EBAY MAKEUP BRUSHES

EBAY MAKEUP BRUSHES

When I saw Louise post about these amazing makeup brushes I couldn't stop myself ordering them. Less than £3 for a makeup brush? Win! More than anything I was curious to see how they perform, as I do own a few real techniques brushes and they are quite obviously a dupe (although I do wonder if they are infact too similar...). When they arrived I knew as soon as I opened them that I couldn't wait to blog about them. 

Despite the cheap price tag, these brushes are incredibly soft.They feel sturdy but I have experienced shedding from number 04 (the red one).  They are exactly the same size as the RT alternatives but I can't comment on whether or not they last as well because I haven't owned these long enough. Number 04 is a foundation brush, much akin to the Real Techniques buffing brush, which you cannot buy alone. This was the main reason I picked the foundation brush, because I couldn't justify paying £21 for the kit when I only wanted one brush. Initially I thought it could have been more dense, but after giving it a go I can conclude that it applies foundation beautifully, leaving a really lovely finish with the perfect amount of coverage. I find the contouring brush (number 01) a tad small for it's purpose (which is why I initially bought it) but it does work well for concealer or highlighter. They wash well and although not quite as soft as when I bought them, they are still pleasant to use and still fulfill their purpose.

You can find them from this seller. I got  number 01 (pink) and number 04 (blue). They arrived in a week or so, which is fab because they come from Hong Kong. 

DOVE NOURISHING OIL CARE LEAVE-IN CONDITIONING SPRAY

DOVE NOURISHING OIL CARE LEAVE-IN CONDITIONING SPRAY

I'm going to start this post by saying... How the hell did it take me so freakin' long to try this out?!

I'd seen Kate rave about this multiple times (and as she's one of my favourite bloggers, I usually take her word as LAW) so I had a little look in Boots to see what the price was like. 

£3.39. Thats three pounds and thirty nine pence. Less than £3.50. So obviously... it went in the basket.

I really, really didn't need any  more hair products. I had to chuck some away the other day because I have so many but i'm so, so glad I picked this up. This leaves my hair softer than any oil ever has, even some of the more expensive ones I've tried. I really struggle with brushing my fine hair and this makes a world of difference. It also smells gorgeous; I find myself spritzing this into my dry hair just to make it smell lovely! I don't stay anywhere without chucking this in my bag because I can't imagine getting out of the shower and not using it; it has definitely become a holy grail product for me and I could honestly live without all my other hair oils/ leave in conditioners and be quite content with using this.

I find myself picking this up over any of the other products I own and I just can't believe it's so cheap.This is certainly a drugstore product worth buying!

BOURJOIS CREAM BLUSHERS - NUDE VELVET, HEALTHY GLOW AND ROSE TENDER

BOURJOIS CREAM BLUSHERS - NUDE VELVET, HEALTHY GLOW AND ROSE TENDER

I think it's safe to say that us bloggers are quite fickle creatures; something new comes out and we go and grab it in every shade. However, it usually takes me a good few weeks to justify buying something else (Do I realllyyyy need it?!) but not with these. Since they came out on the 15th I've been searching high and low in my local Boots/ Superdrug to get my hands on them. Well, I finally did!

As you can imagine, walking out of Superdrug with three of the shades (Nude Velvet, Healthy Glow and Rose Tender) on 3 for 2, with £1 off from my beauty card and a little free gift, I was pretty chuffed.

The Bourjois Cream Blushes have been all over the blogosphere and not without good cause. These gorgeous cream to powder shades rival any other cream cheek products I've tried, particularly any from the highstreet. They are smooth and silky and incredibly pigmented. Although I feel the shades are quite similar (i'd like to see the addition of more in the future) I do think they are very wearable and it is likely that there is one for every skintone. They give a lovely glow and sit beautifully on the cheeks. However, I find them to be quite difficult to blend with a brush (they're so smooth they tend to stay on the brush rather than going on your cheeks) so I have to apply them with my fingers.

Overall, these are a great little high street product and i'd totally recommend picking them up to add to your summer makeup bag, particularly if they are on offer!

MY FAVORITES <3

A new month and some new favourites; where is time going?!

I have to admit, I have some absolute corkers for you this month. With the sun coming out i've been really stepping up the game with my skincare and my makeup and i'm excited to share the products i've been reaching for everyday.

Starting with skincare, I have been using the Jurlique Purely Bright Cleanser* religiously and my skin has been loving it. It doesn't feel like anything particularly breathtaking but over time i've really noticed how clear and bright my skin has become. I feel a lot more confident since I've introduced this into my routine and I will absolutely be repurchasing it. I also love the cute packaging but it's a shame it's quite a small bottle. I also bought the Superfacialist by Una Brennan Vitamin C Cleansing oil and despite only using it a handful of times I knew i'd have to include it. I've honestly never used something so effective on my skin to remove makeup and it leaves my skin feeling so soft and looking so radiant that I don't think i'll ever be without it. Isn't it great when you find something new that you absolutely love?! I will do a full review soon so I won't go into too much detail, but if you can get your hands on this, please do!

On my body, i've been reaching for my Palmers Natural Bronze Self Tanning Moisturiser. It leaves such a lovely glow and i've had so many compliments since i've started using it! It'so on offer for the ridiculous price of £2.67 at the moment too so go and get your hands on it!

Makeup wise, it's been about longevity and The Clarins Instant Smoothing Self Tan is the only primer i've ever used that has really made my foundation stay on. As I mentioned in my review, I don't feel the tanning effects but I really love how it makes my makeup sit. On my cheeks, I'm finding a pink shade perfect for the summery weather to perk up my complexion. I love the Milani Baked Blush in Dolce Pink because it is like a highlighter and blusher in one and it gives my cheeks a nice flush. I actually bought this in America and I don't think you can get it in the UK but it's certainly worth a google. It's actually quite similar to Sleek's Rose Gold blush but a little bit more subtle. Finally, on my lips i've used nothing but the Bourjois Color Boost Lip Crayon in Peach on the Beach. Another really hyped blogger product but it's such a wearable colour and I can't stop myself reapplying. I told myself I wouldn't buy any more lip crayons (or lip products in general...) but I don't regret this at all. It's also perfect for keeping in my jacket pocket at work. I do really hate that the design has rubbed off the tube though!

On my nails, when i've been out and about I'm loving the No 7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in Cheeky Chops. The brush is huge so it is easy to apply and the colour is subtle but still pretty for summer. You can't beat pink/coral nails in my opinion!

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: JURLIQUE PURELY BRIGHT SKINCARE

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: JURLIQUE PURELY BRIGHT SKINCARE

Say hello to my new skincare routine! I was recently sent this whole range of Jurlique products and although I haven't been using them for that long, I wanted to do a quick introduction/ first impressions post before I do a more in-depth review.

So how am I liking them so far? A lot, actually! The cleanser didn't wow me at first as it didn't leave my skin feeling soft or smooth, but I do think this is gradually improving my skin tone and it does leave my skin feeling super clean without being tight or dry. The Radiance Serum has really been working wonders to improve the texture of my skin; i've never actually included a serum into my skincare routine before (shock!) so I'm really enjoying this extra step and reaping the benefits.

I'm still making my mind up about the facial mist and the spot treatment; I do think the treatment may have broken me out slightly but i'm going to continue to use it and see how it works out. I love the pretty packaging of the range, and despite the glass bottles being very impractical I can't help but enjoy having a completely matching set of products on my windowsill (anyone else?!).

Overall, first impressions are good. I have regularly invested in more expensive cleansers but that's about as far as my pennies have gone within the skincare category so I look forward to seeing the results in a month or so.

REN GLYCOLACTIC RADIANCE RENEWAL MASK

REN GLYCOLACTIC RADIANCE RENEWAL MASK

REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask* - £30 - REN

I'll be honest, if a product is really hyped enough, i'll buy into it. This had been on my wishlist for months so you can imagine my excitement when I was asked to try it. So far, I haven't been disappointed with many hyped products and this is no exception. This mask is bloody good. I'm talking results-as-soon-as-you-wash-it-off good.

REN recommend applying a generous amount onto clean skin and leaving on for 10 minutes. It is a very peculiar consistency, feeling and smelling like marmalade on your face (don't get it in your hair... ew). This product is packed full of chemical ingredients such as glycolactic, lactic, citric and tartaric acids to exfoliate the skin rather than an abrasive scrub. I don't have sensitive skin so this has been fine for me but if you do, i'd recommend having a test before you slather it on your face. Included is a muslin cloth which you use with warm water to remove the mask.

When you wash it off, your skin looks instantly brighter and clearer, and I do love me a product which gives instant wow (hence why I struggle to stick at a skincare routine for long...). All I can say is this does exactly what is says on the tin. Renewed complexion? Check. More even skintone? Check. Radiance? Check, check, check.  It does leave me a little bit red so it is definitely one to be used at night, but i'd recommend this anyway because something about putting this on before bed makes your skin even better in the morning.

I can see why this gets so much love because this really is a product that just works. Although the packaging isn't anything to write home about, it is functional and it stands out in my bathroom cabinet. I'd much rather have a product with boring packaging that does the job well than something which simply looks nice on my dressing table.

It's rare that i'll admit that a product costing £30 is worth the money but this is something i'll definitely never be without. This is the only face mask I've managed to stay loyal to since I bought it and i'd love to try other things from this range.

FREE GIFT WITH PURCHASE AT SUPERDRUG

FREE GIFT WITH PURCHASE AT SUPERDRUG

Just a quick post today to give you a heads up about a free gift which you can get your hands on at Superdrug. I believe that if you buy something from Bourjois (perfect if you want to get your hands on their new Cream Blushes!) you can pick up this little makeup bag full of goodies for free. A little more expensive above your average high street skincare, B. is a new brand by Superdrug which aims to introduce good quality products at a reasonable price. It is a brand i've seen crop up now and then in the blogosphere and I was intending on giving a couple of their products a go.

The makeup bag contains mini 5 items; an eye cream, a BB cream, a rejuvenating serum, a lipstick and a cream eyeshadow, alongside a voucher for £2 off if you spend £10. I think this little set is fab for giving their products a test before you commit to buying them and first impressions are very good. Although the makeup shades are a little safe for my liking, there is a wide range of skincare products to suit many different skin types.