REVIEW || PIXI BY PETRA ON THE GLOW BLUSHER TRIO

*This post contains gifted items and affiliate links.

I don't think I've ever liked the formula of cream blushers until trying these Pixi On-the-Glow Blush Sticks. I've tried a few in the past including MAC cream blushers and just felt like they were too hard to work with, especially when it came to blending.

BEAUTY || KIKO MILANO COSMETICS LIPLINERS SHADES & SWATCHES

If you are looking for good quality and affordable lip liners then you've clicked on the right post! Over the years I have spent hundreds of pounds on lip liners (I would be going into thousands if I mentioned lipsticks 😳), and I can confidently say that I've found the best liners out there for a very affordable price of just £2.99. 

I understand that if you're on a tight budget or don't have much disposable income that you will be seeking the cheapest products out there, but you must be aware of the actual ingredients of the products and their performance - hence why I think that Kiko Milano's Smart Fusion Lip Pencils are 100% worth more than what they are!

REVIEW || PIXI BY PETRA VITAMIN-C RANGE (AD/GIFTED)

*This post contains gifted items.

Pixi has to be one of my favourite skincare brands, and believe me when I say that I've tried a lot of drugstore brands. The price point isn't too high, the quality is superb and the packaging is cute and not OTT. I'm so pleased to be an ambassador for the brand and very grateful to have received their whole vitamin-C range to try out for myself. 

If you're a Pixi fan then you might already know about their amazing glycolic acid toner which can be a bit harsh on certain skin types, so the vitamin-C range might actually be a better option for you. However, if you're interested you can read my review of the Pixi Glow Tonic here.

REVIEW || PIXI BY PETRA GLOW TONIC

*This post contains gifted items.

Everyone and their mum knows about the Pixi Glow Tonic, but maybe feel a bit sceptical about trying it out as it contains glycolic acid that can be a bit too strong for some to use. 

The first time I got to try this tonic was when my dear friend, Sophie, gave me some of her travel-sized bottle to try out. At first, I didn't see any results, but that might have been due to the amount I used and not being consistent enough. Now, I use the glow tonic twice a day after cleansing and have noticed amazing results - keep on reading to find out more

REVIEW || JOLIE BEAUTY SECOND SKIN HIGHLIGHTERS IN SAINTLY AND DREAMING

*This post contains PR items from Jolie Beauty. In this picture I am wearing the shade 'Saintly'.

I recently came across the brand Jolie Beauty on a blogging assignment website where I could apply for a collaboration to review a highlighter from this company. I was pleasantly surprised to receive two of the Jolie Beauty Second Skin Highlighters in shades 'Saintly' and 'Dreaming'.
 
Jolie Beauty is a brand created by experienced makeup artists, wanting to make products that are the highest quality with an affordable price tag. All products are cruelty-free and most are vegan; thus being very ethically-aware when it comes to cosmetics. I don't tend to buy any makeup or skincare items that aren't cruelty-free, and mostly I look for the vegan labels too.

FASHION || KATCH ME HAUL AW20

 *AD - This post contains gifted items.

I was recently contacted by KatchMe to try some of their AW20 staples, so me being me obviously said yes because I'm always on the lookout to test out new brands!

CHANGING THE RAZOR GAME WITH ESTRID - VEGAN AND SUSTAINABLE RAZOR FOR ALL WOMEN

*This post contains gifted items.

Now, I don't have to tell you how difficult it is to find the perfect razor for a bump-free and smooth finish. I have tried many different brands, including those specific for men which I find give me a better finish than those that are directed at women, odd right? 

I have seen a lot of adverts for Estrid razor subscription and was really intrigued to see if this was going to be the one for me. So when Estrid got in touch with me about trying out a started kit, I jumped at the occasion as I spent so much money in the past on razors that did not work very well for me. Before I received my Peach razor I made sure to not shave for a few days/weeks to get the full effect from the first use.

REVIEW || MAC MINERALIZE SKINFINISH IN SOFT & GENTLE, MINERALIZE SKINFINISH NATURAL IN LIGHT, AND MINERALIZE SKINFINISH NATURAL IN GIVE ME SUN!

I have been wanting to try all three of these products for many years now, and have finally treated myself to all of them. At a high price tag I've put off trying these products for so long, and now with my spending ban I wasn't really allowed to treat myself either; but when I was given some credit to use on my employee online staff shop I just had to treat myself to these (unnecessary) items.

FASHION || FEMME LUXE HAUL - SUMMERTIME PASTELS, HOW TO STYLE PASTEL CLOTHES SS20

*This post contains gifted items by Femme Luxe Finery.

I love pastel clothes a lot for someone who doesn't actually own anything pastel-coloured in their wardrobe. So I thought I'd dedicate this post to styling my brand new pieces from Femme Luxe and show you what I picked up. 

I feel like the only colour missing from this haul is a pastel yellow top, which is something I will certainly pick up in my next order. As pastels are really trendy right now I decided to stick to a theme. The items that are mentioned in this post were gifted to me, however, all opinions are honest and my own. Now, let's get to the haul!

REVIEW || AVEDA SHAMPURE SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER - USED ON FINE AND STRAIGHT BLONDE HAIR

I had absolutely no idea what Aveda was until I started working in the beauty industry back in 2017. I thought that paying £15.50 for a bottle of shampoo was absolutely insane, especially as the matching conditioner cost £17.50 - that's £33 for a couple of essential items I will need to repurchase in 3-4 month's time anyway. We don't really bat an eyelid when we pay £10 for a bottle of wine that'll last around 2 hours, so why deny ourselves a luxurious hair care item that'll last much longer and won't give us a headache the next day?

REVIEW || POP BEAUTY PERMANENT POUT - LIQUID LIPSTICKS IN ALL SHADES

*This post contains gifted items.

I remember receiving this parcel out of the blue. There was no note and no warning that I was going to be receiving a wide range of POP Beauty's Permanent Pout Lipsticks. The excitement came rushing over when I realised that this brand is owned by Pixi Beauty who I work with regularly on a gifted basis and that they wanted to work with me on their new brand.

The Formula:

REVIEW || BLOOD ORANGE BY HARRIET TYCE - BETH'S BOOK CLUB READ FOR APRIL

It has honestly been too long since I picked up a book and really enjoyed it. I used to be an avid reader for many years until going to university where I feel like my passion slowly started to diminish. It wasn't until September 2019 that I started to read again, maybe not like I used to but I found myself picking up a new book every 4-6 weeks or so. Since UK lockdown I found myself reading a lot more, but definitely not as much as I'd like to (I've got Netflix and Amazon Prime to thank for that!).

REVIEW || GARNIER SKINACTIVE ROSE SOOTHING GLOW MIST AND ROSE SOOTHING TONER

I've never really been fond of rose-scented products as I had an allergic reaction to a Lush product before. It was hard for me to get used to the scent of these two products at first as I found them slightly overwhelming, but now that my skin is used to them I have really been enjoying using the products.

REVIEW || THE BODY SHOP WONDERFULLY WONKY BANANA BODY YOGURT

I love The Body Shop body care ranges. I tend to pick a few bits up every now and then, especially when they're on offer. In my last haul, I bought 4 of the body yogurts - a product that I've been wanting to try ever since they came out in 2018. I chose the scents: Pink Grapefruit, Wonderfully Wonky Banana, Almond Milk, and Cactus Blossom. Seeing as I cannot find neither Cactus Blossom nor Wonderfully Wonky Banana online, I'm assuming that these were limited edition last summer.

The scent of this product is just phenomenal. I love bananas and banana flavoured and scented products, so it was no surprise that I fell in love with this product straight away. The packaging is very handy as it is not too wide but deep enough to easily take out the cream. I like the banana details on the top of the lid, it makes a nice addition to the product.

The consistency is very smooth, cooling and lightweight which is perfect for this time of the year. It applies very easily on the skin and instantly absorbs. I have tried it both on wet and dry skin, and I prefer the application on dry skin as I find that it absorbs into the skin quicker; whereas wet application made my skin feel a bit sticky before it dried properly.

The overall verdict is that this product is my new favourite type of body moisturiser. I absolutely love the way it applies to the skin and how quickly it absorbs. This really is a perfect and versatile moisturiser, especially during hotter weather. The only downside of this product is that it is limited edition and you might not be able to get hold of this scent in the future. The Body Shop tends to bring out a few different scents for a limited amount of time, so when you find a scent that you really love make sure that you stock up!

You can buy The Body Shop body yogurts here.

*This post does not contain affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || SANCTUARY SPA WET SKIN RADIANCE JELLY

I'm really bad at looking after the skin on my body. I rarely ever moisturise or fake tan as I find that these things take too much effort when I have to stand around for ages waiting for the product to dry.
I'm trying to be good and moisturise every time I shower now using the Sanctuary Spa Wet Skin Radiance Jelly.
In general, I love anything watermelon scented, so when I saw this product in Boots a few months ago I knew I'd regret not purchasing it. It was on offer for around £6 so I thought I was getting myself a little bargain! My initial thoughts were a bit all over the place. A jelly moisturiser to use on wet skin? What sort of sorcery is this?! Sounds like a perfect product for lazy people such as myself lol.

The texture threw me off a little bit as I don't particularly like slimy textures but I really wanted to try this product as I have heard many good things about the Sanctuary Spa Wet Skin Moisture Miracle. I bought this product just before going away to Alicante, so thought it'll be a great opportunity to try the product there as the watermelon scent will be associated with a holiday every time I use it. At first, I thought it was bloody cold to use on the skin straight after a nice warm shower, so I was a bit annoyed 😂. After I applied the product I dried my body as normal which was a bit weird as I felt like I was rubbing the product off my skin.

Once I dried my skin and put my pyjamas on, my skin felt super soft as if I used any other moisturiser but with a lot more lightweight feel to it.
After a few applications every time I showered for a few days, I have noticed that my skin felt softer and smoother than normal (I don't always moisturise my skin).

Overall, I think this is a great product for those who don't like the feel of a heavy body moisturiser and generally don't have much time to get ready after showering. It is great value for the quality of the product and lasts absolute ages as you don't need much to spread it evenly.

Have you tried this moisturising jelly before? What other products would you like for me to review from this brand?

*This post contains affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || LANCOME HYPNOSE MASCARA & LANCOME BONUS TIME - IS THIS THE ONLY TIME YOU SHOULD PURCHASE LANCOME PRODUCTS?

Lancôme is one of the most known and loved high-end beauty brands out there and there is a good reason for it. They sell their Hypnose mascara every 15 seconds across Europe and you can’t blame people for stocking up on this beauty.

I don’t want to give too much away from this review just yet so carry on reading for my opinion on this mascara and whether it’s worth your money.

The packaging:

I believe that the brand is known for its very luxurious and sleek packaging and this product does not disappoint. The mascara handle is narrow on the tip making it easy to grip and manoeuvre for the most precise application. I like holding the mascara by the tip to add on extra volume after applying the first coat.

The wand is quite thick with a lot of bristles for more precise application. The bristles are quite short which allows the wand to get very close to the lash line for a ‘false-lash with liner’ effect.

The formula:

The formula of the Hypnose mascara is different to most I’ve tried before as it applies absolutely beautifully from the first use up until the last, meaning that even when it dries out it still works just as well as it did the very first time I used it. The product doesn't feel sticky, it feels more smooth and creamy to touch (yes, I have touched the actual mascara to check the texture).

The longevity:

I have currently been using the travel size version of it which I received as a part of the free gift with purchase, and I must say it has lasted me nearly two months! I was told that a full-size mascara should be replenished every 8-10 weeks because of the hygiene reasons and best effect but it can usually last me around 4 months with daily use so I tend to pick up two every time they’re on gift! The product itself lasts all day/night long on my lashes and doesn't seem to wear off at all. Having very fair blonde lashes I find some mascaras difficult to cover my full lashes as no products ever seem to reach the roots of my lashes, but this mascara is definitely the best one I have tried so far that gently combs over my natural lash and defines my eyes without clumping.

The Overall Verdict:
Obviously, if you are reading this review then you are already considering whether to purchase the Hypnose mascara or not. Let me make this decision a lot easier for you - BUY IT. Try it out, if you don't like it or feel like it's not doing anything for you then return it back to the retailer, but I promise you that you will not be disappointed with this product. £25 might seem like a lot to spend on a mascara but this can last you up to 6 months which will only make it £4.30ish a month which will actually save you a lot of money as you don't need many coats of the product for the desired effect, but you might go through one drugstore mascara a month which will cost you £10-£12 a month.

Lancome Bonus Time - Gift with Purchase
To be honest with you, I didn't even know what 'gift with purchase' was until I started working in the beauty industry. I always assumed that high-end makeup brands never offered any samples or gifts, so I stayed within my budget and continued to purchase drugstore branded makeup. After finding out about the bonus time I was in shock because you could actually receive nearly £200 worth of free gift just by picking up your favourite products! I know I will most likely only purchase Lancome products when they have bonus time unless I run out of my beloved Hypnose mascara then I will just have to buy it anyway, but I know it's worth every penny!

I usually buy my makeup from House of Fraser in Nottingham as I want to support my friends and their businesses in the store. I believe that Lancome has bonus time twice a year - once in March and once in September. This year was the first year I bought enough Lancome items in one transaction to qualify for the free gift with my purchase. In March I bought two sets of the Hypnose mascara as I know how much I love the product and as the third item I bought the Honey Foaming Cleanser which melts makeup away (it's great).

As a free gift, I received:
- full-size Micellar water £23.50
- full-size Rose Sugar scrub £30
- travel size Hypnose mascara £8
- travel size Genifique serum £11
- sample size Teint Idole Ultra Wear foundation £5.50
- travel size La Vie Est Belle perfume £7
- travel size Absolue day cream £39
- travel size Absolue night cream £45
- travel size lipstick £10

More recently, in September, I purchased a Monsieur Big mascara set, Gel Eclat cleansing gel, and Creme Mousse foaming face wash. This time I already knew that I really liked the honey cleanser and thankfully it was a part of the free gift this time around so I thought I'd try something else.

As a free gift, I received:
- full-size Honey Foaming Cleanser £24
- full-size Hydra Zen Jelly mask £31
- travel size Hypnose mascara £8
- travel size Genifique serum £11
- sample size Teint Idole Ultra Wear foundation £5.50
- travel size Hydra Zen day cream £12
- travel size Hydra Zen night cream £13
- travel size comforting toner £8.50

I really hope that this post has helped you decide if Hypnose if the best mascara for you, I absolutely love it and I can't imagine myself replacing it with any other mascara, but I cannot wait to try the Monsieur Big mascara as this is my Mum's favourite.

Have you tried any of the products mentioned above? Would you recommend any other Lancome items for me to try for my next purchase?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || KERASTASE ELIXIR ULTIMATE OLEO-COMPLEXE 6 SHAMPOO & BALM

Kerastase is one of those brands who not a lot people speak about as they are on the pricey side of hair care products, but I can never resist buying new products to try out and see whether they are actually worth their high price tag. Now, these two retail between £20-£30 which seems ridiculous for a shampoo and an oil balm, as I usually go for products like VO5 which only cost around a quid and do a great job.

The balm has a weird consistency, it's like the Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream but dry? It makes my hair feel matted, but at least I get to wash out the product soon after applying it. I have used it several times but I'm not the biggest fan of it. The texture is odd and I don't think it does anything for my hair -I have definitely tried better products. I also don't see the point in using a hair treatment on dry hair? Not sure if it's just me, but isn't a treatment supposed to be used on clean hair?

The shampoo, on the other hand, is quite nice and smells great. I wouldn't say it's the best I have tried before but it does make my hair super shiny and soft - something that most shampoos can achieve.
Overall, as you can see I don't have much to say about these products as I don't think they're very good. You can find much better alternatives from other brands like Aveda or Matrix.

What was the most you have ever spent on hair products? Would you say it was worth your money?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || PIXI BY PETRA EYE REFLECTIONS EYESHADOW PALETTES & EYE BRUSHES - REFLEX LIGHT AND NATURAL BEAUTY EYESHADOW PALETTES REVIEW

When I came home after a long day last week, my partner told me that I had a parcel delivered earlier that day and I couldn't believe my eyes and screamed when I saw a giant light green box with the label 'Pixi' written across it. Pixi is definitely a brand I love and have wanted to work with for years now! My dear friend Sophie from Life of Little Things introduced me to Pixi's Glow Tonic and I absolutely loved it - I can't wait to get my hands on the other ones, especially the milky lotion.

In the giant box that was delivered, I received two of the new eyeshadow palettes - Reflex Light & Natural Beauty - alongside 3 eyeshadow brushes in a very handy travel case. I have used the two palettes quite a few times since receiving them so have enough knowledge of the products for a full review.

Reflex Light Eyeshadow Palette £24:

This palette is definitely something I would pick up if I was browsing for some new makeup. The shades are gorgeous and very wearable, especially when paired with thick eyeliner, false lashes and a nude glossy lip. The shades swatched beautifully, and I know that a lot of the time an eyeshadow might swatch nicely but look patchy on the eye so I put this palette to a proper test.

My favourite shades have to be 3D Peach, Auburn Blaze, Vintage Gold and Antique Bronze. I found that these eyeshadows applied very easily with a flat shadow brush (I used MAC 248) or if you don’t own a flat brush then I’d suggest using your finger to apply for best results.

One thing this palette is definitely missing are matte shades for blending and transitioning the metallic colours. I do think that the shades will be great for cut creases as the pigmentation is very strong with a lot of shimmer. 

Natural Beauty Eyeshadow Palette £24:

This palette is definitely a great choice for those who prefer a natural eye look. It’ll make a great gift for Mother’s Day along with the brush set. I particularly love the shades Metal Mauve and Rose Clay and use only those two shadows for a natural smokey-eye look for work.

I found that the matte shades in this palette were a little bit powdery and had some fall out so I would recommend either applying the shadows before the base or tap off any excess before blending. The pigmentation is very good, especially in metallic shades. I do think that this palette would be slightly better if it had a neutral transition shade to make blending a little bit easier, but I don’t mind too much as I use MAC’s Brule as a base for all my eyeshadows.

I highly recommend buying this palette if you’re only starting out with makeup and want a bit of everything from your palette. This one has a mixture of mattes, satins and shimmers with one metallic shade so it’s perfect for anyone wanting to learn new looks.

Unfortunately, the brush set isn’t available for sale and I don’t think you can buy the brushes separately at the moment either. I’m hoping that Pixi will bring this set out as I really like the pencil brush (E03) and the fluffy brush (E02) is amazing for applying highlighter. The small eyeshadow brush (E01) is great at applying eyeshadow to the bottom lash line but I find it a little bit too firm to use on my actual eyelid.

Overall, I have been really enjoying wearing these eyeshadows and know for a fact that I'll get much more wear out of them than some of my other palettes (e.g. Urban Decay Naked 2). I hope you've enjoyed my mini review - if you have any questions about these palettes then pop them in the comments section below & I'll get back to you as soon as I can!

*This post includes gifted items and affiliate links.

Have you tried any Pixi makeup products before? Do you have any recommendations?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

FOOD || CURIOUS MANOR AFTERNOON TEA IN NOTTINGHAM

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of trying out a boozy afternoon tea at Curious Manor in Nottingham, thanks to the lovely team at Gemini. This was a part of a very fun day out which included a mini flashmob style fashion show (which was bloody amazing).

I've been wanting to go to Curious Manor for a while but the price has put me off (it was around £20 pp), so you can imagine how excited I was to finally try it out with some fellow blogging gals. 

We started off with a glass of prosecco each (I don't drink alcohol so I passed mine on) and then we were asked for any dietary requirements. At the time I did not have any special requirements so I was given the standard afternoon tea to share with another blogger. 

My platter included: cream cheese and salmon or cucumber sandwiches, and egg mayo sandwiches. There were also a couple of different savoury pastries but I'm not the biggest fan of pastry so I didn't give it a try. Obviously, there were scones (do you say sconnes or scohnes?) which were very yummy, alongside macaroons, red velvet cake, pain au chocolate and a coffee & walnut cake. I believe that all platters had different sandwiches and cakes because we all had different dietary requirements, but there was something there for everyone including vegans, celiacs and lactose-intolerant people.

Of course me being me, I had about 5 cups of tea with my food hehe. I find that tea outside of home always tastes better, would you agree? Now I really want to get myself a cute set of teacups and saucers to serve when I have some friends around. I’d love to host my own little afternoon tea party! I’d feel like such an adult 😂

The décor inside was absolutely beautiful. It was so different from anything I have seen before and gave me proper inspo for when I have my own house!

*I have since found out that sadly, Curious Manor does not offer afternoon tea anymore. This post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own, however, I was treated to the afternoon free of charge by Gemini PR & Marketing.

Lots of love,

Maya xo