Review: Collection - Long Lasting Lipstick

5/6 Lips - Collection have just released a new line of long-lasting lipstick in 6 Matte & 16 gloss moisture boosting shades. The magazine brand Company have conducted an online quiz, where you can find out what colour sums you up best, plus you'll also read a little description of what kind of personality you have (whether this is accurate or not, I'm not 100% sure!) Link is here: http://www.company.co.uk/beauty/what-lipstick-shade-is-right-for-you-quiz. My result 'Kylie (Jenner) Purple'...AKA 'Mulberry Burst', so off to Boots I went. I really hope you like this review, I love writing fun & simple posts like this the most! Enjoy, x 

*photo provided from Company*

I love everything about this lipstick!! EVERYTHING. I popped until Boots after work very briefly...I always try to leave ASAP; If I don't, my visit usually results in spending a ridiculous amount of time just pondering and admiring all cosmetics, when I really don't have the time or budget for that kind of shopping! Once I grabbed Mulberry Burst, I couldn't help but notice the amazing shades available. I wanted them all! There are some seriously nice colours out there, and the texture feels great too. I just can't believe they're on sale for just £2.99... This product is such good value for money!

Mulberry Burst is a lovely deep rosy purple colour, not too dark, but at the same time it's not bright enough to be tacky and tasteless. This colour looks matte, but at the same time it's so moisturising!! You can literally see tiny tiny spots where the moisture has risen to the surface. One thing that I would say before purchasing (and this is the ONLY flaw)... the colour swatches online do not represent the shade accurately, so definitely check out this product in store :)

Does this last? Well Collection haven't promised '24 hour wear' so it's hard to know what they consider 'Long-lasting' - this definitely lasts for a good few hours, which I think is a reasonable amount of time. If you're a few hours in to an evening or night out, you've probably top up your lipstick at least once by this point!

Want to know what colour will suit you? Then take the test from Company, and comment below. I'd love to hear what different kind of styles are out there!.. Alternatively, if you have any suggestions or ideas for future blog posts, I'd 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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Lush Write Up: My Favourite Face Masks

Just thought I'd write a quick post about why these two facemasks from Lush are my favourite! I'm a big big fan of Lush, I love the company's ethics (no animal testing & all natural ingredients ), I love the service I receive every time I'm in store, even if I'm not in Bristol, and lastly, I love the concept of each and every product! I hope you like this post just as much as I like using these two masks, enjoy x

Mask of Magnaminty - Firstly, this is made from 100% natural ingredients (free from BAD chemicals). Secondly, the ingredients used in Lush products are only purchased from suppliers who do not test on animals! This mask can do all sorts of things, but I mostly use it to help prevent breakouts. It keeps my skin calm and clear. As well as peppermint oil, (I mentioned this product in 'My Skincare Routine' post) this mask also contains Honey which is great as an antiseptic and moisturiser. The mask also acts as an exfoliator because it contains aduki beans and evening primrose seeds - so it works on my blackheads too. I've mentioned before that Lush products can be a little bit expensive (which is true) - this is £5.50 for just 125g, however, Mask of Magnaminty is the only mask from Lush which is self-preserving which means you don't have to try and finish a whole tub in 1 month - you have 4!

Oatifix - I love this face mask for completely different reasons than those stated above, but I think it's a great idea to have different products that alternate in order to save money and see the full effects of a company's products! This mask leaves my skin feeling super soft, firm, moisturised and really improves my complexion, plus it smells absolutely amazing! The texture is a little bit weird, because it's really thick & lumpy it can be quite hard to apply all over (without patches), and it's hard to wash off for the exact same reasons! If I could afford to use this all the time I would but with a retail at £6.50 for 75g, it's not really justifiable, especially as you only have 1 month of use.

Have you tried a Lush facemask? If so, what did you think? Do you have a favourite? 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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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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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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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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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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Review:Magnitone Lucid Cleansing & Exfoliating Brush

I recently read some great reviews about the Magnitone Lucid Brush, so thought I would take up the #7daychallenge myself; The Magnitone Lucid promises softer, brighter and smoother skin in just 7 days! I also thought this would be a great item to sum up my 5x Skincare Blog Post special. At first glance, it's cute, colourful and tiny. Travel size and super lightweight! The charger is magnetic, and the battery life lasts a week (fully charged). My skin has never felt cleaner, and my complexion looks a lot brighter...There are so many things that I like about this product already, so below I've picked out some key areas to describe the product! Enjoy, x

Deep Purification - Reduces the appearance of pores.

This brush cleanses & purifies pores deeply and effectively. It also helps to remove oil that may cause breakouts / blackheads and create spots! At first I was slightly worried that the bristles would be too hard for my skin, but they're actually super soft and flexible. As mentioned in previous blog posts, it's really important that all make-up has been removed in order to receive the best results!

Facial Cleansing Timer - To make daily use easy

Magnitone have made the design very simple, so It's very easy to fit the brush into your daily cleansing routine. Use it for just 1 minute twice a day (morning & evening) with your existing cleansers and serums, rinse off, and then apply moisturizer. The 20 second timer guides you around different zones of the face, (first forehead, then cheeks, followed by chin/nose/mouth) before automatically shutting off after 1 minute. I love that this product has a timer. I didn't feel like I needed to use the brush on certain sections (such as my forehead) for the full 20 seconds, so that much guidance really helped me out. Did I mention that it's also waterproof? So you can also use it in the shower!

Two different cleanses modes - To suit skin types & create ultra-fast deep cleansing 

There are two different settings, made for either a Deep Cleanse or Sensitive skin type. Magnitone use Active Electromagnetic Technology, to make the bristles rotate over 10,000 times per minute in order to cleanse, exfoliate and lift deep pores. Not only can the Lucid exfoliate, but it can also improve the condition of skin, and make it look more alive! My skin felt super soft after, even before I'd applied my moisturizer! I would definitely recommend using the sensitive setting  during the first week, as the deep cleanse can be a little over-powering / make your skin look super red!

Although the Magnitone Lucid is a little bit on the pricey side, (and not exactly an impulse purchase) if you shop around you will find some great offers! I bought mine from lookfantastic.com for £62.99 instead of £70, and this meant I also received a free Beauty Box worth £45, so make sure you do your research before investing! Plus, Magnitone will also provide a 12 month guarantee warranty card with your purchase for FREE! (who doesn't love free stuff?!)

Have you tried the #7DayChallenge? If so, let me know what the end results were 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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