Uncommon Goods Review

Uncommon goods is a Brooklyn based American online retailer and catalogue that provides designs by independent retailers. There are so many interesting, useful and unique products to choose from that I found myself browsing the site for ages.

Even though Uncommon Goods is an American website, they provide prices in pound sterling, whilst shipping to the UK with low international rates, no additional charges at delivery and duties and taxes calculated at the checkout.

The pineapple tumbler is a two-piece product, made of aluminium and has a brass finish that is perfect for serving fancy cocktails or frozen desserts and there is a removable lid which can also serve as a base. 

I chose the Pineapple Tumbler as I have seen so many of these around lately and think they are a really sophisticated symbol of hospitality that provide a warm welcome to any guests you may have. They look great on your dinner table as a decoration or actually used as a tumbler for a drink. It is beautiful and well crafted and would make a perfect gift - even the box it arrived in was cute!

I didn't have to wait long for the item to arrive and the overall website experience was easy and straightforward. 

https://www.facebook.com/uncommongoods/

https://twitter.com/uncommongoods

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/uncommongoods/

https://www.instagram.com/uncommongoods/

I definitely recommend taking a look at Uncommon Goods as there is so much to browse and choose from.

Spring / Summer Wishlist

I am so glad that Spring is on its way, my skin needs warmth and sunshine and when this time of the year comes around I usually have a long wishlist of clothing and beauty items to take me through these seasons. I have out together some of the items on my wishlist together, shown above and I hope to get my hands on some of these to use during Spring and Summer. 

Great British Bake Off Vanilla Traybake

Taken from the 2017 Great British Bake Off calendar is this sweet but easy recipe that I can take absolutely no credit for, but something I baked myself recently and wanted to share on my blog. Having only ever shared one other baking recipe on my blog before, which went down really well, I thought it would be a good idea to do another, and perhaps make recurring content. It may not look like anything special, or as presentable as the image on the calendar, but it is really tasty and fun to make and decorate, with a short bake time. 

Recipe

As stated, a tray bake tin of the above measurements in the image, is ideal for this recipe however I didn't have quite the right size but even though my tray bake was slightly smaller than the one in the recipe above, the bake still turned out fine. 

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees/ 160 fan/ 350F/ Gas 4, and grease and line your tin with butter and baking paper. 

To make the sponge, mix the butter, sugar, vanilla, eggs, milk and flour into a bowl and beat together, or alternatively use a food mixer. Beat until it looks smooth and light and all the butter is soft and well whisked into the mixture. Transfer the mixture into your tin, spreading it out to the sides and make sure it is even. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until the top is a golden brown and check your cake is cooked by gently pressing the centre with your fingertips to see if it springs back. 

Leave your bake to cool and firm up in the tin and when cooled, remove the paper. Whilst it is cooling make the frosting by sifting icing sugar into a mixing bowl and add the butter, milk and vanilla extract. Beat or whisk until the frosting is smooth and light. 

Put your icing onto your bake and then it's time to decorate! the It is best to do this straight away before the icing firms up, I used these multi coloured stars from Tesco and some white piping icing. I then cut the bake into pieces before serving! 

How cute are the Joie Oink Oink utensils I got for Christmas from Wilkinsons?!

This really didn't last long in my household, which is a good sign! It was tasty and so easy and fun to make. If you give this a go please send me your pictures and let me know how you got on! 

Find me on social media: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lelizaxo/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraElizaxo

Primark Precious Metals Metallic Lip Crayons

I have not used any Primark make up before and to be honest it is because I really did not have any high hopes towards it. However, when I saw these Metallic Lip Crayons I did not hesitate to pay closer attention to them. There were three to choose from and when I swatched them all I was so impressed with how easily they glided onto the skin and how pigmented and metallic they actually were. For only £2 I quickly decided that I was going to purchase a couple and I chose a gorgeous rose gold, pinky shade and the gold shade. They also had a deepish brown shade that looked a bit too dark for me but was equally as gorgeous.

They were easy to apply and needed about two coats to get a good colour pay off. They lasted for a couple of hours as I was eating and drinking and did not dry out my lips at all. They actually felt like a gloss when on my lips as they were so moisturising and hydrating. 

Overall I am really impressed with these and it has made me want to try more Primark make up! 

Rimmel Scandaleyes Reloaded

 Rimmel London have recently introduced a few new products, with their original scandaleyes mascara getting a new and improved formula, and two eyeliners that are suitable for whatever look you prefer. 

I have to admit, I have not tried the original mascara, therefore I am unable to compare it to this new one, however I know how beloved that mascara was and so I was very excited to try this out, considering it is a new formula. The scandaleyes reloaded mascara is described as providing 'dangerously bold' and 'lethally full lashes' a bold statement itself, coating every single lash, clump free for up to 24 hours. Now I have never worn a mascara for any longer than 18 hours, but when it came to removing this mascara at the end of the day, it was still very much in tact, with next to no fall down, and still as black as ever. I can confirm that my lashes were coated evenly, the thick and full wand extra useful for creating equally thick and full lashes with no clumps at all. The mascara comes in two version; black and extreme black and both are really easy to remove despite their long staying power. Additionally, the design and packaging of these is great, I love the colours as they have a very Halloween feel about them, and thus I have been loving using them this month! 

The eyeliners, I have to admit, I have found a little more difficult to use. The one on the left in the above image is the 'Thick and Thin' eyeliner, a 3D slanted felt tip so you can choose to draw either a thick or thin line. I always prefer a thin line when doing my eyeliner, and so this product is not ideal for me, the idea itself is really cool, and unfortunately when I tried to use it to create a thin line I found it a challenge and extremely hard to use, however I did like how black and intense the product was. The liner on the right in the above image is
 the 'Precision Micro' and it is much more suited to me as it has a super thin felt tip so I was able to draw a precise line and again this one was also very black. When I tried out both, they had great staying power and had not budged all day. 

Rimmel Scandaleyes Reloaded Mascaras Black and Extreme Black: £6.99
Rimmel Scandaleyes Liners: £5.49
Check out people's looks with the hashtag #scandaleyesreloaded

I really love Rimmel and have been using this brand ever since I started wearing make up. I love that they are always reinventing themselves and creating new and exciting products for us make up lovers to enjoy. Thank you Rimmel London! 

My Halloween Picks

Halloween is one of my favourite times of the year and I love all the decor, food and outfits that appear for the spooky event. I put together some of my favourite picks for this year, from outfit ideas to comfy appropriately themed jumpers for the day. Have a great Halloween!

Beauty and Fashion Wishlist

Ok - so some of these are way out of my budget, but a girl can dream and they are all visually appeasing, so there is no harm done in sharing the products and items that I would love to get my hands on with you all.

'Younique' Products

My friend Charlotte was kind enough to recently offer me the chance at trying out some of the many products that Younique offer. Charlotte sells the products through her very own e-commerce store, like many other Younique Presenters and picked out her top five products for myself to try and review. 

Younique has a mission to 'uplift, empower, validate, and ultimately build self-esteem in women around the world through high-quality products that encourage both inner and outer beauty...' 

Moodstruck Addiction Shadow Palette Number 3

I love the colours in this palette, it is versatile and perfect for creating both a day time and night time look. With three shimmers and four mattes you can create a simple and light look or a more intense smokey eye. I found that the shimmer shades were more pigmented than the mattes, but that being said, the colour when using these can be easily built up to get your desired look. The shadows blend out really well and I find that the black matte shade is great to use as eyeliner too. 

Liner/Shader Brush
The perfect partner for any of the eyshadow palettes, I was able to apply the shadows and blend them out perfectly with this double ended brush, and the liner end was great for applying the black matte shade in the palette along my upper lash line to create a winged look.  Precision Brow Liner
This is in my top three favourites of all the products I have tried, it is so easy to use and glides on so effortlessly. I chose to use the medium brown shade, however I had to mix it with a brow product I already own as unfortunately the shade was too much of a brick brown shade to be a perfect match for myself, but the actual product itself definitely rivals benefits brow products. This product also has a spooly on the end to comb through your brow hairs beforehand. 

Royalty Detoxifying Mask
This face mask looks a bit daunting to use at first due to it's charcoal black colour, however once I had got over that, I applied it and felt it working straight away. This is best applied with a spoon or a spatula, as once the product touches the skin it gets to work immediately, bubbling on the surface. The mask is recommended to be used three times a week, which I did my best to stick to. After the first use, it did break me out a little bit, but this tends to happen often when trying out new skincare products, and after a few more uses I started to notice the effects and a clear difference to my skin. In the mornings my skin appeared brighter, my blemishes were clearing up, and overall the redness was reduced. This is a bamboo charcoal mask, that aims to absorb toxins and impurities as well as giving oxygen to your skin through the foaming sensation it creates. Due to it's exfoliating properties, this mask removes dead skin cells, and as it contains tree oils and vitamins, your skin is left nourished and brighter. 

Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes+
Now this product really intrigued me. It claims to increase your average lash volume and speaking to others, this product definitely works for so many people. It makes lashes look long and thick but unfortunately it did not do anything too dramatically different to my lashes, however my lashes are so temperamental and nothing ever really seems to make any impact on mine.  When I used this with my own mascara there was more of a difference, and for a light coating of mascara or a simple make up look, where I am not too bothered about the look of my lashes then this is fine for that. I would still recommend this, it is different from anything I have tried before and I know that it works wonders for so many people. This comes in a chic case with two different containers inside; the transplanting gel and the 3D fibers. I applied a coat of my own mascara, before applying the transplanting gel which contains collagen which is the success of the 3D Fiber lashes application. The application of this gel is what helps the fiber lashes to stick to the natural lashes. Take the tube with the natural fibers and swipe them over the gel, they attach themselves to your natural lashes to give volume, length and thickness. Put another coat of the transplanting gel on top to tame any clumping, though I found this to be a very minimal amount. This second coating helps the fibers to stay secure and in place. I love that this is waterproof but easily removable just like any other mascara. 

The prices of all these products are affordable and acceptable for what you are paying for and all their products are available to purchase and browse online, head to https://www.youniqueproducts.com/charlottedunn to check them out! 

I really enjoyed trying out these products and would once again like to thank my friend Charlotte for introducing me to them! 

Magic Mirror Mini Review

When I was approached by Magic Mirror - a Bristol based brand, to receive and review their interesting and innovative product, I was so intrigued and excited as it sounded like nothing I had seen or heard of before. 


Magic Mirror is a full length travel mirror, that is compact, and non-glass so it can be taken anywhere! Every time it comes to travelling, I always worry over the mirror in the hotel room, will it be one of those huge ones that always seem to be placed as far away from the natural light as possible, or one that is so small I cannot see my full face at a time?! To combat this problem I have to ensure I am carrying make up products that have a suitable mirror with them but these tend to be small and it frustrates me when I can't view my whole face. This is a product that I never knew I needed until I got it, and now I can't foresee a time where I won't be using it.  

This product is simply amazing; it is light, compact, easy to carry and solves all of the above problems. You can choose from a range of different colours and patterns and choose from Beauty Editions, or Mini's which are slightly smaller. The prices range between £29.99 and £45.00, a great price for an innovative product, that comes with four acrylic mirrors, and three different ways of using the product. 

I was kindly sent the gorgeous peach colour Magic Mirror Mini, which is perfect for me as she fits so well in my handbag. It is multi functional as it can be used in three different positions, whilst it is a full length mirror, it can also be used in a vanity position when placed on it's side, which I love, or in the pyramid position so two people can use it at once! 

You may look at this product and wonder just why, but I wonder why I have never had one before, and I have not gone a day without using this since I have had it! 
Check Magic Mirror out at their website and follow them on social media: 

http://magicmirroruk.com/

https://www.facebook.com/magicmirroruk/

https://uk.pinterest.com/magicmirror0312/

https://twitter.com/magicmirroruk

https://www.instagram.com/magicmirroruk/

Thanks again to Magic Mirror for being so kind and introducing me to this amazing product. I also have a discount code for 25% off the Magic Mirror Mini for you! Enter 'lauramagic' at the checkout on the wesbite!  

Bloggers Fashion Week Must Haves - Part One

 Bloggers Fashion Week is upon us and I was asked to take part in reviewing some products and put together a must have's list full of beauty and fashion items. 

MeMeMe Cosmetics

I'm so impressed with this brand, and having never used it before I was really pleasantly surprised at how lovely and luxurious the products are, as well as affordable. I am also a big fan of the packaging and design - a weakness of mine when it comes to make up products. My favourite of the four items is the 'Lip Glide' - a similar shade to one of my favourite Mac lipsticks 'Velvet Teddy', it is long lasting and easy to apply, and gives a matte finish but is not drying on the lips at all. The face illuminator gives a gold, glowy and dewy finish to the skin and easy to blend, I like to apply it with my fingers. There are eight stunning shades in the Ultimate eye palette, a mix of shimmer and matte ones, not extremely pigmented but easy to build up and blend out, the palette also provides a double ended brush. The shimmer stack has five powders and is a multi purpose product, it is pigmented, light reflecting and gives a youthful glow. Visit their website for different shades and products. 

https://www.mememecosmetics.com/

Shimmer Stack in Pink Zest

Beat The Blues Illuminator in Gold Oyster

Ultimate Eye Palette in Soft Rose

Lip Glide in Rich Truffle

PurePotions

Designed for skin in need of help, purepotions make natural creams, ointments and oils especially for those of us with dry skin. The products I was sent are fragrance free and not tested on animals - two gigantic pluses. I have only been using these for a few days, and I am already in love with the Skin Salvation Intensive Moisturising Ointment. It is made up of essential oils and beeswax, it does not have an over powering smell and softens when used due to body heat, it gradually becomes easier to apply. It is a miracle worker on dry skin and deeply moisturising -  I have already seen improvements. The bath and body oil acts as a replacement for a regular bath emollient and gives moisture to skin during bathing, I added one tablespoon to my bath and it made the bath quite slippery but my skin felt so smooth afterwards with no greasiness and the oil along with the moisturising ointment together is a dream match. The daily moisturising cream is full of vitamins to nourish the skin, also containing shea butter, it eliminates redness as well as dry skin and is a cream version of the skin ointment. It sinks into the skin quickly, and my skin appears much more healthier. The scar oil I unfortunately have not had much time to try out yet, but after using the other products I was kindly sent I am confident that it will be just as good as the other products, it not only works on scars but also stretch marks, uneven skin tone, dehydrated skin and ageing skin. 

http://www.purepotions.co.uk/

Scar Oil

Skin Salvation Daily Moisturising Cream

Skin Salvation Bath and Body Oil

Skin Salvation Intensive Moisturising Ointment 

Thumbs Up Nail Wraps

Zero drying time nails is my new favourite thing. I love when my nails are painted, but I find actually painting them such a chore, maybe that is because I don't have particularly nice nails, but I also don't like having to wait around for them to dry after using polish and I nearly always smudge them afterwards because I can't sit still doing nothing for long. Nail wraps are a super easy and efficient way to get gorgeous nails without the drying time. Thumbs Up nails have so many designs and colours to choose from and I am adore the three I was sent to review. For best results: clean your nails beforehand with a nail polish to remove grease and contaminants, add a layer of base coat and let it dry before applying the nail wraps. Smooth the wrap down from the cuticle and smooth out creases before filing off the excess in a downward motion... so easy! I also applied a top coat and they are still in tact after five days! 

https://www.thumbsupnails.co.uk/

New French Nail Wraps

Metallic Effect Cres Nail Wraps

High Shine Lisboa Nail Wraps

Stay tuned for part two!