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.

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.

Brand Review: Masque Bar

A couple of months ago I stumbled across a brand I didn't know in Boots and a few of their products caught my eye immediately. Masque Bar is a range of mud and sheet masks that are easy to use and give visible results after the first go. They sell five different variations of face mask and a Dark Circle Reducer for under the eyes. I have three of their sheet masks and the Dark Circle Reducers, all packed with skin loving ingredients.

The first mask I tried was the Luminizing Charcoal Peel Mask which comes in standard mask form. It claims to include ingredients such as Charcoal Powder and Bergamot Extract to help purify and deep cleanse the skin. And it did work, my skin felt thoroughly cleansed and didn't look gross as it did before but it wouldn't be a mask I'd go for again. Firstly the smell was just vile and having this under your nose for nearly twenty minutes was just nasty. And secondly, peeling it off resulted in me having a lobster face as I kept pinching myself as it didn't peel very well. A good mask for a skin detox but not one I'll be reaching for again.

After the mask I tried the Dark Circle Reducers and I was pleasently surprised. This are two gel like patches that fit to the contours of your under eye area. Once on your under eyes start to feel cooler, which in turn helps reduce any puffiness that you may have there. After twenty minutes I took this off and was surprised to see that my dark circles had actually diminished slightly. They weren't gone but they did look better than before. Not a long term solution to dark circles but brilliant as a pick me up or a quick treatment after that night long tv binge.

And the last mask I've tried is the Anti-Wrinkle Sheet Mask. I was intrigued by this mask as it claims to contain Collagen and whilst I'm not at the age where my skin needs to replace it I wondered what effect I would have on my skin. This is brilliant face mask as it came folded into itself several times which means that it contains more of the serum on the inner folds which will be more effective on the face. It's quite a cooling mask as well when it's on the skin and if you get rosy cheeks easily this is a brilliant way to reduce them. I left this on for twenty five minutes and when I took it off my skin felt softer, smoother and plumper than it did before. If I had to chose one from this range, it would be this one.

And finally this is a mask I've yet to try but am looking forward to it. The Green Tea Sheet Mask contains Green Tea Extract, Vitamin E and Phyto-Collagen to help make skin look more radiant as well as to protect skin from any nasties. I like any skincare product that contains Green Tea and I have high hopes for it. I'm sure if I like it or not then it will either appear in a Favourites or Disappointing Products Post.

Overall I like the brand. Sure I have a mask that I don't like and wish there was more selection but for a newly founded brand that hasn't been around that long it is a good selection. If I were to recommend one mask for you to try, it would be the Anti-Wrinkle Sheet Mask. Packed with goodness and actually giving visible results, it's the one mask I know I'll be purchasing again and again.

Have any of you tried these masks? Let me know in the comments what you think of them.

Brand Review: Rosie For Autograph

I love a lot of brands for their good quality products and reasonable prices but there is one brand that I love more than the rest. I've been wanting to write a post about this brand since I started my blog but wanted to make sure that it wasn't rushed. So today I'm sitting down to talk to you all about my favourite brand on the high street.

If you're wondering which brand I'm on about, it's Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's Brand/Range for Marks and Spencers. Rosie For Autograph is an ever growing brand which Huntington-Whiteley co designs with Soozie Jenkinson and each season brings a new collection of luxury underwear and sleepwear pieces that are to die for. The range itself is a bestseller for M&S and with the popularity of each line growing with every season, Huntington-Whiteley has been able to expand the range and now has two perfumes, a candle set and a reed diffuser.

 The underwear ranges are to me the epitome of luxury. Each piece is a mixture of satin, silk and lace and each adorned with a tiny rose gold plaque bearing Rosie's name. As a big busted girl I've always believed that you couldn't wear delicate, feminine bras but Rosie For Autograph has totally changed how I look at DD+ underwear. Each season Rosie For Autograph release a variety of bras, some in block colours and some with a different variation of a floral print. And with each season the bras are feminine yet sexy, delicate but wearable and add a feel of luxury to any outfit.

The block colours may not scream out as much as the floral prints but are still beautiful. Made from a mixture of satin and lace, they fit perfectly to the body and on the DD+ bras have extra support where it's needed. The majority of the bras in the collection are plunge bras but for the slightly larger busted ladies have a nice thick front that helps support everything.

 Rosie For Autograph Sleepwear is just as exquisite as the underwear but I don't own as many pieces. My favourite piece is a t-shirt from a couple seasons back. The material is super soft and while its form fitting, it doesn't cling horribly to the body like some materials do. The t-shirt I own has this beautiful grey floral print which makes it suitable for all seasons. As with the underwear, each season means a fresh new style to the sleepwear and A/W 15 has a beautiful burgundy set I know will be joining my collection.

 My favourite part of Rosie's Range is the small rose gold plaque that adorns every pair of knickers, every bra and every piece of sleepwear. It is not only another luxurious touch to the range but adds a personal touch from Rosie herself. The only items that don't have a plaque on them is the dressing gowns as they are really fluffy and you wouldn't see it among the material.

The last item I want to talk about from the range is probably my favourite release from it. Rosie For Autograph The Fragrance is the only floral based scent that I've ever liked. With the extract of rose centifolia, known as the most prestigious of rose fragrances, this perfume is light for everyday wear but also packs a punch. I am almost through my second bottle of this as I can't help but wear it everyday. It's light but noticable and unlike other floral based scents doesn't have a sickliness to it that has put me off some many others. This has replaced my SJP Lovely as my holy grail perfume and I know I'll be repurchasing countless bottles in the future. And the bottle is gorgeous as well. Simple yet elegant, this looks stunning sat on my desktop. The name plaque and lid are rose gold and just add the little something more to the perfume as a whole.

As you can see I'm a massive fan of the Rosie For Autograph Range and will be purchasing many more items in the future. In fact I have my eye on the latest fragrance that was released at the beginning of the month. Rosie For Autograph Nuit smells similar to the original fragrance but has hints of musk and jasmine to give it a sensual, evening twist. I highly recommend you give it a smell when your in M&S next. As a fan of Rosie For Autograph and Rosie herself I can see this range continuing to grow and can definitely say that I will be purchasing as much of future releases that my bank balance allows.

Are any of you fans of Rosie For Autograph? If so what are your favourite pieces? Or has anything caught your eye from the new season? As always let me know in the comments.

Everything is available exclusively from Marks And Spencers

Clearly Youthful Brand Review

This is a review I've been meaning to do for ages but until recently I hadn't tried all the products. However last week I tried the last two I needed too and I can now stop putting off writing this post. 

 The Clearly Youthful Range is a Superdrug Own Brand Range which is aimed at both ageing and problem skin. They advertise themselves as an affordable skincare range that contains a selection of active ingredients that aid breakouts and help control shine whilst keeping skin looking youthful, radiant and refreshed. 

The Key Ingredients that can be found in this range are Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid and Glycolic Acid to help with skins texture and help reduce any blemishes or imperfections skin may have. Cimicifuga to help prevent any excess shine that appears on the skin. And Phytoprotein and Polyglycan which together makes an anti ageing complex which when paired with Hyaluronic Acid makes skin look more youthful and radiant. 

There are two cleansers in the range. The first is the 3 in 1 Cleanser, Mask and Scrub. Containing ingredients such as Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid and Vitamin E, this products claims to purify and nourish skin whilst removing make up and impurities. I haven't tried this as a scrub or mask yet but as a cleanser it's effective and left my skin feeling softer than my normal cleanser does.





The second cleanser in the range is a AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser. As well as containing AHA and BHA acids this cleanser also contain Allantoin and Bisabol to soothe the skin as well as exfoliate. This is a no water needed cleasner, just pop a squirt onto a cotton and rub around the face until all the residue has disappeared. This was a product I did not like at all. I used a generous squirt of this and only managed to get half of my face done before it ran out. It also dragged across my skin and left it feeling dry. 

 There is also a Glycolic Peel Off Mask and while it sounds slightly intimidating, I promise you it's not. As well as containing Glycolic Acid, this mask contains a blend of natural fruit acids to help exfoliate the skin. This mask is brilliant for reducing the appearence of blemishes and the look of pores. I was intimidated by this when I first purchased this but once I bit the bullet and used it, I immediately fell in love with this mask. It leaves skin feeling so soft, hydrated and the appearence of pores is diminished.

 The product they suggest you follow it up with is the Hydrating Day Serum. This is personally one of my favourite products from the range. Like the other products it contains Salcylic Acid but it also contains Hyaluronic Acid which helps store moisture deeper in the skin. Not only does this help boost skins moisture levels but it also helps to leave skin feeling refreshed, refines pores and helps resurface skin texture. I love to use this both in the morning and in the evening, it leaves my skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated. It's brilliant on no make up days to give skin a quick pick me up. 

 Aswell as a Day Serum there is also a night serum. The Retexturising Night Serum is a very thick consistency that has a high concentration formula. As well as it's key ingredients this contains Tetrapeptide to help boost Collagen production and Red Algae Extract to aid pigmentation. One squeeze of this does the whole face and helps to improve the skins texture as well as the appearence. I love to use this at night after I've taken my make up off to help soothe and hydrate my skin. 

 One of the more disappointing products from the range is the SPF Moisturising Cream. It contains all the same ingredients as the rest of the range but is more lightweight in it's formula. And for me that's the only positive to this product. I liked how it made my skin feel to begin with but after a couple weeks of use my skin felt dry and had my complexion had changed quite a bit. It left my skin looking sallow and my dark circles were very prominent. I stopped using it after that and now my skin looks like it did before I used this. Another good point about this product is that is contains SPF. 

The last product in the range is a blemish gel. Containing a mix of Salcyclic Acid and Allantoin this lightweight gel formula sinks quickly into skin. As well as soothing the blemishes, this gel decongests and refines pores whilst helping with skin texture. I found that any blemishes I had when I used this disappeared very quickly, the redness dying down after a few minutes. Definitely one of the better blemish gels I've tried.







Overall I'm obsessed with this range. It's afforable, the products are suitable for sensitive skin and you actually see results when you use them. My top three picks from this range are the Hydrating Day Serum, the Retexturising Night Serum and Glycolic Peel Off Mask. The results from all three of these products is immediate and my skin felt better after just one use. I like the Blemish Gel and The 3 In 1 Cleanser/Scrub/Mask but there are other products on the market that give similar results. I was disappointed by the Cream Cleanser and the SPF Moisturiser. There are so many cream cleansers out there that give better results, the Olay Cleansing Milks are brilliant alternatives if you're looking to try a cream cleanser. The moisturiser may not have agreed with my skin but it doesn't mean it wouldn't agree with your's. It's just a case of trial and error but Garnier and Simple do a brilliant range of lightweight moisturisers if you're looking for an alternative. 

Have any of you tried these products? Did you like them? Or did you not? Let me know in the comments. 

Available from Superdrug