I don't know if I spelled that correctly :/ Or if it's even a word...

Anyway. It's weird to think that this has been an entire year of blogging...O_o I've met some awesome people and read some cool blogs along the way, it's been great. And to say thank you, I thought I'd offer you the opportunity to win $30 to spend at Bella Sugar Cosmetics!

Back when I first started bloggging, aaaages ago, I won a palette in a giveaway they hosted - my review is here if you're interested. Lord, how rubbish was (is) my photo taking? They're really nice pigmented colours in reality, don't worry.

Not convinced? Read these reviews from Aijuswhanakno, Phyrra and Confessions of an Aussie Shoeaholic!

Enter here?


Thank you :D If you're one of the 231 lovely people that were following me before I put this notice up, you are automatically given an extra entry!

I don't actually have to put a disclaimer here, as I'm not residing in the US (I think. I know they said something about American hosted servers but wtf? That's like saying if you're in say, Poland, and you do something that's illegal in Italy but not in Poland, but you do it while holding a pizza, you can be extradited and arrested by the Italian government?) but yeah, I did actually pay for this myself, though I got a discount for participating in the lovely Patricia's naming contest. The name is soon to change to Sugar Rush Cosmetics!

EDIT: I was classy and totally forgot to put an end date -.- Ends on the 15th of March? That's a good date right? I quite like that date.
...

Why am I like this? *confused shrug*

Yes, I clearly have my tramp on today.

Just a reminder to please vote for me (Sugar Cookie Cosmetics as the name) in the Bella Sugar Cosmetics poll. Pleeeeeeease. Linked here. It ends at midnight CST time, which is six hours after midnight for those of us in the GMT London time zone!

Thanks so much :)

EDIT: I didn't win, but thanks to all of you for voting anyway!

I felt that one Madcon song was particulary apt for this post.

I hate doing this type of post but I would be oh so grateful if you could take the time to quickly vote on Bella Sugar Cosmetics' New Year, New Name Contest poll. Specifically, for the name "Sugar Cookie Cosmetics". Though if you think another name is better, feel free to vote for that, too/instead!

Much appreciated if you do decide to do it!

This post had a picture before I decided it was unnecessary.

Anyway, shall we start? In no particular order...

Boots Natural Collection Body Spray - Vanilla

This was two pounds for 250ml of product, if I recall correctly. I originally bought it for the spray bottle (I was planning to empty the perfume out and refill it with one of my concoctions, lol) but liked the smell and am still using it as a perfume. While it doesn't stay on for a long time, it's pretty cheap so you don't have to be conservative over how often you spray it. It does the job that I want it to, so I've put it in this post.

Sleek iDivine MakeUp Palettes - Acid & Circus

While we all know about their fail customer service, their product quality is generally very good. The matte black included with the Acid palette is to date the only eyeshadow I have hit pan on (and have nearly finished using) without it shattering into a thousand tiny pieces. It's not the most pigmented of Sleek blacks (I've found that the black in the Circus palette is insanely pigmented) but that fact is almost a plus as it gives a softer look to my eyebrows. Sleek have some of the best drugstore shimmer eyeshadows that I've ever bought. I find their mattes are lacking (except the black ones) though.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Moisturizing Lip Balm

This is dead cheap (I know for a fact it is way less than £2 at Superdrugs) and really does keep my lips soft and makes them look slightly matte as opposed to very greasy/glossy as many cheap lip balms can do. I wear this either by itself, or a thin layer underneath a lip pencil/lipstick. I've recently started wearing those, lol. Another plus for this product is that it contains sunscreen. No idea what rating, but I'm happy to have it in there. My only complaint would be that it can sting a little if the lips are badly chapped. Still, I bought a second to use on parts of my body with dry skin as it contains a lot of Vitamin E, and it works really well in my opinion. I can't see this one running out any time soon, but when it does I will repurchase (already have, see above :P)

Urban Decay The Black Palette

I credit the beauty blogosphere for a) allowing me to even know of this product's existence and b) enabling me to know exactly where I stood when I purchased it. Thanks to some extremely detailed and honest reviews (including one from the Pink Sith over how to dupe it using Fyrinnae which I found really interesting and did consider attempting) I was pretty aware that I'd need the Pixie Epoxy to make it pop, which I've now ordered and am waiting for, and any other shortcomings (not a lot with this product). I love all the shades in this and am pleased to own the Zero liner and the Eden primer. It's my special occasion palette!


The MUA Make Up Line at Superdrugs

This will most likely turn up again when I do the nail polish specific year end round up, but I really love the feel of the shadows, lip glosses and the pigments from this line - it's all good quality for a pound and you get quite a lot of product for the price. The eyeshadow pans break if you so much as look at them the wrong way, but repressing them is quite a simple job (though annoying) and I enjoy pressing things so I'm not that bothered over a one pound product. I'm really excited to try out their clear mascara for my eyebrows. This was my favourite makeup launch of the year.

Bella Sugar Four Colour Eyeshadow Palette

I won a giveaway on Bella Sugar's blog a while ago, and I was really pleased to recieve the palette, being my first giveaway prize! The design on the outside is simple but so cute, and I've taken it out many a time in my bag and nothing has been broken. It's incredibly pigmented and they just look so vibrant on the lid. I remember being in science and wearing Ariel (a dark, forest/mossy green) and my science teacher saying, "Your eyeshadow is highly illegal*, but gorgeous."
Anyway I was pretty pleased by that. Hopefully in the New Year I'll be able to order. Assuming I get Christmas money. *hint hint, relatives*

* against our school rules, not necessarily against the law of the land, lol.

Have you tried any of the products from these brands? Jan, if you're reading, how did you find the MUA polishes?

So I was browsing through my stash when I realised...
I already owned Graffiti, in the form of Grassy by Bella Sugar Cosmetics.

I decided to swatch Asphyxia, as well, to see if I could find a dupe in my (not very large) collection.
Asphyxia on the /right/ and Sprinkles on the left. They're nowhere near the same.

 (left to right) Sprinkles, Asphyxia and Unnamed (also from the Bella Sugar Palette).

Nope. I don't think I have anything quite like it. I'm quite stunned by just how similar Grassy and Graffiti are, though.

I talked about their giveaway on this very same blog not too long ago and was delighted to find out that I've actually won one of their quad palettes today! I'm really excited to try out their line as the swatches look gorgeous, very highly pigmented and with a nice shimmer. So yeah, expect some reviews soon!