Baby Pink Nails!

When it comes to nail polish I tend to go for fun pastels or darker colours like navy, grey and black. The only pink nail polish I had in my collection, until recently, was my ELF nail polish in Passion Pink, a darker bright pink shade with gold shimmer running through it. However, I am starting a new job soon and wanted a  more subtle, but still pretty, nail colour.

My first stop was Barry M, and I found exactly what I was looking for pretty quickly. Baby Pink fits in well amongst my mint greens, pastel purples and peach nail colours. The colour is exactly what the name says, a beautiful baby pink. I often find paler pink nail polishes to be a bit wishy-washy and nondescript, but I love that this shade still packs a punch and is a very definite colour on the nail.

I don't tend to like shimmery pearlescent polishes, opting for either shimmer-free shades or nail polishes with actual chunks of glitter in them so I often go to Barry M for nail polish as they have a great range of colours to match my fussy requirements. 

I've had this on for 4 days straight without any noticeable chipping, which is quite a record for me. If it hasn't chipped in a couple of days then I've normally peeled it off anyway. Hopefully this durability will come in handy for working.

I absolutely love this colour. It could just be cos it's not normally a colour I'd opt for, but I find it so refreshing and pretty. It's a great colour for Summer, but will be a great staple all year. 

And at £2.99 for 10ml it's a fantastic buy!

xxx

Read my thoughts on ELF Passion Pink nail polish here! http://beautyimaginarium.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/elf-reviews-part-two-concealer.html

What's In My Makeup Bag? #3 LIPS

I always enjoy 'What's In My Makeup Bag?' blog posts. I like to know what people are using day to day and what they like enough to consider them essentials in their makeup bags, so I thought I'd do one of my own!

I don't have a huge makeup bag, and I don't think I carry around an excessive amount of products, but everyone has different opinions of what is essential and what they're likely to want or need throughout the day, so here's mine...


LIPS

LIP BALM: It's not high brow or hot in the beauty world, but I love Lip Smackers! My mum got me a set of the Coca Cola Lip Smackers last Christmas and I have probably used one everyday since. In my makeup bag I carry the Cherry Coke Lip Smacker. I normally put this on after my foundation to leave it to soak in a bit while I do my concealing and eye makeup. The Cherry Coke one has a dark pink sheen to it, so sometimes I will wear this on my lips by itself as it's moisturising and gives a nice bit of colour. I reapply this throughout the day when my lips are dry, and when they're not, just for the great smell!

LIPSTICK: I keep my Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in my makeup bag everday. I guess this could count as a balm product, but seeing as I don't carry a lipstick around (in the Summertime anyway) this is the nearest thing. I like to have a couple of different colour options in my makeup bag in case I fancy a bolder lip, and I tend to have two or three different colours. For instance, in the Autumn/Winter months I keep a pink lip product, a deep red lipstick or lip liner, and perhaps a more plummy colour in my makeup bag. So for these Summer months I enjoy having this Tutti Frutti Lip Butter to hand and I think the orange shade is different and summery.

Read my review of Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter here... http://beautyimaginarium.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/revlon-colorburst-lip-butter.html

LIP PENCIL: Unless I'm doing a red lip, I don't tend to lip line. Instead I like to use lip pencils for filling in the whole lip for a more lasting, matte look. I keep my Barry M Lip Liner in Fuchsia to hand as it is fantastic for just this look. It lasts really well on the lip, and is such a pretty bright pink. It stays in my makeup bag throughout the year as I think the shade is gorgeous in all seasons.

LIP GLOSS: I have a lot of lip glosses, but most of them are coloured. That's why I like to keep this pale nude shade with me. I got this Barry M Limited Edition Lip Gloss last year when they gave them free with Impulse body sprays. I believe the shade is Nearly Nude. The best thing about this lip gloss is the smell. IT SMELLS DELICIOUS! It has a vanilla caramel scent to it, which is amazing. Sadly, this is probably coming to the end of it's shelf life. Let me know if any of the other Barry M Lip Glosses have this scent to them, as I know a lot of them have different scents, but I haven't tried many of the range.


Read Part One of my What's In My Makeup Bag? here...  http://beautyimaginarium.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/whats-in-my-makeup-bag-1-face.html

And Part Two here...
http://beautyimaginarium.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/whats-in-my-makeup-bag-2-eyes.html

Thanks for reading! xxx

What's In My Makeup Bag? #2 EYES

I always enjoy 'What's In My Makeup Bag?' blog posts. I like to know what people are using day to day and what they like enough to consider them essentials in their makeup bags, so I thought I'd do one of my own!

I don't have a huge makeup bag, and I don't think I carry around an excessive amount of products, but everyone has different opinions of what is essential and what they're likely to want or need throughout the day, so here's mine...

EYES

Eyeshadow: I'll often throw the eyeshadow I put on in my makeup bag before I go out, but there are a couple that I always keep on me. The first is Collection 2000 Colour Intense Trio Eye Shadow in the shade Sandcastle. This has 3 shimmery nude shadows, a very pale cream, a slightly darker beige, and a warm light brown. I think this trio has a great selection for everyday makeup, and can be built into a couple of different looks and can work to adjust a lot of looks if you forget to put your eyeshadow in your bag or if you don't want to carry a lot around.

I also have my Sleek i-Divine Eyeshadow Palette in Bad Girl in my handbag. While a lot of colours in the palette are very dark or bold, they can be used lightly to create a wide range of looks, and it's great to have in your bag if you're going out for the day and night, as it's easy to make a neutral day look into an evening one with a smokey eye. It also has two great nude shades in it, Innocence (a frosty white) and Gullible (a frosty beige) which I use a lot for a wash of colour on the lids in the daytime.

Eyeshadow brush: I don't like to carry a lot of brushes in my makeup bag, so I just carry my eyeshadow brush from FCUK as I find good for most looks or touch ups I may need to do.

Eyeliner: I love liquid liners, and personally find them relatively easy to do on the go or touch up quickly. At the moment I'm using 2true Effortless Waterproof Eyeliner and am loving it. It lasts really well, applies accurately, and is opaque so it doesn't require numerous coats. I used to always carry a black kohl pencil or gel liner for my waterline, but have been needing a new one for quite a while since my Maybelline gel liner (which I really liked) dried out and it hasn't been top of my makeup priorities. When I repurchase one, it will undoubtedly live in my makeup bag everyday.

Mascara: I always have two mascaras in my makeup bag. I'll keep a waterproof mascara in there at all times (I'm currently using NYC Showtime Waterproof Mascara) to apply over my normal mascara if necessary or if I want to make it last a bit longer (this isn't scientific fact, just something I like to do!). I then will put in the mascara I am using at the time after I've put it on. I tend to alternate between Benefit's Bad Gal Lash Mascara, George's Lash X-Treme Mascara, and Rimmel Volume Flash Scandal'Eyes Mascara (all in black) depending on the look I want, as I find they all give me different effects.

Read my review of Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara here!
http://beautyimaginarium.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/glamour-and-benefit.html

Read my review of George Lash X-Tend Mascara here!
http://beautyimaginarium.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/george-lash-x-tend-mascara.html




Read Part One of What's In My Makeup Bag? here! http://beautyimaginarium.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/whats-in-my-makeup-bag-1-face.html

Part Three coming soon!

Thanks for reading! xxx

What's In My Makeup Bag? #1 FACE

I always enjoy 'What's In My Makeup Bag?' blog posts. I like to know what people are using day to day and what they like enough to consider them essentials in their makeup bags, so I thought I'd do one of my own!

I don't have a huge makeup bag, and I don't think I carry around an excessive amount of products, but everyone has different opinions of what is essential and what they're likely to want or need throughout the day, so here's mine...

FACE
Foundation: I don't carry around a foundation everyday, especially if I'm carrying a lot about that day, and often concealer will fix any skin dilemmas that may arise. But I do often throw it in my bag before I go out, despite the fact I don't think I've ever re-applied foundation when out and about, unless I was going somewhere to get ready (like a friend's house before a night out or a special occasion where we want to get ready together) or if I'd rushed out without time to do my makeup (which is rare!). At the moment I am using the NYC All Day Long Foundation, which I love for a cheap foundation. It lasts really well and when hotter days come along it doesn't slip or sweat off.

Read my review of NYC All Day Long Foundation here! http://beautyimaginarium.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/nyc-all-day-long-foundation-review.html

Concealer: I carry concealer at all times! I used the Rimmel Hide The Blemish stick concealers for a really long time, until I recently bought the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer. I know this concealer has a lot of fans on blogs, and I understand why. I love it! It lasts throughout the day, has great coverage, allows you to pinpoint blemishes, and doesn't go cakey when built up. This has quickly become a staple in my makeup routine and I don't go anywhere without it.

Read my review of Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer here!
http://beautyimaginarium.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/collection-2000-lasting-perfection.html

Powder: I am always a bit scared when I get my powder out of my makeup bag. I've suffered from broken powders, bronzers, blushers and eyeshadows many, many times in my life! However, in the Summer I can get a bit shiny, especially if I'm running about a bit and therefore like to keep powder on me for a quick fix. I always buy translucent powders because I am quite fair, I use the palest foundations generally, and I don't want any coloured powder that may not match up well and would look very obvious on my pale base. I was using Rimmel Stay Matte translucent powder untiil that broke recently, so I am know using Collection 2000 Pressed Powder.

Powder Brush: To apply my powder on the go I use a blusher brush by FCUK, which is great because it's slim and doesn't take up as much room as perhaps a larger powder brush would, and I only tend to put powder on a couple of places on my face, so it's good for keeping powder exactly where I want it.

Read my review of Collection 2000 Pressed Powder here!
http://beautyimaginarium.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/collection-2000-pressed-powder.html

Eyebrow Pencil: I actually use a pencil eyeliner for shaping and colouring my eyebrows. I often get a No7 gift set for Christmas or birthdays and these (luckily) often include the No7 Amazing Eyes Pencil in Brown. I really like this for my brows as it's easy to do light individual strokes and the colour is quite ashy so it doesn't leave me with gingery eyebrows (which has happened in the past). Eyebrow products may not be considered essential to everyone, but my brows aren't very dark naturally and are quite sparse, so I like to fill them in to make them more defined, and consider this one of my makeup musts everyday. I probably wouldn't use these liners for my eyebrows if I wasn't getting them in gifts as there are cheaper brow products out there, or even just eyeshadows, but when I've tried eyeshadows I've found it hard to find the right shade. Also these pencils are really convenient for on-the-go makeup.

Mascara Spoolie Brush: I keep an old, clean mascara wand in my makeup bag to brush through and shape my brows before adding pencil or brow mascara.

Brow Mascara: I have only started using brow mascara the last few months, but now I don't know how I ever managed without it!I use the ELF Wet Gloss Lash and Brow Clear Mascara. I keep it on my despite the fact it's never required touching up or another coat because hairs have fallen out of place. I find once I apply it in the morning, my eyebrows are set all day.

Read my review of ELF Wet Gloss Lash and Brow Clear Mascara here!
http://beautyimaginarium.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/elf-reviews-part-one-eyeshadow-eyeliner.html



Part Two of What's In My Makeup Bag? coming up!

Thanks for reading! xxx

Benefit 'They're Real!' Mascara Review

Benefit often has a lot of products I'd like to give a go, but are just out of my budget at the moment. Luckily for me, my mum recently bought the They're Real! mascara and didn't get along with it (she's quite sensitive to different products and brands), so gave it to me. I hadn't previously looked into the product or heard anything about it really so I was excited to give it a go.

They're Real! claims to lengthen, curl, volumize, lift and separate lashes, and I'd have to agree for the most part. I didn't know anything about the look this mascara was meant to achieve when I tried it for the first few days (the outer packaging had been thrown away before I had a chance to look), but I was impressed with the effect.

I was dubious about the wand when I looked at it, as I'm not a big fan of plastic wands generally, but I actually liked it. It meant that you were able to apply one coat and have defined but more understated lashes, or build up more volume with more coats, which is sometimes hard to do with bristles when you have less control over how much product is on the wand. Also, an aim of this mascara is to separate, which I always find plastic wands to be better at. However, I did find the more coats were applied, the less separated the lashes looked, and they became a bit more clumped together.

I did feel my lashes were lifted and slightly curled with this mascara. I don't tend to use an eyelash curler for everyday makeup, and am yet to try this mascara with a curler, but I find it works by itself to add a nice effect. I'm not sure I'd call it a curled effect, but it definitely lifted the lashes and I felt like it really made my eyes pop. It also worked great with one coat on my lower lashes as it defined them without making them look spidery.

As for it's lengthening effect, I was really impressed. My eyelashes definitely appeared longer to me. I think this product has the tiny hairs or fibres in it that a lot of lengthening mascaras have these days, and I find work a treat. I also find that the formula makes my lashes feel less dry and hard than some volumizing mascaras.

I know this formula is not waterproof, and I don't believe a waterproof version is available at the moment. I tend to get smudge marks on my lids with most mascaras I wear within a couple of hours, particularly non-waterproof ones, but They're Real! left no marks whatsoever, even after a day of wear, which was fantastic. However, if you live in the UK you'll know that we haven't really had any hot weather to test how it would last in those circumstances.

A downside of this product is that it is currently only available in black, so if you're fairer haired or are just not a fan of black mascaras, then this isn't for you.

Although I did really like this mascara, I wouldn't buy it myself at £18.50. I have found mascaras I prefer or that are nearly as good on the high street for under £10, so realistically I'm not sure it's worth it's price tag.

xxx

Benefit They're Real! Mascara - £18.50 - http://www.boots.com/en/benefit-theyre-real-mascara_1231677/

17 Wild Metallic Cream Eyeshadow!

I love cream eyeshadows, especially for this time of year, but know a good one can be hard to come by. I've bought many that look great in the shops, and when I actually go to use them their promises of being 'crease free' or 'longwear' seem to fade pretty rapidly. Nevertheless, I was browsing some of the 17 range in Boots recently and was really drawn to the Wild Metallic Cream Eyeshadows.

I really liked the colour range, although not being the most extensive with 6 shades to choose from. However, the colours that were available all looked gorgeous, and I'd probably have bought them all to try if I could have afforded to. They have the metal shades (silver and bronze), bolder colours (purple, navy blue and green), and a more muted taupe colour (Wild Nude), so there's something for everyone.

I chose Wild Nude. I really liked this taupe shade and thought it would be adaptable and buildable for a wash of colour for quick daytime looks and more dramatic evening looks. It's also a good middle ground between the silver and bronze, as it has warmth but isn't as bold as the bronze. 

The product looked really metallic and pigmented in the pot, and I was really excited to try it. The formula was slightly more like a mousse than I would normally go for. I used to love the Rimmel Colour Mousse 8 Hour Eyeshadows, which despite their name, were less like a mousse, and would apply like a cream then almost set on the eye. A thin mousse is unlikely to stay put and crease-free without some powder shadow on top, I find. 

I really liked the application of this product. It gave a beautiful metallic wash of colour to the lid and stayed looking good for a couple of hours. However, if the weather was warmer I'm not sure they'd have this staying power. I liked that it could be built up nicely for an evening look without going too cakey or lumpy as some cream shadows can do when you build them up, but if I was going to wear this for a night out I would definitely set it with a similar colour eyeshadow (the shade is so pretty, it would be a shame to cover that completely). 

I really liked this product, so am hoping that I can give it a try when (hopefully!) the weather gets better, as I think it would be a really good eyeshadow for summer, providing it lasts, as it gives a gorgeous wash of colour which would be really good for quick makeup, or a natural, tanned look.

I'm tempted to buy another one of the 17 Wild Metallic Cream Eyeshadows, particularly the Wild Purple, however I am going to try and resist and test out the Wild Nude in a few more makeup looks or situations!

Let me know if you've tried this product and your thoughts! Also let me know if you know any good cream/mousse eyeshadows.... I love them!

xxx

17 Wild Metallic Cream Eyeshadow - £3.99 from Boots - http://www.boots.com/en/17-Wild-Metallic-Cream-Eyeshadow_1228312/

Collection 2000 Pressed Powder!

As I said in my previous Collection 2000 posts, I popped into Superdrug recently and they had 3 for 2 on the whole range, so I picked up the Lasting Perfection Concealer, the Fast Stroke Eyeliner and the Pressed Powder.

I bought the Pressed Powder in Translucent as opposed to one of the coloured ones as I don't tend to wear a lot of powder, so I'm never trying to really build coverage with it or apply it heavily. I have dry skin so can find powders to make my foundation look a bit cakey, but I will use a translucent powder down the centre of my face, to lightly set any areas where I've had to do a bit of concealing and just to set the concealer under my eyes. They appear to have about 9 shades online, but when I was in Superdrug they only had about 4 or 5 on display. 

I tend to have problems achieving the exact look I want for my skin. As it is dry, I like to use products that leave it looking dewy, glowing and healthy, whilst giving me good coverage. A lot of these products don't seem to last as well on my skin as perhaps more matte products, so they often need setting with a powder, but if I'm not careful this can take me back to the beginning where my skin looks dull, dry and tired. However, it is nice and fine and allows you to build up the coverage you want, whether you want a light coat to set your make up, or prefer to build your powder up if you have more oily skin.

I really liked the fact that this powder is enriched with silk and Vitamin E, and has UVA and UVB sunscreen. While I doubt the effects of this sunscreen is really significant, it's nice to feel like you perhaps have an extra bit of skin protection in the summertime. I haven't noticed a change in my skin, good or bad, but I didn't expect to, but it's nice to apply a makeup product that feels like it's doing your skin some good. 

For £1.99 I think this powder is great, especially if, like me, powder isn't a huge part of your everyday makeup routine and you just want a cheap one on standby for when you do use it, and I think this powder is a good choice. 

xxx

Collection 2000 Pressed Powder - £1.99 from Superdrug or Boots http://www.superdrug.com/face/collection-2000-pressed-powder-3/invt/236829/

Collection 2000 Waterproof Fast Stroke Eyeliner!

I have been using the 2true Waterproof Eyeliner for a while now and really enjoying it, but when looking over the Collection 2000 products I saw this and remembered that I used to use the Fast Stroke eyeliner all the time a year or so ago, so I picked one of the Waterproof Fast Stroke Eyeliners from the range.

I'm not sure whether it's because it was the waterproof formula instead of the normal one I used to use, or if it has been altered, but I wasn't as smitten with it as I once was.

I like my eyeliner to be completely opaque if I'm wearing a liquid liner look and this didn't deliver that on the first or even the second go. It took quite a lot of going back over, but I'm not sure if that's because I have eyeliner issues and am a bit fussy.

As far as the application, I still like this product. It says it gives you precision and definition, and I do think it's  got a great nib for precise application, and for doing things like flicked liner. You can get a really thick line or a really thin precise one depending on how you angle and use the nib.

I really like the handle for the eyeliner as well. As it is really long, you feel a lot of control over the application. Sometimes when applying it a bit thicker with the edge of the nib, I found that the thinner part of the nib would almost draw a line through what you had just applied where it was removing a bit of the product. I found it lasted well on my eyes, and yet was easily removed, so you aren't left scrubbing at your eyes like I sometimes find with waterproof products.

Overall, I like the effect this eyeliner gives, and I will continue to use it. However, it's not one of my favourites. It takes a lot of building up to create a solid line and definition, but it is good for precision and the waterproof formula does last throughout the day.
Have you tried the Collection 2000 Liquid Liners? If so, I'd love to know what you though!

xxx

Collection 2000 Fast Stroke Eyeliner - £2.99 - http://www.superdrug.com/eyes/collection-2000-fast-stroke-liquid-eyeliner-1/invt/228796/&bklist=

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Concealer!

I was killing time in Superdrug the other day, looking for any good offers, when I saw that Collection 2000 had a 3 for 2 offer on all their products. I was after a new concealer and know that the YouTube and blogging world is mad for the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer, so I thought this would be a great time to give it a try, and I might as well pick up a couple of thing while the offer was on, so I also bought a pressed powder and a liquid liner.

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Concealer  (£4.19)


I couldn't wait to try this concealer, given all the great reviews I've heard, and I have to say I wasn't disappointed.

The product says it has '16 hour wear' and it transfer and water resistant. I haven't actually worn it for that long a period of time yet, but when I have worn it it has lasted beautifully. I have really dry skin but am also prone to blemishes, so concealers tend to either go cakey on my skin or not last on the areas and blemishes I want to cover. This did neither. It gives you a sense when you apply it that it is almost setting, and it didn't need layering or touching up as concealers often do with me. Whether it was subliminal because of the great things I've heard, or because of how it applied, I felt completely confident that it was staying in place, despite doing a lot of walking about and, I'm not gonna lie, sweating a bit (nice!). But it did stay on perfectly, I was complimented on how clear my skin looked, and it was a nice relief to get home and look in the mirror without worrying about how long that spot has been on show or my face has looked like it's melted/flaking away!

I like the more liquid concealers with doe foot applicators as they seem to apply more smoothly, look more natural, and allow you to really pinpoint imperfections. However, if concealing an active spot you might want to put it on your hand or finger first and then on your face to avoid spreading bacteria into your whole concealer.

The colour was actually perfect for me. I was wary due to the quite limited colour range (Deep, Medium, Light, Fair), but the shade Fair 1 worked really great for me. Although if you are really pale or dark skinned then these colours may not work for you.

I was really impressed with this concealer and am glad it lived up to the hype. I can see this becoming my staple concealer for a long time to come.


xxx

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer - £4.19 from Boots or Superdrug (I bought mine from Superdrug but for some reason It's not listed on their website)
http://www.boots.com/en/Collection-2000-Lasting-Perfection-Concealer_984434/

Haircare: Argan Oils!

Bleaching, blow-drying, straightening... I put my hair through a lot of badness! It's very thick and gets very dry, which isn't a great look and obviously isn't good for the condition of my hair. So anything I can do to add moisture, improve the condition, and make it look healthier and shinier (which isn't always easy for blondes), I am keen to give a go!

I'd heard great things about argan oils, and have bought a few bottles of the VO5 Miracle Concentrate over the last year or so. It's a leave-in treatment, to be used on wet hair. It claims to be high in Vitamin E, rich in anti-oxidants, hydrating and deeply conditioning. It is also claimed that it helps look after your hair by reducing drying time, so you don't need to blow-dry it for so long.

I really liked the VO5 Miracle Concentrate, and have used it up and re-purchased a couple of times. However, I don't use it as much since going blonde again. When I had dark brown hair, I really felt like it added shine and smoothed down any frizz. It's still a great product, but I don't like to put anything of this kind of colour on my hair as I'm trying to tone down any orangey tones I may have. It could purely be in my head, but after using brightening and tone correcting products to wash my hair, I don't want to counteract that by using this on top of it. It doesn't change the tone of my hair, but I do feel like it tones down the blonde shades I've been trying to bring out until I wash it next. 

I like the bottle for this product. The pipette means you have good control in how much you dispense, which is nice for an oil and it would be easy to squeeze or pour too much out. A little also goes a long way. You really only need one or two squeezes of the pipette.

I think it reduced my blow-drying time slightly, but not considerably. It does leave you feeling like you've done your hair some good though, and I think it smells gorgeous, which is always nice with a product you're putting on your hair.

A slightly more expensive option is the Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil - Penetrating Oil. I had never actually seen these Organix products before, but my mum bought this when she was in Boots recently and recommended it to me to help restore the condition of my hair. The product says it 'helps to rapidly penetrate the hair shaft restoring shine and softness while helping to strengthen and create soft, seductive, silky perfection.'. 

It also claims to help protect the hair from styling heat and UV damage. I liked this product a lot. It really makes my hair feel much healthier and softer, and is practically clear. This doesn't smell as nice as the VO5 Miracle Concentrate as it has a slightly more soapy shampoo scent to it.

The Organix Moroccan Argan Oil range also has a shampoo, conditioner and other treatments available, that I'd love to give a go.

I really like using both of these products. However, I am going to stick to using the Organix for a while. I like that it's a thicker kind of gel than the VO5 Miracle Concentrate, as you can sometimes feel like you're losing a lot of the thinner VO5 oil on your hands. The thicker consistency also feels like it's doing more for your hair.

Both products are easily absorbed, which is nice because they feel like they're working and hydrating without leaving a residue on the hair.

Although the Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil is slightly more expensive (I believe it retails for £7.99, but it isn't actually listed on the Boots website despite the other Organix products being listed) than the VO5 Miracle Concentrate (£5.19 from Boots), but you do get double the amount of product, and I feel like it goes even further than the VO5.

I'd buy both of these products again, as I enjoy using them both and think they're both great options for restoring some moisture to dry, over-worked hair.

Have you tried either of these or any of the other Organix range?

xxx

VO5 Miracle Concentrate Elixir with Argan Oil 50ml - £5.19 -http://www.boots.com/en/Vo5-Miracle-Concentrate-Elixir-with-Argan-Oil-50ml_1228559/

Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil - Penetrating Oil - Around £7.99 (Available from Boots) - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Moroccan-Argan-Oil-Renewing-Penetrating/dp/B006B6SE6E/ref=sr_1_22?s=drugstore&ie=UTF8&qid=1340375822&sr=1-22

E.L.F Reviews (Part Two) - Concealer, Eyeshadow, Nail Polish, and Bronzing Brush!

E.L.F Tone Correcting Concealer (Retails for £1.50)
I didn't have high hopes for this concealer, not because of the brand, price or the look of it on the site (I did buy it after all), but because I bought it in the shade Rosy Beige, whereas I would normally buy foundations or concealers in Ivory or their palest, or close to palest, option. However, Ivory was out of stock and this looked like the next palest shade.

I think I got carried away by the fact I needed a new concealer, it was the main reason I went to try E.L.F to be honest, and by the price. I would normally run a mile from pink toned foundations or concealers, as I have some pink to my skin which I am keen to tone down or cover up.

I do actually like the product. I like the formula, the packaging and the way it applies to the skin. It has a doe foot applicator which is great if you want to pinpoint blemishes. In order for me to get use out of this shade, I am using it as an under eye concealer, as I do often have dark circles and I know that orange or pinky shades are meant to counteract the blue. For this job, it is working great.

One thing I was unsure of is the scent. When on the website it said 'Scent - Sugar Orange' I didn't think much of it until I received the product and gave it a go. It does have a definite sweet orange scent to it, not overpowering, but the smell is definitely there. I didn't particularly mind this, and as I am using it around my eye area it is unnoticeable anyway. However, if you are sensitive to scents, and would use this around the nose and mouth, this might not be for you. From the E.L.F website it also looks like this concealer comes in quite a good shade range, especially for people with darker skin tones, who I know tend to struggle to find products catered to darker skin on the high street.
I generally like this product a lot, and I think it's a great concealer. It's a shame it's not really my shade but I'd definitely buy this product in Ivory when it is back in stock.


E.L.F Duo Eye Shadow Cream (Retails for £1.50)

I was really excited to try this product. I loved the colours in the Sugar Cookie duo, and normally am a big fan of cream eyeshadows. While obviously there will always be some cream eyeshadows that crease, they generally work very well for me, possibly as I have drier skin.

This product did not work well for me. On the packaging it arrived in it claimed to be longwear, crease resistant and blendable. I'm not really sure how they can even make the claim that it's longwear or crease resistant. Within minutes of putting it on my lids, it was creasing and over a half an hour period I had to run my finger back over it to fix it several times.

Seeing that it was not going to work well for me to go out in, I put an eyeshadow over it. This did seem to stop the creasing, and my shadow didn't crease throughout the day either, so as a base for eyeshadows this product could be great.

However, I didn't buy this for a base to other eye colours. I bought it because I loved, and still love the colours in this duo. One half is a beautiful shimmery pale pink, and the other is a lovely glittery gold. If this product had of worked for me, I'd have been over the moon because I loved the shades, and think it would have made a gorgeous look for summer. It's also a real shame because the duos look to come in amazing colours, and I would have undoubtedly bought more if the formula had have been better.

I'm not keen to waste a product though, and luckily the colours I bought it in work really well as a subtle blush and a golden highlighter for the summer when I won't be wanting to use a lot of powder products, as I prefer a dewy and glowy look.


E.L.F Nail Polish (Retails for £2.50)

I am a nail polish addict. I've been trying to ration myself lately to use up some of my existing ones before they dry up or go too thick, but when I saw Passion Pink on the E.L.F site, I couldn't resist.

The colour looked beautiful on the website, but I have to say I didn't personally think that the colour that arrived looked the same. Online it looked like a kind of milky opaque pink, without any shimmer. The Passion Pink that I got was much more of a hot pink with a gorgeous metallic gold running through it.

I have to say though, while this might be bad in other cases, I was very happy with the colour in the end. I love it a lot more than the one on the site, and it just looks a much more interesting and fun colour than I thought it was going to be.

I usually prefer nail polishes without shimmer, just cos I prefer the look of block opaque colours. But I love this. The shimmer is really subtle but still beautiful, so it doesn't look like you have really sparkly nails. The gold running through it is really different as well, and will be perfect for the summer months (if they ever arrive...).

It applies really well to the nail, although sometimes there's more product on the brush than there looks so that can lead to the odd accident. A lot of nail polishes have too thin a brush with them, but I felt like this was just the right size and would only take one or two strokes to cover the nail.

I'm normally the kind of person that really layers up nail polish. I like it to look quite thick and to be completely opaque, but with this I did two coats, and felt it looked great without keeping on adding more. I found it dried relatively quickly as well, as long as you don't layer up before it's properly dry, which is good because I am really impatient and will inevitably touch something and ruin it all. It lasts relatively well on the nail. Over 3 or 4 days I didn't have any chips (and I didn't use a top coat), however there was some wear on the top edge of the nail where some had worn off, but not noticeably.

I also like that the formula is apparently 'infused with Vitamin E for stronger, healthier nails', so you don't feel like you're doing damage to your nails.


I'm over the moon with this nail polish, and will be looking into the other colours in the future. But be warned, it may not look the way you thought when it arrives!

E.L.F Bronzing Brush (Retails for £1.50)

I'd tried contouring before, but never really had the right brush for it, and I had seen that a lot of people owned this angled brush from E.L.F so was keen to buy one.

Although the website calls it the Blushing, Bronzing and Blending Brush, the brush itself just says 'Bronzing Brush' on it. I don't think I'll use it for blushing or general bronzing because I prefer bigger, rounder brushes for that. But for contouring and highlighting I found it just right. The angle allows you to be really precise and as it's not too thick, you aren't left overdoing it.

I really like this for contouring and am pleased I bought it, but for other purposes I would probably look to other brushes.


That's all my E.L.F purchases done. I am on the whole really happy with them, and will definitely be looking to E.L.F in the future for my make-up needs. I am quite a fan of make-up shopping and looking at and testing products in person though, and found it quite hit and miss as someone who normally buys high street brands which, even when you buy online, you are aware of what you're getting. But for these prices, the quality for these prices, and the range I think E.L.F is brilliant!


(E.L.F Review Part One - http://beautyimaginarium.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/elf-reviews-part-one-eyeshadow-eyeliner.html)

xxx

Bronzing Brush - £1.50 - http://eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~43.htm

Cream Eye Shadow Duo - £1.50 - http://eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~67.htm

Nail Polish - £2.50 - http://eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~62.htm

Tone Correcting Concealer - £1.50 - http://eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~68.htm

E.L.F Reviews (Part One) - Eyeshadow, Eyeliner, and Lash and Brow Mascara!

So I got a bit carried away and ordered 7 products from the E.L.F website last week. Having never owned an E.L.F product, I was very excited to try them out, and have been incorporating them into my everyday make-up routine since they arrived.

E.L.F Single Eyeshadow in Totally Teal (Retails for £3.75)

I had my reservations about the colour of the free Studio eyeshadow I got with my order.

Don't get me wrong, I love a freebie, however as it's not a colour I would normally wear I was dubious as to whether I'd get any real use out of it, as opposed to if it were more of a neutral shade.
However, the colour is gorgeous and beautifully pigmented, so I have set about finding ways I could use it for different looks. In the summer I sometimes like to have a natural or golden eyeshadow on my lid and line the underneath with a blue or green, and this worked really well for that with a damp liner brush.

It's very buildable, so you can use it for a wash of teal over the lid, or for a really dramatic heavy eye look. It says on the packaging that the product is crease and fade resistant. I haven't worn it all over the lid for a long enough period of time to really test this, but it did last well as a liner, and there was no fall-out from it, despite it being pigmented. If the product really is crease and fade resistant, it would be fantastic for make-up looks for nights out. It can also be applied wet for a more intense and longer lasting colour.

From the website, the other shades in this range all look beautiful as well, and I'd definitely be keen to try this product in one of the softer colours as I really like the consistency and pigment of the product, as well as how well it applies.

E.L.F Waterproof Eyeliner Pen in Black (Retails for £1.50)

I've never been a huge fan of eyeliner pens. While they are good for precise application and don't give you the leaking or smudging problems that some pencils or liquid liners do, I've always found the nib to dry out quickly or the colour to just not have the intensity or be as opaque as I'd like. I'm willing to accept this is probably just me being fussy. When I wear eyeliner on my upper lashline I like it to be very defined and opaque, not necessarily thick, but I just don't like the look of smudgey eyeliner or undefined liner on me.

But I thought it was time me and eyeliner pens tried to settle our differences. As (hopefully) summertime approaches, I won't always want to be wearing a lot of make-up, and while I love the liquid liner look, it might tend to look a bit heavy for everyday when I'm not out and about doing anything special. It also appealed to me that this pen is waterproof as in the warmer weather I am a big fan of waterproof eye products that you don't have to worry about melting off of your face or transferring.

The nib for this pen is fantastic. It's really thin so you are able to achieve a great eyeliner flick, and you can build it to be as thin or thick a line as you fancy. When I applied this eyeliner, it stayed in place all day, and it stayed put through some tricky eyeliner odds.

However, I did find it quite hard to make my liner as intense as I like it, but as I've said I bought this for the days when I don't really want that look, so I think it's something I'd get used to. But if you are looking for a good intense solid eyeliner line, I wouldn't buy this product for that.
If you like subtle but defined, then I think this product could really be for you, and it is fantastic for that look.

E.L.F Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara

I really love having my eyebrows well shaped and defined. I feel like good eyebrows really pull a make-up look together. I use a No7 Amazing Eyes Pencil in number 10 Brown to lightly fill in and shape my brows, but have often found that sometimes the hairs will fall out of place. I have in the past used a tiny bit of Vaseline over them to keep them in place, but it's not very resistant, so I have been wanting to buy a clear mascara for a while.

It's been one of those products that hasn't been top of my list, so I always forget it when shopping, however I am so glad I finally bought one. I think it is brilliant and is now a necessary step in finishing my make-up off. The packaging says the formula has protein conditioning properties, but doesn't describe what that does. It could possibly help promote the growth of lashes and eyebrows, but I couldn't be certain.

The product has one end for lashes and one for brows. While I'm sure the lashes end would work just as well for brows and vice versa should you run out of mascara. The brow wand is slightly thicker than the lashes wand, and isn't tapered. It applies perfectly to the brows and allows them to be shaped however you want them.

The formula dries fully, so you feel really assured that your brows won't be moving, and it doesn't leave them looking glossy, coated in product, or anything that would make them look unnatural. The mascara has worked really well for me both over colour I've used for my brows and just on them naturally for a simpler, more everyday look.

I have also been using the clear lash mascara for my bottom lashes. I often find putting black mascara on my lower lashes can look a bit much on me for the daytime, and can make them look a bit long and spidery. So this was a great alternative to define them, whilst looking natural. It would also work really well over black mascara if you wanted to experiement with glossy looking lashes.

This product is a firm favourite of mine and I will be repurchasing when I run out!



Hope you enjoy reading! So far I am really pleased with my E.L.F buys and definitely think, with the prices and the variety, that I could be onto a new personal favourite brand!

xxx

Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara - £1.50 - http://eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~12.htm
Waterproof Eyeliner Pen - £1.50 - http://eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~101.htm
Studio Single Eyeshadow - £3.75 - http://eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~145.htm

Mini E.L.F Haul!

I had never bought anything from the E.L.F range before, but knowing how popular and purse friendly they are, I thought I'd have a look for a few alternatives for the items in my make-up bag that I was running low on.

Over the weekend, the E.L.F Facebook page had discount codes for free delivery when you spend £10 and also a code to get either an eye shadow from either their Studio or Mineral ranges. I probably wasn't originally going to spend £10, but with delivery normally at £2.95 I thought it was worthwhile to take advantage of this offer.

The main item I was after was a new concealer. I bought the Tone Correcting Concealer in Rosy Beige (£1.50). I normally would have bought the shade Ivory, but it was out of stock and I thought this shade would probably be fine when I am slightly more tanned or even just to use under my eyes.

The next item I went for is the Waterproof Eyeliner Pen (£1.50). I normally use liquid or gel eyeliners as I normally like quite defined eyes, and also I find that pens can dry up pretty quickly. However, I thought this would be great for when I wanted a thinner line and I also love that it's waterproof, so fingers crossed it doesn't dry up too quickly!

I'm a big fan of good eyebrows, and rarely, even on the most minimal of make-up looks, will I go out without my brows filled in a defined a bit. I really like to have a definite shape to my brows so I bought the Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara (£1.50) to keep them in place on nights out or long days, or to just help define them without using a product like a brow pencil or eye shadow to fill them in.

I then wanted a cream eye shadow for the summertime for a more natural, glowing look, so I bought one of the new E.L.F Duo Eye Shadow Creams in 'Sugar Cookie' (£1.50), a shimmery gold colour on one side and a frosted pinky peach colour on the other. I'm very excited to try this as the colours look gorgeous, although there is a bit less product in the pot than I expected.

For quite a while I had wanted a good contour brush, and most people seem to think that the angled brushes are best for the job so I bought the Professional Bronzing Brush (£1.50). Although it's had some mixed reviews, I've never had a good brush suitable for contouring really so I'm excited to see how it works and what effect it gives.

At this point my basket was at £7.50 so I wanted something around £2.50 or more to qualify for the free delivery and eye shadow. I went for a nail polish as I love nail polish and am always keen to try new colours and formulas. I didn't have any pink colours, so I decided to buy Passion Pink (£2.50). I actually prefer the colour a lot more in real life than the one shown on the website. It's a lot brighter in real life and from the bottle it seems to have a beautiful metallic gold running through it.

For the free eye shadow I opted for a Studio shadow but you couldn't select a colour so it was a bit of a lucky dip. I was sent the Single Eyeshadow in the colour Totally Teal. I'm not too excited about the colour, not because it's not pretty, it's a lovely vibrant teal, but I just would have preferred a more wearable shade. But in the summer I may use it to line my lower lashes so hopefully it will get some use.

I'm looking forward to trying and reviewing my purchases and hope they're a good quality for their brilliant price!

xxx

All products bought from eyeslipsface.co.uk

(Sorry for the poor photo quality, my camera on my phone has decided to hate me!)

George Lash X-Tend Mascara!

I had never tried any of the George by ASDA cosmetics, and wasn't really aware how large the range was. So when I was in ASDA recently, and in need of a new everyday mascara, so I thought I'd take a look at the George mascaras on sale. I'd bought the NYC Showtime Waterproof Mascara a month or so ago, but I'm not a big fan of wearing waterproof mascaras everyday as I can find them tough to remove and therefore a bit irritable to my eyes.

I picked up the George Lash X-Tend Mascara in the colour Intense Black, which retails for £2.50, which I think is a great price. The product claims to be a 'lengthening mascara with precision wand for dramatic lash building effect'. I'm not normally a fan of these thin, plastic 'precision' wands, normally opting for large brushes, but I wanted something that I could make look quite natural, yet effective in the Summer when I want to be out and about without a full face of make-up.

I think this product does a fantastic job at lengthening, especially for the price, and it left my lashes looking defined. As for the claim to have a 'dramatic lash building effect', I'm not so sure. I would say it builds the lashes up, but the effect from this looks a bit clumpy, and I was left having to separate my lashes to stop it looking like I just had four very thick eyelashes. But once I'd run my finger over the underneaths of my lashes to remove some excess product, and to separate, I actually liked the effect the mascara gave. The build up it gives would be great for a night out or a more dramatic eye look.

I'm not certain but it seems, looking at my lashes, that the product has tiny fibres in the formula to build and extend the lashes, which I have seen in more expensive brands before, but not in something at this price, so if that's the case, then I'm very impressed.

I know when I have worn this in warmer weather that there has been a slight transfer onto my lid/brow bone area, but it was nothing that wasn't easily fixed, and possibly preventable with a light coat of powder or powder eyeshadow by the brow bone. This mascara is also available in a waterproof formula which may be better for preventing transfer.

For it's price, I think this is a good buy. I noticed a real difference in my eyelashes and it's versatile in that one coat could leave you with a natural, long lash look, or more coats can build drama. The only reason I'd perhaps not re-purchase is the wand. I find more control in product build up from bristle brushes, but I know the George range has mascaras with bigger brushes so I'd definitely be inclined to give them a go.

Have you tried any of the George make-up range? I'd love to know how you find the other products and if you have any recommendations!

xxx

George by Asda Lash X-Tend Mascara - £2.50 from ASDA

http://groceries.asda.com/asda-estore/catalog/sectionpagecontainer.jsp?aisleid=1214921924351&skuId=910000404800&startValue=&departmentid=1214921923791

Purple Shampoos for Blondes!

I naturally have light brown/dark blonde hair but I've gone back and forth between dying my hair blonde and a brunette pretty much every year since I was 16. I've always found being a blonde is more costly, with root touch-ups, highlighting, toner etc, as well as the extra care your hair requires after being bleached.

When I go blonde, I tend to have a lot of brassy tones come through from the warm red tones my hair had when brunette, which can be frustrating and take a lot of growing out or many sessions of highlights. Thankfully, my hair has grown quite a bit, and where my natural regrowth has been bleached the colour has come out much better and paler.

However, I'm still keen to do what I can to fight the orange tinge that the ends of my hair has.I try to use an ash blonde semi-permanent colour every couple of months to tone it down, and I like to use purple shampoos, specially designed to fight brassiness in blonde hair, as often as I can.

However, these shampoos can be hard to locate on the high street. I've always bought John Frieda Sheer Blonde Colour Renew Shampoo and the matching conditioner when I could afford to, but with them coming in at nearly £12 for the pair I couldn't always afford to buy more (and I use a lot of conditioner!).
I recently found PRO:VOKE Touch of Silver Weekly Treatment Shampoo in Sainsbury's, and with a price tag nearly half of the Sheer Blonde shampoo, I knew I had to give it a go. I was excited to see that it was a much deeper, more vivid violet than the Sheer Blonde.

Although there is only 100ml in the Touch of Silver (compared to the 250ml Sheer Blonde bottles) it does say it is a twice weekly treatment (although I sometimes use it more often), a little goes a long way, and due to the stronger colour I really felt it was doing more to my hair. Also I like the fact it's a treatment (the bottle recommends leaving it on for 5 minutes) cos it feels like it's doing more for your hair. In between treatments I tend to use L'Oreal Elvive Nourish and Shimmer Highlights Shampoo and Conditioner, which I would recommend highly for an everyday shampoo.

I have found daily shampoo and conditioner available in the Touch of Silver range, which I definitely will be trying, and seeing how they compare to the John Frieda Sheer Blonde range.
If you have bleached hair, I would definitely recommend giving this product a try. Although it says on the bottle that it is for grey, white, or platinum blonde hair, it definitely helped my slightly darker blonde hair.

Let me know if you've tried any other purple shampoo or any tips you have for fighting the brassy look!

xxx

PRO:VOKE Touch of Silver Weekly Treatment Shampoo - £3.09 from Boots http://www.boots.com/en/Touch-Of-Silver-Silver-Shine-Shampoo-Weekly-Treatment-150ml_1047911/

PRO:VOKE Touch of Silver Daily Shampoo -£2.09 from Boots (for 200ml)
http://www.boots.com/en/Touch-Of-Silver-Silver-Sensations-Shampoo-200ml_1047907/

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Colour Renew Shampoo - £5.89 from Boots
http://www.boots.com/en/John-Frieda-Sheer-Blonde-Colour-Renew-Shampoo-250ml_122172/

L'Oreal Elvive Nourish and Shimmer Highlights Shampoo - £3.89 from Boots (for 400ml)
http://www.boots.com/en/LOreal-Elvive-Nourish-Shimmer-Highlights-Shampoo-400ml_929841/