Mac RiRi Boy Lipstick

Let's cast our minds back to the 20th June 2013... What were you doing? I remember it well as from about 11:40am I began to hit the refresh button on the MAC home page in (obsessive?) anticipation of Rihanna's second RiRi Hearts Mac launch. I had already snared RiRi Woo back in May (which was a happy accident! totaaaally unaware of the coveted hype!) and now my eyes were set firmly on RiRi Boy.

I knew I needed to be prepared. 

Let’s picture the scene.

Me surrounded with the laptop, Iphone and Ipad.  

Tapping the refresh key on each device, willing the collection to go live so I could order and relax!

DISCLAIMER

I say I was 'tapping' the refresh key and that's true so long as the term 'tapping' covers repeatedly and frantically press press PRESSING the enter key at a rate that mirrored my pounding heart beat!!! BANG BANG BANG! 

Girls feel the urgency here and imagine the crazy look in my eyes! All I was missing was a whistle and some back up

(Think Friends when Monica goes wedding dress shopping... yes!)

BUT... twas worth it though as I got her! And ain't she beautiful?

(I also got the bronze and blush duo in Hibiscus Kiss but that was really in the interest of free delivery!)

Despite having this lipstick since June, I've only just started wearing it. The RiRi embossed bullet looks so good I couldn't bring myself to even swatch it and spoil it! And then there's the putting off using it because you haven't taken the photos yet... BEAUTY BLOGGER PROBLEMS THOUGH!

RiRi Boy is described as a 'matte vivid lavender' with a retro matte finish. They certainly weren't lying when they said VIVID mind. The colour is intense and I loved wearing it. For me it's a true purple, it's bright but deep and because it's a matte finish it's entirely opaque.

Looking at comparison swatches RiRi Boy is Matte version of Mac's Up The Amp.

Purple lips and dark nails... Oh and a berry coloured beanie hat. This can only mean TAAAARAAAA SUMMER! 

I 'do' the colder months better. I find them less hassle and love feeling cosy.

(Give me a week before I'm on here whinging and whining asking for a bit sunshine again!)

FICKLE.

Throw in a mohair cardie and some buckled ankle boots and we've got autumn sussed!

Do we like? Is RiRi Boy on your list come the 3rd of October??? I don't know what's on mine yet but I can already imagine any logic or self control going ooot the window.  In fact I'm still waiting on it coming back!

I reply to all comments and you can catch me on twitter and instagram too (links on home page) 

See you over there :)

Love and kisses

k xxxxxxxx

Mac Impassioned Lipstick love

MWAH

Pucker Up Boys and Girls as today I want to share my lusty love for this weeks favourite lippy shade.

MAC's Impassioned.

Aaaah for me this is sexy gorgeous sexiness rolled into one vanilla scented sleek lil bullet!

 The colour on the lips is a beautiful bright almost neon pinky red. Its warm toned and I found it ever so flattering on my pale face. It's certainly a lipstick to centre your make up around like, it does the talking for you and makes a canny statement on a Saturday afternoon.

The Amplified finish is perfect as it intensifies on the lips to give high impact colour that will turn heads!

(Listen to me, talking like I'm wor cherillllllllll doing her loreal adverty thing)

No lip brush required, I just swished (yes swished) it straight on from bullet to lip.

(happy accident, I was pushed for time, couldn't find a brush so thought I'd cheat... score!)

Matte and Amplified are most definitely my favourite finishes and they have the best staying power...  I mean this pouty pic was taken about 3 hours after my initial application and it hadn't budged.

In fact I woke up the next morning with Impassioned still clinging on to my lips for dear life! Not a look I'd recommend though :)

I wonder what lippy will be ruling my world next week? What's your favourite MAC shade?

Looking forward to reading your lushty comments and please feel free to leave your links :)

*blows kisses*

Love 

k xxxxxx

June Is Hauling Out All Over

Hello all you gorgeous lovely people. It's been too long hasn't it? I'm pulling the been busy decorating" card... AGAIN! It's hard to believe but it's true, I'm queen procrastinator plus I've developed a rather unhealthy obsession with buying tester pots of paint. Seriously I'm buying them as if they were nail polish... CURAYZEEE or what. 

My walls are like a bonny piece of patchwork though :)

Anyhow lets get back to it. Before my June haul ends up being an August post!!!

As ever included in the monthly stash of splurges there is the great, the bad and the utterly pointless (as all compulsive shoppers can identify with I'm sure!)

We'll start with possibly the best invention for super duper skin evaaaaah. 

The Clarisonic Face and Body Brush has absolutely rocked my world this month. I use it morning and night with my regular cleansers. I'm converted, my skin has never looked as smooth or felt as soft. 

Word of warning though... 

My oh my never (ever) make the mistake of letting the battery go flat, I went to use it this morning and it was completely dead. Devastated doesn't even cover it. I was actually overwhelmed with despair, palpitations, catastrophising THE LOT!

There's a few bandwagon purchases this month and the Emma Hardie Moringa Balm was a conga line I just had to join. In this cute little set you get the cleansing balm, moisturiser and eye cream. 

The Moringa balm is everything it promises and I expected. 

In fact on balance I think it has the edge over the Elemis cleansing balm as it dissolves eye make without any stinging or aggravation. That includes complete annihilation of Benefits They're Real Mascara... Now tell me that ain't impressive?

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo. It's been blogged to death and its a Marmite product.

 For me though... J'Adore.

 I'm on to tube number three and as you can see I'm like madame scrooge cutting it open and making sure I get every last splodge of product! It did burn a bit at first but that was likely due to over zealous and excessive application, once a day is fine for me and it sort of keeps pores empty and in fairness who wants cloggy ones?

Slighty off topic but going back the Marmite phrase... I happen to LOVE Marmite (on toast with melty cheese) but I shudder when anyone describes themselves a Marmite character, "you'll either love me or hate me blah blah blah", I save myself time by instantly deciding to 'hate' them! 

Harsh? But to be fair you only usually hear big brother hopefuls uttering such words!

Lush treats... 

The Mask of Magnaminty is a repurchase and its so good for drawing out and drying out any impurities. Keep it by the bath and slap on whenever you have a spare ten minutes.

The CupCake mask is aimed at teenage skin so I avoided eye contact when buying... Bet the guy at till was dying to say, erm the wrinkle stuff is over there love! It was fine though, both he and I remained composed :)

The Catastrophe Cosmetic mask smells gorgeous and that's probably owing to the fact it contains bits of actual (fresh from the punnet) blueberries. Its cooling, calming and leaves you looking clean and rejuvenated. 

Elemis Elemis Elemis... Skin Bliss Capsules are indeed considered Holy Grail. You can read my review on these little beauts here (only if you want to of course)

Something a little bit different. 

Pure Pedi Exfoliating Boots. Now talk about the sublime to ridiculous one minute I'm in Lush trying pass as a 17 year old and the next I'm buying ANTI-AGING foot care! 

These boots are an alpha hydroxy acid treatment and 2-3 weeks after using your hard, manky, dry and cracked skin will have peeled off. Think of a snake shedding and you've got the picture.

Now there will be a good old review post about these as I'm currently awaiting results. Exciting!

Standard summer restock of fakey tan. I'm uber pale, in fact I look blue some lights so I need something that gives a natural sun kissed glow and He-Shi is the product to deliver that.

I've used this on and off for over the years and I keep going back to it. That is high praise indeed as I consider myself to know the false tan world inside out!

Now regular readers know my love for Mr Leighton Denny's nail varnishes so when he brought out the sun believable range I HAD to order (bad things would of happened if I ignored the urge). 

It's a gradual tan so I intend on applying every other day, just to you know... take the edge off!

I

Oh but what's a monthly haul without a nod to Soap and Glory. I've used this brand for years now and the first thing I ever bought was the Glow Lotion. It's been repurchased many a time as I find its the only product that make my sans tan legs socially acceptable!

The Beauty Blender... I've used it once, I was rushed, I was tired and it was a bad face day. So I'm thinking that is probably clouding my judgement as I wasn't blown away by this little pink egg.

.I'm wondering if I expected ridiculous miracles... like a swipe of the sponge around my face and then I'm Mila Klunis? 

I'll have another go though as a million amazing reviews can't all be wrong :)

Revitalash Volumising Primer. I do love an eyelash primer. I was at one time completely devoted to Loreal Double Extension mascara and I think that it was down to it having a separate primer! 

Oh mind it's the little things!

The bestest thing about this is applies as a bright electric blue so if you want to channel your inner eighties chick... then you can ditch the proper mascara and do so!

SIMPLY WOW KLAXON! 

YSL Touche Eclat Foundation and Illamasqua Gleam in Aurora. These both create luminous glowing beautiful skin, I love them.Just utterly love them.

 Espesh the foundation.

A huge thank you to the gorgeous Gemma of Miss Make Up Magpie fame for these! That gurl can certainly shop!

Mac monthlys... June was Rihanna's Riri Loves Mac launch and boy was I ready. I already have Riri Woo and was worried she was getting lonely (pathetic justification I know!) so I knew it when it came to adding to the collection it was going to be heart over head sorta purchase.

It launched at 12pm and by 12.20pm I was the proud owner of RiRi Boy (basically a matte up the amp) and Hibiscus Kiss which is a bronzer and blush combined.

Got a nice little Riri Loves Mac review coming up so keep your fluttery lash framed eyes peeled! 

My first ever Smashbox buy... A sweetly beautiful lip gloss in Pout. It's pretty, it's shimmery and no gloopy stickiness. Gold medal or what?

Maybelline buys... So I went to Superdrug for some paracetamols and this happened! It's rather tame and I'm blaming thanking the migraine! Me having unsupervised access to make up with a debit card could of been soooo much worse!

Maybelline gel liner repurchase as I do enjoy the brush applicator but I have so say I find it a tad smudgy.

A prime example of life giving with one hand and taking away with the other!

And filed under the POINTLESS purchase category... Maybelline Dream Touch blush. Again I'm relating this to the migraine, nothing wrong with the product but its a pale peachy shade and I know from many years of experience that that colour serves no positive with me. 

Final furlong people... thanks for staying with me :)

I could not even contemplate a month without showing my talons some love so first up is The Leighton Denny Moisture Collection. 

Perfect for a bit of nail TLC. I have long strong nails but they are prone to peeling (probably because they usually drenched in varnish!) so this little kit will keep pesky peels to a minimum. 

Oh and in the world of buffers... Leighton's one is

the cats cream. Gets nails so shiny you'd think you had a clear coat of polish on.

This Nails Inc bundle came as part of an auto delivery I signed up to in March with QVC and they weren't the colours they advertised. I had been expecting a hot pink leather so was DEVO when that didn't land. Saying that though  it's a good mix of colours with the blue and holographic silver being my personal favourites.

L-R pembroke square, royal mews, st james square, brighton, hampton court peace gardens, featherstone street

Now being a nail junkie and a slave to topshop it seems shocking that until two weeks ago I had never sampled a topshop polish... WELL I HAVE NOW! 

The packaging is cute and Green Room is my colour of the month... a real striking jade and no chips for two days.

Also picked up a Models Own nail art pen so I can get creative... shame I'm cack handed like!!

Phew that felt exhausting just typing it out, imagine how hurt and used my bank account feels :)

Anyone tried any of these products? Any thoughts or recommendations? As always I read and reply to every single comment and they put such a smile on my face.

Oooh and a spot of UHMEZZING news... my little blog has been shortlisted for a Cosmo Blog Award, Best New Beauty Blog :) 

I'm so unbelievably overwhelmed as I've not even been doing this 4 months yet! 

So if you like my blog and enjoy reading then I'd love you to vote for me and you can do it here or there is a button on my home page.

Until next time...

Love 

k xxxx

Mac Speed Dial

Hi and a big hello to you all. Hope everyone is good :) Today my post is dedicated to the sweetest pink lipstick in my collection.

Yes its Mac! And she goes by the name of 'Speed Dial'

Speed Dial is a cremesheen formula which gives a creamy sort of milky coverage with a slight gloss to the finish... Not talking a lip gloss effect here, think more of a matte lippy with a slick of lip balm over it .

In my opinion (which is based on nothing scientific) Speed Dial is a cool toned pink, with a gorgeous golden shimmer running through it. The colour pay off is fabulous and is almost opaque on the lips. The gold isn't glitzy nor does it give a pearlised or frosted effect so it is super wearable through the day. 

Mind because of the finish its staying power isn't that of a matte, so to keep that colour popping, prepare to reapply in maybe 3 or so hours. No lip brush needed :)

L- One swish                                            R- Two swishes intensify colour

Next two pictures are almost definitely unnecessary facial close ups! So be kind and use a sort of squinting technique when looking :)

Photo above is 2 coats of Speed Dial with no blotting. 

Photo below is after blotting (and lil sneak peek of nostrils too!)

As I'm a total fanny scatter brain I forgot to take Speed Dial out on my travels the day I debuted it... So here's me 6 hours post application... A very faint wash of colour left, rookie error!

So in a shell of a nut, Speed Dial is probably my 'go to' day time lipstick as I cannot seem to pull off nudes! Its light fresh, girly and ever so pretty.

Anyone else got it? What's your favourite day time shade? I need to expand my collection :)

Looking forward to reading and replying to your gorgeous comments 

Love

k xxxx

May-be Hauling

Hey Girls and Boyos! Its June, AND it's almost double figure days into June, and only now am I bringing you my haul from the month of May! *hangs head in shame* But to throw a few excuses cliches at you, it's better to be late and great... better late than never... it's about the pace not the race... and all that jazz!

So lets get straight down to it: May welcomed a few products into my life but primarily it was more about the repurchases, the clothes, the decorating and the half term holidays. So by my crazy expectations this haul is smaller than my beauty cave anticipated. 

Emma Hardie's magic moringa balm not shown... awaiting replacement tub as mine was cracked on delivery :(

So this is the No No No Hair Removal System and as I'm such a die hard Girls Alouder I involuntarily call it the Sexy No No No! A little piece of irrelevant trivia for you there. I didn't actually buy this in May, I bought it in March but I FOUND it in May... in a wardrobe whilst looking for minty green wedges (they still haven't turned up!) if you're wondering. I'm on the fence with this one as haven't used it long enough to see true results but essentially it is a laser treatment that in the short term singes away and buffs off visible growth and over time eradicates hair follicles with the big beautiful picture being permanently perfectly smooth pins... (that's my take on their promise!) What I will say its quiet, easy and painless, I do it watching Corrie!

Innocently showing MAC some love... and avoiding eye contact with my husband when the postie knocked on the door... :) 

Ok so this happened like this. All about orange collection came out... Bought Flamingo and the Strobe Cream, didn't need the strobe cream really but if its in the name of free delivery then I WILL add another item to basket. I have Gemma the ultimate make up magpie to thank for the other four lippys!

 That is four limited editions you see there... makes it all the more necessary surely?

Now tell me these colours aren't pretty?? At time of typing of I've yet to swatch some but I'm planning a post dedicated to my collection (which only started in March!). I have worn Silly which was BRIGHT and looked fabulous with my (fakey) tan, it's not the dizzy heights of Candy Yum Yum for me though! Flamingo is simply gorgeous BUT it does look suspiciously identical similar to my Betty Bright from the Archies Girls collection, the only obvious difference being the finish, Betty Bright is a satin finish and Flamingo is Lustre.

L-R Raspberry Swirl, Silly, Speed Dial, Flamingo, Feel My Pulse

I honestly thought it would of been rude not to take advantage of Daniel Sandler's 20% discount over the bank holiday weekend. I've been dying to try the water colour blushers for a while now and after tweeting the man himself to ask for advice on my perfect shade (to which he replied!) I ordered So Pretty which is a rosy pink with shots of shimmery gold running through it... The swatches of So Pretty are indeed so pretty and I can't wait to use this properly. 

I'm Soap & Glory devotee and tend to impulsively pick up something from the brand every time I'm in Boots. The shower cream smells delish and I have a million Soap & Glory body lotions and butters to layer the scent too. I toyed with the idea of the body spray but decided against it... unsure why now! 

Sexy Mother Pucker is worth buying for the name alone :) I have the original and it's been a repurchase a few times (because its A) wonderful and B)I keep losing things... it's an illness!) but this has some pink to it and gives a little wash of colour as well as the famous TINGLE. 

*Sound the fanfare* Yes it's my monthly Elemis tribute dance :) Shown here is the Pro Collagen Marine Day and Night Cream. Bought simply to keep my stock levels in check :) You can read about my Elemis raves and reviews HERE and HERE and that includes my May Elemis purchases

... Happy skin care! 

Bit of unusual one as not available in the UK...

My husband is German and although he lives in this country (after snaring him I couldn't allow him to leave me and go back.. good god no!)  all of his family are still in Deutschland which means aside from lots of lovely trips across there we often have delightful packages sent to us.

 This month my gorgeous Mutter-in-Law sent us some Ricarda M skin care cream which is a top seller in Germany and all my husband used when I first met him (he has lushy skin!)

 I'm going to do a full review of this which will mean it replacing my Elemis pro collagen (can you's hear the palpitations? can you's feel my anxiety?) but I have faith and got to keep things fresh, skin gets bored and lazy if it gets used to a product. That's my experience anyway. Plus if it's a total disaster I can always opt for divorce ;)

Love anything that comes with a spatula!

Got some nail loving for you now... This Pro Strong kit was about £30 from QVC and I attribute the fact my nails don't bend or break easily to this delightful little set... These are treatments so if you are wanting sustained protection  then whip out your nail envy and use alongside. For me Pro Strong means bye bye to soft, brittle and peeling nails. Oh and they all sink in over polish so no interruptions to your summer manis... bonus!

Another little restock of the Nails Inc Express Nail Polish Remover... I'm a big fan of these removing pots as they are so handy plus I hate the feel of claggy cotton wool, espesh when it leaves its dirty fluff behind...Seriously BAH!

 I have the Leighton Denny remover pot too and I actually far prefer his formula as it leaves nails looking nourished and healthy BUT the actual shape of the pot is a tad awkward in comparison to the Nails Inc one. 

I can't vocalise my love for Baker Street enough (you are all thinking.. "urgh yes you can and have... shaaaadup already!"...sorry!) so when I saw on QVC that the were selling it alongside Caviar Top Coat and a funky lil magnetic number I justified it to myself and ordered... My current Baker Street is a almost a third used, practically unsightly! 

L-R Caviar Top Coat, Magnetic Polish in Whitehall, Baker Street

Those of you that read my Nails Inc Sprinkles Post will be aware that Nails Inc Royal Botanical Gardens was catapulted into an all time favourites category (high praise indeed!). I loved it so much that I decided to buy the complete spring/summer set from Nails Inc which included this polish too (yes another duplicate but if you think something is UH-MEZZIN then it pays to have plenty!)

 I think these colours scream sunshine and ice creams... there's a coral, a minty green, a sky baby blue and a peachy pastel... What is not to love? I mean really!

Those of you that didn't read my spinkles post you can catch it HERE and it includes swatches of Royal Botanical Gardens too

L-R St James Park, Chelsea Physic Garden, Royal Botanical Garden, Kensington Palace Gardens

So that was May and wasn't May canny? Anyone else tried these products? Or is there anything that has grabbed your attention?

Love reading all your lushty comments and I reply to all. If you need something answered quickly then tweet me... all links at top of the page :)

Taaaaaraaaaaa

k

xxxxxx

Porcelain Face Of The Day

Happy Holiday Weekend Folks :) Hands up who got burnt yesterday? Don't even think about telling me if you went a golden shade of bronze as you'll turn my blue eyes a monstrous green! I didn't even get so much as a tan line to prove I'd been outside all day, I swear the sun actually bleaches me!!! I was definitely dealt the short straw when Melanin was being dished out like!

And as I'm the lilliest of whites I was in no way prepared for the tropical weather we stripped off to yesterday, so rather than getting messy and applying wash off tan frantically and basically having a 'right faff on' I decided to tap into my natural skin tone and WERK the porcelain! THINK VINTAGE... That was my creative inspiration anyway (that and having no inclination to waste time fakey tanning!)

So for my face of the day or FOTD (as it is affectionately known in blogland) I totally ditched the bronzer and the corals and thought I'd Gwen Stefani it instead.

And here is my little lot of magic pots...

So my ace of base was as ever pretty simple. Mally's Primer followed by Perricone No Foundation Foundation which leaves skin all light and fresh and glowy... Unfortunate as I am my skin ain't perfecto so a quick dab of Benefit Fake Up over pesky (time of the month!) blemishes and a quick dusting of Bare Minerals Mineral Veil to set it,  helped to create a flawless finish

In no particular order...  Mac Brush, Mally Eye Bright & Poreless Primer, Bare Minerals Mineral Veil, Perricone No Foundation Foundation & Benefit Fake Up Concealer

Now I must tell you I'm a HD Brow girl... Always. Its a must for me. My next appointment is Wednesday and its a week longer than I'd like to wait but hey ho... So warning my brows aren't what they could and should be!!! Mally Eyebrow Pencil to the rescue though... the crayon end to draw, fill in and define, then sponge end to intensify colour. Its Holy Grail people... BELIEVE.

The last week this bad boy has allowed me to leave the house with head held high!!

Now that the brows are visible, it's a simple eyelash curl, nude pencil in the waterline and lashings of mascara job...  and done. Romeo done.

Mally Mascara & Brow Pencil, Rimmel Scandal Eyes Pencil in Nude. And lash curlers.

Lips were lined in Mac Liner in Cherry (not pictured as couldn't find it... was later recovered under the seat in my mam's car, no panic!) before drenching them in Rimmel Apocalips. Colour unknown as sticker has come off the bottom. HASHTAG PROFESSIONAL BLOGGER! (mega lolz!)

Flush of colour with Benefit Posie Tint then a beautiful blusher highlighter combo from The Body Shop. Of course (of course) Benefit High Beam to finish. Would be seriously rude not to.

Aaaand the finished product is.... 

TAAAAADAAAAA

All completed with a bit head scarf, some fred perry and some high waisted skinny jeans.

Should of done an outfit of the day too but as ever I was in a mad rush and didn't even have time to zip up me sandals :)

So what do we think?? For me this was a brave decision... I do love a spray tan and pinky coral shades!!

As ever love love love your comments and I read and reply to each and every single one

ByezeBye 

k xxxx