Buyapowa Bargain: Benefit Porefessional

I've just bought Benefit POREfessional on Buyapowa for £16.50, I can't wait to try this out as I have had my eye on it for ages, I couldn't resist the bargain as it normally costs £23.50, if you are interested in this deal you can click here but they seem to be going quickly!

Elaine

Found on Pinterest - Eyeliner Inspiration

 

I can't wait to try a few of the styles above using my new Bobbi Brown eyeliner, as predicted this has now sold out of BuyaPowa. P.S can you tell its pay day, Elaine and I have hit BuyaPowa!

Rachel

BuyaPowa Bargain - Bobbi Brown Longwear Gel Eyeliner

As mentioned its blogger week on BuyaPowa and I've picked up this Bobbi Brown Longwear Gel Eyeliner for the bargain price of £12 (hopefully £11 if enough people buy it) It's had great reviews so I can't wait to try it out. If you want it be quick only 47 hours left - although I feel it may sell out before then. You can see the deal here.

Rachel

Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque Review

Elaine was nice enough to let me try the sample of Macadamia deep repair masque from the February Jolie Box, as after having the ends of my hair bleached it is in some serious need of some TLC. On the website Macadamia Hair describe this product as a “Deep Repair Masque is a hair reconstructor (love the beauty industries use of made up words) that will penetrate and rebuild damaged hair for improved shine and elasticity.

• combines Macadamia & Argan oils with Tea tree oil, chamomile oil, aloe and algae extract
• deep nourishment & long-lasting conditioning
• ultra-conditioning hair reconstruction
• Paraben-free formulation with Tea-Tree leaf oil, Chamomile oil, Aloe & Algae to revitalise & reconstruct dry, damaged hair 
• All hair is deeply nourished with improved elasticity & shine
• Available in 500ml & 250ml retail & 60ml trial size”

After hearing all the reviews I couldn’t wait to try this product however I must admit I am a tiny bit disappointed. This product smelt great & was creamy, soft and easy to run through my hair without snagging or tangling, so as I waited the 7min I was quite excited to wash it out, dry my hair and see the lustrous effects. Whilst drying my hair I must say it was totally tangle free and did feel a lot softer and healthier however that’s where my love ended for this product, I found my hair was frizzier than normal on the top near my roots and lacked its usual all over shine I get from other products.

 All in all I found this product did make my hair feel healthier but it didn’t look as good as when I have used other hair masques, so maybe this is a product to use to add health but not on a night you’re going out. If you would like to try this product the best price I have found online is on Cheap Smells £16.25 with free delivery for 250ml, but the Macadamia travel pack is also coming onto BuyaPower anytime soon so you might be able to pick up a bargain – I’m tempted by this to try out their other products.

Overall nice but not amazing, so I'm still on the hunt for the ultimate hair masque, any tips on great hair products?

Rachel

Hervana Benefit Blusher - BuyaPowa Offer

My lovely boyfriend bought Hervana Benefit blusher for Valentine's Day, I was soo pleased as I love Benefit blushers, they are quite expensive at £23.50 so I normally get them as presents or in Duty Free!

Benefit have redesigned the packaging of the blushers to include a mirror in the flip top lid, which I think is a really nice touch, but you need to be careful when closing the lid as I managed to get the side of the lid stuck in the blusher! Benefit have also changed the little brush to a slanted brush instead of square which means it's much easier to get a natural blusher look.

I was a bit concerned that with all the different colours that the blusher might end up being a bit too dark for me, but I was really pleasantly surprised as the colour is a really nice subtle berry shade. 

I have been using it everyday since I got it. The only thing is I feel like I have to be very careful when I'm putting the colour on the brush as I don't to mess up all the colours, but so far they are staying the colour they are supposed to be including the light pink.

I know that some people stay clear from Benefit blusher because of the price which is totally understandable, I only ever get Benefit for Birthday's and Christmas, but I think it is worth investing in Benefit blushers as the colour stays on your skin all day when you wear it over foundation or BB cream, it's the only make-up that I have ever had that is still on when I go to wash my face at night.

The product itself is really pigmented so you really don't need much on the brush so it lasts for ages, I've had Coralista  and Thrrrob for well over a year if not much longer and I haven't reached the base of the box yet, which is great as I have heard that Thrrrob has been discontinued :-(

 

Today I have just found out Harvana is on BuyaPowa as it is currently Blogger week (KHILA FROM MISS BUDGET Pick), If you haven't heard it's a great website where you can collectively buy products cheaper deepening on how many people want to buy the product, in the past they have had the Naked palettes, but you have to be quick they often sell out instantly or the time will run out. Currently Hervana is on at £19.50 and the lowest price it will go to is an amazing £17.50 but be quick it runs out in 46 hours!

Found on Pinterest - Naked Palette v Mac

I found this image on Pinterest that I felt I had to share, it's a great guide to Mac versions of the Naked eyeshadowPalette. You can see the great blog it originally came from here (I totally missed the link in the picture the first time)

If you don't already know about Pinterest I can't recommend it enough heres a handy link Pinterest

February Jolie Box Review

I got my first Jolie Box today, I have really been looking forward to trying this box out, the first thing I noticed is that the box (delivery) it arrives in is just plain, when I opened the box I loved the styling and immediately noticed that the box is smaller than Glossybox.

Inside the beauty box is a draw string bag with the samples, I love this touch and I think it makes it stand out from the other beauty boxes.

So here is what was in the box...

Jane Iredale - Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain in Forever Pink

An all natural, multi-purpose stain that adjusts its colour to your mood and temperature.

This is a tiny sample but when I tried it out I really liked it, the lipstick itself doesn't have much colour but it turned a nice bright pink, I'm not sure how good it is as a stain though....

Lavera - Basis Sensitive Organic Hand Cream

An organic hand cream with shea butter and almond extracts.

It seems like a nice hand cream, but I already have loads of hand creams so don't think I would ever be in a rush to go out and buy more!

Macadamia - Deep Repair Masque

This ultra-conditioning hair masque will rebuild damaged hair for improved shine and elasticity.

I'm pleased this is in the box I really wanted to try this brand, but I really don't like sachet samples! 

RMK - RMK Cleansing Oil

A cleansing facial oil with a refreshing scent of mint and Damascus Rose.

I'm not sure on this product and as it's in a sachet, if I'm honest I probably wont try this out.

TAAJ - Himalaya Micellar Water

An antioxidant and tonic make-up remover that will revitalise and purify skin.

I really like the look of this product and cant wait to try it out, it is perfect timing as I needed a eye make-up remover, so there will be a review to follow.

AND

A Jolie Box Make-up brush... (Yay) they don't mention it in their list of products so maybe it's a secret extra?

So... I like this beauty box and was really happy with it, but I really don't like sachet samples and was disappointed that they were included, but I did love the make-up brush, the lipstick sample and I'm looking forward to trying the make-up remover.

Now I just have to decide whether to keep the Jolie Box or Glossybox Subscription, I definitely don't think I can justify having two subscriptions... what do you think?

Get a dewy look without buying another foundation

If you have oily skin like I do, you will be used to always gravitating towards matte foundations and pressed powder, I always wanted to get a more glowing or radiant look but whenever I buy a foundation that promises this I always get an even more oily T zone and it's just not worth the 'sweaty' look.

So instead of getting a new foundation I use the foundation that I already have and mix it with a liquid highlighter, I use Benefit's High Beam or Moon Beam, there are loads of cheaper alternatives on the high street, I think mememe has a copy of High Beam. Although you are buying another item this will be dual purpose instead of buying a foundation you might not use much.

I put the normal amount of foundation on the back of my hand and mix it with a smaller amount of highlighter as you don't need much because it goes a long way.

I love doing this on a night out, or if I think I look tired, and people have commented about how good my skin looks. You could also do this with BB creams or moisturisers if you don't like a heavy feel on you skin.

February Glossybox Review

I'm really liking this months Glossybox and can't wait to try everything out! 

So this is what is in February's Glossybox....

Duwop Venom Gloss in Buttercup - Full Size 10.4ml £16

I wouldn't have chosen this colour for myself so it's a nice change, I have quickly tested this out, and it's a very neutral colour and it's very glossy! The lip gloss also has a tingling sensation to plump up lips. I will give it a proper test and do a review soon.

Dr Bronner Magic Liquid Soap (full size 59ml) - £1.50

I have to be honest and say I'm not sure what to do with this product, I think it is just waterless soap... I do like the old fashioned style packaging but it's a little hard to understand, I will definitely be googling this product for more information...

Paul Mitchell Round Trip - Full Size 200ml £12.95

Neither me or Rachel has curly hair so I was a little disappointed to see this, I guess I will try it out when I curl or wave my hair and see how it goes.

BM Beauty Pure Mineral Eyeshadow in Storm Cloud - Full Size 2g £7

This is one of my favourite things out of all the glossyboxes, it is a really nice grey dark green colour (which isn't showing too well in the picture), I have been looking for a colour like this and I will definitely be using this all the time, It's subtle enough for casual eyes but can be built up for a more dramatic smokey eye. 

Como Shambhala Invigorate Body Lotion - Full size 300ml £20

This body lotion smells gorgeous, it has a lovely lavender and peppermint smell, I'm looking forward to trying it out.

I have to say there is still nothing to entice me to buy a full size version, but that's mainly because the full sizes are normally quite expensive even with the glossy discount. But I am very happy with these samples!

This was also in the box... wonder what this means...

does anybody know what the mystery box is??

So I checked this out today and you on the site each day to get a new letter which will give you a clue for the next box... I'm not sure what I think about Glossybox being so gimicky... What do you think?

H&M and Marni Collaboration

I cannot explain how excited I am for the Marni and H&M collaboration out on the 8th March, I have already planned to take the morning off work to hopefully get my wish list to the left. You can see the full range and a stunning promotional video by the talented Sofia Coppola featuring Imogen Poots here.

SS12 Trends - Gold Leaf

I've been watching the AW12/13 shows eagerly and after watching the Topshop Unique show I had a look through the SS12 shows to remind myself of some of the trends for Summer and felt I had to blog about how much I loved the use of gold leaf in the shows. The above images are from the Topshop Unique and Fendi (by make-up artist Peter Phillips) shows. Although I adore the look I think it might be a tiny bit OTT for my usual look so I think I will stick to a safer version of this trend using gold eyeshadows and nail varnish. Topshop's make up range have some great eye crayons (£7.50) I would love to try to give a deep gold colour. I also love Topshop's nail varnish range, they have a wide range of unusual colours which are always spot on trend, to get a gold leaf effect I think it would look great to layer the crackle topcoat in Gold Digger (£6.00) over a silver colour or the crackle topcoat in Frosty (£6.00) would look equally amazing. Will let you know how it goes when I get around to trying this!

L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream Review

I saw this is in Superdrug the other day, and tested it on my hand and had to have it! I got it for £10.99 but Superdrug had all L'Oreal make up on 3 for 2, I tried to see how much it was at Boots but they didn't have it on their website but they do have selected L'Oreal make up on buy one get the second half price.

So L'Oreal say - Discover our new make up sensation that helps to recreate the texture and glow of perfect nude looking skin. Beyond Make up, beyond skin care, new Nude Magique BB cream is the ultimate all in one perfecting cream. A feather light hydrator which transforms on contact with skin, releasing smart pigment capsules to correct tone, cover imperfections and refine skin texture. With up to 24 hour hydration and SPF 12, you can have all the benefits of skin care with the perfecting properties of make up.

The BB cream comes in two tones, I bought Fair, the colour is a little bit darker than my natural skin colour but not by too much, it's a bit lighter than the Garnier light BB cream. When you first put the cream on your hand it comes out white with a hint or bluish specks then when you rub it on your skin it changes colour. I found that the cream seemed to be a bit gritty but I didn't find it off putting.

The cream is very light and does give a bare skin feel which is great if you find other BB creams such as Garnier a bit heavy. I found it did give an even finish on my skin but it only has a very light coverage so it's not the best at covering imperfections such as spots. I also am not convinced about the hydrating qualities as I have a dry forehead and it does feel dry when I have this on, so I will continue to use moistuiser on my forehead especially when the weather is cold. On a plus though I found that this cream didn't make my nose and chin too oily even without pressed powder, which is great because I can get very oily skin.

I would definitely buy this again and would recommend it my friends, it's a great alternative to foundation.

NOTD: MUA Love Hearts U&I

The new MUA limited edition Love Hearts collection is very cute, and I had been looking forward to trying out the yellow nail varnish called U&I.

To be honest I found this nail varnish very difficult to put on as the brush made it very streaky, the nail varnish needs 3 coats to get a finish that I was nearly happy with. Then at the end I found that I preferred the colour of the varnish in the bottle rather than how it looked on my nails, maybe I just need to get used to it. But this doesn't make me want to rush out and try another MUA nail varnish.

What do you think?

I was really pleased with the love heart lipbalm I bought in Sweet Lips and probably get another one in another shade!

L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream & MUA Love Heart Collection

I nipped into Superdrug last night after work and was so pleased to see the MUA love heart collection, I had seen a few bloggers talking about it and really wanted to try some of the products, I got a tinted lipbalm in Sugar Lips and a yellowy nail varnish in U and I. 

 

I was just about to leave then I noticed that L'Oreal had launched their own BB cream called Nude Maqique BB Cream, I had no intention of buying it as I use No7's BB cream, but I tired it on my hand and I loved it instantly. It comes out as a white cream and changes colour when you rub it on your skin, and it feels very very light so it really does give a 'nude' skin feel, I'm trying it out for the next few days so a review will follow.

TRESemme Salon Shine Glossing Spray with Argon Oil

I've had this for a while now, I had been looking for a shine spray and had been drawn to this as it had Argan Oil in it, to be honest I'm not sure I would have got it if it didn't! I got it from Boots for £4.99.

Tresemme say - Tresemme Smooth glossing spray contains Argon oil from Morocco, known for its nourishing and smoothing benefits. Lightweight spray adds gorgeous glossy shine. Protects from frizz and tames flyaways, so your style stays smooth and shiny, with a frizz free finish.

You can use this by spraying it on damp hair for heat protection or when your hair is dry for a 'blast of shine and keep it smooth'.

I have used this nearly everyday as a heat protection spray and as a glossing spray after I have styled my hair and I don't think this adds any shine or keeps my hair that smooth and I have naturally really straight hair, my hair doesn't really look any different. So I have stopped using it after I have dried my hair and have only used it to protect my hair from the hair dryer. I wouldn't buy this again and would just get a heat protection spray instead.

Cosmopolitan Full Body Hair Styling Kit

We have to tell you about this great product, we both really wanted to try out the Babyliss Wave Envy but were reluctant to pay nearly £40 on something we weren't sure would look good, so started looking for alternatives and found the Cosmopolitan hair styling kit at Argos for only £34.99 (original price £69.99).

 It contains a holder case, a wand with three hair styling adapters, including a waver, curling wand and a big hot brush which you can remove to have a big barrel curler, 4 Velcro rollers and some clips. Which is an absolute bargain!

We both use this styler all the time, and love the different ways that it styles your hair, I always use the waver and Rachel prefers the curling wand. The waver and curling wand are bigger than they look in the picture so it definitely gives a modern wave look not 80's crimped.

This is perfect if you are like us and want to try out the wave trend without spending too much money, plus you get all the extras too!

Happy Valentine's Day

NOTD: Illamasqua Rare

This gives the best neon colour that I have ever tried! Though you will still need 2-3 coats to get a solid colour.

Rainbow Nails!

This is a post to show you all the different nail varnishes we used to make our new header!

(L - R)

Miss Sporty - Black

No7 - Night Silver 62

Topshop Nails - Starlight

No7 - Betty Blues 280

Barry M - 312 Indigo

No7 - Totally Teal 330 (one of our all time favorites)

Barry M - 291

(L - R)

Barry M - 299 Racing Green

Misguided - Misstique

Topshop Nails - Green Room

Barry M - 304 Mint Green

H&M Nails - Wanna Pepperoni (WTF?)

Barry M - Acid Yellow 300

Collection 2000 Hot Looks - 30 Sherbet Lemons (Awful! see Need for Neon post)

17 Fast Finish - Go Go 

(L - R)

Xtras - Phox 11

Nails Inc - Tate 

Barry M - Raspberry 273

No7 - Hot Pink 40

Topshop Nails - Painted on 002

Revlon - 990 One Perfect Coral

17 Fast Finish - Pink Grapefruit

Ruby & Millie - Orange 300C

Misguided - Misstaken

(L - R)

MAC - Dark Angel

Miss Sporty Clubbing Colours - 344

17 Lasting Fix - Parma Violet

17 Lasting Fix - Woo Me

Nails Inc- Jermyn Street

Topshop Nails - Mannequin 002

Topshop Nails - Hyperreal

Missguided - Missellaneaous

Rimmel Lycra Pro - 365 Beige Style

Nails Inc - Elizabeth Street

Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer

I think in colour 61...

Boujois have brought out a new brush illuminating concealer in their healthy mix range, I think I got colour 61 but I'm not sure. I bought this the other day in Superdrug as it is currently at an introductory price of £6.49, it is usually £8.49, I did like this and it does illuminate under the eye, but I don't think it has enough coverage for blemishes. I did buy it for for coverage under my eyes so I'm happy, but I don't think I would pay £8.49 to buy it again.

SS12 Trends - Brights Make-up

In all of the magazines they are saying the key trends for spring/summer make up are brights and pastels, so I really wanted to try out the brights trend as normally I play it safe. I went into Superdrug yesterday with the intention of buying Sleek's Acid palette at £6.49, as Sleek was the first make up brand that came to mind for a cheap palette that had a range of colours. But Beauty UK's make up range caught my eye, they are very similar to MUA, and offer a range of colour palettes and very cheap make up, I found a perfect bright rainbow palette for only £3.99, it doesn't have a name just number 2.

I was really pleasantly surprised by the quality and the pigmentation of the eyeshadows, swatches below.

(I can't wait to use the bright pink and orange in a block cover, although I think I'll stick to matching eyes) If you aren't taken by these colours here are some other bright options you can try.

MUA - Pop Tastic £4

Sleek - Acid £6.49

I also found a Sleek Palette in Superdrug called Carnival but I can't seem to see it online, maybe it's discontinued? If you don't want a palette, you can try single MUA eyeshadows for only £1 or Barry M pots for £4.49

We will be posting ways to wear the new trend soon.