Review | No7 Match Made Service

I've been after a new foundation for a while now and being a pale girl with cool toned skin I struggle to find the perfect shade. The majority of the high street brands are often to yellow or orange toned for my skin and although I found a good match for night time in Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, I was still on the lookout for a good quality everyday foundation.

The Match Made service at the No7 counter in boots ensures you only purchase the shade and foundation type that is right for you. During my consultation, the consultant discussed my skin type, current skincare routine and the coverage I was looking for to determine the type of foundation. As I have combination skin and I wanted a medium coverage, the consultant advised the Stay Perfect foundation. To determine the shade, the consultant clicked the Match Made device on each side of my face which confirmed mine as 'Calico'.

Overall, the Match Made service is great for anyone who struggles to find their perfect foundation match. The consultation is free, so there's no pressure to make a purchase. I've been using my foundation every day for a few months now and I'm really happy with it. The colour and coverage are exactly what I was looking for and at £14 a bottle, is under half the price of the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua.

My top piece of advice when buying any foundation is to test the colour in natural light. What looks good under artificial lighting might be a muddy mess outside!

Have you tried the No7 Match Made service? What are your thoughts?

Emma xoxo

March Wishlist | Hello Spring!

Jeans- £36, Topshop
Shoes- £27.99, New Look
Sunglasses- £15, dollybowbow.co.uk
Bag- £136.04, shopbop.com
Lipstick- £4.49, Barry M (Shade: Pale Nude)
Dress- £15, H&M

As we come to the end of winter, despite the snow that's still around for some of us, it's time to look forward to the new season. This year I'm really into bright coral shades for spring and am seriously considering purchasing this floaty dress from H&M. It's only £15 and could be easily styled for both day and night. Sticking with the coral theme, I am in love with these bright, chunky wedges from New Look. Since I play it safe with black dresses and skirts the majority of the time, what better way to add a pop of colour to an outfit than through a pair of statement shoes?

I'm still playing around with lighter lipstick shades this month and as I have a pale complexion I'm interested to see how it works for me. I've read about this shade on a few blogs now and at £4.49 it's worth a try.

I'm really loving these statement floral shades from Dollybowbow! They're a bit daring and I'm not sure how often I would get away with wearing them but it's important to step out of your comfort zone sometimes. I love everything in Kate's shop and everything is so reasonably priced too!

I've had my eye on the Rebecca Mini Mac for quite a while and despite the hefty price tag I do think it's a worthwhile investment piece. It's a perfect everyday bag and the black leather and chunky hardwear will go with just about everything I wear. It might be about time I bite the bullet and splash out!

Finally, I can't forget to mention the Topshop 'Joni' jeans. They seem to become a bit of a cult favourite as of late and as I'm constantly on the hunt for a good quality pair of black skinny jeans, these might be the next pair to try.

What's on your wishlist for the upcoming season?

Emma

xoxo

Beauty News | Hayley Williams for MAC

After successful collaborations with stars such as Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj, MAC is set to release it's new mini capsule collection with Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams on 9th April. The four piece mini-collection consisting of a nail polish, eyeshadow, blusher and lipstick, are all in striking shades of Hayley's trademark orange. 

Not one for orange lips myself, I'm not sure I will be purchasing the whole collection but I am certainly very tempted by the thought of tangerine nails for summer. The powdered products will definitely require a trip to the MAC counter for swatches though! What are your thoughts on this collaboration? 

Emma

xoxo

January 2013 Favourites

This month I have spent quite a lot of time organising and clearing out my collection of beauty products this month and have been amazed at some of the things I have found. It's so easy to get stuck into a routine with beauty products and reorganising your collection is a great way to rediscover some treats you might have forgotten about. So with that said, this month's favourite are a collection of both old and new goodies!

Soap & Glory Smoothie Star Deep Moisture Body Milk

The world is split into two types of people- those who love sickly sweet scents and those who do not. I myself, am the former. Although this product claims to smell like milk, it reminds me more of cake batter, sweet and vanilla-y. The lotion works really well and keeps my skin hydrated all day. I put this on before bed each night and I wake up each morning with soft, smooth skin. At £10.00 for 500ml, one bottle really does go a long way and is easy to apply with a pump top. The best thing about it is how well it sinks into the skin. I love that I don't have to sit their for hours rubbing the product in!

Soap & Glory Peaches & Clean

As you might be able to tell, I have rediscovered my love for Soap & Glory products this month. Aside from their pretty packaging, I have found them to have some really good quality products for a price that doesn't break the bank and are easily accessible as they are available at Boots. I've been on a bit of a skincare detox this month and found this cleanser to be really light and refreshing leaving my skin feeling really smooth and clean after use. Also, as it isn't a foaming cleanser I found it quite moisturising and not at all messy- just apply a couple of pumps to dry skin, rise off with a wet flannel and you're ready to go!

Marc Jacobs Lola

I am a perfume hoarder. There, I've said it. One of my new year's resolutions this time round was to not buy any more. So in keeping with my promise to myself I went digging through my collection to find a fragrance that would keep me going through the last of the winter months and into Spring. Lola by Marc Jacobs has always been a favourite of mine and is perfect for this time of year. It's not easy to describe scents in writing but the best way I can explain it is as a darker floral; not quite bright and summery but fresh enough to see you into Spring.

Ayuuri Natural Moisturising Indian Rose Face Cream

I received this product in a Glossybox a couple of months back and when I saw it, I didn't have high hopes for it. However, from this I learned not to judge a book by its cover! I'm not usually a fan of rose scents, but the Indian Rose frangrance of this face cream is really subtle and not overpowering at all. This has worked really well alongside the Soap & Glory Peaches & Clean to keep my skin really smooth and hydrated. I recommend this for anyone with sensitive or dry skin as it works wonders!

Biosilk Silk Therapy

I have Glossybox to thank for this product too. Towards the end of last year I received a sample of this product and fell in love with everything about it. Don't be fooled by the perhaps uninspiring packaging, this little beauty has done wonders for my hair over the last couple of months and smells absolutely AMAZING (sort of like an expensive hair salon). I rub a little of this serum through the ends of my hair 3 or 4 times a week and it really does make a difference. I'd really recommend this product if you have dry or damaged ends or you are trying to grow your hair.

What have your favourite products been this month? Let me know in the comments or send me a link to your blog post if you have one- I'd love to read it!

Emma

xoxo

January 2013 Glossybox UK- Detox

The level of excitement I reach in the days between receiving the e-mail to say my Glossybox has been dispatched each month and the box arriving at my house has become quite a concern to my family. I love nothing more than the anticipation of a parcel arriving in the post and having no idea what's inside. This month's Glossybox had a detox theme, and after Christmas I think it's safe to say that is something we could all do with a little of this month.

Duck Island Mandarin & Bergamot Body Lotion

Although I have never heard of the brand 'Duck Island' before, this is my favourite product in this month's box. I'm a big fan of body lotions (although I don't always get round to actually using them, oops!) and I love choosing ones with really yummy scents. And this one is certainly that! Mandarin and Bergamot would not be the first scent I would usually choose when buying a body lotion in a shop but I was pleasantly surprised with this one. The lotion itself is really rich and creamy which is perfect for my slightly dehydrated skin and it is something I'm definitely considering buying the full size of once my sample is finished.

Monu Aromatic Mask

This was another product I was really pleased to receive this month as it has been too long since I've applied a face mask. Again, a brand I've never heard of before, Monu promises to soften, nourish and hydrate the skin. What I particularly like about this mask is that it does not set. I dislike nothing more than itchy, hard face masks that leave you unable to smile for 15 minutes! I can't wait to try this product out on my next pamper day.

Premae Skincare Balance Rescue Face Tonique 

I have been looking for a new toner for a while now and I'm far too fussy to actually commit and simply walk into a shop and buy one! Having sensitive skin, I have become attached to the safety of my current toner and was a bit worried about using a new one. However, I bit the bullet with this sample and loved it! It's a really refreshing, gentle toner and leaves you feeling really clean and awake. This is another product I'm considering buying the full size of once the sample is finished.

Elemis Freshskin Skin Glow Exfoliating Facial Wash

When I opened my Glossybox this month, Elemis was the first name that jumped out to me. Although I've never owned any of their products before, I have heard nothing but good things about them (QVC is on a lot in my house!) and I have sampled a couple of products in a hotel bathroom. I was glad to receive a product aimed at younger skin as in past boxes I have received a couple of products for mature skin and at the age of 20 I don't think I'm quite there yet! I've recently found a face wash I'm really happy with but I will definitely be saving this for times when I'm away from home so I don't have to pack a huge product or spend ages trying to squeeze cleanser into a smaller bottle, one of the joys of Glossybox!

Jason Lips Be Healthier Lip Beam

This product was my biggest disappointment of the month. For a start off, I can't work out how to twist the product up to use it. Now, if that's just me being a bit ditzy I will hold my hands up and say it's not the first time I have been accused of being such things but I'm 90% sure the product is damaged. Other than that, the product seems to be very similar to the Lip Balm by Burt's Bees, so perhaps one day if I manage to make it work I will be able to compare the two!

Also in the box this month was a Glossybox sleep mask (not pictured). I've received a few of Glossybox's own products now and I have to say I have been thoroughly impressed with everything so far and hope they become available on their website soon!

Did you receieve anything different in your Glossybox this month? I know a few people received a Paul Mitchell product and I'd love to hear what you think of it! Also, is anyone subscribed to a different beauty box? If so, leave me a comment telling me what it is and what you think of it. I love discovering new products!

Emma

xoxo

January 2013 Wishlist

The January sales are coming to an end and all the shops are re-stocking ready for the spring (despite the current snowstorm that has hit the country!). Now is the perfect time to refresh your wardrobe and makeup bag with a few new pieces to kick-start the year. Here are my picks of the month.

1. 90's Round Sunglasses, £16.00, Topshop. I saw these circle shades on the River Island website and was instantly reminded of Kate Hudson's character, Penny Lane in one of my favourite films, 'Almost Famous'. I'm not entirely sure how wearable these sunglasses would be for everyday wear, but I want them. Just because.

2. High Beam, £18.50, Benefit. During the party season I've come to the end of my beloved Benefit Girl Meets Pearl and have been on the lookout for a new highlighter for the new year. High beam is a lighter less intense highlighter than Girl Meets Pearl with a much more natural glow than the gold shimmer of the latter provides. I think this product is going to be a must-have for the next few months!

3. Ted Baker Jigsaw Stud Earrings, £29.00, ASOS. Ted Baker is a brand I've not really paid much attention to in the last 7ish years. I've been intrigued by their beauty range in Boots a couple of times but never really tried any of the products out. That was until the end of last year when I discovered a new-found love for the brand complete with my new signature perfume and iPhone case. I think these jigsaw earrings are adorable and are perfectly on-trend with their rose gold coloured metal.

4. Lips In Saint, £8.00, Topshop. I've always been a fan of Topshop lipsticks, but gone are the days I felt it necessary to prance around wearing Brighton Rock in the day time. As I'm quite fair-skinned, I've been meaning to try out a lighter pink lipstick for a while now and as I loved the formula of Brighton Rock, I thought another Topshop Lipstick, Saint, would be the way forward!

5. Cameo Rose Cream Stud  Shoulder Sleeveless Shirt, £16.99, New Look. Now that Spring is on it's way, I've made a sort-of-resolution to stop wearing so much black. I literally open my wardrobe some days and can't tell one item of clothing from the others because they all blend into one black hole of fabric. In keeping with my personal style, I love the studded detailing of this blouse and think it would be a lovely, versatile everyday staple to see me through to the summer months.

6. Grey Wash Stud Rucksack, £35.00, River Island. As I've already mentioned, I'm a big fan of studs. I'm also a big fan of not having tons of weight to carry on my arms. I think this backpack would be perfect for days when I have lots of books and folders to carry to uni, freeing my hands up for a much needed coffee when I get there!

What's on your wishlist this January? Did you find any amazing deals in the sales?

Emma

xoxo

Product Review: SP System Professional Repair Gift Box

On a recent trip to the hairdressers I decided to treat myself to some of the new products they had on sale. Since my hair before the cut was in appalling condition (the result of a bleach disaster a few months before, we've all had them!) I was recommended by my stylist to try the SP System Professional Repair line.

The gift box is a bit of a splurge at £24.99, but I'd definitely recommend it if you're hair is looking a little worse for wear and you want to get it back in really good condition. By buying the gift box, I made a massive saving of around £15 on what the shampoo and conditioner would have cost individually, and also the box contained a 50ml can of Perfect Hold hairspray, and 4 miniatures from the Colour Save and Smoothen lines.

The shampoo and conditioner have that lovely hairdresser scent and when used together, I really noticed the difference in the condition of my hair after a few washes. Although it is recommended that you do not need to use as much of the products as with drug store shampoo and conditioners, I found that as my hair was so thick I needed a bit more than the 10p size amounts advised to me. This means that it's probably not going to last the 3 months intended but the overall effectiveness of the products certainly outweighs this.

The hair masks from the other two lines were also really lovely for a once a week hair treatment, although I do with they had included one from the Repair line, as it was the only thing that seemed to be missing from the set. The hair masks included enough product to cover my hair once and after leaving it in overnight, left me with silky smooth hair for the next few days.

I do find the miniature conditioners a little pointless though, since I'd purchased the set for a full size bottle of shampoo and conditioner in the range suited to my hair. However, I will be trying them out once my full size bottle is used up.

The mini hairspray is the real little gem of this set. Since I originally bought this set for the shampoo, conditioner and hair masks, it was nice to be able to try something else from the range which I usually wouldn't have bought, all in with the price. The hairspray is of good quality, doesn't make your hair too 'crispy' when applied and holds it in place all day. For a hairspray it is pretty pricey with prices ranging from about £8-11 online, however I've become quite fond of it so it's something I might have to repurchase in the future!

Overall, I was pleased with the set, especially since there was such a massive saving on the individual products and I feel that the price was also good for the amount of products included in the box. I'd recommend this set to get damaged hair back into good condition, rather than as a permanent change in your haircare routine, but it's definitely something I'd repurchase if the condition of my hair ever slipped again!