Lush: Creamy Candy Bubble Bar

For me, bath time without anything from Lush isn't great... A bottle of bubble bath, to me, doesn't quite cut it; the smells aren't as strong, the formula doesn't leave the water as silky and I just don't feel pampered.

I constantly go back for 2 bubble bars at Lush, first is always 'The Comforter' does what it says on the tin! Second is this, Creamy Candy Bubble Bar; which just smells divine- sweet like candy floss but not sickly, it smells to me like Vanilla and candy. The smell alone is enough for me, but this is so rich and moisturising that it feels like a real treat!

It contains cocoa butter which is great for softening the skin (think nasty elbows and knees) and Almond Oil, which is just fantastic for hair and skin! I actually have a bottle of pure almond oil that I use in the bath on occasions, always leaves my skin feeling super soft and not greasy at all.

This bubbles up amazingly, like most lush bath products. it is quite small so I can get 2 uses maximum out of this- or just the one if I'm in need of a real pamper! It is quite soft to crumble, I find it needs to be crushed really well to get it to dissolve properly, otherwise you have chunks floating in the bath which no one wants!

I just think this is such an underrated product from Lush, if you want a really inexpensive, deliciously sweet bath then head over to your local Lush and pick this up for £2.75

What's your favourite Lush product?

M x

New Year Skincare Favourites!

My skin in the last few months has been a nightmare- since Christmas I've been having breakouts and really tight, dry patches. I've really taken care to make sure I'm using products that are hydrating, refreshing and not too harsh on my face! Here are a few that have worked wonders in the last two weeks and got me back on track!

I'm a huge fan of the Pixie Glow Tonic- I've recently stocked up on this and realized what a huge difference it makes to my skin- I haven't had an active breakout in weeks, scaring is fading and my skins looks a lot more glowing and healthy! I use this morning and evening for reference!

I'm not into piling on loads of serums and creams, I keep it very simple- depending on my skin I will use the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo when I'm spotty or my pores are looking particularly blocked up! At night time I use The Body Shop Overnight Serum-in-Oil, which is a godsend for my skin. It doesn't sit on top of the skin, it sinks in quickly and leaves my skin plump, hydrated and glowing. Also, how gross does it look now? Good proof it's used!

Another current favourite is the Una Brennan Rose Hydrate Day Cream; this contains SPF15 which is a great bonus, but in general is so simple! It sinks in quickly and leaves my face glowing and supple, its sensitive friendly and smells very subtly of rose- which I'm learning to love! 

Last but not least, The Body Shop Vitamin E facial Mist- this is so refreshing at all times, I always have this in my handbag! This is a great step in the morning to wake me up after cleansing, before toning... also lovely to just refresh make up throughout the day! 

What are your post Christmas Binge skincare saviours

M x

Worth the Hype? Mac Mineralize Skin Finish

There are those products that get so much air time on blogs that you think they must be heaven sent, often when I try them I'm bitterly disappointed- Collection Concealer I'm looking at you! I always feel that need to try these hyped up products, so I finally crumbled when I went into Mac the other week and picked up the Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle.

This is a pearl toned highlight with gold/bronze specks running through, when I say gold specks I mean glitter, fairly large chunks of glitter ... I gave this a quick swipe with a clean, dry cloth and took the larger glitter off which worked wonders; I think it was there to look pretty, not help you at all!

The gold accents and swirled throughout this which makes it so beautiful, clearly some particles weren't as finely ground as others but that's not a huge problem if you want a more obvious highlight.

This needs to be used so sparingly that I'm starting to wonder if I might own this until I die, I use my real techniques Duo Fibre Brush so that it isn't picking up too much product, give it a good tap and place it on my non existent cheek bones, forehead and down the nose. It adds a really luminous healthy glow that I've not found in another highlight before.

I'm always looking for a glow, since I've started using more Semi Matte foundations I'm really noticing the difference that a decent highlighter can make to the finish of my make up.

I love that this, like most of mac's offerings, is exceptionally pigmented, you don't need a lot of this at all to get a beautifully healthy glow to your make up. it's also so versatile, I've been using this on my collar bones, inner corner of the eye and under the brow bone (not all at once, I'm not ridiculous!)

I think this is definitely worth the hype- I can't think of anything to complain about here, it's pigmented, adds a amazing glow to you, versatile and seems like it's going to last forever!

You can get Mac Mineralize Skin Finish Here.

M x

eBay Make Up Brushes!

Hello and Happy 2015- lets get things going with a good cheap find shall we?

So, when I was a poor student and I was really getting into playing around with make up I decided to get some brushes from eBay- I didn't have high expectations for these at all, I expected shedding and poor application but gave them a go anyway.  To my surprise these were actually lovely- nice soft brushes good for blending both powder and cream eye shadows, I also got a new buffing brush at the same time- god knows why, I already have far too many, again not expecting much from these but well over a year later I'm still loving these!

So, I got a 4 pack of eye brushes containing 3 fluffy style brushes, great for applying and blending and 1 pencil brush. The 3 fluffy brushes are great, they apply colour really easily and evenly, blend like a dream and wash up great too! The pencil brush is something I've learnt to love- I use this for a smoky close to the lash line kind of job, it's also great to apply colour under the eyes! These wash up great, they're still looking really new after a wash and seem to dry pretty fast too! I can't say these are on par with mac or Zoeva but they are a brilliant cheap and cheerful alternative if like I was- you're a little short on cash and wanting something for your eyes!

I also got a buffing brush, and believe me when I say it's the most dense brush I've ever had my hands on! This is something I had to really practice with, it's great for the more sheer foundations or something not too thick- I love using this with the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum or Rimmel True match! This buffs in your base until its so natural looking you wouldn't believe you're wearing any make up! It's density can be a little off putting to me occasionally as it is more work to blend and buff with this but I do find myself reaching for it on a 'no make up- look' kind of day! I've found washing this a bit of a pain though- really have to give it some welly to get it clean and takes a pretty long time to dry too!

I couldn't find the exact match to what I've got but these are pretty close! 

Have you tried any cheaper make up brush alternatives?

M x

Maybelline Colour Drama Lip Pencil in Red Essential

As someone terrified of wearing a bold lip this purchase was a little out of my comfort zone... but probably the best beauty buy in a long time! 

I'm always browsing for a perfect lipstick/colour, usually this is a red that won't bleed or transfer, will last all day and slightly vampy- not asking for munch huh!? 

I spotted this is all the usual highstreet stores and did the classic 'I'll buy it when I've read reviews' and to cut a long story short I was out the next day to pick one up...

I can't really rave about this enough- the colour and formula are spot on for what I've been looking.

The formula is a matte finish but its not at all drying, it glides on really smoothly and stay put all day! I've started teaming this with Rimmels lip liner in Obsession which just gives a slightly more berry finish to it and helps me stay inside the lines! 

Red Essential is one of those 'classic reds' that will always look  on trend, its also versatile in the way you can wear it as a simple matte red lip, vamp it up slightly like I have been doing or even finish with a clear gloss for a touch more glamour! 

I honestly think this range is amazing, I'm 100% going to be picking up some more colours shortly, I've heard it's a pretty spot on dupe for the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils, which I've been eyeing up for a long time- now I don't actually feel the need to buy any as I know this is what I'm looking for.

Well done Maybelline, another great product! 

Have you tried these? If so what colours should I grab next?

M x

Yes- I know...

I've been MIA for the last 2 months- I don't have a long story about being busy and how exciting life is at the moment, to be honest I've just kept myself off Social Media...

I've seen a lot of negativity in the youtube/blogging community in the last few months and decided I needed a time out- it's worked :) I feel like I'm back into the swing of things again, I have inspiration for posts (hopefully they will be regular!) 

I've been a pretty miserable person for the last few months and taking sometime away from the internet has done me the world of good. I've taken a lot of time to evaluate what's important right now and come to a pretty good set of conclusions.

1) If it makes you happy- do it (Within reason!)

2) Money isn't the be all and end all of life

3) We get a very short time on the planet, live a little!

I think it's healthy to want to take a break from the internet- maybe not for 2 months next time, maybe just a week! I do feel better, more like I want to blog again not like it's obligatory as I've started this little corner for myself. I have missed whittering on on here about things hardly anyone cares about, kind of therapeutic isn't it? 

Let me know if you've felt the same, how did you get out of a very boring, miserable rut? 

M x

Two: Voluminous Hair Must Haves

I think I look a little ridiculous with flat hair, I wish I could get away with it but sadly I can't- my hair demands more attention than that! As my teenage back combing days are long gone I've started opting for volume with less damage to my hair. For me I want something that gives effortless bouncy locks with no fuss- not asking for much right?!

I don't like using voluminous shampoo and conditioner, although I have thick hair it tends to fall flat at the roots once I've styled it, so all the haircare is doing is adding extra thickness I really don't want. I've found that powders and texturizing sprays work wonders for me- first I love the Charles Worthington Volume and Bounce Texterizing Spray, this stuff adds that undone, beachy look to my hair, perfect when you give it a little work with your fingers. This is meant to be a good dupe for the Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray which at £39.00 I will never purchase, it's just ridiculous money for hair products!  For £6.99 at boots this is a steal, it smells great and leaves gorgeous texture. I use minimal amount of this through the lengths of my hair and give it a quick ruffle around and I'm set to go! Also love this through second day curled hair to give it a relaxed look.

My second favourite to add quick volume is the V05 Give Me Texture Instant Oomph Powder, this is a little harder to work with but the results are great. This is a white powder than I use only on my roots, never any showing directly or I'd look like a birds nest! I section out my hair and sprinkle this very sparingly and massage in, it does literally give instant volume- the work you work it in the more volume you get! This add's really great volume and shape to and style, I tend to work this in the then curl the ends of my hair for a really bouncy polished style. The feeling it leaves isn't something I'm in love with- it feels almost damp to the touch and really messes up the section you're working into so combing and smoothing is always needed. I use this is I know I'm washing my hair that night as I've found brushing it out completely isn't the easiest job! 

What's you're favourite products for bigger hair?

M x

Being Brave Enough To Be Selfish | Lifestyle

For about a year I've put myself in a situation that has made, quite frankly, a miserable person. In our society we've almost been trained that money is important, do what you can to get money so you can buy things you don't actually need... Only in the last 3-4 months have I really sat back and reflected on what I'm doing with the majority of my time and the impact it's had on my life. I've decided that I'm going to list down a few things to bare in mind when you're making important decisions, that in hindsight, I should have made to avoid a turbulent year. 

Prospects:

Where is this going to take you? Something to keep at the forefront of your mind when making choices is if this has scope for development, can you gain experiences that you will value here? Although boring and I sound like a parent I really believe in this concept. Having somewhere to progress to whether it's in a job, a relationship or anything else in life, is so important, if you're passionate enough about something then knowing it won't end at the first hurdle and leaving you stuck on that jump is a great feeling.

Happiness:

Simple, but true. If you're not happy, why do it? we have a very short time here so why spend yours miserable? For me this wasn't what I thought about when I was making choices a year ago. I came out of university eager to start in the working world and took the first opportunity that came my way- at the time this was fantastic, I didn't take much into consideration, the prospects, the impact on others, healthy and obviously happiness. I'll keep this simple, if you're doing something that makes you feel less than you're worth- why? Obviously you should always try and resolve the situation and talk it out, failing that cut ties, I don't see the point of keeping negative influences in your life... I've always cut my losses with friends, work and much more when I don't feel any positive impact...maybe I'm a cynic? 

Health:

I believe that nothing (within limits) is worth putting your health at risk for, be it physical or mental. whether its simply feeling run down from doing too much and needing a time out, or mentally exhausted it's just not worth it. For the past 3 months I've felt so low, very unhappy in myself which has taken a bit hit on a lot of my life.I'm usually as very upbeat person, I'm daft as a box of frogs so for me to spend many evenings upset has been a little worrying... I've felt unmotivated to do a lot about my issues, which for a good reason I won't disclose fully at the moment! whilst on holding I realised it#s about time to step back and realise it's ok to opt out of something if you're taking a weight from the situation and you can't take the strain.

Be Selfish :

The last few months I've been selfish, not in an awful way, in a personal way... I've stopped doing things because its 'cool' or other people want me too, if I don't feel comfortable or happy I'm simply not doing it. I'm looking for other options that will lead me to great places, something that will let me be myself while achieving a lot and I don't feel guilty, why should we spend our lives taking orders and crap about things that ultimately don't matter. explaining to my parents who are from the generation where "money is money, jobs aren't everything", that I'm trying to do something to make myself a better person that I ultimately don't care that much about money has been difficult, but part of this is being selfish and putting happiness first. 

Give it a try!

M x

My Favourite Time of Year

WARNING: This post will clarify how sad I am! 

It is very well known that I hate summer with a passion... For me the thought of moving somewhere that's a bit chilly all year round is heaven! Weird right? Well... I'm half Irish and I spend a huge part of my like in North Yorkshire so it's no surprise that all I want is a beautiful crisp morning and wooly tights! 

As the mornings in England are beginning to cool down I've started to think about what I'm going to be embracing once autumn hits (praying for no more heatwaves!) 

I'm going to be so tumblr and obvious about this but... cable knits, cinnamon hot chocolates and endless films in front of the fire, I can't even tell you how excited this prospect makes me... For me Autumn is the time I can wear dark lipsticks, dress better and feel less like a sweating mess. 

Bonfire night is my favourite night of the year- always has been, we have a tradition to walk down to our local fireworks show and drink hot chocolate, wrap up warm and go home for movies and food! I'm always such an eager beaver for this, I need sedating... ;)

My only saving grace here is how much I can not stand PSL... if you're new to the blogging world  then this stands for Pumpkin Spiced Latte, which every blogger and their dog lose their minds over each year! Oh, how I wish I could enjoy them... not for me though! 

Here's a few snaps  I've been hyperventilating over on my Pintrest- feel free to come and follow! 

Shower Time Favourites!

100% no questions asked I'm a shower person, I love nothing more than a long shower after work to help me feel human again! I'm that girl with a cupboard full (literally) of shampoos, conditioner, shower gels, you name it's in there! A good few products in the shower really make it feel like a pampering session, these are so good that my mum/ other family members have started 'borrowing' them (love it when they're empty!) I keep things very simple with only 4 products that I know work best for me! Hope you feel inspired to try some! 

Shampoo: Aussie Mega Shampoo.

I use a lot of dry shampoo, voluminous hair powders and hairspray so after 2/3 days my hair needs a really thorough clean so for me a really thorough shampoo is a must. I don't like anything too stripping but need that built up feeling to be gone once my hairs washed so I've been trying out this for a couple of weeks now and think its flippin great! This leaves my hair feels squeaky clean, no build up left but not striped bare! Smells great like any Aussie products and not too pricey at £4.69 from boots! 

OGX Anti-Breakage Keratin Oil Conditioner 

Bloody great- that's all I can say! This smells divine, almost masculine but nothing over powering. It has honestly left my hair in better condition that anything else in recent years! My split ends are much less noticeable, my hair feels and looks so smooth, so styling it has been great! This was £6.99, again from Boots- not bad for a under £10 conditioner, I will repurchase this until I'm banned! 

Soap and Glory- Sugar Crush Body Scrub

Holy mother of smells... this is just heavenly! I used this 3 times a week and can't stop smelling my arms (weird) after! This gets rid of all dead skin leaving my soft and silky! If you haven't smelt this range by SaG just got and have a sniff! So fresh with lime, brown sugar and macadamia oil!

Soap and Glory- Clean On Me Shower Gel 

Again, I love this shower gel! Fills the room with that classic SaG scent, leaves my skin soft as it contains the body butter and lathers up fantastically!

What are you loving recently?

M x

Hydraluron Moisture Jelly Review

I love Hydraluron, whether it's the serum or the sheet masks I notice such an amazing change in my skin when I use it! So- you can guess how excited I was at the thought of another way to use this! 

I'm always looking for something different to keep my skins fresh and supple- I find that in summer my skins so dehydrated due to the aircon in the office so I need extra help keeping it soft. I saw this little guy sat in Boots, on offer, waiting to be put into my basket - it didn't take me 10 seconds to decide I was going to try this... oops! 

I've seen a few reviews saying they're using this in replacement of their moisturiser- for me I'm using this after acid tone and serums and before I moisturise, I get a pea sized amount and work it into my skin, let it settle for a few minutes and then go in as usual with my face cream for an extra boost of hydrations- I've found it helps my make up gone on better if I use both! 

This is just like the serum- a clear lightweight, no offensive scents, gel! It doesn't tingle or sting the skin, it doesn't sit on top for ages or feel greasy it just sinks in and helps your skin absorb moisture better! 

I've been using this now for over a week and my skin feels softer in texture, my dryer areas around my nose and jaw line have really settled down and in general I just feel really pleased with the results so far :) I wouldn't say that this would be unsuitable for any skin types- its not greasy so oily/combination skins could get away with this- it just really works on the texture and appearance of your skin, for me this is really helping with scars and uneven skin tone! Matched with my Pixie Glow Tonic my skins improving really well. If I had one complaint about this it's probably going to be the size- the packaging is really deceiving to how much product you're getting for you money- I think with the serum you're fully aware that the tube is all there is, it might not look as pretty as this but it feels a little more honest! A retail price of £24.99 for 30ml isn't the best for your money but with results like this I'm not going to turn my back on it for that reason! 

Hydraluron is available from boots for a starting price of £16.66! 

Have you tried Hydraluron Jelly? Love it as much as I do?

M x

Faux Glow... The High-street Edit

When it comes too my base make up, all I want is a glow. Sometimes subtle, think lit from within,and sometimes a little more! Either or, for me this is my perfect finish for make up. I've tried and test several handfuls of products said to give the aforementioned healthy glow and here are my current top picks from the high-street/drug store!

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation:

I've loved this foundation for a while now, it promises healthy dewy glowing skin; there are light reflecting particles in this which add the prettiest glow. This really balances out redness and uneven skin tone, it covers nicely and isn't too heavy wearing. I'd say this is perfect for normal or dry skin, possible stay clear if you're on the more oily side! This for me is a go to in the colder months to perk up my skin a little, possible a little too dewy for summer!

Bourjois Java Rice Powder

If I explained how long it took me to track this down you'd think I was mad! I read so many amazing reviews of this I had to get my hands on it and it didn't let me down. A quick swipe of this over my face and I'm left looking radiant; I love using this especially to set my under eye concealer, it holds it in place and a really brightens the eye area! This is so finely ground that it applies like a regular loose powder, with a very subtle radiance! I'm loving applying this with the Real Techniques Duo Fibre brushes so that it's really natural!

Seventeen Instant Glow Shimmer Brick

I'm a pale human and bronzers used to scare the hell out of me, I have a irrational hate for orange, overly tanned faces (shudders) I found this and its lighter shades really appealed to me! This is so easy to work in, I swirl the colours around on my Real Techniques blush brush and have a dust over my cheeks and temples to add a lovely glowy bronzed finish, perfect for summer!

Body Shop All In One BB Cream

This a recent addition to my collection, I love a light weight base, I always go for light/medium coverage foundations so this was right up my street. The colour matching in this BB Creme is what really gets me, is comes out white and matches your skin tone perfectly. I've found this just helps too even out the redness, it doesn't quite cover any blemishes (thankfully I have none at the moment) or under eye darkness but a blob of concealer if fine! I love how light this is, gives very light but radiant coverage, perfect for a lazy day with a little brightness for good measure!

Any recommendations of products you use to get that glow?

M x 

Friday Lust List

I'm constantly wanting to try new products, luckily I have some (very little) will power and try to finish one item before buying something similar.  I've constantly got a list on my phone of products I'm pining after- so here's a few! Feel free to leave your thoughts on any of them if you've tried/want to try them!

 Charlottle Tilbury: Filmstar Bronze and Glow. 

My god, just look at it! I've been wanting this for so long but I can't get bring myself to spend £49.00 on contour and highlight... possible very early Christmas present to myself?

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm

I'm an avid fan of taking off my make up properly and a skincare pamper session; this is constantly crying out to be purchased when I'm out shopping. I love cleansing balms and oils they really help my dehydrated skin so this is something I must try!

Lorac Pro Palette

Is this not the most beautiful thing? Need I say more? Amazing colour range, looks like the shadows are great quality- only problem: it's not sold in the UK... hear my cries for expensive shipping costs? 

Missguided Monochrome Chevron Shift Dress  

I'm so excited for autumn so I can bring out shift dresses and ankle boots again! I hate summer, I don't know how to dress, I say bring on the cold! Would love this dress with some cute little boots and bright accessories!

Viktor and Rolf- BonBon

I love love LOVE Flowerbomb by Viktor and Rolf- my mum wears it so I always lurk around her like a creep when she has it on, I'm yet to smell this as I haven't manage to find it anywhere near me but going by the bottle alone I'm already sold!

What have you been lusting after this week?

M x

A Weekend OOTD

Lets keep things simple, here's a little snap of my weekend OOTD, I don't get to wear much too exciting during the week as I work- so at the weekend I like to dress a little less dull and a little more comfy! I was going for something simple for shopping and wandering around, with a splash of colour thrown in for good measure! 

 My Jeans are New Look Skinny Jeans- quite old now, really good quality and don't sag after a few hours fo wear which I find happens with me a lot!

 Top is and old-ish primark number, love the daisy print with the little hints of yellow so a burst of colour to an other wise monochrome top.My necklace is available from Boohoo.com  Loving their jewellery at the moment!

On my nails I wore Rose Hip from Barry M- love this, doesn't chip quickly lasts a long time and helps you look a little more tanned! Great for the summer :)

M x

Origins Drink Up - My Skin Savior!

We all have a few products that we couldn't do without, for me they're complete game changers that I will repurchase until their no longer available! The Origins Drink Up- Intensive Overnight Mask is something I have bought again and again- this to me is holy grail status skincare!
As someone blessed with Celtic, red dry and sensitive skin I'm always looking for a 'do it all' product that will sooth, re-hydrate and leave me feeling pampered; this does it all!
I got this after seeing so many amazing reviews- I'm that girl who researches the hell out of the pricier products I'm going to buy and your wonderful reviews didn't let me down!
This smells, to me, like peaches which isn't too harsh on the nose when you're ready for slumber, its a lovely mild refreshing sent like most origin products. It's a thick creamy consistency that I slap onto my face about 5 minutes before I want to go to bed to make sure it's sunk it and not sticking me to the pillows. It doesn't tingle or feel noticeable on the skin which I'm happy about as this is for overnight, it just sinks in and gets to work. I always wake up with plump, fresh soft skin after using this, it's great for anyone wanting an overnight moisture surge.  I don't even think this would be all that bad for oily skin- it isn't greasy it's just damn good at hydrating and calming (I found this after a burnt nose in greece last month!)
Price wise this isn't too bad- I got this for £23.00 from John Lewis . Each tube of this seems to last me months as I'm using so little each time I apply this- which is about 4-5 times a week for reference. I love this product, it's a miracle for me that hasn't let me down yet!

Have you tried Origins Drink Up? Thoughts?

M x

The Body Shop- Vitamin E Face Mist

Working in an office with constant air conditioning doesn't do my skin any favours; in the last year I've really built up a collection of skincare that helps combat my dehydrated/skin before and after my day at work, but I always feel that by midday my face is feeling dry and tight, so adding something easy into my routine for during the day that won't mess up my make up was on the cards!

In steps facial mists! These are great to keep on hand, they refresh the skin whenever you feel that you need it. I've tried a few facial mists, the La Roche Posay Thermal Water, Evian Facial Spray, but for me this comes out on top and here's why!

The La Roche Posay and Evian offerings tend to cool me down no problem, they do add literal moisture onto my skin, buy that I mean it's pretty much water, I could splash my face with it... much cheaper! I did love the La Roche Posay option on my recent holidays, when it was too hot this provided an instant refresh but I found that it just wasn't adding any moisture back into my skin, just sitting on top of it, this is why I love the Body Shop version; its great for both cooling and hydrating, perfect huh!?

I spray this on at work about mid day, just when my skins starts feeling tight and a little dry, it's spray dispenses well and doesn't leave one area of your face soaking wet! (whoop) I've also been using this to set my make up in the morning, I can't say I've notice too much of a difference to how long my make up stays fresh but it does feel lovely and wakes me up. The rose scent is actually very subtle, lucky for me as I can't stand rose scents! It actually moisturises quite nicely due to the fact that it contains glycerine, I'd say this would be a good step to add to the toner stage in your morning skincare routine if you wanted something really simple and quick. 

I'm loving The Body Shop at the moment- so expect a few more posts about my favourite products!

You can purchase The Vitamin E Facial Mist from The Body Shop Online 

Have you tried anything in the Vitamin E Skincare line?

M x

Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick: Diva Red

I'm slightly terrified of wearing bright coloured lipsticks; although I wish I could I feel a bit like a clown when I do! Nevertheless, I've just picked up a really glamorous red for the Christmas season! I love the formula of the new Moisture Renew Lipsticks by Rimmel; they're incredibly hydrating and the colour lasts for hours, not to mention how pigmented they are!  I saw this red and just thought; maybe I should give it ago and step away from the neutrals! So I did!

The colour is only what i can describe as totally glamorous and classic; it is a very Monroe red lip that really lives up to the name 'Diva Red' it's so pigmented that when you put it on you don't need to be very heavy handed, it glides on beautifully. The only fault I have with this is that it bleeds so easily and smudges straight away that you definitely can not wear this without a lip liner under it! Apart from this, the colour and texture is wonderful and I'll be trying to get lots of wear out of it! 

Have you tried any of the Moisture Renew Lipsticks?

M x

Monu Illuminating Primer Review

Prepping and priming skin before putting on make up is something I very often will forget to do; I have noticed in the last year that priming my skin is something that really makes a difference, if only to add a glow to my face it does make a difference!

I've been trying out many different high end and high street primers this last year in search of something that isn't greasy and adds radiance! I think this might be a winner! I got a sample of the Monu Illuminating primer in a glossy box; I haven't heard much hype around this product so I wasn't sure what to expect; but it certainly deserves some hype! 

The consistency of this is very thick, it's reminiscent to an SPF, I've found you need very, very little to cover your entire face (it will last a very long time!) It takes me a little longer than with other primers to work this into the skin fully; I've found that I will take an extra five minutes in the mornings to let this work and settle into my skin before carrying on with my usual routine. The primer is bright white with a very noticeable pearly glow to it which is something I love in a primer. I would say this is suitable for nearly every skin type; it isn't oily on the skin nor irritating!

As for the 'soft focus technology' I've never really bought that promise from any skin care/make up product; it just seems a little ridiculous! It does however appear to disguise my pours and scaring from spots somewhat which makes covering them both a lot easier!  Something to note is that this doesn't leave your skin looking 'dewy' or as I think of it 'sweaty looking'; it leaves a very subtle radiant glow that lasts throughout the day and looks very healthy; to me this is exactly what I'm looking for.

As for if it making my make up last longer; it definitely does! I've noticed that my make up stays perfect throughout my day at work or when I'm out and about, it doesn't seem to wear off with the effects of the weather or dreaded office air conditioning at work! Although I love this primer and have been using it for the last 3 weeks I am slightly bitter that the retail price for the full tube is £24.99! I will have to think of it as an early Christmas present to myself when I need it!

I love it!

M x

Rimmel London Apocalips | Luna Review

Hey there!

I've heard great things about the Rimmel London Apocalips for so long that I crumbled and bought myself one! 

The first problem was that I didn't know what colour was ok for me! They're very bright and not too wearable for everyday for me; I went with the colour 'Luna' it's a very peachy toned coral that is great if you just pat a little in on top of some lip balm for everyday, I prefer to use it full on if I'm going for a statement lip in the evening! 

 I'm really impressed with the packaging to start off, the colour at the bottom is the actual product so you know exactly what you're getting! 

 I love the doe foot applicator; it has slight gap in the centre which holds more of the product so it makes application really simple! 

 The formula for this is INCREDIBLE! It's so pigmented that you need the tiniest amount and the pay off in colour is huge. Also it's really hydrating which for me is great as I usually get really dried out lips when I use a lot of lip glosses/lipsticks.    

 So, the colour... It's really sheer in this photo, I've just put a little on my mouth and patted it in for a really light cover, to be frank though this is all I will ever use! I looks slightly ridiculous with any more and my pale complexion!  I think this is pretty wearable when it's used properly, the colour is definitely better for spring/summer time. I'll be using this a lot over the next 2 months I hope! 

Overall I'm going to give this an 8/10, the colour is great, the formula is fab but I just want a little more of a wearable colour without having to work it into my mouth first.

M x