6 Lipsticks: I Regret

This is the last in my little trio of lipstick posts but I will finish of with a lip gloss one next Saturday. I hope you are enjoying this series, getting a glimpse into my collection!

Lets get the worst of the worst out of the way first. These two lipsticks from Evie Mai, a brand I struggle to find, came in a vanity box I treated myself to one Christmas. I hate them. They are the palest of colours that I really cannot imagine suiting anybody, the first one makes you look like death and the second one doesn't come out anywhere near as pink on the lips as it does in the swatch. Also as you may be able to see in the picture, the stick itself goes sort of dry and patchy, odd. Sigh. It really is a shame because they are very creamy and it is a pretty colour. I was extremely disappointed. :( 

MUA Shade 12 is a nice enough colour if you like the glitz and glam, personally I think it looks way OTT on me and after my cousin 'made me look pretty' it isn't in such a good state. I think the glitter is a little too big as well.

There is anything major that I don't like about the AVON lipstick in Berry Berry, the packaging is classic and the colour is beautiful but I can't handle the smell, it is so drying and the shade, although nice, doesn't suit me in the slightest. 

There is just one reason I regret buying the Calvin Klein lipstick in Desire and that is that I really, really do not suit purple lipstick. *Shudder*

Finally, the first MAC lipstick I ever bought and it was a huge let down. I don't, however, think this is down to MAC. I believe this is a fake. I have the shade Shy Girl and it is terrible on application, it doesn't cover the lips and if you go for a second coat it wipes away the first. Full coverage is impossible. It also makes my lips feel horrible and when compared to my other MAC lipsticks, the packaging does differ. Lesson learnt: Always buy direct from the brand and not over Amazon, even if the price is attractive. 

Anndd there we go! Which lipsticks do you regret? Are there any I should avoid?

Until next time

xx

Battle of the Brands #3

This week in Battle of the Brands I am comparing eye shadow primers from Smashbox and Urban Decay.

The Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer (full size) retails for £15.00 here. I have the mini version which I got in a set of the photo finish range for wear at my prom last year. I really love all of the products though I must admit of the three, this is my least favourite. 

Don't get me wrong this is a good primer it just dries out so easily and there isn't much product inside the bottle.

It has a doe foot applicator that applies a good amount to the lid which I then blend out. It is much more light weight that the UD primer potion which is a bonus and is also more matches to my skin tone so doesn't make my eye lid look orange before I put on my makeup. 

I swear by the Urban Decay primer potion. I've used it for a coupe of years now and love it but it does have its cons.

Pros include the beautiful packaging, how long one bottle lasts (and I only have the mini) and of course that it keeps eye shadow in place all day.

Cons are that it feels heavy on the lids, you can apply too much and it makes the skin slightly orange which I don't like. 

You can buy the full size Urban Decay primer potion here for £16.00 or travel size for just £8.00 - bargain!

Right: UD primer potion, Left: Smashbox Photo Finish lid primer

My winner is Urban Decay primer potion, despite its cons I love it too much for it to lose and the Smashbox primer just dries out too quick. Have you tried these? Did I make the right choice?

Until next time

xx

Borghese Active Fango Mud Mask

A while ago, in fact in this post, I gave Borghese Active Fango Mud Mask a not so good review. After reading Fleur De Force rave about it - her post was titled Blackheads Be Gone - claiming it was the best thing for blackheads I bought it straight away and was not impressed. Today I'm eating my words.
I've gone back to this mask recently in an effort to sort my skin out and I have to admit that I am really pleased with the results. I don't know whether I just didn't give it a fair trial last time or if its because my skin type has altered slightly but whatever happened, I'm glad.

When I use the mud mask it dries nicely into my skin and I can really feel it working something. I must point out that it is quite strong so I only use it on my problematic areas (nose and chin).
I wash it off with warm water and a face cloth and my skin is honestly just SO silky soft and in the morning my skin looks clearer and cleaner. After a few uses I have noticed a small - but increasing - difference. 
The mask itself is a thick clay like mud and a little goes a long way.

I look forward to a happy future with this mask by my side! 

You can buy Borghese Active Fango Mud Mask for face and body here for £54.00 but it can be found for a much nicer price on eBay!

Have you tried this? What are your thoughts?

Until next time

xx

COMPANY Lashes

- sorry for the bad picture guys, I took it in the car straight after buying because I was desperate to open it -

This mascara was free in this month's company magazine (my first time buying this mag, may I add, and I love it) and after trialling it out for a week I couldn't not write about it. I know, I know! You don't usually review magazine make up but this is actually a good product.

This mascara, rather than going for the spider look - which I know some of you love - enhances your natural lashes making them look defined, curly and lengthened but still as though there is no mascara there. Of course you can build it up but I prefer not to. 

Packaging: Simple but stylish. The plastic tube does feel cheap but what can you expect? I like it.

Price: FREE! 

Wand: Basic slim wand with synthetic bristles. Doesn't pick up too much product.

Formula: I quite like the formula, it is not too thick nor is it heavy and so doesn't clump. The black is black, it's not browny and I like how it looks and feels. It does however smudge/fall down towards the end of the day. 

Overall this was a great magazine freebie and maybe I'd buy it if it was available in stores. I also really enjoyed the magazine content! I will be picking it up monthly. 

Do you read COMPANY magazine? What did you think of the mascara?

Until next time

xx 

Maybelline Baby Lips

Hello lovelies

Today I have for you a post that has been almost a year in waiting. I cannot believe I haven't done this before because this is by far my favourite range in terms of lip balms. I adore these. Let's review Maybelline Baby Lips!

I do, in fact, own all six of the Baby Lips available in Superdrug/Boots on the Isle of Man but I can't seem to find the Hydrate one at the moment, I'm pretty sure I left it in my college bag but it's not there. Hmm. 

So Maybelline released these in the UK last August and I held off at first as I always do with new releases, to give myself a chance to hear some reviews. I'm not in a position where I can afford to buy products and not like them. I heard a huge amount of good reviews and one month later I'd bought them all. Here is another good review to add to the pile...

My favourites (I also love Hydrate) from the dozen available.

The balms contain Shea butter to give softness, Vitamins that condition the lips and SPF 20 that protects lips from sun damage. There are also hints of Centalla to plump up the lips. A good all rounder, wouldn't you say?

They claim to hydrate for up to 8 hours. Although they certainly do hydrate for a while, I find myself topping up after about 4-5 hours. They leave my lips well conditioned and super soft after every application, so it's OK.

In the UK you can purchase these from Boots and Superdrug for just £2.99! You read correctly there, all that goodness for less than a fiver. It's a miracle.

We can't forget that half of the range are tinted. There really is a colour for everyone; Peach Kiss suits darker skin tones, it looks beautifully on my Indian friend. She wears it daily and loves it. It's the gold shimmer that makes the look.

The Pink Punch suits paler people. It's a bright pink shade that just sits it my drawer because it doesn't really suit me. I also think this one looks great on blondes! 

Finally, Cherry Me suits the in the middle people, like me. This is a pink toned red. I like it a lot.

The colours are quite subtle but can be built up for a stronger look. Which is your favourite?

I use Intense Care (yellow one) every night before bed and every morning when I wake up and I've not suffered from painful chapped lips all Winter. For me, this is a big achievement. I carry Hydrate with me to college and keep Cherry Me in my daily makeup bag for a pop of colour whenever I feel like it. 

I applied this in a lecture one day and my friend walked in and said "Your lips look great, they've gone a pretty cherry colour" - so the colour must show through well and of course I was more than happy to receive the compliment and tell her about Baby Lips.

10 out of 10 Maybelline, but please bring the rest of the range to the UK!

So there is my opinion, what's yours? and if you haven't tried them yet, WHY?

Until next time

xx

Naked 3!

Hello lovelies 

Oh my goodness it's the 21st January and this is my first post of 2014! So we're almost one month in and i'm finally getting around to saying HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

Today I've got a post that I have been looking forward to writing for so long. Unless you have been living under a rock you will know that the end of 2013 saw the release of the long awaiting rose gold tinted third addition to the famous Urban Decay Naked palette set.

From the moment I heard about this product it was on my wish list and I am so thankful to my family for gifting it to me at Christmas. Best. Present. Ever. 

I thought I would wait a while before reviewing the shadows though, because who wants to read yet another post when you're in the middle of a hype? Not me. I've given myself time to use the product (and trust me, I've been using it pretty much every day) and to decide if it was worth all the begging (it was).

*Sigh* So beautiful...

OK, starting with the packaging, similarly to Naked 2, it's an embossed, metal container in a beautiful rose tinted shade with gold writing. It's perfect for on the go because it's strong and protective, but also a pain because it's rather big. I personally think the casing is unattractive on the Naked 2 palette in comparison to others but with this one the slight change in colour makes all the difference, besides it's much more secure and sturdy so I wont complain. A four out of five UD. Well done. 

The shadows are set out with the lightest highlighting colour ("Strange") on the left through to the darkest crease colour ("Blackheart") on the right. Every single shade is wearable on any skin tone. Each shadow is equally beautiful and easy to use whether it be on a day to day basis or for a special occasion. 

The shadow of my iPhone slightly ruins this picture but I like it all the same. You can see the how pigmented the shadows are in this image, as with all Urban Decay eyeshadows, particularly the shimmery ones. The matte shades, although less pigmented, have just as much colour pay off and used with any primer lasts all day (to me a full day at college, from leaving at 8am to getting home at 5pm).

All in all this is a great palette for makeup lovers of any age, good for any time of day and as always provides fantastic pigmentation and pay off for hours *when used on top of a primer*. I am absolutely loving using it and I recommend it. My favourite day time combination is 'Nooner' all over the lid, 'Factory' in the crease and 'Burnout' dusted on the top. Do you have this palette? What's your favourite look? Do you have a different opinion? Let me know!

Until next time

xx 

Borghese Fango Active Mud Review

Hello

I am reviewing the Borghese Fango active mud for face and body today and I have to say, first impressions are not good. 

I bought this on mission to defeat black heads after reading this brilliant review on Fluer De Force's blog. 

I figured if it worked for her it would work for me but alas, like so many other products which claim to reduce or clear black heads, this failed for me. 

The price is ridiculous for the tiny tube although you don't need much so I guess if you find it works for you then the paying up to £35 is totally worth it. I picked this up from eBay for £21.00.  

The packaging itself is super cute. I really like the simple yet attractive design and it just makes me want to display it in my bathroom. It has the feel of a luxury product - granted, it is sort of luxury priced) - which is always great.

As you can see it is a very muddy colour and is full on coverage. It has a strong smell to it which I'm not to sure how to describe but I like it. It makes me feel like I'm in a spa. 

It is also very strong to sensitive skin, if like me your skin is even slightly sensitive, I would only use this mask on the areas it is needed. 

I apply this to my nose and chin only, but I do use a generous amount and I can definitely feel it working, unfortunately after I wash it off there is no immediate or long term difference. Sigh.. 

I don't feel very qualified to be reviewing this in detail because I'm no expert on skin care, nor am I clued up on face mask ingredients  I usually just stick to whatever I can find in Holland & Barrett.

Overall, I look the look and feel but it doesn't quite work for me. I'd recommend if you like a luxury feel, have the time and money to spend on using this regularly but don't have too many black heads to fix. 

That's all I've got for now I'm afraid. I hope this helped as this review has been a long time coming. 

Until next time

xx

Lip Glosses I'm Loving

Hello

In the Summer months it is important to take care of your luscious lips but it's always good to add a bit of glamour too. Let's take a look at a couple of my favourite lip glosses from the Spring/Summer months so far.

 Now, in case you didn't know, I am in no means a big fan of lip gloss. I don't like to wear it and I think it's sticky and occasionally just too glossy so you know these products must be really something if even I like them!

One I have been enjoying a lot recently, and in fact the one I wore to my prom in June was just a free gift out of my friend's magazine. This is the Model co SHINE Ultra Lip Gloss in Strip Tease. It is a gorgeous pale peachy pink colour with added shimmer. Thee mirror on the tube is quirky and cute and super handy for applying on the go!

Not the best of times to realise the quality of this picture is terrible.. Oops!

Another favourite is one which I have loved since the day I bought it; this is the Revlon Super Lustrous lip gloss in shade 080 'Cherries in the glow'. I like to pair this with my Wet'n'Wild lip stick on a daily basis, it's your natural lip but better. I also really love the high end packaging of this lip gloss. 

Now this one is a little embarrassing. It's the Sweet Sundae lip gloss which I collected from a Zoey 101 magazine quite some years ago... The packaging is just SO cute and the lip gloss is beautiful. The smell is refreshing and reminds me of something from my child hood which I just can't put my finger on. This will always be an old favourite of mine since I've had it for 8 years. 

So far all of the lip glosses I have spoken of have a doe foot applicator however the next couple are a little different.

Finally the last two I've been wearing a lot of this summer are from the Collection 2000 Love Your Lips range and with an SPF of 20 they are perfect for the summer months!

The two shades I have been enjoying are Shade 3 - Passion which is a bright pink and Shade 5 - Darling which is a much more subtle shade. I want to call it a rose colour. 

Both of these glosses come in lovely little tubes which are great for throwing in your jacket pocket or hand bag, the little brushes are good for a smooth application and rose hip & mango contents is a fab fruity extra!

You can pick up these glosses between 39p and £1.99 from Amazon - amazingly cheap!

So to conclude, I'm a pinky-red kinda gal and I just like to add a hint of shine to my lips every now and then. 

I'd love to know what lip products you have been loving this season, make sue to leave a comment or get in touch. 

Until next time
xx

Sleek Contour Kit

Hello

Today I have a little review of a product that has sneaked its way in to my everyday make up routine and I have no complaints. 

This is the Sleek contour kit. 

Picture: shade Light

Retailing at £6.49 on the Sleek website this small compact is the perfect addition to your make up bag. 

Contouring was never something I used to do but with a rounded face like mine I now like to do it daily to highlight my cheekbones and make face look a little slimmer. The compact powder in this palette is great for beneath the cheek bone, up the sides of your nose and under your jaw. It is also good for bronzing your temples. 

The highlighter is a gorgeous shimmery pink and highlights your cheeks well. 

The packaging is perfectly sized for your makeup bag or purse and has a good sized mirror. I use this along side my Real Techniques Contour brush and I'm good to go. 

This was not an in depth review but I feel like I've got across everything you need to know when thinking about purchasing this. Which if your after a good, long lasting contour and highlight I think you really should. 

Something I must point out is do not be mislead by the how big the products look on the website or you will be disappointed upon their arrival at your home. They are much smaller than they look, particularly the single blush colours. That said, I wouldn't be without mine!

Until next time

xx

Urban Decay Naked 2 Review

Hello 

This photo (from my Instagram) has an effect on it to enhance the overall look so you don't get to see the full colours of the shadows, the reflections in the mirror are pretty accurate though. The main part you don't get to see is the shimmer. 

One of the things I really like about this palette is that the shimmery eye shadows, unlike in most from Urban Decay are not over the top. They are subtle but also buildable and I really love that. In my 'Femenine' palette the colours are all all so pigmenty and glittery that it looks too much, glitter ends up all down my face and it looks like I've tried too hard. With this palette you don't get that. It's neutral and classy and gorgeous. 

I was slightly disappointed, however, with a couple of things. Unfortunately, I do not own any other products from the Naked line (I'd really love to own the original Naked palette because I believe it's much better than this one?) so I don't have much to judge on but as a product on it's own I find it hard to create a nice everyday look. There are just two matte colours (Foxy and Tease), other than the black -which is fab for smokey eye or a powder eye liner - so everything else is more of a night time, going out kinda shimmer. 

Also the packaging itself was not impressive. I lurvee the large mirror and the crease brush is okay but the metal casing is not attractive and the shadow brush is not great. I have some really cheapy fluffy brushes which do a much better job! Shame. 

My favourite shadow from this palette is without a doubt Tease. I love the matte brown colour which, when applied to the lid, has noticeable purple undertones. Fabulous. 

Grail or Fail? I just can't decide. How about you?

Until next time
xx