March & April Favourites

March & April Favourites

Wednesday, 2 May 2018

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This was originally meant to be my March Favourites and then my April Favourites but it's May now, which means this post is desperately late, but I suppose it's better late than never. March and April both went so quickly, and I've been running ragged trying to keep on top of everything lately, and sadly that has meant my blog has suffered. Normally, I would've just scrapped this post but I did have some cracking favourites  that are definitely worth talking about. So, let’s talk about them. 

Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Lavender Toner - £6.43 at iHerb.com

Thayers' Witch Hazel Toner has been around in the US for about a thousand years, but recently it's gained quite the online following and us UK peeps have been cottoning on to its wonders. Designed to soothe and revitalise sensitive, acne-prone skin this toner is formulated with Witch Hazel and Aloe Vera to soothe the skin, while Lavender has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties to prevent breakouts. I've been using it for a couple of months now and I really like it. It's very gentle plus it smells amazing. It's not widely available in the UK yet, I picked mine up on my last trip to Florida on one of my many, many trips to Target - I super love Target - after having heard some very good things,  but can be found quite easily with some tactical googling. 

Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 PA * - £55 at lookfantastic

When I was younger and stupider I never ever wore SPF. I've got very pale skin that doesn't tan, and I rarely burn, so I didn't think SPF was all that important. Now that I'm a grown up it's a whole different story and I'll be the first person to tell you what a fucking idiot I was! Putting photo and premature ageing aside, skin cancer is a very real concern, and literally everyone should be wearing some kind of SPF everyday. I've gone through quite a few SPF loves in the past couple of year - La Roche Posay's Antihelios XL and The Body Shop's Skin Defence are firm favourites - but Murad's latest sun care launch has been giving them a run for their money. This fast absorbing sunscreen is very light but packs a punch in the protection stakes. It's designed to offer protection from five major causes of premature ageing, including UVA and UVB rays, pollution, infrared rays, pollution, and, interestingly, blue light from phones and other devices. I like it because its very lightweight, sinks in really quickly, and makes a good base for make up. 

Vincent Longo Water Canvas Blush in Terra Dew* - £19.95 at lookfantastic

I was gifted this blush at Vincent Longo's UK launch event last year - I know I can't believe I just typed that either! - but I've only recently started using it, and I love it. Firstly, because it's a beautiful colour, a deep raspberry shade, secondly because it has an amazing cream-to-powder formula that just melts into the skin. It contains Microwater, a Vincent Longo exclusive, an active ingredient that intensely hydrates the skin and seals in moisture. It's a really lovely product. 

Lancôme Art Liner - £21.15 at feelunique

Every time I write about eyeliner I tend to mention two things; 1. that I’m something of a liquid liner connoisseur - it’s because I am! - 2. Stile’s Stay All Day Liquid Liner which has become the yardstick which I use to measure, and pass judgment on all other liquid liners because it is effin’ marvellous. So if I favourably compare an eyeliner to Stay All Day it means I really bloody like it, and I really bloody like this liner. It has a fine foam point that makes for really easy yet precise application, and a highly-pigmented formula that lasts for days. Seriously, I wore it when I saw Hamilton so I can tell you with absolute certainty that this stuff is both incredibly waterproof - seriously, I cried four times! - and incredibly long lasting.

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Madrid - exclusive to Kat Von D Everlasting Mini Liquid Lipstick set £37.80 at Debenhams (currently out of stock online, may still be available in store) 

Now it just wouldn't be one of my monthly favourites posts without a new Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick obsession now would it? Like all the others this has a beaut formula that stays in place all day while still being ridiculously comfortable to wear. Annoyingly, Madrid is exclusive to the Kat Von D Everlasting Mini Liquid Lipstick set - which I got for Christmas...it was gift from me to me - and isn't sold as a standalone lipstick. Madrid is a warm-toned plum shade, which on me is actually more of a nude - I have very pigmented lips - it's my go to everyday lipstick, because it is so pretty and so effortless. The only problem I have with it is that when it runs out I won't be able to repurchase it, and I really love it! 

Elemis Life Elixir Fortitude Perfume Oil Rollerball* - £28 from Elemis

Last year Elemis launched Life Elixirs, an aromatherapy collection designed as an antidote for modern life. I was lucky enough to be sent a few things, including a yummy smelling candle and some shower oils, but the perfume rollerballs are my favourite. Life Elixirs is made up of five mini collections: Sleep, Calm, Clarity, Fortitude and Embrace. I was originally sent the Calm rollerball, which I loved but lost in Disney's Animal Kingdom, I was then lucky enough to be gifted the Fortitude rollerball to try at this year's Professional Beauty show. Fortitude is my favourite of the five elixirs. It is formulated with 16 essential oils, including geranium, ylang yang and cedarwood, and is designed to make the wearer feel grounded, empowered and strong. Now I don't know if it actually works but it smells gorgeous! 

What are your beauty favourites? Let me know xx

*Disclaimer* products marked with an asterisk * have been sent to me to review. All thoughts and opinions remain my own. 

February Favourites 2018

February Favourites 2018

Wednesday, 7 March 2018

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Unlike January, which felt like it lasted all of 2018 and well into 2019, February just flew by. I don't feel like I've even had the chance to catch my breath, let alone try and form an opinion on new things. But I have, and here they are.

Bourjois Radiance Reveal concealer in Medium - £7.99 at Boots

It's been a really long time since I've talked about a concealer on here, I can't actually remember the last time, it's been that long. But I've completely fallen back in love with Bourjois' Radiance Reveal concealer and had to talk about it. Radiance Reveal is something of a hybrid that is designed to brighten the skin and conceal imperfections. It’s got a nice light texture that blends nicely into the skin while still providing a decent amount of coverage. It's formulated with hyaluronic acid and glacier water, whatever that is, making it very hydrating and it doesn’t have any annoying bad concealer habits, like caking or creasing or oxidising.

Barry M Speedy Quick Dry in Sprint Finish - £3.99 at Boots

When I first started my blog - nearly 5 years ago... what?! - I was completely obsessed with nail polish. To the point where I couldn't go into a Boots or Superdrug without buying at least one. Now it's really rare for me to even paint my nails. In fact I've just got rid of maybe 80 per cent of my 300-strong nail polish collection. Sprint Finish is one of the few that survived the cull, due to the gorgeous  berry red shade and rather fabulous formulation, which is thick, creamy and dries almost instantly. It also has a wide curved brush which is designed for easier application, and really good colour off so you can get away with just one coat. Love it.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair - £53 at lookfantastic

I've waxed lyrical about my love of this stuff before, but lately, after some very well placed podcast ads, I've found myself obsessed with it. I basically used up this little sample bottle in like two weeks and my parched skin lapped it up. It's formulated with Estée Lauder's exclusive Chronolux CB technology. which is supposedly designed to aid the skin's nightly renewal process and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for 'more beautiful skin everyday.' It also claims to leave the skin feeling smoother, stronger and more hydrated, which is the main reason I've been using it so religiously. It's really lovely stuff, and my skin feels a lot better for it.

Alpha H Clear Skin Daily Moisturiser with Glycolic Acid - £23 at Cult Beauty

I actually got this in the ASOS beauty box back when it first launched, which I think was at the end of November last year maybe, but I've only just got round to trying it... my only excuse is that I have so much skincare. Anyway Alpha H was developed by Michelle Doherty, who designed it specifically to target problem skin, which I have. The Clear Skin Daily Moisturiser is for acne prone skin,  which again I have, and is formulated to moisturise and fight blemishes. It contains 10 per cent glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid to clarify and moisturise the skin, as well as tea tree and aloe vera which have antibacterial properties. It also claims to manage oil production and refine the pores. I've been using it pretty much every day and I really like it. It feels very cooling and refreshing, which is so nice first thing in the morning, and I've noticed an overall improvement in my skin. It's definitely something that I'll be repurchasing once it's all gone. 

Rosie for Autograph Nuit Parfum - £14/£28 for 30/75ml at Marks & Spencer

This is something that I completely forgot I owned until I happened upon it during a clear out. If memory serves I think I got it in a subscription box, but I forget which one. Nuit Parfum is part of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's original collection with M&S from a few years back, and it smells effin' amazing. It's actually a pretty solid dupe for Tom Ford's Velvet Orchid, which you all know I love, but with the added bonus of being less than a third of the price. It's described as being 'infused with vintage femininity'. Now despite the somewhat dubious description it doesn't smell like Grandmas. It's very floral but has a warming sort of spiciness that stops it from being heady and sickly. It has top notes of jasmine and French centifolia rose (?) with base notes of musk. It's floral but definitely more of a winter floral, and it has amazing lasting power. It lasts all day. It's also cruelty free and vegan. Lately I've been more and more interested in where products come from, how they're made, and the impact they have. Without sounding preachy I'm really starting to lean more towards products that are ethical, so it's really nice to know that something I already love is cruelty-free, as well as being suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Plus, and I may have mentioned this already, but it smells bloody gorgeous. 

Kat von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Outlaw - £17 at Debenhams (currently out of stock! Boo!)

I have a feeling that every monthly favourites post from now on is going to feature a Kat von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in one form or another. I love them! They are wonderful. This month's favourite is Outlaw, which is a blue-toned bright red. It's very bold and very, very pretty. I've recently swapped over to Outlaw from Nahz Fur Atoo, which is a deep, rich burgundy, and was the only lipstick I wore for about four months. Anyway Outlaw is more of a spring red, whereas Nahz Fur Atoo is my go to winter lipstick.  At the risk of repeating myself, the formula of these lipsticks is amazing! It doesn't budge, it's so comfortable to wear and it's so easy to apply. I'm obsessed. I love them. I LOVE THEM!

What are your current favourites? xx

A Load of Beauty Favourites

A Load of Beauty Favourites

Tuesday, 25 July 2017

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It's been ages since I last sat down to write a favourites post, months in fact. It's been so long that I can't even remember most of them but I thought I'd tell you guys about some of the beauty bits that I've been loving over the past couple of months.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair - on offer for £45.05 (usually £53) from lookfantastic

I've done quite a bit of travelling recently, 8 flights and counting, and this teeny tiny bottle of magic has become a hand luggage staple for me, because it is amazing. Now my skin is shit at the best of times, let alone when I'm flying. Enter ANR, a serum that is designed to protect and repair the skin whilst reducing the appearance of blemishes - of which I have a few - and providing an intense boost of hydration. It is insanely good! I don't ever want to travel without it because I don't even want to imagine the sorry state my skin would be in if I did.

MAC Liptensity in Medium Rare - £17.50 from MAC

I've got into the habit of buying a MAC lipstick every time I'm in Duty Free, which is a fairly frequent occurrence these days. This is the lipstick that kicked off that habit. I picked it up in Copenhagen Airport back in February when I had a few hours to kill, and it's been knocking around in my handbag ever since. It's such an easy to wear, low maintenance everyday lip. Medium Rare is the most perfect your lips but better shade, a mid-toned rosy pink -  my fave, read more about that here - with a hint of brown to it. It has a dreamy formula with a semi-matte finish that is smooth, creamy and totally comfortable to wear. It's wear time is fairly average, due to the creaminess (read slipperiness) of the formula it doesn't stick around when confronted with food or drink. However it does look good on absolutely everyone,  from us pale folk to olive toned complexions and darker skin tones.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir* - £12/£32 for 30ml/100ml from feelunique

This is such a princess product, in that it's not strictly necessary and also doesn't really do much, but I love it, like really love it. It really perks up tired skin as it is very refreshing and quite hydrating. It also smells incredible, with notes of grape, mint, orange blossom and rosemary. My only slight gripe is that it comes housed in a frosted glass bottle, which is both super luxurious and super impractical, but I'll get over it.

Body Shop Skin Defence Multi-Protection Essence SPF50 - £16/£20 for 40ml/60ml from The Body Shop

As I've got older I've become super aware of photoageing, I really don't want to spend my formative years with the creased, leather-y complexion of an old handbag. So I've started using a facial sunscreen everyday to protect my skin from sun damage and harmful UV rays. I picked this up after running out of my former fave La Roche Posay's Antihelios XL Ultra-Light Fluid (read more about that here) and have become completely obsessed with it. It's incredible. It's non-comedogenic meaning it doesn't break me out. It's also very hydrating and has a lightweight, milky texture that absorbs into the skin without leaving a white cast. It's a really good base for make up and it offers protection from both UVA and UVB rays. I really love it.

Aromatherapy Associates Support Breathe Rollerball* - £16 from lookfantastic

I was given this at Pro Beauty back in February and have used it basically everyday since. I absolutely love it. It has a very fresh scent, with notes of tea tree, pine extract, eucalyptus oil and  peppermint. It smells incredible and is very soothing. I like to use it when I travel to keep me calm, I'm not a nervous flyer but it definitely helps. It's also great to use when you have a cold.

Lancôme Grandiose Wide-Angle Fan Effect Waterproof Mascara - £26 from lancôme

This is another gem that I picked up in Copenhagen Airport's Duty Free. This one however was a total accident. I'd meant to get the Lancôme Grandiose Waterproof eyeliner, which I now have and love by the way. Anyway it was a happy accident because this mascara is now a firm favourite. It features a plastic brush and Lancôme's trademarked swan neck which is designed to get to even the most hard to reach lashes in the inner corners. The mascara itself is very lengthening and it really holds a curl. It's not the most volumising and it does have the tendency to clump - which is never a good look - but it doesn't streak, smudge or flake, and it's not a total nightmare to take off. It's a really good everyday mascara.

Revlon Gel Envy ColorStay in Up the Ante - £7.99 from Boots

This has been a favourite so many times that it's getting quite embarrassing. The colour is great, the formula is great and there's really nothing I can say that I haven't said before, read more about it here.

Let me know some of your favourites by commenting below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at laurenwiththeredhair@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx


Disclaimer: All products marked with an * were gifted to me. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own and not influenced by outside parties.

2016 Beauty Favourites

2016 Beauty Favourites

Sunday, 15 January 2017

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I always take a break from blogging over Christmas to really enjoy the festive season with my loved ones, watch multiple viewings of The Grinch whilst eating all the chocolate oranges, cheese and posh crisps I can lay my greedy hands on, because Christmas.

June Beauty Favourites 2015

June Beauty Favourites 2015

Sunday, 5 July 2015

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I'll skip the obligatory Okay it's this month now. Not only is it this month but it's end of this month! What?! monologue - especially as we're now into the first week of July :S - and get right down to the very important business of discussing my June Favourites!

Maybelline Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara

This is a recent discovery of mine but I love it so much already. It is awesome. It has a curved brush that gives lashes some serious oomph and a blacker than black waterproof formula that stays in place all day. I love it, expect a full review soon.

L'Oreal Infallable Mattifying Primer

I have been loving this primer! (read more about that here) It is so awesome, it smooths and primes the skin, alleviates shine and locks make up in for hours. It's fabulous.

Lord + Berry Bronzer in Sienna

This is a bit of a departure from my Soap & Glory's Solar Powder ( which is my fave just fyi) but after that ran out I was left bronzerless and desperate, then I happened across this sample I got in a glossy box about a million years ago and thought I'd give it a try and I am super impressed! The colour is a really good it's a matte light chocolate brown that really warms up the complexion without being overly orange and the powder itself is really finely milled so it doesn't look cakey at all. I really like it. 

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Conditioner for Damaged Hair

Years of dyeing, heat styling and abusing my hair has left the ends of my hair in a sorry condition. Dry and split and loath to grow any longer. Then I started using this mask and OH EM GEE it's amazing. I've been using twice a week for the past month and it has left my hair, particularly the nasty ends, in noticeably better condition, smoother and with fewer split ends. It's so good. I just pop it on after washing and conditioning my hair, leave it for 3 minutes and voila super soft, shiny and less damaged hair. It also smells amazing. Love it.

Modern Muse by Estée Lauder

I am so bad at describing scent but I'll give it a try. Modern Muse is a really light and floral scent with notes of jasmine and woody undertones. It's my absolute favourite summer scent because it smells gorgeous, really feminine and pretty. I am so in love with it.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Pink Pong 

I am a huge fan of the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet liquid lipsticks, Ole Flamingo being a particular faviourite of mine, but recently I've found myself reaching for Pink Pong, Ole Flamingo's cooler, sassier, barbie pink younger sister, more and more. The colour is gorgeous and the formula is insane with a bouncy, gel like texture that stays in place all day and is super comfortable to wear without being drying in any way. I really, really, really love it. 

What were your June Favourites? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter, or dropping me an email to lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat - search lolarocknroses - & pinterest to keep updated. 

Love love love xxx