Saturday 31 May 2014

May Empties!

As i've mentioned in previous empties i've been really trying to use up products especially skincare. This month i've managed to use up a good amount of product and have some that are running low ready for next months posts!
First up haircare, as always i've finished a can of the Batiste Tropical Dry Shampoo, this is my favourite and I use up a can nearly every month. The next is the L'oreal Elivive Fibrology Thickening Shampoo, I was really impressed with this product, it definitely added some thickness to my hair, i've already repurchased. 
For shower products i've finished two Soap & Glory bits. The first being the Pulp Friction Body Scrub, this smells lovely and really does make your skin feel smooth. Perfect to use in the shower, I will no doubt repurchase this at somepoint. Next is the Sugar Crush Body Wash, this smells so lovely and this big bottle lasts a really long time. I'm already onto my next bottle of this. 
I've only finished one body product this month which is the Sanctuary Spa 5 Day Moisture Creamy Body Oil, this smells like a spa, and although it's a cream it leaves your skin feeling like you've used a body oil just with less mess. I definitely want to pick up another bottle of this soon.
Onto skincare, first being a face mask which I normally don't use up that fast. The REN Invisible Pores Detox Mask is a really good clay mask which isn't drying. I do really like this but it isn't my most used so I won't be rushing out to get this again. The next product is a sample of the Elemental Herbology Facial Glow Radiance Peel, this leaves the skin feeling so smooth and bright, i've had a few samples of this and I really do love it. I'm tempted to get the full size but it's a little pricey. Next up is the Garnier Simply Essential Soothing Vitamin Enriched Toner, I love this because it's basic, does the job and doesn't irritate my skin. I'm already onto my next bottle. Finally I finished the Nivea 3 in 1 Micellar Cleansing Water (review), this was pretty good, it removed makeup nicely. I would get this again but the Garnier version is just as good and is better value for money.

So that's it for this months favourite. Nothing this month that I really didn't like, mostly things I like I will repurchase. Have you used up any favourite products this month?

Thursday 29 May 2014

May Beauty Favourites!

This month has been a nice one with not having the stress of Uni work, instead i've been able to get lots done that I had been putting off including testing out and rediscovering some beauty products. There's a good mix of new favourites and old ones this month so lets get into it!
To start things off I have a new haircare favourite. The Charles Worthington Moisture Seal Mineral Hair Rescue Masque, I love this style container as it makes using the product really easy. The product itself smells lovely and really helps to make my hair feel soft and smooth and not weighed down. 
Onto skincare, first being the Super Facialist By Una Brennan Vitamin C Brighten Skin Renew Cleansing Oil. I've had this a while but never stuck to using this month, first thing it has the best orange scent to it. You only need a small amount to remove makeup and dirt leaving the skin feeling smooth and clean. The next thing is the Good Things Manuka Honey Radiance Face Mask, I haven't tried much from this brand but this mask has made me want to try more from this range. This mask has a lovely honey scent leaves the skin feeling clean and looks refreshed. A nice quick fix which isn't expensive. 
For base this month i've worn the Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream (review) so much lately. Applied with the Real Techniques Complexion Sponge (review) it covers just the right amount whilst still looking natural on the skin. Perfect base for the warmer weather. To make sure everything lasts longer i've been using the Max Factor Facefinity All Day Primer (review). This stuff is seriously good, it feels light on the skin and really does help to control oil and make my base last longer, it also has an SPF 20 which is an added bonus.
I've been using a few different eyeshadows this month but the standout has been the NARS Kalahari Eyeshadow Duo (review), this is the perfect neutral duo and the shadows are such good quality that they blend really well and last on the lids. For cheeks i've loved the Makeup Revolution Vivid Baked Blush in Loved Me The Best (review), this blush is really pigmented and leaves a lovely rosey sheen to the cheeks.
Finally some lip product favourites. I've been reaching for long lasting fuss free products and these two have been my favourites. The first the Collection Cream Puff in Fairy Cake, this is the perfect peachy pink, it's creamy but matte and stays around for a good 4 hours. The next the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Ole Flamingo! This is also a matte finish but feels like a balm on the lips. This shade is a lovely bright pink and this will last all day even with drinking and eating. Pretty amazing, I definitely want to pick up some more shades.

So that's this months beauty favourites. What products have you been loving this month?

Tuesday 27 May 2014

Boots Beauty Haul

I went into Boots the other day because I was in need of a few new bits. I've been really trying to use up old products so much so i've actually ran out of some things! 
The first thing I got was on a recent supermarket trip. I had a voucher for the Garnier Moisture Match Cream for Combination/Oily skin. My current moisturiser is nearly gone so I thought I would try something different. Expect a review at some point. The next thing is a repurchase, the L'oreal Absolute Makeup Remover Eye & Lip. This is my favourite eye makeup remover as it will remover again without irritating the eyes.
I've had a few annoying breakouts on my neck so I thought I would give the Boots Tea Tree Witch Hazel Body Scrub. I don't like to use harsh scrubs on my face but I do find them effective on my body. 
I had heard that the Yes To range had finally made it's way into Boots but this weekend was my first time seeing it. They had a really good selection and everything was a 1/3 off. I thought I would give the Yes To Tomatoes Daily Clarifying Cleanser, this seems like it will be a great cleanser to use in the morning so i'm excited to give it a go. 
I was in need of some new toothpaste and spotted that if you bought the new Colgate Max White Toothpaste you got a free Nails Inc polish. I choose the shade Optic Flame which is a lovely bright orange red. 
Finally I picked up some of the new Revlon Single Eyeshadows. I've heard some good things about these and I like the fact you can click them together. I got the shades Melon, which is a lovely peachy colour and Taupe which as the name suggests is a nice taupey shade. These seem to be nice quality. They're not crazy pigmented but I kind of like that in that you don't end up applying too much product.

So those are some of my recent Boots purchases. I may have also made a few online skincare purchases whilst there were some good deals over the Bank Holiday weekend so no doubt there will be another haul showing those! Have you bought anything from Boots recently?

Sunday 25 May 2014

Week In Pictures #7

I'm back with another chatty post today. Since I last did one of these i've finished University (kind of scary!) so i'm now enjoying some well needed rest time before I go to Stockholm a week on Tuesday which i'm very excited about. Having some free time as meant i've been wanting to get lots done. Since we moved house in February i've wanted to paint my room which I finally did last week. I plan on doing a room tour soon since i'm really happy with how it's looking. 
BEAUTY:
Starting with beauty bits, i've really been enjoying blogging again now I don't have essays to worry about. Some favourite posts recently, Spring Lips, I really love this picture. As well i've been loving Lighter Bases recently; the Bourjois CC Cream as been a true stand out and a great fuss free product to slap on in a rush. A somewhat naughty purchases, I treated myself to the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette, not only are these shadows beautiful they smell like chocolate. A full blog post on this beauty will be going up soon!
I can't help but take pictures of our dog Rufus, I just find him so adorable. The top photo was taken on a Monday morning, I think the head in the paws shows that he wasn't happy for the weekend to be over! As I mentioned i've been decorating my room I also organised my dressing table drawer and things look a lot less messy.

FOOD:
I've been back on the healthy eating and fitness again. I've been trying to work out a lot more, to do this i've been going on dog walks with Rufus and doing some of Jillian Michael's workouts. Some are seriously hard work but i'm already feeling stronger. Food wise, I made porridge from scratch the other day which was a really good filling breakfast. As well i've been giving 'healthy' brownies a go. Made with no butter, instead you use on avocado! Still super tasty but more guilt free. 

MUSIC AND TV:
It safe to say the new Black Keys record, Turn Blue has been my main obsession recently. I'm so in love with everything on this album, there's not a track I don't like. The standout for me is the amazing opener Weight Of Love. The lyrics are deep in places yet the music still sounds up beat. TV wise I recently started watching Fringe which is such a weird show yet I find myself kind of addicted. I've also been re-watching True Blood, clearly my upcoming trip to Sweden made me need to watch Alexander Skarsgard as a vampire! 

So that's what i've been up to recently. I plan on doing some posts on packing and traveling light soon since i've learned some tips which I think will be helpful. What has everyone been up to recently?

Friday 23 May 2014

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder - Reviewed!

Being a faired skinned girl i've often struggled to find a bronzer that is light enough and doesn't make my cheeks look orange and muddy. My favourite was the NYC Sunny Bronzer but for some reason that is hard to get hold of in the UK so when I spotted the new addition at The Body Shop I had to give it a go.
The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder
The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder
The compact is really nice and feels very sturdy. It has a honeycomb pattern both on the product and compact which I think is a really nice touch. It also comes with a decent sized mirror. The Body Shop state that 'the honey enriched pressed powder gives the skin and even, bronze matte finish.' The powder feels so smooth and is finely milled which helps it to look even and natural on the skin. 
The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder
The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder
There are 4 shades to choose from which means there should be a shade to suit everyone. I have the shade 02 Fair Matte which is the perfect colour for me as it adds a lovely bronze look to the skin without looking orange. I think 01 would be perfect for someone that is very pale yet wants to add a hint of bronze. The product lasts nicely on the skin throughout the day and is so easy to apply without looking overdone. 

This has become a staple in my makeup bag and is definitely one of my most used bronzers. I think it would be the perfect addition to anyone's collection in the warmer months. 


Have you tried this? What is your favourite bronzer?
 

Wednesday 21 May 2014

First Impressions | Makeup Revolution

When this brand first came out last month yo couldn't move for seeing posts or tweets about them. Of course, this took my interest and when I found that they had created some Naked Palette dupes, include a dupe of the Naked 3 which I still haven't decided if I 'need' I had to place an order. Lucky for me Superdrug at a 3 for 2 on makeup, all the more reason to give some things a test. 
Makeup Revolution
Makeup Revolution Focus & Fix Eye Primer
Focus & Fix Eye Primer Original - £2.50.
So i'm going to start with the product i'm least impressed with. It can be hard to find a good eye primer from the drugstore and I was hoping that this would change that. It has a slightly watery texture and applies clear. It does seem to make eyeshadow apply nicely however after a few hours I did notice some slight  creasing, nothing extreme but definitely not a stand out. It is an okay product but I prefer the ELF eye primer if you're looking for an affordable option. 
Makeup Revolution Vivid Baked Blush in Loved Me The Best
Makeup Revolution Vivid Baked Blush in Loved Me The Best
Vivid Baked Blush in Loved Me The Best £2.50.
Now this product I have been impressed with. I really like baked blushes as they can give a lovely sheen to the cheeks and this one definitely does that. The packaging is simple but feels nice and sturdy. The product feels soft and blends really nicely. It is also very pigmented so you really don't need a lot of product and it lasts on the skin all day. The shade Loved Me The Best is a lovey shimmer peachy rose shade which is very wearable. I definitely will be tempted to try more shades from this range. 
Makeup Revolution Redemption Palette Iconic 3
Makeup Revolution Redemption Palette Iconic 3
Makeup Revolution Redemption Palette Iconic 3
Redemption Palette Iconic 3 - £4.00.
Finally onto the Naked 3 dupe, as I mentioned I don't own the Naked 3 palette but from what i've seen the shades do seem to be pretty good dupes. Again the packaging of this is nice and simple yet doesn't feel cheap. The majority of the shades are pink toned which I personally find a little hard to wear. The shades do feel creamy and are easily blended with each other. As you can see from the swatches all the shades are well pigmented included the 3 matte shades. The light cream shade is the least pigmented over the rest show up really nicely. I don't find I get much fallout with these however with the matte shades when I go to get some product from the pan there is some fallout which is my only real downside. The shades for me aren't the most wearable but that is personally preference, on a whole I think it is a good palette and I will get some use out of it. 

So that's my thoughts on the products i've tried from Makeup Revolution. All in all I would say i'm pretty impressed. The eyeshadows seems great quality for the price, however my standout is the baked blush which I can see myself using a lot. 

Have you tried anything from Makeup Revolution? If so what we're your thoughts?

Monday 19 May 2014

Maxfactor Facefinity All Day Primer - Reviewed!

I think I have a bit of an addiction to testing out drugstore primers; when I spotted this new release on a trip to Boots, a quick swatch on the hand it some how ended up in my basket. I was happy with the Rimmel Stay Matte Primer but still felt the need to try something new.
Maxfactor Facefinity All Day Primer
Maxfactor Facefinity All Day Primer
The packaging is very nice, the product comes in a glass bottle with a pump. I like how simple yet classic the packaging is. As the name suggest this primer claims to extend the lasting power of your foundation all day as well as having an SPF 20. 
Maxfactor Facefinity All Day Primer
Maxfactor Facefinity All Day Primer
The product is a white cream which is a touch runny. You only need about a pea sized amount to cover the whole face so I can see this lasting a long time. Once applied it feels light on the skin and helps whatever you apply on top to go onto the skin nicely. It definitely does seem to extend the wear of my base. Not only does my foundation wear better when I use this, it also looks nicer and I found my skin doesn't seem to get as oily throughout the day. I would say it has on average a 8-10 hour wear before I start to get noticeable oily on a hot day. 

It has definitely become one of my favourite primers to use to help control oil. I like the fact that it doesn't have a silicone feel to it yet is still smoothing. Also the SPF 20 makes it great to use in the warmer weather. 


Have you tried this primer? What is your favourite drugstore primer? 

Friday 16 May 2014

Eco Tools Skin Perfecting Brush - Reviewed!

I couldn't actually believe I hadn't tried an Eco Tools brush before this. Whilst browsing the aisles of Boots I spotted this which claimed to be perfect to use with BB Creams. Since I wear lighter bases on most days I thought I might as well give it a go. 
Eco Tools Skin Perfecting Brush
Eco Tools Skin Perfecting Brush
As I mentioned it is designed specifically for the use of BB Creams, CC Creams and tinted moisturisers. These types of lighter bases can be harder to apply due to their lighter texture. Some brush tend to soak up the product however these bristles don't do that instead help to apply and even coverage of product on the face. 
Eco Tools Skin Perfecting Brush
Eco Tools Skin Perfecting Brush
The feature that makes me reach for this brush most often is the fact that the brush is dense and angled making to easier to apply product to harder to reach places such as around the nose and eyes. It blends product nicely rather than just moving the product around. I find it helps to make my bases last longer due to it helping me to blend the product evenly.
Eco Tools Skin Perfecting Brush
If you like wearing lighter bases but find them hard to apply sometimes I would recommend giving this brush ago. It's also very easy to clean and doesn't take too long to dry. This has definitely made me want to try some more Eco Tools brush since the quality if this one is very good.

Eco Tools Skin Perfecting Brush retails for £7.99.

Have you tried this? What is your favourite Eco Tools brush?

Wednesday 14 May 2014

NARS Kalahari Eyeshadow Duo - Reviewed!

It is safe to say that NARS are my favourite high end makeup brand, i'm yet to try a product I haven't loved. I've been wanting to try their eyeshadow duos for a long time after falling in love with their single eyeshadow in Ondine. ASOS had their 25% off for students recently so I took advantage and treated myself to this beauty.
NARS Kalahari Eyeshadow Duo
NARS Kalahari Eyeshadow Duo
As with all NARS products the packaging is lovely, yes it can pick up finger prints put it is easy to clean. The compact comes with a decent sized mirror which could be used if needed to apply the product. 
NARS Kalahari Eyeshadow Duo
NARS Kalahari Eyeshadow Duo
Both shades in this duo are just beautiful. They have similar tones to them which makes them look lovely when paired together. The lighter shade looks best applied all over the lid with the darker shade used in the crease to create the perfect bronzey smokey eye. The darker shade could also be used to intensify the look for night time. The texture of these are creamy making them blend perfectly together. To say that they are soft I found little fallout from them. Both shades are a satin finish, there is no chunky glitter which I like, instead there is a slight shimmer to them. 
NARS Kalahari Eyeshadow Duo
I've worn these all day I found they don't crease whilst wearing a base or primer underneath. The colours didn't fade throughout the day and looked as I had applied them by the end of the day. They can also be used with a damp brush to make them appear more intense. If you lovely neutral shadows and are looking for a handy duo I would definitely recommend picking this up as I have found no faults with it. 

NARS Kalahari Eyeshadow Duo retails for £25.00. 

Have you tried this? Do you have a favourite eyeshadow duo?

Monday 12 May 2014

The Edit | Spring Lips

Since it is well and truly Spring now I thought it was about time I shared some of my favourite lip products I will be reaching for. When I was putting this list together I realised there is a lot of Revlon products, clearly I have a thing for them at the moment.
CRAYONS:
I've been a big fan crayon style lip products for a while and I have two from Revlon that are perfect for this time of year. First the Matte Balm in Unapologetic, a bright pink colour, perfect for adding that put together yet fun feel to a simple makeup look. The other being the Lacquer Balm in Vivacious, a glossy finish and more of a deeper yet still bright pink. Both colours really brighten up the complex which is perfect for this time of year.

LIP BUTTERS:
I feel like I have a Revlon Lip Butter for every season and occasion at this point. I love the fact that they are well pigmented whilst feeling moisturising and like a lip balm when applied. Sorbet is another fairly bright pink but can be applied sheer or more full on. The other shade Juicy Papaya is a sheer peachy pink, this lives in my handbag as a go to for popping on without a mirror to add a bit of colour to the lips. 

LIPSTICKS:
Similar to Juicy Papaya the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Lovers Coral is a sheer peachy pink. It is a little more pigmented and looks so lovely on. The other lipstick is from Topshop in the colour Macaroon as a slight matte finish to it. It is a pink shade with a hint of coral to it, it looks fairly natural on the lips whilst having a bit of brightness to it. 

LIQUID LIPSTICKS:
I'm slowly getting into liquid lipsticks now and these two are definitely my favourites. The first is the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Ole Flamingo! This applies like a pigmented gloss but has a matte finish without being drying. This shade is a lovely, deep bright pink and lasts so long on the lips without smudging or bleeding. The other; the L'oreal Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick in Rose Symphony, has a glossy finish yet feels really nice on the lips. Apparently these are made from oils so feel nourishing on the lips. This shade is the perfect everyday pink which would suit so many people.
L-R, Unapologetic, Vivacious, Sorbet, Juicy Papaya, Lovers Coral, Macaroon, Ole Flamingo!, Rose Symphony.

For Spring i'm clearly having a thing for pinks and corals. Most of these I can see myself loving just as much in Summer. What are your favourite Spring lip products?