March Beauty Favourites 2015

Here's my top 5 beauty picks from March. Click on the picture if you'd rather watch my favourites and see some of the products applied :)

Aloe BB Creme

It's really not like me to ditch the full coverage foundation for a BB creme, but this does a great job. With no heavy feeling on your skin this is great for the up and coming warm weather. Flawless natural looking skin with spf20. Did I mention it' a natural product, so no nasty chemicals included! Love love love :)

Sonya's Volumizing Mascara

Hello long volumized lashes!! Again a natural product, I have been reaching for this every day! I cannot believe the difference this has on your lashes. They're so full and long... Big thumbs up from me!

Benefit's Gimme Brow

For many years I was a huge fan of Benefit's Brow Zing (which is a like a wax/powder eyebrow kit), so when I saw this advertise I wasn't sure I'd bother trying it. However Benefit themselves said that the two can work well together so I decided to buy a Gimme Brow a few months ago. I originally went for the light shade and really liked how it set my brows after I'd used the Brow Zing. After I used up the light Gimme Brow I decided to opt for the medium/dark shade and I haven't looked back! Because I have HD brows done at my local salon I've found I only need to add a bit of colour to them and set them in place, so this product is perfect for me! I no longer reach for my Brow Zing! Very pleased I tried it!

w7 Pressed Powder

I love this product because it does the job and is so so cheap!! I apply it over the top of my BB Creme for a little more colour and to set my makeup and job done! I find it lasts a long time too :)

Urban Decay's Naked Basics Palette

I've had this product a while (whenever it was first released) and it's definitely a easy go-to product. It provides everything you need for a nice neutral eye look. Winner.  

Volumizing Mascara: Flawless by Sonya

Hey. So I was in the market for a new daily mascara. My Maybelline Falsh Lash Effect one was almost empty and I decided that after months of sticking to the same one I would try a new one!

As some of you might be aware I've started a new venture and decided I'd give my own product a go! As you can see from the photo, the Volumizing Mascara from the Flawless by Sonya range gave me great results.

On first application I was really impressed with the non-clumping formula and how easy it applied. When I saw the brush I wasn't sure I would get on with it as I'm usually a plastic wand type girl rather than the bristled brush. However it did a great job at separating my lashes!

One important thing to mention here is that, like all the products I sell, it's completely organic and natural ingredients so no hidden nasty chemicals in there!

At £20.54 it falls into the high-end makeup sector but based on its great formula and its easy application I would definitely look into repurchasing. I also love the packaging. Very sleek and understated. 

You can purchase the Volumizing Mascara here. 

*Please note: All the products come with a 60-day money back guarantee, so if you were unimpressed with your purchase then you can get a full refund. 

x

Beauty Wishlist

Hello :)

As always there's a lot of beauty things I'd like, but just lately I feel that the list of 'definitely getting at some point' is mounting up! So, I thought I'd get them down on a blog post to ensure I remember what they are and also share my beauty desires with all of you!

I've heard good things about Bioderma, as I'm sure you all have!? Bloggers have gone mad for this bottle of solution and I can't help wanting to get my hands on one. I've found a few of these around eBay for £16-£20, but apparently it is launching in the UK soon, (it's mostly available in France atm). So, I think I'll keep an eye out and ear open for this!

Next up, Clinique's Bottom Lash Mascara. This seems to me like such a cool and handy product to have. I mean, I'm always smudging my mascara when applying it to my bottom lashes and it seriously annoys me! However it's definitely not a beauty 'essential' I guess, so it's whether I can warrant spending £11 on something I don't actually need. But ohhh...I do want it :)

Ohhh what a beauty! As soon as I heard about the Naked Flushed Palette I got excited! Like a lot of you I imagine, I'm a huge fan of the Naked eye shadow palettes and couldn't imagine eye makeup without them...so anything paletted and titled Naked would most likely appeal to me. That being said it is £20, so for now I will have to lust over it!

The YSL Glossy Lip Stain. To be honest I love everything about these. The packaging is fab with the shiny gold lids and I love how they've included a little window in the base so you can see a pop of the shade colour! From drooling over these in store, the applicators seem good and the formula seems very smooth and easy to apply. However although I said I loved everything about these, I guess this isn't true because their price tag is a little off-putting at £22.50-£23.50. ...One day...

 

For a while now I've been thinking how unsightly my cuticles are! However I literally cannot stand the feeling of pushing them back...it goes through me! *Shiver* So, I'm thinking this might be a good solution? Anyone used it, or something similar?

Nars, Nars, Nars! I'm actually yet to own or try anything from this brand! I know, it's criminal...especially as I've heard so many great things, time and time again, about their blushes! The shade I'm after is Super Orgasm, which has received a lot of good press...haha press...pressed powder...sorry, bad joke alert! :P Anyway, at a little more than £20, I'll admire from afar...for now.

And last but certainly not least, the DiorShow 360 Mascara. My friend Gina pulled this amazing tube out of her makeup bag the other day, and as soon as I saw it's rotating brush head I knew I needed this in my life! Does anyone remember Maybelline's 'vibrating' mascara a few years ago?! Well I absolutely loved that! It made my lashes twice as long and I never found any clumps! I'm imagining that Dior's moving mascara will recreate these results!?

And there we go...I'm 100% sure there's more I could add to the list but for now, these are my wishes :)

If anyone owns any of these, please let me know what you think of them?! Or if any of you have them on your wishlist!?

Disappointing Products!

Hello beauties :)

This week is half term in Nottingham, so I left my uni abode and came back to home comforts for a bit! 

And, upon opening up my make-up storage (currently a weird shelved wardrobe thingy magig) I was surprised at how many products I'd left behind, like the 'Renford rejects'...Give me a comment if you remember this classic 90's kid programme! :P

But on closer inspection I realised why they'd been forgotten and thought about how disappointing each of them had been. So, maybe in an attempt to prevent others from suffering the same disappointment I thought I'd share what they were and tell you why I don't like them, or why they aren't worth the money. Of course, it's only my opinions so you can take my advice as you will. With a pinch of salt if you wish? :P

If you'd rather watch me talk about these products click above! But if you fancy a read...scroll on down :)

First up, MAC's Cleanse Off Oil. Yeah, yeah, I know a lot of you might love it, but for me I just can't get on with it! Agreed it does literally 'melt off' your make-up without any effort, but for me it also finds a way into my eyes and temporarily blinds me! No matter how carefully I try to remove my eye make-up, it seeps in somehow. Give me Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish any day thanks!

Goodbye cellulite?! Hmmm. I'm afraid it's true...I fell for the gimmick. I mean as if there's a product to essentially disguise fat cells?! Sure it gives a nice cooling sensation, application is pleasant, and I suppose it helps to moisturise your skin but hard work and exercise is the only thing I've found works in regards to cellulite. Don't fall for the nice idea like me!

Rimmel's Scandal Eyes Mascara. To be fair I think Rimmel are actually doing a fab job at the moment and are definitely in the running for the best high street/drug store brand imo. But, I guess there's always the odd anomaly or 'blip'. The brush is far too big for my liking and this makes application really difficult and darn right fiddly. I'm not a big fan of the formula either which seems to take ages to dry, but perhaps that's to do with the many a clumps this attracts?! It's cheap and cheerful at £6.99 but nope, it's not for me!

Avon's Colour Trend...eye shadow/liner stick? Had this one a while and only used it once...says a lot really! The quality of the cream shadow and crayon liner just isn't great. It blends...with effort, but there's nothing that nice about it. Just a big thumbs down to be honest!

Nicola Robert's Dainty Doll WHITE Foundation by Jelly Pong Pong. Yep, I guess the shade is enough to put you off, unless of sure you're Snow White. But I thought maybe the idea behind this would be to mix it with those foundations that are perhaps a little too dark for you? Waste not want not and all that. Wrong. In fact this questionable foundation contains serious sparkle! I mean I like a bit of shimmer and all that but not over my entire face! It's just odd. Enough said. 

Laura Mercier's eye lash curlers. I'd say be aware of these. Sure the design is really cool and you think 'ahh they're so compact and nifty', but they over-curl like a bi-atch. They don't fit my eyes particularly well either and I remember them to be fairly pricey. I'll stick to my bog-standard cheap curlers for now I think!

Lip stains/ lip pen markers. I guess this isn't all that personal to Maybelline's Color Sensational and Max factor's Lipfinity versions, but they dry out so quick! I mean under the month mark. And then you get that scratchy feeling when trying to apply them. I don't think I can warrant the money for just a few week's worth of use. However, I must say the Maybelline one smells absolutely delicious...like summer fruit berries! Yum.  

Max factor's Lipfinity two step duo. I really like the concept of this, with the glossy texture drying quickly. Application is fairly easy and it leaves a nice finish. It seems to withstand perhaps more than many lip products but it's staying power starts to crumble after an hour or two...literally crumble. You're left with a flaky peeling effect that looks to me like you either haven't applied your lipstick well or indeed you have the driest lips ever known...I mean seriously grab yourself a Carmex quick! These aren't personally looks I like to go for, so I'll pass on this. 

And that's a wrap...some of my most disppointing purchases!

Max Factor's Clump Defy

Pictured before going to University :)

Hello! So, I blogged about buying Max Factor's Clump Defy Mascara and as I promised...here's my review of it.

I've been a fan of Max Factor mascaras for a couple of years now...with the False Lash Effect taking 1st place in my mascara collection for the whole of 2012, and much of 2011 tbh!

When I heard this new guy had hit town I knew it was only a matter of time before I'd have him in my collection! Not too sure why it's a male, or why I'm giving a mascara a gender but hey ho! So, when I saw that Boots were doing a special offer, £11.99 reduced to £7.99, it gave me that extra push to buy it.

The brush is fairly similar to that of the False Lash Effect with its plastic spread out bristles and feels pretty similar when applying. However, the Clump Defy brush differs with a curve and the brush head is slightly smaller. It reminds me a little of the Maybelline's Falsie's brush, shape-wise.

When first using the mascara I have to admit I was a little disappointed. Unlike many new mascaras, that are quite wet and perhaps over-coated with formula, I found this one didn't seem to have as much product on the brush as I would have liked. However, as I often find, the second use of a product is always a little easier, especially with mascaras that tend to need a little 'breaking in' as it were.

I've been using this product near on every day now and I really like the results it gives. It really lives up to its name as I haven't experienced any clumping whatsoever! The brush is really easy to work with and makes applying mascara to the tricky parts of the eye a piece of cake.

I usually find the lashes towards the inner corners of the eye pretty fiddly, with most mascaras creating a 'blobby' issue with too much product taking hold. However, this isn't the case for the Clump Defy, making it really easy to restrict how much product goes on. And for this reason, I have to move my False Lash Effect mascara off its pedestal and give the Clump Defy 1st place!

Well done Max Factor, another brilliant mascara!