Latest Product//Review - Sinful Colors Nail Polish

Okay so pay day is only a few days away, so naturally I am skint. However, on Bank Holiday Monday, I braced Sheffield city centre ready to find some bargains.

Those who know me will know this is no mean feet. I am notoriously impulsive when shopping - how I ended up an accountant I will never know. Despite this though, I did well, picking up a good set of bargains - Thank the Lord for TK Maxx!
Among my purchases were three nail polishes from a new collection, Sinful Colors released in Boots.

My favourite of the three being Shade 003 - Easy Going. A pretty Ballerina pink.
I had seen a few other bloggers review these & was really excited to try them out :)

Okay, so first impressions. I really liked the brush, it is small enough to be precise and large enough to cover a descent area in one stroke. As I am not the neatest nail-painter, I find a good brush really helps.

I also found it gave really neat, straight lines and did not smudge the     

polish into my cuticle at all - Big thumbs up!

One Coat - Streaky & Semi Opaque 

Two Coats - Opaque and Shiny

I have really mixed feelings about this products so, to avoid any more rambling, I am going to do a 'Pros & Cons':

PROS 

1) The price. At £1.99 it is seriously cheap & you do get a lot of polish and a good brush for your £££.

2) The finish. The final result is pretty and professional, you are left with an opaque, streak free, super shiny polish.

CONS

1) The drying time! Oh god, this took so long to dry. Like a whole episode of Scott & Bailey long time ( an hour!).

2) Definitely one that needs a topcoat . However I always use a top coat so I didn't mind this, but this would probably be a 'night out' fix if you choose not to apply one.

Overall

Overall, I did really enjoy wearing this and I do think that it good value for money and the colour and texture selection in the range is just super amazing. However the drying time did really put me off.

I will be using this again & trying out the other colours but maybe after investing in a good rapid dry top coat - but maybe that defeats the object of them being cheap if you have to buy a good top coat too?

Available in Boots - £1.99

Have you tried Sinful Colors? 

How did you find them? 

Let me know & thanks for reading dolls! 

Love Em xx

Review// Illamasqua - Hydra Veil

Ahh I am so excited to be reviewing this little beauty! I have been using it for about 2 weeks so as I can give a well balanced review as I was rather unsure as to what to expect from this skin 'Veil'

I'll start by explaining what exactly it is.

Well, it is a Primer/Skin perfecter/Moisturiser all rolled into one lovely little product.

It does not claim to have any long term skin benefits, it is to be used before foundation and after or instead of ,depending on your skin type, moisturiser.

The great thing about the Hydra Veil is that it is actually suitable for both dry and oily skin as it is designed to hydrate any dry patches and balance out any oiliness that your skin may have. Magic? Yes, I think it must be cause it truly does work.

Another unique thing about the Hydra Veil is the packaging. 

Not only is the outside expensive looking ( more pricey looking than the £27.00 price tag) and chic - the inside is super amazing.

There is an air-tight lid under the outer screw lid with a super cute little spoon attached to the top.

You may be wondering why on earth you would need a spoon?!.. Well. is it because this product's texture is sooo amazing/awesome/weird that you really would struggle to get the tiny amount needed out, with your hands.

Essentially.. it is a jelly.

A clear , pleasant smelling jelly.  the great thing about it too is that is stays looking new...

 Make it messy...

Within seconds it is back to normal :)

Okay, so about what is actually did to my skin.

I apply this after my normal morning skin care routine and actually instead of a morning moisturiser (as I only ever moisturised my dry patched on my cheek bones anyways).

I use the spoon to apply a small amount which I gently work between my fingers and smooth over my face.

The result.

My foundation glides onto my skin to effortlessly and looks so airbrushed and smooth - it really is amazing.

My foundation and concealer also do not budge! From half 7 in the morning to 6 PM at night when I finish work, I have to powder once to set my base and that it is :)

Amazing.

I really would recommend this lovely product to everyone, it's so good and quickly became a staple in my make up routine :)

Have you tried this? What are your favourite Illamasqua products ?

Love Em xx

BARRY M LIP PAINT // REVIEW

Today I took my self on a much love jaunt to the Boots near to my place of work and found a couple of '£2.00 off any Lipstick or Mascara in store' vouchers Today is a good day!

I browsed round for a while and purchased 2 Barry M Lip Paints, as I have not bought one in what seems the longest time!

The 2 shades I purchased are Peachy Pink and TMLP (Turn my Lips Pink).

Turn my Lips Pink 

Well... I feel the obvious place to start with this Lip Product is .. well the fact that it is Green. 

Don't worry Blogger Dolls, I have not lost my mind, this products uses the natural balance of Alkali in your Lips to produce a Pink shade that is tailored especially to you.

 Yeeep.. That's right, the minging Green bullet transferred onto the lips into (on my lips) a really lovely Fuchsia  colour :) Although I actually really do love this products, I gave it to my Mother-Darling as it went suuuuch a beautiful bright berry colour on her..

The Formula of this is a lot more Balmy than 'normal' Barry M Lip Paint and glides on nicely :)

Definitely one for the Make-up experimenters like myself!

£4.49 - Boots ( I got mine for £2.49 with the Voucher)

Peachy Pink - 147

So back to normal Make-Up Land :) 

This colour , unlike the other, does exactly what it looks like it will in the tube. It is unsurprisingly a Peach toned Pink, which i personally am loving for Spring/Summer.

It makes such a nice change to wear a more neutral lip, without it being insipid or tarty.

I did find this Lip Paint a little drying as it is a Matte effect, although after applying a little Lip Balm it was all good. I actually can look past the drying nature of this given that -

a) It is less than £5.00

b) The colour payoff is super excellent

c) It stains the lips for a really long while 

Have you tried the Turn my Lips Pink- if so what did you think?

What do you about Barry M & what other products have you tried as I haven't tried a lot :)

Love Em xx

APRIL FAVOURITES // BEAUTY

So, this is my first monthly favourites!

These are one of my favourite things to read on other Blogs so I was super excited to start compiling my own :)

There is a mixture of Make-up, Hair and Skin products so I hope you like it guys :)!

1. Moroccan Oil - Moisture Repair Shampoo

I was really excited to try this Shampoo (&conditioner) as I absolutely love the Moroccan Oil Treatment . I had high hopes for this as when the Hair Dressers used this on my my hair was transformed.

Trusty old Moroccan Oil did not let me down, this really is an amazing product.

You only need a tiny bit of this Shampoo (even on my thick hair) to work it up into a beautiful rich lather - so it lasts for a really long time. I re-purchased mine when I when to get my 2 monthly trim, so it lasted a good 8 weeks.

At £15.85 for 250ml and £20.00 for 500ml, (the pricing seems a little off) this is definitely one for those with dry or curly hair to try :)

2. Sanctuary Spa - Salt Scrub

Oh BOY! This Salt Scrub is just too blooming amazing ! Me and my mum have used this for years on and off, and when ever we have an 'off' phase when we come back to this we question why we ever left it.

Firstly, this product is seriously good value for money. In a tub you get 650Grams, which will last a good few months and the price is £11.50 (although you'll struggle to find a Boots where Sanctuary Spa isn't on a 3-4-2).

Secondly, what I love about this product, is how luxurious it feels. It is a really abrasive exfoliator made up from Rock Salt Crystals , so if you prefer a light exfoliator, this may not be the one for you.  The Salt Crystals are then submerged in the most lovely smelling, rich and just generally yummy oil you have ever tried. It leaves the skin so soft and pampered, just like a Spa experience :)

3. Benefit - Hoola Bronzer

I'm always on the look out for new bronzing and contouring products & I really like this as soon as I saw it as it is a Matte Bronzer. This make it great for contouring and creating a natural look as the colour is not orange at all (think Matt NARS Laguna Bronzer), the cute little brush that comes with it is also great from getting into the hollows of your cheeks. I've found I have been reaching for this almost everyday this month which is why it is in here :)

The packaging of all the Benefit Powders is so great! Its made of paper, which I think prevents the product from smashing or the box from snapping & now there is also a handy Mirror inside which is great for on the go touch ups :)

4. Guerlain - Sun in the City 

Thank God for Gerualin! I really do LOVE LOVE LOVE it.. 

It is one of those Brands which I think never gets enough hype and can run rings around the likes of Lancome and Clinique.

I picked up this Bronzer last Summer and have used it almost daily, definitley weekly, since. And the crazy thing it is barely looks like I've used it. It was raaaather pricey at around £50.00, but the fact that it is no where near pan proves its worth the money.

 You get 14Grams of this as opposed to 8Grams of Hoola Bronzer.

I use this as an Eyeshadow, Highlighter (cheeks, cupids bow, eye corners and eye brows). I'm not too such if this is still available is shops but on Amazon I'm sure it will be.

This is such a great investment buy and is such a timeless products which you will never get sick of picking up :)

5. Real Techniques - Buffing Brush

We all know the hyper around these brushes, I'm sure. But if you have no herd about them I will try and do so quickly.

Basically these Brushes are the product of Samantha Chapman who is one half of the Youtube Pixiwoo Team. So really they are make up brushes made by a Make-up Artist :)

They are synthetic brushes which makes them super easy to clean , and much cheaper than real hair brushes.

I've honestly never had one fall out hair from this brush (even when washing them) and this brush just makes apply Foundation sooo quick and easy. It creates an even flawless finish and allows you to built up the coverage by stipelling too.

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:) Annnnd that is it folks!

Hope you enjoyed my first ever Monthly Favourites cause I really enjoyed the processes of picking these products out.

If you have done a Monthly favourite, please leave a link to it as I really love reading what others have been enjoying.

Love Em xx

maybelline - latest products//review

Okay, so yesterday was a bad day for my Bank Account. I decided it would be a good idea to peruse the shelves at Boots, but unfortunately for my Bank, looking turning into touching, and touching turned into wildly grabbing things near me and throwing them into my Basket :)  

When I got home however, and actually stopped to examine what I had brought in my frenzied state, I was really happy :)

I always find with Beauty Splurges that I never regret the money i send as i enjoy so much trying out the new things I buy :)

Anyhoo, Among some of these things were 2 Maybelline products, which were on a great deal of Buy one get on half-price! I had heard great things about both products so was excited to give them a whirl..

ddd

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation - Shade 210, Sandy Beige

I had been curious to pick this up at it is marketed as having a translucent base and super light weight pigments which allow the skin's natural colour pigments to show through, making it adaptable to any skin tone. 

It is also water-based, which is great for someone like me who has an oily skin type. My sister-in-law also brought this though and her skin type in more of a dry one.

My sister-in-law used this last night, and her skin look amazing. It looked dewy and natural whilst providing a good medium coverage.

I used mine this morning, and i LOVE it :) I was sceptical as me and my sister-in-law have such different skin. But I found it applied in a really nice way, it doesn't sit on the skin and it actually does what it say on the bottle- fits to your skin tone. 

Another great thing about this product is that you pick your colour based on the undertone of your skin- pink or yellow. Being the corn fed girl I am , I ran screaming towards the yellow tones as I haaate pink foundations.

Another that I love about this Foundation , is the bottle. I think that it looks so chic and expensive. With it's glass bottle and black hardware, I actually think it looks really similar to the packaging of a Chanel foundation.

Another thing that I was so excited to see when I opened the bottle was a pump!! As I said when reviewing the Revlon Nearly Naked, I hate it when you just have to pour the product out the bottle, and for this, I think it could maybe push itself to the top of my Drug Store/High Street Foundation tables. It is £7.99.

Maybelline Expression Colour Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadow - Shade On & On Bronze

I only picked up this little Eyeshadow pot as it was buy 1 get 1 half price, so I thought I had better find something to take advantage of the deal.

When I swatched this in the shop tester, the texture reminded me of the MAC paint pots, as it felt thin and creamy, but was highly pigmented.

The colour of this in the pot is a metallic bronze, however when it is actually on the eye i found it applied a little more grey-ish.

I was interested to see how long lasting this product actually is and whether it creases as most cream Eyeshadows do. After a few hours there was a slight crease but not very much, and the colour was as sparkly and bright as it had been when first applied. The staying power of this stuff really is amazing, the swatch from the Boots tester lasted HOURS with out any fading at all! Although the staying power is great it was a little stubborn when trying to get it off, I needed to have a second go to get all of it.

Overall I would definitely recommend this to make up rookies as an easy way to get into wearing shadows, or anyone who is looking for a great shadow to wear as a wash of colour or as a base :) & at £2.50* what more could you want?

*£4.99 full price.  

Have you tried any of these products? & what are your favourite Maybelline buys?

Love Em xx

Lip Products// Latest Products & Review

Working near a Boots is never good for a Beauty Freak like myself. The call of make up and cosmetics is far to strong for me to resist, some lunchtimes, going to have a little mooch round.

Toady was one of the weak willed days and I ended up picking up three gorgeous lip products whilst I was there.

L'Oreal Paris Glam Shine Splash - Shade 'Princess'

There has been a lot of hype on Beauty Blogs about these Lip glosses, so I was eager to try them out and see for myself what they are like. 

Firstly, I absolutely love the packaging, I think it looks so expensive and chic. The aplicator on these products is also really nice as it is a heart shaped wand, meaning you can cover your lip in one swish, whilst also being able to go back with the pointed end for a more precise application in the corners. I was a little disappointed by the colour selection, there was maybe 2 others besides this one that I liked.

When I first swatched this on my hand it look quire sheer, however after 2 coats, as you can see by the picture above, it builds up to a beautiful bright Coral Orange colour. 

This colour is soo up my street, it is bright. but it is also really wearable for the day time which I think is great.

The greatest thing about this product, however, is the staying power! Once applied, this Lip Gloss is going no where fast. To put it into perspective, I swatched this on my hand at 1PM and now, at 8:30 PM it is still there! The glossy finish has long gone, but there is still a definite stain. Unlike other stains of this strength though, it is not in the least bit drying.

To me this product is amazing, amazing, amaaazing value for money, from its sleek packaging, to the colour, to the phenomenal staying power, this product ticks all the boxes.It is priced at £7.99 at Boots.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Lipstick - Shade 11 Fraise Remix

Bourjois is quickly become of one my go-to Drug Store/High Street beauty brand. Recently it is just churning out great product, after great product.

One of the reasons I noticed this particular Lip Stick was because of the unique packaging. The base of the Lip Stick is a swatch of the colour inside, make it great for finding the colour you want when you're in a rush to get ready. The slick, black, bullet container is also very  expensive looking. 

In the Rough Edition collection there are 17 different shades, ranging from a true Red shade to neutral Browns, meaning you are guaranteed to find a colour that will suit you.

 

The consistency of this Lip Stick is very creamy and smooth, it glides on so easily- it almost melts onto the lips, it really is lovely to apply. For just a smooth, moisture rich product I though the bright Fuchsia colour might apply rather sheer. How wrong I was! This Lip Stick is so pigment and the colour so true to the swatch on the base. The gorgeous bright pink came out just how I had hoped.

The finish to the Rouge Edition Lipsticks is subtly shiny, and nice middle ground between matte and glossy, which I love! The colour stayed put for a really long while, and it faded nicely into a 'my lips but better' tint after a few hours, unlike some Lipsticks which patch off horribly.

Like the L'Oreal Glam Shine Splash , this product was £7.99, which I think is super great value for money. Because of the wide range of lovely colours i suggest everyone takes a look at these as your sure to find something amazing!

Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick - Shade Fuchsia-Ristic

For a long time I have loved the Soap & Glory body care range. Which is why I was so confused when i realised this is my first purchase from their Cosmetics line.

Like the body care range, all the Cosmetics are beautifully packaged. I chose this 'Gloss Stick' for 2 reasons - 1) I really fell for the the colour and..

2) THE SMELL.. I repeat.. THE SMELL

Good grief, this thing smells so darn nice! It is a Vanilla scent which is just so yummy. Another thing i liked about this is the fact that it is a Twist-up stick, not one you have to sharpen, I don't know about anyone else but I struggle like an up-turned Tortoise trying to sharpen these things such as this.

 

The colour pay-off, I have to admit, I was a little disappointed with, although after a few coats you do get a nice, sheer yet bright pink colour. Although the colour may not be very strong on these, the staying power is great! Especially for a gloss/balm product. A good 3 hours after first apply it, it was still very much there and still smelly amazing.

If you are into natural sheer finishes, this is definitely the one for you. Also, because of the handy pen applicator, it is great for an on-the-go splash of colour, as they are so quick the apply- even with out a mirror.

I paid £8.00 for this Gloss Stick which I think is really awesome value as I think, because of how long each application stays on, it will last a long long time. 

Okay folks :) that's it for my latest Lip Products.

Hope you enjoyed this post and found it useful, please comment below as I really love getting feed back on my posts :)

Have you tried any of these products and what are your favourite lip products at the moment?

Love Em xx

REVLON - Latest products//Review

A few weeks ago I went shopping. Along with some other bits and pieces, I picked up these Revlon products. In the past few months Revlon has really upped it's game and has brought out beautiful product after beautiful product.

First up was the Revlon Colour Stay 16 Hour Eye Shadow quads.
I was drawn to the Bronzey hues in both pallets but though that 'Decadent' would be a good day pallet and 'Brazen' more suitable for a night time, more glamorous look due to the darker colours.
The colours in these quads are seriously well pigmented (especially the darker colours), long lasting and easily blend-able. They also come with a handy picture on the back demonstrating where to use the colours ( Darkest in the crease, Lightest to highlight ETC).

One thing I did note about these eye shadows, is the fact that they do tend to fall-down a fair amount when you apply them. Normally I wouldn't note this, but because they are so pigmented and long lasting, I found it so hard to clean up with out ruining my foundation, especially the darker colours.

At £7.99 each, I think these pallets are excellent value for money and would recommend them. They are available in so many different shades and are often on 3-4-2 offer in Boots, which is where I purchased mine.


Second up is a product that has become a staple in my Make- up Collection. It is the Revlon Nearly Naked foundation in shade 103-Shell.

This foundation is a light but build-able coverage and is so perfect for the transition from Winter to Spring skin. As I,personally, prefer a lighter coverage in Spring//Summer. I apply this foundation with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush which created a sheer yet polished look. However applying it with fingers is really easy too as this foundation almost instantly sinks in to your skin, leaving a natural, radiant finish.. What's not to love?

There is one thing I really do not like about this product.. or  any product..EVER. It is the fact that this bottle comes with no pump, meaning you have to pour it out onto your hand/brush. This might be okay for some people, but personally I find it wastes a lot of product and also it just makes the bottle really messy when opening it up.

Despite this though, I absolutely love this foundation and at £7.99 it is definitely the quality of something much pricier.

Finally, is just something which instantly appealed to me as it is Pink and Sparkly! It is the Revlon Nail Enamel in the colour 261-Sparkling. I just think it is the prettiest thing ever! It looks beautiful on its own if you apply a couple of layers to build up the glitter, or even as a ombre fade with another colour.

Revlon claim these Nail Enamels last for 10 days when used with a top coat and base. I don't know about 10 days, but they definitely last a good few days chip-free.  

I don't own loads of nail varnishes, but I would say the bulk of what I own are Revlon. There is a great selection of colours, finishes and even scents which are all of a high quality and I would recommend then to anyone wanting to add a sprinkle of sparkle or a pop of colour into their look.

Hope you enjoyed this review, and I hope it's not too long. Let me know if you would prefer shorter reviews :)

Emma x