Jumping On The Bandwagon: Rimmel Apocalips Lip Laquers

Hi guys and welcome to my new blog feature 'Jumping On The Bandwagon'. Like most beauty addicts I get drawn in to the hype surrounding new products, and whilst sometimes I totally understand the popularity, sometimes I can't help feeling a little disappointed. I have decided to start posting regular 'Jumping On The Bandwagon' posts where I will review some of the most popular, hyped up products on the market and I'll let you guys know if I really think they're worth spending your hard earned cash on.

(Top-Bottom: Luna, Big Bang, Nova, Apocaliptic)

As you have probably guessed, the first hyped product I am going to be putting to the test are the massively raved about Rimmel 'Apocolips'. The Rimmel website describes them as 'The end of colour as you know it. Invincibly smooth shine. Intense earth shattering shades.' But is this the case?

The short answer is yes. I have 4 colours in the drugstore lip laquers; 'Luna' a dusky Orange/Peach which reminds me a lot of my favourite Revlon Matte Lipstick in 'Smoked Peach', 'Big Bang' which is a bright true Hollywood Red shade, 'Nova' a bright Rose/Pink with blue undertones and 'Apocaliptic' which is a deep Raspberry/Fushcia and they are all insanely beautiful.

The texture of these lip laquers is like no other I have ever tried before. They are incredibly opaque in just one coat like a lipstick, but creamy and moisturising, more like a gloss. I honestly don't think I've ever tried anything, be that high end or drugstore, quite as impressive as these. 

(500 Luna)

(400 Big Bang)

(102 Nova)

(303 Apocaliptic)

All the swatches above are just with one layer of the lip laquers, I know incredible or what?! There are 8 shades in the collection and I am 100% going to be buying the rest of them, I have never been so excited about a new lip product. As someone with naturally dry lips these are just outstanding and have every quality I personally look for in a lip product; Opacity, longevity and a creamy, moisturising texture. And the best bit? They are currently on 3 for 2 at Superdrug, so that's 3 for just over a tenner, a bargain for such a high quality product if you ask me!

VERDICT: Worth the hype.

I hope you all like this new feature, let me know if there are any hyped products you would like me to review and I will happily do a bit of investigation, all in the name of research of course! 

Becca.x

Review - L'oreal Caresse Lipsticks

Today I am sharing with you some of my new favourite drugstore finds; The L'oreal Caresse lipsticks. Now I know they're old news, I remember people were going crazy for them around the same time as the Revlon Lip Butters blew up but for some reason I just never fancied dipping my toe in the water. Whilst I love moisturising lipsticks, I'm also a big fan of bold colour so I thought these tints might be a little wishy washy for me. How wrong I was.

(L-R: Cheeky Magenta, Dating Coral, Tempting Lilac)

The three colours I picked up were 'Cheeky Magenta' a suprisingly intense blue toned pink, 'Dating Coral' a natural looking every day coral and 'Tempting Lilac' a really wearable pinky-lilac. The packaging of these lipsticks is chic, sleek and expensive looking and the colour payoff is buildable to that of a regular lipstick, but with a more glossy, balmy finish. Dating Coral is by far my favourite, it is subtle enough to be worn every day but really helps brighten the complexion and make you look awake on those chilly mornings.

(Top-Bottom: Tempting Lilac, Dating Coral, Cheeky Magenta)

I am super impressed with these lipsticks. The formula, packaging and colour pay off is seriously admirable and I definitely prefer these to their drugstore rivals, the Revlon Lip Butters. These are the perfect lipsticks for work, keeping your lips nicely moisturised whilst maintaining a bright pop of colour. I've definitely got my eye on a few more of these bad boys.

Becca.x

OOTN - Saturday Night Dance I Like The Way You Move

Hi guys! Just a quick little post here to show you what I wore on Saturday night when I went out with some of my friends from work. I had my hair done on Friday, darker on the roots and my ombre freshened up but I also had a big chop, losing about 4 inches in length! It feels so short now but it was long overdue and my hair was feeling so damaged and was even breaking off on the ends. I just asked for a very blunt, mid length cut with a few subtle layers in for shape; It is taking me a while to get used to it but I certainly have a lot more volume now it's shorter!

Cream Blazer - ASOS

Polo Neck Dress - ASOS

Chain Necklace - Topshop

Studded Clutch - Mango

Lipstick - Sleek 'OMG'

Nails - Revlon 'Craving Coral

Ignore the lack of shoes; I wore my Office 'Debatable Lace' heels which you've seen many times before and they are so comfy and easy to walk in. I have been on the look out for the perfect reddy/orange lipstick and was almost coughing up the £18.50 for Nars 'Heatwave' when I stumbled across 'OMG' by Sleek in Superdrug. It is the perfect balance between red and orange and has the most beautiful creamy texture for less than a third of the price, I cannot recommend highly enough trying out this lipstick of you're a bright lip fan like me!

Becca.

30 Random Facts About Me

I've seen loads of Bloggers and YouTubers doing these '[Insert Number Here] Random Facts About Me' posts at the moment so I thought I would jump on the bandwagon and see what little pieces of info I can dredge up!

1) I have been a Vegetarian my entire life - No I do not eat fish.
2) When I was 3 I stood in a wasps nest and had over 200 stings all over my body.
3) I trained as a hairdresser for over a year.
4) Me and Andrew first got together when we were 14 (9 years ago argh!) but we broke up in the playground after a whirlwind month long romance.
5) I hated my University.
6) I am useless with phones, I dropped my Iphone down the toilet just the other week.
7) I am an only child.
8) Even though I have moved out I speak to my mum atleast twice a day, every day.
9) One of my eyes is green and the other is half green, half brown.
10) I love cheese more than anyone in the world - Seriously.
11) I used to be (still am) so in love with Dougie Poynter from Mcfly that I hyperventilated.
12) My guilty crushes are Simon Cowell, Gordon Ramsey, Alan Sugar...
13) I don't have a sweet tooth.
14) I live off Carbs.
15) I have watched every episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer atleast 100 times.
16) I don't like surprises.
17) I am terrible with money.
18) I have Asthma, Eczema and Hayfever.
19) I have never been a Becky, always a Becca.
20) I am shy around people I don't know.
21) I never leave the house without makeup on, sad but true.
22) I hate being away from home, travelling has never appealed to me.
23) I hate public displays of affection, VOM.
24) I wiggle my toes 24/7, even in my sleep.
25) I have 3 tattoos. 
26) I didn't get my ears pierced until I was 21 and they have already closed up.
27) I've had my children's names picked out since I was 16.
28) I have wanted to start YouTube for years but hate the sound of my own voice.
29) I hate onion more than anything else.
30) I only get dressed if I'm leaving the house, I live in my pjs at home and wish it was acceptable to go to work in them.

I hope that was vaguely interesting for you, Feel free to let me know any weird facts about you!

Becca.

OOTD - Playing Hot & Cold

It's been ages since I last did an outfit post, Daisy cost a small fortune so unfortunately my other love (shopping) has had to go on the back burner. This has resulted in me having no inspiration to piece any interesting items together and all my outfits have been looking very boring and samey. I often find it really tricky to know what to wear during these transitional months; One minute it's glorious sunshine, and the next (like now) It's snowing again! This is a little outfit I put together the other day, using old neglected items from the bottom of my floordrobe, to welcome in a little bit of sun.

Scarf - Zara

Dress - Topshop

Shirt - H&M

Necklace - Topshop

Bag - Radley 'Holloway'

Boots - Office 'Dextor Strap'

Lips - Revlon 'Smoked Peach'

I'm hoping that when pay day comes around this month I'll be able to treat myself to a few new bits to get my wardrobe ready for spring, what do you think are the key pieces for S/S 2013?

Becca.

Boots Beauty Haul

I went into Boots the other day to buy a new conditioner and as is always the case with these pesky little 'drug store' trips I came out with a lot more than intended. My skin has been really suffering with all these temperature changes, my usually oily skin has become incredibly dry and patches of Eczema have flared up on parts of my face (mmm). Couple that with my Mascara and Primer both running out at the same time and a genuine addiction to lipsticks, things obviously got a little out of hand.

Aveeno Skin Relief Lotion with Shea Butter - I always use Aveeno products when my Eczema flares up and as it's really bad at the moment I decided to invest in a new lotion. I can normally tell pretty instantaneously if it is going to work for me and unfortunately this one isn't. I thought the added Shea Butter would make it extra moisturising but it just hasn't felt any better and it leaves a residue on the skin that I'm not keen on. I think if you were just looking for a good moisturising body lotion you may like this, but for Eczema it's just not up to the standards I generally expect from Aveeno products.

Dr.Jart Pore Refine Recover Primer - As I already mentioned, my Collection 2000 'Primed and Ready' Primer has just finished and I have been on the look out for a new one. I did think the Collection one was good value for money but it was too thick and silliconey for my liking and I do feel like it highlighted any dry patches rather than smoothing over them. Previously I have also tried the Benefit 'Porefessional', Clarins 'Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch' and L'oreal 'Lumi Magique Primer' and whilst I liked all 3, with the Clarins one being a definite front runner, I decided to try something new and plumped for the Dr.Jart one after hearing so many rave reviews about other products such as the BB creams. So far I have only tried this primer once but the initial impressions are good, not overwhelming, but good. It is a gel that leaves you with a slightly dewy finish which is quite unusual for a primer. I will do a full review when I have fully made up my mind about it but so far so good. 

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo - After hearing so much hype about this product I just couldn't resist picking it up when I saw it for 1/3 off in Boots. It is essentially a treatment for oily/blemish prone skin, and whilst my skin has been feeling more dry lately, I have been breaking out all over the place and I know now the weather is warming up slightly I will be back to my usual oily self in no time. I tried this last night and this morning and I just love the way it sinks into the skin. Obviously I can't say much on it until I have tested it further but first impressions are very promising and I have high hopes for this massively hyped product.

Organix Macademia Oil Conditioner - My hair is super dry after dip dying it and using heat on it so I was in desperate need of a good conditioner to put some moisture back into it. I haven't heard much about this range on any blogs I read but I thought I would give it a try anyway as I know Macademia Oil is meant to be amazing.

Maybelline 'The Falsies' Mascara - For some reason I never buy anything from Maybelline, apart from the Colour Tattoos I don't think I've actually tried any of their products. I don't know what it is about them but their products just never appeal to me and I always find myself getting more drawn in by other highstreet brands such as Revlon and Rimmel. I've heard a lot of people go on about The Falsies Mascara though and decided to give it a go while Maybelline were on buy one get one half price at Boots. The wand has a curved brush with plenty of bristles but the Mascara is quite wet which I'm not a big fan of. I think I'll be sticking with my favourite Clarins 'Wonder Perfect' Mascara in the future.

Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipstick in 'Electric Orange' - I just love orange lipstick so couldn't wait to get my hands on this shade when I heard about from the Vivid Collection. This is the first and only time I have ever felt excited by any Maybelline products and I am pleased to say the pigmentation and formula is excellent. Electric Orange is a true, neon orange unlike my other favourite orange, Topshop's 'Infrared' which has a lot more red in it. I will definitely be picking up more of these shades, Neon Red is next on my list!

I'm really enjoying seeing all the new products highstreet beauty brands are bringing out for Spring/Summer. I am desperate to get my hands on a few of the Rimmel 'Apocalips' lip laquers that everyone is raving on about at the moment but all the colours I've had my eye on were sold out with them being on 3 for 2. What are your favourite drug store beauty buys?

Becca.

Everybody Meet Daisy!

Hello all! Bet you've forgotten who I am, I won't start by making excuses as to why I haven't blogged in over a month, unfortunately life just gets in the way sometimes. As I am sure you will all be well aware if you follow me on Instagram or Twitter (or any other social media for that matter), just over a fortnight ago me and Andrew became the proud owners of a tiny little puppy called Daisy! I thought what better way to get back into the swing of blogging than to bombard you with a ton of cute fluffball photos.

Daisy is 3/4 Bichon Frise, 1/4 Chihuahua and we got her from an independent breeder in Chesterfield; about an hours drive from Leeds. She was the last puppy available in the litter and I was incredibly relieved when she seemed really comfortable around us when we went to visit her. The lady we got her from was absolutely lovely and so incredibly helpful, she was also asking a lot of questions about us and what sort of home we could provide Daisy with. This is extremely important; If you ever go to see a puppy and the breeder isn't interested in finding out about you, there's probably something they aren't telling you.

The first night we brought Daisy home she was quite nervous as you would expect, but Bichon's are very sociable, friendly breeds so she soon came out of her shell and she is extremely playful and loves cuddling up on the sofa and watching TV. We took her to the vets last week to have a check up, have her weighed and to sort out her fleeing and worming treatments. This was also the first time she was around any other dogs other than her mother and her brothers and sisters so it was interesting to see how she would interact but luckily she didn't seem at all phased and she loves meeting new dogs and new people. She weighed in at 2kg at the vets, so quite small for her 13 weeks of age but she is perfectly healthy and energetic!

Shortly after her trip to the vets we took her on her very first walk to the local park. We weren't sure how she'd find it as she's not really one for walking, she constantly likes to be picked up, but she actually seemed to really enjoy it. She was extremely relaxed around other dogs, some of whom were about 4 times her size, and this seemed to make them relaxed around her also. It was the weirdest feeling taking her for her first walk, you feel like your in an exclusive club with all the other dog walkers and everyone chats to you, it's like some unspoken bond! One problem we have encountered with taking her outside is that she gets extremely cold and shivery, I think sometimes we forget how small she actually is, she has so much fur and fluff but her actual body is tiny. To try and counteract this we bought her a little jacket from Pets at Home and that seems to give her that bit of extra warmth.

It is now over 2 weeks since Daisy arrived at our home and she seems fully relaxed and settled. This has resulted in her chewing everything in site and she certainly knows what she likes and what she doesn't like. Trying to bathe her is an absolute nightmare, she HATES it, but she loves being snuggled up after in loads of blankets and a hot water bottle (all wrapped up safely I may add!) so it's swings and roundabouts really! She's sleeping downstairs all night now without any whining or crying and is learning to sit - although that could just be because she is incredibly lazy!

If any of you have any good tips to stop puppies chewing everything in site then please let me know because nothing seems to be working at the moment and I'm not sure we will have a house left soon! I hope you have all had a good month and be sure to let me know what you've been up to in the comments.

Becca.

Review - Nivea Lip Butters

I've never mentioned this on my blog before but I actually suffer with quite a severe allergy to Lanolin, an oily substance used in products to soften and moisturise the skin, so finding a good lip balm without it can prove very tricky. Popular brands such a Carmex, Blistex and Lanolips all contain it so I am constantly on the look out for something to help quench my dry lips without me resulting in over-inflated, blistered lips (mmmmmm). 

I have been hearing a lot of hype surrounding the Nivea Lip Butters but I always assumed they would contain Lanolin so never really looked into it, but when I spotted them in my local Tesco last night, low and behold they were Lanolin free and off they went, straight into my basket!

The 3 flavours I picked up were Original, Caramel Cream and Raspberry Rose and apparently there is a fourth; Vanilla & Macademia which I can tell you right now, will be mine. To start with, the packaging is simple, sleek and the perfect handbag size and personally think they look a lot more expensive than the £1.49 they cost. They smell delicious, especially the Raspberry Rose which is definitely my favourite and leave the lips feeling soft, moisturised and without that stickiness some balms can give.

The texture of the butters is not what I was expecting but is definitely a pleasant surprise. I think I was envisioning them to be a more soft cream but in actual fact they are a really high quality, thick balm with just the right amount of fragrance to be noticeable but not in any way overpowering. The flavoured ones have a tint when in the pot but this doesn't really translate on the lips which I was pleased about as I will mainly be using these at night, and as a base under lipsticks.

Overall I am so impressed with these Nivea Lip Butters, especially as someone who generally struggles with finding moisturising lip balms due to my Lanolin allergy. They cost an impressively low £1.49 and are available here online. 

Have you tried the Nivea Lip Butters? What's your favourite lip balm?

Becca.

Recipe - Catherine's Choc Chip Cookies

Andrew's sister Catherine makes THE best cookies ever, fact. Andrew loves them so much that for Christmas this year she put him together a little goodie bag with everything he needed to make the cookies himself. She is so incredibly crafty that she actually printed the design on the giftbag and the tag herself and she typed the recipe up beautifully on her typewriter; I am not bitter and jealous at all. Me and Andrew had a rare day off together today so we took the plunge and made the cookies and Catherine has kindly allowed me to share her delicious recipe with you all.

Catherine's Cookies

Ingredients

100g butter

100g Soft light brown sugar

1 Tbsp golden syrup

150g self raising flour

100g chocolate chips (mix of milk and white)

Recipe

1) Preheat oven to 180c/350f/Gas mark 4.

2) Line several baking trays with baking paper. (We didn't have any baking paper so we lightly greased the tray and hoped for the best!)

3) Place the butter and sugar in a bowl together and whisk until pale and creamy, then add the golden syrup into the mixture.

4) Add 75g of the flour and whisk until mixed.

5) Stir in the chocolate chips and the remaining flour.

6) Roll small pieces of the dough in your hands (Or accidentally eat it raw like I did - delicious!) then flatten the balls, place them on the tray and space well apart.

7) Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown.

8) Leave on the trays for 2-3 minutes to cool, they will fall a little.

9) Transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

10) Eat and enjoy!

We displayed our cookies on this beautiful glass cake stand which was actually my Christmas present from Andrew's sister, so thankyou very much if you are reading this Catherine! We are so pleased with how they came out; They were super quick and easy to make and are super yummy and gooey!

Let me know if you have any simple recipes for me to try out, I'd love to get more into baking this year!

Becca.

My First Frisson With Laura Mercier

OKAY. Never before in my life have I ever, ever, ever felt this compelled to write a blog post but the Space NK sale has quite literally changed my life. I have never dipped my toe into the metophorical Laura Mercier water, but today all that has changed. I came home after what can only be described as a shitty day to find a parcel waiting for me, and that parcel contained the most stunning little box of goodies my eyes have ever seen; The Laura Mercier 'La petite patisserie quartet' in Creme de pistache.

This can't really be anything more than a first impressions post at the moment but I can honestly say I have never laid eyes on a more beautiful bath and body set in my life. The box is in a stunning simple snake print, with subtle gold writing and a beautiful red ribbon. It just screams luxury and I was literally itching to get it open.

Inside, encased in elegant red packaging, there are four generous sized minis of some of Laura Mercier's most popular bath and body products in the Creme de pistache range. There is a 90ml body wash, an equal sized souffle body cream, a cute little hand cream and a 15ml bottle of the Eau Gourmande Creme de pistache. They all seem to be extremely generous sizes and I cannot even begin to describe how absolutely insanely amazing these smell. Creme de pistache smells like the most delicious pistachio cakes in a cute little Parisian bakery (In my head anyway) and I cannot believe it has taken me this long to discover it.

Now just when this all sounded too good I feel I must touch on the price. I would in all honesty be quite happy to pay upwards of £30 for this little set, it just oozes elegance, luxury and decadence but I picked this up in the sale for a mere £12.50. Yes you heard me right, 12.50!!! I don't know how Space NK come up with their sale prices but they are literally incredible and I am seriously kicking myself now for not ordering more. I did also order part of my friends birthday present but I'll have to keep that top secret as I know she reads my blog!

So I will leave it there for tonight, I need to have some alone time with my new bessie mate Laura. If you haven't had a look already, then I urge you to go and check out the Space NK sale, there seems to be new bits added all the time and the prices are just unbelievable!

Becca.