New Blog

I just wanted to write a quick post to tell you that I have started a new blog specifically for book posts. My new blog is called Kirsty’s Bookshelf and I would love it if you would check it out. Don’t worry I will still be posting on this blog as well but this one will be for beauty, fashion and lifestyle if you are interested in books then I suggest you follow my new blog. 

Makeup Gallery Eyeshadow in Mocha Review

I haven’t seen too many reviews of the Poundland makeup but from the few items I have tried I really like the range that they have. I have previously shared my feelings about the Blush in Candyfloss which I really like as it is a great everyday shade. Today I am going to be sharing my thoughts on the eyeshadow in Mocha. I picked up a few other shades which I will also be reviewing, I thought I would start with my favourite shade first. 

Firstly let’s start with the packaging. The packaging is the same as the blushes only smaller, I like that the brand has decided to use the same packaging for all of their powder products as it makes it easier to store and makes it look better as well. I really like the square packaging although it isn’t very glamorous it does feel very sturdy and secure. Also for the eyeshadows the packaging is quite compact. 

The shade Mocha is a light shimmery brown shade which is my personal favourite shade to wear. I like to wear this all over my lid for a very quick eyeshadow look. The eyeshadow is very pigmented. It has a very soft and blendable texture. I would advise wearing a primer with this colour as it can fade throughout the day but that isn't too much of a problem and I've only experienced fading with the lighter shades. Poundland has a wide range of colours to choose from so there should be something for everyone. I really like this shadow and it has made its way into my everyday makeup storage. 

I think these eyeshadows are a great affordable option. Everything in the range is £1 and I have been impressed with the items I have tried although I haven’t tried every product type yet so I can’t speak for the whole range.

Prettylittlefashionista xxx

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NOTD: Superpower Blue

Today I am going to be sharing with you an NOTD. I picked up this Maybelline polish in Poundland they had a lot of different colours in store and they even had some of the limited edition shades from the Brocades collection that everyone loved a few years ago. I picked up the shade Superpower Blue which is a gorgeous bright blue.

The application was really easy, it had a nice wide brush which meant that I could get a really smooth and even application. I only needed two coats for the colour to be fully opaque. I really loved this colour on my nails and I thought it looked really pretty. It is a really nice bright blue which I think looks really nice this time of year. I really like the Maybelline Colour Show polishes as they are really long lasting on the nails. The only downside to this one which is a downside to a lot of blue polishes is that it can stain your nails even if you use a base coat. 

The Maybelline Polishes are really great value for money as they only cost £2.99 and they have a really good range of colours.

Prettylittlefashionista xxx

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NOTD: Mango Madness

Today I am sharing another polish that I got from ELF this shade is Mango Madness. I have never really worn orange nail polishes but when I saw someone wearing an orange polish I wanted to give the colour a go. I think Mango Madness is one of my only orange that I own. 

It is quite a bright colour, and it is a dark orange so in some lights it can look a bit red. As I have mentioned before I really like the ELF polishes, I think the formula is really good. All the shades I have tried only require 2 coats, they apply really evenly and they last a really good time as well.

I really loved this shade and I think it is perfect for summer and I think it looks great on the toes as well. I will be wearing this shade a lot over the next few months when they weather is nicer.

Prettylittlefashionista xxx

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Botanics All Bright Micellar Water Review

Today I am going to be reviewing the Botanics Micellar Water from the All Bright Range. I am a huge fan of micellar waters and I use them to remove my eye makeup. My favourite one is the Garnier one but I enjoy trying out new ones. 

Firstly I want to start by talking about the packaging, it comes in a bottle with a screw top lid. When you take off the lid the hole that the product comes out of is quite large so I find I can often waste the product as too much comes out when I pour it. 

This micellar water is from the Botanics All Bright range which is supposed to help brighten your skin. I have not noticed any changes from using this in my skin, if you want a product that does help to brighten your skin I would recommend the Botanics All Bright Toner as I feel that does help to make your skin appear brighter. 

This is ok at removing makeup I notice I need to use more of this to remove my makeup compared to the Garnier one. I feel that the Garnier one is gentler on my skin so I prefer to use the Garnier one to remove my eye makeup. I like to use this one on mornings when I don’t have the time or can’t be bothered to wash my face. I use this as it helps freshen up my skin and it is a quick way to remove any dirt that has been left on my skin.

This is a lot cheaper than the Garnier one as it is only £2.99 and it is often on offer in Boots. However, you only get 250ml whereas in the Garnier one there is 400ml. Overall I do prefer the Garnier one and I would repurchase that over this but this one is still good, but there are better ones available.

On a side note, you can now get a mini version of the Garnier one in Superdrug and it is so cute and would be perfect for travelling.

Prettylittlefashionista xxx

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NOTD: Chester Street and Changing Tides

Oh what a surprise I am sharing another Nails Inc polish. Today I am sharing with you Chester Street from Nails Inc and Changing Tides from Sally Hansen. 

Chester Street is a pearly nude shade which is really pretty it is similar to Porchester Square. I decided to apply Changing Tides on top as I wanted a bit of sparkle. Changing Tides is a gorgeous pink glitter with bits of blue and silver glitter running through it. I really liked this combination of colours.

Chester Street is a really pretty nude shade and I would recommend it if you are looking for a nude shade. I really love the glittery shade and I think it works really well with the nude shade.

Prettylittlefashionista xxx

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May Favourites 2015

Today I thought I would share with you what I have been loving during the month of May. I don’t have too many makeup favourites this month but I have a few random favourites. 

I’ll start with makeup favourites, I have been loving the Maybelline Dream Flawless Nude Foundation. This is a great lightweight foundation which has a light to medium coverage. It has a very watery consistency which makes it very light on the skin. It makes my skin look very even and flawless and I have been loving wearing it. I think it is a great foundation for summer as it is so light on the skin.

The next favourite is the Collection Bronze Glow in Sunkissed. I’m not usually a fan of bronzer but recently I have been wearing this one quite a lot. I like to take it on a Kabuki brush and just lightly dust it over my skin to add some warmth and a bit of a glow to my skin.

My last favourite is an eyeshadow from Natural Collection in White Opal. This is a gorgeous champagne/ gold colour which I have been using to highlight my inner corner and place on the centre of my eyelid to help brighten my eyes. The quality of this eyeshadow is really good, it is really pigmented and easy to blend. 

Now onto random favourites; I finally got around to reading The Fault in Our Stars by John Green and I absolutely loved it. I thought it was very good and definitely lived up to the hype. I also watched the film and I thought that was really good, the casting was very good and the film followed the book really well. I started watching Gossip Girl this month, I didn’t watch it when it was on TV and I have fallen in love with it. I really like the characters I think Blair is probably my favourite. I’ve watched the first two seasons so far and I can’t wait to watch the other four seasons. I finished another book this month which was The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I thought the descriptions in this was fantastic and I could really picture the circus. The film rights have already been sold and I think this will make a great film. My last favourite I don’t have a picture of but I have been really loving doughnuts this month, I had a huge craving at the start of the month and I’ve eaten quite a few this month. I know it is unhealthy but they are just so nice.

Prettylittlefashionista xxx

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Makeup Gallery Blush in Candyfloss Review

Whilst in Poundland I decided to pick up a few different items from their makeup line which is called Makeup Gallery. I selected a blush in the shade Candyfloss. 

The packaging is quite basic but that is to be expected as it is a budget brand however the packaging feels very secure and I don’t think it will break easily. I quite like that Poundland have opted to use square packaging as most blushes come in a circular compact but I quite like that this is different and it matches the other powder products in the range. The blusher feels very smooth and isn’t too chalky. The blush is pretty pigmented as well for a budget product. It is really easy to blend and it creates a really nice natural flush on my cheeks that I really like for every day. I have been wearing this blush a lot and it is quickly becoming one of my most used. For me this is the perfect every day shade and I highly recommend checking it out especially if you want a natural shade. The blush is a warm pink shade that has a slight coral tone to it and quite surprisingly it is a matte blush which is unusual for a budget blush as they are usually full of shimmer. I am really glad that the Makeup Gallery range has shade names as many budget brands don’t name their products and it makes it so much more interesting when they have shade names. 

Overall I really like this blush and I would like to pick up more from the range although there are only 4 shades to choose from. I need to try more from the brand, I have tried the eyeshadows and they are fantastic and I have a couple of polishes to try out too.

Do you have any Makeup Gallery recommendations?

Prettylittlefashionista xxx

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Collection Bronze Glow in Sunkissed Review

I have never really been into wearing bronzers, but recently I have been wearing bronzer a lot more. I haven’t been going crazy I am not into contouring just adding a slight colour to my cheeks. 

I picked up this bronzer from Collection in Poundworld as I thought it would be a great way to try a bronzer that wasn’t too expensive. The packaging is a big circular compact which does look slightly cheap but when it is so affordable I won’t complain too much. You get a lot of product for your money (19g) I doubt I’ll be running out of it anytime soon. To apply it I use a kabuki brush and I apply it on my cheeks and a little bit on my temples in order to add a bit of colour to my face. 

This bronzer has a light shimmer running through it but it isn’t too much that it makes your face look glittery. The light shimmer in it really helps to brighten up my face and give a healthy glow. I find that the colour is really good for my pale skin as it isn’t too dark or orange. The price of the bronzer is quite good although it is one of Collection’s higher priced products, it costs £4.19 but is on offer for £2.99 at the moment. 

I’m really glad that I picked this up as I have been wearing it nearly every day this month. I think I may be converted to using bronzers now, I don’t think I’m ever going to be a contouring queen but I am definitely into adding a bit of colour to my face. I think it helps to add a healthy glow to my skin which I am really enjoying especially now that the weather is improving.

Prettylittlefashionista xxx

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NOTD: Optic Wave

I mentioned this nail polish a couple of weeks ago that I got with a Colgate toothpaste and today I thought I would share with you what it looks like on the nails. On a side not the toothpaste is really good although slightly unusual. 

This colour is a gorgeous shade of blue which I instantly fell in love with. When I painted my nails I was slightly disappointed that the finish was matte but I got over it quite quickly as I loved the colour so much. Like most Nails Inc polishes, this one applied evenly and only needed two coats. It lasted really well and as soon as it started to chip, I re- painted it again. This is a true testament to how much I loved the colour as I don’t normally re- paint my nails straight away with the same colour. 

Prettylittlefashionista xxx

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Dove 60 Second Treatment Shot Review

I received this Dove Treatment Shot in a Glossybox last year but I have only recently got around to using. This is a treatment that can be used to repair damaged hair. To use it you apply it to your hair leave it on for a minute and then wash it off. I used this instead of using a conditioner when I washed my hair, I left it on for a minute and then washed it off. I didn’t notice it repair any damage but I doubted that it would as you only get one use out of the shot. I did notice that it made my hair feel very soft and smooth. I thought this treatment was nice as it did leave my hair feeling very nice however each shot costs £1.49 which is quite a lot considering you only get one use out of it. I would rather buy a hair mask or a treatment conditioner as you get a lot more uses out of them and therefore they are better value for money. I would maybe consider purchasing it again if I was planning on treating my hair.

Prettylittlefashionista xxx

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Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie Review

I decided to pick up another Lip Butter as I already have a couple of shades and I really like them. The ones that I have are both red shades, and a pink (which I don’t really wear) and I wanted a more neutral shade that I could wear on an everyday basis as the formula is one of my favourites. 

The price of the Lip Butters are £7.99 which I personally think is quite a lot of money so I only ever buy them when Revlon has an offer on and they have offers quite a lot. My favourite offer is the 2 for £10 deal as that is very good value for money. I am a huge fan of the lip butter packaging, the gorgeous lattice pattern on it is very pretty and I like how the packaging corresponds to the colour of the product. The formula of the lip butters is like a tinted lip balm, they are hydrating and add some colour to the lips although the darker shades are very pigmented. Revlon says that the lip butters are a ‘buttery balm with a beautiful shiny colour’ and I would agree with this. 

I find the lip butters to be very hydrating and comfortable on the lips. I really like wearing them on a daily basis as they are so comfortable to wear and although they are not the most long lasting of lip products I don’t mind reapplying them. The shade Berry Smoothie is a light cool toned mauvey pink shade which I find to be an excellent shade for wearing every day as it is quite a subtle shade. The lip butters are very easy to apply and with Berry Smoothie due to it being quite a subtle shade you don’t even need a mirror to apply it with. I have worn this shade so much and it is quickly becoming one of those shades that I always reach for similar to the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey. The texture is soft, glossy and buttery and the texture is one of my favourites as I hate lip products that are drying on the lips. The only downside to the lip butters is that they are prone to melting which isn’t ideal if you want to carry it in your bag. The shade range is really impressive and I believe that there are currently 21 shades in the range so there is something for everyone. 

Overall I am really glad that I picked up this shade as it has become an everyday staple for me. I have my eye on a few more shades from the range; Pink Truffle, Raspberry Pie and Sorbet. I think the fact that I would buy more shades from the range tells you how much I like these lip products.

Prettylittlefashionista xxx

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NOTD: Lilac

I really like the ELF polishes as they apply so evenly and are opaque with 2 coats. Today I am sharing the shade Lilac which is a gorgeous light purple. I don't wear many colours like this but I really liked it. I think it is going to look wonderful in the summer. This polish seemed dry really quickly and I like the wide brush which makes the application really easy. 

This gorgeous lilac has made me want to try more colours like this as I really liked how this looked on my nails and I know I will be using it again. 

Prettylittlefashionista xxx

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Collection Little Mix All About The Eyes Palette Review

I haven’t tried too much from Collection and I had heard great things about their eyeshadow palettes. You can never truly have too many neutral palettes. I got the Little Mix Love All About The Eyes Palette. 

This palette retails for £3.19 which makes it a very affordable palette. The packaging is quite simple, it comes in a cardboard palette which has a magnet to close and open it. It isn't the sturdiest of packaging but I think that it feels pretty secure and I would take it travelling as it is so compact. The palette comes with 6 shadows which makes it the perfect size for travelling as you can create so many different looks with it. This palette has a mixture of mattes and shimmers so there is something in it for everyone. Another thing I really like about this palette is that all the shadows have names which makes it easier to identify them in posts but makes it slightly more interesting than shades 1,2,3 etc. 

The quality of these shadows is really good. They are really pigmented and soft which makes them really easy to blend. All the shadows are really wearable and I use all of them. My most worn look is Dazzling Brown all over my lid, Cocoa Brown in my crease and Blackbird as a liner. I also really like Sunkissed and Golden Sand, as they are golden shades and they really compliment my blue eyes. Feather makes a really good brow bone and inner corner highlight. This is one of my favourite palettes as unlike some of the palettes I own I actually use all of the colours and I reach for it quite a lot. I really want to try some of their other palettes as the quality of this one is really impressive. 

Overall I would really recommend this palette, if you love neutral eyeshadows then this is perfect. I love how compact it is, it will easily fit in most makeup bags.

Prettylittlefashionista xxx

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Instyle Makeup Freebie (May 2015)

This month there are a couple of different magazine freebies to choose from. I am trying to be more selective with which freebies I pick up as I have way too much makeup and skin care. I am now trying to only pick up things that I am interested in trying. I will still share with you all the freebies available, but I won’t necessarily be picking them up myself.

Firstly Marie Claire has a selection of Neal’s Yard Remedies hand creams. I decided not to pick this up as I already have a couple of Neal’s Yard Remedies hand creams and many other hand creams so I didn’t feel like I needed anymore. In Elle Magazine they have the Percy and Reed Volumising No Oil Oil, this didn’t really appeal to me as I don’t need to add any volume to my hair and I don’t use a lot of hair products anyway. 

The one freebie that I was interested in was in Instyle magazine. They had a sample of the Clinique Smart Custom Repair Serum, I haven’t tried many serums so I wanted to give this a go. This is quite a generous sample and it will be great for travelling. I am looking forward to trying it out.

Next month Instyle have Nails Inc nail polishes which are my favourite so I know I won’t be able to resist them. There are 4 colours to choose from; Love Will Tear Us Apart (red), The Tide Is High (mint green), Material (pink) and When Doves Cry (grey).

Prettylittlefashionista xxx

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Trylle Trilogy by Amanda Hocking Review

Today I am reviewing the Trylle trilogy. I have decided to review the entire trilogy in one post. The reviews may contain spoilers. I hadn’t heard much about this trilogy when I picked the first book up in Tesco but it sounded quite interesting and I thought I would give it a go. I really enjoyed this trilogy and I am glad I picked it up. On a side note I just wanted to mention the covers of these books, they are so beautiful and I love the colour combinations. 

Switched by Amanda Hocking

My Rating: 4

Goodreads Rating: 3.89

Published by: Tor

Pages: 328

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance

Switched is the first novel in the trilogy. Wendy’s mother tried to kill her when she was younger as she claimed that she had been swapped at birth. Wendy meets Finn who explains to her that she was swapped at birth and she is in fact a Trylle (troll) which explains her ability to influence people’s decisions. As part of Trylle tradition babies are switched with human babies. Wendy discovers that she is part of the Trylle royal family and there is some unrest in the Trylle and it is up to Wendy to put a stop to it. I thought the idea of using trolls was very interesting and unique. I thought the way that Amanda Hocking had thought about all the different customs and traditions was very good. Trolls is a unique character choice for a novel I don’t think I have read any other books about trolls and I really enjoyed it.   

Torn by Amanda Hocking

My Rating: 4

Goodreads Rating: 4.04

Published by: Tor

Pages: 324

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance

Wendy is overwhelmed by the new changes in her life so she decides to run away however when she is kidnapped and realises she is closer to her enemies than she first thought she must make some difficult decisions. Wendy struggles to decide between two guys; Finn and Loki both are people that she can’t be with. Ultimately she must make a decision that will save her people. I liked this book as you get to learn more about Wendy’s past and who her parents are. We learn that Wendy is very powerful and both her parents are royal but her father is the king of the Vittra who are her enemies. We also get to learn more about the Trylle politics which are very complex and interesting to read about. I really enjoyed the development of the relationship between Wendy and Loki although it was a bit disappointing that her and Finn can’t be together. 

Ascend by Amanda Hocking

My Rating: 5

Goodreads Rating: 4.08

Published by: Tor

Pages: 326

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance

Ascend is the final book in the trilogy and it did not disappoint. At the end of Torn Wendy become engaged to her friend Tove in order to protect the kingdom. They have a great friendship but they are not in love they are getting married purely to protect the kingdom. Wendy becomes queen in this novel after her mother dies and a battle between the Vittra ensues. I was really pleased with how the character of Wendy developed offer the three books. Wendy’s relationships were also very interesting in this book. The relationship between Finn and Wendy was finally ended and she ended up being with Loki which I did not see coming but I was very happy with it.

I really enjoyed this trilogy and unlike a lot of trilogies I enjoyed all the books.

Prettylittlefashionista xxx

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