Saturday 25 October 2014

LUSH EMPTIES

I am a big Lush fan. From their bath bombs to their skincare to their haircare, i like it all. I've recently gotten through a few of their products, so here are some of my thoughts.
I liked this product but didn't absolutely love it. Great value for money as you only need a few spritz and the bottle will last you a good couple of months. I used it as my second toner morning and night, after my Pixi Glow Tonic to add extra hydration. It worked pretty well but didn't do any wonders for my skin. I have the Tea Tree toner lined up next to try as i know everybody loves it to combat spots, so i'll let you know what i think of it once i get through the bottle.
I wasn't the biggest fan of this body wash. I found the grapefruit smell to be a bit too strong, but it did the job and didn't irritate my skin. You also don't need a lot to build up a lather which is good. However, i don't think i'll be repurchasing it given that i don't love the scent.
I really did not like this. It was super slippery and awkward to use, and the scent wasn't my favorite either. I tried to break it into smaller pieces to make it easier to use, but that just made matters worse. Safe to say, i definitely won't be repurchasing any kind of shower jelly.
I absolutely loved this product. Even though it was a bit hard to use since you have to scoop it out, it worked GREAT for my curly hair. The texture is really interesting since it has actual coconut bits in it, but i think that helped with the curls. It also smelt amazing. I'll definitely be picking this up again, i just wish it had a matching conditioner!

Retread Conditioner, £10.75 for 245g
I also loved this product. It smells like soya, which was odd at first but i grew to love. The texture is so light and smooth, but it does a great job at moisturizing my ends. The only downfall is i feel like i had to use quite a lot to get the moisture i wanted, and i don't have thick hair at all. Other than that though it was great, and i'll probably be repurchasing it sometime in the future.

Let me know what some of your favorite Lush products are, and what i should try next :)

Saturday 18 October 2014

PRIME TIME (EYELID EDITION)


I have very oily eyelids. There's no other way going about it. If you've never thought about it or don't have any problems with eyeshadow, this may seem really strange, but i'm sure there are many of you out there who know exactly how i feel. Eyeshadows crease on me like crazy. No matter what formula or brand i use, within a few hours most of it will have smudged or collected in my crease in a weird and very unattractive fashion. But i have good news, as today i come with a solution.


NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, £19.50
 I decided to try out the Nars eyeshadow primer after hearing youtuber Ingrid (Missglamorazzi) rave about it so much. I had tried other alternatives such as Urban Decay's Primer Potion, which helped but didn't completely eliminate creasing, so i wasn't TOO hopeful about this. I'm glad to say i was completely wrong.



Using the doe foot applicator, i smush (yes, that's a word) what comes out onto both lids, and use my fingers to blend it all out. It has no color or strange texture, and sinks into the skin almost immediately leaving no weird wetness or anything behind. From there you can just go ahead and apply your eyeshadow/eyeliner etc. the way you usually do. For me this totally eliminates any creasing and unwanted blending of any sort, and also helps the color of the eyeshadows appear more vibrant. My eye makeup looks exactly the same after 12 hours as it did when i first applied it, which are better results than i could have ever asked for. I've also come to using it even if i don't have any eyeshadow or liner on, to avoid an oily pool collection (gross) on my lids.

 If you haven't tried this primer out, i highly recommend it. If you have, let me know what you think, and i'd love to hear some other favorites of yours. My new mission is to find a drugstore dupe for this NARS one.

Saturday 11 October 2014

MUSIC MADNESS #1: THE FRANKLIN ELECTRIC

My very first non-beauty post is dedicated to my love of music. I am always on the hunt for a new band or artist to listen to with something new or unique to offer, and man did i find a gem this time. Spotify has been great for me to find new artists, or ones i haven't heard of before, and that's how i stumbled across The Franklin Electric. They are an alternative folk-pop band from Montreal, who were brought into the spotlight when their song 'Old Piano' won first place in the Nashville Songwriting competition song in 2012.


What i absolutely love about them is their incorporation of brass instruments (mainly a trumpet, played by the lead singer Jon Matte) into their music. It doesn't seem like the most likely combination, but it works so well, and he plays it so beautifully i just fall in love every time i listen to the album. They remind me of Mumford and Sons mixed with a jazzy edge, making them just so freakin' cool.


'This Is How I Let You Down' contains an array of songs that i can easily listen to on repeat when driving or just relaxing on my bed. I also absolutely love the orchestral remixes. Being a violin player myself (albeit not a very goof one, but still), I am so happy when strings and other classical instruments are mixed in with modern music to form beautiful sounds. I love every song on the album, but if i had to choose my top 3 they would be: Uninvited (Storm), This Is How I Let You Down (Orchestral Remix), and Running. Even if this doesn't seem like your thing, i urge you to check them out and give them some love. I'm sure they're going to be big soon.



Saturday 4 October 2014

THE LIP BALM LINEUP

Let's be honest here, no ones likes the look or feeling of dry chappy lips, but at the same time it's something we all go through at one time or another. Unlucky for me, my one time is pretty much all the time. However, what's unfortunate for me is lucky for you, as this means i have tried and tested many balms, and can help you decide what to try out and what to pass up. Having constantly dry lips has left me on a never ending hunt for the perfect lip balm (or shall i say lip balms), and here are my top five picks.



You might be wondering why i haven't narrowed these picks down to the ultimate one, and the truth is .. i can't! They ultimately do the same job, but i use each one in a different way and for a different reason, so here's the break down:

1. Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil, £3.69
Not only is this one of my all time favorite lip balms ever, it is the easiest one to find. I prefer the pomegranate version over the others mostly for the scent, but all of Burt's Bees lip balms are brilliant. So much in fact, that i never leave the house without one of these in my purse. It's great underneath lipstick to keep your lips hydrated and protected, but also ontop of some of the more drying formulas. I also find that applying this once a lipstick has faded away and left a stain really helps even things out, and stops the color from settling into the lines of the lips. 

2. H&M Lip Balm in Wild Vanilla, £1.50 (Can't find exact product, linked a similar one)
I have never actually heard anyone talk about these before, so it may seem like an unusual pick, but i really think this is one of those hidden gems. Honestly, i would never have thought to pick this up, but those stands they have near the cashiers -you know what i'm talking about- pulled me in and i thought 'what the heck, might as well give it a go' and i'm happy to say i was pleasantly surprised. Given that it's only £1.55 for such a huge tube, i had nothing to lose anyway. The formula has Shea butter in it which i absolutely love, and i find the texture to be nice and rich - great for no makeup days. So yes, it's quite big and chunky and definitely not ideal handbag size, but it's a great one to have in your room/bathroom/around the house. 

3. EOS Lipbalm in Lemon Drop, £4.20
Now this is one that has been raved about over and over, and after finally getting my hands on one i can see why. It's not my FAVORITE out of my picks, but it's a great one none the less. Full of Shea butter and vitamins C&E, this is once again a great light balm for daily use. It's also the only one on here with SPF 15, which makes it great for holidays. If a lemon-y scent isn't your thing though, i'd suggest trying out one of the other flavors, as it is quite strong.

4. Nuxe Rêve de Miel Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm, £9.50
Time for a cult classic. After seeing many beauty bloggers and youtubers go on about this balm i had to give it a go. The texture is super rich and creamy which makes it a great one for overnight use. I use this one daily before going to bed and it has helped SO much with the overall condition of my lips. I hardly ever wake up feeling chapped and dehydrated as the thick texture is ultra moisturizing and makes it last all night. If you have very problematic lips or are going through a 'rough patch' i'd definitely recommend to give this a go. It's not the cheapest, but honestly so much product comes in this little pot that it will last you a very long time (and it's well worth it).

5. Dr. Lipp's Original Nipple Balm for Lips, £11.50
This is my ultimate SOS balm when nothing else seems to do the trick. I know the name seems a little weird, but the product is really something else. It's a thick, clear, and slightly sticky textured balm that can be used on dry lips, eczema, cuticles, burns and you guessed it - sore nipples. I have personally only tried it on lips and dry elbows, and it's definitely a super intensive treatment. So much so in fact, that i sometimes still feel it on my lips when i wake up. The glossy finish it leaves means it can also be used on top of any lip product of your preference to add a nice shine. The site even suggests trying it for highlighting the cheekbones, but given the texture it's not something i'm too keen on trying out. Nevertheless, if you need an intensive treatment that just works, try this out.


So let me know what are your all time favorite holy-grail balms, as i'm always open to trying out new ones. You never know, one might end up replacing one of my top 5.