The Body Shop New Colour Crush Lipstick Collection with swatches!

Hey hey heyyy!  Welllll this is a very exciting post for me as I was lucky enough to win @TheBodyShopUk's #firstcrush competition on twitter... on my BIRTHDAY of all days! Wooop! The competition was massive and I won all 24 of their brand new Colour Crush Lipsticks.  At £10 a pop, that's some win!  They came in wonderful packaging with a lovely postcard from one of the media team congratulating me on winning and also wishing me a Happy Birthday - how sweet!
So anyway, I just wanted to show you all every single lipstick from their collection, in the hope that you will go out and grab one or two and join me in the rave over these brand new lippys! 

These brand spanking new lipsticks are described on the website;

This luscious lipstick gives a stunning pop of colour and rich moisture, infused with a subtle rose scent.

• High-impact colour
• Rich moisture
• Infused with a subtle rose scent

The one annoying thing about these lipsticks is (call me weird) that they don't show the name of the lipstick on the bottom, just the number!  I like my lipsticks to have a name and number.  These only show the number, even though they do all have names as they were on the outer wrapping of each lipstick!  Strange. So I wrote them all down before I binned the wrappers so that I could put all of the names on here! haha!

NB: Just wanted to add that a lot of them arrived squashed inside the packaging! They're not ruined or anything but just the tips of some of them are a little squished as they were kept upside down in the packaging they arrived in and were probably bashed around a bit during transit.  Think I'll take them out of there.  (Just didn't want you all thinking I'd been handling them roughly haha)

They come in 3 different sections; Reds, Pinks and Nudes/Browns (100's, 200's and 300's)  The lids are coloured by section as opposed to the actual shade.  So the reds have a red lid, pinks have pink, browns have brown. Ha. (I probably didn't need to fully explain that but hey!) I'll start with the Reds!

Reds
101 - Red Siren
105 - Coral Cutie
110 - Coral Blush
115 - Enraptured Red
120 - Raspberry in Love
125 - Crazy Sexy Crimson

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Pinks
201 - Redhot Raspberry
205 - Passionate Pink
210 - Sweetheart Pink
215 - Innocent Pink
220 - Dare to Bare
225 - Blushing Pink
230 - Rush of Pink
235 - The Right Mauves
240 - Damson in Distress

As you can see, the pinks took a lot of damage on route! :( 

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Nudes/Browns
301 - Drive Me Nuts
305 - Golden Flirt
310 - Crush on Caramel
315 - Coral Kiss
320 - Berry in Love
325 - Darling Blush
330 - Spice Things Up
335 - Hot Date
340 - Berry Me

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Soo thats the lot!!  What do you all think of this fab new collection?  Do any colours jump out at you?
I have to say, obviously I haven't tried them all yet, but at the moment my personal favourites have got to be..  115, 205, 315 & 320.  I know I'm not going to like all of them, I'm not lucky enough to suit EVERY single shade.. but who is? Overall I'm chuffed to bits with these lipsticks.  The formula is so creamy and moisturising which is something I NEED with a lipstick as my lips get very dry.  A massive thumbs up from me and a HUGE thankyou to The Body Shop for my win!  As you can see, there's a shade to suit almost everyone so I'm confident in saying you won't be disappointed!  Hope this post helps! xx

My perfect Autumn/Winter nail polishes!

Hiii all!  So today I've been stuck in the house all day with a bored 11month old due to the ridiculously dull weather - boooooo.  It's actually been pretty cold in the house for the first time in months so I got all snuggled up and it got me thinking about Autumn/Winter.  As much as I am all for Summer and DREAD this time of year approaching, I also enjoy the fact that it's soon time to dig out the wintery lippys and nail polishes!

I thought I'd share with you a beautiful mini nail polish set I received last Christmas from my Auntie.  It's a set of 5 mini 5ml nail polishes by Mavala.  I'm not sure of the actual name of the set as I binned the original box and can't seem to find it online, however they are all sold individually so it shouldn't be easy to find one if you like any of the shades I'm about to show.

L to R - London, Bordeaux, Candy Pink, Sparkling Red, St-Germain

Don't they just scream WINTER?  I absolute adore every one of these nail polishes.  Obviously Sparkling Red is meant to go over another colour to create the sparkly effect but I just wanted to show you it on it's own.  My favourites have got to be Bordeaux and St-Germain as I love deep colours on the nail and they look absolutely gorgeous on!

The formula is really nice and they are super easy to apply. The drying time is really quick aswell which is an absolute Brucey Bonus for me as I'm the most impatient person in the world when it comes to waiting for my nails to dry! Even when I usually do them on an evening and all I'm doing is watching the TV I'm still like"HURRY UP AND DRYYY". So these little monkeys surprised me!  The lasting time isn't quite so good though. I'd say 2 days max before they start to chip so a top coat is essential here if you want them to last at least 2 days.

Have you got any favourite A/W nail polishes?
Do you think it's time to start applying or have we got a couple more weeks of summery colours left?

Wishlist September 2013

Another month, another wishlist.  After the success of receiving quite a few items as gifts (or cheeky purchases) from August's wishlist.. I just HAD to do another.  Nothing wrong with keeping an eye on nice products (in other words dreaming, ha!).  Here's what's on the list this month! 

Topshop Hooded Parka - £60
Muji Acrylic Curved Drawer Dividers - £3.50 each
Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot Powder - £11
Bourjois Java Rice Powder - £9.99
Soap & Glory Kick Ass Concealer - £10
New Look Grey and White Stripe Open Front Jersey Blazer - £22.99
Pandora Birthstone Peridot Ring - £40
Michael Kors Bracelet Watch - £209

Whats on your wishlist this month?

Starting Off: Concealer

Heyyy fellow beauty lovers!  After the success of last week's #theSOproject posts on skincare, which went crazy on twitter, I'm excited to write the follow up post for week number 2.  Up this week: CONCEALER!  For this post I'm going to explain a little about what concealer does, how it is used, my current favourite concealers and how and why I use them.

What is concealer?

Concealers, or colour correctors, are generally used to cover up blemishes, dark circles, age spots, large pores and any other pesky skin marks or pigmentation you want to 'conceal'.  Concealer is quite similar to foundation but generally thicker and more heavily pigmented - as you usually only use a small amount on certain small patches and blend it out.  Concealers can come in different forms, from liquid to solid, although the liquid form is most commonly used (I think).  

How to use

When choosing a concealer, it is probably best to go one or 2 shades lighter than your own skin tone - well, I do anyway and it works for me.  If you're going to use a concealer to cover up dark circles, ages spots, blemishes etc, it's best to use after your moisturiser/primer but before you apply your foundation.  Depending on the type of concealer you choose, you may want to use your fingers (very lightly with your ring finger if under the eyes - as the skin under your eyes is very sensitive) or a concealer/detailing brush to blend it in.  Some concealers come with a little brush attached which is quite handy.

Problems

I have always struggled with finding a good concealer to be honest.  When I first started wearing makeup I didn't understand that it's best to get a shade a bit lighter, and in turn had some horrific concealer incidents.  I remember the first one I ever bought was in the form of a lipstick, but was just the total WRONG shade for my skintone.  It ended up turning my blemishes orange and looked worse than the actual blemish - LOL.  I soon got rid of that and over the years have tried lots of others until I have finally found 2 that fit me perfectly.  

My Favourite Concealers

The two concealer's I am currently using are Collection (formerly known as Collection 2000) Lasting Perfection Concealer in the shade 3 Medium, and Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in 01 Ivory.  The reason I use 2 is because they are different formula's and applicators - so I use them both on different parts of the face.  Love a good mixup!

Left: Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer
Right: Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Concealer
(Sorry for the crappy packaging, they're coming to the end of their time, ha!)

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - £4.19

Believe it or not, I haven't had this concealer very long and it's the first time I've owned it - but as you can see by the battered packaging it has already become a firm favourite.  It seems like everyone who is anyone in the beauty blogging world owns this concealer.  The formula is really thick and creamy - ideal for covering up large blemishes.  The doe foot applicator makes this one ideal for doing just that.

I use this one around my nose and on any pesky blemishes I want to cover.  I dab it on and then depending on how rushed I am I will use my fingers or a detailer brush.  If I have a bit more time, I will carefully blend it in with a my Real Techniques Detailer Brush from the Core Collection.  If I am a bit more rushed I will dab to blend with my ring finger. My nose is so naughty and just behaves differently to the rest of my face.  It always seems to attract blemishes/redness like they're going out of fashion!  Very strange.  This concealer has become my best friend in the fight against my nose.

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Concealer - £6.99

I loveee this concealer!!  It has been described as a dupe for YSL's Touché Eclat, which is a best seller.  It's a lot lighter in consistency than the Lasting Perfection, and it houses a twist/brush applicator.  This concealer aims to add a luminating highlight, which is a bonus in my eyes.  Anything to make me look brighter and more awake is a bonus (especially with a 1 year old running me ragged at home, haha).

I use this under my eyes, on my chin and on any marks on my forehead.  It's so easy to apply because it is a really light formula which blends like a dream.  I usually brush it on the problem areas I want to conceal and add a little highlight, and then blend it in with a dabbing motion with my ring finger.  Works a treat.

So there you have it.  Concealers are a vital part of my everyday makeup routine as they really do make such a difference. 

P.S.  I also have my eye on the Soap&Glory Kick Ass Concealer, but haven't had chance to pick one up yet.  Review will be up as soon as I get my hands on one.  Lets see if it makes it into my everyday routine.

Do you use any of these concealers?

Did this post help any of you?

Would love your feedback! 

Don't forget to follow me:

Twitter @kateraspcheeks

Instagram: @kateraspcheeks

Bloglovin': bloglovin.com/raspberrycheeks

The Beauteco Box || August

Hands up.. who likes a beauty box? I've read lots of blogs for a long time about different beauty boxes but I never really jumped on the bandwagon as, don't get me wrong I thought they looked great, but I also thought it seemed like you get quite a lot of the same type of items each month, which would result in a boring backlog of body lotions etc.  This was until I read about The Beauteco Box - the newest kid on the block!  Beaut ECO box is a clever play on words, as they are eco-friendly and use 100% recyclable materials in the packaging.  BONUS!

The newest members of the Beauty Box family stood out to me from the rest - mainly due to the fact that they have 3 different boxes to choose from each month from a set menu.  I really liked this idea, as it gives a personal choice and allows you to choose based on what you might fancy or even need that month.

Beautecobox Homepage

You can unsubscribe at any time so you don't feel as though you are pressured into getting that month's box, and then opt back in whenever you like.  As soon as the newest boxes arrive onto the website, you get an email to inform you so you can pop along and choose which you would like.

You get 5 items each month, with 3 full size items and 2 sample sizes.  At £10 a box + £2.95 P&P I really don't think you can go wrong with this.  I know I won't be getting one every month as I won't need them, but if I see something that really catches me eye I will probably have a dabble.

I ordered my first box at the end of August after deliberating for most of the month over whether or not to try one! In the end I couldn't resist and I'm glad I did as I'm really excited about the new products on offer here.

So what did I get in this month's box?  I'm just adding pictures and descriptions as I haven't had chance to try them yet.

Arran Aromatics Lavender & Tea Tree Facial Gel Wash - RRP £12.95

Description: A truly unique facial wash combining naturally exfoliating loofah with the deep cleansing antibacterial action of tea tree and the healing, soothing properties of lavender. You’ll love the soft smooth results!

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Lord & Berry Intensity Lipstick in 'Peach Gleam'.  RRP £14.95

Description: Intensity is a satin finish lipstick that glides on silkily and hydrates lips. Though it delivers intense colour from the first sweep, Intensity's ultra soft, sensual texture is blissfully like a second skin.

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Lord & Berry Kissproof Lip Colour Liner in 'Blossom' - RRP £7.50

Description: A long lasting yet creamy and soft lip pencil that is lightweight yet densely pigmented.  This water-resistant formula has nourishing properties and is soft enough to be used as a liner and a lipstick.

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S5 Calm Serum (Sample Size, 10ml) - RRP £9.  Full Size 30ml RRP £44

Description: S5 Skincare Calm Serum is a targeting soothing treatment for sensitive skin and complexions prone to redness.  Infused with Marine Bioactives, Calm Serum is specially formulated to reduce the appearance of persistent redness and eliminate any visible signs of skin hyper reactivity. Allergen free and boasting a 99.6% natural and certified Organic formulation, Calm Serum is ideal for sensitive complexions.

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Melvita Atomiser Orange Blossom Water (28ml Sample Size) Full Size 200ml RRP £16

Description: Orange blossom floral water is obtained by distillation of organically grown, fresh Citrus aurantium amara leaves. Naturally rich in active ingredients, it has calming, softening and refreshing properties, and is suitable for all skin types.

I'm still working out how I'm going to use this to be honest!  Maybe spray it onto a cotton pad and use it as a toner?

What do you think of the Beauteco box?

What other beauty boxes have you tried?