Winged Eyeliner Wonders

The cat eye is a bold and sexy look. Not only does it elongate the eyes, making them appear bigger, it also draws more attention to them. It can be hard finding the right products for the perfect winged liner, especially as you want it to be as dramatic as possible and stay in place all day. After a lot of trial and error, here is my killer combo. 

After trying and failing with many eyeliners that either smudged or weren't pigmented enough, I decided to go for a more long wearing option. I discovered gel eyeliner about 2 years ago, when Maybelline launched their Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner 24H. This is a jet black gel eyeliner which is incredibly smooth and applies really well to the eye. It then dries within a couple of minutes and will not budge until you come to remove it. This is perfect for anyone with oily eyelids as it doesn't transfer or smear around the eye area. This was the first gel eyeliner available in the drugstore and many bloggers have compared it too MAC's Fluidline eyeliner. This is a great product, with a brilliant price point, considering it comes with a brush. It also doesn't dry out too quickly as I got around 18 months out of my last pot. 

To compliment the gel eyeliner, I have recently discovered an amazing brush to apply it with. Model's Own do a 5 Piece Brush Set (to be featured in a haul post coming soon) which is a range of 5 travel size brushes, which includes an angled brush. This is just the perfect width and length for gel eyeliner and so creates even the thinnest of lines. It also makes it very easy to control where the product is going. The only problem is that the gel eyeliner strains the hairs on the brush, so it does need to be rinsed after every wash, to avoid the hairs clumping. If you prefer a thicker line, the brush that comes with the Maybelline eyeliner, will be fine for you. 

Which products/tools do you use to create the perfect eye look?

Monday Mani #3

On my nails today is one of Barry M's Gelly Hi-Shine Nail , Paints in the shade Pomegranate, which is number 332. This is an ultra rich and glossy polish which makes the nails appear as if they have had a professional shellac/gel manicure. The quality of these polishes is great, I get at least 4 days wear from them, if not up to 7 days. I use my regular Revlon base coat to prevent staining, as the colour is so dark. But I find this does the trick. As this line of polishes are so ultra glossy, you can skip a top coat, but if you like an extra glossy nail or really need to prevent chipping, then I would still apply a top coat, as I have done. If you like to skip steps, then this is definately a polish for you. I also own Papaya in this line, which is a peach/orange colour, perfect for spring/summer. There are also 17 more colours to choose from. The best thing about this range is that they are only £3.99, yet rival Essie quality, which are £7.99! I will definitely be investing in more shades in the near future. 

No7 & Soap And Glory Haul

As we're still in dreary January, I thought I'd pick up a few beauty treats..

First off, Boots currently have their No 7 vouchers on. This means that you can get £3 off any makeup purchase and £5 off skincare. I decided to get a pack of face wipes purely because they are hassle free and they are handy for the gym. I picked up the Beautiful Skin Quick Thinking Wipes, which are suitable for all skin types. I have used these numerous times before, as they are very moist, so remove makeup well, plus the packaging is well designed to ensure they do not dry out. You get 30 wipes in the pack and with a voucher they are only £2, a bargain. 

To fix my Soap And Glory craving, I went a little crazy and stocked up on some of my favourite products from their range. Firstly, for bodycare, I repurchased their Sugar Crush Body Scrub. I have used this continually for over a year now, purely because it exfoliates well, without being too harsh on the skin. It leaves my limbs soft and smooth and smelling of brown sugar and lime, delicious. I use this product about once a week during the winter, as I don't tend to get my legs out much during the colder months, so I find a tub lasts a good few months. This product was also voted best body scrub by Essentials Best Beauty Buys 2011, and I can see exactly why. A 300ml tub is available in Boots for £8. 

I also treated myself to a couple of skincare bits. The first being the Face Soap And Clarity 3-In-1 Daily Detox Vitamin C Facial Wash. This is a green liquid which contains very small pink beads to lightly exfoliate the skin. It isn't too harsh or drying, meaning it can be used on a daily basis as your morning/evening face wash. Again, this is a product I have gone back to so many times as it is great. You can also feel it working as it tingles once you massage it into the skin, so you can feel your pores really opening up. The 150ml bottle is currently £5.33 at Boots, reduced from £8, so go and snap it up!

My final purchase from S & G was The Ultimelt. This is a hot cloth cleanser that works well at cleansing the skin to remove any last traces of makeup, as well as unclogging any pores. It is infused with lots of nice ingredients such as orange and lavender oil, to really treat the skin. Inside the box is the tube of product, as well as a muslin cloth to remove the product with. I have tried this once before and really enjoyed it, as it leaves your skin feeling like you have just visited a spa. This is the first time I have bought S & G skincare in the new packaging, which was changed last year and it definitely has a more high end look. A 100ml tube of this will probably last me a couple of months using it once or twice a week. This product is also currently on offer at Boots, reduced from £10 to £6.67 and I would highly recommend it.

What have you treated yourself too recently?

Lancome Doll Eyes Mascara Review

I recently picked up a Lancome mascara set in the post Christmas sales. I tried the Lacome Hypnose mascara a few years back and thought it was ok, but nothing special, so never went to repurchase it. Here's what I thought of the Doll Eyes mascara. 

Firstly, Lacome claim that this mascara is supposed to leave the eyes with an 'extended and lifted lash look.' From the name 'Doll Eyes' it suggests that this is more of a lengthening mascara, instead of volumising, to create a fanned out effect. 

As soon as I opened the tube and pulled out the wand, I noticed how dry the product was. This is something I really dislike as I feel it doesn't last as well on the lashes and smudges easily, as well as causing dry lashes. The formula of the Hypnose mascara was exactly the same. Personally, I prefer a wetter formula, which are more common. I then noticed the tapered wand. The shape makes it really easy to coat all of the lashes, especially the tiny inner corner ones, as well as the bottom lash line. This was a great feature to the product. I then went onto apply the mascara to my lashes and was utterly disappointed. The mascara defines and separates the lashes well, but no volume is built up, at all. If you try to add multiple coats of product to the lashes, they get clumpy as the product is so dry, which looks awful. After a few uses, I found a knack to applying this mascara and it became much easier. But the product also has another downfall, it smudges like crazy. I have oily eyelids but I have never suffered with mascaras smudging on me. Within a couple of hours, I have a black smudge under both eyes, which just looks terrible. I then had to keep checking my eye makeup each time I got near a mirror, which is ridiculous. One bonus point was the fact that this is a very rich and intense black mascara, but this still wasn't enough to sway my opinion. I have tried so many mascaras that stay put until you come to remove them and most don't cost anything like this one. This product is utterly disappointing.

I expected so much from this mascara with a high end price tag, to perform worse than a mascara from the drugstore for a fraction of the price! This product retails for £22 which is far too high in my opinion and I will definitely not be repurchasing it. I believe you can get a better finish and look with a £7.99 Maybelline mascara, or if you want something a bit more luxurious, Benefit's They're Real is amazing, yet still cheaper than Lancome's alternative. 

Have you tried this mascara?

Monday Mani #2

Today I have Barry M's Princess polish on my nails. This is a texturised glitter nail polish, which is a pink polish complete with silver glitter. This polish only requires 2 coats for full opacity, unlike some where you may need 5-6 as the glitter is so fine. This is by far the best glitter polish I own. It can feel rough for the first few hours on the nails, due to the texture, but I find this then subsides. Wear time is pretty good, I usually get at least 4 days wear out of it before any signs of chipping appear. I have applied my Revlon base coat beneath the polish to prevent any staining, but haven't gone for a top coat as it could change the sparkly finish. 

What do you have on your nails today?

Benefit Ultra Plush Lip Gloss Review

Lip gloss is a beauty product that I'm not overly keen on. I find most of them drying and sticky, which end up leaving my lips cracked and dehydrated. Over the years I have found a few lip glosses that I do like, such as Revlon's Colorburst range, with Peony being my favourite shade. I have never been tempted to splash out on a high end lip gloss for myself, purely because I don't use them regularly enough. But luckily I was gifted Benefit's Love At First Shine set, which consisted of 6 miniatures of their Ultra Plush Lip Gloss. 

Firstly, the packaging for these lip glosses is amazing. They almost have a retro/vintage look about them with the cute cream caps. The design on the tube also helps add to this. As they are so small, they are really handy, perfect for your handbag or a small clutch bag on a night out. I also like the fact that it doesn't have an applicator, instead you just dispense as much as you need onto your finger/lip brush, keeping the rest of the product inside the tube free from bacteria. 

As I mentioned, I hate sticky lip glosses, especially shimmery ones which are full of chunky glitter. Yuck! I had mixed feelings before I tried these products, but my opinion was quickly changed. These glosses apply beautifully to the lips and you only really need a tiny amount of product to do the job. Not only do they give a lot of shine, which helps to make the lips appear fuller, they do give off a nice amount of colour. Now, they are not opaque glosses, but they leave a nice sheer colour on the lips, which I think looks really natural. They can also be layered over a lipstick for a richer finish. The texture of the product is really creamy which I adore. Like most lip glosses, their lasting power is fairly short, with touch ups needed after about an hour. 

The Love At First Shine set contains a sample of all 6 shades in the range. These include Kiss You, Fauxmance, Poutrageous, Lollibop, A-Lister and Ice Breaker. My favourites include Fauxmance, which goes perfectly with MAC's Creme Cup lipstick. I also know that come the summer Poutrageous and Lollibop will be regulars in my makeup bag. All 6 shades are wearable, especially the clear gloss, which can be layered over any lip product. The shade I will probably use the least is Kiss You, purely because it has a blue undertone, but I may find something it will work with. 

Left to right: Kiss You, Fauxmance, Poutrageuous, Lollibop and A-Lister

Same order as above.

Overall I am really impressed with these glosses. The texture is the best I have tried and the colour range is also great. I'm a sucker for anything in cute packaging and this really ticks all the boxes. Well done Benefit! I will definitely be repurchasing the shades I run out of first. The full size tubes are £14.50 which I think is reasonable for such a great product. Any lip gloss lovers should head to a Benefit counter now. You can also still pick up the gift set of miniature lip glosses on the Benefit website, in the sale for £13!

Most Used Makeup Brushes

There was a time when good makeup brushes were hideously expensive. Now thanks to brands like Real Techniques, you can pick up brushes of superb quality, for around the £10 mark. Out of all the brushes I use daily, only one is a high end, proving just how good affordable brushes have become. I also own one MAC brush, the 266, which I think is ok, but wouldn't recommend it based on the extortionate price tag for such a tiny brush. Here are my favourites, which I think every collection should include. 

To apply my foundation on a daily basis, I use the Real Techniques Stippling Brush. This is a flat topped brush that really blends the foundation into the skin, using a stippling motion. I also find this technique reduces the size of my pores and ensures the blend is seamless. The synthetic hairs also don't absorb any of the product, which means the hairs do not stain, making it very easy to clean. I wash this after every use and it still looks in tip top condition. If any of my friends need a new foundation brush, I always recommend this one. 

To set my foundation I use a Ruby And Millie Face brush, to apply pressed powder. This small headed brush allows me to concentrate the powder in the areas I need, without disturbing the makeup underneath, which big fluffy powder brushes can do. The hairs are really soft, allowing them to sweep gently across the skin to apply the powder evenly. I also like the fact that I have this in a travel size, with a smaller handle, so is perfect for traveling or carrying in a makeup bag. I have used this daily for years and I will continue to do so until it falls apart. It's a real shame you can no longer get this brush, as it is perfect. 

Although I have heard so much about the MAC 217 for blending eye shadow, I have never wanted to spend the £18 it costs, as I don't wear eyeshadow that often. Instead I use a No7 brush which is fairly squared, but is soft and fluffy, helping to blend eye makeup really well. This brush is sadly no longer available, as I have had it for years, but their Eye Colour Brush looks very similar. When Boots have the £3/£5 vouchers off No7, you can pick these brushes up for bargain prices. 

I have always struggled to find a good blush brush. The cheaper ones I have tried have never been the right shape, or deposited the product evenly. That was until I came across the Japonesque 924 brush. This brush is the softest I own and applies blush beautifully. Since I purchased it, I have not used anything else for blush, I rarely use cream blushes as I always want to use powder products so that I can use this brush! I managed to pick this brush up in a clearance sale so was a fraction of the full retail price, but after having used the brush, I will definitely be looking into the other brushes in their range. They are well worth the money. 

The perfect brush for contouring is the Real Techniques Blush Brush. This tapered brush is perfect for defining your cheekbones and applying bronzer to the face evenly. The brush is really soft and dense, which gives great application. Just like the other Real Techniques brushes I own, this one washes really well and doesn't shed at all. I know that in the summer this will be a staple in my makeup bag. 

My final tool which I use to apply my makeup is the Real Techniques Complexion Sponge. I hauled this back in December and have loved using it ever since. The egg shape helps stipple and dab products onto the skin, as well as blending them evenly. I also find that the unique flat side enables you to blend under the eye area and around the nose, which can be hard with regular cosmetic sponges. On days I want a full coverage application, I use my stippling brush, on days where my skin is clear and I want a more natural look, I'll use this sponge as it shears out my foundation. If you prefer a sponge to brushes, this one is well worth a try. 

Monday Mani

I always start any manicure with a base coat, to prevent my nails from staining and yellowing. I am currently using Revlon’s Quick Dry Base Coat, which seems to do the job well, plus it does live up to the claim of drying quickly. This always makes painting my nails, that little bit quicker, perfect for anyone who is inpatient. Buried in a Ciate Caviar Manicure kit I have, I found a mini size of Knickerbockerglory, which is shade 012. This is a lovely bright fushia colour. I have applied two coats of this over my single coat of the Revlon base. Once that dried I applied No7’s Stay Perfect Nail Colour in Daisy Darling. This is pink glitter within a clear polish, so is perfect as a top coat. I starting by applying this to my accent nails, but then decided to do the other 8 nails, for a sparkly look. I did find that I needed a couple of coats of this to provide a decent amount of glitter. Once this had dried, I used my beloved Seche Vite top coat, which again is super quick at drying at gives the nails a gel look and finish. I have noticed some slight chipping already from the Ciate polish, which is disappointing, as this is the first time I have used this polish, without the caviar over the top But overall I love the sparkly look to my nails. 

What are you wearing on your nails today?

Empties #7

Before I review a new set of products that I have finished up, I thought I would include a batch of products that I have also finished, but that have already been reviewed/featured on this blog. I don't want to go on and on about them as they are mainly basis products, which do the job well and I will continue to repurchase. I have used 3 mini tubes of Soap And Glory's Hand Food, an Oral B 3D White Brilliance Toothpaste, a sample size of Smashbox's Photo Lid Primer, a bottle of Boots' Conditioning Nail Polish and last of all, the No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser. For more indepth reviews on these products, please view the relevant empties/review post. 

Facewipes are a convinient and quick cleanse when your on the go, perfect for the gym, but not so much on a regular basis. I picked up the Neutrogena Hydrating Cleansing Wipes back in November time to keep in my bag for whenever I needed to remove my makeup on the go. They claim to moisturise the skin for 12 hours and to really soften it. I can't say they were any different to normal wipes and left my skin not overly moisturised, or dry, somewhere in the middle. The packaging for these wipes was really poor as they didn't stay closed so the wipes really dried out before I finished the packet. I still used them all, but I required 2 or 3 wipes to remove my makeup towards the end. Because of this, I wouldn't repurchase these wipes again, I much prefer the No7 Beautiful Skin ones. 

I also finished up my Satsuma Shower Gel from The Body Shop. I have raved about this continually and already have the huge 750ml size in my shower. In my last empties post I included the matching body butter, which ran out quicker than this shower gel. The gel foams up well, really cleans the skin and leaves it soft and beautifully scented. This is my all time favourite scent from The Body Shop and is one I cannot stop recommending to people. 

Hair spray is a product I only use if I am putting my hair up, as I find it too much of a hassle on an everyday basis. I have recently tried and used up the John Freida Brilliant Brunette Fixing Shine Maximum Hold Hairspray. This was a 50ml can that came in a gift set. When I used this product for the first time, I was so surprised how sticky it was. Even if I only used a small amount, my hair was tacky to the touch and looked like it had been coated in hairspray. Even brushing it out made my hairbrush sticky! I would not recommend or repurchase this again, purely because I know there are much lighter and better hairsprays on the market that are probably much cheaper than a full size of this product. I would advise that you don't use this on freshly washed hair, as it won't stay clean for long. 

The final products I have used up, are two body lotions I hauled back in November. I had never tried Jergens' Naturals Cocoa Butter Body Moisturiser or Good Things' Soothing Body Lotion, but I was pleasantly surprised. Both applied really nicely to the skin and were easy to massage in so that they were quickly absorbed, they also smelt incredible. I am a huge fan of cocoa butter in the winter as it is so hydrating and usually purchase The Body Shops version, but this is a great, cheaper alternative. I was also really pleased with the Good Things lotion and will definitely pick this up again.

Revlon ColorStay Combination/Oily Foundation Review

Revlon ColorStay Foundation is raved about in the beauty world as one of the best drugstore foundations. I hauled this product just before Christmas and so have been putting it to the test for the last month. 

The first thing I notice about this product is the packaging, it is very plain and simple, with no frills. The bottle has a screw top and unfortunately comes without a pump, although I knew this before I purchased. I like that Revlon have realised that normal/dry and combination/oily are two very different skin types, so have formulated the foundation, in the same 9 shades, for both. I have chosen the combination/oily type in the shade 110 Ivory. The product also has SPF 6 which is fine for the winter, living in the UK, but I would use a foundation with a higher SPF in the summer, to protect my skin. The foundation also claims to wear for up to 16 hours. 

The foundation is actually quite runny, which can be a problem as the bottle doesn't have a pump, so it can get messy when you are pouring it onto the back of your hand. So pour with caution! I have noticed that the product does have a slight scent to it, which is unoffensive and disappears once the foundation drys. I apply it to my skin with a foundation brush or Real Techniques Stipling brush, but fingers also work well. The product blends really easily and gives a matte finish, perfect for those with oily skin. The colour match is also perfect for my very pale complexion, making it look more natural, especially as it doesn't oxidise. The product offers medium to full coverage and is very buildable, without being cakey. I apply it all over my face firstly, which gives medium coverage and then build it up in the areas I have redness or blemishes. I find my skin looks fresh and healthy whenever I wear this foundation. I follow up with a setting powder to banish shine for longer, but due to the oil I have in my skin, I do need to powder after around 5 hours, just the same as with any foundation I use. I find wear time is around 8 hours before I need to touch up, which I find great for a drugstore foundation, although it does fall short of its 16 hours claims. Concealer is a product I find I don't really need to use with this foundation, as the coverage is there already, I just use a highlighting concealer under my eyes to brighten. 

This foundation wears and performs just like a high end product, without the excessive price tag. I would recommend this to anybody who is looking for a high coverage foundation that is long wearing. The formulations for different skin types and the large shade range, enable it to be more accessible to a wider number of people. For £12.49 from Boots, for a 30ml bottle, this is a steal. Great job Revlon!

Have you tried this foundation?

What's In My Shower

My daily shower is my mini pampering session ahead of the day, so I like to keep products in my shower that both do their job, as well as making me feel great. I like to switch up my products, so after using something up I will usually purchase another product within that brand (if I've enjoyed it) or an alternative, just to avoid using the same products over and over again. Here's a glimpse into what I keep in my shower.

Daily Products:
The products I use on a daily basis include The Body Shop's 'Satsuma Shower Gel.' I recently hauled this huge 750ml bottle, which I was given for Christmas. I've raved about this product on this blog numerous times as it is just so lovely and a real treat for the skin. The pump also makes it really handy as you don't have to fight with a lid when you have wet hands. I apply this onto my body with a Soap And Glory loofah, which makes the product foam up well, as well as giving my skin a slight exfoliation. You can purchase these individually or find them in most of their gift sets. I rotate them frequently as they do harbor bacteria. For haircare, I am currently using the Herbal Essences 'Seductively Straight' shampoo and 'Beautiful Ends' conditioner. Both of these are inexpensive products which really do the job well and keep my hair soft and shiny. I find the 400ml bottles usually last around a month. Skincare wise, I use a daily scrub from Neutrogena to remove any dirt on my skin. The 'Deep Clean Invigorating Scrub' really cleanses the pores and has a slight tingling sensation on the skin. This then prepares my skin for moisturiser and makeup. I also keep a razor in the shower, currently I am using a Wilkinson Sword 'Extra Beauty 2' razor, which does the job well. 

Weekly Products:
I currently use a scrub once a week, to ensure any dead skin is removed, to help keep my skin in top condition. I love Soap And Glory's scrubs and am currently using their 'Sugar Crush' variety. This is a lime scented scrub which has oils such as macadamia oil in it, to really condition the skin, without leaving any residue or film behind. The smell is fresh and fruity which I really like. I also like the brands 'Breakfast Scrub' which smells like maple syrup pancakes! These huge tubs last me around 4 months throughout the winter and probably 2 months in the summer, just because I exfoliate more regularly then. I would highly recommend this scrub as the beads aren't too gritty or harsh, yet they leave the skin soft and smooth. The packaging on this product has changed and now has a pink lid, I just had a couple in my stash to use up, hence the old pot. My final item is a Herbal Essences hair treatment. I use the 'Beautiful Ends Split End Protection Intensive Mask' every weekend just to help rehydrate and nourish my hair. I use a grape sized amount and leave it on for the length of my shower, before rinsing. I then find my hair is silky and smooth until the next wash. 

Which products do you keep in your shower?

Smashbox ‘Try It Kit’ Review

Like most brands, Smashbox offers a set of their bestselling cosmetics in miniature sizes. This provides a great introduction to the brand, if you’ve never tried their products before. It also allows you to road test a handful of products before splashing out on the full sizes, at a higher cost. The 'Try It Kit' includes a face primer, eye primer, mascara, eye liner and lip gloss and costs £19, available at any Smashbox counter.

*Missing Mascara*

The first sample in this set is the ‘Photo Finish Foundation Primer.’ This is a great base for foundation as it fills the pores and really smoothes out the skin, leaving it feeling like velvet. I found it enhanced the wear time of my makeup by a couple of hours, but still did require touch-ups later in the day. I use this product when I’m going to be wearing my makeup for a particularly long time, instead of on a daily basis, purely because it is filling the pores, so could cause blocked pores and blemishes if used on a daily basis, if you are prone to breakouts. I did like this product but would try a few others on the market before repurchasing it, as a full size 30ml tube is £25.

My least favourite sample in this set was the ‘Full Exposure Mascara.’ I really don’t like large mascara wands, I prefer the smaller plastic ones. This mascara had a large brush, which made application very hard, as the product not only went on my lashes, but all over my eye lids as well! I found it hard to control where I was putting the product, which resulted in smudges and smears, meaning I had to use a cotton bud to clean up my eye area after. The formulation was also very dry, this could have been down to the small tube and large brush, but I felt this made my lashes feel dry. I would not repurchase this mascara as it is £19 for the full size and I feel the Benefit ‘They’re Real’ or Clinique’s ‘High Impact’ is a better buy for a similar price point.

The ‘Photo Finish Lid Primer’ was my favourite product in this set. I struggle with eye shadows creasing due to having oily eyelids. I applied this under my eye makeup and really saw a difference from the first use. Instead of the makeup creasing and going patchy, it stayed in place and also enhanced the colours I was wearing, making them pop. The doe foot applicator also made it very easy to apply and hassle free. A full size tube costs £15 and I will definitely be picking this up in the next few weeks, as it is the best eye primer I have tried.

The product I was intrigued most with was the ‘Lip Enhancing Gloss’ in the shade Illume. The iridescent nude gloss enhances any lip colour or can be worn alone for a more natural look. The texture is smooth and the formulation isn’t sticky or gritty. The wear time is pretty short, like any lip gloss, so I don’t think I would pay the £15 for a full size tube, just because it is nice, but nothing special. There are 13 shades in the range.

The final product in the set is the ‘Limitless Eyeliner’ in Onyx.  This is a pigmented eyeliner, so you really get a jet black line from it. Unfortunately, there is nothing too special about this product, so I wouldn’t repurchase it, instead I would opt for a drugstore alternative at a much cheaper cost. The full size is £14, which includes a built in sharpener. 

Have you tried anything from Smashbox?