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.

Lip Glow.

Dior -

Lip Glow Balm

Awaken and enhance the natural beauty of your lips with this unique balm that promises the perfect pout. Formulated with color reviver technology, this silky lipstick reacts with the chemistry of your lips to create a special shade that will last all day. The addition of SPF 10 will keep you protected, while hydrating mango butter and loofah extract nourish for beautiful, luscious lips.

The packaging is the beautiful DIOR signature Lip Tube. It slides in and out with ease and fully secures to protect the quality of the product. I have no problems with it scraping against the sides of the tube or anything like that. It stays clean and mess-free. 

The formula is super moisturizing. It gives the lips a nice hydrated look and feel. I do not need an extra balm to layer with it.  This is very longwearing considering the type of product it is. My lips stayed pigmented the whole day from this stuff! Even at the end of the day I still had a stain of it left. It didn't look like I had a stain or lip color on... it just looks like I have some naturally intense lip pigment going on, which I really like; the more natural looking the better in my opinion. 

Do not let the sheer look of the Lip Glow fool you. This baby packs a lot of power behind it. It brings pigment back into my lips that make-up; dryness, weather, etc. can suck out of them. When I sweep it on it looks like the life is instantly brought back to the surface of my lips. One or two layers will bring out the natural undertones of my own lips... very pretty worn this way. Or...you can layer up a few times and it turns more and more pink as you go. I have taken it up to a nice natural pink shade, all the way up to a sheer Hot Pink shade.

I have to say that this is definitely a very unique lip product!!

I really think this Lip Glow is worth having. It is unique to any other lipstick I own. I am a huge fan of DIOR Lipsticks. They are some of the best quality lip products that I have tried. The formulas and shades are always different to the rest and always leave me satisfied with my purchase. 

Lip Perfection.

The Dior counter caught my attention again...and good things happened.

These are my two favourite lip products currently...there amazing.

Individual, in-depth reviews will come shortly.

However, I just wanted to show you all my new favourite Dior purchases.

The first of which is the Dior Lip Glow balm, the second is the Dior Lip Maximizer.

I'm not going to tell you anything about them, because there both such fabulous products and I really want to go in-depth with each of them...therefore keep your eyes peeled for reviews.

Silver Powder.

Mario Badescu -

Silver Powder

Blackheads. Most people with even remotely oily skin have them, and everybody hates them. These spots are not cute like freckles; they’re dark, glaring pools of pure evil.

Mario Badescu Silver Powder, like the rest of the line’s products, comes packaged in very simple, yet somehow chic packaging: a green and white label on white plastic. No flourishes, no fancy scripture, just blatant labelling. The stuff looks, well, like a basic white powder. It clumps a bit, which I found odd, but other than that, nothing extraordinary about its appearance. The directions on the back call for merely dampening a cotton ball, dipping it in the powder, applying it to the affected area, and waiting 10 minutes before washing off.

I use this every other day on my nose area, and once a week over my whole face. I’m seeing a definite improvement! I’m not talking “Oh, my god, my nose is completely clear, goodbye blackheads!” improvement. But it was definitely something. They all appeared lighter than they’d been, and there were markedly fewer than usual. I can definitely say that I see real results from Silver Powder. Although not all of them are gone, the sheer number, size, and darkness of my blackheads have reduced incredibly.

Before Silver Powder, I could definitely see my pores and tiny dark spots on my nose even with foundation, but now, after it, foundation completely covers whatever I have left. My nose looks smooth, clean, and clear! Don’t worry too much about it drying areas that don’t have blackheads, as it hasn’t produced any ill effects. I have noticed that when I do use it, however, that my nose is very slightly less oily the next day (I can usually go another hour or so before seeing it shine). And for those afraid of products with long lists of ingredients with unpronounceable names, rejoice! Silver Powder contains only three ingredients: Calcium Carbonate, Titanium Dioxide, and Zinc Oxide.

So, is Mario Badescu Silver Powder a must-buy? It depends. If you’re looking for that one product that will get rid of every single blackhead you have overnight, then keep looking (and gimme a call when you find it!). But if you don’t mind adding another step to your skincare routine, then this is one product that will definitely help knock those black buggers down a peg, and your nose (or cheeks, or chin) will thank you.

Mary-Lou Manizer.

theBalm -

Mary-Lou Mainzer Highligher

This is a mega highlighter–no, seriously!  

The website description; 'Meet Mary-Lou Manizer, a seemingly innocent honey-hued luminizer that catches everybody’s eye. This highlighter, shadow and shimmer diffuses light so your skin looks softer and younger while adding a subtle glow. Layer it on your eyelids for luxe-looking eyelashes, sweep it on your cheeks for a sexy sheen or use it as an all over finishing touch before you head out for the night!'

This compact contains a ton of product, 8.5g to be precise – it’s double the amount of your average blush. I cannot even imagine ever finishing this, because you need so little to get a lovely shimmering glow. It’s soft, shimmering champagne with subtle gold tones. It’s not the subtlest highlighter, but it’s not glittery, heavy, or overly shimmery either. It seems to have a combination of noticeable shimmer and subtle, glowing sheen. I think it’s a very pretty shade–ultra flattering on most skin tones. It looks absolutely gorgeous on warmer skin tones, and should work beautifully on cooler skin tones, too!The pigmentation is fantastic, just a touch is required. It definitely is one of the most long-wearing highlighter’s I have used. It stays on for 6 to 7 hours on me without much fading. The texture is extremely finely milled and soft, blending like a dream.

Since it does not contain any solid shimmer or glitter and since the powder is finely milled there are no fallout at all! Also due to its texture it does not accentuate open pores or any imperfections on the face, but you need to be careful how much you use. If you use way too much you will definitely end up looking like a disco ball, something I feel this is true for all highlighters. Always keep a light hand and it would never fail you! It gives a subtle and healthy glow to face, immediately brightens up a dull face. It retails for £15, which I think is great for such a fabulous highlighter, and the amount you get is ridiculously good for the price.

If you love highlighters and don’t own this one, I really think you may want to put it on your list.

theBalm isn’t a beauty brand we hear much about in the UK, however after trying this, I definitely think I’m going to look into more of the products!!

Anyone got any recommendations?

Third Time Lucky.

Not long ago I wrote about my new favourite product, my Illamasqua Powder Foundation, post found here.  However, one thing I didn’t tell you all, was that the first time I bought it, it actually shattered before I even got home…heartbroken does even cover how upset I was. Therefore, after emailing Illamasqua about the problem, they offered me to replace it…amazing time.

All was going well, it was in perfect condition when I got home, I used it every day and it still looked as good as new. I wrote the post about how amazing it was. Then BOOM. I take it to university with me on my first day back, and it shatters in my bag. I literally must have only been out of the house ONE HOUR, then whilst getting my purse out of my bag, I realised what horror had happened. It was totally wrecked as you can see from the photo. What you can’t see very well is that at the top, the compact was actually down to the base (the silver tin base), the whole top half of the powder had just crumbled.

Once again I emailed Illamasqua, explaining what happened, along with the photograph. So now I have Powder Foundation Number 3. This is definitely the last one I’m trying. If it breaks I’m getting a refund and going somewhere else, which is a huge shame as the powder is just amazing. 

I’m not writing this to put anyone off the product. It is an incredible powder foundation. If anything it just reassures you about how amazing the customer service is at Illamasqua. I know many companies that wouldn’t replace a product once, let alone twice. Therefore, this makes me like the brand even more, knowing that their main priority is the customer.

Fingers crossed this one lasts many, many months.