My Go To Breakfast Smoothie

This is something quite different for me. I am by no means a health expert or qualified nutritionist, but I am starting to care more about what I eat these days and learning about the benefits of doing so. Basically, I've been heavily influenced by The Body Coach. As have most people in the UK at the moment.

I've recently written in a previous post that I decided to purchase a NutriBullet and that it was the best decision I have ever made. That wasn't the post Christmas/New Years blues talking. This claim still stands!

Breakfast has never been my thing. I find it really difficult to stomach anything in the mornings. I'm even more rubbish at waking up at an hour that gives me enough time to consume anything before I have to run out of the door for university. There's also nothing worse than being stuck in a 2 hour morning lecture on an empty stomach. Not to mention bloody embarrassing when your stomach constantly lets off loud roars of hunger.

My Boyfriend, Ed, has been trying to get me into breakfast shakes for ages. I wouldn't say that I'm a  fussy eater, but I initially had zero interest. It was the same scenario with Sushi. But over time they have both gradually grown on me. I can be a very stubborn individual and can get 'stuck in my ways'. (Ha). 

I finally gave in and I'm so pleased that these shakes have been introduced into my morning routine. It's an easy and quick way to get something healthy and nutritious down in the mornings. They're light, refreshing and delicious. And as an added bonus, they don't blend into a vile green colour!

Here are my very unprofessional measurements:

1. 1/2 Handful of Black Forest Frozen Fruits.

2. 1/2 Handful of Frozen Blueberries and Strawberries.

3. Half a Banana, chopped.

4. 1 Tbsp Peanut Butter. (I use the MyProtein UK Smooth Peanut Butter)

5. 2 Tbsp Greek Yoghurt

6. 1 Scoop of Whey Vanilla Protein Powder 

7. 150ml Almond Milk

8. 150ml Water

And Bob's your uncle! I wouldn't say that the protein stage is obligatory. I use it as I know that I don't have enough protein throughout the day. The Vanilla does add a difference to the flavour though.

Any blender will work for this but the NutriBullet is super quick and easy to clean.

Although I have found something that I really enjoy, I'm determined to 'unstick' my ways and try out more recipes.

What's in your favourite morning smoothie?

The Ultimate Make-Up Melter

If there is one thing that my Mum has drilled into my head over the past 21 years of my existence, It's to always take your make-up off at the end of the day. A task (yes, task) that I generally do in my day to day life, as yesterday's foundation smothered all over your pillow is not a pleasant sight to wake up to! Unless you've had a heavy night with the girls, there is no excuse.

A couple of years ago I used the same cleanser, toner and moisturiser for a very long time. I wasn't buying it, my Mum was. Therefore I wasn't in a position to properly experiment with different products. The Body Shop Vitamin E range was my ride or die skincare. However, since being at university I've started to read more about skincare and a new obsession for cleansers has been sparked!

Over the Christmas period, I introduced myself to The Body Shop's Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil. I call this the first step cleanser. The make-up melter. As with most cleansers, you massage it onto dry skin and remove it with either a warm soaked muslin cloth or a flannel.

As this product comes from the same family as the Camomile Gentle Eye Make Up Remover, It's damn good at breaking down your make-up and leaving you with a fresh canvas to carry out your night time skincare regime. I tend to follow up with a cream cleanser afterwards. But that all depends on the level of make-up layers that I have going on.

The oily side of things is a tad scary. When I first tried the Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil, I was wary of how oily and greasy the product felt on my finger tips. But It's pleasantly gentle and leaves the skin feeling clean and refreshed. And most importantly, the skin doesn't feel more oily than it should do. So please do not be alarmed! 

The only real disadvantage Is that I really don't like the smell. But hey, sometimes skincare isn't supposed to smell the best!

Find the Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil here for £13.00. 

What are your thoughts? :)

The Japanese Camellia Cream By The Body Shop

Before I commence with this post, I have to say that I hardly ever moisturise after a shower. Not all the time, but most of the time I can never be bothered. I live in Manchester. It's between 2-4 degrees right now and getting out of the shower can be painful! I feel slightly shameful for admitting that but I can't be the only one. 

The only part of my body that I have the time to moisturise in the Winter is my face because that is an impossible body part to hide.

Thankfully, I'm still quite soft and the elephant skin has yet to invade. I blame the genes. But of course by the Summer I will be moisturising religiously, because lets be real nobody wants to see crusty knees or elbows.

The Body Shop recently launched their premium Spa Of The World range which sparks joy in every aspect of the phrase. I received the Japanese Camellia Cream (£23.00) as a Christmas gift this year. Before I tore the paper off I assumed that it was a Bath and Body Works candle. However I was pleasantly surprised to unveil this beauty. And it has given me all the more reason to moisturise!

As the name would suggest, the product contains Camellia oil which The Body Shop claim has been used since the 8th Century in Japan in order to gently soften and moisturise the skin. 

Everyone loves a Body Shop body butter. I sometimes find them a little too thick and hard to work with. But they are undoubtedly the peoples choice when it comes down to high-street body creams. This on the other hand is still rich but has a smooth and weightless texture that is a dream to rub into the skin. The Body Shop describe it to have a light and velvety texture and I have to agree.

I am terrible at describing scents. So I'm going to go with 'It's bloody gorgeous'. I've recently tweeted about this product making me feel and smell irresistible. And It's true! I'm never usually a fan of floral scents but this is anything but empowering and It's beautifully subtle. Spa like if you will. The whole range have the same (but different) calming and tranquil scents that you would want your nose to inhale if you were in a spa environment. 

I also have the Polynesian Monoi Radiance oil which has rapidly become my go to holiday MUST have product. But that's a whole different blog post. 

The Dead Sea Salt Scrub is next on my list.

You can find the Spa Of The World range here.

What are your thoughts on the range? :)

  

For The Khaki Lovers

My love for Khaki doesn't stop at clothing. I had been on the look out for the perfect army green eyeliner for a while and the hunt came to an end when I walked into MAC the other day and discovered Forever Green. I'm a brown-eyed girl, therefore technically I should be reaching for the purples to flatter my eye colour (Permaplum, a gorgeous purple Powerpoint Eye Pencil is on my wish-list.), but i'm counting on this gem to spice up my make-up throughout the winter.

Coloured eye pencils can be quite frightening, but this is such a wearable shade and not at all offensive so i've been wearing it daily. On Nights out, to lectures, out shopping and even to the gym. (Come on girls, I know at least some of you wear make-up to the gym!) The description claims this product to have a metallic shimmer with a matte finish, which it 100% does but it looks flattering.

I'm a big fan of the formula when it comes to the MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil's. They have a buttery and easy to blend texture, meaning minimal tugging of the eye. So far I have been wearing this sultry green on my waterline to dare I say it, add a 'pop' of colour to my make-up. However, my next experiment is to apply it all over the lid, which I can imagine to look rather beautiful.

Colour doesn't just have to be for the warmer months of the year.

Have you been Forever Green-ed? 

Currently...

Unfortunately I haven't been doing any make-up shopping recently, or any shopping at all for that matter which is making me ever so sad. I'm going through that awkward stage where I can't bring myself to spending any more money on pretty summery things as I go back to the; grey, wet and downright miserable Manchester soon. But I'm in Dubai! A place of shopping galore and ultimate luxury, and I just so happen to be staying a 10 minute walk away from The Dubai Mall. I can hear the fancy fountains as I type this and see the sun beaming off of the Burj Khalifa. #Beaut

As blatant as this may seem, I need a trip to Sephora. The Sephora in The Dubai Mall has got to be the most hectic store that I have been to in the Middle East. You almost begin to panic in there. But i'm going to brave it and hopefully come out with some goodies. My wish-list is as follows:

1. A new UD Naked Weightless Concealer. I'm jumping on the bandwagon by stating that this is the best concealer I have ever used, but I still have my eye on the NARS Creamy Concealer. I just feel like i'm getting a lot of bang for my buck with Urban Decay.

2. Laura from Buy Now Blog Later recently published a post on her blog dedicated to Urban Decay's 'Riff' eyeshadow. I plan on having a quick swatch and buying it right there and then. It looks like the perfect crease shade. (Doesn't the word crease sound weird?)

3. My BeautyBlender suffered a tragic injury. What I thought was a gentle massage resulted in the tip almost ripping off. It's still a useable tool and I've tried to substitute it for the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge but I am a tad bias when it comes to my pretty pink BeautyBlender. I plan on accumulating up to ten of them by Christmas. They're amazeballs!

4. I'm having a 'Shall I, shan't I?' moment with the By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Misty Rock. Beautiful shade, dreamy creamy texture, gut wrenching price tag. I'm a firm lover of cream eyeshadows, especially those that come in stick form. But with brands such as Kiko offering the same product range for more than three quarters of the price, I can't bring myself to spending so much. I will, however, continue to swatch and swatch until I give in. Which I probably will, eventually.

5. NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser is on the list. I'm still yet to try a tinted moisturiser that totally floats my boat and i've watched YouTube video after YouTube video on this product. So far, i've gathered that it offers a good amount of coverage for a tinted moisturiser, evens out skin tone, adds radiance and you can slap it on with your fingers if you're in a rush. That is everything I need and want in a base product at 8am to prepare me for my day at University.

6. All of the Kat Von D things. Kat Von D Beauty has landed in Dubai and I want everything from the contour kit to the liners and the liquid lipsticks.

Which beauty products have you feasted your eyes on lately?

The ASOS Knit Picks

Is it too early to be looking for a winter wardrobe?

I've been in the Middle East all summer and as much as I love being here with family and friends, there is a part of me that is desperately wanting to switch the shorts and strappy tees for some winter woolies. That's probably the effects of the blistering heat talking. 

Admittedly i'm a knit hoarder. I go to university in them, go to town in them, go out to town in them, sometimes sleep in them and most importantly feel most comfortable in them. And as university is around the corner, I think it's about time I start searching for some Autumn/Winter bits.

So while I sit here and have a cup of tea, I couldn't help but have a nosey on the ASOS website for some inspiration. I have 16 saved items so far and 80% of them are knits. Here are some of my choices:

1. ASOS Colour Block Sweatshirt 
I have a tendency to gravitate towards monochrome. I'm intrigued by contrast. This is the sort of sweatshirt that, given you buy the right size, is a flattering loose fit. Fitting in all the right areas. I'm thinking black skinny jeans and ankle boots.

2. Boohoo Plunge V Back Jumper
I'm a firm believer in 'if you've got it, flaunt it'. But recently i've been more interested in showing off more back than front. I appreciate a garment that looks sexy without the exposure of your lady lumps.

3. River Island Lightweight V Neck Jumper
A little see through, but the length and neckline are grabbing my attention.

4. ASOS Jumper Dress
I can't go through winter without a couple of short and sweet jumper dresses. I specifically chose this one as it's navy (surprise, surprise a dark colour), and it's elasticated at the waist. They also look great with over the knee boots. *happy dance*

5. New Look High Neck Ribbed Jumper 
Chunky and high neck, my favourite! Did someone say cozy? I appreciate how you can dress these pieces up or down. It's the best feeling being comfortable and looking your best.

6. ASOS Chunky Jumper With Cold Shoulder And Split Sides
Cut outs in jumpers add a bit of edge too them. Admittedly there's nothing particularly attractive about shoulders, but in this I think there could be.

Who else is excited for an Autumn/Winter wardrobe edit?

New In For The Lips

I won a giveaway, I never win anything! 

The lovely beauty blogger Stacey from Expat Make-up Addict held a giveaway a few weeks ago and I won six MAC lipsticks of my choice. Yes, of my choice! Of course I was jumping for joy and ridiculously excited. But when it came down to choosing, I found it quite overwhelming. There is so much choice at MAC and I found myself wanting to indulge in way more than six. However, after much deliberation I finally came to my decision, and I couldn't be more pleased.

Just as my boyfriend said 'Ella, you don't need anymore lipsticks', these babies came in the mail. 

L-R: Stone Matte, Blankety Amplified , Ruby Woo Retro Matte , Morange Amplified, Coral Bliss Cremesheen and Mehr Matte.

Here goes the breakdown:

Stone is a medium-dark taupe brown with greyish undertones. When I first applied this I was quite shocked, but it grew on me. The shade is unusual and quirky which I quite like. It has a matte finish but doesn't cling to any dryness which is always admirable. Although as with all MAC Matte lipsticks, I wouldn't brand the finish moisturising. I can't wait to wear this one throughout the fall back in the UK. 

Blankety, a beautifully creamy slap and dash pinky nude lip colour that will go with any make-up look. I have a thing for lip products that don't need much effort to apply and that you can wear everyday. Plus, it looks good with my tanned skin tone. Winning.

Ruby Woo is a best seller from MAC and a product that has been on my wish list for yonks. I think that this has to be the most talked about red that I have ever come across. Spread across the celebrity and social media world, this is hands down a red for everyone. Ruby Woo is extremely matte and highly pigmented. I honestly feel as though I have many lipsticks more or less the same shade. But who cares, this is definitely a new favourite of mine.

Morange is such a feel good lipstick. Vibrant, striking and oozes confidence. The colour is immensley opaque and I love it so much that I will be inappropriately wearing it throughout the winter. 

Like Blankety, Coral Bliss is a slap and dash shade. I found it to be quite moisturising on the lips and is one for my 'no make-up, make-up' days. I also have a thing for corals these days and I find the sheen of this product to be very flattering.

Mehr has yet another matte finish. (If you haven't already noticed, i'm a matte kind of gal). Lily Pebbles wears this all of the time in her vlogs paired with MAC lip liner in Soar. I was drawn to the dusky pink shade and it looked very easy wearing. 

To say that i'm happy with my choices would be an understatement. I have adopted a few new favourites as well as pushed the boundaries and started wearing a colour that I wouldn't usually go for.

Which lipsticks are you loving at the moment?

The Dolce Vita Is My Life

Say hello to my new favourite 'holy grail' palette. The Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Color-coded Eyeshadow Palette. (Once again, extremely late to the party).

This the first and sadly the only Charlotte Tilbury product that I own and i'm super impressed. It's everything I want and need when it comes to shadows. Since it was kindly gifted to me for my 21st birthday early in May it has been a struggle not to use it every day. The price tag being one of the main reasons why. 

Before writing this post I wanted to photograph it untouched, which failed miserably. But I just couldn't help myself.

Packaging

There's not much to say about this apart from stating the obvious - bloody gorgeous. A dark chocolatey burgundy brown with rose gold detailing. It screams luxury whilst being petite and light. The perfect palette for travelling, which makes a nice change as most of the eyeshadow palettes in my collection are annoyingly clumpy and heavy. 10/10

Eyeshadows

As with all of the Charlotte Tilbury palettes, you get a Prime, Enhance, Smoke and Pop shade. And i'm obsessed with them all. 

With my skin tone I find it so difficult to find a pretty champagne shade that doesn't look ashy on my eyelids. The top left prime shade, however, is beautiful and looks so pretty and pearlescent on the eyes. 

The top right enhance shade is a personal favourite. Coppery, warm and an overall stunning crease shade that i have no qualms with using every single day.

The smoke shade on the bottom right of the palette is what brings your look from day to night. I use it on the outer corner of my crease or along the bottom and lower lash line. 

POP! This shade is what really sold the palette to me. Although it looks intimidating in the palette, when positioned in the middle of the eyelid it looks phenomenal. There is a tad bit of fall out and is best applied with your finger, but it still undoubtedly sparks joy.

I could have purchased everything on the counter in Selfridges when the lovely make up artist was putting my face on for me. It's pretty dangerous territory when you're surrounded by gorgeous (and expensive) products and a very helpful assistant. And after being extremely impressed and mesmerised by this product, i've already put together a Charlotte Tilbury wish list:

• Light Wonder Foundation
• Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Eyeshadow...(all of them)
• K.i.s.s.i.n.g Lipstick in Coachella Coral

Lastly, I'm so happy to have finally found an eyeshadow palette that I can get full use out of. Not a shadow is wasted, or untouched. And I should bloody well hope so considering the price tag.

Have you tried out any Charlotte Tilbury products?

A 'Brand' New Discovery: Kiko!

Since exams ended, i've been here, there and everywhere. I took the 50 minute train journey to Leeds to visit a good friend and to do some shopping, when I came across a Kiko Milano shop. I've heard and read a lot about Kiko but up until recently, had never visited a store. And let me tell ya, I'm mega impressed. It was a Saturday afternoon when I went in and all the sales assistants were busy so I only picked up one item (annoyingly). I went for the Long Lasting Sticks. Cream shadows are always the safest bets right? Cream shadows in stick form seem to be all the rage at the moment. I've swatched a bundle from brands such as By Terry, Laura Mercier and Bobbi Brown. And as beautifully textured and pigmented as they are, they're all so bloody expensive! These Kiko bad boys are only £6.90 each. 

I really like how this brand have stand alone stores and that the product comes in proper packaging. I obviously never have much use for the outside packaging when I buy a product but it's something you would associate with a luxury beauty buy. And as much as I love having a rummage through Boots for those 3 for 2s, it can be hard to find a product that hasn't been touched by other customers. 'Getting a fresh one from the back' as my mum would say can sometimes be so difficult.

Typically, I went for the 'goldey, bronzey shimmery' shade. I'm not massively adventurous. But it is a gorgeous shade nonetheless. They're super easy to blend and affordable.

Hello Lazy Golden Goddess summer make up!

Have you tried Kiko?

I've Been Sheer Glowed

A couple of posts ago I was ranting and raving about everything that was going wrong in my life with regards to poor foundation choices. But after months of 'umming and ahhing', I finally feel like i've made the right one. 

It was my 21st birthday last Saturday and my Mum and I took a trip into the Selfridges beauty hall. I absolutely adore Selfridges. You never feel at all looked down upon and there's always a fantastic atmosphere in there! DJs and half naked men were there promoting a new MAC collection (my Mum was loving that part), and everyone was enjoying the weekend vibes.

I walked straight over to the NARS counter and asked to be matched to Sheer Glow. There's a lot of hype around this foundation and I thought that it would be just my luck to be not that in love with it. But I was wrong, I really really love is one. For my sometimes flakey cheeks and oily t-zone, I find this product to be sensational. The finish isn't exactly glowy (which i'm sure you've read time and time again), but I sort of like that. It has a soft velvety finish that doesn't drag over your dry patches. An even better selling point is that it feels like you virtually have nothing on. But you can build it to a good medium to full coverage if you wanted to and there are shades for days.

The packaging is cute and petite which is fantastic for travelling. It sort of reminds me of a large-ish nail polish bottle, but not really large at all. 

The Downfall:

It doesn't come with a bloody pump. I knew this when I bought it so I can't complain too much. It's only until you get home and use it for a couple of days that it really winds you up and they're impossible to get a hold of. 

Have you been Sheer Glowed yet?

In The Nude This Spring/Summer

I never realise how much I have of something until I either have a gander into my make up collection or go to photograph things for a blog post. So when I was choosing which products to include and photograph it was then that I realised how many nude lipsticks or glosses I actually have. I like to think of myself as a bit of a nude hoarder. They're a safe buy and worth the money as nude shades are more often than not my go to lip colour, especially in the day time. There's something about wearing a bold block colour in the day time that makes me feel a little uneasy. I always think, 'is the colour bleeding' or 'has the colour rubbed off'. But don't get me wrong, on a night out I love wearing a statement lip.

The nudes i'm loving:

1. Marc Jacobs New Nudes Sheer Gel in Moody Margot - I've spoken about this two or three posts ago. It's a new addition to my lip collection and i'm really enjoying wearing it. I love the sheer simplicity of it.

2. Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 02 - It's no secret that i'm a huge fan of the formula when it comes to these Cream Lip Stains. They leave you with a matte finish that is extremely long lasting, but not at all drying. The shade 02 is a muted peachy brown nude.

3. Maybelline Color Drama Lipstick in Nude Perfection - Peachy, cheap, cheerful and an overall slap and dash product.

4. MAC Velvet Teddy - It's difficult to find a nude lip colour that suits all skin types. MAC's famous Matte lipstick 'Velvet Teddy' is one for all complexions.

5. MAC Spice Lip Pencil  - This '90's lip pencil looks great paired with Velvet Teddy or all over the lips on its own. Whatever takes your fancy.

My style and go to make up looks are always changing, but my instinctive reach for a nude on a daily basis will always stay the same. Is that boring?

What are your go to lip products this Spring/Summer?

The Sephora Haul, Face and a Ramble

WARNING: Ramble on the way.

The excuse went a little something like... 'I have a loyalty card, I should probably go and buy some things to wrack up the points', and it seemed fair enough to me! 

The damage:

1. Benefit Roller Lash Mascara

2. Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer - Medium Neutral

3. Original Beauty Blender (I just fancied getting another one)

4. Marc Jacobs Sheer Lip Gel - New Nudes - 106 Moody Margot

5. Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick - Melted Fig

6. Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water (Impulse buy)

7. Urban Decay Naked Basics 2 Palette

8. Sample: Sephora Smoothing Primer which i'm kind of loving!

I won't bore you with all the details but here are my thoughts.

Let us start with Marc Jacobs, an exclusive brand to Sephora. The only thing i've tried from Marc Jacobs Beauty is the Highliner Gel Eye Crayon's, it's a product I love and highly recommend. In all honesty the packaging is what caught my eye the most. The lid is magnetic making it OK to literally chuck into your bag and i'm a bit of a sucker for nudes. The colour itself is a muted sheer peachy nude that is great for everyday and accommodates any make up look. The formula is smooth and comfortable to wear but most definitely isn't forgiving on dry lips. Exfoliation and moisturising are a crucial step to take before application.

After binge watching Lily Pebbles YouTube videos, I was so eager to try out the Urban Decay Naked Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer (longest name ever). I find this concealer to be quite moisturising and a little smidgen definitely goes a long way. This product is a joy from the design and size of the container to the applicator. Many bloggers have compared it to the Nars Creamy Concealer, and pointed out the similarities between the two, but that is a product that i'm still yet to try. When experimenting with concealers I either think: too light, too orange, too thick or too drying. But I was pleasantly surprised by this so overall, a bloody good buy.

I'm going to be brutally honest here when I say that the Benefit They're Real! Mascara did absolutely nothing for me. But it's just one of those things whereby you either love it or you hate it. Anyway, I was reluctant to purchase the Roller Lash Mascara purely for that reason. However, I had done a bit of research on it (reading 90% positive reviews) and the packaging is pink, cute and just rather lovely. The pink lid has a rubbery texture which makes it quite the delight to apply and the product itself leaves my lashes long and separated with a fluttery and flattering curl.

DUPE ALERT: SEVENTEEN Falsifeye HD Mascara (£6.99)

I've been meaning to try the Too Faced Melted Lipsticks for a while and after picking up Melted Fig I can't really fault them. In fact, I need about another 10 shades. The formula is soft, not at all sticky and pretty long lasting. The oval shape of the spongey applicator makes it easy to follow the natural shape of your lip and encourages seamless application. Plus the colour is gawjus! (See picture below). 

I'm loving it, loving it, loving it.

Practicing to achieve perfection with eyeshadows over the last year has encouraged me to want to wear subtle washes of colour on my lids on a daily basis and I thought that this Naked Basics 2 palette suited the criteria. This small and petite case includes 6 matte eyeshadows that are appropriate for everyday day-to-night looks. The pay-off of Urban Decay eyeshadows is something that i've always been a fan of, however they can sometimes seem a little too powdery when I dust my 217 into them.

The Rest:

• Beauty Blender -  I just fancied another one.
• Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water - I recalled reading about this somewhere, so I picked up a mini tester. There was also a lady in front of me who seemed to be buying everything in the shop (good on her!), so it was a bit of an impulse buy. Oops.
• Sephora Smoothing Primer - The lady assisting me kindly popped lots of testers into my little striped monochrome bag, and I really like it! Moisturising, smoothing...'blah blah blah'... you know the drill. 

And breathe... I love a good ramble about all things make up!

Do you enjoy going mental in a beauty shop/department beauty hall like I do?

An exciting splurge: Double Exposure

The other week I had one of those 'I shouldn't, but i'm going to anyway' moments when I walked into Boots and saw (and grabbed might I add) this beauty at the Smashbox stand. As you can see from the tiny bit of mess on the palette in the picture below I have had a few dabbles into it and i'm really liking it. This product is so versatile in terms of the looks that you can create with it. Whether it be a light or dark look or a day to night look. There is also a nice balance between the cool and dark shades available to you. But it gets better, I didn't realise this before I bought it, but 14 shades turn into 28 with a sprinkle of water to your make up brush. However, the shades react differently. For example, there is either added sparkle, a transformation into a metallic finish, amped up vibrancy or added depth. Amazing!

Top Row L-R: Silver, Mauve, Peony, Blanc, Quartz, Flushed, Veiled
Bottom Row L-R: Midnight, Temper, Haze, Noir, Copper, Fig, Espresso

As mentioned in my last post i'm a hoarder of bronzy warm toned eyeshadows. (It's evident in the picture below that I jumped straight into the warmer shades when I first used it!). So I wanted to go for something different, but not too different. This was the reason I chose to go for the Double Exposure instead of the Full Exposure. There are some lovely shades in this palette and a great one to use if you're wanting to experiment with colour during the Spring/Summer months.

The Palette comes with a double sided brush, one end is slanted and the other is more of a smudger brush which are both great tools for adding shadow under the eye to create a level of depth to the look.

At  £37.00 this was most definitely a splurge, but it is a great palette and it was an opportunity to wrack up the Boots Advantage Points, my favourite!

Ella xx

Sephora Cream Lip Stain

I can never go back to the Middle East without taking one, two or three trips to Sephora. I usually don't have an idea of what I want to purchase, spend almost an hour in there and end up at the check out counter a million swatches later. However, after reading the pretty amazing reviews of the Sephora Cream Lip Stains I knew that I would have to try them out and they definitely did not disappoint! 

As cliché as this sounds, they are pretty much everything you want and need in a lip product: Long lasting, moisturising, affordable, highly pigmented and an overall high-coverage dreamy formulation.

Left to Right: 02  Peach Tart, 01 Always Red and 09 Watermelon Slice

I picked up the shades:

01 - Always Red

02 - Peach Tart

09 - Watermelon Slice

Left to Right: 01 Always Red, 09 Watermelon Slice and 02 Peach Tart

Always Red, a shade that I would describe as the perfect red and now my favourite matte red lip product of all time. This product is extremely wearable and looks great with or without a lip liner.

Peach Tart is a gorgeous brown, peachy nude that goes with every make up look.

Watermelon Slice is a beautiful, bright eye catching shade for the upcoming summer. An almost fluorescent coral pink shade that would really stand out on bronzed, sun kissed skin. I'm so excited to wear this.

Left to Right: 01 Always Red, 02 Peach Tart, 09 Watermelon Slice

These Cream Lip Stains are so exciting and I can't wait to buy more.

All-In-One Instablur Eye

Before i start can i just say how excited i am for this product? I'm already a huge fan of The Body Shop's All-In-One Instablur. So when i saw the Instablur Eye sat on the shop shelves i didn't need to think twice before grabbing it! Like the original Instablur, the finish is beautiful. It conceals and primes around the eyes and results in a gorgeous smooth and silky finish. (I can't stop touching under my eyes, super soft!)

One of the great things about this product is that it's a tinted concealer, this allows for the product to blend evenly into your skin tone, resulting in a natural look and is great for concealing under the eyes. Furthermore, the product primes the skin, making it easier to apply other make up products on top of it and further perfects the finish. 

Finally, it can also be used as an eyeshadow primer. I'm a big fan of eyeshadow primers, they intensify the colour of your shadows and helps them last longer on the eye. A great product if you tend to get oily eyelids.

Overall i really like the Instablur Eye. It's a great formula and it can be used in a multiple of different ways! Go and get yourself some!