Eye of Horus Sheba Mystical Goddess Eye Shadow Palette

Recently I mentioned I had a Beauty Bay voucher burning a hole in my virtual pocket. That's a lie, it was barely in my virtual pocket for five minutes before it was spent - I knew I wanted to buy a couple of bits from brands I hadn't used before so alongside the Zoeva Cocoa Blend Palette I also picked up the Eye of Horus Sheba Mystical Goddess Eye Shadow Palette. I must admit I was sold purely on the Egyptian-esque packaging alone. I loved the imagery as I've always been a big fan of Egypt and the Egyptians, it was one of my favourite subjects back in school!

I opted for the Mystical Goddess Palette because the baked, metallic shades and the pretty plum colour just called out to me. I loved the combination of the three shades and they not only work well together in the palette but they look fab once applied too. It was a tad on the more expensive side at £22.50 and when I received it I was quite surprised at how small it was - although I should have expected it due to there only being three shades.

I definitely don't regret buying it though. The lighter shades 'Artifact' and 'Enchantress' are gorgeously sun-kissed, metallics that work really well as bases or highlighters and the plum 'Royal Abyss' shade is absolutely perfect for this time of year, it would look fab with heavy black eyeliner, for a very Egyptian inspired look.

On application the plum shade was actually not as vibrant as I thought it might be, but it kind of worked out for the best because I was able to create a purple/plum eye look without looking like I've been punched in the eye - something very difficult to achieve! If you did want the purple shade to be more vibrant, it can be applied wet for something a bit more outstanding.

I swept the plum shade all over my lid and it's gorgeously pigmented with the perfect amount of shimmer. I also popped on the 'Enchantress' shade into my crease and blended it slightly to create such a gorgeous look, if I do say so myself!

This is definitely my new favourite palette and it is such a nice change to wear eyeshadows that aren't the usual brown/nude that I go for. I would totally recommend giving Eye of Horus a try!

Have you tried the Eye of Horus brand? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Prestige Flowers Christmas Bouquet

I've been hanging onto this post for a little while now, just until it got a bit closer to Christmas, and now that the Coca Cola Christmas advert has officially aired, I think it's definitely safe to say Christmas is nearly here.

I was recently contacted by Prestige Flowers and asked if I'd like to try one of their gorgeous Christmas flowers bouquets. Of course I jumped at the chance as I love nothing more than having flowers in the house. I very cheekily asked if I could receive a bouquet minus any lillies due to having a cat and the PR was very accomodating so a big thank you for that!

When you think of Christmas flowers you immediately think Poinsettias and Cyclamen but the bouquet I received was packed full of beautiful red roses, which are my absolute favourite. Alongside the roses were pink roses, lots of greenery and some delicious smelling cinammon sticks and pine cones, which were a really nice touch I thought and gave it a real Christmassy feel. The cinammon sticks and pine cones have also come in really handy for autumnal blog photo accessories!

The bouquet arrived really well packaged and the stems were kept moist in their own little bag. The package also came with a little box of chocolates, which are a cute touch. Prices start from around £19.99 and go up to around £39.99, which for a special Christmas gift is really reasonable. The bouquet lasted absolutely ages too and left my living room smelling lovely and Christmassy.

Would you buy yourself or a friend a Christmas bouquet? Let me know the comments.

*This post contains a PR sample.

Vichy Idealia Skin Sleep Recovery Night Gel-balm

Sometimes all you need is a good night sleep, however getting that is sometimes easier said than done. Luckily my current favourite brand Vichy has come up with a miracle little product formulated for people, like me, who suffer from poor sleep.

I've been trialling this for a couple of months now and have seen some really positive effects. I simply pop it on just before bed and let it work its magic. The gel-balm texture of this means it's not too heavy on the skin, which is great just as you're going to bed, and it contains a mix of Hyalyronic acids, glycrryhizic acid from liquorice extract, LHA from salicylic acid and caffeine, all combining to even out the texture of the skin, decongest and stimulate it ready for the morning.

I am a big fan of this as I sometimes don't have a great night sleep. I can sometimes be quite a light sleeper and it doesn't help when the cat keeps bringing mice into the house every night and chases them around the kitchen, waking us up constantly!

I am a big, big fan of this and anything from Vichy in fact. It has fast become on of my favourite brands and while a little more expensive than I would usually like, I am happy to pay as I know it works brilliantly. I have a full Vichy routine going now, I use the Purete Thermale range in the morning followed by the Aqualia Thermal range and the skin sleep at night!

Have you tried the Vichy skin sleep? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

*This post contains a PR sample.

Dirty Works Super Hydrating Lip Balm Collection

Now we're into November and the Coca Cola advert has played, I think it's safe to start thinking about Christmas presents. I've actually nearly finished my shopping, can you believe it? I've so far ordered everything online as I don't want to end up being that person in the shopping centre a week before Christmas stressing out and wondering what to buy people.

Lots of brands are releasing their Christmas ranges and I was recently sent the Dirty Works Lip Balm tin, which is a really cute, super cheap (£5) little stocking filler or gift.

Now I wouldn't necessarily buy it for the mega beauty lover but it's a great gift if you've got a Secret Santa and don't know what to buy the person or a niece/friend's daughter/cousin etc. The tin contains four good sized lipbalms in Strawberry, Coconut Cream, Juicy Watermelon and Luscious Cherry - all of them are super scented and give just a hint of colour. They're perfect for your dressing table or for popping in your handbag and they do leave your lips feeling lovely and moisturised after use.

For £5 this is a cute, fun little set for all ages. What do you think? Would you like to see this under your Christmas tree this year?

*This post contains a PR sample.

Good Things Spa Body Wash and Bath Soak

Is there anything better than a lovely hot bubble bath on a Sunday evening? It can be made ten times better with the addition of lovely products as well so when I was sent a couple of pieces from the new Good Things Spa Range, I couldn't wait to jump in the tub!

Good Things has been a favourite budget brand of mine for a little while now. The Good Things Manuka Honey Daily Moisturiser was a big hit with me so I was really interested to learn more about the new Spa range.

The new Spa collection consists of three different ranges - Acai Berry, Manuka Honey and Argan Oil - all offering a bit more of an indulgent and luxurious home spa experience. I was sent the Manuka Honey Bath Soak, which I absolutely adore. The 300ml bottle enables me to pour a huge glug of this into the bath and the nourising manuka honey, almond oil and shea butter makes my skin feel super soft not only while in the water but for a long time after I've got out as well.

Another generously sized product is the Acai Berry Body Wash, which is packed full of super scented and anti-oxidant rich superfruits, including acai berry, raspberry and cranberry. The fruity fragranced wash deeply cleanses the skin and leaves you feeling super refreshed. It can be used in the morning in the shower for a little pick-me-up or you can smell the sweet fruity scents in a gorgeous bubble bath in the evening.

The prices of these products are ridiculously low. The bath soak comes in at £3.49 and the body wash at £2.99 so they make the perfect treat to yourself or maybe a loved one for Christmas? They'd make fab stocking fillers!

Have you tried anything from the new Good Things Spa range? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

*This post contains PR samples.

Bomb Cosmetics Little Hotties Wax Melts

Last year I featured a Bomb Cosmetics Christmas cracker gift set and ever since then I've been a fan of the brand. I was recently contacted and asked if I'd like to give the new Little Hotties Wax Melts a try and of course I did!

This is the perfect little gift for someone who likes their scents in the home and enjoys burning candles. You can choose your oil burner for £8.99 and a box of the melts for £6.99. You can choose from a huge variety of scented melts in all sorts of shapes and colours and build a really cute little gift set or you can buy the Little Hotties Gift Pack for £15, which is a real bargain too!

I am a big fan of candles and have lots dotted around the place but I have to admit I am a little bored of the scents now. Sometimes if you smell the same scent you become immune to it. I did sign up to a wax melt subscription box but found the size of them were a little on the big side, meaning they'd need to be melted for a lot longer than I wanted a candle burning for. This is why the Little Hotties are perfect. They're so cute and small and melt super quick. They smell absolutely amazing as well. You can add as many different melts as you like to create different scents or you can stick to one or two if you're only burning them for a short while or want to keep the scent simple.

As I mentioned this would make such a cute gift for a friend or family member or even for yourself!

Have you tried the Bomb Cosmetics Little Hotties Wax Melts? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

*This post contains PR samples.

Rose gold eyes for autumn/winter

I was recently given a Beauty Bay voucher to spend so decided to pick up a couple of bits from brands I hadn't tried before, Zoeva being one of them. I've never tried anything from Zoeva, but have seen them on lots of different blogs in the past and always wanted to give them a go. Alongside two brushes, which are both absolutely gorgeous by the way, I picked up the Cocoa Blend eyeshadow palette.

A few weeks later I was kicking myself that I didn't wait and buy the En Taupe palette but with Christmas coming up, I'm hoping Santa might get it for me!

I always thought Zoeva palettes were ridiculously expensive but I was clearly wrong as the Cocoa Blend palette was £15.50, which I think is pretty reasonable, especially since it has some gorgeous colours in it. A lot of blogs have said it's a good dupe for the Too Faced Chocolate palette but at a fraction of the price!

My favourite colour combination, and the look featured in this post, is a mix of the brilliantly red/berry shade Warm Notes with Subtle Blend, which is a lovely gold shimmery shade. Used together these create the perfect rose gold look. I knew I was onto a winner when I went for an eyebrow wax and the beautician complimented me on my eyeshadow, she said they were prefect for autumn and I definitely agree!

Aside from Warm Notes and Subtle Blend, there's also a gorgeously glitzy/black shade called Infusion, which is perfect for a smokey look. The rest of the shades are perfect for more neutral/autumnal looks with a hint of auburn from the Freshly Toasted shade. All in all I'm so impressed with this palette and I feel like I need the entire range now! The only downside is that it doesn't have a mirror, which would be so useful!

I'm so glad I picked this up on a bit of a whim and you'll be pleased to know I have sent a link to the En Taupe palette to my boyfriend in case he's wondering what to buy me for Christmas!

Have you tried any Zoeva palettes? Let me know in the comments.

Freedom Makeup Pro Studio Priming Water

Another day, another priming product! I've heard of general primers that go on under your make-up but I've never really been a big fan. They're always very greasy and sillicone-y and I have never found them much use in keeping my make-up in place. It's all so much effort.

Thank the lord for Freedom Makeup's new Pro Studio Priming Water. Yes I said water...it comes in a cute little bottle, which you simply spritz all over your face before applying your make-up. The ultimate lazy primer application.

It creates a lovely, smooth base and leaves your skin feeling lightly refreshed without being too greasy or wet. It doesn't need any rubbing in either, you simply spray and go.

The first time I tried this was underneath some Halloween make-up so I feel like I gave it quite a thorough test. It took a good few hours to get all my photos taken and the primer helped the make-up stay well in place and looking great. It also helped keep my skin feel super hydrated.

It does everything you need a primer to do and more. It can even be spritzed on the face after make-up application through out the day to keep yourself feeling extra refreshed.

Have you tried the Freedom Makeup Pro Studio Priming Water? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

*This post contains a PR sample.

DGJ Organics Honeydew Melon Hairjuice Shampoo & Conditioner

In case you didn't know the wonderful Makeup Revolution has introduced DGJ Organics hair products to its online store and I was lucky enough to be sent the Honeydew Melon Hairjuice shampoo & conditioner to try out.

I'm surprised Makeup Rev has introduced another brand into its midsts and hasn't just created hair products itself. Maybe they're testing the water to see how it would sell before they create their own. Now I would be very interested to see that!

Now I don't know much about DGJ Organics as a brand but according to some very indepth research (a quick Google search) it was created by Daniel Galvin Junior 10 years ago when there werent really such things as organic haircare. The shampoo and conditioner are protein enriched and self adjust to your hair and scalp requirements.

They contain certified organic ingredients, vitamins, honey, wheat and honeydew melon to give them that gorgeous scent, which not only lingers in the shower but also linged on the hair once dry as well.

Each bottle is priced at £4.99 for 250ml, which isn't too expensive and probably not too different to what you'd pay for a shampoo or conditioner in Boots. These left my hair feeling super soft after use and smelling amazing and weren't harsh on my scalp/didn't cause irritation either. As well as containing certified organic ingredients, the shampoo and conditioner are free from Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulphates and parabens.

Have you tried the DGJ Organics haircare range at Makeup Revolution? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

*This post contains PR samples.

Seventeen Cosmetics Endless Effects Nail Kit

I thought effects polishes had died a death quite a while ago...they were a good gimmick while it lasted, however I was recently browsing the cosmetics stands in Boots as you do and came across a Limited Edition Endless Effects Nail Kit of all things. There were two to choose from, a small version containing three polishes and a larger version containing five polishes. I was feelin' kind of flush so went for the bigger kit at £8.99, which is still a bargain for five nail polishes, nevermind the fact these ones are extra fancy!

Not only do you get five polishes in the kit but you also get a nail wheel to practise on and a handy little guide. So here goes...you simply paint your nails with the silver base coat and wait for them to dry. You can then take any colour from the yellow, orange, blue or pink and swipe it over the nail however you wish, followed by as many other colours as you like to create a pattern. The colours polishes are translucent, which allow you to create some great patterns.

You do have to be quick and blend the colours together while they're still wet. The guide recommends having all your polishes with the lids off ready.

My favourite colour combinations were definitely the yellow and orange together or the pink and orange. I wouldn't really recommend the blue and yellow together as the yellow shade does pick up a bit of a blue tinge.

The different effects you can create are endless (funnily enough!) and I loved that the kit came with a nail wheel for practising on. Obviously they look fab on the nail wheel but I found it a little harder when it came to my own nails as mine are short and stubby instead of long and elegant. I think I did an OK job, I guess practice makes perfect and you'll soon discover which colours work well together and come across different patterns. With these polishes it really doesn't matter if you're messy and that's what I love about them, especially when I have to use my left hand to paint my nails on my right hand!

This is such a good idea and such good fun as well. It's been a while since I actually enjoyed painting my nails. Usually it's a bit of a chore!

For £8.99 or £5.99 for the smaller version, these make a brilliant Christmas gift or stocking filler for any nail polish fans. As well as getting all artistic and creating lots of different patterns, you could keep things simple by wearing the silver base coat (a lovely festive shade) on its own or any of the other colours individually too. They dry really quickly and last ages too!

Have you tried the Seventeen Cosmetics Endless Effects Nail Kit yet? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Topshop Tassel Saddle Bag

I haven't had a new bag for a little while...I bought myself a backpack back in May as I was going to be spending a long weekend in Brighton and before that my sister bought me a Zara bag for Christmas so I thought I was due something new.

I have a lot of bags. I get annoyed at all of my bags. I get annoyed at big shopper bags because I end up filling them with rubbish and I can never find anything when I need it. I get annoyed at smaller bags because I can never fit any of my junk in them and they're tricky to close. As much as I get annoyed at them, I still can't resist a beautiful bag, which is why when I saw every blogger and her mother styling the Topshop Tassel Saddle Bag I knew I had to have it.

Luckily it was my birthday in October so I popped a link over to my boyfriend, thinking nothing of it. At the time I sent it, he was in a shopping mall so off he went to Topshop to get it for me. What a lucky thing I am!

It's a very good dupe of the popular Chloe Drew bag, but of course at a much more reasonable price. £35 I think! It's not too big and not too small. I did have to downsize my purse but I can still fit it in the bag along with my inhalers and other general junk. The tassel gives it a bit of a 70s vibe but the gold hardware is my favourite, especially the long chain. Dreamy.

What do you think of the Topshop Tassel Saddle Bag? Let me know in the comments.

Current beauty blog favourites

There's nothing I like more than discovering new blogs. I'm a bit bored of the 'popular' blogs and have found myself regularly re-visiting others, which have quickly become my favourites, simply because they're more normal and relatable. In the spirit of sharing the blog love and after I chatted about 'making it worth it' for other bloggers in this post, I thought I'd share them with you so you could pay them a visit too.

Haysparkle
Hayley's blog is one of my current faves, which I keep coming back to again and again. Like my own blog, she tends to feature much more affordable highstreet products and reviews, so I really relate to this more than blogs that feature lots of high end products.

I've also noticed that Hayley and I sometimes have some of the same products featured and it's always really interesting to see another person's thoughts on a product I've written about also or am about to write about. There's always so much content throughout the week so it's one I check out every day!

HopeFreedomlove
What I love about Stephanie's blog is the constant stream of content. I don't know how she keeps up with it but she posts regularly throughout the week and her posts are full of gorgeous images, fab review posts and I particularly love her nail posts. They always look amazing. I am also absolutely loving her Thursday Tittle Tattle posts, which are all about the latest beauty news in the industry and new product releases. I love finding out which products are being released and what's going on at the moment.

Tales Of a Pale Face
I've been visiting Kat's blog alot recently and just sitting and flicking through all of the great photos. They're gorgeous! I'm also loving her blog layout at the moment as it just shows off her photography so well, it's difficult to know which post to click as I just want to read them all at once. I really enjoy Kat's mix of more expensive and more affordable products too.

Jodie Loue
Jodie's blog is actually quite a new find of mine. I'm not sure how I came across it, but I'm really glad I did. It's another blog that has some fab photography, I'm so jealous! I also love Jodie's content as she features lots of more affordable products and I think I may have mentioned that this is what keeps me coming back to a blog!

What are your favourite blogs at the moment? Let me know in the comments.

Kiko Midnight Siren Collection

I am absolutely loving Kiko Cosmetics at the moment, in particular I love its brand new Midnight Siren limited edition range. When this dropped through my door I was seriously impressed, mostly with the Silk Pearl Illuminating Bronzer, which I could just not get over. It's like a pokeball (my boyfriend was impressed with the reference!) for beauty bloggers - Silk Pearl Illuminating Bronzer, I choose you!

Not only is the spherical packaging something a bit different to what's already currently out there, the shades are perfect for me and I particularly love the soft and silky lightweight formula, so much so that I didn't want to use it when I first got it for fear or ruining the gorgeous pearl pattern. This is definitely one that's taking pride of place on my make-up shelves.

Another firm fave of mine from the collection is the Dark Tide eyeliner. Just the name conjures up brilliant visions of looking out across a beach at midnight, there's nothing more relaxing and eery at the same time. The waxy pencil/almost crayon is super pigmented and gorgeously soft to apply. No wobbly lines here.

When I first opened the Matte Muse Lipstick I actually thought it was a pink nail polish. However, the gorgeous bottle produces a lipgloss like wand and sponge applicator to enable you to apply the mousse-like formula to your lips, which leaves them velvety smooth. The colour is fab for adding a bit of a 'pop' to your look and it lasts hours without reapplication.

I adore the dark, moody and atmospheric packaging for this collection. Each of the shades are reminiscent of the moon and starlight without being too 'out of this world' and it's a range that's right up my street.

What do you think of the Kiko Cosmetics Midnight Siren range? Let me know in the comments. You'll be pleased to know that Kiko is launching stand-a-lone stores up and down the country, with one having opened near me in Bristol only yesterday, hooray!

*This post contains PR samples.