Review: Liquid Lipsticks - Budget, Drugstore or Premium product!

Liquid Lipsticks have become all the range during the last year! And rightly so, I think they're brilliant. A strong base colour with a hint of shine sounds like the perfect combination, which is why I thought this review/comparison was be such a good post as part of my 6x Lips special. I'm all up for saving money, and if I can achieve the same results by reducing the cost then why not! Below, I've reviewed 3x different types of products; Budget - £2 from P.S Beauty (Primark), Drugstore - £8.99 from L'oreal, and Premium - £15 from Too Faced! Enjoy, x

Where to begin with this?...

Well first, what exactly would I like to see from a Liquid Lipstick? I want the results to look amazing! I'd like the item to provide shiny lips, (like a gloss) and to later dry matte (like a lipstick) and at the same time be long-lasting!? Ok...So I may be asking for a lot, but aren't these the kind of results brands are promising?!

BUDGET - At the super saver price of £2, this is a product not to be missed. The packaging looks professional, and I just love the small lip brush applicator. Is it shiny? Yes, but unfortunately it doesn't 'dry matte' it just kind of rubs off and disappears after around 30 minutes. If I'm being honest, this was more of a gloss. Unfortunately, it's super sticky, and whilst it smells great, it doesn't feel very comfortable. I purchased a neon / bright pink shade which was a little too much. I think if I used a smaller amount, the subtle results would look a lot better!

DRUGSTORE - I purchased this from Boots for £8.99, which is a little pricey for a lip gloss, but around average for lipstick. I liked this product because the wand was really wide, which made application easy. This item was really glossy, and I just loved the colour;  But I felt like it was possibly too wet, and so it didn't dry very well or leave any lasting effect. I think if the colour was more intense, and I also used a lip liner then the results would have been a lot more beneficial.

PREMIUM - At a price of £15, this is the most expensive liquid lipstick I purchased. Too Faced is an American brand, which means that you either need to find a UK retailer, or pay excessive P&P/Custom prices. I managed to find this online for £16 (go me!) but was it worth it?! I liked this product the most, its insanely pigmented, which meant I only required a little amount, however, the colour is jut too bright, it made it hard to match with other cosmetics. Although this item has a velvet lip brush, I needed to use a separate lip brush when applying this, because it was just far too wet. It is long-lasting (as promised, it does stain) and when it eventually dries, it looks matte but I wouldn't want to spend this kind of price again as I'd need a range of different colour lipsticks, and can't jusity those kind of prices!

Do you have a favourite Liquid Lipstick? If so, comment below to let me know! Alternatively, if you have any suggestions / ideas for future blog posts, I'd love to hear about them!!

Thanks for reading,

Yvette Marie xo

 

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Festival Beauty Essentials

So I'm off to X Festival in Cardiff on 13th June which is going to be really fun, the line-up looks amazing! Whilst I was planning my outfit (I'm very organised), I had a great idea for a blog post. With summer fast approaching, I thought this would be the perfect time to write about my summer essentials. There is nothing worse than being at a festival in the heat, dehydrated, sleep-deprived, and having greasy hair, so here's some of my favourite products to avoid these kind of results from too much partying! They're also available in miniature, so great for travelling if you need to pack light! Enjoy, x

Dry Shampoo - As if walking around with dirty hair was bad enough, it's even worse when it looks and feels greasy! The best way to avoid this at a festival is either 1) Wash your hair stood underneath a cold tap, or have your friend throw litres of water over your knotty mane for it to then (if you have hair like me) dry with super frizz and triple the size it would be normally be OR 2) use dry shampoo! When you can do your hair no more, apply some dry shampoo. My favourite brand is Batiste, but if you are on a bit of a budget then you can pick up this item for less from most beauty retailers.

Primer - When I asked my friends for their thoughts on this blogpost, they didn't believe that primer was an essential, which is something that I would have agreed with up until now! I've started to wear it every day, (I have two; One for a hint of foundation) and I can really see the effects. I just see primer as an alternative to foundation - great for a festival in the heat! If I had to recommend a product, I would suggest Rimmel's 'Fix & Perfect Pro Primer' - it makes my skin look smooth, feel soft, and brightens my complexity.

Sun Cream - Nivea, everytime! This stuff works brilliantly and smells great. I prefer using either a cream or spray, as I find that is the easiest method of application. I can't express just how important it is to protect your skin!  

Wet Wipes - Wet wipes are your savour; Use them for everything!!  If I had to choose a favourite brand it would either be Simple or Halo. I love wipes from Halo because they have lots of different wipes for different types of jobs, but they can work out quite expensive, retailing at £1.09 for 10!! As long as you have some form of wetwipes, you'll be ok.

Fake Tan - At one point or another, those pasty legs will have to come out to catch the sun rays, so apply fake tan before you leave. I find it best to exfoliate my legs before and after application so the tan lasts. Although I've not really experimented much with fake tans, I love the mousse from Primark. It smells nice and I can enjoy the effects for a small price of £2.50!!

Glitter - I'm not 100% sure if you'd class this as a beauty essential, but it's definitely a festival necessity. Glitter makes every looks fun and colourful, so bring plenty of it.

Please feel free to comment if you found this review helpful, if you would add / change something about this list, or if you have any suggestions for future blog posts!

Thanks for reading,

Yvette Marie xo

 

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Tutorial: How To Make Your Own Lip Scrub

Last week I posted a review of Lip Glams Original Balm to kick start my 6x lips special - I can't say enough how important it is to take care of your lips, so I thought this would be the perfect time to blog about an awesome lip care product :) As everyone knows I'm a big fan of saving money and having a go at some DIY items, so below, I've listed some ingredients that you will need to make your own Sugar Lip Scrub! Just 2 items are required, and they should all already (hopefully) be in your cupboards! Enjoy x

Ingredients:

- 1 TBSP of brown or white sugar (I prefer brown)

- A dash of honey or olive oil (Just enough to make the sugary mixture stick together)

- A teeny tiny drop of vanilla (Optional - makes it smell yummy)

- Food colouring (Optional -makes it look fun and colourful)

Now mix together all of the ingredients! This should leave the mixture with a perfect consistency, and it's as simple as that! I've read online that some people crush the sugar down to make an even smaller grain, but this is obviously down to individual taste.

Apply the scrub onto your lips once a week (twice at the very most). If you have any dead skin then this will definitely help! Once the dead skin has loosened (if this applies to you), leave the scrub on for another minute and then wipe off the mixture with a damp cloth. Apply lip balm after use, and your lips should now be super smooth!

If this one isn't for you, then have a look around online as there are hundreds of recipes available (experimenting with different flavours & ingredients), but hopefully, at the very least, I've provided you with some inspiration!

Please feel free to comment if you found this tutorial helpful...Maybe you've tried to make your own lip scrub and have a fun recipe that others can try!?

Thanks for reading,

Yvette Marie xo

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Soap & Glory: My Favourites

I obviously couldn't write a 5x post skincare special without mentioning my love for Soap & Glory. They've got some great products out there that always that leave my skin feeling super smooth and smelling awesome. Below I've picked out 3 of my favourite products from their varied selection!! Enjoy, x 

Sugar Crush Body Wash -

This is great!! A very zesty body wash that also revitalizes skin! Made from multiple citrus fruits; Lime oil, kiwi juice, coconut oil, sweet vanilla musk and lemons, the scent is not only refreshing, but also sweet, which leaves skin left feeling super soft. This items has two uses because it doubles up as a wake-up call, the ingredients make a perfect energy booster! Only 2/3 pumps are required as the mixture lathers up very easily, which makes this item really good value for money. Retail price of just £5.50!!

The Righteous Butter

If you've read my previous blog posts, then you'll know im a big fan of Aloe Vera! This body butter not only includes Softening Shea Butter, but Aloe Vera too! What's not to like?! Soap & Glory suggest applying this cream just as you get out of the shower (whilst skin is still damp) and to then massage until the butter until it's completely sunk in! The consistency is my favourite thing about this product, it's really thick and rich, which in my opinion, feels a lot nicer than some thin & sloppy creams you find. I'm not sure if this product could be used every day, the scent is really fresh and quite floral, but sometimes this can be a little overpowering - If you look on the plus side, no further perfume is required!

Peaches and Clean 

This item promises to remove make-up and impurities in one wipe!! Made to be used every day, Peaches and Clean is a gentle (but effective) cleanser. Rich in antioxidants and vitamins, it helps increase circulation and cell respiration (which removes toxin) and also speeds up oxygen / nutrient delivery to the skin, which keep skin looks youthful. This product smells great, and after a couple of seconds, you can begin to feel a very weird sensation, that how quickly this product works! I'm really happy with the results, especially considering my skin is senstive!

Soap and glory products can be purchased online at http://www.soapandglory.com/ OR http://www.boots.com/en/Soap-Glory/ OR at your local Boots store. S&G have recently launched new Body Sprays so check them out!!

What are your favourite Soap & Glory
 products?  Let me know in the comments box below, or alternatively, if you have any suggestions / ideas for future blog posts I'd love to hear about them!

Thanks for reading,

Yvette Marie xo

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Turtorial: Homemade Face Masks

Hi everyone, last week I mentioned in my skincare routine post that I use Mask of Magnaminty from Lush; And whilst I do love this product, it can be a tad on the expensive side so below I've listed 3 of my favourite homemade facemask recipes! If you're on a budget, this is a great idea and so cost effective! Have a dig around in the kitchen cupboards, and enjoy x

1. Oatmeal Facial Mask -

Combine a TBSP of finely grounded oatmeal with a TBSP of plain yoghurt, and then add a small drop of honey into the mixture. Once all ingredients have been added, apply a thin layer to your face and leave to set for 10-15 minutes. Finally, rinse with warm water. This should give you a quick pick-me-up and leave your skin not only looking better, but also feeling it!! Apply moisturiser after for the best results!

2. Honey, Cinnamon and Nutmeg Face Mask -

 First, mix together 1 TSP of cinnamon and 1 TSP of nutmeg. Now add 2 drops of honey, and you're ready to go! Ingredients can obviously be adjusted to suit, but I find this combination works best. I usually leave this facemask on for 15 minutes, however, at the first sign of irritation wash off! What are the benefits of this face mask? Honey acts as a natural antioxidant, soothes skin and fights acne caused by microbes! Nutmeg reduces redness and inflammation caused by acne, and cinnamon can plump the skin by bringing oxygen and blood to the service. Cinnamon also unclogs and opens the pores by removing excess oil from the skin's surface. This mask is great for lightening blemishes, and reducing the appearance of scars. Although cinnamon is great, it can also cause major irritation and even an allergic reaction on the skin, so I would advise doing a patch test beforehand.

3. Ice Cube Facial Massage -

Ok so this isn't exactly a face mask, but I guess it can be described as a facial?! I recently read about a routine that I wanted to share with you, and now that it's the beginning of summer, this is the perfect time of year to try it out! Simply wrap ice cubes in a paper towel and massage your face in a circular motion for 1-2 minutes just before bed. Although this doesn't sound very pleasant, ice has a long list of benefits and can do wonders for your skin! Here is a list of just some; Minimise pores, control oil production, smooth complexion by easing the appearance of wrinkles, fight acne, promote blood circulation and help heal blemishes. There are plenty of ingredients that you can also include to suit your skin type too:

Dry Skin? Add Mint 

Oily Skin? Try adding sage

Wear make-up every day? I do! Include a TSP of olive oil to the water before freezing. The oil will nourish and smooth your skin.

Top Tips -

- Always wash your face, and remove any make-up before applying face masks to receive the best results!
-  Some ingredients mentioned may cause irritation, so always do a small test patch before applying it onto your face.
- If big oats aren't for you, grind them down so the mixture is a lot finer.

- When adding honey, run the spoon under a hot tap beforehand. It makes it a lot easier to pick up and drop off the liquid.
- Place a strainer in your sink to catch the oats when they've washed off.

Please feel free to comment if you found this tutorial helpful, or if you have any suggestions for future blog posts!

Thanks for reading,

Yvette Marie xo

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Cosmetics on a budget - Pros & Cons!!

Cosmetics on a budget! All products featured in this post came to £4 or under, and were bought in person. Enjoy!

FACE - Essence now sell what appears to be a Maybelline Dream Matt Mousse dupe, but for £3.80 it (unexpectedly) delivers some awesome results! It's a full coverage foundation; however a generous is needed to achieve this! I would also advise that a large amount of moisturiser is required before and after use (if you don't already). I found that, although it is a smooth & mousse like texture, the product really dried my skin out.

LIPS - Spring/Summer 2015 is all about nudes and pastels, so i bought this lipstick from Essence and I love love love everything about it! I paid just £2.30, which is a great buy because this product can be ued both day & night! The texture feel great; A lipstick that doesn't dry out your lips, manages to add moisture and lasts more than 10 minutes!! If you're looking for something that's fairly pastel, but want to add a little bit of shine, then this Lip Butter Pencil from Collection 2000 is for you! Currently available in 4 different colours, and retailing at £2.99, which makes it an awesome buy!

EYES - I love this dupe of Benefit's 'Gimme Brow' Eyebrow Mascara from Essence, and at a RRP price of £2.49 what's not to love! I've not actually used Benefit's eyebrow mascara before, because it's such an expensive buy! But that doesn't mean I didn't spot some obvious differences. For one, the price in comparison to the real thing, the size of the bristles, and lastly the amount of liquid in one tube! After conducting a little bit of research, and testing this item from Essence, I don't think I'll need to buy Benefit's version! See the results below for yourself :) 

I managed to nab this eye shadow pallet in the sale for just £1 (originally £2), which means I paid just under 13p for 8 different colours!! Can you guess where from?...Primark! To make a smokey eye effect I used 3 different colours, and the back of my hand. By using a brush and applying the colours in a small circular motion, I was easily able to create this effect. If you don't want to break the bank trialling what brushes work best for you, then have a look online at different product providers & read reviews 

before actually hitting the shops.             










My favourite purchase from this budget post is a mascara from Primark (see below). I bought this black tube (top left) for just £1, which made my eyelashes very flat and clump together! BUT my trip wasn't a total disappointment; I bought this 'Lash Defining' Mascara from Primark for £2, which I would recommend to everybody! My eyes looked really bright and open, my eyelashes looked amazing & extra-long, and lastly, they didn't clump together. The perfect consistency. 

•               Unfortunately, cosmetics from Essence aren't available online, but click the link below to check your local stockist http://www.essence.eu/uk/store-finder/ 


• Click here to find out where you can purchase Collection 2000 http://www.essence.eu/uk/store-finder/
• MUA products can be purchased at your local Superdrug store, or online here http://www.muastore.co.uk/

•  P.S Love Make-up (Primark) items can only be purchased in-store, click here to find your closest store - http://www.primark.com/en/our-stores
  

  

  
  

 Please feel free to comment if you found this review helpful, or if you have any suggestions for future blog posts!

Thanks for reading,

Yvette Marie xo

 

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Review: Dr Paw Paw Original Balm

I received this delivery from Dr Paw Paw earlier in the week, and was very excited to give it a try! Not only is it an ultimate lip balm, but it also appears to be a 'fixer' of everything. The packaging is fun, colourful, easy to recognise and promises the following results:

• Ultimate Lip Balm
• Brow Smoother/Shaper
• Skin soother
• Moisturiser for skin
• Eye Primer
• Make-up finisher/primer
• Nappy rash soother
• Helps with bites and stings
• Say goodbye to cracked heels

The product really does work wonders. My skin felt soft after use, my lips were smooth and eyebrows shaped! The product retails at a price of £6.95, which is a very reasonable price considering the amount of areas that the balm works on.

The texture of the product is quite thick, and almost like a Vaseline jelly. I tested the original balm, which is clear and fragrance free. I would have probably preferred something with a smell, but as the products fixes a lot of different areas, a fragrance would most likely irritate! In the future I would love to purchase the Tinted Ultimate Red or Peach Pink balm, as these colours can also be used to add a lip colour finish or colour to cheeks!

Dr Paw Paw products are available on the high-street, but if you'd like to visit their website, click here http://www.drpawpaw.com/

Please feel free to comment if you found this review helpful, or if you have any suggestions for future blog posts!

Thanks for reading,

Yvette Marie xo
 

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