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

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?

#SBBC – What I Take When I Travel

Day 3 of the September blog-a-day challenge started with the exciting news that I now have 300 wonderful followers. I think I’ll do another giveaway at 500 followers. I’ve been blogging 10 and 1/2 weeks and I still can’t get pver the fact that people actually read what I write!

Anyway, into today’s post. I take so many things when I travel so I decided to just show 7 of them. I tend to over-pack and take everything including the kitchen sink, you just never know when you’re going to need that bright pink eye liner you bought when you were 13.

• The Body Shop All-in-One BB Cream is multi-purpose, I use it in place of my moisturiser and foundation in the morning saving my precious space in my bag and time for enjoying my time away.
• I always have a concealer with me, I’m currently using an MUA one and it’d be one I took travelling as it’s cheap and easily replaceable.
• Nail polish, I always take the nail polish I’m wearing seeing as I’m prone to chipping and I’m guaranteed to need to touch them up.
• They’re Real – this mascara literally goes everywhere with me, I may be busy travelling but that doesn’t mean I can let my lashes go!
• L’Occitane Hydration Cream – I always take a sample size moisturiser with me for night time skin-care. I take a full skin regime but this is the most important part for me as I get really dry skin.
• DKNY Be Delicious Perfume – This is my all-time favourite perfume and it holds a lot of memories from weekends away so I always refill and take along my sample size one whenever I travel.
• Lip Balm – The Figs and Rouge Lip Balm is a current favourite as it works really well but can also double up as a cheek tint,

There are literally so many more products I take but we’d be here all day! Hope you’re all having a good Tuesday!

August 2013 Heroes

How the heck did September get here?! This year has gone so fast it’s unreal and I’ve officially been married 6 months today 😀

I’ve tried so many products this month that it was really hard to decide which were actually my favourites but I’ve whittled it down to theses ones. August has been a fantastic month beauty wise and I could go on all day if I was to mention all my heroes  of this month.

Benefit Rockateur Blush

This has been my perfect blusher for the summer, it is rose gold so is the perfect blend between a bronze and flushed result for my fair skin. It has a beautiful shimmer to it and parties all day and night without slipping. This blusher is seriously hardcore and I’ve worn it nearly every day in August. You can see my full review here.

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Noir Perfume

This one only made it into August for the last week but it has landed itself straight into my favourites, originally I promised my self it was for special occasions due to the price, well going to work, the park and church is special right?! Full review here.

Anatomicals Spray Misty for Me

This face spritz has been a total heroine for me in the humid UK heat. It’s set my makeup into lasting all day, it’s cooled me down in our melting office and it’s done it all with some humour and an amazing smell. Full review here.

L’Occitane Hydration Creme 

I reviewed this a while back but rediscovered it about a week into August and fell in love with it even more than the first time. It leaves my skin with a gorgeous dewy glow fit for the summer. I also noticed a huge improvement to the quality of my skin. I couldn’t afford to invest int he full size this month as much as I wanted to, so my wonderful husband managed to get his hands on another sample for me, that’ll keep me going another few weeks!  Full review here.

MUA Undress Your Skin Flawless Primer

This primer has been used every single day since I bought it, it’s soft and velvety and provides an amazing base for a day’s makeup. It feels amazing and performs wonderfully. Full review here.

MUA Lipsticks

These are my favourite budget find of the month. At £1 each I still fully intend to get the whole collection. They last well and don’t dry out my lips. The colours are also lovely. Reviews here, Red, Nude.

I’m looking forward to seeing which products rock my world this month and I’ll be sure to let you know at the start of October!

 

It’s in the Bag – Melissa

I love Mondays for one reason only, and that’s that I get to share someone’s makeup kit with you all. I asked Mel to do this week’s one as I admire her unique style and confidence. She has a very punk look and is the lead singer of local (to me) metal band Hollow Heaven, check them out on Facebook.

Mel’s makeup look is striking, she definitely stands out in the crowd, and in an incredibly good way.  Mel is clearly a Rimmel fan and it is doing well for her. I also love her awesome Soap & Glory makeup bag. Without any more waffle let’s look at her top 3 products.

Barry M Nail Paint in NP47

Melissa loves to finish her look with a black nail polish to tie in with her punky outfits and makeup. This Barry M is her favourite because it gives a perfect finish. It also dries really quickly and doesn’t require too many coats, perfect for a busy teen looking for fantastic gothic nails.

I say: Add some nail glitter for a glamorous evening look.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation

Melissa has found that this foundation suits her dry skin perfectly. It is a slightly moisturising foundation and gives a good even, full coverage when used with a makeup sponge. It also lasts through hot and energetic stage performances which is vital for Melissa. It comes in a wide range of shades, Melissa uses Ivory and it matches her skin a dream.

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Eyeliner

Melissa tells me this felt tip eye liner is amazing for when she goes with a rockabilly flick line. It has a neat finish and is super easy to use. It dries really quickly and doesn’t smudge, it also stays put throughout the day/evening so doesn’t need to be continually touched up.

Thank you Melissa for letting us all see how you get your unique look, and I also love your pink hair right now too.

If you’d like to showcase your kit and top 3 products drop me a comment or an email on tams.watt@hotmail.com, I can link back to your blog or website too. 

Related articles

• It’s in the Bag – Professional Special (nakedbeautyblog.wordpress.com)
• It’s in the Bag! (nakedbeautyblog.wordpress.com)

TRESemme Platinum Strength 60 Second Treatment Shot Review

Hey all!

Sorry for my absence over this weekend, I had an amazing time at V festival and I’m back fresh and ready to blog again now. Don’t miss tonight It’s in the bag episode and we have plenty of new reviews coming up this week too. Also importantly I hit 200 wordpress followers while I was away, 207 to be precise so hello to all my new wordpress followers and those who have followed through bloglovin’ and She Said Beauty too, thank you for your continued support.

I decided to use this 60 second TRESemme treatment shot before going away as my hair was looking and feeling a little bit fragile. I loved that it was so quick to use and smelt really nice too. It also has an awful lot in the shot, plenty to do long hair, I think with my length hair I probably could have got two uses out of it, if I’d thought about it at the time!

You simply shampoo your hair and then massage this into the ends of your hair, avoiding the roots. Sit back and relax for 60 seconds then rinse well.

The results were really good, my hair looked shiny and perked up quite a bit. It was also incredibly soft and straightened really easily and stayed straight all day, which is amazing considering I was at a windy Hylands park all day.  At just £1.50 a time I definitely think I will continue to use this each week, repeated use can only have even better results.

Soft, shiny and wonderfully straight hair

Maybelline Baby Lips – Cherry Me Review

Reviewed by Tams

I personally don’t understand how a lip balm could get so much hype, after all it is just a lip balm, there are thousands of those available. However, I decided to give it a go to see if there really was anything special about it.

Unfortunately, I was right, it is just a lip balm. It does smell amazing, actually I want to eat it. This one – Cherry Me – smells like cherry pie, one of my favourite desserts! That alone is a good reason to buy it. I only bought the one as I wasn’t sure they were for me.

They are a little more pigmented than some others but if you’re buying it as an alternative to a lipstick you’d be very disappointed. It is probably ideal for those of us that are less inclined to where bold lipsticks. Put it this way, if I had a daughter who was around 10 this is about the level of makeup I’d let her have.

It does feel really nice on, I just don’t think it needs to be pigmented at all, it’s not enough to wear alone but too much to wear with anything else for me. As for the 8 hour hydration it’s gone within 2. I’m sure it continues to hydrate after that but 8 hours is probably pushing it a bit.

I’d recommend this product for the younger generation but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me. Sorry!

Try it: £2.99 available from Boots and Superdrug

VO5 – Give Me Texture Shampoo & Conditioner Review

Reviewed by Tams

The last few weeks I’ve been bored with my hair being dead straight, I don’t know if it’s something to do with the sun being out but I’ve been hankering after textured hair that’s full of life. You’ll have noticed that I’ve tried a few different products recently that all aim to add texture to your hair. It started with this one but I like to give shampoo a good try before I cast my verdict.

The VOZ Give me texture shampoo and conditioner were really reasonably priced and I’ve used others of their before. I always like to start a new look from the base up, any products I use later on in my routine will always have a better result if I start with e relevant product. This is why I choose a shampoo and conditioner that add texture to your hair in place of my normal sleek and shine types.

First up, it smells amazing, as all VO5 products do. It has a really fresh and clean scent which I love. It contains a unique blend of collagen and minerals which gently cleanse product from your hair and create a style full of volume and life. The conditioner is also much lighter than most, it doesn’t weigh your hair down.

I found that because I have frizzy hair naturally that if I want to straighten it after this shampoo it’s hard to do so but if I want a bed-head or beach look it’s absolutely perfect. It really works with styling sprays to create a gorgeous textured style. I also don’t need to wash my hair everyday with this shampoo, every other day is plenty to keep it looking clean and healthy!

My husband is also loving this shampoo right now, it’s giving his hair a bit of oomph which he’s delighted with!

 

Collab with Blushing Beauty – Drug Store vs Department Store

The lovely Olivia at Blushing Beauty approached me a couple of weeks back about doing a collaborative piece together. We decided to put drug store against department store to create an evening look.

I opted for department store and if I’m honest most of my items are Benefit or MAC so there isn’t a huge range but still they are department store. My evening look is usually just a bit heavier but similar to my day look. Seeing as I do have to go out today I decided not to try anything to out there and stick with the smokey eyes and elegant lips.

Here is what I used:

Benefit: Hello Flawless, Fine-One-One, Bad Girl Eyeliner, Satin Finish Lipstick, They’re Real Mascara, High Beam, PoreFessional, Smokin’ Eyes, Cupid’s Bow
MAC: Powder Blush in Mocha

I mixed the PoreFessional in with the Hello Flawless foundation to create an airbrushed look in a flash. I always create smokey eyes for the evening as they’re not something I often can get away with during the day. I used a lighter grey across the whole of my lid then a darker one in the corner. I used a very pale pink for below the brow line. I also applied some high beam under my eyebrow. I applied Bad Girl liner across the whole of my top lid and 3/4 of the way (outside to inside) on the bottom lid. I applied 2 coats of They’re real and tidied my brows with the brow wax in the Smokin’ eyes kit.

For my cheeks I used Benefit Fine-One-One as a base and to create a highlight and contour. I then applied  MAC’s powder blush over the top for a deeper result.

I used the Cupid’s bow pencil to define my lips, I also used the darker side as a lip liner then applied Benefit satin Finish lipstick in Satin Snap which is an understated neutral shade.

I curled my hair using my GHD’s, I also blowed dried it using Guy Kremer Serum and set the whole hairstyle with Guy Kremer Hairspray. Blushing Beauty will be recreating this look using drug store brands this afternoon so go and follow her and keep an eye out for that. I’m really looking forward to seeing how well the budget look comes off, I’m sure it’ll be beautiful! Thank you Olivia for working with me on my first collab!

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Fudge Urban Texturising Sea Salt Spray Review

Recently I reviewed Alterna Haircare – Bamboo Style Boho Waves Tousled Texture Mist and I mentioned in the post that it was quite expensive and I’d see if I could find a cheaper version. Since then I’ve been on a mission to just that and I’m pleased to say it’s MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Fudge Urban provides salon standard hair products on the high street, they do everything from matte hair max to volumnising powders, and all in fun, brightly coloured packaging.

I normally spend ages in the morning styling my hair but this provides a huge relief in that routine. This morning, I washed my hair, sprayed this in from mid-length to the ends and scrunched up. I left my hair to dry naturally. It battled well with the frizz and left me with beach-cool hair.

It also smells amazing, it has a delicious coconut scent that just reminds me of holidays. Every time the wind blows I get a whiff of my hair and it transports me back to sunny days even though I’m currently sat in the office with storms raging outside my window.

My hair feels light and it hasn’t caused a huge product build up in my hair like some products do. It can also be used to plump up your hair but applying it before blow-drying. I think I’ll stick to using it in wet hair as it’s so quick and I’m really happy with the result. This is definitely one to take to V Festival with me!

I was originally looking for a cheap alternative but instead I’ve found a new favourite! I’m so over dead straight hair and I’m happy to have a product that allows me to embrace my naturally wavy hair.

On the more technical side of things the unusual nozzle makes it really easy to apply accurately. After all you don’t want huge clumps and sections with nothing in. You also do not need a lot to create the look so I think it’ll probably last a while.

Try it: £6.99, www,superdrug.com (Currently on offer for £3.49)