Tarte beauty - funny name but quality items...

I recently fell for a beauty bargain on QVC from the makers known as Tarte. You can only buy this brand from QVC (I think) and I only previously had a mascara  which came in the QVC "Try it love it" beauty box. and I swapped an eyeshadow palette with someone on a facebook beauty group I frequent called "Beauty in a box UK." The seven piece set plus a beauty bag came in at under £50 including postage. Sounds a lot but it's good for a premium brand like Tarte and all the pieces I think I will use so it was worth the buy. You selected the set according to the foundation colour you wanted and the shade I would probably have opted for had gone but light-medium was still available to buy so that is the one I went for.

I try to operate a strict one in one out rule when using make up to ensure I use up what I started - a quick glance at the make up table tells me I have 5 mascaras on the go at the moment so I'm failing quite badly on that front!  I suppose I am saying that I will keep this set new until I am ready to start it.

Here's a picture of the full set, the packaging is all leopard print and very me!

Taking pictures in the middle of the family day can be difficult as you can see... 

Well we are all sat on the bed together watching the Smurfs movie and I have a few things to list on ebay , reviews to write and this blog... so time to just crack on with it!

What do you get in the set ? 

• An amazing day 12 hour full coverage foundation with spf 15 sized 50 ml I opted for light-medium. I don't know how good it is yet, as I am working through my YSL foundation at the moment but the colour looks good through the leaf packaging (I think it's a clear leaf!). 
  
• A chunky Kabuki brush
• A double ended eyeshadow brush (I love this!) 
• A black automatic eye liner in my favourite shade, black. It has a sharpener in the lid which is great and I much prefer this to wooden eye pencils. 
• A black magnetic mascara
• A double ended lipgloss / lipstick which is handy for nights out as you only need to take one item to touch up your lipstick. The shade looks really wearable too. 
•  My favourite bit, the palette with seven shades of eye shadow and one bigger sized highlighter. Perfect shades for everyday wear! 

This set sold out quite quickly but they have other nice sets on their site that may be worth checking out. Their "Rainforest of the Sea" range looks amazing! There is currently a set for £44 reduced from £70 that looks really good although again, not all the shades of foundation are available.

The other good thing about QVC is that you can try their goods for 60 days and if you choose to return it you can get a full refund. Look out for the next "TILI" try it love it beauty box which is due for release. They are always a bargain price and good to try new branded beauty items.

Well, I think I got a really good deal! What do you think? I will review the items properly once I get them in to regular use, I am hoping that they will all be really good.

Look Fantastic UK beauty box May 2017

This month's beauty box from Look Fantastic is one of my favourites. There's two reasons for this, firstly, that I know I will use everything that came in the box so that is a winning box combination for me. Secondly that I have never tried any of the items before so they are all new discoveries which I will find out whether I like them or not.

Each month, the box has a theme and this month the theme was "Get the Glow" which has an instant appeal for me, I mean who doesn't want "the glow" on their skin! I was expecting highlights, exfoliators, oils and tans and I was not disappointed! The products came in a lovely pink box with the lid themed and a nice little message inside the lid as per usual, it's a nice touch!

So, the first item to catch my eye was a lovely eye shadow, by a brand I had not heard of before "Mellow" but it is available from the Look Fantastic Website at £6 for an individual shadow or there is a palette on there for £20 that looks very nice. The colour I have is Peach and it's a lovely neutral shade with a light shimmer to it. I have just finished my single pot from Bourjois so it's  good time for a new base colour to enter my life. I love a light shade as a base with lots of mascara on the lashes, it's a simple fresh look that I wear often.

Next up was a bottle of clear liquid with a spray top, a James Read gradual tan h20 spray mist which sounds lovely for a light summer tan. The small bottle in brown is a Real Chemistry three minute peel which sounds like it will be a good exfoliator.

The next bottle is a great sized 30ml it is by System Professional and is a solar sun oil, a hair protecting product which is great when it comes to holiday time. i like to put something through my hair and wear a hat during the day to nourish my hair whilst I am in and out of the pool and in the sun. I particularly like the dosing system of the pump top lid as it helps to get the right amount out and makes the bottle last longer! 

So, the last three items are all sachets. The Nuface prep n glow carded sachet which contains a travel friendly wipe to cleanse, exfoliate and hydrate. I will take this on an overnight stay to get the best use from it. the second item is by Glov and it is a single packaged wipe to remove make up that you activate with water, sounds handy!  Finally a sealed bag of coconut cranberry scrub love that is described as a hydrating coconut oil body scrub. It feels a bit squishy in the packet and has a resealable lid so should do a few treatments. I will use this in the shower as I can switch off the faucet to scrub then rinse away. Definitely a great pre holiday treatment!

Well, I do think this is a great value box and can't wait to get stuck in!

The box was bought for me as a Christmas present (two years in a row now) and I really love the monthly surprise the box gives me. You can buy them for as little as £13 per month and this includes postage.

I have another box or two coming soon so I will review them when they land!

February Look Fantastic Beauty Box

Last month's Look Fantastic Box was really pretty and in quite contrast from February's maroon and gold box but each has its merits. Anything that gets me "Runway Ready" is most welcome (LOL) so I was intrigued to find out what the contents would be like.

TK Maxx - Best beauty buys

I love shopping at TK Maxx and find some bargains and unusual items in there in the beauty section. Last time I went I bought a set of foaming face masks, a carrot gel moisturiser shaped like a carrot and some Bareminerals lip balms.

First up these face masks, costing £3.99 for five masks (they were in a yellow sticker sale so reduced twice).  Each mask is in its own sealed sachet and is a sort of orange colour when you first open it. It reacts to the air and foams up after a couple of minutes and is quite good fun to wear. I do it in the bath as it is a bit messy for a bedroom face mask.
 

When you unwrap it, it's a bit strange as it only fits on the lower half of your face. I am not sure why the forehead does not benefit from this mixture but you can always plaster a bit upwards once the foam gets going. I would definitely buy these again at that price as I love Korean beauty products and they are fun to use.

 

 
 
 
 

 

Then the Jeju carrot soothing gel. I really like this but am saving it for our holidays as I think it will be a great skin soother after days spent out in the sun. It was just £3 in the TK Maxx yellow sticker sale. A bit of fun too with the packaging. I have not found anywhere else in the UK that stocks this so it may be a one time wonder unless I ship it in.

This next item was not in the sale but still a good price, £24.99 was the recommended retail price but they were marked at £12.99 and I must admit I ummed and aahed about them before deciding I definitely wanted them. They are mostly sheer (especially the middle one!) with a hint of a tint to them and great moisturising properties. I think these are great for slipping in your pocket for days out when you are not bothering with much make up but want nicely soft lips. Especially on winter days too!

 

The other item I bought (I just remembered!) was an eye shadow palette which is by Cargo but I have not tried it yet so I will blog about it yet and also a set of eye make up remover pads by Almay. I got four of these little pots, which I have almost finished one. There are 80 slim pre soaked pads in each pot and they are nice and cool for removing eye make up. I use one on each eye and find them effective for removing eye make up and I also use one before applying make up in the morning to make sure there is no remnant of panda eye and it adds a little moisture and de puffs too so double bonus. I paid £1 for the green tubs and £2 for the pink tubs, both are similar and work really well. I bought every one the shop had. These are available online at https://www.vitamingrocer.co.uk/ but they are a lot more expensive than I paid. I do think these are a great travel solution though.



January 2017 Look Fantastic Beauty Box

... and so the adventure begins... is how the box presented itself.

I meant to cover all my beauty box buys on this blog then promptly forgot so this review is totally late! I liked the look of this when I first opened it. The subscription was a Christmas present so any good contents are a bonus for me.

I liked the tweezers from the vintage cosmetics company, new tweezers are always welcome in my life and I have had these ones before.

The Nuxe miscellar water was also welcome whilst it was a mini size, it's great for travel and I know my skin likes it.

I used the hair mask straight away, the tube did me two full masks whilst in the bath and I can't argue with the quality of it. I have used this mask before and will buy it again in the future.

I like the Pixi brand but I was not so bothered about the brow taming product (looks clear in the tube). My brows are just not unruly enough to require this product as they do not grow very long.

The trifle cosmetics highlighter went in my daughter's beauty bag as I won't use it as it looks too shimmery!

I have not tried the fairy lashes mascara yet as I have a few open and don't really need another on the go. I am enjoying the Tarte mascara I got in another beauty box.

So that's it! I thought this was a very strong box for January with plenty in it. The box is £15 to buy on the Look Fantastic site and if you do a subscription you can get them a bit cheaper. The site often do threshold spend offers where you get a free box which I sometimes do if I need to rebuy something from there.

In terms of the sub, this is the one box I have stuck with having tried them all! I enjoy the surprise each month and generally find the contents to be good. Here's me with my "calm" hair! I'll take more photos of the contents next time...

From fixer uppers to handbag helpers

My face likes this one!

I range from using a full coverage foundation by Estee Lauder to a tinted BB cream and I decided that I wanted something in between for everyday use. I went to an event with work which took me to a busy Birmingham city centre and with an hour to kill we wandered around the super exciting Harvey Nichols store.

(This is my picture, I just could not find the original one I took so I have lifted it from my review page)

In a store full of different brands... why this one?
I know that the teint eclat concealers and highlighters in their little tubes are immensely popular so I thought that their foundation might be pretty good too. In my everyday foundation I don't like messing around with small vials of foundation, I like to go big so it doesn't run out on me when I am unable to go and buy more. The 30 ml glass pump top dispenser appealed to me as did the sleek gold lid but because I was in store I was able to actually try it out and get advice on the best shade to wear too.

In use
This foundation is dispensed with a pump top. I find one pump not quite enough and two pumps leaves a little too much leftover, but I always use on top of primer or at least a freshly moisturised face so it doesn't sink in so much. It does take a minute or so to dry and I don't like that feeling of wet skin so I tend to wait a minute then dust with loose powder and after the whole face is done a spritz with some setting spray keeps it in place all day. It is easily removed at the end of the day with a cream cleanser and the fact that I can see it on the cotton wool pad is good as it has lasted well on my face.

Why is it special?
They say: "Eight hours of beauty sleep in a foundation, Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic Touche Éclat Foundation now offers even more coverage and staying power while feeling weightless on skin. The magic light-reflecting formula, a signature element in the brand’s iconic Touche Éclat concealer pen, provides the ultimate radiance for your complexion."

My thoughts
This is indeed a light reflecting foundation and feels nice and light on my skin. I also find it quite moisturising and not drying at all which is a great feature as it means it settles more evenly on my skin and doesn't look patchy. I like the fluid consistency and tend to blend with a brush or my fingers if I'm rushing. It does give a natural look and helps even out my skin tone.

How much?
I paid £32.50 for the 30ml tube which I think is an OK price to pay for a high quality product. It will last me for a few months even with daily use. Once you know your shade you can buy it online a little cheaper from websites like Feel Unique who are under £30 but do not have all the shades in stock. This foundation is available in 22 shades.

Final word
I like this. I was tempted to go for a foundation that was more of a pan stick style but that was applied with a flat top brush that was going to add almost £40 on to the bill so I decided to stick with my favourite liquid style foundation. I am glad that I did. I don't mind the asking price as it is a good quality product and has not made me break out or dry up either. I use this most days for work so I know I like it as the other products I have like the Estee Lauder I am just not reaching for as much unless it's a special day that needs full coverage. I can make this work for me with a little powder and highlighter or concealer.

Too orange for me, is this BB...

I do like a good BB cream as I find it a quick alternative to the full face of make up but they even out my skin tone and also moisturise my skin. I got a tube of the Decleor Hydra Floral BB cream in medium in my Look Fantastic advent calendar last month and was pleased to give it a go.

The brand
I know this is a much sought after and quality brand but it is not one I have owned many products from.

My experience
Usually, BB creams are a tinted colour and adjust to your skin colour. I am a medium tone so usually get away with these 'one size fits all' products but with this BB cream I found it went on OK in the morning, set with some powder and by mid morning I noticed how patchy my skin looked and it was looking greasy too. I do have combination skin though so it's not unusual for a product to do this but the way it went orange made me think that the product had oxidised on my skin. This is a reaction with your skin and the product when the air mixes with it and this happened on a few occasions so I have decided this BB cream is not for me.

My thoughts
This is a shame as the BB cream has a built in sun factor protection of 15 and gives the skin 24 hour moisture (not that I'd leave it on my skin 24 hours!). In a way, I am glad I got a sample tube as it is good to know what suits your skin and what doesn't work. I think this may be more of a personal thing than a generic "this product is no good" statement. I just is not the right formula for me.

Price and availability
A tube is usually £30 for 40ml but Look Fantastic have it on special offer in light, medium and dark for £22 at the moment.

Final word
I liked the sound of this BB cream and thought I was going to really like it but discovered after a few uses that it went patchy on me and did not suit my skin. I will not be going back for any more.



My "Daly" fixer

When I was a teen I used to read the beauty pages in the Mail on Sunday YOU Magazine and I always devoured Barbara Daly's editorial on all the skincare and make up I could not really afford. Roll on 20 years and she's got her own collection for sale in Tesco. I always scan as I go around the store and for a few weeks all her make up was scanning at half price (but no signage showing the sale) so I picked something up each week.

I just stocked up the basics, found a lip liner I really liked in a natural shade and this powder is my daily handbag saver.

In the morning when I do my make up I use a loose powder as I prefer the finish it gives but this is not practical to carry around with me on the go as it can be a bit messy. I like a compact with pressed powder as it comes with a mirror and puff and can be used on the run.

This compact is smart and black and has survived the rattling around in the bottom of my handbag for quite a few months now. It opens without too much of a battle and underneath there is a separate tray which holds the puff.
I do think this is quite a nice powder. It is quite fine and light but maybe a shade too light for me but I only use it to take any shine away so I am not using too much product anyway when I apply it as I just dab a bit on and with the loose powders I use a brush to blend and much prefer this look.

Presentation wise the compact looks nice and the letters B and D are embossed in to the top of the powder. I have used mine lots but I can still make out a little of this indent still so I think the compact is going to last me a long time.

Compacts have an old fashioned charm to them. I don't thinks socially it is too bad to whip out a little powder compact (rather than a massive make up bag and do a full face in public!).

This would not be the first powder I would reach for as I have others I prefer and it is just a little bit too pale on me but I don't mind it as a mid day saver. I paid around £4 for this which I thought was a good price but remember it did have 50 percent off.

Would I buy it again? Yes I would, at this price. It performs OK and does not have a funny smell to it (my face powder key criteria!).

Lipstick queen

I bought a lot of products from the Cult Beauty website last year that resulted in an amazing high end beauty bag bursting with goodies including this Lipstick Queen crayon style lipstick that you twist up to use with no sharpening required as the pencil is made from plastic. The design reminds me of the Clinique chubby sticks.

My Lipstick Queen
I got the shade chase which looks bright red but actually goes on like a deep pink and I do find it to be quite a wearable shade. The pencil shape makes it very easy to use and hard to get wrong.

What is it?
What is interesting about this product is that it is hybrid between a lip balm and a lip gloss and liner. The pigment of the lipstick is buildable so you can go for a sheer swipe or apply a few layers for a deeper finish. It is a little shimmery like a gloss but not totally iridescent.

Price and availability
The lipstick is available on the John Lewis and Cult Beauty websites for a consistent £22 which equals a generous 7g of product.

What else does it do?
The fun does not stop there with this lipstick as it is enriched with antioxidant vitamin E, shea and mango seed butters. Sounds amazing doesn't it??!

My thoughts
The brand make some quite unusual lipsticks and glosses - one memorable one is frog prince which looks green but goes on pink (adjusts to your skin tone) and I have a blue sparkle lip gloss called "Hello Sailor" that turns pink although it is blue in the tube! This twist up lipstick is quite mainstream and looks very normal in comparison to these but it performs well in my opinion. I like the shade I got in my goody bag and as a 3g sample it has lasted really well. I don't feel that it's too bright and it can be used for a light or built up look.

Final word
I do appreciate that this is not a cheap lipstick and I am glad I got to try it out first but I like the ingredients and quality so I would be tempted to buy the full size. It's not an easy brand to find in store unless you live near a Space NK (it's probably a good job that I don't...!) or John Lewis but it's easily found online and you are more likely to find a discount code or freebie offer shopping online.

Avo-juicy from OPI

I was always fascinated by the hand and body lotion from one of my favourite nail brands, OPI. The hand creams (although they are multipurpose) came in so many different varieties I decided to dip my toe in the water buying a mixed pack of minis and the actual bottle I have here is 30ml and is jasmine jucie Avojuice. You can buy these in much larger bottles once you settle on a favourite but I found the mini pack an ideal way to form an opinion and assess the different fragrances.

First impressions
I like a multi-tasking beauty product and I also like handbag sized miniature so this set was really totally up my alley! Whilst I primarily use it as hand cream it doubles up as a foot lotion or body moisturiser and it’s not a thick cream so a little bit does go a long way. Looking at the OPI website there are currently 24 listings under the umbrella of Avojuice, starting with the super affordable 30 ml bottle I have costing just £2.25 and 250 ml and 600 ml bottles also available. The prices are £9.50 and £18.20 respectively. Then I notice certain editions are available in a whopping 960ml priced £25.

My use
I think I paid under £10 for my pack of five mini Avojuice bottles and they have lasted ages. If I am going on a long train journey I like to pop one in my handbag so I can treat my hands whilst sitting bored for hours! The mini tubes are also suitable for plane travel and it’s a bit of a home comfort and familiar smell for me when away from home. The little bottles are quite sturdy plastic and have a flip top lid so it’s easy to get a small dot out each time (and that is all it takes to do both hands).

What’s in it?
So, I am sure you are dying to hear what’s in this wonder lotion… A rich, alluring scent of blooming jasmine with a hint of citrus and violet. Each bottle of Avojuice Skin Quenchers lotions are filled with real, good-for-you, natural extract, Vitamins and antioxidants and an entire menu of soothing, nourishing ingredients designed to give skin a drink of moisture.

What do I think?
I think this has been a really good buy for me. I like the texture and consistency of this lotion. It really does feel like I am giving my skin a drink. I have not yet tried a fragrance that I don’t like and I find the little 30ml bottles really handy so I would not hesitate to buy them again. It does not have the thick consistency of a body butter but it gives a quick fix and dry skin is instantly quenched.

Final word
I am not sure I’d want the almost litre sized bottle of the Avojuice but I am very happy with the handbag sized helpers. I would buy this again and probably go for the mixed set again for a bit of variety.


Ooh la la! Expensive eye care

I really like French skincare so was very pleased to get a sample tube recently in a beauty box. Caudalie is a brand I have enjoyed using a lot so I was quite confident that I would like this eye cream.

Price and availability
I used all my tube then looked up the cost on the Look Fantastic website where I normally buy my beauty boxes and skincare. The good news is that it is in the sale, normally costing a whopping £49 for 15 ml but the bad news it that this relatively small tube is still £44.10p making my 7ml sample a pretty decent sized tube.

In use
I really like the consistency of this eye cream, its a peachy colour and quite thick but you only need to use a small amount each time (luckily!). Because of this peachy shade, I like to use it in the mornings as it improves the complexion and calms down puffy skin under my eyes. I let it sink in for a couple of minutes after applying (usually get dressed in the gap before adding make up).

What they say:
Care for the delicate eye area with Caudalie Premier Cru Eye Cream. Specially formulated for the most sensitive part of your face, this luxurious cream is formulated with three Caudalie patents and the most in-depth anti-ageing research. This wonder cream improves and corrects dark circles, wrinkles, puffiness and dullness, leaving your eye area looking younger and brighter.

So how does it work?
Silver, copper and iridescent pearlisers visibly reduce the appearance of dark circles by illuminating the skin to give the illusion of bright and radiant skin.

So what do I think?
I do think this is an expensive product. It is really nice and I do like to use an eye cream but not at full price! My tube has lasted a good amount of time and still has a third left in it so I will continue to use it until it runs out. I know the Caudalie brand is great quality overall and always have a look on their website for special offers and codes. I would also look out for sets containing more of this eye cream as it is very calming on puffy eyes.

Final word
If you get the chance to try this, you will probably like it but I appreciate it is out of most people's price range!

Latest discoveries...

Mango Madness

I bought a set of four hand gels from the Body Shop recently and am currently working through the Mango fragranced gel.

First impressions
The gel is very easy to use and I keep mine on my desk at work. I like that this gives a fruity burst and helps eliminate germs on the hand.

Bottle style
The bottle has a flip top lid and it is easy to squeeze out a small dot, you really do not need to use a lot to get a proper application.

In use
It feels very cold and wet for around 5 seconds then totally dries only leaving the scent behind.

Beware

If you have any cuts and bruises on your hands this gel will find them and they will sting as with all alcohol based cleansing gels.

What is it?
This is a way of cleaning your hands without rinsing in water. It does not replace soap and water which is the best way to wash hands but it does provide a solution if you are unable to get to a sink.

Price and availability
This bottle of mango came in a set of four little bottles each sized 60 ml and different fragrances. I know I also have coconut. The set was bought from a Body Shop Outlet Store and was around five pounds. I have seen the coconut style ones for sale on the Fragrance Direct website for as little as 99p per bottle. The retail price for a single 60 ml bottle is £2.50 on the Body Shop website but they do usually have offers on so you will probably find a discount code to get it a bit cheaper.

My thoughts
I try to use this to reduce the germs and colds i get from work (I blame the air conditioner) and from the kids. I still get ill even though I use this stuff but maybe not so much as I would do if I did not use it. I like the fruity scent of this bottle and it is not at all sticky on the hands once dry. It is also not drying on the skin as some gel cleansers can be.

Final word
I find this gel to be really gentle on the skin and it makes my hands smell lovely. I will definitely be back for more!

My thoughts on Nailtiques nail polish remover...

I think I have tried every nail polish remover on the market by now! I have to say that some are better than others, and some don't work at all! Some are really cheap but you have to question whether they are effective and place that over the price paid.

The discovery
I got a mini bottle of the Nailtiques acetone free nail polish remover in a mini kit from the Look Fantastic website recently. The set was so good I bought it twice in fact! It was a good introduction to the brand which I now look out for online as I liked all three items in the kit.

In use
The bottle was around 30 ml although you get a larger bottle if you just buy it on its own. I use this remover with cotton pads although I have since discovered some lint free removers on Amazon that work far better, use less remover liquid and do not leave any residue fluff on the nail. I drench a pad then wipe away from the nail to avoid rubbing polish in to the nail bed and getting it on my skin and cuticles.

Price
It is easy to find this product online. A 173ml bottle is £5.53 on Beauty Bay. Looking around it is widely available and priced between £4 and £6. I paid £8 for my mini which also came with a nail oil and a mystery polish.

My thoughts
I did use a lot of this remover in one sitting, too much really but I didn't want to scrub, I just wanted the polish to slide off the nail easily. I didn't really mind using a lot but it meant my little bottle only lasted for a couple of manicures.

Handy for travel
The smaller bottles are pretty useful when travelling so I will probably buy another pack with them in as I like the mystery polish you get in the pack plus a nail oil too.

Final word
I would buy this again in the midst of a bigger order but would not seek it out individually as it works well but so do other products that are a little cheaper. I would be happy to receive it in a set again though and the little bottles are great for removing polish on the move.

Konad nail stamping set

Konad branded items were the first polishes and stampers I bought when I first got in to nail art and specifically stamping. This set, I bought from Amazon a few years ago and it got me in to the stamping using the plates I bought.

What?
Perhaps I am confusing you already, let me take a small step back. Stamping on to nails is a very effective nail art but it requires a few supplies namely: etched plates, stamping pads, scrapers and special polish. You use these together to stamp a design on to the nail.

This set
This set is a double ended stamper and scraper. It is handy because sometimes you only want to stamp a single image (like a leaf) on to the end in which case you'd use the small end. Or alternatively a full pattern on to the whole nail so you would use the large end. You use the scraper on the plate to remove excess polish from your image before picking up the design on to the padded stamper.

In use
This is a simple kit to use, with the help of some YouTube videos I managed to get it working. They are easy to clean up with a bit of normal nail polish remover and some cotton wool pads.

Availability and price
You can still pick up the sets for just under £10 on Amazon although I bought mine a few years ago.

My thoughts
I have moved on from this style stamper and scraper now for a few reasons. I have a giant pad that picks up a bigger design and I find it a lot easier to use especially with the picture plates which have a whole image on them rather than the individual nail patterns as my nails are quite long so the stampers in this set are not really big enough if I want a full design on my nails. You can also buy clear stampers which help with placement of the design on the nail and with this one it's a bit of guess work!

Final word
For the money, it's OK but most will prefer the clear stampers if they want to be more precise. Some stampers don't pick up the design and I did get this one to work properly so that definitely goes in their favour!

Pictures
These were all done using this stamping set in 2015 but I have moved on a bit now and use a bigger stamp which copes better with my longer nails!

Nail oil.. going cheap!

In the quest for long, strong nails, the purchase of all nail oils and cuticle products has become an endless venture for me. I do like to keep these little bottles of oil all over the place so when I spotted the Poundland range of makeup and beauty items also make an oil it went straight in the basket.

What is it?
Nail oil helps to keep nails flexible and the nail bed healthy which is important in the growth pattern of the nail. It also keeps skin around the nails and the cuticle nice and supple and less likely to turn in to a hangnail which is then tempting to pick or nibble at!

Description
The packaging on this make up gallery nail oil is pretty simple with a clear glass round bottle and the product visible inside. In the lid is a built in brush as with nail polishes and you unscrew it to use it.

In use
This is the simplest product ever to use. You just dip in the brush and apply liberally on and around the nail, then massage in to the nail bed well to keep the cuticles nice. You can use this as many times as you like in a day and I like to reapply a few times and then I have other similar products by my bed for the night time nourishment.

Price
Just a pound from the shop with the same name! (Poundland).

My thoughts
This product works just fine and has no nasty smell to it which is good. My only observation is that it is a little runny when compared to the thicker oil in my Sally Hansen nail oil which also sits on my desk - almost empty. This bottle will last ages and this is even with regular use. I would definitely buy another to replace it when I am finished as you can't go wrong at that price. I don't think that it really matters that this is a bit more runny than the more expensive cuticle oils.

Final word
I like this product a lot for the price paid it definitely fits in to the budget beauty category but why pay more when this does the trick quite well? This is always available when I have visited the store and I think a lot of people will not be bothered to buy it or use it as they see no need for it in their lives but for me it is essential and if you like to take care of your nails it helps with the drying nature of remover and restores moisture to the nail.

The photo is of my nails to show it does promote growth.

This is da Bomb!

I do like Benefit make up although it can be a bit expensive I like to try out most of their lines. I got a blusher set just before Christmas that had a lot of their blushes and bronzers included, with the SugarBomb blush also in this set.

Gravitation
What was interesting is that this is the one I go for most often out of all the choices of blush. All the colours are wearable but I think I gravitate towards SugarBomb as it's a multi tasking speedy item.

What is it?
Four complementing shades of rose, shimmering pink, soft plum and sumptuous peach blend together perfectly to give cheeks a natural looking bright but soft look.

In use
I use a small blusher brush so as not to overwhelm the pan and push the powder in to another area. I find it blends in to the skin well and adds a rosy touch with not too much sparkle on the skin. I was doubtful in the beginning that the four shades would be complementary and work together but actually, they do if you swirl your brush around them. It is impossible to pick up just one shade with the style of brush you need to use, although the Boots web page suggests "for an extra candy pop of color, apply your favorite of the four shades to the apples of our cheeks..." perhaps this is easier with the full sized product.

My thoughts
I did wonder whether this blusher was four of the other products jumbled in to one pan but it seems that this is not the case and that they are actually unique shades in their own right to make up the SugarBomb pan. I think it'd be quite cool to have a product made of four existing shades. I would say this is a speedy blush as it does a bit of everything at once, rather than a painstaking contour although I can use my Hoola that is also in the same palette to do the little bit of contour to aid the look of cheekbones (due to total lack of cheekbones lol).

Price and availability
At Boots, this retails for £23.50 and you get 12g of product. Lots of department stores and online shops sell the Benefit brand and at the moment this product is pretty easy to get hold of.

Final word
I do think this set was great value for money when you look at the unit price of the SugarBomb on its own but then you do get more grammes for your money if you buy it individually. I like the choice of the palette but have to say that the SugarBomb product is my favourite when rushing in the morning. I will review the other shades in the coming days and weeks and try not to keep saying "this one is my favourite..." lol.
 

Multimasking magic

I got the chance to try out a multi masking box set from Belle Azul which has literally changed my game on face masks now! You get three 30ml tubes in the set to tackle anti ageing, detox (spots) and moisturising. Each mask is a different colour so you can see what you are doing with them.

 

I had seen people multi masking on Instagram and really wanted to give it a go. I do around three masks a week and sometimes I can't decide whether I am detoxing or need moisture more (usually clay vs a collagen sheet mask). With this you get the best of both worlds. 

 

Inside the box there are some suggestions as to how to apply them. I think we all know our own skin best so I applied the detox to my breakout areas, the anti ageing on my forehead lines and under eyes and the moisturising one around the sides of my face and forehead.

I applied my mask in the bath, it's not as messy that way and I think the heat from the bathroom helps your pores release their badness and give in to the mask. Also, after 20 minutes I just used a damp flannel to remove all the mask from my face. I usually apply this on a night when I am washing my hair anyway then it doesn't matter if the mask gets in to my hairline as I can just wash it off. I also wore an elastic headband to keep my messy bun out of the way. Here I am looking very scary...

I applied a night cream afterwards to sleep in and the next day I woke up with fresh and smooth skin. I am already planning my next multimask night!

This set is currently listed at under £20 which I think is great value as you get more than 25 applications from the set as you only really need a pea sized amount of each product (maybe less!) with each application.

If you want to buy them you can find them here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/BELLE-AZUL-MASK-COLLECTION-SUPER-CHARGED/dp/B01MRY79O0/ref=sr_1_13_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1484681242&sr=8-13&keywords=belle+Azul

A beautiful start to 2017...

Back again already with a few beauty items to share. Both items are by Benefit and have been my most used products for the last 12 months. I've also added a random item in that's good for a giggle (and nothing to do with Benefit!)

1. Beam me up

I  have tried all the "beam" products from Benefit and I have to say shy beam is by far my favourite. I first discovered it as a luxury sample size from a beauty box (I think it was Birchbox but I can't be sure!). I then purchased the full sized product as I liked it so much but I am still working through the sample!

What is it?
This is a nude-pink, matte highlighter puts the softest, most natural-looking spotlight on you. The shimmer-less formula lets the radiant you shine through!

Why I like it
This is a liquid highlighter so it is a lot easier to work with than a creme formula and it is also matte with no glitter or shimmer in it so you don't look like a robot when caught in the spotlight.

How I use mine

Highlighters are versatile, in the days of contour and strobing, highlight products are the important stage of creating a false light on your own face. I tend to dot mine over the brow bone (low) above the eyebrows and a fan shape in between the eyebrows then a dab under the brow to pick up the arch and all this gets the smudge treatment with a mini beauty blender. The product does sink in to the skin perfectly then I set it with powder doing an under eye "bake" and a final spritz of make up setting spray.

You can also use a dot on the cupids bow above the lips to create a better lip line and a stripe down the middle of the nose to create a slimmer nose if you are bothered.

My thoughts

This is a very natural looking highlighter and it doesn't get cakey when used over the top of other products or underneath powders. It is a great shade without being too white or pale. I like the brush better on the smaller sample as it is a chunky short style than the full sized product which is long and thin and bendy and more like a nail polish brush. I do prefer the packaging on the full size though as it is a really pretty studded rose gold in the style of the rest of the Dandelion range of products.

How much?

A 10ml bottle is £19.50 and will last a very long time. It's around the size of a round nail polish bottle so does not take up a lot of room if you want to take it in your make up bag away.

Final word

The product is long lasting and versatile, it's one of my favourite items I use right now and it works well with other brands of make up too. I like this better than a cream highlighter and have tried out quite a few. The fact that this is non shimmery is also flattering on older skin.

 2. Just Browsing...

Brows got bigger in the beauty world over the last year or so and whilst they are slimming down a little in 2017, a good brow product is a beauty essential if you want the complete look. I have tried a few products and settled on a brow powder and this goof proof pencil from Benefit to get my perfect brow look.

Choosing a shade...

I think it's important to go with a colour that suits your skin tone and hair colour. Mine is a dark blond gradient so I can get away with a darker brow now than when i had white blonde hair. A bold brow looked awful with my pale hair and complexion but now it is OK. You can choose from six shades in the goof proof range from 01 light to 06 deep. I am not sure any shades will suit red heads but I guess you go brown dark if you want defined and go taupe lighter if you want a more natural look.

What is it?

This pencil is described as a super easy brow filling and shaping pencil. It comes in the most unique packaging with a diamond cut lid which is great for grasping and difficult to lose. It clicks on to the pencil quite easily and comes off with a light tug. The pencil is plastic inside and a twist up rather than sharpen variety.

Looks different to other pencils...

The shape of the pencil is oblong rather than round and you don't need to sharpen the end as it twists out of the lid, You can also twist the product down and away when not in use so it does not chip off on the lid. I like this.

In use, what is it like?

The product itself is quite a soft and pliable pencil and is easy to apply in soft strokes so you can fill in any blanks and get a natural look. I like using this and don't find it too harsh and because it is soft it is blendable too if you feel it has gone on too strongly (I just rub it with a cotton bud if that happens). I do find this product super easy to use, you can't really go wrong and hardly any product is used in each application so it's going to last a long while.

How much and where can you buy this?

Benefit is sold widely online and in many department stores and Boots shops. It might be worth a visit if you are interested to work out which is the best shade for you.

Get your purse ready!

It costs £18.50 for a full sized pencil at House of Fraser with the choice of six shades. I got mine in the shade medium in a beauty box as deluxe sized sample which is a little shorter than the full sized but has lasted for a long time anyway (long enough to get me hooked on this this product anyway!). For a bit more spending, you can buy a set which includes the goof proof brow pencil and two other products £28.50 on asos.com. I'd be tempted to add the £10 to the single pencil cost to try out the other items. You can buy these sets in deep, light and medium.

My feelings on this product

As I said, I have tried pencils, powders, creams, pomades and even gel mascara wand products for brows and struggled to like anything a lot but this pencil I really do love as it is easy to use and fast to achieve a natural look plus I like the chiselled packaging as it feels quite special. I don't mind the price as the set lasts a long time and i can also use it along with my favourite brow powders. I like to use a highlighter (non shimmer also by Benefit) around the brow to perfect the look and blend in the skin properly before setting all over with a powder and setting spray. It doesn't budge or smudge until I am ready to remove it at the end of the day with a proper eye make up remover.

Final word

All I can really say is go and try this at the counter for free and see if you like it. The ladies are usually very helpful and will demonstrate how to use it if you are unsure. I think this is one of my favourite items in my make up bag right now!

It excites me that there are 2017 brands and products I have not tried yet but will surely discover and fall in love with!

3. Here's the random piece...
I got these glasses in time for the party season, so had to have a try out at home. A few observations namely they are oversized and fall off my face and I have a big head so no good for kids really.

I must admit that I wondered how I would manage wearing them in the dark and yes you can see the lights and it does obstruct your vision a lot. I tripped up wearing them in my house so who knows how I'd cope in a club with them!

The kids loved how they were voice activated and enjoyed playing with them. There is a plastic tab in there that you pull out to start the batteries. You can switch them on and off after the batteries are connected. The glasses light up with red, green and blue LED lights and the battery can be replaced with a small screwdriver, so once you have these they are for life (ha ha).

I like the colours and think these are fun party glasses but best worn on the head rather than over the eyes! They are silly, klunky oversized and a bit odd but something different if you're going to a party. Not a bad price either. Buy them here at Amazon (short and silly video also on my review!). https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R2T98MKYEQL3TV/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm