The wear and tear of a Mulberry Clifton Bag (6 weeks - 8 months on)

Howdy,

I purchased this amazing bag on 19th March 2017 and apart from preparing it to be used, here is a link to a blog post on how I prepared it for continual use. I have been using this bag everyday so far, today is 5th May and I just love it.

The bag looks just as good as it did when I first bought it, the suede has a slightly more brushed effect to it from me using the bag but it does in no way look dirty or take away the lovely effect of the bag.  There are no marks/ scratches on this bag at all. I have treated the bag a couple of times since having it and it just absorbs the cream and to me it brings back a little of the colour and a little shine. Just in the same way when you polish a pair of shoes, they still look the same when dirty but but cleaning them just improves their overall look.

I have worn it on one shoulder, cross body and just under my arm when in a hurry. I have also been caught out in a few spots of rain (nothing too heavy) and the bag again looks no different. By using the water resistant spray it really does help prolong the life of the bag. I have owned Mulberry bags before but they have been SLG's (small leather goods) or smaller bags, I have always wondered are the larger more expensive bags really worth it? You really are spending such a lot of money on one item and although I think some people will disagree with me, I do think they really are. The stitching, the leathers used and just how it wears is incredible and unlike any other brand I have owned. Each bag is individually hand made and you can see why they last so well with the amount of time and effort took to make each item. I know it won't be anytime soon but I really would take the plunge again and buy another piece. If you really love and take care of the item there is no reason why it should not last you years and years. You do see a few online that look like they have been dragged along a tarmac road by a car, these people are mad! I myself am crazy picky and maybe its partly me being super fussy or partly being an only child but I really do love and look after my items.

So after around 6 weeks of use it really is a massive thumbs up from me, I am extremely happy with it. I did lots of research into what kind of bag I wanted, what bag did I like look of and what can the bag offer me in terms of everyday use. No good buying a mini Lily with the intention of it being your everyday bag! Also another good tip is to go to the shop and see, touch and try on the bags. I recommend going to New Bond Street, they have the best selection and the staff have always been so friendly, helpful and never pushy. I had 2-3 bags in my mind I wanted to try on with the intention of buying one of them and guess what non of them were the the on purchased in the end (the Clifton). It just goes to show how important it is to go and see them in person, online I didn't like the look of it, in person it turns into a leather organisational dream.

Right before I bore the socks off you, I will leave this post here and come back to it in a few months, Wow summer will be over by then, lets hope we get one and fit many BBQ's in. Bye for now, I'm off to enjoy my bag some more.....

Hey I am back and it is now December, I went away in Sept and put my bag away just before I went. I did use the bag for 6 months straight and it does still look the same, the suede has its lovely brushed effect but the leather is still as good as new and even now still has a lovely smell about it. This bag has been fantastic, I have loved using it so much. I have never got this much joy from using a bag before haha, I have also had quite a few compliments on its too, a person who loves Mulberry will always spot a bag from afar. They also know what the bag is called and its colour.

Here are some pictures of the bag before I used it, this is what it looks like now!

Before being used

The 1st and 3rd picture of this bag were taken straight after I received it in the post. Obviously the lighting is different to the pictures I have taken recently but then the seasons have changed and it is so much darker this time of year.
The bag in this picture is fully stuffed with its tissue paper to hold its shape.

After 7-8 months of use

 This picture is 8 months on and the bag is completely empty, it has worn so well and when filled with my things fills out just the same as the picture above. The gold hard wear shows no sign on use or scratches in any way, the same as the leather, not a single blemish to be seen anywhere.
I found this bag very easy to clean and keep clean. Here is a link to a previous blog post telling you what products I use and how I keep my bags looking their best for longer.

Before use

 The inside of the bag including all 3 compartments are all made of suede and I was a little hesitant as to how well this would last and if I could keep it clean as suede is such a delicate leather to look after.

Over time the leather has also softened and is not quite as stiff as when the bag was first purchased. The stitching is still perfect and the piping round the bag looks no different to the day I pusrchased it.

7-8 months on

As you can see by this picture the suede still looks fantastic, it has more a brushed effect to it from my always touching it when going in and out of the bag. This does not in anyway detract from how pretty this bag is and it does not look worn in. I think it just addds to the bag.








 So the big question is would I buy an expensive Mulberry bag again? and the answer is I already have (covers face with hands) If you are interested in why I purchased another bag so soon then click here and you will find out more and it also may help you to find a bargain too. I do have to wait till Christmas to receive this bag though, as my husband kindly bought it for me for Christmas. (Can't wait to use it, Thanks Chippy xxx)
Like I have said before I really REALLY enjoy using this bag, I have always loved and looked after my bags but the quality of the leather, how well it has been hand made and stitched together makes me love it even more. As with a lot of things in life you do get what you pay for and lets face it I could be spending my money on something far worse.

Have you made any big handbag purchases lately? Is there a bag out there calling your name? I'd love to know, come and find me on Instagram @Kara1818 and lets chat bags.

Thanks for reading
Kara xx

Face Moisturisers, it Cosmetics, First Aid Beauty & Dr. Jart. Part 2

Howdy,

This is part 2 of my trial of face moisturisers, I am going to review 3 more moisturisers that I bought in mini form from Sephora and give you my opinion on each. I will leave a link here to my last post if you wish to check out some other creams I tried. These sets are a great way to try out different creams without having to break the bank on one product and risk not liking it. Especially as our returns policy in England is MUCH different to the US, here if you don't like it, its tough haha. So you really want to be sure when spending your money on a product.

 

 1. it cosmetics - confidence in a cream

This cream is amazing, I enjoyed everything about it, the smell, the consistency, how it is not greasy and most of all my skin loved it and looked great from using it. If I did not have other creams to use up I would have repurchased this already. This will for sure be on my wish list for the future. I can see why it cosmetics have been all the rage over the last couple of years, their products are very good, especially for the price.

  

This cream is available online and in store from Selfridges for a 60ml tub it is £38

My rating 9/10

Recommend/ worth the money full price? Yes, the tub is quite large so I am sure you would get a good few months' use out of this.

 2. First Aid Beauty - Ultra Repair Cream

 

This cream is available from Feelunique, a 56.7g (2oz) tube for just £10, this is by far the cheapest cream of the 6 I have reviewed and from this website you quite often get free shipping, free gifts and also you can get 10% off your first order. Click the link above and check them out for yourself. Now this cream is also one I have enjoyed using, a little goes a long way and does give your skin a good amount of moisturisation. It is not a moisturiser you could put on in the morning and then apply a face full of make up. It is too thick and takes too long to soak it, so I have been using it mainly at bed time or if I plan on going out make up free. For £10 you will get a lot of product and it really is very good value for money. Although I wouldn't run out to purchase this, if it came in a set I would happily use it all up.

My rating 7/10

Recommend/ worth the money full price? Yes I recommend, that is greatly helped by the price. It's just a great all round cream.

3.  Dr. Jart+ - Water Drop Hydrating Moisturizer

 

Now this cream is odd, but not in a bad way, it comes out the tube as a cream and as soon as you rub it in, it turns to water. It literally looks like you have splashed your face with water. It is very hydrating and my skin looked great from using it, my only complaint is my skin was left feeling a little tacky. I just used this cream for evening time or if I had planned to not wear face make up.

This cream can be purchased in the UK for a ridiculously high price on Amazon, I am not linking that. If you are really interested if not check out good old Sephora. You can purchase a 3.3oz (100ml) tube for $36

My rating 6.5/10

Recommend/ worth the money full price? I think I would recommend this as my skin looked great from using it, its just the tacky feeling left on my skin that has made me think twice as to if I would purchase another tube.

I hope you found these blogposts interesting and helpful? I have enjoyed trying out these brands so much, skincare to me is everything. With good skin you appear younger and have fewer lines and wrinkles on your face. Well hydrated skin is also what you want when applying make up. Make up does not sit well on dry cracked skin. If I could only purchase one of these six creams it would have to be it cosmetics, confidence in a cream. It has obviously been a while since I started writing this blog post so I may have ordered a full size tub of this in the Sephora VIB sale, it worked out cheaper and came with eye cream and a cleanser too! hehe.

Let me know if you know of any moisturisers that you love, I would love to look them up and maybe try them too.

Thanks for reading
Kara xx

First impressions of a younique starter kit

Howdy,

Younique is a brand of skincare and make up that is completely new to me, I had never seen or tried any of their products until now. Here are a few pictures of what to expect from a starter kit if you were to order one for yourself, you can even do just single orders if there is just one or two things you would like to try

Everything I have ever received from Younique has been shipped very quickly and always come very well packaged and protected, which I love. I love good packaging, it's part of the fun of enjoying a product. I know you are able to see all of these products from looking online on Younique's website but I thought I would take a few of my own pictures as these show the true products using only daylight. No filters or fancy lights used here.

This box arrives inside of another cardboard box, so all of your items are protected and safe. If you lift up the lid of this box it reveals....

This lovely metallic purple bag, not only does this bag contain all of your products but it is reusable and has many pockets to store your make up items safely and even has slots for your make up brushes. It is slightly padded so would withstand a bump or to during travel. It comes with handles for easy use and could be wiped down with a damp cloth to keep clean (we all spill a little make up from time to time)

The products are placed throughout the bag and have been kept in place by bubble wrap and Younique's own tissue paper. If this bag were to have been tossed around in transit all the products would have remained safe. Not a single item arrived damaged.

Once the bubble wrap and tissue paper is removed you can see all the products below. Don't be fooled by thinking there are only a few items at the bottom of this bag, I was pleasantly surprised with everything I kept pulling out. This is a very deep bag and would hold a lot of products, again perfect for when you want to travel and reuse this bag.

Information leaflets come in the bag and samples of foundation which I think is awesome, perfect way to work out your own shade. You can do it in the comfort of your own home and using natural daylight to get the perfect match. No need to struggle under false lighting like you do when trying to be colour matched at a make up counter. Two brushes are also included, these are perfect to apply the eye make up.

Face masks, I just love a good face mask. Make up applies so much better over a clean, well hydrated face. Some face masks are actually quite relaxing and you feel the benefit almost straight away.

Here are all the make up products for your eyes and face, you are able to make so many different looks with all these colours you receive. Perfect for natural day looks or something more dramatic for night time.

You won't just recieve one black mascara, you also get to try a 3D fiber lashes mascara and a lash serum which will help your lashes grow, if used everyday.










Here are all the products to put on your lips, to exfoliate in order to get them prepped for lip products, from a balm, pencil, stain and liquid lipstick. There are many different types of lip products to try out, you can really get a feel for which product best suits you, that way if liquid lipstick is your favourite, you are then able to go online and order more colours.

So is this starter kit worth the £69 price tag? I shall let you know in my up and coming blogposts, as you can see from the pictures you do get a lot of products for that price. Especially as there are palettes of just a few eye shadows out there on the market that cost more than this whole entire set. Here is a list for you to read over of what is included in this set.

• Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes+
• Moodstruck Epic Mascara
• Moodstruck Esteem Lash Serum
• Moodstruck Addiction Shadow Palette 4
• Splurge Cream Shadow - Tenacious
• Moodstruck Pressed Shadow - Shrewd & Agile
• Moodstruck Eye Primer
• Moodstruck Precision Pencil Eyeliner - Perfect
• Moodstruck Splash Liquid Lipstick - Stubborn
• Moodstruck Minerals Lucrative Lip Gloss - Lovesick
• Moodstruck Precision Pencil Lip Liner - Popular
• Touch à la mode Cream to Powder Luminizer - Benevolent
• Younique Royalty Pore Purifying Cleanser
• Younique Royalty Rose Water Toning Spritz
• Blending Brush
• Angled Shadow/Sponge Brush
• Mask Samples: Younique Royalty Detoxifying Mask (2), Younique Royalty Exfoliating Mask (2), Younique Royalty Oil Control Mask (2)
• White Status Charm
• Saving Lashes, Changing Lives Charm
• Welcome Card
• The Younique Foundation Card
• Product Card
• Business/Opportunity Card
• Fast Start Card
• Lash Trio Card
• ZenPrint Promotional Card
• September 2017 Catalog
• Younique-branded, purple faux leather makeup ba

If anything has caught your eye already and you think you might like to make a purchase feel free to contact Danielle, she will help you with all your buying needs and she is a lovely lady fully clued up on all the products Younique has to offer.

I have more pictures of these products and how they look on me up on my Instagram page Kara1818, take a peek and see how good they look. 

Thanks for reading 

Kara xx

My first impressions on a few of the latest releases (Glossier, Dr. Paw Paw, Dior & Revolution)

Howdy,

I really wanted to try something different on my blog and I think I have succeeded, by giving you my impression of these products that have all been released within the last few months and a few released the Monday just gone. I don't think I am brave enough yet to make this as a sit down video so here it is in picture form.

I hope you enjoy this, let me know what you think and if you have tried any of these products.

Here are the products I have just used

I started this look with a cup of tea and a clean moisturised face (so excuse the shine) and also applied my favourite eye shadow primer which is from Nars, I wasn't sure how well the shadows would sit on a non-primed eye. I know Revolution can give you a bit of fallout so I wanted to try and avoid that.

I thought as these colours are so bright and shimmery, lets do something fun with the colours. This palette came in my Mermaid Glossybox so kept those colours in mind when applying these shadows. Would I go and buy another palette by Revolution? No, I prefer less chalky eye shadows but for £4 I would say this is perfect for younger people who are just getting into make up. £4 is hardly going to break the bank.

I am actually quite surprised at the effect of Glossier's Boy Brow, I bought the shade brown and it actually helped to darker my eyebrows and actually make them look a little thicker. If anyone is wondering why my brows are so thin, its because my eyebrows don't grow, I don't enjoy them being this thin! Oh well! ;-) I also have applied Glossier's Stretch Concealer under my right eye and you can see the difference it has made already, it has lightened my under eye and also brightened it up. My under eye area is always very blue/purple in colour, so to have this brightened up is a bonus. It applied and blended beautifully using my ring finger, so far I would go as far as saying I LOVE this.

I have not set the concealer with a powder, so I will see how long it lasts and if it creases. I feel I might have a new favourite concealer soon. I even applied it to a few red patches around my face and again it blended out to cover problem areas and not be cakey in the slightest. I prefer a more natural look on my skin rather than covering it in layer and layers of make up and products, so I like to sometimes just conceal and not wear a foundation especially when going to work. I then applied a couple of coats of the Dior Pump and Volume mascara. I can see why it got mixed reviews and on first use it built lashes up quickly but one more coat and I would have gone into spider lash territory which isn't for me. If it doesn't flake then I am happy with this purchase. That's my biggest pet peeve, mascara must stay on my lashes, it's all I ask. 

I applied Cloud Paint by Glossier in the colour Beam to my cheeks, I just love orange blush on my skin tone. I have never found a pink I like, so I tend to stick to orange. When I received this tube in the post I thought this is VERY small, but considering you use the tiniest amount, this small tube will last you probably longer than its shelf life. First impressions are great as it is buildable and looks very natural. It gives you more of a natural flush than a dark streak of colour across the cheek.

I am not sure if it is a good idea to or nor but I put a tiny amount of the blush onto my lips for a little colour, as I am sure you can guess I squeezed a little to much out of the tube, oops! Then over the top of that I used Dr. Pawpaw which is lovely, I can see the hype as you could apply this almost anywhere and it would help to heal or hydrate any area. Would I go and purchase it? Probably not, as I can get the same hydration from a £1 tub of Vaseline. I will still for sure use it all up though, it is very thick so a little goes a long way.

Here is my finished face

Here is the finished look in a couple of different light settings, the eyes are colourful and crazy and I love them. My skin good and not caked in product.

If I could only pick two things that I loved the most from this look, it would have to be the Boy Brow and the Cloud Paint from Glossier. I am so pleased to have purchased these products, and you never know, I might buy a couple more products in the future. For once, the hype of a product is worth looking into. Click here, if you set up an account it finds your location and changes the currency for you to pounds sterling.

Big thumbs up Glossier, you really have done your research and brought out fantastic products that people of all ages and skin tones can love and enjoy.

Thank you for reading, it has been fun to make a different post to my usual ones. Comment on here or come say hello on instagram my user name is kara1818 if you have any questions about the products I have used. Also I can send you a link to get 20% off your Glossier order, just contact me if you are interested.

Kara xx

Kinky Hot Oil Treatment From Lush

Howdy,

I found this hot oil treatment in my local Lush shop and it was half price, so thought I would give it ago. I have never used a hot oil treatment before so was excited to try it out. I followed the instructions and did as it said.

This "kinky" treatment is designed to hydrate curls, so I thought this is ideal for my hair type. Who doesn't want moisture added to their curls.

I used a large old mug to make up this treatment in and it became a paste, I put this all over my hair as instructed, put in up in a bun on top of my head and left it to work.




As it dried it got thicker and almost felt like vaseline, it was thick and greasy. It actually looked like a had smeared lard through my hair.
When it was time to wash it off, it took a lot of work and a two good shampoos to try and get it all out.

My hair was very soft after, but it did feel like it had a coating of something left on it. As my hair is so fine I don't like feeling I have something on it when it should be clean and free of product.

I wouldn't buy this again, as I felt it gave no benefit to my hair. Just weighed it down and was a bugger to wash out. As you can see by my hair here, my curls were not very well formed at all this is due to being weighed down with product.

I think I will just stick to the occasional bath bomb from Lush and leave the hair products for someone else.
Have you tried any hair products from Lush? Maybe I just picked one that did not suit my hair type.

Thanks for reading
Kara xx 

My thoughts on the Mulberry sample sale in London (Oct 2017)

Howdy,

I am massive fan of the Mulberry brand, so when I saw they were having a sample sale I decided to look into it further. I found out about this sale from following ldnsamplesales (London sample sales) on instagram. Luckily, the first day of the sale happened to fall on the day my husband and I had planned to go into London anyway. To be able to attend this sample sale you have to pick a day you want to attend and then you will be emailed an invitation, which you will need to show on the day to get you in. You also had to pay a £2 donation that went to The Shelter from the storm Charity.

The sale started at 08.00 and we got there around 10.30, the sale was held at The Music Rooms, South Molton Road, Mayfair which is just off Oxford Street. It is super easy to get to, there were no queues and we walked right in. We paid our £2 then had to check all bags and coats in, I did keep hold of my credit card and my phone. After this you are free to roam in a room of Mulberry goodness, the colours and the smell of the leather make me feel excited, even now.

On one side there were racks of clothing, tops, trousers, dresses, coats etc, all easy to see and get to. Round the outside of the room were metal racks full of bags, in all different colours and styles. Some styles were from a few years ago and some were from just last season. The staff there were constantly filling up the shelves and were on hand to help and answer questions, in the middle of the room were tables containing all the SLG's (small leather goods) again laid out in colour order and the staff were constantly tidying and filling stock.

Two things that stood out for me about this sample sale were how well the bags and accessories looked, every bag I looked at was in near perfect condition. I have seen bags look far worse from an outlet store. The second thing was the fact that people were respectful of each other, it was quite busy in the room but people didn't grab and push, they waited and each took turns to look at the items. To one side of the room it is blocked off to the public, you can see the boxes that were still full of items, the boxes were stacked higher than the height of the people there.

I wanted to go to this sale as I had heard such mixed reviews of these sample sales and overall this experience was very good. I know they won't all be fantastic but that's the risk you take, like visiting an outlet it can be very hit or miss. I had only planned on purchasing something if I loved it and knew I would get a lot of use out of it, as soon as I walked into the room I went straight to a bag I had tried on previously in an outlet shop but here it was £300 cheaper than the outlet price. Making it around 62% off the original RRP. By having this knowledge I knew that I wasn't jumping into the excitement of the sample sale and that I really was getting a good deal on something I wanted. The bag I purchased was in near perfect condition, the only thing I spotted on the bag were tiny indentations that I believe were caused by the bag standing on the metal racks. I think this will gradually come out over time and I am sure the bag would get effects like this or worse just from everyday use. It came with clear plastic over every buckle and button, all four feet have plastic protecting them. The straps are wrapped, the bag is stuffed and comes with its own dust bag. Basically the same as when I purchased a bag straight from the shop.

I didn't look at every price tag on the bags some on the newest bags I looked at were discounted by maybe 30% but then the older/ less popular bag the bigger the discount they had. I did look at the leather jackets (so soft and pretty) they were £300 down from £1800 so that would have been a great piece to invest in.

Sorry about how rubbish my photos are, people were everywhere and so were staff and security. I didn't want to get told off, haha. At least you can get an idea of what it looks like if you have never been.

So would I go again? Yes. Just not anytime soon as I might be tempted to buy again, I am very happy with my purchase and will enjoy that for now. Well I will come Christmas as it is a present from the husband, Christmas is less than 12 weeks away now, scary I know!

Tips

• Go on the first day, it doesn't have to be first thing in the morning but you will have the most choice of items and you won't be left with the dregs everyone has handled and left behind.
• Ask if you can't see something you are after.
• Also ask if they have a brand new version of the item you wish to purchase, maybe they won't but there is no harm in asking.
• Have an idea on the items you would like to buy and do research on the prices before hand

I will reveal what bag I got on my instagram (Kara1818) in the near future. I hope this has been some help to anyone who is thinking of going to this sample sale or to any sale. Keep a smart head on your shoulders and don't be sucked in because something seems like it is a good price.

Sale runs everyday until Saturday 7th October, so there is still time to go and check it out, go to London sample sales IG page (their user name is above) for all the details you need to attend and exactly where it is being held. 

Thanks for reading
Kara xx 

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm

Howdy,

I am a BIG fan of cleansers and am always wanting to try new ones, so when I found Emma Hardie's Moringa Cleansing Balm online for about 30% off the RRP I snapped it up quickly.
When I look for cleansers I want them to be able to remove all my make up and for them be good at removing eye make up to. I don't want sore eyes or that awful blurry vision you get from some.

The box and the packaging of this product are excellent and really do give it a high end feel. The only thing that could make it feel more luxurious was if the tub was made of glass and not plastic. It would end up weighing a tonne then though, so plastic is a good option.

This large jar of this Moringa cleansing balm is £39, you get 100ml of product. A little goes a long way with this cleansing balm, I usually hate anything balm/oil based but this I LOVE. I use it all over my face including my eyes, I am not really into double cleansing. Laziness probably is to blame for that, so when it comes to taking off my make up I want one product that will do it all.
The muslin cloth is very thick and made of cotton one side a muslin on the other. It is SO soft and by far the best muslin cloth I have ever used. I am looking to purchase a few more, they come in a pack of three.

This removes your make up so well and feels amazing on the skin, during and after use. You are not left with any oil or grease on your face, just make up free clean skin.
The balm has a clean and slight citrus smell to it which I quite like, you will end up having this cleanser for weeks as a little amount can do your whole face.
This can be used as an over night facial too, as it is oil consistency when warmed up I don't fancy going to bed with it on. I don't want to be washing greasy pillow cases.

My rating: 9/10

Recommend/ worth the money: YES, it is totally worth the money. You use such a tiny amount everyday, you are going to have it for weeks.

Pros: Can be used twice a day, removes 99% of all make up, skin feels great no tight feeling or dryness, it has more than one use, smells good, muslin cloth is the best I have ever tried.
Emma Hardie products can now be purchased in Marks & Spencer and online there too, go give them a sniff and a try.

Cons: Sometimes takes a second cleanse over the eyes, just to remove stubborn mascara. But its no bother and does not require using any other product.

Thanks for reading

Kara xx

Hunting For The Best Face Moisturisers, Drunk Elephant, Sunday Riley & Kate Somerville. Part 1

Howdy,

I was lucky enough to order a quench your skin set from Sephora, which I am SO excited to start using. I love skincare a lot and am really eager to see what ones I like and if I would repurchase any of them. The set retailed for $48 originally costing $88 and I got an extra 10% off for being a VIB member. I am now a silver card member in a shop that isn't even in my own country, for being a regular spender, I'm not sure if I should be ashamed or proud? Lets go with secretly proud haha.

I have picked 6 creams out of the box that I am most eager to try and I shall review 3 in this post and 3 more in a post later on. As with a lot of products I love, they seem to only be available in the US which is a pain for us gals in England, Sephora does now ship to the UK but there are restrictions. I will try and list a UK website if I find one, in case you want to try any of these products yourself.

For years I have wanted to try some of these so here is what I thought.

1.  Drunk Elephant - Lala Retro Whipped Cream

 

This cream is unfortunately only available in the US and retails for a 50ml/1.69oz tub its $60. Here is a link if you wish to read up more though, and if you visit the US pop into Sephora when you can try out the cream yourself.
This cream smells like salt and vinegar crisps unfortunately but it worked very well and was very hydrating. It has a very thick consistency and needs to be warmed up in your fingers first before applying. As it is so thick I found I could only use this at night time (which I don't mind, I use La Roche most mornings) by morning my skin felt smooth and plumped up. 

My rating: 6.5/10

Recommend/ worth the money full price: Although this cream worked really well the smell alone was enough for me to not want to purchase this again which is a shame. Rating has been lowered due to the smell. It is not worth the money.

2. Sunday Riley - Tidal

  

This cream is available at SpaceNK for a 50ml tub it is £60.

I like the gel like consistency of this cream a little goes a long way and even this tiny tub lasted me a couple of weeks. This cream again like the one above smelt horrible, like cooked greens and not in a spa like way which tends to be nice. It was not pleasant and according to my husband my face smelt like pee! not really want you want to hear from your husband. Even though the consistency was gel like I again needed to use this cream at night as it was too heavy for day time, my skin would of greased up over the day.

My rating: 6/10

Recommend/ worth the money full price: I liked how my skin felt the next morning but again the smell was enough for me to not want to purchase this cream again. Shame, I had high hopes for this one especially. It is also not worth they money.

3. Kate Somerville - Goat Milk Moisturizing Cream

 

I have wanted to try this for years (literally years), I'm even drawn to the packaging you have in the larger tubs, you push down the lid and out comes some product. I like it ;-) Unfortunately I can not find this product here in the UK but you can pick it up from Sephora if you ever get to go onto a store? Sephora does have stores round the EU not just America but none in the UK for some VERY strange reason! Only good thing about that is I am saving money, kind of. Slightly off topic but I do find the Sephohras in America do stock the most products, so I would prefer to shop there if I had the choice. The selection there is huge!
This cream comes in a 1.7oz (just under 50ml) tub for $65
Now this cream does not have a smell, its very hydrating but  not necessarily one that has to be used at night time. I could get away with using this during the day, The cream has more if a runny texture and is absorbed quite quickly into he skin. 

 My rating: 8/10

Recommend/ worth the money full price: Yes, I have really enjoyed using this cream each night. I still like to add in an acid to encourage cell turn over but this is a really nice all round cream, that my skin has enjoyed and soaked up well. As it does not contain any acids etc I wouldn't be willing to spend much more than this as I just said it is a pretty basic cream, but it works.

Thanks for reading
Kara xx

5 Things You NEED! Dior, Johnsons, Clarins, Sephora & Laura Ashley

Howdy,

I have 5 things that you need in your life, ok maybe you don't need them. Lets just say I highly recommend them, let me tell you for why..... ;-)

Diorskin Star Concealer

If you are lacking in sleep and have rather large under eye circles that need covering then this concealer is pretty good at doing that. I do find that you might need a second coat of it but if you set it with a little powder after, it is going to last all day. I can do a ten hour shift at work and avoid creasing. I love how hydrating it is too, I was worried about the colour not quite matching but I went to a Dior counter and got matched and it blends into my skin and looks like skin. I love it for under my eyes, its quite brightening and blends easily. Thumbs up for this awesome product!

Johnsons Baby Naturals Cream 

 

Now this I purchased just because it was on a reduced end cap in Boots, I paid the large sum of 37p. It is so moisturising and is one of the least greasest creams I have ever tried, my favourite non greasy cream is usually L'Occitane but this soaks in just as well. It smells just like all johnsons products, so nothing strong or overpowering. This would be perfect in the car or in your hand bag, being that it is so quickly absorbed. I would happily pay full price for this and I just hope it has not been discontinued like most products do when they are so heavily reduced. I like that you can apply after a shower and get dressed straight away, its a lovely cream to appply straight after shaving too as it is not highly scented so will cause no irritation.

Clarins Wonder Perfect Mascara

 

I think this may be my new favourite mascara, over taking my Tarte lights camera lashes and my Marc Jacobs velvet noir! I love tarte for the lasting power especially as this one is not waterproof, but I dont seem to get as much volume and I love the Marc Jacobs for the incredible volume but I do have to check my eyes regularly for any flaking. With this Clarins mascara I can get length, volume and I honestly dont get a single flake of fall out. It will last you all day, no joke. I had someone ask me if I had had lash extensions when I have worn this mascara. I am using this mascra at the moment and it is starting to run out, I will for sure be buying another one but not just yet as I have a Marc Jacobs and a Tarte to use up first. Also another thing I love about this mascara is how you have amazing lashes from the first use, you dont need to use it for a week for it to become good like most mascaras and when it starts drying out you dont get clumps the formula just becomes dryer. This really is worth the money.
FYI, I am now onto the Marc Jacobs mascara and the smudging/full out is too much so its dropped from being a favourite! Shame really as it gives huge full lashes.

Sephora Pro Featherweight Brush 

 

Where to start with this brush, it honestly is the best brush I have ever owned. It is so soft, the softest I have ever felt, even softer that the new Real Techniques Powder Bleu range. It is quite a weighty brush and comes with a good handle length so I dont find it a bother, it washes a treat, doesn't shed and goes back to its normal shape after everywash. You can pick up minimal product or have a more heavy hand if you are after a fuller coverage. I found this brush gave me a more air brushed finish on my skin, better than any other brush I have in my collection. No cake face here, I really do recommend the whole Pro range from Sephora. They are totally worth the money and Sephora does ship to the UK now, I would 100% buy this brush again. I have just purchased the concealer brush and its just as good as using your finger, in terms of no streaks and blends out your concealer seamlessly. I might end up buying another brush when the next VIB sale starts just to save a few dollars as they are not the cheapest but are totally worth the investment.

Maddox Silver Floral Vanity Case

 

I have looked for a vanity case of a decent size and quality for such a long time and had not luck, I got really fed up of travelling and having to take so many little pouches full of products I wanted one that could at least take the bulk if not all of my items. I do take quite a few products when I travel, I have 6 for my hair alone. You trying having this hair and you would have that many too lol, just in case you wonder what they were I take, shampoo, conditoner, leave in conditoner, hair cream, mousse and spray. Now you know where a lot of my weight allowence goes when I travel.
Anyway back to this case, it is from Laura Ashely and has elasticated sections at the backwhere you are able to stand up bottles and padded dividers so you can dived your products into sections or just take them out these dividers and just fill the bugger up ;-)
 This case is square and remains upright, it doesnt slouch and would hold a lot of products, it will also fit into your suitcase nicely. The sides of the case are not solid so I would pack clothes around it for protection. But again as everything will be in just one case it shouldnt be a bother at all, there are two zips down each side and a magnetic button closure that secures all of your things. The handle on top is padded and very comfortable to carry, at the moment this case is just £18 and to me is totally worth it. The pattern and colour of this case is so pretty and looks so much better than any picture will show.

Have any of these items taken your fancy? What are your favourites of the last few months? I would love to know, come find me on instagram @kara1818 come and say hello. You will find more pictures of this items on my IG page too.

Thanks for reading 

Kara xx 

GlamGlow GravityMud Firming Treatment (Sonic Blue)

Howdy,

As I have mentioned many many times before I am a BIG fan of GlamGlow, I always have a large jar of Thirsty Mud in my collection and lately I have discovered a love for the Supermud Clearing Treatment. They both are just so effective and really do work. I have tried a few other products from this brand but there are no others that make me feel I need these in my constantly in my collection as much as these two.

Let me know if you'd like to see a full review of the whole of my Glamglow collection?
Click here for a review of the Thirsty Mud and click here for a review on the Super Mud Clearing Treatment 
I have around 6-7 products that I own right now from Glamglow.

Right back to this new Sonic mask, this mask came out earlier this year I believe and as far as I am aware only got sent to those on PR lists or online influences. A few months back GlamGlow sold this product to the public for a very short amount of time and as much as I would of loved to have tried it then, the shipping to the UK would have been expensive or impossible I'm sure. So I just waited and as of the last few weeks Glamglow released three limited edition tubes on Boots.com, I really wanted to try this mask out, plus who doesn't want to look like Smurfet? You have a choice of 3 characters, who will be appearing on your packaging, the choices are Sonic, Tails and Knuckle's, I chose to have Sonic. It brings back memories of playing Sonic with an old school friend on her Sega megadrive hahaha, collecting all those coins, we loved it.

So before I put on this mask I cleansed my face and then applied the mask with my fingers, I do own a couple of the brushes I got with other masks by GlamGlow but I don't like them. I find them to be scratchy so I just prefer to use my fingers.

This mask has a slight citrus scent to it and applied easily, a little goes a long way! Whilst I had this mask on I felt no adverse effects so just let it work its magic and dry. After a good 20 minutes the mask was completely dry and I was able to easily peel it off. It was not uncomfortable nor did it pull any hairs on my face, I was sure to avoid my eye brown area. There were tiny pieces of these mask left on my face so I just used a little micellar water and they came away with the first sweep. My face straight away felt very clean and smooth, I wouldn't say it was very firming. I honestly didn't think I was going to see much of a difference but I did and love the results it gave my skin. Also the child in me loved having a blue face, it was great fun.

My ratings: 7/10

Recommend/ worth the money: £14 for 15g is a lot of money, so I feel you are buying this because you either fell into the hype or because you are a GlamGlow fan. I will hold my hands up and say I fell because of both of those reasons. If you got more product for your money I would consider buying this. As I have products in my collection that do the same and that also work out far cheaper, I shall just stick to them. Its sold online in Boots if you are interested.

Pros: Left my skin very soft and feeling clean. It's great fun to use, its a peel off mask with no pain.

Cons: Amount of product you get for £14.

Thanks for reading

Kara xx

Make up storage & how I keep it clean

Howdy,

I am pretty minimalistic when it comes to my make up, like I am with my clothes, I only buy what I know I will love, use and enjoy.

Here is a picture of how I keep my makeup and you can see the things I reach for and use daily, I keep everything to hand. If something is hidden in a dark drawer I know I am going to forget about it and not use it as much. I see pictures and videos online about people washing their brushes, but do you ever see people cleaning their make up storage??? Dust and dirt gets everywhere and when applying things to your face you want to keep the area as clean as possible.

Here are the steps I take to clean my make up storage trays and it takes just 5-10 minutes to do.

A bowl of soapy warm water, cotton buds and an old but clean tea towel.

I love these cotton buds from Primark, they are excellent to help clean make up smudges. One end of the bud is rounded like a paddle and the other end comes to a point. Perfect if you have any under eye mistakes or if your mascara smudges.

Pointed bud perfect to reach all of the corners.

When its clean I rinse it under the tap to wash away the bubbles, dry as best as you can using a micro fibre tea towel and leave upside down to dry completely.

Here is the set of three large drawers, they all slide completely out making them easy to clean. Also very handy when looking at your products.

Each drawer is quite deep and can hold many items.

Always let them sit upside down to make sure they are fully dry before putting them back together and adding your products.

I got both of these storage pieces from John Lewis and they still look good as new many years on. I have just checked my shopping history of them and I have had these for 3 years, I have no complaints at all. The drawers are sturdy and look very well made, you even have tiny clear rubber feet to stop it from sliding around. By having clear drawers you can easily see all of the items you own and its a great way of making sure you are using everything. It also looks neat and tidy, which I love.

How do you store your make up? Come over to my IG kara1818, say hey and see more of my make up, including brushes and skincare.

Thanks for reading
Kara xx