January 2013 Favourites

Hey Lovely Ladies! 

January went quicker that I expected it too, I've had a lot of thing to do this month so maybe that's why. I've also found some amazing new products and also found a few that I had forgotten about! 

First up is the Tresemme Salon Finish Iron Hold Hairspray that I bought just before Christmas. I've been using my new curling wand this month and this has helped me keep those gorgeous curls for longer.  Staying with hair products...I've also been using the Aussie Take The Heat Leave In Spray which help's protect the hair from heat damage as well as helping it to look "Mirror Smooth" I really love it!

The nail polishes I've been wearing frequently this month is Barry M Raspberry, which is a gorgeous deep red, and Nicole By OPI's NICOLE'S NICKEL, which is a gun metal full coverage glitter polish. 

Makeup wise I've been using my MAC Festive Face Palette, which I received back last year, from the eye shadows the colours I love to use are Phloof!, Dance In The Dark and Brun. I also love using the blush Mocha. My favourite concealer this month is the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer. My Favourite makeup tool of the month is the Real Techniques Buffing Brush. It's great brush for applying Foundation and I'm going to be reviewing it soon....right after I wash it! Hehehe.

This winter due to the cold weather my dry skin has taken a real beating, I rummaged through all my body lotions *there's a lot* and picked up the Mango Body Butter by The Body Shop that I hadn't used since the Summer. I remember how much I had loved it in the summer so decided to see if it could help! It sure did, I even used it on my face as my skin was getting so bad! It worked brilliantly. 

The perfumes I've been using constantly this January are Armani Code, It's a signature scent for me, and Soap and Glory Glam-A-Lot Body Spray, I picked this in a set earlier this month and absolutely love it! 

So that's everything I've been loving this month! 

What have you been loving? 

Linzi, xxx

Wednesday Wishlist

Vera Wang Princess Perfume

I own Princess Night and I've been loving it lately. 

I've never bought the original Princess though so I'm dying to pick it up, I'm thinking of using my boots points for it :-) 

Lord Of The Rings Box Set 

I watched The Hobbit the other day and I loved it so much! 

It made me want to re-watch the LOTR movies all over again. We used to own them all but I think they've been chucked out somehow, can't find them :-( 

Lover At Last By J R WARD

I've been waiting for JR Ward to write this novel for years, It's not out till the end of March but I've been re-reading the whole series to get back into the whole 'Blackdagger Brotherhood' world. 

NEW Urban Decay Theodora Palette

Everyone seems to be talking about the new Urban Decay Palettes and I can see why, the Glinda palette is lovely but I think I prefer this one   :-) 

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

I'm in love with my Original Naked palette and I love that they have brought out this new Matte based palette! 

I've seen lots of lovely tutorials and FOTD's for this palette lately and it just makes me crave it more and more :-)

Burberry Body Perfume Gift Set

I always like to read about other peoples favourite perfumes and this one is mentioned alot, I haven't actually smelt it yet though so that really my wish ;-) To actually smell this talked about fragrance!

So there you go! 

What have you been wishing for lately? 

Linzi, xxx

Eau My Giddy God - Giorgio Armani - Idole d'Armani EDP

Hullo Ladies,

I've decided to finally do a review on one of my favourite perfumes ever!

Idole d'Armani by Giorgio Armani.

I'll set the scene for you, I had been out shopping with my Mam and Nan and we had all decided on getting a new perfume that day. My mother needed one because she'd run out of all her others, my nan wanted a repeat purchase and I simply wanted to add to me vastly growing collection. 

We spent over an hour in Boot's, trying out all the perfumes we liked the look of. My mam and nan both bought Anais Anais as it was on sale and they both love it but sadly I couldn't find anything I really liked that I could afford. I felt a bit left out but on the way home we passed another Boot's and my nan had forgotten to get makeup remover so we stopped in. I had another quick glance and found this baby.

It was right in the corner of the glass cabinet with a lovely big red sticker that screamed "SALE!!" 

It was a 50ml Armani EDP down to £29......I know..... I think I may have done a little happy dance in the middle of the store!

I asked the lady behind the counter if I could try it and even she seemed surprised out how great an offer it was! 

When I sprayed it on my wrist it was love at first sniff. Even my nan (who usually hates the perfumes I like and vice versa) loved it! I knew I just had to own that intoxicating scent.

Looking up the fragrance when I got home it wasn't surprising why I loved it. 

The notes were the same as some of my other perfume favourites. 

TOP – Celmentine, Honey, Ginger, Pear, Almond, bitter orange and Artemisia.

MIDDLE – Rose, Jasmine and Saffron

BASE – Patchouli, Vetiver and styrax

On me I smell the honey, pear, ginger and patchouli the most. 

It's a very fresh spicy scent, it isn't grouped on the Fragrantica website at the moment but if I was to say I would call it a fresh oriental fragrance. 

This perfume was released in 2009.

I can't find it on the boot's website at the moment which means they are not stocking online but if your interested definitely check your local stores, they may still  have some on clearance. 

If you can't find it might be worth looking online. 

If your a fan of other Armani fragrances then I would suggest giving this one a try. It lasts a good 5 hours on me before I feel the need to re-apply. 

Hope you all had a great day!

Linzi xxx

My Favorite Beauty Products of 2012

Hullo Lovely Ladies :-) 

I know I'm late in writing up one of these posts but I thought I'd give my opinion anyway! 

I tried taking pictures of all the products together yesterday but due to the horrible weather and lighting I've decided to just post up the pictures I already have of the products. 

I've picked one product from each beauty category that I've fallen in love with this year :-) 

Starting with..... 

My Favourite Perfume

Armani Code For Women 

This time last year I managed to find this Armani perfume on a great offer in Boot's, just £19 for the 30ml gift set and it was instant love! I've used it all year. It's been my signature scent. I'm running out now....but luckily I was smart enough to buy a back up at the time! Yay! 

My Favourite Nail Polish

Nails Inc Baker Street

I think this is going to be my only nail polish that I'll actually finish. 

It's gorgeous and gives you a great pop of colour on those days that you need it. 

My Favourite Eye Makeup

MUA Undressed Palette 

Last year the palette I used the most was the Urban Decay Naked palette, this is a great £4 dupe for it and I find myself going to it even more than my Naked palette! 

My Favourite Face Makeup

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation

I love this foundation, it gives full coverage for those days/nights when you need it. It lasts forever and if you apply it correctly looks very natural. 

My Favourite Beauty Tools

ELF Studio Line Brushes - Stipple Brush & Blush Brush

I invested in some ELF brushes earlier in the year and I'm so glad I gave them a try, they have some great quality brushes at an amazing price! I use the Stipple Brush to apply those extremely pigmented blushes as it gives you just enough colour and the blush brush as a highlight brush for my cheek bones. 

My Favourite Bath Product 

N-SPA Gingerbread Latte Bath Syrup

I hope they haven't discontinued this product completely as i love it, it smells delicious and makes loads of lovely bubbles in your bath as well as giving your skin a lovely soft fragrance.  

My Favourite Body Product

The Body Shop Mango Body Butter

I love this so much that I not only use it on my body but...*Gasp*.... on my face too! Especially this winter, my face has been so dry, I've used this twice this week and my skin is so smooth! 

My Favourite Hair Product

Andrew Barton The Straight Answer Hot Iron Protection Spray

Despite the name being ridiculously long the actual product is simple, effective and smells divine!

So those are my favourite products of 2012 I can't wait to find out what I'll be loving in 2013!

Hope you have all had a lovely weekend! 

Linzi xxx

What's In My Makeup Bag

Hey Lovely Ladies, 

I recently admitted to myself that I needed to start carrying a makeup bag in my handbag. 

Last week I was rummaging in my new handbag and there must have been about twenty different lip products scattered around! 

So Instead of buying a new one, I remembered one that I was given a few Christmas' ago from my lovely Gran. It was a No7 bag that at the time contained lots of lovely makeup samples.

I absolutely love the bag! 

It's a gunmetal sequin bag that slightly changes colour with movement. 

It took me ages but I managed to just put in what I really needed for when I go out, whether it's out shopping, to a meal or on a night out! 

Lips

MAC Lipstick in Please Me - A gorgeous everyday pink for me, gives a lovely softness to any makeup look.

MAC Lipstick in Impassioned - Gorgeous for those days when I just want a pop of colour. 

The Body Shop Strawberry Born Lippy Lip Balm - A great glossy lip balm that smells divine. 

No7 Lip Liner in Plum - Love it under Please Me.

Eyes

Maybelline The Colossal Mascara - A great mascara, although I want to try the purple tube next time!

GOSH Velvet Touch Eyeliner in Black - My favourite eyeliner pencil, goes on so smooth and lasts for ages!

Too Faced Shadow Insurance Policy Palette - A great palette with a nice amount of eye shadows so you're not always wearing the same look. 

Too Faced Shadow Insurance - Amazing primer, makes any eye shadow go on great and last all day. 

ELF Blending Brush and Eye Shadow Brush - Great Brushes for the price. 

Face and Cheeks

MUA Blush in Shade 4 - Gorgeous matte shade, looks lovely on the skin and just £1! 

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer - A great concealer that I've loved for awhile now.

MAC 129SE Brush - I really like this brush as its great for applying face powder and blusher. Which means I can carry around less brushes.  

That's what's in my makeup bag! 

What's in yours? 

Linzi xxx

First Ever Wall Sticker

Hey Lovely Ladies!

So before Christmas I re-decorated my whole bedroom, It felt like it took forever but it was only a week. You see I used to have wall paper on my walls but it just wasn't me anymore and I wanted a nice change. So I decided to take the paper down and give my room a nice fresh lick of paint. 

I choose blue and pink, nice bright colours to look at when I wake up on a Monday and stop myself from hating life :-P

One of the reasons I decided to take the paper off my walls was so that I could use wall stickers. 

So I paid all this money to re-do my room but then couldn't afford the bloody stickers! 

I decided to wait until I could find a good enough deal before I spent all the money that I did have. I found a great one a week ago while looking on Ebay! 

I found this ebay seller and I ended up bidding on this wall sticker and won it!! 

I paid £3.89 and that's including shipping :-O

It was a great size too. I would say around a medium size. 

Make sure you check the measurement details before you purchase!  

I have to admit, I did it all on my own so it was a bit fussy and I did start swearing half way through but it was worth it! 

I know it looks wonky in the picture but I swear it's not! I just had to take the picture from the side so that the flash on my camera didn't blind the words! 

I've found loads on Amazon that I want but the larger ones can be a bit expensive for me!

If you do buy one, make sure you have a look at some tutorials on youtube before you put it on :-) 

Do you have any wall stickers? 

Linzi xxx

New Look Heel's I'm Loving At The Moment

1 -New Look Oatmeal Stud Bar Platform 

2- New Look Oatmeal Bow Bar Platform 

3 -Black Butterfly Platform

4 - Black Chain Boot Heel 

5 - Glitter Studded Peep Toe Heel 

How Do You Apply Your Perfume?

Hullo Lovely Ladies.

A lot of people have their own special way to apply their perfume, some dab below the ears, some spray it in their hair, others apply to wrist and neck and some even walk through a perfume cloud that they like to make.  

With me, I decide on different fragrance strengths. If a fragrance is light I'll spray it on my decollete (upper torso) and maybe on my clothes. If a fragrance is quite heavy then a great thing to try is spraying it on the backs of your calves so that the fragrance can slowly travel up through out the day. Another thing to do if it's a heavy scent is to spray a cloud in front of you and then walk through it. 

Usually I'll only do this with a perfume that has strong projection but also quite inexpensive for example Britney Spears Fantasy, as the poor person in me thinks that this idea can be quite wasteful. 

Although the idea a applying perfume to pulse points can seem very sensual, I'm not a fan of spraying perfume on my wrists because of a few reasons, some perfumes smell differently on my wrists than they do on other parts of my body, it also seems to wear off faster. 

There is a myth out there saying you shouldn't spray perfume on your clothes but I've looked into it and it seems quite safe to spray perfume on clothes (except silk) and actually allows the perfume to last longer as it attaches to natural fibers.  A great Idea I learnt back last year is to spray something like a scarf, so the natural movement releases the perfume again and again. 

Another Idea that I've read about which I will do at one point just because it sounds so awesome is to spray some cotton balls with perfume (just coat it in perfume not soak) and place them in your bra! This apparently is good on nights out as the perfume surrounds you for a long time but doesn't become offensive to the people around you.  

How do you apply your perfume?

Have any good ideas?

Linzi xxx

REVIEW - Soap and Glory - Scrub Of Your Life Smoothing Body Scrub

Hullo Lovely Ladies! 

Today I want to talk about one of my favourite scrubs ever.

 It's the Scrub of Your Life Smoothing Body Scrub from Soap and Glory. 

This is a mini version of it that I received at Christmas but I'm very familiar with it, I think I went through two of the bigger tubes last year! 

It's has a clear gel base with the right amount of pink exfoliating beads. 

Soap and Glory have a lot of great scrubs, for example "Flake Away" is an amazing scrub but it's one I feel like I only need to use once a week but this one is gentle enough to use on a daily basis.

It foams up when rubbed into the skin and leaves a soft fragrance after its been washed off.

It smells just like that Soap and Glory scent we all know and love.

Soap and Glory suggest we follow it up with a Soap and Glory moisturizer. I like to slather on some Righteous Butter to keep that stunning scent lasting longer :-) 

The retail price for this mini is £2.50

The retail price for the full size tube is £7

All in all I think It's a good price for a great quality product, it's even better if you manage to get it on a 3 for 2 offer. 

Have you tried this body scrub yet? 

Linzi xxx

Weekly Wishlist #1

So....I admit, I spend way to much of my time window shopping on the net.

I don't seem to be the only one though, I see a lot of these "wishlist" posts on many blogs and I thought I'd do my own! 

These are just some of the things I was coveting last week! 

ASOS Curve Bow Coat 

It's bloody gorgeous but I just can't afford it right now :-( booo! 

Stila Lip Glaze Set 

I found these on the ASOS beauty sale section! 

All those lip glaze's for just £12.50, not a bad deal! I love the Stila lip glaze's I own two that I bought from TK Maxx. 

GHD Cherry Blossom Hair Straightener

All I can say is...I really need a new one! 

I think I've owned my current GHD's for about 6 years now. They're such an investment, I remember my mam having to repeat buy a lot of cheaper brands before we caved for our GHD's, it's was a good decision. 

ASOS Scallop Double Buckle Across Bag 

I think this bag would be gorgeous this spring! It's such a stunning colour :-) 

Vera Wang Lovestruck Floral Rush EDP

I have an addiction to perfumes and a few weeks ago I tried this in Boot's and really liked it. I was very impressed because I don't have much love for the original Lovestruck. 

What have you been lusting after recently? 

Linzi xxx

I Heart Perfume TAG!

Hullo Lovely Ladies

*Sigh...* -_- 

The Perfume obsession continues...I just watched the Eleventh Gorgeous I Heart Perfume Tag Youtube video and I loved the questions so much that I've decided to do the tag as well! 

What was the first perfume you ever purchased?

The first perfume I ever purchased myself was Valentino Rock and Rose. I bought it from Duty Free Summer of 2011. I loved it so much, it was my first high end perfume. 

What's your signature scent?

I don't really have one, I have so many different perfumes that it changes on a daily basis. I do have those certain Holy Grail perfumes though : Armani Code, Roberto Cavalli and Vera Wang Princess Night. 

What is your most recent purchase?

Loverdose by Diesel - I got it in the Boxing day/January sales. 

When I tried it when it came out about a year ago I wasn't too fussed with it but after I bought it and wore it on my skin I fell in love with it! So glad I took the chance and bought it. 

Which perfume would you wear at night time/date night?

Roberto Cavalli or Armani Code - There both very sexy and mysterious scents but strange enough they are very comforting scents too. I like to spray my scarf with them in the winter and just have a good snuggle with it :-) 

What is your favourite spring/summer scent?

For Christmas I was given Oh Lola by Marc Jacobs and I literally can't wait for spring to get here so I can start wearing it more because I feel like it's just going to be an incredible scent when the sun starts to come out!  Another great one for spring/ summer is Armani I'dole d'Armani, it's a lush crisp, spicy scent. 

If im out at night time in the Summer I love to wear Midnight Fantasy by Britney Spears. It's so delicious and sexy. It's been a favourite of mine for years! 

What is your favourite fall/winter perfume?

In the fall I love to wear Tresor Midnight Rose and again in the winter I like to wear Armani Code or Roberto Cavalli. 

What is your favourite scent category? ( Floral, Fruity, Oriental, Aquatic, Gourmand)

My favourite scent category is Warm Oriental or Gourmand. I obviously like scents that are in different categories but my favourite scents seem to be either Oriental or Gourmand fragrances. 

What perfume are you currently lusting after?

I'm currently lusting after Dolce and Gabbana The One. I want it so much :-) It's exactly the kind of perfume I like, sweet but in a classy, soft subtle way.

What fragrance/Cologne do you like on your significant other? 

I don't have a significant other at present but when i'm on a night out I love a guy who wears somthing sexy. Something like Obsession by Calvin Klein or 1 Million by Paco Rabanne.

So that's my I <3 Perfumes Tag completed! 

The people I'm tagging are : 

 cotton candy fro

Juyey Bats!

&

Beauty Shades :-) 

I also tag anyone else who fancies doing it and if you do I'd love it if you left your links in the comment section :-) 

Linzi xxx

Eau My Giddy God - NEXT - Paradise

Hullo Ladies!

I received a good few fragrances for Christmas and bought a few in the sales too so I thought I'd start reviewing some for you.

This is Paradise from Next.

It's one of thier top selling fragrances and I can understand why.

It's a lovely fresh and fruity floral with some nice green notes to keep it different. 

It has great lasting power and projects well, which means your more likely to get those "Ohh...you smell great" compliments we all love! 

Next are great for doing sets for their perfumes and the one I received was a 30ml bottle and a roller ball! 

My first ever roller ball which was exciting. I'm always hearing about them on blogs but don't see a lot of them in UK stores.

It's a very pretty scent and isn't like the usually sickly sweet that you get with most inexpensive fragrances at  the moment.

A 30ml bottle costs around £6.50 

A 100ml bottle costs £10

The bottle itself is sturdy and the glass is thick so it's less likely to break in your handbag, although the bulky packaging may be a problem if you dislike carrying around the extra weight. 

I think it's a great scent to wear for everyday maybe for work or just out to the shops. It's beautiful and unoffensive. 

Next have a few perfume that I've been wanting for awhile, they have some amazing dupes. Their Diamonds perfume is a dupe for Miss Dior Cheri, their Eau Nude fragrance is a dupe for Coco Mademoiselle Chanel and the beautiful Define is a dupe for the Armani She fragrance. 

You can buy these perfumes from Next stores or online.

Have you tried the Next perfumes? 

Linzi xxx

What's In My Bag :-)

Hullo Lovelies!

I love a good "What's in my Bag" post. 

It's just that nosy side to me I guess. 

I've recently been looking for a new handbag as my old one is falling apart. I can't blame it though, it's been good to me these last three years! 

I finally bought a new one earlier in the week so I thought I'd finally do my own What's In My Bag post :-) 

Is it just me or does everyone find it difficult to take an "attractive" picture of things like Handbags or High Heels.....Arghhh! 

I bought this Kelly Brook shoulder/briefcase bag in New Look and I fell in love with it the moment I found it! 

It was the last in the sale, originally £29.99 down to £20

The inside material is black with white polka dots! 

It was an extra treat, I was so excited to find the bag I completely neglected to look inside it until after I had bought it.

It has many extra pockets to keep things safe or hidden. 

So here's what's in my bag! 

Metallic Bow Purse - I bought it from Dorothy Perkins on my last Birthday. 

Soap and Glory Hand Food - Great for keeping my hands soft and smelling yummy! 

Hair Bands - Always lose my bobbles so I'm determined to keep these in my handbag. 

Hair Pins/Daisy Clip - Handy to keep around on those Bad Hair Days!

Samsung Mobile - Just a boring old mobile! Nothing Fancy :-) 

Colour Unlimited Lip Gloss - I received a set of these from my auntie on Christmas and they are surprisingly good! One of the most pigmented lip glosses I own! 

MAC Lipstick in Please Me - I love this lippy, its a lovely subdued pink that gives you that "polished" look. It's a matte finish but not too drying which is great!

Pip & Co Umbrella - I got this for Christmas too! It's very cute with some cats chasing a butterfly! 

Soap and Glory Body Spray in Glam A Lot -  A gorgeous scent that I only recently bought but have fallen in love with. I will be reviewing it very soon :-) 

Armani Code For Women - It's one of my signature scents and I use it on a regular basis. To me It's a great mix of comforting yet mysterious! I've loved it for a long time and if you haven't smelt it yet...you need too soon! 

Kindle Fire - I'm a book worm...always has been! I like to keep my kindle on me if I'm out because i'm usually in the middle of some amazing novel that I just NEED to read :-) 

So there you go! 

That's everything that I keep in my handbag!

Have you done this post yet? If you have I'd love it if you left me the link :-) 

Linzi xxx

Project 10 Pan

Hullo!

Project 10 Pan has been around awhile now and a lot of bloggers take part in it. 

It's a great Idea, especially if like me you have lots of certain products hanging around that just seem like they never get used up! 

The idea is to pick 10 products and try to use them up before you start buying more! 

The Products I picked are:

Laura Geller Spackle Under Makeup Primer

- 10% Left -

I've had this for going on 2 years now and it's very nearly finished, I'm determined to use it up completely if i'm going to be buying another one. 

N-SPA Apple Mint Crunch Body Scrub

 - 90% Left - 

 I own so much bath products that I literally have been given a warning by the parents to stop cluttering the bathroom cupboards with half empty bottles! Tut Tut. 

The Body Shop Satsuma Body Butter 

- 40% Left - 

One of my favourites lines from the body shop is their body butters and I own about 12 of them now! Which means I seriously need to start using them up! 

Aussie Dual Personality Smooth and Shine Milk 

- 80% Left -

I love Aussie product but they can be slightly out of my price range which means I get slightly carried away when they are on clearance in Superdrug! I picked up a few of these bottles, so I'm making more of an effort to actually use them! 

19 Mirror Shine Lipstick in Bee-Hive

 - 50% Left - 

I used to use this lipstick all the time but recently I've been more into other lip products. I picked this because I really want to see if I can get back into it as I remember loving how it used to make my lips feel :-)  Super Soft and moisturized!

The Body Shop Love Ect... EDP 

- 10% Left - 

I love this perfume but I own so many at the moment I want to start finishing some of the bottles, I'm nearly through with this one so It shouldn't take long! 

Demeter Jelly Belly Wild Blackberry Peach Cobbler Cologne Spray 

- 99% Left -

I really like it but I always seem to pass on it in the mornings when I'm picking what fragrance to wear, so I've decided to throw it in my handbag and see if I have more of a chance of using it up! 

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream 

- 8% Left - 

I have a love/hate relationship with this BB cream, some days it looks great on me then other days it can look horrific! All according on how my skin is on the day I guess. I don't think I'll be buying it again, so as soon as I can finish it the quicker I can go try something different. 

The Body Shop Carrot Moisture Cream 

- 60% Left - 

I used to use this a lot but later found products that I felt were better so I hip it in the back of my draw. I'm determined to finish it! It's only a 50ml tub so It shouldn't take too long :-) 

Soap and Glory Hand Food 

- 30% Left - 

I really love this hand cream, it smells gorgeous but I was recently given a new tube for Christmas so I want to finish it soon.

So that's the products I'm going to try to use a lot more of!

Are you taking part in a Project 10 Pan? 

What products are you trying to use up?

Linzi xx