Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream

Hey everyone! Two posts from me in two days, don't you feel lucky?! (No.)

Anyway, I wanted to post about a new product I've tried recently and that's the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream.

BB creams are becoming increasingly popular due to the many benefits they have for just one product, maybe even becoming the new tinted moisturiser?! BB creams (or Blemish Balm as wikipedia tells me) were originally products that were mainly sold in Asian countries, but are now being developed to suit western markets. BB creams are amazing all-in-one products: moisturiser, foundation, sun cream and tonnes more.

The Dream Fresh BB cream states it has 8 benefits in one: creates a natural glow, compliments skin-tone, SPF30 UV protection, hydrates all day, blurs imperfections, oil free & non-greasy, looks visibly smooth and feels fresh. I think the photos above and below prove some of this claims to be right! I originally wanted to try a BB cream as I'm going on holiday in under a week and just don't want to buy a new foundation in a darker colour because 1. I don't know how much more tanned I'll get and 2. I won't be that tanned for very long! So I thought a BB cream would be just what I was looking for - a little bit of coverage and something I can use on any skin colour I get, but something that is still good for my skin.

I decided to purchase the Universal Glow shade so I could use it whether I was tanned or not. When it comes out of the tube it's a very scary browny-orange colour and is the consistency of any regular moisturiser. I just used my fingers to apply this to my face as I felt it rubbed the cream into my skin and blended better. It does give a medium coverage I'd say, you can tell you're wearing something but it doesn't look like you've piled on the foundation. At first though, I really thought I didn't like this product. I felt it didn't have enough coverage for me and that I wouldn't be brave enough to go out without foundation. After I'd applied my concealer, blusher, mascara etc. it was a completely different story. My skin looked glowing - like I'd just been on holiday and it felt great too, really moisturised. It stayed just as long as my foundation usually does too which was great. I will definitely be using this whole tube up and repurchasing as it's just perfect for summer, sometimes foundation is a little heavy for me when it becomes warmer.

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream is available in four shades  from Boots for £7.99 (30ml). There's currently a 3 for 2 offer on Maybelline products.

What's your opinion on BB creams?

Rachael Amy x

Today I'm Wearing...

Hi everyone! So I finally got my new camera, found a tripod and got the energy to actually take some photos of myself after work. So I thought I'd do an outfit post as 99% of my posts are based on beauty but I just love fashion so so much.

Anyway, this is what I wore for work today. It was forecasted to rain at about 3 o'clock (it still hasn't) so when I planned this outfit I thought 'DON'T FORGET YOUR TIGHTS' and what did I go and do? Forget my tights! Felt like my bum was on show all day at work. :(

I bought this dress and cardigan from Topshop yesterday after seeing the dress online. I love it so much, skater dresses are really a style that suit me and the cap sleeves are so feminine and cute. The dress is a little thick which meant I was so warm all day (check out the red face for proof), I didn't even need to take a cardigan. The cardigan itself is a great fit and so soft but all day I had fluff floating around me getting in to my nose and eyes, I think it needs a wash before I wear it again.

I'm not much of an accessoriser, I just wore this with my standard Guess watch (which I forgot to photograph), a selection of rings and some nude flats. I even had bare nails which is so not like me but I'm trying to get them near healthy again.

Dress: Topshop

Cardigan: Topshop (not on website)

Flats: H&M (old)

Watch: Guess

Rings: Vintage, Vintage, Pandora

Rachael Amy x

May JolieBox!

I love the idea of beauty boxes and have had a subscription to Glossy Box for a few months. I've read a lot of good things about JolieBox though - mainly their consistently good selection of items and the number of full size items - and decided to subscribe to this box too. I'm waiting to decide which to cancel, as I can really only afford one subscription at this point.

The first JolieBox I received was this month's May box - and I was super happy with it.

Essential Care Organic Rose Moisturiser - Sample 15ml

I really love anything rose scented, I honestly think it's one of my favourite scents for moisturisers and lotions so I was really happy to find this in my box. I haven't tried it on my face yet because I'm currently trying to get my skin to adjust to my Liz Earle skincare range. I have tried it on my hand a few times though and the smell isn't overpowering and it makes my skin feel extremely soft. It's a really light moisturiser but I tend to prefer heavier moisturisers. I was impressed with how quick it sank in to the skin though. The packaging states it's suitable for all skin types but I'm always a bit skeptical about products that state that. I don't have oily skin so I wouldn't be able to comment on that. For 50ml it's £19 and for 15ml it's priced at £7.50.

RMK Make Up Base - Sample 15ml

Make Up bases (or primers) are something that are really new to me. I can't say I've ever used one before and I've never really felt the need to before so I don't have much to compare this to. The first thing I noticed was the packaging. There's no real way to get the product out other than tip it upside down and hit it against your hand! I'm not sure what the packaging for the full size product is like though. I find this make up base to be very moisturising which is great for people with dry skin. I'm not sure how it would help people with oily skin though. For 30ml of this product you'll be paying around £28.

Talika Eye Therapy Patch - Sample 1 pair of patches

I'd seen people receive the Talika Lipocils Expert eyelash growth product, and wasn't very impressed with the idea of that so I was super happy when I'd received the eye therapy patches. I really suffer with dark marks and bags around my eyes and nothing I can do will shift them except wear a tonne of concealer everyday! I tried these right away after I'd removed my make up. They say to wear them under the eyes for half an hour and use them a few times a week. The pair I received are reusable unto three times! The patches themselves are very gel-like and don't have a sticky side but somehow cling to your skin without leaving any kind of mark. I wore them for half an hour but by then I was really wanting to take them off. They didn't hurt but just felt slightly uncomfortable on my eyes. I can't say I noticed a difference after each time I used them but maybe my bags are just too bad haha. 6 pairs will cost you £37!

China Glaze Nail Polish in Material Girl - Sample full size

I am addicted to nail polish so this product was right up my street. I was given the colour Material Girl which is a very glittery pink, with a mix of small glitter and larger glitter. Material Girl is featured in the Eye Candy Collection. China Glaze nail polish all contain nail hardeners, and after wearing this nail polish for a week I can definitely say my nails are feeling stronger. I was impressed with the application - only two coats and the colour was opaque which is impressive for nail colours that are 100% glitter! The staying time was average, but after about 5 days it started to chip in huge chunks all at once, and it took me forever to take off with nail polish remover. I really love this product and will look at buying more China Glaze colours in future - they have a great selection of colours. I could only find this on Amazon, priced at £6.18.

I was also pleased to find that JolieBox had thrown in an extra eyeshadow brush, I'm always interested in trying new brushes and this one feels so soft on my eyelids!

What's your favourite beauty box?

Rachael Amy x

Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee: Memoribilia

2012 is a very exciting year for Great Britain - the 2012 London Olympics and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee both happening within the space of two months. I'm quite a patriotic person and love the idea of street parties, bunting, teapots, two extra days off (!!!) and just loving being British! A few people disagree, but I'm so proud to live in a country that has a Queen! Here are just a few items that are in shops to celebrate the Queen's upcoming Diamond Jubilee:

Dunoon Diamond Jubilee Teapot - £63 - x

EVERYONE needs at least one teapot with the Royal family on in their life, this one isn't as tacky as a lot of others on the market but is a little bit expensive!

Aspinal of London Jubilee Clutch Zip Wallet - £195 - x

I am a huge fan of Aspinal of London bags/wallets even though I will never be able to afford one in my lifetime. I can admire this clutch wallet on their website though! I love how the silhouette of the Queen's head looks like a stamp or a coin, and is brought into trend by the use of neon colours.

Topshop Jubilee Crown Ditsy Necklace - £7.50 - x

Something affordable! I really love understated jewellery, thin gold chains with tiny pendants look really feminine and flattering on me. I love the little Jubilee crown and the price is great.

Laura Ashley Celebrate Britain Fabric Bunting - £11.25 - x

I love bunting and if I could find some that matched my bedroom I would cover my walls in it! I love the mixture of different prints and colours (red, white & blue of course). The Jubilee crown is very light so these buntings could be used all year round or even to celebrate the olympics. However, I do wish these were triangles.

Cath Kidston Jubilee Hankie - £8 - x

I love Cath Kidston, she always creates the perfect prints and accessories. I love this handkerchief a lot, even though I'm not such a hankie user I'd love to just own it. Maybe use it as a headscarf if it was big enough! 

Radley Jubilee Medium Zip Wallet - £45 - x

A lot more affordable than the Aspinal wallet. Radley incorporate the Union Jack flag with their traditional Scotty dog silhouette. I'm not a dog lover but I can't resist the cuteness of this wallet! £45 isn't a bad price for a leather wallet either.

Will you be celebrating the Jubilee?

Rachael Amy x

My New Hair!

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was going to get my hair cut and coloured and even posted about my hair history! I'd had very dark brown hair pretty much for as long as I can remember and I was getting a little bit bored of it. I'd also recently neglected getting my hair cut as I'd never found a hairdressers I'd really liked enough to go back every few months to get it trimmed. So I decided to go all out and get my hair looking healthy again (no amount of repairing shampoo could fix my hair).

I went to the salon Wigs & Warpaint in Sheffield (near West One) and I highly recommend it! The salon has a great, retro feel to it with comfy chairs (unless you're sat in them for five hours), good music and extremely friendly staff! Natalie was my hair stylist and she was really friendly and knew exactly what she was doing with my hair and I'm just so happy with it! I get grey hairs so I have to dye my hair every few months to cover them up. To lighten my hair she cleansed it of all the colour once and then used a mixture of about four shades to create the colour I now have!

It's such a lovely light brown which looks almost ginger in some lights and blonde in others. I also got a trim and a side fringe cut in again. I am just so happy and will definitely go back to Wigs & Warpaint to get my roots done and for regular trims!

Rachael Amy x

Bobbi Brown: Shimmer Cheek Glow Miami

Yesterday I popped my Bobbi Brown cherry! I'd heard a lot of great things about the Bobbi Brown cosmetics but never actually tried anything personally. I do really want to try their Gel Eyeliner though.

The Miami Collection caught my eye in the beauty hall, specifically the two Shimmer Cheek Glows. They come in two colours Gold and Miami. Gold is self explanatory - a golden, shimmery powder for the cheeks. The Miami powder is pinker and I thought it would definitely suit me more as I have quite pale skin most of the time! 

The formula of this Shimmer Cheek Glow is a hybrid of powder and gel that gives a 'just back from holiday' glow. It's such a hard formula to describe. When I first saw it in the pan my initial thought was that it was a cream or a gel, but when I swatted it on to my hand it was the shimmeriest (is that a word?), softest powder ever! I tried to swatch it and get a good photograph of it on my hand but it's so hard to capture! Here (below) is a tiny glimpse of what it looks like on the end of my finger.

I applied this on to my cheeks as a highlighter but it can also be used on the eyes too. I first tried applying it with my fingers but found the powder stayed mainly on my fingers and didn't transfer onto my skin as easily as using a brush.

I love this product sooo much! It gives such a healthy glow to the skin and I'm excited to take it on holiday with me as I think it will look so beautiful with a tan! The powder is very sheer and shimmery and just leave the skin glowing. Below is a close-up picture of my cheek with it on. :)

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Cheek Glow is available online in Gold and in both Gold and Miami in stores (I got mine from Meadowhall House of Fraser), priced £30.50.

Which products do you use to give yourself a healthy glow?

Rachael Amy x

Topshop Wishlist

A lot of my posts have mainly been about beauty products and reviews and not about fashion which, to be honest, I probably know more about than beauty. SO I thought I'd just do a quick wish list post as they're fairly simple and it's quite late right now. I was planning on this being a selection from different brands but Topshop's online selection was just way too good so I figured a dedicated post might be okay! 

1. Clean PU Biker Jacket - £55

I really want a new leather-look jacket, my New Look one has been great for the past three years but it's looking a little old now and the cropped sleeves are a little bit of a pain when you want to wear long sleeves underneath! I love the look of this one, I love jackets with side zips and it doesn't look too big-fitting either. £55 is a reasonable price for a good quality faux leather jacket!

2. Magpie2 Toecap Pointed Shoes in Mint - £28
I'm loving toecapped shoes at the minute - I'd love to own this ASOS pair if only I could wear heels more often! So that's why this flat pair are in my wish list. Mint green is also a huge colour right now, and they'll match the Mint Candy Apple Essie nail polish that everyone's raving about recently (also want). I find Topshop shoes to be a really good quality even if they're not necessarily the comfiest shoes. My VECTRA studded slippers have only just lost one stud after a few months. 

3. Moon Tan Laser-Cut Slippers - £30
I'm also loving slippers (such as my VECTRAs mentioned above) as I just think they look lovely with bare legs and tights and are just a cute alternative to ballet pumps. I don't actually own a tan pair of shoes which is a bit weird actually! I love the cut out detail too and the price isn't too steep.

4. Aztec Print Soft Bralet - £24
I love bralets but I often find the fit in Topshop is a little strange, a size 10 is too small but a size 12 is too big for my chest! I like the look of this one because it has an elasticated panel at the back which I think would solve all my problems. I love the colours and the print - aztec is definitely one of my favourite trends at the moment.

5. Nails in Moonstone - £6.50
I really love Topshop nail polishes, I have a few and they're all really great (with the exception of one). They're opaque in two coats and the colour selection is amazing. I love this colour because it's just so pearly and metallic at the same time. I think this would look beautiful on the nails and might even look good layered over another colour.

6. Belief Hoop Earrings - £10
I've only recently started buying and wearing more earrings because I hadn't worn any for ages my ears were so sensitive to anything being put in. I eventually got over this so now I'm earring crazy! I love these ones because yet again they fit in with the aztec theme. I love the colours of the beads and the image in the middle. I think these earrings are feminine yet edgy.

7. Stone Top Triangle Earring - £10
Triangles! Triangles are everywhere recently and I have no idea why, maybe it's because of all the hipsters around haha. Turqoise is my absolute favourite colour and I love the combination of it with gold. I also have some other triangle earrings and I'm not sure why but I think they're very flattering on me. 

8. Asymmetric T-Shirt Tunic in Oyster - £26
I'm always looking out for lovely tunics/long t-shirts that I can wear over my leggings/fake disco pants and I love how this one looks. It's not tight but it's not overly slouchy - I don't think I can get away with very baggy tops as I'm pretty slim and will probably look like I'm drowning in a top haha. I love the colour as it's easy to wear and the hem is edgy.
What are you loving from Topshop?
Rachael Amy x

April's Natural Themed Glossy Box

I've had this Glossy Box for a while now and it's probably about time that I post about it seeing as the May Glossy Boxes are being dispatched very soon! I know that a lot of people are becoming indifferent about beauty boxes and are starting to unsubscribe from the services, which is fair to be honest as you're paying over £10 a month and if you're not happy with the products you're receiving every month there's no point paying out that much money. So I really think it's great when the companies come up with a themed box. The theme for April's box was 'natural'. The box featured five 'natural' beauty products and the box itself is 100% biodegradable! Such a great idea I personally think that they should always be 100% biodegradable as even though I know a few people like to keep their boxes for storage I just have no space for mine so unfortunately in the bin they go!

Ayuuri Natural Coconut Body Wash

As of yet I haven't tried this body wash yet as I opened a new Radox just before this got delivered and I hate my shower being overcrowded with bottles. I wasn't overly excited when I saw the body wash as it's usually just a product I feel I have to use to get clean, not something I particularly enjoy. I also hate coconut, but after smelling it it's not overpowering with the scent of coconut. It's mild and smells really lovely! The wash contains coconut (nutrient-rich, deeply moisturising and protective), Indian jasmine (calms mind and body and balances all skin types) and aloe vera (soothing, cooling and calming). I think I might take this with me on holiday as the ingredients sound like they'd be amazing for the skin after a long day in the sun! Ayuuri Natural are also against animal testing. The sample of this was 200ml, and the full size is 235ml and costs £4.95 which I think is a great price.

 

Figs & Rouge Balm in Rambling Rose

I was immediately excited when I saw this balm in my box - the packaging is actually amazing and I have an addiction to lip balms. The scent of rose is also one of my favourite scents so this product seems like it was made just for me (haha)! The Figs & Rouge balm is a multipurpose balm that can be used on lips, face and body. I prefer to wear it only on my lips as the thought of wearing lip balm on my face or body just seems a little weird to me but I know a few people love to put this on their elbows. The balm seems very thick in the pan but if you rub your finger over the top a few times it softens and becomes very thin and moisturising on the skin! It feels really lovely, even if it does feel a little bit grainy. I thought I'd love the rose scent on my lips but it actually is such a strong scent that it feels like it's giving me a headache so I try to use it sparingly to avoid a huge build up of scent. I do like this product, but not as much as I wish I did. It's good but certainly not my favourite balm. The full size is 8ml and costs £3.49.

Inika Certified Organic Eye Liner in 08 Peacock Blue

I was also excited to receive an eye liner in this month's box because I love trying new eye liners and usually wear it most days. I love the idea behind this product as it's organic and so so soft. It glides perfectly on to the skin without dragging and the pigmentation is amazing. Unfortunately I got sent it in a blue colour. Admittedly, it's a beautiful colour but I just don't like wearing blue around my eyes! It's a huge shame as I think it's a quality product but I just won't wear it. I've only used it to draw this line on my hand so if anyone is interested in it I will post it to them! It does rub off quite easily which is a bit of a shame and I was surprised at how short the actual pencil was compared to the packaging. The eye liner is priced at £11.75 but I think I would definitely purchase this in a black after my Chanel eye liner runs out.

Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S Thirst-Quenching Serum

There is a huge hype around Caudalie in the blogger world recently, specifically about their Beauty Elixir! Therefore I was incredibly excited to try out this serum. At first, I thought I'd been given an empty bottle as after squeezing the whole bottle nothing came out! I ended up tipping it upside down and having lots of product come out on my hand, not too great! The formula of the serum is incredibly light and almost watery. It doesn't have much of a scent but still smells really lovely. The idea is to apply it morning and night just before your moisturiser. I haven't actually tried it on my face yet as I'm trying to save it for any dry patches I might get, my skin has only just adjusted to my new skin care regime so I don't want to mess it up by starting to try this. I have tried it on my hand though and it hasn't actually made much of a difference! I'm not overly impressed by this product but maybe it works better on dry skin. The sample size is 10ml and the full size is 30ml and costs £29!

Kai Perfume Oil

I was very intrigued by this perfume oil - there's not really much information on the product itself and in the information card it just says "intoxicating signature perfume oil fragranced with Kai's light, intoxicating blend of gardenia wrapped in white exotics". Apparently the fragrance is different on different people, I love the idea of a perfume that's adjusted specifically for you! I put a tiny amount on my wrists and at first it just smelt so strongly of pollen or something similar and I wasn't impressed but after about 10 minutes or so the scent has settled down to a lovely scent that I am really struggling to describe! All I can say is that it's settled down to a really subtle scent of plants which sounds horrible but it's really fresh and light and I love it! I probably won't repurchase it though as it's quite expensive, for 3.6ml it's £41!

Overall, I was extremely happy with this Glossy Box, I'm definitely not considering unsubscribing and am looking forward to May's box as it's Glossy Box's 1 year anniversary!

Glossy Boxes are £12.95 a month.