Review:Fullips - Lip Enhancers

6/6 - Lips ... If you've met me in person, or, if you've ever checked out my Instagram *click here*, you'll know that my lips aren't the biggest, in fact, they're tiny!!.. My top lip is pretty much non-existent. I would love my lips to be bigger, but I'm not so keen on having lip fillers, or any cosmetic procedure! So I searched the web for a solution (I think everyone does this) and I came across 'Fullips'. During the last few months there has been a lot of publicity around these lip enhancers from Fullips as Kylie Jenner claimed during an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians that this product was the reason for her new super-sized lips... OK so later on KUWTK Kylie admitted that she'd actually had lip fillers, but that didn't stop me wanting to test this product! Continuing reading for my full review! Enjoy, x

I purchased two sizes, small & medium from Ebay - I didn't think a size Large was needed, because my lips are just so SMALL! This product was pretty expensive, from memory I paid £18 for 2 plus Postage & Packaging... Yes it is a one off purchase, but I thought this was a little bit pricey considering this product is made by a small American company. If you shop around, you may be able to find a money saving deal such as '3 for the price of 2' or some sort of deal from a beauty salon /distributor - so be sure to do this!!

Ok... so where to begin? This product is super easy to use!!

1) Just before use, apply a lip scrub - here's an awesome recipe

2) Simply wet your lips (I find plain Vaseline is a good substance)

3) Apply the enhancer to your lips until suction has been made.. and relax!

4) Keep the plumper attached for approx. 30 seconds, and then repeat 

5) It's REALLY important that you detached the enhancer using your fingers (as opposed to just pulling the item off) otherwise your lips will bruise!
6) You may have to play around with a different technique, just to find out what work best for you.. there are hundreds of tutorials online, so have a look.

I really like the medium size because I can use it for my whole lip area, and then use the smaller size tool to target certain areas, i.e. my cupid bow!

Does this product work? Absolutely!! Here are some before and after photos -  as you can see, my lips look so much fuller, plump and just generally better! Make sure you check out my Instagram to see a complete variety of results. The lip area is left a little red after use, but that's pretty much unavoidable. After the redness has gone away and your skin has calmed down, apply a lip liner and your favourite lipstick!! Once lipstick has been applied, you can really see the difference in size!! The results last between 1-3 hours, which I believe is just about the right of time. It takes around 30 seconds (minimum) to make your lips bigger, and the results last all evening! If you use the enhancer every day, then the results will last longer! 

Have you tried the Lip Enhancers from Fullips? If so, what did you think? Leave your comments in the box below... Alternatively, if you have any ideas for future blog posts, I would love to hear them! 

Thanks for reading, 

Yvette Marie xo

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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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Review: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics

We're now into the 3rd post (out of 6) all about Lips. With blog posts varying from the best way to care for your lips, to my favourite lipsticks and lastly, how to get super-sized lips (if they do not come naturally to you) without inserting chemicals! This week I reviewed the 'After Dark Stained Gloss' test tubes from the brand 'Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics' which came in the following colours and also included a little lip brush; Hedonist (pale pink), New Wave (glossy neon pink), Jealous (red/orange shellac) and Little Black Dress! (black as you can probably guess)! Enjoy, x

Where to begin with this product?! These items are INSANELY pigmented; A little bit goes a very long way! The consistency is quite runny, but if you only use small quantities, this is manageable! The colours do stain, but this doesn't last all day. In fact, during the first use the effects lasted for just under 2 hours (I did eat so this may be why?). As the lip gloss leaves stains, I'd always recommend using the lip brush provided - it also makes application a lot easier. The colours in the pack are great alone, but also work when they're mixed ogether! The pink colours are a tiny bit darker than what's represented on the packaging, and I wouldn't say 'Jealous' was a very bold red, however, I feel as though this colour combination was chosen perfectly to fit with different occasions in the day, so they still work very well;

Hedonist & New Wave - It's pink, casual and you could easily wear this shade to work / out for coffee & shopping. Simple, but vibrant.

Jealous - Glossy and Red - It was very neat looking, but not too overpowering! Could easily work for a daytime date or out for dinner with friends!

Little Black Dress - A darkening shade, which works great with other colours to create an empowering /dark look - something that would be great for evening ocassions / special events.

I did enjoy experimenting with these lip glosses, but pricewise, they were on the expensive side. I purchased this pack on Ebay for £20, which meant I paid £5 for just 2.5ml!! - Certainly not the cheapest items out there, but as this is an American brand, it's hard to find these kinds of items without paying a fortune for postage & packaging! I would buy something similar to this again (obviously with different colours) but the price would DEFINITELY have to be lower!

I've read some great reviews about OCC's Lip Tarr and would love to try them out sometime... Obsessive Compulsive Products are available online from Beauty retailer Sephora - The 'After Dark' pack is now on sale for just $8!! - Alternatively, click here to visit OCC website where you will find this product & lots more!! http://occmakeup.com/. 

Have you tried OCC Stained Lip Gloss? If so, what did you think? Leave your comments in the box below, or, 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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Review:Natural Lip Balm by LipGlam

Hi everyone, I hope you enjoyed my 5x post Skincare special just as much enjoyed writing it. I recently mentioned on my Instagram page that I've thought up some awesome (in my opinion) ideas for my blog, before listing some companies that I would love to work with. Since then, LipGlam have been in touch with me, and provide this 100% Natural Lip Balm for me to test and review! Enjoy, x

So what exactly is this product? and what are the benefits?! LipGlam Natural Balm is a multipurpose moisturiser. This balm can do all sorts of things, from repairing dry lips, acting as a split end soother, and it's also a lip & mascara primer (Plus it acts as an eyebrow balm, cuticle ointment, soothes rashes and provides relief to dry skin). When I first opened the packaging, I was genuinely surprise at just how many things this product could fix! The RRP is £9.99, (which may sound a little pricey for a lip balm?!) but once you add up the cost of separate products that are all combined into 1 here, it's a real money saver.

Made from 100% natural ingredients (free from BAD chemicals) the balm delivers instant relief, proven to reduce skin roughness by 40% in 1 hour! Plus, it works for up to 8 hours! The main ingredient is Lanolin, which is a natural oil distracted from sheep's wool; Holding moisture into the skin to give a deep hydration. LipGlam blend Lanolin with natural botanicals, resulting in a readily absorbed balm that replenishes the skin instantly. By optimising your natural defences, it ensures a healthy glow and even provides a mild plumping effect!! Making it easy to have super soft lips. This product is also suitable all skin types including sensitive, so what's not to like?!

I loved using this balm for so many different reasons, but especially because it's made from all natural ingredients; And that's exactly why I've used it to start off my 6x post Lips special!! Working out what the best care products are for your lips is just as important as putting products on them! This product is availale online from www.lipglam.com. Have you tried LipGlam's Natural Lip Balm? If so, what did you think? Leave your comments in the 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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Review: Glitter Lips by Beauty Boulevard

Glitter lips is a (fairly) new semi-permanent lip glitter which is said to last (up to) 8 hours! It's one of the most sparkly products I've ever seen, and is a must have for any glitter lover. I bought Ruby Slippers because I thought colour would suit a lot of the clothes I wear. It's bright red (as you can probably guess by the name).

The instructions are very easy to follow; I applied the gloss/glue to my lips, paying attention to my lip line to make sure I stayed in-between the lines! (I have tiny tiny lips so this was quite the challenge). Keeping lips parted, I waited for the gloss to turn from white to clear, which took approx. 15 seconds. I carefully patted the glitter over my lips using the small applicator brush provided, and WALA! Fabulous Glitter Lips! 

Whilst I loved wearing this product, I'm not 100% that the colour that the colour really suited me (especially because my lips are SOOO small) which made me very self-aware. At a RRP OF £12.50, I also didn't want to spend that amount purchasing a colour that wouldn't suit me. After showing off my glitter lips during a night out, I began to feel a lot more confident because I was paid so many compliments!! The lips looked great, were fun to use, and actually stayed on for a good 6 hours (I don't think I've had a night out that lasted 8+ hours)... This stuff really doesn't budge, I ate, drank and kissed (as the product promises) an my lips were still intact.

Earlier this week, Beauty Boulevard launched some new products. Including; The unique lip formula bond is now available as an individual item- which is a great idea!! Glitter Lips have also released 'Glitter Eyes' which sounds just as fun! This would not be an everyday product, but for an evening out or a part event it's absolutely perfect.

Glitter Lips is available from www.beautyboulevard.co.uk

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: Anatomicals - We only want you for your body!

So the lovely people at Anatomicals sent me a couple of samples to trial! The first thing I'd like to shout about is, how much I LOVE this company!!

The products are fun, the packaging is bright, and colourful, and whilst I’ve read their slogans can be a little tongue and cheek I think they’re very witty! The staff are so so friendly, and all of their products are Paraben FREE, the list goes on…

Down to business – I was very excited to try out this face mask, and mostly because I love chocolate!  Some of the main ingredients are shea butter and cocoa which are always favourites of mine. Once I opened this up, I received the strongest waft of cocoa and this smell remained during application and after. Now this face mask is supposed to leave your skin feeling “calm, relaxed and radiant”, which, following a visit to see my friends who are all students felt like a necessity!!

The instructions are easy to follow - open up, apply to face and allow 10-15 minutes to dry, then apply a damp cloth and wipe off. It took a little longer than 15 minutes to dry, but this is probably because I was a little bit excited, and applied a generous amount. Whilst this mask usually retails for £1-£2 (if you shop around), you will get two uses out of one packet! Within 2 minutes my skin began to tingle, which meant I could feel the mask beginning to work, which is always good news! After washing off the mask, I would say that my skin felt softer, but there wasn’t a huge difference (noticeably anyway).

This product looks fun, smells great, doesn’t cost a fortune, but it also doesn’t appear to add much value either, so I probably wouldn’t buy this product (for myself anyway, if you have a friend who loves chocolate then this would make a great present)…6/10.

This is a little bit different to the usual face mask; it' a pre-moistened cloth (which I've not actually used before). It was really easy to use - Open the pouch, press the mask over your face, leave it work it's magic for 20 minutes, and if there is any excess liquid leftover this can be moisturized into your skin. Whilst I'm usually a bit dubious about these kinds of products, I found that it actually helped my skin, and I would be happy to use it again / recommend to a friend! If you're suffering from spots / a small break out, I would say that tea tree oil, in my experience, works best!! This item usually retails at £4 for two cloths, which is a little pricey considering it's only a 20 minute treatment, but it makes a nice treat. 8/10.

I love the concept of this, but the finishing result really does let the product down. 

Unfortunately ‘Puffy The Eye Bag Slayer’ just doesn’t quite work for me I’m afraid.

Like all products from Anatomicals, the packaging is fun, bright and colourful. After I removed all of my make-up, and washed my face I applied these (what can only be described as) under eye gel-like patches. Within 2 minutes my skin felt irritable, so I adjusted the area in which they were applied. After 30 minutes, as instructed, I removed the patches but didn’t notice any difference whatsoever. Whilst this product wasn’t a complete fail, it also wasn’t completely successful! I often have dark circles under my eyes due to lack of sleep, so was quite disappointed as I thought this could be a quick-fix solution. This product usually retails between £6-£7 for a pack of 3, unfortunately, I wouldn’t buy this myself. 4/10.

These were my favourite products!! The packaging looks bright, colourful and fun!

Both products are made from exotic ingredients, smelt great, and were pink! A lot of body scrubs that I’ve used recently have been brown, plain and bland, so it was nice to mix things up a bit. The scrub is very thick and grainy, and the shower gel was always quite thick. I've got sensitive skin, so a lot of products irritate my skin, however these two items done quite the opposite!! - My skin was left feeling very soft after use. These products usually retail between £3-£4 which is a little hefty, but the quality definitely represents the price! 10/10.

Anatomical products are available from http://www.anatomicals.net/aliens/

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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