I own so many perfumes now, around 14 on my last count, and we all know how long lasting they are, it takes quite a while to get through one bottle. When it comes to buying new perfumes I tend to buy them in rollerball form first to see how well I get on with them before splashing out on a full-sized bottle. Not only does this save me space and money (in the long run) but it also means they are incredibly travel friendly. My newest addition to my collection has been one that I have wanted for such a long time and it is one that I know I will be buying a full-sized bottle of - the Victoria's Secret Heavenly Eau de Parfum Rollerball.
About the Victoria's Secret Heavenly Eau de Parfum Rollerball:
"Fall for the one and only Victoria’s Secret Heavenly, our romantic most-loved fragrance in a gorgeous bottle. A warm fragrance with notes of white musk, sandalwood, vanilla and white peony."
The Victoria's Secret Heavenly Perfume smells just that - heavenly. It is a really light, sophisticated scent which smells quite musky but with a delicious hint of vanilla running alongside. Heavenly has been one of those scents that I used to smell whenever I stepped foot into a VS store as I was originally drawn to the gold, simplistic bottle but boy, does the scent inside smell better than what you would expect. Whenever I wear this perfume and people ask me what I am wearing, they are always so surprised when I say Victoria's Secret as it is not a sweet and typically girly teen scent you might associate with the brand. I used to think nothing could top the Bombshell perfume but I definitely have a brand new favourite!
Because I love this perfume so much, I literally want to douse myself with it multiple times throughout the day but you can't do that when it is rollerball form. Don't get me wrong, rollerball's are fantastic at trying out new perfumes to see if you like them and if they suits you before splashing out on a full-sized bottle and they are great to travel with as they are only 7 ml's but when it comes to actually applying the perfume, it can be a bit tricky. You can only rub it along your skin rather than spray it liberally so I tend just to apply it to my wrists and my neck as rubbing it all over my body seems a little silly but hey, that is what a full-sized bottle is for!
Please give this perfume a little bit of your time and attention next time you enter a Victoria's Secret store. It smells so light, musky and sophisticated without being overpowering or sickly sweet. It is absolutely perfect for everyday and whilst it does fade away after a few hours, it is more than worth another application. I can't recommend it enough and it has instantly become a favourite!
This post has been one which has been a long time coming but I am finally sharing my little giveaway with you. My last giveaway was one from Anastasia Beverly Hills and as it went down so well I thought I would follow on from my lead and purchase two of their matte liquid lipsticks to giveaway. I own a few of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Matte Liquid Lipsticks already so I can really vouch for their level of pigmentation, comfort and longevity and boy, are they good. I already own one of these shades already and as I love it so much, I thought you would do too!
About the Anastasia Beverly Hills Matte Liquid Lipsticks:
"A long-lasting, full-coverage matte lipstick in liquid form.The Liquid Lipstick’s ultra-saturated liquid formula delivers an intense amount of matte pigment in a single swipe. Just one application leaves lips with smear-resistant coverage that stays put for hours."
When it came to choosing which shades to giveaway I was utterly torn as there are 30 gorgeous shades to choose from. It is really hard choosing lipstick shades for other people as you have no idea what would suit someone you have never met, nor do you know what they like and dislike so I thought I would choose two safe options in the shades Craft and Trust Issues. Craft is a really pretty, warm sangria shades and Trust Issues is a really wearable, dusty aubergine. I already have the latter and it is much less intimidating on the lips than it is in the bottle!
To have a chance of winning both of these gorgeous shades, just enter your details into the widget below. It is welcome to all, no matter which country you are from so good luck!
It's not often that I buy really hyped up products, not because I doubt that they are as good as everyone says they are, but because I often look for cheaper alternatives. That said, sometimes it is just worth paying more for a quality product. If I had to choose between a liquid eyeliner which costs a fiver and a liquid eyeliner which costs £20, I am always going to be drawn to the cheaper one first. But sometimes you have to ask yourself, is it worth wasting £5 at a time trying out rubbish eyeliners which aren't black, aren't opaque and don't stay put all day long or is it better to just splash out on a product which costs more but will last you even longer than the crappy alternatives?
So yes, the Miss Sporty Liquid Eyeliner which costs £2.79 might be nice enough but sometimes you just need the £16 Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in your life. And yes, you do really need the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in your life!
When I was in America recently I was stood in the queue waiting to pay for a rather heavy shopping basket full of products when I got distracted by all of the little products they place really conveniently by the tills and I thought "hey, I've already spent a lot of money, the damage has already been done, let's spend a bit more!" so I shoved a few travel-sized luxury beauty products into my basket to try them out and, I have found a new holy grail. It's been hyped up, not only because of the product itself but also because of the saucy name but let's just say the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara is definitely a must-have.
About the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara:
"The Better Than Sex Mascara Hourglass-Shaped Brush was designed after discovering the bust-waist-hip ratio of an iconic silver screen Blonde Bombshell held the secret to the perfect brush silhouette that separates, coats and curls each lash to voluptuous perfection. One coat of the carbon black, collagen-fueled mascara formula and lashes are full, defined and stretched to unbelievable lengths. Two coats and lashes are even more luscious, curled and dramatic. Three coats and achieve the most intense black, oversized, multidimensional lashes possible!"
Once you get past the rather gaudy name, the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara is, without a doubt, the best mascara I have used. With the pretty in pink packaging and the unique hourglass shaped wand, even one coat of this blacker-than-black mascara transforms the lashes. There are so many mascaras out there, all promising different results, it is hard to know what to look for when it comes to choosing a new one. I love the false lash effect look with big, full lashes which really open up the eyes and I can happily say that this mascara delivers big, dramatic results.
Even though this mascara is travel-sized, I find it so easy to apply and I absolutely love the unique hourglass shaped wand. The formula is very thick and opaque in colour and it isn't a wet mascara meaning that it doesn't transfer onto the top of the eyelids after application - a real pet hate of mine! This mascara really elongates the eyelashes and makes them appear so much fuller, almost like false lashes but without the hassle of applying them. One coat gives obvious results but the more you apply, the bigger the lashes get without clumping or making the eyelashes appear spidery so I usually apply 2 or 3 coats for bigger results. I absolutely adore this mascara and I can definitely see the hype surrounding it. I did wonder if it was only popular because of the gaudy name but no, look past the name as the product itself is amazing!
As soon as this mascara runs out in this mini-sized tube, I will not be hesitating to purchase the full-sized version. It does everything it claims to do and it really is better than any drugstore mascara I have tried. At £19 it is expensive for a mascara but I really believe that it makes the rest of my make-up look better and finishes off my eye make-up perfectly. It makes the eyelashes appear fuller and thicker and I don't think I will be able to find a mascara to compete with this one!
Colourpop used to be really hard to get hold of in the UK with the only way to get your hands on it is if you went through a shipping company as, up until recently, they didn't ship outside of the US. Now that they have introduced international shipping which only costs $9.99, it is much more accessible than it was before, although you might get stung with some of those pesky customs charges!
Last month I went to America on holiday so I made quite a hefty Colourpop order to greet me for when I arrived. It is so easy to spend a fortune on their products as everything is really cheap so it is easy to get carried away. Especially when it comes to the eyeshadows, which is quite apparent from the photos above! Here is my massive Colourpop haul!
First let's start with the four Colourpop Ultra Matte Lips which I bought. The first I lipstick I chose was in the shade Bumble which is a really pretty and wearable warm rose shade. I fell in love with the colour as soon as I saw the swatches on the website so I didn't think twice when I added it to my basket. The second lipstick I chose was a rather bold shade choice in Creeper which is a bright, classic, blue based red. I need to buy a lip liner to make application easier when it comes to this one as I can imagine it would be very messy without one! The next two lipsticks I went for look very similar to each other. Trap, the lighter of the two, is a dusty greige and Times Square is a muted pink beige. Both shades are very pretty and very wearable.
Now, onto the Super Shock Eyeshadows - all 9 of them! Starting from the top I went for Static which is deep burgundy which has a pearlized finish to it. Static, like all of the others I bought, is incredibly pigmented and has no fallout whatsoever. Static reminds me a lot like the NYX Solo Eyeshadow in Flustered if you were after a little drugstore dupe to this beauty. Next, I bought Weenie which is from the Colourpop x Kathleen Lights collection. Weenie is a stunningly beautiful metallic rose gold, a shade absolutely perfect for everyday. I can see myself wearing this shade a lot so I am so glad that I managed to get my hands on one! I then bought the shade Thirsty Girl which I think was Limited Edition as it is not available anymore which is a shame as it is a really lovely warm gold with a shimmer running throughout.
I then purchased this absolutely gorgeous shimmery lime yellow shade in Telepathy. Look how beautiful it is! It is a part of the Kathleen Lights collection and I am utterly obsessed with it. So pigmented and shimmery, I really cannot wait to give this shade a try!! The next two shades are of the green and blue variety, shades which perhaps may not be suitable for everyday. Donna is a beautiful emerald green with a pearlized finish and Hydroplane, another shade from the Kathleen Lights collection, is an absolutely gorgeous glittery aqua. Out of the two I am most looking forward to using and wearing Hydroplane as in real life it is just wonderful.
The final three shades are perhaps more wearable than the last three. Ignition, again, from the Kathleen Light collection (did I buy it all? I do ask myself) is a really stunning glittery lavender. It is such a light and pretty shade, I can imagine it looking beautiful on the inner corners of the eye. We then have Bill, my one and only matte eyeshadow shade from my order. Bill is a lovely light dusty mauve which will look lovely all over the eyelid with Ignition on the inner corners and finally, I went for Drift which is a really wearable deep cranberry with a pearlized finish. It is very similar to MAC Cranberry and NYX Heat if you were after a couple of easier to purchase dupes.
I am utterly obsessed with everything I have bought, I just hope I find time to wear everything! I am most excited by the Bumble Ultra Matte Lipstick and by the Telepathy, Ignition and Hydroplane Super Shock Eyeshadows. I just hope I can pull of metallic lime yellow!
Concealer is a product that I have a slight love/hate relationship with. As I am so pale, I find that most drugstore brands don't really have many shades to offer other than Light, Medium and Dark. Even the beloved Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in the lightest shade is ever so slightly too dark for me so when it comes to the concealer stage when I apply my make-up, I tend to usually skip it. That was until recently when a trip to Sephora stunned me into silence - not only does their own brand have an incredible shade range but there was an awful lot of pale to choose from!
I was utterly torn between all of the pale shades on offer, I was absolutely spoilt for choice! There were 5 pale shades to choose from, each with a different undertone. This already makes the Sephora Collection Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer a winner in my eyes!
About the Sephora Collection Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer:
"This highly-pigmented, lightweight concealer provides buildable coverage and color without adding texture to your skin or settling into fine lines. Infused with pineapple ceramides, the gel-serum formula brightens and improves skin texture as it covers, making it ideal for the under-eye area. The unique applicator ensures the perfect amount of product—just dip, dot, and blend."
The Sephora Collection Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer comes in an astonishing 26 shades, meaning you will most definitely find a shade to match your skintone. What I love most about this collection is that all of the shades are available with different undertones, meaning we no longer have to stick by the 'one shade suits all' statement we are all used to hearing. Seriously, why are brands still only bringing out concealers in just 3 bog standard shades in the drugstore? I understand you get what you pay for but I would love to see a collection of concealers in Boots that have a wider shade range other than Light, Medium and Dark.
This concealer comes in the typical tube-style packaging with a doe-foot applicator within the lid. I find it really easy to apply - I just dot it underneath my eyes, on my chin and on my forehead then I blend it all in with my Beautyblender. After spending a little while deciding which shade of pale was best for me I finally went for Butter Cream which is described as being a light shade with a neutral-undertone and it is absolutely perfect. It is just ever so slightly lighter than my own skintone meaning it really brightens up my face. The formula is really creamy and thick but not in a heavy way - it is very lightweight on the skin and offers a very high coverage. I haven't experienced it creasing or fading away at all and after a long day at work I am thrilled to see it is still in the same place in the evening as it was in the morning.
I am utterly in love with not only this Sephora Collection Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer but also Sephora Collection as a whole. It is so rare to find a brand that offers a whole selection of paler shades and I'm absolutely gutted that the brand isn't easily accessible over here in the UK. This concealer is creamy, opaque, can disguise a multitude of sins and stays put all day long. It is really lightweight and hydrating, I just wish I bought more than one!
NYX is quickly becoming one of my favourite make-up brands. I am absolutely obsessed with their Vivid Liquid Eyeliners as well as their Glitter Pigments and their Hot Singles Eyeshadows. Everything is such great quality considering the purse-friendly prices and just because the products are cheap doesn't mean the quality is any less in comparison to a different brand. Whenever I am in Boots now I walk straight past L'oreal and Maybelline and head straight for the NYX stand and quite rightly so!
A while ago now I bought the NYX Custom Pro Palette which has 9 spaces to fill. At the time I only bought two eyeshadows and it has actually taken me a little while to fill it up as my local Boots stores don't sell the refills but after a few trips out of town, I can finally share my completed palette with you!
About the NYX Eye Shadows:
"NYX's Hot Singles are intense! Powerfully loaded with pigments this versatile formula lets you make a statement for any occasion. Whether your looks is edgy or natural NYX's unique formulation is easy to blend and build on."
I absolutely love the NYX eyeshadows. They are pigmented, easy to blend and when used on top of my beloved MAC Paint Pot in Painterly, they stay put all day without creasing or fading away and for £3.50 each, they definitely hold their own up against the likes of MAC. When it came to choosing the shades within my palette I wanted a mix of satin, pearl and neutral mattes. I have also really loved matte oranges since buying the Morphe 35OS Palette so I knew I wanted to include one of those as well. Here are the shades I filled my palette with!
Heat - Heat is a really beautiful metallic red with a satin finish. It is very pigmented shade which reminds me a hell of a lot like MAC Cranberry but without all of the fallout.
Flustered - Flustered is another metallic shade which is very similar to Heat but instead of a metallic red it is a metallic maroon with a satin finish. Again, Flustered is very pigmented and doesn't have any fallout whatsoever.
LOL - LOL is a bright orange eyeshadow with a matte finish. Incredibly pigmented, this shade is the perfect transition shade and looks lovely in the crease of the eye. If I was brave enough to wear it all over the eyelid for a wash of colour then I would do!
Sin - Sin is a pretty neutral champagne coloured shade which has tiny specs of gold glitter running throughout. I find it has a very tiny amount of fallout but it is a beautiful neutral shade. I have recently been wearing it underneath the eye and I find that it makes the eyes look a lot brighter.
Cupcake - Cupcake is a lovely soft, baby pink in a matte finish. I don't usually wear pink eyeshadow but as it is a very soft baby pink I think it looks lovely all over the eye with my favourite shade, Frostbite in the inner corner of the eye with Sin underneath. Not a vibrant and in your face look but perfect for when you want a softer day.
Gold Lust - Gold Lust is a very shimmery gold eyeshadow with gold specs running throughout. I think it is the shade I haven't used as much in comparison to the others which is a shame as it is a very pigmented gold and looks lovely on the inner corners of the eye, as well as all over the lid.
Frostbite - Frostbite is my favourite eyeshadow within this palette. A pale blue with a pearl finish, in certain lights this shade can look almost purple and it is absolutely beautiful. I love to wear Frostbite in the inner corners of the eye with a wash of a neutral matte shade across the lid. If you were to try one shade out of all of the eyeshadows I have mentioned then please make it be this one!!
Lace - Lace is neutral beige in a matte finish and it is perhaps the most used shade within my palette. I use this everyday as my base shade then layer all of the other eyeshadows on top. I find that it is a little powdery in comparison to the other shades but it makes for a lovely neutral base.
Own The Night - Finally, Own The Night is a deep and rich purple with a matte finish. It is very pigmented so you only need to use a little amount then blend blend blend! I haven't used this shade too much as I find it isn't a colour I would reach for everyday but it is a handy eyeshadow to have within the palette.
So there is my completed NYX Custom Pro Palette! What do you think? There are so many more NYX Eyeshadows I would love to try that I am thinking of buying another empty palette to fill. At £3.50 each the eyeshadows are great value for money and I haven't used a single MAC eyeshadow since!
A while ago now I bought the NYX Custom Pro Palette which has 9 spaces to fill. At the time I only bought two eyeshadows and it has actually taken me a little while to fill it up as my local Boots stores don't sell the refills but after a few trips out of town, I can finally share my completed palette with you!
About the NYX Eye Shadows:
"NYX's Hot Singles are intense! Powerfully loaded with pigments this versatile formula lets you make a statement for any occasion. Whether your looks is edgy or natural NYX's unique formulation is easy to blend and build on."
I absolutely love the NYX eyeshadows. They are pigmented, easy to blend and when used on top of my beloved MAC Paint Pot in Painterly, they stay put all day without creasing or fading away and for £3.50 each, they definitely hold their own up against the likes of MAC. When it came to choosing the shades within my palette I wanted a mix of satin, pearl and neutral mattes. I have also really loved matte oranges since buying the Morphe 35OS Palette so I knew I wanted to include one of those as well. Here are the shades I filled my palette with!
Heat - Heat is a really beautiful metallic red with a satin finish. It is very pigmented shade which reminds me a hell of a lot like MAC Cranberry but without all of the fallout.
Flustered - Flustered is another metallic shade which is very similar to Heat but instead of a metallic red it is a metallic maroon with a satin finish. Again, Flustered is very pigmented and doesn't have any fallout whatsoever.
LOL - LOL is a bright orange eyeshadow with a matte finish. Incredibly pigmented, this shade is the perfect transition shade and looks lovely in the crease of the eye. If I was brave enough to wear it all over the eyelid for a wash of colour then I would do!
Sin - Sin is a pretty neutral champagne coloured shade which has tiny specs of gold glitter running throughout. I find it has a very tiny amount of fallout but it is a beautiful neutral shade. I have recently been wearing it underneath the eye and I find that it makes the eyes look a lot brighter.
Cupcake - Cupcake is a lovely soft, baby pink in a matte finish. I don't usually wear pink eyeshadow but as it is a very soft baby pink I think it looks lovely all over the eye with my favourite shade, Frostbite in the inner corner of the eye with Sin underneath. Not a vibrant and in your face look but perfect for when you want a softer day.
Gold Lust - Gold Lust is a very shimmery gold eyeshadow with gold specs running throughout. I think it is the shade I haven't used as much in comparison to the others which is a shame as it is a very pigmented gold and looks lovely on the inner corners of the eye, as well as all over the lid.
Frostbite - Frostbite is my favourite eyeshadow within this palette. A pale blue with a pearl finish, in certain lights this shade can look almost purple and it is absolutely beautiful. I love to wear Frostbite in the inner corners of the eye with a wash of a neutral matte shade across the lid. If you were to try one shade out of all of the eyeshadows I have mentioned then please make it be this one!!
Lace - Lace is neutral beige in a matte finish and it is perhaps the most used shade within my palette. I use this everyday as my base shade then layer all of the other eyeshadows on top. I find that it is a little powdery in comparison to the other shades but it makes for a lovely neutral base.
Own The Night - Finally, Own The Night is a deep and rich purple with a matte finish. It is very pigmented so you only need to use a little amount then blend blend blend! I haven't used this shade too much as I find it isn't a colour I would reach for everyday but it is a handy eyeshadow to have within the palette.
So there is my completed NYX Custom Pro Palette! What do you think? There are so many more NYX Eyeshadows I would love to try that I am thinking of buying another empty palette to fill. At £3.50 each the eyeshadows are great value for money and I haven't used a single MAC eyeshadow since!
If you have read my blog for a while then you while know that I am not much of a Negative Nancy. I try and see the best in everything and point out the positives and negatives of each product I review but occasionally you come across a product which just isn't worth anyone's time or more importantly, money. Unfortunately this is the case for today's product review - the L'oreal Paris Infallible Paints Liquid Eyeliner.
About the L'oreal Paris Infallible Paints Liquid Eyeliner:
"Paint it loud with L'Oreal's Infallible Paints Eyeliner, 0.1mm felt tip for liquid liner precision. Define and design eyes with total control using one or multiple colors. Benefits - precision tip, high impact color, all day wear."
The L'oreal Paris Infallible Paints Liquid Eyeliner comes in six different shades ranging from a brilliant white to a deep forest green. Promising all day longevity, opaque colours and a thin tip for precision, I didn't think twice when I bought this in the USA recently. I was attracted to the sky blue shade at first but as my beloved Kat Von D Liquid Eyeliner had run out mid-eye, I needed a quick alternative so a little trip to the nearest drugstore was in order. Well, to put it bluntly, I should have just waited until I went to Sephora as unfortunately this is hands down the worst eyeliner I have ever used.
I will start with the one positive to this product which is the tip of the eyeliner itself. It is very thin meaning you could achieve a really neat and precise wing. You don't, as the rest of the product is terrible, but you could do. The first time I came to apply this liquid eyeliner I was first stunned at the colour. Considering I bought the shade Black Party, one would somewhat expect a shade to come out which is black or near-to on the colour spectrum but no. A disappointing shade similar to an off navy blue came out, never to be seen again. After one use the whole product seemed to either dry up or there wasn't enough product in there in the first place to line more than one eyeball. And even when I did manage to wear it, albeit on one eye, it did not survive a trip to the cinema where a couple of tears were shed. I left the movie theatre and went to the toilets as soon as the film had ended (I watched Lion, was very good, would recommend) I went to freshen up and my eyeliner had literally washed away. Luckily I had bought it with me so tried to re-apply it but nothing would come out and it hasn't worked since. I tried shaking it, pressing really hard, wetting the tip... Nada.
Okay, so it wasn't terribly expensive at around $10 but for those $10 I would expect it to work more than once and even when it was on, I would expect it to stay on. I know that it doesn't state it is waterproof but I would hope it would have lasted longer than a couple of tears shed. Overall, I am massively disappointed in this product, especially since some of L'oreal's other liquid eyeliners have been so wonderful. The L'oreal Paris Infallible Paints Liquid Eyeliners aren't currently available in the UK but when they are, save your money and buy the Kat Von D Liquid Eyeliner instead.
A few weeks ago when I was in America, I loved nothing more than looking around a stereotypical drugstore armed with a shedload of coupons. I could walk up and down the aisles just looking at everything for hours but apparently going on holiday to just spend time in CVS is frowned upon so I had to limit the time I spent in there. I expected to buy a lot from there but a lot of the brands they have are ones we have at home anyway, although they do get new releases first so it is nice to see what we can expect to get in the UK in a couple of months time.
The make-up I did buy from the drugstore was actually from Maybelline and L'oreal, a foundation, a concealer and a liquid eyeliner. Today I want to share the foundation with you - the Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation. I don't really pay much attention to the Maybelline stand in the UK as if I did, I would have noticed that this foundation has already made its way into Boots so that new foundation I thought I was purchasing? Not so much!
About the Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation:
"Fit Me Matte & Poreless has been designed for normal to oily skin. Its blurring micro powders refines pores while shine is being absorbed for a natural matte finish. Fit Me Matte & Poreless foundation fits both skin and texture for natural finish and poreless looking skin."
The Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation comes in two different packaging styles and in 26 different shades. The reason why I was drawn to this foundation is because it had a few different shades of pale and as I am so god-damn pale that I get asked if I am anemic all the time, it is really refreshing to see a brand produce a selection of paler shades. I am so tired of picking up the palest shade in the range and finding that it should change its name from 'porcelain' to 'tan'. Fortunately Maybelline offer a good few pale shades which actually are suited to us pale girls!
Let's start off by talking about the packaging.When I bought this in CVS, the only packaging it came in was in a glass bottle which does not have a pump to it, meaning that you have to get the product out by either pouring it onto the back of your hand and hoping for the best or by transferring/swapping/buying a pump to fit the bottle. Now, when I came home and looked into this foundation, I found that Boots sold it in the same glass bottle like above and in a squeezy tube. The foundation in the glass packaging comes in 8 shades whereas the foundation in the plastic squeezy tube comes in 18 shades. This makes me think that they are trying to phase out the glass bottle style packaging and I will be honest and say I would have preferred the other style of packaging as pouring a dollop of foundation out onto the back of my hand is a right old mess I tells ya. But typically, the shade I wear, Porecelain, does not come in the other style of packaging although I am sure they offer a pale alternative.
So, there is no denying that housing a foundation in a bottle without a pump is a terrible mess but is the product worth the hassle? Yes! As long as you don't have dry skin. If you have even one little bit of dryness on your face then I would stay well clear of this foundation as it will cling to any dry areas and draw all attention to it. The first time I wore this foundation my skin was well hydrated, it blended perfectly and matched my skin like a dream. It is designed to work best with oily skin which I do have around the obvious areas although I can get dry cheeks at times. I found the first time I wore the Maybelline Fit Me Matte Foundation some shine had managed to break through and my face didn't remain completely matte by the end of the day but that isn't the end of the world. Fast forward a few days later when my skin was slightly drier and oh my goodness, my foundation looked hideous. So bad in fact that I really wanted to take it off. It clung to every dry patch on my face and drew more attention to it than possible. It was horrendous. If you have even one dry patch on your skin then I would not even think about using this foundation as it really would do you no favours whatsoever.
Overall, on a good skin day I do really love this foundation. It keeps your skin looking fresh and matte like it promises to, although I found that towards the end of the day it had worn away slightly and some shine had broken through. Colour-wise I could not fault this foundation range at all. It matches me perfectly and it does not have one orange tone within it which is so rare when you have skin the colour of snow. That said, if you have dry skin then I could not tell you to avoid this foundation enough. It clings to every dry patch and makes your face appear so dry and dehydrated that you just feel like scrubbing it all off. If you don't have dry skin then this foundation will work perfectly for you but if you do then stay well away!!
About the Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipsticks:
"A long-lasting, full-coverage matte lipstick in liquid form.The Liquid Lipstick’s ultra-saturated liquid formula delivers an intense amount of matte pigment in a single swipe. Just one application leaves lips with smear-resistant coverage that stays put for hours."
The Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipsticks come in 30 various shades, ranging from light peachy nudes to deep plums, there is a shade for everyone within this range. Catnip is a pretty and easy-to-wear soft plum which I believe to compliment all skintones, although I found the shade to differ from skintone to skintone. I am very pale so on me Catnip looks more of a magenta pink but on people with deeper skintones it does appear to be more of a plum on the lips. It is a shade which is very wearable in day-to-day life making it more wearable than some of the other shades within the range.
Packaging-wise the liquid lipstick comes in the typical tube with a doe-foot applicator within the twist-up lid, you know the drill by now liquid lipstick fans! Unlike the majority of the liquid lipsticks I have tried, the Anastasia Beverly Hills versions do not smell like synthetic vanilla nor do they smell like a tube-full of chemicals. I can't notice any smell to them at all which is wonderful. There are so many lipsticks I own which I am reluctant to wear because of the smell that comes with them. The worst for this is HUDA Beauty. Their Matte Lipsticks smell so bad that I really have to force myself to use them.
Whilst I would always try to use a lip liner when it comes to the application of liquid lipsticks, I haven't got a lip liner which matches Catnip so I have survived without and actually, they aren't that messy to apply. The applicator is short and thin making application rather precise, although a steady hand is still needed! I wouldn't wear a matte liquid lipstick if my lips were really dry just because the majority of them do tend to highlight the dry areas but on a regular day when my lips could probably do with a bit of lip balm, I find the ABH Liquid Lipsticks to be absolutely fine in terms of dryness. I wouldn't say it were weightless as you can definitely feel that there is something there but it is nowhere near as bad as some of the other lipsticks I have tried.
Longevity wise I really can't fault these lipsticks. Catnip stayed put all day long without wearing, fading or transferring and for that I don't think I could ask for any more! The Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipsticks are definitely one of the better liquid lipsticks I have tried so for that I would definitely recommend them. Which is great as they are coming to the UK really soon!
You can't go all the way to America and not spend an extortionate amount of money on make-up, can you? I really do believe that if there were a package tour of all of the Sephora stores on the East Coast of the USA then I would probably spend good money to go on it. One of the highlights of my holiday was going to a new Sephora every time I visited a different shopping mall - would I finally find that Kat Von D Lipstick in the shade I have been trying to find for the last 8 days?? The suspense was so exciting!
I hope you all love a haul post as here is another for you, featuring some of the make-up I bought whilst I was on holiday. I did buy a few products for a giveaway which I will post soon but for now, this is what I bought from Sephora and the drugstores!
NYX Butter Lip Balm in Brownie
My first purchase of my holiday and perhaps my most important as boy, did I need this. My lips were so dry and gross whilst I was away because of the cold weather, meaning I couldn't wear lipstick. The NYX Butter Lip Balms offer hydration as well as a wash of colour to the lips. Brownie is a really pretty warm brown and I really regret not buying a few more shades!
Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Strawberry Kissed and Always Red
Out of all of the matte liquid lipsticks I have tried, these are perhaps my favourite formula out of them all. They are creamy, incredibly pigmented and about as comfortable liquid lipsticks can get. I would happily own every shade within the range but I managed to rein myself in and buy just two shades, Strawberry Kissed which is a bright matte strawberry red and Always Red, a bold rich matte red. They last all day long on the lips and even if you aren't a fan of liquid lipsticks, you will probably love these.
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
One of two bored purchases whilst stood in the queue waiting to pay. Whilst away I realised just how dried out my mascara was so I decided to give this a little try. It is just a mini travel-sized version but it gives a good idea of the product and I can see why people love it so much! It really gives the lashes more length and volume and I can definitely see the hype surrounding this mascara.
Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation
I bought this foundation on a bit of a whim as if I had looked into it a bit more, I definitely would not have bought it. I bought this because the colour match was perfect for me and whilst it still is, the packaging is just terrible. The bottle for the US packaging hasn't got a pump to it, whereas the same foundation sold in the UK comes in a handy squeezy tube.. Packaging aside, the foundation really is a perfect match for me but if you have dry skin then this foundation is definitely one to stay clear of!
Maybelline FaceStudio Master Conceal in Light
Another Maybelline product, although I am a little unsure if this has made its way over to the UK yet. I bought this product because it is a camouflaging concealer and if you like your make-up heavy like me then how can you resist a heavy coverage concealer? I haven't tried it out yet but I'm really looking forward to seeing just how much coverage it offers.
Kat Von D Lock It Setting Powder in Translucent
I have heard such wonderful things about this setting powder that as soon as I saw it in a little travel-size whilst I was stood queuing to pay in Sephora, I had to add it to my already overflowing basket. I haven't tried it out yet but it is supposed to keep oil shine under control as well as airbrushing the skin and blurring imperfections.
Sephora Collection Colorful Shadow & Liner in Fresh Limeade
Because who doesn't need a chunky crayon in a bright, matte lime green? I am not sure how I am going to use this, or when I will use this, just yet but I am really looking forward to experimenting with this fresh lime crayon. It is a really pretty colour in a matte finish, I just hope I use it!
Sephora Collection Colorful Eyeshadow in Sunglasses Needed
Again, who doesn't need a bright yellow matte eyeshadow? This is another product I am really hoping I will use as it is a really pretty bright pigmented yellow, I am just not sure how I will wear it just yet. But if I ever find myself needing a bright yellow matte eyeshadow then at least I will be able to say that I have one!
Sephora Collection Bright Future Concealer in Butter Cream
I love the Collection Concealer as much as the next person but I find even the lightest shade to be ever so slightly too dark for my skintone so this Sephora Collection Concealer is perfect. Available in so many different shades, I was actually torn between 5 light shades which was a real treat! With each light shade having various different undertones, I finally went for Butter Cream which is a light shade with a neutral undertone.
Sephora Collection Bright Future Color Corrector in Green
I love green concealers as they help to neutralize redness on the face and as I haven't used one in such a long time, I decided to give this one a try. If you have red tones on the face and struggle to hide them with foundation then definitely try out a green concealer as they work wonders!
Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Bachelorette
I already own two Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks and whilst I wasn't actually too keen on the formula, I really wanted to try out another. Bachelorette is a really pretty bright fuchsia which, actually looks a hell of a lot like the Sephora lipstick from above but they are actually different. Kind of. It's a pretty, bright, matte lipstick which brings me onto...
Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in American Doll
As if I needed another bright red liquid lipstick in a matte finish on this trip but here we are, a bright true red from ABH. It is so bright that I wonder if I will ever wear it but if I can pull it off then I think it will look wonderful. I have never worn a red lipstick in all of my life so why I bought 4 on this holiday I do not know!!
So, that was another Sephora haul! Was there anything in particular you would want to see reviews on? Let me know in the comments below!
I hope you all love a haul post as here is another for you, featuring some of the make-up I bought whilst I was on holiday. I did buy a few products for a giveaway which I will post soon but for now, this is what I bought from Sephora and the drugstores!
NYX Butter Lip Balm in Brownie
My first purchase of my holiday and perhaps my most important as boy, did I need this. My lips were so dry and gross whilst I was away because of the cold weather, meaning I couldn't wear lipstick. The NYX Butter Lip Balms offer hydration as well as a wash of colour to the lips. Brownie is a really pretty warm brown and I really regret not buying a few more shades!
Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Strawberry Kissed and Always Red
Out of all of the matte liquid lipsticks I have tried, these are perhaps my favourite formula out of them all. They are creamy, incredibly pigmented and about as comfortable liquid lipsticks can get. I would happily own every shade within the range but I managed to rein myself in and buy just two shades, Strawberry Kissed which is a bright matte strawberry red and Always Red, a bold rich matte red. They last all day long on the lips and even if you aren't a fan of liquid lipsticks, you will probably love these.
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
One of two bored purchases whilst stood in the queue waiting to pay. Whilst away I realised just how dried out my mascara was so I decided to give this a little try. It is just a mini travel-sized version but it gives a good idea of the product and I can see why people love it so much! It really gives the lashes more length and volume and I can definitely see the hype surrounding this mascara.
Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation
I bought this foundation on a bit of a whim as if I had looked into it a bit more, I definitely would not have bought it. I bought this because the colour match was perfect for me and whilst it still is, the packaging is just terrible. The bottle for the US packaging hasn't got a pump to it, whereas the same foundation sold in the UK comes in a handy squeezy tube.. Packaging aside, the foundation really is a perfect match for me but if you have dry skin then this foundation is definitely one to stay clear of!
Maybelline FaceStudio Master Conceal in Light
Another Maybelline product, although I am a little unsure if this has made its way over to the UK yet. I bought this product because it is a camouflaging concealer and if you like your make-up heavy like me then how can you resist a heavy coverage concealer? I haven't tried it out yet but I'm really looking forward to seeing just how much coverage it offers.
Kat Von D Lock It Setting Powder in Translucent
I have heard such wonderful things about this setting powder that as soon as I saw it in a little travel-size whilst I was stood queuing to pay in Sephora, I had to add it to my already overflowing basket. I haven't tried it out yet but it is supposed to keep oil shine under control as well as airbrushing the skin and blurring imperfections.
Sephora Collection Colorful Shadow & Liner in Fresh Limeade
Because who doesn't need a chunky crayon in a bright, matte lime green? I am not sure how I am going to use this, or when I will use this, just yet but I am really looking forward to experimenting with this fresh lime crayon. It is a really pretty colour in a matte finish, I just hope I use it!
Sephora Collection Colorful Eyeshadow in Sunglasses Needed
Again, who doesn't need a bright yellow matte eyeshadow? This is another product I am really hoping I will use as it is a really pretty bright pigmented yellow, I am just not sure how I will wear it just yet. But if I ever find myself needing a bright yellow matte eyeshadow then at least I will be able to say that I have one!
Sephora Collection Bright Future Concealer in Butter Cream
I love the Collection Concealer as much as the next person but I find even the lightest shade to be ever so slightly too dark for my skintone so this Sephora Collection Concealer is perfect. Available in so many different shades, I was actually torn between 5 light shades which was a real treat! With each light shade having various different undertones, I finally went for Butter Cream which is a light shade with a neutral undertone.
Sephora Collection Bright Future Color Corrector in Green
I love green concealers as they help to neutralize redness on the face and as I haven't used one in such a long time, I decided to give this one a try. If you have red tones on the face and struggle to hide them with foundation then definitely try out a green concealer as they work wonders!
Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Bachelorette
I already own two Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks and whilst I wasn't actually too keen on the formula, I really wanted to try out another. Bachelorette is a really pretty bright fuchsia which, actually looks a hell of a lot like the Sephora lipstick from above but they are actually different. Kind of. It's a pretty, bright, matte lipstick which brings me onto...
Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in American Doll
As if I needed another bright red liquid lipstick in a matte finish on this trip but here we are, a bright true red from ABH. It is so bright that I wonder if I will ever wear it but if I can pull it off then I think it will look wonderful. I have never worn a red lipstick in all of my life so why I bought 4 on this holiday I do not know!!
So, that was another Sephora haul! Was there anything in particular you would want to see reviews on? Let me know in the comments below!
Do you look into shampoos and conditioners when buying them? Or do you go to the shelf in ASDA and pick up whatever is on offer, albeit Tresemme, Head & Shoulders or L'oreal? Because I used to do the latter - as long as it cleaned my flat and greasy limp hair then I didn't care what it was. That was until I got my very expensive mistake - hair extensions. It turns out you can't just put any old shampoo on hair extensions, oh no. The more expensive the shampoo the better - or that is what it would appear like, anyway. You can read about my hair extension disaster here but for now, let me tell you about the shampoo which became a must-have, the Ecru Sea Clean Shampoo.
About the Ecru Sea Clean Shampoo:
"Protect your locks against split ends and UV damage with Ecru Sea Clean Shampoo. This mild, gentle shampoo is suitable for all hair types and is composed of panthenol, oat amino acids and wheat proteins that work to increase moisture retention, keeping your hair looking at its best all day, every day. Life is your runway; don’t leave the house unprepared. No parabens, no sulfates."
I will be honest and say I only bought the Ecru Sea Clean Shampoo because it is what the hairdresser recommended to me after spending 4 hours fixing my hair extensions. It is what they use in the salon and after a fresh wash and blow-dry, it made my hair feel nice and soft, it smelt nice so I thought I would give it a try. Another important factor in why I bought it is because it doesn't contain parabens and sulfates but why are they bad for hair extensions?
Why parabens and sulfates are bad for hair extensions:
If you were wondering what sulfates actually were then, to put it simply, it is the chemical in your shampoo which produces the lovely white, foamy lather. When you wash your hair your wash it because you want your hair to be clean and sulfates do exactly that, perhaps even a little too well in fact. Your scalp produces natural oils which is great for the hair but when you use shampoos featuring sulfates, the sulfates wash the hair so well that it takes away all the good natural oils as well. This leaves the hair really dry and because hair extensions are essentially 'dead' in the fact that they aren't attached to the head so they aren't getting any nourishment from the scalp, meaning as soon as sulfates touch hair extensions, they strip all of the oils away making them even drier after every use, as well as stripping the colour away. No-one wants dry, crispy hair extensions, do they?
So in order to help my hair extensions survive and not become drier than hands on a cold day, I decided to buy the Ecru Sea Clean Shampoo in hope it would become a little savior. Which it is, kind of. I will admit that I went the 3 months after getting my hair extensions put in going back to the hair salon for a wash and a blow dry every week because I just could not be bothered with the hassle of washing and drying it myself. Looking back, this was really lazy of me and a big old waste of money but at the time I thought it was better than washing it myself. One week the salon couldn't fit me in so I washed and dried it myself and actually? I was pretty damn good! Yes it may have taken me 2 hours to dry my hair extensions but I did it myself and saved myself money, before making me realise that "wow, why didn't I even try to do it myself?" From then on I have washed my hair extensions myself, although I still only wash them once a week. I wash the top part of my own hair every couple of days with regular off-the-shelf shampoo but then once a week I wash all of my hair with the Ecru Sea Clean Shampoo before blow-drying it with the Babyliss Big Hair Dryer which has become a life savior!
If I am truthfully honest, when using the Ecru Sea Clean Shampoo I don't see a massive difference between that and normal shampoo. The only small difference is that it doesn't lather up as much. It still washes and cleans my hair but without stripping away the oils from the extensions. They are left feeling really soft and I really look forward to my weekly hair wash! Ha ha. If I am honest, if I didn't have hair extensions in then I would still carry on using off-the-shelf shampoo. But because I do have strips of someone else's hair stuck into my head then I want to help maintain them as much as possible and if that means buying a special shampoo then so be it!
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