Madara Cosmetics Organic Flower Dust Shimmering Lotion Review

Madara products - certified natural and organic by EcoCert - for the face, body, hair, lips and babies are rich in powerful ingredients taken from plants in the Baltic meadows of Latvia, giving them a strong potency of nourishing, natural ingredients. Precious blossoms, herbs and plants are here nurtured to provide a rich and effective formula, exclusive to Madara products.
Madara began its journey as a bar of organic soap, founder Lotte shared it with her friends who suggested she developed further organic eco cosmetics; by 2006 four new products had been released and Madara had become the number one selling skin care brand in Latvia.

Did you know? - The word 'Madara' means 'cleavers' in Latvian, a delicate white flower from the Baltic Meadows which inspired the packaging and beauty behind the brand.

I was contacted by Sarah of SVPR about Madara's latest conquest to get the world ready for the party season with key but natural products; after a good chit chat about how we feel about organic products I decided to try the 'Flower Dust' Shimmer lotion, my birthday's coming up so this will be super handy for adding an extra glow to my skin.

PRICE: £22.00 per 150ml

AVAILABILITY: Available in Europe, North America, and Asia here.

CLAIMS: 'Flower Dust lotion gives your skin a beautiful shimmery look, the nourishing formula of MÁDARA decocare organic flower dust shimmering moisturising body lotion leaves your skin feeling soft and hydrated.' - Madara website

PRODUCT: The packaging has a unique and simple style with a deluxe feel; the completely recyclable cardboard box encases a generously sized tube of product. The formula is dispensed through a pump mechanism, on the first use the pump needs to be pressed a few times to dispense product which is expected; the pump style mechanism allows for great user-control over how much product is used. You needn't use more than a walnut sized amount for complete body application I'd say, a little goes a very long way. 

In terms of formula, the Flower Dust Lotion has a smooth and blendable texture which glides across the skin with ease. Essential oils and cocoa butter help to nourish the skin, leaving it feeling smoothed and soft to the touch, whilst plant extracts encourage the beautiful hint of shimmer (pictured). The shimmer is light and delicate, adding a touch of glamour without being strong and glittery, the shimmer effect lasted on my skin for about seven hours, definitely long enough to last me through my birthday celebrations. I really like to use the Flower Dust Lotion to enhance my tan, which looks deeper, more even and natural after just one application of lotion.

My one and only gripe about the product is it's rather potent (but initial) scent of Sugarsnap Peas on application, this wears off after about ten minutes and develops into a neutral scent, but may be deemed too strong for some users.

RATING: 9.5/10 - I've never given a half point before but this product so nearly reached a 10, the only minor niggle I have is the initial scent which is a little too overly natural for my modern Western tastes. The product is of a gorgeous origin and design, delivering the exact results it offers leaving me feeling confident with the skin I'm in.

Madara Flower Dust Shimmering Lotion is ideal for adding a touch of glamour to your skin over the party season, I can't wait to use mine over my birthday and New Years Eve. It doubles up as the perfect gift for mum or siblings, it's completely natural and suitable for all skin types so you can't go too wrong really!

Madara have also introduced an Ecocertified, award winning makeup range of lip glosses and tinting fluids to prepare you for your red carpet, you can check them out here.

All Madara orders receive free standard delivery, you can shop Madara UK here.

OSIS Style Shifters

Osis Style Shifters have burst onto the haircare scene this month, they're a totally new and innovative product from Schwarzkopf which texturize and re-shape the hair without it looking over styled. The aim is to allow you to switch up your hairstyle throughout the day whilst maintaining flexibility and hold.

Style Shifters are available in three strengths, pictured above, which allow you to tailor your look to your hair type and length. For example, I have medium length fine hair so would choose Number 2 which offers 'medium control', those with shorter hair such as pixie crops and males may choose Number 3 for the strongest hold, I like to think of strength 1 as perfect for holding relaxed styles such as beach waves and for use on short hair. No matter what strength you choose your hair will remain mouldable and flexible without looking hard or crispy.

The packaging has been carefully designed with users in mind, the pod-like shape fits snugly in the hand and travels well, whilst the fuchsia, lime green and bright blue colours inject some fun, reflecting the playful character of the product. The formula is dispensed through a pump action spray, which releases product evenly onto the hair - I'd say three or four spritzes across the whole head is more than enough. As you can see from the swatch, the formula is very fluid with a slight 'tack' to it, it isn't a gel or a pure fluid, it's mouldable yet runny which allows it to distribute through the hair evenly without clumping.

Style Shifters retail for £6.95 per 75ml on BeautyBay.com; LOOK magazine recently stated 'Bag your [Style Shifter] now and you'll never have a bad hair day again' (source), what an accolade!

Mii Cosmetics Moisturising Lip Lover and Uplifting Cheek Colour Swatches

Mii Cosmetics recently launched in the UK, offering customers a vast range of core, deluxe makeup products, including powders, lipsticks, primers and foundations. They quickly became popular with the media and Olivia Palermo, featuring in the Telegraph Fashion as best for achieving a 'Fresh Winter Bloom' (Source), Cosmopolitan and Look...to name but a few.

The Mii vision is simple:
'Beauty is often simply about having the confidence to be yourself. We've taken the feedback of thousands of women who use beauty salons to develop a totally new range of makeup, giving you the confidence to create a look that is completely, uniquely, unmistakably you. So when you look in the mirror you can say...That's Mii'
Mii clearly take the view that makeup should be to enhance your natural self, not create a new person; an opinion I completely agree with and a message I feel more brands should give.
I was offered the chance to try out some of the Mii Cosmetics range to see if they really lived up to their high status, here I try out the Moisturising Lip Lover in 'Express' and Uplifting Cheek Colour in 'Blush'.

The gorgeous black and white contrast packaging with the pink label fits perfectly with the deluxe feel of the brand; each product is individually cased in plastic packaging, placed gently in a cardboard box.

The shade 'Express' is a stunning pale red with a hint of golden shimmer, it's very sheer and glides across the lips with ease. The formula is completely buildable, you can layer the colour to achieve your desired look, one layer will give a sheen of colour and two will give you the wow factor.

I have learnt never to underestimate the Moisturising Lip Lover, on first look when I twisted the packaging I thought 'this looks like your average lipstick'...it isn't. When slicked against the skin you can feel the moisture working near immediately, it sits gently on the lips banishing any dryness or rough areas, it's silky smooth without being shiny or sticky - an experience I've never had with a lipstick before, I can't get enough of the feeling. In terms of longevity the lipstick lasted a good five or six hours, naturally it smudged a little when I ate or drank but this can be expected.
Moisturising Lip Lover lipstick is available in 12 shades for £14.95 per 3.5g from the Mii Website, it's definitely something I'd purchase myself for its non-drying long-lasting formula, I've got my sights set on the shade 'Whisper'.

Mii Uplifting Cheek Colours have been created in a range of shades to enhance natural skin-tone, they're finely milled and pressed into a compact for portability and ease of use, each compact features a miniature mirror. Once again the formula is buildable so you can tailor the shade to your preferences, shade 'Blush' is right up my street, a pale brown with pale pink and red undertones; my swatches were taken in quite bright light which don't pick up on the paler undertones unfortunately. The colour lasts and lasts and lasts, even with no finishing powder, it stays put whatever the weather which has greatly impressed me!

Rocking 'Blush' on my cheekbones

Mii Uplifting Cheek Colour retails for £16.50 per 7g, giving MAC a good run for its money, available in five shades from the Mii Website. I have to say, just one blush has converted me to Mii, application is effortless and longevity is superb, I will definitely be repurchasing and trying more shades, particularly 'Bloom'.


Mii Cosmetics are available in over 130 spas and salons in the UK and online at MiiCosmetics.com.

Benefit Christmas Collection 2011

Allow me to introduce the official Benefit Gift Collection for Christmas 2011, zinging with products to get you ready for parties and gorgeous for each and every day; they make great stocking fillers too, I'm thinking Secret Santa's sorted!

The collection comprises of seven gorgeous gifts, priced between £19.50 and £44.50, bound to introduce someone to the world of makeup or please an already obsessed makeup lover:

• I'm Glam...Therefore I am
• Double The Bad
• Ticket To Glossytown
• Boxing Day Beauty
• Tattletell All
• Project Flawless
• All Decked Out

I'm Glam Therefore I Am

Priced at £29.50, this miniature all-in-one makeup kit will prove perfect for the girl 'in need of it all' as this kit really does have it all inclusive of:

- Miniature 'Girl Meets Pearl' Highlighter

- Face powder and brush

- Miniature 'Life on the A-List' lip gloss, a gorgeous shade of bubblegum pink

- Miniature 'Bad Gal' mascara

- Four shade eyeshadow pallette

- Double ended sponge applicator

I've got sights on this the most out of the whole collection, it's perfect for slipping into my handbag for touchups. 

Double The Bad

Double the Bad is that special something for lovers of all things dark and beautiful when it comes to the peepers. Including a full sized Bad Gal Lash mascara and double ended Waterproof Mascara, you or your gift recipient will be fluttering your lashes endlessly. Recommend retail £20.50.

Ticket To Glossytown

Ticket to Glossytown is that obvious selection for the lip-gloss lover who pouts through the day to the night. Each gloss is 3ml, portable, slim and perfect for popping in your handbag, in a range of six shades:

- So Frisk Me

- Nudie Tude

- Spiked Punch

- Life on the A-list

- Kiss You

- Foxy Lady

The set costs £19.60, working out at a fantastic £3.26 per lipstick, unbelievable value!

Boxing Day Beauty

Boxing Day Beauty is the most expensive of the kits coming in at £44.50 - this is the wow-gift of the range to really spark deep happiness in your partner, friend or yourself. It contains four products to create a complete, glowy yet understated look:

- Miniature Bad Gal mascara

- Full size 'Hoola' bronzer with Brush

- Full size 'Some Kinda Gorgeous' foundation in Medium

- Miniature 'High Beam' highlighter

To personalise this gift, you can slip the picture in the 'frame' of the box away and replace with your own picture of a special memory.

TattleTell All

We all have that friend who just can't help sharing the goss, this is right up her street! For £29.50 you can deck the halls with bows of beauty with 7 gorgeous products and two tools:

- Two miniature lipsticks

- Miniature Lip Gloss

- Miniature High Beam Highlighter

- Miniature Benetint Cheek and Lip Tint

- Miniature '10' Highlighter and Bronzer

- Cheek Blush

- Double ended applicator

- Blush brush

Project Flawless

Another gift which really captured my eye, Project Flawless seeks to dazzle and sparkle all night long. With four products which last as long as you do, you can't really go wrong.

- Full Sized Bella Bamba Blush with Brush

- Miniature Bad Gal mascara

- Miniature 'Girl Meets Peal' highlighter

- Miniature gloss in 'Ultra Shine'

Project Flawless retails for £29.50.

All Decked Out

A trio of top-selling products in All Decked Out prepares your skin for a night on the razz! Including:

- Full sized PoreFessional primer

- Miniature Some Kinda Gorgeous foundation in 'Medium'

- Full size Benetint cheek and lip tint

All for £39.50, how can one possibly resist flawless skin in an instant...in one gift?!

So there we have it, an array of delights to tantalise your beauty buds, I'm feeling the christmas spirit just looking at the pictures! Customers need not worry about gift wrapping or ribbons with Benefit Christmas Gifts, which are all boxed up and ready to go - the lazy girls guide to christmas eat your heart out.

All christmas gifts are available in Benefit stores, concessions and online with Debenhams and Benefit.

Topshop 'Pop' Powder Blush Swatches

Since launching in May 2011, Topshop Makeup has become a hit with many a customer thanks to a capsule range of skin, eye, lip and nail pieces available in a vast range of colours.

As the range grew in popularity, Topshop introduced limited edition quarterly collections and an online virtual-makerover, which allows customers to 'try out' the makeup online on a photograph before ordering. Better still, online video tutorials have now been added by MUA Hannah Murray, showing you how to recreate the latest beauty trends at your comfort!

Topshop run various lines of brush to suit all their customers needs, including powder, cream and loose formulas. Being a fan of powdered formulas at the moment, I picked up 'Pop' in Oxford Circus before the Motel Bloggers Event.

I have to admit to having a little soft spot for the packaging, a speckled black and white theme which plays same for all the permanent products. The palettes are compact and slimline, featuring a small and very useful inner mirror.

In the pan the shade appears a delicious coral with peach and tangerine undertones. When swatched the shade becomes a lot more neon, it certainly adds a 'pop' to the cheeks and I'm addicted!
When it comes to longevity I'm really pleased, I apply the blush in the morning and it only needs to be reapplied once, or not at all if I use my MAC Finishing Powder, for a high street buy this is very impressive.

'Pop' is available exclusively to Topshop stores and online for £6.

Toni & Guy Tourmaline Wave and Curl Tong

You may remember my post about the Toni&Guy Session Styler, where I mentioned a new blow-dry kit isn't the only thing Toni&Guy have up their sleeve to keep you styled over the party season as they continue sales of their styling range. With christmas and new year coming up it's top of my list to primp my hair - I want long lasting, easy to create styles which can see me from morning to night. What better way to create an interesting style which is different to my daily poker straight hair than with a jumbo waver?

The styler features 25 heat settings, a 3 metre swivel cord and a clip to stand the styler against; unlike the Session Styler the individual styling range come with a user-guide which makes it even easier to create salon-influenced styles step by step. The worldwide voltage and slimline style give the curler portability and an ease for travel, you can take this anywhere you may need styling - consider it your portable hairstylist!

The styler itself is made of plastic, it isn't the strongest of plastics but keeping in mind the price of the styler (£19.99) it does the job! A light beneath the barrel indicates when the styler is on and the plates are heated to the desired temperature, a useful tool to use if you're doing a million things at once while you're getting ready.

The plates are 38mm wide and Tourmaline, meaning they protect the hair from colour and moisture loss; they're smooth to the touch and don't tug or pull the hair. You can either wrap your hair loosely around the barrel or use the attached push-plate to lock the hair into place on the plates - I find I had to hold my hair around 40 seconds before removing it from the plates to achieve a good curl.

Depending on how you use the styler you will achieve a different look, you can easily achieve wide-tumbling curls or waves but you will not achieve tighter curls as this is not the point of the styler.

Toni&Guy Wave And Curl Tong retails for £19.99 from Boots and other electrical appliance stockists.

Liz Earle 'Eye Bright' Lotion Review

As we all know, my long-loving relationship with Liz Earle skincare products (heaps of reviews here) is consistently in full force; I repurchase and repurchase the products to within an inch of my life, even buying them for my friends. It isn't the 'botanical' element which attracts me, though it's an obvious factor, it's more the quality of the products, attention to detail with service and the calming scent.

PRICE: £10 per 150ml

AVAILABILITY: Liz Earle stores and online

CLAIMS: 'Cleans and revitalises the delicate eye area' - product packaging (pictured)

PRODUCT: Once again, the packaging is classic to Liz Earle styling - individually wrapped and sealed with a sticker, the eye care range features in dusty yellow containers which set them apart from the Cleanse, Tone and Polish range which feature in a greenish blue shade. The screw-lid is exactly the same as the lid of the Skin Tonic (pictured here), a useful feature for controlling product flow and helping your purchase last longer.

Though named a 'lotion', I'd say the formula tends far further towards a tonic, it's a non-oily fluid which enables use with contact lenses and sensitive eyes, perfect for me whilst mine are painful and red! When soaked onto cotton wool pads and held over the eyes it immediately cools and soothes - I used this after a night out and it was a lifesaver, I definitely noticed a reduction in the redness and blackness of my eyes the following day. Eye Bright also gently removes eye-makeup by dissolving the coating round the lashes, a much gentler way to remove eye makeup without scrubbing and pulling the lashes; I simply press a soaked pad onto my eye for 15 seconds and then sweep away. It's a really lovely product to use when you're feeling a little cranky and aching, its a small perk me up!
The only let down for me is the scent, the cocktail of cornflower, witch hazel and aloe vera conjures gorgeous scents, yet the aroma of the product itself is displeasing, in my eyes. It's nothing so severe to put me off using Eye Bright but it isn't as nice as the classic Liz Earle scent, its very neutral and feint.

RATING: 8/10 - I love the cooling sensation of the formula which is suitable for all, my only issue with the product is the smell which for me is a slight let down. It's a lovely product to own, not essential, but a brilliant addition to my routine.

Eye Bright lotion is available as a 50ml bottle for £5 or a pack of three for £27.00.

MAC Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder Review

PRICE: £17.50 for 8g

AVAILABILITY: MAC stores, concessions and website, Debenhams online and in selected stores.

CLAIMS: 'A silky, colourless finishing powder suitable for all skin tones. Reduces shine while optically minimizing the look of lines & imperfections' - MAC website

PRODUCT: Immediately I am drawn to the sparkly outer-packaging - a refreshing difference to the regular matte black packing MAC so readily use - which encases a classic black compact, slimline enough for portability. The product is a little, interesting, at first look - when I showed my friends they exclaimed 'you're going to put THAT on your face?'.

As you can see from my swatches, the product is finely milled and blends completely translucent leaving a matte finish (ignore the slight shimmer, this is from previous swatching of my NARS blush), for this reason it is perfect for any skin tone. You need't fear having any white patches on your skin, if you sweep it lightly across the skin it will blend immediately, you need very little product to achieve a good result.
The results from dusting this powder over my face with a large brush are phenomenal - my skin tone is evened, my makeup appears smooth and natural and any oiliness or shine is banished completely; best of all my makeup lasts twice as long and the finish lasts with it. This has become my go-to product each day since I've bought this and I can't look back, it has transformed my makeup routine.

RATING: 10/10 - this powder has become my makeup saviour; any foundations I once couldn't wear due to a shine issue I can now use, any worries I have over my makeup fading are erased and I can't stop stroking the gorgeous softness of my face after using this. This is the multi-tasking miracle makeup product, and I'm in love!

Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder is available as a pressed or loose powder for your convenience.

Avon Holiday Sequins and Shine Collection Swatches

You may be familiar with Avon as an online and mobile beauty outlet, offering all your beauty and lifestyle essentials at affordable prices in the comfort of your home. Avon stock makeup, lingerie, jewellery, fragrance, fitness and many more products, offering you a complete package for a pamper party or personal treat.
The way Avon works is simple, you ether order online from their extensive website or contact your local Avon specialist to request a catalogue...you may have popped through your door already.
When I was contacted by Avon to attend their Holiday Collection preview I was gutted I couldn't make it, especially as Avon are celebrating their 125th christmas. Super lovely Camilla from Halpern came to the rescue and sent me a couple of the products to showcase her top picks from the collection, which launched October 27th.

I was sent two Glimmerstick Diamonds Eyeliners, two Nailwear Pro polishes and a Super Enchant Mascara, all new products introduced for the holiday season as perfect stocking fillers or party accessories. The outer packaging feels a little dull considering this is a holiday collection...the silver shimmer font and Avon-in-keeping style does redeem it slightly.

The Super Enchant mascara is made of 100% naturally derived mineral pigments, which gives the formula a light feel on the lashes meaning it removes with ease, gone are the days of tugging the lashes with remover. The shape of the brush captures every lash, including the inner corner lashes, whilst fanning them out. This seems perfect for those with sensitive eyes, it delivers longer, separated lashes which look defined in just one stroke, when layered twice it adds volume and a slight curl.

Super Enchant mascara retails for £8.50/7ml, available in Black. 

I have to admit I felt slightly let down by the nail polishes; theres no doubt about the fact the shades are stunning and perfect for the party season but in my eyes the formula really lacks. It's ultra liquid and very thin, taking a good three or four coats to achieve a fully opaque finish; on the other hand the polishes' enamel texture lasts a good while on the nail without chipping or fading.

Nailwear Pro Enamel retails for £6 and is available in four new shades, Sequinned Turquoise, Mercury Metal, Violetta Sparkle and Gleaming Gold, all on offer for £3 right now.

The Glimmerstick Diamonds eyeliners are my favourite products of the collection which I would definitely repurchase. With bold claims that they last 'up to 12 hours' without fading or smudging I remained dubious - when put to the test they lasted all day with perhaps a slight shimmer fade, impressive! Flashy copper is my favourite shade of the two as it compliments my brunette hair and hazel eyes, I can see the sparkling silver working well with ginger hair or green eyes. Flashy Copper is a a shimmer shade with a hint of glimmer, whereas Sparkling Silver is shimmery with a concentration of glitter; these shades are certainly set add a touch of sparkle to your eyes!

Glimmerstick Diamond eyeliners retail for £6 each available in two shades (featured), you can get them on offer for £3 each right now online!

Avon have an extensive christmas collection to meet all of your Christmas Wishlist desires, to view the whole range and nudge santa in the right direction click here!

Yves Saint Laurent 'Shocking' Mascara Review

Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent, or Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) to you and I, left a fashion legacy behind following his death at the humble age of 71 years in 2008 in the hands of Chief Designer Stefano Pilati.
In case you aren't aware, YSL was one of the first brands to showcase women's pieces influenced by male style - such as blazers, tuxedos and leather jackets - and to use darker skinned models, these bold looks were a hit in the 1960's throwing the label into the highest stakes of catwalk couture; today it is one of the most influential, well recognised and designer brands to grace the catwalk, retailing in the most exclusive of stores.
Since Yves death, YSL is a brand which has very much lived on, continuing to deliver a catwalk of designer pieces and key beauty products. The latest launch from YSL fresh for the party season is 'Shocking' mascara, which follows the ever-popular 'false lash effect' trend; YSL mascaras tend towards a bad reputation for drying up quickly, I've put the latest edition to the test to see if it's really worth spending your pennies on. 

PRICE: £22.00 for 6.4ml

AVAILABILITY: Sephora, Selfridges, Harrods, Debenhams instore and online, House of Fraser in store and online, selected concessions.

CLAIMS: "Luxurious mascara for a shocking lash effect. Instant excessive volume.' - product packaging

PRODUCT: Encased in the traditional golden packaging with blackest black font, the mascara has immediately become a part of the infamous YSL beauty family, it feels deluxe and couture as soon as the eyes are laid upon it. The wand is a good length with a helix-shaped brush to capture each lash, coating them with a layer of mascara in just one stroke. The brush is under 1cm in width which I'd expect makes it easy to use, this isn't the case due to the amount of bristles and their tight helix shape, which also means it's hard to separate the lashes with the brush. The brush can become a little clumpy also which transfers onto the skin around the lashes if you quiver a little through application, practice using the wand here is key to ensure you're not also layering the surrounding area to the lashes with mascara too. 

The results are dramatic and intense, possibly one of the best results I've achieved with a false lash effect mascara - you may have heard in my video that when I first wore this everyone was asking where my false lashes were from! 

As you can see, the difference in my lashes between no mascara and one coat of mascara is huge; my coated lashes are longer, thicker and far more voluptuous, it's a shame they aren't separated so much.
This isn't a look I'd sport every day, I save it for special occasions or outings because my lashes appear increasingly thickened and lengthened after only one coat, they appear very dramatic but not very natural despite being my natural lashes. Needless to say, the results from this mascara are phenomenal making it, for me, worth every penny spent.

RATING: 9/10 - a fantastic addition to the YSL family which adds intense drama, volume and length to the lashes. Poor separation of lashes and the ease of clumping with the mascara pulled it one point away from full marks.

YSL Shocking mascara is available in 6 show shopping shades including Black, Black/Blue, Green, Bronze, Black/Grey and Burgundy.
Black seems to be sold out at present on most online stockists so I recommend visiting your local Debenhams or House of Fraser store (where I got mine) to get it in your desired shade, not to forget picking up your loyalty card points on the way!

MissGuided Lip Splash 'MissMatch' & 'MissLed' Swatches

MissGuided are an online fashion boutique offering glamorous clothing at affordable prices, think of them as the high street of the online world. Following celebrity styles such as Cheryl Cole, Lauren Pope and Kate Middleton, MissGuided remain bang on trend each season, capturing the top celebrity styles with their pieces - I can't get enough of this gorgeous Kate Middleton-esque dress, swoon! Best of all, UK Super Saver delivery is absolutely free, 

When I met Sara, MissGuided's Creative Executive, we had a good old natter about what's coming up for MissGuided and she introduced me to their makeup line. Yes, that's right, MissGuided not only offer style trends and key pieces of the season, they offer a complete package with accessories and beauty products to complete your look!

I was sent glosses MissMatch and MissLed to try out on my lips, along with nail shades and some gorgeous accessories which I will showcase very soon.

The black and gold cardboard packaging which encases the products is very pleasing to the eye, it feels deluxe and glamorous thanks to the touch of gold lettering. Each lipgloss is encased in transparent plastic packaging, showing off the gorgeous shade which lies within - personally I think the packaging is fantastic because it isn't something which will dirty easily in a makeup bag, something we all know is a pet hate of mine. What I really love about the design of these glosses is the length of the wand and velvet touch applicator, which is easy to clean and glides across the lips evenly without leaving clumps. 

The formula of the glosses is outstanding, I can't stand sticky lip glosses which attract all fluff and hair on immediate contact - those sticky days are over with the MissGuided formula, it isn't creamy and it isn't gel-like, it's somewhere between and it's simply smooth - you can get a better idea of the formula from the above picture. This means the colour applies evenly across the lips without appearing patchy, creating the appearance of fuller lips!

MissLed is described as a 'pretty and girly Caramel' shade, it's very neutral so adds very little colour to the lips. I like to wear this over the top of nude shades such as MAC Myth and Fleshpot to give them a hint of gloss.

MissMatch, recently featured in Reveal, is a translucent coral red described as 'Watermelon Splash'. At first look I thought the shade would look awful on me but it's become my favourite of the entire collection; it adds a slick of colour to my lips but allows my natural colour to shine through, giving the on trend 'bee stung' look to my lips.

There are two other shades available in the collection, MissHap is a clear gloss which will showcase your natural lip colour or add a gorgeous shine to your favourite lipstick; MissFortune is a spicy red adding va-va-voom to your lips.

Each MissGuided lipgloss retails at £5.00 for a generous 7ml of product, available exclusively online; with 10% NUS discount these lip glosses come in at a lip-smackingly affordable £4.50, lovely!

Fashion Capital 'Profile' Event

Fashion Capital - the UK's leading fashion portal - was established ten years ago with a dedicated network of boutiques, fashion brands, PR and agencies to improve business and bring readers a roundup of the latest fashion, beauty and lifestyle trends.
As you may or may not know, I was recently contacted by Jemima to be a member of the Fashion Capital online-beauty area, bringing you the latest beauty reviews and product launches.
Every year, Fashion Capital proudly sponsor the Profile fashion event and run a series of catwalks to bridge the gap between London Fashion Week and Graduate Fashion Week - the up-and-coming designers of the moment have a chance to showcase their talents to the press and public. Alongside, there is a chance for trade and consumer business to take place, companies and the public can meet and interact to discuss their products face to face - a luxury not so available online! I was lucky enough to be invited with an industry pass, to bring my readers exclusive product previews and introduce you to new ideas.

After a stressful morning of travelling on trains and tubes, I arrived at the breathtaking One Marylebone ready to meet the fashion and beauty designers...including the fabulous Lauren Goodger from The Only Way Is Essex! After meeting Jemima who was in a flurry of stress having worked through the early hours with the rest of the team to make Profile a success, I was scurried off between stands to have a chat with the brands, stylists and businesses present.

I first headed to the Lauren's Way beauty stand, showcasing Lauren's freshly relaunched tanning products, eyelashes, hair extensions and clothing line. Lauren's Way products launched earlier this year following Lauren's success on television reality show The Only Way Is Essex, but relaunched last week with a new image and focus; being an Essex girl myself I was truly excited to get my hands on these products and have a chat about the brand.

Tan is something The Only Way Is Essex is all about, the browner the better! Lauren wants to urge men and women out there to tan safely without artificial light which can be potentially damaging to the skin; say hello to an improved range of products providing a safe way to achieve that desirable tanned look safely in the comfort of your own home! Available in a mousse, a lotion and a spray, Lauren has developed a tan which can meet everyone's needs - she's even developed a tan-enhancing lotion to lock in your colour for longer! 

If you find tanning at home is not your thing, Lauren has also launched a tan suitable for use in tanning booths across the UK, which is available in salons right now! If you want to have a premium spray tan at your local salon, you can urge them to request free samples of the tan from sales@laurensway.com.

The eyelashes (pictured) are a new addition to the ever-expanding range of beauty products on offer, bringing you high-glam and added dazzle to your peepers; retailing at £5.95 these false eyelashes are giving the high street brands a run for their money against value and quality.

The generous 120g of 100% human hair extensions are triple wefted - meaning these may well be the most luxurious and voluptuous hair inserts yet - clipping into the hair with ease without weighing it down but still providing the added volume and length you desire. I am desperate to get my hands on these extensions, they're super soft to the touch and a gorgeous length.
Lauren's Way hair extensions are presently price cut to £80 from £120, that's a fantastic saving of £40!
I was lucky enough to have a chat with Lauren's stylist - Nev from Wonderful Hair - about the products, "Lauren has put her heart and soul into developing her latest products, the new, sleek packaging gives a girly glamorous touch to each and every product. We've hand picked eight shades which our fans will love to wear in their hair, including the infamous Amy Childs cherry red! I use the tan myself and I love it, with no scent and ultra-quick drying time, you can apply this in the morning or evening before you go out and party all night as you develop a gorgeous olive tan."
Nev kindly gave me his personal Glam Tan and mitt to share his favourite product with me, I'll be reviewing it soon so watch this space!

Nev and I keeping it reem with our Lauren's Way Glam Tan!

You can shop the range of Lauren's Way products right now online, I'll be reviewing a selection of the products throughout this week.

After indulging myself in luxurious tanning and beauty products, I headed over the the Sandell Sanctuary stand for a massage and manicure. The Sandell Sanctuary is situated SW9, London, offering mobile lifestyle services of massages, wellbeing and beauty treatments wherever you may desire, all over London.

I was treated to an incredible back and neck massage, I'e never experienced a salon massage before but I highly recommend them! I felt immediately calmed and de-stressed, the experience was thoroughly enjoyable and my masseuse talked me through the products and techniques she was using to give me the most relaxing experience - the latest Environ and Elemis products are used to relax the senses as the masseuses hands stimulate blood flow and relaxation of the muscles. I fell in love with the Elemis Lime Essential Oil (pictured) and am now searching high and low to get some.

Following my massage, Karen from Beauty By Kacey, treated me to a manicure. With her impressive range of high quality nail lacquers including Essie and O.P.I it was hard to pick a colour! I settled on 'Sand Tropez', an Essie shade from the pales collection which was kindly recommended by Karen who loves the shade herself. I take thorough enjoyment in having my nails professionally sculpted and painted, there's something wholly relaxing about someone else taking over the arduous task of removing polish, applying the base coat and touching up the lacquer.
The Sandell Sactuary employ freelance nail artists such as Karen to bring their customers mobile treatments at an affordable price right in the comfort of their home, hotel, or where ever else their heart desires!

While Sandell's website is under construction, you can contact them about prices and treatments here.

My beauty treatments were finished just in time for the Fashion Capital catwalk, showcasing the freshest trends of the season from the hottest new designers.

It seems pastels, brights and tribal prints are a hit this year with many designers; it's a wearable trend which takes you through from morning to night, work to play. Embellished head-dresses were a trend we saw through the summer season, it is seemingly predominant in the catwalks still and looks set to carry through the autumn months!

After the catwalk we had a chance to take a look around the trade and retail sales counters, it was very tempting to pick up one of the pictured dresses for my birthday, but I resisted! The tailoring and attention to detail is phenomenal, it's wonderful to step out of the high street into real raw fashion, a labour of love.

One fashion brand which caught my eye is 'Cocaine' - a controversially named fashion brand worn by celebrities worldwide. When I first saw the word 'Cocaine' I thought, 'Gosh, I wouldn't want to be promoting that on my clothing', but as I drew my eyes across the pieces I saw a much deeper meaning and a truly inspiring fashion label.

Brand founder, Jeb, has created 'Cocaine' as a brand through his personal experiences, much to his devastation a family tragedy happened just a few years ago which spurred him to get a message out there:

"Don't do drugs, Don't be a mug, Don't get screwed"

'Cocaine' are on a mission to create stylish, good quality products which bring out the positive inner qualities of motivation, inspiration, innovation, excitement, ultimate confidence, fearlessnesses and a feeling on top of one's game, ready for action whether at work or play without the need of drugs.

Drugs and drug use are increasingly popular yet controversial topics of the moment, they're something which seem to affect almost every person in some way whether it be a fear, hesitation or direct contact. Jeb wants to put across the message that drugs aren't cool and there are other ways to have fun safely and appropriately...there are other ways to be confident - he puts this vision into fashion for males and females. 

I was bowled over by the bold prints and embellished clothes, which are seemingly fashionable and right on trend. These clothes are something I personally would wear with pride to the gym, to university or for lounging around my house, I guess I'd feel good knowing there's a deeper meaning to something I wear. I especially love this tee, promoting solving problems through other notions than violence.

You can view the range of clothing available here, please keep in mind the message this brand hopes to bring home to it's wearers and peers, something I back completely.

At the end of the event attendees were kindly handed a generous goody-bag, brimming with products such as lip balms, tanning products and nail wraps - you can see the goodie bag in action on my latest video here.

The Profile event was fantastic for designers and attendees alike, I was introduced to inspiring brands and I can't wait to bring my readers more on them all. Watch this space for further reviews and insights into the brands discussed!

10% Off All Beauty & Fragrance at Debenhams Plus Free Delivery!

Finally my prayers have been answered and the Debenhams money off offer includes brands such as MAC and Urban Decay...now I have no excuses not to order the Urban Decay Naked palette...

NARS Enchanted Cream Blush Swatches

NARS, well recognised for their crude product names (deep throat, snog and orgasm...really), retail a full range of luxury makeup products available in a spectrum of interesting shades. Cream blushers have taken off recently for their ease of application and multi-use properties, NARS offer both cream and powdered blushes to suit the needs of all their customers.
If you've watched my most recent YouTube video you will have heard a mention of 'Enchanted' already, it's something I don't really need but adds a little something something to my makeup bag. Described as a 'soft peach with gold sparkle', this blush is bound to add a touch glamour to any skin shades' cheeks.

The product packaging is classic to the NARS rubber black casing and mirrored inner, the shade itself is very true to its description, in the pan it appears to be a medium-peach tone with a hint of shimmer but when swatched it passes as pale peach with undertones of shimmer and glitter. If you dislike shimmery, glittery products then I'd advise steering clear of this shade!

As pictured, the formula is very light and creamy...I'd go so far to say it feels whipped! It picks up nicely onto a brush or finger and blends well; drying quickly without leaving a greasy or dewy feeling which lasts for a good five or six hours.
This is not a blush which will add a flush of colour to the cheeks unless you are extremely pale, for me it serves as a peachy-pigmented highlighter - I use it on the inner of my cheeks to add a lovely, subtle glow and hint of glimmer each time I smile, a look I am loving for the coming festive season.

All NARS cream blushes retail for £20.50 in a range of shades, available on ASOS and the NARS website, including concessions.