Review: Essie Mirror Metallic Collection

I'm over pastels this Summer already and when I spied the Essie Mirror Metallics Collection on sale, I was unable to resist picking up a few - ahem, the whole 5 piece collection!  Well, what's a girl to do when she can't choose?!

I purchased the collection from eBay as I find Essie, OPI and China Glaze so much cheaper when buying from the US.  I used The Color Elf and shipping and delivery was within a week, perfect for impatient shoppers like me. 

The Mirror Metallics Collection is truly beautiful and contains five eye-catching shades, from left to right:

• Good as Gold - a true gold chrome
• Penny Talk - a gorgeous rose gold
• Nothing Else Metals - a metallic lavender which leans slightly pink
• Blue Rhapsody - a light silvery blue chrome
• No Place Like Chrome - a slightly blue-toned silver, perhaps the least unique colour in the collection, it reminds me a little of tin foil. 

All of the polishes were on the thicker side and I was able to achieve opaquity with only one coat.  As with other metallic polishes, you do have to be wary of brush strokes but as it only requires the one coat, it is much easier to manage.

For me, the stand out shade is Penny Talk, it is so pretty and shimmery and it looks modern and classy.  No Place Like Chrome is probably the shade which is the most dupable and you may already have a similar shade in your collection. 

Verdict

I have long been a fan of Essie's polishes and I am pleased to confirm that they have again succeeded in bringing out a small but coherent collection that I found to be instantly covertable.  Formula and wear time were consistent with other Essie polishes.  Stand out shades are Penny Talk and Blue Rhapsody, but to be fair, if you purchase any of these shades, you are unlikely to be disappointed.  The only negative point for me is that they are only available in full size bottles as I do prefer the mini bottles often released with collections by Essie. 

5/5

Price - £7.99, although you can purchase for around £5 / bottle on US ebay.

Where to Buy - Superdrug, Boots, eBay

Review: Redken Blonde Glam Shampoo and Conditioner

I'm constantly searching for products that leave my hair soft and manageable and prolonging my colour.  I've tried several over the years and have always come back to the TiGi Dumb Blonde collection.  Recently, I decided to give Redken a try, as I realised it was a brand I had never tried previously, and I have to say, I was very impressed.

I purchased both the shampoo and conditioner form the Blonde Glam range, which claims to improve the 'softness and conditioning' of the hair.  I found the packaging a little on the dull side - matte golden bottles - but they serve their purpose and I like how the conditioner bottle is smaller than the shampoo as I always seem to run out of shampoo well before I finish the conditioner, meaning I have lots of half-finished conditioners sitting around my bathroom!

The shampoo cleanses well and removes any product build up.  The conditioner is the star of the show here though, leaving my hair feeling so soft hubby actually remarked on it (and he never notices these things!).  It didn't weigh down my hair and made it look super shiny without appearing lank, which is unheard of with my fine hair.

Verdict

Redken's Blonde Glam Shampoo and Conditioner is truly a godsend for coloured hair and has really transformed my tired tresses into soft, shiny locks with volume and bounce. If you have coloured hair, I would really recommend you try these!

5/5

Price - arond £10

Where to Buy - I found mine at Look Fantastic but you can also buy this in many independant hair salons

Review: Marks & Spencer Limited Collection Liquid Liners in Turquoise and Gunmetal

I think I've fallen in love!  And its with an affordable product, yippee!  Normally I fall hard for pricey lipsticks or extravagant palettes but in this case I have a new-found affinity with the Marks & Spencer Limited Collection Makeup.

When popping into M&S for my Friday lunchtime treat, I stumbled upon the Limited Collection makeup range.  For some reason, I had never really paid much interest to it previously, but a post by Charlotte at Lipglossiping on the Turquoise liner piqued my interest, and as they were only £4 each, they both 'fell' into my basket, along with a chicken and bacon sandwich and some wasabi peas - well it was Friday!

L to R: Gunmetal, Turquoise in Natural light

I can't emphasise just how much I love these liners.  There were three shades available at the store I visited - Turquoise, Gunmetal Grey and Black.  I opted to skip the black as I have lots of black liquid liners already but I was super intrigued by the Turquoise.  I have been wearing these liners constantly over the past few days.  The brush is small and fine but quite stiff which makes it perfect for a precise application of a fine line on the upper lashline.  The consistency of each of the liners is superb, with only one pass needed for a strong defined line and it stays put ALL day without budging until removed.  I've applied it at 7.30am and its still there at 10pm that night in perfect condition with absolutely no fading.

L to R: Gunmetal, Turquoise with Flash

Some other reviewers have said they take a while to dry down but I found them comparable with many other liquid liners in that they do take around 20 seconds to dry fully, but once set, they are there for the duration.

If I was going to pick a colour you must have, it would have to be the Turquoise, as it is the more unique of the two I chose.  I've been wearing a very thin line on the upper lash line with lashings of mascara and nothing else on the eye as it is enough of a statement itself during the day.  I have received so many compliments and people seem flabbergasted that it is from good old M&S!

Verdict

If you are a fan of liquid liners, or indeed just fancy a dabble in them, you must try these.  They are super affordable and stay put for hours without fading or migrating.  The Grey is the safer, more versatile choice, but for something a little different, the Turquoise cannot be beaten.  I really can't recommend these liners enough and I will certainly be investigating more of the Limited Collection makeup.

5/5

Price - £4

Where to Buy - Marks and Spencer

The Body Shop Strawberry and Lemon Body Butters

I hope you have been enjoying the warm weather that has finally arrived in the UK and have been remembering to wear your SPF - I spotted a lot of people looking rather lobster-like in the park this weekend, who were probably  feeling rather sore this morning.....

In the Summer, I am fastidious about applying my sun protection and never go anywhere when it is remotely warm without first slathering myself in lotion.  Having spent a large amount of time outdoors over the past week, I have also been ensuring my skin remains well-moisturised after being exposed to the sun, which is where my favourite Body Butters come into play.

The Body Shop has a large range of Body Butters, the majority of which smell AMAZING!  Today, I am going to do a quick review of the two I have been using recently - Strawberry and Lemon.

The Strawberry is aimed at normal / dry skin but I would say that all Body Butters are suitable for all skin types.  The scent of the Strawberry Body Butter reminds me of strawberry milkshakes and it honestly smells so good I just want to eat it!  I find the scent tends to stick around for about an hour, but becomes more subtle when you have rubbed it in, so there is no need to worry about going about your day smelling like a giant strawberry!

The Lemon Body Butter is my favourite of the ones I have tried from The Body Shop so far, but I adore all of the lemon scented products from the Body Shop.  The scent is so refreshing and 'clean', and really makes me feel that Summer has arrived.  If you like fresh, simple scents for your perfumes, you would probably like this. 

One thing I will mention is that a little goes a long way and the consistency of these Body Butters is divine - they just seem to melt in your hands and are absorbed into the skin super-quick.  There is no waiting around for ages for them to soak into your skin before dressing.

Verdict

If you are looking for a body moisturiser that absorbs quickly into your skin, delivers real results and comes in a variety of fragrances and scents, The Body Shop Body Butters should be one of your first ports of call.  If neither of these scents here appeal, take a trip to one of The Body Shop stores and have a sniff through their range, as there is bound to be one that entices you.

5/5

Price - from £5

Where to Buy - The Body Shop

Have you tried any of The Body Shop Body Butters?

Which is your favourite?

KMS Quick Blow Dry Spray

I'm a nightmare in the mornings - grumpy, cross and generally always in a rush to get ready, to the point where I often wait until I get to work to do my make-up!  One thing I always have to make time to do though is wash and blow dry my hair, as unless I wash it daily, it ends up feeling dull and lank.  On a side note, I can never understand those people who leave the house and get on public transport with soaking wet hair.  I can't be good for you and really, can't they just get up 15 minutes earlier?!  I digress, rant over!

When I received the KMS Quick Blow Dry Spray as part of my Carmine box , I was initially very sceptical about its claims to reduce blow dry time by up to 50% and still maintain healthy, manageable hair.  However, I am pleased to have been proved wrong!

I have been using this after having applied my other haircare products, such as heat protectant or mousse, and a few sprays is all that is required.  I then tip my head upside down as normal and blow dry.  My hair usually takes just over ten minutes to blow dry, but I've found that with this spray, I can easily shave a couple of minutes off the time, leaving me more time to snooze in my bed!  I've also found it lightly conditions my hair, leaving it easy to manage, and it is noticeably silkier and smoother.  

Verdict

I get bored so easily with routine tasks such as drying my hair, and any product that makes my life easier and lets me move onto the more fun stuff is always a winner with me!  The KMS Quick Blow Dry Spray reduces drying time, leaves your hair feeling softer and smoother and is a real multi-tasker.  This is a great buy for those of you with busy lifestyles and I will certainly be purchasing a full sized bottle soon.

5/5

Price - £10.95

Where to Buy -  Beauty Bay, Salon Skincare, Feel Unique, Look Fantastic

Carmex Moisture Plus in Sheer Berry

While we are waiting for the warm weather to reappear and for it FINALLY to stop raining (!), I’ve been looking for lip products which will care for my lips whilst giving a hint of colour and I've recently gone back to and old favourite.

Last year, I fell in love with the easy-to-wear formulation of the Carmex Moisture Plus Sheer Lip Shines, as they provided the perfect mix of a hint of colour combined with an excellent moisture-quenching formula. They were a staple of my holiday makeup last year, being easy to just slick on and go, so when I discovered a couple of additional shades were available in the US, I was determined to make them mine!

Sheer Berry is exactly as it sounds, a sheer, moisturising colour with a hint of red.  Like the other Lip Shines available in the UK which I reviewed here, this doesn’t impart an awful lot of colour on the lips, so if you are after an opaque look, this would not be for you.  What it is useful for is providing a hint of colour, making for a more informal look, perfect for lazy days or casual weekends.  

The swatch looks very shiny, and on the lips, it maintains the same glossy formula.  Due to this formula, it doesn’t stick around for long – one and a half hours tops – meaning you do need to reapply often.  For me, this isn’t a big issue though, as it is so easy to apply by just whipping out the tube and slicking it on. 

Not sure why my watermark came out so large here!

I have to mention a couple of things about packaging and availability of this product in the UK.  I contacted Carmex when I found out  these shades had been released, and enquired as to when they would be launched in the UK.  They responded by saying that they currently had no plans to release them in Europe (although I’m sure I have seen them on some Irish blogs).   A search on eBay should be able to locate them, and even with postage, they are still very reasonably priced.

Verdict

As the Moisture Plus range contained some of my staple products last year, I was always going to love this new shade and it didn’t disappoint.  Although there are so many balm / lipstick hybrids being launched at the moment, this is the only one I have tried to date which genuinely has moisturising properties and also includes a SPF.  I feel this product would suit those who are shy about wearing brighter lip colours and want to dip their toe (or lips!) in the water.  It would also suit those who tend to have a signature style of bright or red lips, but who want to try something lighter and fresher for Summer.  I would certainly recommend this product, or indeed any of the other Moisture Plus Sheer Lip Shines, and I would urge you to put this on your shopping list if you are heading over to the US this Summer. 

5/5

Price – around £4-6 with shipping from US

Where to Buy – US eBay 

I am also having a giveaway shortly at 100 followers, where you will have the  chance to win one of these, as I picked up an extra one with my eBay order!

Revlon Lip Butters in Creme Brulee, Lollipop, and Tutti Fruitti

Revlon’s Lip Butters – I know you’ve probably read a million and one posts about these already so I’ll try to keep this brief.

L to R with flash: Creme Brulee, Tutti Frutti, Lollipop

Attracted by Boots’ current 3 for 2 offer on cosmetics, I decided to pick a few of the Lip Butters.  Stock however were not great, and there wasn’t much choice to be had, with many of the popular colours sold out. In the end, I decided to go for two brights and a nude. 

L to R without flash: Creme Brulee, Tutti Frutti, Lollipop

Starting with the nude, Crème Brulee.   This is an almost invisible shade on my pigmented lips which gives them a very slight shimmer. I am not normally a big fan of nude lippies, however I found this one very easy to wear and I didn’t feel it washed me out, rather it gave me a natural, polished look. All the Lip Butters give a noticeable sheen to the lips, however I found this to be the most subtle with regards to the shiny lips look and it was certainly more of a balm. If you are fond of a my-lips-but-better look or if you prefer a really simple, neutral look, this would be a good choice for you. Wear time was around an hour and a half, which, considering this is a balm / lipstick hybrid is to be expected. 

Next is Tutti Fruitti, a vibrant coal / orange which is a fabulous shade for summer. I adore coral shades and although this leans more orange, it is certainly very wearable, especially with a summer tan. I think I will be getting a lot of use out of this one! Lasting time with this one was around two and a half hours, with the shine disappearing first after an hour, leaving a stain which was still very pigmented. 

Finally, I purchased Lollipop, a blue tinged fuchsia with subtle sparkly shimmer. The shimmer isn’t overly noticeable, but it gives a gorgeous iridescent look on the lips. I believe this is certainly one of the bolder shades in the range as it is very pigmented.  It had a  wear time similar to Tutti Fruitti of two and a half hours before I needed to reapply. 

Verdict

Predictably, I am going to give these top marks as although I initially was skeptical about their ability to deliver after all the hype surrounding them, I was wrong. All three deliver excellent pigmentation, are super comfortable to wear and although lasting time isn’t overly long, it is as expected for a balm / lipstick hybrid. I would stress, however, that despite being non-drying, these lippies are not a substitute for balm, and you will still need to apply this separately if you want smooth, soft, kissable lips! As for my favourite, I would have to say it is Tutti Fruitti, a gorgeous wearable orange which looks super juicy on the lips. I’m certainly going to be looking at more of the range when my local Boots restocks!

5/5

Price – £7.99

Where to Buy - Boots, Superdrug

Review: Chanel Black Pearl

I don’t know about you but I always feel as beauty bloggers and readers we are constantly on the lookout for the next new product or item.  It is therefore easy to forget about permanent products that may have been available for some time, and are unloved gems.

Please excuse my awful cuticles and smudge on the 2nd finger - taken in a rush!

Chanel’s Black Pearl is one of my favourite polishes.  Released in late 2012 and now available on a permanent basis, this is an almost greened grey with a pearly finish (hence the name!).  When I was first introduced to it, I was a little afraid that it would be tricky to use without having the dreaded visible brushstrokes so often present in frost-type finishes.  However I am pleased to report that the formula is very easy to use, and two coats produces the perfect opaque finish. 

I’ve personally never got to grips with the whole, almost-black nail trend as I just look someone in fancy dress pretending to be a goth!  This is a much more wearable way of wearing dark polish as, although it is dark, it is a very easy-to wear grey, and the finish makes it significantly different from any other polishes that I own.

Verdict

If you like dark polishes and enjoy Chanel’s formula, this is a must-have in your collection!   It is the very definition of a grown-up grey polish and I feel extremely sophisticated when wearing it!  

5/5

Price - £17.50

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

Review: Bobbi Brown Goldstone Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadow

 

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Eyeshadows are in my opinion, some of the most overlooked cream eyeshadows around.  I reviewed one of the regular shades, Shore, here previously and today I am going to look at one of the metallic shades, Goldstone.  

 

Bobbi Brown's Long-Wear Cream eyeliners are contained within glass pots with screw top lids.  Unlike some other cream eyeshadows I have tried, these do not dry up and indeed I have had this one for almost two years and it is still moist and going strong.

Under indoor light

The swatch above was taken with my finger and I tend to use either my finger or a Mac 239 to apply.  The colour is a gorgeous metallic ,shimmery gold which almost looks like a dirty, blackened gold when applied.  Despite the presence of glitter, there is no fallout and the glitter is suspended in the shadow.  I also found that unlike some other glitter shadows I have used, the actual colour doesn't wear off and leave you with a multitude of glitter on your lids - the metallic finish stays throughout the whole day.

Natural Light

I found it difficult to capture the true nature of this colour, as it looks almost silver in the swatch above.  It is very much a gold though, although not  particularly a yellow gold, and therefore it could be worn by those with warm or cool skintones.  I often wear this with a black or grey smudged kohl along my waterline and lashings of black mascara and I find it gives a little extra interest to a fairly neutral polished look.

Verdict

Bobbi Brown's Metallic Long-Wear Eyeshadow in Goldstone is a rare find in that it sparkles without a ton of glitter and does not produce any fallout.  On my oily lids, it stays put for around 6 hours ,and lasted longer when used in conjunction with a primer.  It gives a subtle sparkle to a daytime look and can be combined with a grey shadow for a spin on the traditional smokey eye.  The only negative I can think of is that the pot can be quite heavy to travel with, and if you use your fingers for application, it can be quite difficult to get to the product due to the small opening at the neck of the jar.  However, i fyou haven't yet had a look at some of Bobbi's Metallic Long-Wear eyeshadows, they are certainly worth a look.

5/5

Price - £17

Where to Buy -  Bobbi Brown, Debenhams, House of Fraser, Selfridges

Review: YSL Rouge Volupte in Rose Paris 27

YSL Rouge Voluptes are highly praised by many beauty bloggers, due to their creamy, smooth finish and gorgeous packaging.  This was a purchase from a blog sale a couple of months ago which I snapped up in an instant.  So what did I think?

YSL Rouge Volupte in Rose Paris is a member of YSL’s permanent collection and features the standout packaging that is common to the YSL line.  The main aspect of the packaging that I love is that they put the colour on the side of the lipstick, meaning that is very easy to quickly identify which lipstick you are after.  I wish more companies such as Mac did this as it always takes me forever to find the Mac lipstick I am hunting for in a morning, and you can guarantee that it is the last one I will pick up!

The colour in the tube looks to be a pinky coral and extremely vibrant.  As with all Rouge Voluptes, the lipstick is extremely soft so you need to be very careful when winding it up and down to ensure you don’t squish it against the sides of the tube. 

When swatched, the colour goes on opaque in one pass and I actually found it almost too opaque!  It is very creamy and glides on easily, although due to its softness and vivid colour, I would recommend using a lip liner to avoid any potential bleeding issues, and you may find it easier to apply with a lip brush for more accurate application. 

The lip swatch below is done with one slick of the tube and it is VERY bright and almost a cross between a bright coral and a neon pink! I tend to blot it down a little after applying so that it is within my comfort zone but it still maintains its vivid, eye-catching brightness.

Lasting power is superb and much better than the other Rouge Volupte Pink Caress that I own (reviewed here).  I apply it first thing in the morning and it is still there 5 hours later after numerous cups of tea and mid morning snacks!  It has even lasted through a two-course lunch!

Verdict

This is currently one of my favourite bright lipsticks and it goes very well with a simple neutral eye.  If you like corals, such as Mac’s Crosswires, and fancy trying something a little pinker, this may be a good option and I could certainly see it working very well on those with darker skintones due to the high pigmentation.  The only negative I can see is that it isn’t a ‘swipe-and-go’ lippy and it does require careful application, but once it is on your lips, it will stay there for several hours.  Highly recommended!

5/5

Price –£23.50

Where to Buy  - Debenhams, Boots, John Lewis, House of Fraser

Review: Laura Mercier Eye Kohl in Stormy Grey

As a contact lens user, I struggled for years with using eyeliner on my waterline.  It used to make my eyes feel dry, sore and just generally  uncomfortable all day so I just used to avoid using it, for fear of becoming a red-eyed mess for a day afterwards.

Recently, I have been dipping my toe back into pencil and kohl liner and Laura Mercier Eye Kohl is one that I have been enjoying using a lot.  Laura Mercier’s packaging is very simple and chic and I much prefer this to overly cutesy, retro packaging (cough, Benefit!).  Saying that, if a product is well made and performs well, I will generally buy it regardless of its packaging!

So  what about the liner itself?  The shade,  Stormy Grey,  came as as part of a gift set I procured from Space NK and is a deep, dark grey.  The pencil is very soft, as is usual with a kohl, (I hate pencils which feel like they are scratching away at your skin) and colour payoff is superb with an opaque line in one pass. 

I find this very easy to pop on first thing and find that it has been lasting throughout an entire working day.  It does tend to fade a little after about 6 hours but I was amazed that it didn’t slide around or migrate to my under eye area.

Verdict

This was my first foray into Laura Mercier Eye Kohl but it won’t be my last.  Long-lasting and kind to sensitive eyes, this was a winner for me and I’m certainly going to be looking at more of the shades in the range

5/5

Price - £15.50

Where to Buy - John Lewis  (currently out of stock but it is a permanent product so it should be restocked shortly)

Review: Bobbi Brown, Long Wear Cream Eyeshadow in Shore

debenhams.co.uk

Bobbi Brown has many superb basics in her collection which are often overlooked by many people in the quest for more vibrant, interesting colours and the latest limited edition products. Shore is one of those staple products that I use most days and would now be lost without!

Bobbi’s Long Wear Cream shadows are some of the best cream shadows available in my opinion. They come in cute, small glass pots in both matte and metallic / shimmer formula and seem to last forever. I have had Shore for almost 2 years and I have still not hit pan and there is no sign of it drying out as some cream formula are susceptible to doing.

Shore is a pale, biscuit-coloured neutral, which doesn’t look particularly interesting on first appearances, but a cream neutral shadow is something that should be a staple of your make-up bag. The picture above makes it look darker than it is but I found it very difficult to get an accurate photo of the product colour in the jar.

It applies to my lids easily and goes on as a creamy, natural shade which I tend to use to even out my skintone or as a neutral base or primer for other shadows.  The swatch picture above is an accurate representation of the shade.  It applies as a matte, neutral beige which is perfect for giving you a polished look and I often wear it all over the lid with a slick of Bourjois Pinceau Eyeliner in Or Neo Classique  and a bright lip.

As these shadows come in small pots with fairly narrow openings, I do find it quite difficult to apply them with my fingers, as I do with many other cream shadows. I use a Mac 239 which I find picks up the product easily and helps to distribute it evenly, without absorbing too much. It lasts for about 6 hours on me before creasing which I feel is quite good considering I have rather oily lids, however if you use it with a primer, you should be able to achieve an even longer wear time

Verdict

Although not terribly exciting, a neutral cream shadow is an essential basic and Bobbi Brown’s Shore ticks all the right boxes in that it applies like a dream and is fairly long lasting. I prefer these original (matte) long wear shadows to the metallic ones, purely because they are more highly pigmented, and I tend to think Bobbi does better in general with matte eyeshadow shades rather than sparkle ones which tend to produce some fallout. If you haven’t yet tried any of the Long Wear Shadows, I urge you to give them a try

5/5

Price- £17

Where to Buy - Bobbi Brown, Debenhams, Selfridges, House of Fraser, Harrods