DIY Dip Dye with L'Oreal Préférence Wild Ombré Kit

Prepare to go wild for L'Oreal Paris Préférence home Ombré hair kits.

Ombré is the trend that has been trending for quite some time now – from nails to fabrics to hair, if we can dip it, we’ll dye it. Love or lothe, it’s going nowhere fast! Personally, I like it and I’m rocking a very subtle ombré look myself, aka grown out highlights, so now might be a good time to go the whole hog. Especially now you can achieve the look for just £6.99 with this clever little at home kit!

The kits will be available in three colours and come with a nifty brush to comb the cream through the end of the hair. Wait 30 minutes, rinse off and voile...

Lily, Rachel, Drew and Jess

 L'Oreal Paris Préférence Wild Ombrés kits £6.99 will be available in Boots and Superdrug from 17th  September.... I predict a sell out!

The Result... An update

If you follow me on Instagram (@beautyandlechic) you'll have seen plenty pics of my hair, but just in case. I used Kit 2 and it couldn't have been easier. The first photo was taken just after the dye, the second is 8 months on ...



Oops I did it again, check out my most recent DIY Dip Dye here

Introducing The No7 Match Made Foundation Service... The Beauty Gadget that Could Change Your Life!

We all know that finding your perfect foundation isn’t easy! But a pioneering new camera-like gadget from No7 could finally spell an end to orange jaw lines and ghostly white masks.

Today Boots launches a ground breaking device that can determine your exact skin shade and tone. The No7 Foundation Match Made Service is a UK beauty first. This hand-held gadget is rested against the jaw to assess your skin's exact tone, lightness, colour saturation and reveal your true shade.

Once your shade has been determined, a beauty consultant will help you find the texture and finish to suit you. The No7 cosmetic line has been completely overhauled - good news in my book! There are a total of 17 new shades and all of the foundations have been reformulated to match the No7 skin-true shade colour palette. As someone that’s always found No7’s colour palette quite limited this is music to my ears!

Let my hero Lisa Eldridge, aka best make up artist in the world, aka No7's creative director tell you more...

The Match Made Service will be available in 668 stores nationwide and over 1000 Boots advisers have been specially trained to use the hand-held device. Oh, and did I mention the service is FREE and there's no obligation to purchase any products. There’s nothing to lose, except maybe that orange line! Find out more

FREE Gift Alert... Get Bronzed by 17

Hello ladies! If like me you like a bit of 17, you might want to check out this oh so cute gift. Right now if you spend more than £5.99 on 17 cosmetics, and let's face it, that's not hard, you can bag yourself this free Get Bronzed gift.

It contains a limited edition cream blusher, eye shadow in and nude lipgloss.

I love the eyeshadow. It's a lovely shimmery Taupe shade. 17 solo eyeshadows retail for £3.89 and for that price I think the quality is exceptional. Smooth, well pigmented and long-lasting. I would buy this individually, it's that good!

For me the cream blush is the jewel in the crown. It's a limited edition product, I don't think 17 carry cream blushers in the permanent range BUT THEY SHOULD! It's a light-weight cream product that's easy to apply with fingers or a brush, that said the pot's small so you'll need a small brush. I used MAC's small duo fibre. It looks very GOLD in the pot but it  gives my cheeks a nice subtle bronzed glow. I think it could comfortably be used all over the face under foundation or instead of for an all over glow.

As for the "Nude" lipgloss, it's not at all nude, it's more of a coppery brown. Not my usual taste, but it works with the overall look. Again the lipglosses are great quality.

L-R eye shadow, blusher, lipgloss

I purchased the new BB Cream for my sister but I can highly recommend 17's lipsticks and mascaras.

Blast from the Past... MAC Angel Lipstick

You know you have too much makeup when you go shopping and buy products you already have! Well that's what nearly  happened at the MAC counter at the weekend. I was looking for a new lipstick to add to the collection, and I picked up Angel. Angel was my first EVER MAC Lipstick. As you can see it's been well loved!

I haven't used it for ages. Partly because it has a lot of competition these days and partly because I'm being sentimental; if I used it all up, I'd have to throw it away. Angel is a soft, rosy pink. It's not quite a milky pink like creme cup (caparisons below) but it comes close. I think it has lilac undertones and there's a very subtle micro-shimmer. It yields a semi-opaque coverage with a frost finish. I wouldn't say it was overly frosty, more of a pearlised shimmer. It glides on smoothly and is fairly creamy. It was my go-to lippy for years. I always wore it on nights out with a smokey eye... a look that never fails. 

Apparently it's a Kim K fave and she teams it with Nars Turkish Delight Lipgloss, another product I own but hardly use.

Angel will always have a place in my heart, but these days, I'm more likely to reach for Creme Cup. The shade is very similar, but creme cup is more milky and I prefer the moisturising cremesheen finish.

Angel V Creme Cup

What do you think? Any Angel lovers out there?

Can't get enough of... Essie Mint Candy Apple

I don’t know why I love you, but I do! This is one of my absolute favourite polishes. I never used to go for blues or greens – they’re hardly chic and demure are they? But for some reason, I’m really drawn to Essie’s Mint Candy Apple.

I can’t believe I haven’t blogged about it sooner, I guess I just kept forgetting to take some good pictures of it in action. It’s just a really cute shade and very summery, although I do plan on wearing it all year round. It’s young and fresh but not too in-yer-face! And I do love a nice pastel. I think Essie is now my favourite nail brand, sorry OPI. I love the curved brush, it fits my nail perfectly and makes application so quick. The formula is faultless – creamy, quick drying and long lasting. It’s reasonably opaque, but I still require three coats for an even, full coverage. It’s even cute on the toes and I love the way it clashes with other colours.



Hanging out with my fave summer shades



What do you think? I’ve got my eye on Essie’s Bikini So Teeny next.

It’s the one with the “International Superstars” Glossybox August 2012

This month’s Olympic inspired box has gone global with hero products from around the world. I am so disappointed with this box and I’m becoming increasingly disillusioned with the entire service (I’ve been its biggest advocate since day one). Before I rant I’ll show you what I got...

Alessandro Pro White 10ml RRP £7.95 GERMANY

Optically brightening effect nail polish with an anti-yellowing formula for radiant white and gleaming nails. This I’m looking forward to trying. As you know I paint my nails A LOT and with excess painting comes yellowing of the nails. Hopefully this will be a good antidote.

DHC Cleansing Oil 30ml worth £2.77 JAPAN

This is a “revolutionary” water-soluble cleanser that doubles as a makeup remover. The packaging looks cheap but I do love a good oil so I’ll give it a whirl. A full Size 200ml bottle costs £18.50.

Lipcote Full size 7ml £3.99 GREAT BRITAIN

The original Lipstick sealer and secret of long lasting, feather fade and water resistant lipstick. Lipcote is seriously old school; does anyone still use this stuff? I’m not sure I like the idea of sealing my lipstick on, it’s a bit 80s.

Vera Valenti L'Ombre à Paupiere Margarita Full Size £3.85 SPAIN

This is the cheapest looking product I’ve ever clapped eyes on. It reminds me of the free children’s make up that used to come with those 90s doll heads.  “An eyeshadow palette offering a selection of ten different colours with an applicator included” even Glossybox couldn’t talk it up. I did a quick swatch and they feel as cheap as they look! I think the only place this will be going is the bin!

BROADWAY imPRESS Press-On Manicure in Velvet Rope Full Size worth £7.99 USA

These imPRESS nails are the revolutionary way to apply polish - simply peel off, press on and done! It’s nice to see a full size product that I’ve heard of. Stick on nails have never really appealed to me but I’m sure they’ll come in handy one time when I’m in a rush.

And a bonus 6^th item....

Glossybox Lipstick in Glossy Pink 4g £9.50

They’ve done it again. The Glossybox own brand make up brush went down like a lead balloon, so they’re pretty to do it again. I quite like the colour, it’s a very wearable day time pink, but it looks and feels a bit cheap. It applied easily but the texture is quite slippy and waxy. As for the so called £9.50 price tag, I’ve no idea who would pay that for one!

The card says that “All of these International Superstars are looking to represent their contries and take home the gold”. Well the products are cheap and the Olympics are over...  MAJOR FAIL Glossybox!

Glossybox market itself as a luxurious beauty box provider. Including cheap tat like Lipcote and Vera Valenti compromises the brand’s integrity. Call me cynical but Glossy’s strategy seems to be good box, bad box, good box, bad box. Everytime I consider cancelling my subscription a good box comes along and I give them another month. Then BOOM, they send a pile of tat...  and so the pattern repeats itself. The service itself is also unpredictable with boxes out of sync and often quite late. My last box was just three weeks ago, yet other months there's been 6 weeks between boxes and as for their customer service, don't get me started!

An annual Glossybox subscription costs £155.40! Although there has been some real gems (I will always love them for introducing me to the HD Brow palette and Weleda Body Oils) they are becoming few and far between. Looking at my drawer of unloved products and pile of old Glossyboxes, I’m starting to think that the monthly cost of £12.95 could be better spent on fewer products that I actually want!

This could be the final nail in my Glossybox coffin! What do you think?

Currently loving...

So many products and never enough time to blog about them all. I’ve been meaning to do a monthly faves feature for a while, it’s a great way to include new loves and firm favourites that sometimes get forgotten about. This is what I’m currently loving...

Urban Decay Eye Primer Potion

Its reputation precedes it; but I’ve never really bought into eye shadow primers. It’s one of those nice to have but not really necessary products or so I thought! This sample size primer came with my Naked Palette, so it’s been in my collection for a while. It’s only recently that I’ve used it and realised how necessary it is. I apply the creamy, paste-like, flesh coloured product to the entire lid and allow 30 seconds or so for it to dry. As soon as I apply my regular shadows I notice an immediate improvement – it completely transforms to look making colours and finishes much more vivid. Not only does it provide an even, smooth surface to apply eye shadow but it also lasts all day and eradicates creasing. I’ve also noticed a reduction in mascara from the tips of my lashes smudging around the brow bone. I don’t wear it everyday and if I’m in a rush, I tend not to bother. But for nights out or times when I need my eyes to shine, those extra 60 seconds pay dividends. This 3.7 ml travel size has lasted me a while and I’d imagine if you hack it open there’s more product to be squeezed out. A full size 11ml potion costs £14.50 Damn you Urban Decay for not including one in Naked2!

NIP + FAB Multi-Fix Oil Dry Skin Therapy

My love for oils continues! I picked this up in the ASOS sale when they were selling a triple pack for £7 (that’s 300mls of oil). This luxurious oil can be used on the face, body and hair. SIMILAR TO Bio Oil it speeds up the fading of stretch marks, pimple marks, blemishes and visible scars or it can be used as an all over body moisturiser. It’s a great anti-aging oil for the face, helping to smooth wrinkles + plump fine lines and can be applied under the eye to reduce the appearance of eye bags. I favour using it all over my body to replenish moisture after a shower or bath. As you know I’m a big lover of Weleda body oils, but it’s a bit lighter and more quickly absorbed making it great for daytime use. It smells divine when I rub it in, can’t quite put my finger on the scent, I think it’s marzipan or cherry bakewell, yum!

RRP £12.25 for 100ml

OPI Avoplex Nail & Cuticle Replenishing Oil

Another oil, told you I was obsessed. I suffer from hard, dry cuticles (which sometimes spoil my nails pics) and all the handcream in the world doesn’t shift them. I come across Avoplex when I purchasing Nail Envy. It claims to get your nails and cuticles seriously moisturised and conditioned. Containing OPI's exclusive Avocado Lipid Complex, it replenishes your nails and cuticles, leaving them looking beautiful. At £16.30 a bottle I thought it was too pricey, but I found it on Amazon for £6 ish, wayhey! After three weeks my cuticles are softer and more manageable; my nails are a little stronger too. All it takes is one drop on each cuticle, twice per day. Rub it in and give your fingers a little massage. The scent is amazing, I could sniff it all day and I have to stop myself from getting carried away and rubbing it all over my hands.

L’Oreal Lumi Magique Foundation

I played with YSL’s new Le Teint Touche Éclat foundation for a while, which is great, but I soon went back to L’Oreal Lumi Magique. The Lumi Magique foundation is a Light Infusing liquid which gives instant luminosity to the skin, providing a perfect coverage without masking. When I first got this at the beginning of the year, I wasn’t instantly bowled over but did imagine it would have a place in my heart by the summer, and guess what, it has! I have W5 Warm Sand and it’s my perfect summer shade. It’s light-weight, quick and easy to apply and melts into the skin for an all over dewy glow, without being too shiny. I have a pool of foundations that I flit between, but this is firmly positioned at the top of the tree.

L’Oreal Mega Volume Collaegene Mascara

The more I wear this mascara, the more I love it! In fact I haven’t put it down for two weeks. It’s a brilliant everyday mascara. It’s quick to use and achieves results after just a few sweeps - no dunking and re-coating coating. Read my full review here.

Weleda Regenerating Pomegrante Hand Cream

This is just yum! I love the Weleda Pomegrante range, I have the body oil, body wash and now the hand cream. Sure, it’s the scent that won me over but it’s much more than just a pretty smell. It’s quite light weight, more like a lotion then a thick cream. It absorbs very quickly, yet it’s extremely rich and very effective.

So that’s what I’m loving right now. What do you think? Got any gems you’d like to share?

My New Beauty Essential that’s less than £3

This must be the cheapest item in my collection, yet it’s one of the best. I’ve never used this type of liner before, but I tested Topshop's felt liner last time I was in there and quite liked it. I planned to buy it, but then I came across the Collection 2000 Extreme Felt Liner. Given its tiny price tag I thought I’d give it a whirl.

I’m happy to say I was not disappointed. It’s so precise and easy to use. It’s jet black, smudge-proof, bleed-proof, fast drying and super long lasting. I normally use gel liners, which I adore, but this is great if you want a slick, thin line and it’s very good for creating a flick. Starting at the inner corner I traced it very closely along the lash line. I then went back and thickened it up a little with sweeping strokes. If you want a thicker line, just press harder. I found it a lot easier to use than traditional liquid liners, but not quite as easy as gel liners. It does require a steady hand and because the line is so thin, the tiniest mistake shows up, but practice makes perfect.

It’s a great find, a definite summer staple. Collection 2000 Extreme Felt Liner £2.99 Boots, Superdrug and supermarkets nationwide.

FINALLY got my hands on Sleek Rose Gold

This must be the most elusive blush in history. It was love at first swatch when I sampled it in Superdrug last year, but it’s taken many fruitless (and sometimes expensive) trips to Superdrug before I finally got my hands on my very own Rose Gold... then I went and dropped it, hence the crumble in the corner!

This is my first Sleek blusher and I’m blown away by its quality, especially given its tiny price tag. I would describe the shade as a rosy coral with gold shimmer. It’s often heralded as a dupe for Nars’ infamous Orgasm blush. I can see the similarities but Rose Gold has a lot more gold shimmer and Orgasm is pinker.

The powder texture is amazing, almost buttery and layers like a dream. It is very rich and well pigmented. I don’t actually find the colour to be that intense, but the gold shimmer is strong.  A little goes a long way and if you’re fair skinned you might want to apply with a light hand. It’s an instant face brightener and a brilliant summer shade. The finish is somewhere between frost and shimmer, which is right up my street. Its staying power is decent, it does fade a little more than I’m used to with MAC and Benefit blushers, but at a fraction of the price I ain’t grumbling!  For me, the result are somewhere between a blush and a highlighter and on the face it reminds me a little of Coralista.

I wore it over MAC’s Melba the other night for a more intense peachy/coral shade and it looked amazing. Melba is a matte shade so I wasn’t doubling up on the shimmer, but did intensify the colour. The packaging is slique and there’s a generous sized mirror inside the compact, again similar to Nars. 

Overall this is a brilliant multi-use blusher. Amazing texture, gorgeous shimmer and an absolute bargain ... £4.49 from Superdrug stores, find one if you can!