Highlights of The Week

Beautiful Brighton Beach & West Pier early evening

Morning Lovelies!

I thought I would try and bring a bit more of a personal post to you once a week so you can get to know me a little better and get a look into what I have been doing.

Here are the highlights of last week:

Tuesday I had a random evening out, I always find unplanned randomness is the most fun. My good friend Tom messaged and asked me to join him for an evening of Beer, Beach BBQ's and movies. It was a lovely night we haven't seen each other for a while so, it was great catching up with him and chatting about dates and other things going on in our lives whilst the sun went down. We went through a few beers, some Ben and Jerry's cookie dough and quite a bit of p*ss taking from him, no night with Tom is normal without some kind of p*ss taking.

Freshly burnt finger due to forgetting utensils #Idiot

Friday was Date night! I have been chatting to this lovely guy for a few months now and we finally managed to get together for a few drinks in my local, some food and then a few movies. I had been really excited about this one as we just seemed to click from the minute we started chatting. The date went really well and he has said he would like to see me again so, watch this space. 

Date Night Look

 I am a little sceptical when it comes to second dates because they never seem to happen for me so, I never get my hopes up or getting too excited because I would get really hurt on a regular basis. I think the only person I have been on more than one date with is Tom but that's because he isn't into me like that *Insert huge frowny face*, I suppose you could call them "Mate Dates". Tom and I initially met through a dating site we hit it off and have been very good friends ever since meeting around 3 months ago, I would totally date him and he knows it but its not going to happen! 

Anyway enough of that lets move onto Saturday, I had a surprise visitor who arrived with the most beautiful bunch of flowers for me. I haven't had flowers brought for me for at least 9 years so, for him to say " I was in the area and drove passed a florist and thought Ahhh I will get some flowers for Ems that will make her smile" did just that put a huge grin on my face. I cant name the person because he said if people find out they will think he has gone soft, it wasn't soft at all it just proved what an amazing friend he is.

So, that was my weeks highlights, I hope you enjoyed a bit of a look into what goes on when I am not blogging about Beauty etc and I will leave you with a picture of my beautiful flowers,

Ems xo

Paul Mitchell Pull Out of China!

Just 48 hours after I let you guys know about Urban Decay pulling out of selling their products in China Paul Mitchell do the same. It would seem that Urban Decay have set the wheels in motion as other huge companies seem to have taken note and are now following in their footsteps. With these companies pulling out this can only mean good things for the future of Aniaml Testing and if more companies follow suit hopefully we can say goodbye to it altogether.

I received the below press release 30 mins ago from PETA enjoy reading it:

PAUL MITCHELL RECEIVES PETA PLAUDITS FOR PULLING OUT OF CHINESE MARKET

Hair-Care Company Refuses to Allow Chinese Government to Test Its Products on Animals

 

London – PETA is praising hair-care giant John Paul Mitchell Systems for pulling out of China after being informed that the company would have to pay for animal tests in order to continue selling its products there. Rather than being part of a market where animal tests are required, Paul Mitchell CEO and cofounder John Paul DeJoria put sales in China on hold last year and has now told PETA's US affiliate that Paul Mitchell will not sell products in that country in order to remain committed to the company's cruelty-free policy. Paul Mitchell, whose products have never been tested on animals anywhere in the world, will also receive PETA US' Courage in Commerce Award for fully living up to its reputation as a defender of animals and an innovator in human-safety tests and for being the first corporation to stop selling its products in China in order to spare animals.

 

"Paul Mitchell's decision to pull out of the Chinese market has cemented its position as a company compassionate shoppers can rely on", says PETA founder Ingrid E Newkirk. "By refusing to compromise its ethics, Paul Mitchell is setting an example of corporate courage and responsibility that shames less ethically minded companies."

 

Says DeJoria, "Since Paul Mitchell was founded in 1980, we have been cruelty-free. We do not conduct or condone animal testing on our products, and we will not attempt to market our products in China until alternatives to animal testing methods have been accepted by the government. We are honoured and encouraged to be working with China to bring about positive change. Paul Mitchell always has been and always will be cruelty-free!"

 

Paul Mitchell's announcement comes on the heels of cosmetics company Urban Decay's decision to cancel its plans to enter the Chinese market. Not all companies are as principled as these two are: Mary Kay, Avon and Estée Lauder recently changed their animal testing policies in order to begin paying for poisoning tests on animals to market their products in China.

 

For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk.

Review: Docteur Renaud Raspberry Soft Cream‏

I received this wonderful cream quite some time ago but due to a bit of a manic personal life have yet to blog about it so, sit back and enjoy the review.

I have been using this cream for around a month I swapped out my regular skin care routine to give this product the full attention it deserved, as it claims to be perfect for dry skin and you have all heard me bang on and on about my skin that I am sure you are bored now.

What the brand say: Docteur Renaud’s Raspberry Soft Cream helps restore your complexion and provide skin with that soothing sensation of absolute comfort. You’ll find that this moisturising, nourishing cream is easily absorbed, leaving your complexion feeling soft, supple, comforted and cocooned in the natural goodness of Raspberry.  With Docteur Renaud you’ll have beautiful looking skin that sparkles with health and vitality, leaving you and your skin smiling.

The cream has quite a think consistency which you would expect from a luxurious high end brand and the smell is absolutely Divine, The raspberry scent is not overpowering and fades fairly quickly. The cream is non greasy and sinks into the skin fairly quickly leaving a natural healthy glow.

As I said earlier I have used this for around a month now and I really have noticed the difference, my skin looks much more alive and keeps that natural glow for most of the day if I am not wearing makeup. As with all lotions and potions I always comment on the eczema factor because I think its important, for me this cream did not cause any itchy flare ups and that is always a great bonus. (this is based on my skin and how I react other eczema suffers may respond differently)

You can purchase Docter Renaud's Raspberry Soft Cream (50ml) for £24.95 at their website

Have you tried this brand before? Tell me what you thought.

Ems xo

*PR sample sent for review. All views are my own

Urban Decay Pull Out of China!

I am a little late in posting this and its not very often I will just post a straight out press release but this says it all and it would be kind of silly for me to start tweaking it into my own words:

URBAN DECAY RECEIVES AWARD AFTER CANCELING PLANS TO SELL IN CHINA

Cosmetics Company Reverses Earlier Decision to Sell Products in China, Where Animal Tests Are Required

 

London – Following discussions with PETA US – and after receiving e-mails from thousands of its supporters – top cosmetics company Urban Decay has cancelled previously announced plans to begin marketing its products in China, where cruel and deadly animal tests are currently required by the government. For staying true to its slogan – "We don't test on animals. How could anyone?" – at the cost of potential financial benefit, Urban Decay has been returned to the Humane Cosmetics Standard endorsed by PETA UK and will also receive PETA US' Courage in Commerce Award.

 

"Urban Decay is a corporate champion in PETA's book for refusing to pay for animals to be harmed and killed for the sake of overseas profits", says PETA UK Founder Ingrid E Newkirk. "The company's ethical decision also reveals the moral decay of other larger companies that have sold animals out for a market share in China."

 

Bold and edgy, Urban Decay's cosmetics products – many of which are specially marked with a purple pawprint to show that they are vegan – have long been a top choice for consumers who are as fashion conscious as they are concerned about animal welfare.

 

Not all companies are as principled as Urban Decay is: Estée Lauder, Avon and Mary Kay recently changed their animal testing policies in order to begin paying for poisoning tests on animals to market their products in China. But ethical companies such as Urban Decay may not have long to wait before non-animal tests are accepted in China: thanks to PETA US–funded scientists, the Chinese government is now poised to accept its first-ever non-animal test for cosmetics ingredients.

 

For more information on animal testing, please visit PETA.org.uk.

Urban Decay totally deserve the award they have been given and the sooner that more companies stand up and do the same the sooner Animal Testing in the Cosmetics Industry will be no longer!

I hope you enjoyed reading the release as much as I did!

Ems xo

EOTD - Over The Rainbow

Products used from right to left:

Sugarpill Tako

Sugarpill Love +

Sugarpill Flamepoint

Sugarpill Buttercupcake and Yaby Candypop

Yaby Club Green

Yaby Tropical Dream

Sugarpill Poison Plum

Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow All over the lid as a base

Illamasqua Precission Ink in Abyss

Illamasqua Masquara in Raven

Rimmel Brow Pencil

MAC Khol Pencil in Smolder 

Review - Ahava’s Facial Mud Exfoliator

As you have all heard me mention before, I suffer with dryness mainly caused through eczema on my face, I go to many lengths to keep my skin flake free. I was given the opportunity to review Ahava’s Facial Mud Exfoliator, which I have been using twice a week for around a month now.

The Exfoliator comes out as a fairly thick scentless gel, when massaged across the skin turns into a cream consistency and as this is a gentle product there are not a lot of exfoliating beads present. The product is gentle enough to use on area's of sensitive skin without feeling like you are scratching your skin off and even though there aren't a lot of beads present this product does leave the skin extremely soft and supple.

 

Using this product twice a week significantly unblocked my pours and reduced the black heads across my nose and chin. I would recommend this product to someone that has fairly good skin with the odd bit of dryness, as drier skin may need a few more exfoliating beads (at the point of review my skin was in great condition with a little dryness around my nose area and chin).

The exfoliator is enriched with dead sea mud and minerals, suitable for all skin types and free of parabens, SLS/SLES, petroleum, harsh synthetic ingredients and GMOs and are allergy tested. You can purchase this lovely product direct from Ahava's website for £20.00.

I was very impressed with this product and will revisit, if my skin gets significantly worse, to see if it works just as well on very dry skin.

  

*product sent for review all views are my own

Win the complete Liz Earle Colour Capsule Collection

As some of you know Liz Earle, known for their amazing skincare, have launched their long awaited make-up collection and it looks completely amazing! I have yet to try the new line but will be looking to get my hands on a few bits at some point, I am particularly excited about the skin tint as I am close to the end of my Sephora one and if its as good I will be very happy.

Liz Earle have teamed up with InStyle Magazine to bring you the chance to win the complete Colour Capsule Collection worth £215. To enter head over to InStyle this really is a competition not to be missed.

Good Luck 

Ems xo

FOTD - Let The Flames Begin

Face:

Bare Esentuals Original SPF15 Foundation* in Fair used lightly over cheeks and to conceal my nasty breakout around my mouth and chin.

YSL Touche Eclait No 1

Smashbox Fusion Eyes and Cheek Palette - Peach Colour Used on the cheeks as a blush, the Bronze as a contour and the champange as a highlighter.

Eyes:

ELF Eyelid Primer in Pearl

MAC Khol Pencil in Smolder as a Base

Sugarpill Bulletproof and Flamepoint Pressed Shadows

MAC Vanilla used as Highlight

Lets Go Lashes in Flirt*

Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow used lightly on the brows

Illamasqua Masquara in Raven 

ELF Black Cream Liner in Black on Water line

Lips:

MUD lipstick in Mudslide lightly patted onto lips 

YSL Touche Eclait No 1 lightly applied and blended over the top

Loreal Studio Secrets Lip Pencil in 022 Pink lightly applied all over the lip and blended with my finger. 
* items marked with an asterisk are PR samples

Instagram makes everything look stunning :)

 

Sugarpill Review and Swatches

 A little while ago when I actually had money I treated myself to some Sugerpill goodies. I had been wanting to try this brand for a long time but, never actually got round to it as its so hard to get hold of here in the UK.

I picked up the following shades in a mixture of pressed and loose powders:

Bulletproof (Pressed) - Matte Black

Tako (Pressed) - Matte White

Love+ (Pressed) - Matte Red

Buttercupcake (Pressed) - Matte Yellow

Poison Plum (Pressed) - Matte Purple

Flamepoint (Pressed) - Matte Orange

Stella (Loose) - Black with Rainbow Sparkle

Goldilux (Loose) - Metallic Gold

Starling (Loose) - Metallic Turquoise

Hysteric (Loose) - Metallic Purple with Turquoise Sparkle

Asylum (Loose) - Deep Red with Sparkle

Lumi (Loose) - White with Turquoise Sparkle

Loose Shadows without Primer

With ELF Primer

Buttercupcake performed well with and without the primer only needing one swipe of my finger in the product.

Love + Unprimed is not as pigmented as I would have liked it took several swipes of the product to get the colour achieved in the image. Primed with one swipe it works better

Bulletproof is the same as Love+ primed it works much better.

Tako  and Flamepoint performed very well using one swipe of product in both images.

Poison Plum needed a couple of swipes of product without primer but no way near as much as Bulletproof and Love+ and Primed would still need a little more product added to get that really intense purple.

Overall I was very impressed with the shadows I would have hoped that Love+ and Bulletproof were more pigmented than they were! Great value for the size of the product and lovely packaging. My overall favourite is Flamepoint I am completely in love with the colour its stunning.

Loose shadows no primer

All of the loose shadows were swiped once without using primer or water! I was impressed with all of the Loose shadows and don't have a bad word to say about any of them.

The colour payoff is completely outstanding and the image really doesn't do them justice. I am really looking forward to using these in future looks.

You can get your hands on these amazing products at Sugarpill's website Loose Eyeshadows and Pressed Eyeshadows are both priced at $12.00 with is around £7.70 and for the amount of product you get that is outstanding value.

Shipping is very reasonable as well starting at $6.00 and then free anywhere in the world for orders over $75.00.  As for the packaging it comes in a sugarpill branded box carefully wrapped in pink tissue paper. I did get a free Sugarpill sticker which now sits on my brush pot and a sample which is so small I didn't want to open it to swatch I am saving that one for a special occasion.

You can now purchase Sugarpill here in the UK from the amazing Love Make Up  Loose and Pressed Eyeshadows are £8.50 and Palettes are £24.99. UK postage is £2.99 or £6.99 for Next Day Delivery.

Over the coming weeks I will be doing FOTD's using these stunning colours so you can see exactly how great they are.

Have you used Sugarpill? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Ems xo