Review: Nars Nepal Eyeshadow

With all the love surrounding the NARSissist Eyeshadow palette at the moment, I thought I'd dig out an old favourite - Nars Nepal. Nepal is described as a soft, sheer rose on the Nars website, however I would describe it as a peachy bronze-rose with a frost finish and it is the perfect everyday eyeshadow.

I tend to wear it on its own with a sheer wash all over the lid and then blended heavier through the crease for a one-shadow-look, but you can also pair it with darker browns or matte tans in the crease for a pretty eye look.

The eyeshadow is buttery and very pigmented. I tend to apply it dry, but you can use a damp brush to make the colour more intense.

What are your favourite NARS eyeshadows?

Joy xx

Review: ELF Studio Cream Eyeshadow in Dawn

As a low maintenance eye makeup gal - eyeliner and mascara, that's me done - I'm always after something to add some colour to my lids, but without the effort of using multiple brushes, multiple eyeshadows and spending many moons blending, blending, blending. Enter the ELF Studio Cream Shadow in Dawn.

Dawn is a beautiful grey-taupe colour, which is the perfect everyday neutral shade. It has tiny gold glitters in, which are barely detectable in the pot, but show up very subtley on the eyelids. I tend to wear only this all over the lid for an easy everyday look, but this would also be lovely as a base for other eyeshadow looks too.

The texture is quite moussey and creamy, but never feels greasy on the lids. This is a great day to day product, as you can easily apply it with your fingers if you're in a rush or for a more intense colour, use the brush that comes with the eyeshadow. I have to admit, I haven't tried this with any other brushes as the mini brush that comes with the eyeshadow is really all you need. A little goes a long way, so I can see this 4.75g of product lasting a long time.

I have worn this all day for up to 8 hours and find it never creases on me, even without an eyeshadow primer (although I always powder my eyelids before applying eye products). I was seriously amazed at the longevity, as I can get oily eyelids. I have used this so much since I bought it in November and would highly recommend it. It is common for cream eyeshadows to dry out and harden after a few months, but I have had no issues with this yet.

What are your favourite cream eyeshadows?

Joy xx

Review: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser

I don't know why my hands look so grey...! My original image has been distorted by Blogger :(

FOTD using Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser (No concealer)

I managed to bag the ultimate bargain when I bought the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser, as I got a 'bonus size' 200ml tube for an amazing £18 in the house of Fraser sale a few months back! This usually costs £33 for 50ml! I would have originally opted for the oil free version as my t-zone can get quite oily, but I couldn't pass up the bargain and thought I'd give this a go.

I absolutely love this tinted moisturiser for good skin days. It has low coverage, so I find it evens out my complexion but I can't get away without concealer. I was having a rare good skin day in the images above, but you can still see some of my blemishes on my chin and forehead and the redness around my nose is still visible. I have tried applying it using my fingers or my beauty blender dupe. Both methods work fine but I prefer using my fingers as I get slightly more coverage that way. It has quite a runny consistency and blends easily. It feels lovely on the skin as it isn't heavy and leaves you with a dewy finish, which makes your complexion look lovely. I always powder down the centre of my face, as I tend to get oily there.

My gripes with this product lie mainly in the longevity and coverage. On a work day, I need my base to last through the day for at least 9-10 hours with minimal touch ups. I wasn't expecting miraculous longevity, but even with powder this only lasts a few hours before I start getting shiny and it starts wearing away. I would also prefer if the coverage was slightly fuller. As this tinted moisturiser is pretty low coverage, it has to be reserved to good skin or non work days, which means it doesn't get as much love as some of my other base products. Occasionally after using this tinted moisturiser, I have noticed I get a few small whitehead type blemishes, so I feel that this may break me out slightly as well which is a bit annoying as my skin doesn't usually break out from makeup products.

I love this for non work and good skin days, despite the occasional breakout, and would definitely recommend this for less oily skinned gals and people who like dewy, light bases. I think it's a great product for summer or sunnier climates, as it has SPF 20. I may have to try the oil free version, as I've heard that has better coverage. Has anyone tried it and can vouch for the coverage/longevity?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks

From L-R: Sloane's Plum, Berry Queen, Nude Delight, Notting Hill Nude, Aubrun Breeze

Rimmel's Moisture Renew Lipstick in Nude Delight lipstick is one of my favourite nude lipsticks and I have repurchased it twice already. As I love Nude Delight so much, I decided to buy up a few more of the Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks on Fragrance Direct as they were a bargainous 99p!

I really like the formula of these lipsticks. They are easy to apply and are not drying on the lips. I find that they're not the most long lasting lipsticks, but I don't mind too much as I usually expect moisturising formulas to last a shorter time on the lips. The lipsticks have a strange smell. It's not that unpleasant, but it definitely isn't as nice as the vanilla-y MAC Lipstick scents. I am not a big fan of the packaging... While purple is my favourite colour, I find the packaging to be a little garish and quite bulky. That being said, the bright packaging does make it easier to find the lipsticks once they've been thrown into the abyss that is my handbag.

When I first opened Sloane's Plum, I was thinking that it would be a shade that would be relegated to the back of my makeup drawers as the purple hue of the bullet scared me! But on the lips, it becomes a really pretty plum colour. If you want to see what it looks like on the lips, I'm wearing it in my latest Youtube video. Berry Queen is your typical blue toned red. It's a lovely shade, which I think would suit all skin types and it also makes your teeth look super white! As I mentioned before, Nude Delight is a gorgeous peachy nude, which I looove. While I don't usually like pink toned nudes, as they make me look a little dead, Notting Hill Nude has the right amount of pink and brown mixed in to create this gorgeous 'my-lips-but-nuder' colour. It's fast becoming a contender for my favourite nude lipstick. Auburn Breeze looks different on the lips to the bullet. It's a nice 'my-lips-but-better' colour,  but isn't my favourite as it has a bit of a glittery sheen to it.

Have you ever tried any Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

The Staples: Collection Extreme 24hr Felt Tip Liner

I have repurchased this eyeliner more times than I can remember. It's extremely easy to use and is perfect for eyeliner amateurs and pros alike. The eyeliner is like a pen, so it's easy to hold and the nib can give thick or thin lines (as you can see in the picture above), depending on how thick you want your eyeliner to be. The formula is super opaque and I find this lasts on me all day without smudging. This is also easy to remove with a swipe of Bioderma or a face wipe, so you're not left with a grey 'tattoo' after makeup removal. The eyeliner only costs £2.99 and Collection (I believe Collection 2000 dropped the '2000') is easily accessible to buy in the UK, which is great as you don't have to wait for online deliveries or go to special stores to buy it.

What's your favourite eyeliner?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Fragrance Direct Bargains

Sally Hansen Greige Gardens (£1.49), Dainty Doll Blush in 004 You are my Sunshine (£1.99), Essie Off the Shoulder (£1.99), Essie Bikini So Teeny (£1.99)

I recently managed to get some great bargains on Fragrance Direct. I could have bought way more, but I restrained myself and only allowed myself to spend £10. I even had some spare change, as my order came to £9.45 including postage and packaging.

I was so excited to see Essie Bikini So Teeny for only £1.99, as I wanted it last year when it seemed like the 'it nail colour' as everyone seemed to be wearing it, but I kept putting it off and ultimately forgot to buy it. After googling swatches of the other nail polishes, I settled on Sally Hansen Greige Gardens, which I think will be lovely for Autumn and Essie Off The Shoulder.

I was quite surprised to see Dainty Doll products on Fragrance Direct for only £1.99, as they're full price at their other stockists! I was contemplating buying more of their products (such as the concealers and foundations), but I couldn't find any good swatches online and didn't want to buy a product that would end up being unloved. So I decided to get a blush and I am so happy with my choice! You are my Sunshine is a beautiful rose gold blush. It kind of reminds me of something along the lines of NARS Orgasm or Sleek Rose Gold.

Have you got any bargains from Fragrance Direct recently?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

MUA Undress Your Skin Highlighter

I own a fair few products by Makeup Academy and when I saw reviews and swatches of the new highlighter from their 'Undress Your Skin' range, I hotfooted it to my local Superdrug and picked up this gorgeous highlighter.

The packaging is fairly simple, with a clear plastic lid and a white base. The highlighter has a gorgeous embossed detail on, which reminds me of a MAC collection from last year (I have forgotten the name of the collection).

Left: Built up colour, Right: Single layer swipe

The highlighter looks so pretty on the skin. I tend to only apply this highlighter on my cheekbones and occasionally under my brow bone. It gives a lovely sheen to the skin and although it has tiny glitters in, it doesn't leave the face looking sparkly.

You get 7.5g for £3, which I think is an incredible bargain for a fantastic product. I'm very happy with my purchase.

Will you be picking this up? What is your favourite highlighter?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Wet n Wild Spiked with Rum Lipstick

Left: One layer, Right: A few layers

Recently I have been enjoying wearing this Wet n Wild lipstick that I received in my swap with Jawharah last year. It's fast become my go-to lip colour over the past few weeks.

The lipstick is very natural dark pink, plummy colour - Almost like a 'lips-but-darker' shade. It is a matte shade, which means that it is a little drying, but still feels comfortable. I don't think it's particularly blue or orange toned, so I think that it would suit every skintone. I found that it is very pigmented and lasts for ages on the lips. I always worry that my lipsticks will have travelled onto my teeth or around my mouth throughout the day, but this stays put, even after eating and drinking.

Have you ever used any Wet n Wild lipsticks?

Thanks for reading. xoxo, Joy

UK/USA Swap

I recently did a drugstore makeup swap with Jawharah (Youtube: JawharahS2), who lives in the USA and I was so excited when I received my parcel last week. I absolutely love everything that she bought for me and I thought I'd share pictures and swatches of the products I received!

From L-R: Wet n Wild Heather Silk, Wet n Wild Mellow Wine, Wet n Wild Pearlescent Pink, NYX Taupe, NYX Mocha

From L-R: NYX Walnut, Wet n Wild Lust Palette, NYX Peach Bronze

From L-R: Wet n Wild Spiked with Rum (I love that name!), Wet n Wild Just Peachy

I absolutely love everything and I'm so excited to play around with all the products! You can check out Jawharah's video of the things I got her here.

Have any of you ever done an international swap?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Favourite Lipsticks Of The Moment

MUA Lipstick shade 11 and shade 1

Top: One swipe of MUA Lipstick Shade 11, Bottom: One swipe of MUA Lipstick Shade 1

Top: MUA Lipstick Shade 11, Bottom: MUA Lipstick Shade 1

Recently I have been really enjoying using two lipsticks by MUA. They're brilliant for only £1 and they're comparable to some of my high end lipsticks. If you're sceptical about the brand only costing £1, then seriously don't be. The quality of the products speak for themselves.

Shade 11 is my favourite go-to neutral lipstick. This is your typical 'my lips but better' colour and it is one of my most worn lipsticks. I think that this would suit everybody and it's the perfect everyday lip colour. With one layer, it is fairly sheer and reminds me of the texture of Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Lipsticks. But I find two layers is perfect for optimum opacity and colour.

I have been wearing Shade 1 a lot too. I am generally quite scared of wearing bright or dark colours on my lips, but recently this colour has been calling out to me. I wear it as either a typical lipstick or dabbed on the lips as a stain and it looks lovely either way! It's a really pigmented colour, which is fully opaque in one layer. I don't wear a lip liner underneath it and I find that it lasts for hours and doesn't feather or spread around my face.

Have you ever tried any MUA lipsticks?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Review: Skin 79 Super+ BB Cream

Over the summer, I bought some mini 5g samples of the Skin79 BB cream, as I wanted to see what the BB hype was all about and I found that a lot of the Western ones were too dark for my skin tone. I have been using this gold Super + BB Whitening one on days where I don't fancy wearing foundation or just want a quick and easy base and have been loving it.

When first squeezed out, the BB cream looks very grey and on my first use, my initial thought was "there's no way this is going to blend into my skin!". However it blends really nice into the skin and I found it to be a great colour match. I didn't include a before picture (as I didn't want to scare you all away!), but you can see on the picture on left that the BB cream has provided a low coverage base. It has helped to even out my skin tone, but has not concealed the redness on and around my nose and around my eyes or the pigmentation and blemishes around my mouth and on my forehead. You can see from the right picture, that once you get a bit of concealer, powder, etc. on, the skin looks lovely (if I do say so myself...).

This BB cream wears nicely on the skin. It lasts on my combination skin around 7 hours, which is great and doesn't go patchy as it wears away. I do get a little shine across my t-zone, which is easily sorted by powder or blotting.

I am very impressed with this BB cream and will definitely be purchasing a full size version of this.

Have you ever used any Skin 79 BB creams?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Review: Origins Vitazing

This was featured in my June favourites, however I have decided to write a more detailed review as the reviews in the videos are very brief.

My skin has improved recently and as the weather has been getting better, I have been opting for a lighter base. I like to mix this with a little bit of La Roche Posay Effaclar M, because the mattifying features of the La Roche Posay work well to try to counteract oiliness.

Vitazing is perfect for those no-makeup makeup days. It leaves your skin looking glowy and dewy. It comes out as a white moisturiser, but as you blend it out, it releases colour. It's great as a pre-foundation base, adding a little colour to the skin. I prefer wearing it on it's own, occasionally adding a little MAC Studio Fix Fluid down the centre of my face if I want a tiny bit more coverage. I personally like to powder down my t-zone, as I get a bit oily there and don't want it to slide off. With powder, I generally find that this lasts well on my combination skin, although my t-zone gets shiny by midday.

From top to bottom: Blob, slightly blended (you can see the colour starting to change), nearly fully blended

It doesn't have much coverage, but it evens out the skintone a little, adds a bit of colour and conceals mild redness. I usually dot a bit of concealer onto big blemishes and under my eyes and then set it with powder. I find that this is a tiny bit too dark for me (I am an NC15) but once it's blended down my neck, it doesn't look too obvious. I have never found that it oxidises on my skin.

This has SPF 15, which is great. Obviously this isn't the highest SPF available, but it means I don't need to apply a separate SPF.

It does have a slight fruity scent to it, which is tolerable and isn't overpowering. This has never broke me out at all.

I really love this product and think it's a perfect summer product. Have you ever tried Origins Vitazing? What did you think?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Review: Revlon Photoready

In a bid to downsize my collection, I have been trying to use up products and have been "shopping my stash" and using products I haven't used in ages. I have had Revlon Photoready for quite a while now and have been using it a fair amount recently.

 The glitter in the bottle

From top to bottom: Blob, Slightly blended, Fully blended

The Good
- It looks really nice on the skin when freshly applied. It has a satin, slightly dewy finish and the shade I have (003 Shell) is a great colour match for my skin.
- It is a medium coverage foundation. It covers my red areas and blends easily into the skin.
- The packaging looks and feels expensive and the pump dispenses the right amount of product each time.
- It has SPF 20, so I was concerned that I would get major flashback face when being photographed with flash photography. However, I was pleasantly surprised that it did photograph well on the skin, hence the name 'Photoready'.

The Bad
- It has sparkles in it. It won't make you look like Edward Cullen in the glitter stakes, but if you look closely at the skin after application you can see glitter. I like to use 2 layers of foundation and I find it collects on areas that have more product.
- The staying power is very poor. I find it wears off my combination skin after a few hours, especially if I don't powder.
- It can look a little cakey on the skin. I have found that this does not suit dry skin at all. It clings to dry patches or healing blemishes and the glitter collects around these areas too.

Would I repurchase? Although the foundation looks lovely on the skin and is a great colour match, the poor staying power and the cakiness around dry patches really puts me off. So unfortunately, I don't think I would repurchase this.

Have you ever tried this foundation?

Thanks for reading. xoxo, Joy

EDIT: PLEASE READ MY UPDATE REVIEW OF REVLON PHOTOREADY

Review: Superdrug Aqua Hydrating Range

I have dehydrated skin, which means my skin is lacking in water rather than oil. This is probably due to me not drinking enough water throughout the day... *Slaps wrists* On one of the many times where I mooch around Superdrug (Does anyone else do that?), I came across the "Simply Pure" range specifically designed for dehydrated skin. As far as I'm aware, the "Simply Pure" line also has products for oily and dry skin. I decided to pick up the 'Aqua Hydrating Serum' and the 'Aqua Hydrating Cleansing Gel' from the dehydrated skin range. They were both priced at approximately £4.50 each.

Aqua Hydrating Serum
This is the real gem of the products I picked up. It's non-scented, light and absorbs into the skin nicely. The texture is quite thin and you only really need a bit to cover your whole face. I use this in the morning and it makes my skin feel comfortable and hydrated all day, without feeling greasy. I will definitely repurchase this when I finish this.

Aqua Hydrating Cleansing Gel
The cleanser is a standard gel cleanser, with no perfumes or parabens. It's a nice and effective cleanser, but doesn't feel like anything spectacular or luxurious when using. It doesn't foam at all, so I didn't find that this worked very well with my Clarisonic as I prefer to use it with cleansers that foam. My skin never feels dried out after use, but instead feels clean and soft. While it's a good cleanser, I don't think I will repurchase this as I generally prefer creamier cleansers which foam a little.

I think there's also a day cream, night cream and eye cream within this range, so I'm definitely tempted to try these out.

My skincare routine is a mixed combination of high street and high end brands. I'm a big advocate of trying own brand products, as they're reasonably priced and usually tend to be nice products. Afterall, what store wants to release own brand products that don't work and will reflect poorly on their reputation? What's your skincare routine like? Have you ever found any brilliant own brand products?

Thank for reading. xoxo, Joy

Review: L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic

Left: Naked lashes, Right: Curled and 1 coat of False Lash Telescopic
This mascara is a fantastic lengthening mascara. I don't find it gives much volume or thickness, but instead leaves your lashes looking nice and long. I find that it starts looking clumpy on its 2nd coat, but I don't mind that look. With 2 or 3 coats, you get a long fluttery, but slightly spidery look. I have found that this occasionally smudges on me under my lower lashline and doesn't tend to hold much curl.

The brush is a plastic brush, which I generally prefer to bristle brushes. It's quite thin, so you can get really close to the roots and sweep it up the lash. Because it's such a small brush, I have misjudged how close it is to my eye a few times and it sure hurts when you poke yourself in the eye with a plastic mascara brush!

It's quite pricey at £10.99 for a high street mascara, however I really like it and will definitely repurchase :)

Have you ever tried this mascara?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Review: Avène TriAcnéal

I first came across the Avène TriAcnéal while browsing the skincare ranges in Boots, but was put off by the price - £23 for 30ml. Then I had a look around online for reviews, as I'm not one to purchase things on a whim, and came across the reviews on Make Up Alley. It had a 4.4 out of 5 rating on, which completely swayed it for me! I had a look around online and found it on eBay for approximately £14 (including postage).

TriAcnéal has 3 active ingredients: Efectiose to reduce inflammations, Retinaldehyde to eliminate imperfections and Glycolic acid, a powerful exfoliant to smooth skin's surface (Boots.com).

I do like this product as it does help with my breakouts. I haven't noticed much difference in blackheads or the closed skin-colour comedones that are predominantly on my forehead, which is a little annoying as these are what the majority of my skin imperfections are. But I have found that it is good on spots that are brewing under the skin and for helping to shrink those big beastly spots. I plaster it on those at night and the next day, the spot doesn't appear and has shrunk. However be careful when applying a large quantity onto small areas, as this product contains glycolic acid and can leave you with a minor acid burn.

With a bit of trial and error, I find this works best when you use a large quantity of product on a smaller area, rather than thinnly blended onto larger areas of skin. I have also found that it's best to not put any moisturiser on on top of it, as I find that it lessens the effects of the TriAcnéal.

Unlike other typical spot treatments, I experienced no irritation to my skin. I had no dryness or redness either, which is great as I have used other spot treatments (e.g. high % of Benzoyl Peroxide) which have left my skin looking burnt and feeling sore. I did find that it can sting on application on open skin, but that only lasts momentarily. It has a light floral type smell, which I personally find quite pleasant.

It is recommended that you only use this once a day, so I have been using it every night for the past few months. You are best off using this at night, because it comes out a creamy yellow, but dries to a bright yellow on the skin! If you blend it to a thin layer over the skin, it doesn't look as obvious. I have to also add, be careful if you have white or light coloured pillow cases!

Avène TriAcnéal

It comes in a handy tube, which is nice and hygienic. It generally works well, as you can squeeze out as little or as much as you want. However, sometimes the product comes out super fast, resembling a thin thread and ends up wrapped around the nozzle and making a mess.

It is quite a pricey product at it's RRP (£23), especially in comparison to over Avène products which usually retail somewhere between £6-£15, however like I said before you can find it online for cheaper. The tube does last for a long time though, as you really don't need a lot, so it does end up being cost-effective.

Have you ever tried this product?

I'm really liking Avène products at the moment. Are there any that you would recommend?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Review: Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish

I know this has cleanser has one million and one reviews, but I thought I'd just throw my opinion into the mix as well.

100ml Pump Starter Kit - You get a 100ml Cleanser, 2x Muslin Cloths, Pouch, How-To Leaflet

What they say: (From Liz Earle.com) Our plant based cleanser has a two-phase action, phase one is the cleansing. Free from mineral oil, it has a rich and creamy texture and swiftly removes all traces of face and eye make up, even stubborn mascara. Phase two is the polishing. Polish off the cream using the pure muslin cloth to gently dislodge dead skin cells and help reveal clean, soft and radiant skin. Naturally active ingredients include eucalyptus and cocoa butter for smoother, clearer skin.

Price: £14.25 for the 100ml pump starter kit, which comes with 2 muslin clothes

1 Pump

What I think: I had wanted to try this for ages, especially after hearing everybody rave about it! So I was thrilled to have received this for Christmas from my parents. I have been using this every day since I received it - I use 1/2 a pump in the morning every day and 1 pump at night every other day (on days I don't use my Clarisonic).

The cream texture is nice and gentle on the skin. It doesn't sting if you get it in your eyes at all. Despite being a gentle cleanser, it does a great job at removing make-up and dirt. Afterall the evidence is on the muslin cloth!

I love how clean and soft my skin feels after using this. The buffing motion is a nice daily exfoliant to keep those pesky dry patches at bay, especially in the winter. I never feel like my skin has been dried out by this, nor does it leave a film on the face.

The cleanser has a mild eucalyptus (herbally) scent. For some reason, the scent kind of reminds me of Halls Soothers - Did anyone else find that? I really like the scent as it's nice and refreshing.

I really don't have any negatives to say about the cleanser. However I just wanted to point out a few minor negatives:
- You can't see how much product is left. I don't have a John Lewis near me and buying online means waiting for delivery, so it's hard to gauge how much you have left and when you're going to run out. So you may be cleanser-less for a few days, unless you're super organised and stock up in advance.
- It isn't particularly widely available. In the UK, you can only get it from Liz Earle stores, John Lewis, the Liz Earle website or QVC. I'm not sure about the rest of the world? But unless you have one of those stores near by or regularly shop online, it can be hard to come by. It's just so much easier to pop into a Boots or Superdrug and pick up a cleanser.

I love this cleanser and will definitely be repurchasing it! Have you ever used Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish? What did you think of it?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Review: Rimmel Lash Accelerator

Left: Naked lashes, Right: Curled and 1 coat of Lash Accelerator
I really like this mascara. It's great for lengthening, but does not thicken a great deal. This mascara can be layered up, which adds to the volume or it can be paired with a volumising mascara, which looks amazing. It especially looks lovely when the lashes are curled.

The brush is quite unique. I like how it widens in the middle and tapers at the end, as I find it catches every single lash. The tapered end is great for getting right into the corner of the eye.

The formula of this mascara is quite wet, without being too wet, so it allows you to do a tonne of layers and it doesn't go clumpy. I've never found this mascara to smudge on me, which is great! I've had this for a while and I'm glad to say, it hasn't dried out yet.

I will definitely repurchase this mascara. It's a perfect lengthening mascara, which works well by itself or paired with another one.

Have you ever tried this mascara?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy