November Treats

I've been such a lazy blogger recently. Life has consisted of eating share sizes of chocolate to myself, meals out, trips away and buying lots of Christmas presents. I recently went to London on the train and started people watching, as you do. There's nowhere that makes you feel so ordinary and unfashionable like London does (unless of course you're one of these people!) Women wear 'up - do's with such elegance, yet when I do, I resemble a pineapple. These women pull of skinny jeans that wouldn't fit over my arm and enjoy wearing white without fear.

Anyway, the important thing is I've got new stuff to talk about.

I'll begin with "Maybelline Baby Lips" in HYDRATE (£2.99). This comes in about six different variations, designed to give you soft lips, perfect for the winter time. The worse thing you can do is neglect chapped lips.. lipstick + chapped lips = one big mess.

I loved this and have already used it loads. It feels amazing and has definitely improved the condition of my lips.

Next, another addition to the REVLON "Photo Ready" Collection in "Metropolitan" (£.8.99)

Since my episode in school of looking like I'd industrially rolled my eyeshadow on, I've stayed away from it. I liked the look of this and I'm really impressed with it. Usually when you buy a kit like this you get a colour you don't like, but all these colours compliment each other. Last night, I put a little on...

Here, I'm wearing eyelure false lashes in 140. I used all colours and added a little pencil eyeliner on top. I love how subtle or dramatic you can be with it if you build it up, the gold is really shimmery and stands out. It also has instructions at the back for those who wouldn't know where to start. (Also includes a primer to make the colour even more party proof)

Now, onto the brows. I love colouring in my brows. By colouring, I don't mean shaving my whole brow off and giving myself two drawn - on semi circles. I mean defining what's ALREADY there. You cannot create a brow. This is L'Oreal Paris Super Liner Brow Artist for "Blondes" (£5.49) ; the lighter of the shades. 

I love the brush on this, it's really good for widening your brows and giving them more shape. It's also good for filling in the holes we have in our brows and defining the ends. It has a soft texture so the lines aren't obvious. I will definitely buy this again when I need to. The other end is a wax to finish off the look.

Lastly, another Revlon lipstick in "Shine" NO.810 Pink Sizzle (RRP £7.49)

When I saw this colour I thought it would be Nicki Minaj/Barbie Pink, but it's not, it's a softer shade of pink and I absolutely love it. It feels hydrating and soft. The only little minus is that it's not as long lasting as other lipsticks I've tried. 

Treat Your Skin?

Thursday Evening.
Stare at face in the mirror... nose especially, blackheads make it look like a salt and pepper grinder. Squeeze blackheads, feel light headed- repeat.

Friday afternoon.
Stare at face again, realize how much bigger one eye is compared to the other. Research invisible braces to fix my crossing teeth. Give up and decide a nap is more productive.

Saturday night.
Apply this b*tch.

This is 'Good Things' Blemish Control Gel Mask, meant to fix blemishes and clear your skin. So, I washed my face, applied it and waited 10 minutes; as instructed. From the minute I applied this, my skin was in pain, it was stinging (I assume due to the menthol...). My impression of it being a cute fruity product was dissolving away as my eyes started squinting watching the Xfactor. To see if it was just me, I asked my friend to apply it as well, she felt the same, an uncomfortable tingly sensation - not ideal on your face. Washing it off with a flannel (for fear that splashing the water would put me in jeopardy of getting this in my eye). I washed this clear mask off to reveal red blotchy skin, obviously my skin didn't agree with these ingredients and my face feels no fresher or cleaner this morning. Poor result.

Next, the white beauty that needs no introduction;

Better known for its emergency purposes of treating rashes etc, it's often ignored for its ability to fix spots. I've spent too many nights recently looking like a snowman/santa covered in this stuff. I've seen a positive result on stubborn spots and a tightness in my pores. I like to keep it on all night - so it's a good thing my pillowcases are white. Also, because it's better known for use on babies - you know you can trust it. I think this is more my kind of product - cheap and it works! I'm also going to be using this on my legs after shaving to heal those ugly red bumps - especially if you've been under the knife of pain (BIC shavers).


                                                                     <3

GARNIER 5 SECOND PERFECT BLUR PRIMER

What is it?

This little beaut of a product is a 5 second primer (Around £12.99) If you, like me haven't used a primer before it's a kind of cream that helps fix your make - up in place. I'd seen a few adverts for this around Boots and decided to invest after the 3 for 2 offer got the better of me (again!). 

Now, what I don't like about some blogs reviewing this product is they don't show you a before and after. What I want to see is what happens to your face after 5 seconds, was I going to transform into Angelina Jolie? Morph into Jessica Alba? Let me show you...

The directions tell you to moisturise your face, so I did about 5 minutes before (if I'd put it on immediately after I'd worry it would mix in too much and form some sort of paste!). Let's see me before: -

Forgive me, I'd just come out the shower!

Blackhead Central. 

Next, what happened after 5 seconds....?

Now, this cream feels whipped - so light and blends in with absolute ease. However, you do feel slightly disappointed when you apply it, it doesn't magically transform your face but it makes your face velvety soft. Pores DO look a little smaller and it does lighten your face so it's not so drab. Some of these photos look a bit better than it actually did, it may be lighting.

However, what SELLS this is how it maintains your foundation all day. I wore it to two conferences where I had to speak in public and usually my make - up is gone by the end of the day but it kept its colour; I loved it. 

I will DEFINITELY buy this again, simply because it makes your face feel amazing without feeling clogged and it the perfect base for foundation. 9/10!!!

Next, I got annoyed at the child growing at the bottom of my chin. So, to cover it I used Benefit's Boi Ing concealer in 01 + 02 and Rimmel's BB cream all over.

Not ideal. - Commitment to my blog!!!

Benefit's Boi Ing.

Almost Gone!! 

Finished product with mascara + Benefit's Coralista.
You can tell I haven't dried my hair...

All About Rimmel.

Rimmel; not the most innovative make - up brand but one that's relatively easy on the bank account. I think it's a younger generation's make - up brand as it doesn't do much for ageing/uneven skin. In the past I've been unimpressed with their mascara, and this recent one didn't change my opinion either. It seems they have a new mascara out all the time with none of them really delivering dream lashes.

The 3 products I want to tell you about are...

(1) Rimmel BB Cream

(2) Rimmel Scandal Eyes FLEX

(3) Rimmel Moisture Renew in 200 Latino

So, if you've ready my previous blogs, you'll read that I blogged about L'Oreal's BB cream. This Rimmel one retails at around £6.99 for 30ml. It's meant to be a 9 in 1 BB cream, promising to do everything except the washing up. How one thing can prime/moisturise/reduce pores/protect I don't understand, and to be honest it doesn't.  However, I do think it's better than the L'Oreal as it's a better colour and is easier to blend. I use BB cream's as a base to my foundation, rather than on its own, as I don't feel it provides enough coverage. 

It doesn't hide my pores, but this is only after thin first application. 

A much better colour. 

Delivers a more natural shine. 

This is after about two applications, sorry about the towel - but proof this is just after a shower on clean skin.


Now, as I said I prefer BB cream as a base, and one of my favourite foundations which provides coverage, but a little bit "runny" for everyday is DIOR forever. This is not ideal if you have greasy skin as it will probably just contribute to it. 

Next, the mascara. As I said I'm not a Rimmel person for mascara's usually; this proves why, the brush is massive and makes application difficult, awkward and messy.

I prefer a comb to a brush, and as you can see from my application it wasn't a success, and I'm pretty good with application usually!

Next, a lipstick I was looking forward to finding after seeing the adverts on Facebook. This lipstick is around £6.50 and I bought it in Latino.

It promises to give your lips some moisture and to keep them hydrated, it did do this kind of, as it didn't flake off or leave lips dry.

I prefer a matt finish to this type of lipstick, [you can see where the BB cream hasn't blended well around my mouth]. It kind of has a pearly shine to it which some people may love. It doesn't last particularly long.. I wouldn't invest again! 

Adding a little cream tint to the cheeks, this was the final result.

What do you think of Rimmel?

X <3 X

Nude Magique

Nude Magique Cream, 5 in 1. Bare Skin Beautifier. RRP £10.00

According to the press and various websites, it's the 'ultimate' BB cream which recreates the natural glow of nude skin. Having only used Garnier BB cream previously, I wanted to give this one a go.

Let me begin with what it looks like.

To me, the point of a BB cream is that it does the work of a foundation but in a "natural" way, they're meant to be light and shouldn't have that heaviness you feel sometimes with some foundations.

So, this BB cream looks a bit like an exfoliator, and the gritiness (feels like there's sand in it) makes it slightly unnatural.

.

I applied onto my skin using my fingertips, and you see the colour appearing as you apply (My guess is that the grit is actually little beads of foundation..) The problem is, once you apply it's quite difficult to blend it and gain that natural look, making tide marks on the side of your face too easy!

Here, I've applied it, but look closely and you'll see what I mean by "tide marks"...

You can't really control the colour of this BB cream, I bought the "light" version [as usual...] but there's not much choice in colours, (2 as far as I'm aware). It does give you colour, but I didn't see coverage at all, and if anything it made my spots more visible. It's hard to control the desired look and I wouldn't buy it again, as it just doesn't deliver - it's doesn't give you the fresh face look you'd hope from a BB. 

Next, I added a bit of colour using Benefit's 'Fine One One' RRP £23.50 which is split into 3 colours; watermelon, coral and pink. I love this for summer, because it gives the cheek equivalent of a smoky eye, blending three colours instead of one blob of block colour.

I think the colour is quite natural, but maybe not ideal for winter. Knowing Benefit stuff, it will last ages, but I'd definitely re-invest. 

My mission on finding a decent BB cream continues...

COLOUR THAT FACE

I've learnt two things since starting this blog 1) It's expensive 2) It's time consuming. However, I still love it. Trips to Boots now take double the time as I'm more careful with my purchases. I've also been busy lately (mostly crying at surprise surprise and shouting abuse at the judges' choices on Xfactor) so this is blog is waaaaay overdue.

 Now that Summer is well and truly over (yet that Magaluf Weekender programme is still lingering on telly like a bad smell) we're all back to that pale phase - or is this just me?! So, I've looked into adding a little colour to my face and I've explored quite a few different routes.

This is me, with just mascara on, no foundation etc, to show you what I'm dealing with here! 

As mentioned in a few previous blogs, I love Benefit's CHA CHA tint. However, the price ain't loveable! So, thinking of the old purse strings, I tried this cheaper option; Rimmer London STAY Blushed in 001 POP OF PINK. (Around £4.50 -  £5.00) available in 2 colours. 

To begin with, I put some concealer on my face, just to even out my complexion out a bit. I also used a TRUE MATCH powder all over, including eyelids etc. This power evens out your face without leaving that caked on feeling. (Around £8.00 - £9.00)

Dull, I know, but that's the point. The instructions on this say to apply with fingertips, however, I learnt from the Cha Cha tint that it's not the easiest to get off, so I used a Benefit Foundation Brush instead. I apply very little on in circular movements. 

This tint (you can use more if you want) provides that extra bit of colour to your face. I also have Rimmel's FIRECRACKER lipstick on, which adds to the colour. Is it as good as cha cha tint? No. Does it last all day? Kind of, but it's not rain proof. 

Next, we all want that kind of natural shine (without the grease) so after seeing an advert of Emma Stone wearing this and admiring her cheekbones I decided to give it a try.. REVLON's Photoready Skinlights in Bare light (this is available in more colours and retails around £12)

Now, you can see why this would not be suitable for anyone with big pores. For me, it looks a little messy on. To show how this works with a little lipstick for a more "sophisticated look"....

Here, I have it on my cheeks and the bridge of the nose. I've also used L'Oreal Paris - Colour Riche in Feeric Fuschia on my lips to add extra colour. I wouldn't rate the Revlon Skinlights that highly, it's not easy to use - applying it over foundation ruins it, but without looks a little greasy. 

Next, the bronzer. I prefer pearl bronzer - like this, instead of bar shaped ones.  This is Glam Bronze by L'Oreal paris - the Blonde version. 

Here, I applied it all over my face and used Benefit's Cha Cha tint on the cheeks for extra colour. This warms my face up a little, but I think I prefer the rosy look.

How do you colour your face...?