Nyx round lipgloss in Doll Pink




Ever since my Cherry Culture haul, I feel like I’ve been raving about their products – the quality of their lipsticks and eyeshadows are simply divine. I also got three round lipglosses from Nyx and have tried them out long enough to give a good balanced review.

The price is so good that its almost non-existent: $2 sale with added 20% discount equals roughly £1. Even the glosses at Asda’s George range are £2.75 now! Of course there’s the £7 P&P, but I prefer to think of it as the ugly step sister determined to ride Cinderella’s ball gown train – something you ignore with the best possible poker face (no grimaces!).

Like all Nyx round lipglosses, the applicator comes in a slightly bent doe foot sponge wand. A slight grievance is the fact that the stopper around the neck of the tube isn’t very good at its job and always lets out a little too much product each time. This can be the other ugly stepsister in my fairy tale analogy.  The colour Doll Pink is a pretty bright fuchsia with very small lilac shimmer particles that are only visible only if you stare very closely at the tube for extended periods of time and risk going cross-eyed. It could certainly be Cinderella’s lip colour by choice.

Application-wise, the product glides on smoothly and easily with no hint of drag or uneven colour application. The formula is very light weight and runny. A comparison that comes to mind is the Jemma Kidd Makeup School Hi-Shine Silktouch lipglosses, which are similarly thin. So if you’re a person who dislikes the heavy feeling Mac lip dazzleglasses or Revlon Superlustrous lipglosses give, this would be the perfect lipgloss range for you. Alternatively, if you’re a true beauty addict and like to mix and match things, I’d recommend you go for it anyway.

The pigmentation of the gloss is very good despite the fact that you’re not caking on the product at all. In terms of wear, I would say I got at least 4 hours from it, although the glossy effect started to fade towards the end so my lips were more pink than shiny, as the pigmentation remained like a stain on my lips. It’s harder to judge for after 4 hours, as I had to eat then. Due to my rational dislike of having food crumbs stuck to my lips or ingesting too much chemicals, I always remove my lip products before eating, so it’s rather hard for me to comment whether the gloss would have lasted beyond the 4 hour mark for me. Judging by its performance, I dare say the pigmentation would have definitely lasted, but don’t quote me on that.

All in all, this is such a fantastic product, even discounting the price. There are so many colours to choose from on the Cherry Culture website, ranging from nudes to pastels to brights. I’m firmly on the Nyx bandwagon now and whilst I’m constantly bemoaning the lack of Nyx in the UK (more expensive online Nyx distributers here in the UK does NOT count!), I confess part of my fascination with Nyx also stems from its limited availability. It was ever so much fun researching all the different colours online and reading up on swatches/reviews before making my choices on whether I should go for the eyeshadow palettes or singles, the lipsticks or the lipglosses, the Megashine range or the Black label range…



Stila eyeshadows review in Sparkle and Cloud

I really wanted to try Stila after reading rave reviews and hauls around the web and when I saw two new shadow pans up for grabs on Ebay, I couldn’t resist.

The colours are in Sparkle and Cloud, and each pan is pretty big. The outer packaging is the typical Stila brown paper box that I’m not too keen on – it suggests a cheap eco-friendly brand that places more emphasis on hugging trees rather than what it should be all about – makeup quality. Mind you, I’ve nothing against the environment in general. I simply wish for sleeker packaging.

However, the products themselves are nothing like the wishy-washy, nondescript brown outer packaging. The pans were snugly situated in plastic and well protected. Sparkle is a beautiful rich brown/golden duochrome colour with lots of frost. Cloud is equally beautiful and swatches a gorgeous silver with a hint of grey/blue. The colour is duochrome too, so changes according to the light.

Sparkle

Cloud

Only a single swipe is needed to achieve such a pigmented swatch. The texture is buttery soft. I would compare it to my Urban Decay shadows in terms of pigmentation, but say that it’s even softer in texture. Despite the softness, there’s no need to worry about powdery fallout in my palette – a major bonus when moving between university accommodations and home.

With flash

No flash with horrid yellow lamp light

Overall, I wouldn’t mind owning a few more of these little gems at all. I hate paying jacked up prices here in the UK when it’s so much cheaper in comparison over in USA, so I’ll probably be scouring TKMaxx and Ebay for more Stila bargains. I saw a trio set at TKMaxx a while back but they’ve seem to have gone now, so it’s all based on luck really. Nevertheless, I’m not desperate for makeup anymore, so will happily let serendipity reign.

I’ve got two of their famed lipglosses to try in my stash of unopened goodies too. Can’t wait!

Anyone have good Stila recommendations?

Nyx eyeshadows in Luster and Golden Bronze review

I fell in love with Nyx after my first Cherry Culture haul and snapped up two more eyeshadows from Ebay recently in the colours Luster and Golden Bronze.

Pigmentation-wise, they are very, very good. In fact, I have been impressed with all the products I’ve tried from Nyx so far and have to say the pigmentation is top notch, regardless of price. I would happily place them in the same range as Mac or Urban Decay for some of the products, if not better, as in the case of the round lipsticks.

Luster is a light olive green colour with golden shimmer, whilst Golden Bronze is browner and contains similar olive undertones, along with shimmer. Golden Bronze is definitely the more wearable of the two, but the two are very complementary and would be a great duo for spring/summer. They’re unique in my collection as I own a stack of true browns/taupe singles, along with the Naked palette, but nothing olive-based.

These blend out nicely and last a long time with UDPP – no creasing for me for at least 8 hours, which is very nice. Of course, my shadows rarely crease as long as I use primer. It’s important to note that only a thin layer of primer is needed (this goes for cream eyeshadows used as base too) – overloading the lids with product is guaranteed crease-city.

With the whole range of colours Nyx offers, I’ll definitely be hitting Cherry Culture or Ebay soon. Any good colour recommendations?

Moroccan Oil review

I bought this hair treatment oil from a salon as part of my London Haul around two weeks ago and have used it more than half a dozen times now – enough to warrant a good short-term review.

I bought the original version as opposed to the light one that’s recommended for people with fine hair. The key ingredient here is Argan Oil and I wanted the highest concentration of this in the ingredients. The stylist couldn’t tell me what percentage of the Argan Oil was in the original and light versions, so it made sense the original contains more. For me, one pump is enough for my entire head of medium-thick shoulder length hair. Two pumps was needed using the light version, so even economy-wise, the original was the better choice for me. You rub the oil between your palms and smooth it into damp towel dried hair from midway to the ends, followed by heat protectant and hair drier. The oil should sink straight into your shafts and start working its magic on your locks.

My hair is naturally very straight. It’s thick and never frizzes. The texture is smooth and it’s quite easy to work through any tangles from wind or the shower. Following usage of the Moroccan Oil, my hair is even silkier and softer than before. Frankly, that’s saying something. My strands are ridiculously soft, even after tongs and hair spray – so much so that when I dared a friend to stroke it, she couldn’t stop. In combination with my quick trim and the oil, my slightly frazzled ends are history. It would be interesting to see how long I can maintain that state of healthiness.

It is also easier to comb through me hair. Normally, after curling using heat and copious amounts of spray, my curls get tangled and hard to comb through. This is no longer a problem since I started using Moroccan Oil. It also eliminates my non-existent frizz problem, so I can imagine girls with such problems will find it even better than I do.

Overall, I am very impressed with the short term results I’ve seen so far. I was informed by the stylist that the salon had tried several brands of Argan oil treatments before, but that Moroccan Oil was by far the best and is selling like hot cakes. After trying it, I can imagine why.

The 100ml bottle costs £30.45 and is pretty good value for money considering how little I use each time I wash my hair. Truthfully, my hair care routine is pretty low maintenance and I go for the types of shampoos and conditioners you find on the expensive aisles of Boots (i.e. £5 to £10 range). This is the most expensive hair care item I’ve splashed out on, and I’m definitely seeing the results. If you’re unsure, I would recommend finding a salon that offers this treatment and try it there, if you’re due for a trim sometime soon. Alternatively, you can purchase a smaller sample size (I think it’s 15ml for £15). That’s not as cost efficient, but cheaper so you can see how well you like it before committing to a full sized bottle.  

My Top 5 Clinique Products

Following my massive splurge on recent Glamour magazines to get my mitts on the free Clinique goodies, I thought it’d be nice to make a list of all the Clinique products I’ve tried over the last few years which I’ve enjoyed. It’ll hopefully give you some inspiration for when you go past the counter next time a Bonus Time event is happening. I have bought these items full priced at Clinique counters, so have tested them out for quite a while now and am confident in my assessment and preference.

My absolute favourite is the Take the Day Off makeup remover (£14.50). It’s a bi-phase makeup remover and very effective. I prefer this to the No 7 Cleanse Eye care makeup remover and it’s as effective as the Lancome Bi-facial, whilst being £3 cheaper. I simply soak a pad with this and put it on my lids for a second or two, before wiping away. It has yet to leave me with panda eyes before bed.

A close favourite is the All About Eyes eye cream (£22.50), which is a rich, moisturising balm that absorbs quickly, without residue. According to Clinique, it holds makeup in place too. I always wore primer on my lids before shadows, so can’t comment on how effective this is as a primer. When I switched to a Natio day and night eye cream duo, I got a few flaky dry spots on my eye area that I didn’t have before. All About Eyes sorted that out quickly.

I love the Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief (£30). It has a gel like texture which reminds me of the Dramatically Different Moisturizing gel, and absorbs as quickly to give the skin a light, refreshed but still moisturised feeling. The Thirst Relief has a longer hydration period than the Dramatically Different gel though.  

The SPF35 Targeted Protection Stick (15.50) is fantastic now that the sun’s coming back. I couldn’t find an eye cream with built in SPF protection, so decided to go for this. I wear it over my eye makeup and have to apply it carefully in order not to smudge the shadows. However, when it’s on, it’s on! It’s water- and sweat-proof, so good for holidays too.

I really like the Anti-Blemish Solutions Clearing Moisturiser (£15) too. It made a difference to the size of my breakouts when I applied it over-night, but not dramatic enough to warrant a repurchase after I finished it. I did enjoy using it though, as you can see in my ‘A de-potting exercise!’ post, when I tried to salvage as much as I could from an empty tube. It sunk in beautifully and left my skin matte, which was nice especially for daytime.

I’m not very keen on the Clinique makeup range. The shadows are quite nice in terms of colour, but rather sheer. After Mac and Urban Decay, I’m more inclined towards punchier pigmentation. The lipsticks are nice and moisturising, so feel free to check that out. The one product I can absolutely not stand is Long Last Gloss Wear – I own two and both feel tacky on my lips. Every time I apply, it feels like I’m smoothing a prick-stick tube over my lips and I end up with extreme stickiness.

So there you have it! Have you tried any of the products I mentioned? Or do you have other recommendations? Let me know in the comments and don’t forget to follow!

Cassie xoxo

Top Celebrity Beauty Buys from £2!

I spotted this slideshow feature on the Marie Claire website and clicked through the 25 products current celebs love and rave about. I picked out 5 of my favorites which I’ve tried before to share with you guys. If you want to check out all 25, click here.


Cheryl Cole

Loves: Vaseline Lip Therapy stick, £2.03 and L’oreal Glam Shine Reflexion in Sheer Cassis, £6.99.

Vaseline is such a cult product, isn’t it? The original blue tin one was my first lip balm ever and I used it for at least five years to moisturize my lips overnight, before I got bored and discovered Boots Lip Wonderbalm. I love the new stick formula and the fact that it contains great ingredients like pro-vitamin E. However, I still prefer a lip balm that contains a lil’ bit less of petroleum, since that taste irritates me so much.

The L’oreal Glam Shine lipgloss is great! Smooth application, fantastic pigmentation and non-sticky wear. My lips feel slick and light after application. I would estimate it lasts more than 4 hours on me, but it’s hard to say since I always wipe off any lip product before eating as I hate the feeling of crumbs stuck to any product.


Leighton Meester

Loves: Benefit Benetint, £23.50

She says that 'It creates the most natural flush.’

I totally agree with Leighton that the Benetint is a fab product, but I actually prefer its little sister – Posietint, which I tried out during my Benefit evening on Tuesday. I think the pink would suit more skin tones and be easier to carry off.

The stain is long lasting and fades pretty evenly. I still had to apply a lipbalm over the top as I’ve tried lips, but low maintenance girls can use this from day to night without need for reapplications.


Jessica Alba

Loves: Epsom salts, £2.15

She says she ‘adds them to the bath along with eucalyptus essential oil to ease water retention.'

I love all sorts of bath products and have a selection to suit my mood, be they bubbly and fun or natural and soothing. Something really has to be said for the medicinal qualities of bath salts though. I don’t know if it’s because of the minerals in the salt crystals which give these benefits or if it’s purely a placebo effect, but my muscles feel more relaxed using bath salts.

Also, my mum loves the Dead Sea sea salts (around £6 for 1 kg at Boots) for occasional joint paints when the weather is damp and cold.


Fergie
Loves: Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, £23

She says 'It's so versatile. I use it on my skin and lips.'


To be honest, Vaseline is rather similar since it's mainly petroleum and the 8 hours cream contains ~55% petroleum, but there’s also salicylic acid, vitamin E and corn oil. Perhaps it's the the price that makes me think its more effective.



Let me know in the comments below what you think of these tips! Are there any cheap products worthy of sharing?

Wanna steal Barbie’s pout?

Well, do yah?

I bought the Revlon Matte Lipstick in Pink Pout a few weeks back in Boots, when they had the £2 off deal and I was in need to lipstick comfort.

According to the good Revlon people, the lipstick range is supposed to ‘glide effortlessly across lips, depositing rich, beautiful matte colour without any drag, cakiness or resistance.’ Doesn’t it sound beautiful? Power of advertising for you, but let’s go on to the actual product, shall we?

The packaging is plastic, but nice and solid, with a clear transparent top on the lid so you can easily spot the colour in your stash. The colour is a pretty, light pink with a hint of mauve to make it more wearable.

In the photo, both the swatch and bullet appears a tad more mauve whilst on my lips, the pink really shines through. This is reflective of how lighting affects the lipstick shade and I believe demonstrates truly how wearable it is for everyone.

Application-wise, I’ve got to warn you that it isn’t something you can slick on and dash out. As the finish is matte, any dryness on your lips will be exaggerated. I’ve highlighted the tiny portion on my lips with showed horrid flakiness because I didn’t exfoliate properly. I recommend applying lip balm first, blot it off, and then apply lipstick. This way, the lipstick applies smoothly and gives me a great matte, pink look that seems natural and fresh.

It lasted nicely into the day and survived around 4 hours of wear, in which I continuous drank water. This is probably due to its matte nature and the tendency to stick to the skin, as opposed to some creamier or shimmer lip formulas that slide right off.

Review Summary

Packaging: 7/10 (Nice and sturdy, with convenient see-through top)

Cost: £7.49

Formula: 8/10 (You need extra preparation steps. If exfoliated and moisturised properly, the lipstick glides on smoothly and gives beautiful colour pigmentation and long lasting wear. Otherwise, flake-city beware!)

Final Verdict: I really like this colour but I probably won’t repurchase this colour as I’ve yet to finish off any lipsticks, hence won’t need a backup. However, the matte finish is really natural and perfect for low-key looks, so will be purchasing more colours in Revlon’s Matte range.

Nyx Round Lipstick in Lala Review

I posted details about my Cherry Culture haul last week (you can check it out here) and have now had the chance to try some of the things out.

Out of the 12 items I got, the one I was most sceptical about was the Nyx Round Lipstick in the colour Lala. I saw a really beautiful swatch of it online and wanted to stray away from my usual palette of pinks and reds. However, in person, the colour seemed much darker than I expected. As described before, this is a purple-based pinkish mauve colour.

It definitely earns a unique place in my lipstick collection, but I am unsure how often I will be choosing this, especially considering the cool weather at the moment – when applied, the cool tint makes me look cold. Perhaps I will rock it in the summer for a chic gothic look, or for a twist on the sophisticated plum lip evening look.

Application-wise, this is A*. Everything about the formula is great – moisturising, pigmented, long lasting and no scent! I get more than four hours of wear from this. Since the colour is very strong, it fades into a pretty stain on my lips.

I really am crushing on all my Nyx haul products and can’t believe the quality. I generally prefer to use more expensive items for the sheer indulgent pleasure, but because I invested quite a lot of time researching all my purchase colours and such, I’m getting the same endorphin rush!

Review summary

Packaging: 6/10 (The plastic feels cheap, but I do like the font and design print, plus the transparent base that shows the colour and the top sticker with the colour name)

Price: 10/10 (£1.50-ish, taking into account of the Nyx sale and currency conversion on Cherry Culture)

Formula: 10/10 (Pigmented, long lasting, moisturising, smooth application, no scent)

Final Verdict: Something that I will definitely repurchase. Perhaps not in this shade, but I’m very impressed with Nyx Round Lipsticks and really want to delve into their extensive colour range on offer.

Laura Geller Ethereal Rose Baked Brightening Powder Review

How gorgeous is this blush? Look at the delicate swirl of rose, berry and lilacs and don’t tell me you are not enraptured. I saw this and had to have it – rather like a kid seeing a brand new sparkly toy on the shop shelf really. It’s probably a similar price to a new fangled Bratz doll that can sing and dance as well, costing £27.25 for a decent 9g of product from QVC.

I have simply no self-control, but seeing as I’m the proud owner of this lil’ pretty gem, I dare say it’s not a bad thing really.

Anyway, back to the review...’once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more...’

Top: Sateen Subtle Berry
Bottom: Ethereal Rose

The blush is split into two uneven sections, the pinks dominating the darker side. The Ethereal Rose side is really more of a dusky light rosy pink colour. It has lilac veins running through it, rather like Mac’s Moon River or Accessorize Pretty Pink. The darker Sateen Subtle Berry contains heavier bronze veins, a few purple accents and a cream highlight base. According to QVC, it boasts ‘swirls of subtle tan, yellow and white shades’. Personally, I think my description sounds not only better, but is more accurate. I mean – ‘yellow’ = the Simpsons!

The artistic design of the baked blush is enough to make me stare at it for hours.

The swatches I made are very sheer simply because the baked blush formula is very dry and powdery, lending to a very light finish no matter how heavy-handed I am. Both sides contain a light shimmer and there is a small amount of finely milled glitter in the pink side which can be seen in the photo.

Left: Sateen Subtle Berry, Right: Ethereal Rose

When applied, the effect is quite drastic. It’s one of those ‘no makeup’ makeup products which boosts your natural beauty. The bronzer side gives the cheekbones a gorgeous, natural sun-kissed glow whilst the blush highlights the apples of my cheeks. As I said before, it’s quite hard to over-apply this, making it a great duo to have on the go in your makeup bag (assuming you’ve also a brush in there), especially since there’s a clever mirror on the lid as well. When sitting in your blush collection at home, the clear half of the lid is very useful to remind you of the blush shade.

Review Summary

Packaging: 9/10 (Mirror and clear lid combo a clear winner here)

Formula: 8/10 (I love the colours and how pretty they look, both in the pan and on my skin)

Cost: £27.25 from QVC

Final Verdict: I really, really love this product and think it’s so convenient in terms of colour design and packaging. I’m not entirely sure I’ll repurchase simply because £30 is a bit dear for a student-budget, but I wager that the 9g will last me a very long time.

Also, now THIS font is YELLOW!

Manual Clarisonic

I saw a few Youtube videos featuring facial brushes and knew I had to get one. I plumped for the BodyShop version due to its dinky packaging, which features a transparent lid that allows you to drain excess water from the brush after use.

I use the brush 2-3 times a week. I wet my face and massage in my cleanser, then rotate the brush around my face in circular motions. The bristles are firm but soft and are a great exfoliator. The small size makes it perfect for me to move it around my nose area.

After using it for over a month, I’ve noticed my skin to be a bit smoother in texture around the cheek areas. It did little to shift my breakouts, but I didn’t really expect it to, since I’ve long realised my breakouts are hormonal and linked to my sugar consumption. However, in combination with a regular exfoliator, face mask and skincare routine, my skin is looking brighter and smoother. How much this is due to this little facial brush, I cannot say, but it has definitely played a key role.

Review Summary:

Packaging: 9/10

Formula: Nice bristles

Cost:   £3

Verdict: Cute little thing that does what it’s supposed to. It’s a must for those who wants to try the Clarisonic but cannot afford to. The plastic lid is so useful in keeping the brush upright and draining away excess water.

Weekend Wonders

My package from my recent Debenhams haul arrived yesterday and I was really excited to try them out.

I really enjoyed using the Bliss Best of skintentions moisturiser (SPF 15) today as it's a light moisturiser which sinks in quickly without leaving any greasy residue. It's not as intensive as my Lancome Priomordiale Skin Recharge but it will be nice to rotate between the two on a daily basis.


It's really easy to mix a bit of Lancome Colour Ideal foundation with either of the two moisturisers and create a tinted, semi-flawless look. For a normal school day, I find it too bothersome to apply a full face of makeup, plus I feel my face need to look somewhat tired, even if just to convince my tutors I'm actually studying and not spending all my free time primping! Therefore a tinted moisturiser is best - it hides the worst of my skin's redness without going overboard.

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On a personal note, I'm so glad that it's the weekend. School work is piling up so it won't be 100% relaxation, but I've less than two more years before I graduate. Of course, internship pressure followed by job hunt is to come, so I'm won't be entirely off the stress-market. However, I really want to move away from the academic educational side for a little while and experience something new. After all, I've spent most of my life (like the majority of the population) in school, whether it is primary, secondary, Sixth Form or university.

Anyway, here are my Weekend Wonders:

1. Not waking until 11am because there will be no builders outside hammering away at 8.30am. Today, it was a loud delivery truck what wouldn't shut off its engines.

2. Eating brunch simply because I woke up this late. Followed by lunch.

3. Taking time to fully exfoliate, cleanse, tone, apply serum and moisturiser. There's something so relaxing about a long facial routine! If I remember, I might just pop a facemask on too.

4. Having the time in the world to browse around the shops (eg. Boots) without constantly checking the time to see if I'm going to be late.

5. Not going to sleep until 4am simply because I don't have to get up so early anyway.

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So there you have it: my Top 5 Weekend Wonders. Let me know about yours!

xoxo Cassie

Lush Ultrabalm Review - The New 8 Hour Cream? Skin Saviour Part II

Got this little baby in December and have been giving it steady loving since then. It’s a good, reliable item similar to Elizabeth Arden’s 8 Hour Balm (which I prefer for everything except the price). It only has 3 ingredients (see photo below):

I like to use this on dry spots on my body such as shoulders, knees and elbows. It’s easy to massage in and helps to soothe the skin. There are little lumpy bits in the formula which does melt eventually on circular massage. The lumps felt harsh on my face so I stuck to the 8 Hour balm for those areas.

However, a bonus is that it does not contain that strong medicinal smell you associate with the 8 Hour range. There is a light scent when I stick my nose into the pot but cannot detect anything on application.

Review Summary:

Packaging: 6/10

Formula: 7/10

Cost:   £4

Verdict: This is a useful little thing to have when the central heating system is on full blast. I think it does a great job for dry patches of skin on my body and I love the price. Will definitely repurchase.

Miss April Playboy Lipstick Review

Hugh Hefner certainly has built himself quite an empire, has he not? I know there’s a wealth of items adorned with the bunny logo, but didn’t actually realise Playboy has a beauty line until a friend gave me a Miss April lipstick that I promptly forgot about. A recent NYX haul (will update when receive my goodies) on Cherry Culture resulted in me stumbling across the range and reminded me of the few Playboy Beauty items languishing in my drawer. 

The price is $14, which is around £8 – a high end drugstore lipstick. The packaging is very similar to Urban Decay, except rather than the dagger, there is a bunny head. It’s cute and stylish, although I am hesitant in popping the lipstick into a handbag simply because should the bunny head snap off, it’ll be hell trying to extract the bullet (this has occurred to a UD lipstick tester in Boots).

On the Cherry Culture website:

Playboy Beauty Calendar Girl Lipstick    $14.00
Create a sexy, youthful pout with this highly-pigmented formula. Weightless formula keeps lips soft. New technology blends a high level of color pigments for true color and shine enhancing polymers for long wear. Formula contains anti-oxidants vitamins A, C and E.

 From the description, I’m totally sold.

 Miss April is a beautifully rich berry red that is extremely creamy. There are sparkles in the bullet which vanish on skin contact. Application is lovely and pigmentation is very, very good. The lipstick kept my lips well moisturised and I really loved the colour on my lips.

With flash, the colour looks more coral.

No flash. A very good representation of the colour.

Patchy colour

However...if you look carefully at the photos of my lips, I’m sure you can spot the uneven colour (enlarge by clicking on the photo if you wish). That was the result of my smooshing my lips together as I always do in order to test the creaminess. The fact that such a simple action results in a horrid colour distribution has left me quite disappointed. Perhaps it will not occur with the use of lip primer, but I have yet to test that.

Review Summary:

Packaging: 9/10

Formula: 6/10

Cost:   $14 (£8-ish)

Verdict: Colour is gorgeous and the formula very moisturising, but creases too easily. Will not repurchase.

Has anyone else tried the Playboy cosmetics? Or did you even know it existed?

Skin saviours Part I

What I have here is the ultimate winter face moisturiser. It is expensive, but I have yet to discover something that trumps it. For me, it’s a bloody miracle in a pot.

I am talking about the Lancome Primordiale Skin Recharge face cream (SPF 15), which costs £49 or something around that mark. It’s targeted for women showing the first signs of aging. Whilst I am only 20 and shouldn’t really worry about these kinds of things yet, prevention is the best cure. After all, how else can you explain supermodels in their 30s looking not a day over 25? Yes, yes, good genes play a large role, as does diet and exercise but just humour me!

I’ve tried a few moisturisers (both cheap and expensive) with built-in SPF before and always hated the oily residue left on my face after application. This cream is fantastic – just use a small amount and it will be enough for the entire face. I over-applied once and ended up with little balls of cream that couldn’t be absorbed, which goes to show a little goes a long way.

I use a cotton swab to scoop out a small amount of product for hygiene reasons

It sinks in quickly and leaves my skin feeling soft, plump, radiant and matte. No powder necessary afterwards. It has a light, pleasant fragrance which I enjoy. Therefore this is my go-to cream for winter skin.

As a student, I did wince at the price, but I confess that I waited until there were GWP on before I parted with my cash. I feel that the freebies justified the cost and I really do enjoy using this product. Currently, Lancome is collaborating with the Baftas and giving away a box of great products as GWP, so why not check it out? Also, if you buy from the Lancome counter in Debenhams, there’s an event where you will receive 500 points (equivalent to £5) on beauty purchases over £25. So if you’re interested, I suggest you check it out soon!

Review Summary:

Packaging: 8/10 (a very pretty, sturdy, mirror-like pot)

Formula: 10/10

Cost:   £49

Verdict: My saviour in a world of cold, heat and suffering skin. Will definitely repurchase.

From the title, I’m sure you can guess there are more skin saviours to come! These are mainly for the face, but I’ll be happy to include other types (hair, body, hands.etc) should you desire. Just let me know in the comments!

Also, whilst you’re at it, why not follow my blog?

Barry M freebie alert and review

There’s a great offer out on 12^th February that I’m sure some of you may already have heard of. Free with The Sun’s Buzz magazine is a trio of Barry M goodies worth over £9, consisting of a nail paint, lip gloss and kohl eyeliner.

I got a Barry M lip gloss from Shout magazine in January, so thought will do a quick review on the lip gloss. After all, I am familiar with the brand’s nail paints and dazzle dusts but never paid any attention to their other products before. This is a situation I doubt I’ll rectify any time soon.

According to the Barry M website, the glossy tubes are ‘a generously glossy and flavoured lip gloss in a non stick formulation.’

The colour I’ve got is in Shout 1 and is a very sheer coral pink. It feels thin and glossy on my lips, lacking the heaviness some glosses have (Re. Revlon Superlustrous). From the swatch, it is possible to see fine shimmering particles in the formula – something that is not translated across to the lips. On me, it looks more like a clear gloss. This makes it ideal for layering over lipstick.

Lips without any product

Lips with gloss

There is a light scent of synthetic sweetness to the product which disappears soon after application. It might be pleasant to some, but I feel my tastes have evolved past the stage of candy-sweetness in cosmetics. Of course, each to their own.

Review Summary:

Packaging: 5/10

Formula: 6/10

Cost:   £3.99 (or free if you go for the offer!)

Verdict: Nice to try but lacks pigmentation and dislike the scent. Will not repurchase.