Too Faced Child Star Melted Matte Liquid Lipstick

My love for liquid matte lipsticks has only gotten stronger over the past month or so and ever since I saw this liquid matte beauty feature in a YouTube video I was half-heartedly watching, I just knew it had to be my next purchase.

I hadn't tried any of the Too Faced Melted lipstick range until this first purchase but I am definitely going to scout my local counter more thoroughly next time I'm passing. If you've read my blog long enough you will know that I am a big fan of nude-pink lipsticks. They are my staple, go-to lip product for those days when I am just pottering about and not wanting to look too glammed up for my various baby classes! This particular liquid matte lipstick is just lovely. It glides on with a comfortable, smooth creamy consistency but then dries down (and darkens) to a true, mid-tone nude colour. The lipstick genuinely won't budge for hours and will last through countless cups of tea and kisses with Florence. The colour is opaque and vivid and the formula doesn't crack or feel too dry on the lips which is good for a liquid matte lipstick.

I honestly love these lipsticks and think if you are having a liquid lipstick love affair at the moment, like me, then you should definitely check out the Melted Matte range from Too Faced. I got mine from my local Debenhams.

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Sanctuary Spa Home Fragrance Collection

I love candles. Candles are my thing. In fact, as I type this post I can count approximately eight candles from my settee, two of them flickering away brightly on my coffee table. I also must confess that I am a bit of a candle snob. I am always drawn to the likes of Jo Malone, NEOM and Diptyque. Their beautiful, long-lasting scents and decadent holders bring me much comfort in the evenings, especially now the long, wintery nights are here.

That said, my latest burning beauty on my coffee table comes from a bit of an unexpected brand - Sanctuary Spa. The brand have taken their luxury products from the body and bathroom, to the home. They have released an all year round home fragrance collection comprising of eight unique scents in both candles and diffusers. There is everything here from fresh green and citrus scents to deeper, oriental notes which are perfect for this time of year. The diffusers are £16, but personally I am not a fan of diffusers, but for just £10 you can get one of their lovely candles in a really pretty, yet simple, glass jar. The scent initially isn't as strong as some of my higher end candles, but once it has been burning for a few minutes, the aroma begins to linger in the room and gives my house a really gorgeous smell. All the scents sound amazing from White Jasmine & Myrrh, Black Rose & Cassis to Luxury Oud and Driftwood & Sea Spray. However for Christmas I already have my eye on the Spiced Vanilla & Incense candle which I can imagine will fill your space with a warm, rich festive scent. You can also pick and mix three mini candles and present them in a gift box for £10 - an ideal stocking filler for any candle lover like me!

The home fragrance collection of candles and diffusers is out now in Boots stores.

*this post contains samples gifted for review purposes

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Jo Malone Geranium & Walnut Hand Cream

There are lots of things I love about Winter. The cosy nights, the hot drinks (in an obligatory red cup!), the darker lipsticks and the fact Christmas is just around the corner. But then again, there are a few things I really dislike about the colder months - stepping out of bed on those chilly mornings before the heating kicks in, living in 60 denier tights and the way the weather dries my skin so much making it feel dry and lacklustre.

My hands always suffer during Winter so the moment the clocks go back I become a fanatic hand-cream-applier and ensure I am never more than a few feet away from a pot or tube of hand cream to soothe my hands and cuticles. I have many many different lotions on the go at any one time, taking residence in every drawer and handbag going, but one of my current favourites is this luxury item from Jo Malone London. Their Geranium & Walnut Hand Cream is a real treat to see your skin through the harsher months. It soothes and softens your skin beautifully. The Apricot Kernel Oil absorbs quickly, leaving your hands feeling moisturised and not at all greasy, which is essential when I have approximately 22 seconds to apply and rub in said hand cream before I need to chase after baby, pick up baby, feed baby, change baby. And repeat. It is lovely and lightweight and is delicately scented with warm walnut and vibrant geranium. The scent isn't overpowering but just enough that you get a comforting whiff of it every now again as you go about your day. I also love the fact Jo Malone has ensured that the scent of this hand cream complements each and every one of their fragrances - I'm currently loving Wood Sage & Sea Salt and the two scents work perfectly together.

The Jo Malone London Geranium & Walnut Hand Cream (£22) is out now online and from Jo Malone counters.

*this post contains samples gifted for review purposes

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Kiehl's x Jeremyville Holiday Collection

Sometimes you just see a new collection and can't help but squeal a little bit inside. I don't know whether it was the playful packaging, the collection of cult products from Kiehl's or just the fact that this was a reminder that Christmas is on its way, but the Kiehl's artist collaboration for the holidays is just so fun this year. For the past eight years, Kiehl's have worked with a renown artist who transforms their most loved lotions and creams and creates a limited edition collection that is guaranteed to make any bathroom or makeup table feel festive.

This year, Kiehl's have partnered with Brooklyn based artist Jeremyville to give us a creative, fun explosion of colour and cheerful winter wonderland imagery that perfectly depict the heartwarming spirit of Christmas. The joyful cartoons have been inspired by one of New York's most iconic landmarks, Central Park, complete with smiling skaters, happy snowmen and shining stars. Several of Kiehl's most beloved formulas have undergone this festive makeover including Creme de Corps, Ultra Facial Cream and the Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner. They all look so adorable and would make an ideal gift, stocking filler or perhaps just a happy holidays treat for yourself!

This holiday collection is out now online but if you go to a Kiehl's counter and create your own gift set of products, you will receive a complimentary red box tied up with a ribbon so no painstaking wrapping involved!! That's one less present to worry about then.

*this post contains samples gifted for review purposes

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The Liquid Lipsticks I'm Loving

Liquid lipsticks, matte or otherwise, are still big news in the beauty world. I, for one, have been caught up in the hype of these lip stain-gloss-lipstick hybrid type products and I still get excited every time a brand brings out their own take on this now, makeup must have.

Currently I am loving two new releases into the liquid lipstick game - the YSL Vernis a Levres Vinyl Cream and the Giorgio Armani Lip Magnets. Both are petite in packaging yet mighty with their colour payoff and have a very similar, precise pointy doe foot applicator. Yet both products are very different - one delivers a fluid, creamy slick of colour that dries down to a soft yet vibrant lip stain. The other, the lip magnets, is more of a true liquid lipstick in my eyes and gives an intense matte colour.

The YSL Vinyl Creams are a mash up of a lip stain, a lipstick and a lip gloss and come in a range of 12 bright and dazzling shades - reds, neon orange, pinks, burgundy and a rosy nude. The formula is a glossy vinyl to apply but then quickly dries down on the lips to form a long-lasting stain that can be built up for a more intense finish. These are great if you are not a fan of sticky or textured lip products as it is easy to forget you are even wearing them at all. The applicator is perfectly shaped to line the lips and fill in the contours precisely so you end up with a really neat, clean application without the need of a lip liner as well. All I would say with these lip creams is to ensure your lips are prepped well before you slick them on as the texture once dried can cling to any dry patches on your lips. Other than that they are an amazing option if you are after the fun and ease of a liquid lipstick but all the convenience of a lip stain that packs a punch of colour with a slightly glossiness.

The Giorgio Armani Lip Magnets are a really exciting new launch and are some of the best liquid lipsticks I have tried. Not only do they look fabulous in their packaging alone but the texture and formula feels so lightweight and comfortable, you almost wouldn't believe they could deliver such intense colour on the lips. There is nothing heavy, clingy or gloopy about these lipsticks - just an almost watery consistency that veils the lips with a matte, brightly pigmented finish that just lasts and lasts. Again, you really do forget you are wearing anything on your lips with these GA Lip Magnets. Despite giving you a true matte finish, they are not at all drying and the applicator means you can line your lips with the utmost precision. The range has 18 shades offering literally every colour you could wish for from nudes, a berry, reds, browns, oranges and fuchsia pinks. I think I want to collect them all!

*this post contains samples gifted for review purposes

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Clarins The Essentials Christmas Eye Palette

Considering we are so very nearly into November now, I feel like I am allowed to mention the C word on my blog...yes? Christmas, Christmas, Christmas!! For the past three years now, I believe, Clarins have released a very special festive eyeshadow palette and this season is no exception. It has become quite a collectable, coveted piece now and something to look forward to every Christmas time.

This year, the sleek eco-designed palette, contains ten eyeshadows in a variety of different finishes - matte, satin and a special iridescent sparkly number for those Christmas parties. The powders are luminous and seriously gorgeous when applied onto your eyelids. The blend beautifully together and can be used for a subtle look or full-on party glam! There is a definite purple/plummy type tone running through this palette which I personally love. Its funny, I adore berry-toned eyeshadows but I feel I only wear them during the festive time but now this palette has arrived, I can start powdering on the purple early! They all contain natural ingredients so offer nourishing benefits and ultimate comfort when you wear them. What more could you ask for? Ah well, the kind folks at Clarins will also plant a tree in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest with each purchase of this palette which is pretty super and just another reason why this is such a fantastic festive eyeshadow palette to pick up this Christmas!

This Clarins Festive Eyeshadow Palette (£35) is out now on counters and online.

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Tanya Burr Cosmetics Autumn Collection

There's nothing like a spot of rose gold packaging to catch any beauty lover's eye and with Tanya Burr's latest launches showcasing the prettiest of exteriors, you can practically see the heart-eyed emojis popping up! Tanya Burr Cosmetics' new Autumn Winter collection includes a selection of gorgeous new lipsticks, 3 cheek illuminators, a body and face illuminator and a gorgeous eyeshadow quad.

Let's look at the lipsticks first. Following the success of the Tanya Burr lip glosses, it was about time we saw some lipsticks hitting the shelves, and these new releases are really lovely and worth the wait! There are six shades from a striking red, hot pink and the perfect AW berry hue, to a light pinky-nude, brown and peachy-coral. The formula is smooth and comfortable to wear and all the lipsticks are well pigmented and last a good length of time on the lips. The gold packaging is sleek and makes a fancy addition to your makeup bag and all the lipsticks are adorably named too...Happily Ever After and Birthday Cake happen to be my favourites.

The cheek, body and face illuminators all form part of the Glow Your Own Way range from Tanya Burr Cosmetics and promise to kiss your skin with an iridescence and gorgeous glow. The cheek illuminators are fab, coming in a pink, bronze and pearly shade. They can be used to add colour and/or highlight to your makeup and are creamy to apply and blend in. The face illuminator can be used alone or mixed in with your foundation to create a lit from within glow and gives a really pretty lightness to your complexion. The body illuminator is going to be a great product for the upcoming party season as it can be used on arms, legs, shoulders, anywhere really to give a sun kissed, warm glow to your skin. Both these products smell amazing too!

Finally we have a eyeshadow quad - the Midnight Smoulder palette which comes in Tanya Burr Cosmetics' recognisable packaging with a heart-shaped mirror, perfect for touching up your makeup to take you from day to night. The quad contains four complementary shades to create a smokey, smouldering eye look. I love the navy and plum tones and the highlight colour works wonderfully just under the brow bone and in the corner of your eyes. The pigmentation is good and they blend together seamlessly with a little iridescent and shimmer. A great product to keep in your makeup bag to transform your look if you fancy something a little smokey and sultry this season.

New products all available from Feel Unique now.

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MAC Liptensity Lipsticks

When I am after a brand new lipstick, I always find myself navigating towards my nearest MAC Cosmetics counter. It is fair to say that when it comes to offering you a ridiculous array of colours, textures, intensities and finishes, MAC has it all! And just when you thought they couldn't cram any more options into their much-instagrammed arrangement of lipsticks, MAC have released 24 new lip colours forming the new Liptensity range.

This new collection is all about an extreme, unprecedented spectrum of colour intensity. There is nothing shy about these new lipsticks. They are bold, unashamed and use a new pigment technology that deliver a show-stopping colour and finish. If you love your bright lips then this range is for you! You can expect every colour of the rainbow here from your reds, pinks, oranges and browns to some unexpected additions too. Blue or black lipstick anyone??

Above I have featured Burnt Violet (dark plum), Habanero (vibrant orange-red), Gumball (creamy blush pink) and Double Fudge (intense dark brown). All such striking shades that seem to last and last on my lips. My only bugbear is the flat-shaped bullet. It does make it tricky to apply the lip colour precisely and I would highly recommend a lip brush to accompany these intense lipsticks. Other than that, this new collection certainly packs a punch and even has some stunning nude shades for those more modest lipstick-wearers out there!

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Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Nourishing Milk

When I was little I was always told that a glass of milk a day would help you grow big and strong. So what about a drop of milk, on your skin? Well of course I am not talking about real milk but in fact Bobbi Brown's new Extra Repair Nourishing Milk - that hybrid product we have all been waiting for; a mixture between a face oil and a repair treatment.

This svelte little glass bottle with pipette dropper has slipped in nicely into my skincare routine and I am really enjoying the results so far. Formulated for all skin types, the milky (funnily enough!) texture is lightweight and absorbs quickly into the skin, despite boasting various oils such as olive, sesame, sweet almond and jojoba. I expected it to feel greasy and heavy and would only really work when applied at night, but in actual fact it is wonderfully light and can be layered with skincare or makeup.

So the Repair Nourishing Milk can be applied on clean skin or as a sandwich filler between your serum and moisturiser, but for me this would be too much product on my skin. I like to use it instead of my serum, before my moisturiser or simply to prep my skin before my foundation. The silky emulsion only needs a few drops to cover your whole face and leaves the surface feeling so smooth and refined once it has sunk in. This product renews and rejuvenates the repair process for a healthier complexion as well as smoothing away fine lines and wrinkles for a firmer, plumper look. It also hydrates thanks to all those lovely oils and the sodium hyaluronate, which helps the skin's surface retain moisture. Finally it corrects skin damage by stimulating natural collagen production and strengthening the skin's protective barrier.

This is one of those skincare products that does exactly what it says on the tin bottle. It truly nourishes your skin and cares for a variety of skin problems you might be suffering with. It feels luxurious to use, a real treat that could just be used once or twice a week, or whenever your skin needs a bit of TLC.

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