23 November 2013 / cranberry, eotd, Eyeshadow, FOTD, MAC, MAKE UP, PRODUCT REVIEW
MAC - CRANBERRY EYESHADOW
The colder months are here therefore the Autumn/Winter shades are out again. The nice forest greens and the plummy purples are everywhere in shops when you are out shopping. MAC cranberry eyeshadow has been on my wishlist ever since seeing eye make-up looks posted on blogs recently but i have never got round to actually buying it. I went shopping the other day at Bicester village outlet where i usually go crazy over their Cosmetics Company because they sell products from MAC, Bobbi Brown, Estee Lauder and Clinique etc etc. I settled only for an eyebrow pencil because i needed one (Review coming soon) but i saw a box full of pan eyeshadows near the cashier so i went through them all and i was thrilled to find it in the Shade Cranberry, so i grabbed it for £7 which I thought was amazing!
The shadow is a lovely deep rich berry colour which seems quite intimidating to wear at first but when i used it on my eyes, i was surprised to find out that it is really easy to work with and blends out like a dream. Depending on how you want the look, this eyeshadow alone applied lightly can give you a lovely wash of colour on the lids without looking too harsh, but if you prefer a more intense look, this is really buildable and can contribute to a nice autumn smokey eye look. I prefer to use this shade as an everyday shade on my lids to add that extra bit of colour on my face and diverge from the usual browns and blacks that i usually go for. I recommend this shade for the autumn shades and i do believe that adding a nice plum shade eye base will intensify the look too!
What is your favourite MAC eyeshadow?
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11 November 2013 / FREEBIE, KATE SPADE, MAGAZINE, NAILS, NAILS INC. BEAUTY, PRODUCT REVIEW
KATE SPADE x NAILS INC
I got this as a free gift from Glamour magazine. When i have heard that the brand Kate Spade has worked with Nails inc to bring out some colours which are perfect for the festive season, i wanted to get to WHSmiths as soon as possible. I adore the Kate spade ranges so i am pleased to get my hands on this polish as a freebie. On the shelf, there was only a couple of Glamour magazines left and both were of this colour 'Uptown Glamour' but i wasn't fussed because this was the one i really wanted.
When i finally applied it on my nails, i found that the brush was not rigid enough and hard to precisely apply the nail polish. The colour is absolutely amazing and the opacity was of high standards too, giving me an even coat of colour after just one layer. I find that this formulation was quite streaky though and it was a little bit gloopy. I'm not sure whether it is because i picked up a dodgy one or not, but i am willing to put up with it since the colour is beautiful and i love the brand Kate Spade.
This colour is perfect for the festive season but not too over the top with the glitter and the sparkles. I quite like this muted down metallic gold colour as it gives a sophisticated look and goes well with most outfits. I am glad that i picked up with colour as opposed to the other ones because this one is a colour that is not in my collection yet whilst the other ones: Black, red and silver i believe are already in my stash somewhere and i find that those colours are more generic.
Did you pick up glamour magazine this month yet?
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6 November 2013 / Benefit, Dandelion, LIPGLOSS, MAKE UP, PRODUCT REVIEW
- BENEFIT DANDELION ULTRA PLUSH LIPGLOSS -
I'm not going to lie, but i did just purchase this magazine just for this Benefit Freebie. I am a huge fan of benefit products but i find that their products are quite expensive and i haven't taken to plunge yet to try out these lip-glosses which i have always wanted. I think this opportunity is perfect to try out the formulation and to assess whether i like it or not before going all out and buying the full sized version. The Elle magazine offers readers a choice of 3 shades: Dandelion, Coralista or Hoola. I picked dandelion because I am more into my nudes glosses but I do like the other 2 shades too although i would be less likely to use them on a day to day basis.
The formulation of this gloss is very thick compared to the lipglosses that i am use to. Dandelion has subtle shimmers in which makes it so pretty when it catches the light and makes it appropriate for day time use. My lips are quite sensitive and some glosses cause them to peel but this lipgloss is nice and gentle and doesn't cause a problem to them. Due to the thick texture of this, this gloss is very long lasting and comfortable to wear. Take care when applying this straight from the tube because it is easy to dispense too much product needed. This product is now in my daily make-up travel bag because of its small size and ease of use without a mirror. If you are a fan of benefit products or want to try out their lipglosses, then i recommend you check out Elle magazine in stores soon to not miss out on this lovely gift.
Have you tried anything from Benefit Cosmetics?
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3 November 2013 / autum, Benefit, Chanel, FOTD, L'oreal, Lancome, Laura Mercier, MAKE UP, Maybelline, NARS, No.7, rimmel, Shu uemura
MY AUTUMN FOTD
FACE
Laura Mercier Face Primer (review here)
L'oreal Nude Magique Eau De teint 110 warm ivory (review here)
Rimmel Stay matte powder 003 Peach Glow
Maybelline Superstay 24Hr concealer 2 Light
Benefit Hooler
Benefit Posie Tint
Benefit High beam
EYES
Chanel eyebrow pencil shade 30
NARS pro-prime eyeshadow primer
MUA Single Eyeshadows: Shade 7 &24
L'oreal superliner perfect slim: Intense Black
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
Lancome Hypnose Drama Waterproof
Rimmel Scandaleyes waterproof eyeliner 001 Black (review here)
LIPS
No.7 Precision lipliner
Rimmel Kate 107
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What is your favourite Autumn/Fall Make-up product?
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17 October 2013 / GOSH, L'oreal, Laura Mercier, MAKE UP, Maybelline, No.7, primers, PRODUCT REVIEW, revlon, Shu uemura, The body shop
MY PRIMER COLLECTION || REVIEW
Over the years i have accumulated a bunch of primers in my make-up collection so i thought that it is a good idea to share a mini brief review on each one for you lovely readers. Firstly, i have combination-oily skin so i would like my primers to help with sebum control and make my make-up more long lasting.
Maybelline Dream Smooth Primer
This is a very jelly like type consistency and i was very interested in trying it out. I liked the small pot this product was packaged in so it was good for taking for travelling. I find this product to be nothing special and it has that very distinct silicone feel to it so some of you out there may not like it. It leaves the skin very smooth and it allowed my foundation to guide on it seemlessly. I do like this, but i find that you get too little product for your money and it can be used up very quickly.
L'oreal Studio Secrets Resurfacing Primer
I bought this product quite a while ago. Although i didn't love it, i didn't hate it neither. I find that the consistency of this is pretty thick and i usually have to warm up the product with my fingers before applying onto the face otherwise it would be too cakey and make my foundation more difficult to apply. A very good all rounder primer though if you are willing to make it work for you.
Shu Uemura UV underbase mousse
A very lightweight formulation which helps to brighten and even out skin-tone. It has a very high SPF which is great for use in the summer or on holiday. I find that the pump is very convenient to get an appropriate amount out for the entire face. It reduces the appearance of my pores and i find that it helps control my sebum levels too. A perfect primer for the summer or take on holiday due to its small packaging
The Body Shop mattifying primer
Another silicone based primer promising for that mattifying effect. Personally i find that this primer didn't really do it's job as well as i wanted it to. My oils came through regardless of whether i used this or not therefore i was a little bit let down. However, like most primers, it did make my foundation glide on easier and hid my pores very well. I personally like the body shop products but this just didn't work for me. Big thumbs down for this.
Laura Mercier foundation primer
This is a primer that stands out from the rest of my other primers. It is more of a lotion texture and it just melts into the skin really well to give a nice prepped skin ready for make-up. I just love the feel of this after application and i find that it doesn't emphasize my dry patches when i do have them. Due to the nature of this not being oil-free, i do need to blot and touch up my foundation a bit more requently.
No.7 Shine Free Primer
This product does it's job very very well and i think this deserves a big thumbs up. It mattifies the skin very well and it does control my oils very well throughout the day. I am overall impressed with this primer and i like using it on long days where i hardly have anytime to blot or touch up my foundation. One downside to this is that it does have some kind of drying effect on the skin and i find that it accentuated my dry patches if i had any, therefore i tend to avoid my more dryer areas when using this. Definitely a must have for oily skin individuals out there who is looking for a primer to control their oils.
Revlon Photoready Primer
Nothing too special about this primer. This is another silicone based primer but in a pump bottle which makes application a bit more easier. The texture is slightly on the thicker side and it does block up the nozzle after every use, so you will get a dried blob at the end of the pump nozzle which ends up you having product coming out out of your control. I will not repurchase this product.
GOSH Velvet Touch Line Perfector
A review i did a very long time ago, highlighted how much i didn't like this primer. This is a very balmy texture and i find that it just sat on top of my skin and made my dry patches on my skin look even worse than it is. It does give a nice smooth finish and hide pores quite well, but i didn't see anything special about this really. Disappointing product from GOSH because i do really love some of their products. Their eyeliners are amazing!
What is your favourite primer?
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15 October 2013 / face mask, No.7, product fail, PRODUCT REVIEW, SKINCARE
NO.7 PORE VACUUM MASK || REVIEW
I haven't used a peel off mask since i was in my teenage years and was very intrigued by one from the boots botanics range. It was fun to use and simple in the sense that you didn't need to rinse your face afterwards and as a teenager, there wasn't much products for experimentation. I had a No. 7 voucher from a boots purchase a while back which meant that it was perfectly reasonable for me to have a snoop around the No.7 counters where i stumbled upon this mask which i thought sounded great. After my holiday, i find that my pores are a tad congested and i really wanted something that can clear it and make it appear in better condition therefore the inner beauty junkie in me made the purchase soon after discovering it.
I was very eager to use it and like the instructions say, i slathered a pretty thick layer onto my troublesome areas which included my forehead, nose and chin area. It was a thick black clay-like consistency and the smell was not as pleasant as i would have liked it to be. I waited for around 10-15 minutes to dry before i was able to start peeling it away and revealing refreshed and cleansed skin like it claimed to do. Not only was the mask quite difficult to peels off in one go, it also seemed to have no observable effect on the skin because it just looked exactly like my skin before applying this product. It was so fiddly to remove this mask that i did get quite annoyed with it and even wanted to just wash it off which kind of defeats the purpose of a peel off mask.
Overall, i am quite dissapointed with this product but i am happy that i didn't pay the full price for it. No.7 does good quality skincare in general in my opinion, but this product is a big let down. I still want to try a few more of their products from their skincare line so i hope my next product from them will be a good one!
Have you tried any No.7 products?
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11 October 2013 / Drugstore, foundation, L'oreal, MAKE UP, PRODUCT REVIEW
L'OREAL NUDE MAGIQUE EAU DE TEINT || REVIEW
On the bottle:
"Fresh feel foundation, weightless bare perfection SPF 18
A featherlight foundation that feels as light and fresh as water. Instantly fuses with the skin blending seamlessly to leave a silky, second skin effect.
Perfect bare skin look
- Naturally even, shine free look
- Undetectable coverage
- Silky soft touch
- No make-up feel
- Non pore-clogging SPF 18"
According to the direction for use diagram on the back label, this foundation is best applied with fingers after shaking well to make sure the product is evenly mixed. I was drawn to this foundation because of the simple sophisticated frosted bottle and also because it was on the main display on the L'oreal stand. I was hooked when i felt the formulation of the testers and it just felt so light and watery unlike the standard foundations i have felt. This is very impressive in a sense that it comes out as a liquid but it transforms into a lovely silky consistency once you start blending it into the skin to leave a nice velvety look to the skin, almost like soft focus on the skin.
I personally have combination oily-skin so i sometimes prefer something light on the skin to prevent it getting to oily and also a mattifying product to help with that too. I find that this foundation although applies quite well and blends in easily, it clung onto my dry patches making it appear worse than it already is. Despite this downside, i find that it can easily be resolved by applying a primer before this foundation and all is fine. This foundation is extremely long lasting and it definitely has great oil control properties compared with some foundations i have tried.
I would avoid this foundation if you have dry skin because it gives a very matte finish and it dries almost instantly. To be very honest, i wouldn't choose to use this foundation during the colder winter months because i prefer to use something a little bit more hydrating but i was very intrigued to try this. Maybe i will use this on days which i have long shifts and i need my make-up to be long lasting as this seems to have great longevity and wear. For the price, packaging and 20mls of product i can say that this is a very good quality foundation and will definitely recommend it to people to try.
Have you tried this foundation yet?
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8 September 2013 / foundation, Laura Mercier, MAKE UP, PRODUCT REVIEW
LAURA MERCIER MINERAL POWDER REVIEW
We have had a great couple of months of summer with some very lovely sunshine and warm weather so the last thing i want is to apply a heavy coverage foundation to my face. I purchased this mineral powder a while ago but i found that the shade wasn't really as well matched to my skin as i thought therefore i banished this to the back of my make-up drawer. However, i dug this back out to give it another try and this time, it was no problem at all, maybe because i was too picky back then) Anyway, this is a loose lightweight mineral powder which i have heard lots about on the blogosphere so i was interested to try it out. I used to use the Elizabeth Arden one, but i find that the packaging is too large and clunky so i opted to try a different brand.
I was using this religiously for 2 weeks non-stop and i can definitely see an improvement in the condition of my skin. I have had less break-outs and my pores seem to look less clogged. This foundation is lovely to apply and it buffs very evenly and effortlessly onto the face to give a light coverage to even out the complexion. I usually have to pair this with a concealer depending on how nice my skin is for the day and how much coverage i want. I have combination oily-skin and i find that this foundation lasts relatively long, around 4-5 hour before i feel that i need to blot and touch up. Another great thing that i have to say about this, is that it doesn't give a very matte and powdery finish but rather a nice subtle healthy glow to the skin. You must remember to apply an SPF base underneath this foundation, because i feel that SPF 15 is not enough for the summer and it is essential to protect against the UV rays to avoid wrinkles and darkspots. Overall it looks light and effortless on the skin and i really enjoy using this for that healthy summer look paired with a nice blush or bronzer. I use the Zoeva powder brush to apply this which i find gives amazing results and i will definitely repurchase this product when i run out.
Have you tried any mineral powders?
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1 September 2013 / HAIR, JOHNFRIEDA, PRODUCT REVIEW
REVIEW || JOHN FRIEDA FULL-REPAIR
John Frieda Hydrate and Rescue Shampoo*
John Freida Hydrate and Rescure Conditioner*
John Frieda Repairing oil elixir*
My hair is very long therefore it is quite difficult to keep it in a relatively good condition. It is inevitable that i have numerous split ends and it does bother me when i do not have enough time to constantly use hair masques and treatments on it. I am a student nurse so it is difficult to spend time deep conditioning my locks maintaining its condition and preventing split-ends, therefore when i was contacted to ask whether i will be interested in trying out some products, i was delighted to give it a try. When i saw this hydrate and rescue duo, i was so delighted because my hair was in a very dry and damaged state through using so many hair products and sea-salt sprays during the summer.
The shampoo and conditioner was very rich and luxurious to touch. It smelt amazing and it lathered up very well giving my hair a nice good clean but hydrating my hair at the same time. Usually i tend to avoid 'repair' or 'hydrating' shampoos because they tend to be too heavy for my fine hair, but i am delighted to say that these hair products left my hair feeling fresh and clean without weighing it down. It definitely left my hair feeling very soft to touch. I have been using these for just over a week now and i have seen improvements in the look and feel of my hair. In combination with the normal haircare products, i use the repairing oil elixir on the ends of my hair before blowdrying which is nothing new to me as it is a standard part of my hair care routine. The oil is very light to touch and it absorbed into my damp hair very well without the ends of my hair clumping together like some hair oils tend to do. A little bit goes a long way and i love the fact that it smells great and doesn't make my hair greasy at all.
I do like John Freida products in general and i have also been a big fan of their voluminous shampoo and conditioner which i use on special occasions when i want that extra something for my hair. So this if somebody asked me how to treat my dry hair? i would highly recommend this range because it is worth every penny and i would definitely continue to adore John Freida hair products. Furthermore, if you are interested in recieving expert hair styling tips advice, you can check out videos from their youtube channel here.
Have you tried any John Frieda hair products?
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28 August 2013 / bbcream, dr jart, MAKE UP, PRODUCT REVIEW
REVIEW || DR JART WATER FUSE BB CREAM
What attracted me most about this BB cream is the fact that it is oil-free which is very appealing to me seeing that alot of BB creams on the market is quite sheer and too oily for my combination-oily skintype. This BB cream has a very faint medicinal scent and it looks very much like foundation. The consistency is quite thick but blends very easily to a semi-matte finish. As you can see from the image above, it brightens the skintone and evens out imperfections and redness which i always have after washing my face in the morning! I find that a little bit of this product goes a very long way given the thick consistency of it so it's good to know that one tube of this will last me quite a while.
I purchased this specifically because the weather was getting very hot and humid and i find that my Lancome teint idole ultra is a little bit too heavy for my liking in the summer and i wanted a more light-weight coverage with a higher SPF to protect my skin, so this was perfect and it was on offer too. This BB cream is relatively long lasting, it was around 4-5 hours until i felt like i needed to blot and powder my face. It felt very comfortable and i really enjoyed wearing this on a day to day basis because it was so light and gave a healthy glow to the skin. If you have oily-combination skin, then i think this BB cream is suitable for you because it is oil-free and provides a semi-matte finish giving a much more healthy radiant glow to the skin!
Have you tried any BB creams?
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27 August 2013 / NAIL, NAILS, PRODUCT REVIEW, revlon
REVIEW || REVLON NAIL ART MOON CANDY
Just casually browsing around boots 'again' and i saw this on the revlon stands. The nail swatch that it had underneath this product really drawn me towards it. I like the packaging of it because it was nicely designed and looked nice and sleek. It retails for £7.99 in boots stores which is quite reasonable seeing that you get 2 nail polishes in 1 tube. One side was a deep ink blue colour and the other side was a pretty aqua colour with iridescent flecks of foils inside. I have used nail polishes like this before a couple years ago when Nails inc collaborated with Gossip girl (Reviewed here) and i loved the finish that it gave.
The blue nail polish was so pigmented and opaque and i was so surprised. It was probably one of the most pigmented nail polish i have used before which deserved a thumbs up. The formulation was very good, neither too gloopy or too runny. It easily gave me a nice even layer which dried alot faster than i expected! Next, i went to apply the amazing coat when the blue was dried. It was actually harder than expected to get the foil to evenly coat the nail rather than just chunks of the foil on one particular part of the nail~ but it's good that it generates a spontaneous look, making it more magical and amazing to look at.
The only downside to this nail polish is that the flecks of foil particles sometime sticks out and gets caught on things. I have applied a layer of clear nail polish to try and seal it, but it didn't really help that much. It didn't happen with my old Nails inc version i wasn't sure whether it was just this Revlon's version or my way of applying it. Regardless, it is an amazing polish to own and i am looking into purchasing more of these but in different colour. I've had alot of compliments on them already and they just add that extra sparkle to any outfit hehe <3
Whats your favourite nail polish shade?
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21 August 2013 / brush, MAKE UP, PRODUCT REVIEW, zoeva
- ZOEVA BRUSHES REVIEW -
I've been pondering for quite a while whether to make an order on LoveMakeup.com or not. I first saw these Zoeva brushes used by youtube gurus such as GossMakeup and TanyaBurr and i did a little research after. I technically do not need any more brushes because i have quite a bunch already including ones from Sigma, MAC and Real techniques. However, one night i caved in a clicked away on some of the brushes from the collection that i really wanted to try out and it was quite difficult because there was such an array of different shapes and designs from the range. In the end, i picked 5.
124 GRAND STIPPLING
106 POWDER
228 CREASE
101 LUXE FACE DEFINER
The order arrived in one day! i was quite amazed by that and i was impressed by their hasty service. I opened the package and i saw these gorgeous brushes almost too beautiful to open and use. I just remember unwrapping each one and stroking them because they were so soft to touch and felt like they were very sturdy and well mad.
I have used all the brushes and they are all of high quality and the price is very reasonable for them compared with many other brushes from high-end lines. When i spot cleaned them with my MAC brush cleanser, the colour came out very easily and they didn't shed any hairs at all. They also retain their shape nicely. It was lovely for Zoeva to provide you with these really nice sleeves too for you to put your make-up brushes in to prevent them from damage or getting other things in your make-up bag dirty~ Perfect if you travel quite often like me!
All brushes available at www.love-makeup.co.uk
What are your favourite make-up brushes?
What are your favourite make-up brushes?
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19 August 2013 / MAKE UP, mascara, Maybelline, PRODUCT REVIEW
- MAYBELLINE LASHIONISTA MASCARA REVIEW -
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This mascara contains little fibers as you can see in the image above and they are very flexible and soft. The formulation is very light and it glides onto the lashes and coats them very well. However, i do find that the formula is a bit wet and much care needs to be taken when applying or else it transfers to the skin. It lengthens beautifully and it is very buildable layer by layer to generate endless length like it states on it's tagline on its packaging! My lashes instantly looks longer and seperated after a couple of coats and no signs of spidery legs look.
The only downside to this mascara is that it isn't waterproof. From an oily eyelid and watery contact lens wearer's perspective, a waterproof mascara is a must to avoid racoon eyes. However, this mascara has very good longevity and doesn't seem to smudge much compared with other non-waterproof mascaras but i find that some of the fibres slowly comes off during the day and ends up on my face sometimes as little dots or flakes. Due to it's non waterproof formula, it has a tendency to drop my nicely curled top lashes but works perfectly with my bottom lashes! Amazing mascara and i definitley recommend it to girls who wants perfect lengths for their lashes although i am not sure where you can purchase this apart from Asia~ such a shame.
What is your favourite mascara?
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16 August 2013 / clothes, clothing, dress, FASHION, mango, newlook, primark, skirt
- Mini Clothing Haul in August -
Vest Top (Primark) // Skirt & Belt £12.99 (New Look) 
Heart Boyfriend Tee (Primark) // Necklace (Mango Sale)
Simple Black Dress £9.99 (Newlook)
Three pack skinny bow belts £4.99 (Newlook)
I haven't been purchasing much clothes recently because there has been so many new summer make-up launches so i have been solely focusing on the make-up aspects rather than clothing since there is not many items that have caught my eyes. I prefer simple clothing that is also comfortable to wear and effortless to pair with anything to form an outfit. I have provided a few links to the items that i have purchased, but some of them i can't find on the website so i just stated which store i got it from so you can go check it out if you are interested! Hope you guys have a good day~ <3
What is your favourite clothing store?
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14 August 2013 / Benefit, bourjois, FOTD, L'oreal, Laura Mercier, MAC, MAKE UP, Maybelline, NARS, urban decay
FOTD - August '13
Face
Laura Mercier foundation primer
Bourjois healthy mix serum foundation
Benefit Hoola
NARS albatross
Benefit highbeam
Maybelline superstay 24 concealer
Eyes
Urban decay naked palette: Virgin, Half-baked, dark-horse
MAC omega eyeshadow
L'oreal superliner precision
Lips
MAC speed dial
What's your favourite face product?
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