MAC Strong Woman

MAC Strong Woman is a lipstick that comes from the MAC Strength Collection, it is a deep violet lipstick with a matte finish that I cant stop wearing.

This is a true violet lipstick that is pretty on my pale skin, the colour is a deep berry vampy violet which makes my blue eyes stand out. The application goes on smoothly with a creamy texture that dries matte but doesn't make your lips feel dry. This colour also stains the lips so even after the 6 hour wear a hint of the colour is left. I have been wearing this with both smokey eyes or just simple wined eye-liner and I love both looks, it has become my favourite shade, in fact I bought a back up! 

Have you got anything from this collection?

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

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Fake MAC Brushes Review

Hey guys,

I have another FAKE MAC brush review for you today. I bought these brushes two weeks back on eBay for £9.54, under the name '12Pcs Professional Make Up Cosmetic Makeup Brushes Kit Set Black Pouch/Case' and I really like them. These aren't my first fake MAC brushes, and I have no problems buying fakes as most of the time they are just as good and not even half the price of the real one, so you can totally understand why myself and people buy fakes.

The brushes come inside nice case with the 'MAC' logo on. The zip and the plastic materials its made of are of good quality, and I'm impressed. Inside the case the brushes sit in little pockets, with plastic covers on them. (I took them off) It also comes with a pouch that can be attached in the middle of the case, but I wasn't a fan so took it out. Just like real MAC brushes, none of which I have and don't intend to, each of these brushes have a specific number on. 

(Top row, left to right)

187 Duo Fibre Stipple Brush; I have used the 187 for just about every purpose; for mineral foundation, for liquid foundation, for powder, for blusher, for bronzer... There isn't much that this brush can't do. It is however a little plasticy and could be denser. I've had no shedding using this, and overall its useful to have.

136 Large Powder Brush; This brush is quite large and dense, and decently soft so as a powder brush, it's fantastic. It gives a very light and soft application of powder and is so versatile, you can use the edges and tip to apply tiny amounts of powder to the eye area, or you can use the whole of the brush to sweep powder over the face. 

168 Angled Contour Brush; This is the only brush that I'm not too fussed about. Its soft and dense, but I've found it sheds a lot on application. The size of the brush is nice and fits into the hollow of your cheek bones nicely. 

190 Foundation Brush; I really like this foundation brush, it feels silky smooth. The rounded edge is good for getting in corners around your nose and blending near the hairline. I know I wont use this all the time but its nice to have it.

(Bottom row, left to right)

316 Lip Brush; This brush comes with a metal cover, making it a retractable lip brush. It's soft with dark brown bristles, that can pack on colour with definition.

275 Angled Shading Brush; This brush is quite large, very dense, and very fluffy. It packs on colour, blends out colour, can be used for highlighting, defining the crease, getting into my inner eye area, and use it on your lower lashline to add a hint of colour. 

231 Small Shader Brush; There's not a lot to say about this brush, except its really soft. Its great for precise concealer application, gel eye liner, brow powder, high lighting in the inner corners of the eyes, and detailed shadow application.

212 Flat Definer; I'm not sure what I'm going to do with this brush, it is just too thick to do anything I want. 

219 Pencil Brush - My biggest complaint with it is that it is SCRATCHY. The shape is nice, and it works but it is uncomfortable to use.

214 Short Shader Brush - This brush is my favourite of all the eye brushes. It is really dense, and is small enough you can control it's every move and you can really get into the lash line and lower lash line which I love. 

209 Liner Brush - This brush is just too large to use with eyeliner, but will work to line your lips. The density is nice and the bristles are very soft and smooth.

263 Small Angle Brush - Putting on gel eyeliner has never been easier, this has the right about of give and firmness, and the angle is perfect. I've also used this to fill in my brows as its thin enough to allow for precision, and also large enough to fill in the brow quickly and without hassle.

So yes, I would definitely suggest you try these, they aren't real MAC but honestly it's just a name. 

What do you guys think about fake products?

Leave me a comment,

Emily X

MAC Candy Yum Yum

MAC finally added Candy Yum Yum Lipstick to its permanent line, I immediately picked one up.

 

 

Candy Yum Yum is a neon pink, bold, blue-based pink lipstick that really pops against my pale skin. It's bright but it's so pretty, I love how it brightens my face, and also lighten my mood by just looking at it. It's opaque and so pigmented it stains your lips, and despite the matte finish, feels creamy and glides on easily without being too drying. I get over 6 hours of wear without having to reapply, as the stain help blend the lipstick wearing off.

 

 

It is a great lipstick that will get you all the attention you want and is perfect for perking up both warm and cool complexions. If you love bright lip colors, definitely check this out!

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

 

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Burt's Bees Lip Balm Review; Pomegranate Oil and Acai Berry

I am a lip balm addict, I always have been and always will.

Raved about by beauty lovers out there, Burt's Bees are a brand that have been meaning to try for some time now, I am not entirely sure what has stopped me purchasing these before - other than perhaps, my HUGE collection of other lip balms. But last week I bit the bullet and bought two.

Burts Bees Pomegranate Oil Lip Balm;

To start I was really looking forward to using this, I love pomegranate and heard it left a tint on your lips. But initially I was disappointed, the smell is slightly herbally and to me nothing like pomegranate. Its not off putting but wasn't what I was expecting. I also found that it doesn't tint my lips, its described as a "hint of colour for an even-toned appearance" which I dont see at all. My natural lips might be too pinky for it to show up, which I think might be the case. The formula its self actually makes my lips pretty soft, and they stayed that way for a good few hours after it had worn of, which is great as I do find some balms don't leave much effect once they've worn off.

Burt's Bees Rejuvenating Acai Berry Lip Balm;

Now this one I picked up by chance, and I'm so glad I did. After a few days and nights using this it definitely rejuvenated my lips, and improved and smoothed their texture. It makes my lips soft and when it absorbs, my lips are moisturised and I don't feel I have to re-apply again. The smell of this balm is a pleasant bubblegum and berry fragrance similar to that of grapes. It applies smoothly as it very soft lip balm, and doesn't apply too thickly or feel heavy. This one doesn't have any colour to it, which I was surprised at but it does not make a difference as I normally stick a lipstick on top.

Overall I prefer the Acai Berry balm as the smell is lovely. Both nourished my lips but I don’t find them that spectacular compared to other brands like Carmex, Nivea and Vaseline. Saying that I'm happy to have them in my collection, and will use them up.

Have you tried any other Burts Bees products?

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

 

 

 

 

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MAC Pro Longwear Lipcreme - Love Forever

 

Love Forever from MAC is a beautiful lipstick, from the Pro Longwear line Love Forever provides intense colour in a long-lasting formula that glides smoothly on to your lips. The pigmentation is great, and gives a bright coating of colour with just a couple of swipes. I would describe the colour as a intense bubblegum pink, that looks really pretty with neutral or smokey eyes. There’s a bit of sheen to it, upon application but within a few minutes it goes matte, you can see this in the top photo of the swatch, it has more sheen than the one below which has been left for a few minutes. I can wear this shade for almost 5 hours, without too much drinking or eating, but even after then a pretty stain is left. For it being a long wearing lipstick which is matte, it’s amazing how it doesn’t really dry out my lips unlike most long wear lipstick lines. It is really creamy and a pleasure to use. I simply love this new shade, it will be found among my current top 5 lipsticks. I will be definitely trying new shades out!

Have you tried a Pro Longwear Lip Creme?

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

 

 

 

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Review: MUA Mega Volume Mascara

Mascara is the one item of makeup that I absolutely love. I love trying new ones out, and this past months has been MUAs Mega Volume mascara.

As you can see the packaging is simple in a barbie pink colour, and it has a large plastic comb wand, both I can't miss when looking for mascaras. I really like this wand as it gets each lash with every stroke, fans them out nicely, leaves them defined, jet black and without clumps. However, I really like big curly plump lashes, and this gives me more of a' natural' lift, so I do need to add lots of coats to get 'Mega Volume' - honestly about 4. Even with 4 coats on it stays on all day and doesn't crumble off, but with that said it is really easy to remove at the end of the day and looks as perfect as it did when it went on.

Overall I do like this, to me it's more of a "Quick! I've got two minutes to do my makeup" kind of mascara, great for a quick running out of the door application. Plus for £3 I think its worth it for an everyday mascara, but not something I would rush out for if I was wanting mega volume though.

Will you be giving this a try?

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

 

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MAC Haul

Hello lovelies!

For Christmas of my boyfriend I got a MAC voucher for £50, now with that comes a makeup lesson with a mua which I redeemed yesterday! With the voucher I bought a few things, but I also bought a few items myself.

Mineralize Skinfinish Natural - Light

Eye Kohl - Smolder

Studio Sculpt Concealer - NC15

Eye Brows - Stud

Pro Palette Eye Shadow x 4

Eyeshadow - Sumptuous Olive

Eyeshadow -Humid

Sumptuous Olive on the left, Humid on the right.

Both of these shadows were used in my make up lesson and I loved the colours ! I've included a photo below of the makeup on, which really brought out my eyes.

What do you think of my choices?

Do you have a favourite MAC eye-shadow?

 

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

 

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Not My Cup Of Tea; MAC Saint Germain

Hi lovelies!

Time for another MAC lipstick review, and this time it's MAC's Saint Germain. I've had this since June but I've barely used it, not that I don't like the colour, but it just seems to slip of my lips and fall into the lines.

Saint Germain is described as a "clean pastel pink" and that's exactly what it is, a pastel Pepto Bismol colour. The lipstick has an amplified finish which means it is bright, opaque, but also really creamy too. However I just feel this lip colour should be matte. Like I said before the staying power is rubbish not even an hour, and that's without eating and drinking. It just slips of, and disappears? It's strange! No other lipstick does that! But that's not just it, the few minutes its on, it sinks into the lines in my lips and makes them look chapped *sigh* I just don't get on with this lipstick.

Even though I loved the idea of this type of pink, this one just doesn't work for me, and I kinda regret buying it.

What are your thoughts on this lipstick? Do you have a favourite MAC shade?

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

 

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Lush's Enzymion Review

Enzymion, why weren't you in my life earlier?

So you guessed it, I really love Enzymion moisturiser from Lush. My skin is crazy at the moment and this is the only thing that keeps it under control and hasn't broken me out!

Enzymion is a light moisturiser intended for oily skin, made with lots of fruit juice to refresh and mattify your skin. The texture of Enzymion is liquidy compared to the normal texture you’d normally expect from a moisturiser, which adds to the cool and refreshing feeling. It's absorbed quickly without leaving any kind of sticky or tacky feeling, which makes it perfect under makeup, but it still leaves your skin feeling moisturised and nourished. However the first thing you notice is the smell; it's a really strong but lovely lemony orange smell. It lingers on your skin too, which is a bonus to me!

I would highly recommended Enzymion for oily skin but I don't think it would be hydrating enough for those with dry skin. I would also say if you have sensitive skin, go to lush and try some as a sample as the fresh juice might sting red or sore skin.

Enzymion is £13.75 for a 45g pot.

What's your favourite moisturiser?

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

 

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MAC Russian Red

Hello!

Russian Red is one of MAC's popular red lipsticks, and now I know why. The colour is just right and now it is my new obsession.

Russian Red is absolutely amazing! This lipstick is a super opaque, matte, dark red colour. You seriously only need one swipe for full coverage on the lips! It's a very classic red colour, that I think would look great on anyone. It's such a pin up girl red I love it! The staying power for Russian Red is about 4 hours, but even then it leaves a pretty stain. I also love that Russian Red doesn't transfer or move. It never gets outside the lines of my lips and doesn't transfer on to cups. I also really love the feel of this lipstick. Most matte lipsticks are drying, but MAC mattes are not really drying at all. I never really feel the need to put lip balm on before Russian Red because it just doesn't try my lips out, a massive bonus!

Do you favourite red lipstick that makes you feel confident and sexy?

Leave me a comment,

Emily x

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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

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

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

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

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

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