bloomzy /

Review: Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick

Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick, Shade #31

Remember when I admitted to being a red lipstick virgin? Well those days are long gone, and I now have a variety of red lipsticks in my collection. So I wanted to do a small review on my favourite of them all, my Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick, in shade #31; Cambon.

Swatch (click to enlarge)

Pros:
+ Great coverage
+ Easy application
+ Amazing pigmented colour
+ Hydrating formula, so it doesn’t dry lips out
+ The colour lasts for hours, unless you’re drinking/eating
+ Chanel counter staff matched the shade perfectly to my skin tone

Cons:
– Stains ever so slightly
– There’s never enough!!

Notes:
As you can tell from the photos I’ve already got plenty of use out of it…I just wish I had taken pictures when I first bought it. The pros largely out-weigh the cons. The staining on the lips is nothing more than a regular lipsticks, and I don’t mind being left with tinted lips afterwards as it gives a nice healthy look. I usually like to apply a little Chanel ‘Soin Tendre Levres’ (which is a lip care treatment) before I put on my lipsticks, but with this one it’s not really necessary as it’s moisturising in itself. Also, I have found that if I apply Carmex beforehand, it creates a lovely lipgloss-like effect, which you can see in my previous post here. As I also mentioned, the counter staff at Chanel are incredibly helpful and will kindly help you match any of their lipsticks to your skin tone/desired look. I think beauty fanatics know by now that there is a reason why the brand is so popular. I’ve been a fan of Chanel’s lipsticks for years and I would recommend them to anyone who is looking for a good quality, long lasting lipstick which is true to colour.

Pictures of me wearing the lipstick: 1, 2 & 3

bloomzy /

Review: MUA Lipstick #15 & #16

MUA Lipsticks; #16 & #15
Here is the first review of several from my recent MUA make-up haul.
I choose to review the lipsticks as a friend asked for a swatch, and I do like to please.
Left to Right; #15 & #16
You may be curious as to why there are 4 swatches. Well I noticed that the colours needed a few coats, so I first swatched one coat of the colour, and then several coats of the same shade. So the first two swatches are of shade #15, and the second two are of shade #16.
Not much difference in #15 but #16 is quite different after several coats.
I also noticed some residue (??) when I first applied #16 but not after the initial swatch.
Pros:
+ Only £1!
+ Didn’t dry my lips out.
+ Colour applies evenly.
+ Coverage on #16 was good for a cheap lipstick.
+ Nice, regular colours which will work well in Spring/Summer.
Cons:
– #15 didn’t have great coverage; showed lines etc.
– Several coats were needed for me to achieve the colour I wanted on both.

Top to Bottom; #15 & #16
Notes:
For £1 I have no complaints.
These aren’t as good as my Chanel or MAC lipsticks but I never expected them to be.
I do wish #15 had been more pigmented/true to colour but that’s my only disappointment.
I ended up preferring Shade#16; Nectar (the one they accidentally sent me) to the one I had ordered.
Honestly, I think these are great if: 
1. You’re not sure whether a colour will suit you, and you want to try it out before investing.
2. If you just want to expand the colours in your lipstick collection, but don’t have lots of money.
You can shop the collection here.
bloomzy /

Review: MUA Love Hearts Nail Polish

MUA Love Hearts Collection; U & I, I <3 U Nail Polishes

Recently I ordered some of the new MUA Love Heart Collection Nail Polishes, as I couldn’t find them in a nearby Superdrug store. I only bought two from the collection though as I found the other 4 were very similar to shades that I already owned from Barry M.Pros:
+ Only £2!
+ Almost opaque after one coat.
+ Lovely shades that are true to colour.
+ Nice thick polish, with a lovely glossy finish.
+ Bright & Pastel colours that are perfect for this season.

Cons:
– The brush on the yellow wasn’t very good quality, so the application was difficult (as you can see in the photo) but I think I was just unlucky and this was a one-off.

Notes:
I really can’t express how much I love the pink-nude colour. It applied perfectly, with a gorgeous opaque, glossy finish after only two coats. That might sound normal, but for a nail polish that only costs £2, this was as good as any of my Barry M ones I own.

I would like to also mention the lovely people at MUA Cosmetics.
There was a problem with my order being dispatched and no dispatch email was sent but the lovely people who emailed me kept me up-to-date and informed. Thank you!

You can purchase the whole collection here.

bloomzy /

Review: Toujours False Eyelashes & Skin79 Lip Gloss



The lovely people over at Shoppingholics sent me a wonderful package recently.
Here is a mini review of both items:

Eyemazing Toujours False Eyelashes #2 (honey grape) 
When I saw these I was so happy that they had sent me some ‘natural’ lashes. It’s been a while since I last wore false eyelashes as I’ve become so picky about the ones I choose, mainly because I prefer a more ‘natural’ look now.
Pros:
+ Cute, efficient packaging (stands up by itself) 
+ Lightweight & nice feel to the lashes, not plastic-y at all
+ Gorgeous, natural, cat-eye look that I could easily wear everyday 
+ 3 pairs, so if you lose/accidentally break them you’ve got back-ups
Cons:
– Doesn’t come with eyelash glue
– Rather fragile, but should last if you’re careful
– Too long for my eye, so I had to cut them down
Notes:
In my opinion, Japanese false eyelashes are some of the best you can buy.
These were produced by Japanese model Marimo (Popteen) for Eyemazing (a well known false eyelash brand in Japan) and the series contains 3 different sets of lashes, all of which are fruit themed…no idea why though.
You can find the whole series here.

Skin79 Mini Lip Gloss
I had previously heard of this brand thanks to their BB Cream, which is very popular in Asia.
I’m not a big lip gloss fan, I’ve recently converted to lipstick, so I was interested in trying this out.
Pros:
+ Didn’t dry out my lips
+ Cute, Anna Sui style packaging
+ Natural colour that would suit most people
+ Small and light, so you can attach it to your keys/purse
Cons:
– Not as ‘glossy’ as I had hoped for
– Slightly sticky when applied and when worn
+The mirror is a little too small to be practical, but it’s a nice touch
Notes:
When I swatched this it was incredibly pale, so much so that it barely showed in photos.
However when applied a few times it came out a nice shade of red. So unless you want more gloss than colour this probably isn’t right for those with pigmented lips.
Find this and more Skin79 products here.
Finally, a picture of me wearing both the eyelashes and lip gloss.
bloomzy /

Lust for: Urban Outfitters


During my trip to Leeds I stopped by Urban Outfitters, as I always do. 
I managed to grab a couple of items that called out to me, whilst avoiding the other 90% of the store that I wanted to buy. 
The Gem Stone Stud Earrings were in the sale, and as I don’t often wear studs I decided to give them a go. Photos just can’t do these justice. They sparkle and shine in all the right places. Love them!
Recently I had been eyeing a particular pair of heels by Deena & Ozzy on the online store, which I also bought during my visit. The Black Panther Court Shoes can speak for themselves, gorgeous, no? However after only wearing them for a coffee date, I’ve found a design flaw. The heel has already started to wear down (as you can see in the photos), which worries me, as I’m not too sure whether I will be able to have them re-heeled properly due to the detailing. Apart from that I don’t really have any complaints, although I should mention that since the material is ‘suedette’ they do collect dust and dirt easily.
Do I regret buying them? Hmm…I have bought cheaper heels that have lasted longer. I don’t expect heels to wear down after half an hour of walking BUT I shall try and work out a solution.
bloomzy /

Your Choice: Winter Skin Saviours

I was recently sent a variety of skin care products to try out, all of which are aimed at helping fight against the harsh effects of Winter. I will need to use them for a little while before I hopefully start to see any effects, so whilst I am testing the above three items, I’d like to know which item you would like to see reviewed first?


Bio-Oil (Boots)
“You can use Bio-Oil all over, including on the face, to provide daily protection and to perfect your skin. Or, use it as an intense treatment for delicate areas that are most at risk from damage caused by exposure to the elements, such as hands, nails and cuticles, face, neck and décolletage.” – Bio-Oil skincare expert Kirsty Mawhinney

Bio-Oil’s concentrated formula is enriched with Vitamin E to protect against dehydration and Vitamin A to keep skin supple and smooth. These essential skincare ingredients are important on their own, but in Bio-Oil they are combined with PurCellin Oil™ to take them deep into the second layer of the skin for gold-standard targeted treatment.

Manuka Doctor Apinourish Repairing Skin Cream (Holland and Barrett)
This lightweight non-greasy cream delivers a perfect balance of intense hydration and purified nutrients that accelerate skin regeneration. In turn, repairing the skin’s natural balance and assisting in the reduction of the appearance of fine lines and scarring.

Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant (Boots)
“It’s even more important to exfoliate once or twice per week during colder winter months. Especially with a non-abrasive treatment such as Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant. When the winter comes the skin produces less natural oils due to the cooler temperatures and central heating so the skin can lose some of its natural moisture. Regular exfoliation will remove the build up of dead skin cells and allow the skin to absorb extra moisture, as well as ensuring that skin retains radiance and vitality.” – Catherine de Groot, co-founder of Trilogy

Which product would you like to see reviewed first?
Bio-Oil
Manuka Doctor
Trilogy
Results
bloomzy /

Review: Bobbi Brown Eye Cream

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream – £28

I had to do a review on this cream, as it has been such a life saver through the Winter months.
I originally tried it before Christmas and fell in love with it, which someone remembered because I ended up getting it as a Christmas present.  Bobbi Brown’s Hydrating Eye Cream is specifically for the area around the eyes, and helps keep away dry skin whilst keeping it smooth and refreshed.

Pros:
+ Hydrates the eye area immediately; it was like my skin had changed overnight.
+ You only need a little bit for application, so it goes a long way.
+ Once dried, concealer goes on easily and smoothly.
+ I love the packaging, so simple and chic.
+ Keeps the area smooth and supple
+ Made with natural ingredients

Cons:
– It only has a life of 6 months, once opened, and I worry I won’t get through it in that time, even using it every other day. However you can expect this of most eye creams, especially those with natural ingredients. Not really a con, but should be mentioned.

Notes:
– This is not a primer. Some people have said it’s good enough to be one, with others saying it actually is. I wouldn’t suggest buying this to use as one, however I have found applying concealer underneath the eye area is easier with it.
– Some reviewers have claimed it didn’t work for them, so I suggest going to a Bobbi Brown counter and asking for a sample. They’re always happy to help, from my experience.
– Some online reviews have claimed it helps dark circles under the eyes. Bobbi Brown do not claim this, and I haven’t noticed much change there either.

If you liked the look and sound of Bobbi Brown’s Hydrating Eye Cream then you can pick up your own here.