Showing posts with label Hair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hair. Show all posts

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Collective Haul (ELF, Sleek, etc.)

Hello peeps! I've been wanting to finish this post for the longest time and I finally got to it. Hope you enjoy! 


These are my first ever ELF purchases and I am definitely a happy bunny!



Left - Right, Top - Bottom

 Studio Stipple brush - £3.50
 Studio Powder Brush - £3.50
 Bronzing brush - £1.50
 Blending Eye brush - £1.50
Smudge Eye brush - £1.50
Lip liner in Mauve Luxe + sharpener - £1.50
Lip liner in Bark + sharpener - £1.50
Eyelid Primer - £1.50
Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara - £1.50
Liquid eyeliner in Black - £1.50
4 piece Bamboo brush set - £15 - including: 
Complexion brush
Concealer brush
Blending eye brush
Mini Kabuki brush
Brush bag
(I purchased this for £7.50 when ELF had a 50% off sale on Bamboo tools)
Mechanical Eyelash curler - £1.50
Natural Lash kit including adhesive gel - £1.50
All Over Color stick in Golden Peach - £1.50
Brush Shampoo - £3.50






















Swatches

Top - Lip liner in Bark
Bottom - Lip liner in Mauve Luxe
All Over Color stick in Golden Peach

I'm happy with pretty much everything except for the Bronzing brush. Some of the hairs are bent on the side and when I smelled it, it reminded me of the plastic-y smell of the hair of dolls I had when I was little. In other words, you don't want your make up brush to smell of that. Everything else is pretty good though! The brushes are really soft, especially the Bamboo brushes. I'd like to specially mention the Eyelid Primer because it really exceeded my expectations! 



Palmer's Massage Cream for Stretch Marks - £5.87

I gained lots of weight after I came to England for university and ended up with a few unwanted stretch marks. I've used this cream before and it got rid of my stretch marks comepletely! Keep in mind though - it works best on stretch marks that are fresh or fairly fresh (reddish purple color). In the case of the permanent ones (white in color), it will make them fade, depending on how long you've had them. 




Oilatum Natural Repair Face Cream - £7.65


I love this product! I can actually see the skin on my face being 'repaired'. The only thing that bothered me though was that this costs £7.65 for 50 ml, which is a very small amount. It is definitely worth it though.








N-Spa Raspberry Milkshake Body Cream - £2.00


Such a gorgeous product. Very moisturizing, smells divine and best of all, the smell lingers for quite a long time! 














Sleek Blushes in Sahara and Flushed - £4.30 each

I am really loving Sleek right now. So affordable and great quality! The blushes have just the right amount of pigmentation and are not chalky at all. And at £4.30, can someone say bargain?









Sleek i-Divine eyeshadow palette in Storm - £6.49


This palette has all the right colors for both day time and night time looks. They are very pigmented and again, not chalky at all. I want to invest in all the Sleek eyeshadow palettes!





Avon Soft & Smooth wax strips - £3.50


Avon wax strips work like any other wax strips. Unlike the Veet and Nair ones though, this pack doesn't include the post-wax wipes, which leaves the parts you wax very sticky. The wax can easily be removed by rubbing some oil and then rinsing it with body wash/ soap.








Avon Foundation brush - £4.00

I love this brush! So soft and applies foundation beautifully. It's much smaller than other foundation brushes which makes it easier to get into the tougher areas of the face. 












Avon Luxe Lace Supershock Gel liner - £6.00

This product means what it says on the box. It really is gel liner in pencil form. I have never used a more creamier, darker and long-lasting eyeliner. Just saying. Go Avon!










VO5 Hot Oil Deep Nourishing Elixir - £4.07


I haven't used this yet, but I've heard a lot of good things about it. My scalp and hair have been kind of dry lately and I am really not enjoying it. Let's hope it works! I shall let you guys know how it works out!






Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs in Medium Glow - £7.70


I think this is a miracle product. I have those little spots on my legs from shaving, and this hides them very well. Spray, rub and voila - airbrushed legs! If you want to hide any scars or marks on your legs, I would definitely recommend this. 








Aussie Take The Heat Leave-In Cream - approx. £5.50
(Purchased on offer - 2 Aussie products from a selection for £6.00)
I love things that not only make my hair smell pretty, but actually makes it healthier too. Aussie definitely does both of those. My hair smells great is visibly getting healthier! Did I mention it smells great? I straighten my hair all the time now, so need something to my hair thinning, going brittle and becoming flat. This product helps me achieve just that! 





Oilatum Cream - £5.99


I don't have eczema but I have dry skin in certain parts of my body like my lower legs, right above my ankles. I've found that Oilatum really moisturizes and softens the dry skin. It's very thick in consistency but that's probably because it's filled with magical stuff that acts on the dry skin. Really recommend for very dry skin. 








Aussie Take The Heat Deep Treatment - £4.69

I've been using this with the Leave-In cream and it is a great remedy for all the reasons mentioned above!


My mum sent over some perfumes she thought I'd like.


Guess Gold perfume

Top notes: Citrus, Golden apple, and Pineapple
Middle notes: A Heart Hyacinth, Pink pepper, Water lily, Jasmine and Rose
Base notes: of Vanilla, Musk, Sandalwood, Patchoul, Honey and Amber


It's so hard to describe scents but I am going to try. It's elegant and sexy. I recommend it for night time! See? Really hard to describes scents, but hey I tried. I have to say that the more I smell this, the more I like it. Love the bottle, super sexy.


Source: www.fragrantica.com



Calvin Klein - Secret Obsession

Top notes: Exotic Plum, Nutmeg (mace) and Rose de Damasc
Middle notes: Egyptian jasmine, French orange blossom and Seductive Tuberose
Base notes: Cashmere woods, Madagascar vanilla, Burnt amber and Australian sandalwood


This is definitely a scent for older women. I like it, but it's not something I would repurchase after I run out.  If I ever do that is. It kind of reminds of a perfume called Opium (not sure about the brand), which has that smell that reminds me of my grandma. I'm not a fan of the bottle either, it's uncomfortable to hold and spray. Or maybe it's just me?

Source: www.fragrantica.com



I needed a new wallet as mine was in pretty bad shape. My boyfriend was kind enough to get me a gorgeous one from his trip to the States!




I LOVE Michael Kors and I absolutely adore this wallet! I am seriously in love. Thank you lovely! <3 


Leave me a comment if you have any thoughts or questions.

Thanks for visiting!


Sunday, April 3, 2011

Collective Haul

Here are some things I've recently purchased!


Lightening Touch in '04' - The Body Shop 
£14.00

Lightening Touch in '04' - The Body Shop
£14.00
 This Illuminator is a god send! It not only brightens the eye if used on its own, it can be used as an eyeshadow primer! It made the eyeshadow look SO vibrant when I tested it at the store, I instantly fell in love with it. All you have to do is add a very small amount to the eyelids and spread it around, exactly how you would with an eyeshadow primer. The good thing about this is it can be used as both a primer and something to brighten your eyes if eyeshadow is not being used. 


Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel eyeliner in '01 Black' - Maybelline
£7.99


Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel eyeliner in '01 Black' - Maybelline
£7.99
So I won't go as far as to compare this to my favorite gel liner, the MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack. It's a really good liner though. It's smooth, easy to apply, it's almost as dark as the Fluidline and the brush that comes with it is amazing! I liked it more than I liked my Bobbi Brown eye liner brush. This product is cheap, lasts long, both on the eyes when applied and quantity-wise, is easy to use and looks great! I would definitely recommend this.



Water based Finishing Power - Sleek
£7.29
I'm not blown away by this product to be honest. I haven't noticed a difference between the finishing of the make up on my face when I use this and when I don't. Sometimes I feel like it even makes me look a little white? Like that white that you see in photos when you've used a foundation with too much SPF. Yeah, not a good look. You can give it a shot though, might work differently for you! 




Shimmer Cubes eyeshadow quad - The Body Shop 
£5.00


Shimmer Cubes eyeshadow quad - The Body Shop
£5.00


From left to right - 'Sea Shell', 'Emerald Sea', 'Hushed Orchid', and 'Sparkling Sky'
£5.00
I am so glad I got this little palette because the colors are SO gorgeous! I have brown eyes, and every single color complements my eyes so beautifully. You could either add jut a touch of it or build it up. The cubes are quite large, so you get a good amount of each color. They're perfect for spring. 




Shine Free Primer - No7
£11.00
I've never used a make up base before, so this was my very first experience with it. My make up did stay on longer than usual, which is when I don't use the base. The only thing I don't like about it is that it can be harsh on your skin. By harsh I mean if you rub it in, it burns a little. I was a bit more gentle with it after that and it doesn't burn anymore. 


Liquid Eyeliner - The Body Shop
£9.00
I love this eye liner! Both the brush and the product are wonderful. The brush makes it so easy to apply (things can get very messy with a liquid liner) and the product itself is very black and stays for ages and ages. 


Plump and Pout Gloss in 'No 05 Dark Brown' - BeautyUK
£1.49 


Plump and Pout Gloss in 'No 05 Dark Brown' - BeautyUK
£1.49 


Plump and Pout Gloss in 'No 05 Dark Brown' - BeautyUK
£1.49
I love this lip gloss! The color is so pretty and suits me well. I'm very picky with glosses and only like to wear certain colors. This one does not stay on very long, but hey, can't complain about a good color for under 2 pounds.


Photoready Foundation in '010 Caramel' - Revlon
£9.99
This foundation is one of the best I've used. It's light to medium coverage and looks so great on. It has a glowy finish that makes my dull skin look radiant, and adds a little bit of color too. It has a pump which is the easiest to use when it comes to foundations as it saves the mess that you tend to get with a simple bottle. I mix it with a bit of my moisturizer and apply it all over my face, job done! I would definitely encourage you to try this out. 



Heat Defense Hair Spray - Tresemme
£4.99


Heat Defense Hair Spray - Tresemme
£4.99
My hair definitely looks healthier after I've started using this. It's also much softer after after I straighten it. Probably no different than any other heat protectant?




Bronzing Powder in 'Peaux mates/ halees' - Bourjois
£6.99


Bronzing Powder in 'Peaux mates/ halees' - Bourjois
£6.99
Out of all the products on this list, this is my absolute favorite. I can honestly say no other bronzer has impressed me as much as this one has. It is the perfect color for medium to dark skin (they come in 3 different shades, but correct me if I'm wrong), and adds the most amazing bronzed glow to your face. It doesn't smell like chocolate but smells good. Ahhh I love it! I had my eye on it ever since it came out, and I'm so glad I bought it! Try this try this try this!




Eyeshadow Blender brush - The Body Shop
£9.00

Eyeshadow Blender brush - The Body Shop
£9.00


Eyeshadow Blender brush - The Body Shop
£9.00
I've recently started experimenting with lots of eye shadows and was in need of a good blending brush which wasn't too expensive. This brush is great and only 9 pounds! I say go for this if you're looking for something good but not as expensive as high end brands.



Fast Stroke Eyeliner in 'Black 1' - Collection 2000
£2.99


Fast Stroke Eyeliner in 'Black 1' - Collection 2000
£2.99
I wanted to see if I could find a good alternative for the liquid eye liner from The Body Shop, so I decided to try this. I think sometimes you have to pay a little more money to get the better stuff. The applicator is just bad, and the product isn't too great. 




Radiant Highlighter - The Body Shop
£11.00


Radiant Highlighter - The Body Shop
£11.00
A highlighter adds that glow to your face, and every girl should own one. It makes your cheekbones look higher, nose look sleeker, and can even be applied under the highest point of your brows to give the effect of a face lift. This one from The Body Shop is great. A little expensive for a highlighter, but it has a lot of product and will last you very long. You only need a very small amount for each application!




Quick Cover concealer in '07 Dark' - No7
£8.00


Quick Cover concealer in '07 Dark' - No7
£8.00
I am still on a mission to find a good drugstore concealer. I had a 5 pound voucher for No7 products, so decided to give this one a go. It's good, very creamy, but not great. I apply a good amount, but it still doesn't manage to cover my under eye circles very well. It's not very dark under my eyes, but I do need to use a little concealer. I find that it's creamy when I apply it, but when I start rubbing it in with my fingers, it feels a little chalky. I'm not blown away by it, but it's okay. If anyone has any suggestions for a good concealer, please let me know!


Apricot Scrub - St. Ives
£4.38


Apricot Scrub - St. Ives
£4.38
Face scrubs are always a good idea. My skin always feels so soft and looks refreshed after I use this one from St. Ives. It feels like you're scrubbing away a layer of dirt from your face, which I  love. I bought the wrong one by mistake. I need the one for all skin types, but picked this one, which is for oily/ blemished skin, up by mistake. Facial scrubs FTW! 




Effet Smoky Eyeliner in '76 Ultra Black' - Bourjois
£5.49


Effet Smoky Eyeliner in '76 Ultra Black' - Bourjois
£5.49


Effet Smoky Eyeliner in '76 Ultra Black' - Bourjois
£5.49


Effet Smoky Eyeliner in '76 Ultra Black' - Bourjois
£5.49
Hands down, best eye liner ever. Bourjois is the brand I go to when I want a dark eye liner that stays on for a good amount of time. I used to use one from Bourjois which is very dark, and this one is a new high for the brand. It's so creamy and easy to apply, and the smudging brush works wonders. It's not like a regular smudger, it's like a brush with fine hairs. Smudgers tend to absorb some of the applied product, and this brush is fantastic because it doesn't absorb any. Once again, best eye liner ever!


Blush in '72 Tomette' - Bourjois
£7.49


Blush in '72 Tomette' - Bourjois
£7.49
I think orange tone blushes complement medium to dark skin tones much more than pink tones. So, I went hunting for one. This one is from Bourjois (I am seriously starting to love this brand), and it the perfect orange tone. It looks like it could be very shiny, but when applied, it looks mostly matte with very little shimmer in it. Love this thing. I wish it had more product in it though, the size is much smaller when compared to blushes from other brands. 





Carbon Black Eye Definer (Smudger) - The Body Shop
£8.00


Top - Effet Smoky in '76 Ultra Black' - Bourjois
£5.49


Bottom - Carbon Black Eye Definer - The Body Shop
£8.00
This eye liner is great when it comes to color pay off, but it's not as creamy as the Bourjois eye liner and does not stay on as long. It has a smudger at the end, which is nice, but once again, the Bourjois smudger just works so much better. This one is more pricey, too! 


So this is it for now, hope you enjoyed this little haul!


Thanks for visiting!