All the will power in the world...

If there is one thing that is seriously testing my will power during this 100 day spending ban it is the Uber Pink Collection from Bobbi Brown!

Everything about this makes me happy. To start with it is pink and from Bobbi Brown *swoon*. Those colours are just so vibrant and pretty and you know that as it is Bobbi the quality will be just as amazing.

The perfect Valentine gift for that someone special (hint hint) or special treat to yourself of course.

The stand out items for me are definitely the lip gloss in Baby Pink, the nail polish in Pink Peony, the lip colour in Pink Kiss and the piece de resistance the illuminating bronzer in Pink Peony.

It is going to take every last ounce of self-control to not purchase these on my first jaunt around the shops this Saturday with Mum in tow.

Silver & Sparkle Birthday Wishlist

My birthday is in one week and I have been mentally compiling my wish list for a little while...well 364 days to be exact. Here are just some of the things I am wishing for this year.

Duty Free Pick Ups

One of the best things about going on holiday (obviously discounting the holiday itself) is the possibility of picking up a few treats in duty free. Terminal 5 at London Heathrow does not disappoint and has one of the best beauty halls ever!

First stop was my beloved Bobbi Brown to pick up a couple of staples...and one extra treat.

I have written about the pressed powder before so it's no surprise that I was keen to pick this up minus VAT.

My favourite foundation of all time is the Bobbi Brown Luminous Moisturising Foundation. This was originally purchased as part of my 'wedding face'. I don't use it every day because it is expensive but it has been in my foundation collection ever since. It smells of lavender and as a result feels quite calming and the skin matching is always great. My colour varies between 3 (Beige) and 3.25 (Cool Beige) and this gives great dewy coverage particularly when applied using the Real Techniques buffing brush. 

The only negative about this foundation is that it doesn't have a pump, however a quick check on the website shows that the revamped packaging now includes one - so it is practically perfect in every way!

The treat I picked up was the Shimmer Nail Polish in Pink Pearl which I had seen on a counter as part of the 'Summer Beach' collection. It has a real rose gold tint and provides a more elegant nude nail than your traditional french. Bobbi really does do natural with a twist so well.

  
The other luxurious staples that I managed to sneak into my basket were some wonderful creams from Clinque. These were fully appreciated after a long 8 hour dehydrating flight. 

These work wonders for my sensitive dry skin. I have been thoroughly enjoying using the deep comfort body butter and my skin has been thanking me for it. I've noticed the most difference around my eye area after using the all about eyes cream in rich. It certainly is that, a very thick pale cream that I use morning and night to stave off the appearance of those pesky fine lines.

A few more treats were in store and I sighed lustfully at the Jo Malone counter but couldn't make any decisions under the time pressure. 

A blogger favourite and an item long added to my wish list was the Rouge Volupte Shine in Number 8 'Pink In Confidence'. The packaging of this is enough to illicit a large sigh from me but the formula is just divine;  mositurising and long lasting glossy colour in the perfect nude pink.

The picture above shows the colour after 1 slick on the top and 2 slicks on the bottom - buildable and without shimmer just the perfect gloss, that once gone leaves a muted elegant pink.

The last thing I managed to sneak in my basket before making my way to our flight was the MAC Lipglass Dazzleglass in 'Date Night'. This is a little out of my comfort zone as it looks a bright purple in the tube.

A quick swatch reveals a pale purple with blue shimmer which once thinly layered over the lips provides a striking depth of shimmer and colour that I think really flatters. It is a little deeper than your usual nude or pink gloss so I do tend to save this for nights out as the name suggests.

I'm afraid there is one negative to this product and that is the quite sickly vanilla flavouring of the gloss that reminds me of the clear natural collection lip gloss I used to rock in my teens.

 

Is there anything here that will be making it onto your wish lists?

Bourjois Bronzing Primer

Do you ever just pop into Boots and then end up with a couple of purchases that were never intended? Yeah that...

I had seen reviews of this on Sunday Girl and Gemsmaquillage as well as a few other blogs and so it wasn't a surprise that this accidentally made its way into my shopping basket and onto my dressing table. I have been coveting the Soleil Tan de Chanel *remembering that 5 lustful minutes in duty free where my head did finally overrule my heart (or my bank account)* and rumours are that this is a pretty could dupe.

This isn't like a cream blush or a mousse like the Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse its more of a whipped cream consistency. It smells of chocolate orange, which was an unexpected surprise and luckily the scent doesn't transfer onto the skin once it has been applied. 

I had anticipated using this as a product to contour on my 'summer' face but I have actually been using this as an all over bronzer. I'm not sure the colour would be right for my skin all year, but right now it is pretty much a good colour booster and isn't looking orange. I've applied using both fingers and a stippling brush and have been happy with both finishes.

This product has currently replaced my trusted and much loved Bobbi bronzer. I don't think this is shimmery at all, but it doesn't provide the same matte finish of the Bobbi. I can use this on top of my Laura Mercier tinted mosituriser and still feel like it is just my skin but better, perfect for lazy summer days and more importantly lazy summer make up!

Have you tried this product or anything else for this range? Do you have any other recommendations for that coveted summer glow?

A Navy & Nude Make Over

It wasn't too long ago that I was lusting over the Navy & Nude collection, and I took a hop, skip and a jump to my local John Lewis to get my make up needing hands on it. We had to wait a little longer for it to hit the South West, and I had an appointment at Bobbi Brown on the 4th July for a complimentary make over using the palette.

The make up artist and I had a good old gossip about my favourite products, most of which are Bobbi anyway, so it wasn't exactly a difficult conversation, and I left with a wish list as long as my arm and at the top is the corrector and concealer kit.

I was a little disappointed with the make over though as this palette and the look is all about the eyes, and I was expecting more of a dramatic look. I'm prepared to give her the benefit of the doubt, I never said this to the artist, I let her make a decision about the look she would create, and she went for more of a day look. It wasn't too far off though, because I re-created it the next day for work. 

Now onto the products, which surprisingly made it into my bag and into my make up console!

So onto the palette itself...the first thing you notice is that it is a step away from the usual black and white that she uses. This has a navy blue marbling which just makes it a little different (oh the things I put in my head to justify this) and I'm not sure I can remember a time where she has used a different colour.

Another thing I am totally in love with, is the little drawer that pulls out at the bottom to reveal 4 more extra colours, including the navy that this palette revolves around. It screams luxury at every corner, and is just a little feature that clearly makes me happy anyway.

The palette has 8 shades including the vibrant navy, which can be used to create a smokey eye, or as an eye liner. The make up artist used the navy as an eye liner for my make over, and did so by dampening the brush to get the biggest colour pay off. 

Photo from Bobbi Brown website

I love a Bobbi shimmer and the two in this palette, the Beige Shimmer and the Twilight Pink Metallic certainly don't disappoint. They are certainly not over the top, and the Blazing Star Sparkle shadow can be pressed on the top when a little extra sparkle is needed.


Oh yeah and then this happened!

This is the Pink Brightening Brick, another member of the Navy & Nude collection. Made up of 6 different pink squares; 3 matte and 3 shimmer this can be used all over the face and on top of a blush to provide a sweep of highlight across the cheek bone. This doesn't compete with a MAC highlighter or Benefits' High Beam for a full Kardashian like contour, but certainly adds a welcome glow to my complexion.

If you can't tell I am very happy with these recent additions to my make up collection and I implore you to head down to your nearest Bobbi and at least stare at this beautifulness whilst it's still around. The collection is also available to buy online here.

More than a wish list...

I don't just wish I owned these, I want to own these! So cool, pretty and shimmery who wouldn't? These little beauties are the new releases from Bobbi Brown and make up the best part (in my opinion) of the 'Nude & Navy' collection and they have got my heart all of a flutter.

I had promised myself a little spending ban but I am finding these too hard to resist.  

I'm totally sure that I will look like Katie Holmes once I'm finished as well - not!

Bobbi Brown Powder & Bronzer

I actually originally purchased these 2 products as part of my wedding make up package back in 2011 and have continued to repurchase them as once again Bobbi has come up trumps and I haven't found any others, cheaper or otherwise that do quite the same job.

The packaging is typical of Bobbi Brown, high black gloss with the white logo across the front. As always very sophisticated, and appropriate for a high end brand. There is a mirror in each of the compacts, which fill the whole lid making touch ups on the go much easier.

Pressed Powder

The make up artist recommended to me shade number 1 which is called 'Pale Yellow'. Ummm not actually a shade I would actually have picked up myself, but I was reassured that this is a mattifying powder, not a powder to add colour. It does exactly what it says on the tin. A small amount of this swept in small circular motions around my face sets my foundation and gets rid of any unwanted shine on my nose and forehead. It doesn't taint the colour of my foundation at all, it is like it is colourless and it is certainly does not leave you with that cakey look you can often get, particularly around spots or on dry patches when using pressed powders. I wouldn't say that it is overly matte, and if used sparingly I am still able to maintain a level of dewyness if that is the look I am going for (which I am usually).

Bronzing Powder

Bobbi Brown has 2 Bronzers within the range, one has a gold glitter sparkle running through it, and the other is a matte. As I originally purchased this for my wedding, I went with the matte and this actually means I am also able to use it more regularly in my everyday make up. Shimmery, glitter face is not really appropriate for a corporate law firm. This is very pigmented so I literally need a small amount on my Bobbi Brown Bronzer brush to give gentle colour on my forehead, t zone and then cheeks. It is also great for building up slightly to contour on the cheeks. I have also been known in the colder months to not use all over my face but as a blusher to add a bit of warmth to my face, and then dab a little bit of golden highlighter over the top for something a little more subtle.

I am thinking that a Bronzer with a slight shimmer may well have a little place in my make up drawer though...

Both of these products last a really long time.. I originally brought them a month before my wedding, so April 2011 and only replaced these in October 2012. You really have to use so little, depending on the look your going for as the powder is so fine and used for controlling shine rather than adding colour and the Bronzer is highly pigmented so to avoid looking TOWIE-esque you just need a fine sweep.

The only thing that could make these products better, is if you only had to buy the compact the first time around (a bit like the personal compacts you can buy and make at Bobbi), and then you could simply buy re-fills as sometimes it does feel rather wasteful throwing away the compacts when the make up is finished.

Another Bobbi Brown winner for me.

Instagram Memories #2

 

Finally got the Oyster & Caviar Palette from Bobbi Brown which I love love love /// My 'first Christmas' bauble now on my tree

 

A token Christmas tree in the Nicholls household /// Hoping we've been good and that he might make a surprise visit before heading abroad

 

Blog planning for the Christmas holidays /// Planning, iPad and home decor porn = perfect evening in

 

Lone trip to the cinema and I was convinced to buy the worlds biggest drink all to myself /// Amazing street food in Bristol, nom nom

 

Wrapping style 2012 /// Pre-holiday pamper treat

2012 Beauty Favourites

I've always been a beauty junkie but 2012 and my delve into the blogosphere has meant that this year I have indulged my passion a little bit more - enough to even write about it.

So I wanted to share with you some of my favourite products that I have discovered this year...

From left to right: Rimmel Lip Butter (Peach Parfait), Bobbi Brown Extreme Party Mascara, Bobbi Brown Oyster and Pearl Palette, Benefit Porefessional, Essie Nail Polish (Miss Fancy Pants), Benefit Coralista

Foundation

OK I'm going to cheat a little bit here (and its only my first item) but whilst I have enjoyed trying a few new products, notably the Garnier BB cream and beauty blogger favourite 'Wake Me Up' Foundation from Rimmel, I am still on the quest for the one. So my favourite foundation product of the year is actually a primer. As I mentioned in a recent Benefit post (LINK) until I found Porefessional I had been using a L'Oréal Primer but this Benefit wonder knocks its socks off. I love that with a small amount it leaves your face feeling totally smooth and makes any drug store foundation look instantly better. I'm so glad that is now in my daily routine and will continue to be a regular purchase in 2013.

Blusher

Another Benefit product I'm afraid, but 2012 saw me fall back in love with this brand and in particular the Coralista blusher. Anything with a hint of coral and I'm your girl, so I was immediately attracted to this product, and needed it in my life as my blushers were certainly on the pinky side. I love the warmth it adds to my face with a hint of sparkle. This might sound weird but I also love how it smells. 

Lips

Having until later in the year been firmly in the 'nude and sparkly' camp it took me a little while to be brave enough to venture into colour. Whilst I'm still not rocking the pillar box red or berry pouts I so covet on other bloggers (I have the worlds thinest lips and just can't pull off brights) I have taken tentative baby steps into something a little more adventurous. I have just one word, Revlon. I have loved their high street take on more high end brands and my first 'lipstick' purchase ever, of a peach parfait lip butter which I love for a more sophisticated but still youthful look, and of course, its still sparkly!

Mascara

Back to a firm favourite of mine and that is Bobbi. As far as I'm concerned when it comes to make up, Bobbi can do no wrong and I have spent many an hour lusting over their counters asking to try product after product. When ordering some re-purchases online I was sent a sample of their Extreme Party mascara and was instantly hooked. Length, volume and not a clump in sight, it is mascara perfection!

Eyeshadow

Can I cheat again? I can't choose one eyeshadow, which are my drug of choice when it comes to make up. I could literally keep buying and buying filling my make up drawers with a kaleidoscope of colour, many of which are destined never to see the light of day. However, when I saw the Caviar  & Oyster palette from Bobbi, released as part of their Christmas range, and now sold out I knew I had to make it mine. I love all of the colours and will do a full review of the product as it so beautiful and therefore deserving of its own post. But the colours are all great, whether you are putting together a muted day look or a more dramatic smokey eye, the choice and quality is brilliant. I have just returned from holiday and this palette was the only eye shadows that I took with me and I managed to create a different look every night. 

Nail polish

On this occasion I'm not actually going to choose a colour but a brand. Pinterest and then blogs introduced me to Essie and it didn't take long for me to find the stand in my local Boots and Superdrug. I am a convert, what more can I say. I love the colours and I love the formula which gives a great slick of translucent colour, great shine and staying power. Whenever I've worn an Essie varnish I've had compliments and I can certainly see me adding to my collection in 2013, in fact I already have my eye on a couple of colours. 

So there it is...some of my beauty favourites for 2012, if you have done a similar post, please link it as I would love to have a look at some of the things that you have found. Maybe they will make it onto my favourites of 2013!