Review: Max Factor Kohl in Black

Have you ever had that moment when you are away from home for a few days and you realise you have forgotten to pack your one essential beauty product? Last month, I went  away for the weekend to Aberdeen  and upon getting ready for my night out, realised I had forgotten to bring any eyeliner with me!

A quick dash to Boots was required, where I found this - Max Factor Kohl in Black. Now unlike many kohl which profess to be black and are in fact just a wimpy, washed out grey, this one is a super deep black.

I love how dark it is, yet it is still ultra soft and great for smudging for a sultry, smokey eye. I've been using it on the waterline and whilst I do find that it stays around without migrating underneath the eye, it does fade significantly after 5 hours. I haven't yet tested it on the upper lid as I tend to use pencils and kohls more on the waterline, but i would imagine it would last longer. 

Verdict

This liner was a true lifesaver in a 'make up emergency' (if there can actually be such a thing!) and gives a deep, dark look which is perfect for a sultry look. Lasting power is not fantastic however, and you may need to reapply throughout  the day.

3/5

Price - from £4.49

Where to buy- Cheap Smells, Boots, Lloyds Pharmacy

Review: Maybelline Colour 24hr Tattoo in Eternal Gold

Does anyone else think that tattoo is a bit of an icky name for an eye shadow? I keep getting a mental image of someone sticking a needle in my eye!!

I purchased the Maybelline Colour 24hr Tattoo in Eternal Gold a while ago after being particularly enamoured with the same product in taupe (review here).  This shadow differs from the taupe in that it is shimmering rather than matte, although I found the general consistency of the cream shadow similar.

One slight difference is that if found it to apply slightly patchily on my lids and it was certainly not as opaque. It is a gorgeous yellow gold shade which I could imagine would look amazing on tanned or darker skintones.   The shadow dries fast, so you will need to apply and blend quickly.  I have been applying this with my Mac 239 brush and blending it out to soften it at the edges a little with a fluffy brush. 

Direct Sunlight

I found Eternal Gold to have slightly less lasting power on my oily lids than the taupe but I suspect in some part this is due to the fact that it is more of a shimmer formula. I still found it lasted up to around six hours before showing signs of wear when used in conjunction with a primer, although bear in mind I have super oily lids!

Indirect Sunlight

Verdict

Whilst not quite up to the same high standard as the taupe shadow in the range, this is still very good quality for a cheaper brand. It does require a little more effort in application than simply swiping and going but it provides a very pretty, simple look for summer. One aspect of application I have yet to try is blending it with other shadows. I'd be interested to know if others have blended these products with other cream or powder shadows and how they fared.

3/5 

Price - £4.99

Where to Buy - Boots, Superdrug

Review: Soap & Glory A Great Kisser Moisture Balm in Juicy Peach

The Summer season demands lighter, sheerer lips and I often tend to opt for tinted balms or products like Chanel's Rouge Coco Shines or Revlon's Lip Butters.  Whilst having a wander around Boots recently, I came across Soap & Glory's Lip Moisture Balm, 'A Great Kisser' in Juicy Peach and thought it was worth a try.

As I've mentioned in previous reviews of Soap & Glory products, I am not a fan of their cutesy, retro packaging, although I know many who are.  This balm is encased in a sturdy tin and smells strongly of peach when opened.  Thankfully, when applied to the lips the scent dissipates quickly.  

Despite the bright peach tint which is evident in the tin, when swatched and applied to the lips, it is pretty much sheer.  It is rather on the sticky side and I would actually class this more of a gloss / balm hybrid than a straightforward tinted lipbalm. It did leave a nice, glossy sheen on the lips but it was fairly transparent and I was a little disappointed there was not more pigment present. 

I found this lasted around an hour or so before I needed to reapply which is as expected for glosses and balms.  I found it to be fairly hydrating but not as moisturising as my trusty Carmex   My main grumble with this product is the fact that it comes in a tin rather than a stick and I can see it getting very messy very quickly.  I'm not a great fan of tins for applying products on the hoof as well, as I tend to end up with sticky fingers!

Verdict

This is a nice enough balm but for the price, I expected more from it and it really isn't much different from other basic balms.  You are paying for the Soap & Glory packaging and scent.  Having said that, if you are one of those people who love all things the Soap & Glory, then you will probably like this and it is by no means a bad product.  If you have a sensitive nose though, I would avoid it as it is highly scented and unfortunately, Soap & Glory don't provide testers for their balms so there is no way of knowing whether it is to your taste before you purchase.

3/5

Where to Buy - Boots

Price - £5

Dr Hauschka Cleansing Ritual: Radiant You Starter Kit

Before I start, I have to apologies for these photos - I did take photos of all the products before I started using them but I cannot for the life of me find them!  So unfortunately, I will need to use these pictures of products half-used and not looking quite as pretty as they did when I first received them!

Dr Hauschka was a brand that I had been aware of for some time, but I had never tried any of their products. They use natural, organic ingredients, with nutritious plant and mineral extracts that care for and work with your skin.

I was recently sent the Radiant You Face Care kit  to test for Beauty Bible.  The Kit consists of three products and the largest muslin cloth I have ever seen!  Honestly, it was almost the size of my bath towel!  I ended up cutting it into several smaller pieces to make it easier to use.

The first product is the Lavender Bath.  Packaging, as with all the Dr Hauschka products is clean and simple, easily allowing you to see how much of the product you have remaining.

 

Each time you begin your 'cleansing ritual', you should fill your washbasin with warm water, adding a couple of drops of the Lavender Bath.  You then soak some of the Muslin cloth in the water before wringing it out and holding it to your face for about 20 seconds.  This allows your pores to open before the next stage.

I found I quite liked this, although whether I actually needed a bath oil for this step, is debatable.  I do enjoy the scent of lavender though and I would purchase a full size of this to use in the bath as it is very concentrated and a small amount goes a long way.

Then it is time for the cleansing cream.  Dr Hauschka say that in order to maintain a radiant complexion, you need to use their 'press and roll' method when cleansing.  This is to help lift away and remove impurities that dull your skin, whilst ensuring that your skin is not stressed or aggravated and using only gentle movements and pressure.

I'll leave the link to this method here, but suffice to say it did take rather a lot of practice!  If you are a self-professed lazy cleanser like me, this will probably be too much hard work for you!

The cream itself was very thick and had small grains contained within it which I felt helped provide a gentle exfoliation.  One thing I must point out is that this is not suitable for removing makeup and you will need to use a separate makeup remover before beginning cleansing. After finally getting to grips with the press and roll method, I did find that it seemed to balance my skin slightly. However it never felt completely clean after just one cleanse and I ended up double cleansing most evenings to ensure all the impurities of the day were removed.

I have oily / combination skin, and whilst I found a slight reduction in oiliness around my forehead whilst using this, I did find that my skin broke out a lot around my chin.  This may have been part of the 'purging' stage or it may be that my skin didn't agree with it but these blemishes never really went away for the whole month that I was testing the product.

Once rinsed, it is time for the toner.  Now I haven't really been a huge fan of toners, finding them often an unnecessary extra step.  I love this toner though and it will last ages!  After cleansing, Dr Hauschka say that you only need to have a couple of spritzes of the toner and your skin will feel refreshed and cleansed, and I very much agree.  It is gentle and leaves my skin feeling soft and balanced, with no pesky dry patches on my cheeks and I can see it being very refreshing on warm days.  The slight scent of roses is also very welcoming.

 

So how do I feel about the Cleansing Ritual as a whole?   Well, I can see how Dr Hauschka's gentle holistic approach would work well with your skin, and I very much liked the toner and bath oil (although admittedly more for baths than for steaming my face!).  The cleaner itself however  just seemed like a lot of hard work for me, especially first thing in the morning when I want something that is quick and effective to use.  I also found that the fact that it wasn't effective at removing makeup was a problem as I had to introduce another step for makeup removal into an already, slightly laborious, process.

Verdict

For those of you who love the whole ritual and routine of cleansing your skin, especially if you like using natural products, the Dr Hauschka Cleansing Ritual may be suitable for you. If however, you are constantly short of time and prefer your routine to be quick and effective, then you may prefer to have a look through some of the other products in the range, such as the toner, which could be combined with your existing skincare.

3/5 for me, but that's mainly because I am very lazy! 

Price - £39.95

Where to Buy - Dr Hauschka  John Lewis

Davines Nounou Nourishing llluminating Shampoo

I always feel a little cheated at the salon, paying what amounts to a small fortune to look exactly the same as before on a bi-monthly basis!  I've had the same hairdresser for over 6 years and she understands both me and my hair, and my unwillingness to deviate from my comfort zone!

 

I do enjoy chopping and changing my hair products though, and I came across the Davines brand mentioned on another blog.

 

Davines NouNou Illuminating Shampoo is targeted at those with colour-treated hair and it claims to be gentle enough to use daily without stripping away your colour.

 

I firstly have to mention the packaging which I felt was rather uninspired. A clear bottle with a label that looked  like I could have knocked it up myself on my printer does not  represent a premium beauty product.

 

Packaging aside, the product itself had a lovely scent which is a cross between  one I associate with a posh salon, and a light floral. I did find when pouring, it comes out as very liquid and runny so you do need to be careful that you don't pour too much out.

 

I found that this shampoo didn't tend to lather much at all and I needed to later, rinse and repeat in order for my hair to feel clean. It did leave my hair feeling very soft and shiny though, but I felt it was lacking in volume and rather flat.

 

Verdict

An distinctly average cleansing shampoo which is kind to your locks and won't strip away colour.  For those of you who use a lot of hair products or just have very dry hair, this may be too lightweight for daily use.  However, for those looking to move into SLS-free products, with more natural, less harsh ingredients, this could be a good option.  You will probably be able to find similar products elsewhere at a lower price point on the high street.

3/5 

Price - from£12.77
Where to Buy  - Hairtrader, Salon Skincare

Review: Mac Chatterbox

I picked up Mac Chatterbox from a blog sale, as I’d heard a few people mention it and thought it looked like a useful, wearable pink which filled a gap in my collection.  

The lipstick is an amplified formula, which is meant to be more pigmented and provide a more opaque colour.  This was my first experience with Mac’s amplified formula and I have to say that I found it incredibly drying and you certainly need to slather on some balm before and / or after applying.

The colour itself is a warm-toned pink which I could see being easy to wear for most skintones.  I tried in all kinds of light to capture the colour in the tube accurately but this is the best I could manage.  The actual colour is much pinker in real life although the swatch is accurate. It does go on rather opaque, but you can blot it to make it a little more wearable or within your comfort zone if you prefer.  One thing I noticed with this lippy is that it didn’t seem to glide on as smoothly as other Mac lipsticks which again, may be due to the drying formula.  You really need to have well-conditioned lips to wear this well. 

Lasting time was around 3-4 hours, although I did pop some more balm on after a couple of hours.  I can see this colour being very versatile and being used in a variety of looks, especially as it can be built up or blotted down, depending on the level of intensity you require, or how bold you are feeling. 

Verdict

I liked the colour of this lippy as it was bright but not un-wearably so, and it was well within my comfort zone.  However the drying nature of the formula made this very uncomfortable to wear for more than a couple of hours and I think this will unfortunately restrict how often I wear it. If you are prepared to slather on the balm and already have baby-soft lips, this may be a good choice for you as it will suit most skintones and go with a variety of looks.

3/5

Price – £13.50

Where to Buy – Mac, House of Fraser, Debenhams, Selfridges

Review: Mac Pink Clash

For such a lip product junkie, it may come as a bit of a surprise to you to hear that this is my first lipglass! I have always been more of a lipstick girl which perhaps explains why there has been this lipglass-shaped hole in my life, but as they are so popular and widespread, I really have no idea why they have eluded me.

Mac Pink Clash was an impulse purchase through BuyaPowa over Christmas and I was instantly attached by the promise of sparkly, shimmery, glittery lips over the festive period! I believe this is a limited edition product but it is still available at some stores online and it has popped up on BuyaPowa again since.

The first thing that struck me was that the lipglass seems to be tiny! I really don’t think the tube will last long at all, as you only get 4.8g of product and to apply, I found myself having to dip the applicator into the tube several times in order to cover the lips fully.

In the tube, the colour appears to be a rose-tinged gold and this translates fairly well to the lips, producing an almost bronzed / rose look. The gloss is on the fairly sticky side, as I believe is common with all other lipglasses, and the shimmer is certainly fairly noticeable, making this more of a night time gloss, although I have been wearing this to work a little to inject a little sparkle into January!

The colour is very warm and would suit those of a warmer or more bronzed complexion better than those with cooler tones. I also think this would perhaps be more wearable during the summer months as I can see it looking fab with some bronzer and a peach blush. I have quite pigmented lips and the colour was certainly noticeable, although as you would expect, it is not opaque.

I find it lasts around 2 hours on me and unfortunately it does leave quite a lot of glitter on my lips once the colour begins to fade. The glitter is not gritty though and despite the stickiness, I did find the gloss fairly comfortable to wear. As I don’t really own many glitter lip glosses, Pink Clash is unique to my collection, although I suspect there are similar bronzey lipglosses available from other brands.

Verdict

This is an interesting colour which fills a gap in my collection, however the fundamental issue I have with it is that you do not get much product for your pennies! I would also argue that it is more peach or bronze than pink. In short, if you like glitter and you have warmer toned skin, you will probably like this lipgloss, however it is not a must-buy and you may already have similar products in your stash.

3/5

Price – £9.75

Where to Buy – Cheap Smells