Seventeen Shimmer Brick in Pink Bronze

Ah I have so much love for Seventeen at the moment, every product I try impresses me. I love a brand that is consistent with all the quality of their products, especially when the price is so reasonable. I have always liked Seventeen's bronzing range, even before their rebranding last year. This Shimmer Brick is a new addition to the range and I picked it up as soon as I saw it on the shelves in my local Boots. The 'brick' has 4 shades ranging from a light pink highlight shade to a bronze shade. The idea is to sweep the product over the cheekbones to create a bronze glow-perfect for the summer hey!

I have been using my buffing brush, my powder brush and my blush brush with this product as I cant decide which brush I prefer to use with the product. The first thing I will say about this product is it is very 'glowy' and pigmented, and can quickly turn into an uber shine fest on your face, not sure that's the look I want to go for?! However after a bit of practice I've found a couple of techniques that help my make the most of the product and create different glowy looks. With the buffing brush, I have been using the lighter shades just to lightly highlight the cheekbones, keeping things quite subtle so that it is a wearable daytime look. I have used my powder and blush brush to create a more bronzed, less defined look over the cheeks, by using the whole brick and just very lightly dusting the product over the cheek bones and up towards the hair line. I wouldn't advise to use this product as a bronzer due to it being very shimmery and could give you the whole 'disco ball' look that I don't think anyone wants.

Overall though a great product and unlike any I have seen from other brands. I would advise to go very gently at first and decide what level of bronze/shimmer/glow you are going for but once you get it right I'm sure you will love it. A perfect summer product!

Has anyone else tried this product? I would love to know your thoughts!

Gosh Velvet Touch Lipstick in Sundown

 

I received this lipstick in a Glossy Box ages ago and, to be perfectly honest, I had never heard of the brand Gosh. On first look, I really like the packaging and the colour of the bullet is very striking. The packaging is black with orange swirls on the lid (I don't know if this is shade specific or a generic colour scheme but I like). The lipstick itself is a muted orange shade with hints of shimmer. I decided that I probably wouldn't use this lipstick until the summer months due to the bright shade so hence why I have put off reviewing it until now.

I swatched the lipstick for the image above and, to be frank, I was expecting a much bolder swatch rather than the washed out product that appeared on my hand. However, I ploughed on and decided to wear the lipstick on a night out. Unfortunately, on the lips this lipstick is even more muted and is more like a lick of colour rather than a striking colour like the bullet seems to suggest. I do like this lipstick as the consistency is lovely and creamy and the product doesn't dry the lips out at all, I'm just disappointed with the colour pay off. Another thing I do like about this product is the shimmer effect it leaves, I think this looks lovely with simple, dewy makeup as it adds to the golden glow that so many of us stride to achieve in these warmer months.

So, lovely packaging and consistency, just not enough colour pay off as I would have hoped for. I'm not sure what these lipsticks retail at as I have yet to see them in a store anywhere and online shopping isn't really my thing (cue gasps of horror), however I would like to try another lipstick from their range, maybe something a bit bolder like a red or berry shade, to see if the pigmentation is any better.

Have you tried anything from Gosh? Or do you know where they stock the brand? I would love to know!

Barry M Silk in Pearl

 This collection of 'Silk' polishes was released a couple of months ago. The polishes come in a range of pastel shades and are of a matte finish with a slight pearly sheen to it. I picked up the shade Pearl as I don't have any white polishes and I find white can tend to look a bit tacky with just a matte finish.

 

Like most Barry M polishes, this polish is easy to apply, with a not-to-watery consistency and quick drying time. I also found with this polish that it only required one coat to achieve the opaque look however I usually apply two coats to prevent chips etc. anyway. The finish is exactly what the bottle promises and is unlike anything I have worn on my nails before. Do I like it? Well I'm not sure about that really. I'm not sure if its the shade that doesn't work for me or the odd finish, but for some reason I can't take to this polish very well. I also find with this type of finish it can look very similar to polishes aimed at the older generation which, although looks lovely, isn't really the look I am going for.

 

I think this one is very much down to individual taste as the finish is quite different to any of the other offerings out there. I might pick up another shade just to give it a fair chance however I don't think Pearl will be gracing my fingernails much in the next few months.

 

Have you tried any of the Silk range from Barry M? I would love to know your thoughts! 

V05 Plump It Up

Want big, volumous hair?! Then look no further! This is an amplifying blow dry lotion which is designed to add volume to the hair during he drying process. It also acts as a heat defence which is always a bonus with a hair product. The product claims to make hair feel and look thicker and healthy, calm frizz and static flyaways, and protect against any heat damage.

I spray this all over damp hair and then blow dry my hair upside down, as this is a good way of adding volume anyway. Once my hair is dry you can automatically see a difference. It feels lighter yet bouncier and has much more body to it than before. The spray is also very lightweight and doesn't leave a film or make the hair crispy at all.

I would say this spray is an absolute winner for me, it adds gorgeous amounts of bounce and volume and leaves the hair looking and feeling smooth. If you are a fan of big hair then this should definitely be on your shelf!

Has anyone else tried this product?

Superdrug Vitamin E Skin Care Super Balm

 

I have had this in my stash for a few months now and it has sat there with very little use to me, so I have found it hard to properly review. However the last few weeks have seen me discover the great properties that this 'super' balm carries.

The balm contains coconut oil, Shea butter and avocado oil. The balm also contains vitamin E which works to protect the skin against environmental damage and improves the skin's suppleness. The balm can be used on nails, cuticles, lips and for dry, flaky skin. The balm is very solid to begin with however soon softens on human touch.

Over the last few months I have had a small patch of dry skin on my face that I have really struggled with. My makeup has been clinging to it and the skin has broken on several occasions causing it to scab, not a great look! After watching a few skin care videos, I noticed this pop up a few times so thought I had nothing to lose as it was already in my stash. I apply a small amount of this to the area and very gently rub into the skin so it absorbs. I have been using tis for about 2 weeks and the dry patch has practically gone, it has helped so much! I have also been using this on my cuticles as they are constantly breaking and it definitely seems to be helping to improve their condition.

Has anyone else tried this balm? Or anything else from the brand?

Soap & Glory A Great Kisser Lip Moisturising Balm in Juicy Peach

This is the first cosmetic product I have tried from Soap & Glory. I love their skin care range as the quality is great, the scents are amazing (better than a lot of other drugstore brands) and they do such a good job! I use their Clean On Me shower gel on a daily basis, its my absolute favourite shower companion!

Ok, so I think you get, I love Soap & Glory, and this product has just increased my love for them.

A Great Kisser is a brilliant lip balm. It keeps my lips moisturised for ages after application and doesn't dry my lips out. The scent is lovely and refreshing, a very strong peach scent. My only negative about this lip balm is it is extremely sticky, and doesn't absorb very quickly so lips can remain very sticky for quite a while after application but I can forgive that little hiccup.

This has very quickly become my number one lip balm (closely followed by Baby Lips) as it has done a brilliant job at saving my horrendously dry lips! I would highly recommend this product (there is range of scents if peach isn't your thing) to anyone who, like me, suffers with dry and chapped lips and has been struggling to find a product to help them.

Has anyone else tried this beauty?

L'Oreal Absolute Makeup Remover Eye & Lip

In my skin care routine I have two different eye make up removers that I use; one for everyday eye make up and one for heavy eye make up. I use the Simple Kind To Skin eye makeup remover for everyday makeup however I am always chopping and changing the makeup remover I use for heavy eye make up.

After seeing this product pop up on a few blogs I decided to give it a go. It has been named as a dupe for the Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover so I thought it must be worth the hype. The eye makeup remover is divided into two parts-blue and clear. The blue part is oil based which dissolves eye make up including waterproof, whereas the clear part is a lotion to soothe eyes and leave them feeling oil-free and fresh. The idea is that before using on a cotton wool pad, you mix the two solutions together by shaking the bottle, then apply to a cotton wool pad and use to remove eye makeup.

I have a few criticisms with this product unfortunately. First, the packaging is really unpractical and sometimes I end up pouring way to much of the solution out of the bottle because of its square shape, a lot of the remover is released and this can be extremely annoying. Secondly, I find that although I mix the solution in the bottle, it very quickly separates once on the cotton wool pad, whether it is supposed to do this I'm not sure but I've never known a two-part remover to do this. My final criticism is that although this product claims to be non-greasy I have found that it is very much the opposite! After using this to remove my eye make up, I am left with an oily film over the skin around my eyes, not ideal!

So unfortunately although this product does the job of removing the makeup, due to packaging faults and being overly greasy, I just can't get on with it. This is really disappointing because I've never tried the Clarins version so was quite looking forward to using this but I have just been left disappointed.

Has anyone else had similar problems? I would love to hear your recommendations for other eye makeup removers.

Rimmel Apocalips in Celestial

Another month, another new Apocalips purchase. I am absolutely obsessed with these lip lacquers, I think they're amazing!

I have gone for the shade Celestial this time which is a beautiful dusky pink and has a gorgeous matte-like finish. I find this shade is super easy to wear both during the day or on an evening as it is quite muted and subtle so looks perfect with simple make up or with heavy eye makeup such as a smoky eye.

I feel like every time there is a 3 for 2 or some sort of offer on Rimmel products, I always end up going for another Apocalips! I know how great they are and how long lasting they are, they are most probably my favourite lip product going.

Do you have any Apocalips shades you think I would like?

NYC Eye Shadow Quad Palette in NY Tribute

 

NYC is a really underrated brand, I have a few things from their range now and I love it all, in particular their eye shadow palettes. I already have one of their quad palettes (see here) which I love and I had been eyeing up this one for quite a while. The NYC brand is super cheap and I think this palette was about £2.50 which is an absolute bargain!

 

These palettes are arranged brilliantly, they usually go from the lightest shade to the darkest. The shades in this palette are a pure white shade that I have mainly been using as a highlighter shade for the inner corners and brow bone; a pastel pink shade which is great for all over the lids; a dark lilac which, again, is great for all over the lids or for the outer corners and contour; and a dark purple shade which is great for liner, under the eye and for heavy contour.

 

The pigmentation of this palette isn't fantastic but the shadows are easily buildable and once on the lids the colour does seem to last a good while. The shades also blend really well together and can create a beautiful springtime look.

 

Has anyone else tried this palette or any of the others from this brand? I would love to know!

 

The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser

 

My pores have been ridiculously large for the last couple of months, I have had real trouble clearing them up! I know tea tree oil is good for this problem anyway, and I love The Body Shop so I thought 'I can't go wrong' when I picked this up.

 

I have been wearing this product as a primer under makeup and, I have to say, I have been quite impressed. It has a very strong scent of tea tree oil (obviously?!) so just be aware. Its a strange greeny yellow shade but once applied and massaged into the skin it is clear. I notice the biggest difference when I apply powder as I find this seems to highlight my overly large pores. Whilst my pores haven't suddenly disappeared (now that would be a miracle!) they definitely seem smaller and less obvious which is great! This product also feels like its doing a good job on the skin when used which is always a bonus.

 

Has anyone else used this product? Have you had similar results?

Models Own Hyper Gel in Coral Glaze

I have a love/hate relationship with Models Own. After first trying their polishes last summer, I wasn't very impressed. I found the formula very thin and difficult to achieve an even application. However, I had another shot with a polish from their Velvet Goth collection in the Autumn and I was really impressed. So when this collection hit the shelves this year, I thought I would give them a go.

I love gel like polishes, the finish is so beautiful and classy and they normally last quite a few days without chipping. I have quite a few gel like polishes in my collection (thinking about doing a collective post about them all soon) but I thought one more wouldn't hurt, and this colour really caught my eye! Its perfect for the summer months, and is unlike any shade I already own.

Firstly, I really don't like the Models Own brushes, I find them very thin and with such a large lid, it can be hard to have full control over the brush. This formula seems slightly thicker than my previous experiences with the brand, however still very thin and runny, making application quite difficult. The polish takes quite a while to dry, but that is expected with gel like polishes. The polish did seem to last a good couple of days on my nails, however I really didn't like the finish. Due to difficult application, the polish was very uneven on my nails which did make them look tacky and isn't the look I was going for.

So overall, I really was not impressed with this polish. I would say its a big disappointment but I haven't had the greatest experience with this brand before. I think im going to stay away from Models Own polishes for quite a while now, I need to learn from my mistakes.

Has anyone else had the same issues? Or have you had the complete opposite thoughts?

Batiste Dry Conditioner

I picked this up a couple of months ago and have been slowly forming an opinion since. Although this is being promoted as a 'dry conditioner' it is more of a mist so can have a slight damp feel to it when applied to dry hair. The spray contains argon oil to help tame frizz and fly aways and generally smooth the ends of the hair.

I am always a bit cautious using products aimed to create smooth locks as this can mean adding oil to the hair, and that is something I definitely do not need as I suffer from greasy locks. I have used conditioning sprays before that are supposed to help detangle the midlengths and roots but I find they can make the hair sticky and don't even help with the problem.

This spray is a bit different as it is more of a mist which I find makes application much easier. I spray this to sections of the midlengths of my hair and then use a wide tooth comb to brush and style the hair. I find although this doesn't work miracles, it does a very good job at keep the ends of my hair refreshed and clean between washes, and does make the hair smoother and easier to style. My hair can become very frizzy and I find this helps with that aswell, however I don't like to use too much of the product to prevent that greasy shine. Not a good look!

Has anyone else tried this product?

Botanics Refreshing Eye Roll On All Bright

 

As part of my night time skin routine I always use an eye roll on. This isn't because I suffer terribly with under eye circles, its more for the puffiness I tend to get under and around the eye area, not a good look! I usually stick to the same one but decided to try out this Botanics one to mix up my skin care routine a little bit. I haven't tried anything from the Botanics range since its rebrand a while ago so thought I would give something of their line a go.

This refreshing eye roll on contains hibiscus which supposedly has brightening properties aimed at dark circles, and also targets puffiness around the eye area. I apply the roll on under my eye and then on the eye lid and brow bone. The product has a gel like consistency which initially is very cooling, over once the product is 'rolled on' it blends in to the skin easily.

Unfortunately I haven't noticed a tremendous difference in the appearance of puffiness or dark circles, however it has improved the problem slightly. I also find this product can be quite hard to apply; unlike other roll ons, you need to squeeze the tube to release some of the product in able to apply to the skin. And I can imagine that when I come to the end of the tube I will become every so slightly frustrated!

So I haven't been overly impressed with this one and when I eventually finish it, I think I will try out a different brand.

Has anyone else tried this product? Are there any eye roll-ons you can recommend?

Hd Brows Blusher

 

I received this blusher quite some time ago in a Glossybox. I've never tried any of Hd Brows products and its not a brand I have been desperate to try but saying that I have been very impressed with this blusher.

The shade is a cross between a rose gold and a berry. I say that because it is darker than my other rose gold shades however still has the shimmer effect, which actually works really well with the deeper berry shade. I have liked using this blush during the colder months as it is perfect at creating the outside flush that so many products aim to create. Also, this is probably the most pigmented blush I own. Yes, this is a good thing but this can also be slightly annoying as applying in rush is a no-go, it is very easy to apply too much of this product.

 

So after not hearing much about this brand or their products, I have been thoroughly impressed with the blusher. Its great when a sample in a beauty box is actually worth it.

 

Has anyone else tried this product? Or any other products from this brand?

Toni and Guy Classic Shine Gloss Serum

I received this product in a Glossybox a few months ago, and it has been hidden away until I had a major sort out about a month ago. I have been after a frizz-taming product anyway so before hitting boots I decided to give this a go. Toni&Guy isn't a brand I have tried much of however I have always heard good review of their products.

 

I apply a small amount of the serum to the mid lengths and ends of my hair after blow-drying and in between washes. My hair is frizzy and although different shampoos etc. can help it, I haven't found a product that does as good a job as this. I can literally see my hair becoming tamed right before my very eyes. Also, this serum feels very light on the hair and doesn't become sticky or dry the hair out. The following day after using this my hair is still soft and smooth without feeling greasy.

 

The only thing to be aware of is to not apply to much of the product as that is when your hair could become greasy.

 

So a great addition to my hair product collection!

 

Has anyone else tried this or a similar product?

Sleek Face Contour Kit

 

I know for some the very thought of contouring frightens the life out of them, however over the last few months I have really enjoyed experimenting with different contour products, trying to create the perfect sculpted look. I have to admit, I haven't had any issues using bronzer to sculpt my face, as long as its not a shimmery bronzer as a matte product is much better to contour with, however I have been eager to get my hands on this contour kit from Sleek because I have heard many good reviews.

The contour kit contains a contour powder and a highlight powder. I have been using my Real Techniques contour brush to apply the contour powder to the hollow of my cheek bones, my temples and the sides of my nose. I find when used properly this does create a lovely sculpted look and lasts quite a long time which is another bonus. Sleek products are well known for their pigmentation and this powder is no different, very little of the contour powder is needed as it can quickly look very dark and heavy on the skin and borders on the ridiculous side a bit. So just be very careful not to load too much product onto the brush!

The highlighter powder is beautiful and applies like a dream. I have been using my Real Techniques buffing brush to apply this to my cheek bones, brow bone, the bridge of my nose and my cupids bow. It creates a lovely glow to the skin without being too shiny or shimmery.

Together these too powders work brilliantly however one must be careful not to overdo it with the contouring powder! But overall this kit is brilliant, especially for those just starting to experiment with contouring.

Has anyone else tried this product, or anything similar?

Lush Feeling Younger Skin Tint

As Spring is on its way, I have found that I've been wanting to create a much more dewy, glow when applying makeup. I picked this up just before Christmas (you can see my mini Lush haul here) however I have only just started using it. I originally was after a Lush pigment however the ever-so-friendly staff in Lush suggested I go for skin tint instead as I wanted something to use as a highlighter.

 

I have been using this tint in two different ways. The first is as a primer under my foundation. I have been applying a small amount all over my face, rubbing it in like I would with a moisturiser. I find my makeup looks much brighter this way and gives a much more natural glow. The second way I have been using this is applying on top of foundation to highlight certain areas such as the cheekbones and the brow bones. I use my Real Techniques buffing brush to buff the highlighter in and this creates a much more sculpted highlight to the face rather than an overall glow.

 

I absolutely love this product. Its very well pigmented so I use hardly any of the product which means this little jar should last me AGES. It is also very easy to blend this product, both with fingers or using a brush as it is a creamy consistency. I just think its a very versatile product and is unlike anything else in my collection.

 

Has anyone else tried this? What are your thoughts on the Lush pigments? I would love to know!

Sleek Life's A Peach Blush

Sleek is a brand I have only recently discovered, I already have their Rose Gold blush which is beautiful but I knew I wanted a new blush for Spring so I decided to opt for Life's A Peach. Some have named this a duplicate for the Nars Gina blush however I haven't tried the Nars blush out so cannot pass judgement.

What I like about Sleek blushes are their excellent pigmentation-I find I only ever need a dusting of the product on the brush to create the desired effect. This shade is a beautiful peach colour, as the name suggests, and gives the cheeks a fresh look that is perfect for Spring. I have found that if too much product is applied then the cheeks go from peach to orange very quickly so just be careful there. However I do really like this blush and it has been perfect to wear during the day and looks beautiful teamed with bronzer as it gives a very natural 'glow' to the skin.

Has anyone else tried this shade? Or does anyone have any recommendations for other Sleek products?

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Striking Spectaculaire

 

Firstly I have to apologise for the bad quality photos, this is the best of a bad bunch!

 

Every blogger and their dog has heard about the release of the new balms from Revlon, they come in matte or lacquer form. I decided to go for the matte as I love a matte lip and I realised I don't have many matte lip products in my collection.

 

On first impressions there is a lovely selection of shades to choose from, I decided on Striking Spectaculaire just because it stood out for me and I think this colour looks beautiful as a matte lip. The application of this product is beautiful, its has a creamy consistency to it with a beautiful matte finish. The orange toned red shade lasts AGES on the lips, and definitely doesn't dry the lips like many other matte products.

 

I really like this product and I am definitely going to be adding more shades to my collection. I think they are perfect for the warmer months.

 

Has anyone else tried this or any others from the new Revlon collection? 

Seventeen Phwoarr Paint Concealer

 

 

Seventeen had a bit of a re-launch towards the later part of last year, and I have to say everything I have tried from them since this has failed to disappoint me, and this concealer is no exception. It is described as a heavy duty under eye concealer and instead of a typical doe foot applicator, this concealer comes in a compact pan, and has a much thicker consistency to it. I have been using my Revlon concealer brush to apply the concealer to my face and then using my fingers to blend.

Although this concealer claims to be for under the eyes, I find it to be too thick and dry for under the eyes as I prefer a much creamier concealer for easier application, however this concealer is fantastic for blemishes and spots due to its very high coverage. However I do have a couple of faults. Whilst this is a great high coverage concealer, to begin with I found it very difficult to find a technique for easy application. I don't like using my fingers to apply make up as my fingers end up picking up a lot of the product, however I found my normal blending brushes just couldn't work with this concealer. I also find this concealer to be very drying and, unfortunately, can look a bit 'cakey' if applied too heavily onto the skin.

However I have got used to using this concealer now and now I have found a good technique for application, I can see why so many people have been loving it. Well done again Seventeen!

 

Has anyone else had similar problems with this product?

Has anyone else tried this concealer? I would love to know!