MUA Lip Liners

I have never bothered with lip liners before now, but when I saw they were only £1 at the MUA display I thought I could buy a couple of colour and see how I get on. There were four colours to choose from, you can view them all HERE.

The colours I choose were, Red Drama because I wear red lips a lot, and Softly Lined because I thought it would be nice for natural pink toned looks.

Red Drama and Softly Lined

Red Drama

Softly Lined

First of all, I really like a lot of the MUA products and buy and use loads of them, but for me I really didn't like the Softly Lined colour, it just gave a shimmer to the outsides of my lips which I wasn't really looking for, I guess when you swatch something onto your hands the colour comes up pure but when it actually applies to the lips your natural lip colour is darker and so the colour wont show up the same. I don't see how I can use this one and I know it looks nice in the swatch above but it really doesn't show up at all on my lips.

I do love the Red Drama colour though, as a big fan of red lips I think lip liner is essential in creating the cleanest, smoothest effect and before now I never even bothered with it. Whenever I'm going to wear a red lip now I will take an extra minute to line my lips with this MUA Red Drama lip liner. They are so easy to apply and liners themselves are soft and pigmented and come with a sharpener in the lid which is handy, they are such great value at only £1. Next time I'm in Superdrug I think I will buy the darker pink colour and hope that it will show up better on my lips.

Batiste XXL Volume Dry Shampoo

I bought this Batiste XXL Volume Dry Shampoo the other day and have used it a couple of times since, I wanted to try it as I'm always on the search for volumising products as I have such fine hair. I usually have to wash my hair everyday anyway so I wasn't buying this as a dry shampoo just as a product I can use for volumising my hair day to day. I bought it for £3.99 from Boots, click HERE to find out more.

"Batiste Dry Shampoo Big and Bouncy XXL Volume revitalises hair, banishes oily roots and gives you so much body and texture, your Up-Do takes no time. A quick burst with our unique formula gives dull, lifeless hair the volumising makeover it needs. No water and no backcombing - just big-style glamour and a great clean, fresh feeling. No need to worry about skipping a shampoo."

Batiste XXL Volume Dry Shampoo

Because I'm blonde this product isn't noticeable in my hair but I think if your hair is darker you will notice it more, I actually really like it because it brightens my hair a bit especially my dull blonde roots. Overall I do like this product, it does give my hair more volume and lasts all day when you fluff it up occasionally or scrunch it a bit. It smells nice, just a clean sort of smell which I don't mind having in my hair, plus it fades quickly. The only thing I don't like is that it leaves my hair looking a little dry and frazzled (without actually being or feeling dry), it's not too bad and I can put up with it if I'm going for that fluffy look, I will try and condition before using this and see if it makes a difference, but its' not too bad and would rather use this than back combing my hair.

It does leave a funny feel in my hair, obviously it is the product and that's how it adds volume, but when I try brushing my hair it just has a horrible feeling, sort of sticky but dry if that makes sense. The volume it gives my hair makes the texture bearable, it still feels soft and smooth its only when your brushing your hair you feel it. I found it also separated my fringe into small sections which I hate but I think when I use it next I would put it in my fringe. I have to take into account the fact that I don't actually use this as a proper dry shampoo as I don't think it would make my hair look as dry if I did. I'm going to use up the bottle and if I get used to the feeling in my hair and maybe play about with moisturizing conditioners to help with the dry look, but overall I like it. For someone who has fine flat hair to get some nice bouncy volume for a change, I guess I can't complain.

The Body Shop: Almond Hand and Nail Cream

Hand cream is something I have never been that interested in, I like it and use it but that's all. Recently I started using the Body Shop's Almond Hand and Nail Cream and thought I would do a little review on it. 

"This effective daily hand cream cares for nails as well as hands and contains two manicurist’s essentials: sweet almond oil and panthenol."

I bought the smaller size at £5.00 because I wanted to try it first before buying the larger size, find out more HERE.

The Body Shop Almond Hand and Nail Cream

First off, this hand cream smells amazing and I love putting it on just for the smell. It dries in quickly which id important as I hate my hands getting everything I touch all greasy and mucky, it makes my hands feel really soft and smooth too. Although it is a nail cream as well, I haven't noticed any improvement in my nails since using it, although my nails have been in bad shape since I stopped biting them about eight years ago. Maybe it's something that will take more time and it is difficult to measure as nails get damaged everyday. 

I started off using this hand cream just at night as I hate having greasy hands, but when I gave this a chance during the day I found that it didn't leave my hands feeling greasy, just moisturised. Now I use it whenever I remember and keep this one in my bag, I think I will buy the bigger size for beside my bed and I can use that at night. 

My only criticism would be that the lid is sometimes difficult to get back on, especially with freshly moisturised hands, but it's not anything that would stop me from buying it. The tube is also flexible and allows you to roll in up and squeeze out any leftover product so nothing goes to waste. I am making a better effort with hand cream and trying to use it as often as I can, we are constantly using our hands and they will come into contact with chemicals, germs and goodness knows what so keeping them moisturised while using natural ingredients can only help protect the skin and help it to heal.

I usually bite the skin around my nails, I know it's horrible its just a bad habit that I'm trying to break, but since using this hand cream I have noticed that the appearance of them is a lot healthier looking, this could just be down to actually using hand cream more, but I love and believe in natural products and think that they might have something to do with this, either way it has encouraged me to take better care of both my hands and nails. Thank you Body Shop!

MUA Intense Kisses Lip Gloss

I bought these MUA Intense Kisses Lip Glosses a few weeks ago and have been using them ever since. I bought them for £2.00 in my local Superdrug, you can also purchase them from the MUA website HERE. I liked the red colour first, Pucker Up, and when I swatched it on my hand I couldn't believe how pigmented it was! For only £2.00 it was a steal!

"The newest lip gloss in the MUA range! Intense Kisses lip gloss £2 each. They are sealed with a kiss in a high-intensity gloss which comes in a wide range of bold colours adds just the right amount of glamour to lips whether you're strutting down the street or the red carpet. Wear alone or over your favourite MUA lipstick colour for gorgeous kissable lip effect."

Pucker Up and Sweet Nothings

I bought these two colours as most of the other colours on offer were out of stock. You can see from the swatches how pigmented they are and that is why I bought them. I like wearing lipstick because I like the colour payoff, but I have been looking for highly pigmented lip glosses for a while, most of them I found were disappointing and were too thick or sticky, but these just glide on beautifully and give a less intense effect than lipsticks. The packaging is nice, more of a square shape and they are a nice small size to fit easily into your handbag or pocket.

I wear the red one the most because I am in love with red lips at the moment but I think I will wear the pink shade more in spring/summer. These glosses last a decent amount of time on the lips, they come off if you eat which most lipsticks do anyway, but they are just so quick and easy to apply and are better for day to day wear. Another bonus is that you don't have to worry about it coming off on your teeth, and if it smudges a bit it doesn't stain the skin as much as lipstick does.

These lip glosses are amazing for only £2.00, well done MUA, I can't wait to buy more colours.

Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil

For the past two years I have been using the amazing Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil, I switched my night time moisturiser for this after I read about the amazing benefits this oil and I have never looked back. I am now a huge fan of night time facial oils, I think they are so much better for your skin and whilst you are sleeping you may as well use something more intense and more oily. It is £16.50 in Boots which is where I buy it from, you can find out more HERE.

Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil

"Rosehip oil's potent natural actives make it highly effective for a variety of skin concerns including dehydrated and ageing skin. Trilogy’s rosehip expertise ensures the finest quality oil with minimum 80% essential fatty acids (omega 3 and 6) and fatty acid (omega 9) content. Independent clinical studies show it helps improve the appearance of scars, stretchmarks, fine lines and wrinkles. Also available in 45ml."

Since using this amazing product I have noticed a great difference in my skin, I always wake up and my skin feels and looks well rested, healthy and moisturised without being oily. Now I have been using it for two years I find it hard to remember what my skin was like before, but I have noticed that any spots or scarring from spots fades quicker than it used to. It is meant to be great for wrinkles, I don't have any to speak of yet but just knowing that I'm using this makes me feel better and I hope that I will thank myself in the future for using this.

I am a huge believer in natural and organic products, I use a lot of them and since switching to them my skin feels and looks so much better, people I don't know have even complimented me on my skin and family members and friends have noticed the difference as well. The oil smells fine, not like roses as you might expect, but just a few drops on your face is all you will need, I usually do a drop on each cheek, one for my forehead and one for my chin. If my skin is feeling drier or more tired I will add a couple of extra drops, I just massage it over my face and when I remember I do my neck as well, that's something I want to start doing every night. It doesn't leave your skin looking or feeling oily, it is a dry oil and so it sinks in to the skin quickly. I don't think I would use this during the day though, maybe if my skin got really dry or irritated, but I think wearing it under makeup might make my skin look oily by the end of the day.

I have combination skin and it kind of switches from being slightly drier to slightly more oily from week to week, I used to have really oily skin in my teens and have since been terrified of using any oily/intense moisturising products on my skin, but now it has settled down I love these oil based products. I will never be without my Organic Rosehip Oil now.

UTan California Sun Review

It's getting closer to summer, and ever closer to my holiday to Japan. I am usually so pale I actually look luminous in photos so during summer when more skin is on show I opt for some fake tan. I have recently been using the UTan California Sun Self-Tan Mousse, it costs £25.50 which I think is pretty expensive for a fake tan you can find out more HERE.

Please note, I didn't take any before and after photos, the colour really wasn't noticeable in any photos unfortunately which was what I needed it for, but I think it really does depend on lighting, in natural lighting you don't notice it as much, but in warmer lighting it looks better.
 

UTan California Sun

I decided to buy this one as I read so many amazing reviews about it and hoped that I too could have a flawless healthy looking tan that would naturally fade after five days. When I go to Japan in April, the weather will be nice and sunny, so I will pack some cute summer dresses and shorts, the only problem is I don't feel comfortable with my bright white skin. I know it's not really that bad and I don't live in a country where we get lots of sun so I just have to make do, some people have suggested I go to the sunbeds, I keep changing my mind about this though and I do feel more comfortable wearing fake tan.

My skin doesn't tan naturally anyway, it only burns then fades to white again so really a fake tan is my best option, but let me know if you use sunbeds and if you would recommend them for me? Anyway, I bought the UTan in California Sun and have used it a few times since buying it, the colour payoff really isn't that dark so it's much better suited for those with pale skin like mine, however I think I would have liked it to be a bit darker. It doesn't streak which it good, I apply it with a St Tropez Mitt which cost me £5.00, find out more HERE. I apply the fake tan after I have exfoliated the day before and straight after using one of my Body Shop Body Butters, I have tried with and without and I get the best colour pay off when using a body butter.

It does have a slight fake tan smell even when you wash it off in the morning (I apply the night before because I hate feeling sticky and smelling like fake tan all day). The smell is only noticeable, however, if you actually have your nose on your arm, so really its not an issue. I really like how this tan doesn't go patchy as it fades, it just fades out naturally but it can patch in dry areas a bit. I wantd something for Japan that I wouldn't have to apply every night so I wouldn't have to think or worry about it too much, but I don't think it lasts that long on me, only a couple of days and I was really hoping for more based on the reviews I have read.

All in all, I don't think I will buy this one again and now I need to look for another fake tan before mid April! What are your favourite fake tans? Do you know any that last longer with a good colour?

Max Factor: False Lash Effect Fusion Mascara Review

A few months ago I bought the Max Factor False Lash Effect Fusion Mascara in a three for two offer, I have only now got round to using it. It is usually £11.99, click HERE to find out more.

Max Factor False Lash Effect Fusion in Black

I have used the original Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara and I really liked it but found that it flaked onto my cheeks throughout the day. " False Lash Effect Fusion is the sister product to Max Factor’s award-winning False Lash Effect. It fuses the brand’s most celebrated and award winning IFX brush with an innovative fibre lengthening formula, which contains the nylon fibres found in real lash extensions along with lash plumping particles.The breakthrough result is up to 2x* the volume and length for 100% lash glamour. It’s never been easier to create on-trend bold and glamorous eye looks"

My bare lashes only brushed with my MAC lash comb

With two coats of the Max Factor False Lash Fusion Mascara

Overall I like this mascara, but I do prefer the original False Lash Effect Mascara, I found it didn't clump as much and gave a better more even appearance to my lashes.

I like the purple colour of the bottle, it's also the same shape as False Lash Effect

The brush is also the same at the False Lash Effect Mascara, I think the formula is the only thing that is different.

The same brush as the False Lash Effect Mascara

Length: 3/5 This mascara did add some length to my lashes without weighing them down or clumping too much during application. I also liked the definition it gave to my lashes and made them noticeably longer from a distance, I usually find that my lashes disappear when I'm further from a mirror.

Overall Performance: 3/5 I liked this mascara but I do prefer the original False Lash Effect because I think the formula isn't so wet, I found the False Lash Effect Fusion to be slightly too wet which resulted in some clumping and made it difficult to build the mascara. The brush is amazing, the same as the original False Lash Effect, its chunky with graduated bristles that get smaller at the top, the bristles are really small and soft so they don't hurt your eye when applying. I think this mascara is good for separation and definition but I think that's down to the brush. 

It clumped a bit during application of a second coat but it was nothing too bad, it didn't flake or smudge during the day which was the one thing I didn't like about the original False Lash Effect Mascara as I found it flaked onto my cheeks. It came off easily with my normal makeup wipes.

Overall this mascara performed well but in comparison to the False Lash Effect Mascara, this one didn't give as good, even results, however it didn't flake during the day which was really good.

Volume: 4/5 This mascara added a decent amount of volume to my lashes, similar to the False Lash Effect Mascara, but the formula clumped a bit when I applied a second coat which was annoying. What I liked about the volume it gave my lashes was that it was visible from a distance which usually doesn't happen for me because my lashes are so fine.

Expense: 4/5 For £11.99 this mascara is a bit more expensive but I actually liked the results I got, and although I prefer the original False Lash Effect Mascara as the formula is better, I do prefer how the False Lash Fusion doesn't flake but still gives my lashes volume. I will keep this mascara in my makeup drawer but don't know if I will purchase it again because I'm just not in love with it.

If you have a mascara that you would like me to review just let me know, if I can purchase it easily and afford it I would love to try it.

L.O.V.E RESULT
     14/20