Sarah Elizabeth: Beauty

Sunday, 16 October 2016

Make up Haul - Too Faced, Sleek, NYX and More!

Having a job also means having a pay packet, something I've not been used to whilst at University. Now I'm a fully fledged adult (wishful thinking) I've been enjoying spending my money on things I definitely don't need.

You may have seen my tweets recently (@sar4helizabeth) explaining how I've gotten rid of waaaaaay too many of my clothes, meaning I now own about 3 outfits, so today when I went shopping with Katie I was in desperate need of clothes. Which is why I only bought make up. Good one Saz.

---- NYX ----

I've said it before and I'll say it again - bringing NYX to UK Boots shops was the single best idea ever. Unfortunately the Boots I went into was low on stock for pretty much every product, so there was limited choice which in hindsight was probably a God send for my bank balance.

I picked up the Born to Glow Illuminating Primer to replace my Benefit That Gal Brightening Face Primer. I've heard good things about the NYX primer and when I tested it on my hand it felt so silky and gave a lovely glow, which is ideal for those colder months when your skin is looking and feeling a bit dull.

(I'll link everything or similar products at the end of the post!)

---- TOO FACED ----

I've been after the Better than Sex mascara for a while so when my other mascara ran out I jumped at the chance to get my hands on this product.

I actually bought this mascara when I was shopping last weekend (beginning to think I may have a spending problem...) but I'm including it in this post as I know it's very popular at the moment.

The look it creates is exactly what I wanted - drama, length and volume. I wouldn't say this is as much of a dream product as I was expecting as it's quite clumpy, feels heavy and flakes quite a bit. I rubbed my eye the smallest amount earlier and my Mom told me I looked like something out of a horror film. How rude.

--- SLEEK ----

Boots now are also the proud owners of a Sleek concession *hallelujah chorus*.

I've been after a new foundation for a while but I hate anything that looks cakey, so I've been looking for alternatives. When I found the Barekissed Illuminator in the shade Pompeii I was in heaven. This product reminds me of the Body Shop Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil because it creates a really natural bronzed look that gives you such a beautiful sunkissed glow.

This comes in four different shades and can be used alone, as a base for foundation or mixed with foundation to illumiate the skin. GLOW UP.

I also bought the True Colour Lipstick in the shade Mulberry which is the perfect 'autumnal' colour. It's the ultimate berry colour which I love during these months.

The moment after I took the photo of my purchases I shut the lid on this lipstick, chopping off the top of it so that's not ideal.

---- P.S. ----

'Testing Primark make up' has been a popular thread that's been circulating YouTube recently and I wanted to try out a couple of their make up bits for myself. I played it safe and got two of their lip products, one which is a lipstick crayon and the other is a liquid lipstick.

As I mentioned before, I'm loving the berry colour for Autumn so of course the two lip colours I got were virtually identical to the one I bought five minutes previously from Sleek. I'm so ridiculous.

The Lipstick Crayon is in the shade Midnight which is actually completely different to the P.S. Lipstick shade Midnight so be wary! The Liquid Lipstick is in the shade 07 Kendall.

- left: Sleek; centre: P.S. Lipstick Crayon; right: P.S. Liquid Lipstick. -

---- SOAP & GLORY ----

Colour correcting is a pretty big thing right now and when I've dabbled in this technique, I've found it makes so much difference to the finished make up look.

I'm very lucky to have good skin but when I get breakouts, it's pretty bad and the redness is hard to hide with just concealer. When I saw Soap & Glory's colour correcting range I was dying to try it out. As redness is my biggest skin complaint, I decided to just go with the green concealer, although I was tempted by the Super-Blur Imperfections Eraser!

Seeing as I didn't get any clothes today, I'm now going to crack on with the online shopping so watch this space!

S x

Products Mentioned:

NYX:
Born To Glow Illuminating Primer:
http://www.asos.com/nyx/nyx-born-to-glow-illuminating-primer/prd/6583040

TOO FACED:
Better Than Sex Mascara:
http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_154614000099_-1

SLEEK:
Barekissed Illuminator Pompeii:
https://www.boots.com/en/Sleek-Barekissed-Illuminator_1750712/
True Colour Lipstick:
https://www.boots.com/en/Sleek-MakeUp-True-Colour-Lipstick_1393161/

P.S.:
Velvet Matte Lipstick Crayon:
https://www.primark.com/en/product/velvet-matte-lipstick-crayon-in-plum,R35397119099021
Super Matte Liquid Lipstick:
https://www.primark.com/en/product/plum-matte-liquid-lipstick,R35397119134982

SOAP & GLORY:
Kick Ass All is Calm Anti-Redness Concealer:
http://www.boots.com/en/SOAP-GLORY-KICK-ASS%E2%84%A2-ALL-IS-CALM%E2%84%A2-ANTI-REDNESS-CONCEALER_1800925/
Super-Blur Imperfections Eraser:
http://www.boots.com/en/SOAP-GLORY-SUPER-BLUR%E2%84%A2-IMPERFECTIONS-ERASER_1800929/

OTHER PRODUCTS MENTIONED:
Benefit That Gal Primer:
http://www.boots.com/en/Benefit-That-Gal-primer_49605/
The Body Shop Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil:
https://www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb/body/bronzing/shimmering-dry-oil-honey/p/p000807

Beauty Empties

I'm definitely one of those people who buys a beauty product and uses it for a while until the next new thing takes my fancy, resulting in me having drawers full of half used products. I'm calling time on having a cluttered room and am attempting to use up all of these (in date!) products once and for all.

I'll link everything I mention at the end of the post regardless of whether I liked it or not, as I mentioned in my Disappointing Products post just because I didn't like something doesn't mean you won't love it!

Here are some of the 'empties' I've acquired so far...

---- EYES ----

NO7 BEAUTIFUL SKIN EYE MAKE-UP REMOVER

The first time I used this product I found it so disgusting. It's an oil based product so the oils break down the make-up allowing it all to come off really easily but it results in your eyes feeling so greasy. I used this once and threw it to the back of my drawer, vowing never to use it again but alas the day came when my current eye make-up remover ran out and I had no choice but to use this one again.

Once I started using it again I realised how much I loved it. Sure, it makes your face feel greasy but if you use a cleanser afterwards the problem is solved. No7 have now released an oil-free version of this which fixes the issue even more!

REPURCHASE?

-100%

SIMPLE KIND TO EYES EYE MAKE-UP REMOVER

To be perfectly honest, I hated this product. Simple prides itself on being 'kind' and 'gentle' but in the case of this eye make-up remover, it's so gentle it takes a lot of elbow grease to remove any make-up. I often found that the next day I would wake up with panda eyes from mascara that wasn't removed the night before.

REPURCHASE?

- HELL NO

---- FACE ----

CLARINS HYDRAQUENCH CREAM SPF 15

For months I had been going into Clarins and getting samples of this because I loved it but couldn't bear to spend so much money on a moisturiser. After using the samples everyday and despairing when they ran out, I decided I needed to buy it for myself.

This is one of my holy grail products as the dry, flaky skin I get in winter instantly disappears with the tiniest bit of this cream.

When I went to get more of this the other day I noticed that Debenhams is currently running a gift set so for the same price as the moisturiser alone you also get small versions of the serum and mask from the HydraQuench range in a white quilted wash bag - bonus!

REPURCHASE?

- Been there, done that...

THE BODY SHOP SEAWEED PORE-CLEANSING FACIAL EXFOLIATOR

Myself and The Body Shop have a weird relationship; I love the idea of their products and their ethos, but I don't really like the products when I use them.

Don't get me wrong, I love their shower gel and body lotions but I just don't really get along with their skincare. As you'll see further down, I've tried some of the other skincare ranges and I still find the same thing - I don't hate them but I don't love them either, they just don't seem to do anything for my skin.

REPURCHASE?

- Maybe if I don't find anything better.

MY LITTLE BOX EAU MICELLAIRE DEMAQUILLANTE

Holy cow I love this micellar water. I received this product when I used to subscribe to My Little Box, a French beauty box. I used this religiously and found it made such a difference to my skin, making it appear more glowy and reduced the redness and break outs I was getting.

When I got to the end of this product I was honestly gutted as it isn't available to purchase on their website if you live in the UK. Since I've stopped using this I can definitely notice the difference and it's not good :(

REPURCHASE?

- I wish

THE BODY SHOP VITAMIN E CREAM CLEANSER

When I went on The Body shop website to find this product I noticed two things: that the packaging of this product now looks significantly different and that out of 223 reviews, this had got an average of 5 stars.

When I used this cleanser I didn't feel like it was particularly good or bad, just like The Body Shop exfoliator mentioned earlier. It was an OK product in my opinion, nothing groundbreaking.

The last time I used this was a looooong time ago, I just had the empty bottle in my drawer (#clutterqueen) so these amazing reviews are making me feel like I need to give this range another chance.

REPURCHASE?

- Quite possibly

---- BODY ----

VASELINE ALOE FRESH HYDRATING BODY LOTION

This Vaseline body lotion is perfect if you're looking for something very basic that's fuss free. The cucumber scent is really refreshing but the consistency is very watery which I guess is what they would describe as 'light'. Every time I applied this it leaked everywhere as it was so thin which as you can imagine was really annoying.

REPURCHASE?

- Probably not as there are nicer products out there.

BIO OIL

As someone who has a huge scar running from neck to bum, Bio Oil is a must have in my beauty collection! I love my scar and would never want to remove it completely as it makes me who I am, but this gem has been so helpful for making sure it heals nicely.

REPURCHASE?

- Yes, I already have a bigger bottle.

L'OCCATINE SHEA VANILLA BOUQUET HAND CREAM

Along with the micellar water previously mentioned, I also received this sample size L'Occatine hand cream. The scent of this is so dreamy I love using it. The product itself is really nice and feels luxurious - a Godsend during those cold UK winter months.

REPURCHASE?

- Yes, when I was in France last Summer I hunted down a L'Occatine shop so I could buy the full size for cheaper than the price in the UK.

Feeling more zen now I've had a little clear out but there's still a long way to go!

Until next time,

S x

Products Mentioned:

---- EYES ----

No7 Beautiful Skin Eye Make-up Remover

http://www.boots.com/en/No7-Beautiful-Skin-Eye-Make-Up-Remover_1245018/

Simple Kind to Eyes Eye Make-up Remover

http://www.boots.com/en/Simple-Kind-To-Eyes-Eye-Make-Up-Remover-125ml_8295/

---- FACE ----

Clarins HydraQuench Cream SPF 15

http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_121870921299_-1

The Body Shop Seaweed Pore-Cleansing Facial Exfoliator

https://www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb/face/exfoliators-masks/seaweed-pore-cleansing-exfoliator/p/p000948

My Little Box Eau Miceallaire Demaquillante

http://www.mylittlecorner.fr/beaute/my-little-beauty/eau-micellaire.html

The Body Shop Vitamin E Cream Cleaser

https://www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb/face/cleansers-toners/vitamin-e-cream-cleanser/p/p000147

---- BODY ----

Vaseline Aloe Soothe Lotion

http://www.superdrug.com/Vaseline/Vaseline-Aloe-Soothe-Lotion-200ml/p/320400

Bio Oil
http://www.superdrug.com/Bio-Oil/Bio-Oil-200ml/p/355801
L'Occatine Shea Vanilla Bouquet Hand Cream

http://uk.loccitane.com/shea-vanilla-bouquet-hand-cream,83,1,29776,626403.htm#s=39668

September Favourites

Finally I'm back!

I'm so sorry for the lack of blog post last week, I wasn't feeling inspired to post and didn't want to publish something that was so half-hearted. Hopefully today's post makes up for it!

I'm back with another monthly favourites which is insane because it doesn't feel 5 minutes since I uploaded the last one. I know everyone says it but I have no idea how it's October already but with Halloween fast approaching I'm not complaining.

As the weather gets colder my lips are threatening to get drier which is never a cute look. Popcorn lip scrub by Lush has been my saviour this month. Saving me from those nasty chapped lips. And the best part? It's edible *insert multiple love heart eyes emojis here*.

My next favourite is a really random one - this tin of mints. I'm obsessed with mints and always make sure I have some in my bag at all times, after all you never know when Ryan Gosling might show up wanting to kiss you y'know? I love this princess tin as it makes a cuter packaging than a tatty paper packet of mints. I'm gonna be really annoying though because I have no idea where it's from.

A while ago it seemed that everyone was into these pore cleansing nose strips so I thought I'd try some for myself. I tried them a couple of times then threw the box in my drawer and I've recently just found them again and tested them out and fell back in love. They're not miracle workers by any means but there's definitely a noticeable difference after using these.

I have a real problem with finding mascaras that I love as I want volume and length without clumsiness. I've been wanting the Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara for ages but until I find the time to buy it, I've been loving this one from Soap and Glory. It's the Thick and Fast High-Definition Collagen-Coat mascara and gives you all the drama without the clumpiness.

When my best friend Katie recently came back from a trip to America she bought me back this elf duo called St Lucia. The blusher and bronzer are supposedly an exact match for the NARS Orgasm/Laguna duo at a fraction of the cost which is a winner in my eyes.

I can't comment on the NARS duo because I don't own it, but I love this elf one. The colours are really complimentary and are really pigmented, giving you such a sunkissed look which I love.

During the summer I mentioned I had been on holiday to Spain and went shopping whilst I was there. I went to Stradivarius and picked up this v neck t-shirt with an embellished brooch. I usually hate v neck clothing but I love the cage detailing on this top. That and the brooch turns a simple white t-shirt into something effortlessly cool.

My final favourite is a random one but the most important. Often any monthly post, whether it's a blog post or a YouTube video, is very focused upon material items so I thought I'd throw something a bit different in this post.

My ultimate favourite this month - and every month- is the amazing friendships I have. I'm so grateful for the close friendships I've developed over the years and some friendships have become even closer this past month which I'm so thankful for.

S X

Perfume obsessive

Hey it's Sarah back at it again with the white fluffy blanket background. Soz.

I realise that we're a couple of weeks into September now and I should have done my August favourites a while ago but as you may have seen in my previous post, I've been going through some stuff lately so I felt I needed to give that some air time. And now we're so far into September, it didn't seem relevant enough to do an August favourites, but rest assured I'll be back on it for next month!

A few months ago I was clearing out my room and realised that I currently have 7 different fragrances on the go which is a tad excessive, but yet I use all of them depending on my mood and the occasion. They are a mix of high street and high end fragrances so there will be something to suit everyone.

So without further ado, here is an exclusive insight into my perfume collection and how to wear them!

As you may remember from my 'All Hail the Contrast Dresser' post, I went to Spain during August. As any beauty guru will know, a trip to Spain is not complete without a visit to Zara! Whilst there, I picked up two of their perfumes - Red Vanilla and Forget Me Not. I've owned Red Vanilla before and love it so I went into Zara with the intention of buying a new one andForget Me Not just found its way into my basket.

I consider Red Vanilla to be a bit of a 'badass' scent, it reminds me a lot of the Black XS scent from Paco Rabanne but definitely a lot cheaper! This scent is very suited to a night out but I still wear it in the daytime.

Forget Me Not is more of a subtle smell and is a little bit citrusy - perfect for wearing in the day, especially somewhere like work when you don't want anything too overpowering.

- apologies for the disgusting quality of this photo, I forgot to take an individual snap of this perfume and only remembered once all the natural light had disappeared -

Juicy Couture is one of those brands that people tend to steer away from because they're all about the leopard print and velvet tracksuits, but their perfumes are amazing.

My first Juicy Couture perfume was Viva La Juicy and I wore it throughout high school. One year when I ran out I asked for another bottle for Christmas. My mom ended up picking up Viva La Juicy: La Fleur by mistake but it was obviously meant to be as I prefer it so much more.

As the name suggests it is quite floral scented but also has a fun element to it. I usually wear this during the daytime if I wanted to make more of a statement that Forget Me Not.

I mentioned the Michael Kors Coral perfume in my July Favourites post because it's gorgeous for day or night.

This scent reminds me of holidays and going out for cocktails with my friends because it's quite a mature scent. I've definitely been reaching for this one a lot since I got it.

Another high street perfume that I love is Hollister's Pure Cali (as you can tell by the almost empty bottle!). I bought this last summer for when we went on the cruise as I wanted a perfume that would be suitable for the day as well as not being so expensive that I was worried about sweating it off and having to reapply throughout the day.

I always love the smell of the Hollister shop so I decided that if the shop smells that good then surely their perfumes must be amazing. Pure Cali is definitely a summer/holiday scent as it is quite sweet and flirty (is it weird to describe a smell as flirty?!).

This perfume I purchased at duty free and spent ages choosing it. This was during my first year of uni so I didn't have the money to throw around without being sure I loved it.

This was my first sophisticated perfume buy and I still love it over two years later. It's perfect to wear when you're going out for dinner or for a fancy lunch.

Last but by no means least is my absolute favourite perfume - Donna by Valentino. This is also the most expensive perfume but it's so so beautiful.

I save this perfume for special occasions because I don't know if I'll be able to justify replacing it when there are so many more cheaper options! So heartbreaking though.

***

This post has rekindled my love for some of the perfumes I have used for a while, reminding me how much I really do love them.

Gotta go, I've gotta spray myself with every single one of these perfumes...

S X

July Favourites

Before I started my own blog I was -and still am- an avid reader of blogs, in particular beauty/fashion focused bloggers. One of my favourite blog posts to read are monthly favourites where people discuss the things they’ve been obsessing over for that month.

When I started considering doing a blog I knew 100% that monthly favourites would be a feature I would include. So without any more waffling on, here is my very first monthly favourites post – my July favourites!

--------- SKINCARE ---------

Soap & Glory The Scrub of Your Life

During July I have been practising my tanning routine in the hope that I will be able to leave the house without my pasty legs. With tanning comes a responsibility to exfoliate properly, something I never gave too much thought to before, only exfoliating when I remembered.

I’ve been using Soap & Glory’s The Scrub of Your Life which smells INCREDIBLE. It’s really gentle whilst still exfoliating your skin evenly and to a good standard.

As you can tell I’ve nearly finished the whole tube and I’ll definitely be re-purchasing.

Kiehl’s Washable Cleansing Milk // Kiehl’s Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturising Serum Concentrate

This favourite is a bit of a two in one as I’ve been using these products together. After I finished uni I was sick of my skin being in a constant stressed and angry looking state so I went to Selfridges to splurge on some luxury skin care.

The man I spoke to at the Kiehl’s concession was amazing and so knowledgeable, he made the whole experience really eye-opening for me. He started off by working out exactly what type of skin I have by taking swabs from my forehead and cheeks. This made sure that the products he was recommending to me were suitable for my skin type.

I eventually settled with the cleansing milk and the serum which I have been using together. As I mentioned, these are more expensive products than those you can pick up from Boots or Superdrug like Simple or Nivea, but they have worked wonders for me. My skin is noticeably clearer and if I do get a spot it’s gone within a couple of days compared to before when I would have a spot for a least a week before it would leave.

--------- BEAUTY ---------

Michael Kors Coral Eau De Parfum

This perfume is the perfect summer scent as it is fresh and fruity whilst remaining very feminine and classy. It also contains sandalwood which is one of my favourite scents so this perfume was always going to be a winner for me.

It is also eau de parfum which is really important to me as it means that the scent lasts longer and I don’t need to keep reapplying, something that is annoying during the summer months.

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

This sponge is incredible. Before buying this I had tried a beauty blender from Primark and loved the concept but hated the quality of it, which is not surprising considering it was so cheap.

I was in the queue to Boots when I saw this at the counter and decided to give it a go and I’m so glad I did. The shape of it is the same as the classic beauty blender but it also has a flat part which is so useful for getting into those nooks and crannies on your face.

As with any beauty blender this should always be used damp to give that beautiful dewy effect but it can also be used dry if you want to create a matte finish. This product is especially amazing for setting concealer under the eyes – a real staple item.

I only bought the one to test it out but now I love it, the pack of four is a much better deal so I will link both in the products list so you can opt for whichever you prefer. The only annoying thing about this product is that make up does stain it so no matter how much you wash it you'll never get it back to its original condition, as you can see from mine!

--------- FASHION ---------

Guess Delaney Petite Tote with Crossbody Strap

I’ve been totally obsessing over this Guess crossbody bag this month. I bought this bag last summer when I went on a Royal Caribbean cruise and I’ve loved it ever since. As it is floral print, it is a very seasonal bag so I hadn’t been using it during Autumn and Winter and forgot about it during Spring to be honest! Since I found this bag in my cupboard I’ve been wearing it to death.

This bag comes in a variety of colours and patterns but I opted for this pretty pastel floral pattern. I’ve done some research and I’m not sure if this exact style is available anywhere anymore but I’ve linked some similar bags in the product list that you can always find at the end of the post.

--------- MUSIC ---------

As I have Spotify I’m always discovering new songs to love so this section of my July favourites is very likely to continue throughout the months.

Rock Bottom by Hailee Steinfeld ft. DNCE

Just go and listen to this if you haven’t already. It’s very catchy but it still has a bit of a grungey side to it I would say, it’s not annoyingly ‘poppy’ like some songs are.

Say It by Flume ft. Tove Lo

I’ve loved Tove Lo ever since Talking Body so hearing her feature in Flume’s song Say It was very welcomed by me. This is a very summer appropriate song as it is chilled out whilst still having a cool vibe to it.

***

Hopefully I've given you some new things to try out during the month of August based on what I was loving in July!

S x

Products Mentioned:

SKINCARE:

Soap & Glory Scrub of Your Life:

http://www.boots.com/en/Soap-and-Glory-Scrub-of-your-life-200ml_1829989/

Kiehl’s Washable Cleansing Milk:

http://www.kiehls.co.uk/skin-care/collection/apothecary-originals/washable-cleansing-milk/3700194711641.html

Kiehl’s Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturising Serum Concentrate:

http://www.kiehls.co.uk/skin-care/category/serums/hydro-plumping-re-texturizing-serum-concentrate/3605970619527.html?cgid=face-serums#start=8&cgid=face-serums

BEAUTY:

Michael Kors Coral Eau De Parfum: