False Lash Effect.

L'Oréal Paris -

Telescopic False Lash Effect Mascara

I think I have just found my Holy Grail mascara!!!

L’Oreal’s Telescopic False Lash Effect mascara is basically an improved version of their original Telescopic mascara, promising to make it look like you're wearing falsies by 'elongating lashes as if beyond their tips'.  Stretching every lash for an intense look, this sounded like the perfect mascara for me, as I prefer to have very bold, fluttery eyelashes!

This mascara comes packaged as a slim, mirrored silver tube that resembles a telescope: pretty cool, but a nightmare to photograph!  It comes in Magnetic Black or Hypnotic Brown and of course I went for the black version, due it begin in my opinion more dramatic. The wand is quite skinny and flexible with little bristles designed to catch every single lash.  I tend to prefer these types of wands, as I find really big oversized wands just end up putting more products on my eyelid then on my eyelashes.

This mascara is just amazing! It makes my eyelashes unbelivably long and luscious. I have had so many commenting on my eyelashes whilst wearing this, and some people have even asked what false lashes I’m using because they look so dramatic, but so natural at the same time. They were truly stunned when I explained I was only wearing L’Oreal mascara. Another bonus of this mascara is that it doesn’t smudge, nor is it a pain to wash off. It also doesn’t irritate my very sensitive eyes.

Overall, I love this mascara. In my opinion it gives any high-end mascara a good run for its money!!!

My New Perfect Foundation?

Vichy -

Dermablend Foundation

This product is definitely a ‘don’t judge a book by its cover product’ and I am so glad that they now sell it in Boots! The product itself looks quite bland, simple and doesn’t really even look like other Vichy products. I haven’t yet found a holy-grail foundation, some have come close, and I always find something that I just don’t quite like about them. I saw this in my local boots when picking up some La Roche-Posay skin care and I thought I would do a little research on it. Even though it isn’t as well known, the reviews online for it were seriously glowing, therefore I thought I would take the plunge and purchase it.

After researching it, I found out that it is a corrective foundation, designed to give total coverage. It’s designed to give up to 12 hours of long lasting and flawless wear whilst providing an even skin tone – which would explain why I found it made me look so flawless, it’s just doing its job! Another thing I found out, (exciting) is that it includes Vichy thermal spa water, which is renowned for its soothing and fortifying properties. This leaves your skin moisturised and comfortable all day. I can vouch for this. So basically, it's like a treatment foundation, which treats your problems.

Lets just say, I was very shocked when I applied this to my face…

I have breakouts once a month (that girl point of the month) specifically in my t-zone and even though I’m lucky enough to not have them every day, that week once a month where I do break out is always the worst week. My skin hurts, looks horrendous with and without make up and just nothing can fix it. I usually find that if I apply foundation over the top of spots, they make my skin look worse. They almost make your spots double in size and make them stand out more. I find concealer is the same; they cover redness, but seem to fail when covering spots.

When I put this on my face, I was shocked. This is hands down, the only thing that I have come across where 1. No concealer is required. 2. It doesn’t make my skin look worse. Vichy's Dermablend is actually like a miracle foundation, hence why I needed to give this a rave review. I don’t understand how it does it, but trust me, it does. I keep making the mistake of putting far too much on my fingers; because a load does tend to come out, so do be careful.

I tend to put a tiny bit on my chin (the problem area) and then because it is so thick I just blend that with my Real Techniques blending brush around the rest of the face, a tiny bit on the chin when blended, covering Some foundations are very thick, and cakey looking. This is surprisingly very natural looking when blended, it doesn’t look like a mask, or cakey and doesn’t give you those nasty lines down the side of your face as long as you blend well. With careful blending, this looks radiant, moisturizing and just great. the whole face. 

Overall, I like this foundation, it costs £15.50, which is quite expensive as the bottle isn’t that big, but, and you only need to use it sparingly. I love it and couldn’t recommend it more. 

DiorSkin.

Dior -

DiorSkin Nude BB Creme

I apologise if you are tired of hearing about BB Creams. Trust me, I am too, but this Dior Diorskin Nude BB Cream has been raved about by everyone in beauty, and I just couldn’t resist. However, it is definitely the best BB Cream that I have tried.

The Diorskin Nude BB Creams comes in 4 colours, which I think is fairly generous for a BB Cream, as I find that a lot only come in 1 or 2 colours. I got colour matched by consultant and she stated ’002 Fair’ suited me exactly. It is housed in a tube with a pump dispenser, which makes for easy and sanitary application.

The coverage of this base is light to medium, but I think it can be built up to a definite medium coverage. After seeing this product on countless blogs, it seems that most people prefer to apply this with their hands, which I agree is a really good way to apply it, especially in a morning. However, I also apply it with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush, as I find it gives me a more flawless finish, for when I have a bit more to cover. This product is definitely very creamy, but not so much that it overwhelms my slightly oily skin. It gives off a gorgeous glow (not shiny) that gives the face a healthy and youthful look. Another great attribute of this BB Cream is its weightless feel. You do not feel like you are wearing anything on your face, which is great for people who don’t like the feel of foundations.

As far as the advertised skincare benefits of this product, I didn’t really see any noticeable difference in the condition of my skin, but it definitely did moisturise my skin!

Although the Dior Diorskin Nude BB Cream gives a light-medium coverage, I still find that it perfects my complexion with only a hint of concealer needed. This, combined with the weightless feel, glowing finish, and fuss-free application makes this BB Cream a must-have for your makeup bag!

Overall, I honestly can’t think of a single bad thing about this BB Cream!

XXL.

Batiste -

XXL Plumping Powder

I love it when a company spreads its wings and releases a new product, Batiste have just bought out their own XXL Plumping Powder and I thought today I would share with you my thoughts of it.

Here is a little information about the Batiste XXL Plumping Powder…’Batiste XXL Plumping Powder is perfect for creating an instant amplified effect for roots and big styles. A light shake of this weightless powder works in texture and adds maximum volume to give your hair perfect body without backcombing! Hair looks catwalk ready in an instant and will last as long as you do!’

To use it you simply sprinkle a little at a time into roots or style (a little goes a long way!) Gently work through with fingertips and style as desired. I’ve read many a review of this type of product where people don’t like it. I often wonder if it’s down to the fact they are using it wrong, or more the case, using too much. You see with a powder like the Batiste XXL Plumping Powder, a LITTLE really is all you need! Too much and your hair is sticky, messy and you can’t do a thing with it. So, bare in mine a light tap or dusting is really all you will need from this product to create volume.

Its amazing at giving your hair a boost!!

Overall, the XXL Plumping Powder really is a pot of gold in my books. Its inexpensive and will last ages, so a really good product to have in your collection. If you want more volume in your hair that does last, this is definitely a product I would recommend trying. It can take a couple of attempts to get used to working out how much you need, but once you have it, its brilliant!

In addition, Batiste have gone one further and launched two more new products to the range; Smoothing Conditioning Mist and Strength & Shine Dry Shampoo. The conditioning mist is designed to act as a “dry” conditioner, to help tackle frizz and give back some shine. Especially useful if you’ve used dry shampoo and your hair is looking similar to the Sahara. The Strength & Shine Dry Shampoo contains L-Arginine, which should nourish your hair as well as freshening it up.

Drink Up.

Origins - 

Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

My skin type has always been oily-combination, but lately it's been feeling really dry. I'm not sure if it's the really warm weather we've been having recently, or perhaps some of the products I've been using in my skincare routine, but my foundation just hasn't been sitting as nicely on my skin as it used to. I knew I needed to invest in a product that would put some moisture back into my skin and stop it feeling so dehydrated.

This is where the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask came to my rescue!

The Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask is a face mask you use once or twice a week as an intense moisturising treatment. It contains the natural ingredients apricot kernel oil, avocado oil, Japanese seaweed and mango butters, which intensely moisturise the skin and also help prevent signs of premature ageing.

This product is so easy to apply. You massage a small amount into your face before you go to bed and let it work overnight as you sleep. Then in the morning you rinse it off. It couldn't be simpler!

I love the smell of the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. It's got a fresh peachy scent that’s really lovely.

One thing that had worried me about using an overnight mask was how it would feel on my skin. I didn't particularly fancy going to bed with a face that felt sticky because I've put a treatment on it, but I needn't have worried! The mask absorbs quickly into the skin, so it doesn’t feel like you've got a layer of product on your face when you go to bed. If you do feel you've applied too much (I did the first few times) or if it feels sticky on your skin, Origins advise that you can tissue off any excess. It also doesn’t leave a greasy feeling at all!

Now to the most important part; Has the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask made a difference to my skin?

I can honestly say that it has! I've been using this product once a week for about 3 weeks, and my skin is feeling a lot better already! My cheeks, which were the main concern, are not so dehydrated anymore and feel so much softer. It's made a noticable difference in quite a short space of time, and I can easily see why this is one of Origins best selling products!

With it being summer, a lot of us are off to hot and sunny places for our summer holidays soon, I would say this product is really worth investing in, especially before and after your holiday. This is mainly because the sun and too much drinking can really dry out and age our skin, so it's important to keep our skin healthy, hydrated and moisturised. That way, it will hopefully stay looking younger for longer!

The Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask retails for £20.00, which might seem quite pricey, but you do get pleantly of product for your money (100ml to be exact). As this is a treatment you're meant to use once or twice a week depending on your skin type, one of these should last you ages as well.

Have you tried the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask?