Monday 29 September 2014

Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencils - Reviewed!

The minute I saw the first few pictures of these I knew I had to try them. I've been loving matte lips recently and these were described as matte and creamy lip pencils which is right up my street. I swiftly headed down to Boots and pick up two shades to try.
Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencils
Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencils
The packaging is in the form of a pencils which means not only can these be worn alone they can also be used as lip liners with other lip products. They're also nice and compact so fit perfectly in your handbag without taking up that much room.
Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencils
There are nine shades in total to chose from, all of which are matte yet are creamy to apply. Once apply they set and stay put on the lips for hours, especially the darker shades without transferring, even whilst eating a drinking. Most of the shades are very wearable; there a lot of nude shades to choose from as well as some bolder shades.
Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencils
Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencils
The lighter shade (left) I have is Minimalist which is a lovely nude pink shade, it as a light shimmer to it which gives a nice dimension to the lips. This is such a lovely, wearable, everyday shade. The other colour I have (right) is Light It Up which is the perfect, classic bright red. Again this is surprisingly wearable. All in all i've been very impressed with these and definitely will be picking up some more shades. The only downside i've come across was that there is not a proper seal on the products when you buy them so when I went to pick the shades I wanted all lot had been damaged or tested in the store (even though there were testers to use). This meant I ended up having about 4 shades to choose from rather than 9. Due to this it might be wise to order them online and collect in store and make sure the ones you're buying having been damaged by other customers.


For the price and quality I think these are amazing and I would definitely recommend checking them out. Have you tried this new lip pencil offering from Maybelline?

Saturday 27 September 2014

September Beauty Favourites!

September has been a pretty good month. It was my birthday at the start of the month and I got the chance to catch up with friends and even saw The 1975 at the end of the month. In between all that have discovered some old, Autumn favourites and treated myself to some new skincare bits which i've been loving.
Nuxe Reve De Miel Lip Balm
I've not been loving too many new body products recently however whenever i've been having a shower i've been reaching for the Nivea In-Shower Body Moisturiser in Pampering Honey. This smells so lovely and really does moisturise the skin so you can get dressed straight after getting out the shower. I've repurchased the Nuxe Reve De Miel lip balm and I think I love it even more. Not only does it smell good, it is the only thing that can fix my lips when they're really dry. 
First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Purifying Mask
I did a post on some new face mask additions I had made. The first being The Body Shop Honey & Oat 3 in 1 Scrub Mask. I'm so in love with this; I tend to use it on a Sunday evening when my skin needs a deep clean and 'freshen up'. It's so nice to use and doesn't dry the skin out. The next i've been loving for controlling oil; the First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Purifying Mask. This is a red clay mask which you peel off. It's really amazing if you have oily skin as it gets rid of that excess oil without drying the skin out.
MAC Amplified Lipstick in Girl About Town
Onto lip favourites. I've been really into bright pinks this month, they're a great transitional shade for going from Summer to Autumn. The first one i've been loving is the Revlon Matte Balm in Showy, I really like matte lips and this is the perfect, bright, matte purple/pink. The other has been the MAC Amplified Lipstick in Girl About Town. This is another bright pink with more of a blue tone. I normally reach for plum shades this time of year so these types of colours have been a nice change.
Essie Bahama Mama
I normally only use drugstore mascaras however i've been loving this sample of the Clinique High Impact Mascara. The brush is pretty standard put I find that this isn't too wet and you can apply several coats and it never gets too clumpy. I'm definitely tempted to get a full size version. Although i've been holding off on the plum lips I couldn't resist digging out Essie Bahama Mama which to me, is Autumn in a bottle. This shade just makes me want to put on a cosy jumper and drink hot chocolate.

So those are this months beauty favourites. I can see myself next month going back to some old favourites as the weather gets colder. I'm trying not to use too many darker lips products yet as it's still a bit warm but i'm finding it hard! What have been some of your favourites this month?

Thursday 25 September 2014

Travel Skincare | Night In Manchester

On Sunday night I got to see one of my favourite bands, The 1975 live in their hometown of Manchester. It was the first night of 4 sold out shows they're doing at the Apollo which made it even more special. My friend and I decided to make a weekend of it and did some shopping and stayed over in a hotel. I thought i'd share what skincare and took with me since I packed very light since I was carrying my bag around with me a lot.
Travel Skincare Routine
Travel Skincare Routine
EVENING ROUTINE:
Travel Skincare Routine
I tried to bring products I knew I loved already. I had a sample of the Avene Micellar Lotion which i've used before and liked. This sized sample is so perfect for a few days away and removes makeup really well. For cleanser I brought something I hadn't tried but ended up really liking which is the REN Rosa Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser. This smells lovely and left my skin feeling so clean and soft. I might have to invest in the full size at some point. I brought my normal eye cream; the Avene Soothing Eye Contour Cream as it doesn't take up much room. For some extra hydration I brought my rolller ball of the Balance Me Radiance Face Oil. I tend to safe this for travel as it is so small and compact. I used the same serum morning and night which is The Body Shop Aloe Protective Serum (review) I love this as is packs seriously hydration which was needed. I had a sample of the REN Vita Mineral Day Cream which I also used morning and night. Finally I had to bring my Nuxe Reve De Miel lip balm as my lips feel so chapped if I don't use this.
MORNING ROUTINE:
Travel Skincare Routine
Another Avene mini which came in handy was one of the Cleanance Gel Cleanser, this isn't my favourite but is okay to use when my skin is feeling oily. I depotted my Garnier Soothing Vitamin Enriched Toner to safe space. I brought my usual morning eye cream which is the Soap & Glory Puffy Eye Attack Turbo Boost Hydra-Gel, this came in handy in making my eyes looking less tired as did my eye drops. As I mentioned I used the same serum and moisturiser morning and night to safe space but I also brought my La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+ to use on any blemishes which I didn't end up needing.

So that is a very basic travel skincare routine. This may still seem like a lot of products but I find if I don't use a good routine even when i'm away for a night I notice a huge difference in my skin. What tips or product do you use when staying away for a few nights?

Tuesday 23 September 2014

September Empties!

I thought I would do my empties a little early this month as i've been using up a lot of products this month I didn't want it to be too long. Somehow i've managed to use a good few haircare bits which is surprising as I don't really use that many haircare products due to laziness.
September Empties!
September Empties! Haircare
The first thing I used up is the Batiste Dry Shampoo for Light/Blonde Hair. This definitely isn't my favourite dry shampoo, I don't find it works any better than the tropical one which I prefer the scent of so I won't be repurchasing this. Next I finished the Vo5 Plump It Up Dry Backcomb Spray. When I first tried this I didn't love it but now I use it all the time. Sprayed onto the roots it gives just the right amount of texture without making your hair feel dry. I've already repurchased. I finished the Dove Intensive Repair Weightless Leave In Conditioner, I love Dove haircare products and this did exactly what it said. I would repurchased. Finally for haircare I finished the Pro:Voke Touch Of Silver Shampoo. This is a good, affordable purple shampoo. I am getting a little tired of it however and think I will give some other purple shampoos a try for a bit but it did help my blonde hair look less brassy.
September Empties! Skincare
Onto skincare, I only have two products this month. I finished another bottle of the Garnier Simply Essentials Soothing Vitamin Enriched Toner, I love this toner as it is super cheap and works really well. I also finished the L'oreal Absolute Makeup Remover for Eye & Lip. This is my go to eye makeup remover. It removes heavy and waterproof eye makeup so easily. Both of these products i've repurchased.
September Empties! Makeup/Skincare
I manged to finish the ELF Eyelid Primer. This was okay, it would keep shadows in place but it wasn't as good as the Urban Decay primer but for the price, it's definitely the best one i've tried and I would consider getting it again. I'd forgotten I had one of the Montagne Jeunesse De-Clog Pores Nose Strips left so I finished those this month. I normally don't love nose strips but these worked really well and didn't seem to 'damage' the skin like some can do. It's not something I use all the time but I would consider getting them again.
Finally I have two boring body products. The first being the Sainsbury's Sensitive Shave Gel. I use this shave gel all the time as it does the job, doesn't irritate the skin and I can pick it up whilst doing the food shop. I've already repurchased. Finally I finished the Nivea Stress Protect Anti Perspirant. I really like this range of deodorant as again, it does the job and and doesn't irritate the skin. I've already repurchase this.

So those are this months empties featuring a few products that I don't use up that often. I think next month i'm going to make a push to use up more body products as I still have lots to get through. Have you used up any of your favourite products this month?

Sunday 21 September 2014

DIY | Easy Canvas Art

After spending a while trying to find some new wall art to put in my bedroom and office I decided to make my own as I couldn't find anything that was cheap and really caught my eye. Both rooms are in a pale green, white colour; my bedroom I wanted to do something black and white and for the office I wanted something more colourful.
DIY | Easy Canvas Art
I picked up all the supplies I needed from Wilkinson's who have a big crafts section and everything is very cheap. To do the stripe canvas' I mentioned the canvas and went for about an inch for each stripe. I used masking tape to help make sure the gaps between the stripes were even.
DIY | Easy Canvas Art
DIY | Easy Canvas Art
I used black acrylic paint for the black stripes which only need one coat. I also opted to do one mint stripe to help it match the colour of the walls. I got a sample pot to do this; both of these cost around £1 each.
DIY | Easy Canvas Art
I carefully painted the stripes on and then left it to dry for a few hours before removing the masking tape. I will say one some of the stripes they didn't come out perfectly straight so I may touch them up with some white paint in the future.
DIY | Easy Canvas Art
I think they turned out really well, I like how simple the design is and it breaks up the plain wall without being too in your face. For the office I decided to do a piece which I had seen on Pinterest a few times. The effect looked really cool and seemed easy to do.
DIY | Easy Canvas Art Melted Crayola Crayons
I used a acrylic craft glue to stick the crayons onto the canvas; I left this to dry over night to make sure they wouldn't move. I decided not to use any of the blacks/browns in the pack as I thought it wouldn't mix well with the other colours; I did but similar colours next to each other for example blues next to purples.
DIY | Easy Canvas Art Melted Crayola Crayons
I then go a hairdryer and started to heat up the ends of the crayons. I would advice covering your work surface as the wax can splatter a little. I stood the canvas up so the wax would melt down. It's really fun to watch it move down the canvas and you can move it to stretch the lines out. I think it would be really cool to this with pastel crayons or maybe just using pink shades or blues to match the colour of a room.

Both of these DIY's were really easy to do and all in all cost me less than £10 for everything I needed which is a pretty good deal. I would definitely recommend trying to do your own canvas art if you want to had some colour into a room. Have you do any canvas art?

Friday 19 September 2014

New in Skincare | Face Masks

Face masks are probably my favourite item of skincare; they give the best quick fix and you can often straight away see a difference in your skin. It's been a while since I purchased a new face mask as I had a fair few but recently I picked up 3 in the space of a week and I thought I would share my first impressions on each of them.
New in Skincare | Face Masks
The Body Shop Honey & Oat 3 in 1 Scrub Mask
The Body Shop Honey & Oat 3 in 1 Scrub Mask - £10.00.
I don't use too many manual exfoliators these days however this mask always caught my eye. I wouldn't be put off by the fact the name says scrub as although it does exfoliates the skin it isn't harsh. The oats act as the scrubby parts and when you are washing it off it helps to leave the skin feeling really smooth. The mask also smells amazing and as a creamy texture which is moisturising. I've used this a few times now and each time it makes my skin feel so lovely, smooth and less congested. It's a great mask to use at the end of the week as a all in one skin fix. 
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask - £17.50.
Another oat based mask, clearly there's a theme here. First Aid Beauty is a great brand if you have sensitive skin as their products are really effective yet don't irritate the skin at all. This one you leave on the skin for 10 minutes and is a great way to hydrate the skin, especially if you have dehydrated skin. It also as oat bits in it but doesn't really exfoliate the skin as much. This one is great is really nice to add some hydration to skin without 'overloading' it. My skin is still oily but sometimes I feel like my skin feels a bit dry and this is the perfect mask to use for that. 
First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Purifying Mask
First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Purifying Mask - £22.00.
This is one of the creepiest mask to have on since it is red and makes you look like you have serious sun burn. It's a peel off mask so isn't messy to use yet is really effective. Whenever my skin feels oily, or I have a few breakouts this is perfect to use. it has red clay in it (hence the colour) but isn't drying like some clay masks. This really helps to remove any excess oils so effectively. Out of the bunch I think this has been one of my favourite skincare products i've tried in a while.

I've been really impressed with all of these mask and i've been rotating between the three depending on how my skin is feeling. Once i've used them a few more times I will do in-depth reviews on each of them. What face masks have you tried recently?

Wednesday 17 September 2014

The Body Shop Tea Tree Cool and Creamy Wash - Reviewed!

For a while I had a pretty large stash of cleanser. I've slowly (it's taken me most of the year) worked my way through them all so i've been able to try some new ones. Whilst it was really warm my skin got a bit more on the oily side so I was looking for something that helped control oil yet didn't dry out my skin which is when I came across this offering from The Body Shop.
The Body Shop Tea Tree Cool and Creamy Wash
The Body Shop Tea Tree Cool and Creamy Wash
The packaging is simple; the green matching the rest of the tea tree range. I used to love tea tree product when my acne was bad as it really seemed to help. I now find some products too strong however my skin has really been responding well to this. It has a strong tea tree scent and feels very creamy and cool on the skin. The cooling feeling is really refreshing when used it the morning as it helps to wake you up.
The Body Shop Tea Tree Cool and Creamy Wash
The Body Shop Tea Tree Cool and Creamy Wash
You need around a pea sized amount to cover your whole face. It washes off easily and afterwards the skin feels very clean yet not dry. This face wash is designed for blemish prone skin and I think it definitely does help to keep them at bay at reduce the redness. If your skin is very oily this would be great to use everyday; especially in the morning. As my skin is more combination now so I use this whenever my skin feel oily or a bit congested and it really helps to refresh the skin.

I've really been enjoying using this when my skin is feeling a bit rubbish and I would recommend it if your skin gets very oily and you want something to help control the oils without stripping the skin.


Have you tried this cleanser? What do you use when your skin gets very oily?

Monday 15 September 2014

Autumn Nail Edit

After Autumn lips and thick jumpers one of my favourite things about this time of year is darker nail colours. I always seem to gravitate towards the plum shades; whilst having a look through my stash i've picked out 5 polishes that I think are perfect for this time of year.
Autumn Nail Edit OPI, Essie, Barry M, Sinful Colors
Autumn Nail Edit OPI, Essie, Barry M, Sinful Colors
Autumn Nail Edit OPI, Essie, Barry M, Sinful Colors
I think a good, bright pink can look great this time of year. Two great transitional shades are the Sinful Colors polish in Boom Boom which is an almost purple toned pink, and Essie Watermelon which is a more red toned pink. Both are lovely, bright, glossy shade which look amazing on the nails. Next is a good red; a favourite of mine is the OPI polish in Red Lights Ahead.. Where? This is a more orange toned red which again looks bright yet polished on the nails. My favourite plum coloured polish has to be Essie Bahama Mama. This is always one I reach for this time of year and I think it's just the perfect Autumn polish. My favourite dark option is a deep purple colour as it's not as harsh as a black yet gives a similar look to the nails. A great one is the Barry M Gelly Hi Shine polish in Blackberry; this is a lovely, glossy purple shade which you can almost get away with only one coat.

So those are my top 5 Autumn polishes, I can see myself reaching for this a lot in theses colder months. What are some of your favourite shades and polishes to wear in Autumn?

Saturday 13 September 2014

The Lip Product Addict TAG

I don't do that many tags but when I saw this one floating around I felt like it was made for me to do. It safe to say at this point I most definitely am a lip product addict; I may have spent a good 10 minutes looking through my stash trying to find which ones to include in my answers!
The Lip Product Addict TAG
The Lip Product Addict TAG
The Lip Product Addict TAG
Favourite balm or treatment?
Now this one was easy for me. The Nuxe Reve De Miel lip balm has been the only lip balm I will use at night for a long time now. I never get dry, chapped lips if i'm using this. It's a great intensive treatment yet due to it being matte in finish is great to wear under lipsticks.
Best eye catching red? 
I've only recently got into red lips. One that I love to wear is The Body Shop Colour Crush Lipstick in 101 which is the perfect, classic red shade. The formula is fairly moisturising too whilst giving a satin finish.
Favourite pink lipstick?
So these technically aren't lipsticks but the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Ole Flamingo! is my go to bright pink at the moment. It's very bright but looks amazing on the lips. The Revlon Matte Balm in Showy is also a new favourite; both of these are matte but showy is more of a purple toned pink.
Favourite nude lipstick?
I don't really wear nudes as I prefer bright lips. If I had to chose I would probably say Hue by MAC which is a peachy nude. Another peachy nude I love is the Revlon Balm Stain in Charm.
Best luxury lipstick?
This one was easy. The most luxurious lipstick I own is a Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick in Cambon. It was a birthday present for my 21st and is a lovely pink toned red. I don't wear it too often as it is almost too pretty to use!
Best MAC lipstick?
I recently gotten a few MAC lipstick so this was kind of hard to chose. An old favourite would be Plumful, which is the perfect, sheer plum shade. I new favourite has to be Girl About Town which is a bright pink with a slight blue tone to it.
Favourite gloss?
I'm trying to get more into glosses as I went through a phase of hating them. One I do really like is the Barry M Lip Gloss in shade 11 which is a coral colour. It feels nice on the lips and adds a nice hint of colour to the lips.
Favourite Spring/Summer shade?
I love anything coral in the Summer; or a bright pink. My favourite coral shade is probably the Bourjois Colour Boost in Orange Punch. These are long wearing and this has a slight pink tone to it making it very wearable.
Favourite Autumn/Winter shade?
The colder months are all about the plum and berry tones for me. I have a lot of favourites; MAC Plumful being one of them. A shade which i've been wearing for a long time is the Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Lipstick in 107. This is definitely the perfect matte plum shade.
Lip liner, yes or no?
For a while I would have said no, but recently i've gotten into lip liner. I think it works especially well with darker shades and i'm on the hunt for a good plum lip liner. Essence do some great lip liners which only cost £1!

So that's the lip product addict tag, I really enjoyed thinking of answers for these questions. If you love lip products I would love to hear what your answer would be.

Thursday 11 September 2014

Indeed Labs Hydraluron Range

I've been a fan of the original Hydraluron serum for a while now and have even repurchased it a few times. They've since added two other products to the range; sheet masks and a moisture jelly, so I thought I would review each product from the range and tell you which are my favourites.
Indeed Labs Hydraluron Range
Hydraluron Moisture Boosting Facial Serum
Hydraluron Moisture Boosting Facial Serum - £24.99.
Started with the product that start the whole range. The serum consists of hylaronic acid which helps the skin to take in more moisture making it perfect for someone who has dehydrated skin. It's a light, clear serum which you only need a pea sized amount of product that once applied all over the face feels very light. The serum is especially good if you have combination skin as it doesn't feel heavy or greasy. My skin always feels plumper and soft when I use this; it also helps makeup look more natural on the skin.
Hydraluron Moisture Boosting Mask
Hydraluron Moisture Boosting Mask - £19.99.
The sheet masks are basically mask drenched in the hydraluron serum so are best used when your skin is feeling extra dehydrated. You get 4 masks in the pack, which is another reason why I save these for special occasions. Once applied on the face you leave it on for 15 minutes then you remove the mask and rub in any left over product. This is a very effective mask that makes the skin feel so hydrated and soft. Out of the whole range these masks give the most instant results.
Hyraluron Moisture Jelly
Hyraluron Moisture Jelly - £24.99.
This is the newest addition to the range and the one i've been putting to the test a lot recently. This is clear like the serum however you apply it as the last step of your skincare routine. The packaging is very cool as you press the top and the perfect amount of product to cover your fact comes out. I use this in the morning and it makes my skin feel soft; it also makes a good base to prep the skin for makeup.

Out of all the products in the range I find the mask to be the most effective at giving instant hydration to the skin. I've been impressed with each product in the range however if I was to repurchase only one of the products it would be the original serum as I find that give overall the best results. If you haven't tried anything for the range I would again recommend the serum. The moisture jelly is a great product that I enjoy using but I don't think I will repurchase it in a hurry due to the price tag. I will say the Indeed Labs range is often 1/3 off in Boots which is when I would recommend trying these are they are a little on the pricey side.

What products have you tried from the Hydraluron range?

Tuesday 9 September 2014

5 Autumn Lip Products

Autumn is definitely my favourite season as i'm a big lover of knitwear; to go along with that I love dark, bright lips. I think berry toned lips really suit my skintone, so even though it's still kind of sunny i've been slowly adding a few more Autumn-y lip products into the mix so I thought I would share my current top 5.
5 Autumn Lip Products
5 Autumn Lip Products
5 Autumn Lip Products
L-R
Revlon Colorstay Matte Balm in Striking - I recently talked about my love for these matte balms (here) and Striking is one of my favourites. I think reds look best in the colder months and this is a lovely formula and has a hint of orange too it which makes it a great transitional shade coming from Summer and going into Autumn.
Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Mightiest Maraschino - This is definitely one of my favourite lip products. The formula is glossy and stains the lips without being drying. This shade is also the perfect cherry red shade and looks so lovely with a slight smokey eye.
MAC Amplified Lipstick in Rebel - This is my newest addition and I keep waiting for different occasions to wear it. It's a deep plum, almost purple shade which is very bright but looks amazing on the lips. The amplified formula means that it is bold yet feels nice on the lips.
Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie - I seem to go back to this shade whenever the colder months come around. It's the perfect raspberry shade which can be worn bold or sheered out. I love the lip butters especially this time of year as my lips can get so dry and these feel really moisturising whilst adding an amazing pop of colour.
Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in New York Scene - I've been hearing mixed things about these but I really like them. I think it depends on which shades you get. I think the darker shades are more long wearing and look nicer on the lips. These leave a slight stain to the lips and feel very comfortable to wear. This shade is a glossy, berry red which I can see myself getting a lot of wear out of.
5 Autumn Lip Products
So those are my current 5 go to Autumn lip products, of course I could have included more but I think I will definitely be getting the most wear out of these and I think these shades are perfect for this time of year.

What are your top lip products for Autumn?

Sunday 7 September 2014

Urban Fudge Iced Raspberry & Vanilla Hairspray - Reviewed!

Hairspray is one of those things that I tend to skip due to me being a bit lazy or forgetting. It also means that i've never really had a favourite and tend to stick to something cheap. However whilst browsing Superdrug a few weeks ago I spotted this and totally bought due to the amazing smell.
Urban Fudge Iced Raspberry & Vanilla Hairspray
Urban Fudge Iced Raspberry & Vanilla Hairspray
First of all I love the packaging of this, it's so bright and eye catching that I look forward to using it. Second, the smell, oh my this stuff smells so amazing. It actually smells like raspberry ice cream and doesn't have much of a chemical smell too it. As well as smelling amazing, it gives strong hold and doesn't feel crunchy in your hair.
Urban Fudge Iced Raspberry & Vanilla Hairspray
I mainly use hairspray when i'm wearing my hair up and this keeps the fly-a ways at bay as well as helping to keep everything in place. You really can't feel this in your hair which is another thing I love about it. If you are prone to having frizzy hair I think this would be great at controlling the frizz. All in all this has quickly become my favourite hairspray and I doubt I will be trying any others for a while now.


Have you tried this hairspray? What is your favourite hairspray?