Sleek Brow Kit Review

It seems like high street brands are going brows crazy at the minute, MUA, GOSH and Look Beauty all have launched their own brow kits this year. I've never really been that into my brows, I know Rachel was obsessed with her Benefit Browzings (RIP) before it was stolen, but with all the brow kit talk on blogs I have been experimenting and became a bit obsessed with getting my own brow kit, I have used a brow pencil but I didn't really like it.
I had my sights on the new brow kit from MUA but every time I went into Superdrug they never had any left no matter which day/time I went in, and I really have no patience so I bought Sleek's brow kit in light, at £8.50 it is more expensive than MUA but I definitely think the quality is worth the price.

The kit includes shadow, brow wax, teeny tiny tweezers, a powder brush and angled brush, I have to be honest I will never use these tweezers but they are very cute!

At first I wasn't sure whether to get this due to the limited colour choice, as most brow kits are one fits all, but with Sleek they have different shade options to buy so you can find the kit that best suits you. 

When I want to have more subtle brows I only use the powder so that it is more of a natural filler, when I want to experiment with a more dramatic brow look I either just use the brow wax or mix the powder and wax together to get a darker colour. 

(L - R) Powder - Wax


I have been really impressed with the kit and the different brow looks you can create with only two shades, I think it helps that you can pick either a light,medium or dark kit. 
The colours are really pigmented so you don't need to apply a lot of layers to get the colour you want, and I have found that the powder/wax lasts all day. If you do want to take the kit with you just in case the packaging is compact so it will fit in every bag!

I have really enjoyed using this brow kit and would definitely repurchase. 

Elaine

Winter Favourite: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Stain in Crush

Sorry for the lack of posts recently, I am really struggling to get good photo's due to the dark nights, so I'm relying on having enough time at the weekends and the weather being good enough to take decent photo's! 

I'm trying to create some sort of light box/background out of a shoe box to help with photo's, I'll post a picture on twitter to show how I got on, it sort of looks like I've attacked a shoe box with scissors and sellotape at the minute... might end up a disaster but worth a go!

I have managed to get a few photos taken on Saturday. So I'm finally back to blogging as usual...

Now that the autumn/winter has arrived I decided it was time to change up my make up look, and for me the easiest way to do this is to experiment with my lip colour. I'm not normally one to try bold makeup or follow makeup trends that closely, but this changed when I became obessed with reading beauty blogs and  I have been really inspired by other bloggers so I try to be a bit bolder with my lip colours, and buying one lipstick (or two...three...ok sometimes four) is the easiest way to keep up with trends/seasons.

 I've had my eye on the Revlon Just Bitten stain in 'Crush' ever since they were released in the summer, it is the perfect berry autumnal shade (swatch below). 

I already have 2 other stains in Honey and Rendezvous, I have to admit that when I first bought them I wasn't overwhelmed and thought they were nice but very so-so, but after a few months wear I have really changed my mind as they are such easy to wear lip products and would probably have more if there was a wider colour range, at £7.99 they are a bargain too. You can see the swatches for Honey and Rendezvous here.

So back to crush... 

I absolutely love this colour, and would encourage anyone who wants to try a berry lipstick/stain to buy it. The colour itself is quite purple which is unique compared to the huge selection of autumnal reds on the high street, the colour does oxidise slightly darker on your lips, but you can build up the colour which is great if you are starting to experiment with lip colours. 

The colour lasts for about 2-3 hours max before you need to reapply, the longevity is pretty much the same as the other stains I have. 

Crush is exactly the same as the other stains I have from the range in that the balm feeling on your lips doesn't last very long about 20 minutes, but it is moisturising compared to liquid (felt tip like) stains that can be quite drying. 

The only negative is when the colour wears off it does leave a purple stain behind which is slightly more vibrant than the berry colour, I personally don't mind it all but some people might, if you aren't sure you could test it on your hand and see how it wears.

I have recommended this to friends and would definitely repurchase. 

What is your favourite autumn/winter product?

Elaine

Models Own Utopia and Jack Frost

(L-R) Utopia, Jack Frost - please excuse my horrible ridgey nails!

These two are the first Model's Own nail polishes I have bought, I'm not sure why as I am pretty obsessed with nail polish and at £5 a bottle they are a bargain. 

I have heard a lot from other bloggers about Utopia and when I saw it in Boots I knew I had to have it, it is a beautiful neutral colour with a hint of lilac, I have worn it constantly since I bought it and have had lots of nice comments from people when I wear it. Utopia needed 2 coats but I think that is pretty standard for a nail polish this colour.

Jack Frost is such a pretty glitter nail polish, I LOVE it, the glitter is really fine and iridescent so it blends in with your base nail polish colour really well, it is quite subtle for a glitter polish but is really beautiful. I think that Utopia and Jack Frost really compliment each other well, I can't wait to try Jack Frost with different base colours. 

The nail polishes lasted okish on my nails, about 2 days max without chips although when you add the glitter top coat it does give the polish extra staying power. I am impressed with the colours and will definitely be trying out more Models Own polishes.

Elaine

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner Review

I recently went and had my makeup done at a Bobbi Brown counter with Rachel, just for fun... as you do, the assistant was really lovely and suggested a classic Bobbi Brown eye liner look, I always wear eyeliner so was skeptical how it would look different, but she used a gel eyeliner in Espresso Ink, she commented that as I have quite dark eyes I can use a brown eyeliner and still have the intensity black would give. I loved this look straightaway as it was something different to my usual thin black eyeliner, I couldn't quite afford Bobbi Brown so I went on a hunt for a high street alternative...

And found Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner, I know this has been around for a long time but Maybelline is a brand that I'm not usually drawn to and I'm not really sure why, so I was surprised when I tested this that it was a perfect match for Bobbi Brown's Espresso gel liner. This gel liner is only £7.99 compared to £17, you can find Maybelline's liner here.

The colour is a really rich pigmented brown, some other high street brown eyeliners seemed really flat and the colour seemed a bit hint of beige, whereas this eyeliner has a bit more intensity to it. I found this liner a joy to use, the gel liner is soft and easy to apply, the colour is pigmented you only need one stroke to get a great line and colour, and once it has dried it really does last all day without smudging even near my inner eye.

There is a brush that comes with the eyeliner but I found it was quite hard and a bit scratchy, so I bought an eyeliner brush from Eco Tools for only £5.49,  Rachel swears by this brush for her gel liner and I have found that it is much softer and easier to use than the brush provided. 

I really like this eyeliner and would definitely repurchase, it has inspired me to experiment a bit more with coloured eyeliner and to not always play it safe with black. I'm excited to try the new shades that are being released in December, you can see swatches here at British Beauty Blogger.

Elaine

My Christmas Wish List

I love reading other bloggers posts about their favourite products and their wish lists, as it's getting close to my favourite time of year and all the Christmas adverts are making me feel very festive I thought I would do my own Christmas wish list, these are some of the things I would love to try, and this post can give my boyfriend and family some ideas for Christmas (*cough*...  Rachel).

Caudalie Vinosource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Natural Lift and Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm

Liz Earle Eye Bright Soothing Eye Lotion

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic

Topshop Crescent Moon Highlighter

Topshop Colour Block Lady Cross Body Bag (What a name!!) 

I will do a post soon about the presents I have bought people or ideas I have, I love buying Christmas presents for my family and friends! Wrapping Christmas presents while watching ELF, Santa Claus the Movie and Love Actually is my favourite thing to do at Christmas!!

Elaine

Free Nails Inc with Glamour Magazine

Glamour are offering a free 10 ml Nails Inc varnish with their December issue (which is out now), there are 4 colours to choose from, as the magazine is only £2 it is very tempting to buy all 4...

The four colours to choose from are Glamour Glitter - a sparse gold glitter, St James - vibrant red, Motcomb Street - navy/black and Elizabeth Street - light pink.

I bought the magazines with Glamour Glitter and Motcomb Street, I will get a NOTD post done soon but if you can't wait Glitter Tips has done a great post with all 4 of the nail varnishes, which you can find here.

 I did have to go to quite a few shops to get the glitter varnish so if that's the one you want I would be quick!

Elaine

Customised Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

As a pale skin lady I really find it difficult to find anything to match my skin tone, I have quite pinky skin so sometimes foundation/concealer whites out my skin too much and I look a little strange.

 So when I went to buy the Collection Lasting Perfection concealer I automatically went for the fair shade as the light was a bit too dark, but I was never quite convinced as it was that bit too pale for my skin tone and it put me off using it, I would always look at other blog enviously when they raved about this concealer.

That was until I mixed the fair and light shades...

(Bottom - Top) Fair, Light, Customised

The difference between the Fair and Light shades is quite big, something so simple as mixing the two shades has created the perfect shade for my skin tone.

Although buying two concealers at £4.19 each might seem a bit expensive, but the quality of the concealer is worth it, and you can change the colour of your concealer as your skin tone changes and it will last twice as long... 

Elaine