Are Expensive Lip Balms Worth The Money? My Review of Affordable Right Upto High-end Products.

Howdy,

Like most people, I am a massive fan of lip balm and I use it multiple times a day, every day. I prefer to just use a basic chap stick or balm over a colourful lipstick any day. I keep them in every bag I use, in my car, on my bedside table and even on my coffee table in the living room.

These are all in my collection and I have listed them in price order and added a link to where they can be purchased from.

Affordable range

Burt's Bees - £3.99

Burt's Bees lip balm is made with 100% natural ingredients, so this is the kind of balm I have used on my cuticles or even if I've had a dry patch on my face. I know there are no ingredients in here that will irritate my skin, it's a very good all rounder. I find these chap sticks perfect for your hand bag and I use them for work. You never have to dip your finger into a pot, which is perfect and more hygienic when you are at work or out and you may not have the cleanest of hands. 

Infused with beeswax, a natural skin conditioner, and Vitamin E to moisturise.

Natural lip balms made with 100% natural ingredients.

Contain no parabens, phthalates, petrolatum or SLS.

SportFX Moisturising Lip Balm - £4.99

I am surprised just how much I love this lip balm, it does not leave your lips with a film on them and once it has soaked in it is gone and you are fine to apply more. I have read a review saying the tops are not super sturdy and a few have broken. I do now have a slight crack in my lid but as I just keep min in the house and not my bag, this has not been a big problem.

• Paraben free 
• Dermatologically tested
• SPF 15
• Natural oils
• Shea Butter
• Vitamin C, E and F

La Roche-Posay Nutritic Moisturising Lip Cream - £6.00

Another good one for your bag, I don't think I have tried a La Roche product that I have not enjoyed. This applies really well and is not greasy. I find this to be longer lasting and perfect to help stop your lips getting chapped in this cold and windy weather, this is perfect if you are planning on being outside in the cold for a long period of time. You won't feel the need to constantly reapply it.

• 100% hypoallergenic skincare
• Non-comedogenic (means it won't clog up your skin/ block pores)
• Made with minimal ingredients and little fragrance 

Mid-Price Range

Clarins Instant Light Natural lip perfector - £18.00

My favourite all rounder. If you want a little colour, hydration and long lasting moisture this is it. Perfect all year round, the packaging is fun and not fussy. The balm applies without needing a mirror, you can wear it alone or over a lipstick. It gives a little shine to the lips but without looking like a gloss, so is fantastic for going from day to night. Perfect natural shine for an evening look.

• Lips are left looking smooth, shiny and plump
• Hydrated
• Long lasting
• Can be used alone or over a lip stick/ liner

High end Range

Dior Crème de Rose Lip Balm - £20.00

I hate to say this but I think this is the worst balm of this whole bunch. That doesn't mean I hate it, I am just not a fan. For the price you are paying you would expect a lot more. I dislike the occasional white film you are left with on your lips, you apply it and rub your lips together and I feel like I am just moving around the product. I will use this up for sure (look at the cost) but it will remain on my bedside cabinet and be used at night where nobody can see the odd colour it gives my lips.  Lucky husband. ;-)

• Contains shea butter, rose oils and vitamins A and E
• moisturising
• Gives a fullness to the lips

By Terry Baume de Rose Lip Care - £39.00

This is lovely and has a hefty price tag to go with it. You could swap a pot of this for a full sized eye shadow palette and to be fair I think that would be a better way of spending that amount of money. I won't lie, I do like this balm and have loved using it, it coats the lips without leaving them feeling caked up with product. It is effective when used at night I have added it into my night time routine and my lips have been feeling fantastic. A little goes a long way so if you were "feeling a little spendy" (anyone catch the Amelia Liana quote there?), then this is a lovely balm to have. I would welcome a full sized tub of this into my collection any day.

• Soothing rose wax. 
• Nourishing and emollient floral oils.
• Hydrating, anti-aging and smoothing Bio-ceramides .
• Anti-free radical and protective UV filters. 

The verdict, which one is best?

So with all these lip balms on the go the real question is, are the high end ones worth the hype and the expense. In my opinion... no, this is probably one of the times where you don't have to invest a lot of money into a product like this. So do I have a favourite form all of these? Yes I do, a clear winner for me has to be the Clarins Instant Light Profector. I keep one of these in my car and I just love it. I put some on every time I am in my car, it is so incredibly moisturising and gives the perfect amount of shine and colour to your lips. You do not need a mirror and no matter the condition of your lips this will always help. If you have been out in the cold and your lips are chapped this will bring them back to life. One thing I love (which some might not think is a good idea, even though I have done this for years) it is that you can keep this in your car no matter the weather. My car can be frozen and the lip product is fine, in the heat of summer exactly the same. No melting as its not a chap stick and the product stays in its tube, no leaking or mess and no need to use your fingers. It has a sweet scent that does not leave a funny taste in your mouth and as it wears off it leaves not a single mark or streak on your lips. It really is worth the little splurge and it will last you months.

So whats your favourite balm to use at the moment? Find me on IG and Twitter @kara1818 and let me know.

Thanks for reading
Kara xx

Mulberry Sample Sale, March 2018

Howdy,

When I saw an instagram post that Mulberry were having another sample sale (follow ldnsamplesales on instagram for all the latest sample sales happening in London) I originally decided that I wasn't going to go. I had previously had such a good time going to the one last October, but this time I didn't need a bag and I was concerned I'd be tempted to spend a lot of money. On my last visit I purchased a medium quilted Cara in black. However, my husband was heading into London for a business meeting and I had the day off work anyway, so thought I would go to the sale and make a day of it. I could go check out what Mulberry had on offer and then meet him later for a meal and a few drinks.

So after deciding I would go I followed the email instructions that ask you to choose a day that you wish to attend, everything is clearly linked on London sample sales instagram page. I booked myself to go down on the Thursday, the sale was running from Monday - Friday like before. Last time I went around 10.30 on the Monday so really had the pick of the bags. Here is my previous post if you're interested in seeing how it all looked last time as a different venue.

This sample sale was held at a building called Adam House on Adam Street which is just off The Strand, I found this location not as easy to get to compared to last time, which was held in Mayfair. I turned up just after 12.00 and walked straight in, there was no queue and this time I wasn't asked to show my confirmation email. I paid my £2 and went down stairs to check in my bag and coat, I always keep out my card and my phone. Luckily I never got asked once to not take any pictures, so I tried to take a few to show the bags available and the layout of the building, which this time around was very different to the last.

The room was underground and VERY dark, there were spot lights on the ceiling in various places which only lit up a single area that they pointed too. It felt like I should have been coming here for a cocktail not to look at a sample sale. There were three rooms in total, one room that consisted of two archways which allowed you to walk from one room into another. The bag selection was very large this time and I would say they had more bags than before. There were bags of every colour and a few exotic skins too. Even the most popular bags like a Bayswater or a Lily came in a good selection of colours. These bags are very popular and the discounts didn't seem to be as high as some. But still, savings of a few hundred pounds could be had. This time there was a larger selection of coats, lots of thick winter coats. As we are now heading into spring the winter stock has obviously been discounted. They felt like amazing quality but still were pushing £900 an item.


The leather jackets and the shoes were kept in the third room and this is the room where the tills were, to pay for your items. I looked round the rooms a good few times checking out all of the bags, the amount people there at my time of visiting made the rooms busy but with a little patience I got to look at everything. There were many bags I loved but nothing that I thought that I must have. If you have read my previous post you will have seen the medium Cara bag I own and I am just enjoying that bag so much.

My last scan of the room lead me to the SLG's (small leather goods) where I came across a small pouch, it was from the Cara collection and matched my bag. I never saw these last time and as I do use a pouch in my bag I thought this was perfect. I was chatting to a member of staff who told me there were only a small number of these pouches available and they were hard to find now. One thing I did not love about this sale was that having such poor lighting, you could not check out your items thoroughly. All sales are finally so I didn't want to pick up an item and find it was scratched or damaged. I collected a couple of good looking pouches and headed to the payment room, where the lighting was better, to inspect the pouches. This may sound a little OCD, but with the pouch being made of lamb skin, I wanted to be sure I was getting an undamaged pouch. At the till I asked if I could have a dust bag or a box to store the pouch in, I 

was given a box lined with tissue paper in to store it. The box was green and from the new collection which this pouch is not from, I am not worried at all as I now have the perfect place to store this item when I am not using it.

So what were the pros and cons to this sample sale compared to the last

Pros:

     - More bags available to purchase.
     - The staff were very friendly and helpful

Cons:
     - So badly lit
     - Location is harder to get to

Overall, would I go again? I really would. If you are able to attend I really would recommend going, It is always a good idea to go with an idea of what you would like to buy and a budget you have to spend. You do not want to be sucked in to buying something just because it is "on offer" and end up spending your money in the heat of the moment. The items were again of very good quality, seals on locks and all came with dust bags. I do think this will be a sample sale I will always get excited about and want to attend, you never know when you might hit the jackpot like I did last October and come away with an amazing deal. It has given me the bug to want to attend more, next time I would like to try a clothing sample sale. Follow me on instagram to see what I get up to, its kara1818

Here is what I purchased to go with my bag, it feels and smells amazing. It is the Cara Delevingne small pouch in quilted nappa (lamb) I purchased this for £75, the RRP £250

Let me know if you have attended any sample sales that you loved, I would love to hear how other people got on at these sales.

Thanks for reading

Kara xx

Boscia Luminizing Pink Charcoal Mask

Howdy,


I LOVE the black charcoal mask that Boscia brought out many years ago, it has remained a staple in my skincare collection. I have also managed to get a friend addicted to it, which I don't think is too bad for a product that I can't even buy in the country I live in. I recently spotted a pink version of this mask so had to purchase a tube, I was lucky enough to have my husband travel to American not long after the Sephora VIB sale, so I ordered a tube.
This mask is fun to use if nothing else, if you are totally suckered in by packaging then you will be sucked in by this. Good thing is I think the hype is totally worth it.

I cleansed my face and used this mask all over, one thing to note is don't go to close to your eyes or anywhere that you have hair. Even the finest hairs on your face will be pulled or removed by using this mask. I left it on for around 30mins till it was fully dry all over. During this process the mask just got tight as all peel off masks do and I did not feel any irritating sensations whilst this was happening.

Once I pulled the mask off, taking a hair or two I'm sure, my face instantly felt smooth and my skin appeared brighter, I do feel that this mask is very like the black version (ingredients are different). With the black mask I find it to be more of a detoxifying mask, one to pull up and out the impurities in your face. The pink mask I felt it help to lift away dead skin cells but brightened the skin more.

I used this mask in the evening, so applied a night cream and went to bed. By morning my skin was still very bright and happy from using this mask and I did not break out with any spots. Which I sometimes do from clay or charcoal masks.

I will be using this mask up for sure, it is a wonderful pick me up for the skin, especially this time of year when we all have a little too much to eat and drink. Way to go Boscia another awesome mask that I will enjoy using. I do recommend this mask, its pink, its fun and most of all it works. Big thumbs up from me again, it can be purchased from Boscia or Sephora. Boscia please come to a shop in the UK so I can purchase you here.


My ratings:  8.5/10

Recommend/ worth the money: Yes it's $34 for 2.8oz or 80g for us UK folks.

Pros: Results after first use, brighter looking skin, skin felt soft, no sulphates, phthalates or parabens

Cons: Sticks to any hair even the finest, quite a strong smelling mask (not enough to put me off), not sold in the UK.

Thanks for reading
Kara xx























Here is my last review on the black charcoal mask that I made some time back

Moonstruck 3D Fiber Lashes V Moonstruck Epic Mascara by Younique

Howdy,

I have had the chance to try out some fabulous products by the brand Younique, I was lucky enough to be sent the whole starter kit. I will do a blog post of my overall thoughts on this kit and what I think about it as a whole very soon. I love mascara and could not wait to try these out, good skin and big lashes are the biggest confidence boost, I find. So here are my thought on these two mascaras, just a little FYI all opinions are my own on any Younique products I review, I am not being paid to write anything. If you see a product you would like to try I will leave a link at the end to a lovely lady Danielle who works with Younique and can help you with any orders. There you can check out all the products available and ask any questions,
Danielle is lovely and make the transaction quick and easy.

Right on to these mascaras, first the 3D fiber lash

3D Fiber Lash Mascara on my left eye

I have always wanted to try a fiber lash mascara and wondered if they really made a difference or is it just a faff. With this mascara you must first use the transplanting gel, which feels just like a very basic mascara, it coats all of your lashes and helps to separate them and get them ready for the fibers. Next you apply the fibers, I found this very odd as to me it looked like I had a wand of tiny fluff that I was going to place near my eye. I applied a couple of coats of these fibers and you can see it darkens and builds up the lashes, the idea is then to do the same to the other eye and then go back with the clear gel on the first eye to seal the fibers in.
So was this easy to do? Yes and actually quite fun. The only downside to this mascara was that the fibers flaked over the day, maybe I am not sealing them well enough but I have had a few fall outs over the day. Which is one thing I try to avoid especially when I am at work and can't get in front of a mirror often, I don't want to have panda eyes. If you are not prone to fall out or it just doesn't bother you then I think you would love this mascara, my lashes felt dark, thicker and separated.

Now the Moonstruck Mascara

Moonstruck Epic Mascara on my right eye

I loved this mascara from the very first use, it is very buildable and you can achieve both a natural look or one that is more dramatic. It is very black and gives you not only length but it it helps to build up your lashes making them appear thicker and fuller. I have really enjoyed using this mascara as it is easy to use first thing in the morning when running out the door to work. I can wear it and not have to worry a few coats and I am good to go for the whole day. It is not waterproof but can be removed very easily at the end of the day with a cleanser, you won't need to be there soaking or rubbing your eyes.

So if I had to choose just one mascara it would have to be the Moonstruck, for its fantastic results
even from the first use and how it is very long wearing. This is a mascara I would go out and purchase, you will have it for a good few weeks it is not going to dry out on you in a month. It really is worth it.

If you are interested in any products I mention that are from Younique, please click here and you can have a chat to the lovely Danielle and she will help you with any purchases you wish to make. 

Thanks for reading
Kara

Ways to Avoid the Post-Christmas Blues

Howdy,

Most people I know love Christmas, I being one of them, but Christmas starts in the shops right after Halloween and we have a good 2 months solid of it constantly being pushed in our faces. Christmas advertisement is everywhere so you will never be able to avoid it and what is with the UK taking on the American tradition of Black Friday sales, I think if we are going to have these sales then we should at least have the Thanks Giving dinner etc as well haha why not?

So after potentially 8 weeks plus of it being everywhere, it is all over in a day. It is a massive build up of buying presents, food and preparing for travel etc. So after all the build we then have these few days between Christmas and new year before we hit January. Or as I think of it, the month of nothingness. January stays dark, cold and quite possible the most miserable month of the year. So we basically need to bugger off to a hot climate or maybe do one or two of the things listed below. Lets wash away these post-Christmas January blues, here are the few things I shall be doing.....

Have a lovely hot bath - The weather is cold, snow has fallen, why not relax in a lovely bath. Maybe light a few candles and put on your favourite film. We all must do a balancing act with a tablet device of some sort in the bathroom? Why not chuck in your favourite bath bomb or bath product, sit back, relax and enjoy the treat.

Hit the sales -  I know Christmas is a very expensive time of the year, so I am sure we don't all have bags of money floating around. My favourite way to shop the sales as always is from home, well to be exact I shopped from bed this year. There were a few items I had hoped would go into the sales so I bookmarked them on my laptop and waited till boxing day. I may have purchased a pair of half price Russell and Bromley shoes, now that helped my post Christmas blues haha.

Plan a day out - To me the most depressing thing in life is not having anything to look forward to, so whilst the nights still draw in pretty quick, why not plan a day out with a friend. Maybe go out to your favourite restaurant, bar or have afternoon tea. I also quite like just having lunch at a friends house, it gets you out of your house and if you offer to bring lunch, how can they say no. Lots of cups of tea, a little lunch and a good old catch up *cough cough* (GOSSIP) really is good for the soul. I find just having something to look forward to will take then edge of going back to work after the Christmas period.

Go through your wardrobe/ have a clear out - I love having a clear out, there isn't usually much to clear out in my wardrobe as I don't really have that many clothes. I always think by having a clear out of clothes, skincare or make up is a great way to rid any products that have expired or that you just wont use. The less clutter around the better you feel. Clear house, clear mind. If you have any unused products you can share them with family or friends and clothing you can donate as long as it is in good condition. So its a win win situation, clear house and donating things to help a good cause.

Plan an evening in -If you are thinking but I spend most of my evenings in, well treat this one differently. Don't do your usual evening routine, jazz it up and plan something different and a little fun. Make your favourite meal, use a face mask, a hair mask etc. I am sure some of you must have lots of these sample/ deluxe size products that need using up. (If you have cleaned out your draws I am sure you found something) Light that candle you were saving and open that lovely bottle of your favourite tipple/ or put the kettle on if that is what you'd prefer. Why wait for that special occasion, when keeping yourself in good spirits is more important. Kick the arse of the winter blues and enjoy the little things in life that make you happy.

I wish you all the best for 2018 and thanks to everyone that reads my blog, I want to try and post more regularly like I used to. This year has been tough in parts so my blog has taken a back seat, fingers crossed this is our year.

Thanks for reading

Kara xx

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