bloomzy /

Review: 3 Concept Eyes Lip Marker

3 Concept Eyes Lip Marker in Red*

3 Concept Eyes is a Korean beauty brand I was introduced to recently. To be honest I’ve used a lot of Korean skincare products, but not much makeup. I love the appeal of lip markers, so when I was sent this one I was eager to try something new. You know I love my red lipsticks too, so this shade was also something I’d pick up myself.
Swatched on hand in natural light, and on lips in artificial light.

Pros:
+ Long lasting
+ Doesn’t transfer/rub off
+ Didn’t dry my lips out
+ Nice shade

Cons:
– More orange than red
– Not pigmented, so colour needs to be built up

Notes:
I have such mixed feelings about this product. On the one hand, it’s an amazing lip product that doesn’t transfer or rub off during wear. It can last a good 8 hours without you having to re-apply it, and it doesn’t dry your lips out. Yet on the other hand this really isn’t the shade I was expecting. As you can see by the hand swatch above, it’s more of an orange than a red. I’m a bit confused as to why it’s sold as a red. The colour does need to be built up with this, like a lot of lip markers, so application takes a little bit longer. I like the product but I feel a little let down by the difference in the shade. However I do like the shade and I will be wearing it again. For £11.25 it’s a bit more than I would usually pay for a brand I’m not familiar with, and due to the shade problem I probably wouldn’t buy this product.
You can purchase 3 Concept Eyes Lip Marker in Red at Lunatu.
bloomzy /

Let’s Get Naked Ladies!

The Lacquer Lab Naked Ladies Collection
Nude polishes make me feel all gooey inside. I’m a big sucker for a subtle shade and an ultra chic nail. Say hello to The Lacquer Lab and their new Naked Ladies collection. They are seriously trying to woe me with these shades and swatches.
The Naked Ladies collection is made up of 6 nude shades: Venus, Nymphette, Kleopatra, Nude Maja, Dita and Pamela. If those names aren’t enough to tempt you then maybe the polishes will. With 2 pearlescent shades and 4 luxe-crème shades, you’re spoilt for choice. The Lacquer Lab have stayed with their large bottles, meaning plenty of product. Don’t forget they’re also cruelty and toxin free, and made right here in Great Britain! The polishes will retail at £7 each, and £35 for the whole collection.
If you’re new to the brand don’t forget to check out my review of their polishes.
The Naked Ladies collection is available from today at The Lacquer Lab.
Use code: FREEUKSHIP20 for free shipping in the UK on orders over £20.
bloomzy /

Photo Diary: The London Coffee Festival

On Saturday I headed to the London Coffee Festival with Nuffnang. That probably sounds a bit odd as I don’t drink caffeinated drinks, right? Well I wanted to find out what other options were available, such as decafe etc. However the rest of the Nuffnang crew had avoided coffee all morning in preparation. Luckily for me I wasn’t let down and there was much more than just coffee on show. There was art, food, music and even fashion stalls on display.

I headed round with some of the girls to get all the info on the exhibitors. Amongst the various brands there were more than a few that stood out for me: One Water, Sprinkled Magic Cupcakes, Impossible iPhone Printer, Novus Tea, Nut Shot Peanut Butter, Joco Reusable Cups, and Evoni Design.

Yes, I do feel bad that I headed to the coffee festival and couldn’t fully enjoy the coffee. However I did catch some amazing smells, and I even had a cheeky little latte at one point. It was a day of laughs, learning and discovery, and I would definitely recommend it.

You can find out more at The London Coffee Festival.

bloomzy /

Review: Playboy Kitten Eyes Liquid Eyeliner

Playboy Kitten Eyes Liquid Eyeliner*

Me and liquid eyeliner go hand in hand. You won’t see me with make-up on without liquid liner. Basically it has become a staple, on my face and in my cosmetic bag. I like to think that after about 5 years wearing liquid liner I know my stuff. So when Playboy cosmetics gifted me with their new eyeliner, I was excited to try it.
Swatched on top of a nude eyeshadow, using primer.
Pros:
+ Easy to apply
+ Brush rather than nib
+ Jet black shine finish
+ Cute packaging

Cons:
– Cracked during wear
– I could feel the liner during wear
Notes:
I wasn’t sure what exactly to expect from Playboy’s capsule make-up collection, but I was excited to find out. I first noticed the packaging, which they’ve kept true to the brand by featuring the iconic Playboy bunny. The eyeliner itself comes in a simple black tube with a pink signature – cute! I prefer brushes (like this one) when it comes to liquid liner, as I think you have more freedom, and it’s generally easier to apply. This was certainly easy to apply and left a sharp black, wet look finish. It was also easy to build on. I was impressed. Unfortunately it did crack during the evening though. I also had the same problem with an eyeliner with a similar formula, and I had to keep trying out various primers to find one that worked well with it. So I will give this the benefit of the doubt and say that it could probably be solved with a different primer underneath. As for being able to ‘feel’ the liner, I don’t really know how to explain it in any other way. For £6.95 this won’t break the bank and is a fun addition to an eyeliner lovers collection.
Playboy’s Kitten Eyes Liquid Eyeliner will be available from mid-April.
Stockists are still to be confirmed.
bloomzy /

Keeping Fit with L&G and Keepfitbootcamp

Healthy living fitness goody bag from L&G*
Recently I was contacted by L&G about their new healthy living campaign. Like everyone else the New Year get fit bug hit me too, so I jumped at the chance. We may now be in April but that doesn’t mean I have to give up trying to keep fit. I’ve been watching what I eat and making sure it’s all good stuff going into my body. The next thing is to actually start doing some proper exercise, rather than just walking. You see walking is my favourite type of exercise and something I find difficult to give up. Luckily for me L&G already had that in mind as part of their healthy living initiative.  They partnered with Keepfitbootcamp for the campaign, and offered me a 7 day pass. I was also invited to a taster, but I was sick at the time and unfortunately couldn’t attend. So I can’t wait to try the bootcamp out and let you all know about how I got on. I’ll also make sure to keep you all up to date on my progress.
Do you have any healthy living tips of your own?
bloomzy /

The Secret of Avène Eau Thermale

On Thursday I was invited to breakfast with my favourite skincare brand – Avène.
They had cryptically told me that I would be finding out the secret behind their products.
As the brand has made such an impact on my skincare routine I couldn’t wait to find out.
Amongst the gorgeous bouquets of flowers and delicious food were some new products.
Avène is now releasing their ‘XeraCalm A.D’ range, which is aimed at those with eczema.
As someone who suffers from eczema from time to time, this came as a delightful surprise.
But wait, didn’t I mention a special little secret? Well luckily for you I’m going to share it.
So what is the secret of Avène?
The lovely representative told us that it is all down to nature. A long time ago, the founder of Avène found a spring that had special healing properties. The locals also knew about it and used it to bathe in and to help ease their skin conditions. It sounds as though it could be something from a fairytale, right? At least that’s how I imagined it. 
Now, do you remember your geography children? Then you might recall how springs come about. Rain falls down into the soil and makes a magnificent journey through the earth before creating a spring. It is this process that allows Avène to gather their eau thermale, as it rises from a hot spring under the earth. The water in this spring takes all the minerals and a unique microflora ‘dolomiae’ from the earth and soil. This process takes over 50 years, so the eau thermale in all your Avène products really is special. It is a science that the Avène team have been working on, and perfecting, for many years. Luckily for us they are now sharing their secret, so we can all benefit!
So it’s no wonder why Avène’s products are soothing, anti-free radical and anti-irritating. It’s amazing to think that a spring discovered in 1736 is still helping us, and our skin woes today. Avène have put a lot of research, thought and care into their products and I love that about them. I also think it’s wonderful that the eau thermale in their products comes from a natural spring. How many people can say they use the water from a thermal spring in their skincare routine? Their products aren’t only for those with eczema or sensitive-skin, anyone can use them. If you want to be converted, like I was, then you need to try out Avène. 
You can purchase Avène’s new range from selected Boots stores, from April 2014.
bloomzy /

Wish List: GIZA x Joyrich at Selfridges

GIZA

When I spotted the GIZA pop-up in Selfridges last week I was beyond excited. Giza is a Japanese brand produced by DJ and all around amazing woman Mademoiselle Yulia. My friend Renka is the one who peeked my interest in the brand, and she is also the person who bought me my first piece from it – my dinosaur ring. It’s a difficult brand to get hold of if you live outside of Japan, so as soon as I saw the items (produced in collaboration with Joyrich) were online (as well as in-store), I knew a wishlist post was needed!
I love the hieroglyph and dinosaur prints prevalent in the brands designs, which means I end up wanting pretty much everything. As you can see I loved both of the backpacks, so I’d happily have either colour…or both. The sweatshirt looks comfy yet flattering, and I love the print on the skirt. Now if only I could go back in time and find some money for the whole collection.
You can see the whole collection available on Selfridges, and in the London store.