Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Red Pepper

I received this product in Bourjois' free gift set when you spent over £15 on their products in Boots recently. I didn't know what was in this box until I received it, as I ordered online and you couldn't see. When I did finally get inside to see I was really pleasantly surprised with the products inside. There were three full sized products and one mini, which I think is such an amazing freebie considering I was buying the two products that made £15 from Bourjois anyway.

This Rouge Edition Velvet lipstick was one of the full sized products within this gift set. Now if I'm honest, I wouldn't have personally chosen this colour for myself if I had the choice. But I am absolutely in love with this product, both colour and formula. I'm also not normally a huge fan of matte lipsticks because I find them quite drying and my lips seem to be constantly dry at the minute which just doesn't work well. Having said both of these things, I am such a huge fan of this product and cannot get enough of it. The packaging is lovely and the applicator is so easy to use, making application a dream. A few swipes of this product and you're ready to go, honestly it's that fast because the colour of this product is so opaque.

I definitely think this is the perfect night out colour as I find a red lip instantly perks up any relatively plain outfit. I wore this on New Years Eve with a simple black outfit and I loved it. It lasted pretty much all night, it could have done with a top up nearing the end of the night but it lasted really well. When it did start to fade, it did so evenly and left a nice looking red stain on the lips. This product didn't leave my lips feeling dry at all which was such a bonus for me, considering I normally have such dry lips. The only thing I would say about this product is that I would have preferred to also use a red lip liner simply due to it being such a bright coloured red lipstick. I have now purchased one so I cannot wait to next wear this lipstick.

Overall this is such a lovely product and I definitely will be checking out the other shades available for this formula. This has quickly become one of my favourite lipsticks and also I'm so pleased with the colour as I never would have chosen it myself. Let me know if you've tried this product and any other shades you would recommend :-)

NYX Matte Blotting Paper

My oily t zone can be the bane of my life, no matter how much oil free make up or powder I apply it always seems to creep it's way through. After a few hours I'm in need of something to help my oily t zone out and blotting sheets are, in my opinion, one of the easiest ways to do so. These particular ones are from NYX and I recently purchased them when Boots began stocking NYX products.

These are in a small, compact packet which is perfect for throwing into your everyday handbag but also your clutch bag on a night out. Inside you get 50 sheets which to be fair will last a relatively long time for the price you pay. These come pretty cheap and effectively if you only use one a day you've got 50 days worth. I only really need one a day, around midday/lunch time.

You simple use one sheet and blot your face wherever you become oily, in my case my t zone. After using one sheet my face is back to normal with no shine to see. It's honestly that easy. Blotting sheets are now my go to on my lunch break when I need to just get rid of the oil. It's one of the worst feelings when you know there's a load of oil just sitting on your face with practically no where to go.

These are the simplest things to get rid of oil, in my opinion, and if you haven't tried these before and suffer with oily skin then I 100% recommend them. To be fair there isn't much difference between the different brands of blotting sheets I've tried. I've only tried two different ones, these and the Boots Skin Clear ones, but they both live up to expectations. Let me know if you've tried these or what your favourite oily skin tips are below :-)

Bourjois Mat Illusion Bronzing Powder

If you read my latest Boots haul then you'll know I was on the look out for a new bronzer. I wanted a new one mainly because the one I've been using up until now had slight shimmer in it. For the Autumnal months and colder weather I wanted a matte one, I've had to get over the fact that it is no longer Summer. So whilst browsing the Boots website I came across this one from Bourjois and it's their Mat Illusion Bronzing Powder.

I didn't particularly shop around for matte bronzers but I do love Bourjois as a brand and my previous bronzer is also from Bourjois. I picked shade 21 which I believe to be the lightest of two, although it was difficult to figure out on the website. But since it arriving and using it, it's definitely the perfect shade for my skin tone. Also because this is a matte bronzer, it could be used as a contour as well.

I love using this bronzer as it's perfect for everyday use but you can really amp it up for the evening too. It's really pigmented and you barely need any to get that sun kissed look. I tend to apply this on the areas the sun would tend to fall on, although obviously no sun in the UK right now. We can pretend right? It's really blendable and easy to work with which is perfect for me because I'm not the best at make up, I'm learning!

Overall this is such a great matte bronzer and I will definitely continue using this through the cold, Winter months. I would definitely recommend this if you too are looking for a matte bronzer. Also Boots have 3 for 2 on make up so you can grab a couple of other things that have been on your wish list for a while too :-)

Disappointing Products #1

Not only do I like to share the products that I love with you guys but I also find it helpful when reading other blogs about disappointing products that haven't lived up to fellow bloggers expectations. I find that after reading the reviews from other blogs will determine whether or not I want to buy that particular product. I know sometimes this will be more helpful when it comes to higher end/more expensive products but even some of the drug store/high street products these days can be slightly pricey if you are only just starting out with make up. Even so if a disappointing product post helps you save a few pennies in the drug store then that's a positive too. Hence why I'm going to start this little series called Disappointing Products and just post them as and when I come across a product that I don't get on with myself. I will add that this is obviously only my opinion and what doesn't work for me may necessarily work for you.

So without further ado the first product featured in this series is this matte serum primer from Bourjois. Recently I had been hunting for a new drug store primer and to be honest I really struggled. I wanted something I hadn't tried before and there just really weren't that many out there that appealed to me. In the end I took to Asos as they had money off their beauty range and ended up purchasing this one from Bourjois a bit cheaper than priced in your typical store.

What appealed to me was the mattifying aspect of the product as I have an oily t zone which I would like to keep under control for longer throughout the day. I knew this wasn't going to be the perfect product for my drier patches but I thought it may be ok to just glide over to hold my make up in place for slightly longer than without any primer. Unfortunately when I applied this product my skin just completely started flaking everywhere possible, even my oily t zone. I clearly applied the primer after my moisturiser but when applying the primer I found that it stripped my face of my moisturiser and just left my face with those of flaky patches. It made my skin look terrible and there was nothing I could do other than to take it off and start completely over again with my moisturiser. It was such a pain considering most days I tried to make this work I was actually in a rush for work, typical me.

Overall this product was just really disappointing for my skin type and completely dried it up. It makes me question which skin type this would actually work for as I have both dry and oily and it didn't work for either of those, therefore you must have to have quite normal skin I suppose. I love Bourjois as a brand and have so many other products from them which I love, it just so happens that this one did not work for me unfortunately. I hope this helps at least one of you guys out there before purchasing this particular product and I'll keep you updated on other disappointing products I may come across. Let me know your thoughts on this product if you've previously tried it :-)

Rimmel Instant Tan BB Skin Perfector

The UK has finally seen some sunshine this summer and although it has been out it's always pretty difficult to actually get a tan. I swear the heat in the UK is mainly just muggy heat and not so nice as anywhere abroad, typical. Hence why us brits need some fake tan loving throughout the summer, even more so throughout the rest of the year. That's where this little beauty comes in handy! This is actually the second fake tan product I've tried from Rimmel (you can read the first one here) and I really loved that one. I actually received this particular one in a Latest In Beauty box (which you can also read here) and I'm not going to lie I didn't use this product for quite some time. But recently I've found myself reaching for it a lot more.

This product is great for those nights out where you've forgotten to fake tan and need it fast. This product instantly tans you but is nothing to in your face, it's actually quite subtle. I do think however you could apply this product more than once to intensify the colour if you need it. I was quite worried because this tube is in the shade medium but it's actually perfect for me. It leaves me with the perfect bronze glow and even better there is no shimmer involved here, it is completely matte which I love. This product is also a wash off fake tan so it makes it even more perfect for that night out as you can wash it off in the morning and there will be no more signs of it. Although I do find this a slight downside to the product, simply because I love it so much! I don't want to wash it off as I find applying it a couple of times gives me such a natural looking tan, I want it to stay.

I use a mitt when applying this product and make sure that I moisturise those dry areas, such as elbows, knees and wrists so the product doesn't stick to them. Using a mitt I find that I am left with no streaks or patches and it really does apply effortlessly. It also dries really quickly so your not having to star fish waiting for it to dry before you can put your clothes back on which is a bonus. I find the colour of the tan perfect for my skin, it's definitely bronzy and not orange at all which we all know is a great thing from a fake tan.

Overall I am completely in love with this product and will continue to use it throughout the summer and probably the rest of the year. Although I may need something with slightly more colour come the winter time. I wouldn't normally think of Rimmel for fake tan products but after trying these two I am definitely converted. Let me know if you've tried this product or what your favourite fake tan is :-)

Rimmel Sun Shimmer Instant Tan

It may seem like the weirdest timing to write a blog post all about fake tan and quite frankly I agree. I do embrace my paleness over the colder months mainly due to sheer laziness and being so cold! Yes I love a good tan in the summer and this one was a staple this summer. But on the odd occasion throughout these colder months I have actually still been using this. This is the perfect tan for any occasion when you just want to liven up your skin whether it be a Christmas party or just a night out.

I actually received this product in a goodie bag from the Clothes Show last year but only really got into using this product throughout this years summer months. It worried me that it was in the shade medium and I put it off for a while. But when I finally took the plunge I was super glad I did so. This product does look pretty scary when applying as it's practically black in colour. You definitely have to use a mitt to apply this product or you'll be in trouble. When applying this product you do need to act fast as when it says instant, it definitely is that. But once worked into the skin it sets like a dream. There's none of that sticky, wet feeling after applying this product.

I wake up with a gorgeous glow and no streaks. The colour is not too dark but does show up. You do have to be careful around dry patches and awkward patches such as elbows, knees and ankles; but that's the same with most other fake tans.

Overall this product is great for those one evening occasions or when you're feeling like a spruce up from the paleness. It's a great easy product to use as long as you have a mitt and are quite quick with it! What are your favourite instant tans? You can purchase this product here :-)

MUA Haul

Another haul I hear you say, well yes I am afraid so but I've been currently purchasing a few bits from the same shop/brand and find them a nice and easy post to do, and also hopefully you guys like reading them! This haul wasn't planned, MUA had a percentage off their whole website when you spent £15 (I think it was 15% but could have been more I've totally forgotten sorry!) so I jumped straight on as there were a few bits that I needed to add to my current make up collection (that's probably a total lie, I more than definitely have enough make up but hey ho I'm a blogger).

MUA, if you didn't know, is a very cheap and affordable make up brand which is available in Superdrug. But recently I noticed in my local Superdrug that it no longer exists, gutted. So when I saw this offer I couldn't resist. The main thing I wanted to get were some new blushers as mine recently are very shimmery and summery so I've been in the wrong season. But I couldn't only pick a couple of those up...

First I got 2 new lipsticks, MUA have recently released a new matte range and I've never tried a matte lipstick so for £1 I thought why not. I picked up the shade called 'Peachy Keen' (the matte lipstick is in the white packaging) it's a lovely peachy/pinky colour which I like but I am yet to try this yet. I'm hoping it won't be too drying as I have relatively dry lips anyway so not sure if this will work for me. The next lipstick I got was just from the normal range in 'Shade 12', it's a bright hot pink colour. I'm not completely sold on this product as it's like glittery which I really don't think I will like on the lips! You could not tell it was glittery on the website so pretty disappointed but I'll give it a go.

Next I got 2 nail varnishes again only £1 and I've tried MUA polishes before and actually really like them so couldn't resist. You'd think that I need purples in my collection, well no I don't but I really love these 2 shades. The darker purple is called 'Deepest Purple' and this is the one shade of purple I don't think I own, I have tonnes of lilac's and pastel purples but not a deep one and thought it would be perfect for autumn/winter. Next I picked up the shade called 'Frozen Yoghurt' which I absolutely love. I would say it's quite a blue toned purple and quite a pastel shade.

I then got 2 blushers, as I said this was one of the reasons this haul happened. My 2 favourite blushers at the moment are rather shimmery and summery as I've said so I wanted to branch out and try some new coloured blushers. The first I got is in 'Shade 2' this is the one on the left in the last picture. This one is the more pink blusher, matte colour so no shimmer involved. Secondly I got 'Shade 4' which I was more excited to try, the one on the right in the picture. This one is more orange/peachy and I really don't think I've ever tried a blush in this colour. For £1 you really can't go wrong and for experimenting with colours they are the perfect blushers to do so.

The final 2 things I got was a new brush, this one is called 'F4' and is the face powder brush. My current powder brush has totally gone horrible and stiff so I thought I'd try one from MUA. It's lovely and soft on the face and was only £3.75 so a total bargain. I've only used this once but I enjoyed using it, although think anything would have been better than my old one now! And last but not least I picked up the Pro-Base Fixing Mist. Recently I've been loving using a face mist to help keep my make up in place, this is only the second one I've tried as I don't seem to see them often in the drug store so thought I'd try this one. This was the most expensive at £5 but obviously you still can't complain at the price, it's also quite a large bottle so will keep me going for a while!

And that's my MUA haul complete! I love MUA for cheap and affordable make up and like I said for experimental use and if you then find a product you love then it's even better! Hopefully I've got a hidden gem in one of these items! I'd love to know if you've tried any of the items I purchased or what your favourite MUA product is? :-)

Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick Shade 11

I did tell you I had been getting myself into lipsticks so here I am again with another lipstick review. Since I started purchasing lipsticks I went a tiny bit crazy but I kind of stuck to nude or sheer lipsticks as I didn't want to be daring and to be honest was a bit scared of actually wearing them. So anyway I was shopping with mum and came across this little beauty. I'd heard a lot about these Kate Moss lipsticks so was interested in purchasing one. I actually found this in The Factory Shop and I believe it was only £3, hence why I couldn't resist.

When I first saw the colour I was a bit reluctant as it looks quite a dark red but when I swatched it, I didn't think it looked quite as daring so thought I'd give it a whirl. This lipstick is so pigmented it's crazy, just a few strokes on the lips and you have a full volume red lip. There's no hiding with this lipstick that's for sure but I rather like it. I have worn this on a night out with just a simple black dress and it really just gave the outfit that 'pop' it needed. It's not that bright red more of a toned down, slightly darker and not so loud. Which is something I really like about this lipstick as I personally think it's a more wearable day colour.

Like I said I've worn this on a night out, along with just casual days of not doing a lot where application is more easy so I'll base this on a night out. But the wear of this lipstick lasted a while and what I loved is that after it had worn off slightly it left me with a nice stained lip with a more matte effect. This was perfect as it meant that re-application wasn't needed every time I was well basically in front of a mirror. Rimmel claims this lipstick lasts 8 hours which I don't agree with but when do they ever last that long 'ey? The formula of this lipstick is nice and it easily glides on, although I do find myself taking longer to apply this lipstick than normal. Now whether that's just me (I hope not) but I find it trickier to apply due to the intense colour. It is nice and moisturising but I do, like with most lipsticks, like to apply lip balm fast so my lips don't dry out so fast as they are prone to doing so.

The packaging is pretty simple, black with Kate written in red. It feels quite hard wearing in that fact that basically it's not plastic-y... so in other words the packaging is not going to crack or break on you which is obviously a bonus.

Overall I love this lipstick and would definitely love to get my hands on a couple of other shades, I believe there are also 11 shades to choose from so definitely should find one to suit you :) The colour, formula and wear of this lipstick is brilliant, I recommend them! And if you have a Factory Shop near you then try there first before hitting Boots/Superdrug!

Have you tried this lipstick? If so what's your favourite shade?