Rimmel #Insta FIX & GO 2 in 1 Primer & Setting Spray Review & Photo's

Rimmel #Insta Fox & Go Primer and Setting Spray

The Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray has always been a staple in my make-up bag, as for years  I could never quite find anything that performed just as well. Finally I know longer need to begrudgingly pay the £23.50 price tag, as you can now pick up one of the many drugstore version's for under £10!

Rimmel are one of the latest brands to launch their own version, wittily named '#Insta Fix & Go'. This spray is actually a 2 in 1 Primer and Setting Spray, which sounds perfect for the girl on the go...

Price
This retails for an affordable £6.99 for a 100ml, which is actually better value for money than the Barry M versions I reviewed last year. The spray is also quick drying and oil-free too.

Packaging
I love the simple yet striking packaging and I think I'm in the majority vote when I say the title sold this to me alone!

Application
It is advised to spray this in circular motions 8 inches away from the face, before to prime and after to set the make-up. I tried this method first, but found spraying this in a T and X motion more beneficial.

Upon application the spray felt ultra refreshing and hydrating, plus it also has a lovely cucumber scent to it too.

The nozzle in which the spray comes out of does seem a little small and I did feel like the product wasn't distributing as evenly as it should do. So to ensure your face is fully covered I recommend, as I mentioned above spraying the product in the T and X shape.

Longevity
Initially as recommended, I tried this as a primer before make-up and after as a setting spray, however I did want to try this the way I would normally use a spray, by spraying first after foundation and again at the end when I had finished my make-up. I'm happy to report both ways were just as good and my face make-up lasted really well, with the exception of a bit of wear around my nose and chin.

Overall Thoughts

What can I say other than I totally fell in love with this 2 in 1 spray, as not only was it fantastic value for money, it was also the perfect muti-tasker too! I adored the smell and feel of this spray on my skin and it truly was a pleasure to use.

Longevity wise this lasted pretty well for me and even my blush was still on by the end of the night, which is saying something! The only thing for me was the nozzle did seem a little small and didn't work as effectively at distributing the product evenly. Despite this minor detail, this is such a fantastic, affordable spray for everyone and anyone who is short for time or who needs their make-up to stay on from dusk till dawn.

I award the Rimmel #Insta Fix & Go 2 in 1 Primer & Setting Spray an 4.8 out of 5

The POWER of Makeup

The Power of Makeup

Isn't it funny how as human beings we're all born into the world as pure as can be, with super soft skin, untouched nails and lashes to die for! Today I was inspired to write another personal post about the power of make-up thanks to Lex, also known as Blogger Talented Lex who recently posted a photo of herself with one side of her face with make-up and the other side without. She expressed her feelings on how she felt exposed and less confident without make-up and how she also was trying to overcome her skin insecurities.

This really got me thinking about my own experiences and about why we do wear make-up??

Make-up for me has always been a passion from a young age. I used to adore doing my friends make-up and trying out different looks from pictures we had ripped out of magazines. Coming from a creative background I always saw make-up as an art and it really wowed me how different techniques could enhance or even change your whole face shape.

So why do we wear make-up and why do we feel ten times more confident with it on than off? Does it make you feel good? Does it cover up insecurities you may have? Or do you wear it to impress? For me personally I have to be honest and say it does make me more confident and powerful when I do wear make-up. But I also feel quite liberated when I choose not to wear make-up every now and then. However I do think there is a stigma behind not wearing make-up and worrying about what people will think or whether they will look at you differently?

I recently read about how powerful not wearing make-up can be and how you can be judged instantly without a second thought. YouTube sensation Em Ford is a prime example of this and her video speaks volumes to the world we live in today.

She was judged for how she looked without make-up and this really struck a cord with me about the way society can be and that we shouldn't be criticized for what we look like on the outside. After all we are all born equally onto this planet and we should also be treated with the same respect too.

When I was younger I was bullied too for the way I looked and I saw make-up as an outlet to cover up the things that had never been an issue before, but had become an insecurity because of the way I was made to feel. Nowadays I still have my insecurities just like everyone else, but I now embrace who I am and focus on the features I do love.

We don't live in a perfect world and I think something as harmless as make-up is a great way to have fun and express yourself.

So whether we choose to wear or not it should never be a reflection of who we are as a person...

'No one can make you feel inferior without your permission'

Ten of the Best Drugstore Makeup Dupes Worth Buying

The Best Drugstore Dupes

Today I wanted to talk about drugstore dupes. Forgive me if I may have mentioned some of these before, but I wanted to compile and share ten of my favourite's all in one post, that way if you ever need an affordable alternative, then hopefully you'll find it here or on my Pinterest 'The Dupe List' board.

1. URBAN DECAY NAKED 1 & 3 PALETTE £38 -  DUPE Collection Eyes Uncovered Palette's £3.99 in Nude Bronze and Nude Rose 
If you're ever on the hunt for excellent dupes for the Urban Decay Naked Palette's, then you must check out Collection's Eyes Uncovered Palette's. Both the Nude Bronze and Nude Rose edition have six perfectly matched shades that are both super pigmented, long-wearing and mega affordable.

2. LORAC PRO 1 PALETTE $44 - DUPE Makeup Revolution Iconic Pro 1 Palette £6 
Although the Lorac Pro Palette is one of those cult must haves, unfortunately it's slightly harder to get hold of here in the UK. However I have an amazing budget alternative that's a fraction of the price! The Revolution Iconic Pro 1 Palette is wearable, pigmented and totally identical to the Lorac version.

3. HOURGLASS AMBIENT LIGHTING PALETTE £59 - DUPE Revolution Radiance Lights Palette £8
The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette is one of those blogger must haves and I know for sure it's been on my Pinterest Wishlist for the longest time! But if you're like me and you can't quite justify the £59 price tag, then the Makeup Revolution Radiance Lights Palette is another identical dupe that works just as well, plus it's a total bargain at only £8.

4. ARTIS OVAL 7 £48 - DUPE Makeup Revolution Oval Face Brush £9.99 
If you're forever drooling over the beautiful Artis brushes, but you certainly don't get excited by the hefty price tag, then I have the answer for you. The Oval Face Brush from Makeup Revolution performs just like the Artis version, it's also Rose Gold and comes in at a budget friendly £9.99.


5. BENEFIT ROLLER LASH £19.50 - DUPE Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara £7.99 
I'm a total fan of the Benefit Roller Lash, but spending £19.50 every few months can certainly pull on those purse strings! The Maybelline Original Lash Sensational Mascara gives extremely similar results for a more purse friendly £7.99.


6. BENEFIT KA-BROW £18.50 - DUPE MUA Powerbrow £4 
If your after a drugstore brow pomade that is pigmented, long-wearing and comes in a great selection of shades then the MUA Powerbrow is amazing, it's also compact and travel friendly too.


7. CHARLOTTE TILBURY PILLOW TALK £16 - DUPE Essence Lip Liner in In The Nude £1 
Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk Lip Liner has become one of those must have products, however Essence Lip Liner in In The Nude is a must have too, as it's extremely similar and is only a £1!!

8. MAC BRAVE LIPSTICK £15.50 - DUPE Rimmel The Only 1 Lipstick in Naughty Nude £6.99 
Rimmel The Only 1 Lipstick in Naughty Nude is one of the best drugstore dupes for MAC Brave I've come across, plus it's a total steal at only £6.99.


9. KAT VON D LOLITA £16 - DUPE NYX Liquid Suede in Soft Spoken £6.50 
Lolita Liquid Lipstick is without a doubt one of the most talked about high end liquid lipsticks out there. It also has an identical drugstore twin in the form of Soft Spoken from NYX's Liquid Suede collection.


10. URBAN DECAY ALL NIGHTER £17.60 - DUPE Barry M Mist & Fix Matte Finish Spray £4.99 
Last year I finally found the best replica for my favourite, holy grail setting spray from Urban Decay. The Barry M Mist & Fix Setting Spray is only £5.99 and in my opinion does an equally good job.

MAC Mariah Carey Collection Review & Photos

MAC Mariah Carey

Last month I was excited to hear that MAC had collaborated with Mariah Carey to create the ultimate divalicious collection. Growing up Mariah was someone who I adored. Her music, style and make-up were goals and so it was great to finally see a collection that embodied everything Mariah is! So here's my thoughts...

Price
The collection consists of,
- Two Eyeshadow Quads in I'm That Chick You Like and It's Everything | £27.50
- A Black/Brown Liquid Eyeliner in This is My Night | £18
- Two Sets of Lashes in 05 & 36 | £11.50
- Five Lipsticks including, I Get So OCC, All I Want, Bit Of Bubbly, Dahhlinggg! & MCizzle | £17
- Five Lipglasses in It's Just Like Honey, Rainbow Interlude, Little Miss Monroe, Dreamlover &      Butterfly Bling | £16.50
- Two Pro Longwear Lip Pencils in So Dramatique & New Ombré | £17
- Two Blushers in You've Got Me Feeling & Sweet Sweet Fantasy | £20
- A loose gold shimmer powder in Touch My Body | £26.50
- A gold toned Extra Dimension Face Powder in My Mimi | £26.50
- Limited Edition 239 Eye Shader Brush | £21
- Limited Edition 183 Buffer Brush | £34.50

Although this collection is huge with so many gorgeous products to choose from, just be aware that a few of the items are priced slightly higher than their original counterparts.

Packaging
The packaging is indeed stunning with each box adorned in gold and silver glitter which translates onto the products too. The lipsticks also have Mariah's signature Butterfly imprinted onto the bullet and the face powder even has Mariah's face etched onto it too!

MAC Mariah Carey I'm That Chick You Like

MAC Mariah Carey It's Just Like Honey

MAC Mariah Carey 239 Brush

Application
As you can imagine, this collection sold out pretty quickly, but my lovely husband actually managed to get his hands on the I'm That Chick You Like Eyeshadow Quad, It's Just Like Honey Gloss and the 239 Eye Shader Brush for me. I've also put links above in the price section to the items I can see are still available.

The brush is great for applying cream or powder shadow to the lid specifically. I already I have a few 239 brushes and I personally love this brush as it's the perfect size for the lid area.

This is a pretty nice eyeshadow palette and it's for sure pleasing to the eye. The colours applied nice enough but I did find Escape Me hard to pick up on the brush and Golden Petals was a little scratchy to the touch because of the added sparkle within the shimmer. Whenever You Call was a beautiful buttery golden/yellow shade, although because of the yellow undertone this would be more suited as an inner corner highlighter. Finally How You Thrill Me was a lovely pigmented deep brown that would look lovely smoked out or as a liner along the lash line.

It's Just Like Honey is a beautiful caramel/nude gloss which has a stunning golden shimmer shot through it. The Lipglass was lovely and plumping and smelt of MAC's signature Vanilla scent. It's also the perfect shade that can be worn alone or on top of a matte lipstick to add some dimension.

Longevity
The shadows lasted well throughout the day but I do recommend applying a primer or coloured eyeshadow base to ensure maximum wear time. The gloss was surprisingly long-wearing and I would say this lasted a good few hours before I needed to re-apply, even after eating.

Overall Thoughts
Overall this was a beautiful collection visually and it without a doubt epitomized everything Mariah Carey is. However I often find that with Limited Edition collections the consistency of some products is not always the best compared to their significant others, even though the price points can sometimes be higher. I think honestly you are paying for the packaging more than anything and if you are a Mariah Carey or MAC Limited Edition Collector, then these are certainly worth a look at.

Personally I love most MAC Make-up and I do love to dip my toe into the odd Limited Edition item if it does have beautiful packaging and it is something I know I will love and use. So I think in conclusion it's worth doing a little research before you buy, so that you know which items are worth the hype and which ones are certainly not.

I award the MAC Mariah Carey 239 Eye Shader Brush a 4.8 out of 5, the eyeshadow palette a 3.8 out of 5 and the Lipglass a 4.2 out of 5.

The Fail-safe Casual Sunday Look - Style Dairy #16

Sunday's are definitely for casual attire and my standard Sunday uniform usually consists of trainers, jeans and a comfy sweater, which is the perfect fail-safe outfit.

I recently found this gorgeous blush pink hoodie from New Look, which is the ideal accompaniment for those casual days, where you simply want to feel warm, comfortable but still some what put together. What's your fail-safe Sunday ensemble?

Sunglasses - Quay Australia

Khaki Jacket - H&M

Hoodie - New Look

Jeans - American Eagle

Trainers - Converse

Bag - Ted Baker

Pom Pom Bag Charm - Next

L'Oreal False Lash Superstar X Fiber Mascara Review & Photos

L'Oreal Superstar X Fiber Mascara

Having tested out a fair few mascara's, I know what I like and what I defiantly don't. Mascara for sure comes down to personal preference as everybody has different needs and wants, but if you're like me and you love a good false lash effect mascara, then I may have found the one for you...

L'Oreal recently released a new addition to their Superstar family in the form of the X Fiber mascara, this claims to give you that false lash effect without the need for falsies, so here's my thoughts.

Price
The X Fiber mascara comes in at the top end of the drugstore scale at £10.99, however I did manage to pick this up in Boots on offer for £7.99.

Packaging
The packaging and title of this mascara defiantly caught my eye as well as the fiber aspect of this too. The tube itself is double ended with the base mascara in tube 1 and the fibers in tube 2, both of the brushes are also shaped differently with tube 1 containing a more curvy brush and tube 2 containing a slightly straighter curved brush.

Application
Upon application it is advised to use tube 1 which is the primer or base mascara first. This for me added amazing length and definition before I'd even applied the fibers. Next you apply the fibers from tube 2, which was a little tricky initially as you have to work quickly while the mascara is still wet. It's also advised for best results that you press the fibers from brush 2 onto the lashes rather than brushing them through. Overall I absolutely loved the final result as my lashes looked lengthened and fluttery, just like the effect individual lashes would give.

Lastly on the topic of application, I did want to offer you some tips when applying this mascara as I do think this takes a bit of practise and patience.

Tip 1 - Allow time to apply this mascara as it does take a little longer to apply.
Tip 2 - Look down into a mirror when applying this, as it will help prevent the fibers from accidently getting into your eyes. (I've made that mistake before!)
Tip 3 - Practise makes perfect. Because of the nature of the two step system and the fact you have to work efficiently it can be fiddly to hold the wand and work quickly, so just take some time in figuring out what works for you.
Tip 4 - Do one eye completely then move onto the other, that way you prevent the mascara from drying on your lashes to quickly before you apply the fibers.
Tip 5 - I recommend doing the two step process twice to get the best results.

Longevity
Longevity wise this lasted relatively well. My lashes still looked lengthened and defined by the end of the day, although I did have a tiny bit of fall out under my eyes and a little transfer on my brow bone, but on the whole this lasted pretty good.

Overall Thoughts
This for me was one those WOW mascara's! I absolutely loved how lengthened, defined and voluminous my lashes looked, despite this being a bit of a tricky mascara to master initially. Yes ok this is at the top end of the scale, price wise for a drugstore mascara, but taking into the consideration the uniqueness of this I think the price it's certainly justified. So if you love a false lash effect but you hate the thought of applying false lashes, then I definitely recommend following my tips and giving this a whirl!

 

I award the L'Oreal False Lashe Effect Superstar X Fiber Mascara 4 out of 5

The Five Best Drugstore Products Worth Buying From Seventeen

Seventeen Makeup

Seventeen make-up is a brand I've used ever since I can remember, it's also a brand that I think is not talked about as much as it should be. So today I wanted to share with you my top 5 ultimate favourites from this wonderfully affordable drugstore brand.

1. Seventeen WOW Concealer - If you're in search of the perfect YSL Touche Éclat dupe, then this is certainly the one for you! This really is a steal at only £4.99, plus it comes in two shades. I use the light to highlight under my eyes and the medium to conceal.

2. Seventeen Cheek Stamp Blush in Stare-Struck - These cheek stamp blushers are not only adorable but they have a mirror, applicator and they come in a great array of colours too. My favourite is Stare-Struck as it's a great wearable everyday shade that compliments a multitude of looks.

3. Seventeen Falsifeye Mascara - If you haven't heard of the Falsifye, where have you been! This mascara has the perfect brush that lengthens, defines and separates, it also gives you killer lashes without the need for falsies.

4. Seventeen Easy on the Eye Palette in Birthday Suit - I love this palette as it has a great selection of colours including three cream shadows, a primer, and a handy double ended brush, it's also reminds me of the cult Urban Decay Naked 3 palette. I absolutely adore this palette as the pigmentation is beautiful and as a whole it's wonderfully compact and travel friendly.

5. Seventeen Brow's That! Brow Kit - This compact brow kit honestly has everything you would ever need to groom your brows with, it also has become my favourite travel companion too. Included is a brow powder, nude shadow, tinted wax, a brow pencil, mini brush and a mirror!