VIVO Colour Block Palette - Enchanted: Reviewed

The Colour Block is a new release from Vivo Cosmetics and comes in two forms: The Enchanted palette, which has a lovely mix of colours from brights to neutrals and the Unprotected palette which has colours extremely similar to MUA's Undressed.  

I picked Enchanted up while in Tesco the other day. It is normally £3.99, but at the moment it is on sale for just £3. I saw the Unprotected palette there too, it looks gorgeous but I have so many neutrals I couldn't get it. It pained me so much to leave it there, I may go back and get it even though its SO similar to the Undressed by MUA.

The palette has such a lovely mix of colours which are perfect for Autumn/Winter. My favourite is the lovely teal shadow. I had a little play and came up with a  look using this colour which you can see above. I wasn't feeling particularly brave so used it as an accent colour with brown the main. I am currently thinking of ways to use the gorgeous burgundy colour with out looking ill or like I have been punched in the eye!

The shadows are a mix of shimmer and matte. They are quite pigmented and blend nicely, very good quality for £3.99. They last really well with or with out a primer on my non-oily lids.

I definitely recommend getting this palette. Its great if you want to experiment with colour but still has the neutrals in there. 

You can purchase this palette from Tesco stores or directly from Vivos website here. 

Are you a coloured shadow lover? Or are you more for the neutrals? Do you have any ideas on how I could use the burgundy colour?

Gem x

MUA Lipstick in 'Bare' Review and Swatches

My local Superdrug doesnt sell MUA, boo. So when I went on a little shopping trip to the city, I headed straight to Superdrug where they do stock it, to stock up. 

I bought two lipsticks and their new gel eyeliner, keep an eye out for a review soon. 

I love this lipstick. It is a lovely nude lipstick, with very slight peach tones in it. The formula is great. It isn't drying and looks quite creamy on. It lasts about 3 hours on me if I don't eat/drink, which is about average. 

The only negative thing I have to say about this lipstick is that I don't like the smell. Its a bit too sickly sweet for me, but others may love it. 

For £1 you really cant go wrong. I would definitely recommend this lipstick to everyone, its great and the value for money cant be beat. 

Have you tried MUA lipsticks?

Gem x

Avon SuperShock Max Mascara Review

I am very fussy when it comes to mascara. I want volume more than length as I have longish eyelashes already. I don't want any clumps and I prefer a more dry formula but with no flakes. Not a lot to ask hey?

I love the packaging of the mascara. Teal is one of my favourite colours so its a winner for me. The wand is nice and chunky which I like in a mascara. I would prefer a more tapered end though as I like to use this to catch the smaller lashes at the corners.

The formula is good. A little on the wet side but dries very quickly and is easy to build up. I am a three coats of mascara type girl, I love volumised lashes. This mascara does clump very slightly, but not much at all.

It thickens my lashes nicely and also adds a slight bit of length. Overall I am pleased with this mascara and would definitely pick it up again if it is on offer in the Avon catalogue.

Gem x

VIVO Baked Blush in Peaches and Cream Review and Swatches

I love my VIVO Baked Bronzer, so when I was in Tesco the other day I had to get myself this blush. I have had my eye on it for a while now. It is a gorgeous peachy pink colour with subtle shimmer and looks lovely in the pan and lovely on the skin. 

It is quite pigmented, but not hugely which I think is about right for a blush. It can be built up to the desired amount so you don't end up looking like a clown. It lasts a good five hours before fading slightly. I wear mine with foundation and a primer, so it may not last as long with out these. 

Vivo cosmetics are available exclusively in Tesco stores or online at http://www.vivocosmetics.co.uk/ and the Baked Blushes cost £4, which is a bargain if you ask me. 

Have you tried any products from the Vivo range?

Gem x

Real Techniques Eye Starter Set Review

I love Real Techniques brushes. I own the Core Collection and the Stippling Brush and they are a staple in my make-up bag and I couldn't be without them now. So as it was my birthday I decided to get the Eye Starter Set as a little present to myself. I have been using these for four weeks now, so they have had a good test run.


In the set you get five brushes presented in a brush holder. I really like the brush holder, I use it to keep all my Real Technique brushes together its so handy. 


The brushes you get are:

• Base Shadow Brush:  I use it for all over lid colour. Its a nice size and really soft. Its great to pack on colour on the lid and actually does this better than my beloved Too Faced brush. 
• Deluxe crease brush: Again another big brush. I personally use this to blend shadows, not to apply colour to the crease as I find it too big. I use my Too Faced crease brush to apply colour to the crease and then this brush to blend.
• Accent Brush: This is very similar to my NYX Smudge brush. It can be used for "precision detailing, spotlighting, highlighting, and smudging." I use it for all of the uses described and find it a great little brush.
• Pixel- Point Eyeliner Brush: I like this brush for using a powder eye shadow as an eyeliner. I wouldn't use it for gel liner as I already have a brush that I use for that, (the one that came with Maybelline Gel Eyeliner). 
• Brow Brush: This brush is nice and soft and great for applying powder to the eyebrows. It does seem a little big but I find it still does the job well. 

Overall I love these brushes. They are great quality, wash easily and are a good price. They are also 100% cruelty free. You can buy Real Techniques Brushes at Boots, and this set retails at £21.99.

Do you own any Real Techniques brushes?

Gem x

Too Faced Romantic Eye Palette Review and EOTD

I was going through my make-up stash the other day and came across this. I have had it for a while now and I haven't really used it much as I should. I have been stuck in a neutrals rut when it comes to eye shadow lately, so I decided to do a little review on it, along with a look. Read on to find out more :)

I really like this palette. There is a nice variety of colours and you can create pretty pastel feminine looks along with darker more sultry ones.

The packaging, as is the case with all Too Faced products, is gorgeous. I also own Naked and Natural eye but this packaging is by far my favourite, its lovely and I like to leave it out on my dressing table.

The palette contains 9 shadows with the ones that will be used all over the lid containing the most product. The shadows are grouped in rows; Day, Classic, and Fashion, and have corresponding instruction cards with an idea of how to wear them. This is great for people just starting out in make-up, and for people who need a little inspiration.

• Day:
• Soul mates - a cream with slight yellow undertones. Slight shimmer and glitter 
• I Do - a grey taupe
• Un-Veil - a very dark brown

• Classic: 
• Kiss the Bride - a light matte pastel pink
• Cut the Cake - a cool toned light purple, slight shimmer
• First Dance- dark purple, again cool toned.

• Fashion
• Bouquet Toss - a greeny beige colour
• Honey Moon - an olive gold with a lot of shimmer
• Ever After - a dark brown, slightly more warm toned than Un-Veiled with lots of shimmer and glitter.

These are the best I could get the swatches as the weather has been bad all day. The lighter shadows are less pigmented than the darker ones, but I think this is great as you can have a very subtle wash of colour, or you can build it up for a little bit more pop. They have a soft and buttery texture and blend like a dream, just make sure to tap/blow off the excess on your brush before applying as there is a little bit of fallout, nothing major.

 The only one I had a slight issue with was kiss the Bride (light pink) as my eyelids have quite a lot of pink in them already, and it did look a bit like I had pinkeye before I took these steps: I use an eye shadow primer and then apply NYX jumbo eye pencil in milk all over my lids as a base. I then apply Kiss the Bride and it comes out a lovely pastel pink. 

I did a look using the palette but as the light was so bad, and then my camera died, this was the best of the bunch unfortunately. I used Kiss the Bride all over the lid, Cut the Cake on the outer third of the lid and in the crease and First dance in the outer part of the crease and on the bottom of my lid. I used nyx jumbo pencil in milk as a base along with asda primer, and lined the top lashes with Rimmel gel eye liner. My mascara is Benefit Bad Gal, and I used Eye Bright in the water line and tearduct.

Just like the other Two Faced shadows I own, these last all day with out creasing on me even with out a primer. They are great quality and definitely worth considering for your collection.

Overall a great palette which can be used to create a number of looks. Amazing quality, you wouldn't be disappointed if you purchased this (in my opinion :D)

Rating
Pigmentation:4.5/5
Overall: 5/5

Do you own any of the Two Faced palettes?

Gem x

VIVO Baked Bronzer Sun Kissed Review

I needed a new bronzer and as I am going on holidays in 9 days, I decided to get a cheap one so I would be able to take it with me and not worry about it being broken by the oh so careful baggage handlers. 

I had been hearing great things about VIVOs baked bronzer, and own their regular duo blush and highlighter in Peach (review HERE ), so when I was in Tesco the other day I picked one up.

 It costs £5 and I think there were three shades to choose from. I decided on the lightest shade called Sun Kissed as this seemed the best one for my pale skin.

It is a lovely peachy bronze colour, not at all orange. It isn't matte, but not overly shimmery and I cant detect any glitter in it. It blends easily and lasts really well, and when I am wearing liquid foundation and a primer it pretty much lasts all day. 

It also seems like this is going to last me ages as it is a domed shape and the pigmentation is great so you only need to use a small amount.

Have you tried any of the VIVO cosmetics range? What's your favourite bronzer?

Gem x 

Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara Review

I got this little sample size in my Harrods edition Glossybox. I have owned the Lancome Hypnose Mascara before and thought it was quite good so was excited to try this one.

I wasn't overly impressed with this mascara. If I had bought this with my hard earned money then I would have been quite disappointed.

The first thing that bothers me about this mascara is the smell. It is an overpowering perfume-y smell which I cant stand. It makes me quite nervous using this mascara, I can imagine it being very painful if you accidentally get this in your eye.

It is a very watery mascara and if you blink, or sneeze like I did, before this mascara dries you will get it on your eyelids and everywhere else.

I actually like the wand, it is curved which I find makes it easier to get to the inner and outer lashes. The wand is the only thing I like about it though. I like to apply more than one coat of mascara and if you do that with this one then you will get clumping.

There weren't many clumps but the ones that were there flaked off throughout the day. Once they had flaked off though the remaining mascara didn't budge all day.

It does make my lashes look longer and thicker, but I think for the price the mascara just doesnt deliver. I have tried better mascaras that cost a lot less.

Pros: Brush gets all the lashes in the outer and inner corners, thicker looking lashes
Cons: Smell, can clump, price

Overall I wont be buying this mascara again I think there are much better out there for less money.

Rating: 3/5

Gemx

Real Techniques Core Collection

Sorry about the stock photo but when I bought these I couldn't wait to try them out and totally forgot about photographing them.

I waited a while to get these brushes as I had to save up, and they were worth the wait! I love all the brushes in this collection but there are some I prefer more than others. My absolute favourite brushes from the collection are the Buffing Brush and the Contour Brush.

Buffing Brush

Takes a while to get used to using if you are like me and used to using your fingers (slap on wrist). Now I wouldn't go back to doing that, this brush gives an even finish and moves liquid foundation around easily. The finish is more medium when using this brush so I use the Stippling brush over areas where I want full coverage. I think it may be better if it was slightly larger, but still a great brush. 

Contour Brush

I use this for contouring and also for blush and it is perfect for both as I like more precision when applying blush. The size is perfect and it picks up product lovely and blends marvellously. 

Detailer Brush

This is the brush I have used the least out of all of them, but it is still good. I use it to apply lipstick, but it can be used for concealer.

Pointed Foundation Brush

I use this for blending in my concealer under my eyes and also to blend my highlighter in. It is too small to use as a foundation brush in my opinion, but very good for the uses I mentioned above. 

I love the case it comes in too, although it does feel a little bit flimsy.

Overall a great brush set and a great price. It is £21.99 in the UK and available in Boots stores and online at www.love-makeup.co.uk and www.boots.com

Gemx

Soap and Glory Thick & Fast Mascara Review

What Soap and Glory say: 

This false lash effect mascara creates amazingly, longer, fuller, fabulous lashes. Featuring SUPERFILL™ False Lash Fillers, SHINE AMPLIFIERS, NOFLAKE24 technology and super-fine no-clumps natural wax film formers. *While we don’t feel it’s ladylike to brag, we’re feeling particularly bullish about our mascara. (And hope after trying it you’ll agree that it’s absolutely marvelous.)

I love mascaras and at the moment I have five on the go, but out of them all, this seems to be the one that I use most. 

I got it free with the March edition of ELLE UK, admittedly I only buy these types of magazines when they do freebies. 

I would say I have medium length lashes. They are straight and never seem to curl even when I use a lash curler. If I want them curled I have to use the curlers after I have applied my mascara. I know most beauty experts will frown upon this method but this is the only way I can get them to curl in anyway. 

There is an art to applying this mascara and it takes practice to get right, but once you have the results are great. The brush is huge and you definitely need to scrape off the excess on the wand before you apply. I like to apply about three coats to get the effect I like, which is dramatic thick lashes.

It doesn't clump for me and I use three coats, sometimes I add another coat once it is dry and it still doesn't clump. Once it dries it doesn't flake or smudge at all. I wear contacts and flaking mascara is a big problem for me as it can irritate my eyes, so this mascara is great as it doesn't irritate my eyes at all. 

It costs £10, which is more than I like to pay for a mascara but I think this mascara is definitely worth the price as it doesn't flake or clump and gives lovely thick lashes. I have tried Lancome Hypnose Drama which costs £8 more than this one and Thick and Fast is so much better in my opinion. I will definitely be purchasing this mascara again as I love it.

This is with three coats of Thick and Fast, as you can see no clumping. I am terrible at applying mascara, I can never put it on my bottom lashes with out smudging and this mascara is no exception. If anyone has any tips let me know :) I have one eye bigger than the other and it is quite noticeable in this pick to me :(

Another shot where you can see how natural and thick it makes my eyelashes look. Excuse the brows, I am growing them out to hopefully get them shaped professionally :).

And here is a full face shot with the mascara on. I think it looks dramatic while still being quite natural, something I look for in a mascara. Again my eyes look really different in this photo, but for some reason I don't have eyes that match haha. 

Face: Bourjois Flower Perfection Foundation, Collection 2000 concealer in light

Eyes: Soap and Glory Thick & Fast Mascara

Cheeks: ELF Studio Blush Bronze Duo 

Lips: Revlon Lip Butter in Peach Parfait 

Overall I love this mascara, HG? I'm not 100% sure yet, but it is pretty close. 

Pros: No clumps or flakes, lasts without smudging, thick longer lashes.

Cons: Price? £10 Maybe a bit pricey for some. 

Rating: 4.5/5

Soap and Glory Thick and Fast Mascara is £10 and available from Boots in the UK. Go to Soapandglory.com for more info.

Gemx

ELF Studio Blush and Bronzer Compact

Now I guess you all know that this little blush/bronzer compact is meant to be a dupe for the NARS Orgasm/Laguna Duo. I couldn't justify paying ££££ for NARS at the moment, maybe one day, and I really wanted to try it so I decided to give the ELF a go. At £3.50 a pop it is so much cheaper than NARS.

I love the packaging, I think it looks quite sleek and easy to keep clean. It comes with a mirror inside which is always handy. The colours are lovely, especially the blush. It is pinky-peach with golden shimmers, very flattering to any skin tone. The bronzer is a nice matte bronzer, no shimmer here, which makes it perfect for contouring. You need a light hand on the bronzer side as it is very pigmented. There is also a bit of fall out but if you remember to tap your brush before you apply this shouldn't be a problem.

The lasting power is average, it lasts around 4-5 hours with a liquid foundation base. For the price I think that this is more than acceptable. 

Overall I love this little duo, its great for spring to give you a lovely peachy pink glow. It is also really handy to take travelling. I think this would suit most skin tones, and at £3.50 you cant afford not to give it a try!

Rating: 5/5

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Liquid Foundation Review

I received this foundation as a result of attending a Benefit bloggers event. It will in no way affect the integrity of this review and as always, I will give my 100% honest opinion :)

Benefit are launching their new liquid foundation 'Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow' in stores on the 31st of March, and they were recently touring the country to promote it. I was lucky enough to attend an event in Swansea, where we were told all about the foundation. We were also colour matched and were kindly given our chosen shade of Oxygen Wow to try out for ourselves.

I was matched to the lightest shade the foundation comes in, which is called 'Believe in Me Ivory. I am quite pale, but I am not the palest, and this shade is a good match for me, maybe slightly a bit darker than my natural skin colour, so I think anyone paler than me will have problems finding a colour match. 

The foundation comes in a plastic pump style bottle, which could look quite cheap, but not in this instance. Like all Benefit product the packaging has been extremely well designed and is really cute. 

I was ill the day I got this from the Postman and spent all day indoors. Perfect for testing out the foundation, not so great for me. I applied the foundation at 10am with my real techniques stippling brush. 

The first thing I noticed was how runny this foundation is. It is definitely the most runny foundation I have ever used. Don't be fooled in thinking that because it is runny that you will need to use a lot of product to get good coverage. One pump was enough to cover my whole face. 

They say it is a light to medium coverage, and using the stippling brush it was definitely a more medium coverage, which for me is good as I have acne scarring. It covered them quite well, I would still need to use a concealer if I wanted to completely cover them. It didn't accentuate my pores, it actually blurred them well, and it left a nice dewy glow to my skin. 

I checked my skin every hour or so, and this foundation lasted really well, much better than other similar finish foundations I have tried. I didn't use a finishing powder or a primer and it stayed nice and dewy for around 5 hours without getting at all greasy, which is great. After that time I would definitely need to blot or powder as my T-zone became quite shiny. The other areas of my face were still great though. 

Here is a pic of me wearing the foundation. I think it gives a lovely dewy glow to the skin.

I usually have really bad skin, but when wearing this foundation I actually got a few compliments :) I am also wearing Benefit High Beam as a highlight and the two products go perfectly together to create a gorgeous radiant glow. I have got a small amount of GOSH click and go concealer on my problem areas which are around my mouth and chin, and under my eyes.

The foundation has SPF 25 +++ which is great, this really is the perfect foundation for summer as it gives a lovely healthy glow and has the added benefit of sun protection. Another plus for me is the fact that this foundation is oil free and paraben free, and doesn't aggravate my skin. It also contains Vitamins C and E to help prevent ageing, Sea water to hydrate and amino acid to smooth the skin. 

I found it quite similar to healthy mix by Bourjois in the finish, but actually better as it doesn't cling to dry patches of skin and it lasts longer with out a powder. Also with healthy mix i needed at least two pumps whereas with Oxygen Wow I only needed one pump.

I did find that in harsh lighting it did appear that there was glitter on my face. It was nothing extreme like the glitter ball mess that is Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation, but it did bother me slightly. I was assured by Benefit that there is no glitter in this foundation, I think it must be the 'Light-Diffusing Properties' that is in the product description combined with the harsh lighting.

As the 'glitter' only appears in harsh light, I still love this foundation. It gives a gorgeous luminous glow to the skin, perfect for summer. It will be nice to see how it performs in hotter weather when my skin will become oilier, and then I will make a decision whether to repurchase or not.

Pros: Glowing dewy skin, lasts reasonably well, buildable coverage

Cons: A bit pricey, might not be suitable for oilier skins, can appear 'glittery' in harsh light

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Liquid Foundation will be available from the 31st of March and will be £24.50.

Rating: 4/5

George @ Asda Eyeshadow Primer Review

While I was shopping in Asda the other day I came across this little gem, George's Eyeshadow Primer for £3.50, and they had an offer where you got a free George Faux Lash Mascara with it. I am a sucker for offers and I had just run out of my ELF eyshadow primer so I thought why not. I will review the mascara separately (its good) so if you are interested keep an eye out for that too. 

The packaging is very simple, something I can look past as it is the product inside that really counts. It comes in a nice hygienic squeezy tube with a nozzle on the end, better than the ELF wand applicator in my opinion.

The primer itself is definitely silicone based and leaves a very smooth base for you to apply your eyeshadow onto. I found that the best way to apply this is to pat the product onto your eyelid, don't rub.

It is beige coloured when you squeeze it out but once blended it is colourless. It leaves a nice silky smooth base which shadows blend onto lovely. I used a light natural colour shadow on both eyelids, one with primer and one with out. At the end of the day I was left with the eyeshadow with primer on it still looking as it did the moment I applied it. No creasing or fading. The eyeshadow with out the primer had creased and faded.

So overall I think that this is a great eyeshadow primer and for the price of £3.50 you get a lot in the tube as you only need a small amount. I would definitely reccomend this if you are looking for an inexpensive, clear eyeshadow primer as it does the job nicely. 

Rating: 5/5

Elf Matte Bronzer Review

I have been using this bronzer for a while now. I was on the look out for a matte bronzer to use as a contour, and ELF were having a sale, so I got this along with a lot of some other things :) .

Now, I like this bronzer, but when something says matte, I don't expect it to contain glitter. And this bronzer does. It is in no way shimmery, its just matte with bits of glitter in it. In the pan it looks like a lot of glitter. Swatched and blended you cant really see the glitter, only in harsh light, Im really confused as to why they put it in.

The colour is sort of a muddy brown, so I need to be very careful and use a small amount so I don't look like I have a dirty face. I just make sure to blend very well once I have applied it. The amount I use is so small I think this bronzer will last me years! It is very pigmented. 

I have pale skin, and I really couldn't use this as an actual bronzer, it would just look ridiculous, though I think on medium to dark skin tones this would work well. I actually don't mind this as I wanted this purely for a contour, and for this it does a decent job. 

The lasting power is good, it lasts a good 4 hours on me when wearing liquid foundation. It doesnt accentuate my pores and is just a nice matte bronzer.

For £1.50 you really cant go wrong, and I would definitely recommend this bronzer if you are on the look out for a matte bronzer to use as a contour and don't want to break the bank.


Its not a HG product for me, I have heard that NYX Taupe blush is good as a contour for paler skin tones, so I think I will be trying that next.

Rating; 3/5

Gemx

Bourjois Flower Perfection Foundation Review

Bourjois say: 

A youth extension foundation with a velvety smooth finish, for up to 16 hrs.

With a built-in smoothing sponge applicator, the results are spectacular! Skin is up to 70% smoother, pores and fine lines are corrected, without masking the skin, leaving the complexion perfectly even.

Skincare action: its SPF 15 formula with wild azalea flower, protects skin cells for long-lasting youth extension

And it’s good for my skin:

- Non comedogenic formula

- Dermatologically tested

I don't usually stay loyal to a foundation for very long but my favourite foundation for about a year now has been Healthy Mix by Bourjois. I loved the fact that it lasted well and gave my skin a lovely healthy looking glow. But I have been having trouble with my skin lately, one moment its dry and flaky, then the next it is greasy and oily. If you use Healthy Mix or have read any reviews, mine here, you will know that it has the tendency to cling to dry patches, and also make your skin appear greasy if you do have oily skin. 


My skin has really been playing up the last couple of weeks. It has become more oily, but dry at the same time, and Healthy Mix was becoming a little too dewy on my skin, and sticking to the dry patches. 

So I saw that Bourjois had a new foundation out, and having read a couple of great reviews for it, I decided to give it a go. I knew it was meant to be more matte than healthy mix. It was on offer in Boots at the time so I got two for £13, which I thought was a bargain. 

I got the shade 52, in the shop this looked the perfect match for me, but do be aware that the foundation will oxidise after a couple of minutes from application to a slightly darker shade. So it is slightly darker than my natural skin colour, so I just blend it down onto my neck and this seems to help even things out. 

It is a matte finish with slightly more coverage than the Healthy Mix, which for me is great as I have terrible skin which needs a good medium to full coverage foundation. I apply it using my Real Techniques stippling brush. There is a sponge included in the lid, but I don't like using a sponge to apply my foundation so I just discarded this.


It is a much thicker consistency than healthy mix, and a little harder to work with. I would recommend using a stippling brush or buffing brush to apply this foundation as it does take a little work to blend. Once blended though it looks amazing. 

Like Healthy Mix, this foundation also has a scent to it. Usually I don't like scented cosmetics but the smell on this foundation is lovely and not at all chemically, like most scented makeup. As expected the smell is rather flowery.

I have very sensitive skin and some foundations can break me out, but I am glad to say that this one doesn't do that.

This combined with my Real Techniques stippling brush leaves my skin looking close to flawless. It doesn't look cakey at all, and lasts really well, around 6 hours. Another plus for this foundation is the fact that I don't need to use a setting powder with this foundation, as it gives such a nice matte finish. 

Overall, I love this foundation and will be repurchasing when my current supply runs out. I think this would be great for anyone who is looking for a medium to full coverage foundation, and has oily skin. 


I think this is a good foundation for winter and when you need more coverage, I may change back to healthy mix for the summer though.

I was lucky enough to attend a Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow bloggers event in Swansea recently, and I am waiting for own to arrive so I can test it out. I am really looking forward to it so keep an eye out for my review on that :) 

Rating 4/5

Gemx

Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24 Hour Cream Gel Shadow Review

I have finally got my hands on one of these! As soon as I bought it I had to try it out. I got it in the colour 'On and On Bronze', which as the name suggests is a gorgeous shimmery bronzey colour.

excuse the fingerprint, I couldn't contain myself and tested this out as soon as I got it haha 

It is more gel like in consistency than a cream. It applies so easily and smooth, and blends like a dream. 

Once on this colour isn't going to budge until you get your makeup remover out. It lasted all day on me without fading or creasing. I also used a lighter colour shadow on top of it in the inner v of my eye, and this lasted really well.

One thing to note though is that this never fully dried on my eyes, it stayed tacky, but never creased. If I rubbed my eyes it did transfer off, but this isn't a major problem, I Just need to stop rubbing my eyes! 

The price is excellent, at just £4.99 each, most of us can afford to get a few of these, and that's what I plan on doing. I have my eye on 'Tough as Taupe'and 'Eternal Silver', but hopefully I will have them all in my collection eventually! Unfortunately, they haven't released all the colours that are available in the US here in the UK, and I am a bit disappointed as there is a gorgeous colour called 'Pomegranate Punk'. 

I would definitely recommend getting one of these if your like me and pushed for time, its so easy to just sweep this on and you're good to go. 

Gemx

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation Review

image from google as I received a sample sachet

First things first, I received a sample of this foundation in a magazine. It was a sachet in the colour beige, and as I had used fake tan on the weekend and was still quite tanned, I thought it was the perfect time to try out this foundation as it matched my tanned skin perfectly.  

When I first applied it, I thought it was great. It gave a medium coverage and the finish was amazing. It was a cross between matte and dewy, and did make my skin look very 'awake' and glowing. 

However when I went into my bathroom which has quite harsh halogen lighting, I noticed that my whole face was glittering. Why anyone would want glitter in their foundation is beyond me. Who wants to look like a disco ball? I had visions of when Edward is exposed to the light in Twilight, this is what I felt like!

After about an hour of wearing it, my face became very greasy. I was out and didn't have any powder on me so had to spend the day with a greasy face. The grease lasted all day until I washed it off.

I was really disappointed with this foundation due to the fact that it had glitter in it and that it became greasy after only an hour wearing it. I have combination skin with dry patches, my skin is not very greasy at all so for this to go greasy was not something I would have expected.

Rating: 1/5, glitter in foundation is such a no-no for me.

Revlon Lip Butter Review and Lip Swatches

If you have been reading my blog, you would have seen my previous post on how excited I was about getting the new Revlon Lip Butters.

They were released in the US first, and have had amazing reviews from bloggers in America. They are meant to be as pigmented as a lipstick and as moisturising as a balm, a kind of hybrid product.

I have to be honest I was expecting a lot from these, do they live up to my expectations?

They are called lip butters, so I expected the consistency to be as such. I was quite disappointed because they feel nothing like putting butter on your lips, haha. They feel like a moisturising lipstick, quite nice and not at all gloopy or sticky, which is great. To me they are like wearing a lipstick and a lip gloss at the same time, a sort of 2-in-1 lip product. They glide on effortlessly, and can be used sheer for a bit of colour or built up for a stronger look.

Below are pictures of me wearing the Lip Butters, my lips are a natural light pink colour for reference. 

I chose the colours Peach Parfait and Strawberry Shortcake.

I love both of these colours and will definitely be getting more if they are on offer. I really like the look of Cotton Candy and Berry Smoothie, they are next on my list.

Strawberry Shortcake is a blue toned pink, with out any shimmer or glitter in it, perfect for everyday wear.

Peach Parfait is a pinky peach with gold glitter in it. I really like this colour and it is also great for everyday. I am however, slightly disappointed as this is the colour Emma Stone is wearing in the Promo picture and it looks gorgeous on her, it doesn't turn out the same colour on my lips unfortunately. But it is still a lovely colour.

Overall I really like the Lip Butters and I would definitely recommend trying them.

They didn't entirely live up to my expectations, they are a nice product but they are nothing exceptional in my opinion. But are a nice moisturising lip colour.

Rating 4.5/5

Gemx