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 :-)

My Week In Pictures #21

I swear I always say this but it feels like a long time since my last one of these particular posts although the past couple of weeks have flown by. It's been slightly hectic and I feel like I've been constantly busy but I can't fully tell you exactly what I've been doing.

For the first time in my life last weekend I fully lost my voice! I started off squeaky and then ended up sounding like a rattily, old man. I got the piss taken out of me fully for two days until it finally came back and I must say, ordering in a restaurant with no voice was slightly embarrassing. Even more so when your brother in law claims you went out on a huge binge the night before. Yes, I was drinking the night before but I can tell you it definitely wasn't that.

It was my sisters birthday and we had a fab night out! Full of Prosecco and laughs, with new and old friends. That particular night it also snowed for the first time this Winter in the UK! Not that it lasted at all of course, but sitting outside in it with a glass of bubbles was really lovely albeit cold.

I've been inundated with uni work, no change there hey! I have one more essay to do before Christmas and I'd like to say I'll feel relieved after that but unfortunately not. The looming dissertation is just the worst feeling and as soon as this next essay is finished I will be starting it finally. At least I know my topic now which is one positive, just need to get writing which is the scary part!

So overall it's been a busy couple of weeks which will probably only increase as it gets closer to Christmas! But how exciting that it's December next week?! It's mad that it's gone so quickly. Let me know your favourite thing about Christmas in the comments :-)

NYX Butter Gloss in Crème Brulee

This was the one product that I've wanted to get my hands on for a very long time. I jumped at the chance when Boots began stocking the brand, NYX, and it immediately went into my basket. Ever since I purchased this, I've pretty much been wearing it at every chance I've had.

This butter gloss is in the shade Crème Brulee which if you know me well, just about sums me up. It's the perfect everyday nude lip shade which is where my love lies, with nude lipsticks. The doe foot applicator makes precision easy and also allows you to build up the product easily. This gloss glides on effortlessly and doesn't leave my lips feeling sticky in anyway. That's the one thing I dislike about lip glosses and it really puts me off, but this one doesn't leave that horrible feeling on the lips.

The pigmentation of this product is just the right amount, after just one application it leaves the lips looking really natural. I really only ever apply this once and the colour pay off is perfect for me. The word 'butter' in this gloss really deserves to be there as this product is definitely buttery. It just leaves the lips looking and feeling super soft. I suffer with severe dry lips but this product doesn't affect that, it glides over and does moisturise them slightly when wearing.

Overall I'm super impressed with this product and as I've mentioned, it hasn't really left my lips! I definitely want to invest in more shades of these so if you have any recommendations then please leave them in the comments below! Also any other NYX product you think I should try, I'd love to hear :-)

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 #5

I recently ran out of my Clearasil spot pads (not the correct name but I've forgotten!) so whilst in Superdrug I saw these ones, for a fraction of the price, so thought I would give them a go. I do love my Clearasil ones but when you use them twice a day, they do disappear quickly therefore can be expensive to keep repurchasing. Hence why I thought I would give these ones a go due to mainly the price tag but they do claim pretty much the same thing.

The first day I started using these I wasn't impressed, now with only a few pads left, my opinion hasn't changed. I first opened these and the top pad was pretty much dry. These pads are supposed to be soaked in whatever formula is in the tub, I understand the top one may be difficult to keep soaked in, but for it to be dry I was disappointed in. As I carried on using these, they did start to become more wet, therefore soaked in product, but only after using the top few.

I've been using these twice a day ever since I picked them up and can say that I haven't noticed a huge difference in my skin. These are supposed to clear and refresh your complexion, I can't say I haven't noticed any difference but if any it's very slight. The tea tree scent I personally find very refreshing anyway, so I think the scent of these pads more than the formula is what I prefer, especially in the mornings. In terms of a clear complexion, my skin has been relatively clear recently but I'm not entirely convinced that it's down to this product.

Overall I have enjoyed using these more in the morning but I can say that I wouldn't repurchase this product. The Clearasil ones are 10 times better than these so I will definitely stick to what I know next time. Although you know me, I do like to try out a variety of products before settling my decision. Let me know if you've tried this product and your thoughts on it :-)

Sephora Smoothing Primer

I purchased this what feels like ages ago now and it was a spur of the moment purchase. I struggle to find the perfect primer so whenever a new one comes out, or I see a new one I haven't tried, I like to give it a go. I do find that primers can be pretty expensive so I tend to keep an eye out on the high street. When I spotted this one when I was on holiday in France, I couldn't help but pick it up as it's not everyday you get to pick up Sephora products here in the UK.

To be honest nothing really attracted me to this product other than the fact that it was a primer and I was in need of a new one at the time. I like the packaging as it's rather dinky so in one way perfect for travelling, but on the other hand not so great as it is a glass bottle. I love that this product has a pump, it just makes it so much easier to know how much product you are using so you don't waste any. I simply use one pump of this product and it covers all of my face.

When I first used this product it reminded me of the Maybelline Baby Skin, the formula felt exactly the same pretty much although I would say very slightly the Sephora one has a thicker consistency. So firstly if you are not a fan of the Maybelline one then I would suggest that you probably won't get on well with this one. I personally quite liked the Maybelline one but I do think I prefer this Sephora one and I will tell you why.

Once this product is applied to your skin it doesn't take long to sink in and doesn't leave your skin feeling slippery. This product aims to smooth out your skin which I think it does achieve. It leaves my skin perfectly ready for the rest of my make up routine. The only slight downside to this primer is that I don't find it keeps my make up in place for a particularly long time. I would say around 3-4 hours and my t zone is beginning to get oily again and in need of a touch up.

Overall this is a pretty good primer and I like how it leaves my skin looking and feeling. As I said the only downside is the staying power but that's the trouble having an oily t zone, it's a pain to keep at bay. I will continue my hunt for a great high street primer, let me know your favourites :-)

I Spent Even More Money On Make Up...

When Boots have 3 for 2 on all make up I cannot resist. I purchased six make up items that I really don't need but wanted, isn't that always the story? There were actually a few new releases make up wise and after watching some YouTube videos about the best of the high street brands, I obviously needed to try those too right.

Firstly influenced by Fleur from FleurDeForce I picked up the Collection Eyes Uncovered Nude Palette. I'm not one to always wear eye shadow but when I do I like to have choice depending on what I'm wearing. In this palette there are six neutral shades which are all totally wearable for everyday and on a night out. This palette was as cheap as chips so I'm looking forward to see if it's any good.

Next is a new product from Barry M and it's their Flawless Colour Correcting Primer. This particular one is aimed at redness but there is just a normal one on offer too. I've always said I find it hard to find high street primers so when I saw this one I knew I wanted to try it out. I then picked up the new Rimmel Super Curler Mascara which I read mixed reviews about. This mascara is supposed to curl your lashes without the need to use an eyelash curler. I'm not sure whether this will work or not but I'm excited to see whether it does or not as I'd love to not curl my eyelashes daily!

I then picked up the Bourjois Brow Natural as my current brow product is nearly all gone basically. Unfortunately when I went to try this product out, it didn't work. I took it back to Boots to get another but it was the same so I didn't bother again. This was a shame as I love using felt tip like brow products but it simply just wasn't meant to be.

Next is the Revlon Colorstay Concealer which I have wanted to try for a very long time. I've heard it is supposed to be a dupe for the Nars concealer which I do really like. Hence why I wanted to try this one as it's a fraction of the price. Finally I picked up the Bourjois Mat Illusion Bronzing Powder simply because I wanted a matte bronzer. I've got the Bourjois chocolate bronzer but it does have some shimmer in it which for the autumnal/winter months I didn't want. I do love Bourjois as a brand so thought I would stick with it and found this matte one which I haven't heard anything about so thought I would give it a go.

That's it for this Boots haul (again). I definitely need to stop buying make up for quite a while now and use up more that I have in my stash. I do love when Boots do 3 for 2 though as it's such a good time to save money and try out new things you've always wanted too. I hope you all have a lovely weekend :-)

James Patterson Book Reviews

I do love an easy read and if you do too then you will absolutely love these books. Ok maybe not the actual books but the author that is James Patterson. I personally love these books, they grip you right from the opening paragraph which I love. I hate having to read a load of chapters before you actually get into the story line. Both of these books have super short chapters, like I'm talking a max of probably 6 pages, yes you heard correctly. It's like a God send, it's the worst thing when your eyes are drooping and you still have 10 pages of a chapter left. Well you do not get that here Ladies and Gentlemen.

Both of these books I've featured in this post are mystery/thrillers and are incredibly gripping. Throughout both of these books there was never a moment when I physically wanted to stop reading, if I could of then I would of carried of for the whole book. Yes I do believe they were that good. They are both pretty long books but they both kept me gripped and wanting to read on continuously. It was like you never knew what was going to happen next, another plot twist came from no where in all the right places.

Mystery and thriller books have become very current recently so if they have become your "thing" then I 110% (yes I went over 100) recommend these. They are honestly now some of my favourite books and I have already been looking into my next one written by James Patterson. If you've read either of these or a different one by James Patterson then leave me a comment below and let me know your thoughts :-)

Amphora Aromatics Lavender & Tea Tree Moisturising Face Lotion

All the previous products I've tried from Amphora Aromatics I have loved so when I received this one I was super excited to give it a whirl. I've actually been testing this out for quite some time as I find that a moisturiser is something you really need to use for a while to find out whether it's right for you or not. This one from Amphora Aromatics is for all skin types and includes Lavender and Tea Tree. Tea Tree is a great product for spots so I thought this would be great for my skin.

First impressions of this product are ok; I like the packaging simply because I love a pump, it's so much easier to get the product out and use the right amount. This product definitely has a scent to it, so if you don't like strong scents then you won't like this one. Both the scents hit you when applying it onto your skin, which I don't personally like, although it does settle down relatively quickly so after a short while it is fine. I only have to use one pump of this moisturiser and it covers my whole face well.

The consistency of this product is relatively thin, hence why a little goes a long way I guess. I think the light consistency is why, at this time of the year, that this moisturiser isn't quite cutting it for my skin type. My skin is super dry in areas at the moments so I find that I'm needing something a lot thicker to help those areas. Although this moisturiser does a great job on my not so dry areas, it's not really great to wear two different moisturisers and I definitely need something to cater for my whole face rather than just half of it.

Overall I love the packaging and think this would be the perfect moisturiser in the hotter/summer months so I will definitely be stashing it away until then! I really think the tea tree aspect helps soothe my spots as well which is great from a moisturiser. If you've never checked out Amphora Aromatics then I would definitely recommend doing so :-)

NYX Haul

I've raved about that fact that you can now get NYX from Boots in the UK as for a very long time I have wanted to try some of their products. It was super difficult to get hold of, unless you wanted to pay extortionate prices so I'm sure you will all agree with me that this is exciting news. When I saw the release I obviously couldn't help but pick a few things up and yes I think I did well restricting myself.

Firstly I knew I 100% wanted to get one of their butter glosses in the shade Crème Brulee. I've been eyeing this particular shade up for ages. If you didn't know nude lip products are my favourite hence why I've been after this one clearly. The shade is a lovely nude with a nice shine to it, so I'm really excited to try this out and hope that it's as good as I've heard.

Next I picked up the matte blotting paper which was actually more of a need than wanting it from this particular brand. I didn't even know NYX sold this product so when I saw that they did I thought I might as well try some new ones. I find these are perfect to keep in your handbag when out for the day. I honestly love having these in my bag and always need a pack in there to be on the safe side.

Finally I picked up the wonder pencil which is sold as a multi-purpose beauty item. Personally I purchased it as a nude eyeliner to apply on my water line, as one of those eyeliners that make you look more awake than you actually are. But I believe on the website it also said you could use this on blemishes and maybe even more purposes. I'm excited to try this in various ways and I'll let you know how I get on.

Overall I'm excited to try all of these products and if they are all rated highly, I'm sure I'll be back on the Boots website purchasing more from NYX. Let me know if you ordered and what your favourite NYX products are for me to check out :-)