Glossy Box August.

This month Glossybox celebrated there 3RD birthday, Which is absolutely baffeling I still rememeber everyone and there dog raving about there first ever box containing a full sized Nars product!

I haven't been a full on subscriber and have only ever gotten a few boxes (Mainly Limited edition ones) But I sighned up last month for the 4th of July box and thought i'd keep subscribed for a few months to test out the waters!

So lets see whats inside the box!

Figs & Rouge mini hand cream 

This colourful little tube caught my eye instantly it really is eye catching, The scent is Mango Mandarin and it really does smell beautiful. I own loads of hand creams but never have one on me when I need one so this handy little tube has gone to live in my handbag already!

Sample 20ml size worth £1.73 (Full size £6.95)

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer  

Now this isn't really a product that has ever really interested me, This is a pre shampoo treatment that you leave on for 20 minutes then wash of and wash your hair as usual. It is meant to boost elasticity, manageability, bounce and shine. I'm happy to give this a try as it really isn't a product I would ever buy.

40ml sample worth £6.08 (Full size £38!)

Yves Rocher Nail polish in Rose.

This teeny tiny nail polish is actually a full size! I don't get to wear nail polish very often because of work but seen as I have a bit of time off I can't wait to paint my nails with this, Upon swatch the colour is very true to the colour in the bottle and really packs a punch in pigment instead of really sheer as I imagined! 

Full size product worth £3.60

Lamour Lalique L'amour 

Ugh perfume samples! But seen as though there is 6 products this month I'll let this one slide, It smells ok.. not really my cup of tea as it is a very mature scent where as I love sweet fruity scents. But I'll use the little sample up.

Sample worth £2.68 (Full size £68)

Essence Long lasting lipstick

I got the nude shade in my box, I have seen this brand in Wilkinson's but never gave them a second thought this lipstick is pigmented but glossy, and gives a nice subtle wash of colour. Its simple and cute packaging I also really like.

Full size a bargain £2.29!

Kryolan highlighter Cashmere (Glossy box exclusive)

My last and final product is my favourite of the lot, This creamy highlighter is absolutely stunning it glides on the skin effortlessly and gives the most subtle stunning highlight, Multi purpose that can be used on eyes cheeks and lips. The price of this box is worth it alone for this product. 

Fullsize £12.95

So there we have it my August Glossy box totalling to £34.55 which is a fair amount and I'm happy with the box I'm still unsure with this box.. A £2.29 lipstick compared to a £20 full size cleanser but I suppose that's the fun of these boxes you never know!

What do you think of Glossybox are you a fan of subscription boxes ? 

Nicola x 

Health Conscious Beauty- Nailberry

Recently, I was very kindly sent these two beautiful Nailberry nail polishes to have a play with. Nailberry was founded by Sonia Hully following the success of her Knightsbridge nail salon. Sonia noticed that theere was a huge gap in the market for a health-conscious nail brand. Nailberry prides itself on its guarantee never to test on animals and its "4-free formula"- free from formaldehyde, camphor, tolulene and phthalate (DBP). In essence its a healthy beauty product. I'm one of those people who will buy anything if it promises to be healthy. Wheatgrass shots may be the most disgusting tasting drink known to man but if it's going to help my health i'm all ears! It makes sense to take this mantra over to my beauty products and i've recently started looking at brands using much more natural ingredients.

Unlike wheatgrass, Nailberry polishes come in the most beautiful colours. I opened up my little parcel like a child on Christmas morning and was greeted with the gorgeous "Young and Fabulous" and "Nut cracker". They're perfect for the transition from summer into autumn and are perfect for me as I tend to stick to neutrals or rich berry shades in the winter. I've had a mooch around the website and they really do have some gorgeous shades! I have my eye on "Mystere" and "Noir Berry" for my next additions.

On to the polishes! I found that I needed two coats for Nutcracker and although two were okay for Young and Fabulous I preferred using three for the full opacity. As I expected with a salon brand, the polish didn't chip as quickly as my drug store nail varnishes and probably would have lasted the full week I tested each one out on anyone else but me! A few people actually asked me if I'd had my nails done at a salon which was a lovely compliment. 

"Nut cracker".

"Young and Fabulous"

The polishes are a little pricey at £13.50 a pop but I do think the quality speaks for itself. If you happen to be around Knightsbridge, prices are between £12 for a mini manicure and £55 for a Nailbery Mani and Pedi. 

What do you think about Health Conscious beauty brands? Should we be seeing more of them? Who are your favourites?

Kate A x

Racinne Skincare

For the past few weeks I've been trying out some new skincare from the brand Racinne.

"Racinne is a company that seeks to help people feel beautiful in their own skin, no matter their appearance, age, or level of affluence. This purpose is derived from our conviction that feeling beautiful is never just about how one looks. More importantly, it is a matter of how one sees him- or herself in relationship with the world. With these principles at its heart, Racinne offers products and services aimed at helping our customers discover, foster, and celebrate their love for their own skin"

After doing a bit of research into the company I was eager to put these to the test. The two products I was sent to try out are from the 'Ultimate Hydra Perfection' range

First up is the 'Essentialift Supplement Serum' - I love a good serum and it's one of my favourite steps in my skincare routine. This serum is lovely and made my skin instantly feel smoother and look more radiant. However, my one seems to have a dodgy pipette on the top making it really difficult to get the product out. You can even see in the picture above it doesn't fill to the top and when I squeeze it again the product doesn't come out. So instead I have to turn the bottle upside down and tip it into my hand which isn't ideal and means I have no control over the amount of product I get out.

That being said I really do love the serum - it is suitable for all skin types and can be used day or night. I personally prefer using it in the morning as it gives my skin a lovely glow and leaves my skin well nourished for the day ahead.

After the serum I apply the 'Ultimate Defense Illuminating Cream'. The texture of this is really difficult to explain, its a very rich and thick cream but it feels really light on the skin and it sinks in instantly. It is incredibly smooth, has a very subtle 'spa like' scent and it is the perfect base for make-up. I don't use a primer when I use this moisturiser as there is simply no need for it. 

This cream also claims to 'activate the skin's natural regeneration of collagen, reduces fine lines and dark spots' which can never be a bad thing if you ask me! Again like the serum it gives a lovely radiant glow which I absolutely love and I've been really enjoying using this in the mornings. This also states that it should be used 'twice daily' however I only use it as day cream just for personal preference, I like to have separate daytime and nighttime skincare routines. 

Overall I really do love these products, they work really well together and are perfect if your skin is in need of a radiance boost! My only issue was the pipette on the serum but I'm sure that's just my bad luck and I got a dodgy one. 

You can view the full range of Racinne products here

What do you think of Racinne?? Let me know in the comments below...

Linda x

LDN: SKINS Gradual Fake Tan Review.

Hi beauties. If you’ve followed the blog for a while, you’ll know one of my biggest passions is fake tan. It’s possible I’ve tried all of the, what I would call, ‘well known’ brands, so when the opportunity arises to try out a brand I’ve not heard of, I jump at it!

I was very kindly sent the LDN : SKINS Gradual self tan lotion, in tone 2; medium, a self tan which offers me a golden yet natural looking tan, which is infused with organic benefits. Also included was the most amazing tanning mitt.....!

The packaging is quite simple, yet looks expensive and luxurious.

The lotion itself is an almost caramel coloured, thick lotion which smells absolutely divine, subtle hints of lavender and not in the slightest fake tan smelling at all, infact if I didn’t know different, I’d have thought it was a lavender scented moisturiser! The list of organic ingredients infused into this tan is absolutely immense...

Aloe Vera - A succulent moisturiser & natural healer. 

Avocado Oil - A rich source of Vitamin A & E, softens, moisturises & nourishes skin. 
Seaweed - Packed with vitamins & minerals to nourish & protect skin. 
Melon - Contains sugars, minerals & vitamins for intense skin conditioning. 
Orange Flower Oil - An excellent skin tonic - detoxifies & conditions skin. 
Grapefruit Peel - Stimulates circulation, tones & rejuvenates skin for a more youthful appearance. 
English Lavender - Promotes healthy, refreshed & flawless skin.

So, the application of tan. 

The tan, as mentioned comes with a tanning mitt. A VELVET tanning mitt. And let me tell you, it is amazing. My palms are kept safe from being dyed as it is waterproof, but to apply the tan with this mitt is heaven. It is the softest, smoothest, most luxurious mitt i’ve had the pleasure of using...and i’ve used a fair few. 

The lotion claims to provide a colour guide. This for me was probably the only dissapointing feature, as it DOESN'T have a colour guide at all. It is completely transparent when spread onto the skin. For this reason, I would be inclined to say that this particular self tan would be better suited to girls (and guys!) who have experience in self tanning and are comfortable in using a gradual tan lotion. Luckily, I'm used to self tanning so was positive I could provide myself an even tan without missing any areas!
The tan is left to develop over a period of 8 hours, I tanned around an hour before bedtime and left it overnight. 

Upon waking, I was pleasantly surprised with the results. It wasn't as deep as I'd usually go for, however I was a very natural looking, golden brown, which if you'll remember, is what the brand claims to give! It is very buildable and can provide a lovely dark tan, if you're patient enough to layer the tan over a few days for required results!

This photo was taken a week or so later where I tanned one arm, one layer, and left overnight for comparison purposes....I tanned the second arm not long after!

The biggest positive for me - does anyone else suffer with 'spotty legs' after shaving and then tanning, in which the tan seeps into open pores leaving your legs looking dotty?! My biggest pet peeve with fake tans! This one, DOES NOT do that! Hallelujah! 
I also noticed that the infused ingredients had helped soften my skin massively; a small patch of dry skin I suffer with on my arm had completely vanished! 

The only let down for me was the lack of colour guide, otherwise this tan is fantastic if you're looking for a natural tan suitable for daytime wear without being over the top and overly fake, with the option to build into a deeper, darker looking tan. 

LDN:SKINS Tan is available to buy here, ranging from £22 to £28 and is available in a lotion or mousse, instant and gradual! It is also available in salons, and may be available to purchase near you! You can check for local stockists here.

Have you tried this paticular brand before? Interested in trying it? I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

xxx

The 'AnarKitty' Goldie Brush and Pixie Lott Dry Shampoo Review

Recently I was sent 2 brand new products to review. Denman have teamed up with cult modern artist ‘AnarKitty’ to produce the ‘Goldie’ Denman D3 Classic Brush. And the UK’s No1 dry shampoo brand, Batiste, are proud to announce Pixie Lott as the official face of their 2014 campaign.

Tanya Burr Lipgloss

When I first heard that Tanya Burr was bringing out a Lipgloss and Nail Varnish Collection I was so excited, a bit too excited in fact! I was more excited for the Lipgloss' than the Nail Varnishes though as I do prefer Make-up over Nail Varnish, anyway enough of my rambling.. So when the range first came into my local Superdrug I went their instantly to go and have a look and fell in love with the Lipgloss' instantly! I picked up the Lipgloss in the shade 'First Date' (love the name) as it was really the only shade available at the time that I knew I would get my wear out of.  A few weeks after I ordered 'Picnic in the Park' off of Feel Unique as they had a offer on where so many products where £5 each so I used that opportunity to grab another of the Tany Burr Lipgloss'. I must say, although Picnic in the Park is a lovely colour I'm not a fan of how it looks on me, it a tad too bright for my liking.

I was then given the opportunity to review one of the Tanya Burr Lipgloss' and obviously I jumped at the chance to be able to try another shade. I decided to go for 'Afternoon Tea' which is a lovely glossy peach colour, I say peach but it does have a dark pink undertone to it too, it's actually quite hard to describe the colour it is. I hope by the photo that you can get an idea of the beautiful colour that it is.

'Afternoon Tea' is a slightly darker colour than pictured but no matter what lighting I used I could not seem to get the true colour to show. I find this gloss in particular to be of a thicker consistency than the other two that I have and the pigmentation is amazing. I have just teamed the gloss with my everyday make-up which I think it works well with and is perfect for the summer and the early stages of autumn.

You can purchase Tanya Burr's Lipgloss' and Nail Varnish range from superdrug and also feelunique. The lipgloss' are £6.99 but sometimes Superdrug do have them on 3 for 2 and Feel Unique currently have 35% off the lipgloss' so be quick and grab them whilst the offers are on! You wont regret it.

If you do try any of Tanya Burr's range or already do have some of the products then please do leave a comment letting me know what you think of them, I'd love to know what your faves are.



Chantelle

x

Invisibobble - The Traceless Hair Ring

I'm the type of girl who constantly wears her hair up. Ponytails, Scouse Buns and Top Knots, that's where it's at for me. When I was first sent these I was amazed at the amount I got, 12 in an assortment of colours, of which I chose Pink as a firm favourite! I was skeptical at first, I thought "this thing is going to stretch out so quickly and snap". But here's the thing, it didn't! 

Just to show how much I do actually wear my hair up! 

I wore an Invisibobble for 2 weeks almost everyday, and then the other day I used a normal bobble and OMG did I notice the difference! For the time I have been using the Invisibobble I have noticed less tension in my head, no snags, no kinks and so much less breakage! 

Lovely Packaging and TINY!

Invisibobble's are £3.75 in Boots and are available in so many colours. I have got Pink, White, Black and Yellow. Now this may sound excessive but they are so worth it, I'm so happy my headaches have gone less frequent. There are some fabulous tutorials on Invisibobble's YouTube Page.

Here is one of my favourites!

And they really are just as simple as that.

And when you haven't got your Invisibobble in you can wear one on your wrist and it won't look garish like regular hair bobbles can look like, it's quite a cute quirky little bracelet. You'd think that with all that stretching the bobble would lose it's shape but it doesn't! It's amazing, been recommending them to all of my friends. I've not had to use hair clips either because it holds everything up and when I use my donut I can secure loose hairs with the rings of the Invisibobble.

How my Invisibobble looks after 2 weeks of wear and stretching!

Bracelet Feature

Hair still high and in place after an 8am to 4pm Shift with a Headset on!

You can follow Invisibobble on Twitter @invisibobble they are always posting pictures on great ways to use an Invisibobble. I'd really love to think that these won't just be a fad and will be around for a long time because they are just so good! I think I'm going to get the Crystal Clear ones for my holidays.

Thanks for reading and for more of the latest news and reviews from the Beauty Hot Squad please follow us on Blog Lovin' 

Battle of the Pore Minimizers!

A few months ago I bought Maybelline Baby Skin to see what it was like. I'm a massive fan of Benefit's Porefessional and I had heard good things. I really needed a product that would do for me at a fraction of the price and with Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser only being £7.99 for 22ml I had to give it a go. 

I'm really glad I took the chance because for me it's been a god send because since starting work in a call centre I don't know what it is but my pores have gotten really big. I was going through Porefessional like nobody's business up until I purchased Baby Skin. 

L: Baby Skin R: Porefessional

Here's a little info on both products:

• Both promise to reduce the appearance of pores
• Both are a really great lightweight primer
• Both have a pretty similar consistency as to how they feel applying to the skin
• Porefessional is coloured and is best worn under make up because it can leave a yellowy tinge on your skin.
• Baby Skin is translucent so can be work with and without make up.
• Baby Skin does make your pores look less visible whereas:
• Porefessional, I feel completed covers your pores making your skin look flawless
• Baby Skin is £7.99 for 22ml
• Porefessional is £24.50 for 22ml

I think that even though Baby Skin is a lot cheaper it will never beat the power of POREFESSIONAL. Baby Skin is good for a day to day wear but I know that when I want to look flawless I will definitely be reaching for Benefit's Top Primer! 

Thanks for reading and for more of the latest news and reviews from the Beauty Hot Squad please follow us on Blog Lovin' 

What's on my face?

Today I thought I'd share with you a simple everyday make-up look. This sort of look is perfect for all occasions so read on to find out What's on my face?

Benefit Porefessional - This wonder product has been mentioned a few times here on our little blog but it's because its soooo good! It creates the perfect base to apply your foundation, reduces the appearance of pores and keeps your make-up in place longer. Whats's not to love?

Benefit Big Easy - This is a relatively new launch for benefit, described as 'better than BB' it has a liquid to powder formula and an SPF of 35. It feels light on the skin but covers up any imperfections so this has become my staple summer base. I wear shade 01 fair.

Soap & Glory Kick Ass pressed powder - The S&G powders are by far my favourites! They come in a handy compact complete with sponge and mirror and they don't make the skin look over powdered or cakey. This translucent powder is also great for all skin tones!

Too Faced Natural Eyes palette - This is a new addition to my collection. I actually bought this as a present for my sister's birthday but I liked it too much to give away so had to buy another one! The shades I am wearing silk teddy all over the lid and push-up in the outer corners. 

Tarte amazonian clay 12 hour blush - This is the shade blissful that you would have seen in my Tarte sephora haul! These blushes are amazing and I wear one of the shades every single day!

MaxFactor Clump Defy mascara - this is one of my favourite drugstore mascaras! You can really build it up and it never clumps!

Urban Decay lipstick - This is in the shade 'Fiend' which was another recent purchase. I am IN LOVE with this range of lipsticks, the formula is great and the shade range is sooooo painfully beautifully it makes me want to buy the complete collection.

No7 High Shine Lip gloss - A lovely natural shade with light shimmer, 'whisper' is great for layering up over a bright lippy! It also has SPF 15.

.... and for anyone wondering, because it is clearly the prettiest thing in this post - my make-up bag is from notonthehighstreet.com and you can purchase it here.

What do you think of my make-up look? Have you tried any of these products? Let me know in the comments below...

Linda x

Bare Minerals Foundation, Brush and Primer

I have always suffered with oily, spot-prone skin on my face. My skin tone is also quite uneven and I have massive pores. Because of this I like to have quite a full coverage foundation with staying power. I usually use liquid foundation, such as Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation, but I find this really hard to remove and it clogs up my skin if I use it every day. 

So I thought I'd try the Bare Minerals range. I've used mineral powder foundations before and generally liked them, but stopped using them because they were expensive/went through my Estee Lauder liquid stage. But because Bare Minerals is meant to be so much better for your skin, and the shopping channel made it look amazing, I splashed out and bought three products:

Bare Minerals Original Foundation in Fairly Light

A Kabuki Brush

And a Prime Time Oil Control Primer

Now to start with the Primer, they say that 'less is more' with the application, but either way I was not impressed. It did not stop the shine at all! I'm still not convinced as to whether any primer actually does anything at all.

For the foundation: I had to apply quite a lot to get enough coverage and there was a lot of buffing involved. I have to say, that it is worth spending a bit of extra time over as this foundation makes my skin look FLAWLESS. I can't deny it gives it a super smooth, glowing and even tone. (As you can see from the photos below - sorry for the stupid face!)

HOWEVER...this foundation comes off very easily! As soon as I touch my face I get covered in foundation! Also it does not control shine well at all - even though the woman at the counter told me I wouldn't need to reapply it - you definitely do. There is also danger of the foundation sinking into your pores throughout the day instead of hiding them, which happened to me sometimes.

Also the woman told me that this foundation would last 6 months (I thought this was hard to believe), and it in fact only lasted 2 months.

I'd say that the kabuki brush is a good investment buy - it is soft and you can use it for powder and bronzer/blusher too. I think it will last a long time.

Overall this foundation has left me confused...it is better for your skin than others and it did seem like my complexion was improving after using it regularly. And it made my skin look so radiant and smooth. Yet the lack of oil control and amount that comes off so easily is a pain. I've since moved back to a liquid foundation but can't help feeling like I miss bare minerals and want the perfect powder finish back!

Have you used this foundation and are there any other mineral powder foundations you can recommend for me that have more staying power?

Ingrid x

Relaxing With SenSpa

As someone who struggles to sleep and battles with anxiety I'm always looking for soothing, relaxing products to use at night. SenSpa were kind enough to send me some products from their Relaxing Sleep Therapy Range to test out. After a horrible weekend which involved a violent stomach bug and a mini meltdown I decided it was high time I tested out the goodies!

I ran a bath and used my Sleep Therapy Bath Soak to create some fluffy bubbles. The smell was divine and really filled the whole room. The products are 97% natural and I was a little concerned that all of the essential oils might upset my sensitive skin however it seems fine, my skin actually feels a little softer than usual thanks to all of the luxury ingredients.

The smell of the organic lavender filing the bathroom was really relaxing and the nourishing oils include bergamot, patchouli and geranium. I also used the Relaxing Body Wash to layer up the scent which was left lingering on my skin hours after my bath.

The final step was to slather on some of the Relaxing Body Butter which has the same rich relaxing scent as the other products. My only complaint is that it was so rich I actually struggled to squeeze it out of the tube!

After my little evening of indulgence I can report a restful nights sleep! An out and out success :) You can purchase the SenSpa products at Waitrose and they start at around £5.95 and they are currently on offer so snap them up.

Rach x

MUJI - scented candles

We all know how much beauty bloggers love MUJI and we all know how much beauty bloggers love scented candles, but what happens when you put the two together??

Well let me tell you...

MUJI candles cost a mere £3.50 each but kick of the same smelling power as those from the likes Yankee or even some of the higher ended brands. They have a limited scent range, but enough so there's something to suit all tastes and preferences.

 I chose 'Berry Tart' which surprise surprise smells like berries and I also picked up my absolute favourite scent for a candle 'Cinnamon & Mandarin'. They smell INCREDIBLE - Cinnamon is more of a winter scent so although I do prefer that one I'm burning the 'Berry Tart' first and the scent literally fills the room. It's beautiful!!! Each candle has an average burn time of 18 hours and for £3.50 you really cant grumble...

You can view the full range of MUJI candles here

Have you tried any Muji Candles before? Have I tempted you? Let me know in the comments below....

Linda x

Thai Square Spa - Covent Garden

On Wednesday I was lucky enough to be invited to Thai Square Spa in Covent Garden to try out one of their seasonal treatments – The street style massage.

I arrived at the spa after a long day in the office, well and truly ready to be pampered and I was greeted by friendly staff who led me to a private room to get changed and lock away my belongings. They provided me with some linen trousers that tied up at the waste (not the most flattering) but completely practical for their intended use and I was then taken outside to a secluded seating area.

The decor and the treatments on offer accurately display those found in spa’s in Thailand. The treatment I had - the street style massage was actually performed outdoors which sounds a bit bizarre for a luxury spa but it totally added to the authenticity and it really did work. The area was very simply decorated, just nice big chairs, a bit of bamboo to enclose the area and some lighting.

I’ve been to a few spa’s in the past, but honestly I think if I were to try and describe any of them to you they would all sound the same. The same white walls, scented candles, aromatherapy oils,  dimmed lighting and calming music. It’s all very lovely and relaxing but very clichéd.  What sets Thai Square Spa apart from its competitors is that it doesn’t follow the same typical spa-esqe ‘rules’. But instead it follows its own rules. It still remains very luxurious but has a real authenticity that is really unique for a London spa.

So let’s talk about the treatment itself… It began with Jay – my masseuse washing my feet in a warm bowl of water. It felt good, but was a little bit awkward. I’m not the biggest fan of feet and don’t really like people touching mine. But after he dried them off I relaxed a bit and got used to somebody rubbing my feet. He also noticed I was a little uneasy about it and said ‘if you feel uncomfortable at any time just let me know’ which made me feel more  relaxed. He went on to apply different oils and lotions spending about 20mins concentrating on one foot before moving across and repeating the process on the other foot. I can’t describe to you exactly what he did as it was sooooooo relaxing I completely zoned out and my brain completely turned off, but whatever it was, it worked!

He then went to get some fresh water, washed my feet again and gave me some flip-flops to slip my feet into so I wouldn't have to walk bare-foot on the ground. He then moved on to my shoulders, concentrating a little on my neck and moving up to my head. The head massage was amazing, sort of like when you go to a posh hairdressers but somehow better. He finished my holding my wrists and stretching me out and then led me back to the dressing room to get changed.

The treatment lasted for 60 minute but they also offer a 30 minute version for those who wish to pop in on their lunch break. This would be the perfect place to go for a pamper, especially to book a treatment as a gift for someone special in your life. There is something for everyone and it is a gift you really can’t go wrong with! The range of treatment they offer are classic spa treatments with a unique Thai twist and I would love to be able to try a couple more. The facials sound especially luxurious.

If you're in the London area and in need of a little TLC or you want to show some love to a special person in your life I would highly recommend taking a look at the treatments Thai Square Spa has on offer. They even have specific maternity treatments which would be perfect for my big sis who is just about to pop!

Have you ever been to Thai Square Spa? If not have I tempted you? Let me know in the comments below…

Linda xx

Real Techniques Mini Trio Brush set – Review.

I’ve always been a bit ‘cheap’ when it came to the tools I used for make-up application. I mean, does it really matter whether it cost £1 or £20 for that brush you use to cake your face in foundation?! Apparently it does!

So, obviously I’ve heard of the brands, but didn’t know which to go for. I stumbled across a mini set of three Real Techniques, a brand I’ve heard many a time, for less than a tenner and thought what better way to give them a go, without spending a fortune and deciding, actually, that Primark brush worked just as good if not better.

Upon arrival, I was a bit shocked at the size. They’re tiny. Palm sized tiny! Cute though, aren’t they?!

Okay, so I soon realised that due to the sheer size of these brushes, I probably can’t use them how I had hoped. I mean, I’d be there all day applying foundation to my full face with that brush!

I use the mini foundation brush to get in all those hard to reach places and also for the application of concealer.  The mini shading brush I use to apply shadow to my lower lash line and the mini face brush I use to contour my cheek bones, my jaw line and nose.

I am, however, impressed with the quality of these brushes. They definitely look nicer that my cheapies! 

The finish of make-up these brushes create i’m pretty impressed with, they definitely apply a whole lot better than those I’ve scrimped on. They’re perfect to pop in my bag when I’m on the go and need to top up my make-up and they come in a little pouch – perfect to keep them clean among the clutter! I’ve been using them religously for 4 weeks now – and not a single hair has fallen out.

Overall, I’m glad I bought them. I paid £9.99 from Boots, who currently have a buy one get one half price offer on over the Real Technique range. I’ve just invested in the Core collection kit and will be treating myself to the starter kit in the next week or so. That £10 spend has taught me a valuable (and expensive!) lesson – the tools you use to create your look really do make a big change in the finish of your make-up!

Do you have a favourite brand of brushes? Any recommendations for me? Leave me a message! 

xxx

Baby Lips Electro - review & swatches

My first Baby Lips post was actually my most viewed on this blog (and over a year ago! Oh how time flies!) so I thought it was only right that I share with you the new additions to the Baby Lips family.

Now if you have read my review of the first Baby Lips,  you will know it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. Out of the 6 that were released only one has remained in my collection and that is the red one (Cherry Me) simply because it was the only one that showed any colour on my lips. I mentioned that they worked better for a younger audience and that there were better products out there, however Cherry Me has stood the test of time and I still reach for it regularly, so I was excited about the new launches.

The new release features 4 'Electro' shades including a deep pink, coral, orange and purple! and the good news? they all actually show up on my lips!

They all smell AMAZINGGGGGG and super fruity and the colour payoff is actually quite impressive. They are obviously sheer lip tints but they are perfect for everyday wear in the office as they brighten up my complexion without being too 'in your face'. Just to note: I am incredibly pale, so on darker complexions the colour may not be as strong as they are on me. 

I love every shade in the collection although my two faves have to be 'Berry Bomb' and 'Pink Shock'

(Left-Right, Oh! Orange!, Strike A Pose, Pink Shock, Berry Bomb)

These retail for £2.99 each, and they are currently buy one get one half price at Superdrug so get in there quick!

What do you think of the new Baby Lips? Let me know in the comments below...

Linda x