JAPONESQUE – Make Up Brushes from Heaven – Plus win a small set.

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Sarah-Louise Bailey

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How many times have you looked for that perfect brush? The one that works like a dream, feels soft to the touch and just seems to make, making that perfect look seem so easy? I have many times and through it I have found brushes I love, brushes I hate and brushes that make me go meh.

These brushes I was kindly sent to review most definitely come into the love category

The Travel Brushes were launched earlier in the year at Boots with a select selection of other brushes been launched in John Lewis at the same time.
All Japonesque brushes are produced with a professional in mind:
Blush Brush 924 – £24

This is probably the most used brush I own, mainly as normally I will just slap my makeup being rather lazy and using my fingers *shock horror* but I always use a brush for my blush. This gorgeous tool can be used to apply loose powder, blush, bronzer and useful for highlighting, contouring and blending.

The one thing you can’t fail to notice is the softness of these brushes the shape given to the brush is flat on the sides and rounded at the top. Which is what makes this brush good for the given uses. The flat is good for patting and pressing on to give a more vibrant colour. I have yet to have a hair loss from this brush and it has definitely become a must have brush for me.
Brow / Lash Comb 844 – £9.75

My bugbear with Brow/Lash brushes is they all seem to fall apart on me, so it’s with a big smile on my face I report this one is still in one piece after a month.

The brush side is fantastic for brushing your brows if they are anything like mine into some sort of tamed form before giving them a preening and pampering with your chosen eyebrow makeup. While the comb side is great for running through your lashes to comb out any nasty clumps. The fine rounded tips make it easy to separate your lashes into an eye fluttering finish.

Eye Shadow Fluff Medium 830 – £14.75

Gorgeously soft as all the brushes I tried the brush again sports flat sides and a rounded top, the flat sides fantastic for packing on the pigment to give your eyes that WOW factor while the rounded top is great for defining and working round your eye crease.

As the name of the brush suggest this brush is gorgeously soft and fluffy and has been created with tapered fibers to make working with it all the easier.

Concealer 910 – £10.50

Great for using with concealer if your a spotty face like me, or for using with your favourite highlighter the flat side is brilliant for blending while the tip gives you the ability to easily hit the right ‘spot’ with the concealer.

All these brushes are super soft and use synthetic fibers, although classed as a travel brush the handles give enough room to hold without feeling your pushing it or giving hand cramp for trying to hold onto that small end part. I honestly cannot think of a bad word to say about these brushes, and they will most definitely become a staple within my make up brushes.

But that’s not the end… How would you like to give Japonesque a try?

I have been given a lovely Beautiful Eye’s Touch Up Tube Set in Silver with £11.50 and available from John Lewis to give to one lucky blog reader.

To enter all you need to do is follow the instructions on the rafflecopter app below.
(please read through the rules to make sure you are eligible before entering)

*PR Sample

JolieBox UK – February

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Sarah-Louise Bailey

So February see’s the return of Boudior Prive in it’s new form as JolieBox UK, the salmon pink box and back shredded paper is out and a sleek black box, with bag is in. I was about to give up on BP so I am looking forward to see what the next couple of months hold with them, in this new partnership.

JolieBox costs £10 plus P+P (£2.95) and can be brought on a monthly subscription a 3 month bundle or a 12 month bundle where you get 12 months for the price of 10.

February’s box is named Nice and natural from to top to toe.. It is said to include some replenishing and natural treats to comfort you during the frosty weather. So what are these treats:

Jane Iredale – Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain in Forever Pink RRP £15 for 30grams. (unknown sample size)

This lip and cheek stain is said to be suitable for all with it’s ability to adjust using your skins chemistry to make a shade of pink that will completely flatter your skins undertones. This stain uses all natural ingredients and is none drying . It contains olive butter, avocado butter, wild rose wax, rose flower wax and beeswax to help soothe, soften nourish and moisturize

Lavera – Basis Sensitive Organic Hand Cream RRP £3.75 for 75ml (sample size 20ml)

An easily absorbed hand cream that is packed with organic ingredients just waiting to give your hands an amazing pamper. Almond oil and shea butter protect and nourish your skin against even harsh conditions. Having used this before I have to admit the first time I used it I was rather put off by the smell, though I did keep at it and I have to admit it is well worth ignoring the smell and keeping at it, as it really is a good hand cream.Macadamia – Deep Repair Masque – RRP £3.75 for 30ml (Full Size)

A revitalizing hair reconstructor containing ingredients such as argan oil, macadamia oil, tea tree oiland chamomile oil. This Masque helps improve elasticity and rebuild the hair, leaving it deeply nourished with a long-lasting shine.KIMIA – Rejuvenating Facial System RRP £75 (Sample Size unknown)

Using a unique selection of purest oils sourced from around the world. The system can help stimulate the growth of new skin cells, while cleansing, refining and nourishing the skin. The system has two steps with the second step helping to activate and increase absorption rates of the original oil. The system contains refinded extracts of Lady’s Mantle, a plant that creates it’s own moisture, and hailed in ancient times for it’s magical powers.**This product with an either or product some people will have received RMK – Cleansing Oil in it’s place.TAAJ – Himalaya Micellar Water RRP £9.66 for 500ml (Sample Size 100ml)

A make up remover that helps cleanse, revitalize and purify skin, while helping you complexion look more luminous. Adapted to for sensitive skin and gentle enough to use on the eye area. It contains ingredients such as Rosemary and Green Tea.

The more I look at this box the more I am liking it – I don’t think there is anything I wont at least try in it, and that is the point of these boxes after all to try something different, plus it’s nice to have 2 brands I haven’t even heard of before in here. I do admit it can get a bit tiresome having the same brands and products turn up in these boxes over and over again. But I guess brands want to get themselves out there as much as possible so it’s bound to happen.

What do you think of this months JolieBox? Would you be pleased to have it pop through your letter box?

A New Look for Pilgrims Choice

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Sarah-Louise Bailey

Pilgrims Choice have seen the new year in with a revamped look, and an amazing line up of cheeses to tickle the fancy of many a cheese lover.

Of course as the cheese lover I am I jumped at the chance to have a look over the new range, and with the help of my wonderful parents we set to giving them all a try. My Dad was given the job of trying the lighter ones and comparing them to the normal cheeses. My Dad is a huge cheese lover but needs to cut down on all things bad for you and has been on the search for a lighter cheese that to put it bluntly tastes like cheese. So my Mum being the cruel and evil person she is gave him two strips of cheese and wanted to know the difference as he is normally so quick at picking up on even a subtle difference (maybe I should nick name him taste bud man?). His verdict was for the Strong and Punchy they are smooth and with a nice tang and both pieces were from the same block of cheese. Which of course became a huge discussion had we really found the answer to my Dad’s cheese sorrow? Did the light version taste as amazing as the normal? Well I believe the answer is yes Yes YES! Which of course left my Dad a very happy man.

The Cheese’s come in three different varieties two of which also have a lighter option. I’m quite use to finding that cheeses when made by the same company can all taste nice but similar. I think the picture above illustrates quite well the difference in looks of the cheeses, but they also display amazing differences in taste each one it’s own. Strong and PunchyCompletely lives up to it’s name with a strong and punchy kick to it and amazingly delicious savory cheese. The lighter version is just as nice for those people who are after that little bit less fat.Smooth and RichHas a lovely mellow but rich flavour and is also accompanied by a lighter version with 30% less fat again completely on par with the full fat version a delight for anyone who needs to go for a lighter choice.Crumbly and TangyWell what can you say other than the name says it’s all this flavorsome cheese, crumbly and tangy till the end.

These cheese’s definitely have a huge thumbs up from the Bailey household! And with the bold new packaging they are not hard to spot on the supermarket shelf.Have you given Pilgrims Choice a try? What do you think of the new packaging?