Benefit Fine One One

Benefit is a brand I really like, and I was really looking forward to the release of this, their new product called "Fine One One". I didn't 'get' the name at first but now I realise it's actually a play on 'nine one one', so it's a rather cool name if you ask me!

 

 

 

 

 

 

For starters, I absolutely love the packaging of this. The rose gold theme is lovely, although it's sort of reflective so it attracts fingerprints like there's no tomorrow! Besides that though, the packaging is amazing, and I feel it makes the product look high-end and expensive (even though it is anyway!).

 

Benefit describe this as "a sheer, brightening cheek and lip colour to give your look instant lift, shape and pop". It contains a cream highlighter and blusher, which turn to a powder look once applied to the cheeks. You can also use this on you lips, but I haven't actually tried it that way.

 

This is really easy to apply - just sweep the 'stick' across your cheeks and then blend, either with your fingers or a brush. The swatch photo above looks rather scary, but I pressed hard just so you could see the colours. Obviously you only need to press very lightly on your cheeks.

 

The thing I love most about this is the fact that it's really versatile - you can make it look as subtle or as dramatic as you want. I imagined this would be really hard to apply but it's really straightforward!

 

This lasts all day on me, so there's no issues with longevity. Overall I really do think this is a really good product, and I think it'd suit most skin tones too.

 

This is £23.50 and available from Boots and the Benefit Website.

 

Weekly Wishlist #21

 



[1] MAC Fix +

[2] Cream Monochrome Belted Skater Dress

[3] Gold and Silver Stud Shark Tooth Spike Necklace

[4] Clean Leather Tote



Inspiration

Through a mixture of huge amounts of uni work, and deciding what I actually want to do with my life after I finish my degree, I have had a few moments in recent weeks where I've been feeling quite low, stressed out and anxious. However, I have found reading through some inspirational quotes and pictures on Pinterest/We Heart It has really helped to lift my mood, so I thought I would put them all into one little post so I can look back on them, and to share them with you guys!

 

(image source)

 

 

(image source)

 

 

(image source)

 

(image source)

 

 

(image source)

 

 

(image source)

 



Rimmel Apocalips | Celestial

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few days, the chances are you will have heard of the new 'Apocalips' by Rimmel. Amazing name aside, these are basically a liquid lipstick (they're being labelled a 'lip lacquer' by Rimmel)  - the pigmentation of a lipstick with the high-shine finish of a gloss.

 

 

 

 

The packaging of these is quite space-age esque, something which I personally really like. I also really like the applicator which comes with this - it's a perfect size and the shape of it makes applying the product really easy.

 

I have the shade 'celestial', which is a sort of muted pinky-red kind of colour which will suit most skin tones. There are 8 shades altogether, and I will definitely be picking up some more shades after trying this one out!

 

This has a really creamy consistency which doesn't pull or drag on the lips, and makes it perfect for people like myself who suffer from dry lips. The high-shine finish doesn't last all that long - I'd say around an hour/hour and a half, but once the shine has faded you are left with a beautiful lip stain which lasts for around 6 hours.

 

I am a big fan of these so far, and will definitely be adding more shades to my makeup bag. The only negative I have found about this is the fact that it smells really odd. I can't quite put my finger on what it smells like, but it's something I'm just not personally a fan of. In saying that, the smell doesn't linger after you've applied this, so don't let it put you off!

 

These are available at Boots and Superdrug and are priced at £5.99 each.

Revlon ColourStay Foundation

I had been loving using Benefit's Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation but lately I had noticed that my skin, which has always been quite dry, was becoming increasingly oily. The Benefit foundation just wasn't staying on my skin for that long anymore, so once I had finished the bottle, I began the hunt for a new foundation which would cater better for oilier skin.

 

I had heard lots of people mentioning this offering from Revlon - it actually comes in two formulas, one for oily/combination skin (which is the one I have) and one for dry skin. Obviously I cannot comment on the dry skin formula as I haven't tried it, so this review is based on the oily/combo formula.

 

 

 

(foundation blended into skin)

 

There are 9 shades in the range, but many of them appeared to be quite light, so if you have dark skin this may be an issue! However, this was just at a quick glance so don't hold me to that one.

 

One of the main gripes I have with this foundation is the lack of a pump! It makes applying the foundation messy, and considering the fact it's £12.49 and cheaper foundations come with a pump, it's rather annoying! However, I'll let them off seeing as I genuinely love this product.

 

This claims to be lightweight, wear for up to 16 hours, and contains an SPF of 6, which is perfect for everyday protection. It does stay put for a really long time - I can't comment on if the 16 hour claims are true as I never really wear foundation for that long, but I don't have to touch this up throughout the day like I had to with the Benefit foundation.

 

The consistency of the foundation itself is quite thick, and it does dry fairly quickly so you need to blend it into your skin rather fast! Despite this, I have never found it difficult to apply. The coverage is medium-heavy, and a little goes a very long way. I've found that if you apply too much it can look a little 'cakey', but once you've got an idea of how much you'll need, this shouldn't be an issue.

 

I absolutely love this. I love the fact it doesn't slide off my face, I love that it stays put all day without the need for touch ups, and I love how it covers all redness and blemishes. The only other grumble I have, apart from the pump issue, is the fact that it does smell fairly odd (kind of chemically) which put me off at first, but I haven't had any breakout issues so far.

 

I would recommend this to anyone who has oily skin. It's one of the only foundations I've tried which doesn't slide off your face at the first sign of oiliness.

 

This is £12.49 and available from Boots and Superdrug.

Weekly Wishlist #20



 

 



 [1] Black with Gold Trim Riding Boots [2] Cross Stitch Scarf [3] Navy Cable Knit Headband [4] Black Fur Trim Hood Twirl Parka  

 

Nails of the Day // Barry M

I love painting my nails. I know not everyone enjoys it as it can sometimes be a massive pain waiting for it to dry etc, but when I have the time, it is one of those tasks I really enjoy.

 

Today I had some time on my hands, and decided I would experiment with some scotch tape - I have tried before but it didn't end well!

 

(apologies for the picture quality - there's literally no natural lighting at the min!)

 

The colours I used were both by Barry M - 272 'Shocking Pink' and 293 'Grey'. The tape I used was Scotch tape as I've found it's less sticky than normal sellotape so it doesn't seem to pull your nail polish off as much!

 

I was going to do a sort of "half and half" effect on every nail, but decided that was too time consuming so just did it on both my ring fingers.

 

I painted my nails with 2 coats of Shocking Pink, and waited for it to completely dry. Then I stuck a small peice of tape on my finger so that the bottom of the nail was covered and the tip was showing. I then painted the Grey over the ring finger nail, and waited until that was completely dry before removing the tape.

 

This was what I ended up with!

 

 

 

I know it's not the neatest manicure ever, but I am quite pleased with how it turned out!

 

I think I will try this again with different colours to see what works together :)



Beauty Bloggers Tag

I wanted to write a post today but was at a loss as to what to write about, so I thought now was as good a time as any to do the beauty bloggers tag! I'm not 100% sure who came up with this, so unortunately I can't link, but I know it's been around for quite a while and I've been wanting to do it for ages but never got round to it! So here goes:

 

#1. Why did you start blogging and how long have you been blogging for?

I started a blog because I had been reading beauty blogs and watching beauty youtube videos for ages, and since I had some spare time from uni work I decided to try and make my own! I have now been blogging for around 9 months, which I know is not long at all compared to some people!

 

#2. Who's blog did you fall in love with first?

This is probably a lot of people's answer, but Louise's blog Sprinkle of Glitter. I absolutely love her blog, you can really see her personality in the way she writes.

 

#3. What was the first blogosphere hyped product you bought? Was it worth the hype?

Probably the Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation actually. I know a lot of people love this but unfortunately I didn't really get along with it as it gave me really bad breakouts!

 

#4. What are your 5 favourite things about being a beauty blogger?

• Having somewhere to write about something I love.
• Chatting to lots of other lovely bloggers on twitter.
• Taking photos of products.
• Learning how to use html!
• Learning lots of new things about products.

(photo from weheartit)

 

#5. What have you learnt from being a beauty blogger?

I think writing my blog has helped me to improve how I write, and also how to do and create more things with my laptop! Before my blog I could write essays and browse the internet but that was about it. I'm quite proud of the fact I've designed my blog myself and I definitely feel that I have learnt a lot about html.

 

#6. Have you changed anything since becoming a beauty blogger?

Yes and no. I have always looked after my skin (I like to think so anyway!) but since starting my blog I cleanse and tone every night without fail. Before I was guilty of using face wipes to remove make up but now, I can't remember the last time I used one!

 

#7. What advice would you give to a beauty blogger starting out?

Don't expect your blog to be an overnight success. Writing a blog is not about how many followers you have, but about writing about what you enjoy. If you're just writing for the sake of it, people will be able to tell. Also, I really recommend getting a twitter account as I have spoken to lots of lovely people through there, and also quite a lot of my blog traffic comes from there!

 

(photo from weheartit)

 

#8. Name your top 5 make up brands.

Benefit, Revlon, Rimmel, Barry M and I also really like MUA because it's so cheap and everything I've tried has been really good quality!

 

#9. Recommend your top 5 beauty products.

Gosh this is a hard one! High Beam by Benefit as it just makes your skin look amazing, Revlon Colourstay foundation as it is literally the best foundation I have ever tried and Rimmel Stay Matte Powder, as it keeps your face shine free for hours.

I also like the Rimmel ScandalEyes eyeliners as they're really good quality, extremely pigmented colours, and finally I love Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer - I'm sure I don't need to explain why!

 



Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash

I am a huge fan of Soap & Glory - I think their products are really good quality, and of course, the packaging is absolutely amazing. I had heard a lot of good things about this, and as I had run out of my beloved Snow Fairy shower gel, I decided that now was a good time to try this.

 

 

 

 

 

"Wake up and smell the citrus! Soap & Glory's energising, revitalising fresh & foamy body wash (and bath bubbles) scented with freshly squeezed lime. Also featuring COOLCAPSULE™X to cool and refresh, radiance-boosting KIWI WATER JUICE and our super creamy M-SUDS™ moisture boosting base with skin conditioners"

 

First off, this smells absolutely gorgeous. It's scented with lime, but it's not at all like a traditional citrus scent. It's quite a sweet smell, so won't be everyone's cup of tea but I absolutely love it.

 

This foams up really nicely in the shower, and it really does feel like it's doing a good job of cleaning your skin. After using this in the shower, my skin feels smooth and not at all dry, as I've found some shower gels can make my skin quite dry.

 

The packaging is also really lovely - Soap & Glory is one of them brands where I love displaying their products in the bathroom as they just look so pretty!

 

I was actually quite surprised when I discovered that the body wash itself was white - I think I just assumed it would be pink from the bottle! It's also got a completely different consistency to a 'traditional' shower gel, as it's actually more like a cream than a gel.

 

I would 100% recommend that you try this, or at least give it a whiff next time you're in Boots. It may have even overtaken Snow Fairy as my favourite shower gel!

 

Available from Boots and priced at £6.50 for 500ml.

 



Weekly Wishlist #19

Hello everyone,

Apologies for the lack of posts last week - I had planned on scheduling some but just never got round to it! Last week was a busy one as it was my boyfriend's 21st birthday last Thursday, and so I spent the weekend with him and his family!

 

Anyway, onto this week's wishlist. I'm actually really trying to save money at the minute as I'm currently saving for a new car (ooh exciting) and so unfortunately this is a purely hypothetical wishlist, boo!

 

 

 [1] Hunter Glossy Welly Boots
[2] Superdry Hooded University Vest
[3] OPI Mariah Carey Liquid Sand Collection
[4] Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Make Up



Rimmel ScandalEyes Waterproof Liner

I have been using the Urban Decay 24/7 liners for around 4 years now, and until now I had found nothing that even came close to matching them in terms of pigmentation and lasting power. I had been seeing a lot of reviews of this popping up, and many people were saying it was comparable to the Urban Decay ones, so I picked one up. In all honesty, I wasn't expecting much, but for £3.99 I decided it was worth a go.

 

 

 

 

 

Rimmel claim that this eyeliner delivers "high intensity colour which lasts". There are seven colours to choose from, ranging from this traditional black colour, to a bright blue. I chose back to start as I use black eyeliner everyday, and as much as I love the Urban Decay liners, at £13 a pop, they are slightly expensive when you get through eyeliner as fast as I do! This, however, is almost exactly the same as the Urban Decay ones.

 

The pencil itself is plastic rather than wood, which makes sharpening easier, and creates less wasted product.

 

In terms of pigmentation, I genuinely have nothing bad to say about this. It's beautifully pigmented with just one swipe, and even though I apply this to my waterline, it does last an amazingly long time (around 5/6 hours), something which I struggled to find with cheaper liners in the past.

 

I absolutely love this product. I will definitely be purchasing this over the Urban Decay ones in the future, as it's almost £10 cheaper and is barely any different in terms of quality.

 

This is available for £3.99 from Boots and Superdrug.

 

Has anyone tried this?



Weekly Wishlist #18

Hello!

Hope everyone is okay :) It's my first day back at uni after Christmas today, and I genuinely do not know where the time has gone - it feels like yesterday I was breaking up for the Christmas break and now its over. Boo! Christmas goes way too fast.

 

Anyway, here's this week's wishlist :)

 



 

[1] Black Butterfly Toe Cap Pumps

[2] Fluoro Weave Boxy Jumper

[3] Floral Print Supersoft Robe

[4] NARS Blush in Angelika

[5] Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

Nivea Express Hydration Primer

I had been wanting to try this for an absolute age but couldn't seem to find it anywhere, so when I saw it a few weeks ago I snapped it up immediately! I had heard so many good things about this, and as someone who suffers from dry skin, a moisturising primer could only be a good thing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nivea claims that this:

"Provides and even and smooth base for effective make-up application and helps your make up stay put.

Absorbs instantly thanks to its light texture.

Uses an effective hydrator for long-lasting moisturisation and soft feeling skin."

 

It is also "enriched with vitamins and natural lotus extract".

 

I really love the glass jar it comes in - it looks so much more expensive than it is! This primer is actually a really strange consistency. It's almost gel-like, which I wasn't expecting at all, I thought it would be just like a moisturiser.

 

The light consistency sinks into the skin really quickly, as long as you don't apply too much! If you apply too much your skin will feel greasy and it will take an absolute age for it to sink in enough for you to apply your foundation.

 

This makes your skin really smooth, without that horrible feeling you can get with the silicone primers. It makes pores appear smaller, and it definitely hydrates the skin! As I said, my skin can get quite dry so with this I no longer have to use a primer AND a moisturiser, just this.

 

I would recommend this 100%. I don't think you can get anything like this on the high-street, meaning it's unique, and it genuinely does work! I have the normal/combination skin formula, but you can get one which is specifically tailored to very dry/sensitive skin. Although I do have dry skin in parts, I felt that the normal/combo formula would suit my skin better.

 

This is £4.99 and available from Superdrug.