Laura Geller The Sweetest Thing

Just before Christmas, I was really lucky to be invited along to brush with the fabulous Laura Geller to learn more about the lady herself and her fantastic makeup range.  I always find it so interesting to find out why people start their own range and with so much enthusiasm, it was hard not to fall under Laura's spell, she totally understood the value of Bloggers and our value as well as having a plan of action for her range.

This was my first introduction to Laura Geller Makeup and I was very lucky to be able to take home a beautiful pink sparkly bag with a range of products inside to play and get acquainted with. 

Today I am sharing with you The Sweetest Thing which is a 6 piece collection in Pinks and Purples and inside there are six different products to play with.

The first item is the Baked Balance-n-brighten colour correcting foundation, I have shade medium which is too dark for my pale skin, but when mixed with my moisturier it works  to not only give good coverage but also correct any imperfections that I have and it also works well to give a slight bronzed look on my cheeks when used alone.  It is also mineral oil and paraben free.

Baked Blush-n-Brighten in shade pink buttercream is just beautiful. Again it works to give you that natural flushed look and it doubles up as a highlighter to give you a bit of a glow too as it has swirled with copper and gold flecks.

My favourite product in this box is the Baked Highlighter and I have shade Golden Rose and it is just beautiful, it isn't too over the top to make you look shiny but it is buildable depending on how much highlighting your skin needs.

Then we have a baked eyeshadow in Opal/Violet and this is one product I haven't used as yet as I am not too sure I can pull off either shade, but it is a beautiful little duo and it ca be used wet for a more dramatic colour.  It hosts Vitamin E conditions and Centella Asiatica and White Tea Extract provide antioxidant protection.

Next we have the Colour Drenched Lipgloss in shade Pink Lemonade which is a really pretty pink gloss which is neither tacky or sticky and it isn't as pink as it looks in the tube, it is quite much softer. The formula with emollient oils and Vitamin E helps protect lips from environmental damage and there is a ach shade is a really subtle coffee aroma.

The final item within this box is a double-ended Foundation and Highlighter brush. The Foundation Brush is suitable for use with all-over face powders and the Highlighter Applicator is perfect for face application, though I tend to use it for applying my concealer as I find it works perfectly.

I think this is such a fabulous set, it has everything you possibly need and everything is so versatile that even if it designed for one job, you can guarentee it will do something else too.

Have you tried anything from the Laura Geller Make up range?

The Heat-Treat Cap

Hair care is a topic I don't seem to cover much on BeautyqueenUK but over the next few weeks that is going to change because I have a few products I want to share with you.

Today is the turn of Heat-Treat Cap, described as being a new revolutionary thermal treatment cap to give salon results at home. With the tagline 'Say goodbye to bad hair in 5 easy steps' has me hooked. So, like most people, I use a lot of heat on my hair - GHD's, Hair dryer and sometimes a curling wand, which all causes havoc on my hair if I don't give it some TLC and I tend to use a hair mask at least twice a month.

The Heat Treat Cap looks like a shower cap, but it has what feels like a gel filled inside, there is also a plastic lip liner which you need to remove before putting the cap into the microwave. So, to use the cap it needs to go into your microwave for between one and two & a half minutes, depending on your microwave and let it heat up. In the meantime, having already washed your hair, whilst your heat cap is warming up, this is the time to apply your chosen hair treatment, ensure you have equal coverage across your hair and scalp, then put the cap liner onto your head and remove the heat cap from the microwave and put it onto your head, as you would do your shower cap. All of which is really easy to do and the cap isn't hot enough to burn your hands or your head, it actually feels really nice.

For my treatment, I used the label.m honey and oat hair mask which is my current favourite mask and it will have a full review coming soon, it is worth noting that there is the inclusion of three hair masks by Jenois within the box. So, depending on how long your mask is designed to stay on your hair, is how long you use the heat cap for but ideally it should be for around 2-10 minutes. My hair mask says depending on the state of your hair, the mask should be left to work its magic for up to 5 minutes, so I always time those minutes from the moment the cap goes onto my head. Once the cap is on you can do whatever you need to do, there is no requirement to sit still and wait for your time to finish, so I hoovered up and put some clothes away whilst wearing mine. Once my 5 minutes were up, I removed both caps and rinsed the mask from my hair using warm water. What I did notice is how smooth my hair was once it had dried and how much easier my hair straighteners seemed to glide through my hair. My once messy birds next was now sleek ans shiny and just as soft as when I usually leave the salon.

The Heat-Treat Cap is aimed at those who have dry, lack lustre, frizzy or limp hair. However, I actually think anyone who loves to give their hair some TLC and using any kind of hair treatment, be it an oil, mask or conditioner could and should give it a try. It is easy to use, re-usable and it makes my hair feel amazing and is well worth the price tag of £24.95 which is much less than just a wash, treatment and blow dry at my local salon. More information about the Heat-treat Cap on the official website and you can also purchase some hair treatments too.

Freedom Pro Artist Pad - Black Arts

Freedom Makeup is a brand you probably have heard of, it is a sister brand of Makeup Revolution and is Professional Makeup Brand giving you products at an affordable price.

The Freedom Pro Pad Black Arts Edition contains 48 of the finest professional quality eyeshadows and yes I did say 48 eyeshadows.  Infact, this palette has every shade on it that I can imagine ever needing in my life and then some, just look at it, it is the same size as my iPad!

Within the Freedom Makeup Black Arts Pro Artist Pad you will find an amazing mixture of matte, satin, metallic and shimmery eyeshadows. Possibly a palette that leans towards the neutral side, it is just beautiful, especially for a neutral eyeshadow girl like myself. Neatly packed in squares, the pigmentation is amazing and I have swatched some of my favourite shades so that you can see for yourself.

Whether you like your bronze, gold, copper, pink, browns or even your blues and grey shades, you can find them all on this palette.  It gives you plenty of scope to play with and it costs just £15 though if you are quick, it is currently on offer for just £10 right here.

Have you tried any make up from Freedom yet?

This post may contain PR Samples and/or Affiliate links.  For more information please see my disclaimer page.

Elegant Touch Don't be Sheepish Nails

I have only recently become obsessed with false nails, so when Don't Be Sheepish landed on my doorstep, I was overwhelmed by how cute they are. Whenever I do use false nails, Elegant Touch are my go to nails because I find them easy to apply, they suit my nail shape and they re incredibly purse friendly.

The Elegant Touch Don't Be Sheepish nails are an online exclusive and are the perfect designed nails to wear not only for the Easter weekend but for the whole of Spring. Within each pack of nails you will find nail glue, a buffer, an instruction leaflet and 24 nails in 10 different sizes all compactly packed so you have everything you need to get going and make those nails pretty and they last for up to 10 days without chipping or peeling.

My own nails are currently going through a bit of a bad time and are all cracked, broken and peeling, so I am currently applying products to get them back to their former glory so I have only tested one or two of these nails, that said, they are really easy to apply. The nails are an almost squoval shape, which doesn't different too much from how I shape my own nails.  Once I have washed and dried my hands, I always apply handcream and then cuticle oil before buffering my nails.  Once I am happy with that, I select the right sized nails and then begin to apply the glue, then apply and press down on the nail.  They stick immediately and I have never found a need to remove and reapply before a week.  

As there are two designs within this set, you can choose whether you want more lambs or more daisies or an equal mixture of the two. The Elegant Touch Don't Be Sheepish Nails retail for £6.95 and are available from the Elegant Touch website - HERE.

Flamingo Candles Bunny Kisses Easter Candle

I am a huge fan of Flamingo Candles, their cuteness is such that everytime I see the design I ooh and ahh at it.  So imagine my excitement when Bunny Kisses dropped through my door looking like this.

This is an amazing Easter Candle, which has sadly sold out. It is hand-poured in the UK using natural soy wax and is a pretty yellow pastel wax jar candle decorated with a super cute metallic silver bunny and metallic purple heart which is just divine.

Once the lid has been removed, childhood sweet memories come flooding back as this candle smells like rhubarb and custard sweets, the boiled sweets you might have once got in a pick 'n' mix.  The scent is both sweet and tangy and once the wick is alight, both those fragrances come to life and I am suddenly whisked back to a child buying those 1p sweets from Mrs Stocks on a Sunday morning.

Impressively, this candle has a burn time for up to 50 hours and features a natural cotton wick and unlike some candles, there is no blackened smoke appearing once alight. Priced at £12, these candles are just such good value for money, they smell amazing and look just fantastic.

Happy Easter!

SS16 Clutch Bag Wishlist

This year is zooming by so quickly that we have skipped through winter to spring before I feel I have had time to blink.  I have an exceptionally busy second half the year looming with three weddings on the horizon and because they are all family events, I cannot get away with wearing the same outfit twice. 

With a wedding, I tend to choose an outfit and bag before shoes and right now there are so many clutch bags that I have my eye on, I have created a wishlist:

Cluth Wishlist SS16 by beautyqueenuk 

I absolutely love Ted Baker Bags and as you might notice, two feature right here. Top middle we have the Ted Baker Chasidy multi floral crossbody clutch bag which also offers a strap option depending upon your preference. Moving clockwise we have the Coast Printed bow bag, which features a flap over front and a magnetic clasp for closing and costing just £35 is an absolute bargain. Ted Baker features again and this time with a slightly different design with the Dorise multi floral crossbody clutch bag. A wishlist wouldn't quite be one without a bit of Vivi and this Vivianne Westwood Derby multi tartan wrist clutch bag caught my eye and it almost matches a dress I quite like. A little more demure with the New Look White Lace 3D Flower Frame Clutch which is a Clip top fastening- clutch which again has an optional chain strap. The black Miss KG Hava Embellished Suedette Clutch Bag from John Lewis is one I have actually seen up close and it is just stunning and again has a detachable gold-toned chain strap and a lock clasp. Finally, right in the centre is the Dune Bubbles Clutch Bag which is a fold over design with a popper fastening and an optional chain strap.

These are just some of the bags that have made an appearance on my Pinterest boards over the last few weeks alongside many others.  Do you have a favourite from my list?

Kiko Campus Idol All Stars Make Up Collection

I absolutely love Kiko. I love the stores, especially the Covent Garden one, I love their lipsticks and I love how they have the ability to make me want every new product which comes out. The Kiko Campus Idol All Stars Collection landed on my doorstep a few weeks ago and I have absolutely loved using it and discovering some new must have products. 

The products within this collection are colourful and almost sporty looking but described as being  a vivacious, rather sassy cheerleader transformed into a true leader with an ironic, casual look when she steps into an urban setting. That said, as you might expect from Kiko, the prodcuts are amazing quality and very pigmented. 

The first item to catch my attention was the Kiko Campus Idol All Star Face Palette. This is perfect for those who love contouring.  I had palette 01 which is called Pretty Rose and inside, the palette is divided into three sections - Highlight, Bronze and Blush for sculpting and adding radiance to your face.

The second item from the collection is another palette and this time it is Prom Queen Eyeshadow Palette and I have 01 Lovely Naturals.  Anyone who knows me will know I am a nude eyeshadow kind of girl and this palette is all kinds of amazing.  The six eyeshadows are incredibly pigmented and when used with an eye primer last all day long with little movement, really impressive lastability. There is also a handy double ended applicator and the lid of the palette contains a mirror, so perfect for on the go or travelling with.

The third palette that I have from this collection is the Hi-Brow Palette and I have 01 Blonde and Red haired.  The Palette, again featuring a mirror within the lid hosts  two powders, two highlighters, setting wax, four stencils and an applicator.  So a palette that has everything you need for having amazing brows and again, perfect for on the go and travelling with.

If an eyeshadow palette isn't for you, then how about an eyeshadow and eyeliner in one? I have shade 06 which is Steel and Anthracite and it is not only stunning but easy to use.  One end is quite rounded and this is your eyeshadow, which is easy to apply and to blend and the pencil end is clearly the eyeliner. I personally love multi-use products, so this gets a huge thumbs up from me.

The final item in this collection also falls into a multi-use product with a lipstick and lip liner stick.  I have shade 06 which is perky pink and they are both deeply pigmented bright pink shades, not ones I would wear, but I do love that the liner matches the lipstick and as someone who has one lip liner, this is an absolute dream item to need in my stash.

The Kiko Campus Idol All Stars Collection is a lot of fun, it is versatile and it is currently on offer right here, so grab it quick before it disappears.