And the spectacular Helena Rubinstein does it again....
Lash Queen Sexy Blacks - the follow-up to my favourite Glorious mascara.
This mascara thickens, curls and lengthens and you don't even need to use much to see the effect!
The lash results are more striking than Glorious but this baby also has the propensity to slightly clump. This does however take nothing away from the fact that hands down no other mascara can touch this for curling and staying power.
Getting hold of it is a little tricky (duty free in Spain is my favourite place to stock up) but Amazon appears to have it in stock and at a good price...$39.76
http://www.amazon.com/Lash-Queen-Sexy-Blacks-Mascara/dp/B004W4YIIU.
It is totally totally worth the small mortgage and gets an overall Ally rating of 8.5/10.
Sunday, 2 October 2011
Revisiting the waterproof eyeliner dilemma
Finally after many many many many years of smudged eyeliner I have located the ultimate in smudge proof liner:
Nars - Larger than life long wear eyeliner - £17
http://www.johnlewis.com/283967/Product.aspx
It is available at John Lewis in a multitude of shades. I have snapped up the gorgeous shimmery brown and black.
I know I know I have said it all before and I am probably coming across as totally eyeliner fickle given my Lancome/Benefit post earlier this year..... but seriously my eyes water like crazy and nothing (not even a jog in 30 degree heat) budges this stuff. It stays on strong from 8am, when it is put on, until 6pm - 10 hours with total non-movement!! After this point the line will start to fade slightly but nothing I have ever tried even comes close to the staying power of this product.
This liner gets an Ally 9/10 rating.
My only gripe is the sharpening function. This is an automatic pencil and the built in sharpening facility is somewhat flaky which can make it hard to get a thin line. Regardless, this is my staple and until Nars bring out a manual sharpening pencil of the same variety, I will 100% be buying this every time.
Nars - Larger than life long wear eyeliner - £17
http://www.johnlewis.com/283967/Product.aspx
It is available at John Lewis in a multitude of shades. I have snapped up the gorgeous shimmery brown and black.
I know I know I have said it all before and I am probably coming across as totally eyeliner fickle given my Lancome/Benefit post earlier this year..... but seriously my eyes water like crazy and nothing (not even a jog in 30 degree heat) budges this stuff. It stays on strong from 8am, when it is put on, until 6pm - 10 hours with total non-movement!! After this point the line will start to fade slightly but nothing I have ever tried even comes close to the staying power of this product.
This liner gets an Ally 9/10 rating.
My only gripe is the sharpening function. This is an automatic pencil and the built in sharpening facility is somewhat flaky which can make it hard to get a thin line. Regardless, this is my staple and until Nars bring out a manual sharpening pencil of the same variety, I will 100% be buying this every time.
Monday, 1 August 2011
Foundation Woes
I love love love Clinique's gentle light makeup and was totally devastated to learn that for the second time in 10 years they have decided to discontinue it......grrrrr
So moving onwards and upwards I figured it was a great time to sample some new and hopefully improved foundations.
I'm big on light relective pigments, dewy glowing skin and good coverage so here are my two latest choices:
So moving onwards and upwards I figured it was a great time to sample some new and hopefully improved foundations.
I'm big on light relective pigments, dewy glowing skin and good coverage so here are my two latest choices:
- Clarins - Skin Illusion Natural Radiance Foundation (£24)
- This foundation completely eradicates any flaws, redness and imperfections.
- It goes on smoothly and leaves your skin feeling unbelievably smooth and silky (aka "hydrated" as stipulated on the packaging).
- It gives you a lovely glow.
- It has a cucumber essency type of scent which is great to begin with but will leave you feeling queasy after several weeks of use.
- It is heavy and has a mask like effect which is quite extreme. If you look closely at your skin it is very apparent you are wearing A LOT of foundation.
- Lancome - Teint Miracle (£25.55)
- A little goes a very long way with Teint Miracle - you totally get your moneys worth.
- Good coverage without a very heavy feel.
- Long lasting.
- Scent-less.
- Gives you a gorgeous glowy look.
- Multiple re-applications are necessary if you are having a bad skin day.
- It can leave you looking a little pale - bronzer is essential.
Saturday, 2 July 2011
Summer Sun Update - My New Favourite Gradual Tanners
With the weather heating up and clothes coming off, there's never a better time to test drive bottle tans....
Being uber pale I like sticking with gradual tanners which give a subtle glow which can be built up over time rather than succumbing to the powers that be which control the real "hard stuff" fake tans and whatever shade of dark orange they decide will look appealling that day.
For body:
I have always championed: Fake Bake Fair Gradual Tanning Lotion
Ok so it's not new but it's a total winner and my tanning staple.
It's available from Amazon for £21.50
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fake-Bake-Gradual-Tanning-Lotion/dp/B001BY58U6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1309597154&sr=8-3 and John Lewis.
The lotion glides on easily and you only need to use a small amount to see a change. It is slightly tinted to help you see what you are doing and while there is a mild scent it is actually quite nice and will attract compliments.
For face:
My new best friend is: Olay Total Effects + Touch of Sun (Light)
Available from Boots and Superdrug.
This cream is incredibly light, is an excellent base for makeup, scentless and gives you a gorgeous extremely natural colour. You can reapply throughout the day should you want to intensify your tan and your skin is left feeling really soft. I have suffered from breakouts after using all other moisturizers but this has not affected my skin in the slightest and receives an official Ally 5 * rating.
Go have fun in the sunshine xxxxx
Being uber pale I like sticking with gradual tanners which give a subtle glow which can be built up over time rather than succumbing to the powers that be which control the real "hard stuff" fake tans and whatever shade of dark orange they decide will look appealling that day.
For body:
I have always championed: Fake Bake Fair Gradual Tanning Lotion
Ok so it's not new but it's a total winner and my tanning staple.
It's available from Amazon for £21.50
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fake-Bake-Gradual-Tanning-Lotion/dp/B001BY58U6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1309597154&sr=8-3 and John Lewis.
The lotion glides on easily and you only need to use a small amount to see a change. It is slightly tinted to help you see what you are doing and while there is a mild scent it is actually quite nice and will attract compliments.
For face:
My new best friend is: Olay Total Effects + Touch of Sun (Light)
Available from Boots and Superdrug.
This cream is incredibly light, is an excellent base for makeup, scentless and gives you a gorgeous extremely natural colour. You can reapply throughout the day should you want to intensify your tan and your skin is left feeling really soft. I have suffered from breakouts after using all other moisturizers but this has not affected my skin in the slightest and receives an official Ally 5 * rating.
Go have fun in the sunshine xxxxx
Sunday, 10 April 2011
Battle of the hair titans - Frizz no more
After many weeks of procrastinating I finally took the plunge and waged the two monsters of frizz control against each other....
Living Proof No Frizz Styling Cream £19
vs
Bumble and Bumble Curl Conscious Holding Foam £21.50 and Defrizz £20
(All available at Space NK http://www.spacenk.co.uk/category/haircare.do?nType=1)
No Frizz
Living Proof No Frizz Styling Cream £19
vs
Bumble and Bumble Curl Conscious Holding Foam £21.50 and Defrizz £20
(All available at Space NK http://www.spacenk.co.uk/category/haircare.do?nType=1)
No Frizz
- I was a little terrified after reading other reviews about mixing this product with anything - apparently the scent goes a little haywire - so just washed my hair as normal and applied while it was still damp.
- I didn't use a huge amount of product - enough to finely coat my hair - a little went quite a long way.
- On drying not much frizz appeared and all seemed to be going well until my hair was fully dry and I could see the precise patches (apparently lacking product) which formed unruly frizzy masses at discreet intervals all over my head.
- My hair looked a bit better after some wetting down but had an overall lacklustre appearance.
- Overall rating 6.5/10
- I applied the foam first and then the serum to wet hair.
- Even with an enormous mane of hair I only needed to use a small amount of both products.
- My hair dried into defined curls looking shiny, with minimal frizz and a gorgeous scent.
- I left my hair for two days after washing and the curls kept their shape. The tiny bit of frizz that formed in the mornings was quickly sorted out by applying a tiny bit of extra serum.
- Overall rating 8.5/10 - Bumble and Bumble curl products rock and this rating would be higher if not for the price.
Sunday, 6 March 2011
Sparkle Eyeliner
I feel it is time glitter received a shout out!
The one thing guaranteed to jazz up your eyes for a big night out and get you in the mood for some serious flirty fun is glitter liner.
Urban decay - heavy metal glitter liner (£13 from Boots) - http://www.boots.com/en/Urban-Decay-Heavy-Metal-Glitter-Eye-Liner_21050/ is a dream and will keep you shimmery all night.
I have brown eyes and like the silver shade the most but the others work really well for festival face decorating and have unbelievable staying power.
Tips for application:
The one thing guaranteed to jazz up your eyes for a big night out and get you in the mood for some serious flirty fun is glitter liner.
Urban decay - heavy metal glitter liner (£13 from Boots) - http://www.boots.com/en/Urban-Decay-Heavy-Metal-Glitter-Eye-Liner_21050/ is a dream and will keep you shimmery all night.
I have brown eyes and like the silver shade the most but the others work really well for festival face decorating and have unbelievable staying power.
Tips for application:
- Apply eyeliner and mascara as usual
- Keep your eye tightly shut and run a thin layer of glitter directly above your regular liner
- Keep that eye shut for at least another 2 minutes (otherwise glitter will go EVERYWHERE)
- Repeat and voila sparkly perfection
Friday, 25 February 2011
Rapid Lash - believe the hype!
I had to blog about the wonderful Rapid Lash Eyelash Renewal Serum.
I'd read the stories, heard about the million people queues at Boots but never really believed it could live up to the promise. I WAS WRONG!!!!
I have been using this pretty religiously for 6 weeks now (apparently you need to persevere for 8 weeks for the full effect). It is very easy to apply...just a quick stroke across makeupless lashes at night and the magic happens while you sleep.
For the first 4 weeks I saw very little change.
Week 5 some slight lengthening and darkening.
Week 6 I look like I've paid for lash extensions!
If you want long fluttery lashes and are happy to give this a shot every night - you will indeed be rewarded.
I'd read the stories, heard about the million people queues at Boots but never really believed it could live up to the promise. I WAS WRONG!!!!
I have been using this pretty religiously for 6 weeks now (apparently you need to persevere for 8 weeks for the full effect). It is very easy to apply...just a quick stroke across makeupless lashes at night and the magic happens while you sleep.
For the first 4 weeks I saw very little change.
Week 5 some slight lengthening and darkening.
Week 6 I look like I've paid for lash extensions!
If you want long fluttery lashes and are happy to give this a shot every night - you will indeed be rewarded.
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