Bobbi Brown Natural Finish Long Lasting Foundation

I had never brought a Bobbi Brown product before last summer. I was asked to be a Bridesmaid at my Boyfriends Sisters wedding. As I couldn't afford the make up artist the Bride was having I booked an appointment to have a Bridesmaid Make up Tutorial at my nearest Bobbi Brown.

I really liked their products and ended up purchasing a few. Their wider arrange of foundation colours means that they have the perfect colour to match my skin tone as I am quite pale and I really like it has a more natual, dewy finish instead of looking cakey or powdery. 

I was initially sold their 'Skin Foundation' a lovely foundation that made my skin look radiant but unfortunately didn't have the staying power and needed re-applying halfway though the day. 

As I was so happy with the colour match and luxuriousness of the product I wanted another Bobbi Brown Foundation that could just hold on a little longer. So I was then offered this....

Bobbi Brown Natual Finish Long Lasting Foundation SPF 15

The colour Warm Ivory is their second palest shade available (I was quite chuffed to not actually be the palest) and I am really happy. It does last all day and covers any blemishes I have from time to time if I put it on a little thicker. If like me you find it difficult to find foundations that match your skin tone from most make up brands from drug store to high end I really recommend this.

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Carmine Box: February

Yay the February Carmine Box arrived this morning. I ran straight upstairs to grab my camera so I could take photos to show you as I open it.

There are six products in the box this week, three of them full size and a bonus perfume tester which I think makes the box brilliant value for money.

First a is Diego Dalla Palma Lipstick. I received it in shade 42 which is a nice plum red. It is quite small but the colour looks so much up my street that I may have to purchase the full size.

A brilliant full sized product is this Balance Me Super Moisturising Body Wash. Created in the UK and 99% natural with a lovely smell...... I cannot wait to use it.

This is the bonus perfume tester. It's called Peony created by Yardley London. It's a lovely flowery scent that will be perfect for during spring.

Another sample is this White Glo Extra Strength Whitening Toothpaste. Its a good size so I will be able to use it a few times to determine if it actually whitens my teeth. I think I might save it for the run up to a holiday or event.

This is another full size product. Steamcream Steam-infused moisturiser. I love the tin and will be putting it straight into my handbag. It's apparently the latest concept in skincare as it can be used from head to toe and is full of nourishing oils. It also smells of Lavender which is my favourite so as long as I don't find it greasy it will be another product I will be purchasing.

How weird that I only did a post about Andrea Fulerton's Nail Art Pen last week. I received this full sized glittery pink colour called Joanne. Although I am not a huge pink fan I think I will use it from time to time perhaps just on one nail when the rest are in a dark colour. The colour is really vibrant just after one coat and the Andrea Fulerton polishes are now available from Superdrug which is brilliant, I have a feeling it will be a brand I will buy more often.

I am really happy with this months box. I will be using all of the products and already can't wait till next months.

If you fancy singing up to Carmine I would really appreciate it if you used my Carmine Invitation  to help me gain points towards a free box.

Do you think you will be signing up to Carmine? Or any other beauty box? Are there any products you would like to try from this months box?

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Ombre Hair

I have always been a red head, it's an auburn shade that changes colour throughout the year and my family have always put me off dying my 'unique' hair colour. However after 21 years of looking in the mirror and seeing the same hair it becomes very tedious. I wanted a way I could have a new hair style without cutting off the hair I have been trying to grow long for years now and without losing my natural colour forever. So when I saw a few of my favourite celebrities with Ombre/dip dyed hair (Having a more natural looking gradual hair colour change is called Ombre hair whereas if its coloured say blue at the end its Dip dyed.)  

I thought it was a good idea as I can leave the dye to grow out or cut it out when I decide to go back Au Natural without having to dye my hair a fake reddish colour.

My sister is the complete opposite and has has dyed her hair every colour under the sun (it is currently bright purple) So it was her I trusted to dye it for the first time. I was so nervous it was going to go wrong or I was going to hate it.

This is what it looked like before any dye.

This is the dye that we used has it has bleach mixed in with the dye so its one easy step, just mixing it all in the bottle and rubbing it into the lower lengths of my hair.

We used the whole bottle to make sure all the hair was evenly covered and it was applied from just below my jaw downwards. I then twisted the dyed hair so I would plod around the house for about 25 minutes while it worked its magic.

Then once washed out this is what it looked like.

I am really happy with the results. I still cant get used to having a different hair colour and I like that I have the choice of going back to my natural hair colour when I want to.

What do you think? Have you Ombred or Dip Dyed your hair?

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NOTD: War Paint and Stripe & Sparkle

I purchased this Topshop nail varnish last week while shopping in Liverpool. After putting it on I was a little dissapointed as I was hoping for a more burnt Orange colour then the Pinkish shade its like when its painted on. I think for the summer months it will be a colour I will wear more often because of its coral tones but until then I am not the biggest fan of Pink against the dark colours I wear from day to day during the winter.

 I got a little excited by the Andrea Fulerton Nail Boutique Stripe & Sparkle Nail Varish art pen that I forgot to take a photo of my nails before having a little Art Attack (and making a huge mess) on them.
I purchased the art pen in Superdrug. They had a huge stand in the store and I had to stop my self from buying about ten different products I wanted to try out.
I decided on this White art pen thinking it would be cute to add white dots to my nails or experiment with patterns.

Unfortunately I am rubbish. I don't mind the heart or the diagonal tip but everything else I pretty much ruined as I am so heavy handed (Hence why I have hidden my index finger due to a royal mess), I definitely need more practice. I think once I have mastered a pattern ill sprinkle a little glitter on just one of the nails of each hand.

Have you had an experiment with an Art Pen? Do you have a blog post or Vlog on cool nail patterns? Post them underneath I would love to see them.

 

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P.s I organised my nail varnishes into my Primark box from my shopping trip. I love having them all colour coded and all in one place now. However there are quite a few empty spaces......Think I need to buy some more. Do you have any colour recommendations?

Valentines Shopping Haul

I was trying to be good and not spend too much money while in Liverpool for Valentines Day and think I was quite good. As my closest Topshop is closed for refurbishment at the moment I needed my Topshop fix so I purchased...

To accessorise and experiement with my Statement Ear I thought I would try out these Spike earrings. I think I will only wear one at a time in my left ear which has the most piercings in as I think having them in both ears may look a bit much. 

I really like this burnt red kinda colour called War Paint. I will do a NOTD post when I try it on.

I couldn't resist adding these two to my ring collection. I think they will look great with the majority of my clothes and I like the look of them worn together.

I am really glad 90's Grunge has come back this season, my day to day wardrobe is full of black tops, jeans, boots, chunky knits, leather jackets and anything with a bit of an edgy design. At the moment I am having a little bit of an obsession with crosses so I needed this T-shirt. 

(Cross Tee By Realitee £22)

Primark is my kryptonite. I cannot resist bulk buying when I visit large ones like in Liverpool or Manchester. I try not to buy clothing from there and invest in more well made clothes that I am able to sell on Asos Marketplace when I need to make room in my wardrobe, but their accessories and homewere I just cannot resist and some of my comfiest shoes are from Primark. 

This bedding was £9, how amazing is that? I have washed it with loads of conditioner to soften it up before putting it on my bed and now it smells lovely as well as looking lovely. 

I love knick knacky storage and brought this before even planning on what I was going to put in it. Ive decided to put all of my Nail Polishes all colour coordinated inside as they are currently all just slung in my bedside table and around my bedroom, am I really a nerd to be excited about organising my Nail Varnishes?!

Primark tights are brilliant. I kinda resent having to spend a lot of money on tights as I am really clumsy and they always end with holes in eventually and at £2 you can buy every Denier and pattern and it wont break the bank. I brought their highest Denier and these caged patterned tights to add to the draw.

and another impulse purchase were these Pretty Pink Rose Scented butterfly tea candles that smell gorgeous.

Finally.... I brought this Tartan Print dress from Pop Boutique for £18. I think it is a tad short for me to wear as a dress, I think ill pair with with leggings or jeans for now and denim shorts in the summer. I was really glad to see Tartan on a few LFW A/W 2012 catwalks as now I know I will be wearing it for a few seasons to come.

What do you think of my new buys?? Any styling tips??

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Valentines 2012

Ive never really done a post about me before. I have only ever written about items I have brought or trends that have caught my eye so as I was going away with my Boyfriend to Liverpool for Valentines day I thought I might do my first ever outfit post.

 I have always been a bit shy about putting photos of myself on my blog due to being a bit self conscious but after (another) renaming I wanted the blog to be more personal so welcome to the new and improved.... L. Loves. 

The weekend was lovely, the hotel was gorgeous, the shopping was brilliant. I had to reign myself in from spending too much as my car is currently consuming the majority of my funds but I had to treat myself to a few bits.

The Hotel we stayed in was Heywood House Hotel. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Liverpool a night in a deluxe room is a bargain at £75 and its in a perfect central location from all the shops, restaurants, museums and other tourist attractions.

I was very excited to see that when we got to our room I was greeted by some lovely Valentines Day treats.

This is me and my boyfriend Andy before a long day shopping.

We had booked a meal in a restaurant on the Albert Docks so I wanted to dress up but also wanted to be comfortable as I was intending on consuming a lot of food.

Dress: Ted baker

Blazer: Topshop

Scarf: Alexander McQueen

Clutch: Zara

Belt: Zara

Shoes: Missguided

Watch: Michael Kors

I love the dress and did feel a little guilty wearing it as I am definitely not a girl who can wear white and not spill on it and as it was my graduation dress I would like to keep it in as good a condition as I can but  I hate the thought of only ever wearing a dress once.

I had been dying for a pair of Jeffery Campbell Litas but couldn't justify the £120 price tag so I really could not resist these Missguided look-a-likes when I saw them online.

The restaurant we went to was Miller & Carter Steakhouse and was really lovely. They had filled the restaurant with red candles and there were lots of loved up couples so the atmosphere was really cosy and romantic.

Strawberry Daiquiri.... Yummy!!

Albert Docks

After a night of over indulgence we decided to go for a stroll around some vintage shops the next morning to burn off all the steak and alcohol I wore...

Dress: Topshop

Belt: Zara

Necklace: Primark

Wedges: Primark

Watch: Michael Kors

Do you prefer a blog thats more personal? What did you get up to for Valentines day? I would love to hear from you.

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