Review - E.L.F (Lips)

During my recent E.L.F haul, I bought:

Top to Bottom:
Plumping Lip Glaze in Fuchsia Fanatic
Plumping Lip Glaze in Oasis
Lip Stain in First Date
Theraputic Conditioning Balm in Strawberry Creme
Hypershine Gloss in Bubblegum


This is how they look swatched...

Left to Right:

Plumping Lip Glaze in Fuchsia Fanatic and then the accompanying gloss
Plumping Lip Glaze in Oasis and then the accompanying gloss
Lip Stain in First Date and then the accompanying gloss
Theraputic Conditioning Balm in Strawberry Creme
Hypershine Gloss in Bubblegum


Plumping Lip Glaze
Both glosses are fairly pigmented. Give a lovely sheen and they're definitely something I will use for nights out. Very girly, pretty shades :) The gloss that comes on the other end is a lovely shimmery, clear gloss, that looks amazing over lip stains!


Lip Stain
In my recent post about the products I use constantly, I named Maybelline's 24hr Superstay as my go-to Lip Colour. This is my new favourite and has gained a place in my daily make-up bag. It's a beautiful colour with a very vintage/60s feel to it. LOVE LOVE LOVE.....


Conditioning Balm
A pale, semi-glossy lip balm. Not something I'll use regularly as it's a little oily feeling for my preferences. Doesn't contain S.P.F so really don't know when/if I'll use this again.


Hypershine Gloss
Extremely unimpressed with this. Lovely colour, comes with a brush applicator which I like. However... After twisting the barrel to bring the colour to the top, the whole top came off, covering my hands in lip gloss. Managed to pop it back on, salvaging most of what had come out, but sadly, poorly made product. I will probably use this as it is a beautiful colour, but this is the only E.L.F product where I've thought ''You get what you pay for''...

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Review - E.L.F (Eyes)

So, as promised, I'm finally reviewing the E.L.F products I purchased (and blogged about) a few weeks ago. 


I'll do 3 separate posts; This one, containing eye products, another containing lip products and a final one with the face products.

Photographed above are:
Beauty Encyclopedia - Sparkle Eyes
(then top to bottom)
Liquid Eyeshadow - Sexy Silver
Liquid Eyeshadow - Cream Dream
Shimmer Eye Pencil - Iconic Ivory
Shimmer Eye Pencil - Black Bandit
Eye Widener - White


Beauty Encyclopedia - Sparkle Eyes
I am loving this product!!

It has 12 eyeshadows, of which 10 are full of glitter, 2 are slightly more matte. 2 creamy highlighters in white and a semi-opaque pink. 1 eyeliner in Coffee. 1 dual ended applicator, with a brush at one end and a sponge at the other.


I've swatched the shades to give you an idea of how they look on skin, in natural daylight:

Top Row L-R, then Second Row L-R

Third Row L-R, White Highlighter, Pink Highligter, Coffee Eyeliner

As I hope you can see in the photos, the purple and maroon shades (third row, 2nd and 3rd shades) have no shimmer/glitter in them and are very much a matte shade. My favourite shades from this are the white, silvers and black. Very much my going-out look, however, I do love the bronze shades for a day look, with minimal make-up everywhere else!


Another great feature of this kit is the inside of the 'book'... 

It gives tips and instructions on how to get the best from your kit. I'm pretty good with eyeshadows, and am able to great different looks, but for someone who is perhaps new to make up, or nervous about trying something new... Fantastic!!


Liquid Eyeshadows (Cream Dream and Iconic Silver)

Don't have too much to say about these. Highly pigmented. Lovely shades. Very creamy feel. Overall great, until... after wear, these crease and fade pretty badly. Won't be using these regularly. Most likely to continue using 'Cream Dream' as a highlighter along my brow bone.


Shimmer Pencils and Eye Widener

Top - Bottom: Shimmer Pencil (Iconic Ivory), Shimmer Pencil (Black Bandit), Eye Widener (White)

L-R: Shimmer Pencil (Iconic Ivory), Shimmer Pencil (Black Bandit), Eye Widener (White)

If you read and remember my post, ''What's in my Make-Up Bag?'', you'll know that I love and swear by Barry M eyeliner in Black...


NOT ANYMORE!!


I love E.L.F Eye Widener in White. Never thought I would ditch my old faithful, but this is just amazing! My eyes look fresher, prettier and more awake with this.


My recent going out look has used all 3 products - Eye Widener in White, on my waterline, Shimmer Pencil in Iconic Ivory in the inner corner 'V' shape, and Shimmer Pencil in Black Bandit traced lightly under my lower lash line to add definition and make my eyes look MASSIVE after finishing with my Avon Mascara!


If you haven't tried White Eyeliner... Please try it!! I wish I had tried this long before now!


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Just to finish this post, I'd like to share with you all my experience of E.L.F as a company, how they are to deal with etc.


I mentioned in ''E.L.F Cosmetics'', the website as a whole, the checkout and paying process are very user friendly and I was very impressed with the lay out and the functionality. Also, after paying I received a receipt from 'Sage Pay' and an order confirmation from E.L.F instantly.


After receiving the order confirmation, I sat back and waited on my goods to arrive. I ordered on Friday 29th July. I received an email the following Tuesday advising that they were ''experiencing significant delays due to the recent promotion'' and they expected that ''all orders placed up to 28th July would be picked and dispatched by Friday 5th July.''


Not a problem, I understand fully, that they only have so many hands and received and unprecedented response to their 50% off promotion. 


However, being the inpatient person that I am, I just couldn't wait for at least another week for my products. I went online to the E.L.F site and found a number for their Customer Services department. I called them on Thursday 4th August and inquired about the possibility of upgrading to guaranteed next day. The lovely lady I spoke to (didn't catch her name but 5* for customer service!!) advised that I could do that, all I had to do was pay £4 to upgrade (the difference between the £2.95 I originally paid for standard delivery and the £6.95 they charge for next day). Fair deal!! I paid the £4.00 and thanked the lady one too many times before coming off the phone, a VERY happy customer. Later that afternoon, I received a text message and email advising that my package had been picked and dispatched.


On Friday Morning, the box arrived at my work!! Absolutely fantastic.


Customer service from E.L.F is second to none! From the order confirmation, to queries, to upgrading, to receiving the package... Highly recommend this company!

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Vanilla Cupcakes with Blue Butter Icing (With photos!)

Yesterday afternoon, the Mister decided he fancied some cupcakes. It's not something I ever make, although I've drooled over many pictures online. We looked up a recipe and went on our merry way to Tesco for ingredients.


I'll share the recipe with photos of the finished product below. Before that, I have a short, funny story to tell about our 1st attempt at these cupcakes...



Never again will I let my Better Half read out a recipe to me!! We followed the recipe to the dot. We get to the part where we add Baking Powder and he tells me I need to add one tablespoon. I add this and follow the rest of the recipe. After 5 minutes in the oven the cupcakes had TRIPLED in size!! The recipe actually called for 1tsp, which he interpreted as 1 tablespoon. Bless!

So, to make 6 large or 12 small cupcakes you'll need:

• 120g plain flour
• 140g caster sugar
• 1 and a 1⁄2 tsp (teaspoon!) baking powder
• a pinch of salt
• 40g unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 120ml whole milk
• 1 egg
• 1⁄4 tsp vanilla extract

• 250g icing sugar, sifted
• 80g unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 25ml whole milk
• a couple of drops of vanilla extract

METHOD

• Preheat your oven to 170°c and line a cupcake tray with paper cases
• Put the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and butter in a large mixing bowl and 'rub' with your fingers until it becomes a sand like consistency, like this:

• Pour half of the milk into the mixture and stir until the milk is mixed in.
• Combine the rest of the milk, vanilla extract and 1 egg together and add this to the mixture too. You'll need to mix for a while until you get a smooth consistency, like this:

• Divide the mixture between the paper cases until around two-thirds full and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until light golden. When they are ready, the sponge will 'bounce back' when touched

Before baking

Ready!!

Next, leave the cupcakes to cool, while to prepare the Butter Icing!

• Beat the icing sugar and butter together until the mixture comes together and is well mixed.
• Combine the milk and vanilla extract in a separate bowl, then add to the butter mixture a couple of tablespoons at a time. (Also add food dye at this point, if you want coloured icing like we had!)
• Once all the milk has been mixed in, mix again!
• Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes. The longer the frosting is beaten, the fluffier and lighter it becomes.
• Spoon onto your cupcakes, or use a piping bag if you have one

TIP: If you don't have an icing bag, you can make your own!! Spoon your mixture into a freezer bag, cut a hole in one corner and pipe onto your cupcakes!

Photo's of our finished cupcakes...

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FREE Lipgloss worth £9.99!!!

I've just come across this little beauty on Twitter!!

Source: Helen E Cosmetics ''Colour Gloss'' range.

You can choose any lipgloss from Helen E Cosmetics ''Colour Gloss'' range worth £9.99!! 


You can choose from 15 shades and you only have to pay £1.99 to cover postage costs!




http://www.helen-e.com/cosmetics/lips/colour-gloss.htm


Just visit the link above, select your shade and put it in your basket. Head to checkout and click on ''Pay now''. It will show the product at full price but don't worry!! At the top of this page, there is a box to insert a Voucher Code... Just type in ''LIPS'' without quotation marks, 'Add' then you'll see your updated total with only postage to pay.


From here it is just a regular check out... Give your postage details, Card details and wait for your freebie to arrive!


I've just ordered mine in 'Champagne Pink 8'. Which shade will you be getting?

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Cocktail Recipe - White Russian (Photos)

My lovely Better Half recently bought me a professional cocktail kit (below) and a book containing the recipes for 200 cocktails and shots. (Links to the products at the end of this entry!!)

The cocktail kit includes a mixing glass, shaker, strainer, single and double measures, bar spoon and a muddler.


YOU WILL NEED (Makes 2 servings):
Mixing Glass
Shaker
Ice
2 measures of Vodka (any brand)
2 measures of Tia Maria (any brand)
300ml Whole Milk
50-75ml Double Cream

METHOD:

• Add the ice (a good handful and then a little for good luck!), the Vodka, Tia Maria, 300ml of whole milk and around 50-75ml of double cream into the shaker.
• Secure the mixing glass into the shaker, and SHAKE!! You need to shake until the metal shaker develops a thin layer of condensation on the outside.
• Remove the mixing glass and serve in a highball glass.
• Add a straw... ENJOY!! :)

BOSTON COCKTAIL SHAKER - £14.99 - AMAZON (Shown in the photos above) http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002YXPIXA/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000GG4YFK&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1K2TSKST57S1AVW8N17N

1000 COCKTAIL RECIPES BOOK - £4.85 - AMAZON
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Classic-1000-Cocktails-Robert-Cross/dp/0572028520/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312057724&sr=1-2

200 COCKTAIL RECIPES BOOK - £2.99 - AMAZON (Shown in the photos above)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hamlyn-All-Colour-Cookbook-Cocktails/dp/0600610209/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312057724&sr=1-1

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What's in my make-up bag?

I will admit to being a faithful follower of certain brands when it comes to beauty products. The only time I have changed, and tried something different was recently when I purchased by E.L.F products as detailed in my post below. I've yet to receive these but, rest assured, I will review each product and let you know which (if any) will be a permanent fixture in my daily make-up bag.


I have a lot of make-up in a beautiful silver embossed case and it's a big one! I also have a bronze make-up bag which contains the make-up I use on a daily basis.


I thought I would tell you all about the products I've been faithful to for the last 3 or 4 years!


FOUNDATION
I was previously using Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse. After recommendations from many friends, I tried a sample of Estee Lauder Double Wear and I was a total convert!!

Source: Estee Lauder (Shade 1C1 Shell)

I wear shade '1C1 Shell' which is the lightest shade available in the Double Wear range. There is a grand total of 22 shades available!

Source: Estee Lauder (Colours available in the DW range)

It is a liquid foundation, not too runny though! I apply using a No.7 foundation brush and feel I am able to use this without a primer.


The coverage is described as'' Medium, Buildable, SPF 10'' with a ''Natural, Semi-Matte'' finish. I would agree. I don't need to use much to even out my skin tone and cover any little flaws. Just aswell at £26.50 per 30ml! A bottle lasts me around 6/7 months with daily use.


POWDER
I steer clear of Benefit products as a general rule. They're oily on my skin and make my skin come out in a rash.


However, I do use and love their ''Hello Flawless'' custom powder cover-up with SPF 15.

Source: Benefit Cosmetics ''Hello Flawless''

The beautifully packaged compact comes with a sponge and brush applicator. I keep both, but tend to only use my own large powder brush as I only use this product to 'set' my foundation and remove and prevent any shine.


It has a lovely silky feel on my skin. I've been using the same compact since March this year and it's still nowhere near done. RRP on Benefit site is £24.50 for 7g.


It comes in 11 shades so there's something for everyone! I use Ivory.


BRONZER
It's a cheap-y but a good-y!! ''Rimmel Natural Bronzer''. I've been using this product for as long as I can remember and I love that it's completely buildable and works brilliantly whether or not I have a tan.

Boots: Rimmel Natural Bronze

It's a bargain at only £5.59 (boots.com) for 16g. I've been using the same one for around 10 months now and it's only just starting to show the metal base!


EYELINER
I previously used and loved Rimmel, however after an introduction to Barry M's Kohl Pencil in Black, I've never looked back! Available in all the colours of the rainbow and more, it's a snip at only £2.99 from http://www.barrym.com/kohl-pencils.

It's a lovely pencil which gives intense colour and glides on with no dragging. It does fade with wear but I've never found any other pencil which gives such an intense black finish!




EYESHADOW
I'm currently using Avon's ''24K Gold Eyeshadow Quad'' in Gleam of Gold. I switch between palettes but I've always found that Avon eyeshadows give an amazing finish with a good amount of pigment.

Source: Avon Online

It has a beautiful shimmer without being TOO in your face, making it perfect for pretty eyes during the day. I use the nude shade (top left) on my whole eyelid up to my brow bone, before blending the gold shade (top right) over my eyelid and finishing off with a touch of the chocolate colour (bottom right) at the outer corners and blended in.


I buy direct from my local Avon Representative but it is available online too. It's £9.00 for the compact which includes an applicator and good sized mirror.


MASCARA
Again, I've tried MANY mascaras in search of the perfect product. I'm blessed with fairly long lashes but they are fairly sparce toward the outer corners. I tried ''Avon SuperShock Mascara'' 

Source: Avon Online

It has the biggest brush I have ever seen!! It's a product which requires 2 layers and a fair bit of working into the lashes and roots, but my god, it is worth it!!


It thickens my lashes without extending them too much. I've had several comments about 'false lashes' while wearing this mascara, if that's not a selling point, I don't know what is?!


It's £8.50 from Avon Online or your local Avon Rep.


LIP COLOUR
I use and love Maybelline's ''24HR Superstay Lipcolour''. It is a double ended lip colour with a highly pigmented lip stain at one end and a conditioning balm at the other.

Source: Maybelline

It comes in 18 shades and is £8.19 from your local boots store.


This product really does what it says. It just doesn't come off even after eating and drinking. The balm gives a lovely silky feel, with a light shine.


It's just amazing, and can't see myself deviating from this product for more than a day or two at a time.

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E.L.F Cosmetics

They say: ''We at e.l.f. believe that innovative technology, quality ingredients and superb delivery systems should not be limited to prestige retailers. Every woman should have the opportunity to participate in innovation, without sacrificing her budget. Our cosmetics are designed to improve and accentuate the individual, not hide her away. 

Launched in New York in 2004 and guided by American celebrity and beauty professional Scott-Vincent Borba (the man behind Hard Candy’s cosmetics line), e.l.f. is a revolutionary new beauty company, able to provide a line of cosmetics that moisturise, hydrate, and enliven your complexion without taxing your budget.

We are often asked how we are able to provide our customers with such wonderful products, most for as little as £1.50. By developing quality cosmetics and the highest standard of service, but using the internet for branding rather than higher-priced advertising media; by sourcing the best ingredients at competitive prices; and by prioritising our products, rather than their packaging, e.l.f. always provides you with quality and value.

e.l.f. has been a revolution in the beauty industry, turning heads away from more expensive brands with its unique approach. These values extend to our recently launched new range fine mineral make-up.

Some can’t believe that we are able to operate and grow with such low prices, but keep an eye on our Buzz section to catch some of the industrys' leading beauty editors' endorsements from GMTV, This Morning, Hello!, Marie Claire, Glamour, Grazia, The Times and many others.

e.l.f. arrived on British shores with it's much anticipated launch on 27th November 2007 and is run by Welsh brother and sister team, Neil Phillips and Jo Westlake from e.l.f. UK's HQ in sunny Swansea!!''

I finally bit the bullet and ordered a bumper haul of goodies which I cannot wait to receive and try! They are currently running a fantastic offer (50% off when you spend £30 or more until 1pm GMT on 30/07/2011) which allowed me to get 20 products for only £25.20 including delivery.

I was introduced to this brand via friends, online forums and a Facebook group I am a member of.

THE WEBSITE

I found the website to be very user friendly. Like most online stores it has various categories along the top bar, you hover your mouse over these and down pops a box to allow you to select your product. After you have selected your product, you have the choice of many shades where applicable. Checkout was seamless. Same procedure as many other sites I have used; enter billing details, email address, phone number (if you wish to receive a free text when your products have been dispatched) and upon submitting these details, you are taken to a SagePay site. This gives you MANY options to pay for your goodies, including Paypal. After paying I received a confirmation from E.L.F and SagePay within minutes. Very impressed!

MY GOODIES

I went a little crazy on the website and bought so many items I'm now unsure that they will actually fit in my make up box!!

Item	Item Details
All over color stick	Pink Lemonade
Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder	Warm Tan
Lip Stain	First Date
Plumping lip glaze	NEW - Fuchsia Fanatic
Plumping lip glaze	Oasis
Shimmer Eyeliner Pencil	Black Bandit
Mineral Infused Face Primer	Mineral Infused Face Primer
Mineral Glow	Shimmer Mineral Glow
Liquid Eyeshadow	Sexy Silver
All over color stick	Spotlight
Blushing, Bronzing and Blending Brush	Blushing, Bronzing and Blending Brush
Eye Widener	Eye Widener (white)
Liquid Eyeshadow	Cream Dream
Therapeutic conditioning lip balm	Strawberry Crème
Hypershine lip gloss	NEW - Bubble Gum
All Over Cover Stick	Apricot Beige (fair)
Beauty Encyclopedia	Sparkle Eyes
Natural Radiance Blusher	Shy
Shimmer Eyeliner Pencil	Iconic Ivory
Tone Correcting Concealer	Apricot Beige (fair)

I was amazed with the cost of delivery. Considering the size and weight my package will be, £2.95 is a bargain!

I will review each of these products when they arrive and try my best to give factual information about the products.

I will admit I am a little worried about how the quality of the products will be. I just feel that £1.50 for most items on the site is incredibly cheap but I have been assured that the quality is good, so here's hoping!!

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