Creamy Lip Palettes

The latest products from Coastal Scents are these lip palettes. I was sent these for review but I feel that at $9.95 they are a bit more expensive than I expected. They are bigger than most lip palettes and the lipsticks themselves are very creamy and pigmented.

There is something for everyone in these quads, whether you're a powerful red/orange, juicy berry tones or a cool nude pink kind of girl.

My current favourite from these four quads is the Sunkissed palette which is just perfect for a summer holiday. Sunkissed contains three matte shades browny pink nudes which are perfect for beach or day wear, then amp it up with a bronze shimmer for the evening. I can see myself taking it on holiday! Be careful where you keep it though, it's packed with oils which can readily melt in moderately hot temperatures!

Decent packaging and a generous mirror make it easy to slip in my bag for the day or evening. The only thing I find with palettes is that there is only one brush, which tends to end up a frightening mess. I tend to replace these with a bunch of cotton wool buds which are infinitely better and disposable.

Power Play

Juicy Pinks

Passion Berry

Sunkissed swatched. The fifth swatch is a mixture of the darkest two colours.

I talk a bit more about the Sunkissed palette in my May Monthly Favourites video

You can find the lip palettes on the Coastal Scents website.

Liz Earle Foot Treats - Get ready for Summer!

Those of you who dislike feet and pictures of feet, should not scroll down!

I used Liz Earle's new Foot Scrub (100ml for £10.25)and Foot Repair Moisturiser (100ml pump £12.25). The absolute acid test is on my heels, which are cracked and yucky.

Before - cracked and rough

After, smooth and soft

Now I wouldn't say that this product is A-mazing but it delivers results. I previously used Burt's Bees Coconut foot balm which was just plain sticky, it worked too but I'd have cat fluff covered feet before long.

I was sent this product for review, but I think I would definitely buy the Foot Repair Moisturiser again. The Foot Scrub probably not because I am quite faithful to my Pumice and Cloth (special scrubby cloth that I am testing!). Both of which kick ass with rough skin. If you don't have either of these and wish to invest, then you won't be disappointed with the Foot Scrub. Since The Body shop stopped making the Pumice Foot scrub, I have nothing better to recommend!

Once again, I apologise for the pictures of my heels. It could have been worse, I could have shown you my "alien toes" as one ex-boyfriend called them... :)

Do you have any tips for gorgeous feet I should know about?

You can find more information about these products on Liz Earle's website.

Shimmer vs Matte Eye Shadow

Below is a tutorial on how you can use matte and shimmer eye shadows to create different effects with your eye shadow. You can even change the shape of your eyes, something I've always wanted was to have the thin sultry cat eye, which I can only achieve with matte shadows. Do you have any tried and tested techniques that help you create the look you're after? Please do share!

In the Waiting Room!

I received the new Flight Essentials Kit from Liz Earle today, RRP £15.75. This is in my waiting room (aka desk) to be reviewed! It contains four items and also a small zip bag (not the one shown unfortunately, that's the summer beach bag that comes with the foot products!).

For more info on the kit and to order, check out the Liz Earle Website.

Urban Defence Tinted Moisturiser Review

I always use a high factor sun cream whether it's cloudy or sunny, it is THE secret to keeping your skin looking younger for longer. (Not Pond's cold cream as Kylie would have you believe, she's Australian she should know better). It's taken me a long while to find one that it doesn't irritate my skin and make me look purple

£17 for 30ml pump dispenser

As soon as I heard about Urban Decay's latest offering, I was interested to try the new SPF20 tinted moisturisers. I have been hankering for their liquid foundations as I liked the colour range of the mineral but alas I live far from a UD stand so I always forget on the rare occasion I am near one! I received this sample in the colour Bodyguard, I think there are three colours in the range and they are priced at £17 and due out soon (exact date pending!).

I thought £17 was quite expensive for a tinted moisturiser in a 30ml pump dispenser. That was before I used it on a hot sunny day. One pump of product does the whole face, ears and neck. The texture is dry not greasy so it doesn't melt or sweat off. It does gather if you're wearing sunglasses and sweating in an open topped car in traffic and it's 30 degrees Celsius though but I think that can be forgiven. Packaging is simple and clean, portable and lightweight, perfect for keeping with me during the day. One use in the morning lasted me through to the evening.

The product itself doesn't offer much in the way of coverage of blemishes and redness but it does brighten and even out the skin. I tend to dot a bit of concealer under the eyes and on the cheeks to even out the complexion further. I then dust over a gorgeous bronzer and I am good to go. I found I didn't need to set it with a powder at all.

One pump smeared around a bit.

Completely blended and no purple ashy residue = RESULT!

I wouldn't recommend this for serious sunbathing but as a daily sun protection moisturiser, it's no fuss and easy to use. I sometimes use my sunblock mixed with my mineral foundation but this is much less messy and not as greasy. If you have very oily skin, then this will be ideal, if you have dry skin then it may not offer enough moisture for your skin. Saying that I did put it on my sister and she has very dry skin, she felt it was dry but it didn't go patchy or cling to dry skin.

Bit o'bronzer for a summery look

What do you think of tinted moisturisers? Can you bear to part with foundation for the summer?

Decision Time!

This weekend is a filming weekend. I aim to do some looks and reviews. So again you get to choose!

1. Cleopatra inspired look - to go with Wiggy.

This was a practice, the tutorial will be more elaborate

2. Shimmer vs matte natural eye shadow look

3 Remake of "how to make your eyes look bigger" tutorial in HD

So please vote, vote, vote by leaving me a comment below, twitter or on my facebook!

Quench Hair and Body Treat!

I have been using this pot of Quench hair and body oil since before Christmas. I was kindly sent it by Karin Herzog.

It's another Monoi based product which I enjoy using before, after and during baths! I chose the Fahrenheit scent which is a blend of cinnamon and orange - Christmas in a jar as my husband calls it. He loves it but I have to ration his use as he is quite addicted to the smell. He always knows when I am using it as the smell is so concentrated. There are four other scents, each very intense, special and individual.

Since it's a solid product, it is easier to transport a travel sized amount, rather than a bottle of oil which will always leak!

To use, you need to take a bit of the solid product from the jar (using a spatula or plastic spoon) and either add it to a bath or put in your hands to apply to your hair and body. The solid product begins to melt immediately in to a light oil. I also apply this to my scalp if it is feeling dry and itchy as a nourishing mask, I leave it overnight and wash out in the morning. Problem solved.

At £29 for 150ml, if you fancy something luxurious, indulgent and very good for your dry skin, this might be for you! Better still, it makes a gorgeous gift as it comes gift wrapped in a black box with satin ribbon.

You can find more information about this and the other products in the range from the Karin Herzog website.