The Body Shop - Lip and Eye Liner's

£8.00/ 1.25g (each)
www.thebodyshop.co.uk
Made in the UK.
Eye Liner available in 5 different shades.
Lip Liner available in 7 different shades.

While I was in The Body Shop, I came across these liners. For some strange reason, I've never tried their lip or eye liners and not really heard anything about them. I thought I would pop a few in my basket and give them a try.  I've been using them for just over two weeks and tried all of the colours to create different day and evening looks.

I picked a bright pillar box red lip liner, called '13 - Rosy Red'. I have amassed many red lipsticks, so I knew that this shade would match at least a few.
When I first opened this the colour impressed me, it looked so pretty and stunning that I took a moment to enjoy the shade.
Application of the lip liner really didn't impress me though.  It claims that it has a soft texture, however, it was a hard pencil (like a drawing pencil). I found it scratchy and rough; I had to really drag it along to get any colour onto my lip line. When I did, it had good pigmentation and a very sharp out line.
I loved the colour, it matched quite a few lipsticks I tried it with, the lip liner stayed on for hours without smudging, or wearing off (even with drinking and eating). My lipstick came off before this lip liner did. It impressed me how solid the line remained and how long it stayed on the lips for. I began to appreciate these benefits and see past the application.
It had a nice even wear so it wasn't patchy or missing in bits. It did reduce lipstick bleed I noticed that my lipstick stayed sharper and neater without blurring out. I think this is a product that I will have a love/ hate relationship with.

(L-R) Rosy Red / Glowing Amethyst / Brilliant Blue / Shimmering Steel / Vibrant Emerald.

In the Metallic Eye Definer's, I picked up four different shades. I have tried many different metallic liners and I haven't found one that I liked. They were either a great eye liner but not very metallic; very sheer or didn't work at all giving no colour pay off. So I wasn't getting my expectations up too high for these liners either.
I was pleasantly surprised when I used it though as it had amazing pigmentation and it was truly metallic. I had found my metallic eye liner that did what it said it would and did it brilliantly.
The liner glided on very smoothly and gently, with no tugging or pulling. It gave me even and smooth coverage with great colour pay off and an intense metallic effect that really made my eyes light up and sparkle.
It is an excellent liner, usable on water line and tight line, as well as upper lid. The formula is water resistant, so the liner stayed put for hours before having to re-apply. I would repurchase these liners without a second thought. Simply beautiful for both day and night.

Left - Artificial Lighting / Right - Natural Daylight

Both products contain Fair Trade Marula oil. They source this from the 'Eudafano Women’s Co-Operative' (which helps women earn a fair income) in Namibia.The Body Shop are also Cruelty Free, none of their products are tested on animals. I enjoy the fact that the company are ethically minded; this makes me feel comfortable with the products that I am using and feel fair towards the source and people who created the product.

I hope you enjoyed this look at The Body Shop's liners. Feel free to let me know if you have tried them and what your thoughts on them were below in the comments section. x

Beauty Buys

I find I buy beauty products on quite a regular basis. so, I thought I would keep you updated on my beauty picks. This way you get to see what I'm trying out, what colours look like via swatches and perhaps what I may be reviewing later on. (Sneak peeks!) Not all the products I show with be reviewed on this blog, but if there is something in particular that you would like to see more of, leave me a comment below.
On to the beauty buys.

Real Techniques - Miracle Complexion Sponge.
I've seen a few bloggers review this little guy, all of the reviews said how comparable it was to the Beauty Blender, and at a fraction of the price. I was sold from that mere sentence, I go through a few of the beauty blenders a year, if I can find another just like it at a snip of the original then I will be a happy bunny!
I've very excited to try this for myself; but trying not to expect anything from it, so that I won't get disappointed if it fails to do what I need it to. (Making people dazzlingly beautiful)
Fingers crossed, it will become a new favourite!

The Body Shop - Colour Crush Lipstick. 
(I bought the shade - 101)
I adore red lipstick. Red suits any one, any skin tone, any age, any lip shape! It's the one colour that I cannot live without. The majority of my lipsticks are reds, with other colours scattered amidst them randomly.
I saw this while I was in The Body Shop and I could never forgive myself if I had of walked out without it. (A strange fact about me - If I see a red lipstick, I have to buy it.)

This is what I like to call 'a day time' red, a lighter red with a cooler undertone. A colour that would look amazing in summer with some matte black sunnies. Great buy!

B. Rich Intense Colour Lipstick.
(I bought the shade - 194 Marilyn)
This brand as far as I am aware are exclusive to Superdrug. They are a company with beautiful ethics, all the B. range is cruelty free and suitable for vegetarians and vegans. It is also very fairly priced.
Again a red lipstick, I know - I know, it's an addiction! However, this one I planned to buy as it was compared to a high end brand. I love seeing if they are good dupes, I find it rather fun.
So far the packaging has won me over, it's so cute. To open the lipstick you press the bottom and it unlocks with a click and extended down so you can pull it out like a regular lipstick.
No more ruined lipsticks in my handbag because the lid popped off. Genius design!

Barry M - Natural Glow, Shadow & Blush Palette.
I had originally gone in to pick up some of the new 'Silk' Nail Paint collection that had been released, I came home with a few more items than a nail polish; this being one of them.
There was three different palettes, as I love neutrals I went for the natural glow. I've never tried Barry M cosmetic's before, I have only ever tried the nail paints. (Another fact about me - Barry M are my favourite polishes) I was interested to see what the cosmetics were like. They were all beautiful when swatched, the last three eyeshadow shades are on trend this spring (Metallic Eyeshadows) thumbs up Barry M, it has a nice amount of matte and shimmer shadows, which I really liked and the blush is amazing. The picture really does it no justice at all. In person wow! It was really inexpensive too.

Revlon - Colourburst, Matte Balm.
(I bought the shade - 205 Elusive Insaisissable)
I have been seeing adverts for these in every magazine, reviewed by many, many bbloggers and have been seeing it pop up in my twitter feed for days. I cracked and ran to buy one too. I absolutely love the colour, I'm not really sure if I can restrain myself from buying all of the shades.

Rimmel - Stay Matte Primer.
I have oily skin, so I am always on the look out for anything that will keep my skin mattified. I saw this and thought it was worth picking up as the cost was low.
Not really sure how this will hold up; who knows it could amaze me and change my mind about lower priced primers?
The texture is a gel/cream, a combination of the two in my experience with primers. Feels rather wet for a mattifying primer, the colour is white from the tube and blends to transparent on the skin. No scent to it, which is always a bonus. Fingers crossed this product will not make me break out.

Rouge Bunny Rouge - Lip Potion.
(I bought the shade - Devilish Nectar)
This is my second tube of this amazing lip potion. It's become my secret weapon for plump, voluminous lips.
I have a normal lower lip but the tiniest top lip, it seems to disappear every time I smile. This is incredible for making it appear I have a fuller, more plump top lip. If this sounds like something you want or need, I have a full review: HERE for you to check out the product in full detail.

Lancome - Hypnose Mascara.
(I bought the shade - Black)
My favourite mascara. I have repurchased this countless times over the year's. I have my own and I also have this in my kit. The formula doesn't dry out too fast, it's buildable without clumping and creates many looks with how many layers you apply; from natural to dramatic.

Collection - Lasting Perfection Foundation.
(I bought the shade - Porcelain)
Again this was a purchase because I had heard good things about it. So far it seems easily blendable, matte, has great staying power and the shades almost adapt personally to your skin tone. I really like this swatched, I'm hoping that this is the same after a few hours of wear on my face.

I hope you enjoyed 'beauty buys', if you would like to see more of this type of blog post comment below and I will keep you updated with purchases I make!

Hair Care Routine - February

Every month, I go through bottles of hair care and styling products. I thought it would be a good idea to share what I have been using each month and how well it worked.
I love to try a new shampoo and conditioner each month, I always look forward to trying something different, I have found some great products by doing this; also having a change in scent also appeals to me personally as I tend to get used to the smell of the products after a while. This month I went back to one of my old favourites that I haven't used for a couple of year's.

The Body Shop - Banana Shampoo & Conditioner. (£4.50 each)
These smell delicious, they leave your hair smelling great all day long and a little into the next day. They contain real banana puree, so it's a lovely true, fresh banana smell and not an artificial overly sweet scent.
The banana puree goes to work on your hair making it soft, nourished and best of all glossy. It gently cleanses so it doesn't strip necessary oils out of the scalp, meaning no  dandruff.
It has a lovely thick creamy consistency, that is easy to work through the hair.
It's great for tangles; if like me, as soon as your hair sees water it becomes a tangled birds nest, this is a dream. Combs glide through hair, no snags! Meaning less damage to your hair.

Organix - Brazilian Keratin Therapy, Anti-Breakage Serum (£6.99)
Schwarzkopf, Got2b - Guardian Angel, Heat Protector (£3.99)
The wind had been whipping my poor hair in every direction this winter; combing out the knots it created had been damaging my hair, combined with central heating and over using heated appliances, my hair was brittle, weak, frazzled and lacking in the lustre department. Then I met Organix! I towel dry my hair and pop a little of this through; the results - brilliant!
The keratin strengthens the hair, coconut oil softens and de- frizzes, avocado oil and cocoa butter smooth and add shine. All in one little bottle, at a very fair price.
A hero product that I wish I had found much sooner.
After I run this through I mist over my hair with Guardian Angel for heat protection and comb it all through, before blow drying or styling. I like this heat protection spray, it's lasting so long; it's also not sticky, I find too many leave my fingers tacky, this can't be good for the hair. It also smells amazing!

Schwarzkopf, Got2b - Sexy Collagen Lift Effect Hairspray (£3.99)
After I have finished styling; straightened, curled or as I like to call it 'created hair art', I give it some added volume as well as hold.
This hairspray smells delicious, it fruity and fresh; it's holding power is very impressive - curls hold up all day long, straight styles don't go frizzy when there is moisture in the air and best of all it gives you big, sexy hair to flaunt.
I do have to use a good cleansing shampoo by the end of the week. Like all volumizising products it leaves tiny fibre like flakes on the hair which feel quite odd. So to prevent build-up (like any hairspray) a good clarifying cleanser used at the end of each week is great to get back to Au natural hair and get rid of all product build up.
I go through quite a few cans, I would say one a month. Being fairly priced I tend not to over worry about the cost, my purse never feels much lighter.
I love the design of the packaging, it's what grabbed my attention towards it - although it does remind me of a certain salon brands packaging. (Can you guess which one I'm thinking of?)

Lush - No Drought, Dry Shampoo (£6.75)
Percy & Reed - Dry Conditioner (£12.00)
Finally, for those days in between washes, I grab 'No Drought' dry shampoo, give it a sprinkle in, rub and comb it through. Easy peasy!
I've tried most dry shampoos excluded three brands (far too expensive). I can't say I'm a huge fan of any; the only one that I liked in spray form was the 'Philip Kingsley - One More Day Dry Shampoo' but still I found white residue - even after vigorous combing and rubbing.
I dislike them because they run out far too quickly, they leave white powder residue on the hair and they smell awful to me personally.
No Drought, smells like limes and grapefruit, really fresh and zingy. The powder disappears almost instantly with no residue, it absorbs oil with its clever oil-absorbing micropowders, leaving hair matte, clean looking and fabulously coiffed without any dustiness.
The bottle you see in the picture I have been using for 4 months and not lightly, as you can see it lasts a long time. I would happily say I have a year's supply of dry shampoo still left in it.
Before I discovered this, I was buying cans of dry shampoo every 2-3 weeks, you can see how costs can mount up. I have no worries about these costs any longer thanks to this little wonder. I cannot express how much I love this product.

For day's when my hair is feeling dry, coarse and a little dull. I spray in a little of Percy & Reed dry conditioner. It's conditioning formula reduces the damage caused when brushing; as well as adding gorgeous, glossy shine. My hair feels super soft after spraying this in and giving it a brush through. It helps to moisturise and detangle hair, which makes it easier to comb when I've come in from being wind swept, as mentioned above my hair easily knots up (as it's super fine).  This leaves it looking healthy, smooth and shiny. Brilliant product and a definite must have for my hair.

La Roche-Posay - Effaclar Duo (+)

£11.62/ 40ml
www.laroche-posay.co.uk
Made in France.
Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive.

I have oily, blemish prone skin. I have suffered with acne for years and I had tried everything in an attempt to combat it, including prescription medication from my doctor. Nothing seemed to work, I would spend hundreds of pounds a year trying different washes, treatments, creams, lotions and potions that came out on the market. None worked!
Then I was recommended Effaclar Duo, I bought it, tried it, and loved it.
The first week I saw no difference; thankfully I can never abandon something I pay good money for, so to use it up I carried on using it and I'm thankful that I hate waste. The second week my angry, red, acne seems to look less red, enlarged and sore. By the third week my acne had started clearing up in large patches, and by a month I could only see the odd pimple here or there. My skin had never looked better. I loved the Effaclar Duo and had been repurchasing this every time that I have run low or run out.

Then I discovered that La Roche-Posay was launching an even better version of it and I was more than excited, I wondered how it could possibly get any better. Luckily for me I entered a competition on one of my favourite blogs: 'A Model Recommends' Written by Ruth an amazing, multi-talented woman. I won and got my hands on an Effaclar Duo (+), as soon as it arrived I had it smeared all over my face. It was like Christmas morning.
I found the consistency was very similar, the scent was the same. The only difference I could tell was the pimples that popped up, took less time to heal and healed perfectly, no bump, no redness and little scarring. It too does what it says on the box. The formula is non-sticky which to me gives it a massive thumbs up, as most of the products I had tried felt tacky and left residue on the skin - never the best feeling.

The product was created via a unique partnership with dermatologists worldwide and through extensive research, it is formulated with soothing and softening La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water and the unique formulation includes a new active ingredient 'Procerad' (a patented ceramide), Niaciriamide, LHA, Piroctone, Olamine, PCA, Linoleic Acid and Zinc.

I recommend this to anyone, people looking for a treatment for acne, acne scarring, better skin texture, brighter complexion. It gets the job done and at a small price tag. I love this product so much it's unbelievable. I will cry if they ever stop making this, it is simply - hands down - the best treatment I have ever used!

Winter Skin - Rescue Products

This winter my skin decided that it was going to allow the weather to win. From chapped hands, heels and lips; to dry, itchy, flaky legs. My skin had gone mad... So I bought a whole bunch of winter treats to remedy the madness and tested them all. After a little trial and error, I finally found the products that helped repair, smooth and soothe my skin the best. Hopefully, these could be useful and beneficial to you too!

Clarins - Hand and Nail Treatment Cream.
I am a self confessed hand cream junkie. I have a hand cream in every draw and every hand bag and this is only a fragment of my hand cream addiction. I have eczema that is mainly on my hands, I try anything and everything to keep them moisturised, so that it has no excuse to flare up.
Clarins products have never let me down, I saw the hand cream and bought it. As with the rest of the Clarins range it was brilliant and did exactly what it said on the tube. It nourished, soothed and replenished. Everything that I needed, the winter weather didn't stand a chance against this miracle worker! On a side note this is also great for targeting any age spots and strengthens nails all at the same time. I also adore the scent of this cream, it's a beautiful subtle floral aroma.

Dr. Lipp - SOS Balm.
I have a draw full of balms, every brand you can imagine, some taste great, some tint the lips whilst nourishing, some just sit on the lips and don't work. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one with a draw like this. Mine has all been forgotten about because of Dr. Lipp, it was originally a nipple balm but mothers soon found an alternate use for the balm and it has become a staple for dry, chapped, cracked lips as well a many other uses. It works wonders. I won't lie, by January my lips were a disgrace; lip colours were out of the question, nothing seemed to be working and I was making my lips sore by sugar scrubbing them constantly. Then Dr. Lipp saved me! After just 1 day and three applications in that day my lips looked amazing and I was breaking out the brightest lipstick I had. I can't explain how it works, as it only consists of one ingredient, but it works and works stunningly well. I had to buy another tube, my boyfriend has started sharing mine and I am afraid to be without it now.

Soap & Glory - Heel Genius.
I don't usually buy anything for my feet, I tend to abandon them for some reason. Perhaps it's I don't see them too much, or it's just that I am lazy when it comes to caring for the skin there.
However, this winter my feet did need a little attention. They looked like something from a horror movie, I didn't even want to look at them myself; it was time to give them some TLC.
This cream was recommended to me by another beauty blogger, I popped this on after a bath just before bed and added a pair of socks to keep everything on and help the cream absorb. Each morning I grew to admire this product more, my feet felt smoother and rough, dry patches were disappearing day after day. Now my feet are baby soft all over and I actually like my feet. I will definitely continue using this cream, my feet seem to approve and I like the soft, new supple skin I have.

Organix - Brazilian Keratin Therapy, Anti-breakage Serum.
I have long, fine hair that loves to knot up in the wind. Combing the knots out I seem to comb out half my hair, I was shedding hair like a cat. I was sad when my hair felt, dry, brittle and thin. After several oils and treatments I found this serum, it promotes strength, moisture and softness, and it was the only one that seemed to work for my hair. It felt stronger and thicker after the first use, but it felt even more amazing after a couple of weeks of using this product. My hair also doesn't break off as easily when brushing it. Amazing serum, massive thumbs up for giving me beautiful hair.

The Body Shop - Cocoa Butter, Body Butter.
Pretty self explanatory, raved about by beauty bloggers and loved by many. The Body Shop do amazing body butters, I think this is the most famed product from the company. It's because the butters are beautifully scented, thick and creamy in texture, last for ages and do an amazing job of nourishing, replenishing and softening skin. My skin was dry, flaking, itching and felt like sand paper. This product banished these and gave me luxuriously soft, supple, glowing skin. Simply the best body butter on the market in my opinion, a true skin saviour.

Philosophy - 'When Hope Is Not Enough', Hydrating Antioxidant Serum.
My face really got the worst of the weather this year; the harsh cold and big blasts of icy wind on my skin made it dry, itchy, flaky, chapped and sore. I didn't want to exfoliate too much and make it worse and I didn't know what to use that could combat all the different areas at once. At first I was using around seven different products targeted for different problem areas. After a while I knew this was extreme and tried several products on their own. These seemed to make no difference.
Then I bought this and instantly knew I had found the miracle in a bottle I had been looking for. It is brilliant - it nourished, replenished, soothed, healed and didn't break me out. (I have oily, blemish prone skin) The scent has a lot to be desired but I wasn't after a face perfume, it wasn't oily at all, the serum soaked straight into the skin with no residue. My skin now looks the best it has ever been, my acne has started to clear up too. I personally think that this is a miracle worker. It has become a repurchase, must have!

Barry M - 'Silk' Nail Paint

£3.99/ 10ml.
www.barrym.com
Made in the UK.
Shade shown: Blossom.
Six shades available in the 'Silk' collection.

As soon as I saw this I knew that this was going to the checkout along with my other goodies that I had originally gone in for.
The picture's do this colour and the finish no justice. It is the prettiest pastel pink I have seen  for nails.

On application the formula is very easy to work with and it has a low odour which is fantastic to me. It appliqued to full opaque in two thin coats and dried fast to a beautiful matte sheen finish. (See pictures).

I applied a base coat but left a top coat off to retain the luxurious silk sheen finish that it created. The polish lasted 5 days on my nails without chipping, as I am quite tough on my nails this was long to me personally. So brilliant lasting power.

I will definitely be repurchasing the other colours from this particular line. I think they are a collection of pretty pastels that are perfect for spring/ summer.

I would recommend them for any skin tone, I think these colours will suit everyone. They are great if you are looking for something completely new for nails, The finish is unlike anything I have yet encountered. Massive thumbs up!

B. Stunning - Vibrant Eye Shimmer

£6.99/ 1g.  www.superdrug.com

• Suitable for vegetarians & vegans.

• Available in 10 different shades.

• Shade shown: 057 - Copper.
• Dermatologically approved.

B. are an exclusive range available at Superdrug. The range includes skin care and cosmetics; all are suitable for vegetarians/ vegans and are paraben free. None of their products are tested on animals, they are a 100% cruelty free company.

'B. Stunning' is a range of luxurious cream eyeshadows, that give a metallic finish. They can also be used as a cream liner, so it's a multi-purpose product. I really enjoyed using this for both shadow and liner, as a liner it gave a beautiful shimmer underneath the eye that really opened up the area and made it brighter. As a shadow this is really easy if you're in a rush to get out the door, you can just blend this over the lid and you instantly look put together.

The cream is super blendable and does not drag or pull when you're working with it, I find it similar in formula and usability to M.A.C paint pots. This, like the paint pots lasts all day without creasing or balling.

I think that both ethically minded people and paint pot lovers will enjoy this product, it performs like a high end product with a low price tag. It's versatile, and the colour is buildable, They offer a range of colours to suit any look and have a beautiful finish.

I will be adding more to my collection and I would highly recommend them.

No 7 - Stay Perfect Nail Colour

 £6.00/ 10ml
www.boots.com
Available in 45 different colours.

I bought this for a Valentine's date night with my other half; because of our schedules we had to have our Valentine's this weekend.
Shopping for items perfect for my outfit and the occasion I found this beautiful colour. 110 - Milan is a medium rose pink, jam packed with pink glitter. I fell head over heels when I saw the colour as I had a dusky rose lipstick the same shade that I was going to wear and honestly who doesn't love masses of glitter shimmering on our digits.

On application the formula was easy to work with as it's a medium viscosity, it had a large flat brush so it applied in 2-3 strokes; making application flawless, streak free and quick. One coat was all I needed as the pigment rich colour was opaque in a single stroke. The formula dried almost instantly, essential for me as I never have time to sit and let them dry for too long.

The colour lasted 4-6 days on my nails (with a base and top coat) without any signs of chipping or flaking. I am really impressed by the lasting power of the polish and I have already popped a few more on my shopping list to try out.

I also enjoy that it didn't smell too strongly, I tend to suffer migraines with strong chemical scents being a trigger, so a sigh of relief was given on applying the colour.

For the price, I think you are getting a nail polish that is comparable to more expensive high end pro polishes. So brilliant value for money!

I added a couple of swatches, so you can see the polish with flash (top) and without flash in natural light (bottom).

I would recommend them too anyone looking for a professional quality nail polish at a lower price.They have a wide selection of shades to choose from; so whatever colour you are searching for they may have what you need.

E.L.F - Essential Lipstick

£1.50 each /3.5g each
www.eyeslipsface.co.uk
Tailored for all skin tones.
Available in 12 different shades.

E.l.f (Eyes Lips Face), do a whole range of different lip products at different prices. The cheapest version is the Essential range.

The shades I chose were: Charming - A dusky rose, Flirtatious - A soft baby pink, Fearless - A classic pillar box red and Seductive - A mauve.

The formula is smooth and creamy, making it easy to apply and leaves lips feeling silky soft, hydrated, and supple. They all have a glossy finish.

They are highly pigmented, so a couple of swipes and you have a nice opaque colour. The lipstick has an even wear and doesn't dry out on the lips. However, the colours only lasted for a couple of hours before a reapplication was necessary, shorter if you have been eating/ drinking.

The packaging does have some problems and this is my only complaint about the lipsticks; the lids tend to fall off in your purse and the twist body is fairly flimsy. For the price I can look past these small flaws though. You get a product that is brilliant value for money, hydrating on the lips, has a good opaque colour and you get a good selection of colours to choose from.

I would highly recommend these to younger people who are perhaps just starting out with cosmetics, who have little money but want to try a selection of colours to see what suits them the best.

Collection - Work The Colour, Eyeshadow Pencil

£3.19 each.
www.collectioncosmetics.co.uk
Tailored for all skin tones and eye colours.
Available in 6 shades.

The shade that I purchased was Vanilla Sky, as you can see from the swatch it is a beautiful pearl shimmer. Brilliant as a highlight colour for the tear duct and brow bone area.

It has a velevty soft texture, that glides on the eye smoothly without dragging or pulling. It is super blendable and easy to work with.
The colour lasts all day (even on my oily eye lids) and has mininal creasing.

It has a low price tag, meaning that it's great value for money. I normally expect much less from something that costs this little but you really do get a product that works and works well.

I will definately be repurchasing the other colours, I would recommend this to anyone looking for affordable products that work well, who are perhaps trying to find a pretty highlight colour with a little shimmer to it.

Avon - Supershock Gel Eyeliner

£6.00 each.                   www.avon.co.uk
Tailored for all skin tones and eye colours.

Eyeliner is one of the most fun items of cosmetics that I think pulls a whole look together. It frames the eyes, making them bold and beautiful. For this reason I hold eyeliner high up on my importance list, also meaning that I want the most from it.



Avon produced Supershock to tempt me, after trying this I am a firm fan. It was soft and gentle on the eye, easy to apply and glided on like a dream - no dragging or pulling.

The colour was rich and intense after one swipe, leaving me with opaque bold colour. A nice true colour formula that transferred exactly the same from pencil to eye. On sharpening the pencil I found that it did not crumble at all, perhaps this is down to the gel like formula.
The liner did not dry out the eyes, but contact lens wearers may need to take extra care as it can irritate the eye after a few hours.

The liner lasted all day, even on the waterline; I had no need to re-apply until late in the evening. Very easy to smudge out to create a stunning smokey eye. It did not move or budge, once the liner is on it stays put without any blurring, transference or flaking.

Great value for money; I like that Avon have regular money off savings on this item, meaning you get it even cheaper. It is easy to find online or from an Avon agent (ordering through an agent the item can take a little longer to reach you).

Overall I really like this product, I will repurchase it and will be trying the other colours in the range. I would give my recommendation for this, I think anyone looking for bold, dramatic, long wear liner would love this.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick

£7.49/ 4.2g                     www.revlon.com
Made in the USA.
Suitable for vegetarians.
Tailored for all skin types and skin tones. 

Revlon create fantastic lip products, in a huge range of colours and finishes. The 'Super Lustrous' range has 33 shades that I personally know about.
The shade I love is 'Cherry Blossom', it is a beautiful red with blue undertones; so it shows up on photographs as you see it in the bullet. 

The stay true colour wears evenly, lasts for hours, never dries out on the lip, and tends not to feather. 
It glides on the lip effortlessly and is a pleasure to wear.

It's LiquiSilk formula contains mega-moisturisers, vitamins, Avocado oil, and Vitamin E to condition, soften and ensures lips stay looking fabulous all day long.

The formula leaves no tackiness; it has a silky smooth, creamy texture and contains an SPF 15.

For a low price tag you get a high price tag product, which I really enjoy. The quality is high and the packaging is clean and sturdy. It has a clip top so there is no chance of the lid coming loose whilst in your purse and the lipstick being spoiled. 

I would recommend the 'Super Lustrous' lip colours to anyone looking for hydration, opaque one swipe colour, a large range of different shades, and long staying power.
This probably encompasses everyone, they are a great lipstick for all skin tones and all ages.

 I have added a swatch of '028 - Cherry Blossom', my skin tone is very pale with pink undertones. The colour as you can see is a classic red that is opaque in one layer.

I will repurchase more colours and I would recommend trying some of the shades out for yourself.

What's your favourite shade, let me know?

Bourjois Little Round Pot Blusher

£7.99/ 2.5g              www.bourjois.co.uk
Made in France.
Tailored for all skin types and all skin tones.
Ultra fine and easy to blend powder blush.

"The baked texture transforms when applied to the skin into an ultra-fine pressed powder, which is easy to apply and blends impeccably. One stroke of the brush reveals the irresistible aroma of the rose scented powder. Its built-in mirror and brush is perfect for touch-ups on the go!"

A perfect pink blush! These are hard to come by believe me (think unicorns), I have one other favourite perfect pink blush in my kit which is a M.A.C and this is all I had until I picked up this little pot. It suits any skin tone, any eye colour and has a natural 'blushing' look, which is what you're aiming to achieve by using a powder.
It blends out like a dream, it looks seamless and very natural; you can add a simple sheer layer or for photographs/ or darker skin tones you can layer it to make the colour bolder and brighter.
The powder is very finely milled which makes it blend in evenly and smoothly, leaving no cakey looking chunks on top of your makeup. Massive thumbs up for the little pot, I have already added some more to my beauty shopping list and will test a few more to see if all the pots are a hit with me. I am fast becoming a fan of Bourjois cosmetics. ( A little bird told me that the company also own 'Chanel' cosmetic's; not sure if this is correct, let me know? )
I have added a swatch; my skin tone is very pale, almost white and this is swirled and wiped via finger, so this is a lot of product.

As you can tell the formula of the blush is creamy/ matte looking, no shimmer, no caking. Once blended out this colour is just divine. I highly recommend picking one up and having a try, brilliant value for money, highly pigmented and they have a large colour selection to choose from.
Perfect for Valentine's Day!

Soap & Glory - Lid Stuff in 'What's Nude'.

£10.00/ 4x 1.5g (6g Total Product)         www.soapandglory.com
Made in Italy.
Tailored for any skin tone and eye colour.
Available in What's Nude, Smokey Dokey and Off The Wall Flowers.

4 shades of fabulous flawless - finish, super colour, 8 hour wear eyeshadow (that won’t flake, won’t fade and won’t crease). Amazing, intense second- skin-like colour finish in matt or metalic shades plus a superior creamy finish.

Hands down my new favourite eyeshadows. I adore these colours, you can mix the shades to create a new colour, brush on for a sheer colour, or build up layers for a bigger, bolder lid colour. SUPER blendable, long wear (all day) and a beautiful array of finishes and colours.
These rivaled my pro shadows and cost the same price for one pro shadow to four in this quad. So brillinat value for money considering the quality is so high.
I swatched the shades in 'What's Nude' once, so you could see the sheer start, another layer and the colours are more intense, bolder and richer. Highly pigmented, so a light dab on the colour will be more than enough.
The texture is creamy and fine milled, soft and on applying has minimal fall out.

I would highly recommend these palettes. Brillant quality, low price (in comaprison to shadows of same quality), last all day - even on oily eyelids, beautiful finish and colours. I will be repurchasing these!

I have all the Eye Lid shades; so if you would like to see all the eyeshadows swatched, just let me know and I will start swatching and photographing for you.