Givenchy Le Rouge A Porter Lipstick - Rose Aristocrate Shade 201

Givenchy Le Rouge A Porter Lipstick has a lovely balm like quality to it, making it gorgeously moist on your lips. The colour is buildable which I am a fan of and allows you control of depth. The shade I have been using - No201 Rose Aristocrate is a pretty pink shade, just perfect for Spring. Of course I cannot fail to mention the stunning silver and leather case that it comes in. Very chic!

This is my first foray into Givenchy lipsticks but it certainly will not be my last....

Below I am wearing Rose Aristocrate - a really flattering nude pink that has been my go to recently.

*mini sample

My Favourite Beauty Products Of 2015

For my favourite beauty/makeup products of 2015 I went for the products I reached out for the most in my makeup bag...and unsurprisingly the products took in my eyes, cheeks and lips!

You would have had to have lived under a shell not to notice the trend for contouring (made really famous by Kim Kardashian) and not being blessed with lovely cheekbones this has been one trend that I have been embracing in a small way.

I love to accentuate/fake my cheekbones with the extremely affordable SEVENTEEN Define & Conquer Contour Kit which costs just £5.99 from Boots. It is a really simple way of defining and illuminating the face contours and comes with a handy instruction sheet to help you.

I simply adore a good nude lippie, lord knows I have plenty in varying shades but as you can see by how much the one above has been used,  this is my favourite everyday shade and formula - Max Factor Colour Elixir in shade Simply Nude and coming in at £7.99 is the perfect price for everyday use. My lips but better.

Finally, readers of BeautySwot will know that I don't use fake lashes or inserts so I am always on the look out for mascaras and products that enhance my natural lashes... Estee Lauder's Little Black Primer was an absolute essential last year with its multi uses. Promising to tint, amplify and set it does it all. Use alone for pretty and natural lashes, use as a primer under your mascara to give the 'wow factor' to your mascara. It thickens lashes, lifts and lengthens. My favourite use is to set the mascara you are wearing with a final coat of the LBP. It makes the mascara waterproof which is absolutely essential for me in the Summer as I suffer from Hay Fever. I also used it at my sister's wedding and there were many tears of joy but my mascara stayed firmly in place. A brilliant, brilliant product. It costs £20 but is worth every penny.

So there you have it, my favourite products of 2015. What were yours?

December GlossyBox - The Rose Gold Edition

I absolutely love all things rose gold so I adore this pretty box that is December's Glossybox - The Rose Gold Edition. 

The contents are brilliant too! 

This month's box is a collaboration with beauty blogger Really Ree and is a cracker... I have just read that it has now sold out and I can see why.

The contents - Inside my GlossyBox 

Swatches of the makeup 

The products 

Etre Belle - Golden Skin Caviar Eye Roll On 

This arrived just in time, I have just finished my eye gel. This lovely roll on is really gentle on the eyes and does a great job of hydrating and brightening the eye area up. My tired eyes are immensely improved.

So Susan Statement Skin Highlighter Pencil 

I am all about dewy, glowing skin and one way to achieve this is by using a highlighter. I honestly don't know what I did before I started using them! You can see how lovely this one is from the swatch above. Radiance is so easy with this pencil crayon. Perfect for party season or in my case... all year round.

Cheeky Chat Me Up Nail Paint 

I received shade 'Sheer Delight' which is a pretty sheer nude pink. I don't think you can ever have enough nude shades in your collection and Cheeky polishes are pretty great so I was delighted to receive this colour.

Darphin 8 Flower Nectar Oil Cream 

This sample pot of cream turning into an oil texture is billed as an overnight wonder, imparting moisture and leaving skin feeling soft, smooth and supple. I haven't tried it yet but it smells absolutely heavenly.

Essence Liquid Lipstick in Show Off 

I have swatched the lipstick above, it is a full on bright shade and packs a punch with even coverage. I haven't tried anything from Essence so will be giving it a go very soon.

Bonus product

Starskin Bio-Cellulose Second Skin Mask 

I have never used a sheet mask so I am most curious to try this one from Starskin - There are four different versions addressing various needs. I was sent the Hydrating one, ready for my red carpet appearance. Well I won't be going near a Red Carpet anytime soon but I am saving this one for a special occasion when I could do with a real boost.

*PR Sample

November Glossybox - What's Inside Mine - Lips & Lashes Edition

November's edition of Glossybox has the theme of Lipsticks to Lashes so as you would expect it contains items for both purposes...

What's inside ?

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick £7.99 

This month there is a full size lipstick from Revlon promising one of their best selling shades - As I already have the very popular red 'Fire & Ice' I was hoping for another shade to try, however I was sent the red. It is a gorgeous and full impact shade and I have worn it for Christmas Day in previous years as it is such a lovely festive red.

MUA Eyeshadow Palette £4 

This cute palette from MUA is called 'Undressed' and features 12 wearable shades of nudes and metallics. Perfect to adorn your eyes.

Eylure Natural Lashes £5 

These lashes do look luscious, voluminous and flutterworthy but personally I don't wear lashes so I shall be gifting these to my lucky sister.

Emite Diamond Heart Primer full size £25.90

I have got the 15ml travel size version of the primer. I love trying new primers so will be trying this shortly. It smells nice, has a peachy tone to it which promises to boost radiance and create a smooth finish. It also has a cream rather than silicone texture.

Royal Apothetic Body Lotion full size £14.50 

Once again this is a travel size version but it is a rather generous tube. I absolutely love the scent of this - Venetian Grove. Lactic acid will gently smooth skin and milk proteins will hydrate the skin. I am looking forward to applying this to my skin after bathing this winter... Gorgeous and light!

Final thoughts 

Although there are a couple of  items I won't be using, I think this month's box is really quite good. Makeup lovers will adore it and those who like to focus on skincare will appreciate it. I personally enjoy discovering new brands so this box gets a thumbs up from me.

What did you think?

Win With SEVENTEEN makeup! & The New Blogger Network

In the final post of the my #SEVENTEENSummer series - the first two of which you can read here & here - I am giving the chance for five lucky readers of BeautySwot.com to win a selection of 5 of the following fabulous and highly rated items from SEVENTEEN.

Cheek Stamp

Skin Wow Highlighter/Tan 

Falsifeye HD Mascara

Lip Crayon (not pictured)

Instant Glow Shimmer Brick 

See below for entry details - Please note that the giveaway is only open to UK residents 

a Rafflecopter giveaway Good luck!

In other very exciting news - SEVENTEEN have launched a new Blogger Network.  The new platform gives you exclusive content including the latest beauty news and the lowdown on new product launches. There is also a SEVENTEEN noticeboard which is accessible to those who have signed up to the Blogger Network which will feature exclusive blog posts from special SEVENTEEN partners. In addition there will be loads of tips & content advice to inspire your own posts - I have signed up and you can too by clicking here -SEVENTEEN Blogger Network

*Sponsored post 

Holiday Makeup For Evening With SEVENTEEN

A bit earlier in the month I shared my Holiday Makeup For Day with SEVENTEEN post, I was extremely impressed with the products that I used. This post is no different, the makeup I used for evening was a real eye opener and really showed me that budget products can really perform well.

So for evenings I used the SEVENTEEN CC Cream £6.99 which as mentioned previously was a great base and it lasts.

I used the SEVENTEEN Define & Conquer Kit £5.99 which I have reviewed before & absolutely love. It is such an easy & quick way to create/define cheekbones..

To add warmth in my face I used the beautiful golden toned SEVENTEEN Instant Glow SKINWOW Tan (liquid formula) £5.99 which is warm toned highlighter and adds a beautiful sheen/glow to skin, perfect for Summer evenings. I used it a couple of ways, all over mixed with the CC Cream and just on my cheek bones.

Now this is where I get seriously impressed.... On my eyes I used the SEVENTEEN Falsifeye HD Mascara £6.99 which once again I have reviewed before on BeautySwot. At just £6.99 it is an absolute bargain for stand out, long lashes. I really like this mascara, and later on you will see just how flutter worthy my lashes are using this mascara.

Now for my absolute favourite of this bundle of beauty products.... SEVENTEEN Wet Look Lacquer Eyeliner £3.99. I am always concerned about using liquid liners that are slightly brush like as I tend to make a right mess of my eye makeup using them, I much prefer a pen BUT although this had a scary tiny brush it was just perfect. It was stiff enough to draw a perfect and rich black line AND it didn't transfer to my upper lid or budge once dried all evening. BEST product in my view.

And finally my lips were adorned with SEVENTEEN Berry Crush Lip Stain £4.99 this colouring pen type product puts colour on your lips & it stays there for the evening. I am not sure what shade I was using but it was a really pretty & flattering pink shade.

Here are some pics using the products

Stay tuned for your chance to win some fabulous SEVENTEEN makeup products... coming soon!!

*Sponsored post 

Holiday Makeup By Day With SEVENTEEN

I recently spent a fabulous week holidaying in Ibiza, the week consisted mainly of lounging by the pool, the waterpark and a few brilliant day trips out and of course visits to the beach. I know it is known as the party capital of the world but seriously there is so much more to Ibiza than just the club scene. If you haven't been I highly recommend making a visit.

As a beauty lover I do tend to travel heavy when it comes to make up despite trying very hard to narrow down some faves, I just like to have options!  This time however, I was sent a few bits by the lovely team at SEVENTEEN to try, so I pretty much pushed aside/emptied out my usual faves and those tried and tested to take a leap of faith in these products....

During the day by the pool I like to keep things simple (I have a son aged 7 and we spend A LOT of time in the pool!) so I just went with my really high sun protection, a light coverage of the SEVENTEEN CC Cream which has SPF25 to just even out my skintone and hide those pesky blemishes.. I must say this CC Cream is a fantastic product, a little went a long way and it was the perfect shade for me (medium) but more on this in my next post - Holiday Makeup For Evening. 

I also opted for some highlighting magic from the SEVENTEEN Skin Wow Primer, this gave a beautiful dewy and super healthy appearance to my skin. Described as a 3 way HIGHLIGHTER GLOW & PRIMER, I used it all three ways and loved the way it lit up my skin, blended well so that its cool tone looked completely natural and just gave a wonderful glow and all round pick me up.

The biggest leap of faith by far was the SEVENTEEN Waterproof Mascara which promised the following - Both waterproof and smudge resistant this non clogging mascara lengthens lashes and lasts all day. As I mentioned, I spent a lot of time in the pool and we also had an adjacent water park that featured a HUGE bucket that tips its entire contents of water on to you if you stand under it. My son thought this was hilarious and made me stand directly under it, the cheeky thing!

So was the waterproof mascara up for the water challenge? I can confidently give this a massive thumbs up and resounding yes. It passed the water test with flying colours. Only the teeniest tiniest of smudging and no panda eyes in sight. I wore this mascara all day everyday. As a waterproof mascara this gave great definition and length to my lashes, was light and the formula wasn't thick or gloopy.

SEVENTEEN CC Cream £ 6.99
SEVENTEEN Waterproof Mascara £4.69
SEVENTEEN Skin Wow Primer £5.99

*Sponsored post 

Kiko Modern Tribes Collection - Review

Yet another gorgeous range from Kiko Cosmetics to show you today, in my eyes they can do no wrong - Kiko Modern Tribes Collection - This collection is sun kissed, glowy with a pretty pop of colour...

What I adore about the bits that I was sent was just how wearable and Summer lovely they are. Wooden cases with gold decoration reaffirming its tribal foundations. This is Urban Modern Tribal at its finest.

I was sent -

Tri-Bal Baked Blush in Mysterious Earth £14.90

A perfect all-in-one product to bronze, blush and highlight with, this is definitely one of my top picks from the collection.

Graphic Ritual Kajal Eyeliner £5.90

These eyeliners are soft and creamy to apply and are suitable for the inner and outer eye, making them perfect for tightlining if that is your thing. 

I was sent two shades - Talisman Gold which a stunning gold and a deep and rich earthy dark blue in the shade of Masai Blue. 

Once applied these do not budge. 

Finally another multi use product - Free Spirit Lips & Cheeks £8.90 

As the name suggests these creamy chunky pencils are suitable for use on your lips and cheeks. They are described as giving a radiant matte finish. I was sent Hearty Peach which I love, love, love! and a pretty in pink Unique Camellia. Both items are fully pigmented so you only need to apply once to get the full punch of colour. Personally I prefer the pink just on my lips as it is a bit too deeply pink as a blush on my skin. Hearty Peach gives a subtle peachy glow to the cheeks which I like but personally I think I would keep both matte shades for my lips only...

The price also includes a sharpener for your chunky pencil.

Swatches of the Kiko Modern Tribes Collection 

*PR Samples

SEVENTEEN Define & Conquer Contour Kit Review

Thanks (mostly) to Kim Kardashian contouring became a thing. Now what she does is pretty extreme face sculpting but I am not averse to a bit of contouring myself to give myself some well defined cheek bones.  I have found the SEVENTEEN Define & Conquer Contour Kit really rather excellent in this mission and use to daily.

SEVENTEEN say 

Face the world with Define & Conquer Contour Kit by SEVENTEEN. The darker powder defines the face, while the lighter powder illuminates.

How to Use

Step 1: After you've applied your base, use a brush to apply the darker powder into the hollows of your cheeks. Suck in your cheeks to find them! You can also apply to your jawline, to the sides of your chin and along your hair line.

Step 2: Using a small brush, lightly dust the dark powder down the sides of your nose.

Step 3: Apply the lighter powder to the centre of your forehead, right down to the centre of your chin. Also apply to the tops of your cheek bones.

Step 4: Using your brush, blend the powders, and you're good to go!

My thoughts 

The SEVENTEEN Define & Conquer Contour Kit is part of my everyday routine. I love the slimline packaging that makes it great for transporting. The two shades (I am using medium, but it also comes in a light version) are perfect for my skintone.

I use the rather wonderful contour and highlight brush from Boots No7 which is designed for the job.

Easy to use and instant results - A simple contour for me would be to just apply the darker (matte) shade just under my cheekbone for instantly defined cheeks. I apply my blusher above and a highlighter above the cheekbone and brush the lighter shade down the centre of my face. It takes just seconds and really works. I love it!

In case you want detailed instructions the kit also comes with a step by step instruction sheet complete with illustration. Honestly, you cannot go wrong :)

Swatches of the Contour Kit 

Lovely super smooth powder formula, this provides a really natural contour. A massive thumbs up from me.

SEVENTEEN Define & Conquer Contour Kit costs £5.99 

*PR Sample

Glossybox Iconic Hollywood Edition Review

Oh Glossybox how I adore thee this month.. well the box is just gorgeous isn't it? Mine has a lemon bottom and a white top with an image of Marilyn Monroe - A hollywood legend and icon. I am a huge fan of the lovely Marilyn so I was delighted to receive this box.

As you can see the theme for this month's box is the 'Iconic Hollywood Edition' and contains all you need to inject some Hollywood glamour to your skincare and makeup.

So what's inside?

Skincare

Darphin - Exquisage Beauty Revealing Cream 5ml (full size £65 for 50ml) 

This promises to enhance firmness and boosting skin's luminosity for a red carpet glow, I will let you know how I get on...

A pampering session before a night out is a must and so included in this box is

Nougat London Soothing Bath Pearls in Cherry Blossom £6 

This has a delicate fragrance and will leave a subtle shimmer on the skin to create a limb lengthening sheen. Watch this space for a review.

Makeup

Color Club Nail Polish in shade Barely There - £4.10 

Nude nails are a perennial Hollywood favourite and I must say one of mine too.. a nails of the day wearing this nude shade will be popping up on my instagram shortly.

Red lips and a feline flick are forever synonymous with Hollywood Glamour and so they both feature in this special edition box... I will be attempting to recreate a Hollywood look very soon so keep your eyes peeled.

Lord & Berry Lipstick Pencil in Kiss £10 

I am a big fan of Lord & Berry products so am looking forward to trying this pencil version of a red lipstick.

POP Beauty Kajal Eyeliner Pen in Sooty Black £6.50 

I like the look of this eyeliner pen, it looks really easy to use and features a smudger at the other end for a smoky effect.

Great theme & great box this month from Glossybox 

Glossybox Iconic Hollywood Edition is available now and costs £10 + postage. 

*PR Sample

Kiko Spring Collection - Generation Next - Review

I have said before that Kiko is one of my favourite makeup brands and their new wearable Spring Collection - Generation Next is no exception.

The stunning geometric packaging is  inspired by the famous Italian Murano glassware and channels the theme of  the future with its shiny and colourful range.

I was sent a few items to try out.

Masterpiece Bronzer in 01 Forward Sienna £14.90

Gorgeous and sturdy packing house this three shade bronzer - either use the shades separately to sculpt the face or swirl together for an allover glow. This is the perfect matte bronzer shade for warmth and the lighter shades brighten. Texture wise this powder is buttery soft and blends beautifully.

Cool Touch Eyeshadow in 01 Original Cream £8.90

The eyeshadows are described as intense and giving a long lasting, metallic and glossy finish. I was sent Original Cream to review and it is a wonderfully rich golden shade that will really brighten the eye area this Spring/Summer. I think it imparts a slight wet look which I love and application is smooth and even. Available in 8 shades, this eyeshadow is housed in a flip top pot.

Crystal Eyeliner £6.90 

I love these eyeliners, they have already found their way into my everyday makeup bag. I was sent two shades - 03 a metallic brown and 06 metallic grey which are both really complimentary to my green eyes. They are super soft to apply just gliding over the eyelid but imparting a strong colour. Once set these do not budge, at all. Love, love, love. Available in 6 shades.

Frosted Look Lipstick £7.50 

Although these are described as giving a frosted look to lips ,the shade I have - 02 - which is a nude pinky shade is surprisingly matte in swatches and on my lips. This was the most disappointing product in terms of its description. That said I have been wearing this as it is a nice nude shade. This is a soft and creamy chubby pencil style product but the nib is like a lipstick which is a little different from the usual crayon lipsticks. Available in 6 shades.

Glassy Lipgloss £7.90

For the lips this is far more exciting! I really like the mirror packaging with a huge window so you can see the colour of the shade inside. The doe foot applicator is excellent too. The bright coral shade is the perfect Spring/Summer shade and one that really lifts my complexion and brightens my face and eyes. Ultra glossy, wet look finish this is a lipstick/lipgloss hybrid with vivid colour the water based formula coats lips whilst moisturising. This gives a beautiful colour but is not at all heavy on the lips. Another winner for me. Available in 6 shades.

Kiko Milano Next Generation Spring Collection is available now from Kiko stores and online at its website. 

*PR Samples

Collection Cosmetics Field Day Range For Spring 2015

I love Collection Cosmetics for its affordable yet brilliant and on trend makeup. I have found quite a few gems in their range and so was excited to see what they had in store for Spring 2015. I have already shared one of the nail polishes from the range - Peach Blossom earlier today and so I have the rest of the Field Day range to show you.

The Field Day range inspired by florals evokes gentle Summer days, think lazy days of afternoon tea and picnics...

Swatches of the Field Day Collection 

There are three lipsticks in the collection £2.99 each

Fuschia (gloss)
Pink Rose - (matte) a pale pink
Tulip - (matte) my fave!

Tip - If you are using the matte shades ensure lips are suitably smooth and exfoliated before application.

I adore the Eyeshadow Pencils £3.19 each - 

These shimmery shadows can be used all over the lid or as a highlighter on the brow bone or in the corners of the eye. Coming in two shades - Summer Meadow (a gorgeous pale green) or Golden Sun (a wonderful pure gold shade) They are waterproof  and super long lasting, they just do not budge. However, they are gorgeously soft to apply!

And finally to complete the range are three shades of nail polish £1.99 each - Peach Blossom, Peony (pink) and Heather which I will be sharing with you very soon.

*PR Samples

GlossyBox January 2015 - Inside Mine - Fresh Start Must Haves

As with all things January and a New Year the theme of this month's GlossyBox is of a fresh start. I think there is a nice mix of skincare and makeup and have no doubt I will be using all of the products included.

As ever the box is packaged beautifully making it a real pleasure to receive and open but of course it is the products that we are really interested in...

So What's Inside?

All five items are full size 

Kueshi Natural & Pleasant Cosmetics Revitalizing Face Toner 200ml €10.70 

This has come at just the right time as I am almost out of toner which I use twice a day every day. I haven't had a chance to use it yet and this is a new brand for me but it smells nice and fruity! The toner contains calendula, chamomile and aloe vera so I will keep you posted on how this goes.

Nicka K New YorK Colorluxe Powder Blush €8.95 

Loose powder without the mess? This is a great on the go product where the blush is dispensed from the powder puff applicator. The blush has no shimmer in it so gives a creamy appearance to the skin..it is a little bright ( deep pink) so light application will be plenty enough for a brightening pop of colour. I really like it.

MeMeMe Eye Line Pencil in Clay £4

I do love a good dark brown eyeliner and this one is creamy and soft to apply with good colour. I will let you know how I find it lasts but first impressions are good.

Naked Lips Organic Lip Balm Superfruits €5 

This fruit scented 100% natural lip balm smells lovely and feels really nourishing on the lips. It is packed with oils and leaves lips feeling soft and conditioned. Great for the cold spell we are currently experiencing.

Jelly Pong Pong All Over Glow £10

A good highlighting product is a daily staple for me so this gel/liquid highlighter was a welcome addition in the box. It is not too pale or too light for me so it provides a beautiful and radiant glow to my skin.

Final thoughts 

The box isn't overly exciting on first glance (I didn't squeal or anything upon opening) but take a closer look - the products are a decent mix of makeup and skincare and a good introduction to some new brands. The products are all useful and I think fulfill the theme of a Fresh Start.

*PR Sample

Soap & Glory The Next Big Thing Christmas Gift Set - Boots Star Gift

You know it's Christmas when Boots start doing their weekly Star Gift Bargains in the run up to Christmas, a time when you can bag yourself a mega bargain and you REALLY know it's Christmas when the big one from Soap & Glory comes up for sale.

I receive a lot of emails asking me when Soap & Glory are doing theirs so without further ado I can reveal that it is...

This Friday 12th December online and in Boots Stores while stocks last.

Soap & Glory's 'The Next Big Thing' will cost an extremely wallet friendly £29 (contents worth £76)

Containing everything you need for top to toe pampering and some make up favourites included too.

The hat box designs have been created in collaboration with illustrator Hattie Stewart. There is a choice of two box designs but the contents are exactly the same.

Gift Set Includes:

• HAND DREAM™ Super Cream 100ml

• ORANGEASM™ Body Wash 500ml

• BUTTER YOURSELF™ Moisture Lotion 500ml

• HEEL GENIUS™ Foot Cream 125ml

• SUGAR CRUSH™ Body Scrub 300ml

• WHIPPED CLEAN™ Shower Butter 250ml

• THE RIGHTEOUS BUTTER™ Body Butter 300ml

• OFF YOUR FACE™ 3 in 1 Daily Purifying Cloths (25 cloths)

• SEXY MOTHER PUCKER™ Lip Lacquer in Charm Offensive 7ml

• THICK & FAST™ Super Volume Mascara 10ml

Which Benefit Highlighter Is For You?

Benefit certainly know the benefit of highlighting the face as they have no less than five highlighters for sale. As I have four of them here I thought it would be useful to do a comparison and let you see what they look like alongside each other.

Now readers of BeautySwot.com will know that I pretty much use like to use highlighters every day. I adore the radiance that it brings to my skin and now I have seen what it can do.. I don't want to live without it.

Benefit Highlighters Swatched - From L-R - Highbeam, Sunbeam, Watt's Up and Girl Meets Pearl.

Highbeam is a Benefit best seller - this liquid highlighter is described as a luminescent complexion enhancer it can be used to spot highlight or added all over for a radiant glow.

Benefit say 
Our satiny pink liquid highlighter accents cheek & brow bones for a radiant glow. Use as a spot highlighter or delicately blend all over your complexion. Looks perfectly radiant on all skintones. It's the "supermodel in a bottle"!

My thoughts 

This is a cool toned, icy highlighter that personally I would save for the evening as during the day it can look a bit unnatural. Evening time is when anything goes!

Sunbeam - This is a golden bronze toned liquid complexion highlighter. 

Benefit say

This golden bronze highlighter gives you a natural, sunkissed radiance. Dot & blend over makeup on to cheek & brow bones for a bronzed glow that complements all skintones. It’s liquid sunshine in a bottle!

My thoughts 

I think this is best used in the Summer and Autumn months when skin is naturally sunkissed, Sunbeam complements and enhances the skin with a beautiful golden, natural looking glow. I love the warmth of this shade and for me it is a summer staple. 

Watt's Up! - Described as a soft focus highlighter for face. 

Benefit say

Our soft focus highlighter turns on “watt” ya got with a delicate champagne glow that’s gorgeous. With a cream-to-powder finish...it’s a switch on “wow” for all complexions. You’ll adore the smooth applicator & luminous sheen.

My thoughts 

I love this cream to powder finish stick highlighter. It is easy to apply and work with and it blends beautifully for a really natural year round glow. Liquid highlighters I find can remove powder blushers or powder foundations but this doesn't happen with the creamy Watt's Up. The champagne shade is gorgeous for all tones as well. My favourite for every day use. 

Girl Meets Pearl - Liquid pearl for face. 

Benefit say

This soft golden-pink liquid pearl glides on for a breathtakingly luminous complexion. Twist up & pat on over makeup or wear alone for a dewy luxurious lit-from-within glow. It's pure pearly pleasure!

My thoughts 

Girl Meets Pearl is a liquid highlighter that sits between High Beam and Sunbeam and actually is very similar to Watt's Up in shade. It provides a subtle natural radiance to the skin. 

Which is your favourite?

L'Oreal Makeup Gift With Purchase Offer - L'Oreal Paris So Couture Gift Set

I have had my eyes on a few makeup bits from L'Oreal MakeUp for a little while now and so when I saw they had a GWP in Boots worth £30 (which incidentally came with the mascara I was wanting to try) when you spent £14.99 I had to indulge.

I bought the following items

L'Oreal Paris Color Nail Gold Leaf Top Coat
L'Oreal Paris L'Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick by Color Riche in Nude Vibrato and Nude Ballet

*I spent £22

and received the following 

Gift With Purchase -  L'Oreal Paris So Couture Gift Set

Containing all full size products of

L'Oreal Paris Million Lashes So Couture So Black Mascara

L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Lipstick in Scarlett Creme 

L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Nails in Exquisite Scarlet

L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Le Khol in Immaculate Snow  

I'd say that was a bargain!

Boots No7 Christmas Look No3 - #TaDah

Today I am sharing my final Christmas Look - No3 from the contents of the blue package. This look features Navy & Nudes and I have to say a traditional smokey eye and nude lips is one of my favourite looks for going out in the evenings so I was only to happy to give this a go.

I wore this to an evening do last night and was incredibly impressed with its longevity. It lasted all evening (bar the lipstick).

For my base I used YSL Teint Touche Eclat Foundation in Shade BD40

Products Used 

No7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow Trio in In The Navy
No7 Stay Perfect Amazing Eyes Pencil in Deepest Blue
No7 Natural Blush Tint Powder in Coral Flush
No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter
No7 Precision Lips Pencil in Nude (not pictured)
No7 Sheer Temptation Lipstick in Romantic
No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in Blue Patent (patent effect)
No7 Extreme Length Mascara

I applied the shimmery shade from the eyeshadow trio all over my eye and then the navy powder, I lined my eyes with the pencil for a more intense colour but navy was a nice alternative to the usual smokey shades. I have tried various shades of the Blush Tint Powders and have to admit to being a bit in love with them, they are so natural looking on the face and Coral Flush in particular really brightened my face. I have to give a special mention to the Precision Lips Pencil in Nude, it applied so smoothly and made an excellent base for the sheer temptation to go over and leave a glossy finish.

I matched my eyeshadow with dark blue polish which only needed one application and applied the Nails Inc Snowflake Whitechapel polish on my ring finger as a statement nail for extra party bling.

I loved this look!

What do you think?

If you want to find out more about any of the 3 No7 looks that I have featured then click this link http://www.boots.com/en/No-7/No7-make-up-inspiration/Get-the-look/

*PR Samples

Boots No7 Christmas Look No 2 - #TaDah

Hot on the heels of Christmas Look No1 comes my Ta Dah moment with Look No2.

This Christmas Party Look comes from the contents of the Red Package. I do associate Christmas with a strong red lip and so I was happy to see a red lip product featured inside this parcel. It also came with the Golden Sands nail polish that I have already shown but I fancied teaming the red lips with red tips so I swapped the polish for a red one for this complete look.

Once again I used the Stay Perfect Foundation in Cool Vanilla as my base.

Products used

No7 Stay Perfect Shade & Define in Glistening Ray
No7 Stay Precise Liquid Liner in Brown/Black 
No7 Lash Impact Mascara in Black
No7 Natural Blush Cream in Maple Silk
No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter
No7 High Shine Lip Crayon in Statement
No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in Devil's Delight

My thoughts 

I love this Christmas Party Look. The liquid liner frames and enhances my green eyes to stand out beautifully and it was easy to apply. The warm cream blush gives great definition to my cheeks. If you haven't tried the Lip Crayons from No7 I can highly recommend them. I have one in Daydreamer, a wonderful nude shade that is worn almost on a daily basis. If you are shy of a red lip or don't know where to start with wearing red lipstick I would say to get the Lip Crayon in Statement as it is so easy to wear without feeling self conscious.

Can't wait to try Look no3!

What do you think of this look?

*PR Samples

No7 Beauty Calendar

Would you like to wake up every day with a beauty treat in the countdown to Christmas? Well now you can with No7's Beauty Calendar. It promises 25 skincare and makeup treats and having seen the contents I completely agree!

It features a great mix of body, face and makeup products that everyone will love. Most products are mini sizes but the sample sizes are pretty generous and there are a few full size products included too. Featuring best sellers like No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Day Cream, No7 Youthful Eye Serum, No7 High Shine Lip Crayon, No7 Lash Impact Mascara it is also full of useful everyday staples.

Retailing at £35 but with a value of £130 this is an absolute steal.

I am quite fussy with what I like but I will be using every single one of the products inside!

I predict this to be a sell out.

The No7 Beauty Calendar costs £35 and is on sale 29th October in store and online.

*PR Sample

Inside The August Glossybox 2014 - Glossybox is 3!

It is hard to believe that globally Glossybox has turned 3, the concept of having beauty products delivered to your door monthly is hugely popular and it seems, certainly for now, that this enthusiasm shows no sign of abating.

I get very excited when my postman knocks with this monthly box and this month it was no different.. The outer carton this month was black and glossy with a pink bow as shown in the pics above. The actual box has had a little redesign and is not glossy and more box shaped. As ever the items were wrapped up with a bow, this time it was a smart black colour. Very pretty.

However, what is really important is the contents and this month, I personally was not disappointed. Every single item will be used.

A closer look at the contents

So the highlight for me is the Kryolan for Glossybox Highlighter in Cashmere FULL SIZE £12.95

Readers of BeautySwot.com will know I pretty much wear a highlighter every day so I cannot wait to wear this one. No glitter, just a beautiful natural shade cream highlighter for a velvety gleam.

Comfort Zone Essentials Cleansing Milk FULL SIZE 250ml £20

I have just finished my cleanser and although I have a few others to work through I don't have a cleansing milk so will be interested in giving this a go and discovering a new brand at the same time.

Figs & Rouge Mini Hand Cream 20ml (full size 80ml £6.95)

I can always do with a new hand cream and this one from Figs & Rouge is a fruity affair, now I am not a major fruit scent fan but this Mango and Mandarin one isn't bad at all, not overpowering and quite refreshing. The 20ml size is ideal to pop in my handbag.

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer 40ml (full size 250ml £38)

I was pretty sure that this has already appeared in a previous Glossybox so I checked back to find that yes my memory was correct, this appeared in November 2011. OK it was ages ago but it seems I hadn't forgotten ;-) Philip Kingsley is also celebrating this year, 40 years of Elasticizer so the tie in is rather nice.

Anyway, my hair is in need of a good condition so this will be used up..just need to find a spare 20mins!

Lalique L'Amour EDP 2ml (full size 50ml £67)

Now I know that perfume samples of this size are not always appreciated but this is a really gorgeous scent and it does come with a hefty price tag...so in this case I think it was worth popping in the box. L'Amour is a truly sensational soft floral perfume with a hint of tea about it with the inclusion of Bergamot. It also features top notes of rosebuds, floral white heart notes and a musk base. Addictive.

Finally, a little birthday bonus

Yves Rocher Pink Nail Polish 3ml FULL SIZE £3.60

This dinky bottle contains a pretty creamy pink shade called Rose, it is very similar to a tea rose lipstick shade. I love it as a nudey easy to wear shade, you can see me wearing it in the top pic. I needed two coats to achieve opacity and smooth application. The brush is tiny but on my small nails it was ideal.

Final thoughts

This month my box was really rather good, excellent value with 3 full sized products and ALL the products will be used.

The August Birthday GLOSSYBOX is £10 (+P&P) and will be available throughout August 2014 from www.glossybox.co.uk while stocks last.

*PR Sample