Revlon Color Burst Lipstick

Description: 

Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick uses Elasticolor technology to distribute rich colour pigments evenly over lips and allows the formula to move comfortably with lips – like a second skin!

Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick is also infused with moisturisers and antioxidants such as Sweet Almond Oil to improve lip texture and prevent drying.

Key Benefits:

• Innovative pigments provide immediate, high-pigment colour release on lips to give rich colour in just one swipe.
• Unique Elasticolor technology hugs lips with an explosion of colour that feels virtually weightless
• Contains film-forming polymers for longer wear and skin conditioning properties
• Moisturisers and anti-oxidants, including Sweet Almond Oil, improve lip texture
• Beautiful packaging, with premium bullet lipstick case and embossed Revlon logo

I'm not into bright colours - I don't really feel that they suit me, plus I have rather thin lips and therefore prefer sporting a nude pout. However, this summer is all about lipstick making a big comeback and bold, bright shades are in.

When I first noticed Revlon's new Color Burst Lipstick collection, I was immediately drawn to the very chic packaging - I also love the logo which has been embossed onto the lipstick itself.

Swatch: 

...and how it looks on the lips:

The colour which caught my attention first was the coral one, of course (I've already mentioned before that I'm absolutely coral mad). Although a little sceptical about whether or not this bold coral was the right shade for me, I decided to purchase it anyway as I could always wear it as more of a stain rather then straight from the bullet.

I find this to be a very wearable shade as the formula of this lipstick is buildable and can be adapted to be as intense or as sheer as you like - my preference is to sheer it down or wear as  a stain by patting it into the lips with my fingers.

Color Burst has a rich, creamy texture, feels very light and moisturising on the lips and has good staying power.

That's my bright lippy sorted.

Have you tried it yet and what are your thoughts?

Freebie Gloss

If you want to get yourself some Jemma Kidd Make Up School Hi Shine Gloss worth £14 for free then keep a lookout for July's issue of Red magazine. 

They are giving away three of the best-selling shades - I was wiser this time round and only purchased one issue, opting for the lightest shade of gloss, Shell. It's a nude colour with just the tiniest hint of baby pink. 
The gloss smells deliciously - the scent reminds me of grapefruit. 

Aren't freebies just great? Happy gloss hunting!

Cream/Mousse Eye shadows

I have become completely obsessed with using cream and mousse based eye shadows and for the last month they've become the only eye shadows that I've been reaching for over and over again.

Drug store brands such as Max Factor and the UK's No7 have some great ones to offer which are not only incredibly easy to use but also stay put from the moment you put them on until you take them off.

No7 Stay Perfect Eye Mousse, retailing for £8.75, comes in a little tube and is available in six different shades: Vanilla, Fudge, Khaki, Sky, Pewter and Plum. These go on smoothly and can either be applied with your fingers or a brush - I like to use a brush as this helps to blend them out and up into the socket. They've got great texture and coverage and don't crease, smudge or fade. The plum shade is my absolute favourite for creating a very modern looking smokey eye when used with a black kohl pencil and lashings of mascara. 

Swatches (left to right): Fudge, Plum and below (left to right): Pewter, Khaki

Max Factor Colour Precision Eyeshadow (£6.99), is available in five shades: Pearl Beige, Icycle Rose (a frosty pink), Golden Green, Star Dust (a silvery grey) and Coffee.

 The colours are all easy to wear every day as they are soft and dry to a matte texture which provides just a bit of a lovely sheen. Coffee and Pearl Beige are lovely neutral shades. The other colours are perfect for when you want to introduce colour into your make-up but still keep it looking fresh and subtle.

The eyeshadow comes in a tube that resembles that of a lip gloss and has a soft sponge tip applicator.

Once you get the colour onto your eyelids, you can blend out the edges with your fingertips by using gentle tapping motions. The moment the eyeshadow dries it just stays put all day long without smudging or creasing. I've had mine on since this morning and it's still looking perfect.

These are definitely worth a try and I'm over the moon with their performance.
Have you used them?

Bronzed and Tropical

I've been using Hawaiian Tropic Self Tan Creme for two weeks now and it has officially become a Holy Grail product for me. It provides a very natural looking golden tan and does not turn you orange.

This self-tan has an incredibly creamy and rich texture, glides smoothly onto the skin, moisturising it for up to 12 hours. I'd say that this is more of a gradual tanning cream as it builds and maintains your tan when applied daily and does not dry the skin out like most self-tanners.
In fact it leaves your skin feeling very soft and smooth - and I can't get over the creaminess of this tanner - such a pleasure to apply.

The cream is white in colour so it doesn't provide an instant tan. I apply it after taking a bath or shower the way I would any ordinary cream so I'm not actually very diligent in my application - just use sparingly around the knees, elbows, ankles - I also don't use any gloves nor a mitt - I apply it with my hands and just wash my palms following application.
The scent of this tan is perfect for the summer season as it smells deliciously tropical - so no awful fake tan scent present!

I've noticed Boots selling it for £13.99 but you can buy it from Gordon's Chemist for £3.99 - I'm very confused as to this difference in the retail price but have obviously been getting mine from Gordon's.

Please let me know if you've used it and what you think - I've been loving it as a daily moisturiser that keeps my skin soft, giving it a healthy looking colour.

Freedom from Frizz

Avon's come out with a new product called Lotus Shield which promises to end all your bad hair days by keeping frizz at bay.

Here's what Avon has to say about its most effective frizz treatment:
Our 1st frizz treatment to last through 2 washes. Works even in 97% humidity. Works even after your hair gets wet.
Formulated with Lotus Shield Technology, to help form a protective lightweight barrier that holds up even in humid weather. Lightweight, leave-in serum, instantly helps smooth and tame, then lasts through two washes.
The serum contains hydro-phobic micro particles which form a barrier helping to repel water, just like a lotus leaf does and this repels moisture and defies humidity.

For maximum results it is best to use the serum along with the Frizz Control Shampoo and Conditioner.

You simply wash and condition your hair as usual and then apply the Lotus Shield serum to damp hair, dry and style as normal.

The serum leaves your hair smelling beautifully and does not make your hair greasy or sticky. I hate it whenever a leave in hair product weighs your hair down making it look all greasy and flat - well this serum won't. It left my hair feeling very soft and very manageable. I also decided not to wear my hood whenever it rained last week just to give it a good testing and it passed the test. My hair did not turn all static and frizzy as it normally would when wet.

Although Avon states that this serum fights frizz even after 2 washes, I find myself needing to apply it after every wash in order to be frizz free - but that could just be my hair...

Glamour's Benefit Goodies

Today I was lucky enough to get my hands on Glamour magazine along with it's free Benefit products.

I was pretty sensible and opted for only getting two issues, those containing the It Stick & the Eye Bright, total value=£31 - what a steal!!! 

 The other freebie on offer is the Bad Gal Pencil liner, which I didn't get cause of my sensible side asking me what on earth  was I going to do with three issues of the same magazine and reminding me of the fact that I have more than enough of black pencil liners. 

Yeah, I do regret not grabbing the other issue up...  
Anyway this is a great way to test these products out as I've never used them before. So far I'm pretty impressed with their very soft, smooth and creamy formulation which blends with great ease. 

Here are the swatches (left - concealer It Sick; right - Eye Bright). 

If you're based in the UK then I suggest you grab these up as it's a MEGA bargain!

Rimmel Colour Mousse Eye Shadow

It was only last week that I purchased my first pot of Rimmel Colour Mousse Eye Shadow - where have I been?! The thing is that I don't normally buy drugstore eyeshadows just because I'm used to buying them online and sticking to my good old trusted brands such as Smashbox or  buying them from suppliers of stage make-up. In addition to this I hardly ever looked twice at the cream and mousse type shadows on offer just because I assumed that they'd be a creasing nightmare.

Taking advantage of the Boots 3 for 2 offers I purchased four pots of the Rimmel Mousse shadows because the colours and texture of the mousse was just too good to resist.
I'm over the moon with my purchase and totally in love with these metallic pots of wonder - in fact it's the only eyeshadow I've been wearing since buying it so I've really put the lasting power of the mousses to the test - they promise to stay on for 8hrs - I'll reveal all so read on...

The mousse comes in a little glass jar with a black screw top lid.

Although the pot is quite small, it holds quite a lot of mousse and taking into account the fact that you only need to use the tiniest amount of product per application, this pot should last ages.
The texture of the mousse reminds me of whipped cream. 

Application is a dream and and you really can't go wrong with it especially cause there is no product fallout. You can apply it with either a brush or your fingers.
It glides on with ease, is easy to blend and upon application it feels very cool and refreshing on the eyelids. However I did notice that when I applied more than one coat my eyelids started to sting a little bit - just for a few seconds.

The mousse takes only a couple of seconds to dry so be sure to do any blending or to clean up any smudges fairly quickly. Also, allow the mousse to dry before applying eyeliner and mascara.

The mousse provides a very glamorous look with it's metallic shine and is foil like in appearance.

Here are some swatches (from left to right): Glitz, Sassy, Mocha, Galaxy

Just one layer of the softer more neutral shades such as Glitz or Sassy are very chic and perfect for a daytime look while Mocha and Galaxy are great for creating a glamorous evening look.

As for the staying power of these eyeshadows - AMAZING!
They really do live up to their 8 hr promise and stay on even longer than that, looking just as fresh and metallic as when they were applied.  They don't crease, smudge or fade. Last absolutely the whole day without fading or having to reapply.

I did put them through the ultimate test these last two days -
On day one I applied the mousse morning time and spent the day doing some work and then lots of the usual household chores - cooking, cleaning, washing up, etc, there was even a little mid-afternoon siesta squeezed in there yet the eyeshadow hadn't budged.
Day two of the ultimate test - applied in the morning - spent most of the day outdoors - walks with my dog, cleaning the car, mowing the lawn, getting my legs waxed...etc - not a crease in sight.

I really do feel that these are worth a try.
Which mousse/cream eyeshadows do you recommend?
 

Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser

Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser doesn't really stand out on the shelves with it's very plain packaging and that's probably why it's never grabbed my attention.

Reading through last week's edition of LOOK magazine I discovered that Kylie Minogue is actually a big fan of the cream and insisted that her smooth skin was down to this very cream cleanser.
Let's face it - Kylie has a great complexion! But you knew that already...

So of course my mission had been set - off to Boots and let's give this one a go! I picked up my jar the following day for just under £4 and tried it out that very night.

I heart it! I really do! For the last couple of weeks I've been cleansing my face with good old olive oil and loving the effects as well as the hydration that it has brought back into my skin.
Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser has provided me with the same sort of results.

Here's what it says on the box:

A rich facial cleanser that cleans deep down without drying your skin. Its gentle and effective action leaves your skin soft, smooth and radiantly clean.

• The deep cleansing action removes hidden dirt and make-up, even stubborn waterproof mascara.
• Its special blend of ingredients soften the skin as they deep cleanse so your complexion feels smooth - never tight or dry.
• Suitable for all skin types.

Usage: Use everyday as part of your cleansing routine. Smooth generously on the skin with the finger tips. Gently remove with cotton wool or a warm flannel for a truly deep cleanse. For extra freshness, rinse off with warm water.

Not to be used for children under 3 years of age.
Not to be used on peeling or irritated skin.

INGREDIENTS: Paraffinum Liquidum, Aqua, Cera Alba, Ceresin, Sodium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Parfum, DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, BHT, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Eugenol.

Ok, the above list of ingredients has been a nightmare to rewrite:)

The consistency of this cleanser is very thick.

It feels as if you're smothering your face with a really thick moisturiser like the original Nivea Cream, so overall very soft and soothing. It does exactly what it says on the box.
It gets all my make-up off including waterproof mascara and doesn't irritate my eyes in any way.
Leaves my skin feeling very soft and well moisturised - no tightness in sight. In fact, I don't even feel the need to moisturise following cleansing.
My complexion is left feeling perfectly cleansed, soft, supple and boosting with radiance - it looks as if I've had a facial. 

I'll definitely continue using this one and will most definitely keep repurchasing. I'm going to give other cream cleansers a go as well - do you have any favourites to recommend?

Spring/Summer Pastels by Revlon

I've been roaming the shelves of Boots lately and taking advantage of the 3 for 2 offers...and since I'm a big sucker for pastels I picked up two items from Revlon.

One that I have to rave about is the new nail varnish from the Daydreamer collection in Lilac Pastelle. It's just such a bang on trend shade for this spring/summer - a perfectly soft, pastel lilac colour.

The consistency is a bit thin so you'll need 2 coats but could get away with just one if you were going for a very soft wash of colour. The polish glides on for a perfect finish, is ultra glossy and lasts really well.

The next thing that caught my eye was this eyeshadow quad:

It's Revlon's 12 Hour Eyeshadow quad in Summer Suedes featuring 4 very soft shades in a light pastel baby blue, baby pastel pink, chocolate brown and a bright coral.

These apply really sheer and so provide just a soft wash of colour. I love the coral shade and will be using it not only as an eyeshadow but also as a blush and probably on the lips as well - over vaseline or clear gloss.
Although the shades are very pretty, the downside to these eyeshadows is that they aren't very pigmented and you really need to keep layering them for the colours to show up. They are perfect if you're after a fresh and minimal look.

Last but not least I would like to mention Revlon's Superlustrous Lipglosses. I own two - in shades Coral Reef and Peach Petal.

I've already mentioned them in previous posts but I really do think that they still deserve a second mention. These glosses are smooth and rich in colour so no need for lipstick. They leave the lips feeling moisturised, are long lasting and provide the lips with a shiny finish. In addition to this they contain an SPF of 15 so not only will your lips look super trendy but they'll be protected as well.
I've already got my eye on the Lilac Pastelle shade!

Have you tried any of these? What are your thoughts?

Salon Acrylics at Home

Rio's Professional Quick Dip Acrylics (£19.99) are a life saver for all those ladies out there who love the look of beautiful nails but can't afford to splurge out on regular salon visits.

I bought this acrylics set a while back as I was curious as to the results and since I will begin training as a nail technician later this year, I figured that it would also turn out to be good practise.

The set contains: 40 nail extension tips, resin, acrylic powder, nail glue, spray-on activator, 2 in 1 top coat, 3 stage buffer files, grit file, sanding block, hoof stick, spare resin brushes, instructions and step-by-step dvd.

Rio says: Professional Quick Dip Acrylics uses a newly developed acrylic dipping powder to give thin, strong, natural-looking nails quickly and easily. The professional finish looks beautiful with or without nail polish. Can be used on nail tips or natural nails.
This is a very user-friendly set even for total beginners as both the dvd and instructions are very informative and easy to follow - practise, precision, patience and approximately 2 hours to spare is all you need to attain a professional looking result.

The tips that come with this set aren't the white ones but those similar to the natural nail - so if you're wanting white tips then you'll need to buy them separately. I personally find the clear tips to be more natural looking and versatile - as I can either keep them clear, give myself a french manicure or just a regular polish.

The dvd included not only shows you how to apply your acrylics but also how to fill them in after 2-3 weeks growth and contains some additional videos on nail wraps, art, foils, airbrush nails and the perfect pedicure - a real treat for nail enthusiasts.

This is how my nails turned out: 

They are very strong and long lasting - the longevity of your nails will of course depend on how you treat them and the sort of work you do on a daily basis. Make sure to wear gloves for all your housework. Mine tend to last a long time - in fact I get bored of them after a while and end up removing them while they're still in tip-top condition. I seem to have a love-hate relationship with my acrylics - when I have them on I get bored of them and long for my real, short nail style...then I get bored of my real nails and caring for them all the time and that's when all the thoughts arise at the back of my mind that I need to get the acrylics back on...weird...so just as well that I have this set.

This is a great kit to have for those who can't afford or just don't have the time for regular salon visits. If you're someone who's just into experimenting with artificial nails then you won't be disappointed either.

Acrylics will also benefit those who have weak nails prone to breaking easily as an acrylic overlay will make the nail stronger. The overlay would help guard your own nail against breakage while allowing any splits or weakened nails to be grown out. A layer of acrylic also helps to make nail polish stay on longer. So overall there's less maintenance involved with acrylics.

A lot of people worry about the damage that acrylics will do to their own natural nail and yes damage can be done if you're not careful about the way in which you apply and remove them. So take your time, be gentle during this process and follow the instructions to a tee. Remember to be gentle with your own nail plate and not to buff or file it vigorously. I've had these acrylics on a couple of times now and they haven't damaged my own nails in any way.

The kit is available from:

www.riobeauty.com
www.amazon.co.uk
www.argos.co.uk

Please let me know if you've tried these?

White to Brown

A couple of months ago I attended a spray tanning course and the tan being used was called White to Brown. I hadn't heard of it before but was incredibly impressed with the results - it gave the most natural looking golden brown tan ever.

I recently purchased a couple of products from the White to Brown range - the exfoliator, body wash, self tanner and a tan extending cream. These products use an ideal pH balance which allows them to work in harmony with the DHA in tanning products in order to optimise your tan.

 I love the colour result which is achieved with this tanner - a very natural looking golden brown shade. The tanner is a creamy lotion so it doesn't leave my skin feeling overly dry and because it is of a very dark shade, it gives you instant colour and you can see exactly where it is being applied.

 The tan develops over a period of 6-8 hours. I like to apply it at night time after a bath or shower and to  leave it on overnight to really get the tan to develop.
I'd say that the best time to apply this self-tan would be at night time or on a day off because it's crucial that you avoid any sweating or contact with water during the tan's development time. Also the top layer of the tan is just the colour guide which will rub off on your clothes that's why it's best to wear something dark and loose fitting.
Whenever you bath or shower, the top layer of the colour will be washed off leaving you with your golden brown tan. The tan has a pleasant scent to it but I have noticed a bit of the irritating "fake tan" scent once it is fully developed. Luckily this scent isn't over-powering; in fact I can actually only smell it when I stick my nose really close to the skin...which isn't bad cause you have to wash the tan off once it's developed meaning that the subtle stink doesn't stick around for long.
I've started applying my whitetobrown tan with a mitt, I used to use disposable gloves but find the mitt much easier to work with and feel that it does a better job of buffing the product into the skin and gives more of an even application.

I manage to maintain keeping my skin a golden colour for about 5 to 7 days but this includes using the tan extending cream every other day or sometimes even daily. How long a tan lasts will vary from person to person and everyone's own personal skin type and beauty routine.

Here are a couple of tips for extending the life of your tan:

• always exfoliate prior to fake tan application
• don't apply any creams, oils, lotions, deodorants, perfumes, etc, to your skin prior to fake tan application as this will just act as a barrier
• avoid excessive sweating while the tan is developing
• avoid contact with water during development time
• no swimming pools (chlorine will bleach the colour)
• try not to touch the skin during development time as this may stain the palms of your hands
• on the initial removal of the tan merely buff off the excess colour or use a body wash designed specifically to be used with your fake tan - so avoid using shower gels, shampoos, etc
• don't exfoliate within the first week
• after bathing or showering, skin should be patted dry with a towel and not rubbed vigorously
• use tan extenders or gradual tanning creams
• keep the body well moisturised
•  excessive spraying of perfume onto the body will cause drying of the skin and reduce the longevity of your tan

White to Brown products are not tested on animals.

https://amzn.to/3augAli

Have you tried the white to brown self-tanner yet?

FOTD - light pastels

Today I wore a bright fuchsia top and colourful accessories so I wanted to opt for very light, pastel make-up.
I'm so glad that pastels are big this season as I've always been a fan of pastel shades.
Here's the look: 

Make-up used: 

 FACE

• Leichner Camera Clear Tinted Foundation in Beige
• Eyeko 3 in 1 Cream as highlighter
• Garnier 2 in 1 Tinted Roll-on for covering up dark under eye circles

 CHEEKS

• Smashbox Fusion Body Lights Bronzing Powder for contouring
• Smashbox Highlighter Quad (pastel pink shade used on apples of the cheeks)

EYES

• Too Faced eyeshadow in Heiress all over eyelid up to the crease
• Smashbox Cream Liner in Thunder in outer V and lower lash line
• Avon Lash-Pro Mascara 

and for the LIPS I used Revlon's Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Peach Petal:

It's a very creamy and light peachy shade - perfect for those of you who love your glosses and a nude lip. It gives just a tiny tint of a milky colour and leaves the lips really hydrated.