[Clockwise from Top-Right: NARS 'Douceurs de Paris' palette, Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo/Conditioner, Essential Beauty kabuki brush]
NARS 'Douceurs de Paris' palette
When I first saw this delivery arrive in a big big cardboard box - I thought wow, this palette must be huuge... A few layers into it, I felt like I was playing pass the parcel with myself. I finally dug into the actual product itself...and all I can say is: Don't be fooled by the website's image of it - It's teeny! (I thought sh*t, nearly £40 for that?!)
Swatch:
Top Row L-R:
- Nepal - Rose with Shimmer
- Violetta - Smoky Lavender
- Demon Lover - Deep Indigo
Bottom Row L-R:
- Fez - Velvety Cocoa
- Abyssinia - Delicate Pearl Sheen
- Cordura - Shimmering Sooty Dark Brown
As you can see from the swatch, the intensity of these shades aren't strong, however Nepal & Abyssinia are great as a base shadow, with Fez & Cordura being my favourites to build up colour towards the edge/outer of the lids.
What I liked the most from this palette, is the fact that un-like most eyeshadows I've come across, when applying these - no shadow immediately speckles down onto your cheeks (verry annoying! Especially if you've already applied your foundation), which for me proves the quality of these shadows & makes me reach for it on an every-day basis. You can go from a day-time look to an evening/party one in just a couple of shades difference.
Would I purchase it again? Probably not. The price is quite steep at £37.00, and for me, I don't use the purple/lilac shades enough to warrant wanting it again in the future.
However - great packaging (as usual with NARS), great quality, & it's made me want to continue trying out François Nars products.
Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo/Conditioner
In my recent Marie Claire mag was a voucher to recieve a free complimentary-sized sample of Liz Earle's Botanical Shine Shampoo & Conditioner. I was on a visit to Kingston for its University - so popped into their John Lewis (don't have one at home!) to pick them up.
First thoughts about the shampoo, were how well it lathered up and cleansed without it containing SLS, which immediately makes this product better for your hair than average cheaper shampoos. I'm still not sure I'd pay £7.50 for it though... I have long hair and like to use quite a lot of shampoo so I think this is too expensive for me to purchase regularly - it'd have to be as a treat.
As for the conditioner, it's a lot more thick & balm-like than regular conditioners - meaning you don't need to use as much. It apparently contains high concentrations of aloe vera, shea butter and various exotic oils, with no silicones.
My verdict would be these are undoubtably great quality products - but just a little too pricey for me as I wash my hair so often. However if you have the money to spare, & you perhaps don't need to wash your hair so often, go for it.
As for the kabuki brush, that's a little something I picked up in TK Maxx (yes, again) as my current one was too scratchy for my face! This one was only a fiver and I absolutely love it - the bristles are the softest I've known! And there's no malting when you use it to apply (mineral in my case) foundation to the face.
I've also just subscribed to Elle magazine - yay!
I'm way too obsessed with magazines...
