The perfect colour and glow...

Every woman wants to look alive, with amazing glow comes amazing confidence. The perfect colour and glow is something I've been looking for, for a long time now. Being so pale means finding a good natural looking glow is really difficult. One thing that's really important to me is that the colour and glow lasts a good length of time, preferably all day. Finding a blusher that stays on all day has been also very difficult to find. However after a while, I've finally found a combination that works for me, and I believe will also work for you!

Step One: 

Benefits Bella Bamba

Step Two:

Vivo Cosmetics Baked Bronzer 

So I've mixed a blusher and bronzer. Applying the blusher first and the bronzer after with a angled blusher brush from Crown Brushes ('link'). 

Bella Bamba is a pink blusher with a little shimmer. It's described as a '3D pink' it's meant to bring life to your cheeks. It's not too overpowering, it goes on nice and natural looking, doesn't cake on like a lot of blushers. 

This blusher goes on really well. Which is so important, being pale, blushes that apply like war paint aren't any good! I apply it over face powder and it blends well, and lasts a good length. However it does last much longer with the bronzer on top. I'd say this blusher is perfect for most skin tones, it can be built up to provide the amount of colour you desire, without any caking. The shimmer also helps to highlight the cheek bones. 

Next I apply Vivo's Baked Bronze using the same brush I used for the blusher. One thing that I read in 'The Anti-Aging Beauty Bible' has stuck with me. You don't blush brown. So many people use bronzer instead of blusher, a streak of brown across the cheeks doesn't look at all natural. For us pale girls, finding a bronzer that doesn't make you look totally ridiculous is difficult!

Which is why I love this bronzer from Vivo so much. It's a really light colour, which highlights and looks totally natural. Vivo must have heard my cry! Being baked it also stays on ages, and seems to help hold my blusher on. It's the perfect finish for anyones glow. 

I've been using this routine for a couple of weeks now, and I must say I love it! I keep the glow all day. I leave our flat at 7:30am and get back at around 6:30pm and it's still there :D. 

Bella Bamba is available from all Benefit Cosmetics stockists and costs £23.50. Vivo Baked Blush is available from larger Tesco stores and costs £5. 

What do you think to my glow method? What do you use to wake up your cheeks in the morning? 

Becca :) x

Disclosure: Vivo Baked Bronze is a PR sample. Bella Bamba was given to me for creating Cover Cosmetics blog. 

Immortelle Essential Water, More Than Just Water.

The story of Immortelle is one I've told many times already. If your a regular reader you'll be sick to death of being told about it! L'Occitane are one of my favourite cosmetic companies, I love them!

The Immortelle Essential Water comes from L'Occitane's second Immortelle range. Immortelle is a yellow plant that never looses it's shape or colour when dried. L'Occitane have split open the cells of the Immortelle plant and extracted active ingredients from within. It's these ingredients which make up this range. Read my full coverage of the Immortelle range's 'here'.

So this is L'Occitane's version of a toner for their Immortelle range. It's an alcohol-free toner which is great as alcohol isn't good for the skin, it causes irritation and breaks down the skins collagen. The toner contains floral Immortelle water and green tea extract. It's meant to refresh, soften and firm the skin, aimed at people looking for anti-ageing effects, but I believe it's not about your skins age when buying products, it's about your skin type. I have quite normal skin that sometimes becomes a little oily, however with toners, a simple, non-irritating formula can do a world of good for your skin! 

This toner smells the same as the rest of the Immortelle range. Slightly floral, but nothing too sweet and over powering. It does contain a little fragrance which is responsible for this scent. The cap has a little hole which the water comes out. You squeeze the bottle to squirt it out, a few squirts on a cotton pad is plenty. 

I always seem to get too much of this product onto my cotton pad, but it's never a bad thing, it's so refreshing the more the better! This is my favourite toner, it really is the best I've tried so far. It really brightens the skin and adds radiance. It's so simple and easy to use, just water with a few extracts added, the ingredients list is so small for a toner that does so much for your skin. 

Ever since using the Immortelle range my skin has looked so much healthier and this toner is a perfect addition to the skincare routine.  

The Immortelle Essential Water, it costs £16 for 200mL.

What do you think to L'Occitane? Have you tried any of the Immortelle range? Do you think you'll try any of the range?

Becca :) x

Disclosure: Immortelle Essential Water is a PR sample. This in no way sways my opinion towards the positive side. 

I'm on ASOS!!

Hi Guys, I don't know if you remember, but I'm the face of the Stolen Thunder Jewellery Boutique. You can check their website out here - http://www.stolenthunderboutique.com/.

They make wooden and gold plated jewellery, it's unique and produced in the UK! I've actually been to their workshop and can confirm that this amazing jewellery is handmade in a little workshop in Derbyshire :).

So they've recently branched out and landed their selfs with an ASOS market place. Which you can check out here - https://marketplace.asos.com/search?q=stolen+thunder.

My favourite piece at the moment is the Gold Rose Ring, which you can see me wearing here: 

What do you think to this fab jewellery company?

Becca :) x

Disclosure: I do model for Stolen Thunder and the Rose Ring has been given to me.

Fashionista - The next famous custom palette?

I'm back with a review! Hurray :D, have you missed me? I've missed all of you!

I've been hearing bits and bobs about Fashionista for a good few weeks now. I finally met the brand for the first time at the TOWIB event. At TOWIB Fashionista's make-up artist created three looks for us. We then got to choose a palette to create one of the looks. I choose this palette because I love bronze and brown coloured eye shadows.

You buy the palette and eyeshadows separately. You can fit four shadows in each palette, you don't need to buy the palette to use the eyeshadows. They all come in their own compacts, which they can pop out of or stay put in. Which is great if you only fancy one of the colours!

The eyeshadows are all a good size, much larger than many eyeshadows you get in a palette. The palette comes to a good large size, being custom made palettes you like all the colours in your palette so having big shadows is a bonus. In the palette there's a large mirror, it's a really good sized mirror as well, I could easily use it to put my make-up on. 

In my palette there are four colours; Golden Glow, Auburn Glow, Berry Brown and Brunette Brown. All of which are shimmer colours. In the whole collection there are 49 eyeshadows and 12 blushers which allows over 13 million different combinations. 

Golden Glow - with flash then without

Auburn Glow - with flash then without

Brunette Bombshell - with flash then without

Berry Brown - with flash then without

 Swatches (L to R); Golden Glow, Auburn Glow, Brunette Bombshell and Berry Brown. 

The colours take a bit of building up to get a good strong colour and have a little fall out. They do last a good length of time though, after wearing it all day the colour hadn't faded and it had only creased a little.

I used Golden Glow, Auburn Glow and Brunette Bombshell with a black eyeliner to create this look:

My lipstick is Kate Moss for Rimmel, as you can see I'm rather attached too it! (I have no clue why I'm clutching it in the photo!)

The thing I really love about these shadows is the colour intensity, the colours come out so bold, perfect for creating statement eyes. 

When Fashionista hits my superdrug store I'll be buying more of these palettes! 

Fashionista is currently available in selected Superdrug stores. The palette costs £5 and each eyeshadow or blush cost £4. 

What do you think to this brand new cosmetics company? 

Becca :) x

Disclosure: I received this palette free of charge as a PR sample. This in no way sways my opinion towards the positive side. 

From Derbyshire to Derbyshire, this girl moves far!

Hi guys! I want to say a huge sorry for the total lack of activity coming from me at the moment. I've recently moved with my boyfriend in to a lovely new flat (it's gorgeous). So I have no internet at the moment, I don't even have it on my phone, it's driving me crazy! Due to complications we won't being having internet installed for three more weeks (eeeeek), so I've brought a mobile internet thing to plug in to my computer (I'm not very technical). So normal service will resume as soon as! Providing this mobile thing doesn't run out :D.

Becca :) x

TOWIB Winter Warmer

On Saturday; Me, Claire (BeautyNoctural) and Lawrence (Lawrence De Gruchy Photography) travelled down to London to attend the TOWIB event. It's been a big build up to the event and the turn out was amazing, over 75 people attended. After helping out with the Facebook admin for TOWIB is was great to put names to faces! Fashionista and Vivo were also there talking about their cosmetics and we had blogger lead HTML, Photography and Q&A workshops, all of which were very helpful!

Here's some of the photos I managed to get!

Fashsionista Make-Up Artist creating looks.

Beauty Nocturnal getting her make-up done!

Zoe and Lily doing the HTML workshop. 

As I previously mentioned I took my boyfriend along to photograph the event to provide photos for everyone that attended and for Hayley to look at and use (with crediting him). He was not there for my benefit at all, as many people thought I'd brought him along just for me! However he did get a few pics with me in, so I'll put them up here. You can see all of them 'here'. 

The event lastest five hours, and I must say it was the fastest five hours of my life! 

Will you be coming to the next one? Did you attend?

Becca :) x

Disclosure: This event is a non profit event, Hayley organised it for free, the venue was free of charge, the brands and bloggers attended for free.

October Glossy Box

My October Glossy Box video. Sorry I look awful, had just got back from uni!

Becca :) x

Disclosure: I paid for Glossy Box myself.

OPI Muppets Collection

The long awaited Muppets Collection hit the stores a few days ago. This collection will sell out fast! It's a collection of Christmas colours - pink, red, green and glitters. Most girls love glitter polishes, and these ones are not to be missed. They're gorgeous.

There are 12 colours over all, most of which are glitter polishes! Some aren't advertised as being glitter polishes, but I'd still say they are. So on my recent trip to London, I stopped by Selfridges and picked one of these polishes up. The big glitter polishes looked slightly too much for me, so I went for a more subtle glitter and picked up Meep-Meep-Meep.

This colour is a dark pink, with a subtle glitter in. It's a gorgeous colour to cheer you up and brighten your days in the dull winter ahead of us.

Like all OPI polishes the Muppets Collection come in 15mL bottles, and they also sell a mini set. I fell in love with this colour straight away and it's not in the mini set. So had to buy a full size (much to my boyfriends dissapointment! He thinks I have too much nail polish - it's not possible!)

I applied two coats of this polish, and a fast dry top coat. Sorry about my short stubby nails :(, I have to keep them short as I'm training to massage.

The polish almost looks red when applied. When it catches the light it glimmers, shines and looks fab. I think it's quite a classy colour. When choosing glitter polish you have to be careful not to buy one too tacky. It's the perfect Christmas colour and it'll definitely be on my nails on Christmas day!

OPI Muppets Collection is available from OPI stockists for £10.50 each.

What do you think to OPI's Muppets Collection? Will you be buying any? What do you think to Meep-Meep-Meep?

Becca :) x

Disclosure: I brought this polish myself.

Professional Beauty 2011.

After the first few weeks of my Spa Management (BSc) course, I'm really getting into the beauty industry. Today I attended a beauty show that took place in Manchester. It was the North Professional Beauty Show 2011. Loads and loads of professional brands were there, and many salon and spa equipment companies. Being a show for therapists and salon/spa owners, all the products were priced at wholesale prices. Around about half the recommended retail price. So I took advantage and indulged in my nail polish obsession.

• Seche Vite Top Coat - I've heard about this top coat so much. It's raved about by so many bloggers and nail technicians as being one of the best top coats. It's fast drying, which I love, and has high gloss strong finish. I've never tried this before so can't wait to try it out. 
• Seche Natural Matte Finish Nail Treatment - I can't wear nail polish while I'm in treatment classes or working in the spa. This is perfect to keep my nails in good condition. 
• Essie Polish in Long Stem Roses and Splash of Grenadine - Two gorgeous colours I can't wait to wear. I've heard a lot of good things about Essie so I'm looking forward to trying them out! The red is so classy, I love it!
• Crown Brushes, foundation and angled blush - My foundation brush has fell to pieces, and I wanted an angled brush as they look so much easier to use. These brushes are so soft and really good prices :D.

I enjoyed the experience of the beauty show and believe it will benefit my studies. It did give me a headache though as it was so hot and busy! 

Have you ever been to Professional Beauty?

Becca :) x

Disclousre: I brought all products featured myself. 

8 Bargain Beauty Buys...

Hi Guys! I'm back with another post in my '8 Buys' series. This time bringing you some of my favourite products that come with amazing price tags.

1. Good Things Skincare Face The Day Moisturiser (£7.99) - Probably one of the best budget face moisturisers. If your on a small budget like myself, it's a god send. It contains no nasty chemicals just 'Good Things'. It's great for most skin types! It smells gorgeous too.
2. Natural Collections (Boots) Vanilla Body Scrub (£3.17) -  Really amazing body scrub for such a little price. I hate body scrubs that come in tubs because you have to spoon it out with your fingers and it gets stuck under your nails. This one squeezes out the tube and smells fab. My favourite scent is vanilla and it banishes my scaliness, so for me it's the perfect body scrub :D. 
3. Dove Silk Glow Norishing Body Wash (£2.95) - Another cheap body product that's my fave! This body wash smells and feels gorgeous. I love covering myself in it, as it leaves my skin so smooth after I've used it. I've used more expensive versions of this, and none leave my skin feeling as lovely as this does. I know Dove will look after my skin, so I trust it too. 
4. MUA Heaven and Earth Palette (£4) - No doubt you've heard about this one. Bloggers around the UK have raved about this palette a lot! And there's a reason behind that, this palette is great. It's really fab quality for the price you pay. The colours can be used with everything too. It can be used to create natural day time looks or evening smoky eyes. 
5. MUA Lipstick Shade 2 (£1) - A pink lipstick that's not too bright. For only a pound the quality is fab. It stays on a relatively good amount of time, and the colour is properly pigmented. A must have for any lipstick addict. 
6. MeMeMe Pussy Cat Tint (£5.25) - A red cheek tint, that applies to become a nice subtle pink. The thing I love about cheek tints is how natural they look. They give you such a natural looking glow but also last ages. After falling in love with Benetint, I went looking for a cheaper alternative and found this alternative with MeMeMe. The colour is a little bolder than Benetint but other than that there's hardly any difference. 
7. Eyeko Graffiti Eyeliners (£5.50 each) - These have been my favourite eyeliners for a long time. They apply brilliantly and last all day without cracking. However since Eyeko's re-vamp they've bumped these beautys up to £10, and changed the name. You can still pick them up at TX Maxx stores though. If not, Rimmel do great liquid liners for a small price tag. 
8. Vivo Cosmetics Trio in Sugar Plum (£2.50) - A new cosmetics company called Vivo Cosmetics have hit Tesco stores. My favourite product from this line is the purple trio. The shades are gorgeous and they go together so well. I love how easy it is to create a great look with this trio. The shadows last long and are pigmented, couldn't ask for anything more for £2.50!

What are your favourite beauty bargains?

Becca :) x

Disclosure: Good Things Face The Day, MeMeMe Pussy Cat Tint and Vivo Trio are PR samples. The rest of the products I brought myself. 

Tangle Teezer - Friend or Foe?

One product that seems to be croping up everywhere is the Tangle Teezer. This product is just becoming bigger and bigger, with more retailers stocking it, more beauty bloggers raving about it and more women across the UK picking it up day in and day out. It's a product I've heard so much about.

Recently the Tangle Teezer was also on Dragons Den, a UK TV program in which inventors try to convince weathly businessmen and businesswomen to invest in their creation. The Tangle Teezer is known on Dragons Den as 'the one that got away'. The Dragons turned Shaun P the inventor of Tangle Teezer down. They didn't believe the Tangle Teezer would become sucessful, they've never been more wrong! The Tangle Teezer is now hugely popular and generates a massive turn over each year.

After hearing so much about the Tangle Teezer, and seeing it in action on Dragons Den, I knew this was a product that needed to be on my dressing table. If you've ever read one of my shampoo/conditioner reviews you'll know that my hair drives me crazy. It gets so tangled when I shampoo it, because it's so long. I'll only use a conditioner if it helps un-tangle my hair, because if it doesn't I'll be there for hours trying to un-tangle it! It's a massive issue in my haircare routine. And I believe that Shaun P understands this!

I brought the Tangle Teezer in Sparkly Purple. The original is a neon pink colour, which was a little too tacky for my liking. This one costs £12.99 from Boots stores.

My main tangling problem is once am out the shower and wanting to blow dry my hair. This is when I'll use my Tangle Teezer, hopefully to stop the pain and frustration! It's formed of lot's of very thin plastic bristles, some long some short. They're really flexible so don't snap, but because they're plastic you can't use your Tangle Teezer with your hairdryer.

Does it work? I'm pleased to say yes :D. Tangle Teezer is a friend to your hair. Not only does it cause minimal amount of pain when un-tangling with minimal amount of effort, it also protects your hair.

Shaun P says, 'Hair breakage and cuticle damage is caused by inappropriate brushes and combs that mistreat hair when trying to detangle it. Therefore preventing this is the key to luxurious hair. Switching to Tangle Teezer will help reduce this type of damage, putting thicker and healthier hair within your reach'.

I've used this once so far, after washing my hair. Already my hair feels much softer and healthier than it would if I used my normal brush. I still use my Denman brushes though for hair drying and brushing when dry.

My only little complain is the price. I don't see why they cost so much as the bristles are plastic. You can buy a natural bristle brush for £12.99. Although I will contradict myself and say it's certainly worth the price, due to the lack of pain I now go through after washing my hair!

What do you think to the famous Tangle Teezer? Is tangled hair a problem for you too? Do you think they may be over priced?

Becca :) x

Disclosure: I brought this product myself. I'm so glad I did!

Giveaway Winners....

The winner of my 50 followers giveaway are...

First Prize - Juila Gray

Second Prize - Choux Pastry Hearts

Third Prize - Lisa

Congrates girls! I'll be emailing you soon :). Hope you all enjoy your goodies! 

Becca :) x

Gossip Girls - Style and Sophistication at your fingertips.

Nails Inc. seem to be constantly firing new products at us at the moment. They have their new magnetic polish and Mr Man polish. Another new addition is the 'Gossip Girl' polish. Gossip Girl is a TV program on the ITV2 (UK). I've never acutally watched it myself, but I'm loving these polishes.

There are three different collections; The Lily Collection, The Blair Collection and The Serena Collection. They all come with a black tinted polish and a glittery overcoat. I've been given The Lily Collection which is a plum black polish coat and green/red overcoat. 

You apply a base coat as normal and then apply two coats of the polish. The Plum Black polish goes on really thick, I didn't see the need for two coats, but did it anyway!

The overcoat needs around two coats to get good coverage. Wait until the black polish is pretty much dry first, because it goes on quite thick, it takes a while!

The overcoat drys much quicker, I then used a fast dry top coat to finish it all off. The end look, looks like so:

The end effect is really gorgeous. The overcoat isn't just a normal glitter polish, I've never seen a polish quite like it before. It reflects light and gives the nails a glossy finish. As Nails Inc. kindly point out, you can use the overcoat on top of any nail polish, so experiment :D. However I don't think it'd work as well over pale colours.

I've had this polish on for three days now, and I have only one tiny chip. Many people have asked if they're nail wraps! They look that good! I have to take it off now because I'm off to my massage class :(.

These sets cost £20 and are already available from Nails Inc.

What do you think too these new polishes? Will you be giving them a try? Do you wear nail polish much or are you like me and aren't allowed?

Becca :) x

Disclosure: These nail polishes are PR samples. This in no way sways my opinion towards the positive side. I've had so many compliments on my nails!