Countdown to Christmas - Day 15: Diego Dalla Palma Ciglione mascara

Yawn! Morning Sparkles...

Diego Dalla Palma Ciglione mascara
(M&S Beauty Advent Calendar 2017)

...the morning after the night before is never the easiest. Add into the mix the man arriving at my door at 8am to put in a new gas and electricity metre. Groan.

However, the next in the large bottom row boxes has produced a lash booster mascara by Diego Dalla Palma. The Italian range is one which I'm most used to seeing in the M&S Beauty Halls but can also be bought in other department stores and online retailers.

I've seen pretty good reviews for some products but this will be my first foray into the brand, hopefully it can help my peepers look brightened and Bambi-like, regardless of the cocktail of cocktails imbibed last night...

...watch this space on Insta later today to see how it fares overall. At £17.50 for the full sized tube it's more expensive than my L'Oreal go to, and about £6 cheaper than my Elizabeth Arden love (along with other Chanel, Dior and YSL mascaras).

Have any of you tried this brand? Will it give my lashes the va-va-voom of '70's Sofia Loren, or leave me in a smudge puddle?!

Christmas kisses and wishes

xx Josephine xx

Countdown to Christmas - Day 8: Eyeko Black Magic mascara

Fri-YAY at last Sparkles! 

Eyeko Black Magic mascara
(M&S Beauty Advent Calendar)

I'm off out with pals for a delicious Kenyan-Indian meal tonight in North London, which will be supremely tasty and great fun as always. 

My peepers shall be even more party ready than usual with a quick slick of Eyeko's Black Magic mascara. Promises include the delivery of drama and curl, with added volume and an extreme carbon black finish which will be water resistant. 

That's a big list for such a little tube! 

Based on the performance of the waterproof mascara included in the summer beauty box this year, I have no doubt that Eyeko have more than an even chance of delivering on all these claims - but make sure to check out the Instagram for my follow verdict! 

One thing I'm not entirely sure of is the curved brush - generally I find I get on best with a straight brush, with bristles rather than silicone spikes. What's your favourite mascara - either for formula or applicator?

I'm a huge fan of the L'Oreal Volume Million original wand, so much so that I clean it off when I start a new tube of the mascara with one of those silicone wands. Another much loved is the Elizabeth Arden mascara - the brush looks like *nothing* and yet achieves everything I want in a mascara - separation, length and curl! 

Christmas kisses and wishes

xx Josephine xx 

Bookish Beauty: Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets (Theme: Killer Glance) - Illamasqua Pigments

Hi Sparkles!!

Continuing on our Harry Potter adventure under the Bookish Beauty theme we're now entering the Chamber of Secrets, home to the basilisk which can kill by its mere glance. So naturally this got me thinking about killer eye products which stop me in my tracks.

Long time favourite of mine are the Illamasqua pigments, these are messy little creatures but the sparkle is well worth the effort (and glittery home which will ensue!)

Face of the Day (or Night) - Easter 2016

Detract from eye bags with bright lipstick!!! And a tube of concealer...

Dear Sparkles

I was the eager recipient of some freebies (see pic below and on Instagram - not to mention upcoming posts) and set about colouring in ALL OVER MY FACE with glee this Saturday. It's so nice to have a few days off work and makeup is essentially meditation for me!

Full product breakdown is below.

Hope you all had a fab holiday and were able to pamper yourself as well as enjoy mucho choco.


Til next time - love, hugs and dark chocolate kisses

xx Josephine xx