No7 High Shine Lip Crayon

I feel like I've been AWOL with my lack of posts but I have just been having the busiest week but anyway onto the review. 

 This little guy came in a freebie package from No7 when you buy one of their new Lash Impact mascaras (review will come up shortly). As you might be aware lip crayons have become really popular and they are pretty much everywhere.

 This is only a sample size so I'm not entirely sure how much product you get in a full size. I do really like lip crayons though, I think they are a stoke of genius.

This isn't the smoothest of crayons to apply and does contain glitter that is a little too chunky for my liking. What I do like is that the colour is very buildable and it isn't massively pigmented as it's more of a balm than a lipstick. As far as it goes for a balm it is quite moisturising which is very nice. 

I do overall like the product but I think there are better offerings out there. Literally the only thing I don't like is the glitter in it and there are possibly others that don't have glitter which might be a lot nicer. 

This retails for £9.00 which isn't the cheapest but is by no means the most expensive either. I think this is a totally reasonable price to pay and you can find this at Boots stores. 

Have you tried this? What do you think?

Speak soon

Roo xx

Giveaway update

Just a quick update, the giveaway will be going up in about 2-3 days time. 

I'm going to collect the prizes in the next day or so and I will post it asap. 

Hope you're all as excited as I am :)

Speak soon

Roo xx

The Beginning Of A Very Important Diet

As I am going to New York in August I want to shred a couple of pounds. I have a few items of clothing I would like to fit into by then so I am going to have to work my butt off (literally!)

As it stands:

Height - 5ft 7.5in / 1.71m 

Weight - 10st 8lbs/ 148lbs

BMI - 22.9 (Apparently healthy but I don't feel it)

Target:

Weight  - 9st 4lbs/ 130lbs

BMI - 20.1 (Still well into healthy range)

Weight to lose - 18lbs

Time Period - 4 Months (Just over 1lb a week)

Speaking with my friends and family they seem a sceptical about my weight loss plans but I know I will feel a lot healthier after. I will keep you all updated on this, probably on a week by week basis. 

Speak soon

Roo xx

Nails: Mint and Silver

Finally got round to doing my nails and I'm very impressed. I used to be really good at nail art and then I couldn't do my nails the way I wanted and just got out of the habit of doing them. As simple as this design is I am still happy with it :)

(Polish - Essie Mint Candy Apple)

This was so simple, pick a mint colour (or any colour really) and take a silver marker and do some random dots :)

Speak soon

Roo xx

Lorde Tennis Court Inspired Make Up

Yes, another Lorde make up look. It's safe to say I am obsessed with her make up - it's purely genius. 

I was lucky to get a decent photo haha, every other picture I took was a little derpy to say the least. Over all I am very happy with this but it wasn't particularly difficult. 

Anyway, let me know if you want to see a tutorial on this look :)

Speak soon 

Roo xx

Haul: Revlon, Maybelline, Real Techniques and Collection

Eventually I have some new make up (thanks mum & dad)

I was dangerously low on concealer and powder but now I need not worry :) 

I did also pick up a couple other things because I couldn't resist :)

 (Sideways, woo!)

1. Real Techniques Silicone Liner Brush - £5.99

This has been out for a little while and I was desperate to try it. It hadn't actually been around in my local Boots until very recently so I wasn't able to get it sooner. This is so revolutionary! Instead of a conventional brush this features a solid silicone nib to apply gel liners. Two things make fall in love with it instantly - Firstly, it's so easy to clean as all you really need to do is wipe it and secondly there is minimal product waste as there are no fibres to get stuck between. I will keep you updated with my thought on this product when I actually put it to the test. 

2. Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm (Elusive) - £7.99

I previously did a first impression on a different colour of these balms which you can read here but I finally have one of my own! I went for a much more wearable colour for my style and so far I love it. I will probably do some tutorials with this.

3. Maybelline Matte Maker Mattifying Powder (10 Classic Ivory) - £3.99

This is a new product for me to try, I love a mattifying powder so I am hoping to love this. Originally I was going to get the Rimmel Stay Matte powder but they didn't have translucent - I know that this isn't translucent either but it was the lightest powder going. This was super inexpensive so that always a plus. 

4. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (1 Fair) - £4.19

Ahhh a new tube of my favourite concealer, there is nothing better. I could tell that my old one needed chucking, it had started to oxidise and dry out but this is was I was most excited to buy - I rely on my concealer so much!  

 (left to right)

Revlon Colorbust Matte Balm in Elusive - this has such a lovely creamy formula and applies to evenly. 

RT Silicone Liner Brush - just a test of the brush and so far it looks all right, I used my Elf Cream Liner with this. 

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - Super creamy and very full coverage.

Maybelline Matte Maker - This isn't blended but it feels quite nice and it's a perfect colour match. 

So I will let you know how I get on with these products in future posts. 

Speak soon

Roo xx

Fixation Friday #10: MAC Pro Longwear Concealer

I feel like I am the only one who hasn't tried this and I really need to give it a go. Unfortunately I can't really afford it at the moment so I will have to wait until New York but I am very excited for when I do get to try it.

From what I understand this is a very lightweight/ thin concealer that offers full coverage. Not only that but from the reviews I have read it seems that this isn't prone to creasing either, MAC are also good with colour selection so that wouldn't be an issue for me.

So to be honest, the only thing that is holding me back is the cost. This does cost £15.50 which is a little steep for me but one day it will be mine!


Have you tried this? What do you think?

Speak soon
Roo xx

Lorde Royals Inspired Make Up | Video

I posted recently a photo of this make up and decided that I wanted to film a tutorial so here it is 

Enjoy!

Over Hauling My Blog

You've probably noticed that my blog has changed a fair bit and it's still not finished. 

I feel like the old design was a little juvenile and now I want something simple and sophisticated.

It's still not finished and probably wont be for a while because I want to design a header for the page and it will look a lot different to what it currently looks like. 

Speak soon

Roo xx

Beauty Smackdown #11: Clinique Almost Lipstick Vs Dior Addict Lip Glow

I feel totally scatterbrained so I apologise if this post is all over the shop.

I'll be upfront about this post, this is only basing around one aspect of each of these products - the fact they are lip balms but almost lipsticks. 

 (top Dior Addict Lip Glow, bottom Clinique Almost Lipstick)

First up is packaging. Hands down Dior has the nicer packaging, it's fancy, looks expensive and feels expensive. This is a sample of Clinique's Almost Lipstick but even the proper packaging isn't a cute as Dior's, they are a bit straight to the point with theirs, which isn't a bad thing because it focuses on the product itself. 

So as I say, I am focusing on their lip balm properties more than anything else. This is the only colour that Dior offers in this formula as far as I'm aware where as I believe that Clinique has more shades - this is the shade Flirty Honey. 

(left Clinique Almost Lipstick, right Dior Addict Lip Glow)

So when it comes to the formula Clinique has a creamier and definitely more moisturising product and more pigment for me at least. Dior's formula is a little less hydrating but depending on your skin pH will depend on how pigmented is. Also Diors product is also a stain which I think is what dries it out the most. 

So as a lip balm the Clinique is definitely my winner but if you want something with a bit of a fragrance and want the colour to stick around then Dior is where it's at. 

Clinique Almost Lipstick retails for £17.00 for 1.9g of product and Dior Addict Lip Glow costs around £23.50 for 3.5g of product. Pound for pound you get more for your money from Dior. 

Have you tried either of these? What do you think?

Speak soon 

Roo xx

It's Fake Tan Time!!

Yep, it's that time of the year when we start to crack out the fake tan and get ready for summer. I happen to be so inexperienced in fake tan having only tried it a handful of times but not this year. This year I am going to get it so right. 

Now I don't actually go round wearing dresses or anything that shows off a tan but my theory is that when I go away at the end of summer I will be an expert and have the perfect tan (totally deluded theory!). 

What Am I Using?

Well I will be using the St Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse. I chose St Tropez because of the reputation it holds and also because boots had a started kit on offer haha! 

In the started kit there is Tan Optimiser Body Moisturiser, Tan Optimiser Body Polish and also the Self Tan Bronzing Mousse.

I have to say out of all the items you get I am mostly impressed by the body polish. Now I am picky when it comes to scrubs because I think ones that have even slightly too big beads are a complete waste of time. I like to feel like I'm being scrubbed because then I know it's working. The only other body scrub I have tried that is on the same level is the Clinique Sparkle Skin exfoliator (I seriously need another tub of that!), the only differences are the consistency in that the St Tropez is liquidy and the smell - they both smell nice but I much prefer St Tropez.

I think I will do an update with my fake tan adventure and more specifically showing you before and afters because I think it will be quite fun. Prepare for streaky tan lines! 

Speak soon

Roo xx

First Impressions: No7 Beautifully Matte Make Up Base

This is the second of the No7 primers that I have recently tried, so lets get on with it. 

 First up it has the same packaging as the other primer but I feel that the other in its deep brown colour looks more expensive. This is double the size of the other one as well.

Ok so here's the important part.

The primer is a thick consistency and doesn't feel too bad when you start blending it in and it looks like it has an illuminating quality (obviously being matte it doesn't stay that way). As you blend it in the formula really dries us and starts to drag your skin. It has a slightly tacky and uncomfortable feel to it which is a total disappointment. The tackiness however is good for keeping your make up on but it just didn't feel good to wear or apply.

This was less expensive than the other primer at only £10.50 (I think) which is an upside but to be honest this primer isn't for me. 

200 Bloglovin' Followers + Upcoming GIVEAWAY

YAY!! I finally made it to 200 Bloglovin' followers and it has made me so happy!!! 

Really I didn't think I would even get as far of this when I started blogging. I know to some it might not seem a lot but it means so much to me. So I want to say thank you to my readers, because quite literally if it wasn't for you then I would have given up long ago. 

Onto the good stuff.

So as the title suggests I am having an upcoming giveaway. This will be within the next 2 weeks. It won't be much but I really want to show my appreciation. So I will be giving away a little collection of some of my favourite drugstore make up to one lucky reader. So keep an eye out for the post :) 

Again, honestly I really appreciate people helping me get this far. 

Speak soon Roo xx

First Impressions: No7 Stay Perfect Primer

I only had the chance to try this for the first time yesterday thanks to my mum. She suggested I give a few of her primers a go and of course I jumped at the opportunity! 

 If I had a preference in containers for primer I would always choose bottle with a pump but I don't mind a squeeze tube so long as I can get all the product out of it. 

This is a pretty standard primer to look and and has a super silky smooth feel when blending it in. I have to say that I really love the texture of this primer. The staying power seems to be very good and well on form compared to other primers out there that cost a lot more. 

Blended in it looks invisible which is what you want really and as you might be able to tell from the photo it has blurred some of the lines on my hand which is double nice!

Really I love everything about this stuff but the only downside is the size of the tube. This is 20ml and by the looks of things they don't offer a larger size. At £12.50 it isn't the cheapest especially when No7 offers other primers (I will review another) that are twice the size and only cost £10.50

Have you tried any No7 primers? What do you think?

Speak soon

Roo xx 

#BloggersDoItBetter - Bloggers Do Bargains Better: Olive Oil!!

So we are onto the second topic for the #BloggersDoItBetter challenge and this time it's all about bargains.

I believe that everyone loves a bargain, why wouldn't you? You save more money getting the things you want and you can put the saved money towards other goodies!

So this post is dedicated to one item - Olive Oil!

I feel that olive oil is so underrated in the beauty world and it's potential uses and benefits will definitely save you some money. 

Use 1: Hair

This is one of the best uses for olive oil. If your in a pinch and you're struggling without hair oil then this is your new best friend. I personally like to apply lots of oil to my hair in evening time and sleep with it in. This gives a deep condition and after normal hair care your hair will feel so smooth and soft.

You can also use this after styling in the same way you would usually use your hair oil and tame any fly-a-ways, though be warned because it wont have the same sweet smell as regular hair oil.

Use 2: Make Up Remover

Cleansing oils are nothing new to the beauty world so this really makes sense that this would work. You just use it in the same way, massage into skin and then wipe off with a hot cloth. There have been plenty of times where I have ran out of make up remover and reached for this because it does such a good job!

Use 3: Facial Oil

Another face use! Facial oils are relatively new and before you go and spend a fortune on one give this a try first. In the same way you deep condition your hair all you need to do is just apply a little bit of oil to your face and massage it in. This will naturally just absorb into your skin and really make your skin soft. 

Use 4: Body Moisturiser

Again it's the same as the facial oil. If you don't mind sleeping in a little bit of oil then you should consider this as a moisturiser. I know that not everyone can take the feeling of oil on their skin but it is honestly a great conditioner. 

Use 5: Nails

You can really do wonders for your nails by applying this to bare nails. Give your nails a break in between colours and rub a bit of oil into the cuticles and nail, by morning you will feel how much stronger they are.

Use 6: Lip Exfoliaton

Yes another face use! Take a tooth brush and a pot of oil, dip the tooth brush in and start gently scrubbing your lips. Seriously it will only take a minute or 2 of your time and it will get rid of the chapped-ness and leave your lips feeling soft an plump.

Those are my top beauty uses for olive oil, Imagine how much money you would save by buying a big bottle of olive oil than buying each individual beauty product! 

Do you have any other uses? Let me know :)

Speak soon 

Roo xx 

FOTD: Lorde Royals Inspired Make Up

I have wanted to try out this ever since I saw it. 

I think that Lorde's Make up in Royals is amazing so I attempted it myself :)

Ok so I don't have that amazing hair and her nose is a lot smaller than mine haha but I think I did a great job :)

Let me know if you want to see a video of this tutorial. 

I'm also thinking about doing more Lorde looks because there are many to chose from and they are all beautiful!!

Speak soon 

Roo xx

Fixation Friday #9: Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

Again, this post is coming a little late, sorry haha! 

Ok, so I'm sure that you've probably seen this stuff floating about in blogs and honestly it's no wonder either. 

I have heard nothing but good things about Kiehl's Midnight Recover Concentrate.

From what I have come to understand, this stuff works overnight and you see results the next day and it just makes your skin look so much better. This contains essential oils and is supposed to just improve the appearance of skin. 

Now we all know that I have not been blessed with the best skin and I'm not expecting this to clear up all my blemishes and make everything ok but I do want to try this to see what it does to affect the areas of my face that have somewhat decent skin in the first place. 

I'd say the only downside I can see about this is the price. This costs about £36 and that isn't something I can afford. So until I can save my pennies I will have to find an alternative. 

Have you tried this? What do you think - Is it worth it?

Speak soon

Roo xx

First Impression: Revlon Matte Balm

I am taking any and every opportunity to try out products. I'd like to say that I finally bought this but a) I'm still on my spending ban and b) I swiped it from my sisters stash (not quite how it sounds, I asked to try it). I'm very happy that I got to try this because as you might have read in my Fixation Friday post then you know how desperately I want these, if you haven't then read it here. 

This is the Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm. I want to say this is i the colour Striking but I'm not sure, really I should have made a note but oh well. 

Let's start with packaging. I'm a big fan of lipsticks/ glosses in a pencil format, they just look appealing as well as being practical. This particular product happens to look really sleek with the simple shape and silver/ colour finish.  

So these aren't the most matte things I have tried but they definitely give a matte finish. They are also a really creamy formula and they just glide on super nicely. 

The pigment is also there, I find with this colour (not sure about others) that there was no patchyness and the colour was so nice and even. 

They also have a bit of a minty smell which is a bonus to me. 

This is what it looks like on and I think it looks amazing. This colour isn't exactly what I would choose because it's orange based but I really do want to try more of these. 

Have you tried them? What do you think?

Speak soon

Roo xx

The Drugstore Edit #12: Maybelline SuperStay 10Hr Tint Gloss

So this post is coming very late, I have been without internet most of the day and to be honest I have been feeling a little down. Regardless, this weeks product is not new by any sense of the definition but I think it's something that needs a bit more recognition. I'm talkin' 'bout Maybelline SuperStay 10Hr Tint Gloss.

I'm not entirely certain how long exactly this has been around for but I think that if you want to get into lip stains then this is a great place to start. The formula is pretty amazing, it's nicely pigmented and very buildable so if you don't want a lot of colour then you can have that and conversely if you want a really deep adnd ich colour then you can also have that. 

I just also want to take a moment to talk about the smell of this. This has to be one of the most incredible smelling lip products I have ever tried. It is very sweet and has a bit of a berry thing going on and it just smells so syrupy and like you could drink the stuff. 

The wand is also quite unique, I won't dwell on it long but this is sort of a loop applicator which I'm not sure quite what the benefits are. I can guess that the loop might be sized in a way that it holds extra product and reduces the amount of times you need to dip into the tube therefore making your product last longer. I do like the applicator but I would warn that you should be careful because it is a little chunky so isn't the most precise of applicators.

 Of course I had to get this in the colour Endless Ruby (duhh!) but I would say that this is a medium build application where I have applied about 3 coats though I could have made this even darker or left it lighter. 

The good thing about this is that unlike other lip stains/tints it doesn't bleed. This means that you don't end up with a fuzzy looking lip line and everything stays nice and sharp. 

The only downside is that whilst this says that it is 10Hr wear I am dubious to believe it, probably because I have never worn it for that long and the fact that it takes so long to dry! Literally I would say that if you want the best results out of this then you should apply it when you aren't going to eat or drink anything in the next 2-3 hours. 

This is also very inexpensive at £6.99 and I believe there are 5 shades available at Boots but I think that there might be a few more either in other stores or in other countries. 

Like I say, I totally recommend this to anyone and everyone because I think lip tints should be a make up collection essential. 

Have you tried this? What do you think? Also, what are your current favourite lip tints?

Speak soon 

Roo xx

First Impressions: Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator

Another first impression yay!! This time it's about Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator.

(Excusee the mega chipped nail haha!)

My face has had a rough time this week. The blemishes on my chin are clearing up but my forehead has decided it hates me. I was in need of a good exfoliator so I decided to give this a go. 

Firstly, the smell! Even if you don't particularly need to exfoliate this is still nice and especially if you're feeling a little congested. This has eucalyptus and really makes for a lovely experience and like you can breath again (like Olbas or Vick's).

Secondly this isn't a harsh exfoliator but it also gets the job done, the grains are the right size so that they do scrub and not just roll about on your face.  

Liz Earle is generally a very trusted skincare brand and if you're familiar with the other products in the brand then you will know what I am talking about. I seriously recommend giving this a go because it is just a really pleasant experience to use. Also be warned, the Liz Earle website does suggest that this is not suitable for sensitive skin, so that is something to consider.  

This does retail for £14.00 so I believe is quite reasonable for skincare from a high end brand. 

Have you tried this? What do you think?

Speak soon

Roo xx

Brand Focus: MAC

This is a type of post I have never done before and I'm quite excited to do, the only real issue is that I can't post them too often because I don't have that many different brands to choose from and the stuff I post might be a little old hat - my spending ban doesn't help either.

Anyway this post is going to be all about MAC Cosmetics and my thoughts on the products I have. Granted I look like a bit of a newbie to MAC because I don't have that big of a collection in comparison to other bloggers but rest assured, I have gotten to know MAC as a brand from the items I do have.

 Oooh how blurry is this photo?!

 (From L to R - Her Alter Image VV, Vile Violet VV, Lucky Green P and Opalesse ED)

So I only have four MAC eye shadows and they are all in quite outlandish colours, mainly due to the fact that from my three Urban Decay Naked Palettes I am overloaded with neutrals. The 2 on the left are both from the Evil Queen Venomous Villains collection from some years back but I still love them and as you can see I have hit pan on one. 

Lucky green is a permanent colour and I had my eye on this for such a long time because I love this shade of green and I'm glad I bought it because the pigment is fantastic! 

Last but certainly not least is Opalesse from the Extra Dimension collection. I think it might be a little difficult to pick up on camera but this is a beautiful pearl white/purple colour with super pigmentation and buttery feel, originally I was going to buy Zestful which was a pale green colour but when I went to the MAC counter and saw the full collection I immediately fell in love with Opalesse. Sadly I dropped it and it got a little battered but it's still fine :)

 (Fron L to R Sinister VV, Ruby Woo, Diva, Creme Cup, Russian Red, Snob and Burgundy)

So the first one is Sinister also from the Evil Queen Venomous Villains collection. This is a lustre finish and is also quite sheer. It does have the typical MAC lipstick smell but I haven't come across one that doesn't have that. It is a purpley reddish brow colour so isn't my first choice but I still love it all the same because it was the first MAC lipstick I ever got. 

Next is Ruby Woo and I love this simply for the name. It's also a perfect red which in my opinion is an absolute must in every girl's make up collection. This a Retro Matte finish and they do tend to be a lot drier than regular mattes so this can be a little difficult if you plan to wear this all day. 

Then there is Diva, I am in love with this colour. About 6 months ago this would have been well out of my comfort zone but I took a chance when I bought this. I had one of the assistants help me choose this colour out and I tried it one and I was totally in love with it. In fact, I'll mention the Burgundy lip liner with this because I bought them at the same time to go with one another. They are bang on the same colour and with dark colours I feel lip liners are totally necessary. 

Creme Cup is another cult classic. This has to be my most used lipstick because it is the perfect balance between a nude and a pink. It also goes with absolutely any look and has to be the most versatile MAC lipstick out there - very much a my lips but better colour. This is a Cremesheen too so it's not dry on the lips.

Russian Red I feel is also becoming a cult classic colour. It is very similar to Ruby Woo but it's slightly darker in colour and isn't quite as drying as it is a standard Matte. I find it a lot more wearable than Ruby Woo as well because it isn't quite so vibrant. 

Last is Snob and along with Russian Red, these are my new additions. This is quite bright against my skin tone but looks a lot more toned down against darker skin tones. It's a Satin finish so is somewhere between a Matte and a Cremesheen. It's also a very blue based pink so works well for all my cool toned girls out there!  

 (Left Penultimate Eye Liner, Right Extended Play Gigablack Lash)

The mascara has to be the weirdest swatch ever, picked up all the hair on my hand though! It's a fantastic mascara and I love it. Somehow it manages to make my lashes look longer than they have ever been before, I love the fact that it separates and gives volume too. 

If you read my blog then you will know my feelings on the Penultimate Eye Liner, that being said I have to say that I want to buy it again because I have a strong feeling that I got a faulty product so I do want to give this a second chance. 

This part is my favourite, I am 99% sure that these are all fake brushes but I don't mind and I'm including them in this post because they work quite well. 

Mainly I use the foundation brush for applying face masks. Once upon a time ago I did use it for foundation but you move on with your application methods. The bottom brush is great for packing colour onto the lid and the top brush is great for blending in the outer v. So yeahh they might be fake but they're still good :P

Overall I rate MAC quite highly as a brand and their prices can go from 'That's not so bad' to 'Holy hell, that's expensive!', at least in my opinion. The general quality is always quite high and I only think there are a few items I have tried that weren't up to scratch. 

So tell me, what do you think of MAC? What are your favourite products from them?

Speak soon

Roo xx

Neutral Eye & Bold Lip | Ruby Barton

I totally edited this with no sound on my laptop. I think I did quite well and also improved my lip reading skills!



Enjoy!











Speak soon



Roo xx

As Bloggers We Change

It's true as bloggers we change, specifically I mean about the products we use and our opinions on them (nothing philosophical here). I wanted to share with you some of the products I really did love and what I've moved onto. It's funny because say a year ago, there were products I would swear by and vow to never change them but here we are and they are no longer part of my routine. Our tastes change and so does our skin, so it's no wonder that what once worked for you is not in your life any more.

So here's a few of mine.

1. Bioderma Micellar Solution

Ok, you might not like this one but 3 months ago I was singing Bioderma's praises and I was using this still like there was no tomorrow. All the while I was scared that I would finish it because I can easily get it where I live. Now, I literally have the dregs of the bottle and I don't touch it unless I need to quickly fix a make up error. It's not down to not wanting to finish it either, I've moved on. What am I using? Why it's No7 Hot Cloth Cleanser. Cleansing balms are IT when it comes to removing make up, I feel better fr using it too. Not only am I removing my make up but I feel like my skin is clean after so this eliminate a step in my routine.

You can find No7 Hot Cloth Cleanser at Boots or other No7 stockists for £9.95 (or £4.95 with the £5 off vouchers they literally throw at you).

2. MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation

This was the first high-end foundation I ever bought. I loved it at the time because I hadn't tried anything that matched my skin tone and gave me a great coverage before. Again, things change and now I don't even use it and it's not that it's not a good foundation because it is, it just doesn't suit my needs any more. Since then I have moved onto Chanel Perfection Lumiere. When I bought this I was so nervous, it's a lot of money to pay especially if I didn't end up liking it. I always advise getting colour tested (which I did) but thankfully I do like it, it remains to be seen how long it will last haha :)

Chanel Perfection Lumiere can be found at Chanel Stockist and I believe costs £36.

3. Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

I think everyone has tried this stuff and it's great but I am all about trying new things. Currently I am using Revlon Nearly Naked powder, I'm nearly out f it too and I know that as soon as I've finished it I'll try something different haha :)

You can find Revlon at most drugstores and costs £7.99


What products have you switched out?

Speak soon
Roo xx

Candle Rings Giveaway on

ATTENTION ALL CANDLE LOVERS!!!

There is an excellent give away opportunity over on Laura All Made Up. This give away is for a Candle Rings Candle. These candles have to be the coolest things I have seen, the whole thing behind them is that you buy get this candle and inside there is a ring (obviously! haha). The cool thing is that the ring could be worth £1000, all candles contain a ring but you may end up with one that isn't really worth anything.

If you're as interested as I am about this then click here to find out more and to also enter to win!

Speak soon

Roo xx

Spring nails

So I eventually got round to doing some sort of spring theme nail art, they are a much needed improvement to my severely chipped fuchsia polish.

I used Essie Mine Candy Apple and a white nail art pen. Guys this is seriously simple nail art and if you're after something that just looks a bit fancier than your regular polish then I urge you to try this out!

Speak soon
Roo xx

The Very Inspiring Blogger Award

I want to give a big thank you Sishi Yang from A Colorful Encounter for nominating me to do this, you can see her post here.

So here are a few award rules:

1.Thank and link the amazing person that nominated you.

2.List the rules as well and display the award.

3.Share seven facts about yourself.

4.Nominate fifteen other amazing blogs and remember to comment on their blogs to let them know you've nominated them. (provide a link to your post)

5.This rule is optional you can proudly display the award logo anywhere on your blog e.g. on your sidebar and also follow the blogger that nominated you.

So, here are 7 facts about me.

1. My middle name is Anastasia. 

2. My favourite time of the year is Christmas, I like it more than my birthday!

3. I love bats (the animal of course!), I think they are so cute and I wish I could have one as a pet.

4. I love travelling, I get serious wanderlust and the fact that I'm going to New York in August makes me so excited that I nearly wet myself!

5. I do a little happy dance every time I get a new follower :).

6. I don't like to read, it has to be something seriously good to get me interested. I don't feel bad for not reading more either.

7. I want to show everyone my artwork but I am very lazy so I don't draw an awful lot haha.

Now I would nominate 15 others but I don't really know who to nominate so I say that if you're reading this then you are automatically nominated! (Sorry if that's cheating).

Speak soon

Roo xx

Everday with Naked 3 Make Up Tutorial | Ruby Barton

New video!!! Everyday Makeup using Urban Decay Naked 3









Let me know what you want to see next :)



Speak soon

Roo xx

Fixation Friday #8: Sleek Blush By 3 Palette

Sleek Blush By 3 have been all over lately and they have really caught my eye. I am in love with blusher, I think it's a really important part of make up, it adds so much dimension. I love the fact that they are in a set of three colours that work well together too because it means to say that you are going to get colours that suit you and potentially not end up with a palette where you only use one or two of the colours.

Within the selections for the palettes there are also some cream blushes. I believe there are cream blushes in Pink Lemonade (above) and Californ.i.a but the other palettes are all pressed powder. 

Sleek are known for being a relatively inexpensive brand but also have a quality that rivals high-end products. These sets are great value for money as they are only £9.99, which makes them just over £3 each. I may be wrong in thinking this but I believe they have a dupe for the NARS Orgasm blush which at £21.50 makes the Sleek version a bargain lovers dream!

Once my spending ban is over and done with I think this will be on my hit list, though it's a while away I am still very excited!

Have you tried Sleek Blush By 3? What set would you recommend?

Speak Soon

Roo xx

Beauty Smackdown #10: Benefit Gimme Brow Vs Maybelline Brow Drama

If you have read my blog in the past then you may know my thoughts on these two products but I always think it's helpful to see exactly the comparisons between two products in order to make a good purchase.

Firstly, you can clearly see that Maybelline offers a larger product but remember quantity does not mean quality and I think in this case it is totally evident.

 (Benefit Gimme Brow Above, Maybelline Brow Drama Below)

Right, what the hell were Maybelline thinking when they concocted this mess of a wand?! This is the most pointless non-functioning brush I have ever seen. The ball on the end offers no actual results but to actually glob the colour onto your brows without being able to comb it in and the only part I can see that would give some decent usage is the skinny bit at the end which you can't reach for the big useless ball of bristles! 

They should take a lesson from Benefit who actually offer a practical solution to applying product. They have a slightly tapered wand that helps with precision and even application. 

(Benefit Above, Maybelline Below) 

As you can see, benefit offers a better even colour as opposed to Maybelline. Though their formula is actually better so that helps. The colour is more grey based than Maybelline even though they are both supposed to be the lightest shade. Maybelline just looks so patchy and really doesn't do anything for my brows. 

When it comes to price Benefit are a little on the pricey side and this gem costs £17.50, whereas the Maybelline offering is a mere £4.99 in comparison. Though there is a big difference I would feel robbed paying £4.99 for Brow Drama but I don't feel so bad spending £17.50 on a product that I really like. This is a shame because Maybelline have some of my favourite products so I was a little let down by this.

By all means give it a go.
Have you tried either of these? What do you think?

Speak soon
Roo xx

#BloggersDoItBetter - Spring Shake Up

Spring is a time to shake things up. I think it's important for everyone to make a few changes every so often, it keeps us on our toes and makes us feel brand new. Here are a few things I like to do.

Everyone knows that Spring is the time for cleaning and what better opportunity is there to clean up your wardrobe? Spring is like the start of the year for me so I like to get rid of anything that I haven't worn or I am unlikely to ever use. Try and sort though your clothes and perhaps donate the clothes that you aren't going to wear. This clears us so much space in your wardrobe and give you an opportunity to find new pieces that will change up your look. 

Speaking of cleaning, I think this is also a perfect time for a detox. You've had your fun at Christmas, eaten until you couldn't possibly fit any more food in and like most, you might have gained a few pounds (totally jealous if you haven't!). It's important to love yourself and feel confident in your own skin but if, like me, you start to feel sluggish then it's time to change up your diet. Here a few things you can do;

- Change your regular soda to diet

- Swap the sweets for fruit and aim for 5 a day

- Try the healthy option choices at the supermarket - they might surprise you!

New season, new you. Feeling adventurous, how about trying a different hairstyle. Shorter hairstyles can be a great change to go for, it's like a new beginning. 

If your tired of your long hair why not try a messy bob or (closer to the comfort zone) a lob (long bob). If you're just after a new way to style why not try a sea salt spray to create some fresh beachy looking waves. It's super cute and totally on trend. 

Not quite feeling going this far? How about a change of colour or even simply parting your hair differently. 

Lastly, get out more! Winter was a cosy time for being by the fire with plenty of blankets and hot chocolate. Get the fresh air in your lungs and go exploring. Start getting out more in Spring so you have more time to find new things and go on adventures. 

Do you change things for Spring? Let me know :)

Speak soon

Roo xx

#BloggersDoItBetter

#BloggersDoItBetter

I'm super excited for this!
I only heard of the Bloggers Do It Better challenge yesterday and I cannot wait to get started. This was created by Gem from Touch of Belle and you can click the link to see the original post.

This challenge is all about bloggers proving their writing ability, that we can write articles just as well/ if not better than magazine writers. I have no doubt that we can.

A new topic will be assigned every fortnight to be posted on a Monday/Tuesday and all you need to do it write a piece on the given topic.

If you fancy giving this a go then you can email Gem at touchofbelle@gmail.com
Just send her your name, email and your blog URL to get in on it :)

This is such a good way to show that bloggers really can do it better. I hope you decide to give it a go!

Speak soon
Roo xx

Bare Minerals: A Collection

I think the only thing I ever featured about Bare Minerals on my blog was the Fixation Friday post I made about it. Unfortunately I have yet to buy any Bare Minerals products but my mother however is a fan so far and she has collected a fair bit of stuff. So I thought swatches were in order!

I am quite envious of my mother collection because it's a lovely introduction to Bare Minerals and contains pretty much everything you need.

So I'll start off with this beautiful palette which I bought her for Mother's Day. This is the Bare Minerals Shine On palette. It's great because there isn't anything to do with the foundation and it gives you a chance to try their eye and lip products.

Swatch time! I love swatches. (From left to right)

The Big Break Blush - This is a very pale but also very shimmery rose pink blush. I would say that this is great for a light sweep of colour but you might want to follow up with something a bit more intense on the apples

Glitterati Eye Shadow - This is a super shimmery and nicely pigmented baby pink, It is a subtle pink so it's not too scary haha. This does have a little fallout but is super buttery in texture. 

Center Stage Eye Shadow - This is a nicely pigmented dark violet. It isn't as buttery feeling as Glitterati but also doesn't have the fallout. It makes a great crease colour. 

Round The Clock Waterproof Eyeliner in 4pm - I swear this looks a hell of a lot more purple than when you swatch it. Here it looks purpley-brown but the pencil looks very very purple. It has a lot of staying power though and this looks like a good contending eye liner. 

Prime Time Brightening Eye Lid Primer - This isn't like any eye primer I have seen before. We are all familiar with Urban Decay Primer Potion and the coloured versions but this isn't even like that. This has legitimate chunks of glitter in there and it also looks to be a good primer. It is a little tough to blend out though. 

Marvelous Moxie Lip Gloss in A-Lister - This is a good, standard lip gloss, it is lightly glittered and the glitter is quite fine as well so it shouldn't become dry and annoying. This actually looks like its the same colour as the blush with the same colour glitter too. Quite beautiful :)  

Ok lets move onto the rest of the stuff.

 

To be honest, I have only tried this once and I'm not sure what the benefits of this product are but my mother loves Bare Minerals and she uses a combination of the Mineral Veil, Original Foundation and Pure Transformation day Treatment. I think this is supposed to be like a setting power for the foundation but I am not entirely sure. 

I did love this when I tried it but be warned that you will either need to use concealer underneath this or have good skin for this to work to the best results. It does feel nice and silky to apply and I didn't really have any issues other than my own skin.

Again, I am not sure of the benefits of this but it's the Bare Minerals Pure Transformation Day Treatment in Sheer Light. I think you are supposed to apply this before the foundation. I also recall hearing that it is supposed to gradually improve the appearance of skin but I could be totally wrong.

 This primer, THIS PRIMER Oh Lord! I loved this when I tried it. It is yellow in colour so has a neutralising effect on red skin which is just perfect for me as I can end up being tomato red sometimes. This blends really nicely and just feels so silky! They do also have different Prime Time formulations if neutralisation is not the effect you desire.

I do like the Stroke Of Light Eye Brightener but don't confuse it with a concealer otherwise you will be sorely disappointed. I would suggest applying this over your under-eye concealer to give it a little oomph but that's about it. I probably wouldn't outright buy this because it's not really something I would use on a daily basis but it does feel nice.

Now I do like this! I can't seem to find out what this is called but I just know the colour is Elation. Bare Mienrals have created something genius here. This is a lipstick which does have a nice amount of pigment and does feel nice and moisturising but also has a staining quality so that the colour will stay on your lips even when the lipstick has worn off.


So that is all the Bare Minerals I have to show you but let me know if you have tried Bare Minerals, what products do you rate and which ones do you hate? (Oooh I like the sound of that)

Speak soon,
Roo xx