Haul | Poundland July 2012

Hi lovelies!

After seeing reports of Stila items in Poundland I rushed down there yesterday and began hunting.

I have never properly looked in Poundland before, I find it a bit daunting and hot, with too many people.

I persevered though and was very impressed with my findings!

I did find some Stila products! It is obviously old stock and the packaging is different to the one available to buy now but I am definitely not complaining. I picked up a Whitening Powder Foundation Refill, a Jade Blossom Hair Refresher and Oil-Free SPF30 Tinted Moisturiser. They only had one shade in the moisturiser, which was medium. It will probably be too dark for my pale skin but I wanted to try it anyway.

I have never tried anything from Stila as it is a bit pricey but I am excited to give all this a go! 

I bought a Clearasil Overnight Serum and a Clearasil Overnight Lotion. These two are both from the old packaging as Clearasil have recently revamped their logos and designs. I don't think these products are available to buy anymore either. I do not really get spots but I will use the serum nightly before my moisturiser to prevent them in-case and the lotion if I do have any to help budge them.

I also picked up two packs of exfoliating make up wipes for a £1 and some nail polish removed pads. 

I also use make up wipes to remove the bulk of my make up before I cleanse. I hate the feel of cotton wool so the less time I have to spend using it the better! This is why I picked up the nail polish pads.

Overall I am very impressed with the bargains from Poundland. I spent £7 and have a lot of new products to try. If anyone would like to request a review or more information for anything mentioned I will be happy to review things for you.

Have you seen the Stila products in Poundland or found any other bargains?

My giveaway ends on Thursday here:

http://elliegracex.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/100-follower-giveaway.html

Review | MUA Undressed Palette

Hi lovelies!

I am a complete MUA addict, I have tried lots of their products and have been so impressed with the quality for the cheap prices. The Heaven and Earth Palette, Eye Contour Pen and Every Lash Mascara are three of my favourite products from MUA.

I was so excited for one of MUA's latest releases, the Undressed Palette. It is an obvious rival/dupe to the Urban Decay Naked Palette, (naked-undressed, sheer brilliance).

 I personally cannot comment on the likenesses or differences between the two as I really cannot justify spending £36 on an eyeshadow palette. So you can imagine my joy when I heard about this offering from MUA.

The packaging is the standard black casing from MUA, which I really do love. It looks professional and like it costs much more than what it does. I like the way the shadows are laid out, but I Admit I do prefer the square eye shadow cases that are used in the Olympic themed Going for Gold Palette.

The 'Undressed' palette is full of easy-to-wear neutrals, but it has a wider variety of colours ranging from  metallic navy to shimmering gold. There are 12 different shades in the palette. There are 10 gorgeous shimmer shades and 2 matte finish shades. It does come with a double ended sponge applicator brush, which is okay for applying a base colour but does not work for blending and more detailed application.

The shadows are beautiful colours and packed full of shimmer, there is so many possibilities with this palette. You can create soft day time looks with the pinks and rose golds, or more dramatic night time smoky eye's with the darker navy. I was worried it may be to similar to the Heaven and Earth Palette, but when you swatch the shades there are so many differences.

Top Row

Bottom Row

This is just one swatch for each shade. The shades are very pigmented and full of shimmer, whilst also being easily blendable. They feel very creamy and not drying on skin like other cheaper eye shadows. I find the shadows easy to apply, but better if you do not use the brush that comes with the palette. They last about seven hours on me before fading but with an eye primer they would easily last all day.

The price of this palette is £4 and is avaliable in Superdrug and online at the MUA store here! 

Amazing I know!

Have you got your hands on the Undressed Palette yet?

My festival themed giveaway is open until Thursday here.

Review | Rimmel Moisture Renew in Coral Queen

Hey lovely readers!

You may well be aware that I am obsessed with lipstick and am always buying new ones even if I do not need them or have a shade similar!

I love trying out new brands and different styles or finishes.

I purchased the Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick when Superdrug had 3 for 2 on all Cosmetics.

I have tried Rimmel's Kate Moss lipsticks and love them so had high hopes for this one! I loved the Lily Extase bright pink shade that I reviewed here so was really excited to try Coral Queen.

Lips so cared for, true colour is maximised!

Rimmel say that there are three moisturising elements that deeply hydrate and improve lip condition instantly.

They claim that lips look 70% more hydrated and 60% smoother. There is also SPF 20 and vitamins, which is just always a bonus.

I am in love with the packaging. The purple casing is slick and stands out from all my other lipsticks.

The Rimmel logo on top of the lipstick is a lovely touch too. For a lipstick it is very attractive looking. 

The top can be stiff to pull off, but I like this as it makes me feel like the lipstick is more secure in its casing.

The colour is really lovely. It is a bright orangle coral shade. This makes your lips look fuller and your teeth look whiter. It is quite an intense shade and one coat is highly pigmented as shown in the swatch below.

I have worn this a few times and think it is quite dramatic. I like to wear it with natural make up so that it can be fully appreciated! :)

I was very impressed with how creamy the texture of the lipstick is, it is so easy to apply and it glides on smoothly. It does feel very moisturising on the lips and I do not feel the need to wear a balm underneath.

I feel the need for touch ups every four hours or so which I think is pretty good for a drugstore lipstick.

I will definitely purchase more of the Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks as they are so easy to wear and feel great on the lips. The pigmentation is great and the wide choice of colours means everyone will find a shade they like.

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks are currently priced at £6.29 in Superdrug and can be found here.

Have you tried the Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks?

My giveaway with Raspberrygrape jewellery ends on Thursday and you can enter from the link below.

http://elliegracex.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/100-follower-giveaway.html

Event | The Only Way is Essex Fragrance Launch

Hello lovelies!

It feels like ages since I have blogged and I have really missed it. I have had a busy few days of birthday celebrations, which I really enjoyed. I got some lovely gifts and had a great day. Yesterday my boyfriend took me to see The Lion King in London. I absolutely loved it! I will post about my birthday over the next few days if anyone is interested in what I did :).

On Tuesday the 24th of July I headed to the Sanctum Soho Hotel in London for The Only Way is Essex new fragrance and beauty launch event. Being an Essex girl myself I am a huge fan of TOWIE and was so excited when I received my invitation. It was my first ever event and I was quite nervous whilst flattered to have been invited.

The event took place in the very lovely and sleek Sanctum Soho Hotel off of Regent Street. We were greeted with some lovely wine and canapes, including a delicious sticky toffee pudding and lots of yummy TOWIE cupcakes! There was then a presentation and the opportunity for a photo with Sam and Arg who are fronting the fragrances.

I just look ridiculously pale.

Love Addict has been designed with the help of Sam and is described as being ‘scent to attract and encourage that love addiction’ with notes of ‘lemon anise and raisin on a floral heart to keep the addiction alive’.

The aftershave for men has been developed with Arg and is called Platinum VIP. It is said to be 'a fruity oriental accord opening with bright citrus notes of lemon, ozone, mandarin, pepper and cardamom.' 

TOWIE Beauty are also releasing an impressive amount of beauty sets and products that contain everything you need to get the Essex look for a night out. The sets include bronzer, nail polish, eye palettes, lip glosses, and false eyelashes!

The fragrances are avaliable to buy now from The Fragrance Shop and Boots. A range of the TOWIE Beauty products will be avaliable in Boots, Superdrug, Primark and Argos, so really there is something for everyone and they will be easy to find! I really want to try the eyelashes! :)

I had a fab time at the launch, I was nervous as I did not know anybody there however I met the lovely Cas from Serenity of Beauty.

Are you a TOWIE fan? Would you be interested in the new range of beauty products and fragrances?

My giveaway is running until Thursday here so get your entries in quick!

Review | Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Lovesick

Hello lovelies, 

I have found a new love in my life. The new Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain. 

Yes, the name is a bit of a mouthful...

I feel like I have waited so long for this product, when I first heard about it I knew I was going to want pretty much every shade avaliable to buy, and as always England does not get the same amount of balm stain shades as America :(! However as soon as I got back from my holiday last week I headed to Superdrug and picked up two of the Kissable Balm Stain's. After falling in love I have "accidently" gone out and picked up the other three shades that I really wanted.

Revlon say, "Just Bitten Kissable is a pampering balm fused with a lightweight lipstain that gives you softer, smoother lips with a flush of shiny color that lasts hour after hour. The smooth and moisturizing gel formula glides on beautifully with a light peppermint fragrance for truly kissable lips – and the retractable chubby crayon is the perfect accessory for any occasion as no sharpener is required!"

The packaging is so adorable and expensive looking. I love the fact that you can twist the balm up and you do not need to sharpen the crayon style end, which means you also are not going to loose any of the product. I actually prefer the look of the Kissable Balm Stain to the Clinique Chubby Stick that is it obviously compared with. 

There is a strong smell and taste of mint that tingles for a little while but I really like it. It does fade quickly.

My lips tend to be a bit dry, and I have never had a brilliant experience with a lip stain before. The Kissable Balm Stain is moisturising and smooth for a product sold as a stain. It is so easy to apply as it glides straight on and you can do it without a mirror. It is creamy and sits on the lips without clinging to any dry patches.

Lovesickis a very creamy hot pink shade. It is a very in your face pink and will get you noticed! It is a sort of fuchsia magenta mix, and I really love it. It is extremely pigmented for a balm stain, it has the same sort of colour pay off as a lipstick. After about five hours of wear the balm fades into a lovely bright pink stain that lasts all day.

I really recommend these as I love them so much! I even love them more than the lip butters.

They retail at £7.99 but are currently £5.99 in Superdrug.

Have you tried any of the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain's yet?

My giveaway is now live, and you can enter here!

http://elliegracex.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/100-follower-giveaway.html

Haul | Primark July 2012

Hello lovelies,

I hope you are getting some sun wherever you are! In London it has been gorgeous over the past few days and I am hoping it stays this way for my birthday on the 26th! 

I have a long overdue Primark haul for you with bits I have bought in the past month. Some of them I took on holiday to Turkey with me and others are just necessities I wanted.

Dress £10

I bought this dress after lusting over the Peplum trend for a while now. It is a very tight material so I had to get it in a size bigger as it made me feel claustrophobic getting in and out of it and I thought I was going to have ask someone to lift it over my head for me! 

(is it just me who is scared of getting stuck in a dress?)

I intend to wear this on a night out next week to celebrate turning 18! It is very flattering and covers my huge hips quite well. I was actually very pleased with this for a tenner.

Skirt £10

I picked up this dip hem skirt before I went on holiday but they still have it in store in different prints and colours. I was not overly keen on the dip hem trend but have grown to love it, and I think this skirt is a really cute and feminine way to wear the trend. It comes with a belt too and I wear it on the waist.

Dress £6

I am sure you have all seen this dress now as everyone seems to have it. It comes in pretty much every colour possible. I originally wanted the pink one and the white one, however they only had navy. 

It has cut out flower detailing at the top and a key hole cut out back. It has ties to do up at the back as well. I wore this over bikinis on holiday. I do like this and it did great for a cover up when I was away. It is quite short and revealing so I am not sure if I would wear it out now I am home, and I do think it looks slightly cheap. :(

Dress £5

I picked up this dress in the holiday section of Primark, it is intended to be worn as a beach cover up.

 I actually wore it out at night though as I thought it was so lovely. It has a cute Cath Kidston style print (why I love it) and has nice detailing at the top. It was slightly too big for me round the waist but I safety pinned it and it looked really great.

Bag £5

I needed a neutral coloured bag that I could use in the evenings of Summer as all my other smaller bags are black. This bag is a soft pink nude colour that goes well with everything. I love the Chanel quilted pocket and chain. It is a soft material and has lots of room inside so it was great for holiday and will be good for some hopefully sunny summer nights.

Shoes £1.50

I picked up these plaited nude sandals to wear whilst away. They are cheep and cute and did the job!

Rollers £2 and £1

I have wanted to try rollers for a while and spotted these velcro rollers last week whilst in the jewellery and make up section of Primark. The large pink ones were £2 and the smaller black ones were £1. I have not tried them out yet but am quite excited to give them a go.

Eyelashes £1

Socks £2.50

More essentials that I needed. I have heard good things about Primark eyelashes so I am hoping they live up to my expectations. Cute socks, that is all :).

Hair Turban £1.50

I  have been meaning to pick one of these up for a while now. Obviously they are a cheap towel material so will probably not do much to dry my hair, but I will use it when I have got a hair mask on to keep the heat in.

Hair Bands £1

Hair Grips £1

Primark hair bands are good as they do not have a metal bit on them that can pull and damage the hair, and they are so cheap that it does not matter if you loose them as I always do.

Have you picked up any bargains in Primark lately?

http://elliegracex.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/100-follower-giveaway.html my giveaway is still open for you all!

Review | Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous

Hello lovelies, 

I have found a new love in my life. The new Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains. 

Yes, the name is a bit of a mouthful...

I feel like I have waited so long for this product, when I first heard about it I knew I was going to want pretty much every shade avaliable to buy, and as always England does not get the same amount of balm stain shades as America :(! However as soon as I got back from my holiday last week I headed to Superdrug and picked up two of the Kissable Balm Stain's. 

Revlon say, "Just Bitten Kissable is a pampering balm fused with a lightweight lipstain that gives you softer, smoother lips with a flush of shiny color that lasts hour after hour. The smooth and moisturizing gel formula glides on beautifully with a light peppermint fragrance for truly kissable lips – and the retractable chubby crayon is the perfect accessory for any occasion as no sharpener is required!"

 The packaging is so adorable and expensive looking. I love the fact that you can twist the balm up and you do not need to sharpen the crayon style end, which means you also are not going to loose any of the product. I actually prefer the look of the Kissable Balm Stain to the Clinique Chubby Stick that is it obviously compared with. 

There is a strong smell and taste of mint that tingles for a little while but I really like it. It does fade quickly.

My lips tend to be a bit dry, and I have never had a brilliant experience with a lip stain before. The Kissable Balm Stain is moisturising and smooth for a product sold as a stain. It is so easy to apply as it glides straight on and you can do it without a mirror. It is creamy and sits on the lips without clinging to any dry patches.

Rendezvous is a bright orange coral shade with a hint of gold shimmer. It definitely would look better on those with more tanned skin. (mine is fading fast!) I found this shade of the Kissable Balm Stains to be a bit more sheerer than the others, so it does not look as bright on the lips as it does in the stick. The colour is buildable, however your mouth can feel quite heavy with product if you apply too much. After about five hours of wear the balm fades into a lovely coral stain that lasts all day.

I really recommend these as I love them so much! I even love them more than the lip butters.

They retail at £7.99 but are currently £5.99 in Superdrug.

Have you tried any of the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain's yet?

My giveaway is now live, and you can enter here!

http://elliegracex.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/100-follower-giveaway.html

Review | Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Cherish

Hello lovelies, 

I have found a new love in my life. The new Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain. 

Yes, the name is a bit of a mouthful...

I feel like I have waited so long for this product, when I first heard about it I knew I was going to want pretty much every shade avaliable to buy, and as always England does not get the same amount of balm stain shades as America :(! However as soon as I got back from my holiday last week I headed to Superdrug and picked up two of the Kissable Balm Stain's. 

Revlon say, "Just Bitten Kissable is a pampering balm fused with a lightweight lipstain that gives you softer, smoother lips with a flush of shiny color that lasts hour after hour. The smooth and moisturizing gel formula glides on beautifully with a light peppermint fragrance for truly kissable lips – and the retractable chubby crayon is the perfect accessory for any occasion as no sharpener is required!"

 The packaging is so adorable and expensive looking. I love the fact that you can twist the balm up and you do not need to sharpen the crayon style end, which means you also are not going to loose any of the product. I actually prefer the look of the Kissable Balm Stain to the Clinique Chubby Stick that is it obviously compared with. 

There is a strong smell and taste of mint that tingles for a little while but I really like it. It does fade quickly.

My lips tend to be a bit dry, and I have never had a brilliant experience with a lip stain before. The Kissable Balm Stain is moisturising and smooth for a product sold as a stain. It is so easy to apply as it glides straight on and you can do it without a mirror. It is creamy and sits on the lips without clinging to any dry patches.

Cherish is a very creamy bubblegum pink shade. It is very flirty and fun, I think it is one of those colours that is versatile and can be worn day or night! It has a slight shimmer to it as well.  It is extremely pigmented for a balm stain, it has the same sort of colour pay off as a lipstick. After about five hours of wear the balm fades into a lovely soft pink stain that lasts all day.

I really recommend these as I love them so much! I even love them more than the lip butters.

They retail at £7.99 but are currently £5.99 in Superdrug.

Have you tried any of the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain's yet?

My giveaway is now live, and you can enter here!

http://elliegracex.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/100-follower-giveaway.html

Review | Technic Nail Varnish in Carnival

Bonjour lovelies!

I have been eyeing up this Technic nail varnish in Carnival for ages. It has done it's rounds in the blog world and I am sure you all have seen it before. I just had to have it. It is sold in a shop called Bodycare. I have never seen a Bodycare near me or know of one near by so I had to go on the eBay hunt for this.

LOOK AT ALL THE SPARKLES

It is an obvious dupe for the OPI Rainbow Connection, which I do not own so cannot compare.

It has lots of brightly coloured glitter particles of different sizes, which are very sparkly and fun.

The brush is an average size and applies fairly well. It is very dense with glitter and you do have to try quite hard to apply an even amount. It takes a while to dry, annoying if you are impatient as me. It can dry quite gloopy too depending on how many coats you apply.

Overall I think it is fab for a cheap polish and I think I am going to get a lot of use out of it.

I do not like it over the orange varnish, but I was too impatient and wanted to try it out straight away.

I purchased the Technic Nail Varnish on eBay here. I paid about £2.50, which I think is a fairly good price compared to the hefty cost of OPI's Rainbow Connection. If you live near a Bodycare go and get this as I think it retails for 99p!!

Have you got the Carnival polish?

My giveaway is now live here http://elliegracex.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/100-follower-giveaway.html