Natural Spring Makeup Look

Spring; the beauty season of lighter bases, pastel shades and sheer lip colours. I love seeing what new product launches come out this time of year and 2014 did not disappoint. I've particularly been impressed with Rimmel, No7 and Maybelline. Today's post is a make up medley perfect for Spring.

No7 Lovely Lashes Mascara �12.95 

The latest mascara from No7 is enriched with Argan oil to help nourish lashes. Argan oil is in pretty much everything now so why not make up! The formula is very glossy making it impossible to get clumpy lashes. The soft bristle brush creates natural looking lashes whilst conditioning. 

Max Factor Whipped Creme Foundation �9.99

A lighter base is perfect for spring and they don't come much lighted then this whipped creme from Max Factor. This is like a new and improved version of those mousse foundation we all used to own. The product itself feels amazing on skin, the super soft formula blends seamless and creates a natural semi-matte complexion. 

LOLA makeup Eyeshadow 019* �10.00

Part of Lola's new 'Spirited Away' collection for S/S 14 which is influenced by the mesmerising tones and shades that continually roll across desert skies and sun baked vistas. The eye make up for this spring look is all about echoing shades naturally found on lids. This eyeshadow is the perfect natural shade, it helps to hide redness and brighten the eye area. The soft, blendable formula makes this a joy to use.

Bourjois Effect 3D Max Lip Gloss in Corail Idyllic �7.99

The hottest colours for lips this season is orange. I've gone with a subtle shade for any orange lip newbies out there. I'm not really a fan of lip gloss but this doesn't feel tacky or sticky at all. The ultra-shiny formula also helps to keep lips hydrated - bonus!

No7 Blush Palette �12.00

A gorgeous blend of pinks, reds and white to create a gentle flush of colour. The palette also has a very subtle shimmer which gives cheek a radiant glow. Swirl your brush around to get a pretty mix of all the shades or use each section individually. This is hypo-allergenic making it suitable for those with sensitive skin. 

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What's in my Mum's MakeUp Bag

I wanted to write a Mother's Day post this year but still keeping with the beauty theme. My first experience with makeup was secretly trying out my mum's red lipstick on myself then crying when I couldn't get it off. Eight years later my intrigue had grown stronger and I began to ask Mum for beauty advice. She introduced me to my first fragrance (Versace Red Jeans), told me about white eyeliner and allowed me to experiment with beauty. The later wasn't always for the best; hello fake tan disaster and dodgy hair cut.

Nevertheless, my Mum has been such an influential women to me especially when it comes to all things beauty related. I'm taking a peek inside her daily make up bag to share with you her beauty favourites. Take note - Mum knows best.

"I wear make up most days. For foundation I like Revlon Colourstay  because the colour stays (laughs). If I didn't use this foundation I'd  end up with it around my collar. I've resigned that I've got really bad baggy eyes so I have to wear concealer. I use Collection Lasting Perfection because you told me to .I don't wear blusher because I don't know how to and don't want to end up looking like aunt sally!"

"The No7 Sensitive mascara is my favourite, I prefer the plastic bristle brushes on mascaras - I'm not one for clumps! When it comes to eye shadow I tend to stick to neutral brown shades. No pearls, no shimmer just mattes as I don't want anything to accentuate my wrinkles. I'm getting into those crayons (Max Factor Eye Shadow Sticks), but they are very hard to use. Asda's Liquid black eyeliner is my favourite, it's like �1.50 and it lasts for ages."

"I do like a nice lipstick. Anything creamy, matte and neutral. My most worn lipstick is MAC Blankety or No7 Moisture Drench in 'Rumour' which is now discontinued. Or I'll go for an 80's pink. I have to wear lip balm every single day."

"At the minute I'm loving oils - facial oils and body oils. I'm in love with geranium oil for my face, that feels really good on my skin, it just drinks it up." 

"If I could invent any kind of make up I would invent leopard print eye shadow." And I think that's where we should end the interview...

Thanks Mum for letting me delve into your make up bag. I hope you enjoyed this slightly different post. How are you spending this Mother's Day? I'm just off to my Nana's for a roast!

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Dove Purely Pampering Blogger Event

Cocktails, pampering and macaroons equals blogger heaven.

This Thursday I was invited to London to attend a Dove blogger event. The event itself took place in a rather swanky St. Martins Lane Hotel. My nose lead me to an apartment suite decked out with Dove products. I brought my Mum along with me, it was her first event and as she's already a huge Dove fan I thought a pampering session would fit in perfectly with Mother's Day this Sunday. 

We were introduced to Dove's new Pistachio and Magnolia Purely Pampering range. The silky formulations, edible fragrances and rich essential oil ingredients make these new products perfect for a daily pamper. The collection consists of a body wash and body lotion, both of which are available now.

Dove always produce something special scent-wise each year. There latest offering to the Purely Pampering range did not disappoint. The new collection is based around indulging in some me-time and treating your skin with delicious ingredients every day. I had the chance to chat with the lovely ladies who had created the new fragrance for Dove. They had flown in specially from Paris and spoke with knowledge, love and passion for their newest creation. What I really took from the event was just how much research, testing and time goes into creating and developing new products. It's truly impressive how they manage to sell such high quality products at affordable prices. 

My pick out of the new scents has to be Pistachio Cream, a delicately sweet fragrance with a floral scent and the pistachio blend makes this even more delicious.

After dousing myself in the body wash last night, I'm pleased to report back the experience of showering with Dove is a luxurious one. The thick, silky formula leaves skin nourished and smelling amazing. The body washes are blended with Dove's unique NutriumMoisture which contains a blend of skin-natural moisturiser. This helps to leave skin feeling hydrated and not tight unlike most shower gels. 

After taking it all in, I left in a Dove daze. I even Secretly hoped the tube home would be packed so communities would have to inhale and appreciate my Pistachio and Magnolia aroma.

A review of the new products will be up shortly. Dove are also launching some exciting new products later on in the year which I can't wait to share with you! 

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Veil Cover Cream Review

This isn't my first delve into camouflage make up, I've previously tried Keromask and Dermablend. Veil Cover Cream is designed to cover things such as blemishes, dark circles, tattoos, acne, rosacea plus much more.

The main reason I wanted to try this was to see if it would help hide my hereditary dark circles. I've mentioned about my battle with this before on here. Highstreet concealers do cover them slightly but not as much as I'd like. I even recently invested in Benefit's 'industrial strength' Bo-ing concealer which was nothing special! I've been testing this out for two weeks now and here's how I got on..

The Veil Cover Cream Demonstration Kit* comes with 20 cream colours and a setting powder. Each shade is extremely pigmented and long-wearing. They are also supposed to be waterproof but I'm yet to test this out. The creamy formula makes these easy to blend without looking cakey. I do find you have to set it with a powder to keep it in place. The folder the cover creams come in isn't very compact. If I'm on the go and I don't want to take all the shades with me I can't really. I'd prefer it if the creams were attached with Velcro so they could be removed easily.

I've been using the shades 'Peach' and 'Natural' mostly to cover my under eye dark circles and they really do conceal them well. I wouldn't purchase this kit again but I would buy the individual cover cream pots. If you have any questions about this product, do not hesitate to ask!

The Veil Cover Cream Demonstration Kit* retails for �40.64 and is available from the Veil website here.

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Britney Spears Fantasy The Nice Remix Fragrance Review

Back in the day I was a 'Curious' kinda girl, that scent just takes me back to my 2006 school days. Britney Spear's fragrances are nearly as iconic as her music. If you are a  fan of her original Fantasy fragrance, you will not be disappointed with her newest additions.

The two new fragrances from Britney follow on from her original Fantasy fragrance which was launched back in 2005. Naughty Remix and Nice Remix both borrow notes from the original version. The Nice Remix* is the scent I've been enjoying these past few days. This concoction is quite soft with airy-florals and sparkling fruits. Notes of jasmine and cupcakes give this a sweet edge perfect for everyday wear.

The Naughty Remix seems like more of night time fragrance with it's sensual scent of chocolate orchid, jasmine petals and creamy musk. The bottles are adorned with a gold 'N' charm which can be removed and worn. Not sure if you'll be Naughty or Nice? Best get both then!

Available in 30,50 and 100ml. Prices start at �23, both fragrances are currently exclusive to Superdrug but are available nationwide April 2. 

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Getting Oily

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Oils: not just for political leverage and fry ups. You can get oils for pretty much everything; your hair, face, body and they seem to be the beauty product of the moment. The light-weight, hydrating, non-greasy formulas make oils a popular alternative from lotions. Plus, the bottles are normally really pretty. Here are of a few of my favourites, I think it's safe to say I have an oily obsession.

Nouris Frangipani Monoi Oil*(LINK)
Produced by soaking fresh Tiare Tahiti flowers in refined coconut oil. Monoi oil has a soft, warm fragrance which has soothing and moisturising properties. If you've found coconut oil not cutting the mustard, give this a try! To use you have to first place it in warm water to melt the oil. Watch my mini demonstration of how to use this on Instagram here.
Botanics 100% Organic Facial Oil (LINK)

I love using an oil before bed and this has been my current go to. Enriched with Rosehip, this oil melts into the skin quickly and leave it feeling softer and hydrated. This locks in moisture for 8 hours so it is ideal to use just before going to bed, allowing the nutrients to soak on up without leaving skin looking greasy.

Miaflora Moroccan Argan Oil (LINK) and Nouris 100% Pure Argan Oil*(LINK)

If you're new to oils, Argan Oil is a good all-rounder. You can use it on your face, hair or body. Add a drop with your moisturiser if you don't like the feel of applying oil. If you have really dry hair, try sleeping wuth a mask of this on your hair and wash out in the morning. 

Grapeseed Oil (LINK)

This is perfect for creating your own concoction. Dilute essential oils such as Geranium or Lavender with this 'carrier oil' to make bespoke oils to suit your skin needs.

Perfectly Pure Coconut Oil (LINK)

Another highly talked about product. So many celebrities swear by the stuff. I don't really like using this in hair, I find it quite hard to rinse out. However, this mixed with sea salt makes a great DIY body scrub. I've also been trying it out as a deodorant after reading about it on the internet and so far so good! Further testing is needed, not sure how it will hold up in really sweaty conditions. 

Nouris Rosehip Oil*(LINK)

I wanted to try Rosehip oil after a lot of you recommend it for reducing spot scars. I've been using this for about three weeks now and have noticed my scars have faded slightly. I'll continue to use this daily in the hope they'll banish completely! It is also claims to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and stretch marks. Like all Nouris oils they are housed in beautiful, frosted glass bottles to help protect the oil from sunlight damage.
Wella Professionals Oil Reflections (LINK)
I've been using this every week for about 9 months now and I've hardly made a dent! This oil contains ingredients such as macadamia seed oil, avocado oil and Vitamin E. All these work together to leave my thick hair looking glossy & helps smooth frizzy ends. This has a really gorgeous sweet scent to it, it's just so luxurious to use!

Are you off on an oily binge after reading this? I'd love to hear what oils you'd recommend - I can't get enough! 

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I have a little favour to ask...

Oh hi there!

Hope you are all ok, what's happened to the sunshine? It felt like spring in the UK this weekend and my Instagram feed was full of sunglasses and bare legs but today it's been quite cloudy and chilly, BOO. 

I've got a little favour to ask you if you're on Instagram. You guys have always been so supportive and kind and I love the beauty blogging community. I recently entered a competition to win a social internship with Nivea & Akqa. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and something I really, really would love to be part of. Here is a link to a video I created for a chance to win the internship and I would be extremely grateful if you'd be kind enough to 'like' the video and let me know what you think! I'll keep you updated with it all, fingers crossed!
Kia x

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HUGE SPRING SALE

Who's ready for a HUGE SPRING SALE??? This kind of sale doesn't happen every day at Spellbound Nails so share it with all your friends!!! :)

Pick your store and don't forget to use the codes below! You don't want to miss this sale!!!

Etsy: www.spellboundnails.com

Storenvy: www.spellboundnails.storenvy.com

SPRING10 = 10% off any purchase

SPRING15 = 15% off orders of $15 or more

SPRING20 = 20% off orders of $20 or more

SPRINGFREE = free shipping on orders over $40

** Codes expire midnight EST 3/20 **

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Mother's Day Gift Ideas 2014

Mother's Day isn't just about buying a bunch of flowers and a card because you think you have to. It should be about celebrating your mum's life and saying thank you for everything she's done because you want to.They are so many cool, unique presents out there which are really accessible thanks to websites such as Etsy, Not On The Highstreet and Amazon. These are great places to find something a little different from highstreet offerings.

Unusual artwork or meaningful quotes make a really thoughtful present. My mum loves elephants so I know she would appreciate this Vintage Elephant Print (�6.16) which has been printed onto an antique book page. If you're creative why not try making something like this yourself? 

Everyone has a story to tell, we often forget our mums had a life before we came along. This 'Dear Mum Journal' (�13.00) allows your mum to write down her stories and memories which made her the person she is today. She can add illustrations or photographs and when she has completed it, she can hand it back to you to read. I think this is such a lovely idea, I'd like to give one each to everyone in my family! 

Maybe you want your mum to indulge in some me-time this Mother's Day. How gorgeous is this 'Butterfly Bliss Wash Bag'* (�18.00) from Ted Baker? Inside is a full size body wash and lotion, fragranced with the relaxing aroma of bergamot, patchouli and red fruits. Perfect for a pamper evening! 

Another gift designed to make your mum look and feel amazing is this self tan gift set from Lauren's Way. 'Mum's Pamper Night In'* (�20.00) includes a LW body polish, LW medium mousse and LW tan enhancing moisturiser. My mum loves a tan and the LW medium mousse leaves skin with a natural looking tan without looking orange or fake. Be quick - these sets are only on sale until 31st March! 

Photographs always make wonderful presents. I love this 'Gaint Polariod Canvas Print' (�85.00), it's such a unique way to display your favourite photo. You can even add a personalised message underneath. 

Any idea what you'll be getting your Mum for Mother's Day? Hope this has given you some inspiration! My Mum has told me I can only spend �5 on her which is proving to be a challenge! Maybe I'll make something....

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Alexa Chung for Eyeko Review

I love Eyeko.
I love Alexa Chung.
So you can guess how chuffed I was to find about their collaboration. The set completely sold out in Selfridge's within the first day of sale. I've been using these products for around a month now to see what all the hype is about. Read on to hear how I found the Eyedo collection...

The limited edition Eyedo Liquid Liner (�15.00) is an even better version of the companies iconic Skinny Liquid Liner. The pigment of this liner is jet black and glides on smoothly. The felt tip style nib allows for an easy application. It's waterproof formula lets you use this in your waterline and manages to stay put for around 12 hours.

I'm already a huge fan of Eyeko's mascaras. I use their 'Black Magic Mascara' daily and it's honestly the best one I've ever tried. The Eyedo mascara (�20.00) is described as an 'oversized brush with un-even bristles in carbon black, designed to maximise volume without clumpiness'. The wand is weird, it resembles a helter-skelter shape. The bristles don't manage to coat every lash due to it's odd shape. I'm not a huge fan of this, I find it quite tricky to use and it isn't cheap.

I do really love the packaging of this collection. I think the Eyedo Liquid Liner is a great product but not even my girl crush on Alexa would persuade me to repurchase the Eyedo mascara again. You can buy the Alexa Chung for Eyeko range online here. Have you tried any of these products yet? 

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Spellbound Nails New March Releases

Today was a big release day for Spellbound Nails. For those of you who missed the St. Patrick's Day presales, The Drunken Leprechaun Duo is now fully released and available in full size and mini bottles as well as individual bottles - Lucky Charm and Magically Delicious.

Credit: 4Boys 1Mom Lacquer

Many thanks to Jennifer of 4Boys 1Mom Lacquer for her lovely swatches. Head over to her blog and see the equally amazing nail art she did with these polishes.

You can also visit Natalie of Over the Top Coat and Jolene of All Glazed Over for more wonderful swatches and St. Patrick's Day nail art.

You can now get the Spring 2014 Collection as it is up for presale until 03/08. It fully releases 03/20. (Full Size | Mini)

And, last but not least, today was the start of my new monthly charity polishes. $2 of every bottle sold will be donated at the end of the month to the charity that inspired the polish. This month the charity is the Wounded Warrior Project. Put Yer Camo On is a camouflage inspired glitter topper. Mini bottles are $6.50 and full size bottles are $10. What could be better than making a donation to a great charity and getting a bottle of polish in return??

Are you on polish overload yet? If you're not and you want to see more Spellbound Nails polishes you can head over to Fairly Charming and see the wonderful swatches Stef recently did of 5 of my glitter toppers!!

Until next time,
? Ashley

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