March Favourites

This is my first monthly favourites cause I'm pretty boring and tend to stick to the same products every month but I’ll try get into the habit of doing these every few months and let you know what I’m loving! :)

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish: If you follow me on twitter you’ll know I gave in and bought a 100ml bottle of this cleanser after buying a small bottle to try out (first impressions review here.) It really does scrub off every last scrap of makeup, leaving your skin feeling so smooth.

Revlon Lip butters: I know I know, I need to shut up about these but I couldn’t do a monthly favourites without including them. I suffer from dry lips and these are just so hydrating and have great pigmentation – what more could you ask for!? I did a full post dedicated to them here if you want a more in-depth look at them!

Barry M Berry Ice cream nail polish: This is my favourite nail polish and I literally wear it to death! It's the only nail polish I've ever had to repurchase and I'm so glad that this beautiful pastel shade is right on trend for this Spring!

Christina Aguilera Secret Potion perfume: I got this perfume for Christmas and I’ve been hooked ever since! I actually have all the Christina Aguilera perfumes because they all smell soo amazing. This one is so light and fresh smelling and with the weather turning more Spring-like, this has been my go-to perfume!

Aussie Colour Mate Shampoo: I bought this shampoo after hearing a lot about it on the blogesphere and I never knew a shampoo could make your hair feel so darn good!! My hair has never felt so smooth and soft and I’ve had people compliment me on how shiny my hair looks since using this. It also has a really nice peachy smell which I was surprised by how much I liked!

So what have been your favourites this month? :)

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REVIEW: MAC Shy Girl

I am a complete lipstick addict and it’s quickly became something I wear basically everyday. On a day to day basis I tend to lean towards nudes and after purchasing MAC Hue last year I had my eye on the ever talked about Shy Girl. After months of debating I finally caved and I’m SO glad I did!

Shy Girl is described on the MAC website as a ‘neutral coral beige’ and this is fairly accurate although I think it leans more towards peachy/orange toned rather than coral! Most my nude lipsticks are pink toned so I like that it this a bit different to my usual. Because it is a slightly darker nude in my opinion, I think it would be great for almost all skin tones compared to other MAC favourites like Crème D’nude and Myth which can wash people out. I think when I get a bit of a tan this lipstick is going to look even more amazing!

This is my first cremesheen formula from MAC and so far I loves it! As I’m sure you all know by now I suffer from dry lips so I can’t stand lipsticks that make this even worse. The formula is super creamy and has such amazing pigmentation. No matter how long my lipstick lasts I always find myself applying carmex throughout the day, especially at work where the air conditioning is always on. With this lipstick I found myself going almost all day without feeling the need to apply any kind of balm which I was pleasantly surprised by! I’m so glad I gave in and purchased this lipstick and I can see it being my new go-to nude!

Have you tried Shy Girl? Also, if you guys would like to see a lipstick collection please let me know in the comments below! :)

Skin Routine for the Lazy

I’ll be honest with you girls, I’ve always been pretty lazy when it comes to my skin. I never moisturise and was never really into toner or anything until a couple of years ago. As I’ve got older I’ve definitely realised how important taking care of your skin is, especially now I’m at an age where I’m wearing more makeup. This is just my everyday skin routine for the lazy – its not overly time consuming at all but keeps my skin in good condition.
 

Morning:
In the morning I always wash my face with just a normal cleansing wash, usually Clean and Clear or Witch as I have slightly spot prone skin and they help keep this bay!

Night:

Step 1: I use baby lotion on cotton pads to take off all my eye makeup because it’s more gentle than cleansing wipes and doesn’t irritate my eyes.

Step 2: If you follow me on twitter you’ll know I gave in and purchased a 100ml bottle of Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish after buying a small bottle to try out. I use this to remove all my face makeup and just splash my face with cold water afterwards.

Step 3: I used to use toner every night but since purchasing Cleanse and Polish I only use this if I’ve had quite a bit of makeup on during the day or just feel like giving my skin an extra once over! I use the No7 toner for normal/oily skin and love it! With Boots always giving £5 off No7 vouchers it comes to just £3! Bargain!

And that’s it! Nothing fancy or that’s going to take you half an hour! This usually takes me about 10 minutes in total so no excuses girls, look after your skin! :)

What are your staple skincare products?

Bourjois Healthy Mix foundations: What’s the Difference!?

I’ve been using Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum for about 6 months now and it’s become a firm favourite in my makeup bag, although I always wondered what exactly was the difference between the serum and the original foundation? When my bottle ran out I decided to go for the original and see if they differed in any way.

The serum is priced at £10.99 while the foundation is priced at £9.99 even though each has 30ml of product. They both contain natural, vitamin enriched ingredients to benefit the skin and promise 16 hour wear. So far I’m not quite seeing any differences…

The Healthy Mix Serum packaging definitely comes up tops over the original foundation. I know most people aren’t fussed about packaging, and although it wouldn’t sway me to buy a product, it’s always nice to see the company has made an effort. The Healthy Mix Serum is in a plastic slimline bottle, though it feels quite expensive and I really like the red lid as it adds a bit of colour!

The original Healthy Mix foundation’s packaging is a little bland in my opinion. It is a slightly wider bottle and I don’t really think the black lid ties in with the rest of the bottle. I also think it feels and looks a little cheaper than the Serum bottle but that might just be me!

I’ve already done a full review on Healthy Mix Serum here so I won’t go too in-depth about it but one of the things I love so much about it is how easy it is to blend and it leaves a beautiful natural finish. It’s light coverage however it’s definitely buildable. Bourjois promise a radiance boosted complexion using this foundation and I definitely agree with this as I notice my face looks visibly brighter and leaves a dewy finish once I’ve applied. Although the Serum is marketed as more of a gel foundation, I didn’t find the consistency to be much different from any normal foundation.

The original Healthy Mix foundation is more of a light to medium coverage and I found it a little harder to blend compared to the Serum. I found it took a little more work to get a flawless finish but it brightened up my skin beautifully leaving a fresh-faced look.

(apologies for the very used looking serum bottle!)

One of the main differences I noticed with these foundations is longevity. Although both promise 16 hour wear, the Serum definitely did not live up to this. I do have slightly oily skin but even when setting my makeup I found it only lasted around 6-8 hours. I’ve found the original Healthy Mix foundation lasts significantly longer with at least 10 hours wear, always a plus!

Overall, I actually think I prefer the Healthy Mix foundation over the serum. Although it takes a little longer, it’s by no means hard to blend and I love how much longer this lasts on my skin. I also like having that little bit more coverage, especially on days where my skin needs it and at a pound cheaper, you can’t go wrong! Sorry this was a bit of a long one but I hope this was helpful if you’re looking into buying either of these foundations!

Have you tried the Healthy Mix range? What did you think?

Weekend Wishlist

Hi Girlies! I'm currently saving for a trip to Manchester next month with the boyfriend which means me having no money to spend on the million things I want need. So here are a couple of things I'm lusting over at the moment and can't wait to get my mitts on after Manchester!

1. OPI Servin' Up Sparkle: I’ve been on the hunt for a super sparkly nail polish and this OPI one just looks amazing on its own and for layering over other colours.

3. MAC Melba blush: I can’t even tell you how long I’ve been lusting after this blush. I’ve heard so many rave reviews and I love wearing peachy colours on my cheeks.

5. Chanel Rouge Coco Shine lipstick in Flirt: I’ve never dipped my toes into the Chanel pool before so I’m tempted to splurge and buy Flirt cause it looks like such a beautiful coral shade for Summer!

2. Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Mask: After falling in love with Liz Earle’s Cleanse and Polish like the rest of the world I really want to try more of their products and this mask has great reviews.

4. Babyliss conical wand: I have naturally wavy hair which I straighten most days cause it takes too long to dry naturally, so I’d love to invest in a conical wand to create loose waves.

 Do you have any of these products? What's on your wishlist just now?

Look what I got my hands on...

Heyyy girls!

So last Friday morning while browsing the Boots website I noticed that the Revlon Lip Butters had gone on sale! Considering they weren’t meant to be released until this week and I had received no pre-order email, I jumped at the chance and ordered two! I went to pick them up from my local store yesterday and they only cost £10 thanks to the 2 for £10 with Revlon deal – yaaay!

When I seen pictures online, I wasn’t to keen on the packaging of the lip butters as I thought the plastic lids made them look a tad cheap but I completely changed my mind when I received mine. I was surprised by how sturdy the packaging is and you really have to pull to get the lid off, so you know there will be no accidents if you carry it in your bag! (I’m looking at you 17 Beehive lipstick!) I also really like that the colour of the packaging coincides with the colour inside so if you collect a few you don’t have to spend time reading all the names to find the shade you want.

Cupcake

Because I was ordering online without having tried on the colours I decided to play it quite safe with my choices even though I was drawn to some of the brights. I decided to go with Strawberry Shortcake and Cupcake. Strawberry shortcake is a beautiful strawberry shade of pink that leans towards a toned down hot pink colour. I think it’s going to be great when I want a bit of colour on my lips during the day but nothing too bright. Cupcake is a light, baby pink which very similar to Barry M 100 lipstick if you have this. I don’t really have a colour similar to this and so far I’m in love with it!

Strawberry Shortcake

The pigmentation of these are amazing considering they aren’t even marketed as lipsticks. I would say the colour pay off is just as good as some lipsticks I own. The formulation is much smoother than a lipstick and glides on on your lips beautifully. As they are a lip butter, they are super moisturizing on your lips and leave them feeling smooth and hydrated.

Top: Strawberry shortcake 

Bottom: Cupcake

I am sooo glad I got my hands on these and I will definitely be purchasing more when they are released in store later this week!

Will you be buying the Revlon Lip Butters? Which colours are catching your eye? :)

REVIEW: Loreal False Lash Telescopic Mascara

When I first seen the adverts for this product with Cheryl Cole wearing NO lash inserts (kudos to Loreal for this) I knew I wanted to get my hands on it! Loreal claim ‘the innovative lengthening fibre formula builds intensity. Lashes look elongated as if beyond their tips.’ When it comes to my eyelashes I have not been gifted with naturally long ones and I love a lot of length so this mascara looked right up my street!

I’m a total sucker for packaging and this mascara really does it for me. I think it’s really unique looking with a lovely slender shape and I love the silver colour.

 

The first thing that I immediately loved about this mascara was the brush. It is plastic which may put some people off as I know a lot of girls stick to bristle brushes, but I’m not too fussed either way. The brush is quite long so one sweep and all my lashes are coated. I also love that it really grips them from the roots, helping the lengthening process. 

The formula of this mascara is very smooth and creamy without being too wet (which I sometimes don’t like) and it glides on your lashes like a dream! 

Personally, I’m never too fussed about volume, I just want long separated lashes but if you do like volume, this definitely gives depth to your eyelashes and I was surprised by how much I liked this!

As first impressions go I was head over heels for this mascara however I do have a teensie weensie downfall I feel I have to mention. I curl my lashes before putting on mascara to help keep some length and curl throughout the day and it usually works a treat with other mascaras but by the end of the day, I was surprised to see the mascara just didn’t quite look the same as it did when I applied it. My lashes didn’t look quite as lengthened but I’m not sure if this is just because the product is so smooth and needs to dry out a little bit or it’s something I’m doing so please don’t let this put you off!

Overall I’m so pleased I got my hands on this and I would definitely repurchase!

Have you tried this mascara? What’s your favourite lengthening mascara?

HELP! I have oily skin..

If you’re like me and suffer from oily skin it can be a pain trying to keep it at bay without caking your face in powder! I’ve picked up a few handy hints I use to help stop that dreaded shine appearing on my face so if you’re in the same boat as me, hopefully this will help!

Prime your skin: If you use a good primer this is going to help your makeup stay on longer and control oil throughout the day. Be sure that you choose an oil-free formula or one that is designed to mattify your face.

Use the right foundation: Getting the right foundation can be a godsend for oily skin. Research different brands and reviews before deciding which one to buy. I use Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum but I know MAC Pro longwear is an oil-free foundation targeted at people with oily skin.

Set your foundation: Setting your makeup definitely makes a huge difference in controlling shine throughout the day but make sure you don’t cake it on! Just dust over your foundation and if you need to blot later you can! MAC blot powder is my life saver I know it’s pricey but a little really does go a long way so think of it as an investment!

 (Sigma foundation brush, Inglot under make up base, MAC Pro Longwear foundation, Elf Studio complexion brush, Rimmel Fix and Perfect primer, MAC blot powder)

Use brushes to apply makeup: I prefer to use brushes to apply my makeup as the natural oils in your fingers can sometimes add to the oils on your face. Using brushes that are cleaned regularly will help prevent this!

Don’t touch your face throughout the day: I know I’m a culprit for touching my face during the day, making sure I’m not getting shiny but try not do this!! Again, due to the natural oils in your hands you’re only going to make it worse. If you feel you’re getting shiny and don’t have any powder at hand, just nip to the bathroom at school/uni/work and blot your face with a tissue!

I hope this post was helpful!  :) Do you have any top tips for keeping oily skin at bay?

First Impressions: Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish

Firstly, how can I start this post without addressing the fact I have hit over 100 followers!! You crazy kids, I'm not even going to try act all cool about this, I actually can't contain my excitement!! Thankyou all sooo much for your lovely comments and taking the time to read my rambles! :)

Okay back to business... A few weeks ago I caved and bought the infamous Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. My No7 cleanser had finished so it seemed like the perfect time to give it go! I only purchased a small 30ml bottle as I’d read on a lot of blogs that this cleanser broke out people with slightly oily skin - which unfortunately is my skin type! Now I know there are about a million and one reviews on this cleanser on the blogesphere but I just thought I’d share my first impressions with you all!

I have a normal to oily skin type and also have quite an uneven skin tone (I wish I could tell 14 year old me to not squeeze spots!!) and I had heard Cleanse and Polish can really make a difference with this.

The first time I used this cleanser it felt very odd rubbing it in on top of my makeup. I only needed a little squeeze of product and it was enough for my whole face and after massaging into my skin, I just used a normal cloth/flannel soaked in warm water to remove it. I won’t lie, after all the hype around this product I was expecting this amazing change or feeling after using it. My skin did feel a little smoother but that it was it really, and I was beginning to think my expectations of this product were going to be sorely disappointed.

After another week or two of using this I’m definitely starting to see results – hooray! Now this is no miracle cleanser that will give you beautiful skin in a week but I can see if I keep using this, the results are only going to get better. My uneven skin tone is mostly around my nose and chin area and I can already see that it is beginning to improve which I am SO pleased about. After putting on my foundation I usually would pop some concealer around these areas which I haven’t felt the need to do lately! I also usually use a No7 toner after cleansing, but this is a stage I miss out most days now as the Cleanse and Polish gets rids of every little scrap of makeup on my face!

As a person who is quite lazy when it comes to skincare this cleanser has made me look forward to cleansing my face and I can definitely see it being a firm newcomer to my cleansing routine!

Have you tried Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish? Did you think the product lived up to the hype?