Rituals Zensation Shower Gel/Rituals Blossom Water

Happy easter folks hope your having a good one.

Well tonights post is going to be on another Rituals product.

I have done a post previously on Rituals body cream definitely check it out if you haven't already. 

First of all I so wish you could smell through screens cos it smells amazingggg!!!.

Rituals is a brand I had never heard of till this  time last year when I was shopping in jenners in Edinburgh,and the first time I also bought this item along with the body cream in my previous blog post. 

I don't know about anyone else but I get through a lot of shower gels and having a good smelling scent makes all the difference as well as being moisturizing on your body if your like me in this sense then you are going to love this collection.

Zensation organic rice milk and cherry blossom is the scent  and oh my god its so refreshing and heavenly I just want to eat it ha.

This is a foaming shower gel so a little goes along way believe me. Its retailed at 8.50 which to some people is over priced for a shower gel and that is fair enough but I know its worth it and for 200ml its pretty decent value this is my second bottle.

Next that is also in the collection is Blossom water.

Again This is amazing its cherry blossom scent in a relaxing body mist. 

its a 50ml bottle in this beautiful light green glass with flower design on the bottle.

It retails at 16.50 which again depends totally on your budget, this is my second bottle its got like a dribble left in the bottom so need more.

There is a description on the back of the bottle it says, rich soothing fragrance with a delicate floral top note before journeying into lush heart of cherry blossoms. and a musky blend to give exotic warmth while adding an enduring finish.

I also use this spray in my bedroom and spray my pillows to make my bed smell amazing and also as a room spray. 

There are many other items and collections within the Rituals range I will leave websites and go have a browse.

have a fantastic easter folks all the best xxx.

www.rituals.com

www.feelunique.com

www.houseoffrazer.com

 my links are-:

Twitter- @julie_barbour

Twitter- @cjunkie83

Instagrams are- cosmetic_junkie83

or 

hoops1983

my e mail is juliebarbour@rocketmail.com

Botanics Radiance Balm

Evening folks hope you're all well, I thought it was time for another post and i've just finished my second tube of this product so time for my thoughts.

We all have days when we feel or look a bit rubbish and tired sometimes so tired you don't have the energy to even want to do something about your appearance!!. But someone will comment and say your looking tired or a bit rough and you think to yourself.... cheers for that mate!!!.

Well no need to worry I have found a product that personally works for me and is totally affordable in price, the main reason I decided to try this is actually because I got Botanics hydrating collection for a birthday present and it worked for me didn't irritate my skin and found the products to be productive.

So this Botanics Radiance Balm All Bright comes in a 50ml tube and believe me a little is all that is needed, the price of this item from boots.com is 5.99 which is totally reasonable. The product works as a revitalising balm to provide your skin with that much needed pick me up in times of dull complexion or fatigue. With Botanics being plant based it has brightening hibiscus which is a natural brightness booster with a hue of pink natural AHAs from the flowers with also are a mild exfoliant.  

This product has a shelf life of 24 months if you look on your products there is a little tub symbol on the back which lets you know how long your products is good for.

There are a few ways you could use this item, you can go through your normal skincare steps, cleanse, tone, serum, moisturise and eye cream then add the balm on top off all that or you could skip your normal face cream and use balm instead.

Like I have done a few times if not got time or in the mood to do full skincare routine just pop the balm onto your skin and a little brightening or uplifting eye cream and off you go.

Another good thing about this product is I have tried it mixed in with some foundation that isnt illuminating and then it gives it some brightness or used it as a primer or makeup base so really this produce is multi purpose and can be used in many ways which is fantastic.

The two negatives but only small ones I personally have about it is the smell for me isn't the nicest i'm not even really sure how to describe it to you all it's not offensive by any means its just not great haha.

And a pet hate is when it's a full tube it comes out very fast and makes a mess on the lid and opening of the tube this is annoying haha.

But on a whole I will purchase this item again it's handy to have and it does work if u need a pick me up in the skin its fantastic and seems to work.

I have also as mentioned used and tired out other items from Botanics im currently using a few others which I will post about in due course, hope you all have a great week and speak to you soon xxx.

   

Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel

Evening guys I'm back and tonight i'm going to mention this higher end but totally amazing product.

Being a huge cosmetic junkie you would think oh she must have loads of chanel within her collection, but I don't but a few years ago I treated myself and bought this beauty.

Its Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel which is a bronzing makeup base. 

Now this product costs 32 pounds, which I know alot of people are reluctant to pay and that is each to their own, personally I love it and don't regret paying the money at all.

The texture is a light cream/gel  formula with a velvety finish, it smells incredible not overpowering in scent but I would say nice and fresh as some make up products don't have a nice smell or scent so this for me is a bonus. 

With the size of the pot you're also getting value for money as even if you use makeup every single day, which in my case I don't and I also have other products as im sure alot of folks do, but I havent even made a huge dent in the pot and believe me it has been used and loved.

The down side is the size of it I feel especially for your makeup bag and traveling it takes up so much room I suppose you could decant some into a small travel pot but I  wouldn't want to do that as it would leave my lovely pot in a mess ha!.

This is what the produce looks like inside the pot is all matte no shimmer so even though its a bronzer you can use it for contouring as no shimmer so also mult purpose.

There is a plastic lid on the pot also which keeps it airtight and from  losing its scent perhaps. The way I apply this product is to the cheek bones, temples and anywhere the sun would naturally hit your face.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who asked me about a higher end bronzer, there is nothing wrong with cheaper versions and some people prefer a little shimmer or even a powder or a liquid bronzer. So I hope you find this useful, have a great Tuesday night and speak to you all very soon xxx.

More About me.

Hey guys today I thought I would write a bit more about me. I know this blog was mostly made for content of cosmetics and reviews but I feel the need to want to share with you all how I am and why I have not posted in a few days.

Well let's start by saying i'm 32 years old i'm a single child. I was born in Alexandria in Dunbartonshire. To my parents Stephen Barbour and Joan Barbour.

I lived in Alexandria for 11 years then we moved to Isle of Skye when I was a few days away from turning 12.

We had always been to Skye on holidays and mum loved the place, she cried every time she left on the ferry to go home.

I still currently live on Skye but now with my father as my mother sadly passed away due to long term illness and its coming up for 13 years this October.

Without a doubt this was one of the hardest moments of my life losing my mother at the age of 19.

But in one respect as much as I miss her dearly she is no longer in pain which is also as you can imagine or possibly have experienced is a very difficult situation to be in and around.

So thats a bit of background information on where i'm from and my family.

The reason i've not been on here doing posts for the last few days is I have been doing a usual Julie and suffering in silence and painting on the smile and trying to make a laugh an joke, when inside I am crumbling.

I was diagnosed with  severe anxiety in 2013 which was one of the most awful years apart from losing my mum I have ever experienced I honestly though I was dying and losing my mind.

Until diagnosed I wasn't fully sure what was wrong with me. It started off with feelings off like heart attack symptoms which for anyone is a worry and also cos of being slightly overweight I Was thinking all kinds. Not wanting to burden anyone I would just cry on my own in my room thinking all kinds when really I needed to reach out to someone and off load how I was feeling. 

Eventually I did this and spoke with doctor and also attended CBT therapy which eventually helped me.

Also with being put onto medication which I always though was last thing I ever wanted to do but sometimes you need that help and should never feel bad about taking it.

I eventually started to feel better in myself and not so scared and down all the time. I was determined to not become a recluse and not want to venture out of my safe zone, but then again even in my own house the feelings off being scared where there and I still have no idea why.

as they say the mind is a weird and wonderful organ. 

To give an example of somethings-:

One minute I would be hanging washing out and next minute I was crying uncontrollably for utterly no explainable reason.

When signed off from work by the doctor When my anxiety was extreme I went with my father down to the pier just to get out of house and I got out of the car to walk down the pier and I couldn't walk my body would not physically move it was the most horrible experience I have ever felt.

I have always been a nervous and self doubting person but i've never had anxiety or panic attacks.

So for past few years my anxiety has been under control which is brilliant but don't get me wrong it doesn't leave you if only it did it be amazing. I am still on the medication and doctor monitors it I don't even take it every single day like I used to , but we both still feel I need to have them. 

In around 2012 I think anyway when getting a regular eye test in specsavers they discovered I Have raised optic nerves behind my eyes so since this discovery I have regular monthly checks in hospital and get some extra tests done like my first ever ct scan and mri which are not pleasant i'm not going to say they are cos they're not. Especially if u anxious already and in confined space.

I also through this process was referred to neurology and I have intracranial hypertension which is pressure in the brain which causes me to have a lot of headaches and sometimes feel and even be sick woop woop happy days for me. 

Recently I seen this doctor again and I had explained I have been feeling much better where head pain and eyes have been concerned but all of a sudden Im right back there with the worse pain and I cant read or anything It just horrid and makes my anxiety go through the roof.

So for past 4 days I have been not very well at all and therefore not been online posting any reviews on products. 

I wanted to share this with anyone who does check out and read my blog and hopefully it will even help some people who also suffer with there own mental health issues. 

It is a very stigmatised topic and there is a lot of ignorance involved around mental health, people need to be aware that it can happen at anytime to anyone of us and most importantly just because you look ok doesn't mean you feel and are ok.

I don't know if this makes any sense to anyone out there or if it will be read but I wanted to put it out there and share with you all as I know we all have out struggles and issues.

hope you're all well 

much love julie xxx 

Zoeva Rose Golden Palette

Hello guys and welcome back hope you're all having a fantastic saturday whatever you're getting upto.

Today I am going to be posting about the beautiful zoeva rose golden palette.

Well let's start of by saying how gorgeous is this packaging its absolutely stunning rose gold heaven. 

I received this beauty for my birthday in 2015 its my 1st ever Zoeva make up to be added to my collection.

This palette has 10 stunning eyeshadows ranging from matte texture to metallic finish and some satin finishes.

 The shadows in this palette are so pigmented and rose golden to a royally darker shades and some shimmery natural tones.

Being into my neutral, brown and bronzy shades you can imagine I was over the moon receiving this.

Within the palette there is :-

1. Luster which is a matte shade I would say is like a camel kind of colour which is great as a base.

2. Reflective elegance this is like orange undertoned shimmering colour like a golden goddess would wear type shade.

3. Copper is king and as it says in the name is a copper vibrant shimmering metallic shade.

4. Shining bright this is one of my favorite colours on the top line of this palette, I would say it's a mauve /brown.

5. Rusty petals again is a shimmery brown good for a smoky eye with an edge.

6. foil this is another shade that is a favorite of mine to wear for more of a daytime smokey eye as it's a more subtle brown toned shade.

7. Just a rose this is like a red toned copper.

8. Golden rule I think this personally is golden toned but also looks a bit khaki green.

9. Harmony with is matte and I would say a slate grey colour great for smokey eye and smudging and even using as a eyeliner.

10. Wounder full  this is a matte deep dark chocolate brown and again would be amazing to use as an eyeliner.

This palette is paraben free, no mineral oils, fragrance free, no phthalates.

they also contain vitamin E. and are made in Italy.

You can get this palette and also other zoeva products directly from there site or on www.beautybay.com

have a great evening guys xx

Lipstick collection

Hello folks how are we all on this beautiful sunny day. well its sunny here on Isle of Skye anyway.

Todays blog post is going to be on some of the lipsticks in my current collection, obviously if you have been reading my blog posts for a while I did a post on the autumnal colours in the collection well they will still be included also. 

Well were do you begin haha. I used to be more of a lipgloss type of girl but over the past few years I have gotten more into lipsticks.

For a while I was only wearing ysl lipgloss and don't get me wrong I liked it as I bought it more than once and even had it in another colour, the smell of the lipgloss is amazing like a watermelon scent which made it even more appealing. Unfortunately I don't have one so cannot include a picture but no doubt will buy one again and happy to review it for you all.

I am going to start of by talking about a lipstick that came in one of the cohorted beauty boxes.

This is a brand that I had never heard of at all which is a fantastic reason to go out there and try and subscribe if you're into beauty and also can afford to pay a monthly subscription to beauty boxes you can discover brands you have never even heard off.  So in one of the boxes I received this very bright and vibrant red lipstick as part of a snow white and the huntsman palette from a company called Diego Dalla Palma looking more into this company they were founded in 1970 by Italian make up artists to the stars. 

Normally I am reluctant to wear such a bright red lipstick but have worn this one a few times on a night out and it feels amazing on lasts for ages and smells so nice like a subtle vanilla scent.

Its very nourishing non-sticky and moisturizing. If you want to get a hold of this brand I believe you can purchase these products on M&S.

Next up is a high street lipstick I picked up in superdrug it's a Maybelline Colour Sensational lipstick.

It is the colour sugar plum number 220. It has a very sweet smell to it which personally I think is great I love a good scent to all things I purchase its an added bonus.

This is long lasting and extremely nourishing probably one of the cheaper lipstick I own that lasts so long. This lipstick formula contains nourishing honey nectar which adds to the sweet scent and also the amazing texture on application.

In keeping with the lower priced high street lipsticks I  have a rimmel Kate Moss lasting finish lipstick now I am defo a fan of the nuder shades of lipsticks and slightly mauve and plum toned.

To be honest I don't think there is much to say on this one personally its a nice colour and it suits me so was reason I bought it. 

The lipstick i'm wearing today is :-

Charlotte Tilbury lipstick in the colour Bitch Perfect.  I got this as a birthday present last year from a very good friend. It comes in a beautiful rose gold packaging which is very pleasing on the eye indeed. Again it smells amazing its perfect nude colour so happy about that and nice and subtle on its very smooth application and sits well, I am very happy with this texture and product. 

This next lipstick is by the amazing make up guru that is Bobbi Brown. 

I did a blog post the other day on my Bobbi Brown lip and eye palette and from receiving that as a christmas present and using it and loving it I then had to go out and purchase this lipstick which is in there palette and it is the creamy lip colour in number 5 blue raspberry it is obviously a very popular colour within this range of lipstick as I tried in a few shops in Edinburgh on a long weekend away with the friend who bought me the palette for my christmas a few years ago and the shops were sold out of this particular colour. So I ended up coming home and ordering 2 of them from house of fraser website and I am over the moon the color I would say is a brown toned pink and the formula is very creamy as the product states so if this is something u think would be of interest to you I advise you to check out bobbi brown x

Now for my biggest collection which is Mac.

Right then here we go haha:-

We have 

1. Rebel which is a the darker of the plum toned lipstick that I have swatched on my hand this one was included in a cohorted box so in hindsight I would not of chosen to buy this lipstick colour. I have tried it on and i'm still making up my mind. this comes in a satin finish formula as some of you might or might not know Mac has many different formulas of lipstick.

2.Next Is a colour called Dark side the more wine deeper plum coloured lipstick and I did buy this one from the online store after a consultation with a mac artist it's definitely more of a autumn winter lipstick I would say, this is in the amplified formula.

3. This is a lipstick I got when you use the "back to mac" system which for those who might not know of this is where you take back 6 mac containers ie. foundation container, lipstick, gloss, mascara, powder, concealer as long as you have six items then you can pick a mac lipstick and what they do with your empies is recycle them. You can check out more about it on there website.
So this lipstick is a nude colour called kinda sexy which the lady in the shop recommended for me, it's a matte formula which personally I don't like so I have not used this often the reason i'm not keen is it dries out my lips which is not great so I  personally would wear like a clear gloss over it or lip balm under it.

4. A sheen supreme formula lipstick in shade bare again now I had to buy this one the same day I got the back to mac system lipstick in kinda sexy so therefore I think possibly you cannot get this formula on the bac to mac scheme. As I would of rather of taken this lipstick instead of the matte kinda sexy Its a very sheer as it says looking lipstick which is a beautiful brownish nude and so nourishing and with the sheen looks like a gloss.

5.&6 are both from the satin viva glam range that mac do and sometime incorporate with celebrities on. Now these lipstick you cannot return to mac as they already send some of their profits from sales to charity.

I promise were getting to the end haha.

next up are the last 3 lipsticks I have purchased recently 

we have got 
Patisserie which is a luster formula and it is a similar shade to the sheen supreme lipstick in bare again but it's not so much of a glossy effect, I bought this on watching youtube gurus and wanting to see for myself what I thought of it.

We now move onto the only other red lipstick in my collection which is also a luster and it is called Ladybug. I have only worn this once so far so can't say too much but I feel cos of the lustre texture it is going to be my perfect red go to shade.

And last but by no means least my absolute favorite mac lipstick in Syrup which again is a luster. Now this shade is just beautiful it definitely a bit of me it's like a your lips but better lip shade it's a pink toned mauve and I definitely will buy this more once it has been used and I hope it is never discontinued. 

Well hope you all have a great weekend and spoil your mum's unfortunately I  will be working.

have a great weekend guys xxxx

scots beauty review: Naked 3 Palette

scots beauty review: Naked 3 Palette: Urban Decay Naked 3  Tonight I am finally going to speak about this amazing palette that is non other than the Naked 3. I decid...

Naked 3 Palette

Urban Decay Naked 3 

Tonight I am finally going to speak about this amazing palette that is non other than the Naked 3.

I decided it was time to add this into my collection, at first I was all nope not going to follow the crowd and buying into the naked palettes.

Yet here I am with the naked 2, naked 3 and the smoky palettes haha.

Now don't get me wrong there is nothing at all wrong with the original naked palette but personally I was not so fussed on that one or the packaging.

I love the packaging on this palette its as it says on the back of the tin" beauty with an edge".

This naked 3 palette retails at the price of  38.50. Now this might be too much money for some people and there are dupes of these palettes out there I have not tried them so I cannot comment but if you can afford to get these palettes there an investment.

The naked 3 palette is nothing like the original naked palette or even the naked 2. This little diamond is all rose influenced and toned, you have a selection of rose toned neutral eyeshadow shades from a light, to shimmery pinks, to deeper shimmering shades.

Within the palate there is a good mix of smooth mattes, and some shimmering pearls to even some metallic tones, this is fantastic as you can create many different looks from an natural toned down day look to a smoked out sultry eye.

If you are anything like me and prefer neutral tones on your eyes and more of a pink or brown smokey eye than the full on dark colour then this is totally up your street.

Now don't get me wrong I have the smoky palette which I will do a post on so there are deeper and darker shades in there but in general I am a neutrals girl .

here is a swatch of the different shades 

I know this properly don't look the best but on my arm the colours were not showing up well so I  thought on white piece of paper it would show up better. 

I hope this post has been useful to fellow make up lovers out there and I will be back soon with another post have a great evening x

scots beauty review: Tarte- Tartelette Palette

scots beauty review: Tarte- Tartelette Palette: Evening folks tonight I thought It was time to review this most amazing palette that has been added to my growing collection. This ...

Tarte- Tartelette Palette

Evening folks tonight I thought It was time to review this most amazing palette that has been added to my growing collection.

This is the Amazonian Clay Matte Palette.

It has the most beautiful shiny purple packaging on the front that makes it stand out an pop.

This exclusive Amazonian palette comes with all 12 eye shadow colours exclusively in matte texture no shimmer in sight.

I mean its totally beautiful isnt it arghhhhhhhhh.

all the 12 shadows are amazonian clay infused there also long wearing.

Paraben and phthalates free which is fantastic.

The formulation of these shadows are also without mineral oil, sodium and they're gluten free.

Lets have a run down of the shades within the palette.

My lovely hand haha. ok lets start with the 1st row of colors.

1. free spirit (cream)

2.force of nature (nude)

3.dreamer (warm brown)

4.multi-tasker (chocolate)

5. caregiver (pale pink)

6. natural beauty (mauve)

7.best friend (mulberry)

8. bombshell (dark plum)

9. super mom (ivory)

10.wanderer (light brown)

11.power player (taupe)

12 fashionista (black)

With the palette you also receive a pamphlet with two different eye looks which is amazing to give you some inspiration.

I have to say I purchased mine from Amazon and I Paid 59 pounds for this little baby, to then discover that on Tartes actual website and also on ebay you can get this palette for 30 odd pounds so I suggest not buying it from Amazon. 

On the plus side the mirror is amazing its a great size and it makes you look fine not like some mirrors ha!.

my most used shades are free spirit, caregiver and best friend,getting an angled brush and wetting it with either a little water or if you have a makeup fixing spray use a little of that and spray it onto your brush, then u could use shades such as multi-tasker, bombshell and fashionista as an eyeliner. 

Also the pigmentation in these shadows are intense and you don't need a lot, with this palette I would personally moisturize my face first and prime eyelids then apply desired shadows before doing foundation or concealing 

 in case of fall down to under the eyes from the shadows. 

I am very much looking forward to adding to my tarte cosmetics collection. 

Take a look at cosmetic_junkie83 (@CJunkie83): https://twitter.com/CJunkie83?s=09