FOTD: Josh Widdicombe Live

So, people of the blog world, it's been a while. I've mainly spent the past (however many) months being either a student and ill. My poor little blog was neglected and I attempted to start again on Wordpress but alas, it just wasn't the same. So now we're back with a new name and a slightly new look and I hope some of you might still be lurking in the shadows.

Yesterday my friends and I took a trip to see the comedian Josh Widdicombe live at Leeds City Varieties Music Hall and I thought I'd share my FOTD...

(For anyone wondering, the dress is from Tu at Sainsbury's... of all places!)

Base: 

YSL Le Teint Touche Eclait in 'BD40'

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in 'Light'

YSL Touche Eclait (lightest shade)

MAC Studio Careblend Pressed in 'Light'

Cheeks:

MAC 'Omega' applied as a contour

Illamasqua Cream Blush in 'Rude'

Eyes:

Sleek Brow Kit in 'Light'

Benefit 'Call My Buff' eyeshadow

Benefit 'Gilt-y Pleasure' eyeshadow

Urban Decay 'Flash' eyeshadow used as eyeliner

Benefit 'They're Real' mascara

Lips:

NYX Lip Pencil in 'Rose'

With the exception of Urban Decay 'Flash' and NYX 'Rose', all of these products are my go-to everyday favourites and all come highly recommended. 

Here's to many more blog posts in the near future and I hope you've all been well while I've been away. Thanks as always for reading,

R x

Summer Tribal OOTD

Skin: Vichy Dermablend Concealer/Foundation in the shade Opal

Sleek Face Form Kit bronzer

Eyes: MAC Omega eyeshadow

Urban Decay 24/7 liquid liner in Perversion

Benefit They're Real mascara

Brows: & Other Stories Worcester Taupe eyebrow pencil

Gosh brow gel

Lips: & Other Stories Melton Sunset lipstick

Top: Warehouse (at Debenhams)

Skirt: Primark

Belt: Zara (from a dress)

Necklace: Bijou Brigitte

Sandals: Primark

Nails: Essie Licorice

Rings: Topshop

Hope you're all enjoying the summer sun!

Thanks for reading,

Rachel xo

Twitter: rachelizabethxo

Personal blog: estoy mejor sin ti

Instagram: iRachey

Email: rachel.soshedances@gmail.com
Tumblr: lookintothestorm.tumblr.com
YouTube: soshedancesxo

In the Magazines: June 2013

It's a little known fact that magazines - specifically those of the beauty and fashion variety - often like to draw in the consumers with freebies. The simple truth is that we all love a good freebie and the publishers know this. I've found more than one holy grail product through freebies or sample sizes given away in the glossies and I have to say, I have been known to make multiple purchases of one magazine to collect all of the shades or scents. Being such a fan, I decided to start running a monthly feature on the products you can get your hands of in the magazines, and seeing that magazines are always running a month ahead, today I present you with June's freebies...

Marie Claire: This month, MC are giving away a variety of Avon products to choose from, including (eyeliner) and a lipstick in the shade 'Smitten Red'. Evidently the lipstick has proven the most popular (in the centre of Leeds at least), as I only managed to find one copy with it included... which I snapped up as quickly as I could. I haven't worn this lipstick properly yet but I did try it on last night and I'm impressed with the pigmentation and how easily it can be applied. If you like a good, strong red then you might like this product. You'll also get a sample sachet of their (new?) BB Cream thrown in too.

InStyle: The sister magazine of MC is giving away my all time favourite nail brand this month, Nails Inc. There are three full sized shades on offer (worth £11 each!) including a light pink and the two shades that I went for, 'You're A Peach' and 'It's Red, Babez'. I'm not so much a fan of that second name, but we can ignore it for the time being. Given that these polishes are worth £11 and the magazine costs (£3.90), it would almost be criminal not to give them a go. ;)

Elle: When my uni friend Isabella and I were browsing the racks in WH Smith recently, I was absolutely thrilled to see a mini 'They're Real' mascara (yes, the famous Benefit 'holy grail' mascara). Mine recently dried out and I've been trying to use up an Urban Decay one, but to get my hands on a product worth £9 for so much less was fantastic. If you've been hearing lots about this product but not wanted to shell out £19 on a full sized product, see if you can get your hands on a copy of Elle and I promise you won't be disappointed!

Harper's Bazaar: Perhaps a bit more 'upmarket' than some magazines, but I've heard good things abut Ren Skincare recently and this month they are offering a sample of their Moroccan Rose Otto Body Cream and being a lover of rose products, I felt it would have been silly not to give it a try. I'll let you know my thoughts on this when I've tested it out.

So, that's it for magazine freebies this month. I feel like this month has almost been decided based on my favourite things haha. Will you be picking any of these up? Are you a bit of a freebie junkie? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading,

Rachel x

Twitter: rachelizabethxo

Personal blog: estoy mejor sin ti

Instagram: iRachey

Email: rachel.soshedances@gmail.com
Tumblr: lookintothestorm.tumblr.com
YouTube: soshedancesxo

A Simple FOTD

There's a first time for everything, and today I'm sharing my first Face of the Day with you all. I had a presentation to do at uni today and then a nice late lunch with my future flatmates (plus our friend Dominic) so I made a bit of an effort hair-wise ('a bit of an effort' = putting it in a bun and letting it dry so it goes wavy). Speaking of hair, mine appears to have given itself a bit of an ombre effect, as the tips are much more red in colour than my roots these days, and I don't dye my hair at all.

Products used:

YSL Le Teint Touche Eclait foundation in BD40

YSL Touche Eclait in 1

Revlon bronzer in Sunkissed Bronze' 

Maybelline Dream Touch blush in 'Berry'

Mac powder (I genuinely can't remember, it could be a Select one...)

Mac 'Omega' eyeshadow (used on eyebrows)

Benefit 'They're Real' mascara

Max Factor Lipfinity in 'Iced'

Have you tried any of my FOTD products? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading,

Rachel x

Twitter: rachelizabethxo

Personal blog: estoy mejor sin ti

Instagram: iRachey

Email: rachelelizabeth.xo@googlemail.com
Tumblr: lookintothestorm.tumblr.com

Benefit 'Wanna?' Lipstick Review

Hola everybody! In my November Favourites, I mentioned Benefit's 'Wanna?' lipstick and said that although it was a new purchase, I loved it. 

I'm pleased to report that my thoughts are still the same on this gorgeous, vibrant-yet-deep raspberry pink from Benefit's Full-Finish lipstick collection. 

If bought directly from Benefit, this lipstick costs £14, however if you go to a counter in department stores - especially around this time of year - they often have discounts on so you could theoretically get it for a bit cheaper. I bought mine during one of Debenhams' sale weeks, so mine cost something around £12. 

I really love this lipstick. Up until very recently, I didn't own anything by Benefit. Now, two of my go-to daily products are Benefit and one of my current favourite lipsticks is too. Isn't it funny how that works...?


What do I love?

- I really, really love the packaging that this comes in. I didn't think to take a photo, but the packaging is funky and interesting. Brilliant description, right?...

- The size. This lipstick isn't too big, nor is it too small. The 'bullet' feels sturdy and secure in its casing too, which for £14 you'd definitely expect.

- The colour. As I mentioned, this is a vibrant looking raspberry pink, although in some lighting it can lean more towards being a raspberry red and in some lights it appears a lot deeper and darker in colour. I've never seen a lipstick colour quite like this, and I know Benefit isn't exactly praised for its lipsticks like other brands (Mac, I'm looking at you), so it's quite probable that there will be more hidden gems in their collection too.

What don't I love?

- The fact that this lipstick really needs lip liner underneath it. I know, I know, most bright shades do. I often think that the reason nudes are so popular is because they take minimal effort to throw on while you're rushing out of the house, but there are bright, colourful lipsticks that don't necessarily need a liner. Unfortunately, this one does, which means that my usage of it will be limited. Still, given the price tag, that isn't necessarily a bad thing - I have a habit of using the same lipstick over and over for a good month and then ignoring it, so I'm hoping this won't happen as much with Wanna?.

Here's a shot of me wearing it. Please bear in mind that this was taken at around 8pm when I was a) ill, b) absolutely exhausted and c) had been out for my mum's birthday meal.

Overall, I really love this lipstick and am looking forward to wearing it out over the coming months. I think it's actually versatile enough to take it through into the summer months too, if you so desired. What do you think? Can you see yourself rocking a raspberry colour over the winter? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading,

Rachel x

Twitter: rachelizabethxo
Personal blog: estoy mejor sin ti
Instagram: iRachey