4 November 2014

Wishlist | Winter Coat - Topshop Edition




Autumn is here, but I'm already thinking of winter. I'm in desperate need of a Jacket or Coat that I could wear during those days whee the weather can't decide whether to rain or not. So I really need one with a hood to block out the rain and the wind. British weather, why are you so frustrating. Here are my favourite three jackets/coats that I've had my eye on. Have you had your eyes on any Jackets this Autumn/Winter? Are you a hood, collar or even collarless person?

Have you had your eyes on any Jackets this Autumn/Winter? Are you a hood, collar or even collarless person?

- kristalovesx -

25 October 2014

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water | Late but New Discovery


I know that I'm very late for discovering this little beauty, but I always try to find a bargain first. The Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water was on offer in Tesco, so I thought might as well see what all the fuss is about.

I don't think I will find something better than this. I'm kinda grateful I haven't tried the Bioderma before using the Garnier one. Some bloggers that i've read prefer the Bioderma, but I don't have enough money for that.

With a slightly drenched cotton pad with the Micellar Water would be enough to take off both my eye makeup and waterproof mascara. I don't scrub my eyes off with it, just a gentle wipe would get any heavy duty makeup off.

It's currently cheaper in Superdrug, (pssst, if you're a A Level or University student you can get an extra 10% off if you show your NUS extra card)


- kristalovesx -

27 September 2014

Real Techniques Core Collection


I finally got my hands on the Real Techniques Core Collection. I mainly wanted this for the Buffing Brush and the Contour Brush, but don't worry I wont neglect the other brushes. At the moment I am using the Expert Face Brush for my Foundation/BB Cream, but I needed a brush with a flatter top.

This is a great starter kit for any newbies entering the make up world.
The Buffing brush can be used for your base - (Foundation, BB Cream, CC Cream)
The Contour can be used for either contouring, highlighting or highlighting under the eyes
The Pointed Foundation Brush can fit perfectly under the eyes to apply concealer
The Detailer brush can be used to conceal spots or can even be used to apply lipstick.

Quick tip, buy the Core Collection or any Real Technique brushes from Amazon. Forget your student discount at Superdrug or the buy 1 get second half price at Boots. Go to Amazon, they sell the same thing but for much cheaper. I got £8.00 off the Core Collection. I have no regrets. Just means I can save my money or buy more brushes ;)


- kristalovesx -

27 August 2014

Wash those dirty Makeup Brushes


Time to wash those makeup brushes. If you don't then some problems may happen

- It could be the main problem for break outs on your face.
- The colour pay-off of eyeshadows, blushes and foundation may not come out as nice as it would if the brush was on the cleaner side.
- Bacteria can transfer from makeup to brush to face, it's better to wash away and start afresh.
You don't have to necessary wash your brushes after every single use but you can spot clean, which means you can use your makeup wipes and just swirl your brush onto that. You won't get a thorough clean like with the shampoo but it will eliminate most of the product in the brush.
Let me show you how I wash my brushes. I wash my brushes every two weeks as I find doing it every week it just a bore. I prefer to wash my brushes in the kitchen because there's more room.


I've tried using Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Baby Shampoo but I found it clogged my brushes. I just stick to my trusty Johnson's Baby Shampoo. It's gentle and does the job well, it smells nice too.


First I wet my brushes in lukewarm - warm water just to get the bristles wet and ready for the wash! Make sure you have the brushes face down so no water goes into the base of the brush.


I then put a blob of shampoo on the palm of my hand and swish the brush around until all the product has been taken out. It usually takes me two blobs of shampoo just to ensure that the brushes are clean.


To dry them I hang them upside down on the Real Technique cases or I put them on a flannel over the counter. This ensures all the water is dried up from bristles and doesn't travel down to the base of the brush as this can loosen up the glue.

I find that putting a reminder on my phone helps me know when I should wash my brushes. I always tend to forget. Have you guys used anything else to wash your brushes? Any recommendations?

- kristalovesx -

12 August 2014

Freeman Face Masks


Whenever I go to Mauritius I always like picking up my favourite brand for face masks which is the 'Freeman Beauty'. They have a lot of different types of face masks from brightening to hydrating. There are so many you just have to find the right one you want. I purchased 3 masks and I am in love. 

Charcoal and Black Sugar Facial Polishing Mask - Brilliant for deep cleaning and getting rid of any dry skin flakes. A scrub and mask, 2 in 1. The only way I can describe my skin after using this would be CLEAN. My skin did slightly feel tight after using this but it did make me feel like my skin was rid of all the pollution in the air. I think this mask would be best for oily skin and it removes oil straight away after on use.
Avocado and Oatmeal Facial Clay Mask - I bought this mainly because it said Avocado and Oatmeal. Avocado and Oatmeal are the best ingredients for dry to eczema prone skin. After using this mask your skin feels soft and hydrated.
Golden Grain Facial Brightening Mask - Due to my eczema prone skin I find my skin tends to lack brightness and a glow. Even after staying in the sun for a whole day my skin looked dark rather than having a nice glow to the skin. I found that after using this my skin definitely appeared clearer rather than glowly. If you hate face masks that crack like clay masks this is the mask for you.


^This is what the mask look like when applied when dried only the Avocado mask becomes dry and crackly.

For each mask I left them on for 10 minutes max. Any longer and my skin would not thank me after. To remove them I prefer using a face towel soaked in warm to hot water. Then I place the face towel on my face and gradually wipe away. Put on your daily face cream on and you should feel that your skin has gone softer.

I haven’t seen any Freeman Beauty product in Superdrug or Boots, but you can order any Freeman product from Amazon.

Freeman have a range of products from face mask to foot scrubs. You just need to know your skin type and browse away. I’m thinking of looking into their body lotions as my skin has dehydrated after being in the warm sun of Mauritius.

- kristalovesx -

9 August 2014

Treasure each moment ...


I have been away from England for about a month. I've been away. Far far away in the Island of Mauritius. My family and ancestors come from Mauritius so it was only fair to go visit my lovely family after 4 years. I had such a great time seeing my cousins, so many girls and all roughly my age. I think my relationship with my cousin have grown so much stronger. I can never forget them.

Those pictures above are from a trip to the beach only 30 mins away from where my family lives. It was hot, sunny basically a paradise away from grubby England. (Don't get me wrong I love England and it's weather)

Now that I'm back home it's made me think about how we should treasure our family, through thick and thin. I love them so much and it was so hard to say goodbye to them especially when you've built a bond with them.

Right. I'm back. I've unpacked, I've washed my clothes and sorted out my bedroom. Ready for some posts? They'll be out soon so keep an eye out for them. Follow me on Bloglovin' or Twitter for updates.

Hope you had a lovely holiday or if you're going on holiday have fun and treasure each moment. Take loads of photographs! Here's a little selfie on the beach for you ;)


- kristalovesx -

23 July 2014

My Statement Necklaces

Statement Necklaces are my accessory must have for summer. Whether I'm just wearing a casual tee and want to go out, I just put on my necklace and it instantly glams up a look. Here are my favourite necklaces at the moment. If I remember the prices I'll write them down for you.



Primark -  £5


Primark - £5


Forever 21 - £8.90


New Look - £6



Primark - £4 (but I got it on sale for £2)


Where do you guys get your necklaces from? I love Forever 21 but Primark is so much cheaper and you can buy more and more and more and never stop! 

- kristalovesx -

24 June 2014

Yummy Avocado Brownies

Recently I watched Tanya Burr’s Avocado Brownie Recipe and I had to make them like asap. But there were some ingredients that I couldn’t get hold of and I really wanted to try it. So I went on Google and found this magical recipe. I love how there’s no butter or flour. 


All you’re gonna need is:

8 ounces (226.8 grams) of melted dark or milk chocolate
2 well mashed avocados
4 eggs
3/4 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of cocoa powder
1/2 cup of grounded almond 
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
Once you got you’re ingredients it’s time to start making and baking.


Get your chocolate either milk or dark and melt it either in the microwave or over the stove. I prefer doing it on the stove. Once thats’s done allow it to cool down on the side.


In a mixing bowl, use an electronic mixer to whisk the eggs and sugar at a high speed. It should gradually double in size and become light in colour.


Add in the melted chocolate to the mix and whisk away.


I find that using a spatula to mix in the grounded almonds work the best. Add it in  bit by bit and add in the cocoa powder, salt and vanilla.


Once that’s all done add in the mashed avocado. Use the electrical whisk as that’s the easiest way to mash the avocado further.


Butter up your brownie baking pan and our in the batter. I got mine at Lakeland for £11.99
Bake the brownie at 170°c for about 20 - 25 minutes. Check that the top layer is firm before taking it out.
Once done, allow to cool and you can cut them up into rectangles. It’s optional but you can sprinkle some icing sugar onto to add a bit of decoration. Plus it looks yummier.


Hope you like your healthy brownies. I've made them twice now and they've always been eaten before I could get my hands on them. If anyone makes them I'd love to see! Happy baking!


- kristalovesx - 


20 June 2014

NOTW - Barry M's Gelly Polish in Lychee

Ahh nothing feels better than a bit of nude polish. High shine polish in Lychee. Perfect for a bit of class. I wanted to add a bit of sparkle, so I used some silver and gold glitter polish and added them to my ring fingers and thumbs.




- kristalovesx -

17 June 2014

The Makeup Timer TAG

I loved Lily Pebbles' new Blogger TAG. The Makeup Timer TAG. Just the perfect way to show you my Summer makeup and a TAG all in one. Here's what I usually do and the timings, I'll also include the products I used too.


Concealer - Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in the Shade Deep 35 = 3 minutes 14 seconds
Powder - MAC Studio Fix Powder in Shade NW35 = 34 seconds
Contour - Sleek Contour Kit in Shade Medium = 1 minute 24 seconds
Highlight - Sleek Contour Kit in Shade Medium = 40 seconds
Winged Liner - Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner in Black = 5 minutes 2 seconds
Mascara - L'Oreal Falsh Lash Flutter Mascara in Black = 2 minutes 2 seconds
Eyeliner - Barry M's Bold Waterproof Eyeliner in Black = 1 minute 4 seconds
Brows - A Spooly and a bit of Vo5 Hairspray = 14 seconds

Add them all up and we got ourselves 16 minutes and 10 seconds. This is my everyday look, lots of highlighter and winged liner! Try this yourself and see how long you really take.


- kristalovesx -

1 May 2014

Favourite Mascara of the Month - L'Oreal Paris False Lash Flutter

So instead of doing the usual monthly favourites, I decided to talk about just one product. It is the L'Oreal Paris False Lash Flutter. The amount of hype there was about the mascara was almost unbearable. I thought my trusty Volume Million Lashes (from L'Oreal too) was the other mascara in the world for me. But oh no no. I was wrong. It was on offer in Boots, so I thought I might as well try it and see what all the fuss was about, and now I see.


The mascara claims to extend the look of lashes towards the outer eye without clumps. It also claims to have Cacoon fibres which help to make the lashes look longer. The wand for this mascara is thicker one end and becomes tapered towards the end.


 I normally apply two coats of mascara just to build up volume and length. I find that this mascara work even better when you wear winged liner. This mascara definitely gives me longer lashes and definitely winged out. You just need to be careful with how you apply the mascara due to the wand. Use the wider part for the outer ends. So you do find yourself in an awkward position when it comes to the left eye. Use the rounded side of the wand for the bottom lashes as it catches every single hair.


Two coats are just enough for my lashes. Anymore and it will look spidery. Excuse the untamed brows.

- kristalovesx - 

25 April 2014

What I got for my 19th birthday

This post is up so late. I've just been busy with university things but let's forget that, onto the post! It was my birthday on the 31st of March and I got a few little pressies from my friends and families. I thought I should show you guys.


Nina Ricci L'Eau - A sweet light perfume. Perfect for the start for spring time. 
"A fresh, fruity and floral fragrance. The freshness of frosted neroli, with also the softness and femininity of apple blossom, the sensuality of gardenia, and full bodied white musk... The breeze of youth, bright, light and sensual."


Barry M’s Gelly Polish - This polish is in the shade Huckleberry, which is part of their new shades for the Gelly collection. A lovely pale blue which kinda reminds me of easter eggs.
Topshop’s  Nail Polish- Now this polish is a lovely off white shade, it almost has a tint of brown which gives it’s off white colour. It's called Exposed. Oooo sexyyy aha. I am almost surprised at the amazing quality of this polish. Two thin shades dried so quickly and was so opaque. Amazing.


MAC’s Diva - Oh my god. I’ve been waiting so long for this lipstick. I had saved up for this to buy at the end of the month, but my favourite person in the whole world surprised me with it as a present. I am in love with this lipstick, it’s a deep red brown toned lipstick. It has a matte finish and works well with my complexion. Can’t wait to wear this on nights out.


Real Techniques Duo Fibre Brushes - I love these so much. My old brushes were just a set from Costco I think, and when I washed them for the first time the hairs started to falling out. I was left with hair all over my face when I applied my powder or contour powder. So getting this for my birthday was very lucky. Muhaha. So happy with this, my favourite would have to be the powder brush, it glides onto my face very well and just makes applying powder a little bit special.

21 April 2014

ASOS Laptop Case

So I got a Macbook for my birthday and I really needed a case or a laptop bag for it. It is actually difficult to find a stylish or modern looking laptop case or bag. I started looking at retail stores because you can be surprised at what they offer. 


I came across ASOS and they had Laptop Cases. They were simple and modern even though it's supposed to be for a guy. I still bought it though. It was a good bargain, just £14! They also have another version were the straps are brown. But I prefer the whole case being one colour. My 15 inch Macbook fit's perfectly in the case with enough room to fit the charger too.




Looks good as a clutch too. Perfect for carrying around campus or just going to the library. Just need to find a bag to fit this in now ha. 


- kristalovesx -

11 April 2014

Don't you love magazine freebies? - May 2014


Sorry I haven’t been posting, been piled up with work for uni. Save me. Anyways let’s get back to the post. I haven’t done one of these freebie posts in ages. I saw InStyle on the shelves and I saw a little blue box covering the magazine and recognised that shade of blue. EYEKO.


This months issue comes with Eyeko’s Lash Curler. Ooo but not any Lash curler, no, it’s the Blue Velvet Lash Curler. It’s so cute, the little handles are covered in Blue Velvet. Feels very posh while curling your eyelashes.



It curls the lashes very well compared to the one that I got from Superdrug ages ago. Love it. Get it while they’re still on the shelves.

- kristalovesx -

21 March 2014

Liebster Award


I was nominated by the lovely Lana Petrini, check her blog out it's an amazing read.
The Liebster Award is an award that gives recognition to up coming bloggers that have less than 200 followers.  

The Rules:
Write 11 different facts about yourself.
Answer 11 questions that your nominee(s) have given you.
Write 11 new questions for the people you nominate.
Pass the award onto 11 other bloggers to answer.
You must link back to the person who nominated you.
You must answer the questions given to you.
You must pick 11 nominees to answer your 11 questions you chose for them.
You cannot nominate the person who nominated you.
You must contact the nominees that you have nominated.

Facts about me:
1.My birthday is coming up soon ;) (pssst it's 31st March)
2. I used to have really curly hair and now it's turned all wavy cos I've straightened it too much. Oopsy
3.I'm allergic to most fruits. WHY ME!
4. I have a cat called Skittles.
5. I hate Summer time. Just hate getting tanned.
6. I'm a sucker for reality shows (KUWTK, TOWIE and MIC)
7. I'm a British Mauritian
8. I procrastinate a lot. Like a lot.
9. I have a phobia of Snakes.
10. I'm currently obssessed with Pretty Little Lairs, The Originals, Twisted, Vampire Diaries and New Girl.
11. My OTP is Klaus and Caroline.

Lana's questions for me:
1. What is your favourite makeup brand?
Oooo this is difficult, I think L'Oreal. They always have the best eyeliners, mascaras and foundations.
2. What is your favourite makeup product, and where is it from?
At the moment my favourite makeup would have to be L'Oreal's Volume Million Lashes. It separates and adds volume and length to my lashes. You can put on so many coats and it won't clump. Get it now aha.
3. What is your favourite quote?
"All of time and space; everywhere and anywhere; every star that ever was. Where do you want to start?" - The Doctor
4. Favourite YouTuber
Emma's Rectangle. Her videos are funny and easy to follow, make sure you subscribe to her Rectangle family.
5. What was a great moment in your life?
Greatest moment would have to be going to see The Script in concert in 2013. My friends bought the ticket for my birthday. It was my first ever concert and it was just amazing. The Script are amazing. I don't think I could ever forget it. Amazing moment.
6. What is your passion?
My passion is probably my blog. I know that's typical but I love finding out about new products, writing reviews and finiding other blogs out there that aren't that acknowledged.
7. What is your favourite makeup item that you loved all year?
Sleek Contour Kit in Medium. It creates such a natural contour and it's really good quality, what else could you want.
8. How did you meet your best friend?
At school (typical)
9. How did you get into blogging?
I love reading other people's blogs like Tanya Burr and Clouds and Cuticle Oil and I thought that I could do that. I love giving my opinions out to people especially on beauty products. 
10. What can't you leave your house without?
My phone. It's my life.
11. What is a good advice that you would like to share?
Wear SPF. Always.

My Questions:
1. What's your favourite makeup brand?
2. What's your favourite fashion store?
3.Why did you start blogging?
4.You have 10 minutes to run out the door, what makeup products do you put on your face?
5.Top bun or Messy bun?
6.Favourite film?
7. OTP? (One True Pairing)
8.Tea, Coffee or Latte?
9.Dream Job?
10.Where do you want to travel next?
11. Turn on and turn off?

I nominate: 


I was so excited to fill out this post, it's nice to do something different. 

Follow me on twitter for updates and other thanggggs.


- kristalovesx -

20 March 2014

Empties #1


I haven't done a post like this before, but let's give it a try. I thought as well as beauty and skincare products, I should put a non empty product just to mix things up a bit.

Pantene Pro V Extra Strong Hairspray (£3.69) - If you remember my haul from a while while while back in September, you know that I bought two different types of hairspray. I thought this one would be the hairspray would hold any curl in place, turns out it doesn't. Well not for my hair anyway. But I still tried to use it all up to its very last drop. I wouldn't purchase this one again though.

Max Factor False Lash Effect (£10.99) - This mascara is amazing!! Especially in the waterproof version. I wore this whilst swimming and it holds up and does not flake at all. But you do need a good make up remover to get this off. Preferably something oily like the Botanics Eye make up remover. Definitely need to repurchase this after I finish my Maybelline's Big Eye Mascara.

Witch Skin Clearing Primer (£6.99) - I LOVE this. If you get spots frequently and need something to calm it down and reduce the size and redness, get this. I apply this before my make up on days I get breakouts and I sometimes use it before bed to just to calm down the spots. It really does work. Definitely another repurchase.

MUA's Fixing Mist (£5) - I know fixing mists are supposed to be used for after you finish applying all of your make up. But I find that using it to wet or dampen your make up sponge works better rather than using water. It's just another reassurance that your make up will stay put before you after your powder, blusher and all that jazz.

Maybelline's Baby Lips in Intense Care (£2.99) - Another amazing product, I've literally scraped every last bit of this lip balm. It's a must have for me. I also did a little review previously, make sure you check that too.

Last but not least, GREEN TEA! Twinings in Mango and Lychee (£1.59) - I can't get enough of this flavour, it's so sweet and comforting. Perfect with my breakfast, after my lunch and after dinner for ease of digestion aha. It's healthy and helps with burning fat as well. 

So that sums up my empties for now, I might do this after every time I get a significant amount of empty products rather than every month. What do you guys think?


- kristalovesx -

16 March 2014

NOTW - Sinful's VOODOO

Sorry for not posting this week, just been busy with university things and family. Anyways, onto the post. I have been feeling quite grungy and gothic recently, which is weird as it's been amazingly sunny this week.


Diamond Midi Ring - River Island - £2

I personally think that black nail polish looks better with longer nails but it still works with short too. I think I might add a matte top coat just to have something different rather than it being glossy all the time. What do you think?



Have a lovely week :)

- kristalovesx -

7 March 2014

February Favourites '14

It's March. It's nearly my birthday! Woooo. Right onto the favourites.


So my favourite foundation this month has actually been a BB Cream. I bought the wrong shade I bought a shade lighter. But it actually blends out evenly and gives a glow to the skin. Retails for £12.00 at The Body Shop.

Favourite power to set my face with is the Sleek's Suede Effect in the Shade 02. It has an almost velvety feel to the touch and creates a matte finish when setting your face. You can get this at Superdrug for £6.99.

Next on the list is my favourite eye product and this month's favourite is the Maybelline's Colour Tattoo in the shade On and On Bronze. I love using this as an inner eye highlight when having my usual winged eyeliner. It also works as a great base when doing any eye shadow combo, it's kind of an alternative to primers. Superdrug are currently doing a 3 for 2 on all Maybelline product so snatch yours for £4.99.

My favourite lip product is the Hoola lipgloss by Benefit. I've currently got the sample size which means I have to use it sparingly. It's a gorgeous shimmery nude which is perfect on a lazy day. You can get the full size on Benefit's website for £14.50. A little tip for you guys, if you are a student you can get 10% off Benefit cosmetics if you sign up to Uni-Days. ;)

Favourite brush at the moment is the Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush which I have been using for my concealer under my eyes. The brush is fluffy and soft and doesn't drag the skin around, which is a plus! This brush is part of the Real Techniques set which you can get at Boots for £21.99.

Hair product timeeeee. I have no hope in getting volume in my fringe, back combing does not help at all. So I have resorted to back combing spray, which works better than dry shampoo believe it or not. I just spray it inbetween my fringe and ruffle my hair to distribute the product. and BOOM. Voluminous hair. It's on offer at Superdrug, 2 for £5, but usually sells for £3.79.

And last and not least my favourite scent. It has to be Next's Milan. This fragrance is fruity, with a floral heart and a woody base, perfect for entering spring time. It just smells so feminine without being too overpowering. I couldn't find the 100ml online but I could find the 50ml. The 50ml retails for £8.



What are your favourites this month?


- kristalovesx -