Estée Lauder double wear concealer

Hello my lovelies 

I'm back with a review of a product I have been using for years. 

Recently my reviews have been more of a first impression.

However, this product I know inside and out and I feel I can give a true opinion.  

What is it? 

Estée Lauder double wear stay-in-place flawless wear concealer. Wow what a mouthful. It's the concealer that's in a liquid formula with a wand. 

Cost - £22.50 ouch

SPF? - yep only 10. 

Size - 7ml

Colour range - pretty decent. Like the double wear foundation it also comes in warm , cool and neutral tones. As well as 4 base colours. 

Longevity- it's the real deal as David Dickinson would say. This, like the whole double wear range stays. 

Coverage- full, full, full. However, it's surprisingly blendable if you work quickly. 

How to use? I use this in a lighter shade as an under eye concealer when I'm doing a full face look. I also use it like a highlighter when I'm doing my contouring. I have a shade the same as my foundation for spot coverage. I use this product as a foundation when I don't want a full face of makeup. I simply apply it where needed and blend, blend, blend. 

Pros- long lasting, blendable, good coverage. Great for under eyes and for blemishes. 

Cons - can look a tad dry on the odd occasion under the eyes. If you have a dry under eye area I would certainly try before you buy and see how it wears for you. If you are of a certain age you may prefer something more moisturising. Other con - It's expensive. 

SPF continued... This is good and bad. Good because it protects your skin. Bad because it is known to cause flash back in photographs. I have used this in professional photo shoots and not had a problem. If you apply to heavily or too light the chances of flash back increase.

Packaging - standard for Estée Lauder. The writing will fade over time. But it does take time for it to fade. The wand applicator I like but for hygiene reasons I swatch it to a palette before I use it to avoid bacteria. I like the gold cap, it's the magpie in me. I like shiny things. It comes in a heavy duty plastic tube. Great for throwing into your kit or handbag. No fears of it cracking or splitting. 

If you use this let me know what you think. 

Cult buy. Laura Geller gilded honey

I've seen thousands of posts about #gildedhoney and I couldn't resist.

This month I've spent out on the ambient lighting powders by hourglass and now this highlighter by Laura Geller. 

There was a choice of two shades ballerina and gilded honey. 

Gilded honey is a gold tone and ballerina is a pink tone. 

It says it is a baked gelato swirl illuminator that applies like a sheer powder but feels like a cream. It's meant to create a translucent wash of luminous colour that can be swept all over the face for a lit within glow. 

It's quite small only weighing 4.5g however the product is really, really dense. When I swatched my finger across it I expected to spoil the swirl. To my surprise it doesn't even look like I've touched it. 

In the compact  the colour looks really dark. 

My initial though was crap I should have got ballerina. 

However, upon application with the Laura Geller dual fibre brush it gives a soft warm glow to my porcelain skin. My concerns were that it would look like a bronzer rather than a high lighter. But it's fine. Just don't be heavy handed if you are pale. If you are darker skinned you could apply it heavier. 

I'm not a huge fan of very highlighted faces. Nor am I keen on overly contoured looks. For photo shoots or just for fun I like dramatic makeup. 

For day to day I like to look like me just better. If you like a heavy highlight it could be achieved by layering the powder. 

Getting back to the product. For me the gold tone is a refreshing change to the icy shades usually recommended for my skin tone. It really is translucent. It's light textured and feels weightless on the skin. 

Be warned this is quite shimmery. It's not to be used all over the face this is certainly just the high points. Don't use as a bronzer or a finishing powder. 

Do use is as an eyeshadow! It's really quite beautiful. 

The product is about £30. I've seen different prices online. I got mine from QVC and it came with the brush pictured. 

The shelf life is 18 months. Just remember to keep your brushes and fingers clean when you dip

Into the compact. 

This is my first encounter with Laura Geller products and I am impressed! 

The only thing is I wish is that the packaging was nicer. 

I get that the lid is clear to show off the beautiful swirl. But as I use it and it starts to look a bit naff I don't want it on show. That's why I like compacts that are opaque. 

But that's really a very nit picky thing to say. 

More brow first impression

I'm back with another review. 

In my Birchbox this month was a full size MODEL co MORE BROWS medium/dark eyebrow wand. 

At 3.5 ml I was surprised this was the full size. However after using it I can see that a little goes a long way. 

Firstly the colour is good for me as a brunette. I think it could be too dark for blondes or red heads. 

Secondly when I first saw the wand I was unimpressed. It's really small and I am used to a wand which is smaller at the top and wider at the bottom. However when I used it, it was easy to use. I was able to create some definition also which is a plus. 

I'm not really fussed what type of product I use for eyebrows. I have pencils, powders, gels and creams. I tend to go for what ever is to hand. Unless I want a more defined carved out brow then I will use my sleek eyebrow cube. A dupe for the benefit one. 

This product is pigmented and completely matte. It is a similar texture to mascara. It goes on wet and then sets. You can use this to keep unruly brows in shape. 

I have to say it feels like I've glued them down. Lol. No smudging these when you lean on your face at your desk. 

This is something I will use again. Predominantly in my work makeup kit. It's simple to use and because it uses a wand I only need one thing to do my brows rather than a pencil and a gel which I have been using. 

At £13 it's not too bad, mid range in price. But for an all in one product I think it's good value. 

If you want the ombré Instagram eyebrows this might not be for you. If you want to enhance the brows you have and achieve a more natural result this could be a good investment. 

Here is a before and after shot. All I have on is mascara and the eyebrow product. I have not tinted my eyebrows in 3 months. Nor have I combed them prior to use. The result is purely from the product. 

Paraben, cruelty and gluten free vegan lip balm!

Lip balm - we've all got one or used one. But you may not have tried this one. 

Birchbox brand Arrow have created a paraben free, cruelty free, gluten free, vegan lip balm which also adjusts to the pH of your lips to create a subtle shade that's unique to you. Mines a rosey pink tone. The balm has a slight mint scent but it's not menthol or tingly. 

The packaging is cute and to me looks a bit ECO warrior. Which I like.

I first heard about animal testing when I was a kid. My mother is a vegetarian and she always used body shop products. She even got them for me. I remember reading not tested on animals and of course I asked my mum about it. 

I'm not claiming to be an animal rights activist. But I hate the thought of animals being tested on for something as superficial as makeup. 

This lip balm came in my March birchbox. I don't believe I would have discovered it or the brand otherwise.

The lip balm feels moisturising probably due to the mango seed butter. It has a nice glossy finish but it's not sticky. 

The whole Arrow range is cruelty and paraben free, gluten free and vegan. 

If you are interested in vegan cruelty free products take a look at the brand they may have more to offer you. 

Prices at £11 it's an expensive lip balm. If your quick you could order a March Birchbox and try it in there as you get a full size product. 

From over 100 reviews it's got 4.5 stars on the Birchbox uk website. Which is pretty good in my opinion. 

 

Benefit it's potent eye cream

Hello!

If you've read my previous posts you will know I am a little obsessed with skin care. 

What I haven't said before is that I am in fact petrified of looking old. I think it's a genuine phobia. 

My skin care obsession started when I was going through acne treatment. I don't know about you but when I am insecure about something I tend to notice that area on other people. As my obsession is skin I am forever looking at and adoring other people's.With living in London and using public transport I have a constant supply of people to look at. What I noticed was that tired eyes really make people look old. 

Botox can help to some degree but it won't get rid of the fine lines under your lash line and it won't do much for crepe eyelids. It can raise the eyebrows and help with the crows feet but I think they can add character. Lines that you get from smiling I think are cute and make you look warm and friendly. Frown lines and tired eyes I am less impressed by. 

With the worry of wrinkles playing on my mind I decided about a year ago that eye cream was something I should start using. 

Disclaimer- I do not have a single wrinkle on my face. I am using anti ageing products as prevention rather than cure. 

At night I use Estée Lauder advance night repair on my eyes. 

However in the day I have been using the benefit it's potent eye cream.

photo from www.benefitcosmetics.com

I was given a couple of sample pots last time I went to Debenhams and I have to say so far I'm quite impressed. 

The eye cream  claims to 

Screen shot from benefitcosmetics.com 

As I don't have fine lines I can't comment on that. What I can comment on is the claim of reduced dark circles and promise of brighter eyes. 

It does do both for me. After a late night or a busy week the best of us can sufferer from dark, tired eyes. I've been using this for 6 weeks now along with my Estée Lauder night repair which is been using for 1 year. I no longer suffer from dark circles. As soon as I apply the benefit eye cream even if my eyes feel puffy and tired they instantly feel tighter and more awake. The delicate eye area is moisturised  and my concealer looks better. In the past I have found some eye products leave a film and what ever you put over them either splits or is highlighted neither of which is a good look. This doesn't do this. A little of the product goes a very long way so although it may seem expensive, be assured if used correctly it will last you months. Remember to always apply eye cream with clean fingers and use your ring finger. Be gentle and don't rub or drag the skin.

I am not saying if you already have five lines and wrinkles it will magic them away. It won't. Nor am I saying that those black bags under your eyes from a 3 day drinking sesh will vanish in a swipe of this. They won't. Everything has its limitations. If you are looking for a daily morning eye cream to help reduce dark circles and give you the feeling and appearance of more awake bright eyes then give this a go. 

Natural collection lipsticks..: needs pictures

Hey all

I'm back wth another review of a reasonably priced product. Ok that's an understatement this is a cheap product but not in quality. 

Whilst the packaging isn't something to Instagram about the savings certainly are.

Priced at £1.99 each these lip sticks are something you can treat your self to mid month when pennies have already been spent on bills and boring stuff.

These are also pocket money friendly, great for those just getting into makeup. 

The colour range is predominately natural, there are some dark browns and reds but mostly you will see pinks, peaches and light browns. 

The whole range is priced at £1.99. 

There are tinted moisturiser, concealers, powders, blushes, bronzers, eyeshadows, glosses, mascaras and liners. I remember being at high school and having a whole makeup bag from here, for under a tenner. At times they do 3 products for a fiver. 

I have always viewed this brand as products for teenagers. Mainly because of the price point. Plus it's what I used 10 years ago. 

However, the gap is closing in the cosmetic market. I've seen YouTube videos of pre teens contouring and rocking a dark lip. They are copying more mature makeup and badgering their parents to buy the next UD Naked palette so why can't we use their cheaper products ? 

Whilst I am not going to swap my NARS foundation for natural collections tinted moisturiser, the lip sticks are certainly something to stock up on and add to a kit. 

They are lightly scented, moisturising and pigmented. They offer a traditional lipstick finish. No matte or velvet options here. The packaging is quite boring just a white  plastic case. They case isn't the strongest, I've had a couple over the years crack in my bag. The staying power is much the same as a regular lipstick. Eat and drink and it will go. But for £2 I'm not that worried. Plus I'm a bit over the liquid lipstick trend which can leave your lips looking dehydrated and flakey. Some call it  An@s lips I prefer - cats bum. Let's not carry on. 

I've got loads of these which I've melted in to a palette. It's one way of taking 10 colours every where with you and for under £20 I don't mind melting them. 

If you need a lipstick to always leave at the office or you want to try some different colours give these a go. At £1.99 it's cheaper than a Starbucks and it will last longer. 

Pixi Glow Pads Review

Hello Slap Addicts 

I've been off for a while because of having an operation. I'm all better and I'm back with a review of Pixi Glow Peel Pads. 

First things first ... What are they? 

These little pads are soaked in a 20% glycolic acid solution. There are 60 in a tub and cost £24. They are paraben free and not tested on animals. 

What do they do? 

Glycolic acid is great for exfoliation and increasing the skins cell turn over. By removing the dull old skin and rejuvenating the cells beneath you are left with a smooth glowing more youthful looking face. They will reduce the appearance of fine lines, pigmentation and blemishes. This is not Botox or filers - you will not have the same effects or a frozen face. 

Is it suitable for me? 

I spoke to my dermatologist and I have been doing some research, it seems that glycolic is an all round acid that's suitable for most. I know 20% sounds high but it is classed as a relitively mild peel. It is suggested some may want to use a glycolic face wash for a few weeks before treatment. I use a 2% glycolic face wash from Sk:n. 

Will I end up with layers of skin peeling and a red face for days? 

Immediately after the peel you will be a little pink. Very shiny but not in a greasy way. For myself I have a few individual skin cells shedding 2-4 days after I do a peel. I counteract this wth a good moisturiser. One thing you have to do is use SPF and a high factor. You don't want to damage your skin. I use a factor 50 the first couple of days after a peel and then go between 20 and 50 every other day like I normally would. 

How do I use them? 

Ok so you need to start with thoroughly cleansed skin. 

I usually do a double cleanse to ensure no dirt or makeup have been left behind. I then take a pad and swipe it across my face. I turn it over and swipe again. I like to bring it under the jaw line as I can get breakouts around that area. Avoid the delicate eye area. I also avoid the nostrils and lips and I find the product stings and causes dryness in those areas. Wait 2-3 minutes. Don't leave it longer. Neautralise the skin with clean running water. I tend to go for Luke warm to cold water. You don't want anything got on the skin after the peel. Once you have removed the peel apply your moisturiser. I must add it is best to do this at night and then the following morning use a high SPF. 

What does it feel like? 

As you swipe it across your skin you may feel a light tingling. This can increase as it is left. It isn't painful. If it is too much please wash away immediately. It tastes pretty foul so avoid your lips. Afterwards you skin will feel smooth and tight. If you have any broken skin it will sting in those areas. I don't find it too bad. 

How often do I use this? 

Some say to use these every night. I really don't think this is necessary and you could make your skin quite sensitive. 

I am planning on doing it once a week. As I've said so many times before skin care isn't one size fits all. I am quite used to peels and I could leave this on a little longer or more frequently than someone who is using them for the first time. 

Over all I am very happy with this product. Having had several glycolic and pyruvic peels at a clinic I have seen what results can be achieved. I am pleased to say I have actually cancelled my next appointment because the results have been so good. 

The little bumps under my skin ( closed comedones) have pretty much gone from just two pads. The blackheads on my nose are almost gone. Enlarged pores look smaller and my skin is glowing and baby soft. My skin isn't sensitive or overly dry. 

I know an initial cost of £24 may seen privet but the tub contains 60 pads which means 60 peels. Even if you do this twice a week you will have the tub for 7 months. I can tell you I've paid between £89 and £150 for a single peel at a Sk:n clinic. I'm getting very similar results without the hassle of travelling into central London or walking makeup free through town. 

If you want all round better skin don't let the word acid put you off. Acid is your friend. It will make you beautiful xxx