Review: Anna Sui Cosmetics BB Makeup Cream In 01 Light Beige

Anna Sui Cosmetics have created a  BB makeup cream (£24) which is supposed to smooth over and cover pores or rough skin and disguise any dullness, to create a smooth, natural, flawless finish. The cream can create a light, natural finish or be built up to create a full coverage look. Each particle of the cream is covered in a lifting powder which keeps the skin hydrated and is supposed to ensure a natural finish which lasts all day. Sui black tea rose scent is there but not over powering. The compact is refillable, with each one costing £18. 

I purchased my compact in 01 Light Beige (there are 3 shades available). It is housed in a weighty black compact which has “Anna Sui” and a butterfly embossed on the lid. The inside has s mirror, a BB cream makeup sponge (these can be repurchased for £3) and the cream itself which is housed under a mesh which protects/dispenses the product (15g). I found that the cream was easier to apply with a kabuki brush than the sponge which was just too small to do the job quickly. The cream left a natural finish, covering my pores and making my skin look smooth and fresh. It also disguised the redness and some of my blemishes.  The cream lasted several hours without breaking up on my oily skin and there wasn’t any transference. 

                                                   

I like this cream and will continue to use it. The compact is cute and I like that refills can be pi chases as this saves on unnecessary packaging etc. 

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

Review: Anna Sui Cosmetics 400 Mystical Red Rose Lipstick & 400 Magical Black Cream Blush

Anna Sui Cosmetics released some new innovative lipsticks and a blush as part of her Black Sui Rouge Autumn 2019 range.  I purchased the lipstick - Mystical Red Rose 400 (£19) and the blush - 400 Magical Black £23 - from Beauty Bay but are they really mystical and magical?

The lipstick is encased in a weighty, detailed black component with a spotty white heart embossed on the cap and “ Anna Sui” embossed on the tube itself, it is a duo lipstick - the outside lipstick is black and the inside is red and shaped like a rose. It is very unusual, pretty and is infused with the recognisable Anna Sui tea rose scent. The shade is a magically transformed red which is unique to the wearer. The red is the main colour whilst the black is the element that makes the colour unique as it reacts to the lip’s moisture.  The lipstick is very moisturising as it contains  a variety of seed oils and fruit extract. But is it mystical? I loved the colour of the lipstick and the packaging but found it to be slippy and difficult to control when applying. The longevity of the lipstick was good and it stayed glossy and vibrant. There is also purple lipstick available but I don’t think I am brave enough to wear it! It’s a nice lipstick which slots into the Anna Sui recognisable aesthetic but it doesn’t really take the concept one step further to make it mystical. 

The black magical blush is a cream that transforms from jet black to the wearer’s natural shade. Again the packaging is gorgeous- a black compact with a mirror that is actually usable, ‘Anna Sui’ is embossed in to the blush, it is infused with a tea rose scent and there is a spotty heart on the lid. The blush contains sebum and friction resisting ingredients which are supposed to prevent patchiness and enhance longevity. I love the packaging and the colour the blush transformed on me but it wasn’t necessarily a natural hue, more of a doll like red. I did find the blush patchy and hard to work with, I had tiny areas where the blush remained black and areas where I applied the blush that were slightly different shades. It is a magical, fun concept which, for me, didn’t necessarily translated into reality so I was slightly disappointed as I love the concept behind the product. 

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

Review: Paul & Joe Beauté Sparkling Eye Color In 07 and 08

I purchased Paul & Joe Sparkling Eye Color in 07 (La Mer Claire) and 08 (Metallise) from Beauty Habit. They cost $23 each (6g) plus shipping and customs. They took about a week to arrive and I got a cute free gift - a makeup pouch and mini setting powder. 

The P&J sparkling eye color pots are different to other, traditional eye cream shadows as their formulation is unique. They are gel based and have a lighter, mousse like texture.  They are infused with oils and pearl pigment which is sweat proof. They claim to last all day and leave a dewy pigment on the lids. Some of the key ingredients evaporate on contact with the eye lid, leaving a flexible layer of colour that lasts all day, moving with the eye lid, with no fall out, cakeyness or break up of the eye shadow. The colour is supposed to be buildable, taking you from day to night.

Sparkling Color in 07 (La Mer Claire) is a bold sea foam green colour.  I applied it with my finger and found that it glided on smoothly. The colour is intense, lustrous and buildable. There wasn’t any fall out, cakeyness or break up of the shadow. The eye colour took on different shades in different lights. I didn’t need to retouch during the day. I would wear this at weekends or going out in the evenings as it is quite a vibrant and eye catching fun colour.




Sparkling Color in 08 (Metallise) is a vibrant white silver. Just like 07 it was easy to apply, no fall out etc. I found this to be a more work appropriate shade. One layer added a dewy shimmer to my lids which could then be built up to full on metallic silver for an evening look. I could this shade to be more forgiving if I missed a spot or applied it slightly outside my lid - as I cannot move my neck and have hand/eye coordination problems o find it difficult to check my eye make up in a mirror and sometimes my hand doesn’t go where I want it to!



 I have oily hooded lids and normally cream shadows break up or become patchy very quickly.  These did not but stayed put and looked fresh and dewy for around 6 hours without need for a touch up, which I was very pleased about. The packaging is cute and travel friendly. 08 could also be used as a highlight,


I would purchase other colours in this range if they were more readily available in the UK. I love that they are quick and easy to apply, no fall out and even on my oily lids they last!

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

Acdria Unique Butterfly Bangle

Disclaimer: I have purchased and have been gifted items to review from Acdria.  I purchased this and some other items I will be reviewing and giving away in my Christmas giveaway myself as I love their jewellery and aesthetic.  

I purchased the Acdria Unique Butterfly Bangle (£36) as a gift and liked it so much I purchased one for myself. Acdria are a jewellery firm based in Liverpool who design and manufacture all their items in the UK. All their items are inspired by nature, are handcrafted, made from resin and are cruelty free so are suitable for vegans. The butterfly bangle measures 6.7cm. The bangle is made from clear resin with colourful butterflies flying across it. As the resin is transparent it does look slightly different as it take on the colours around it. I like  the bangle as it looks as though there are butterflies flying around my wrist. It is very light to wear but as I have very thin wrists I do find it slightly too large and have to wear a thick jersey with it to bulk up my arm or it falls off! It came packaged in an elegant Acdria branded gift box and arrived 2 days after I ordered it via Etsy. 

I enjoy wearing Acdria jewellery and giving items as gifts so will continue to do so. 

I purchased this item myself but have been gifted 2 items in the past.  

#AD Book Review: Healing The Single Dad’s Heart by Scarlet Wilson.

Healing The Single Dad’s Heart is written by Scarlet Wilson, part of her Good Luck Gospital mini series and published by M&B Medical.  Dr Joe  Lennox, a GP working in a surgery situated in a deprived  area of Glasgow, has brought his little boy, Regan to Hanoi as he has got a new job at May Man Hospital. His wife has died of myeloid leukaemia and Joe wants a new start to recover and mend his heart. The first person he meets when he enters the hospital is Dr Dang Van Lien, who becomes their unofficial tour guide. Slowly Joe recovers from the loss of his wife and love blossoms but can both Joe and Lien overcome their pasts to find their future HEA?

This book is extremely well researched, lots of descriptive paragraphs about Hanoi which draw the reader in plus lots of medical jargon. I feel that these combined actually take away from the story and the characters because there is such a lot for the reader to take in. I enjoyed this book but wouldn’t rush to reread it. 

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

#AD Book Review: Lady Traveller’s Guide To Happily Ever After by Victoria Alexander

The Lady Traveller’s Guide To Happily Ever After is written by Victoria Alexander, is the fourth book in the lady travellers society series and is published by Mills & Boon Historical.  Violet Branham has been travelling the world as an independent woman.  Her past is a sad and distant memory. These memories are set to become reality, however, when her late Uncle, Richard, the Earl of Ellsworth, Will is published. She is required to reconcile with her husband, James, or lose everything. 

James and Violet married 2 days after they were caught kissing on the balcony at his engagement party. He claimed to have mistaken Violet for her friend and his fiancée Marie Frederick, but the damage was done and they were to be married. She overheard James telling his Uncle Richard the day after their marriage that he expects them to carry on with their separate lives and their marriage to be one of pretence. Violet is heartbroken and confronts him. She discovers that he does not love her. She spends the next 6 years travelling the world, making new friends and growing as a person. James has also grown up during this time, He wants their marriage to be a proper one.   The will stipulates that they must live together as man and wife for three years without any scandal, rumours or gossip. If they succeed they will inherit Richard’s wealth, property and titles. If they fail they just inherit the title. Violet travels from Paris to Florence to Rome, with James in hot pursuit, albeit with terrible travel sickness! A lot of the rumours that  James has heard about Violet are subsequently debunked. They slowly fall in love but can Violet trust her husband? 

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

#AD Island Fling With The Tycoon by Therese Beharrie

Island Fling With The Tycoon is written by Therese Beharrie. After arriving from her home in Cape Town to attend her brother’s wedding,  Piper Evans is searching the Greek islands for him, Liam, the runaway groom. She enlists the help of Caleb Martin, her soon to be sister in law’s elder brother, a handsome tycoon who embodies everything she hates on her ideal man!! The sparks fly as they island hop. 

Even though Caleb is a Tycoon this is not a glamourous novel. Beharrie shows that money can sometimes make life easier but cannot always solve life’s problems. She also shows how Piper struggles with a fear of being controlled. Her parents were controlling when she and Liam were growing up and now she backs away from any situation where she feels this may happen again. Ironically Caleb is the one one person who won’t do this. I enjoyed this book. It is well written and the characters develop and grow throughout. 

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

#AD Book Review: the Debt by Jackie Ashenden (M&B Dare).

The Debt, written by Jackie Ashenden is published by the relatively new M&B imprint - Dare. This series of books are racier, steamier and the main characters aren’t necessarily the archetypal traditional M&B hero/heroine. 

Ellie Little is a chauffeur who wangles a job with billionaire Ash Evans in order to persuade him not to pull his financial investment in her father’s car business. Ellie lost her mother when she was young and has always lived in her brothers’ shadows. Her father is in dire financial straits as he had to pay Ellie’s assaulter a large amount of money.  Ellie has two days to persuade Ash not to pull the financial plug on her father’s business.  Both of them get rather more than they bargain for when Ash convinces Ellie to masquerade as his fake girlfriend so that he can get one over on his step brother and purchase some islands that he wants. The chemistry between the pair is hot but will it last? 

As an exfighter Ash is portrayed and comes across to the reader as very protective of Ellie and vice versa. I have followed Jackie’s career (via twitter) and enjoyed the books published prior to her foray in to M&B. Her heros are still slightly quirky, unusual, alpha males with a twist be it that they are broken or gritty characters shaped by past experiences. Her heroines are fiesty, independent and  force to be reckoned with!  Ellie’s father appears, even by the end of the novel, to be a very very unlikeable character. I always enjoy Jackie’s novels and look forward to the next one!!

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