Review: Maybelline Dream Nude Airfoam Foundation

OK so I wrote this post a few weeks ago and have been stalling to put it up as it isn't exactly a rave review...actually, it's quite the opposite.  Can I just say that normally I'm a big fan of Maybelline cosmetics, this just really didn't float my boat I'm afraid.  Anyway, on with the post.

Now I’m usually a fan of a fuller coverage when it comes to foundation so you can imagine my surprise when I found this in my Boots carrier bag.  I’m at a bit of a loss to explain how it came to be there.  Having spent quite some time thinking about this, I’ve come to the following conclusions:

1. My skin had been better than usual and I maybe thought that light coverage would now work for me.
2. Summer is on the way, and who needs heavy foundation in summer right?
3. It was a mousse. I fell for the gimmick.
4. I walked into Boots and blacked out.

Now lets face it, as a lover of Revlon Colourstay, I was never going to like this product.  The thing is, even if I was more of a ‘barely there’ kind of girl, I’d still not be loving this.  I wouldn’t call this light coverage; I’d call it zero coverage.  The other problem with this is the amount of product it dispenses, because it’s a mousse (think what you put on your hair) it’s not very easy to control the amount that comes out with each pump.  This means that half of what does come out ends up wasted.  Not economical at all.  If your skin is so good that you can get away with this kind of foundation then here’s my advice: spend the extra 2 minutes in bed in the morning and skip foundation altogether.  Also, I’m jealous of you. There are so many amazing lighter coverage foundations/ tinted moisturisers/ BB creams on the market for the same money. I just think that this product is all gimmick and does absolutely nothing for the skin.

Sorry for the kind of negative review, as always with foundation I’m sure this works wonders for some (maybe), but just not for me.

:-) xxx

I Heart MUA

For those of you that haven't heard of MUA, it's Superdrug's £1 make up brand. I've bought a few goodies from them before and have been amazed at the quality of the products for such a low price.

On a recent trip back to see The Parents (my local Superdrug doesn't stock it. Boo.) I picked up these little lovelies

There's been a lot of hype surrounding the MUA Love Hearts collection and unfortunately I think I picked up the few remaining products and as far as I know the collection is no longer available.

I got 2 nail polishes in the shades 'Love U 24/7' and 'U R Fab'.  Let's face it, any product that tells me I'm 'Fab' is going to get purchased!

I have to admit that I didn't really have high hopes for the formulation of these but I was prepared to cope with the chipping/peeling/general 'naff' feeling of them on account of the colours being so pretty. On application I was pleasantly surprised. They were both opaque after 2 coats and they seriously LAST.

Wearing 'Love U 24/7' with a coat of Miss Sporty Sparkle Touch over the top.

These polishes were a little more expensive (I think they were £2.50 each) but for the money I was very very impressed.

My final MUA purchase is one I just can't stop looking at...

Ooooooh.....

This is the MUA Professional Mosaic Blusher In English Rose. MUA Professional are slightly more expensive and this was £2.50, yeah I know, the word 'expensive' is applied loosely here. This is such a beautiful product consisting of a mosaic print of lighter peaches, pinks, pure shimmer, lilac, and rose coloured powders.  The pan is big enough to get a good 'swirl' going on with your brush and it looks a pretty, shimmery light rosy pink on the cheeks. OK so obviously the colour payoff is not going to be amazing but it's buildable and not chalky at all. Because of this it's really quite foolproof and great for anyone just starting out with make up or those that aren't too confident applying blusher. This gets at least a weekly use from me and although not my go-to blush (as I have quite a few) I do open it just to stare at it on a daily basis...simple pleasures and all.

You can find MUA products at Superdrug and if you haven't already I really recommend checking them out.

:-) xxx

Review: Clinique High Lengths Mascara

Be warned.  I’m about to rave.  I’ve been using this for a good month now and think it may be my new make up love.

I first received the product in sample size as a free gift with another purchase and put off using it for a little while due to the…well…weirdness of the brush.

Usually I tend to go for the fuller natural bristle mascara wands so I really didn’t think this would be for me.  The brush is entirely plastic, curved, for some reason lime green and the bristles are tiny.  To be honest I just thought this was one of those odd shaped gimmicky mascara wands that come out from time to time but don’t really do anything for the lashes.  Well this was all until I went to see my parents for the weekend, forgot my usual mascara, and was forced to use this.  I honestly can’t rave about this enough.  Not only does it do exactly what it says on the tin/tube and give my lashes amazing length but it also gives lots and lots of volume.  Now for some reason, most mascaras seem to do either one or the other. I don’t know why but many cosmetics companies have not yet cottoned on to the fact that we girls want both.  This doesn’t claim to give volume but trust me, it does.  I will warn you however, I’m not the kind of girl that wants her lashes to look in any way natural.  Unlike many, this doesn’t clump and does a pretty good job of separating the lashes but it doesn’t exactly look ‘barely there’. This is why I love it. Anyway I’ve spent some time freaking myself out looking at photos of my own eye so I can show you what it does for my lashes:

I have a feeling this will be repurchased…a lot.

Happy Friday everyone!

:-) xxx

March Glossybox: The Harrods Edition

After the last 2 months’ Glossyboxes not having been much to write home about, this little gem landed on my doormat on Saturday

For anyone that is already subscribed to this you will have seen the hype begin in last month’s box and continue throughout the month on Facebook and Twitter.  I have to say that this was a brilliant bit of marketing and when all was revealed I could totally understand all the fuss.  All the products included in the box can be found in the Harrods beauty hall.  This means all the products are super high end and really quite ‘faancy’. Well for me anyway!

Wanna see what I got?

Molton Brown Heavenly Gingerlilly Moisture Bath and Shower

This. Smells. Amazing.  I’m saving it for an impending trip to Canada to see the boyf in a week so the travel size will come in rather handy.

YSL Forever Youth Liberator Serum

Ok I’m not getting any younger so this can only do good things.  I’ve wanted to try a serum for a while so I’ll keep you posted.

Clarins Extra Firming Body Cream

I’ve already tried this and I have to say that I’m a little bit in love.  It makes my skin feel so soft and smells of cucumbers.  A definite win.

Burberry Beauty Lip Mist in Copper No 202

This is just so cute! The formula is more like a balm than a lipstick which makes it ultra wearable.  The colour is not really all that ‘me’ but I may keep it just to look at the pretty packaging now and again.

Narciso Rodriguez For Her Eau De Parfum

 The standard perfume sample.  I hate to be controversial but I quite like getting a perfume in my Glossybox.  Firstly it’s always good to try a new scent and they're also handy for taking out and about.

I do love a special edition Glossybox and this is right up there with the December box.  Whilst there were no full sized products, everything I received was high end and to me, this is what Glossybox is all about. It’s a great chance to try some things I wouldn’t normally fork out full price for.  Having said that, I’d definitely look into the Clarins Extra Firming Body Cream, and may be putting the Molton Brown bath and shower gel on my birthday list.

All in all this little lovely brightened up what happened to be a very dull and dreary Saturday morning.

It's always nice to get things in the post :-) xxx

Where Have I Been?! A Little Update

From weheartit.com

So I get home to my Uni house after to Christmas only to find…WE HAVE NO INTERNET!!!  This makes blogging more than a little difficult.  Actually it makes everything more than a little difficult!  Couple this with the fact that I have a dissertation due in a matter of weeks and yes, I’ve been MIA for the last few months.  Right now I’m in the library using University facilities to write this post (I feel like a naughty child especially since I should be working on said dissertation). 

In other news, I have a box full of products to review, coupled with a recent Glossybox and a fair few trips to Primark so expect plenty of posts to follow…

After all, what else is a third year student supposed to be doing…? Wait…

J xxx

A Mini Lip Haul: Sleek and MUA

Hello me dears!

Hope you all had a lovely NYE and 2012 is going well so far. I thought I'd start the new year with a trip to Superdrug. The only problem was that I had no more than just over £10 with which to ease my post-Christmas blues. Luckily there is some amazing budget make up out there!

The first thing I got was the Sleek Pout Polish in 'Frosting'

This is essentially a tinted lip balm. It contains jojoba, avocado, and sweet almond oil and is surprisingly moisturising. The colour is very sheer and very pretty:

I'm planning on getting this in the colour 'Scandal' which is a bright red. I think this would be a good way to experiment with brighter colours.

The next thing I stumbled across was the MUA stand. I honestly think I have a new make up love! Pretty much everything  is £1 apart from the eyeshadow palettes which are £4 and the eyeshadow trios at £2.50. Four lipsticks for £4? Yes please!

From left to right: Shades 12, 11, 2, 5

Both the formula and the colour payoff of these lipsticks is surprisingly good:

Shade 12

Shade 5

Shade 11

Shade 2

Again, the perfect way to experiment with colour without paying a fortune. My favourite shade is number 12. I think this will be perfect for summer (or if I need cheering up on a rainy day!) 

All in all I am very happy with my little purchases and would strongly advise anyone with a spare tenner and a need for lipstick to head down to Superdrug!