Product Rave: Sleek Blush

Hi guys,

I recently purchased a blush from the Sleek range at Superdrug and I can't put it down! So I wanted to do a quick rave about it! This blush costs £4.29 and for that price you get a large blush of 8g which I think is really good value. There are 10 shades in the Sleek blush collection which is quite an extensive amount so there should be something there to suit every skin tone.

I chose the blusher in Rosé Gold as I loved how it had a nice two-tone feel to it not only does it have pinky-peach tones which are great for the day, it also has a gold shimmer which I love and think is great for a night out. Obviously they come together to create a really nice and unique shade.  

The packaging is very sleek, with a Matt black case that can easily slip into your handbag or make-up bag without taking up much room. The blush also contains a mirror which is great for touch ups. The only down side is that there's no applicator, but that all depends on how you feel about the tiny brushes that are usually supplied with products. Personally, I like to use my own brush even when I'm on the move, so this is handy for me as nothing falls out and the mirror is right there for you.

After buying this blusher, I decided to do a bit of snooping and checked out the Sleek MakeUP website where they have their whole collection. What really impressed me on this website is they don't just have  swatches of the colours so you can see them, they also have the, swatches on human skin! In fair, medium and dark skin shades so you are able to see what the shade will look like on your skin before your purchase. What a great idea! Why don't more companies do this, as I think it would make buying online a lot easier.

As you can see from the image above, the colour goes on really well and leaves a nice rose colour on your cheeks along with a gold sheen that acts as a highlighter when the light catches it just right which is great for when you need a quick application and don't have time for your contouring and highlighting.

Overall, I really like this product in everything from the packaging to the colour to the payoff. I will definitely be trying out some of their other colours soon.

Have you tried any other Sleek products? What did you think?

Xxxx

Quick Rave: Felt Tip's for your eyes!

I've never been a big fan of applying liquid eyeliner, purely because I can be so heavy handed that it goes everywhere.  That was until I found this lovely product, Collection Cosmetics' Extreme 24hr Felt Tip Liner.

I really like Collection Cosmetics and they have so many great products and are all at an affordable price.  I purchased this liner in black in Superdrug for £2.99 and loved it so much I went back to get a purple one.  The packaging is very sleek and it looks like a normal pencil liner so you can keep it with your pencils which is handy. Also, I love that they have put a sample of the shade at the end of the pen, so if you are storing it upright, you can easily pick out the colour you want.

What I love about this product is that it gives you a crisp, sharp line just like a liquid eyeliner but with more control. We're all used to using felt tip pens, even if it is from when we were young and at school so making the leap from an eyeliner pencil to this felt tip liner is alot easier than jumping to a liquid liner brush.  

This liner comes in a range of different shades which is great if you want to create some bright and fun designs.  The consistency of the product is nice and allows you to build the colour with a few layers.  It is also very long lasting, just as the name states it is a 24hr extreme liner and although I haven't officially tested it for 24hours (I mean who actually wears their make-up for a whole day!) but it lasts me all day without moving or fading, so thats probably from 8am until 10pm, so a good 19 hours! Wow!

I would really recommend trying this product if you find liquid liners intimidating as it gives you a lot more control over your application.  I find the tip of the pen is quite bendy, so it still allows you to create flicks etc.

This is just a quick and simple liner flick I created to show you how sharp the liner can look.

This is definitely my favourite eyeliner at the moment, I think it will take a lot to beat this product for me!

What's your favourite type of eyeliner?

Dani xxx

My MUA Lipstick Haul

Hello my beauties, I'm sure many of you are aware of the brand MUA or Makeup Academy, they are a great budget brand of cosmetics that are sold online at their website or in Superdrug over here in the UK.  I'm not sure if these products are sold internationally, but the website does offer European and International shipping.

This brand is growing strong with a great collection of products, most of which are under £4! The colours are great and the colour payoff is also very good which is surprising when you think of the price of them.

"Great makeup doesn’t need to cost the earth and it is MUA’s promise to bring surprising quality, colour, fun and innovation to each and every product it delivers. Bringing guilt free makeup to every ladies makeup bag!"

The above quote is taken from the website and I think this is a very good mantra to have as a company so this is a great brand to keep an eye on and experiment with if you are starting out enjoying make-up.

On my recent trip to Superdrug, I purchased a few of the products from the MUA range.  To begin with, I wanted to tell you about the lipsticks I picked up.

I bought 4 colours, ranging from a light baby pink to a deep orange and I love each and every one of them! The great thing is that they cost £1! So it doesnt matter if you buy a few each time.

The colour payoff ranges from colour to colour, but it is still good whichever colour you pick.  The packaging is sleek with a shiny black case and a section on the end that shows you the colour of the lipstick.  I love this about them as it helps you to organise them in a drawer and still be able to see what colour to choose.

Each lipstick has a shade number rather than a name, which is a shame because its nice to have fun names for your cosmetic colours, but at the same time it's a bit easier on the brain as you don't have to remember so much.

I started out with 4 and now have 6 in my collection.  Here are the colours I have purchased so far,

 Some of the shades are more pigmented than others and some sit nicer on the skin than others, but overall they are good lipsticks.  They have a good range of colours and some have different finishes (shade 12 has flecks of glitter in it). The one thing I would suggest is that you test these out in the shop before you make your purchase as the colour in the tube can look very different to what it looks like when applied.  For example, the two lipstick images I have used at the top of this post are shades 4 (which looks bright bubblegum pink) and 16 (which looks like a bright tangerine orange) but you can see from my shots above that they don't come out as strong.

Overall, I would definitely recommend trying out these lipsticks and this brand in general, they have some great products and great colours and I know I keep saying it, but you really can't beat the price! This range is definitely recession-proof!  

I also picked up some of the lipgloss tubes and the Nail Constellations, so keep an eye out for my review on them!

Dani xx

Stop ripping your hair out, let the Tangle Teezer help you!

I'm quite lucky as my hair is very strong (almost too strong) and straight so it doesn't need too much maintenance. It was a great relief when I cut my hair short a couple of years ago because I was able to wash it and go straight out and it would look normal.  I recently got bored with having short hair (I get easily bored and like to change it up every so often) so I decided to start growing my hair.  I think the main factor was there are so many great styles at the moment and I can't try any of them out on myself! 

As my hair is getting longer, I have started to experience some common hair issues.  In addition to my hair being short and thick it is also blonde, bleached I will admit, which means it gets dry very easily.  I have naturally oily hair so the bleach helps to dry this up, however recently the ends have become dry and frazzled.  The ends have been splitting and my hair feels a bit like candyfloss and it got so bad that I have had to start taking extra care of it.

So the reason I am telling you all this, is because as a result of my frazzled hair I have been buying all sorts of lotions and potions to try and repair my hair and bring it back to life again! One thing I bought the other day was a Tangle Teezer! What is this you may ask? Well it is a hairbrush like no other....

It is a small brush that is molded to fit in the palm of your hand and is available in many different styles but so far I have seen the normal and compact size. They cost between £10.99 and £13.49 in Boots, depending which version you want. You can also order them direct from the Tangle Teezer website and get some top tips on how to use the brush for the best results on all hair types.  I had heard of these brushes before and thought they must be some faddy thing for people with long hair, but when I saw they did a purple glittery one I knew I had to have a closer look, within minutes I was walking away with my little gift (after paying for it of course).

It is the unique bristles that makes this brush different to others on the market, the 'teeth' help detangle your locks without pulling, tugging, ripping or splitting.  These brushes can be used on dry or wet hair for quick, pain-free detangling results.  In addition to this, it smooths the hair once dry and adds a polishing effect to your overall look.

Now you may scoff thinking this is a big list of things for one small brush to, do but it works!!  I have been using this brush since Saturday and as I am writing this post, it is Thursday and already my hair feels softer, smoother and less frizzy all over.  It feels as though I have a whole new head of hair and I believe it is all down to this little gadget from hairstyling heaven.

Happy Brushing!

Dani xx

Love Hundreds and Thousands? Then you'll love MUA's Nail Constellations!

Hello my Sweets!

If any of you love sprinkles, Hundreds & Thousands or anything cute and sweet then you are going to love MUA: Makeup Academy's Nail Constellations!  They are bottles of little beads in an array of cool colours that allow you to add that 3-dimensional feel to your nails!

The Constellations come in 5 colours Scorpio, Pisces, Leo, Gemini and Libra so you can pick a shade to suit your mood.  The packaging is very simple and practical as the pointed funnel top allows precision application and the clear bottle lets you see the different colours easily.

From www.muastore.co.uk

Here, I have the Gemini shade and it is made up of lovely, light pink, peach, gold and green beads that work together to create a fun look. Because I am not very skilled when it comes to detailed nail designs I decided to use the constellations on just one nail and I think it worked very well.

To apply these nail beads, it is best to apply the nail colour you want underneath then apply another thick coat of that same colour or a clear varnish.  Then apply the beads using the pointed tip to the nail or area you require. Make sure you do this while the varnish is still wet as this will be what holds the beads into place.  

Once you have all your beads in place, apply a clear coat of nail varnish over the top to keep them in place.  I found this step does dull the colour slightly, but it helps it last longer.  

I really like these Nail Constellations, in one quick and simple application you can jazz up your nails and give them that 3D look. I wouldn't say they are great for an every day nail as the beads can catch on your clothes etc but they are great for a weekend look. The colour combinations that are available are great and I cannot wait to collect them all (although they're sold out everywhere I look!)

You can have so much fun with these that it feels like you're topping your nails with sprinkles!

Dani xxx

UPDATE: I'm sorry guys, I didn't realise until afterwards that I didn't tell you about the price etc. The Nail Constellations cost £3 each and I got mine from Superdrug.  You can also order them from the MUA website where I believe they offer International delivery if you are not based in the UK.  For me, you can't go wrong for £3!

Quick Rave: Dove Intensive Repair Mask

Hello lovelies,

I just wanted to post a quick rave about this amazing product!  I have blonde hair, highlighted with bleach and at times my hair can get very dry.  I recently had a lot of split ends and as I straighten the front part of my hair (as it's short I can't straighten everything), after a while the ends of my hair become brittle and damaged. 

So after a lot of heat damage and bleaching I realised my hair was starting to feel like candyfloss and it was time to do something about it.  So I popped to the supermarket, as it was late and didn't have time to head to Boots and I picked up a pot of Dove Intensive Repair Mask.

Now at £3.99 for a pot of 200ml's of product I had doubts that this was going to be able to do anything, but thought I'd give it a chance..... and oh I should be eating my hat!!

This treatment is an intensive mask that you should use to condition your hair for 10mins after you wash it.  Now I don't know about you guys, but I'm very impatient when in the shower or bath, once I've washed my hair I want to get out and get on with my day, so letting it sit for 10 mins was a struggle and I think I have only managed this once in total.  However, I now use this as a normal conditioner once or twice a week and my hair is feeling loads better and less and less dry as the time goes on.

I would definitely recommend this product for any of you that are in need of a conditioning treatment, then at this price you can't go wrong!!

Product Review: Collection Cosmetic's Metallic Cream Eyeshadow

As summer is on its way, its always good to start preparing your look for your holidays or for those rare days where we have some sun in England!  The summers humidity can wreak havoc on your make-up, so it is important to find quick, light products that have great staying power on your summer skin. Which is why I am very excited to tell you about the Metallic Cream Eyeshadow from Collection Cosmetics (formerly Collection 2000)

So let me paint a picture for you....

There I am standing in Superdrug testing all the products from the Collection range on my hand - I always end up walking out looking like I have some multi-coloured disease - and as I'm trying to wipe the rainbow off my hand, I realised that this product had stayed put!  And I mean really stayed put, like superglue!  I was almost blown away.

Could a little pot of cream eyeshadow really have this much staying power for £2.99.... yes it does!!

So I went back to the store to purchase the product and couldn't wait to get home and try it out.

Its the Metallic Cream eyeshadow from Collection Cosmetics (formerly Collection 2000).  Initially, I had glanced at this product and then moved on to something else, mainly because it is a cream product and comes in a lipgloss-style tube with a brush on the end.  I haven't had very much luck with cream eyeshadows in the past and MAC's paint pots are the only ones I have found that don't crease on your eyelids throughout the day. So I hadn't really thought much about this product other than seeing what the colours came out like.

I have to admit, the Collection cosmetics range keeps surprising me and I haven't yet found a product of theirs that I haven't liked. It just shows you can still buy quality make-up that will do what it says (on the tin) for a reasonable price.  Which is great for teenagers and those who don't have a lot of spare cash lying around to spend on cosmetics.

Available in 6 intense colours: Gold Rush, Copper Pot, Emerald City, Platinum Bling, Rock n Rose and Rock Pool. I bought the product in Platinum Bling which is a a browny-silver-grey colour which I love and think it is great to help create a quick and easy smokey eye. This product dries quickly so you have to be quick to blend, but is great for a quick wash of colour, or as a base for a smokey eye!

Here, I have applied the cream eyeshadow all across my eyelid, you can use this as a wash of colour, or you can add other colours to create different styles.

I definitely recommend these eyeshadows as they are fast drying and smudge proof! Perfect for a quick touch of glam before you hit the beach (or anywhere really).

Have you tried the Collection's Metallic Cream Eyeshadows? Tell me what you think of them....

Review: Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream

Good day to all you lovely people,

I recently received a sample of Garnier's new BB Cream, or it's Miracle Skin Perfector, I'm not quite sure which name it likes to take, or perhaps both! So I decided to try it out for you and review Garnier's Miracle Skin Perfector, Daily All-in-one BB cream.

BB Creams have burst into the UK market this year and now they're everywhere!  For those of you that don't know, the BB in BB Cream stands for Blemish Balm.  These products became popular in the Asian market due to their gentle ingredients and light coverage and have since spread into the Western markets.

When it comes down to it, these products are a moisturiser, primer, foundation, SPF protection and pigment all-in-one! With light coverage these products are very similar to a tinted moisturiser, but have a bit more lasting power due to the primer included.

Garnier's Miracle Skin Perfector comes in two shades, light and medium and it is now available in 2 formulas, Normal and oil-free. These can be purchased from Boots or Superdrug and are currently between £7.49 and £9.99.

I received the light shade in the normal formula.  As someone with oily, blemish-prone skin I have to admit I have never really opted for a tinted moisturiser type product as I require more coverage.  But I thought, its time to throw caution to the wind and step outside my comfort zone for my readers.

The packaging advises that it can be used "on its own, as a primer, when you get up, after the gym, a post-work touch up, a pre-date beautifier... the list is endless." So I was excited to see how this would work on my skin.

The formula was thicker than I thought it would be, but glides on for a sheer look.  It provides light, natural coverage and leaves a dewy glow which is great for summer.

The coverage is very light, so would be great for those with flawless skin, but if you have any blemishes then I wouldn't recommend this product as it just wouldn't cover mine and wouldn't build for the coverage I needed.

The dewy glow that it creates is great and I would definitely recommend this product for people with dry skin as the moisturiser mixed in with the dewiness is just what you need to keep your skin looking fresh.  I would be interested to try the oil-free formula as that would be better for my oily skin.

Unfortunately, because it only comes in two shades, light and medium there isn't much choice if you have really light or really dark skin and this seems to be the trend when it comes to BB creams.  I am more of an ivory shade of skin and this was very dark for me.  No matter how little I used or how much I blended, this shade was way too dark for my skin tone and it just wouldn't sit right.

I would like to say that I loved this product, but for me and my skin it just didn't cut it.  But the lightness of the product means it would be great for those who don't like to wear many products as this does it all in one go.

Thanks for reading!

Review: My Skin Moisture Lotion

I decided to see what moisturisers were available on the market and came across this product from Tesco.  I have to admit I was quite sceptical as I wasn’t sure what to expect from a Tesco branded cosmetic, but I must say I was quite surprised at the results.  

This moisturiser has a lightweight formula which glides on smoothly.  When rubbed into the skin, it soaks in quickly and leaves the skin feeling soft and moisturised.  


This daily moisturiser says it provides the skin with moisture and hydration along with plant extracts that will control excess shine and refine the pores. This product definitely delivered on the hydration and I could feel some mattifying properties, but as I have very oily skin it wasn't able to control it completely. This may be down to my age as this product is aimed at younger skin, so I think it would really help those young'uns that have excess oil.

This product contains Kiwi and Raspberry which has significant properties, but the firs thing I noticed was the lovely, fruity smell! Which made it completely different to any other moisturiser I had smelled before.  But don’t fret (I know what you’re thinking) you don’t want your face to smell fruity all day so what good is this?! Don’t worry the smell doesn’t last long, and by the time you have massaged it into your skin the smell has gone and you are only left with the moisture on your skin. It does however, add a lovely freshness to your skincare routine.

Now back to the ingredients, the kiwi in this product helps to aid the moisture in your skin and the raspberry helps to stimulate and condition the skin, leaving it feel soft and smooth.  In addition to this, the product contains Cimicifuga which is a plant extract that has many functions, including oil regulating, pore refining and skin clearing properties.

This product is aimed at teenage skin, and at price of £3.50 it is a bargain!  How we treat our skin can determine how well we age, which is why it is an important task to manage from a young age. 

Pros:

+ Great price

+ Great smell

+ Light and hydrating formula

+ Great idea to help young people look after their skin

+ Lovely girly packaging

+ There is a whole range of My Skin products including facial wipes, daily face wash and eye make-up remover all for under £3.50 each, what a bargain!

Cons:

- Very girly packaging which means young males wouldn’t be attracted to use it

- The Tesco.com website doesn’t hold any information on the product or its ingredients which is a shame.
- Perhaps not the best product for very oily skin, but definitely works to help control excess oils.

Overall, I do like this moisturiser.  I didn't find that it controlled my oily skin completely, but there was definitely some improvement. For the price, it is definitely a great product for young skin.

Product Review: Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner

I hadn't heard anything about this product, no massive adverts on TV with the latest Supermodel/Superstar, but I came across it during my weekly peruse of the Boots.com website and the latest items section.
I have to say I was curious, so I popped into my local Boots and picked up one of these baby's for £7.99 and it was definitely worth the money!

If you ever have problems trying to draw your eye liner close enough to your lashes to make it look seductive and sexy, but in reality you end up 3mm away and leaving a white line inbetween then this is a 'must have' for you.  The brush allows you to apply the liner directly to the lash line, pushing the colour into the roots and by using gentle strokes you can get a nice smooth line across the length of the lash line.

Because of the consistency of the liner, it is easy to apply and depending on how much you pile onto the brush will determine how the liner will go on. Make sure you keep the brush fresh and clean and you will get a smooth line every time.

Although the pot looks quite small, there is a lot of product in there and you don't need to use very much when you're applying it so I think it will last a long time.

I think this is a great product, and once it has dried, the gel liner is smudge proof and lasts all day!

Product Review: Revlon Colourstay Foundation

Hi all you lovely people, I recently found this old post I was writing and thought it would be good to publish it!

I feel like I have been stuck in a bit of a rut recently when it came to my own foundation. I usually stick to the same foundation all through the winter and then find a lighter (in terms of texture of course) product for the summer months.  So when it came time to throw caution to the wind and explore the cosmetic aisles for a new foundation, I honestly didn’t know where to start.  Although I love make-up in its entirety and I love trying out lots of new products, when it comes to my daily skincare and make-up routine, I am always far too cautious and run away from change!  (As I am typing this, I realise just how ridiculous that sounds.)

I was a tad cautious to begin with, as my combination skin type is prone to breakouts and always feels like I need a heavy foundation to try and mask them.  So, to start my life revolution off with a bang, I popped to the nearest Boots and purchased Revlon’s Colourstay and Photoready foundation.

Revlon’s Colourstay foundation is a deceptive little bottle of magic.  The glass bottle has no pump dispenser which is disappointing, and means that it is not in ‘handy’ packaging that you could keep in your bag for touch ups throughout the day.  But then you wont need to!  I was completely astounded by how long this make up lasts for! 

On one particular day, I was heading out straight from work and so would have no time to re-do my make-up, so I applied my morning routine in the normal way before going to work; moisturiser, primer, concealer, foundation and then powder to set. I was amazed that come 5pm, all I needed was a slight dusting of powder across my T-Zone and a touch more blusher and I was made up just as well as I was that morning!

I have heard of many products that claim to be long lasting but this one really does live up to the name.  Now, I do believe some of the ‘long-lasting’ magic was because I had primed and set my foundation, but even on the days when I do not feel like using a primer, this product still lasts all day.

The foundation is a liquid texture and glides on smoothly to provide a medium to full coverage, which is buildable depending on how clear your complexion is.  It is lightweight and feels natural on my skin even when I add powder and have a face full of spots.

I love this foundation, and recommend it to all!  It is available in 12 shades and contains SPF15 which is crucial to keep your skin protected against the sun all year round.  I also love that it comes in a Normal/Dry skin formula or Combination/Oily skin formula which shows me that this company really puts logical thinking into its ranges, helping its consumers make sure that they are getting the right product for their skin type.

At £12.49 a bottle, this isn’t ‘cheap’ but in comparison to more premium brands like MAC or NARS this is a bargain.  Plus, as I have said before, this product is deceptive!  You may not think there is much left in the bottle after a month or so of use, but it just keeps going, providing a great flawless finish!

The 3in1 Miracle Cleanser!

I am completely in love with this product and so I have to tell you all about it! I used to be a soap and water girl (even though I knew better) then I started using a cleanser from Clinique which I thought was working well with my skin. Then I was introduced to Mary Kay's 3in1 cleanser!

This product is great for when you don't have much time in the mornings and if you are one of those people (just like me) that always thinks there's better things to do with my time than to sit there for 10 minutes each morning and evening to go through a strict skincare routine. With this product, just as the name suggests it is 3 products in one! Once you take your eye make-up off, you apply this cleanser which has lovely little microbeads that help to exfoliate the skin, while the cleansing lotion cleanses the skin. And for that added extra, the microbeads adds a fresher as hey burst while you're rubbing the product into your skin.

In addition to having great cleansing qualities, it is part of the Timewise collection which means it is formulated to help erase the visible signs of ageing and leave your skin feeling smoother and more radiant looking!

What's great about this product is that it is available in 2 formulas, one for normal to dry skin (which is a lotion) and one for combination to oily skin (which is more like a face wash).  Personally, I have combination skin which falls more on the oily side of combination, and I must say that after using this cleanser for a few weeks my skin felt less oily.  Now I rarely have to worry about reapplying powder throughout the day because my skin is far less oily compared to what it was before!

Priced at £20 it is not a cheap cleanser, but neither is it at the pricey end of the scale. Also, bear in mind this should last you 2-3 months with use twice a day (morning and night) so it is a good product that will last.

I really like this product, it has made my skin feel soft and smooth every time I use it! And who can complain against having 3 steps done in one go!!

Mary Kay products aren't available in shops but you are able to order them online through their website.  As a company, they are completely focused on taking care of your skin, which is why they have Independent Beauty Consultants rather than shops.  These consultants are there to help women learn how to look and feel their best everyday in the comfort of their own homes. Also, Mary Kay Cosmetics has a 100% satisfaction guarantee, Now where else can you get that!

Product Review: Benefit Porefessional

Bonjour wonderful readers, I really want to tell you about this product!

Benefit's Porefessional primer is a great product, its silky lightweight balm is created for translucent pore coverage and smoother skin for make up application.

I have combination skin and the pores on my nose area can be quite prominent.  Using this primer really helps to create a smooth base for a longer lasting make-up all day.

The product description says this primer is suitable for all skin types, but to be honest I don't think this would work very well with dry skins.  It can feel quite thick and when applying the oil absorbing properties, which are great for keeping excess oil away, can make it hard to spread around the face.  So if you do have dry skin just make sure to properly moisturise before using this product.

The primer has a light foundation colour to it which I was surprised to see when I opened the tube, but as you apply the cream it disappears into the skin for a translucent finish.  As I am very fair skinned this works well for me, I'm not sure how good this is for darker skins.  But the colouring of the primer is great to reduce any slight redness you may have on your skin.

I don't apply this all over my face, but only to the area's that need smoothing and calming.  It leaves my skin feeling great and creates a lovely base for make-up application.  The primer can also be applied throughout the day for touch ups on oily area's to reduce shine.

Although this product is quite pricey and sells at £23.50 for a 22ml tube, it does last quite a long time as you don't need to apply too much each time.

I would recommend this product for those with oily skins and large pores as I think you will really be able to feel a difference in your make up from the first application.