Wednesday, 30 July 2014

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation Review

Helloo,

Today we are talking about Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation. For well over a couple of months now this has been on the top of my wishlist, I keep wondering whether I should get it but because of the excessive price tag - I didn't. But fellow bloggers AliceErin and Kal kept enabling me, I honestly blame them but I do not regret my purchase at all. You can see my big beauty haul with other goodies by clicking here.


Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation Review
Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation Review

Price: £29 .. Size: 30 ml .. Shade: Shell .. SPF: 10

According to Boots - "This remarkably lasting, yet lightweight makeup wears comfortably up to 12 hours. Provides a natural finish and sun protection all in one. This worry-free, long-wearing foundation stays fresh and looks natural through heat, humidity, nonstop activity"

First of I tried samples which I picked up in my local town, in the two lightest shades Shell and Cool Bone as I was testing on my hand, I didn't want to risk it. First few days trial and to be honest I wasn't impressed to be honest. But after much deliberation I realised it was actually the powder I was using, No 7 Perfectly Light Translucent Powder, I know it says Translucent, but it isn't as much as pure white powders are. So I got MAC Prep & Prime Translucent Setting Powder and it was 100% better. I realised Shell was my perfect tone colour and it works brilliant. I have to admit though this foundation was better without a primer, I knew this because of 'Shaaanxo YouTube First Impressions Video' so I tested it and she was correct! I was testing MAC Prep & Prime Skin Base and would find after a couple of hours I would need touching up. Switched the primer for Urban Decay De-Slick Setting Spray and wowza, it lasts ALL day - I am very impressed!! I have also found that I have to add No 7 Beautifully Matte Foundation to nose, cupid bow and chin where I get most oily, just tiny bit buffed in on top works really well to lock in my oils.

I have very oily skin, it gives me the most beautiful dewy light feel matte coverage. I have to work quickly before it dries. It is a thin runny consistency though but you I don't know how to explain it. It isn't natural looking though, not on my skin anyways but so much better than any foundation I have tried because it is so thin. Sometimes I feel as if I need to check that I have any foundation on! If I get hot, it feels like I am sweating off the make-up but I am not, it will still be in place. For work, days out etc it is really good. After a very long extremely hot day at Legoland, it was in place and certainly was a good testing, but I didn't need to bother blotting either. It wasn't the greatest by the end of the day and it certainly isn't waterproof but it was a good effort!

It doesn't come with a pump, you pay £29.50 - it is silly! At the moment, I have been just pouring into the back of my hand but I honestly feel as if it is running out too quickly. I have now purchased MAC Standard Pump for £4 which fits luckily and will hopefully help :)

On the Estee Lauder website itself, it has over 600 reviews scoring a 4.7 score out of 5 and that is just amazing odds right?! It lives up to everything it is claimed to be. It's the price tag of £29.50 for a bottle of foundation and it doesn't even come with a pump. But it is worth it and you won't regret it but use it sparingly :) 

There is also Estee Lauder Double Wear Light which is a sort of alternative BB cream kind of, Kal has a comparison here if you prefer a lighter coverage foundation for every day!

Have you tried this before, what are your thoughts? :)


Love, Gemma xo

Tuesday, 29 July 2014

21st Birthday: Beauty Haul

Helloo,

I swear this is the last of my 21st Birthday posts, another haul :) You can see my previous one by clicking here which includes some disney bits and more. This post is for all you #bbloggers who keep enabling me with all your reviews and suggestions! I went a big overly happy handing out my card in the shops, so this really is a BIG beauty haul :)

**Warning - Picture Heavy Post**

DEBENHAMS

beauty haul
beauty haul

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation, Urban Decay De-Slick Make-Up Setting Spray, MAC Prep + Prime Translucent Setting Powder. MAC Soft & Gentle, MAC Sharon Osbourne Eye Shadow Quad

THE BODY SHOP

beauty haul

PassionFruit Shower Gel, TeaTree Night Lotion, TeaTree Lotion, TeaTree Cleanser, TeaTree Facial Wash, TeaTree Face Scrub, Eye Mask
Not Pictured (awaiting delivery) - TeaTree Facial Toner, TeaTree Blemish Gel, Camomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover, TeaTree Face Mask, Camomile Cleansing Butter, Muslin Cloth  

ALLBEAUTY.COM

beauty haul
beauty haul

GlamGlow Super Mud Clearing Face Mask, Real Techniques Sams Picks Brush Set

BOOTS

beauty haul
beauty haul

Real Techniques Miracle Sponge, Vichy Dermablend Setting Powder, Bourjois Color Burst Lipstick, Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet, Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, Collection Creme Puff Lipcream, Bourjois Cream Blush, Rimmel Scandel Eyes Kohl Eyeliner in Purple and Blue. Free Gift - Bourjois Sunglasses!

MAC

beauty haul

Girl About Town Lipstick, Eyeshadows All That Glitters and Woodwinked

As you can tell, I brought far too much but only 21 once right?! I haven't wrote about anything besides what it is because it would just be far too long and I will be doing proper reviews soon - so let me know in the comments which bits you want to see a review of first :)

Love, Gemma xo


**Disclaimer - I have brought all of these with money given by family for my birthday**
Monday, 28 July 2014

21st Birthday: Random Bits Haul

Hellooo,

I am here with yet again another 21st birthday post! This one is a haul of some random bits I have been buying with my birthday money :) I have a beauty haul coming soon so be sure to catch that one too later on this week!

Disney Store


Buzz Light Year ball and Jake the Pirate sword, were bits we picked up from the shop! Corey picked up that sword, he weren't leaving without it :) Zurg, well Toy Story is a bit of a thing in my house but my other half would tell me stories of how him and his brothers played with Zurg as they grew up. As soon as I saw it hit the online shop, I immediately treated him so he could make memories with Corey :)

Nike Factory Outlet Store


Well bit of a random I know, but my aim is to really drink more water. As I don't drink any at all at the moment! I thought even little bits to start off with would be better than nothing. This cute bottle is my aim, a litre a day, so wish me luck!

Cadbury Outlet Store


Cadbury Outlet, are you kidding me? Was like heaven! £2 for 10 creme eggs, okay I didn't take pictures of these because they were soon eaten in this house! But I did pick up these little goodies. I had wanted a vintage tin for a while now, I had actually seen a cornflakes one in TK MAXX about 5 minutes before but I didn't get it because not too keen on cornflakes. But 99p Flake Ice-Creams, I loveee them! It was just made for me :) As was this Curly Wurly mug, both my mum and I grew up loving these so this is just a perfect reminder as we don't have them often but have been indulging recently :)

Tangle Teezer


I have wanted one for absolute yonks, finally I got one in my local hairdressers. Not sure if I am that keen on the colour though! But so exicted to try and see if it really does help untangle my knots!

The Works


Well I have a whole post coming on this soon, but as you can probably tell it is time to start getting serious and teaching my munchkin some bits to prepare for school next year :)

Build A Bear


A couple of weeks ago I was shopping in Cambridge, when I saw a Build A Bear sign with these wonderful Turtles on. I immediately went in, but I was a week early! So as my birthday came, I made sure we especially took a trip to our local shopping centre just for this. So we did :) It was kind of my birthday treat to him. He loved it!

Next


We may be a bit early for the nice weather we are having, but he didn't need any more sandals. But I am preparing for the rainy weather we will get soon enough!

HMV


These films are just WOWZA, I loveee them - you must watch!!

I am pleased with my bits, of course mainly the Disney Store because who doesn't love Disney! If you had to buy something/anything from Disney, what would it be?!

Love, Gemma xo


**Disclaimer - I have brought all of these with money given by family for my birthday**
Sunday, 27 July 2014

Silent Sunday #3


........

Saturday, 26 July 2014

NARS Wishlist

Helloo,

NARS Cosmetics are some what legendary in the beauty bloggers blogesphere but I am still yet to own something! I follow on both their Twitter and Instagram lusting over their amazing products which everyone I know of would highly recommend. I don't have the money to buy but I can dream, so here is my wishlist :)

I haven't gone for a normal wishlist though, I have created my favourite bits that would create a WHOLE face of make-up all of NARS :) Have you ever done a whole face of NARS make-up before?!

nars wishlist


Brow Perfector - Caucase £16.50
Trio Eyeshadow - Douce France £33
Larger Than Life Mascara - Volumizing £19
Sheer Matte Foundation - Siberia £31
Radiant Creamy Concealer - Vanilla £22
Pressed Powder - Light Reflecting £26
Bronzing Powder - Laguna £27
Velvet Matte Lip Pencil - Never Say Never £18
Blush - Deep Throat £22.50

That makes everything a total of £215, which would make for one expensive face! But you certainly pay for quality, and everyone has said how long lasting NARS products are so you get your money out of it :)

So there you have it, how pretty are all of these? I really think they would make an amazing look all together whether it be day or night! What is your favourite NARS product or top of your wishlist? :)

Love, Gemma xo

Friday, 25 July 2014

Legoland :)

Helloo,

Due to my other half having time off work my birthday, we thought we would put it to good use and went to Legoland which was just honestly truly amazing and as a family we had the best experience ever :) This will be a bit of a Legoland review and a look at what we got up too. I love day trips out in general as do must, it was such an amazing part of my childhood doing bits like this with my family and of course I want to carry on that tradition as its fun!

As for ticket prices, it was exspensive at £46 for each adult and £41 per child - you have got to be kidding me?! Frankly, I was outraged when I saw these prices online. So we looked at using the Tesco Clubcard Vouchers, which worked out to be £37 out of them for all our entrance fees. I don't really class Tesco Clubcard Vouchers as money either as just points I had worked up. A bargain I would say although they do have at the moment an offer where you get a day ticket and get second day free. But you then have to stay over etc?

legoland reviews

What felt like a long drive wasn't too long actually, just under 2 hours in a bit of traffic we arrived with the 100s of others around 10 minutes before opening. We decided to go for priority parking which cost £9 for the full day meaning we were closer to the entrance. It's like £4 for standard. On the way to the parking, you pass the Legoland Hotel - just wow! I couldn't get a picture as you couldn't stop but honestly I really wish we had of stayed, it was just every kids fantasy.

legoland reviews
legoland reviews

I am a sucker for mini figure land things, whatever you want to call them. If there is ever one on holiday we always make sure we visit :) It was great, the fact people take the time to build these, I would get bored! If you know me at all, you will know I love London especially this part of it with Big Ben and London Eye meaning the Sealife is close by too. Just look how amazing it looks? :)

legoland reviews
legoland reviews

These were some of the first bits we went onto, no queues or anything - everyone went in opposite direction to what we did for some reason but was good for us. The fire engines, you had to make them rush to the fire and then squirt water into the house and then take fire engines back to the start. Was a lot of fun and so cool :) Especially for fireman fanatics like Corey!

legoland reviews

I know this picture isn't very good but I just HAD to speak about the submarine! Like I said there was no queues, so glad as when we got off the queues were like 45 minutes wait for this ride for the rest of the day! It was hot and smelly inside too. But it was a submarine that went through the water (obviously) with many sharks and fishes. This was the ride Corey wanted to go on most and when we got off he goes "we can go home now" haha :)

legoland reviews
legoland reviews
legoland reviews

So there is two types of train rides you can go on, one that takes you from the entrance right to the bottom of the park and back again as it is VERY hilly. We walked not knowing this!! The other is this one that takes you round a little way to see around the park. A couple of pictures whilst we waited in the queue, aren't they cute? What you don't know about this train though is that when you go round it squirts water at you!! They should really have a warning of this, as some people really weren't impressed at getting wet. It was fun though :) Corey does love his train rides. A poor teeny tiny baby, cried historically being woken from sleep at getting wet. Mum calmed baby, then more water and more crying - my heart melted with sorry!

legoland reviews
legoland reviews

Some more bits people had built from around the park itself - just so cool! Then the little dragon, if you paid £3 you could sit and build it then take home so of course we did :)

legoland reviews
legoland reviews

These were so cool, little cars that go round :) I didn't know how Corey would get on, I honestly thought he would be crashing into the walls etc but he was much better than expected. May be time to get him one of those electrical cars! At times he was frustrated that it wasn't going fast enough even though he looks like a little old grandad driving. But he picked a blue one, a Panda coincidently which he loved as nanny has a Panda.

legoland reviews

Not a particularly great picture of Corey but after driving his Panda, he got a driving license :) I am a sucker for all these things like pictures so of course I had to buy it. Something we will treasure and I can show him when he passes his real test in many years to come!

legoland reviews

So when I went to buy the Driving License, they offered me a photo pass which is £20 and you can get four pictures from across the park rides which honestly is a really good price. They used one voucher for the drivers license, and then I could three more left which we used - could either be a photo, magnet or keyring which is good as these are priced as £10 each usually. So I really recommend you get this if you are like me and love photo bits :) They did phone cases too, £15 though!

legoland reviews
legoland reviews

For the first time ever, Corey got face paint. I have always been a bit wary and some family members are allergic but we went for it anyway. He sat so still and loved it! They had pictures of various things including his favourite Spiderman, but he wanted a Ninja Turtle so they done green face and blue mask. He loved it :) Although, he touched it and there was tears and sweat too from the heat so it didn't last too long. But even now he keeps wanting to look at the pictures!

legoland reviews

Of course we stopped off in the shop which we weren't planning on doing but how could you not?! We had seen the hooks around the mini shops and knew we had to get one even though it is foam. We had been searching for a hook for ages as poor Corey has been using a hanger. Next I was looking at the key rings for myself and came across Blue Ninja, added to the basket quickly. Lego, you couldn't go to Legoland without buying Lego!! Took a while to decide, but eventually came home with Ninja Turtle, no surprise there. Was a close call between that and Jake The Pirate though!

Lunch, well we were all a bit hungry by lunch time so we stopped off just before 12 and the big rush. They had a Burger Kitchen, £7.95 for an adults burger meal which I originally thought was a lot but actually not that much difference to Burger King. It was super tasty too :)

I know I didn't really take many photos because I was too busy enjoying my day with my family :) It was a very big place but we managed to see most of it, although honestly I do think you may need 2 days (sneaky stay at their hotel too!) to see all the shows and theatre bits. They have 4D cinema you can go into, xbox gaming area and much more. Plus a Lego Duplo area which we didn't manage to get  round too. Also a Splash water play area, but we didn't know that so weren't prepared with bits!

Corey is now 3.5 and was a great age, but honestly I wouldn't recommend for much younger and there was still some bits Corey could just about get on and most had to be with an adult.

Try and get the best deal on price tickets if you can, we ended up spending near enough £100 without the ticket price included so you can imagine :( Honestly, we don't get to days out often as a family and I don't have much money. BUT sometimes you just have too!

So there you have it, our trip to Legoland :) What are your thoughts? Ever been before? Planning on going soon? :) Let me know!

Love, Gemma xo


Wednesday, 23 July 2014

21st Birthday: Presents

Hellooo,

You may have seen my previous post which was all about my birthday - click here to read if you haven't already :) I got some amazing presents but I haven't managed to take pictures of everything as it was taking sooo long! I love reading and seeing pictures of what others get so I thought I would share mine too :)

Well from my mum, I actually spent my money a long time ago. Firstly, a very amazing nail stamping set from MoYou which I am still yet to blog about. Secondly, my ticket to attend Brit Mums Live and you can read my post about it here. Thirdly, I had some clothes and a bag for that event too! I am glad I put my money to good use and was able to attend the event as it was a gooden! :)

Off my grandparents and uncle I got moneyyy and I have hauls coming up in next couple of days of everything I have treated myself too *hides face* - only 21 once right?! (how many times can I get away with using this excuse haha?)

Next up is one of my favourites, off my best friend I got a tattoo. I had wanted a puzzle piece for ages, I wasn't sure how it would turn out as it is a little different to have I guess but I am so pleased with how it came out :) Super cute in my opinion!

puzzle piece tattoo

Even though my mum got me bits already, she got me presents from Corey and I was spoilt. I think she planned to get 21 presents but I am sure I know I had a bit over :) I didn't take pictures of everything because as you can tell with more than 21 things would have taken forever!

sunshine on a cloudy day blog
sunshine on a cloudy day blog
sunshine on a cloudy day blog
sunshine on a cloudy day blog
sunshine on a cloudy day blog

So this may be a little out of the ordinary for a grown adult but Corey was so set on getting me a Pink Power Ranger for my birthday and honestly we knew how disappointed he would have been if I didn't get one so mum got one! And next, we have Rapunzel as we took a trip to Disney Store in the week and well I have wanted a princess for ages okay - don't judge me! Corey knew instantly which one I wanted as Tangled/Rapunzel is my absolute favourite. But as you can see she is dressed as a bride. The story behind this is - Corey's favourite episode of Power Rangers, is where the Pink Power Ranger gets married and Corey has been telling me that I can only be a princess if I get married and he will walk me down with a sword to fight off the monsters - hands up if you think he will do this when the day eventually comes?! He actually even told his pre-school I was getting married and they congratulated me. Embarrassing mummy moment when I had to say I wasn't and it was in fact just from a TV episode :( But either way these two presents are by far my favourite because of the story behind them! Children say the funniest things don't they?!

Last but not least, what the other half got me and I was truly spoilt :) We haven't done special occasions for over a year but as it was my 21st I did actually get some bits, as a couple of years ago we did celebrate his 21st!

fiorelli tessa cross body hand bag

fiorelli tessa cross body hand bag
sunshine on a cloudy day blog
sunshine on a cloudy day blog
sunshine on a cloudy day blog

Ohhhh just look at the Tiffany & Co - what a beauty!!!!

I am totally in love with all my presents, bits and bobs :) What did you get for your 21st or what is at the top of your wishlist? Be sure to keep an eye out for my birthday haul post coming soon!

Love, Gemma xo


**Disclaimer - This isn't a bragging post, I am just overly excited by birthdays and thought I would share**
 

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