MAC Chatterbox Review

I've been a little under the weather this week and have had two days off work due to food poisoning :(. I'm finally starting to feel better (honestly, I thought I was on the verge of dying!) thanks to my boyfriend nursing me back to health (buying me Grazia and topping up my flask of very diluted Ribena) but sadly it meant I missed my usual "Tuesday Reviewsday" post this week. I didn't want to continue as if nothing had happened, so I've decided to write up a post on my favourite MAC lipstick; Chatterbox.

Chatterbox is a gorgeously pigmented bright pink shade, and is part of the Amplified creme range, which means it has fuller coverage than the cremesheen collection but is not as matte as the matte or glaze finishes. As the range name suggests, Chatterbox has a really creamy texture and doesn't dry out your lips at all. I find the colour lasts around 3 hours before you need to reapply, but as with every pigmented lipstick it does tend to stain your lips a little and doesn't completely fade away throughout the day if you don't have a chance to reapply.

Just like all the other MAC lipsticks, Chatterbox smells gorgeous! This little vanilla scented bullet is one of my favourite lipsticks, and retailing at £14.00 is perfect for those of you who want a higher end lipstick but don't have the disposable income right now to splash out on your YSL's and Lancome's.

If you are just getting started on wearing lipsticks, I would highly recommend watching this video by Lily Pebbles. It has some great tips for preparing your lips for lipsticks and provides a short guide on building up the right finish for you!

xxx

The Great Gatsby

I never thought I would see the day that I actually got excited about re-reading and going to watch a film adaptation of a book that bored me to death at school, and was the bane of my life during year 12. The Great Gatsby is one of the classics, a beautiful love story written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, depicting love and the glamour of New York during prohibition, the jazz age and the roaring twenties.

If you haven't read the book but are thinking about going to watch the film, I would strongly, strongly suggest you give it a whirl first. It's very short; it only took me about four hours to read and it's most definitely worth it. The film very closely follows the book; most of the quotes are the same and I don't want to give anything away but the plot is almost identical and in the same order. So, if you have a bit of time on your hands, try it, it makes watching the film so much better when you see just how well Baz Luhrman has portrayed the glitz, glamour and relationship between Daisy and Gatsby.

I went to see the film in 2D, at the late showing on Friday night. As it is 2 and half hours long, I was getting sleepy half way in and despite loving every minute, my bed was calling. My boyfriend and I have decided to go and see it again in 3D tomorrow night... that's how much I loved it!

Oh and just as a final note, the music in the film is exceptional. My personal favourites were Lana Del Rey and Nero, but there are some brilliant pieces in there which really bring Gatsby's legendary parties to life.

Let me know if you have read / seen it also, I would love to hear your thoughts!! 

xxx

Loving O.P.I...

It's the worst kept secret in the blogger world; Essie nail polishes are reduced to £1.99 on Fragrance Direct's website. Whilst everyone is rushing to grab a few bottles before they're gone, did you realise that O.P.I is also reduced to £3.99? 

I discovered this the other day and immediately started googling swatches for each other colours, before dropping "Don't Mess With OPI" and "I Brake For Manicures" into my basket. After arriving promptly in second class post, these two babies have been fast tracked into the "must blog about" pile.

I tried both out immediately using my nail wheels, and as expected, love both colours. The pigmentation is very good on the brown "I Brake For Manicures" but two coats is imperative to achieve the desired Green finish with "Don't Mess With OPI". 

What do you think of the colours I chose? Do you love O.P.I too?

xxx

Maybelline Color Show Nails

During my usual Boots spree this Saturday, my eyes were drawn to the Maybelline counter. Five brilliant new shade of "speckled" nail polish had been released, and were now taking pride of place at the top of the nails section. I picked up 198 Shooting Stars, a gorgeous deep blue and 200 Rainforest Canopy.

Is it just me or are these similar to Illamasqua I'mperfection? I tried them out and despite not being hugely pigmented, I love them! You definitely need at least two coats, but for £2.99, who's complaining?!

ONE COAT

TWO COATS

I really like the way Maybelline have mixed muted black shapes with white ones, it gives the polish depth and is something new instead of standard glitter finishes.

What do you think? Have you tried any of the Color Show nail polishes?

xxx

Tuesday Reviewsday - April Favourites

In April 99% of my time was spent with my head in a book, revising for my final university exams. Although I did not purchase a lot of new things, I did become loyal to a few items which saw me nicely through the month. 

I'm sure every beauty blogger and their dog has heard of the Essie offer on Fragrance Direct, so I don't want to ramble on about it. If by some chance you haven't, you can read my full post here. I bought five colours, but my favourites have been Mojito Madness, Bikini So Teeny and Cascade Cool. All very summery colours, and the large Essie brush makes application super quick and easy for those of us who rush painting them before bedtime!

I had a small breakout on my chin due to stress and bad eating habits (anything quick was my go to meal) so Garnier's Pure Active Deep Pore Unclogging Wash was a great everyday cleanser, complete with microbeads to unclog all of that dirt that gets trapped underneath the skin's surface. I've been using the No7 Beautiful Skin Purifying Exfoliator twice a week after using this cleanser, and am already noticing results.

I like to rotate my fragrances, so that I don't get too used to one and start to become "immune" to the scent. My boyfriend bought me Ralph Lauren's Big Pony in Yellow for my birthday last August, but I haven't really used it too much until now. It's the perfect summer scent and the 30ml bottle is perfect to pop into my handbag without weighing me down!

xxx

Tuesday Reviewsday - Trevor Sorbie Beautifully Straightened Smoothing Balm

Confession - I've had this product for ages now, I bought it in a large giftset because i liked the box and wanted the brush that came with it. However, it is only recently that I have actually delved into the other contents of the set, and doing so, I found this little beauty.

To start with, this product has a really thick formula, it isn't lightweight or 'thin' like some of the other serums  I have tried in the past. I have really long and thick hair, which is more than likely the reason why this balm works so well, because it isn't disappearing at the first sight of my hairdryer. Don't get me wrong, this doesn't weigh down my hair, it just feels like it is actually sinking in for once.

I like to run this through my ends before I start to blow dry my hair. Although the balm contains heat protection, I usually spritz my Charles Worthington Salon Finish Heat Defence Spray over my hair before.

The end result is similar to having your hair done professionally, it feels lightweight and is completely defrizzed. I really enjoy using this balm, and would without a shadow of a doubt recommend it to anyone with thick and/or long hair - but only use it on the ends, it's too thick and moisturising to apply further up or you may just end up rewashing your hair!

Have you tried this product?

xxx

Tuesday Reviewsday - Essie Bikini So Teeny

Last Wednesday, for the first time ever, I purchased an Essie nail polish. Not just one though, five, after I found them on Fragrance Direct's website for the crazily bargainous price of one pound and ninety-nine pence. Hannah, who loves painting her nails and nail art, has never owned an Essie polish before? Indeed, this was my first purchase. I'm not sure why I have never bought into this brand before, but I have been satisfied with my Models Own, Nails Inc and Barry M and never felt the need to further explore the realm of the nail polish market. However, when I saw this offer, I jumped in head first and bought five new colours to try out.

Bikini So Teeny is more than likely a shade that you, your sister, your friend or a blogger you read already owns. A cult classic, if you will. This lilacy blue shade is very pretty, and perfect for Spring, so without further ado... here are my thoughts.

The brushes in Essie nail polishes are wider than normal, which is great for painting as you can cover your whole nail in one stripe. Seriously, it expands over the whole base of your nail and glides evenly along to leave a perfect coat with one stroke. The only other nail polishes I have ever used that do this are the Rimmel  London Lasting Finish polishes, with a specially designed "fatter" brush.

So, 20 strokes later (two coats on each nail), I had a full set of pastel talons. Another pleasant surprise from Essie was what I call the "setting time". This is how long it takes for the nail polish to dry and set on your nail, before you can touch them properly without fear of smudging or taking off the top shine. Drying and setting are very different things, and as a victim to painting my nails just before I go to sleep, I need them to set quickly to avoid nasty chips and creases on the polish when I wake up. Essie satsifies this need, so I am looking forward to continuing my relationship with them.

Overall thoughts? A great nail polish, chip free for three days and a beautiful colour which for once, I haven't already got a crazily similar version of. 

xxx

Tuesday Reviewsday - Nivea Regenerating Night Cream

I featured this in my haul the other day, so this is a very recent purchase and I have not been using it for too long yet. I might do a follow up post in a few weeks time if anyone wants me to, to further my review after I have been using the product for longer.

Now, I'm only 21 and when I hear "night cream", I think of a product for more mature women, such as a cream with anti ageing properties. I've been using my normal moisturiser for day and night and it's been keeping my skin hydrated enough, so I thought why do I need to buy a night cream? However, after a little background research, I realised that night creams actually work very differently to day creams, containing completely different ingredients to target your skin in different ways.

Typically, night creams have higher levels of Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Retinol than day creams, and are a thicker formula to boost overnight repair whilst moisturising the surface. On the contrary, day creams usually include SPF and work to protect your skin from polluting elements and those harmful UV rays, whilst hydrating it to maintain oil levels.

I quickly realised that I did need a night cream, and was wasting my normal moisturiser by using it night... no one needs SPF when they're lying in bed in the dark! 

I found myself in Boots on the skincare aisle, and my eye was drawn to the Nivea range. I absolutely love the scent of Nivea products, their mini moisturiser tubes are a firm favourite in my handbag and I regularly use their tinted moisturiser in the summer to replace foundation. I was pleasantly surprised at the cost of their night cream, it was on a half price offer for £2.05! A quick scan of the back of the box showed that it contained Vitamin E, Lotus Extract and Hydra IQ, and was designed to provide intensive moisture whilst supporting the skins overnight regenerating process and moisture balance. Just what I needed I thought, and the normal / combination skin box went into my basket.

My initial reactions to this product when opened were, wow it's a glass tub... for £2.05! Something inside me really likes glass cosmetics tubs / bottles, I'm not sure why, but it definitely makes them look more expensive when sitting on my bedside table! Secondly, as mentioned earlier, it carries the normal amazing Nivea scent, and as always is a pleasure to apply to my skin.

The cream itself is thicker than I thought it would be, but that's mainly because I am so used to wearing day moisturisers which by nature are thinner because you're applying make-up over them. It sinks into my skin really well and doesn't leave a thick cakey grease layer on the top after a few minutes which I have found with some creams in the past. 

I haven't noticed any difference in my complexion since using the skin (i.e. drawing out impurities etc) which I had read night creams can do, but it does make my skin feel super soft when I wake up and the Vitamin E seems to be keeping it nicely moisturised throughout the night, but not overly greasy. Obviously I haven't used this product for a sustained period of time yet, so time will tell if I continue to use and repurchase this, but for now, the Nivea Daily Essentials Regenerating Night Cream gets a huge thumbs up from me.

Have you tried this product before? Do you use night creams?

xxx

Tuesday Reviewsday: Bed Head Headrush

If you haven't heard of Bed Head Headrush before, then I suggest you get down to your hairdressers sharpish and bag yourself a bottle. This super fine hair spray is designed to add shine and polish to your finished style, without weighing it down with unnessecary product.

Defined as shine adrenaline with a super fine mist, this hairspray really does do what it says on the tin. One quick spritz all over your hair after styling and you're ready to go, style held loosely in place with lots of gloss. It is not greasy in the slightest and is the finest spray I have ever used, but surprisingly the effects are still noticeable in my long and thick hair. This spray works particularly well with layered hair I have found, as it adds some definition to the ends and maintains a healthy and polished style.

My favourite attribute of this product has to be it's smell. Oh my gosh, it is incredible. Think a fusion of strawberries and sweets and you're not even close, it's amazing. For me, it is one of the smells that really reminds of me of the hairdressers. You know, when you come out with a new haircut and your hair smells the best it's ever smelt? That's what this reminds me of.

I have also found the size and weight of the bottle to be really handy, especially for on the go. As it is only 200ml and the spray inside is very lightweight, this is a very handbag friendly spray unlike some of the larger and bulkier hairsprays on the market. As with all TIGI Bed Head products, I think the colourscheme of this bottle is really appealing which again reinforces my love for this hairspray.

I throroughly recommend you try this product, or at least go and test it out to smell it if you don't want to commit. Trust me, you'll be sold on the smell. Headrush retails at £9.99 and is available in Bed Head stockists including most hairdressing salons across the UK.

xxx

Denman D3 Hairbrush Review

I can't believe it is Tuesday already, life is going too fast at the moment!

Almost two weeks ago I purchased a product I had been longing after for a long time; the Denman D3 hairbrush. For too long now I had been using a cheap brush much to the mercy of my hair, so I decided it was time to stop being so cheap and just go ahead and buy this.

Cleverly taglined as 'the hairdresser's brush', Denman have been producing hairbrushes since 1938 and now have a wide, well established range. These brushes are built to last, and have natural rubber pads to prevent static in your hair. The D3 is just one of many, they also retail paddle, curling, grooming, vent and thermoceramic straightening brushes.

As I have really thick and really long hair, I need a brush that will cut through tangles without breaking my hair. The D3 works perfectly for this purpose, as its 7 rows of Nylon pins glide through my hair and instantly cut through the knots. Unlike most hairbrushes, the pins don't have those small balls on the end of the bristles which I find better for my hair, as it prevents further tangling.

The brush itself is really lightweight and easy to hold, making it perfect to use whilst also holding a style tool i.e. GHDs. 

For only £7.09, I can't recommend this hairbrush enough. If you don't already have a Denman in your life, you really are missing out.

xxx

Garnier Moisture Match - Shine Be Gone Mattifying Cream

I featured this Garnier moisturiser in my naughty haul on Saturday, so as promised, here is the review!

As I've previously mentioned on this blog, my skin type is combination, I have a oily T-Zone but dry skin on my cheeks. Therefore, when it comes to moisturisers I need something which can provide an effective solution for both, something to combat oil but moisturise dry patches at the same time. I really struggle with finding a good moisturiser to serve this purpose well, and have tried many which are only capable of one of these, despite claiming to do both.

I spotted Garnier Moisture Match on a point of sale in Boots on Saturday, and at only £5.99 thought 'why not' and chucked it into my basket. The cream claims to mattify and reduce shine to leave your skin looking more uniformed. Great, I thought, so I read on. Moisture Match is a new range which consists of 4 tailor made moisturisers, designed to suit different skin types. 'Shine Be Gone' promises to fulfil the following; quick to absorb, mattifies all day long and reinforces the skin's barrier function helping your skin to maintain its level of hydration.

Let's put it to the test...

Shine Be Gone smells amazing, it's a light clean scent which feels gorgeous to rub into my skin. When I first squeezed the bottle I was surprised at the formula, as it feels like an oily cream and not something you would usually buy for combination skin. The cream is really lightweight and rubs in really easily.

Once applied, it sunk in almost immediately and applying makeup over the top was easy. It mattified my forehead to a certain extent, but I was still reapplying powder after 5 hours of first applying my makeup. A little disappointing, but I think I'm coming to the conclusion that there just isn't a product out there which can completely combat oil!

The best thing about this moisturiser is the price. At only £5.99, (and I spotted it in Superdrug today on offer for £3.99!) it is such good value. Even if you already own a few moisturisers which do the trick for you, consider picking up one of these Moisture Match's and using it for a spare. Shine Be Gone gets the thumbs up from me.

Can you reccomend any good moisturisers that I should try?

xxx

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream - Review

Tuesdays are 'Reviewsdays' !

Today I wanted to review a cult classic, so I wracked my brains and raided my beauty stash to find a well known beauty favourite. I have owned Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream for about four months now, so I feel qualified enough to give it a pretty thorough and honest review.

In case you are unaware of this product, 8 Hour Cream is a skincare protectant which relieves dry skin and smoothes chapping and redness.

When I first unscrewed my tube, I was pretty surprised to find the formula is not actually a cream at all, but a very thick and greasy gel. I was almost hesitant to apply this to my skin, as I feared anything that greasy would not do my skin any favours.

I have however found this cream to be pretty much amazing on eliminating dry skin. As the name suggests, all winter long I have applied it to my lips and any dry patches before going to bed and woken up with completely revitalised skin. It really does work wonders on chapped lips, and it's one million times better than any lip-balm I have ever tried. I have recently started to slather a little bit of it onto my eyebrows after I have plucked them, and again found that it soothes my skin really effectively.

I opted for the fragrance free version as I had heard others say that the smell is a little old fashioned, but to be honest I find that even mine has a little bit of an odd scent to it.

I would throrougly recommend 8 Hour Cream to anyone who suffers with dry skin, or to anyone who's skin does not agree with wintertime! On the back of the tube it advises that this product can also be used to soothe minor skin irritations and patches of sore redness.

Have you ever used 8 Hour Cream? I would love to hear what you think!

xxx