Review: Lime Crime Velvetine Liquid Lipstick

I'm devoting the whole of August to lip products. There are going to be review, Top 5's, Top 10's and much more. And to kick start the month I'm starting with a review of a lipstick that I should've reviewed earlier in the year but completely forgot about it. This could be a controversial post because Lime Crime were hit with an Animal Cruelty scandal a little while back but I checked and double checked this product and can say that this wasn't tested on animals.

This is the Lime Crime Velvetine Liquid Lipstick in the shade Wicked. This was a gift from a friend this Christmas just gone and I was given a choice of colours. Wicked was the colour that stood out the most for me and I'm so glad I chose it over the others. It's a dark deep burgundy colour that looks almost brown in some lights. It's a perfect Autumn/Winter lip colour and whilst I haven't gotten a lot of wear out of it yet, I do plan on wearing it a lot during the colder months. If you have a fairer skintone this is a lip colour that will grab people's attention. It looks darker on the lips for paler complexion and really adds a lot of oomph to a look. Paired with strong brows, flawless skin and tons of mascara this lip colour wouldn't out of place as part of an everyday look. And of course it can be worked with a variety of eye looks to give a night out look a vampy edge.

It comes with a standard doe foot applicator which can occasionally pick up a bit too much product but doesn't hinder how this applies. Opaque in one swipe, the applicator makes it easy to line the outside of the lips as well as filling them in at the same time. I'd advise turning the applicator over as you apply this so you get as much product off it as possible. The length of the wand is neither too small or too big and doesn't affect the application at all.

When you first apply this it does stay tacky on your lips for a few seconds but once you've applied it completely where you started is already dried down to it's matte finish. As it is a matte finish it can be drying on the lips but you can apply lip balm before or during wear and it won't affect how this sits on your lips. Transfer wise this is one of the better liquid lipsticks on the market. Whereas some liquid lipsticks flake off in chunks when you eat this doesn't budge. It may disappear from the corners of your mouth or the very inner part of your lip but you won't lose massive chunks from the lip line or anything like that. If it does transfer though reapplication can be tricky. Reapplication can be tricky with or without transfer though and it's a lot to with the finish of the lipstick. Because it is drying on the lips it can zap the last bits of moisture from your lips when you reapply it and it will appear darker and occasionally streaky where it's been layered. However if you're only planning on wearing it for a short period of time and don't plan on eating or drinking then you need not worry about reapplying.

Overall I like this lipstick and love the pop it gives my look when I wear it. It can be tricky to wear but all liquid lipsticks or even matte finish lipsticks can be tricky to wear especially for long periods of time. There is a huge range of colours so if Wicked isn't up your street, I'm sure there will be something in their collection that does.

Have any of you tried these? What did you think? Do you have any liquid lipstick recommendations for me? Let me know in the comments.

Brand Review: Barry M

When I introduce people to the brand Barry M their first reaction is "Oooh I've never heard of this brand" and then it's a pleasure to introduce them to one of the what I believe to be the most underrated brands on the high street. A lot of people just know Barry M for their nail polishes and for a good reason but they do sell a host of other products and regularly release brand new products that follow all of the latest make up trends.

But let's start with nails as that's what they're best known for, it's what their stand consists of mostly and it's the one product I own the most of. Back when I was first introduced to Barry M five years ago there was only one range of nail paints. They were called their Classic Paints and had a whole host of stunning colours that has something unique over other brands. I have a whole host of these and still use them from time to time but over the years they've released an amazing ten different ranges of nail polishes and each time they've been better than the last release. I used to have a large collection of nail polishes but nowadays I only use Barry M and always recommend them to customers when they ask. And here's why.

The Gelly Hi Shine, Speedy Quick Dry and Coconut Infusion polishes give the look of a salon nail without the hefty price tag and hours sat in a nail bar. They all have square ended flat brushes that cover the nail in one swipe and leaves nails in an opaque colour that has a high shine finish. Some of my favourites are Elderberry (GHS), Pink Lemonade (GHS), Laguna (CI) and In A Flash (SQD). These are all shades perfect for anytime of the year and I love how quick these make doing my nails. Even though the Hi Shine and the Coconut Infusion aren't advertised as quick drying but when on the nails they actually do dry quickly and cut the amount of time it would normally take to do a manicure. They also have great lasting power when used in conjunction with Barry M's top coat and all have a bright shine that could envy any shellac manicure.

However nails aren't just Barry M's only good products. Their mascaras are top notch especially if you're not looking for something ridiculously over the top for day time. Their Showgirl Mascaras are aimed to help with either volume and length or can be worn together to boost the look of lashes. Both of these mascaras are fabulous and have a place amongst my go to make up as they always give lashes that bit of oomph they need. They don't have over the to brushes and have a simple formula but they work well and are perfect if you're not into those that off false lash effect mascaras that can sometimes make lashes look lank and clumpy. Plus they don't break the bank which makes them perfect if you're working to a budget. Their That's How I Roll mascara also has the same look as their Showgirl mascaras and is on my to buy list as I'm a sucker for Barry M's eye products.

When I look at or try brands I always go for the lip products. If you didn't already know I'm a lip product addict and mainly judge brands on their colour selection and formula's. And Barry M is a brand that I should have tried earlier. Unlike some brands they don't just have varying shades of nudes in a range of formula's. No, this is a brand that do a range of formula's and a brilliant selection of colours. From glosses, to satin finishes and matte finish lipsticks there is something for everyone. Their Matte Me Up chubby stick-esque product is a brilliant matte lipstick that lasts all day long and doesn't dry out the lips. One swipe and you have a bright opaque pop of colour that will brighten up any look. I don't wear this as much as I should but now I've gotten it out to for this post I'm definitely going to be wearing it more. A lip product that I haven't tried yet but will be appearing on the blog very soon is their Satin Finish Lipstick. These look absolutely divine and when they released their latest colours I couldn't resist picking one up. It will be appearing very soon so keep your eyes peeled.

 And to go well with their various lip products is their brilliant lip liners. A wooden pencil type they look like they could be very drying on the lips and uncomfortable to wear but in fact they're very creamy and easy to apply. Not really to be worn on their own, these are the perfect accompaniment to any lip product that needs that extra bit of staying power. And with the lipsticks these don't just come in varying shades of nude. There are deep dark reds, bright pinks and corals and a couple of stunning shades of nude. Definitely give these a go if you're in need of a lip liner soon.

Overall I love Barry M as a brand. They make good quality products at a brilliant price point which won't break your bank. There are a whole variety of other products there to try as well as the ones mentioned but it's a case of getting round to trying them. If you're into contour and highlight they have a fantastic range of products aimed at that and even have a good range of base products that work well on a variety of skin types. Anything purchased in the future from this brand will obviously appear on here and if the products are the same quality of the ones I've already tried then it's bound to be good reviews all over. If you're looking for a budget beauty brand that is brilliant quality and bang on trend then I highly recommend high tailing it down to your nearest Boots or Superdrug and checking out their Barry M stands.

Do you guys love Barry M as much as I do? Do you have a favourite product/s? Let me know in the comments.

Review: Loreal Pure Clay Masks

When I first saw these on ReallyRee’s blog I knew I had to have them. I do like Loreal skincare and did wonder when they would step into the world of face masks. I thought it would be a long wait for these to appear in shops but it was only a couple of weeks and of course when I did spot them in Boots I didn’t just buy one, I brought all three. And damn are these masks are good. 

Containing Koalin to help control any excess sebum or oil, Montmorillonite which aims to help draw out skins impurities and Ghassoul a clay to help clarify the skin and make the effects of other ingredients last longer on the skin. All in all, these three clays and the other ingredients in these masks help to purify, exfoliate and detox the skin to give skin a flawless feel.

The Detox Mask contains charcoal to really purify the skin and pull out dirt, grime or blemishes that may be lingering around. There is a chance that blemishes will appear after using this but that just means it works and afterwards your skin should be less blemish prone. This is the one I like the most and see myself getting a lot of use out of. As it dries down it really adheres to the skin and it feels more like it’s pulling everything from your skin. Definitely the mask for people with more problematic skin.

The Glow Mask contains Red Algae and is jammed packed with tiny exfoliating micro beads. When applied you can feel the beads scrubbing at your skin to help remove any dead skin that may be hanging around. When it sets down it doesn’t really do anything to aid exfoliation but it does work to give your skin a more radiant glowing complexion. And then when you remove with a wet flannel or muslin cloth you get the exfoliating action again as you wipe it away. I’d advise anyone with extremely sensitive skin to steer clear of this as the micro beads can be irritating and would probably make skin sore or cause a break out. Other skin types however would work perfectly well with this mask which is perfect if your skin needs a pick me up. 

 The Purity Mask contains Eucalyptus and works to mattify skin. This would be perfect for people with an oilier complexion, especially if you’ve got a long day. This is the only mask I haven’t gotten around to trying yet but the smell and the feel of it from playing with it on the back of my hand is good. I’m assuming this would also be very soothing for people who suffer from redness or rosacea. I’m alternating trialling masks between these and some Origins masks but this is definitely next on my list to try. 

All three masks can be worn on their own or you can use each of them on the areas of skin that need them. So if you have an oily t-zone but texture on your jawline or cheeks then you can use the Purity Mask down the centre of your face and the Glow Mask on your cheeks. Both would work as effectively as if they were being used on their own, except they’re targeting different skin problems. All three can be used in conjunction with each other or on their own. If you’re not a fan of multi masking and only one thing skin wise you want to deal with then I’m sure one of these three will do the job. 

My favourite part of these masks isn’t the ingredients, isn’t the stunning green packaging. It’s the fact they come in a pot. Tube masks and sachet masks can be a real pain but these are a dream to use. You can easily dip a finger in, spread where it needs to go and dip your finger in again without spreading any residue left on your fingers all over the packaging. It also gives these masks a fancier feel. The pot is made of a thick glass and each has a stunning metallic green lid. And when you open them up you’re greeted with a lid over the top to protect it from spilling everywhere if it happens to be other way than flat. It’s the small details but they give these masks a more luxurious feel for their budget friendly price tag.   

At £7.99 a masks these are a lot less pricey than I thought they’d be and I have to say they’re a much higher quality than the price tag suggests. If you’re in the market for a new face mask that works wonders on your skin and doesn’t break the bank then I recommend trying these out. Loreal have really made a bang with this latest release. 

Have any of you tried these? What did you think? Or do you have a mask recommendation for me? Let me know in the comments.

July Favourites

I know I say this most months but where has the month gone. It only felt like yesterday that I was writing my intro for June Favourites and now it's the end of the July. This month has been a month of new discoveries and a rediscovery of a love that featured in my favourites last year.

Let's start off with a new discovery. When I went to get my brows waxed last, I was kindly given a free gift as well. It was only small, a free cosmetics bag and a travel sized sample of the Benefit They're Real Tinted Primer. And I can safely say I'm in love. My lashes look ten times better than they have before with this underneath my mascara. It's a brown tinted mascara that can be worn on it's own or underneath mascara and is supposed to give lashes ridiculous volume and hold. And it does. I pop a coat of this onto my lashes after curling them and once it's tacky I pop a coat of my Loreal Miss Hippie Mascara on top. The Miss Hippie mascara alone gives wonderfull full lash volume without looking clumpy but with the primer underneath they're a completely different kind of volume. My lashes look fanned out, volumised and curled to perfection and they don't drop as much as they usually do when I wear just mascara on it's own. If you haven't tried this already I highly recommend you seeing if you can pick up a sample from your local Benefit counter.

Another discovery of mine this month came from Maybelline. I'd been intrigued by their Brow Drama Pomade Crayon for a while but just hadn't picked it up. So this month I bit the bullet and brought one. When you first look at this you think it's just a chunky crayon but really it's an eyebrow saviour. I've been trying various different pencils in an attempt to give my brows that fuller thicker look but they've all been too harsh and have made my brows look over the top. This crayon however has given them the exact look I wanted. I think a lot of it is to do with the fact this is a crayon so it's a lot softer than pencil. It's rounded nib makes it easy to work with and you can fill in, define and outline your brows all at once. Brushed out this looks defined but natural and can help complete any look. I have the shade Medium Brown but there are other shades in the range if this one doesn't suit you.

My Boots finally has a NYX stand. I've been rejoicing ever since I saw it and immediately headed over to check out their much talked about Soft Matte Lip Creams. And then I ended buying four. I have the shaded Monte Carlo, Amsterdam, Rome and Budapest. I'm not going to say too much about these as I have a review coming up as part of a special week. But I will say that these are some of the best high street lip products I've tried in a while. Matte, highly pigmented and non drying are just three reasons as to why I've been obsessed with these all month. And there are still plenty more shades I have my eye on.

My next favourite is one that I've been hyped up about since I knew they were coming out. The new Loreal Pure Clay Face Masks have been dominating social media since they came out and when I spotted them on offer in my local Boots, I had to scoop up all three. These masks all have three different types of clay in them as well as another ingredient to help with three different skin needs. This is another product I'm not going to say too much about as a review is coming on Wednesday so keep your eyes peeled for that one. I am going to say though that I love these masks and will happily repurchase them time and time again.

Now anyone who's been reading this blog for a while will know that I'm obsessed with the Loreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation. However mine has dried out and I just haven't picked another one up yet. So I delved into my collection to look for another lightweight yet dewy finish foundation. And I found my Gosh Foundation Drops. I featured this in a favourites last year when I first discovered them. They're brilliant. This a very liquidy foundation that gives a very light to buildable medium coverage foundation without looking or feeling cakey on the skin. It's very soft and blends out well on the skin but still manages to give skin that flawless look. It's also not one of those foundations that leaves skin feeling dry at the end of the day. It's hydrating formula means you're skin will look great from morning to evening. If you'd like to see a full review let me know and I'll happily do one.

So that's it for my July Favourites. Whaty were your favourites this month? Do you have any recommendations for me to try in August. Let me know in the comments.

Review: Superdrug Hair Mask Sachet

When it comes to haircare I like to keep things simple. I have very thick, naturally wavy hair and everytime I wash it, I have to deal with the dreaded frizz. So one thing I've added to my routine over the year is a good hair mask. Aussie do good masks as do Garnier but a relatively inexpensive mask that's perfect for a quick hair fix are these sachets from Superdrug.

These are a recent release from them and can be found in with the face masks. There are two in total and I've tried both. Each sachet contains one use and I find that there is enough in there for people with very long hair and people with short hair could probably get a couple of uses out of this. It's isn't the easiest to get out of the sachet and would be easier in a pot but you can actually get all of it out and aren't left with some in the bottom. I recommend putting it through your mid lengths to ends if you have mid length or long hair and obviously all over if you have shorter hair. Leave it in for 3-5 mintues, maybe longer if you're hairs in a bad condition and then was away like you would a shampoo or conditioner.

This deep conditioning mask is perfect for people who's hair needs a little bit of loving. Containing Manuka Honey and Abyssinian Oil, this mask will nourish and moisture hair leaving it feeling refreshed, replenished and easier to work with. I love putting this mask on at the end of a long day when I just a need a bit of TLC. It doesn't smell as good as some masks could smell but it's not that bad that you don't want to leave it on for it's allotted time. I like to leave this on for more than five mintues just so it can really go to work on my hair and afterwards my hair feels softer and a lot more manageable even if it's still a bit frizzy.

If frizz is your main concern they also do a frizz taming mask that I forgot to buy last time I was in there. It's brilliant for taming any flyaway hairs you may get from washing and hair looks a lot less frizzy and fluffy after each use. At £1.29 a sachet these are a brilliant budget option for your hair and they actually work. I'll definitely be stocking up next time I'm in Superdrug.

Have any of you tried these? What did you think? I'd love to know in the comments.

Key Pieces: Summer Edit

I've not done a lot of fashion pieces on here. I'm a girl who loves a basic t-shirt and jeans but one of my goals this year was to start trying new things and what a better season to do that than Summer. So today I'm sharing you my Key Pieces that are going to get me through the Summer months.

My first key piece that is a must have this year is a decent pair of sandals. I've always gotten my sandals from Primark as I didn't wear them a lot (UK Summers, ya know) but this year I decided I would shell out and buy a pair that would last a bit younger. This pair are from New Look and I fell in love with them as soon as I saw them. They have a thicker base than most sandals but they're ultra soft and comfortable. These are tan with gold hardware and a zip back. The zip back does have the possibility of rubbing but you can easily put a plaster over the bit that rubs and you'll be fine. These were £18.99 which is a bit pricier than Primark but everytime I've worn these I've been impressed by how comfortable they are even after a few hours of walking. They also come in black but you can only find those on ASOS. Definitely a pair that's going to last a lot longer than one summer.

 Another item I've had trouble with until this year is shorts. I'm a lady who has larger than average legs so I'm not always comfortable wearing all the short shorts that are in every shop each summer. Is it too hard to ask for a pair of good looking mid thigh/knee length shorts. And this year my prayers were answered. I was casually looking through Primark's racks of shorty shorts hoping that I'd find something suitable for me when I stumbled across these. These are mid thigh, ripped boyfriend shorts. And they're a dream. As they're longer in the leg I can actually wear them they way they're supposed to be worn instead of wearing them low on my hips like I've done with shorts before. They come down to my mid thigh which is fine with me and actually quite flattering. The rips through them do flash a bit of leg underneath but the frayed edges help give it the perfect look. These were only £10 and I've gotten quite a lot of wear out them already. They're a thicker than normal denim so I think this are going to last quite a while.

Something I never struggle with buying in the Summer and find really helps complete an outfit is sunglasses. And this year Primark are killing it with their sunglasses. The range they have is incredible and there is something there to suit everyone. My favourites are this black pair with a metal bar running across the top of shades. These remind me of the PR 14SS 49 from Prada. And they were only £3. They make any look that little bit more put together when on and they even come in tortoishell if you're not a fan of all black sunglasses. If these aren't your thing though and you're looking for an inexpensive pair of glasses they also have Ray-Ban-esque sunglasses like this matte tortoiseshell pair that are only £2. If like me you're a bit accident prone or you lose your sunglasses these are a great option for you. Inexpensive, good quality and right on trend as well, if you haven't checked out Primark sunglasses I suggest you do.

In the warmer months I'm a big believer of less is more. Not just with clothes but with make up and accesories as well. So on days when I'm just in shorts and a vest I like to give it a boost with some jewellery and there are so really cute pieces on the high street these days. My favourite piece at the moment is this necklace from Topshop. I prefer longer pendants over small dainty necklaces as they draw people's attention and add a pop to sometimes a basic outfit. This was in the sale and I picked it up for just £3. Another way to add something to an outfit or a look is midi rings. I have quite large fingers so standard rings look weird but midi rings seem elongated and thin my fingers out. My favourites at the moment are these really cute seashell inspired rings from H&M. They're dainty so they don't look too much on the finger but have enough detail to make people look again. Good places for midi rings are obviously H&M, River Island, New Look and Topshop. They're also quite inexpensive so they'll look nice without breaking the bank.

So that's it for my Key Pieces. There isn't a lot but as I said before less is more during the warmer months. I have to wear a lot for work on a daily basis so when I'm free I turn to these pieces which leave me feeling cool and comfortable.

What are your key pieces? Do you have recommendations? Let me know in the comments.

Review: Zoella Sweet Inspirations Range

Zoella's Beauty Range has always been on my radar but until her latest release, I've never really been interested. Until she released her Sweet Inpirations range. It looked older, the products sounded like they were aimed at older ages and it just generally looked like it wasn't aimed at her younger fans.

The first item I picked up is the Bath Latte. It's a Bath and Shower milk enriched with almond milk and honey. It smells divine, the whole range does in fact but when I see the words bath and shower, I expect it to work in both. Bath-wise I found that this didn't add many bubbles or much of anything to my bath. In fact I added some of my favourite bath product to add something to more to it. And when I applied it to my body as it says you can do, nothing happened. Zip. Zilch. Nadda. An inexpensive store own brand shower gel/milk did more for my skin than this did. Sure it smelt nice, sure it looks like a luxurious product to have in your collection but really you can get less expensive products that work even better and won't leave you disappointed.

The Sugar Dip on the other hand, I liked. It didn't make any fancy claims, just stated that these would make your bath smell great and help relax you as you bathe. And it did. A small handful of these ran under warm water as your bath fills and your entire bathroom is filled with the same sweet scent that ranges throughout the whole collection. It didn't make anything foamy or bubble and it didn't give my skin anything either but it did give me a sense of relaxtion and any achy muscles I had seemed to ache less.

I haven't tried the rest of this range but from the two products I have tried I can imagine this range could be hit or miss. The Body Mist smells divine in small doses but personally is too much for everday wear. The bags in the collection are sweet but I can't justify buying them without a reason. However if you're a massive Zoella fan then I'm sure you're going to love this range. I personally have products I prefer and it maybe because I'm slightly older than her normal age democratic but it just hasn't grabbed me like I thought it would.

Have any of you tried this range? If so what did you think? Let me know in the comments.

Unboxing: Origins and British Beauty Blogger Mix and Mask Box

I have never ordered something as quickly as I've ordered this box. I've been wanting to try out Origins Face Masks for ages now and when I saw this on my Twitter feed on Sunday I knew I had to have it. If you haven't already seen this box all over Instagram and Twitter then let me introduce you to the Origins and British Beauty Blogger Mix and Mask Collaboration Box.

The box itself costs £20 but the goodies inside come to a whopping £84 together. And who can turn down an offer like that. I ordered Sunday morning and recieved this Thursday morning (the day I'm writing this). And this is how it comes. My first thought is on how pretty the design of the box is. It has a floral watercolour design on the box and the leaflet inside which is that stunning I'd consider giving one of these as a present.

 When you open the box you have the small information booklet that contains a introduction from Jane (BritishBeautyBlogger) and on each page is a small paragraph as to why she chose the products she chose. It also gives examples of skin types that'll work well with each individual product and what each size is worth. If you've never tried Origins products before then this is a perfect accompanying guide.

When you remove the booklet, you're greeted by a thing layer of tissue paper which protects the products inside. It also has a small watercolour design sticker to hold it together. There is just something about the design of the box that I find simply stunning. It's very elegany and high end which I think goes hand in hand with the brand and their collaborator.

 When you open the tissue paper you're greeted by a whole host of skincare goodies. It's all protected by a fuzzy tissue paper which holds it place in the box so nothing gets/got damaged in transit. I have gotten rid of this as I found it went everywhere but obviously you can keep this in your giving this as a gift.

The first thing that caught my eye when I opened this box was the face mask pods. It is advertised as having four face mask pods but I only recieved three and the fourth happened to come in a surprise larger size. Each pod is a generous 10ml size and retail for £2.50 each. I recieved the Out of Trouble mask that is a mask to soothe and clear problem skin. I also recieved the Clear Improvment mask for purifying skin as well as the Drink Up which is aimed at dry/dehydrated skin. In the accompanying booklet it said that these pods are a great way to try out the multi masking trend where you use different masks on different parts of your face to combat certain issues. I'm not sure I'm going to use them this way but it is a good idea if multi masking is something you're interested in.

 Then what was advertised as a pod but was actually a travel sized tube is the Original Skin mask. It contains Rose Clay and is supposed to rexturise skin and give a glow boost. I think this would be a great mask for people who can't get on with glycolic acid but want something to get rid of any excess texture on the skin. It smells absolutley divine and I'm looking forward to using this. This is a 30ml tube and retails for around £7.

Then there is a 30ml travel sized tube of the Drink Up Intensive Overnight mask. This retails for £6.90 and is aimed at skin that has been outdoors or needs that moisture boost to help with skin's supplness. And this isn't like most of the masks in the box. This one you put on either before you go to bed or whenever your skin needs that boost and leave it to sink into the skin. Then all you have to do is take a tissue or a cotton pad and wipe off the excess.

 Up next is the By All Greens Foaming Deep Cleansing Mask. You get a 25ml pump bottle that retails at £11.42. This is one of Origins newer releases and one I'm intrigued about. This perfect for someone who wants to purify and deep cleanse their skin. It's an interesting concept for a mask. It pumps out as a runny fluid but once you start to rub it into/onto the skin it turns into a foam. One I'm definitely looking forward to trying.

Then you have the most interesting mask of the bunch. This is the GinZing Peel-Off Mask. You recieve a 15ml tube worth £4.80. This is recommended for people with oily skin and dull complexions. What makes this mask interesing is the bronze colour. Yes, you read that right. It's a bronze colour when you apply it to your face. It's supposed to help removed dead skin cells whilst brightening and give skin a fresh feel. It's a peel off mask so when it's dried you get that satisfing feeling of peeling it off, but I'd recommend not putting this anywhere near your eyebrows. I have a feeling it could turn out quite painful if you did.

 And the last two products you recieve are in fact two full sized products. The first is a bottle of their new release the Maskimizer. It's a 95ml bottle and retails for £18.50. This is a fine mist that you're supposed to spray skin with before you apply your mask. It claims to help the mask adhere to your skin better and contains Marine Algae to help hydrate the skin at the same time. If you're a fan of facial toners/spritzs or even essences then I think you'll like this.

And lastly you get a full sized tube of the VitaZing SPF 15 Energy Boosting Moisturiser. This alone is worth £29.00, more than the box itself. It has a sheer tint release which makes this more of a tinted moisturiser/BB cream product. I like the idea of this being an energising moisturiser but not sure how I feel about the sheer tint. In my experience these kinds of products don't work well with people with fairer complexions and end up looking orange after application. However it's something you'll never know until you try it. I'll definitely be reporting back on how this one worked out.



At £20 this box is a steal and when you open it you'll see why. I'm very impressed not just with the choice of Origins products but with the size of them aswell. Each product is a decent size and two are even full size. If you can still get your hands on this box then I recommend you do it right away. It's a cheaper, easier way to try Origins as a brand if you've never tried them before. Keep your eyes peeled next month for a full indepth review of what I thought of each product. Until then if you have the box enjoy.

Have any of you recieved the box? What did you think? What product are you looking forward to trying the most? Let me know in the comments.

Review: Essence Liquid Lipstick

I'm always on the lookout for budget lip products that exceed expectations. And when I was browsing an Essence stand recently I thought I'd found a good one. However I've been highly disappointed. When I first picked this up, I noticed that this had the name Longlasting Lipgloss but on the lid it claimed to have a matte finish. Thinking it was some kind of hybrid I picked it up and took it home to test it.

There is nothing wrong with the colour of this product. It's a bright tomato red shade that is perfect for this time of year. It's not the colour, when I applied it, I was very happy with how the colour complimented my skin tone. And it's not the applicator that I have an issue with. It's a standard doe foot applicator that is slightly longer than most but that only aids application and doesn't hamper it in anyway. They're both credits towards this product and this would have turned into a good/non disappointing review if it hadn't have been for the formula.

The formula of this product is the let down. I was confused when I read the words lipgloss and matt on the packaging and assumed that it was some kind of hybrid. No. It's not a hybrid, it doesn't dry down to a matte finish. It doesn't even dry down to a satin finish. It's a gloss. A shiny, sticky looking gloss that personally doesn't work with bright opaque colours. After applying this I allowed it a good ten minutes to set on my lips and even was nearly late for work as I gave it every chance to impress me. Yet it didn't. It stayed shiny and almost wet looking on the lips and made them feel sticky or tacky everytime you put them together or opened your mouth to speak. I unfortunately had to change my lipstick and was as I said very nearly late for work.

It reminds me a lot of the Loreal Matte Glosses that they released a few years ago that didn't even show an intention of drying to a matte finish. Unlike those, this disappointing product only cost £2 and whilst it may have been expected from such an inexpensive product, I do consider it a waste of money. If you're looking for a inexpensive liquid lipstick that is opaque, dries to a matte finish and comes in a range of colours then I'd highly recommend checking out the NYX Soft Matte Lipsticks.

Have any of you tried these? Or do you have a high street liquid lipstick recommendation? Let me know in the comments.

Brand Review: Rosie For Autograph Make Up

When I found out that Rosie Huntington-Whiteley was releasing a make up line, to say I was excited was an understatment. I've been a fan of her Rosie For Autograph line with Marks and Spencers for years and have brought countless bras and other products from the range. And naturally when the make up line was released I had to get my hands on it.

It did take me a bit longer to get my hands on the range than I'd have liked but when it was fully available in my local Marks and Spencers I was there (maybe blocking the stand) trying to decided what my first purchase was going to be. And to begin with I went with my go to beauty product and chose a lipstick. And then choosing which shade I wanted was hard, there are just too many beautiful ones.

If you haven't tried Rosie's lipsticks and you're a lip product addict then try them. Seriously you will not regret it. To start off with the packaging is to die for. A stunning rose gold packaging with Rosie's signature 'Rosie For Autograph' wrote along the side. It's simple yet it's elegant and stunning just the like the products creator. And that's one of the main reasons I love this range. It's simple yet elegant and gives every woman that owns a piece a little bit of luxury which makes them feel classy, sexy and feminine.

I have three shades. The first I picked up was Lady Rose. It's Rosie's favourite shade from the range and if she endorses it I knew I had to have it. And can I just say it's a gamechanger. I'm of a fair skintone and most nude shades do not suit me. I mean like not at all. Until I brought Lady Rose. It's nude pink shade that has a underlying mauve tone which works well with fairer skintones and personally gave more warmth to my skin than normal. I have worn this countless times and recieved so many compliments and will continue to do so in the future. After that I picked up Camisole Blush. It's along the same tones as Lady Rose but has more peachy tones to it. I have admittedly not worn this as much as it doesn't work well with my head to toe black work uniform but when I want a bit of something when I'm not at work then I do go for this. It's another nudey shade that works well with my fairer skintone and I'm glad there is a line on the high street that works for every skintone, even the paler ones. And finally I have Silk Rose. I was pretty nervous when I brought this as it's quite a full on colour. Yet the moment I put this on my lips I knew I couldn't live without it. It's a brown toned lipstick that looks like it wouldn't suit most people but in fact it does. I like to call it my 90's brown lipstick as it has that effect when I wear it. Deep in colour and highly pigmented this is definitely a lipstick that calls for attention and so far all the attention I've recieved has been good.

These lipsticks are all cream lipsticks but instead of having that really high shine finish to them they set down to a sort of demi matte finish. It means they're comfortable to wear for long periods of time and are less likely to need a reapplication. In my experience these can be applied in the morning and can easily go without being touched up for a good five or six hours. I think a lot of it comes from the formula, demi matte finish, creamy formula as well as being moisturising on the lips. Huntington-Whiteley has created the perfect non matte, non glossy lip product which are not only a dream to wear but also look stunning in your collection.

Whilst on the subject of lip products, there is also a range of Lip Glossy's. These are all chubby stick-esque lip glosses that are highly pigmented and glossy yet comfortable to wear. There are six shades in total but the only one that appealed to me is Sun Kiss, a deep mauve shade that has a slight pink undertone. If you like a gloss over a lipstick then these are definitely for you, hightly pigmented colour means you get a decent lip look without sacrifcing your lips but if you're not a fan of glosses in general then I'd say steer clear of these. Personally this isn't my favourite product in the range purely because I'm not a big fan of that high shine finish on the lips. Yet I wouldn't say these are bad or not worth the money. One word of advise though, make sure your lips are in good condition with both these and the lipsticks. Just because they're both non matte formulas doesn't mean they're not going to show any imperfections your lips have.

Not being a big fan of contour or highlight there was only one base product that made sense for me to try. And that was the Miracle Concealer. I'm going to say this straight off the bat, don't let the colour decieve you. I spent a good fortnight deciding if I was going to buy one purely because the shades didn't seem like a good fit for my skintone. There are two shades in the collection and both look darker than normal. However once they're on the skin and blended out they work well with the natural tones of you skin. Shade one looks slightly orange in tone but when blended doesn't appear orange on the skin and covers well over imperfections and under the eyes. There is something about this concealer that look luminous under the eyes when you wear it. It works when set with powder and doesn't crease or go cakey. A brilliant stick concealer which doesn't drag on the skin and actually gives all day coverage.

Moving onto eyes and there is a whole host of products for these. She's released eye shadow quads, cream eye shadow sticks, liquid liners, pencil liners, two types of mascara and a brow pencil. Not being someone who's big on eyeshadow or liner I picked up a brow pencil and her InstaLash mascara. Let's start with the InstaLash Mascara. It comes in either brown or black and has a standard bristle brush. It doesn't have a fancy curve or a ridiculous amonut of bristles. It's a standard, tapered end bristle brush that fits nicely to the contour of the eye and gives instant volume and length to the lashes. It's a wet formula which means you have to be a bit more careful with it but personally I don't mind that because the results this mascara gives are better than some I've tried from other brands. And the same stands for the brow pencil. I got the Shade 1 as I like to use a lighter shade on my brows so they're not so out there. And this pencil is highly pigmented, comes with a spoolie and is soft and easy to apply. It doesn't scratch or break. It can be used to create light strokes or harder strokes and it'll still not look to over the top. The spoolie on the end is an added bonus and is thicker than standard so it really brushes through brows and help distribute product easily. If you're in the market for a brow pencil then I'd highly recommend checking this one out.

Overall I'm very pleased with this range. Sure there are products that I haven't brought because they're my cup of tea but the ones I have purchased have been definitely worth the money. They all have a luxuorious feel to them that makes them look more expensive than they actually are. With the lipsticks costing £14, concealer at £14, mascara at £15 and brow pencil at £10 these are just a bit pricier than your average high street store but are truly worth every penny. Sometimes you do have to pay out more for a higher quality and for the price points I don't think you can get a higher quality than you do with these products. Huntington-Whiteley has really surpassed herself with these products and I'm looking forward to seeing what else she may add to the collection in the future.

Have any of you tried this range? What did you think? Is there anything you'd like to see her release in the future? Let me know in the comments.