No7 Lash Impact Mascara.

No7 Lash Impact Intense Volume Control Mascara (£10 currently on offer in Boots).

I've been loving the No7 Exquisite Curl mascara that I bought in the Boots bargain bin recently, it's become my everyday mascara. However, being the sucker that I am I bought their brand new mascara launch the Lash Impact mascara. I'm not going to lie, I was totally taken in by the ruby red glittery packaging! How stunning is that?! It's truly a thing of beauty.

It has a nice, standard bristle brush which combs through and separates the lashes easily. At first, I wasn't sure about this mascara. It's quite a wet-liquid formula so it's really easy to make mistakes and get flecks of mascara all over your eyelids and under your eye! However, because of the formula it isn't heavy or gloopy on the lashes. It really does lengthen your lashes and they look super sleek yet natural. I'm not mad on this mascara, it's not going to replace any of my favourites any time soon. It's not one for me I'm afraid! Phage you tried this mascara? Let me know if you have, thanks for stopping by x

Amazing Base.

I thought I'd do a post about my favourite makeup bases- from BB and CC Creams to full coverage foundations. I have oily skin with large pores; my skin becomes shiny as the day progresses but I do have some dryness on my forehead. I like bases with good coverage and a matte finish to combat my oiliness. I'm also fairly pale so I like foundations without orange or tan tones to them, usually opting for the lightest shade in most high street products. So which products do I love...

Rimmel Stay Matte BB Cream- this is great for 'no makeup' days when I just want a light coverage base, my eyebrows and mascara on and I'm good to go. It's got the kind of coverage you'd expect from a BB Cream so if my skins not the best I try and avoid this. It's great for oily skin because a lot of BB Creams are dewy but this one is deffo matte. I wear this in shade Very Light and I'd give it a 3/10 for coverage.

MaxFactor CC Cream- I'd say I prefer this to the Rimmel BB Cream to be honest! It's got a nice light coverage with a creamy matte finish. This feels more like a light foundation that a CC/BB Cream if that makes sense? I wear this in shade Fair and I'd give this a 5/10 for coverage.

No7 Stay Perfect Superlight Foundation- for me, this is the ideal in-between product of BB/CC creams and a full coverage foundation. As the name suggests, it's super light weight on the skin but as it's a foundation, it's got better coverage and lasts longer than a BB/CC Cream. This hasn't got a particularly matte finish, which for me is a downside, but this can be easily remedied by using pressed powder over it. I wear this in shade Callico and I'd give this a 6/10 for coverage. 

Urban Decay NAKED Skin Foundation- oh my love, I think this is my Holy Grail foundation. It looks so natural but it's got amazing coverage and a flawless finish! This isn't a matte foundation but it looks like a natural NAKED skin finish, hence the name of it. I hardly have to use any concealer with this and it's great for building up in specific places like under the eyes without feeling heavy. It lasts all day long and I don't have to touch it up. I wear this in shade 1.0 and I'd give this a 9/10 for coverage. LOVE! 

No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation- this is a foundation I keep coming back to time and time again. This gives a perfectly flawless matte finish that doesn't let shine through at all, even after hours of wear. It's the kind of foundation that never let's you down- dyou know what I meant? Again, this has great coverage, I wear it in shade Callico and I'd give it 9/10. 

Revlon Colorstay for Oily/Combination Skin- I regularly switch up between this and the No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation. I really like this one, I'd say this has the fullest coverage and it gives a really nice matte finish. However, if you've got any dryness STAY AWAY because it is unforgiving. I imagine a lot of people won't like this because it is mega full coverage but I personally don't find it heavy or cakey. I wear shade 150 Buff and I'd give it. 10/10 for full coverage. 

So there you have my favourite bases. I'm currently lusting after the Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet atm which I've read is amazing so watch this space.... Let me know what your fave bases are girlies. Thanks for stopping by x

No7 Vitality Eye Roll On.

No7 Beautiful Skin Vitality Eye Roll On (£6 in sale, Boots).

This was another one of my bargain-bin purchases from Boots. The world of eye creams is vast and difficult to find your way through if you don't want anything anti-ageing or mega expensive! I found this one and thought I'd give it a try. It comes in a nice and compact 15ml tube with simple packaging, making it look expensive. 

This is an iridescent thin gel that is applied through a trifector of metal roller balls that are cooling on the delicate eye area. I can honestly say that I am in love with this product. Never before have I felt strongly (either way) about an eye cream, I'm normally indifferent to these products. However, as I've been using this every day since I bought it and I've started noticing my eye bags becoming less dark and promenant. It's so soft and light on the skin, it doesn't feel at all greasy or heavy on the skin. I'm super impressed with this and I'm glad I decided to buy it! What's your fave eye cream? Let me know, thanks for stopping by x

No7 Exquisite Curl Mascara.

No7 Exquisite Curl Mascara (£5 in sale, Boots).

I'm still loving my beloved L'oreal Miss Manga Mascara but when I saw this in the sale I thought I'd give it a go. I'm loving the metallic pink mirrored packaging of this mascara, I think it's unusual and super pretty. They promote Exquisite Curl "for beautiful curl and volume"neither it's curved brush wand. I've always thought this was a bit of a gimic and I've never really gone for it but I do like this brush. It is perfectly curved for my eye shape- it matches my lash line perfectly. I also love that it's a proper bristle brush not a plastic comb or rubber spiky thing- bug barer! 

This mascara perfectly separates, curls and lengthens my lashes to give a wide eyed but natural look. I've been loving wearing this on a day-to-day basis, it's perfect for wearing for work because it's not too OTT. It won't ever replace the Miss Manga Mascara for me as it doesn't give any thickness or drama but it's a great everyday mascara. It's also super easy to remove with my Garnier Micellar Water. All in all, it's a lovely mascara and I'd deffo recommend it. Have you ever tried any No7 mascara? Thanks for stopping by x

No7 Spring Limited Edition Nails.

No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in Spring Meadow and Pink Blossom (£6 each, Boots).

I don't normally go rushing for new Spring launches from any makeup brand but I stumbled upon these a couple of weeks ago when looking to spend use some free No7 vouchers, the nail varnishes are a perfect purchase with the £3 off makeup vouchers as you get them for half price, plus you still qualify for 3for2. Spring Meadow and Pink Blossom are No7s latest Spring launches and I think they're perfect for this season! They're both beautiful pastel colours that look super opaque in the bottles. I love the packaging of No7 nail varnishes and the brushes are nice and wide making it easy to paint your nails.

Now this is gonna be a bit of a review of two halves as I love one shade and dislike the other. Good news first, Pink Blossom has pretty much become my fave nail polish of the season. It's super opaque and gives an even finish. It's the most beautiful blush pink which I wouldn't normally go for but I think it's stunning. Two coats gives you a beautiful flawless finish and it lasts really well on the nails. In contrast, Spring Meadow isn't up to scratch for me. It gives a see-through uneven finish and two coats didn't cover my nail. The colour was quite cloudy and wasn't true to the colour inside the bottle. The fact that I took it off my nails after less than 24hrs tells you how much I disliked it! 

So to summarise- yay for Pink Blossom; boooooooooo for Spring Meadow. Simple! Thanks for stopping by x

No7 Stay Perfect Superlight Foundation.

No7 Stay Perfect Superlight Foundation in Callico (£14.50, from Boots).

For some reason over the past few months I've become obsessed with buying new makeup bases like foundations, BB and CC creams. I got my mitts on this new No7 launch when it came out earlier this year. I like the concept of a Superlight Foundation, as I find that BB and CC Creams rarely offer the coverage I desire but feel nice and light on the skin in warmer months. I personally like the packaging of this product, it's a bit different because you can't actually see the product inside but I like it. I went for shade Callico as that's the colour i was matched to way back when I first bought my beloved Beautifully Matte Foundation from No7. It comes in a massive fourteen shades so that should cater for everyone!

This foundation is super fluid in the vein of a BB or CC Cream. It glides onto the skin really smoothly and blends like a dream. I'd say it gives a medium coverage, covering all my redness and pores and I only need concealer for under my eyes and on blemishes, the same as with a full coverage foundation. It's got great coverage whilst feeling super light, like I'm not even wearing anything on my skin. I personally think it gives a matte finish but it doesn't claim to be for oily skin at all. It also lasts really well through the day- my oiliness doesn't shine through and it's beautiful finish lasts all day long. Overall. I'm super impressed with this foundation and think it'll be ace for the summer months. Have you tried this foundation? Let me know what you think, thanks for stopping by x

Mini Makeup Haul.

No7 BB Lips in Blink Pink; Maybelline Volum Express Mega Plush Mascara; Bourjois Cream Blush in 03; No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation in Callico.

As small haul for y'all now. In Boots, No7 makeup is on 'buy one get one half price' so I got involved buying more of my favourite foundation ever, Beautifully Matte (review here) and then I decided to try their new BB Lips lipgloss/balm hybrid. Then I sauntered into Superdrug and found all their makeup was on 3for2 and they had three new mega launches that weren't even in Boots yet! I went for the new Maybelline Mega Plush mascara as the super big brush looks amazing and I also got one of the new Bourjois Cream Blushes which I've been waiting to try since they first appeared on the interweb a few months ago! My mum got the new Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra mascara which is in a super awesome lime-green packaging! It's that time of year when brands start to release they're new Summer products so I'm sure this is going to be one makeup haul of many! Thanks for stopping by x

Boots Wishlist.

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Real Techniques Expert Face Brush (£9.99); Soap & Glory Fab Pore Face Mask (£8); No7 Cleansing Brush Heads (£8); Soap & Glory Clear Here Moisturiser (£9); No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation (£12.50) from Boots. 

I'm one of those people who gets jealous of other blogger's Boots hauls- bursting with skincare, beauty and makeup products. However, if I actually collected all the bits and bobs I get from Boots over a month or two, I'd probably have the same large haul as others. These are the items currently sitting in my basket on the Boots website. I love Real Techniques brushes sososo much- they're super soft, great quality and wash really well. Unfortunately, my Buffing Brush is looking a bit worse for wear so I think it's time for a new foundation brush. The Expert Face Brush looks like a great alternative, saving me having to buy the whole Core Collection all over again just for a new Buffing Brush. 

After falling inlove with the S&G No Clogs Allowed Face Mask, I've become intrigued by S&G's skincare collection. I've always thought that the products are mostly aimed at anti-ageing but I've found some great products for oily skinned ladies like myself. The Fab Pore Peel-Off Mask looks like a really good intensive treatment product- hopefully it'll sort out my clogged pores and blemish-prone skin. The S&G Clear Here Moisture Daily Lotion claims to combat shine, keep the skin clear and smooth, as well as shrinking visible pore size. 

I've been loving using my No7 Cleansing Brush (I reallllyyyy need to do an update post on this)but the brush head is getting a bit tired and out-of-shape so I think it's time to get some new ones. You can buy a pack of two for £8 which I think is a bargain. Finally, I have about a fifth of my No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation left and I love wearing it because it's super matte, gives great coverage and stays put all day long. I really need to get myself a new bottle! If I got this exact haul I'd get 'buy 1 get 1 1/2 price' on S&G- so I'd save £4 on the mask, and 3for2 on the other items with the cleansing brush heads being free! So I'd save a total of £12 which is ace. I've also got a few vouchers so I'd get loads of lovely Advantage Cards points as an added bonus. What's in your wishlist?

My Foundation Collection.

(L-R in order of swatches): MAC Pro Longwear in NC15; Chanel Mat Lumiere in 20 Clair (discontinued); Bourjois 123 Perfect in Light Vanilla; Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in Light Vanilla; No7 Beautifully Matte in Callico; Avon Ideal Flawless in Ivory; Revlon Nearly Naked in Vanilla; M&S Limited Collection in Ivory. 

Until I found out that my beloved Chanel Mat Lumiere Foundation was being discontinued, I never bothered trying out different foundations- I thought I had found the one. Chanel kind of did me a favour in the end because I've since discovered a cornucopia of foundations- some that I love and some that I didn't like and have got rid of! So what do I look for in a foundation? Well, I'm an oily skinned girl so I typically look for a medium-full coverage matte finish foundation. I'm definitely on the paler end of the scale, usually being either the lightest or second lightest shade a brand sells. I hate cakey, chalky foundations- I want them to look after my skin with as high a SPF as possible please! So, here's my collection.

MAC Pro Longwear Foundation is definitely a fail-safe, reliable foundation. It's not got the matte-est of finishes but it definitely covers any redness or blemishes and lasts all day long. I'm not going to go on about Chanel Mat Lumiere as it's sadly no longer with us and I personally dislike its replacement, Pro Lumiere. I really like both of my Bourjois foundations but they are different. 123 Perfect is the ultimate matte, pale buttery finish foundation which covers all of my problem areas; whereas Healthy Mix Foundation gives a healthy glow and leaves the skin feeling nourished and hydrated after use. 

My everyday foundation is No7 Beautifully Matte which gives me the most stunning airbrushed, flawless matte finish of all my foundations. It's probably got the best coverage of them all whilst not being cakey, thick or clumpy. It also outlasts all the others and is definitely the best colour match for me. I've not used the Avon foundation for ageeeeessss as it's a little too light for me. It has a light air-whipped feel to it but it still provides good coverage and finish. My current favourite foundation is Revlon Nearly Naked which is totally out of my comfort zone for foundations- it's got a light-medium coverage, it's got a more natural dewy finish and it's a great colour match for my skin tone. The final foundation in my collection is a super bargain buy from M&S Limited Collection. It's alright for what it is, but it's nothing magical. It provides OK coverage and lasts for a fairly average amount of time.

So there you have it, my little foundation collection. Please leave me any recommendations for your favourite foundations!

No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Brush.

No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Brush (£24.95 but currently on offer at £15, from Boots).

As soon as I saw this on someone's blog, I knew I had to get my mitts on it. We've all heard the hype over the cult Clarisonic Cleansing Brush, but with a £100+ price tag, it's a product that most of us aren't able to justify buying. Well say hello to No7's bargain answer to the market leader. For those of you who aren't familiar with the concept of a cleansing brush, essentially is makes cleansing easier and more effective by exfoliating and deeply cleansing the skin. No7 recommend that you remove any eye makeup then put your favourite No7 cleanser (I've actually been using my beloved S&G Peaches & Clean Cleanser) on your face, giving generous coverage on problem areas, and then wet the brush and press the power button- and away we go! After 30 seconds of cleansing, turn off the power and rinse the brush in warm water.

I've only had this since last Saturday, so I can't comment on it's long term benefits just yet (I will do an update post in a few weeks) but I can give you my initial thoughts. Firstly, I love the packaging- it's super clean and simple and tbh, I didn't want to throw the box away! The Cleansing Brush itself is super ergonomic in it's design, it fits perfectly into your hand and it isn't at all heavy. The brush is battery powered (batteries are provided) so no charger wires are needed which I love because I am forever loosing them- is it just me who looses chargers?! The brush-head itself has three rings of bristles which rotate when you press the power button to gently cleanse and buff the skin. There are two speed settings but I personally find the second one a bit too intense! It is a weird feeling at first, it's kind of like a car wash for your face, but it is actually really gentle and really massages the skin- a proper treat for your face!

So, does it actually benefit the skin? Well, like I say, I've only had it for a week but I do find that my skin is softer, smoother and brighter after using this cleanser. It gives such a deep clean and it's perfect for us oily skinned girls- note that No7 don't recommend this for people with very dry skin. I have tried using it with my makeup on and after taking the majority of my makeup off with wipes and I personally prefer the latter, but I think that's because the brush looks less dirty afterwards! So my initial thoughts: I love it!! I can't wait to give you an update on my skin in a few weeks time! If you are wanting to try it, run over to Boots as it's on offer at £15 for a limited time only! Will you be trying the No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Brush?

Clarins Daily Energizer Cream.

Clarins Daily Energizer Cream (£20 from Clarins). 

I've been using this moisturiser for some time now but haven't got round to reviewing it. I was more than happy to continue using the lovely No7 Beautiful Skin Day Cream for Normal/Oily Skin (mouthful) but my boyfriend's mum kindly got me this Clarins moisturiser with some points she'd accumulated over the years. I've always held Clarins in that unreachable expensive high end product group that I've never really considered using. I've been to spas where they've used Clarins products on me and they've left my skin feeling really nice but I've never felt compelled to buy them for myself. The Daily Energizer range is marketed at the 20-30 age group boasting benefits such as radiance boosting, hydrating and minimising imperfections. The main active ingredients in this range are vitamin C which boosts cellular activity, alchemilla which reduces excess oil keeping the skin matte and red currant which is super hydrating.

The moisturiser itself is a peachy toned rich cream which melts into the skin beautifully. It has a subtly sweet, luxurious scent to it which you couldn't mistake for anything other than a high-end product. This moisturiser is immensely hydrating, too much so in fact for my oily skin which I find a little disappointing seeing as though one of it's main active ingredients is meant to be mattifying. I think this moisturiser would be great for ladies with dry/normal skin because it really softens and hydrates the skin, but for me, it's just not the one. Although the glass packaging makes the product look more expensive, I'm always frightened of smashing it as I'm really clumsy- it's also pretty heavy so it's not that ideal for travel. The moisturiser is £20 for 30ml which isn't great value for money in my opinion; especially when you compare it with the No7 Day Cream which is £12.50 for 50ml. Alas, this isn't the cream for me and tbh, I can't wait to finish it off so I can get back to my No7 Day Cream. Are you a fan of Clarins products? Let me know what you think!

2012 Favourites: Part 2.

Welcome to Part 2 of my 2012 Favourites. Yesterday's post featured my favourite beauty and hair products of the past year and today's post focuses on my favourite makeup products of 2012. So let's get started!

Face:

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium: I'd have to say that MAC was definitely the discovery of 2012 for me- I'd never used or (shamefully) heard of their products before 2012 but fell in love with their high end, high quality products. My favourite MAC product is their Mineralize Skinfinish face powder which is also by far the best powder I've ever used (take note Chanel). It's super smooth, blendable, soft and long lasting and gives amazing coverage and finish. It's also lasted me nearly a year and after daily use, I've still not hit pan!

e.l.f Eyebrow Kit in Dark: It's cheap, it's compact and it's good quality. I don't leave home without using this on my brows and it's the least messiest and simplest brow product I've ever used. It definitely gives a dramatic brow look so it's not for the faint hearted but I can't imaging not using this brow kit. 

No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation in Calico: This was a late discovery in 2012 but with the launch of No7's new Foundation Match Service came my new found Holy Grail of makeup- my perfect base. The colour, formula and finish are all perfect and it's also super affordable. I've had this foundation since September and I'm only about half way through so it's looking like it's going to last me a good six months or so. This foundation gives me that flawless look that previously I had only dreamed of.

 Eyes:

Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Mascara: As well as being the year I discovered my perfect foundation, 2012 was also the year I found my favourite ever mascara. I like a mascara that makes my eyelashes longer, fuller, curled and generally fake looking- too much to ask? Not with this bad boy. It does all of those things in one tube- I'd actually previously been using two different mascaras to attempt to create a similar look. 

Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner: Since buying this eyeliner in September 2011- yes, over a year ago- I've not looked back. Gone are the days of flaky, dry liquid eyeliner; gel have been my daily staple for over a year now. And can you believe I'm still on the same tub? (Never fear, it lasts 24months once opened). Now I wear a lot of eyeliner and I hit pan about a month ago now and it's still going strong. Wonder product this is my friends. 

Avon Super Shock Gel Pencil Liner: It's super smooth, long lasting and super intense black. There's not a lot more that I can say about this apart from it's better than any other pencil eyeliner I've ever used, and trust me, I've tried a lot of them!

Urban Decay NAKED Palette: It wouldn't be a 2012 Favourites without the NAKED palette really. We've read a million and one reviews of this product so I won't bore you (click the link to read my full review). I just love how wearable and versatile this palette is, as well as the quality of the powders themselves. 

Lips:

L'oreal Rouge Caresse and Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balmstains: It's been a year dominated by two lip products for me and I coincidently own four of each! The L'oreal Rouge Caresses give a hint of colour whilst being super moisturising whereas the Revlon Balmstains give intense long lasting colour. I love both products equally as they serve different purposes and are appropriate for different occasions. My favourite Revlon one is Valentine (not available in UK) and my favourite L'oreal one is Rose Mademoiselle. 

e.l.f Lip Exfoliator: Another late discovery in 2012, this e.l.f Lip Exfoliator is a dry lip saviour! It's perfect for last minute dry skin banishing before applying your favourite lippy. It smooths, softens and hydrates the lips leaving them as the perfect base for any lip product. 

So there you have it, my 2012 Favourites are complete! It's been a great year (if not a busy one) but I'm excited about 2013, especially as I'm starting it by moving into our new house tomorrow eeeeee! Tell me when you get sick of hearing about it btw! 

FOTD.

Urban Decay NAKED palette; MUA Professional Eye Primer; 17 Clear Definition Brow Gel; Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner; MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium; Sleek Face Form palette in Light; Collection 2000 Fix Me Up makeup fixing spray; No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation in Calico; e.l.f Brow Kit in Dark; Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer in Light; Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeliner in Black; Maybelline Colossal Volum' Express Smoky Eyes.

No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation.

[image from Google]

No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation in Calico (£12.50 from Boots). 

I was really intrigued when I saw the TV advert for No7's launch of their foundation match service as I don't think anything like this has ever been done before. I find that being on the paler side of things, some foundation shades can be too orangey or yellowy so I thought I'd give this new service a go. The No7 lady was really nice and helpful; the skin matching process involved her removing a little bit of my makeup on both cheeks and then she held the innovative colour-matching machine up to my face which made a lil beep and then she said "your shade is Calico". Then the lady asked me about my skin type and what kind of coverage and finish I like in a foundation. I pretty much knew before I got there that I'd end up with the Beautifully Matte foundation. I think there is 14 different shades in the Beautifully Matte foundation which is extensive to say the least. There are different foundations for different skin types which you can check out on the Boots website.  

The packaging is super cute with the silver box and I really like the plastic bottle with the base that pushes up so you get the maximum foundation out of the bottle- I truly hate wasting foundation! Calico is a super beautiful buttery ivory shade with pinky undertones. This foundation applies like an absolute dream and blends so smoothly (especially with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush). It gives really good coverage of redness and blemishes- better than any other foundation that I've used. This product does give a truly matte finish but not in a dry cakey way- it just looks like you've got perfect skin. This foundation claims to have 14 hour wear; the first day I wore it, I applied it at 8am and didn't take it off until around 11pm with no touch-ups required and it was just about starting to thin out on my oily areas, which is a massive feat as this normally occurs within 8 hours with many of the foundations that I've tried. 

I am so so inlove with this foundation- it combats shine, evens skin tone, gives a flawless finish and lasts all day long. This is fast becoming my favourite foundation ever. I'd really recommend the new No7 foundation match service as it honestly has found the perfect shade and finish foundation for me- I couldn't be more pleased. I used my No7 £3 off makeup voucher to buy this foundation, but the offer ends this Sunday so hurry if you want to save a bit of money! Have you tried the No7 foundation match service?