Christmas Gift Idea - Toni and Guy Deep Barrel Hair Waver

Hi everyone,

Three posts in row!  I am on a roll here, musing over doing 12 blogs of Christmas kind of thing...  Enough musing, I wanted to share information about this product, as I think it would make a lovely Christmas gift.

I know at the moment the Enrapture Amplify Jumbo Hair Waver
is the talk of the town but firstly it costs £67.49 on Amazon! secondly I saw tutorials and the size of the waves were a nice size but not exactly what I was after and thirdly it costs £67.49!  Similarly I saw tutorials for the Babyliss Wave Envy but again I was after bigger deeper waves.

The Toni and Guy Deep Barrel Hair Waver costs £34.99 from Argos and £34.97 at Tesco Direct at the time of posting this blog, however, I was quite lucky and managed to buy it reduced in a recent sale.

I've still got lots of experimenting to do with it but I've played with it enough to let you know that I love the waves you can get with this.

The smaller the sections, longer you hold it and the higher the heat setting you select will give you deeper waves, beachy waves and the wider the sections and lower the heat will give you more soft femme fatale waves, which I've always been after.

What I'm still practicing mostly with is how far down the hair shaft will look best on me.  I found it works best if I straighten my hair first rather than roughly blow drying it straight-ish, gave more smoother defined waves.

The other thing I would point out is the deep ridge on the bottom depending on the angle can be a little awkward to get the hair over and in to the waver but that's probably something I'll get better at with more practice.

You would definitely need to put some kind of product in to help keep the waves for as long as possible, I have naturally curly hair but still need to do this if I want waves/curls to last, whatever I use but sometimes it's nice just to let them drop and look more "natural".

It has 25 heat settings, deep tourmaline plates, stay cool tip, 60sec heat-up time, that I think are worth mentioning here.  If you change the temperature, I didn't notice any change in the light to let you know that it was being changed or when it had reached the required temperature as my Cloud9 Wide Hair straighteners do, so you just have to wait awhile and test.
.
Once I feel confident enough, I hope to do demos on my YouTube channel dianeuk01 in the future.

I've been after a hair styling tool like this for years but never got around to getting one, can't tell how pleased I am to have finally found one, which is at such a reasonable price and so accessible too, and with Christmas fast approaching just had to share, really do think it will make a great gift.

Diane x

My Beauty Wish List - Suggestions?

Hello lovelies,


I've been looking at my beauty wish list, which is not as full as you might think, as I've not been adding to it much when I hear/see something, mainly because I'm trying to be more restrained and more selective these days.


Here is what I have on the list right now:-
Bobbi Brown long wear cream eye shadow in Sandy Gold

Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals – Faux Tan all over colour

Collection 2000 Crème puff lip creams, all except Powder Puff
Laura Mercier Rose Rendezvous Highlighter
Makeup Atelier eyeshadows, gel liners in deep brown/blue

Iman Time Control Primer

Kryolan Anti-Shine powder

Mac Sable eyeshadow

Daniel Sandler water colour blush liquid/crème

Kett air brush liquid foundation
Brush Guards

NYC Lip Stain

Louise Young small crease brush

MUFE Aqua Crème lip pencils

Inglot Gel liner?

Photo belongs to karlasugar.net

I know there are plenty more things I "need" OK would like, but for the life of me can't think of them right now!

Each year I try not to spend the points I have accrued on my Boots Advantage card, but I have used some earlier in the year and have not been to Boots that much of late so this year my Christmas treat will have to cost £26 or less.  

As far as I know Boots still don't let you part pay with your points so you have to have the right amount as you can't top up with cash, shame as I know Superdrugs do allow you to do this.

Problem is apart from Collection 2000, nothing I have on my list is available at Boots and I'd like something special that would be a real Christmas treat, but what?  If you have any suggestions I'd love to hear them.

What's on your wish list?  Something from Chanel, Dior, Estee Lauder, Clinque etc?  Anyone?

If you could share some ideas that would be fab.  Thanks so much.

Diane x

FRONTCOVER GILT EDGED REVIEW

Hi everyone,

I'm back with a post!  So sorry I've been gone awhile but I do hope you enjoy hearing about and seeing swatches of this gorgeous looking gift set.

I was asked if I would like to review some FRONTCOVER cosmetics, this was the first time I have accepted this kind of offer and the reason for that is because I have been curious about this brand for awhile.

So as you can see from the title, this post will be about FRONTCOVER GILT EDGED, The Ultimate Party Collection For Golden Girls.  I picked this set to test and review because the colours are right up my street.

The set includes a Large Metallic Makeup Case, Mini Metallic Cosmetic Purse, Shimmer Stick, Compact with Domed Baked Blush, Double Ended Lip Gloss, Double Ended Chunky Metallic Pencil Gold/Copper, Holographic Glitter, Iridescent Pigment, Shadowbase, Double Ended Eye Applicator, Cheek Brush. 

You get alot in the set but how do they look and perform?  Well below are swatches and my experiences using these products.


All heavily swatched left to right : Domed Baked Blush , Shadowbase, Chunky Metallic Pencil Gold
end with Dubloon Glitter on lower half, Copper end with Burnt Carrot Pigment on lower half 

Compact with Domed Baked Blush - the lid has a mirror. It is a beautiful peach with silver micro shimmer.  On my medium deep skin tone (Mac NC44, Nars Sheer Glow - Cadiz, MUFE HD 173) it makes for a lovely highlight on the top of the cheekbones and has been my highlighter of choice since I received this set for testing. It does have shimmer and some micro glitter but not too much, I've really been enjoying this.

Shadowbase - is a shimmery Champagne eye base, on my oily eyelids combined with the chunky metallic pencil on top it creased but it lasts longer just with the pigments or eyeshadow applied directly on to it.  It makes for a beautiful highlight under the brow bone and collarbones, blends really lovely.  The shimmer in it can give another dimension to eyeshadows you put on top of it, I tried with matte shadows on top and it gave a lovely effect.

Double Ended Chunky Metallic Pencil Gold/Copper - these are beautiful colours and I was very excited to try these. However, my oily lids ensured that these creased and faded on me but with my Lime Crime Candy Eyed primer underneath the creasing and fading was more subtle than with the Shadowbase, and on their own with no primer at all they practically disappeared altogether in a short space of time. I would recommend using a primer that works for oily lids and apply using the side of the pencils rather than the tip for less drag.


Burnt Carrot Iridescent Pigment, Doubloon Holographic Glitter

Doubloon Holographic Glitter - this is beautiful and a little goes a long way. It comes with a thin plastic cover inside, I chose to dab the eye applicator on the plastic cover to pick up just a little of the product but it would be possible to pierce little holes in it to make it like a sifter pot to control the amount of product that comes out. I apply this over the metallic chunky pencil using the sponge end of the eye applicator, to minimise fall out when you press it on over the pencil. This will look beautiful over so many eyeshadows too, personally I would choose to apply it just in the center of the lid and put a tissue to protect you from any fall out when applying.

Burnt Carrot Iridescent Pigment - I love this really gorgeous, especially so over the copper end of the metallic chunky pencil. Has a beauiful texture, press it on using the brush end of the eye applicator then blend, produces such a lovely colour and dimension. I wore this combo on a recent night out together with Mac Taupe lipstick with Pink Frost lipgloss on top and the Domed Baked Blush as brow bone and tops of cheek bone highlight.  I didn't get fall out and I think a little dab of this on top of your lipstick or lipgloss just in the center of your lips would be very pretty.


Shimmer Stick left heavily swatched, right blended

Shimmer Stick - is a beautiful rose gold colour but for my personal taste it has too much chunky glitter and when I blended it out I was left with glitter moving about and not much colour left, too build up more colour would mean adding alot more glitter.  Of course many love that look but I prefer something more subtle.  It's a shame as I do love the colour.


Pink Frost, Peach Sparkle

Double Ended Lip Gloss - one end is Peach Sparkle (golden orange) the other end is Pink Frost (baby pink with silver shimmer).  I like these, they do not feel sticky and give a lovely dimension.  I have been pairing Peach Sparkle on top of Boots No7 Conker lipstick and Pink Frost on top of Mac Taupe lipstick, loving the combinations.

Double Ended Eye Applicator - work well with the pigments. I suspect the brush end may even do a good job of blending out the crease but haven't put it to the test yet.

Cheek Brush - used to apply the Domed Baked Blush as a highlight on top of cheekbones but I would actually prefer to use a smaller brush for that purpose.  It's OK to use as a blush brush to apply and blend the product but it is not as soft as I'd like or gives as much control in the placement as I would prefer with my own blusher brushes but if you haven't got a blush brush this is nice to have.

Large Metallic Makeup Case and Mini Metallic Cosmetic Purse, both in gold - these will always come in handy.

The stand out products for me are definitely the iridescent pigment and holographic glitter, really beautiful.  However, I could get every day use out of the blush & shadowbase as highlighters and use the lipglosses.

There is one product I don't think I would use, which is the shimmer stick, unless possibly on my legs, on a night out...

One of the lovely things with this set is that it includes a tutorial, with hints and tips on the back of the sleeve to give you some guidelines and inspiration.

I've really enjoyed testing and using the products in this set.  If you or someone you know loves these golden and copper tones (as I do), I think it would make an impressive gift, good value for money and you can create gorgeous looks for the party season. 

You can buy this set from Boots for £25, at the time of this post they currently have a 3 for 2 mix and match gift promotion for the festive season, how nice :-)

What do you think?  Have you tried any FrontCover cosmetics?

Diane x

Magazine Freebies

Just thought I'd let you know about some freebies either already out or coming out soon. 

First up is Body Shop freebies worth upto £16 with InStyle magazine (with Nicole Scherzinger on the cover), from Thursday 7th July, you can either pick a free mascara worth £10 or two eye pencils (black and navy) worth £8 each.  Cost of the magazine is £3.70.

Probably most of you already know about the Glamour magazine Benefit freebies, they usually have fab Benefit freebies each year, this year it is mini Benetint, Posietint and High Beam, magazine costs £2 (with the very beautiful Adele on the cover).  I thought I'd missed the boat on this but on Monday this week there were plenty left on the shelf in my large Tesco supermarket, I picked up High Beam as that's the only one I don't have, excellent bargain but be quick before this gets taken off the shelves.

From Thurs 7 July you can buy August's Marie-Claire magazine for £3.60 (with Audrey Tautou on the cover), it will come with a full sized Ciaté lip gloss, apparently worth £9.

Oh how I do love a bargain! :-)

Diane x

NOTD Revlon Ocean Breeze - Scents of the Summer Collection



Sorry it's a bit blurry! 
Oh no I've never seen my hands so wrinkly!  I'm getting on though you know, 39 in August, eek!
that's just one year away from the big "4 0" it's getting "REAL" lol





Complements my skin tone nicely (image is a still from a video that never happened!)



I have never worn a teal colour but I love this one, the colour is just beautiful and I think really complements my skin tone, also the chrome finish makes it a bright lovely summer colour.

I found afer 2 coats which is what you see here that it's opaque but I didn't get little streaky areas and you can see the brush strokes, but I'm not fussy, only someone scrutinising my nails up close and personal will really notice, and quite frankly no-one does that, do they...?

After 3 coats (which I very rarely can be bothered with) streaks are at full opacity, sorry I didn't take pics, this was done morning after the night before.

It started chipping after 3 days, so not the most long wearing but I don't have a top or bottom coat on, I know! slaps wrist, naughty me but I just don't have that kind of time usually, I know I know I should make time!  I prefer to do my nails after I have a bath so there is less chance of them being ruined but I usually have a bath very late and hence  putting polish on at all sometimes is just a bonus :-)

Speaking of top coats, I need one, any suggestions please?

Thanks lovelies,
Diane x

FOTD Bronze eyes Bronze/Rose Cheeks and Pink Lip

Hello everyone,

Thank you so much for sticking with me :-) xxx  I know I'm not the most prolific blogger (understatement!) so I really do appreciate you all putting up with me random blogging.

Here is the look I wore yesterday when I went into central London, I was on the Southbank as I went to meet my friend and fellow Youtuber chefcaffy as she had come over from Singapore to do a catering event.

In aid of Cathy being a Nars lover, I of course went with some but not all Nars products, also the ones I used happen to be favs of mine :-)

Here are the pictures (actually these are stills from a FOTD video I started filming then annoyingly my camcorder ran out of battery!) and I'll put the write up below of all products and how I used them, hope you like...



Bit of a gromit smile here! I had just said something very amusing...may be lol

Nars Fez eyeshadow - any bronze you have will work, I love this one

Inglot eyeshadows 360 mdeium ash brown and 378 deep ash brown, anything you have similar would work



Swatches for you.  I reorganised my Inglot palettes, loving this neutral one!
The bronze colour 406 in this palette is gorgeous too, pigmented beautiful finish and no effort to apply and it does so smoothly and evenly.



Mac Harmony Beauty powder as my blending colour



Eyes:

Nars Smudgeproof Primer

Eve Pearl Concealer Trio B on inner corner

Nars loose Powder to set concealer & even skin tone on lid

Nars Fez eyeshadow on lid and up to and over crease

Inglot 360 Medium ash brown eyeshadow outer V

Inglot 378 Deep ash brown eyeshadow outer V and all along top lash line at root of lashes and on outer third of bottom lashes

Mac Harmony beauty powder to blend out colours above crease

Urban Decay Naked Palette Sin eyeshadow as inner corner highlight

Avon Supershock Gel liner, outer third upper water line and all along lower waterline and into roots of lashes

Pretige My Blackest Lashes on top and bottom lashes

Note: I decided not to highlight the brow bone to balance the lovely pearl sheen on my lids from the Fez e/s

Face:

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfector under eyes to give my concealer some slip to put over it, (the L'oreal one would do the same job).

Eve Pearl concealer trio b salmon part under my eyes and on blemishes, hyper-pigmentation around my mouth

Eve Pearl Salmon Concealer in Tan, under my eyes to brighten

Benefit powder flash to set concealer under eyes

Nars Loose powder in Mountain on T-Zone

No Foundation was used.

Sleek Contour kit in Medium, dark colour lightly used in hollows of cheek bones, temples and under jaw line

Mac Sunny by Nature mineralised skin finish on cheeks, forehead, chin, bridge of nose

Nars Lovejoy Blush on cheeks, (decided no need for highlighter as this blush contains it's own shimmer)

Lips:

Mac Stripdown lipliner all over to even out natural pigmentation

NYX Mahoney lipliner on outline of lips

Boots No7 Stay Perfect Classic Rose No. 25 lipstick

That's it I think, I really loved the look, how could I not I used alot of my favourite products and instead of reaching for my beloved Boots No7 Golden Rose lipstick spf15, which is a go to of mine and would go perfectly and decided to mix it up with this pink, love it. 

I have 4 No7 lipsticks now and I really enjoy them and find myself reaching for them regularly.  The other one I am really liking right now is Chinchilla Stay Perfect No 50, it's a great option for summery days, a bronzy rose that would also go well with this look, it is lighter and brighter than golden rose.

Hope you enjoyed this :-)  Thank you again for your amazing support, you make it worthwhile.

Diane x

Paula's Choice Resist Regime Results - 30 Days Later

Hello my lovelies,

I thought I would detail here what I used, how I used them and the experiences I had, and give you some before and after photos too, so here goes.

Before starting I had 3 blemishes around my left eye, discolouration/skin damage from spots in the hollows of my cheek bones and along jaw line most of which happened when I was a teenager, some discolouration from recent spots, this happens whether I squeeze my spots or not :(  I have some fine lines around eyes and forehead, and teeny flesh coloured bumps on my forehead, don't think anyone can notice but I'm a looking!  I'm hoping that this area becomes as smooth as the rest of the skin on my face, the damage from spots new and old is exfoliated and new fresh even toned skin is revealed - wishful thinking perhaps!  But that's what I paid my money for.  If my fine lines are reduced and dark circles minimised that's a bonus.

I bought 4 products from the Paula's Choice Resist range consisting of:

RESIST Advanced Replenishing Toner Skin Remodeling Complex
RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% Alpha Hydroxy Acid
RESIST Weekly Resurfacing Treatment with 10% Alpha Hydroxy Acid
RESIST Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum


Week 1
Toner - every morning and night
5% AHA - 1-2 pumps every night
Serum - every night
10% AHA - once at the end of the week, after 10 mins applied serum
(Please note I used my Estee Lauder Day Wear Plus Sheer Tint Release Formula each morning.)

Results: The first morning after use my blemishes were significantly reduced and continued to reduce steadily thereafter, skin looked brighter.  No inflammation, stinging or peeling from the 5% AHA.  Mild stinging along the tops of my cheekbones from the 10% AHA, went away soon after I applied the serum, no peeling or inflammation occurred.

Week 2
Toner - every morning and night
5% AHA - 1-2 pumps twice a day for first 2 days then reduced back to using at night only.
Serum - every night
10% AHA - once at the end of the week, after 10 mins applied serum

Results:

After using the 5% AHA twice a day for 2 days I noticed pink areas about a centimetre in diameter on the apples of my cheeks and the skin slightly raised, no itching, tightness or peeling but suspect inflammed as this is unusual for me, so I decided to go back to using the 5% AHA only at night.

I keep staring at the hollows of my cheekbones, suspecting the discolouration may be fading! and the skin texture seems to be different, collagen promoting new healthy tissue? - too early to say, could just be wishful thinking at this stage...

Week 3
Clean and Clear Spot Treatment - smoothed over my forehead twice a week (has salicylic acid - BHA)
Toner - every morning and night
5% AHA - 1-2 pumps at night only.
Serum - every night
10% AHA - once at the end of the week, allowed a few mins for it to soak in then applied serum

Results: No issues with any of the products.  The Clean and Clear has helped reduce the flesh coloured bumps a bit.  Still watching like a hawk to check the progress on the discolouration in the hollows of my cheeks, def looks to me as if my skin tone and texture is evening out.  But what's this?  Are the lines on my forehead ever so slightly reduced, and the bothersome wrinkle under my left eye...

Week 4
Clean and Clear Spot Treatment - smoothed over my forehead twice a week (has salicylic acid - BHA)
Toner - every morning and night
5% AHA - 1-2 pumps at night only.
Serum - every night
10% AHA - twice a week 3 days apart, allowed a few mins for it to soak in then applied serum

Results:  10% AHA twice a week too drying for some parts of my face, will reduce to once a week again.    The flesh coloured bumps on my forehead are definitely reduced but not gone completely, no drying of skin as only used twice a week.

What can I say?  Consider me well and truly impressed and I have to admit a bit awed.  The discolourations in hollows off my cheeks are actually evening out, if I wasn't seeing it with my own eyes I wouldn't have really believed it poss by just applying (over the counter) products topically. 

The lines on my forehead look smoother as if they have been slightly rubbed out! there seems to be a small change in the depth of the annoying wrinkle under my left eye that I usually have to avoid getting concealer in for fear of it caking, if that continues I really will be over the moon!  I do feel as though my skin feels firmer and radiant.  Quite possibly my dark circles are not quite as dark but I'm reserving judgement on that for the moment.

I didn't want this to be a gushing review, but after just 30 days I am pretty amazed and I tell you no lies!  I am going to post some before and after pics below (WARNING - you will be getting up close and personal with some of my many imperfections - eek!) but I'm not sure how helpful they will be, as they were taken at different times of day, so the lighting is different, so sorry about that but I can only take them when I get the chance around my family life.

Left Before - Right After

Needless to say I will be eagerly continuing with these products and adding three more Paula's Choice products into my routine;-

RESIST Barrier Repair Moisturizer this contains retinol, nervous about using retinol but as my skin has taken to the other products in this line so well I hope this bodes well...  I have also ordered Extra Care Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 45 and Weightless Body Treatment with 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid for the body, which can also be used on the face, which I'm going to try on my T-zone to hopefully get rid of the small flesh coloured bumps on my forehead and perhaps help reduce the shine on my nose!  Now Easter hols have passed, I am hoping to receive these products any day - fingers crossed!

I will also be occasionally including other products, either those I already love to use in my usual regime or new ones, in particular some Liz Earle products, that I won in a giveaway from the lovely Simone Gannon, who has a fab blog: http://www.simonelovesmakeup.com/

I have been so dedicated in just using the PC RESIST products this past month but I will prob swap out the 5% AHA in favour of my Clarisonic occasionally and add my much loved Akamuti Rose Replenishing Facial Oil or the Liz Earle Moisturizer I have when my skin feels like it needs more.

I will probably do another before and after set of photos after 3 months, I would like to see the difference if any myself.

If you read all of this - thank you!  I do hope you got something useful from sticking with this looooong post.  Now after all this if you would like to see my video of this where I am bare faced except for a natural lippy and I curled my eyelashes! click this link.  I couldn't help myself have so much of my imperfections already on show - yikes.

Diane x

Illamasqua UK Free Delivery

Quickie Post - more of a bulletin really lol!


Free Standard UK Delivery on all Illamasqua orders for the next 48 hours - until Midnight Thursday 14th April


That's it folks :-)

Fab Mascara for Lower Lashes and Affordable!

Hello everyone,

Thank you all so much for supporting my blog, and welcome to my newbie followers :-)

I wanted to share with you a mascara that I think works brilliantly for the lower lashes as well as the upper lashes, that just so happens to be affordable, in fact it's from Maybellline.  Which one you ask?


Maybelline Lash Stiletto Voluptuous Mascara


Not only does it lift, separate, lengthen and add volume but it's shape makes it perfect for the bottom lashes.  As you will see from the photos below the wand is thin and curved, I can't believe how ergonomically designed it is for the lower lashes and currently costs £8.19 from Boots.com.

The only thing negative I would say is that when I apply it to my top lashes it's not the most comfortable wand to use, despite it being thin it feels a bit scratchy, nothing major but I thought I should mention it.  It's a fab mascara and the one I have been using as a day time mascara for the last month or two.

Ta very much for reading.

Diane x

The UK now has a La Femme Blush Supplier! Amendment 2 stockists!

Hi lovelies,

Hot off the press, there is now an online store in the UK that supplies La Femme Blush/Eyeshadow Refills and Palettes!  Woo hooooo  Price is £3.50 per refill, here is the link, as you will see there is a huge selection of colours.

1st supplier is http://www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk/.  I have purchased from this site a few times in the past, the service is brilliant, Julie the lady that runs it is lovely and so helpful.  My orders have always arrived straight away with no problems.  Any queries I have ever had have been replied to promptly and very friendly.

2nd supplier is http://www.love-makeup.co.uk/, click here to go to the blushes link, blush refills cost £2.99, the empty palettes are available too.  I have to say hand on heart that I have received the same excellent friendly customer service from this site too, the lady that runs it just so happens to be very lovely as well.

Both of these sites does the UK online beauty world proud with their amazing service.

I originally found these sites when trying to find limited edition Mac items.  They have a great selection of products, including OCC lip tars, NYX etc.

I wish this had happened before I placed my order with makeupmania, which I'm still waiting to receive by the way.

I'm so happy to be able to pass on this news, it's fab now being able to get hold of these in the UK and from such lovely suppliers too.

Diane x

Posts coming up in April

Hi everyone,

Thanks for sticking with me and my erratic blog posting!  Welcome to my new supporters, lovely to have you :-) I do love doing blog posts and wanted to let you know what I have coming up for you.

When I receive my delivery from makeupmania of various La Femme products, most of which are blushes, I will be posting swatches of what I receive.

A friends mum in Poland has very kindly picked up some Inglot products for me and will be bringing them over to London soon when she visits her daughter.  As soon as I get my hands on these products, I will be swatching away for you, I'm getting eyeshadows and lipsticks.  I already have a 12 pan square eyeshadow palette that I swatched in my IMATS haul video on YouTube, but I am going to rearrange the colours with the new palettes to my liking and then swatch all of them here for you as well as the lipsticks.

If you follow my YT channel  http://www.youtube.com/user/dianeuk01?feature=mhum you may have seen that I have started a new skin care regime, it's the Paula's Choice RESIST Anti-Aging range, I will be doing an extensive post for the 28 day results, detailing what I'm using, how and why I'm using them and my experience, broken down into weeks and of course showing before and after photos.  I've been told it takes 28 days to see results, we shall see...

I will also do YT videos about these, and I'm sure I will have some impromptu posts to put up inbetween.

I do hope you will find them interesting and helpful in some way, if you do please let me know, would be nice to get to know you all better.

Thanks for reading,
Diane x

Free Delivery Code - La Femme blushes etc

Hi guys,

Thank you all so much for supporting my blog, I'm just sorry I can't post more often at the moment but I just wanted to quickly give you this code.

Free INTERNATIONAL & US delivery code for http://www.makeupmania.com/, where you can buy the La Femme blushes and more.

The code is GREENAOKBYME from 22 - 28 March 2011, full credit and huge thanks goes to Destiny Godley who uploaded this code to YouTube earlier.

I just used it and it worked brilliantly, you put the code in at the order confirmation stage.  I went La Femme shopping in a big way and it's only costing me £30.32!

Have no idea how long it'll take to receive my goods, I believe they have had a huge amount of orders since Gossmakeupartist did his review on YouTube.

If you have ever wanted to try out these blushes now might be the best time. 

I ordered 3 single pans to fill my current palette and purchased a complete 12 pan palette $35, you get to customize what colours go in and what order you want them in, you even get to name your palette - bit daft but still nice personal touch.  For the customized palettes it did say to give it 5 days for that service.

Just a note, you seem to get more options of blush colours when you create a palette but some of the colours that are available to buy in the single pan form are not there, so I had to switch back and forth to make sure I got all the colours I wanted.

I also thought I would try out some of the eye and lip pencils.  So excited I can't tell you!

Thanks for reading and I do hope this is helpful.

Diane x

La Femme Blush on Rouge Swatches

Hello lovelies,

I thought this post would come in handy for anyone that is thinking of purchasing La Femme Blushes.  They are amazingly pigmented, long wearing, and have a huge array of colours and what's more are sooo affordable. To see reviews by the very talented and knowledgeable gossmakeupartist click here and here.

In the individual pan form they cost $2.50 - 5.5g, you can get these from http://www.makeupmania.com/.  I don't know of anywhere else where you can pick up these quality blush on rouge round pans, if you know please do share. 

Get ready, here come the pics, they are actually stills from my camcorder and were filmed in natural light by my front door.  It's a sunny today - yay!



Top row left to right: Orchid Ice, Framboesia, Lilac Champagne
Bottom row left to right: Scarlet, Purple Passion, Grape, Brick Red, Russet, Redwood



Top row left to right: Orchid Ice, Framboesia, Lilac Champagne Bottom row left to right: Scarlet, Purple Passion, Grape, Brick Red,



Top row left to right: Lilac Champagne Bottom row left to right: Grape, Brick Red, Russet, Redwood



I've done heavy swatches and next to them swatches blended out so you can get a better idea how it might look on your skin, for reference my face is Mac NC44 but my arm is a good few shades lighter.



From left to right: Purple Passion, Grape, Brick Red, Russet, Redwood



From left to right: Scarlet, Orchid Ice, Framboesia, Lilac Champagne

I do hope these swatches will be use to someone out there.  I called Screenface professional make-up suppliers in Covent Garden, London that stock La Femme, but they only stock two eye products, woe is me :(

Diane x



Fitflop Boots - Big Sale!!!

Hi everyone,

Ever wanted a pair of Fitflop boots but thought the prices were too high?  Well if you have I'm pleased to let you know that Boots.com are having a big sale in their when it's gone it's gone section under offers, here is the link: Boots FitFlop Sale, You can save upto £66!

I already have a pair of Fitflop Walkstar 3 sandals that I live in the summer and this winter have been wearing my pair of the Superboot Short in Chocolate, I love them, but you do need well fitting socks, otherwise they'll move about in the boots.  They also come up a bit bigger than normal I think, I wear 2 pairs of socks!



Taken from Boots.com website
"The new SHORT suede SUPERBOOT™ is also super smart. Built on FitFlop’s MICROWOBBLEBOARD midsole to tone and trim, it features buttery-soft suede and a loose-fitting, ankle-length leg for pull-on practicality."


Don't forget if you have an advantage card you will earn points to treat yourself with later and if you go via a cashback webiste (as mentioned in previous posts I use Topcashback website) you will earn money on the money you spend!

They are loads of offers going on at Boots.com at the moment.  Oh how I love Boooooots!

Diane x

Mac now at Debenhams

Sorry I meant to post this a month ago!

Just a quickie in case you don't already know by now that Mac cosmetics are now available to purchase from Debenhams online.  Right now til Sat 5th March there is a 10% sale on beauty, which includes the new Wonder Woman Collection!

If like me you purchase via a cashback website, you can earn money whislt you purchase Mac and if you have a Debenhams beauty club card you can earn points to spend later instore too.  They are working on trying to set it up that you can spend the points online but according to their website that is still a work in progress.

Debenhams often have free delivery promotions, , if they don't you can always google Debenhams free delivery code (http://www.topcashback.co.uk/debenhams/discountcodes) to see if you can get a valid code or take a look at the Debenhams page on Topcashback website and click the see all discount tabs, there are usually codes posted there, some by me!

They stock Mac pro pans so I think using the above shopping methods, this is one of the best ways to purchase these items, cash back is never guaranteed, but so far I have earned approx £200 for spending money I was going to spend anyway.

Hope this post is useful!

Diane x

Clinique freebies - Glamour Magazine!

Hi everyone,

Sorry I've been gone so long!!!  My bad, so totally bad. I will try to post more often.

Thought I'd let you know there is a lovely array of Free Clinique mini products in April edition of Glamour  magazine which costs £2.


You can get one of ten Clinique freebies when you pick up a copy the magazine, which is out Thur 3 March with Fearne Cotton on the cover.  The magazine will be on sale until Fri 1 April. 
The Clinique products are travel size (exc. the below lipstick) and are worth £79ish in total, so it's worth stocking up!

The ten mini products to choose from are (the values below have been calculated based on the full sized products on the Clinique website (not by me)):

•Liquid facial soap 30ml - £1.95

•Eye make-up remover 30ml - £3.48

•All about eyes eye cream 5ml - £7.50

•7 day scrub rinse-off formula 30ml - £5.10

•Long last glosswear 2.3ml - £5.37

•Superbalm moisturising gloss 7ml - £6.07

•High impact mascara 4g - £7.50

•Dramatically different moisturiser 30ml - £9

•High impact lipstick full size - £15

•Moisture surge thirst relief 30ml - £18

I'm definitely hoping to check some of these out and maybe pick up a few copies!  Glamour tend to do great giveaways, if I'm not mistaken I managed to pick up the various full sized Benefit pencils for £2 and was able to get a few for family and friends as little extra presents.

Is there anything you might like to pick up or will you be passing on this?

Diane x

Online websites for your beauty shopping "Needs"

Hi all,

A big welcome to my new followers, thank you all! :-)

I'm big on online shopping and thought I would share some of the sites I have shopped at and had very good experiences with and some of which I found out by other people sharing on YT:-


http://www.love-makeup.co.uk/ (limited edition Mac stuff & lots of other brands inc. US ones)

http://www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk/ (as above)

http://www.geniecosmetics.co.uk/ (have picked up a few Mac blushes and Mac eyeshadow refills, they have other brands too), used to be A1 Cosmetics.
http://www.justbeautydirect.co.uk/ (amazing smashbox prices & other brands)

The 3 sites below have various brands for makeup, skincare and perfume;


http://www.feelunique.com/
http://www.halfpriceperfumes.co.uk/
http://www.hqhair.com/health-beauty/make-up.dept

The 2 sites below are pro make-up stores, I haven't actually ordered from these stores but they come highly recommended (see below), they stock Make Up For Ever, pro make-up brands and any items they don't have they can order for you I believe, like MUFE brushes but best to check that with them.

http://www.gurumakeupemporium.com/ (recommended by pixiwoo I haven't ordered from them)
http://www.makeup-provisions.com/ (recommended by gossmakeupartist)

John Lewis (Bobbi Brown, Nars, Laura Merier etc)

Debenhams (sells Illamasqua and the usual brands and they frequently have sales)

http://www.spacenk.co.uk/ (have Nars, Laura Mercier, lot of brands for makeup, hair, skin care & perfumes.  To be honest I have only purchased instore but they are one of the few to stock Nars as well as other brands online so thought it deserved a mention).

Well I hope I may have introduced you to a site or two that you've not heard of or tried before.

I would love to hear about sites you have used and would feel happy to recommend.

Ta lovelies,
Diane x

Nars Online Europe website - woo hoo!!!

Hi there everyone,

Hope you all enjoying the weekend.  I just found out via a tweet from the lovely Julia a.k.a MizzChievous that Nars now have an online website for delivery to 25 countries in Europe, here is the link:  http://www.narscosmetics.eu/

From this site it there are links if you want to go to the UK or French Nars websites too.

I really hope this helps some of you.


Diane x

Free Clinique Mini Mascara

Hello everyone,

Welcome to my new followers - thanks :-)  Sorry my posts are a bit sporadic but hopefully this'll make up for it a bit.

From Mon 17 Jan, get a free sample of Clinique High Impact or High Lengths mascara when you trade in your old mascara at a Clinique counter in Debenhams. It can be any brand of old mascara, it doesn't have to be Clinique.

To get the freebie, simply visit the Clinique counter in your nearest Debenhams store and hand in your old/empty mascara. Then choose which one of the two Clinique samples you'd like. The offer ends Sun 30 Jan and is limited to one per customer.

I did this one Boots had this same promotion on last year, but when I got there I realised I'd forgotten to bring my old mascara.  As luck would have it I'd already found out from a forum that they don't check if it's used or not, so I popped to Superdrugs and bought the cheapest one I could find, think it was mua brand £1-2 or something, so not exactly free this way but I didn't sweat over it.

Diane x

Dupe Mac Club Eyeshadow

Happy New Year everyone.  How are you all feeling?  Anyone the worse for wear after last night?  Hope you had fun whatever you got up to!

I was in Superdrugs the other day, swatching away as usual.  I was at the Accessorize stand, I really am liking the consistency and colours they have but when I came to their With Love Rich Earth eyeshadow I had to marvel, to my surprise it has the same green brown duo chrome effect as Mac's Club eyeshadow. 

It costs £4 and Superdrugs currently have a 3for2 mix and match across all cosmetics at the moment and I believe it will be for a few more days, I want to say it ends this Friday 7th Jan but I'm not sure.

I didn't buy it as I already have Mac's club but if I didn't I would have snapped this up!  It seems to have a lovely velvet texture and glides on smoothly and pigmented.  If you haven't got Mac's Club but have been wanting to try it, I would suggest checking this baby out.

With Mac Club I find this one shadow is all I need for a look, as it looks more green on the lid and where I've buffed it out to above the crease and the light hits it differently there, it then looks more brown.  I also find it goes very well with my warm brown eyes.

If I didn't already have Mac's Sunny By Nature MSF, I would definitely get one of their baked bronzers to try.  I do have the With Love Merged Blush in Bombshell which I'm loving and have just used in a party look tutorial, to view it click here.

If you try it out please do let me know what you think.
Diane x