NEW! Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil

Eyebrows are big business these days and I definitely think they make a huge difference to your face. I can't believe there was a time I never used to bother! I do have one problem and that is that I'm not that great at doing them. Nor do I have a lot of time to dedicate to doing them. I recently picked up Elle Magazine (£4.10) who are currently offering their readers a sample of the new Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil. The magazine is rubbish (about 90% full page ads!) but the sample is a decent size (0.11g - full size 0.34g) and being a sucker for something new I decided to give it go.

I have to say I was a little skeptical when I first looked at it because I couldn't see how it was different to any regular pencil and how it could be "Goof Proof" but on closer inspection I saw it had a unusual, diamond shape nib (see pic below). The product claims that it "features a custom, non-sharpen “goof-proof” tip, soft colour and a glide-on formula for easy and fast brow filling." I definitely agree with this statement as I filled my eyebrows in for the first time and they looked great! All in about 2 minutes. I've used it a few times now and it's the same result every time and might I add I haven't had them shaped or tinted in a good while either! 

There's a downside though, to go out and buy a full sized, full priced one it's gonna set you back £18.50. I just don't currently have that kind of cash to throw at an eyebrow pencil but hey, if you do go for it!

Available HERE for £18.50

Also "free" sample inside Elle Magazine (£4.10) available in newsagents, supermarkets etc.

Thanks for reading,

Wench x

Worth The Hype? Mac Velvet Teddy Lipstick

MAC Matte Lipstick in the shade Velvet Teddy is harked on about so much, but is it for good reason? 

A while ago I was on the hunt for a really nice nude shade lipstick, I scoured the usual drugstore/high street make up stands but nothing seemed to really hit the mark. A couple of my work colleagues had been sporting really nice shades of nude lipstick and of course when I asked them both what lippie they had on, they both piped up "It's Velvet Teddy." Regardless, I tried to find a budget friendly version but found that the shades were too pinky coloured or too pale and so decided to take the plunge and buy the damn thing.

For the most part, I do think Velvet Teddy is worth the hype, it is in my opinion the perfect nude shade and it suits so many different skin tones. The ladies I saw it on both fake tan regularly and I wondered if it would look nice on my pale skin but when I walked into work wearing it one of them asked what lipstick it was I wearing because it looked nice. Winner! 

The actual formula is really creamy for a matte lipstick and it applies really smoothly. The wear time for this lipstick is pretty impressive too, considering it's not particularly marketed purposely for long wear I do find I only have to re apply a couple of times a day (usually after I've eaten) and while it does transfer onto cups etc the colour still remains after I've swigged my brew.

It's not without it's flaws though and being a matte lipstick it does dry my lips out and clings to dry, flaky parts. Unfortunately my lips are prone to being dry pretty much all year round but if that's not an issue for you, well, lucky you and this won't be such a problem for you. The second problem I have with this lipstick is the price, at £15.50 it is on the pricey side for me and one of very few high end make up items I own.

There has however been a surge in high street/drugstore brands bringing out new nude shades and I'm hoping I can find a cheaper alternative!

MAC Velvet Teddy Lipstick is available HERE or from your nearest MAC counter.

What's your favourite nude lipstick?

Thanks for reading,

Wench x

Mask Monday! #6

Just another manic monday! 

But it's also mask monday so that's alright! Today's offering comes from Eve Lom and it's their Rescue Mask which you may have seen me mention briefly before as I got it as a free sample from the Latest Free Stuff website. 

First things first, the smell was HORRIFIC, you need a strong stomach for this one. However, if you can get over the smell the product itself was very effective. It's a clay mask so it tightens as it dries and your pores feel like there getting a good clean out, and afterwards my skin looked a lot brighter. 

When I get samples like this I usually only use half so I can get two goes out of one sachet (I'm a cheap skate and like things to go further) but as I put this on I knew I wouldn't want to use it twice as the smell for me was too much. It's a really strange almost minty smell but not a nice minty smell. It does contain Camphor, so that's probably where that comes from. It says its a deep cleansing mask, which I agree with, it also says it's soothing and calming, which I don't agree with because of the smell and it also says it's good for puffy, tired, morning after eyes which I can't really comment on as my eyes weren't puffy when I used this. 

Next thing is the price, a full sized 100ml jar of this stuff will set you back £55! Way, way, waaaay out of my price range! To me, it's just not worth it but if you have those kind of pennies you can get yours HERE.

What's your favourite face mask?

Thanks for reading,

Wench x  

Worth The Hype? Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish

If I'm considering a new product I often look at blog posts about it or you tube reviews before I take the plunge but many products burst into the forefront and are massively hyped about, but are they really worth it? 

I decided to buy the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish as I'd seen countless recommendations for it and at the time I bought it, it was on a really good offer. Is it worth the hype? Short answer, no! Now don't get me wrong it is good, yes, it removes make up, but for me there are plenty of cheaper products that do the same thing and there just wasn't anything super special about this, and for the RRP £14.00 there really ought to be. I ditched the muslin cloth as I find them scratchy and I can't abide how filthy they look after just one use and I'd much rather use my trusty flannel. It was in fact very comparable to my Nip and Fab deep cleansing fix (more on that HERE) in that you can use that like a hot cloth cleanser (and that's just one of many uses), it works just as well, it even smells very similar (both contain eucalyptus) AND the best thing is, the Nip and Fab is almost half the price with a RRP £7.95 for 300ml of product whereas the Liz Earle only contains 100ml. No brainer really!

Get Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish HERE

Get Nip and Fab Deep Cleansing Fix HERE (currently on an amazing online offer - only £3.97!) 

Have you tried anything from Liz Earle?

Thanks for reading,

Wench x       

My Bare Minerals Counter Experience

I've never been to a high end make up counter before but thought I'd treat myself for my birthday!

I was actually looking for a MAC counter but was misinformed and discovered there isn't actually one in my city centre, I was pretty devastated but decided I'd give another one a try and I'm glad I did. 

I approached the Bare Minerals counter and I was a bit nervous but the lady who served me was lovely. She sat me in the chair and made me feel at ease. She asked me lots of skin related questions and suggested their Bare Skin foundation for me. We tried a few colours and agreed on one (it's worth mentioning I did go bare faced) that matched my face. She gave me the whole skin care routine and encouraged me to use the products myself, letting me try the skin care products and talking me through how to use them. She then did half my face with the foundation to show me how to do it and then let me do the other half. She then finished my face off. She wrote down all the products she used and told me a couple of offers that were on but at no point did I feel pressure to buy anything. Although in saying that I don't think I'd go to a make up counter if I didn't have the intention of buying anything. 

I got the Bare Skin Foundation £26 in the colour Bare Linen 03 and you use this by putting a drop on a stippling brush and laying it down on the skin (I do a couple of stripes on my face) and then buff it into the skin. I thought I'd have trouble with this but it's so easy and the lady shows you how to do it. The finish is medium to full coverage and it has a real skin like finish which I really like. I do however find it a bit moist (love that word!) feeling on the skin which takes some getting used to but setting with powder helps with that.

I also got a Bare Minerals Pop of Passion Blush Balm £20 in the colour Posy Passion. I've never got a long with cream blush (although technically this is a balm!) and the lady put this on me and I fell in love with the colour and how it looks like your blushing from within. She showed me how to apply it and it's easier than I thought although I still need more practise! The pigmentation is just right too, it doesn't disappear to nothing but it's not so pigmented that you put a tiny bit on and look like a clown!

Shop Bare Minerals online HERE or go to your nearest counter.

What are your experiences of make up counters? 

Thanks for reading,

Wench x

Mask Monday! #4

Today I bring you Annies Way! 

This mask was a high end treat for myself quite a while back, it's the Annies Way Arbutin and Hyaluronic Acid Brightening Jelly Mask (looooooooooong title!) and it's more expensive than what I would usually go for but I'd heard good things and decided to give it a go.

The tub I have is 250ml and considering it's a face mask that's a lot. This tub has lasted me seemingly forever, I can't even remember how long I've had it! As the title suggests the consistency is like jelly, and it's unlike any mask I've used. It feels as gentle as water and it's really cooling on the skin which makes it so refreshing, and the perfect evening treat on a hot day (not that we have many of those!) There is absolutely no tingle or stinging or anything of the sort with this mask so it's ideal for sensitive skin, so much so I can put this around my sensitive eye area with no problems. It does come with a spatula that your supposed to remove the mask with but I have long since lost that and use a flannel to remove it. 

I feel it does leave my skin looking more bright and radiant after use and I've had no adverse effects after using this. Price wise there are cheaper masks out there that will probably be just as effective but you do get a lot of product for your money so I would say it's cost effective. 

Get yours HERE for £13.90 (correct at time of publishing)

Thanks for reading,

Wench x