Poorly Sick

I have been one of the many people struck down by the dreaded #NOROVIRUS over the festive period and it sucks mega time!!!! i wouldn't wish this bug in my worst enemy, it really is a killer!!

I had all these fabulous xmassy post ideas in my head to do on my lazy days off whilst snuggled up watching Jack Frost and sipping mulled cider.. But alas the bug got me good and proper and I have neither the strength or willpower to compose such things *cries*

Soooo I would like to wish everyone a belated Merry Xmas and may you all have a fabulous 2013!!! See you then bbloggers!!!

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Glossybox Dec '12: Sleek Makeup i-Divine Au Naturel Palette

Another little gem in this months Glossybox is the Sleek Make up i-Divine Au Naturel Palette, a lovely little eye shadow selection, not dissimilar to the Naked palette colours!  

This was definitely my favourite product in the Xmas Glossybox as there are so many gorgeous colours that I love and can create so many different looks with!
I love the shade Conker, a shimmery dark brown, as its the perfect shade for creating smoky eyes.. Followed closely by Cappuccino and Nubuck which are really light grey-browns that you could easily wear everyday just to define your eyes a little

The palette does come with a sponge applicator which I would never use for applying eyeshadow but they do come in VERY handy for nail art when using the sponge technique, so I am pleased I have another one of those!
These shadows aren't quite as pigmented as the Naked palette shadows but they are still lovely to apply, and teamed with Urban Decays Eyeshadow Primer Potion it stays put without touch ups all day/night
I can't see myself using this palette up at all quickly but I would definitely repurchase it when I do run out, for a mere £7.99 here its an absolute steal!
Are you enjoying your December Glossybox??

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Glossybox Dec '12: MilkShake Conditioning Whipped Cream

The December edition of Glossybox was a fabulous one so I will be doing mini reviews on each product as I use them!
The first product I have been trying out is MilkShake's Conditioning Whipped Cream which is a leave in conditioner for all hair types to vitalise and nourish your hair


I've been using this for the last few days and I think it is fantastic!!   You shake it up and comb a big blob of it through damp locks (just like a mousse)  It literally disappears into your hair with no residue and you are left with a yummy vanilla milkshake smelling bar barnet!! My hair feel SO soft and really nourished after using this stuff and the scent lasts all day long!
I really like using leave in conditioners but I am usually wary of product build up and greasiness but Milkshake's version does neither of those.
MilkShake Conditioning Whipped Cream costs £11.69 here which I think is pretty pricey for a hair product so I'm not 100% sure I will purchase it again.. but then it really is a fab product so if I fancy treating myself then this will be top of my list
Have you tried the MilkShake Conditioning Whipped Cream or any other great leave in conditioners?

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Snowflake Nails

What have you lot been painting onto your nails this festive season?? 


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My Xmas Party Look: Meow!

I would love to see what everyone else was rocking up in at their Xmas Parties!!!


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Re-Gen Cream: Bargain Skincare

Do you guys have any cheap and cheerful skincare miracle workers??


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Oil Me Up

Top 5 Oils
with Neal's Yard, CND, The Body Shop

What are your fave oils??

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Winters Here!

Its payday and its almost December and today has suddenly turned super cold!  Time to hunt for some Christmas presents and hunt for those all important winter essentials!
Here is a small snippet of items I will be buying over this festive season!

Winter Essentials

with Starbucks, Topshop, Asos

Starbucks Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate:
The perfect way to warm your cockles whilst fighting your way through crowds in the shops, my fave hot drink right now

Soap & Glory Hand Food:
This has been my number 1 hand cream for 2 years running now and shows no sign of budging.  It smells delicious and will keep your hands soft and hydrated in this chilly weather

Warm & Toasty Socks:
I cannot live without a good solid British pair of woolly socks.  I am always mega cold but I always find a good thick preferably festive pair never fail to take the edge off

Christmas Yankee Candle:
A house that smells Christmassy, is Christmassy!  Need I say more.

Topshop Fairisle Hot Water Bottle:
I use a hot water bottle at work, the cooler it looks the better it is for my office cred ;-)  This one is so cute and will keep you toasty at your desk

Cath Kidston Blanket:
The perfect accessory to an Xmas movie - most likely Elf

ASOS Bobble Hat:
I live in bobble hats in the winter.  I have about 6 or 7 of them.. its osrt of my winter trademark!  Not only do they keep the heat in but they look AWESOME too.  This one from ASOS will be added to my collection very soon!

What are you lovely lot going to be getting your hands on this winter?

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How I Look After My Ombré Barnet

How I Look After My Ombre Hair
with Aussie, Tangle Teezer, Lee Stafford

*Lee Stafford Bleach Blondes Shampoo PR SAMPLE Pin It

My New Ombré Hair

As I have mentioned on a number of occasions, I am a huge fan of the Ombré trend.  Not just hair but clothes, nails, duvet covers.. you name it, if its ombre then I love it!
This weekend I took a massive leap of faith and got my hair ombré'd!!!  It was super scary and my lovely hairdresser did keep reminding me before hand that I would be putting bleach for the first time into my hair and that it will look fab but will ultimately leave it damaged - eek.  However I have been so bummed with my drab long heavy hair for so long now that I decided to just go for it!!
The process including a cut and blow dry took almost 4 hours!  I had a fresh brown put on the top part of my head and then 2 (maybe 3) different bleaches down the lengths to create the ombré effect.  I didn't want anything too blond or too contrasting as this can make the whole look a little trashy and "homemade" so we went for some caramel colours which sounded lovely to me!

(my camera makes it look a little more ginger than it really is!)

The end result is even better than I imagined it would be!   The ends came out a lovely toffee colour which blends really well with my naturally dark hair, and it doesn't feel half as dry as I thought it would.  I had THE best blow dry ever as well which really showed off my new layers - I really need someone to come and blow dry my hair every morning.. any takers??

I get quite bored on trains.

I had my hair done at Toni & Guy in Reading.  Give me a shout on Lippylucie1@hotmail.co.uk or comment below if you want to know prices or anything else!
Will you be getting your hair ombré'd??


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Neutrogena Norwegian Formula: The Review

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Review
with Neutrogena

Do you have dry, sensitive skin?  What products do you use?


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Get The Look: Hot Smoke

Hot Smoke: Get The Look

with Topshop Make Up, Lee Stafford, Chanel

*Photo courtesy of Lee Stafford

How good does my friend Jennie look in this photo!! I am loving a mega smokey eye and natural beachy waves at the moment! What looks are you loving?

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November Favourites

Lippy Lucie November Favourites
with Bourjois, Lee Stafford, Jason

HOW COOL is Beauty Sets?! I am loving it!   For those who haven't checked this out yet then get yourself on over to their website! Basically you can create "magazine" style posts on all your fave beauty products, create tutorial posts or just post a look you are loving at the moment!  Its really easy to use and looks fab.. I will be using Beauty Sets for so many posts now :)
Follow me on Beauty Sets here.. let me know if you are also on it and I will follow you back!
I would love to see your November favourites!

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Eyeko Skinny Mini Duo

Remember those nights when you were young when every time you went on a night out you would return home with the entire contents of your bag missing.. Well I seem to be doing that a lot recently!  Ok so i'm not losing everything but I have been losing my beloved makeup!!  I lost my liquid eyeliner whilst on an outing to Crazy Bear in Fitzrovia and I have been eyeliner free for a week now and I hate it!!   I decided to try out a new liner instead of repurchasing my usual L'Oreal Superliner and I had my beady little eye on one from Eyeko.  I hadn't heard of Eyeko before until I got a hideous metre long eye pencil in a Glossy or Jolie box which was very quickly given away due to the size and colour of it!  However I had seen a couple of reviews on their liquid liner and mascara and luckily for me ASOS had a limited addition Eyeko Skinny Mini Travel-Sized Duo ready and waiting for me to buy!  

    Firstly the eyeliner is gorgeous! Its very similar to the Penultimate Eyeliner by MAC in that it is a liquid pen style liner which is so easy to apply especially if are a bit of a novice with the application of eyeliner - it can be daunting!  This Eyeko pen is full of black pigment which dries to a satin finish, not too matte and not too glossy. I think this is my new fave liner!  

    Now the mascara for me was actually the main event in this duo.. its bloody brilliant!  The brush really grabs each and every lash creating really black long fluttery eyelashes that I can only ever achieve using fakes!  Honestly I'm not exagerating this stuff is great!  Again its really pigmented, has a nice thick waxy consistency and doesn't crumble off onto my face at all.  Only down side is that its really quite tough to remove at the end of your day.  Even my fave Liz Earle doesn't budge this mascara 100% so I have found that I need to rub at my eyes a bit with some Bioderma Crealine after my cleansing routine to fully remove any leftovers  

    I puchased my Eyeko Skinny Mini Duo here for £14.  They are travel sized versions but they are really reasonable sizes and will last me a good few months!   Have you tried any Eyeko products??

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Denman D3 Anarkitty Sassy Brush

The lovely people at Denman must have read my mind (and blog) about my hair being far too long, thick and tangled, as they have sent me this little beauty.. the AnarKitty 'Sassy' brush*

Denman International has teamed up with local Northern Irish artist, Emma Geary AKA 'AnarKitty' to create this Special Edition design for the famous Denman D3 brush. AnarKitty's style focuses on strong and individual women in today's culture but gives them a feminine twist. She also signs her work with the initials 'AK'. Denman were looking for stylish artwork that was completely original and unique for the classic Denman D3 brush. Denman and AnarKitty worked together to incorporate the Denman crown, the famous asymmetrical bob hairstyle and the Rococo swirl design. AnarKitty was able to produce an outstanding piece of art for Denman and has named this piece 'Sassy' as a tribute to the late, great Vidal Sassoon.  YOu can find more AnarKitty work here 

I think a Denman brush is essential for any woman!  They have always been a classic staple brand of hairbrush that I have always trusted in, for quality and its something that I have used for years
I have found that I can't use this brush in damp hair at all.  I don't know if its my thick tangled hair type or that the brush is just better for use on dry hair, so I have been popping this in my handbag for touch ups during the day and it really is a gem!  My hair is so soft and smooth after every use and the design is so pretty!
The AnarKitty 'Sassy' brush is ideal for Christmas presents for the girls and I know I will be purchasing one for my friend with equally as long hair!!
You can get the Denman D3 Anarkitty Sassy Brush here for £7.50 which I think is a reasonable price for a brush of this quality and design.  It will last you ages!!
Do you use a Denman brush?

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Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum

As I have gotten older my skin has become drier and thirsty for moisture.  When I received the Caudalie Vinosource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum, back in the more pleasant days of summer, it got tossed in a box full of samples to try out and got totally forgotten about! I've been having a particularly dry faced week and after a desperate attempt to scrape the last of my steam cream out of the pot (failed attempt) I remembered this little beast!

This serum contains Grape Water, Hyaluronic and Anti-Oxidant Polyphenols that claims to capture and diffuse water within the skin to restore its moisture balance and leave it feeling soft and supple
I must say this serum doesn't look like much.  Its quite a thin consistency and when applying it to your face it feels like you aren't going to benefit much from it.  Saying this, I woke up the next morning with a completely smooth soft face with absolutely no dry patches at all!  I have had this little stubborn bit of flaky skin under my nose that refused to be hydrated, and that had entirely disappeared!

I have only used this for 3 nights now but I haven't had any sign of dry skin  since *touches wood vigorously*.  If this stuff continues to keep my wintry skin at bay then I may have to purchase myself a full sized!  The serum isn't cheap at £24.95 for 30ml here, but you only need 1 pump and you're done so this should last a good few months
Caudalie products are just getting better and better the more I try! How do you find their products?

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L'Oreal Mythic Oil

Ever since I saw a review by Corrie over on DizzyBrunette3 on the L'Oreal Mythic Oil, I have craved it on my hair SOOOOOO badly!! As a lover of oils on my skin but not on my hair I was a little nervous about trying this.  However I love Corrie's blog and her amazing barnet, so I trust in her when she says you can't feel it in your hair and it doesn't feel weighed down or greasy! 

She was 100% right.  This hair oil is amazing!  I can't feel it in my hair in the slightest and my hair feels soft, nourished and looks shinier than ever!  The oil contains a blend of avocado and grape seed oil and smells delish!  A strong contender for Argon Oil and it is also cheaper!
A quick shot of my hair this morning... although it needs a damn good colour and cut it is looking a billion times more healthy and shiny than usual!

I don't enjoy smiling lol

I have been using 1 pump of the oil through the mid lengths to ends of my damp hair and then blow drying as normal.  I am yet to try this in dry hair but I am definitely going to give it a go as I don't think this oil would create any greasy locks at all!!
I purchased mine from Feel Unique here for £13.55.  I think this is a great price for something that will definitely last me months, a little goes a very long way!
Have you tried L'Oreal's Mythic Oil?  What did you think?


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Madeline Poole Inspired NOTD

This Models Own Peach Sherbet polish is THE best colour I have ever owned!! I just think it is super lush and I want to paint it on my nails every single day, twice a day!!  If you don't have it BUY IT!  Its the best pastel shade EVER #GetItNow
OK so now I have expressed my love for a nail polish (bit weird) I will show you what I used it for today!

Models Own Peach Sherbet & Topshop Glimmer

These nails are inspired by the fabulous Madeline Poole of MP Nails I love the outline look it really makes a boring manicure something a little special and I think the peach and gold combo I used here goes together like salt n peppa!
I think I will do some more MP inspired nails as her designs are so fricken cool!
I want to see some NOTD's! Show me yours!?

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Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish

I like to keep things pretty simple when it comes to my skin care routine, not through laziness but through years of experimentation, actually overloading my face with products in the hope off perfect skin
I am out of my teenage combination skin years where half my face is breaking out in pimples and the other half is flaking off like a shedding snake, and now my skin falls into that category they call "normal".  Now I am not sure exactly what normal is!?  I mean having a few spots or dry areas doesn't make you abnormal does it?!  But if "they" want to categorise us then who am I to argue!  I would say I am on the sensitive side of normal which is also why I have stripped down my skin care routine to some really gentle but hard working products
Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser is something I have had on my wish list for a while now after reading a gazillion posts on how amazeballs it is!  I heard that it literally removes every scrap of make up as well as removing all those crappy dead skin cells that can make you look dull and grey and non-Cheryl-esque

The reviews are not wrong. I have been using this for a week now and I have never been happier with how my skin looks and feels!  The cleanser is quite thick like a moisturiser and feels so nice when you are massaging it into your face.  Its gentle enough to smother over your eyes to remove the stubborn mascara that grips for dear life to your lashes no matter how much you try to yank it off!  The muslin cloth and hot water combo then works wonders at removing the cleanser, taking a layer of dead skin with it, revealing a baby soft fresh and most of all CLEAN face
I only use this at night, mainly because I have minimal time in the mornings but also because I feel like this cleanser is just too lovely on your skin to then start piling on foundation after you have just purified yourself with it!
I will 100 BILLION % be repurchasing this time and time again.. I can just see it now!!  In fact I have heard you can get like a subscription to it so you get delivered one monthly :) You can purchase Liz Earle's fabulous Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser here for £14.25 with 2 cloths - a bargain for perfect skin!!
Are you a Liz Earle fan??

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Balance Me Duo Review

I have received and used 2 different products from Balance Me, both in beauty boxes and I am really enjoying using them so I feel they deserve their own little collaborative post!

First I received the Wonder Eye Cream which is a really lovely light cream to be used around the eye area either before bed or before make-up   I prefer to use eye creams before bed as I feel you need to be quite generous with it for it to work is magic overnight.  I also don't have time in the morning to let an eye cream settle into my skin before applying foundation so for me that would just not work. I have been told that the delicate skin around your eye is no thicker than a rose petal which really makes me conscious of what I am putting on my eyes and how products affect the skin, as come on everyone knows when you hit 25 little wrinkly wrinkles start to appear and the desperate anti ageing regime must begin! Eeek. I do feel that this eye cream is doing a little job overnight as my under eye area has become a lot less grey and is really soft like a squidgy little baby cheek!! I have really sensitive eyes as well and this hasn't irritated in the slightest unlike other eye creams I have used Thumbs up Balance Me I am feeling your eye creams!!!  The only down side for me is the price of a full size version, £20 here for 15ml is pretty extortionate I feel.  This makes me sad :(
The second little sample I received was the Balancing Face Moisturiser which claims to smooth, calm and hydrate skin. Now I am a Steam Cream lover, it's everything I need in a face cream and since using it my skin has been fab (touches would vigorously) however I struggle when using it before makeup as it takes a long time to sink in and can totally ruin my makeup within hours! I have started using this Balance Me moisturiser and due to the lightness of the cream it is really sinking in quickly and providing a super base for my makeup! Lovvvving that! It mattifies when I have shine but also helps my skin to look dewy which we all know I fricken love!!! Again this is really pricey at £24 here for 50ml!  A little does go a long way though so maybe just maybe I can justify that fact and think about buying this
I don't know if I will be able to afford purchasing the full size products when my samples are finished so I will be hoping to see more samples from their range in the coming beauty boxes! *PLEEEEEEEASE*
Have you been using any Balance Me products?  Can you recommend any other products from the range for me to try?
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Jamie Oliver is My Hero

This post is definitely not one of my usual beauty posts in the slightest but is more based around another favourite subject of mine.. FOOD!
Anyone who knows me knows I lovvvvvve good food and I am not afraid of trying something new, I also thoroughly enjoy cooking and Jamie Oliver's cook books are like bibles to me!

I received the new Jamie's 15 Minute Meals book this morning and I felt I HAD to immediately post about it!  It looks bloody amazing!  Every dish looks delicious and the best part, they should only take 15 mins to make! Now I am a little dubious about this time frame, as I have tried a good few of Jamie's 30 Minute Meals and each time I have been sweating over a hot stove for well over an hour (sometimes 2!).  But saying that I love the cheeky chap that Jamie is and his fabulous recipes so much that I don't even really care about the time it takes to cook, or the fact he is quite frankly lying!
All of the recipes are right up my street!!  Modern takes on classic dishes.. and look at those banana and chocolate toasties!! HEAVEN!

Spiced Chicken yumminess

Dippy Camenbert

Banana, Chocolate and Ricotta Toasties

My fave part of this book is that right at the end there is a few nutritional info pages where it tells you the calories, fat content etc of each recipe.  Although I don't count every calorie going into my cake hole, I do try to eat healthier alternatives where possible and I do try to avoid foods high in saturated fats and carbs so this section is perfect for me.  I do also get a little concerned with the amount of olive oil Mr Oliver uses sometimes, surely that cannot be good for you!?

I hope you don't mind my slightly off subject post, I would love to know if any of you love to cook?!  Maybe I will post about my experiences with some of the recipes I try out from this book!

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