Review | L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Exclusive Nudes

Having been to Boots this evening to buy two more shades from this L'Oreal collection, it's probably about time that I reviewed the first shade I bought.

My local Boots were all out of Blake's red which was the shade I was initially interested in, so I picked up Julianne's nude shade. I've been looking for a good nude shade for a while and this one certainly didn't let me down.

Gorgeous packaging is always a plus!

Peachy rose shade

I tried it out straight away and fell in love with the line. The formula is silky smooth and shiny going on, but dries to a non-sticky sheen that I get along with very well. The colour doesn't go on with a large amount of pigment so it does take a couple of layers. However, it was long-lasting and didn't dry out my lips as can happen with other lipsticks.

Here is the shade on:

Please excuse the pout

I felt that the shade was a perfect compliment to my skin tone and this lipstick will be my go-to nude shade for a while to come. 

I bought mine at Boots where their description of the shade is "Julianne Moore: Barely Peach nb5. Sensual and delicate to the extreme, enhances the radiance of pale complexions and endows them with elegance and sophistication."

I don't know about complexion sophistication, but I'd definitely recommend this shade and the collection as a whole. I'll post a review on the two shades I've picked up today from the Reds collection which include another Julianne as well as the previously elusive Blake.

Summary: 9/10 - Would definitely recommend. Another winner from L'Oreal!

Tabitha

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My Little Box | October 2014

If you haven't heard already, there's a new kid on the block in the beauty box market. My Little Box has been a huge success in it's home country of France, and just this September it launched on the UK market.

I got the first box last month and was so impressed with it! My sister did a post on the first box which you can view here if you're interested. Today, I want to talk about the second box because if I thought the first one was incredible, the second one blew my mind!

Maybe I'm a label-fiend or maybe I just love all things French so I'm biased, but look at this beauty!

Soooo gorgeous!

Not only is the outside designed to perfection, but the inside was a little treat as well. I photographed as I unboxed it so come on the journey with me:

The first thing you see when you open it. I personally love the tied ribbon - it featured in the first one too and makes it really feel like a gift!

It comes with an inspirational card with a cute illustration

Ooh, an envelope from Diane  Von Ferstenberg! 

This is when I audibly gasped with delight! It's the most gorgeous scarf I've ever seen! #labelfiend

Underneath the envelope is the My Little World magazine full of tips, tricks and fashion

And underneath that, the treat bag!

The Contents: Cleansing Water from My Little Box's own brand | Keraste Laque Noir Anti-Humidity Hair Spray | L'Occitane Hand Cream | A Kiss From Diane pin

I would highly recommend taking a look at their website: http://www.mylittlebox.co.uk/ and giving them a go. Price point is £11 a month + postage & packaging. You get a discount on P&P if you have it delivered to your workplace which is handy too.

As with last month, I'm already excited for my next box! :-) Let me know what you think if you've given them a try.

Tabitha 

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Review | Lollipop's Voyage Á Paris Nail Polish

As you may know from a previous post, this month's Birchbox came with a gorgeous red nail polish that I was itching to try out.

Lollipop Voyage Á Paris

I went on the website and found out it's exact shade (Voyage Á Paris) and put it on for a lunch out.

First Impressions:

It goes on a little pink with the first coat and was quite transparent. Definitely one for two coats to match the shade in the bottle!

It air dried quite quickly and with no strong smell. 

It's definitely not the shiniest finish in the world but that's nothing a good top coat won't sort out. 

Clichéd nail polish pose

I've been wearing it since last night and there isn't a single chip yet which I think is incredible. I'm usually the type to be chips ahoy after 24 hours.

I'll be excited to see how long it lasts and whether it can take the place of my current favourite (Barry M's Gelly range in Blood Orange).

Demonstration of the shine

All in all - I rate this polish a good 8/10 and would recommend it.

UPDATE: 72 hours, a clean of the house, 1.5 work days and a gym session later and I finally got my first tiny chip. I am so impressed at the lasting power of this polish! 10/10 - will be wearing constantly!

Teeny little chip on my middle finger. Every other nail is immaculate!

Tabitha 

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PS: I'm working on the picture quality. They are crystal clear in their original format but for some reason, Blogger takes the resolution down a notch.

Birchbox | October 2014

I was very excited when the post room at work alerted me to a package having arrived since I knew there was a chance it would be my Birchbox.

I've been subscribed to them for over a year now and every month is still like a wonderful gift to myself. This month was no different with Birchbox's October 2014 box themed with their support for CoppaFeel.

This month's packaging is very simple which draws the eye to the pink ribbon

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month so the theme is perfect. Inside, instead of the usual drawstring bag (which I recycle as makeup bags) was a pink zip bag.

It looks full!

This opened to reveal a perfect array of beauty treats that I can't wait to try out!

Cattier Pink Clay Face Mask - £4.25 | KMS California HAIR PLAY Playable Texture spray - £15.50 | Shaveworks The Cool Fix - £11 | Pixi by Petra Shea Butter Lip Balm - £8 (full size above) | Lollipops Nail Lacquer (no colour name/number listed) - £7 | Birchbox Lipstick Shaped Pen - £2.50

First Impressions:

I am in instant love with the nail polish because this is the shade of red I go for in all the brands I buy. Very similar shade to what I'm currently wearing from Barry M's Gelly line ('Blood Orange' shade - you can insert the gif of that guy from Project Runway yourselves) 

I also can't wait to try the face masks on a pamper night, plus the pen is cute:

I have already tried out the lip balm. Mine was a sort of 90s brown shade and the pigment transfers to my lips well. The texture is lovely without being sticky. I'd have preferred a redder shade but the colour is subtle enough to suit my skin tone.

Shade matches the packaging as well

I also enjoyed the magazine that comes with the box. Staying with the theme, it's all about working the work/life balance with a handy checklist of daily activities and a reminder on how to check your breasts.

I personally love Birchbox and would definitely recommend them. Check out Birchbox.co.uk for more information or to subscribe. Alternatively, if you're just interested in one of the products, go to Birchbox.co.uk/shop to purchase it seperately or at full size.

Look forward to a My Little Box opening when this month's box arrives!

Tabitha

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*This post is not sponsored/endorsed by Birchbox.*

Mini Mid-Week Boots Haul

Happened to wonder past (/deliberately enter) Boots today and picked myself up a little beauty treat or two.

Collection Pressed Powder | Duo Eyelash Glue | Loréal Collection Exclusive Lipstick in Julianne's Nude | The Vintage Cosmetic Company's Betty Lashes

I've been wanting some specifically demi lashes for a while now since I usually just trim normal lashes so I'm excited to try out these ones!

I've also been seeing a lot of marketing for these new shades in Loréal's Colour Riche collection so I'm super excited to try this one out. I wanted Blake Lively's red shade from the range but they were all out. I did manage to swatch from a tester though and I can't say I was too impressed with the colour. It looked hot pink with a cool tone background so I don't think it would suit me. When they've got the red range back in stock I'll try swatching the others and see if there's a warmer tone.

Other than that, I needed new lash glue and pressed powder. I love Collection's powder on me. It's just the right shade and keeps my oily shine at bay for most of the day without going cakey.

I'll do a full review on the lashes and the lipstick when this cold dries up :-)

Tabitha

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Full of Cold :-(

I had a few ideas of posts that I wanted to do this week but I'm full of cold at the moment :-(

I'm still going into work because the whole team has it so there's no risk of spreading it in ways that someone else already hasn't, so at least I can keep on top of things there.

I've decided to lay off the gym and step up to maintenance calories just while I'm at the worst of it (which I consider the drippy nose and super tired phase) and have been drinking litres upon litres of water.

I can't wait for this to pass so I can feel a bit more human again. I'm not even putting on makeup at the moment because I'll only snot it off.

Once I feel like my usual self I'll post something worth reading.

Tabitha
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