MAC's Blot Powder

Hey guys,

Today Im here with a review of MAC's Blot Powder which I've been using for a little while now and think I've been converted! I mean, I have two of these now (one for in the house, and one for in my bag) and have found it to be just what I was looking for.

MAC's Blot Powder is a face powder designed to absorb excess oils without adding colour or cakey-ness to your face and makeup. You can apply it at the beginning of the day to set your makeup and prevent it getting oily or you can apply it onto oily areas (mainly my nose and chin) to get rid of the shine. I have been loyal to my MAC MSFN for the past 2 and a half years already but it wasn't exactly touch-up material since it piles on the product more and makes me look cakey. I have used my Blot Powder for about a month now with a few different foundations and have found that it does a great job at setting it and doesn't change the colour at all which avoids the cakey, over-powdered look. I have also definitely noticed the reduction of shine in my t-zone area and only touch up the powder once during the day, brilliant!

I really like this powder and suggest it to anyone with oily/combination skin.

Have you used any MAC powders?

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

 

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MAC Girl About Town Lipstick Review

Hey guys,

Yep another MAC lipstick post! Whilst browsing my MAC store before Christmas I spotted Girl About Town and by magic it appeared in my stocking on Christmas Day, perfect!

It's an Amplified finish, so it's really bright and has a little sheen to it, but is essentially a creamy matte. It's incredibly long lasting, which is one of the main reasons I love MAC lipsticks, and I've received so many compliments since I've started wearing this! The formula feels light and doesn’t make my lips feel dry, so it can be worn without lip balm if you wanted.

As I mentioned it is very bright so it might not be suitable for everyday wear unless you are feeling confident - I personally love it for everyday! If you are experimental with bright colours, this one is a must have from MAC.

What do you think to Girl About Town?

If you have any recommendations for me about which MAC lipsticks to try next, leave it below! I'm always wanting to expand my collection, but I can't ever choose which ones to get!

Emily x

 

Posted with Blogsy

Christmas Haul

Hey guys,

I know I haven't posted in so long but today I'm back! And to start the proceedings I want to share with you what I got for Christmas, not because I'm trying to show off, but because I'm really nebby and love to see what you lovely people got!

I got some really lovely and personal things for Christmas, from my friends, family and boyfriend but I only wanted to show you cool things and the things relating to my blog, like makeup!

So here we go;

MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation in NC15

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW15

MAC Pressed Blotting Powder in light

MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC15

MAC Lipsticks in Russian Red, MAC Red and Girl About Town

Urban Decay Naked Basics pallet (I love you <3)

The Hobbit 

Beauty Bible - Beauty Steal

Hello Kitty mug 

Gorjuss calendar 

Gorjuss ID and card holder 

Love heart tea light holder 

Lush's The Comforter perfume

Lush's Creamy Candy perfume

Lush's Snowcake perfume 

Katy Perrys Meow perfume 

And lastly my 3 main presents; iPad mini, Clarisonic Mia and £50 MAC voucher with a makeup lesson included!!! I'm so excited for that! 

I'm incredibly lucky for what I have and appreciate everything I got/get, so I just wanted to say one last big thank you to all my friends and family for getting me these lovely things. 

So yes, if you've done a "what I got for Christmas" post leave it below! I want to read it <3 

Leave me a comment, 

Emily x

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 663 Va Va Violet Review

Hey guys,

I'd been eyeing up Revlon's Va Va Violet for awhile before I bought it, and decided to get it after AlisonLovesJB on YouTube showed it colour in her 'Favorite Fall Lipstick' video. I loved it as its such a dark and bold colour!

However it turns out it's quite sheer and doesn't look intense as what's in the tube, which I'm very disappointed at. The colour itself is a deep eggplant purple, which is very pretty, however the pay off is very odd, it is very sheer and quite glossy so it goes on really uneven. The only way to get around this, is to apply 3 layers and blot between each one, but even then it doesn't stay on very long maybe an hour at the most. For me this is just a impractical lipstick, one that looks better in photos than in real life.

If you have any deep purple lipsticks you love, tell me! I'm desperate to find a long lasting, preferably matt deep purple lipstick.

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

Haul Time!

Hey guys,

Time for a collective haul! This is just some of the things I've bought over the past few weeks, including my cute bear hat :3

eBay eyelashes 60 pairs for £4.28 I got two sets and got them from here!

Rimmel Fix and Perfect primer 002 £4ish

Miss Sporty Studio Lash Mascara £2.99

MAC Pressed Blot Powder £20

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Va Va Violet £1.99 from eBay.

w7 Honolulu bronzer £1.99

w7 Africa bronzer £1.99

Lush Enzymion £13.75

Lush Mint Julips Lip Scrub £5.25

Cute rabbit mirror from eBay £2.99

L'oreal Colour Riche Smoky Pencil in Black £1.99 

MAC Factor Last Performance foundation 100 Ivory £6.99

Bear hat £4 from ASDA

Reviews will be coming shortly.

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

Lush's Let the Good Times Roll

Let the Good Times Roll is a new facial cleanser released and wow, its fab.

This is an exfoliating cleanser made from popcorn, real popcorn! It has a fine grainy formula made from polenta that polishes skin removing all the dirt and dead skin, leaving your face brighter. But the best thing about this? The smell. It smells like a bottom of a cheese cake, or salty popcorn, or vanilla cupakes! Just a really gooey buttery sugary salty smell that makes me want to eat it! It comes in a black tub, which when opened looks like cookie mix! To use it you pull off a small piece, rub it between wet hands to create a paste, and massage it gently on the skin. The texture is smooth at first but once you massage it on you’ll feel the finer, grainy texture of the cleanser, which isn't irritating at all. This cleanser doesn't strip your skin, but leaves it feeling soft and plumper. 

I think most skin types should be able to use this as it gentle but works . It buffs away flaky, dry skin without over drying.

Next time your in Lush have a smell, you won't regret it!

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

Lush Oatifix Facemask Review

Lush's Oatifix is a staple in my skincare routine. 

Currently my skin is combination with an oily t zone but dry everywhere else, so this is a real treat for my skin! It contains oats, banana and vanilla which makes it smell like carrot cake mix, it actually makes me hungry! Since this mask was created to moisturise the skin, it won't dry or tighten but having more of a buttery feeling. I leave it on for a good half an hour and when I wash it off with warm water, all those little oat pieces become a really nice gentle exfoliant! Afterwards my skin feels so soft and looks really bright. It is left moistures for the rest of the day, but also refreshed - something I love!

Now just something to mention, Lushs facemask are made from all fresh ingredients, meaning that they are free of preservatives so need to be kept in the fridge. It also means that you have a time period to use them in, so get pampering!

Oatifix contains 75g of product, for £5.75 

Have you tried any Lush facemasks? 

Emily x

MAC Pink Nouveau

Hey everyone,

I've had Pink Nouveau for about half a year now and have only mentioned it a few times but never really got around to doing a full review on it, so today here it is!

 Pink Nouveau is a medium blue toned pink which is super flattering for any skin colour, warm or cool toned and I would even say any hair colour! Its quite bright but not an 'in your face' colour, and can be worn everyday. The lipstick has a satin finish, meaning it has a very smooth and creamy texture and this one is especially lovely! The pigmentation is amazing and I would say this lipstick lasting time is around 5 hours depending on what you eat or drink. However if you touch your lips, the color will transfer easily onto your fingers which I do not like. So don't go kissing people if you do not want them to have pink stains afterward!

I am in love with this lipstick and have pretty much been wearing it ever since I bought it. It's quickly becoming my signature color and I am definitely repurchasing.

Sorry about my chapped lips ^_^

Have you tired Pink Nouveau?

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

MAC Viva Glam Nicki Review

Hi lovelies, 

Today I'm finally doing my review on MAC's Viva Glam Nicki. I've been wearing this lipstick since June and its become one of my favorite "look at me" lipsticks.

Viva Glam Nicki is such a stunning pink shade. MAC describes it as a bright yellow based pink, which is a spot on description of this lipstick. I've only been wearing this lipstick when I've applied fake tan, as on my pale skin I think it looks like the wrong shade of pink, but when I apply it with fake tan it's almost a neon coral, like a flamingo pink colour which I love! This lipstick is satin finish so it has a smooth and creamy texture, which when applied does not tug or pull on your lips. 

I love it. It is very bold and I can see why some people may find it a little bit scary but personally I think it is fabulous. 

Best of all about this lipstick? Because it’s a Viva Glam lippie, every penny made from this  goes straight towards the MAC Aids Fund!

What do you think of Viva Glam Nicki? 

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

MAC Lipstick in M.A.C Red

Hey guys!

I have another MAC lipstick review for you today in the shade M.A.C Red! 

MAC calls this shade a "vivid bright bluish-red" which I totally agree with. M.A.C Red is a blue based, true bright red which is very bright! The pigmentation is incredible and as its a satin finish it's not too drying or too shiny, its just the perfect balance. The lipstick glides onto your lips with no tugging and is very creamy, the staying power is another win with this lipstick as it lasts upto 6 hours including eating! 

Since the pigmentation is really high, you are left with a soft 'just bitten' stain on your lips once the lipstick has worn away. 

This past month I've been wearing this lipstick none stop, teaming it with heavy black eyeliner and a neutral face. In my opinion its a universally flattering shade that will look great on all skintones. I haven't heard a lot about this lipstick which is a shame as I really do love it!

What red lipstick do you use?

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

Lush Ocean Salt Review

Wow wow wow. 

Lush's Ocean Salt is a miracle worker!

Ocean Salt is a salt scrub for face and body, which is made up of fine and coarse sea salt, avocado butter and coconut fat to hydrate, and natural antiseptics like lime juice and vodka to help with acne, blemishes, plus blocked pores. The scrub is suited for all skin types, except sensitive, as the sea salt will be too harsh. 

Ocean Salt is a pretty light bluey/green scrub with a thin consistency. The salt feels really abrasive at first, but the longer you rub the product into your damp skin, the granules get smaller and smaller to the point that they've melted completely away - which is the point that you rinse. 

As you can see I need another one!

Now, I've been experiencing some intense acne issues on my cheeks, chin and dry patches on other parts of my face and Ocean Salt is really helping me out! My spots are still there but they've been reduced so much! The redness has gone down and no new ones have appeared, so the anti-septic properties I think are really working. The dry patches have also disappeared which is another good thing!

Overall my skin seems to really be benefiting from this sea salt scrub and at the moment I'd say this is probably my favourite Lush products!

Have you tried it? What scrub do you use?

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

DIY Hair Mask For Extremely Weak, Porous, Dry and Damaged Hair.

Hello my lovely readers,

Well, I've been a naughty hair bleacher again! In one week I stripped my hair, then bleached it 3 times and then dye it five or six times! Total torture for my hair I know, but hey I'm impatient and now I have purple hair!

Since it's been so damaged I've been using a DIY mask on my hair, free of chemicals and nasties in some hair masks. So heres what I've been using; 

Olive Oil - to help reduce the elasticity of hair and conditions plus reduces frizz and static

One Egg - which contains protein which strengthen and moisturise hair

You could also add a drop of honey to the mix, as it acts as a humectant (attracts moisture)

How to make the mask;

Pour out enough olive oil to saturate all of your hair

Add the egg both the whites and the yolk

Whisk together

Apply to whole head coating roots to ends 

Leave on for 30 minutes minimum, really as long as possible

Rinse with cold water, to make sure the egg doesn't cook!

Then shampoo and condition as usual 

And ta-da shiny, healthy strong hair!

I really recommend this mask if you hair is porous as the protein in the egg helps the 'fill in the gaps' of the hair shaft, that were damaged through bleaching. I use this mask once or even twice a week depending what my hair is like, but I must warn you that adding too much protein to your hair isn't very good as it can build up and cause breakage - which defeats the point of using this mask. But like I said since my hair is so damaged I need all the protein I can get!

So, what do you think, do you make your own masks? Any tips? 

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

Andrew Barton S.O.S Help Me! Hair Mask Review

Hello guys,

Awhile back Sophie from Duck and Egg did a post on the Andrew Barton S.O.S Help Me! Hair Mask, and since I really enjoy hair masks I went and picked it up. 

First off, I love the packaging. The simple black and red jar looks really appealing, plus since red is one of my favourite colours, it really stood out to me. Next, before even using it I fell in love with the smell! Its amazing, like warm vanilla cookies and hints of chocolate - yum! I mean even if you don't buy it, go and smell it, it's delicious.

The texture of the mask is really light, so much so I wouldn't call this a mask, more of a everyday conditioner - especially since my hair is pretty thick and damaged. My hair is pretty dry and the ends are porous, so I normally go for heavy duty conditioners so I wish this one was thicker, and did more to my hair. I find that my hair is shinier but there are no long lasting effects, plus I haven't noticed a difference to the smoothness or overall health to my hair which is canny disappointing.

That been said I'm glad I didn't pass this one up, I liked trying it and it smells lovely! I would recommended this mask to people with thin hair or people who don't need heavy conditioning. 

What's your favourite hair mask?

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

Lush's Rub Rub Rub Review

Hey guys,

Now, since I work at Lush I thought I should tell you that for any Lush reviews I will do, I either got a sample to try or have paid for it myself. I do get discount but these are all my own views, so if I don't like it I'm going to tell you, and if I love it I will also tell you! So, with Rub Rub Rub I did get a sample of it but ended up really liking it so I bought a full sized one for myself. 

Rub Rub Rub is designed to be an exfoliator but also a shower gel, which is something I have never come across before! Its made from sea salt, lemon juice and lemon oil which remove the dead skin leaving you feeling refreshed, but with soft moisturised skin.  

The texture of  Rub Rub Rub changes when you use it. First if you like having a bit more exfoliation, apply it onto dry skin, then slowly add water which will dissolve the salt and get the gel into a lather. On wet skin you will get a less abrasive scrub, but still a really good exfoliation, then a lot of lather. It smells, to me, like the sea side, really salty but with a hint of lemon. Normally I love foody smells but I really like this too!

Have you tried this scrub before? 

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

I Got A Job At Lush!!

Hey guys,

Little update today just to tell you lovely people I got a job! I am now working at Lush and I'm so excited, it really is my dream job. I had my first shift yesterday and I loved it, I wake up in the morning & genuinely look forward to work. Plus I had a couple of people sniffing me then asking, “Have you been at Lush?" Ahaha! That really did make me laugh!

So yeah, I know ive not been posting but real life has been getting in the way and I've just not felt like blogging. Beauty just isn't that important to me right now.

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

MAC Speak Louder Lipstick

Hey guys,

Well I bought a new lipstick again, it was such an impulse buy!

I got MAC's Speak Louder Lipstick which is described as a “clean poppy blue pink.” To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what they mean by "clean" or "poppy" but I can make a guess. 

It’s a vibrant pink with I think poppy/reddish-orange undertones, not as blue as Pink Nouveau. It isn't as neon as Impassioned but still bright enough to make a statement, hence the 'poppy'?!

I think it is a easy colour to wear on all skin tones as it has just the right mix and hints of colour. The finish is a creamsheen, yet I think has a low-sheen finish but is creamy on the lips, hence the 'clean'?

It is an opaque colour with one swipe, and lasts around 4 hours. This does need well exfoliated lips as its not very hydrating and it does slightly tug when applying.

Have you tied Speak Louder?

Whats your favourite MAC Lippie?

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

Accessorize Intense Colour Lip Gloss Review

Well hello everyone :D

Today I'm going to do a review of  the Accessorize Intense Colour lip gloss as I have been loving it lately! 

The colour of the gloss is called Spark and is a strawberry/raspberry colour, which really stands out on the lips. The pigmentation is really good for a gloss, it's almost a liquid lipstick! There is no glitter or shimmer or sparkle in this which for me is great.

The formula is quite thick but not at all sticky, and has a lovely scent to it. Almost vanilla but for me, more like custard cream biscuits! The colour applies evenly and smoothly, plus it doesn't settle into the fine lines in your lips. 

The lasting power is also great as it lasts around 1-2 hours, but even when it does come off a slight raspberry tinge is left which is really pretty.

The packaging is also something I think is pretty, I mean some may hate it but I don't. I think it stands out from the crowd with the leopard print and rose lid which like I said I think is cute. The wand of the lip gloss is a doe foot applicator which I am not bothered about, I neither love or hate it. But I do like the fact it seems to just get the right amount of product on the applicator. 

So if you cant tell, I really like this! Plus when I last checked it was 1/2 in Superdrug. 

Have you tried anything from Accessorize?

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub

Hey guys!

Another Lush product review today, which probably wont be a surprise if you've read my blog before since I really love Lush :D 

Now I'm sure you Lush fans out there would have already heard about the Lush lip scrubs. But for those that haven't they are basically a mix of fair trade sugar and moisturising castor oil, which you scrub into your lips to remove cracked dry skin.  I have very dry lips myself and they get even dryer in this current change of weather and this lip scrub has definitely made an immense improvement on them. 

There are three Lush lip scrubs to choose from Mint Julips, Sweet Lips and Bubblegum. Personally Bubblegum is my favourite as it smells delicious but it tastes delicious too! When using the lip scrub all you have to do is rub it into your lips with your fingers and then just lick it off. It's perfectly safe to eat since the scrub is made from castor sugar.  It is quite abrasive and can leave your lips feeling sore if used too often, so I choose just to use it every morning and occasionally in the evening before I go to bed. After I've scrubed my lips I just apply some lip balm and tada! Soft and smooth lips.

In short, I adore this product and now will never go without it! I would definitely recommend this to anyone who has trouble with dry, chapped lips.

The Bubblegum Lip Scrub retails at £5.25 which is expensive for a small pot of sugar, but in my opinion completely worth it.

What's your favourite Lush product?

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

Lush Tiny Hands Review!

Hey guys,

This post is going to be a review on the Lush product Tiny Hands, I've been using this product for a while now, about a year so I think it's time for a review!

Tiny Hands is a solid moisturising bar in the shape of little hand and works just like Lush massage bars, you just warm it in the hands and rub in. The serum is designed to soften and soothe your hands but not leave a sticky or oily residue behind. Personally, I never use hand moisturisers as I feel they all leave my hands feeling greasy, as if they never quite sink into my skin properly. However this one, although it is greasy for a little bit perhaps 5-10 minutes, sinks in and leaves them unbelievably soft.

The only thing I'm not too keen on is the smell. Lush describes it as; "A wonderfully light floral fragrance of chamomile, marigold and lime flower oils." But urgh, its just not my scent at all, I think its the marigolds so I wish it was sweeter! Other than that I love this product!

Tiny Hands retails at £4.15 for a 60g bar. 

Do you guys use hand creams?

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

Monthly Empties

Hi guys,

Well it's officially September, and with that the weather in Newcastle has really become cold - like under 10°C! So with the start of a new month comes the empties post of the month, or in my case a collaborated July and August monthly empties.

I haven't used up many products, as I've been swapping and changing them up over the month or so.

Lush Dirty Spray - I will and always repurchase this! I love it so much, you can read my review here.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation - Although there is still a few applications left in the bottle, I thought I would include it. I really like this foundation because the texture is so light and liquidly, meaning it blends like a dream. The finish is natural, lightweight, non-sticky and slightly dewy. 

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural - I've already repurchased! I really like this powder as makes you look flawless! It makes your skin appear matt but not flat, and leaves your skin looking airbrushed. 

Lush Mask of Magnaminty - I will repurchase this too, as soon as I am finished with my other face masks. I like the way it exfoliates my skin, but also leaves it feeling refreshed without being too dry.  I also really love the smell!

Sunsilk Leave-in Balm - FINALLY THIS IS EMPTY! I mean this was ok, but my it lasted for so long I got sick of it. It did make my hair smooth and smell nice, but I probably will not repurchase it.

Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Deep Nourishment Intensive Mask - Yummy! I love this so much! I actually have 4 more of these. I have been using this as a daily conditioner, as I love the way it makes my hair feel and smells. 

Herbal Essences Smooth and Soft Sensuously Smoothing Intensive Mask - I already have another one of these in my stash so no need to repurchase yet! But I do really love the Herbal Essences masks, they are so good for the price.

Hopefully I can finish more products by the end of September!

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

eBay Wants.

Hello everyone!

I'm sure if you've read my blog before you would probably know that I LOVE eBay! When I can't sleep or when I'm bored one of the things I do is add things to my ever growing wish list, so today I thought I would share some of the jewellery I have been eyeing up!

eBay is a great way to find unique and cheap jewellery and is the only place I ever buy it from -well apart from Primark.

1. Dear Bracelet £1.16

2. Double Cross Ring £1.03

3. Fairy Tale Castle Ring 99p

4. Adorable Bear Ring £1.00

5. Spiked Bracelet 99p

6. Skull Bracelet £1.99

These 6 items have been on my wishlist for a week or so, and I just think they are adorable! They all also come with free shipping which is great.

What have you been wanting from eBay?

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

My Surgery Updated

*Warning pictures of toes and wounds are shown in this post*

Hey guys,

So since I got quite good feedback from my other post about my surgery, I decided to do an update post.

It's almost been a week since I had part of my toe nails removed, and they are healing so well. I got them done last Thursday, and now on the Wednesday I'm allowed to take my bandages off! The wounds feels like they are knitting together nicely, and I hardly have any pain.

The sticky material is on there to help bind my skin and help the healing process. 

The only pain I am getting is when I try to wear socks when the rest of my feet are cold or when my duvet is on my feet. The pressure is far to painful as it squeezed my wounds. 

However I haven't tried wearing normal shoes, and have been advised to wear flip flops for another 5 weeks to make sure there is no chance of my nails been infected or squashed. 

This is what my toes look like now. They are still swollen, and awkward to walk on, but I have no pain like I did before the operation. I am really pleased and can't wait until they are back to normal!

If anyone has any questions, please ask :)

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

Depotting Eyeshadows!

 Hello lovelies,

In my last post I told you I had got a palette to put all my MUA shadows in, well I bought 4 more to add in as my other ones were looking a bit grubby. So here’s how you do it;

You'll Need:

Eyeshadows

Hair Straighteners

Tin Foil

A knife

Tissue

How to do it:

Step 1: Get your straighteners and put them on full heat, then lay the tin foil on to the bottom plate.

Step 2: Then place the eyeshadow on top of the foil, like shown below, and make sure you leave the lid away from the heat. A lot of people use candles to melt the glue but I decided to use my straightener as it doesn't smell as strong of melting plastic. 

Step 3: Leave the eyeshadow for roughly 2 minutes, but keep checking on it to make sure the plastic isn't melting.

Step 4: After a few minutes the glue would have melted so you can slip a knife under the pan and slowly lift the eyeshadow up. Be very careful when you take the pan out of the plastic container as it will be very hot and you really don’t want to burn your fingers. 

And that’s pretty much it, all you need to do now is pop it into your palette. 

So here's the four eyeshadows I depotted:

I hope you enjoyed my post, if you have any questions let me know!

Leave me a comment,

Emily x