7 DEADLY SINS OF BEAUTY TAG

Source - WeHeartIt

Hi loves,

I know I’m very late with this tag, but I just couldn’t not do it as I love the questions and after recently seeing the videos of MissGlamorazzi and SprinkleOfGlitter it just really made me want to do it. So here’s my 2p worth of all things beauty and sinful…

1. GREED: What is your most inexpensive beauty item? What is your most expensive? 

My most inexpensive beauty product is probably my NYC Sunny bronzer which I picked up in New York for about $2, but it’s equally as cheap in the UK as it’s about £2 in most drugstores. I love this as its perfect for adding some warmth to fair to medium skin tones when you want a bit of colour but nothing too overwhelming.

The most expensive product I own is either my Urban Decay Naked palette or Chanel Bronze Universel. I love both, and both are equally expensive, but I know now that I just couldn’t be without them again. There’s not much to say about the Naked palette except it’s all the neutral eyeshadows you need, and the Chanel bronzer is perfect for either a sunkissed glow or contouring your face.  

2. WRATH: What beauty products do you have a love/hate relationship with? 

Another double answer – I can’t decide between false lashes or glitter nail polish. I absolutely love both, but they are just both such phaffs to use. When I have lashes done nicely, I feel amazing and my eyes instantly look better, but putting them on takes just too much effort what with cutting them, then gluing them then getting alien hand by the time you come to apply them. And glitter nail polish looks so pretty, especially OPI Rainbow Connection, but getting it off is such a bitch and sometimes some glitters are difficult to get an even coat when applying them.

3. GLUTTONY: What are your most delicious beauty products? 

As probably most people have put for this question, I am in love with Lush products. My favourite is the Sweetie Pie shower jelly, which to me smells like a blackcurrant drink with a tiny hint of mint running through it. I love using this in the morning as it really wakes me up and it leaves your skin feeling so soft and smooth. And when I’m waiting for the shower to heat up I take the whole thing out the pot and wibble-wobble it for a minute just for the lols(!).

4. SLOTH: What beauty product do you neglect, due to laziness? 

Definitely primer. I don’t know why I don’t use it everyday as I love it when it’s on as it makes my skin look smoother and helps makeup last longer, but when I’m in a rush its literally just slap on the foundation, blush and mascara and primer just gets thrown out the window. I probably should use it more because it’s better for your skin to have a layer of something between the moisturiser and foundation.

5. PRIDE: What beauty product gives you the most self confidence?

I don’t know if this would count, but fake tan, especially the StTropez tanning mousse. When I have fake tan on, I instantly feel better and more glamorous and gives my legs a bit more shape. If were talking on the face, that would have to be either foundation, especially the Bourjois healthy mix foundation or contour. Both just make your face look better and I know when I have these on I look like a better version of me.

6. LUST: What attributes do you find most attractive in the opposite sex? 

Oh were do I start?! Firstly I don’t understand why this is involved in a beauty tag, but hey ho. I love tall men and dark hair, a strong jaw and a lovely roman nose. But if were not being shallow, I just like someone who can make me laugh – I can’t imagine it would be much fun to go out with a fella who was stunning but had a face on all the time or was miserable.

7. ENVY: What items would you most like to receive as a gift?

I would have to say perfume, as I very rarely buy this for myself. For every Christmas, my mum will get me one of three perfumes – either PacoRabanne Lady Million, CalvinKlein CKIn2U or Carolina Herrera 212. I absolutely love all of these, but I have to say its always special getting the latter as that is the perfume that she has worn for years (probably before I was born if its been going for that long!) so when I spritz it on it always reminds me of her. People have even commented ‘You smell like your mum!’.

I loved doing this tag! The questions were fun to answer and I’m glad I’ve finally got around to doing it. I tag all of you to do it, so leave a comment to a link of yours or just simply comment on what your answers would be!

xx, gabriellle

SEPHORA HAUL

Let's just address the fact that yes I have now lost my Sephora virginity! I'll attach a little picture of me when I first set my sites on the Sephora in Times Square at the end of this post. When I first went in, it was a little different to what I expected - the actual shop was an odd shape so the brands were set in a way I wouldn't necessarily have thought they would be. Anyway, enough about the structure of the building, and let's get on to what was inside it!

I didn't get as much as I thought I would but boy, what I did get I love. I went to 3 Sephora's and got a few things in each one - on my last trip to the sacred land I had to put a few things back (the Fresh cleanser and the Sephora brush cleanser) as I got a little bit overambitious! On to what did make the basket...

Sephora Ultra Shine lip gloss in Rose Petal - I didn't initially intend to get this beaut, and only picked it up when I was looking at the lipstick display after a friend got a lipstick and it was gorgeous. This is absolutely gorgeous - it's a natural, rose tinted pink that gives your lips that something extra. The applicator is great and coats my whole lip and the formula is non sticky and lasts a good few hours which I was pleasantly surprised about as lip gloss has normally disappeared on me within the hour. This retails for $14, so around £8, so doesn't break the bank either! I'd definitely get more shades if I were to go back to the US.

Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Natural Beauty - this was the number one thing I dived for in Sephora. I clapped eyes on it, did a quick swatch and was at the till within seconds. Seriously. I was just in love - its the perfect blush for everyday but just gives the cheeks a bit more colour than what you'd expect for an everyday blush. In the pan, it looks terrifying, as its a strawberry red shade, but a few sweeps across the apples of the cheeks and it makes you look so healthy and vibrant, and even shapes your face a little too. These blushes are also true to everyones claims - they're so long lasting and a little goes such a long way. At $26 they aren't cheap but are definitely worth it.

Benefit They're Real mini mascara - This is one of the best mascaras I've tried and is just a no fuss, does it all product - it lengthens my lashes really well, whilst separating them nicely and adding just the right amount of volume. I did only get the mini as I had planned to get a few other mascaras while I was over there and was enticed by the samples around the till (how can you not be?!) so I may repurchase this over here. What I love with the Benefit minis is that you get the same brush as you would with the full size product, which is great as the brush is the main thing that makes this product so great. This product was only $10 too, so it's great if you're just wanting to try it out.

Paco Rabanne Lady Million rollerball - I don't need to say too much about this, do I? It's just perfect - the perfect mix of citrus and musky scents that is just the nicest scent ever, after Dolce and Gabanna Light Blue Men. We can't get rollerballs in the UK so I was glad to get one of these for perfume application while I'm out and about. At $20, they're alot cheaper than bottles of fragrance and so saves you a few pennies, or cents, if you are only wanting to try the scent.

What wasn't photographed...

Benefit TropiCORAL set - I only got this because I had planned to get CORALista, but when I seen it I thought about whether or not I would really use a whole one of the boxed blushes up. So when I seen this next to it, and about $3 cheaper, I whipped it up into my basket. This contains products I've tried and a few new ones - it has a pan of CORALista blush and a mini High Beam, which I both love, and the CORALista lip gloss and a mini Cha Cha tint, which I haven't tried but am really excited to use. The box is so cute too, as is the packaging it comes in, which is a gorgeous pink leopard print. This retails for around $28, so roughly around £16, which is alot cheaper than in the UK - the UK market price is £25.50, but I'd say its well worth it.

Sephora tapered crease brush - I was going to get some Sigma brushes when I was in New York, however a few days before I was set to jet off I found out that they don't have an actual shop (to my knowledge anyway) and so those plans had to be flushed down the drain. So I thought about what brushes I wanted the most and a crease brush was right up there with the must haves. I opted for the tapered one, which I probably wouldn't get again before the plain version, but nevertheless this is still fabulous - its amazing at applying colour really precisely into the crease and blending it out a little. The Sephora own brand brushes come with a little brush protector too, which is adorable and great for travelling.

Here is a b-e-a-utiful photograph of me after clapping eyes on the Times Square store...

That's everything I picked up from the glorious beacon of beauty on my first trip, so who knows what will end up in my basket the second time around? Also, Sephora are now shipping to the UK, yipeee! But be aware that certain products such as perfume and aerosols are out of the question due to import restrictions. What about you - what's your favourite Sephora products?

xx, gabrielle

NEW YORK WISH LIST

Lets firstly address that this is my first post. Yes, my first post. Eeeeeeek. So what better way, i thought, to kick off this little blogging journey than to share with you all the products i'll be lusting after when i make my little trip to see our friends across the Atlantic in a week or so, and hopefully be bringing back to Blighty with me...

As you won't already know, I'm currently studying Law in college (amongst Psychology and English Language) and I will be flying out to New York with the Law and Drama department on February 10th, and whilst i'm budding with excitement that we're visiting iconic landmarks like the Empire State Building, Statton Island and Broadway (lucky me!), the thing i'm most itching to get my teeth into are the drugstores, and, of course, the beloved Sephora...

Whilst when i first scattered everything down onto paper that i longed to add to my collection it come to the grand old sum of $902, i have whittled it down to the things that i think are the best of beauty in the States.

- MAC products - Now i know Mac is readily available in the UK, but the exchange rate means that they are considerably cheaper across the pond than here at home, so i've drawn up a list of the products i'm dying to try from the brand. Where eyeshadows are concerned, i list could have been endless, but i've popped three on the list - Naked Lunch, Brun and Club. Brun is simply on there for when i run out of my Urban Decay brow box, as its a great match for my eyebrows, whilst Naked Lunch simply had to be on there thanks to Tanya's ravings about it. I thought i'd add a little wild card in the form of Club, as it isn't a colour i'd usually go for and seems as i wear alot of black on nights out i think it will add a little more dimension to a dark outfit. I've added the pro palette and insert too, as these are also cheaper in the States. As for lipsticks, the iconic Hue has made the list, as i like the natural nude hue (see what i did there?!) it gives the lips without making them look like foundation lips. Face and Body foundation, Gingerly blush and Vanilla pigment have too made the cute - i'm curious to see what the foundation is all about, i've been wanting to the try the blush since Allison recommends it and I have loved the pigment ever since the lovely ladies at Peaches and Cream applied it as a highlight when i got peached, but there is more to come on that at a later date. I'm thinking about repurchasing another 217, which i've fallen head over heels with in just a month and can't bare to be without, as well as getting a 239, which i've heard pretty strong claims that it is the best shader brush any company has ever put out - i'm excited to see how it holds up against my beloved Lauren Luke shader brush. 

- NYX products - While you can get NYX products in the UK, they are quite hard to find, so i'm going to take advantage of American drugstores and pick up a few products i've tried before and some that have been recommended in the beauty community. I've decided on the Slide On Pencils in Jet Black and Brown Perfection - i already have the Urban Decay Glide on Pencil in Perversion and since i've heard that the NYX counterparts are just as good and cheaper, i thought i'd give Jet Black a whirl for when i run out of the UD one. Brown Perfection will be for days when black is just a little too harsh, and a softer colour is much needed. Apart from the pencils, the Cream blush will also be in my suitcase on the way home, as i've tried these before and the formula is just fantastic - it's slightly balmy, which means it has great staying power and looks fab on the lips too. Red Cheeks, Glow, Natural and Orange are my shades of choice - Glow and Natural give a lovely natural dewy look, whilst I think Orange and Red Cheeks will look gorgeous in the summer. 

- Maybelline products - when it comes to Maybelline, it's all about the lips. The Baby Lips lip balms will be in my basket, partcularly Pink Punch and the Too Cool Dr Rescue balm, which you can't currently get in the UK. The Colour Whisper lipsticks, which i've heard are Maybelline's answer to the Revlon lip butters, are also something i'm keen to try, in Lust for Blush and Who Wore It Red-er. The former is a soft, everyday neutral pink type shade, whilst i've chosen the latter as i really struggle to wear bold lip shades because of my wonky shaped lips, so a sheerer formula is perfect for adding a pop of subtle colour without it looking too full on. While i'm in the US, i may also try the Baby Skin primer after seeing Lily's post, as i'm really interested to see how the drugstore compares with higher end primers. 

- The rest of the drugstore - i'm keen to sample the rest of the best American drugstores have to offer, and that includes a few cult items. I'll be searching for the Wet n Wild Vanity palette, which when i've seen swatches online has a few shades similar to some of MAC's most popular eyeshadows; i've also heard that the Reserve Your Cabana powder is a drugstore dupe for the powder of the moment, Hourgass Ambient Lighting powder, and at $40 cheaper, i'm going to go with the drugstore option on this one! L'Oreal Infallable Eyeshadow in Continous Cocoa has also made the list, for when i just want a one colour smokey eye. I did originally have 3 other shades down from this range - Smoldering Plum, Midnight Blue and Endless Pearl, but decided against them as i feel that i already have those colours in my collection, especially Midnight Blue, as from the images i've seen MAC Contrast looks pretty similar. I'm excited to try the EOS lip balm in pomegranate raspberry as these are another iconic American product that everyone seems to rave about, so i'm going to jump on the band wagon! One of Allison's other recommendations, NYC Sunny Bronzer (how appropriate!) is on my makeup lust list, as i'm looking for another contour colour and didn't feel like forking out for NARS Laguna after my last one smashed (sob). Elsewhere, my talons will be treated to a number of polishes - Essie Topless and Barefoot, which looks like the perfect neutral no-brainer polish, China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy, which is a gorgeous summer colour with an even more gorgeous summer name, and OPI Black Onyx, which is a just a bog standard black glossy shade that i need as i haven't got a black polish in my ever expanding nail polish stash believe it or not. Since i've had so much luck in the past with Real Techniques brushes, i've popped the Duo Fibre Collection and the Powder Brush on the list, as i've heard great things about both, although i'm not to sure as to whether the duo fibre set is still available. 

- The Sephora purchases - I've saved the best till last - the Sephora list. I can't put into words how excited i am to visit this wonderland of beauty products - i'll be worse than a kid in a sweet shop, lets just say that! Clinique Chubby Stick in Whoppin' Watermelon will be in my basket, after seeing my auntie use it last year and falling in love with the colour and finish. I'm interested to see how i feel about these chubby stick type lip pencils after it seems like every brand has brought out their own version over this last year, so I hope the original gloss balm bad boy squares up to my high hopes. Over in the blush arena, Benefit CORALista and Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Natural Beauty have found their way on to my list. I've had a mini Coralista before and liked it so much that I wanted the full size, whilst the Amazonian Clay blushes are so iconic it would be rude not to dip my toe in the water whilst i was over there! Natural Beauty is the most beautiful, gorgeous, stunning (can you tell i like it?) red-pink sheeny hybrid that i've ever seen, that looks amazing sweeped across the cheeks. Now where nail polishes are concerned, I'm going to try the Formula X polishes, after Tiffany fell in love with them after the launch and now seems to have accumulated a hefty chunk of the collection. I originally wanted Curiosity, but after coming across Infatuated online and drooling all over the keyboard on my laptop when i seen it i knew it was the shade for me. You could have a powder blue nail clipping and i'd be after it. 

That's all that's on my list for now - I may tweak it slightly before i go, as i have another week before i go yet so it could be subject to change. What have you bought when you've been over to the States? Let me know if you think i've missed anything off!

xx, gabrielle