Anna Sui Cosmetics Autumn 2018 (Lip & Eyes)

Anna Sui Cosmetics recently launched their Autumn 2018 collection. It is the cosmetics line's 20th Anniversary and so I was expecting big things, they didn't disappoint (but I wish she had done a coffret which was comparable to the Paul and Joe Beaute one). The aesthetic of this collection focused upon Anna Sui's instantly recognisable iconic Dolly Heads and vintage, gothic, lacquered furniture. I purchased the vanity face brush, rose lip color and 2 single butterfly face colors (I also purchased an empty makeup palette which is not part of the collection to put the single colors in).


The Vanity Face Brush  is £22 and measures 8.2x2x20xcm. The curved shape makes it really comfortable to hold and it is a gorgeous gothic/lacquered design. Neither Beauty Bay nor Amazon websites state that the brush head is a combination of goat and synthetic hair (Anna Sui website does state that the brush head is a mixture of  goat and synthetic hairs).  Amazon does, however, state the brush is not suitable for vegans but most veggies don't use animal based products.  I am a bit disappointed as although the brush is very soft and picks up and dispenses the right amount of product I don't like using animal products when completely synthetic alternatives are readily available.

The new Rose Color Lip Refills are £9 for 1g. Inspired by blooming roses the top of the lipstick is carved into the shape of a rose. The pan is magnetic so will fit in the Anna Sui makeup palettes or any magnetic based palette securely without falling out or moving around in the palette. There are 10 colours ranging from black to purple to pink. I chose magenta rose.  The colour glided on easily using a lip brush with no patchiness.   The colour is very vibrant and glossy, enhancing the shape and size of the lips.



The new Butterfly Eye and Face Color are single vibrant eyeshadow colours costing £9 for 1g.  they have a butterfly embossed on the top of the shadow and are housed in a magnetic pan.  They contain rose canina fruit oil, peach oil and macadamia  seed oil to keep the skin moisturised and prevent colour being patchy.  I found the colours I chose - green/turquoise and purple easy to blend. There wasn't much fall out but I did have to apply several layers to achieve an opaque finish.

The empty magnetic palette is LE palette No 5 (£12). It can hold up to 6 six single pans or 2 face colors. The pattern reminds me of Italian Micromosaic plaques or traditional canal barge floral art. It is a sturdy but eye catching travel friendly palette and as someone who wears glasses and has poor eyesight I really enjoy using the mirror, although I can now see all the imperfections!

The items I didn't purchase include the 20th Anniversary Ltd edition Russian doll inspired Coffret

which is available in three colour options and includes sparkly nail polish, lipstick, eyeliner and container (£30).  The Dolly  collectible Head Case (£10) has three head choices, each one holds a single Adventure colour are rather unusual (creepy).  Two LE Face Colors (£18), embossed with butterflies they are really cute and a Creamy blush (£19) are also available. 

I purchased these items myself and the views expressed in my blog are my own. 

Available at:

Amazon UK
Beauty Bay

Review: Paul & Joe Beaute Enticing Silver Moonlight Highlighter

The Enticing silver moonlight stick highlighter was released by Paul & Joe Beaute as part of their Autumn 2018  collection.  It is £21 for 4g and is a cream highlighter shaped in to a cat wearing a top hat! The molds for the cat shaped products are made by toy manufacturers so the end product is always very detailed from the top hat down to the last whisker and almost too cute to use!

The highlight is infused with silver pearls and is supposed to leave the skin with a dewy, healthy finish so you won't get a Jeffree Starr glow using this product but a understated glow from within. I used this on my eyelids instead of eyeshadow to make me look healthy and more awake, over eyeshadow and over lipstick to give an ethereal, pearlescent dimension to my makeup. As a highlighter it was very blendable and didn't sit on top of my skin looking like a silvery white streak, instead it did make my skin look healthy and added a subtle silvery/pink highlight. A combination of the Moonlight on the Seine pink eyeshadow and then the really highlighter did pop.

I purchased the item myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own.
Available from:
Beauty bay

Amazon UK

Review: Paul & Joe Beaute Autumn 2018 Moonlight on the Seine Eyeshadow

As part of their Autumn 2018 collection Paul & Joe Beaute released two eyeshadows: Rayon du Lune, yellow and brown eyeshadow in a swan cardboard container and Moonlight on the Seine which is a pink and brown eyeshadow in a floral container (£17 for 6.5g) and the shadow is embossed with snowflakes.  I chose the moonlight one as yellow eyeshadow makes me look ill!

The eyeshadow is mostly a pink shade. It leaves a soft and shimmery coat of eyeshadow and can also be used as highlighter. Although it doesn't look much in the pan, in swatches or on the eye, however,  it gives a healthy glow of colour which changes slightly under the light, giving the skin or eyelids a pinky iridescent glow - like moonlight.  The brown is nicely pigmented and goes on smoothly. I used the Moonlight highlighter over the top of both the brown and pink and it added a new dimension of colour to them.

I like that the eyeshadow can also be used as a highlight and that the container is compact and great for travel.  

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in this blog post are my own. 

Available from:

Beauty Bay

Amazon

Feel unique

Book Review: Going Down Easy by Erin Nicholas

Going Down Easy is written by Erin Nicholas and is the first instalment of the Boys of the Big Easy series. Gabe Trahan and Addison Sloan are not even the cliched friends with Benefits. Instead they meet up once a month in Gabe's bar in New Orleans and have a Night of hot sex. This has been going on for 6 months when Addison has been over from New York to work as an architect. Neither knows the other had a 5 year old child - Gabe has a son called Cooper, Addison a little girl called Stella and both are single parents.  Addison is moving to New Orleans to work there full time and so tries to break up with Gabe.

Gabe tries to persuade Addison to stay with him.  Addison and Gabe have very different parenting styles. Addison is independent Nd has no support structures and likes to be in control. Gabe lives with his mother and his whole family help him raise his son. Will they be able to successfully blend their families and have a future together?


This novel successfully combines a hot romance and the difficulties of being a single parent, highlighting the difficulties of trying to combine the two successfully.    Nicholas also successfully sets the scene for the other books in the series.


I received this book via Netgalley and Montlake Romance in exchange for a honest review. 
Available from:
Amazon UK

QVC UK: Ophia Sterling Silver Cosmic Constellation Ring

Ophia Jewellery is a range stocked by QVC UK. I chose the Capricorn  Cosmic Constellation Sterling Silver ring (£22.96) as it is my star sign and I have several Constellation pendants but have never found a ring that I liked.  The ring is rhodium plated sterling silver and the stones are cubic zirconia.  All the signs are currently available in L, M, P and R.  The ring makes a statement as it fits up to my knuckle (the Constellation itself measures approx 3cm in height x 2cm diameter) but it is very comfortable to wear as it is light, fits snugly against my finger and there aren't any sharp edges that could catch clothing, glasses etc.  There are also matching constellations Pendants and earring sets. The only slight disappointment is the gift box as it is rather boring and bland in comparison to the unusual, sparkly ring.  It would have looked great in a black box or a pouch covered in stars and moons but it is a nice surprise to open a run of the mill box and find a gorgeous ring inside.

I purchased the item myself and the vieews expressed in this blog post are my own.

Available: here.

Review: Ability Superstore & Classic Canes Petite White Summer Floral Walking Stick

My mum was lucky enough to win a Classic Canes walking stick in a recent Ability Superstore Facebook competition.  She chose the white summer floral petite folding walking stick (the summer range also included an ergonomic handled stick and standard walking stick in various summer floral designs. 

It came safety packaged within a few days and my mum is very pleased with it. The stick is adjustable from 32-35" and it is handbag sized so fits in her Kipling cross body bag. The stick has its own plastic pouch and it is easy to fold up and pop in. My mum has rheumatoid arthritis in her hands but she says the walking stick handle is comfortable to hold as it is small and fits into the palm of her hand (I have put a photo comparing the handle with my black petite Classic Canes walking stick which is wider and larger in size). The stick is very light in comparison to her NHS one.  The stick itself looks very summery. The bright flowers look good against the white background and contrast nicely with the gold hard wear. My mum found it easy to adjust the height  of her stick - she just pressed the little gold button and it slid into the next hole.

Since winning her stick she has bought several items from the Ability Superstore website. She found it easy to navigate and find what she wanted and the items arrived within a few days of her ordering them.

She/I would recommend the Ability Superstore and will use it for future purchases. The turn around on delivery is quick, the site easy to navigate and the name is great! They also run regular competitions via their social media pages so it is worth keeping an eye on them!

The item was won in a competition but the views expressed in this blog post are my own.
Ability Superstore Facebook Page

Ability Superstore

Book Review: The Nurse's Pregnancy Miracle by Ann McIntosh

The Nurse's Pregnancy Miracle is published by Mills & Boon Medical and written by Ann McIntosh. Nychelle Cory is a nurse, who has overbearing Drs as parents who were more interested in her grades than showing her they loved her when she was growing up.  Nychelle has decided to have her much wanted baby via IVF and bring it up as a single parent.  She meets Dr David Warmington and is instantly attracted to him.  He doesn't want a family - he hasn't got over losing his unborn baby girl and his marriage collapsing as a consequence of this whilst she has already started hers! Will her baby bring the pair of them together?

I always find Medical romances a bit hit or miss. They can be one cluttered as they combine romance and medical issues sometimes so much so that one can overshadow the other! This is Ann McIntosh's first novel and I found it to be cluttered. There are too many storylines: coping with overbearing parents; coming to terms with a lost baby and marriage collapse and entering a new relationship whilst pregnant via IVF. All three would make great standalone storylines but together, somehow, they just don't work for me.  I found the book to be cluttered and struggled to finish it.

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley

Available from:
Amazon UK
Mills & Boon

Review: Paul & Joe Beaute Autumn 2018 Moonlight on the Seine Collection: Lipstick & Refillable Cases

Paul  and Joe Beaute launched their Autumn 2018 Moonlight on the Seine collection last week. I have split my review into three parts to cover lips, highlight and eyes.  As this is the first part of my review let me introduce you to the lipsticks and refillable cases.  There are three limited edition lipsticks, Artiste, a deep true red, Chansom, burnt orange and La Poete, a deep pinky red. Their RRP is £14 for 3.5g. All three are great Autumal shades.  I purchased Artiste, and it is the perfect red for cool toned fair skin and as a bonus makes my teeth look white. The lipsticks contain lily extract, jojoba oil, orange oil and shea butter which nourish and moisturise the lips. I found my lips did not feel dry, as they usually do, when I used makeup remover to take off the lipstick and they didn't feel dehydrated when wearing it. The lipstick has a slight sheen to it and I found that I could add another dimension by adding the moonlight cream highlighter as a lip topper. I really enjoy wearing this lipstick and hope they bring it back as part of the main collection.

The lipstick cases are, as usual, adorable. I collect the packaging and keep them all in glass jars to be admired as they are mostly made out of strong cardboard which would get mucky in my vanity case. P&J, however, have upped their game this season, making not only their usual £7 refillable cases but also creating an adorable 3D refillable cat lipstick case(£10). It has so much detail, cute paws, a smirk, and it feels so sturdy when the lipstick is slotted in the base. They are all currently sold out on Beauty Bay but Amazon are still selling them (1-2 month wait).

I purchased these items myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own. 

Available from Amazon UK

Paul & Joe Lipstick case 001 £10 (cat 3D shaped case)

Paul & Joe Lipstick Case 0048 £7 (cat face)

Paul & Joe Lipstick Case 046 (£7) Persian cat and flowery print 

LE Paul & Joe Lipstick 109 £14 Artiste

#Win Alex Monroe Sterling Silver Tiny Butterfly & Rhodolite Necklace #Competition

This month's blog competition prize is an Alex Monroe Sterling Silver Tiny Butterfly and Rholodolite necklace (£120). It is a really tiny necklace. The butterfly measures 0.8cm across and 0.7 cm in length. The pink tourmaline charm glows against the skin. 

Enter here:a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rules:
Competition opens on 14 August 2018 and closes on 17 Sept 2018 12 am GMT.
Open internationally
I purchased this prize myself and it is not connected to Alex Monroe in any form.
The mandatory Rafflecopter option must be correctly completely otherwise your entries will be disqualified.
Good Luck!!

Book Review: The Governess Game by Tessa Dare

The Governess Game is the second book in the Regency romance series, Girl meets Duke. Alexandra Mountbatten is a  timekeeper who who first meets Chase Raynaud, heir to the Belvoir Dukedom  when they collide in a second hand bookshop. Fast forward a few months and sherhey meet again when she is setting his time pieces. He mistakes her as an applicant for the position of Governess.  She declines. She, however, loses her livelihood that same afternoon when she drops her chronometer in the river Thames. Luckily or unluckily for her, the position of Governess is still not surprisingly still open and she takes the position. Duke in waiting, Chase his two small charges, Rosamund and Daisy.  Both the main characters characters are shaped by their respective pasts. Alexandra was brought up by her father on a ship which sank. She was left on her own without food or water for eight days in a lifeboat until she was found. Subsequently she was sent to boarding school as her relatives who didn't want her. Chase is a libertarian rake. Years ago he was supposed to be looking after his cousin, instead he was in bed with one of his many conquests. His cousins, Antony, was murdered outside a gambling den and Chase's Uncle suffered a stroke when Chase returned with his cousin's body to their ancestress home. Consequently Chase is now heir to his deceased cousins' dukedom. He doesn't want to reproduce as he feels it would be unsurp Antony's birthright and that it is wrong to replace Antony's blood line with his own "rotting" branch of the family tree. Chase, therefore does not envisage marriage or children in his future. Instead he is a rake who pleasures women in ways that don't include penetration.

The children run away as they don't want to go to boarding school and Chase sacks Alexandra as she knew they were planning their get away. He realises he loves her but will he be able to find her?  Breeches, the formidable feline makes a cameo appearance and the rest of the residents of the house at Bloom square also make brief yet humourous visits to Chase's residence and vice versa.

I enjoyed this book, it fits seamlessly with the Duchess Deal  without seeming forced. It is well written and well thought out and I look forward to reading the other books in the series.

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley

Available from: 
Amazon UK

Mills & Boon

Gisela Graham: Small Copper Bevelled Glass & Mirror Jewellery Box

I purchased this Gisela Graham small copper bevelled glass & mirror jewellery box via EBay UK seller SimplyGift. It cost £11.95 including P&P. Measuring 14(L)x5.5(H)x9cm(W), the bottom of the box is mirrored.  The jewellery box is quite sturdy but elegant. I can fit quite a lot of jewellery in it! I like glass jewellery boxes as I can see what is in them without having to scrabble through to find what I want.  I didn't buy it primarily for storage  though. I purchased it as a blog prop as I think it looks pretty in the background and adds cohesion and a link through all my photos. I have reviews GG items before on my blog - Christmas bird decorations and I feel that I can always find something that I like!!

I purchased this item myself  and the views expressed in this blog are my own. 

Available from: 

Simply Gift

Anna Sui Cosmetics: Antique Rose Brush Stand

                  

Anna Sui Cosmetics have just released her Fall 2018, 20th Anniversary Collection.  The brush holder/ stand costs £12 and it  is very gothic, has an antique inspired/ rose embossed aesthetic and resembles a very elegant goblet.  It is made from a heavy black plastic, has roses embossed around the bottom of the goblet part, just above the stem and "Anna Sui" is embossed on the front of it.   The brush holder is very versatile and I will use my brush stand  not only as a brush holder but also potentially as a vase, Jewellery holder by the sink, vase or plant holder, or to hold miscellaneous items such as keys, loose change etc. The stand measures 130 mm tall, 90 mm in diameter. I think it is very well made and matches the other Anna Sui vanity table items perfectly.


 

                  

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own.

Avalible; Here.

Book Review: The Shy Nurse's Rebel Doctor by Alison Roberts

The Shy Nurse's Rebel Doctor, written by Alison Roberts is published by Mills & Boon Medical on 26 July 2018 and is the first in the Bondi Bay Heros series. ER Nurse Samantha, Sam, Braithwaite has always had to err on the side of caution in order to placate her parents after the loss of her dare devil brother.  After moving to a new hospital in Bondi Bay, however, she is determined to join the Specialist Disaster Response Team.  She doesn't get off to a good start, however, as on her first day she collides with long haired, motorbike riding consultant Blake Cooper who is also in charge of the Disaster Response Team. Blake has given up his dream job with Medicin San Frontier in order to care for his mother. Will she be able to break out of her safe little cotton wool bubble and get what she wants out of live, no matter what the risks - and that list includes the Dr!

The two main characters don't make the best first impression on each other as their first meeting is quite dramatic.  The dialogue and interaction between the two is at times amusing at others intense.  There is definite chemistry between the pair that they try and resist.

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley

Available from:

Amazon UK

Mills & Boon