Friday 18 October 2013

Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Mascara



When I first heard about the Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara I was so excited as I am a huge eyebrow enthusiast and I had visions of it shaping and filling in my eyebrows in one easy swipe. At £4.99 I would say it's a reasonable price but think it could be cheaper, but that's probably just me crying over trying to save money.

My opinions on this product are a bit mixed and I've been using it to try and work out whether I like it or not but just can't decide. I fill my eyebrows in every single day that I do my makeup and wouldn't dream of leaving them how they are naturally as they are quite light compared to the hair on my head and are also quite sparse. This product is disappointing for me personally in that, when used by itself, a full and thick brow isn't achieved and it kind of took me by surprise at how little colour it adds. However, on the Boots website it is described as a finishing touch for eyebrows which brings me onto my next point; I've been using this gel after having already filled in my eyebrows to smooth out the hairs and make the shape more precise and I find that it holds them in place much better than my MUA clear mascara that I used to use.

It claims to have a 'no clump formula' but I feel like the ball end of the wand can pick up too much product and, if I forget to wipe the excess off, it ends up putting too much in the beginning part of my eyebrows and it goes quite hard and stiff which is just a nightmare. It does leave my eyebrows quite crispy feeling, not in an annoying way but in a way that I can tell I've put something through them which could be a negative for some people.

I bought mine in the shade Dark Brown which is the darkest of the three shades available but I really wouldn't say this is that dark at all and I could seriously do with the colour being a few more shades darker to get the look I like. If you have quite fair eyebrows then this could do the job for you and would give a little definition. Similarly, if you don't like a really overdone eyebrow this product would be great just to add a bit of a tint and to tame them but I would say to avoid this if you want them to be heavy and a standout feature.

To sum up this whirlwind of thoughts this product is good for a finishing product when used carefully so lives up to some of the claims but don't expect it to be an all-in-one wonder product as it is definitely something I could live without.

Tuesday 15 October 2013

The Versatile Blogger Award

I was nominated for The Versatile Blogger Award by Boho Bun who, by the way, has a great blog and whose writing style I love (this is not a hint to go and follow her...). I'd seen this tag floating around and love reading people's facts but now I feel under pressure to be interesting *starts sweating profusely*.

The Rules:
Display the Award Certificate on your blog.
Announce your win and thank the blogger who nominated you.
Present 15 deserving bloggers with the award. 
Link your nominees in this post and let them know of their nomination with a comment. 
Post 7 interesting things about yourself.


I know you're supposed to tag 15 people but I want to tag the blogs I really like reading rather than just listing people mindlessly!

My nominees:
Cora from Corasphere
Tash from Tash Face
Emily from Freckles and Flaws
Joanna from Joanna Loves
Celine from Vintage Teapot

My 7 Facts:
1) If it wasn't already obvious from this blog, I absolutely love makeup so much that it's insane. I never used to like makeup up until around the age of 16 but it feels like I've loved it forever and am so glad I got into it as I have no clue what I would be doing now if it weren't for my makeup artistry course.

2) I have such a loud voice and everyone always tells me I'm shouting but I'm not even aware of it. I also always mishear people or just can't compute what they've said so I'm always like 'huuuh? Oh! Haha'.

3) I've worn glasses since I was about 9 and now contact lenses are like my lifeline.

4) I go through phases with my hair where I want to either cut it all off or grow it fo'evaaaaa and dye it blonde so it looks like I belong on a beach (I blame Ivy from 90210).

5) I spend hours watching YouTube videos every night before I go to bed, like seriously even if I get in bed at 10 I'll be up until at least midnight.

6) I wish I was more streetwise and am so terrible at anything relating to public transport or visualising a journey route. Bus timetables confuse the heck out of me as I can't get my damn head around where to stand and what direction the bus comes from and it really frustrates me.

7) When I was younger I used to make a weird 'hm' noise when I was watching telly and I honestly couldn't stop myself from doing it. When I eventually did stop I then moved onto counting things that I walked past and I would get so stressed out if my mum pulled me away before I had finished and would run back to count. DON'T JUDGE ME.

I'm not sure that any of these things class as interesting but hey let's just go with it for the time being.

Friday 11 October 2013

W7: Lashtastic Mascara and Go West! Matte Lipstick


First off, sorry if you can see the background colour differences on these photos as I, not-so-cleverly, took these pictures just before the heavens opened making the lighting hideous. I had to retreat to Microsoft Word (none of this photoshop business) to edit the photos and so, as a result, we are left with this mismatch of grey and pink.

W7 are a makeup brand that I see in a few different 'cheap' shops, such as Savers and B&M, but are also one that I look at but never buy from. A few days ago in B&M however I was feeling financially wild and carefree and spent a total of £3.48 and walked out feeling pleased. I decided to buy the Lashtastic False Liquid Lashes and a Go West! Matte Lipstick in the shade Powder Pink.



The Lashtastic mascara was £1.99 and I was initially drawn to it because of the bright yellow packaging (my eyes, they burn) and then also the wand as it reminds of a Maybelline one (there are like 5068489 and I can't remember which). I've been trying this mascara out for the past few days and it is really good in that it doesn't smudge throughout the day, which is something I always find annoying, however, I hate the formula and struggle to make it work. It's a very wet mascara and takes what feels like hours to dry and I don't have time for that (oh the hardship of life). Because of how long it takes to dry I have to be really careful when doing the rest of my makeup as my eyelashes can end up sticking together really unattractively if I knock them which then means I have to separate them with another mascara.

For £1.99 I can't really complain though and the brush is really interesting and seems good in theory as it looks like it'll grab every eyelash but the formula lets it down. I'm hoping after a few weeks the formula will dry up a bit and make it easier to use and get the effect that I want.




The next (and last?!) item I bought was a Go West! Matte Lipstick in the shade Powder Pink which is such a nice and light, wearable shade although it comes across a lot brighter in the pictures. The packaging reminds me of Bourjois lipsticks but for the much cheaper price of £1.49 and I just think it looks really classy. When I first applied the lipstick it wasn't matte at all and I was like to my mum DA HELL but, after a few minutes, the shine died down completely and became matte which I loveeeee. The first time I wore it it did exaggerate the dry patches on my lips, however, I wore it for college the next day and exfoliated and moisturised before hand and it looked so much smoother and nicer. It feels really comfortable on the lips and lasted a good long while and is a lipstick I want to get a lot more wear out of as it's just such a nice, basic shade which is something I don't usually go for.

There were about 4 other lipsticks in this range all of which were different shades of pink which I am interested in trying as I had my eye on another one but decided it'd be better to just try one before going cray cray. Does anyone have any clue why they've called the range 'Go West!'? It makes zero sense to me and I genuinely want to know haha.

A lot of people seem to like the Candy Floss Face Blusher and so it might be something I would consider purchasing as well. Have you tried anything from the W7 range that you can recommend?

Saturday 5 October 2013

Autumn Berry Lips: Cheap, Cheaper, Cheapest


For me there is something so terrifying about dark lipstick, from the application to the overall look of it, it scares me. It's something I want to wear so badly but, as I have thin lips, dark colours can instantly make them look thinner and, if you make a mistake when applying, it is so obvious as well as the fact if you knock your lips you'll have a beautiful smudge mark. In a bid to be more confident with wearing dark lipsticks I've chosen 3 of my dark, berry lipsticks that are really cheap so, even if you don't end up wearing them daily, you haven't made a huge investment. I'm not going to go into a lot of detail about the lipsticks just a brief overview (I'm so wordy and annoying I need to tone it down damn it).

When I was taking pictures of these lipsticks I was planning on doing a post to compare the 3 but then, when looking at the swatches, I realised the colours are honestly nearly identical so bare with me through my last minute journey of a cheap, cheaper and cheapest transformation and also ignore the fact that the most expensive lipstick is in the middle. Cry.



The cheapest lipstick I have chosen is Collection's 1 Seduction from their new range Gothic Glam retailing for £2.99. This lipstick leaves a really nice stain and, like with all Collection lipsticks, I'm really impressed and would recommend for people to try this out for themselves or the other two shades from the Gothic Glam collection as all shades are aimed towards Halloween and the colder months.

Next is Rimmel Kate Moss' Matte Lipstick in 107 which I can only assume the whole universe has heard about. This is the lipstick the majority of people probably think of when they hear the term 'Autumn lips' and, at £5.49, it is the most expensive lipstick from the 3 but still entirely affordable. As this is a matte finish I find it less scary to wear because once it's on it's harder to accidentally knock whereas the Collection and Barry M one I find I'm more aware of when wearing them. However, this lipstick does tend to leave my lips quite shrivelled and unattractive looking so I wouldn't wear this for a whole day, maybe just for popping out or going out for a bit in the evening.

Lastly is Barry M's Lip Paint in 160, also shown as Black Cherry online, and retails at £4.49 so is the middle ground lipstick. This lipstick is part of Barry M's Ultra Moisturising range, however, I feel like this lipstick drags the most on my lips which I personally don't find to be a problem because it makes me think the colour is grabbing my lips more (or is this just me?) but is worth noting if you don't want that in a lipstick.

From left to right: Collection's Seduction, Rimmel's 107, Barry M's 160

Each of these lipsticks are worth giving a try for this season as every blogger seems to be talking about berry, Autumn lip shades and I feel these shades are wearable without making you look extremely pale and ill. The shades lean more towards dark reds and purples with hints of pink as well rather than a straight up black/brown.

Does anyone have anymore suggestions for cheap, affordable berry toned lipsticks? I have Beguiled from Topshop, that used to terrify me but not so much anymore, that is also similar in colour to the above 3 but is more expensive at £8 and so I didn't feel was worth mentioning.

Thursday 3 October 2013

The Liebster Blog Award #4

Cora from Corasphere nominated me for the Liebster award which is so nice and I'm really happy about so go and check out her great blog! I've done the award several times now which is so kind and I love answering the questions but can never think of any decent questions for people to answer but you can see my other posts I did here: 12 and 3.

Cora's questions for me:

1. Playsuits or jumpsuits?
I never wear either but I would choose a playsuit as I can imagine a jumpsuit looking absolutely terrible on me.

2. Favourite book or film that has inspired you in some way?
Ah I have no clue! I love loads of films and books but I can never think of any when I'm asked. Some books I love are Let's Get Lost by Sarra Manning, The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han, Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt and You Against Me by Jenny Downham. I wouldn't say they inspire me but they're the kind of books that when I'm not reading it I'm still thinking about it and want to read more. 

3. A lipstick you'd recommend your followers to buy?
If you can afford to spend £15 Mac's Impassioned is literally amazing and a colour that I think would suit anyone but from a more affordable range I would choose a lipstick from Beauty UK as I literally think they're incredible and so pigmented.

4. Favourite nail vanish brand?
I kind of just buy any nail varnish I like the look of but I have a Maybelline Super Stay one that is really good and doesn't chip easily.

5. Top 5 online clothes websites?
I rarely order from websites that are only online because it just annoys me when clothes don't fit and I have to return them so I always stick to ordering from websites that have a shop in real life. I mainly only order off New Look though but in real life I shop in Primark and H&M but the H&M website infuriates me.

6. Your life ambition or goal?
I don't know yet but I want to be doing something within the makeup industry whether that be a makeup artist or writing about makeup like I do now but on a larger scale.

7. Something in the world that you wish you could change?
I feel like I'll bring the mood down by giving a serious answer so I'll say I wish everyone would try a bright lipstick at least once as so many people I know say they don't suit them or they're too scared but if they tried it a few times it'd look so good!

8. Best drugstore product that you've ever bought?
Aaah this is so hard literally all I ever buy is drugstore. There are so many things that I couldn't be without (oh the drama) but I'll try and dwindle it down to the MUA Shimmer Highlighter, MUA Matte Eyeshadow Shade 19 for my eyebrows, Accessorize Blush/Bronzers and George at Asda Undereye Concealer.

9. What are you looking forward to in Autumn?
Literally everyone says this but I honestly love baggy jumpers and have so many that I love from charity shops. I also feel so at home wearing my big green coat and live and die in it when it's cold so I'm looking forward to wearing that everyday too.

10. Your favourite childhood holiday?
When I went to Scotland with my parents and other family friends. Or a cruise I went on was really good.

11. Why and when did you join Blogger?
I joined this year in July as it was something I'd wanted to do for a while and as I had a summer free from plans and school I thought it'd be good to start then. It's so much fun and I'm so glad I joined even when I want to kill everyone because it takes me a while to take a good picture of an item.

Thank you to Cora again :)

Tuesday 1 October 2013

Autumn Eyes: 17 Neptune Starry Eyes

Seriously how is it even October already? I didn't even realise that the day after September 30th was October 1st. Moving swiftly on from my lack of sense I thought I'd talk about this little eyeshadow trio that I bought very early on in the year.


This is the 17 Starry Eyes Neptune Trio Eyeshadow, available at Boots for £4.99, and contains a gold, a slightly shimmery bottle green and an aubergine purple. To me this trio completely reminds me of Autumn and think it's so perfect for creating a variety of different looks. My eyes are a hazelly, browny green shade and find that a lot of shades are just quite bleurgh when I wear them but with these shades I find that each colour compliments my eyes and helps bring out different colours.


On days where I actually have time to do anything semi-interesting to my eyes I put Maybelline's On and On Bronze on my top lid and then use the green shade on the outer part of my eye underneath my bottom lashes and then the gold underneath on the inner section. Does this make any sense?! Another look is using the gold all over the lid and then using either the purple or green on the outer corner to create a smokey eye with a twist (not much of a twist to be honest). Due to the slight shimmer in the green this also looks nice mixed with a brown shade to use on the outer corner and looks really festive.



The pigmentation of these shades are really impressive and to me don't feel like they come from a budget brand like 17. I actually prefer the gold shade in this to Half Baked from my Naked 2 Palette as I feel the colour is a lot more brighter and suits my yellowy skin tone more. In terms of lasting power I can't comment on how long it lasts without a primer as I never wear eyeshadow without my Urban Decay Primer Potion but if you don't have a problem with insane amounts of creasing like I do I would guess that it lasts an average length of time. Gosh I am so vague.


Each shade is so wearable either alone or together and the purple isn't the kind of shade that makes you look dead. I'm really pleased I dug this out of my drawer and started using it and may take a look at the other trios within the range.