Big Boots/Online Haul!

Hi everyone! So I hadn't been shopping in quite a while which led to me going a bit crazy for some products I'd had my eye on as well as well as a few things I really didn't need. I'll start with all the things from Boots, beginning with the face products.

Loreal Lumi Magique Primer (£9.99) - I really love to use a radiance primer for all the normal areas of skin (everywhere but my nose) to brighten my face and even out redness and after hearing good things about this I thought I'd give it a go. It was quite expensive for a smallish amount but I do really like it. It leaves my skin looking glowy but not shiny and is quite a good dupe in terms of effect for the Laura Mercier Radiance Primer.

Smashbox Primer Try Me Kit (£19) - I'd had my eye on this kit for a while as Smashbox has always been a brand that's interested me and I hadn't tried anything from them before. It includes three mini's of their photo finish oil-free primer, their lid primer and their undereye primer. I haven't used them long enough to give a real opinion but i'm excited to try them out.

Max Factor Whipped Creme Foundation (RRP £9.99) - I hadn't heard anything about this on any blogs at all but after looking at it's unique texture I really wanted to give it a go. Straight off this stuff is amazing! I've used it most days since owning it and cannot get enough. I'm happy to do a full review if people are interested as it's quickly become a favourite of mine. I don't remember the exact price as I got this on offer in Boots but it's definitely under £9.99 and worth every penny.

17 On The Spot Foundation (£6.99) - Although I don't actually suffer from spots I thought I'd give this a go as the name suggests it would probably be good for the oily patches of skin I have. I've used this a few times and I'd say it's a really nice everyday foundation which lasts pretty well but it doesn't quite beat the Max Factor for me.

Bourjois Bronzing Primer £9.99 - This was definitely a total blogger influenced purchase. I've used it a couple of times now and although I like it I have to say, I don't love it. It's not that it's not a good product but I personally find it a lot more effort to use cream products than I do powder contours. I will continue to use it but so far I may be a bit too lazy to incorporate it into my everyday routine!

Bourjois 24 Hour Cream Eyeshadow in Gold (£6.99) - I'd seen a lot about these on blogs and was really torn between which colour to choose but in the end I went with this one. Again, I'm not sure if i'm totally sold on this yet. It's a nice product but I find it takes a lot of building up to get the colour to show which is either the product or just the shade I chose.. Please let me know if this is the case!

Collection Black Velvet Eyeshadow (£2.19) - I really wanted a nice matte black to use for doing a smokey eye and this one is really great. It's super pigmented and applies really nicely. 

Rimmel ScandalEyes Flex Mascara - I got this as a freebie for buying other Rimmel products and I'm not that impressed with it.. It's a pretty average mascara but it's not really the kind of brush or formula I usually go for so I wouldn't go out and purchase it.

Maybelline Brow Drama (£4.49) - I'm not overly impressed with this at all. Although it does a nice job of setting my brows this is in no way the quick fix to great brows. The colour pay off is pretty much non existant so i've been using it as a finishing set which it's worked much better for. I'm just disappointed that it doesn't have more of a pigment to it.

Revlon Super Lusterous Lipsticks in Kiss Me Coral and Berry Couture (£7.49) - Revlon Lipsticks have an amazing texture and finish to them and definitely rival Rimmel as my favourite drugstore lipstick brand. The colours are pretty self explanatory with Kiss Me Coral being a nice peachy coral nude shade and Berry Couture being more of a purpley pink shade perfect for Autumn.

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks in Glam Plum Fulham & Lets Get Naked (£6.29) - I saw Glam Plum on Vivianna's blog as a dupe for Rebel from MAC which I've always wanted so thought I'd give it's cheaper alternative a go and I love it! I haven't tried Lets Get Naked yet which is more of a nude but these are seriously moisturizing and pigmented and i'll definitely look into getting more when I've used up some more lipsticks. 

Revlon Lipgloss in Adorned (£7.99) - I spotted this shade from Revlon's new fall collection and it is so, so beautiful. My camera didn't pick it up but it's a really bright pink similar to MAC Girl About Town and it is so, so pigmented. The most pigmented lipgloss I have ever come across in fact. It's got some shimmer running through it but doesn't feel chunky or uncomfortable at all on the lips, it's stunning.

Barry M Nail Paints (£3.99) - These don't have names but I spotted them both as limited edition shades and had to have them. I adore Barry M Nail Paints generally and knew they wouldn't disappoint. I haven't used the multi-coloured one but the silver has become my new favourite glitter EVER so I will definitely be stocking up! I'll post a photo at some point but it's an amazing multicoloured holographic effect when the light hits it that I cannot get enough of. It also lasted 5/6 days on my nails without chips. Love! 

Rimmel Lets Get Naked, Rimmel Glam Plum Fulham, Revlon Kiss Me Coral, Revlon Berry Couture, Revlon Adorned Lipgloss

Onto the couple of other things I got, I ended up purchasing the Make Up Forever HD Foundation (£30.95) and the infamous Ben Nye Banana Powder (£7.50) from a site called Guru Make Up - both of which have been on my wishlist for the longest time. I haven't really had much of a chance to properly test out the MUFE but the Ben Nye is a really lovely setting powder for the undereyes. The one criticism which is more my fault is the colour is very yellow so you do have to be careful to apply lightly if you are very fair.

Please let me know if you'd like to see a full review of any of these products as I'm happy to do them!

Current Favourites!

Hi everyone! I'm sorry for the total lack of posts this last week. As some of you might know I'd been doing work experience at Red Magazine the last two weeks so hadn't had a lot of time to post but from Thursday onwards I will have no uni so will be able to fully commit to posting more! :)

I thought today I'd share some of my current favourites. I have to say, I'm not one for doing monthly favourites myself yet just because I don't feel my favourites change often enough every month so I thought I would do a roundup every now and again when I've had products really stand out to me. 

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray - This was a slighly impulsive purchase I made a few weeks ago. I actually had a Space NK voucher from my birthday to use and really wanted to try this out after seeing so many amazing reviews of it giving voluminous hair. Although pricey this stuff is incredible, I absolutely love it. I've never found a product that gives my hair so much volume and this alongside my Bumble & Bumble Texturizing Cream (which is also a favourite but forgot to take a photo of it!) gives me the perfect beachy, volumised hair.

Laura Mercier Radiance Primer - I got this in the gift with purchase offer Harvey Nicholls were running and oh my gosh, this is my new holy grail primer! I was initially so worried about how it would fare on my skin but with Benefit Porefessional on my oilier nose and this all over the rest of my face, my skin has never ever looked so bright and healthy. My makeup lasts far longer than any other primer I've tried including the Laura Mercier Oil Free Primer so I'd urge anyone to give this a go.. it's incredible!

Maybelline Babylips in Peppermint - I love this stuff for days where I don't feel like wearing anything too heavy as it gives a sheer wash of colour that slightly lightens my lips whilst making them baby soft. It's also great to pop on before a lipstick to help my lips stay a lot more moisturized and I honestly adore these so much for really hydrating my lips as well as the minty scent and cannot wait for them to arrive in the UK. I've done a full review of them here.

Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer & YSL Touche Eclat Foundation - I won't talk about these too too much as they were both in my last post but I've loved these whilst I've been having a lot of early mornings for brightening up my skin and have worn them together everyday for the last three or so weeks.

MAC Cream Colour Base in Pearl - You may have seen in my last post that I really wanted a non-glittery more sheeny highlighter and this one is incredible. It is exactly what I was looking for, it's pretty subtle but that's exactly what I like for everyday use if I'm honest and I really, really love it. Next on my list is Luna as like Pearl it's a sheen finish but more intense which I think will be ideal for evening wear. Thank you to Megan for suggesting I try these out!

Stella Summer Rose Perfume - I mentioned this in my perfume collection I did months ago but I have really loved using this perfume lately, it's definitely going to be my summer scent! As the name suggests it's pretty floral which isn't usually my taste but it's a lovely and such a beautiful bottle.

MAC Malt Eyeshadow - I've had this for a couple of months now and it's quickly become one of my top three favourite MAC eyeshadows. It's perfect for in the crease, a light cool toned brown with a bit of pinkness to it and great all over the lid for a neutral matte eye. I haven't found a single colour or makeup look it doesn't work with as of yet.

Topshop AWOL - I am totally obsessed with anything cobalt blue at the moment and this polish is no different. The shade is similar to Essie Butler Please that was in a haul of mine a little while ago which I mainly got as I couldn't find this shade online and presumed it had been discontinued. I then managed to find it in store a while ago and had to get it. The reason this beats the Essie is totally due to formula, it lasted around four/five days on my nails whilst the Essie only lasted a day without chipping. A lovely shade all year round I'd say.

Models Own Polish in Hedonist - Finally, another bright nail polish and this is Hedonist from the Headkandi collection. Again, Models Own aren't my favourite formula but this one actually lasts better on me than other ones I've tried and the shade is totally worth it. It's a neon red and it's so, so bright on the nails that it's definitely one of my all time favourite colours of my collection.

What have been your favourites lately? Also please let me know if you'd like to see a full review on any of these products or if there's any others posts you'd like to see from me!

Wake Up Make Up

Hi everyone! Apologies again that it's been a week since my last post, I will probably only be able to get a couple of posts up per week until the 8th when I finish uni  as my work experience is really, really hectic at the moment! Today I thought I'd do a post that seems very appropriate for my life at the moment and that's make up that makes me look more awake.

YSL Touche Eclat Foundation £29, MAC Soft & Gentle £21.50, Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer £5.99, Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara £7.99

YSL Touche Eclat Foundation in BR20 - As you can probably tell from the picture, I absolutely love this foundation! I'll be honest and say, it isn't the best in terms of lasting power on my combination skin but honestly, the finish is so beautiful and illuminating that it's the only foundation I don't always need concealer with on an everyday basis. It really brightens the skin without making me look shiny and I love how vast the colour range is as this is the best foundation match I've tried.

MAC Mineralise Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle - A cult product for highlighting but I actually love this most as an eyeshadow to really brighten up my whole face. I do like this as a highlighter but recently I've found that when I catch my reflection I really hate seeing glitter on my face so I'm definitely on the look out for a more sheeny highlight if anyone has any recommendations! I will definitely continue using this as it's so so nice as the perfect champagne eyeshadow and I love how awake it can make me look.

Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer - I don't think I need to rave about this again as I already did a full review here but this is the best concealer high end or high street that I have ever ever used. It's so, so brightening and offers a bit of coverage too without drying my undereye area, creasing or looking cakey. I would never be without this now, it's the perfect concealer.

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara - This mascara is really good at giving me full, long and slightly curled lashes. I have naturally very straight lashes and I have to say this stuff is one of the best mascara's I've used that actually holds a curl in them! It really opens up my eyes and makes my lashes look so nice, the only slight gripe is that it sometimes smudges though a lot of people who don't have such sensitive eyes haven't had that problem and bare in mind every mascara smudges on me!

Rimmel Eyeliner in Nude - This isn't pictured as it just ran out but this is great for putting along the waterline to make your eyes appear a lot whiter and brighter. It's super cheap and works beautifully as well as lasting all day.

I'd love to know what make up products you use to give you that awake look and again, if anyone has any sheen type highlighters to recommend me I'd be so greatful! x

Favourite products under £5!

I wanted to do something a bit different today and speak about my favourite bargain products. My blog has covered a lot of my most loved expensive items so it's easy for the cheaper repurchases to get overlooked. These are all things I've either already repurchased or would repurchase when they run out and thought it would be a bit of a different, hopefully interesting post! 

Radox Spa Smoothie Bath Soak Fig and Neroli Oil (£2.20) - This is a bit of a random one but this product is something I always pick up as soon as it runs out. The scent is absolutely incredible and it leaves my skin soft after use.

Elf Wet Gloss and Brow Clear Mascara (£1.50) - I already spoke about this in my 2012 favourites but I absolutely adore this stuff. It is so so cheap (but do bare in mind I have to order this online so always do in bulk to save in postage costs!) and I honestly feel it does a just as good if not better job than any more expensive brow product and sets my brows all day. I use this purely for brow setting so can't comment on it as a mascara but a definite staple in my makeup bag I'd never, ever be without. 

Sally Hansen Cuticle Massage Cream (£4.35) - Another apricot scented product! I only started using this a few months ago and it's just amazing. It makes the process of sorting out any dryness or cuticles around my nails so easy and works within a couple of minutes. It's also not too drying on my skin. You can get this cheaper if you look around but I did mine for the price I bought it for in Boots!

St Ives Apricot Scrub Invigorating (£4.29 but currently £2.86 from Boots!) - This scrub is really good and such a good price for the results it gives. I have to be honest and say I'm not mad on the apricot scent as it is very strong, something to be aware of if you like unscented products but it does a lovely job of leaving my skin soft, smooth and brightened. They also do a sensitive one and a blemish prone but I find this one fine for my sensitive, oilyish skin.

Rimmel Stronger Base Coat (£4.59) - I've used this for years and it's a really great base coat. Dries quickly, stops my nails from breaking and does the job perfectly. I've never felt the need to try any other base coat, though I do sometimes use Nail Envy if my nails are particularly weak.

Barry M Polishes (Coral Pictured) (£2.99) - I'm sure everyone is getting sick to death of my raving about these polishes so all I will say is they last ages, have an amazing colour range and are super easy to apply. They're on offer a lot too! My favourite nail polish brand.

Topshop Polishes (£5.00) - Another amazing makeup/nail brand is Topshop. Their nail varnish is really glossy, opaque and long lasting and I'd really recommend this also. They also do my all time favourite polish, Topshop Celestial!

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeliner in Nude (£3.99) - This stuff is the best for making your eyes instantly brightened and awake. I use this most days, particularly on those early mornings and wouldn't be without it now. I'll be honest and say something controversial though! For me personally, this is the only one I've tried that I love.. the Taupe shade did not show up on my waterline however much I tried and the black one really smudged under my eyes!

Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lipliners (Indian Pink pictured) (£2.99) - These and the Topshop lip liners are the only ones I will use. I've never felt the need to buy a high end lip liner as I find these work so well and have a great range of colours. They don't drag, they aren't too drying considering they're a lip liner and do the job perfectly.

No7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadows (£7.00) - Right, this is a cheat one because these are £7.00 if you buy them full price but I always get mine when I get the £5 off vouchers, making them £2.00 so please forgive me! These are something I recently tried and I have the shades Wheatsheaf and Yellowshine. I'm so so impressed with these, they are buttery soft and lovely shades that definitely rival my MAC shadows, my favourite drugstore eyeshadows for sure.

Soap and Glory Hand Food (£5.00) - Aah my favourite hand cream. It smells of marshmellows, moisturizes without being greasy and is super cheap for the results it gives. I use this so much in Winter and it works wonderfully.

So there you have it! Just an honorable mention, Collection's Lasting Perfection is an amazing concealer but I don't really use it as I find it a bit too much under the eyes. However, if ever my skin gets a rash from a product or if I've had dairy I love it for more coverage!

What's your favourite product for under £5?

Review: Rimmel Apocalips!

I don't know about all of you, but when I saw that Rimmel were bringing out a lip laquer similar to higher end offerings I was definitely intrigued. After hearing so much about the Armani Maestro versions but deciding they were way out my price range for a product of it's kind I was overjoyed to hear there would be a drugstore dupe and after seeing them on various different blogs I knew I had to have them! Pigmented? Check. Amazing colours? Check. Comfortable wear? Check. They sounded right up my street! :)

From L-R: Luna, Celestial, Stellar, Apocaliptic, Big Bang

One thing I can say is they definitely fulfilled all the promised claims. As you can see from swatches, the colour payoff is amazing and these really are liquid lipsticks, they didn't move all day, especially the brighter shades! The colours I chose were Luna, Celestial, Stellar, Apocaliptic and Big Bang. The other shades in the range are a brown-toned nude (Nude Eclipse), a pinky shade I also really want (Nova) and a plummy shade (Galaxy) which I didn't get purely as I own SO many plums! The packaging for these is also lovely, I love how you can see the colour at the bottom and it almost looks a bit sleek whilst not being too boring.

The formula is so wonderful - creamy and opaque with minimal effort required in terms of topping it up throughout the day and the price is what makes these even better at £5.99 each. The only negatives I would point out is this can have a tendancy to go a bit everywhere if you don't apply a lip liner around your lips prior to application. Also, I would comment that the lighter shades can be a bit patchy and Luna definitely took a little more effort to look good but this is an easily fixed problem :)

Luna - I have to say, this shade was my least favourite of the ones I picked up. I found the formula of this to be quite patchy and unflattering, you could see a lot of imperfections on my lips. However with a lip scrub, this one does make a lovely peachy shade that I'd liken slightly to MAC Shy Girl.

Celestial - This is what I'd consider the everyday lip choice of the bunch. I adore this shade, a lovely neutral pink/plum that I've found works with a variety of makeup looks! This one reminds me a lot of MAC Plumful which I also like a lot.

Stellar - This shade is another one of my picks of the bunch! An amazing bright corally pink that is so similar to MAC Impassioned on the lips it's crazy! Definitely an amazing summer shade that I cannot wait to wear.

Apocaliptic - This is the fuschia pink of the lot, another very bright shade with blue undertones. This will be a great 'nights out' option for me, especially with it's similarity to MAC Girl About Town which is my favourite for those sorts of occasions!

Big Bang - Eeeek sorry, you can kind of see what I mean about the bleeding thing with this one! This is an amazing red and one I will definitely reach for on lazy days where I'm wearing simple eye and face makeup as it'll make an amazing statement lip! I don't have a MAC dupe for this as a lot of people are saying Russian Red but to me it's far lighter and pinker!

Overall, I'm so impressed with Rimmel at the moment, they are definitely upping their game and bringing out some incredible products. I really believe these are one product absolutely worth the hype and one of my favourite launches of the last year by far! 

What colour do you like from this collection? Have you picked any of these up?