Soap & Glory Hand Food Review

The most astonishing hand cream ever? You Decide!

This is the question posed on the packaging of the Soap & Glory Hand Food hand cream, right at the top. Who can not accept that challenge? I’d also seen lots of people doing the September Beauty Blog Challenge post about this last week. I couldn’t post about my favourite because I’d run out, sobs! However, this did mean I tried a new hand cream and found a new favourite!

It contains Shea butter, Macadamia oil and Marshmallow, yes Marshmallow. It smells as sweet as it sounds. The function of the Marshmallow is a mystery to me but I love it nonetheless.

I love that this hand cream soaks in really fast but that doesn’t mean you have to keep reapplying it, oh no twice a day is fine! It isn’t greasy but really is super-hydrating. After just a week of using it as and when I remember (about once over the weekend but more during the week) my hands are softer than ever. I’m prone to dry patches and this has battled them right into history in just 7 days.

So in answer to their question, yes it is the most astonishing hand cream ever. It smells great and works even better, what more do you want from a hand cream. I’ve been the envy of the office this week with this delicious smelling formula and I’ll 110% be repurchasing!

Try it: £5, Boots

NEWS: We’ll be moving over to a self-hosted site this week so that the blog can be bigger and better.. watch this space for more information. I hope you’ll all support us in this move, it shouldn’t cause any disruption to service and those who follow should be automatcally moved over.

The Body Shop – Colour Crush Lipstick Review (in Berry in Love 320)

I promise I’m nearly at the end of the reviews from my TBS haul! I’m building up my lipstick collection at the moment and as soon as I heard The Body Shop had launched a new one I had to give it a go!

I decided to go for a colour I didn’t already have so opted for Berry in Love which is a lovely deep pink shade with a touch of coral. It’s somewhere between a pink and red and it’s utterly perfect for every day wear. The colour comes out really well and I just can’t get a photo that does it justice. It is wonderfully pigmented and adds a touch of glamour to any look.

It also has a light rose scent which is very elegant and makes the task of applying the lipstick that bit more pleasant It’s also highly moisturising and leaves my lips feeling super soft and well cared for.

It lasts quite well for a lipstick that has a soft sheen finish, I usually find that the lipsticks that hydrate best last least, but this one lasts a good few hours and I don’t mind reapplying every so often.

I am definitely going to try some other colours so I’ll let you know if the others live up to this one!

Try it: RRP £10, The Body Shop

#SBBC – The Body Shop – Metallic Eye Definer Pencil in Glowing Amethyst Review

I’m loving coloured eye pencils at the moment and seeing as I bought an eye shadow this colour I decided to go all out and get the eye liner too. Unfortunately it is exactly the same colour as The Body Shop Baked to Last Amethyst eye shadow so it doesn’t show up with that. But, it looks lovely with neutral eyes to add a bit of colour instead.

It is a lovely soft eye pencil but the colour pay-off is minimal. You really have to build it up to get a suitable result. As much as I love TBS I’m finding recently that the colours are very subtle and I prefer my look to stand out if I am going with colours over a nude look.

It has a gorgeous shimmer to, which is beautiful and when built up enough would look fantastic for an evening look. It just takes time, patience and practice to get a good result, all things I don’t have a lot of.

It is however water-resistance and it has battled the rain for me, it is also dermatologist approved so it’s great for those of us who have sensitive eyes and skin.

I  think £8 for this is a bit steep considering it is very pale and they boast a fantastic colour pay-off in the description, which just hasn’t delivered. Maybe some of the other colours would be better, I don’t know but I’m reluctant to try another one. May try the Avon Glimmer Sticks instead.

I hope that you don’t mind that today’s SBBC post is a review, got lots to catch up on and I don’t always have time to do 2 posts a day. Today is one of those very busy days, I’m writing this on my lunch break and I have a volunteer role tonight too 🙂

The Body Shop Brow & Liner Kit Review

There seems to be a shortage of affordable eyebrow kits right now. Every time I saw one online to order it seemed to be out of stock. The MUA one has had brilliant write ups but is consistently not available. That’s when I came across The Body Shop’s one. This item is solely responsible for my recent TBS haul. If I was already ordering it I may as well make the most of it and order enough to get free shipping.

Prominent, bold and thicker eyebrows have been slowly making a comeback over the summer and are set to big for Autumn. Good eyebrows can change a whole look, make statement and frame your face. Eyebrows were never meant to be thin lines barely there.  If like most of us you followed the over plucked look in the last few years chances are your brows don’t have what it takes to meet this seasons trend. That’s where a good eyebrow kit comes in.

I usually use Brow Zings by Benefit but it’s pretty pricey for what it is and I’ve run out so I decided to find an affordable option and I’m thrilled with this little treasure.

Firstly, the packaging is lovely, if a pain in the butt to photograph, it looks glamourous and there is plenty of product included and a handy mirror and double ended brush. It also comes in a range of different shades so there really is one for everyone.

It’s really easy to use, you can use either end of the brush depending on what works best for you, largely this is decided by the size of your eyebrows and what size you want them to be. I think the smaller brush is meant to be used as the eyeliner but I find that brush easier to use when doing my eyebrows. You use the lighter shade in the middle and then the darker to create the arch and fill in the eyebrow.

This product works really well, it’s so versatile that you can create the perfect brow look for you, day or night. It also lasts really well. It’s a really thick powder, it tames the brows in a flash and maintains them throughout the day.

The darker colour can also be used to set eyeliner or even as an eyeliner which is an added bonus.

At just £10 it is a total bargain and The Body Shop often have offers on anyway so you can get it even cheaper.

What brow kit do you use?

The Body Shop Baked-to-Last Eye Shadow in Amethyst Review

This eye shadow by The Body shop in Amethyst has got to be one of the prettiest ones I own. Both purples are gorgeous, I tend to use the lighter one over the lid and the darker at the corner of my eye.

This eye shadow can be used wet or dry. Dry it doesn’t have the best colour pay off in the world, it’s quite subtle but then that’s nice for an every day look. I haven’t tried it wet yet as quite frankly it makes me a little nervous but I will give it a go soon, when I have no where to go in a hurry.

I used it over Benefit’s Stay Don’t Stray eye primer and that did improve the colour slightly but it honestly didn’t last 8 hours. Even my MUA palettes last 8 hours with a primer under so this was a bit disappointing. Again, though I think it’d last longer used wet. This isn’t the best photo, it doesn’t do the colours justice but you get the idea.

I found it quite difficult to build up the colour into a shade I was happy with but once I got there I was happy with it. They 2 shades blended into each other effortlessly which was fab.  I have heard that this shade is the weakest of them all so I think I may need to try a different shade. I’m definitely going to incorporate this into a smokey eye look as I think that’d look gorgeous, I’ll let you know how that goes!

Try it: £10, The Body Shop

His & Hers – Lynx Dark Temptation and Attract for Her Reviews

I love that Lynx now do a female version of Lynx, I’ve always loved the men’s smells and this one is my husband’s favourite. I really hope Lynx bring out more female scents soon although this one is lovely.

For him

Lynx Dark Temptation is meant to smell of chocolate and it does to a certain extent but it isn’t too sweet either. It’s still manly! It’s probably why I love it so much though. My husband always smells scrummy and this keeps him smelling sweet throughout the day at his job in a kitchen and he still smells tasty after a run too.

For her

I love Lynx Attract for her. It says its limited edition but its been around a while so I hope they don’t take it away too soon! It too has a sweet but fresh scent, it smells almost powdery. It’s performance is also outstanding. The only thing I find is that it really stings the under arms right after shaving.

I’ve got a few of my husbands after shaves to review soon too, cue lots of sniffing!

Check out the new page on this website too, it’s all about The Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Challenge and don’t forget to enter the giveaway too!

The Body Shop – Vanilla Body Mist Review

I prefer light-scented body mists over body sprays. They’re lighter on the skin and let’s face it deodorant is painful enough without the addition of a body spray after. This is the first TBS mist I’ve tried and I love it.

Vanilla is my favourite flavour and favourite scent, so naturally it was the one I opted to try. It smells really sweet and you can certainly smell the fact that it contains vanilla extract. I know I am going to love this scent over the festive season, it reminds me of home baking and cosy evenings by the fire.

It also lasts well, I could still smell the sweet aroma of vanilla on my clothes and skin hours after I sprayed it. A little bit of this really does go a long way so you don’t need to spray too much and it’ll last forever, nearly.

I love it so much that I’m considering doubling it up as home scent too and spraying a tad on my cushions. It’s a brilliant everyday mist that smells homely and delicious. I love having the choice not to use a full perfume every day.

Try it: £7.50, The Body Shop

Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara Review

I received this sample of Bad Gal Lash Mascara when I purchased Rockateur weeks back. I’m so in love with They’re Real that it’s taken me this long to try it out.

Naturally, I am going to have to compare it to They’re Real, it’d be weird if I didn’t. (Pssst, links to reviews of Rockateur and They’re real are at the bottom of this post).

I don’t feel that this mascara is in the same height of heroism as They’re Real but then again it has been out much longer and Benefit have certainly progressed since then. That said, it is still a fantastic Mascara. It lasted well all day and had a more subtle and natural result than They’re Real.

It was quick to use and speedy to dry, brilliant for those mornings when you just can’t get out of bed and end up rushing around like headless chicken, yeah that’s me most mornings if I’m honest. It has a lovely big brush that coats every single lash in one small swoop.

It didn’t clump or smudge either, so by time I get to the school gates after my hectic morning, I look like the primed and organised mum I’m supposed to me, thank goodness for Benefit!

I’d still go for They’re Real above all else as I do like my lashes to REALLY stand out but this is a product that we be part of my handbag hero group while I have the sample size.

Try it: £17.50 http://www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk/

Rockateur – https://nakedbeautyblog.wordpress.com/2013/07/28/benefit-rockateur-cheek-powder-blush-review-and-launch/

They’re Real – https://nakedbeautyblog.wordpress.com/2013/07/03/reach-for-the-stars-benefit-theyre-real-mascara-review/

No7 Stay Perfect Metallic Eye Pencil Review

I’m a great lover of No7 products so naturally when I needed a new eye pencil I went straight to them. They’re a little more expensive than other highstreet brands but no where near as pricey as makeup counter brands yet their performance is outstanding.

I liked the look of this one as soon as I saw it, I got in ‘Blackest’ as I needed an everyday wear pencil and I tend to stick to black. It has a lovely glitter to it which is quite subtle when it is on but still adds a bit of glamour. It also has a very handy smudging brush at the end which is perfect for smokey eyes.

I am so impressed with this eye pencil. I used it yesterday and I got a bit tearful at church and was terrified it’d run down my face but true to it’s name it stayed perfect. I then watched a soppy film (Now is Good, if you haven’t seen it, do!) and I sobbed, literally sobbed but guess what? Stayed perfect!

It was also really easy to use and came out really well, it didn’t smudge unless I wanted it to and then it did that well too. It was really precise to use too which is great for me seeing as I’m so clumsy. It was also really soft, don’t you just hate those ones that scratch at your eyes?!

Here’s the results!

It was also a really reasonable price at just £6.50. Think I may have to get it in a couple of different colours! I am also going to award this one with the Naked Beauty Seal of Approval, well done No7, another stonking product!

It’s in the Bag – Show-stopper Edition

Hannah is a busy lady indeed. She’s used to going from every day wear to show-stooping performances and therefore needs a loyal kit that won’t let her down on the stage.

At first glance Hannah has a plethora of good quality products, from Estee Lauder to MAC and Benefit and I was excited to see how she gets a look that won’t melt under the bright stage lights. Today we showcase the top 3 as selected by Hannah.

Estee Lauder Deluxe All-Over face compact

This product is a total life-saver for Hannah. As she does go from a hectic schedule to a performance in very little time it’s so important that she has a good compact in her life, and this is it.

It is long-lasting and resists the heat of the stage without any problems. I love the shades in this compact, they will give a rosy but bronzed look for a natural healthy glow, perfect for energetic and passionate performances.

It’s a great size to fit into a handbag with a thousand other things Hannah will need throughout the day. These can easily be used as eye shadows as well as the blusher and bronzer’s they are meant for.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation

Hannah gushed about this foundation, she loves it. It’s so light the she doesn’t even feel like she’s wearing foundation, fortunately this doesn’t stop it giving a full coverage. It lasts all day and has saved Hannah during pre-show photo-shoots on a number of occasions. It covers all break-outs and gives a flawless finish.

It comes in an amazing 39 shades so there really is one for every skin tone. I’m personally dying to try this product and have been a while, hearing Hannah’s thoughts has made me even more eager to splash out on it.

The coverage is buildable so you can use as much or as little as required and it provides a matte finish. Perfect for those of us with oily skin.

MAC Studio Fix Boldblack Lash Mascara

This is an everyday go-to item for Hannah. It doesn’t clump and it’s waterproof. Perfect for beautiful natural-looking lashes that will survive when the going gets tough mid performance. Hannah says she can go from subtle natural lashes during rehearsals to bold and striking lashes for a night out in just a few extra coats.

This is always in Hannah’s bag, simply because it takes her look from day to night in seconds. Hooray for our Handbag Hero!

Hannah looks amazing all the time anyway but it’s always fun to see how other people achieve their makeup look and I’m excited to try al of these products at some point. Thank you Hannah for letting us take a peak today!

I do need a volunteer for next weeks edition, if you’d like to volunteer either comment on this post, email me on tams.watt@hotmail.com or contact me on Facebook!

If you’re a blogger or have a website I will link back to that in the post too.