Biore; Nose Pore Strips, Empty-Review

Empties: Mini Reviews

When I completely finish a product, I upload a quick blog post reviewing it.

Today I finished a pack of pore strips from Biore. I bought them from Superdrug about six months ago.

Around the nose is the biggest area of concern pore-wise for most people, and this is definitely the case with me too. These strips get placed around the nose, left to harden, and when you peel it off it takes out any dirtiness that was clogging your pores previously. You'll see the little black dots left behind- it's quite gross actually.

Each came in a packet like this, and there were 6 in one packet. It cost around the £7 mark, which I thought was quite a lot, but there didn't seem to be many alternatives to this product in the 'drugstore' and I had heard many people talk about these from this brand, so I thought I would give them a go.

They're really easy to use and quick. I normally apply this and do a face mask on the rest of my face at the same time. 

It really does harden (like having solid paper mache on your nose), and peeling it off is therefore quite the task- it hurts, but it's satisfying. Afterwards I cleanse my face to remove any residue, and then moisturise. It leaves the skin feeling really smooth- just like freshly shaven/waxed legs hehe.

Would I repurchase this? Probably yes. It's not a necessity in my skincare routine but nice to use once in a while and no doubt these really work well.

Have you tried pore strips before? Are there any other good products from Biore you reccomend? Let me know in the comments below.

E.L.F. Loves and Loathes: Eyes Edition

E.L.F. Loves and Loathes (Eye Products)

This is first in a three-part blog post set, I'll be doing lip products next and then face products.

E.L.F. is an online brand but in other parts of the world you can even get them in drugstores! They're so popular because their products are really cheap, and yet they aim to dupe a lot of more expensive products out there.

Can I just firstly say that these are my opinions and my opinions only- some of you may love the products I hate, and vice versa!

So let's get into it!

I'm gonna start off with the loathes, just to get them out of the way.

**

BAD PRODUCTS (2)

1.
Cream Eyeshadows
£3.95

It's not often I really hate a product, but these I really didn't get along with.

The packaging is beautiful and sleek and you seem to get a lot of product in them, but they're not smooth at all and therefore give you a patchy application. They also crease on the eyelids which is just not something you want for a cream eyeshadow- just go for the MAC ones; in this case it's worth the price.

Patchy and not that pigmented- I'm going to throw these products away unfortunately

They won't last very long because the product dries out. I've tried 4 of these and both the lighter and darker shades are all awful.

2. 

I also got free once the 6 in one to-go palettes, or something. They weren't horrendous and the blushes and bronzers especially were quite nice, however a lot of the eyeshadows really weren't great.

I don't have them anymore because I threw out a couple of the bad sets and gave the rest to a friend who doesn't have much eyeshadow.

I didn't have any pictures of this and couldn't find it on the website, but here are some pictures on google if you're wondering what it looks like.

**

SO-SO PRODUCTS (1)

1.

The Mineral Infused Mascara

£3.95

This is something I liked, but I can't say I completely loved.

It's a good enough mascara, and the brush shape means this is amazing for reaching the lower lashes without smudging mascara everywhere!

However the formulation is very liquidy and thin- with this mascara you get more of a lengthening effect than volumising. Further, it's not as long-wearing as I'd like in a mascara. But this product really isn't bad by any means! And I do get a lot of use out of it.

**

GREAT PRODUCTS (4)

1.

Wet Gloss Lash and Brow Clear Mascara

£1.95

This is a great product, and sadly i'm almost out. You can see my spoolies are a bit tinted from use, but they were originally completely clear.

I used this over the top of my eyebrow products to set the brow hairs in place. And boy does it set the hairs in place! If you want a brow gel that means your lashes really won't budge at all throughout the whole day, then try this out. But if you prefer a more natural setting gel, and one that doesn't make them feel slightly stiff and very set-down, then perhaps try another one. The Body Shop one is good but a bit more natural-feeling.


 2.
Eyeliner and Shadow Stick
£1.97 reduced from £3.95

I got this in a free Halloween bag in 2012 and I've grown to love it. This is a much better cream eyeshadow than the ones in the pot first mentioned in this post.

It comes with two cream eye products.

One thicker end is a lighter shadow stick which I use all over the lid- it's a beautiful colour

Green is a colour which isn't really too far from the standard brown, but adds something new to an ordinary eye look. Try doing green all over the lid and pushing a brown into the crease, or alternatively doing a usual smokey eye but running a slight dark green amongst the brown in the crease.

The 'moss' shade is a slightly darker and thinner colour which is amazing as an eyeliner. It's not too noticeable as a green than a slightly off-black, so I've used this as an upper eye liner before, but it also works amazingly along the lower lash line.

 I really reccommend this product, and will hopefully try it in other shades too.

This is in the shade green/moss

3.

Eyelid Primer

£1.95

Sorry I don't have a picture for this one, I've just run out. I don't need any more primers right now but if i'm ever searching for a cheaper alternative, I definitely will. It's like a thinner version of the Urban Decay primer potion, and although I can't say it works exactly the same, it's a primer, and it primes well enough. I can't really fault it, especially for the price.

I got it in the shade sheer, as it was before they started having the options of other shades. It's here on the website.

4.

Eyebrow Kit

£3.95

This is another product I don't own anymore- so sorry, no pictures for this! But I'm sure you've seen it before on blogs or in videos as it's quite talked about. I had it in the shade ash, and you can find it here on the website.

And for good reason! It's not too thick of a consistency so looks quite natural, the colour selection is good and the powder nicely sets the wax in place whilst adding a second dimension to the just one sole colour.

**

What are your favourite eye products from ELF? What are your least favourite? Let me know in the comments below.

Carmex; Moisturising Lip Balm, Empty-Review

Empties: Product Reviews

When I finish a product I do a quick blog post reviewing it.

Today I finished the Carmex Moisturising Lip Balm. I've had it for more than a year and you can buy it from Superdrug.

A lip balm moisturises the lips if they're dry, and is especially good to use before applying a lipstick to ensure an even finish.

It's around the £4 mark, and basically I love this stuff. No other lip balm even comes close to this for me.

You get a gentle sensation on application, and I don't know how but it seems to evaporate any dry or cracked skin- it's amazing.

Using up a massive tub like this is definitely an achievement, this lasts longer than any other lip balms I have ever bought.

This one is just in the classic scent, which I don't love loads, but it's different. I've repurchased it in the cherry flavour, and I've also tried the strawberry one but in the tube form. I think the cherry is my favourite. The one I have in the tube is perfect for popping in my bag, and also has a spf of 15 which is great.

Would I repurchase this product? I already have, and would continue to do so. This is hands down the best lip balm/ lip moisturiser I have ever tried.

Have you tried this product? What lip balms do you use? Let me know in the comments below.

Review: Barry M Lip Lacquer Crayon

Review: Barry M Lip Lacquer Crayons

This product is somewhat a lipstick but is slightly thicker in formulation and extremely pigmented. They also are not simple in colour and have more to them than initially meets the eye.

The texture is a lot thicker than the sort of balm-stain products we've been seeing a lot in the drugstore recently; so not comparable to those such as the Revlon balm stains. The thick formulation is closer to that of a thick lipstick than a balm. They probably are closer in similarity to the NARS lip crayons.

They cost £4.95 from the drugstore- any Superdrug/Boots with a Barry M counter or section.

I've had these for a very long time, and only just thought of writing a review.

Ballet Pink

Ballet pink is a light white-y pink nude. It is extremely frosty and has a blue-purple sheen when it catches the light. This is not an everyday colour, but I do like it. It's interesting for use as part of a fancy dress costume or something.

Party Pink

This deep pink with dark purple undertones and lots of glitter and gloss does leave a slight stain on the lips. It is the most pigmented lip crayon I have ever used.

It would be perfect for a fancy night out as there's so much more to it than most lipsticks, it's not just a single-toned pink.

With just one swipe!

lips with no product

ballet pink

party pink

Because of the pigmentation these crayons are quite thick in formulation, but this isn't necessarily a full on negative. They are slightly sticky, but I find that all lip products are so it's not too much of a big deal.

Most are frosted and/or contain a lot of shimmer and glitter. Because of this, this product may not be for everyone.

I think there are 5+ shades in the range and you get a lot of product in them.

As they wear off during the day (though they are long lasting) the colour fades and some glitter remains. I do, however still recommend these, perhaps just try one colour out.

Do you have these products? What are your favourites from Barry M? Let me know in the comments below.

Current Nails: Barry M Lilac Foil

Currently I am wearing:

This silvery purple from Barry M called 'Lilac Foil'.

As you can tell I've been wearing a lot of Barry M at the moment, and this is another duo-chrome beautiful shade.

These are about £3, but this might have been slightly more because I believe it was a limited edition shade.

The formula of Barry M shades is usually on the thicker side, however this one despite feeling thinner still creates the opaque shade you see above in just one coat. The pictures show no basecoat or topcoat either.

It's a beautiful shade when it catches the light, and with the other colours in the 'foil' range from Barry M (silver and gold), the best part about this nail polish is it's literally completely dry within about 30 seconds. I'm not even joking it's so quick and easy to just chuck on.

Have you got this shade? What's your favourite nail polish brand? Let me know in the comments below.

Clearasil; Deep Cleansing Pads, Empty-Review

Empties: Mini Reviews

When I completely finish a product, I upload a quick blog post reviewing it.

Today I finished these Deep Cleansing Pads by Clearasil. They are around the £4 mark and I bought them from Superdrug a few months ago.

I usually used this product as more of a toner; after the makeup is removed from my face in the evening (or after cleansing in the morning before moisturiser). It removed any excess makeup and left me with an extremely smooth and clean-feeling face.

The actual pads were both durable (don't break apart like some other more flimsy pads I have tried) and meshed, meaning they gently but effectively exfoliated the skin which is very satisfying.

I wouldn't recommend using these too close to the eyes as they are strongly chemical and will cause you to have a stinging effect. The scent despite being fresh cleaning also had a distinctly fruity smell which was unlike other strictly chemical-smelling cleanser/toner pads I have used.

Clearasil is a brand I thoroughly rely on for skincare, and this product with 65 pads (lasts a long time!) is another one from the brand that once again I really loved.

It has ingredients for fighting spots and claims to give you clearer skin every day. This definitely helped to clean my skin.

This product worked well and I definitely will be repurchasing these or another set of cleansing/toning pads very soon, it's something I think people should attempt to fit this step into their skincare routine if they don't already.

Have you tried this product? What products from Clearasil do you recommend to me? Let me know in the comments below.

March Most Used: Makeup Edition (Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer)

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (Shade 1, Fair)

Here's a new feature I'm going to be doing every month where I showcase a product (I will have makeup, skincare and nail polish editions) that I have used a lot throughout the month.

My most used makeup product in March was this concealer from Collection, formally Collection 2000.

You've probably heard this raved about on the UK blogosphere and by the youtube community.

This product is available in the drugstore in the UK and it £3.49 I think, which for a concealer (a product you use everyday, is a great price).

As you can see, all the writing on the sides has completely rubbed off. I've had this for over a year now (and it's almost out, you might see it soon in an empty-review of mine), and the packaging has come into question and under critique. But honestly, I don't see it as much of a problem. For the price it is to be expected.

Furthermore, I picked up a replacement recently (as this one is almost out), and the packaging is the same but the writing seems to be clearer on the outside. Also, there seems to be a new increased colour selection, let me know if i'm wrong, but I seem to recall there only being 3 colours and now there are 4. I still picked up the lightest shade in 1 and it seems to be almost exactly if not exactly the same. This is good for me as I am extremely pale.

I had a love-hate relationship with this product, but have come to appreciate it once again. I don't use it under the eyes as I find it does tend to crease there, and also its thickness means I think it just doesn't work the best there.

However for active spot sites, blemishes and red marks, as well as around the nose, I find this works amazingly. It lasts very long on the face and doesn't look patchy (it claims 16 hour wear). I wear this on a daily basis to school instead of using a foundation, I much prefer it this way.

The applicator is an effective doe-foot. 

The finish of this product seems to be a natural satin, verging on the matte side but still looks like skin enough.

[Today I tried centring the text in my post instead of aligning it left like I usually do- do you prefer it this way or as previous? Please let me know.]

I love this product and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good yet cheap concealer. Unfortunately it is not available in the U.S. yet, but i'm sure in the future it will emerge there as there is so much demand for it.

 What's your current most used makeup product? Have you tried this concealer? Let me know in the comments below.

Witch; Anti-Blemish Primer, Empty-Review

Empties: Mini Reviews

When I completely finish a product, I upload a quick blog post reviewing it.

Today I finished the 'Anti Blemish Skin Clearing Primer' by Witch which I bought at Superdrug.

It's around the £5 mark which I think is a really good price for how much product you get- 30ml may not seem like a lot but trust me, it lasts forever.

This is a good primer to wear to school; either under foundation or instead of it. It mattes down the skin on application and acts as a barrier between your skin and any makeup which you put on top.

This primer was a milky product somewhere in between a liquid and a mousse; it didn't run. When blended out it became clear and had a mattifying effect.

The pump to this product was amazing and allowed you to control precisely how much product you got out meaning you'd never squeeze out too much or too little.

This was my second witch product (I have tried the foaming facial cleanser which I really loved) and I probably would go back to get more because the brand seems really focused on producing things good for the skin. I can also comment on its supposed 'skin clearing' effects. One day I remember having a spot and putting this on my face with no makeup, just going out to see a friend for the day. And I did notice that it shrunk the size of the spot and started it on its way to healing. I can't say that this will certainly work for you, but it seems to be a sort of two-in-one product and I highly recommend it for that.

Will I repurchase this item? Right now I definitely have more than enough primers to keep me going (I think only one is needed, max 2), but if I'm ever looking for a cheap mattifying primer to wear on a daily basis, I will definitely come back to this one.

Have you tried this product, or will you be picking one up? What products should I try from Witch next? Let me know in the comments below.

MUA Eyeshadow Trios

MUA Trio Eyeshadow in: PINK SORBET, INNOCENCE

Some of the Best Eyeshadows on the High Street

MUA AS A BRAND has been getting a lot of hype recently, and usually this is for their eyeshadows. Their most popular products are their palettes, such as the Heaven and Earth ones which have become a big deal due to their extremely low price.

Pink Sorbet

A lot of the MUA (Makeup Academy) line sells for just £1, such as their lipsticks (of which a review is coming up shortly). The MUA line can be found at Superdrug in the UK, and this is their website. As for the price of these two trios I have to share with you today, they sell for just £2.50 which I think is an amazing price.

Unlike some eyeshadows out there, these are packed with pigmentation, and there is a lot of product in each of these little domes of colour. They will definitely last you for a long time.

MUA is a cheap hit-and-miss brand, just like ELF is. Some products are really good, and others not so much. But their eyeshadows, and particularly these eyeshadow trios are worth a try.

They come in a variety of different shades, and here I am showcasing two of my favourites.

Innocence trio swatches

As you can probably tell from the swatches, they are extremely shimmery and glittery. The two trios I have to show are full glitter, meaning that there is not a single matte colour. This, for me, is definitely not a bad thing. Sure, it's hard to make a look using just the three eyeshadows and nothing else, but who says you have to do that? Certainly the lightest colour in each palette makes a stunning everyday light glittery colour for all over the lid: you don't have to wear them all at the same time.

The good thing about the glittery-ness(?) of these products, is that they provide more of a beautiful sheen than a full on glitter. The eyeshadows have a surprisingly creamy texture (not too chalky at all) and there isn't too much fallout when using them on the lid.

Pink Sorbet trio swatches

My favourite of the two is probably Pink Sorbet because I find that I can use all three colours together for one look. Admittedly, this was for a night out at an 18th Garden Party. I really recommend using all three in conjunction if you know you'll be in a very dark environment because your eyes will look amazing. 

I still think the middle colour (the lightest shade) in the Innocence trio is just divine. If you're looking for an extremely pigmented, light bright shimmery colour for any sort of highlight (browbone, inner corner, cheekbones even) then this is perfect.

The best thing about these? The swatches shown were used on normal clean skin- aka: no primer. Yes, that is the pigmentation without a primer.

Will you be trying out these trios from MUA? Does anyone have any recommendations from the rest of the MUA line? Leave me a comment below.