Rimmel The Only 1 Matte Lipstick // Review

Today i'm here to tell you about a recent launch from Rimmel. Rimmel are one of my favourite high street brands, i love their Match Perfection range of concealers and foundations so when they got in touch and asked if i would be interested in reviewing their new lipstick launch, the answer was a big yes please! Amongst other products, Rimmel are known for their hugely popular range of lipsticks. Their Kate Moss range is a sure fire favourite with many of us, so when i received the new range of Matte lipsticks from Rimmel i was hopeful that the formula and quality would be along the same lines.

Rimmel London Sculpting Palette // Review

Hello everyone,

Hope you are all enjoying the weekend!

I saw one of my favourite YouTubers, Suzie from Hello October singing the praises of the new Rimmel Sculpting Palette. When i saw how amazing it looked on Suzi, i knew i had to have it! So, i swung by my local Boots on the way home from work and was eager to see how i got on with it.

The Rimmel Sculpting Palette is part of the hugely popular Kate Moss range. Some of my favourite lipsticks come from the Kate range, so i was excited to see how the palette's quality compared. The palette is a great all in one sculpting product as it has contour, blush and highlight shades. The palette is contained in a lightweight plastic holder with a flip lid. In the long run, it might not be the most durable but the lightweight aspect means that it is perfect for travelling and it also looks pretty gorgeous with the gold border. I believe that there are two shades of the palette available, 002 Coral Glow and 003 Coral Bronze. I chose Coral Glow as i thought it suited my skin tone better out of the two.

The highlight is the most perfect daytime appropriate highlight that i have used. Sometimes highlighters can look a little too stark for everyday where, but the Rimmel one gives the most beautiful subtle champagne glow that really adds that extra bit of sheen to your everyday look. The contour shade is on the warmer side and i feel that it works just as well as a bronzer too! The colour pay off for the contour shade is quite subtle, and is great to use if you just want a little definition. I also think the contour shade is a great opportunity for people who maybe aren't too confident in contouring to use as it is not as pigmented as other contour shades which are available from other brands. I have actually swapped my trusty Benefit Hoola contour and have been using the Rimmel contour shade everyday since i bought it! The reason being, is that the shade gives me just enough definition for an everyday look and if i apply it in a hurry before work, i can be sure that it is going to give me foolproof subtle definition. Finally, lets move onto in my opinion, the star of the show! The blush is hands down one of my favourite blushes ever. A bold statement, i know but trust me, it really is such a beautiful shade. I find that the blush has just the right amount of pigment to give a lovely coral flush to the cheeks and the slight shimmer adds a lovely glow! The texture of all the shades in the palette are quite similar and apply smoothly to the skin. 

In the past, i have found that high street brands can have quite a chalky texture to their powder products but that definitely isn't the case here. The smooth texture allows the products to apply beautifully and effortlessly to the skin and you are left with a gorgeous everyday defined look.

If you haven't guessed already, i am pretty impressed with the palette and i'm already considering buying a back up! Its a palette that i have been using religiously since i bought it as it has everything i need to create a defined daytime cheek look. Priced at just £6.99, this kit would be a perfect addition to anyones make up collection. I would especially recommend it for people who want to dabble in contouring and highlighting for the first time as the pigments in this palette help you to create a softly defined look. Although the shades in the palette are on the more subtle side, they can be built up to create a more defined look. The palette also has a helpful diagram and explanation of how to use the shades on the back. 

Let me know if you have tried this palette, and what you thought about it!

Vichy Dermablend Setting Powder | Review

Hi guys!

Over the last few months i have really got back into the swing of things beauty wise and lets just say that my bank account has had a bit of a hammering from Feel Unique, Look Fantastic and Boots! On one of my recent online binges i placed an order for the Vichy Dermablend Setting Powder. I was on the lookout for a new setting powder and having tried Vichy products in the past and being impressed, i decided to buy it and see how it performed. It also helped that their was 33% off the product at the time on Feel Unique!

In the past i have been loyal to the good old Rimmel Translucent Setting Pressed powder that we all know and love,  however i was very curious to see how a loose setting powder would compare. As usual, i received my order quickly from Feel Unique and couldn't wait to try the bits out that i had ordered. 

The Vichy Dermablend setting powder is a white loose powder, so not the most convenient to use and it can be a bit risky to use if you are in a rush...or wearing black clothing - speaking from experience here! The product comes packaged in a standard cardboard box (excuse the tatty packaging, its been sitting in my drawer awaiting photographs for a while) and the product itself is housed in a hard plastic round container with a screw lid. Once the lid is unscrewed and removed, there is a sieve top piece which helps to disperse just enough product for you to use. Just before using this product, i usually tip the product upside down for a second which allows a small amount of product to be dispersed onto the sieve section. I then swirl my brush (usually a stippling brush as this picks up just the right amount of product) into the sieve top piece, then remove an excess in the lid by tapping my brush. Then i find that i have just enough product to set my t-zone area and any other parts that i need to set. I can see that this product is going to last a long time as you only need to use a small amount in order to set your base. 

Its worth noting that this product is transparent and totally undetectable once applied. It simply sets your make up without interrupting your base and helps to mattify your skin slightly. I had hoped that this product would help keep my oily skin at bay, and whilst it does a good job until around 1pm, i do find that i have to pop on some pressed powder at around 1pm ish. When i am doing a quick touch up, i find that the powder has set my make up really well and everything is pretty much intact.

The one negative about this product is that it can be a little messy to use. If you are after a quick powder to use to set your make up, this probably isn't for you but if you have a bit more time to use the product, then it really is great. If i have ten minutes spare in the morning, i always pop some of this on as i find it really helps to set my make up and ensures that nothing slides about.  

I'm really glad that i bit the bullet and bought this product as it will last me for quite a while and i'm really impressed with it. Considering the longevity and results of this product, i think that the £17 price tag is very fair and its still on offer at Feel Unique if you fancy a bit of a bargain - link is below and no, this is not sponsored/affiliated! If you are on the lookout for an invisible, weightless powder which will help set your make up then i'd really recommend giving this ago.

Link to the product with 25% discount Feel Unique

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge // Review

I've never really been on board with the whole beauty sponge craze and have happily used my Real Techniques buffing brush, or my hands to apply my foundation with. However, on a recent shopping trip to Boots, i came across the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge and thought i'd give it a go! Most of my brushes are Real Techniques and i have been really impressed with them, so i was excited to see what the miracle complexion sponge would be like.

The product comes packaged in a semi transparent domed plastic case, which is nice as you can see the size and shape of the product. There is the usual description of the product on the front of the packaging and on the back, there is a brief description on how to use the sponge. I found this really useful as i didn't know too much about make up sponges, so this bit of guidance boosted my confidence.

Lee Stafford Coco Loco Shampoo and Conditioner

When it comes to hair care, i'm not very loyal and love to try new brands and ranges. Sure, i have my favourite and failsafe brands which i know i can depend on (Aussie and Loreal FYI) but i'm always up for trying out other products too. So, when i heard about the Coco Loco range from Lee Stafford, i knew it was something that i'd love to try!

I have been aware of Lee Stafford's range of products and have looked at the range in Boots too, but for some reason i have never taken the plunge and bought anything from the brand. As i'm sure many of you know, Lee Stafford himself is one of the Britain's most famous and influential hairdressers and whenever i see interviews with him or read about the brand, i can just feel the passion he portrays about both his brand and hairdressing, this is very reassuring and makes me feel really confident about the products. Sometimes i will buy products from other brands which i love (e.g. Aussie) but i don't really know the people behind the products or the story behind the brand. I think the Lee Stafford brand is really personable and you can really feel that a lot of thought has gone into the products. That wittering probably made no sense, but basically what i am trying to say is that i love how the products are produced by a professional hairdresser who knows what he's talking about! 

What I Got For Christmas & Hello 2016!

Hello!

I hope that you all had a great Christmas and New Year. The festive season seems to have been going on forever and i'm sure most of us will be struggling to get out of bed for work on monday! As some of you may notice, my blog has had a bit of a spring clean. I felt like my blog has been a bit slow off the mark both in terms of design and content, so i emailed the lovely Serena of Pretty Wild Things and she whipped me up my new layout. I absolutely love it and it has really instigated my interest in writing again. Let me know what you think of the design!

Now onto Christmas! As usual, i had a lovely Christmas surrounded by my family. The past year my mum has been very poorly with trips in and out of hospital and it has really taught me that its all about who you spend Christmas with, rather than the presents that you receive that matters the most. Saying that, i was luckily enough to receive some wonderful presents which i am so grateful for.

I never know what i really want for Christmas, if i want something i tend to buy it myself. So, most of my presents were beauty based, with a couple of other bits too. One present which i did ask for was a set of Zoeva brushes. I deliberated long and hard about which set to get, and finally opted for the classic set. They are stunning brushes and i can't wait to use them, although it will kill me a bit inside when they get dirty! Another present which i asked for was the Babyliss Boutique Soft Waves Hair Styler. I curl my hair about three times a week using the Enrapture Totem Styler which i do like but sometimes the clamp can leave an unsightly kink in my hair. The Babyliss Soft Waves has no clamp and is just a barrelled tong, so should give a really nice result. My lovely sister bought me the Benefit Real Cheeky Party which is a palette containing 5 Benefit powders and miniature versions of the They're Real Masacara and Eyeliner. I LOVE Benefit blushes and bronzers so i just know that i will get so much use out of it!





They were my main beauty bits but i also got a few other bits as you can see in the photos. I was truly spoilt and can't wait to try everything!

Alongside my beauty presents, i also received a couple of non-beauty bits. I recently joined a gym and needed a gym bag, as currently i am just using a large handbag! After looking at Sports Direct i chose the Nike XS Brasilia Bag in the purple shade. It is the perfect size and has lots of different compartments too. I also received from my sister, a hot pink (she knows me so well!) Nike water bottle  which will be really handy as currently i am just filling up a water bottle every time.


Finally, i received my main present which was a beautiful Ted Baker dressing gown. Its in a lovely light pink shade with embossed hearts on it. I've never felt anything so soft in my life and if i could permanently wear it, i 100% would!



I also got a few other bits which i haven't photographed such as, Soap and Glory bits, Adult Colour Book (yes, i am that cool!), Chocolate, Purse and a cute Mug for work!

I hope you all had a lovely new year, i had a quiet one this year and spent the evening with a takeaway and the family. It was nice to wake up on New Years Day without a hangover! I'm really looking forward to 2016 and just wiping the slate clean and starting afresh!