Nyx Liquid Suede and Lip Lingerie

Hey All

I've been meaning to share these on the blog for ages and it's one of those things I've not gotten around to. When NYX arrived in Cardiff it was a happy day, a cruelty free brand that everyone raved about. I couldn't wait to try it. On my first visit I picked up two of the Nyx Lip Lingeries, after swatching on my hand I was sold they had such a soft mouse like texture that I had to have them.

Since then I've gotten another and a few of the Liquid Suede. I've got the liquid suedes in seductive socialite and soft spoken and the lip lingeries in ruffle trim, push up and bedtime flirt (courtesy of L as she didn't get on with the shade!). These have lived in my handbag since I picked them up, with the exception of seductive socialite, I love this shade but it's not an everyday colour. When I wore it to work a colleague talked to me, stared at my lips and said your lipstick if very purple!

The liquid suede shades are so soft on the lips, they apply well (the applicator on nyx liquid lipsticks is a bit longer than a normal doe foot applicator so takes a bit of getting used to at first!) and last pretty well. These are some of the most comfortable liquid lipsticks and don't leave you with that dreaded lipliner look as these wear off.

The lip lingeries dry slightly more matte then the suedes but are still super comfortable these also really last!! These last on me all day. One thing to be wear of with these are the shades are very similar and the colour of your natural lips effects this. Bedtime flirt looks totally different on L and me.

Subversive Socialite

Subversive socialite is a rich blue toned purple, this is one of the liquid suedes so dries semi matte. I do find it needs two coats but it wears well and is easy to reapply, it doesn't go cakey when layered up.

Soft spoken

Is another liquid suede, this shade is super popular and I can see why. On me it's a rose toned nude brown. It's so easy and comfortable to wear and really finishes off most looks. 

Ruffle trim

Is the first of the lip lingeries and slightly more orange toned than it's showing here. I love this as it's not the tone of nude I normally go for. I've been wearing it loads though and the lasting power is amazing.

Push up

Is the lightest nude I can get away with without being washed out. Anything too pale doesn't suit me as my lips are naturally quite dark. I surprised myself with how much I like this colour!

Bedtime flirt

 You can see the difference in colour on L and I here. On L it's definitely more brown toned than on me. I originally had this in my hand when I bought the first two but decided against it. On me it's more pink than the other lip lingeries I have but still nude.

Next on my hit list is exotic. I love the slight red tone to it. These formulations are my favourite of all the liquid lipstick trends as they are matte without being uncomfortable!

Have you got any lip lingeries or liquid suedes? 

Love M

xxx

Antipodes Manuka Honey Skin Brightening Light Day Cream and Eye Cream

Hey all

Our Antipodes love continues today. We were recently sent some new bits to try and we've been testing them now for the past month. With skincare like this we like to wait a while to review it as it can take a few weeks for skin to decide if it like it. You can find all our other Antipodes posts here.

As I'm sure you'll all be aware by now at the beginning of the year after getting my two fluffy bunnies I went cruelty free. It meant I had to totally change everything I'd normally buy and left me searching for new brands. Antipodes is now one I throughly recommend. This year we've been lucky enough to try out more of the range and we've loved everything so far.

Today we're sharing our thoughts on the Manuka Honey Skin Brightening Light Day Cream and the Eye Cream (L has previously purchased and loved the Aura Manuka Honey Mask, reviewed here)

The Manuka Honey Eye Cream and Day Cream are both vegetarian society approved products and bee friendly products. I love the brand ethics of Antipodes! Manuka Honey is amazing and something that is everywhere. I decided to do some research on different Manuka Honey after recieving these to see the benefits and the differences. Manuka honey have different UMF ratings (grading systems for the beneficial properties) which is usually reflected in the price. The range from 5+ anything less than 5 has undectable levels, 5-9 have low levels, 10-15 useful levels and 16+ superior high grade levels. The different levels have different benefits too. Both the antipodes products are 20+ so you get great grade Manuka Honey that's really going to benefit the skin.

Manuka honey is know to help fight ageing, promote hydration and help with skin blemishes due to it's antibacterial properties. I couldn't wait to try these products out!

Here's what Antipodes say about the Day Cream.

Manuka Honey Skin-Brightening Light Day Cream (60ml) features bee venom, Vinanza® grape and kiwi seed to restore a light and fresh visage. Bee venom and mamaku black fern provide a gentle lifting effect. World-famous manuka honey Active 20+ with natural antibacterial properties helps address any skin blemishes. Revolutionary Vinanza® antioxidants from grape seeds and kiwi work with peony flower for the ultimate skin-bright finish.

You get 60mls of product with this which is 10mls more than standard day creams. I've been so impressed with it. I've been using it at night as well. As my skin tends to be oily combination I tend to worry a bit about trying out a new cream but this is amazing. It absorbs into my skin easily leaving it feeling moisturised and plump. My makeup allows really well over this as well (it's never good when your foundation makes your moisturiser peel off your face!) As I've just come back from holiday my skin has been loving the extra help with hydration this has been giving it and it's not made me break out which is amazing. It doesn't have SPF in which may be a downside for some people but I've taken to using a separate facial SPF lately anyways as I'm crossing my fingers it'll help with ageing!!

Here's what Antipodes say about the Eye Cream

Manuka Honey Skin-Brightening Eye Cream (30ml) with Persian silk flower helps hydrate and freshen under-eye tissue. Manuka honey Active 20+ has world-renowned moisturising and anti-inflammatory prowess. This luxury formulation introduces Persian silk flower blended with revolutionary antioxidant Vinanza® grape seed and kiwi skin to brighten delicate skin.

Again this is larger than standard eye creams and actually double most as it's 30mls. When I opened it the size suprised me. You get so much product for your money. This feels amazing on the skin. It feels so refreshing under the eye and sinks in easily leaving the skin feeling hydrated. For me I don't find many products that brightening for the under eye area so I can't comment on those bits. It leaves the skin under my eyes feeling so soft though and has been great for the changes in weather my skin has been subjected to lately.

I've really loved both these products and after using them for about a month I'm really loving them!

Love M

xxx

Hey all!

As Mia said, we're huge fans of Antipodes. Not only because their products are beautiful and actually work but their ingredients and ethos of being cruelty free are something that we believe in.

I have really sensitive eyes so am always a bit nervous trying out new eye creams because I don't want them to become sore. This eye cream however has been amazing, so hydrating and as it's quite a thin consistency doesn't feel heavy at all. I've been using it the last few weeks without any reactions and the skin around my eyes has stayed really hydrated - I would definitely repurchase this especially as the size of the pot is so much bigger than others.

The day cream has also been a treat to use, I've been using some other oils recently in the day to keep my skin hydrated for longer and the combination of the two together has been great.

Just like M I have also been using this in the night as it is so light and my skin just drinks it straight up!

We would both definitely recommend both of these and they are a great addition to the Aura Manuka Honey mask which has been part of their range for a while.

Have you tried Antipodes before? What are your thoughts on ingredients like Manuka Honey?

L xxx

Pitch Cardiff and Wriggle Discount Code

Hey All

A few weeks ago when C and I fancied an impromptu date night he introduced me to wriggle which is an app that shows you deals for local restaurants. I believe at the moment it works in Bristol, Cardiff and Brighton.

We found one for Pitch so decided to go for it. I've been to Pitch before for cocktails and tapas but the menu has since changed so I was excited to try it out.

Pitch is based on Mill Lane and is a small little independent restaurant that has an impressive selection of menus (the roasts sound amazing!!!) 

Wriggle works by you purchasing a deal then use the code. We had a deal that was £7.50 for a pizza and drink. As you can see on the menu above the pizzas vary from £6.50 up £9.50 and drinks were draft beers, small wine and soft drinks.

Here is my tasty pizza. As it's a welsh restaurant they had a lamb and mint pizza on the menu and as a red meat lover I had to try it. This one is on the menu for £8.50 which even without the deal we did is reasonable. It was packed full of an impressive amount of lamb and the lamb was so tender.

If you're in Cardiff I can't recommend Pitch enough and if you're in Bristol London of Cardiff it's worth downloading the wriggle app. If you use this code NYHNFL it gets you money off your first voucher!

Love M

xxx

Kiehls Daily Reviving Concentrate

Good morning all!

A few weeks ago I went to an event for Kiehls in their new store in Cardiff. The post on the event can be found by clicking here, and I've been using everything daily since I purchased it.

My skin has changed a lot over the last few years (thank you ageing!) and with winter in full force now I knew I needed to overhaul my skincare for something more appropriate.

I spoke to Katie in store during the event where she tested my skin and found that it is oily and also dehydrated - this I pretty much knew but it was good to have it confirmed.

I picked up the Daily Reviving Concentrate (DRC from now on) based on her recommendation and have been using it every morning for the last month.