Kate Moss Lipsticks♥

In all honesty, I feel that there aren't many drugstore lipsticks I haven't tried, especially a while back when lipsticks were my weakness. Rimmel Kate Moss lipstick range is highly hyped about, especially shade 107 and her new nude range (of which I'm yet to try) but I have two lipsticks which I have been impressed with, in terms of formula, colour and wear.

13; I feel that this one is right out of my comfort zone for sure because it's so vibrant and vivid. Ideally, it's more wearable in the Summer due to it being bright, and I associate the colour with the Summer. As it's such a bold and dominant shade, I find that it's easier to wear with a minimal/no eye makeup look, so that the focus of the makeup look is purely on this lipstick, and I know that it's sure to make an entrance! Due to being so bold however, you need to be really precise with application - a steady hand is essential to get that crisp line around the lips.

02; I was initially swaying towards this being a Winter shade due to it's berry tones, however, I'm now believing it could be worn in the Summer because it's quite a "bright" berry. Many of the berry shades I own are quite dark, but this one is intense and bold. Unlike the previous lipstick, this one is more versatile as it can be paired with an eye look but doesn't appear too much. It can be worn as it's true, bright self, or toned down by using less colour and blending it out more. Either way, it's a stunning shade.

The formula of these lipsticks are creamy but I haven't found there to be any issue of smudging. The Kate Moss lipstick range is forever expanding, therefore there it is guaranteed that there is something for everyone, and the shades will accommodate each and every one's skin tone.

I think I want to invest in the nude range simply because they look so easy to pull off (and the packaging is aesthetically pleasing!). 

Have you tried any Rimmel Kate Moss lipsticks? If so, which shade(s) do you recommend?

Meet The Mr♥️*

I first met The Mr when I came home one day to find he had made it through my letter box (I hope I didn't catch you out too much on the title haha!) Lancôme have done it again with their Monsieur Big Mascara* which I was really excited to try. It was the first Lancôme mascara I had ever tried, and as had "big" in it's title, I initially knew it was going to be a mega voluminous mascara - I'm typically a lengthening mascara gal so I put it to the test.

I think that the black and pink packaging appears chic and clean yet also smart and sleek, I do really like it. Although it's basic, I like the colours together, they work well even if they do contrast slightly. It's actually quite a thick and chunky tube, making it easy to identify. In my opinion, as the tube is quite big, it makes you instantly aware that it's a voluminous mascara - anyone else agree?

Now for the exciting part - the wand! Going by it's name, I was expecting quite a "fat" wand because it is a voluminous mascara. By no means is the wand long and thin, but it is wider than my usual mascara wands, yet it's nothing intimidating at all. The wand is made up of plastic bristles which are similar in size and length. I normally curl my lashes beforehand and when I apply this mascara, my lashes look huge, voluminous and bold, almost as if they were false lashes. Regardless of whether or not I use my lash curler, it does create a lot of volume, and really opens up my eyes. It really helps to emphasise my natural lashes as it manages to grip onto every last lash to coat them in mascara.
 In terms of removing, I remove it with a cotton pad soaked in micellar water and I have no problems with removing every last trace. It's a mascara that's suitable enough to wear during the day, creating a natural look, or can wear in the evening as it layers effectively enough to create a dramatic effect.

I really must admit that I've been impressed by this mascara as I've been happy with the results. I tend to prefer lengthening mascaras as I've previously mentioned but I would say that this mascara is among one of my favourite voluminous mascaras. Whether you have naturally long lashes or short, little lashes, I am confident that this mascara would work for you.

Have you tried this mascara? How did you get on with it?

*PR Samples

The £1 Concealer That Took Me By Surprise♥

Stick concealers definitely do not receive the hype they deserve. Rewind maybe 10 years ago and they were all that everyone used. For some odd, unknown reason, I stopped using stick concealers and had switched to concealers that had a doe foot applicator. However, recently I bought the MUA Hide & Conceal Stick to take on my holidays. Being only £1, I didn't expect too much, but in actual fact, I was blown away by it!

I went for the shade "Fair", simply because I'm pale but also for the illusion that under my eyes are brighter and that I look more awake. Turns out that it matches me pretty well and doesn't look too bad with a tan either I discovered. Considering I brought this concealer with me to a pretty warm climate, I was impressed that it never melted - I was expecting to take the lid off and the whole concealer had melted inside haah! For stick concealers, and any concealer in general, my preference to blend it is by using a damp beauty sponge, and boy does that work a treat with this little gem.

The formula of the concealer is uber creamy, it blends out effortlessly and flawlessly, concealing any imperfections without a hassle. A little goes a long way with regards to this concealer, meaning it will last a long period of time. I can't get over how good the coverage is for the price - it works amazingly on those dark under eye circles! I haven't tried it out on spots because I don't like to cover them with makeup but I still believe it'd work well! My only criticism with this concealer is that it does have the tendency to crease under the eyes so it's important that you set it with some powder to avoid this happening.

Honestly, I cannot recommend this concealer enough, especially for the price! It was one of those bought on a whim because I was needing a cheap stick concealer for holidays but turned out to be one of the best I've ever tried. Without a doubt, I would repurchase this again!

Have you tried this concealer?

Lancôme Matte Shaker♥️*

If you can rewind your mind back to last Spring, every blogger (including myself) was going mad for the Lancôme Juicy Shakers, of which I was in love with too (read my review here). Since then, Lancôme have expanded their delightful range even further, introducing a Matte Shaker*. When two beautiful shades arrived at my door, I couldn't have been more excited, not only because of the colours but also the idea that they are a matte formula.

Much like the original shaker range, the packaging is practically identical - the only difference is that the cap is black as opposed to the previous silver. I think that they resemble nail polish bottles purely because of the way the colour of the lipstick is exposed. Personally, I think that they look sleek and smart, not to mention quite cute too! They are an oil-based formula, and people often worry that the colour pay off will be weak, however, it's actually the opposite - they ooze pigmentation.

Yummy Pink*: I was curious to how bright this would be because on my first glance, I thought it was a "Barbie pink" and was wary of it. It turns out to be more subtle than the tube portrays it to be. When first applied, it feels "wet" on the lips, not tacky, but after a few minutes, it begins to dry. By no means does it feel drying at all, which can always be a worry with a matte lip product. I believe that it's a pink that could be worn on a daily basis if toned down, or ideal for wearing out due to being quite bright. Although it's quite a bold shade, it's definitely not too striking or overwhelming to wear, and it's sure to suit a wide range of skin tones - I'm quite pale and it doesn't make me look ghostly white.

As you can see, it's quite a light but pretty pink which is easy to pull off. Here, I have a simple makeup look and I feel that the lip colour just completes the whole look.

Red'y In 5*: Ah, a classic red, what more could I ask for? It has a bright colour pay off, but it is quite hard to apply because it's bold, and the formula is quite thick to an extent. I use a lip liner to make my life easier and sharpen up the edges of my lip. I cannot believe how pigmented it is - honestly, a small amount goes the longest way ever, you'd never guess that it was a liquid lipstick. With some liquid lipsticks, the colour changed once it dries, however, with this one, the colour remains the same, which I'm ever so glad of if I'm honest. It's certainly a striking red, not one of the more subtle shades.

Yes, I have very subtle eye makeup on - that's because I knew I wanted to pair it with a red lip, and this shaker is quite bright and bold. I don't know about you, but I love it.

I love the matte range of these shakers just as much as I loved the original. To compare and contrast them, I do think that the original range is more "oily" as opposed to the matte range, but this may be down to the whole idea of being matte. Both ranges have a wide variety of shades to choose from (the matte has a total of 7), so there's a little something for everyone! Not to mention how lightweight these feel on the lips, you almost forget that you're even wearing anything!

Have you tried the new matte shakers? How did you get on with them?

*PR Samples

Achieve A Summer Glow All Year Round With Dove♥️

Fake tan is not really an area which I often talk about, mainly because I don't use them as I'm so ghostly pale I'd look stupid with tan (truly blessed being Scottish). On the odd few occasions where I'm dressed up fancy and need a bit of a tan to look less ghostly, I use the Dove Derma Spa Summer Revived Gradual Tanning Body Lotion for fair to medium skin, you know, just for that summer glow.

 I first used this lotion a few years back and I was really impressed by it. It comes out looking like an ordinary lotion due to being white in colour, and this does mean that it's hard to see whether or not you have applied it evenly, which is potentially the only downfall. It has quite a thin consistency but it is not runny in any way at all. There is a strong, distinctive smell, but it is one which is rather pleasant as opposed to the typical fake tan smell (which I despise). After applying, you must give it time to sink into the skin, or else you will feel greasy and sticky; I usually apply in the evenings when going into my jammas so that they are light against my skin. Unlike other fake tans, it doesn't end up all over your clothes, leaving that dreaded orange streaks that everyone hates, especially if you go shopping and try on white clothes (PET HATE!!)

The best part about this tan is that it's a body lotion, meaning that not only will it leave your skin with a natural glow but also moisturise your skin at the same time so it's a win win situation really. For me, my skin really gets on with this lotion and I am able to see the tan beginning to show within 1 to 2 uses. I have the lotion for fair to medium skin, although you can invest in the medium to dark skin lotion here.

This lotion is definitely a fake tan that I will return to many times. It doesn't appear orange toned in the slightest which I know many fake tans can do. It has a pleasant scent, moisturises my skin AND leaves me with a summer glow - who could resist it?!

Will you be swapping your usual fake tan for this one any time soon?

For Those With A Green Thumb♥️*

Ever since Crabtree & Evelyn got in touch with me in February about reviewing their hand creams (you can read the review here), I've been hooked. I was contacted again by them but this time asking if I was interested in trying out their Gardeners Collection. It was a range that I was intrigued by - as it was a gardeners collection, I was curious to the scent of the products. I knew that no matter what they sent me, I'd love the products.

Exfoliating Soap* - Any exfoliator that I've tried have came in a tube or tub, but I was really captivated by the idea of this - it was incorporated into a bar of soap. Never have I ever seen anything quite like it. Recently I had used some of the Dove Gradual Tan Lotion (review coming soon) to sort out my tan lines (I was going wearing a dress so had to even it up) and due to a combination of using some tan and having dry skin, my skin began to flake, so I opted to use this. It helps to exfoliate your skin, removing any dead skin cells (and patchy tan!) effectively. My only issue with this bar is that it's quite harsh, so I only use it once a week or every so often, and for people with sensitive skin, this bar may not be for them, or alternatively, they could use it very rarely. I quite like the concept of this bar because it's not as messy as typical exfoliators and it's certainly quicker to use!

Hand Therapy*  - If you read my review about the hand creams back in February, you will know I adored them. When I saw that it was a hand cream from the Gardeners collection, I was pretty smitten. I knew that my skin would quickly absorb the hand cream due to previous use. The scent is unique, it's one that's quite light and not too overpowering, yet is extremely difficult to pin point exactly - I feel it's one that would smell different to everyone. Much like their other hand creams, only a small blob is required. It's not too heavy or greasy, meaning you could apply it any time of the day and continue with your day as it wouldn't restrict you. Personally, I like to apply it at night before going to bed because it means that it gives it plenty of time overnight to sink into my skin.

All-Purpose Balm* - I'm yet to find an actual use for this balm even though it is an all-purpose one. I find it quite difficult to use unfortunately because it feels quite thick and waxy, but I guess that it's formula is designed like this as it's meant to combat dry skin. Ideally, I use it on my elbows and knees due to them often being neglected as they're the joints, but apart from that, I don't think I'd go out my way to use it elsewhere. With that being said though, if you happen to suffer from small, random patches of dry skin, it may be more ideal. Sorry Crabtree, but this product isn't one for me - if you suffer from dry skin, I think this would be the product for you!

All of the products have the same scent as they're from the same collection. When I was first contacted and realised it was a gardeners collection, I wasn't too sure on whether I'd like the scent or not, but nonetheless, gave the products a bash. At first it seems a little odd, but after a while, you actually grow to like it - it's on the fresh side, something that's quite revitalising and peculiar.

Have you tried anything from their new Gardeners collection?

*PR Samples

The Moisturiser I Cannot Do Without♥

Moisturising is one of the most crucial steps in my skincare routine. Despite having oily skin, I still moisturise regardless. I have been through various different moisturisers, some not even for oily skin but hey ho, sometimes they worked well. For ages now, I had been using my beloved Boots essentials cucumber moisturiser but after returning from my holidays, I decided I'd switch things up and try the E45 Moisturising Lotion.

E45 is a skincare brand whose products are created for people who suffer from dry skin. While I may not suffer from dry skin, I suffer from the complete opposite - oily skin. By no means does this mean that I cannot use this moisturiser because at the end of the day, it's going to hydrate and moisturise my skin regardless. This actually works really well with my oily skin - my skin feels extremely soft and doesn't clog up my pores as it's lightweight. I have found that with some moisturisers they can clog up the pores on my nose but fortunately with this one, it doesn't. I've noticed that there isn't any strong scent, and this is due to it being perfume free, meaning it's gentle enough for everyone to use.

After returning from my holidays, I noticed that some of my skin was going that dry, flaky way (especially my arms), so I popped some of this moisturiser on and it honestly helped my skin so much really quickly. Using it overnight helps with the dry patches, healing them. Very rarely from time to time my skin can become quite itchy but I find that this helps to sooth these areas. At the moment, I use it twice a day everyday for a facial moisturiser and I don't think my skin has ever felt and looked as good (apart from the odd few breakouts but this is my own fault for removing a lot of makeup late one night with a wipe - my bad!) but I can genuinely tell you that once I run out of this bottle, I will happily repurchase one again - it's certainly worth the money!

Unlike some moisturisers, this one is not thick, heavy nor greasy, it's lightweight, thin and my skin absorbs it straight away. People always assume that if they have oily skin they shouldn't moisturise because it'll make their skin worse with oil production but this is such a myth - it's still vital to moisturise as your skin needs it! That is why I love this moisturiser so much, trust me, I cannot hype it up enough. Regardless of whether or not you have dry skin, it's amazing - you will be left with velvet smooth skin.

Have you ever tried the E45 range? Share your experiences with me!

Can You Pull An All Nighter?♥*

Urban Decay has numerous famous products, one of those being their All Nighter Setting Spray*. In recent months, UD gave their spray a makeover; from the formula to the appearance of the product. I was one of the lucky bloggers, among many, who were sent out a miniature size of the spray to trial, and to sum it up, I was intrigued to put it to the test.

On any special occasions where I wear foundation (it's a very rare occurrence these days), I always opt for this setting spray. Typically, I use it after powdering my foundation, and it helps to lock it in and ensure that it doesn't slip and slide, and it helps to limit the appearance of a cakey face. Instead, my skin looks flawless and airbrushed. Using before highlight means that when highlight is applied, it appears bright, blinding and beautiful - it's honestly worth trying!

Before trying this out, I read many reviews to find out the general opinion of the product. Some people had used the spray before the foundation - so as a primer - and I decided that it would be a good idea to try it out for myself. Whilst doing so, it felt odd and weird. I don't know if it actually benefits the foundation though, I still felt as though it didn't truly keep my oil at bay. However, it was rather humid that day so this may have caused this. 

I think that between the two different ways you can use this spray, I definitely prefer using it the "traditional" way - the using after foundation way. With this new formula, there is a slight change in the scent - it's certainly stronger and more distinctive, so I don't know how this would work alongside sensitive skin.

Once again, I love this setting spray just as much as their original one. I think that I prefer the aesthetics of this one now than beforehand as it's quirkier and generally looks better. It's one of those products that is ideal for a night out - it's a makeup bag essential in my books!

Have you tried the "new look" all nighter spray? What's your opinion?

*PR Samples

Testing Out Kiko Eyeshadows♥

 I don't own that many Kiko products for some reason. Their packaging draws me in and I've read reviews upon reviews about the products. When I went shopping in the New Year, there were all of the sales, with signs plastered over shop windows with "sale" or "big savings" to entice shoppers in. Kiko were having between 30-70% off on certain items, and they were selling their single shadows for a bargain price of £1.70 - so I instantly grabbed two shades which were catching my attention.

256- One of my all-time favourite gold shades is running low, and it's part of a palette so I had to try and find a similar single shadow. When I saw this little number sitting glaring at me, I'm sure I could hear it calling my name. It's a beautiful, intense, sparkly gold which I adore. It is very similar to the gold in the palette I love so I was pretty chuffed about that. It's like a little pot of gold, and it's pigmentation is out of this world. It looks as though my eyelids are sparkling, and who would complain about that?

243 - I purposely chose a purple because I wanted something out of my comfort zone, and as I don't own a purple, I thought it'd be an ideal opportunity to buy one, especially because they were so cheap. The pigmentation is really good and the texture isn't too powdery, but you must ensure to blend it out or else it may look like you've had a bump up and have ended up with a black eye - not a desirable look at all! Blended to perfection, it can create an interesting eye look.

I have been impressed with these Kiko shadows - I seriously recommend picking some up when they're next on sale, you won't be disappointed, and the shade range is great!

Maybelline Big Shot Mascara♥*

Mascara is a wonderful thing. Honestly. Pop it on and it enhances your eyes immediately. Maybelline mascaras are one of my favourites from the drugstore, mainly because they're so inexpensive yet work amazingly. Recently, Maybelline sent me out one of their new mascaras, their Colossal Big Shot Mascara*, and to sum it up, it's quite frankly fantastic.

I was instantly drawn towards the mascara simply because of it's gold packaging, just like a magpie. The only criticism I have against the packaging is the fact that it gets dirty so easily because of it's colour, and you can see fingerprints on it but I guess you can look beyond this eh! As it's a shiny gold tube, I find that it's really eye catching and is sure to captivate your attention whilst shopping.

The wand is full of bristles that are all different lengths, and this ensures that each and every individual lash is coated with mascara. Due to each bristle varying in size and length, this means that lashes appear to be voluminous as every last lash is included. Personally, I feel that this mascara is more of a voluminous mascara as opposed to a lengthening mascara, however, I have pretty long lashes naturally so for me, it just emphasises my natural lashes. An added bonus is that it gives a curl to your lashes without the need of an eyelash curler, and for me, this just tops off the mascara!

I had taken this mascara on holiday with me and it's only fair to say that after over a weeks worth of use, I fell in love. It's right up my alley. Whilst away, I only wore makeup in the evenings (forget makeup during the day whilst round the pool by the way, far too hot!) but it was still quite humid (around 24 degrees celcius) and I can assure you that not once did it smudge on my eyelid or below my eyes - can you really beat that?

For the price tag (£7.99), I highly, highly recommend this mascara! Of all the reviews I've read about this mascara, it's been nothing but praise for it. Whether you have naturally long, or short eye lashes, this mascara most certainly will provide your lashes with heaps of volume!

Have you tried this mascara?

*PR Samples