Beauty | Rimmel Scandaleyes Eye Shadow Stick

I love Rimmel and I love this Scandaleyes Eye Shadow Stick.

I picked this up a couple of weeks ago after hearing a few people talk about these products. I went for the shade 003 Bad Girl Bronze. This shade is light brown/bronze shade with bronze shimmer running through it. I thought it would be perfect for both in the day smudged into the lash line and for the night as a base or to add intensity at the lash line. They also claim to be 24 hour and waterproof.

I apologise for the fact it's blunt, the night before I took these photos I dropped it onto my carpet, and I can't find a pencil sharpener big enough for it?!

Firstly, it's incredibly soft and creamy so applies easily and as a result it's very easy to blend out. It also lasts a long time, however I do always wear a primer on my eyes due to habit so I couldn't comment on whether it really would last the full 24 hours! 

In the day it's nice just to smudge into the top (and bottom if you wish) lash line and blended out to add a little something to the eye. In the evening I've been either wearing it again along the top and bottom lash line, smudging out, and reapplying, smudging out etc until I get the intensity I want or applying it to the outer corner/through the crease to add depth to the eye. The only thing with this product is it does require a few applications after blending out to get the full shimmer/intensity of the colour.

Top - smudged out
Bottom - 'normal' application

I'm going to pick up a few of the other colours soon to test out.

Have you tried these Shadow Sticks? Any colour recommendations?

Love Alice x

Lifestyle | My Week #5

10th October - 16th October 2013

1. Selfie before PlanSoc night out

2. First PlanSoc social

3. We love PlanSoc!

4. September Monthly Favourites - read them here

5. Water Polo social

6. Water Polo terrorising a very drunk friend...oops

7. Abs challenge day 1 (I died) whilst my friend sat and watched me whilst eating

What have you been up to this week?

Love Alice x

Beauty | Clarins Haul

I warn you now, this is quite a long post, get a cuppa and get comfy is my suggestion!

A few weeks ago as I was walking home from university I received an email from Clarins saying I had won a £250 voucher to spend on their website! I thought at first it was a scam, but to my delight it wasn't! So I quickly went to their website and chose my many products.

Clarins isn't a brand I normally look at or buy from, but I had heard of a few products from them which I was eager to try out. This post is just to let you know what I got, I currently haven't tried anything out but when I have I'll let you know my must haves!

The first product I knew I wanted was their Beauty Flash Balm (link). This is a cult product that claims to be an instant radiance booster. I thought it was just used as a makeup base but it says it can also be used as a face mask. I'm very excited to try this to see if it lives up to the hype!

Next I bought 3 of the Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 02 Apricot Shimmer, 03 Nude Shimmer and 05 Candy Shimmer (link). I've bought one for myself, one for my Mum and the last for my Sister. Again another product I've heard alot about, but I love lip products that are more balmy/glossy than a lipstick so this is right up my street. It says it helps to nourish, repair and protect so I hope it lives up to this.

Left - Right : 02 Apricot Shimmer, 03 Nude Shimmer, 05 Candy Shimmer

The only other makeup product I bought was the Splendors Colour Quartet and Liner Eye Palette (link). This is such a pretty neutrals palette with a champagne, a bronze, a mink and a chocolate eye shadow plus a plum liner. Swatching them quickly shows that they look fairly pigmented but I'll let you know when I properly test it out. I wanted a smaller neutrals palette to my beloved Naked palette for if I'm travelling and this could be the perfect one! It also has a fairly decent sized mirror in it as well, ideal for travel.

I've wanted to try MAC Fix Plus for ages but never got round to buying it, so I picked up the Fix' Make Up (link). This product is a refreshing long lasting mist that says it holds your makeup in place. It says that it keeps your skin matte, and as someone with oily skin I really want to put this to the test!

Next an item I actually needed - an eye makeup remover! I wear quite a lot of mascara and eye products on nights out so I thought the Instant Eye Make-Up Remover (link) would be a good one to try as it claims to remove waterproof and heavy makeup. 

Another item I needed was an eye cream. I've been using and loving the Clinique All About Eyes Serum but I've nearly ran out so thought I would try one from Clarins. I decided on the Eye Revive Beauty Flash (link). I'm assuming it's in the same line as the Beauty Flash Balm so thought it should (hopefully) be good.

I have also wanted a new clay mask so decided to try the Pure And Radiant Mask (link). This has pink clay in it which helps to purify, tighten pores and refine skin texture along with the alpine willow herb. It also says it leaves a matte finish because of natural tanaka powders. I'm very excited to try this out as any product that can mattify my skin is a must have!

Next I purchased the Blemish Control (link). These are 2 x 5ml tubes with a roller ball top to use on any blemishes. Recently my skin has been good but I think that's due to a good diet/exercise/sleep pattern whilst living at home and I find my skin always goes a bit crazy when I move back to university so I'm sure it won't be too long until I try these out!

The last product I purchased was the Lotus Face Treatment Oil (link). I was worried about this, putting an oil onto oily skin sounds disastrous, but this is formulated for oily/combination skin. Reading the reviews about this, people said it was such  lovely product even with oily skin, so I'll let you know how this goes!

Then at the time of ordering Clarins were offering a free gift if you spent over a certain amount so even more goodies! In this I got the Moisture-Rich Body Lotion (link), the Relax Bath And Shower Concentrate (link), the One Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser (link), the Hand and Nail Treatment Cream (link), the HydraQuench Rich Cream (link) all in a cute drawstring bag!

Left - Right - HydraQuench Rich Cream, Moisture-Rich Body Lotion, Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, Relax Bath and Shower Concentrate, One Step Gentle Exfoliating Cream

And then I got to chose 3 miniatures! So the final 3 products are the One-Step Facial Cleanser (link), the Pure Melt Cleansing Gel (link) and the Pore Minimizing Serum (link).

Left - Right - Pore Minimizing Serum, One-Step Facial Cleanser, Pure Melt Cleansing Gel

So that's the end of my very large Clarins haul, of which I'm incredibly grateful for winning!

As I try these out I'll be sure to let you know what they are like.

What products would you like to try from Clarins?

Love Alice x

Monthly Favourites #2

2 posts in one day, bit keen! But, September was a very weird month for me, at the beginning I was still living at home and at the end I was back in Newcastle and in lectures! I love being back up here in Newcastle but things have got a bit hectic (hence the lack of posts), but here is my monthly favourites from September.

Beauty

1. Urban Decay Naked Palette

(link)

This is my go to eye palette for nights out. I love all the colours in this palette but I have a few favourites. I use Virgin or Sin for the inner corner of my eye, Naked for across the lid, Smog or Darkhorse through the crease and Creep as a liner. There's so much choice in this palette, I couldn't live without it!

2. Maybelline Baby Lips - 'Cherry Me'

(link)

I had wanted to try the Baby Lips for months and finally got my hands on one. I use this all the time, both for day and night to add a subtle hint of colour to my lips. I also love the fact they are super moisturising! I definitely want to try out some more of the range. 

3. Clinique High Impact Mascara - 'Black'

(link)

Again another go to product for nights out! I love the fact that this mascara not only lengthens but volumises my lashes giving me really big, full lashes. I am a massive fan of big lashes but can't apply fake eyelashes to save my life so any mascara that does that is a definite favourite of mine. 

4. Dior Pure Poison

(link)

Yes another night time favourite - can you tell I like/go out a bit too much at university?! Anyway, I adore this perfume. I had a mini version of it, but my Mum kindly gave me her almost full bottle of this during Summer. I love the scent of it but I couldn't tell you the notes in it!

Miscellaneous

5. Converse - 'White'
(link)
Another pair of Converse in my monthly favourites, but I love them to much to not include them! These are so comfy for walking to and from university and go with everything. I just hate getting them dirty so feel I won't get much more wear out of them this year!

6. ASOS Culottes - 'Floral Print'
(link)
These shorts were a bit of a risk for me as I tend to stick to denim shorts for nights out but I love these. They are so comfy and teamed with a black tee, I think it creates a really nice outfit. I've just bought another pair as well to add to my wardrobe!

Favourites minus my Maybelline Baby Lips because funnily enough I lost it on a night out!

What are your September favourites?

Love Alice x

Lifestyle | My Week #4

3rd October - 9th October 2013

1. Pre drinks with 2 of my housemates

2. Silly faces

3. Work is already building up

4. Casual Sunday morning on our road

5. Selfie before Wednesday night out!

What have you guys been up to this week?

Love Alice x

Lifestyle | My Week #3

An even bigger apology than normal for my lack of posts recently. I started lectures on Monday and things have been a little crazy this week with the open day/lectures/water polo/nights out!

26th September - 2nd October 2013

1. Wristbands with Geordie sayings from the Newcastle Open Day

2. Haul - find out what I bought here

3. Clarins parcel arrived

4. Lots of Clarins goodies - post coming soon

5. First NUSWPC social of the year