bloomzy /

Review: Benefit Fake Up Hydrating Concealer

I hope this post isn’t too long after my mention of Fake Up at the beginning of the week.
I just didn’t want to release a review of a product before it was even available to buy in-store.
Not that I mind others doing it, but I know that if I like a review I want the buy the product asap.
Thankfully it will be released tomorrow, so here is my review of Benefit’s new hydrating concealer – Fake Up.

“This hydrating crease-control concealer – with Vitamin E & apple seed extract – hides dark circles & diffuses fine lines for a silky smooth, ultra-natural look.

Available in three shades, it’s proven to keep skin hydrated for 6 hours.”


Pros:
+ Gorgeous packaging
+ Matched my skin tone well
+ Darker shades can be used for contouring
+ Can be used on lips without drying them out
+ Outer ring of vitamin e & apple seed extract helped to hydrate skin

Cons:
– Only comes in 3 shades
– Wasn’t as hydrating as I’d expected
– Sat in the creases of my skin
– Does not blend well
– Came off during the day

Notes:
I was matched to Shade 1 – Light, which really wakes up my eyes.
The shade looked intimidating when first applied but the lady at Benefit blended it really well with my skin tone, paired with the hydrating aspect, it didn’t feel cakey or as if I was actually wearing any concealer at all. It’s a shame that when it came to me applying it myself it didn’t work out the same way. It didn’t blend well and it sat in the creases of my skin. Not a good look. I can forgive Benefit for only releasing 3 shades, even though it doesn’t seem like enough, because I was assured that they matched all skin tones. I can vouch for the lightest shade and say it matched my deathly pale skin (ok, maybe I’m being slightly dramatic) very well, which surprised me as it can be quite a task. However I can’t say whether all darker skin tones are covered in the next two shades. That said, the Benefit team told me that the darkest shade would compliment darker tones when blended correctly. There were a variety of gorgeous ladies at the event so hopefully some of them can leave their review links below if they come across this post?

You can buy Fake Up online here for £18.50.
Or you can purchase it from a Benefit store/concession.
bloomzy /

Review: L’Occitane Hydration Cream

L’Occitane Creme Radieuse Hydration Cream*
It seemed that my search for a moisturiser fit for using on my face was forever ongoing.
That was until I found this little gem – the L’Occitane Creme Radieuse Hydration Cream.
I received this sample size in a Birchbox last November and wasn’t sure what to think of it.
In fact, I was pretty convinced that I would never use it, in fear that it would make my skin breakout.
I have combination skin that is too dry for certain products and breaks out with other rich ones.
That in a nutshell is why I don’t like to use a lot of facial moisturisers as part of my routine.
So I was delighted when I took a chance and started using this.
Pros:
+ Not too rich
+ Smells lovely
+ Works well as a primer
+ Moisturising & Hydrating
+ Only a tiny amount is needed
Cons:
– Scent isn’t for everyone
– May not be rich enough for some skin types
Notes:
Ok, I think you can see that I was stretching with the cons there.
Personally I have no cons for this product, but I tried to think of others.
I’m just happy to finally find a moisturiser that is moisturising enough and not too rich.
The sample size of this is perfect, as I only need to apply a little every morning and evening.
The full size is a little pricey at £30 and honestly I don’t think I’d be able to use it all before it goes out of date. That said, L’Occitane also feature the sample size in a travel set with the cleanser & toner, so I’ll definitely be taking advantage of that when I run out of this one.
You can purchase the full size version online here.
Or you can find the travel kit in L’Occitane stores.
bloomzy /

Review: Imperial Leather Oriental Calm



Imperial Leather Oriental Calm Shower Cream*

As Spring arrives I feel my love for lighter floral scents growing.
The new Imperial Leather Shower Cream in Oriental Calm is a prime example.
As far as shower creams go, Imperial Leather are one of the most well known brands.
Recently I held a giveaway to win the new collection, and I was also given one to try for myself.

“A luxurious and indulgent shower cream combining cherry blossom and vanilla bean. 
Whilst the lather is rich, thick and twice as creamy, the aroma is comforting and promises to relax you.”


Pros:
+ Soft on skin
+ Lathers well
+ Reasonably priced
+ Lovely ‘Spring-y’ scent
+ A little goes a long way


Cons:
– Non-natural ingredients
– Not as moisturising as I’d hoped


Notes:
The application was soft on my skin and lathered extremely well, meaning I didn’t need to use much.
The scent was also pleasant and not overpowering, which meant I could layer with a perfume afterwards.
However the lack of natural ingredients (something that is prominent in my showergel & skincare collection) was a let down for me. I also look for creams that are moisturising but kind to my sensitive skin, but this made my dry skin itch and didn’t moisturise as I’d hoped. Unfortunately I wasn’t overwhelmed by the product. I wouldn’t purchase it myself but I would recommend it to someone who doesn’t suffer from sensitive skin or doesn’t mind the use of non-natural ingredients.

Prices start at £1.89 for 300ml and go up to £2.89 for 750ml.
You can purchase Imperial Leather’s new range of shower creams on the high street and in supermarkets.

bloomzy /

Review: Angelica Nail Polish in Crystal

Angelica Nail Polish in Crystal
 
I haven’t done many nail polish reviews as of late.
So it might be a shock to see that my latest one is of a polish bought from Primark.
Angelica is a UK nail polish brand that sells their polishes to Primark, and also online.
I’d never paid much attention to their stands in Primark stores, as I was probably being a bit of a snob.
I’m all for buying high street make-up as well as high-end but because of my sensitive skin I have to be careful.
Hopefully that will help you understand as to why I’ve never paid much attention to the make-up sold in Primark.
Anyway, as I was waiting in the queue to make a purchase at Primark, this little beauty caught my eye.
I can’t get enough of iridescent everything lately, and this was on sale for only £1 (usually £2.50)!
The polishes themselves are at a good price anyway, but I had to snap up this bargain.

 

Glitter polish is always so awkward to photograph
Pros:
+ Gorgeous iridescent glitter shade
+ Only needed one coat
+ Great coverage
+ Easy to apply
 
Cons:
– Consistency is slightly gloopy
 
Notes:
I’m really impressed with this polish!
I wasn’t expecting much, to be honest I thought I was taking a gamble.
The cheaper brands of polish I have used usually don’t cover well or the shade doesn’t pay out. However this polish applied easily, even if the consistency was slightly gloopy. I just had to make sure that the cover was even and it wasn’t difficult. The iridescent glitter catches the light wonderfully and really you only need one coat – although I did two as I will be wearing it alongside a darker colour (more on that later). I will admit when I’m wrong and I was wrong to misjudge Angelica Nail Polish. This really impressed me and I would definitely try other shades in the range – I’ve been converted.
You can purchase Angelica Polish in Primark stores across the UK.
bloomzy /

Review: New Style Boutique for Nintendo 3DS

Nintendo 3DS XL & New Style Boutique Game*
I know it’s not my usual kind of post, but I love playing games almost as much as I love beauty/fashion.
My usual kind of game play involves Resident Evil, GTA or games of the like, not usually fashion related ones.
So when I was contacted and sent a Nintendo 3DS XL and the New Style Boutique game about a month ago, I was very excited to try out a game aimed more at the interests I chat about on here.
What is New Style Boutique?
You start the game as an assistant at a boutique in your town.
Gradually you work your way up as a stylist and eventually the owner of your own boutique.
Working in the boutique means that you get to style your customers, from head to toe – men & women!
There are over 12,000 items of clothing and accessories to choose from, including handbags etc.
You also get the chance to enter stylist competitions and have your look go down the catwalk.
Exciting extras include; a hair salon where you can change your hair style & colour, a beauty salon where you can buy make-up for your character, the ability to decorate your apartment and of course, shopping for clothing for your boutique!
What did I think?
As I said before I don’t play fashion related games so I wasn’t sure what to expect from Style Boutique.
In fact I really really enjoyed playing the game and with so much going on I wasn’t bored at all, and I actually ended up playing the game on my morning/evening commutes to work, as well as during my lunch breaks. There wasn’t much I disliked about the game, apart from maybe the overused dialogue – but I wasn’t expecting Shakespeare, so I can’t complain. My favourite attributes of the game were entering the style competitions and shopping for clothing, for my boutique. If you’re not a fan of gaming but love fashion then maybe this is the perfect starter for you! It’s not an overly complicated game, but it’s in-depth enough that you’ll enjoy the game play. And if you’re like me, a gamer who usually stays away from this genre? I think that if you love fashion then you will love this game.

bloomzy /

Where to Eat in London: Fika

Fika | Scandinavian | Lunch/Dinner | Brick Lane | Website
– reservations available –

I’m a pretty big foodie, if you hadn’t already guessed, so sometimes I like to post about food in London. This is an ongoing series (you can find the series here) as my love for food and discovering new bars, restaurants etc. continues to blossom. Lately I’ve decided to do special feature posts for places that really stand out to me. Today is Fika – a Swedish ‘Bar & Grille’ that has an amazingly relaxed atmosphere.

I’ve been before for Fika (Swedish for coffee break), when I had tea, gorgonzola & ginger biscuits. We were so impressed that I decided to take my fiancé back there for a post-Valentine’s Day meal. This time we had lunch and a very special treat of Semla, which is a traditional sweet roll eaten at Lent. It’s basically the Scandinavian version of Pancakes for Pancake Day, so I wanted to reserve a couple and enjoy it. The roll is very much like a bread roll (spiced with cardamon seeds), but hollowed out and filled with almond paste & whipped cream. It was certainly something different, and I didn’t dislike it, in fact it was nice as it wasn’t too sweet, although I think I would have enjoyed it slightly more if there had been extra almond paste – but it’s a favourite of mine, so I’m biased.

Before our Semla, we indulged in some lunch where I had Swedish Meatballs and the fiance had Lax Planka Salmon both of which were wonderful, and full of flavour! The meatballs came with the oh-so Swedish traditional accompaniment of mashed potato, red wine sauce and lingonberry jam. You might think that the lingonberry and red wine would counteract each other, as they’re both strong flavours, however both complimented the other, and the dish, very well. The portion sizes were perfect and left me feeling full, but not enough that I couldn’t fit in something sweet.

Fika are offering Semla for the whole of February, but you’ll need to book.