January Giveaway Winner

The winner of the Origins Make A Difference Plus + and NYX Wonderstick is Clare E. You should have received your email, I'll post it out as soon you've sent me your address.

Thank you so, so much to everyone who entered. The next giveaway will go live on 1st February so keep an eye out - the prizes are amazing, one for the make-up lovers.

January Empties - Friday Video

I haven't done an empties before but thought it may be interesting to see what I use to the very end, what I through away angrily half full and what is quite good, but not good enough to get a full review on the blog

Chantecaille Faux Cils Mascara

Man am I hard to please on the mascara front. I've been trying out one of the most popular high end mascaras, Chantecaille Faux Cils and am I going to sit here and tell you that my 17(ish) year hunt for the perfect mascara is over? No I'm not. Do I really, really like it? Why, yes I do thanks.

I'm starting to come to terms with the fact that maybe you just need to have a few mascaras and use each one depending on your mood/requirements/make-up.

This is certainly the higher end pricewise. I didn't buy it I was given a sample size to test and test it I have. It's probably best to start with the smell as that's one of the first things you will notice about it. Roses. If you love them then this is a great added extra, if you are not that keen like me then it's totally fine, it's not like it lingers. If you find the smell of roses absolutely repellent then give this one a miss. It's not so mind blowing that you need to get over your sense of smell. I would tell you if it was.

The Sunday Spend - January 17th 2016

We may be midway through the hardest month of the year but in all this abstemiousness don't you think you deserve a little treat? I actually think that the sales is the perfect time to restock on your favourites and try those products that you're never going to pay full price for. It's worth mentioning that if you are a user of a Clarisonic or other such face machine then now's the time to see if you can get discounted heads.

• ASOS - great for a variety of brands. The LMB picks are... the Lulu Guinness make-up bag (because it reminds me of this Jenny Lewis video and I love Jenny Lewis), the Hipstar or Stained Glass mask from Face.Lace (sometimes I struggle to think of a better make-up artist than Phyllis Cohen the creator of Face.Lace. Kylie as Marlene anyone?) and the Velvet waterproof eyeliner from Daniel Sandler (I've yet to try a product of Daniel's that I don't like and who doesn't need more black liner?)

• Feel Unique - now this is the one I'd really go crazy on. There is something for everyone on here and it's great for fans of Origins, Estee Lauder, Nudestix, First Aid Beauty and Clinique but these are my picks.  There's a lot of them. First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads (a constant in my skincare regime), Ole Henriksen Truth Serum (a great all-rounder serum for all skin types), Nudestix Magnetic Eye Colour (one of my favourite eye products), Estee Lauder Even Effect Skin Corrector (one of my favourite tinted moisturisers for giving glow), Amazing Concealer (which I've wanted to try for an age), Clinique Take the Day Off Balm, Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara, Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer 

•  Selfridges - have some great 'electricals' on sale hair straighteners, curling wands etc. There's not a huge amount of variety here but fans of Sisley should definitely check this out. If I were going for a splurge I'd either get the Black Rose Oil or Black Rose Cream Mask

• Space NK -  not as amazing this year as usual but still I'd go for... Dancing Queen from Lipstick Queen (want to try these out), Ren Instant Beauty Booster Kit (great for anyone wanting to try Ren out), and the Smokey-on-the-Go Kit from Laura Mercier because I love this brand. 

What's In Your Make-up Bag with Leila Boyd - Friday Video

This is another video with the lovely Leila Boyd. This blog actually partly started with my obsessive compulsion to rifle through peoples make-up bags.

Tada & Toy Star Hoop Earrings

Like a lot of people I am always taking pictures and making nonsensical notes on my phone of things I see in magazines and websites that I might want to buy or add to my wishlist. One of the notes that's been on there for ages is Tada & Toy Star Hoop earrings and I finally asked, and received, for Christmas and I love them (thanks Mumma). In a world where I seem to constantly be on the quest for grown-up things (i.e. DIAMONDS) or trying to not draw attention to my increased person, it's so lovely to have something really cool that you can wear as a mum of two in your 30s without looking silly (god I feel old saying that). And that I can wear every day, and that don't dangle (Jim is a grabber). I have them in sterling silver but you can also get gold and rose gold (plated). The dust bag they come in is pretty lovely too.

Origins Make A Difference Plus+ - Quick Review

I could have chosen a more flattering thumbnail for this video but it sort of sums up a bit how I feel at the moment. I may be having a hard start to the year but I love, love, love this moisuriser and you could have until 27th of the month to win a pot of it for yourself!
To enter the competition follow this link

The Gwen Stefani Palette from Urban Decay

I love Gwen Stefani. I think she is fantastic in every way and a while ago she was my Monday Make-up Muse so I was incredibly excited when Urban Decay launched their collaboration palette with her. It looked amazing, and I was lucky enough to be sent one and it is fantastic. Does it shove Naked off the top spot of Urban Decay palettes for me? No but its a very close second and I just love, love, love the packaging. All of it, and regular readers will know how much it pains me to say that (I hate to pay for fancy schmancy cardboard and packaging).

January Giveaway 2015 (Now closed)

Right, it's here, it's time. I'm hoping that you will see a video below but I have been struck down with such horrendous manflu I can't imagine subjecting you all to the sound of my voice!

To have consistency and to make it a bit easier on me (last time I did a giveaway I had to put all the correct answers into a random list generator and it nearly drove me to drink) I'm using Rafflecopter for all of these giveaways. It's my first time of using it so please be patient. I'm choosing winners from those entrants who are following the blog and the YouTube channel. 

It seems only right that I should start the giveaway with the product that inspired it - Make a Difference + from Origins. I love this cream so much I think it is one of the few products that I have consistentely rebought over the last decade of blogging, I even got some in my stocking at Christmas. It is thick but easily absorbed, non-greasy and I adore the smell, fresh and wholesome. I was originally in love with the Make a Difference cream and have come to love this one just as much (see my review from 2012 here). I will be talking about this more as the month goes on. If you have dry skin this is fantastic - even if you don't this cream should work for most people though if you have oily skin it may not. I'm not sure. We are just getting started though so if you don't want to enter this month there will be something for you coming up.

I've also included the NYX Wonderstick. A more recent addition to my automatic rebuy list but one that I don't see being topped anytime soon. I have chosen the Universal colour in the hopes that it will suit the majority of people, the only downside to this product is the very limited range of shades but I'm hoping NYX will fix that. I use this daily to add a bit of shape to my face and I've even started using the hightligher even though that's usually not my thing. It's hard to find really good, reasonably priced cream contour/highlight products and this is one of them. I have already done a quick review of this so you can see it in action.


a Rafflecopter giveaway