Beauty Mart

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Mavala Heavy Metals

Purple Sensation

Paradise Blue 

 Satin

If you're a fan of metallic nail shades, then look no further. Mavala have a new collection set for Autumn/Winter and it comes in the form of five shades that make up the Heavy Metal Collection.

Vibrant Pearl, Satin*, Platinum Marble, Paradise Blue* and Purple Sensation* are the shades that complete this metallic finish standout range.

They are each extremely pigmented nail varnishes and I didn't even find the need for a second coat to achieve a great shade and finish. They are pretty high shine and like I said, if you are a fan of metallic foil like finishes, then you need look no further.

They dry in around a minute, which is a must for me. I'm not the most patient person when it comes to waiting for my nails to dry, so these are a winner in my opinion.

Mavala is well known for its small 5ml bottles and at only £4.30 for such a good quality, they are very much worth it.

Though I don't think for me they are the most wearable shades, I do think they will be absolutely perfect for Autumn/Winter, especially over the Christmas period. 

They are available to buy in both John Lewis and wwww.debenhams.co.uk. 

Are you a fan of metallic nails? What do you think of these shades?

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Chantecaille Cheek Shade- Delight

Whilst visiting one of my favourite stores, Liberty, I had my inevitable look around the beauty counters and without any exaggeration, knew I had to get this Chantecaille Blush as soon as I saw it. 

I think the lady on the counter wanted me to buy a blush from another collection, but I was so adamant that this was the one I wanted. It looked to be apart of the colour family I always go for, and feel most comfortable with on my cheeks. 

It's called Delight and it is matte Rosy Peach Pink shade, that I must admit looked a lot more on the Peach spectrum in store and when I got home and tried it with my make up, though it is lovely, I was a little disappointed. Other than the shade, the thing that sold me most of this product was how soft and delicate it feels on the skin. It's made up of micro particle technology that produces an extremely light and fine powder that feels so soft when both swatched and on the skin. Another selling point of this product I have found out when researching into it further, is that it also includes Vitamins A, C and E which somehow help with anti-aging. I'm not so sure on how a blush would do this, but it certainly sounds good.

The colour pay off is very strong. It's really super pigmented and although it does blend out pretty easily, you do have to be quite light with it at risk of looking too flushed and Pink cheeked (or clown like!).

The downside of this product is that at £24, there is only 2.5g of product. It's pretty packaging with a mixture of a shine and frosted finish, but I do think that for such a tiny blush it is quite expensive and I'm not sure if it's really worth it. I do like it and the shade is nice, but I don't love it. I have noticed that I don't reach for it as much as I do other blushes, which with me says a lot. 

Have you tried any Chantecaille blushes? What do you think of them?  

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The Clarisonic Mia 2 Launch

Today Clarisonic held a very lovely event in the heart of London to showcase the new addition to the Clarisonic family- The Clarisonic Mia 2.

We were introduced to both the new skin cleaning system and the older products- the Clarisonic Opal which is used with a serum for around the eye area, the Clarisonic Skin Cleaning for Face & Body and the Mia. Having never tried a Clarisonic before, I was tremendously excited and loved to hear what make up artist, Daniel Sandler  had to say about them during the brilliant presentation that he gave us. He has been using them on his clients for the past six years and rates them very highly, and if it's good enough for him and his celebrity clients then I certainly can't wait to give it a try!  

They have worked hard to create a product that has the popular factors that both the Clarisonic and the Clarisonic Mia have and qualities that users of the previous products have wished for.

Unlike the Clarisonic Mia, the Mia 2 has two speed settings that both work with the patented T-Timer, a fabulous function of the skin cleansing system. It works over a minute and beeps at times when you should move onto the next section of your face, to ensure that you use it sufficiently and don't over cleanse.

Like the original Mia, it's still super compact and very cute looking and has the compact magnet charger too, but the Mia 2 also comes with an additional little travel case which is absolutely perfect for me, when I'm constantly on the go.

The Clarisonic team were very generously and very kindly gave me one of these to try and so I will be sure to let you know my personal experience with it very soon. For a product that is supposed to clean your skin six times better than a standard cleanse, I'm hoping for smoother skin and clearer pores.

The Clarisonic Mia 2 will be available exclusively at Space NK from September 2012 and nationwide from December, priced at £130. 

Have you ever used a Clarisonic? I would love to know your thoughts.

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Tresemmé Texture Event

Tonight I attended the fabulous Heron Tower for Cocktails and Canapés forty stories high at Sushisamba and dinner at the most amazing restaurant Duck & Waffle all in aid for the lovely Tresemmé Texture Event. 

We was all absolutely spoilt and seriously fed so much. I'm pretty sure I have never eaten that much food in my entire life and I am in no way, shape or form complaining. The sharing dishes we were served weren't the usual meals that I would go for and were probably a little adventurous for me, but nevertheless, absolutely incredible. Who knew Duck, Waffles, Egg and Maple Syrup piled on top of each other would taste so good?

Over the most amazing clear views of London, amongst the most delightful company, we were taken through the Tresemmé Texture range and demonstrated how to use them in order to achieve the perfect loose tousled textured look that I know so many of use strive to have. I certainly love this look so I took in all of the information very carefully and can't wait to put what I learnt to use and share it all with you.

The range consists of four products; Velvet Créme to help define and enhance any layers you have in your hair whilst giving a hold and fab matte finish, a Tousled Wave Spray to give your curls definition in an undone loose fashion whilst leaving your hair soft and bouncy, a Backcomb Dust that creates lift and volume without having to backcomb and a Texture Style Divine Definition Spray to give you fab, seperated layers leaving short to medium hair looking terrifically texturised. 

I'm most looking forward to trying the Backcomb Dust on my hair. I have tried quite a few similar products and have had mixed experiences, but hearing absolutely amazing things about this one has left me very excited!

These four Tresemmé Texture products each cost £5.50 and will be available as of 1st October in Boots.

Do you strive for the perfect texturised hair or are you more of a perfectly neat fan? Will you be trying any of the Texture range?

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What I'm Wearing

Avon Ideal Flawless Invisible Coverage- Medium Beige*

Hourglass Illume Bronze Light

Chantecaille Blush- Delight

HD Brow Palette- Rich Brown

NYX Le Frou Frou Mascara- Black*

Avon True Colour- Mocha Latte*

MAC Hue

It's my first time trying out this Avon foundation, and since attending the Avon event that I blogged about here I couldn't wait to give it a go. So far, although I can't really judge it properly as it has only been on for a day, I am so pleased. It gives me my perfect amount of coverage and the colour match is perfect. I must admit, I am always a little cautious with foundations that are in the lower price range but I think my beloved Studio Fix Fluid may have found its competition.

This morning I posted about the Hourglass Illume Bronze Light and here you can see it in all of its glory. I love how this looks on my skin, especially with this foundation. I find the shades to really compliment each other. I always go a little stronger on the cheekbones and the around the jaw line and a softer on my temples and on my nose. I don't want to look over contoured but it does play a strong part in my make up routine. If you want to see a post more in depth about my contouring, do let me know below!

The highlighter in the duo really adds the nicest subtle glow on me, if I do say so myself. I do like mostly matte product on my face, so it makes a nice little change to have a glow.

  I've had a really nice quiet weekend, I've put some more storage into my bedroom so I have just been organising it. It's nothing special, pretty un-special actually but I needed drawers to house my products. I now have a drawer for haircare, skincare, fake tan, nails and lashes and perfumes. Pretty extreme but I'd rather it all have a home rather than be scattered all over my bedroom.

I hope you're all well xx 

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Dior Rouge Nude Lip Blush- Grége

How beautiful is this lipstick? Both the shade and the detailing of the packaging make me happy and it has fast become a permanent addition to my every day make up bag.

Dior Rouge Nude Lip Blush in 169 Grége* is a super creamy balm-like formula in ever such a wearable warmer nude shade. It's not the usual kind of shade I would pick out at a counter, with the slight worry of it being too dark or mature looking for me, however on the lips though it has great pigmentation it also has a really nice semi-transparent finish that gives a lovely radiance and on me, works as the perfect doesn't look like I'm wearing a lipstick, but I am natural kind of shade.

I've fallen for the softness this gives your lips and I'm now definitely tempted by 263 Swan and 228 Indiscréte that are also apart of the Rouge Nude Collection.   

These Dior lipsticks cost £25 and are available at all Dior counters and Selfridges online.

Are you tempted by the moisturising qualities, the shade or even just the packaging?

xx

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Hourglass Illume Light Bronzer Duo

This was a purchase that I decided to get on a little bit of a whim. I was wandering the counters of Liberty and when I started my Hourglass swatches, I was kind of sold on this immediately. 

Hourglass Illume Light Bronze is a Bronzer and Highlighting Duo, which is a beautiful cream to powder finish that blends out incredibly well from a rather dark shade that actually appears quite Orange toned in the pan to as bronzed or barely there as you want. I've never normally been a cream product fan, but this really does work so well applied with both a brush and even your fingers. 

The highlight is perfect applied with your fingers, and blends out to be incredibly subtle and flattering. 

I apply it to my upper cheekbone, down my nose and the tiny amount of excess product that remains on my finger, dapped lightly onto my cupids bow.

The application of the bronzer seems to be where most questions surrounding this product lay, and quite frankly it's a dream. I've surprised myself with this and can't quite believe it, but I haven't touched Nars Laguna, my usual go-to powder bronzer for what seems like such a long while now.

I use it on the areas I most like to contour, for best effect with my finger to below my jaw line, underneath my cheek bones, on my temples and then use the remaining product ever so lightly down the sides of my nose. 

You can go as heavily as you like, but the heavier you go, the more you will need to blend. I personally like to apply as light a product as possible as you can then build it up if necessary. 

As you can see in the first picture, this does look pretty scary and if any one was to see you with this unblended they may get a slight fright but once you blend it out with, again, with your fingers or a brush (I use my Real Techniques Stippling Brush) this turns to the most incredible powder finish product and sits on your base perfectly. It sticks around all day long, and doesn't fall or go patchy which is perfect for me as believe it or not, I can be extremely lazy when it comes to touch ups.

I really do love this product. I love the fact that it's a cream to powder finish, I love that it's so easy to blend, I love the shade it turns on the skin and of course, I love the crazy 360° mirror function which my dad says is like a cool mobile phone! Oh dad! 

Added benefits of this product are that it contains Vitamins A and E to provide moisturising and antioxidant benefits and it's also oil, fragrance, wax, sulphate, phthalate and paraben free. The product alone sold me, but for the slightly excessive price tag these factors may help you in your decision. 

As I mentioned, it is a slightly more pricey product at £40 but if you are after a little treat for your make up bag, I think this is worth a shot.

I picked this up in Liberty but I know it's also available in Space NK, Sephora and at Hourglass Counters. 

What do you think of this product? Is it something you would like to try?

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