Stila Huge Extreme Lash Mascara & Stay All Day Liquid Eye Liner | Review

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Hey Sweeties,

Recently I was lucky enough to win (through Twitter) a competition to receive the Stila Huge Extreme Lash Mascara and the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner. Until this, I had only tried one other Stila product in the past which was the Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner (review here), which I received in the Latest in Beauty Glamour Party Beauty edit box a couple of Christmas’ ago (review here); to this day still one of the best beauty boxes I have ever purchased/received!

Stila mascara and eye liner review

Stila mascara and eye liner review

Stila mascara and eye liner review

I’ve got to be honest, when I first opened the Stila Huge Extreme Lash Mascara and saw the wand applicator, with its large head and clumpy bristles, I was sceptical that it was going to give the kind of finish I like and also be true to its name. But how wrong I was, this is a gorgeous mascara and it absolutely lives up to what it says on the tin -huge, extreme lashes, and the wand coats product without clumping; it’s amazing!

The eye liner, it’s got to be said, applies like a dream –it’s so easy and quick to do! I love the pen shape of the product which makes it really easy to hold, and the nib is lovely and fine so it will work for those that like to lightly define their eyes, as well as for those like me who like a dramatic wing/cat eye flick, as you can of course build the thickness. The product also lasts really well and once it’s applied you can pretty much leave it for the rest of the day without worrying that it has smudged, I even played hockey the other night and it all stayed beautifully in place.

Stila mascara and eye liner review

Stila as a brand sit a little bit on par with Benefit for price point, so while their ranges are affordable and good quality, they do sit at the higher end of the high street scale. The Huge Extreme Lash mascara is about £18, and the eye liner ranges between £13-14.50 depending on where you shop, but both are available on Amazon.

Have any of you tired either of the Stila Huge Extreme Lash Mascara or Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner? Thoughts?

Until next time x

nspa Skin Glow Mud Mask Review | August Blogs

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Hey Sweeties,

Some months ago now I posted about going to the Nirvana Spa in Wokingham with my Mum (here), and while I was there we picked up some skin care products from the nspa product range. The product I picked up for me was the skin glow mud mask; ‘a deep cleansing mask with clay and charcoal to draw out impurities.‘

nspa skin glow mud mask

nspa skin glow mud mask

For someone that actually really enjoys face masks, it’s amazing how little I do them which is something I have got to change. For ages I have gone between using masks from Montagne Jeunesse and Lush, but this mud mask from nspa is fantastic and I think it was no more than around £8 which is a total bargain!

When I wear a face mask, I like to really feel that it’s doing something and this nspa mud mask does just that. I don’t yet quite understand how charcoal plays such a part in the formulation, but the mask is easy to apply, sets quickly, and washes off cleanly. Fortunately, I don’t then suffer a huge break out following use but my skin does feel amazing afterwards and I know if I increased use to weekly or even fortnightly, I would see incredible, consistent results.

nspa skin glow mud mask

nspa skin glow mud mask

Personally, I really dislike products that come in sachets as it just gets annoying trying to release all of the product, and often it’s more than you need. I love the little tub this mud mask comes in as it allows for really easy distribution and I can just take what I need, and although it’s a thick mask, it’s not messy.

On the same visit I purchased this mud mask, we also purchased a night cream and I think a moisturiser from the nspa range that my mum and mother-in-law received and from all accounts, thoroughly enjoy using. Recently I noticed some of the nspa range in my local Asda store so if you see any of the products near you, I would thoroughly recommend them as asides from being incredibly affordable, they are of excellent quality too.

What kind of face masks do you guys like to use?

Until next time x

Learning how to Contour & Sleek Cream Contour Palette Review | August Blogs

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Hey Sweeties,

In a recent beauty haul (here), I purchased the Sleek Cream Contour palette having decided that it was a makeup technique that I wanted to learn how to do. Of course I chisel out my cheek bones in my daily makeup routine, and add concealer under my eyes to brighten, but to actually properly contour is something still to master. I also within the same haul, purchased a blending sponge as on Instagram particularly, I had seen this as the preferred application and blending method by many.

Sleek Cream contour

Blending Sponge

I’ve got to say, I really have enjoyed using this Sleek cream contour palette and while I thought I might use it only a couple of times, I’ve used it pretty much every weekend as I’ve been really busy over the summer so far with plenty of opportunity to wear a full face a makeup. Being a novice, I have made full use of the contouring instructions that come with the palette; it simply just explains which contour colour should go wear which is useful for first timers.

Sleek Cream contour

Sleek Cream contour

While this particular blending sponge isn’t anything to get excited about, I can still certainly see the benefits of a blending sponge over brushes to achieve a particular kind of finish, and for blending cream products it’s definitely recommended. The first couple of times I used the palette, I used a makeup brush to apply the product to my face, and then used the sponge to blend it all together, but I have since used the sponge to apply and blend the products and it works just as well for both.

Sleek Cream contour

Sleek Cream contour

Once I have blended the Sleek cream contour palette together, I still continue to enhance some areas further with powder products as the cream formula I think benefits from being set with powder. The above photograph shows a completed face of makeup using the palette as well as other products on top and I have been wearing this look most weekends recently. Overall, I would thoroughly recommend the Sleek cream contour palette.

Do you guys like to contour? Do you prefer a cream or powder formula in your products?

Until next time x

Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo for Dark Tones | Beauty Review

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Hey Sweeties,

I was recently sent this Moroccanoil dry shampoo* to review from Bath & Unwind, a site dedicated to sourcing products from around the world that are not only proven to work, but are kind to you in the process.

I don’t know about you, Sweeties, but I am one of those people notorious for looking at my hair in the morning and saying to myself that I’ll wash it that evening, but come the evening, I end up forgetting. Since having shorter hair, it is possible for me to wash and dry my hair before work, but this fundamentally means I need to get up earlier and quite frankly I relish every last minute I can of sleep before I have to get up. I love putting my hair up in a top knot which is my classic end of the week look (need I explain why), but leaving my hair down is far better for the health and look of my hair and so for the mornings I look at my hair and need to spritz some life into it, dry shampoo is my saviour.

Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo

This Moroccanoil dry shampoo is available for both dark and light tones, and works in the same way any other dry shampoos do (shake well, spray lightly 15-20cm away from dry roots, massage into scalp etc.). What is different about this dry shampoo to others is that this is an ultra fine spray enriched with argan oil, which claims to leave hair feeling clean, soft and silky.

As someone that has tried a fair few dry shampoos, I have got to admit this Moroccanoil product has probably trumped everything I’ve tried to date and I don’t say things like that lightly. The formula really is brilliant and I’ve been so impressed with this product because I don’t need a lot to notice its effects. Other dry shampoos often take a lot of (heavy) spraying to revitalise my thick locks, but this one seems to take a couple of light spritzes to do the job and buy me another day or so before I need to hit the shower.

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Five Things about Lush King of Skin

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Hey Sweeties,

As it is for so many, Lush is one of my favourite shops on the high street, but unlike say River Island whereby you can visit a few times for nothing to really take your fancy, you’ll always come out with a bag full of things from Lush, always. This is why quite sensibly, I (try to) only go in when I need to stock up.

In my most recent Lush haul which took place a couple of months ago now, amongst some other routine favourites such as The Comforter, I picked up the King of Skin body butter bar for the first time, mostly out of intrigue because I had heard so much about it. Now having used it a few times, I thought I would keep to my word and let you know some thoughts.

Lush Haul

So I’ll be honest, when I first decided I was going to write a post about this product, it was going to be because I couldn’t quite understand the hype and I really wasn’t a fan the first time I used it. But then I found myself reaching for it again in the shower, and again, and while there are still a couple of elements I don’t like (which to be honest are going to be very personal to me), there are things that I do. Let’s start with the positives –

  1. I love how creamy the bar gets when in use. As the bar loses its crown shape, it moulds into a smooth bar which to butter up in your hands is just gorgeous.
  2. It smells amazing (a blend of avocados, bananas, oatmilk and butters)
  3. It leaves your skin beautifully soft and lightly scented once out of the shower.

And for the not so positive –

  1. I don’t like how it doesn’t feel you wash it all off, let me explain. Once you have buttered up the bar and rubbed it over your body, it leaves what I can only describe to be like a film on your skin. It doesn’t of course and to be fair it works in the same way any soap would, but I like the feeling of clean when I leave the shower and after I have used King of Skin, I always then use a shower gel to feel like I have properly washed which in my mind, defeats the objective somewhat. But as I said in point 3, once out of the shower and you’ve dried off, your skin does smell gorgeous.
  2. Overall, it just doesn’t drive me wild. This is actually a very weak point to end on and it’s not even really that negative because it’s just my personal opinion, and not everything I buy (from anywhere) needs to drive me wild with love for it. But five points rounds up better than four, and to be fair, I do only really dislike one thing. Fundamentally, I am a shower gel kinda’ gal and I think this is what King of Skin has proved.

I don’t know, maybe it will grow on me in time, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it did end up in my basket again in the future. I liken this a bit to when I tried Lush’s Happy Hippy shower gel for the first time. I got it in one of the gift boxes I think originally and because I completely wasn’t anticipating the smell, the first time it hit my nostrils I thought it smelt a bit like cigarettes on clothes. I know that sounds ridiculous but for me, that is what seemed to resonate. But then after a couple of uses I become completely addicted to it and still reach for it when I am after something that isn’t too sweet or floral but has a nice kick of scent.

What do you think guys, have any of you tired Lush’s King of Skin? What are some of your other favourite Lush products?

Until next time x

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