Nars Deep Throat Blush- My First Ever High End Blush!

Let me start by apologising for my absence, I've been in the process of moving to London to start a new job which has meant I have had a very busy/exciting couple of months. I am hoping to get back to blogging as it is something that I really enjoy doing with my spare time. Despite not keeping a record of it, I am as obsessed with make up and beauty as ever and moving to London where temptation is around every corner hasn't helped!

Todays post will be focussing on my first ever high end blush. I have been taking tentative steps into the world of higher end make-up recently. It all started with Mac Lipsticks when I decided I just couldn't go any longer without understanding what all the hype was about. I then got overly excited and bought six of them in the space of 8 weeks (oops...). For my next high end purchase I knew that it had to be a blush as when it comes to make up, for me, the most exciting purchases are always blush or lip products.

I had done a little research and time and time again I came across claims that Nars just couldn't be beaten when it came to blush. The price tag is veeery pricey (£22.50) so I wanted to be absolutely sure that I was investing in something worth the money. Orgasm is by far the most famous blush that Nars produces but having seen it in person I just can't understand how people wear it, it is SO glittery. It may just be me being a make-up wuss but I generally like to avoid looking like a 8 year old who has been let loose in Clare’s Accessories. Deep Throat is supposedly Orgasm's easier to wear cousin, having swatched both I can't really see it but both have a peachy tone to them.

 Theres no denying that Deep Throat has some sparkle to it, but I would describe it as a shimmer rather than a glitter. I will admit that I was still a little scared of it and spent an absolute age in Space NK moving my hand around to see if it was too glittery. Once it was applied though I saw that it just gives you the most gorgeous glow. Its hard to describe as even when wearing a highlighter I've never had an affect quite like it. It just makes me look more alive I guess. Its a beautiful colour, not too peachy, not too pink. I have a rather large collection of drugstore/boots blushes and I don't have anything quite like it.  

In terms of comparing it to my lower end blushes I am blown away by the difference in quality. My favourite blush to wear before I discovered Nars was Sleek, Pixie Pink and in terms of wear, longevity and ease of application Nars knocks spots of anything else I've tried. I'm not one to waste money and I think very carefully before making expensive purchases like this but I can definitely say that for me the price tag is worth it. As far as blush in general is concerned I don't think its necessary to mix up colours as much as you would lipstick or eye shadow and so for me I would far rather have one excellent blush like this, which makes the job of blending a dream, than a large number of drugstore options. Having said that having now tried Nars I am already eyeing up their other blushes and eyeshadows (its the Mac lipsticks all over again!).

I hope that was of some use to someone (anyone?!) although I think it turned out as a rather long winded story rather than an informative review! To try and claw things back here is a fancy summery for you!!

Pigmentation: 9/10- By far the most pigmented blush I have ever owned but having swatched some of the other Nars blushes I think that there are others that have slightly more pigmentation.

Longevity: 10/10- What can I say? It goes on at 6am and its still there by 4pm (and beyond if I want it to be)

Shade: 8/10- Its beautiful but perhaps not all that unique- but factoring in the sheen and the quality its just perfect!

Price: 8/10- Its steep but fair.

Amy xxx

L'oreal True Match Foundation and Volume Million Lashes Bargain and Review!

Hello everyone :) I hope you're all having a good day. I was a little naughty today and went hunting in Boots again, I mistakenly thought that I could go in there, have a little mooch and come out again without parting with my money but I should have known myself better than that! Although the glorious 3 for 2 deal has now ended there are still a couple of good ones going. In my opinion the best being the two for £15 on L'oreal foundation and mascara, both of which are fairly pricey in comparison to other 'drugstore' 'budget' 'whatever' offerings.

Boots two for £15 deal on L'oreal Mascara and Foundation. I chose True Match Foundtion and Volume Million Lashes Excess Noir

    I've been wanting to try L'oreal True Match for AGES since Amelia Liana started raving about it just after Christmas. Its supposedly a dupe for Georgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation but I am a drugstore gal through and through so I can't comment on that! The main reason I wanted to try this foundation is the fantastic shade range, I'm either really bad at picking shades or I have a really awkward face but either way I seem to always get it wrong!! I am very pale but I find a lot of the porcelain options although pale enough are just too pink toned whereas the next standard pale person shade 'Ivory' always seems to be too orange, ARGH!! Oh the problems of being a pale girl obsessed with make-up....

   True Match is really clever in the way that it breaks up the shades into Cool, Warm and Neutral tones and apparently it has 98% of the countries skin tone covered! Of course you have to know your undertone first but there is plenty of help online if you need it, I would offer you advice but honestly I struggled myself! In the end I settled for N1 Ivory which is far paler than most Ivory shades I've tried before and its quite yellow toned. Its PERFECT words cannot describe how excited I am to finally have found a foundation that matches me perfectly, I don't have to blend like a mad person down my neck anymore!!! A word of warning it does oxidise on the skin slightly (as in gets a little darker after about 20 minutes in the air) but it still matches me really well even after this.

L'oreal True Match on my Skin, shade NI Ivory

As for the actual performance of the foundation I'm really pleased with it. I have dry patches on my cheeks which a lot of foundations get all flaky and disgusting on but this just glides right over and hides it for me. I also have quite noticeable redness which drives me nuts and this covers it well. Id say its medium coverage its certainly not full because I hate that look but it covers everything I want it to. I'll be doing a first impressions video on my youtube channel soon if anyone would like to see that.

For the Mascara I chose the Volume Million lashes Excess Noir. FleurDeForce has recently been saying how good it is and its the most recent addition to the Volume Million Lashes range. I am really keen to try some mascara offerings from other brands as I have been a die hard maybelline mascara fan for a LONG time. This is mostly because I know that I am not allergic to them as I have very sensitive eyes and for that reason I would never have tried Volume Lashes at full price as £10.99 is a lot to pay for something I may not be able to wear. With this deal it was far more affordable and I was willing to take the risk.

I'm really impressed with this mascara and it gives me really amazing volume and length, and so far I'm not allergic! Woop! The only thing I would say is that it is quite clumpy, but not in a bad way if that makes sense. It gives you very full lashes but I wouldn't say they're defined. Not spider lashes by any stretch but its quite a full on look so if thats not your thing I would steer clear. For me its the bigger the better so I was really happy with the look.

A slightly out of focus photo of my eye.... as you can see this Mascara gives lots of Volume and Length!

In summary I really do think this offer is fantastic value for money as you get to try two quite pricey items at a far more affordable price. I am really impressed with both of them and although I like to try new things I would definatlly repurchase the foundation just because I am so happy to have finally found a good shade match.

I hope that was helpful, be sure to check it out at boots! I've managed to upload my second ever video onto youtube if anyone fancies checking it out, I shall be doing a review on the True Match foundation soon.

My channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbV37Dex2ogME43etmajlGg

Speak soon :)
Amy xx

Beauty Tag: If All My Make-Up Disappeared

Hello! Today I am going to do a tag as I think I need to try and do something other than reviews all the time! I've been attempting to film another video for YouTube but its not going so well, I don't think I'm a natural when it comes to being on camera! I've been trying to learn how to edit videos and get a thumbnail which I think will help a lot. I've also been struggling a little as I've been very concerned with a job interview I have on Monday, if I get it it will mean moving to London all on my own which is really quite scary... anyway enough of my boring life- onto the tag!

Today I'm going to be doing the 'if all my make-up disappeared tag' which is basically a list of my top ten make-up items that I would always re- purchase because i love them so much/ I'm overly reliant on them!

The ten items I would re-purchase if 'all my make-up disappeared'!

1) Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream: I have a full blog post on this CC Cream if you're interested, I haven't had this all that long but I am IN LOVE. I've tried going back to my other foundations but they just don't compare. Its a very light feeling on the skin but provides a really decent coverage, it doesn't make me looked caked up but isn't so sheer that its pointless. It also just glides over the dry patches that I have on my cheeks rather than making them stand out like so many other foundations do. I wasn't expecting much from this as I'm getting a little bored of the whole BB and CC cream craze but I'm completely sold. 

2) Real Techniques Buffing Brush: I wasn't sure if this tag was supposed to include brushes, I have many that I use daily and love but the buffing brush is the only one that I really couldn't be without. This makes applying foundation effortless and although you can apply the CC Cream with your fingers (it works very well) after experimenting the buffing brush is my favourite form of application. As a little comparison I also own the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush and I can say I much prefer the Buffing Brush. I find that the density of the bristles on the EF Brush can leave things a little streaky. 

3) Rimmel Fix and Perfect Primer: Foundation has a habit of wearing off on me, especially on my nose and cheeks which can leave me looking a bit like Rudolf by the end of the day! I've never tried higher end primers as I am very much on a budget but I have noticed a dramatic difference in the lasting power of my foundations when using this. At £6.99 I think its a bargain. 

4) Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot: Setting powder is a MUST for me as I get very shiny throughout the day. I used to use the Rimmel Stay Matte which is excellent but it did have a tendency to get cakey, especially after touch ups. I switched over to this when saw EssieButton raving about it. I find it to be a far finer consistency than Rimmel which means it never looks cakey. The price jump is quite extreme though, One Heck of a Blot costs around £10 in comparison to £4 for Stay Matte. However, I am happy and willing to pay for this as setting powder is such a staple for me.

5) Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer: I won't talk about this in detail as it is probably one of the most hyped up British products EVER but it deserves it. I have very dark under eye circles and this is the only thing that will cover it. I can't imagine me ever being without this in my make- up bag. 

6) Maybelline Mascaras: I'm cheating a little on this one as although the mascara in the photo is 'One by One' it really just represents Maybelline Mascaras in general. I love every single one of the Volume express mascaras with the exception of Mega Plush (I am severely allergic!) and I always have one on the go. 

7) MUA Blush Perfection Cream Blusher: I wanted to include a blush as its something I use every single day, and I am fast realising that I much prefer the finish of cream blush. For someone on a budget I really don't think that MUA cream blushes can be beaten, they have exceptional lasting power, a lovely colour range and are very easily bendable. The best news being they are only £2! The shade shown in the photo is 'Scrummy' which is probably my favourite. 

8) Rimmel Scandleyes in 'Taupe': I am very pale and so I find that black eyeliner can appear a little harsh on me, I also find that brown makes me look really tired. Taupe is the perfect happy medium for me and is a colour I wear pretty much every single day to line my lower lash line. I also love the quality of these eyeliners, they don't budge all day but still manage to be extremely creamy. 

9) Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain in 'Honey': For someone who loves lip products choosing just one was HARD. However, having thought about it Honey is definitely the shade I reach for more than any other. It is so easy to wear and just seems to go with everything! Being a stain it also means I can just slap it on and forget about it for a few hours. 

10) Stila in the Light Palette: Again, this is another product that I haven't had for long but I am so in love with it it had to be in this list. It is so versatile that if someone told me I could only use one palette I would be perfectly happy with this. It has the shades to create every look I could want from pretty day time looks to intense smokey eyes and the quality is amazing! I also think this palette is a complete bargain at only £25 considering the Naked Palettes now retail at £37. In my opinion the Stila Palette is far nicer and deserves way more hype than it gets.  

Hope you enjoyed reading this, If you want to subscribe or comment please do it makes me happy :)

Amy xx

 

An Overview of the Revlon Balm Stains, Lacquers and Mattes

Hello all! Today has been a good day as the sun is finally out and I LEFT THE HOUSE WITHOUT A COAT!!!! Happy days! Today I am going to do a bit of an overview on the Revlon Balm Stains, there are now three varieties- Lacquer Balms, Matte Balms and the original Balm Stains (previously Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains). I've picked out my favourite shade from each line, as you will probably gather I am not very daring when it comes to colour and therefore I own the most wearable (safe) shade from each!

The Revlon Balm family: L-R Demure, Elusive and Honey. 

First up I'm going to talk about the original Balm Stains. These were incredibly popular and I can see why. They are extremely hydrating and allow me to wear colour on my lips even when they're in awful condition (in Winter that's all the time!). They give really good colour pay off but not so much that they scare me.

 In terms of wear time they are also fantastic, the initial glossy look lasts for around two hours but after this time has passed you can still see the stain for another two or three. They are wonderful for when you can't (or can't be bothered) to top up your lip colour every hour. They really are just slap on and go. The shade on my lips below is Honey, this is a gorgeous pinky mauve colour which is my lips but SO much better! When I first got this I wore it constantly and it is still my go to colour for days when I just can't decide what to wear as it goes with everything.

Revlon Balm Stain in 'Honey'

The next Revlon lip crayon that I invested in was the Matte Balms. These are HUGE on blogs and youtube at the moment and they seem to be far more hyped than the Lacquer balms. This is probably because they are fairly unique on the highstreet at the moment. Nearly every brand has brought out their own version of the chubby stick but I believe Revlon are the first to offer a matte version. The best thing about these is that they manage to be matte AND hydrating. They are extremely creamy but they still manage to last for a significant amount of time. I got about three hours of wear before I had to reapply. The colour is extremely intense which is why I only own one of these as the other colours are just too bright for me! 

The only criticism of  these I have is that I find that they can appear quite streaky once they start to wear off. I can almost see the lines where I drew it on my lips which isn't very attractive. I haven't seen anyone else mention this though so maybe its just me! The colour on my lips below is Elusive, its far brighter than I was expecting it to be and for that reason I haven't got as much use out of it as I would have liked. I was hoping that it would be like the matte version of Honey but its more of a bright, blue toned pink than a my lips but better colour.

Revlon Matte Balm in 'Elusive'

My most recent addition has been the Lacquer Balm in 'Demure'. At first I wasn't at all interested in these as they just didn't seem all that special. They're not a stain and they're not anything new, what's more they have bits of glitter in them! Yuck! However, I came around when I saw one of my favourite Youtubers wearing the shade 'Demure' and I saw how beautiful it looked on her. It is so incredibly easy to wear and its very pretty, especially seeing as Spring is just around the corner.

 The formula of these I find to be even creamier and more moisturising than the original stains, they remind me of the Bourjois Colour Boost crayons as they almost feel as though they are partially melted! The wear time of these is probably the least out of the three, I get around one to two hours out of this. The glitter is not noticeable in the way that I feared and is very pretty. I can't say that I would invest in any of the other colours of the Lacquer balm, I think that they are over priced for what they are and there are cheaper options out there, but I was happy to pay the £8 for this particular shade as I can see myself wearing it constantly. I know my photos are rubbish but the colour of this is like a peachy, nude pink with shimmer. It is very summery and so easy to pull off- I'm in love!

Revlon Lacquer Balm in 'Demure'

Out of the three formulas my favourite is the original, in my opinion they have everything you could want from a lip product. They're glossy, hydrating, long lasting and have fantastic colour pay off. If you like a matte lip then the Matte Balms are a great option. Personally I prefer glossy lips and the colour selection isn't really to my taste. I wish that there had been a more wearable pink in the collection. Complex looks like concealer to me and Sultry is far too dark for my skin tone. I would only suggest buying the Lacquer balms if there is a particular shade you really like. I think there are cheaper options out there and there isn't really anything new about this product. All three retail at £7.99 each, I think this is a fair price for the Matte and Stain versions but maybe a little steep for the Lacquer balms. I love the packaging, they are very sleek and show the colour of the balm inside. A lot of people seem to hate the smell of these (mint) and I have to say I much prefer Vanilla (or nothing!) but it only lasts for a couple of seconds so its really not an issue for me. 

I hope this was of some help to people! Lip crayons are by far my favourite lip products at the moment and Revlon were the first to provide a lower end offering, if you haven't tried them already I highly recommend them! If you would like to follow me that would be lovely, I try to post a couple of times a week. I would also love to hear your thoughts if you fancy leaving me a comment :) Until next time...

Amy x

February Favourites/My First Ever Youtube Video!

Hey Guys!
Today I uploaded my first ever Youtube video which is rather scary... here is the link if you fancy checking it out :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfXZFB8aJkE

I'm going to do a little blog post to go with it, here is what I've been loving throughout the month of February....

No7 Instant Radiance Highlight: I bought this about a week ago and have been obsessed ever since! Its a beautiful champagne coloured highlight that comes in an easy twist up stick. Its pretty difficult to mess this up and put too much on and it blends out beautifully! Theres not a hint of glitter just a lovely sheen that makes your whole face look more alive. This is currently on £3 off if you have a No7 voucher (you can get these by spending over £4 in boots) and better still all make-up is currently on 3 for 2! Who could resist?!

Bourjois 24H Cream to Powder Shadows: This is very similar to the maybelline Colour Tattoo except in my opinion they come in far nicer colours. I have a pink champagne colour which looks really natural and pretty. I haven't had any problems with creasing and they easily last all day on me. Great for those lazy days :)

MUA Intense Kisses Gloss: I have been searching for these for what seems like forever! They are ALWAYS out of stock but I am so impressed now I have finally got my hands on them. They have been compared to the Rimmel Apocolips but I don't see them as being that similar. They are far more sheer (although you do still get a fair pop of colour) but they are very long lasting and don't feel in the slightest bit sticky. Best of all they are only £2! Bargain IF you can get hold of them!

Bourjois CC Cream: I already have a full blog post on this so I won't go into too much detail but I am really impressed with this. It provides a lovely light base that lasts all day and I haven't worn anything else since I bought it.

Stilla in the Light: I couldn't love this more if I tried! A stunning selection of 10 shadows which in my opinion are far nicer and easier to work with than the Urban Decay Naked Palettes! It felt like a lot when I bought it but at £25 this is also fantastic value. I've loved every single look that I've created so far and its just one of those products that just makes me feel good about myself.

Pretty short descriptions as I ramble on for ages in the video so if you fancy checking that out please do! 

Thanks for reading :)

Amy x

Review: Superdrug Naturally Radiant hot cloth cleanser

Another review! I will start writing posts that aren't just reviews at some point but for the time being they are easy and allowing me to get used to my blog. I don't think anyone is actually reading these posts anyway so I'll just carry on :P
   Today I am going to be reviewing the Superdrug Naturally Radiant hot cloth cleanser which is supposed to have a brightening affect on the skin.

Here it is in all its glory! Note my plant, Demelsa in the background, she helps me to make my photos slightly prettier!

   I had heard SO MUCH about the vitamin E superdrug hot cloth cleanser and I really wanted to try it. I hadn't heard of this one until I saw it in Superdrug. I think its a new release and is currently on an introductory offer of £2.99 but will be going up to £5.99 at some point. I wasn't sure whether to go for this one as its the Vitamin E cleanser that I've heard so much about. Having since done some research it seems that Naturally Radiant is becoming just as popular. I actually only paid 98p for this is I also used my superdrug points on top of the offer. Bargain! 

  So does it perform? Well first off I haven't ever tried a hot cloth cleanser before but I really like this one. I've been trying to get into the habit of not using gel cleansers all the time because I know they're not the best for your skin but I HATE cleansing lotions as they just don't leave me feeling clean. This left my skin super soft and as far as I'm aware, clean! Its lovely to use, really creamy and feels quite luxurious. I don't use the cloth that came with the cleanser ever day as I find it quite harsh on the skin but it appears to work just as well with an ordinary flannel. 

  I haven't seen any of this 'brightening' claim but I really like how much softer my skin has felt since using this and it hasn't broken me out. I'm not overly keen on the smell, others seem to like it but I have to hold my breath a bit especially when putting it round my nose!!! I can't pin what it actually smells like only that its very unnatural, but if it does the job I don't mind so much. 

  All in all I think this is an absolute bargain and has been a welcome addition to my skincare routine. I will be picking up the Vitamin E version once I have used this up. I can't see myself ever splurging on the Liz Earle hot cloth cleanser when I've found one that works this well for a fraction of the price. 

Hope you enjoyed reading,

Amy x

Review: Bourjois CC Cream

Hello all!! Today I'm going to be giving you my opinion on my new base that I've been trying out, the Bourjois CC cream in 31, Ivory. I've really been going off heavy foundations recently, I just don't like to look like I've caked on the make up, and I much prefer a more natural look. I am lucky to have relatively good skin, so I don't always see the point in layering myself up.
   

123 Perfect Bourjois CC Cream in shade 31, Ivory

Most people only have good things to say about Bourjois foundations so I had high hopes for this. I already own the healthy mix foundation. It has great coverage, is glowy but not too glowy, applies well and is generally just a great foundation. Unfortunately, despite my love for the feel of this foundation I can't wear it unless I am willing to commit to some serious blending down the neck (and even then I look like I've been on holiday for about 6 months!). Drugstore foundations are known for being crap at shade ranges but Bourjois really did take this to the extreme. I am pale but not THAT pale and the lightest shade is just far too dark.

     I'm going off on a ramble- back to the CC Cream! I was pleasantly surprised to find that the lightest shade was actually quite pale, its probably still a touch too dark but because its a very thin consistency I can easily get away with it. It is fairly runny so you have to be careful when pouring it out, I just generally put a bit on my finger and then dab it around. 

   As well as the lighter coverage I was also intrigued by the three pigment claim that promises to reduce the signs of fatigue, redness and dark spots. I have a fair amount of red pigmentation on my cheeks so I was interested to see if the cream did anything to help this. 

  I've inserted below some before and after photos, please excuse the crazy expressions i'm not accustomed to taking selfies and was feeling rather shy! 

 Before....

After!

   I know the lighting is crap but hopefully you get the idea that the coverage of this cream is really decent! I would say its light to medium coverage. To be honest I would describe this more as a light foundation than a CC Cream but I am still really pleased with it because its finally allowed me to have a bourjois foundation that I can actually wear. As for all the fancy claims, it covered my redness well, I'm not sure how it goes about making you look more awake but I certainly don't look any worse so I guess thats something!

   It applies really well and isn't streaky at all, I've applied it both with my fingers and with the real techniques buffing brush and I actually think it goes on better with my fingers. Due to it being so runny I find the brush tends to just suck up the product instead of spreading it onto my face! A slightly stiffer brush may work better though. 

   As for packaging its fine. Nothing special but its light weight and great for travelling. I don't mind that there's no pump seeing as this isn't even supposed to be a foundation!

   So its not really what I was looking for but I'm really pleased with the results this base gave me regardless. When I want a seriously light weight day I'll be sticking with my Loreal Nude Magique foundation which I LOVE (I can review this if anyone wants me to). As we're heading into spring (not quite yet but I can dream) I doubt I'll be reaching for a real foundation at all as this CC Cream and my loreal foundation are perfect. 

   

I hope you enjoyed reading, as you've probably gathered I am VERY new to blogging and I'm still finding my feet. If you would like to follow me or leave a comment it would mean the world :)

Amy xx