Fragrance Direct Revlon Nail Polish Haul

Hi guys! Those of you who are followers of Bee's Knees will know that I am a complete and utter nail polish addict. I love the stuff, and have plenty of it. But that doesn't stop me from buying more... oh no! Quite the opposite - I'm sometimes a bit compulsive about having to 'complete' my nail polish collection! So when I had a little bit of time on my hands last week I found myself perusing Fragrance Direct for beauty bargains, and here's what I bought!

As you can see I ended up with quite a few new polishes! I adore the formula of Revlon's nail varnish, and couldn't resist adding these beauties to my collection because they were only 99p each!

I picked up two Top Speed formulas in the world's most beautiful royal blue (Royal) and a unique orange/red metallic shade. You can treat yourself to these too for 99p HERE.

I also got three of the regular Revlon formulas, Stunning is a glitter top coat that looks amazing with large silver/white glitter pieces. Charismatic is a pretty pastel orange that reminds me of one of my all time favourites, Collection Hot Looks Fruit Loop. And Blue Lagoon looks like a dupe for Essie's popular Bikini So Teeny with its tiny shimmery particles and gorgeous baby blue shade. Again these were a mere 99p each and you can find them all HERE.

Whilst I was browsing I came across this fast try base coat from Sally Hansen for £1.50. It's no secret that I adore the Sally Hansen Insta Dri top coat and since my base coat is on it's last legs I popped this in my basket to try. Stay tuned for my thoughts! If you want to give this a go too you can find it HERE.

Have you bought any new polishes recently? What's your favourite brand?

xx

Bloglovin  Twitter  Facebook  She Said Beauty

Fabulous Nails #49

Hi everyone! Today's nail look is a beautiful pastel lilac - lilac is a nail shade favoured among lots of bloggers I follow, and I love it too! I know one of the more popular shades is Essie's Lilacism, but today's choice offers a more purse-friendly option.

This is Revlon Top Speed Nail Enamel in the shade Cloud. I bought this for only 99p from Fragrance Direct (link HERE) which makes it one of the cheapest nail polishes I own! I really like Revlon polishes anyway, but when you can buy them for a fraction of the price online it definitely makes the brand more accessible for everyone (these are £6.99 in store at Boots or Superdrug).

This took three coats to become completely opaque, which isn't good or bad really. The polish dries quite quickly but I always use Sally Hansen Insta Dri top coat anyway just to be on the safe side. This nail look lasted a few days without any chips at all, which is good going by my standards as my nails are in quite bad condition! It's such a pretty shade I always get complimented on it, and I'd imagine it would look amazing with a tan!

Overall I'd recommend this polish to anyone looking for a sweet, simple and pretty polish that is easy to apply and stays put.

Are you a fan of Revlon polishes? Which is your favourite?

xx

Bloglovin  Twitter  Facebook  She Said Beauty

Impromptu Superdrug Haul - feat Sleek,and Revlon

Hi guys! Today's post is about a few products I picked up on an impromptu trip to Superdrug a couple of weeks ago. I wasn't having the best day and I needed a lunchtime pick-me-up so I headed straight for the make up aisle...

I had my eye on the Sleek Face Form palette for a month or so before I caved and bought it - it's one of those beautiful products that looks amazing on blogs and even better in real life! I also picked up one of the new Revlon Colorstay Ultimate Suede lipsticks, and a Super Lustrous Liptick too (hooray for 3 for the price of 2 offers!)

The colours I picked up from Revlon were Designer and Lovers Coral. I had my eye on Designer from the first time I saw the new Colorstay Ultimate Suede collection, it's a pretty coral/red shade that just stands out from the rest. Lover's Coral is a subtle pink that looks amazing swatched so I'm excited to try it on the lips!

This is the Sleek palette - untouched and absolutely stunning. You get a bronzer (probably too dark for me), a highlighter (which looks amazing) and the best part - the beautiful rose gold shimmer blush. It's apparently a dupe for Nars Orgasm and I love it! So excited to try this.

What do you think of my buys? Have you made any pick me up purchases recently?

xx

Follow via: Bloglovin  Bloggers   Twitter   Facebook   She Said Beauty

Revlon Lip Butters - Candy Apple, Peach Parfait & Tutti Frutti

I have been practically giddy with excitement about publishing this post! Although Revlon Lip Butters are by all means old news in the beauty blogging world, I have been experiencing a random bit of personal hype for them over the past month or so after I picked up 3 new shades! I already had shade Lollipop (review HERE) and found it to be a firm favourite for nights out but as the shade is quite bright it wasn't really something I could wear for work. I decided to pick up some more daytime-friendly shades.

As you can see, I grabbed Candy Apple, Peach Parfait and Tutti Frutti - they were on 3 for the price of 2 at Boots.

Each shade is a favourite of mine in a different way - Tutti Frutti isn't work friendly but is the most adorable daytime lip colour for the Spring. Candy Apple is my new favourite daytime red and I wear it for work quite a lot. It gives a luscious finish that I find difficult to fault. Peach Parfait is another good shade for work as it's much more subtle.

Swatched top > bottom Tutti Frutti, Peach Parfait, Candy Apple.

Every shade is quite sheer upon first application, but you can build the colour up as much as you want and I like to achieve quite a full coverage but glossy lip colour with these shades. They are very easy to wear - they don't leave my lips dry in the slightest (and you know I'm a stickler for that!), they last quite well (reapplication every couple of hours) and they don't bleed. Overall a complete winner for me and I am sure I will continue to wear these shades on a daily basis throughout Spring and Summer.

You can pick up the Revlon Lip Butters from £7.99 at Superdrug instore or online HERE, or at Boots instore or online HERE.

How do you feel about the Revlon Lip Butters? Are you a fangirl like me?

xx

Follow via: Bloglovin  Bloggers   Twitter   Facebook   She Said Beauty

Fragrance Direct haul

So a couple of weeks ago I placed an order with Fragrance Direct for the first time - this was prompted by two things! First, the 10% off voucher code I found when I was putting together a weekly Spendthrift Saturday post, and second the excellent quality of the Dainty Doll products I picked up from TK Maxx (post HERE) - I knew there were some more items on FD and placed an order pronto!

Here's what I got:

Sally Hansen Maximum Growth Cuticle Pen - an oldie but a goodie (which I've never reviewed, so review coming soon!) I usually buy this from Boots but it was £1.50 from FD! Click!

I had been lusting after Revlon Top Speed in Cloud for a long, long time - before Christmas I think! I spotted this Matte Suede colour at the same time and because they were only 99p each I couldn't resist picking up both. I haven't worn either yet but Cloud was featured in my Spring Pastels post HERE. FD link for Ruby Ribbon HERE and Cloud HERE.

The two Dainty Doll blushes I picked up were Orange County Girl and Hippy Shake. Since they arrived I've been using both religiously and love them, I'm hoping to get a review up soon! Click HERE to purchase for a crazy £1.99 (while you still can as they keep selling out!)

I picked up Saucy Sailor and It's My Party lipsticks - I've not worn these out yet but swatched they're beautiful, and again only £1.99. Click!

Finally I picked up a black eyeliner pencil (Proud Mary) for 99p!- I've used this and it's not earth shattering but good quality so far. Click.

Have you made any purchases from Fragrance Direct recently? What did you buy?

xx

Follow via: hellocotton  Bloglovin  Bloggers   Twitter   Facebook   She Said Beauty

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick - Fire & Ice

Morning all! I am too excited to share this lipstick with you! This was the lipstick I bought for my Marilyn Monroe fancy dress make up, as I wanted something by a reputable brand that would last all night and not dry my lips out. I looked at some reviews and eventually decided to head into Boots to swatch Revlon's 'Fire & Ice'.

The packaging on pretty much all Revlon make up is simple and chic, and this feels much more substantial than my other cheaper brand lipsticks, for example Barry M. But as this retails for £7.49 my expectations were high!

I must confess, the main factor in my decision to buy this lipstick was that it was on offer for £5 in Boots at the time, and I managed to leave buying my Marilyn lipstick until a couple of hours before I needed to be heading out! A rushed decision, but one that I do not regret!

Again, the packaging is classic and stylish and I really like it. Fire & Ice is a very true red lipstick - which was perfect for me when I bought it as obviously Marilyn was famous for her statement red lip! 

You can see the colour is just gorgeous. The consistency of this lipstick is very creamy (but it doesn't melt like some other creme lipsticks I've tried) and it applies beautifully either from the stick or using a lip brush (which is how I applied my lipstick for accuracy reasons). It lasted and lasted and lasted, although I did top up 2-3 times over the course of the evening (7 hours), but that was primarily because I was drinking and causing the colour to fade.

I am fair skinned but love making a bold statement with a red lip and this shade was ideal for me, it really suited my skin and did not wash me out or make me look like a clown. If you're on the market for a fabulous red lipstick then look no further - you have to try Fire & Ice! Buy from Boots in store or online.

What is your favourite brand for red lipstick?

xx

Follow via: hellocotton  Bloglovin  Bloggers   Twitter   Facebook   She Said Beauty

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation

Before launching into today's post, I just wanted to wish everyone a happy Red Nose Day! I've been wearing my nose around the house for a while already, have you got yours?

As a relative newbie to the Revlon brand (I've tried a Lip Butter and a couple of nail varnishes) I was excited to try the new Nearly Naked Foundation when it popped into stores recently. I have to admit, this is my first liquid foundation - in fact I've only ever used mineral powders before so I was a little anxious about maybe looking like I had make up caked on, but I was happily wrong!

I had heard only great things about this foundation before I tried it - that it was light/medium coverage (I don't think I'm a full coverage kind of gal...) that it made your skin look natural but better, and that it gave you a glow. So far so good!

A lot of people seemed put off or disappointed at the lack of a pump for this product - this isn't something that worried me and it hasn't been an issue at all. I just pour a little onto the back of my hand and then use my fingers or a brush to apply onto my face. It's not so runny that you will end up with it halfway down your arm, so don't worry.

Of course I went for the fairest shade, Ivory, which didn't seem to be a perfect match at first glance in the shop (I bought this from Superdrug as it's £2 off at the moment). However once I blended it into my skin it was such a good match I was astonished! I bought it immediately and have been wearing it every day since.

This is the foundation blended into the back of my hand - it's obvious that it's an amazing match as you can't see it! I am really really happy I bought this foundation - as a first timer when it comes to liquids I have found this to be light, it doesn't suffocate my skin, it makes the rest of my make up last longer and it looks fresh even 14 hours after applying! I cannot believe my face when I use this foundation - I know this sounds ridiculous but I just look so much better! This is like me with 12 hours sleep, totally hydrated and with a bit of a tan - glowy but perfectly natural.

I am definitely a convert and can see this being a staple in my make up routine for a long long time. This is so light it won't be an issue in the summer which means I will be able to use it all year round - win! The price is also pretty awesome - I paid £6.99 for this from Superdrug with their £2 off promotion, but even at full price it's a mere £8.99 which in comparison to other natural effect foundations is a complete bargain. Click!

Have you tried this foundation yet? Are you tempted to?

xx

Follow via: hellocotton  Bloglovin  Bloggers   Twitter   Facebook   She Said Beauty

Fabulous Nails #29 - My ALL TIME Favourite Red!

Happy Friday everyone! Today is my last day in my current department before I move onto a different one on Monday (I'm a trainee solicitor so we move departments every 6 months). So it's a sad day but also almost feels like the end of term - just without the time off afterwards! My day will be filled with cake, presents and hastily done work and handovers..!

If you're a long time reader of Bee's Knees, you'll know that I am a bit of a nail polish obsessive. I do have an addiction but I think in the grand scheme of things there are worse & more expensive addictions. I don't have particularly expensive taste either, I'm a massive Barry M fan! But recently I came across what has to be my hands down favourite true, pillar box red polish and I just had to share it with you all!

It's 'Revlon Red' by Revlon (no surprises there!) I actually didn't own this polish - I bought it for my Mum along with 2 other colours for Christmas (I think they were on 3 for 2) I 'borrowed' it when I was back home and without any nail varnish to use, and it is amazing!  The application, brush and consistency is perfect, I only needed two coats to get complete coverage and it lasted a good 4 days without chipping. This might not seem long to most people, but my nails are so rubbish they usually chip after a matter of hours or a day if I'm lucky!

I used to only own one Revlon nail polish but now I've added some new ones to my collection and they're fast becoming my go-to polishes! You get a nice chunky bottle (14ml) and they usually retail for £6.49 each. This stunning red is a must-have for anyone's nail polish collection! You can buy Revlon polishes from Boots in store or online HERE.

Have you tried any Revlon polishes before? What is your favourite brand?

xx

Follow via: hellocotton  Bloglovin  Bloggers   Twitter   Facebook   She Said Beauty

Fabulous Nails #28

I must confess that today's Fabulous Nails is quite festive (and I'm aware it's not Christmas!) but I love greens, reds and metallics throughout the winter so I don't really restrict festive nails to December anymore!

I used my Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine polish in Watermelon (2 coats - this is thick stuff!) as a base and my fabulous Revlon Gold Sequins that I got free in December when I bought my Mum 3 Revlon polishes (3 for the price of 2).

This is actually my first Revlon polish - when I used to work at Boots I lusted after them but every time I ended up buying a Barry M dupe instead as they're half the price. This is also the first Gelly Barry M I've tried and I really liked it - it goes on really opaque and thick. A word of caution though, the entire end of one of my nails chipped off (the polish not the nail itself) after a day, which I think is because of the thick consistency of the polish.

What do you think? Have you tried the Gelly Barry M polishes yet?

xx

Follow via: hellocotton  Bloglovin  Bloggers   Twitter   Facebook   She Said Beauty

Collective Haul - Westfield on my birthday!

As you probably already know, it was my birthday at the end of last month. I wasn't sure how to spend the day, but as my boyfriend was in London we decided to head over to Westfield and have a little potter about. I hadn't been there since before my operation in September, so I was super excited to visit! Although I was supposed to be on a spending ban at the time, that soon went out of the window and I bought a few bits that I thought you might like to take a peep at! After all this spending I'm glad I decided to do a BLOG SALE - click HERE to have a little look if you haven't already.

From New Look:

I saw this monochrome dip hem peplum top on a mannequin and it looked so chic with a pencil skirt I had to buy it to add to my work wardrobe! I'm so happy I did because it fits like a dream. At only £14.99 it was a bargain too! Click!

From H&M:

I've been looking for this simple black pencil skirt for months - I find it ever so difficult to find pencil skirts that fit me and aren't too long or too short. I bought this exact style of skirt when I started my job over 1.5 years ago, so I have been in dire need of a replacement for ages! It's only £14.99 from H&M! 

From HMV:

My cat chewed through my headphones a few weeks ago and ever since then I've been using my 'emergency' pair - they're rubbish! Luckily(!) the boyfriend also broke his and we took advantage of this 2 for £10 offer in HMV (RIP?).

From Lush:

I've been meaning to get hold of a toner for a long time now, and so I asked for recommendations on the #bbloggers chat on Twitter. The Tea Tree Water was a popular choice so I used up the last of a giftcard to grab this, and got a free 'Charity Pot' sample for donating £1 to a good cause. Click!

From Topshop:

After reading Lily's initial post on the Topshop Lips in shade Whimsical, and then her numerous other mentions of it in favourites posts, I had to try it for myself! £8 Click!

From Boots:

Yay for 3 for the price of 2! I picked up these Revlon nail varnishes after watching Estée's video featuring Vixen as one of her all time favourite polishes! I also tried Revlon Red after buying it for my Mum for Christmas, and Stormy just looked totally different to anything I already own. £6.49 HERE and HERE.

I realised I'd never done anything with my nail cuticles, and made it a mission to pick up some cuticle remover ASAP! I picked this up from Boots for around £6 but can't seem to find the link!

Again with the toner, this No7 Soft & Soothed Gentle Toner was another recommendation. As I had a £5 off No7 voucher I only paid £3 for this, which I will probably use up after the Lush toner as it's a massive bottle! This retails for £8 Click!

Watch this space for reviews of all the beauty products I bought! I'm still on my spending ban so this might be the last haul post you see from me for a while.

xx

Revlon Lip Butter

When I received my Spring Boots Advantage Card vouchers recently, I was over the moon to find a voucher for £2 off any Revlon cosmetics! I knew the new lip butters would be out and I was so happy to be able to save some pennies when I invested in one!

After much deliberation I settle on the shade 'Lollipop', a delicious bright pink colour. I have to admit I was very tempted by quite a few other colours but they will have to wait until I have a bit more money..

 The packaging is very girlie and cute - quilted pink plastic case and a classier silver tube. Not to my tastes - in this price bracket I expected something a little more chic and sturdy, but on to the lip butter itself..

I photographed the swatch from 2 different angles to hopefully give you an idea of the colour of the product (see pic below) and the sort of opaqueness to expect. Its quite a sheer, shiny colour on the lip but the colour builds nicely and it lasts a long time once you've got it right. 

Overall I am super impressed with Revlon's lip butters! I wore mine out last night and reapplied only 3 times in the entire evening. I love how easy the colour slides on to the lips, and stays on, and it really didn't dry out my lips at all. The packaging could be a little nicer for the price bracket but definitely one I would repurchase, and since there's such a wide range of colours I am excited to try another in the future! £7.99.

xx