Review | Origins Gin Zing Moisturiser

 

Hi Ladies. I'm sure this isn't the first review of Origins Gin Zing Moisturiser that you have read, and it probably won't be the last. I have recently read so many good reviews of this moisturiser over the past few months and I can certainly see why. I had wanted to try this moisturiser for a really long time, so I popped it on my Christmas wishlist last year, and Mum bought it for me in my stocking. I used it on Christmas Day, fell in love, and I've used it everyday since.

 

It's safe to say that Origins is one of my favourite skincare brands. I swear by the Super Spot Remover, and also love the Modern Friction Exfoliator and Clear Improvement Mask. Their products just seem to work really well with my skin and last a really long time. Having quite dull, oily skin with a lot of scarring (I know I go on about it all the time) so when I heard this moisturiser was a gel formula that promised to energise tired looking skin while still hydrating it, I knew I had to try it.

 

I adore the formula of this moisturiser. Before this, I was using the La Roche Possay Effaclar Duo, (which I still love) and that is a gel. The consistency of the Gin Zing moisturiser is a very thin lotion with a very wobbly almost 'jelly' like formula. Because it is so light weight, it is perfect for oily/ combination skin as it is not too heavy and thick. I use it both in the mornings and at night and find it works really well at both times. Another thing that I love about it is the scent. It is just heavenly. It smells of fresh oranges, but not artificial, like real oranges. This makes it great to apply in the mornings, as it really wakes me up! It brightens up my whole face and makes my skin look glowing. I haven't noticed a change in my skin but it really is lovely to apply.

 

As I stated earlier, this is definitely a product more suited to oily/ combination skin. I don't think it would be hydrating enough for those with dry skin, although it works perfectly for me.

 

Overall, I really can't fault this moisturiser and I will 100% be repurchasing it. And that is saying something as usually when I finish a skincare product I like to try something new. As Origins is a renowned brand, I think £23 is quite reasonable. You get a big pot and you don't need a lot to cover your whole face. There is also a Gin Zing eye cream and under eye concealer. Origins is available from Debenhams and John Lewis to name a few!

 

What are your thoughts on Origins as a brand? Have you tried anything from the Gin Zing range?

 

Love,

Eleanor

xxx

Review | MAC Pigment in Tan

 

Hi Ladies. Today I am reviewing one of my current favourite eye shadows. As a total eye shadow junkie, I am always extremely excited to try out new colours and formulations. MAC pigments (or pigments in general) are something that I have never really tried in depth. In my early makeup years I remember using the Barry M pigments, but if truth be told, I didn't have much idea what I was doing back then. As an extremely clumsy person, pigments seemed a bad idea, but after seeing Gabriella from velvetgh0st talk about this product, and describe it as rose gold, I was pretty much sold. I had it on my wishlist for a long time, but I just never got round to buying it. Then Christmas came, and my lovely Godparent's bought it for me. It is not a product that I wear on an every day basis, but if I am going somewhere special or out at night, it is my go to eye colour.

 

The wonderful thing about this product is that it looks gorgeous on its own. When I wear it, I apply my Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Pink Gold (do you see a theme?) so the pigment has something to stick to and boosts the longevity of it. The pigment itself is incredibly fine and seems to contain small glitter particles when first applied, but when it is blended, it just looks shimmery. I usually add a bit of black eyeliner when I wear it too.

 

On the MAC website, Tan is described as a 'muted pinky brown bronze' and I have to say I absolutely agree. I find this looks really flattering with my eye colour and skin tone. Bronze hues pretty much suit anyone. Some bronze shades have really strong orange undertones and can not really work with paler complexions, but this is an exception. I'm quite pale and it looks really lovely. I can see this looking especially gorgeous on darker skin.

 

If you have never tried MAC Pigments before, I highly recommend Tan as a starting point as it is so versatile. I would really like to try some more and have my eye on Vanilla as I have heard amazing things about it. They are quite pricy at £17, but you get 4.5g, and you only need the tiniest amount on your brush to cover your whole lid.

 

You can find pigments on the MAC website here, or I like to buy MAC from the Debenhams website as then I can earn point on my beauty club card!

 

Have you tried MAC Pigments? What are your thoughts?

 

Love,

Eleanor

xxx

Review | NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Fiji

 

Me wearing the foundation (with flash)

Hi Ladies, today I am going to review for you my current favourite foundation! Nars Sheer Glow Foundation is one of the most talked about 'high end' foundations in the blogging community. I have read countless rave reviews of this foundation and now I am beginning to appreciate the hype! I didn't purchase it for a very long time- 'do you really need another foundation Eleanor?' The answer to that question is yes. I have no idea why I put off buying it for so long as it has quickly become my holy grail foundation. I put a lot of research into buying this foundation. The reviews that I found most helpful were by my two favourite bloggers: Beth and Kayleigh. I bought the foundation online, so I also used the girls' reviews to help me decide the correct shade for my skin tone. I am relatively pale, and both Beth and Kayleigh wear 'Fiji' so I figured that was the one for me too- and I was right!

 

I mentioned this foundation in a previous haul, which you can find here. On Boxing Day, Space NK had an amazing sale and I picked up some Laura Mercier goodies. If you spent over £60 on the website, you were eligible for free delivery. I ummed and ahhed about what else to get, but then decided on the Sheer Glow Foundation. It was a bit of a wildcard purchase- in the back of my mind I was worried about whether I had chosen the right shade, but I am so glad I did as it has taken foundation appliance to a whole new level! My main reasoning for wanting this foundation was for my prom in June. (Just about the only thing I talk/ think about). The SPF (or lack of it) was what swayed me. I was planning on wearing my trusty Chanel Vitalumier Aqua Foundation, but I really do not want flashback from the SPF in the foundation, so Nars seemed a winner! This could also be viewed as a negative point as without SPF underneath, this foundation isn't really suitable in the (hopefully) hotter months.

 

Because this foundation has very strong yellow undertones, when I first applied it, I looked a little odd to say the least and went through the 'Oh my god, what have I done?!' stage. But if you let it settle in to your skin and apply the rest  of your makeup, it looks flawless. And that is not an exaggeration. Having oily skin and quite bad hyperpigmentation and scarring on my cheeks had left me thinking that I will always have to wear concealer- but this foundation has such amazing coverage, that concealer is a thing of the past! Back to my oily skin. The idea of having a 'glowing' foundation does not seem a good idea. The last thing you want is a foundation that makes you look shiny when that's what you are trying to avoid. Unlike foundations such as Rimmel Wake Me Up, which has a subtle glitter in it, Sheer Glow has an almost matte finish and adds a hint of 'glow' to the skin but still looks natural. It is perfect for oily/ combination skin and a little goes a long way. The only problem is that if you have any dry patches, it will cling to them like crazy. So make sure you have exfoliated and moisturised if dry patches are something you suffer from regularly.

 

I apply this foundation over a primer with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush, and it works really well for me. I put a small amount on each region of my face- (each cheek, forehead, nose and chin) stipple it in slightly and the blend, blend, blend! It instantly covers any blemishes or discolouration in the skin, leaving you with an absolutely flawless base. I then add some powder and I'm ready to go for the day. Wear time is great on me- and my skin is especially oily. Whilst I may feel like I need to top up my powder from time to time, I never have the feeling that the foundation is slipping off my face, which is something that I have struggled with in foundations in the past. It also photographs really well because there is no SPF. (As I mentioned above).

 

Everything from the packaging (who doesn't love a glass bottle?) to the foundation itself are amazing. The only negative thing I will mention is that it doesn't come with a pump. I bought a Nars pump for £3 when I bought the foundation, so I haven't encountered any messy applications, but for some people this may be a problem. I'm not sure why Nars don't just add a pump to the foundation as it is a bit of a faff to have to buy a pump as well as the foundation.

 

Overall, this has to be one of my favourite foundations. It's great for day and night wear, medium coverage hides a multitude of sins but it is not in the least bit cakey. I find it works well with my skin type and I really like the colour. If you haven't tried it already, you should definitely have a look at some reviews if you like the sound of it or are in the market for a new foundation.

 

A few places where it is available are Space NK and ASOS. It retails for £30.50 and the pump is £3.

 

I hope you found my review helpful!

 

Love,

Eleanor

xxx

Huge Fashion and Beauty Haul

Hello my lovelies! Today I have a massive haul to share with you! These are things that I have picked up over the past three months on various trips to London. The majority of items are beauty related, although there are a few clothing garments and random bits! This will be quite a lengthy post but I hope you enjoy it!

 

Beauty

The first thing I picked up was in the Space NK sale. This Laura Mercier Crème Brulee bath set was reduced from £30 to £15. I adore Laura Mercier bath and body products. A few years ago I received the Coconut and Almond set and the hand cream quartet for Christmas. Crème Brulee is definitely my favourite scent as it is so sweet and delicious!

Also ordered from Space NK is the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation. Mine is in the shade Fiji. I have lusted after this foundation for longest time, but have always put off buying it for reasons that I can't even remember! This foundation is absolutely gorgeous and I love how flawless it makes my skin look without being cakey. I am going to wear this foundation to my prom not only because of how it makes my skin look but it has no SPF (this is a positive and a negative point) but that means no flashback- yay!

I was in the market for a new black eyeliner and after hearing many rave reviews about this Topshop Magic Liner I decided to buy it. Whilst it is not the blackest eye liner out there, I love the consistency and how easy it is to achieve a perfect wing with the thin nib.

This is my second foundation purchase- bought to be worn on an every day basis. As much as I love my NARS foundation, it is so expensive that I cannot justify wearing it every day. I have read a lot of mixed reviews on this foundation, but I really like it. It wears really well, and the coverage is excellent. For a drugstore foundation, its pretty good!

Boots were holding an offer when if you bought a Rimmel Foundation (above) then you received a Fix and Perfect Pro Primer Free. I am always up for trying a new primer as I can't not wear one because of my oily skin. I really like this primer, it makes my skin feel nice and my foundation lasts relatively well with it on.

Just like everyone else, I am always on the look out for products that will help me achieve perfect skin. Whilst I am still on the hunt for it, some products have come pretty close! Again, I've heard amazing things about the Origins Clear Improvement mask. I've only used it once, so I can't comment to in depth about it, but so far so good!

My second NARS product of the haul. This is my first ever NARS blush and it is just gorgeous. Deep Throat is the most perfect peachy pink colour and I can see it looking lovely on more tanned skin in the summer. As always with the brand, the packaging is very sleek and high quality.

It is so difficult to capture how stunning this product is on camera. For two years I have wanted this beauty and after only payer £6 in the end for it, (I had a £25 voucher)! I am so excited that its finally mine. It is, of course, Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel (Bronze Universal). Probably the most gorgeous makeup item in my collection and I just can't wait to use it!

This is simply a repurchase of my favourite eye brow pencil- MAC's Lingering.

Another prom related product. My actual dress is a champagne/ nude colour, but all of my accessories are going to be rose gold (as you will see in a minute). The colour of Sally Hansen Pennies for Heaven is coming up much more bronze than it is in real life. In reality it is a beautiful shimmery, perfect rose gold shade.

This is the final instalment of the beauty part of my haul. I have tried the Bubblegum Lip Scrub from Lush in the past, and wanted a change, so I repurchased it in the Popcorn flavour.

Accessories

As a regular concert goer, a small bag is essential. I even get tired of my standard small across body bag, so before Christmas, my Mum showed me a picture of a Michael Kors Wristlet. I love Michael Kors as a brand and really feel that you get what you pay for. I have had my rose gold watch for nearly 2 years, and still love it. Inside the wristlet is a compartment especially for an iphone, room for cash and cards. It was pricy at £85 but a worthy investment in my opinion as I will always use it.

Just before Christmas, when I was shopping in Cardiff with my best friend, I spotted this Ted Baker clutch. I instantly fell in love- anything rose gold is pretty much a winner for me! The only downside was the £129 price tag. Whilst on South Molten Street (next to Bond Street tube station on Oxford Street and one of my favourite shopping spots) in the new years sales I saw it again in the Ted Baker store. Much to my utter delight, it was in the sale! I immediately knew it had to be mine and bought it for £77, which if you ask me, is a brilliant save! I have worn it once already and am planning to wear it to my prom in June.

Fashion

One of the main things I set out to buy, was another pair of Zara Leggings. I have one other pair and I seriously wear them all the time, and that's not an over statement! So much so, that a tiny hole has begun on one of the legs- hence I needed a new pair. These leggings cost £19.99, and are amazing quality.

Also from Zara are these dark indigo wash jeggins. I wore them yesterday and they incredibly comfortable. Again, they were very reasonable at £22.99 and excellent quality.

This is my final Zara purchase and possibly my favourite. I found this in the sale for the bargain price of £7.99. It is a really pretty and flattering sheer crop top. I wear it over a black cami with my jeggins above.

Last summer I had the same Primark dress in red and I wore it ALL the time! Parties, in Paris, my birthday, I got a lot of wear out of it. When I saw the same dress in pink I had to have it. It doesn't look very flattering in this picture, but it looks nice on.

Random

 As a huge fan of Made in Chelsea, and Jamie Laing; these were a must. My Mum and I have watched and loved the show since day 1, and I've actually met Jamie. I visited the Candy Kittens pop up store in 2012 and because they didn't do sweets then, I picked up a t-shirt. Now, finally, Candy Kittens have released a line of sweets and they are amazing! They are available in Selfridges at the moment. There are four flavours: Peaches and Cream, Eton Mess, Apple and Elderflower & Fizzy Watermelon (which I didn't choose). The sweets themselves are simply delicious!

I hope you enjoyed this haul!

Lots of love

Eleanor
xxx