By Terry Ombre Blackstar : Swatches and Review

The By Terry Ombre Blackstars do tend to polarize opinions.

I read far more favorable reviews than negative, but I feel like I sit in a weird no mans land because I do see their faults but I continue to love them anyway.

Does that make sense?

These cream eye shadows do not come cheap at £29- I only managed to justify them by redeeming by five quid off reward from SpaceNK.

I wish considering their price tag that they were perfect- I think for that amount of money a product should be flawless, but it is not.

I have two shades- Bronze Moon and Misty Rock.

Brown Perfection will be mine the moment I have enough Ndulge points. 

The consistency and texture of these sticks is divine- super creamy but not smeary, they apply like a dream- there is no dragging or scratching and the colours are my absolute favorites. 

L-R Bronze Moon and Misty Rock

Bronze Moon is as the name would suggest, a bronze shade with a lot of gleam to it- it almost looks wet on the eye. Such a easy shade to wear and perfect for when you are in a hurry.

I scribble on, blend through the crease and then apply a touch more over those pesky mascara smudges then BOOM. 

A wet look bronzey eye in 4 seconds.

The BM formula is the better of the two- I have far less issues with creasing and it lasts and lasts until I take it off.

The issue that I can face is that if I apply a bit too much/its a super hot day - creasing can happen. I don't really need a primer with this, but on a humid day, it is a must.

I love this so much and when it runs out, I will definitely repurchase, its so easy and such a unique bronze colour, but it is not perfect. 

Misty Rock is the more complex of the two. I love this shade big time- its a purple/taupe/silver- so unique and it just makes me feel so summery. 

Again, I would repurchase when it runs out without hesitation, but this CAN be quite difficult to work with.

I find if I prime my eyelids, and set with powder my problems do halve- but for £29 I think it's worth noting.

Every time I wear this people ask me what it is, it is easy and creamy to apply, it doesn't flake and it gives another beautiful wet look to the eye- but it can crease like a mofo. 

Exhibit A: 

See what I mean? It just seems to crack.

I don't have particularly oily lids but if you do I would either avoid or use a heavy duty primer.

Bronze Moon in action with a bit of Bobbi Browns Camel in the crease :

Here's just a little swatch to give you more of an idea of colour :

L-R: Bronze Moon and Misty Rock

Bottom Line : I will continue to use these around the clock- beautiful colours, super easy to apply, very travel friendly and long lasting. 

The con is obviously the creasing and normally that is a humongous no no from me, I can try to avoid it with primers and powders etc, but even if the cracks appear, I love these too much to be perturbed.

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July Beauty and Skincare Favorites

It's that time again! Time to have a little look at what I've been loving in the month of July...

Clarins Instant Light Lip Balm in Rose : This is so darn easy to wear which is why it has been my grab and go through the busy month of July. I've nearly finished it which is pretty unusual for a hoarder like myself.

If you are familiar with the Instant Light Glosses, then you will recognize the same caramel/vanilla scent. It's delicious.

This is such an easy little hand bag balm, it imparts a gentle glossy pink to the lips that is low maintenance but just helps polish off any look.

These are very comfortable and moisturizing but I believe it contains mineral oil which would explain why in the long run it can make my lips feel a little dry. However that does not deter me, I just make sure to use my trusty Nuxe Rev De Miel before bed.

By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Bronze Moon : For some reason it has taken my light years to write this review, but it will be up tomorrow.

Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow : I have had this since Christmas but as of late I have found it hard to go without.

It has a beautiful, delicate rose scent which is in no way over powering or irritating, but it the effect this gives that keeps me coming back for more. I seem to be working my way through this quite slowly though so that's good.

This is the only primer I have that actually adds a level of hydration. I love any kind of radiance primer for example the Dior Glow Maximiser, but although that does bring the glow, it doesn't feel that beneficial to my skin. Wonderglow just feels like another layer of moisturizer and as a dry skin girl, that helps.

It adds such a gorgeous, healthy golden sheen to the skin. It perks up my complexion especially if I am tired and/or hungover. Foundation sits beautifully on top as well.

Liz Earle Healthy Glow Cream Blush in Nectar : I've now hit pan on this little guy! Although it looks small it has actually lasted me ages. I love this, it adds a very lovely pink dewiness to the cheeks and due to the teeny little size it is very travel friendly so it was the only blush I took with me when I went away. Also no brushes needed which makes life even easier.

For a full review with swatches, click here.

Sarah Chapman Rapid Radiance Cleanser : I finally tried something from Sarah Chapman! I normally prefer a balm cleanser, but as I already have my much loved Oskia Renassiance Cleansing Gel in my cabinet, I thought I would try this.

This is a clay based cleanser- which is not something I would really go for as I have dry skin, but this has actually worked wonders and I really missed it when I went away. I think that's always a good indiction of how much a product actually works for you.

I don't find this works well as an evening cleanser as I tend to prefer something more heavy duty to remove any remaining scraps of make up , but in the morning this is lovely.

I dispense two pumps onto my hands and rub onto my dry skin. I can imagine oily skin folk would love this but it also works for me as I feel like during the warmer months I can wake up feeling a little more greasy than usual and this makes me feel refreshed and balanced again.

You can also use this as a two minute radiance booster.

This cream cleanser is packed full of goodies such as Lactic Acid (great for dehydrated skins) and Salicylic Acid (your best friend if your skin is looking congested or dull)

I have found over the course or using this every morning my skin is looking brighter and healthier. I really look forward to using this in the AM.

Bumble and Bumble Pret a Powder : This little travel size has not left my handbag all month. I am still in love with it, for a full review, click here.

This Works Perfect Skin Miracle : This is a tinted moisturizer, but not in the way you might expect as it doesn't add any coverage.

This cream smells like cake, which is slightly odd but pleasant and is a dark mustard/gold in colour.

When dispensed into your hand it is mildly alarming, but when you rub it in it just adds a gently warmth to the complexion also whilst giving you a dose of hyluronic acid.

On good skin days I have just been wearing this with a touch of concealer on my dark circles.

Smashbox Contour Stick : I have been loving this all month. This comes in a set of three - a cool contour, warm bronzer and a matte cream highlight.

I have been using all three but the contour shade has definitely seen the most love. The texture is so creamy and blendable it is a cinch to use. I love it, for a full review click here.

Charlotte Tilbury Swish and Pop Blush in First Love : Shock horror, another CT product!

I love this warm peachy blush, on days when I haven't been wearing the Liz Earle blush. I actually bough this a few months ago but I was so in love with Love Glow which I still am, but during the warmer months this has been everything.

It's a good one and a full review is on its way!

What have been your favorites of the month?

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St Tropez Gradual in Shower Tan : The Review

If you were as intrigued as I was to try this and you live in the UK- hurry to the shops now and pick up a copy of In Style as this month they are giving away a 50 ml sample.

The bloggerspere seems to be overflowing with reviews for this new, innovative product and as someone who usually caves to pressure, I thought I should give it a go.

If you aren't aware how this guy works- it's the first faux tan of its kind that you apply in the shower..sounds weird huh.

So, I followed the instructions -

I jumped in the shower, washed with my usual shower gel which I made sure I thoroughly rinsed off.

I turned off the shower and slathered myself in this stuff, from feet to neck, rubbing in circular motions so I could get as even coverage as possible.

Now you have to wait 3 minutes. I can understand if its winter, freezing and 6am before you rush off to work- this isn't really going to make your day, but as it's been fairly warm these last few days I wasn't bothered at all.

So shower still turned off, I rinsed my hands in the sink (always important) and played a song on my phone (Maroon 5's Sugar, if you must know) which is roundabout 3 mins.

After this I rinsed myself thoroughly and patted dry. I also didn't follow with lotion as this fake tan is meant to be moisturizing enough.

The Verdict : Meh. After application it takes a few hours for the tan to develop, but I have now finished this little tube and I really don't have anything major to report.

I didn't find it moisturizing enough to miss out on lotion so that's a bit of a downer, but I have built up quite a nice tan using my Clarins Glow Booster so I was hoping using this would help prolong the results...but it was just a bit of a nothing.
I felt like swapping the Clarins for the St Tropez only resulted in my tan fading, which is not really what I wanted. 

I think this would work if you are on holiday and you have a natural tan going on and you just want to boost it with this, but on it's own, if I was as pale as I am normally I don't think this would really scratch the surface.

Also, I know this is a smaller bottle but I had to use quite a lot each time so I imagine that even if I had bought the full size it wouldn't last too long.

I love the idea of this, it really is one of a kind and maybe I'll try it again in the future, but for me, the Clarins Radiant Glow Booster reigns supreme. 

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Finally a Volumising Product that Delivers...

I had all but given up on anything that could bring volume and life to my flat straight hair until I picked this up on a whim in Boots a couple of weeks ago.

I have seen rave reviews on this but it ever appealed to me. The Bumble and Bumble Pret-a-Powder is, as you guessed it, a powder and I found the idea of pouring powder in my hair kind of gross and unappealing.

I can't stand super powdery dry shampoos so I thought this would be somewhat similar to them if not worse, but my curiosity got the better of me so I picked up the mini bottle.

This is the best volumising product I have ever tried. 

My hair is straight and quite fine but I have a hell of a lot of it, and its long as well so whenever I have used products like this in the past- whether it be a spray or a mousse, it will look great for about ten minutes and then literally my hair falls leaving it more limp than before as it is weighed down by extra product.

I had pretty much sworn off these kind of products as they just made my hair feel dirty and I can't be doing with that, especially as washing my hair is really not my favorite pass time.

This little guy has been used almost daily and I am addicted, when it runs out a full size purchase is happening.

My hair is at its flattest after it was been washed as it's just so silky.

What I do is, wait for my hair to fully dry (I never even use a hair dryer...I think I use it once a year, I just can't be bothered) then I section my hair on both sides of my parting and put a little bit of powder on both sides and also I part under my hair at the back and then I rub my hands quite vigorously through it for a couple of seconds.

I honestly thought I would be left with white powder all over my dark brown hair, but no! It totally disappears! It does have dry shampooing qualities so I can use it on third day hair, but my favorite way is after I have just washed my hair so it has some movement and body to it. 

It also smells lovely. Kinda like honeysuckle.

It doesn't weigh my hair down, make my hair look crispy or make me look like I have dandruff.

I have made the mistake of over using it and then things can get a bit heavy, but just a couple of taps into the roots and I am the owner of hair that looks much thicker and bouncier. 

Thank you B and B for restoring my faith in volumsing products. 

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Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Beau Brun : Swatches and Review

If you have seen this post you will know that I love these little liquid lipsticks.

This is my 6th and probably not my last...

The formula is smooth, easy to apply, comfortable and long wearing. Honestly I think they perform just as well as some other liquid lipsticks that are three times the price.

I have the shade Grand Cru and that was a major disappointment and definitely the odd one out as the others are great...so I was hoping this had the same consistency as the other 4...

I am so glad to say that it does!

Beau Brun somehow manages to surpass the others and the application is even easier and long lasting. 

What drew me to this one was the shade...it is so hard to describe...sometimes it's a brown 90s shade but then its orange and red at the same time...it's incredibly unique and if you have any idea what I should call this shade please let me know! 

I'll let the swatches do the talking :

There's also some pink in there...god knows what this shade is, but it is now my favourite of my little Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet stash.

Do you have a favorite shade?...I'm kinda feeling like I need to own the entire collection...recommendations are so, so welcome 

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Skincare/Haircare : The Empties

I have been hoarding my empties for a while so I thought it was about time to do a post so I can actually get rid of this stuff!

Colab Dry Shampoo London Fragrance : This is the original formula and probably my 6th empty can.

I really like this dry shampoo- all the scents are perfectly pleasant (Monaco is gorgeous, definitely my favorite) but they all do a fantastic job of drying up some of the excess oils in your roots leaving your hair feeling really refreshed. 

It doesn't leave that horrible, heavy powdery texture that some dry shampoos do. 

It's cheap as chips as well. Just make sure you give this a good shake before you use it. 

Charles Worthington Volume and Bounce Spray : I don't to tend to have a lot of luck with volumsing products and this hair spray was no exception. I have had this for ages and to be honest I am quite impressed  that I actually finished it! It's not awful- it does add some volume but made my hair feel crispy. I wont be repurchasing this.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm : This is a very rich cleansing balm that is loaded with essential oils. I didn't particularly enjoy using it in the morning- I prefer it for a night time cleanse after I have removed my make up as it does a good job of really getting any make up residue/dirt/grime etc off your face.

I do like this, but I don't think I will be repurchasing. If I use it too much it can be a bit too rich for my skin and leave me a little blotchy

I have found my favorite cleanser which is over a tenner cheaper than this, so I will be sticking with that.

Body Shop Chamomile Silky Cleansing Oil : This is easily my favorite make up removing oil. It's fairly cheap, doesn't irritate my skin in anyway and manages to remove all my make up- foundation/waterproof mascara- just everything. It's brilliant, I dispense about 2 pumps into my dry hands and massage onto my dry, made up face and it helps to loosen everything. I then wipe off with a warm flannel.

These last me for quite some time too- I have got through about 5 of bottles and I am already onto my 6th with another as back up in my cupboard.

Body Shop Vitamin E Facial Mist : You can see I really get through this stuff huh? This is a lovely gentle toner that doesn't make any outrageous claims, it just adds anther little layer of moisture. It is refreshing and although I prefer my Orico toner this little guy is a lot cheaper and more easily accessible, so again, I have back ups waiting for me.

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads : I love these, for a full review click.

Garnier Micellar Water : 9 times out of 10 I will remove my make up with my Body Shop oil, but on days when I don't, I use this. I like this a lot more than Bioderma- I find it to be non irritating and it does do a good job of removing make up without drying out the skin.

I only ever use it to remove make up and then I follow with a proper cleanser. It's decent stuff and I am on my second bottle.

Percy and Reed Hair's Best Friend Totally Intensive Treatment Oil+ : This oil smells AMAZING. I wish this was a perfume because I would literally douse myself in it, it is so fresh and beautiful.

I really love this oil, somehow it manages to be incredibly light whilst moisturizing my hair and making it easy to comb and detangle. It's also silicone free so it doesn't make you hair feel coasted or heavy. 

I adore this and one hundred percent recommend. 

Clinique Smart Serum : I know this is only a little bottle- but I actually had quite a few of them so I did give this a good test.

I don't believe in its claims- I don't know how a serum can actually be 'smart'- Clinique say that the reason for the naming is that this serum has the ability to work out what you skins needs and then adjusts to those needs. Hence making it a serum that all skin types can use, thus it helps those with oily skin by helping reduce excess oils/blemishes but then adjusts itself for those (me) with dry dehydrated skin by deeply hydrating and adding in the much needed moisture.

I disagree.
The first few times I used this I liked it, I felt like it really help with the dehydration lines that I sometimes get around my eyes, but after a couple of weeks of using this alone morning and night my skin felt desperate for a drink. I was craving my Kielhs midnight oil and the moment I put it on my skin I felt immediately better. I definitely wont buy this, I feel its quite expensive when it didn't really do anything for me. Also it felt quite silicone heavy so I almost felt like I was putting some sort of primer on my skin. Its a no from me. 

Hydraluron : This is a much hyped/blogged about product so I had to try it. It has the highest concentration of Hyluronic Acid so I thought I would love it....but it's kinda....meh. 

I used to use it under my moisturizer and it did feel hydrating....but I don't know. I just didn't love it. I think its the texture that I can't really get on with.
I don't think my skin looked that much better for using it and I feel like its more suited to oily skin types as it has a very sticky consistency that seems to vanish immediately into the skin. 

I am glad I used this and finished it, but I wont be re-buying. I have other products in my stash that perform this task so much better. 

The Body Shop Hand Hemp Protector : I love this and I am already using the larger size of this. There is a full review here.

Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream : This is my favorite moisturizer and I repurchased it as soon as I could. I can't cope without this in my life (a tad dramatic I admit) so I bought the jumbo size. For a full review click here.

Morocco Hair Oil : This tiny little bottle seems to last forever even though I use it pretty much every time after I wash my hair. I always repurchase this- it helps to detangle my wet hair whilst smoothing and conditioning it.
I can always tell when I have used this as my hair looks so lovely and sleek.

Nuxe Rev De Miel : Favorite Lip Balm of all time- click on this little guy if you want to read a full review. 

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Body Cream : This is a lovely rich body cream that smells absolutely divine. I have the hand and body lotion as well so I am going to try to finish that up too! This is very pricey, but a lovely treat.

La Roche Posay Serozonc : I am on my second bottle, for a review click here.

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel : This is my favorite cleanser! Believe the hype on this one, its a beauty. For more info click here. 


Phew that was a long one! Thank you if you stayed with me! 

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Lip Liner : The Essentials

I love a good lip liner, I can be pretty cack handed when applying bold lipsticks so I find lip liners make the whole process a lot easier whilst also acting as a good base for the lipstick which helps with longevity.
I have narrowed my favorites down to this bunch here- I feel like I have all the bases down so whatever lip shade I am wearing, I have a liner that works with it.

You do not need to have an identical liner to every lipstick you have.

Mac Lip Liner in Soar : Soar is a pinky brown shade that is very easy to apply and due to its natural colour and matte finish it can you help you achieve a slightly fuller pout if desired.

I do find this drying though so I don't often wear it alone, but it looks beautiful under a lot of lipsticks. My two favorites to pair with this are Macs Mehr and Bobbi Brows Rose Brown.
Soar is also very long lasting. 

For a full review click here 

Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Venom : This is the only lip liner I have tried from UD but I am keen to pick up more. This is very long lasting and comfortable to wear.
 I don't find it works that well as all over lip colour - I can get it to spread, I find it very easy to draw a neat line which is super helpful for a bold lip but i find if I wear this solo all over the lip it can cling to some dryness I might have.But I love using it to outline my lips when I use any dark shade.

I find this works with Charlotte Tilburys Night Crimson and Love Liberty - anything that is rich/deep/dark/burgundy/purple, this has me covered.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Lip Liner in Coral : I bought this purely on Sali Hughes recommendation. I love her, she is unbelievably intelligent, chic, beautiful and she knows a hell of a lot about beauty.

If she likes something, I'm going to try it.

I saw a picture of her on her Instagram wearing this with the Nars Audacious Lipstick in Lana (for a review click here) and I became obsessed.

I am pleased to report that I love both and this works fantastically with any orange based lip colour- it suits Lana, The Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Hot Pepper, If you are looking for a long wearing coral that also works all over the lip, this is great. 

.

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk : This is hands down my favorite of the lot and if I were to only keep one liner, it would be this. 

This is my second and when this runs out, I will without question order a third.

If you are only going to get one thing from CT - get this, or if you can't be bothered with endless lip liners, this one has you covered as it works with everything.

That's the thing, you don't actually have to have a matching colour, a nude lip colour works just as well. I mean yes you can't go in after and add red liner to were there wasn't before, but this liner still adds definition and a base.

The colour is a beautiful natural pink mauve and it is long lasting whilst being creamy. It is comfortable whilst lasting- not like Soar which can end up being quite drying after some time. 

I get a lot of wear out of this and I often wear it alone. It's always in my make up bag. I totally love it and have yet to find someone that doesn't.
I use this will a whole multitude of lipsticks- it's my safety liner so I would never go without it. I use it with Charlotte Tilburys Penelope Pink and Bitch Perfect, Nars Barbara and Anita, YSL Fuchsia in Rage- as a base, Mac Mehr and Plumful, Urban Decay Fiend and Rapture. To be honest- anything. 

Mac Lip Liner in Cherry : This was one of my first ever lip liners and I bought specifically so I could use it with Macs Ruby Woo. 

This lip liner lasts for days on the lips and although can be drying is still a lovely red to add to your collection.

I don't feel the need to buy any other red liners as this has be covered. I use it with CT Red Carpet Red, Ruby Woo, Night Crimson if I want to redden it up, Bourjois Hot Pepper- it's a suit all classic red.

If you need one red liner- this is your guy. 

Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in East End Snob : I love this almost as much as Pillow Talk and this is also my second. 

Again I will keep repurchasing it. 

This is another mauvy pink but with a touch more purple to it.

I love using this on its own- the angled cut of the nib makes it ridiculously easy to use and hard to mess up.

It is so creamy and comfortable, I cannot believe this thing sells for under a fiver. This is by far my favorite Rimmel Product.
 This does a very similar job to Pillow Talk but it is a lot cheaper.

The colour is very similar to Nars Anita. 

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pink Venus : This is noticeably more pink than Pillow Talk and East End Snob. 

This is a lovely warm pink shade that also possess the long lasting rich creaminess of CTs other offerings.

I like to use this when I want to warm up or lighten my nudes. It adds just an extra touch of pink to Bitch Perfect making it look so effortless and summer ready.
This is a lovely pink accompaniment for UD Streak Lipstick as well. 

L-R : Venom, Cherry, Coral, Soar, Pillow Talk, East End Snob and Pink Venus

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