August 2014 Birchbox | My Thoughts ♥

Number 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect | £20
I have been using this conditioning & protecting spray on my hair just before blow drying it. It doesn't really have a fragrance, it just makes my hair feel nice and soft once it is dry. I have quite enjoyed using it on my new bleached ends.

Vasanti Brightenup! Enzymatic Face Rejuvinator | £26
This is a multi-action exfoliator which is designed to refresh your complexion. I haven't actually used this yet as my skin is having a horrible break out just now so I don't want to irritate it by adding something new into my skincare routine. I like the sound of it though.

Supergoop! Daily Correct SPF35 CC Cream | £32
I have tried this cc cream a few times, however, I keep finding myself applying my foundation over the top of it because it is far too dark for my skin tone and it doesn't even out my skin tone. I am not over joyed by this product.

Nude Progenius Omega Treatment Oil | £58
This is a nourishing oil rich in Omega 3, 6, 7 & 9, for hydrated smooth skin. I am looking forward to trying out this face oil as it sounds promising. I think it might be the pick me up my skin needs right now!

Chella Highlighter Pencil | £15.95
This highlighter can be used on your brow bones, cheekbones and inner corners of your eyes. I have been using it on my brow bone and eyes, it works really well and I love the soft consistency it has.

The Proposal By Tasmina Perry |£7.99
I haven't read this chapter from this book yet as I don't really enjoy romantic novels, I am more interested in horror and crime books. However, I am sure a lot of you would enjoy it.

I wasn't extremely impressed with this months box, it seemed a bit boring and it has too many tiny samples of things I don't really think I will use, I hope next months box is as good as last months was. You can see last months box review here

Laquee Rette Gel Nail Polish ♥

Laquee Rette Gel Polish 091# - £2.49 eBay

I have an interview today for college, I have applied to study Fashion Design & Manufacture. I am pretty nervous as it is a video conference interview which seems a bit daunting!? I am sure it will be fine, I really hope I get a place, if not I will just try again next year! eek.

This seems to be the only gel nail polish I am wearing at the moment! I always receive lots of compliments on my nails when I wear it. I love it so much, there are lots of different coloured flakes running through the bluey purple colour which shimmer in the light. I would say this is the best gel polish I own and it lasts about 5/6 days without any chips or peeling. I had to wait a couple of weeks for it to arrive as it is from Hong Kong, however, it was worth the wait. The price for one of these large bottles of polish is amazing, most of my gel polishes are thin square bottles and cost a lot more, I love the fact this is a chunky round bottle with a lot more product inside. I will definitely be repurchasing from this seller, they have loads of colours to choose from!

Anna Sui Eyeshadow & Lip Colour Palettes ♥

  

Eyeshadow & Lip Colour Palette - RRP £28 (currently both £14) - Escentual*

I was recently sent these pretty palettes from Emma at Escentual. They have both got such beautiful packaging and a gorgeous range of highly pigmented colours.
The eye palette is so versatile, it can be used to create a soft natural look or a smoky, night out look. All of these bold shades are full of colour and are very pigmented.

Bourjois Dark Khol Mascara Review ♥

Bourjois Dark Khol Mascara - £7.99 Superdrug

Heeeeey! I hope you're having a good week, I have loads to get done at the moment and my room is a complete tip and I need to take blog pictures... so stressed! I thought you would like to read about this lovely mascara I have been using recently, let me know what you think. 

I absolutely love the applicator brush, it is such a unique, interesting shape. The spiked end is great for applying mascara onto my bottom eyelashes, it doesn't make them clumpy or stuck together! The hourglass shaped head is great for applying lots of mascara on my top eyelashes but also separating each individual lash. 

The formula in this mascara is great, it allows my eyelashes to flex, so they don't feel so solid and don't look fake. It is a very dark black colour which makes my eyelashes stand out even more. It doesn't break up through the day and fall onto my face either which is good. I don't know if it is just my bottle of mascara or what but to me the product itself smells of pollen? (I have really bad hayfever so don't worry it doesn't actually include pollen or I wouldn't be able to use it!) but it smells like it! If anyone else has noticed this please let me know in the comments so I don't seem so crazy! haha. Overall I love this mascara, so if you are looking for a new one then I recommend you try this out! 

Benefit Porefessional Review (Free in Elle magazine!) ♥

Helloooo! I am currently typing up this post on my ipad on the train to Glasgow, shopping time, yaaay. I hope you are having a good week and are all set for the weekend. I am back to work on Sunday.. boo! 

I thought you would love to know about the free Benefit Porefessional in this months Elle magazine! I have been wanting to try this primer for so long but I didn't want to spend all that money on the full size product just in case I didn't like it (it retails for about £19). I have been trying it out for the past week and let me tell you, there is a lot of product in this little tube! 

 I apply moisturiser before this primer so it lasts on my face even longer. I love the texture, it is so so soft and absorbs into my skin instantly. I only need a teeny tiny amount of Porefessional (it goes a very long way). I smooth it all over my T zone and cheeks and then apply my foundation. My skin looks silky smooth and my pores appear much smaller, (I don't have huge pores, however, my skin looks smoother than normal). My foundation has lasted much longer than usual, especially around my nose area which is great! 

I am definitely going to buy this primer once this tube runs out. You should definitely pick up this months Elle magazine so you can try it out too, the magazine is only £4, so you get a great read plus Porefessional.. What's not to love?!

Simple Perfecting Beauty Balm Review ♥

Simple BB Cream - £8.99

Hellooo, I have a pretty negative product review today. I think it's good to keep a mix of good and bad reviews on my blog, so that people with similar skin tones to me know what they are getting with a product. 

I am a huge fan of all of Simple's products but this one definitely isn't one I am going to be adding to my favourites any time soon. I have been looking for the perfect, light BB cream for a while now but it just doesn't seem to exist! I seen this one on offer in Superdrug a couple of weeks ago for £4.49, I thought it was the perfect time to try it as my skin was pretty clear and I wanted to wear less foundation on a daily basis. I looked through all of the boxes on the shelf to find the lightest shade, however, I was surprised to see that they all had the same 'universal shade' on the front of every box. I was confused at how one shade could possibly fit everyone, however, I still bought it. 

I was shocked at how orange this BB cream was when I first squeezed it out of the tube. I applied it on top of my moisturiser with my Real Techniques expert face brush (review here), and buffed it into my skin. My face instantly turned orange and I could still see every little mark left from previous spots. I tried blending it down my neck to make it look a bit better which didn't work. I think this BB cream would only be best used if you fake tan and have a glow about your skin all the time, otherwise it is going to totally mismatch your skintone and make you look like a tangerine. I was really really disappointed in this BB cream as Simple are such a brilliant skincare brand. Maybe makeup isn't their strong point just yet, but I am hopeful that they will bring out a better BB cream in the future!

Have you tried this BB cream?

Soap and Glory No Clogs Allowed Face Mask Review ♥

Soap and Glory No Clogs Allowed - £11.50 Boots

Hellooo! I've had a mad obsession with face masks over the past couple of months.. I have no idea why, however, this Soap and Glory mask is the only one I have tried that I think is worthy of a good review on here!

I have been using this detox mask once a week on the desired areas of my skin which have the most clogged up & oily pores. This mask is the first of its kind I have tried, I found it a little confusing to use at first as you have to apply the mask onto your desired area of skin, then wet your hands and massage it in, I've never had to do this with a mask before, but it works well. It turns a bright blue colour once you've added water, which looks awesome (a new, all the rage, foundation colour for sure.. ha). 

This product is aimed at oily/combination skin which is great. It gets rid of pore sebum and also helps to prevent breakouts. This is a self heating mask which is something I love in face masks, it feels like it is actually doing something to my skin! As the face mask starts to cool down it brings a different, cold and tingly sensation to my skin, which feels like the mask is still working it's magic.

This mask gets right down into your pores and cleans out your skin, leaving it feeling very soft, fresh and oil free after you have washed it off with a cloth and warm water. I love the smell this mask has too, it smells like a typical face mask but with a slight fresh difference.

I highly recommend you try this mask, it is worth every penny and a small amount goes a long way!

x

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic Review ♥

Liz Earle Skin Tonic 200ml - £13.25

Happy Valentine's day! I hope you're all having a good day, whether you are with someone or not this Valentine's, you should take the opportunity to pamper yourself! Get a good DVD, some munchies and your favourite face mask and have a good evening:)!

I have been using this skin tonic religiously every morning and night after I have cleansed my face, I'm obsessed! My skin feels cool, refreshed and hydrated after I have applied this using a cotton pad. All the good ingredients and vitamins make me feel like my skin is being looked after, these include; Organic Aloe Vera, Calendula, Rose-scented Geranium, Cucumber and Vitamin E (which is an antioxidant that helps repair and protect your skin!). The smell of this product is amazing, as are all Liz Earle products, it has a very heavenly rose scent, which lasts ages! I have also noticed my skin hasn't had as many breakouts recently and my blemish marks are starting to fade? I can't think of any other product that could be doing this apart from this tonic, so that has pleased me. If you have used this product then comment your thoughts below!

(p.s I know that the bunny chocolates in the picture look like they have been involved in a chocolate bunny massacre but they taste amazing and were too cute not to feature in this post! They're from Tesco!)

♥What are your plans this Valentine's day? :)♥

Revlon Colorstay Foundation Review | My New Favourite! ♥

Revlon Colorstay 24hr Foundation (Combination/Oily) £12.49 - Superdrug

I am loving this foundation at the moment! It is hands down the best foundation I've used so far, here's why. 

I have very pale skin as some of you already know and I can't ever ever find a the correct foundation colour for my skin tone, however, this foundation seems to be the perfect match. I have it in the shade 110 Ivory which is the lightest colour Revlon has to offer. It has a medium to full coverage which is great for those not so good skin days! 

I find this foundation works best for me with an oil balancing moisturiser as a base layer, I use Simple's 'Clear Skin Oil Balancing Moisturiser' (review here). I then apply my foundation with an Elf stippling brush followed by my Beauty Blender (review here) to blend it all out and get rid of any brush marks, to give my skin an airbrushed & soft look. It blends out perfectly and has that 'no foundation, flawless skin' look. 

This foundation hasn't caused my skin to break out which is great because quite a few high street foundations have done in the past, so this one is in my 'safe' zone. It lasts all day which is good for me because I always lean my hands on my face or I have an itchy nose or something (weird, I know), so most foundations I've used tend to rub off but this one stays put! I am just about to purchase my second bottle, so I would highly recommend you try this foundation next time you are looking for a new one!

What are your thoughts on this foundation?

MUA Ever After - Matte Palette | Review ♥

MUA Ever After Palette £4 - Link

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a good weekend! I didn't do very much, I had lunch with James on Saturday and then yesterday, to celebrate the first day of my week off (woohoo!), I had a lazy day! I hope you enjoy today's review, let me know what you think!

I was so excited when I seen the latest addition to MUA's makeup palette range and for only £4 you really can't go wrong! I only ever use matte shadows on my eyes so this palette was exactly what my ever growing makeup collection needed. 

I have read a few negative reviews on this palette, however, I really like it! What I find with a lot of eye shadows is you need to get past the top layer to get to the true colour, once you've done that with this palette, you get highly pigmented and easy to blend colours. 

I love the colour selection, if I was to create my own MAC palette this would be the shade range I'd choose. It ranges from the blackest of black to a very light cream colour, I used the black along with a gel eyeliner for my Halloween makeup last Thursday, it lasted all night and blended perfectly (see makeup below). I use the light and dark brown shades every day now and I am amazed at the different eye looks this little palette can create.

Most days I use 'Fade' along the top of my crease as a light transition colour, followed by 'Penny' on my crease and onto the top half of my eyelid and finally to finish off the look I use 'Truffle' in the outer corner, blending it out evenly into the shade 'Penny'.

what you think of this palette? xo

BOO! D:

Marc Jacobs Dot Perfume ♥

Marc Jacobs Dot 50ml - Boots £49.50

Hello! I hope you're all having a good day.

I have been wanting to share my thoughts on the Marc Jacobs Dot perfume for a while now, so here it is!

I got this perfume for my 18th birthday from my uncle, who always knows what to buy me which is good because I had wanted this perfume for ages! It has quickly became my new favourite, I wear it most days because I love it so much!

The fragrance is soft, fruity and floral, with a hint of the signature Marc Jacobs scent. When first sprayed there are two top notes of mixed berries and honeysuckle, which compliment each other perfectly. For me it is a very versatile fragrance which can be worn either in the day time or night time.

Like all Marc Jacobs perfumes the bottle shapes seem to be the first thing to catch your eye and draw you in. I absolutely love this bottle's shape and design, it has been very well made and planned out, however, I am a little scared to carry it around in my handbag as I feel if anything hits the 3D parts they will fall off.

Overall I absolutely love this perfume and it is well worth the money. If you haven't already tried it out for yourself then you need to sample it because I am sure you will all love it! xo

Philip Kingsley One More Day Dry Shampoo - Review ♥

Philip Kingsley One More Day Dry Shampoo 200ml £13.50 - LookFantastic.com*

I have been using this dry shampoo a lot recently, mostly when I have decided to have that extra 10 *cough cough* 50.. minutes in bed in the mornings and I've only had enough time to have a shower with my hair in a shower cap because it takes so long to dry and style!

I really love the formula in this spray, it brings my hair back to looking fresh and shiny with a couple of sprays. I apply it to my roots and then massage in, I leave it like that for a few minutes and then I brush it through my hair until it is looking how I want it to. 

I have tried a couple of dry shampoos before (Batiste and Superdrugs own brand), I would say this one is similar to batiste but it works faster and lasts longer for me. I had never tried any Philip Kingsley products before but I am really impressed with this one! I would recommend you try it out!

Orly Nail Polish - 'Pretty Ugly' ♥

 Orly - 'Pretty Ugly' - £10.25 from HQhair*

Hello! I hope you are all having a good week, I passed my driving test last Friday (9th August), woohoo! So I am really happy and I am enjoying my new freedom in my car! 

I have another nail polish post today, I love this colour, it's so pretty! I had never tried any Orly polishes before this one, so far I am impressed. The polish dries quickly and you only need 2/3 coats for a bright and opaque finish. It has a light blue shimmer through it and it has a lovely shine once it has dried.

HQhair have a 3 for 2 offer on the now, so you should have a look at the link above and see what other shades they have in stock!

Real Techniques Starter Set Review ♥

I bought these from ~this~ seller on Amazon. - £16.49

I have been using these brushes for a few months now and I think it's about time I typed up a review about how amazing they are!

 I am pretty sure all of you have heard of these brushes unless you have been living on the moon or something..? They are designed by Samantha Chapman, who some of you may know from YouTube(pixiwoo) and/or from pixiwoo.com. 

They are honestly the best brushes I have ever used! They are SO soft and fluffy on your eyelids, they pick up eye shadow really nicely and they blend out product so effortlessly! They have taklon bristles which is what makes them so soft and easy to use. My brushes do need a wash but they don't look too bad and I haven't felt the need to wash them as often as I have with other brushes. This is what they look like after being used every single day for about 3 months (not too bad!)

From left to right the brushes are called: 

'Pixel-Point Eyeliner Brush' - "tapered cut is ideal for dense or fine eyeliner application" I have used this a couple of times for eyeliner although I think it is more suited for thick eyeliner application. I use it to apply eyeshadow under my bottom lashes.

'Accent Brush' - "Designed for precision detailing, spotlighting, highlighting and smudging" I also use this brush for under my eyes and/or in my tear duct area.

'Brow Brush' - "distinctive shape easily defines eyebrows" I don't fill in my eyebrows so I don't tend to use this brush for that purpose however I think it works great when I create a dark eyeshadow eyeliner look on my eyelids.

'Base Shadow Brush' - "applies a smooth, flawless foundation of color" I use this brush every day when applying a base colour on my eyelids or in my crease before I blend it out.

'Deluxe Crease Brush' - "soft, oversized design for effortless contouring" I also use this brush every day for blending and applying eyeshadow in my crease, it is so soft and works perfectly!

I can't recommend these brushes enough, if you don't have them already then you need to get them! They are so good!

Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Review

Sally Hansen Hard As Nails - £4.95

I have been using this nail polish since last September as I have very thin & flimsy nails, they were constantly breaking and peeling and didn't look good with nail polish over the top of them. 

Since using this polish my nails have definitely become stronger and grown a lot more, obviously they still break and are flimsy when I haven't been using this nail polish as often but when I do, I see a real difference. You can apply 1/2 coats to bare nails or you can apply it before you paint your nails a colour. This product has Nylon in it which has silk proteins which are what helps protect and strengthen your nails. It is kind of pricey but the product lasts long and works for me so I don't mind.

My Daily Facial Wash

Hello! I hope you all had a good weekend and are ready for the week ahead.. woohoo.... hope you enjoy this post!

I have been using this Clean and Clear deep cleansing lotion for over 3 years now and I doubt I will use anything else. This is the best facial cleanser in my opinion. It feels so fresh, clean and cooling on your face and it smells lovely! Some people may find the smell over powering but I love it. I have fairly sensitive skin and this product works fine with me. I use it after I have removed my eye makeup with Simple Makeup Remover. I pour a small amount onto a cotton pad and I smooth it all over my face, removing my foundation, blusher and bronzer (if I wear any), you don't have to use this product just for your makeup, you can use it on your bare face too, you would be surprised what dirt comes off onto this little pad! I highly highly would advise that you avoid your eyes as it is so sore if it gets into them! It says on the packaging that it has an oil-fighting formula, which it definitely does have, my face feels normal after use and doesn't feel oily at all. 

It's not the cheapest cleanser but it is a decent price at £2.99 and it is always on offers now and again which is when I bulk buy it!

Have you tried this cleanser?

Rimmel Silky Loose Face Powder

I have been looking for a loose powder for a while now, I know my mum uses a bare minerals one which always looks good on her skin but I just hadn't got round to buying it yet. I was going on the other day to my mum about needing a new powder and she said she had never used this Rimmel one and I could have it, I am so glad she gave me it because I loooove it!

I use powder all the time as I like the finished look of it and because I sometimes get an slightly oily t-zone which I touch up throughout the day, but most powders I have tried look cakey and draw attention to the fact you are wearing makeup. 

This product is so lightweight and adds a shimmery soft look to your face which I really like, it definitely brings out your features a lot more than a basic powder. I use this after my foundation has sunk into my skin, don't use it straight after applying foundation as this makes it look cakey. I use it in the shade 001 Transparent. I would highly recommend trying this product, for £6/7 it isn't too bad.

What loose powders would you recommend?

Cath Kidston Rose Hand Cream

Hello everyone:)!

I have just finished my first induction day in my new job, I think I am going to like working in Tesco, everyone in my store is so friendly so far which is good! I am home now and in my lounge bottoms and a hoodie feeling cosy! I hope you all have had a good week and are looking forward to the weekend!

I recently bought this hand cream from TK Maxx when me and my mum went shopping for the day, it was reduced from £8 to just £3! So I quickly chucked it in my mums shopping basket. My hands have been very dry recently and nothing has been working on them, even my trusty Soap and Glory Hand Food hasn't been doing the trick, so I was hoping this cream was going to save my hands and it has! I love the smell of it and it sinks into your hands quickly without them feeling oily, which is such a bonus and to top it all off it smells lovely, exactly like fresh cut roses! So if you are near a TK Maxx then go in and try and see if you can find it, bargain!

Have you tried any Cath Kidston hand creams? 

MUA Undress Me Too Palette Review

Hello! I hope you are all well :) It is snowing here in Scotland so it is freeeeezing! *brr* what's the weather like where you are?:)

I use MUA's Undressed palette every day as I haven't got the Naked palette, so this is my replacement for the now! I absolutely love this palette so when I seen that MUA had released a second edition 'Undress Me too' I was so excited (I know it's pretty sad but hey ho)! However my Superdrug didn't have it in stock every time I checked but the other day.. dun dun duuun.. they had it, so I had to buy it! 

I absolutely love it, the colours are beautiful and exactly what I like to use, the two palettes are similar but different at the same time.. this one seems to have more matt shades which I like as I use them as bases more than shimmery colours. The colours have really good colour pay off and are very bendable. I like the packaging, some people think white is kind of tacky but I quite like it as I think you can see the colours better.

This palette is an absolute bargain for £4!

Do you like this palette?