Etude House Happy Ending Collection

A Disney Princess collection from Etude House? It's like someone answered my makeup prayers. When I stumbled across the collection on eBay I ordered faster than you can say "Disney." I liked the look of the Belle inspired colours the most so I primarily went with them. I have ordered one of the Cinderella eyeshadows since, though...

Within the Belle range there are two blushers, two nail varnishes, some nail stickers and a lipstick. I ordered everything except for one of the blushers, which didn't appear to be available in the eBay shop I buy from. 

I'll start with the blusher, Pink Rose. The packaging, as expected from Etude House, is beautiful. The outer box is shaped like a book, and the product itself is pink with gold detailing. It's a pretty pale pink, best suited for lighter complexions as it takes a few sweeps to build up the colour. Once on it creates a healthy looking glow with no patchiness and avoids looking cakey.

The nail varnishes in the collection are surprisingly impressive. The purple applies evenly and pretty much opaque in one coat. I love how it corresponds with the Purple Rose lipstick. The second is a peachy pink with gold shimmer running through, While this one takes a few coats to fully cover the nail, it looks lovely on. I don't have anything like it! Both dry very quickly so they're fuss free.

The lipstick in Purple Rose is my favourite. It's bold and stands out without looking garish, and it's really flattering. The formula is amongst the best I've ever tried; it's creamy and glides on as effortlessly as a lip balm, but retains the pigmentation of a full coverage lipstick. It's not drying on the lips and stays put for a good 4 hours or so, wearing off after eating or drinking and leaving behind a stain.

All products from the Happy Ending collection are affordable at around £6-7 each, with the BB creams priced at around £10. You can find them here.

Side note: When browsing through the products on this particular eBay store I've noticed that the Apple Red lipstick is priced at £58.51. I'm certain that this is a pricing error however just be careful when ordering! I've never had any problems with this seller in the past year and a half.

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Disney Couture Jewellery

I've wanted to own something from the Disney Couture jewellery range for a while now, but for some reason never got around to actually buying something. So when a new collection caught my eye on Truffle Shuffle last week I had to order a couple of pieces.

The one thing I knew I wanted was the "Have faith in your dreams" bangle. I opted for the platinum plated one as the rest of my jewellery is either silver or white gold, and it looks so pretty on. I had noticed that the reviews for these bangles mentioned that they come up rather small, but I actually have pretty tiny wrists so it wears a bit bigger on me.

I also decided to purchase the Simba Outline ring. I wasn't 100% sure on this when I'd ordered but now that I actually have it in hand I love it. I ordered the medium because it was the same size as my engagement ring, but it does come up slightly smaller, which is worth noting. 

I'm really impressed by both pieces, the quality is great and they feature just the right amount of Disney without looking tacky. I'm already eyeing up this Peter Pan inspired bangle! If you're looking for delicate, Disney inspired jewellery I'd recommend browsing Truffle Shuffle and Zentosa to see if anything takes your fancy.

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Disney Inspired | Pocahontas Makeup

Today's Disney look is inspired by Pocahontas. My aim was to incorporate the general colours of Pocahontas' dress alongside her necklace while remaining pretty neutral and wearable, and I think I've managed it quite well.

Products Used

NYX HD Studio Eye Primer. Lily Lolo Mineral Eyeshadow in Sand Dune all over the lid. Lily Lolo Mineral Eyeshadow in Cosmopolitan in the crease and blended out. Sephora eyeshadow in Wanderin' Free patted onto centre of lid. Sephora eyeshadow in Blue Lagoon across the lower lashline. MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack. Vintage Cosmetic Company Gracie Lashes*.

I tried out a few new products for the first time when creating this look. Firstly, the Lily Lolo Mineral Eyeshadows. I decided to go for the original loose version as my only eyeshadows are pressed or cream, and while they're a little bit fussy to use you only need a small amount to achieve great pigmentation. I was also sent the Gracie Lashes from The Vintage Cosmetic Company to try. I'll have to admit to being a bit of a noob when it comes to false eyelashes, but I really want to get along with them and the only way to help my application is to practice!

What do you think of this look?

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Disney Inspired | Elsa Makeup

I have been obsessed with Frozen ever since I saw the movie way back in the beginning of December. I know the soundtrack by heart, and I just love everything about it. I wish I looked like Elsa, but alas I don't. So to compromise I had a bit of a play with my makeup stash and came up with an Elsa inspired look. I'm really happy with how it turned out, it wasn't as over the top as I thought it would be and it's actually pretty wearable!

Products Used

Urban Decay eyeshadow in Guilt all over the lid (from the Eye Arsenal set). Sephora eyeshadow in Ursula through the crease and lower lash line. Sephora eyeshadow in Sha La La in the crease and outer corner (both from the Ariel Storylook palette). Chella highlighting pencil on the waterline. Bourjois Liner Feutre. Clinique High Impact Mascara. MAC Captive on the lips, topped with NYX Butter Gloss in Strawberry Parfait. Bobbi Brown Powder Blusher in Nectar on the cheeks.

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Disney Inspired | Yzma Makeup

The other day I had a sudden urge to want to create a Disney inspired makeup look. I absolutely love reading posts about them and the first character that popped to mind was Yzma, from the Emperor's New Groove.

Yzma's a very underrated villain in my opinion. She's evil, humorous and entertaining, and I love playing with purple eyeshadow. I really enjoyed creating this and I'm tempted to come up with some more Disney inspired looks in future!

Products Used:-

• NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
• NARS Eyeshadow in Lhasa
• NARS Eyeshadow in Tokyo
• Sephora Eyeshadow in Ursula (from the Ariel Storylook palette)
• Collection Glam Crystals Eye Liner in Shade 11
• Katy Perry for Eyelure Ka-Pow Lashes
• Bourjois Liner Feutre

This is my first "proper" post dedicated to an actual make up look, what do you think?

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Disney for Sephora | Ariel Set the Mood Compact Mirror

Say hello to one of the prettiest things I own. Honestly, I have never been so excited about a delivery in my life! But I'm sure all you Disney lovers can relate. I missed out on the first two mirrors from Sephora's collaboration with Disney, and they're now selling for an arm and a leg, so I was more than pleased that I was able to snap this one up.

I wasn't too thrilled about the design of this collection when the previews were released, I initially thought they were a bit "blah" and lacklustre when they could have done so much for Ariel. But, when the reviews started popping up I changed my mind.

The details, not only on the mirror but on the box too, are beautiful, showcasing different oceanic elements such as waves, shells, seaweed and the like. In the centre of the mirror is the famous "Kiss the Girl" scene from the movie, showing Ariel and Eric in the boat surrounded by little fish and birds. It also has a raised outer casing detailing waves, fitting in with the underwater theming perfectly.

There are two mirrors, one a regular mirror and the other a 2x zoom mirror. The quote "You've got to be you" written on the box is also featured on one of the mirrors. Some people have issues with this quote, but I like it. It may be sad that I know this, but there's actually a song named "You've Got to Be You" from The Little Mermaid TV series, so maybe that's where they got the idea?

While there's no denying it's a beautiful mirror, I would feel conscious about taking it out and about with me as I have the habit of breaking things in my bag, and it has a bit of heftiness to it. But it gets a lot of use at home, so I'm not complaining! If you're in the UK, you may want to check out Roses Beauty Store regularly to see if these come into stock. If not, I've seen a few (what I'd consider) decent prices floating about on eBay for around £30!

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The Disney Tag

I don't normally participate in tags, but I spotted this on Cocktails in Teacups earlier today and me being the Disney fanatic that I am (to say the least) I thought I'd take part myself. I've been into all things Disney for as long as I can remember, and despite a few people thinking that it's sad or childish I can't get enough of it. 

1) A scene in in any Disney movie you wish you could experience.

The first thing that sprang to mind was the boat & lantern scene from Tangled. It's so beautifully composed and romantic and I can't even put into words how much I love it. The Fairy Godmother scene in Cinderella would be amazing to experience too, and being a mermaid was something I always wanted when I was a kid!

2) An unforgettable experience moment you've had at the Parks. 

So far I've only been to Disneyland Paris (albeit 5 times and twice last year) but I have loads of memories from them. I remember being picked out to join the dancers in the parade when I was around 5 years old and although I was the shyest kid around I absolutely loved it. Seeing Disney Dreams for the first time was entirely overwhelming too, it genuinely made me cry. There's nothing I can say that can describe how amazing it is, really. Oh and the Tarzan Encounter when it first started!

3) What non-Disney song(s) reminds you or brings back memories of Disney and/or the Parks?

I'm not sure about non-Disney, but Magic Everywhere from Disney Magic on Parade reminds me of my two trips in 2012. 

4) When was the first time you went to a Disney Park?

I would have to double check with my Grandma on this one but I think I was around 5/6 years old. I remember getting so scared of the "Honey I Shrunk the Audience" 3D film I came out crying and stole my little sisters buggy for the day!

5) If you could choose any of the characters to be your best friend, who would you choose?

I'm a big fan of the Genie. Robin Williams is a comedic genius and that's probably part of the reason but he's such an entertaining character.

6. Who are your favourite Disney princesses?

Belle and Rapunzel. I also think Tiana from the Princess and the Frog is very underrated - in fact I think the entire movie is. Belle was my favourite princess growing up and I have serious hair envy when it comes to Rapunzel. I love Tiana's headstrong nature too.

7. Name a scene/moment in a Disney movie that never fails to make you cry.

I'm not sure where to start with this one! Mufasa's death? "Love Will Find a Way" from the Lion King 2? The beginning of up? Maybe a better question would be "What Disney movie never makes you cry?"

8. What is the first Disney movie you remember seeing?

I'm not 100% on which Disney movie I first remember seeing, but I do remember going to my Grandma's from the doctors when I was little and my Mam had bought me The Lion King to cheer me up.

9. What is your favourite Disney movie?

I don't have any one particular favourite but I never grow tired of Ratatouille, Aladdin, The Lion King 2, Tangled... this list could get pretty damn long actually so I'll leave it at that.

10. Share a video or image that shows your love of Disney.

Me and Emile at Easter last year. Was so happy that I spotted him, and despite some pushy people trying to shove me out the way I was beckoned back over for a picture.

I tag anyone that loves Disney! If you do write this up please leave me your links as I'd love to read them!

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Essence Oz The Great and Powerful Collection

Back in March when I was in Prague I started a witch hunt for the Oz the Great and Powerful collection from German brand Essence. There are drugstores dotted around all over the place there, but I must have been to around 7 or 8 individuals before I located one selling this collection. Being the Disney lover that I am, I wasn't going to stop until I succeeded. I picked up the following:

Colour Changing Lip Balm in "Master of Magic"

This is my favourite practical product from the collection. It looks intimidatingly bright in the bullet but it's actually a really pretty natural pink, slightly more muted than the Tony Moly Gloss Bar in Juicy Apple. It feels quite glossy on the lips and doesn't last hours but it's great for on-the-go topups.

Eyeshadow in "Kindness"

This was the big under-performer for me. I thought it really lacked pigmentation and I it applied patchy on my lids. I gave this to my sister because I didn't like it at all, but the colour seems to really pop on her. I must have been doing something wrong! It leans more towards blue in this photo but is more of a teal shade in person.

Cream Blush in "Beware the Wicked Witch"

This is another product from the collection that I haven't quite made my mind up about. It's a brilliant coral in the tube and is very pigmented before blending, but it's quite sheer and I you have to work a bit with it to get the result you want. I'm not too big a fan of the shimmer involved, but I'll have to give it a few more test runs before forming my opinion fully.

Highlighter Powder in "The Great and Powderful"

Lastly is what I believe to be the more aesthetically pleasing of the bunch. When I think "highlighter" my mind often connects it with the word "shimmer" and it really puts me off. However this is more of an allover face powder that gives the face a natural glow as opposed to the dreaded disco ball look. It's slightly on the chalky side, but it doesn't translate on the skin. I've only used it a few times because the embossment seems to be wearing off quite quickly, which is a shame.

What I love most about the collection is the price - I'm pretty sure I've chucked away my receipt but if my mind serves me correctly all four products came to just under £10. If you're in an area where you can shop for Essence products, the highlighter and lip balm are a must-try!

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Disney & Sephora :: Cinderella Midnight Hour Eyeshadow Quad

Sephora Cinderella Midnight Hour Eyeshadow Quad - £34.99

To say I was excited when Marvelle sent over a link for Rose's Beauty Store is an understatement. When the Disney x Sephora collaboration was announced I'm pretty sure I was wallowing in self-pity cursing England and it's lack of availability for American cosmetics. Rose's Beauty Store contains a whole plethora of products that are not readily available over here (did I mention you can buy Tarte blushers?) and I knew immediately that the Cinderella Midnight Hour quad just had to be in my possession. No exceptions.

I have a whole bunch of cosmetics that are packaged real nicely but this is special. Although plastic, it looks luxurious with a ton of gold detailing and princessy decoration and is obviously themed around Cinderella, more importantly on the famous "clock strikes midnight" scene.  

The eyeshadows in the quad aren't named individually which is a bit of a shame, but it contains all you need for a smokey eye. There's an intensely pigmented brilliant white with shimmer which is perfect for the inner corner or brow bone if desired, a pinky-peach similar to MAC's famous All That Glitters eyeshadow that I have been sporting most days for work, a pearl-grey with blue undertones and a deep charcoal with grey-blue shimmer. I can't really fault the formula, they're nicely pigmented, easily blended and there's no fallout. 

Disney cosmetics can often look a bit cheap and aimed at younger audiences however I think they've got everything spot on with this - it feels girly and elegant. The Jasmine collection is equally as beautiful and I hope they plan on doing more! Will you be picking anything up from the collection?

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Guess Where I'm Going?

So, if you don't follow me on Twitter/know me all that well, you probably won't know that I'm a huge Disney nut. I have been for as long as I can remember. In fact, my birth present from my Grandma back in November 1992 was a Mickey Mouse soft toy she'd asked her friend to bring back from America, and it's still one of my most prized possessions.

My grandparents took me and my sister to Disneyland Paris 3 times when we were younger - something I still have very vivid memories of, despite my age. And, back in April I visited for the first time in almost 10 years with my boyfriend, Lewis.  I still loved every second of it. We went via coach and ferry, which, coming from Northumberland, is a hell of a long journey, but it was worth every second. I'd think that no matter how many times you go, you'd still be astounded by the feeling of first walking into the park. 

Since I came back, all I've done is harp on about how much I want to go again. I'd love to go to Orlando and do the whole shebang, but it adds up to be pretty expensive, and I've never flown before. I'm not so much scared of flying than I am creeped out by it. I don't know why - fear of the unknown? 

But, when an email landed in my inbox last week from Voyage Prive, advertising 50% off packages to Disneyland Paris, I just had to book. Cue asking my boyfriend hundreds of times, and we booked it on Friday. Voyage Prive's deal is only available until this Thursday, so a sense of urgency hit me.

We ended up booking a pretty fantastic package - our coach trip in April cost £279pp, for 3 nights 4 days (including travel to and from) whereas this time we've got flights to and from Paris, 3 nights B&B in the Sequoia Lodge in Disney and a 4 day park ticket for £350pp. Bargain if you ask me. 

Another reason why I desperately wanted to go back this year was because of Disney Dreams. It is such an amazing firework/lights/water show and the videos on YouTube just don't do it justice in the slightest. I'm so glad I'm going back, I can't wait! We fly on September 16th! 

P.S - I'm also away to the Harry Potter Studios in London next month, how lucky am I?!

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