Tuesday 31 March 2015

• March 2015 Favourites •

This March has been probably one of the busiest months of my life - school play, house hunting, and just generally trying to live life - so my make up has been consistently minimal for work and play!

Nevertheless, I have some absolute beauts to show you which have served me well through this month of craziness. They've all made my life much easier (and my getting ready process much quicker) and they are fail safe in terms of slapping it on and running out the door. I'm now ready for more experimental, fun, colourful Spring make up so I'm sure next month's favourites will be more seasonal!

The scent of this is truly lovely - that's the only way I can describe it. It smells like Spring and gardens in bloom, something I wouldn't usually go for, but since the weather is (slowly) getting warmer, it's been suiting my mood lately. I love the fact that it's a mist so I spritz it all over my body and clothes, and the scent lasts all day. I'm hoping to get my hands on more of these mists as I'm really impressed with this one. And added bonus - I've used it liberally most days this month and the bottle still seems to be full; it definitely goes a long way.

When I first used this product, I really didn't like it. It was at a time when I was my most oily and it felt as though it just slipped off and accentuated my combination skin. Now, however, the winter months (and Roaccutane) have dried out my skin considerably, so this little product is a godsend. After cleansing in the morning, I use my moisturiser, then I take a pea sized amount of this and swipe it all over my face. I then apply make up straight away and my foundation seems to glide on so easily. It doesn't cling to my dry patches and looks dewy, which is what I've been going for lately. The beauty balm just acts as another layer of moisture and primes the skin for make up. There isn't a make-up day that's gone by where I haven't worn this.

I've been loving a cat eye recently and I always thought I couldn't achieve one in less than half an hour, but this product makes it so easy! The tip is long and thin and the felt tip applicator makes drawing a line and flick ridiculously easy, for even the most amateur of cat eye creators like myself. I also love how black the liner is and I never have to go over it with my gel liner to make it bolder (which I sometimes have to do with my other pen liners!) I've really been enjoying using this not only  for the ease and quality but also for how it's changed my outlook on liner.

I've been using this product for months now, but I had a break in between and used the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion , and I can't even tell you how much I missed it and my skin craved it. I've got over my acne but I sometimes get a spot or two, so I like to take preventative measures. That's when this little tube of goodness comes in. I've never known skincare to be so effective, honestly. It moisturises my skin so well, sits beautifully under my make up, sinks in quickly and also works at keeping blemishes at bay. I can't ask for anything more from a moisturiser and I'm now on my third tube - a testimony to how amazing it is!

I've been trying, but there's no way I can use this lipstick sparingly. I'm trying to do so because, as far as I know, this product is currently only available in the US and Canada. I've been waiting so patiently for it to land in the UK because I've nearly finished the lipstick in just 3 months (!!!) which is practically unheard of for me. It's such a beautiful dusky, dark pink which is matte but unbelievably creamy - I can still rub my lips together comfortably and have it feel like a balm, which is the ultimate matte lipstick test, in my opinion. It's the perfect everyday pink that really suits my skin tone and goes with any look. I love it so so much and just wished I'd stocked up on more than one!

When I bought this product in Canada, it intimidated me, so much so that it took 3 weeks for me to pluck up the courage to use it! I don't know why because it really is so easy to apply and beautiful to wear. I take my Sephora brow brush, dip it in and use it to fill in and shape my brows. I love the colour as it's the perfect match for me and it even happens to be quicker than using my Rimmel Brow Pencil, which I've sworn by for years - who knew? I've been using it daily and I can make it look natural or bold; I do have to practice using a light hand with it, but I think I've mastered it now.

I'll keep this short as I can't even imagine how many times I've mentioned this product on my blog, but it really is the best primer I've used that keeps my t-zone looking matte and my make up from slipping off my face. The silicone texture evens out my skin and makes it easy to apply make up and you need the teeniest amount to apply to your t-zone.

I feel like I've been on the continuous, long and tiring hunt for the best eye cream and I have to say this one is really cutting it for me at the moment. I've been enjoying applying it before bed as it moisturises my eye area until the morning, so my eyes feel soft and not at all puffy. The applicator is also great; because it's in tube form, you don't have to dip your hand into a pot. I'm not sure how much you can rave about an eye cream because I guess I'll only see the true results when I'm in my 50s, but if it reduces the risk of wrinkles, it's worth giving it a shot!

What have been your favourites this month?
Daniela xo
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Saturday 28 March 2015

• My life through a lens #4 •

1. miss you Tim Hortons;
2. blush swatching the Tarte Blush Palette;
3. the cutest snowman!;

5. a cheeky lil boots haul;
6. i've found a quote that sums up my life;
7. before & after shots of my new fave mascara;

9. photographing my bath and body works candle post;
10. niagara falls with my man;
11. simple products for a simple saturday;
12. pink, sparkly and kate spade.

13. a healthy start to the day!;
14. we stayed in a shepherds hut;
15. these brushes are my life;
16. a little drink before boarding the plane!

A peak into what I've been instagramming lately
over on danielascribbs :)
Daniela xo
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Sunday 8 March 2015

• Maybelline Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara •

Mascara is my thing. For some it's blush, for others it's base, but I'm all about the lashes.

And this means that I spend most of my time in Boots looking at all of the different mascaras and on blogs looking for mascara reviews. I've tried so many different ones from high end (my favourites being Benefit They're Real and Georgio Armani Eyes to Kill) and drugstore (Max Factor Masterpiece is amazing) but never have I found one that gives me the volume and length I'm looking for as the Maybelline Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara does.
The photos speak for themselves and you can see the difference in my lashes from the before and after shots. For £7.99 you're getting very similar, if not the same, results as Benefit They're Real - both mascaras are super black, my lashes still look amazing after a day of wear and they both provide the same lengthening and volumising effect. The only difference is the wand. The Maybelline wand is curved, so you can reach all of the tiny lashes in the inner corner of your eye as well as the lower lashes, whereas the Benefit mascara has a straight wand with a bobble on the end, so you can again reach the tiny lashes, just in a different way. I would say that the Maybelline mascara is better when it's dried out a bit, so I'd open it and then use it a week or two later as the formula is better. I really love this mascara (if you hadn't guessed!) and if you're perusing the aisles of Boots or Superdrug, it's worth picking up. 

I'm thinking of doing a comparison post between Benefit They're Real and Maybelline Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara to show just how similar they are. Let me know if you'd be interested in reading that! :)
Daniela xo
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Friday 6 March 2015

• Why I'm obsessed with NUXE Reve di Miel •

Like most girls, I've tried every lip balm under the sun and thought 'yeah, that's alright', not thinking into it too much.

So the price tag of this cult favourite NUXE Reve di Miel made me think unhappy thoughts as I believed that £9.50 could be better spent on a grande Chai Tea Latte and chocolate muffin. Oh, how wrong I was.

Now I believe we all want a lip balm to do three things; moisturise the lips for at least a few hours, be easy to apply in tricky situations, and smell good. This little pot of wonder ticks these three boxes and so much more. Around Christmas time, my skin started going a bit nuts - my dry patches were dry as heck and my oily parts were producing a horrific amount of sebum it took all of my might not to carry around multiple packs of blotting paper packets. My lips decided to go for the former type so they were consistently dry, chapped and (sorry) bleeding. I have this horrible tendency to bite off the skin on my lips when they're dry (again, sorry if you're squeamish) which obviously did nothing for the health of my lips. Enter Reve di Miel. This balm, which smells of lemons and honey (amazing), really sorted out the general health of my lips and has made them flake free and perfectly prepped for lipstick. And one of the best parts about this lip balm - it's matte, so looks great under any lipsticks, glosses or liners.

Basically, if you were skeptical like I was, and you thought that you'd never in a million years spend a tenner on a lip balm, I'd take the plunge and try it out (or just wait til Christmas so someone can buy it for you - thanks mum!)

Have you tried this product?
Do you have any recommendations for which lip balms I should try next?
Daniela xo
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