CUBA series, PART I: GETTING READY

I am starting this post on a plane on our way back home, after 2 weeks stay in Cuba.

For those of you, who is only considering to go there, I want to share my practical tips about where to go/stay and what to do (or sometimes better not to) as well as personal (still very fresh) impressions and my honest opinion regarding Cuba and its lifestyle in general. 

It will be series of posts, dedicated to different towns and topics, so those who are interested or just curious, - please, stay tuned!

I hope this will be helpful.

Enjoy! 

x

PART I 

INTRODUCTION / GENERAL INFORMATION

Planning your trip

After you’ve chosen to go to Cuba, I guess the next thing to figure out is whether you want to go on a preordered “package” or as an independent traveller.

For us (my partner and I) it was an easy decision to make, as we normally like to plan trips ourselves and enjoy fully discovering countries we visit. We also give preference to many outdoor activities such as hiking, canyoing, horse riding etc. instead of spending our vacation on the beach in the resort area (and that is what most tourist agencies offer).

Let me just say: there is nothing wrong with “all inclusive 5 star stays” in Cuba, however I believe that you will not be able to get a full idea and experience real Cuba in that way. I also think, that if you prefer to have a beach relaxing holiday and if you are travelling from Europe, it is definitely not worth spending that much on tickets and travel that far, you can get way much better service for a better value and enjoy the sun somewhere in Spain, Italy, Greece or pretty much anywhere else.
(Unless, of course, you are travelling from USA or Canada and it is fairly close by.)

Perhaps our journey wasn’t that easy and smooth as we wish it would be, and believe me, there were really hard times when we found ourselves counting hours and thinking: so far this is our worst holiday (but I will cover emotional aspect later)…
However visiting several Cuban towns and provinces in different regions (and yes, we did get a little bit of a beach time as well! :) , meeting people, dealing with certain things and getting to know what the life is there was a challenge and definitely a real experience.

So my personal advise is to still travel independently and discover real Cuba. With a little bit of planning and enthusiasm it might be not as scary as it sound.

Tickets

There are various companies you can fly with. Prices and more suitable options can be compared on skyscanner.com .

We flied with AirEuropa via Madrid, the durability of the flight was approximately 14-15h each way.
To get an idea, please see flight details below:

The ticket price was £1568 per two (purchased on 13th September 2015, travelled on the 8th November ).

Useful tip: as the flight from Madrid to Havana is fairly long (up to 10h)  it is worth investing and book seats nearby. You really don’t want finding yourself struggling with a person you don’t really fancy during 10h flight :)

Visas

Depending on your passport, you might need to make a visa. In order to process, besides a valid passport, you need to have flight confirmation with you as well as confirmation of first 5 nights in casa/hotel. 

Get in touch with your Cuban Embassy for further details. In UK, we have paid for visas £15 each.

Travel Insurance

It goes without saying that when travelling to Cuba it is best to sign up for a Travel Insurance.

If you already have it, make sure that it covers Cuba as well.

We did Travel Plus Pack with with my Barclays Bank, however be aware that they will cover medical expenses starting from £50 only.

Our insurance also provided us with access to Airport VIP lounges (complimentary food, free wi-fi etc.) , which was also quite useful and nice in both London Gatwick and Madrid airports. 

How long to go for

Partly because the ticket price as mentioned above and also due to you will have to spend more or less 1 day travelling and jet-legged after it is worth going for at least 10-12 days. It also depends on your route and how many places you are eager to visit. Take into account that no matter whether you will be travelling within the country by bus or car, main towns are still located far from each other (4-7h road) and, frankly, the roads are not the best, so getting from point A to B will take time, too.
Now, if a had a time machine, I would have planned our route differently (so hopefully my tips will help those of you, who is in process), however I would still go for at least 12 days.

When to go?

There is a tropical climate in Cuba, with dry season from November to April and wet season between May and October.

We have travelled from 8th - 22 November, and it was still raining 2 or 3 times

Where to stay: casas or hotels?

Again, it is entirely up to you to decide, however there are certain cons and pros you have to take into consideration when choosing your way of staying in Cuba.

What makes it more difficult though, is that if you plan your trip independently, it is fairly hard to make a research and compare hotel/casa prices, as there is no information on booking.com.

Yes, you can find some options eventually, however most prices are on request and also you have to really make sure the information source is fully reliable.

We were lucky enough, as our friend had travelled to Cuba recently, and she has given us contact details of a native friend of hers, who, then, recommended us one Casa, but as they were fully booked, we were directed to a local online agency 

cubabookingroom.com , where you can browse all listings and request a reservation/additional information on rooms, houses, apartments, BnB’s etc. in Havana, Trinidad, Vinales, Varadero, Cienfuegos and Playa Larga.  So this is how long and complicated the process was!

And now I have to say special thanks to Tamara for initial recommendation and support during the whole planning process, and of course, a massive thank you to Gretel, - a lovely specialist, that not only helped me to book almost all cases in Cuba, but also assisted with transportation issues, given tips on how to plan the route and has been very efficient, providing me with information almost 24/7 (also remember about the time difference with UK!).

I now look through all my emails and there were so many points to be precised, so Gretel, if you will read this, - I want to thank you once again, I can highly recommend your agency and you in particular to those who has just started their planning process.

Going back to the topic of Casas vs Hotels, I believe it also depends on your budget, as cases are a way less expensive option. They (casas) will cost you around 25-45 CUC (max) per night for a double room (starting from £20), breakfast is not included.

I will mention certain cases and hotels in my future posts about particular towns we have stayed in.

What I can say, is that staying in casas can definitely be part of discovering The Real Cuba, as each Bed and Breakfast place will provide you with a completely new and unique experience, will allow you to meet and get to know the life of local people, eat their food, talk to them, soak the atmosphere… It wasn’t always comfortable I must say, however I believe it was still probably worth it, as there are so many memories, interesting characters and stories to share particularly about cases, so I’d say, - go for it! But just try to make sure that you find a good one :)

Transportation

Once you have figured out and confirmed your route, now it is the right time to decide how you will move across the country.

An application Rome2Rio will help you to find out how long will it take to get from one town to another and compare the prices when travelling by taxi or bus, e.g.:

Havana - Trinidad

Bus 5h 53min £16 (per one)

Taxi 4h 6min £110

As you can see from above, you do save a little time when using a taxi, however the price difference is too big. Renting a car or travelling by taxi can be profitable just in case if there are 4 people travelling together, otherwise, - I would recommend to use a bus.

When already in Cuba, you have to buy/collect your tickets at the  Viazul (main bus company) station at least 1 day in advance, make sure you have your passport or valid ID form with you.

It is also possible to buy tickets in advance online and collect them from the station.

However I would definitely advise to book Airport Pickup/drop off in advance. Gretel from   cubabookingroom.com can help with that.

Get a travel guide

I normally research information in the internet and then print it all out, however I would highly recommend to still get a book: most tourists whom we’ve met in Cuba used Lonely Planet travel guide.

Unfortunately some information is already out of date, but it is still packed with useful tips and will tie everything you have to know together.

This is it for the first part. Next time we’ll talk about Havana.

To be continued…

MY EVENING MAKE-UP FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE: STEP BY STEP TUTORIAL

Hello everyone and Happy New Year 2016 once again!

In this post I want to share with you which products did I use to create my festive look for the New Year's Eve.

Before and After pictures ...

Base and Eyes

When I do my evening make-up, I normally start with the eyes.

I also apply face primer and let it soak while I will be working on my eye make up. I still have and enjoy my Givenchy primer (Acti'mine make up base), hoverer I am now testing  Light Master Make up Primer by Giorgio Armani which has illuminating effect and is truly beautiful, especially for those special occasions when you want skin to look really bright and glowing.

It has a very nice velvety texture as well.

My eye make up starts with a 24 Hour Extend Eye Base from MAC PREP+PRIME range. I absolutely love this eye base! I used to have Pro Longwear Paint Pot (also from MAC) before, which I find much more difficult to work with and it didn't give me as smooth canvas as 24 Hour Extend base, I could still see/feel  uneven surface of the skin when applying the products.

It is very easy to apply eye shadows after 24-hour eye base, they blend easily and last well.

Next, I use my Eye Shadow x 15 Cool Neutral palette , applied with MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush .

1) PICK ME UP  shade (1st on the left in a second row) as a base all over the lids

2) COZY GREY shade (right next to the previous one) - definitely one of my favourite shades, that allows to create a taupe, beautiful contouring effect without making it look to heavy

3) My other favourite go-to product when it comes to smoky eyes is a highly-pigmented deep plum Twinks shade from MAC 

4) I finish it off with a beautiful shimmer powder in Oasis Dew shade from Bellapierre .

I then blend it all with MAC 100 brush.

Now there is something new added to my must-have evening make-up product list and it is a set of individual Short, Medium and Long fake eyelashes. It was a big no-no for me for a while, however I now realise that adding these can help transform your look completely and add instant glamour in seconds!

While strip lashes are probably easier and quicker to apply, they are also much more obvious, so in order to achieve a very natural yet flattering effect I now opt only for individual sets in different lengths. This time I was especially happy with the results!

I watched Lisa Eldridge's video which I believe is a great learning material. I also followed her advise and got myself a DUO eyelash adhesive in Clear White. 

I then do my eye flick with Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama gel eyeliner 24h and brush that comes with it - absolutely great product and such a bargain! It took me a little while to build my skills to apply it (I used pen eye liners before), but now I am very happy with it. It is jet black, matt finish and last very well!

Last for the eyes, but one of the most important, - mascara!
I used Giorgio Armani Eyes to kill stretch lengthening mascara (nothing special, Le Volume by Chanel is still my favourite!)

Face

1. Once eyes are done, I apply MAC PREP + PRIME Highlighter in shade Radian Rose as a concealer under my eyes.  It might not be my favourite texture (it is a little bit dry to my taste), however I must admit it is really great for covering dark circles and it stays on well, without going into the lines.
Also, it is a great investment, - there's plenty of product inside and I don't even remember when exactly I started to use it!

2. Traceless perfecting foundation SPF 15  by Tom Ford, shade: 04 Bisque. It is one of my favourite foundations and you can read more about in my post  FOUNDATION REVIEW .

3. Skin Foundation Stick by Bobbi Brown, shade: Warm Sand to cover the spots and small imperfections. Read more about product: FOUNDATION REVIEW .

I apply my concealer, foundation and stick with my hands.

4. I then set it all with one of my favourite loose brightening powders: Doctor White Powder me light again! SPF 15 by Givenchy (using a Blush brush by Real Techniques).

Contouring

Famous MAC blushing powder in shade Harmony, applied using Real Techniques Sculpting brush and Fan brush from their Collector's Edition Sculpting brush set . Fan brush is now my favourite for enhancing the cheekbones and contour my nose. You can read more about how and where do I contour in my earlier post How I create my festive evening make-up .

To finish the contouring, MAC pigment in shade Vanilla to highlight on top of my lip, bridge of my nose, above cheekbones, in the middle of the forehead, under the eyebrows, and in the inner corners of the eyes!

A hint of Bobbi Brown blush in shade Nectar (11) on the apples of my cheeks (don't forget to smile for precise application! :) as well as on my forehead, eye lids, nose, lips and chin (just with what's left on the brush after the cheeks, to tie the whole look together).

Brows

Veluxe Brow Liner in shade Strawberry blonde from MAC.

Lips

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream and MAC lip pencil  in shade Subculture to enhance the shape.

Now I do regret a little for not taking my Armani red lipstick with me, I think it would have been more complete polished glamorous look, similar as seen on beautiful Lauren Conrad below (picture is from her book Style):

Last touch: MAC  fixing spray all over the face to make our look last all night.

I  really hope that this beauty post will be helpful! It took me ages to put active links of all products mentioned so it would be more convenient for you :)

Happy New Year once again! Stay beautiful not only on the outside but also on the inside!

xoxo

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SOCIAL MEDIA VS LIFE

Lately the topic of negative social media impact on individuals became very popular and  I thought I might have something to say, too.

While reading several articles about why and how exactly Facebook and/or  Instagram "airbrushed reality" are bad for us (e.g. Do you have FOLO? (Fear of life offline) ELLE UK ,  December 2015), I realised that I do have some of these issues as well.

I am very sensitive and I did notice that when I browse Facebook and see how people constantly get married, become parents etc. eventually it all makes me feel sad. By the way, scientists have given this phenomenon a name  - "Facebook depression". So this is for real.

Don't take me wrong, please: I am happy for them, as I always say, - good for them! :) , - however all this information just bombards me and my mind starts its yet another "mocking session": What's  going on with my life? Where am I going? When am I gonna have kids?

And finally:  

when do people have time for all this? 

Sometimes I don't even have time to apply my eye cream in the morning, so I am probably not ready to be a parent yet )))

Of course I do realise, that if I would spent watching The Office series (American version!)  and my beloved bloggers and music videos on YouTube, surfing Weheartit.com or Instagram  for inspirational images at least half the time, perhaps my life would have been more fulfilled. I also hardly ever leave my work on time, plus the 1,5h commute and hectic (sometimes very tiring) life in the big city ... So each day is a challenge, you know! ))

But this is what I am also working on (recently finished an excellent book I know how she does it by Laura Vanderkam), that helped me to understand, how me to get more control of my time. I have even managed to squeeze the gym in, which I am very proud of. Now have to go there more often though, but nevertheless I am improving, and that is the main thing.

And even though some of my ex-classmates already have 2 kids and I am still behaving like a 15-year-old sometimes,  I just want to do my own things at my own time, without being pushed or stressed, or impacted by someone elses choices. 

Well,  ideally, I want to live forever, or even have several lives at the same time... why is it too much to ask? :))

With Instagram my opinion is more controversial and I haven't made up my mind yet. On the one side, I am what you call a very visual person, so for me the aesthetics means a lot! However I do agree that we should definitely not overuse the filters and change the reality completely by adding contrasts and adjusting brightness again and again... until it is fake. The question for everyone is: how much editing is OK? At most times, I use Amaro, X-Pro II or Mayfair filters (I sometimes like to put a hint of FADE effect as well). I do quite like Aden, it is very warm, however it is a little bit too red-ish. But I always apply only 20-30, sometimes 50% (out of 100) of them to my images, not more.

And if it is nature, - which is one of my biggest sources of inspiration , - I don't apply any filters at all at most times, as the colours are already beautiful!

Another question is what to post. Selfies? Lunches? Pictures from night outs?

When we have been in Cuba recently, it was quite curious to observe a group of American tourists sitting at the table next to us in one of Havana old town cafés. They did't talk or laugh much, but took lots of classic "I'm in Cuba"  themed pictures featuring cigars, Mojitos, hats... and they really tried to smile and made it look as if they are having fun. They have tried hard, man! You should have seen it!

We were witnessing Real life vs (what's shown on) Social media difference. And it was sad.

The difference between what we want people to see or to be captured and real life is a very 

interesting subject.  Even when little kids, we are being told to smile for the camera  and not to show our grumpiness to get a so-called perfect picture. We were very well trained to hide our feelings and real emotions and demonstrate the world our pretty face.

Well here's a portrait of 5 year old me. I am not quite sure why do I look so serious on most of my childhood pictures and this in particular, but at least I know that I was real.

And maybe it is time to come back to that state.

And a relevant short movie, that most of you must have seen already, but nevertheless:

MASSIMO DUTTI: Fringe Bluchers and Sneakers review

Dear friends,

I want to share with you my two beautiful autumny buys. It is two pairs of shoes from Massimo Dutti.

1. Black Fringe Bluchers

I have seen something similar at TOD's, the options are incredibly beautiful (and of course, brand is know for its comfortable shoe wear), the quality and colour combinations are superb, however unfortunately they are also fairly expensive. The price for the models  that I fancied starts from £300.

As this style currently is very much in fashion and I was not keen on being "yet another" girl , who's wearing tasselled loafers (I love the style,  but to be fair with you, I am quite tired to see them literally everywhere! Those, who have a pair, - don't hate me! :)) , I started to look for alternatives and quickly found a decent option from one of my beloved and trusted brands, - Massimo Dutti.

The lining is 100% sheep leather and the cut is made of 100% cow leather.

They are comfortable, stylish, not too masculine looking, great with trench and cropped skinny black trousers (or recently I have seen similar style worn with a burgundy colour leather skirt and it looked so great!). Loving them!

PS The fringe detail is also removable! So it is "two in one"!

Price: £79.95, currently available on massimodutti.com

2.Black Sneakers

Smart lifestyle sneakers was another thing that I was looking for.

Those that are not for the gym, but everyday hectic life. A style, that would allow to look presentable, while moving fast in crowded city jungles.

And again, I did not want to opt for a New Balance option, which is so popular right now!

These have a nice combination of fabric and leather lining and same as the first model, - they are very comfortable.

Price: £59.95. Currently on massimodutti.com .

PS Thanks for the pictures: www.massimodutti.com

I believe that's it for now, I still have to make a post about our relatively recent trip to York.

And what you are up to the Autumn? Any shopping joys you want to share?

Feel free to get in touch: Helen's Life blog on Facebook  x #helenslifeblog on Instagram.

xoxo

DOLCE & GABBANA BEAUTY: MONICA LIPSTICKS REVIEW / КРАСОТА В СТИЛЕ DOLCE & GABBANA: ОБЗОР НА ПОМАДЫ MONICA

This time, my beauty column is dedicated to Dolce&Gabbana brand, and its "Monica" lipsticks in particular.

But before we go into product description, I thought it would be nice to find out first, who is that signature Dolce&Gabbana beauty? What's the look?

Women, that come to my mind first, are Scarlett Johansson, Monica Bellucci and Bianca Balti.

It's that incredibly sensual look that is being presented, I think of Dolce woman as warm, very attractive (so it is hardly possible to resist) and seemingly friendly/approachable, however these are only first impressions that often make a trick.

I believe that behind the angelic appearance, - seems like Dolce beauties could be one of the Michelangelo creations, it's that Italian Renaissance look, - there is also strong character with many demands to be pleased.

Beauty itself is a very powerful tool to achieve what you want and I think Dolce woman knows that well like no one else.

На этот раз, мой небольшой бьюти-обзор посвящен бренду Dolce&Gabbana, с особым акцентом на помаду из их коллекции "Monica".

Однако перед тем как приступить к описанию и моих впечатлениях непосредственно о продукте, я решила немного поразмышлять о том, какой образ несет в себе женщина бренда Dolce.  Кто она и каким характером обладает? 

Одни из первых красавиц,  которые приходят мне на ум при упоминании бренда, это, конечно, Моника Белуччи, Скарлетт Йохансон и модель Бьянка Балти.

Мне кажется, женщина в стиле Dolce является воплощением очень чувственного образа. Ее привлекательность настолько сильна, что чарам устоять практически невозможно. 

Однако за ангельской, безупречной внешней оболочкой скрывается стальной характер, чувство собственного достоинства и высокие требования, а порой и немного капризный характер... Однако чего не простишь настоящей красавице! 

Женщина Dolce как ни одна другая осознает, насколько сильным и мощным оружием может быть красота и умело использует это себе на пользу. 

Now back to the lipsticks :)

A little while ago I was in search of a perfect lipstick for everyday. Many options from different brands (Chanel, Hourglass, Dior, Bobby Brown etc.) were considered, however Dolce's "Monica" seemed to be the best to meet my needs.

This collection is named after brand's muse, - M. Bellucci, and is available in 9 shades, that are all beautiful to be fair! 

I wanted something pretty neutral so I could effortlessly wear to work, but not too nude, as while being naturally pale that would just blend with my skin tone. 

So for my everyday life I picked "Gentle Monica" shade, that instantly made me fell in love! 

It is a delicate and subtle shade, yet it provides you with a very rich and elegant colour and still make your lips pop. I believe that this collection's nude shades are the best to demonstrate the plumping effect of this lipstick as they enhance your natural lip shape and make them look fuller, but again, - in a very natural way!

Я находилась в поиске помады, идеально подходящей на каждый день, для работы. Что-то, что было бы достаточно нейтральным (чтобы не заморачиваться с нанесением), но в то же самое время не слишком белесым и светлым, так как такие оттенки мне не к лицу.

Рассмотрев и попробовав варианты от разных брендов (Chanel, Hourglass, Dior, Bobby Brown и т.д.), я пришла к выводу, что помады из серии "Monica" в исполнении Дольче отвечают моим требованиям лучше других.

Коллекция представлена в 9 оттенках (каждый из которых по-своему прекрасен)  и  посвящана давней музе бренда, красавице Беллуччи (отсюда и одноименное название - "Monica" .)

Цвет "Gentle Monica" покорил меня сразу, - насыщенный, благородный оттенок карамели, прекрасно подчеркивающий форму губ,  делая их немного полнее.

Думаю, что именно нюдовые оттенки данной коллекции как нельзя лучше демонстрируют эффект подчеркивания объема губ, обещанный производителем.

Then I also wanted something brighter, which made me to discover shade "Only Monica", - one of the most popular in this collection.

It's a beautiful pink that can be a show-stopper if you apply it generously and make it look very bright, however I do like putting it on top of my lip balm and make it more subtle. Due to this is a moisturising lipstick it might create an effect of a lip gloss as well! 

В качестве более яркого оттенка, я выбрала цвет "Only Monica", который оказался одним из самых популярных в линейке.

Это достаточно яркий, жизнеутверждающий розовый цвет, который, в зависимости от способа нанесения, может менять свою интенсивность от легкого, едва уловимого блеска и до очень насыщенного пигмента.

Днем я предпочитаю наносить (как бы легко вбивая) эту помаду поверх бальзама или гигиенической помады, получается эффект свежих и нежных губ,  - как цветок розы.

А для вечернего варианта, - несколько слоев (или даже один, просто плотный!), черные стрелки, - и вперед!

All in all I would definitely recommend you to consider these lipsticks, the texture is great (they won't dry your lips!), they last well, plump your lips and colours are rich and beautiful!

Дорогие друзья, я действительно могу порекомендовать вам эти помады для рассмотрения. Отличная текстура (они не сушат губы), плотный, насыщенный цветом пигмент, хорошая стойкость и красивая гамма оттенков!

Before we finish it off, I just would like to offer you a little visual inspiration. I admire how Dolce and Gabbana are celebrating such values as family (or shall I say grande famiglia? :)) in their campaigns and woman as a happy mother (especially in their Winter 2016 show) as well as seductive and beautiful wife.

Однако прежде чем попрощаться, я хочу предложить вам визуальную подборку для вдохновения. Мне очень симпатично то, как бренд Dolce&Gabbana в своих рекламных кампаниях (и в одном из последних показов Зима 2016 в особенности) подчеркивает важность и красоту женщины в качестве матери, символа большой и шумной итальянской (и не только!) семьи, а также статной красавицы.

PS

And one more small thing: this post (as almost any other) was very time-consuming to create, and while making it I had an accident - when text was almost done it was fully deleted, so I had to start all over again... My point is, please, show your support, - like, share or comment, - that REALLY means a lot to me! 

Subscribe to blog's Facebook page and Instagram #HELENSLIFEBLOG .

Thanks in advance, sending Love!

И еще кое-что напоследок: на создание этого поста (впрочем, почти как и любого другого), ушло много энергии, сил и времени, которого катастрофически мало, друзья :)) Более того, со мной случился пренеприятнейший инцидент, во время которого уже практически готовый полный текст (на двух языках, прошу заметить!), был случайно удален, без какой-либо возможности восстановления... Пришлось начинать все с начала. С нуля :)

К чему это я...? Да к тому, что буду очень рада, если вы поддержите мое увлечение и проявите свою виртуальную любовь :) Ну там, "лайк" поставите или "поделитесь"! Для меня это ДЕЙСТВИТЕЛЬНО важно и всегда ОЧЕНЬ приятно!!!

Для тех, кто еще не в теме, подписывайтесь на страницу блога на Фэйсбуке и присоединяйтесь к шайке на Инстаграм #HELENSLIFEBLOG .

Спасибо заранее, люблю!

CHARLOTTE TILBURY MAKE UP: FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Recently most of my make up was done using Charlotte Tilbury products ( that everyone's currently talkin' about! ) .

For those who are interested these are my first impressions: 

1) Light Wonder Foundation (shade 2) has a nice liquidy texture, fairly light coverage (so concealer in my personal case is a must), quite shiny (non-matt!) finish and a very reasonsble price of £32 

2) Retoucher concealer (shade 2) can be used not only under the eyes but also to cover the blemishes, redness and any other imperfections. Liked a pleasant gentle texture suitable for a sensitive under-eye area

3) Airbrush flawless finish pressed powder (shade 1) is OK however I do prefer loose powders and I needed to touch up the T-zone fairly quick after as it got shiny 

4) famous Filmstar bronze and glow product: for me this product is a little bit too much for everyday  use however I believe it might be nice for evening going outs and photoshoots 

5) I quite liked the idea of a Colour Chameleon pencil (mine was Amber Haze) that is meant to enhance your eyes' natural colour 

6) And last but not least Full Fat Lashes mascara is really great! It's easy to apply and does not make your lashes feel heavy while is claiming to provide Curl-Separation-Length-Volume-Drama effect.

All in all my first impressions are in general positive, most probably I will be getting myself a foundation (however for me number one foundation is still Tom Ford), concealer, mascara and The Feline Flick (eyeliner pen). Still hesitating whether I should treat myself for a Colour Chameleon pencil (probably not this time).

Hope this small review was helpful and if you have a chance definitely don't miss the oppurtunity to try these products! Check Charlotte Tilburry's YouTube channel ,  she is a great professional as well as very charming,  powerful and charismatic woman! 

Love, 

JP