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24 Apr 2013

New Drugstore Buys!

I have been absolutely raiding Boots and Superdrug recently, these are just a few of the things that I have a good chance to try out.


Now i was a bit skeptical about the new Nude Magique CC Creams, in all honesty i didn't have high hopes. However, i was pleasantly surprised. I only used a small amount on the back of my hand and used the Real Techniques buffing brush to blend it in. I found that not only did it cover redness that i tend to get on my cheeks but it gave a really nice amount of coverage elsewhere. The only thing i would say is that there is only one colour. I have neutral but not too pale skin so if you are really pale, or tanned this may not be great as an all over product. I only ever tried it once on red patches under my foundation and it looked cakey and the colour buildup meant that i nearly left the house looking very similar to a tangerine. For me its the perfect colour but i definitely recommend testing in store. 

One thing this season that i was really excited about were the Garnier Moisture Match range. I picked up the dull skin gel. I was looking forward to trying a moisturiser that differed from a cream consistency  which i am used to. I really liked the smell and the fact that it was fast absorbing, there's nothing worse in my opinion than waiting for sticky moisturiser to dry before applying your makeup.
I didn't notice a huge difference in the brightness of my skin but i have enjoyed using it so far. I can't se myself repurchasing this in the future, simply because i didn't see much difference in the brightness of my skin. So i'm still on the lookout if anyone has any suggestions!

Of course i had to pick up one of the Loreal Glam Shine Stain Splash lip stains. I bought 101 - Lolita which is a really lovely pinky nude shade with gold flecks of shimmer. It applies so smoothly and as the  advert states, feels like water when you first apply it, in fact, the first time i tried it i didn't have a mirror to hand and i thought that it was going to be really sheer due to the consistency but i was very pleased with the pigmentation of the product. I honestly can't think of any negatives for these stains. 

I was really intrigued by the Loreal False Lash Flutter mascara advert so when i was in Boots i decided to pick it up. Since my lashes are completely pathetic, no length, no volume, i usually need a couple of different mascaras and a lot of coats to give any effect. Although this did seem to add some length, it wasn't really what i was expecting and didn't give the winged effect i was hoping for, It did seperate my lashes and i really liked the wand design, maybe it's just my awful lashes but i am sticking to my maybelline one by one for now i think. 
Again, any suggestions would be great as i'm always on the look out for mascara!

Have you tried any of these products? What do you think?

LOVE
Leesha
xx

22 Apr 2013

The new beauty blogger GIVEAWAY!! (INTERNATIONAL)

Really wanted to meet more people and gain friends through my blog and I thought what better way than to host a giveaway! 

This will only be a small giveaway since it's my first one!

 How To Enter:
All you have to do is
1. Follow my blog either through Bloglovin or Google friend connect 
2. Comment Below answering... ''what is the spring product you could not live without?''
3. Look back on 22nd May and make sure you check your messages!! 

I will be giving away the following products...

MUA - Power Pout Lip Stain - Colour of your choice!
 These are perfect to just throw on in a hurry and because they're a stain, they last for ages! Love these
MUA - Undress Me Too Palette 
Love this Dupe for the Naked 2 Palette! The neutral shades fit any occasion and the colours are so pigmented!


MUA - Mosaic Blush - English Rose
This is the perfect all round blush, it gives a beautiful flush of colour with highlight and bronze colours to suit any skin tone! 

AND A FEW SURPRISE EXTRAS!!!!

This giveaway is international!!


Beauty Blogger Tag




Saw this floating around  and thought it  would be a nice idea and a chance to get to know me a bit better :) 

Is your hair naturally curly or straight?
My hair has always been poker straight but with really annoying flicky out bits (technical term of course!) at the back that just won't straighten or go away! Maybe when my hair gets longer they will tame a bit more. Would love wavy hair when my hair grows though. 

Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?
It depends really, if I was going to drastically change it then I would go to a salon, dye disasters can look horrific as many of you will know! I usually die it myself though for just a quick fix job.

Do you wear the same style everyday, or do you change it?
My hair is in that really unworkable, inbetween long and short stage, I really want it long again since its shoulder length at the moment but because it pretty much always looks a mess, its either up or down, nothing fancy until it either grows or gets a trim. 

Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to a salon?
I usually do my own nails, had them done a few times at a salon but since my nails are really brittle, I need tips or gels to make them look any good really and they can get expensive if it becomes a regular thing. Especially since I'm a student.

How often do you change your nail polish?
About twice a week I would say. Sometimes I leave them naked (ooeyyy) but I can usually be seen sporting a very boring, plain colour. I'm not hugely into doing my nails, I like to have something going on, but I spend a lot longer on my face than my nails.

Do you polish your toes in the winter or just in the summer?
Just in the winter, I usually just pop a colour on at the start of summer and then top it up as it needs it, boring I know but I love a good bright red toe look in the summer and i never really shy away from that. Might have to step out of my comfort zone this year and opt for a different colour! Shock Horror!!

How long does it take for you to put on your makeup?
My everyday routine is probably around 10-15 minutes. Just primer, foundation or BB cream, powder, little bit of blush/bronzer, eyeliner, mascara, nude lip. Think I've managed it in 5 before because I'm clearly superwoman but if I don't want to look like I've been attacked by a small child carrying a makeup bag, it's usually 10/15 minutes. More like 30/40 when I'm going out. What with eyelashes, eyeshadow, lip liner etc, it all adds up!

What do you do first, face or eyes?
Always face. I use the Real Techniques buffing brush to just buff my foundation into my face, all over so I couldn't really do my eyes first or they would just get covered in foundation. I'm a self confessed messy foundation applier.

Do you 'collect' makeup or just buy what you need when you need it?
I want to say that I don't collect makeup but there's definitely things that I have bought and never used just because I liked the colour or the packaging. I definitely have more than I need. Makes me happy so why not!

How often do you wear false eyelashes?
I love wearing them when I go out but I would never wear them everyday. Far too much hassle for the morning. Knowing me,i would turn up to college with my eyelids stuck together and a falsie hanging off my cheek!

Do you do a full face of makeup everyday?
No, I like to save a full face for when I go out or else people won't notice a difference! I like to think i look different when I go out than when I'm just at college.

Do you wear makeup when your home alone, or with family?
This is a straight up, not really. Unless i am going out or have been out of the house, I rarely have makeup on around my family. Poor them!

Will you leave the house without makeup?
Reluctantly maybe. Usually I have to be wearing BB cream, powder and mascara before I will open the door. Maybe a bit of self reflection is needed here. Would like to feel confident enough to go out without it in the future.

How many high-end products do you have? 
A few but not many. Don't really have the money to splash out on high end products. I have a few Estee Lauder products, YSL lipsticks, MAC and Benefit is probably my all time fave.

Do you plan your OOTD every night or decided when you are getting dressed?
I usually decide what to wear after  I have had a hissy fit, dragged everything out, tried everything on, realised everything looks awful, then thrown on the last resort. Very stressful haha.

How often do you change your handbag?
Rarely, I'm not a huge handbag lover so I never really spend much money on them. I do really want the ZARA office city bag though! Gonna start saving.

What time do you wake up and go to sleep?
I'm terrible for sleeping. I'm usually up through the night, I have awful insomnia and can leave it till 6 to finally get to sleep, which means iI can sleep through the day sometimes. Really annoying.

How often or when do you workout?
Definitely not as much as I should, I do ballet twice a week but I need to start running again.

Left handed or right handed?
I'm right handed. Very boring.

How tall are you?
I think I'm average. I'm 5'8 so I'm not sure if that is tall or not really. You decide.

Do you speak any foreign language?
I really wish that I could. Might start learning something cool like mandarin in the summer, just for a laugh. 

How many pets do you have?
I have the cutest little pal in the world called Elliot. He is a Hermanns Tortoise and he's only 2 years old. We often take walks out when it's sunny and sometimes a walk on the beach. I also have an 8 year old Jack Russel terrier crossed with something fluffier and less happy, she's not really anything like a Jack Russel.

How often are you on blogger?
All the time at the moment, when I first started, I didn't think anyone was reading it so I stopped but now I'm just doing it for myself because it's fun and anything else is a bonus!

Do you read comments posted on blogs?
I read them on review posts so that I can read other peoples opinions on the product, I find it really helpful when I'm wondering whether to buy something.

Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?
Not a physical list but I do have a list in my head of things that I want to try.

How did you come up with your Blog name?
This is easy, it's just my name sort of shortened - Ellysia - Leesha and then my middle name. Nothing fancy.

What kind of camera do you use for your photographs? 
I just use a Fujifilm Finepix Bridge camera, I really want a canon but they are just too expensive for this little student budget. 

How often do you clean your house?
Well I don't own the house, but my room is usually organised chaos. I usually start things In the middle of the night, and then can't tidy up because everyones in bed. Insomnia is my downfall.

What's your favourite colour?
I absolutely love turquoise. My room is painted turquoise. I also really like deep purples and reds.

Do you swear?
A little too much sometimes, I work serving drunk people so you get used to it. 

What are you doing with the rest of your day?
Well I think I'm going to have a look for some new blogs to follow, have a little look on YouTube and then get ready for my tea before I go out to babysit. 

If you've survived till here...well done!!

LOVE
Leesha
xx


21 Apr 2013

Glossybox April 2013 - Unboxing + Mini review!!

Glossybox April 2013 - Spring Fever
Designed by Pearl Lowe


First of all, before we even get started, how amazing is the design on this box?!
absolutely fell in love with it as soon as I opened the package and since I usually store my makeup in Glossyboxes, I cant wait to have this displayed on my vanity.


When you open the box, you're greeted with the familiar ribbon and sticker, this time with a floral print behind the logo and a pale, almost white ribbon, a nice touch to match in with the box design and I felt that the attention to detail this month was excellent.


As you can see, this months box was amazing, I love the range of products, from well known brands like Essie, to brands that I had heard of but never tried such as Yves Rocher and of course, Nip+Fab. I felt that last months box only really contained one product that I hadn't already used and since Glossybox is all about trying new products, I would have liked to have tried a few new things. This months box really suited me in that way. 



Yves Rocher Nutrive Vegetal 24hr Comfort nourishing cream - Sample Size
Full Size - £13.50
This was the first thing I pulled out and let me tell you, I couldn't have been more excited to see this product! I have been struggling to hydrate two really annoying dry patches under my eyes for weeks, my foundation is clogging around them and they're actually quite sore. Nothing has worked so far. I've tried Estee Lauder, Garnier Intensive even just E45, nothing has worked. I've only used this a couple of times so I can't really give a full review yet but I have high hopes for this and will probably be writing a full review in a couple of weeks so watch this space!


Essie Nail Laquer - Geranium - Full Size
£7.99
I'm not usually a fan of Nail Polishes in Glossybox but I've been getting more into doing my nails recently so I was quite happy with this. I love Essie polishes, the forumla isn't the best I have come across but for £7.99, you can't really go wrong, and a beautiful shade for summer, the colour isn't great in the photo but its a gorgeous bright red with a hint of coral.



Richard Ward Couture hair optimiser style reviver - Sample Size
Full Size - £19.00
I have to admit, it took me a while to figure out what this was, from what I can gather from the leaflet it's a wheat and oil styling spray that increases shine, counteracts frizz and boosts volume. Sounds amazing on the tin but we will have to see. Going to save this for the warmer weather (if we get any that is!) to see if it can save my hair from the summer frizziness. always looking for ways to boost volume so another great product. Looking forward to trying this.


Nip+Fab Dry skin body butter - Mango Smoothie - Sample Size
Full Size - £9.95
Much like every product in the box, this jumped out at me, partly because I love mango scents and partly because I loved the bright packaging. Let me tell you, it didn't disappoint. The smell is absolutely amazing! I've used it twice so far and it smells even better when you apply it. It left my skin feeling so soft and the scent stayed on my skin for ages! Not great if you don't like strong scents, or mango's but i loved it so much that I'm ordering the Full Size. Probably my favourite product.


Balance Me radiance face mask - Sample Size
Full Size - £18
This is probably my least favourite product in the box. Don't get me wrong, I love balance me, I just wouldn't ever spend £18 on a face mask. I love the Montagne Jeunesse face masks, great value, great range and so I don't really see myself paying that much for something when I'm happy with what I'm using. Plus, I received a face mask last month in my Glossybox and I haven't used that yet. I use a face mask once a week and have a large supply of my current favourites. I am determined to give this a go as well as last months however, so when I remember to use them, I will post a review. 

...

Overall, I really loved this months box. It included a wide range of products, all of which I am excited to try out and I felt that the products really suited the Spring Fever theme. Huge thumbs up for the Pearl Lowe designed box too!

LOVE
Leesha
xx

16 Apr 2013

YSL Rouge Volupté Shine - #9 - Nude In Private


After walking through Debenhams most weekends and swatching this shade I finally caved!
It was love at first sight to be perfectly honest with you and after having a bad morning I needed a pick me up.
I chose #9 - Nude In Private since I'm a student with no money, the £24 I didn't have spare to pay for this needed to go to good use and I figured this was the most wearable shade for me.
The colour range is amazing first and foremost. From deep red's and a very very deep purple to really light nudes, there is definitely a shade for every occasion. 
The packaging is just perfect.
It feels really luxurious and expensive and its just so pretty to look at.
As for the finish, it does what it says on the tin, It gives a shine. Nothing too glossy but a really pretty subtle shine with a really lovely flush of colour.
the longevity is comparable to MAC, I feel that it wears just as normal, no more, no less. It does fade in the centre throughout the day but doesn't leave that annoying line/stain which is definitely a positive.
The only thing I dislike is the smell, most people love it and so It's probably just personal taste, i just think it smells too fruity and doesn't have that familiar lipstick smell. 
Little bit picky but when you're applying it, it does smell quite strongly.
Overall I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for a makeup splurge that will make your day just that little bit better.

LOVE
Leesha
xx

The Semi Colon Project 2013




Just a quick note about something beautiful.

Today I have seen so many pictures on Instagram, Twitter and Tumblr supporting the semi colon project.
It aimed to spread awareness and support of Depression, Anxiety, and other mental health issues.
I think this is such a lovely idea and so I decided to show my support.
The quote that paired the campaign is this:

"a semi colon is used when an author could of ended a sentence, but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life."

LOVE
Leesha
xx

My week in pictures...



     




 My week In Pictures - 8th -14th April <3

1. Meet Biscuit, my boyfriends mum's guinea pig. He let me have cuddles and lots of photos. This one was by far the cutest.
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2.My newest purchase was one of the YSL rouge volupte shine lipsticks. I picked up #9 which is a nude/pink shade. its absolutely perfect. Let me know if you want a full review :)
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3. Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint. I loved both the pastel lilac and blue and couldn't choose which one to wear, so I went with both.
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4. My tortoise and best pal Elliot munching on some lettuce...NOM.
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5. My lovely boyfriend Matthew playing with a remote control car that I bought him. Definitely still a kid.
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6. A yummy hot chocolate that I polished off after a walk up the lakes with my family. It was huge and this photo just doesn't do it justice!!
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7. A cold drink on a hot day, paired with a huge bourbon. Bit sickly towards the end but it was rather lovely :)
...
That's all for now
LOVE
Leesha
<3