Eyebrows | Mac Omega Eyeshadow Review

I really hate my eyebrows.

What ever I do with them I'm never happy and can never get them to look even! I've been growing them since christmas and they are thicker than they were but I just find one is much more curved than the other.. does anyone else find this with their eyebrows??

I've been using this in conjunction with my Clinique fine liner brow pencil which I also really love and they work really well together. Its a nice soft matte brown which is perfect for my light mousey brown eyebrows. I love that this doesn't have a red/orange tinge to it which I find with most 'light brown' colours - I'm looking at you Rimmel eyebrow pencil!

If I have enough time then I try to even out my shape with an angled brush if not then I run some through with an eyebrow comb and it just darkens them up a little. I have to fill in the bottom of my eyebrow more as this area is a little more sparse. I find that this is quite a versatile colour, its quite a light brown but it is very buildable which is nice if you prefer a more dramatic brow.

What is your favourite eyebrow product?

Meet my new best friend! ♥ Hydraluron Moisture Booster Serum

Let me start off by saying - My god, this stuff is amazing!

 

I loved my Caudalie SOS thirst quenching serum (review here) but this is just is so so much better! I was thinking of repurchasing the Caudalie serum as mine was on its last legs but as I'd seen a few great reviews on this new-ish Hydraluron serum I thought I'd change it up, give this a go instead and share my thoughts with you guys!

When I find something I love I cant wait to review it and this was one of them products. I have very sensitive skin so I am a little edgy about using new products but this little gamble paid off. This serum doesn't contain fragrance unlike the Caudalie serum and I think that's definitely a positive for me (even though I didn't have a reaction to the Caudalie serum).

It applies like a gel and a little does go a long way, I apply my moisturiser a minute or so later (I'm currently using Avene moisturisers which are amazing!) and my skin feels so hydrating and comfortable. I've definitely fallen in love with this serum as it doesn't aggravate my eczema and keeps me hydrated which is the main thing that I look for in a product.

I cant praise this stuff enough, its my favourite product of the moment and although it is quite expensive at £24.99 its so so worth it if you have skin like mine.  I can see myself repurchasing this over and over!

Have you tried this serum or are you tempted to?

YSL Matt & Radiant Pressed Powder Review & Swatch

Hey Lovelies ♥,

 

This YSL powder was on my November wishlist and had been something I had wanted to try for ages! I love my YSL Touche Eclat foundation and the highlighter too so I really wanted to see if this powder matched up to those. I tried searching for reviews online but I couldn't find any anywhere! So I thought sod it and that's when it landed in my basket when doing some christmas shopping online, gawd knows how it got in there! :)

 

 

The packaging on this powder is absolutely gorgeous,  it's all gold and shiney and very hard to photograph I might add!  It comes in a gorgeous little velvet pouch which stops it from scratching. If you have a problem with finger marks then you will hate this compact with a passion! The powder puff also sits in the pouch rather than in the compact which is a little strange (and is probably why I have lost it already!)

 

I got this in shade 2 which is just right for my NC20 skin tone and is about the same colour in my MAC mineralize skin finish which is in light plus (review here) maybe not quite as yellow. It is very lovely to apply and looks so natural and not cakey at all. It doesn't have that chalky look either which is what I find with drugstore powders. 

 

I'd say that this has quite a light to medium coverage and it can be built up nicely. It's a little heavier than my MAC MSF and covers my redness on my cheeks well but it doesn't cover blemishes that brilliantly. The lasting power is quite good too, it doesn't last all day but powder's rarely do on me. I'd say a good 4 or 5 hours before my shiny nose shows through :)

It sheerly mattifys if that makes sense but it doesn't dry out my skin which is a must for me.

As it's quite a soft powder I do find that it does go down rather quickly, I've had this for around a month and there is already a big dent in there!

 

This cost me £29 in the sale which is the most expensive powder I have used, the quality of this powder is lovely but it just depends on how long it lasts as to whether I would repurchase. My MAC mineralize was my HG but I've been using this since I hit pan on that so it will be a contest between the two once this runs out!

 

What's your favourite face powder? ♥

 

Weleda Iris Hydrating Masque Review & Pictures

Hey Lovelys ♥,

I was sent this masque to review by Natures healthbox. They offer the best organic, natural and eco friendly products all in one place, click here to check out their website :)

 30ml £12.49*

This mask is described as 'An intensely hydrating facial masque containing soothing jojoba seed oil and witch hazel for improved elasticity, and perfectly clear skin. Shea and Cocoa butters further soften and moisturize' - sounds perfect for dry, dull winter skin!

It is advised to use this once or twice a week, If your skin is more normal/combo than dry then I think once would probably be enough. I have been using it twice a week and this works well for my dry skin.
This has a very thin lotion consistency which spreads over your face nice and easily,you really don't need much to see results so this little tube should last a good few weeks.

Although this doesn't contain fragrance it does have a very strong herbal scent to it (I wasn't keen on at first, but i got used to it) It reminds me a bit of the Liz Earle Cleanse and polish scent, if you like that you'll love this!
I love that this is organic and contains no nasties, but they do advise to do a patch test if you have sensitive skin (that's me).

This really does help to hydrate your skin, I do have to follow up with a moisturiser though as my skin is super duperly dry.
I'll let you into a little secret, my boyfriend also uses this and he really likes it! He pretends he doesn't love me trying products out on him too ,but secretly he bloody loves it ;)

They have also given a little discount code which is 'BLOGTASTIC2013' - This is valid until the 31st January!

Have you tried anything from the Weleda line? ♥

Honey Cleanser Update

Hey Lovelies,

So I thought I'd do a little update on my honey cleanser to let you know how I've been getting on, I posted about this here if you want to check it out or have a little recap.

So I've been using this all natural cleanser for around two months now and guess what? I fricken love it! I could just end the post there really but I won't lol ;) .. Most of the sciencey bit was in my last post so I won't repeat all of that as I don't want to bore you all!

The Results
This cleanser is so gentle on my sensitive skin and it even helps to relieve the redness on my cheeks, I literally see an immediate improvement. I found that even the gentle cleansers would sting my face before which was really uncomfortable but this is not irritating in the slightest, it feels very soothing as you apply it.

Luckily I don't get many blemishes, only the odd one every now and then but even those have improved. I definitely get them less frequently and they are not as big so that's definitely a win!

I've also found that this is an AMAZING exfoliater. My skin is far to sensitive to use an exfoliater on my face but I've found that this perfect. I hope this isn't too much info but it really helps to get any of them flakey dry bits of skin off. Once you apply the honey and leave it for a minute or so, once you start to massage it in with a little water you can really feel the flakey bits coming off. I'm sorry if that sounds so so gross but it really does help! Once you get them gross bits off, moisturiser just sinks in so nicely too!
Honey is very moisturising but as my skin is super duperly dry I do still have to apply moisturiser after.

It does feel sticky applying it but you do get used to it so don't let this put you off. I even stick my hands to my face a few times to try and suction any grossness out of my pores by using the honey as a sort of glue. I don't really know if that works but it keeps me amused while I wash my face! As soon as you wash it off the stickyness goes, it doesn't linger around or anything.

I really can't recommend this more, give it a try! ♥

The Body Shop | Honey Bronze Face Gel

Hi Girlies ♥,

So the basics first! I have very dry sensitive skin and when ever I apply fake tan is always go so patchy that I end up having to scrub it off and I'm back to being pale again so it's really not worth it for me :(

A few months back, I think it was a friends birthday or something like that but I ordered this online for half price (£12 reduced to £6) thinking that I would just give it a try. It's a wash off bronzing face gel which is also meant to moisturise your skin at the same time. It contains honey which I love anyways and honey is actually what I use as my daily cleaner (review here if you are curious).

This gel is really lovely and it doesn't irritate or dry my skin out at all which is amazing for me! You can get a nice subtle glow or build it up for a darker look if that's what you fancy. I applied quite a bit to a small section so the picture looks pretty dark! The Gel sinks in pretty quickly and it doesn't feel sticky at all. It doesn't have a dewy effect it's just sort of a soft silky feel.  I think this does moisturise my skin a little which is a positive for me and it does last quite well. I think this would suit all kind of skin types as it's not greasy. I don't apply this every day, just on nights out & it does stay put for the evening. 

I don't think that you don't get much product in the tube for £12 but when its 50% off I think its definitely worth it and I will be repurchasing when mine runs out.

Have you tried this? What did you think?  ♥

November Favourites ♥

 

Hi Girls ♥,

There's a lot of old favourites back in this months post but a few new additions which I lurrrve too! hope you enjoy ..

YSL Touch Eclat Founadtion - This is the best foundation I have ever used, its quite a light coverage but it's nice and buildable too. It's lovely and hydrating which is prefect for this cold weather and gives a nice dewy finish.

♥

Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara - The best mascara i have EVER used, it lengthens and keeps your lashes in place. Love it!

♥

Manuka Honey - My new all natural cleanser - it's amazing. Read my post on that here.

♥

NYX Cream Blush - This is a new find and it's lovely - such a dewy cream blush. Mini review here if you fancy a read.

♥

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion - This is a blast from the past if you like, I used to use this religiously for a good year and then went off of it for a while. I have rekindled my love for this moisturiser recently. I don't use it all over my face as i find that it can break me out, i just use it on my drier bits.

♥

The Body Shop Aloe Vera Body Butter - This is just amazing for dry & sensitive skin. Full review here.

♥

TRESemme' Liquid Gold Hair Oil - One of the best hair oil's I've tried. I've mentioned this in so many posts! Full review here.

♥

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Face Gel - This is a new addition and i fell in love with it from the first time i used it! It's hydrating and gives you such a nice bronzed glow. I will be writing a full review on this soon.

♥

L'occitane Shea Butter - This little pot is great for any dry patches, really love this and use it everyday.

♥

Collection 2000 Concealer - I was never really a fan of this concealer for under my eyes but I've been reaching for it a lot recently! Must be those late nights.

Whats your November favourites, leave me your link to your post so I can have a nosey! ♥

 

Battle of the Cream Blushers!

Hi Girlies ♥,

 

So i posted about the MAC cremeblend blush a while ago here and lets just say i wasnt sold on it. Since then i've been on the hunt for a new dewy, creamy blush for us girls (or boys) with a more drier skin type - which i can say that I have now found. Whoohoo!

Left: Cremeblend in 'Something Special'
Right: Blushcreme in 'Lady Blush'

Left: Cremeblend in 'Something Special'

Right: Blushcreme in 'Lady Blush'

The problem with the MAC cremeblend was it was quite a matt finish and i think more suited for oily/normal skin types as it tended to stick to my dry bits.

The MAC cremeblend was the reformulated version of the origional blushcream which i managed to find on ebay in 'ladyblush' and i absolutely love it! The blushcremes are now discontinued so its very hard to get hold of these but you may get lucky. From these pictures you can probably see how different the cremeblend and blushcreme are, look how dewy the blushcreme is! Just what i was looking for :)

 

So as this has been discontined you may think it was a bit of a waste of time telling you about it.. Well no, because i found a dupe for it! Yay me -

 Left: Blushcreme in 'Lady Blush'

Right: NYX Cream blush in 'Natural'



Left: Cremeblend in 'Something Special'
Middle: Blushcreme in 'Lady Blush'
Right: NYX Cream blush in 'Natural'



 The Dupe: NYX Rouge Cream Blush £5.99

I really like this NYX blush, it's exactly the same consistency as the MAC blushcreme and the colour isn't that far of - plus its cheaper! 

 

They are both a little sticky/tacky when applied but i wouldn't say they were hard to work with at all, they both last a good few hours without setting which i think is okay going seeing how dewy they are.

I'd say that these maybe aren't brilliantly suited for oily skins as they have quite an oily feeling to them, but they don't seem to block my pores so it could be fine.

You can get a nice sheen of colour with these or build it up for a heavier coverage but it could get quite shiney if you used too much so i guess it's finding the balance. I apply this over my foundation and it blends in so well, i find using a stipling brush gives a more even finish than using my fingers and leaves a nice glow.

 

I will definately be purchasing the NYX blush in different colours - really love & recommend them ♥

 

Do you prefer powder or cream blush?  ♥

 

 

 

 

Most Amazing Cleanser ..

Hi Lovelies ♥, 

If you have read any of my previous posts you will know that I have very dry, sensitive, eczema prone skin (I know wonderful ay) and I've tried literally soo many cleansers in the past but they all seem to irritate and/or strip my skin completely of the little oil I do have even those that are for dry skin!

So I've been doing some research into natural remedy's and I found so many articles on using Manuka honey as a cleanser! I know! How weird is that? Anywhoo I decided to give it a go as I had nothing to loose and god am I glad I did, it's the most amazing cleanser I have ever used! 

So, here is some reasoning behind it - bare with me!

So Manuka honey has anti-bacterial properties, so slathering this over your face kills any of the nasty lingering bacteria on your skin which will prevent any blemishes. It relives infections which helps with healing and its also antiseptic! Amazing ay.. 

Manuka honey is also known to have Humectant properties which means it binds water to the skin which helps with moisturising. This means that its brilliant for all types of skins as its moisturising and antibacterial at the same time.

I don't wear much makeup most days so I don't bother to remove it before hand I just put the honey straight onto my dry face, if I have worn quite a bit of makeup then I just do a quick swipe with some bioderma and a cotton pad before hand.

Since switching to this I have had no new blemishes pop up and the few I did have have now gone. I find that although this is nowhere near as drying as other cleansers it's not quite moisturising enough for my insanely dry skin at the moment so iIdo finish off with a little moisturiser but those of you with normal skin you probably wouldn't need to.

I know this sounds so weird rubbing honey into your face and its does feel strange and very sticky but I can already see such an improvement in my skin. It's still slightly dry but my red irritated cheeks have faded and my dry patches are much less prominent now.

If you do give this a go it may be helpful to know that there are ratings between 0 and 30 on Manuka honey jars, this is how strong the antibacterial properties are. I don't get many blemishes but I do usually have at least one at a time I guess so I find that 10 is working fine for me. Anything less than this isn't very effecting and anything higher may to be too strong for sensitive skin.

Good luck and let me know if you try this! ♥

 

Revlon | Lip Butters Review & Swatches ' Lollipop' & 'Strawberry Shortcake'

 Hi Girls ♥

 

I've got another review for you today .. I really love these!

 

These baby's are so soft and moisturising and they are just so easy to apply, they are so smooth they just glide on with no tugging. They are not quite a lipstick I'd say but they are thicker than a balm. Sort of like a butter i guess ;)

 

I think the packaging is really cute, it's not too bulky to carry around with you which i like although i do sometimes catch the lip butter when replacing the lid! also, as the shape is a bit different you can feel around in your bag to find them.

 

You can either get a nice sheer wash of colour or build it up for a nice pop, i love the 'lollipop' colour on the weekend as it just so bright and gorgeous. They do have quite a shine to them so if you was after a matte look i don't think these are really for you.

 

These actually last quite a while seeming how soft & buttery they are, I'd say a good couple of hours before you have to reapply. I find that the brighter it is the longer it lasts.

 

I'd say these were a little sticky in my opinion, not that i mind as it's so moisturising but it's not as sticky as a gloss would be. As these are so soft they do go down quite quickly so at £7.99 they are quite expensive but if you pick one up with a 3 for 2 it works out so much cheaper!

 

I really love these and i really recommend, i will definitely be purchasing a few more colours :)

 

 

Have you tried these? Whats your favourite? ♥

 

The Body Shop | Hemp Face Protector & Aloe Soothing Night Cream Review & Pictures

Hi Girls ♥,

Long essay post alert!

I finished work early last week so i went for a little window shop and popped into my local body shop, I've never really got into products from the body shop in the past but I'm not really sure why. I was in there for absolutely ages having a butchers at everything. I think the shop assistant thought i was a bit dodgy and up to something i was in there so long, lingering around like a bad smell!
 

So anyway there were a few things that caught my eye, but even after trying all the testers a few times i didn't actually buy them, i just couldn't decide. I've got so many face creams i thought I'd better control myself for once and not buy anymore but then a few days later my skin suddenly got so sore and sensitive i logged onto the body shop website and brought the 2 face creams I'd been eyeing up. 

 

I got the Aloe soothing Night cream (£11 for 50ml) and the Hemp face protector (£8 for 50ml) I'd seen a few reviews on the hemp face cream from people with eczema and sensitive skin so i thought this would be the better of the two. 

 I actually found that the Hemp face cream stung my face even though its for very dry skins, it was so bad on my dry cheeks that i don't use on my face at the moment. I've been using this as a hand/arm cream and its fine and not stingy at all so at least i can use it and it wasn't a waste. Maybe it will be better when my skin has calmed down a bit and isn't so sensitive and sore. It does contain fragrance so maybe this is the problem? it does smell quite nice though, sort of florally & fresh.

So onto the Aloe Soothing Night cream. This has been amazing for me recently, when my skin gets sore it gets really sore and this has really saved & soothed it. I slather it over my dry cheeks and it worked wonders, it sinks right in and isn't greasy in the slightest. It doesn't have perfume either which is a massive bonus for me. It's not the best moisturiser in the world but it helped my skin get back to normal without breaking me out.

 

Both creams are really thick, if you shake the pot around the creams stay put and don't budge. The Hemp Cream is a little thicker I'd say and takes a little longer to rub it but it isn't greasy in the slightest. The hemp cream makes my hands feel really soft so if your skin isn't as reactive and sensitive as mine then this would probably be quite nice for you.

 

I have repurchased another aloe night cream along with the Calming facial cleanser, day cream and luxury face flannel. I was going to buy all of these anyway but then i came across the gift set below which is amazing value @ £14 - it would be £28 if purchased separately.

 

I have now purchased the Aloe body Butter, lip treatment & restoring Mask, i will write a long old review on it all once I've gave it a thorough testing ♥

 

Which products do you love from the body shop? ♥

♥Enter my 100 Follower giveaway here♥

MAC | Cremeblend Blush in 'Something Special' Review & Swatch

 

 

 

  

  

Hi Lovelies ♥

 

So i wanted a colour similar to my Clinique blush in innocent peach as that's my all time favourite so i picked this shade and it really is pretty similar just a little brighter! I have really dry skin so i thought it may be nice to go for a cream blush rather than a powder to help hydrate my skin a little.

 

First off i really love the colour, it comes out a nice light peachy coral colour on your cheeks and you can make this as natural or as bold as you like. It's nicely pigmented and it lasts a good amount time without being set with a powder which is a bonus.

I was expecting this to be a little bit more creamy and dewy than it actually is. It's not sticky or greasy in the slightest and it dries quite matte which is actually the opposite to what i was expecting. The texture actually reminds me of the Clarins Instant smooth Perfecting Touch if that helps?

 

I apply this after my moisturiser and foundation and blend it in with a fine stippling brush quickly before it dries. I find this the easiest as it can be quite tricky to work with otherwise. I do find that it sticks to my dry patches a little but it's not too terrible and it doesn't stop me using it as i love the colour, i just have to use it on the days where my skin is behaving itself!

 







Mac Cremeblend on the Top/Left & Clinique Blush on Bottom/Right

 



I don't think that i would repurchase this when it runs out as i was after something with a bit more of a dewy finish and i do prefer my clinique blusher at the moment as its easier to work with. I don't have anything against the product i just don't think it works brilliantly with my dry skin unfortunately.

 

 

What type of blusher do you wear? ♥

 

October Favourites ♥

Hey Lovelies ♥

November already.. where has this year gone?!

So these are the items I've been lurrving this last month, I have a lot of old favourites back in this month as my skin has been a bit temperamental due to the ever changing weather!

 

 

♥ The Body Shop (TBS) Aloe Soothing Night Cream - this has been my saviour recently, it's a recent find of mine but its the only cream i can use that hasn't been stinging my face off. It's not the best moisturiser in the world but its so gentle and soothing.

 ♥ TBS Tea Tree Oil - I got a free sample of this with my TBS order and I really loved it so i brought it online, I had a nice big spot appear and this really calmed it down and shrunk it overnight :), since then I was converted!

 

♥ YSL touch Eclat Foundation - My favourite foundation ever! Such a lovely dewy finish with a light - medium coverage. It doesn't irritate my sensitive skin and even provides a little hydration during the day.

 

♥ bareMinerals Foundation - I've been using a light layer of this to set my foundation, i find it a little less drying than my other favourite powder (MAC Mineralize Skinfinish)

  

 

♥ Sally Hansen Cuticle Defense Oil - Since having my acrylics off my nails have been so brittle, I've been using this every night before bed and it does a really good job.

 

♥ Bobbi Brown Concealer Kit - There would have to be a pretty special concealer out there to get this off my favourites, hides my dark circles nicely and leaves a nice dewy finish.
 

♥ Tresemme Liquid Gold argan Oil - I really love this oil, the more i use it the more i love it. I use it as a pre-shampoo the night before i wash my hair and it prevents it from going all hard and crispy, I also use a little before blowdrying and it really detangles my always tangled hair!

What were your October Favourites? ♥