Month: August 2014

Barry M Pink Orchid Blusher & Coral Lip Gloss Wand

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Today i’m reviewing two products that have been staples in my makeup bag/handbag during the past few months, the Barry M Blusher in Orchid (bl1) and the Barry M Lip Gloss Wand in Coral (11).

Barry M Blusher

Firstly, I didn’t actually discover Barry M products until last year when I was mooching around on my lunch break at my local Superdrug store. At first, all the bright colours in the display unit had me hastily backing away and assuming this was a brand for teenagers only and that my 30 something face would only resemble a clown if it played host to anything on the shelf.

In one way, its target market is the younger generation as it continually brings out very on-trend colours at very low prices – very appealing traits coveted by the teenage population.

However,  upon closer (tentative) inspection, I came to appreciate the hidden gems in the range that can work for most ages if you are brave enough to overlook what appears to be very intense pigmentation and take a moment to actually swatch it onto your skin.

Highly pigmented
Sheerer on the skin

I decided to take the plunge and pick up their blusher. This is what Barry M say about their blushers:

These extra fine blushers are available in a variety of sheer colours for easy blending and a perfect, flawless finish. They contain the anti-oxidant Vitamin E to protect and condition the skin and keep it smooth and supple.

Their blusher range mainly includes variations of pink with some more neutral colours thrown in: Strawberry Whip, Peaches & Cream, Terracotta, Raspberry, Rose (maybe my next purchase), and my choice, Pink Orchid.

 

I decided to pick up Pink Orchid (bl1) which is a cool-toned pale pink (not quite pastel though). I liked this colour because when applied to the apples of your cheeks, it gives you a really girly playful flush of colour with enough contrast to stand out without looking fake. A bit like a pretty dolly, but not full on Barbie!

These are my before and after photos in natural daylight which is how I like to test my makeup:

Highly pigmented
No Blusher
Wearing Barry M “Pink Orchid”

The texture of the blushers is fine, not super soft but not grainy and the finish is matt – which for a cheap highstreet brand is rare (If you want sheen or sparkle, these are not for you).

Application is smooth and surprisingly build-able considering it looks so bright in the packaging, but it also has enough pigmentation that you don’t have to apply too much before you get a good flush going on.

I don’t tend to comment much on packaging unless it is really pretty or innovative in some way, but I will just say that as bland as the packaging can appear, it is sturdy and practical and after being jostled around in my makeup bag and hand bag still hasn’t cracked or broken in any way.

The brush that comes with the blush is soft but very small and not ideal for blusher application, but then I rarely come across products where the brush included is much cop. Suffice to say I apply this with my own blusher brush.

I am in the market for another blush to add a bit more warmth to my complexion as Autumn approaches, so I will be popping back in-store to to pick up “Rose” and will review that once Autumn is underway.

Retailing at around £4.99, these blushers are an absolute bl**dy bargain and you really cannot go wrong experimenting with one or two colours. Really what have you got to lose?

Barry M Lip Gloss Wand

Suitably impressed by my Barry M Blusher and in desperate need of a gloss for the Summer, I was lured towards their Lip Gloss Wand in Coral (11).

Barry M say:

Shimmering, sparkling and solid colour lip glosses for the shade that suits you. The formula provides long-lasting wear without being sticky and they are all infused with an irresistible scent. A soft wand applicator ensures they glide on easily to the shape of your lips.

The colours available are: Strawberry Milkshake, Coral, Bubblegum Pink, Pastel Pink, Strawberries & Cream, Toffee and Coconut Clear.

 

Now, as I write this post it has become obvious to me that the lip gloss wands seem to roughly relate to the blushers. SO, Strawberry Milkshake lips would look lovely and subtly harmonised with a Strawberry Whip cheek. So I guess with my Pink Orchid blusher, I should have picked up the Pastel or Bubblegum Pink Gloss…..but I didn’t. I went with coral instead as sometimes you just don’t want to go all matchy matchy!

Swatch on my hand

Coral is neither opaque or sheer but sort of mid coverage gloss (if that is a term?). It’s light pinky coral in colour, so for me does not differ much from my own lips and for others would be very wearable I think.

It’s super lightweight, smells like melon and is not sticky at all. Therefore, I can’t say it has much staying power, but it’s so cheap that at £4.49, that you don’t mind reapplying it.

(FYI – I didn’t realise how much nostril action was in these shots – I do apologise)

No gloss
Wearing the Lip Gloss Wand in “Coral”

It gives my lips a nice ‘pout’ effect and a slight hint of colour which is great for everyday wear with all different colour blushers. This particular one doesn’t contain any shimmer, so I may pick up another one that will give me a nude lip with oomph for the evenings – perhaps “Toffee” next time, as I think that would look great with a smokey eye.

In summary, I have been impressed by this brand and fully intend on buying more of their makeup in the future.

I have some of their Matt Lip Paints and Nail Paints floating around my cosmetics bag which I’ll review in the not too distant future -so stay tuned. Psst, If you like bright pink lips or are looking for the perfect ‘nude’ nail colour, then the post could be right up your alley.

Have you tried the Barry M Range and what were your favourites?

 

Max Factor Masterpiece Max Mascara

lisamenina Cosmetics, Makeup Tags: , , 1 Comment

Screen Shot 2014-08-20 at 09.51.09 So today is quite a short little review of a favourite mascara of mine – Max Factor’s Masterpiece Max Mascara.

Originally I used their False Lash Effect and i’m very tempted to try their Clump Defy Extensions versions, but for now this is a mascara I just keep going back to. This is what Max Factor say about their Masterpiece Max Mascara:

A HIGH-IMPACT, VOLUMISING MASCARA CREATES BOLD, SMOOTH, SLEEK LASHES WITH UP TO FOUR TIMES YOUR BARE-LASH VOLUME.

The mascara boasts that it’s smudge-proof and touch-proof, great for sensitive eyes and that the IFX brush delivers 4X more volume Vs bare lashes.

Now, for all you doe eyed long-lashed beauties out there, the rubbery spiky IFX brush may not impress you overly and you may be wondering why they bothered with it. For the small eyed, stumpy lashed ladies such as myself, the IFX brush is a genius design!

The IFX brush

The IFX brush – I love this rubbery wonder!

I really have to make the most of every. single. lash. I possess to even look like i’ve opened my eyes for the day, and this little wonder wand coats every itsy bitsy one from root to tip. It is, in fact, the main reason I keep returning to Max Factor Mascaras and the formula of the particular mascara is perfect for building up the coats without clumping together the lashes.

I’m not someone who touches my eyes much during the day, but I can testify that it never drops or flakes and I never have panda eyes come bedtime. If you are someone who rubs your eyes, I suggest you try their waterproof version. I always use their ‘Black’ colour, which really is a deep true black that gives a defined look to the eye. This mascara also comes in “Black/Brown” (perfect for blondes) and “Deep blue” (perfect for everyone).

This morning I was running very short on time, so I only threw on two coats and these are the results (please ignore the eye bags, I didn’t sleep very well):

Because of the build-ability of this mascara, it’s also perfect for day to night transformations and easily delivers a dramatic eye effect after two or more coats.

Retailing at around £9.99 its worth a try for sure.

Now if the mascara pictures didn’t impress you (because I have to admit, they were not my finest), then here is my cat Jasper, helping me to get ready.

 

What a handsome gent!

Now I know there are cheaper mascaras out there, but I can’t seem to find one that isn’t too runny or doesn’t have a massive fluffy wand that coats my eyelids every time I use it – any suggestions? 

The Bodyshop Radiant Highlighter

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Bodyshop HighlighterMy latest makeup purchase is the Bodyshop’s Radiant Highlighter.

Now i’ve got a real thing about dewy complexions, mainly because I don’t feel that I have one and therefore am mildly obsessed with achieving that youthful radiant glow that all models, actresses, celebrities and other polished individuals seem to have.

I already own Bobbi Brown’s Shimmer Brick in Bronze, which I sometimes break out and use along the tops of my cheeks in the evenings. But in daylight it can be a bit much, although i’m very tempted by their “Beige” as it apparently creates a soft ‘candlelight glow’ on the face (sigh). Sorry, I digress slightly.

But what i’ve been lacking is a cooler toned liquid version that would work well with my liquid foundation and cream blusher and would inject a natural radiance into my everyday makeup look.

After watching a video about highlighting by celebrity makeup artist Lisa Eldridge, I was intrigued to see that the Bodyshop product was one she recommended for fairer complexions. So I decided I had to have it (Because I take everything that woman says as gospel).

This is what The Bodyshop say about their Radiant Highlighter:

A fabulously blendable make-up enhancer that brightens the appearance of the skin to provide a healthy-looking radiant complexion that feels silky smooth to the touch.

After seaBodyshop Highlighterrching in all the shops to no avail, I was forced to purchase it online and eagerly awaited it’s arrival. Two weeks later (grr), it arrived and it looked very perdy indeed!

This morning whilst I was getting ready, I decided it was time to try this out with my everyday makeup.

I dispensed a teeny amount onto my hand and at first was rather alarmed by the ‘sparkly’ look of the pink toned liquid. But once I dabbed (not rubbed) it in, it gave off a very pleasant and subtle ‘sheen’.

Now, it seems that the more expensive highlighters of the world boast fine particles that are made up of a subtle combination of colours to work with natural skin (which is also made up of reds, blues, greens etc). The cheaper highlighters of this world seem to contain larger particles of just one or two colours and therefore often look ‘sparkly’ – not great on anyone over the age of 9!

So, after looking really closely at the Bodyshop’s version in the light, I was surprised to see that despite an overall tone of silvery pink, there were particles of quite a few different colours present, which is why I think it creates such a successful ‘sheen’ effect on the skin – a welcome surprise for a brand I would not consider high-end.

Convinced I was not going to look like Tinkerbell, I tackled my face. I decided not to mix it with my foundation as some reviewers have done (i’m just not that brave yet) and instead just applied it to the tops of my cheek bones, the bridge of my nose, dotted along my cupids bow, dabbing the remains on the centre of my forehead and chin.

My ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos taken in natural daylight didn’t really show off the ‘glow’ very well, but you may just be able to see the difference (mainly on my cheek):

 

I decided to take some further shots away from the window, standing by the bedroom ceiling light to see if the highlighter was more visible:

 

You can see it is much more obvious here and gives off a pretty sheen that would look fantastic in the evening light of parties and dinner dates.

So, this is quite a subtle product and in one way, this is what I had hoped for – that it would ‘catch the light’ rather than leave an all over sparkly fairy dust effect.

The colour, which I’ve already mentioned, really would suit all fair skin tones and although i’m not super fair myself at the moment, I think it looks natural on me.

I’m happy that I can wear it during the day without it looking ‘too much’ and that it required such a tiny amount of product to achieve this effect. At £12 for 25ml, it’s not cheap, so I’m hopeful it will not need replacing for a while.

I’ve also heard good things about Boots No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter and now i’ve started on the road to radiant skin, I may just have to pick up the No7 version for a bit of product comparison..all in the name of research of course!

Now, please feel free to fuel my new found ‘radiance’ obsession by offering a few recommendations of your own. 

 

My Favourite Exfoliators

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Having already spoken about my favourite cleansers in a previous post, I wanted to talk about my favourite exfoliators which, for me, are an intrinsic step in my skincare routine.

My skin is lazy and really doesn’t shed very well by itself. This has lead to adult acne and a bumpy dull complexion that I have been tackling over the last few years.

After much trial and error with all kinds of skincare products and medications, I’m starting to feel like I have a routine which includes a selection of products that seem to be working for me (right now anyway).

Because of my lazy skin, regular exfoliating (every or every other day) really is a crucial step in keeping the spots at bay and getting my skin glowing.

So, enough of my rambling, here are my favourite exfoliators.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant is an interesting exfoliating product as it doesn’t contain any kind of beads or scrubbing particles or anything really that you can see that would ‘manually’ exfoliate the skin. And that is because it actually ‘melts’ away all the crap on your face with some clever ingredients.

Firstly, Dermalogica explain their product much better than I can:

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant is a unique, Rice-based enzyme powder that activates upon contact with water, releasing Papain, Salicylic Acid and Rice Enzymes to smooth the skin and accelerate cell renewal. Our unique Skin Brightening Complex of Bearberry, Aspergillus, Grapefruit and Licorice helps to balance uneven skin pigmentation. Active agents derived from Rice Bran and Rice Extract help to regulate melanin production while micro-exfoliating dead cells. A super-soothing blend of Green Tea, Ginkgo and Colloidal Oatmeal calms inflammation, leaving the skin extraordinarily clear and refreshed. Gentle enough to use on a daily basis.

See, I told you it was clever! The main benefits are removing debris, encouraging skin renewal and tackling uneven pigmentation. All of these things are fantastic if, like me, you already have old scarring, pigmentation and dullness coupled with skin that gets easily inflamed.

And if you read my post about cleansers, you will already know that i’m a fan of Salicylic Acid and I have to say that because you massage this in for a good minute or so, it really gets a chance to work it’s magic.

This is how it looks (my only bug bear with the packaging of Dermalogica is that I can’t see how much product I have left)

 

Now, Dermalogica as a brand is not cheap. But, I have to say that they seem to really push the boundaries of skincare, including the latest high quality active ingredients in their products without the nasties. Hence, in my humble opinion, the performance of their products really are quite impressive and sets them apart from the high street brands.

So again, this is a bit of an investment item (Retailing between £35-£40), but it does last an age. Also, although it is sold on many websites, the link I have provided takes you to a site which gives you quite generous free samples of other products when you place an order. And that is actually how I came to try out and become a huge fan of my next favourite exfoliator –

– Dermalogica’s Skin Prep Scrub. Now unlike the ‘melting’ action of their Microfoliant, this little baby manually exfoliates using very very fine (but surprisingly effective) corn cob particles. That’s right, corn cob, not beads or scratchy nut shells.

Over to Dermalogica for the low-down:

Dermalogica Skin Prep Scrub is a skin-polishing scrub exfoliant with natural grains that leaves the skin with a smooth, healthy finish. Finely-granulated Corn Cob Meal gently removes dulling surface debris, allowing for improved absorption of moisturising treatments. Comforting botanical extracts of Mallow, Ivy and Cucumber plus soothing Aloe Vera help to prevent over-stimulation of the skin.

Why I love this exfoliator is that it never scratches or irritates my skin, it lasts soooo long and because it is so fine in texture but still robust (it doesn’t evaporate like some fine exfoliators), you can really work it into all the nooks and crannies of your face (around those pesky nostrils and into the pores on your chin) for as long as you want. I guarantee you that you have to rinse this off afterwards and it doesn’t give up until you do.

Despite its ability to buff away relentlessly, it’s also super gentle and contains clever ingredients such as the natural anti inflammatory Arnica, which ensures you don’t look red and blotchy afterwards.

Sorry to harp on, but I really can’t find another fine particle exfoliator to match it. If you do please tell me because, once again, this doesn’t come cheap.

Retailing between £25-£30 for 75ml, once again it is an investment.

Now, if this really is too much of a stretch for your budget, there is one other exfoliator which is a great fall back for me. I can’t say it is a favourite when I compare it to the other two, but it does a fairly good job for the money, contains natural ingredients and perhaps i’m a little nostalgic about it because it is a brand my mum always used. I’m talking about good old St Ives.

Now i’ve always used (stolen from my mum) the original apricot scrub and until recently didn’t realise that, behind the scenes and rather quietly, St Ives have been re-vamping their range which now contains a number of variants of the original.

Screen Shot 2014-08-14 at 11.11.04

Now available in the range are: “Fresh Skin” (to invigorate)/ “Timeless Skin” (to renew and firm)/  “Naturally Clear” (blemish and blackhead control)/ “Sensitive Skin” (to be gentle).

They also have a new “Even & Bright” (Pink Lemon & Mandarin Orange scrub) and a “Green Tea” (for clearing black heads).

Now as I said, i’ve only ever used the original version but I’m always interested in saving money, so fully intend on purchasing one or more of these and reviewing them properly at a later date.

From the ingredients side of things it looks quite promising. They are all paraben free, the particles are naturally derived and i’ve already spotted some Salicylic Acid in the “Naturally Clear” version – all positive so far.

In fact, now i’ve had a look at the website I’ve also spotted their oatmeal scrub/mask and a collagen/elastin moisturiser which could tempt me..

Have you used any these products yourself ? I’d be interested to hear your experience and which one you’d recommend, especially if you have delved into the new St Ives range.

 

My favourite Cleansers

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Firstly, before I dive into spouting on about my favourite cleansers, I thought a bit of background info on my skin woes would be prudent.

Skincare is something i’m really interested in because despite being in my 30’s, I actually suffer from Adult Acne.

It all started when I stopped taking the contraceptive pill over seven years ago (for health reasons) and finding out within weeks that the teenage skin i’d never really allowed my body to experience, decided to rear it’s ugly, painful and inflamed head all over my chest, back and face.

After several months of oral antibiotics and daily applications of medicated creams, I was getting rather fed up with the reoccurance of painful cyst like spots that would appear over night and then take months to disappear (often leaving me with scarring).

It wasn’t until I had a makeup trial for my wedding last year, that a makeup artist recommended I overhauled my skincare routine and started giving my skin a bit of TLC.

Now it sounds like common sense in a way, but it never occurred to me that spot prone/acne prone skin is by its nature, very sensitive and reactive. So applying products designed for spot prone skin can sometimes prove a bit harsh and make the problem worse. This is something, celebrity makeup artist (and personal girl crush) Lisa Eldridge discusses in her videos – and if you suffer with your skin, her tutorials and recommendations are well worth a look. This is a link to one of her skincare videos.

Also, both my makeup artist and Lisa Eldridge put forward various reasons why spots can appear. Lisa herself has what she calls ‘lazy skin’, which doesn’t shed very well and allows the build up of cells and debris, which clog the pores and then voila! A breakout nightmare.

Suddenly this made so much sense to me, and looking at my spotty, bumpy, dull, slightly dehydrated, red and partly oily skin, I suddenly realised this could be my problem too – and the best way to tackle this is with consistent and effective cleansing and exfoliating.

My personal favourites…

Enlightened and determined to get my skin clear and glowing for my impending nuptials, I decided to take my makeup artists recommendation and change up my cleansing routine by investing in Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser.

And I tell you, boy did this do wonders!!

This cleanser is creamy and soothing and removes every scrap of makeup and skin debris without burning or pulling at your face. It’s part of a 3-step process recommended by Liz Earle, but I prefer using the cleanser and moisturiser without the toner step. I just find the toner dried out my skin a bit too much (probably because of the topical medicated cream i’m still using).

Liz Earle says about its product:

Our original, multi award-winning hot cloth cleanser quickly removes daily grime and make up to leave skin clean, soft and radiant.

Ideal for your morning or evening cleanse, this formulation works on every age and skin type, offering concentrated yet gentle cleansing power.

Our plant-based cleanser has a two-phase action. Phase one is the cleansing. Free from mineral oil, it has a rich and creamy texture and swiftly removes all traces of face and eye make up, even stubborn mascara.

Phase two is the polishing. Polish off the cream using the pure muslin cloth to gently dislodge dead skin cells and help reveal clean, soft and radiant skin.

Naturally active ingredients include eucalyptus and cocoa butter for smoother, cleaner skin.

These guys have quite a lot to say about their product, but for me, it was all relevant and true.

Within two weeks the tiny bumps on my cheeks and forehead had all but disappeared, leaving brighter, smoother and calmer looking skin and within about two months the big cyst like spots on my chin area appeared less and less. The old scarring marks also started to fade.

The way you use their cleanser also provides a gentle form of exfoliation because you remove (“polish”) it with a muslin cloth. This was perfect in helping my skin cell turnover and preventing future breakouts.

Now, when I say I invested in Liz Earle, I mean that for me, it was a step up into the more expensive realms of skincare. If you are new to Liz Earle and can’t afford to plunge head first into their three step routine, they very kindly supply starter kits for a fraction on the full sized price. This is what I bought for the first few months until I decided it was working for me.

A 15ml tube + 1 muslin cloth will cost you £3.25 or the 50ml pump starter kit with muslin cloth is £9.25 – although the 15ml tube sounds like a bargain, remember that your skin follows a cycle and you need to try a new product for a good few weeks to see true results, so the starter kit may provide more value for money.

Now, as much as I love Liz Earle, it does require more time out of your day to use it properly, so I tend to alternate between products during the week, depending on how my skin is reacting and how much time I have. So if i’m not cleansing with Liz Earle, i’m doing it with Neutrogena Visibly Clear® Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash.

Now I know I said that some products for spot prone skin can make the problem worse, but thankfully this is not one of them and it’s one of the few lower priced brands of skincare that includes a great ingredient for treating spot prone skin – Salicylic Acid. A form of Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA), it penetrates the skin to loosen dead skin cells and is gentler than Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), so ideal for regular use on sensitive skin.

As it is a foaming face wash which doesn’t require a cloth, it is my ‘quick time’ routine on days where I am in a rush. In fact, cleansing in the AM with Neutrogena and then in the PM (in the bath) with Liz Earle works out well for me.

The is what Neutrogena say about their product:

image-6NEUTROGENA VISIBLY CLEAR® Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash is an uplifting daily facial cleanser for clearer, fresher and healthier looking skin every day. With powerful MICROCLEAR® technology, the formula cleanses deeply to help eliminate spots and blackheads. The refreshing gel gently purifies the skin without overdrying, whilst a wave of pink grapefruit uplifts the senses with a burst of invigorating freshness!

A 200ml bottle will cost you less than £5. An absolute bargain in my opinion. I bought mine over six weeks ago and it’s only just running out. It’s effective, smells lush, is affordable, practical, lasts ages (with one pump being enough to wash your entire face) and it doesn’t dry out sensitive skin. Using this means that my more expensive Liz Earle product needs replacing less frequently, so I can keep up my skincare routine without bankrupting myself.

So thats it, a bit of a ramble, but a crucial step in skincare which is individual to every person. Getting a product that works for you can make a huge difference to your skin condition (and confidence).

I’m also going to do a post about my favourite exfoliators as they are also crucial to keeping my skin in good condition, so keep your eyes (and skin) peeled – sorry I couldn’t resist!

What are your favourite cleansers? I’d love to hear your recommendations and skincare experiences!

 

Revlon Brow Fantasy

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In my latest quest forRevlon Brow Fantasy the perfect eyebrow makeup, I stumbled on Revlon’s Brow Fantasy Pencil & Gel.

In the mood for a quick makeup purchase, I snapped up the Dark Brown (106) shade and tested it out at home.

The product actually comes in three colours: Dark Blond, Brunette and Dark Brown.

This is what Boots says about the product:

Pencil defines and fills in with soft blendable natural colour that wears for hours. Use the sheer tinted gel to set the shape of the brow.

Firstly, I was pleasantly surprised by the colour I picked up. Dark Brown is actually quite ash in comparison to the other dark brown options out there which tend to run a bit red and so Revlon’s actually looks pretty natural on the brow.

The pencil is not something I find myself using very much. It’s a bit too dry and solid for easy application and needs warming up before it can be used. Considering that it’s preferable to apply any eyebrow product with featherlight strokes, the pencil doesn’t really work unless you apply more pressure so looks a bit heavy handed for me.

The gel on the other hand is a dream!!  Perfect colour (as already mentioned), plus the brush is small and picks up just the right amount of product, so that you can build your look from subtle to more dramatic. It’s also pretty waterproof and does a sterling job of holding the hairs in place, therefore really helping you create your ideal shape.

I wish they just sold the gel on its own, as I can’t see me using the pencil very much.

Considering that only the gel is worth a look, I think the price tag of just under £7 is a little steep, but unless I find another gel with such good colour I may be persuaded to re-purchase.

These is how it looked when applied: