Lipsticks from my Handbag

All the lipsticks I found!

 

 

 Today is the day that I decided my handbag needed a turn out. As I have now finished uni the old highlighters and post-its had to go, along with bus tickets and gum wrappers. I suppose my bag looked like most peoples, I am not the only guilty one around here! Tehe! As I was emptying, I found 8 lip products buried in the depths of my knock-off Zara bucket bag. I feel because I carry these around most days they must be my most used and favourite products and truthfully they are. Each day as I head out I rummage my little mits around and grab a suitable shade, and now I'm going to share my love for these 8 little beauties with you.

Each is from the highstreet/ drugstore (highlighting I'm a skint student) but the quality of them fills the longing I have for new tubes of MAC. First up we have the oldest of the bunch Maybelline's Colorsensational in 'CoralPop' (number 420)

 

 

 I bought this last September when I fancied a coral to transition me into autumn. The light is terrible in this photo, but its an orangey red, which smells incredibly like Playdoh! The consistency of the lipstick is very thick and lasts for hours. I tend to wear a smear of vaseline over the top so my lips don't glue themselves together. All in all it is a perfect red based coral for all year round.

The second is the newest of the bunch, L'oreal's Rouge Caress in 'Lovely Rose.' (Number 3) 

 

 

I was going to do a separate blog post on this product all together but I may as well share my likes and dislikes right now. The colour is beautiful, a blueish pink that lies lightly on the lips while moisturising them. But this is the main problem for me... THE PRODUCT DOESN'T LAST! No other blogger seems to have mentioned this. I put it on and happen to rub my lips together and bam its gone! Magic! I do carry it with my though because the texture is nice and the smells divine (I don't know what L'oreal lipsticks and blushers are scented with but its amazing!) I wouldn't re-purchase this product I have to admit. For £8 it just doesn't last long enough. Sorry L'oreal!

Next we have the Sleek lipsticks. As I carry 3 shades it is fairly obvious I looovveeee them!

I have with me, 'Peaches and Cream', 'Fuchsia' and 'Coral Reef'. Sleek has named them Sheens but I don't think they are at all. They are so matt and pigmented. I wipe the colour across one lip, close my mouth and the colour is always evenly distributed across my lips. Sometimes I even blot them so no colour transfers to my teeth! These, like the Maybeline colorsensations, are very thick! Its almost indescribable how thick the product is, but that's what makes them last. I can eat and drink and the colour remains the same. 

I have had 'Fuscia' the longest, this is my forth tube. I first got it in my first year of uni and in all my night out photos I have this on, it became a staple! 'Coral Reef' is very similar to 'Coral Pop' just a  little brighter. I am still getting used to 'Peaches and Cream' but its an amazing dupe for MAC's 'Hue', the nude tone goes perfectly with a tan and I hope to wear it more this summer!

Finally, here are two different lip products, Collection's Lip Creams!

 

    

 

'Fairy Cake' (left) and 'Cotton Candy' (right). Yet again I am sorry the lighting is so bad but I had to make the most of what I had! These products are supposed to have a 'matt velvet feel' and they truly do! When I first tried these I wasn't sure how they were different from any over product but they sink into your lips within about 10 minutes and leave a stain that rivals any stain I have tried. I love them so much. I often go to reapply the lip cream and realise that the colour is still there and there really is no need.The top swatch shows 'Fairy Cake' and as you can hopefully tell its an orangey pink, whereas 'Cotton Candy' is a pinky lilac. Thinking about it 'Cotton Candy' is the colour that I wanted the Rouge Caresse to have and leave behind. I purchased these when they were first released on 2 for £5, and I definitely got a bargain. For summer their light feel is perfect and they don't shift in the heat either!

 

 

 

 That's it folks, another blog post been and gone! I hope you enjoyed it and it gave you a sneak peek at my lipstick loves and also shared some money worthy products! What lip products are you loving? Do you get a messy handbag too?

Much Love

B

xo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baking Brownies!

Apparently I have reached that age (Ahem 20) where spending a saturday afternoon baking is a reasonable, and enjoyable thing to do. Deciding that sitting through 90 minutes of football with my boyfriend was not the best way to spend my saturday, I opted to stay home and have a day doing things I enjoy the most. Slash finishing my dissertation, which is due in on Monday.

So as I was flicking around the tv channels I spotted a re-run of Nigella Kitchen to watch. She was making her 'Everyday Brownies' which looked incredible. So I googled the recipe and decided to give them a go.

In my house, at home not uni house, we have a baking cupboard which my mum uses on a  regular basis to bake wheat free cakes and such like, as she sticks to a wheat free diet. Today I was in luck though, as we had all the things I needed to make the brownies. Instead of using the two choclate bars Nigella uses, I took an old easter egg and smashed it into little chunks to use as my 'rubble'. I also didn't have enough butter but 'what the hell' i thought to myself, 'it has to be worth a shot'.

The Baking Cupboard

Getting ready to slice the easter egg (sorry the pictures fuzzy I had flour on the lense!)

 

The pan used to make the Brownie Batter

All in all the making of the brownies went very smoothly. My mixture was a lot runnier than Nigella's so I think this is why they took about 30 minutes in the oven to firm up. Heres the link to the recipe.

My Final Brownies, before slicing

Now I am going to sit and enjoy one with a cuppa! Hope you are all having a good weekend, whether its a creative one or not!

B xo

Review: Topshop Cheek Highlighter

Hey Guys,

So today I want to talk to you about a product which I love but then kinda don't like at the same time. Its Topshops Multi-Purpose Highlighting Stick.

The packaging says 'Highlight cheeks, lips and body with this multi purpose stick'.

Now I bought this in the shade 'Prism' (not sure what that means in relation to the product colour) but I remember there being one or two other choices of colour and this swatched the best.

The colour cannot be faulted it is a beautiful cheek highlight but this leads me onto the reason I don't really like it...It is very shiny! I feel like I apply this to my cheek bones in the morning and once I am out I catch a glimpse of myself and can see exactly where it has been applied! It cannot be buffed in either. It is very unforgiving. Once it is on the skin it stays put! Now if I am going out for the night, and know photos will be taken, it is perfect as a brow highlight but just not for the cheeks! My second BIG PROBLEM is the packaging! Why put a beauty product in a Matt white tube??!! Within a second of owning this it became brown and make up stained. (I wiped before the photos)

I think it was £10 and then I got student discount so it became £9, so it isn't a high end product that will break the bank at all and in all honesty if this tube ever runs out (which it wont anytime soon) I would consider buying it again. 

I have always lusted after Benefits Watts Up but it is double the price of the Topshop one which is, in fact, a very good dupe. For the price, I do feel like I have got myself a bargain, it is fragrance free and very smooth and easy to apply. So no complaints there. But every time I use it I just get this nagging feeling that my cheeks will be reflecting the light way too much!

I think my final verdict would be to try this product for yourself! It may depend on skin tone and personal preference but for now I will try to decide whether my cheek bones really need this much highlight.

Much Love

B

xoxo

Match made in heaven?

Like most women, I am a HUGE fan of all things glittery, girly and for your nails! My collection of nail varnishes is starting to get a little out of control. But I cannot say no to a beautifull, shiny, new bottle!

My most recent purchase is the Topshop silver glitter polish named 'Ice Crush'

Please excuse the slightly dodgy photos, as I am still trying to find good lighting etc. 

Now my sister recently bought the pinkier glitter shade 'Adreneline' and when I returned to buy the same it had gone, and in its place was the silver version. And I just knew I had to have this too! It retails for around £6 and can be found in most Topshops. The nail varnish consists of tiny glitter pieces mixed with larger sequin like specs. It applies nicely and I have made it last about 10 days before it began to peel (yes peel!) right off! My only dissapointment with 'Ice Crush' is its thickness. 'Adreneline' only needed one coat to look like party nails but this needs two or three. I suppose its the varnish itself, as 'Adrenline' is in a rosy coloured 'gel' opposed to the clear that this glitter sits in. 

Other than that tiny point it is my new love! And it compliments my next love sooo well....

Models Own 'Utopia' this lilac, almost white, varnish is stunning! It can be found in Boots for £5. I actually paid for this with my many boots advantagecard points so felt I got a freebe! With two coats the varnish is matt enough without becoming tacky to the touch. I have always been a huge fan of Models Own nail varnishes as they are well worth their price tag! I think Utopia is perfect for summer and cannot wait to wear it again. I forgot to photograph the two combined on my nails but believe me... it looked sooo pretty!

I think they compliment each other so well. And will definitely be gracing my toes and fingers more often than not!

Much Love

B

xoxo

Review: Skin Wisdom Facemask

Today I am going to do a review of the Skin Wisdom Instant Benefits; Peel off face mask. Now there is a story behind this Tesco face mask. Me and my boyfriend didnt fancy going out on friday night because it was freezing and we had made a nice meal so figured a night in would be cute. This idea soon spiralled into a complete pamper session (his idea more than mine) so after buffing his nails, we wandered to the little Tesco around the corner and found these beauties for 99p. Now normally I get the fruit smoothie ones (you know which ones I mean, the cheap ones that seem kinda foreign) from Boots or Superdrug but after using them over christmas I had ran out.

Now the packaging promises the mask to be 'Skin smoothing and Brightening' so I was excited to see the results. After applying the entire packet, there was a lot but it was needed for it to peel off, we sat for about 30 minutes (recommended 20-25 minutes) to make sure the mask had truly set hard. And trust me it had. Grabbing the product from under my chin, I pulled it upwards and suprisingly it came off easier than expected. I had managed to get a little in my eyebrows and hairline, and this was very problematic as it waxed my eyebrow and was still stuck to my baby hairs the next day. I would just suggest being a little more carefull than me. But once it was all off, my skin did feel fresher and very smooth. The boyfriend also agreed and said he had a lot of fun pulling, what felt like his skin, off. The positives definitely outweigh the negatives for me, and it only cost 99p! Bargain!

Positives

• Smelt amazing
• Left my skin very smooth and refreshed
• Low Price
• Easy to remove
• No stinging

Negatives

• Scent is not identified which is slightly annoying because it just smelt sooo good!
• Product is clear, so hard to see where it has been applied
• Extremely sticky to get out of the sachet

So despite these few little points, I would definitely use it again and recomend it.

B xo

Its Fright Night!

After spending my life not really interesting in Halloween, despite my love of all things supernatural, it has never been my favourite holiday. I carve a pumpkin on those years when I can handle the smell of the flesh inside as I hollow it out but other than that there isn't a time I have been to a Halloween party or poured fake blood around my mouth. Maybe I am a Halloween Scrooge!
But this year I agreed to spend the night watching scary films and eating far to many sweets. And all was well and good, but now I'm alone in the house and it is all hallows eve in half an hour, I'm feeling a little scared. Ive checked I have locked the door twice and am now snuggled in bed, with all lights in the house on in case of any paranormal activity type scenarios. So maybe I am not such a non believer as I thought. Any advice for a scaredy cat....?
If I make it through the night I will reward myself with a post halloween shopping trip. Perfect. Bring on the day light hours!
B xo

Fringe Vs No fringe

The debate of having a fringe (bangs) against the argument for a fringe is something which has been winding me up quite alot recently. I have always had a fringe, either side or full, and then, as summer approached I simply left it to grow, and grow and grow a little more and now I have no fringe whatsoever. My hair dresser keeps asking what exactly it is doing.

She will ask 'Is it a middle parting now?' or 'are we attempting layers around the face?'

My answer to this is always 'I dont know' and I um and ahhh about what to have done while she just trims my ends and yet here I am 6 months later with no change. Not even a slight trim around the face...nothing! 

And this is leaving me with quite a large dilemna! Its amazing how much my hair means to me, and Im sure to most women all over the world, but the fact it is so important to me only makes my final decision harder! Do I have the fringe cut back in?! 

Part of me is screaming 'HAIR GROWS!' but the other part of me is scared for the outcome. You know what I mean, when you have a change and people you barely even know say... 'Oh god dont you look a lot better, I never liked that look on you' or something along them lines, which leaves you questioning your own opinion of yourself. Now I am a firm believer of the old 'who cares' method but I dont want to be walking along and people to think...'what a large forehead..get a fringe'. I mean on the other hand they may be saying 'gosh doesnt she look like Abbey Clancy' now then I would be chuffed and my hair would never again be cut! However untill I actually hear someone give me such a compliment I will have to stick to flipping a coin, or drawing my options from a hat.

Oh the joys of being a woman ;)

B xo