Revlon Lip Butter - Wild Watermelon || Review

I remember when the Revlon Lip Butter's came on to the beauty scene and created quite the fuss, especially among us beauty bloggers - I think we went crazy about them and to this day still are. I am and think always will be now a huge lover of these lovely lip butters as they are just amazing and are the perfect balance between a lipstick and lip gloss. I love how rich and creamy they are on your lips, not to mention ultra shiny too and they really pack a punch when it comes to colour payout; The pigmentation in these Revlon Lip Butters are incredible and its for some of these reasons as to why I love them so much.

Right now for me all I can think about in terms of makeup is Spring and as I've probably said in the majority of my posts over the last few weeks, I am putting away my Winter makeup and am starting to swap it all around for much brighter colours. I love it when it comes to that time in the year where the seasons start to change as its always quite refreshing switching your makeup around. Also it's a perfect opportunity to go shopping for new makeup, especially as Boots have their 3 for 2 offer back on -Yayyy! Anyway back to the point I was trying to make, as I'm having a good swap around of my makeup, one of the first things and probably the easiest thing to change is your lipstick colour. Last year around Easter time I picked up the Revlon Lip Butter in the shade Wild Watermelon, which was recently a new addiction to the Lip Butter range. I tell you this shade of Lip Butter was love at first sight and I've rekindled my love with it. It occurred to me that I never managed to feature it in a post, so I thought today would be the perfect opportunity to do so. 

As you can see Wild Watermelon is a gorgeous vibrant shade that is somewhere in between a pink and a red - Maybe more of an red coral shade describes it best. I think the name 'Wild Watermelon' fits this shade of Lip Butter perfectly as the shade is very similar to watermelons. I have to say out of all the Revlon Lip Butters, Wild Watermelon has to be one of my most favourite and loved shades. It's a little bit different for me as I tend to wear pinks (as you know) but I love how pigmented this Lip Butter is and the shade transfers perfectly on to your lips, it really is that pigmented. 

The formula of this Lip Butter is just like all of the others, feels like a really rich lip balm on, which always makes my lips feeling more hydrated. And as to be expected with the Lip Butter's it has that high shine, glossy finish which makes it look stunning on. Glossy lips are right on trend for this Spring and this is the perfect alternative to a sticky lip gloss - I've always found the Lip Butters to be not too sticky at all. 

For the majority of last week, this was my go too lip shade and I just love how it brightens up my makeup look, it really is the perfect shade to take you into Spring. I also love that even though its super bright, you can make the colour look a little more subtle by gently patting this on the lips instead when you apply it. I know it's along way off Summer yet, but this lip colour just looks incredible with a tan! (can you tell I'm dreaming of sunnier climates already). 

I would love to know if your still loving the Revlon Lip Butters and what your thoughts are on Wild Watermelon? Is it your favourite too?

Lots of Love

How To Get Bright Photos Using Pixlr Editor

When it comes to blogging I think its fair to say that photography plays a huge part. Not only is taking photographs really fun, but its a way to immediately engage our audience with our blog posts.  Whilst I believe written content is equally important, I do believe that a beautiful picture can work wonders in getting people to read your post in the first place. Now I am no photography expert, but I really wanted to share with you all some little tips I picked up on a free photo editing website which have really helped when it comes to editing my pictures for each blog post that I do. 

Although editing pictures is not necessary, I do feel that sometimes it can help a picture (especially beauty products) look more like how we would see it to the eye. Like I say I am no expert, I'm still learning a lot about photography but most of us are aware that good lighting is essential and can really make or break a picture. With the weather being so unpredictable and lets face it rubbish most of the time here in the UK, it can be really hard for us to capture our pictures in the right way and for the camera to really pick up the colours in the picture -You want that pretty nail polish to look as bright as what you see it in real life. With that being, this is where photo editing can really come into play and help get your pictures looking bright and beautiful, just like you've taken them on a glorious sunny day.

The free photo editing website that I use is Pixlr and I always choose the Pixlr Editor option to help my pictures looking bright and beautiful. 

Below is the original picture I have been working with, as you can see the picture is looking a little bit dull and we all know that those Barry M Jelly High Shine nail paints are much brighter than what's shown in this picture.

Once you've uploaded your picture onyo Pixlr Editor,  all you want to do is look at the top bar and look for the 'adjustment' button - A drop down menu will appear once you've clicked on it and you want to choose the 'levels' option. This will bring up a little box like the one shown below. 

The levels box has a few little sliders that you can drag back and forth, but I find that the very top one on the right best works wonders for brightening your pictures (as you can see I've highlighted with a pretty start for you ha). Just keep sliding it to the left to adjust the brightness to a level that you think will work best for your photograph. Don't be afraid to play around with all the little sliders too as they can sometimes help to adjust the balance of the colours once you've brightened your picture. And it really is that easy!! 

Depending on what I'm photograph I'm editing, I can sometimes find that adjusting the levels of brightness can sometimes alter the colour of the products in the picture, but this can easily be sorted out on Pixlr Editor too. Again you want to go to the 'adjustment' tool on the top bar and this time click on 'colour balance' which will again bring up another little box - Just like the one shown below.

Again all you want to do is adjust the little sliders back and forth to alter the colours a little. Just a little heads up, you only need to move them a fraction to make a difference - You'll see :)

Once you happy with the way your photo is looking, a great way to finish it off in Pixlr Editor is just to sharpen it, which will make the detailing on the picture just pop out a little and I always use it. This time you will want to click on the 'Filter' button at the top of the screen and choose the 'sharpen' option - Clicking this button will immediately sharpen up your picture - which is a look that I personally like

All you need to do now is save your picture and your ready to upload it to your blog - It really is as simple as that. 

For the purpose of this blog post I took the original picture with the ISO setting down on my camera really low so it looked dull and and so you really could see the difference in the before and after photos. I think it just goes to show you that you don't need a fancy camera to get really bright pictures and if your camera doesn't have an ISO setting then you can still make a dull picture bright. 

I really hope that this helps some of you when editing your blog pictures in the future and to show you that you don't need to pay money for photo editing software in order to get bright beautiful pictures - Just use Pixlr.

If your already a whizz on Pixlr (I only know the basics) then I would love to hear any tips or tricks that you may have. Also if you do use this way to edit your pictures I would love to know how you get on with it.

Lots of Love

Collection Lasting Colour Lipstick - Sweet Tart || Review

Hi ladies! I hope your all having a fabulous weekend and enjoying your Saturday evening. It feels a little bit weird for me to be blogging on a Saturday night, but I'm working all weekend so it doesn't really feel like the weekend at all - Anyone else with me there? On the plus side I do have Monday off, so no Monday blues for me. I really wanted to get a post up for you all this evening and I'm really in the mood to talk to you all about a pink/coral lipstick that I have been loving recently, it even made it to my monthly favourites post so its definitely a winner. 

The lipstick that is taking the spotlight in today's post is the Collection Lasting Colour lipstick in Shade 8 Sweet Tart. Now before I go into detail and rave about this lipstick I just want to point out that this is the first ever lipstick that I've tried from Collection and for its £2.99 price tag I am so impressed. I've always been a huge fan of the infamous Collection lasting perfection concealer, but have always overlooked their other products. I only stumbled across this lipstick because my mum gave me one as she accidentally bought two in the same shade (now I know why I've done this so many times). 

On first impressions I absolutely love the shade of this lipstick, Sweet Tart is a pretty pink that is fairly bright, but in no way neon. I find that the pink shade has a light coral undertone to it which I think softens the shade, and I would definitely describe this as a pinky red. As most of you will know by now, I love pink lipsticks (often its a case of the brighter the better) and I was so drawn to the shade of this lipstick. What really impressed me though is the pigmentation of this lipstick as it really does give a great colour payout. As this Collection lipstick is on the cheaper side, I was in no way expecting for the colour to be as bright and bold as to what it looks on first appearances which is a huge plus.

The Collection Lasting Colour Lipstick has a really creamy formula and I love that it has a nice glossy shine to its finish once its been applied. However with it having such a creamy formula you would expect this lipstick to be fairly hydrating. Unfortunately I find that this lipstick doesn't do much in terms of popping some much needed moisture back into my lips - although for its price I can't complain. Although this lipstick feels really creamy and soft on, it has a bit of a waxy feel to it, which when I think about it does bug me, but then again I put this down to the price and something you would definitely expect when paying more for a lip product. 

One thing I really do love about this lipstick other than the fabulous colour pay off, is that its really long lasting - which again is something that I did not expect at all. I love the fact that when it starts to fade it leaves more of a stain look on your lips rather than rubbing off completely.

The only other thing I can say about this lipstick, is its packaging. If I'm honest I don't think that its that great, but its certainly not bad. The plastic does feel a little cheap, but it is sturdy and the lid holds on firmly in place - even when its being thrown around in my handbag. But then again, when I think about the price of this lipstick, I know I can'r be fussy about the packaging, especially not when the colour is so gorgeous and it looks fabulous when on.

Overall I really love this lipstick, I find it really easy for on the go and I absolutely love the shade. Whilst it's not my favourite lipstick in terms of formula, I love the colour payout and the pigmentation of it is just fabulous. I think it's such good value for money and is perfect if your thinking about experimenting with new and different lip colours.

I would love to know your thoughts on this lipstick and if you love Sweet Tart just as much as I do. Be sure to let me know in the comments below.

Lots of Love

Tickle Me Pink || Pink Beauty Products for Spring

I was hoping to get this pink products related post up for Valentines seeing as it was the week for love and romance, but what a total fail that turned out to be thanks to my Internet completely not working at all last week! That to one side I really wanted to get this post up for you all and was trying to think of the perfect moment to do so. Now I know that Spring has not even started yet (it does feel like forever for Winter to die out) but the other day I did see some daffodils starting to spout which made me think Spring is definitely on its way... HURRAY! 

I know I'm not alone here when I say I co-ordinate my makeup to match the seasons and whilst I get so excited to wear those gorgeous berry toned colours come Winter time, I'm a pretty in pink girl at heart and I can't wait for the comeback of Spring and Summer colours. Blame the daffodils or just my excitement, but I thought I would show you some of my favourite pink beauty products which I think will be perfect for Spring. 

Lipsticks: Left to Right

Deborah Milano Shine Creator Lipstick Shade 8*

As a lot of you know I have a weakness for pink lipsticks, especially this Shine Creator one from Deborah Milano. I was kindly gifted this last summer and since then it's been loved and treasured. These Shine Creator lipsticks have a very similar formula to the Revlon Lip Butters, but are much more hydrating and pigmented in my opinion. Shade 8 is such a gorgeous and bright fuchsia colour which is really rich in colour, has such a creamy formula and really makes you lips shine as well as giving them a pop of colour. This will be the perfect lipstick to wear with those cute ditzy floral dresses that always make a comeback during Spring time. If you would like to see what it's like swatched you can read my full review here. 

Bourjois Rouge Edition Lipstick - Neon Rose 

First of all, how lovely is the name of this lipstick - I don't know about anyone else but I love when companies give their products cute little names. As the name suggests this lipstick from Boujois is a bright neon pink lipstick and I know its a little early on in the year for neon (for some, not me) I just can't help myself. I love LOVE this bright neon pink. Its a stunning rosy pink neon that has blue undertones to it and whenever I wear it I do think its a little Barbie, which is again something I love and don't mind. I love lipsticks that really make your lips pop and this shade is just gorgeous for Easter time! Again I have a full review of this lipstick and you can find it here.

L'Oreal Color Riche Julianne's Nude - Collection Privee 

Seeing as I've raved about two really bright, but beautiful lipsticks for Spring, I thought I would tone things down just a little for those of you who are more into your nudes. Now when it comes to lipsticks pink nudes totally have my name written all over them and I find them to be the the only nudes that suit me and what I feel comfortable wearing. My favourite pinky nude to date has to be Julianne's Nude lipstick from the L'Oreal Color Riche collection. As far as I'm aware this was a limited edition lipstick, but I've still seen it stocked in my local Boots. I absolutely adore this lipstick and think its gives you the perfect nude lip. The pink tones to it don't give you those manikin lips and give you a lovely warmth of colour. I love wearing this lipstick when I'm wearing a smokey eye and I know I'm going to keep reaching for it throughout Spring. If you would like to see my full review ,again you can read it here.

Ted Baker Glitter Eyeshadow

Now this post would not be complete unless I added a touch of sparkle to it and as my blog name suggests I love me a bit of sparkle! Just after Christmas I was gifted this gorgeous glitter eyeshadow by Ted Baker from one of my besties Meg. Her words exactly where 'I know you love pink, sparkle, glitter and Ted Baker so this is the perfect product for you' - which is so true! The glitter in this eyeshadow is what I would describe as a champagne coloured pink and it looks so pretty on. I love using this just above my eyeliner or on my lower lash line for a bit on understated sparkle. I've still yet to use this full out over my eye lids but I can imagine it looks beautiful once on. I'm not sure where you can buy this as I've only seen Ted Baker cosmetics around Christmas time so if any of you know where I can please let me know in the comments below as I love this glitter pot!

Sleek Blush - Flamingo

If you've seen some of my latest blog posts then you know that I'ma  big fan of Sleek blushers and you can read all about my love for one of their blush palettes here. However if I had to pick one blusher to choose from Sleek, Flamingo would win by a mile. I love this blusher and it's the perfect one to use if your after gorgeous rosy cheeks. I know in the pan its extremly bright, and whilst it is super pigmented the lightest touch with your blusher brush will give you the prettiest flush of colour to your cheeks. I love that rosy cheek look and this is the perfect blusher for that look. If you would like to see this blusher up close be sure to have a read of my full review here.

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Buttercream 

I think the Sugar Crush scented products from Soap & Glory are a firm favourite among us beauty blogggers and its definitely one of mine. As much as I love this delicious sweet lime scented body butter from Soap & Glory its not really I scent I gravitate towards during winter, it's definitely more of a Spring and Summer scent as its just so fresh. Now Spring is just around the corner I know that this is going to be my go too body butter and the fact that its contained in hot pink packaging makes it perfect for this post.

Sienna X Radiance Body Balm

I know its a little way off before we start flashing a bit of skin, especially on your arms and legs, but I do know that I will be going full steam ahead on my fake tanning routine now that Winter will soon be behind us. I love tanning as I always feel that I look better and have much more confidence with a tan. One product that I love using with a tan has to be the Sienna X Radiance Body Balm as it does an amazing job at hydrating your skin and adding a lovely sparkly but subtle sheen to your skin. This little bottle was gifted to me by one of my besties Gem over at Miss Makeup Magpie ( I know you all know her) as she knows how much I love tanning. I love how silky smooth this balm makes my skin and it does a great job at giving your skin an luminescent sheen which makes your skin look perfect. This is the perfect balm to use for any party nights out that you have coming up, especially if your thinking about bearing all and getting your pins out!

So that's everything for my pink Spring beauty products. I really hope you enjoyed this post as its a little bit different to what I usually do and I would love to know if your loving any of the products that I've raved about in this post.

Lots of Love

Dirty Looks HK Hair Extensions || Review

Dirty Looks HK Hair Extensions* 20/22" - £99.99 (on offer) 

When it comes to hair, in my opinion the longer the hair the better. I'm a right girly girl at heart and whilst some chicks can totally rock a short hair do, I am the biggest fan of long luscious locks. Although my hair is at a pretty long length, I am and have been for quite some time a huge fan of hair extensions and over the years have tried my fair share of them. I love how hair extensions not only give you long luscious locks, but I love how they thicken up your hair and create plenty of volume and drama - And as I am someone who has naturally thin hair this is a Godsend! So when Dirty Looks got in touch with me asking if I would like to review a full set of their HK Hair Extensions I actually squealed with joy as I've heard that HK Hair Extensions are some of the best out there and everyone who wears them has gorgeous looking hair. 

When it came to choosing the length and colour of the HK Hair Extensions, Dirty Looks pointed me in the direction of their website and asked me to choose from a huge selection of colours. There are 21 in total so there is a shade to suit every hair colour. As my hair is really dark I opted for the shade 'Organic' and I was so pleased to discover that its the perfect colour match for me. I would never consider my hair colour to be black, but its a really dark rich chocolate brown which is a few shades lighter than black - The shade 'Organic' will be perfect for those of you who have really dark brown hair which can look black in certain lights. What really impressed me though, is that Dirty Looks have packaged the HK Hair Extensions in such a way that allows you to see if you have that perfect colour match. On the right hand side of packaging there is a separate compartment which has one weft of hair placed in it - You can then take this weft out so your able to match it up to your own hair. If your feel that the shade is not suitable you are then able to return the extensions which is such a fabulous idea. There have been so many times in the past where I've been stuck with the wrong shade of hair extensions and this completely eliminates this problem. 

As for the length of the hair, the HK Hair Extensions have four different lengths for you to choose from. I decided to opt for the 20-22" as my own hair is around 18 Inches and I thought that this would be perfect just to add a little bit of length to my natural hair. Because the extensions are only a little bit longer than my natural hair, blending them in is really easy and there is no nasty cut off point from your own hair to the extensions. One thing that I have noticed about the HK Hair Extensions which sets them apart from other brands, is that the hair is so thick, especially towards the ends of the extensions. I've found that in the past that other hair extensions can thin out towards the ends making them look really straggly and in need of a good cut. However the HK Hair Extensions are so glossy and thick from the top of the weft right down to the very tips which makes them look very natural once gripped in to your hair. I absolutely love this about these extensions. 

Which brings me onto the wefts of these hair extensions. The full head of hair extensions comes with a total of ten wefts which includes the quad weft. For me the quad weft really makes this set of hair extensions special as its having four wefts sewn together, making it incredibly thick as its incorporated into one weft; It adds a lot of hair without having the need to add so many clips into your hair which saves time and is just a genius idea. Once you have secured the quad weft in your hair you really feel and notice a difference as to how thick it makes your hair. Alongside the quad weft you get a mixture of 3, 2 and 1 clips which creates the set. I was really impressed with just how sturdy each clip is as there's always that fear of your extensions moving around or budging during the day. I've been wearing these extensions non stop since receiving them and am happy to report back that the clips do not budge at all. Dirty Looks also include a little box of spare clips with your set of hair extensions which is a really nice added touch, just incase you need them. 

Overall I love the HK Hair Extensions from Dirty looks and the quality of the actual hair is amazing. All the hair has been made with human remy hair which means all the cuticles in the hair run in the same direction which makes this just like your own hair. I just find these extensions incredibly soft, glossy and really manageable. The price does vary depending on what length of hair extensions you want to go for, but I honestly think they are worth every penny and if your looking to treat yourselves to some new extensions these are the ones to invest in.

I think I'm going to be getting a lot of use out of these hair extensions, as you can see from the pictures they look gorgeous in, completely natural and make my hair look luscious. I'm thinking of doing some posts featuring them, showing some hair styles and looks that I've created when wearing them - If this is something you would like to see then please let me know. 

If your thinking about getting some HK Hair Extensions from Dirty Looks then be sure to have a look at their website here. Not only do Dirty Looks sell the hair extensions featured in this post, but they also sell loads of other fabulous hair treats. 

Lots of Love

January Favourites

I can't quite believe that I'm typing up the first monthly favourites posts of the year - I don't know about anyone else but for me January really went on forever?! If truth be told, I'm quite glad to be seeing the back of it as I always find that it really is the worst month in the entire year - everyone just seams so down in the dumps. As far as trying and testing out new beauty products, I found that there wasn't a lot that new apart from the odd few bits that I treated myself too around the end of the last year and the start of January....

The Body Shop Satsuma Body Butter

As most of you know I love body butters, especially really indulgent and heavily scented ones. For Christmas I received a few of these small 50ml tubs including the one shown in this months favourites post. I've completely fallen in love with the Body Shop Body Butter that comes in the satsuma scent. This is really surprising for me as I'm usually not a fan of body products that smell like oranges but this one smells wonderful. The smell of satsuma is very overpowering, but for some reason I love how strongly scented this body butter is. What I really love is how the smell of satsumas transfers on to your skin and lingers around for hours after application. I find it really refreshing and I can imagine this will be an amazing body butter to use in the summer. Not only does this body butter smell citrusy and fresh but it does great and hydrating and nourishing your skin.

Collection Lasting Colour Lipstick - Sweet Tart

I picked up this Lipstick from Collection at the beginning of the month and I've worn it non stop throughout January. For those of you who have been reading my blog for some time will know that I have a weakness for pink lipsticks and this Lasting Colour Lipstick in the shade Sweet Tart is such a 'Danielle' colour. I wont go into too much detail about this lipstick as I'm planning on getting a full review up soon, but the shade is really similar to MAC Chatterbox which is also a favourite of mine - So that makes this lipstick a winner!

Barry M Lipliner - Pink

This Barry M Lip Liner is an old favourite of mine, but one which I've dug out again because I've ditched my berry toned lipsticks and swapped them for pretty pinks (I just can't wait till Spring). I love how soft and creamy the Barry M Lip Liners are and I'm pretty sure I own every shade that they do. This bright fuchsia pink one works perfectly with most pink lipsticks and pairs with the Collection Lasting Colour Lipstick in Sweet Tart wonderfully. 

Pixi Redness Reducing Primer 

If you read my full review of this Pixi Primer (here) you will know that this is the first primer that I've properly tired and tested and I love it. This Redness Reducing Primer from Pixi does exactly what it says and does a fantastic job at evening out your skin tone and reducing the appearance of any red patches or blemishes that you may have. I love how it creates the perfect base for my foundation to sit on too. I would definitely recommend trying out this primer if your on the lookout for a new one. 

Bed Head TIGI Urban Antidotes Recovery Shampoo and Conditioner 

For the longest of time I've always felt that using any Bed Head product on my hair has been a luxury and complete hair heaven. So when I picked this Urban Antidotes duo from a Hair Salon what was closing down near me I was expecting it to do great things on my hair and it will come as no surprise to you all that it did. I have been using this shampoo and conditioner for every hair wash during January and I have loved the way my hair looks and feels since using them. I don't want to give too much away here as these amazing hair products deserve a post of their own - But they have done a brilliant job at strengthening and popping some much needed moisture into my hair. Not to mention they make my hair smell fabulous, if your hair is needing some TLC and a bit of extra shine then I'm sure you will love this shampoo and conditioner just as much as I do.

So that's everything that's made it into my favourites post this month, I would love to know what you've been loving and if any of your favourites match mine. And someone please tell me that I'm not alone when I say I'm ready to bring out all my Spring makeup?

Lots of Love

 

Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick By Kate Moss 107 || Review

In my last blog post (which featured some gorgeous blushers from Sleek) I spoke to you all about how I'm so excited and ready to ditch my winter makeup and start switching things over ready for the summer. However there is one lipstick in particular that I'm just not quite ready to say goodbye to yet - Of course I'm talking about the infamous Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick by Kate Moss in the shade 107. I think every beauty blogger in the world owns this lipstick and I am also one of the thousands who think this lipstick is just gorgeous and stunning on. 

The Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte lipstick in 107 is a deep rich wine red shade that almost looks a little vampy, especially when you look at it right away in its packaging. Although on first appearances  this lipstick can almost look a little too dark, once applied the shade softens down a little and your left with stunningly warm toned berry red on your lips. As far as lipstick goes, I'm not someone who usually opts for matte finishes (I love my cream and satin finishes), especially not in the winter time as my lips tend to get quite dry. However I find that the Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick has a velvet like texture to it, and whilst it leaves a matte look on your lips its not at all drying. I actually find the application of this lipstick so easy as it glides on and it almost leaves a creamy finish on your lips for a few minutes before drying out a little - Once left on your lips for a few minutes I find that this lipstick feels more like a stain on as it feels as though its not going to budge at all. 

Because of its matte I find that there is a lot of staying power with when you wear this lippie and it can last for hours before it needs a little touch up. What I really love though is how this lipstick will fade like a stain and it wont leave your lips looking blotchy at all which is just what you need when your wearing a colour which is as striking at this.

Overall this Kate Moss lipstick from Rimmel has to be one of my all time favourites and although it be a little scary looking (especially if your not into bold coluors) I think this would suit most skin tones. Not only has this lipstick been a fabulous staple in my makeup bag this Christmas, I think it would be perfect for Valentines and any special dates you've got lined up! 

I've been thinking about picking up a few more shades in this Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss, so I would love to know your favourites and suggestions? Just let me know in the comments below.

Lots of Love