L'Oreal Superliner Perfect Slim

I love the perfect cat eye flick.  How it comes easy to some people I will never know.  Having hooded eyes I have accepted the fact it will never look glamorous on me.  However, the L'Oreal Super Liner Perfect Slim Liquid Eyeliner has got me that one step closer. By having a precis felt tip, I can apply eyeliner much easier than other liquid, gel and pencil eyeliners before.  This is definitely an intense black, which at first used to easily transfer to the hood of my eye. I now wait a few moments to make sure it is completely dry before carrying on with the rest of my makeup. Once it has dried I find this liner will last all day, even on my oily eyelids. The rubber handle also allows for grip and extra precision.  

This has put my confidence back into eyeliners and that one day with some practice I will perfect liner application.

The Reverse Hair Wash Technique

I heard about this new inventive way of washing my hair, even the basics need shaking up every now and again. The concept was easy, you wet the hair and apply the condition first, then rinse out and apply the shampoo. This is suppose to combat that horrible, and heavy residue that some conditions leave on the hair after using. I was sceptical about this as I personally use condition to leave my hair feeling soft and shiny, which I don't find many shampoos can achieve.

So I had been using this technique for a good fee weeks and honestly is probably one of the worst ideas I have ever made concerning my hair. It instantly felt dry and dehydrated. It started to become more like wire than soft sleek hair. And the main thing for me was how much more difficult it was to brush my hair. Having a lot of thick hair it's a chore to brush my hair anyway but after mucking about with order of shampoo and conditioner it was the worst it has ever been. I have to admit it may have felt slightly lighter and therefore slightly bouncer but not enough for all the cons it brought with it.

The icing on the cake for me was when I actually forgot to do this as I was staying at a friends house and was rushing to get ready. I reverted back to the original (and best) way of washing my hair. I got out the shower, towel dried my hair quickly and left the majority if it to air dry for my natural curls to form. A got two compliments from friends saying that my hair looked nice, and I hadn't even put any product in it. I am now convinced that by conditioning last my hair will look healthier and generally nicer than by using the reverse technique.

The Sunday Pamper - Purse Friendly Mud Masks

As summer is approaching fast I have been trying to get my skin and body looking its best and so have been having a mini pamper evening every Sunday. After all it is a day of rest. I thought this would be a handy little series for us to share what products we have been using and any hints and tricks to get us in the summer spirit. 

I'm going to kick start it off by talking about The Superdrug Mud Therapy Face Masks that I briefly mentioned in my March favourites, they have been slightly repackaged and slightly renamed as the Dead Sea Mud Mask and Strawberry Mud Mask, but both are still the same product inside. I find both draw out any impurities in the skin and leave it feeling so soft and fresh. The exfoliating one does have the added benefit of removing and dead skin cells from the face meaning my foundation blends better and has been lasting just that little but longer during the day.

I have been popping the Deep Cleansing mask on for when I'm chilling watching some YouTube video and really let it sink in and go to work on all those nasties building up in my pores, but have been using the exfoliating mask for when I am having a long soak In the bath as this is a really good two in one product. For £2.59 or 2 for £3.50, these are such a bargain and for those of you that just want to keep skincare simple and fuss free I think these are perfect. 

What mud masks do you use for a pamper evening?

Huge US Real Techniques Haul

Before my spending ban came into play I made a cheeky little order to My Pretty Face Place an American website selling Real Techniques products. I found the site on Cosmetic Crave's blog where I also found a discount code, which by the looks of it she has quite regularly. I had been after the Blush Brush from Real Techniques so after when I saw there was an extra 15% off using using the code, I could not resist. 

All products that I received are genuine and are cheap due to the pricing in the US being cheaper than here in the UK. You lucky devils America. I picked all this up for under £60 including delivery. That is such a bargain when each of the sets are £20 each.

L'Oreal L'Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick by Color Riche - Rose Symphony

When Boots were doing their 3 for 2 offer, I found this the perfect opportunity to try out those extra bits and bobs that you don't need but I want anyway. I was after a couple of products for a night out back in February and decided to dip into the new L'Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick range from L'Oreal. At this point I hadn't heard anything about this collection, recent posts have made up for it. 

I picked up 203 Rose Symphony which is a beautiful fushia shade. I did pick up the orange shade first but decided I have far too many orange shades of lipsticks. I wore this the night I bought it and it didn't disappoint. With an opaque glossy finish I have rediscovered my hidden love for the glossy lip. L'Extraordinaire Liquid Lipsticks create a nice stain on the lips so even as the colour does fade, it is undetectable to others. I did find I had to top this up every couple of hours or so which during the day is not ideal but the I am still a big fan of the formula. A massive move on from the Glam Shine Stain Splash things that had no colour payoff at all.

I love L'Oreal packaging and find this to be similar to YSL lip stains packaging, in terms of the square shape and the strip of shade colour down the side of the bullet. The shade number and name is printed on the top with the shade also shown on the bottom so these are easily recognisable in anyone's collection. Applied with a doe foot applicator which I find to be pretty precis even in those awkward places around the lips.

At £8.99 I think that is a fair price and with 9 shades in the range I'm sure there will be one to suit everyone. For an opaque finish in one swipe and a moisturising feel on the lips these are one of my favourite lip lacquers from the drugstore.

SS14 Trend: Is Orange the New Red?

I always bang on about how I love orange clothes and makeup so I thought I would do a round up all my favourite orange products. Orange lips featured heavily on the catwalk and is a big trend for summer this year. Yay for more shades if orange being introduced!
My orange obsession started from my love of peach blush as I thought it was more flattering in me than pink shades, as I got more confident with my makeup it has transformed into orange cheeks and lips. Not together I want to point out. I think anyone can pull off a bright pop of colour with very little effort, I think for some people it's having the confidence to come out of their comfort area which I hope this trend will help inspire a lot if people to do.

Fashionista Blush - London

Sleek Blush by Three (Lace) - Chantilly

Nars Blush - Gilda

MUA Blush - Lolly

Mememe Blush - Coral

MAC Lipstick - Vegas Volt

YSL Lipstick - 14

Revlon Lip Crayon - Rendezvous

Revlon Lipgloss - Coral Reef

Rimmel Lipstick - In Love with Ginger

L'Oreal Lipstick - Dating Coral

I also love my Sephora Blush in Orange Pop which I seem to have misplaced for the moment but can see photos in the review I did recently here.

What's your favourite orange makeup product?

March Favourites

Another month has come and gone, I don't like how fast time is going recently.  I have been loving a whole host of new products in March including makeup, skincare and hair products.  So if you are interested in what I have been using on a regular basis then please check out the video below and remember to leave a comment.

What have you been loving recently?

The Body Shop White Musk Smoky Rose Collection

I stumbled upon this collection but accident really. I used to be an avid white musk wearer back in my younger years and the sweet musky scent always remind me of a school trip to France in particular. So I was browsing around the body mists, as I have heard a whole hog of bloggers include The Body Shop scents in their favourites recently, when I was taken in by the rose scented version. Normally I am not a fan of rose but the musky undertones really gives this scent a grown up feel. So before I knew it I had bought the body spray in the sale and of I popped. A week or so later I was in The Body Shop again looking for the Honey Bronzer, when I saw there was a Christmas set of the perfume and body wash reduced in the sale. 

Needless to say I have the collection and to be honest I probably don't need the body spray and perfume but the glass packaging looks and feels so much more expensive. At 30ml the perfume is perfect to throw in your bag and go.  I also love the look of the glass body mist on my desk at work. I find that the body mist is just that, it sprays the rights amount in a lovely mist so it is never too over powering.The body wash I have only used once but the thick texture allows it to lather quickly and I was happy.

I have just noticed that there is also the lotion to go with this set but as I am trying not to buy any more body lotions I will have to save that for another day.  Have you tried the White Musk Smoky Rose Collection from The Body Shop? 

Sephora Blush Orange Pop

For Valentines day my lovely boyfriend treated me to a romantic weekend in Paris. I did a post here showing some of my favourite pictures including when I met mickey mouse at Disneyland. If you have already seen that you may have notice the mini haul photo I threw I'm there for good measure. Yes what beauty obsess can go to Paris and not visit the Sephora flagship store on Champs Elysees? It would have been a crime not to. I was on my best behavior (and the Nars palette that wanted was sold out) so I only bought one thing this beautiful Sephora own brand blush in Orange Pop.

This is the second in my collection as I loved Rose Glow so much and wear it all the time.  

Orange Pop is a matte bright pop of colour shade that will be amazing with a tan (sadly for me that is not the case right now) its one of those shade that you can pop on with a big fluffy brush and be good to go as it will add an instant vibrancy to your complexion without making you look like a clown.

This these are a bit pricey at just under £10 but I think they are worth it for the pigmentation and longevity. A little definitely goes a long way so they will last you a very long time and there are a variety of shades and finishes.

Now Sephora is shipping to the UK so the Sephora Blushes are now available online.

100 Day Spending Ban

On 31st January 2013 I challenged myself to go 100 days without spending unnecessary money.  If I remember correctly it was really hard, but I didn't do too badly, the odd Primark haul and Boots 3 for 2 were my weaknesses. Today I am challenging myself the same thing, 100 days with the following rules:

1. No makeup, haircare, skincare, or bath products

2. No clothes, shoes, jewellry, bags or accessories

3. No home or storage items 

4. No impulse buying of anything

5. Presents may be bought for others

6. Can go out for drinks and dinner with friends and family

7. Must save at least £1000 during the course of this challenge

8. If I do wish to buy something I must write it on a list and give 5 points as to why I need it in my life

This all may seem a little extreme but I do waste a lot of money and I want to put the money that I save towards a car or summer holiday.  

Weight Loss Wednesday #bloggerswlw

I have completely fallen off the diet and fitness wagon.  So I thought I would share some quotes I found to help inspire myself and any of you that need a bit of a pick me up.

I really liked this one when I saw it as this can be for anything in anyone's life.  Whether the changes you make are to do with health, giving up a habit or even just trying to be a better person, not many things happen overnight.  I've always thought it's about the small things in life, the things that most of the time we overlook and take for granted.  Whatever goals or achievements you are aiming for, you should not ignore the small things as they really do make all the difference.

This one is focused more towards those of you like me that would prefer an extra half an hour in bed in the mornings rather than going for a run or just generally too busy for gyms.  Hopefully, there is at least one point that will help motivate us to bust a move from now on.

Rimmel Moisture Renew - Relaunch

 

You might have seen the newly repackaged slightly reformulated moisture renew lipsticks from Rimmel spoken about recently. With a smoother longer lasting finish these have shot to the top of my drugstore lipstick favourites. I have a few shades of the old range but I really didn't get on with them at all.  I picked up two of the newer shades Glam Plum Fulham and In Love With Ginger which are supposedly dupes for the much loved Mac Rebel and Morange. Personally I haven't tried the Mac ones as they aren't anything that appeals too me as there are so many good drugstore dupes. The other shade I picked up is Nude Delight which was always a bit of a cult favourite but as I found the old formula a bit drying and dull, the shade always looked horrible on me.  Not anymore though, I love all three shades.

I find these glide smoothly over the lips and make them look hydrated and not at all dull.  For a moisturising lipstick I think these last really well especially the deeper shades and they fade nice and evenly too.

If you are more if a matte kinda gal I will have a post up soon on another high street favourite which is a matte version of one of these shades so watch out for that. These are available from Boots which at the moment have 3 for 2 so I will definitely be browsing the Rimmel stands for more shades.