August Favourites

August is coming to an end and I've had a really great month of relaxation and spending time with the people I love, I hope you all had a lovely summer too. I thought this would be a great time to share with you my August Favourites! 

Make up 

1) Mac Studio Fix Fluid in NW13

This month I discovered my new favourite foundation and that is the very famous Mac Studio Fix Fluid. I'd be surprised if you haven't heard about this or if you've heard a bad word about it, it's very much raved about. Well I'm going to join the crowd because I absolutely love it! The oil free foundation has a natural matte finish with a medium yet buildable coverage. I found this absolutely perfect for my pale skin in the shade NW13. This foundation lasts a long time and looks just as good hours into your day.  Check out the original post. 

2) Mac Lipstick in 'Hug Me'

I've bought a few lipsticks this month but this is my favourite! 'Hug Me' is a lovely smokey rose colour in a lustre finish. This finish was great over the summer as it is sheer, creamy and not at all drying on the lips. A perfect nude for me. Check out the original post.

3) Seventeen Wow 3 Way Highlighter 

Just buy it! You won't regret it I promise. In the past Seventeen have been a brand I've over looked, after reviewing some of their products in this post I discovered some great makeup that I will continue to repurchase time and time again. This highlighter can be used in three ways, as a primer under foundation, you can mix it with foundation to make it more dewy (a lot like Mac Strobe Cream) or you can use it as a highlight on foundation. With bronzer this makes my cheek bones look more defined and adds a healthy shine to the face that doesn't look greasy. I love it! 

4) Seventeen Stay Time Concealer 

Without a doubt this has been my go to summer concealer, I've probably used it everyday.  This concealer gave me my summer confidence to go out without wearing foundation and just this product and a powder. This  concealer covers spots effortlessly, is great under the eyes and doesn't crease. It's safe to say that this concealer does what it says on the tube and stay on all day, great for them long summer days out when you're not thinking about reapplying makeup. Original post here!

Skincare 

5) Lush The Scared Truth Face Mask

I've tried many Lush face masks in the past and I love every single one of them but this one somehow seems to stand out from the crowd.  I've been using this 2/3 times a week for the past 3 weeks and my skin has never felt better. I usually have very dry skin and I feel this face mask is the reason why my skin feel moisturised and soft a lot of the time.  My complexion looks brighter, more radiant and my skin is clear of spots completely (for once!) I would definitely recommend this to anybody with dry skin, its a god sent. Read more here.

6) Thea Walnut and Chamomile Body Glow Polish 

This month I received some samples from Thea skincare for me to review. I never expected to end up writing about one of these in my favourites but this Body Polish is an absolutely beautiful exfoliator. I was happy to discover that this product was rough enough to remove dry skin leaving my skin feeling smooth and soft but gentle enough to not make the skin sore or red. This product was perfect for refreshing the skin by naturally exfoliating all dead skin cells away but also moisturising as it includes ingredients such as Aloe Juice which seals in moisture allowing new skin cells to grow and Jojoba oil which hydrates the skin. Full review here.

7) Nivea soft

Who doesn't like a multipurpose moisturiser? Nivea soft is a great moisturising cream for everyday use. It has a light formula with Vitamin E and Jojoba Oil that refreshes skin leaving it very soft. This comes in a perfect squeeze-y tube that can be just thrown in a bag and carried around with you then pulled back out and used on the face, body and hands. This was great on them hot summer days. 

Brush

8) Real Techniques Expert Face Brush 

After wanting one of these for a long time, I finally picked one up. My foundation has never looked so natural on my face, this is definitely one that deserves its hype. The brush is super soft and dense, perfect for buffing in foundation, leaving you looking absolutely flawless all day long. I feel my face colour is more even and smooth looking after using this brush. Original post here!

Clothing

10) River Island Black Jersey Twill Blazer 

I usually never write about clothes on my blog but I'm letting my new blazer be the exception. (Please ignore the mirror shot, I don't have any other pictures) I love this is boyish fit blazer that is just in time for the new season,  I can't wait to dress it down for university or dress it up for meals in town. At only £40 I couldn't say no. 

Blogs 

11) longhairandlashes - Grace 

Grace has a lovely little blog that will leave you beauty lovers lusting over huge hauls that are filled with great products. This was one of the first blogs I followed and has always kept me interested! 

12) TillyEnn - Tilly 

Tilly is another blogger that I have been loving this month. After reading some of her posts I actually went on a huge Soap and Glory hunt myself! Thanks for the inspiration and a low bank balance Tilly. 

With summer almost over who's looking forward to Autumn make up and fashion? I can't wait to dig out the dark vampy lips and buy a new jumper! 

Thea Skincare Review*

 

*Disclaimer -  100% truthful and my own honest opinions on any products I review. 

Earlier this week I received a lovely surprise parcel from Thea Skincare including two sample products for me to review. I was especially excited about trying these products as they are vegan, not tested on animals and include high percentages of natural ingredients if not completely natural. As you may know if you've read my blog in the past that I have a huge love for products which are made from mainly natural ingredients, in my opinion nothing can be better for your skin. 

Thea - Walnut & Chamomile Body Glow Polish - £21.95 per 200g

The first product I used was the Body Glow Polish. I used a generous amount and rubbed it into my skin in circular motions. I was happy to discover that this product was rough enough to remove dry skin leaving my skin feeling smooth and soft but gentle enough to not make the skin sore or red. From reading some information which was included with the samples I believe this product was inspired by local villagers from Lake Malawi, who exfoliate their skin with fine grains of sand, rocks and stones. I think its wonderful that the creator of Thea was inspired by actions so natural, there really is nothing better than going back to the roots when creating a new product. 

This product was perfect for refreshing the skin by naturally exfoliating all dead skin cells away but also moisturising as it includes ingredients such as Aloe Juice which seals in moisture allowing new skin cells to grow and Jojoba oil which hydrates the skin. When reading the ingredients I was pleased that this product includes Vitamin E which I believe to be a must have in all skin care products as it has skin healing properties, something that I personally look for due to having stretch marks from loosing weight and scars from an operation. This ingredient is great to look out for if you have any skin imperfections like me! The only downside to this product I could find is that it doesn't smell great it's not awful but compared to some of its competitors that I've tried its not as good smelling. 

Overall, I really like this body polish, its full of natural ingredients, it exfoliates as well as moisturises and it leaves skin incredibly soft. 

Thea - Ultimate Toning Body Cream - £24.95 per 200ml

After using the Walnut & Chamomile Body Glow Polish, I moisturised my skin using the Ultimate Toning Body Cream. This cream has a lovely consistency that is easy to apply to the whole body.  When applying this product I only had to use a small amount before I was satisfied with my skin which was left hydrated and soft. Unlike the Body Glow Polish I actually love the smell of this product as it has a lovely floral fragrance. 

Again this product uses both Aloe Juice and Organic Jojoba oil which moisturises, hydrates and cleans pores. As well as this the product includes DMAE and MSM which tones the skin, making it stronger and more supple by actively regenerating cells. I love that this product is suitable for all skin types but is particularly effective on sensitive or irritated skin. Overall, I feel this product is a great body moisturiser and may be great for ageing skin or problematic skin types. 

Thank you again to Thea for sending me these samples,  I am very impressed and would recommend these products to others, I will be purchasing the Walnut & Chamomile Body Glow Polish in the future as my skin is feeling gorgeous! 

Be sure to check Thea Skincare out

Website - www.theaskincare.com

Twitter - @theaskincare

Facebook - SkincareByThea

Mac Lipstick Wish List

Is it just me or does being in the blogging community bring you a lot of cravings? I mean, ever since I started reading great blogs about amazing products my wish list has been sky high! The main product I just can't get enough of is MAC lipsticks and I know I'm not alone here. As a newbie to MAC my lipstick collection is only small, currently I own four these are; Viva Glam 1, Spirt, Shanghai Spice and Hug Me. When the finishes are such high quality and they come in every colour imaginable with a gorgeous scent, how can you not want more? 

After reading a lot of blogs including these lovelies I have came up with quite a large wish list. These are my most wanted lipsticks: 

High Tea - Lustre -  'Beige- pink with pearl'
Hue - Glaze - 'Soft pale pink'
Creme Cup - Cremesheen - 'Light blue pink'
Pink Plaid - Matte - 'Dirty blue pink'
Plumful - Lustre - 'Blossoming rose-plum'
Lady Danger - Matte - 'Vivid bright coral-red'
Ruby Woo - Retro Matte - 'Very Matte Vivid Blue Red'
Russian Red - Matte- 'Intense blueish red'
Rebel - Satin - 'Midtonal cream plum'
Diva - Matte - 'Intense reddish burgundy'

(Thank you bloggers for inspiring me!)

I'd love to hear about what your favourites are, maybe you have one of these and would or wouldn't recommend it to me? Maybe you know a better alternative to one of these? or maybe you feel I've missed out something amazing? 

Lets talk lipsticks?

HolleyMaire

Brand Review: The Body Shop - Cosmetics Edit

Well it's Monday guys, I hope you all had a lovely weekend. This means that its time for the second post in my Brand Review series, if you missed out on the first post be sure to check it out here. This week I decided to share with you a brand review on one of my favourites, The Body Shop.  Basically, there's nothing else to it, I love The Body Shop and after reading some comments on my previous posts I noticed that quite a lot of you share this love with me. So, I thought this would be a topic for you and anybody interested in trying products from The Body Shop. 

 All in One Face Base : £14.00 & Extra Virgin Minerals Compact Foundation: £16.00

First up is two base products which have been great to me over the years.

Starting on the left with the All in One Face Base, this is a lovely little compact with build in mirror which is great to carry around with you.  It's called the All in One Face Base because it is a foundation and powder in one neat compact. You can use it dry for a light matte finish or wet for a medium coverage. To do this I just wet the end of my foundation brush then rub it in the powder, this turns the powder into a liquid.  I mainly only ever use it wet for on-the-go touch-ups. This powder would be more suited for oily skin as if I use this on a dry day I can end up with skin flake offs. 

Next, is the Extra Virgin Minerals foundation which also comes in a mirrored compact, perfect for on the go. As you can see this product used to be much loved as I have hit pan. I say 'used to' because again this product would be more suited to oily skin and unfortunately my skin has recently changed. This is a cream-to-powder mineral matte foundation for a medium buildable  coverage. This product did come with a flat brush but I threw it away because the bristles constantly fell out onto my face, what a pain! 

I would recommend these two products to anybody with oily skin in the market for a reasonably priced matte foundation or powder. 

Super Volume Mascara : £10.00 & Liquid Eyeliner £9.00

Starting on the left with the Super Volume Mascara. If you have read my blog recently you will know that I also included this mascara in my 'Back to' Picks post,  this is one of the most wonderful and glamorous mascara I have ever used, I couldn't miss it out. It is definitely volumising and does not smudge, flake or run. There is no clumping at all and lashes actually look rather natural. 

Next, the Body Shop Liquid Eyeliner. Now, I used to be a huge liner fan, around this time last year I wouldn't leave the house without drawing my wings on first, so I have a fair bit of knowledge about good and bad liquid eyeliners. This one is perfect. It's super easy to apply, smudge resistant and it stays on all day, what else could you want? 

Lip and Check Stain in Rose Pink: £10.00 & Shimmer Wave in Bronze : £16.00

This Lip and Cheek stain on the left comes in two colours. This one is Rose Pink and the other is called 'Coral', I've used both an in my opinion this one is a lot better. This product is duel use, the lip stain is great for adding intensity to a lip gloss or as a base for lipstick and can also be used on the cheeks as blusher. It's save to say this is also a brilliant dupe for the Benefit 'Benetint', it's almost the same colour and it's of the same quality. 

Finally, and as always I've left the best till last. This bronzer is absolutely perfect, I use this almost everyday and it is definitely one of the best bronzers I've ever used. The five waves of colour blend together beautifully to create either a light tint or a built up bronzy glow. Using this product makes it easy to create a different look every time.  I often use the waves separately, sometimes I use the darkest shade for contouring and the lightest shade as a highlight. The best thing is the complements I get after I've used this bronzer, it really does brighten a pale face. 

What are your favourite products from The Body Shop?

Holley Maire 

All Things Lush

Granny Takes a Dip bath bomb - The Sacred Truth face mask - Phoenix Rising bath bomb 

Before busy September comes along and we say goodbye to the summer holiday I'm taking very opportunity to relax as much as possible! In my opinion there's nothing better than relaxing with a Lush product or two after a long week. Its true, I'm a Lush addicted, I also wrote a post recently about my Top Five Lush Products go check it out!

Lush - Granny Takes a Dip £3.25 

When wondering around Lush I noticed this little beauty that I'd never seen before.I believe that Granny Takes a Dip is one of their newbies, always wanting to try something new I had to buy it. I'm so glad I did, this bath bomb is probably one of the biggest I've seen, the colours pink, blue, red and green just slowly melt and bubble into each other which is so relaxing to watch.  Leaving your bath water a gorgeous baby pink colour

This bath bomb has a lemon scent which helps you feel refreshed. Lemon oil is known to boast your mood while ginger oil is antibacterial and refreshing. Black pepper is also an ingredient which is warming, making your bath even more relaxing. After soaking with this bomb in your tub your skin will feel soft, silky and moisturised. I would definitely repurchase and recommended this.


Lush - Phoenix Rising  £3.25

Phoenix Rising is one of my favourite bath bombs because its packed with colour leaving your bath water a bright purple-y fuchsia which is just gorgeous. This bath bomb has a lot of fizz making it spin around like crazy making pretty patterns in the tub. After the purple layer an unexpected minty green layer appears which you can see in the second picture (kind of).

Fair trade shea butter makes the skin feel nourished while organic jojoba oil naturally moisturises. Similarly to Granny Takes a Dip, this bath bomb will also make you feel uplifted and refreshed due to its ingredient bergamot oil which is in the citrus family. The thing I love the most about this one is its rich fragrance, it smells like cinnamon and other exotic spices. Just lovely and also well recommended to all of the Lush fans out there!


Lush - The Scared Truth £6.25

Basically Lush face masks are probably the best you'll ever use, if you haven't tried one, you need to! This one is called The Sacred Truth and its the first time I've ever used it. I actually received this face mask as a freebie for returning 5 black plastic tubs with the Lush recycling scheme, check it out here. This one was recommend by a Lush staff member for dry skin and it worked absolute wonders!

 The application was easy, the formula was thick but smooth and really soothing on the skin, I placed a thick layer on my face for 5 - 10 minutes then washed it off. I was really happy with the results, my complexion was brighter, very moisturised and smooth. Lush face masks are recommend twice a week and have a use by date of three weeks due to fresh ingredients. 

 This face mask uses 99% natural ingredients such as fresh papaya to stimulate and brighten skin, shea butter making skin nourished and hydrated, honey which as an antiseptic ingredient and ginseng root for skin conditioning.   

Whats's your favourite bath bomb or face mask? 

HolleyMarie

'Back to' Picks

Well the end of the summer is definitely looming, with only a few weeks until the schools, colleges, universities are open again for the autumn term, I thought it would be a great time to share with you my 'Back to' picks. With the aim of creating an everyday look that is light, quick to apply and suitable for all ages.

Max Factor Face Finity All Day Flawless Foundation - £11.99 & Natural Collection Corrector Stick £1.99

Being a student I know what them rushed mornings can be like. The Max Factor Face Finity is a great 3 in 1 primer, concealer and foundation and is brilliant for them mornings when you are in a bit of a hurry!
Before using this product I do like use a moisturising primer because I have dry skin but if you don't have this problem the foundation may be fine without as it has a build it primer.

When applying this foundation, I firstly apply it like a concealer to the under eyes and any imperfections I may have on that day. This is quite a thick foundation which means that it does make a reasonable concealer. If not, the Natural Collection Corrector Stick may be for you.  This was  a godsend when I was at school as it removes any redness on the skin. This works as the creamy green colour of the concealer contouracts the red, colours that are opposite each other on the colour wheel neutralise each other.

 After that I use a brush and buff the liquid into my whole face. This foundation leaves you will a beautiful matte finish which is really long lasting. Again, great as you probably don't have time to be topping up your make up during your school or college day.

The Body Shop Super Volume Mascara - £10 & Bourjois Liner Feutre £6.99

Next up is eyes, when I was at school I could never be bothered to get up and spend time on eye shadow, I basically only put on the bare essentials. If you like an eyeshadow add this is here.

The Mascara I have chosen is The Body Shop Super Volume Mascara, I originally bought this as a night time mascara but it surprising looks really natural on the eye lashes. This is a great quality leaving lashes looking lovely but not over done, there is no clumps after use and isn't at all messy. When I use this product it never takes much mascara to get the desired look meaning one tube will last you a long time.

If I decide not to wear eyeshadow I feel that my eyelids look to bare so I like to quickly put on a bit of eyeliner. This Bourjois liquid felt-tip like liner is perfect for this as it glides on nice and easy. As I'm going for an everyday look I only add a thin line but I feel this finishes the eyes off. This is probably my favourite liquid eyeliner of this style, its a one I'd recommend to anybody.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Blush in Santa Rose - £3.99 & MAC Lipstick in Hug Me £15.50

I've gone for subtle pink shade for both lips and cheeks, this will add a everyday amount of colour to the face, perfect for school.

This blush by Rimmel is probably one of my favourite drugstore blushers, its perfectly everyday and a gorgeous smokey rose colour. I'd say this is a great blush for anybody with fair skin but it would suit all skin colours due to the colour being buildable. The only disadvantage to this product is that it is a small size, making it hard to get an even spread on a brush. If you like a less subtle look add a darker blush or a bronzer here!

Last but definitely not least is the MAC lipstick in Hug me. If you have been reading my blog recently you will know that I've have quite an obsession with lipsticks, especially MAC ones. This one being my most recent purchase I had to give it mention as its a perfect match to the blush in my opinion! Hug Me is a darker smokey rose colour with a lustre finish meaning the formula gives a sheer coverage with a sheen. 

Have you tried any of these products? I'd love to hear what you think. 

HolleyMarie 

Brand Review: Seventeen

Seventeen is an area in makeup I've never really ventured too. Made by Boots in England I thought that this small cosmetics company may not be up to much to as much as other high street brands. Knowing that Boots are successful with their other cosmetics chain, No7, I thought I'd give their products a try.


Seventeen Eyes - Eyeshadows - £3.89 each

 Left to right:  Ivory coast -  Statuesque -  Mardi Gras

Firstly I picked up these single eyeshadows in three colours. The first is Ivory Coast, this is more of a transparent shimmer than an actual colour, as you can see from the picture it's not very pigmented. I find this can be good for a base or for in the tear duct.  Next is Statuesque which is a shimmery rose gold/bronze, I love this colour its my favourite out of the three. Finally, Mardi Gras is another metallic shade in a gold/brown. 

I must admit, I'm a new fan to eyeshadows and I still have to learn a lot. I used to just throw on some liquid eyeliner or something like the Maybelline Colour Tattoo cream eyeshadows, so I feel investing in some cheaper eyeshadows is a great idea before committing to a high end palette.

Overall, for the price of £3.89 each I feel these eyeshadows were a great purchase from the high street.

Seventeen - Faslifeye HD Mascara - £6.99

As soon as I saw this packaging I thought this mascara could be a possible dupe for the Benefit They're Real, being my curious self I had to buy it. So I've been using this mascara all week and I have to say I have mixed views, don't get me wrong this product is great for maximising the size of your lashes. I'm unlucky to have small eye lashes myself so products like this are my essential must haves  because of this I have tried quite a few from the hight street and this one is bare average. Although this mascara does increase the size of lashes it definitely  does not lengthen and add volume to the degree that is shown on the picture, or at least for me it doesn't. If you're looking for something new to try at an average price I'd say this would be a great to look into if you're looking for a Benefit Dupe, this is not your product. 

Seventeen Skin Wow Highlighter - £5.99 Seventeen Stay Time Concealer - £4.49

Leaving the best till last, I'd like to introduce you to my new favourite liquid highlighter and concealer. I couldn't be more impressed with these two products especially at small prices like they are. 

Firstly starting with the concealer, my go to concealer in the past has been the Collection Lasting Perfection because I love the formula and how long it lasts. I feel this Seventeen concealer is almost identical to the collection one with the only difference, that it is not as thick but provides the same coverage. This product covers spots effortlessly and is great under the eyes. This concealer feels more expensive than it is and smells like a Mac product. 

Now, on to the Wow 3 way highlighter from Seventeen. I prefer liquid highlighters to powder ones because I have very dry skin, this means there is less chance of my skin becoming flakey. It's called the 3 way highlighter because it states you can use it in three ways. You could use it as a primer for a highlighted base, add it to a matt foundation to make it more dewy or highlight the cheek bones. In reality this is not a great primer but is amazing for lightening foundations and making them less matt, if you like that look or just fancy a change. By far the best way to use this is as a highlight for the cheek bones, with bronzer this makes my cheek bones look more defined and adds a healthy shine to the face that doesn't look greasy.

Overall, I'd recommend these two products to anybody looking on the high street for a liquid  highlighter or concealer. 

Have you ever used cosmetics from Seventeen? If so, did you like them?

HolleyMarie

Liebster Award!

So today I was tagged by Emma at justaswild to be part of the Liebster Award. After actually looking into what this was I started to like the idea. Basically it's a tag for starter bloggers (under 200 followers) with the aim of supporting each other to get noticed. Emma wrote a great post go check it out! Hopefully this will let you know more about me and other great bloggers. 

Emma's questions

1. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Australia. Who wouldn't want to live there? hot weather, beautiful beaches, good job prospects, big cities but also country towns and their wildlife is amazing.

< - I mean just look at it ♥

2. How did you think of your blog username/URL?

Holley is my first name. I was never given a middle name but I always wanted one, so I gave myself one just because I can. I'm a little weird like that. Holley Marie Johnson. 

3. Cats or Dogs?

Definitely dogs. I'm an animal lover to be honest but I've had dogs all of my life and couldn't imagine not having one. In the future I'd love to have a Miniature Schnauzer called Alfie and a Toy Poodle called Aspen. 

4. Favourite clothes store?

I shop everywhere! Sometimes I go into a store and love everything other times theres nothing at all I like but if I had to choose I'd probably say River Island as theres always a pair of shoes or a handbag  I'm lusting over.

5. If you could only have your hair one colour for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

Just a natural brown, at least I'd not get to bored of it and its never going to be out dated. 

6. Who's your style icon?

Robin Lawley - If you don't know, she an Australian model. I just like her because she's a 'real size' model unlike other stick thin models out there. I'm a curvier girl, I naturally have a wider frame so aspiring to be skinny is just unlikely. If I could have the body of anyone, I'd have Robyn Lawley's.

I had to put a picture in. She's just stunning. 

7. Do you like to fake it? (such as fake nails, hair extensions and false eyelashes)

Not so much, I'm not against it, I actually think fake nails, hair and eyelashes can look lovely. I just don't go for it a lot. Maybe just special occasions or nights out etc.. 

8. Which do you prefer make up or fashion?

Make up, it's a huge love of mine and it always has been. I think there will be always be a place in my life for a Mac lipstick or Nars blusher!

9. What is something you couldn't live without?

Tea. I must drink at least 4/5 cups a day. My morning doesn't feel the same without it. (I'm actually going to make one right now) 

10. What are you passionate about?

Equality - The world would be a better place if people were just nice to each other and accepted that 'difference' is a good thing. Everybody should be entitled to equal opportunities. 

11. What's your favourite book?

I don't really have a favourite, I like true crime and true stories. 

Here's who I tag

Long Hair and Lashes

pipsqueak

London Beauty

Beauty Billboard

Vegantarian Lifestyle

The Daydreamer

Pretty little writer

What kay does

Lauren wears Prada

Beauty and bolder

Shannon Plant

My Questions for you ^

1) What was the last item you bought?

2) Why did you want to start blogging?

3) If you could have any career what would it be?

4) Whats the scariest thing you have done?

5) What achievement are you most proud of?

6) What is better money or love?

7) Have you ever cried because of a film, book or tv show? If so what was it?

8) Which country would you most like to visit?

9) What is your favourite all time skincare, makeup item and hair product?

10) What music do you like? Name an artist or a band?

11) What was the last thing you learned?

Here are the Rules

1. Link back to the person that nominated you in your post

2. Answer all questions they have given you

3. Nominate 11 more bloggers with less than 200 followers to nominate for the award

4. Think up 11 of your own questions for your nominees to answer

Results Day Treats

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. Urban Decay Lipstick in Manic. Mac Lipstick in Shanghai Spice.

On Thursday in England it was A level results day. (If you received results I hope it went well for you!) My dad congratulated me by giving me some money to buy myself something nice. Ofcourse, I got ready and went straight to MAC. When I got there I realised that every student in my city must have had the same idea, it was hard to even get to close to the counter never mind get some advice from somebody working there!

MAC Lipstick - Shanghai Spice 

After a good thirty minutes of waiting to get near the lipsticks I finally got there. I've been looking for a MAC everyday summery shade for awhile now so when I picked up Shanghai Spice I fell in love with it instantly. This lipstick is a cremesheen, which is my favourite finish so far. This is because its really comfortable on the lips and not at all drying however, this means the lipstick does not last as long as a matt or satin finish. Shanghai Spice is described as a 'frosted natural pink' by MAC but on me it looks like it has a little more orange-y tones than pink ones. This isn't disappointing as it looks like a really soft version of Ravishing, which I'd probably never pull off!

Urban Decay - Manic 

Next I went to Urban Decay as I've been eyeing-up their lipsticks for a while now. I wasn't sure which shade to go for but the woman working there was a great help. She picked me out a nude (Naked 2) a bright (Manic) and a pink (Lovelight) which would go with my skin tone. I absolutely loved them all but I went for Manic, this shade is a red with pink tones and small about of shimmer. This lipstick also has a creamy finish, a lovely shine, is opaque and long lasting. She recommended I bought the matching Manic lipliner but I'm not a high end lip liner fan, sometimes I feel for what it is you can find a decent equivalent from the high street. Finally, how pretty is the tube it comes in? The gun mental appearance with the purple tube is just stunning. Without a doubt I'll be buying another in the next few weeks!

Real Techniques - Expert Face Brush

Thanks to my lovely girlfriend I finally have the Real Techniques - Expert Face Brush. I'm so glad I listened to the hype and went out and got one of these because they really are as good as everybody makes out. The brush is super soft and dense, perfect for buffing in foundation, leaving you looking absolutely flawless all day long. I feel my face colour is more even and smooth looking after using this brush. This makes me really want to invest in some more higher quality make up brushes!

Which make up brushes do you use or would you recommend to me?

Holley Marie

Top 5 Lush Loves

As you can see I'm a little obsessed with Lush and have been for a long time now. In my opinion there is nothing better than a colourful, good smelling, handmade product that you know includes natural or safe ingredients. From years of collecting I have to say there isn't many Lush products that I don't like, so picking my top 5 was definitely difficult. 

To make it easier I set myself the task of only choosing one product per purpose. So here we have it from left to right they are Vanilla Dee-Lite, Happy Hippy, Rub Rub Rub, Mask of Magnaminty and Bubblegum Lip Scrub. 

Vanilla Dee- Lite - £12.75 per 250g
This body lotion is a gorgeous light moisturiser that leaves the skin super soft with a long lasting vanilla scent. Surprising Vanilla Dee-Lite includes fresh kiwi fruit, which is a good product for removing dead skin, making this lotion great for use after a nice scrub. When I choose a body lotion I always go for one which includes cocoa butter, like Vanilla Dee-Lite does. This is because cocoa butter is extremely moisturising and is known for treating stretch marks, scars and burned or dry skin which is always useful to have around.  

Happy Hippy - £3.50 per 100g / £6.96 per 250 g / £11.50 per 500g

Described by Lush as 'perfect for a morning shower' which I have to say I completely agree,  this product smells so citrus-y that it leaves you feeling awake and fresh. Happy Hippy is known for being great for sensitive skin and is 100% Vegan. 

Rub Rub Rub - £8.50 per 330g

This product (apart from always making me laugh because it sounds a bit rude in the 'how to use' section) is probably one of my all time favourite scrubs. I don't know about you but I'm often disapointed by body scrubs, you expect them to be rough but no in my experience they often have few exfoliating beads giving you an aching arm before a smooth leg. Rub Rub Rub is perfect for people who like a rougher experience. 

Mask of Magnaminty - £5.25 per 125g / £9.50 per 315g 

This product is without a doubt my all time favourite from Lush. I've been buying this for as long as I can remember, I've probably had 5 or 6 of the large tubs. This face mask has a beautiful pepperminty smell which gently exfoliates the skin leaving it feeling fresh and glowing. Mask of Magnaminty is my go to product if I have a break out due to honey being one of the main ingredients. Honey has been used as a skin ointment for over 2000 years due to its antiseptic nature. 

Bubblegum - £5.50 per 25g
The bubblegum  lip scrub was my first ever Lush purchase and has always been a favourite. This scrub is perfect for removing any dry skin from the lips before applying a lipstick, making  your favourite lip products last longer. Bubblegum is made from candy floss tasting caster sugar leaving you forever licking it off  your lips! 

What are your favourite Lush products? 

HolleyMarie

MAC had me at hello

Its true, MAC has well and truly stolen my high end virginity. I used to believe that high end makeup was nothing but a name on a bottle that you paid triple the high street price for. But it turns out I couldn't have been more wrong. 

After what feels like forever of trying to hunt down a foundation that suited my skin tone, didn't break me out or make my skin dry up a friend suggested that I tried MAC. Reluctant of wasting another £6-15 on foundation that would only be used once then sit in my bottom drawer, I took her advise and visited my local MAC counter.

I explained my skin type to the girl working there and she suggested I took a sample of the MAC studio fix fluid foundation in NW13 home with me before committing to the purchase, since I'd been having some problems in the past. I found this gesture very welcoming, I mean who doesn't like a tester or a freebie! Turns out this foundation formula and colour has been the best match I have found as of yet.  

The oil free foundation has a natural matte finish with a medium yet buildable coverage. I found this absolutely perfect for my pale skin, this will be great for other redheads out there, as it blends with freckles rather than giving a 'caked' face appearance. Embrace your features, never hide them away! This foundation claims to last 8 hours and I think it would be completely true in the winter months, lets just say humidity can put a downer your flawless finish in the summer! 

Since I intended to buy a MAC foundation there then I felt unsatisfied that I didn't have any goodies to take home with me, this left me starring at the lipstick section. You probably don't know this but I have a quite the lipstick obsession so finding out that MAC has one of the biggest lipstick collections I have ever seen was pretty dreamy. I bought both Viva Glam I and Spirit.

Viva Glam I is an absolute cult classic and a beautiful shade of red.  Its matt finish makes it long lasting, around 4-6 hours, my new favourite go to 'night out' lipstick. One downside is that because of the matt finish this lipstick can be drying on the lips, not to worry this can be quickly sorted by applying a lip balm before the lipstick. 

Spirit is not a shade I would usually go for but recently I've been craving new colours, I'm so happy I decided to buy it as it goes with my skin tone very well. I enjoy a darker lip that I can pull of in an everyday look. The satin finish is a lot like the matt but with an added small amount of sheen,  it is less drying however does not last as long (around 5 hours).

So whats next? I want to build my MAC lipstick collection,  I'd love to buy Plumful, Kinda Sexy and Russian Red. If you guys have any suggestions I'd love to hear! 

HolleyMarie