The Ride or Die Beauty Tag

The Ride or Die Beauty Tag

Thursday, 29 September 2016

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The Ride or Die Beauty Tag has been making the rounds on the internet for the past couple of weeks now and I figured it was high time I joined the conversation. If I lost all my make up and skin care in a freak make up catastrophe, admittedly it's unlikely, but if I did then my debit card would take a walloping, because there are just some things that would need to be replaced immediately! These are the true beauty loves of my life, the things I cannot, nay refuse, to live without. We're not messing around here.

MAC Matte Lipstick in Mehr £15.50 from MAC

Mehr is my ultimate favourite lipstick. A rosy nude with plummy undertones, it's very flattering, it looks good on everyone and it's really low maintenance, due to the amazing formula and the long lasting matte finish. It's the best lipstick ever.

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner - £13 from Cult Beauty

For a long time I stopped wearing liquid eyeliner, I'm not really sure why, but then I fell in love with this incredible long lasting, pigmented, waterproof babe of an eyeliner. It's perfect! It has an impossibly fine nib that makes for really clean and precise lines so it applies beautifully. It doesn't drag the lid, it doesn't skip or smudge or flake or crumble, it stays in place all day. I love it!

MAC Powder Blush in Dame - £18.50 from MAC

Dame is the first MAC product I ever bought. I got it in the MAC store in Times Square 4 years ago, and to this day I've never found a blusher I like as much. It is stunning! A cool toned pink with a satin finish, it adds a subtle, but noticeable, healthy rosy glow to the skin, and is especially flattering on pale complexions. It's pigmented, it has amazing colour pay off, it's buttery soft and smooth and it applies like a dream. It's the perfect everyday blush, and I can say that as a fact because I did wear it everyday for 3 and a half years, and now I have a new one I'll probably do it again.

L'Oréal True Match Foundation in Rose Ivory - £9.99 from Boots

I haven't found a foundation, high end or high street, to match this one. Even after it's reformulation last year it's still my favourite and has been for nearly 10 years. It gives excellent coverage, has a natural skin-like finish and is basically a good skin day in a bottle. 'Nuff said.

Urban Decay's The Naked Palette - £38.50 from Urban Decay

I love a neutral eyeshadow palette, I have a lot of them, but nothing beats the original Naked palette. It's my most used eyeshadow palette ever,  I've used it pretty much everyday for the past year and it's still going strong. I really love it, it has an amazing shade range and the shadows themselves are really blendable and buttery soft, aside from a small amount of fall out and the hideous fuzzy packaging, I really can't fault it. It is gorgeous!

Maybelline Lash Sensational Lash Multiplying Mascara - £7.99 from Boots

After years and years of searching I've finally found the perfect mascara, and the best part is that it's only £7.99, well that and it is amazing! The formula is a true black, it's really long lasting but not a nightmare to remove, it doesn't flake or smudge and the curved rubber wand does everything. It lengthens, defines, volumises, separates, lifts and gives me lashes for days. You put this on and it's like BOOM! Lashes!

Beauty Blender - £16.00 from Beauty Blender

If I had to sacrifice all my make up brushes and keep only one tool for applying make up, this would be it. This humble, egg shaped sponge is a make up game changer and I would be lost without it. I have tried a ton of Beauty Blender dupes but they just don't compare. I've found them to be a lot denser and heavier, and no where near as soft or effective. The Beauty Blender is amazing, I use it every single day because it does everything. I use it for foundation, concealer, blusher, contouring, bronzer... the list goes on and on, but I particularly like it for sheering out make up where I've been a bit heavy handed and it's amazing for making everything look really natural and dewy.

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel - £29.50 from Cult Beauty

Before this miracle bottle of epicness entered my life my skin was in a sorry state indeed. From the moment I started using this my skin has been on the upswing and the acne I was suffering from, for nearly two years, has all but disappeared. If I don't use this for a couple of days I instantly see the difference in my skin. My skin doesn't feel as clean, it feels really dry and a break out is inevitable. This just seems to keep my skin really balanced so I don't break out and it feels really nice. It also removes make up quickly and easily, with minimal effort. I love it, I love it so much.

Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil - £85 from Cult Beauty

Another skin care item that has helped to dramatically improve the appearance of my skin. It's a retinol oil so is excellent for treating acne and signs of ageing. I don't use Luna everyday, because another bottle will set me back £85, so I live in fear of the day I run out. But, again, if this was taken from me the first thing I would do is drop the best part of £100 on another bottle, because it is that darn good! Luna is reserved for days when my skin is congested, or breaking out, and needs a little love. I apply 2 drops of this to my face before going to sleep and wake up with a guaranteed good skin day. Obsessed!

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion - £13 from Beauty Bay

I forgot to put this in the photo! Argh! Anyway... let's get past it. I love Mario Badescu's skincare in general, the Rosewater Facial Spray is another firm favourite of mine, but this is definitely one a hero product and my favourite item of skin care ever! Because it actually works! When my skin was at its very worst I was using this every night to reduce the appearance of spots and cystic acne. You pop this on any spots before you go to sleep and then in the morning it's worked it's magic, and the appearance of spots is significantly reduced, if not gone completely. It's amazing.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Medium Brown - £15 from Cult Beauty

We all have one eyebrow that is perfect and one that's letting the team down, and we all have a favourite brow product to fix this. ABH's Dipbrow Pomade is mine, it's brilliant. It's a waxy mousse that shapes and defines my brows and covers any sparseness while still looking really natural. I use it every single day and you only need the tiniest little bit to get perfect brows, so it lasts ages too. Love it.

So there were definitely a few more products than I thought, I've added it all up and I would need a spare £261.98 just in case all my faves go missing... eeep.

What are your Ride or Die Beauty favourites? Let me know by commenting below - I always reply so check back -, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

May Favourites 2016

May Favourites 2016

Tuesday, 7 June 2016

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Another month has flown by, it's actually getting scary now how quickly time goes. But hey ho! Can't change it! So instead of moaning about it, like I always do, let's talk about the very many favourites I've had over the last 4 weeks instead. (Side note: this one's gonna get long and rambly so you may wanna grab yourself a drink and some snacks)

Primark PS Love Lip Liners - £1 each from Primark

For me lip liner is one of those meh products, I appreciate that sometimes they're necessary when rocking a bold lip, to keep it on your lips longer, but I'm not a massive fan of forking out loads on them. On my list of make up priorities lip liner doesn't really feature. Having said that, when I spotted these in Primark I thought they'd be worth a try. They were. They are so good. They have excellent pigmentation, a decent colour pay off and last really well on the lips. They also give my lipstick some serious staying power. The one negative I have is that the pink one did start balling up on my lips after a while, I haven't noticed this with either of the others though, so it could've just been a dodgy formula. They're still ridiculously good for the price point. Well done Primark! Well done!

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion - £12.50 from Beautybay

Another skin care fave, a lot of my favourites this month are skincare, and this stuff is seriously incredible. I first heard Allana Davison raving about this in her April Favourites video (watch it here) and I just had to see if it was good as she said it was. It is. It's an overnight spot treatment that actually works! For someone who has been seduced, and later disappointed, by nearly every miracle spot cream going, this is a revelation. It's formulated from calamine lotion, salicylic acid and zinc oxide, ingredients known for their skin clearing properties, and has two layers. You dip a cotton bud into both layers and dab it directly on to any spots. Initially it does sting a bit, but it wears off after about 30 seconds. Now it doesn't magically rid my face of all spots, I'm starting to think nothing can do that, but it does significantly reduce the appearance of blemishes, and dries down any particularly juicy spots. I've been using it loads and my skin is looking so much better for it. I love it so much.

Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot All Day Liquid-To-Powder Foundation - £12 from Boots

I've had this for about a week but I love it so much that it had to be a favourite. The One Heck of a Blot range is aimed at oily skin, which I don't have. Despite being prone to break outs and spots, my skin is actually quite sensitive and tends towards the drier side of things. I bought this purely to test it out for an upcoming blog post, I wasn't expecting it to do much for me, but I was oh so wrong. It has a beautiful finish, it's mattifying but not in a blocky, solid kinda way. It looks very fresh on the skin. It gives excellent coverage, but isn't heavy or cakey like a lot of high coverage foundations tend to be, and it really sticks around. I like to stipple it on with the Real Techniques Stippling Brush and then blend it in with a damp Beauty Blender, to really press it in to the skin for a flawless base. I love it, I think it's a great foundation.

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs & Rose Water - £12 from Liberty

I recently raved about this in a Weekly Round Up post (read it here) and it all still stands. It's such a nifty little spray. First of all it smells incredible! Normally I avoid rose scents like the plague, but this smells really fresh and doesn't have that sickly, headiness that most rose scents have. More importantly it makes my skin feel amazing. It really hydrates and refreshes the skin and makes me look all fresh and dewy. Win! I like to use it first thing in the morning to wake my skin and then to set my make up. It's awesome. 

Malin & Goetz Vitamin E Face Moisturiser - £37 from SpaceNK

I got this in a latest in beauty box back in April and I've been using it ever since. It's just a really nice moisturiser, that agrees with my uber sensitive skin. It contains Vitamin E to fight signs of ageing and replenish the skin and fatty acids so that it absorbs quickly. It leaves my skin feeling soft and really well hydrated. My skin loves the stuff and laps it up. It's also a great base for make up because of it's non-greasy texture.

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel - £29.50 from Cult Beauty

After getting this in Anna and Lily's Cult Beauty Box (read more about here) I haven't been able to stop using it. It is the best cleanser I've ever come across. It's a really thick, rose scented gel that breaks down into an oil when worked into the skin. It gets rid of even the most waterproof of mascaras in seconds and leaves my skin feeling refreshed and squeaky clean. My skin has improved dramatically since I started using it. I can't even tell you how much I love it, but it's a lot. 

Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil - £85 from Cult Beauty

Another gem from Anna & Lily's Cult Beauty Box, this stuff is incredible. It's formulated with blue tansy, the source of it's funky blue colour, Vitamin A and retinol to fight off signs of ageing, reduce the appearance of pores and protect from environmental factors. I've been massaging 1 - 2 into my face once a week to give my skin some much needed pampering. It feels so luxurious and makes my skin look and feel amazing the next morning. It is magical. Magical! 

Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland Palette £43 from Urban Decay, completely sold out online, but may be available in store, find your nearest store here

This is a bit of a departure from my beloved neutral palettes but that's because it's just about the most beautiful palette to ever exist. Ever.  I put up a full review last week (read it here) so I won't bore you with the details, let me just say that the packaging is a work of art! That pop up butterfly though! The eyeshadows themselves are lovely. They're pigmented, with a soft, smooth texture. They blend beautifully and the colours are amazing. My favourites are Kingdom, - a pink-y, taupe-y bronze shimmer, and Salazen Grum - a rusty red glitter. I like to use Kingdom all over the lid and blend Salazen Grum into the crease for a warm, bronze smokey eye. Beautiful.

Barry M Gelły Hi-Shine Nail Paint in Guava - £3.99 from Boots

You guys must know by know how much I love a blue nail polish, they're kinda my thing. You guys should also know that I love Barry M nail paints, they're fabulous. They haven't released a formula I don't like, but my favourites are the Gelly Hi-Shines. They leave a plumped, glossy finish and have great longevity. Guava is a bright, electric turquoise, and an old favourite, that I've been showing a lot of love lately. The formula is awesome, as I've said, and the colour is gorgeous. It doesn't really get much better than that. 

What were you loving in May? Any recommendations for me? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

Anna & Lily's Cult Beauty Box

Anna & Lily's Cult Beauty Box

Sunday, 29 May 2016

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When Anna and Lily announced their collaboration with Cult Beauty I was excited, like really excited. I've been a fan of theirs for a couple of years now, they were the first youtubers I really fangirled over, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on a box. Anna and Lily personally picked the products to go inside and even had a hand in the design of the box, which explains the marble and gold.  So, to answer the question on everyone's lips, what's in the box?! 

The Wet Brush I was a bit dubious when it came to The Wet Brush. It takes a very special brush to get through my tangled curls without bringing a tear to my eye, cramp to my hand and the thought that dreadlocks are a great idea. This, ladies and gentlemen, is that very special brush. It glides through  my knotty hair, without pulling at all, it's so gentle and is the only brush I've come across that actually manages to tame my mad mane of curls. It's so good, I'm gonna get one for my 5 year old niece, who has been cursed with my hair, poor thing. 

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Black Liquid eyeliner is a make up bag essential. Personally I think there's nothing better than a really good liquid eyeliner and Stila's waterproof offering is awesome. It really does stay in place all day. It has a long, impossibly thin, firm brush that makes for really easy application and is perfect for creating anything from dramatic feline flicks to more subtle looks. I'm so impressed with it. 

Yu Ling Jade Facial Roller This one came as a bit of a shock to me, because I like it so much more than I was expecting too. The roller is made of pure jade, and is very cooling on the skin, especially if it's kept in the fridge, AND it has a laundry list of skincare benefits when used regularly, just some of which are: firming/plumping the skin, toning muscle, increasing blood flow, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and decreasing puffiness/bloating. Apparently it can even be used to soothe sore hay fever eyes - which I get ALL the time - ease migraines and tension headaches, plus it feels AMAZING on the skin. 

Becca Backlight Priming Filter This is one of the travel sizes, and is adorable, who doesn't love travel minis?! I've used this a few times and boy does it pack a punch in the glow department. It has a really nice and light, non-greasy texture, it's absorbed really quickly into the skin leaving a lit from within glow. I've used this a few times and I really love the finish of it. I think a purchase of the full size might be in order...

Sunday Riley Luna Oil This was my favourite thing in the box, the cutest half size miniature of Sunday Riley's Luna Oil, a product so awesome that it's reached the dizzying heights of cult status since its release. I'd been dying to try this for ages, but at an eye watering £85 I just couldn't justify it. Now that I've tried it, I'm smitten! - and dreading the day when I run out of the stuff! £85... ouch! - Luna is a blue tinted Vitamin A night time treatment with retinol and blue tansy. It claims to fight signs of ageing, repair damaged skin, reduce the size/appearance of pores and protect the skin from environmental factors. It feels incredible when massaged into the skin, is so hydrating and the fact that it's blue, my favourite colour, is awesome!  I've been using it every other night and have definitely noticed an improvement in the condition of my skin. The one thing I don't like is the scent, it smells like porridge and lavender, which is a weird combination, but other than that I really, really love it! Damn! 

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel So I may have jumped the gun a bit when I said Luna was my favourite thing in the box, because I bloody love this! I'd heard a ton of good things about Oskia's Renaissance Cleansing Gel, mostly from Anna and Lily, but I can totally see what all the fuss is about. It's amazing! It's a pale pink gel-to-oil cleanser with a light, refreshing rosy scent to it. When the gel is applied it breaks down in to an oil that just melts into the skin, removing make up and dirt really quickly and gently, leaving my skin feeling clean, soft and radiant looking. It's suitable for all skin types but claims to be really good for dry, sensitive and damaged skin. It also helps to reduce the appearance of acne, scarring and pigmentation, due to pumpkin enzymes and MSM that calm and soothe inflamed skin. Personally I love it. It's been my go to cleanser and my skin is really thanking me for it. 

Pixi by Petra Hydrating Mist Another favourite, after spotting this in the box I've been using it pretty much everyday and always have it in my bag.  Pixi's skincare has been creating a bit of a splash in the beauty world lately, and if this facial mist is anything to go by, I can totally see why. This stuff is really, really good. It offers a fine, feather light layer of moisture that gives my skin a much needed burst of hydration. It can be used in place of a toner and feels really refreshing and cooling on the skin. It's such a lovely little product. Love it. 

I have to say that I was so impressed with the contents of this box, I've got a bit of a love/hate relationship with beauty boxes,  I think everyone does, normally I'll only like one or two products in the box and that's it, but this is so not the case with Anna & Lily's one. I genuinely loved everything in there, especially all the lovely skincare bits. 

The box retails for £85, now initially the price really put me off, £85 is a LOT of money. BUT when you consider the quality of the box, and the fact that you save a staggering 43%, it's actually amazing value for money. Unfortunately the waitlist is now closed and the boxes are no longer available to buy. But you can register on the Cult Beauty website here to be in with the chance of winning 1 of 5 boxes. I definitely would if I were you. 

Did you manage to get your hands on Anna & Lily's Cult Beauty Box yet? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx