New Video! Collective Haul

New Collective Haul Video! Featuring Topshop, Debenhams, H&M and Boots
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9j4uFxN7mf0&list=UUwEmFn2IALcSMZXTa_Mo3Uw&index=1&feature=plcp

No7 High Shine Lipgloss Review

For those of you who don't know, No7 is a slightly higher-end drugstore cosmetics company. No7 began in Boots UK, however to my knowledge it has spread to the states. No7 is available in pretty much every Boots store in the UK, excluding Boots Opticians.
I've enjoyed No7's luxury products since I was very, very young. I think No7 is targeted at the more mature market as their line includes lots of anti-aging lotions and potions. Anyway, my mother basically buys ALL her makeup from No7 and I used to sneak into her room and play with all the lipsticks on her dressing table. Perhaps the reason for her consistent purchasing of No7 products is because there is nearly always some kind of offer or promotion on their products. Despite this, they are still an excellent makeup brand and at a fairly reasonable price for the quality. No7 are considered a rather expensive beauty brand from the drugstore, most products are around the £10 price.
The No7 product I will be reviewing today is the High Shine Lipgloss. Two of the shades are mine and one is my mother's. These lipglosses are priced at £9 each, but are frequently in free gifts after over £25 of purchases or something like that.

From top to bottom: 'Lust', 'Smile' and 'Glaze'.

Firstly the packaging is excellent and of premium quality, the lid is sleek, shiny and a gun metal colour and screws securely onto the tube. The applicator is a brush, which is really handy and precise. The only thing I would say that is bad about the packaging is that the logo tends to rub off after long wear, however this tends to happen with all lipglosses so it's okay. Also, once you peel the barcode sticker off the lid, there is no way of detecting the shade. As far as I know there are six shades in the line.

The consistency is not very sticky at all, smooth, very shiny and really pigmented for just a gloss. It has SPF 15, which is always good as burnt lips are incredibly painful. The staying power isn't great, it would last probably maximum two hours on the lips, but as I said the pigmentation is wonderful. It is scented, a kind of irresistible sickly sweet kind of 'fake fruity vanilla' scent and taste. Some might find it quite intolerable but I enjoy it's lingering taste, which is probably why it doesn't last long on my lips because it's so tempting to lick it off! 

Please note that in the lip swatches my lips probably look quite sore and chapped because I'd been doing other lip swatches all day and then rubbing them off. 

This is the shade 'Smile', probably my most worn of them all, not necessarily my favourite, (because they all are!). As you can see it's a beautiful natural rosy peach  shade with very, very subtle gold shimmer, with not much pigmentation. However, a colour like this doesn't need much pigmentation and it's looks naturally pretty and complements most skin tones.

This is the shade 'Glaze'. This lipgloss is my Mum's but it's just an example so I thought I'd chuck it in. This shade in the tube looks like an iridescent lilac taupey kind of colour with lots of glitter, however it looks significantly toned down on the lips. It suits my mum's yellow-toned skin more than mine, though I feel. Still, definitely seemingly plumps your lips without having a painful tingling sensation for ages.

This is the final shade 'Lust', and probably the most impressive. In the tube it looks very deep and you think 'How could that possibly translate onto your lips in a gloss formulation?' Well.. I don't know how, but it does! In this photo, I am only wearing a very sheer coat, so I do believe it's buildable but it would probably get quite cloggy and gloopy after more than two layers. I wore this divine, seductive gloss on Christmas Day but I think it's quite suitable for summertime as well. Personally I'd say this is a more tomato-red rather than cherry-red so it's fairly different to other red glosses on the market. It also has plumping qualities so makes lips look fuller. I really don't know what skin tone this suits, but I will continue to wear it as it constantly blows me away with the colour.

So in conclusion, these are, in my opinion excellent lipglosses. They are priced at £9 in UK Boots stores which is quite expensive for 'drugstore' or highstreet lipglosses, but they often have £5 off No7 with most purchases in Boots so I'd just wait for a promotion and you'll be able to buy one for £4 instead!

Thanks for reading :)

My Favourite Highstreet Swimsuits and Bikinis of Spring/Summer 2012

So, I've been looking online at as many highstreet stores as I could think of for a new swimsuit/bikini and I thought I'd share my favourite finds. I'm not going to put them in any favourite order, but I will put them in price order, from low to high. And some of the prices are pretty steep, so I'll just explain why I like them.

Next Aztec Print Swimwear Padded Underwired Bikini
Top: £15, Bottoms: £12
I think this bikini is pretty stunning, I adore the print and the halterneck. However, the reviews on the website aren't so great. But for how it looks, and the price, this seems wonderful to me.


Asos Vintage Floral Triangle Bikini
Top, £18

Bottoms, £12

To be honest, I actually don't know why I chose this one in particular. I guess I do like it, but it doesn't stand out to me as much as the others. I like the colour and the price though!

Topshop Peach Knitted Stripe Bikini

Whole bikini: £28.00

I just think this bikini is beautiful. I love the colours and the aztec look. It's an alright price. Also, I adore beaded bikinis.

Marks and Spencer Limited Collection Palm Print Cut-Out Swimsuit
Swimsuit: £29.50

This swimsuit just seems so seasonal and pretty to me. It looks like a bikini from the back, and has great reviews. It looks to me like it would shape a body perfectly, and don't get me started on the stunning colours!

River Island Black Sunset Print Swimsuit

Swimsuit: £30.00

I don't think I'd wear this swimsuit, but it really stood out to me. I love the originality. First of all the print looks quite interesting, the shape seems quite athletic and flattering and it seems to have some kind of buckle detail on the shoulder. It's slightly expensive but now that I've looked at it lots I think I would wear it. It's not your typical 'sexy' swimsuit but I like it.

Topshop Red Palm Print One-Piece

Swimsuit: £32.00

Oh my goodness! How stunning is this swimsuit? This, to me is just the epitome of summer. Orange is one of my favourite summer colours. The only thing I would say is to be careful when wearing reds, pinks and oranges in summer because it can accentuate your tan or burn. I cannot get over this swimsuit, so pretty! Also, the bow detail would probably be very flattering.

Asos 50's Cross Front Sweetheart Neck Textured Bikini

Top: £18

Bottoms: £15

I love vintage style swimming costumes, with high waists and flattering necklines. I think the colour's interesting  and this reminds me somewhat of the movie 'Psycho', because of the shape of her underwear in the film compared with the swimsuit.

Marks and Spencer Medium Leg Leopard Face Print Swimsuit
Swimsuit: £35.00

For some reason I can't post a picture of this, however if you click the link you should be able to see it. This is  a really untraditional, strange looking swimsuit, and not one that I would buy simply because it seems far too overpriced. However, I love this 'Big cat face' trend and I this swimsuit just jumped out at me.

Geri by Next Red Ruched Swimsuit

Swimsuit: £35

This is a backless swimsuit, and provides a perfect cover up for flabby tummies I would imagine. I think this would be very confidence-boosting and flattering swimsuit to wear. It just reminds me so much of the Special K adverts! So, so pretty. However quite expensive.

Rebecca Manning Swim Suit With Vintage Rose Print

Swimsuit: £175.00

So, I know what you're thinking! £175 for a supposedly 'Highstreet' brand swimming costume? I know, it's a ridiculous price. But I think it's really pretty and if you're willing to pay, would be a great investment.

Karen Nielsen Clam Bake Button Bikini
Whole Suit: £215
£215. Ridiculous, I know. I just saw this on ASOS and found it stunning. It boasts a halter top, bow detail and panel at the front. This is just beautiful to me. I would never ever buy it though. Unless I was incredibly rich. But yeah, I think it's very pretty.

So, that wraps up my list of favourite swimsuit picks of the highstreet!