Be part of it! | we need YOU to reVIEW!

Be part of it! | we need YOU to reVIEW!

Bee part of it! Is a blogger which allows you to become a contributor and to become part of the bigger picture. If you want to get your reviews out there with everybody else, if you want people to read your opinion on why they SHOULD or SHOULDN'T buy something, then send an email to beepartofit@gmail.com NOW!!

It has only just begun, but it needs your help. When you send the email, you'll be added onto the contributor list, for the duration which you want, and you can post reviews when you want. You'll recieve a 'how to' word document, which details on how to make it appear in the labels and you can put as much pictures of the item your reviewing in the post too.

Review anything!!

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BEAUTY | Topshop Makeup A/W 11 Collection: Smoke and Mirrors

BEAUTY | Topshop Makeup A/W 11 Collection: Smoke and Mirrors

'Get set to channel the high glamour of the 1970's'

Topshop's A/W 11 Collection is here! Titled 'Smoke and Mirrors' It's clearly embracing the colder, darker side of autumn and winter, with Smokey browns and greys, and kohl rimmed eyes, this collection epitomises everything there is traditional about winter make up.

Two key parts of this make up collection are strangely missing of parts of either the promo's or the main selection are the nail varnishes - one in baby pink (prim and proper) and the other in a dark brown (bourbon) and also both lipsticks in a neutral pink, and darker brown, which can be seen in the larger picture above.

Just from these four pieces, you can see it's going for a very neutral theme, and polished look this autumn and winter, especially with the duo bronzer, so you can still keep some of that summer glow, but with a healthy, English rose flush. (Not forgetting the glow from the shimmery highlighter).

2 other highlights of this collection are the duo liners, one kohl and one lip liner, both in standard traditional shades of dark eyes and nude lips, and the other a four eye shadow quad with two mattes, black and a highlighting shimmery shade. Packaging is in a very reminisce of Bobbi Brown's Tortoiseshell collection recently with its polished brown look.

Overall, this collection looks fab if you want to venture into Smokey eye, new to make up, or want to stock up on some old favourites, but not so great if you’re looking for a different take on A/W.

DIY | Rose Quartz

DIY | Rose Quartz

Did I say back to beading? Yes! Of course I did. A few weeks ago I was explaining how hobbies can sometimes get lost in the course of everyday life, and one of mine which did was beading. A few days ago I ordered a small supply of beads, and some which caught my eye were these beautiful Rose Quartz Semi-Precious beads, which are said to promote love and happiness. Well, what perfect beads to make a bracelet adorned with the Trinity Brass 'Love' Affirmation charm, it's simple, and beautiful.

The High-res shots show the detail on the rose quartz, each one differs from the next but still retains the clowdy, misty pink which makes them unique.

Among other beads, I ordered some natural brown/yellow agate semi-precious beads, and not only are these also stunning, but have natural incursions and colours, whilst happening to be by own birthstone.

In the previous DIY post, the last photo was a Japanese seed bead bracelet with fimo flowers, these are a joy to work with, so I ordered some natural brown rose beads in the same design, as well as some glass beads and some crimps. This small order is enough to make plenty!!

What do you think of the Rose Quartz Bracelet? Have you re-started a hobby recentley? (or wish you did)

BEAUTY | Coral Love

BEAUTY | Coral Love

Corals aren’t just for summer. They’re no denying that coral looks fab with a tan, but coral looks beautiful against all skin tones however light or dark you are. It is one of the few versitile colours which can be worn all year round, and by anybody.

There are a few shades of coral to take note of. The best type of coral for a low key, or if your shy of wearing bright colours to start with, is a creamy light coral, such as MAC Ever hip or Jazzed, or if you didn’t get your hands on them, MAC Ravishing or MAC Sheen Supreme in Gotta Dash! Is a good enough dupe.

The brighter shades just pack a bit more punch, and look fab with black winged out liner or even just a few coats of mascara. Try MAC Virgin Isle cream colour base, (fab for adding a cute coral pinch to your cheeks as well!), MAC Vegas Volt or Rimmel Coral in Gold.

Cream colour bases such as virgin isle (top right) are great, however cream products tend to collect hair, which you can see well enough in my picture. So powders are a good alternative choice if creams arn't for you due to sanatary reasons, or they can break some people out because of their emolient bases. MAC Ripe peach, is a great gradient blush, with lovely peach on side and soft coral another. Estee Lauder and some other brands do great dupes of this if you didn't manage to pick this up.

Do you wear corals? If not, is this a colour you'd consider trying?

[credits: myself for all above photos. Top left: Rimmel lipstick in Coral in Gold Top right: MAC Cream Colour Base in Virgin Isle Bottom: MAC Ripe Peach Blush Ombre]

DIY | Back to Beading

DIY | Back to Beading

This is what I've missed, designing and putting it all together. I don't really design to be honest; I just look to see what I've got, buy a few pieces of beading websites and get stuck in. It’s much easier when you see the beads in person, as the sizes can be very deceiving on the internet in white back-dropped photos, what may look huge actually is tiny and would look ridiculous for the piece you had in mind.

What started to inspire me was the steampunk trend. It’s more of a micro-trend which has been quite constant and never gone out of fashion, well perhaps in mainstream fashion and highstreet, but always there in accessories. The old feel, the mechanical feel, but with a bit of a fairyland twist, and some sparkling swarovski beads would look fantastic.

Steampunk is very economical as well; a major part is using old things in your house or your jewellery box, even broken pieces such as taking jump rings or pendants off otherwise unusable designs. Thus economical for the planet but also your pocket!. I really like that about this trend, and it looks quite cool. The picture with the dragonfly coming out the remnants of an old watch just looks great and so unique. Its quite rare to find handmade steampunk items exactly the same, which could be why it never really lasted in the mainstream trend, as to do so would be quite costly, with the whole point is using bits and bobs, new and old.

A task of mine in this month is so start again and make some gifts.

What have you missed lately?

[credits: Topleft: etsy Topright: Google search and Bottom Myself]

BEAUTY | Dermalogica Medi-bac Oil Control Lotion review

BEAUTY | Dermalogica Medi-bac Oil Control Lotion review

The second in the dermalogica series of reviews is the Medi-bac Oil Control Lotion. Medi-bac is a specialist skincare route in dermalogica, designed for adult-acne prone skin, it aims to reduce the blemishes and helps to prevent them from coming back.

The Oil Control lotion is a moisturiser which is designed to not only combat adult acne, but to help mattify the skin, so this would be a great moisturiser if you’re prone to oily skin. In my kit, I received the Active Moist moisturiser, and whilst I could have got the kit for just Oily skin, I was worried as I have very dry cheeks this wouldn't provide enough moisture for my skin, so I opted for the Normal/Oily.

I got approx 4-5 samples of Oil Control lotion, as Beauty Flash was having a promotion to choose which samples you get to try at the time of purchase. I was right, this moisturiser for me, would not be enough moisture if I wanted to put on any foundation or make up afterwards. I do notice however that my skin is matte afterwards and my breakouts have reduced. I'll have to say overall, my breakouts have reduced by using the overall routine from Dermalogica, and cannot pinpoint one specific product; however I would purchase them all!

In the swatch above, you can clearly see the lotion isn't thick, it's really runny, but you only need a tiny bit to help mattify my skin. I feel you can't really layer this moisturiser to obtain more moisture, or you may run the risk of clogging pores.

This product gets 4 stars, ****
My decision was that this was not enough moisture for my own skin, but it did a brilliant job of moisturising when I didn't want to put anything on top, but also mattified my skin very well, whilst contributing to clearing my skin of breakouts.

I can imagine this would be great for oily skin, or those prone to breakouts.

59ml for £23.99 or buy it in the skincare pack where you get 22ml and cleanser/toner/exfoilator/lip balm for £19.99 from beautyflash.co.uk.


Do you have problem skin? What do you use to help?

BEAUTY | An introduction to dermalogica

BEAUTY | An introduction to dermalogica

Introducing....
Dermalogica are a worldwide skincare brand which is most associated with beauty therapists and specialists in beauty salons. This was indeed where I first came across them, and naturally think they are over budget, expensive and way out of my league in skincare which I can use at home. not true. Dermalogica are a mid-priced brand, with some products, namely specialist products reaching a little higher, however having spent £40+ on a Chanel moisturiser which did nothing for my skin, this brand is well on budget.



The main aim of Dermalogica is to address skin concerns through educating users, which is why they do take such a presence in beauty salons, because trained beauty therapists use skin mapping to see how each area of your skin behaves and to prescribe the necessary treatment. See below at the excerpt which was taken from their website;

When Dermalogica meets skin, skin health is redefined. Dermalogica is the number one choice of skin care professionals and consumers worldwide. Why? Because for over 25 years, we’ve been dedicated to delivering skin health results through education, innovation, and professional recommendation, not through advertising, frilly packaging, promises of miracle cures, or overblown hype.

I hope that has given you a brief insight into Dermalogica, and what they aim to do through skincare. In the UK I found it very hard to find a trusting site where I can buy Dermalogica products, however Beauty Flash are a registered Dermalogica supplier and this is where I bought my Normal/Oily skincare kit for £18.45 including delivery, as well as having lots of promotions on popular products, such as Active Moist 100ml moisturiser this week.

I received many products from this range, in the Kit which I bought there was;

• Special Cleansing Gel
• Skin Prep Scrub
• Active Moist
• Multi-active toner
• Climate control lip treatment
• Precleanse [sample]
• Skin clearing masque [sample]

and then Beauty Flash had a promotion of being able to choose 2 samples of the whole range to try, which I chose

• Medi-bac Oil control lotion
• Medi-bac Overnight clearing gel

That’s a total of nine products I get to try, NINE for under £20. Yes the kit which I got contained smaller sizes, but quite frankly are going to last me well over a month, possibly two, which is a total bargain, especially seeing as I get to see how this brand and their products react to my skin, as all skin is different. (Including yours and mine).

Because there are so many products, I've split up the range and included 2-3 products in each review, so it’s a bit like a Dermalogica special. There is a very small amount of reviews of these products online, so I hope they prove helpful.

This review is consisting of Special Cleansing Gel and Multi-Active Toner.



The Cleanser....
The special cleansing gel which I received in my pack was a 50ml sized with a push top lid and a very small opening, which is good as I can control how much I need to use, which isn't a lot at all.

It has a semi-thick consistency, but can still quite fluid, in regards to it has some slip. Wet your face slightly, rub the gel between your hands to create a semi-later and then wash your face and rinse. It feels like it really gets dirt off and isn't dry or tight after.



Above is the kit I recieved, with the special cleansing gel on the far left, and the Multi-Active toner on the right.



The Toner...
The Multi-active toner smells nice, doesn't irritate my eyes, and helps the lay down of my moisturiser. I got a 50ml bottle which is a handy travel size for purses and can be used as a refreshing spritz on a hot day or when your skin needs some moisture. I generally use this in the routine after my cleanser, before my moisturiser, it really helps my moisturiser sink in and absorb. Its a spray bottle with a small clear plastic lid, and the liquid is clear.


Overall....
Overall, these two products are great and score an A as having not broken me out at all and in fact, I'm getting hardly any blemishes or spots, and my skin is less dry and oily. Would repurchase the skincare kit and/or these full size bottles. On Beauty Flash, Special Cleansing Gel 50ml retails at £8.45, and £18.90 for a 250ml bottle and £33.55 for a 500ml bottle. The Multi-active toner retails (also on beauty flash) at £8.99 for 50ml, and £19.99 for 250ml. I think it's great they are available in the mini sizes which should least at least a month using them daily, to give them a go and see how they react to your skin.

[note;The offical images 1-4 and 7 are shots from Dermalogica's Source; [offical website]