Urban Decay Cardiff - Naked Smoky Launch

It's fair to say I have been off the blog boil for far too long. Sometimes things just get in the way and unfortunately at the moment these things happen far to often... Despite the time lapse I am keen to tell you about another Urban Decay product launch and master class that I attended. 

This time it was for the Naked Smoky palette launch. 

If you've not tried the palette yet then you definitely need to give the girls and guys at the Urban Decay counter in Cardiff, Debenhams a shout as its one of my favourite palettes and some shades have quickly become my favourites. 

If you've not attended a master class here either it's definitely worth a try as you get to engage with all the make up artists, get great hints and tips and generally find out more about the products you're buying. 

The master classes are usually headed by the wonderful Haddie who is the account manager. 

I've just realised this was August 6th! So I am defo waaaay behind the curve. But in my defence I've used it a lot and I've had two holidays since then and this was the only palette I took away! 

Some of my favourite shades are:

Dirtysweet - the golden colour you can see in the shot above. 

Whiskey - a matte, warm reddish brown

Thirteen - a matte, pinky white. Great for highlighting. 

Obviously I indulged in more than just the palette that evening but one of the benefits of that was lots of goodies to try out. 

Over the last three years Urban Decay has rocketed to becoming my favourite cosmetics brand and the counters make overs are definitely ones I would recommend. 

The above was a look that Haddie created for me using the Naked Smoky palette. 

You can call the counter on 02920381525 to book make overs and find out more about events. 

Rhian Xx

Invisibobble

You know the moment you decide to put your hair up half way through the day because it's in the way? Then later when you decide you want to leave it down again.... But can't. Because that nasty elastic bobble has left a massive kink in your hair? 

Well.... Welcome to a product revolution!                 

       

The Invisibobble has many benefits. 

1. Due to the telephone cable like design the bobble applies uneven pressure to your hair meaning that your hair won't kink. 

2. It doesn't soak up any water... So when swimming it can easily be removed and added back to dry hair without leaving that awful wet ring across your ponytail. 

3. Firm grip. No matter how thick or fine your hair is. 

The Invisibobble also claims to help prevent split ends and headaches which are generally caused by the tension in your bobble and you having it in so tight. 

I picked mine up from Sephora in Paris but you can now get them in the UK for around £4 for a pack of 3. 

I loved mine and even picked some up for my friend before I come home. 

Available in loads of colours and also you can create great hair styles with them too. 

Check out the link. http://www.invisibobble.com/denise-bredtmann/ 

Thumbs up from me! 

Rhian Xx

Aussie Miracle Dry Shampoo

Now.... if you haven't yet heard of or tried dry shampoo you must have been living under a rock for the last 5-7 years. I'm sure plenty of you will correct me and say it's been around longer or that the idea of applying talc to your hair to dry it out has been around for donkeys years! But I would estimate that it was 5-7 years ago that I first found the wonder that is dry shampoo! 

Since then it's fair to say that the dry shampoo market has gone craaaazy! With pretty much all brands now offering one.

As my hair is fine, I do suffer from greasy roots - so for me dry shampoo is a life saver - my first bottle was a Lee Stafford one and I think I ended up paying around £5-6 for it! Them I found out there was this wonderful green bottle called Batiste (there was only one type back then) and it was only £1.99!!

I saw the Aussie one on offer recently and so decided to give it a go, especially as my next "dry shampoo day" is never too far away!

                     

          

This is a tricky one for me.... I am going to tell you my verdict before I tell you about the product. The reason!? I am not sure that I love it as much as I should. For that reason I am going to break it down to a simple pro's and con's list. 

Pro's

Smells lovely

Doesn't leave a heavy chalky residue

I am able to leave my hair down once I've used it rather than having to put it up

Doesn't dry hair out

Con's

I feel as though I have to use more than I would traditionally to get rid of the oil

Now. I know what you're thinking there's a few more pro's there than there is con's and that's because this is a lovely product. But is it cost effective? Having to use more for the same purpose? I'm not convinced. So I'm sticking to my Batiste for every standard dry shampoo day where I throw my hair back in a bobble and keeping the Aussie for refreshing styles and adding volume. 

Aussie is available in most supermarkets and stores like Boots and Superdrug. But I would keep an eye out for when it's on offer before making a purchase. 

What's your favourite dry shampoo?

Rhian x

Hair Extensions....

Hair is a funny old thing. 

People are never happy with their own. I think that's partly because celebrities create this false reality that hair can be perfect every day. 

I'm well aware that mine isn't and I'm sure they are privy to countless blow dries and extensions to make their tresses look amazing everyday. 

For many years I've toyed with the idea of extensions... It's an expensive habit and so had never felt comfortable or willing to commit to getting some. Instead I picked up some beauty works hair pieces and it's these that made me commit to having extensions. I had gotten to the point that I couldn't bear a selfie without the additional hair which had given me more confidence. But it want natural and they were synthetic and so with time and wear they become tatty. They are also not suitable for every day wear. 

Now. 

I googled every which kind of extension.. I googled places to have them.. What was recommended for my hair but I had never plucked up the courage to take my fine, thin head of hair in to a salon to have a consultation. 

That was until I met Nicola while having my hair cut at Studio 15. 

I mention this Salon a lot. And that's because it's friendly, approachable and for anyone with any insecurities you can feel completely at ease here. 

Nicola has been doing Hair Extensions for over 5 years. So has a lot of experience. 

We talked through what look we wanted. How many we would put in... And where. 

It was more thickness that I wanted do I had them cut just an inch longer than my actual hair. 

I had around 60 extensions applied - I went for the pre bonded option. 

It's key to point out that Nicola only uses top quality human hair. 

It is AAAA Remy Hair. 

Now... Let's be clear here. I didn't have extensions to look like a mermaid.. Or Disney princess. I had them to make me feel better about myself. My hair was thin, putting it bluntly it was crap. I was finding myself getting fed up and just putting it up in a bobble as I wasn't happy with how it looked. 

Nicola, and my hair extensions have made me feel completely different about my hair and myself. I now enjoy styling my hair... And wearing it down. The bonds are hardly noticeable and I'm constantly told how natural it looks. 

Consultations for hair extensions with Nicola are free and are available at Studio 15. Prices vary and so a consultation is needed. 

I had mine done in early July. I've not lost one extension as yet and it's now the middle of September. 

I couldn't be more pleased. I am looking to move to Nano Rings next month when I have them refreshed but I've been happy with my bonds - don't get me wrong at the start it feels incredibly bizarre but after a few washes they feel like your own hair. 

I urge anyone who feels like I did about their hair or even anyone looking for extensions in general to contact Nicola. 

Here's a few pics of her work so you can see for yourself. 

To book a consultation with Nicki call Studio 15 on 01443 315151. 

If you have any questions please ask

Thanks

Rhian Xx

Sculpted Acrylic Nails at Studio 15, Talbot Green

Now... Let me tell you about my bestie... Bethan and how she bites her nails! 

And I don't mean the odd nibble. There is pretty much nothing there. 

She always likes the idea of nails and having them but any acrylics, tips etc that she has had done before always fall off after a day as do false nails she applies herself. Not good! 

So when the lovely Angela told me about how she was qualified in "sculpting" the acrylic rather than applying the tip - I thought about Bethan and her "stumps" 

Both Bethan and I had the acrylic applied. 

Bethan's nails were so short that Angela had to build a nail before building a top. 

This is a highly skilled application of acrylic. One that not many nail technicians can offer you. 

After the nails were "built" a little French manicure and voila! Tres Chic nails for Bethan. 

You can see the difference instantly. It makes a huge difference. 

It also made a huge difference to self confidence. 

The application of sculpted acrylics limits the damage to your nail surface. Well! There's no damage. 

Ladies I urge you to call the salon and book an appointment. Please do not continue to visit the Chinese nail salons. They use chemicals on your nails. They wear masks for gods sake! 

No nail application should feel painful. 

The nails require infills after 2-3 weeks as do normal acrylics but there is no chance of the tip snapping away from your nails. 

You can call Studio Fifteen on 01443 315151 

Here's a quick shot of mine. 

I had French too but I've also had nude. You can also paint over them. 

I even got complimented on my nails in Boots by the sales assistant. :) 

Rhian Xx

BLEACH London - Hair Crayon

AIt's been ages since I actually blogged. But while sat on a National Express Bus to London, it seems like the perfect thing to do. 

Whilst randomly visiting Boots in Pontypridd a range from Bleach London caught my eye. There was a mix of hair crayons and temporary hair colours in lovely vibrant and pastel shades. This kind of hair seems very on trend at the moment. I'm seeing lots of it on Instagram. 

I picked up two hair crayons. One in "Washed up Mermaid" which is a sort of muted pastel turquoise and one in "Rosé" a pastel pink. 

The hair crayons retail for £4 each. They also each some with a sharpener which is a great idea. 

Obviously these colours work best on blonde or light hair... I gave it a go on the lighter bits of my hair but they don't really stand out as well as I would have hoped. 

That said I am optimistic that my friend Bethan will let me give them a go on her hair. 

You can see subtle hints in my hair here. The camera couldn't really pick it up. 

The crayons state they could last 4-10 washes but I'm pretty sure mine come out after one. 

Lovely idea for lighter hair :) will update you when Bethan lets me have a go at her hair. 

Rhian Xx

Milani Baked Blusher

I picked up this pretty little beauty in a new make up store in the Royal Arcade - Cardiff, it's called Beauty Crowd and its where elf used to be (for those that knew it) the shop now offers a variety of brands from the likes of Milani, elf, LA Girl and also a new London based brand - Freedom. 

I'd not really heard of Milani before, I'd seen a few bloggers like @lookamillion posting a few bits recently so I picked up the baked blush. The shade I got was 03. Berry Amore. 

 

It's a pinky, peach shade with gold hints and was around £5.99. A bargain considering the compact also includes a small brush and a mirror. The brush isn't great but they rarely are in this sort of product. It is however ideal for top ups of needs be. 

It's really pigmented and gives a lovely finish. 

Great value for money. 

Apologies for the lack of glamorous makeup. I'm on my way to get it done but wanted to share this with you guys first cause I was so impressed. 

Rhian Xx

Revlon Colourstay Gel Envy

I love, love, love Revlon nail polish! It lasts forever without clumping or separating and the coverage is also, always amazing.
I was really intrigued by the Gel Envy option and as they were on offer in Boots (2 for £10) so it was hard to resist. It's usually £6.99 each.

The polish itself includes a Base and a Colour - and they sell a separate Diamond Top Coat which can be used on any other nail polish to add super high shine and make your polish last longer.
The shade I opted for was Lady Luck - which is a coral/peach shade with gold undertones.

                                      

The coverage is great, but I would still say two coats is ideal, finished with the top coat. It lasted well days 1-5 with only small chips and some re-growth by day 7 which is pretty impressive. The product doesn't give the thickened appearance of some nail polishes but I loved the colour I selected.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer

I am, like many people constantly in search of the best concealer for me.

I have found that since my skin has improved in terms of blemishes the concealer that I need these days is more for my under eyes and highlighting instead of blemishes, but that said I am always drawn to anything that says complete coverage! Who wouldn't be!?
 

I am a big fan of the Urban Decay foundation, and the biggest draw is having a full coverage but with a weightless feel.

I have been using this concealer as a highlighter for contouring and also brightening my under eye. The coverage is great and is definitely full. 

It also does a great job of hiding blemishes, but I opted for a lighter shade so I don't tend to use it as much for that. 

I think this concealer definitely competes with Mac Pro Longwear, but the wand inside means I actually prefer it. 

It retails for £17.50 so it's in the same price bracket as Mac and comes in 8 different shades.

Have you tried this yet? What are your thoughts?

Rhian Xx

Studio Fifteen - Talbot Green

Well... This is a real change for me! This is the first time I have had my hair done in a "local salon" for about *thinks.... thinks more* at least 15 years.

That's because I was always happy with my hairdresser and why fix what's not broken!? 

Now as the fabulous Bea is still on maternity leave I am still having to find somewhere in between. I've visited one other salon in this period which was Cardiff but I decided I wanted something more local... This is where Studio Fifteen comes in. 

This isn't an ordinary salon - it's a unique concept. Each beautician, therapist, hair stylist works for themselves and the lovely Debbie - salon owner, allows them to work out of her very glamorous salon...

I have never ever been in to a salon and felt this comfortable around the people working there. They are all delightful, friendly, warm and down to earth. 

You are put completely at ease... Which lets face it is one of the most important things.
 

They offer a full range of beauty treatments including; 

Eyelash lift 

Acrylic sculpted nails

Hair extensions 

Semi permanent make up

Teeth whitening

OPI gel colour

As well as all the usual treatments you would expect in a salon. 

I am happy with my hair cut and colour... So much so I'm booked in for hair extensions in two weeks time! 

I can't recommend it enough... I have a list as long as my arm for treatments I want to try out. 

Thanks to Deb, Michelle and Nicola for making me so very welcome. 

You can like Studio Fifteen on Facebook and you can contact the salon on 01443 315151 

I have included the current hair price list below: (22.06.15) but they always upload deals on their Facebook page or contact the salon for more information. 

        

I'll keep you up to date with how I get on with my first ever set of permanent hair extensions. 

In the meantime I do encourage you to visit this salon. You won't be disapponted! 

Rhian Xx

Barry M Chiselled Cheeks Contour Kit

Hands up who loves chiselled cheekbone s!? 

Yep! It seems we all do. 

I love contouring as much as the next person, and in my opinion the more drag like the make-up the better! 

I have watched soooo many videos on Instagram - to the point that I was fed up of them being in my feed and stopped following certain people. 

Contouring with creams and liquids, is a little more complicated than simply contouring with some powder but the basic principles are the same. Highlight the sections you want to bring forward, darken the bits you want to create shadows on to show depth and structure. Simple huh? Still not convinced you can do it? 

This gem of a Barry M kit gives pictorial diagrams of exactly where to put what colour to create a simple contour and highlight. It also means you don't have to go off buying multiple products as its all in one simple magnetic box with three different shades and at £6.49 it's a steal! It might take a few attempts to get the look perfect and that comes with practice. But for the price it's a great introduction to contouring! 

I picked this up a while ago, and I promised it to my friend once I had blogged about it - so Bethan it's now yours! 

For added help check out this YouTube link from Barry M for a tutorial 

http://youtu.be/oXRJcm0Fjzw 

Get practising those duck faces cause that Kim K look can be yours :) 

Rhian Xx

Beauty Blender

I've thought it... I'm assuming you've thought it too. 

Could the Beauty Blender really be worth the £16 price tag. 

There is a lot of hype around this product. Instagram is full of bloggers and MUA's raving about them and carrying them in their kit. 

The Beauty Blender really is the Queen of the sponge world at the moment... But as with any market leading product there are a lot of contenders to the throne. So why this one? What makes this one so special? 

Now... I could google why and give you all the technical information but you could also do that yourselves, so I'm just gonna give you my thoughts instead. 

I picked up the original Beauty Blender from Beauty Bay. It was £16 but there is free shipping available from them. As with any popular product the range has now expanded. I chose the original as this is the one I've seen used most often. 

Admittedly when I first opened it I was shocked at how small it was - then I read the instructions and realised you have to wet it for it to expand. Duh! 

Traditionally I am not a fan of applying my make up with a sponge. I always prefer a brush. But I have tried this product for full application and then for blending out my cream/liquid contour and also finishing my standard foundation base and it's this application rather than a full application that is my preference. 

Now by my own admission I was dubious. But I will admit that I am a Beauty Blender convert. I love this product. Admittedly it doesn't stay bright  pink for long but washing it will bring back its former glory! 

The only other similar product I've used is the Real Techniques sponge. Which is also great but despite the increased price I do prefer my Beauty Blender. If you aren't convinced the Real Techniques one is a great alternative and is a third of the price! 

There are other alternatives which I am hoping to try as with each wash mine is getting a little battered. 

Great finish... A little pricey! 

Have you tried any of the alternatives? What do you recommend? 

Rhian Xx 

L'Oréal Infallible Matte Foundation

This is a bit of a tricky post to write... That's probably why I've held off writing it. 

Some days I absolutely adore this foundation and other days I really can't get on with it at all. 

When I've used it on other people. I've loved the finish but on me its either a good day or a bad day. Granted this isn't the products fault. It's me me me! 

On the first day I tried this foundation, I hated it. I was ready to give it away. Oops! But I stuck it out, tried it a few more times and like I said I either love it or hate it (on myself!) I'm really that torn. 

I'm thinking that on days where my skin may look a little dull, adding another very matte layer spoils it. Especially as I always set with a light dusting as powder. 

The coverage I think is med-full and it does blend very well.

The finish is very matte so if that's not what you're looking for don't be tempted with this one. 

This foundation claims to be waterproof. I've not managed to go swimming to test that as yet! And it's for it being 24 hours - again, I've not stayed up long enough to see. But it does have good staying power and for £7.99 it's a bargain! 

I've including some pics of other people's  make up that I've done using it so you can see the finish for yourselves. :)

 

Rhian Xx

L'oréal Infallible Mattifying Primer.

I love a primer... And I love my skin to look matte as its combination and can get oily. 

I picked up this primer as part of a 3 for 2 promotion and was quite excited about using it. 

As a product I like the texture and the finish on my skin... It's very similar to the Smashbox one I am so fond of. It's a great base for foundation but what I'm not so convinced of is the "Mattifying" part. It didn't make my make up stay put as much as other products particularly on my t-zone. 

So I have a mixed opinion on this one. Would I buy it again? Probably not... It's well priced at £7.99 but just doesn't do the job for me. 

Rhian Xx

My first Chanel nail polish

Now I realise I am way way way behind the times when it comes to this.... However. I wanted to share my thoughts regardless. 

I picked up my very first Chanel nail polish a few weeks ago at Duty free in Rome. Now. I was very tempted to sway the Rouge Noir way. After all, for your first Chanel polish it's worth going for the iconic one right? But, after much deliberation. I opted for a dark purple shade (which are always my faves) and picked up 599, Provocation. 

The colour is beautiful, the application is great. That, I cannot praise enough. 

Here's the BUT. 

For the price you pay for this polish, a whopping £18 you would expect (especially these days with all the new formulas out there) this polish would last a reasonable amount of time with or without a top coat. I mean £18 is a big investment. 

Now, before anyone says "have you tried the Chanel or any other top coat" the answer is yes. I've tried this polish both with and without the top coat. But that's not my point. My point is for £18 should it really need it? I think it probably lasted me a max of 2-3 days before a chip appeared. In my opinion this is disappoiting. There will always be Chanel lovers that won't agree with this and that's ok. But this is my opinion and I was expecting something amazing only to be let down. 

So aside from the negative of how long it lasts and the positives of the application and the colour - I will say that Chanel are the leaders in creating trend colours in nail polish, being a fashion brand helps a great deal of course. So if you are one for the latest trends or generally a lover of  Chanel then £18 for one polish shouldn't worry you. But for me... This is likely to be my first and last Chanel polish simply because I don't want to have to re-paint my nails every 3 days because it's chipped. :'-( 

Rhian Xx

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara

When Maybelline brings out a new mascara, I generally pick one up to try it. In my opinion this is one of the categories that Maybelline does best! 

The prices are also great, you can generally get a good mascara for around £6.99-£7.99 and under £10 price points are appealing for all of us! 

In all honesty lately I have been totally obsessed with Benefits Roller Lash! But I wanted another mascara so I don't go through that as quickly and while Boots were in 3 for 2 I seized the opportunity.

 

The brush is quite wide and arched in shape. The idea being that the mascara multiplies your lashes using a new fan affect brush which has 10 layers of bristles. The curved shape allows you to get right to the base of your lashes which is great! Also did I mention it's super super black which I love! 

The brush does do a really good job of separating and fanning out your lashes and it also costs them really quickly. 

Now... This may seem a little bizarre to most of you.

One of my fave things about this mascara is how it coats my bottom lashes. This is a personal preference thing but I do struggle with some mascaras to coat my bottom lashes enough without having to apply layer upon layer. 

Well done Maybelline. Another fab mascara! 

Rhian Xx 

YSL Volupté Tint-In-Oil

I love a new lipgloss! 

I picked up this little beauty on my way to Rome in Duty Free and I've not stopped using it since. 

For starters it smells divine! Surely I can't be the only person that judges a lipgloss by how it tastes/smells. 

Secondly the applicator is perfect! It's shaped perfectly to your lip which makes applying it simple. 

The colour is quite deceiving as it looks really light upon first application but once it sets the colour really pops! 

As it's an oil it's not sticky at all and it feels nourishing. 

Also once the sheen has wore off you're still left with a pretty colour on your lips! 

I'm obsessed with this and the package is lush too! 

It's £23.50 and it's available in 8 different colours! I opted for shade 6. Which is "Peach Me Love" but I would happily collect them all! 

Rhian Xx

L'Oréal Infallible Nail Polish

I'm a nail polish addict! I have varying shades of every possible colour. It's seriously like a Pantone chart! 

But what's the harm in one more? 

I picked up this L'Oréal Infallible one Christmas time after seeing a picture they posted on Twitter. The colour was the perfect kind of red for me - which they call Burgundy. 

The polish comes in two separate parts. One with the colour and one with a tonal coloured clearish top coat for an extra glossy and strengthening finish. 

The idea of this is to have the gel effect without the need for a UV lamp or the damage to your nails! 

Now I have tried other "gel polishes" including a Nails Inc. one which I have reviewed on here previously but I find they chip far too easily. 

This is different! This seriously does not budge. 

My nails lasted over a week and we're still in a reasonable conditions after two trips to the swimming pool and me hand washing my car! Impressive huh? 

The top coat is super glossy and I have had many compliments when wearing this shade and for £7.99 it's a complete bargain! 

Rhian Xx