Bare Minerals Faux Tan Review

Heya! Sorry I've been gone so long, I finished my exams at the beginning of last week but its been a bit hectic since. I missed blogging, so I promise I will try my best to be consistent from now on!
That said, its review time! I have two reviews I've prepared, but the first that I will post about is on a new fake tan I have been trying out. I ordered the Bare Minerals 'Faux Tan' last week, but have managed to use it four times since so I still have a lot to say about it! I've not tried many fake tans, mainly gradual tanners as you've seen me write about before so I was sceptical as to what the results would be. I decided to invest in a mid priced product- I wanted something with good reviews but from a well known company but wasn't ready to invest in anything like 'St Tropez' until I am comfortable with using 'proper' fake tans as I like to call them!

The packaging- A bit tacky and cheap don't you think?

The bottle

The product colour (I was stingy and didn't want to waste product so took it like this!)

Overall first impressions were clouded by the outer packaging. It's lucky I bought this online because if saw this in a store it certainly would not entice me! It looks like something I could pick up at Primark for a quid! That aside, the actual bottle is acceptable and the dark colour of the product meant I could see where I had put it- very handy for avoiding streaks, although it did turn my tanning mit mossy green!

The actual product itself dried very quickly- about fifteen minutes in fact. This means it would be great for popping on in the morning and going out the door. It developed within three or four hours which again is very fast compared to other tans I have used which need evening application so they can develop over night. It smelled of marzipan, and personally I liked this and it did not bother me but I can see how this might put other people off.

One thing I found was an issue is the dark colour that is supposed to help you see where you have put the tan. After reading other reviews people said they waited a few hours then took a shower to wash this off revealing a lovely golden tan. I did two coats in one day, then two hours after the second coat took a shower and watched my lovely tan go down the plug hole. I don't know if leaving it longer would improve this, but I was left with a light barely there tan as apposed to my deep olive glow that was previously there. Because of this I have found I actually prefer this 'indicator' colour to the actual colour of the tan- so today I left it how it was and I love the result! It has given me a lovely olive glow that matches with my natural olive tones in my skin and I really like the result. I guess this isn't how the manufacturers expected it to be worn, but I like it much better this way! I will of course be taking a shower tonight so I will see if my lovely glow disappears again, but I will let you guys know if it doesn't!

Price- £12.50 feelunique.com
Smell- Marzipan. Yum.
Lasting Power- In the water- not great! Might improve if left for much longer then suggested.
Colour- Lovely olive tan with two coats.
Overall Rating- 6.5/10 (might improve if it stays on tonight!)



Lauren xoxo

New Drugstore Product Launches- May/June 2013

Heya! I always like to keep up to date with new product launches, because you never know when something amazing will come along! Often I only find out about these launches when I next go shopping, and sometime if the product is a really big craze, this is too late and the colour I want is always sold out. This is why I decided to do a series on 'product launch' posts every month or two, just to update you on all the most exciting releases so you never have to miss out again! Another bonus of finding out early are that certain brands (Revlon for example) have 'new launch' prices where you can save a pound or too, another reason why I thought this series would be particularly helpful- for you and me both! Enjoy!


Revlon:

Image Credit: nouveaucheap.blogspot.com

I am very excited about these new colours! I already own three of the 'old' style lip-glosses from the 'super lustrous' line, and have always been very fond of them. I'm not sure if the formulation has been changed, but as these are not in the UK yet I guess it will be a while before I find out! I love the new packaging, very similar to MAC lip-glosses, and the colours are gorgeous! I am particularly excited about 'Sugar Violet' and 'Berry Allure' and can't wait to try them out!

Which colours do you want to try? Or have you already tried them? Let me know in the comments! :)



Maybelline:

Image Credit- nouveaucheap.blogspot.com

These are the newest additions to the 'colour tattoo' collection, and the line is called 'Metal Rush'. I really hope these come to the UK, as we rarely get many of the latest Maybelline releases, if any. The formula appears to be similar to some of the existing shades from the original line like 'On and On Bronze' as that too has a metallic sheen to it. The shades from L to R are: Silver Strike, Inked in Pink, Gold Rush, Barely Branded and Electric Blue. The shades I would like to get (if Maybelline are nice enough to give us these fab colours!) are 'Inked in Pink' which is something different but very pretty and 'Barely Branded' which looks like the perfect neutral base.



Which colours do you want to try? Or have you already tried them? Let me know in the comments! :)




Rimmel London:

Image Credit- www.beautynl.nl

 Rimmel has launched a new stay glossy line! I have previously tried these glosses a year or two ago, and really loved the silky formula. The colours are very pretty and summery, and the glittery '3D' effect will be create the perfect summer pout. 'Red Carpet Glam' looks like a nice pretty sophisticated 'dinner out' colour and I also like the look of 'Lights Camera Action' for a daytime nude.



Which colours do you want to try? Or have you already tried them? Let me know in the comments! :)




 NEW LINE AT SUPERDRUG!

Image Credit- pieseyes.blogspot.com



 As you can see from me writing the title in caps, I was very excited when I spotted this is my local Superdrug! I have been waiting to see OPI in a UK drugstore for like, forever! I haven't purchased any colours yet as there are too many I'm in love with! Ones that will most likely appear in my collection in the future are: 'A Like-Haley Story' a hot coral pink from the Modern Family collection, 'Alex By The Books' also from that collection, 'Change the World' a fuchsia plum, 'Deeply in Love' a deep red, and 'Stand By Your Manny' a cornflower blue from MF collection. These are definitely worth checking out, at just £7.99 they are much cheaper than the usual OPI polish and just as gorgeous!




 Which colours do you want to try? Or have you already tried them? Let me know in the comments! :)










Lauren xoxo

Revlon Colorstay Ultimate Suede Lipstick Review

Heya! I'm sorry its been a few days since my last post, I've been so busy with exams this past week and have them all of next week too so I apologize if this trend continues for another week! I will have plenty of spare time on my hands for shopping and reviews after that so don't worry! Today I decided to review a product that I showed to you in my last post- one of the new Revlon Ultimate Suede lipsticks. I had been pining over this shade for a while after seeing a similar one in MAC, and finally took the plunge when Superdrug had a 3 for 2 (this offer may still be on, so I would check it out!).

As you can see (pics were on my iphone so are not quite as good as usual!) the lipstick is a bright pink toned red or red toned pink, which ever way you want to see it! I love the colour of this, but my overall opinions are as follows:

Pigmentation- Brilliant, can also be worn sheer by dabbing it on.
Texture- Smooth and buttery to apply but not as soft as the lip butters which is great because they were too soft! Downside: when the lip butter has dried it has a gluey dry sticky texture that sticks your lips together!
Staying Power- Lasts all day on the majority of the lips, but I did find it wore off in the center of my lips leaving an awkward line!
Smell- Nothing unpleasant.
Price- £8.99 at Superdrug.

This was on the higher end of drugstore lipstick pricing, and although the amazing colour and pigmentation lived up to it, I was very dissapointed with the staying power in the middle of my lips and that awkward sticky texture when it dried. I will continue to wear this as I love the colour, but will not 'dare to leave my lipstick at home' as the advert claims because I don't want bright pink/red lips with pale pink in the middle! I would consider repurchasing it, but then again I may just go to MAC and get one I can trust!

Have you tried this lipstick or another in the line? Let me know if you had the same experience, or maybe a different one? I would also love to know if any of the other colours in this line are worth purchasing, so comment below I would love to hear from you!


Lauren xoxo

Drugstore Haul- Revlon

Heya! So yesterday I went down to my local mall and wandered into superdrug after seeing they had a 3 for 2 on makeup, but with the intention of saving my money and not buying anything. I came out ten minutes later having taken full advantage of that offer (Ooops!...). I figured that today I would share the haul that was very naughty of me and shows my complete lack of self control when it comes to shopping! ;)


These are the three items that I got in the deal, all from Revlon (my fave drugstore brand EVER!):

R-L: Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation in Vanilla 120, Revlon Colorstay Smokey Shadow Stick in  Flare, Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in Trendsetter

I will test them out a bit before doing in depth reviews but all three of these are products are ones I have been eyeing up for a while so hopefully they were worth finally going out and getting!

First Opinions-

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation in Vanilla- Great yellow base for my olive undertones and from what I can see (after one day of use) long lasting but I do not like the dewy finish.

Revlon Colorstay Smokey Shadow Stick in Flare- The lilac color is not massively pigmented but the dark colour is nice, not as creamy as 'Torch' on the lighter end either.

Revlon Colorstay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in Trendsetter- Great, bright colour. Very pigmented, but drying and although its not wet in the slightest has a dry sticky feel to it and rubs off in the middle of the lips after two or three hours- but overall loving it so far! My joint fave colour lipstick ever with MAC's Plumful.

So there is the result of my mini shopaholic meltdown...

Lauren xoxo

SIGMA MAKEUP BRUSHES (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED): http://www.sigmabeauty.com/?Click=274059

Dove Summer Glow Gradual Tanner Review (Fair to Medium Skin)

Heya! So today I decided to review a product I purchased about two months ago, and have tried and tested since then. I have tried a few fake tans previously, some of those being gradual tanners like the one I am reviewing, but have never found one that I would repurchase. Until now! It may have its flaws, but the Dove 'Summer Glow' gradual tanner certainly does the job.

Sleek and Simple Packaging

I bought 'Fair to Medium Skin'

Swatch

As you can see above, I purchased the 'Fair to Medium Skin' version. I was a bit dubious about whether it would work on my skin and debated getting the 'Medium to Dark Skin' option which my friend of the same colouring (fair with olive undertones) uses. In the end I went with the lighter option because I would rather my tan went a little lighter than I wanted then to dark, as obviously to correct it you just need to add another layer! In the end I definitely made the right decision!

I applied the tan every day for about a week before the day I wanted to be tanned for (Leavers Prom) and I noticed a big difference after two applications, and then a subtle change from then on.
After just one application my skin (which can look sallow in cooler seasons due to the 'oliveyness'!) I had a subtle golden glow, and then on the second application I had a nice natural tan. After the full week of application I had a medium golden tan, and many people commented on how tanned I looked! I even used this on my face, and it gave a subtle golden glow.

The only issue I had was the occasional dark streak around my wrist, and although it practically doesn't fade at all in the shower, if water dripped on my arm a white line would appear. Using a tanning mitt does keep fingers from going orange, but like I said I did still get streaks on my wrist so I got rid of these by scrubbing at them, and any white streaks from water can quickly be solved by applying a bit of the lotion over top of them.


Drying Time- Not the best, about an hour.
Development- Overnight (about 8 hours).
Smell- Nothing Unpleasant.
Streaks- Only occurred on wrists.
Water Resistance- Good in baths/showers, but does show when water drips down your arms from taps e.t.c.
Colour- Golden, natural tan. Sun kissed.
Recommended Applications- 2+
Price- I paid £2.59 at Tesco (half price offer).
Rating- 9/10


Overall, I love this product for a natural and risk-free tan. I had the two issues mentioned above, so overall I was very happy with this product. I would certainly continue to use and repurchase this product!

Lauren xoxo

Benefit Box Blush 'Bella Bamba' Review

Heya! So today I decided to review one of my stapel blushes- Benefits 'Bella Bamba'. I have had this blush since summer 2012 and neglected it up until this spring, but I have now rekindled by love with it! I have done an in depth review, swatches and application method below, so enjoy!

Outer Packaging- So cute!

The packaging is adorable. I am studying Graphic Design at college next year, and this is the sort of thing I would love to create! I always adore benefits packaging, and the shimmer on this really made it stand out on the shelf to me.

It also comes with a mirror- very handy.

As you can see, the blush does come with a mirror built in to the packaging. This is very handy for on-the-go touch ups and travelling. It does also come with a brush, but I did not include that in the review as in my opinion it does not get the best out of the product and most people prefer to use their own brushes anyway.

The Blush Itself- Rose Pink with Gold Shimmer.

I adore the colour of this blush. It is perfect for all year round and would suit any skin tone.

Application

I applied the blush with a 'Real Techniques Blush Brush' (let me know if you want a review on that brush range, I would be very happy to do one) in upward motions going from the bottom to top of my cheekbones. I will usually suck my cheeks in (the fish face!) so I can accurately place it on my cheekbones, as I'm not a massive fan of the 'apples of the cheek' blush application method and like a more sculpted look.

Final Result (Note: I didn't do a swatch on my hand due to camera issues!)

This is the final result- a natural warm, rosy glow that is also somewhat highlighting due to the gold shimmer.


Pigmentation- Buildable, I usually put about three layers of blush to get the colour I like.
Texture- Smooth, soft, very easy to work with.
Colour- Rose Pink w/ Gold Shimmer.
Finish- It claims to be a '3D Brightening Blush' and it does add a slight highlight without being OTT shimmer.
Smell- Nothing unpleasant.
Lasting Power- Stays on for about 3-4 hours but does begin to fade later in the day.
Price- I Paid £24.50 at Boots
Rating- 9/10.

I love the colour and finish of this blush. It is perfect for everyday wear and would suit any skin tone. The only reason it doesn't gain full marks and my complete seal of approval is due to the lack of staying power. If I put this on at the start of a 7 hour school day, it will hardly be noticeable by the end of it unless I layer it over a cream blush. I reckon you could improve this with a setting spray though, and when I finally get round to buying MAC Fix+, I promise to let you know if this improves the situation!


Lauren xoxo

Nails Of The Day- OPI Mermaids Tears

Heya! So today I decided to do a 'nails of the day' post on what I am currently wearing, which just so happens to also be my favorite polish of all time! I have images and an in depth review below, so enjoy!

The Polish Itself- OPI Mermaids Tears

Two Coats Applied in Both Images

So as you can see from the images, it is a gorgeous sea foam green colour, and I am in love with it. In the images I applied two coats, but if you were extra careful when applying you could get away with one. I have had this polish for a good few months now and it is still by far my favorite.

Application- The application is quick, smooth and easy.
Consistency- Not to runny, not to thick. Perfect.
Colour- A gorgeous sea foam green.
Coverage- One coat would be enough, but two is perfect.
Brush- Regular sized.
Price- I paid £10 for a set of two full size (it came with this and 'Come to Poppy') at TK Maxx
Rating- 10/10.




I really cannot fault this colour. It has everything I look for- a stand out colour, only needs two coats, brush not too big or small and not a horrific price. I highly recommend this colour for summer and spring seasons, and I may have also cheekily worn it in autumn and winter because I love it so much!


Lauren xoxo