Talonted Lex

French Pharmacy Beauty Haul

French Pharmacy Beauty Haul

French Pharmacy Beauty Haul

Those who’ve followed me for a while will know that my parents live in France which means I take every opportunity to stock up on French beauty products. I posted my last big haul HERE if you want to see what I already have.

I didn’t have a chance to go over to France before Christmas because of work, but my dad kindly said he would pick some things up for me. He ended up traipsing round 8 pharmacies on his day off and roping countless shop assistants to help him. He’s so cute. I am so glad I stocked up on the essentials (Bioderma and LRP stuff) and also asked him to get some additional things for a small giveaway when I reach my first Bloglovin milestone…!)

The pictures above show what he picked up for me:

  • La Roche Posay Serozinc – I bought this in my last haul, and this time I asked my dad to get me 3 (including one for my friend Jen). You can find my review of Serozinc HERE. They were about €5 each.
  • Bioderma Micellar water – this is a given when you’re anywhere near a pharmacy in France. There’s a review HERE. I got three 500ml bottles for about €8 each.
  • La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo – This anti-blemish cream has been on my wish list for ages as it is raved about by so many people. This was about €9.
  • Caudalie Huile Divine – A dry oil spray that smells incredible. It was roughly €20.
  • Darphin Intral Redness Relief Recovery Balm – I need to do a proper review of this product as I LOVE it. It is wonderful and smells amazing. This was the only item that wasn’t that much cheaper in France, at about €40, but I love it so much that I don’t mind.
  • Embroyolisse Hydra-Masque – the Embroyolisse moisturiser I got in my last haul is so good that I needed the mask as well, I haven’t tried this yet so I might give it a go tonight. This was €10.
  • La Roche Posay Redermic R Eye cream – I have tried so many eye creams and this one is my current favourite. This was €20.

I am so happy with my haul. My dad did an excellent job and I’m so grateful that he wasted his day off to wander round pharmacies in Toulouse!

What French products do you swear by? Any you would recommend for my next haul?

Lex

French Pharmacy Beauty Haul French Pharmacy Beauty Haul

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OPI Make Him Mine Review

OPI Make Him Mine

OPI Make Him Mine

This absolute beauty is from OPI’s holiday collection, the Mariah Carey Holiday 2013 range. And I am in love. I thought the red glitter polish (Underneath The Mistletoe) was pretty, but OPI Make Him Mine is a whole other kettle of glitter.

This is my first OPI Liquid Sand polish and I am not disappointed. The polish is surprisingly easy to apply, I was a bit worried as some glitters are thick, lumpy and difficult to apply. Add to that a matte finish and that’s sometimes a recipe for disaster. Not so with this polish. This needed 2 layers and there was no need for a particularly light hand or any placement of glitter. It dries completely matte and doesn’t take too long to dry (although I admit I did get bored waiting, I’ve been so spoilt by the speediness of Seche Vite!)

The colour is super pretty: A rose pink with hot pink, gold and silver glitters of various sizes.

Not only is this polish gorgeous to look at, I am obsessed with the texture. The rough, slightly gritty finish makes it oddly satisfying to run your fingers over.

I have so many nail varnishes in every colour under the sun, but it’s new and unusual things like this that stick in my mind. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but this has rocketed into one of my favourite polishes of all time.

Have you tried any of the OPI Liquid Sand polishes?

Lex

OPI Make Him Mine OPI Make Him Mine OPI Make Him Mine OPI Make Him Mine OPI Make Him Mine

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OPI ‘Under The Mistletoe’ nail varnish

*Drum roll* Introducing OPI ‘Under The Mistletoe’. (possibly) One of the most Christmassy nail varnishes in the world. LOOK AT IT.

OPI Under The Mistletoe nail varnish

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Essie Merino Cool Review

Essie Merino Cool

Essie Merino Cool

I love colours that are hard to describe. I’ve wanted essie Merino Cool for ages and remember trying to find it on a massive essie display in Dubai with Aaron helping me. “It’s kind of…purple-y…brown? Like a more purple taupe-y colour? No, more like a pastel-y plum? Like a mixture of grey and purple? It’s…ummm” *insert picture of Aaron looking confused and horrified*

And now I have it! I found it in TK Maxx in Kilburn for £4.99 (!!) and it has definitely lived up to my expectations. It’s such an unusual and pretty colour. It is somehow soft but also edgy – something that essie always do very well.

Essie polishes have a lovely formula: this needed 3 coats to get rid of any bald spots but Essie polishes are always quick drying so that isn’t a problem. I used to hate essie polish brushes as they were really thin and hard to use but they have made them a bit thicker now so I am now a full on fan girl.

I’m so pleased that this polish is now in my collection. What your favourite Essie polish? You can buy this stunning polish HERE.

Lex

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MUA Undress Me Too Review

MUA Undress Me Too

MUA Undress Me Too

A few weeks ago I reviewed the MUA ‘Ever After’ Matte Palette and spoke of my love for it. I think I mentioned the palette I’m reviewing today in it without realising that I hadn’t spoken about it on the blog yet. Useless.

So…this is the Undress Me Too palette! Obviously a bit of a rip off of the famous Urban Decay ‘Naked’ Palette but who doesn’t love a bit of a dupe? I don’t own the Urban Decay palette do can’t do a comparison but there are tons online if you want to see it!

I think actually prefer this to the Undress Me original palette by MUA, which a friend kindly gifted to me when she didn’t want it. I haven’t reviewed it yet as it has hardly been used since I bought Undress Me Too (which says a lot!), but I will get something up soon so you can see the difference.

Right. Down to business… The Undress Me Too palette is a lovely combination of matte and glittery shadows. They are all neutral themed and, as a result, are very flattering. As with most palettes they can be used together to create multi-toned eye looks. My most used colours are Naked (top left), Exposed (bottom row second from left) and Reveal (bottom row third from left). All are lovely and subtle but still catch the eye. Since taking these pictures I’ve actually hit the pan on Naked which is annoying as it’s the perfect base colour for shadow!

The shadows themselves are very pigmented and really stay put on the eyes. I do use my Too Faced eyelid primer with them but if you don’t have issues with oily eyelids then you probably won’t need to, although I do find that the glittery ones tend to transfer a bit.

I would say this is my go-to, standard eyeshadow palette at the moment, whether I want a subtle look to open my eyes, or a more glamorous smokey eye. If you haven’t tried MUA eyeshadows I would definitely recommend them! They are £4 (!!) HERE.

Which of the MUA palettes have you got? What do you think? Let me know in the comments at the bottom of the page!

Lex

 

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