FIRST IMPRESSIONS! Rimmel Fresher Skin Foundation.

I was lucky enough to receive a free sample (via Latest Free Stuff) of Rimmel's new foundation offering the Fresher Skin Foundation.

My first thought when I saw this was that it reminded me of the Rimmel Cool Matt Mousse that I had once as a teenager and I did wonder if it was just the same thing repackaged. It's been so long since I had that that I don't think I can comment since I can't really remember and decided to just give it a go. 

I applied this with a stippling brush, as this is how I usually apply my foundation and the first thing I noticed is that it has a cooling effect on the skin and that it smells lovely and fresh, like aloe vera. It makes sense since it contains aloe and also contains chamomile, and sea algae. It claims to be light, bulidable and breathable coverage but I'd say it was more of a medium finish, in fact I was quite impressed as it covered up a semi healed break out without me having to use concealer over the top.    

Once applied I felt like it needed time to "set" and I found it to have a slightly powdery finish. It claims to be buildable but for me when I applied another layer it went patchy on the drier parts of my face. I'd avoid this foundation if you have dry skin as I'd say it was geared towards oilier skin types, and it's claims to be shine free and to contain mineral powder to absorb excess oil would support this.   

There's a couple of things I'd like to mention before I finish up, firstly, and don't ask me how but I managed to get a bit of this foundation in my eye and it stung like bitch! Now I know foundation doesn't belong in your eyes but the scent is quite heavy and I was literally crying so if you have sensitive eyes you might want to swerve this one. The second, and equally as dumb thing I managed to do was use too much product and I found it settled into fine lines on my face (yes, I'm getting old now!) but in summary, it's one I would definitely consider picking up especially in the summer months as it feels nice and cool on my face and my skin tends to be oilier when the weather is warmer. 

Find Rimmel Fresher Skin Foundation HERE (£5.99 or currently on offer 2 for £10) or in your local high street stores.

Thanks for reading!

Wench x

Loreal False Lash Sculpt Mascara

It's a bold statement to make but I think I may have found my new favourite mascara! (I told you it was bold!) I've been using this for about a month as I like to give mascara a good trial period as I find you need a little practise when you swap to a new brush and formula but I was blown away from the first time. The brush is a really unique looking thing (see photos below) but it combs through lashes so well and gives me great volume, length, and separation. 

My lashes are quite long naturally (no bragging intended!) and I find lots of mascaras make the ends of my lashes stick together and clump up. I also find many mascaras transfer to my brow bone and I end up looking like a panda (my biggest pet peeve!) but I don't get that with this mascara hence why I'm here telling you how awesome it is! 

Get yours HERE or at your local Boots or Superdrug

Thanks for reading,

Wench x

NEW! Benefit Gimme Brow

Benefit are at it again! By that I mean they're giving away samples of their new, revamped, eyebrow range and this time they're giving Glamour (£2) readers a free sample of Benefit Gimme Brow!

If you saw my previous post, you'll know I really enjoyed the Benefit Goof Proof Pencil in a previous magazine freebie but the Benefit Gimme Brow also has its place in my routine for when I've got literally 5 minutes to do something with my brows before my little boy runs off with my make up bag! I would also use both products when I do have time or for a special occasion as I think they work well together for a well groomed look.

Beware! When I first grabbed the magazine I got excited as I saw what the sample was but on closer inspection I realised there were 2 shades, the one I originally picked up was in Shade 1 which is for blonde/fair and the one I actually picked up is Shade 5 which is perfect for my dark hair.

Again for me the only downside is the price, at £18.50 for the full sized product I can't justify spending that much on make up at the moment but if you can, go for it.

Remember where I mentioned a little boy running off with my make up bag? Here he is being my glamorous assistant! Awwww! 

Pick up your copy of Glamour (£2) from your local newsagent

Or get the full sized product (£18.50) HERE

Thanks for reading!

Wench x

Barry M Lipstick And A MAC Velvet Teddy Dupe!

I love nude lipstick, and I also love a matte lippy too but they leave my lips feeling so dry so I wanted to find a nice nude lipstick that wasn't matte that I could wear in between times while my lips "recover" from matte lipstick.

Enter Barry M Satin Super Slick Lip Paint in Mannequin 169 £4.49 (that's quite a gob full!). This is a polar opposite to a matte lipstick, but that was what I was looking for. It has a lipgloss shine to it but the the colour pay off of a lipstick and I've found myself reaching for it nearly everyday. It's not as long lasting as a matte lipstick but it does last a good couple of hours (the colour outlasts the shine) and I'm happy to reapply if that means my lips don't feel like the Sahara desert!

Another bonus to this lipstick is that the colour is remarkably close to that of MACs Velvet Teddy. The finish is obviously no where near the same but the colour is very nearly spot on, the picture below doesn't really do it any justice as the different finishes make it look really different but if your looking for a cheaper alternative to MAC Velvet Teddy or just a nice nude lipstick I'd definitely go check this one out. 

Barry M isn't the brand I'd usually think of for a lipstick but I'm so impressed with this one I'll certainly pay more attention to them in the future! 

Get yours online HERE or at your local high street store.

Have you tried Barry M Lipsticks before?

Thanks for reading,

Wench x   

Collection Cream Puff Lip Cream

I have a serious lipstick problem, to the point I might even need counselling I just can't help myself and when I find one I like I can't just stop at one I have to have more.

This Collection Cream Puff Lip Cream is one of those such discoveries. It's a matte finish, which I'm very much in to at the moment but unlike a lot of matte lip products out there it's not super drying. Now I'm not saying it doesn't dry out my lips at all but it's considerably less than most. It's also really comfortable to wear and goes on really smoothly, it's creamy when you put it on initially but then it sets to a lovely matte finish. It lasts amazingly too, I road test most of my make up while I'm at work and I only really have to apply after I've eaten or after about 4 hours and considering the price tag (RRP £2.99) I think that's really good! 

excuse the red nose, I had a cold! 

There is only one real downside to these and that is the limited colour range. There are only four colours which I think is a travesty! The one I have here is Cotton Candy which as you can see from the photos above is a lovely, neutral, dusky pink colour. Not pictured here, I also got the shade Angel Delight (for some reason this one seems more difficult to find in stores. FYI I got mine in Wilkos) which is a really good nude colour (Google it to see the colour!) I tend to find that high street brands can never get a nude colour right but this one is spot on (not to be confused with the other nude colour they do Powder Puff which I think is really pale and awful!)

Collection as a brand are full of hidden gems and too easily overlooked!

Find Collection Cream Puff Lip Creams HERE or in your local Boots, Superdrug, or Wilkos. 

Have you tried anything from Collection?

Thanks for reading,

Wench x 

NEW! The Falsies Push Up Mascara

I've had quite a few Maybelline mascaras and always liked them so when I saw they had a new one out it piqued my interest.

And while me and my mum were out shopping one day she bought me one because she's a sweetie and it was buy one get one half price so we both had one!

The Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara* claims to give dramatic lift to the lashes for a pushed up effect. The brush has cup shaped bristles which scoops and lifts lashes and the formula itself delivers instant volume and holds the lift in place. 

I have to disagree with the claims here, I can't say I noticed any extra curl or lift to my lashes and the volume is pretty non-existent. My lashes are naturally long (lucky me!) so volumising mascaras is really where it's at for me but they do mascaras that are a lot better for volume than this one (the Rocket, Colossal, and the original Falsies all spring to mind). I find the brush holds too much product and while the plastic bristle brush is really good for getting right into the root of the lashes for separation it leaves clumps of mascara in my eyelashes which is not a good look! I've tried to persevere to see if it gets better in time (like the Lash Sensational mascara seems to do) but for me it's just getting worse and leaving more and more clumps to the point where I'm probably going to bin it (and I'm a make up collector, its rare I bin something I've not used up!).

I always find mascaras to be very much a personal thing in that I might love one and the next person might hate it so it's something to bear in mind but for me this one just doesn't cut it!

Have you tried this mascara?

Thanks for reading,

Wench x

* I've given this a * as I didn't pay for this mascara my mum bought it for me awww! 

   

Worth The Hype? Maybelline Eraser Concealer

If you read a lot of beauty blogs then you'll know just how much this one has done the rounds. So I'm here asking the question again, is Maybelline Eraser Concealer worth the hype?

The short answer is no. I do however urge to to hear the long answer as to why! First off is the colour and this is the main reason why I've given this a thumbs down. I find the colour to be too dark for my funny pale face and although I can just about get away with this under my eyes which is its intended purpose, but only when very well blended in I would prefer it if there was a lighter shade. There are only 2 shades (that I've ever seen anyway) and they're Light and Nude (Light is the one I have).  

Next is the weird applicator thingy (I really don't know what you'd call it?). It's a weird sponge thing that the product is squeezed through but it doesn't work as a sponge to apply the product with as you need to blend it in afterwards. In fact I think all it does is waste product, because the sponge just absorbs it all. Which brings me to the hygiene issue, as it's all sat festering in the sponge, a nice, moist area for bacteria. Yum. However that doesn't really bother me too much, I'm the only one who uses it, there's bacteria everywhere, and as a friend of mine says, a bit of muck does you good. 

I've saved the best til last, and it really is the best bit. The formula of this is really nice, not thick and cakey, and not so thin that it covers nothing or just sits in the lines around my eyes (yes, I'm getting old *weeps*). As I mentioned previously, I can use this under my eyes so it will get used and that is its intended purpose but for me it's too dark to use anywhere else on my face which is a shame because the coverage is nice and could possibly be used on red areas of the face or even the odd little spot. Alas, I'll never know!

So if your skin tone is deeper than mine then this could be worth the hype it gets but unless they started doing a lighter shade, it's a thumbs down from me.

Maybelline Eraser Concealer is available HERE or from your local Boots or Superdrug.   

Have you tried this concealer? What did you think?

Thanks for reading,

Wench x

Superdrug's Naturally Radiant Hot Cloth Cleanser

I've tried a few hot cloth cleansers now and I do like them for how effective they are at dissolving make up and how quickly they do their job but I will admit their not my favourite method of make up removal. I find muslin cloths to be too scratchy so I swap them for a bog standard flannel and even then I find the constant washing of flannels a chore. After a single use I find any kind of cloth I use looks mucky, even after rinsing afterwards, useless of course you have the time to scrub at it after which is just time consuming.

However, I've used the Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser before and found it to be really good so I thought I'd give the Naturally Radiant Hot Cloth Cleanser a go too. This one claims to awaken skins natural glow and contains kiwi and mulberry extracts to help soften skin. It comes in a squeezy green tube and comes out as a thick white cream which you then massage into dry skin before wiping off with the muslin cloth that comes with it (or whatever you prefer if you'd rather forego the muslin cloth). 

 Packaging wise, I do prefer a squeezy tube as I feel you can get every bit of product out of there (especially if you cut the bottom off, which you can't do with other style packaging) one downside to the tube is that if you have this out on the side in the shower water can get inside the lid which then goes cold and gives you quite the shock when you tip it up next! (Luckily, I'm more of a bath kind of person!)

A few things to note, I don't like the smell of this stuff. It has an odd fruity smell that's hard to explain, but if your ever in a Superdrug smell something from the range and let me know what you think. It failed to remove my very waterproof Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara (which I spoke about HERE), I had to get rid of the panda eyes with a separate make up remover. It also claims to awakens skins natural glow but I haven't seen a difference in my skin, although perhaps all the sleepless nights with my little boy means my skin actually doesn't have a "natural glow" at all!

Superdrug Naturally Radiant Hot Cloth Cleanser (£5.99 and also currently buy one get one free) is available HERE or in store.

Have you ever used a hot cloth cleanser?

Thanks for reading,

Wench x    

Simple Micellar Water

What do you call a blog with no internet?

Not a blog! After an unannounced blogging break due to moving house and having a few technical gremlins it's about time I got back to it and today I have a post about Simple Micellar Water.

You may notice I have a thing for these things as this is my third micellar water post. I've outlined before in THIS post the true purpose of micellar water and how it's not intended to replace washing your face but it certainly has a place in my bathroom stash and dare I say it Simple Micellar Water might be my favourite yet?

Remember that stubborn Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara that none of the other micellar waters could remove? Well guess what? Simple Micellar Water actually gets rid of it! It does take a bit of work but it shifts it and that makes this one my No. 1! It's also gentle around the eyes and doesn't sting if you accidentally get some in there! 

Simple Micellar Water retails for around (RRP) £4.49 for 200ml which is more than it's Garnier counterpart at (RRP) £4.99 for 400ml which contains twice as much product however with both products they are on offer a lot so shopping around is very much worth it.

Get your Simple Micellar Water HERE (currently on offer for £2.00)

Do you have a micellar water recommendation for me?

Thanks for reading,

Wench x     

Vitamin E Micellar Water

You may have already heard my micellar rant HERE but you may also know that I really love my micellar water and it has it's place in my skincare stash. 

So when I came to the end of my Garnier Micellar Water bottle I thought I'd give another one a go so I picked up Superdrug's own label Vitamin E Micellar Water. I tried a few things from the range, in fact I wrote a review about their All Over Body Cream HERE and most of the range I love but this product unfortunately wasn't a hit with me.

The Vitamin E Micellar Water did remove my make up but it left my skin feeling sore, particularly around the eye area to the point my skin looked a little red afterwards. This could just be because it doesn't agree with my skin but in my experience I found it to be quite harsh. It has the signature Vitamin E smell that all of the Superdrug Vitamin E range has, personally I really like the smell but I've read other blog posts and some people are really adverse to it. If you haven't smelt it, it has a slight cocoa butter smell to it crossed with a very slight, old fashioned face cream smell, kind of primrose-ish. I realise that's a dreadful description and makes it sound awful but it's not awful, I suggest if you find yourself in a Superdrug go and have a sniff! 

I had a gripe with the packaging too, it had lid on it, but when you opened the lid it had another lid, which you push down to open the bottle. I didn't see the point of having two lids, the first one I lost even before I managed to take the photo and the second one where the product came out wasn't the best choice in my opinion. It wasn't so terrible you wouldn't be able to use it but it was a little awkward as it meant the product came out at a slight angle rather than just straight out the bottle onto your cotton pad. I hope that makes sense! 

Vitamin E Micellar Water £2.99 is available HERE or at your local Superdrug store (currently buy one and get the second half price).

Thanks for reading,

Wench x  

Beauty Advent Calendars on a Budget!

Beauty advent calendars have really gained popularity over the last few years but I've always found them to be rather pricey so I never bothered.

This year however, I really wanted one but didn't want to pay a fortune and settled on the Makeup Revolution Advent Calendar (£45) which contains 25 FULL SIZED items (which I'm ridiculously excited about!) 

I've been really pleased to see lots of budget friendly beauty advents this year and although I couldn't buy them all (how I wish I could!) I thought I'd leave some links to some others I stumbled across.

It's Kissmas Beauty Advent Calendar (£5) - This super budget friendly offering contains everything a nail lover could need for a perfect manicure on the big day.

Flutter Advent Calendar (£8) - This little bargain contains a collection of mini make up items for lips, eyes, and nails.

Bomb Cosmetics Advent Calender (£19.99) - Perfect for bath time lovers (and who doesn't love a soak in the bath?). This calendar contains mini soaps and bath blasters.

Yankee Candle Christmas Calendar (£19.99) - Technically not beauty but this calendar contains a Yankee candle tea light behind each door, Christmas never smelled so good.

Mad Beauty Advent Calendar (£19.99) - This calendar contains 24 mini makeup treats by Mad Beauty so you can look prettier everyday. 

W7 Cosmetic Treats Calendar (£24.99) - W7 is a brand I love for copycatting high end products at budget prices! If your a nail lover this contains 10 polishes amongst other goodies.

It's nearly time for me to start opening my calendar, I'm so excited! If you haven't got yours yet be quick! It's almost December! 

Have you got a beauty advent calendar?

Thanks for reading,

Wench x

 

Superdrug Killer Volume Dry Shampoo

I love dry shampoo (or tramp shampoo as I call it when I'm just being plain lazy). We all lead busy lives and its definitely earned it's place on my dresser.

However, not all dry shampoo's are made equal and this one, Superdrug Killer Volume Dry Shampoo, unfortunately just doesn't do it for me. I find it leaves a white residue even when I've shook it and that's a big no-no when you've got dark hair like me. I know it's supposed to absorb oil but I feel like this over does it leaving my hair feeling dry and stiff, although this might be good for those of you who have super oily hair.

Volume-wise I found it lacking also, it didn't give me any volume, just a dry sticky mess. No thank you! It's a thumbs down from me!

Superdrug Killer Volume Dry Shampoo is available HERE or in your local Superdrug store.

What's your favourite dry shampoo?

Thanks for reading,

Wench x 

Garnier Ultimate Blends The Sleek Restorer Shampoo and Conditioner

Hello again internet! I have a review for you today of Garnier Ultimate Blends Shampoo and Conditioner The Sleek Restorer (long ass name!)

These are fairly new offerings from Garnier, they have a whole range of different ones for different hair types but today I have The Sleek Restorer. I chose this one because my hair is naturally poker straight but for whatever (many!) reasons the ends have been quite frizzy recently and it needed sorting out.

These made my hair feel nice and clean and they smelt gorgeous although I feel the scent faded quite quickly. A little went a long way. This is a particularly good thing as since I moved from Manchester to Stoke on Trent I noticed the water here sucks. Nothing foams up like it used to in Manchester resulting in me using twice as much product here as I would back up north. Before I start on a massive rant about water, I'll just say I liked that I didn't have to use loads to get a good foam.

Unfortunately, they didn't do much else for me. My hair still felt dry and frizzy at the ends after use and I'm now at the end of both my bottles I feel I've given them a fair shot. Before buying these I'd heard such good things about them but they just weren't for me, it wouldn't stop me trying other shampoos and conditioners in the range but it goes to show you that what works wonders for one person doesn't for another.

Have you got any shampoo recommendations?

Thanks for reading,

Wench x

A MAC Velvet Teddy Dupe?

Isn't it wonderful when you find something really cheap that's a near match to something really expensive?

I have just that for you today! I know the colour isn't exactly the same but it's very close. MUA Fawn Fancy is a new shade from MUA's matte lipstick range and it's very close in shade to MAC Velvet Teddy and they both have a matte finish.  

However, MUA Fawn Fancy at just £1 is a fraction of the £15.50 you'd pay for MAC Velvet Teddy and at that price it's definitely worth a try!

Yes you need a few layers of MUA's offering to really get the colour, it's not as comfortable to wear and it will need topping up during the day but for a pound you can't really complain!

Get MUA Fawn Fancy HERE or at your local Superdrug store

What's the best dupe you've ever found?

Thanks for reading,

Wench x

Freebie Friday! #13

I've been at it again! 

Stealthily taking photo's of magazines again I mean! This month we've got some really good offerings. Also, a random nugget of information, this Freebie Friday is the 13th edition and it's on Friday 13th, spooky huh?!

Glamour £2 are giving it's readers a free Clinique gift. There's four to choose from including a red lipstick, a nude lipstick, a moisturiser or a mascara (together worth £29).

Marie Claire £3.99 are giving it's readers a free Elemis sample. There are two to choose from, the Pro-Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm or the Papaya Enzyme Peel. Both dubbed "hero" products of the Elemis range (together worth £22.50). 

InStyle £3.99 are giving it's readers a free sample of Eyeko Mascara worth £12 

By no means free in the true sense of the word but worth it to try something new and something that would normally be out of my price range!

What's the best thing you got out of a magazine?

Thanks for reading,

Wench x 

What Do Those Numbers On Your Hair Colour Mean?

I was eyeing up hair colours as I quite often do the other day and I was looking at the shade numbers on the boxes. It got me thinking, what do all these numbers mean anyway?

I had vague knowledge of what they mean from working in my shop but staring at all the hair dye boxes and not being sure exactly what the numbers and shades meant I decided to do some research and thought I'd share my findings with you.

First thing first, there is a system known as the International Colour Chart (ICC) which most companies use but many use their own numbering system. For the purpose of this post though we'll use ICC. 

So for an example if we take Garnier Nutrisse colour 4.3 Dark Golden Brown.

The number 4 indicates the level of colour (how light or dark it is) and in this instance it's Dark Brown. The numbers after the decimal point .3 indicates the tone of colour, in this case the tone is Golden. Confused? The charts below might help

 COLOUR LEVEL 

1. Black

2. Darkest Brown

3. Dark Brown

4. Medium Brown

5. Light Brown

6. Lightest Brown

7. Dark Blonde

8. Medium Blonde

9. Light Blonde

10. Lightest Blonde

Manufacturers name colours differently but you get the general gist and some also go higher up in number to signify extreme blonde colours.   

TONE LEVEL

.1 Blue Ash      - Cool

.2 Purple Ash   - Cool

.3 Gold              - Warm

.4 Copper         - Warm

.5 Mahogany    - Neutral

.6 Red               - Warm

.7 Khaki            - Cool

.8 Pearl Ash     - Cool

.9 Soft Ash       - Cool  

So the tone of the colour changes its appearance to look either warm or cool. Ash usually means a colour is cool and golden usually means that it is warm, these descriptions can help when looking at your hair colour.

It does get more confusing than that when two numbers come into play after the decimal point. If we take Garnier Nutrisse colour 4.15 Iced Coffee. 

The first number after the point is the primary (stronger) tone and the second is a secondary (weaker) tone. The .1 is the primary tone which if we use the chart above is a cool, blue ash tone and the 5 is the secondary tone which is neutral mahogany (neither warm or cool, this surprised me as I thought mahogany would be warm but its not).  

So the colours below are all the same depth level (4), but the tones running through give them a different appearance (.3 gold and .15 cool mahogany) 

I hope this sheds some light on the subject, this is only a basic summary but it interested me so I thought I would share. It definitely opened my eyes, who knew there was so much to it?!

What's your favourite hair colour?

Thanks for reading,

Wench x

*This is not sponsored and these are not a product placement it just so happened Garnier had the best examples for me to use at the time :-)