Unsure.

CHANEL - 

Le Volume De Chanel Mascara

I received this not long ago as a sample. To say its a sample its a pretty good size, and the packaging of the box it came in was stunning! I was really excited to try this mascara, because even though its new, I was hearing some pretty good things about it.

So what does CHANEL say...'Instant volume and intense curves from the first stroke with longer, plumper and thicker lashes. Lashes are coated in deep colour, giving eyes a wide-open effect. A shock result produced by the perfect union of brush and formula: The brush, creates volume thanks to its smart design of snowflake-shaped disks that are stacked and oriented for an ideal finish.The quick-drying fluid formula helps build a customised volume result. A flutter of seduction beats across the eyes as they become the expression of a vibrant personality.'

Now, isn't that something special to live up to.

Ok, so im not saying its rubbish...however it doesn't really live up to all the hype and the amazing description of the mascara. Lets start with what I liked about it;

- The jet black colour is amazing, it really makes your eyes pop

- The wand its ok, its not too hard to use like some other mascaras that take a while to get to grips with the wards

- It does make a difference to the length and volume of my lashes, however nothing extreme

HOWEVER...

- I found it very clumpy, and as someone who hates anything clumpy it really let the mascara down for me

For me, the fact it was really rather clumpy just ruined the whole experience of using this mascara. I did try it for a whole week, and every day the same thing happened...it ended up clumping my lashes together and it just ruined the whole look.

Sorry Chanel!

Photo Flawless?

SEVENTEEN -

Photo Flawless Skin Primer

Now, the one pain problem with my skin when it comes to make up, is my large pores. No matter how amazing the foundation is, sooner or later my pores start to poke through. Not long ago I bought a Rimmel primer (blog post here) and as good as it is, for a drug store primer, it doesn't actually do that much for my pores. Therefore, the hunt was on again...everyone welcome the SEVENTEEN Photo Flawless skin primer. 

What SEVENTEEN say; 'The SEVENTEEN Photo Flawless primer is designed to apply before foundation to smooth your skin and assist the application of your base. The silky formula will also keep your foundation in place for longer, so you can be camera ready from morning until night!'

First up, I like the packaging - it's a black plastic squeezy tube with timeless gold lettering, making it look more expensive than its £4.99 price tag. The cap unscrews to reveal a small nozzle which makes it really easy to control how much product you're getting. At 15ml, this is less than half the size of the No 7 primer, but it's also less than half the price, and if it works I don't care!

Most reviews I have read about this primer compare it to Benefit's POREfessional. This primer, unlike Benefit's POREfessional, is not coloured. Both primers blend out translucent anyway however. The texture of this is very similar to the POREfessional in that it is oil-free and very very silky and smooth on the skin! It goes on really well and feels lovely on the skin. It created a smooth base for my foundation and I found it to prolong the wear of it too, much longer than the POREfessional did! Usually my foundation lasts around 5 hours with POREfessional, however, with this it was still going strong after 8/9 hours! I'm pleased I've found a primer which minimises my large pores slightly, but never the less I still think I'm going to keep an eye out for a primer which gives me an even better result. 

Ok dont get me wrong, for a cheap drug store primer, this isn't bad. However, its not going to give you photo flawless skin. If you have large pores like me, it does minimise them slightly, but there still there, and slightly noticeable. Overall, this primer is priced at £4.99 for 15ml from Boots, and is a good product considering there are much more expensive primers out there that do a very similar job! 

Core-Collection.

Real Techniques -

Core Collection

Ok, so these may look familiar to a lot of you. They’ve pretty much taken over every blog site at some point or another. Even though I own many of the individual ones, I didn’t see many reasons to pay for the collections, because initially I didn’t think I would use many of them. However, everyone keeps raving about the buffing brush included within the set, and the contouring brush also looks pretty good.

The Real Techniques Core Set consists of four base brushes (indicated by the orange handles):

Buffing brush - The world and they mama looooooooove this brush for foundation, and I have to agree that it is fabulously well-balanced in density and flexibility, which makes it perfect for blending liquid foundations. Even if you prefer another brush for liquid foundation, the Buffing brush is your ticket to a natural finish, blending out excess product for a far more natural look. I love this brush as much as the rest of the world.

Contour brush - A beautifully dense, small-headed face brush perfect for contouring with bronzing or highlighting powders. The tapered end makes it brilliantly precise for accurate application of product to define your features. It is arguably too densely packed and short to act as a blending brush for cheek products but it applies colour brilliantly.

Pointed foundation brush - I surprisingly like the smaller size of this brush, as it makes a great concealer tool. However, I would probably be sitting in front of my mirror for an hour if I chose to use this for foundation. It definitely has a place in this collection, though, as it's a great basic brush.

Detailer brush - It's tiny, it's flat, and it’s tapered. You can't really ask for any more in a concealer brush, but I find this brush redundant for my makeup routine. I have yet to find a perfect place for this brush within my routine, however I’m determined to find the perfect way to use it.

Other features that make this brush set standout is the softness of the Taklon hair used in the brushes, and also the little 2 in 1 stand and case. The set as a whole is clearly well thought out. As a collection, Real Techniques combines innovative new brush shapes with basic tools in an affordable set. Overall, these are the best brushes I have ever used. They’re affordable and incredible; they’re just as good as any other high-end make up brush. Another great thing to mention is how easily they are to clean. I give them a really good, deep clean once a week, to keep them in good condition, and they wash amazingly and dry super fast.

EVERYONE WHO DOESN’T OWN THESE BRUSHES REALLY SHOULD DO!

This collection retails for £21.99, even though you can sometimes pick it up cheaper with offers online and 3 for 2’s within Boots. I actually got it for £15 when HQHair.com was having a massive discount moment. Two more brush sets are available along with many separate brushes from various worldwide online retailers and selected, larger Boots stores for those within the UK.

Mini Haul.

This is just a little haul showing you what I’ve bought recently. There are a few clothes items, which I haven’t included. However, I may do a little post about them at a later date as a one off.

So here we go:

- Real Techniques Core Collection

- Chanel LÈVRES SCINTILLANTES Glossimer in 131 Mica

- Chanel LE VOLUME DE CHANEL mascara (sample)

- 17 Photo Flawless Skin Primer

- Purple Superdry Orange Label Zip Hoodie

- Converse Ct Lite Ox Optical White

Individual reviews will be coming up soon. 

Hope you all had a nice bank holiday weekend.

Stay-Matte Powder.

Clinique -

Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder

Reluctantly, I had to buy a new pressed powder to keep in my bag for day to day on the run touch ups. My beloved Illamasqua powder (see review here) is just too amazing to ruin, and due to it slightly shattering again, I refuse to allow it to leave the house, unless I'm going away.

Anyway, I originally went to Clinique to buy a new Almost Powder compact. However, the consultant said I should try the Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder instead. Which I did, and which I actually much preferred. 

As you can also see in the photo, I picked up a sample of Clinique's new Stay-Matte Foundation...review coming soon!

What Clinique say; 'Removes excess oil and shine, without disturbing makeup. Leaves a matte-look to skin. Leaves skin feeling and looking comfortable and fresh.'

Basically, this is an oil-free, shine-absorbing pressed powder. The ultra-sheer texture of this pressed powder gives skin a perfected matte appearance. It's great for oily skin, oily spots and maintains a fresh look and feel, even after frequent touch-ups. It's also great to set make up; it even hides my horribly large pores, which seem to be able to peek through even the best of foundations. 

Due to it providing only a sheer to moderate coverage, it’s rather hard to make it look cakey, especially if you use a powder brush, which is my favorite way to apply this powder. Do be warned though, even though it doesn’t look particularly cakey, you get much fuller/heavier coverage when using the sponge within the compact.

Overall, this is a really good pressed powder. It does exactly what it says on the box, and there aren’t any particular flaws to it. The packaging is simple, slim and easily transportable. It’s definitely something you can just slip into your daytime bag, make up bag or clutch wherever you go, just for touch ups.

It retails for £21, which isn’t bad for a pressed powder, especially from quite a high market brand. I can see it lasting me for such a long time; therefore the price is definitely worth it.

NEED - New Heat Protection Spray!

I know heat protection is a must when you use straighteners.Its something I either forget to use, or buy and then regret afterwards. I usually find heat protection products make my hair one of three things; weighed down, greasy or sticky, either way it feels like I have loads of product in my hair, and therefore I don't use it again.

HOWEVER, coming up to summer I thought it was time I started using one again.

I'm looking for help to find the perfect one. 

I have fine hair, which is easily weighed down, which often gets greasy fast, if I use anything too thick. Its highlighted blonde, therefore I need a product which doesn't dull down my colour or stain my hair (my main issue with moroccan oil).

I've looked into it a lot, and the ones which seem to be coming up popular are;

-  Redken Iron Shape 11 Finishing Thermal Spray

- TRESemme Instant Heat Tamer Spray

- Redken Smooth Down Heat Glide

- Paul Mitchell Heat Seal

- S-Factor Heat Defender (Flat Iron Shine Spray)

- TRESemme Heat Defence Styling Spray

- Got 2 Be Guardian Angel Heat Protect N' Blow Out Lotion and Gloss Finish

So what I'm asking is; 

Whats your favourite heat protection product and why do you like it?

Lip Maximizer.

Dior - 

Lip Maximizer

Not long ago I drifted away from Dior make-up, there recent releases were either not up my personal taste or to similar to other Dior products I own. However, this product is just AMAZING!

What Dior state it does ‘Give your lips a kiss of instant volume and shine with this invigorating lip plumper. The rich blend of collagen and marine-based fillers smooth and moisturize the skin, leaving lips gorgeous and voluptuous. After just 15 days of use, your lips will be noticeably fuller and more defined. Smile big and enjoy the tingly, cooling effect of this formula, rather than the sometimes-painful sting associated with other lip plumpers. The soft vanilla-mint scent and sheer pink tint make this lip necessity gorgeous alone or as a volumizing base or topcoat.’

The lip maximizer comes as a gloss with a pinky-peachy tone to it and I often use it simply as a gloss over my incredible Dior LipGlow balm. The gloss has a very nice scent to it that stays with you for a long time. It glides very smooth and easy on your lips, leaving them quite glossy but not sticky at all. After about 30 seconds, it begins to tingle your lips and you feel as if they are truly getting fuller. I know there are many people out there that hate this tingling sensation. I, personally, LOVE it. It doesn’t tingle strongly or painfully, but it certainly can bother you if you are not a fan of it especially because it can last up till 45 minutes after application.

After application, my lips did appear fuller, plumper and more vibrant, and felt very soft and smooth after I took my makeup off. My favorite way to apply this product is over my Dior Lip Glow balm. During the day, I touch it up on top of my lip product of choice. As I already mentioned, you could use it just as a lip-gloss, if the scent and tingling don’t bother you.

The plumping effect lasted for over 2 hours after I applied it, but obviously you would be re-applying this product as you would any other lip-gloss. This gloss feels moisturizing so it won't make your lips dry and flaky in the winter months. In regards to the plumping effect, I applied it without my boyfriend knowing, and as soon as he saw me he commented on how plumped and fantastic my lips looked. I have tried so many different lip-plumping glosses, and to be honest this is the best I’ve ever tried. I’ve never had so many great comments about how amazing and full my lips look.

I think a huge plus point for this gloss is that it doesn't burn or irritate my lips like some other lip plumpers have before.  I am not willing to go through that much discomfort JUST to have slightly more volumised lips. I really like the formulation of this gloss and it's a fantastic multi tasker for your every day makeup...moisturizing, plumping and a lovely colour.

Overall, this is another fantastic product from Dior. If you want a fantastic lip plumping gloss, which not only plumps the lips, but also has loads of added benefits, then this is definitely the gloss for you.