Topshop Lipstick Brighton Rock Swatch

Yep another lipstick post! Can't help it, soz...

Last time I was in Topshop it was a toss between this and All About Me which you can see here and when someone was swapping this on a swap page I jumped at the chance to grab it.

This is what I have been looking for in a bright pink lipstick! It's a beaut! Creamy and lasts a few hours. Perfecto. Just fuels my Topshop lipstick addiction....I see Whimsical  in my future! 

What do you think? 

Disclaimer: I'm not naked btw, just have a strapless top on..

Subscribe and Follow via RSS Feed - Bloglovin - Facebook - Twitter - Instagram Pin It Tweet

Illamasqua Propaganda

Illamasqua has just had a sale on and this baby was only £5, I just couldn't let it pass as I have never tried their nail varnishes before.

The brush is small which I like as I find smaller brushes easier to use. Only needed 2 coats and applies easily.  The picture was taken on day 3 I think and it stayed like that till I took it off on day 5 or 6, absolutely no chipping and I had Seche Vite on top. The colour is a beautiful dark navy - perfect for wintery goth nails! 

I will definitely be trying out more Illamasqua polishes in the future! Anyone a fan? 

Subscribe and Follow via RSS Feed - Bloglovin - Facebook - Twitter - Instagram Pin It Tweet

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Lovesick Passionnee Swatch

So not one to stick my nose up at a hyped product I grabbed myself one of the new Revlon Just Bitten Kissable balm stain in 020 Lovesick Passionnee. 

Lets not beat around the bush here, quite clearly these are meant to be dupes for Clinique's Chubby Sticks. I haven't tried Clinique's so can't compare but this bright fuchsia is quite pigmented, moisturising and glides on very easily. They have a mint scent/flavour which I'm not too keen on, I don't mind mint but you can tell it's a artificial mint flavour and a bit well bleurgh. Having said that it doesn't stick around for long.  

This baby has the lasting power of an Ox, the 'stain' stuck around for hours. I even tried scrubbing it off with a lip scrub as I wanted to wear something else to no avail (too many lip purchases in one go and I neeeed to try them all!)

I much prefer these to the lip butters (I stopped reaching for them after a while). I think while they are on offer I will pick up another one. You can get them from Boots for £6

Anyone else picked one of these up?

Subscribe and Follow via RSS Feed - Bloglovin - Facebook - Twitter - Instagram Pin It Tweet

Caudalie Cleansing Water Review

Micellar solutions/water are huge at the moment and quite rightly so! I am a bit of a skincare junky and I don't think I have been so excited over something that takes my makeup off before. There is something pleasant about using a cleansing water that I can't describe, the satisfaction of seeing the day's makeup wiped off in one swipe maybe. 

I love Caudalie products and their micellar water is no exception. It smells divine and is so gentle, no irritation and no dryness left after use like a certain other cleansing water I have tried. This is perfect for my sensitive skin and I can say it's been a long time since I have found a cleanser that suits me and I want to repurchase again and again (this is my second bottle). I use it first thing in the morning with a cotton pad and follow with a cream cleanser, then in the evening I use it to take off my makeup and again follow with a cream cleanser - double cleanse people! 

It's not on the cheaper side of the price scale but it will last a while. You can buy a 100ml which is a good size to try out here for £5 or go all out and get the 400ml bottle here for £18 (which is what I will be doing soon!) I have also just found out they sell Caudalie in Boots, bit more expensive but easily available! 

Anyone a fan of Caudalie? 

Subscribe and Follow via RSS Feed - Bloglovin - Facebook - Twitter - Instagram Pin It Tweet

MAC Cut a Caper Lipstick Swatch

I just can't resist a limited edition MAC lipstick can I?? The first time I saw it I wasn't too keen but then I kept seeing it pop up on other blogs and it just looked so preeeeety! Of course it had all sold out online by the time I decided I wanted it so I thought I'd traipse off to Selfridges with my fingers crossed. 

This is my first Lustre formula, I find it moisturising but not too long lasting. Cut a Caper is a mid tone peachy pink and is sheerer than I thought it would be but you can layer it up a bit for a stronger colour. I guess Lustre formulas are meant to be sheer? 

Well I love it and shall be wearing it tonight at the Jolie Box/L'Occitane event.  

I do like the look of Fire Sign and Pleasure Seeker but I seriously do not need any more lipsticks...

Anyone else had a sneaky purchase? 

Subscribe and Follow via RSS Feed - Bloglovin - Facebook - Twitter - Instagram Pin It Tweet

The Best Roast Chicken Ever?

I was in dyer need of comfort food the other week as I was feeling a little poorly <cue lots of mini violins> and nothing beats a good roast chicken!

I have discovered a better way of roasting a chicken, well in my opinion anyway. I took the technique from Australia's Chef Maggie Beer. Her way is to cook the chicken on a high temp for a shorter amount of time and then rest it breast side down for approximately 40 minutes. Doing this makes the breast meat moist as the juices run down and soak the meat. I haven't gone back to the traditional method since. I will say though that if like me, you like the skin extra crispy then take it off before resting.

I like to stuff the Chicken with a whole lemon that has been pierced a few times. I also mix butter, crushed garlic, dried herbs ( I use Thyme) and seasoning together and then spread under the breast skin.

A fabulous accompaniment is roasted carrots with sauted pistachios and goats cheese. Oh yeah baby that shit is good!  

Recipe   

Quarter carrots and boil for 3 minutes

Coat in oil and dried thyme, transfer to roasting dish, roast for 30 minutes 

When they are nearly done saute pistachios (not in shells obviously) in a knob of butter for a few minutes

Mix carrots, pistachios and as much chopped goats cheese as desired 

I also love a bit of bread sauce with a roast chicken, just the packet stuff as I am too lazy to try and make it myself. The roast potatoes have to be extra crunchy, I boil for longer that you should and add a bit of saffron for an extra flavour. Drain, place back in the pan with a lid over the top to 'steam' them for a few minutes then give them a big bash about the saucepan. I tend to use duck or goose fat which has been in the oven in the roasting pan for as long as the potatoes have been boiling. Once in the roasting pan chuck on some seasoning and and dried herbs (I use Majoram and Oregano) This I believe makes the tastiest roast pots ever! 

Add some homemade gravy and lots of veg and it's the ultimate comfort food!

Sam xx

Subscribe and Follow via RSS Feed - Bloglovin - Facebook - Twitter - Instagram Pin It Tweet

Thee Sunglasses Collection

I am seriously addicted to sunglasses, some would say obsessed haha! I mean 24 isn't that many is it?! I can't remember I time when I wasn't into them, I like to coordinate them with my outfit and the bigger the better! To be honest if they don't really suit me I will still wear them. Dedicated. 

If I had the money there are plenty of designer sunnies I would snap up but alas that is a far away dream so I'll stick with the highstreet for now unless someone wants to give me a pair of Winter Kate? Erm anyone?  The majority of my collection are from Primark, so it's not like a spend lots on money on them. Yeah yeah, here I go again trying to justify my addiction...

Picture 1

Accessorize  |  Day 22  |  Coco Ribbon  |  Primark 

Picture 2

ASOS  |  Primark  | Primark  |  Vintage Dior 

Picture 3

Primark  |  Topshop  |  Primark  |  Primark

Picture 4

Shop in Australia  |  Primark  |  Ebay  |  Primark  

Picture 5

Primark  |  Romwe  |  H&M  |  Shop in Australia

Picture 6

Primark  |  Jeepers Peepers  | Primark  |  Primark 

Anyone else have a mad addiction to sunglasses?

Sam xx

Subscribe and Follow via RSS Feed - Bloglovin - Facebook - Twitter - Instagram Pin It Tweet

Jolie Box: July's 2012 Edition

Click on the video to see what I thought of this months box...

Sam xx

Subscribe and Follow via RSS Feed - Bloglovin - Facebook - Twitter - Instagram Pin It Tweet

Dangerous

Tee: Vintage  |  Shorts: Topshop  | Sunnies: Accesorize  |  Shoes: Vagabond 

Chictopia  |  Lookbook  | WIWT  |  ASOS FF

Just a casual outfit today. The weather was all over the place as usual and I ended up with jeans on later! This T-Shirt was bought at the Dangerous gig I went to way back in '92. My mum found it hiding away a little while ago. 

Realised earlier that next month is my one year blogiversary! Not from blogger though as I chopped and changed for a few months. Might need to think of a fab giveaway!

Ciao for now..

Sam xx

Subscribe and Follow via RSS Feed - Bloglovin - Facebook - Twitter - Instagram Pin It Tweet

Topshop Parma Violet

I couldn't help but pick up this beauty the other day in Topshop, I don't really have any similar colours too - bonus!

Please excuse the plaster (sliced my finger on the bread knife, ouch!) and the shoddy paint job. In my defence I did immediately open a cheesecake so I think you can all agree it was worth the smudge! I have had this pale lilac colour on for 5 days and no chips! Impressive. 

At £5 a pop I think these polishes are so worth the pretty reasonable price! You can find Parma Violet here.

Sam xx

Subscribe and Follow via RSS Feed - Bloglovin - Facebook - Twitter - Instagram Pin It Tweet

Betrousse: The Organic Box - The Way Forward In Beauty Boxes?

Click on the video to see what I thought of the newest beauty box on the block!

You can view their website here  :)

Sam xx

Subscribe and Follow via RSS Feed - Bloglovin - Facebook - Twitter - Instagram Pin It Tweet

MeMeMe Foundation Review

So this is another product I bought in my little MeMeMe spending spree a few weeks ago.

As I said on my MeMeMe blush post that I hadn't been too impressed with the products I had tried so far and that the blushes were a pleasant surprise. Yet again I feel I am eating my words! There aren't many shades, 4 in total which is pretty bad but not unusual for a high street brand and at £12.50 it's definitely at the higher end of highstreet prices. I would expect the packaging to be a little more luxurious rather than the black and white plastic bottle that it is in for the price too.

The coverage is brilliant, medium to full and I use my Real Techniques Buffing Brush to buff in and it leave a beautiful dewy finish while hiding any redness. The colour does match my skin tone well, possibly too light when I get my bronze on though (fake of course as summer has vanished!) and sticks around for a good 6 hours before I noticed it had started to disappear from around my nose. Lasted really well on the rest of my face though. 

I love everything about this foundation, the price, texture and finish. The only thing I can find fault is the packaging and lack of shades!

Have you tried this foundation out?

Sam xx

Subscribe and Follow via RSS Feed - Bloglovin - Facebook - Twitter - Instagram Pin It Tweet

Max Factor Effect in Mellow Yellow and Pretty in Pink

I wanted to put on a brightish nail colour in this miserable summer! Couldn't decided on the yellow or orange Max Factor mini's I have so thought why not both!

I have not used either of them before and have been sitting in my nail polish storage for a while now! I really like these white based pastels, the yellow is bright but subtle at the same time and the orange is almost peach. It took 3 coats for opaqueness and yet the yellow is still streaky, so not too impressed with that. Oh well...

Sam xx

Subscribe and Follow via RSS Feed - Bloglovin - Facebook - Twitter - Instagram Pin It Tweet

e.l.f Haul

Made a little e.l.f order with their 50% code which is INDEMAND50 and finishes tomorrow morning.

Sam xx

Subscribe and Follow via RSS Feed - Bloglovin - Facebook - Twitter - Instagram Pin It Tweet

Peaches and Cream

Dress: Jarlo  |  Shoes: Vagabond  |  Sunnies: Primark  |  Hat:  H&M  |  Bag: Vintage  

Bangle: Oliver Bonas

Lookbook  |  Chictopia  | WIWT  | ASOS FF

OK, so well I didn't change the settings on the camera and they weren't that good, booooo! So I have added a few special effects to make them a bit more..well...better I suppose. 

I am in love with this maxi from Jarlo. It hangs well and is just the right length. My only gripe is it's a bit um well booby! I need to use a pin otherwise the boys will be coming out to play haha! I rediscovered this hat the other day, I had completely forgot about it until I was having a bit of a clear out. Love it! I bought the bag that was on my Friday wishlist some time ago and is just beautiful. Quite roomy too. 

Hope you managed to enjoy the sun today, shame it's gone back to rain this evening! Summer eh!

Sam xx 

Subscribe and Follow via RSS Feed - Bloglovin - Facebook - Twitter - Instagram Pin It Tweet