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

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

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? 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

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

My All Time Favourite Perfume!

I'll set the scene, your shopping for a new perfume, you've sprayed various testers up and down your arms and your looking for another space to spray yet another. And then you smell it. You instantly fall in love with it. It's you in a bottle.

For me, that's exactly what happened when I smelt Givenchy Very Irresistible for the first time. So much so, it's the fragrance I wore whenever I was meeting up with my now husband in the early days, I sprayed it on my bed sheets when he first came over and I even wore it on my wedding day.

When it comes to fragrance I chop and change so often and I have a staggering collection of perfumes I could probably open a shop (I blame my job for this!) so for me to repurchase a perfume is a rarity and yet it's happened a fair few times with this one. I think I first discovered it when I was about 16 and I still love it today. I recently bought a new bottle having not smelt it since before I was pregnant. Pregnancy changed my sense of smell and my preferences have changed since I had my son and I still love it. It's definitely stood the test of time for me! 

I'm not going to embarrass myself by trying to describe the scent but the write up for the fragrance says that it's made from an alliance of 5 types of roses with top notes of star anise and verbena leaf, heart notes of centifolia and peony rose and base notes of passion, fantasia, and emotion rose. It all sounds very rosy but take it from someone who hates that synthetic, old fashioned rose scent that's in just about everything rose scented, there's not a whiff that here. That probably doesn't help describe the scent and fragrance write ups tend to be mumbo jumbo so all I can say is next time you get an opportunity give it a sniff.

Sense of smell is so subjective and what one person hates another person might love so my advice for choosing perfume is not to be put off if someone says they don't like one that you do. After all your the one who has to smell it and wear it and you tend to find that perfume smells different on different people so always try and test it on your skin. The opposite is true too, if you smell something amazing on someone else be sure to try before you buy as you might find it's not as nice on you as it was on that person. 

Givenchy Very Irresistible (£38 for 30ml) can be purchased HERE  

What's your favourite perfume?

Thanks for reading,

Wench x

     

NEW Maybelline Dream Velvet Foundation

I like shiny new things and when I saw this new arrival in the drawers at work just as I was thinking that I needed a new foundation I decided it must be fate.

Okay, calling it fate is perhaps a bit dramatic but it was on offer so I decided to give it a go. I've only tried Maybelline Dream Velvet Foundation a few times so today I thought I'd you a first impressions post and then I can perhaps revisit this in more detail down the line.

First point I want to mention is the colour. In the past, the lightest Maybelline foundation shade has been "Ivory" and I've always found the shade to be slightly orangey even though it's a pale colour. I'm glad to say they've done a shade lighter, it's the one I have here and it's 01 Natural which matches my super paleness quite nicely. The picture below shows the colour and consistency (not amazingly well I know!) and despite it looking an awful colour match on my hand it is for my face trust me! 

The next point is the application, I first used a flat top foundation brush as this is how I usually apply my foundation and I hated how it went on. The next day I just used my fingers and I found it to be so much better.   

Finally, the foundation itself is a liquid but has an almost light, mousse consistency (but not as thick as the actual Dream Matte Mousse). It goes on nice and smooth, doesn't feel heavy and for a matte foundation it didn't feel like it was going to dry out my skin, or cling to any dry patches that I already had. The finish is matte, but it's not super matte and I'd say it was medium coverage. It gave my skin a soft, even appearance that still looks like skin and not that "foundation face" look where it's obvious you've got a made up face. 

My first impressions of Maybelline Dream Velvet Foundation are pretty good. I feel like I'm going to get along with this one and it's going to be perfect for everyday wear. Time will certainly tell and I will let you know if I still feel this way as time goes on!

You can get yours HERE or at your local Boots or Superdrug.

What's your favourite foundation?

Thanks for reading,

Wench x

P.S I posted this accidentally earlier in the week, I wanted to add a little more so I apologise if you caught it earlier and wonder where it went!

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  

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