B. Beauty Makeup Brush Collection.

This Spring, B. have taken a huge leap forward and launched its very first professional quality makeup tools.  If you are familiar with the B. range, which you will find in Superdrug, you will already know that they pride themselves on being cruelty free and Vegan and these tools are no exception.

Handcrafted, these brushes are made using silky-soft fibres which are made of Taklon, a synthetic material used to make other makeup brushes and tools.  Each brush has tapered brush edges which are precision shaped to define and build flawless layers of makeup and have been developed and designed with input from the lovely Cassie Lomas, celebrity makeup artist and B. Ambassador and she has filmed a series of videos which you can find HERE which introduce the brushes, offers advice, hints and tips.

The brush collection has seven different brushes to choose from

• B. Finishing Brush £9.99
• B. Powder Brush £9.99
• B. Blusher/Contour Brush £8.99
• B. Foundation Brush £7.99
• B. Eyeshadow Blending Brush £8.99
• B. Eyeshadow Brush £5.99
• B. Retractable Lip Brush £5.99

All of these brushes are available now from Superdrug and they are on offer, so grab them quick.  I was pleasantly surprised at how lightweight they felt in my fingers, they weigh next to nothing and are nicely shaped to make holding onto them an easy task.  I absolutely love the Finishing brush, which can be used for powder, liquid or cream products and when used as a finishing brush, it really does help to set your make-up in places and blend anything that has been left untouched to create that flawless finish.

Alongside this set is a really handy travel set** which I cooed over as soon s I saw it.  It comes with a really handy travel wallet which fits nicely into any of my handbags, has a zipped compartment for any makeup you might want to store and has a mirror.

As you can see it comprises itself of four brushes and these brushes are perfect mini brushes. There is a Powder Brush, Foundation Brush, Eye Shadow Brush and Retractable Lip Brush.  As with the larger brushes, they have the same professional quality and finish.

Power Brush - This brush is designed to hold the ideal amount of powder whilst still maintaining control and precision. To achieve a polished finish, do not sweep across the face. Dab the bristles into the powder then roll and rotate the side of the brush across the face focusing on the T-zone. This versatile brush can also be used to apply blusher, bronzer and powders.

Foundation Brush - A little tip I was given when it comes to using this brush is to create an even coverage start in the centre of the face!. To use, use the oval tapered edge, working outwards towards the hairline, jawline and blend down towards the décolletage. Blend using circular movements to avoid over application. This brush can be used with liquid or cream foundation.

Eye Shadow Brush - This brush is perfectly designed to add a wash of colour over the eyelid. It can be used to gradually build up the layers of colour to create definition and shadow. You can also use this brush to apply metallic glitter pigment by simply dipping it into the pigment and gently pat onto the lid.

Retractable Lip Brush - I really like this brush, I like how it has a lid to keep the brush clean and to protect the brush, especially if it was to become loose in your bag.  This brush can be used to create the perfect pout by starting at the centre of the mouth and then blend the colour outwards and gradually build up layers. This is a versatile brush within the collection because you can also use it to apply concealer.

This is such a handy set of brushes to have and it is the perfect travelling companion.  Lightweight and doubling up as a handy makeup bag, you can easily fit most items you want and need within it, priced at just £17.99 (though currently on offer) it is, I feel, more than worth its value and the perfect Summer companion.

Superdrug to the rescue!

Never has a post been more apt, as you read this particular one I am suffering from man-flu - serious man-flu, the worst I have had in years! Sore Throat, Runny Nose, Chesty Tickly Cough, Headache, Sinus Ache and worst of all a great big horrid coldsore on my top lip!  It is fair to say I am not well right now and essentially all that is interesting me right now is being snuggled up in bed watching either Christmas/24 or catching up with Nashville.

I am never ill, it is a rarity, but when I am poorly, I get really poorly and feel horrible for days.  Superdrug** have come to my rescue with just about everything you need for this type of illness

There is literally a medicine cabinet right there in front of you, every essential that you need when you have a heavy head cold like I have and this is what we have:

Superdrug Dry Tickly cough which gives effective relief for dry tickly coughs and sore throats. retails at £2.99 per 100ml.  It actually tastes pretty nice for a cough medicine in so much as you don't gag as soon as you swallow it and if like me you do have a sore throat, it is definitely effective relief.

The next batch of goodies again have all been an absolute godsend at making me feel slightly more human than I do.  Starting with the Adult Vapour Rub which is always one of those essential bathroom cabinet items for me, possibly a trick I picked up my my Mum growing up.  

If you really are bunged up and unable to shift the mucus, this stuff works wonders, more so if you put some in a bowl of hot water, lean over it with a towel over your head and breathe in and out for just a few minutes and hey presto, you can breathe out of your nose again!  Priced at just £1.79

Superdrug Max Cold & Flu Day & Night Capsules provide relief from the symptoms associated with cold and flu, including relief of aches and pains, sore throat, headache, nasal congestion and fever. At £2.99 for a packet of 16, for me there is more than enough to help clear my symptoms and best of all they don't leave you feeling drowsy.

The Superdrug Max Congestion are used to help provide relief from nasal congestion, particularly when associated with colds and flu or hayfever.  For me, I only use these when I am so bunged up I am giving myself a headache from constantly sniffing (and annoying myself) and they work really well, within a couple of minutes of taking them.  Priced at £1.69 for a packet of 12, they are another must have for the bathroom cabinet.

Superdrug Max Echinacea Cold & Flu Relief are also an essential to have.  I use these as a back up if nothing else is beginning to work because I find them quite powerful. Used to help relief the symptoms of the common cold and influenza type infections.  Priced at £4.99 for a packet of 30 tablets, these are slightly more expensive than the other items mentioned so far, but I have always found them to be reliable. 

The final item in this photograph to mention is the Superdrug Dual Action Sore Throat Lozenges which are Blackcurrent flavoured. Priced at just £1.99 for 24 Lozenges they help fights Infection and relieves pain for the effective relief of sore throats.  Again, another must have for the bathroom cabinet and they are brilliantly soothing on a sore throat, not to mention that they actually taste of real blackcurrent too.

Once you have got your cold or flu in hand and are beginning to feel a lot better, it is time to step up the Vitamin C intake and again Superdrug has everything you need for this.  Superdrug Effervescent Vitamins which are orange flavoured retail at just £2.99 for 20 dissoluble tablets.  All you need to do is take one tablet, dissolve it water and drink it and I will be honest, the taste does take some getting used too because it is quite sweet, but doesn't have that chalky effect.  If this doesn't sound right for you then we have the

Superdrug Chewy Vitamin C which comes in a tube of 60 and are priced at just £3.49 as Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps protect the body's tissues against cell damage caused by free radicals, so both of these products help to maintain a healthy immune system, the body's natural defence mechanism, and also helps maintain healthy skin.

I have been taking some of these for the last 3 days and whilst I am still feeling sorry for myself and slightly more human, I know I would be feeling much worse without a little help.  

As always please ensure that read the label before taking any of these products and do not exceed any of the stated doses.  Always check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure about any of them.

Thank you Superdrug for helping to take care of me.

Studio Make Up Brush Set

My Goddaughter turns 16 in a months time and she is at that age where make-up is a big part of her life. She is discovering what she likes, what she doesn't like, what works for her and what doesn't and like most 16 year olds money is not something she has a lot of.  So when I asked her what she wanted, she mentioned she would like a few bits of make-up and some brushes.

So I've decided to make her up my own version of a beauty box full of products I think she would like and shades that will suit her, please feel free to make some suggestions for brands and things I should definitely include, but when it comes to brushes, Superdrug have some amazing products this today is one I am going to rave about.

Available now for just £5 and yes I did say five pounds, this complete set of brushes from Studio could be yours and they are ideal for my goddaughter, though it will admit I am toying with keeping them for myself! In this set there are five brushes, so that is a whole £1 per brush and they comprises of:

• Eyeliner Brush
• Angled lip brush
• precision eye brush shadow brush
• Blending eye shadow brush
• Powder brush

These brushes were created in collaboration with a professional make up artist and they make an absolute wonderful starter kit.

What do you think to these brushes?

#ZoellaBeauty

I love seeing Bloggers become successful and when I first noticed Zoella was to have her own Beauty range at a Superdrug event I went too, I was really happy. Why? Well I'd be lying if I didn't say that one day I dream of being offered the chance to have my own beauty range, who wouldn't... Sadly, I'm just not in the same league.

I have been lucky enough to get my hands on some of the products from the #ZoellaBeauty range and I have to say they are amazing! From the packaging to the scent, I love them all, so what did I get?

Firstly the Candle 'Lets Glow'. I am a candle obsessive, you know it, I know it and it's an obsession i can't cure (I would also love to create my own candle range too). The candle itself is quite petite and really quite cute, inside this tin, is a pure white looking candle which carries the same scent as the rest of the range which is somewhere between the fruity scent and a very slight hint of Vanilla. Described as "Delicately scented candle to create your own relaxing space. This cute and calming candle will help you free your mind with its gentle blend of white wood accents, sweet vanilla and soft floral notes".

Next comes the body mist called 'Blissful Mistful'. Now I'm not usually one for body mists I have to say, but for the scent alone it is lovely and in saying that, it doesn't half make your room smell lovely after a few spritzes, so perhaps it can be a bit multifunctional? Again packaged inside this cute little bottle the scent is the same as the cane, only slight stronger but a scent I actual like. Described as being "A super light and feminine body spritz to scent your body with fresh and floral notes. Enriched with Vitamin E and fruit extracts - bliss in a bottle!" It is everything the description states it is.

Following on from that is the bath soak and shower cream called 'Soak Opera' and it is a beautiful peach colour with a slightly pearlesque look to it.. "A delicately fragranced 'beauty in a bottle' bath soak to calm the senses with soothing floral notes. Enriched with Vitamin E, Aloe and Shea Butter extracts to soften and condition the skin" I am told. Found inside this chunky bottle, the cream is similar in texture to any you can buy from Soap and Glory and every bit as lovely and again for me it is the scent that is the winner here. 

The final item to find its way into my collection is the 'Fizz Bar', what a funky name! What is it? Well in short it is described as being "A super bar of 8 fizzy cubes to make your bath time fizz! Drop 1-2 cubes into warm running water for a fragrantly fizzy bath and some much needed "wash your cares away" me-time. As you can see, the bar is a pure white and divided into 8 cubes with the letter Z clearly noticeable.

I take my hat off to Zoe, she has done an amazing job and has managed to create a list of products that I think everyone will love and is most definitely worthy of the hype. The scent is stunning, the packaging is stunning and there is more to the range than I have got here - a body wash and two make up bags also feature and again they make you squee because they are so cute. 

How much is everything? Well entire range contains..

Creamy Madly Dreamy Body Lotion - £5
Soak Opera Bath Soak and Shower Cream - £5
Blissful Mistful Fragranced Body Mist - £8
Let's Glow Fragranced Candle - £5
Fizz Bar Fragranced Bath Fizzer - £5
Guinea Pig & Eyes Makeup Bag/ Pencil Case - £8

Have you managed to get your hands on any of this range? Are you wanting to buy it?

The Five Minute At Home Facial by Superdrug

I love having facials and I love face masks, the nearest I get to having a regular facial. There is something quite relaxing about covering your face in lotions, potions, gels and fabrics to cleanse and clean your face.

Superdrug have just launched 'The Five Minute At Home Facial' in the form of fabric masks and I have very kindly been sent the set to try out.  Designed to give your skin an indulgent boost, these masks have been inspired by Asian beauty trends.  The fabric sheet which forms the mask has been soaked with effective b;ends to give the skin an almost instantaneous boost.  The five minute home facial title caught my eye because as someone who always feels like they are on the go Monday to Friday, I find it hard to find long enough to stick on a face mask to give it time to work, with this, 5 minutes is all you need, perfect.

I have been more than impressed with Superdrug products lately and not too long ago reviewed the Overnight Glycolic Peel which to me rivals Origins Overnight mask, you can read all about it here.

The collection contains four masks which have been created to address the most common skin problems Dull and Blemished skin, Parched and Rough Skin, Stressed and overworked Skin and Clogged and Tired Skin and the masks are packaged like this:

Working from left to right:

Hydrating Facial Mask is designed for parched and rough skin.  Using a rich complex of Plant Collagen and Glycerin along with Pelvetiane seaweed, this mask infuses the skin with goodness to leave it ultra-smooth and supple.

Calming Facial Mask is for those people who have stressed and overworked skin.  Using a herbal blend of Green Tea, Cucumber Fruit and Aloe Vera Juice, this mask is said to provide a soothing sensation whilst reviving the skins radiance, leaving it beautifully supple.

Deep Cleansing Face Mask is for people with clogged and tired skin and is designed to cleanse away impurities and detoxify the skin.  Using Dead Sea Salt, Menthol and Seaweed this mask cleanses and renews the complexions radiance to leave your skin silky smooth and reinvigorated.

Purifying Facial Mask is for those with dull and blemished skin.  Using a blend of Green Tea and Spearmint Oils, this mask cleanses the skin of any blemishes and refreshes it with cooling spearmint to leave the skin soft and supple.

I am looking forward to putting all of these masks to the test, so look out for reviews on each of them.  They retail for just £1.29 which is an absolute bargain and you can find them in your local Superdrug.

Do you like using facemasks? Do you like the sound of these?

Superdrug Glycolic Overnight Peel

I am one of the biggest fans you will possibly ever meet when it comes to Origins overnight mask, for me it has been an absolute godsend and it is one of those products which would quite probably get the holy grail status. But... then I was able to try the Superdrug Glycolic Overnight Peel**.

I haven't used that many products from their own Naturally Radiant range, though I know how popular the hot cloth cleanser became quite a hit with fellow bloggers, but I wasn't tempted to try it.

However, a quick blurb of a product can always change your mind and make you want to read it and that blurb for me was this:"This week sees the launch of the Glycolic Overnight Peel from Superdrug. When applied at night and washed off in the morning, the peel evens skintone and smoothes fine lines and wrinkles, leaving the skin brighter and more refined".

This Glycolic Overnight Peel, contains glycolic acid, vitamin C and fruit extracts such as Kiwi and Mulberry to boost and brighten your skin overnight. These ingredients work together to revive radiance, even out your skin tone and with the glycolic acid it also helps to smooth fine lines and wrinkles.

To use, simply apply a pea sized amount on your fingertips onto your face (avoiding the eyes) and then you leave it on overnight and wash it off the following morning.  Superdrug state that you should use an SPF the following morning after using this product and that is because of the Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) which can leave your skin more sensitive to sunshine, but if like me you wear SPF everyday (regardless of the weather) then you should be fine.

The gel is clear and see through and has a slight fruity scent to it but for me it is more floral and a further look at the ingredients tell me that there is also Lotus Flower extract also included.

So how well does it work?  I have used this gel for the last 4 weeks, not every night because I don't think my skin needs it, but at least twice a week.  Once applied on the skin, it does take a while to sink in and settle as it is quite watery, so it is best to apply at least 20-30 minutes before going to bed.  The following morning, you cannot feel this gel whatsoever and nor is your face rock hard as though you have applied a clay mask.  I always wash this off in the shower, which is the first thing I do once I have got out bed, with warm water and a muslin cloth. 

As soon as that it is done, the first time I used this product I was surprised to find my skin as soft as it was, you know when something is a lot less expensive than your current product and though you want it to be better, it rarely is, well bloggers I have to say, this one from Superdrug is as good as the Origins overnight mask.  My skin is soft, smooth, feels moisturised, my pores are unclogged which was not something I had been counting on, there is no sign of the slight dryness on my cheeks and I had a radiant glow.  I absolutely love it and I would now think twice about repurchasing from Origins.

This overnight mask from Superdrug has an RRP of £5.99 which makes it an absolute bargain and something I will definitely be repurchasing.

Have you tried this product from Superdrug?  

Do you use a similar product?

Glossybox for Superdrug - May Box

There has been much hype and excitement as to whom Glossybox would be collaborating with for the May box and whilst I had seen some spoilers on both Twitter and Facebook, good ones I might add, I was yet to see two people get the same box, which always leaves some room for a bit of excitement and anticipation.

My box arrived on Saturday morning and I couldn't wait to open it.  I had already seen that the usual dusty pink box had been replaced with a rather funky designed box with '50' being emblazoned on a bright neon pink and gold colour and the words 'Glossybox for Superdrug' also clearly visible.  We all know that Superdrug is celebtrating its 50th birthday and there have been some amazing products specially released to celebrate that, but what is in my box I know you are all wanting to know, well.... Ta-dah

OOOh now how fab does this box look? It has been a long time since I have liked all the contents of a Glossybox, that includes everything from the outerbox, the pink tissue and the matching ribbon to the crepe paper - all of which I think looks amazing.

So inside my box I have not one or two full sized items but FIVE - yes five of them, plus two little extras which I am chuffed chuffed with and they are:

Ghost Eclipse - Those of you who read my blog alot (okay occasionally) will know I am a fan of perfume samples, so I am happy to see this one in here.  Ghost Eclipse has the following description:

"Capturing the warm energy of the sun, GHOST Eclipse evokes feelings of carefree abandon.  Get lost in the moment and lift your spirits with this intoxicating and addictive fruity-floral fragrance".

The second sample is a Garnier Oil Body Lotion, something I haven't tried but more than willing to do so, it is infused with argan, macademia, almond and rose oil to help replenish the skin with moisture and reinforce its barrier function to prevent it from feeling dry, leaving your skin feeling soft and smooth.  

Here is the rest of the box!

Maybelline New York Great Lash Mascara - I am a fan of Maybelline Mascara and this is one I have never tried and you can never have too many mascaras right?  This has an RRP of £4.99

GOSH Cosmetics Velvet Touch Eyeliner - I am a huge fan of GOSH Cosmetics and this is another product I haven't tried though it is fair to say, eyeliner is not one of my favourite items.  However it has an RRP of £4.99

B Sheer Conditioning Lipstick - I got shade 88 which Flamingo and it is as you would expect it to be, a bright pink.  Possibly not a colour I would choose but I am going to give it a try anyway as I have never used anything from B before, despite seeing their products across many blogs I read.  This has an RRP of £6.99

Max Factor - Facefinity All Day Primer - perhaps the product I am most excited about and chuffed to have got.  This primer is said to have micro-correctors which work to absorb sweat and extend the wear of your favourite foundation for all day flawless finish.  This has an RRP of £10.99

The final item is Vaseline Spray and Go in Coco and this is a product I have been umming and arring about for months and months.  I am not the worlds biggest fan of Vaseline for my lips (yuck) but having read about this product so many times, I quite like the idea behind it, plus it makes life a tad easier when it comes to moisturising right?  An RRP of £4.99

So that is my box!  I think it is fantastic and I am chuffed with the contents.  What do you think to my box and if you have one, please link me to it below in the comments so I can come and see what you got.

GOSH Lipstick collection 2014

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be invited to the launch of the GOSH Cosmetics SS14 make-up launch which you can read about HERE and today's post features the lipsticks that I was lucky enough to be given in my goody bag.

Within the collection there is a total of eight lipsticks in the collection and today I will be sharing five of them with you.  Called GOSH Velvet Touch Lipsticks, they contain nourishing vegetable oils which helps to keep your lips moisturised as well as vitamin E which again helps to protect your lips from harmful pollution, add to that the light-reflecting pigments and you have one very lovely lipstick, or in my case five of them.  The packaging is quite a nice mixture of matte and shiny black for the casing which I really like because it makes them feel a lot more expensive than they actually are.

Once applied to the lips, the first thing I noticed was how light they actually are, some of the lipsticks I have tried from other brands feel really heavy in your lips, as though you have literally applied multiple coats when infact it is just the one, with the GOSH lipsticks, whilst one swipe across the lips is enough to give you a lovely hint of colour, they are really moisturising and leave your lips feeling incredibly smooth.

The five lipsticks within my collection are:

156 - Romance which is a baby pink shade and quite sheer when applied to the lips

155 - Innocence which is a baby pink shade

158 - Yours Forever which is a quite red when you look at it, but from the swatch hopefully you can see it is more of a berry colour with pink undertones

162 - Nude which is a much lighter nude and quite sheer

161 - Sweetheart which is a dark brown nude

From all of these lipsticks, Nude and Romance are the two I tend to wear more than the others.  I haven't yet been brave enough to try Yours Forever though it is stunning.  Once applied these lipsticks are stayers, they remain in the lips for a good couple of hours despite eating, drinking and constantly talking. 

You can find all of these lipsticks plus another three shades in Superdrug For just £6.49 each and I have to say, I have become quite a fan of these GOSH lipsticks and think they are such brilliant value for money and definitely worth a look. 

What do you think of the GOSH Spring lipstick collection?

GOSH Cosmetics SS14 New Launches!

On Tuesday (11th March) I attended the GOSH Cosmetics SS14 Press Event with the lovely Kimberley from Kimberleys Beauty Blog. 

I was really looking forward to this event because although I had seen some of the products in Superdrug, I don't really know much about the brand itself, so it was a great opportunity to go along and learn more about them.

As we arrived we were greeted by this amazing display of badges which spelt out GOSH SS14 (how clever) and Kimberely and I became a little bit too attached to it and well, we now own most of the badges from that board.  

Anyway, upon arrival, we were one of the first few to arrive and we were greeted with a lovely glass of bubbles and given a chance to swatch products, every beauty bloggers dream and we also got to have some make-overs to try out the products, ask questions and so on. 

I am really quite taken with two things that I saw at the event.  Firstly the nail polishes, when offered the chance to have a manicure I am not going to turn it down, I love having it done, my only problem was choosing between the shades:

All of these shades are fantastic and definitely perfect for Spring and Summer.  Whenever I come across new nail polishes I always gravitate towards darker colours and my final decision as to which colour to have rested on these two:

I ended up choosing the Frosted Plum version which can be seen below with and without a top coat.  I absolutely love this shade it is just so pretty and colourful.

We also got to play with the Prime 'N' Set - Primer and Mattifying Setting Powder which is said to transform the skin by visually minimising the pores, fine lines, redness and imperfections.  What I love about this primer is that it is a loose powder and you can wear it on its own, over foundation or apply it throughout the day to mop up that excess oil if you have unwanted shine.  It is both perfume and paraben free and when it was demonstrated on me I was really impressed with it.  It is available to buy now and you can find it HERE.

Then we had a play with the Lip Lacquers which are enriched with Argan Oil and Vitamin E, so as well as making your lips look fantastic they also look after and moisturise them.  They are available in 8 different colours which you can see HERE and below in the photo.  I tried the Lovely which is shade 002 and it is a beautiful nude with great staying power, at the event we were welcomed with a glass of bubbles and some amazing canapes and this lip lacquer didn't budge - impressive and all for £5.99.  There was also 8 new shades of the Velvet Touch Lipsticks that we also got to test and try and you have everything from nudes, pinks and reds. I opted for the nude, and I found it to be a really creamy texture. They all have added vitamin E and are priced at £5.99.

Eye Crayons are something I have become quite a fan of, they are easy to use, easy to apply, easy to make dramatic or be neutral everyday look and GOSH introduced me to their Forever Eyeshadow Stick which are highly pigmented crayons which you don't need to sharpen, just twist and they are waterproof too.

There are 8 shades available which are also now available HERE. What I liked about these was the ability to apply them quickly, easily and have a great colour not to mention that you can also use them as eyeliners, as I was shown.  The 8 shades available mean there is something for everyone, be it light copper, beige, plum and a very beautiful green, some of which are swatched below.

I had a fantastic time at this event, it was lovely to be able to swatch and try out new products and have and watch make-overs with them so that you could see how best to use them as well as being able to ask questions of the professionals present.  

You can find all of these products on the GOSH Cosmetics website and I also want to thank the lovely Daisy and the rest of the team for this amazing goody bag, I literally cannot wait to try these out.

Of course I also got to have some badges, you can never have enough and they all represent a product from the #SS14 range.

Do you use GOSH Cosmetics? Do you have a favourite product?