure that they don't all end up on the tip. The finish is not smooth, but rather bumpy due to the confetti chunks. Additionally, I found the coverage to be a bit patchy. It definitely doesn't give a consistent finish.

Three Coats

Birthday was quick drying and is certainly fun to look at...who doesn't love to indulge in Barbie-esque nails every once in a while? The formula of the polish isn't as high performing as the Barry M Gelly's (which are fantastic across the board), but for the low price and novelty factor, this is a fun colour for an accent nail or a full-on party look. 

Barry M Birthday is available exclusively at Superdrug.

Will you be picking up this limited edition colour?

xo hannah

Beauty Haul!

Hello everyone!

As March has officially come to a close and we are now well into April (where has the time gone?!) I figured it was probably time to get around to doing my March Beauty Haul, with a few early April purchases thrown in. I got some great deals this past month, some which are still continuing, so I'll make sure to point them out in case you want to get your hands on anything you see!

Above are the products en masse, but I'm going to break them down into categories to do them better justice! Let's get started!

NAILS 

Left to Right: Barry M Caspian, butter London Cheeky Chops, Cheeky Purple Haze, H&M Starstruck

After going a little crazy on the Barry M Gelly's back in February, I tried to tone down the nail polish purchases this month. But some were simply too pretty to turn down!

Barry M Caspian (£3.99): From the Aquarium Collection, Caspian is a stunning rose gold duochrome. Having jumped on the rose gold obsession bandwagon as of late, this one needed to be added to my collection.

butter London Cheeky Chops (£12.00/C$17.00): I got this pale yellow for a great price during the CutECOsmetics stock clearance. I love that its bright but not your typical banana yellow...so perfect for spring and summer!

Cheeky Purple Haze (£7.00): I blogged about this one in my "April Lust List" post, and I couldn't resist the temptation. I think this lilac grey is so sophisticated and a great year-round colour.

H&M Starstruck (£2.99/C$5.95): One of my favourite polishes ever is butter London's Black Knight, which I have tried to steal from my sister to no avail. I picked up Starstruck hoping for a a similar effect, all though my hopes weren't too high as the price was quite low. On further examination I don't think Starstruck will match the opaque glittery awesomeness that is Black Knight, as it leans towards the sheer side of things but it certainly is glitzy and might work well as a top coat over a black creme polish.


FACE 

Left to Right: Stila Petunia, H&M Kabuki Brush, Tarte Natural Beauty

Blushes seem to be my new thing lately. I've never paid much attention to them before, but recently I've been drawn to them like never before! I did my research before ordering two blushes, one a cream and one a powder.

Stila Convertible Color in Petunia (£16.00/C$33.00): I've heard a lot of good things about Stila's Convertible Color creme blushes. They can be used on lips too, but I think I'll keep this peachy pink colour to my cheeks to give me a subtle spring-ready glow.

H&M Kabuki Brush (£2.99): This little guy was an impulse purchase, because it was cheap and had a pretty rose gold handle. H&M brushes haven't served me very well in the past, but maybe this one will be different? Here's hoping!

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Natural Beauty (C$31.00): Essiebutton had a whole blog post dedicated to this stunning blush, which is super pigmented and a gorgeous shade of strawberry red. I love that "just frolicked in the snow" flush, and this promises to deliver

EYES

Left to Right: MAC In the Meadow and Liquid Last Liner Point Black

It was a MAC month for eyes, and although I didn't make many purchases (my eyeshadow collection needs to be culled), I'm excited about the ones I did pick up.

MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in In the Meadow (£17.00/C$25.00): Part of the Fantasy of Flowers collection, which came to the UK later than it did in North America, In the Meadow is a single pan quad of four earth toned shades: an iridescent silver, a pale yellow-gold, a green-tinged brown, and light green. Save for the silver, I don't have any of these in my collection, and have been searching for a green that wasn't too over the top for a while. I can't wait to try these out together!

MAC Liquid Last Liner in Point Black (£15.00/C$23.00): This is my holy grail eyeliner, and is becoming increasingly hard to find as the rest of the Liquid Last Liners have been discontinued. It isn't available in my local MAC store, so when I spotted it at Heathrow Duty Free I grabbed it immediately. It's so easy to use and lasts forever on the eyelid...I don't know what I'll do when the day comes where I can't find this beauty!


LIPS

Left to Right: Korres Wild Rose, Too Faced Jelly Bean, Kiehl's Mango Balm, Sleek Fandango Purple, butter London Primrose Hill Picnic, Body Shop Damson in Distress, Korres Pomegranate

 I went a little lip-product crazy this month. While some were great deals that couldn't be resisted or products that I've had my eye on for a while, I was also on a hunt for the perfect purple lip, and ended up with two!

Korres Lip Butters in Wild Rose and Pomegranate (£8.00/C$16.00): I picked these up for £4 a pop during the CutECOsmetics sale, and I couldn't be happier. Everything about these is just so lovely: they have the texture of a moisturizing balm and offer sheer but buildable colour. Wild Rose gives you  that just-bitten red hue that we all wish we had naturally, and Pomegranate provides a pink-coral wash of colour. Highly recommended!

Too Faced La Creme Lipstick in Jelly Bean (£18.00/C$26.00): Oh, Too Faced La Creme Lipsticks. I cannot sing your praises enough. The La Creme formula is my absolute favourite: it is SO moisturizing, has great stay-power,  and offers true to pan (tube?) pigment. This rich raspberry shade is a new release, and is the perfect bold summer lip to chase away your winter blues. 

Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 in Mango (£9.50/C$11.00): This is an old standard in lots of cosmetic bags. The Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 is a colourless, glossy balm that has a delicious mango scent and offers hydration and shine to your lips. A simple oldie but goodie. 

Sleek Cosmetics Matte Me Lip Cream in Fandango Purple (£4.99): This was purchase #1 on my purple lip quest. The Sleek Matte Me formula is true to its description: it offers a pop of colour with staining power and a matte finish. Fandango Purple may not be an everyday colour, but it certainly is a statement lip, staining your pout a bright magenta-purple. If you like matte finishes and stains that don't budge, check this one out. Just be sure to apply with a mirror, because it does not come off easily!

butter London Lippy in Primrose Hill Picnic (£14.00/C$19.00): I already blogged about this one in my butter London Lippy review...in short, a lovely glossy pink that is neither sticky nor tacky and has great wear time!

The Body Shop Colour Crush Lipstick in 240 Damson in Distress (£10.00/C$13.00): I am a huge fan of The Body Shop Colour Crush Lipsticks. I love the faint rose scent, the emollient texture, and the colour payoff. I was ecstatic to find this purple of my dreams. Damson in Distress (the name is only printed on the plastic seal, so look for 240 for reference) is a wine purple that is both dramatic and wearable. Think Lorde's signature look! 


BODY

The majority of my body purchases were from the AMAZING 40% off (and then some!) sale that has been happening at The Body Shop over the last week and is still occurring online and in stores, with extra savings for members. Go check it out as fast as your legs can carry you...you won't regret it, and your wallet will thank you!

The Body Shop Body Butters in Papaya and Cranberry Joy (regular £13.00, on for £5.00/C$20.00): Body Butters have a cult following, and if you've never tried them, you absolutely have to...they are non-greasy, incredibly moisturizing creams that smell amazing. I was so excited to find these two in stores, because Papaya is a limited edition scent that is usually only available online and Cranberry Joy is a Christmas release that I was kicking myself for missing late last year. Papaya is the perfect tropical fruity scent for the warmer months, and I plan on saving Cranberry Joy for the chillier seasons when its zingy notes will be a perfect pick me up. The best part? These full sized products were £5 (less with a membership)!!!!

Marks and Spencer Aromatic Shower Gel in Seamoss (£3.00): Lately I've been stockpiling shower gels...you can never have too many, right? This Marks and Spencer line is super inexpensive and smells amazing. I love the fresh aquatic scent of this shower gel, and am also intrigued by the moisturizing properties it claims to have. For £3, it was a steal for sure!

The Body Shop Body Scrub Mini in Pink Grapefruit (£5.00/C$6.00): I'm pretty picky about my Body Scrubs: I like a lot of exfoliating power in my potted scrubs, and usually look for a softer bead in my body polishes. I've never tried The Body Shop scrubs before, so I picked up the mini as a tester.  The Grapefruit scent is one of my favourites. It's zesty and citrusy and wakes up the senses! Even if the scrub is a miss, at least I'll enjoy breathing in the scent of grapefruit in the shower!

The Body Shop Shower Gel in Passion Fruit (regular £4, on for £3.00/C$9.00): This is another one of those limited edition scents that were previously online only. Adding to my shower gel stockpile, I picked up this rich tropical scent that is slightly less sweet than its papaya counterpart. And for £3, who could resist?


That's it for this past month's beauty haul! What have you slipped in your shopping basket lately?

xo hannah   

Evening Skincare Routine and Weekly Treats

Hello all!

I'm back with Part 2 of my skincare routine posts. Having already gone through my morning skincare routine, I'm now moving onto the evening process. I take a little more time at night with my skin, because I want to remove all the makeup and gunk that has built up during the day. Also, there's nothing like going to bed with a clean face!

Again, the products mentioned are all pictured in the photo above and will be in order of use, from left to right.

1. Makeup Remover: This is a biggie. The most important part of my evening skincare routine is getting all the makeup off my face, so I don't wake up with panda eyes or skin saturated with foundation. I pay special attention to my eyes, as mascara can be a pain to get off. I've always hated oily eye makeup removers, because they make my skin and eyelids feel greasy, and I never feel like I can remove all the oily excess. Therefore, I look for eye makeup remover creams, which are the consistency of moisturizer and don't leave oil slicks on my face. The Boots Essentials Eye Makeup Remover Lotion is a ridiculously cheap (£1.50!), gentle, and unscented lotion that does the job beautifully. My mom has always been a fan of this and used to pick it up on her trips to England, and I can see why...for the price, it's truly unbeatable, and a little goes a long way. 

2. Face Wash: On nights where I'm exhausted I usually just reach for my cleansing cream and call it a day, but most nights I like to give my face a good wash. I've been using the Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash (£19.50/$24.00) forever, and have never really felt the need to look elsewhere because I'm so satisfied with it. It's a two in one oil-free cleanser and exfoliator, but the exfoliation beads are gentle enough for daily use. I like that it foams but not excessively...I've used face washes that lather like a shampoo, which is not a pleasant experience. It has a light, fresh scent of rose hips and contains soothing ingredients such as chamomile that work well for sensitive skin. All in all, it cleans well, isn't too harsh, and includes a bit of exfoliation, making it a highly recommendable face wash for all skin types.

3. Face Wipes: I like to remove any traces of face wash or makeup with my face wipes. The Simple Kind to Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes (£3.25) are ultra-soft, vitamin-infused, unscented face wipes that cleanse the face without any scratching. I'll be doing a facial wipes review in the near future, so stay tuned. 

4. Toning Water: Back to the old LUSH Eau Roma Toning Water favourite! See my morning skincare post below for a full breakdown of this cult product. 

5. Moisturizer: I like to use a heavier moisturizer at night, but shy away from "night creams" because I find them too thick. Potted day creams are my best option for a moisturizer that will keep my skin hydrated over night. I'm currently using the Korres Wild Rose 24 Hour Moisturizing Brightening Cream, which I've thoroughly reviewed in my "Facial Moisturizer Showdown" post. 

6. Eye Cream: I'm still undecided about the eye cream craze. I'm just not really sure if they do anything that my moisturizer can't accomplish by itself. Nevertheless, I figured I'd dabble with this trend by purchasing an inexpensive eye cream to start. The Simple Kind to Eyes Soothing Eye Balm (£3.99) promises to relax tired eyes and soothe puffiness. I do have darkish circles under my eyes, and it doesn't seem to help in that department, but it does soothe the eyes with a pleasant cooling sensation that feels lovely when I close my eyes to go to sleep. What are your thoughts on eye creams?

And now for my weekly treats....

My weekly treat products are things I only use once or twice a week, because they're either indulgences or unnecessary for daily use. From left to right:

1. Face Scrub: Because my skin leans towards the dry side, I like to use a scrub once or twice a week to rid my dry areas of flaky skin. The Botanics All Bright Purifying Face Scrub is a heavier scrub that has large exfoliation beads that really help to slough away dead skin. It smells fresh and fruity and leaves you with glowing skin. Don't use this more than twice a week, however...it is too harsh for daily use. 

2. Face Masks: Is there anything more satisfying than a peel mask? I don't think so. The Quick Fix Facials Brightening Peel Mask (£4.99 at Boots) unclogs pores and targets dull and uneven skin tones to restore radiance to your skin. The Quick Fix line has several masks that target different problems and comes in several formulas. I find my skin just feels so clean and refreshed when I peel this papaya and goji berry scented mask off my face. Definitely an indulgence!

3. Lip Butter: If my lips are particularly dry, I like to slather them with The Body Shop Mango Lip Butter (£4.00/$6.00). It is an extremely thick opaque moisturizer for the lips that is certainly not something you'd want to wear under lipstick, but feels luxurious on the lips when you're settling into bed and works magic overnight. It comes in a variety of delicious flavours...I have my coconut lip butter all ready to go when the mango runs out.


That's it for my skincare routine! Leave me a comment and let me know what you use to cleanse, scrub, and moisturize your skin to perfection!

xo hannah 

Morning Skincare Routine

Hello lovelies!

I've noticed that a post that has been floating around beauty blogs recently has been that of the skincare routine. I personally love these posts, because it's great to see what people are using to combat certain problems and therefore make the best possible choices for my skin. Having skin that not only appears flawless (thank you foundation!) but that is also healthy is one of my obsessions. Afterall, your skin is the canvas that you work with, and it's important to take care of it in your youth so that you have no regrets later in life.

I'm going to do a two part skincare post on my morning and night routines, as well as including some of my weekly "treats" I like to indulge in. Without further ado, my morning routine...

Unless I'm in a rush, I usually use six products on my face in the morning. I tend to stick to things that are light, sink in quickly so that I don't have to wait before applying my makeup, and promise to keep my skin hydrated and moisturized during the day.

The above picture includes all of my current morning skincare routine products, in the order of use from left to right.

1. Cleansing Lotion: Because I wash my face thoroughly at night, I don't always feel the need to go at it again in the morning (and I am NOT the kind of person who enjoys splashing water into my face in the early morning...no thanks!) What I prefer to use is cleansing lotion, which softly replenishes the moisture in your face while removing any impurities or left over traces of makeup. I just apply it to a cotton pad and work it around my face. I am currently using the Simple Kind to Skin Purifying Cleansing Lotion, which is a very gentle and unscented option, and cheap to boot (£2.99 at Boots). I also love the Boots Botanics All Bright Gentle Cleansing Cream (£3.99).

2. Face Wipes: When I'm finished with the cleansing lotion, I like to remove the excess and refresh my skin with face wipes. Face wipes can be super cheap or quite expensive, but I'm not particularly partial - I just like my wipes to be soft on the skin and sufficiently moist. I'm currently using the Good Things Total Wipeout Raspberry and Cranberry wipes (£3.49 at Boots), which smell amazing and seem to be doing a good job. I'm planning a face wipe review in the near future to give my opinion on some other winners and losers in that department.

3. Toning Water: I find toning water a little more hydrating than a toner, and I am loyal to LUSH's Eau Roma Water (100mL £3.95/$9.95, 250mL £7.50/$21.95). It reduces redness and hydrates the skin beautifully. I usually look for rosewater toners, because of its gentle astringent properties and pleasant scent. You can apply it with a cotton pad, but I choose to spritz it on my face and pat it into my skin so as not to waste product. It just leaves you feeling so refreshed and dewy.

4. Moisturizer: I'm very picky with my morning moisturizer, because when I'm in a rush, I want a cream that sinks into my skin and doesn't sit on my face. I find most potted day creams are too heavy, so I usually look for emulsions or lighter options. I absolutely love the Superdrug Naturally Radiant 2 in 1 Moisturizer and Serum (£5.99 at Superdrug, but currently on offer for £2.98). This moisturizer is super light, sinks in beautifully, and smells and feels high end. The scent is delicious and light, very fruity and probably attributable to its kiwi and mulberry extracts. I also am loving the Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream (£28.50/$42.00), which is a great all purpose cream for day and night and isn't too heavy.

5. Lip Scrub: No one likes dry, flaky lips when you go to apply lipstick! I start the lip rehydration process with my LUSH Sweet Lips Lip Scrub. I think this chocolatey flavour is discontinued, but you can still purchase Mint Julips, Bubble Gum, and Popcorn for £5.50/$9.95. This is a gentle lip scrub that can be licked off, as sugar is one of the main ingredients. It's a great way to rid your lips of dry flaky skin.

6. Lip Balm: I need to coat my lips in non-greasy lip balm, because I find that heavier lip balms make lipstick application difficult. My current love is Haus of Gloi's Exotic Rose. Haus of Gloi is an AMAZING homemade vegan skincare company based out of Oregon...I'll rave about them at a later date. Their lip balms are seasonally released and always come in unique and delicious flavours. They are very moisturizing without being too heavy. You can still snag some of their spring release lip balms for $3.50 at http://www.hausofgloi.com/products/lip-balms. Alternatively, I find the classic Burt's Bees Lip Balm (£3.70/$3.29) does the job nicely, if you don't mind the tingle. I love the Grapefruit flavoured one!

And that's that! What does your morning skincare routine look like?

xo hannah 

M&S Downton Abbey Lip Gloss Trio - Review

Hello all!

I've been absent for a while because I'm currently in Ireland attending a conference. However, I picked up a small beauty purchase yesterday and decided I would attempt to blog about it from my hotel room.

I ran into Marks & Spencer to pick up a few things upon my arrival to Ireland and came across the Marks and Spencer for Downton Abbey Lip Gloss Trio. It looked like a set of lovely colours for the reasonable price of €13.00, the packaging was quite pretty, and I'm a sucker for anything Downton related, so I had to have it.

The trio includes three full-sized glosses in Claret (red), Precious (Gold), and Velvet (mauve).

 

 

Left to Right, Claret, Precious, Velvet

The first thing I noticed about these lip glosses when I opened the package and tried them out was the brush. It is truly the weirdest and worst applicator. It's a strange, pointed spike of a brush that applies minimal product and takes precision and a mirror. Points off right away.

The odd pointed brush

When I swatched the glosses, they seemed less promising than their packaging suggested. Claret was a sheer strawberry red, Precious was a gold flecked nude, and Velvet was a dusty rose. The pigmentation in the swatch was medium, but there was still a discernable difference in colour between the three shades.

Bottom to top: Velvet, Precious, Claret

And then, I tried them on. And it was all downhill from there. While the formula was moisturizing and completely non-sticky, the three glosses were luckluster. Precious was barely visible, and didn't even have enough shine to merit its use as a sheer gloss. Claret and Velvet were virtually identical.

Precious

Velvet

Claret

Final Verdict? Unless you're a HUGE fan of the show, skip these for sure.

xo hannah

Butter London Lippy- Review

Hello all!

I got my packages in the post from CutECOsmetics yesterday (yay!), and can't wait to review everything. I decided I'd start with the Butter London Lippy, of which I only ordered one but already own two others. I'm a big fan of Butter London nail varnishes because they have such unique colours, many of which seem un-dupeable. The Lippy's are designed to match certain shades of the nail varnishes, although I don't own any corresponding sets. They are described as "liquid lipstick" on the UK site and "lip gloss" on the Canadian site, when in fact they fall somewhere in between. They have the opacity of some liquid lipsticks; however, they don't dry down to a "lipstick" consistency on the lips, but stay slippery and glossy.

I decided not only to review "Primrose Hill Picnic", which is the Lippy I got in my order, but also "Queen Vic" and "Come to Bed Red", which I already had in my collection. 

From Left to Right: Primrose Hill Picnic, Queen Vic, Come to Bed Red

Doe-foot applicator

From Bottom to Top: Primrose Hill Picnic, Queen Vic, Come to Bed Red

First, some notes that pertain to all of the Butter London Lippy's I've tried. As I suggested earlier, they fall somwhere between a liquid lipstick and a lip gloss, but I would be more comfortable grouping them with the latter. To me they are a medium to full coverage lip gloss that remains moist, moisturizing, and glossy throughout wear. They are a thick consistency and are slightly tacky, but not sticky or high-shine. All of the Lippy's I've tested over the years have the same sweet, confectionary smell, more along the lines of candy than vanilla. However, my Primrose Hill Picnic has a mildly unpleasant cosmetics smell, which is definitely not indicative of Lippy's as a group. I know that Primrose Hill Picnic was one of the first shades released, so I'm wondering whether the confectionary scent had yet to be added, or I just got a very old product (ugh, I hope not!)

Primrose Hill Picnic

First up, Primrose Hill Picnic. Butter London describes it as "a punchy, tropical, fuchsia bright pink." I would say this description is right on point. Primrose Hill Picnic is an opaque bright blue-pink that really adds a punch to your lips. Despite its funky smell, I love this colour. I am a fan of anything pink, and this glossy bright hue makes your lips look full and juicy. It's a perfect pink for a spring or summer day!

Queen Vic

Queen Vic is described as a "vibrant cranberry," which I would have to disagree with. I would describe it as a magenta or an orchid, a purpley-pink that pulls more purple on me. This shade is not as opaque as some of the others I have tried, and adds more of a subtle pop of colour than its Primrose Hill Picnic sister. I keep this one in my handbag as my goes-with-everything shade, as it usually works with whatever look I'm wearing and feels great on the lips. I also love wearing it over MAC Rebel lipstick, as I find they pair really well together. According to the Canadian website, Queen Vic is only available in the US and Canada. Sorry UK friends!

Come to Bed Red

Come to Bed Red is described as a "classic, bright red." It's a short and simple description, but it sums it up perfectly. Although it appears a more pink in the above photo (oh, to have a fancy camera and some proper lighting), it really is a true blue-red that is almost opaque (see above swatch for a more accurate idea). I love wearing this instead of red lipstick because it's low maintenance and still provides red-lip glamour. It also looks stunning layered over a red lipstick for that extra kick.

Butter London Lippy's retail for £14.00 in the UK, $18.00 in the USA, and $19.00 in Canada. I highly suggest them if you're looking for a full coverage lip gloss that stays put! Check out the various shades here: http://www.butterlondon.com/.

Have you ever tried Butter London Lippy's? What colours catch your eye?

xo hannah