A quick note before I get onto the post - I've been having some technical issues recently so blog posts might be a bit out of sync whilst I'm using a different computer. I've actually just purchased a Macbook Pro (so excited!) - I've been saving up for ages and was planning on getting it in the summer, but seeing as my old computer packed up I've dipped into some of my other savings and bought it now instead. Like I said, I'll try and upload as usual providing I can get this all sorted out!
Anyway, today I wanted to talk about mascara. Mascara is one of those products that when I don't have it on, my face of make-up just doesn't feel quite right. I tend to stick to drugstore ones, as there are some good options out there without having to spend lots of money - although I have included a really nice high end option for those of you who prefer premium brands.
Maybelline The Falsies - I spoke about this in one of my last posts so I won't ramble on about it too much, but to summarise, this mascara is basically great if you're looking for volume. I like to apply something more lengthening beforehand and then go back over the top with this to create a more dramatic effect.
Bobbi Brown No Smudge - Along with my Warm Eye palette that I received at Christmas, I also got this mascara. I was so excited to try this as it was my first high end mascara, and it definitely didn't disappoint! I would say this sits somewhere in between the other two mascaras that I've included - it lengthens whilst still providing quite a bit of volume. I find that it makes my lashes look super long and I really like the simple yet large bristle brush that it comes with. Also, one of its main perks is that it's waterproof so is long lasting and stays on all day without fail.
L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes - Lastly is my current favourite lengthening mascara. This comes with a plastic wand that is perfect for separating lashes. I tend to use this first in order to create super long, dramatic lashes and then go over the top with one of the other mascaras I've mentioned to add a bit more volume. I actually find it quite similar to the Maybelline Rocket mascara that I mentioned quite a while ago, so if you like that then you're probably going to like this one too.
What are your current favourite mascaras?
You may know by now that I am a huge palette lover - especially when it comes to eye shadow palettes! So when I saw that L'Oreal had launched their own, I just had to pick it up. Also, when I bought it from Boots, they had an offer running where you receive a free gift with it containing a mascara, liner, lipstick and nail polish - such a good bargain!
The palette comes with ten eye shadows - six shimmer and four matte shades. I find the shimmery shades a bit creamier than the matte ones, which aren't super pigmented. The palette has a nice selection of colours - they're coming up quite red-toned on camera but they're all fairly neutral, with a few pinks and purples too. I really like the palest colour, which would make a nice inner-corner highlight, as well as the darkest colour which would be perfect for a smokey eye.
At £14.99, I would say it's pretty good value for money - and a cheaper alternative to some of the more expensive palettes out there, like the Naked or Charlotte Tilbury ones. However, I do think that to an extent you get what you pay for as, whilst these shadows are nice, they're not as pigmented as some others that I've tried (which is one of the reasons why there aren't any swatches - if you want to see some nice ones, try here). But on the whole, I think it's a really pretty palette and I can't wait to experiment a bit more with it.
Have you tried this palette? What did you think?
For today's post, I wanted to share with you my 'miracle products' - these are generally products which have a bit of a different concept to them and are slightly unusual, but that work really well and usually save time too.
Vaseline Spray & Go Body Moisturiser - I'm pretty sure I've talked about this before, but I absolutely love this moisturiser! Moisturising can be a bit of a chore for me, but this product completely takes out all of the work because it's so easy to use. I have the Aloe Vera scent which is lovely, and now I really want to try the other ones too.
Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover - This is such a blogger favourite, and again it takes all the work out of removing nail polish. I also love how it doesn't smell like normal nail polish remover either, it smells fruity which is great! It's super quick and easy to use, and overall I think it's an amazing product.
L'Oreal Skin Perfection Velvety-Soft Toner - I'm definitely someone who likes to switch up my skincare routine a lot, and recently I've been trying out this toner. When I first got it, I wasn't too sure if I liked it because it has a gel-like consistency which I've never seen before, however it actually makes your skin feel really soft, and it's great at removing make-up.
Tresemme Keratin Smooth Treatment - Lastly is a hair product. I always go on about how my hair is unruly, frizzy and annoyingly curly, and how I'm always on the look out for ways to tame it. If you have similar hair to me, then I would definitely recommend this treatment. You apply a few pumps of it on damp hair and then blow dry (and straighten if possible) to activate it. I find it drastically reduces my frizz and makes my hair feel a lot softer and smoother - amazing!
What are your 'miracle products'? Have you tried any of these?
I am slowly becoming a bit of a foundation lover, as it's definitely one of my favourite things to buy when I go make-up shopping. Because of this, I decided it was time to compare some of the foundations I have purchased from the drugstore.
Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum: This is definitely a solid foundation favourite of mine. I would say it has light-medium coverage that's buildable, and is suitable for most skin types as it glides over my dry patches but also doesn't leave me looking oily. I wish I'd got a shade lighter and then perhaps this foundation would be perfect, but that's just my fault!
L'Oreal True Match: This is my most recent foundation purchase, but it's quickly working its way to the top! Again, I'm awful at picking shades (or maybe I'm just too lazy), so this is on the lighter side for me, but the finish is just gorgeous - it's somewhere in between matte and dewy. The coverage is perfect too, I would say it's medium. Overall, it's an amazing foundation and I'd definitely recommend it.
Bourjois Happy Light: This is also a fairly recent purchase, although I have had it for long enough to fully test it out. The shade I picked was the lightest but it's still on the dark side for me, which is a bit annoying. Finish wise, it's quite similar to the L'Oreal but maybe slightly more on the matte side. It also doesn't do as well with my dry patches as some of the others, but I think it would be perfect for oilier skin.
Rimmel Wake Me Up: This is my oldest foundation purchase, and perhaps one of the most disappointing! I know so many people love it, and I did too - until it broke me out. In every other way, I really liked this foundation, especially the gorgeous dewy finish it gave, but my skin just didn't agree with it so I had to stop using it. If you have sensitive skin like me, I would recommend approaching this with caution but it's definitely worth giving a go!
What's your favourite drugstore foundation?
As you probably know, I'm a bit of a nail polish addict, and so I thought now was the perfect time to share my Autumn and Winter nail polish picks with you!
Barry M Gelly in Blue Grape: I find the Gelly Nail Paints to be a bit hit and miss, however I do really like this one. Blues are my go-to nail colours, and this one is a gorgeous dark royal blue - perfect for Winter!
Barry M in Boots: This was a recent secret santa gift but I already love it! I've been looking for a silver glitter for a while now and this one is perfect and also lasts for ages.
Bourjois So Laque in Bleu Fabuleux and Noir de Chine: For me, Bourjois nail polishes have the best brushes I've ever tried. They're really thick so it doesn't take a lot of effort to apply the polish, and I also really like the formulas too. I picked a really pretty blue and also a black, which is a staple at this time of year.
Barry M in Berry Cosmo: This is again another recent present, but I've tried it out already and love it! It's a dark purpley red which is great for the festive season, and I definitely want to pick up more shades like this now.
Rimmel Precious Stones in Diamond Dust: If you love glitter, then this polish is for you! I'm definitely a glitter girl myself, so when I was given this I was super excited to try it out. It gives a much higher coverage than the Barry M one, so I like to wear this just on its own.
L'Oreal in Blue Reef: I've mentioned this a couple of times now but I just can't stop wearing it! It's a beautiful blue-green colour, but it isn't bright at all so it's perfect for Autumn and Winter.
Revlon in Charming: It took me a while to get into the lilac nails trend - for some reason I just didn't think it suited me. But now, after buying and trying out a few different lilacs, I actually really like it and this Revlon one is definitely my favourite.
What are your favourite nail polishes of the moment?
