The NARS Yu Dupe

It's not often that I come across dupes in my stash.  I'm usually quite good when buying make up and stick to buying things that are different to what I have already.  But whilst browsing my collection of pinks, I happened to stumble across a very good dupe for the NARS Satin Lip Pencil in the shade Yu - and you will be pleased to know that it costs just £7.99.

I actually said in my post on the Digital World Lip Pencil Coffret that I didn't own anything similar to Yu.  Turns out that was a big fat (unintentional, might I add) lie as my Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in the shade Lovesick is pretty identical in colour.  The Revlon Balm Stains are one of my favourite lip crayons, and I have pretty much the entire original release.  They're comfortable to wear on the lips, are moisturising, not sticky, buildable in colour and when the balm feeling fades, you are left with a great stain.  I remember being quite shocked at how good the pigmentation was in a balm stain, and Lovesick is no exception.

On the left is Lovesick; the Revlon offering is a bright fuschia pink which, because it applies like a balm, is slightly glossy with a slight sheerness to it.  It's still packing some pigment, but isn't quite as opaque in one swipe as Yu.  That said, I think you can layer up to get a decent colour intensity.  To the right, we have Yu.  Yu is opaque in one swipe, and is also a very bright fuschia pink.  Yu isn't as glossy as Lovesick as it has a satin finish, but I don't find it to be as comfortable to wear as the Revlon alternative.

In the photo above, Lovesick is on the left again and Yu is on the right.  As you can see, they are very similar in colour - Yu just has a touch more opacity which makes for a slightly bolder lip.  But, the photograph below, I'm wearing Lovesick on my top lip and Yu on my bottom - I honestly don't think I can tell the difference wearing it together!

I'm quite into getting my moneys worth, so I think if I ever lost both of these, I'd be buying Lovesick in a heartbeat.  Whilst I love my NARS lip pencil, spending £19.00 on something I could get which is nearly identical for just £7.99 just seems silly.  Especially with how much I love the Revlon Balm Stains!

Have you found any dupes in your stash?

Rimmel Extra 3D Lash Mascara

I don't know if it's because it's Spring, or my lack of time in the morning because I favour sleeping over getting ready time, but I've been opting for a fresh faced simple make up look recently.  Simple and natural has been my morning mantra, and to help me achieve it, I've been using the Rimmel Extra 3D Lash Mascara a lot lately!

You'll have to excuse the complete state of this tube of mascara.  I won a goodie bag of Rimmel bits on Twitter, and a nail polish smashed in the bag it got sent in and completely covered everything!  I tried to take it off, but it's a fine glitter nail polish and it's just not having any of it - drives me insane to look at it so messy!  That aside...I've had a bit of a love/hate relationship with this mascara, but all in all it's definitely a product worth checking out if you want natural looking lashes with plenty of length.

The wand has plastic bristles which is perfect as I've always favoured this over a fibre wand - I just think that the plastic bristles really work to comb through and separate your lashes.  The only downside to this wand, which is where the hate side of the relationship comes in, is that the bristles are so damn sharp.  It took me a while to get used to using this mascara, because you really can't get to the root of your lashes because it's actually painful - you can see in the photos that the bristles are like spikes.  So...a  bit of practice is required to get to grips with not scratching your waterline.

As you can see in the photographs above, my eyelashes are near enough invisible without mascara.  They're quite long, but the colour is just so light, especially on the tips, they just look like they aren't there at all.  The photograph below shows my lashes with one carefully applied coat of the Extra 3D Lash Mascara.  As you can see, my lashes are lengthened and lifted.  I don't use an eyelash curler, in fact don't even own one, but I think I might have to look into getting one as this kind of lift just doesn't last all day unfortunately.  

At £4.99, this mascara is definitely reasonably priced and I wouldn't hesitate to buy this again when mine runs out.  It's the perfect addition to any Spring make up routine and is ideal for creating defined, long, natural looking lashes.  I'm really impressed!

Have you tried this mascara?  What's your favourite?

Two From Yes To

There are a couple of things that have been featuring rather heavily in my daily routines lately that I have been absolutely loving.  One I have mentioned previously in my Sick Day Skin Care Routine, and the other is one I've been enjoying using over the past few weeks.  Yes To is a brand I've heard of, but it's not one that I regularly see raved about.  I've seen their facial wipes being spoken highly of quite a few times, and whilst I wasn't really a fan of the Cucumber Facial Wipes that I tried, I don't understand why nobody has branched out to try much else.  There are five different ranges to choose from, each aimed at a certain type of skin and here today I have the Yes To Blueberries Firming Eye Treatment and the Yes To Grapefruit Daily Facial Scrub to talk about. 

Yes To Blueberries has a "clinically proven formula to treat fine lines and nourish age damaged skin," which whilst it may not be strictly for my age group, I've been really enjoying using the Yes To Blueberries Eye Firming Treatment in my daily routine.  I have been using it daily during my evening routine for the past few months now, and I don't think I've got a bad thing to say about it.  It's thicker than any other eye cream that I have, which is why I choose to use it in the evenings, but it doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy or feel heavy on the skin.  It absorbs really quickly and leaves the area feeling really soft.  At first, I didn't think that I was too bad for fine lines, but I think that using this combined with the Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream in the morning has made a noticeable difference - maybe not noticeable to anyone else, but I feel like I can tell that something good has gone on.  Because I use two eye creams, I don't think I could pin point if it was one or the other in all honesty.

Next, the newer Yes To addition to my collection, the Yes To Grapefruit Daily Facial Scrub which I think smells just like sour gummy worms or something.  It's sweet, but sour and just smells pretty amazing.  I have often tried daily face scrubs before and some of them are just so harsh and scratchy that using them can become quite sore and leave my skin feeling irritated.  This one however has just been a complete pleasure to use; the exfoliating grains gently buff the skin, leaving my skin feeling soft without being at all abrasive.  Acne and big cystic spots haven't been an issue on my face recently (I almost don't dare type that in case it's one giant jynx...) and I'm feeling confident that introducing an exfoliator more regularly to my routine might have played it's part in keeping my skin look fresh and clear.  A random positive is that it also sits happily in my shower and doesn't collect water in the cap - don't you just hate when that happens!

Have you tried anything from Yes To yet?

Hyped: The Maybelline Champions

You might be sick of reading about these two.  I won't lie, I am too and often skip on by the reviews of the On and On Bronze Color Tattoos and the Eraser Eye Concealer because how many times can you read the same thing over and over again.  I avoided the hype particularly on the Color Tattoo's for what must have been years and here I am...I've finally given in.

So let's start with On and On Bronze as this was the one I was definitely most excited to try.  The majority of my eyeshadow collection are powder.  In fact, this is one of only two cream eyeshadow to grace my stash.  The shade itself is great; easy wearing, perfect for wearing every day, it adds a subtle gleam to the lids which I think can be easily built up to pack a real bronze if you fancied for the evening.  It's pretty much been a go to for me in all honesty!  The Color Tattoos leave a beautiful sheen to the eyes which I think can only look nicer as it gets into the warmer months - think a more wearable, every day version of the MAC Eye Glosses.  This all said...I don't think I'll be picking up any more shades because my heart has already been stolen by the Jouer Long Wear Creme Eyeshadow as mentioned in my January Favourites.  The Maybelline texture feels almost like Vaseline compared to the mousse like cream shadows from Jouer, and whilst the Maybelline Color Tattoos are long wearing, the Jouer version beats it and dries to a nice powder finish.

The Maybelline Eraser Concealer...damn it took me a long time to get hold of this one because it was constantly sold out.  I went for the shade Light, and I actually really do quite like it.  It really brightens under my eyes and conceals dark circles nicely.  I wouldn't say it's a completely flawless concealer - it's definitely a natural looking concealer and isn't completely opaque but I quite like that, even for covering blemishes because it just gives a natural finish.  I love wearing this on the weekends without foundation too - it brightens my entire complexion and just makes everything seem a bit nicer.  

I also don't see why everyone is moaning about the fuzzy applicator tip being unhygienic - if anything, it's more hygienic than doe foot applicators, because you're not dipping the wand back into the product and contaminating it.  It's no different to any other concealer unless you're telling me you honestly wash your wand.  It looks grubby because it's not white like when you bought it and the tip can touch the inside of the cap, but I think that it applies really nicely so no complaints here from me.  I have found though that this settles pretty much on application into fine lines around my eyes.  I'll often apply it, set it, finish the rest of my make up and have to go back and buff the creases out with a setting brush before leaving the house and then I'm good for most of the day.  I think I'd buy this again, but I might try out a few other concealers before committing to this one...

Have you given into the hype too?  What are your thoughts?

LUSH Jason and the Argan Oil Shampoo Bar

When I got the Jason and the Argan Oil Shampoo Bar for Christmas, I really wasn't expecting that much.  I'd never heard of a shampoo bar before, and the closest I've been to trying one was when I went for a Turkish Bath whilst on holiday in Turkey where I got brutally scrubbed with a bar of Olive Oil soap all over my sunburnt scalp before being drenched with a bucket of cold water after being steaming away in a steam room.  Ah memories.

All this aside...this shampoo bar was actually amazing, and you really do get your moneys worth with this LUSH product - you supposedly get eighty uses from one bar!  I've used mine so many times now I've lost count, and the bar still seems to be in pretty decent shape and seems to have a lot of life left in it.  Jason (for short) smells like the Rose Jam shower gel, but I don't find that the scent lingers in my hair unfortunately.  Also, I really wasn't expecting it, but for a solid shampoo this gives off the most amazing lather ever.

I have quite fine hair which tends to be lacking in any body whatsoever without a big of help, and found that using this alongside a separate conditioner really weighed down my hair.  Used on its own though, my hair looks super shiny, really healthy and even had a natural bounce whilst still feeling pretty soft.  I did notice that it really brought out the red tones in my hair, which I also quite like!  When ever I manage to finish this one, I'll definitely repurchase another along with a little storage tin - I currently use the bag I got it in to keep it safe, but a tin would be much better and would be perfect for taking this little guy on trips away!

I've already got my eye on the next shampoo bar I'd like to try - Montalbano, which was recommended to me to help keep product build up at bay.  I'm a regular user of dry shampoo, so it's something I'm always worried will be sitting on my scalp.  In fact, all of the shampoo bars on the LUSH website look to have incredible reviews of all of the bars so I think your best bet if you want to try them is to nip in store and see which is the one for you!

Have you tried a LUSH Shampoo Bar?

NARS Digital World Lip Pencil Coffret

Following on from Monday's Face Facts post, I thought I'd share with you my thoughts on the NARS Digital World Lip Pencil Coffret.  I won this set through a giveaway on Tasha's blog Hello Freckles and I can't thank her enough - definitely go and check out her blog!  The NARS lip pencils have always been on my mind, but I've never committed to buying one myself.  Unfortunately, this gift set is no longer available but I thought I'd still share it with you because there is only one set exclusive shade meaning you can still get your hands on most of the colours if you like the look of one of my swatches!

The set contains three Satin Lip Pencils which are Descanso, Torres Del Paine, and Yu and two Velvet Matte Lip Pencils which are Iberico and Cruella.  I'll admit I was pretty worried about the two lighter shades completely washing me out or giving me a concealer lip, but I actually really quite like them!  The bold shades are my favoutites, but I am surprised that I like the lighter shades too.

Swatches Top to Bottom - Cruella, Iberico, Yu, Torres Del Paine, Descanso

The formulas for these are really nice, but I feel like I have to say I don't think they live up to the longevity I'd read about.  The Velvet Matte Lip Pencils last around three hours before they've faded a bit or have come off a bit patchy if you've been eating or drinking.  I found that the mattes do leave a stain behind, but the colours really need reapplying again if it hasn't faded evenly, so I always made sure to be carrying mine around with me.  The formula was also quite drying which is to be expected with a matte lip, so I shan't complain too much.  The matte formulas did last a little longer using a liner underneath.

The nuder Satin Lip Pencils lasted a couple of hours before fading, but Yu lasted a good three hours the same as Cruella and Iberico.  Yu even left a gorgeous stain behind!  These were really moisturising and comfortable on the lips - far better than any moisturising lip crayons I have that are from high street brands.

Descanso is a nude peach with pink undertones.  This was my favourite of the lighter shades, and the one that I wear the most day to day.  It's so easy wearing, and definitely fits into the 'my lips, but better' category.

Torres Del Paine is a light peachy coral shade, which I do like but haven't worn as often as the other lip pencils.  It looks pretty similar to Descanso on the lip, but it does pull slightly peachier.  I think this will be great to use in Spring/Summer to use when creating a really fresh make up look.

Yu is seriously an in your face colour, but I really love it.  I don't own any lipsticks that are similar to this shade - it's a bright fuchsia with violet undertones.  I think it really brightens the face, whitens the teeth and looks insane with simple make up and a jet black cat eye.

Iberico is unfortunately the exclusive to this gift set.  It's a bold orange with red undertones and is the shade I've worn the most.  I love how it can be worn day or night.  It applies opaque in one swipe and really is a great shade - I hope they bring it back permanently!

Cruella is the only shade I'd heard of before receiving this set.  It is a deep red with blue undertones and was my lip of choice for New Years Eve!  The swatch on my lips looks a lot brighter in the photograph than it is in real life - it's the darkest red I own!  It definitely looks more like the swatch on my arm.

As far as shades go, I think I'm pretty covered.  The only one I might need to add to my collection is Palais Royal which is a gorgeous plum shade!  But that can wait until next Autumn I think!  Whilst I love the boldness of the Velvet Mattes, I think I'm leaning towards the Satin Lip Pencil formula, just because they feel amazing on the lips.  The Mattes were just a little too drying for me, and for a high end product I'd want to make sure that I got plenty of wear from it.

Which shade is your favourite?

LUSH Snowman Shower Jelly

I've said it before, but I'll say it again - I don't go to LUSH too often.  Lately though my Instagram has been filled with photos of what I've got from LUSH, but everything was either a gift I was lucky enough to receive either for Christmas or for my birthday, which was on the 12th January!

One of the bits that you might have spotted in my Christmas LUSH haul was the Snowman Shower Jelly.  I've never tried a shower jelly from LUSH before so it was all pretty new territory for me.  I didn't even realise that inside the pot, the jelly was actually a snowman shape that stays self preserved on its own!  I've been using him most days since getting him, and there's still a smidge of him left that hasn't melted down.  I'm actually quite surprised at how long he has lasted!

The Snowman smells really nice as you'd expect from LUSH; it's a fruity blackcurrant smell with some warming citrus scents powering through.  It's quite an unusual festive scent and it's not at all overpowering, it's just the right balance of sweet and citrus.  My skin is always left with a slight hint of the scent, but it doesn't linger around for long and my skin is left nice and smooth thanks to the carrot, bergamot and buchu oils that the Snowman is made with.

Compared to other shower gels I use, the Snowman was pretty hard to get a decent lather out of.  I often full body washed with my usual shower gel and then finished off my skin with the light lather of the Snowman to give my skin an added boost of moisture, focussing on dryer areas such as my shins and elbows.  I spotted on the pot that the Snowman was meant to have "plenty of shimmer" but I didn't notice even a hint of sparkle, but maybe they were just referring to the glisten of the oils that might be left on your skin?

As nice as the Snowman was though, I don't think I'll be picking another one up if he returns this year at Christmas - he was just so damn slippery!  It turned what would have been a pretty quick shower into quite the ordeal in trying to keep hold of the shower jelly!  I did love the scent though and the condition it left my skin feeling - I'd pick up the Snowman again if he came in true shower gel form or even a bubble bar, but I'll admit it wouldn't be as much fun!  The Snowman is no longer available this year, but I'm sure he'll be back this Christmas!

Did you manage to try the Snowman this year?

December Empties: Make Up

I'm still going strong with my almighty pile of empties.  I have definitely learnt that I do not need to fill the box I set aside for empties...  Today I'm back with the make up empties, and there really isn't that much variety going on as it's either a mascara or a lip balm.

I'll start with the mascaras.  This isn't my first tube of The Body Shop's Super Volume Mascara.  I've never actually bought one for myself but always end up with one as a present at some point or another.  I don't think it's a "super volume" mascara to start with, but it does give some real length to my lashes.  I loved wearing this on a daily basis, and I probably would buy it again just as a daily no fuss mascara.  The Body Shop always have offers on, so it's unlikely you would ever pay full price for it.

The Covergirl Clump Crusher mascara is one I'm actually gutted about, obviously because I can't get hold of it again now.  It's been finished for absolutely forever as I got it in my USA Beauty Box swap with Hannah last year, but it just sat at the back of my make up drawer!  The mascara was amazing at lengthening, separating and giving volumised lashes.  It was super easy to build up, and I would one hundred percent buy another one if I could.  BUT, I noticed that the Clump Crusher was in exactly the same packaging as my next empty from Maxfactor, which lead me to find out Covergirl and Maxfactor are owned by the same company (P&G) and we have a Clump Crusher version in the form of Maxfactors Clump Defy mascara.  I found a blog post on Unfade What Fades comparing the two wands and they're identical - I will definitely be picking up the Maxfactor Clump Defy as my replacement as I think that this might be my favourite mascara ever?

The Maxfactor False Lash Effect Waterproof Mascara is actually another repurchase.  I still stand by what I said in my first ever review in that it is totally crap at actually being waterproof in terms of wearing it lounging by the pool on holiday, but I do like the mascara for day to day use.  I think I favour a plastic wand as they comb through the lashes so much nicer in my opinion and give some real length, and this mascara is no exception to that.  I'd would probably buy it again, but Clump Defy does come in a water resistant version so I will probably buy that instead.  I do love a Maxfactor mascara though...

The final things are both lip balms, both by Burts Bees.  I've had so many lip balms from Burts Bees.  This is the first Mango flavour I've had, and maybe my third of the original Beeswax lip balm?  I didn't really like the Mango one - I really thought I would, but it's just too sickly for me and I could taste the sickliness when I breathed in through my mouth.  The Mango lip balm is sold as a nourishing lip balm, but I didn't notice anything spectacular in terms of nourishment.  I had to apply this quite frequently.  The Burts Bees Beeswax Lip Balm is peppermint flavoured and is a favourite of mine - I really like breathing in the freshness, and the mint kind of makes your lips feel cool.  I find this one to be much more hydrating and nourishing than the Mango.  I already have a fourth Peppermint one ready to go, but I'm actually just finishing up a couple of other lip balms before I open that one.

Have you tried any of these empties?

Deborah Milano 24 Ore Velvet Eyeshadow

The Deborah Milano 24 Ore Velvet Eyeshadows...where to begin with these two.  I was asked forever and a month a go now if I'd like to try these out, and having never tried anything from Deborah Milano, I was so excited to try them!  Described as fade resistant, velvety soft and a high coverage with an easy to blend formula, I was sold!  They can be applied wet or dry, and my mind instantly wandered to a potential dupe for the NARS Dual Intensity Eyeshadows which granted I've not tried yet, but was really hoping to find something with a similar intensity that I've seen on other blogs.

I opted for the shades 07 Dark Chocolate* and 08 Taupe* as these were both shades that I thought I could get plenty of wear from resulting in a fair and honest review.  Well...I've had more than enough time to reach for these and the verdict isn't a great one.

My first twinges of disappointment came in when I was taking the product photographs and attempting to get some swatches.  I found that the shades really were lacking in any intensity and required a lot of building to get a good colour. Dark Chocolate (top swatch) is a warm brown which a slight satin finish and the Taupe shade (bottom swatch) I think leans slightly more bronzed, and has a fine shimmer to it which I really liked.  I wore the Taupe shade the most, and wore it almost daily for work to get a fair test.  Application was easiest using my ring finger to quickly wash the colour across my lids which I then blended out with a fluffy brush.  The colour has to be built up though - as I said, the pigmentation in these shadows aren't the best.  I usually opted for two to three layers to get a decent colour pay off on my lids, which was the same with the swatches on my wrist.

I also tried these shadows wet (first swatch Dark Chocolate wet, second dry.  Third swatch Taupe wet, fourth dry) and where usually you can expect a higher pigmentation, applying these wet just watered the pigment down, and made application of any colour near impossible - you can see in the pan how much surface area I had to really go for to get this swatch.

The wear time was pretty disappointing too...it was just two hours before my eyeshadow was creased.  Not even slightly creased, really creased and quite patchy.  The wear time was slightly better using a primer like the Urban Decay Primer Potion, but only an extra hour or so.  It was easy to blend the creases out with my finger again, but the pigmentation just wouldn't stick around.  If you don't use a primer, spraying your eyeshadow brush with the Urban Decay Setting Spray also helped a tiny bit with the longevity of these eyeshadows.

The packaging for these is very basic, but it does the job just fine.  A light plastic casing, with a transparent flip and click lid houses the product.  You can see clearly which shades are which, and it comes with a sponge applicator which, in all honesty, I knew I wouldn't be using.  These shadows come in at £5.50 each, and I do think there are nicer packaging options on the high street at a similar or cheaper price.

I feel a bit bad writing so much negativity (who knew I'd have so much to say about two eyeshadows) but I just feel a bit let down by them.  I'd never tried anything from Deborah Milano before, and these weren't a great start for me.  The shades really do look lovely and the texture was velvety as promised, but the colours just don't translate effortlessly onto the skin for me!  Honestly, the most effective use I got out of these eyeshadows was actually on Halloween - I used the Dark Chocolate shade heavily as a contour across my cheekbones, around my eyes on on my temples...if you didn't see that on my Instagram, you can see that in full effect here!

Have you tried anything from Deborah Milano?  Any application tips that might make these work for me?

*The Deborah Milano 24 Ore Velvet Eyeshadows were sent to me for consideration.

The High Street 90's Lip: Revlon Matte Balm in Sultry

I'm pretty positive that 90% of the lip crayons that I own are by Revlon.  I love Revlon, and the shades that they have seriously have got me covered - I lean more towards lipsticks at the moment, but I still can't resist a good lip crayon.  I loved the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains, but despite the new Matte and Gloss range which were released over a year ago (can you believe that?!), I have only just branched out by getting my hands on one of their Matte Balms in the shade Sultry.

I was a bit worried that these might not be as good as their original release; the Balm Stains were forever hyped and these new releases kind of got spoken about and nothing more was said - no fuss, no nothing.  But I really, really like the shade I have.  Sultry is a dusky rose shade - it's got the brown under tones with a gorgeous rose tinge.

Even though it is a matte lip, it's definitely easy wearing.  It glides on smoothly, colour pay off it amazing - the shade is definitely there in one swipe, and I don't find it to be drying at all because the Revlon Matte Balms have been made with shea, mango and coconut butter which kind of make these feel very lip balm-esque.  But don't be fooled into thinking that these have a tropical scent - the light peppermint scent that the original Balm Stains have is still there but it does fade quickly.

I've been wearing this a lot recently because it's just the perfect subtle lip - not subtle so that it's a nude, or a your lips but better shade, but the kind of subtle that's just nice.  Everyone bangs on about the Kylie Jenner nude lip, and I think that this is definitely right up that street - it's got the whole 90's grunge vibe going around it and I absolutely love it for day and night wearing.

What's your current go-to lip?

Miss Sporty Peel Off Base Coat

I don't wear glitter nail polish often, but when I do, I am always filled with instant regret when it comes to removal - I hate removing glitter nail polish.

I'd seen that OPI had released their Glitter Off Base Coat not too long ago, but with an £11.75 price tag I just couldn't justify putting that into my basket just yet.  I went on the hunt for a more affordable version and found Miss Sporty's Peel Off Base Coat in Superdrug!  It's also available in Boots, but was sold out when I came to buying unfortunately.  Through out December though, Superdrug Beauty Card holders get free delivery on all orders so I managed to pay just £2.29 and get free delivery!  It's currently £1.99 in Superdrug too if you did want to try it for yourself.

Now...I loved the idea of this.  Hassle free glitter nail polish removal - sounds amazing, right?  I have to say it just wasn't!  I painted my nails with a generous layer as instructed and waited for it to dry - the base coat applies white and eventually dries transparent.  I'd say the drying time is in excess of fifteen minutes which isn't ideal for speedy manicures.  The base coat smelt, looked and behaved exactly like PVA glue.  The finish of the base coat was semi-matte and I actually loved the finish of just the base coat alone.

My glitter polish applied as normal (I chose Butter London's The Black Knight - the perfect glitter for a subtle nod towards the festivities, and definitely one to keep back for NYE) and lasted on my nails approximately three hours before I had fully lost an entire nail of it's paint - it was completely bare!  It lasted perfectly through a meal out, but when I came home and started actually using my hands for more than eating, it just wasn't having any of it - my first polish removal was quickly followed by another two, before I eventually just peeled off the remaining manicured fingers.

Maybe this is a case of you get what you pay for, but in short - this is great for a quick Christmas meal with work that doesn't require much use of your hands.  But, you might as well buy a small bottle of PVA glue as it's cheaper and seems exactly the same.  The Miss Sporty Base Coat also sports some similar ingredients to that of PVA glue so don't waste your money and instead save your pennies for some foil for the more traditional method of glitter polish removal!

What's your method for removing glitter polish?  Have you tried the OPI version?

INM Northern Lights Holographic Top Coat

There are eight sleeps to go before Christmas is here!  I can't believe how quickly this year has gone, and how ridiculously excited I am feeling for this years festivities!  I've been embracing all things Christmas this year; my decorations were up at the end of November, I've had my Christmas jumper out at least once a week at work since December, and I'm definitely pining for all things sparkly.  Enter the INM Northern Lights Gold and Silver Holographic Top Coat*.

I didn't expect it, but I have to say that I am honestly in love.  I might even go as far to say that this is all I will be wearing for the rest of the season.  The holographic aspect wasn't what I thought it would be like.  I was expecting it to be full on holographic like these, but I am actually kind of pleased that my expectations were wrong as I'll be getting so much more use from these now!

They need a good shake up, but I have been wearing three coats of this on top of Nails Inc Regent Street with a base coat of the OPI Nail Envy and it's so pretty.  I've had so many compliments when wearing the INM Top Coat - it's such a subtle sparkle that is added to the nails.  The particles of glitter are micro fine - you can't feel any grains once it has been applied, and compared to other glitter polishes I own, it's an absolute dream to remove.  

I will put it out there right now - you don't need to own both of these top coats.  Despite owning both the gold and the silver version, the difference once applied is very hard to spot.  I've applied the silver top coat on the bottom swatch, the gold one is the top swatch and both swatches are applied onto Regent Street.  Both have micro fine holographic glitter particles suspended in the high gloss top coat, which reflects purple, green, red and blue - the photos really don't do this justice, I just couldn't capture it right!  I have included a photo where I focussed my camera on the background, so you can see the out of focus reflections which are representative of the colours that shine.  The gold top coat has micro gold glitter, and the silver has micro silver glitter as you'd expect.  

If I'm inspecting really closely, I notice that the particles are slightly larger in size in the silver top coat than the golden one, but both are still micro glitters.  After three coats of each, the gold top coat appears to be slightly more dense with the glitter.  I can also see that there are more blue holographic particles in the silver than in the gold - but seriously, my nails were pressed against my eyeballs to really spot these minute differences.  I'd personally opt for the silver top coat; the silver particles make the top coat appear that little bit brighter!

The formula of this is really something.  The holographic particles are actually suspended in one of INM's best selling top coats, the Out the Door top coat.  It might just be my new favourite top coat, and I am probably going to purchase this after my current one has ran out.  It dries really quickly, dries super smooth and looks really glossy.  I don't know if anyone else gets this, but I always wake up with hair/bed sheet imprints on my nails in the morning, and with this I was seriously impressed because they were still completely smooth!

The INM top coats cost £9.35 each, which in all honesty, I do think is a bit expensive.  That said - the top coat formula itself is one of the best I've tried, and the fine glitter is like nothing I already own.  You can find them on Jica, and I've just spotted that they do a mini set of both the silver and gold holographic top coats as well as a small plain Out The Door top coat for just over £7!

Have you tried anything from INM?  What do you think of these top coats?
*Both the Silver and Gold INM Northern Lights Top Coats were sent to me for consideration.

Beverly Hills Formula Perfect White Black Toothpaste

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but I am absolutely petrified of the dentist.  I've made it to 23 and have yet to have anything done to my teeth - no fillings, no braces, no nothing - and I am dreading the day that the dentist turns to me and tells me something has to be done.  I do have three or four baby teeth that are still firmly in my mouth, because I don't have big teeth there to push them out - because of how delicate they are, I have to make sure that I really look after my teeth so these aren't the first to go!  Apart from dreading fillings, I want white teeth, but don't want to have to resort to using harsh chemicals that could damage my teeth and enamel.  When The Beverly Hills Formula Perfect White Black Toothpaste* landed on my doorstep a while back now, it really caught my attention...it's the glossiest toothpaste I've ever seen and it's black.

This toothpaste is made with activated charcoal which helps eliminate bacteria, freshen breath and also helps to remove and prevent deeper stains caused by tannins found in things like tea and coffee.  The charcoal helps to gently remove the stains whilst keeping your enamel in tact, which is perfect for me as my tea in take has definitely risen since the cold has started setting in.

I've been using this for over a month now and I don't have a full on Hollywood smile, but I do feel as though this toothpaste has made a difference on the whiteness of my teeth.  My teeth are feeling clean, and are looking naturally whiter than before which I can only imagine to keep getting better with continued use.  My only downfall is that I often get sensitive teeth, or a singular sensitive tooth...so my sensitivity does come back when I don't use a specific toothpaste to help with that.

I'm not particularly loyal to any toothpaste, but I would definitely buy this again.  I honestly don't think I would pay the full price of £4.99, but I'd pop this into my basket if it was on offer!  The Beverly Hills Formula Perfect White Black Toothpaste is currently less than half price at Superdrug priced at £2.48 if you'd like to give it a go!

Have you ever tried anything like this before?

*The Beverly Hills Perfect White Black Toothpaste was sent to me for consideration.

Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster

Back in July, I went on holiday to Spain.  In preparation for maintaining my tan, I bought a gradual tanner from Dove (you know the one I mean...) and had my heart set on a Clarins treat for on the way home from duty free - the Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster.  I feel a bit odd applying a self tanner to my face that isn't specificially designed for facial use.  I just don't feel like a body tanner can be as good for my blemish prone skin as a specifically formulated facial tanner.

The Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster is one we've probably all seen over the Summer months.  I know for a fact I would never have heard about it had I not read rave reviews on it from other bloggers.  It comes in a small bottle, which was definitely smaller than anticipated; I'll talk in sizeable terms that we can all probably relate to - it's the size of a MAC lipstick.  The box itself makes the product out to be a lot bigger than it actually is, which I also think is a little naughty.  The bottle is a small glass bottle, with a small flexible button on the base which pushes out drops of the product from the concentrated nozzle at the top of the bottle.  It's really easy to use, and is actually pretty nifty in terms of how precise you can be when dispensing the product.

The product itself though...I'm just a little disappointed I think.  I think I thought the product was something different.  The idea is to use two to three drops of the concentrated liquid daily mixed within your moisturiser or serum to build the colour, and then one drop after your desired colour is reached to maintain a colour.  It's not that it's a bad product; it works beautifully.  It's seamless, streak free, doesn't make me break out and the colour given doesn't sit in my pores - but I just thought that the colour would be more noticeable?  Like you have put a self tanner on?  I usually work with Xen Tan, and the results there are beautiful - I love the colour I get from that.  This is literally exactly as it's described on the bottle - a glow.

The Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster provides a very subtle glow.  If you use this and suddenly stop, you won't go patchy and your "tan" won't look uneven.  The effect is a healthy glow, and to be honest I think it's perfect for bringing a bit of sun to the skin during the Autumn weather.  I don't think you'll look obviously tanned like you've been abroad for two weeks using this - it's just nice.  I haven't felt the need to change my foundation shade, let's put it that way.  I do feel pretty radiant in my complexion after using this, so I would feel a bit more comfortable going bare faced instead of feeling a bit dull with my Winter skin.

Whilst I do like the nice healthy glow it does provide, I want something that I can apply at the same time as I apply my more instant tans like Xen Tan, so my face will match my tan when I wake up in the morning without having to apply a body tanning cream or mousse to my face.  Or at least a gradual tanner which is a bit more noticeable than this so I am a similar colour to when I use my Dove gradual tanner.  It's not that I don't like this product, it's just I don't love it as much as I thought I was going to because I expected it to be a lot more noticable in terms of colour.  I can imagine myself buying another in the future though; it really is a great pick me up if your skin is looking a little dull!  I have found it cheapest on Escentual for £15.80.

Have you ever been disappointed with a blogger hyped product?

The Body Shop Tea Tree Body Wash

I've said it before, but as embarrassing as it is, I'll say it again - I get quite bad body acne.  This said, it's no where near as bad as it once was.  I've done the rounds of tablets from the doctors, and whilst they worked at the time, I've found that my spots always manage to come back.  I was diagnosed with cystic acne on my back and sometimes chest, which the doctor suspects is hormone related.  My spots are back again, but not nearly as bad - just the odd one every so often, with smaller, red bumps in my skin.  Since stopping my tablets, I've added The Body Shop's Tea Tree Body Wash to my shower routine.

I've been using this body wash daily in the shower to wash my back and any other areas that are becoming blemished, and I do think it's doing something good for my skin.  Tea tree is known to have antibacterial and antiseptic properties, which makes it ideal for getting rid of unwanted bacteria and any excess oils on my body - being a sweaty betty, and general oily skinned lady, the body wash is certainly doing a world of good for clearing my back and keeping the really bad spot break outs at bay.

The Body Shop Tea Tree wash itself is really refreshing, and leaves my skin feeling nicely cleansed, but not at all stripped or dry.  It's a green gel, and a little does go a long way!  I think that The Body Shop are kind enough to let you know that, because the packaging is quite tough to squeeze out a mass of body wash.  I've had this since June, and I'm only just starting to think that I need to buy another bottle.  The Body Shop have it priced at £6 a bottle, which for a body wash is more than what I would normally pay - I usually just buy whatever is on offer at the time.  But The Body Shop always have an offer running, and I can usually get this for 40% off!

I'll definitely be repurchasing this, and to be honest, I can't imagine not having a bottle of this in my stash.  If you struggle with body blemishes, I'd definitely recommend giving this a go!  I like to team this body wash with the Boots Tea Tree Back Spray, which I spray onto dry skin after I have got out of the shower.

Have you tried The Body Shop Tea Tree range?

Bath & Body Works Peach Cilantro Twist Candle

Earlier this month, I was sat at home on my weekend pretty much doing nothing...food shopping, a bit of cleaning, watching The X Factor, lazing in my PJ's and drinking copious amounts of tea.  Meanwhile, my Dad was living it up with his friends in Las Vegas.  Something a little wrong with those situations, isn't there?  It should have been the other way around!

But you know...silver linings and all that.  I wasn't going to be able to afford to go to Vegas, or America at any point in the future, so I made a very concise shopping list (two things!) of what I would like my Dad to bring back!  My Dad is very much a manly man, and I couldn't see him browsing the aisles of Sephora or Wal-Mart so I could get some American Beauty bits - instead, I simply asked for a nice candle from Bath & Body Works, and a Las Vegas mug.

The candle he chose was Peach Cilantro Twist and I am so pleased with it!  It's the second candle I have had from them - my first being Leaves!  It smells absolutely amazing; really fresh, fruity and the scent really fills the room and the whole house if I leave the door open.  It also lightly scents the room if I leave the cap off the candle.  It's just so nice, and even Liam enjoys it when I burn it.  Before we moved in together, he was demanding that no candles were bought as they "just sit there and gather dust," but I think he is a candle convert!

The candle is a clean burner, but I do think that it's disappearing rather quickly!  I'm trying to use this candle sparingly - it really is so nice, and it's such a shame we can't get Bath & Bath Works easily in the UK!  My Dad said he loved the store, and even stocked up on some body lotions (?!) and aftershave for himself!

Have you tried anything from Bath & Body Works?  What's your favourite candle?

Yes To Cucumbers Soothing Hypoallergenic Facial Wipes

I can't even remember the last time that I actually bought a pack of facial wipes.  Ever since I started following Caroline Hirons, I have definitely kept completely clear of them and haven't touched them since!  A while back, I won another giveaway and managed to bag myself a goodie bag full of Yes To products!  I've never tried anything from Yes To before, so was really looking forward to trying some of their bits!

I started with the Yes To Cucumbers Soothing Facial Wipes, which I first used after a night out to take my make up off when I was staying at a friends house.  I have to say that since switching to oils and balms to take my make up off, these wipes didn't remove my make up effectively at all, and definitely didn't do very well battling against the Benefit They're Real mascara!  (It'd take a good wipe to get that mascara off..)  The wipes actually left my skin quite sore, tight and a little bit stingy which was surprising as they're sold as soothing facial wipes.

I didn't think it was fair to just base my review on one use, and have used them again this weekend but I didn't use them to take my make up off; more of just a facial refresh whilst I was sat at home.  The stinging sensation didn't come back this time, and the wipe did feel a lot more soothing during use.  The towelettes are quite thick and a lot more luxury feeling compared to the Nivea/ASDA wipes I used to religiously use.  But my skin still did feel a little tight after use, although it did feel nice and smooth.

Ingredients wise, these wipes are 98% natural which I am pretty impressed by.  The wipes are enriched with skin loving ingredients such as cucumbers to exfoliate, soothe and de-puff, green tea to help prevent break outs, and aloe vera for some much needed moisture.  They're also oil, SLS, petroleum and paraben free!

I don't think I'd rush out to buy another pack of these, and won't be using the rest of this pack very quickly either.  I think I will slot them into my gym bag to gently clear my face after I've finished sweating like a pig to try and refresh my face if I'm busy straight after.  I'm not a fan of cucumber, and the smell just isn't one for me - after a night out, I found the scent of these really hard to look past, but since using them more sober again, I can get over the smell and  it really doesn't last long at all.

Have you tried anything from the Yes To range?

Avon Advanced Techniques Moroccan Argan Hair Oil

The Avon Advanced Techniques 360 Nourishment Moroccan Argan Oil Leave In Treatment literally has the longest product name I have ever written on this blog...literally ridiculous.  I don't even know how you would fit that in the tiny box that you write the product name in on the Avon hand written order forms!  Joking aside, this is a hair treatment which I have had for quite a long time but have only started using again recently.

I don't know why I stopped using this, as for the price (currently just £2.55 on the Avon website!), this really is a great product.  It is called a hair oil, but it feels a bit thicker than your normal oil, kind of more like a serum - it doesn't uncontrollably run around my hand, and doesn't leave behind an oily residue.  It has an almost fruity scent that is really pleasant, but doesn't linger once on the hair.  As far as ingredients go, I can't actually see anything on the website or on the bottle, but I don't imagine it to have a high content of Moroccan Argan Oil!

I don't really care for spending a fortune on hair care; as far as shampoo and conditioner goes, I usually just buy whatever is on offer at the time.  But more recently, I have found that I needed a little something extra to add to my routine to keep everything that little bit neater.

My hair is naturally straight, but always has that annoying halo of frizzy hair just everywhere, and seems a little more unruly since I bleached the ends.  The Avon Argan Oil really smoothes all that down and leaves my hair looking neat, really shiny and definitely easier to brush after I've dried my hair.  My hair doesn't feel greasy after use, and doesn't look or feel like it has any extra product in it.  My hair is quite lacking in volume as well, so I was worried that an extra product would take out any "volume" I had, but it is so light weight!

I apply a small amount of this to the lengths of my hair when it has been towel dried, and then continue as normal.  An oil was something that I never really thought I'd like to apply to my hair - my hair gets greasy really easily, and the last thing I thought I'd want was an oil.  But on using this, my hair has become so much more manageable and just feels so much nicer!  I'm pretty much out of this bottle now, maybe a few more applications left in this bottle, but I definitely think I will treat my hair to a second!

When was the last time you bought anything from Avon?