Belated Birthday Haul

Ciao Bella!

So this a really belated post, but i have been so busy lately with new exciting upcoming events it’s been hard to fit blogging in. But I'm back now and have a few posts planned for the next upcoming week. It was my 20th birthday back in May, so as expected here is my (belated) birthday haul. I didn't get a lot of stuff but i got what i asked for so i can't really complain..


MAKEUP

I always ask for  makeup products that i haven't tried yet, as i love trying out new products or old favourites.

Sleek Blusher & Sleek Pout Paint
I've been dying to try Sleek blushers as many YouTube guru boast how good these are. I was persuaded to ask to a coral shade – sunrise. It looks so natural and almost like a complimentary high lighter.
The sleek pout paints are a dupe for the obsessive compulsive cosmetics lip tar. I was gifted the dark fuchsia shade shade 159 Port which is a deep pink – perfect for a bold statement lip. 

L’Oreal Studio Secret Primer

I’ve tried many different primers but always seem to come back to this little gem. Its priced at £14.29 for 15ml (nearly £1 per 1ml – but its worth it!) . You only need to apply a pea sized amount so it does last a couple of month if you use it every day. It’s a velvet texture which easily glides onto my skin and is easily rubbed in. I apply the primer after I have applied my moisturiser. I can’t go without a base primer as It makes my makeup look flawless and last all day. I would class this primer as heavy duty as it more durable than other primers such as the Rimmel Fix and perfect.

Left to Right:
Clinique eyeliner
Sleek blush in shade
L'oreal Studio secret primer

Benefit They’re Real Mascara
This is a another anticipated product I couldn't wait to try out as Benefits they're real mascara has been such a controversial product within the beauty world. You either love it or hate it. Although the majority of reviews I have watched and read have been brilliant. Although I’m not sure I will be replacing it after I have used this birthday gift, as it is expensively priced at £19 for 8.5g.

Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake
Id heard rave reviews about Illamasqua highly pigment eyebrow cake and was in no hesitant state to put It on my birthday wish list. I choose the dark brown shade – thunder. Eye brown cakes aims to ‘Give your eyebrows the edge. Shape and define to frame your eyes and enhance your expressive side. Match with your natural colour or experiment with different tones for an alternative look. Use dry for soft definition or mixed with water or Sealing Gel for a sharp shape.’ So far I have loved this product and have been teaming it with the inexpensive MUA eyebrow pencil and Illamasqua sealing gel, to really make my brows frame my face. Eyebrow cake retails at £15.50 and is available in 6 different shades.

Left to Right:
Sleek Pout Paint in shade Port
Benefit they're real mascara
Illamasqua in shade thunder

ACCESSORIES 
Okay , so I got quite a strange mix of accessories for my birthday but it was 

essentials I needed. Venus & Olay Razor , elegant touch crackle nails and a real techniques powder brush. 

Venus & Olay Razor
This is Venus’ newest razor and contains Olay Moisture Bars to release skin conditioners to help reduce dryness and also has 5 Venus blades. It’s like a 2 in 1 razor as you don’t need shaving gel to shave with this as it is ‘built in’. Any Venus blades fit a Venus razor so, after I have finished using this blade I’m going to try out a few differen tones.

Elegant Touch Crackle Nails

The limited edition pack contains 24 short nails in 10 different sizes , glue included. Crackle polish is still on-going trend and having falsies combined with crackle are perfect for when im in a rush to get ready for a spontaneous (or planned) night out.  I haven't tried these out yet but can’t wait to do so.

 Real Techniques Powder Brush.

I already have  real techniques  but I suppose I girl can't have too many makeup brushes! As this is quite a versatile brush , can be used to apply powder foundations , setting powder, bronzer just to name a few . It does help to have more than one.

PERFUME

I wear perfume every single day and usually choose my scent depending on my mood. The two fab perfumes i received for my birthday was the new Britney spears Island Fantasy perfume and Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia.

Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia
I wouldn't usually go for Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia as i don't feel that its aimed at young people, but its a pleasant surprise as it smells so lovely and slightly fruity.  I would definitely suggest you beauties try and smells this scent as it surprisingly enticing.  

·        Heartnotes

Jasmine, aquatic note

·        Top notes

Crushed mint leaves, limone primo flore

·        Basenotes

Cedarwood heart, brown sugar, labdanum

·        Scent

Aquatic

·        Feel

Powerful   (takenfrom www.theperfumeshop.com)

Britney spears Island Fantasy
I have collected all of the Britney Spears fantasy perfumes as they sweet and fruity - just what i like in a evening perfume. Its described as a 'mouthwatering mix of citrus cocktail, mandarin, clementine, watery melon and red fruits intertwines with refreshing floral notes of jasmine, freesia and violet A surprising finish of soft musky undertones and sugar cane makes the tantalizing aroma carefree, flirty and feminine'. This is perfect for summer but is a little too heavy to wear during the day.  Out of all the Fantasty perfumes this is so far my favourite. 

o    Heart notes

Jasmine, Violet, and Freesia

o    Top notes

citrus, mandarin, clementine, and watermelon

o    Base notes

Musk and Sugar Cane

o    Scent

Fruity  

o    Feel

Flirty (taken from www.theperfumeshop.com)

AND FINALLY MY NEW CAMERA . . .

I have been itching to get a professional SLR camera for ages. So was extremely  happy when i got the EOS Digital SLR Canon 600D for my birthday.  Its main features include:  18-megapixel CMOS sensor, Scene Intelligent Auto mode, Full-HD EOS Movie, On-screen Feature Guide,Up to 3.7fps continuous shooting ,Basic+ and Creative Filters and Built-in wireless flash control. You can expect clearing looking pictures from me now and when i get to grips with editing software maybe a few videos too. 

What's on your birthday wish list?
Lucilla xx

Event:Selfridges summer beauty evening & Makeup haul

Ciao Bella!

Yesterday i attended the Selfridges Summer Beauty evening at Selfridges Manchester Exchange. It was an evening to discover the spring and summer beauty trends and sought-after hair trends. Tickets were £10 but then was redeemable against products purchased on the night. Plus if you spent over £70 you got a go on the Selfridges prize vending machine full of prizes. At the evening was international makeup artists who will help  to create the looks. The event promised that you would receive mini makeovers and complementary treatments from the beauty world’s biggest brands,enjoy complimentary drinks (although you could only get a free cocktail when you purchased a perfume) and tasty treats including candy floss, popcorn and snow cones. I'd been looking forward to this event for weeks, as i was hoping to enjoy a girly evening with my mum and older sister.

Did the event live up to my expectations?

Selfridges has such a commendable reputation i was sure the event would be fantastic.  Sadly, it didn't  I was a little disappointed at how it was badly organised, as there were people at the event who had no purchased a ticket. You could tell who had by the blue wrist band they were wearing. This made me feel like  purchasing the £10 ticket was a waste of money and wasn't necessary. The event was absolutely rammed and overcrowded   - i think this was due to the numbers been unregulated. Also the complimentary champagne drinks promised ran out before we even had a chance to get a glass , but annoyingly people were walking round with 2 of champagne glasses of it each.

 On most of the counters in the beauty haul you couldn't get the help you needed or receive the promised complimentary makeovers as there was just too many people.  I also felt the makeup artists that i did manage to speak to were more interested in the sales rather than helping me find the right product. For example i tried on 'Lady Danger' , a MAC lipstick which looked horrendous but the makeup artist was pushing me to purchase it. Overall the evening was disappointed and my mum left early because it was so crammed and she wasn't enjoying herself.

The highlight of the evening was the generously priced prizes in the Selfridges vending machine. When you spend £70 or more that evening you were able to go the the Selfridges vending machine and pick a mysteriously prize. I got one of the new Bobbi Brown sheer lipsticks and  my sister got a 80ML YSL perfume worth £73!

What did i buy?

I must admit i went a little crazier than i wanted too with what i bought. I purchased my normal MAC products MAC Studio Fix powder Plus foundation, MAC Fix+ but also got a MAC studio finish concealer for extra coverage on days when i don't want to wear too much powder or don't fancy wearing alot of makeup .
New purchases were my MAC temperature rising lipstick in shade 'Feel my pulse' (which is so similar to heroine) , Estee Lauder double wear foundation and the new Bobbi Brown sheer lipstick in shade hot raspberry,  i won in the selfridges vending machine. 

 Estee Lauder double wear foundation - £27

Estee Lauder double wear foundation in Amber Honey (5N2)

I wanted to try a new foundation as I have been wearing my beloved MAC studio fix foundation since I was 16 (I’m now 20!). I’ve heard many good reviews and raves about the Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation so I thought I would give it a try. It has 15-hour staying power similar to the long wear of the MAC Studio fix fluid but also , Medium, buildable coverage with a built in SPF 10 Natural. The finish is  Semi-Matte and is perfectly fine for those who have oily skin as it is oil free. After chatting to the counter assistant I was matched to shade 'Amber Honey (5N2)' which is a neutral shade.  I’m going to trial it out this week and let you know how  I get on with it.

Have you tried the Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation? Let me know what you think! 

MAC Studio Fix  powder Plus foundation - £20.50

You beauties know MAC foundation are my favorite beauty products! As soon as my powder is running low i always repurchase so i have got some handy for when it does run out.

 *NEW* Bobbi Brown sheer lipstick in shade hot raspberry,  - £19 ( i won for free)

I was quite surprised when i woman this from the selfridges prize machine as i though the prizes would not be as good as the this. I had watched a few of these new lipstick that evening but did not purchase because of the price.  So i was quite happy when i won. the sheer lipstick have a  lightweight formula for lips that delivers an effortless wash of colour plus nourishing shine. Plus the sheer lipsticks contain luxurious butters and oils to nourish your lips but also deliver a splash of colour. I cannot wait to wear this lipstick on a night out!

Have you tried the new Bobbi Brown Sheer lipstick collection?

 MAC Fix+ - £14.50

MAC's Fix+ Spritz - 100ml

This is one of my makeup essentials! i always repurchase MAC's Fix+ face spritz. Its great for making your powder not look too cakey and setting your makeup making it look natural.I'm going to be doing a post soon on  MAC's Fix+ spritz Vs MAC's mineralize charged water. So keep your eyes peeled. 

 MAC studio finish concealer - £14.50

MAC's studio range is well known for its fantastic medium - full coverage. I already have a Studio finish concealer but i had shade NC42 for highlight my brow area to make it look more natural once i have applied my pencil. I have only recently just discovered the beauties of concealer as it great for when you're in a rush or when you don't want to apply a lot of makeup but still cover imperfections. I love the finish of this concealer  as it doesn't make my skin look cakey and blends in really well, for that natural look.

What's your favorite concealer?

 MAC temperature rising lipstick in shade 'Feel my pulse' - £15.50

Left: MAC's feel my pulse cremesheen lipstick
Right: MAC's Strong woman lipstick and Feel my pulse lipstick.

This is my second purchase of the a product from MAC's new spring/summer collection temperature rising. I emailed an artist asking for which colour is similar to the discontinued MAC's Strong woman matte lipstick (was from A/W collection '12)  and she suggested feel my pulse from the temperature rising collection or heroine from the fashion set. Unfortunately heroine was sold out so this was the next best thing it a cremesheen lipstick - Ultra sheer and uber moist, it features flat pigments and a creamy high shine finish to lips. I wish there was permanent colour similar to strong woman in the permanent lipstick collection, as i absolutely love this colour!

Have you ever been to a Selfridge's event?