Saturday 29 September 2012

Essie 'Mint Candy Apple'

Hiya lovelies!

Yep, I'm late on the bandwagon of this colour and also a little late as it's more of a summer shade but oh well, I still love it!





 Mint Candy Apple is a bright pastel mint green colour, with no shimmers or glitters. It's another great Essie formula, and is completely opaque after 2 coats. It dries fast and is fairly chip resistant (baring in mind I tend to bite my nails!) The flat, fairly big brush makes application easy (on my short nails, would be even more of a dream on long nails!).

Overall, I'm slowly becoming a complete sucker for Essie polishes! The formula is amazing and all the colours I own are very pigmented and just gorgeous :) definitely worth the money, in my opinion!

Thanks for reading! Have you tried Essie polishes? What are your favourites?
xoxo

Bought with my own money. You can buy Essie polishes from larger Boots or Superdrug stores or online for £7.99 each.

Thursday 27 September 2012

MAC Wishlist

Hiya lovelies.

Since becoming a uni student, all I've been doing recently is making wishlists of products I want - which is bad I know, however Christmas is coming soon wooooo :)

I've only ever had 1 product from MAC and as I love it so much, I always find myself browsing their website and making a note of what other products I want to try! So here's my wishlist:


All images from maccosmetics.co.uk

Top to bottom; left to right:

  • Paint Pot in Bare Study - £14.50 (here
  • Mineralised Skin Finish Natural in Light - £21 (here)
  • Lipstick in Creme Cup - £14 (here)
  • Powder Blush in Fleur Power - £17.50 (here)
  • Studio Finish Concealer - £14.50 (here)
  • Viva Glam V Lipstick - £14 (here)

Thanks for reading! What are your favourite MAC products?
xoxo



Wednesday 26 September 2012

Real Techniques Powder Brush

Hiya lovelies!

I've been in need of a decent powder brush for a while, as my old one shed all over my face, and since I loved my other Real Techniques brushes, I figured I may as well add the Real Techniques Powder Brush to my collection!



To quote 'Despicable Me' (sorry if you're not a kids film fan like me!) 'IT'S SO FLUFFY, I'M GONNA DIEEEE'. Yeah, this brush is that fluffy and soft :)

It applied my powder like a dream, but doesn't apply to much so I don't look cakey, I actually think this brush helps me to achieve a natural looking finish!

So far, this brush hasn't shed at all and I'm sure, like the other Real Techniques brushes I own that it'll wash and dry brilliantly, and keep it's shape and softness :)

The way this handle is made, this brush can stand up, which is handy as it doesn't come with a case or stand like the Core Collection and Starter Set so it can be hygienically stood up rather than lay on a dirty surface.

I like the gold and black handle, especially as it matches the brushes in the Core Collection, and think they all look really professional together!

Overall, I love this brush and would happily recommend it to anyone who was thinking about trying it or needed a new powder brush!

Thanks for reading!
xoxo

Bought with my own money. You can buy this brush for £12.99 from Boots stores or online.

Monday 24 September 2012

My Cream/Gel Eyeshadows: Collection & Review

Hi lovelies :)

I've recently started to get into cream eyeshadows and build up a collection so thought I would show you guys which ones I have and share my thoughts on them!



L-R, Top to Bottom: Dior 'Glam and Glitz Black', Estee Lauder 'Buttercream', Maybelline Color Tattoos in 'On and On Bronze' and 'Eternal Gold'.

L-R, Dior 'Glam and Glitz Black', Maybelline Color Tattoos 'On and On Bronze', 'Eternal Gold', Estee Lauder 'Buttercream'


Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Shadow Creme in Buttercream - £17.50 (here)

This shade is being discontinued, however there are other similar shades you can buy! I was lucky, I got this for half price in my local Pearsons (smallish department store) which I thought was a bargain however to buy this at full price is expensive and overpriced as the Maybelline Colour Tattoos are very similar in consistency and staying power the only difference is the shades available.

Buttercream is a shimmery peachy pink colour, which makes a lovely everyday colour to wear on its own or as a base for other neutral shadows which is what I usually do. The staying power is great, it doesn't crease or move around which makes it a great base for eye shadows!


Dior Eye Show Eyeshadow in 092 'Glam & Glitz Black' - Can't find online, may be discontinued.

Again, I was lucky to get this as my Aunt was clearing out her makeup and nearly threw this as she doesn't use it any more so I snapped it up! As you can see a fair bit of this has been used, however I would only ever use this on nights out when I want dramatic dark makeup so it doesn't matter that it's not full of product.

As the name suggests, Glam & Glitz Black is a black/dark grey shade with silver glitter in. I haven't worn this on my eyes yet but the swatches are gorgeous and fairly opaque and take a bit of time to remove so I'd say staying power will be good. I can't wait to use this and see how it looks on the eyes and how it performs on it's own and as a base for other dark shadows (probably just a glittery black on top to intensify!).


Maybelline 24Hr Colour Tattoo in 'On and On Bronze' - £4.99 (here)

Yay for drugstore makeup! This is a great neutral bronze shade to use as a base and on it's own, it has great pigmentation and staying power and doesn't crease throughout the day! Amazing quality for the price, especially compared to the Estee Lauder one which performs almost exactly the same! The only thing I criticise about these is the lack of shades available in the UK compared to the US :(


Maybelline 24Hr Colour Tattoo in 'Eternal Gold' - £4.99 (here)

This is a lovely glittery gold shade which looks as pretty on it's own as it does as a base for other neutral shadows! Again, great pigmentation and staying power. I'm not going to go into much detail with this as I'll just end up repeating myself :)

Thanks for reading - do you own any cream/gel eyeshadows? Which are your favourite?
xoxo

Bought with my own money except the Dior eyeshadow which was given to me by a family member.

Saturday 22 September 2012

Real Techniques Starter Set

Hiya lovelies!

So as well as treating myself to the Core Collection by Real Techniques, I also bought this Starter Kit as I have been in need of new eye brushes for a while!




Again, I like the packaging as it's very similar to the Core Collection. I actually think I prefer the purple handles of this collection to the gold handles of the Core Collection though!


Again, the case can become a stand, like the other set, which makes it great for travelling and on the go!

This set comes with 5 eye brushes, a crease brush, base shadow brush, accent brush, liner brush and brow brush!


Deluxe Crease Brush

This big, fairly fluffy brush is great for blending shadows and applying colour to the crease. However, I still sometimes use shadow brushes to apply colour to my crease as this doesn't always give me full control over where the colour goes and can sometimes apply it too high or low. This brush blends shadows amazingly though :)


Base Shadow Brush

Love this brush! It's the perfect size and shape for a shadow brush and allows shadows to be applied all over the lid quickly and easily.


Accent Brush

Isn't this brush adorable? I think it's a great brush for applying a inner corner highlight and smudging a shadow into my upper or lower lashline. It could also be potentially used for liner, if you prefer lining with a flat brush.


Pixel-Point Eyeliner Brush

I'll admit I don't wear liner often, however I have used this brush with my Maybelline gel liner and it worked like a dream! I thought that the brush would create a really thick line but it can create a thin one too! Definitely good for people starting out with liner, or people like me who have never got the hang of applying liner!


Brow Brush

I use this brush to apply a shadow to my brows to fill them in and help blend out the brow pencil I use. I find using this brush gives my brows a natural looking finish compared to using a pencil which I think it great! However, people with very thin brows may struggle to use the brush as it's quite thick and dense (which suits my brows) but may not be small enough for some people.

Overall...

I think that these brushes are amazing quality for the price you pay and would recommend them in a heartbeat! They don't shed, or change shape after washing and have remained soft and fluffy! They are also synthetic fibres and cruelty free which is always a bonus :)

Thanks for reading! Have you tried these brushes?
xoxo

Bought with my own money.
You can buy these from larger Boots stores or online for £21.99

Friday 21 September 2012

Essie 'Bikini So Teeny'

Hiya lovelies!

Since I brought Essie's 'Cute As A Button' on holiday, I've been craving more Essie polishes! Recently, I managed to get my hands on two of my most lusted after shades - the first of which being 'Bikini So Teeny' from their Summer 2012 collection.

I know, I know, it's no longer summer but I like wearing bright polishes all year round, especially for nights out!



'Bikini So Teeny' is a bright blue, with silver micro shimmers in. It looks paler in the picture than in real life, in the picture it looks more pastel-y but I can assure you it's not!

The formula, once again, has impressed me! After two coats the colour is completely opaque, the formula dries quickly and leaves a lovely shine! The brush is very easy to use, even on my short nails, which makes application even faster and easier.

I cannot recommend Essie polishes enough! I love them :) will definitely be putting more shades on my Christmas list!

Thanks for reading - what are your favourite Essie shades? Any good 'Winter' colour recommendations?
xoxo

Bought with my own money.

You can buy Essie nail polishes for £7.99 from larger Boots and Superdrug stores or online. 

Thursday 20 September 2012

Lush Wishlist

Hiya lovelies,

As I'm soon to become a fresher at University, I will no longer be able to afford to try new products and spend money as I do now :( this means that there will be more wishlist posts!!

This one is purely Lush based, as there are so many products of their's that I want to try, but can't justify spending the money on.



All images from lush.co.uk

Left to right, top to bottom:

  • Sea Spray Hair Mist (here) - £9.95 for 100g - I think this product would be good for giving volume to my hair and to keep it looking refreshed by using natural ingredients!
  • Cupcake Fresh Face Mask (here- £5.95 for 75g - I've heard so much about this and want to try it so bad, but the price is just putting me off :( this is meant to be amazing on oily and acne prone skin, will be on my Christmas list! 
  • H'Suan Wen Hua Hair Treatment (here) - £8.95 for 225g - Even though I've been treating my hair to John Frieda products, it's still quite dry and damaged so maybe this would help it!
  • Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask (here) - £5.95 for 75g - Another product I've heard so much about and want to try, especially as I've had spot breakouts recently! It's gonna be a long wait 'til Christmas :(
  • Bubblegum Lip Scrub (here) - £5.25 for 25g - My lips have been so dry and flakey recently, and as they tend to get drier in Winter, I really want to see if this would help them stay soft and healthy. 
  • Tea Tree Water Toner Water (here) - £3.95 for 100g - My Estee Lauder toner is nearly used up, and I've heard some great things about this one and also as it has tee tree oil in, it could hopefully help my breakouts!
Thanks for reading! Have you tried any of these products? What are your favourite Lush products?
xoxo

Wednesday 19 September 2012

Real Techniques Core Collection

Hiya lovelies!

So after many recommendations, I finally caved and bought the Core Collection (and Starter Set - review up soon!) by Real Techniques. I've been using them for just over a week, so thought I'd share my opinions with you guys :)



First of all, as soon as they arrived I was SO excited to use them! I took them out the packaging (before taking photos - bad beauty blogger!!) and they felt so so soft and just amazing.



First of all, I love the case/stand that the brushes came with, it makes them so easy to travel with and using the case as a stand makes them look very professional on my dresser!

The set comes with 4 brushes, a buffing brush, a detailer brush, a small pointed foundation brush and a contour brush.

Buffing Brush

First of all, this brush completely lived up to the hype set by beauty bloggers and has quickly become my new favourite foundation brush! It applies my foundation like a dream and gives a great natural finish. It also works with my BB cream, as well as my Revlon Colourstay foundation. Amazing brush, worth buying the whole set for!



Detailer Brush

I've been using this little brush to conceal my blemishes and small areas of red-ness. According to the box this could also be used as a lip brush, although I'm yet to try that!


Pointed Foundation Brush

I don't use this brush for foundation, as I love the buffing brush so much and this brush is a little small, however it is a great size for blending concealer under my eyes and covering red-ness around my nose and mouth.


Contour Brush

This is the perfect sized contour brush! It fits perfectly in the hollows of my cheeks to slim down the appearance of my face using my favourite bronzer. It's also great for contouring around my forehead and neckline. As this brush is quite fluffy, the colour applied is well blended and not streaky! Great brush :)


Overall...

I've experienced no shedding of the bristles of these brushes, and they washed perfectly - remaining as soft as new! They're also very lightweight which makes them easy to use.

I also love that these brushes are synthetic and cruelty free, a big advantage in my opinion :)

My favourite brushes in the set are definitely the buffing brush and contour brush, however they all have uses in my makeup routine!

Overall, I love all of these brushes and I'm so glad I bought them, they're completely worth the money and I hope they will last me a long time! I am already looking into expanding my collection with the powder brush and blush brush.

Thanks for reading! Have you tried Real Techniques brushes? What are your favourite brushes?
xoxo

You can buy these brushes for £21.99 from Boots, in store or online. 

Bought with my own money.

Tuesday 18 September 2012

TBI Blog Hop!

Hiya lovelies,

Just a quick post to tell you that I'm co-hosting the Them Blog Ideas (TBI) blog hop this fortnight! I love blog hops, they're a great way to find new blogs as well as promote your own :)

TBI is a blog run by two bloggers, Ina and Emma, who aim to unite all bloggers! So even if you don't like the idea of a blog hop - definitely check out their blog or twitter anyway and join the community :)

You can join the blog hop here!

Thanks for reading xoxo

Monday 10 September 2012

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Campaign

Hiya lovelies!

It's no secret that I love John Frieda hair products for my blonde hair, so when I was contacted and asked if I was interested in being a part of John Frieda's new Sheer Blonde campaign I was over the moon!

Now what I didn't realise is that John Frieda have a Youtube Channel (here) where they do hair tutorials and recently have been focusing on hair looks for blondes which are really easy to follow and adapt to your hair type (and of course brunettes can pull of these looks too!).

My personal favourites are the hair bow and the soft textured waves but they also have a great fishtail braids and a low french roll tutorial too!

So I will have a few more posts coming up soon to do with the campaign including my 'attempts' (I'm not the most artistic hair-wise!) at some of the hair tutorials, full reviews of some of their products and also a low-down on the ranges (found here) available from John Frieda for blonde hair as sometimes it can be a bit confusing to find out which one will suit your hair best!

For now, have a watch of the tutorials and be sure to leave a comment or tweet me (@emilyannbeauty) if you give any of them a go!

Thanks for reading!
xoxo

Friday 7 September 2012

Another Liebster Award!

Hiya lovlies!

I've been nominated for another Liebster award by Confessions of a Canadian Wallflower but since I've done all the facts and tagging people in my last post (here) I thought I would just answer the questions set for me!

1. What is your one "must have" makeup product? I'm a mascara addict! So I always have a tube of Volume Million Lashes by L'oreal in my makeup bag - best mascara ever!!
2. How did you get started being into makeup? From reading blogs and watching youtube videos I guess, I never thought I would be this into it - it's quite girly for me haha!
3. From which collection are you most excited to launch for fall? Love the look of Illamasqua's new collection Generation Q but also love browsing the new MAC collections!
4. Who is your favourite fashion designer? I don't often buy designer clothes :/ but my favourite store is Dorothy Perkins?
5. What was your dream job when you were little? A doctor. 
6. What is your favourite kind of music and why? I listen to anything! I'm generally a sucker for most chart / pop music though but love a bit of rock!
7. What is your favourite season and why? Summer, because I love the sun and holidays! :)
8. Which makeup brand (high end and drugstore) is your all time favourite and why? High end would be Estee Lauder, as I've never had a bad product of theirs and drugstore would be Revlon for the same reason :)
9. If you could live to another country, other than the one you're living at right now, which would it be and why? USA because of all the cheap(er) makeup! :P
10. Share with us a hidden talent of yours.
11. How did the name of your blog came about? My original name (wonderwall93) is my favourite song (Wonderwall by Oasis) and my year of birth. My current name is a bit dull but more sophisticated that the other one it's just my first and middle name then the main topic on my blog!

Thanks for reading!
xoxo


Thursday 6 September 2012

Bloglovin!

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4017912/?claim=mxun847tg2k">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

You can now follow my blog via Bloglovin and Hello Cotton! xo

£50 BooHoo Blogger Challenge!

Hi lovelies!

I was recently emailed by Karen of Fashion Vouchers inviting me to take part in their new bloggers competition! The idea is to create an outfit using items from boohoo.com which totals under £50, write a blog post and you could win £50 worth of vouchers to buy your outfit!

Full details can be found here, definitely enter if you fancy - I had fun putting together my outfit!

Here's my entry:



Clockwise from top left:

Black High Waisted Denim Shorts (here) - £20
Ring Stack (here) - £4
Oversized Lightening Earrings (here) - £4
Peeptoe Sling Back Platforms (here) - £30 £10
Gothic Foil Cross Print Bodysuit (here) - £12

TOTAL = £50

I'm loving the gothic trend this Autumn so thought I would incorporate this into this relatively casual night time look which would look great for nights out this season and into next season (with a jacket though!). The shoes are a bargain at only £10 and the rest of the pieces are also not expensive which makes this outfit (and boohoo.com in general) a great choice for students!

Thanks for reading, hope you like my entry!
xoxo

Sunday 2 September 2012

August Favourites

Hello lovelies!

Here are some products I've been loving in August :)


Top to bottom; left to right:

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Moisturising Conditioner - Got this as a treat for myself (and my hair!) a couple of weeks back and now I remember why I love the Sheer Blonde range from John Frieda! I try not to use it every time I wash my hair as I want to use it for as long as possible however when I do use it, my hair feels softer, shinier and moisturised. I love it!

Garnier Oil Free BB Cream - This is rapidly becoming my most worn foundation, it's amazing! It's lightweight but gives amazing coverage. I've written a full review on it here so check that out if you want to see what I think in more detail :)

Lily by Stella McCartney eau de parfum - I recently got this while on holiday with my family and I love it! The scent is so light, fresh and easy to wear day or night.

Estee Lauder Lip Gloss in Rock Candy - Also recently hauled this, my aunt gave this to me as she got it as a freebie (she spends a lot at Estee Lauder!!) and didn't want it. I haven't been into gloss much recently but I absolutely love wearing this over MAC Hue and Estee Lauder Crystal Baby! It's such a pretty gloss, and it smells so nice too. The formula is great, it's non sticky and lasts for ages!

Revlon Lip Butter in Peach Parfait - recently rediscovered this and have been loving it recently. It's a great natural dark peachy colour that just looks so pretty on the lips!

MaxFactor Creme Puff Powder in Translucent - another rediscovered product! My Rimmel Stay Matte powder is currently too light for me as I've been on holiday so started using this one again and love it. The colour matches me perfectly and the formula is great and keeps my skin from looking oily for hours!

Essie 'Cute As A Button' Nail Lacquer - only bought this this month too but have been wearing it non stop! It's such a perfect summer colour and the formula is amazing. I won't go on about it too much as I have a full review here so check that out if you want to know more!

Thanks for reading! What have you been loving this month?
xoxo