Review: It's Potent! Eye Cream by Benefit

I received a small sample of this eye cream when I attended a Benefit event and I liked it so much I went ahead and purchased the full sized version. I've only got round to using this jar recently as the mini sample lasted for ages.

What they say

It's Potent! Eye Cream fades dark circles, helps smooth fine lines & hydrates the eye area for brighter, younger looking eyes. This potent yet gentle eye cream contains burnet an ancient Chinese remedy to help soothe the skin, & a blend of hydrating botanical extracts. Contains apple extract, known to help boost collagen, & loquat extract, known to help protect the skin from free radical damage. Includes a peptide complex known to help restore elasticity & firmness to the skin. Contains sodium hyaluronate, a powerful hydrating agent capable of holding up to 1000 times its weight in water.

How did it work for me/What I think:

I initially liked this very much. I used it twice daily and I felt that it really did keep the thin skin under my eyes well moisturised. The cream itself is slightly thick and rich but it sinks it beautifully without disappearing from the surface of my skin completely. It also has a nice light inoffensive scent akin to cucumbers. Did it fade my dark circles? Not really but then again I don't think any cream can (unless you know of one?). I liked it purely for the fact that it kept my skin hydrated and I found it cooling even though it's not marketed as such.

I did find that after several months, the cream lost it's "potency" and the consistency was much thinner. I think this is due to the packaging, if it was in a tube this might solve the problem. I also think that the jar is way too big. It will take a while to finish but according to the sign on the bottom, you're supposed to dispose of it after 6 months! Less product would also bring down the hefty price tag of £23.50.

I wouldn't repurchase this purely because it thins out after a while and I think I need a richer eye cream because the skin under my eyes is so dry. However for someone in their late teens/early twenties, this isn't a bad first eye cream.

RRP £23.50 for 14.2g

Make Up For Ever HD Blush

These HD blushes have been around for a while and I kept reading about how great and pigmented they were etc which only made me want them more. I managed to pick Star Struck (#14) and Quickie (#6) from a blog sale.

Unfortunately Star Struck (on the left) has dried up considerably making it a chore to blend and it barely shows up. Quickie on the other hand is a gorgeous coral pink which blends to a powder finish. This is unlike any other cream blush I've used before as it has immense staying power. The swatches on my arm didn't budge for hours. I used my fingers to apply but I think a small stippling brush would work better in evenly distributing the colour.

If you didn't already know, MUFE isn't readily available in the UK and this blush will set you back £24.75 (inc £3 shipping) from Guru Makeup Emporium. I think that's expensive for 10ml, even if you only need to use a little bit because who knows how long it would last before totally drying out? Anyway there's no way I would ever pay full price for these, I'll stick to blog sales thanks!

Have you tried any HD blushes? What did you think?

Revlon Grow Luscious mascara

Image: Google

The first Revlon mascara I have ever tried and to be honest I was wary as I have not read good things about them. However after seeing how well it worked for Sarah from Tacky Blue Eyeshadow, I had to try it out!

What do Revlon say about this mascara?

"Lash enhancing formula complements the natural growth cycle of your lashes, improving their overall appearance and conditioning with each use".

"Get lashes that look instantly longer and lusher and will also grow stronger day after day".

What do I think?

I like the green tube and the brush is HUGE! It took a while to get used to it but I no longer poke myself in the eye. So if you hate big brushes, stay clear.

I can't say I've noticed a considerable difference in the condition or length of my lashes but I do really like this mascara nevertheless.

It  makes my lashes look really long and isn't clumpy at all. I don't have the waterproof version but for me this doesn't flake, even after a long day. It's the perfect work mascara.

Not sure I would buy this again because there's so many other mascaras I want to try but if you were curious about it and like lengthening mascaras, I would reccommend you try it.

Urban Decay Naked Palette + Swatches

I was so excited when I first read about the neutral palette that Urban Decay was bringing out, that I rushed to buy it when it was released here in September. The eyeshadows are gorgeous and every colour is wearable, no matter what your skintone.







If you can't tell from my swatches, they're soft and very pigmented which I have found to be the usual case with UD shadows. However unlike my chunky Box of Shadows vol.II this palette is slim and easy to carry/store away.

I bought mine from House of Fraser for £27 which I think is well worth the price for 12 shadows, 2 mini eyeliners and a mini primer potion.

Debenhams have a 15% online discount code (enter PD9P at the checkout) until the 12 November but annoyingly this palette is out of stock. However they still seem to have the limited edition NYC Book of Shadows if you also fancy that.

Review: Batiste Nude dry shampoo

I only seem to need dry shampoo when my hair has been straightened, and as I'm rocking my natural waves (or frizz) these days, I haven't used it in a while. In fact the last dry shampoo I bought was this cheap smelling Charles Worthington one which has since been "gifted" to my sister.

However last week whilst shopping, I spied this unique looking bottle on the shelf and even though I didn't really need it, I WANTED it. I'm not usually a great fan of Batiste dry shampoo as I find it thick and difficult to brush into my hair without leaving telltale signs.

This nude shampoo is different. It's fragrance free and 100% natural (with only two ingredients - zea mays starch and talc). As you can see in the above photo it's finely milled and is a breeze to brush into my hair. My only gripe (albeit a small one) is the bottle and it's nozzle. I apply it to my hair by turning the bottle upside down and squeezing, so the talc *poofs* out. It's a bit awkward but I guess I'll have to get used to it.

I prefer this much more than the spray Batiste dry shampoos but I'm not sure if I would buy it again. Has anyone else tried this?

I bought mine for £3.49 from Superdrug.

Review: Maybelline Collosal mascara

I've heard such good things about this mascara but was reluctant to try it with the disaster that is Lash Stiletto in mind (I had to throw it out because I seriously couldn't stand the smell). Thankfully Collosal has no discerning smell whatsoever and unlike LS,  it's a great mascara.

Fat brushes aren't for everyone but I love them, and this has a large bristle one which is great for gripping lashes at the root. As you can read above, it promises 7 times more volume in just one coat and no clumps. I can't say that I noticed 7x more volume but you can see the result for yourselves.

Without mascara

With one coat (top lashes only)

I am happy with the length of my lashes and prefer mascaras which provide volume. This certainly does the job as my lashes look much thicker and as it's  waterproof, it lasts all day with no flaking. You do need a good eye makeup remover for the waterproof version or else it won't budge!

Is it worth the hype? I think so and I will definitely repurchase this when it runs out.

I bought mine for £6.99 at Boots.

Review: Barry M Blusher in Raspberry

I was excited when I heard Barry M were bringing out a range of blushers because I knew the colours would be fantastic and I was not disappointed.

I have so many blushers so I resisted Raspberry's charms at first but it was futile. I fell in love after a good swatching session in Superdrug one dark and dreary December afternoon.

I'm not so crazy about the packaging - it looks cheap, plastic and tacky, but I do love the colour payoff.

(I wouldn't necessarily wear the blusher as heavy as it is in the swatches)

It is marketed as a sheer blusher but I disagree as it's so easy to over apply - you only need a small dab and you have to blend LOTS to avoid looking like a clown. The upside of this is that it lasts for ages! I've also managed to successfully use this as an eyeshadow.

It also says on the website that the blushers "contain the anti-oxidant Vitamin E to protect and condition the skin and keep it smooth and supple." Though I can't say that I've noticed any difference in my skin in regards to that.....

At £4.50 for 7g, I think it's a bit pricey compared to Sleek blushers which are £3.29 for 8g (and their packaging is far nicer). I don't think I would repurchase this colour again but I would like to try out their more muted colours like Rose and Teracotta.

Review: Benefit Big Beautiful Eyes

Benefit says: "This little kit with BIG results is all you need to define, contour and enhance your eyes. We've included everything you need to "go pro" with the perfect shades and tools to create that coveted contour look that everyone loves. You'll thank us later".

This little kit includes boi-ing concealer in shade 02, alabaster pink base shadow, cocoa shimmer countour shadow, rich chocolate brown liner shadow and a mini concealer brush and double ended contour and liner brush. It also comes with a leaflet with illustrated step by step instructions which you can view here.

Swatches which were taken with flash.

Blah....the end result after following the step by step instructions.

My verdict: I admit I lazily applied the base shadow (note the fallout) but the contour shadow is not pigmented enough to show up on top of the base. Neither is the dark brown liner eyeshadow. So the overall effect is washed out and quite poor. The concealer is a shade too light for me (though you can also use it as a primer) and felt cakey. The brushes weren't too great - they were okay but useful if you haven't any brushes of your own. The only thing I liked were the illustrated instructions which are great for beginners who want to learn how to contour.

I don't rate this kit much but think it would be better suited to those with fairer skin perhaps. Also it is quite expensive at £21.50 which I would rather spend on the gorgeous Natural Eye Kit by Too Faced.

Love love love Sleek blushers!

My most recent makeup purchases have been two blushers from the Sleek makeup range.  I can honestly say that Sleek is my favourite drugstore brand - every product I have tried of theirs has been outstanding and these are no exception.

The packaging is great and doesn't look cheap at all. It even has a real mirror, not those cheap plastic ones with a reflective coating (shame on you Benefit!).

The two that I picked up are Coral (with the fingernail dent) and Flushed.

There seems to be little difference between the colours in my natural daylight swatches but the ones with flash are a better representative of their true colours. You can't see from the photos but they both contain very fine shimmer which only show up when reflected by light. Flushed (on the left in the swatches) looks like a very dark berry colour in the pan but comes out sheer on the skin and is a lovely colour. Coral is my absolute favourite and I have been wearing this everyday. I have never owned a blush in this colour as most drugstore corals are too light and do not show up on my skintone (e.g  Revlon Hushed Blush). However Sleek products are formulated to compliment all skin tones and this one is highly pigmented and  gorgeous.

There are five colours in the range and no doubt I will be buying the other three to complete my set. The blushers are priced at £3.26 from Superdrug and there is no better time to purchase as they have a 3 for 2 promotion across all makeup lines!

Review: Charles Worthington Refresh & Revive dry shampoo

I usually wear my hair straight and when I do, the roots get greasy very quickly. As I only wash my hair every other day, I rely on dry shampoo between washes and my usual Batiste dry shampoo just wasn't cutting it.  My hair is jet black, and it just looked as if I had powdered my scalp with talcum powder - it was very hard to brush out. I know Batiste have brought out a range of coloured dry shampoos but I can't find them anywhere so I picked this up instead.

Refresh & Revive dry shampoo is from Charles Worthington's new Front Row range and here is what the man himself has to say about the collection:

"Together with the art team, I have worked to create products not only suitable for use backstage, but perfect for translating catwalk looks into everyday life".

The range is fronted by the beautiful Leigh Lezark who has been named the campaign abassasdor, and is seen here modelling looks created with Front Row products.

Photos taken from  Make me Front Row

I must admit that the only reason I bought this was because I couldn't find anything else on the shelf in terms of dry shampoo. Plus I really like the packaging and the design. If you peel back the cover, there's some styling tips and a snazzy print.
 

 
Three products from the range feature limited edition prints designed by the fashion designer Erdem, who is responsible for these beauties below.
 

Photos taken from Style.com

The dry shampoo itself is really good as it is very very fine and is  easy to brush through, without leaving any white marks behind. It soaked up the grease in my hair easily and left it looking clean. It can also be used to create texture and give your hair some volume (e.g when back combing). Here is a photo of how fine it is compared to Batiste.
 

 
Both were sprayed from half an arms length and as you can see Batiste sprays thickly, whilst Refresh & Revive sprays like deodorant (I sprayed  a large amount but only a small section showed up on camera).
 
However as good as it is, I'm not sure I will be repurchasing this because I think it smells like cheap unbranded teenage deodorant. For such a great product I don't understand why they didn't make it smell nicer? I am quite sensitive to smells so maybe others won't mind so much, but i prefer Bastite's clean smelling scent over this one.
 
If you would like to buy this, it is available from Boots at £5.99 (or wait until it goes on special offer like I did!).

Ben Nye Lumiere Grand Colour Palette

I managed to blag this for a mere tenner from a forum but I think the Makeup Gods thought this was too much of a bargain and decided to punish me for it. It arrived in the post in pieces, decorating the inside of the envelope like a rainbow. It had only been used once or twice previously but there were now sizeable chunks missing as the seller hadn't secured the shadows properly. However I wasn't too disheartened because there is still a lot of product left and a MAC mineralize shadow had been included to make up for the delay in postage.

The shadow on the bottom far right is actually Jade.

I placed these in the wrong order. The bottom row from L-R is: Chartreuse, Cosmic Violet and Amethyst.

Unfortunately this post is going to be short as I haven't really had time to experiment with this palette as much as I'd like to. All I can say is that I absolutely love it! The palette is very similar to the Kryolan Aquaolour one in terms of the layout but I know I will definitely use this much more.

The shadows are intense and highly pigmented. My favourites are Azalea and Cosmic Blue (the ones which were damaged the most - whyyyyy!). There are so many different looks that can be created with this, I just don't know where to start...

BeautyUK neutral palette and Gosh eyeshadow primer

Following on from my haul post (like two weeks ago, sorry!) here is my review of the BeautyUK palette. I read about these palettes on quite a few blogs and they had good reviews, mostly about them being very pigmented for so low a price. They have about 4 palettes which have numbers instead of names and range from brights to pastels and metallics. I needed some neutral colours for work so picked up their number 4 palette for £3.42.

I like the range of colours they have. Everything you need for a smokey eye as well as everyday looks.

I'm really disappointed with this. The colours are so wishy washy and do not show up well on my skintone at all. Pigmented? Ha! They are chalky and rub off easily.

I immediately disregarded this palette, chucked it to the back of my makeup drawer and only took it out to use when I needed a white highlight or the black to set my eyeliner.

Soon afterwards I purchased Gosh's eyeshadow base, which is the first drugstore primer I've come across. It wasn't too expensive either - about £5.87? And this is what it looks like:

It comes out as an almost sheer pearlescent colour and when blended feels slightly tacky.

I thought I could salvage my palette by using it with this primer. I tested the lightest brown colour which barely showed up on my arm before and this is the end result:

Not an enormous difference but at least it shows up! I will not bother to buy another BeautyUK palette as I think they're more suited to those with fair skin. I'm more than happy with my Sleek ones!

Sleek I-Divine Palettes: Original and Storm

As per usual I am a tad late on the bandwagon....

I have seen and read so many reviews on these palettes but opinions were divided therefore I was unsure whether to purchase or not. Some loved them whilst others thought they were overrated and  the quality inconsistent. However I really wanted some new eyeshadow to play with and 12 colours for £4.88 is fantastic value.

Original

This is the first and my absolute favourite. All the colours are shimmery/metallic with the exception of the black. Sadly the gold colour broke but I have many gold eyeshadows so no biggie!

I love the row of greens, blues and the solo purple especially. My swatches didn't really come out properly but I assure you that they are very very pigmented. You get a better idea of the colour payoff in this photo.

Storm

This palette has three matte shadows - brown, beige and the black. I have yet to use this but my favourite colour is the pink in the top row.

I was unable to get a good photo of the swatches. The mattes didn't come out too great for me but nothing that a bit of primer won't solve.

To conclude, I freaking love these! They work great with my skintone, blend easy and best of all, are so highly pigmented they feel creamy to touch. I couldn't reccommend these enough. Next up on my list is the Chaos palette. I'm just gutted that I missed out on the LE Safari palette!