tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80644063337530509392024-03-13T00:00:01.378+00:00Cocoa MayCocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.comBlogger427125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-4609457881697812702018-01-28T19:00:00.000+00:002018-01-28T19:01:08.332+00:00HOW TO KEEP SKIN GLOWING DURING WINTER | SKINCARE TIPS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Winter weather can definitely play havoc with your skin - icy, cold conditions (not to mention snow - eek) can cause skin to look super dry and dull. However, using the right products (along with good general health, diet etc) can help to counteract this and give you enviable glowing skin even during the winter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>EXFOLIATION IS KEY</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, we all know about the old school scrubs that felt like rubbing sugar all over your face and left your skin feeling pretty red and irritated by the end of it - well now it's time to up your exfoliation game by incorporating acids. It's important to know what kind of acid to look out for depending on the effect you want, and your skin type (sensitive skin types should tread carefully!). Anything with <u>Glycolic Acid</u> (like the <a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/pixi-glow-tonic-250ml/11200055.html">Pixi Glow Tonic</a>) is the gentlest (and therefore, most popular) as it produces a mild peel effect because it doesn't penetrate very deep into the skin - so helps to get rid of dry/dead skin cells and reveal glowing skin underneath. <u>Salicylic Acid</u> not only exfoliates, but also helps to neutralise the bacteria that causes breakouts and reduce inflammation. This can be found in the <a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/nip-fab-glycolic-fix-scrub-75ml/11457538.html">Nip & Fab Glycolic Scrub Fix</a>* which I'm loving as a twice weekly exfoliation after cleansing - this is not a toner and more like a sandy texture that should be washed off after massaging it into the skin. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Something to watch out for is the % of each acid in the product - as Pixi Glow Tonic only has 5% Glycolic Acid, it is suitable for every day use, but look for anything between 2-7% depending on how sensitive your skin is. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>MOISTURE BOOST</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, using some good quality moisturising products during wintertime is key to keep your skin super hydrated which equals glowing skin! In October, I got the chance to try the <a href="http://www.boots.com/simple-water-boost-hydrating-booster-25ml-10233098">Simple Hydrating Booster</a>* - an innovative product that you can use alone as a lightweight serum, or drop into moisturiser for that added boost of moisture. I've been testing it out for months now so I feel I can give it a full recommendation - Simple has been a brand I've used for about 10 years now and I feel their products are always so reliable and effective yet affordable. This contains <u>Lactic Acid</u> which helps to promote collagen growth in the deeper layers of skin and helps to improve skin texture, along with <u>Castor Oil</u> which is rich in fatty acids that will smooth the skin. I use this with my <a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/origins-high-potency-night-a-mins-mineral-enriched-renewal-cream-50ml/11138335.html">Origins Night-A-Mins moisturiser</a>* in the evenings - this is a rich moisturiser containing <u>Vitamins C and E</u>, to revive dull skin, and <u>Squalane</u>, a light, non-greasy ingredient that sinks into the skin quickly and helps to plump and hydrate the skin. I highly recommend all Origins moisturisers - I also especially love the <a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/origins-ginzing-energy-boosting-gel-moisturiser-50ml/11138330.html">Ginzing moisturiser</a> for mornings (although this has been recently replaced by my <a href="http://www.cocoamay.co.uk/2018/01/glossier-skincare-worth-hype-phase-1.html">Glossier one.</a>..). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A good serum is essential too - I am currently using the <a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/nip-fab-dragon-s-blood-fix-serum-50ml/11457535.html">Nip & Fab Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Serum</a>*. I apply this after toner and eye cream, but before moisturiser as this helps to lock the moisture in and serum can then penetrate more deeply into the skin before moisturiser is applied (and therefore acts as a barrier). This contains <u>Hyaluronic Acid</u>, which helps skin to retain moisture, along with 'Dragon's Blood' which essentially helps to reduce redness/inflammation and has antioxidants that protect skin cells. Another favourite serum of mine is the Vichy Mineral 89, which I reviewed <i><a href="http://www.cocoamay.co.uk/2017/08/vichy-mineral-89-new-skincare.html">here</a></i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>LITTLE LUXURIES</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of things that are definitely not essentials, but I do enjoy having them in my routine. First up is the <a href="https://www.ernolaszlo.com/white-marble-essence-lotion.html">Erno Laszlo White Marble Essence Lotion</a>*. Erno was none other than Audrey Hepburn's facialist, so I think it goes without saying that the brand is beautiful. I use this lotion on a cotton pad after cleansing in the morning and it really helps with giving my skin a glowy finish. It contains <u>Glycerin</u>, which helps to attract and hold hydration, along with <u>Daisy Extract</u>, which helps with brightening the skin and preventing hyper pigmentation. I absolutely adore this and I'm nearly finished with my bottle - a rare occasion!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Secondly, a nice mist to use pre-makeup is a little luxury that helps to refresh my skin and give it that extra boost of hydration before applying makeup. I'm currently using the <a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/omorovicza-queen-of-hungary-mist-100ml/10448809.html">Omorovizca Queen of Hungary Mist</a>* which is hideously expensive (although I do feel super luxe when I use it..), but places like Superdrug do their own brand mists, and I've heard good things about the £7 Mario Badescu spray so you can definitely find one to fit your budget.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>GLOW GETTER - MAKEUP EXTRAS</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">As a little extra, I thought I'd throw in a couple of my fave glowing bases to use under makeup for that 'I woke up like this' dewy skin. I am loving the <a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/pixi-flawless-beauty-primer-no.1-even-skin/10621858.html">Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer</a>*, which not only primes skin, but also leaves a gorgeous super highlighted finish to the skin. I do find this quite intense so I'd definitely use foundation over this, but if you want a 'no makeup makeup' go-to, I'd highly recommend <a href="https://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/13824/364/products/skincare/moisturizers/strobe-cream">MAC Strobe Cream</a>. When I worked at MAC, it was without a doubt one of our most popular products and this gorgeous skincare-makeup hybrid will leave skin smoothed, hydrated and give you a 'lit from within' glow - perfection!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you've enjoyed this post, and found it helpful! Let me know your tips in the comments.</span>Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-44226526418621922772018-01-21T20:52:00.003+00:002018-01-21T21:27:18.107+00:00GLOSSIER SKINCARE | WORTH THE HYPE? PHASE 1 SET REVIEW<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For me, Glossier is one of the brands that made a big splash in the beauty world in 2017. With their launch in the UK, release of products like Wowder, and their incredibly Instagrammable packaging, it definitely seemed like the brand on everyone's lips, especially in the blogging world. I was pretty restrained <i>(read: I added things to my basket every day then convinced myself I should probably buy Christmas presents instead..)</i> and just got the <i><a href="https://www.glossier.com/products/glossier-phase-1">Phase 1 skincare set</a></i> for Christmas to dip my toe into the brand before buying any more. After trying the products for the past month, I thought I'd share my thoughts:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://www.glossier.com/products/milky-jelly-cleanser?search=milky%20jelly">MILKY JELLY CLEANSER - £15</a> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Key Ingredients: Rose Water (inflammatory - great for redness/spots), Aquaxyl (boosts hyaluronic acid and helps skin to retain moisture) and Glyceril Cocoate (derivative of Coconut Oil so helps to melt away makeup)</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First of all, the product I was most excited to try. The Milky Jelly Cleanser is a unique formula that can be used on both wet or dry skin. I have tried this out both as a second cleanse/morning cleanse and to remove makeup and I personally prefer it more as a morning cleanser. It does a pretty good job at removing makeup but doesn't quite get all my eye makeup off so I think I'd rather stick to an oil or micellar water for that. The jelly-like consistency is lovely and moisturising on the skin, but I'd say all skin types could use it as it doesn't leave a film on the skin or make it overly oily - just refreshed and hydrated. I think this is why it appeals to so many people and is one of Glossier's most talked-about products - it's a great all round easy cleanser for all skin types that won't irritate or strip the skin. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.glossier.com/products/priming-moisturizer?search=priming%20moisturiser"><b>PRIMING MOISTURISER - £18</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid (helps skin to retain moisture), Stearic Acid (protects the skin's surface from water loss and provides a protective film) and Vitamins A, C and E (all have antioxidant properties and helps with collagen production/retention)</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In all honesty, I wasn't expecting to love this product half as much as I do. This has actually replaced my Origins Ginzing moisturiser as my morning moisturiser - which is really saying something as I've gone through countless tubs of the Origins one. I always use a separate primer so I can't say I've noticed much in the way of priming properties but it definitely feels really light on the skin so won't interfere with makeup. For drier skin gals, they do also have a Rich version of this which may appeal to you more, but for normal/oily skin, this will do just fine. I just use a pea sized amount all over the face and it definitely gives a nice healthy glow to the skin, whilst helping to reduce redness (this is done with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and shea butter). I have to say I have definitely been converted! It's fragrance free too so great for sensitive skin. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.glossier.com/products/balm-dotcom?search=balm%20dot%20com"><b>BALM DOT COM - £10</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Key Ingredients - Castor Seed Oil and Beeswax (locks in moisture and forms a protective layer) and Lanolin (has a deep moisturising effect on skin by absorbing moisture in the air)</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This has become my go-to lip product for work days. A lovely thick lip treatment that hydrates and gives a gorgeous gloss to the lips. Wearing lipstick every day (especially liquid lipstick) can be extremely drying on the lips, so I've been trying to forgo the lipstick and wear this for work. For £10, it's in a similar price bracket to the likes of the Nuxe Reve de Miel, so it's an expensive balm, but nothing compared to the By Terry or Dior balms. What I like about this too is that it's multi-use, so can be used on dry skin elsewhere on the body (it's been a lifesaver for drier patches on my hands in this cold weather!) or even as a natural gloss to the skin on no makeup days. I just have the Original one which works well as a multi-use product, but you can get scented/tinted ones if you were just using this for lips - I particularly like the sound of the Rose one for my next purchase.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All in all, as a full coverage gal, I am absolutely loving the skincare I've tried from Glossier so far - I've now got my eye on the newly released Solution. I can't say I'm overly bothered about much of the makeup right now, as I think it's just a little too sheer/'no makeup makeup' for me. Although having said that, the hype surrounding Boy Brow has definitely drawn me in, so a purchase may be in order. If you've tried any Glossier products that you'd recommend, let me know - my wishlist is ever growing!</span></div>
Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-31119536226374548542017-10-26T18:00:00.000+01:002017-10-26T18:00:09.202+01:00Look Fantastic x Omorovicza Beauty Box <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5DfAumM7wfQrkmgPSibbijFAxBPj085yD2d5ZuDjpL-6fGnxaEkOgEpnHOqZnQINzNs5vNNQkstYmSW1MtpIc0uW1Qv8QClJjVfvkoqTOI42LVb9E6V6q3QeLn5jKRojOUMb9izMsTqT/s1600/lf+x+omorovicza+beauty+box+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5DfAumM7wfQrkmgPSibbijFAxBPj085yD2d5ZuDjpL-6fGnxaEkOgEpnHOqZnQINzNs5vNNQkstYmSW1MtpIc0uW1Qv8QClJjVfvkoqTOI42LVb9E6V6q3QeLn5jKRojOUMb9izMsTqT/s640/lf+x+omorovicza+beauty+box+1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/">Look Fantastic</a></i> are absolutely smashing it again with their limited edition beauty boxes, and this time it's the turn of luxury skincare brand Omorovicza. I've never tried the brand myself, but it's always caught my attention as so many bloggers/Youtubers I watch adore the brand. The box is <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/beauty-box/lookfantastic-x-omorovicza-limited-edition-beauty-box-worth-209.30/11468864.html?widget_id=595596">currently sold out</a></i>, but it may well come back in stock, and nevertheless I thought I'd share my initial thoughts on the brand/products myself either way. Inside the box there are 6 beautiful products from the brand, so let's take a peek inside...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/omorovicza-queen-of-hungary-mist-100ml/10448809.html?widget_id=92839">Queen of Hungary Mist, full size (£48)</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In my opinion, this is the most raved about product from Omorovicza. The Queen of Hungary Mist is a light toner that you spritz on after cleansing. It contains Orange Blossom, Rose and Sage water that purifies and tones, whilst Apple Pectin restores hydration - this sounds like a lifesaver for the winter months! Let's be honest though, it's an expensive mist, so I wouldn't class it as a necessity, but definitely a nice luxury to treat yourself to or ask for as a gift since Christmas is approaching. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/omorovicza-firming-neck-cream-50ml/11397653.html">Firming Neck Cream, deluxe sample (full size £95)</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At 21, I would hope I wouldn't really need neck cream at the moment, however I read that you should start using anti-ageing products before you actually need them so I guess I'll still give this a go! It helps to plump the skin and eliminate dryness with plenty of luxe ingredients. This deluxe sample size is 15ml (full size is 50ml) so the value is about £28.50. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKWf3HoXwWWIIuTm4njHgK3bu83So3Smm88ZqTmbDoTmE9aBZuImbxy5YP4HX4WF_SqpVpDTumswPwZ3HyZxt9D_v6t-vuL0c6Vac6CnDYRIi6BeRkZ6W7ALjBP6NlceQUo4ECmA6hlYj/s1600/lf+x+omorovicza+beauty+box+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKWf3HoXwWWIIuTm4njHgK3bu83So3Smm88ZqTmbDoTmE9aBZuImbxy5YP4HX4WF_SqpVpDTumswPwZ3HyZxt9D_v6t-vuL0c6Vac6CnDYRIi6BeRkZ6W7ALjBP6NlceQUo4ECmA6hlYj/s640/lf+x+omorovicza+beauty+box+4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/omorovicza-reviving-eye-cream-15ml/10448794.html?rctxt=default">Reviving Eye Cream, 15ml full size (£80)</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love a good refreshing eye cream, so I'm excited to give this one a go - plus it's worth £80 which covers the value of the box alone! Cucumber extract soothes (we all know the effect of cool cucumber slices on your eyes, so this is that feeling in a bottle!), whilst hazelnut peptide firms and lifts the eye area. I'm just running out of my current eye cream, so this will be next on my list to try. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://omorovicza thermal cleansing balm dupe">Thermal Cleansing Balm, deluxe sample (full size: £48)</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cleansing balms are a regular in my routine, especially when I've been wearing a full face of makeup. This deluxe sample of the Thermal Cleansing Balm is a cute dinky size that will be perfect for travelling as cleansing balms often come in huge tubs! The black colour of the balm comes from Hungarian Moor Mud which pulls out impurities, whilst almond oil nourishes the skin so it doesn't feel stripped. It has some amazing reviews so I'm excited to see if it lives up to the hype. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/omorovicza-mineral-touch-in-beige/11090103.html">Mineral Touch Concealer (Beige), 7.5g full size (£28)</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The only makeup included in the box is their Mineral Touch concealer in Beige. It does annoy me a bit that this shade is automatically included, so a bit useless if the shade isn't right for you, but I think I can make it work depending on my level of fake tan! It actually looks like they only currently do 2 shades, so hopefully the shade range will improve in the future. Ingredients like Vitamin C and E ensure the concealer isn't drying, whilst the light, creamy texture promises to cover blemishes, scars etc. This sounds pretty similar to Benefit's Boi-ing concealer so I'm intrigued to see how I get on with it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/omorovicza-intensive-hydra-lifting-cream/10839171.html">Intensive Hydralifting Cream, deluxe sample (full size: £130)</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is the priciest full size product of the bunch (this size is worth £13 at 10% of the full size 50ml) so I'm pretty certain I won't be repurchasing - let's hope I hate it haha! Hyaluronic Acid helps to retain moisture in the skin, Vitamin C brightens and tones and Wheat Polysaccharide firms and tones. There look to be tonnes of super sciency ingredients so it's clear to see why it's so expensive! I will definitely be using this one sparingly, and when my skin is in need of a treat, but it's nice to have such a luxurious product included in a beauty box! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What do you think of the box? Have you tried anything from Omorovicza? Let me know in the comments! </span>Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-22521475825452697212017-10-12T18:00:00.000+01:002017-10-12T18:00:01.902+01:00Fenty Beauty Killawatt Highlighter | REVIEW <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know I'm a good few weeks late on the Fenty Beauty posts, but I really wanted to give my purchase a proper try before I shared my thoughts! I bought the <i><a href="https://www.harveynichols.com/brand/fenty-beauty/644891-killawatt-freestyle-highlighter-duo/p2986081/">Killawatt Highlighter Duo</a></i> in the shades Mean Money & Hu$tla Baby - and have also since bought the <i><a href="https://www.harveynichols.com/brand/fenty-beauty/644914-gloss-bomb-universal-lip-luminizer/p2986093/">Gloss Bomb</a></i> lipgloss. I think the pricing of the range is really reasonable (comparable to MAC I'd say) and <i><a href="https://www.harveynichols.com/brand/fenty-beauty/644891-killawatt-freestyle-highlighter-duo/p2986081/">this duo is £26 from Harvey Nics</a></i> (although the shipping is extortionate so I'd recommend splitting shipping with a friend who also wants to try the range!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Firstly, the packaging is so incredible. It is white with very subtle purple reflects in it (try and see it in person, it's so beautiful!), and the geometric shape is cool and really different to the traditional square and circular packaging. There's also a large mirror included. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The actual formula is absolutely beautiful - Mean Money is a much more subtle highlight and is something I use for daytime/work on my brow bone and tear duct as it looks more natural than a strong highlight. Hu$tla Baby is much more of my kind of highlighter - super strong and glowy, with a golden undertone. It's a lovely buttery formula, and no glitter in sight! I know everyone's gone crazy for the Trophy Wife highlight, but I feel like this duo is much more wearable for every day. I used Hu$tla Baby for <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ_4b8rjXw6/?taken-by=cocoamay_">this look</a></i> and I've been using it literally everyday at the moment!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do you think of the Fenty Beauty range? Have you picked anything up? Let me know in the comments! </span></div>
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<br />Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-74537237321788969352017-09-21T18:00:00.000+01:002017-09-21T18:00:08.580+01:00September Glossybox | First Impressions of Glossybox!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So sorry for the slight overload of beauty box content this month - there were a couple of new boxes that I wanted to share before the month was over! Will have more reviews/new content soon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel like <i><a href="https://www.glossybox.co.uk/">Glossybox</a></i> was one (if not, <i>the</i>) first beauty subscription box out there. I remember when it was only available in the US and, like everything you want but can't have, I was desperate to try it. It's been in the UK for some time now, and I've not actually got round to trying it until now! The lovely Glossybox UK team got in touch to see if I wanted to try the September box, so I thought I'd share my first impressions of both the concept, and this month's box in particular.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>The September Box</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This month, there are 6 products included, with a good variety of beauty products (i.e. not just makeup, or skincare for example!). The <i><a href="https://taylors32.com/products/classic-mint">Taylor's 32 Whitening Toothpaste</a></i> is an all natural toothpaste, containing silica and sodium bicarbonate to help with whitening. This is already on the go as I received this just as I came to the end of my other toothpaste! Really enjoying it so far, but can't say I've noticed a huge whitening effect so far (5 days in!). The second product I was excited to try was the <i><a href="https://www.glossybox.co.uk/pixi-by-petra-brow-tamer/">Pixi Brow Tamer,</a></i> which is essentially a clear brow gel. After being fairly recently introduced to Pixi, this is another product to add to my collection! You might think it's easy to find a clear brow gel, but in my experience, some can be clumpy/gloopy, run out too quickly or just don't do the job of keeping brow hairs in place, but so far this one seems to be doing the trick! I'm pretty sure it's actually the full size too, which is worth £12 so seems like a good bargain to be included in the box! Also in the makeup category is the Siligel Blender which is one of those silicone makeup blenders that were all over Instagram not long ago. I have tried one of these in the past and wasn't hugely impressed, but I'll see if this one can change my mind! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monu is a brand I'm hearing more and more about, and I remember trying their glowy primer from the Feel Unique Advent calendar last year and really liking it. Their <i><a href="https://www.monushop.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=163">Firming Fiji Facial Oil </a></i>is included in the box (travel size) which contains a blend of essential oils to make the skin firmer and more radiant. This is actually aimed at dry skin, so would probably be too rich for me at the moment, so I might pass this on or try it when the winter air is making my skin drier! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talking of winter air, a hand cream is an essential for me over winter as I find my hands can get very dry, and so I'll be saving my <i><a href="https://www.glossybox.co.uk/skinfix-inc-skinfix-hand-repair-cream/">SkinFix Hand Repair Cream</a></i> for then as it's a medicinal hand cream so will help to soothe dry hands. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally, you get a Kinder Bueno as a fab chocolate treat in the box this month! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Glossybox Impressions</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This box definitely lived up to my expectations of <i><a href="https://www.glossybox.co.uk/">Glossybox</a></i> - it was packaged absolutely beautifully in the iconic pink box, and there was a little card which explained a little bit about each product included. In my experience, it's one of the cheapest beauty boxes out there, so great if you're a beauty addict on a budget or just want to treat yourself to something new each month as you can get plans for as little as £8.50 a month - that's only 2 or 3 Starbucks! For me, the winners of this box are the Pixi Brow Tamer and the Taylor's 32 Toothpaste as not only are they full size products, but I feel like pretty much everyone would use them (and the Kinder Bueno, of course!). I was slightly disappointed at the Monu product as I don't feel like it suits my skin, so maybe a separate options for dry/normal/oily skin could be created, although I guess that would be a bit complicated! If you take a look at the <a href="https://www.glossybox.co.uk/brands/"><i>brands they've used for Glossybox's</i></a> though, you could pretty much guarantee you'll have heard of 90% of them, which is also a bonus for beauty boxes as I've seen so many where most of the box is unheard-of brands. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do you think of beauty boxes? Have you tried Glossybox - or any others? </span>Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-30085887039562470392017-09-14T18:00:00.000+01:002017-09-18T07:17:25.357+01:00Look Fantastic x This Works Beauty Box <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Look Fantastic are absolutely killing it with their brand collab beauty boxes at the moment - they did an amazing one with Benefit and a Bare Minerals one, and now it's the turn of This Works. I always think of this works as a super chic, 'gets the job done' kind of brand, and this box definitely gives a nice flavour of their best selling products. So, let's take a peek inside...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">First up is the In Transit Skin Defence, which is the full size I believe. This is an SPF30 moisturiser, with amazing ingredients like Vitamin E (keeps the skin youthful, and has great antioxidant properties) and Hyaluronic Acid to retain moisture in the skin. It has both UVA and UVB protection and is to be applied in the morning under makeup. Next is the famous Deep Sleep Pillow Spray (full size 75ml). This is the product I'm most excited about, as I had a Body Shop spray that was similar ages ago and it was lovely. The scent really helps with calming (something a massive over thinker/worrier like me needs!) and it promises to leave me feeling refreshed in the morning. Both these products alone would be £37, making the box worth it just for these two products!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Another cult product from This Works; their Perfect Legs Skin Miracle is included in a travel size (50ml) bottle. I'm so excited to see if this lives up to the hype, as it promises to give skin an 'A-list glow', whilst ingredients like Arnica and Caramel help to repair and protect lacklustre skin - sounds good to me! Next up is their Light Time Cleanse & Glow (20ml) which is a cleansing mask - massage onto skin, leave for 1-10 minutes, then wash off to be left with glowing, hydrated skin. This sounds like such an unusual product and I can't wait to give it a go! Vitamin C is the key ingredient here - this helps with collagen production, has antioxidant properties and helps to brighten the skin. I imagine this would be a great one to use the morning after a late night! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The final product is the No Wrinkles Midnight Moisture (15ml), which is a rich cream that speeds up the skin's repair mechanisms whilst you sleep so you wake up with plumped up, glowing skin. The key ingredients here are retinol - a great anti-ageing ingredient as it boosts collagen production and cell renewal - along with my favourite Hyaluronic Acid - I speak about this all the time but it's a fantastic hydrating ingredient which helps the skin with retaining moisture. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And that's the whole box! You also get a little booklet all about the products, This Works as a brand and the rest of their range. You can <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/offers/beauty-box/limited-edition.list">join the waitlist now</a></i> so you're ready for when it launches! </span></div>
<br />Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-28310156829338564712017-09-07T18:00:00.000+01:002017-09-07T18:00:00.812+01:00Look Fantastic September Birthday Box!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmV3GpInIH6Js1et_Vv3GB-fR68OlwVYPlFoDBKvrpMsBUqGXbiIgmNpAA_0EYhMaHePuwx-g8vS2UTyf5vtYPBYjf6C7S4UdsPoO8xyZ9e6aSEJg5MyTyI0Q0E9PduqY-eqcMcaWXMGjo/s1600/look+fantastic+september+beauty+box+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmV3GpInIH6Js1et_Vv3GB-fR68OlwVYPlFoDBKvrpMsBUqGXbiIgmNpAA_0EYhMaHePuwx-g8vS2UTyf5vtYPBYjf6C7S4UdsPoO8xyZ9e6aSEJg5MyTyI0Q0E9PduqY-eqcMcaWXMGjo/s640/look+fantastic+september+beauty+box+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This month's box from <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/home.dept">Look Fantastic</a></i> is extra special, as it is their Birthday Edit! It contains some really wonderful products this month, so I thought I'd do a run down of what's included in case you'd like to pick up the box yourself. I actually did some filming with Look Fantastic for this month's box too (specifically the Decleor and Christophe Robins products) so look out for those!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">First up is the makeup (my fave bit!) - you get an eyeshadow quad from Hikari, which contains some easy to wear warm shades (2 mattes and 2 shimmers). Also included is a mini <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/illamasqua-contouring-gel-sculpt-silhouette/11268871.html">Illamsaqua Contouring Gel Sculpt</a></i>, which is a sheer gel contour stick. It looks really interesting, and unlike any contouring stick I've seen before, so I'll see how this compares to my fave Benefit Hoola contouring stick! As a special birthday treat, you also get a Look Fantastic eyeshadow brush, which is super Instagrammable with the silver handle and blue/green bristles. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For skincare, you get a mini pot of the <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/eve-lom-cleanser-200ml/10363611.html">Eve Lom cleanser</a></i> (+ muslin cloth). I've heard a lot about this, and I'm a big fan of balm cleansers so I'm excited to try this one out! It contains some lovely nourishing oils, along with Cocoa Butter and Egyptian Camomile to soften and smooth the skin (sounds perfect for evening cleansing!). It can be used as a cleanser to take makeup off, or for a second cleanse after micellar water. Secondly, there is also a mini <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/decleor-hydra-floral-multi-protection-light-cream-30ml/10785640.html">Decleor Hydra Floral</a></i> Hydrating Light Cream included. I love gel-based moisturisers like this one in the morning as they don't interfere with makeup and feel nice and light on the skin. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Finally, to make your hair super voluminous and fresh, use the <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/christophe-robin-cleansing-volumizing-paste-with-pure-rassoul-clay-and-rose-extracts-250ml/11410236.html">Christophe Robin Cleansing Volumising Paste</a></i> (travel size). This is a hair mask that not only exfoliates & invigorates the scalp, but also adds plenty of volume into the hair, hopefully making it super easy to get that salon blow dry effect! The clay ingredient helps to deep clean the hair, whilst adding denseness to the hair follicles for lift and thickness. It transforms to a foam when mixed with water and I actually filmed with this product so I can confirm it smells lovely and fresh too - definitely a good one for a weekend pamper sesh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Of course, as included with all LF beauty boxes, you get a copy of Elle magazine, along with the Beauty Box magazine. As this is a birthday special, you also get a Look Fantastic lollipop this month too! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What do you think of this month's box- will you be picking it up?</span></div>
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<br />Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-21994308260155953162017-08-31T18:00:00.000+01:002017-08-31T18:06:41.654+01:00My Top Tips for Glowy Skin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-pD3J8zPWoFVuF5BD4z9moKZEYh4GcKdIjV0cVFL51Ll-HRIWa_gmt4iCQMRmsLpDOtv8rkJU-TgCPV50PXwbVaXAX1dnir4_g8XYpAZGSc95QMpx_z9DPvCniMXOTWyhWoy98m5ksS3/s1600/top+tips+for+glowy+skin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="glowing skin, tips, makeup, glowy" border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="1600" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-pD3J8zPWoFVuF5BD4z9moKZEYh4GcKdIjV0cVFL51Ll-HRIWa_gmt4iCQMRmsLpDOtv8rkJU-TgCPV50PXwbVaXAX1dnir4_g8XYpAZGSc95QMpx_z9DPvCniMXOTWyhWoy98m5ksS3/s640/top+tips+for+glowy+skin.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The most frequent comments on <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/cocoamay_/">my makeup pictures/videos on Instagram</a></i> tend to be about my skin. Glowy skin is '<i>100% my type on paper</i>' and I'm rarely seen without my signature highlight. I definitely look after my skin very well and I wanted to share some of my top skincare and makeup tips to get that coveted glowy skin. I've covered it briefly in my <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/cocoamay_/">two recent Instagram videos</a></i>, however I wanted to go into a little more detail here. If you want an intense glow like in these images follow all the tips, but if you want a subtle glow instead, you can select softer highlighters or just follow the skincare tips! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>EXFOLIATING TONERS/LOTIONS</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ever since I started using exfoliating toners, my skin texture has improved massively, especially around my nose. I'm thinking about doing a post all about exfoliating toners very soon now that I've tried a few different ones so I won't say too much today! However, currently in the mornings I am using the <i><a href="http://www.harveynichols.com/brand/erno-laszlo/624114-white-marble-essence-lotion-195ml/p2872428/">Erno Laszlo White Marble Essence Lotion</a></i>. This isn't really an acid toner, but I do use it before serum/moisturiser so I thought I'd include it here. Essentially, it evens out skin tone, rehydrates and adds luminosity to the skin with amazing ingredients like Glycerin (basically a moisture magnet!) and Daisy Extract. For nighttime, I'm currently using the <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/first-aid-beauty-facial-radiance-pads-60-pads/11054489.html">First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads</a></i> but I change this up all the time so I'll share my other faves in a future post!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>SERUMS/MOISTURISERS</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's really important to select serums and moisturisers that are best for your skin type. My skin is generally normal to oily, so I stay away from anything too rich. I've been loving the <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/vichy-mineral-89-serum-50ml/11499284.html">Vichy Mineral 89 serum</a></i> in the AM and PM (full review <i><a href="http://www.cocoamay.co.uk/2017/08/vichy-mineral-89-new-skincare.html">here</a></i>), and I follow it up with another serum in the evening for extra hydration. In the morning, however, I just stick with the Mineral 89 and add my all time favourite AM moisturiser - the <i><a href="http://www.boots.com/origins-ginzing-energy-boosting-moisturizer-50ml-10155079">Origins GinZing</a></i>. I have been on this product ever since it launched and honestly, I've lost count of the number of pots I've gone through! I find it's the absolute perfect base for makeup too as the gel formula sinks in really quickly and feels nice and light on the skin. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>PRIMERS</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Getting a glowy makeup application means starting with the right primer. My dream combination which gives me glowy skin AND incredible staying power is the <i><a href="http://www.cocoamay.co.uk/2016/10/illamasqua-hydraveil-review.html">Illamasqua Hydraveil</a></i> and the <i><a href="http://www.cocoamay.co.uk/2017/06/best-glowy-primers-budget-to-high-end.html">Becca Backlight Priming Filter</a></i>. I've done more in-depth reviews of both of these which I've linked on the product names. If these are a little too pricey for you, I've done a <i><a href="http://www.cocoamay.co.uk/2017/06/best-glowy-primers-budget-to-high-end.html">Top 3 Glowy Primers post</a></i> which features cheaper alternatives - however they don't quite give you the lasting power that this combo gives. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>FOUNDATION</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Picking a dewy foundation is obviously essential for glowy skin. However, it definitely doesn't have to be light coverage if you don't want! My holy grail is the <i><a href="http://www.cocoamay.co.uk/2015/05/nars-sheer-glow-foundation-review.html">NARS Sheer Glow</a></i> which is a medium coverage, satin finish foundation, and then I can amp up the glow with highlighters later on. Plus, if I have used my illuminating primers, the glow still shows through the foundation, so this is a great option if you have oilier skin and don't want the feel of a really dewy foundation. I even use my <i><a href="http://www.boots.com/maybelline-fit-me-matte-and-poreless-foundation-30ml-10213975">Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless foundation</a></i> sometimes and just adds plenty of highlighter creams/powders to get the glowy look - this way you choose where you want to be glowing too so again, great for oilier skin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>MAKEUP</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My other makeup tips for glowy skin would be to use powder sparingly (if you can!). I tend to focus on the undereyes and my T-zone, leaving the rest powder-free. I'd also recommend using creams/liquids - I am obsessed with the <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/elizabeth-arden-gelato-collection-gel-blush-7ml-various-shades/11514366.html">Elizabeth Arden Gelato Gel Blush in Coral Daze</a></i> at the moment as it's a liquid blush that gives a beautiful tint along with a soft glow. For liquid highlight, the <i><a href="http://www.cocoamay.co.uk/2016/10/cover-fx-custom-enhancer-drops-review.html">Cover FX drops</a></i> are ideal for an intense glow (it's what I used in the above photos), but for a softer look, try <i><a href="http://www.cocoamay.co.uk/2013/04/this-week-ive-been-loving-mac-cream.html">MAC Cream Colour Base in Hush</a></i> or <a href="http://www.boots.com/benefit-high-beam-highlighter-10009174">Benefit High Beam</a>. I always top my liquid highlight with a powder, so select your fave highlighter - for me it's <i><a href="http://www.cocoamay.co.uk/2016/02/becca-x-jaclyn-hill-champagne-pop-review.html#disqus_thread">Becca Champagne Pop</a></i> without a doubt. Honourable mentions also go to <i><a href="http://www.cocoamay.co.uk/2013/09/thebalm-mary-lou-manizer-review.html">The Balm's Mary Lou-manizer</a></i> and <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/laura-geller-baked-gelato-swirl-illuminator/11303255.html">Laura Gellar Gilded Honey</a></i>. With application, I personally go all-out and do the tops of my cheekbones, nose, cupids bow, brow bone, inner corner of my eye and sometimes just above the brow very lightly for an extra sheen. It's really up to you though - I know some people hate the nose highlight so just leave that out if you don't like it. Finally, if you want to go full-on glow, top the look off with a beautiful glossy lip. I used <i><a href="http://www.boots.com/nyx-professional-makeup-butter-gloss-10207772">NYX Fortune Cookie</a></i> here which is so so good (and cheap!) but I also love the Anastasia Beverly Hills, NARS and Colourpop glosses. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>DON'T FORGET YOUR BODY!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Remember, if you're going out with beautiful glowy, glossy skin, don't forget your body! If you're wearing something that shows off your shoulders or collarbone, sweep some powder highlight over them just to add that extra shine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let me know if you have any tips for glowy skin in the comments. Hopefully this post has been helpful to some of you! </span></div>
<br />Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-19422959052402928392017-08-24T18:00:00.000+01:002017-08-24T18:00:12.912+01:0072 Hours in Reykjavik, Iceland <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen I recently visited Reykjavik in Iceland for a quick trip. We had 3 full days on the island so I thought I'd write up a post of everything that we did! We pretty much did the main sights and really made the most of the time we had. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Day 1 - Exploring Reykjavik</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On our first day, we landed early in the morning and got a transfer with <i><a href="https://www.re.is/">Reykjavik Excursions</a></i> into the city. Once there, we got one of the 'Hop on, Hop off' buses so we got to see everything, although the city is quite small so you could easily just walk to see the main sights. I would recommend seeing the Harpa Concert Hall (second photo) which is so beautiful. I also enjoyed walking along the coastline as the view is just stunning and you can see the Sun Voyager sculpture. The City Hall area was really pretty too and has a gorgeous lake. The Hallgrimskirkja is a beautiful church in the centre of the city, and you can get a lift to the top for a 360 degree view of the city (first photo) and it's fairly inexpensive so I'd highly recommend doing that. The main street Laugavegur is just off the Hallgrimskirkja and has plenty of shops and restaurants - one of which I'd recommend is Svarta Kaffik which is an amazing soup restaurant which serves homemade soup in a bowl made of crusty bread - heaven! The menu changes every day with a vegetarian and meat option - I had a cauliflower soup which was so delicious and creamy, and definitely filled me up!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Day 2 - Blue Lagoon</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An absolute must-do in Iceland is the Blue Lagoon. It's around a 50 minute coach journey from the city centre (again, we arranged all our travel with Reykjavik Excursions). One of my biggest tips for the Blue Lagoon is to go early (pre-9am) because it was so quiet and we could get plenty of pictures and have a good swim around. After 9am, it got significantly more busy so just something to bare in mind. I'd also recommend getting the Comfort package as you get a free drink, towel and algae mask included. The free drink from the swim up bar was definitely needed as the lagoon is so hot you need to stay hydrated. I'd also recommend to bring your own waterproof phone case if you plan on taking pictures as the ones at the lagoon are around £30! It's so beautiful in the lagoon and we spent a very relaxing 3 hours there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Day 3 - Golden Circle Tour</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On our final day, we went on the Golden Circle Tour. We chose the 'Express' tour which was 6 hours rather than 8 and went to three key stops rather than four. To be honest, this was more than enough for me as I'm not great with coach journeys and travel sickness so I'd opt for the shorter trip if you're the same. The first stop was the Geysir geothermic area which was so cool to see in real life and every time the water shot up from the active Strokkur Geysir it gave me a shock! There's also loads of hot springs and beautiful views at the site too so I had my camera out pretty much the entire time we were there. Secondly was the Gullfoss Waterfall which was so incredibly breathtaking but unfortunately I didn't get any great pictures of it as it was raining so heavily when we stopped off there. Definitely bring your waterproofs and warm clothes if you're visiting Iceland - even in August! The final stop was </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Þ</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ingvellir National Park which is the photo above. The stop is essentially a viewpoint for plenty of photos, and you also get to see where the two Eurasian and North-American tectonic plates have separated. You can even walk through it but we didn't have quite enough time on this tour to do so. It was a long day but something I think everyone has to see when visiting Iceland as you really don't see anything like these sights anywhere else in the world!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you ever visited Iceland/would you like to? Let me know in the comments. </span></div>
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<br />Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-12128077024546958572017-08-17T18:00:00.000+01:002017-08-17T18:00:35.869+01:00Vichy Mineral 89 | NEW SKINCARE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vichy has had a growing presence in my skincare collection over the past few months. I've become completely obsessed with the Idealia Peeling toner and Aqualia Thermal serum and so I was very excited to try their new release; Mineral 89. It is essentially a 'Step Zero' in your skincare routine, to be used after cleansing before you apply any other skincare products. It's most comparable to a serum but I've been using a serum on top of this for extra hydration. It is honestly so incredibly lightweight and feels so much like water on the skin so is great for before makeup as it won't make your skin too creamy or greasy. I use one pump for all over my skin and I find that's more than enough - meaning this will last a long time which is great! I'd say maybe if you have drier skin, two pumps would be better but oily/normal skin can definitely get away with one. It is also ideal for sensitive skin as it is fragrance and oil free. I'm so obsessed with the packaging too - so sleek and I'm a big fan of glass packaging even if it's not so great for travelling. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Key Ingredients: </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The amazing thing about this product is that it only contains 11 ingredients - so amazing considering ingredients lists are usually 100s of items long these days! It is 89% <b>Mineralising Thermal Water</b> from French volcanoes. This helps to decrease inflammation and has antioxidant properties, along with being super hydrating of course. It also contains <b>Hyaluronic Acid</b> which is in most incredibly hydrating skincare products as it is a unique in that it can retain lots of moisture in the skin and also helps to smooth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Would you try this product? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/vichy-mineral-89-serum-50ml/11499284.html">Vichy Mineral 89 is available on Look Fantastic</a></i> for £25 (currently on offer for cheaper!)</span>Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-63524735455476526322017-06-19T18:00:00.000+01:002017-06-19T18:00:05.569+01:00Best Glowy Primers - Budget to High End<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I absolutely can't do my makeup without beginning with a glowing base. I feel like it preps the skin nicely for makeup, whilst the glow shows through the foundation giving that lovely 'lit from within' look. So today, I thought I'd give a rundown of my favourites, ranging from £11 to £32. They all pretty much give the same effect, so I thought I'd provide options across all price points!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>(Top to bottom: Becca Backlight Priming Filter, MAC Strobe Cream in 'Peachlite', S&G Hocus Focus)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">First up is the <i><a href="http://www.boots.com/soap-and-glory-hocus-focus-instant-visual-flaw-softening-illuminator-30ml-10168703">Soap & Glory Hocus Focus</a></i>. This is advertised as a 'flaw-softening illuminator' but I always use it before foundation. This has the most neutral toned colour out of the three here (by this I mean, no golden/coloured undertones) so perfect for all skin tones including super pale skin. You get 30ml for £11 and my bottle has lasted me absolutely ages. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Next is the <i><a href="http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/13824/364/products/skincare/moisturizers/strobe-cream">MAC Strobe Cream</a></i> - arguably the first of this kind of product around. The one swatched above is Peachlite (there are a variety of coloured undertones on offer) so it gives off a very subtle peachy glow - I love this as it looks amazing with a tan and isn't as hard as Goldlite when I'm a bit paler. I find this is the most moisturising of the three (probably because it's primarily a skincare product more than a makeup product) so this would be my pick for drier skin. It contains plenty of vitamins along with <u>green tea</u> which helps to sooth skinI'd have to say this is my most used glowy primer, and I think it's the best value for money with 50ml for £25. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Finally is the <i><a href="https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/becca-backlight-priming-filter.html">Becca Backlight Priming Filter</a></i>. I got this in May for my birthday after using a sample and loving it. For me, this packs the biggest punch in the glow department - which, <i>obviously</i>, I love being obsessed with glowy skin. This is the best for actually priming for makeup in terms of helping with longevity etc, but it is pretty pricey at £32 for 30ml. It's very lightweight, and honestly does provide a real life 'filter' to the skin, even before applying makeup. This is my go-to for special occasions or nights out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Overall, I'd say each of these are all pretty much interchangeable, so if you don't have the budget for MAC or Becca, the S&G option is a great dupe. I would say though, MAC is my fave for day-to-day, and Becca is incredible at ensuring your makeup stays on all day (or night!), but you could always use your favourite face primer, then the MAC or S&G on top to get the same effect. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Which is your favourite go-to for glowing skin? </span></div>
<br />Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-19368463107409028912017-06-15T18:00:00.000+01:002017-06-15T18:00:27.393+01:00Grow Gorgeous Haircare | BRAND REVIEW<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Haircare is something I'm very particular about. Having thick, curly/frizzy hair comes with both its benefits and its downfalls, and one major thing I struggle with is finding the right products to combat frizz without weighing the hair down or leaving too much product in the hair. So, for the past few weeks I've been trying out <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/brands/grow-gorgeous/all.list">Grow Gorgeous haircare</a></i> - specifically the <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/grow-gorgeous-end-split-ends-120ml/10985302.html">End Split Ends serum</a> </i>(£19), <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/grow-gorgeous-strengthening-oil-60ml/11280718.html">Strengthening Oil</a></i> (£25) and <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/grow-gorgeous-scalp-detox-190ml/11374095.html">Scalp Detox</a> </i>(£28). As I've now had the chance to put each product through their paces, I thought it was about time I shared my review!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The End Split Ends serum is aimed at nourishing and repairing the ends of your hair without weighing it down, whilst encouraging healthy, strong hair growth by sealing broken fibres. I don't struggle massively with split ends, but I thought this would be a good one to try to prevent them in the first place, and so far so good. It's a very thick serum, and you only need one or two drops per use. I use it on towel dried hair and only apply to the ends - I feel it would be too heavy as a regular serum. The key ingredients are <u>Inca Inchi oil</u>, which helps to lock in moisture, <u>Acai Oil</u>, which helps with environmental damage to hair that can make it brittle and dry, and <u>Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil</u>, which helps to make hair more resistant to damage and breakage in the future. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Strengthening Oil has made its way into my regular haircare routine quite nicely. This is aimed at strengthening, protecting and adding shine to weak hair. Again, I wouldn't really say my hair is weak, but I definitely want to make sure it stays strong and shiny! The <u>Chia Seed Oil</u> creates a protective film around the hair to avoid protein loss, whilst the <u>Beet Extract</u> packs a punch to add more nutrients to fragile, stressed hair. I've been loving this as a last step in my routine, by running 4 drops over the lengths of my hair after blow drying and it makes it super shiny and healthy looking. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Finally, the Scalp Detox. For me, this is the winning product for the brand, especially as I've never seen anything like this from a haircare brand before. With having curly/frizzy hair, along with regular blow drying, I can be prone to having a dry scalp, which can be so irritating and itchy. Honestly, this treatment has been an absolute lifesaver and I can honestly say I haven't suffered from a dry scalp since using this. It's essentially an exfoliater for your scalp, and I use it once a week by massaging the product thoroughly all over my scalp, leaving for 5-10 minutes, then washing it out thoroughly with shampoo and continuing with my regular haircare routine. The Castor Oil beads and White Willow Bark Extract exfoliate and act as a natural anti-bacterial. Meanwhile, the Pomegranate Fruit Enzymes exfoliate and remove product buildup. It is so cooling on your scalp, and I've not had any issues washing it out as long as your thorough with shampooing 2 times and ensuring all the beads are washed out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">All in all, I'm absolutely loving this range at the moment - I feel like it's so underrated. Another thing I should mention is how incredible each of the products' smell!! I can't pinpoint exactly what it is, but I feel like it smells like a hair salon and so I get that super fresh, salon feeling every time I wash my hair now. If you just got one product for the range, I would have to recommend the Scalp Detox - I think it would be helpful for everyone, especially if you use a lot of hair products or you have a similar hair type to me!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Have you tried anything from this range? Let me know in the comments. </span>Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-8052261392094552322017-06-12T18:00:00.000+01:002017-06-12T19:58:42.460+01:00Look Fantastic June Beauty Box | WHAT'S INCLUDED<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hi everyone! So, I'm finally back from my blogging break - uni is finally over <i>yaaaaaay</i> - and ready to bring you more exciting beauty posts. First up is a peek inside Look Fantastic's June 'Wanderlust' Beauty Box. I have to say, this is my favourite one yet! This box is centred around providing in-flight and holiday essentials - which will certainly come in handy for my holiday which is just around the corner. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Firstly is the Kerastase Resistance Strengthening shampoo. Kerastase is one of my top fave haircare brands so I can't wait to give this one a whirl - I imagine it will be great for sun damaged hair which can often feel a bit dry and brittle. This product promises smooth, stronger hair from consistent use and contains a combination of</span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'<u>intra-Cylane, Ceramide R and Pro-Keratin</u>' which all help to condition the hair. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Next up is skincare. I really believe in treating your skin when flying, especially on long haul flights, as planes can be extremely dehydrating. The trio of products included in this months box are handy travel size containers that can be thrown into your hand luggage to use in-flight. The First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads are constantly raved about, so I can't wait to try them. They pads are an acid toner that's gentle enough for everyday use, and contains both <u>Lactic and Glycolic Acid</u> to gently exfoliate and brighten the skin and help to improve texture. Meanwhile, their <u>Fab Antioxidant Booster</u> helps to stave off environmental aggressors - like the sun, heat and humidity - so your skin stays looking its best! Follow up with the Balance Me Balancing Face Moisturiser which is suitable for all skin types as it prevents spots, controls oily skin and lightly hydrates - great for hot weather when you don't want a heavy moisturiser. It also contains <u>Vitamin E</u> which helps to protect the skin from environmental pollution and is a powerful antioxidant which can help with sun protection and damage (<b>when used in conjunction with sunscreen of course</b>). Finally, complete your holiday skincare routine with the Monu Rosewood Reviving Mist. I love a good refreshing mist, especially on holiday, so this handy travel size one will be great! It contains a variety of essential oils, including <u>Rosewood Oil</u>, which helps to calm and destress (great for nervous flyers!) and <u>Lemon Oil</u> which purifies the skin and is a natural toner that balances natural oils in the skin. The mist has tons of different uses such as an aftershave for men, a post-pedicure refresh for the feet, or just to spritz on the skin for a pick-me-up! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Finally, two makeup products to get that glowing, effortless holiday makeup look. Firstly is the Bellapierre Cosmetics Shimmer Powder in Excite. This loose powder can be used on the face or body to get that gorgeous glow. The mineral formulation ensures it doesn't irritate the skin too! Secondly, the Hailey Baldwin for Model Co gloss included not only smells incredible, but also promises a hydrating and high shine gloss that can be used alone or over lipstick. I believe there's a couple of shade options, but I got Biz which is a gorgeous pinky nude. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So that's my rundown of this month's box! I honestly can't wait to dig into all the products and test them out properly, but some of them will certainly be packed in my luggage for my holiday. What do you think of the products? Let me know if you'll be getting the box this month in the comments. </span>Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-72438772530146713422017-04-26T18:00:00.000+01:002017-04-26T18:00:29.328+01:00Look Fantastic April Beauty Box | WHAT'S INCLUDED<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is my very first <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/offers/beauty-box.list">Beauty Box</a></i> as a Look Fantastic Ambassador, so I was super excited to see what was included - and I definitely wasn't disappointed! The box was beautifully packaged, in a beautiful peach and white box, with 7 new products to try. If you're a beauty junkie like me, this will definitely fill that beauty sized hole in your heart if you're on a budget, as all this costs less than £15! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This month, the focus is on Natural Beauty. Now, take one look at <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/cocoamay_/">my Instagram</a></i> and you'll know that's not usually me, however, day to day, I like to give my skin a break! Plus, there's plenty of skincare/haircare to get stuck into when I fancy a pamper. Let's take a look at what's included this month...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Makeup</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm intrigued to try the <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/laura-geller-baked-balance-n-brighten-color-correcting-foundation/11303275.html">Laura Gellar Balance & Brighten powder foundation</a></i>. In all honesty, I'll probably use this as a setting powder over my usual liquid foundation, but the formula looks really nice and finely milled, and the baked finish provides lots of different tones to the powder, which I imagine will stop the face from looking flat and 2-dimensional. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've never tried Omorovicza before, but the <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/omorovicza-cleansing-foam-150ml/10564055.html?widget_id=92839">Cleansing Foam</a></i> looks lovely. The sulphate-free formula promises cleansing without drying out the skin and is good for all skin types. It contains <u>Copper Gluconate</u> which detoxifies and helps to tighten pores, <u>White Lupin</u>, which helps to energise & revitalise (great for AM cleansing!), and <u>Apple Pectin</u>, which provides hydration and improves suppleness. Sounds very luxurious! Can't wait to try this out - I imagine this will be great in the summer/on holiday when SPF can clog up the skin. Next up is the <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/vitamasques-pomegranate-firming-lifting-mask/11342343.html">Vitamasques Pomegranate sheet mask</a></i>. I have to admit, I literally used this within 24 hours of receiving the box and it was lovely! It was easy to apply and didn't feel uncomfortable, and my skin felt super hydrated after use. As I mentioned in my previous post, I'm loving sheet masks at the moment, and for £3.99, this is a lovely treat for a pamper evening. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thirdly is the <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/madara-smart-anti-oxidants-fine-line-minimising-day-cream-50ml/11387114.html">Madara SMART Day Cream</a></i>. This is aimed towards dry/very skin skin types, promising to minimise fine lines and decrease dryness in the skin so I'm not exactly the target customer but I love minis like this for when I go away and don't want to take my usual huge moisturiser! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Body/Hair/Misc.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm interested to see if the <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/this-works-perfect-legs-skin-miracle-120ml/10524499.html">This Works Perfect Legs</a></i> lives up to the hype. I love stuff like this as we're moving into summer, and as this is just a mini I may try it out on my shoulders/chest for my Instagram to see if it makes much difference! It contains Vitamins C and E which even out skin tone, and Arnica helps to fade out any bruising. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm definitely one of those people who always, always carries anti-bac hand gel, and this super cute one from <i><a href="https://en.mercihandy.com/collections/gels-mains-nettoyant">Merci Handy</a></i> reminds me of the Bath & Body Works ones as it smells absolutely amazing and is such a handy size to throw in your bag! I find a lot of hand gels can smell very alcohol-y, but this New Wave fragrance is lovely and fresh without being overpowering. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The final product is the <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/alterna-caviar-cc-cream-74ml/10850175.html">Alterna Caviar CC Cream</a></i> for hair. You apply this to towel dried hair before styling, and it promises the following 10 benefits: moisture, shine, smoothness, softness, UV protection, manageability, strength, anti-breakage, heat protection and light hold - phew! As someone who has super frizzy, thick hair, this sounds amazing so can't wait to give this a go! It also smells absolutely amazing - very luxurious and feminine. Plus, the 5* reviews are definitely selling it to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So there you have it! A great all-rounder box for April and some amazing new brands for me to try out. If you'd like to know how I get on with any of them, leave a comment or <i><a href="https://twitter.com/cocoamay_?lang=en">tweet me</a></i>! </span>Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-78218858282035768512017-04-23T18:00:00.000+01:002017-04-23T18:04:01.878+01:00New Skincare Bits | FIRST IMPRESSION/REVIEW<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm really loving getting into my skincare at the moment. I love learning about what the ingredients really do for the skin and how to tailor your routine to best suit your particular skincare concerns. I'm sharing tons of info over on my Instagram stories if you want to hear more about this! However, on the blog I can go into a bit more detail so keep reading to see whether these products are what you need in your routine...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Today, I've got some mini reviews/first impressions of some new products I've been trying out. First up is the <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/origins-original-skin-clay-mask-100ml/11149088.html">Origins Original Skin mask</a></i>. This contains <u>Rose Clay</u> (a type of mild kaolin clay) so it helps to absorb excess oil/impurities on the skin. However, as this is a more mild type of clay, it is gentler and less drying on the skin so is great for more sensitive skin types. Using this frequently helps to reduce the appearance of pores and puffiness too. It also contains <u>Willowherb</u>, which is anti-inflammatory so great for rosacea and eczema. Finally, its third key ingredient is <u>Jojoba beads</u>, which provide a gentle exfoliation and are often used to treat acne. These are also biodegradable so no horrible plastic beads here! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I actually was pleasantly surprised by this mask. Whilst I don't love the exfoliating beads (I find they're a bit hard to wash off and I always find I haven't got them all off by the time I do moisturiser!), the clay aspect of the mask is amazing and my skin really did feel firmer and clearer the next day. I will definitely be incorporating this into my routine every couple of weeks or so! You can get this for £24 on <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/origins-original-skin-clay-mask-100ml/11149088.html">Look Fantastic</a></i> (this is just a sample size in the photo!).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Secondly, I grabbed one of the new-ish <i><a href="http://www.boots.com/search/garnier+tissue+mask">Garnier Moisture Bomb sheet masks</a></i>. I've been intrigued to try these out as I'm loving sheet masks at the moment - mostly because they are fun to apply and I love the serum you can massage into the skin afterwards! These contain <u>Green Tea Extract</u> which is anti-inflammatory, and also helps to promote the health and quality of collagen, therefore giving you firmer and more elastic skin. Secondly, it contains <u>hyaluronic acid</u>, which helps the skin to retain moisture (great for dry skin, obviously!), along with <u>Glycerin</u> which is an amazing moisturiser. I loved using this mask - it's only £2.99 so a bargain, although it does suggest using one 3 times a week which would definitely add up £££! The hole for the mouth is a bit small in my opinion, but it wasn't uncomfortable and you only have it on for 15 minutes. Afterwards, my skin felt and looked so glowy, and I massaged in the excess serum, topped with my usual moisturiser and my skin felt great. I love glowy skin too, and this definitely helped with that. I have normal-oily skin so can't say how good at moisturising it was, but the ingredients speak for themselves on that one! They do have a more moisturising one for dehydrated skin called the Revitalising Mask, which may be better for super dry skin. You can buy both these masks from <i><a href="http://www.boots.com/search/garnier+tissue+mask">Boots for £2.99</a></i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Have you tried either of these skincare products? And what are you loving in your skincare routine at the moment? Let me know in the comments! </span>Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-51239052411500483842017-04-09T18:00:00.000+01:002017-04-09T18:00:04.037+01:00Best Highlighters for Pale Skin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/cocoamay_/">follow me on Instagram</a></i>, you'll know I'm a fake tan obsessive and am usually various shades of tan in my photos! However, my natural skin tone is super pale, and so I thought I'd help out my fellow fair gals today with my favourite highlighters for pale skin. I often find some highlighters can be too golden for my paler skin, so these four picks are what I'd recommend to anyone with fairer skin who still wants a strong glow! </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can see swatches of my picks below:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(L-R: Charlotte Tilbury Bronze & Glow, The Balm Mary Lou-Manizer, Makeup Forever 13 Star Lit Powder, Benefit High Beam)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First up is the <i><a href="https://www.johnlewis.com/charlotte-tilbury-filmstar-bronze-and-glow-fair-medium/p2127560">Charlotte Tilbury Bronze & Glow </a></i>highlighter. As you can see from the swatches, this is the most subtle of the bunch, and is great for that soft 'lit from within' look - see <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BQbM-Sml_8B/?taken-by=cocoamay_">this look</a></i>. The powder is super finely milled and works on all skin types and ages. It is the most expensive at £49 but you do also get a fantastic contour powder, which you can see I've used a lot! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Secondly is my favourite everyday one from the bunch - <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/thebalm-mary-lou-manizer-highlighter/10554988.html">The Balm's Mary Lou-Manizer</a></i>. It's a gorgeous light golden shade that looks gorgeous on every skin tone, but especially paler skin. It has a hint of silver in it which means it still shows up on pale skin and doesn't look too gold - see <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BPdfP6cB2g0/?taken-by=cocoamay_">this look</a></i>. It's such a bargain at £16 (but you can get it for £13.60 from <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/thebalm-mary-lou-manizer-highlighter/10554988.html">Look Fantastic</a></i>!) and I've had mine for years and still have loads left. It's very glowy, but I find it to be gorgeous for everyday as it doesn't look the slightest bit glittery or over the top. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next up is my very over the top shade - <i><a href="http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_123435081699_-1">Makeup Forever's Star Lit powder in 13</a></i>. This is very metallic and is really a pigment more than a specific highlighter, but I honestly love it to get that very strong highlighted look. I know it's not for everyone but I love it! It's very pigmented, so be careful when applying as a little really does go a long way. Also because the shade is so light, it works perfectly with pale skin again - you can see it in <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BSUGr9VjW7e/?taken-by=cocoamay_">this look</a></i> here (notice how it's not as unwearable as you might first think!), and it's also the highlighter I used in my most recent Instagram with the blue lower lashline. You can grab a pot from Debenhams for £13 (although you may have to hunt it down - since Jaclyn Hill mentioned it on her Snapchat it's been pretty hard to get hold of!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally, my liquid highlighter option - <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/benefit-high-beam-10ml/10552479.html">Benefit's High Beam</a></i>. I've had this for years (as you can probably tell by my bottle of it!) and this is a beautiful pearly pink toned highlighter. You can mix it into foundation or apply as a regular highlighter - I personally like to top it off with a powder highlighter but you don't have to! It gives a very natural sheen to the skin, as it's a liquid so is great for drier skin or a more natural makeup look. As it's more pink toned, it works well with paler skin and again you only need the tiniest bit to get a gorgeous glow - I personally don't apply straight from the brush and usually dab some onto my finger so it blends into the skin a little bit easier.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So I hope this post was helpful - I always like to see what works on different skin tones so hopefully my experiences with highlighters will help someone else out too! Let me know if you have any of these, or what you fave highlighters are below - I'm definitely a highlighter junkie so always looking for more to try! </span></div>
Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-81781509243253135532017-04-02T19:00:00.000+01:002017-04-02T19:00:19.813+01:00Look Fantastic Beauty Egg Collection <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today's post is all about the limited edition Beauty Egg Collection from Look Fantastic. I feel like pretty much every beauty brand leapt on the bandwagon for beauty advent calendars, however this is the first beauty Easter egg I've seen, and I love the concept! The beautifully packaged box contains 7 products - all full size except one - to give a boost to your beauty stash this spring! There's a variety of products covering makeup, skincare, haircare and body care, adding up to £200 if bought separately. However, this fabulous box is only £60 and it's going to sell out fast! So, I thought I'd get this post up super quick so you can get a peek into what's inside:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Makeup</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First is the Illamasqua Hydra Veil primer. This is actually my holy grail primer - you can read more about it in my full review <i><a href="http://www.cocoamay.co.uk/2016/10/illamasqua-hydraveil-review.html">here</a></i>. It's honestly like a glass of water for your skin, and it's hydrating qualities mean it's a great base for makeup, and believe me when I say this ensures makeup stays on all night! The second makeup product is the Laura Gellar highlighter in Gilded Honey. I was so so excited to hear this was in the box as I've always wanted to try it! It's definitely a cult favourite product, providing a gorgeous golden glow to the skin - and if you're a regular reader you'll know I'm already highlighter obsessed! Keep an eye out for this popping up on <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/cocoamay_/">my Instagram</a></i> very soon. Thirdly, the Talika Lipocils Ink brow growth and makeup pen is included in the box. Mine is in the shade Brown (I believe this is the only shade included) and claims to stimulate eyebrow growth whilst also enhancing them with makeup. 20 years of research went into making this product, so I'm intrigued to try it, although I'm concerned the brown shade may be too red for my brows, but I will let you know! It comes in a pen form, and promises to be waterproof and sweat proof so may be good for holidays or the gym. However, I do have <i><a href="http://www.cocoamay.co.uk/2017/01/microblading-my-experience-and-before.html">micro bladed brows</a></i> so I may not be the best judge!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Skincare</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first skincare product included is the Algenist Ultimate Anti-Aging Cream. Now, at 20, I may not be the best to review it's anti-aging properties, however, it also promises to brighten the skin (I'm always looking for ways to add more glow!). It contains <u>Capric Triglyceride</u> and <u>Hydrogenated Polyisobutene </u>which are essentially oil substitutes, so you get all the benefits of oil (like maintaining elasticity and preventing water loss) without clogging the skin, so great for anyone with oily, sensitive or acne prone skin. It also contains <u>Alguronic Acid</u>, which is essentially a mix of algae extracts which claim to have anti-aging benefits. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Secondly, you get the Filorga Optim-Eyes eye cream. This also contains <u>Capric Triglyceride</u>, along with <u>hyaluronic acid</u> which helps to retain moisture and therefore smooth and soften wrinkles or fine lines. It also claims to reduce dark circles by promoting the elimination of pigmented residues, and also reducing puffiness by increasing circulation to reduce swelling. Will definitely be interesting to try this one out! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Body/Haircare</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought I'd round off with the final two sections. In body care, you get the Molten & Brown body wash in Pink Pepperpod. I love a beautifully scented body wash and this smells so fresh for spring. Plus, as it is travel size, will be great to take away with me on my trips this year. And the final product in the box is the Phillip Kingsley Elasticizer in the limited edition Geranium and Neroli scent. I have always loved this hair mask and have used it for years now. It makes my hair so soft and more manageable. This contains <u>Castor Seed Oil</u> helps to retain moisture and prevent the scalp from drying, as well as preventing hair loss. Alongside this, <u>Propylene Glycol</u> also helps to soften the hair to make it easier to brush through. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So that's my round up of the amazing <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/the-beauty-egg-collection/11431016.html?widget_id=576769">Look Fantastic Beauty Egg</a></i>! The link to buy is <i><a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/the-beauty-egg-collection/11431016.html?widget_id=576769">here</a></i>. Are there any products in there that you're eager to try? Let me know what you think in the comments. </span>Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-85010526952038478042017-03-26T18:00:00.000+01:002017-03-26T18:00:35.258+01:00Benefit They're Real 2-in-1 Lipliner/Lipstick | WORTH THE HYPE?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think it's been quite a while since I was all over a new lipstick launch. These days, the world of makeup is swamped by liquid lipsticks that I barely wear a traditional lipstick these days. However, when this new concept from Benefit came out, I don't think I'd been this excited to place an order in a long time! The They're Real 'Double the Lip' 2-in-1 lipliner/lipstick mash up comes in cute packaging similar to their They're Real mascara, and winds up at the bottom to reveal a thin, slanted lipstick with a darker shade and a lighter shade. The idea is that the darker shade acts as your lipliner, and perfectly blends in the lighter lipstick to get an easy soft ombre lip without the need for extra products!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got the shade Nude Scandal (obviously!), and you can see the swatch above. As you can see, the difference between the darker shade and lighter shade is barely visible so don't let the idea of having a super dark lip line put you off as that's really not the case. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I really love about these lipsticks is they are not super matte (like I'm used to with all the liquid lipsticks!) - they give a soft satin finish. They are nicely pigmented and glide onto the lips pretty easily. The lipliner concept is great for the top lip, as it helps to define the lips and get the shape you want, however, it gets a bit tricky on the bottom lip as I've found myself having to turn the bullet awkwardly to get the lipliner bit to properly line the lips. It is a bit annoying but hasn't put me off using it! You also have to be careful to use both the liner and lipstick evenly, so one side doesn't wear down quicker than the other! The only other thing I'd say is that the colour range isn't fantastic, there are currently only 6 shades, but no doubt Benefit will bring out more in time. I'd say this is a great easy option for those people not wanting to spend money on separate lipliners and lipsticks as I've never found the need to use one with this product! They're also a pretty reasonable £16.50 (for comparison, a MAC lipliner and lipstick would set you back £28) and you can get them from plenty of places - I got mine from ASOS for that extra student discount! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-27529198400400125102017-03-19T18:00:00.000+00:002017-03-21T16:59:54.977+00:00My Top 5 Liquid Lipsticks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As you'll know if you follow my Instagram, I am always wearing liquid lipsticks. Something about the formulas and the colours draws me to them more than regular lipsticks so I have built up quite the collection. So, I thought I would post about my top 5 brands to buy liquid lipsticks from. I don't have specific lip swatches to post, but I will link to makeup looks I have done with the shades as all the shades have been featured on my Instagram at one point or another! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Number 1 </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Brand: Dose of Colors</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shades I own: Bare With Me, Truffle</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My absolute favourite liquid lipsticks are the Dose of Colors ones. Bare With Me is honestly my favourite lip shade of all time. It's a soft pink shade that just suits so many skin tones and is a perfect everyday shade. You can get these from Beauty Bay (usually) but for some reason they are not online at the moment, and the <i><a href="https://doseofcolors.com/collections/matte-lipsticks/products/bare-with-me">Dose of Colors site</a> </i>for around £14/$18! I rarely show Bare With Me on my Insta because I am so scared it will run out and I won't be able to repurchase! I actually last wore it on <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGH_vV7SXc7/?taken-by=cocoamay_">my Insta back in May 2016</a></i>, but I would wear it everyday if I could! Truffle is a beautiful brown toned nude that is perfect for that 90s look. I like that it's not too brown as that doesn't really suit my skin tone, and I've never found another liquid lipstick shade quite like it. <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BHDHGWCgLiv/?taken-by=cocoamay_">Here's a swatch of it</a></i> on my Instagram. The formula is super matte, but is the least drying I've found. It also smells of vanilla which is so delicious. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Number 2</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Brand: Jeffree Star Cosmetics</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shades I own: Androgyny, Mannequin</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know there is often a lot of controversy surrounding this brand, but these liquid lipsticks are honestly incredible. They feel so lightweight on the lips (Mannequin especially just feels like water!), dry really matte and feel very comfortable to wear. You can buy these on <i><a href="http://www.beautybay.com/jeffreestarcosmetics/">Beauty Bay</a></i> or <i><a href="https://www.beautylish.com/b/jeffree-star">Beautylish</a> </i>for around £16. Androgyny is a gorgeous deep warm toned purpley shade, although I feel that it looks very different on different skin tones. I actually bought this because it looked so gorgeous on Jaclyn Hill, but I do think it looks very different on me (see <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BKlxXHOARPh/?taken-by=cocoamay_">this Insta</a></i>). Mannequin is probably my second favourite lip shade ever after the Dose of Colors one. It's my perfect nude shade. I feel like it suits pretty much every makeup look I do, and is probably my most featured shade on my Instagram - see <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BQtUBG8jzZo/?taken-by=cocoamay_">here</a></i>, <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BPDw3h6l1vs/?taken-by=cocoamay_">here</a></i> and <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BKMF26BACeY/?taken-by=cocoamay_">here</a></i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Number 3</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Brand: Jouer </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shades I own: Melon, Petale de Rose</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Jouer liquid lipsticks have definitely done the rounds on Instagram, and I have to say I was pretty late to the game. I got these two shades in a set for Christmas (from <i><a href="https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/jouer-cosmetics">Cult Beauty</a></i>), and I'm already dying to try new colours! Melon has become my everyday shade - the perfect mixture of pink and nude that works when I'm super pale and when I'm tanned. You can see it on me <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BOiPWeOgJRK/?taken-by=cocoamay_">here</a></i>. I haven't got round to doing a look with Petale de Rose yet, but it's a beautiful strong deep pink - I'm sure you've all gathered I gravitate more towards nudes by this point! The formula of these is incredible, almost mousse like in texture and dries super matte. I would say it's slightly less long lasting than the first two I've mentioned and it does wear off after eating more noticeably. However, they are super comfortable to wear and all the shades Jouer do are beautiful and look like they'd be flattering on everyone. I have my eye on the Skinny Dip lip topper from them next!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Number 4</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Brand: Girlactik</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shades I own: Posh, Bashful, Blossom, Rustik, Sweet</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have had the pleasure of working with Girlactik this year, and I have to say I've completely fallen in love with their liquid lipsticks. They are harder for us UK girls to get their hands on, but if you are in the States, stock up! They also do offer international shipping on <i><a href="https://www.girlactik.com/">their website</a></i>. I have to say, after lusting over them on Instagram for so long, I was certainly not disappointed. My favourite shades have to be Bashful - the most beautiful neutral nude (not too brown, not too pink), and Sweet - a gorgeous muted pink. You can see my lip swatch video <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BP3Nk9eFxsf/?taken-by=cocoamay_">here</a></i>, and a look wearing Rustik <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BP5t_hClfCQ/?taken-by=cocoamay_">here</a></i>. The formula is lovely, and smells like cupcakes so it gets a thumbs up from me! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Number 5</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Brand: Lipland</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shades I own: Rezy (from the Amrezy collaboration)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lipland is a bit less well known than the other brands I've mentioned but I thought I'd give them recognition for their gorgeous liquid lipsticks. I first heard of the brand when Amrezy collaborated with them, and again, they're harder for us UK girls to get hold of, so I struck lucky when I was in the US last year and picked up Rezy. Side note: I got mine from Ricky's NYC, an amazing makeup shop that stocks lots of online/Instagram brands. You can also get international shipping on <i><a href="https://www.lipland.com/">their site</a></i>. The shade is a beautiful peachy pink, absolutely perfect for summer. You can see me wearing this <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BH-YvsNAhXy/?taken-by=cocoamay_">here</a></i>. I would say the formula is slightly thinner and more mousse-like than all the other brands, and not quite as strongly pigmented. However, building up the colour is fine, and once you get the finished look, it has fantastic lasting power. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, that is my round up of my favourite liquid lipsticks! Let me know your favourite brands in the comments below - I'm always on the lookout for new brands to try. </span>Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-62381487958091790732017-03-12T18:00:00.000+00:002017-03-12T18:00:01.550+00:00ABH x Nicole Glow Kit vs MUFE Star Lit Powder in 13<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VCgRx2ji_-DCwZuRbfwUlRKHdO3zI10YTvPJgekj-Nf-oUjwdVHQqP8p9Iu4SDbCt87Oyjd78NoDchRWyrZx5WGssuNr6WIyx8Hoh7cuOx9zzaKcpwL7dwOxcGMEJI4NCFT1wosZwS1A/s1600/abh+nicole+glow+vs+mufe+star+lit+13+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VCgRx2ji_-DCwZuRbfwUlRKHdO3zI10YTvPJgekj-Nf-oUjwdVHQqP8p9Iu4SDbCt87Oyjd78NoDchRWyrZx5WGssuNr6WIyx8Hoh7cuOx9zzaKcpwL7dwOxcGMEJI4NCFT1wosZwS1A/s640/abh+nicole+glow+vs+mufe+star+lit+13+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Highlighters are definitely having a moment in the makeup industry and the moment, and I am all for it. I am obsessed with a glowing complexion so I definitely get sucked into trying any new glow-givers on the market. After I got Champagne Pop at the end of 2015, I never thought I'd need another highlighter again, but here I am! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After Jaclyn Hill mentioned how incredible the new Makeup Forever Star Lit powder in 13 was as a highlighter, I went on a mission to find it. You can get it in <i><a href="http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_123435081699_-1">Debenhams online</a></i> (although it's currently sold out) and at the counters in Manchester and London for £14, and from <i><a href="http://www.sephora.com/star-lit-powder-P415958?skuId=1911122">Sephora online</a></i> for $21. It's basically a loose pigment and the colour is so glowing and shimmery. I have to admit, it can come across a tiny bit glittery (as it's a pigment, and not a specific highlighter), but not to the extent where I dislike it. I've swatched it on my Instagram in a video, but you can see the swatch below:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you can see, it is so strongly pigmented (I do find loose powders have stronger pigmentation) and it really does come up that strongly on my skin. You can see it on a makeup look <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BRWeQfFjSQw/?taken-by=cocoamay_">here</a></i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Secondly, I also recently got the Anastasia Beverly Hills x Nicole Guerriero Glow Kit. I have been a fan of Nicole for years, and the palette was so so beautiful, I couldn't resist. The kit has 6 shades for £39 from the <i><a href="http://www.anastasiabeverlyhills.co.uk/glow-kit-nicole-guerriero/ABH01-18162.html">ABH UK site</a></i> and $40 from <i><a href="http://www.sephora.com/nicole-guerriero-glow-kit-P41727204?skuId=1912120&icid2=products%20grid:p41727204">Sephora</a></i>. I love the variety of shades, and I've found I can use all of them in one way or another! I think my fave shade is Forever Lit (top row, middle shade). You can see swatches of the whole palette below:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As with all ABH palettes, the pigmentation and quality of the highlighters certainly don't disappoint, and I've also been loving spritzing my brush with Fix+ to get stronger pigmentation. I will be posting a look using loads of the shades from the palette on <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/cocoamay_/">my Instagram</a></i> this week. I feel like every single shade is wearable for pretty much everyone (either as a highlighter or an eyeshadow) so it's a really great versatile palette.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So which one would I pick? I would personally go for the ABH x Nicole palette. Firstly, you get 6 shades for the price of 2 MUFE powders (although if you just want one highlighter, go for the MUFE one - I just like to have lots of choice!). Secondly, as the MUFE one is a loose pigment, it can get very messy and I do find I'm wasting product because I pour too much out and can't put it back in the container. The MUFE one only contains 1g of product whereas the ABH ones are 4.5g per highlighter so I personally find that to be better value for money. You can also use Fix+ as I mentioned earlier to get a stronger pigmentation with the ABH ones. As a makeup junkie, I love and use both of the options, but I can see why the average person would only want to invest in one! So I hope this has been somewhat helpful. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me know your favourite highlighters - as you can imagine I'm always on the lookout for new ones to try! </span>Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-85841273634621186952017-01-15T20:00:00.000+00:002017-01-15T20:00:28.421+00:00MICROBLADING | My Experience and Before & After!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgD5CgsZhyphenhyphenGaamqa8FBlc-fmUtse5wrjctistkxkq4mbHyAvF8CTXoBo-dse7G2akDf9Rm2c2t6a-Fw9DmfjHzHxCGQmUFCtXROdIjLQyo5rzr495EN2mAR5WDhlkpRSsX7w8MlseuxG_/s1600/microblading+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgD5CgsZhyphenhyphenGaamqa8FBlc-fmUtse5wrjctistkxkq4mbHyAvF8CTXoBo-dse7G2akDf9Rm2c2t6a-Fw9DmfjHzHxCGQmUFCtXROdIjLQyo5rzr495EN2mAR5WDhlkpRSsX7w8MlseuxG_/s640/microblading+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So last week, I finally got my brows microbladed. I thought I'd do a little round up post of what microblading is, what my experience was, and include my before and afters!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>What is it?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Microblading is essentially a type of semi permanent makeup - not a tattoo! Pigments are used rather than ink, and does not go as deep into the dermis of your skin. With microblading, a hand held pen is used, rather than a motorised tattoo device. You can expect microbladed brows to last 1-2 years. This will depend on your skin type (drier skin will cling to the pigment better and therefore will last longer) and how well you look after them. A tiny blade is used to create hair-like strokes in your brow, to create the illusion of fullness and give them more shape. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prices for the treatment varies, but I'd say the average is £200-£250. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>My experience</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Firstly, my beautician pencilled in my brow shape with a removable pencil, so we could both see where the microblading was going to go, and how my brows would look. This way, I could easily ask to change things and get the shape exactly how I wanted it. This is customised for each client, and it is measured precisely to make sure they are as symmetrical as possible. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once I was happy with my shape, we picked the best ink colour for my brows to match my existing brow hair. Then, she began to actually microblade. I did have numbing cream on before this began, but you can definitely still feel it. Whilst I wouldn't describe it as painful, it's definitely a little uncomfortable and it does sting a little bit after a while. I have a pretty low pain threshold though, and so if I can manage it, I'd say most people could too! The actual microblading took around 45 minutes for me. My brows weren't too sparse to begin with though, so it could take much longer if you have little to no hair. Once it was done, she put a liquid that acts as a 'liquid plaster' over the top and I was good to go!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As for aftercare, you have to wash your brows with a special shampoo every 2 hours on the first day and apply lots of aftercare cream. This will stop any blood drying and keep them clean so they don't scab over. The first night that you have them, you put plenty of cream on then apply some clingfilm over the brows (attractive, I know!) to protect them. After the first day, you no longer need to wash the brows, and you just apply the cream 4-5 times a day and overnight (clingfilm no longer needed!) for 5-7 days. Once that's done, they should be fully healed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing I should mention is that during this time, you can't really wear makeup on the brow area, to avoid irritation and hinder the healing process. For me, this has been especially hard haha! You should also avoid saunas, intense exercise, swimming etc.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The final step in the process is a touch up 4-6 weeks after the initial treatment. As I haven't had this yet, I can't share too much about it, but it's basically to ensure you're still happy with the shape and the colour etc and add any final touch ups. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Before & After!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope you enjoyed this post, and it was useful if you're thinking about getting your brows microbladed! If you have any other questions, message me or leave a comment below. </span>Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-82778508243193960992017-01-12T18:00:00.000+00:002017-01-12T18:00:06.766+00:00Pink Toned Spotlight Eye | MOTD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This pink toned spotlight eye has got a lot of love over on my Instagram recently, so I thought it was about time I did a breakdown of the look with products and a step by step! Let me know what you think of this look in the comments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Face</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- I started with MAC Peachlite Strobe Cream as a base, then followed with Illamasqua Skin Base in 8 all over my skin. I'd forgotten just how stunning this foundation is! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- I then used my Maybelline Age Rewind concealer to highlight under my eyes, forehead, centre of the nose and my chin, and the Fit Me concealer on any blemishes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- To set all that, I use Laura Mercier translucent loose setting powder.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- To bronze, I used MAC Give Me Sun MSF (<i><a href="http://www.cocoamay.co.uk/2016/04/mac-give-me-sun-msf-review.html">review</a></i>) very lightly to warm up the skin, then used MAC Warm Soul Mineralize blush. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- For highlight, I used Girlactik 'Lustre' Face Glow which is a stunning purple toned highlight (see my review <i><a href="http://www.cocoamay.co.uk/2016/09/girlactik-face-glow-in-lustre-review.html">here</a></i>) and topped it with the purple shade from Sleek's Solstice palette (review <i><a href="http://www.cocoamay.co.uk/2016/03/sleek-solstice-highlight-palette-review.html">here</a></i>). I applied both of these on the tops of my cheekbones, down my nose and on my cupid's bow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Eyes</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- I first filled in my brows with Anastasia Dip Brow in Chocolate and MAC's brow pencil in Lingering.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- Then, I cleaned up underneath and primed my eyes with MAC Pro Longwear concealer in NW15.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- I started off with 'Red Ochre' from the ABH Modern Renaissance palette and buffed it all over my crease and lid (missing out the centre portion of the lid). Then, I deepened that with 'Love Letter' from the same palette. Blend this on the outer and inner part of the eye until you get the depth and colour you want.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- I then took Pink Champagne (also from ABH) and started packing that onto the centre of my lid. I found that this worked best with a wet brush (I just spray Fix+ onto my brush) as the sparkle in the eyeshadow really came out nicely with that. I then just blended my Red Ochre and Love Letter in so there were no harsh lines and just kept adding colour and blending until I was happy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- I followed the same pattern on my lower lash line - using the red tones on the inner and outer portion, then packing Pink Champagne into the centre. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- I applied Benefit They're Real mascara onto top and bottom lashes, then added my House of Lashes 'Siren' lashes - these work especially well with spotlight eyeshadow looks as they're fuller in the centre. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- To highlight, I used the same Girlactik and Sleek highlighters mentioned above on my tear duct and brow bone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Lips</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- For lips, I just applied MAC Soar liner to outline the lips, then went in with Jeffree Star 'Mannequin' liquid lipstick (<i><a href="http://www.cocoamay.co.uk/2016/08/jeffree-star-liquid-lipsticks-review.html">review</a></i>) - I'd forgotten how stunning this colour is, and I always get questions whenever I wear it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-889401408333690842017-01-09T18:00:00.000+00:002017-01-09T18:00:06.355+00:00How I Became a MUA | Tips + Advice!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I posted the picture above on New Year's Day as a little reflection on 2016 - the first image was taken December 2015, the second December 2016. I hadn't even realised how much my makeup skills had improved over the course of the year! In 2016, I also qualified as a Makeup Artist, and then went on to get a job with MAC - something I never would have imagined happening! I had a couple of requests to share more about how I became a MUA and some advice etc, so here's a comprehensive post all about my experience. I may also do a separate 'How to get a job at MAC' post if that's of interest too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>How I got started</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For me, makeup has been a love of mine since I left school at 16. I started off watching YouTube tutorials and reading blogs, and to this day, it's still something I favour over watching TV or Netflix. I think it's really important that you're sure this is for you before you pay for a course. Therefore, I recommend being self-taught to some level - there's so many amazing makeup channels out there, and honestly practice makes perfect! Another thing I've found really helpful is starting my makeup Instagram - this is something I've fully thrown myself into from the beginning of 2016, and I can't believe how much it has grown. Getting amazing comments and feeling really part of the makeup/beauty community has motivated me to keep going and keep trying out new looks and techniques. Getting featured by amazing brands also makes me strive to improve - if you'd like to see a post about growing your Instagram let me know too! Therefore, I'd highly recommend starting a makeup Instagram if you'd like to become a MUA - it's so interesting to see how much you improve. Doing this for a good few months made me sure that I wanted to become a qualified MUA and it wasn't just a phase.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Getting Qualified</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The first thing I'd recommend when you're sure you want to get a qualification is to do your research. I never realised quite how many makeup courses were out there and all the different things they offer. First consider exactly what kind of makeup you want to do. For example, I didn't really want to do SFX makeup, so knew the courses including that weren't for me. There's so much out there from media, TV, SFX, face painting etc so pinpoint exactly what it is you want to learn. Then, I'd think about the following questions:<br />- How long do I want to do the course for? I wanted to get qualified ASAP, so I chose a 12 week course but there are courses that run for 1+ years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- Is it a day or evening course?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- Do I want a recognised qualification or just a course with a MUA? For a job in the makeup industry, you really do need a recognised qualification from someone like VTCT. If you just want to learn some skills for your own makeup, or to top up after doing a recognised course, then I'd say to do a course with a MUA or studio. These aren't recognised in the industry, and could prevent you getting a job!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- How much do you want to pay?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I eventually chose a course with <i><a href="http://www.chilloutbeautytraining.co.uk/">Chill Out Training Academy</a></i> which was Level 2 in Makeup. Personally, if you feel you are quite strong with makeup, I'd go straight for Level 3, as I felt this was a bit too easy for me (but the course was shorter so I stayed with this one). Once I got this qualification, I had already got my job at MAC so I basically just started with that! Alongside this, I also do freelance makeup - for that it's all about advertising - use Instagram, Facebook etc and good old fashion business cards are great too. A lot of salons allow you to rent chairs to use for freelance makeup, so that way you have a base, rather than travelling to clients' houses etc. And with freelance, it is definitely a case of practice makes perfect - whilst you are studying, try and do as many makeups as you can, just to get practice on different face shapes, skin types and tones as the more experience you have the better! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope this post is somewhat helpful if you're looking into becoming a MUA yourself! As I said, if you'd like a post about how I got my job at MAC, let me know (I thought the post would be way too long if I joined both of them together!). If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to email or DM me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-4871077698088477522016-11-11T08:00:00.000+00:002016-11-11T08:00:14.988+00:00Colourpop Ultra Matte + Satin Lips | REVIEW<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Colourpop had their 'free international shipping' offer a few weeks ago, I really couldn't turn down the chance to get my hands on some of their products. Having seen them raved about all over Youtube, I went for some of their most popular products: an Ultra Satin and Ultra Matte lip, along with an eyeshadow and blusher (more to come on them in future blog posts!). The shades I was drawn to was 'Trap' from the Ultra Matte range, and 'Marshmallow' from the Ultra Satin range. 'Trap' is a beautiful grey toned pink shade, perfect for autumn/winter and a really unique colour that would be difficult to dupe. 'Marshmallow' is another unique shade - a cool toned lilac/purple shade, darker than the <i><a href="http://www.cocoamay.co.uk/2016/10/the-best-uk-drugstore-liquid-lipsticks.html">MUA one I posted about last month</a></i>, but still nowhere near a darker berry purple shade. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've worn both of these shades in looks on my Instagram, so click to see <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BLoqCA_ApUG/?taken-by=cocoamay_">Trap</a></i> and <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BL6xnN4gXmA/?taken-by=cocoamay_">Marshmallow</a></i>. As you can see, Trap looks much darker on me than it looks in the tube, but I actually love that as it just makes the colour even more unique for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In terms of the formula, I have been pleasantly surprised. The Ultra Matte definitely is completely matte, and although I do find it more drying than my Dose of Colors or Lipland liquid lips, it isn't uncomfortable and it is definitely long wearing. I also like that it doesn't cling or dry weirdly in any lines or drier areas - although I always recommend exfoliating and using plenty of balm when you use liquid lipsticks. The Ultra Satin is a lovely formula, and a nice change from a matte lipstick. It still has all the opacity and pigmentation of the matte formula, but dries with a slight sheen to it. It doesn't feel drying at all, although the only thing I would say is it feels slightly thicker on the lips than the matte formula. I love the colour though, and I've had so many compliments on it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you tried anything from Colourpop? Let me know in the comments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Quick Colourpop US to UK review: </i>Delivery probably took around 10 days, and it was free over $50 as they specified in the offer. However, I was hit with a pretty hefty customs fee, as anything over $15 is now being charged apparently. I kind of saw this as paying for the delivery, but I wouldn't recommend paying for delivery and then customs as you'll probably pay twice for the products! They are lovely products, but I'd definitely be wary of ordering to the UK again. </span></div>
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<br />Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064406333753050939.post-6784720603681699242016-11-09T08:00:00.000+00:002016-11-09T08:00:06.317+00:00MAC 'Club' Eyeshadow | Review & Makeup Look<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I cannot quite believe how long this post has been sitting in my drafts for - I suppose I was waiting for the right makeup look to upload for this review! I got Club eyeshadow from MAC probably about a year ago, and what I love about this one is just how unique the colour is. It's a beautiful duo chrome (satin finish) red-brown shade with a olive green pearl in it. I find it's one of those colours that looks different on everyone, so definitely worth swatching it in store if you get the chance! I bought it when Carli Bybel used it in a tutorial ages ago, and it definitely looks more green on her pictures than on me. It's definitely a colour that would look especially beautiful on brown eyes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As with all MAC shadows, this one doesn't disappoint in terms of pigmentation and I never have any problems with blending or fall out when it comes to MAC either. This one I find I do have to build up a little bit to pack it on the lid, and I find it most beautiful layered with Kiko's 213 water shadow as they complement each other beautifully. In this look, I smoked it out with autumnal orange/red shades from the ABH Modern Renaissance palette.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do you have MAC Club eyeshadow? What are your fave MAC shadows? Let me know in the comments!</span></div>
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<br />Cocoa Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07026201145870064077noreply@blogger.com0