First Impressions: A Cohorted Urban Decay Electric Palette

Sometimes a new product comes out that is both incredibly amazing and scary at the same time. For me, that product is the Urban Decay Electric Palette. I've seen so many breathtaking looks on various social media sites that have been created using this palette and let me just tell you, they are amazing.

I recently won a mini Twitter competition and recieved £25 worth of points for Cohorted. In case you don't know, Cohorted is a 'new type of social shopping' where people shop in groups to drive down the prices on products. To simplify, it means, the more people who want an item, the cheaper it becomes for everyone! Cool right?

The Urban Decay Electric Pressed Pigment palette usually retails at £38.00. However, I was on a bus on my way to SpaceNK and noticed on twitter the palette was up as a Cohort, so I did what any self respecting blogger would do... I shopped, on my iphone and joined the Cohort. I Bought in to the palette at £29.49, which was already at an almost £10 discount... and after using my £25 winnings It meant that the palette was mine for the amazing price of £4.49! 

Although it gets better... because I joined the cohort before it closed and spaces were still available... the price went down even lower... to £27.36. Making this palette the very best £2.36 I've ever spent in my life.

Let's talk about the palette. The click. It makes the most satisfying click when you open and close it. One cannot talk about this palette without mentioning that. The colours. I think I stared at them for a solid few days before I even dared swatch them. They're so bright, so vivid and crying out for crazy makeup to be created using them. The swatch. It's a case of love at first swatch for some of these colours. I have to say that my favourites on first swatch are Jilted and Freak. I'm not sure why, but those are just really doing it for me. This will probably all change as soon as they get anywhere near my face... so stay tuned to find out if my favourites change.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this palette and see any looks you've created using it! Which swatch is your favourite? Let me know in the comments!

Em xx

LUSH Popcorn Lip Scrub Review!

 

I've been a bad beauty blogger and I've neglected LUSH for far too long. I was so obsessed with the store when I was younger and used to revel in saving up a few pounds to go there and spend it all on one single solitary piece of soap. I recently popped in to the LUSH store I used to frequent as a teenager and picked up the Popcorn Lip Scrub.

I'd noticed that my lips were chapped and desperately in need of exfoliating, and after putting off buying this because I had the bright idea of 'making my own' and hadn't actually got around to doing it (as predicted) so instead I picked this one up for the mere price of £5.50.

One of the things that attracted me to this product is that there are no nasties in the ingredients. I can read and pronounce every item on the list and I'd even cooked with half of them.

And let me just tell you about the smell... If you're a fan of salted caramel or sweet and salty popcorn, you will love how this product smells. It also tastes on the salty side of salted caramel, but it's not unpleasant.

The Lush Popcorn Lip Scrub is really easy to use. You take a small amount of the scrub on your finger and simply rub it over your lips. I like to use small circular motions for around 30 seconds. When you're happy you can simply wipe it off, or *shudder* lick (i hate that word) it from your lips. I like to go for the wiping with a clean tissue option because It makes me feel a little bit classy.

I love that this product actually works. I know that sounds odd, but so many products these days claim to do something they don't and it's actually refreshing to see one which works, and works well. My lips feel softer, smoother and in much better condition after using this product and it is one i'll certainly be reaching for twice a week from now on.

Have you tried a Lipscrub or even made your own? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Let me know in the comments!

Em xxx

3 Tips to get the most out of Bloggers Love Fashion Week

The first Bloggers Love Fashion Week took place in March this year. Now it's back and I've been asked to attend as a VIB, and I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about this.

For those of you who don't know, Bloggers Love Fashion Week is a 3 day event which takes place in the heart of London's West End - Leicester Square. Packed full of top brands showcasing their latest collection and bloggers from all over the country, it's certainly not one to be missed.

Bloggers Love Fashion Week was pretty much my first ever large scale blogger event. I'd been blogging for 2 months when I attended, and as a newbie to the blogging world it was both petrifying and exciting at the same time.

Like most things, the most important thing to remember about blogger events is, you get out what you put in and if you plan in advance, you can get so much out of it, so I've decided to write out my top 3 tips to make the most out of this 3 day event.

1. It's cool to get there on time!
If you're shy at blogger events, haven't made a blogger date, or wimp out of talking to other people (like me) then try and get to the event bang on time, or better still...early! You'll likely find that less people are there, and if there's just 3 of you in a massive room, you could find yourselves chatting away and making friends naturally, without the added worries of walking into a room full of people you may not know.

2. Set youself a goal of _____  people to talk to each night.
I've recently set myself a target of 2. When I go to events, I aim to meet and talk to 2 new people - per event. Harder than it sounds, but the past few events I've been to, I've surprised myself, got out of my comfort zone and smashed my target!

3. Lights, Camera, Action!
You don't need a fancy camera to be a blogger as you can take some fantastic photos on camera phones these days, however, if you are taking a DSLR or similar to a blogging event, one thing to take into consideration is that the light may not always be on your side. I have a Toplight that I bought for my Canon 600D and it was probably the best £20 I've ever put towards my blog. If you have a choice between a new outfit or a light for the event... screw the clothes and buy a light. I get so much use out of mine, and my value LED light I find works better than the £100+ Calumet Top light I have for pro use in work. You'll be amazed at how much difference good lighting makes to your photographs.

So there you have it. My top 3 tips to help you at BLFW. I hope they're even remotely useful, and I can't wait for next month to roll around for the pre party!

Are you going to Bloggers Love Fashion Week? Let me know in the comments! 

Em xxx

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet, Frambourjoise Review!

As a massive fan of a matte lip, I was super excited to try out the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet lipstick in Frambourjoise*! I'd been wanting to introduce some colour into my life and having been lucky enough to receive a few of these in a goody bag at an event, I made sure I got stuck in and gave it a go.

There are eight shades in the Rouge Edition Velvet line, and the lipsticks have a lightweight texture and provide an intense colour pay off. One of the things I really like about the them is that they're a sort of lipstick/gloss hybrid. They apply like a gloss with the wand applicator and dry to a vibrant matte finish like a lipstick.

I find the best way to apply for an even coverage is to apply in two layers. I apply one layer, and run a clean finger over it to make sure it's evenly distributed and then go back in with the wand to seal the deal. Be warned, it is a bit of a stainer on the lips so if you go outside your lip line or smooth it out with your finger, make sure you clean that up sooner rather than later.

In terms of wear-ability, I find the colour works well with my pale skin tone, and i'll even go as far to say that I've found my new red.

It's certainly one i'll be adding to my main collection, and when I build up the courage to wear more bright lipsticks out of the house, this will be one i'll be reaching for.

Have you tried any of the Rouge Edition Velvet Lipsticks? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Let me know in the comments.

Em xxx