September 2012Lost In Lipstick | A Beauty & Lifestyle Blog: September 2012

Sunday 30 September 2012

Instagram #4

Testing Avon Moroccan Argan Oil range (review here), Face Masks, Pizza Express, Mini Haul, Topshop Nail Polish in Pool Party (review here), Matching nail polish and shampoo bottle, Another pizza!, Finally got my copy of Company High Street Edit AW12, Percy Pig Phizzy Pig Tails.

I eat far too much pizza!

Have a good week!

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

Saturday 29 September 2012

Topshop Nail Polish in Pool Party - Review






I saw a couple of pictures online and reviews on others people's blogs of this nail polish and I had to get it! It is a turquoise shade, with a slightly stronger hint of green, I love it! It retails at £5, which is a bargain. The nail polish is a nice creamy texture and is opaque in two coats. The brush is good, ensuring a smooth, even application of the polish. It dried fairly quickly in between coats, which is always a good thing! The finish isn't high gloss, but it isn't matte either. If you are looking for high gloss, a good top coat will finish it off nicely. I applied this on Wednesday, without a top coat, and it lasted until Friday before chipping. I reckon this is good going and with a top coat it will last a few days, maybe a week. (Please bare in mind this was without doing any housework!) This is the first Topshop nail polish that I have tried, and I will be buying more.

(I am looking for a mint nail polish - if anyone has any recommendations, besides Essie, please let me know.)

What do you think of the colour? Have you tried any of the Topshop nail polishes?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick


Friday 28 September 2012

Everyday Make Up #1










This is just make up that I use everyday for work. At the weekends and if I go anywhere in the evenings, I wear slightly different products and a few more products! I have been using Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse for quite a few years now and I actually went along to Boots and had a foundation consultation at the No7 counter with the new Match Made Service. I am currently trying out the foundation and loving it, I will post a review soon about it and the service I received. I don't actually like this concealer, I find it very thick and difficult to blend under my eyes as my skin is so delicate. But it is a good cover up for blemishes. Again, I have been using this bronzer for years. I like that it is matte and doesn't contain any glitter. If you can recommend a good bronzer that doesn't have glitter in please do! I love this blusher, it's easy to apply, a lovely shade and comes with a fantastic angled brush. It also lasts a long time as it's hard wearing. I think I got this eyeliner free from a Glamour Magazine giveaway several years ago! I'm sure I should through it away now! Does anyone know how long ago the giveaway was? They don't even have it on the website any more! Another favourite product of mine is the Rimmel mascara, I always get compliments about my lashes when I'm wearing it (I am lucky though, my eye lashes are naturally long). I have been using it for years and I will continue to repurchase it. This is my first ever MAC purchase and you can read what I think here. This is another new product and you can read what I think here.

What products do you use everyday? What bronzer do you use?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

Thursday 27 September 2012

Avon Advance Tecniques 360 Nourishment Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo, Conditioner and Leave-In Treatment - Review









Even Avon have jumped on the argan oil bandwagon!

I have dry, frizzy, naturally curly, long and coloured hair as mentioned in this post. Personally, I haven't used any of the other argan oil products, however, I have had the MoroccanOil applied to my hair by a hairdresser. Along with the other hair products used, my hair felt gorgeous. But whose hair doesn't after a visit to the hairdressers?

Argan oil is a plant oil produced from the kernels of the argan tree, which is found in Morocco. The actual name for the oil in the ingredients list is Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil and in all three products it appears quite far down the list. This can only mean that not much argan oil is actually used in the products. How much needs to be used to call it Moroccan Argan Oil? Surely, the ingredient should be further up the list?

The Shampoo


The shampoo claims to be gentle which helps to transform dry hair and leave it feeling moisturised. It contains Argan Oil, Provitamin B5 and Vitamin E, which claims to instantly detangle hair, leaving it soft, smooth and silky. The shampoo is priced at £2.80 but it is on special offer at the moment for £1.10! I bought it for £1.99.

I have used a few different Avon shampoos and to be honest, I would say that this smells the same as the others. But it does make my hair feel soft and silky after shampooing alone, even though I have dry hair.

The Conditioner


The conditioner claims to be hydrating which helps to transform dry hair, locking in moisture from root to tip. It contains Argan Oil, Provitamin B5 and Vitamin E, which claims to deeply condition and leave hair noticeably more beautiful and manageable. The conditioner is priced at £2.80 but it is on special offer at the moment for £1.10!

Similarly, I have used several Avon conditioners and I would say that this smells the same as regular conditioner from Avon. I always take a wide toothed comb into the shower to comb through my hair after I have applied conditioner. I have long, thick hair that gets tangled very easily. However, when it was time to comb my hair, I found it was already detangled and it's down to the shampoo and conditioner. I have only used the shampoo and conditioner together, so I couldn't tell you if the claims are correct about the shampoo instantly detangling hair.

The Leave-In Treatment


The leave-in treatment is an exotic blend containing rare Moroccan argan oil, which absorbs instantly to infuse hair with moisture and shine. It claims to help nourish and smooth dry, damaged, fragile hair to leave it looking softer, stronger, healthier and irresistibly touchable. The oil comes in a 30ml glass pump bottle, which is perfect as you can control how much you use and there is no waste. It is meant to be applied on towel-dried or damp hair, which for me is every third day as that is how often I need to wash my hair. This may seem a long time to wait to other people, but my hair would honestly break off if I washed it every day plus I would spend half my life drying it, I have that much hair!

This is the first time I have used oil on my hair as I mentioned earlier. Even though my hair is dry, I find that some products can make my hair greasy and product can build up. I was especially worried about oil, so I only used one pump! I soon realised this was not enough, I think I used 4 or 5 pumps altogether. I haven't found this product heavy or too greasy, quite the opposite in fact. I didn't apply it directly to my roots to avoid greasiness but my hair felt so soft and it was actually irresistibly touchable! The leave-in treatment is priced at £5.50 but it is on special offer at the moment for £3.30. I actually got this for £3, so it's gone up slightly. But it is totally worth it!

The Verdict


I would have to say that I agree with these claims, I was so impressed with the whole range. I am going to continue using the whole range and I have actually ordered the mask, which is an intensive weekly treatment. The mask is priced at £5.50 but it is on special offer at the moment for £2.20. Bargain! I will do a review of that once I have used it for about a month. The whole range is affordable and it has transformed my hair. My hair is soft, smooth and silky and my frizz is reduced. I would like to try other argan oil products so I can compare, but I am really happy with Avon's version.

Have you tried any argan oil products? Have you tried Avon Moroccan Argan Oil?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

Sunday 23 September 2012

Instagram #3


Purple nails with Models Own Disco Mix accent nail, MUA haul (reviews will be up soon), MUA Imaculate Collection Palette, New clutch bag from Matalan, Everyday make up (post coming soon), I'm obsessed with weddings at the moment!

It's only a short one this week, I've not really done much this week so I haven't really taken any photos.

Have a good week!

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

Friday 21 September 2012

MAC Lipstick in Creme Cup - Review


Believe it or not, this is my first ever MAC lipstick! In the past, when I have walked past the MAC counter in Selfridges, I have felt like I didn't belong and I've carried on walking. It's difficult to describe, I don't feel threatened, just uncomfortable. But I decided to bite the bullet, take the plunge and buy my first MAC product! I went for lipstick as it fits the blog name and I had read so many positive reviews and comments about MAC lipsticks that I just had to try them for myself.

I was shopping on a Saturday, maybe not the best day to pop into MAC in hindsight! All the staff were rushing around and it was difficult to even look at the lipsticks, it was that busy! They had that many shades and finishes of lipstick that I honestly didn't know where to begin. So I started by asking someone to help me. I approached a woman at the till who was busy, but she wasn't serving any customers. She managed to find someone to help me find a lipstick. He sat me down on a stool and asked me what colour I would like, I replied with a nude lipstick with a hint of pink. He then picked out a shade and applied Creme Cup on my lips with a brush.

The lipstick feels moisturising and it glides on my lips effortlessly, with and without a brush. It is part of the cremesheen lipsticks, which have a creamy texture and keep your lips soft. It also provides a subtle shine. The scent is delicious, a yummy vanilla scent that makes me want to lick my lips! I find that just a few coats create the perfect nude/pink shade that compliment my skin tone, however one too many coats and it's too pink. On the MAC website it is described as a light blue pink.

I am impressed with this lipstick, I like the shade and I love the creamy moisturising formula. Before repurchasing, I will be testing different shades to find my favourite one. I think I'll try and save this lipstick for special occasions at first, £14 is quite steep for a lipstick but the formula is so good, so maybe it's worth it!

Have you tried Creme Cup? What is your favourite shade of MAC lipsticks?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

Thursday 20 September 2012

Real Techniques Powder Brush - Review


Last weekend I finally picked up some Real Techniques brushes. I chose the Powder Brush and the Foundation Brush (review coming soon) as these are probably the brushes I use the most. Both of these brushes are part of the 'base' collection, however I use the Powder Brush towards the end of my make up routine for powder, bronzer and even blusher sometimes (until I get a Blush Brush). The Real Techniques brushes are created by Samantha Chapman, her tutorial video for the Powder Brush found here states it can be used for loose powder, pressed powder, mineral powder or bronzer. As I said earlier, I have used it with pressed powder and bronzer, the Powder Brush works perfectly with these - creating high definition results.

The Powder Brush has a lightweight, aluminium handle, which makes it super easy to use and hold. The bristles are made from synthetic taklon and are 100% cruelty free. The bristles are super soft and feel so gentle and luxurious on your face. They create a smooth, even finish as the brush glides across the face effortlessly. The base of the brush is flat, meaning it can stand up on its own and doesn't take up brush storage (currently a mug!) as the brush is quite chunky, but I like large powder brushes. Overall, I would 100% recommend this brush, it makes make up application easy and enjoyable.

Have you tried Real Techniques brushes? Which brush do you use to apply powder/bronzer?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

Wednesday 19 September 2012

Lust List #1

Untitled #1

1. Topshop SHOWOFF Mega Platform Mary Janes £92
2. Topshop MOTO Sparkle Sleeveless Jacket £47
3. Topshop VETRA5 Gold Studded Slippers £34 
4. Zara Studded Evening Box Bag £55
5. Topshop MOTO Mik Baxter Jeans £49
6. J.W.Anderson for Topshop Stripe Print Jeans £62
7. Topshop Petite Heart Back Prom Dress £68
8. Topshop Tye Dye Peace Tank £22

Decided to do a fashion related post today, I love clothes as well (who doesn't?!). It may be a Topshop explosion of clothes and accessories but I just couldn't resist. The whole collection by J.W.Anderson looks so cool, I especially love the zebra print clothing and stationary. I actually hardly own any clothing or accessories with studs on, but I'm always drawn to them when browsing shops online. Also, how cute is this dress? It would look perfect with gold accessories.

Are you lusting after any of these items? What do you think of the collection by J.W.Anderson?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

Tuesday 18 September 2012

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - Review



I first used Cleanse & Polish last December when my mum bought me the starter pack for Christmas. At first, I didn't use it morning and evening because I wasn't sure when I would be able to repurchase it again, so I just used it a few times a week. By about March, I noticed that my skin had started to improve so I decided to use it as intended - morning and night, every day. I was so impressed, I went online and purchased the May Essentials. The monthly essentials consists of Cleanse & Polish, Instant Boost Skin Tonic, your choice of moisturiser, 2 muslin cloths and usually a free gift all for £41. Through the essential offers I have received Eye Bright, Gentle Face Exfoliator and Sheer Skin Tint free.



The Cleanse & Polish has naturally active ingredients, which include rosemary, chamomile, cocoa butter and eucalyptus essential oil. It smells absolutely delicious! I have read that other people don't like the smell, i personally don't understand how you couldn't! The cocoa butter makes it really creamy and a lovely texture, I love gently massaging it onto my face and it leaves my skin feeling smooth and moisturised. I actually used to get the odd patch of dry skin every now and again, but since using Liz Earle religiously I haven't had this.


The process is a two phase process made up of cleansing and polishing. Phase 1 is cleansing - this involves massaging the cleanser onto dry skin over your eyes, face and neck. This purifies, softens and stimulates your circulation. I use this alone to get rid of make up, it even gets rid of waterproof mascara! One pump is plenty for my face, unless I have been on a night out and I might need to use one and a half pumps just to get rid of the extra make up I use. Phase 2 is polishing - this involves using a pure muslin cloth in hand-hot water and polishing off the cream in small, gentle, circular movements. You finish off by splashing your face with cool water. 

Liz Earle recommends washing the muslin cloths every two uses. I would completely agree as bacteria will only start to grow after any longer! I use a clean cloth in the morning, making sure I rinse it with clean water afterwards and then I leave it to air dry. In the evening I use the same cloth and then it goes into the wash when it's full of make up! Obviously, in order to do this you need to have quite a few cloths, otherwise your washing machine will be on everyday! These are a few pounds for two cloths, plus you get two each time you buy the starter kit or monthly essentials.


As I said earlier, I am really impressed with the results and how my skin feels since I started using Liz Earle, especially the Cleanse & Polish. I couldn't imagine my life without it! I suffer from mild acne, and this has definitely helped keep it under control. I 110% recommend Liz Earle skin care products.

Have you tried Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish? What's your favourite cleanser?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick 

Sunday 16 September 2012

Instagram #2



Swatching MUA Undressed Palette (review here), Domino's Two For Tuesdays (like I need an excuse!), Finally getting round to testing this Percy & Reed conditioner out, Experimenting with Barry M Croc Nail Effects (review here), Catching up with Glamour Magazine, I want all these Essie Nail Polishes, Going shopping with birthday money, Mini Haul (post here), Free magazines, My first ever MAC Lipstick!, Krispy Kreme, Sweet & Sour Chicken, J.W.Anderson for Topshop print, Wedding magazine from Wedding Fayre, Which colour should I choose?

Saturday 15 September 2012

September Favourites



Barry M Magnetic Nail Effects in Blue £4.99 - My sister bought this for me for my birthday, after using it once, I went out and bought three other shades! The quality of the nail polish is excellent and could be worn without the effects. But once the magnet is used, the effect is just out of this world! I got so many compliments on my nails and I cannot wait to try the other shades.

Models Own Glitter Nail Polish in Disco Mix £5 - I love glitter nail polish, who doesn't?! But boy is it hard to remove! This looks lovely over blue or purple nail polish with just one coat, as the particles of glitter are purple and blue. I used three coats to completely cover my nails in glitter and it looks amazing. I definitely want to try the Mirrorball collection, £20 for 6 nail polishes is a bargain!

MUA Pro Undressed Palette £4 - Read my review here. This is the best dupe of Urban Decay ever! The quality of the eye shadows are amazing and actually stay put for several hours. There are enough matte and shimmer shadows to suit everyone and you can create so many different looks by using different combinations of the 12 shades.

MAC Lipstick in Creme Cup £14 - This is actually my first ever MAC lipstick believe it or not! The texture is so creamy and moisturising and the colour stays put for hours. This lipstick has a shine so it may not suit everyone's tastes, but the shade is perfect for daytime or evening. I will be posting a review on this soon so look out for it!

Benefit the POREfessional £23.50 - This is a sample I received with Glamour magazine. It's the first time I've used POREfessional and I will definitely be purchasing it once this has an out. The texture is lovely and provides the perfect base for my make up. I don't suffer from massive pores, just small ones on my cheeks and a few on my forehead, POREfessional just helps to conceal these while being a perfect primer.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser £14.25 - I have been using Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish since December 2011 and my skin has never been so good! In May 2012 I added the Skin Tonic and Light Moisturiser to my routine, my skin is so smooth and my spots have cleared up a lot, I still have a few breakouts. I will be posting a review on this soon so look out for it!

Have you tried any of these products? What are you favourite products this month? 

Rachel x
Lost in Lipstick 

Mini Haul #1





 Blue Skinny Chinos Forever 21 £18.75

Plum Skinny Jeans Life In Progress at Forever 21 £19.75

Powder Brush Real Techniques £12.99 

Foundation Brush Real Techniques £9.99 

Super Spot Remover Origins £13 

Creme Cup Lipstick MAC £14

Thursday 13 September 2012

Barry M Croc Nail Effects Nail Paint - Review


Two years ago, when I first tried 'crackle' nail polish I loved it and was addicted. I had it on my nails everyday! I always received compliments from the public when I was out, asking how I did my nails or even where I had them done! It was always entertaining to see their face when I said I did them myself! Fast forward a year or so and people seemed to be a bit bored with 'crackle' nails, I think they had probably been over done. To be honest though, I still love the original crackle polish over gold nail polish, I just think the effect is so striking. 

Fast forward to 2012, and Barry M have created a new version of crackle nail polish, Croc Nail Effects which creates a mock-croc style pattern. The polish is currently available in Black or Burgundy. Personally, I went for black as it goes better with more colours.

Instructions are included on the side of the bottle, these are:
1.Apply a thin coat of your chosen nail vanish.
2. Wait 1 to 2 minutes until mails are touch try. Do not apply to dry polish.
3. Apply a thin coat of Croc Nail Effects.
4.After 3 minutes the effect will start to appear.

When painting my nails, I always start with a base coat as some nail polishes stain and yellow nails are not a good look! So I began with a base coat and let this completely dry. I then followed step 1. I chose 17 High Gloss Nail Polish in Sphinx. I applied one thin-ish coat of nail polish and waiting about two minutes before applying Croc Nail Effects.


 You are instructed to apply a thin coat of Croc Nail Effects, however I found this difficult as I wanted to ensure the whole nail had been coated. Once all my nails were black it was just a case of waiting. The bottle says after 3 minutes the effect will start to appear. This seems like a long time, as the original crackle polish is instant, however from looking at the lid of the bottle I thought it was worth the wait. I had read a few reviews before painting my nails, some suggested the effect doesn't appear till after 5 minutes! Others suggested using a hair dryer to speed up the process, although a few people said this made the shapes on the nail smaller and not as effective. So I followed the instructions and waited. The following pictures show the effect 'developing' over 5 to 6 minutes.



This is the first time I have used Croc Nail Effects and to be honest, I am not impressed. The effect looks nothing like mock-croc or the lid for that matter! In my opinion, I followed the instructions and I did not achieve the desired effect. It kind of looks like I've used a mega cheap brand to create the crackle effect and my sister said my nails offend her! I will give it another chance and try again a few times. I think next time I will try to paint the Croc Nail Effects on thinner. And I'll probably give the hair dryer suggestion a go!





Have you used Croc Nail Effects? Did you get the desired result?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

Tuesday 11 September 2012

MUA Undressed Palette - Review

 
I love eye shadows. I have about 4 palettes and a few singles but I hardly wear it on a day-to-day basis. I only ever seem to wear eye shadow when I am going out in the evening and I don't know why. I would like to wear it more daily and I think I may, now I have more matte nudes in this palette. When I do wear eye shadow, I like to wear nudes or darker eye shadows to create a smokey eye, so this palette is perfect for me and it's only £4! Bargain!

The eye shadows range from pale to dark nudes, pinks, bronze, browns and a grey-blue. The blue does seem a bit random in a 'undressed', neutral palette but it's a lovely shade. The palette consists of mattes and shimmers, which I feel is a perfect balance and will suit everybody's preferences. The quality of the eye shadows for the price is excellent and you even get a double-ended sponge applicator, I personally prefer using a brush when applying eye shadow, but the sponge applicator is good quality.

Undressed, consists of 12 highly pigmented eye shadows. I haven't tried any of the Naked Palettes from Urban Decay but from reading reviews most people have said that this is a good dupe. Some of the eye shadow colours are pale and almost don't look like you are wearing anything on your lids, but these provide an excellent base for building up colour and creating a smokey eye. The colours are really easy to apply and are 'buildable' if you require a deeper colour.

The palette even comes with a 'mini master class' on the reverse! Overall, I am extremely impressed with this product and I will continue to reach for it when I want to wear eye shadow. You can buy Undressed from your local Superdrug or from here or here.

Have you tried the MUA Undressed Palette? What is your favourite eye shadow palette?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

Monday 10 September 2012

Vaseline Healthy Hands & Stronger Nails Hand Cream - Review


 I have an unhealthy addiction to hand cream. It's got to the point where my secret Santa included hand cream within my present! I have a weird obsession where I have to put hand cream on after every single hand wash. If I don't, I can't touch anything, especially paper, my hands just feel so dry, even though they're not. Can my hands be addicted to hand cream?!

The above link takes you to the boots website, my bottle was about the same price and it's the same size (200ml). However, mine is a bottle, whereas the link is a tube. Although the bottle is quite big, I still carry it around in my handbag. This may be down to my obsession and having to have hand cream with me everywhere I go!

I have used Vaseline hand creams before and I have repurchased them over and over again. They are very good value for money and do the job they are supposed to do. The texture of the cream is smooth and moisturising, without being too thick, greasy or runny. It absorbs quickly into your skin, providing an instant 'drink' for your hands. The smell is lovely, it's not too overpowering like other hand creams, but it has a 'Vaseline hand cream' smell!

The cream has keratin and stratys in to provide 'multi-layer moisture', moisturising the top, core and deep down layers of your skin. In just two weeks, your nails are supposed to be 50% stronger, I personally haven't noticed a change in my nails but my nails are quite thick and strong naturally.

Overall, I would recommend this hand cream if you like using them and you're on a budget. Definitely a winner in my eyes!

Do you use hand creams? What is your favourite hand cream?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

Sunday 9 September 2012

Instagram #1


Sunday Curry, New blogging notebook, Leopard print nails, Nando's, Birthday present, Caterpillar cake, Candles, Birthday sunshine, Sizzling chicken fajitas, Barry M Magnetic Blue nail polish, Complete collection of magnetic nail polishes, Barry M nail polish haul.
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