Review: Barry M Matte Me Up Lip Crayon

I've never tried a Barry M lip product before. It's been a mixture of not getting round to it and a shade range that to me wasn't that desirable. When this were released at the beginning of the month my eye was automatically caught.

Like I do with most new lip releases I went for the shade of red they've released, and in this case it was because none of the other shades looked like they would have suited me. I honestly didn't know what to make of it to be honest. It reminded me of other chubby stick-esque products on the market but was willing to give it a go. And I really like it.

The packaging reminds me ever so slightly of a Crayola crayon. I really like the ridge inside the lid that locks it into place, meaning I have no worries about the lid becoming loose or falling off in my handbag. My only issue with the packaging didn't have shade name on it just a number. I had to look it up on the Boots website and the colour I'm showing you is called Make A Statement.

Upon inital application I was pretty sure I wasn't going to like this product but after a bit of work it all fell into place. It looks shiny when first applied to the lips and moves around on the lip a bit especially when you're trying to neaten it up. Yet once it dries to a matte finish it doesn't budge. I ate and drank while I wore this and it didn't transfer one bit. It dries to a true matte texture but isn't extremely drying on the lips like some can be. My lips still felt really moisturised and soft when I took this off.

The shade itself looks like a blue toned red when I first applied it and reminded me slightly of Mac's Russian Red but as the day wore on it changed. It changed to more of an orangey red, almost tomato red. It still suited my skintone but because of the colour change throughout the day, it is a product to wear on a day where you're doing flawless skin and nothing else. When it comes to suitability of the shade, it would suit most skintones, the blue tones probably remaining longer on slightly darker skin tones. It's a brilliant shade for fair toned people, giving that real pop of a colour to a look.

If you're looking for a new Summer shade or are just like me and can't resist anything matte and red then this is definitely for you. Long lasting, non drying and a brilliant day or night shade this rivals some of my higher end lipsticks for a fraction of the price.

Available now from Boots

Review: Rimmel Wonder'Full Wake Me Up Mascara

I will admit that when I first saw the Wake Me Up Mascara I didn't really pay attention to anything but the packaging. I'm a typical makeup magpie and have to any new product that launches, especially if it has shiny packaging. However once I got past the shininess of it and read what it was supposed to do I was intrigued. I already liked the original Wonder'Full Mascara and was intrigued to see if this version lived up to my expectations.

It claims to contain vitamins and cucumber extract to help soothe eyes and nourish lashes. The brush which is shaped like an hourglass and coats every lash while giving eyes a refreshed and wide eyed look. The first thing you notice when you open the packaging is the distinct smell of cucumber, it's not unpleasent and doesn't irritate eyes. Once applied you can't smell anything but eyes do feel soothed and more awake. 

The formula of itself seems quite wet which for me makes it easier to apply to the eyes. It doesnt transfer from the eyes and there is no fallout or flakiness after a few hours wear. The shape of the brush sits nicely along the contour of the eye and when small zig zag movements from the root to the tip are applied they give a really nice natural wide eyed look. It also makes eyes look more awake and refreshed, which makes it perfect for wear on long days. 

Unlike some mascaras on the market the bristles on this brush are evenly spaced apart meaning no matter how many coats you apply it won't clumpy. I personally like to apply two coats of this mascara, one to give volume to my lashes and hold the curl and an extra coat to give a bit more wow to my natural looking yet wide eyed look. I have slightly hooded eyes and usually mascaras that have amazing volume don't look that good on me but this one distracts from the hoodiness of my eyes as my lashes do all the talking. 

If you're wondering does the formula make it harder to remove then the answer is no. This mascara removes the same or if not better than many of the others I own. Any eye make up remover can be used it doesn't have to be a special duo phase product or anything stronger than your normal eye make up remover. This product may not be suitable for sensitive eyes as the scent may irritate eyes but if you don't have problems buying mascara then I highly recommend you try it out. 

If you're a fan of the orignial Wonder'Full mascara or are just looking for a one that gives eyes a bit more definition then this product is for you. Easy to apply, brilliant results and a not so hefty price tag the Rimmel Wonder'Full Wake Me Up Mascara is perfect for ladies who are looking for a new mascara but find choosing from all the brands daunting.

Available now from Boots and Superdrug

Review: B Makeup Brush Cleanser

When I first spotted this in Superdrug's in store magazine Dare, I made it my mission to hunt it down. Not only was it cheaper than my current brush cleaner, it came from brand I know I can trust for good quality and came in a handy spray bottle, making my accident prone self rejoice. 

However I found myself disappointed when I put it to the test. After not reading the back properly, I followed the directions; spraying several pumps onto each brush, swirling it over a clean cotton pad to remove the build up of make up. This is where it fell short in my expectations. It cleaned both of my foundation brushes to an extent (they weren't that dirty) but I found I still had to give them a go over with my No7 brush cleaner to finish the job. My powder and concealer brushes faired a lot better when I sprayed them. It only took one application and several minutes of swirling on a cotton pad to remove any build up on them. 

My first impressions of the B Makeup Brush Cleanser are not what I hoped they would be but it is a product I'm willing to perceive with. It's not the best product for cleaning the more dense brushes in a collection but if you're somebody who has a lot of eyeshadow or less compact brushes and not the time to give them a thorough cleaning then this product is ideal for you. Easy to use, great value for money with added antibacterial ingredients this product is brilliant for people short on time who want their brush collection to look as good as new. 

Available now from Superdrug