Revlon Colorburst Crayon Matte Balms in Elusive and Audacious

I'm sure you will have all heard about Revlon's Crayon Balms by now, as they are pretty much everywhere. Lip crayons are a big thing at the moment, and I reckon Revlon is the Daddy of the highstreet versions, with Balm Stains (6), Laquer Balms (10) and Matte Balms (10) to choose from. I can't comment on the stains or laquers, as I haven't tried them yet, but I've got 2 of the matte balms to show you, in the shades Elusive and Audacious. All of the Revlon Balms contain a triple butter formula of shea, coconut and mango, and all have a beautiful peppermint fragrance that feels slightly cooling on the lips (something I love). When I first heard about the matte balms I was a little sceptical, as I have pretty dry lips so usually steer clear of matte finishes and they cling to the tiniest of dry patch and look horrific. But ooohhhh not these beauties! They aren't drying in the slightest and feel so creamy and moisturising, with the bonus of the peppermint fragrance, yummy!

Elusive - a blue toned cool pink

Audacious - a bright orangey coral

I find both shades super easy to wear, as even though Audacious looks slightly scary, it's doesn't transfer that way and will look beautiful coupled with a tan in the summer. The Revlon Colorburst Balms are available at your typical locations and retail for £7.99 each, but psssst, Boots are currently offering at 2 for £10 deal here. 

Do you own any Revlon Balms? What should I get next? Ha!

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MAC Creme Cup Lipstick

MAC Creme Cup. £15

Sooo my love affair for MAC lipsticks has officially begun. Oooohhh Creme Cup, where have you been all my life? I mentioned in my recent haul post that I treated myself to my first MAC lipstick purchase. Well, technically it's my second MAC lippie, as I bought Speed Dial in a blog sale (which is a darker pink), but this is was my first proper experience buying one from the counter. The problem is, the nearest MAC counter is 1 hour away from me, so it's not often I get to go and have a good old swatching sesh. Anyway when I knew I was going to Newcastle, I asked on twitter which lipstick I should go for first, and sooo many people said Creme Cup that I knew it had to be mine.

MAC Creme Cup is a stunning pale pink with blue undertones (great for making teeth appear whiter). It's a cremesheen formula, which is so wonderfully creamy on the lips, very moisturising and not at all drying. I've never felt a lipstick like it. I always thought I didn't suit the paler shades, as my lips a quite pigmented, but oh how wrong I was! I think I've worn this lipstick pretty much every day since I got it and I know I'm addicted. That oh so satisfying click, teamed with MAC's classic vanilla scent - I can now confirm they live up to the hype!

What are your favourite MAC lipsticks? I'd love to see your collections!

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500 Follower Giveaway!!

Hellooo beautiful readers! Last week I hit an amazing 500 followers on bloglovin' and I couldn't be happier. When I started my blog as a little hobby last year, I never imagined I'd even have 100 people wanting to regularly read my blog, nevermind 500. I know 500 doesn't seem like many to some people, but I am amazed and I'm genuinely greatful to all of you that follow. So for that, I'm going to be hosting a cheeky giveaway, in which you can win one of my newest and already FAVOURITE lip balm, the Nuxe Reve De Miel Lip Balm, as well as a MAC Lipstick of your choice (from the permanent collection).

Enter using the Rafflecopter Widget below. This giveaway is international and will run for 1 month from 26th June until 26th July at 5pm. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Royal Ascot 2014 | OOTD

So my big brother was arriving home for the summer on Friday from teaching in Kazakhstan, and decided to treat my Dad and I to a trip to Royal Ascot just in time for Finale Day on Saturday (along with my Auntie and Uncle who live down in Oxfordshire). I'd never been before and was beyond excited, but also slightly apprehensive as I didn't have a clue what to expect and I'm not exactly a horse racing expert. We had tickets for the Grandstand, which meant that there were quite a few rules on the dress code. In the Grandstand it is compulsory for ladies to wear either a hat or a fascinator, and dresses had to be of a certain length, and even the straps on dresses have to be at least an inch thick. With that in mind I set to choosing my outfit and this is what I ended up with... (these photos were taken at the very end of the day (in the bright sunshine) so excuse the makeup and hair haha).

Dress - Boohoo.com
Fascinator - Debut at Debenhams
Shoes - New Look (old)
Bag - Accessorize (old)

I actually bought myself some gorgeous new black platform heels, but chickened out of them on the morning as they were brand new and VERY high and I knew we'd be on out feet for most of the day so didn't wanna risk it - even for fashion! I'm so glad I made that executive decision as my feet KILLED in even my most comfortable black shoes! Anyway, we had the absolute best day ever and I'm so so happy we went. The weather was amazing, some of the outfits were to die for and I even managed to back a couple of winners. Bonus! I would highly recommend going as it's an incredible experience.

Did you go to Ascot this year? I'd love to see your OOTD's!

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Nails: No Nonsense Nudes

When it comes to nail polish, I gotta have them all. I love brights, I love pastels, and I absolutely adore nudes. They're so simple, yet give an effortlessly chic look to any outfit. Nudes are always the one to turn to when you want your nails to have that classic look. Think weddings, think interviews, heck, think anything you want. A nude nail will never let you down! I've picked 4 out of my stash to show you.

First up is Mavala's Nicosia, a pearl formula, which, as you can probably guess, has a pearlescent finish. Nicosia is a peachy-pink nude which transfers beautifully to the nail - perfect for a summer wedding (& currently 25% off in Debenhams here). Next is Barry M's Lychee, from the Hi Shine Gelly range. A classic beige nude, Lychee isn't too yellow, nor too pink and it was highly popular when it was first released.  I find it needs a good 3 coats to look opaque, but the end result is worth it. Next up is my absolute favourite of the bunch, partly because I adore these formulas and the shade is to die for, but to be honest the name is what wins it for me! Rimmel's Oh Mr Darcy! (I know, that name) from the Salon Pro range, is none other than the perfect nude! With lilac undertones, this beige gives that 'barely there' look, but with high shine and elegance. Swoooon! I hadn't noticed until I swatched how very similar Lychee and Oh! Mr Darcy are, with the latter being slightly more lilac in some lights. Lastly is the darkest of the bunch. Rimmel's Stuck in the Mud is from the 60 seconds range, another set of formulas that I'm really fond of. Annoyingly, I can't seem to find this on the Boots or Superdrug websites, and I actually picked this up in the pound shop of all places. Perhaps this has been discontinued or they don't actually stock it in the larger stores. Probs shouldn't have included it but oh well. Stuck in the Mud, as the name suggests, is more of a muddy browny-beige, something I suspect will look incredible with a tan! It looks a lot darker on the photo below than it does in real life. Slightly annoying but hey!

What are you favourite nude polishes?

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The Wet Brush Earth Collection Eco Friendly Brush

The Wet Brush*. £11.99 on cultbeauty.com

I'm sure I've spoken before about my ridiculously knotty hair that I used to cry over as a child. After trying, and really liking the Tangle Tamer by Denman, I haven't really felt the need to try any of the other detangling brushes, until now. I'd heard lot's of great things about The Wet Brush and how amazing it was, so I was really excited to try it when I was offered the chance. Heck, if Kendall Jenner say's its a must-have, you know it's a must-have! It's the number one best selling detangling brush in the US and their brand new 'Earth Collection' brush* has just arrived in the UK. The cult brush has been developed with 100% recylcable packaging and a stylish bamboo handle which is in fact lightweight and waterproof, but that's not even the best part - The Wet Brush is donating proceeds from this brush to non-profit charity; Water - to provide safe drinking water to a school in Cambodia.

The Wet Brush might just look like a regular hairbrush, but it's revolutionary bristles set it apart from the rest. Lightweight and comfortable to hold, this brush is designed to glide through even the thickest hair. It's specifically designed to be used on wet hair, as that's when it's most vulnerable and prone to snapping and tangling. The bristles are designed so that they can be both firm and flexible as needed, as well as having gentle ball tips, which stimulate the hair follicle and promote healthy hair growth.

Well, I honestly don't know how on earth they've done it, but they really have created the most amazing hair brush EVER. It's unbelievably soft and detangles my freshly washed, wet hair in less than a minute, as well as working wonderfully on dry hair. I've already noticed a dramatic decrease in the amount of hair that falls out when brushing, and my hair feels so much softer than it did before, even with other detangling brushes I've tried. This brush will be perfect for children as well, I just wish it existed when I was a little girl.

The Wet Brush (£11.99) is available from Cult Beauty, Sally's stores and Salons nationwide. I can't actually find a UK link for the Earth Collection Brush yet (apart from on Amazon, where it's £19.99), but I'm sure it will soon be readily available.

Find @TheWetBrushUK on Twitter!

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The Disney Tag

Ok sooo I'm pretty sure this tag was made for me!! I've seen it kicking around for a while and thought it was about time I got stuck right in. I wasn't tagged by anyone in particular, but when the beautiful Kirstie from A Yellow Brick Blog did this tag, she tagged any Disney lovers to do the same. That's good enough for me! I absolutely adore Disney and have grown up with them and owning a good 35+ on video, before getting with the times and upgrading to DVD/Bluray. My collection is getting hefty, but I still have a good way to go! Anyway, I digress..

1. Favourite Disney Film?

This has been a question I've asked myself time and time again, and I've found it almost impossible to choose as there's at least 3 that I would consider ultimate favourites. I think though, if I had a gun to my head and was forced to choose, it would have to be Beauty and the Beast. It's the most wonderful story, and the characters and songs are awesome. It just takes me back to my childhood every time I watch it.

 2. Favourite Disney Character?

Ouch, another hard one! Obviously I love the princesses; Belle, Jasmine, Cinderella etc, but I think my favourite character would have to be Tramp from Lady and the Tramp, I just think he's so loveable and I just wanna take him in and feed him!!

GIF Source

3. Favourite Disney Princess?

Belle, always! Just look at her when she gets that yellow dress on!! B E A UTIFUL!! Plus she's just lovely!

4. Rather be Aurora or Cinderella? 

Cinderella, she gets to go to the ball in a pumpkin and have mice for friends! Aurora just kips!

5. Rather be Hercules or Tarzan?

It has to be Hercules! Super strength will always beat being able to swing through the trees!

6. Rather be Lizzie McGuire or Raven Baxter?

Raven for sure! She can see into the future! How cool would that be?!

7. Favourite Disney Song?

Arghh another hard one! I'm finding this one really hard! Obviously there's 'Circle of Life', that just gives me goosebumps every time, but I think my favourite has got to be 'Something There' from Beauty and the Beast. "There may be something there that wasn't there before". But then there's 'Beauty and the Beast' the song.  "Tale as old as time". Arghh it's too hard to pick just one! lol

8. Which Disney character would be your best friend?

Little John, from Robin Hood. He's so cool!!

9. Which Disney character would be your pet?

Abu. He's just too cute!!

10. Have you ever been to Disneyland?

No, this saddens me very much but I WILL take my kids one day!

I also tag any Disney lovers out there. (you know you all love a bit of Walt)

 

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A Cheeky Anniversary Haul

Soooo it was our 3rd wedding anniversary on Friday 6th June. We don't normally buy each other cards and presents, we just usually spend the day together somewhere nice instead. So Martin took the day off work and we decided to head into Newcastle for the day for bit of shopping and some food & drinks. George went to my Mam's for the day and night so we could have a few drinks and take our time which was lovely. The weather was absolutely beautiful and boiling so we're really glad we went, as yesterday was constant rain all day! Obviously, I couldn't go to Newcastle without getting a few little treats, especially as we don't have as many good shops in Middlesbrough. Here's what I got...

The first place I headed was Superdrug, where I picked up a cheap smokey-eye brush, as I liked the look of the angled end (ideal for eyeliner & eyebrows). I can't seem to find it on the Superdrug website, but it was only £2.99 and it's double ended - fab! I then headed to the Sleek stand, which was the reason I went in. They do have a Sleek stand in my local store, but it's always practically empty and there's never anything I want in stock. I was lucky enough to grab the very last Eyebrow Stylist, and it just happened to be in medium and with £2 off. If that's not fate I dunno what is tbh! The next placed I toddled along to was The Body Shop, as I had an email about the 50% off sale, PLUS a code for 40% off non-sale items (14669). I grabbed their Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil, something I've had my eye on since it was released a few months ago! Whilst I was there I also noticed the Elderflower Eye Gel and remembered reading about it being a best seller. I don't suffer terribly with under eye circles or bags, but sometimes (especially with having a toddler who wakes early, and being a contact lense wearer), my eyes take a little bit longer to wake up in the morning, so I'm hoping this helps! Next was my most exciting purchase, something that's been on my wishlist for a long long time - MAC Lipstick in Creme Cup! Oh Em Gee! I can't believe I've left it so long to get this, I absolutely ADORE it. I think it looks so pretty and the formula is so moisturising and creamy. I think it's perfect for everyday, but will also look great on a night teamed with a smokey eye! Full review coming soon but I'm sure you've all already read about how wonderful it is. Last but not least, a shopping trip would not be complete without a trip to LUSH, but I didn't wanna go overboard as I'd already spent a cheeky bit more than I should have. Obviously I had to go and have a little sniff around the bath bombs, and I ended up walking away with The Comforter Bubble Bar, as it's one I've never tried, and I you gotta have a bath full of bubbles. I also picked up the Tea Tree Toner Water as I'd heard great things about it. I got the small version as I'm not sure how my skin will take to it, and I love how you can get smaller versions to try them out first.

So that's all for my haul. Hope I don't make you all shopping-broody lol.

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Benefit Bella Bamba Blush | Review

Benefit Bella Bamba Blusher. £23.50

Ahhh the Benefit boxed blushers. How I long to get my greedy little mitts on them all! However, for now, I only have the lonely one. The first to kick start my love of those adorable little boxes of beauty came in the form of Bella Bamba. I got this for Christmas in the 'Hot 2 Trot' Gift Set along with Cha Cha Tint, and it was love at first swatch (paha, how cheesy).
The Hot 2 Trot Gift Set is currently on sale in Debenhams for only £18.80 (link). Absolute bargain considering the blush on it's own is £23.50.

Benefit's Bella Bamba is described as a '3D Watermelon Blush', the first of it's kind. The scent, as you might have guessed, is watermelon (which I adore) and I think the 3D aspect is supposed to give the cheekbones that extra dimension and sculpted effect. I'm not sure it does anything different to other blushers in that respect, but that's OK. The blush is a lovely bright coral, packed with golden shimmer that does look like it could be too much, but once applied it just gives a lovely natural rosy glow to the skin. Obviously, I don't use the brush that comes with it (who actually uses those?), but I find it works perfectly with my MAC 168 Large Angled Contour Brush. My love for the Benefit boxed blushers is official, it's full blown and there's no going back. Next on my list... Rockateur!

Which Benefit Boxed Beauties do you own?