Pixi Vitamin C Range Review

I have two concerns when it comes to my skin, the first being spots and the second being scars.These two things are what I try and target everyday, to help reduce/minimise/go away. Anything that helps them becomes a favourite product of mine. When Pixi sent over their entire Vitamin C* range, I was very excited. I had heard so many benefits of using VC for scarring and hyperpigmentation, and I couldn't wait to get started and discover the benefits for myself. 

                                                                                       
                                   

Antipodes Holy Grails

All I seem to be taking about lately is skincare on here and on instagram, but I seem to be getting a slight obsession with it. My skin has become so important to me and the way my makeup looks is down to my skin. Antipodes have been a brand that I have loved for over a year now, and each time I use their products I notice an instant difference in my skin - without a doubt. Even my mum does! That is the biggest seal of approval for sure. I have pretty much talked about every product from them on here ... but these 4 are my current go-to's, holy grail status! 

Worth the Hype: Tarte Shape Tape Concealer

Shape Tape is the only concealer you see these days, it is all over youtube, instagram and now the TV. If you missed my post the other week all about the amazing Tarte set that I grabbed from QVC then you will not know that QVC now stock Tarte! The best thing isn't even that, the best thing is that they have an easy pay method, where you pay in instalments. A tiny little bit every month, rather than all in one go - how genius! I've been using this very talked about concealer for about three weeks and it is time to report on how it has lived up to the hype.

Achieving A Bad-Ass Glow

No matter how much I told myself that there is no need to order the new glow kit, guess who did? 🙋🙋After seeing a hundred and one pictures of it and videos talking about it, there was something inside of me that just had to have it. For so long, I was very much on the fence. This is the second thing from ABH that I have tried and without trying any other glow kit - I've gone straight in for this one. Iqra who's just fabulous,was also on the fence and when she caved, I ended up caving too. But was it worth the price tag and hall of fame reputation?  

Worth The Hype - Nivea Post Shave Balm As Primer

Beauty trends seem to come and go, from over-lining lips to using eye-shadow as contour. The latest one that seems to have taken the beauty world by storm is using Nivea's Post Shave Balm as a Primer. After seeing and hearing many people talk about this weird trend, I decided to put it to the Is It Worth The Hype Test?

SEVENTEEN Define & Conquer Contour Kit Review

Contouring is a technique that we haven't stopped hearing about the past year or so, every brand seems to be bringing out their version of how to do it and every youtuber seems to showing us their way of doing it. All very complicated, it isn't really something that I do on a everyday basis due to the time that it takes, but recently I have been doing more often than usual using the Seventeen Define & Conquer Contour Kit. Retailing at just £5.99 its a makeup steal. The little compact contains an illumination highlighter, with no glitter or shimmer running through it and a warm bronze shade perfect for your contour as it doesn't have a muddy undertone. 

Inside there is also a how to guide to help you map out your face shape, very useful indeed especially if you are new to the whole thing. Both the powders are very finely milled and because they have no glitter running through them you can really build the colour up and go as deep as you want. The highlighter is extraordinary, it can be scary applying something glittery to your nose and forehead but this is a dream when it hits the light your face glows. 

If I don't use this in the morning then I keep the compact in my handbag with me so that on the go I can use the handy little mirror as well as use the two shades to liven up my face after a long day. To apply I have been using the RT 300 Tapered Brush it carves my cheeks out perfectly and allows me to use a different angle for the highlight. 

Buy your very own here, go on I know you want to...

 

*PR SAMPLES*

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What I've Been Loving - Milani Baked Blush

 

How beautiful is this Milani Baked Blush? It has become my new obsession and taken the whole highlighting thing to a new level. 

What Do Milani Say?

A luxurious powder blush that features a mélange infusion of colors baked on Italian terracotta tiles. Easy to use, sensorial in texture, the nuances of color become extraordinarily luminous. Silky smooth application leaves your face looking healthy and radiant all day.

The Milani blush comes in a gold packaging with the blush showing on the outside, you can also flip the blush upwards and underneath is a mirror along with a small brush that isn't all that as usual. 

The texture of this blush is very powdery yet soft, sweeping/tapping the blush ever so lightly can lead to you not needing all of that on your face and this can lead to product wastage. It is very well pigmented and thus you only needing a small brush and the lightest application of product. It also avoids your face looking overpowered and like a barbie doll with lots of pink blusher on. Due to it been pigmented and really good quality the staying power of it is around a whole work shift 9-5.

Rose D'Oro is the shade that I have in the picture above and is peach/coral shade with very fine gold glitter particles running through which gives it the metallic finish. It is also a very versatile colour as are the other 8 shades. You can use them purely for adding a highlight to your cheekbones and high points or even for blush and something that I saw over in a video a while ago for bronzer. 

An amazing blush that is worth all the hype and love from the USA!

Available for £6.00 From BeautyCrowd in 9 Shades

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MAC Mineralize-Skinfinish Soft and Gentle Review

I have this 'imaginary' MAC wishlist, full of all the things that I really want to try out from lipsticks to to the new 9 eye shadow palettes which are perfect for the autumn. For my birthday a few months ago I was very kindly gifted a MAC Voucher and held off spending it until I was absolutely sure exactly what I wanted and then after doing some browsing I purchased the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle. After using it for only a week I am ready to tell you my thoughts and summed up its AMAZING. 

What is Soft & Gentle? Its a mineral powder that has a metallic finish to it and is primarily used for adding a glow to your skin. I have fallen in love with this powder because it adds a gorgeous glow to my skin like no other product. Its a very very finely milled powder that is extremely pigmented meaning you need to pat/dab your brush in. MAC products like blushes ect I am sure will last you forever as you only ever need a little bit and makes you feel better about the £24 price tag. 

MAC describe this wonder highlighter as a 'gilded peach bronze' but to me its more of a champagne bronze and looking at the close up picture you probably agree as well. The colour therefore makes it suitable for all skin tones, as it will adapt to you. 

I use this along with the bronzer to give my face a lift and not make it look flat and it lasts all day even when only using a small amount. I apply it to the tops of my cheekbones, down the centre of my nose and just above my lips to give my skin a nice glow. 

This is by far the best highlighter I have ever used, and am so glad I took the plunge to buy it because I have obsessed! Its safe to say after only a week this is now my HOLY GRAIL and if you want a product that will give you a nice dewy finish without looking oily then you need this. 

PRICE - £24
Available - MAC

 

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Worth The Hype - Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream

About two months ago, very blogger and vlogger was shouting out loud about the miracle product that is the bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream (what a mouthful in short Complexion Rescue).

The complexion rescue comes in a plastic tube with a squeezy applicator, although I would prefer a small pump - but i'm just fussy. I went with the shade TAN 07 as this was the closet match to my skin, but is still a tad too light for my skin. But with other products on top you can't really tell. 

I can't describe how this 'gel cream' feels, at first I was very worried as it felt like I was applying a watered down foundation on my face. Then after using both my fingers and a sponge to see which method is easier I decided that it isn't at all that bad. The coverage is light and great for when you are on the move however I found that you have to be quick. And I mean really quick, it dries like quick dry paint and then doesn't budge. It reduces redness and helps with evening out my skin tone, but this isn't something I would reach for when I was working/had a long day as it personally isn't enough coverage. 

The most noticeable thing about this gel cream is that it feels fresh and hydrating on the skin, I am able to wear this without having to apply a moisturiser underneath even when my skin is full of dry patches. The bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Creams isn’t at all rich in consistency– but very slippery in feel. It really is a great gel-cream; not cakey and with sheer coverage of SPF30 that leaves the skin with a slight sheen and a tiny hint of a glow. Very different to anything else I own. Is it worth the hype? Kind Of. I love the convenience of the product and the feel of the product. On the other hand I only got it because it was 'cheaper' in Dubai otherwise I would have never purchased it as there are many other products out on the market just like this aka the Bourjois CC Cream. 

I would love to know your thoughts on the Complexion Rescue Cream?! 

Price - £26.00

Available at| Boots Feel Unique Debenhams 

 

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What I've Been Loving - L.A. Girl USA Pro Conceal

I posted my Beauty Crowd haul last week and got such a response about one of the items I had ordered, the infamous L.A Girl USA Pro Conceal. 

There are more than 10 shades of concealer giving you a guarantee that there is a shade just right for you, ordering online can be scary especially with something you will be using on a everyday basis but there is a helpful hint on pinterest if you fancy matching yourself. From this picture I managed to guess my shade 'Medium Biege' and it is the perfect one for under my eyes and blemishes. 

The Packaging

This concealer is like no other I have in my collection, for one it is a squeezy tube which shows you straight up how much you have used, my tube is half empty already oops. The second thing that makes it different to other concealers is that the applicator isn't a dofer it's a brush. When you squeeze the product up it comes into the brush and then you apply it so that it spreads out. 

The Formula

When you put the tiniest little bit of pressure on a little blob appears at the bottom of the brush and this is enough to cover any blemishes on your skin as well as your under eye circles. I prefer this for the dark circles due to it being creamy, long lasting and very high coverage. The image above shows you my horrible dark circles before, the lovely triangle and after - the difference to me is huge. 

Price

BeautyCrowd sell the concealer for an amazing £5 and provide you with all the shades and small swatches. A tiny bit more expensive than my usual Collection one but less expensive than the Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer, 

L.A Girl USA Pro Conceal - £5.00

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Worth the Hype - Benefit Licence to Blot

Benefit had a little sign up thing on facebook for bloggers to review their newest release 'Licence to Blot', of course I filled the form in, but no way did I think I would actually be chosen! So when it came through the post, you can imagine my face was in complete shock but I was also super excited to try it out and see what the fuss is all about. 

I don't own a whole lot of Benefit products but I love the brand for always solving problems, like this the third instalment in their Porefessional range for combating oily skin! Licence to Blot is a oil blotting stick that claims to mattify skin within an instance. To use it all you have to do is twist and slide the eraser over the oily/shiny areas of your skin. I love the fact that this is like powder/blotting sheets put into one.

The first time I used this was under makeup but found that it didn't help my makeup at all, if you do want to apply it before then I highly recommended moisturising lots as well as warning you it doesn't cover redness or anything else. 

Then I tested it during the day, when my skin became oily, it doesn't apply as 'nicely' as I thought (like a lipbalm) it was more of a press and glide motion and quite a lot as well. This made my makeup look even worse than it did before and don't forget to clean the stick, but then I set it all with some powder hoping it looked a little bit more decent - and I kind of did. It definitely helped the oiliness for the next hour but then I felt that it melted straight off - is this because of my stubborn skin or am I doing something wrong? 

I wouldn't 100% say that this is a product that you need in your makeup collection, but everything is worth a try right? I will be however, taking it on holiday and seeing how it helps me in warm situations! 

Have you tried the blotting stick? What was your experience like? 

 

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Is MAC Cinderella Worth it?

I am sure that you have all heard about the MAC Cinderella Collection, inspired by the new film that is out now the products are meant to be all girly, princessy and cute! I am such a huge fan of Cinderella and was waiting to get my hands on something from the collection, below is a little collage of everything that is available and even though some of the things are old things in new packaging and others are just pointless, I still wished to get my hands on something that I would use. Last friday it was released in the UK but online and sold out within seconds!! Gutted, is not even the word to describe how I felt. 

Credit

Then my fairy godmother came along and my friend Aimee said that her dad would be able to get me some things I wanted on Friday when it was to be released into stores - and voilà! He was an absolute superstar and managed to get me the lipsticks, I was debating for a really long time whether to get a lip gloss and a lipstick or even all four but at the end of the day I am a lipstick girl! There has been a lot of hype around the collection but also a lot of negativity and I completely understand where those people are coming from. Many of the things don't live up to what you would expect from a Disney Collaboration, I was expecting a lot more princessy things and a lot more choice as well The eye palette is a real let down, because the colours are already mac ones apart from the purple one in the bottom right hand corner

Packaging - The typical MAC bullet shapes with blue frosted packing and when you open it up the rim is a gold colour and very bring as well. Then the Cinderella logo is printed across the front. 

But all in all, I love the names of all the products! Like Stroke of Midnight and Glass Slipper- ADORABLE! The lipsticks are in the shades Royal Ball which is a pink nude and Free as a Butterfly which is a more brown toned nude and both are perfect for me as I am a lover of lipsticks that come in these shades.

I love when MAC come out with limited collections, and this is one that I just had to get my hands on and I am over the moon with these two shades and think if you are to buy anything from the collection definitely have a look at the lip products as they are perfect everyday colours.

You can buy in stores now, or online but everything is sold out here.

Are you going to be getting anything from the collection? Or are you really disappointed? 

 

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Are portable chargers worth it?

We all use our phones every single day, texting, calling and even more frequently using apps and for me the social networking ones that take up a lot of memory and a lot of battery power. When techy people figured this out, they invented portable chargers, there are several different types around the web to buy. From them been £3 on Ebay to over £100 for the top notch ones, you can even get big phone cases that allow you to charge up your phone. I have always been very sceptical about buying and using one because I don't fully trust them and can rely on them but fear not I think I may have found a solution and now have one that I like. 

Design

I wouldn't have ever thought that the design of a portable charger would influence by buying but I think it does, you don't really want to be carrying out a big bulky box in your bag - I would rather carry something a lot lighter. This charger* from PowerPackXL is extremely lightweight, it feels as light as your smartphone and is also very slim so fits in the smallest of pockets in your handbag, the phone pockets that you never use? Yep, those are amazing to fit these sorts of chargers in. I also love the black of it, makes it very professional and sleek so you don't have to carry around some ugly thing with you and instead show off this fancy charger!

The Best Bit

If the design of the actual product, isn't enough to make you swoon then let me tell you that to avoid getting it dirty and to make it easier to carry around with you. The best bit of all best bits is all the different adapters you get with it! Many portables don't come with cables and you have to use your own which for me means I would buy another on top of the one I have, but this one from PowerPackXL comes with a cable that you plug into the top of the charger and then 5 little things to use so every single person you know is going to be able to use this charger!!

The Power

Of course, it is fine the product looking all amazing and stylish but it has to work right? Hence the title of this post. Let me tell you now, it is worth it and you will only believe it when I tell you. The above pictures show the charging time, in just a little under a hour (took me a few photos to get the perfect end shot). The pack allows you to charge  flat phone up to 3-4 times, dependant on your device and the blue lights on the pack represents 25% capacity so you can see it going down. 

To answer my question in the title, yes I think that portable chargers are 110% worth it because they will save your life and when you need it, it comes in handy a lot more than you think. 

Buy your very own PowerPackXL - HERE

 

*kindly gifted from PowePackXL, all opinions expressed are my own*

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