Tricky Business: Benefit's They're Real! Push Up Liner

Hello! Last month Elle sent out their magazine with the cutest sample ever. A teeny tiny version of their They're Real! Push Up Liner which I have really wanted to try but I couldn't bring myself to try until I knew it was well worth the money. All I discovered is that it is very very tricky business.

By 'tricky business' I mean I couldn't function this. It took me about 10 minutes to have the initiative to read the box after trying to get the product to even appear. Then I thought 'yes! I know I can do this!' I had faith in the eyeliner. But once I placed this on my lash line I knew this was going to flop. The gel product is not as smooth and creamy as I would have liked and it kind of crumbles more than it goes onto your eye, resulting in a waste of product and a high risk of mess. The lines I created weren't awful and I'm sure with practice I could perfect it and I really liked that I could get super close to the lash line and keep it thin. However, it just wasn't working for me and I don't have the patients. I used all of the sample simply trying to create a precise line and while it isn't the products fault that I wasn't very skilled in using it, it's meant to make it easier but just creates a bit of mess and takes a while.

With the thin and alright-looking line that I managed to create I ventured on with my day and found that when I came to take it off it was virtually impossible - similar to the mascara. This is probably why they have created their own remover but for everyday I can't be bothered to spend 10 minutes just getting off my eyeliner.

I am glad I didn't dive straight in and buy the full size of this as I don't think we are destined for one another. Perhaps if you're a huge eyeliner fan and like something that really isn't going anywhere then you'll love this and with a bit of practice I image this would be super easy and it definitely does give you great precision. It's just not for me, sorry!

Let me know how you got on with this product!

SUPERFACIALIST ANTI BLEMISH

Hello! Today is the day I go back to school... Woop. I'm not best pleased and I think I'm in need of a bit of this product... If you cast your mind back to my little skincare haul then you'll recognize this little bottle of goodness. After putting it to the test for a couple of weeks I've found the best way to use it and had a chance to make up my mind! 

Note: I have combination skin (both dry and oily patches)

The couple of weeks that I've used this I've come to really like it. It wasn't one of those face masks that changed my life after the first use, but I think that it has helped with how my skin has been looking and feeling. Before I used it I thought my skin was beginning to look a bit dry again and that I was getting regular break outs. I picked this mask because of the Salicylic Acid within it which helps to shed and turn over new skin cells quicker, leaving the newest cells which will brighten up your face and help to reduce your dry patches. Because Salacylic Acid also unclogs pores, I find it draws everything out and stops my break outs becoming to aggressive. Yes, they're still kind of there but they're definitely reduced and not as 'angry'. After I use this my skin can feel a bit tight and I just apply my moisturizer if I have applied it in the morning or The Body Shop's Serum in Oil if I do it at night. I find that after I've used the mask my skin drinks up whatever I put on it so I focus on my dry patches the most.

As for how I use this, the directions say 5 minutes which I think is actually a pretty good time. Especially if you don't want to be waiting around and want to get on with your day or evening. If you have less time, you could leave a thin layer on just your dry or problematic patches for 3-4 minutes and if you have more time there is no reason not to leave it on for 10-15 minutes. I find doing this makes my skin more fresh and hydrated. As long as the mask doesn't sting or irritate your skin after this long, there is no reason why not.

I would recommend this mask to anyone unless they have particularly sensitive skin as I think the formula may be too thick or just too much. However, I think that it helps unclog, control oil, reduce break out areas and help out your dry patches!

Have you tried this or anything else from Una Brenan? Are you a fan of Salacylic Acid products?

TANGLE TEASER

Hello! Firstly, hey to my new bedding! It's from IKEA and I love it. Onto the blogpost...

Most of my purchases for beauty, skincare, hair and clothes are things I've seen on multiple blogs and have been endlessly raved about. This usually ensures that I'm impressed and my money has gone on things I know that aren't a waste of my time. Do you see where this is going? I hate the Tangle Teaser.

I just don't understand the hype. So many people say that it glides effortlessly through wet hair and is pretty good on dry hair, a couple of my friends use it and love it and are always using mine as I tell them to take it. I've asked on twitter how I can make it work - use it on wet hair, use it while I still have conditioner on my hair, brush the top of my hair then flip my hair over and brush the bottom. All these suggestions and nothing works. I just hate the Tangle Teaser. It doesn't work on me and I have neither thin nor thick hair. I prefer my massive paddle brush for all occasions. Perhaps the Wet Brush on Lily Pebble's recommendation is worth a try, but I just can't bring myself to buy one and be disappointed.

Do you hate the Tangle Teaser too? How do you make it work?!!

MY TOP LACQUERS

Hello! I have over 80 different nail varnishes if we aren't including back ups (god forbid they discontinue my favourite shades!) but there are 3, all from the same range that really have my heart. I tend not to waste my time and money on more expensive polishes and focus on those on offer in Boots at drugstore prices. You get the best out of the drugstore when it comes to nails, from Barry M's Gelly Hi-Shine's to Maybelline's Super Stay 7, but Rimmell's 60 Second polishes have a very special place in my heart. I honestly don't know why I don't own more. Perhaps part of the reason is that I mostly only wear these three shades!

Rose Libertine is my all time favourite nail polish shade. My nail varnish storage is a blur of pink's but this is one that I can't help but put on my nails. A kind of dusty rose colour that isn't bright, neon or too dark. It's just perfect and it has lasted 7 days on my nails in the past with minimal tip wear and chips on many occasions. That is a winner.

The next two I have are from Rita Ora's range - White Hot Love and Breakfast in Bed. White Hot Love is, unsurprisingly, a white. It is opaque in 2 coats and is slightly pearlized. This isn't noticeable in all lights and I actually think it fades after a day or two of being on your tips. Also, doesn't look like Tipex which is a massive bonus. As with Rose Libertine, the formula is spot on and I can wear it for 5-7 days before I need to take it off (and reapply straight away!)

Breakfast in Bed is a minty blue, rather than a minty green such as Pillow Talk from her range. This colour really enhances my tan that I got last week and I really love it. It also goes with my phone case, which I think is so cute. I haven't worn it without changing my colour before it gets awful yet, but if they're consistent it should be the same as the others!

The brushes and formulas for all polishes are on point. The brushes allow you to coat your nail in one or two swipes and the formula just lasts bloody well and is super shiny. When winter roles around, I will definitely be investing in some darker colours from Rimmel's 60 Second range but in the meantime I've got my beady eyes on Lose You Lingere and Pillow Talk (both by Rita Ora) as well as Mind The Gap Victoria from their permanent collection. With the £3.69 price tag, I can't fault these beauties. I'd be happy to just have this range as my whole nail polish collection!

Have you tried any of Rita Ora's colours? Or any from their permanent collection?

BROW ARCHERY

Hello! Remember when I said I was feeling simple brows? That is still true but when I'm dressing up a bit more I like to make sure they have a bit more shape and are less sparse. Nothing too over the top or anything, but I've found a new product which gets it done!

Soap & Glory's Brow Archery has been on my wishlist for a long time and I often don't get to pick it up as it's sold out - I even check in all the drawers underneath! But this time there was one left and I just went for it! I got the colour Brownie Points as I think Love is Blonde would just be too light for my brows but I do think they could do with working on a darker shade. Mine is perfect, but if you had darker brows I struggle to see how it would make a difference at all! I've heard so many good things about it and I really liked the idea of the routine that came along with using the product.

On one end, there is a thin brush which is lots of bristles packed together and formed into a thin point, which gives you ultimate precision. It is a lovely colour which I think really matches my brows well - not too dark or light, ashy or red-toned! This part allows you to fill in sparse areas and create a little bit of shape if you want or need to.

The second side is a waxy wind up pencil which also has colour in, allowing you to make your brows again have more shape and fill in sparse areas. Like the pen, it's a great match for my brows and it doesn't make them look drawn on - this product still makes them look natural, just way better.

I tend to use the pen end for just filling in and the pencil end to create shape in my brows but I'm so happy that I finally managed to get my hands on this. If you want to do something to your brows but don't want to go overboard then I really recommend this to you guys! Now I just need a good threading session - I'm so lazy with my brows at the moment!

Have you tried this? And did you love it as much as I do?

Nars Sheer Glow | Deauville

Hello! I feel like at the moment, Nars Sheer Glow is the foundation to use and I've felt that I needed it every summer that I've been blogging and watching YouTube. It seems that in the summer this is the most flattering and everyone seems to love it so I finally picked it up with my birthday money and I think I am in love?

I picked this up in Brighton at Space NK and a lovely girl whose name I can't remember helped me to pick my perfect shade. I picked up Deauville which is virtually undetectable on my skin and as my face barely tans and fades the fastest, I'm sure this will be perfect for me even after my holiday. If not I can just top up with bronzer!

I don't use this everyday as I don't invest in a more expensive foundation very often and I feel that although it makes my skin look so so good, that I should reserve it for when there are more special occasions than walking from classroom to classroom. I find this looks super good from when I first apply it and it can be built up so easily if I need a tiny bit more coverage. It also looks really good as the day goes on as it smooths out and becomes my skin rather than just sitting on top of it. I love the glowy and dewy look it gives my skin without making me look greasy at all and I often find at the end of the day I look just as glowy and dewy as before, if not better. It's also super good at not making my skin worse if there are a couple of blemishes coming up which is a bonus!

I'm all for the sheer bases in summer and this fits the description. I previously mentioned the Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector and if I really want this to last I'll dot that underneath on top of my moisturizer to ensure it stays looking good for the whole day and/or night. Like all Nars packaging, it can get a little grubby in my make up drawers but as long as it's not ruining anything else I'm fine with it. I'll definitely be buying another bottle when it runs out because have fallen for this pretty hard! Now I just need to get my hands on their Radiant Creamy Concealer...

Have you tried the Nars Sheer Glow Foundation?







Check out my friend Polly's blog here!

Did Someone Say Anti-Imperfections?

Hello! If you've tried this product you will either agree or disagree with me. I had seen so many mixed reviews before buying this and after having it for a couple of months I feel I'm able to tell you how I feel about it. Ladies and gentlemen, La Roche Posay's Effaclar Duo +, something I know is in many peoples skincare routines and others just don't have the time.

This product is essentially an anti-imperfections cream that they suggest you apply all over your face, especially if you can feel a blemish coming up or you want to get rid of the scars or marks left behind by previous ones. I have quite a few marks that have been left behind and pretty blemish prone skin so I had high hopes...

After loving a tester I received on purchase of their cleansing gel, I was hoping this would come into it's own and would be something I simply can't live without but unfortunately I'm one of those people that just doesn't have the time. I think a product that claims to do this is firstly a very big statement that promises to do a lot. Perhaps it's because I'm prone to blemishes with my teenage skin, but I didn't find this helped and sometimes I'd even wake up with new blemishes that weren't there the night before. It didn't reduce any blemishes I applied it to or stop them from coming up and it hasn't reduced any marks that are left behind when they finally do go. If you really want to get rid of those marks, mix in a little Bio Oil with your serum or moisturizer as it works wonders.

I also find this way too drying to use all over my face. I've seen posts about people using this without moisturizer which I find really hard to believe and I can't believe it doesn't dry out their skin. For me, it was essential that I remembered that this isn't a moisturizer. As I found it was drying my skin up I started applying it to just blemishes by dotting it on and patting it in with my finger. Still, not the result I wanted or that was promised. Despite this being disappointing, I wouldn't write the brand off - their cleansing gel is really impressive and can remove all dirt from the face, leaving you feeling squeaky clean! I know they used to do a version of this without the + on the end, and maybe the old one had more per-zazzz and impressive results but this just isn't for me and I've removed it from my skincare routine. Perhaps not for the teenage-spot prone skin and just for those occasional blemishes after your hormones pipe down?

Have you tried this or anything else from La Roche Posay?

Oatafix

Hello! Right now I should be in France and I have been told that I won't have Wifi... What a nightmare! But I'm probably having a nice little break with some lovely revision. Brilliant, just brilliant! So, without further delays, has anyone tried Oatafix?

Lush Oatafix Mask, £6.25

After finishing one of Lush's most loved face masks, Cupcake, I decided I would pick one of their other most loved and talked about. Oatafix promises to 'cleanse, soften and moisturize dry skin' which is something I've really been struggling with at the moment. I'm not sure what it is, but I'm hoping it's down to the cold weather rather than being allergic to something... It also claims to 'reduce redness and gently polish' with the almonds and illipe butter which nourishes and restores the skin. Alongside these products is bananas which contain a large amount of antioxidants and vitamin C which aids elasticity and protection of the skin. They're also great for just making a DIY mask in your kitchen (would anyone like to see a recipe?) which is a quick fix if you're in need of some skin TLC.

Oatafix has a waxy and grainy texture down to the oats and almonds within it. As a result of this, the mask is quite hard to spread over the face but I find that with application to a wet face and perhaps a little extra water when working it into the skin makes it a lot easier and less wasteful. The smell (and taste which I discovered by accident) reminds me a lot of flapjacks which smells sooo good and is probably my favourite scent of all lush masks (I find Cupcake lingers a little too much for my liking...) I also love how cooling this mask is, especially as with all Lush masks you have to keep them in the fridge to ensure the natural ingredients last longer.

I find that with Lush face masks that I don't notice the effects until I stop using it and realize how great it was for my face. I haven't got through this whole tub, but I use this about twice a week and every time I use it it nourishes my skin and gently exfoliates, leaving my skin so smooth and moisturized. My make up always goes on so much better the day after I've used this as I find it evens out my skin so that it's ready for my base. It hasn't completely solved my dry skin problem but it's been 2 weeks so I'll give it a chance and perhaps it will come out on top as my new favourite Lush mask and I will see why everyone loves it so much!

I've tried The Sacred Truth, Cupcake and now this, but do you have any suggestions for what I should pick up next?