Wednesday 20 March 2013

Even better eyes!

This product has been all over the adverts and I couldn't wait to try this out because I do suffer with darkness around my eye are and this product has been clinically proven to reduce dark circles in 12 weeks. It has massaging tip applicator that feels gorgeous around the eye, it also helps to improve the circulation around the eye area and has a cooling, anti fatigue effect. 

The product comes out as a beige colour it is not a concealer or makeup as it is a purely an eye treatment but it does contain light reflective ingredients to give an instant glow around the eye area to brighten up dark circles. When i use this product I do not feel like I need to apply concealer on top but if I did want a full cover up of my dark circles I would go on to apply a concealer over the top. This product feels light, nourishing and lovely and makes you feel more positive and awake in the mornings. It retails at £28.00 for Clinique counters or online so far I have been using this for 4 weeks and I am already seeing a difference in the texture and colour around my eye area.
Have any of you in the beauty blogging community tried this out yet, whats your verdict?
xxxx

Finally Invested: MAC 217

This is a very simple post just to let you know that I have finally done something I have been dying to do for a long time, I love my mac shadows and have seen lots of tutorials on Youtube especially from Tanya Burr using the mac 217 blending brush. 
I am so glad I have got this baby in my collection, it blends eye shadows seamlessly and makes applying shadow especially in the crease so much easier, it helps me create so much more dimension when applying eye shadows. It really is a super, super brush!
This brush can be purchased from mac counters or the website at http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/145/380/217 for £17.00 (it is totally worth it!)
Is there there any other mac eye brushes you would recommend for me to purchase for my brush collection?
xxx

Wednesday 13 March 2013

Random collection: this weeks favourites

This week I am loving mac lipstick in bombshell this is lovely metallic pink with a gold shimmer as I was looking for something at bit brighter and bolder for the spring time. 
This week I have also rediscovered my love for Clinique's moisture surge - extended thirst relief for all skin types. This moisturiser has a more gel like texture than a cream and it helps to restore the moisture barrier making the skin feel and look more nourished  healthier and repaired. Recently my skin has been feeling quite dry in certain I love using this treatment at night as I wake up with velvety soft and supple skin which always makes you feel healthier and happier during the morning. The thing I like the most about this product is that when I have used this overnight I find that in the morning my makeup applies so much better and more smoothly. This is truly a staple product, love, love, love it!

 

I have rediscovered this fabulous bargain product this week as I have just been using concealer as my eye shadow base, but this week I have gone back to applying this over my eye lid before applying powder shadow and this has just reminded of why I loved this product so much in the first place! MUA have done well with this one, it is almost the same as the Urban Decay Primer Potion but a fraction of the price.

This post is very random but I just wanted to write a bit about these products I have been absolutely loving this week, what are your beauty favourites this week? :)
xxxx

Revlon Foundation Haul

I have just been on a Boots haul and picked up these Revlon foundations and the Photoready powder.
I have read so many reviews on the Revlon colorstay makeup and with having a combination/oily skin I was pleased to see that you can get a foundation from an affordable brand that is specifically made for my skin type. I also picked up Revlon Photoready as I have used up a bottle of this already as I just think it is a brilliant foundation and the colour 004 Nude is perfect for me, it is great for all occasions and gives me a flawless finish. 
(Revlon colorstay retails at £12.49 and Revlon Photoready £12.99)

(Revlon Photoready Powder retails at £11.29)
Whilst I was at the Revlon stand I noticed that they did a matching powder for the Photoready liquid makeup that I already loved, so I decided I would add this to my haul, I got it in the shade 020 Light/Medium as Medium/Dark would be too dark for my complexion. Overall I am not thrilled with the powder as I think you could get a cheaper powder that would be just as good as it wasn't as good as the Photoready foundation for the price. The colorstay makeup also disappointed me a little, even though the staying power is good I was a little disappointed with the finish of the foundation as I just felt it wasn't the best coverage and made my skin feel a bit cakey. But its okay because I will still continue to love my Photoready foundation in 004 Nude
Have you got any Revlon makeup favourites to share?
xxx

Best Eyelash glue!

Staple Beauty Kit Product (for false eyelash wearers)
Duo adhesive is probably not new to any of you beauty bloggers but I have recently only just purchased this product (shocking I know) It really does the job effectively and you get a nice big tube of product that will last me forever as I only apply false lashes for nights out and special occasions. 
Recently using this I thought it deserved a blog post I used it with the bargain eyelashes from Primark purchased for £1.00 as I often think it is the quality of the glue that matters the most when applying false eyelashes and I am always happy with my Primark lashes. 
The formulation I purchased is the white formula that dries clear, however I have found that their are other variations of this eyelash adhesive. 
You can purchase this product for a bargain price from amazon and other supplies, here is a link for an amazons seller: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Duo-DUO-ADHESIVE-2oz-14/dp/B000TC2PP2
Hope you have found this post helpful, thanks for reading! xxx

Ojon hair treat!

OJON RARE BLEND OIL - Total Hair Therapy with Ojon Oil, Rouge Oleifera, Tahitian Monoi Oil, Kukui Oil, Marula, Ximenia Oil, Kalahari Desert Oil.


I have tried and tested many hair oils and I saw this at the Ojon hair stand in Boots Manchester, I thought that it looked very interesting and the fact that it has 3 hair oil mixtures in one that you shake up so the oils merge and then you apply a very small amount to you hair to give your hair nourishment and repair. The oil smells pleasant and smells similar to other Ojon products which always smell very natural but luxurious. This hair oil retails at £29.00 and can be found at www.ojon.co.uk

The way I have been using this product so far is by tipping it on to my hair and massaging it in to wet hair, is there any other ways that you would recommend me to use this product?
xxxx

MAC Pallette

In this post I am going to show you my new mac eye shadow pans I have just purchased as I have chosen some of the most wearable shades and thought this post would be helpful to those of you who are wanting to expand their mac shadow collection. I started my collection with the shades fig. 1,vex and beauty marked - I ended up with these shades as they were the shades that stood out to me as being something different that I wouldn't be able to find from other brands and i decided I would house them in a mac pro 15 shadow palette (this is now the old version as the new one has a clear lid)

I decided I wanted to add some more neutral shades to my collection and i chose the shades:
  • Goldmine
  • Naked lunch 
  • Embark 
  • Ricepaper 
  • Omega
  • Antiqued 
  • Nylon
  • All that glitters


 This is how my palette is currently organised I am hopefully going to fill up the other four spaces with some more shadows soon and will hopefully post up some eye makeup ideas with these shadows
Thanks for reading, have you got any recommendations on your favourite mac eye shadows?
xxx

TOM FORD - Black Orchid Review

Tom Ford is a high end cosmetic brand selling a wide range of high quality fragrance and makeup. This particular fragrance is the most famous of the bunch.
It is housed in this beautiful black class bottle with a textured surface and is labelled with a high quality gold engraved plaque. The fragrance is very strong so would not be recommended to people who like a 'light' fragrance as this one is heavy and is more of an evening fragrance. I myself like quite a prominent fragrance for evening wear and this is exactly that and makes you feel all luxurious. It really is a stunning perfume.
  • 30ml - £48.00 , 50ml - £69.00, 100ml - .£95.00
  • Product description - 'Tom Ford`s luxuriously indulgent signature scent, sure to captivate your senses like no other. The attention is captured by a sensuous blend of Black Truffle and Ylang mingled with fresh Bergamot and delectable Black Currant. A dramatic signature unfolds with the custom-made Tom Ford Black Orchid blended with dark, tempting florals and rich fruit accords. The heart is deepened with the intoxicating Lotus Wood. The decadent Noir Gourmand Accord is balanced by Patchouli-incense and Vetiver. Vanilla tears add a fluid creaminess to warm Balsam and smooth Sandalwood.'

Go to your Tom Ford counter and test this out you will understand my views as it really does hold a beautiful scent on your skin that will last on until you wash it away. It is truly beautiful!
xxx

Smells Luxury!


JO MALONE - Pomergranate Noir Cologne
I have read so many reviews on the quality and delightful scents of Jo Malone fragrance products. 
I decided I would treat myself after smelling the Pomergranate Noir at a Jo Malone counter I loved the smell, so I have treated myself to the fragrance Cologne. The fragrance is described on the website as;
'The sensuality of a daring red dress. Ruby-rich juices of pomegranate, raspberry and plum are spiked with pink pepper and laced with Casablanca lily and spicy woods. Dark and enigmatic.'


























So for those of you have not yet smelt it that will give you a better overview than what I can describe, but if you are passing the Jo Malone shops or counters definitely have a smell of the luxury scents they have to offer, I am in love with this one!
xxx

Current Favourite Nail Varnish

I picked up this Quick Dry Nail Varnish from NYC in Superdrug for £1.79
I fancied something a bit different for my nails and wanted a nice muted grey shade. I picked this one up which is from the 'in a NY colour minute' range in shade 270 - sidewalkers




I would describe this as a muted grey colour with sky blue undertones. It looks really nice on the nails and is a bit different to the usual shades I would go for. The formulation is officially one of the best I have worn, I am awful with nails I always seem to end up smudging them or chipping them after a few hours of wearing the nail colour, however this nail product is just what I needed it dries almost instantly, it last on for a week with minimal chipping after the 4-5th day (which is good for me)
I love it and will definitely be heading down to Superdrug to pick up more of these bargain nail varnishes!
xxx

Look Beauty

I used to be a massive fan of the magazine Look, it is a beauty and fashion magazine (which of course was up my street!)
I had read on various beauty blogs that they had launched a line of very affordable make up in Superdrug. I hadn't seen the line in any of the Superdrug's near me so I didn't have a chance to browse. However I came across them recently in Manchester. I only picked up a couple of lip products; a lipstick (Loud Lips) and a lip liner. I have been looked for an appropriate nude lipstick that didn't make me look like I was wearing concealer all over my lips. I saw the shade Toffee Cup and thought it looked like a nice nude with a hint of peach undertones. I immediately picked this up with the affordable price tag and was wondering if I could find a lip liner to match this lipstick. I then food that Look Beauty did a matching liner in the same shade.. Result!






I have been wearing this combo quite frequently and for the cheap price tag it is an  idea everyday lipstick, the staying power isn't outstanding but it does more than you would expect for the price and the colour pigmentation is very good, it also has a nice vanilla scent (which reminded me a bit of the trademark mac lipstick scent) the lipstick was £7.00 and the lip liner was £4.00 but i do get student discount in Superdrug which gave me a 10% discount
Would definitely recommend checking out this make up range if you haven't already! xxx

My verdict: Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H

Passing through Selfridges - I got handed a sample pot and was told to visit the Lancome counter to receive a 7 day trial of foundation. Although Lancome foundations have never really stood out to me before my friend and I both agree'd it was a free service and we would give it a go. 
I have been trialing the foundation for 3 days and thought I would post my views on the formulation, staying power etc. on my blog. 

The Lancome makeup artist told us that Teint Idole Ultra would be the most appropriate formulation for our skin type (combination/oily) she kindly applied a full face application of the foundation for us. Along with some blusher and lipstick. She then gave us a sample of the foundation at the end of our consultation. The colour I was matched I felt was slightly to pink for my skin tone however it was not far away from my natural skin colour so I could still wear my foundation. I like the feel of the foundation as it is very light and does not feel like you are wearing make up (which is always good), but I really dislike the scent of the make up. The scent to me smells very floral and overpowering and I do not like using scented products all over my face. The wearing time was good but I found that it did start to go blotchy around my nose after about 4 hours of applying it, I didn't like this as I felt that it made my pores look more prominent. 
Overall I am grateful I have been able to test out this product as it isn't something I would usually get to try out but I would not go ahead and purchase this foundation..
Sorry Lancome :(
Have any of you used Lancome foundation, what is your verdict? xxx

Tuesday 12 March 2013

Wow mascara!

Clinique - high lengths mascara 

This wouldn't be the usual type of mascara wand I would ever go for as it looks as though it will have little effect on the eyelashes apart from combing them through. But be prepared to be wowed!



This has become my new favourite along with Lancome Hypnose mascara. 
I love the way the mascara wand is curved as it helps to brush you lashes into a flattering shape and curl, it also really does grab all your lashes (even the mini regrowth ones too) As for the mascara being called high lengths it does exactly what it says on the packaging! Its the most lengthening mascara I have ever used and you get no clumping at all. The formulation as with all Clinique's formulation lasts all day with no flaking or smudging but is still easy and fast to remove. It is a little makeup gem! 

Eyelashes before any mascara
application.








Eyelashes with two coats of the high lengths mascara with black kohl liner on my water line.








Any readers looking for a lengthening mascara give this one a go! It retails for £16.00 and is available from all Clinique counters or online xxx

Monday 11 March 2013

Miniature Bargain Beauty Haul

 Here are some bits and bobs I have picked up over the last few weeks from the Supermarket & Primark. I thought that there are some valid purchases that are worth sharing with the blogging world.
First up is some Pure Coconut Oil - I picked this up at my nearest ASDA store as I had read things on the internet that it has very good nourishing properties and is a good ointment for damaged hair to use as a hair mask. I found this on the health & beauty department which was quite handy as I haven't actually seen it in shops before and thought that you could only get it in health shops.

I applied it to dampened hair by warming some of the solid oil in my palms and spreading it through the lengths of my hair. I then wrapped my hair in a warm and damp towel and relaxed in the bath for around 20-30 minutes. I then rinsed the oil out using warm water and used my normal shampoo and conditioner prior to this treatment. After when I came to blow drying my hair I used my normal heat protecting spray and a large paddle brush. My hair felt so different almost like it wasn't my own hair, it was so soft, moisturised and just felt significantly less damaged. I would definitely recommend this  as a natural hair treatment.

Next up is some beauty bits that I picked up from Primark, I was having a browse and didn't see any clothing items I was particularly interested in  but I have used both the eyelashes and the stick on nails before and for the little cost of £1 they are very good quality, so I thought I would pick some up whilst I was passing through. The eyelashes are great quality for the price and I thought I would pick up a thin pair and a thicker pair for a more dramatic effect.



I apologise for the length of time since my last post I have had the most hectic month of my life, but I was starting the blogging scene and am hopefully going to get back into it :)
xxx