Etude House Water Color Blusher in #02 'Coral' [Review]

Dear readers,

Even though I am blighted with oily skin, I do prefer cream over powder blushes...

Add super cute packaging to the mix and I am sold!

One of the latest cream blushers that I got is this Etude House Water Colour Blusher in 'Coral'

Like a number of Korean brands, this was super affordable [$9.80 inc. shipping] - and you can get yours from HERE.

As mentioned [and you can obviously see] the cute packaging is what got me. Like the name states, this cream blusher comes in cute water colour style packaging.

It is quite on the smaller side - just 10ml, but a little goes a looonnggg way [check out swatches below were I used a little too much product].

It comes in 4 shades: strawberry pink, coral, apricot and lilac

I'm going through a coral phase which explains my colour choice - but I really want to get the lilac one because I have never seen this shade in a cream blusher before.

This blusher has a water-y gel consistency which blends super easy. It also has a subtle floral smell - but nothing too strong.

Even though this is cream-y, it does not leave an oily residue.

Even though I've used this blusher on it's own quite a number of times, at the moment I've been loving layering powder over cream which makes the flush of colour last well over 10 hours. 

I've been using the Milani Baked Blush in 'Corallina' over this one [check out my review of the Milani blush HERE.

On its own this does have good staying power - about 5 hours, then you'd have to reapply.

It is very sheer [if you use a tiny amount that is] and is really very buildable without looking OTT.

*a really heavy swatch*

Love,

Lorraine

xoxo

Planter's Natural & Young Aloe Vera Repairing Cream [Review]

Dear readers,

You might [or to think of it, you might not] know that at the moment I'm in the middle of an M.A. course, which has wreaked havoc on my poor feet and hands.

Yes dear readers, I suffer from stress induced eczema which flares up depending on my stress levels.

I've tried all sorts of creams and lotions and potions, but the only way that it settles is when I'm feeling calmer.

So the only thing that I can do is smother my feet with soothing cream.

Enter the Planter's Natural & Young Aloe Vera Repairing Cream.  

The main ingredients are;

 aloe vera barbadensis, karité butter, rice oil, linseed oil, St. John’s Wort oil, sweet almond oil

And it is;

Paraben free, silicone free, peg free, alcohol free, petrolatum free, allergen free fragrances, no animal derived raw materials, lanolin free, nickel tested, dermatologically tested.

This can be used on both face and body. 

I've tried using it as a moisturiser/night cream but I mostly use this on my eczema [If you scroll down I've attached a before/after picture].

It is easily absorbed into the skin without leaving a greasy residue. I mostly use this at night when I'm in bed [it has a permanent residing place on my bedside table]. 

My feet itch like crazy and sometimes the soles of my feet are so sore that I find it really painful to walk but the Planter's cream really softens them up and is really soothing.

And I really love the smell this has - I find it really comforting if you know what I mean [and it does linger on my skin]

The Repairing Cream can be bought in the 75ml tin like I have [and hey, there are 9 collectible tins!] or in the 150ml tubes.

I love mine so much that I've hit pan and I need to re-purchase this ASAP.

To my Maltese readers: this costs €6.50 and you can get it from selected outlets around Malta and Gozo.

Check out their facebook page **here** for more information and updates.

Love,

Lorraine

xoxo

***Disclaimer: This product was given to me for review purposes. I was not paid to do this review. What I wrote in the review is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Essence Nail Art Tattoo Pen [Review]

Dear readers,

I love nail art. But I always have no designs on my own nails. Go figure.

Most probably it's because I'm a professional nail technician and after I'm done doing all sorts of designs on my clients, the last thing I want it to spend ages doing my own to then scratch them while filing clients' nails. 

I was first introduced to nail pens by my friend Jo who for Christmas [about 2 years ago now I guess] gave me a set of Sally Hansen nail pens [check out my review]

So anyway, about a month ago I had a look through the back to back Essence stand at a local shop and one of the things that I got was this Essence Nail Art Tattoo Pen which if I remember correctly was real cheap.

To my knowledge it only comes in 1 shade - black. More colours would be nice but I guess black is fine too since it is the most used shade when it comes to nail art.

It comes in 'felt tip' style packaging and works exactly like a felt tip marker would. 

To use, you just push on the tip until the ink flows through - then before each use you just shake well.

I always store it upside down [same as I store pen eye liners]

*sorry for the out of focus picture*

This pen is really easy to use. And so so so so helpful! This has made my life so much easier - especially when it comes to drawing tiny teeny designs [plus it saves me a lotttt of time]

I have used this pen both on regular nail polish and on gel polish [if you scroll to the bottom you can see 2 examples I did today on clients].

If you use on regular polish it is extremely important that you wait until the polish is completely dry or else it won't work as well and will look rather messy [been there, done that - oh impatient me]

I have also tried using both regular top coat and gel top coat and it does not smudge at all - I must stay that this pen dries to the touch almost immediately. 

So the below pictures are all hand drawn by me using this Essence Pen.

I really need to buy back ups of this pen - and if you are a nail art fan then I suggest that you get one too.

Love,

Lorraine

xoxo

Milani Baked Blush in 'Corallina' [Review]

Dear readers,

These Baked Blushes by Milani have been raved about [and still continue to be] by a horde of beauty bloggers and you tubers. If you have never heard about them, then you definitely should continue to read this post.

I got mine from Cherry Culture when they had a real good sale [40% off the entire website I believe].

They cost $8 a pop [sans delivery charges].

I chose Corallina because I wanted, as the name implies, a coral-y shade for spring/summer. 

These baked blushes come in golden, plastic packaging. You get the blush on top, and you also get a bottom compartment which stores a handy mirror and brush. 

The packaging does feel a bit cheap [although it does not look like it], but hey, it is an $8 blush we're talking about - and if the product is good, then I don't really mind.

'Corallina' has a marbled effect [due to the baking I guess] and as mentioned, it is a coral shade but with quite a large number of shimmer in it.

When I first swatched this, I went all mehhhhhhh because I don't like shimmery glittery face products. 

But that was easily sorted. More about that later.

It is very nicely pigmented and you need a light hand when applying this.

To get rid of the pesky shimmer in it, I apply normally with a blush brush, but then use a stippling brush to go over it.

This has excellent staying power - more that I would have thought possible in a blush. This stays on for the best part of the day [and even more than that if I layer a cream blusher underneath].

Can't rave enough about this, go and get it for yourself. I know I will definitely get more shades from the range.

Love,

Lorraine

xoxo

International Make Up Giveaway! [Giveaway] [CLOSED]

Dear readers,

I haven't had an international giveaway in ages now, and as promised, since I've reached a new milestone I've decided to go ahead and host another one.

The lucky winner will get;

E.l.f. Baked Eyeshadow in Pixie

E.l.f. Lengthening & Defining Mascara in Black Brown

E.l.f. Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Perfect Pink

E.l.f. Lipstick in Fantasy

NYX Trip Eyeshadow Palette in Frosted Flake/Slate/Iced Mocha

Catrice Infinite Shine Lipgloss in Pink Twice

The Skin Shop Premium Secret Mask Pack [1 mask]

The giveaway will run from today till the first week of May [so for a month]. I will announce the winner on a blog post and will send him/her an email, after which he/she will have 3 days to get back to me or I will have to choose another winner.

To participate, just fill in the Rafflecopter below. The only mandatory rules I have are that you must follow me via Google Friends Connect [GFC] and Blog Lovin', to like my Facebook page. All the others are extra and some can be done daily to get you more chances of winning!

Important! Please do not follow via GFC privately, or else I won't know who is following or not.

Good luck everyone!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Love,

Lorraine

xoxo

Etude House 'Oh Happy Day Hand Bouquet' Hand Cream [Review]

Dear readers,

Who doesn't like a nice smelling hand cream?

Add to that cute packaging and you have a sure winner.

A while ago I came across these Etude House Oh Happy Day Hand Bouquet Hand Creams and I got two to try out. 

They are super duper cheap [I got mine from *HERE*]

There are 6 different types of scents, and all of them have cute packaging to boot.

I chose Rich Sugar [on the left] and Rich Cotton [on the right]

Rich Sugar has a really flowery, sweet scent.

Rich Cotton smells of newborn babies - a kind of cross between talc and the old nivea hand creams which used to come in the blue metal pot.

The creams are very lightweight and easily absorbed once applied - without leaving that greasy feeling which I really hate [so they will make good creams to use during the sticky Summer months].

Your hands are left superbly soft and with a lovely fragrance which seems to linger on for quite a bit. But that doesn't stop me from re-applying several times throughout the day - I'm seriously addicted to hand creams in general but these are 2 of the nicest I have ever used.

Which are your favourite hand creams? Do tell!

Love,

Lorraine

xoxo

Milani Brow Shaping Clear Wax [First Impressions | Review]

Dear readers,

While browsing through the Cherry Culture website *check it out here* this Brow Wax by Milani Cosmetics grabbed by attention.

It normally costs $4.50 but I got mine when they had the 50% off across the entire site. 

So basically I have really wild eyebrows - they can never stay flat or neat and yes, they drive me crazy.

I usually use a clear mascara [I really like the one by Essence Cosmetics] but I don't really like how mascaras feel 'wet' when applied plus the 'clear' mascara eventually turns into a really yucky muddy colour which I absolutely hate [there is also a brow mascara version to this Milani wax]

So when I saw this wax in a pencil form I said hey, why not.

So this is basically wax but in pencil form. 

It works on all hair shades. At first I was worried that it'll show through [and dry white] but it is clear and leaves no tell-tale signs.

To use you just work this through your eyebrows. You can then comb them with a brow brush if they are still unruly but I find that mine lay nice and flat just by applying this and I never have to comb through them.

You can also use this before you fill your eyebrows [especially if you use powder instead of pencils]

The wax is not sticky at all so that is a plus point.

This lasts alllll throughout the day.

I cannot rave enough about this product. Seriously.

I wish that I had known what a great product this was and bought back ups when I was placing the order.

Oh well, guess there's another excuse to place another order off Cherry Culture soon.

Love,

Lorraine

xoxo