LIFE&BEAUTY POST | City Livin' ft MAC, Nando's, Harper Beauty Bazaar &more!

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Hey!

As you guys know I've lived in Liverpool for about a year and a half now on and off for University and as much as Liverpool is probably the most amazing city ever, it doesn't come without it's stresses.

Being so far away from home I try and do whatever I can to relax, be it shopping, having a quiet night in, or having a meal with friends/my boyfriend when he comes down.

Now us girls know how much we love to shop and to pamper ourselves so I'm just going to list a few of my favourite place in the city to go to or where I buy some of my favourite relaxation items from!

Pamper Nights in

On my nights in I like to take my make up off, put a few candles on and relax watching my favourite TV show be it The Simpsons or my new found love for Sex In The City. I start by taking my make up off with a baby wipe, then I cleanse with my Garnier Oil Control Face Scrub. After this I use my L'Oreal Micellar 3 in 1 Purifying make up removed to take off anything left over, I then use my advanced correcting serum, my Neutrogena Visibly Clear moisturiser and then the L'Occitane Precious Cream as an eye cream to get extra moisture into them. After this I try and zap any spots with my Dr Spot. Then I grab myself a cuppa/hot chocolate, my favourite magazine - usually Look or Company - and I jump in bed!

Shopping Trips

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There is no better place for a beauty blogger to buy beauty products that the Harvey Nichols Beauty Bazaar in Liverpool. It offers brands from Laura Mercier to MAC to NARS all under one roof it is a place of myth and legend. I love to go here when I'm off out on a shopping trip to pick up those "treat" items of make up or even get some well needed pampering done. This Beauty Bazaar really does offer it's fair share of beauty products and pamerperings, the Bazaar recently announced that they will be doing Luxury Hen Weekends also for any lucky brides to be & their friends. To find out any more on these Luxury Hen Weekends just click >Here< and you can find out what selection of amazing offerings are available to make your hen weekend the best hen weekend possible!

I also love to go to MAC when I go out shopping, now I know there is a MAC in the Beauty Bazaar, but there's something about going into a MAC store that I find a novelty! Maybe it's because I'm fairly new to buying MAC make up! They have a large selection of amazing quality make up and other beauty products that I would just love to own all of! Retail therapy always helps me relax.

Dining out

We all love a good meal when we go out and for me the perfect choice is Nando's. it's friendly, it's delicious and affordable and you can go there for a quite meal with your boyfriend or for a pre-night out meal with friends. My personal favourite meal is the chicken breast wrap at medium hot with a side of spicy rice YUM!!! 

I find going out for a quite meal with people you are familiar with really calms your mood and make you realise you're lucky to be able to do this sort of stuff with people you've met through university! (As I did)

What are you favourite things to do to destress? Let me know!!

*Written in Association with Harvey Nichols - my opinions and views still remain 100% trust and honest.

Alicia x
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TAG | Autumn

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I got tagged by the lovely Tanyia from Tanyia Talks (click the link if you'd like to read her go at this tag) for the Autumn Tag!

In Terms of Autumn what is your...

Favourite thing about it? I love how the trees look and how cosy everything is. Not to sound cliche!

Favourite Drink? Hot chocolate with whipped cream, a cup of tea or Alpro Soya Chocolate Milk - which is a fave all year around!

Favourite scent/candle? Favourite scent would be Dot by Marc Jacobs or Chance by Chanel. Favourite candle is any that are scented like Vanilla or Yankee in Cherry Vanilla

Best lipsticks?  Bright colours or berry red/deep purples. Barry M Black Cherry is a good Autumnal colour but I also love Ruby Woo&Candy Yum Yum by MAC. I've done reviews of all three lipsticks Here(CY), Here(RW) and Here(BC).

Go to moisturiser? Neutrogena Oil Control Pink Grapefruit, Precious Cream by L'Occataine or Balance Me Balancing Face.

Go to colour for the eye? Purples and pinks or Yellows and Bronze colours. I really love Woodwinked by MAC at the moment and it looks really good with a neon yellow!

Favourite Band/singer  or music to listen to? Definitely One Direction for band. Singer I'm not too sure...

Favourite outfit to wear?  Pyjamas

Autumn Treat? My favourite Autumn treat would probably be hot choclate again! and in terms of materialistic things I dont really tend to treat myself because of the season, but I have bought myself a lot of MAC things recently!

Favourite place to be? Snuggling up nice and warm on the sofa with my fur babies (My cats&dog) and Huw watching corrie or something else whilst drinking hot chocolate.

So this was my Autumn Tag! Hope you enjoyed it!

I tag: You! Everyone who read this and does it, send me your link :) say I sent you!

Alicia x 

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MAC Cosmetics & Superdrug Haul!

Hey!

So recently I came back to live in Liverpool for University and I thought since there's a MAC shop here I'd take the opportunity to buy a few bits from there as in my home town there is no MAC store or MAC counter for at least an hour and a half drive/2 hour train journey so I took the opportunity when it arose, to visit the store, even though I know I live in the Liverpool all year round but hey, I can't be buying MAC stuff all the time can I? Any excuse...

I also paid a visit to Superdrug for a few bits I needed to stock up on like the L'Oreal Micellar water make up remover and the Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder which are essentials in my make up drawer! I also picked up a few other things which I will get into in detail.

L'Oreal Skin Perfection Advanced Correcting Serum £11.99 (usually £16.99)

I hadn't really heard a lot about this before I bought it. I;d seen it mentioned on YouTube by Nicole Guerriero and she said it was a holy grail amazing product that really helped her skin. So obviously I had to pick it up as my skin stays red for a week or two after any spots disappear which is really irritating for me, so hopefully this product will help!

L'Oreal Skin perfection 3 In 1 Purifying Micellar Solution £4.99

This stuff doesn't need me to say anything good about it because everyone already knows it's amazing! I'm on my 3rd bottle and I have this one for when my current one runs out. I got this for £4.99 but in ASDA and Bodycare you can buy it for £3-3.99 which is amazing because this stuff really does rival Bioderma! One cotton pad and a bit of this takes off any stubborn make up and it's so gentle you could douse your eye in it (not that I recommend this) and it wouldn't even sting. Such a good buy!

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in 001 Transparent £3.99

All my oily skinned girls out there will know what a lifesaver product this is. I am OBSESSED with this powder and have bought countless ones. I am a bit OCD so HAVE to use all of a product up before starting a new one, my current powder has hit pan hard and literally only the outer edges are still in the pan and I'm still going with it! This powder keeps me matte even on the hottest of days which is hard for me to do as my skin is so oily. I do need to blot every now and again but this definitely prolongs the wear of my make up.

Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Intense Black £7.99

Gel eyeliner is always something I've wanted to venture into. I saw this one recommended by Jaclyn Hill on YouTube and definitely thought I should try it as her eyeliner is always flawless and it went onto the lid so so black I just couldn't really resist! I haven't tried it as of yet but I'll definitely review it when I have.

Sleek MakeUP Brow Kit in Light £8.49

One upon a time I had this brow kit in dark and I loved it but when i dyed my hair lighter I couldn't use it anymore and never got round to buying the light one. Every time I had money it was always sold out in Superdrug and I'm not really a fan of buying online. However I went into Superdrug a few days ago and there it was sat on the shelf so I picked it up without thinking as I knew if I left it there then I'd never find it again for months on end so it was a no brainer!

MAC Veluxe Pearl Eyeshadow in Woodwinked £12.50

I'm a MAC eyeshadow newbie so I went in there and was baffled by all the colours. In the end I stick to what I knew and chose a bronze colour as I know they make my blue eyes really stand out which I love. This colour is a "veluxe colour" meaning it has a sheen to it but it isn't "shimmery" so it doesn't have bits of glitter in it. I really love this colour and want to get more colours, hopefully enough to fill up a palette!

MAC Fix+ (Full Size) £14

This spray is a make up setting spray/primer/skin refresher. Whichever you want to use it for. Personally I use it as part of my skincare routine/during the day when my make up is looking a bit tired and worn out. I really love the smell of this spray I can't quite put my finger on what it smells of but it smells amazing and I'm hoping it will last me a while!

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft & Gentle £22

I've wanted this for a while but could never part with £22 for a face powder. however being in the MAC store took a hold on me and I just gave it and bought it. This is definitely a universal highlighter and will look good on any skin tone. It's perfect for day to night and I'm really glad I purchased it!

That was my haul and I hope you liked it as much as I liked buying it! 

Have you got any of these products? What do you think of them? Let me know!

Alicia x
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REVIEW: Collection Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner.

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I've always had a thing for eyeliner, be it kohl, liquid or felt tip. You name it I've probably owned it at one point in my life. Because I've had so many eyeliners, I basically know the ins and outs of each brands liners so when trying new ones, I always try and keep a back up of my favourite, just in case the new one does't live up to my expectations/needs!

I bought this eyeliner on a whim as I'd seen Alix from I Covet Thee use it and she said that she always buys back ups in case it goes out of stock of if Collection discontinue it. She raved about it so I thought, hm, I'll buy this. At £2.99 a pop you really can't complain.

However, there was no need for me to complain as I am completely in love with this liner. It's super black, you can build up the thickness of the line and the tip basically does a perfect cat eye/wing/flick for you which I really love as I can never get it wrong with this liner! Obviously you'll need to have sort of a steady had and some knowledge of how to do a cat eye but otherwise this eyeliner is perfect for the job.

I love this eyeliner and will continue to repurchase as it's perfect for those days I have a 9am start and don't want to be messing around with gel eyeliner as I'm a newbie to it!

Have you tried this liner? What do you think of it? Let me know!

Alicia x
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FOTD: Everyday makeup

Base:

>Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream in Light & MAC Fix+

Setting powder/blushes:

> MUA Lolly Blush, MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft&Gentle & 2True Matte Bronzer.

Eyebrows:

> Sleek MakeUP Brow Kit in Light, Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in 002 Hazel & Maybelline Brow Drama Brow Sculpting Mascara in Medium Brown.

Eyes:

> MAC Veluxe Pearl Eyeshadow in Woodwinked, Barbara Daly Even Smoother Eye Base, L'Oreal Colour Riche Eyeshadow Palette in Disco Smoking (Only use the yellow colour!), Benefit They're Real! Mascara & Maybelline Gel Eyeliner in Intense Black.

Lips:

> SEVENTEEN Lipstick in BeeHive

The Finished Look:

                  

                  

Hey!

So this is just a look I wore to university today. I think the bronze eye and nude lip is really good for everyday and the bronze is especially good for making blue eyes really stand out. This may look like a a lot but in real life when I'm putting it on it takes me about 10 minutes, plus I love experimenting with new looks/different ways of applying :)

I was supposed to put a nude eyeliner on my waterline with this look as I was up at 7.30am and was feeling less than alive! I forgot to do this though but luckily I looked ok without!

I also wouldn't usually use the MAC products just to go to uni but I very recently purchased them and was very excited to use them haha! I'm like a child at Christmas when it comes to new products I just want to use them straight away.

The MAC Fix+ was used as a sort of skin refresher/primer but I didn't spray it on my skin after aplication as I don't really want the "dewy" look since my skin is really really oily so I'd just look like I was melting! I do love Fix+ though, it smells gorgeous and really refreshes my skin when it's looking dull.

Hope you enjoyed this FOTD post! Stay posted for more posts/an upcoming haul!

Alicia x
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MAC Candy Yum Yum Retro Matte Lipstick

Hey!

Recently I went to MAC with my boyfriend and he picked up the Pro longwear Concealer in NW15 and Candy Yum Yum for me. How cute!

This lipstick is from the Mac Retro Matte range which is a range of lip colours that have a velvet/dry & shine free finish which I think is super super flattering and is probably my favourite lipstick type!

It's a super bright and definitely a lipstick for those who are more experimental with lip colours but can also be worn by people wanting to become more experimental with their lip colours, needless to say it's not one for those who aren't brave! It's a very neon barbie pink colour to get it down to a tee!

It's definitely becoming a fast fave of mine and I really want to wear it all the time but obviously, it's not appropriate for university so, I can't! Waaaaaah!

Have you tried this colour? Let me know!

Alicia x
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Autumn Lip Colours: Barry M in Black Cherry

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So since tis A/W now and everyones pulling out their comfiest and warmiest clothes, it only makes sense to ALSO pull out our deepest and darkest shades of lippy right?

This lipstick right here is Black Cherry by Barry M and in my opinion it's a staple for this season! I wore it on a daily basis near enough last A/W and I'm so glad I can use it again this year!

I really want to try Rebel and Cyber by MAC but at £15 a pop I'm gonna have to wait a bit I think! This colour will definitely be my god to dark cherry red colour as I think it is definitely perfect!

The formulation of the lipstick is fab and it doesn'd bleed of your lips and it last quite a while!

It's a semi matte finish with a bit of sheen to it, definitely a great formulation as you can look matte but also keep your lips moisturised!

What do you think of this colour? Have you tried it/will you??

You can get Black Cherry in most Boots & Superdrug stores for £4.49

Alicia x 

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Boots&Primark Haulin'

Hey!

I recently moved back to Liverpool and I wanted to just do a bit of shopping whilst I was here! So this is what I got and I'll just go through them one by one as per usual!

Sally Hansen No Chip Acrylic Top Coat

I originally saw this on Instagram and thought I'd buy it, as I didn't know it existed before Instagram, I'm hoping it'll be everything I'm hoping it will be!

Models Own Egg Shaped Sponges (Pack of 2)

I've bought these instead of purchasing a beauty blender and they're actually really good! I'm not sure if a beauty blender would be better but these will do me just fine for now! I love the pointed end for applying concealer it's super precise!

Estée Lauder Stay In Place Double Wear Foundation in 1N2 Ecru

Oh my god, right? I am a lover of make up and as all lovers of make up know, you need a good base or you may as well not bother with your make up! So since all my foundations have been not working for me recently, (weird right? It's like they just decided they hate my face) I did some research and welcomed the Estée Lauder Double Wear to my routine!

Eyelure Lashfix

Simple reason for this, I needed a lash glue. I wanted to get the Duo lash glue but I couldn't be bothered to order it online so I bought this!

Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me and Peach Kiss

These are the best thing to ever happen to me, I love the packaging, the scents, the look and the benefits they bring. If you haven't tried these, you must!

LOVE Ornament

My uni room was looking really bare and I wanted to make it feel more homely with ornaments, throws, cushions etc and I found this little beauty in Primark for £1 so I thought, why not!

"I Love Dogs & Cats" Hot Drinks Flask

I am a self confessed crazy cat lady and I have no shame about it. I also love dogs and tea. So when I saw this flask I nearly cried with happiness. It was meant for me and I was born to find this!!!

So this was my Haul, hope you enjoy!!

Alicia x
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My Maybelline Baby Lips Collection

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I've been looking around my home town for Baby Lips other than Pink punch because I had that way before I bought any other ones as all the Boots and Superdrug stores near me never stocked any others/they sold out and never re-stocked which sucked!

Maybelline Baby Lips in Pink Punch

This was the first Baby Lips I bought and I really really love it, I've reviewed it >here.< I love how moisturising this is and that it leaves a pink gloss on the lips so it's prefer as a lipstick as well!

Maybelline Baby Lips in Peach Kiss

Peach is my favourite scent ever so when I saw this on the shelves I HAD to get it. This is quite a sheer and colourless balm but it does have a slight tint. If you layer it enough it's quite a shimmery brown nude colour on the lips which is lovely. I would have liked it to smell more peachy but it does smell lush!

Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me

The smell of this is amazing, it smells just like that artificial cherry smell all the kids lipsticks used to have when I was little. It leaves a pinky rose coloured tint on the lips at the same time it does wonders for them, you can't say no to that right? This is probably my favourite out of the 3 I have just because the smell is strong but not strong enough to the point it makes you feel ill. Well done Maybelline!

This is my little collection but they were so cute I couldn't help but photograph them and post about them! Do you have any Baby Lips products? Let me know!

Alicia x
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REVIEW: Barbara Daly Make Up Even-Smoother Eyeshadow Primer/Base

Barbara Daly Make Up Even-Smoother Eyeshadow Base - £5, Tesco

Hey!

I recently went for a wonder round Tesco and I found myself at the make up stand part down the toiletries aisle, as I normaly do, I can't stay away!

I usually browse the Rimmel section as it's a familiar brand but this time found myself browsing the Barbara Daly stand. The packaging for all of the products is very sophisticated consisting of simple all black packaging and white writing and the majority of the products. I only have 1 nail varnish from this range and have never come across or searched for any reviews so I really did pick this item up on a complete whim!

The item I picked up as you can guess from the pictures and the title is an eyeshadow base/light concealer kind of like MAC painterly/soft ochre paint pots in terms of the idea, cream base that covers/conceals veins etc and helps the blendability and colouration of the eyeshadow. Another great aspect of this product is that it also prolongs the life of your shadows! Everyone loves a shadow that stays on all day/until they want it to, without fading right? Well, this is what this product is for!

I love this product, I put it over my foundations/powder and under my eyeshadow and it keeps my shadows on for a considerably longer amount of time that they usually stay on. I also have the Rimmel Exaggerate Undercover Eyeshadow Primer which is also brilliant but it's white so it doesn't match my lids where as this product does. You can also use this product as a light concealer for fine lines and dark circles. I used it and even though it didn't settle into fine lines at first, after about an hour or two it started to and it started to fade so maybe my dark circles are just too dark, *sigh*

However, it's main aims of evening the lids, prolonging wear-ability and enhancing blendablity are definitely ones that this product achieves and for £5 I think it's a steal! I'll definitely repurchase this when mines gone!

What do you think of this product? Have you tried it? Let me know!

Alicia x
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