Saturday 25 October 2014

EMPTIES/PRODUCTS I'VE USED UP ~ OCTOBER 2014


Empties videos are some of my favourite to film, and watch (other people's of course). I usually manage to get through enough products to warrant doing them every month, so here is this month's take! Hope you enjoy it. (My box is already getting filled up for November... eek! Exciting!)

Thursday 23 October 2014

THE BUDGET BRONZER

My make-up collection is predominantly drugstore packed. It's where I shop the most often, and what I use most of the time. I only really reach consistently for high end products when it comes to eyeshadow (palettes galore!), and bronzer. NARS Laguna is a much loved favourite of mine, and more recently I've also become more accustomed with Benefit Hoola.

The more affordable bronzers in my collection have come and gone in recent months (as I destashed a little with a blog sale - check here for my latest), but I still have a few I held on to, and one that I hadn't given a chance to shine until recently.


The Ultra Bronze from MakeUp Revolution is a huge matte bronzer (15g!). The size is sort of awesome but a bit of a storing nightmare. It doesn't fit anywhere! I absolutely fell in love with it as soon as I swatched it in Superdrug, but it became neglected as I didn't have anywhere to put it and it got a bit forgotten about. Finally, I just decided to put it in my blush/bronzer drawer on top of everything else, making it impossible to miss. Since then, I've been using it every day! I've often found cheaper bronzers lean on the orange side but this is more a cool-toned shade perfect for contouring but not too cool. I still use it to bronze all over and to warm up the skin and the smooth texture is so easy to blend out.



You can pick it up in Superdrug (if you're lucky - they go quick!) or online here for only £3. Such a bargain! Highly recommend giving this one a whirl especially if you have a lighter skin tone. It works great for me!

Wednesday 22 October 2014

OCTOBER UNBOXINGS



I can admit that I've been slacking a little in the blogging department this last week. However, I did upload two unboxing videos on my YouTube channel. My usual Glossybox VS Birchbox showdown as well as a Love Me Beauty unboxing. Hope you enjoy these for now, and I'll have a new blog post up soon. Promise!


Friday 17 October 2014

BLOG SALE - MAC, BENEFIT, CLINIQUE & MORE

So, I've found myself here again... I didn't think I'd be having another blog sale so soon, but let's do this. Leave a comment with what you'd like to purchase and your Paypal email address if you would like to purchase something.

Terms:
1. Postage within the UK will be £1 for small items (large letter size) and £3 for larger packages.
2. I'm unlikely to post internationally (it's too stressful), but leave a comment if you really want something and we can discuss it.
3. If you wish to receive your parcel via Recorded or Special Delivery, postage costs will need to be adjusted.
4. I only accept payment by Paypal, and do not accept any returns.
5. Items are sold on a first come, first serve basis and I will hold items up to 24 hours.

Happy shopping!


Tuesday 14 October 2014

MAC BROOKE SHIELDS GRAVITAS PALETTE


Let's talk about this beauty. I honestly took these pictures as soon as I opened the box so I could capture the shadows in all their new, untouched beauty. This is the latest pre-made limited edition palette from the MAC Brooke Shields Collection - the Gravitas palette. There are 15 gorgeous eyeshadows with a mix of limited edition and permanent shades. I broke down and swatched every shade in this video. I honestly can't get enough of this palette. If you can get your hands on it, don't hesitate!

Saturday 11 October 2014

AUTUMN BERRIES FROM THE DRUGSTORE


When it comes to Autumn, I'm all about the berry lips. I went through my collection and picked out five of my favourites which in all honesty, are fairly similar in shade but vary in application and finish. You may not need all of these, but I would definitely recommend at least one.

  • Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil in Berry Much (£4.99) - I reviewed this little pencil when I first purchased it here and not much has changed. I'm still loving how easy it is to apply. I thought that a chubby pencil may be more difficult to get a perfect lip outline but it's actually quick and easy. The formula is so soft and creamy and there's no tugging on the lips. I don't often wear this alone but it works perfectly as a base for pretty much any of the other lip products in this post.
  • Rimmel Kate Lasting Finish Lipstick in 30 (£5.49) - This was a recent Essiebutton inspired purchase, and it is essentially a non-matte version of the 107 classic with maybe a tiny bit more purple. The Lasting Finish formula is gorgeous - I pretty much love every Rimmel lip formula. This one is quick and easy to apply.
  • No7 High Shine Lipgloss in Plum Blush (£9) - I thought I'd include a glossy option which is slightly more sheer and perfect if you want to effortlessly transition back into darker lips. This is a little less in your face but still has those gorgeous berry tones that encapsulate every thing autumn. It has a slightly tacky finish but isn't sticky. They're giving out the £3 off coupons at the moment, so now would be a perfect time to grab this for £6!
  • Rimmel Kate Matte Lipstick in 107 (£5.49)  - the classic. I love how affordable Rimmel lipsticks are and this is one of the best. I did a little review here. This was the original lipstick which made me fall in love with the darker wine berry shade and pretty led me to every other purchase here.
  • Rimmel Apocalips Matte Lip Velvet in Meteoric Matte (£6.49) - As I wasn't a fan of the original Apocalips lip lacquers, it was surprising to me how much I loved this. I already wrote a review here, and I'm still enjoying using this. I'm not sure about the "matte" title as this never fully dries down to be matte and is prone to transferring (so, be careful!), but I actually really love the slightly glossy finish and the fullness effect it gives to my lips. 

You can probably tell from this post that I found the tone of darker lips that works for me and I just ran with it. I would recommend any of these lippies and they'll definitely be the ones I'll be reaching for most in the next few months. I chose the No7 gloss today - transitioning and all that.


Hope you enjoyed this! What's your autumn lip go-to? 

Tina xx

Thursday 9 October 2014

ESSENCE LOVE ME, CUPCAKE!


I've been sort of discovering the wonders of Essence over the last few months after finding their products in my local Wilkinson's. Their prices are so affordable and so far, I've found a lot of loves. I picked up this polish over a month ago but I've only just tried it out, and I'm impressed. Love Me, Cupcake! is a gorgeous lilac-grey shade with an adorable shade name. It's like nothing else in my (humble) nail polish collection and as I am a fan of purples and neutrals when it comes to nail polish, this is perfect for me!

Usually, I am strictly a three coat polish kind of gal, but this only took two coats and I didn't really see need for a third. The brush is wide so application was easy. I've only had it on a day but so far it's looking perfect still. I've heard raves about the Essence polishes from others so I'm hoping for a couple more days of wear from this! Definitely worth a look at only £1.60 and they have a huge range.

You can browse their collection online here, or check your local Wilkinson's. Also, you can see what other Essence products I've blogged about on this tag.

Tina xx

Wednesday 8 October 2014

SANCTUARY SPA MINIS HAUL


When it comes to my local Boots store, I'm pretty sure I could almost navigate my way through the make-up aisles blindfolded as I know them that well. However, I am not as well practised in the skincare shelves. I tend to stick to my tried and tested products and don't often branch out into new territory. So, as there is a huge 3 for 2 offer running now on facial skincare products I thought I would try some new things.

Sanctuary Spa is a brand which has been on my radar for a while. I was excited to see that the minis were included in the 3 for 2 offer as I love testing out skincare before I commit and these are all between £2-£3. I may have gone a little crazy - I practically got one of everything. Here's the run-down.

I don't think I can count the amount of YouTubers I've heard mention the 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask and my interest has just peaked and peaked over time. I'm dying to test out the whole "thermal" heating face mask thing. I don't use masks half as often as I should and I'm hoping to get a couple of uses out of this little packet. I didn't stop at one mask, but I also picked up a sachet of the Moisture Boosting Mask. Now that the days are getting shorter and colder, I'll do anything to keep that moisture in my skin so I'm interested to see how this one goes. I love the simple and colourful packaging of this brand.

Next up, I grabbed some of the mini tube samples. You can see I'm really into moisture right now as I also purchased Illuminating Moisture Lotion. I've been loving my illuminating products and am eager to carry the summer glow into autumn. I love using a fuller coverage base but sandwiching it between illuminating products (brightening primers and highlighters galore). I also grabbed the Night Concentrate as I'm almost out of my current night cream and am looking to try something new.

Finally I picked up the Pore Refining Toner as I'm always keen to see if there's a toner which can compare to my Liz Earle favourite. I think I purchased almost every mini on the Sanctuary Spa stand, so hopefully I'll have a good idea of the brand once I've tried them all and maybe they'll even be a follow up post. Let me know if you want one!




Have you tried anything from Sanctuary Spa that you loved? Am I missing anything?

Tina xx

Tuesday 7 October 2014

CURRENT EVERY DAY MAKE-UP DRAWER


My every day make-up drawer is probably my favourite of all the drawers in my make-up collection, because it's full of things I'm loving right now. If I'm consistently grabbing a certain product, it will end up here. I change up one or two things almost every day so I thought I would show you what's in there right now and then make an updated video every month or so. Hope you enjoy it!

Monday 6 October 2014

15% OFF BENEFIT AND BARE MINERALS - 48 HOURS ONLY

Sale alert! The brands Benefit and Bare Minerals are currently 15% off on feelunique.com when you use the code BEAUTY15. Just a quick notice if you didn't get the email. I'm already tempted by a couple of Bare Minerals products (I've been loving their stuff lately!). Don't forget this includes all the Benefit Christmas stuff including the palette I posted about the other day (shown below). It's only on for 48 hours finishing tomorrow! Go on, treat yourself ;)


Tina xx

CHALLENGE: OVER BY OCTOBER - RESULTS!

My little blog has grown quite a lot since I posted a little challenge post back in August which I named Over by October, so this may be the first time you're hearing of it. You can read all about it here if you want to catch up, but essentially I challenged myself to finish off a rather large amount of products and now I'm here to tell you how I did. It might be a long one... let's do this!

The Primers


Benefit Stay Flawless 15 Hour Primer Sample (£24.50) - This really wasn't much of a challenge as I only had a tiny bit of product left which I flew through. I did really like this primer but I haven't found myself reaching for the full size (pictured) once this was done. The stick form is convenient but after reading reviews I was always paranoid about it drying too quickly before I could get my foundation on. I'm not sure if it's worth a price tag of £24.50 (I got my full size much cheaper in a blog sale), but it definitely prolongs the wear of your make-up.
Caudalie Day Perfecting Fluid (£38) - This product just seemed to go on forrrrrrrr-ever. This was a post-moisturiser/pre-primer step as I didn't find it moisturising enough on its own. Essentially it was just a bit of extra SPF which I actually grew accustomed to having in my routine. I can't imagine a time when extra SPF would be a bad thing (minus days with flash photography - so, pretty much never). I managed to finish this up just in time and am kind of missing it. I doubt it'll be a repurchase any time soon though.


Maybelline Dream Smooth Primer (£8.99) - I did get through quite a bit of this tub, but it felt like a real chore to use this one. I didn't find that it was helping my makeup to last, or doing much at all really - I was just using it ... to use it. There's not much left so I'm not sure whether I'll keep going or not. There's so many drugstore primer options out there now and this wouldn't be my first (or second) choice.
Benefit Stay Don't Stray Eyeshadow Primer (£20.50) - This is another little tube that just wouldn't end. It never did quite enough to stop my eyeshadow from creasing so I would dot it under my eyes as a concealer primer(?) or over my other eyeshadows primers (it has a slight tint). It was definitely a step I did not need but I was committed to the challenge! I think there's still a bit left but I'm not getting rid of this until it's all gone!


Dr Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner (£39) - This was honestly the primer that would never end. I used it every day and it just wouldn't finish! I'm sure there's still a little bit left in the tube but I just decided enough was enough. I don't suffer with large pores, so it's hard for me to judge pore-minimising primers but this gave me a nice smooth base. It contains (and smells of) tea tree so that's a selling point if you're interested! I won't be repurchasing, as now I need to tackle my full size of the Porefessional from Benefit... it could honestly last a lifetime at the rate I was going.


The Face Products



Rimmel Stay Matte Powder (£3.99) - I'm pretty sure I gave up on this a few days into the challenge. It was just too smashed and too messy. This will be a repurchase at some point but probably not for a while.
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer (£5.99) - This was about my third tube I've finished up of this concealer so there's clearly something that's been drawing me back. The coverage and consistency of this pretty much makes up my ideal every day do-it-all concealer. It has about a medium coverage and isn't too thick. I already bought another in a slighter darker shade to use on my face rather than under my eyes. I'm trying out some other options right now, but I'm sure I'll go back to this in the future.
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (£4.19) - This is a go to for blemishes and I still have plenty of back-ups. I think I got through most of the product but it was definitely time to say goodbye - I've had it for way too long!

The Mascaras

I mentioned in my original post that I'm a harsh critic when it comes to mascara. I think these three were already on their way out when the challenge begun, but I still have a few thoughts to share.


L'Oreal Voluminous Extra Black Mascara (£7.65) - This mascara was always a bit of a surprise to me. I'm not sure what prompted me to purchase it as I could only ever find it in store in the very bottom right corner. I'd never seen anyone use it or read reviews but I actually grew to quite like. For a non-waterproof formula, it actually held a curl pretty damn well. It has a pretty standard brush which I liked (and kept) and it is extra black. I think this could very well be a repurchase in the future.


Benefit They're Real! Mascara Sample (£19.50) - This offering from Benefit kind of went the other way for me. I had high expectation but it never really wow-ed me. I found the brush pretty awkward too. The whole "ball at the end" got in the way - just not my thing.


Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara (£23) - I'm sort of undecided on this one. I think I need to give the waterproof version a try as I like the brush and the formula, but it just didn't hold my curl. Watch this space.

The Creams

I thought I would struggle with this little section, but I seem to have triumphed - I'm so proud! As a neglecter of all things body moisturiser (I know it's bad), this was a serious achievement for me.


Whish Lavender Body Butter (£15) - I only really got one use out of this as it was pretty much already empty but I do love it. It has the perfect amount of lavender scent and sinks into the skin quickly - I couldn't ask for anything more.
Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser (£14.50) - I think I threw this away so I couldn't photograph it but it's on the original post. I've mentioned my mum's love for Liz Earle a couple of times and while it's all well and good (seriously, we never run out of anything LE), I find that if you don't use up this moisturiser it definitely expires. It starts to smell a little plastic-like and funky which I think thistub was on the verge off. I managed to finish it up just in time though, and I do like it but it's just not my favourite. I'll be using my mum's but I won't be hoarding any tubs for myself.
Vaseline Essential Moisture Lotion (£4.99) - I feel like this is what teenage Tina (speaking in third person makes me cool, right?) thought all moisturisers were like. It's just that bog standard, cheap drugstore moisturiser - it's quite liquid-y in texture and it does the job. It's nothing luxurious, it's smells pleasant and it won't cost you much. You can't really go wrong, but you can go bigger and better. If I were to repurchase, it would definitely be in the spray & go bottle.


The Body Shop Satsuma Body Butter (£13) - And finally, I have one more body product! The Satsuma body butter from The Body Shop smells so good. This scent hangs around for ages and I lurrve it. Again, I didn't have much left and it was only the small size but I'll definitely go back for more Body Shop body butters in the future - once I get through all the other different body butters I already have of course.

And we're done! This was definitely a mammoth post, so if you made it this far I salute you! I'm thinking about doing another one of these posts maybe an "Over by 2015" edition? Let me know if you'd be interested and get using up your products. I promise it's very satisfying ;)

Tina xx

Saturday 4 October 2014

BENEFIT CHEEKY SWEET SPOT CHRISTMAS KIT


Over the past few days, my social media feeds have been jam packed with all things Benefit. The new Christmas gift sets have been released and they are incredible. If anyone knows how to do Christmas, it's Benefit. There's so many amazing Christmas gift sets to choose from including the infamous Advent Calendar. As soon as I spotted the Cheeky Sweet Spot (£29.50gift set, I knew it was the one for me and I didn't waste any time.


The Cheeky Sweet Spot set has everything I've been wanting to try from Benefit, and a couple which I already love. It is beautifully encased in a Christmas-themed tin which will last me way past Christmas, and hopefully onto the next one! It features six of their boxed powders - Dandelion, Bella Bamba, Sugarbomb, Hoola, Coralista and Rockateur as well as their cream highlighter, Watts Up.


I was impressed by the size of the powders - they're slightly bigger than the pans from the permanent sets (like this) but not quite as big as the full size boxed powders (that's Dallas in the pic). The set has an amazing value at only £29.50 - I still can't get over how affordable this in comparison to buying each shade separately! I've only ever tried Coralista and Hoola from this palette so I'm over the moon to have five new products to play with.

L-R: Dandelion, Bella Bamba, Sugarbomb, Hoola, Coralista, Rockateur

None of these shades are new, but I thought I'd round out the post with some swatches anyway. I've found that Benefit powders are quite sheer but build up to gorgeous colour so these swatches are pretty heavy.


As well as the powders, there's a little sample of the Watts Up highlighter in a little removable plastic pan. It has a lid as well so you don't have to worry about the powders mixing in with the cream - what wonderful attention to detail. This is another product from Benefit I've been itching to try so I'm thrilled they included it too.

I cannot wait to get playing with these. There's tons more to choose from in the Christmas 2014 collection if this isn't for you, and I believe it's already hitting counters so get in quick! I have no idea how long stock will last but I can imagine it'll be flying off the shelves. It's stocked now on feelunique with free shipping over £10 as always, so get ordering!

Happy Christmas shopping!

Tina xx

Friday 3 October 2014

A THREE STEP MASCARA ROUTINE


We've all heard about 3-step programs in skincare but what about a 3-step mascara program? I sort of have a love/hate (mostly hate) relationship with my lashes but I have entered into a pretty solid routine of using three different mascaras daily, all for different purposes. This definitely isn't for everyone but my lashes need some serious encouragement so I'm going to break down the three mascaras I'm using at the moment and reasons for each.



L'Oreal Miss Manga Waterproof Mascara (£7.99) - If you have straight, droopy lashes then my first tip would be a lash curler, swiftly followed by a coat of waterproof mascara. This step is essential in my routine - it sets the base for everything else. If I skip this my lashes drop immediately - well that might be exaggerating, give them a minute. Usually one coat is enough to keep them curled all day. Of course my favourite is Maybelline The Rocket but I've been trying the L'Oreal Miss Manga mascara for a few weeks to mix things up. I wasn't completely convinced by it on first use, but I think I'm coming around to it - it's definitely one of those formulas that benefits from drying out a little. I like the tapered applicator shape but the whole bendy 360-wand thing is a bit strange and gimmicky. Thankfully it doesn't bother me too much and I still have enough control to apply where I need to.



Rimmel Lash Accelerator (£8.99) - I use a non-waterproof mascara for the next coat for two different reasons. Firstly, there are a lot of great mascaras out there that don't have a corresponding waterproof version and I want to try them out just as much as the next person! Also, it's easier to remove. You know how if you put fresh nail polish on top of old nail polish it comes off easier? This is kind of like that. I find layering a non-waterproof formula over a waterproof one means that at the end of the day, it all comes off a little easier. You will still need a decent cleansing oil or balm but you can be a little less aggressive on the lashes and hopefully not lose any! Lash Accelerator was a Nicole Guerriero inspired purchase and is now one of my favourite mascaras for separating lashes. I love the thin, long wand; it makes for a perfect second coat of mascara and doesn't clump.



No7 Stay Perfect Mascara (£12.95) - I've made it no secret that this is my favourite mascara to use on my lower lashes and I recently bought a new one (accidentally in black/brown but it still works). The tiny wand is perfect for getting into those lower lashes. The formula never smudges as it has completely different technology to other mascaras (watch their video here to learn more). It creates "tubes" around each lash so you need to move quite quickly before it dries. You only need one coat and the tubes stay put until you remove them with water or make-up remover. It's a little pricier than your average drugstore mascara, but totally worth it and often on offer!

There was a point in my life, where mascara just felt useless and ineffective but this three step process has finally taken me to a place where I'm content with them. I'd recommend something like this especially for Asian lashes like mine and I think it just goes to show that different mascaras work for everyone. You have to search to find yours - Let me know if you have any mascara recommendations!

Tina xx

Thursday 2 October 2014

SEPTEMBER FAVOURITES


October is here so that can only mean that it's September Favourites time! This month was packed with new favourites as well as rediscoveries. I go through it all in this month's video, so have a watch and subscribe if you like it!