New In: Guerlain 'Perles Du Paradis' Meteorites Spring 2013

Guerlain's meteorite pearls are always one of the most beautifully packaged high end makeup products. So much so, that i always find it incredibly hard to resist the adorable packaging! For the spring 2013 collection, Guerlain released a limited edition of the iconic meteorite pearls in the shade, 'Perles Du Paradis'. 

Where to start?! The packaging is just gorgeous, and to be honest it is one of the major reasons why i purchased it- i know that's not always the wisest decision, but i just love how these adorable pots look on my vanity top. The packaging is different to past meteorite pearls, in that it is made primarily of cardboard, as opposed to the usual metal tins- the girl that i spoke to at my local counter, said that Guerlain are trying to make their products more Eco friendly and recyclable. Whilst it doesn't have the same luxurious weight to it, the packaging- card or metal- still looks beautiful, and if it's Eco-friendly, then that's fine by me. It comes with an incredibly glamorous pink powder puff (which takes up about half of the pot), which is a great tool for applying the pearls to your decolletage or other areas on your body. For the face, i prefer to use a dense brush.

Besides the packaging, the pearls themselves also vary from previous editions. They are significantly larger, and more pigmented (particularly the bright pink shades) than the others. Again, the lovely girl at my local counter, informed me that these meteorite pearls have been designed to not just be worn as a light face powder, but as a blusher and highlighter too. So the increased pigmentation means that 'Perles Du Paradis' can be used in a wider variety of ways than the previous meteorites- i swatched it in-store, and the bright pink balls (!) are definitely pigmented enough to use a blush- which i love! If you have dry skin, this would work very well as an all-over brightening face powder- which is not glittery at all- and if you have more oily skin like myself, then it works perfectly worn as either a highlighter, or as a blush when particularly using the pink colours. So i love the versatility of this particular edition. It also has the signature sweet violet scent, which may be worth noting if your particularly sensitive to smells, but i really love it. I personally wouldn't use this all over my face as my skin is sensitive to fragrance, but as an occasional highlighter/blush it should be fine. 

I also received a sample of Guerlain's new mascara, Cils D 'Enfer Maxi Lash, which I'm very excited to try. After receiving Chanel's inimitable intense mascara (which i love!) for Christmas, I've really enjoyed discovering some higher end mascaras. So hopefully this will be a good one!

So whilst the 'Perles Du Paradis' meteorites are not a makeup bag essential, it's definitely a beautiful item to have- and display! It would also make a fabulous Valentines Day gift ;) It is quite pricey at £43.00, however, the larger sized meteorite balls means that 'Perles Du Paradis' will last a lot longer than the others, and it also contains 53g of product instead of the regular 30g.

What do you think of the Guerlain spring collection?

Love, Claudia x

Weekly Summary #18

1. New Chanel goodies from the Spring '13 Collection, 2.  Yummy Treacle Tart & Raspberry dessert :), 3. Beautiful Chanel illuminator, along with Emprise nail polish & Fantasque Lipstick (post here), 4. My favourite winter breakfast combo- porridge, banana, cinnamon, and on indulgent days, cream- so yummy!  5. My cute little pen pot, 6. Pink Lemonade at Bill's, 7. Gathering together my January Favourites, 8. New jumper from Miss Selfridge, 9. Sample of Guerlain's latest mascara release- excited to give it a try!

I hope you all had a great week!

Love, Claudia x

New In: Chanel Spring 2013 Collection

When i saw the pictures of Chanel's new spring collection, Printemps Precieux, i knew it would be hard to resist! The collection consists of beautifully feminine pink shades- from hot pinks to light nudes. I picked up three items, including the standout piece in my opinion, the Illuminating Powder.

The limited edition illuminating powder is absolutely beautiful, embossed with the iconic Chanel emblems of Camellia's and the double C's. It's almost too pretty to use! It was incredibly expensive, but i just couldn't resist it. Besides the gorgeous packaging, the highlighter itself has received outstanding reviews. It's a very light, pale gold with a beautiful sheen. For dry skin types i think you could totally wear it all-over, but for oily skins like myself, it's best reserved for the high points of the face- so the cheekbones, cupids bow and brow bone. It's going to be perfect for creating the much-coveted, dewy complexion during the spring. 

I also picked up one of the Rouge Allure's in 'Fantasque', number 112. You know how much i love my nude lippies, and i just couldn't resist this one! Although it looks a little dark in the picture, it's actually a pale peachy-pink with a golden sheen. It complements both the highlighter and the nail polish perfectly- in fact, all of the products are very complementary to each other. It's a perfect everyday appropriate colour, that complements the soft pink hues of the collection. If you love nude lipsticks but struggle to find a colour that doesn't wash you out or look too pale, then i definitely suggest taking a look at this one.

Whilst i originally intended to pick up 'Fracas', the hot pink, i actually preferred the more subtle option which was 'Emprise', number 569. 'Emprise' is a soft, peachy-pink nude with a subtle frosty sheen. It's unlike anything else in my collection and perfect for the upcoming spring- especially with the pastel trends. It's a very soft, feminine colour that will look great with any outfit- i can't wait to use it! Whilst Chanel doesn't offer the most long-wearing formula's, they do deliver on beautiful and unique colours.

Overall, my top pick would definitely be the limited edition highlighting powder- especially if your an avid Chanel fan like myself. I'm very tempted to go back and purchase the hot pink lipstick in 'L'Eclatante' too! Whilst the colours aren't groundbreaking in their originality, they're incredibly wearable and feminine, and in my opinion, that's all i can ask for in a spring collection. 

What did you think of the collection?

Love, Claudia x

Review: Benefit Brow Zings in 'Dark'

I often receive a lot of compliments on my eye brows and questions about the products that i use (particularly on my you-tube channel). My all-time favourite eyebrow product and one that i use every day, is Benefit's Brow Zings Kit. I've been using it for a year or so now and it's still going strong. It's an amazing product for adding both definition and colour to the brows, which makes such a difference to your everyday look. 

Occasionally i will get my eyebrows threaded, but mostly i just pluck them myself at home with my trusty Tweezerman's. Not everyone needs to fill in their brows, and although mine are quite dark in colour (being brunette), they are sparse. So i like to use a brow product to fill in those sparse areas. Plus, defining your brows really does transform how you look and definitely pulls together your makeup- especially if you have dark hair like myself. If you've never touched your brows before, you'll be amazed at the difference some definition and shaping can make.

The Brow Zings Kit consists of two products; a pigmented wax for shaping the brows, and a powder for setting them. Both products work perfectly together to give you even, and well-groomed looking brows. The kit also contains three tools; a mini pair of tweezers, a hard angled brush and a blending brush. The only tool that i use from the kit is the blending brush, which i use to apply the wax. The others are not particularly great. The kit doesn't contain a spooly brush, but i still like to use one and would suggest purchasing one if you haven't already. 

The kit is super simple to use and incredibly quick. I begin by combing through my brows with a spooly brush, and then using the blending brush, i apply the wax. Next, i take my MAC angled brush and apply the brow powder. To finish off i comb them through again, to remove any excess powder. It really is so simple to do, and it lasts all day- even in humid climates (which i have tested!). I own the shade 'Dark' which i would recommend for those with dark to very dark brown hair. It's also available in a 'Light' and 'Medium' option for lighter hair colours. 

As you can see, the products work wonders on my brows! Without any filling-in, my brows were undefined and sparse in areas (mostly towards the front section). With the Brow Kit however i have defined, even, and clean brows. It adds so much more definition, and really works at 'framing' my face and eyes. This is particularly essential when wearing eyeshadow! It looks a lot more natural than using a brow pencil too. I really can't recommend this product enough- i couldn't live without it, and my face just wouldn't feel complete if i didn't use it! At £22.50, it's not the cheapest option out there, but it does last a super long time- i've had mine for over a year and i still have plenty of product left. So in actual fact, it's really good value! The products are great quality and make groomed brows incredibly easy to achieve at home. 

What are your favourite brow products?

Love, Claudia x

Favourite Blush: Benefit Coralista

Benefit's Coralista is one of my all-time favourite blushers- i love it. Surprisingly, i had never dedicated a single blog post to it, and so i wanted to do a mini review for you today. It's probably one of the most hyped products in the blogging world, and if you haven't yet given it a try, then do! Despite having quite a large blush collection (being one of my favourite products), this is the one that i always come back to, and pretty much use on a daily basis (as you can see by the little product that's left!). 

There are two things that i love about this blusher the most; 1. the gorgeous coral/pink shade and 2. the healthy 'glow' (not glitter!) that it provides. It's such a flattering colour for my skin tone, and one that's suitable for everyday use to accompany any makeup look. Whilst it can be worn any time of the year, i reach for it the most during the spring and summer. The coral-pink shade instantly brightens my complexion and the golden shimmers depart a gorgeous healthy glow to the skin. The pigmentation is just right for everyday use, and the texture is very easy to blend- creating a very natural finish. It is comparable to the infamous 'Orgasm' blush from NARS (which i also own), however, i find Coralista to look far more natural and flattering on my skin. 'Orgasm' is much more sparkly in comparison. It really is one of the best blushers that i've tried, and one of my most used. Definitely my HG blush!

Love, Claudia x

New In: Jack Wills Sale

Although I've never been a fan of sale shopping (the only type of shopping that i don't like!), one sale that i did check out this year was at Jack Wills. It's one of my favourite 'preppy' brands, alongside Abercrombie and Ralph Lauren, and they had some amazing reductions in their January sale that were definitely worth checking out.

Falmerston Blackberry Phone Case: was £24.50, now £7.00

I've been on the hunt for a Blackberry phone case for a while now, but with the iphones ranking top, it's hard to find a nice range of accessories for the Blackberry. So when i found this one in the classic Jack Wills colours that was suitable for the style model i own, i had to pick it up. It's great for protecting your phone from scratches or abrasions, especially whilst in the depths of your handbag! It's compatible with both the Blackberry Curve and Bold. 

Aconbury Boot Socks: were £14.50, now £5.00

I also picked up these cute socks which will be perfect for wearing with my Uggs- especially as we've had so much snow this weekend!

Pink Pegg Pants: were £14.50, now £5.00 

Lastly, i picked up these cute lacy pants in a pastel pink shade. These are way overpriced normally, but with the sale price it was the perfect time to pick up a pair. They come in a wide range of cute colours, with the Jack Wills edging at the top. 

Did you manage to find any good sale bargains this January?

Love, Claudia x

Weekly Summary #17

1. OOTD featuring this gorgeous skirt from Sheinside (video here), 2.  Trying to choose which fashion fairytale to read first!, 3. The best Sea Salt Truffles that i've tried so far- they're so good! (find them here) , 4. Snowfall on Friday, which meant a day off college for me- wooo!,  5. New Urban Decay build-your-own eyeshadow palette (review here), 6. Goodies from the Jack Wills sale, 7. New Chanel goodies (post here) , 8. Studying for my psychology exam which was on wednesday, and my history exam which is next tuesday, 9. Reviewing my all-time favourite liquid liner from Guerlain (post here)

I hope you all had a lovely week, and enjoyed your Snow Day if you had one! I was so happy to have a day off from college :D

Love, Claudia x

New In: Chanel Goodies

After seeing the gorgeous boxes in my Christmas post, many of you requested to see the Chanel cosmetics that were inside. As a lover of all things Chanel, including these new additions, i was more than happy to share these lovely products with you. 

The two cosmetic items that i received were both Chanel eye products- the infamous Inimitable Intense Mascara in black, and the Le Crayon Kohl pencil, also in black. I've been using both products since i got them (so about two weeks?), and i love both already! The mascara is a great one for lengthening, separating and defining lashes, and it holds a curl all day. Plus, it doesn't flake or smudge throughout the day which is great. The brush is synthetic which is my personal preference, and works really well to distribute the product equally. It's not waterproof, which is fine for the winter, and it's very easy to remove at the end of the day. Although it's pricey, it's definitely worth it if your looking for curl and definition and it is worth the hype that it receives. I'm very glad to have received this and would definitely repurchase!

The pencil is equally good- very pigmented, and smooth/creamy to apply. It does smudge if applied to the waterline, after about 10 minutes of applying it, but i just tidy it up with a cotton bud before leaving the house and then it's completely set for the rest of the day. Again, i would highly recommend this product too, however, after hearing about all of the recent hype over Rimmel's new Scandal Eyes Pencils, they sound incredible for the drugstore price tag! I'll definitely give those a try soon, and see if it's a good dupe for the Chanel one.

I also received some beautiful fragrance items from Chanel. I had never tried any Chanel perfumes before, but I'd always loved the look of their most youthful scent, 'Chance'. I have the 'eau tendre' edition, but of course there is the original, and the 'eau fraiche' (which is on my wish list!) too. The scent is beautiful. As a beginner in Chanel perfumes, i definitely feel as though it's the best scent to start with. It's incredibly light and fresh with both fruity and floral notes, and of course it has that hint of sophistication that surrounds all Chanel fragrances. Despite being an eau de toilette, the staying power is very good, and on me, it lasts all day. I also have the fragrance mist which is basically a spray on moisturiser in the Chance eau tendre scent. Just a few spritzes both moisturise and scent the skin. It's not something that i would use every single day, but for special occasions or when you want to pamper yourself, it's amazing! It works perfectly when paired with the perfume to offer maximum staying power, and even works well on its own.

Love, Claudia x

Review: Guerlain Liquid Eyeliner

I've always found liquid eyeliner the trickiest makeup product to work with, so i generally avoided it! I've tried a few products over the years, from Hourglass to Rimmel and NYX, but never discovered anything that i loved, or that was easy to apply. You can probably guess what's coming next, but i've recently found one that has totally transformed my thoughts on liquid liner! It is an expensive discovery at the very least, but it makes wearing liquid eyeliner an absolute walk in the park for me.

This is the Guerlain Bi-Phase Liquid Liner in 01 'Noir Ebene'. Firstly, how gorgeous is the packaging?! It looks like something that Cleopatra would have owned! Whilst the packaging is gorgeous, the product inside is equally impressive. The best thing about it, that i've struggled to find in similar products, is the super fine applicator and long handle, which makes application incredibly easy. You really have total control when using this product, and can create a very neat line of varying thicknesses. It's very precise and distributes a perfect amount of product. The pigmentation is also amazing- super black and very opaque. It also has a very unique high-gloss finish, and lasts all day! I love to use this for both natural day-time looks to add a little more definition to my eyes, or equally, for dramatic night-time looks to complement a bold smokey eye. It also looks amazing when worn with very simple face makeup, and a super bright lipstick such as red or pink. 

For anyone whose ever struggled to find a liquid liner that actually lasts, and is easy enough for even the clumsiest to apply, then i highly suggest this one. It's definitely on the higher end of the price range at £24.50, but to me it's 100% worth it. 

Love, Claudia x

New In: Urban Decay Build Your Own Palette!

Alongside the much anticipated Naked Basics palette (review here), Urban Decay have another new palette release which I'm very excited about. The 'build your own' quads are an amazing idea, as you can choose your favourite shadows from the entire UD selection (68 colours in total!) and have them all in one place. As a huge fan of UD shadows, i couldn't resist purchasing the build-your-own 'Rock' palette on a recent visit to Debenhams.

You can opt for the four-pan palette, or a six-pan palette. I went for the quad to begin with as i tend to only use four shades or so on a daily basis anyway. Plus, the smaller size of the four-pan palette is more sutiable for travelling. I think it's a fantastic idea to have a customisable palette, which you can completely tailor to your needs. Urban Decay have a huge range of beautiful colours and finishes, so you can design your very own palette for both various occasions, and makeup looks. The palette itself is £14.00 and already comes with one exclusive shadow named 'Rock' which is  a very wearable, shimmery taupe. Considering that the price of a single UD shadow is £14.00, this palette is amazing value- plus, you can fill your palette at the rate you like. Not to mention the gorgeous packaging!

To accompany the exclusive shade 'Rock', i also purchased two additional eyeshadows to go in my palette. I stuck to my favourite colour scheme for the eyes, which is shimmery taupes. I chose both 'Secret Service', a matte chocolate brown that's perfect for the crease, along with 'Sell Out', which is a shimmery, pink-toned champagne colour- great as an all-over brightening lid colour, or as a highlight. The three colours accompany each other really well, and create a very simple but beautiful, smokey eye look. As with all UD shadows, the pigmentation is amazing, the texture is very easy to blend, and the staying power is equally impressive. 

As you can see, the original UD single shadows pop out of their packaging very easily, and fit straight into the palette. So you could use any of the single UD shadows you already own, in the new 'Rock' palette.  I love the fact that the shadows are not in a 'pan' form like the MAC palettes are, as this means that you can interchange your colours for each season, and store the ones that your not currently using back in their original packaging. 

Top Row: 'Rock', Botton Row: 'Secret Service' and 'Sell Out'

You check out the build-your-own palettes at Debenhams, both in-store and online. I highly recommend them for all lovers of eyeshadow- especially if your very picky about colours or finishes, as you can choose your own! They're great for both beginners, and those who are more experienced with makeup. 

Love, Claudia x

Weekly Summary #16

1. Filming my latest stash of empty products (video here), 2.  Loving my new urban decay naked basics palette (review here), 3. Dinner at Bill's- i had my fave, the fish finger sandwich :D , 4. Pitstop at Starbucks whilst checking out the sales with mum,  5. Beautiful skirt from sheinside (review here) 6. Savouring my last red cup & peppermint hot chocolate!, 7. Filming my 2012 beauty favourites!, 8. Essie's Recessionista (post here), 9. My December faves (video here) :)

I hope you all had a lovely week, and a happy new year! It was my first day back at college today, which i was not too excited about- especially with two exams next week :(

Love, Claudia x

Lip Balm Loves: Nuxe, Dior & Jack Black

I'm a lip balm addict. I don't know why, but i just keep on buying lip balms and usually have a handful on rotation at any time! I received a few new additions for Christmas which i was very excited about, along with a purchase of my own. As i love lip balm so much and have discovered some definite keepers in this selection, i thought i'd share the ones that i'm currently using (and loving) with you.

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Natural Mint £7.25

First up is the Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in 'Natural Mint'. I was so excited to find this in my stocking, as I'd heard a lot about the brand- especially the lip balms. Although Jack Black products are mainly aimed at a male audience, the lip balms are totally unisex. I love this one for keeping in my handbag, and applying to chapped lips on the go. The squeeze tube is the most hygienic and fuss free packaging option for on the go, plus it's totally clear in colour. The mint scent also feels very refreshing when applied during the day, and although it can't actually freshen breath, it does make you feel fresher. The SPF 25 is another great feature, and it totally works at rescuing chapped or dry lips- providing immediate and long term relief.

Christian Dior Creme De Rose Smoothing & Plumping Lip Balm £19.50

Dior's Creme De Rose is what i like to use before bed each night. The pot packaging is more suited to indoor use, as opposed to on the go touch ups. The packaging is beautifully chic, and looks like something that a 1950's hollywood star would use! The scent is absolutely divine- i can't say that i love rose scents in general, but this one is beautiful- very light and sweet. The plumping abilities are not amazing, but it does make my lips both look and feel beautiful. The texture is very creamy and my lips always feel incredibly soft and smooth the following day. It's not greasy or sticky at all, and although it looks great worn alone, it would make a good base for lipstick/gloss too. I really like this one, and it's definitely a more affordable alternative to the equally famous Baume De Rose by Terry. I highly recommend this one as a night time lip balm that works its magic overnight. 

Nuxe Reve de Miel Ultra Nourishing Lip Balm £9.50

Last but not least is the Nuxe lip balm, which has received a lot of blogger hype recently. Firstly- it smells and tastes divine- just like a Terry's chocolate orange! Very sweet and citrus-y. It has quite a thick consistency, but it melts into the lips beautifully and makes another good lip balm for night time use. It does an amazing job at hydrating the lips, and the non-greasy texture and matte finish also makes it a good one for under lipsticks. In contrast to the other two, it contains a high percentage of natural ingredients including effective extracts of honey, plant oils, Shea butter and grapefruit essence. I think it's very affordable too, at £9.50, as the ingredients are high quality and very effective. It doesn't contain any SPF, so once again, it's best suited to night time use. I also love the cute glass pot!

What are your favourite lip balms?

Love, Claudia x

New In: Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

You've probably seen this palette everywhere by now, but i'm loving it so much that i just had to share my own thoughts and opinions with you. As a huge fan of Urban Decay shadows i was so excited to receive the latest addition for Christmas, the Naked Basics palette. You may be thinking how on earth can they try and sell another 'Naked' palette, practically the same as the other two, but smaller? I initially thought that too, however, after giving it a try it's totally worth it and not just a con. 

The palette contains six, mostly matte, shades that compliment each other perfectly. There's a colour in there for everything- all over the lid, the crease and the brow bone/inner corner -there's not one shade that's likely to be neglected. They each have a use, and work so well together. The pigmentation is, as always, superb and the smooth texture is incredibly easy to blend. Not to mention the great staying power. 

I also own the original, and second, Naked palette and this one is definitely my favourite out of them all. Whilst the other two obviously have a wider selection of colours, sometimes it can be too much choice- especially for a non-professional like myself, who mainly uses just three to four eye colours on a daily basis to create simple/natural looks. For me, six wearable shades are just right for the smokey eye looks that i wear on a daily basis- this palette provides everything that i need. Having everything you need in just one palette makes it perfect for travelling/nights out- especially as the palette itself is smaller than my hand! 

You can find the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette at Debenhams here in the UK, and at Sephora or Ulta in the States. It retails for £20 which i think is amazing value, as your getting six, incredibly high quality and pigmented shadows that can be used for everyday-appropriate looks, and will last for a long time. I would highly recommend it for both those who are just starting out with makeup, and want an all-you-need, easy to use palette or even if you already have the other palettes in the naked range like myself, it's still a great addition that will make your routine much quicker, and simpler! 

Will you be purchasing the new Urban Decay palette?

Love, Claudia x

NOTD: Essie 'Recessionista'

Burgundy has definitely been my favourite colour this season, so i was really excited to see two beautiful nail colours in my Christmas stocking this year. I tried out Essie's 'Recessionista' today, and absolutely loved it! I believe it's part of their winter collection, Stylenomics, which includes six new colours. 

Recessonista is a dark, burgundy red with a cream finish. The dark colour is perfect for autumn and winter, particularly as it's this seasons 'it' colour. Although it's a lot brighter than your classic black nail colours (e.g OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark), it still looks very vampy and chic on the nails- and perhaps more flattering. As always, the formula is great- opaque within two coats, very long-lasting and incredibly glossy. 

It really is the perfect shade for this season, and it matches my favourite accessories very well- especially my Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac! I definitely recommend checking out the new Stylenomics collection, as all of the shades are gorgeous.

Love, Claudia x