Review: Milani Amore Matte Lip Cream

For the longest time I thought that getting my hands on one of the Milani Amore Matte Lip Creams was impossible. Sure they were available on Amazon but I've always been a bit dubious about their origins. So I came to the conclusion that it just wasn't meant to be until I went to London for the day in February. And that's where me and friend discovered a discount outlet beauty store that not only stocked Milani but also LA Girl and other hard to find beauty brands at brilliant prices.

There were so many different shades to choose from and whilst I was automatically drawn to the darker red shades I forced myself to choose a lighter more spring like shade that could bring me out of my comfort zone some more. In the end I chose the shade Precious which is a stunning pink shade with peach undertones throughout it. It's not the usual colour I would go for but due to a surprising love of nude lips this year I decided to purchase it to add it to my ever growing collection of nude lip products.

This isn't one of those liquid lip products that has outrageous claims such as lasting 24 hours or having the most moisturising formula a liquid lip has ever had. This doesn't even call itself a liquid lipstick, it calls itself a cream which instantly changed my expectations when I first wore it. I expected it to be very much like the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams both in texture and wear on the lips. Initially upon application it didn't seem to have a similar formula of the SMLC but when you compare the two side by side they are very similar.

It glided beautifully onto the lips, it's standard doe foot applicator leaving behind a highly pigmented, opaque finish. Initially it felt sticky on the lips as do many liquid lip products but after a few seconds it dried down to a satin feeling finish that felt comfortable on the lips. It never felt completely dry on the lips and you could feel it when pressing your lips together but it didn't budge or smudge in the slightest. Wear wise this wore well, it didn't crumble, flake or fade even after eating and drinking. However it didn't feel as comfortable after a few hours as it did when first applied and it did show visible signs of drying lips out. Reapplication wasn't as easy as with other products and made the dry patches even more noticeable. I don't normally count down the hours until I can take a lip product off but after a few hours of wearing this I was grateful when I could take it off.

Overall this a nice lip product. It didn't blow my socks off or wow me like other lip products have done in the past but this is a nice product. It applied evenly, easily and wasn't streaky or too thick in formula. To begin with it sat comfortable on the lips but then deteriorated as hours passed and left lips dry and in dire need of lip balm. Sure a bit of lip balm underneath would probably help with that but often liquid lipsticks don't apply as well over top of lip balm and it's just more faff than it should be. If you don't mind putting a bit more effort in then these are definitely up your street. However if you're more of a one and done kind lip product lover these might not work for you. If you ever see them in a shop though definitely give them a swatch, the shade selection is stunning.

Review: Rosie For Autograph Sheer Finish Complexion Enhancer

When Rosie Huntington-Whiteley announced that she would be adding a BB Cream/Tinted Moisturiser Hybrid into her make up range I knew I just had to buy it. Her skin always looks amazing and if there was a product out there that could make my skin look even half as good as her's then it had to take a place in my collection.

The Rosie For Autograph Sheer Finish Complexion Enhancer is a lightweight, sheer finish tinted moisturiser to brighten the skin and give it a lit from within look. It perfects the look of skin and evens out skintone but still allows you to see your skin underneath as well as letting it breath. Skin is left looking glowy but not greasy and unlike other foundation/bb cream formulas this leaves skin feeling moisturised and soft to the touch.

It comes in a squeezy tube with a pump with makes application easy, hygenic and saves more product than other tube products. The packaging isn't entirely rose gold like the rest of her products but it still has elements of rose gold running through it. The rest of the packaging however is understated, classic and elegant much like Rosie herself.

I have the shade Nude which is the lightest shade in the range. The shade range is the only thing that let's this down. There are only six shades in the range but because they are so sheer you can get away with having a shade that doesn't exactly match your skintone.

It's suggested you apply this with your fingertips something I'm not that a big a fan off. However I find you get the best pay off with this when you use your fingers. I tried it initally with my a damp beauty blender and found my sponge soaked up most of the product. Whereas when I used my fingers I found it blended out smoothly, gave me a light coverage but still allowed my skin to show through and breathe. It made my skin look healthy, radiant and subtle unlike other base products I've tried.

I really like this product. It's lightweight yet gives coverage and allows skin to look and feel like skin, something that my skin will be grateful for when the warmer months roll round. It's quite understated as a product but still carries that elegant, classic look and feel that all Rosie For Autograph products have. It's already become my go to base product but I have a feeling that I'm going to finish this tube and possibly another tube throughout the Summer months. Slightly pricier for a base product but the results it gives make it well worth. I'd definitely recommend swatching it when your in your local Marks and Spencers next.

Product Empties: April

Back in January I posted my first empties of the year and decided from then on I'd post every sort of three months. So today I am back with another empties, I warn you now this is a long one so I'd get a cuppa and a biscuit to get you through it. Whilst photographing this all I was surprised by how much I managed to get through since my last empties.

Let's kick everything off with a couple of body scrubs. The first is the Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub. With a thick jelly like formula this scrub really works on skin and leaves it feeling soft after every use. Plus it smells divine and fills the bathroom with it's scent. I've lost count of how many of these I've gone through but I'm sure it'll feature again at some point.

The other scrub I finished comes from Palmers'. Their Cocoa Body Scrub is a little more gentle than the Soap and Glory Scrub and is more creamy in formula. It's smells heavenly as well and I love mixing the two together to give my skin a really good exfoliate.

This next item you're probably not surprised to see in an empties. I've lost count of the amount of bottles of this I've gone through. The Clean and Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion is my Holy Grail morning cleanser. Deep cleansing like it's name suggests and brilliant at waking skin up, I'm sure you'll be seeing more of these in future empties.

A facial spritz I finished comes from Liz Earle. Their Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer is the perfect toning mist for anyone with sensitive/reactive skin. Containing a whole host of natural ingredients including Aloe Vera, Calendula and Vitamin E, this spritz not only soothes but moisturises and preps skin for the rest of your skincare routine. Even if I find a budget option of this I will always have a bottle of this my collection it's that good.

Another facial spritz I finished is this one from B. It's their Hyaluronic Acid Facial Spritz and makes the perfect evening toning mist. It's concentrated Hyaluronic Acid formula not only adds and retains moisture but helps alleviate any feeling of tightness or dryness that cleansing may have caused. I've gone through countless bottles of this and will definitely be going through even more when the warmer weather makes its appearence.

A serum I finished not one but two bottles of is this Olay Instant Hydration Serum. It's silicone feeling formula creates a stunning base for make up whilst simultaneously hydrating skin and minimising signs of ageing. I've tried a few daytime serums but always come back to this as nothing else leaves my skin feeling as good as this does.

An evening serum I finished is this Clearly Youthful Hydrating Booster Serum. Containing Hyaluronic and Lactic Acid, this works to boost skins hydration instantaneously as well as retaining any further skincare products you apply over top. It's smell is something you have to overlook but I've been using this long enough it doesn't even bother me any more. Lost count of how many of these I've been through and don't know how many more I'll go through. Definitely one of my skincare staples.

A day cream I finished comes from Garnier. Their Moisture Bomb Day Cream is perfect for those non make up days where you really want to look after your skin. Containing Hyaluronic Acid and Pomergranate Extract this cream retains and slowly releases moisture throughout the day so skin always looks refreshed and moisturised.

Another Garnier Day Cream I finished was their Miracle Wake Me Up Cream. Containing Retinol and Micro Rice Peptides, this thick cream formula smooths away any signs of fatigue or signs of ageing whilst moisturising and refreshing the skin. I've loved this for after a face mask as it soothes skin and leaves it feeling even softer to the touch.

I finished my REN Evercalm Day Cream sample I recieved in my Marks and Spencer Advent Calender. This was nice and I did go and repurchase a travel sized tube but don't find myself reaching for this as much as it's scent is quite overpowering. And for a sensitive moisturiser I find it rather strange that it has such a strong fragrance to it.

I finished another bottle of my Hawaiian Tropic Facial SPF. This is oil free, non pore clogging and lightweight on the skin. It makes it perfect for my sensitive skin and means I don't have to be worried about not protecting my face. I've nearly finished another bottle of this already and have a back up on stand by as well.

A night cream I finished comes from Garnier. Their Moisture Restore+ Gel Cream is lightweight and hydrating but doesn't clog pores leave skin feeling greasy. I pop some of this on after I've taken my make up off and let it sink in before going in with my Miracle Sleeping Cream. I believe this is discontinued now but I have a few stashed away so you'll probably see a few more in my empties.

This SKYN Iceland Icelandic Relief Eye Cream sample lasted three months which for it's size is amazing. It's jelly like formula melts upon touching the skin and leaves the under eye area looking and feeling hydrated and softer. I've purchased the full size version of this but I don't think you'll be seeing it in a empties for a while.

I finished a bottle of the Simple Dual Effect Eye Make Up Remover. The Nivea bio-phase eye make up remover used to be my favourite but this has very quickly overtaken that. It's formula is slightly oilier than the Nivea but it doesn't leave eyes feeling greasy or oily to touch and it removes all signs of make up, even waterproof mascara. I'm running low on my latest bottle so think I need to pick up a back up.

A product that won't be appearing in empties frequently are these Nip and Fab Pads. These are their Glycolic Fix Night Pads Extreme. Containing 5% Glycolic Acid as well as Lactic Acid, this loosen and remove dead skin cells leaving skin feeling smooth and soft to the touch. You only neeed to use them twice a week so this sixty pad pot lasts a long time.

I finshed three packs of face wipes. Now I don't use these to remove my make up but I do use them to remove any swatches I have on my hand and my lipstick at the end of a day. The Johnson's Pampering Wipes were effective and I didn't have to scrub at my lips but they did have a strong scent and taste which ended up in my mouth no matter what. The Clean and Clear Truly Gentle Wipes were nice and did the job but probably won't be ones I'd pick up again. And then the Garnier Micellar Oil Infused Wipes were my favourite. They broke down even the most long wearing liquid lipstick and didn't leave my lips feeling greasy or coated in oil. They also didn't have a strong scent or leave a nasty taste in my mouth if it happened to get in there.

Two of a few face masks I used are these new releases from Garnier. I've used them all but forgot to keep a lot of the packaging. The ones I did remember to keep were the Honey Mask and the Juicy Mask. Out of the two the Juicy Mask was the one I preferred. It felt like it was actually doing something to my skin. A full review of the whole range can be found here.

I have four sheet masks to show you in this empties and these are the first two. One is the Boots Ingredients Safflower and Peony Sheet Mask. This was a nice mask but was too saturated in products and ended up dripping everywhere even when it was time to be taken off. The other is the newly released Garnier Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask with Chamomile. This mask fit perfectly to the skin and didn't flap or fall off when I moved. I was quite poorly last week and this worked wonderfully to soothe my poor skin.

The other two sheet masks I used up were the 40 Winks Sheet Mask from Face Inc and the YesTo Tomato Detoxifying Charcoal Paper Mask. The Face Inc mask was a disappointment. It didn't fit to my face well and flapped around meaning I had to stop what I was doing for twenty minutes. And it never felt like it actually did anything for my skin. Not really worth it's £5 price tag.
The YesTo mask on the other hand was brilliant. It didn't exactly stay in place but I could still get on with stuff as it worked. And boy did it work. It gave me spots which isn't usually a good thing but it meant it had deep cleansed and pulled all the crap from skin. Definitely one I'd happily repurchase.

Some undereye gel patches I used up are these ones from Superdrug. They are more of a gel than a cotton texture and are very cooling and refreshing on the under eye area. I love using these when my eyes look particularly puffy or red. The only downfall is this pack only contains one pack of one use eye patches.

Another product I managed to finish two of is this Maybelline SuperStay Primer. It was only released at the beginning of the year but I'm already on my third bottle. It's a very lightweight flesh coloured liquid that hydrates, smoothes and primes skin perfectly. It doesn't dry down on the skin and it's tacky finish means it grabs brilliantly onto any base product you place over top. Definitely a product you'll be seeing a lot of in future empties.

Another primer I went through not one but two bottles of is this Barry M Hydro Fix Primer Water. This lightweight spray is perfect for locking in extra hydrating before you apply your base. It's also brilliant for wetting your beauty blender if it starts to dry out when your doing your make up.

Surprisingly I only finished one concealer this time around and it's my all time favourite from Maybelline. The Anti-Age Eraser Eye is one of the only concealers that covers my sometimes horrendous looking dark circles. I can't remember how many of these I've gone through but it's probably quite a lot.

I managed to finish another one of my Collection Pressed Powders. This is in the shade Ivory which is perfect for my fair complexion. It doesn't turn orange as I wear it and it's lightweight enough to be worn under the eyes as well as all over the face. I use this everytime I wear make up and have already hit pan on my latest powder already.

A lip liner I kept in my collection even though it was empty was this one from Rimmel. It's in their raved about shade East End Snob which is the perfect neutral shade. It's wind up action means it has a tendency to snap or break if dropped so you end up going through more product than is sometimes necessary.

I finished a pot of my go to lip balm. A lot of people don't like Carmex lip balms but I find they are the only ones that actually do something for my lips. Others like Vaseline and Nivea just sit on the lips and leave them feeling drier than they started off as.

This may not look like it's got to go in the bin but it does. Not only is it dirty and old but the bottom is starting to rip. And because of those rips I find it's not blending my make up out as well as it's absorbing more product than it's blending.

Something I rarely finish is perfume but I've finally finished my first bottle of the Rosie For Autograph Summer Rose EDP. This is another twist on her original EDP but with added notes of blackcurrant, jasmine and pear. Very light and fresh in scent this is perfect to wear during the day. I've already moved onto my second bottle of this which I made sure to purchase in a larger size.

And the last empties I have are all from Lush. I used up to Butterball Bath Bombs, one in the original form and the other in it's seasonal ButterBear form. This are nice and leave my skin feeling super soft after every use. Definitely going to be repurchasing more when I'm in Lush next. Then there is the Tisty Tosty Bath Bomb. This smelt nice, looked nice in the bath but fishing rose buds out of random places in my bath afterwards wasn't as nice. Not sure if I'd repurchase this one. And then there the Twilight Bath Bomb. This made my bath look amazing and I'd happily repurchase this because of how pretty it makes my bath look.

Review: Garnier SkinActive Sachet Masks

Ask anyone who knows me where you're most likely to find me at weekends and they'll tell you I'll be pursuing the skincare aisles in every drugstore in town looking for new releases. And one of those new releases happened to be these little beauty's from Garnier. They've released five brand new single use sachet face masks each designed to help target a particular skin issue within each skin type. And of course I picked up all five.

There is the Repairing Honey Mask. Aimed for dry to very dry skin it contains Honey and Ceramide to nourish skin and leave it feeling velvety soft. This is a leave on mask that just sinks into your skin and leaves it feeling replenished. Perfect for those long soaks in the bath.

Then you have the Radiance Boosting Juicy Mask. Aimed at dull skin this mask contains a mixture of Lemon Extract and Glycolic Acid to boost the look and feel of your skin. Due to the ingredients in this masks and their effectivness you only leave this on for five minutes before washing it off to reveal silky smooth skin.

There is the Matcha Tea and Kaolin Mask. This is aimed at Combination to Oily Skin types. It's combination of clay and matcha tea to help minimise the appearence of pores and mattifies the skin all at once. This is another wash off mask but this one you leave on for ten minutes before washing off with a warm damp flannel or muslin cloth.

Then you have Volcano Mask. It contains Volcanic Rock and Clay that self heats when it comes into contact with the skin and works to smooth and minimise the appearence of pores. It's good for all skin types but would work particularly well on those with combination /oily skin as it helps reduce shine as well as unclogging pores. Another rinse off mask this one you only leave on for three minutes before rinsing.

And finally there is the Aqua Mask. Aimed at dehydrated skin this contains pomergranate and glycerin in a jelly like texture to quench skin's thirst. A lot like the Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask without the actual sheet mask. This is the other leave on mask in the range that you just let sink into this skin. This and the Honey Mask are perfect pampering masks for when you know you don't have to leave the house.

Each mask comes in it's own specifically designed one use sachet. They're easy to open without product spurting everywhere and inside the sachet there is a generous amount of product. If you're not a fan of wasting masks like this I'd say wait until this is someone with you to do it with. There is enough product to do two people or one person who prefers a thicker covering mask. The sachets don't make it hard to get every ounce of product from within unlike other sachet masks and don't drip or spill everywhere either. 

There isn't one mask in this range that I don't like. Even though people are supposed to only have one skin type or be a combination of two I always find my skin needs a little bit of everything. And this masks are perfect for that. I was wary of trying the Juicy mask because of it's citrus ingredients but it's one of my favourites as it's a quick mask that shows results with every use. I haven't used the Aqua Mask as much as the rest as I always find myself reaching for the Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask instead. And my favourite bit about these masks? They don't cost the earth. For a brand like Garnier you'd expect them to be around the £3-£4 mark but they come in a brilliant £1.50 each. So if you can't decide between two then it won't break the bank if you decide to buy both.

Review: Simple Hydrating Cleansing Oil

This is a product that's been sat in my stash for the longest time. I intially tried it, wasn't too impressed so put it back and forgot about it. However lately I've been trying as many cleansers as possible for an upcoming set of posts and stumbled across this. I gave it another chance and immediately fell in love.

The Simple Hydrating Cleansing Oil is a lightweight cleansing oil that melts away make up including the toughest of eye make whilst simultaneously nourishing skin so after each use it feels soft to the touch. It contains Vitamin E so it nourishes the skin as you use it and you aren't left with that dry tight feeling that some cleansers leave skin feeling. It also doesn't leave skin feeling or looking greasy so people with combination/oily skin types can use it if they wish. As it's a Simple skin product it doesn't contain any perfume, colourants or harsh chemicals so if anyone with sensitive skin can get away with using this as well.

According to the back of the bottle two to three drops is enough to melt away make up and leave looking and feeling refreshed. However personally I feel like you need a good five or six drops for it to be enough to really work on the skin. My favourite part of using this oil is seeing it change from it's original translucent shade to the colour of your make up, it's like an indication of how well it's removing any signs of make up. A wet flannel or muslin cloth is all you need to remove this and afterwards your skin will be make up free and feeling like a baby's butt.

Initially I wasn't impressed by this product, there was something about it I just didn't like but this time around I've been really enjoying this. It makes a brilliant inital cleanse to really get rid of all make up meaning your second cleanse can really focus on your skin. Even when using more drops than recommended it never looks like you've used a ton of product with each use. It means this bottle will last a long time which is better than other oil cleanser I've tried recently. And the best bit, it costs less than a tenner. Definitely one you should have a look at when your next in the skincare aisle of your local drugstore.

Top 5: Holy Grail Products

The term Holy Grail Product gets thrown around a lot across the beauty community. Everyone has their own Holy Grail Products, products they can't live without and repurchase constantly. Now not everyone is going to agree on people's ideas of Holy Grail Products but that's beauty in general, what may work for one isn't going to work for everyone. And with that being said today I'm going to be sharing with you my Top 5 Holy Grail Products.

Clean and Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion
A product that has firmly had Holy Grail status for well over a decade now is this Clean and Clear Cleansing Lotion. This deep cleanses skin whilst the salicyclic acid in it helps remove any bacteria that could cause a blemish. It's aimed at sensitive skin and doesn't leave skin feeling tight or dry after use. In fact it leaves skin feeling clean, refreshed and ready for the rest of your skincare routine. It's also easy to use, perfect for people who are in a rush in the morning. Just pour some on a cotton and wipe across your face, it's that simple and you're be disgusted by how much dirt it picks up.

Garnier Miracle Sleeping Cream
A night cream that I can't live without is this Sleeping Cream from Garnier. There's something in this cream that I just can't put my finger on that works really well with my skin. It looks like a cream but feels almost like a gel on the skin when you rub it in. And it has bounce back technology so instead of leaving a load of fingers marks in it, it bounces back and looks brand new each time you open it. You apply this at night before bed and as you sleep it works to make skin look brighter, refreshed and moisturised. Once you wake up your skin looks brighter, feels smoother and like you've had more sleep than you've actually had. Brilliant for big events or everyday use I always make sure I have a pot beside my bed.

Nip And Fab+ Glycolic Fix Extreme Night Pads
A skin treatment that had Holy Grail status before I even finished the first tub comes from Nip and Fab.Their Extreme Fix Glycolic Pads changed my skin from the first use. Containing 5% Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid and Salicylic Acid these pre soaked pads exfoliate and refresh the skin as you use them. I always feel a slight tingle after I use them but it doesn't worry me as I know that it's working. And afterwards my skin feels smoother, refreshed and softer to the touch. Not one for those who have extremely sensitive skin.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser
I was introduced to Liz Earle as a brand last year and instantly fell in love with their award winning Cleanse And Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. This natural cream cleanser not only removes all signs of make up including waterproof mascara but soothes skin and leaves it feeling soft and soothed. I've gone through several bottles of this and am in dire need of a fourth as I absolutely love this stuff. If you have sensitive skin that doesn't agree with the more chemically based cleansers on the market then this is definitely for you.

Rosie For Autograph Lipstick in Lady Rose
A lipstick I can't live without which you can see from the bullet comes from Rosie For Autograph. Her signature shade Lady Rose is one shade I can't live without. It can easily put together a look or come to the rescue when your chosen lipstick doesn't quite work out. It's creamy formula and comfortable wear makes it a statement piece in my make up collection. I've nearly worked my way through my first tube and will definitely be repurchasing another when it's gone.

Review: Barry M Matte Me Up Lip Kit

Liquid lipsticks and lip kits are big news in the beauty industry at the moment. A lot of higher end brands are dabbling in the trend but not many high street brands are. One brand that is jumping on the bandwagon is Barry M. Alongside their singular Matte Me Up Liquid Lipsticks they've also released limited edition Matte Me Up Lip Kits.

There are three kits in total and each one comes with a lip liner and matching liquid lipstick. I have the shade Runway which is the deepest of all three. It's a deep pinky shade that is darker than it appears in the tube. Perfect for everyone as it'll look different on individual skintones. This is the perfect pink for me as it isn't too cool toned and doesn't have that bubblegum pink tone to it that many high street pink shades do.

The lip liner is ridiculously creamy and just glides on the lips when you apply it. Even though it's a wooden pencil form it's not scratchy or dry in texture. One swipe and you're left with an opaque line which you won't need to go over again to define the lips. As this liner is so creamy you can get away with using this to fill in the entire lip without it drying lips out like other liners can do.

The liquid lipstick is remniscent of the Kat Von D in that it's very light in texture and formula. Highly pigmented and opaque in one swipe, it's lightweight formula means you can barely feel it on the lips. It dries darker on the lips than it appears when first applied but the colour is still stunning and versatile to wear. It has your standard doe foot applicator that has enough flex to it to easily glide and follow the contour of your lip.

Once this has dried down there is no way that this is going to budge. You can drink, eat and even kiss someone with this on and it won't budge one bit. Of course like with any liquid lipstick or matte lip products if you don't have lips that aren't in the best condition then this isn't going to wear as well as if you'd prepped your lips for this. It can cling to dry, flaky patches and even if you apply another coat to try and cover it, it won't work as it'll only highlight it further. However if you regularly exfoliate and prep your lips then you won't be disappointed by this kit.

Overall this is one of the better kits on the market, it's pigmented, long wearing and budget friendly Whilst the likes of Primark and Make Up Revolution are both doing their own versions of lip kits they're not as good as Barry M's. From just swatching in store Barry M's Lip Kits feel better in quality and could probably rival even some of their higher end counterparts. It comes in at £6.99 a kit and you get both a lip liner and a liquid lipstick for the price which is brilliant value for money. If you can find them in a Boots or Superdrug I suggest you grab one or all three.