NYX Mini Lip Haul & Review

NYX Mini Lip Haul & Review

Tuesday, 2 February 2016

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A couple of weeks ago I was feeling really spendy - nothing new there - and found myself on the boots website, gazing lovingly at all the make up, when I stumbled across NYX. NYX is a brand I've heard a ton about but never tried, and as the reviews were universally positive, I figured it was definitely worth picking up a few bits. Before I knew it I was checking out with one of the Butter Lipsticks in the shade Moonlit Night and one of the Jumbo Lip Pencils in the shade Hera in my basket.

Moonlit Night is a deep, dark burgundy that looks way scarier in the bullet than it actually is. On the lips it's a vampy but wearable, red toned, berry shade. I'm totally in love with it. The formulation is lovely, very creamy and smooth, it applies well and the pigmentation is really good. The only downside is that I generally prefer my finishes matte because they last longer and this is a satin finish which means there is quite a bit of slip to it. It lasts reasonably well but doesn't really stick around for the long haul and it does need to be re-applied after eating or drinking. Another teeny tiny niggle I have is with the packaging, which I think is so cute BUT, and I don't know if this is just my one, but it's not very well made. When you twist the bullet up mine has the tendency to fall back down, which isn't great but not a deal breaker. Other than that I'm obsessed.

Hera is another kettle of fish entirely. A bright fuchsia with a blue toned shimmer running through it, it's way more sheer and doesn't apply as evenly as the lipstick. Even so it's really pretty and has a lovely smooth formula that makes application a breeze. On the upside I love the packaging, the design is really cute and great for just chucking in your bag. I like it a lot.

Apart from a few little bugbears I am super impressed, especially at such a low price point - the Butter Lipsticks retail at £5.50 & the Jumbo Lip Pencils at £5.00 - and I will definitely be picking up a few more come pay day.

Have you tried anything from NYX? What did you think? Any recommendations? 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

Mini Beauty Haul #3

Mini Beauty Haul #3

Sunday, 2 August 2015

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Yes another Haul post. I'm sorry guys I hope you're not getting bored yet. Make up, as you guys know, is my favourite thing and I love nothing more than blowing my hard earned pennies on it. Some people collect shoes or stamps, I collect mascaras and eyeshadow pallets, nail polish and lipsticks. Here are the latest additions to my ever growing collection.

Topshop Beauty Lip Bullet in Back in the Game - (Sorry guys can't find this online, I picked mine up on sale £4.00 in store)

Now I didn't need another blue-toned pink lipstick, like blue nail polish I have too many of them already but I just find them completely irresistible. This is such a pretty colour, it's quite a bit lighter than what I would normally go for, more of a barbie pink than a fuchsia, but it's really nice. I've not actually had much experience with Topshop make up, my local Topshop stocking only the bare minimum, but the formulation of this is amazing. Creamy, highly pigmented, matte yet moisturising and a decent amount of wear time. I'm in love. 

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Olé Flamingo - £8.99 from Boots

I have sung the praises of the Bourgeois Rouge Edition Velvets from the rooftops (read more about that here),  so I won't bang on about this one too much. Olé Flamingo is an old favourite of mine and I was so gutted after losing mine recently. I had to get new one. The formula is lovely, the wear time is fabulous and that colour is amazing. Enough said.

Illamasqua Nail Polish in Serenity - £14.50 from Illamasqua

Illamasqua is a brand I've long admired from afar. Their make up is dramatic and fun and of a really, beautiful quality but being a perpetually broke student their high end price tags were out of my reach. So when I saw this beautiful turquoise polish in the beauty aisle at T.K. Maxx (my happy place!) for £3.99, they usually retail at £14.50, I snapped it up before the little voice in my head could say NOOOOO you own too many blue polishes put it back! Everything about it is beautiful, especially that gorgeous packaging and the equally stunning, rich turquoise colour. Now I didn't realise this at the time but the finish is matte, which I'm not usually a fan of, but it's actually quite nice. I've only had it on for a couple of days but it's lasted quite well and the formula's nice; thinner than I was expecting so you need 3 - 4 coats to achieve opacity but it's easily workable and builds up nicely. 

OPI Nail Lacquer in Cuckoo for this Colour - £6.99 from Amazon

I love OPI for their high coverage formulas and their amazing colour range, so when I saw this beautiful, metallic forest green, I couldn't resist. It was pretty much a no brainer. It's not a particularly summery shade but I can see myself getting a lot of wear out of this come Autumn/Winter. It's a very Christmassy shade. I love it

What's on your make up wish list? Anything you're dying to splash the cash on? Any recommendations for me? I'd love to hear them! Let me know on twitter, by commenting below or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check me out on instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat - search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for updates.

Love love love xxx

Mini Soap & Glory Haul

Mini Soap & Glory Haul

Thursday, 28 August 2014

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So this post was supposed to go up last night but life -and by life I mean Scandal & The Great British Bake Off- got in the way. Once I saw the 'bincident' on The Great British Bake Off I was useless for the rest of the night. Anyway... I have been going through a bit of Soap & Glory obsession at the moment and have been adding some new pieces to my collection so I thought I'd do a Mini Soap & Glory Haul. 

                    

L to R: Blush Brick in Peach Party, Solar Powder & One Heck of a Blot all by Soap & Glory.

Soap & Glory Blush Brick in Peach Party

This is one of the most beautiful blushes I have ever seen, it is gorgeous. This has been on my shopping list for some time, after buying and loving the blush brick in Love at First Blush (read about it here) I had to add more to my collection. It is the most beautiful, shimmery peach blush. I love it. 

Soap & Glory Solar Powder 

Confession time... this is the first bronzer I have ever bought. Having the pasty white complexion of a queasy ghost on a particularly pale day I am really wary of bronzer. I'm really scared that I'll end up with a bright orange face, which is not a good look for anyone. However I thought it was about time I put my irrational fear of bronzer and fake tan to bed. Whilst I have yet to pluck up the courage to actually use it I really like that it has a light and medium shade. I will keep you posted. 

Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot Translucent Powder

AKA the best translucent powder in the world. Okay maybe not the world but definitely on the high street. I picked this up after hitting pan on my Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Face Powder by Collection (read about it here and here). This is so good. It's really finely milled so is not at all cakey and has a beautiful velvety smooth finish. It also came with a really cute puff, which I probably won't use... either way I. Love. It.

Sorry again that this post was so late, Scandal has taken over my life! It is so amazing But here it is, better late than never (I seem to say that a lot these days, sorry). So have you tried any of these amazing products? What do you think? Love them? Hate them? Think they're a bit meh? I want to know. Let me know via twitter or by commenting below. If you comment I always try to respond so do check back. Also pop over to my facebook, BlogLovin, instagram &pinterest and give me a cheeky like/follow, you know if you feel like it ;)

I will be back tomorrow with Friday I'm in Love #9, I mean it this time. So check back tomorrow.

Until then... 

Love love love x