NYX Bare With Me Jelly Cheek Colour

Hi beauties,

Some makeup items I’ve been really loving lately are the NYX Bare With Me Jelly Cheek Colour, I bought two in Rum Punch and Cherry Smash

They are a jelly-like texture, a little bit weird if I’m honest! I was expecting them to be a little more liquid, I don’t know why. They are super easy to apply, pigment is vibrant so you don’t need a lot but if you want to use them as lip tints which I have, you can build them up a little more. They are a stain, the below picture was even after using an oil based cleanser!

They are very long lasting in terms of wear time, they last all day (or night!) I always double cleanse when I wear makeup and you do need to when wearing these I think.

I’ve been really impressed with the makeup items I’ve been trying so I’ll definitely be trying more. I bought mine from Look Fantastic and they are £9.00 each.

Till next time,

Lucy xxx

L’Oréal Revitalift Plumping Micellar Cleansing Water*

Hello beauties,

I know a lot of people like to use an all in one makeup remover but I much prefer to take my eye makeup off with Micellar water. L’Oréal very kindly sent me a bottle of their Revitalift Plumping Micellar Cleansing Water with some other skincare a while ago and I’ve been putting it through its paces.

I’ve gone wild testing out mascaras lately thanks to my fabulous lashes, I’ve got 4/5 on the go and have been playing around with makeup. I’ve used the new high end Benefit They’re Real Magnet and Roller Lash, Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High and Sleek Take You High and this Micellar has has removed them all. Add to that removal of my lipstick of choice, the long wear liquid kind that can be tough to get off, is easy as pie too. I double cleanse when using Micellar water and there was nothing on my flannel when I used another cleanser.

Revitalift Micellar doesn’t make my skin feel tight or uncomfortable after use, I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s “replumping” but it’s a lovely cleansing water that removes makeup very easily without being foamy and you don’t need to use loads either. Generally two pads (front and back) gets rid of my eye makeup and I wear concealer, primer, shadow and mascara so a decent amount! I do leave the pads on for a wee while (about a minute or so) because it feels so refreshing on and it breaks the makeup down super easily. I’ve been impressed with this and the Revitalift Day Cream (I’m still testing the retinol serum) and I honestly wasn’t expecting them to be as good as they are, it’s nice to be surprised by products thank you L’Oréal!

Till next time,

Lucy xxx

AD/PR *gifted by the brand

Elemis Superfood Facial Oil*

Hello beauties,

Last year Elemis very kindly sent me a product of my choice for a random act of kindness, having used both the Superfood Facial Wash and Vital Veggies mask while I was in Spain I plumped for the Superfood Facial Oil* as I hadn’t tried it yet.

Elemis describes this as your green smoothie, rich in plant oils such as Sweet Almond, Meadowfoam, Flax, Macadamia, Rice Bran, Poppy, Sunflower and Rosehip Oils it also contains Radish, Cucumber, Broccoli and Carrot Oils. Essential oils of Orange and Palmerosa (which I adore) make it smell absolutely divine.

You don’t need much of this oil, it’s rich and nourishing without being heavy, it’s not an oil that you feel on your skin. It has a very fine texture, I use about 3 drops for face and neck. Pop moisturiser or SPF over the top and you’re done! While at £45.00 for 15ml is expensive it’s a great quality oil you don’t need to use too much of. Elemis often do offers through QVC and their own website so you can find some real bargains. I’m a big fan of the brand and use many products, this one is another to add to the list. Thank you Elemis! X

Till next time,

Lucy xxx

*AD/PR Gifted by the brand

Benefit They’re Real Magnet Mascara

Hello beauties,

A new launch from Benefit with They’re Real Magnet mascara an update of They’re Real mascara.

I like the original They’re Real but it’s not a mascara I buy that often, I do prefer Roller Lash as the curl and lift you get is great. When I heard that They’re Real Magnet is even more lengthening than the original I thought I would give it a try. I was a little sceptical about the magnet to be honest and I wanted to see what the fuss was about.

According to Benefit, They’re Real Magnet lengthens your lashes by 40%. The mineral formula reacts with the magnet inside the core of the brush and lifts your lashes for that false lash look. Hmm… not for me, I didn’t think this was any better than the Maybelline Falsies Lash Lift and certainly not better than Roller Lash. I played with this mascara a few times but it just didn’t impress me, I totally fell for the hype.

I did a comparison between They’re Real Magnet and Roller Lash, I would say that They’re Real Magnet does make my lashes look thicker, but it doesn’t make them look any longer. It’s also much more difficult to take off than any other mascaras I’ve tried. I use Garnier Micellar Water to take off my eye makeup, I prefer to soak it off rather than rub at my eyes with a cleanser, it took me me twice as long and twice as much product to remove They’re Real Magnet.

So would I recommend this mascara? In short, no. It’s a nice mascara, but not £24.00 worth of nice. If I was going to splurge it would be Roller Lash all the way, I’m still looking for my holy grail high street and I’m testing another at the mo. They’re Real Magnet just doesn’t live up to the hype for me.

Till next time,

Lucy xxx

L’Oréal Revitalift Filler Deep Replumping Anti Ageing Day Cream*

Hi beauties,

I’ve been testing out some L’Oréal skincare that I was kindly sent by the brand, Revitalift Filler Deep Replumping Anti Ageing Day Cream*.

This cream is incredibly thick so my first impression when I opened the jar was that it wouldn’t be for me.

However Revitalift Deep Replumping Anti Ageing Day Cream is remarkably light, I have oily skin and don’t like thick greasy creams. It melts so easily into my skin, I barely know I’ve put it on! It makes my skin feel plump and moisturised, it works well with serums and oils underneath. I’ve tried it with the Revitalift serum as well as Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Hyaluronic Acid and it’s a lovely base for makeup. I haven’t tried a lot of L’Oréal moisturisers and I don’t know why I’ve overlooked them, because Revitalift Day Cream has really surprised me. It’s so enjoyable to use, lightly fragranced, beautiful texture. It feels like a very modern moisturiser in terms of the texture, it’s more gel-like which I prefer. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy this, my favourite Liz Earle Skin Repair has been discontinued and I’m not keen on the fragrance of the new formulation. I’ve used this in the evening too so it’s versatile. 50ml is £19.99 and often on offer in Boots and Superdrug.

Till next time,

Lucy xxx

*AD/PR Gifted by the brand

Nails Inc Back to Life Nail Strengthening Treatment

Morning beauties,

I’ve had no nails for AAAAAGGGEES! Before Christmas I used gel back to back for 4 weeks which was a BIG mistake. I had heard great things about Nails Inc Back to Life Nail Strengthening Treatment so I bought some.

My nails were incredibly bendy and weak, they were splitting down the vertical ridges as well so I had to file them down to practically nothing. I used two coats of Back to Life twice a week for two months, my nails felt stronger but not too hard. It’s ever so slightly tinted so it makes your nails look healthier as soon as you apply it. I’ve been really impressed with Back to Life, it’s a moisturising nail strengthener which may sound odd, it works so well. I’ve also had two peeling nails on my right hand for years, the tips always peel no matter what I do, I was just resigned to that happening! Fast forward two months and no peeling in sight.

Back to Life is fabulous, a brilliant nail treatment. It’s a good all-rounder which I think can be extremely hard to find, it moisturises, strengthens, helps prevent peeling. It’s great for people with multiple nail problems. £15 for 15ml, I got mine from Nailsinc.com.

Till next time,

Lucy

Kilo Smart Fusion Lipsticks

Hi beauties,

I love a lippie! If I’m putting a face on I don’t feel finished without a lippie on. Matte are my preference, I hate gloss with an absolute passion as I can’t bear the feel of it. A little while ago I treated myself to some Kiko Smart Fusion lipsticks from Feel Unique.

Smart Fusion is more of a satin finish rather than the matte I usually buy, I fancied a bit of a change and also the opportunity to use the lippies as a cream blush.

The formula is lovely and comfortable to wear, they are more sheer than I would usually go for, these swatches are about 3-4 swipes straight from the bullet. I’m preferring to go towards tints with makeup these days so these are great as you can build them up.

I really like these lippies, they are a versatile and super affordable too at £3.99 each. I like Kiko as a brand, I’ve got a few of their nail polishes and an eyeshadow stick that I absolutely love. It’s great makeup that won’t break the bank.

Til next time,

Lucy xxx

L’Oréal Elvive Dream Lengths 8 Second Wonder Water*

Hello beauties,

L’Oréal very kindly sent me their new haircare launch the Elvive Dream Lengths 8 Second Wonder Water* for me to test out. I wasn’t sure it would be for me as I don’t have long hair but was very interested to try it.

Wonder Water is a unique liquid conditioner that works in just 8 seconds. Using lamellar technology (which I first heard Ultrasun SPF and Skinsense skincare using) lamellar uses fine layers to bind to the hair (and skin) smoothing and hydrating dry and damaged parts making your hair super soft and shiny.

I tested this out after shampooing, I only used a small amount as I have very short hair. Massage on the lengths of wet hair for 8 seconds and rinse out. I didn’t need my conditioner afterwards, just wash and go!

Wonder water made my hair feel so soft but unfortunately look quite greasy. I varied the amount I used, however even a few drops didn’t work for me either which is a shame. If you have long, dry, dehydrated hair though I am sure it would be more suitable. Super quick and easy to use, great when you want to cut time in the shower yet still have soft hair. I do know of others who have long hair that absolutely love it. Although it didn’t work out for me, thank you to L’Oréal for the chance to try Wonder Water.

Till next time,

Lucy xxx

ELF Putty Eye Primers

Hi beauties,

One of my most favourite recent purchases has to be the ELF Putty Eye Primers. I’ve been after something like this for a while and bought some after seeing Sali Hughes recommend them.

My eyelids are quite pink and sometimes eyeshadow can look a wee bit muddy. The shades I bought are Rose, Cream and Sand.

L-R Rose, Cream, Sand

I wasn’t sure if these shades would suit me, but they are very flattering. The only gripe I have is Sand is incredibly dry so not that easy to apply with fingers. Sali advised me to use a water spray and apply with a brush but the coverage isn’t as good. It isn’t my favourite of the three so I wouldn’t buy it again. Rose and Cream are perfect for me so I will stick with those. They are long lasting and don’t crease on me. A couple of swipes and you are done! Amazing value too at £5 each, I bought mine from Boots. A great budget makeup buy.

Till next time,

Lucy xxx

Decleor Cica Botanic Balm

Hi beauties

You know my love of oils and balms and in this super cold weather I’m using them even more frequently than I usually do. Today I have Decleor Cica Botanic Balm.

I bought this from Look Fantastic a couple of months ago, like most people’s skin these days mine is not happy. Little red rashy breakouts that won’t disappear no matter what I do. I had never had them until a few years ago and then every autumn like clock work they show up.

Anyhoo, I saw this was 20% off so I thought “let’s give it a try” I like Decleor as a brand, however they have reformulated a lot of their products and don’t seem to be on QVC much which is where I usually buy from. It’s an all “natural” (I hate that term!) balm with Macadamia, Jojoba, Sunflower Oils with Beeswax and Shea Butter and essential oils of eucalyptus, niaouli, rosemary, cypress, peppermint and pepper fruit. I think it smells absolutely beautiful, melts easily, so much more than Decleor’s usual balms. Cica Balm is healing, I had a crack at the corner of my mouth and it did help that. One big gripe I have though is the name. While it is healing (the word Cica comes from cicatrisation which means healing in French) it is most commonly associated with the ingredient Centella Asiatica (tiger grass, gotu kola, Indian pennywort etc) which this balm DOES NOT contain. I think this could be confusing, but I suppose I am being very picky.

Would I buy it again? I’m not sure. It’s nice but not as nice as my beloved Balmology Soothing Comfort Balm which I can’t be without. It’s £35.00 for 50ml so not extortionate but also not exactly cheap. I really can’t make up my mind about it, so I won’t be rebuying when I’ve finished this jar.

Till next time,

Lucy xxx