First Impressions - Rimmel Sculpting Palette

This feels like a crime to admit being in love with make up like I am but I have never purchased a 

'sculpting' palette or a contour product for that matter. So I thought what beter way to jump in is to try a really affordable option that is from a brand I know and love already.

First Thoughts & Application

First port of call is the packaging. Just like many other drugstore products it is a plastic container with

a clear lid, which for me has its pros and cons. It has the 'Kate Moss' signature on the front in gold to

match the outling on the case.

When applying the product the first thing I noticed was the amount of powder it kicked off when dipping my brush in. Usually this don't phase me but because it has multiple products in I didn't want one mixing with another. After each time I went in with my brush I had to blow the excess off and 

realistically this can loose you a lot of product. That then leads me onto the pan size. You do get a 

generous amount of product but compared to your brush size it can be quite a squeeze.

Now I will note that I didn't use the contour shade for contouring on this occasion but more of a bronzer.

My first impression is that all three products applied really well. It went on even and had enough 

pigment yet not to over powering so it was easy to build up to the colour you are after.

Wear 

I decided to keep this product on for longer than usual to really test it. As I went about my daily job I 

checked it in different lights and I couldn't see no obvious streaking, patchiness or fading in the first 

few hours. It didn't feel drying or like it sat on top of my foundation but really comfortable to wear. 

After about 8/9 hours of wear I did a final check before removing my make-up and have to say it had

faded through the day but enough colour was still noticeable.

Final Thoughts

Overall I really like this product and will certainly continue to use it. This particular palette is a great match for my fair skin and gave it a really healthy glow at an affordable price.

The palette could be used for a softer day look or a full on glam night look. It is also a great size for

travelling or throwing in your bag for a touch up on the go. Iy is also a great start if there is anybody

like me who hasn't purchased a product like this previously.

DETAILS

Price - £6.99

Purchase From - Boots & Superdrug

Shades - 002 Coral Glow & 003 Golden Bronze

Empties - March 2016

The Body Shop Seaweed Day Cream

Two empty tubs is a sure sign I love this. To me it was one of them hidden gems where I bought it on a whim and has been one of the products that works best on my skin. It helps to mattify those oily patches whilst giving enough moisture to tackle any dry areas. The cream itself is very light which is a plus for us oily skin people as a thick heavy cream can sometimes be very off putting. This will definitely be a repurchase in the near future.

Tresemme Luxurious  Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner

These became empty within the past couple of weeks and thought I would throw these in here. Everybody and there dog, cat and rabbit has probably tried these but they are a good affordable buy. I don’t feel like they do anything extraordinary to my hair but do give it a good clean to bring it back to life when it needs washing.

No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in Beanie

I feel that No7 doesn’t get enough recognition and I would of probably never tried it if Boots didn’t give out vouchers for money off but I am glad I did. I have tried a small number of there products and am quite impressed. I have had this nail varnish for a while so I knew the end was near but I was completely in love with this colour last Autumn. It is a great neutral shade and the quality is brilliant! I do own a few others and have to admit they aren’t consistent in quality but would recommend giving them a go.

Face Wipes 

I have to admit I am a bit of a face wipe junkie mainly because I can be very lazy when it comes to my skin care. On the other hand though they are excellent to have as a back up if you need a quick refresh in the morning or clean up a make up mistake. As you can see my favourite ones are Simple’s as they are the most gentle on my skin and feel they are most affective. I have tried others and don’t get me wrong they do work for smaller jobs if you need some to keep on hand.

Bourjois Volume Clubbin Mascara

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! I can honestly say this is the best mascara I have ever tried as this is my second bottle I have used up. Its brush is big so gives amazing volume but at the same time adds a bit of length. This is definitely an evening or occasion mascara as I think this would be a bit too much for the day, unless that’s how you prefer your lashes then kudos to you! I haven’t repurchased this yet as realised I have quite a few mascaras to get through but it will be back in my make-up bag very soon.

Girls Night Out Make-Up

When I am off on a night out with the girls it only means one thing - my favourite make up comes out! As this 

event rarely happens I thought I would share with you what I used on this particular night I hope you enjoy.

Base

Neutrogena - Shine Control Primer

Revlon - Colorstay Normal/Dry Skin - 150 Buff

Real Techniques - Sculpting Brush

Nars - Radiant Creamy Concealer - Light2 Vanilla

Real Techniques - Expert Face Brush

Laura Mercier - Loose Setting Powder 

Elf - Powder Brush

Face

Benefit - Hoola Bronzer

Elf - Total Face Brush

Blink & Go - Eye Shadow & Blush 05

Real Techniques - Blush Brush

The Balm - Mary-Lou Manizer

Fan Brush - n/a ( was given it by a friend)

Eyes

Urban Decay - Primer Potion

Urban Decay - Naked 2 Basics

Mac - 217

Sleek Palette - Storm 578

Real Techniques - Shading Brush

Elf - Eye Shadow Brush

Elf - Small Angled Brush

Urban Decay - 24/7 Glide On Pencil - Demolition

Elf - Eyelash Curlers

No7 - Intense Volume Mascara 

Lips

Mac - Creme Cup

Nyx - Butter Gloss - Eclair

Favourites - February 2016

Benefit Blush - Rockatuer

I got this as a gift after being my usual fan girl of FleurDeForce after she raved about this, which was some time ago. I have recently re-discovered how much I love this! I feel it can be off putting looking in the pan as it does look like a sheeny pink but on the cheeks it gives a beautiful glow of pink. I used to only wear this with an evening look but now use it during the day and think it is a great transition colour into spring complimenting plenty of looks.

Soap & Glory – Sugar Scrub Body Scrub + The Righteous Butter

These two get a mention together as they are great separately but brilliant when used one after the other. This drop in cold weather has really played havoc with my skin, and not just on my face. I tend to be quite lazy when it comes to scrubbing and moisturising but something needed to be done. The scrub has just the right amount of ‘scrubbiness’ to it without being so gentle it feels like it isn’t doing anything but not so harsh that it irritates the skin, plus the scent is heavenly.

The next part is the body butter and oh my I could bathe in this stuff! The smell to start off with is so relaxing and then the texture is quite thick but it feels so nice on your skin and you can definitely feel the moisture sink in. Another plus about the body butter would be it’s available in travel size also as they are quite hefty full size tubs.

Lush - Handy Gurugu

In my eyes this was a gem of a find. I bought this at a 'car boot' type of place for a bargain of £1.50. In fact this product is £7.95 and think it is well worth the money. Like I've already said I am basically getting head to toe in dry skin so your hands is one of the most used body part which means it needs to be taken care of. I lather a layer of this on before bed and it is a miracle worker. I am not to keen on the smell put once it's lights out it doesn't bother me.

Television Programme – How To Die : Simon's Choice

This may be a controversial one but I stumbled upon this one night and found it absolutely fascinating. It tells the story of a man who is diagnosed with motor neurone disease and makes the heart wrenching decision to end his life on his terms.The for and against arguments with regards to this subject can be very strong and I can rightly see each side. I just think this programme shed light and personal insight on a ‘taboo’ topic and is worth a watch. Warning – Have tissues to hand as tears may follow.

Mini Haul

I picked up a few items recently that I found at amazing prices in Boots & T K Max.

  Yes To Carrots Moisturising Eye Cream

I have said previously that I look for a simple but effective eye cream and found this in a Boots clearance. This retails at £9.99 but picked it up for £4.50. As my dry patches have been just under my eyes I thought this would work really well. I haven't fully tried to product but it feels like it is a thick texture that will do the trick.

Super Facialist By Una Brennan Vitamin C+ Skin Defence Daily Moisturiser

I have heard a lot about this range but even though it is at the drugstore it can be quite pricey but I thought this was a bargain when I saw it. This retails at £16.99 but was on offer for £6.50. As these products come highly recommend I thought this would be a great way to try an item from the range. It claims to give more luminous and hydrated skin which is what I need as my dull skin matches this dull weather.

Botanics Mattifying Day Cream

I am forever on the hunt for something to tame the shine and keep it a bay so for this incredible price I couldn't help but pick it up. This was in the clearance for £1.25!! Like the other products I haven't tried this out but it smells great and feels light and sinks in really quick. A product like this needs to be put to the full test though so I will report back.

Sleek Pout Polish in Powder Pink

This wasn't picked up at Boots but thought I would include this. I have never been the biggest fan of TKMax but over Christmas when in need of gifts I popped in a couple of times and realised I kind of like it. It has some really good brands at awesome prices. This Pout Polish retails at £4.49 but was reduced to £1.99. I already own one of these and really like these as a nice wash of colour but very moisturising.

Top 5 Under £5

Everybody loves a bargain and I thought I would share with you my top 5 Under £5

L-R : Apple Strudel, Tiramisu & Peaches and Cream £5 @ Boots

Nyx Butter Glosses

These are brilliant! I own three and absolutely love them. As the name would describe they are so creamy and buttery on the lips. The colour range is amazing and even though they are quite a sheer formula they are beautiful. You can wear them on there own, over lipsticks, over lip liners. They are so versatile for creating an aray of different looks and a steal at the price.

005 Nude £3.99 @ Boots

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterpoof Kohl Eyeliner

I bought these after watching Fleur from FleurDeForce say how amazing these were quite some time ago and after the amount of fails I have tried I thought I would give it a go and my gosh was she right! These are so pigmented yet really soft so they are very gentle on the eye area. The lasting power of them is amazing but yet still really easy to blend if you want to smoke them out.

L-R: Sky Blue, Fondant, Papaya, Greenberry, Coconut & Satsuma £3.99 @ Boots

Barry M Gelly Nail Varnish

These are an oldie but a goodie. They might be old news but I am still in love with the formula of these. If I need a nail polish that I know will stay in place and is easy to apply I always go back to these. I own a few of these colours and bar one of them is amazing. For an affordable nail polish like this I can’t complain and they have also made great gifts in the past.

Cool Medium 2  £3.99 @ Boots

Collection Concealer

I won't go into detail about this product as it has probably been talked about a million times but I had to include it as it is amazing! There are a tonne of concealers out there and this is my perfect everyday one. Especially on those days when I wear no foundation it has a nice heavy coverage that it covers everything I need.

L-R : On and on bronze, Vintage plum (Leather effect) & Creamy beige (Leather effect) £4.99 @ Boots

Maybelline Colour Tatto 24hr 

Like the concealer I don't think these need much explaining but again they are my favourite product to use. They are pigmented and super fast to apply for a wash of colour. My most used has definitely got to be on and on bronze as it is such an easy colour to wear during the day and night whilst also giving a lot of impact. I use the leather effect most as a base because they have amazing staying power to work with.

Current Skincare

At this time of year my skincare normally changes to cope with the changes my skin makes. With the weather being very cold and windy as like many people my skin becomes drier so here are the products I use to help.

Cleanser

I have only really got into skincare recently so have not tried many cleansers but I have a sample pot of the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm and when I do use this my face has never felt and looked better. You can feel it working off every last bit of make-up and dirt and yet does not dry or uncomfortably tighten my skin.

Micellar Water

My current Micellar Water is good but not my favourite. This Garnier one does the job and my gosh does it last a long time but it doesn't beat the Boots Botanics one which you can see a review of in my January Empties post. This can be handy as it does come in travel size bottles and is a good affordable option.

Toner

I don't need to go into detail on this one as I included my current toner in my January Favourites, La Roche Posay Serozinc. I will say that this is a great product and definitely gives my skin a boost of moisture and hydration first thing in the morning.

Eye Cream

With my eye cream I want something simple and that just keeps me looking awake. This Body Shop Vitamin E Eye Cream ticks all of those boxes. At first I didn't think much of it if I were to go without using this for a couple of days I realised how much the product actually makes a difference. It isn't a massive difference but it just keeps my eyes depuffed and awake the morning after leaving a smoother area for concealer.

Moisturiser

I have two in this category as I use a different one for morning and evening.

My morning one is the Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Moisturiser and have to admit I'm not a fan. Its not the worst one I have used so I will use this up but probably not repurchase. I feel like its texture is very light and smooth but then once applied it leaves a tacky feeling behind.

My current evening one is the Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser. I use this when I feel my skin is behaving and just needs a bit of moisture. Like it's name the ingredients and claims are very simple which is what I like. I know I can trust this product to not break me out and help control those pesky dry patches.

Favourites - January 2016

This is my first favourites post and I am so excited to share these with you. With it being a tight budget month these products are not brand new but ones I currently own and delved back into and remembered why I loved them. 

La Roche-Posay Serozinc

I remember picking this up last year when I found the brand was available in a Boots near me. It is the first and only product I am yet to try from the brand but if this is anything to go by I am excited to try more. I spray this on every morning after I cleanse and it just refreshes the skin giving it a boost of life. I have seen a a small difference in the oilyness of my skin which it claims to control but thinks its main work has helped my spots stay away.

Next Nail Polish

For me this is a bit of a random one and would never have thought to pick this up myself. I was given this as a gift at Christmas in a set with 9 other colours. This one caught my eye as it is a beautiful rose goldesque shade and I have got to say I am very impressed. One coat does the job and it went days without chipping (I even took down my Christmas Tree with no chipping) Unfortunately they do not have names but if you ever spot this I would definitely recommend.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion

After pigging out at Christmas those pesky spots were on a mission so I needed to handle the situation fast. I had found this lotion but didn't want to put this directly onto my face. So one or two evenings a week I mix this in with my moisturiser so it is evenly distributed without being too harsh. After a few weeks sticking to this i really noticed a difference.

Nyx Lip Smacking Fun Colours in Cocoa

This colour wasn't for me at first but I dug it out when I wanted to give the 'Kylie Jenner' sort of a lip a go and I have fallen in love. I love wearing this with a bronze or gold eye. The formula is so smooth and creamy and you can easily forget you are wearing it. It doesn't last a long time but if you were to reapply it does not look cakey or too heavy at all.

Boots Cotton Wool Double Faced Oval Pads

I feel I need to put these in here as I picked them up by mistake but wish somebody had told me about these earlier. They are cottons pads which have two different textured surfaces. One has a small bumpy side the other has larger bumps which are great help from a cheeky exfoliation. This makes them handy for so many different jobs from cleaning your face to taking off your nail varnish. Like I said these where bought by mistake but will definitely be repurchasing 

YouTubers/Bloggers I Am Currently Loving

My inspiration for blogging came from watching and reading others. I became so interested and excited with make-up and skincare that nobody I knew shared the same enthusiasm as me. Therefore I thought why not try sharing it with the whole world as surely somebody would be interested!

Putting that aside I thought in today’s post I  would give a bit of a shout out to some bloggers and youtubers that inspired me and in case you haven’t heard or seen them before should definitely check them out.

I have put all the link for their blogs and/or youtube channels below. If you have any favourites that you think I should check out let me know.

Vivianna Does Makeup

If you want to sit down with a brew and have a chat to a friend then turn to Anna's channel. Watching her videos feels like your sat having a good natter with your friend. I especially love her vlogs as she keeps it so real and doesn't feel the need to have a full glam look in every shot and shows that everybody has bed head in a morning and it's nothing to worry about.  I feel she has recently branched out into fitness and fashion more which makes a lovely change once in a while.

Youtube Channel - Click Here

Blog - Click Here

Miss Budget Beauty

The reason is in the name. I feel many youtubers or bloggers can focus on higher end products that can sometimes be out of my budget. Mikhila on the other hand talks about brands such as Freedom, Revolution and MUA. She is never afraid of comparisons between low and high end products meaning she knows a bargain or too. If you did want to see her full thoughts on high end products she does have another Youtube channel you can check out.

Youtube Channel - Click Here

Blog - Click Here

GlamLife Guru

If somebody knows a thing or two about Make-up it’s Tati. What I would give to have her make-up collection!

In her videos she ‘investigates’ anything and everything. If a foundation comes in 15 shades – she buys all 15. If she sees a £200 foundation – she gets it! All in the name of Make-up and wanting to find the best out there for every skin tone, eye colour, hair colour !

Youtube Channel - Click Here

NikkieTutorials

This is your go to gal for tutorials, she is amazing! One of the reasons I particularly love her is she has fair skin like myself but shows different ways in which you can also pull off colourful eyes,  bold lips and glowing skin. Nikkie is  also great for trying and testing new products and always puts unique combinations together to give your make up and skincare multiple benefits and results.

Youtube Channel - Click Here

Blog - Click Here

My 5 Luxury Lipsticks

I may own a lot of make-up but my collection doesn’t hold a lot of high end products. The ones I do have  I treasure and even though I didn’t have a vast selection to choose from I chose 5 of my favourite to share with you guys.

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine

This was a gift from my Sister for a birthday of mine and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I opened this. I have the shade Pourpre Intouchable - No. 2 which is a deep purple. Looking at the bullet it may frighten many as it looks very intense but when on the lips it is quite sheer and very moisturising making it super comfortable to wear. This is a great choice for those wanting to try out a darker lip.

Illamasqua Lipstick

This was another gift from my sister for my 21^st Birthday (she knows me so well) You may see a trend with these 5 lipsticks but I do love a bold dark lip. I have only worn this a couple of times so I haven’t put it through is paces yet but what I have seen I’m loving. The colour is Shard which is a beautiful purple with a matte finish.

Nars Audacious Lipstick 

I picked this up in a Sephora when I visited Prague and have the shade Vera. This has to be one of my all time favourite lip products. Not only for it’s beautiful deep wine colour but also it’s texture. This lipstick last all day long without drying your lips out and that can be very hard to find in such a bold lipstick. I would love to pick some more up.

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

This one I got as a gift again, but this time it was from Sephora as I shopped there in my birthday month. I got a Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien , which I have to admit doesn’t wow me! The other was the Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella. This colour has had a lot of hype and now I understand why. It’s on the darker shade of red but is so flattering and works great for an evening look or those cold winter days.

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick

I nearly didn’t purchase this item but I am so glad I did. I bought this when shopping in Sephora in Las Vegas and being so overwhelmed it was hard to choose what I wanted. In the end I chose the shade Bauhau5. This definitely was my summer evening colour of 2015. If I had an event or special occasion I would whack this on and know that it would be there all day or all night. This fella does not move yet you forget that you are wearing it which is a combination you can’t beat! I already have some other colours on my shopping list.

If anybody has any high end lipsticks they would recommend I would love to know J