A must share

All Time Favourite - Make-Up Remover for Eyes

A product I need to highly recommend and also commend as a purchase that does what it says on the bottle is Nivea's Double Effect Eye Make-Up Remover. I first came over this product in an advert and decided to try it out. I've always been on the search for a great mascara remover because waterproof mascara is the only type that will hold my lashes up but the downside is that it can be a pain to remove. 

Nivea have claimed that the remover dissolves even extreme waterproof mascara without rubbing and works due to the Cornflower Extract. It also protects sensitive eyelashes with its caring bi-phase formula and does not leave any unpleasant greasy residue. I was pretty much sold by the description!

But since I had previously tried many 'waterproof make-up removers' before that all claimed to be THE one that could do the best job, I had a biased opinion that it would not be all that. 

But I was wrong...

After shaking up the liquid and soaking two cotton pads for my eyes, I held it onto my eye make-up for about 5-10 seconds and as if by magic, one swipe and the majority of my make up had transferred onto the pad, I couldn't believe it! I tried it with all types of eye make-up to just make sure and it really is compatible with any product. As previously mentioned, many products will advertise themselves to the one that will do the job, however this only really does!

This make-up remover can honestly be called a holy grail. 

If you are a make-up wearer who uses anything fancy for the eyes, I seriously recommend this product. I cannot praise it enough for doing exactly what it claims to do. It also does not feel like chemical or anything harmful and importantly does not affect my contact lenses when I have those in. It is a super product and something I will continually have as one of my staples. It also makes me optimistic about Nivea's skincare range! 

Do you have any highly recommended products you like to go to?

Please let me know in the comments below!

Love Anna x

Favourite Fragrance

My Fragrance

I absolutely love perfumes but it does take me a while to find THE one scent I like. So usually discovering new favourites involves many trips to the fragrance counters and leaving with strips of samples. 

I did come across one a long time ago that I really liked but I could never find it in any stores and if by chance...whilst taking a trip to Bicester Village, I noticed it! 

It is the Incanto Charms perfume by Salvatore Ferragamo and the smell is just my abolsute favourite. Especially for days when I'm feeling a little more fancier, I like to wear it but even for a day at work, I spritz a little over me and it lasts. 

Another bonus with this perfume is that the bottle is so pretty! 

What is your current favourite perfume? 

Love Anna x

Glossybox April

Glam Glossybox April

April's Glossybox was such a lovely Marilyn Monroe theme that looks so pretty, I didn't even want to open it! The box was completely white with a black and white drawing of Marilyn and inside everything was wrapped up in a pale blue theme.

The products inside my glossybox this month were so spring-inspired with some pale colours and bold pieces too. I received a warm lavender body lotion, Colour Club nail varnish in Barely there colour, Lord & Berry lip crayon, Astral moisturiser and kajal pen pop.

As mentioned in the previous Glossybox post, I love nail varnish so I was very happy to see another one in the post this month. The one I received really is a 'barely there' nail varnish and when painted it is a very sheer colour but this is good for when you want to have a more natural look. 

The new product is one I like to keep for those days I'm feeling glam and want to have some fun with my look! Its Lord & Berry's crayon lipstick in the colour Kiss. It's such a vibrant colour but works well with my skin tone so I love it! I do need to make sure I have a lip balm underneath though as crayon's can be quite drying. 

I already have my go to moisturiser/facial oil and because I have sensitive skin, I don't like to test too many skin products out. I read that this product is good for even acne prone skin though so I decided to try it out. When applying it, it does feel thick and that made me cautious about using it again. However, it did leave my skin feeling very moisturised. I wouldn't quickly swap this product into my go-to skincare routine as it is hard to get use to but I will use it especially when I have dry areas.

The last product is kajal pen pop eyeliner which has a smudging sponge on the end. I've never thought that smokey eyes suit asian mono-lids so I'd never use that end. I did try out the eyeliner once but once was enough because I ended up looking like a panda and had to constantly wipe the black that bled to my lower lid. From my previous eyeliner posts, I did mention that I have problems with eyeliners that smudge to my bottom lid throughout the day and this happens to be one of them! 

Overall, it was a great box with some great products! I am waiting to be wow-ed by a product but there have been some keepers but equally some binned products. I still love receiving them in the post though and unpacking them gets me excited each time! However the products displayed on the website definitely seem much more likeable than some of the ones I've been receiving! My hopes are up for future boxes though :D

If you receive the Glossybox subscriptions, I'd love to hear your experiences! So please leave comments below or if you want to hear more about some of the products listed in either this or previous posts. 

Love Anna x

Glossybox March

The Spring Glossybox 

So it has been a while since I last posted but I've recently been very busy at work and in my personal life. Also I vowed that this blog would be for when I wanted to share my experiences, in my creative moments, so truthfully I was lacking motivation to post.

But...I'm back and I have lots to share :) and I'm excited about these posts I want to publish.

One that I want and need to begin with is my March Glossybox! I know this is very delayed, however I still wanted to make sure I posted about it because I really liked some of the products I received. The delay has also given me time to try out the products a little more too.

The products I got were Naobay Moisturising Peeling Cleanser, Dove Youthful Vitality Shampoo and Conditioner, Sleek Pout Paint, essence volume mascara and ncLA nail varnish.
I have used the cleanser a few times and it does leave a nice fresh feeling after, however the only downside is that it is extremely runny. When I open the bottle cap, I need to make sure I don't tilt it too much otherwise it just runs out. But it is a gorgeous smelling product that does a good job of taking the remainder of my make up off as well as leaving my skin feeling good.
I haven't actually used the shampoo and conditioner but mostly because I have always been picky about what I use, so I like to stick to what I know works well.

The essence mascara has a very unique bottle, which I really like. I have been keen on trying new mascaras so I was happy to see this in my box. I do have very stubborn short asian lashes, so only specific mascaras work well. Unfortunately this is one of the ones that don't work well. I don't believe it's anything to do with the brand but more because of the types of lashes I have.

The ncLA nail varnish is in the shade 'I Only Fly Private' and I love the colour! It looks great with my skin tone and I just love it. The only problem is the one I have has a dodgy brush so it was a little hard to apply but otherwise I really like it. 

I've never seen this sleek product before and I am quite a big sleek fan, so I wanted to see what this product was about. It is quite a good concept as you can apply the pout paint thickly for more colour or thinly for a faint lip taint. I really would like to try more colours and shades!

Overall, I really like my March Glossybox, more than my February one, which makes me really excited for all the ones to come :D!

I love trying new products or trying out recommendations. So do let me know about any products you have recently tried! Also feel free to ask me answer questions in terms of what I have received in my boxes!

Love Anna x

Glossy Box

February Glossy Box Unboxing

For my birthday, my sisters bought me a 12 month subscription to Glossy Box, which really was one of the best gifts ever. For those that don't know what Glossy Box is, it is a monthly subscription beauty box that has 5 products in. I've always wanted to subscribe but never have so I honestly couldn't wait to get my first box. Also the thought of receiving a box every month for a year just excites me beyond relief! 

So when I finally collected my package from the post office, I couldn't wait to rip it open and check out all the products inside. The box inside was such a lovely decorated Love Box with cute little words on the sides, top and base. I had such a big grin on my face as a open each layer and beyond excited to see what was underneath it all.

After taking a few (quite a lot) of photos of the unboxing process, I eventually got to the good stuff. The 5 products packaged in my box were a mascara, a razor, a lip and cheek cream, a lip butter and a mineral eyeshadow. As I've only just received it, I have yet to try out the products more but I have taken close ups and a swatch to show the products inside my box. I did expect some more beauty products and possibly nail products, just as that would be suited towards me.

However, I'm extremely happy with what I have received and eager to try them all out. 

I love the monthly subscription gift ideas as it such a great concept that brings so much excitement and joy! Since opening February's love box, I really cannot wait to see what March's box brings. I will make sure to take many pictures (maybe more of the products next time) and share all the amazing things I receive.

I want to say thanks to my very thoughtful sisters as well, as I really think this present is so well suited to me so:

Thank you <3

Also make sure to follow me on Bloglovin or subscribe to my blog so that you can read next week's unboxing post! I'd love to read all your comments as well such as subscriptions you guys have or even ones you've heard of, so leave them down below.

Love Anna x 

Mid Week Rave

Mid Week Product Rave

It's been a while since I posted and mostly due to the crazy amount of things I've had to do! Christmas is such a busy period so you all must know what I mean. Hope you've all been good though and everyone is ready for Christmas! 
I've decided to do a quick mid-week rave about some new products I bought recently and seriously been loving! A lot of them I've incorporated into my everyday wear just because I love them and they're so perfect for right now.

The first is something I've been wanting to try for a while. I've seen so many YouTube videos about this new dry shampoo called CO Lab, so when I saw it instore I decided to purchase it. My sister recently got me into Batiste's dry shampoos but I wanted to experiment with other brands as well and this one has just been perfect. Just like I found with the new Batiste range, it doesn't leave white streaks in my dark hair and because I don't like to wash my hair every night as I feel it makes it worse, this really has been my saviour. What also makes it the best as well, is the scent and my favourite is definitely the Tokyo fragrance.



Another two products I've just loved is my Seventeen Cheek Stamp in and Sleek's Blusher in Rose Gold. I already have a cheek stamp and I used it until I hit the tin so I purchased another in the shade Bash-ful. Its a very subtle colour when blended out and helps give a little colour the cheeks.

The other blusher I purchased was Sleek's in the shade 'Rose Gold'. I've been wanting to get my hands on this product for a while now especially when I found out it was very similar to Nars blush in 'Orgasm', which I've wanted to buy since forever. The thing I love most about this is the highlighting effect it has from the shimmer. When applied lightly to the cheeks, it can add some colour and a brightening effect.

Lastly, a product I'm loving is an eyeliner, which has definitely made it to the top of my favourite eyeliners and I could talk you on and on why I love this eyeliner so much. But ultimately, it does what an eyeliner is meant to do! Its nice and easy to apply and literally stays put! I converted to using gel liners as I found that pencil and liquid liners always bleed, but even though this liner is a kohl liner, it doesn't bleed like others ones I've tried.  I definitely think I'll keep purchasing this as my everyday eyeliner! Another bonus (not bias) is that it's by my favourite cosmetic company, Maybelline.

What's been your mid-week favourites? Please do share posts and comment below your favourite products!

Love Anna x

Impulse Shopping

Mini Shopping Haul

I was in Wilko recently and I surprised to see some of their good deals on beauty products. I always need new brushes and am a nail varnish hauler so I ended up purchasing some brushes and nail varnish for great prices.

Nails

Their Maybelline section had the Forever Strong Professional Nail Varnish for £3.50. Although there were limited colours, I picked up the shades '130 - Rose Poudre' and '265 - Orchidee Divine Wine'. I've recently been into nudes and this pink nude is just perfect and has knocked itself to the top of my favourites pile. The darker shade is also a gorgeous colour and I think it would compliment some dark lips in the autumn and winter weather. The Maybelline varnishes have a rounded brush that makes painting my nails so much faster and easier and with two coats, the colours are rich and long-lasting. They have now become my favourite nail polishes ever, as they just glide on easily and last for so long! The colours that available are amazing as well, so I'll definitely be investing in more.

Another nail varnish I picked up was from Superdrug and I purchased it because I've had my eye on nail strengtheners quite a lot. My nails have grown quite a lot but feel very weak so I've needed something that will keep them from snapping and splitting. Despite being tempted by the Essie range, I decided to try out Sally Hansen's Hard As Nails (£4.75). So I shall try it out loads and possibly review it later whether it is a good find or another clear nail varnish.

Brushes

In terms of brushes, I've needed a new blusher brush and a powder brush for loose powder. Wilko has a range of different brushes; a set of pink/blue brushes and premium brushes. After deliberating all the various ones, I bought the Premium Powder Brush for £4.00 and the Wilko Blusher Brush for £2.00. They both feel very soft and can match up to the Real Techniques' brushes I have. Therefore definitely considering purchasing more from their range. 

Have you made any cheeky mid-week purchases recently? Or found any good beauty or non-beauty related deals? I'd love to hear about them! 

Love Anna x

My Favourite Eyeliners

My Favourite Eyeliners

Recently I've been experimenting with different eyeliners and comparing them against my everyday ones to find my absolute favourite ones. I've really been loving brown eyeliners for everyday make up now and black eyeliner for events and more dressy-up days. So after playing around with various brands, here are my favourites...

1. Smashbox Always Sharp Waterproof Khol Liner in Sumatra (£16.00)

I actually purchased this product when I randomly found it in The Cosmetics Company in Bicester Village. I did a swatch on my hand and realised that it was actually really difficult to rub off! I had been looking for a dark brown khol liner for ages and when I discovered that the nib always stays sharp, I was straight in line for the tills. Although this liner is quite pricey at £16 (limited discounted price of £11 at Bicester Village) it is so worth the purchase and I use it practically everyday. It's easy to apply as its always sharp (no need for extra make up equipment!) and I love the colour! I also prefer having mechanical pen eye products compared to pencil ones because it can be such a hassle having to sharpen it so often, so this product ticks all the right boxes.

2. Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner in Forest Brown (£5.99)

This liquid eyeliner is my lower-end product, for £5.99 this product is perfect for my lazy days. I use this when I'm going to be at home or if I need to pop out to the shops or run errands. Although the product seems to run out quickly, its again easy to apply and is simplistic for a natural look. I do not tend to go for liquid eyeliners because I find that they run a lot but this one dries quickly and is light in colour to just give a subtle line to rim the eyes. As a top tip for storing liquid liners, try to store them standing upside down so that the product can filtrate the brush nib! This means next time you use it, you won't have to shake it manically trying to get as much product down to the brush.

3. Benefit's They're Real Push Up Liner (£18.50)

I had heard so many reviews for this eyeliner so I had my eye on it for quite some time. When I finally got my hands on it, I was dying to try it out. I already had some experience using a gel eyeliner pen so applying it was relatively easy and similar to the Maybelline version. It does have more of an elongated nib though which makes application more smooth-lined. Something I also noticed was that this product really stays! It always takes a little more eye make-up remover and time to remove at the end of the night. Therefore, bearing in mind the price, I tend to use this liner for nights when I really need my make-up to stay put and last all day.
It also worthy to note that with gel pen liners, you need to have the experience and practice before you can properly master drawing a straight and clean line.

4. Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Black (£8.99)

I have previously mentioned this product in a haul post and gel liners have always been my favourite. Therefore this eye liner is one of my go-to's when I am going for an everyday black liner look. The price make it really affordable and a comfortable replacement for the pot gel liners that require you to carry more around and constantly wash their brushes. I've always been a mega fan of Maybelline and this is another genius product, which I can praise them for.

I've swatched the different eyeliners below in order of them listed. I drew a small line to demonstrate the thinness the brush or nib can draw and a line beside it.



I'm constantly looking out for new eyeliners, especially ones that come in a pen form. But ultimately I always try to make sure I have a combination between cheap and expensive eyeliners so that I can use different ones for everyday or special days because that way I don't waste an expensive product on a normal lazy day.

What is your favourite eyeliner? I'd love to hear about your recommendations!

Love Anna x