Sunday, 9 December 2012

NEW CID COSMETICS I FINISH TRANSLUCENT POWDER


For the past couple of weeks I have been road testing a new loose powder. Come the winter months I can find my skin a tad dryer and therefore more often than not skip this part of my routine or just usual a light dusting of my usual Laura Mercier pressed powder around the T zone. However when I was given the chance to try a new loose powder by New CID cosmetics* I thought it was time for a change. CID cosmetics are a newish brand to me with the exception of seeing some pretty rave reviews throughout the blogging community. As a bit of a stickler for fancy fancy packaging I have been displaying this with pride on my dresser. The powder itself is a translucent powder with a hint of colour and would suit most light to medium skin tones. I have been using this on top of my usual Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser, applying it with the large Real Techniques powder brush and it gives a lovely smooth finish without looking powdery which I find can be the case with some loose powders. As with all loose powders I can find them a tad messy and hard to travel with. The lid inside has holes which disperse the powder after a slight shake which makes this a little easier to work with however I think I will be sticking to pressed powders for travelling after a slight handbag mishap :-). Overall though I have been enjoying this and it is definitely a welcome addition to my collection. 

The new CID i-finish Translucent Powder is available at Hairtrade and you can buy the product for £17.41 here

Have you tried the new CID range and what did you think?

*PR sample


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Friday, 7 December 2012

MEET THE #BBLOGGERS PART ONE

Clara is a beautiful Irish girl living in England and writes a somewhat amazing blog called Countess du Blush! Despite being only 18 years old she speaks well beyond her years. Her blog not only showcases her amazing style and taste but also gives us an insight into her personality! A budding history student she describes herself style as the by-product of Marie Antoinette and chums. Something tells me that this girl will go far! 

So grab yourself a brew and enjoy the interview which Clara kindly took part in for me!


1. How would you describe your blog?

A corner of the internet where analogies are generally historical, superficial things are unconditionally appreciated and Maria Antoinette, Edie Sedgwick and Vivienne Westwood are somewhat worshipped.

2 I am always interested in how people come up with the names for their blog, how did you come up with yours?

My blog is called Countess du Blush. I'm an A level student looking to study history at university in 2013 with a particular interest in the 17th-18th Century history. One of my favourite court characters is Comtesse du Barry, a fairly scandalous mistress of Louis XV. I'm not giving myself a title out of arrogance, rather I am showing a nod to the court ladies I love in history who used clothing and fashion to make a statement, political or just egocentric. As for Blush, I love a bit of rouge and a glass of Pinot doesn't turn me off either. 

3. How would you describe your style?

If Marie Antoinette and her best friends were in a bubble-gum punk-pop band, shared a flat with Vivienne Westwood and Lily Munster and Edie Sedgwick was the land lady; I'd be the by-product. My style is all about contrast. Sugar-sweet pastels with monochrome. Straight laced school-girl wear with flowing chiffon. And the word 'clash' is not in my vocabulary unless Joe Strummer is involved.

4. If you had to pick either an endless supply of makeup or an endless supply of clothes which would you choose?

Probably makeup. My old dad instilled some fairly strict financial principles in me and, though the blogging world has lead me wayward, I can never buy backups of essential stuff because I hate spending money on old hat, boring stuff! Boring economical reasoning but i'd love to own the whole MAC lipstick line one day...

5. What prompted you to start blogging?

A part of me loved the community and I admired those involved, but another part of me knew there was something that I could offer. I grew tired of reading blogs with no personality. Like it or loathe it, you can read my blog and learn a lot about me from it! Its something I like about my own style and wanted to share it with others as well as meet great people. 

6. What's the one product that ou regret buying?

Clinique Three-Step System. I was in the height f my skin worries and it only made it worse, unfortunately. 

7. Do you family and friends know about your blog and do they read it?

My family and friends know I do this but I respectfully ask that my family in particular doesn't read it, just because its a personal space for me and I'm not sure they'd really understand, if that makes sense? I think blogging as a whole is weird unless you're active in it, but everyone is really nice about it. 

8. Can you remember the first item of makeup you owned? If yes, what was it?

Probably something from No. 7. My mum always gave me those gift sets when she got them, the gift with purchase?

9. What was the first blog that you started reading?

I don't really remember. Most of my blog experience has been flitting from blog to blog, usually motivated by the images/writing style of the person. I will say I have followed Muhsine from Bubblegarm for years. I've loved her blog for ages. 

10. Tell me about your absolute, holy grail product, the one you buy again and again!

CoverGirl Lash Blast Mascara is the best. By far. I would also repurchase MAC Studio Fix powder, I've had three or four and it's not perfect but its coverage and texture is amazing! NARS Blushes in Madly and Taj Mahal would rank very highly, too!

11. What part of blogging do you enjoy the most?

I love creating the whole aesthetic of my blog through Outfit photos, if that makes any sense? I love those posts the most because a lot of work goes into them and I like creating beautiful things where possible (I haven't much to work with, only ol' me!) But on a social level, I've really enjoyed speaking to others and finding a community of folk who can be as superficial as me about beauty and fashion but still have wonderful hearts and amazing interests. 

12. Finally, tell me your favourite blogs that you read religiously?

Leanne Woodfull of Thunder and Threads and Tara from Tar Mar Tales will always be cited as my favourites. They're both irish girls, like me, and have wonderful personal styles and amazing personalities. And I can't go a day without checking Temptalia, It's like Cosmetics BBC News really , isn't it?

I urge you all to check out Clara's blog Countess du Blush by clicking here!

A big thank you to Clara for taking part and being the first to be featured!

Clara kindly gave me permission to use images from her blog and is taking part in a 'meet the #bbloggers' series. This is going to run for 5 weeks - all the #bbloggers have been chosen and depending on how well this is received may become a regular Friday post!

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Wednesday, 5 December 2012

LUSH TEA TREET TONER TABS

So Sunday I pranced off to the bathroom, old Glossy Box in hand filled to the brim with skincare goodies ready to make the most of the boyfriend being at work and indulge in the ultimate facial pampering session. So cue the newbies to the clan - Lush Toner Tabs!

Its no secret that I love steaming my face. I love sweating out all the nasties and the clean feeling afterwards so when I saw these little gems in a rare visit to Lush I snapped them up for less than a quid each. They are basically small bath bombs which you had to steaming hot water. They fizz up, not greatly but enough. I tend to then lean over the bowl of hot water with a towel and soak up the steam for a good ten minutes. 

These ones are the T tree version which I picked up when my skin was looking at bit meh and have just got around to using them. I would not say these are mind boggling but if you are someone that enjoys steaming their face on a regular basis then they would definitely be a welcome edition. 

You can pick up the toner tabs both in store and at Lush online here.
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Tuesday, 4 December 2012

WIN £100 WITH #BOOHOOSTYLE CHALLENGE

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 

TOTAL £92.00
(still  some change for a cab home!)

When Boohoo.com announced their latest competition I jumped at the chance to enter. Not only is it giving you the blogger a chance to win £100 to spend at Boohoo but its also offering your readers (yes thats you!) the chance to win £250 as well!

The Challenge?

Head over to Boohoo, pick at least 3 items up to a value of £100 to make your perfect outfit! You can read more about it over on the Boohoo website here! I always have fun putting these outfits together, its almost shopping without the guilt and can you believe this entire ensemble came to under £100? I am certainly going to be shopping with Boohoo more often :-)

So what do you think of my outfit? Will you be entering?

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