MAC LIPSTICK AND LIPGLASS REVIEW

Hello!

I got these 2 products for my birthday in November and have been wanting to review them for a while, but have never got round to it, so today I shall be reviewing both.

The two Mac products I will be reviewing is the 'Nice Buzz' lipglass, and 'Creme D'Nude' Cremesheen lipstick.

The two products look like this:

 Like I said, I got these 2 for my birthday back in November, however I've only just recently started using them this month, and I'm glad I did! Both products are incredibly good quality which is what I expected as they were from Mac, however I don't think the lipstick is as moisturizing as it claims to be. If I don't use a lip-balm before applying the lipstick my lips look very chapped, and creased, which is not the look I want. But, the lipglass is surprisingly not sticky at all! I thought it would be considering it's formulated like an ordinary lipgloss, however this one glides along the lips nicely without feeling like you've just applied glue to your lips.

 

 As you can see, both products are very nude, and subtle. This is not my usual lip colour at all, I prefer bright colours and have been wearing bright colours for a very long time, but as the weather is getting warmer I wanted something a bit more natural-these 2 are perfect for that. Creme D'Nude is a peachy nude that leaves a glossy sheen after applying-this is what differentiates a foundation-lip looking lipstick, to a cool, natural lip. The lipglass is a lighter, softer peach with gold reflexes that give a juicy look to the lipglass on your lips.

 The packaging is very plain like all Mac product packaging is-unless it's limited edition, and this makes the products look a lot more sophisticated and high-end rather than packaging like '17' which doesn't sell things in boxes, or a harder wearing plastic. There are quite a few drugstore brands that try to copy Mac with the simple style packaging, but it doesn't work or look right; Mac does the best with matte black packaging, and managing to pull it off without looking cheap or rubbish.

I love wearing these 2 products together as they create such a lovely nude colour which is perfect for daytime, and nighttime. The Creme D'Nude lipstick almost looks like Kylie Jenner's lip colour here:

However my lipstick has a more glossy finish, but the similarity is very close!

As these were both presents for my birthday I don't know the pricing, but I think they'd be sold at a reasonable price for such brilliant lip products.

MAYBELLINE GEL EYELINER REVIEW

Hello!

I recently purchased this gel eyeliner from Boots because I wanted to try one to see what the hype was about, but also because I wanted to see if I could have the patience of applying gel eyeliner as I've heard it's quite fiddly.

Many people have been raving about gel eyeliners for a while, but I've only just got one and opted for Maybelline's Lasting Drama gel eyeliner because I didn't want to spend loads on an eyeliner method that I may not like.

 This little pot of eyeliner cost £7.99 which may seem a lot for such a small thing, however it does come with a handy brush, and also a little bit of product goes a long way. Anyway, the packaging isn't all that special, but I wasn't expecting much considering the eyeliner would have to be stored in an airtight container so it doesn't dry out, but even then there's something really satisfying about holding a tiny china pot with a tiny brush.

As you can see, the eyeliner has a very shiny look to it in the pot, however when it's on the eyes it doesn't look shiny and creates a lovely looking matte line. Also, as the brush is very small and dense it makes applying the liner to your eyes quite uncomfortable because of the way the bristles are tightly packed which means it's harder to get a smooth line, but it is good if you want a very defined and sharp look.

The eyeliner definitely lives up to it's name with claims to last 24 hours, and also be waterproof following up with my recent experiment:

This is before I put water on, and this is after. As you can see nothing has leaked or smudged which proves it's waterproof, and even after scrubbing really hard no product came off of my hand. As you can see in the photos as well, you can create different thickness' of lines depending on the way you angle the brush which is good, but I still don't think it gives me the best look or makes using gel eyeliner any easier.

After trying this out for a few days, I prefer to use my L'Oreal Paris felt tip liner because it's less time consuming, and creates a nicer look-this is probably because I'm not skilled at gel eyeliner and haven't properly worked out a technique for me. However, as I love the formula of gel eyeliner so much, what I do is apply my L'Oreal felt liner as I'm used to that and can create a nice looking cat eye, then I apply the gel eyeliner on top and fill in where I put the previous line, so that I get the potential of a gel liner on my normal eyeliner.

 I'm still unsure as to whether replace using a felt liner for a gel eyeliner because I prefer the gel formula, but find it easier using a felt liner.

MAC VANILLA PIGMENT REVIEW

Hello!

For my birthday in November, I got a limited edition mac set containing pigments and glitters. I originally only asked for the vanilla pigment but it worked out better this way, anyway I've been using the pigment for about 2 months now so thought it was time to review it! 

Like I said, as I've been using this for a a few months I have a pretty good knowledge of what it's like, so will be able to write a full review covering all aspects of it (I hope).

 The first thing I will be talking about is the packaging. I know this is a limited edition casing so it's different from the usual pot, but I much prefer this design to the original. The horizontal pin-stripes around the lid make it look really classy and modern, and the added mirrored rims make the product look more expensive and special compared to the original. Also, the logo is in gold which indicates the product is a unique, one off version.

 As you can see, this pot is filled to the brim with product which is what I like to see because these days you don't get many brands that fill products up to the top, but MAC certainly do. Anyway, the pot may look small, but it's not. As there's a pigment inside, you only need a little bit on the brush because a little goes a long way, so this lasts a very long time. I've used this everyday for 2 months and have only gone down the pot 3mm which is not a lot at all. 

For 4.5g of pigment it costs £17 which I think is a reasonable price for how long this lasts, and how good of a product it is. I'm unsure as to whether the limited edition pot was more expensive and contained more product or not, but I assume they're around the same price range.

It's difficult to get a photo of the pigment applied to skin as it doesn't show up well with flash on or off, but you can still faintly see it. Anyway, I am absolutely in love with this pigment, I never thought something as small as this could make such a big difference, but it does. This white iridescent powder contains gold and faint violet reflexes that shimmer in the sun, or any type of light source, highlighting the features you applied the product onto. I apply this onto my; cheekbones, cupids bow, brow-bone, inner corner of my eyes, and the bridge of my nose with a detailing brush from real techniques as it's very small, and applies the product well. Without a primer, the pigment still lasts quite a long time, however I like to apply "Primer Potion" by Urban Decay which makes the pigment last all day-even in bad weather!

MAC do some other beautiful pigments which you can purchase here, but I think this one is definitely the best for highlighting.

SAMPLE SIZES #2

Hello!

Today I thought I'd do another sample sizes post because I've recently received some new samples, and want to share my opinion on them with you.

If you haven't read my first Sample Sizes post then you can check it out here. The 3 samples I will be reviewing are: Johnson's Face Care day cream, Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation, and "Womanity" perfume by Thierry Mugler.

I have quite a lot of Johnsons products at home, purely because I know my skin likes the formula used in the products, and they are generally good. However, I hadn't tried this face cream, and the first thing I noticed when putting it on my face was that it felt very soothing, and refreshing. I know most creams feel like that, but this one had a light scent to it which added to the experience. In addition, the cream has spf 15 in which is always a bonus because noone wants burnt, dry skin. But, this took quite a long time to sink in which isn't ideal, especially not for in the mornings before applying my makeup for school as time is limited. If the cream didn't take so long I may have bought a full size pot, however it doesn't so this product wouldn't suit me on school mornings, only weekends.

My next sample is the Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation which is constantly being mentioned by beauty experts for being extremely good, and I couldn't agree more. As I don't wear foundation I felt a bit oblivious to try it on my face, however it felt really moisturizing with quite a good coverage. The foundation also has quite a nice smell to it-I don't know what this is but if you smelt it you would know what I meant. In addition, I found this foundation to be very easy to blend as it's very dewy, which is something I would want my foundation to do. If I was someone who wore foundation daily I would purchase a bottle of this, however I don't so I will not be getting a full bottle of this anytime soon.

The last sample I will be reviewing is Womanity by Thierry Mugler. I fell in love with this sample even before I had smelt it, purely because of the extravagant bottle. I judge perfumes on their appearance way before I smell it, this is probably a bad thing to do but I think the bottle can tell you a lot about the perfume itself. "Womanity" starts off with a very loud citrus smell, but then diffuses into a subtle fresh fruity smell which is a lot less powering then the first spray. I quite like the smell, it's something I would wear often and definitely have on display in my room because I love the bottle.

Yay for samples!

BENEFIT ROCKATEUR BLUSHER REVIEW

Hello!

I haven't reviewed a product in a long time, and as I got this blusher for Christmas I thought I might aswell review it because it's quite a new product, and with all the sales on you may be tempted to buy it.

Once again, the first thing that jumps out to me from the blusher is the packaging. As you can see the box is covered in a gold snake effect with pink and black lace in the corners, the packaging is quite regal and elegant with a punk sort of twist, and I think this look really nice on display and definately stands out-just like all the Benefit products. Benefit always go over the top when it comes to the packaging and designing of their products, some people think the packaging is tacky and over the top but I think it's what makes the brand so unique and outgoing. However, the practicality of the box isn't too good because it is so large, and isn't something that would fit well in my makeup bag.

As do all Benefit blushers, the blusher comes with an applicator which is ok, but I prefer to apply the blusher with a Real Techniques blusher brush because the quality of the brush fibres are much better, and transfer the product a lot better. When you open the box you also get a tiny mirror which is quite handy, however you can't see the whole of your cheeks in it so it's a bit pointless, and if Benefit removed the brush and mirror in the packaging then the pricing would go down a lot, which I think people would benefit more from. Although, some people do like receiving an applicator and mirror in the product.

Anyway, onto the blusher colour. The blusher is a very pretty light pink/bronzed gold colour, it's hard to describe but in the picture you can see what I mean. I really like the colour of the blusher, it's perfect for all seasons because it has the Summer and Winter pink/bronzed look which most people desire for in the seasons-well I certainly do.

As you can see in the before and after pictures, Rockateur has a spray of golden shimmer on top which only lasts through a few uses, this is a little bit of a shame because it adds a nice shimmer to your face, but the product without the shimmer is still beautiful enough.

As with all the Benefit blushers, the blusher stays on my cheeks all day without having to be touched up, and this is without a primer for it to stick to. In addition the powder is also scented, the scent is quite spicy but nothing too over-powering, and I know this can put people off but I think it adds to the overall product.

I was given this blusher as a Christmas present from my step uncle and aunty, but after looking on the Benefit website I found out this blusher was £23.50 which would leave a hole in your pocket, however I think it's worth it for the gorgeous colour. I'm sure there's a cheaper dupe/alternative somewhere but I am currently unsure of one yet.

If you know any blushers that are similar, and is a cheaper version then let me know because I'd be glad to buy the alternative, and do a comparison between the two.

THOMAS SABO BRACELET

Hello!

I haven't reviewed a jewellery item before, and as I love this bracelet/brand a lot I thought I might aswell review it in-case any viewers were questioning about getting a sweet present for someone this Christmas, or for them self.

It was the day of my mum's wedding day, I was the bridesmaid and as a gift I was given a Thomas Sabo charm bracelet; the bracelets originally come with no charms-these are purchased separately. The overall idea of having a charm bracelet is just so cute, I find that having little charms on a bracelet that mean something to you is a great sentimental and personal piece of jewellery to own.

This is my bracelet at the moment:

 It's a sterling silver bracelet, done up by a mechanical lever (I have no idea what this mechanism is called). The bracelet itself with no charms was £19.95, and I think that's a really good price for something that good a quality, and durability. Also, the bracelet doesn't look like it's made cheaply, it looks quite expensive and glamorous.

Currently on my bracelet I only have 2 charms:

 One is a fan and the other is two hearts linked together. The fan doesn't really have any meaning to me, but my mum bought it for me as a present and it is admittedly cute, however the linked hearts were given to me the same day as I got the bracelet (mums wedding day) which is a day I will always remember.

Pricing: The fan charm was £25.95, and the linked hearts were also £25.95, overall the price of all 3 products were £71.85.

You can also purchase charms singularly, and they come wrapped up in a very cute little striped box, with a small paper bag around it encased in a big bag with some ribbon inside.

I really like the wrapping for the charms, it's so sweet and intricate, and is very pleasing to the eye when first received.

When you first purchase the bracelet it comes in a white and black striped box with a lining of ribbon around the edge-the ribbon is sprayed with the Thomas Sabo perfume which does in fact smell very nice.

The box with the bracelet in comes in a white bag, also in the bag there is a drawstring silk bag containing leaflets about different charms you can buy, and general information about Thomas Sabo.

Charm Wants:
Here are a few charms that I want for my bracelet, and why.

1. Princess-£49.95

 This charm doesn't really have a sentimental reason for why I want it, I just love princesses and anything to do with pink, palaces, diamonds. Also, this charm reminds me a bit of Barbie, and I love Barbie!

 

2. Snowflake-£21.95

Not only is this charm super cute but simple, it also represents Winter, and I love Winter. Even though the temperature isn't my favourite in that season, I love the appearance the snow and ice make.

 

3. "Z"-£21.95

As my name is Zoe and begins with a Z, I thought it'd be nice to add a personal touch to the bracelet with my initial. On the website there is a whole range of letters in this style, and a diamante style which I also like, as well as this one.

4. November Birthstone-£25.95

I was born on November 26th (this tuesday), and as this is my birthstone it'd also be nice to have that on my bracelet as another personal touch. It's a shame that my birthstone is yellow, because yellow is my least favourite colour, but oh well!

 

5. Nail Varnish-£48.95

The last charm is a nail varnish charm, this represents my blog and beauty. I find that blogging is now a regular hobby of mine, and is something I want to remember for a long time, so what better way to do that then get a charm of something beauty related? 

If you are stuck on ideas for a gift whether it be for a relative, or friend, then one of these bracelets would be a great idea. Bare in mind that the bracelets are quite pricey depending on what charms you buy and how many, they are very good quality and not just any cheap looking silver. The website is here if you want to have a peak.

SPOT TIPS, TRICKS, AND EXPERIENCES

Hello!

Once again, sorry for the late upload, I went to Ikea with my friend Poppy today and only recently got back.

Anyway, today's topic is something most people from the ages of 11 (maybe younger) -18 (maybe older) year olds suffer with: Spots. I thought it'd be a good idea to tell you what products I like to use, and some tricks I do myself, or have heard of to help with breakouts.

Spot Products
 We all know getting rid of spots is a right pain, but I use these products to help keep my skin as clear as I can. Luckily for me, I'm part of that minority of teenagers that get a minimal amount of spots which I'm very thankful for, but I know not everyone's skin is like that, so I hope these products may help.

1. Boots Spot wand

I honestly don't think I've met something as brilliant as this when it comes to zapping down spots. The two sides are for day, and night time, I'm not sure in the difference of substances, but both work extremely well and help to reduce the size and redness of spots occurring on my face in an instant. Also, this is only £3.99, and I use mine everyday which lasts me atleast 2 months!

2. St Ives apricot scrub

This St Ives scrub is meant to lift away surface oils and dirt that can lead to blackheads and blemishes, and it does exactly that. Although I rarely use this as my skin isn't that bad, when I do it leaves my skin feeling extra fresh and cleansed, but do use a moisturizer after used because it does dry the skin out. After using this, I see a noticeable difference, and my spots have already gone down in redness, and size. 

3. Clearasil Daily Scrub and Rapid Action Treatment Cream

 

The last and final product(s) I have used before and worked successfully is the Clearasil daily scrub, and the treatment cream. Once again, the scrub pretty much does what the St Ives one does, however it doesn't have an apricot scent, and is a smidge cheaper. I find that the treatment cream has constantly worked for me, not as well as the Boots spot wand, but it is a cheaper alternative, and does the trick, just not as a fast.

Spot Experiences

As I mentioned further up, I've never been a victim of acne or major breakouts, the most I get a month is around 3/4 if that. However, not a long while back, I saw a lump appear on my chin and me being vain, I was worried the lump would ruin my appearance and took the idea of putting an ice pack onto it in hope it will cool the lump down and make the redness disappear, but no. This made things a lot worse, and the next morning I woke up with a small open wound on my chin, turns out I had freezed the skin off?! Anyway, this was a problem for me because I had school that day, so I took the idea of covering it up with concealer and foundation etc in hope it would cover it up, and it did...for the first day. As the second day arose, the wound had scabbed over making a very uneven surface on my chin and of course making it very hard to cover up. I constantly tried to cover it up and would keep re-applying foundation in lessons because the scab had a little slit in it which opened to the wound, so of course the foundation sunk into it in an instant, and I really don't think repeatedly applying products to it helped. As days moved on things got worse, and I kept getting more anxious in hope the scab would heal soon, eventually it did, and the scab went down, but now on my chin I'm left with a very faint red scar in the shape the scab was all because I panicked about my appearance...oh dear.

Do not freeze spots, this will burn the skin and cause an open wound, and you will probably have to experience what I did.

Spot Remedy's and Tips

  A few brands that sell good spot removing products:

Here are a few tips I know work, and have found from various internet sites.

1. Drink lots of water, this keeps the skin hydrated and clean.

2. Don't keep touching the spot, your hands will pass on germs and bacteria into the spot which will make things worse.

3. Use non oil-based concealers to cover up if needed, things with less oil in, the better.

4. Apply toothpaste to the spot, I've heard this dries out the spot making it fall off with no residue, but this doesn't work for everyone and very small spots.

5. Don't squeeze white heads immediately, if you do it as soon as the white head appears, this will cause the spot to bleed and appear again.

6. Use a steamer to open your pores and get rid of the bacteria, but don't do this too often or your face will dry up.

7. Apply Sudocrem, I've heard this works a treat for spots.

8. Apply a small amount of an essential oil to the spot (lavender, rosemary, thyme, and sandalwood), these are different to skin oils.

9. Don't use too many treatments at once, use different products one by one to see which ones work the best and which method is the best for you.

10. Wash clothes and duvets frequently, if you don't wash these enough, the bacteria and oils build up from your body and help start spots.

I hope this helped with you or anyone you know suffering with spots, but at the end of the day, we all get them!

RECENT FAVOURITES

Hello!

Sorry for the late upload today, I've been sorting out my room and going a bit mad with cleaning products and the hoover. At some point I plan to take photos of my room for a Room Tour, but I need to paint a few things first before I show you all.

Anyway, recently I've found quite a few products/items I have enjoyed using, so I thought I'd express my love for them today.

1. Kyle Minogue Perfume "Showtime."

 The first product I have been loving is this perfume by Kyle Minogue called Showtime. The scent of this is so sweet, but with a hint of floral to it-it's hard to describe but I really do love the smell. I've had this for quite a long time, but only really started using it recently! An odd thing that I love is the packaging of the perfume, sometimes you get really plain bottles, but this one is really cute and girly, and also goes with my room-bonus!

2. Rimmel London Blusher in Pink Rose 020.

 I've been using this for about 2 months now, but I'm really getting into it, and I've recently realised how nice it makes my cheeks look compared to other blushers I have. The small hint of shimmer adds a nice highlight to my cheeks, and transfers a super pretty pink/peach colour on my face, which I also vaguely dust on my nose, and forehead to make it look a bit more natural. Anyway, this blusher stays on and lasts for ages, and I haven't even hit pan yet.

3. Pearl Drops Toothpaste/polish.

 Weird thing to put in a favourites post, I know, but this toothpaste/polish is honestly the best whitening paste I've ever used. After 1 brush I already see results compared to other whitening toothpastes, and this toothpaste is also relatively cheaper than others which is a bonus. According to the toothpaste, it uses "Pearlite" to whiten the teeth, I have no idea what that is but it sounds rather odd. Also, the tube may look small, but it does last quite a long time, however not as long as a Colgate tube for example, but this doesn't bother me.

4. The Fault In Our Stars book by John Green.

 I'm possibly the person you would least expect to find a book in a favourites list, however John Green has cracked me and I was reluctant to include this book. I'm not going to go too far into detail, because I don't want to ruin it for others, but in short it's about a girl called Hazel who has tumor cancer (I think), but meets an exceptionally gorgeous person called Augustus Waters who changes her life. I'm not too far into the book, but whenever I have the oppurtinity I end up reading it which is very unlike me! If you haven't heard of John Green, he writes award winning novels, including this one, which I strongly suggest you read.

5. Baby Lips in Cherry Me.

 Recently, I've done a post on the Baby Lips lip balms, however Cherry Me is appearing a lot on me lately. As Autumn symbolizes reddy colours, I thought wearing Cherry Me would fit in with the season, so I wore it for a few days and now I can't stop putting it on! I carry this with me in my school bag because it's a handy size, and I don't get told off for wearing it which is good, however when applying this in lessons I do get a few odd looks, oops.

6. Fifa 14 App.

 Oh dear Zoe. I've really let myself go this time, I have found a new love called Fifa 14. We only met a few days ago, but we've been interacting ever since, and can't seem to put eachother down! Fifa 14 has never been my cup of tea, but after finding this app I am well and truly addicted. I've always loved football, but I love the idea of creating your own team, playing against other people around the world, and playing real matches which is what this app grants. My friend Charlotte and I were on facetime for 7 hours on Saturday 5th October playing Fifa 14 constantly, that's how bad my addiction has got...help!

7. L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil

 The last product is a fairly new product released by L'Oreal, and I'm warning you, it's a gift from the hair god's. My hair has quite a lot of split ends, and is also very brittle, but this oil reduces the appearance and feel of the brittleness, and split ends which constantly loom on my hair. All you need is 2 small drops of the oil as it goes a long way, then rub the oil onto the ends of your hair. I use this almost everyday, and it leaves fabulous, noticeable results! If you have hair like mine, then purchase this because it really helps, however it is around £9-£10.

What products are you loving?