My Night Time Skincare Routine.

 

I was asked by one of my followers to do a post on my 'Night Time Skincare Routine' and since I love reading other peoples, I thought I would share mine!

 

As most of you will already know, I like to change the products I use on a regular basis, mainly due to the fact that I like to try new things. These products in this routine are just the products that I am using and enjoying at the moment. The routine always stays the same, its just the products that change now and again.

 

(Click on the product names to view the products on the websites you can buy them from)

 

Lets start right at the beginning...

 

 

 

First of all I get into my PJ's - I love my PJ's, I am just so much more comfortable and feel like I can really chill out with them on.

 

I then tie my hair up and pin my fringe back, ready to start pampering!

 

I usually sit/lay down on my bed for about 5 minutes just to relax, sometimes I drink a cup of tea and check emails on my phone.

 

Once I have relaxed for 5 minutes, its time to take out my contact lenses. It is such a nice feeling at the end of a long day to get them out.. especially when I'm tired!

 

I then get my Organic Surge Gentle Cleansing Lotion and squirt a small amount into the palm of my hand. I rub this between both hands for a while and then apply all over my face, including my eye lids. Using large cotton pads I then wipe away the cleansing lotion from my face. With two new cotton pads I place one over each eye and gently rub until all the eye makeup is gone. I take another squirt of cleanser and repeat the above, just to make sure all my makeup has gone!

 

I like to wash my face with a face wash after cleansing, just to make sure my face is super clean. I use the Organic Surge Daily Care Face Wash. I first dampen my face using a muslin cloth and pump 2 pumps of the face wash into the palm of my hand, I rub this between both hands and then apply all over my face, including the eye area and massage into my skin until a lather has formed. I soak my muslin cloth in hot water (hot enough to tolerate), wring it out and lay over my face for approx. 2 minutes. This helps to open the pores and clean any impurities out. I remove the face wash using the muslin cloth after the two minutes and splash cold water all over the face to close my pores. I dry my face with a hand towel.

 

I apply a small amount of Manuka Doctor ApiClear Facial Toner to a large cotton pad and sweep over the face. I particularly like this toner because it helps to eliminate the cause of blemishes and provide a clearer complexion. Although I don't get a lot of blemishes, when I do, they seem to last quite a while. Since I have been using this toner I have noticed that I get even less blemishes than normal and when I do get them they are gone within a few days.

 

If I have any blemishes at the time then I use an Avon Clearskin Professional Clarifying Toner Pad to help sooth and refresh the skin, followed by applying a small amount of the Avon Clearskin Professional Daily Correcting Lotion to the affected area to help minimise pores, control oil and prevent/eliminate blemishes. The Avon Clearskin range works very well for me when I do have blemishes and unlike some 'spot treatments' I find the Avon range doesn't dry my skin out.

 

I then apply my moisturiser, I change moisturisers quite often, depending on the condition of my skin. If my skin is particularly oily then I use Clarins Ultra Matte Rebalancing Lotion For Oily Skin, this moisturiser contains an anti shine formula and instantly mattifies the skin whilst still providing hydration and soothing/calming any redness. A cheaper alternative that I sometimes use is the Superdrug Simply Pure Mattifying Moisturiser - This is specifically designed for combination skin and can be used on the most sensitive of skin too! It instantly mattifies the skin whilst hydrating without clogging your pores. If my skin is feeling dry and in need of moisture then I use Johnsons Rehydrating Night Cream For Normal Skin which helps to replenish moisture that has been lost during the day and hydrate your skin overnight. Another favourite of mine is the Organic Surge Blissful Daily Moisturiser which is ideal for normal or combination skin. It is very lightweight and helps to rebalance the skins condition whether that be oily or dry. I mainly use this on the days my skin doesn't know what it wants to do.   

 

After applying my moisturiser I wait 10 minutes to let is soak in fully, whilst this is happening I make myself a cup of tea or hot chocolate and usually check Facebook or Twitter on my phone. When 10 minutes is up I apply Burt's Bees Radiance Eye Cream. This eye cream is brilliant for reducing puffiness and smoothing fine lines and leaves the eye area looking much more radiant, smooth and hydrated.  

 

 

 

Apart from the products changing now and again I stick to this routine and find that it works really well for me!

 

At the weekend, I carry out a weekly DIY luxury spa each week, I spend time using a facemask/eye mask and generally give my skin a weekly treat using luxurious, indulgent products. I normally combine this with a bubble bath, body scrub and hair mask. I don't normally have time to do this during the week and I usually shower every morning, so when I do get chance to have a bath, I make the most of every second and really treat my body! My weekend DIY spa is my 'Me Time' for the week.  

 

Would you like me to share my DIY spa routine?

 

Do you have a specific night time routine that you stick to?

 

 

 

Top 5 Cleansers - From Budget To Splurge.

Now I know I have been a way for a while (find out why HERE)  but I am finally back and what a great way to start with 'My Top 5 Cleansers'. I have picked 5 cleansers that are my all time favourites and products that I continue to go back to. Some of the cleansers are budget friendly and others no so much, there really is something for everyone. They are in no particular order, I like them all just as much! Click on the cleanser names to view where to buy.

 

 

 

1) Organic Surge Gentle Cleansing Lotion 200ml - This is one of the best Organic cleansers that I have ever tried. It removes every trace of makeup and dirt, even the most stubborn of waterproof mascara. It leaves the skin feeling very clean, refreshed and hydrated. I love how gentle it is on the skin and it contains Chamomile so if you have any sore red blemishes it soothes and helps to take any redness/inflammation away. It also contains organic rosemary and lemon essential oils which gives the lotion a very nice citrus scent. I notice a great difference in the condition of my skin after using this, it generally feels fresher, brighter and hydrated. It also helps to keep any blemishes away which is a big plus for me. This is currently for sale at £5.99 from the Organic Surge Website.

 

2) Olay Gentle Cleansing Conditioning Milk 200ml - This is a great budget cleanser that is kind enough to the skin to be used on a daily basis. It is a cleansing milk rather than a lotion, therefore it is thin is consistency so doesn't leave any residue behind. You also only need a small amount due to the thin consistency. It is specifically designed to remove excess oil, makeup and dirt from the face. This cleanser is brilliant for my combination skin and when I use this I do notice a reduction in the amount of oil my skin produces in the day. It is also great at removing all traces of makeup and not much work is required to remove even waterproof makeup. It leaves the skin feeling clean and soft. It is currently for sale at Superdrug for £2.99 (it is also currently included in a BOGOF promotion!)

 

3) Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - This cleanser is gentle enough to use day and night each day yet it is concentrated enough to remove stubborn makeup and all impurities from the skin. It has been formulated to be used on any skin type which is great if you want to share with a sister, friend or mother. Because it is a hot cloth cleanser it encourages you to wash your face afterwards which is brilliant. The main reason I like using a cleansing lotion or milk is because you have to wash your face after use, meaning no impurities or dead skin cells stay on the skin or clog up your pores. I particularly like leaving the hot muslin cloth over my face for a couple of minutes to open my pores even more and give myself a kind of 'steam treatment'. You only require a small amount of this cleanser so it lasts for ages. It removes all makeup, even stubborn makeup and leaves your skin feeling super clean, refreshed and smooth. I use this cleanser as a treat for my skin as it is very luxurious and rich, leaving your skin feeling like you've had a facial! I notice a huge difference in the condition of my skin and the amount of blemishes I get when using this. It contains Eucalyptus and Cocoa Butter to smooth and calm the skin. This cleanser also doesn't contain any mineral oils and it completely plant based. When you buy the Cleanse & Polish you also receive the muslin cloths to use. Liz Earle currently do all different sizes of this product, ranging from £3.25 for the smallest and £14.75 for the largest size. Click HERE.

 

4) Garnier Clean & Soft Complete Cleansing Milk 200ml - This cleanser smells amazing! It contains rose extract so it is a very floral scent but it is lovely. It gently removes all makeup, dirt and impurities and leaves the skin feels clean, soft and very fresh. It is thin in consistency so not much is required meaning one bottle lasts for ages. It is also gentle enough to use on a daily basis. It removes even stubborn makeup without much effort at all. I found that it also has a soothing and calming effect on any red areas. Like I have stated above, I have combination skin and I also found that this cleanser helped with oil control if used in the morning before applying any makeup. This is currently for sale in Superdrug for £2.03 which is a saving of £1.02 - Click HERE. 

 

5) No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser 200ml - Just like the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish this is a luxurious, indulgent cleanser that leaves your skin feeling like you have had a day in the spa. The only difference is that the muslin cloth included with this cleanser is used to gently exfoliate the skin and stimulate circulation. It removes all makeup and impurities with ease and leaves the skin feeling revived, fresh and very clean. It doesn't leave any residue behind after using. It does have a soothing effect to the skin and when I use this I do feel like my skin is in much better condition and much more hydrated. I usually alternate this with the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish and use it as a weekly treat when I apply a face mask and give myself a facial. You can find this in Boots for £9.95, click HERE. currently selected No7 products are in a 3 for 2 offer and this is included.  

 

Have you tried any of these cleansers? What is your favourite cleanser? Can you recommend any more hot cloth ones I could try?

 

 

Top 5 Drugstore Lipsticks Under £5

I love trying out new lipsticks but unless it claims to do something amazing or is a high end brand I don't really want to pay a lot. I buy new lipsticks all the time and I never stick to the same one so imagine if I was to pay more than £5 each time! It would cost me a fortune! Obviously, if I always used the same lipstick then I would pay more. I don't think I have ever used up a full lipstick. As with everything, I like to change all the time! I have picked 5 lipsticks that I think are great value but the price tag is kind to your purse! 

 

1) MUA Lipstick In Shade 5 - This lipstick is from the MUA £1 range and is absolutely brilliant! This is my favourite shade from the range but I do have others that I love! In total, there are 16 shades to choose from. This shade is a shimmery pink that really suits my fair skin. It applies easily and feels great to apply.. is moisturising and hydrating to the lips. It doesn't last all day and you do have to reapply it a couple of times but the wear time is longer than I expected for a £1 lipstick! You can't really grumble when it is only costing £1! It doesn't dry your lips out which is a big bonus for me! I hate having dry lips. The finish with this shade is quite sheer but I like that, it also has a slight shimmer which is nice! You can pick this lipstick up at most Superdrug stores or on the MUA website.   

 
2) No 7 Vital Brights Lipstick In Shade Blossoming Pink - Blossoming pink is a very sheer light pink colour which achieves a barely there look, I absolutely love the shade! It is perfect for pairing with a more dramatic eye look and it would suit most skin tones. Application is easy and applies smoothly and evenly leaving your lips to feel very hydrated. It is a creamy formula and almost feels as though you are applying a balm rather than a lipstick. The wearing time is good but you do have to reapply throughout the day, this doesn't bother me though as I love touching up! My only issue is the packaging, it is very flimsy and cheap looking which is unusual for a No7 product! This isn't a problem to me as the lipstick itself is great quality! It is currently for sale in Boots for £5.

 

3)Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick In Shade Heather Shimmer -  This shade is absolutely beautiful. It is a pinky/plum colour with a hint of brown and is great to add a pop of colour to the face. It isn't really dark but it is dark enough to brighten the face. The formula is very creamy and feels lovely to apply to the lips. It is moisturising and hydrating to the lips. It claims to last up to 8 hours and I do agree with this claim. If you are looking for a lipstick that doesn't need reapplying that often then this range is perfect for you. It also doesn't dry out throughout the day and feels hydrating all day long which is brilliant! It also holds the colour well! When it does fade, it fades evenly so isn't noticeable. There are other shades available in this range. This is currently for sale at Superdrug for £4.99.

 

 

4) Barry M Lipstick In Shade Coral - This shade is just as described and is a beautiful coral colour. This is perfect for daytime or night time wear. It applies smoothly almost gliding on with no effort and feels very soft! It only takes one swipe to get an opaque colour. It contains natural moisturisers which keep your lips hydrated for hours! The wear time on this is quite long and I find I only have to reapply once or twice in the day. The finish is beautiful and very high shine! There are also other colours in this range which I have a couple of and they are consistent with the formula. This is for sale for £4.49 at Superdrug.
 

5) NYC Expert Last Lipstick In Shade Red Flame - I thought I best include a red lipstick in my 'Top 5', this is my favourite one that I have under £5 and I absolutely love it! It isn't the brightest red that I have in my collection as it applies quite sheer and has a slight pink tone to it. However, it is different to other reds I have due to the fact that it has a shimmery, metallic finish. I love how moisturising this is to the lips and how long it lasts. It currently retails in Superdrug for £1.99 which is an absolute steal for a product that is as good as this!

Have you tried any of these lipsticks? What is your favourite drugstore lipstick?  

 

 

Beauty Deals

 

Everyone loves a discount or a sale, I know I do, especially when they are beauty or fashion related! I have been trawling the internet once again for the best beauty deals that are currently out there and let me tell you this... there are an awful lot! To save us being here all day, you reading and me writing.. I've narrowed it down to my top 10 deals!

 

(Click the highlighted writing to go directly to the product/website -It will open in a new window)

 

1) Avon are currently offering FREE delivery on all orders over £15. What a perfect time to shop with them as they also currently have a Holiday Shop where you could find your self saving up to 70%!! You would be crazy not to take a look!



 

2) HQ Hair sell a range of beauty products including drugstore and high end and offer free worldwide delivery on all orders. They are currently offering 10% off on all orders until 1st September 2013 when you enter the code VCODESHQAU at checkout OR 20% off when you spend £50 or more and enter the code MUSTHAVE at check out.

 

3) One of my favourite beauty websites, Feel Unique (FU), has a sale on where you could find yourself saving up to 60%! FU also offer FREE world wide delivery, so the price you see is the price you pay!

 

 I've had a browse through the sale items and there are some excellent deals available.

Here are my Top 3:

 

- Emma Hardie Lift & Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm 100ml, RRP £34, FU £28.90

- MOA, The Green Balm (A great cleansing balm!) 50ml, RRP £9.99, FU £7.99

- Seche Vita Dry Fast Top Coat, RRP £10.95, FU £8.76

 

And.. if you need some new makeup brushes then FU is the place to go. Real Techniques currently have 10% off the entire brand (Only on the Feel Unique Website).

 

4) Cheap smells is a discount online beauty shop that offers up to 85% off the RRP. This has to be one of the best deals on the net as you can get products such as Estee Lauder, Beautiful 100ml, RRP £70 for £61! That's a saving of 13%. Another great deal I found was the Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadows, Box 1 which contains 9 individual shadows, RRP £27. Cheap Smells price is £19.45 which is a 28% saving. This website is definitely worth taking a look at as they have many great deals that won't be found anywhere else!

 

5)The Body Shop are offering 30% off all orders, including all sale items when you enter the code 14321 at checkout. They also have their raved about 'Hemp Hand Protector' at 50% off, meaning that you get a whopping 100ml for only £5!! If hemp isn't your thing then there are a whole array of other hand creams & hand washes in the Hand Care Offer where you can save up to 50%.

 

6) Benefit are offering up to 50% off all of their sale items. The best deal by far is the 'LeeLee Get's Flirty Box' which includes :

Full size 'Laugh With Me LeeLee' fragrance

'Thatgal' deluxe mini

'Benetint' deluxe mini

'The POREfessional' deluxe mini

The RRP of this box is £39, yet Benefit currently have it in their sale for £26, an absolute steal and perfect for trying a range of different Benefit products!

Benefit are also giving away 2 FREE samples, that you get to choose, with every order.

And.. if that isn't enough, spend £40 and get FREE standard delivery. 

 

7) Selfridges have the perfect deal for all the GHD fans! They have a range of different GHD stylers & hairdryers with £20 off the RRP. For example, the GHD Gold Classic Styler - RRP is £125, with £20 off they will only cost £105. To get the £20 off you must enter the code GHD20 at checkout. 

 

8) Fragrance Direct is yet another one of my favourite online discount beauty stores. It sells a whole range of beauty products from high end to drugstore. There is something to suit everyone's budget. They are offering FREE delivery on all orders over £20 when you enter the code RNB2 at checkout.

 

My favourite deals from Fragrance Direct are the nail polishes. They have a selection of OPI Nail Polish for £3.99, and yes, that is for the full size 15ml bottles! Essie Nail Polish is on offer at £1.99 and once again that is for the full size 13.5ml bottles!

 

9) Superdrug are offering FREE delivery on all orders over £25. This is automatically applied at checkout.

 

10) I have found an Elemis Outlet that offers up to 60% off the RRP of Elemis products! This means that you can get products such as the 'Elemis Pro Collagen Hand & Nail Cream 20ml' for a mere £2.89.That isn't a full size product but it is perfect for trying a range of Elemis products before committing to the full size versions or even just for taking away on holiday to save room in your luggage! The Elemis Outlet also has a deal on where you can get 3 full size Elemis products for the price of 2 by entering the code AUG3FOR2 at checkout. 

 

 Do you know of any beauty deals? What has been your biggest bargain this Summer?

 

MUA Eyeshadow Review

The MUA eyeshadows have to be some of the best shadows I have ever come across. I have a range of different shades in singles and palettes. I have picked out my two most used and clear favourite shadows from the range. These are shade 24 & shade 3. 

 

L to R - Shade 24, Shade 3

Shade 24 is a lovely pinky plum/rose gold shade and this looks great as just a wash of colour or can be built up with other colours to create a smoky eye.

 

Shade 3 is a silver shade and I never thought I would wear silver shadow but this looks great incorporated into a smoky eye with darker colours, it adds such a nice shimmer and sparkle to the eye. Both of them can be toned down to wear in the day or built up for going out at night.

 

Here are the swatches on the back of my hand. That is just swiping the finger across the shadow and then across my hand. (The flash has bounced off the shimmer slightly so its not that clear but there are swatches on the MUA website too)

 

 

 

 

 MUA can be bought in all Superdrug stores and online at the MUA Website. Their products are some of the cheapest on the market but they are such amazing quality! I would highly recommend that you take a look at their range.

 

The single eyeshadows cost £1 each and there are a total of 26 pearl shades & 5 matte shades in the £1 range. 

 

I've said before that I am not keen on the matte shades from this range as they don't seem as pigmented or seem to have the same formula as the pearl shadows, that still remains true but the good news is, I haven't come across one pearl shade that isn't fantastic!

 

They range from natural shades to bold shades and any look can easily be created. You can use one single shadow to sweep across the lid for a wash of colour or use a mix up of shades to create a bold & dramatic eye.

 

The shadows are easy to apply, easy to blend and easy to slowly build up to create the look you want. They are super pigmented and this translates onto the eye lid. You really can just swipe a shadow coated brush across the eye lid and achieve a perfect wash of colour.You can also use the shadows wet to create an even bolder look. 

 

One of the biggest pros of these shadows is that I have barely noticed any fallout, even with the darker colours. The finish is absolutely stunning, the shadows have just the right amount of shimmer, which means that the shadows can be worn day or night. I want to say that they are creamy, and by that I mean that they have the finish and apply as easy as a cream eyeshadow would. 

 

The staying power of these shadows is unbelievable for the price, they look exactly the same 12 hours later as they did when they were first applied, there is no smudging, the colour is still as intense and there is no creasing.. This is all without applying a primer first! £1 for an eyeshadow that does so much! 

 

You can take a look at the whole range HERE .

 

The great thing about the MUA website is that all the shadows have been swatched so you can get a good idea of the shade before buying! What more could you ask for, for £1!!

 

Have you tried any of these shadows? What do you think?

 

Do you want me to do more MUA reviews? What do you want to see on my blog? Leave a comment leaving your request :-)

 

Laura

Xx

My Current Top 4 Drugstore Blushers

Hey Guys,

 

Today, I thought I would share with you my top 4 Drugstore Blushers that I am using at the moment. 

 

All of the Blushers vary in price but I think they are all great value for money and great all round Blushers. I have included an Elizabeth Arden Blusher which I would class as being Mid Range but it was bought from the Drugstore! They are in no particular order.

From L to R - L'Oreal Project Runway, Rimmel Lasting Finish, MUA Blusher, Elizabeth Arden Colour Intrigue.




1) L'Oreal Project Runway Super Blendable Blush In Shade Charming Cockatoo's Blush (425) - This Blusher is unfortunately limited edition and they have now stopped selling it in Drugstores. However... I have found it on Ebay, priced at £3.79 (Click HERE) It is also available in the USA on Ebay for $9.99 (HERE) - It is available in 3 other shade too which are also available on Ebay. This Blusher is a rich warm rosy shade with a slight hint of shimmer, it is a very 'natural' shade which looks beautiful on the apples of the cheeks. It does what all good Blushers should do and adds a natural 'blush' without making you look like you have tons of Blusher on! It is pigmented enough to transfer colour to the cheeks easily but it is not so pigmented that you have to be light handed. I am generally quite heavy handed when it comes to products like this so this is perfect for me. The colour can be built up and it is very easy to blend. The texture of the blush is quite powdery but I found that this didn't transfer to the cheeks. Overall, this is a brilliant product and I would highly recommend it!

 

 

 

2) Rimmel Lasting Finish Soft Colour Blush In Shade Santa Rose (010) - This is another 'natural' warm rose shade. This Blusher looks even more 'natural' on the cheeks as it doesn't contain as much shimmer as the L'Oreal. It is very soft in texture and easy to work with, it blends lovely on the cheeks and can be built up to the look you want to achieve. As with the L'Oreal, it is pigmented enough to get enough colour on the cheeks but you don't need to be careful applying. The finish is sheer yet flawless once applied to the cheeks and the wear time is amazing! Rimmel state that it is long lasting and smudge free, I agree totally! I can usually go all day without having to reapply this Blusher once (I have combination skin.) The only thing I am disappointed about with this product is the size of it! You don't seem to get an awful lot of Blush. It is only £3.99 though and it is great quality which I would personally rather have! Rimmel do other shades in this range which I am yet to try as I love this shade so much! This Blusher and the other shades can be found in most Drugstores, it is currently priced at £3.99 in Superdrug (Click HERE)

 

3) MUA Blusher In Shade 1 - I love this Blusher! I use this when I want to wear a light pinky bubble-gum shade rather than a natural looking rose. It is such a gorgeous pink and looks lovely on my fair skin. I would imagine that it would look great on any skin tone though. This Blusher is very highly pigmented so you do have to be a little bit careful when applying. The best thing about this Blusher is the price. It is only £1 on the MUA website - £1 is brilliant value for such a great blusher! It doesn't last as well as some of the other Blushers and it can be quite powdery when it is first applied. I have found that the powdery finish soon disappears after about 10 minutes of it being on the cheeks. And who cares... it is £1!!! Unfortunately, MUA @ Superdrug have now released 6 new blushers and stopped selling these exact ones - they have even given the new shades names! You can still get this Blusher from the MUA website HERE for £1 (you can also get all of the other old shades from the website too!). The closest match to the shade in MUA @ Superdrug is Bubble-gum and that can be found HERE, also for £1. The other shades in the new range can also be found at Superdrug! So if you fancy introducing a pop of colour to your face take a look at the MUA Blushers.

 

4) Elizabeth Arden Colour Intrigue In Shade Pink Glow (04) - Before I start telling you how wonderful this Blusher is I will just let you know that I can no longer find this exact shade anywhere on the internet! I originally bought mine from Boots for £24 - Although I cannot find this exact shade there is currently a choice of three shades available on the Fragrance Direct website for £4.50 - Nearly a £20 discount! (Click HERE) - Because I cannot find the shade I won't talk too much about it but I will just say that if you can get your hands on the shade Pink Glow then you will love it! It is quite different to the other Blushers that I have as it is a rosy shade yet it also has a pink tone to it. The formula of this Blusher is also amazing. It isn't powdery at all and once it is applied to your cheeks it will stay there for the whole day! As with the L'Oreal and Rimmel, it is pigmented enough to transfer the colour to your cheeks but not so heavily pigmented you end up looking like a Clown! It can be built up easily and it blends really well, it takes very little effort to blend into a natural looking 'blush' look. It also comes with a little brush and a mirror inside the compact which is great for taking out with you. The packaging also feels very hardwearing to me so you can put it in your handbag and not worry about your blusher crumbling into a 1000 tiny pieces! The shade Peach Sorbet would be my next choice as it looks like a lovely peachy/rose shade - that can be bought from Fragrance Direct for £4.50 HERE. I think £4.50 is an absolute steel for this Blusher!  

 

Let me know if you have found any of these Blushers cheaper or if you can find the EA in shade Pink Glow!

 

What are your favourite Drugstore Blushers? Do you share the same ones as me?

 

Laura

Xx

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Retro Glam - To Buy Or Not To Buy?!

Rimmel have recently released a new Scandal Eyes mascara, known as the Retro Glam. I am so undecided on whether to buy it or not. The advertising is brilliant and I am hooked on the 60's retro, wide eyed, false lash, volumised, NO clumps look. (What a mouthful!)

 

However.. I was so disappointed with the first Scandal Eyes! So much so that I threw it in the bin! It just didn't do what I expected it to do! It claimed to volumise, define and coat lashes you never thought you had. It did coat all the lashes.. but it also coated the whole of my eye lids! If I was after the Panda look then this would have been brilliant! It didn't make my lashes look any different other than them being a big clumpy mess! I absolutely love a big brush, so I thought this would be perfect for me! Unfortunately, the product was just too wet, took ages to dry and put too much product on the lashes (hence why I got it all over my face).

 

So why am I even thinking about purchasing the Retro Glam you ask? Basically, I'm a sucker for advertising and the advertising campaign for this product is immense! For some reason I believe Rimmel when they say it will create:

 

A wide-eyed false lash look

Fanned out volume. No clumps

Lashes Up, out and over the top

 

It is currently on offer at Boots for £4.99 - Click HERE which is £2 off. £4.99 is a great price for a mascara that claims to do all of the above. IF this mascara is as wonderful as Rimmel are making out then I would be stupid to not purchase it right? Could this mascara be so amazing that it replaces my Maybelline The Falsies? 

 

I think by the end of this week the Scandal Eyes Retro Glam will be in my collection and once again the advertising will have won. I just cannot help it! If nothing else it will make a good review!

 

Have you tried the Scandal Eyes range? What did you think?

 

Laura

Xx

Revlon Nail Polishes & Superdrug Nail Remover Review

Hi Guys,

 

I've decided to put this all in one post as its all about nails :-)

I recently purchase 2 Revlon nail polishes. One 'Top Speed - Fast Drying' in shade 570 Vintage and the other, which is just a basic Revlon polish in shade 281 Classy. I absolutely love Vintage, this is the polish that I am wearing today.

I expected that I would love Classy, as I love all pink nail polish. Unfortunately, the application was rubbish. After 3 coats it was still streaky and you could still see my nail through the coverage, not to mention, it took absolutely ages to dry! Since I'm impatient, I managed to catch 3 of my nails and had to take all the polish off! The colour is, however, very beautiful and the photos do not do the shade justice (It looks orangey on the photos but it isn't at all). It is a really pretty shimmery light pink and I was originally very excited to try it on my nails! I'm very disappointed with this polish as I expected to love it! Revlon polishes are usually amazing quality at a brilliant price but this one just didn't hit the mark.


However, Vintage is absolutely amazing!! I only needed to apply one coat to get an opaque coverage. The picture below shows me wearing a base coat, one coat of Vintage and a top coat. I have been wearing this for 4 days now and I have had no chips! (the photo was taken today). The colour is a very deep purpley red/pink and looks amazing once applied to the nails!! It also lives up to the claim that it dries in 60 seconds! I absolutely love quick drying nail polishes, as I mentioned above, I am very impatient when waiting for nail polish to dry. This shade is definitely worth trying!

Classy can be found HERE for £3.35 (RRP £5.99) and vintage can be found HERE for yet again, £3.35 (RRP 5.99) - I love the Perfume Click's website, you can get great quality products at discounted prices! If I had paid full price for Classy, I think I would be quite annoyed that it wasn't great quality.  

Here is the picture I took today after 4 days of wearing Vintage:



Moving on to nail polish remover...
I needed some more so whilst I was buying a few other bits from Superdrug I decided to buy some. It was just lucky that Superdrug's own brand was on offer at 3 for 2 so me being me and loving a good deal I bought 3! I bought 3 different ones, the first one is an acetone formula (purple), the second is acetone free (blue) and the third is acetone free with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E (peach). The purple one contains Glycerine and claims to prevent your nails from drying out. It did feel very moisturising when using on my nails. The only thing to note with this one is that you cannot use it on acrylic nails due to it containing acetone. The peachy one is also very moisturising and soothing due to it containing Aloe Vera & Vitamin E and claims to help protect and condition the nail. The blue one is just a standard acetone free nail polish remover. They all worked in the same way when it came to removing nail polish and I only needed a small amount on one cotton pad to take off all the polish from both hands! It even removed staining when I removed a very bright red shade from my nails! It also tested well when using it to remove any mistakes with a cotton bud when painting my nails. I am very pleased I bought them! I usually use the Cutex range as I trust the brand. I have now found a new favourite though! I would highly recommend this nail polish remover to anyone! For only £1.39 a bottle, it is an absolute bargain!

They can be found HERE for £1.39 each.

 

I am thinking of doing a NOTW post every week - let me know if you would like me to do it! :-)

 

Laura

Xx

 

MUA - My Favourite Products From The Brand

Hi Guys,

 

Since I have been buying a lot of MUA products recently to try out (because they are so cheap!) I thought I would do a blog post on my favourite products from the MUA brand! I have done reviews on a few of these products already but this is a summary. I have linked all of the products so you can click on them to have a look :-)

 

 

 

1) Cover & Conceal Wand - This has to be one of my favourite MUA products at the moment. I use this on a daily basis to cover blemishes and dark circles under my eyes. I have the shade fair but it does also come it two other shades - natural & almond. The formula is very lightweight yet it covers any flaws completely whilst still looking natural! It is long lasting and doesn't crease whilst wearing. I would not be without this product! It is one of the best concealers I have ever used and at just £1.50 its a steal!

 

 

 

 

2) Matte Perfect Loose Translucent Powder (Click HERE for full review) - This is a good shine control loose powder! I don't use this on a daily basis but I do use it for the days where my skin is extra shiny. I have combination skin so day to day my skin varies. As long as you apply just the right amount and not too much then this product is brilliant! It does state that it keeps the shine away for the whole day but since I suffer with quite oily skin at times I found that I did have to reapply a few times throughout the day. It sets your foundation, eliminating any oil whilst still letting just enough of a dewy glow shine through. It is very finely milled which means that it disappears and absorbs all oil/shine so you can't tell you have a powder on. This costs £2.30 on the MUA website.

 

 

3) Trio Of Eyeshadows In Shade Innocence - This eye trio is amazing! The eyeshadows are super super pigmented, so easy to work with and easy to blend. You would not think that this eyeshadow was from a drugstore brand. The staying power is unbelievable! I don't have to wear an eye primer as it lasts all day without smudging or creasing. This trio has three neutral shades - Cream, light brown & dark brown meaning it is great for creating a neutral smoky eye! All from the same trio! These are the colours that I tend to wear on a daily basis and at the moment the trio is in the sale for £1.25 - that's £1.25 for 3.. yes 3 eyeshadows!! Even at full price this product is amazing value.

 

 

 

 

4) Fashionista Double Take Lipstick - I have this lipstick in shade 3 - Babydoll Pink. It is just as it sounds and is a baby pink colour. The colour makes me feel very happy when I look at it. The lipstick is very pigmented, creamy on application and very hydrating on the lips, however, the finish is matte! I didn't know this when I bought the product as I don't usually like matte lipsticks but this has changed my views completely. This is not drying to the lips at all! It still manages to feel hydrating and creamy whilst being completely matte! There are 10 shades in this range, so if baby pink isn't your thing there are others to choose. This has being hugely discounted on the MUA website. It was originally £7, then it was reduced to £3 and now it is only a mere £1.50! What a bargain!  

 

 

5) Lipstick (Full review can be found HERE ) - I have a variety of shades in this product range. My favourites are; Shade 5, Shade 7 & Shade 14. Altogether, they have 16 shades in this collection and I am sure by the end of the year I will have accumulated all 16. Once again, these lipsticks are super pigmented and I love applying it, It is so creamy and feels amazing on the lips! The smell of the product is very sweet and vanillary, it is quite a nice scent! They do stay on the lips for a decent amount of time, a lot longer than I expected them to. The finish is very glossy but the amount of product needed depends on the colour of the lipstick and the finish you want to achieve. You can pick these lipsticks up for £1 each. What an absolute bargain! (The picture shows Shade 5)

 

 

6) Single Pearl Eyeshadow - I have quite a few different shades in this range but my favourites are; Shade 3, Shade 14 & Shade 24. These shadows are super pigmented  and the colour payoff is amazing! They come in a large pan and I am yet to reach pan on any of the shadows I have even when I use them every day. Application is smooth and the shadows are very workable, they are very easy to blend and I haven't experienced any fall out whilst using them. All of the shades I have are exceptionally long lasting without any smudging or creasing, even when a primer isn't used. When wearing these, my shadow looks the same when I go to take my makeup off as when I applied it. I particularly like shade 24 and I quite often wear this in the day time. The beauty of these shadows is that they are perfect for either night or day, they can be built up to achieve the look you want. There is also a matte range but I don't like this as much as the pearl range as they aren't as pigmented and easy to work with. These shadows are £1 - perfect, if you like experimenting! (The picture shows Shade 14).

 

 

Please let me know if you have enjoyed this post and if you would like me to do more brand favourites!

 

To view the MUA website please click the MUA logo below. If you want to view the range they have at Superdrug, please click the Superdrug logo.

 

Laura

X