My New Year's Eve Make Up

My New Year's Eve Make Up

Tuesday, 3 January 2017

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(Sorry for the giant picture of my face and the crap lighting, I also hadn't smudged my lipstick, I had a really nasty spot on my lip that would not be covered!)

Happy New Year you absolute babes! I hope you all had an amazing, and safe, New Year's Eve and are ready to take this new year head on. This years I was at a big family party at my uncle and aunty's house, and I was really overdressed but you have to make an effort at New Years' don't you? I was really happy with my make up so I thought I would share it with you lovely lot.

My Top 8 Lip Products from the High Street

My Top 8 Lip Products from the High Street

Sunday, 28 August 2016

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l - r: L'Oréal Privee Color Riche Lipstick in Julianne's Perfect Nude, Revlon Color Burst Balm Stain in Honey, Primark PS... Velvet Matte Lipstick Crayon in Nude, Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Lipstick in Pommie Girl, Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Olé Flamingo and Hot Pepper, Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil in Red Essential 

I love lipstick! So much so that I couldn't limit myself to just the 5, instead you're being treated to a Top 8 you lucky things! When it comes to lipstick I prefer my finishes matte, the formulas liquid and the pigmentation bold, on point and long lasting to boot. Every now and then, however, I like to shake things up a bit with more sheer formulas or pinky nude tones. So this is more of a comprehensive lip wardrobe from the high street, with everything from the sheerest nudes to the deepest berry shades. Enjoy!

L'Oréal Privee Color Riche Lipstick in Julianne's Perfect Nude - £6.99 from Superdrug

This isn't just Julianne's perfect nude, it's mine too! I'm not normally one for nude lipstick, bright matte bolds are way more my thing,  but this is dreamy!  It's not a nude nude, it's a really pretty, rosy pink with a moisturising formula and a sheer finish. It has decent colour pay off and it smells amazing, just like parma violets. It isn't the most long wearing of beasts, and it doesn't tend to stick around for long if food or drink is involved, but it is the most beautiful nude pink that I've come across. I'm on my third tube of the stuff and I completely love it.

Revlon ColorBurst Balm Stain in Honey - £7.99 from Boots

Revlon's ColorBurst Balm Stains are perfect for low maintenance glossy lips, as they're a hybrid between a lip gloss and a super moisturising lip balm. Personally I think they're the perfect lip crayon to chuck in your bag for easy on the go application. I have quite a few from the range but Honey is my absolute favourite for everyday. The colour is a lovely mauve toned dusky pink and it has nice pigmentation, so it can be worn really sheer for something quite subtle or can be built up for more of a medium coverage. It also smells like peppermint and feels really cooling on the lips. It's always in my handbag.

Primark PS... Velvet Matte Lipstick Crayon in Nude - £2.00 from Primark

At just £2.00, from good ol' Primark,  this lip crayon is the cheapest offering on the table. Normally I would find such a low price tag off putting but this is really good. Like really, really good. It's a  lovely peachy nude with a matte finish and a good formula. It's buttery, reasonably long lasting and applies like an absolute dream. Primark's make up line is a bit hit and a miss but there are definitely some gems hidden away in there, and this one of them.

Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Lipstick in Pommie Girl - £9.00 from Boots

One of my absolute favourite lipsticks is Soap & Glory's Super Colour Fabulipstick Matte Lipstick in Pom Pom which was, annoyingly, discontinued a while back... luckily S&G have since released Pommie Girl, which is identical. It's a deep pink with plummy undertones that looks absolutely stunning on. It's matte in finish,  and does tend towards the drier side of things, however I've found that applying lip balm about 15 minutes beforehand solves this problem. It lasts ages, it's beautiful and that dreamy packaging though! I'm so glad they didn't get rid of it completely. 

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Olé Flamingo! and Hot Pepper - £8.99 from Boots

I've sung the praises of the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvets time and time again. They are the best liquid lipsticks on the high street, and my liquid lip of choice for a night on the town. They're pigmented, super comfortable to wear and last hours. They rarely need touching up and, though I've never tested it I definitely think they could last a full 24 hours, although I don't why you'd ever need them too. I love these lipsticks.

Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil in Red Essential - £4.99 from Boots

Maybelline's Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencils are right up there with some of my very favourite lipsticks. A pretty spot on dupe for Nars' Velvet Matte Lip Pencils, the formula is matte yet creamy and comfortable to wear and it is insanely long lasting. Red Essential is a classic blue toned red - every lip wardrobe needs one! - and it's beautiful.

Rimmel Kate Matte Lipstick in #107 - £5.49 from Boots

Rimmel's #107 is a high street classic! It looks intimidating in the bullet but it's actually a super wearable deep purple with just a hint of red in it. It has a matte finish and seriously incredible longevity. It lasts hours! It rarely needs touching up, only after eating and barely even then. When autumn, my favourite season, rolls around this is the only lipstick to grace my lips because it's the perfect autumnal berry shade and one of my absolute favourite lipsticks.

What's your favourite high street lipstick? 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

My Top 5 Foundations from the High Street

My Top 5 Foundations from the High Street

Tuesday, 2 August 2016

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l-r: Soap & Glory One Heck of  a Blot Foundation, Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream, L'Oréal True Match Foundation, Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Powerless Foundation and Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude Foundation. 

Foundation is literally called foundation because it is the base on which we build our entire face! So to say foundation is important is a huge understatement. Luckily, for those of us on a budget, when it comes to foundation the high street does it really well. Really, really well. It was quite hard narrowing my top picks down to just the 5, I can see a Top 10 post coming up in the future, but for now lovely people here are my top 5 high street/drug store foundations.

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

L'Oréal's True Match is my absolute favourite foundation. I've talked about this stuff so much, but it's because I love it so much! This foundation, even after it's reformulation, is amazing. It's my go to foundation for a night out because it is long lasting, has a beautifully natural, your skin but better kind of finish and it gives excellent, non-cakey coverage. If you're just getting in to make up, than this foundation, in my opinion, is the best on the high street, plus it has a really good shade range and a reasonable price point. I love it so much. 

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream in Ivory- £9.99 from Boots

I bought this for the express purpose of testing it out for this post and honestly, I didn't have a lot of faith in it. I usually avoid CC Creams like the plague, because they just don't have the coverage I need BUT this one does. It is very lightweight, but gives medium coverage that can be built up in to something more full without feeling heavy,  and it still allows the skin to breath. It's become one of my favourite foundations, especially for summertime, because it feels absolutely gorgeous on the skin. The formula is lovely too, combining skin care benefits with the coverage of foundation. It contains 3 pigments to colour correct the skin, Apricot: to cover dark circles and hide signs of fatigue, Green: for redness and White: to brighten. It has a  very liquid-y formula, that buffs flawlessly into the skin in seconds, and it comes in a squeezy tube making it ideal for travelling. For something I had no faith in I am incredibly impressed. Love it, seriously love it. 

Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation in 105 - £5.99 from Boots

Again, this is another recent purchase but it's so good that it's already been a favourite. It's a matte foundation that has a really gorgeous luminosity to it, it looks very fresh on the skin, and it's also quite hydrating and has excellent wear time. I've even worn it to the gym - Sidenote: I don't usually wear make up to the gym but my new personal trainer is incredibly handsome, so I have to make an effort! Obviously! - and it still looked good after I'd worked out. I've been using it so much because it's awesome!

Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude Foundation in Ivory - £7.99 from Boots

This one is an oldie but a goodie. I love Rimmel foundations - shout out to Match Perfection, which is also amazing! - The Lasting Finish Nude Foundation just pips it to the post due to it's natural, dewy finish, medium coverage and  longevity on the skin. It lasts a really long time, and it looks good too. It covers what needs to be covered, whilst still looking really natural on the skin and adds a decent amount of dewiness without being too in your face. Definitely give this one a try, because at £7.99 it's an absolute steal.  

Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot All Day Liquid to Powder Foundation in Cool Sand - £12.00 from Boots

This offering from Soap & Glory is another recent purchase that has become a firm favourite of mine, and earned it's place on my dressing table. It's a liquid to powder foundation meaning that it has amazing longevity. As the name suggests, it stays in place all day! No movement, no patchiness, nothing. Once it's on, it's on for the long haul. Again it's a matte foundation, I do love mattes! Now a lot of matte foundations have the tendency to be flat and mask-like once applied, but this actually looks really bright and radiant on the skin, and it gives amazing coverage. The only complaint I have is that the shade range is limited to 4 shades, so there is not really much in there for those with darker skin tones. I fall between Fair Enough and Cool Sand, the two lightest shades, with Cool Sand being just a tad too dark for me, although it's not nearly as dark as it looks in the picture. Having said that I think it's a really good foundation, especially if you have normal to oily skin. If you have really, really dry skin then you should probably steer clear because it will dry you out further. Personally I have sensitive skin which can get quite dry, especially this time of year, and I haven't had any problems with it so far. It's just a really nice, high coverage foundation. Love it.

What are your favourite drugstore foundations? 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

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

January Beauty Favourites 2016

January Beauty Favourites 2016

Sunday, 31 January 2016

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La Roche-Posay Serozinc - £8.50 from boots.com

I recently raved about this in my Mini Skincare Haul (read it here) but I've been using it every single day and I seriously love it. It has made my terrible skin look so much better, it's just bad skin now.  It has become an unmissable step in my skin care routine because it is so so good. It calms down any big, juicy spots, completely gets rid of little ones and gives the overall appearance of clearer skin. LOVE. IT.

Max Factor Gel Shine Lacquer in #35 Lacquered Violet - £7.99 from boots.com

I picked this up at the end of last year and it's been on my nails pretty much ever since. I love purple nails and Lacquered Violet is such a sophisticated and pretty take on that. The colour is absolutely gorgeous, the perfect blend of purple and blue, and it has a fabulous formula with great opacity - one coat! - and a high shine finish. The packaging is really pretty too. It's lovely.

Michael Kors for Esteé Lauder Blush Trio - No longer available.

For a really long time I was too scared to use this because it's so beautiful and I didn't want to hurt it. Then I realised that thought was completely ridiculous and I got over it. It is seriously B-E-A-U-Tiful! The trio is made up of a plum, a bright pink and a light mauve. The blushes are finely milled, buttery soft in texture, blend easily and are well pigmented with a subtle shimmer running through them. They're so pigmented that you need to use a really light hand with them or risk looking like you're permanently embarrassed - a lesson I learnt the hard way - even so they're amazing. Individually they're lovely, but when swirled together with my trusty Real Techniques Blush Brush they create a lovely pink-y mauve that gives the cheeks a really pretty glow. It is gorgeous AND that packaging though! It is seriously dreamy! - Sorry for being a tease guys! This blush was part of a limited edition collection and is no longer available :(

Superdrug Naturally Radiant 2 in 1 Moisturiser & Serum - £5.99 for 100ml from superdrug.com

I've been kind of obsessed with skincare for the past couple of months, hoping to find the miracle product that will give me the  flawless, english rose complexion of Emma Watson or Emilia Clarke.  Alas so far that has not happened but I have found some darn good products, Superdrug's Naturally Radiant 2 in 1 Moisturiser & Serum is one of them. It's a really nourishing serum, with a silky smooth gel like texture that sinks into the skin so quickly. It gives me a much needed burst of hydration and really brightens up my dull, grey skin. I've been using it every night and I really like it, plus it smells amazing! Seriously amazing.

Soap & Glory No Clogs Allowed Super Self-Heating Deep Pore Detox Mask - £11.50 for 100ml from boots.com

I picked this up a couple of weeks ago after reading some rave reviews online and thought it was definitely worth a try with my clogged and congested skin. It is so good. It starts working it's self-heating magic the moment it applies to the skin, really getting into the pores and giving them a proper deep clean. It's been really good for my skin. I like it a lot.

Naked 2 Palette - £38.00 from urbandecay.co.uk

I've been OBSESSED with the Naked 2 palette throughout January. I've had a bit of a thing for matte eyeshadows - I blame Adele and the make up she wore on the 25 album cover - and I've been particularly loving the shades Foxy & Tease. Foxy is a slightly yellow,  creamy nude that I've been packing on all over the lid and Tease is a light, almost lilac-y toned chocolate brown which I've been using in the crease to give my eyes some smokey definition. It's a combination I've been loving all month and wearing pretty much everyday but the rest of the palette is just as heavenly. The shadows are pigmented, blendable, buttery soft and incredibly wearable, with a range of finishes including shimmers, glitters and the odd matte. They apply beautifully and there is no creasing whatsoever with these bad boys. Naked 2 is basically perfect. The obsession is so real people!

Collection Extreme Felt Tip Liner - £2.99 from boots.com

Another product whose presence here can be attributed to Adele. Back in the day I used to wing my eyeliner everyday like it weren't no thing. I could do it in seconds, no mistakes made and be out the door. Oh how I miss those days. Now it's a bit of a different story. Being out of practice and my eyelids having become curiously wrinkly (don't think about it!) I've had to go back to basics to get my eyeliner back on fleek. The Collection Extreme 24Hr Felt Tip Liner is the liner that helped me perfect the wing originally due to it's sturdy nib, long lasting, blacker than black liquid formula and it's general awesomeness. I've been reaching for it on a daily basis to get the practice in and my wings back and I still really, really love it. Maybe even more than Benefit's They're Real Push-Up Liner.

L'Oréal Color Riche Exclusive Collection in Julianne's Perfect Nude - £6.99 from boots.com

Okay it's pretty safe to say that all my make up favourites this month are due to Adele. That was one seriously amazing make up look that's all I can say. But oh man this colour is so dreamy. I'm not normally a fan of nudes (tehehe) but this is the most beautiful pink-y nude lipstick that is so easy to wear but looks like I've put a lot of effort in. It is seriously beautiful.

What were your January Beauty Favourites? 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

Mini Skincare Haul

Mini Skincare Haul

Thursday, 21 January 2016

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You've all heard about my problem skin by now, if you haven't then, to cut a really long story short, it's pants, my skin is pants (that means bad for any non english people reading this). I've recently taken to browsing the aisles of boots, and the sephora website and basically anywhere that sells skin care, to try and find the miracle product that will turn my skin around. Here are some of the bits I've picked up on my travels.

La Roche-Posay Serozinc - £8.50 for 150ml from boots.com

Serozinc is essentially a water spray containing Zinc Sulfate, an active ingredient in a lot of acne treatments. The spray dispenses a fine mist, which can be sprayed directly onto the face, although this does take some getting used to, or applied to a cotton pad and swept across the skin. There is a lot of hype surrounding this particular product, like A LOT a lot, but for very good reason. It. Is. Awesome.  I really do struggle with my skin, I get breakouts, blackheads, big juicy blemishes galore - oh for the days when it was just the occasional blackhead and sensitivity -  and I have tried everything, and I really mean everything, and this is one of the first things that has made a real, noticeable difference to my skin. I've been using it in place of a toner for the past week or so and it's incredible.  It reduces redness, calms particularly aggressive spots and clears smaller spots. It is seriously amazing. Just a quick warning though ALWAYS cover your eyes when spraying on your face. I got some in my eyes and I swear I've never known pain like it. Other than it's awesome and I'm sure I'll be adding the Effaclar System to my basket at some point in the very near future. 

Soap & Glory No Clogs Allowed Super Self Heating Mask Deep Pore Detox Mask - £11.50 for 100ml from boots.com

Okay so this mask is amazing. I've only used it once but I already love it. It's a self-heating mask that begins to heat up as soon as it's applied to the skin. It gives the skin a real deep clean, really getting into the pores and getting rid of dirt and bacteria to prevent new spots forming. It also reduces the appearance of spots and pores and leaves the skin looking, and feeling clearer. It works wonders on congested skin. The best part is that the mask turns blue once it's been activated which is SO COOL! I love it. 

Superdrug Naturally Radiant 2 in 1 Moisturiser & Serum - £5.99 for 50ml from superdrug.com

This 2 in 1 Serum is a seriously lovely offering from Superdrug's own skincare line. I'm actually super impressed with what I've tried so far. It's really nice quality but also really cheap which is always a bonus. This serum has a lovely silky smooth texture that just melts into the skin. Normally I'm not a massive fan of serums, some I've tried have felt really sticky on the skin, but this applies really smoothly and just feels so nice on the skin, it's also really nourishing. My skin gets really dull and grey, particularly in the winter time, and this serum has done a lot to restore some radiance, and general glowiness to my skin and make me look more alive. It's very nice. 

Superdrug Naturally Radiant Brightening Eye Cream - £5.99 for 15ml from superdrug.com

The skin under my eyes is really sensitive, to the point where if I don't moisturise regularly then it becomes dry and sore and starts to look and feel like tissue paper. The worst thing is it really doesn't take much to irritate it, so I have to be super careful with what I use. It's a bit of a vicious circle really. Superdrug's Naturally Radiant Brightening Eye Cream is really nice, and one of the few eye creams I've come across that doesn't have any adverse affects on me. It's quite rich but also lightweight and fast absorbing. It's really moisturising and oh so gentle on the skin. It doesn't irritate me at all but leaves my under eye area feeling nourished and looking refreshed and awake. I almost can't believe how good it is. Especially when considering how cheap it is. It is so good. 

What skin care bits have you been loving lately? Any recommendations? Let me know on twitter by commenting below, 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

Soap & Glory It's the Whole She-Bang

Soap & Glory It's the Whole She-Bang

Thursday, 14 January 2016

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I've been a fan of Soap & Glory for years now, their products are amazing quality and the Christmas gift sets are something I look forward to every year. So when this wasn't one of the presents under my Christmas tree, well I had to rush out and buy it (even though I'd been spoilt rotten). When I found out it was half price that was just the icing on the cake, when my mum offered to buy it for me... well that was the cherry on top.

For this INCREDIBLE gift set, the mack daddy of gift sets if you will - Soap & Glory collaborated with pop artist and fashion designer Philip Colbert, the man behind The Rodnik Band, for the enormous, and fabulous, vanity case. That vanity case plays host to 9 full sizes of some of S&G's best selling products.

The set contains:

Clean on Me Moisture Shower Gel - £6.50 from boots.com
The Scrub of Your Life Body Butter - £7.00 from boots.com
The Righteous Butter Body Butter - £10.00 from boots.com
The Righteous Butter Instant Sun Kissed Tint Body Lotion - £8.00 from boots.com
Hand Food Hand Cream - £5.50 from boots.com
Heel Genius Foot Cream - £5.50 from boots.com
Peaches & Clean 4-in-1 Wash Off Deep Cleansing Milk - £6.00 (currently on offer, usually £8.00) from boots.com
Thick & Fast High Definition Collagen-Coat Mascara - £10.50 from boots.com
Sexy Mother Pucker Lip  Plumping Gloss in Rose & Shine - £9.00 from boots.com

It's mostly made up of body bits but has a nice mix of everything with some beauty and tanning bits thrown in for good measure. I haven't had the chance to have a proper play with everything yet but Clean on Me, Hand Food, Heel Genius and Peaches & Clean are all old favourites of mine and I can't wait to try out the Thick & Fast Collagen-Coat Mascara. I can't praise it enough. Not only is it stuffed to the brim full of fabulous products but it's also incredible value for money. This set was £60 but has a total worth of £70 and I, well my mum, only paid £30 for it, which is half it's retail price, and less than half it's value. What a bargain! As you would expect it's completely sold out online but there might be a few still floating around in store, so it's definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of Soap & Glory.

Did you get your hands on S&G's It's The Whole She-Bang? What did you think? Let me know on twitter, by commenting below 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

Lipgloss vs Lipstick

Lipgloss vs Lipstick

Sunday, 26 April 2015

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L-R:  L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Lipstick in Blake's Pure Red,  Seventeen Lip Lustre in Red,  Burt's Bees Lip Shine in Blush, Mac Amplified Creme Lipstick in Girl About Town, Soap & Glory  Super Colour Fabu- Lipstick in Pom Pom  & Clinique Chubby Stick in 06 Woppin' Watermelon.

L-R:  Mac Amplified Creme Lipstick in Girl About Town, Soap & Glory  Super Colour Fabu- Lipstick in Pom Pom, L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Lipstick in Blake's Pure Red,  Burt's Bees Lip Shine in Blush, Clinique Chubby Stick in 06 Woppin' Watermelon  & Seventeen Lip Lustre in Red.

Lately me and lipstick haven't been quite the besties we once were. More and more I've found myself avoiding my beloved matte, high coverage, long lasting formulas and my favourite bold lipsticks (I'm looking at you Soap & Glory's Pom-Pom, Mac's Girl About Town and L'Oreal's Blake's Pure Red) in favour of sheer washes of colour and glosses. Don't ask me why, initially I thought it was something to do with a loss of confidence but recently I've gotten my groove back and I'm starting to think  it's something to do with the maintenance. Love it or hate it lipstick wearing is one high maintenance business. 

Now as a self-confessed gloss-hater (hate is too strong a word, gloss-disliker) choosing gloss over lipstick just feels weird but I have to say I've enjoyed the change. Yes gloss doesn't last forever, tends to be on the stickier side of things and attracts hair like a magnet BUT it's lighter on the lips, rarely gets on teeth and/or down my chin, it's also way better for the warmer weather and you don't even need a mirror just slick and go my friends, slick and go. 

My current fav0urite lipglosses are Seventeen Lip Lustre in Red, Clinique Chubby Stick  in 06 Woppin' Watermelon and 07 Super Strawberry (not swatched), and Burt's Bees Lip Shine in Blush. All of them give a nice pop of colour to the lips and leave a nice glossy, but not too glossy, finish.  The Chubby Sticks are my favourites because they have the best formula and pigmentation. But for days when I'm feeling more neutral - they're rare but they do happen - I love the Burt's Bees which is a really beautiful caramel-y pink nude and the most long lasting of the bunch. 

I doubt this gloss loving thing will last forever I am first and foremost a lipstick lover but for now it's nice to shake things up a bit. 

Which do you prefer? Gloss or Lipstick? What are your favourites? Let me know on twitter, by commenting below or even dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also if you've got a minute check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin & pinterest.

Have yourselves a lovely week and I'll be back on Tuesday. 

Until then...

Love love love xxx

Lola Loves...Berry Lips

Lola Loves...Berry Lips

Thursday, 5 February 2015

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Those of you who follow me on instagram will know that I'm no stranger to a berry lip. It's pretty much my go to look, regardless of the weather. If I'm feeling a berry lip in the middle of summer you better believe I'm slapping on a berry lip, so when winter rolls around all bets are off and berry is the ONLY colour to grace my lips.  

Now Christmas is long since over but Winter is far from releasing it's icy grip on us here in the UK. So my love affair with the berry lip continues. 

I've put together a rundown of my Top 9 Berry lipsticks. I wanted to keep it to 5 but it just wasn't happening 

Clockwise from Middle Left: Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in #128 Starry Eyed, Rimmel Kate Lasting Finish Lipstick in #30, Rimmel Kate Matte Lipstick in #107, L’Oreal Color Riche Collection Exclusive in Blake’s Pure Red, Barry M Ultra Moisturising Lip Paint in Black Cherry, Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil in #310 Berry Much, Collection Gothic Glam Lipstick in #1 Seduction, Collection Gothic Glam Lipstick in #3 Revenge, Soap & Glory Super Colour Matte Lipstick in Pom Pom. 

L-R: Rimmel Kate Lasting Finish Lipstick in #30, Collection Gothic Glam Lipstick in #1 Seduction, Barry M Ultra Moisturising Lip Paint in Black Cherry, Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in #128 Starry Eyed, Rimmel Kate Matte Lipstick in #107, Collection Gothic Glam Lipstick in #3 Revenge, Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil in #310 Berry Much, Soap & Glory Super Colour Matte Lipstick in Pom Pom & L’Oreal Color Riche Collection Exclusive in Blake’s Pure Red.

Rimmel Kate Lasting Finish Lipstick in #30

This is quite possibly my favourite of the bunch, the colour is a beautiful, red toned berry shade with a lovely moisturising formula. It has ok lasting power, not great but certainly not bad, so whilst it does need to be reapplied after eating or drinking it is worth it because the colour is so lovely. 

Collection Gothic Glam Lipstick in #1 Seduction

Another lipstick that I absolutely love - I have two of them, this is the level of adoration we're talking about here - the colour is a stunning pink toned berry with a matte finish (I love a matte finish), the formula is lovely, not at all drying and has decent lasting power. What more could you want for less than a fiver?! 

Barry M Ultra Moisturising Lip Paint in Black Cherry

This isn't a lipstick I reach for very much but when I do I'm always pleasantly surprised at how pretty it is. The colour is a really intense, dark purple in the bullet but when applied is a lovely red toned wine shade that looks so pretty on the lips. The formula is not that great, the finish is quite matte, and this is definitely more drying that the others, but nothing a slick of lip balm before application can't fix. 

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in #128 Starry Eyed

This is  the most brown toned of all the lipsticks I own and the only one in this list with a super glossy finish, which is probably why I don't reach for it as much. Having said that it has a lovely, moisturising formula  and the colour itself is quite pigmented and a really lovely deep berry. It's not as long lasting as the others and needs to be reapplied after eating or drinking but overall it's a nice lipstick.

Rimmel Kate Matte Lipstick in #107

Rimmel's #107 is one of my all time favourites, and something of a cult fave among beauty bloggers. I am so in love with this lipstick. When it comes to highstreet lippie you just can't beat Kate Moss's collection for Rimmel. You just can't. The colour is a really stunning, red toned burgundy with a matte finish. The formula is long lasting, it does need a tiny bit of touching up after food but doesn't dry out my lips at all

Collection Gothic Glam Lipstick in #3 Revenge

When applied directly from the bullet this colour looks almost black on the lips and is way too dark for me, but when applied with a lip brush it is such a pretty wine red. However this does mean it's not convenient for reapplication when you're out and about but the formula is nice, moisturising with reasonable lasting powers (not amazing, but certainly not bad) and the colour is lovely when applied right. 

Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil in #310 Berry Much

This could quite possibly be my favourite lipstick, it is certainly my favourite lipstick discovery of last year.  The Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil is BEAUTIFUL! The formula is incredible, it is creamy but so long lasting, you can eat and drink and it will not budge.  Like not even a little bit.  It has a really lovely, velvety matte finish  but is not even remotely drying. It is so comfortable on the lips that 9 times out of 10 I forget that I'm wearing it.  Plus the colour is  a really wearable berry red that I just love. 

Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker  Matte Lipstick in Pom Pom

I love this lipstick! The colour is a really wearable pink toned plum that looks beautiful on the lips. Now I'm not gonna lie to you it is drying and the wear time is not the best but the colour is beautiful and super wearable and smells like vanilla and happiness so I think it's worth it. 

L’Oreal Color Riche Collection Exclusive in Blake’s Pure Red

Now I know that this is red but on me it's more of a red toned berry than a regular red. It's blue toned with a finish that is somewhere between matte and satin with a really nice formula that is both moisturising and long lasting. I love it. 

These are my favourite berry/winter lipsticks, what are yours? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter or by dropping me an email lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, Bloglovin and pinterest if you like pictures of dogs :D (I DO!) 

 That's me for today but I'll be back on Sunday with my January Favourites.

Until then have yourselves a great weekend  and I'll see you soon. 

Love love love xxx