Monday 30 May 2016

L'oreal Extraordinary Clay Shampoo and Masque - Reviewed!

I feel like i've always had oily roots and it's something that isn't as bad as it was in my teen years but something I still look to help avoid when I am choosing a shampoo. Whenever a new range comes out to help greasy, flat, fine hair I always want to try it. This range especially caught my eye as it is made from clay and I love using clay on my face so why not try it for my hair. 
L'oreal Extraordinary Clay Shampoo and Masque
L'oreal Extraordinary Clay Shampoo and Masque
L'oreal Extraordinary Clay Shampoo and Masque
L'oreal Extraordinary Clay Re-Balancing Shampoo - £2.89 for 250ml - The shampoo claims to purify the scalp leaving the hair feeling fresh and lifted at the roots. It also claims to make dry hair hydrated, soft and shiny. My roots get greasy but the ends of my hair can get dry. I was happy to see that this shampoo didn't dry my hair out and it actually felt softer after using it. It really does give a clean, lifted feeling to the roots which instantly makes the hair feel cleaner. Since it gives a lift to the hair I felt my hair also felt thicker and generally in good conditions. This definitely isn't a drying shampoo so is perfect if you mainly just get oily roots. 
L'oreal Extraordinary Clay Shampoo and Masque
L'oreal Extraordinary Clay Shampoo and Masque
L'oreal Extraordinary Clay Masque - £5.99 for 150ml - After liking the shampoo I decided to pick up the clay masque which is actually a pre-shampoo treatment. It has a much more clay like consistency than the shampoo and also has a stronger scent. You apply this onto the roots of dry hair and leave for 5 minutes. Rinse out then shampoo as normal. I would use this once a week if the hair is feeling extra greasy or has a lot of product build up. The next day when I used this my hair felt like the roots where lifted and had a lot more volume to the hair. This works in a similar way as a clarifying shampoo but doesn't feel stripping or drying to the hair. If you use a lot of products on your hair or have greasy roots this is a great treatment to have around. 

On a whole i've been really impressed with this range and I think it works really well and just as they descirbe; it helps with oily roots whilst not being drying. I saw the best result from the masque but I think the shampoo is a great one to use on an everyday basis and if you get the bigger sized bottle it will last a long time. 

Have you tried the Extraordinary Clay range from L'oreal?

Friday 27 May 2016

May Beauty Favourites

The past few months i've been using the same products a lot but I thought I would try some new things which I have ended up loving that have made their way into this months favourite. A favourite in general is that the Boots in Meadowhall and Leeds both have NYX stands now which has meant it is so much easily to get hold of their products. 
May Beauty Favourites
May Beauty Favourites
La Roche Posay Cicaplast - £5.50 - I had a cold at the start of the month and it left my skin, especially my nose feeling so dry. I had heard this was good for repairing the skin so I picked it up and it works so well. After a couple of days the flakey skin had gone and my skin felt hydrated and smooth again. I think this is a great product to have around when you get dry skin and it is a great all purpose balm. 
May Beauty Favourites
L'oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation (review) - £14.99 - This is a new release and the fact that it is such a unique foundation I had to give it a try. Applied with a makeup sponge it goes on so smoothly and looks so natural on the skin. It leaves a glowly finish and is very comfortable to wear. It's not the most longwearing but it doesn't go patchy or ever looks cakey. 
Seventeen Skin Wow Concealer (review) - £4.99 - This took me so long to track down and it was sold out everywhere (it is now back in stock) but I finally found one and I really love it. It is a highlighting pen concealer which you apply under the eyes and where you want to highlight the face. It doesn't look glittery and adds a very natural glow. It also wears well and is very easy to apply. 
May Beauty Favourites
Freedom Eyebrow Pomade in Blonde (review) - £5.00 - I tried some Freedom products this month and this has definitely been the stand out. The shade blonde matches but hair very well and has just the right amount of cool tones. You only need a small amount of product to get really neat, defined brows. It also lasts so well so if you like your brows to look perfect all day this product does that. 
May Beauty Favourites
May Beauty Favourites
L-R Collection Liberty, NYX Tea and Cookies, NYX Istanbul
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Istanbul - £5.50 - I have a few of these matte lip creams and I love that they creamy but dry matte and last a good few hours on the lips. This shade is a really nice dusky pink that has been my go to everyday shade at the moment. 
NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Tea and Cookies (review) - £6.50 - Swatched next to each other these shades look very similar however this one isn't as bright and the formula is wetter. This one is waterproof so lasts long on the lips but the application isn't as quick. You don't have to touch up as much so it is worth it for me. 
Collection Deluxe Lipstick in 06 Liberty - £3.99 - This shade is more of a true nude and is my favourite type of nude as it isn't too brown and still feels like a pink. This lipstick feels very comfortable on the lips and lasts nicely even though it isn't a longwearing formula. 


So those are this months favourites. I'm still a bit obsessed with trying new lip products, especially the nudey pink variety. Next month I go to Copenhagen so I think some travel friendly will definitely be in next months favourites. What have been some of your favourite beauty products this month?

Wednesday 25 May 2016

May Empties

This month empties is a good one. I've managed to use up a good amount of products and a lot of them are real favourites of mine. I do think that everything that you use a lot on an everyday basis seem to run out at the same time and I think that is what has happened this month. 
May Empties
May Empties
HAIRCARE:
L'oreal Elvive Fibrology Thickening Shampoo - I have fine hair so I always go for a shampoo that gives volume and this shampoo does that. It makes the hair feel thicker without feeling heavy and siliconey at the roots. It's a great basic, everyday shampoo to have makes the hair feel thicker. Repurchase? Yes. 
Herbal Essences Naked Volume Shampoo - This is my favourite shampoo that I use all the time. It adds volume like the Fibrology one but I never feel like I get build up with this which can happen with the other one. I've been using this for a while now and it just works well for my fine, easily greasy hair. Repurchase? Yes. 
May Empties
SHOWER:
The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Bubbling Bath - I loved this as it smell so warming and was the perfect thing to relax me in the Winter. It felt very luxurious and more expensive than it actually is. For a smaller bottle I found I didn't need a lot of product so it lasted well. Repurchase? Yes, for the Winter time. 
Original Source Coconut and Shea Butter Shower Gel - I've been really into these shower gels recently as they work really well and are nice and cheap. This had a lovely sweet coconut scent and because it is a cream it felt nice and moisturising on the skin. Repurchase? Yes. 
May Empties
FRAGRANCE:
Soap & Glory Mist You Madly Body Spray - I had kind of forgotten about this until recently. I really like to use a body spray to make my clothes smell nice and this scent paired really well with some of the more expensive perfumes I have. It's a sweet scent but I think it is a more mature sweet scent, which I really like. Repurchase? Yes. 
May Empties
SKINCARE:
Soap & Glory The Fab Pore 2 in 1 Facial Mask & Peel - I really loved this mask. I used it a long time ago and decided to purchase it again. It's a great mask when your skin needs a quick fix to make the skin feel deeply cleansed. I found it really helped with breakouts and oil control as well as stopping the skin feeling congested. Repurchase? Yes. 
Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water - I use this everyday as a toner as well as a makeup remover. I find it works really well at removing eye and face makeup before I go and do a proper cleanse. It is such a good deal as well as you get a big bottle that lasts a really long time. Repurchase? Yes. 
The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter - I found the scent of this was perfect for using in the evening as it is so calming. It is also a butter that turns into an oil that cleanses the skin well and removes makeup. I find it is so soothing on the skin as well. Repurchase? Yes. 

A lot of these products are true favourites of mine and ones I use all the time. I've already gone out a repurchased a few of these already. I am going away next month so the next empites might not be as big. Have you used up any of your favourite beauty products this month?

Monday 23 May 2016

L'oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation - Reviewed!

I remember hearing about this a little while ago and kind of forgot about it until I spotted it on an introductory offer in Boots. Since it was on offer and the concept was so different to anything i'd tried I thought it was worth giving a go. I was sceptical if it would just be a gimmick or actually a really good product. 
L'oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation
L'oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation
The packaging is nice and compact. Unlike a bottle of foundation you have everything you need for an application in the compact. It has a mirror, a small sponge applicator and the product in one. It is marketed as a cushion that is drenched in foundation to give a natural finish. I do prefer a more natural looking foundation so this definitely appeals to me. 
L'oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation
L'oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation
The applicator it comes with is okay but definitely not my favourite way to apply it. I find it takes a while to get a nice finish using it. I do think it is handy to have if you are needing to do touch ups as it works well that way. Instead i've found a makeup sponge is the best way to apply the product as it gives the best finish. The sponge is very wet with product, although I haven't found it to get messy which makes it a great travel product as it won't leak. 
L'oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation
L'oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation
The foundation currently comes in seven shades. I have the shade 1 Porcelain which matches really well. I would say it would be a little too dark for very pale skin. (Hopefully they will add more shades in the future). The foundation applies really smoothly onto the skin. A light layer evens out the skin nicely and you can easily build the product up in the areas needed to give more of an even coverage. From the first time I applied it I love how comfortable it felt on the skin and how natural it looked whilst covering any redness or blemishes. 
L'oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation
L'oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation
Since I really loved the application and how natural and glowly it looked I was hoping the wear time would also be good. I did set it with powder as my skin is combinational which didn't get rid of the glow finish. After a few hours wear I was happy to see that everything still looked very good without any fading. By the end of the day I did get a little oily in the t-zone and I only had a little fading on my chin. It wasn't very noticeable and even as I got oiler it I never looked greasy. 


I think this is one of those foundation where if you want a natural glowy base that feels very comfortable on the skin with a decent wear time. The best thing about this is how good it looks on the skin and the fact you really don't feel like you're wearing a lot of makeup. It is definitely suited best for normal, combination and dry skin. Very oily skin might not find the wear time will be good enough. 


I really love this foundation and I love the finish and how compact it is. Obviously don't get as much product as a regular foundation but I think the concept is really good and helps it to look fresh on the skin. 

Have you tried this foundation? 

Friday 20 May 2016

Seventeen Skin Wow Concealer - Reviewed!

When I first heard this product was coming out I got really excited and so did everyone else as it took me ages to find as it was sold out everywhere and even online. It's coming back into stock now and my friend actually managed to track this one down for me. I think the fact that it is very similar to the YSL Touche Eclat has made it so popular; even the packaging is very similar. 
Seventeen Skin Wow Concealer
Seventeen Skin Wow Concealer
The packaging is a gold pen with black and blue lettering. It looks very sleek and more expensive than your average high-street makeup item. Unlike other twist up concealers this one has a button on the end which you press and the product comes out. I like this although it is easy to press when you're putting the lid back on. 
Seventeen Skin Wow Concealer
Seventeen Skin Wow Concealer
The brush tip is fine and gives a good application of the product. I haven't found too much product comes out and you can apply it onto the skin and blend out with a brush or your fingers easily. The product is designed to brighten and highlight the skin. It isn't your classic concealer and won't give you a high amount of coverage. Instead you can use it under the eyes to cover dark circles as well as on the high points of the face to add an highlight. There isn't any glitter in it so gives a lovely glow to the skin that looks very natural. 
Seventeen Skin Wow Concealer
Seventeen Skin Wow Concealer
The product comes in two shades; fair and medium both are fairly pale so this is definitely created for a fairer skintone. I have the shade medium (it was the only shade left) and it actually works really well for my skintone. It has a slight pink tone which helps the product to match your skintone. Under the eyes the coverage is surprisingly good as it evens out the skin and instantly makes the eyes look brighter and more awake. I also use it down the nose, cheekbones, brow bone and cupids bow and in each area it adds a really natural glow. 

The wear time is really good and by the end of the day everything still looked in places and it didn't crease under the eyes. I had high hopes for this being good and i've been really impressed and the coverage is even better than I expected it to be. The shade range is probably the only downside to the product but these highlighting concealer do tend to lean on the paler side. If you are into adding a natural glow to the skin I would highly recommend giving this try as it is a really great product. It is also something you could have in your bag for touch ups to make your makeup look fresh again. 

Seventeen Skin Wow Concealer retails for £4.99.

Have you tried this? What is your favourite product to add a natural glow to the skin?

Wednesday 18 May 2016

NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Tea & Cookies - Reviewed!

NYX is slowly getting more common in the UK and it's getting me really excited since it's one of my favourite brands to check out in America. To my excitement the Boots in Meadowhall has now got a really good NYX stand which I had to check out on a recent shopping trip. I definitely wasn't the only one excited has it was busy and a few things were already sold out. I did spot this though and the colour seemed like a so me colour at the moment.
NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Tea & Cookies
NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Tea & Cookies
The packaging is really nice and I love that it's really easy to spot each colour when you're choosing a shade since the packaging matches the colour. Another bonus is the colour on the outside is actually a good match to what it looks like on the lips. A lot of the shades are bright colours but there are some good neutral shades; like this one which are perfect for everyday. 
NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Tea & Cookies
NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Tea & Cookies
They re described as velvety, soft and waterproof. It is a matte finish that claims to be longwearing. This is the exact type of product i've been into recently so I was really curious if it lived up to the claims. The brush is spongey and thicker on one side then then on the other. I really love this applicator as it doesn't pick up too much product and it is really easy to apply whilst having a nice point at the end so you can easily get into the corners of the lips. Tea and Cookies is the perfect dusky pink colour. It is cool toned and doesn't look like a hot pink when you apply it onto the lips. 
NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Tea & Cookies
The texture is really smooth and looks glossy then sets to a matte finish. I apply a small amount and gentle rub that into the lips then apply another coat. I always do this with these types of products as it gives the best finish and makes them last longer. I takes about a minute or so to set and it still feels very comfortable on and after a while I forget i'm even wearing it. When I first wore this I gave it a good test I found it lasted really well through having lunch and a coffee. There was a little fading on the insides of the lips after a few hours with eating but I didn't feel I needed to reapply. 

If I have to reapply another coat goes on nicely without clinging to any dry patches on the lips. I love this shade so much and the fact it lasts so well has meant i've been wearing it so much. I definitely would recommend checking these out and if you like the matte creams NYX do this seems just as good and even a little less drying. 


I'm really into trying more NYX products now that it is so accessible to me, especially their lip products as there is so many formulas and shades to choose from. Have you tried these? What are some of your favourite NYX products?

Monday 16 May 2016

Olay Complete BB Cream in Fair - Reviewed!

I haven't picked up a new BB Cream in a little while. I used to use them all the time and now I tend to reach for a lighter foundation on a daily basis. I was browsing Asda the other weekend and I spotted this reduced to £4 instead of £10 so I thought it looked interesting and was worth giving a try. 
Olay Complete BB Cream in Fair
Olay Complete BB Cream in Fair
The packaging is really nice and sleek. I always associate Olay as a brand my Gran would use but this looks like it is designed for all ages. It is a moisturising cream with a touch of foundation; the foundation is by Max Factor and also has an SPF 15. It is clear to me that this is going to give you a light amount of coverage to the skin whilst giving some hydration. 
Olay Complete BB Cream in Fair
Olay Complete BB Cream in Fair
When you apply the product it doesn't look too orange which I like as the shade is described as fair which I think it is. As you blend it onto the skin it feels very smooth and like you're applying a moisturiser. I think it definitely applies best with fingers for this reason. The coverage is light and evens the skin out nicely. I then apply concealer on any blemishes and under the eyes which gives a really nice natural look to the skin. Since I have combinational skin I do set in with a primer as it does feel a little glowy on the skin. 

I really do like the finish this gives to the skin and the colour is a very nice, natural looking shade. The wear time isn't the best and I found I got a little oily throughout the day. If you didn't set it with a powder I can see how it would break down in the t-zone and on the chin. I don't expect products like this to stay looking flawless throughout the day. For me, this is something i'd put on if i'm just running errands on a weekend and didn't want to wear a full face of makeup or if I just wanted something to quickly even out the skin. 

Olay Complete BB Cream retails for £9.99. 

I think the wear time would be better on drier skin but if you're very oily it might be one to miss. Have you tried this? What are some of your favourite BB Creams or Tinted Moisturisers?

Friday 13 May 2016

The Most Used Concealers

I seem to be one of those people that can't just use one concealer everyday. I always seem to have a few on the go and like different types depending on how my skin is and where i'm using it. Concealer is also something I love putting to the test and always go on the hunt for the perfect one. 
The Most Used Concealers
The Most Used Concealers
Maybelline The Eraser Eye - £7.99 -  When this first came out I really wasn't feeling the concept. It also came out with a foundation in the same style which I believe has since been discontinued. I finally got it and I have to say I do love it. The sponge applicator doesn't apply too much product and you can blend it out with your fingers. The feel on the skin is very light but it gives a nice amount of coverage and lasts all day. I picked up the Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer when I was in America (it's not sold in the UK) which is a peachy colour that you apply before concealer. This covers very well and then you can layer a lighter concealer on top which looks flawless whilst still being natural looking. 
The Most Used Concealers
Seventeen Stay Time 18 Hour Concealer - £4.49 - This is my most used concealer. If I had to pick one, it would be this. This covers redness and blemishes really well without clinging or looking cakey. It also lasts really well. I don't find it to be heavy so you can definitely use it underneath the eyes as well. 
Seventeen Phwoarr Paint Under Eye Concealer - £5.49 - This is a cream concealer which I tend to pull out if I really need to cover some darkness under the eyes. To say it is a cream it blends really well on the skin and if you don't apply too much it doesn't crease around the eyes. The coverage is very good and if you have dark circles I would recommend trying this as it looks good on the skin whilst covering very well. 
The Most Used Concealers
Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer - £7.99 - This is my newest find and one I reach for most days under the eyes. This has a fairly liquidy consistency which helps it feel light and look natural on the skin. It has a medium coverage which I like for everyday as it doesn't cover everything completely. It lasts really well on the skin and I haven't found it to crease. 
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfector - $12.99 - This was something else I picked up in America as I like this style of concealer for under the eyes. This one feels very creamy and blends nicely onto the skin. It looks natural but can look a little cakey if you apply too much. It has a thicker consistency which I think that is why you can sometimes use too much product. 
The Most Used Concealers
L-R Maybelline Dark Circle Treatment, Eraser Eye, Seventeen Stay Time, Pwoarr Paint, Bourjois Radiance Reveal, Neutrogena Eye Perfector
So those are my most used concealers. All of these I really enjoy and use a lot. My most used are definitely the Seventeen Stay Time and currently the Bourjois Radiance Reveal. I do like to use a different concealer on blemishes and under the eyes. It's rare that I use one on both unless I have too. What are some of your favourite concealers? 

Wednesday 11 May 2016

Makeup Revolution Fortune Favours The Brave Palette - Reviewed!

I've been really impressed by Makeup Revolution palettes and this one really got me excited. Not only is it a neutral palette; my favourite, it was designed by a blogger. I love that it is becoming more common for brands to work with bloggers to create beauty products. As expected this palette has been very popular and was sold out in my local Superdrug so I had to get it online. 
Makeup Revolution Fortune Favours The Brave Palette
Makeup Revolution Fortune Favours The Brave Palette
The packaging is gold which I like since it stands out compared to the other Makeup Revolution palettes which tend to be black. I like the design as it's simple whilst looking nice. The packaging also feels sturdy and I would feel comfortable taking this travelling, especially since it comes with a really good sized mirror. 
Makeup Revolution Fortune Favours The Brave Palette
Makeup Revolution Fortune Favours The Brave Palette
The palette comes with a great mix of neutral colours that go from light to dark, along with some deeper blues and purple shades. There is also a mix of matte shadows, shimmer and theses marble effect shadows which have a duochrome finish. The palette also comes with a double ended brush which I haven't had that much use out of. 
Makeup Revolution Fortune Favours The Brave Palette
Makeup Revolution Fortune Favours The Brave Palette
The top two rows have a mix of peachy shades along with some khaki greens going into some blue shadows. The blue shades are the ones i've used the least since I don't wear those colours a lot. All the shadows have a nice creamy texture which blends well on the lids. The lighter, matte shades aren't the most pigmented and depending on your skintone don't show up amazing on the skin. The matte green shade, Smoothie at the end of the second row also isn't that pigmented.On the plus side the other shades are nice pigmented and give a good colour pay off on the lids. None of the shades are super glittery or have any fallout, instead they give a sheen finish. I really love the bronze and khaki shades the most of the bottom row. 
Makeup Revolution Fortune Favours The Brave Palette
The bottom two rows have some beautfiul pinks, browns, golds that go into some purple shades. On a whole these shades are more pigmented with only a couple of matte shades not showing up amazingly. I think these set of colours work really well together; you can create a great look with the pink/bronze shades on the lids and the purple colours in the crease. The darker colours show up well and they're colour lasts really well throughout the day. They're are a few shimmery, bronze colours then tend to look very similar on the skin. 


I think this palette has a well thought about selection of colours which have been paired together really well. They're isn't a shade that doesn't fit on the other shades. Some of the matte shades aren't that pigmented which did surprise me since I haven't found that with other Makeup Revolution palettes. I have been using this palette a lot and have been impressed with how the shadows wear and can be used together but sadly the quality isn't the best on some of the shades, and some of the bronze colours do look the same. 


I still would recommend this palette as I really do like the mix of shades however there are a couple of shades which are a bit of a miss pigmentation wise. Saying that I do find myself still reaching for it a lot and on the whole I think it is worth checking out. Have you tried this palette?