Revlon * Colourburst *

I currently have three types of these in my collection, each of them a slightly different product. A balm stain, a matte balm and a lacquer balm.

Each of them have their pros and cons. I will start with the Matte balm, this I have in the colour 230 Complex. The colour is beautiful and I can only best describe it as a orangey nude colour, really wearable for everyday. The fact it was matte worried me slightly but this has to be the least drying matte lip colour i have come across. The staying power isn’t amazing but it fades fairly evenly so it doesn’t go patchy which is alway a treat.

The lacquer balm I bought a bit on a whim more to try out of curiostiy really because I had heard great things. I have this in 105 Demure. This is my least favourite out of the three. It really isnt that pigmented and is more a gloss than anything. It just left my lips a little bit shimmery with not a lot of colour. Although it is really hydrating I did not like to constancy. I found it clumped quite a lot and was very sticky.

Finally my absolute favourite out of the three and the one I will definelty be repurchasing. Throughout all of spring this has been my go to colour. The Balm stain in the colour  001 Honey. It is a beautiful your lips but better colour, it really gives me that kissable lip look. The product is hydrating and although it doesn’t have amazing staying power it fades gradually and not in patches so it is really easy just to reapply when it begins to fade. The pigment is beautiful and although the others do have a similar effect on my lips this one leaves a tingly sensation on my lips (almost like menthol flavour) which I find super refreshing and I swear it helps plump my lips up a little! The picture below is this colour 🙂

All in all, good job Revlon!

Much love, 

Joanna x

The worst brow product award goes to…

Sorry Barry M but for once I will not be singing your praises.

After running out of my sleek pencil (this has been reviewed a while ago on my blog)  I thought I would change it up a little and try another brow product. I nipped into a small Boots and their range wasn’t massive so I came out with this little thing…

(The Barry M Brow Pen in ‘Dark Brown’ not the daffodil) Packaging wise, yes this is really it. It looks just like a white board marker doesn’t it. And that it pretty much the consistency of the product to. As you can see the nib is a felt tip pen and although I knew that was what I would be working with on my brows I was not prepared for it drying up every few strokes. So there I was one eye brow done and desperately trying to wet the nib so I could at least finish my eyebrows. After this battle had commenced and I had won (Just!) my brows were left looking very ‘drawn on’ and although this is an effect I know some love, this just really does not suit my face and it is not a look I enjoy sporting. 

The nib ment it was really difficult to do fine strokes to mimic hair and really all I could do with it was literally colour in my brows. What was worse was although I didn’t like the product I kept it on for the day just to see the lasting power it had. 3 hours in and I noticed the pen was starting to run and the skin round my brows was starting to become tinged brown. Needless to say I was not a happy bunny. You can see on the swatch below even after a few seconds on the skin the product had started to run.

This product went straight in the bin and that is where it will be staying. Sorry Barry M!

Much love,

Joanna x

Coconut oil – hair mask *****

So you may or may not have seen but I recently did a trial of coconut pulling (see previous post). Anyway, the outcome of that meant I had some coconut oil spare so looked up other tricks I could do with it. After reading a few recipes that are good using coconut oil i stumbled across using coconut oil as a hair mask. So I have think damaged hair at the moment, it is quite long and has been for a while now so as I am sure you can understand or even sympathise the ends of my hair aren’t the best they could be. Now I am not at a stage where I am willing to chop it all off so have been purchasing strengthening shampoo and condition, using leave in conditioner and heat protective spray when I blow dry. Basically I am trying anything to save the lengths of my hair from looking dull and dead. So I thought why not try the hair mask trick. So I waited till my hair was three days un washed (usually what I go between washes). Like how i had with the oil pulling I spooned a table spoons worth of coconut oil into a pyrex glass and microwaved for a short time – just long enough to melt it to a completely liquid form. Then over the sink I dipped my fingers in and then just ran through the lengths of my hair till it was all in there. I would recommend you use the right amount of oil for your hair, so less oil for shorter thiner hair and more oil for longer thicker hair. I concentrated the oil on the lengths as opposed to the routes as I wanted to avoid excess grease the next day. Once it was all in I just put my hair up in a high bun and slept on it. (I did have to change the bed sheets the next day as the pillows got rather oily!) But was it worth the oily pillow case?! YES YES YES! My goodness yes. I woke up, washed and conditioned my hair like I normally would and blow dried it. My hair has literally NEVER looked this shiny and healthy. It is honestly unbelievable what 12 hours with coconut oil on your hair can do to it. My hair is not greasy or oily in anyway, it somehow feels thicker and the shine is amazing. I am not one to overreact and give credit to something that is not worth it, but I can honestly say I will be doing this once as week now  (the day before I change the bedsheets!). Although coconut oil is expensive I will only be doing it once as week and think the jar will last. Some blogs I have read say to leave the mask on for a couple of hours but because I have had such a good result from the 12 hour trick I will be keeping this up.

Much love,

Joanna x

Oil pulling – ten day trial

I first heard about oil pulling when reading around the benefits of coconut oil, you know, that product that is everywhere these days!

I’ve recently become more aware of staining on the backs of my teeth and so was willing to try anything, and if the reviews I was reading were true this ancient practice was going to have all kinds of positive side effects. Including; overall improved oral health, whiter teeth and fresher breath. The oil can be any oil but I knew for a fact I the only one I could bare swirling around in my mouth for 20 minutes would be coconut oil as in my opinions is the best tasting oil out there.

The process…

This is the oil I used, mainly because it was refined (which means no nasty extras! and all natural) it was also on offer in Tesco and with coconut being a pricy product I was all for saving some pennies. This is a 283ml jar and it was reduced to £5. I have had a look online and can’t seem to find it any cheaper ANYWHERE.

I’ve read in some places this process is best done on an empty stomach and others deny it makes a difference but for arguments sake I would do it on an empty stomach. Usually as soon as I got home from work, so having not eaten since lunch time.

Spoon one healthy sized table spoon of the oil into a small Pyrex glass. You will not need anymore than this as over the 20 minutes of swirling around the oil will double in size in your mouth. Pop the glass in the microwave and heat just enough to melt the oil until it has returned to its liquid form. Only 20-30 seconds is necessary and you do not want to overheat it because you will be swirling it around in your mouth straight after.

So this is the least glamorous part of oil pulling. I tried to do it when no one else was around so no one would try and talk to me or make me laugh! It is just a case at the point of sitting their with the TV on and just swirling it around your mouth, making sure you force it through the gaps in your teeth and just keeping it on the move for 20 minutes. You won’t want to be too forceful as 20 minutes is longer than you think and your jaw will start to ache.

Once the twenty minutes is up don’t put the oil down the drain! it is only going to clog it, so I pour it back into the glass, wait for it to set again and put it in the bin. I then floss like crazy, brush my teeth and rinse with water. You wont be able to feel the oil on your teeth after this you might just have a lingering taste of coconut, which isn’t such a bad thing! I then try and leave it as long as I can before eating. Drinking water (which is all I am drinking at the moment anyway) is absolutely fine.

The Review…

Overall yes I have noticed a small difference after just ten days, the stains and plaque on the back of my teeth are slowly but surely disappearing. My teeth are not sensitive like they can be after using unnatural teeth whitening products. However, my biggest issue was with the price. This is a very pricey method of oral healthcare and with having to do a session of pulling everyday to notice a difference it will not be something I keep up. I intend on buying one more jar (mainly because it is still on offer in Tesco!), using that up and then look at cheaper home remedies for whiter and healthier teeth. Not just the price but the process is a lot to think about, which regards to having to time your meals and think about when you can eat. It just really does not suit my lifestyle.

If you have any oil pulling stories please let me know, there are so many mixed reviews out there! it is really is a try it for yourself and see if it works for you process by looking around at everyone else’s experiences.

Love

Joanna x

Sleek eyebrow stylist review

I have not seen much about this product over the internet, and this is a product I personally feel needs a hell of a lot more recognition than what it is getting!

I get that everyone looks for different qualities in a brow kit and it takes a long time to find the right one that works for you. I tirelessly tried to make Benefits Browsing work for me but I had to admit defeat, that powder based products on my brows just didn’t work. Next up I tried Benefits Brow gel. This I had little patients with, it was really difficult to apply without ending up with the product in clumps the brush was bad quality and in my opinion the product itself was one of benefits worst. After watching Hollie Wakeham of PampurLounge https://www.youtube.com/user/PampurLounge I took her up on one of her recommendations, and wow I glad I did. I have found a staple product for my everyday make up kit and a product I reach for every morning. An ever bigger bonus is the price tag £5.99! and it lasts around three months (obviously dependant on your brown preferences). It comes in three shades, light medium and dark. I use the medium and I would say this is perfect shade for dark hair and medium skin tone. If I thought really bold brows suited me I might go for the dark but because I use this as an everyday product medium works just fine for me.

The stylist is double ended, one end is a spooly brush and the other is a wax based pencil. The nib of the pencil is very small so it is perfect for building up and detailing. The packaging is underwhelming but I don’t mind this at all, it if keeps the price down and the product continues to be so easy to use, and give me the exact effects I want for my brows I will be repurchasing this product again and again.

Voilà , the finished product and my everyday make up.

Much love,

Joanna x

Lancôme Hypnôse mascara review

When it comes to mascara I am a very ‘stick with what you know’ kind of person. So when I was bought this product for Christmas I was slightly dubious about trying it. But alas… Thank you mum for knowing me too well and making me try out something new!

Packaging

In my personal opinion the packaging is underwhelming. Simple and elegant I suppose, but with a product like this It doesn’t need amazing packaging. The product really does speak for itself.

Application

The brush is long and thin meaning it’s perfect for reaching all lashes in one stroke and it doesn’t get messy! The product doesn’t go all over the place during application. In fact this is the only mascara I’ve used which doesn’t require a clean up after applying. There are lots of bristles meaning it picks up all lashes. The product itself is amazing at not clumping your eyelashes! I repeat girls NO CLUMPS! I mean it when I say… somehow… And I don’t know how, Lancôme has given us a product which separates all your lashes without even having to work the product out.

Overall verdict

A little pricy for everyday mascara (£22.50) but I for one don’t mind spending a little more on a product if I feel like it’s worth it. And this product is definitely one of those very few. Like I said the applicator is so lovely and leaves your lashed elongated and separated giving you a really elegant open eye. It’s also very buildable so it can easily double up as an everyday and night out product. The mascara doesn’t budge once it’s on either. Just today I’ve been out in bitterly cold wind and even after my eyes were streaming I got back in the car to find my mascara hadn’t gone anywhere. I was very smug with mysef when looking at the other girls I was with! Hehe.

If you have experience with the product I’d love to hear about it.

In the meantime, much love,

Joanna x

Benefits ‘Rockateur’ blush review

Tah Dah!

After many dead end attempts at finding the a good drug store blush I decided to go into Debenhams and look around to see what the concessions had to offer. I new from the offset I needed a powder blush after finding out cream blush is definitely not the one for skin which is prone to getting oily throughout the day. I tried on plenty of blush from a number of concessions, Urban Decay, Bare Minerals and  YSL… Final stop, the old faithful Benefit.

After explaining what I was after the assistant recommended Sugarbomb, after having this applied I was ready to give up on all hope of finding a blusher to fall in love with.

Enter my final shot (I don’t think my checks were appreciating all the applying, removal, applying, removal, applying, removal). ROCKATEUR.

At first I was dubious, the packaging didn’t impress me too much, the brush looked cheap and useless and it appeared very shimmered. But as soon as she passed me the mirror I knew I had found it. The pigment is perfect, the shimmer is just enough (not too dull but definitely doesn’t make you look like you have a face full of glitter). Even throughout the day the shimmer doesn’t budge so unlike a lot of shimmer based products you don’t come home to find you’re entire face is a glitter ball.

I have also found this product really good for conturing when just using a highlighter. So just applying it in the hollows of my cheeks and then using Rimmel wake me up concealer as a highlighter. It is a super affordable everyday look that looks stunning.

The only negative of this product is the brush provided is useless, in fact I binned it soon after bringing it home. But the product itself is just perfect, the colour is a best described as a bronzed coral.

If anyone would be interested in a make up tutorial for this look please do let me know. In the meantime, for me and Rockateur, we don’t go anywhere without each other!

Much love,

Joanna x

GHD Rose Gold Straighteners Review

After my GHD IV styler decided to pack in after a trusty 6 years I decided to stick with what I know and go GHD once more. I can’t lie, I did barely any research around the different models, I went onto feelunique.com and saw there in all their glory on the homepage the GHD Rose Golds on sale. Now you’re probably thinking it was the sale part that got me… think again. If you do not already know by now, I LOVE anything and everything rose gold. So without a second thought I ordered them there and then.

GHD did not skimp on the packaging of these and carry the rose gold theme though, from the box they come in, to the detailing on the heat resistant roll bag. The straighteners themselves are all lovely and rose gold with the exception of the plates which I was so excited to see little sprinkles of rose gold in them (it’s the little things in life right?).

The product comes with a few little extra bits and bobs I was very happy to find in my box. And the straighteners also have a few little bonus features:

☆ Heat resistant rose gold roll bag
☆ Protective plate guard
☆ 2 x sectioning clips
☆ Smoother plates than previous GHD models
☆ Lighter body
☆ Automatic sleep mode

Now, to the important bit. Yes they are beautiful, yes the packaging is to die for but are they worth £130?!

In my opinion and as long as they are as long lasting as my last pair of GHDs YES! I use these for both curling and straightening and I have yet to find a style I can not create with these. The automatic sleep mode which kicks in after 30 mins has saved our house on more than one occasion and the lightness is perfect for me as I do a lot of travelling. Whether it is because my IV stylers were old I am not sure but unlike them, these plates just glide over my hair without that horrible pull of hair when you reach the end. The only qualm I have is that I have burnt myself on a few occasions, I have yet to work out if this is a design fault or me just getting used to the shape of my new straighteners. I am more inclined to go with the latter as I am a very accident prone person!

I bought mine from feelunique and I have just seen they are still in the sale, as these are limited edition and if this review has helped you decide on what to do -http://www.feelunique.com/p/ghd-limited-edition-rose-gold-styler-set DO IT! (not that I’m a bad influence or anything)

Happy straightening

Much Love,

Joanna x

Benefit they’re Real Eyeliner – review

Eyeliner is one of the trickiest products in our make-up bags, not only the application of the stuff! but finding the right product for you is a nightmare. Gel, felt tip, liquid?! argh. And unfortunately after being promised the world with this product … I am still searching for my perfect match.

Application

This was the first problem I found with the product but like all make-up something someone else might be an ace at applying beautifully. The nib is flexible silicone and angled.. apparently for ease of application. But I just found it impossible to apply without it bending and giving me a thick line. Which would be fine on a more dramatic make up look but for everyday I always go for a thin discrete line.  The way you get the product out of the pen is also something i struggled to understand what benefit were thinking when in the design process. It’s all or nothing with the product, one twist is nothing, two twists and too much of the product is dispersed. Maybe i got a dodgy pen… but i am not willing to spend another £18.50 to test my theory.

Staying power 

The staying power of this product is INSANE! Im still trying to scrub the swatches off… it might be time to call the brillo pad in. On a night out this is exactly what any women wants or needs from her eye liner, but for everyday, I would never apply this again. Unless you purchase the Benefit … this product does not budge. It got to the point I thought I had it all off and would wake up in the morning and have to have another session at trying to budge it! Now some would see this as a positive thing… for me rather like being able to take my make-up off quickly and nothing having to spend £15 on a specific make up remover just to take one product off.

Consistency 

The product is SUPER thick and difficult to thin out using the silicone nib. It’s waterproof which gives it its helping hand in staying power and it is very good for giving a bold eye but again, not my every day kind of look. It is a matte look liner and I must hand it to benefit, they’ve given us a liner which leaves no gaps or transparency.

As you can probably guess, I will not be repurchasing this product. For some who love bold eyes may love it, but I’m afraid Benefit they’re real ‘push up’ eyeliner is not for me.

Much love,

Joanna xx

Liz Earle hot cloth set

This has been my skin routine for a little over two months now and knowing my skin it takes a while to get used to a new routine, so I wanted to leave this review until I knew exactly where I stood with the products. And like 99.9 per cent of reviews on Liz Earle out there this post is no different, they are absolutely amazing, hands down the best products I have ever had the pleasure of smearing all over my face. Now, everyones skin is different and everyones skin will react differently to products so I will start by giving you and brief idea of my skin type. I get quite an oily tea zone but can also get dry patches all over. I am not prone to spots but I do get the odd horror from time to time. Luckily my skin is not something that gets effected at different times of the month (eh hem) but it does very season to season. In summer I could probably fry an egg on my face but in winter my skin can get super dry. However in saying that, I have read a good few reviews of these products and it seems most skin types react well to Liz Earle.

Now to the product – I bought this set from John Lewis in a Christmas offer, however I popped into lakeside a few weeks ago only to find Liz Earle had started being sold in boots! So far more accessible now, probably due to the fact this product is finally getting the recognition it deserves. My set includes the hot cloth cleanse and polish, Instant boost Skin Tonic toner, moisturiser, Eye lotion (more of a toner consistency) and 2 muslin cloths. The first stage is cleansing… and the most difficult part of this routine to get used to. You apply to cleanser to a dry face with all your make up on. I generally start massaging into the areas with less make up spending a few minuets massaging into the skin and working my way around finishing with my eyes. I then like to put the muslin cloth under piping hot water and throughly wipe everything away. Not only does this product smell fresh and beautiful it literally takes off every scrap on make up, and if you have missed anything the toner will pick that up. Once I am satisfied I’ve removed all the product I splash my face with very cold water, this process closes the open pours you opened up with the hot water. It also REALLY wakes you up in the morning, something I often need! Once towel dried now comes the toner. I have never been a toner user but this step of the process is so refreshing and the product like I said is amazing for removing any make up that you may of missed in the cleansing process. Much like the cleanser this product is so refreshing and smells so lovely, it is not too perfumed but just enough to make your skin feel fresh and beautiful. It has a really luxurious spa like smell, cucumber and aloe vera.  I apply this mainly over my tea zone where I have quite large pores using cotton wool pads. Then every other days I use the Eyebright Soothing Eye lotion, the only reason I don’t use this everyday is because the bottle that came with the set is only 150 ml (sad face) so because this is a quite expensive product I want to make it last. This product really makes your eyes feel a lot brighter and awake as one of the main ingredients is witch hazel. I apply this using cotton wool pads again and usually leave them over my eyes for a few mins to let my eyes inhale it.

Finally comes the Skin Repair Moisturiser for Normal/Combination skin. I apply this all over and spend as long as I can massaging it in to get the blood flowing to the surface of my skin. The only fault with this product is (and it may just be my skin type) is it does not absorb into the skin very quickly. So I often get a comments from my beloved laughing at my white oily face! but this does pass, it just seems to take a while for my skin to absorb it for some (and no I am not putting too much on!) I use all these products quite sparingly.

I will definitely be repurchasing all these products and after pay day I plan on trying some more Liz Earle products out, so no doubt more reviews from them in the coming months. If anyone else has some Liz Earle tales, good or bad let me know! I love reading these reviews.

Much love,

Joanna xxx