ELF Lip Balm SPF 15 in Rose

ELF Lip Balm SPF 15

Prepare for the first of many ELF reviews to come because I ordered a shed load with a 50% discount & I love almost every single thing so I want to do reviews for you guys :)

First up we have one of their lip balms which also has a bit of colour to it. This is in the shade 'rose' and probably the only shade I would ever wear. Saying that, I would probably buy the Nude colour but when it comes to lip balms I like them to be as natural as possible. This shade just sort of adds that 'my lips but better' look.

In terms of packaging i think its really sturdy and easy to just pop in your handbag to use throughout the day. I've been using this now for the past few days and I can say it does make my lips feel really moisturised & soft. Also with it having SPF in it you don't have to worry about your lips getting a bit sunburnt which always happens to me. 

On first application it has a really strong minty smell which I absolutely love - some people might not like that which is understandable. It slightly tingles on the lips which I also love, and then the smell & the tingling goes after about 10 seconds. It doesn't really have a long staying time like most lip balms but the colour is still significantly noticeable after an hour or so which is good for a lip balm in my opinion.  

Overall, I really love this product & for just under £4 I may have to buy the Nude...

Have you tried any other ELF lip products before? What are your recommendations?

Lots of love,

Wishlist #10 - Topshop Make-up

From L-R: Top - Lips / Liner / Smokey Eye Palette / Kabuki Brush

Bottom - Nails / Lip Bullet / Blush / Nails 

Shock horror I don't own any Topshop make up but I have read many a good thing about their range. There I was browsing the Topshop website and I decided to create a wishlist. Lately I haven't really had any inspiration to blog and I find wishlists come easy to me because its relatively like window shopping? Plus I love reading them because I'm nosy so I assume everyone else loves reading them? Anyways here is my list; a couple of lipsticks, a couple of nail polishes & a good old eyeliner. Their nail polish range is something I have heard good things about - the range of colours they do being one thing and the fact they last long & don't chip easily being another thing. So the two colours I chose were Blue Jeans & Wide Awake. Blue jeans is an amazing green/blue shimmery colour and Wide Awake is just the perfect orangey coral Spring colour. Everytime Topshop bring out a new lip product I always think "why have I not tried any yet?!" I read many, many reviews on  them and wonder if they are as amazing as people say they are. The lipstick looks like a subtle peach/nude colour (Ooh La La) which would be wearable for everyday and the Lip Bullet is obviously more of a statement red (Joyride) which could work everyday or be worn more for a night out. Next up is the Kabuki brush because I need a new brush and I really loved the electric blue colour! My favourite make up has to be eyeliner because it just transforms any look from simple to sophisticated. I picked this one in the colour Black Cab because I like the look of the slick & skinny design and the nib looks really easy to use. Next I chose this Golden Aura eye palette because the colours are just so neutral & easy for everyday wear or you could build them up to create a smokey eye... which I, unfortunately, cannot do very well anyways so I would just use this for some highlight and natural eye looks. Lastly, the one thing I have read so many good things about is Topshop blush. This blush is in the colour Flush, I love the peach tone and i am definitely more a peach wearer than a pink blush as it suits my skin tone better so this would sit quite nicely in my collection. 

If you have tried any of these products please let me know what you think? Wishlists make me want to buy everything I choose :(

Lots of love,

Boots Beauty Haul

Just a quick post before I go out to see the boyfriend; I wanted to share with you my bargains I got online at Boots. All this I managed to nab for just over £20 as I took advantage of the 3 for 2 offer plus the 'get a free gift when u buy 3 of the same brand so I ended up with four free items! Amazing!

 I will obviously be doing full reviews on these if I reckon they deserve it ;) but I am already loving the Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick which I picked up in Glam Plum Fulham (470); the formula is so creamy & moisturizing on the lips! I'm so happy I managed to get all this for £20! Just in case you're wondering the bits I got free were the Baby Lips, the Rimmel Cocktail Colour Polish - which I think I am going to save for Christmas day - and the two eyeliners! Absolute bargain! 

Hope you all have a lovely weekend. I am now off out for a Thai curry! Nom :)

The Make-up Post: Saturday Night

 

 

 

 

I'm back! After what seems like forever... recently I've had a bit of a mental block so I stepped away from blogging for a couple of weeks until I got my mojo back. So, I was meant to put this post up yesterday but I was just too hungover & tired to even function so here it is a day late, and i can no longer call it a Sunday post :(

I've been turning to my MUA Undress Me Too Palette a lot lately. Its easy to create a simple look or go all out with a smokey eye. The metallic gold's are my favourite as you can probably tell by the state of them; I usually just use my index finger to apply the shadow as I find using a brush causes quite a bit of fallout. The Rimmel London Match Perfection Foundation is one of my favourites; its got such a creamy texture, doesn't leave a shine & has SPF 18 - winner! I usually dab it around my face with my fingers and then use my Real Techniques Buffing Brush to really blend it in.

As for mascara & eyeliner I use Benefit's They're Real on my bottom lashes and Rimmel London's Scandaleyes Lycra Flex mascara on my top lashes because it creates just the right amount of curl & volume. After I apply eyeshadow I add a slick of the L'Oreal Paris SuperLiner Blackbuster just to add some definition. I apply some just along my lower lash then as well then in my waterline I use the Maybelline eye liner pencil in white to make my eyes appear wider (can't find link sorry)!

I purchased the Look Beauty's Cheeky Trio in 'Candy Floss' - I don't rarely use the bronzer much but the blush is the perfect colour for my cheeks and I tend to just use the highlight under my eyebrows. To keep my make up in place I use a big powder brush to just apply Rimmel London's Stay Matte Powder in 'Peach Glow' over my forehead, cheeks, chin & nose.  

Lastly, the eyebrows! I'm 99% sure this little brow palette is MUA but it seems to be different on the website? So if you happen to know what make this is please let me know haha! I think it could possibly be a branded product they did, who knows?! Anyways I use the darkest shade of brown in the palette and just sweep gently across my brows to fill in any gaps and make them more defined; I do this with a MUA eyeliner angled brush and I find it works better than the little brush that is provided. The palette also comes with a cute little pair of tweezers which I have found quite handy.

Rimmel London Exaggerate Full Colour Lip Liner in Red Diva (024)

Excuse my wonky lips but how lovely is this red lip liner. Its a proper cherry red & the picture above shows only the lip liner on my lips. Its so easy to apply with the lip liner being twisted out of the bullet as you go. It is quite matte so I think may be quite drying but nothing a slick of lip balm won't fix. I actually wore this under my lipstick on Saturday night and I didn't have to top up at any point... mainly because I was quite intoxicated so forgot but when I actually checked at the end of the night my lips were still perfectly red! I'm very satisfied with this & I think I may look to see if they have any other nice colours. 

I picked this up from Boots for £3.99.

REVIEW - Real Techniques Core Collection

L-R: contour brush, pointed foundation brush, detailer brush & buffing brush.

 

A couple of months ago I decided to jump on a massive blogger bandwagon and purchase the core collection of Real Techniques brushes. Created by Sam Chapman, one of the sisters of Pixiwoo, the brushes are hand-cut and 100% cruelty free. The Core Collection comes with a 2-in-1 case and stand which is very handy for travelling, I've actually taken mine out and put them in my brush pot but the 4 brushes will definitely be going back in their case when I am off on my holiday!

I'm guessing most of the beauty bloggers out there will know what brushes are included in this set but for the ones who don't let me tell you... you get one Detailer Brush which is to use for your concealer or lipstick. The Pointed Foundation Brush is to be used for liquid foundation. The Buffing Brush (which is my favourite!) is to be used with powder or mineral foundation. Lastly, the Contour Brush which, yep you guessed it, is to be used for contouring, highlighting and blusher.

 

As I said, the buffing brush is actually my favourite brush out of the 4 and I use it everyday to create my base. I use it to apply my concealer, foundation & powder! It literally gives such a flawless base I don't know how I ever survived without it! I have used the detailer brush to blend my concealer but I found it didn't buff it into my skin enough. I feel the same about the pointed foundation brush; its good but leaves my foundation looking a bit streaky. The contour brush I have been using to just apply some blusher on the apples of my cheeks. it grabs the product well and doesn't make me look to 'done'. I cant wait to use it on holiday to contour my cheeks properly.  

 

I have definitely got my eyes on the Starter Kit next which is all the brushes you need for your eyes!

 

You can pick up the Real Techniques brushes from FeelUnique.com or any Boots stores. The sets are £20.99 and the individual brushes are around £10 each.

xxx



My Summer Make-Up Look

 

 

 

 

Since this lovely, glorious weather started my make up routine has severely gone down hill. I don't know about you but there's just something about heat that makes me not want to put make up on? Im putting it on while sweating which is just gross, for the first few days I was literally wearing mascara and that was it but I figured I needed some sort of base. I have been wearing 4 products on my face - yes, four! - so you can imagine how simple it is but it just works in this weather!

 

I start off by cleansing my skin and moisturising before I apply Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer* to under my eyes, on my chin, nose, cheeks & a couple of splodges on my forehead; may be a waste of concealer but its actually got amazing coverage. Every blogger out there knows its brill so im not going to chat about it for too long. I work it into my skin using my Real Techniques Buffing Brush because I actually find this the best brush to apply my base with. I think my brush only comes in the Core Collection set as I cant find a separate link for it?

After purchasing Collection's Colour Lash in Clear* (I can't find a link to it but it was purchased from Boots.) at the #hertsbedsmeetup at the beginning of this month I have been using it to tame my brows! It does a really impressive job at keeping them in tact all day long, mine are very unruly and stick up in all directions if I don't do anything to them; especially at the moment as I am trying to grow them out slightly.

Ive just realised 3/4 of these products are Collection haha. I've been applying Collection's Extreme 24hr Felt Tip Liner to just below my bottom lashes/underneath my water line for some definition because I feel really naked without some liner! This is the best eyeliner I've ever used and its literally lasted me about 4 months & I use it everyday which I think is amazing for a felt tip liner. When im going out out I do use this to apply a cat flick but in this heat that's just too much.

Lastly but not least is the Rimmel London Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara which I apply two or three coats of to my top lashes. I do usually like a defined bottom lash but this mascara tends to smudge on my bottom lashes and its just hot for bottom lash mascara!

 

Have you done a Summer make-up look? What are your top picks?

Hope you're all enjoying the lovely weather!

xxx

(Items marked with a * were bought with store credit.)

 



Bargain Buys at Bovingdon!

Hello! So, this morning me & my mum went on a little outing to Bovingdon Market just outside of Hemel Hempstead. We haven't been for a while so thought it would be nice as the "sun has got his hat on" - I dont get that saying? Surely if the sun had his hat on it would be cloudy? hmm.

Anyways, I bought a couple of bits, not much but I thought I would sure because I'm happy with my purchases! 

 

The leopard print iPad cover was £10 - I have been looking for ages for a new iPad cover because the one I currently have is just really worn and looking horrible. Also spilt some hot chocolate on it, oopsie.

My favourite make up brand is Rimmel London so when I saw their BB cream was just £5 I couldn't say no! I'm not entirely sure how much it is in the shops; I think its around £7 pound so saving a couple of quid! I have been dying to try the Scandeleyes eye shadow sticks. the colour I picked up is Bulletproof Beige and it was only £2! Again, a couple of quid cheaper than in the shops.

I think I will do reviews of both these products because I haven't yet heard anything good or bad about Rimmels BB cream so I am excited to try it. I have heard good things about the scandeleyes though so I know I will not be disappointed.

One of the last stalls at Bovingdon market is my favourite - they have the most amazing donuts, cakes, sweets - everything a sweet tooth like me loves! I couldn't resist buying this beast of a donut!

Covered in hundreds and thousands its literally the biggest donut I've ever seen! But it was yummy and ill definitely buy another one when I go back! If you live in Hertfordshire & you've never been to Bovingdon market I do recommend it, some stalls are a bit trashy but you can get some good bargains!

 

I realise lately I haven't really been blogging much. I've only been blogging since April but I feel at the beginning it was every few days as opposed to now being once a week if that! I'm not sure why but I'm just feeling really uninspired and I don't want to force myself to blog about something when I know I'm really not in the mood. I have just moved house, well two weeks ago.. but I am settled in now so I don't think that's the problem.

 

I'd like to know if anyone else has the same problem as me; feeling uninspired & not bothered? How do you overcome it? Let me know in the comments?

 

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend and enjoying the sunshine :)

xxx



Benefits They're Real Mascara Review

 

 

 

After finally getting my hands on Benefits They're Real Mascara I am super happy & impressed! It is probably the best mascara I've ever used. Before this I had never used any Benefits products but I've heard how good & long lasting they are. I have literally had my eye on this mascara for months; every time I took a little trip to boots and saw it in the queue I contemplated just buying it so many times but £9.50 for a mascara that's the size of my pinky finger I think just isn't justifiable. When I found out that Elle magazine was giving it away as a freebie (well... £4) it was my mission to find a copy! I did on Saturday & it felt like all my Christmases had come at once!

 

I must admit I don't really rate rubber/plastic mascara brushes but this is one exception. I find they don't really do the job and don't volumise as much as brushes that aren't rubber... I'm not exactly sure what the bristles on the end of the brush are for, I'm guessing bottom lashes and that's what I've been using them for. They do a good job of not looking too clumpy and spider-like. The picture above shows two coats which is fewer than any other mascara I wear. On the first coat volume & length is instantly added. I have found that the mascara isn't very curling which is where an eyelash curler would come in handy. Can I find my one anywhere? No... so I am yet to invest in a new one to see just how much curl I can get.

 

Overall, very impressed with They're Real Mascara. I will be very sad when its empty & I have to re-purchase because, lets face it... its not exactly cheap!

 

Have you tried Benefits They're Real Mascara? What are your thoughts?

xxx



My Everyday Make-up Look

My favourite part of the day is definitely applying make-up. I especially enjoy it when I've got new products to try or if I'm going out for the night and I can spend an hour or so deciding on how I want my face to look! However, my everyday look is kind of basic & boring... it roughly takes me no longer than 10 minutes.

Nivea Pure & Natural Day Moisturiser for Dry & Sensitive Skin.

Rimmel London Stay Matte Foundation in True Ivory (103)

17 Va Va Voom Waterproof Volume Mascara

MUA Brush on Concealer Pen in Light

MUA Shimmer Kisses Blush

Collection Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner

Rimmel London Stay Matte Powder in Peach Glow (003)

 

 

I literally only bought this moisturiser yesterday but I am going to make very good use of it because my skin is so dry and horrible at the moment (review coming soon!). Before I bought this I must admit I would just clean my face with a make up remover wipe and then slap on the ol' foundation again, very bad I know! I guess that's probably why my skin is in such a bad way but hopefully its now on the mend so yay! Don't really need to talk about foundation & powder because everyone knows how amazing the Rimmel Matte collecton is and I am another person who swears by it! This 17 Mascara gives amazing volume & length and its just my favourite! I have recently converted to Felt Tip Liners because I just think they are so, so easy to use! I have 3 now (the one above, the L'Oreal Superliner Blackbuster and the BarryM Wink Black Marker) and I love using all of them. They do the same job as the liquid or gel eyeliners but I just find they're so much quicker & easier to use. I'm not a pro at eyeliner but I do feel that my eyes look weird when I don't wear it so the felt tip liners are a definite must-have.

 

Do you use any of these products for your daily look? Or are there some other bits out there that you would recommend? What do you also think of the felt tip liners?

xxx