Real Techniques Blush Brush - Review

I have had the Real Techniques Core Collection for a while and I absolutely love it. I use the brushes everyday and I honestly can't fault them. The core collection is great for the basics and now I am going to pad out my collection, starting with the blush brush.

The blush brush is hand-cut to contour and define cheeks for flawlessly blended, high definition results.

Like the core collection, this is a really high quality brush. I have been using it to apply blush to my cheeks and find its excellent at ensuring you don't overload your skin with product. The tapered end means its effect for precise application.

As with all the Real Techniques brushes, the name of the brush is printed on the handle. The head is a great size, much bigger than my other blush brushes. At £9.99 this is slightly more expensive than the core collection works out per brush but definitely worth the money.

Do you have this brush? 

 
 

 
 
 

 

MUA Trio Eyeshadow - Pink Sorbet

As I have moaned about several times before, the Superdrug in my area is useless. One of its biggest downfalls is that it doesn't stock any of the MUA Pro items, just the £1 range. Whenever I am visiting another town I always pick up some MUA items and this eyeshadow trio was purchased on a recent trip to Glasgow. 

I am a big fan of the MUA eye shadows and particularly like how pigmented they are. I have a few of the singles and 2 palettes but this is my first trio. I have read several reviews of this product and find many bloggers think this isn't as pigmented as the other shadows but I have to disagree.

These colours are gorgeous. There is a dark, medium and light meaning its perfecting for smoking out. I find the pigmentation really great and can't see why people would think otherwise. The shades are shimmery so obviously don't give the colour pay-off of a matte shadow but the colours are strongly visible and long lasting.

Overall I am really happy with the product and will definitely purchase another trio shadow in the future! 

  

 

August Empties

Lots of products to get through this month so I am going to keep it brief! Lots of these products have full reviews on my blog already anyway!

Argan Oil Cleansing Facial Wipes

I hadn't seen these before so picked them up at a bargain £1. They are a nice wet wipe and remove my makeup well. Repurchase? Yes

T-Zone Cleansing Wipes

These are my favourite wipes that I always go back to. They are cheap, smell lovely and do the job! Repurchase? Yes 

T-Zone Clear Out Nose Pore Strip

I don't really get many black heads but saw these for a great price and bought them. I don't need them so they do nothing for me and are painful to remove. Repurchase? No

Clarins Cleansing Milk Sample

I did a whole review of these and they just didn't impress me for the price! Repurchase? No

Nivea Soft 

I was using this as a night cream for my face and really like it. It is very moisturising and smells lovely. When I wake up I can still feel the benefit of applying this cream the night before - a real winner. Repurchase? Yes

Nivea Double Effect Eye Make-up Remover

This is own of those products that has two parts and you have to shake them together before using. The only problem is, after a while I only had one of the parts left! This is very oily and greasy on the skin but it does a super job of removing all traces of makeup and its very gentle on the eyes. Repurchase? Yes, if I don't find anything better.

Garnier Simply Essentials Soothing Vitamin-Enriched Toner

I wrote about this when I posted my skincare routine. It's very gentle, even around the eye area and leaves skin feeling really clean. Repurchase? Yes

Dr. Alkaitis Night Cream*

I got this in my Souk Souk box along with the day cream. I enjoy the feeling in my skin fom this product but the smell was very off putting. Repurchase? No

V05 Give Me Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner 

These are not my usual hair are products but the were on offer and handy sized bottles for my bag when I was off on holiday. I like these, they do the job but they are nothing special. Repurchase? Yes

L'oreal Lumino Contrast Hair Mask

I can't remember where I got this but have had it a while and decided to give it a go. This left my hair really smooth but tried out my scalp a little. Repurchase? No

Sanctuary Hand Cream

I'm really in to hand cream at the moment and this one was lovely. The tube size is perfect for my hand bag and I adored the smell of this product. Repurchase? Yes

T-Zone Revitalising Body Wash

I saw this on offer and decided to pick it up because I love their facial skincare range. I'm so glad I did because its a really lovely body wash. The smell is really fresh and it really weakens you up in the morning. Repurchase? Yes

Balance Me. Super Toning Body Wash

I got this free in a magazine and really enjoyed using it. The fragrance is lovely and really natural and it foams up well. Repurchase? Yes

Vaseline Spray & Go Body Moisturiser

I did a full review of this product and I'm a big fan. It's really handy and allows for whole body moisturising really quickly and mess free. My only problem is that this didn't last mor than 2 weeks and its pretty pricey. Repurchase? Yes, if it was on offer

Nivea Stress Protect and Sure Clear Pure

When it comes to deodorant I just buy what's on offer. Both of these d the job. Repurchase? Yes

Astral

I love this cream and always pick one up when it's on offer. It's great for really dry areas like elbows and knees. Repurchase? Yes

Model Co Fibre Lashxtend Mascara

I got this as a magazine freebie and I love it. It's a great lengthening mascara which separates lashes with no clumps. The only reason I wouldn't repurchase is that it's a bit on the expensive side for me. Repurchase? No

Sample of Estée Lauder Double Wear

This is the foundation I normally use but I got this sample to try another shade. Repurchase? Yes

What have you used up this month? 

 

 

 

 

Products I'm Passing On - Reviews

Recently I visited my sister, Hannah, and decided to bring her a box of products that I wasn't using anymore. Some I didn't like and some I just didn't get round to using or didn't need. Below I have briefly outlined why I was getting rid of each and have included what my sister thought also. I think it's really interesting to see different opinions and it just goes to show that just because I don't like it, it doesn't mean that it isn't any good!

MUA Lipstick Shade 12 - I like this lipstick but I accidentally bought two of the same shade and I will never get through that much lipstick! I'm a big fan of the MUA lipsticks and think they are a great product for such a low price.

Hannah -  I've used MUA lipsticks before and really like them. The silver writing on the black casing looks nice, and these lipsticks also have a little pot of lipgloss on the bottom which is a nice touch. This one was shade 12, which is darkish pink and glittery. This would be something I would use if my hair colour didn't completely clash with it, however I will hang onto it for the next time I change my hair!

6 Samples of My Trusty Little Sunflower Cream - I love this and have a full bottle so don't really need these sachet samples. I use it on my face and find it really hydrating. I tend to only use it at bed time because I find it doesn't absorb into the skin quickly and leaves a white residue.

Hannah -  I'm a big fan of moisturising products so I was more than happy to receive these. I work as a chef, and so my hands quite often get burned, or become dry from constant hand washing, so I used this cream on them after my shifts. I found that the cream rubbed in well and did not leave my skin feeling greasy at all, and the lavender scented cream had a lovely, subtle smell. I used the unscented cream on my face as a morning moisturiser and i was really pleased with it too. However, I would have to use this product for a longer period of time to know whether it was superior to other moisturisers i use. These were nice to use, but I wouldn't go out of my way to buy the product, as I already have a brand of moisturising lotion that I like.

Style Expertise Texture Salt Infusion Surf Spray - My hair is really fine and not really suited to products like this. I had used this occasionally but then I got a similar one in a Glossybox so I will just use that one instead. I find that even with this product I can't get any sort of wave or messy look without heat styling.

Hannah - I am a big fan of hair products, so I was pleased to receive this. The bottle is a lovely colour and doesn't look cheap like a lot of store brand products do. It is very easy to use as you simply spray it onto your hair, and it smells lovely and fresh. I was really happy with the rough, tousled look it gave my hair, and it didn't go flat or frizzy throughout the day. My only criticism of this product is that the day after using this, my hair was totally unmanageable and it was impossible to run a brush or comb through it. As I tend to wash my hair every second day, this is a bit of a problem. Despite this, I will still use this on occasions such as a night out, and I would consider buying it again.

Deep Action Cleansing Lotion - If you read my blog, you already know I don't like this! It stings!

Hannah -  I have just run out of makeup wipes, so this came at a convenient time. I like the fact that it doesn't need to be rinsed off, as I'm not too keen on rinsing my face with water other than in the shower. I was expecting the sting, and it came, but it was more of a burning sensation, especially around the eyes, and the feeling stayed for quite a while after. It did its job though, and my face felt fresh. I will continue to use this product, but will not be going near my eyes with it again.

You Mist Me Luxury Flirtatious Scented Mist - I actually quite like the smell of this body mist as it is really subtle. It's a cute small bottle and handy for throwing in a bag but I just won't use it as I always wear perfume.

Hannah - This stuff smells pretty nice, it's very sweet, but that's the kind of smell I like to wear. However, the scent is very faint, and disappears after only an hour or so of using. It's a nice idea, but I'd rather splash out on a nice perfume than buy a cheaper, watered down spray, so I won't be buying this again. I will use the rest of it though, because it does smell nice while it lasts!

Beauty Formulas Glorious Mud Deep Cleansing Facial Mask - I used this mask once and I like the affects on my skin afterwards but I found the smell really off-putting.

Hannah - I don't often use face masks, so this was a treat. The mask smells lovely, and is really easy to apply. However, once it dries, it goes hard and feels quite uncomfortable. After I had washed it off, my face did feel and look  refreshed ,so I will use this again, but probably would not buy it.


nspa Beauty Balm - I recently reviewed this and thought it was a good product just not something I will use because I prefer a full face of foundation!

Hannah - I had never even heard of BB cream before I was given this! I feel like I have missed out. I use foundation but have really struggled to ever find one that matches my pale skin tone, and often end up with a tideline, but the BB cream is perfect. It gives enough coverage for me and it isn't too dark for my skin. It moisturises well, and it does look very natural and fresh. I will still use foundation sometimes, but I will definitely be buying this again.

Have you tried any of these products? 

Code Beautiful - Code VLM - Mascara Review

'We're just two women who went on a mission to find the ultimate mascara and couldn't .... so we decided to make our own!' Kirsti and Sarah, creators of CODE Beautiful.

I am not particularly blessed in the eyelash department. My lashes are a decent length but so straight that it takes a lot to get a dramatic look from them. In the past I have turned to eyelash extensions but they are expensive, time consuming and high maintenance! I have recently found the perfect eyelash curler but still flit between mascaras, looking for something fantastic. Needless to say, I was excited to try this new product from CODE Beautiful. 

CODE VLM Volumising Lengthening Mascara* £19.95

Firstly, the packaging of the mascara is gorgeous. It comes in a lovely presentation box that has application instructions. The wand is exactly the kind I love to use. I find the tapered end perfect for reaching the inner corner.

I curled my eyelashes and then applied a coat of this by hold the brush at the base of my lashes then curling out. With one coat my eyelashes looked defined but I added a second coat to give more volume. Even my boyfriend commented on how 'big' my lashes looked.

Throughout the day I found this mascara stayed put and didn't crumble like many tend to. When I went to wash it off I found that I needed 2 pads of remover but I did eventually get my eyelashes clear of product.

This mascara is a real winner and I am really enjoying using it! 

It can be purchased from http://www.code-beautiful.com

 
 
 
 

Fudge Urban Colour Hair Chalk - Review

I haven't dyed my hair for years and I am not very adventurous with styling so I was keen to try these hair chalks as they looked so simple to use.

Fudge Urban Colour Hair Chalk in Festival Pink* £4.99

The hair chalks are available in 5 colours: Iced White, Red Hot Pepper, Electrik Blue, Pumped-up Purple and Festival Pink, which I have reviewed.  

The idea of the chalks is that you can create crazy coloured looks, great for parties and festivals, which can be washed out the next day. They are really easy to use and totally mess free. They can be used on dry or wet hair and hair can be twisted to encourage the colour to grip more. Hairspray will keep the colour locked on for the whole night. 

I used these on a little ladies light hair because I wasn't sure how they would show up in photos on my own dark hair. I simple took a strand of hair and drew a line with the chalk. I didn't spray with hairspray and the colour stayed put all evening. When washing the next morning her hair needed a little extra scrub to get all the colour out but in general it was easy to remove. 

These are really fun and great for young girls or for a festival or night out. They are really easy to use can be mixed up to create different shades. 

These can be bought from Superdrug and more information can be found on the Fudge website: http://www.fudge.com/en-int/

 

Current Favourites #1

I have decided to start writing favourites posts. I'm not sure that I will have enough products to have a monthly feature so will just post them as and when! 

Carex Cola Bottles Hand Wash 

Normally I don't review hand washes or include them in posts but I honestly can't get enough of this one! The chocolate orange and strawberry laces versions were nice too but this is a clear winner in my eyes. Purely for how delicious it smells I will definitely be buying this again! I bought this for £1 from Morrisons but it seems to be available everywhere at various prices.

Estée Lauder Pure Color Blush  - Electric Pink Satin £25

This is much more than I would usually spend on blush but I absolutely love this product. The colour is gorgeous and the packaging is really high quality. I have been using this for 2 months but my use is barely visible. It applies well and lasts all day. 

Real Techniques Detailer Brush - From The Core Collection 

I overlooked this brush when I first got the set and have only really begun to use it now. It is perfect for applying concealer or for adding more foundation to tricky parts of your face. 

Amie All Clear Instant Action Spot Clearing Gel* £4.95

I am not a spotty person. I am very lucky with my skin and very rarely get so much as a pimple. Recently I have started a new job and the stress has caused a major break-out on my chin. This gel has been a god send during this time! I apply it before bed, spreading it across my whole chin. It's lovely and cooling and really soothes the soreness. In the morning I find the redness is significantly reduced and the spots dry up much quicker than usual. A real winner! This can be bought from the website http://amieskincare.com/product/amie-all-clear-instant-action-spot-clearing-gel-15ml/

Do you like reading favourites posts?