Cheap Treat Tuesday

Being totally obsessed with my powder highlighters I really wanted to branch out and try some cream/ stick ones! After just browsing on eBay I came across these, an unbranded one and then and Elf one! Elf is a brand I've never tried so I was so excited for this to come!

I'm not really fussy on what colour highlighter I use so I got one in gold and then another in a pink/ champagne colour. They're both absolutely gorgeous and so creamy and blendable. I literally take the stick and 'draw' on my face starting from my cheek below the outer corner of my eye and go in circular motions up to my temples. I then dab and blend all the product it and it creates the most prettiest glow. I put a little bit down my nose and on my cupids bow and my face suddenly lit up, especially seeing as though everything I was wearing was matte. 

Considering these were both eBay finds, the Sugar box face being £2 and the Elf one being £3 I cannot fault these at all! People are very quick to think that cheap online make up will be rubbish but I can assure you most of it isn't! Some things I even prefer to brands such as MAC and Urban Decay.

The Elf highlighter also smells like sweets which is such a bonus!

Paige, x

Cheap Treat Tuesday - W7 Chubby Contour stick

When I was given a gift card for Boots for my birthday I instantly knew what I wanted - the Clinique Chubby Contour stick. After nearly a month of waiting for it to come back in stock I found this W7 version on eBay. As it was only £2.95 my original thought was that I could buy them both and compare them however I absolutely love this so I thought I may as well keep the gift card and find something else to buy! 

I've never tried anything from the W7 line before but I'd heard a lot about their primers and eye shadows and when I seen this I thought there couldn't possibly be any downfalls about this product. 

Its's pretty much exactly the same as the Clinique version although this ones more matte and not as creamy but I have no complaints about that. Contour is really in at the moment and I think its here to stay so I like to try my hand at a few different ways of doing it. This way however is the easiest and most effective, I literally just draw on my face and then buff in with my Expert face brush. 

I thought this might give a bit of a muddy look especially as its matte but it doesn't! It makes my skin look so glowy and my structure look so defined! I really recommend this product and cant wait to try more from their range! 

Paige, x

Beauty by Benefit

 I'm a huge lover of Benefit make up, it was my first ever high end beauty brand that I first tried and also fell in love with. There's not much from the Benefit range that I don't have or haven't used before! However I thought these three deserved a blog post all on their own as their my most loved and used so I hope you like them just as much!

I would list these three as "the Benefit beams" but Benetint isn't actually a beam so I'm stuck on a savvy title to call the trio! I feel like sometimes these products lack the attention they deserve as they are a staple in any make up kit. If you go past a counter I really recommend you have a little peak at these and test them out, you'll be amazed!

Sun beam: A golden shimmer, perfect to bronze up the skin. This is the perfect highlighter, especially in the summer. If you dab this along your cheekbones this will honestly make you look like some sort of bronzed goddess. You can also put this under your foundation to give that glowy iridescence to your complexion.

 

Benetint: The first one that was released is in fact a lip and cheek stain. This is such a beautiful berry pink/ red colour and is buildable! You can create really intense and dramatic looks or on the opposing end of the scale- something really delicate and pretty looking. The great thing about this is that the brush is soft, imagine the pain rubbing a hard stick onto your cheeks and lips.. ouch! Its just like a big nail varnish really!

High beam; Pretty similar to Sun beam however a light pink shimmery colour. This again is also the perfect highlighter, you may have seen this mentioned in my top 5 favourite highlighters post where this was one of my favourites. I feel like this is suitable for anytime of year, it looks so pretty in spring though! I really suggest this for your brow bone, it works like nothing other!

Paige, x

Cheap Treat Tuesday!

Something a little different for a middle of the week treat to yourself! 

Is it just me or is anyone else really into white plates and bowls etc? They're so fancy looking and when I came across this I couldn't wait to tell you all about it. So I picked up two of these cute heart shaped dishes in would you believe it Pound land! Obviously only being £1 I thought I'd pick up two as it wasn't exactly going to break the bank. I initially got for my mam to put some nibbles in when she has people round but they can be used for anything and we now own quite a few!

I've currently got one in my room filled with jewellery which I think looks so minimalistic yet really cool too. Personally I think any blogger would love this as it looks so pretty in your bedroom either by the side of your bed or on your dressing table. The possibilities are endless, anything can be stored in them; make up, food, sunglasses, hair accessories or even your whole Muji draw full of samples- yes Sarah I'm talking about you! 

Also if you look below you'll see an interesting little box marked 'Lucy Addison Jewellery' and I'm really excited to show you all what's inside, she makes gorgeous handmade pieces so watch this space for an up and coming blog post all about that! 

Paige, x

A product I regret - Urban Decay lip primer potion

Sadly there's always something in a girls make up collection that usually is a regret, this is mine. Make up isn't cheap and when you are really disappointed by a product its quite a kick in the stomach when you cant or don't want to use it again.

This was in a fall collection I believe and was £13. All my reasons as to why this product just isn't for me goes against the entire description of the product.  

"Our invisible primer lays a silky foundation for your favourite lipstick or gloss. Colour is truer, applies smoother, lasts longer, and will not fade or feather. The easy-glide formula feels velvety-soft, without the drying feeling often associated with long-lasting lip colour."

To start with it's so unbelievably drying, that dry you physically cant apply it on your lips. It drags across, not applying any of the product. So its pretty pointless when you cant even use it to begin with. I have to really press it into my lips and I'm not going to lie, it hurts! I've read other reviews and none of them have had this problem so it leads me to think I've just got a bad one from the batch. 

It does absolutely nothing, I've yet to see a difference this makes to my lipstick, if anything it makes it look even worse. My lipstick looks lovely on its own and then when I apply this beforehand it looks even sheerer and like as soon as I do anything with my lips, even speak, its going to come off. It also feels very waxy as if I've just put candle wax all over them which obviously isn't great. 

When it does apply its a thick gloopy wax like consistency, making my lipstick look all clumpy. My lips are made to look very uneven and very lumpy, which is really not a good look. I honestly have nothing good to say about this product, the packaging is nothing special and it doesn't smell or taste of anything.. other than wax.  I really, wouldn't recommend this. 

Paige, x

MAC Strobe Cream

As you all know I have very dry skin so to find a product that aims to either help it or help the look of it, I will most likely be purchasing. 

MAC Strobe Cream can be used in a variety of different ways, the most popular being under the foundation as a sort of moisturiser to illuminate the skin. This is how I use it anyway but it can also be used as a highlighter or just a general moisturiser mixed with a bit of water. One thing just to clarify is that I wouldn't use it everyday as it will clog pores, especially as its quite thick and glittery. Its perfect for the odd day when your skin just needs a bit of help to glow and to make your foundation routine look a little more flawless. 

I only use this in my T-zone and a bit on my cheeks or any dry areas. I can tell straight away my face looks more alive and awake and really does make a difference. If you have a matte foundation that's a little too matte, try mixing some of this in or underneath and it will make you have a whole new look. Every girl with dry or even dull looking skin needs this in their make up bag! Its quite a lot of product you get too so this justify's MAC prices as it will last you ages. You can get this Strobe cream in a smaller size too or also in a liquid form. 

Dont forget if you want a flawless, healthy looking face its not just your foundation but the steps you take before and after. This is a product I heavily recommend and will always use this.

Paige, x

Yves Saint Laurent ; Le Teint Touche Eclat review

As my skin has gotten so much better recently I thought I would treat myself to a new foundation. Of course it had to be dewy and I'd heard a lot about the YSL's foundations so I found this one and thought I would give it a try! 

Firstly the woman at the counter was so lovely and didn't make me feel pressured to buy anything like they usually do! After me and my friend got colour matched we both decided to purchase it. Just looking at the bottle I wanted it, a 30ml glass bottle with gold detailing. It's a bloggers dream. I like the fact the bottle has some weight to it, making it not only look expensive but feel it too. It really does just scream luxury.

This foundation is very dewy and illuminating so exactly what I was looking for! They do have a matte foundation for girls who like that which looked lovely too. The foundation is very light coverage, and to me, perfect for summer. It blends so well and makes your skin tone look so bright and radiant giving a sort of satin finish and creating a glow from within. I'm so glad that it comes with a pump too making it super easier to apply, whether that be with your fingers or a brush. I prefer to squirt this onto a stippling brush, stipple it all over my face and then work it into the skin. I build it up a little on my forehead and cheek area just to give that little bit of extra coverage. 

With this not being matte it doesn't show any dry patches or areas so in my eyes this is a perfect 10/10.  Another thing to mention is that the SPF is 19 which is great!

Paige, x