Sunday 28 July 2013

Empties #1



This is a new type of post for me but I absolutely love reading these kind of posts so I figured why not make it a series? I love the idea of seeing the entire product has been used up and a short, useful review. It just so happened I had a few well loved empty products lying around that I had yet to throw out! 

Here's the lineup:
 left to right: Lush Ro's argan body conditioner, TBS Moroccan Rose perfume, Batiste tropical Dry Shampoo, Liz Earle Moisturizer, L'Oreal Super Liner. 



1. Ro's Argan Body Conditioner

I have the tiniest bit left as you can see here, but nowhere near enough for a full body use. This is the small trail tub that I got as part of a gift recently. It's such an interesting concept that I thought would save time in moisturizing after a shower (..i'm lazy). It's a really great product. It smells like a hundred million roses packed into a little tub - I love the smell. If you like rose scents and turkish delight you'll love it. It did make my skin baby smoothh and I really enjoyed using it. Would I repurchase? maybe some day! I just have no need at the moment. 


2. The Body Shop Moroccan Rose perfume 

I'm noticing a rose-scented theme here.. I love me some roses. This perfume is not your stereotypical 'rose' perfume. It's slightly spicy making it alot more interesting. I initially bought this perfume because it was on sale and then absolutely fell in love with it. I would totally repurchase if I ever see it on sale again. 


3. Batiste Dry Shampoo - tropical

I love dry shampoo, it is just the most convenient product ever and suchhh a quick fix if you have to rush out and your hair is looking a bit worse for wear. It adds a nice boost of volume and absorbs any greasiness you might have going on in the roots (yumm). Aside from the general 'lift' it gives your hair it smells amazing and coconut-y. An immediate transportation to a beach - ahhhhhh. If coconut is not your thing it comes in tons of different scents and it's reasonably priced. Would I repurchase? I'm on my way right now.. 



4. Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser ( normal/combo skin)

This product was seriously lacking in any type of 'wow' factor to be honest. I would probably have needed the version for a dry skin type so that could potentially be what hindered its' ability to impress. It just is very 'meh'. I saw or felt no huge difference and whilst it does the job without many frills it just isn't worth the hefty price tag.. in my opinion. I think it's about £18 or so. I feel I could purchase something more effective cheaper. I won't repurchase anytime soon. 



5. L'Oreal Super Liner Black Lacquer 

I did enjoy using this liquid liner. It was pretty tricky initally but I did get better with it. What annoyed me about this eyeliner though was how it dried out exceptionally quickly during use so you had to dip back in the tube again all  the time. I was impressed with the wear time though and how it did not smudge throughout the day. Overall a generally okay product but I'm looking to try out more 'felt-tip' type liners with perhaps a thinner nib. Would I repurchase? Not anytime soon. I'm looking to broaden my eyeliner horizons. 


So that's everything, let me know if you guys enjoy this kind of post! 

Much love, 
                Natalie xx

Sunday 14 July 2013

10 most common beauty mistakes





This post was heavily influenced by an article I read in LOOK magazine earlier today. I read it and was like 'right, I need to share this' so went about writing this post. 
Without further babbling, here are the beauty sins we're most guilty of.. 

(Disclaimer: Everyone does their makeup and beauty bits differently, whatever works for you is best! these are just the most common mistakes)


1. Dabbing foundation around your face 

  • Always start at the cetnre of your face and work outwards
  • It makes it harder to blend in when left to dry
  • You're more likely to encounter streaks and get product in your hairline

 

2. Holding eyeliner like a pencil 

  • Most people hold their eyeliner like they're about to write (close to the nib)
  • It means your more likely to create a blurred line 
  • The correct spot is further back (2in - if you want to be ultra precise)

 

3. Patting eye cream on at night 

  • Most of you probably know you should apply eye cream with your ring finger (to apply the least pressure)
  • It should be put on in the morning
  • Sleeping + eye cream = puffiness 
  • If you're standing up congestion can drain away

 

4. Misplacing blusher

  • Imagine a vertical line from the centre of your pupil down your cheek and another from the end of your eyebrow down - this can help lift your entire face

 

5. Putting kirby grips where they're not needed

  • Most of us are guilty of using enough kirby grips to support a small house, with hair still falling out
  • Usually it's because they're not in the right place
  • Slide them where there's the most tension i.e. centre or bottom of the style (not the ends of your hair)

 

6. Using too much hair product

  • It's  mega easy to go OTT on the hair product. 
  • This is a really quirky system that helps you work out how much of each thing to use. It is based on the circumference of different fruits (the same principle of like a 'pea-sized amount' etc)
 Shampoo + conditoner = Strawberry
conditoning treatment = Plum
Mousse =  Apricot
Serum = Grape
Oil =  Blueberry

 

7. Not wiggling your mascara wand

  • Literally everyone has a weird and wonderful way of applying their own mascara (and a facial expression to match) 
  • Makeup artists contest that wiggling the wand at the base of the lashes before combing through creates the most volume

 

8. Using hand cream on your palms 

  • In reality it is the back of your hands that need the TLC
  • Your palms have more sweat glands, so don't get as dry

 

9. Using too much nail polish 

  • So many of us apply nail polish too thickly, so it chips 
  • Aim for 3 swipes per coat (one down the centre and one to either side)
  • Wide brushes work best

 

10. Spraying perfuime on your neck

  • We all moan that you can't smell your perfume after a while and that it doesn't last
  • Most of us spray straight onto our wrists and neck
  • For longevity spray onto your collarbone and into the crook of your elbow 


Sooo that's everything. I know I am definately guilty of a few if not all of those.... opps. 
What about you guys?

Thanks for reading! 


Much love, 
                     Natalie  xxx