Nail must haves and must avoids!

What I think are the best/worst of my collection

I absolutely love nail polish and hate not having it on, having recently gone through my collection and have picked out some things which I think are really lovely and worth spending your money on and which items really aren't.

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine- I've been exploring this whole range of polishes for a while now and can definitely decide that even though they are cheaper they are actually really bad! The range of colours is amazing and the initial finish is really lovely but they chip horrifically! Probably the worst chipping I've ever seen sometimes within the hour that they're painted. I also had a problem with the whole thing peeling off and even though they look good and cheap they are just not good quality and it's such  a shame. All my friends have similar problems and no one knows why!

Bourgois Magic Nail Polish Remover- This is one of my favourite nail purchases of the year, all you have to do is pop your polished finger into the pot scrape it gently against the sponge and then pull it out completley clean! It literally takes a few seconds to do your whole hand. The great thing about it is that it also leaves the scent of vanilla and red berry on your fingers rather than that acetone smell. Only £4.99 and a great time saving buy.

Ciate Cream Soda- This is my shade of 2015, it is just the perfect grey colour. Sometimes greys are too blue or too dark but this is a perfect slightly creamy light grey that just looks stunning and flattering on anyone. The brush is really easy to apply the polish with and the formulation means that it doesn't chip. I simply love it!

WAS London Press On Nails- I chose the marble zone nails thinking they would be really cool for a party or something and I saved them for a special occasion just because they looked so cool. However they really aren't. I used a nail glue that I've been using for years and really trust but they just didn't stick right, there were no slightly smaller ones and as I have quite small hands they looked huge on me and because of the almond shape and thickness they were awful to try and file down a bit. Really wouldn't recommend them instead I like the elegant touch ones or the little fingers ones. 

Hope this will help direct your buying and make sure your nails look flawless all day ;)

Bella X

Stocking Filler Ideas

With Christmas just around the corner I thought I would share my ideas for great gifts either for stocking fillers or for smaller gifts to give to people.

Christmas is my favourite time of the year and I absolutely love giving gifts to others and so here are my ideas for the perfect little gifts.

For her

•  Yankee Candle Large Jar in Christmas Cookie- £21.99 from Boots- This is a really great gift for a girl who has it all, these candles smell amazing and last a really long time 
• Cable Knit Faux Fur Bobble Hat- £7.99 from New Look- These come in many different colours and are so cute and comfy, perfect for the winter months 
• The Little Book of Positivity- £5.99 from asos- This is the perfect little book will boost anyones day and is lovely for the coffee table 
• Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm Tree decoration- £10.00 from Space NK- THis is one of the best cleansing balms on the market and this is a great trial size to give as a gift 

For him

• Ted Baker Mens stocking filler- £5.00 from Boots- A great set of shower gel and body spray that smell amazing and would be great for any guy to pop in his gym bag 
• Dark Grey Knitted Rib Scarf- £8.99 from New Look- Stylish and warm, this gorgeous scarf comes in a variety of colours and would be a really thoughtful gift 
• How to survive anything book- £14.99 from asos- This hilarious book will provide hours of great reading and I'm sure he would love sharing these situations with friends 
• Cedrat Pure Cleanser- £16.00 from L'occitane- An exfoliating cleansing lotion that has a lovely strong scent and is suitable for all skin types  

   Fun things/ Younger people 

• Worlds smallest laser gun- £5.00 from Debenhams- Highly entertaining for all ages with 8 different sounds and lights 
• Kellogg's cereal tin lip balm set x 5 lip balms- £10.00 from asos- a great all round fun gift with all  the classic cereals we ate as kids (or still eat now!)
• Aroma Home Cat Hand warmers- £10.00 from Boots- Adorable little cat shaped hand warmers to warm up the winter months 
• Ginger Fox Mensa- riddles & conundrums- £8.00 from Debenhams- Give them something to wow all their christmas guests with these interesting cards  

Hope this gave you some ideas on either what to buy for your loved ones or to get some ideas for yourself and that you enjoy the run up to the christmas season being very merry and bright ;)

Bella X

Got a Cold? Have no fear..

Here are my top tips to get you over those sniffles and sneezes as quickly as possible 

A few weeks ago I wrote out my tips for not getting a cold (link will be at the bottom) and also promised to do a part 2 to help you if the unfortunate illness struck so here it is...

1) Don't sniff!- your body is trying to rid itself of all the nasty bugs in your system so the least you can do is help flush them out, keep blowing your nose as often as possible to keep your head clear and reduce the infection faster

2) Eat right- certain foods can really help to replenish your body, oranges contain lot's of vitamin C that can help clear your head. Other beneficial foods are foods high in fibre and iron and carbohydrates such as rice

3) Medicate- take as much medicine to help yourself out as possible, paracetamol, decongestants and lemsip along with vitamins all build up your immune system and will also help at night to dry everything up so you can sleep easier

4) Get Steamy- Steam can really help to relieve sinus pain and unblock your nose, having an extra long shower or soaking  in a lovely warm bath will help to make you feel rejuvenated and little more normal! Even if it's only an extra 5 minutes  you can spare I'm sure your nose will thank you.

And Finally...

5) SLEEP- sleep is the best thing for any illness, your brain needs to take the time to rewire and help cure itself. At least 7 hours is recommended when you are feeling under the weather and is vitally important for both your physical and mental well-being.

I hope you enjoy these tips and I wish you a speedy recovery  if you are struck down by the winter blues ;)

Bella X

Part 1 to this post- http://talkmakeuptomenow.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/lets-avoid-getting-those-winter-bugs.html

Revolution Sugar and Spice Blush Review

Review of some very blushing blushes 

I had been looking for this palette for a long time after seeing a review by Dolly Bow Bow Kate but sadly the superdrug in my local are doesn't stock Revolution products so on my trip to Barcelona I found a drugstore that did. Hooray! 

The palette contains 8 beautiful shades and the price is £6:00 from most superdrugs (if you can find it). The pigmentation on all 8 is absolutely perfect, personally I never like an incredibly heavy blush as I'm very pale but you can use a light hand with them and build them up to your preference. I also love the fact that they blend really easily making them great for quick application on the go. The layout is really well done and very attractive which I think makes me reach for it everyday which lately I have been doing. There is a real mix of colour in this palette with two metallic shimmery shades ( one almost white to use as a highlight), two bright pinks, one coral, one mauve and two darker, browner shades. Even though I am extremely pale the two browner shades actually create a very neutral look and brings out my natural colouring. My favourite two so far are the coral shade which gives a beautiful summery warmth, and the highlight shade that gives an intense highlight on the cheekbones. As the Autumn continues I'm hoping to try out more of the darker shades and create some more wintery looks. 

For £6:00 I really think you cant go wrong with this palette, all 8 shades are really pigmented and there are some really stunning colours. The case itself as it's very sleek and simple meaning easy for travel and I have taken it away with me on my trip to the lakes. Overall I would give this palette a 10/10 as all shades are wearable and would work on all skin tones ( there's something for everyone in this case of wonders!) and it's so affordable! 

So if you happen to see this palette on your travels do give it a whirl and blush away! ;)

Bella X

Let's Avoid Getting Those Winter Bugs!

Here are my tips for avoiding that dreadful cold bug that goes around this time of year and how to protect yourself against it as best you can! 

Having recently suffered from the worst cold I've ever had so I thought I would share my tips for avoiding getting sick, after this post will also follow a tips for how to get better quicker if you do get struck down. Enjoy these tips and I hope they help you to stay healthy...

1) General raising of personal hygiene- This is probably the best thing you can do for yourself, washing hands regularly and using hand gel when on the go (especially if you are using public transport or touching door handles). Also washing general things such as makeup brushes, sponges, washcloths and towels. 

2) Take appropriate Vitamins- These can help to boost the immune system during these winter months, Barretts do ones that cater to different ages, genders or conditions in some really great flavours so it's just a case of checking out which ones may be right for you. 

3) Wrap up!- Keeping dry and warm is especially important in these winter months and is key to not getting sick, I personally love wrapping up all cosy with hats and scarves in the winter ( I recommend turtlenecks).

4) Caring is not sharing!- Keep away from people who have the sneezes! Don't share any food or water bottles with others to keep the germs at bay! 

Finally...

5) If you do feel some sniffles coming on I highly recommend the Vicks First Defence Nasal Spray, It helps to flush out all the germs and may keep from a full blown cold developing 

So I hope that you find these useful and that if you keep these tips up you'll be keeping your airways clear and feel like dancing your way through the best season of the year ;)

Bella X

Colab With Extract Beauty!

So fellow blogger Extract Beauty and I decided to swap some beauty and general life questions so here are the 15 questions she asked me 

1. Drugstore makeup or high end?- I really like both but if I had to choose I would pick drugstore as I think it has really great things for great prices 

2. Favourite Drugstore brand?- I really love Rimmel London, I think they do great face products and their lipsticks are amazing 

3. Favourite store to shop at?-  I'm really odd and love looking at homewear shops like Laura Ashley, big lover of buying candles and cute nick nacks 

4. Favourite Clothing piece for autumn?-  turtle neck jumpers have become my new obsession especially in grey or dark colours 

5. How old were you when you started wearing makeup?- I started wearing the cheap lip glosses and mascaras around the age of 9 or 10 and then properly started collecting and wearing a full face at around 13 or 14

6. What is one hair care product you cannot live without? (other that shampoo and conditioner)- Hair oil is my absolute life saver, if I'm having a bad hair day a few sprays of lightweight oil can fix everything and I use is after washing to tame any immediate frizz 

7. What is your greatest strength?- I would say I am a very empathetic person and I love to listen and give advice to people, I'm quite maternal towards people I care about so without blowing my own trumpet I think I'm a generally kind person :) 

8. What is your greatest weakness?- Procrastination. Explains itself really.

9. What is your idea of the perfect pizza?- I love pineapple on pizza so much so probably a deep pan stuffed crust pineapple pizza with maybe some chicken or green pepper on there too

10. What type of music do you listen to?- I'm the kind of person that if I like it then I like it so I don't really have one specific genre that I really like, Most of my favourite songs are from a mix of genre's and eras. The only type I don't like is screamo because I find it a little too angry and loud 

11. What brand do you use for skincare?- Mainly Liz Earle but I also actually love the boots own brand moisturiser and night cream as they affordable and really soothing 

12. What is your favourite clothing brand/ shop?- New Look and Topshop are my main source of clothing but I also love going on ASOS and getting a wider range from different brands 

13. Are you a lip gloss or Lipstick kind of person?- Personally I prefer lipsticks, there is something very elegant about them and you can get so many different finishes now the possibilities are endless!

14. What is your favourite perfume?- I love the Elie Saab perfume for special occasions and The Body Shop's Indian Night Jasmine for everyday wear, both are amazing dark yet floral fragrances 

15. Do you prefer messy or sleek hair?- Sadly I'm not one of those people who look good with messy hair although most of the time it is a bit messy so I prefer sleek with no frizz but with soft curls 

Thank you so much to Extract beauty for the questions and if you want to see her answers to my questions check out her blog
http://extractbeautyblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Hope you liked getting to know me a little better (or a lot) ;)

Bella X

50's Pin Up for the modern day

The past gets a present twist with this stunning look! 

I love the style and beauty that was seen throughout the 50's and the classic Pin Up is one of my favourites, here is a step by step on how I achieved this look making it a little more modern to make it more wearable on the everyday occasion.

 First I started by moisturising my skin with a tea tree moisturiser, this not only gives hydration but also tackles any blemishes or areas of redness. I followed this with a Technic Illuminating Primer which is perfect for this look as it begins to lighten the skin and add a lovely glow applying this with a flat head foundation brush to smooth it down. The foundation I chose to use was the Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation in 010, normally this shade would be far too light for me but the Pin up look has that porcelain skin look, this foundation also adds luminosity and is hydrating so comes across more natural than almost painting your face white. I always use my Real Techniques Expert Face brush to blend it all in nicely and create a flawless effect. If you need any concealer I would recommend using the Collection 16hr wear as it is really thick and long lasting. For blush I used an angled blush brush and applied the Max Factor Creme Puff Blush in 30 Gorgeous Berries, it is a beautiful dark purple pink colour that makes the cheeks pop and looks stunning on all skin tones. I finished off my face with my Collection Pressed Powder with a big fluffy powder brush to set everything in place.

I then moved onto my eyes starting with a cream base by using  L'oreal Crea Creme 03 Astral Rose giving the shadows something to stick to. Then I used a standard fluffy shadow brush to pack a matte pink shade from the Urban Decay Anarchy Face Case all over the lid. With a pointed crease brush I then blended the colour Frisk from the Naked 2 basics palette to add a slight smokey look. To add a little bit of gentle shimmer I then used a champagne shade back all over the lid, a yellowish white blended into the inner corner and a muted pink dabbed in the center of the eye to give the eye a larger more open appearance, these were from my Hello Kitty X Liberty Of London palette (which is surprisingly amazing).
I find the SuperCat Liner form Soap and Glory is my favourite liquid liner if I want to do a cat's eye but to make this look more modern and less dramatic I only did a very small flick on the outer corner. My Lashes were first coated with the Rimmel Argan Oil Mascara to separate them before I did my final coats with the L'oreal Million Lashes in Extreme Black. This mascara is amazing at lengthening lashes and I found I didn't need false lashes and so made the overall look much more natural and less time consuming. I then placed the Technic Highlights highlighter on my cupids bow, cheek bones, down my nose and on my brow bone before blending it in with my finger to have a strobed glow that made the whole face light up. Finally no pin up look can be complete without the classic red lipstick. I Used the Rimmel Kate Lipstick in 01 for this as the whole range is amazingly moisturising and this colour is a sort of dark crimson red rather than bright cherry red which I thought added to the modern twist.

I finished the look by placing a bandana in my hair and fashioning two tiny victory rolls to come out the front. I was extremely pleased with the way this turned out and hope you try it out as it is very simple, quick and stunning. This look is completely down to the individual so if you were going to a themed party you could adapt it to become more classic by exaggerating some of the features. And as Benefit Beauty say " If at first you don't succeed... apply more lipstick!" ;)        

Bella X                                                          

Amazing Highlighter Dupe!

Technic High Lights VS Benefit High Beam

 So I found this highlighter a few weeks ago and realised it is an exact dupe for the very popular Benefit High Beam. Right down to the packaging this is an exact replica of the high end product but for a fraction of the price.

In the summer I think highlighter is especially important to give a beautiful healthy looking skin and with the extra sunlight it gives a lovely glow. The Technic highlighter has a slightly pinkish tone to it and blends wonderfully, I dad small amounts on my cheekbones above my blush on my cupids bow and on my brow bone after powdering. The brush application makes it really easy to apply and I find blending it in with my finger the best way to do it but I'm sure brushes or sponges could do the job just as well.

There is a slight difference in the formulation between the benefit and technic products as the technic highlighter is slightly less finely milled and a little more watery but the main thing is the price! The benefit version retails currently for £19.50 ( as to benefit own website) where as the Technic retails for around £2.00 depending on where you get it from. I found it in Bodycare but have also seen it in TK Maxx and online. For that price you really would be crazy to buy the higher brand when the two products are exactly the same right down to the packaging! I own both and find myself and have found myself reaching for the cheaper version every day. Technic also do a really lovely illuminating primer that I have been using for years that also has identical packaging to some Benefit products.

I have recommended this dupe to all my makeup loving friends and now hope that you find it useful too, so off you go find your new beauty in a jar and get your strobe on ;)

Bella X

Beauty tips for looking your best on vacation

 

I recently went to Barcelona for a week and decided ( mainly because it was way too hot) not to wear makeup during the day. For this I have some tips for feeling great without the makeup.

1. SPF- sunscreen is extremely important for keeping your face looking and feeling great. It prevents sunburn which leads to peeling and dry skin, no one wants this painful experience so I always try to use an SPF 50. Soap and Glory have brought out their own facial SPF which I think is really good as it dries matte and can be worn under makeup if you want to wear it.

2. Moisturiser- I think moisturiser is also one of the most important things when you spend a long time in the sun. Your skin needs to be re-hydrated and so I would suggest using a very thick moisturiser with a gel texture that has a cooling action. I have been using a great one from The Body Shop. Lip balm also helps to keep those luscious lips looking beautiful.

3. Cleansers and Exfoliators -  Cleansing is really important to clean your skin and then an exfoliator to remove any dry skin so that it can be nice and soft again. I have been really loving the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish as it has many soothing ingredients and my clinique 7 day scrub cream.

4. Drink water- Just like using a moisturiser, water hydrates the body and keeps the skin looking full and plump and happy. It is especially important when being in the sun for long periods of time.

I hope you enjoyed these tips and that you have a wonderful vacation or already had a fabulous time and remember drink your water and slap on that factor 50 ;)


Bella X

Things I bought at BeautyCon!

A rundown with some first impressions of the things I picked up at BeautyCon

The first I picked up was this NYX butter gloss in Meringue, I actually got this for free by simply posting an instagram picture! I have worn this so much since saturday, I was a little unsure about the colour as it seemed really bright barbie pink but it actually looks really amazing with loads of different looks. It isn't a really sticky gloss but it does have loads of shine and I am really pleased with it Cant wait to try more NYX! 

This was also one of the items that I got for free, in fact I actually got a second one free as well so it was kind of a win win. I haven't tried this yet as I want to finish my current cleansing balm but I'm really looking forward to it as I have heard loads of amazing things and it is one of those products people constantly rave about. It also came with a muslin cloth which also looks really interesting.  

Tarte stand had really good show prices so I picked up this set of LipSurgence lip cremes. There are three really gorgeous colours of a red, baby pink and a more nude shade. They also came in a really sweet box which I'm definitely keeping them in. They have a slight plumping effect as they are minty and so make our lips feel a bit tingly, I'm really not a mint lover but once it's on the lips I don't really notice it.

The other item I bought from the tarte stand was the palette for gorgeous green eyes, I did really want the tartelette palette but by the time I got there it was sold out. I am actually really glad I got this as the colours are so beautiful together and really do make the green in my undecided eyes pop. I'm actually thinking of using this as my pron eyeshadow because the colours are just so blendable and easy to do and the colours go with everything. I was worried about the purple colour as am not normally an avid purple user but it does actually look really beautiful all together.

I also picked up two brushes from crown brushes. This was a new brand that i was interested to have a look at and if I'm honest their stall was a bit overwhelming there were so many brushes! I picked up two that I thought would be most useful a fluffy crease blending brush which I think is just a very useful brush to have and also a really tiny fan brush that I wanted to try out with highlighter. I'm really impressed with the quality and texture of these brushes and would love to try some of their bigger and main face brushes.


I did also pick up a wonderful T-shirt that says 'What's the WiFi?' which I've been wearing literally everyday. Hope you enjoyed this post even though it felt kinda long, I do like to yap on a bit ;)

Bella X

Overview of BeautyCon

My Experience at BeautyCon London

What can I say it was amazing! We arrived at 10:30 so we didn't have to queue and went into Olympia. With booths such as NYX, Tarte, Crown brush and Benefit there was loads to do and buy. Some of the Stands were not selling their products like Liz Earle and NYX which was really annoying as I was looking to try things from both brands. I think these companies could have made a large amount of money by selling some products because there were a huge number of people there, many of whom I heard asking to buy. 

Another thing that was slightly disappointing was the food that was on offer as there were only two options that were very small stands with limited food options. Annoyingly we ended up not eating all day, even though this didn't ruin the day, I do love my food and was really hungry walking round. 

We ended up going to three panels: The Business of Beauty, Beautiful Inside and Out and Sprinkle of Glitter Q&A. The first two were very interesting with extremely insightful with the guests giving truthful and interesting answers to questions both from the audience and the interviewers. Sadly Louise ( sprinkleofglitter) was really unwell so couldn't do her panel so Lily Pebbles and Viviannadoesmakeup stepped in. 

All in all I had a really lovely day and came home with a load of goodies (being shown in a blog post soon). The BeautyCon team did a wonderful job turning Olympia into a makeup heaven and I cant wait for next years, though I may have to bring a sandwich ;) 

Bella X 

p.s Haul from the event coming soon 

 

I'm headed to beautyCon!

Only 4 days till BeautyCon! (Already Hyped)

This is just a quick little message to say that I am going to be going to BeautyCon this Saturday with my best friend and I am so excited! I'm planning to do a large number of panels and visit all the stalls such as tarte and nyx to buy a huge number of products! I am going to do a blog post on the event but i may do two posts, one about the actual event, the panels we went to etc and one with the products that I purchased with perhaps a first impression of them. There are many brands attending that I haven't tried much from so I'm excited to try it all out. Whether I'm doing two separate posts or one I will be posting lots of pictures (maybe the odd selfie). I hope you are all having a fabulous week and I shall see you in my next post which I am very excited about ;)

Bella X

My Skin Salvation

Two products which changed my skin for the better...

In January my skin was the worst it has ever been in my life, I'm still not sure what caused it as there was no stress or change in products at the time but it was awful. I have always been very lucky with my skin as it usually is quite healthy looking and clear but those two months were so bad I had to change my skin routine to banish the blemishes and demolish the dryness.

1) Cleanser: Botanics Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm
















I bought this a while ago and can't remember it being the most stand out product i've ever used and so for  few months ended up going from this to the Garnier micellar water. Even though this did a wonderful job of cleansing and removing my makeup I couldn't help but worry as it felt my skin wasn't getting enough moisture as it should so I went back to boots and purchased this cleansing balm again. It is a very thick yellow  balm that almost looks like butter in the pot and turns into an oil when put onto the face. I was worried that it would make my face more oily but it actually helps to balance out the natural oils of the face and I think in fact has made my greasier patches more manageable. It scrubs my face makeup of extremely well ( though I still use the micellar water to remove eye makeup)  and leaves my face feeling soft and fresh. It does leave a sort an oily film around the face but I then continue my routine with a scrub so this quickly goes away. Many people don't like the muslin cloth that comes with it but I think it has the perfect size and exfoliation for my skin. I would give this product a 9/10 as I think it has helped my skin to gain moisture and control oil, it is very reasonably priced at £8.99 and a product that is very overlooked in a big world of cleansing balms. And it's organic!

2) Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse Off Formula

Firstly what magic is this product? I found two very dirty looking sample tubes of this in the back of a cupboard and because my skin was so bad at this point I thought 'what the hell I'll go for it'. It was a good decision. It is honestly amazing. When you squeeze it out it looks like a cream and you cant see any of the exfoliating bits but as soon as you rub it on you can instantly feel them working. The exfoliating particles aren't too sharp that you feel as though you are cheese grating your face but also not to soft as though someone is just stroking you with an expensive feather. It perfectly exfoliates my face and removes the dead cells of the day leaving a glowy effect the next day . It also dramatically improved my troubled skin and I immediately went out to buy a full size. It is a little pricey at £19.00 but it is 100ml of pure gold and a little goes a very long way. I rave and recommend it to everyone who tells me of their skin issues and I think it really would work for many if not all skin types. Definitely a 10/10.

So that is how I changed my skin back around. It isn't solely down to these two products alone as my night routine does continue into serums and moisturisers but all that is for another time. Skin can often be a tricky and unpredictable part of the body but we just have to pull on the reins and show it who's boss ;)

Bella X

Rimmel Lasting Finish 25hr Nude Foundation ~ best foundation I own!

My Favourite Foundation Yet!

My journey with foundation began years ago when I first bought a Max factor cream type foundation that was in a pot and was applied with a thin round sponge. It was the worst mistake I have ever made in my makeup life! It caked up on my skin very easily and would crack or reveal unflattering dry patches on my nose, it was completely the wrong choice of foundation for my young skin and I cringe when I see photos of me wearing it as it looks awful. 

For around a year after this I refused to even look at a foundation bottle in fear I would become a powdery cake mess and resorted to only using bb creams and tinted moisturisers. In truth I'm actually glad I did this. This gave my young skin a chance to truly show me what it responded well too and I stayed looking my age for as long as possible. 

I finally decided after around 1 and a half years I would try out foundation once again ( though avoiding anything in  a pot with a sponge) and I never looked back. I have tried loads now from various brands both high end and drugstore. I still love bb creams as they will forever be my forgiving friend who helped me see what I truly wanted to look like but foundation is now a joy to work with. 

At the moment my favourite ( for the past 5 months now) has been the Rimmel Lasting Finish 25hr Nude foundation in 100 Ivory. I've now gone through nearly two bottles and absolutely am in love with it. It never feels cakey as it is extremely lightweight and no matter how much you put on it blends out to give you a flawless complexion. It is medium coverage which is what I personally like and I just really love the way it makes my skin look and feel better but without feeling like I'm wearing makeup. It is also really easy to remove so you don't have to spend hours scrubbing your face. I haven't found it to break me out but you never really can be 100% about anything so it may not work for some people. I think this foundation would work for all skin types except maybe if you have dry skin as it does dry slightly matte. 

I believe it retails for around £7.99 in boots but they are often on offer or cheaper in other drugstores like body care where i've seen them sold for £4.99. I would probably give this foundation a 9/10 as it has completley restored my faith in foundation but still doesn't make me look like kate moss so I guess it's that 1 mark from a full house ;) 

 Bella X 

Estee Lauder Turbolash All Effects Mascara Review

Estee Lauder All Effects Motion Mascara 

I saw this mascara when I was in a spanish sephora over the summer and didn't really register what it was, all I saw was the word 'Mascara' on the box and I needed a new one so I just bought the item along with some other items and didn't really look at it fully until later back at the hotel when I opened the box and was perplexed to find a tube with a bit missing and a little gold disc sitting next to it in the box. So I did a little research on it and turns out it is a vibrating mascara. Yes vibrating. Slightly odd but a concept I was willing to work with. 

Turns out this is actually a pretty good mascara, I'm not sure about the whole vibrating and making your lashes longer thing but for me it makes my lashes look much thicker especially when I'm wearing another more lengthening mascara underneath. I found it to have very good staying power and it tends not to leave any fallout immediately after application however as the day wears on there is a small amount but this could be due to the fact that I wear contacts so my eyes sometimes water. The bristles are real brush bristles rather than a plastic comb type thing however the formula of this mascara is slightly dry so the brush does look a bit dried out  sometimes. It only is available in black as far as I can tell but it does look nice with any look that is being created whether it's very casual day makeup or a more dramatic evening look.  I always comment on smell because I feel it is a important factor when buying things you are going to put on your face, this smells like liquorice which I'm not a fan of but once again I don't notice it when it is applied.

Overall I would give this mascara 6/10, it does last all day with a nice thickening effect however the dry brush can sometimes get a bit clumpy and the whole vibrating thing is a bit of a gimmick if I'm honest. The price is £32.00 from boots and personally I think you can get much better mascaras at a drugstore prices. The overall impression you get is that it's ok but nothing truly spectacular. It does the job, even if you do get some funny looks on the train as your makeup vibrates in your hand ;)

Bella X

Milani Blush- Tea Rose Review

Milani Blush in Tea Rose 

Having been given a amazon voucher I decided it was time I tried some brands that are not currently sold in  the UK, one of these brands was Milani. I had heard great things about their blushes from various Makeupalley reviews and videos online and so I decided to try them out. Tea Rose was the only colour I saw online that really appealed to me and I was wary that the colour may not be exactly the same as in the photograph. The delivery was very quick ( despite having to pay an absolute fortune in postage) and I was very excited when the box arrived.

The packaging of the blush is really lovely looking and although it is a clear plastic lid with a gold plastic base, the weight of it does make it feel very high quality. I also like that the Milani logo isn't too intrusive as sometimes it can be slightly annoying if you cant see the colour of the product as loads of writing is slapped across it. The colour which is a muted slightly dusty pink with a matte finish did look very similar to the picture so I was immensely pleased. I love the style of the rose shape as in my makeup box it's very eye catching and I find myself often drawn to it because it looks simple but pretty. 

In terms of how it wears, I love it! When I swatched it first on my hand I was a little unsure as it didn't give off a huge amount of pigmentation, however on the cheeks with an angled blush brush I love it. It blends really beautifully and is very buildable. Personally as I am very fair skinned I tend to use a very light hand with my blush and it just gave a really lovely glow and I had many complements throughout the day from people saying it looked very pretty and elegant, which it does! I think that it would also work on darker skin tones if used with a slightly heavier hand  and just building up to the coverage that is preferent to the individual. One thing I will is that the smell is a little chemically/ plastically and sort of unpleasant but I tend not to be a big fan of sniffing my blush products and when it is on the skin I didn't notice the smell. 

I would give this blush a 8/10, I thought it looked really pretty and natural, it didn't break me out as far as I know and blended very well. For me the only things that put a downer on how much I liked it was the fact that Amazon charged me almost three times as much in postage but that was not the blush's fault so I guess we can forgive it ;) 

Bella X