Elle Magazine UK Samplers

This month Elle Magazine UK has a double wammy of samplers. The main samples featured on the front of the plastic wrapping are three deluxe skin care samples from (MALIN+GOETZ). 

This (MALIN+GOETZ) set include the Grapefruit Face Cleanser, Vitamin E face moisturizer, and a lip moisturizer. I am currently using them as my nighttime treatment routine and my skin is loving them. The face wash is nothing spectacular, it washed your face, it does its job. The moisturizer has such a smooth sensation and it definitely hydrated my skin. I have an oily complexion but slightly dehydrated skin. The lip moisturizer is AMAZING. In three days of use, my lips are transformed and super soft and smooth. For getting a sub par magazine, you can get awesome samples.

BUT WAIT... THERE'S MORE!

L'Oreal Elvive High Gloss Shine Shampoo massive sample sachet!

I love this stuff, for a cheap shampoo, there are not cheap results, my hair is SHINING and super smooth!

Thank you for reading! XO Tay

Maybelline Color Show nail polish

At my local Tesco's, I have been picking up these nail polishes by Maybelline and have been extremely impressed. Today I did a manicure using a pastel purple and a shimmering pastel pink named in the picture.

Thanks for reading. XO Tay

Comic Book Inspired Look

Pinterest provided me with more than enough inspiration to do a comic book inspired look. I have been limited to not many proper products (yet) to do crazy makeup, I did what I did with what I had! I went for a black and white with a color pop! 

MY LIPS ARE THE FAVORITE PART OF ALL OF THIS!

I used Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation in 00 (white) and the NARS Pandora (black and white) powder palette as well as Illamasqua black kohl pencil to straighten up lines. The lips are Anna Nicole matte liquid lipstick from Jeffree Star Cosmetics.

For having no idea what I was doing, I think I did a pretty impressive job! I want to invest in high quality face paints so I can do some crazy stuff! Hopefully soon I will have landed a job and can get cracking on that!

Thanks for reading! XO

LOTD: Black Lips

I love a good shocking makeup look but black lipstick is one trend I struggle with, it never looks good on me. I tried it again today and spent the day getting looked at like a crazy person. 

Lips: Black Velvet by Lime Crime 

Complexion: Beautiful Movements Cosmetics, honey powder (worsed named cosmetics brand)

Melba blush hy MAC

Eyes: Lime Crime Venus Palette, Rimmel liquid eyeliner (black), Illamasqua liquid liner (white)

I love speckling liner :)

Thanks for the read, tell me what you want to see on my facebook page! Xo Taylor

LOTD: Crazy Colors

Somedays, you just need to have a little fun! 

On the eyes I used Velocity (blue) and 2AM (purple) eyeshadows with Goldilux glittering gold pigment. Added a pop of color on top of that with Blue Milk liquid eyeliner by Lime Crime. My lips are Passion (irridescent pink) by LUSH. I did my complexion using the Benefit 'Look Good In Everything' box kit including promer, foundation, concealer and powder. Finished it off with Hoola bronzer by Benefit and Lightscape by MAC.

I hope you enjoyed this look! Xo Tay

New Hair Color

I am on the prowl for a job so I changed up my hair color for something a little more normal. So from Peachy Orange and Pink to Brown with a peekaboo panel of blue and green. (I could not go COMPLETELY normal...) I am getting an undercut on the back and bottom of my hair next week at Vintage Rocks Belfast, but until then...

Hair Color is unfortunately a box because I am skint (I never recommend coloring your hair at home, always go to a hair color professional if you can.) My peekaboo panel is washed out mermaid and seapunk by Bleach London.

LOTD, OOTD: Wedding Weekend

I went to my brother-in-law's wedding a the luxurious Galgorm on Saturday and dazzled it up big time. I wore blue and glittery silver.

I wore a lovely midnight blue halter dress from Lindybop's bridal and evening dress collection. I accessorized with over sized stud earrings, ankle star pointed heals covered in silver glitter from New Look. I stepped it up a notch with a silver sequins and feathers fascinator from the accessories stall in Castle Court Mall in Belfast City Center.



Foundation: Illamasqua Skin Base Foundations in 02 and 13, MAC Lightscape Highlighting Powder, and Illamasqua Gel Sculpt in Silhouette all set into place with Illamasqua Setting Powder.

Lips: Honey Love matte lipstick.

Hair: GHD curled and set with Elnett and Sebastian Professional Trilliant Shine Spray (color is Rose and Awkward Peach by Bleach London)

Eyes: Big Eyes dual end jumbo Pencil by Maybelline and Sugarpill Grand Tiara silver pigment mixed with Misty glitter by Violet Voss Glitters. Rimmel Exaggerating Liquid Liner, and They're Real Mascara by Benefit Cosmetics. Eyebrow Pomade by Anastasia Beverly Hills. False Lashes by Eyeladora.

LOTD: last night

Was out on a day of drinking and went for a classic ME look of Winged Eyeliner and Red Lips. Sometimes, dramatizing a classic still is all you need to take a look from day to night and because I was out all day and all night I decided to go for a look that would work for both. This winged eyeliner look is called a bat wing because of the break and intensity to it. I imagine it would look fantastic with false eyelashes but early morning motivation was lacking so I was amazed I got this far.

Yes, these earrings are quite  ridiculous but they are exactly my personality; large, hot pink and doesn't match any outfit! They are so heavy and my ears were aching at the end of the day but BEAUTY IS PAIN.

Foundation: 

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundations in 02 and 13

Shu Eumura Contouring Duo

MAC Melba Blusher

Eyes:

Naked Basics Palette 

Rimmel Exagerating  Liquid Eyeliner

Maybelline Collosal Lash Mascara

Benefit Brow Zing in Medium (powder only)

Lips:

Mac Prep + Prime

Jeffree Star Cosmetics Redrum liquid lipstick

I thought I would give an OOTD as well today. I loved my outfit. It was again, a need for an outfit that would work in hot weather for day and night and work with the earrings!

Striped Top from Primark

Full midi skirt with pleats from ASOS Curve

Pink PomPom Earrings by Rock'n'Rose from ASOS

Phone Case by Moschino 

Messy Hair Do from Lack of Curling a Pixie Skills.

Doing my 'Great Gatsby' pose, cheers, thank you for reading.

XO Taylor

Exfoliation Continued, Body-ody-ody

During the summer months we shed our layers and show some skin. You want to show off your skin to be smooth and glowing! A scrub will do that for you. If you are like me and do not tan (SPF all the time, oh yeah), you use false tan and need to scrub your skin so tan takes more evenly.

Body exfoliation heightens blood flow to the skin and muscles, can bring more bodily awareness to stubborn fat (chunky areas that feel cold always), help to lower visibility of cellulite and prevent ingrown hairs. It is so beneficial to your skin health and makes you full body complexion glow!

These are my Top Three favorite scrubs:

Soap & Glory Pulp Friction 

available at boots for £8 (click here)

First of all, the name, is amazing! This scrub foams up and really gets the job done. I use it regularly and find that it helps even out patchy areas on my skin. I think it makes my tattoos brighter and makes my legs feel amazing! It is not the strongest scrub I have ever used but its amazing. 

Sanctuary Spa Salt Scrub 

available at boots for £11.50 (click here)

This is the strongest most intensive body scrub I have ever used. You mix the oil and the salt together and get scrubbing! It is extremely hydrating and leaves a thin oil layer on the skin that keeps the skin ultra smooth. This works wonders on the feet to get back into sandals mode.

Cocoa Brown Tough Stuff 

available on feelunique.com  for £6 (click here)

Cocoa Brown just got its biggest celebrity endorsement when the young Kylie Jenner said she loves these tanning products (as do I). This scrub is designed for prepping the skin before the use of false tan and it definitely gets the job done well. It is also great for removing false tan when you you done with your faux glow.

The Right Exfoliant For You

Sun exposure thicken and dries our skin and we keep applying moisturizers and serums to keep that glowing complexion but they will do NOTHING to your skin without the number one most important addition to your skin care routine, exfoliation.

There are so many different kinds of face scrubs and exfoliants and exfoliating styles out there that it starts to get very confusing and you end up asking yourself, which one is for me?

First, there are some common myths about exfoliation that I need to throw out the window right here, right now:

- A sensitive skin cannot be exfoliated

WRONG

They make non scrub feeling exfoliants that will not irritate the skin and will still get the job done.

- Acne skin cannot be exfoliated

WRONG

A scrub with microbeads and little 'scrubbies' will worsten acne but a chemical exfoliate will really help remove all that flaky skin.

- The harder and stronger I scrub, the more results I will get

WRONG

The harder and stronger you scrub that more and more you put your skin at risk for broken capillaries or permanent red veiny splotches on your skin. 

So which kind would suit you?

Scrubs

A scrub...scrubs. You feel that gritty texture made from micro-beads, nutshells, or sugar. I am against micro-bead exfoliants as micro-beads are not biodegradable. In many states in the USA, micro-bead products are now prohibited. If you have dry, rough skin or congested (without pimples) complexion or even just like that deep clean feel and no sensitivity , this is the option for you.

Enzyme + Acid

I won't get too technical but enzymes and acids dissolve dead skin cells on the surface of your skin. They come in many potencies for sensitive skin, acne skin, ageing skin, or professional treatment level. They can be in the form of cleansers, gels, powders, masks, or facial oils. They are my preferred form of exfoliation.

Exfoliants of this kind will normal advertise whether they are good for certain skin types or not but just in case they don't.

for sensitive skin- you want enzymes

for acne skin- you want salicylic acid

for ageing skin- you want lactic acid

Manual

Less exciting to explain and talk about, to manually exfoliate- you do it yourself. Face brushes, electric rotating face brushes, and Clarasonics. You can use these instead of an exfoliating product with your face wash and just do small circles all over your face. This is a great option for trying to boost your complexion as it really brings a healthy blood flow to your skin.

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Thank you for reading, feel free to message me on the blogs facebook page and get some personalized advice about what exfoliation style would suit you.

xo Taylor

LOTD: Back in the Game!

Nearly a week without wearing eye makeup, I went off the wall today with a shimmering smokey eye to make doing chores in my holiday onesie a fabulous event! Didn't make my bed or vacuum the living room but I put my face on. 

Maybe I should stop being a housewife... ha, ha.

Skin:
Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation
Illamasqua Gel Sculpt Silhouette
MAC Melba blusher
MAC Eyeshadow Brule (as highlighter)

Eyes:
Urban Decay Smoked Palette
Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid Eyeliner
MAC Extreme False Lash Mascara
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Pomade

Lips:
Lime Crime Wicked matte liquid lipstick
Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy lipgloss

Glam Glow PowerMud REVIEW

I have been a fan of the glam glow mud for a number of years and I am always trying to get my hands on for the fairest price. I have used the YouthMud (exfoliating), SuperMud (breakout clearing), ThirstyMud (soothing, hydrating), and BrightMud (eye mask).

The introduction of Glam Glow to the UK is slow, underwhelming and very expensive. The brand has since introduced multiple new products but the first of which to reach the UK, finally, is the Dual Cleansing PowerMud, which I will review for you today.

photo from google images from http://allaboutevesalon.co.uk/product/glamglow-power-mud-50g/

A local chemist (for those in East Belfast, this is the chemist in Forestside) had something I had never seen before, trial sizes of the glamglow muds. I have BOUGHT sachets and travel sizes of the muds in duty free but trial size, blew my mind. 

Filled to the brim, this little wonder will last me probably three or four weeks at two to three times a week. This mask has a texture that allows you to do a lot with a little and even if it means cutting this open, I am getting every last drop from this tube.

First Thoughts

Texture- 

thinner than a normal mask, felt like a foundation and dried on my skin quickly

Feeling- 

once dried, it didnt have that tight restricting mask feeling, the mask provides no sensation while on the skin, no hot, cold, tingle, nothing.

Smell- 

similar to a makeup wipe or a fresh cotton scented candle. to most that probably sounds awful but it just smelled clean and fresh but barely smelled at all.

I used the mask yesterday by applying it all over my face, leaving it for ten minutes and then working water into all over until it turned into a thin creamy oil. I removed with toner soaked cotton pads. I currently use Eau Roma lavender toner from LUSH. My skin immediately felt airy, fresh and so clean! A nice texture was left on my skin afterwards. 

With continued use in conjunction with my Mask of Magnaminty from LUSH (used primarily on heavily congested areas) I think my acne struggle might have met its match.

I hope you enjoyed this little review of mine. I am so happy to actually be seeing views on my blog, I put so much work into my posts just for you and It brings me great happiness to check stats and see I wasn't the only one looking at these. 

THANK YOU and keep reading!

xo Taylor

Feeling Blue: mini trend alert

Trending this summer is blue! Bright sexy blues that shine brighter than a sapphire. Here are four products to inspire you. 

For the nails: Essie Mesmerized Nail Lacquer

For the eyes (as either eyeliner or mascara): Lush Control Liquid Liner 

For the eyes: YSL Couture Palette 06 Rive Gauche

For the lips (for the bold and brave): Illamasqua Vendetta Lipstick

Commonly seen in magazines on this trend.

Blue Mascara, Blue Eyebrows, Blue Ombre Lips, Blue Mani Pedi

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I hope you do not mind the trend alerts rather than actual makeup posts. I have a slow healing and quite painful stye in my left eye so until that little loser gets gone, I am focusing on breakout healing and skin smoothing treatments. 

Hope to get back to you with makeup fun stuff as soon as possible.

xo Taylor

Bleach London Hair Dye Review

When I wanted to change my hair color, I decided to try a new brand that caught my eyes in Boots. I normally buy my hair dye online but this product line allowed me the same amount of color choices but I got to have it immediately and not pay pesky postage charges.

This, is Bleach London.

This London based salon has expanded it's professional services to your bathroom counter with bleaching, coloring, care, and styling products. Their extensive range is designed for the modern world woman looking for a fresh and trendy look on a budget. 

Available at Boot's or Bleach London Online Shop

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I have used three of their products so far.

TANGERINE DREAM

Currently using this one for my vibrant orange hair. My hair, lifted to medium blonde took this orange amazingly and produced a nearly glowing look that made my husband happy! It doesn't impress me as much as the other hair tint brand I used because it look only one wash with a color safe shampoo for more than half the color to leave my hair. Now I am not complaining. I simply mixed the remained of the color into my conditioner bottle so now every wash is an orange top up. 

This color is exactly what I hoped and wanted. The vibrancy rocks my world and though I change my hair tint color so often, I might (try) to stick to this color a bit longer!

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AWKWARD PEACH

 Before I was a tangerine dream, I was rocking the awkward peach. I new this would need regular topping up because I have had peach hair before so I just kept this in the shower. The tone nearly made my hair look lighter than it was which I loved because I did not bleach my hair light enough for a proper pastel tone. I got bored of it as I do any hair tint so I moved to the next color but I believe Awkward Peach is the most beautiful peach tint on the market. 

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GRITTY IN PINK COLOUR KIT

I played with this kit when I had the points to get it free on my Boots Advantage Card. I loved the multitonal look this gave me. On long hair this would be like a My Little Pony dream. I was not talented enough to keep the color up but I sure tried. It was nice while it lasted. I love the Violet Skies. It was like a hair toner, it took my hair to a beautiful ashy tone and I loved the look.

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I will continue to buy Bleach London products. The goal would be to try every color in the range and as my hair grows, see how many different colors I can do in one go! These are price efficient and effective products and great for someone looking for very temporary looks. I bet these would be brilliant for festival season!

Thank you for reading!

xo Taylor

Lusts and Loves

I am a shop-a-holic, I am obsessed with beauty products and every time I pop into the big Boots in City Center, I hear products calling my name. these are the products currently catching my eye that I needed to share with you!

St Tropez Self Tan Dry Luxury Oil

100ml   £25

This is exactly what it says it is, a dry body oil that gives you a luxurious tan. It hydrates your skin, doesn't smell like feet, and has a shimmery glow to it while it sits on your skin. I cannot think of how that could ever be bad! I enjoy the level and tone of tan I get from St. Tropez and if you read this blog, you know me, I love anything luxury!

 Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray

125ml   £21.50

Bumble & Bumble is, hands down, my favorite hair care and hair styling brand. The products do what they say they will do and I attribute my hair health to them. I haven't used a sea salt spray sense I chopped my hair off but I wonder how that would go. Using it to soften up a curly do...hmmm....

Bleach London Rose Conditioner

250ml   £6

I have been very impressed with this brand, my peach and orange hair has been by them and i find that keeping that peach tone is quite difficult. Well, pink and orange make peach, I tint my hair orange and then I can use this conditioner to keep that rosy under hue. It is on my list. For a golden blonde, this could be great to create rose gold hair which is massively on trend right now.

Real Techniques Starter Set 1406

5 brushes   £22

I was heavily trolled recently on facebook for saying this brands bold metal brushes are overpriced but I stick to my word. One bold metal brush is the same price as a set of 5 brushes, SAME BRAND. This is my favorite brushes brand and the goal is to collect them all! (in an affordable manor)

Yves Saint Laurent Rose Gold Touche Eclat

2ml   £25

Rose Gold is my color, I love everything rose gold as it goes great with my pale pink complexion. Touche Eclat is a great product for those lazy makeup days. Under eyes, under brows, around the lips and wherever else you need it. I think this product would suit anyone. I want it. *drools*

If any of you nabs these goodies before I do, I envy you... you lucky monkey. But the dream is that I can snuggle up with these and love them forever because I am a crazy compulsive shopper.

See you soon with some tutorial posts and LOTDs for hair and makeup. As it is 18 days until my brother in law's wedding, everything will be wedding prep themed! 

xo Taylor