Birthday Haul Y’all!

So this is a bit late and I wasn’t considering doing a haul, but in the spirit of variety on my blog I thought I would include this post. Also it is beauty related so it fits right in ;-) below are the wonderful things my boyfriend was kind of enough to buy me on my special day, and a few I couldn’t resist picking up for myself! I’m gonna do a little review on each now as I think enough time has passed for me to have an opinion on each, so here goes...

And the one and only...

(L-R) Narciso Rodriguez ‘for her’ 50ml

I put off buying this perfume for SUCH a long time as I couldn’t quite work out if I loved it or not. But as my previous post showed, my perfume collection is quite large and I feel this fragrance was different to any I already owned. I would describe this scent as ‘darling’, it is an undeniably feminine scent and the name says it all ‘for her’. Right now I find myself leaning towards more unique smelling scents in the sense you can’t quite work out what the top notes are but instead seem a more muddled combination of scents, as these I feel are the ones that set beautifully on the skin. I also love this perfume as every time you smell it, it smells different to the last time – which is all the different notes coming out at different times and I think contributes to the longevity of the fragrance.  

John Frieda 3 Days Straight

I only buy this when it is on offer, as I don’t feel you get enough product for the price but I would say it is definitely a product worth trying. I wouldn’t say it makes my hair remain straight for 3 days, but that is because my hair is naturally VERY curly, so only something more permanent would do that – however this product definitely assists my blowdryer in getting the job done when it needs to be straightened.

John Frieda Full Repair Perfect Ends Sheer Mist

I really wanted to try this out as I was fairly impressed with the 3 days straight spray and I am equally impressed with this. It smells lovely and my hair does feel a lot softer when blowdrying with this. I would definitely recommend it for people whose hair tends to feel very dry and overprocessed after heat styling.

Urban Decay Primer Potion Duo (Original & Sin)

So as I mentioned in my primer post, I am mad for primers (particularly Urban Decay’s), and I needed to repurchase as mine were on their last legs. I saw this duo which includes the one I already have (but different packaging) and the Sin primer, which is a lovely champagne shimmery colour. It goes great under shimmery shadows, but also under darker or earthy toned shadows. Overall I do prefer the original as it has a more creamy consistency, whereas Sin is more like a paste, ideal for when you want a more deeper finish to your shadow.

Nars Concealer in Medium 2 Ginger

So I went to the Nars counter only after the Sheer Glow foundation and was duped into buying so much more. But I do not regret this one bit, this is the concealer the counter girl applied after colour matching my foundation and I loved the finish it gave. I have struggled with finding the right colour concealer and one that was blendable and this just fit the bill. It is a concealer stick, and the girl explained to me that these kinds of concealers last longer as it’s easier to apply as you just have to dab it to blend it in, which means more product remains where you placed it.

Nars Lipstick in Funny Face

This was a spontaneous buy. The girl serving me was wearing it and I just could NOT stop looking at her lips. She also had quite full lips like me and it complimented them well. It was very pricy (a lot more than I’d like to spend on lipstick), but the colour was just so unique and rich that I thought I would treat myself. It’s a beautiful cherry/plum colour and the finish is matte. It is also VERY pigmented, so I could imagine this lasting me as long as I needed it to. The reason I got such a bright colour and not a safe colour like a nude, is because I’m quite satisfied with my collection of nude/everyday lipsticks, but I am now trying to build my collection of reds and plums as I feel women look very dignified and classy when wearing these, and the Nars lipstick does just that! There are also a few by MAC I might just have to bite the bullet and purchase too!

Benefit ‘They’re Real’ Mascara

I have been hunting for the perfect mascara for YEARS now, and every time I find one I love, I get bored of it once I see an advertisement for another one. Before trying this mascara Rimmel’s Lash Accelerator definitely did the job, but it was mainly good for lengthening and separating lashes. However Benefit’s mascara does everything! I read a review on this where it got 10/10 for false lash effect, and that review did it justice. It lengthens, it volumizes and more importantly, it is buildable! So if you have the time to coat your lashes you will achieve beautifully structured flasesies!

L’Oreal Super Liner in Carbon Gloss

This was just a repurchase of my all time favourite liquid liner. It is excellent for precision, excellent for colour and excellent for when you are in a rush as it dries VERY quickly. Basically I can’t fault this liner, and for any of you who love the winged liner effect – this is the tool for just that!

Urban Decay Naked Palette 2

I wasn’t going to get this palette as I already have the first and am more than satisfied with it; however it was on offer and when I saw the shades in person I fell in love. I feel the first palette is perfect for the evening, as the shades are darker and more matte, whereas in the second palette the shades are lighter and more shimmery, so it is nice for the night time but even more lovely for the day. I would definitely recommend this palette for people who like heavier lashes with liner, as the lighter shadows contrast beautifully with that.

Real Techniques Core Collection brush set

Prior to buying this I had seen reviews of the brushes and they were all quite positive. I was mainly drawn to the set because of the bronzing brush, before finding this I was yet to find a brush that was good for getting into the right crevices for contouring. I have used all of the brushes apart from the foundation brush and I am more than impressed. The powder brush is great for buffing in my powder so that my face doesn’t look too cakey, and the concealer brush is great for evening out my concealer. I would definitely recommend this set for people trying to build their brush collection.

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Syracuse

The day I tried out this foundation it was like the heavens opened. Aside from the perfect mascara I was ALWAYS on the hunt for the perfect foundation. My biggest issue was the colour match and then the consistency. This strikes off both. The woman at the counter matched me in Syracuse and Barcelona, but Barcelona seemed a teeny bit lighter than my face, and even though Syracuse is a tiny bit darker than my face, it matches the rest of my body perfectly! And as summer is around the corner, it was better I opted for the darker shade. The foundation itself is like velvet on my skin when applying, the colour blends so beautifully that it is impossible to have an uneven coverage and the staying power is all day for me. I will wear this all year round as it is perfect for all kinds of weather, and when I read the reviews for this foundation I knew it would be right for me and it really is a MATCH made in heaven ;-)

Thank you so much for reading!

Until next time x x x

Can you smell that?

The other day I was tidying my perfume section and decided to count the amount of perfumes I owned as I went along and to my horror there were 35 perfume bottles, and all still have a lot of life left in them! I also have a desire to get more. However to prevent this I am staying away from fragrance shops and the perfume section in Boots. Luckily a great amount of the perfumes have been gifts, but this in turn has meant I’ve acquired a lot more than I actually need! But in my defence, how I feel about my perfume collection goes deeper than an obsession... I remember where, when and why I bought each scent. Which can’t actually be said about the other things that I so clearly fritter my money away on!  I am also one of those people who don’t feel like an outfit is complete without perfume, be it day or night. I have painfully selected my top 10 and these are in no particular order (as that would be too hard) but I have separated them into day and night categories and stated my all time favourite and favourite of the moment.

DAYTIME:

Donna Karan Pure DKNY

This was actually a recent purchase. When I was tidying my perfume section I found a tester of this scent and naively sprayed some on my wrist... I COULD NOT stop sniffing my wrist! I was instantly hooked. I knew what was going to happen next – I bought it! But I have not regretted it and have worn it every day since. I would say this is my favourite perfume of the moment. It is described as opening with “Ugandan vanilla, dewdrop floral petals, lotus and Bulgarian rose. A heart beats in rhythm of exotic flowers - jasmine, freesia and orchid, while a base finishes the pure composition with white amber, sandalwood and vanilla in water.” Sounds delicious, doesn’t it? The scent also lasts forever, which is a winner in my book. I would recommend this for people who like gentle, yet long lasting scents.

Escada Absolutely Me

Not going to lie, I was drawn in by the gorgeous bottle and the cute name, but the scent delivers as well! This was bought after my recent summer holiday in the airport duty free. I haven’t always been a fan of Escada perfumes as I find some of them to be too sweet; however this perfume was quite different and has an unusual scent. It is quite sweet, but it isn’t that sickly sweet smell. It is described as opening with “with fresh fruit accords and raspberries. The heart is filled with delicate aroma of pink Rose Macaron, followed by soft vanilla in the base.” Does sound tasty enough to eat, but actually smells like a perfume and not a bag of treats! The scent doesn’t last forever but it does last a fair bit and fades to a nice enough aroma although quite faint. I would recommend this to people who love sugary perfumes but want a more established scent.

Kenzo Ca Sent Beau

I first smelt this on a client at work and it was the strongest, most lingering scent but with a gorgeous floral after tone. It was during summer time so I thought it would be the perfect scent for spring/summer. To my dismay however she told me it was discontinued in Harrods and that she had bought hers abroad in Dubai as the other duty frees don’t seem to sell it. This was very unfortunate, as it meant I would not be able to smell the fragrance once more before I purchased. But as I was already set on getting it, I took the plunge and ordered it online. It is perfect. It is stronger than I remembered (but this isn’t a bad thing), and in summer I find my perfumes tend to wear off quicker, so that is actually a positive.  It is described as having top notes of “amber and patchouli; middle notes are coriander, tuberose, African orange flower and mandarin orange; base note is vetiver.” It was also launched in 1989, which is the year I was born – meant to be! I would recommend this to those who favour stronger scents but want a floral perfume to add to their collection.

Carolina Herrera 212 Sexy

This was another scent I smelt on a client. The scent is hard to describe as it is neither very sweet nor very woody. It is also quite strong and quite light at the same time. I would wear this in the day or the evening as I don’t find the scent to be too offensive and it is wearable at any time of the year. The top notes are described to “unite freshness of bergamot with warm and exciting pink pepper. The heart reveals delicate gardenia and sharp geranium. The base is deep and balmy with a long and sensual trace of caramel, vanilla, sandalwood and mysterious musk.” It does sound like the perfect scent, and it is. I would recommend this to any perfume lover!

NIGHT TIME:

Yves Saint Laurent Belle d’Opium

I was suckered in by the beautiful bottle and the glamorous ad campaign behind it. However the fragrance was everything I expected and more! For a while I could not stop wearing it as it just had such a luxurious musk to it. It became my new favourite perfume to wear in the evening, although sometimes I could not help wearing it in the day. The fragrance features “jasmine, gardenia, sandalwood, lily and pepper.” It doesn’t sound much, but fused together they make the most beautiful, distinctive concoction! I have smelt the original YSL Opium, and I find it to be too mature. I would recommend Belle d’Opium to people who prefer to splurge on powerful, night time perfumes.

Paco Rabanne Lady Million

Another perfume I am guilty of smelling on another person! It was during the summer and it appeared the scent had somehow intensified on her and at first it smelt like something I recognized (now I know that being of Paco Rabanne 1 Million for Men) and when she told me I thought I had heard her wrong because I had never heard of it, and annoyingly that was the case because it had not even come out in England yet! She had purchased it abroad in Dubai (starting to believe Dubai is the perfume capital or something)! But lucky for me it was launching in less than a month, and so I patiently waited and when I got tired of doing that I looked for it on Ebay. The scent does not disappoint it is definitely a more night time scent and it is very recognisable. I don’t tend to wear this as much as I used to, as it is quite over bearing at times and has become quite familiar. But that is not to say I won’t reach for it again. Lady Million is described as having notes of “bitter orange, with a touch of raspberry, neroli follows with orange blossom joined by Arabian Jasmine underlined by gardenia, patchouli, honey and amber.” I would recommend this also to those who like their perfume to make a statement.

Dior Pure Poison

Hands down this is my favourite perfume of all time. I first smelt it when I was about 16 and have stayed in love with it since. It is very strong (as most Dior perfumes are) but the smell does fade to a pleasing note that any perfume lover would enjoy. Every time I spray it I remember why I love it so much, I could not get sick of this scent! It is described as having “fresh notes of bergamot and jasmine, then white flowers come in, erotic and intoxicating, while sandalwood and amber in the base give it depth.” It sounds simple, but there is no way you could improve it. I would recommend this to anyone of any age who is looking for a perfume. As mine is running out, (sob! This is my second bottle) I keep it only for special occasions, and it’s always a treat when I spray it.

Ralph Lauren Glamorous

I first heard about this fragrance when I was 14, as Jennifer Lopez said in a magazine interview that it was her favourite perfume. I went to smell it shortly after and it soon became one of mine! It is so fresh and so strong at the same time. Like Lady Million, it is very distinctive but it has a longer lasting scent in my opinion. However to my dismay at the age of 16 I found out Selfridges and all other perfume stores in London had discontinued it. So my only option was to buy it abroad. Luckily it is available in most duty frees (if I remember correctly). It is described as starting with “notes of rose, Clementine and arum lily. Rare and beautiful Kona Plumeria flower, Casablanca white lily, tuberose and ginger blossom compose the heart. Siam tree, cashmere and vetiver are at the base.” There is something quite chic about having cashmere in your fragrance, and in my opinion the fragrance itself is very chic. I can’t imagine anyone not finding this scent alluring, and I would recommend it to anyone for the day or the night time.

Givenchy Ange Ou Demon Le Secret

I put off buying this scent for a while as I was torn between this and the original (Ange Ou Demon) and ended up buying the original. However after a while the original became a bit too over bearing and I smelt this fragrance randomly and became hooked on it again. It does have similar qualities to the original as it is quite strong, but it has a sweeter more gentle after tone when wearing it.  And it is more appealing for the day and the night. It is described as having notes of “white flowers, Italian winter lemon, green tea leaves, jasmine, peony, blond wood and patchouli.” When I first smelt it, it did sort of smell like camomile, but that note does go away and makes way to a sweet musky scent. I would recommend this to people who like sweet fragrances and want one that is perfect for the evening.

Stella McCartney Stella Rose Absolute

I wasn’t really impressed with the bottle or the name, but the scent itself makes up for everything else. If you want a strong floral scent that will last you from day to night, this is it! I sprayed this first in duty free when I was on my way home from my holiday, and following serious delays, the blistering cold of England and a long overdue sleep, this scent had not budged from my wrist! It actually smelt like I had just sprayed it and as I was always on a quest for a long lasting scent I went and purchased it immediately! It is described as having the “top notes of citrus which are fresh and glittering, and sweet and delicate peony intensifies beauty of rose notes of the heart. And the deep, dark note of amber is perfect as the base.” Overall I find it to be distinctively floral and long lasting, so I would recommend this to anyone who favours over powering scents in the day or in the evening.

I can’t believe how long this post turned out, but I guess I stayed true to my word – I do care deeply for my perfumes, at least enough to spend paragraphs talking about them individually! I hope I gave enough detail and suggestions. I will probably end up expanding my collection, although I am trying to use up the ones I have, so my collection will only consist of a few favourites. At times I do wish I had one unique scent people associated with me, but I see perfume as an add on to an outfit so I do find myself reaching for different ones for different occasions, so I am content for now :-)

Thank you so much for reading!

Until next time x x x