Week 17

Yummy Lindt chocolate bunny / Krispy Kreme Doughnut for some energy / Handmade bracelets / Carousel / Ferris Wheel / Real Techniques Brow-Lash Groomer Brush (review here)

Hi lovelies,

THIS IS MY 100th POST! WOW I CANNOT BELIEVE I'VE WROTE 100 POSTS! THANK YOU FOR READING THEM :)

Yay! I made it on time this week! I went back to work today after being ill last week. I hate being ill, I feel like I've lost a week of my life. My doctors have a pathetic system. You have to phone at 8am for an appointment on the same day or you can phone for an appointment in like 2 weeks time?! So I couldn't phone up today and get an appointment for say Thursday! I think it's ridiculous and I'd love to know the logic behind it but hopefully I'll get in this week. At 8am, I'm driving to work so my mum's on the case to get me one. 

On Saturday, I went to a theme park with Brownies (I'm a Brownie leader). We had a great day and when the sun was out, it was beautiful. I love the above picture of the Ferris Wheel purely for the blue sky! I cannot wait for Summer, it's still quite cold outside. My nephew had surgery on Friday. I don't want to go into detail on here but the surgeons think it well well and hopefully he recovers well. 

Also, my car wouldn't start again today when I finished work. It's the third time it's happened in about two months. I think it's time for a new car! Shame I can't afford one. I called for recovery and had to wait for an hour. When they got there, my car decided to start! Typical!

If you want to follow me on Instagram, my username is lostinlipstick. If you do follow me, make sure you leave your username below. I love finding new people on Instagram.

What have you been up to this week?

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

Real Techniques Lash-Brow Groomer Brush - Review

Real Techniques Lash-Brow Groomer Brush

I'm sure you're all aware how much I love Real Techniques brushes. Almost all of my make up brushes are RT and this is the sixth one in my collection. I also own the Expert Face Brush, the Foundation Brush, the Powder Brush, the Blush Brush and the Setting Brush. I use every single one every day and I couldn't live without a single one. 

I shared my hate of my eyebrows in this post and a lash groomer is an essential tool in my make up routine. You can also read about my eyebrow routine here but basically this brush plays a massive part. The brush is a 2 in 1 lash and brow brush. One side has dense nylon bristles ready to tame my wild brows and the other side consists of a precision comb to separate and define eyelashes. The comb is pretty sharp so it comes with a protective cap to avoid any injuries!

I definitely use the brow side more as I need this every day. I don't necessarily need to use the lash comb all the time but it's great on those days where your eyelashes are not behaving and need a little encouraging in the right direction! Usually, these brushes come with plastic alternatives, which are useless, it's great to see a metal comb instead that actually works!

What's your eyebrow routine? Do you use a brow groomer?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

#NorthMeetUp

On Sunday 7th April, I attended the highly anticipated #NorthMeetUp organised by Emma from EmTalks. As soon as I heard about the event, I contacted Em and I was very lucky to get a place as there were only space for 50 bloggers. The event was held at Revolution Deansgate in Manchester. It was great to see a big blogger event being organised up North. I've only been blogging since September last year but I know most events are held in London.

Image from Katie at Gold Dust

Image from Em at EmTalks

I met lots of lovely bloggers there including Katie from Gold Dust, who I had previously met briefly at the Harvey Nichols Beauty Bloggers event back in November. I also met Kelsey from Kelsey Dawn, Emma from Glossy Boutique, Bobbi from Beauty By Bobbi, Nafisah from Bamblings of Naffy, Nikki from Beauty Shaker (who gave out the fabulous Anne Semonin goodie bags and actually works where I go on holiday nearly every year! Small world!) and obviously Em as she organised it!

A lot of hard work and organisation had gone into the event. I want to say a massive thank you to Em as I had a truly fantastic day and met some amazing bloggers. We had our own private room upstairs and we all felt like VIPs. Em had arranged for eyebrow technicians, fake tanners, nail artists and make up artists to be there. There were giveaways throughout the day and I won a Neom Hand Lotion! Some amazing brands sponsored the meet up. There were talks from Xen-Tan, Glam Glow and Arbonne. I think a few more were arranged but it was very noisy and there wasn't a microphone so it was very difficult to hear.

Em had arranged with Revolution for us to have 2 for 1 cocktails and cupcakes and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts were supplied all day! We were well and truly spoilt! Seeing all the bloggers with their fancy cameras, only made me want one even more! But I have no money. I'll have to pop one on my Christmas list this year and hope Santa brings me one. I even had 'business cards' made to hand out but completely forgot to give any out! Ha!

We walked away with so many goodies. I actually struggled on the train. Luckily, it was only a short journey. It's amazing to see how many brands wanted to sponsor a North event. Em did an amazing job at organising and putting on this amazing event. Hopefully, I can attend another event she organises in the future. She definitely has a talent!

I am planning to review a lot of the products that we received in our goodie bags. Unfortunately, the weather up North doesn't allow for good photos! I think I need to invest in some daylight bulbs (I know nothing about this, please help!)

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

Week 16

20,000 views!! / A beauty bloggers dream cake? / Late night cookie baking / Nervously waiting... / Delicious cookies / Watching McFly in Birmingham

Hi lovelies,

Another late post! I am supposed to post these on a Monday and this is the second week I've posted it on a Thursday. Bad blogger! I haven't published a 'proper' post for almost three weeks either. Super bad blogger! But I've either been super busy or ill. I'm currently off work with a stomach bug. It's actually the fourth one I've had since September! My immune system has never been great. Previously, I've caught a yearly cold and a stomach bug but to have four in seven months is a joke. I'm going to go to the doctors next week and I'm going to demand some tests. I'm actually really worried that it could be something serious. Obviously, I've been reading things online, as you do, but I'm even more worried now!

In the past week I reached 20,000 views, which absolutely amazes me. Thank you to every single one of you who read my blog. Apologies for the lack of posts lately but I should be back on form soon. I decided to do some late night baking one evening and made some cookies at 9:30pm! That's normal right?! I loosely followed Anna from Vivianna Does Makeup recipe but I substituted the flour for gluten free flour. Also I didn't have any cocoa powder so I used hot chocolate powder but they worked and actually tasted really good. I was quite proud of myself as I'm not a massive baker/cook. 

If you want to follow me on Instagram, my username is lostinlipstick. If you do follow me, make sure you leave your username below. I love finding new people on Instagram.

What have you been up to this week?

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

week 15

Delicious cupcakes / Instagram love / Painting and decorating is slowly taking over my life!

Hi lovelies,

I know people say you shouldn't apologise for not blogging as it's your blog but I want to. It's only been a week and a half since I haven't blogged but it's felt like a lot longer. I absolutely love blogging and I have missed sitting at my laptop to blog. There have been several reasons why I haven't blogged. Some reasons are too personal to share online but I will share a few reasons. Firstly, I have used most of my spare time painting and decorating! It isn't finished yet but it's coming along and will hopefully be done soon. Secondly, this past week I have been suffering from several headaches and the last thing I want to do with a headache is sit staring at a computer screen. I have been to the doctors and mentioned it but I'm going to keep a diary of how often I get them and how severe they are. If they continue, I will be going back to the doctors. I have so many blog post ideas and products to review and I cannot wait to get back into routine again.

If you want to follow me on Instagram, my username is lostinlipstick. If you do follow me, make sure you leave your username below. I love finding new people on Instagram.

What have you been up to this week?

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

Week 14

Make up of the day / Chocolate rice krispie cakes / Chinese takeaway / Decorating / Giant Easter Egg / #NorthMeetUp / Amazing goodie bag / Neom Hand Lotion

Hi lovelies, 

I enjoyed my final week off work and started back today. Luckily, they eased us in gently with a training day that finished at one! I think my body is going to take a while to get back into the routine of waking up at 6:30am! It was a real struggle today! I've spent most of the Easter holidays eating chocolate and I still have some left. My skin is suffering for it though. I'm 25, I cannot wait until I stop getting spots! 

I've spent most of this week covered in paint! We have made so much progress on our living room but there is still so much to do. It really is taking forever. (We're definitely getting a decorator to do the rest of the house!) Hopefully my dad is going to come round this week to put the wallpaper on the feature wall and we just have to finish painting all the woodwork. Once it's finished we will need to go shopping for furniture. We literally just have couches in the living room, no sideboards or side tables anything. I cannot wait for it to all be finished!

#NorthMeetUp was definitely the perfect way to end my holiday. Em Sheldon from Em Talks arranged the whole event and she did a fantastic job. I won't go into too much detail as I am planning on doing a blog post on the day so stay tuned for that!

If you want to follow me on Instagram, my username is lostinlipstick. If you do follow me, make sure you leave your username below. I love finding new people on Instagram.

What have you been up to this week?

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

March Empties

Keratin Complex Keratin Color Care Conditioner - I finished the shampoo off last month and finished the conditioner earlier this month. As I mentioned in My Haircare Routine on shampoo, I got this in Christmas 2011. They lasted me as long as they did because I have so many other shampoo and conditioners and I tried to make them last as they are expensive! The conditioner is sodium chloride and sulphate free, which means no nasty chemicals on your hair. I'm not too keen on the scent. In my opinion it smells a little bit like chemicals?!? It did leave my hair feeling smooth and soft but so do other cheaper conditioners. Therefore, I will not be repurchasing. 

Charles Worthington Protect Heat Defence Spray - I actually really liked this heat spray and it lasted me a long time. I have used many different heat protectant sprays in the past and many left a residue on my hair. Even GHD spray, for different hair types, left my hair feeling sticky and it was too heavy. When I spray Charles Worthington Protect Heat Defence Spray, a light mist coats my hair and a little goes a long way. I am currently using Trevor Sorbie Heat Protector as I got it in a set from Boots but I will probably repurchase this in the future. You can purchase this from Boots or Superdrug.

VO5 Hot Oil Give Me Moisture In-Shower Treatment - I have to admit, I purchased this because Lily from llymlrs.com raved about it so much. I love anything novelty and the fact I get to apply this before I wash my hair, excites me! What an exciting life I lead! I used this once a week and considering the thickness and length of my hair, one of the measured applications was enough. I had full intentions to repurchase this until I read Fee's post from makeupsavvy.co.uk. She did a test using VO5 Hot Oil on one side of her hair and olive oil on the other. According to her results, she noticed one difference and that was the side she used olive oil on was less tangled. I have already purchased a bottle of olive oil! 

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - After reading my February Empties, the lovely people at Liz Earle informed me that 100 ml is supposed to be a months supply. This made me feel better as I was worried that I was using too much! It would be more economical for me to buy larger bottles but I purchase the monthly essentials and 100 ml is what's supplied. There's not much more I can say here without repeating what I've already said. If you want to know more, you can read my review here.

Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser Light - This is the fourth bottle of this moisturiser which I have finished in just over a year of using Liz Earle skincare. If that doesn't tell you how much I love it, I don't know what will?! The light moisturiser is suitable for combination/oily skin, which is perfect for my skin type. During winter, I used the moisturiser for normal/combination skin at night as the cold weather made my skin drier than usual. Since we are now in spring (and hopefully the weather will warm up soon!) I have started to use this morning and night again. It provides the perfect amount of moisture for my skin and doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy or heavy. You can read in more detail what I thought about this moisturiser here.

Impulse Tease Body Spray - As I mentioned in my January Favourites, I love this body spray. I've lost count of how many I have used but it's a lot! I always pick a few up when it's 99p and I currently have about 3 in my back up stash! They're the perfect size to throw in your handbag as well and I always have a body spray in there. (However, currently I have a different body spray which I am trying to finish off!) You can purchase this from Boots or Superdrug.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - It's safe to say this concealer has taken the beauty world by storm and it's definitely the best concealer I've used. At £4.19, who can complain. It is long lasting and provides great coverage on spots and blemishes. The only negative - it claims to last 16 hours, it definitely doesn't! But it does last quite a few hours. I use the shades fair and light. Although I have found light to be too dark on my skin in winter when my skin is at it's palest. Hopefully, as the weather warms up so will my skin tone and light will be suitable. You can read in more detail what I thought about this concealer here. You can purchase this from Boots or Superdrug.

Which products have you used up this month? Have you been loving any of these products?

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

MUA Shimmer Kisses Bronzer - Review

MUA Shimmer Kisses Bronzer £3

I love MUA products, that's no secret. I actually really like this palette but for some unknown reason, I very rarely reach for it. I'm not a massive fan of shimmery products and dewy skin but I still bought this. After all, I am getting better with eyeshadow! Although come summer, I think I'll reach for this more and more.

I love the four shades that come with this palette. All four can be swirled together for an all over bronzed, shimmery look or you can use the four shades individually to blush and highlight, which is what I do. The top left and bottom right shade I use to highlight. The top left is beautiful in the inner corner of my eye. The top right shade is a lovely peach colour, perfect for a blush. Finally, the bottom left shade is dusty rose colour and is a lovely blush shade.

Overall, I would have to say this makes a lovely blush and highlight product. The name can be a little misleading as it is far from a bronzer. MUA advertise the product perfectly on the back stating there are 'four shimmering tones for highlighting your complexion'. I recommend this product if you are looking for a really affordable blush and highlight palette. It's priced at the bargain price of £3 and MUA sometimes hold offers, making it even cheaper! The quality of the palette is lovely, as usual for MUA, but the pigmentation isn't great however, they are buildable if you're looking for a more intense look.

Have you tried the MUA Shimmer Kisses Bronzer? What do you use it for?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub - Review

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub £5.25

My lips always seem to be chapped, especially in the colder months. It makes applying lipstick a bit of a nightmare. I used to use an old toothbrush to gently scrub my lips, which would be smothered in Vaseline.  This worked but wasn't ideal as I had nowhere to keep the toothbrush and it got quite dirty. Not very hygenic! When I first heard that Lush had lip scrubs, I had to get one. I actually bought Bubblegum a year or two ago but I lost it in November when I moved house. I searched high and low but to no avail, I could not find it. I caved in and purchased a new one. They have gone up in price since I bought my last one but I knew it was worth it and I had to have it. (Obviously since I bought my new one,  the fairies returned my old one! But it turns out it went off in September so maybe someone was telling me to buy a new one.)

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub contains castor sugar, which is the ingredient that 'scrubs' your lips, and organic jojoba oil to moisturise your lips. It also contains flavourings to give it that delicious scent and taste! As well as colours to give it the bright pink colour. The lip scrub is suitable for Vegans and is preservative free. I apply a small amount to dry lips (it's important that you don't get water in the pot as the sugar clumps together if you do and makes it very difficult to use) and gently buff away the dry skin. It is safe to 'eat' so Lush suggest licking your lips afterwards but the very thought disgusts me as it means you would be eating the dead skin from your lips! Therefore, I use water to wash the scrub away and just lick my lips to get the remaining flavour.

This is the only flavour I have used but many other beauty bloggers love some of the other ones. I definitely recommend the Lush lip scrubs. They leave your lips smooth, moisturised and more importantly, ready for lipstick! I think it's gentle enough to use everyday and I do just that. I use it before I go to bed and pop on some lip balm before I go to sleep.

Have you used Lush lip scrubs before? What's your favourite flavour?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

Week 13

Colourful peppers, Spaghetti bolognese, Trip to IKEA, Finally got my hands on a SKURAR plant pot for my make up brushes, Another Easter egg, Blue ombre nails, Beauty haul from the Trafford Centre, Other Trafford Centre goodies, Trying to decide which colour to go for, Happy Easter, The aftermath of decorating, Topshop Nail Polish in High Voltage.

Hi Ladies (and Gentlemen, if there are any reading!)

As it's half term, I enjoyed my first week off work. I cannot guarantee that my purse enjoyed the experience as much as I did! Following a trip to IKEA, The Trafford Centre and having new windows fitted on our house, I cannot wait till the next payday. If you want to have a nosy at what I bought in IKEA, you can here. Hopefully, I will do a haul post on what I bought at the Trafford Centre but I will be doing reviews of most of the products in due course. 

I have eaten so much chocolate lately! It doesn't help that Easter eggs line the shelves in the supermarket when I do the weekly shop. I had eaten two Easter eggs before Easter Sunday arrived! Although I haven't eaten as much as the fiance! He gave up chocolate and crisps for lent and he has definitely made up for it yesterday and today! 

If you want to follow me on Instagram, my username is lostinlipstick. If you do follow me, make sure you leave your username below. I love finding new people on Instagram.

What have you been up to this week?

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick