5 Minute Review - Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick By Kate Nude Collection

It's "jump on the good old bandwagon time" to try out the new Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Moss - Nude Collection.

There has been a LOT of hype around this launch and I was very excited to pick up two shades. There are 3 more shades in the range, but these were the 2 tones I felt would best suit my colouring. 

So the lipstick claims to offer neutral shades, soft and creamy colors which are universally flattering suiting every skin tone. 

I must say I was skeptical about using a nude shade, being so fair, but these are really beautiful. At first, if you're like me, you won't be too sure, but once you get used to the nude tone, it is incredibly flattering, as promised and looks really nice and natural - unlike many other nude lipsticks on the market which can make you look like you've rubbed concealer on your lips! 

No. 42 is for cool undertones. Shades 42 and 45 are incredibly similar, but 45 has more of a pink to it, making it ideal for neutral undertones (42 on the left).

The lipsticks smell like an old fashioned lipstick (which I love). They are creamy to apply, not patchy, provide a nice even colour and they are pretty long wearing even though not claiming to be (you would have to reapply after eating/drinking). 

42 on the top, 45 on the bottom 

Though initially thinking this would only be a day lipstick, I'm quite surprised to note that I will likely wear this for a night out tonight teamed with a brown smokey(ish) eye. Love it! 

Have you picked up any of the collection? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below :-) 

Love Nicola x 

Ready for the Weekend - Tesco Beauty Deals

The plan was to find the best deals from a number of sites, but Tesco Beauty have so many that I thought I'd start with them!

Below are my favourite deals currently on the Tesco website, but there are tons more online and you can pick up some real bargains in store! To my amazement I bagged Maybelline's Lash Sensational for £2.99 on one of my "big shops".

But back to the present. Here are my top 5 beauty savings from Tesco Beauty:

1. Max Factor - 2 for £14 on selected products 



This covers the Lasting Performance and Colour Adapt foundation ranges so if you use either of those foundations on a daily basis anyway, you can essentially get your second bottle for half price. Not too shabby.

2. Barry M Lip Paint - selected colours half price

I can really get on board with these given how impressed I was with the Genie Lipstick and this offer does tempt me.

Normally £4,49, 3 beautiful (and summery) pinks are currently just £2.25. Do I just buy all 3 for fairness?



         Pretty Pink                                Shocking Pink                          Marshmallow 

3. Bourjous Healthy Mix Concealer - nearly half price
    Bourjous 123 Perfect Foundation - £1.50 off



I have a real soft spot for the Bourjous Healthy Mix range which has a great coverage, smooth feel and gorgeous fruity smell. And at £3.75 for the wonderful concealer, why not give it a go? Unfortunately Medium is still £7 (boo!), but if your shade is Fonce or Clair, you're in luck (hooray!)

The same goes for Bourjous 123 Perfect Foundation which is currently £5.50 (rather than £7). The offer only applies to Light Beige, Light Vanilla and Rose Beige. But again, if one of those is your shade - well done you! This isn't the best deal in the world, but combined with the concealer, you can pick up a freebie as part of the 3 for 2 offer on Bourjous cosmetics.

And who doesn't love a freebie?

4. Maybelline Color Sensational Popstick in Pink Lollipop - £3.50 down from £6.99



Occasionally a random lip colour just pops up for half price and this is one of those occasions.

Another gorgeous pink which claims to leave a subtle sheen. Maybe not an everyday shade, but a great bargain product for a girls night out!

(As a side note, I love Maybelline's lipstick packaging. I mean, look how pretty!)

5. Maybelline Color Show Nail 651 Cool Blue - £1.50 down from £2.99



It is not an understatement to say I am obsessed with these nail varnishes. I could shout about them from the rooftops all day but I'll just simply say that they are THE BEST drugstore nail varnishes out at the moment. And I'll have to resist pretty hard not to snap up this beautiful baby blue!

So those are my picks, Will you be splurging on beauty this weekend? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below.

Love Nicola x

*This post is not sponsored in any way by Tesco. They just do great deals. 

Latest in Beauty Awards 2015

One of my favourite places to pick up beauty treats is Latest in Beauty. Unlike a subscription service, LIB lets you pick the items you want to try and pay per box rather than a monthly fee.

At the moment, LIB are running their 2015 Beauty Awards and as part of this, finalist products in different categories have been chosen and these products are offered in handy boxes for customers to try out and vote for their favourites. 3 finalist box options are available:

Box 1 - 3 products at £8.99*
Box 2 - 6 products at £12.99*
Box 3 - 9 products at £16.99*

*plus delivery

So I went for the 9 product box and I can't tell you how excited I was to see my little black box of goodies arrive! The entire box equates to a value of just over £80 for just £16.99*..not too shabby!

So onto the agony of choosing only 9 products. I chose products from the categories Must-Have Makeup, Best Eye Makeup and Body Beautiful. I would have LOVED to have tried some of the other categories but, as they contained skincare products, I am wary of using any new products on my acne at the moment - no matter how amazing they sound!

So I'll dive right in with what came in the box as well as the claims each product makes and I will test the products from each category in individual blog posts.

Enjoy!

Must-Have Makeup

Makeup Academy Pro-Base Prime & Conceal (RRP £4.00)

"A collection of correcting creams suitable for a multitude of complexions."

Basically a variety of colours to treat various concerns, namely lilac to illuminate and mute yellow undertones, green to neutralise and reduce redness, yellow to brighten and conceal purple undertones, peach to add radiance and "middle colour" (essentially another nude shade) to highlight.

First impression: These are surprisingly pigmented although I remain to be convinced with the nude shades.

Burt's Bees Lip Crayon in Hawaiian Smolder 429 (RRP £8.99)

"Creamy, full-coverage...matte lip colour in a modern crayon for truly beautiful lip colour. Lightweight moisture for a comfortable, everyday wear formula infused with Shea Butter, Kendi Oil, and Jojoba Oil. It's colour that truly cares for your lips!"

This claims to have a creamy matte formulation which gives precise application without the hassle and mess of sharpening (ideal!) hydrating and moisturising lips leaving them soft and smooth as well as containing no added flavour or fragrance.

First impression: I've actually tried this as I needed to apply some lip product after lunch. Nice to apply and very natural looking, but it does have an odd waxy smell. Another good colour choice though LIB!

Little Ondine Natural Nail Colour in Lava L062 (RRP £8.40)

"Composed of natural resin, organic colourants and water....pure organic colour that gives a smooth texture while hydrating..nails."

This also claims to be quick drying, peels off easily and is odour free.

First impression: Love, love, LOVE the colour and love the fact that it's not a dud pale shade. No odour as promised. Took 1 coat for solid colour and dried in 1.5 minutes. It looks good so far...

Best Eye Makeup

Eye of Horus Scarab Sapphire Goddess Pencil (RRP $30 in the US = approx. £19, but it is difficult to find an actual RRP)

"Unique, highly pigmented eye liner which is inspired by Ancient Egyptian formulas..enriched with beautiful Botanical Waxes and Oils and boasts a natural and cruelty free formula which helps to nourish the delicate eye lid. Literally gliding smoothly onto the eyelid without pulling or dragging, Goddess Pencil is truly waterproof once set and comes complete with a smudging tip to create the ultimate in smouldering looks."

First impression: Nice colour - don't think it's quite glimmery enough to be 'sapphire' but nice, smooth and super long lasting (I could not get it off my hand!) 

(Bottom line is blended out with the smudging tip)

Magnifibres Brush-On False Lashes (RRP £21) 

"Brushing on Magnifibres gives a stunning yet natural false lash effect."

You apply the fibres between coats of your normal mascara and your lashes end up 5mm longer. 

First impression: Oh my god! This looks terrifying - like cotton wool in a tube. Think I'm most excited to try this one out..

Daniel Sandler Long Lasting Waterproof Eyeliner in Green Velvet (RRP £9.25)

"Waterproof, super long-wear and extra smooth eye-liner with rich colour pay-off. Colour lasts all day and is great to use along the waterline. The high silicone content gives a velvety finish and rich colour for an intense, buildable look. Each eyeliner contains Vitamin C and E to moisturise the eyelid."

First impression: Not a good one! The pencil broken while doing swatches on my hand so I'm not holding out much hope. Nice colour though.

Body Beautiful

The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Miracle Solid Oil for Body & Hair (RRP £8.00)

"Multi-purpose solid oil. Its rich texture glistens and glides onto skin for an instant moisture glow, enriched with organic Community Trade argan oil from Morocco."

First impression: It smells amazing in the jar and gives a light shimmer to the skin, but it does smell more like honey when applied which smells a bit strange to start with before settling and smelling quite nice. Applied a small amount to my hair and even though I think the consistency will be too oily, a small amount leaves a nice smell in the hair. 

Tisserand Aromatherapy Sweet Dreams Bath Oil (RRP £10.95 per 100ml, equating to £2.19 for 20ml)

"Soothing blend of calming Lavender, Jasmine and Sandalwood, combined to encourage a peaceful nights sleep. Enriched with skin-pampering Coconut, Sweet Almond and Jojoba natural moisturisers, Tisserand Sweet Dreams Bath Oil is rich in vitamins and antioxidants."

First impression: Very strong herbal smell which I LOVE so looking forward to this one.

Kneipp Pure Bliss Mineral Bath Salts (RRP £1.95 from Bath and Unwind)

"Formulated with the purest natural plants and herbs in the form of essential oils, Kneipp Mineral Salts gently exfoliate, tone, increase skin elasticity and help to build the skin's resistance to daily pollutants. Enriched with poppy and hemp to nourish and smooth the skin whilst promoting relaxation and peace of mind."

First impression: A very unique scent, but not unpleasant. I'm not usually the biggest fan of bath salts, but this could change that.

What products came in your LIB box and what are you excited to try?

Love Nicola x

This post is absolutely not sponsored. I bought the Latest in Beauty Finalists box with my own money. All views are my own.