Chanel Levres Scintillantes Gloss- Amour 166







I recently got this thanks to the very lovely Sarah who let me in on a cheeky little sample secret. 
With my invitation in hand, I took a trip to my local Chanel counter and was given a couple of samples of the Chanel Levres Scintillantes glosses from the Roses Ultimes de Chanel collection.   

I've said before that I'm not really a gloss girl and it seems that even Chanel can't change my mind.
There is no taking away that the formulation of these glosses are absolutely beautiful, I don't find them sticky or find them too gloopy and they sit on the lips beautifully soft and moisturising but I just don't like the way glosses look on me. Chanel or not.

This is the shade Amour 166 and swatched, though shimmer heaven, is a pretty Coral Pink shade.
However nice the colour itself looks swatched, I don't find the colour pay off on the lips to be anywhere close. There is minimal pigment on the lips, with an unfortunate overload of shimmer. My use of the word unfortunate probably won't come as a surprise to you, as you probably know as much as I love Glitter, when it comes to make up its a huge no no!

The packaging for these glosses, like most other Chanel products are simply beautiful and there's no taking that away. Maybe with a little less shimmer and a little more pigment, they would appeal to me more, but for now I'm left a little disappointed.  

This is just a sample size, the full size is 5.5g and costs £20. 

Are you a fan of Chanel Glosses?

xx

Liz Earle Colour Collection













Liz Earle recently launched a make up colour collection, to join her award winning skin care ranges and I can't tell you how excited I was when I first heard that this was going to happen.

I recently did a photo shoot and the make up artist used some Liz Earle products that she had received before the launch and I was blown away with the results from the concealer, which worked absolute wonders for my super blemished skin that day.

A couple of weeks ago now, I was asked whether I would like to try out a couple of the pieces and I jumped at the chance. I was very kindly sent-
Healthy Glow Cream Blush in Nude 03*
Perfect Fix Concealer in Fair 02*

I'll start with my thoughts on the Healthy Glow Cream Blush, which I really annoyingly swatched before taking photographs of! 
I'm pretty much a newbie to cream blushes, I've never really been sure on them as I just love the way a standard powder blush looks and feels on my skin. I've often been put off by application of cream blushes and how they would sit on top of my base but I can honestly say I am so pleased with the results of how this both applies and looks on my skin. 
It's super creamy and pigmented and really this is another case of a little goes a long way. The first time I tried it I applied too much and ended up looking a little bit like Noddy. It does blend out well, which thankfully, on that occasion was a life saver.
It's a very lovely colour, though named Nude, Nude it isn't. It's described as a Subtle Rosy Apricot. When it is first applied on the skin, the Rosy tones are very strong, but I find once it is blended out and starts to settle on the skin, the Apricot tones definitely come out and what you are left with is a really pretty dewy shade, perfect for the summer. 


The packaging is so lightweight and tiny, super compact and perfect for carrying around with you as it also homes a little mirror which I personally like in a blush compact. 

The healthy glow cream blushes are available in seven different shades and cost £16.50.

The Perfect Fix Concealer is something that I'm really excited about. Like I mentioned before, it was used on me and a photo shoot and worked wonders. I thought maybe it was just the fact that it was applied by a make up artist who had amazing technique, but it really is all down to the product itself. 
Day to day, I don't really suffer with blemishes and the small ones that I do have, I don't really cover up. I'm more concerned with covering up my ever-lasting dark circles and this concealer does the job perfectly, without being drying which I quite often find a problem with concealers.

 It's creamy enough to blend easily and doesn't take too much warming up into the skin like I find a lot of concealers do. With my main concern being my under eye area, I find it's important that I use something that doesn't take a lot of work as the area itself is very delicate. 
I'm really pleased with the results of this concealer, I've been on the hunt for one recently and for the moment I am loving this one. 
One thing I'm not so keen on is the smell, it has that make up scent that kind of reminds me of plasticine, which then makes me feel as if I am caking it on. Of course, I'm not, but it just has that kind of smell that makes me for a second think I am ;)

The packaging is a shiny mirrored dream which I am very fond of and the size is just right making this product in my opinion a winner.

The Perfect Fix Concealer is available in seven shades and costs £13.50, which I think is a reasonable price in comparison to others on the market.

 I now really want to try the Light Reflecting Concealer and the Natural Finish Loose Powder. 
What do you think about Liz Earle moving into Make Up? Are these products on your want list?

xx


Kim Kardashian- True Reflection Eau de Parfum








Introducing Kim Kardashians newest fragrance in her collection, recently launched in the UK- 
True Reflection*
I recently attended the launch for this fragrance, which I blogged about here. It was absolutely incredible and afterwards, I was kindly given this perfume to try.

For the past year, I have been a huge fan of the first Kim Kardashian fragrance, I have received so many compliments on how nice it smells and honestly, it's become one of my day-to-day perfumes.
Though this one is nice, it's not my typical scent and it completely differs from the first. 

True Reflection is described as a tantalising oriental fragrance, with a burst of Italian bergamot, luscious plum and succulent peach. Whilst that sounds all quite sweet, True Reflection has a very rich floral heart  with blooming gardenia, chocolate orchid and lotus flower and a finish of textured woods, patchouli and musk. 

Initially, you are hit with a very floral scent and then once that settles the richness comes out quite strong. I really like the chocolate notes that are included, Kim Kardashian said in an interview that quite a few people are unsure of what the rich scent is, but I can definitely smell the Chocolate and it's rather delicious.
 It's quite a different scent to anything I have smelt in the past, which isn't a bad thing at all as like I have said a few times, often celebrity fragrances smell quite alike.

I'm definitely more of a sweet scented girl and although I will no doubt wear this because of course, it's Kim Kardashian- it's possibly slightly a little richer than I would normally wear. 

The dark two toned bottle is meant to be reminiscent of a diamond, representing luxury as the fragrance is also. Though I like the colours, I do prefer the shape of the original Kim Kardashian fragrance, as I can carry it around and not find it as clumpy. This is quite big and although it would look beautiful on a dresser- it's not very practical for me.  

This Eau de Parfum is available to buy now in Debenhams in both 50ml which costs £30 and 100ml which is £40. I was given the 50ml, which is quite a fair size bottle. 

Have you tried any of Kim Kardashians fragrances? What kind of scent do you prefer?

xx

Bright Colors & Pattern

Hope you're having a great weekend, all! We're excited to show you our favorite new arrivals at Meadow!

We love this white and tangerine-colored dress for Spring and the arrival of Summer...

A simple navy dress with butterflies...


Sailboats add a bit of whimsy to any dress!


Colorful striped dress with a bow at the waist...


Since Summer is quickly approaching, we are getting a lot of new vibrantly printed textiles in the boutique.  Some of our favorites are seen in these dish towels...

Our new aprons are adorable, too!


Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend. Pop into Meadow soon!

What I'm wearing..



L'Oreal Studio Secrets Smoothing Primer
MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC30
Liz Earle Perfect Fix Concealer Fair 
Nars Laguna
No7 Blush
HD Brow Palette- Rich Brown
L'Oreal Superliner Carbon Gloss 
MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara  
MAC Watch Me Simmer
Make Up Forever HD Powder

I completely forgot I had taken these photos, but this is the make up that I wore on Sunday when I went to see Kayne West and Jay Z at the Watch The Throne tour with my boyfriend.

When I picked up Reel Sexy and Watch Me Simmer I really did think I would be reaching for Reel Sexy a lot more and considered Watch Me Simmer to be a shade that would take a little growing on me and more suitable for proper Summer, but I have really surprised myself and Watch Me Simmer has absolutely lived on my lips. For the daytime it's brightened me up a little and for work it is just the perfect shade. I haven't worn a nude lip for almost a week! Shocking.

My hair in these pictures looks extremely fly away and flat, and that's because it was. I put my hair through such a tough time, especially at work with all the hairspray and back combing, on my days off I am trying to give it a bit of a break. I still need a little bit of product/heat, but I'm trying to keep it minimal. 
The colour is still Nice 'n' Easy Dark Warm Brown, it's the first semi-permanent shade I've found that I really like using and I've had so many compliments on it.

I hope you're all well and enjoying the very pleasant heat wave!

xx

JLS Kiss Launch











This evening, the very lovely Krista gave me her place to go to the launch of the JLS fragrance, Kiss. 
It was a very well put together event, in the most beautiful red carpeted venue- One Marylebone. 
It was full of seriously amazing cocktails, delicious canapés and girls glammed up girls all waiting to meet the four babes themselves- Marvin, Aston, JB and Oritse.

They were such lovely down to earth boys, having a laugh and a few blushes on stage with some cheeky questions and answers before giving us all the opportunity for a nice little photo opportunity, which I very much enjoyed.

The fragrance is very much a celebrity scent, reminding me of quite a few different fragrances that I have smelt in the past. Particularly one, but unfortunately I can't for the life of me think what it is- no help!
With perfume being very much to personal taste, I must admit that it's not my favourite smell ever, but it is pleasant and one of the better celebrity lined fragrances that I have tried.

The boys explained during the Q&A session that they all put their input into creating it, using their individually preferred notes to create one fragrance that they would like to smell on a girl.
The notes they decides on were
Top Notes: Peach Skin, Loganberry, Bergamot, Cassis and Mandarin
Heart Notes: Jasmine, Tuberose, Muguet, Rose absolute, Black Orchid, Neroli flower.
Base Notes: Amber crystals, White Musk, Patchouli and Oakmoss.

Aston loves the cassis note, Oritse added in the Black Orchid as it's his favourite flower, Marvin adores Tuberose and so added that in and JB wanted the hypnotic scent of amber crystals to linger on the skin.

The boxed packaging of the perfume is quite bright and out there, each side featuring a photo of one of the boys (my favourite obviously being Marvin!), whereas the bottle itself is minimally White with a cheeky little JLS Star. One thing I really like about the packaging is that is has a unique magnet lid, which personally, I think is a nice little touch. 

    This EDT is available to buy in The Perfume Shop, Boots and The Fragrance Shop and costs just £14-30ml and £20-60ml, which for fragrance is a very reasonable price.

Are you a fan of celebrity fragrance and does a JLS Kiss appeal to you?
xx

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer






I recently had a little moan about the pores that seem to have annoying made an appearance on my face and without having a product to miraculously banish them, it seems the only thing to do is to make them appear gone and get rid temporarily. That's not really ideal, but unfortunately, it's the only other option for me right now.

I do like primers, but up until now I don't really feel that they have been totally necessary within my make up collection, this has never stopped me buying them and my most favourite until now is without a doubt, a Smashbox one which felt like a silky dream on my face.

I picked this one up on a whim, without doing any research into it which is now very unlike me. It was in the duty free magazine at work and so with a few pounds off of the in store retail price, and two in the box I thought I would give it a go. 

I really do like it a lot. It certainly doesn't make my pores 100% disappear, but it most definitely reduces them significatnly and provides the most even, smooth velvety base perfect for underneath make up as well as on its own. It's like the poly-filler of the beauty world.
I apply it mostly to my nose area, as that's where I my pores are most enlarged but dab a few little bits else where just to help out a bit.
This product is meant to also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and although it does help to again, minimise them slightly, unfortunately it doesn't work very well on mine and even with layers and layers circled in, they are still well and truly visible.

The consistency is the most bizarre thing. In the pot it's quite a sticky, mousse sponge like texture but rubbed into the skin it's the soft primer like consistency that I had hoped it would be.
You don't need that much product as a small amount does go a long way, which is handy as each pot is only 15ml, but equally you can build it up without it feeling too much on the skin or ruining the smooth base you previously may have achieved.

I paid just £15 for two pots of this in duty free, whereas in Boots and Superdrug it retails singly for around the £14 mark.

I definitely think it's worth a try if you're like me and want to stop the visibility of your pores, theres often testers in store so maybe its worth having a try on your hand or something just to see how well it really does even and cover up your pores and maybe for you, your lines.

Have you tried this product? What do you think?
Do you have any recommendations for them lines?

xx

What I'm Wearing


L'Oreal Studio Secrets Smoothing Primer
MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC30 & NC35
Liz Earle Perfect Fix Concealer Fair 
Nars Laguna
MAC Melba
HD Brow Palette- Rich Brown
L'Oreal Superliner Carbon Gloss 
Urban Decay Naked Palette- Buck
Eylure Black Individual Lashes- Medium & Long  
MAC Hue
MAC Fix +

xx