Superdry's new affordable luxuries launch tomorrow

The wait is over (well, almost) for the brand spanking new beauty collection by Superdry, and I am SO excited. Ever since I caught a glimpse of the brand's new cosmetics range in the latest edition of Company magazine, I have been waiting patiently to try a bit of everything.

And I must love it, because I want the make-up brushes more than the make-up, which is very rare! My ultimate Superdry Beauty must-have product is the hot pink Kabuki Brush (£14.00), which has been inspired by Japanese theatrical make-up rituals. Superdry claims it has soft synthetic hairs and is recommended for use with bronzer and blusher, as it blends and contours. 

I need it as of yesterday - it is so different to all the other brushes out there of this kind, it just looks amazing and I love the wooden handle too. It has simple clear plastic packaging, which I think is cute and well-suited to the brand.

If the hot pink brush is a bit too 'out there' for you, you will be pleased to know that there is also a black one.

Next on my wishlist is the basic but bloody brilliant Jet Black Eye Marker (£8). Designed to create precision lines, the liner is non-smudging, which would be a bonus I reckon. However, I think I would have to see it to believe it, as I have a tendency to smudge my liquid liner!

Also in the make-up range there is the super cute ballerina-esque Pearled Pink Highlighter (£12). It's made to suit all skin types and can be used with foundation to create a dewy complexion. Use on the cheeks and browbones.

I also love this funky multi-season Grape/Sunflower Eye Shadow Duo (£9.50). Out of all the different combos, this one caught my eye as I see it as two different looks, so you could have a subtle gold one day and a deep purple the next. It's a highly pigmented product and can be used wet to create a different look.

Apparently 1000 lipsticks isn't enough, so of course I had to find one I liked from the range. Lip Paint in Electric Pink (£8) is a great shade for S/S 2013 and a real eye brightener. It's highly pigmented and non-drying.

In this cold climate we seem to be having at the moment, I always have a lip balm at hand, so I was really pleased to hear about the non-greasy, moisturising Peppermint Lip Fix (£6). I love mint in lip products; as well as having a great smoothing effect, it also smells and feels uber fresh. From the packaging, I reckon it is quite rich as well - so you will get more for your money.

Last but not least are these beauty accessories for daily use. I love the wipe clean PVC Turquoise Neon Beauty Bag (£10) for my make-up or skin care products and also the silicone-covered Lime Mirror (£5) to carry around in my bag for those last-minute touch-ups!

What do you want to try? Tweet me at @shotofbeauty or even better leave me a comment.

Are you as excited as I am?! xxx

Review: Guerlain Super Aqua-Serum

Forget the superwoman pill - why not opt for something that does what it says on the tin?

I must confess, I only stumbled upon this product by chance during my make-up consultation at the Guerlain counter. I was pleasantly surprised when the advisor prepped my skin with Super Aqua-Serum and Happylogy Day Cream, leaving me with a clean, soft and silky canvas to work with.

My first impression of the Super Aqua-Serum was that it was very hydrating and light to the touch. In terms of appearance, the serum is white and creamy, with a slight shimmer to it. The packaging is midnight blue with hints of gold, which I liked a lot.

As with any high-end skin product, you only need to use a small amount per application (which is a comforting thought given that it costs £65.50 for 30ml and a staggering £90 for 50ml). However, a good thing to know about these products is that they only do their magic when applied with light fingertip strokes; this is because it needs to be buffed into the skin gradually, which I hadn't thought of before.

Although the serum did smell amazing, those with sensitive skin might see the added fragrance as a downfall, but as a high-quality skin care formulation, I would definitely recommend it. I found that it was easily absorbed and didn't leave a greasy finish on the skin.

Super Aqua-Serum does have anti-ageing properties, I was told this particular product was good for skin just starting to show signs of ageing, and so it would be good for my skin to delay any further fine lines and promote 'anti-wrinkle hydration'. If I was to buy this product, I would definitely want it for the hydrating properties, and not so much the anti-ageing benefits, but every little helps.

Have you tried any skin care from Guerlain? Let me know what you think below!

Pay day = pretty things

There comes a time when a girl has to step out of the blogosphere and explore the big wide world of beauty counters. Yep, pay day has arrived, and I couldn't wait to share my new things with you. I am also waiting for some other products to be delivered, so watch out for those throughout the week.

The first stop on my list was Debenhams' beauty hall. I had a quick look around and debated going to the Chanel, Dior and Clinique counters, but that all changed when I fixed my eyes on Guerlain's display and saw the new Meteorites Perles. I must confess, I had never tried products from this brand before, but being a lover of all things beautiful, I love trying what's new, and so made my way over to the advisor and had my entire face made over.

Purchase number one at Guerlain was the new Maxi Lash Mascara (£22), which focuses on creating volume and curls. I loved the gold packaging and the length of the brush. Each application works wonders to brighten the eyes and lovely curls can be seen on the top and bottom lashes. Will see how I get on with this one and report back!

Of course, I couldn't just buy one thing. Everyone who has been following my blog knows I have been on the hunt for a new foundation. Well, let me tell you, it was love at first sight when I tried Parure de Lumiere Cream Foundation (£38.50 for 30ml) in 02 Beige Claire. I loved that it was made for extra comfort. Originally, I thought the fluid version would be better, as it promised more coverage - however, on my skin, it looked too thin and dry for me. I just LOVE this foundation.

My next stop was Boots, where I rushed over to grab the new Rimmel London Apocalips (£5.99 for 5 ml). I just love colour of the Apocoliptic one. It reminds me of the height of spring and it would be amazing to have matching nails and blush with this. I just had to have one!

My final purchase was an unexpected one, as I bought it after having a biosculpture gel manicure at my local beauty salon Utopia. After my manicure, the therapist used OPI's Avojuice Skin Quencher in Ginger Lily to massage and moisturise my hands, and I just loved the smell and feel of it, so bought one in Cran & Berry to take home with me. I would definitely recommend this gorgeous hand cream for anyone who loves fruity fragrances. You can get the Ginger Lily one at Lena White for a reduced price of £7 here.

So that's it for now, but I have plenty of new bits coming this week, along with reviews of some new samples I will be getting, so watch this space!

Etsy: homemade beauty heaven

I've always admired Etsy for its quirky jewellery ranges and gifts, but I have never taken the time to look at its beauty offerings - until now. As soon as I browsed the beauty section, the inevitable happened; I clicked favourite on almost everything I saw, including products that I would never usually consider (like blue and green lipsticks?!).

Quite frankly, the things I found were just too amazing to keep to myself, and so I couldn't wait to do my next blog post and share them with you. So here's my top 10 favourite products so far. Let me know if you make any impromptu purchases - I probably will (on pay day of course!).

1/Rose Wood Make-Up Brushes, £19.44, MICUSTOMCRAFTS

I love a good make-up brush, so I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this gorgeous honduran rose wood pairing. They are a little pricy, but any good make-up brush will always be a bit more expensive than you would expect, and these two just ooze high quality and class.

Buy them here (includes shipping).

2/True Green Eyeshadow Natural Mineral Make-Up, £3.24, Lovemyskincosmetics

Hazel eyes love green eyeshadows, especially those that are jade in tone, so I know this colour would be great for me. I already have a MAC pencil eyeliner in this foresty shade, but it would be good to alternate with the eyeshadow and possibly add a thin line of black liquid eyeliner to make my lashes pop. Great price for a natural product.

Buy it here

3/Hair Chalk (Temporary Colour Pastels), £2.59, Sharee Boutique 

I just love the rainbow tips hair trend that is around at the moment. Although I have brown hair, i think it makes blonde hair look fab and love the look, so I had to share it with you! If anyone know how these colours can look good on dark hair, I am all for a learning curve! Good price for a multi-use product and easy to wash out for those looking for a quick style fix! 

Buy it here.

4/Medusa Opaque Matte Lipstick, £4.53, Impulse Cosmetics

The first thing that struck me with this product is the finish of the colour and how good the matte effect was. I also loved that it was called Medusa as I thought it could bring out the siren in everyone. Very good price and the shop owner claims it is creamy and moisturising, which it would definitely need to be to maintain a matte effect. I reckon it's worth a try, or two! 

Buy it here.

5/Indigo Blue Liquid Eyeliner, £5.51, MilkFancy

I've never tried a gel eyeliner before but I love the idea of choosing different colours to suit my mood and having the freedom to be a bit more creative. Having dark hair and hazel eyes, I can get away with using strong colours on my eyes and lips (not at the same time though, obv), and so this shade of blue is totally perfect. 

Buy it here.

6/Make-Up Bag in Ecru and Black Natural Coloured Weave, £16, Olganna

It took me a while to find this make-up bag as I had to skip through all the floral, black and bright-coloured ones, but then I came across this beautiful and practical everyday nude bag and I really love it. There are plenty of pockets for brushes and products and the price indicates it is made with quality fabrics. I definitely want this. 

Buy it here

7/Cinnamon Bun Sugar Scrub, £6.80, SunKidGifts

Don't worry, you did read that right - CINNAMON BUN BODY SCRUB. I can smell and taste it already. Looks like brown sugar - I want it bad! 

Buy it here

8/Mini Dragonfly Glitter Nail Polish, £1.90, HitPolish

Completely love the mermaid look that is trending at the moment and using this nail polish is a quick way to join the party. Either lay a coat on top of a block colour or layer it for the ultimate deep blue sea experience. Fab price and worth a try. 

Buy it here

9/Coconut Cabana Whipped Sugar Scrub, £6.48, BungalowBathBody

This is summer all over and would be perfect to take away on holiday. It looks like pina colada ice cream and I bet it smells fantastic. I love a good sugar scrub. 

Buy it here

10/Moroccan Red Clay Facial Beauty Mask, £11.66, The Soap Opera Soaps

There's something about clay that will always woo beauty lovers. This product would be perfect for a home spa day and it packs an extra punch with the argan oil included. I'm really intrigued by this one - try it! 

Buy it here

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Once Upon A Bathtime: Big Blue Bomb, Lush

I have an unhealthy confession to make to you all - I love salt. I love it on my chips and I love salted caramel hot chocolates, but most importantly I adore sea salt-based beauty products, so I just had to use Lush's Big Blue bath bomb for my next Once Upon A Bathtime post (see my previous review of The Enchanter).

Just one glimpse inside the packaging reminded me why I was so drawn to it in the first place - the blue and white shades reminded me of the sea and it smelt so good. The fact that it has lavender and lemon oils in it was a bonus - I love both of those ingredients. It also helped that the sales advisor gave it to me for free, as it was her favourite one. FREE + BATHILICIOUS - what could be better?!

All things blue and beautiful was the theme of my bathtime experience, and so I made good use of two other Lush faves - Ocean Salt (facial scrub) and Rub Rub Rub (shower scrub). I had immersed myself in a room that even mermaids would be proud of!

The Big Blue instantly transformed the water into my very own clear blue ocean. I thought of the people who had been jetting off to tropical islands this winter and smiled, thinking 'take that, bitches, I've made my own holiday experience for less than £5, in the comfort of my own home'. It was a temporary antidote to my major envy.

Looks like a postcard, right?

And my love affair with all things royal and cobalt didn't stop after my bath - I carried on the party for one by lighting my all-time favourite candle - Lily-Flame Silent Night. Needless to say, I slept well.

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