January 2014Lost In Lipstick | A Beauty & Lifestyle Blog: January 2014

Wednesday 29 January 2014

My Week In Instagram Pictures - Week 4


Our beautiful wedding car! // 2014 is an exciting year for me - hen do, wedding and honeymoon! // Naughty takeaway // Swotting up on iTunes U - Art History and Psychology so far


Beautiful charm bracelets // Planning a wedding is stressful but I'm trying to enjoy it as much as possible! // My hair loves Moroccanoil // Me at 6 in the morning!

What have you been up to this week?

Wednesday 22 January 2014

2014 Wishlist

Wishlist

Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede - I fell in love with this purfume at Vogue's Fashion Night Out which is when my nose first experienced the beautiful scent of Peonies. I'm going to be having peonies in my bouquet when I get married in August so I would absolutely love this to be my wedding scent. I'm waiting until it's a little bit closer to August as I'll be too tempted to use it before the big day. I love the idea of having a new scent for your wedding day. That way you will be reminded of your special days for years to come when you spray that purfume. 

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Lipstick - The only 'high end' lipstick I own is MAC Creme Cup. Don't get me wrong, I love that lipstick, everything from the scent to the packaging but I hate going to a MAC counter. I know I'm not alone in this. I have decided I'm going to use my Boots points to treat myself to a high end lipstick. I was unsure between Chanel and YSL and to be honest, I still am. YSL are winning slightly as the packaging is irresistible! Have you tried Chanel or YSL lipsticks? Which do you recommend? 

Real Techniques Retractable Bronzer Brush & Real Techniques Retractable Kabuki Brush - I owe lots of Real Techniques brushes and I use them on a daily basis. They are fantastic quality, they apply make up beautifully and they wash really well. The ones I don't have, I don't want as I manage with the ones I've got and they don't really fit in with my routine. Often, I have wanted to pop a brush in my bag to touch up throughout the day/evening but I have been put off in case the brush got ruined or dirty. Cue retractable brushes! Genius! I have used retractable brushes before but the quality was horrendous. I'm looking forward to topping up my make up with a clean, protected brush. I've got my eyes on both of these brushes! 

Garnier Cleansing Micellar Water - I tried three different Micellar Waters last year; Bioderma, La Roche-Posay and L'Oreal. I wasn't too impressed with the L'Oreal one to be honest and Bioderma was definitely my favourite. I have actually just repurchased it. I'm interested to see if the Garnier version differs from the L'Oreal one and if it compares to Bioderma or La Roche-Posay. It's great that high street brands are attempting to make products affordable and accessible to everyone. 

Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Booster - Hydraluron is a product that is mentioned on a daily basis in the blogosphere. I suffer from oily skin but that doesn't mean my skin isn't dehydrated and thirsty for moisture. I can tell the days when my skin is looking a bit lifeless and grey. I think tiredness also affects me. Hydraluron is a serum that is applied before moisturiser and it helps to draw moisture into the skin. (I think!) Dehtdration can lead to premature aging and an increase in moisture levels will lead to an increase in skins elasticity. 

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate - Last year, I attended a Kiehl's event and I received a sample of their famous Midnight Recovery. It's such a luxury product and I want it in my life. It's a product you use every night with the mantra one night, two drops. I haven't been using it every night as I only have a small sample but once I finally get my hands on a full size bottle, I will be using it every night. It costs £36 for 30ml so I may after wait until after our wedding and honeymoon. Weddings are expensive don't you know! 

Origins Clear Improvement Mask - At the moment, my skin is a mess. That's honestly the best word I can use to describe it. I think it's a combination of eating too much cheese lately along with stress. I've always suffered from spots, sometimes worse than others but at the moment it's the worst it's ever been. This mask is £22 for 100ml and I may have to treat myself and my skin. This mask claims to "gets to the bottom of skins overcast condition and clears the way for it to act its best." Drawing out impurities and absorbing pollutants, it's sure to only improve my skin.

What's on your wishlist? Do you recommend any of these products?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

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Monday 20 January 2014

My Week In Instagram Pictures - Week 3

Trying to decide where to go for our honeymoon // Booked our honeymoon, we're going to Mexico! // Celebrating with Mexican food and drink! // Saturday night in requires pizza!

Delicious pizza // ESPA Haul // Sunday Night Pamper // Catching up with Glamour magazine

What have you been up to this week?

Sunday 19 January 2014

ESPA Haul and Mini Reviews


Way back in July 2013, I attended the FABB event in Manchester. Tickets for the event were £10 but we received a £30 gift card for ESPA so it was totally worth it! I completely forget I hadn't reviewed these products until I was transferring all my pictures over to my external hard drive. Oops! The total cost of my order was £46 and delivery was free if you spent over £40. As I had my gift card, I only paid £16 for these two great products. I have been using them for quite a few months now so I thought I would share what I thought as well. 





The first product I chose was the Balancing Herbal Spafresh Spritzer. I chose it as I really like the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer, it's really refreshing. The ESPA spritzer promised to clarify, balance and revive. I suffer from oily skin and it's suitable for all skin tones especially oily and combination skin. It helps to refresh, decongest and protect the skin. Active ingredients include peppermint which revives and refines pores, while witch Hazel and elderflower help guard against congestion, outbreaks and blemishes for beautifully clear, revitalised skin. 

This is a luxurious product and I save it for times when I want a pamper or I'm feeling a little bit down and I need a bit of cheering up. It smells gorgeous. I'm awful at describing scents so I couldn't tell you what it smells of but I'm guessing peppermint, witch hazel and elderflower! I haven't used it enough to experience 'beautifully clear, revitalised skin' but I may just have to add it to my daily skincare routine. 





As soon as I looked at ESPA products online, I knew I would love this face mask. It's a deep cleansing mask which aims to calm, ease congestion and balance. ESPA say it's "an intensely nourishing, cleansing clay mask, formulated to calm and clarify skin. Mineral-rich kaolin clay and antiseptic rose geranium help clear excess oils, impurities and congestion. Benzoin nourishes, while soothing rose damascena and marshmallow soften and calm." It's suitable for all skin types especially sensitive, oily, combination and congestion skin. Congested is a great word to describe my skin, especially around my mouth. My hormonal acne has really gone crazy at the moment.

My favourite thing about this mask is that it tells me to relax for 20 minutes. In this busy world that we all live in, a chance to take 20 minutes to relax and unwind is a welcome distraction. This is a deep cleansing clay mask. I have used many in my time and this is definitely my favourite. It also smells delicious and is a beautiful mix of rose and marshmallow. I apply a layer all over my face, avoiding the eye area, and sit back and relax for 20 minutes. Once the time is up, I use a clean muslin cloth to gentle remove before splashing my face with cool water to close my pores. I use this mask about once a week but I do like to use a face mask twice a week. Usually on Wednesday and Sunday while participating in #bbloggers chat. 

As well as free delivery, I was able to select four samples to arrive with my order. I opted for 24 Hour Replenishing Eye MoisturiserSkin Radiance MaskRefining Skin Polish and Smooth & Firm Body Butter. So far I have only used the eye cream and I really liked it. It felt really nourishing and moisturising on my delicate eye area. Unfortunately, I cannot justify £35 for an eye cream. 

Have you tried any products from ESPA? What is your favourite skincare brand?

Rachel x 
Lost In Lipstick

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Monday 13 January 2014

My Week In Instagram Pictures - Week 2

Seeing 6am after having two weeks off is not a nice feeling // Relaxing bubble bath to relax // Space NK N.dulge card // How to remove glitter nail polish 

My goodies from Space NK // Homemade Chilli Con Carne (not even from a mix!) - It was delicious! // Church on Sunday evening // Bedtime reading - The Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible

What have you been up to this week?

Saturday 11 January 2014

Top Tip - How To Remove Glitter Nail Polish

Along with every beauty blogger out there, I love wearing nail polish and even though I'm 26, I love to apply glitter nail polish. It just adds that extra sparkle to an outfit especially in the festive season or another celebration. However, applying nail polish can only mean one thing - a few days later, you need to remove said nail polish! The purchase of Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover took away the hassle of scrubbing your nails and it truly is magical until you need to remove glitter polish! It just doesn't work and instead it snags on the sponge. Trying to remove it the regular way, takes forever, uses about 100 pieces of cotton wool and your hands ache from scrubbing so hard! Follow this simple tip to minimise effort and it leaves zero amount of glitter on your nails. Seriously, it's takes less than 10 minutes, which sounds long, but you can just sit back and relax while it works it's magic!


You will need; cotton wool, nail polish remover (mine cost 99p from Morrisons!), kitchen foil and a pair of scissors. 


At Christmas and New Year, I love to wear glitter nail polish. If you can't wear glitter and sequins then, when can you?! Please excuse how chipped my nail polish is here. This was after a week of wear and I have a very naughty habit of picking off my nail polish! I only took the photo so you could see before and after!


The first step is to get your cotton wool. I only use five pieces of cotton wool as I cut them in half and just use a half per nail.


The next step is to take the kitchen foil and cut/tear it into strips that are long enough to wrap around your fingers. These will hold the cotton wool in place.


Once you have all your cotton wool and kitchen foil ready, you are ready to start. Take one piece of cotton wool and apply the nail polish remover.


Wrap the piece of cotton wool around your nail, making sure all of your nail polish is covered. Hold it at the back with you index finger on the same hand.


Take a piece of kitchen foil and wrap around your finger, on top of the cotton wool. This holds the cotton wool in place for the amount of time needed. 


Repeat for all of your other fingers. I usually do one hand at a time so I have a hand free to go on twitter or instagram!


Once all nails are covered, sit back and relax. You could also do this while you had a face mask on. I tend to leave mine on for 10 minutes just to be sure that all the nail polish has gone. If you wanted, you could experiment and test how long is actually needed. 


Once 10 minutes is up, removing the cotton wool and kitchen foil and you should be left with nail polish free nails. At this stage, I repeat with my other hand and once all my nails are clean, I wash my hands. I can't be the only one who has accidentally tasted nail polish remover because I haven't washed my hands afterwards. I also use a hand and nail cream and massage it into my nails to put back any moisture that the remover may have taken away. 

Have you ever used this method before? Do you have any other tips for removing nail polish?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

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Sunday 5 January 2014

My Week In Instagram Pictures - Week 1


IKEA shopping trip with my mum // What I got for Christmas // It's become a tradition for me and my sister to receive pistachios for Christmas // What I bought in the sales


You've gotta wear sequins on New Years Eve! // Sparkly nails to match // Cheese & Wine party at ours for NYE // Happy New Year! (you can read my resolutions here)


Cheers! Champagne to celebrate the New Year in style // New Years Day dinner at my parents' // Great start to my New Years Resolutions! // Watching McFly Live at The Royal Albert Hall

What have you been up to this week?

Saturday 4 January 2014

Favourite Moments of 2013

Overall, 2013 has been a pretty good year and I thought it would be nice to reflect on a few things that have happened this year. I have searched through all my Instagram pictures from 2013 and selected a few key events, like Halloween and Christmas, found a few happy moments from my personal life and selected my favourite highlights that have been possible through my blog. I have been fortunate enough to attend lots of blogger events and launches and I have loved every single one. Through blogging and events, I have met some lovely bloggers. I'd consider them friends now and I hope I'll see them all soon as I'm missing them lots. I'll stop being cheesy now, here are my favourite moments. 


Vital ingredients for Pancake Day // The finished product // Beautiful flowers for Valentines Day from Rory // Prince George is born!


Snow in the Lake District // Enjoyable walks in the Lakes // McFly in Birmingham // McFly in Manchester


BBQs in the sunshine // Beautiful blue skies // Planting pretty flowers in my garden // Winning Money Supermarket's Budget Bucket List competition


Croagh Patrick in Ireland // Peaceful beaches // Blue skies in Ireland // Double rainbow after raining all day!


Vogue Fashion's Night Out comes to Manchester // Fran and I in Manchester // Meeting Ollie Proudlock // Meeting Bip Ling


Screme Eggs // The best Halloween film ever! // Sweets for Trick Or Treaters // Fireworks on Bonfire Night


Our beautiful Christmas tree // Manchester Christmas Markets // Rudolph! // Father Christmas shopping at Selfridges, Trafford Centre!


Pretty Christmas decorations // Father Christmas has been!!! // Christmas dinner at my mum and dads // Boxing Day buffet at ours


Getting the train to various blogger events // Amazing goodie bags from the #NorthMeetUp // South Beach event // Fab FABB event in Manchester


Couture Crush Launch Party in Manchester // Gorgeous bloggers // Yummy cocktails // Chiara photoshoot


Diesel event in Manchester // Frances and  I // #MidSummerMeet Benefit demonstration // #MidSummerMeet amazing goodie bag


Polaroid portrait // Fabulous cocktail night at TGI Fridays // Lost in Lipstick turned 1! // Happy Birthday Lost In Lipstick

What are your favourite moments of 2013?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

Friday 3 January 2014

December Empties




Trevor Sorbie Beautifully Straightened Protect, Flatten and Shine Spray - I used this to protect my hair when straightening it. I must admit though I'm not a fan. Although I have dry hair, I had to be careful as too much product left my hair feeling greasy. I can't say it left my hair looking shiny either but that may be because my hair is really dry. I'm so glad this is finally finished. I won't be purchasing it again. 

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Fresh - Dry Shampoo is fantastic for those days when you don't have quite enough time to wash your hair. I know a lot of people use dry shampoo to give them volume but as my hair is very thick, volume is not something I lack! This scent is quite nice but my favourite is definitely Tropical. I have only used Batiste Dry Shampoo so I cannot compare it to other brands but it works for me and it's cheap so I will continue to purchase. 

Sanctuary Spa Body Wash - I think I received this in a gift set last Christmas! I have that many bath and body products that I only just got round to using it up. Without using a body puff or something, I found it doesn't lather up very well but it's lovely and moisturising as it contains little beads of moisture throughout. I would use this again as I love the scent of Sanctuary products but I wouldn't go out tomorrow and repurchase as I have a tonne on shower gel! 

Impulse Body Spray in Tease - Another can of Tease body spray! This continues to be my favourite body spray which I just throw into my handbag as it's perfect for work. I've hardly used it since being off work though as I've opted for my favourite perfumes instead. 




Sure Clear Pure Crystal Anti-Perspirant - A boring product to include in my empties, I know! But it's a necessity. This has an inoffensive scent and has been perfect at not leaving any white marks on my clothes. I always opt for deodorant that doesn't leave white marks as that can be embarrassing and rather annoying when you get white marks all over your favourite black dress! I prefer spray deodorants as they dry quicker but last year I had a cough for months which I couldn't get rid of. As soon as I stopped using spray deodorant, the cough went!  

Liz Earle Skin Repair Light Moisturiser - I haven't used this for about a month now as I ran out early December. I am actually missing how it felt on my face and that Liz Earle moisturiser smell. I may have to repurchase just for those reasons! This was my day moisturiser and I am running out of my current one so this may be back in my skincare routine soon! 

Simple Eye Make Up Remover - I have been using this eye make up remover for years! It's the only one I've found which doesn't sting my eyes too much but it does a little. A while back I tried my Bioderma (below) to remove my eye make up and it did the job without stinging my eyes. I don't know why the fear was there. I might repurchase Bioderma again and cut down on using two products when I can just use one. 

Bioderma Sebium H2O Micelle Solution - Everybody raves about Bioderma and I couldn't wait to try it for myself. I opted for the Sebium version as I have oily skin and I was not disappointed. I will definitely be repurchasing. It left my skin feeling clean pre-cleanse and I actually really liked the smell. It's a bonus that it works to remove eye make up without stinging my eyes. Pass me my next bottle please!  






Moroccanoil Treatment* - This is actually one of my favourite products for 2013. I started using it in Summer and my hair has never been so healthy. I received the 100ml bottle with a pump for Christmas and I'm so happy that I can continue to nourish my hair. It's brilliant as it actually cuts down on drying time, which for someone with long, thick, curly hair, is a lifesaver! 

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - Another 2013 favourite and for a lot of people I can guess. It's provides great coverage, lasts all day (may just need reapplying if you're going out after work) and is a bargain at less than £5! I will continue to repurchase and I actually have about 4 backups for when I run out! 

Rimmel Extra Super Lash Mascara in Black - This is one of my favourite mascaras that I have tried. It gives great length, gives a great curl and doesn't clump. I have quite a few mascaras that I want to use before repurchasing anymore but I will definitely re buy this one again. Rimmel do a version with a curved brush, which I have tried, but I wasn't a fan. I couldn't get into the corners of my eyes and it wasn't as good for the bottom lashes so I will stick to the straight wand.

Rimmel Sun Shimmer Bronzing Compact Powder in Light Matte - Another product that I have used for years and years. It does the job but it's nothing special. I always pick up the light matte version as I'm pale and as I sometimes use it all over my face, I don't want glitter everywhere. I recently purchased The Body Shop Honey Bronzer which I am going to give a try and we'll see which one wins! 

Which products have you used up this month? Have you been loving any of these products? 

Rachel x 
Lost In Lipstick

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Thursday 2 January 2014

My 13 Favourite Products Of 2013

Last year, I posted My 12 Favourite Products of 2012 so in keeping with the tradition, here are My 13 Favourite Products of 2013. Four products have made it into my favourites for the second year running but they are products that I reach for everyday. They deserve their award of favourite product!

Haircare

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo and Liz Earle Botanical Shine Conditioner - I have been using this shampoo and conditioner for about six months now and I have gone through two bottles of each. This was my first experience of haircare products that contain no parabens or sulphates. Banning nasty ingredients from my haircare routine has improved the quality of my hair so much. Both products smell natural and clean as they are made from all natural ingredients. You can read what I think about this shampoo and conditioner in more detail here.

Moroccanoil Treatment - Back in August, I attended an event with Look Fantastic and we were extremely lucky to receive a goody bag with a small bottle of Moroccanoil in. Ever since I started using Moroccanoil, my hair has made a dramatic improvement in texture as well as shine and manageability. Moroccanoil also helps to lessen the drying time, which is a godsend when you have long, thick hair. I actually love it so much that I asked my mum and dad Santa to get me a full sized one. I can't wait to start using that one as it has a pump and the little bottle doesn't so I have to pour an amount into the palm of my hand and sometimes I'm a little generous!


Skincare

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner - It took me ages and ages to make my mind up whether to get this exfoliator or not. I had read so many reviews where bloggers raved about chemical exfoliators over manual ones but to be honest the word chemical scared me. In the end, I decided to use some of my much loved Boots points to buy the item, that way if I didn't like the product, I hadn't used up my own money. However, I love this product and I'm so happy it's in my life. You do have to be careful when you go outside but if you already use SPF, this isn't a problem. If you don't, make sure you apply SPF for a couple of days after using it just to protect your skin. I use it twice a week, in the evening, in the place of my regular toner and it is so gentle and actually rather soothing on my face. 

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo - Effaclar Duo is a highly raved about skincare product in the beauty blogger world. I can completely understand why. This is my second or third tube (which is empty) and I need to repurchase it ASAP. It has made such a difference to my skin. I still suffer from spots but I have PCOS however it has changed my complexion so much. It helps to clear up spots quicker and it also takes the redness out of my spots.

ESPA Essential Cleansing Mask - I was extremely lucky to be given an ESPA gift card. One of the purchases I made was the Essential Cleansing Mask. My favourite thing about the mask is that it tells me to relax for 20 minutes! Seriously, if you ever needed an excuse to relax, this is it! I use this mask once or twice a week, in the evening, usually after a bath or shower so my pores are open. This is a luxurious mask and a little bit actually goes a long way. I have used the mask quite a few times and it doesn't look like I have used it at all. In the morning, I can definitely notice a difference in my skin. It feels and looks a lot smoother and clearer. Winner!

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer - I purchased this last year in the Christmas sales after trying a sample. Ever since my first try I have been hooked on this luxurious primer. I only use it when I need my make up to last all day or if I am looking for a flawless base before applying my foundation. A little really goes a long way and I still have about half the tub left. This is the best primer I have ever tried as it leaves my skin feeling silky and smooth and it evens my skin tone while providing a smooth base for my foundation. You can read what I think about this primer in more detail here.


Make Up

No7 Stay Perfect Foundation - I have been using this foundation for over a year now and I have repurchased it twice already. It's the first foundation I've had that has actually been matched to my skin tone.  I was fed up of guessing my shade and getting home to find it too light or too dark and I haven't got time in the mornings to be mixing foundations! The Match Made Service is a fantastic service and it's definitely worth a try to find your perfect foundation shade. The foundation is the perfect formula for me too. As I suffer with spots, I don't want a dewy foundation as this can highlight imperfections. This foundation is matte without being chalky or cakey. It provides a medium to high coverage and lasts all day. You can read all about my experience of the Foundation Match Made Service as well as what I think of the foundation in more detail here.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer -This is another well loved product that I have been using for well over a year and it featured in last years favourite. I have lost count of the amount of times that I have repurchased but it is a LOT! As I've said before, I don't use this under my eyes because I find it too thick to blend there but it's perfect for concealing spots and other imperfections. I use shade 1 and shade 2 in the winter and summer respectively. You can read what I think about this concealer in more detail here.

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent - Another recurring product from last year. I have actually been using this powder for a few years now and it's fantastic for setting foundation and concealer as well as taking away any shine on your face. I have slightly oily skin and I don't need to reapply but if your skin is more oily than mine you may need to carry this in your handbag. The packaging isn't great and it doesn't look too pleasing of the eye but it's a great product and for less than £5, I'm not complaining! You can read what I think about this powder in more detail here.

Topshop Lipstick in Innocent - This was first featured in my favourites in May 2013, however I bought it a couple of months before that and I was lusting after it for even longer. Altogether, I have three Topshop lipsticks and this is the latest one that I have purchased (I think it's time I purchased a new one!) The formula of these lipsticks are so creamy and moisturising and they dry matte on the lips but they're not drying at all. This shade is perfect for during the day or it can be layered up for a more intense shade in the evening.


Nails

Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint in Blueberry - I chose this nail polish to feature in my favourites as it was undoubtably the most used nail polish in 2013. I actually removed the chipped remains off my nails and repainted with the same shade several times, this is something I have never done before! Obviously, I haven't used it as much in winter but it has been a perfect spring, summer and early autumn shade. I think it really compliments my skin tone and as it's quite an uncommon colour, I get lots of compliments on it from friends and family. As the name suggests, it leaves a hi-shine finish on the nails therefore you don't need a topcoat but I do recommend one if you want to prolong the wear time.


Make Up Brushes

Real Techniques Brushes - I honestly do not know how I coped before Real Techniques came into my life. I think I used to apply foundation with my fingers which is messy and meant I had to wash my hands afterwards. I have had some of my brushes for nearly 18 months and they still look brand new. They are super easy to wash; I use Johnson Baby Shampoo once a week (well I aim for once a week!) and once they are dry, they return to their original shape. I haven't experienced any fallout so in my opinion they are a great investment as I can see them lasting years. 



What are your favourite products of 2013? Have any of my favourites made your list?

Rachel x 

Lost In Lipstick

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