Lush's Lip Scrubs - Review

Just a quick, 'OMG HAVE YOU TRIED THIS?!' post. This pot of goodness it ticking all my boxes: Sugar, caramel and super soft lips. Where can a girl go wrong?

As per usual, I'm 2 hours late to the party on lip scrubs - I have too many lip balms to justify more lip things. Alas, 4 hours of a really unsuccessful shopping trip drew me towards Lush. Obviously. And the lady who served me was too nice to turn down. Obviously. And obviously, 24 hours later, I'm obsessed by it.

The trick with this scrub is to just pat your finger on the sugar and then massage it into your lips. You need the tiniest amount, but more can be applied. Then (which is by far the best bit), you lick it off. I think for the price (£5.25 each) this is really amazing stuff; usually I would spend no more than £2 on lip balms, but the scrub works well and will last me a while - if my mum doesn't get her hands on it first.

The flavour I picked up was the popcorn one, quite simply because the shop assistant said it was like a salted caramel taste. If you haven't tried salted caramel or fudge where have you been?! It's God's gift to Earth. The Scrubs also come in a Mint Julep (think After 8s) and Bubblegum (which is hot pink).

Finally, a product that really gives me the softest lips AND tickles my sweet tooth. YAY!

Oh the temptation I resisted whilst taking this photo...

Topshop Make Up - Glitter Eyes

It's been a while, hasn't it? I mean since my last beauty post, but oh my gosh it's worth it. For one, it's glitter and that's reason enough to shout out your own window to the rest of the street at how light reflecting and flipping amaze balls (cringe all you like, it's a thing I'm now saying) it is.

Anywho, this glittery goodness is from good old Topshop, the holy grail of highstreet brands. It's got a built in primer in the lid (with a tiny mirror too) and on the bottom is the glitter in a pot.

Let's begin with aesthetics: the packaging of the product is compact, simple and true to the rest of the Topshop make up range. Bottom line: it fits it's purpose and that's all I can ask for.

The glitter and the primer combination work well together; the primer is has a harder, tacky consistency which holds the glitter on reasonably well. The glitter itself is finely ground and not itchy like I expected, and feared.

I wore it for my birthday festivities: winged out on my eyelids and also on my lower lash and dusted on my cheekbones. My mum used it dusted on top of her bronzed smokey eye, too. I think the product has great versatility, and I've got my eye on the silver one too for the winter. *swoon*

Glitter Eyes in Sprinkles
Topshop £7 

The MOM Jeans

Jeans: Topshop

Top: Primark

Shoes: New Look 

Necklace: Dorothy Perkins

Nails: Barry M Gelly Nail Effects in Papaya

I don't remember the last time I wore jeans, or owned a pair. Me and jeans aren't really friends, me and Cigarette trousers however, BBFs. Anywho, finally I've found a pair that actually fit me; I've got odd legs - ankles like and anorexic, thighs like an elephant. WOO! THANK YOU TOPSHOP!

Mom jeans: slightly skinny legged, super high waisted and turned up at the ankle (which'll make my legs look a bit longer). I think these were sent from heaven specifically for me, we are feeling good. Very good.

Have a lovely day,
Josie xo

Blogging Soundtrack: Kanye West- Black Skinhead

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter - Review

I have a serious love affair with lip products. Guaranteed, at any given time during the day I will have at least two lip balms in my bag. Often Boots will lure me in with their 3 for 2 offers and suddenly £25 vanishes from my account. Its my own fault, I'm too vulnerable to offers involving lipstick.

This is my first lip butter from Revlon and honestly, I friggin love it. It's very casual, that doesn't mean this lipstick is only ever seen in jeans and a tee shirt, but instead it's in understated elegance, a silk blouse. It's the type of product that makes you look like you've spent time in the morning to look presentable, but in in reality you've spent literally seconds. My kind of thing.

It's got a great colour pay off despite the balm texture to it which would make me assume that it is quite sheer. But I'm wrong. It's also got a slight glitter in the formula and leaves your lips looking voluptuous with a gorgeous sheen, that would be the moisturising qualities of it. The colour range of this product is truly lovely: from cute pinks to peaches to vampy purples, I think it suits every occasion. 

Also, because I'm a complete sucker for aesthetics, the packaging is a translucent trellis pattern in the colour matching the lip butter. It's just pretty and completely echoes the simplicity of the product. Urgh, I'm actually struggling to find something I don't like about it, which is a sure fire sign I'll be buying more - and for £7.99 who can blame me! 

Laura Geller Beauty Waterproof Gel Liner - Review

I'd say I'm not very adventurous with my make up choices; shed load of concealer, foundation, standard black mascara, cream blusher. Done. But on the days I'm feeling particularly adventurous/have spare time in the morning, eye liner is on the cards, and to no surprise it's a standard black liquid liner.

But this eye liner is different, it's purple and also by a brand I have never heard of before: Laura Geller Beauty. I quite like that risk of trying out an unknown brand, or at least one that's lesser known, you don't quite know what to expect.

The aim of this brand is to simplify make up application to achieve maximum results, and this is evident  in the design of the product: the brush in concealed in the top of the lid and can be changed from brush to standard lid very easily. The bonus of this is that it's also pretty good at keeping the brush clean too, I mean it's not getting mixed up with foundation brushes and the like. It's also pretty efficiently in that I only need to take the product with me and I don't need to take additional brushes about for touching up. Even though it's a tad bulky for an eye liner, the idea certainly works for me. However, when I received the liner, the brush was slightly frayed which is mega annoying for applying precise thin lines. Hopefully after I cleanse it and it dries it will be a bit more orderly. I hope!

Eye liner: Laura Geller Beauty Waterproof Gel Liner in Purple
Mascara: YSL Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Shocking in Pure Black
Concealer: Collection Lasting Perfection ConcealerFoundation: YSL Touche Eclat Foundation

Onto the actual gel, honestly, I didn't think I'd like it. I expected a really vivid purple shade, almost garish, but I was surprised. Instead it was a more subtle purple tone and was actually quite flattering to my eye colour. Maybe in the end I wanted a more vivid purple to show that I was trying something new, but in reality, this is far more wearable  and elegant and would go perfectly with a smokey eye shadows for day time and fancy evening looks. Also, who in actual real life wears bright purple eye liner?! It's lucky that I don't get what I want sometimes.

What I also like about this gel is that is was very soft and doesn't feel like it's going to dry out as soon as I leave the lid off of it for more than 20 minutes and that gave me hope that it's going to be kind to my skin too. When on my eyelids, which by the way tend to be oily and usually result in eye liner smudged everywhere in under 3 hours, this formula is genuinely lovely, crease free and smudge proof. 5 hours later and it still has a staying power.

I guess that's where you get what you pay for, this product retails on Birchbox for £24.50 for two and seems pretty steep for an eye liner or at least one in my kind of budget. So I doubt that this will be repurchased but it is a very nice formula, and has definitely opened my eyes to other eye liner colours out there and that even a subtle change makes a great difference.  

Ted Baker Washbag in Drina - Review

A post Christmas splurge for one of these bags has been on the cards for a while now. Ted Baker, to me, as a brand emulates quality and general gorgeousness. Initially, it was on my Christmas list but because my Mum is somewhat sane, she decided not to spend out on a simple wash bag. But me, well, I'm not.

In the sales this bag was £15, knocked down from £22. Bargain! Ok, ok, so in hindsight spending over a fiver on a make up bag is pretty obscene for a 17 year old.  To give reason to this insanity I have to argue that it's so pretty and the sales are just an excuse to get presents for yourself as a sort of 'well done for surviving the festive period'. So this was mine.

Buying online meant shipping was £4.50, which is ridiculous. Totally mental. Luckily the powers off the internet saved me of that with a free delivery discount code. Thank god! But, the packaging, oh the packaging, it turned up in a lime green box and 'Ted always delivers' printed in swirly writing as you lift up the lid. I like the effort, its different from the bog standard recyclable plastic bags that my purchases usually turn up in.

On to the bag... its miniature, perfect for travelling with basics or just to slip into your hand bag for everyday essentials. Although, I'm not really one for taking make up out with me, mainly in fear of losing it. I don't think I could deal with myself if I lost the only things that stops me from looking like one of Fagin's children on a daily basis.

The pattern on the bag is dreamy, the sequin print is just pretty and dainty. I think that's how it can be described; pretty. The little touches on this bag like the rose gold zip and the pearly pink satin insides, just complete the luxury of the bag. Am I in love? Almost.

I think I'm now living with the fear I have is ruining the gorgeous insides with my clumsy make-up stained hands. I'll best be on my best behaviour when using this!

Advanced Style By Ari Seth Cohen - Review

I read an article about this book sometime in 2012 in The Times Magazine, and completely fell in love with the whole concept of older women really pioneering fashion to a whole new level.

Spawning from Cohen's blog ADVANCED STYLE of fashion by older ladies and gents, this book is a compilation of the individuals he has met on his travels and primarily in New York. He describes Advanced Style as 'a celebration of life' and I couldn't agree more.

Naturally, working in a charity shop, I hear the phrase, 'I couldn't possibly wear that, I'm far too old' too often, and it absolutely does my head in. I'm serious, I can't be the only one, does it get to you too?

I genuinely feel like this book should be given to every woman - and man - as they step into Marks and Spenser into the jungle of pastel coloured cardigans and ill flattering skirts. Women need to know the potential that they hold within them and personally I found a serious amount of inspiration in this book.

I mean, I found inspiration in two ways when working my way through the pages. The first for clothes, obviously, there were tonnes of different style combinations and strange hats to gaup at and to put on my wish list. Initially this is the first thing you see when you look at these women, the eccentric clothes. But then you find a new kind of appreciation, for their confidence and true love for life. The Idiosyncratic Fashionistas (I know, try saying that 3 times), said this, 'young woman, you're gonna be an old woman someday. Don't worry about it,  don't sweat it...every era it builds character' and it really resonates with me. I'm not scared of being old or ageing but for the people who are, I recommend this book. If I've learnt anything from it is that acceptance, at any age, comes from within. I like that a lot. 

The whole book is finished perfectly; matte finish with gold reflective text on the cover and a gorgeous font throughout. The pictures are gorgeous, each one bringing a little smile to my face - either by the outfit, the pose or the quote from the person. Each one celebrating life and fashion as it should be.

I got mine from Amazon for £16, and although may not have been the most frugal of choices, but it will be a book that I'd recommend for any fashion addict (I want to say 'fanatic' but I risk being too cliché), like myself and It would make a perfect (and most unusual) gift.

So, what's the most obscure thing you've ever worn that's made you feel on top the world? 

St Ives Naturally Clear Facial Scrub - Review

There is no other way of putting this: when it comes to a skin care routine I just fail. I want to have a really regimented morning of cleansing and toning and moisturising and faffing about with all sorts of products, but even when I set my alarm extra early to do a bit of exercise, I automatically reach for the snooze button and flop back into bed and wake up at quarter to 8, 15 minutes before I have to leave for school. It's safe to say every single day is a rush.

So skin care for me is reserved for the evenings, and this product has certainly made an impact on that routine. I was attracted to this product because of the apricot scent. I recently tried an Origins Drink Up Face Mask which you leave on your face all night and it smells so super delicious, it's unreal. Regrettably, I didn't smell the St Ives scrub before I brought it, and due to the packaging I assumed that it would make my face smell of apricots. That's me, all for the aesthetics. If I'm honest when I first smelt it, it was a bit like strong cleaning product. However, I've asked some other people what they thought of the smell and there seems to be a unanimous 'its quite nice' opinion, so maybe that one's just me. Regardless, It's definitely a clean smell.

As its a scrub it's obviously got quite a rough, sandy texture when its in your hands which I was worried about. I have somewhat delicate skin on my face, particularly cheeks, which is also partial to redness. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how gentle this product was, it washes off easily and my skin felt super soft after. As an added bonus, my cheeks weren't any redder than before I used it. Yay! However, I would only recommend to use in the evenings 2 or 3 times a week as I've found it is pretty difficult to apply make up on after I used this product and moisturised, which is annoying.

This product specialises in clearing skin and I think it does the job. I've seen a reduction of blackheads, and in general, less oils on my face in the T zone area. I feel very refreshed after using this. 

Despite the smell I think this is a really great scrub and no wonder St Ives have claimed to be the UK's number one scrub brand. I've not used any other St Ives scrubs or face masks before, but I've definitely been swayed. I feel like there is a definite repurchase on the cards for this one!  

RRP: £4.99

Overall Score: 8/10
Repurchase? Yes