Book Reviews

Morning All

After a late night last night at a gig I was not ready for my alarm this morning! Carrying on from my post I did a few weeks back on my current reads (here) I thought I'd do mini reveiws on them all now I've finished them. Finding a good book is a challenge so I'd love to know your current reads. I currently hooked on Game of Thrones and loving it but it isn't a light read.

As I said in my previous post I'm a huge James Patterson Fan and always seem to get through his books really quickly. He writes in short chapters which make it a perfect commuting book as it's easy to pick up and put down. Alex Cross, Run is from the Alex Cross series. I don't think you have to read his books in order as they fill you on in the back story but you do get a better understanding of the characters if you read from the beginning. 

In Alex Cross Run, Alex is drafted in to help out with a few murder cases and try to discover if there is a link between the cases and if there is are all the cases linked. While this is going on Alex is also dealing with issues at home that are causing him stress to deal with. As well as this Alex is being watched by someone and this develops well with the story line.

I love James Patterson. His books flow easily and I find I can't put them down. The book will keep you gripped and guessing through it to find the links. I don't want to give too much away but it's a great read.

The Fault in our Stars is a book I've wanted to read for ages. I've never read anything by John Green before but I think I'll be reading more from him now. This book is a tear jerker! I've never cried so much at a book. I got about 40% through it before thinking I don't understand why people were saying it's so sad. 

From the start of the book I was gripped and raced through it in 2 days. When I got to the end I didn't want it to end and wanted to know more. It was a book that really made you realise how lucky you are and I was totally hooked on the characters and found them easy to like and found myself wanting the best for them.

A very well written book and if you don't mind a book that'll make you cry it's a must read in my opinion!

The picture of Dorian Grey had me hooked for 50% then it was a battle. I am determined to read more classics and expand what I read. For me this is a book you really need to be able to sit down and read to enjoy. It's not a great one or dipping in and out of regularly. As it's an older book it is one you have to get your head into to enjoy the language. 

I read this knowing nothing of Dorian Grey and loved the twists that came along with the story. There were a few chapters in the middle I struggled with but after sitting down one Sunday to finish it I found myself enjoying the book again and I loved the ending!

Another James Patterson book. This is another book in a series. This follows the Women's Murder Club which follows a group of friends that all relate to the homicide side of things somehow. As with other James Patterson books it's full of short chapters (my favourite type) which make it perfect for reading on the go.

It's another book that can be picked up without reading the 11 books before as it does fill you in on who is who. The ladies all have there own battles in the book and problems to face and if you've read the others some big things happen to some of the characters!

I don't like to give away too much. But another great James Patterson book (I've never been disappointed by his reads) that kept me hooked and I couldn't put down!

As you can tell I've been busy lately. I'm totally hooked on reading at the moment and love having the enjoyment back!!

What have you been reading lately?

Love M

xxx

Avon SuperShock Mascara

Hey All

Hope you're having a good day! I always find Tuesday the worst day of the week and the one to drag the most but tonight I'm off to a gig and still trying to decided whether to finish work early! I think I need to get a new hobby for Tuesday's so I have something to look forward too.

I'm an absolute mascara junkie. I'm currently working my way through a ridiculous size stash *cough* 20 *cough*! Every time a new mascara comes out I want it. I always want blacker, longer and more volumised lashes. 

Avon SuperShock is one of Avon's best selling mascaras! It claims to offer super big, volumised lashes. The packaging is as you'd expect from a mascara. Simple black with blue writing. It is wider than normal mascaras!

The supershock mascara comes with a plastic brush. Which I am warming up to lately (here's Avon's Infinitize Mascara that converted me to a plastic brush!)! It is wider than most brushes but doesn't seem to go everywhere when applied.

Bare lashes. As my lashes are so fair. I do struggle to photograph them!

With one coat, lashes are well separated, lengthened, have a good colour to them and perfect for a low key make up day.

With 2 coats, the volume starts to build and lashes are lifted more.

With 3 coats lashes have loads of volume are well lengthened and not too clumped. I do find 3 is the limit with the mascara unless they are light coats. I love the effect after 3 coats and find it's perfect for me.

The mascara doesn't promise curl but I find it does add a small amount of lift to my lashes. This does last well through the day!

I love how supershock lengthens my lashes, and adds volume. I'm always on the hunt for a new mascara and have been loving using this as an everyday mascara. It lasts well, doesn't transfer into my concealer through the day and when applied doesn't leave a black line at my lash line or transfer to my eyelid!

Another great Avon mascara! Are you as fickle as me with mascara? I'm the same with foundation too! I always think there is better!

Love M

xxx

Urban Decay Naked Ultra Nourishing Lipgloss in Beso

Evening all!

Sorry for the late post. The weekend and today have just rushed by. I've literally just got home after the gym. I definitely have the fitness bug at the moment so I'm trying to push myself as much as possible while it's still here. 

Hope you all had great weekends!

A few weeks ago L and I went to a showcase for Urban Decay and we were lucky to have these in our goodie bags. Over the last year I've been loving a glossier lip and have been trying to find lip glosses I like. Lately I've been wearing my hair up more so I've been wearing more and more lip glosses so I couldn't wait to try these.

I was instantly drawn to the packaging. How gorgeous is it. I love that it matches the Naked 2 palette and how sleek it looks. The colour at the bottom makes it easy to see what colour it is if you have more than one. It's also stayed scratch few even when it's thrown about in my bag.

When we were swatching away I was instantly drawn to Beso. It's such a gorgeous soft plummy colour and very much a 'me' shade. When I found out that Beso meant kiss in Spanish I loved it even more.

The Urban Decay Naked lip glosses are nourishing on the lips and contain vitamin E, Avocado Oil and Shea butter to keep lips in great condition.

It has a slightly longer applicator so it makes it really easy to apply.

I love that the lip gloss isn't sticky, as nothing puts me off more than when my lips stick together. With the Naked lip glosses they provide a soft wash of colour, high shine, moisture and make my lips look plumper.

Beso has been a firm favourite since I got it. I love it on it's own for a simple daily gloss look or pairing it over dark lipsticks for a bold lip!

I also got liar. I've not worn this one as much as I'm loving Beso more!

Liar is a softer pink shade and nearer my natural lip colour.

I'm a big fan of the texture of the glosses and love how conditioned my lips feel. They are great for everyday wear or for wearing over lipsticks. I do wish the colours were slightly more pigmented as I am a fan of a bold lip.

Have you tried the Naked glosses?

Love M

xxx

Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette

Hello everyone!

Hope your weekend is shaping up exactly like you wanted!

We've got a review today of a lovely palette from guess who..............well it's obvious really isn't it!
Urban Decay are the palette Kings and Queens and nothing that they've brought out has been even slightly disappointing; we all know about the Naked eyeshadow palettes and a little while ago they brought out the Naked Flushed* palette.

I'm sure you've seen it before as it as been a big hit but just incase you haven't lets just marvel at the beauty of the palette and the packaging.

The box fits in nicely with the Naked packaging theme and the palette itself looks exactly the same as the outer box. It has raised gold lettering on it and it looks simple but effective, which is pretty much how all of the Naked products seem to be.

Inside you can see the three products side by side and there is even a mirror in the lid which is HUGE and I absolutely love this. I have a pet hate with mirrors being so tiny inside palettes when they could fill it, such as this one (this includes the original Naked palette, i hate that it has such a tiny strip inside it!)

Swiped with my fingers you can clearly see how pigmented the powders are, L-R we have the blusher, highlighter and bronzer.

I've been using them daily for the last few weeks and I have to say I do quite like it. The bronzer looked a little orange in the palette to me but on my face it does a good job of contouring my face and making it look like it's got a bit of life and shape about it. I find it hard to go to wrong with it too which is great for my 6am rush!

The highlighter is something I love also, its not as glaringly obvious as MAC's MSF in soft and gentle and its not as gold either. It's very flattering, not at all glittery and you could get away with wearing this day in, day out without fearing of someone thinking your glittering like a disco ball at a serious 9am board meeting. It's very subtle and I often apply it to my cheek bones during the week let alone for a Saturday night out!

The blusher was initially something I struggled with as I must be used to being heavy handed. It is SO pigmented that on my super pale skin I found it hard to control and sometimes looked a little clown ish because I'd put too much on. After I'd rectified this problem and only applied to tiniest bit I can confirm that I had the perfect 'flush' and now I'm using so little I can definitely see that this palette will last me a long time.

I've looked at it from afar many times when walking through my local Debenhams with envious eyes as I've wanted to get my hands on it for a long time! I can say it doesn't disappoint and will be coming on many trips with me in future. The sturdy packaging and three in one palette means its perfect for weekends away and carrying around with you.

Urban Decay...........you've done it again!


L xxx

Hey all

Hope you are having a great weekend! I'm just off to my kickboxing fitness class before pizza and beer with Jenny!

I love all of the Naked Palettes and I love that urban decay are extending on from naked eyeshadows and creating a whole naked line that is so wearable.

I love the idea of having a bronzer, blush and highlighter all in one palette. This has been in my gym make up bag and handbag for the past few weeks. It's so much easier than carrying three products around.

The packaging is practical. Plastic means it's not going to get scratched, dented or broken. I love the huge mirror! I's been great for doing my make up on the bus!

I thought I'd show the product on as some of the colours can look scary in the pan and swatched, as with other urban decay products they offer amazing pigmentation.



Here is my skin with just foundation and powder.



The bronzer colour did concern me in the pan. It does look orange toned but on the skin it offers amazing pigmentation and gives a great contour. You only need the lightest touch. I love how it defines my cheek bones and I always swipe a bit in temples.



If you've read the blog for a while you'll know I'm the biggest fan of Benefit Dandelion. I wear it all the time. It's the softest pink. Lately I've wanted more colour and found Dandelion can be a bit pale. The blush has been perfect for these days. It adds a gorgeous rosy natural glow to the cheeks.



As L said the highlighter is much softer than Soft and Gentle which is a favourite of ours. I love that this is easier to wear for day to day. I'm someone who contours and highlights most days. I find my face can be a bit flat otherwise. (on my eyes is Naked 3! It's a beaut!)

I love how well the three colours go together and how easy they are to wear!

Urban decay are also bringing out the Naked Flushed palette in other colours so keep your eyes peeled for those! It's totally acceptable to own two flushed palettes right as I want the light one too!





This shows off the contour when blended is subtle. At first it looks scary but when blush is applied it gives a soft contour!

Love M

xxx