bloomzy /

My Basic Make-up Must-haves!

I often write reviews on new make-up products I have bought, so I thought I would write about my favourite make-up products – the ones that I rush to buy as soon as I begin to run out. These are just basic items that I use to create a simple, natural look, or use as a base for less ‘natural’ looks. Note: I didn’t include eyeshadows or items that I am constantly experimenting with, or buying in new colours and brands etc.

What are my must-have make-up items?

+ Chanel Lipsticks – Rouge Coco #31 is my favourite.
+ Lipcote – to get the most wear out of my lipsticks.
+ Maxfactor Masterpiece Max Mascara – gives good volume.
+ Sephora Liquid Eyeliner – love the application of this.
+ Sephora White Eye Pencil – great for highlighting my eyes.
+ Dollywink Eyeliner Pen – great for filling in, or using on lower lash line.
+ Canmake Blush #PW20 – amazingly pigmented, gives great colour.
+ Lush’s Jackie Oats Colour Supplement – perfect for my skin tone.
+ Collection 2000 Pressed Powder – the only powder I’ve found that matches my skin tone perfectly.

I’ve been using the Chanel, Lipcote, Dollywink, Canmake and Maxfactor items for a long time.
The others are all relatively new (within a year), but have quickly become firm favourites of mine.
These are items that I would gladly buy again and again…and I do!
They may not work for everyone, but they work perfectly for me.
Do you have any favourite make-up products?
bloomzy /

Wish List: Best of British

Best of British

 

Best of British by bloomzy Ok so I may not be a Royalist, and I won’t be celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee…
However I am proud to be British, and I do like limited edition, special occasion items.
I’ve been gazing through windows at the decorations in stores, and the items they’re offering.
So I thought since it’s the Jubilee weekend, I would do an extra special wishlist!

With all the current hype around the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, tons of brands have been bringing out limited edition items to celebrate the occasion. This means lots of British brands are showing how proud they are, although that hasn’t stopped a lot of non-British brands also having some fun. Hey, it’s a party & everyone is invited!

The items I choose for this wishlist are items I would happily buy/wear any time of the year!
I love the selection of items, from Union Flag cupcake decorations to red, white & blue nail polish.
Although the ‘Markus Lupfer’ Crown Sweater, the ‘Not for Ponies’ Corgi T-shirt & the ‘Nails Inc’ Jubilee Crystal Colour Polish have to be my favourites…Oh who am I kidding? I want everything!! 

bloomzy /

Discuss: Can make-up represent a clothing brand?

Today I want to get discussion going about something that is popular in Japan.
I will be featuring one of my favourite Japanese brands, Murua, to help explain.

In Japan, clothing brands spend a lot of time representing themselves and their staff.
The presentation of the staff reflects on the store and brand, which makes a lot of sense.
This is done through not only their clothing and accessories, but make-up and hair too.

So with every new season some of the brands and stores send their shop staff (usually the store manager) off to a special meeting. Here, they are taught the key make-up and hair looks for that season, for the brand. The looks compliment that season’s collection, and make the brand and staff stand out. The manager then goes back and passes on this information to the shop staff, who are then expected to use these key looks in their everyday make-up & hair routine, whilst at work.

The shop staff are not forced to re-create the looks step-by-step and are allowed to add their own personal flair.
This means that they can retain their own personal style within the brand, much like those who work for clothing stores are expected to wear clothing from that store, or make-up counter staff are expected to wear make-up from that brand.

I personally would love to see something similar in stores like Topshop that have their own make-up line. I know a lot of clothing and department stores have rules on what kind of make-up to wear (subtle etc) in the UK, and are asked to be on-trend, but it’s not usually like this. I think it would inspire the customer more and help represent the brand too, whilst adding a little something extra. I do fear that it restricts people’s personal tastes a bit, but I think there’s always room to be inventive. However I think this works so well in Japan because of customer loyalty, so I’m not sure if it would catch on.
What do you think of this idea?
Do you think it would work in the UK, or Europe?

Source; 1
bloomzy /

News: MUA Undressed Palette Release

MUA Undressed Palette

Over the weekend MUA kept us all in anticipation as they slowly revealed the shades of their new palette.
Well it has all been unveiled, and it even has a name now – Undressed. The palette features 12 nude shades, which are a combination of glitter and matte eyeshadows. Fans of Urban Decay’s Naked palettes will no doubt see a resemblance. 
MUA have remained secretive about the release date saying that it will be sometime in July.
However if you follow them on Twitter you will know that they love to please their fans so they often release new products online, before they appear in stores. This has been hinted at already, and in light of their previous releases I’m guessing it will be in the next few weeks.
I for one am excited about this, even though I already have the UD Naked palette.
Why? Well MUA’s eyeshadow palettes usually start at £4, and this one will be no different – bargain!
Knowing the quality of MUA’s eyeshadows I think this will make a great replacement for anyone who has used up their Naked palette, or for those who have been looking for a cheaper alternative.
Keep an eye out for the release on their Twitter, or their Webstore.
You can also find swatches on their blog, where they are also holding a giveaway – here!
Source; 1
bloomzy /

Review: Glossybox 1 Year Anniversary Box

Glossybox 1 Year Anniversary Box
This month saw Glossybox have their 1 year anniversary…birthday? 
I’m not sure which is more fitting, but they celebrated anyway and sent out a ‘special’ box.
I received:
+ Noble Isle – Summer Rising Bath & Shower
+ Lolita Lempicka – Eau de Parfum & Si Lolita
+ Apivita – Cucumber Express Beauty Masks
+ Osmo Berber Oil Hair Treatment
+ Eldora False Eyelashes
+ Glossybox Mirror & Balloon
What were my thoughts on the box?
Honestly I was underwhelmed. I’m sorry to say it.
I thought this was supposed to be a celebratory box, but it just seemed like any other.
I suppose the balloon and mirror added a little something extra, but it didn’t win me over.
I just bought myself a new mirror, which wasn’t cheap, so I have no use for this one unfortunately.
I always love perfume samples, so I was happy to receive a couple in this box.
I also liked the addition of the cucumber facial mask and hair treatment oil.
I already have a full bottle of Argan Oil which will easily last me, but it’s difficult to take when I travel. 
So that was very welcome.
As for the eyelashes, they’re not my style, but if they’re yours I’m selling them here.
And finally another shower gel?! There has been a shower gel in the last 3 boxes I’ve received – last month’s box even included a full size one. I’m not sure if the Glossybox team are worried about our hygiene now it’s getting hotter but really? Overall I was unimpressed, and felt that the 3 items I liked weren’t worth the money. As I’m moving back home now and also need to save up for the future I have cancelled my subscription.

However, if you would like to sign up to Glossybox, you can do so here.
Glossybox has also just hit the States! Sign up here.

UPDATE 1
After reading some of the comments on the Glossybox Facebook page about the perfume samples (some people were claiming that theirs were only half full) I decided to double check mine. Well mine weren’t half full…they’re only 1/3rd full!! Utterly ridiculous and very annoying. For samples that I could have received free from a perfume counter, I would at least expect them to be full in a box that I am paying good money for.
UPDATE 2
I want to thank Glossybox for replying to my email about my perfume problem.
They were kind enough to explain the situation to me:
“These are 08.ml samples in a 2.0ml container…these are the full samples we were provided.
It was due to them being that way that we provided two”

I understand Glossybox’s situation here, and I think it’s nice that they included two because they weren’t completely full. However I think the company were bad to send samples that are less full than those that you would receive free from a perfume counter, and I think Glossybox should not have included them – these are not the kind of samples I would expect to receive in a beauty box that includes ‘luxury product miniatures‘.
bloomzy /

Guest Post: Make your own body lotion

The lovely ‘Bokusouchi‘ has been kind enough to guest post for me whilst I am away.
She wanted to bring you all a DIY Beauty Tutorial, and after deliberation decided that she would show you one of her tried and tested favourites. Here is ‘How to make your own body lotion‘.

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What you’ll need:

1) Unrefined solid coconut oil (you can get this online or in a health food shop)
2) 1 ounce of beeswax (it normally comes in 1 ounce bars, I got 2 for £1 on ebay)
3) An essential oil of your choice (I went for sweet orange)
4) A medium sized pan
5) A sterilised pot/jar (I sterilised an old mayo jar)
6) Something to mix it with that you can throw away, like an old chopstick etc. 
If you don’t have that use the handle of a mental spoon/fork etc.

Boil your kettle. While your waiting, pop your beeswax into the jar and top it up with coconut oil, like so

Once your kettle has boiled pour the hot water into your pan and put the jar in. 
You want the water to be roughly half way up the jar. 
Make sure you put the ingredients into the jar before you put it into the pan, if not your jar will tip.
Put the heat on to about medium.

Keep it on the heat until it completely melts.
It will go a funny yellow colour but don’t worry that’s supposed to happen!
Then take it out (watch your fingers, it’s going to be hot!), it should look like this.
Now time to give it a stir and add your oil! You’ll only need a few drops, trust me.
…….and that’s you done!
If you find that it’s a bit too hard you can melt it down using the same method and add more coconut oil, too soft beeswax.

I loved this body lotion but prefer it as a night time one as it’s a bit heavier than the ones I’m used too. 
I’ve found it’s an AMAZING overnight foot treatment too, just load it on and pop some socks on. 
You’ll wake up with baby soft tootsies!
bloomzy /

Beauty from the inside out

Cho-Yung Green Tea & Supplements from my Big Pink Box

Lately I’ve not been feeling at my best.
I’m tired, stressed and generally feeling quite rubbish.
I’ve put a lot of this down to my wheat intolerance, which flares up when I’m stressed.
However it hasn’t helped that I’ve been eating wheat products like there’s no tomorrow!
I love pastries, bread etc. and even though I know they’re not good for me sometimes I find myself giving in.
So I decided to change all that!
Now that university is finishing and Summer is approaching I decided to turn it all around.
I don’t want to be tired or feeling down all the time, and I think getting my body back in shape is the way to combat that!
The supplements from my big pink box have been sat on my cabinet for a while now, but there is a reason for that. 
I actually take supplements already, and I wanted to finish the ones I had before I started these. It’s good to remember that taking a bunch of vitamins together probably won’t do much. So it’s worth checking the info on your supplements and making note of the % of which vitamins and minerals etc. your supplements are offering, and remember that you’ll also be getting some from your diet! Sometimes you just can’t help it though, so don’t worry too much.
Anyway, I’m not a dietician but I know that cutting out wheat, taking supplements and drinking plenty will help me get back to my usual self. Please note that this is not a diet to lose weight, but to get healthy!

So I will be taking the following to help me out:
+ Hyaluronic Acid with Vitamin C
+ Hydrolysed Collagen
+ Skin, Hair & Nails Formula
+ Cho Yung Tea
I will update you all in a month to see if there is any difference!
How do YOU keep your diet healthy?