Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Happy holidays!

Hi everyone,

Once again, apologies for being away for so long and for the complete lack of updates. There has been a lot going on in the past couple of months, and I haven't had the chance to give this blog the attention it deserves. However, one of my New Year's resolutions is to get back to it in a big way!

I hope that you have all been well, and that you've had a wonderful Christmas. I will be back with lots of updates soon, so thank you for bearing with me. :)


Sneha x

Sunday, November 4, 2012

The past few weeks

Hi ladies! I just wanted to post an update about why I haven't written in a while. I haven't been feeling very well for the past few weeks, so that has kind of robbed me of my motivation. :( I apologize for that, but I do intend to get back to my blog as soon as I start to feel better (hopefully not long now!)

I hope all you lovely girls have been good, and I promise to catch up with your blogs soon.

Sneha xx

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Back to reality!

Hi everybody! Sorry that it has been more than a week between posts. It was my last week in India, and there was a lot to do! Anyway, I'm back in good old England now, and although I've to go back to work, my posts should get more regular. I'll be making a post with some things I got from there once I have unpacked (2 nights of no sleep meant I was pretty much comatose when I got back last night!) but for now, I'll leave you with some pictures of a very dramatic sky I saw on my way back from the airport. Hope you like!

Friday, October 5, 2012

Review: Clinique Super City Block daily face protector

A few posts ago, I had mentioned the Clinique Super City Block daily face protector as something that I use practically every day. It's an SPF 40 sunscreen, and I've been using it for about 4 months now. Enough time, I think, to give a good review. :)

It comes in a 40ml tube (see picture below). And since you only need a small amount, this tube has lasted me nicely.
 
Now I've always been a bit wary about putting heavy sunscreen lotions on my face for fear of break-outs. So I read about this product online, and given that Clinique products have not given my skin any problems in the past, I decided to give it a shot. Even so, I only purchased this after using a sample for a week.

As you can see from the picture below, when you first squeeze it out of the tube, it has a slight tint to it.
However, the tint starts to disappear once you start to blend it out, and once you've finished doing that, it's barely noticeable.

As I mentioned earlier, you only need a small amount with this. The consistency is neither too thick nor too runny, but if you put too much on, it can tend to look a little greasy. It's a bit of a weird one though, because if you have some dry patches on your skin, it can stick to them as well. So I recommend moisturising your skin thoroughly before putting this on.

And although I said that the tint isn't noticeable once it's blended in, if you have a medium to dark complexion, it might be harder for you to do so. My skin is somewhere between an NC 25 and 30, so if you're darker, I would recommend trying out a sample before you buy it.

With regard to the actual protection - Clinique says that this protects against UVA/UVB rays as well as environmental aggressors such as pollution. I don't live in a polluted city, so I can't vouch for the second bit, but I do feel like it protects my face very well against the sun. I wore it on holiday in Bournemouth and it was fantastic.

So all-in-all, I definitely recommend this as a face sunscreen for dry to normal/combination skin. The only thing that goes against it is if you have darker skin, in which case it might leave a bit of a whitish/pearly cast. And if you do buy it, be sure to use a small amount to avoid looking disco ball. :)

You can buy this product on the Clinique website or at Boots. It retails for £16.00, and also comes in a SPF 25 version if you're interested. 

I hope this review was helpful, and I'd love to know what sunscreen you use!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Award: I Got Bitten By The Blog Bug!

Thank you to the lovely Maya at Spiderleglashes for giving me this award!

The Rules
1. If you are given the Blog Bug award, you must answer the questions that follow and the title of the post should be "I Got Bitten by the Blog Bug".
2. You must give the link of where you originally got this award and you can tag as many bloggers as you want. Link their pages on the post and also inform them through comments in their blog.

Questions
1. When and why did you start blogging?
I started a long time ago - almost 9 years now! It started off as a personal blog on LiveJournal, and I wrote about  every day events, posted photos of my friends and things like that. I kept that up for quite a few years, and added on a second graphic design blog (also on LiveJournal) in which I posted icons/avatars I'd make, Photoshop brushes, textures and related things. Unfortunately both of those have been defunct for a while now but I do want to start them up again at some point! This blog is my first foray into beauty/fashion blogging, however!

2. What do you love to blog about and why do you like it?
Like I said, although I have been blogging for ages, I have only just started this particular blog. So far I like writing product reviews, because I like sharing my thoughts on something that did or didn't work for me.

3. How did you get your blog name?
It's pretty obvious, really, and probably not the most original name out there! I do want to change it sooner or later, but it'll do for now.

4. What do you think is your best post yet?
I haven't got THAT many posts yet, so I'm not sure about this one!

5. What is your inspiration for blogging at present?
I'm trying to do a little bit of everything. I started this as a beaty blog, but then decided to branch out into fashion and food as well. I try to incorporate as much variety into my posts as possible, so I'd say that I borrow my inspiration from a lot of sources!

6. Message for your readers?
A big thank you for stopping by, reading and following my blog! I know I'm a little late to the 'beauty blog' party, but it really is a lot of fun, and I really appreciate your time and support! x

I award:
Rachael at Sanderson Smith Story
Meg at Life: A True Story
Kate at Yakatety Yak
India at The Jewel Beauty
Angelica at One Little Vice

Saturday, September 29, 2012

New layout!

Hi everyone! I've been tinkering with my blog layout this afternoon and have come up with a new one. I'm not a 100 per cent sure about the background, but I'm going to stick with it anyway. And I do like the way the header has come together. :) I've only ever blogged on Live Journal, and to be honest, I really preferred their customization options. Oh, well!

So what do you think? I'd love to know!

Friday, September 28, 2012

Favorite accessories: Top 6 necklaces

Anyone who knows me will agree that I'm a total accessories girl. Especially with jewellery - I love my necklaces, earrings and bracelets! So I thought I would do a series of posts with my favorite accessories. And I'll be starting off with necklaces!

Now, I have a LOT of necklaces. Seriously. A few years ago, when I was living in India, I would just tend to pick them up everywhere I went. They're quite inexpensive in India, and we'd get exhibitions and fairs where you would get them for less than Rs. 100 (which is less than £1 in most cases). So it wasn't even an expensive habit. But it did mean that I ended up with a whole bunch of them. So when I shifted to the UK, I was torn - between my need to take my favorite pieces and my luggage restrictions! And in the two years I have lived in the UK, I have visited my local Accessorize more times than I can count. ;)

So yes, this is just my long-winded way of telling you that choosing my top 6 pieces was far too difficult (in fact, it started off as a Top 5). But here they are!


 
Now to tell you a little bit about each one, starting from the top left in the first picture:


1. This lovely necklace was actually a gift from a friend who got it back from a trip to Singapore. I've had it for a VERY long time (easily 7+ years), and it has always been one of my favorites. It's just so delicate and pretty! It looks especially beautiful with dark coloured blouses and deep necklines.

2. This one is one of my most-worn necklaces because it goes with practically everything - blouses, t-shirts or even dresses. It also looks great layered with other longer necklaces. I got it from Dorothy Perkins a couple of years ago. It's somewhere in between a gold and silver colour, and I love how ornate the heart is.

3. This necklace is a recent purchase - I got it from Accessorize a couple of months ago. It was in the sale, so I got it at 70% off - actually, I had a gift card, so technically I got it for free! Not sure you can see it from the picture, but the links in the chain have a brushed design, and it's perfect for work outfits.

4. The gold coloured necklace on the far right in the first picture is also from Accessorize. I haven't worn it very often, but it's still one of my favorites. It's one of those pieces that instantly dresses up an outfit. My favorite thing is wear it with is a deep red cowl-neck blouse I got from Monsoon. Perfect for the holidays. :)

5. Moving onto the second picture - the one on the left is something I picked up at an exhibition in Bombay a few years ago. The beads are wooden, and the design you see is carved into them. You won't believe the number of outfits and colours that this necklace goes with! Seriously - I can dress it up or down depending on the look I'm going for, and it looks great every time.

6. This last necklace was a gift from a friend who visited Israel. The beads are glass, so the necklace is pretty heavy, but that's not a problem at all. It's such a statement piece that I don't really need to wear anything else with it. I love it.

So there you have it! As you can see, I have a mix of different styles because I'd rather have a whole bunch of options to choose from when I'm accessorizing. How about you guys? Do you prefer a mix or do you have a type that you always go for? I'd love to know!

Monday, September 24, 2012

Update + how expensive is your face

Hi everyone! A lot has been happening in the past few weeks, hence the lack of regular updates. Thanks for sticking with me, though! Firstly - I'm blogging from India at the moment! I got 3 weeks off work and decided to come home for a holiday. It's been a year since I've been back, so it fees lovely to be amongst my friends and family again. I flew over on Saturday, and it's taken me a couple of days to get over the jet lag! Anyway, now that I'm here, I also intend on buying a lot of things that I won't get back in the UK. I already got some stuff yesterday, but it's only my first week back, and I'll probably do a collective haul in the next couple of weeks before I fly out again!

Anyway, that was the update! Now for the second part of the post. I've been seeing a lot of the 'How expensive is your face' tag on blogs and Youtbe and thought I would do one of my own. :) Now I've only included products that I use everyday - except for the eyeliner and mascara, which I'll use sometimes depending on my mood. So I've taken two totals - one with them included and one without. I've also put links to each of the products so you can check them out if you want.


Clean & Clear dual action moisturiser - £2.99 (link)
Clinique Super City Block SPF 40 - £16.00 (link)
Chapstick (cherry) - £1.05 (link)
MAC Studio Finish concealer (NC30) - £14.50 (link)
Lakme Radiance Compact (Natural Pearl) - Rs. 99 = £1.12 (link)

Total = £35.66

Rimmel Exaggerate Automatic Waterproof Eye Definer (Noir) - £3.99 (link)
Max Factor 2000 Calorie mascara (Black) - £7.99 (link)

Total with the above = £47.64

Have to say, I'm quite happy with this total! I know a lot of people's totals have crossed £100. But then again, I don't do a full face of makeup everyday, so I'm not surprised. So have you done this tag yet? What do you think your total will be?

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Laine Blog Award!

Hi, everyone! The beautiful Myra from Spiderleg Lashes has nominated me for the Laine Blog Award! I'm so excited about it - it's always nice to be appreciated! So thank you, Myra. :)

The Rules:
Tag the blogger who awarded you.
Answer the five questions below.
Award the Laine Blogger Award to 5 of your favourite bloggers.


Question 1: What is your current beauty obsession?  
This would have to be Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Crush. I love this product! The colour is just perfect for fall, and it is so, so long-wearing. Today was a true testament to that. I wore it this morning at 8:00 when I was getting ready for work and the stain lasted through breakfast and lunch even! It also feels great on the lips. I'm definitely going to try more colours fromt this range.

Question 2: What is one beauty item you wish you owned? 
I don't have just one! But if I had to pick, it would be Gatineau's Activ Eclat Exfoliator. I tried it when I got a facial at a spa and it felt SO good! My skin was so soft and glowing afterwards. I've been meaning to buy it for a while now, but it is pretty expensive! I have a feeling I'm going to splash out on it one of these days, though.

Question 3: What is your favourite post to read or write about? 
Reviews. I love reading about people's opinions on a product, and I always do my research before buying something, so reviews always help!

Question 4: What inspired you to become a blogger? 
I've been blogging for almost 10 years now, in various forms. I had a mostly-private LiveJournal and then a graphic design blog (which I dream about re-starting someday). And then I got into watching YouTube beauty videos and thought about blogging about it!

Question 5: What nail polish are you wearing right now? 
Rimmel Lasting Finish in Grape Sorbet

And now the wonderful blogs I nominate are:

Sunday, September 16, 2012

My most-worn lipsticks

Happy Sunday! In this post, I'm going to be telling you about my most-worn lipsticks. Now, I'm a complete lip product nut - and especially so with lipsticks. I love them, and they're by far my favorite beauty product. I just think there's something so classic and old-school glam about taking out that little tube from your bag and touching up your lips. Since I work in an office 5 days a week, I can't wear anything too dramatic, but I do try and have my fun. :)

So my most-worn lipsticks (in no particular order) are:

L-R: 
Bourjois Sweet Kiss Lipstick in Rose séduisant, Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick in Rosewood, Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Spotlight Beige, Elle 18 Color Burst Lipstick in Roasty Red, Bourjois Lovely Brille Lipstick in Vanille du Soleil

Swatches follow in the same order below:


Now just a few little things about each one!

Bourjois Sweet Kiss Lipstick in Rose Séduisant
This is a gorgeous fuschia lipstick. The swatch really doesn't do enough justice to it. It's bold, saturated and is a such a statement colour - I love it! It's also surprinsingly lost-lasting and even when it does fade, it leaves a nice stain on your lips. Since it's such a bright colour, I wear it more like a stain where I apply a small amount and then blend it in. It retails are £7.99 at Boots, and you can check it out here.

Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick in Rosewood
First off, how beautiful is the packaging? It just looks so luxurious and expensive - very classy. The colour is exactly what the name says it is - a muted kind of rose, with a certain understated warmth. It's great for a wide range of looks. And the staying power is AMAZING. Seriously. This lipstick lasts all day - even through meals and glasses of water. Beyond impressive. This one also retails for £7.99 at Boots - take a look here.

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Spotlight Beige
Sadly, this is a discontinued item. I got it off of eBay and I know I'm going to be on the hunt for it again  once this starts to shorten significantly. It is my perfect nude shade. The swatch makes it look a lot more peachy than it actually comes off on the lips. It doesn't leave me looking washed out or anything, and somehow makes the whole face glow. Love it!

Elle 18 Color Burst Lipstick in Roasty Red
Elle 18 is an inexpensive Indian cosmetics brand. I picked this up last year when I visited India and it cost less than Rs. 100 at the time, which is just a little over a pound. Bargain! This lipstick has a lip balm core with the coloured bit making up the rest. Because of this, it has a very moisturising feel on the lips. This colour is a very wearable red, and very buildable if you want some added drama. It's a lot more pigmented than the swatch indicates, as well. I got it from the Urban Touch website - which doesn't deliver internationally, I'm afraid. This colour also seems to be out of stock, which is a shame because I wanted to pick up another one when I go back to India next week! Oh, well.

Bourjois Lovely Brille lipstick in Vanille du Soleil
Apologies for putting another discontinued lipstick on here, but it really is one of my favorites! I got this off of eBay as well, and it is such a lovely berry colour. It's perfect for work because it has just enough colour to brighten up your look, but isn't over the top in the slightest. It also has a nifty mirror at the top of the lipstick cap! Not the most long-lasting of lipsticks, but then again, it never claimed to be long-wearing.

So there you have it - my top 5 most-worn lipsticks! Sorry for having 2 discontinued items on there and one that isn't the easiest to get, but I only wanted to include the ones I reach for most often and these are the ones! I might do a most-worn or favorite lip glosses post sometime in the future, so watch out for that!

Hope you all have a fantastic week. :) 

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Liebster Award!


The lovely Kate at http://yakateyyak.blogspot.co.uk/ nominated me for the Liebster award! Thank you so much, Kate, the appreciation is definitely mutual!

The rules are:


1.     Each person tagged must post 11 things about themselves
2.     They must also answer the 11 questions the tagger has set for them
3.     They must create 11 more questions to ask bloggers they have decided to tag
4.     They must then choose 11 bloggers to tag with less than 200 followers
5.     These lucky bloggers must be told
6.     There are no tag backs

11 Random things about me:

1. There was a time about 5-6 years ago when I would wake up at 5:30am every year to catch the live Oscar broadcast. Because I lived in India, the time difference was not my friend, but I did it anyway!

2. I have tinnitus - which is a constant ringing in the years. I got it a couple of years ago as a result of some heavy medication, and it has stayed with me ever since. I've gotten a little better with dealing with it recently, though. Got a White noise app on my phone which really seems to help!

3. The one make-up item that I can never seem to have enough of is lip products. Whether it's gloss or lipsticks, I always seem to want more!

4. I have always loved animals an inordinate amount. If I could be a zoologist tomorrow, I totally would.

5. Sometimes, if I'm really bored, I visualize random things happening at that moment to entertain me. For instance, 'What would happen if a velociraptor walked in through that door right now? Where would I run? Is there someplace I could hide?' Stuff like that.

6. I can make this weird face where I push up the corners of my mouth and my cheeks go up higher as well. It looks completely ridiculous and I have no idea why I do it but it's fun and it makes people laugh, so there you go!

7. I love lentils and pulses and could easily eat those every day of the year with no complaints.

8. I have never smoked a cigarette in my life. True story.

9. I have lost count of the number of times that I have watched every single episode of Friends. I think I know more about that show that I know about myself.

10. I lust after designer handbags, but even if I could afford one, I think I'd probably be too scared to actually use it every day!

11. I talk to myself constantly.

Questions for me to answer from Kate:

  1. What do you do to relax? I don't have any 'one' thing in particular that I do to relax. I like to watch some of my favorite tv shows or Youtube videos, talk to my friends back home, or just go for a walk. And read too, although I haven't been doing as much of that as I would like to, unfortunately.
  2. What are your biggest fears? Losing the people I love
  3. What are three things that are unique about you? I have some really random, really varied and sometimes contradictory interests, I am actually very quirky and kooky although I hide it very well and I have an imagination that refuses to rest. I know the last one isn't something that is unique by itself, but I believe that everyone's imagination is unique to them.
  4. What TV show is your favourite and why? Oh my gosh, so many! LOST, Friends (of course), Game of Thrones, Vampire Diaries, Modern Family, Grey's Anatomy - I could go on and on.
  5. What are your top three bands of all time? Bon Jovi, U2 and... Coldplay
  6. What is your favourite thing to shop for? Bags, shoes, clothes, make-up - I'm sorry, was I just supposed to say one? :)
  7. What does your natural hair look like? It's dark drown and slightly wavy.
  8. What are three things you love about yourself? My ability to get on well with almost everyone, my persistence and my optimism
  9. Why did you start blogging? I actually started many years ago on Livejournal. I just wanted a private diary really, since my mom had found my physical diary by accident and read it!
  10. What is your favourite colour of nail polish? Midnight red. :)
  11. Where do you see yourself in five years? That's a loaded question! I have an idea of where I'd like to be, but have had too much experience of things changing unexpectedly, so I'll just say - happy. :)

My questions for my lucky tagged bloggers to answer:
  1. What are the top 3 places in the world you want to travel to?
  2. What make-up item can you absolutely not do without?
  3. How tall are you?
  4. If you could do anything in the world for a living, what would it be?
  5. What is the town/city you live in like?
  6. Do you play any musical instruments? If so, what is it?
  7. What is your all-time favorite movie?
  8. If money wasn't an issue, what is one designer item you would love to own?
  9. What is your favorite fragrance?
  10. Do you have a pet? What is it?
  11. What do you consider your best asset?
I nominate (in no particular order) the following incredible bloggers:

http://theressomethingaboutbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/
http://clairesmakeupspot.blogspot.co.uk/
http://spiderleglashes.blogspot.com.au/
http://themaibug.blogspot.co.uk/
http://fiona-lily.blogspot.co.uk/

I know that I was supposed to nominate 11, but I'm afraid I'm not aware of many new bloggers with follower counts below 200! If you have any recommendations, do let me know, and I will go check them out. Thank you! 

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Update!

Hi everyone!

Sorry about the gap in posts! I've moved house this weekend and things have just been completely manic. I promise to get back into posting once things have calmed down a bit. :) I hope you are all doing well!

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Review: Clean and Clear face wash and moisturiser

Hi everybody! In case you hadn't noticed, I've changed the name of my blog! I'm still going to be posting a lot of beauty-related things, but also want to post on fashion, lifestyle and food-related topics. So I thought I would make the title a lot more open-ended. :) The blog design still leaves a lot to be desired, but that will have to wait, because I have a lot going on at the moment and hardly any time!

Today's products are from the Clean & Clear range, and they are the Clean & Clear exfoliating daily wash and the Clean & Clear dual action moisturiser. They are something that I have been using every day for almost one year now.



Now, before I go into the review, just a little bit of information about my skin - because skin care is different for everyone, and if you have skin different from mine, this might not have the same results for you. I have combination skin - my cheeks are dry, and my forehead gets oily by the middle of the day. It's not sensitive skin in the sense that it gets red or irritated easily, but it does react to heavy products and I have to be careful about what I put on my face (even the dry areas) because I will get breakouts.

Onto the review!

Clean and Clear exfoliating daily wash
Before I started using this face wash, I was using the Boots witch hazel foaming cleaner. I would not recommend that one at all. In just a couple of weeks, my skin had dry patches - in the middle of summer! So when I found the Clean & Clear one, I figured I'd give it a shot because it seemed to be formulated for skin similar to mine but was still gentle enough for daily use. And having used it for a year now, I can safely say that  it has become my favorite. It not only does a great job of cleansing the skin, but it leaves skin feeling soft and fresh. It doesn't dry out my cheeks at all - despite using it twice a day. The little beads in it are not abrasive in the least, and it's nice to know that I'm exfoliating my skin just a little bit with every wash. Plus you only need a tiny amount, so the 150ml lasts forever! I just bought my second tube the other day, and I still have a little left in my first one.
My verdict: Definitely buy this is you have skin similar to mine. It's inexpensive, lasts a very long time, and most importantly, does everything that it promises.
Available for £3.20 at Boots

Clean and Clear dual action moisturiser
This is my all-time favorite moisturiser. Seriously. If they ever discontinue it, I will personally go down to the Johnson&Johnson offices and picket. I've had such a problem finding good moisturisers in the past. Either they've been too light, or too greasy. I've had so many break me out, and others didn't make any difference to my skin. This one, though, is everything I would want in a moisturiser.
It is an oil-free moisturiser with a light consistency, but it still moisturises the skin really, really well. It gets absorbed into the skin so fast, and it doesn't leave any sort of greasy shine or residue. It also has salicylic acid in it, which is meant to treat breakouts, so I have no problem putting it over them. 
It's one of the few products that I feel I can put a liberal amount on without fear of it looking like too much or causing any problems. I do have to do that in winter, because my skin like everyone else's gets drier then and needs more moisture. So this would not be the best moisturiser for dry skin, but for my kind of skin, it's fantastic. The only thing is that it leaves a 'tingly' sort of feeling when you first put it on. Personally, I find this to be quite refreshing and cooling, but it might catch you by surprise. It doesn't last though, so it really isn't a big deal.
In terms of quantity, you get 100ml of product in one tube! That is a lot, especially when you consider the fact that most moisturisers come in 50ml-80ml tubes or bottles.
My verdict: If you're looking for an oil-free moisturiser that has been formulated to work with acne-prone skin, look no further.
Available for £2.99 at Boots

I hope this was useful! I know I've been really gushy in this post, but I really do love these products. And when I find something that works well for me, I have to share it, because I know how frustrating it is to find a perfect fot for skin! Have a great weekend, everyone. :)

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Recipe: Tortellini with peppers in a garlic sauce

Hi everyone! It's Saturday, and I thought I would make today's post a little different! I have a recipe for you. It's Totellini with peppers in a cheesy, garlic sauce. I made it a couple of weeks ago, and I was just making it up as I went along. It came out really well, and it was really quick and easy too, so just thought I would share!

 
You will need:

300 g Tortellini (either spinach or pepper)
2 red/green/yellow bell peppers
Garlic granules
Cheese sauce mix
Oregano flakes
Basil
Olive oil
Salt
Parmesan (optional)

Start off by cooking the tortellini according to the instructions on the pack - this usually involves boiling it for a certain amount of time. Now I used pepper-stuffed tortellini, but you can use spinach ones as well if you feel that the recipe will be too spicy for you!

While the tortellini is cooking, chop up the peppers. I was only able to get hold of red ones, but I recommend you get different colours - I'm all for making dishes as colourful as possible!
Heat up about a tablespoon of olive oil and add in the peppers. Cook them until they soften up. Add in a sprinkling of garlic granules as well.

For the cheese sauce - I used a powder mix that I got from my local grocery store. I prepared it by adding it to 140ml of milk and heating it up in a saucepan until it was the right consistency. I then added a sprinkling of garlic granules to it. Alternatively, you could use the readymade four-cheese sauce that's available in most places.

By this time, the tortellini will be done. Drain it and add to the olive oil and peppers and mix thoroughly. Turn off the heat and pour the cheese sauce over the whole thing. Sprinkle with oregano, basil and salt. Add on some parmesan if you want and you're done!

Hope this was useful! Let me know if you'd like to see more recipes on here. :) 

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Review: Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer

Hi everyone!

Today's post is a review of the Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer (anyone else think make-up product names are getting too long these days?) I picked this up about 3 months ago, and have been using it about 3-4 times a week, so I've had a fair amount of time to test it out.




As you can tell from the pictures, it's an automatic black eyeliner pencil. One end is a twist-up pencil, and the other is a little smudge stick. Now I don't tend to my smudge my black eyeliner, so I've never used the smudge stick, and can't comment on that.



As for the actual eyeliner - it's a rich, creamy black. I tend to wear it on my waterline, and it lasts remarkably well through the day. Just to give you an idea - that's from 7:00am when I put it on to 5:30pm when I get home. On the occasions that I have worn it on my upper lash line, it doesn't budge much. It might fade a bit as the day wears on, but nothing too noticeable. 

Take a look at the pictures below for an idea about its staying power:

See how pigmented that is? I didn't even apply a lot of pressure while drawing that on.

This is when I rubbed that line vigorously. I got a slight bit of it transferred on my finger, but as you can see, it barely made a difference.


Bottom line is, I really like this eyeliner and will definitely be repurchasing. I think it's tricky buying an eyeliner for regular or daily use, because you want something with staying power, but at the same time, it should be something that's safe enough and doesn't irritate your eyes or anything of the sort. It should also not be too expensive, because you're going to be repurchasing it. This one ticks all the boxes for me. 

You can find it for £3.99 at Boots. It also comes in a whole bunch of pretty colours, so if you want a waterproof eyeliner in something besides black, you can still take a look. I know I will. :)

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Cleansers and toners: Nivea and Garnier

I know it's been a while, but a lot has happened since November! I've moved cities for a new job - well I'm 6 months in so it isn't really 'new' anymore, but you know what I mean! I am keen on starting up Beauty Bunting again, though, so this me doing just that!

In this post, I'm going to be talking about my all-time favorite make-up removal products - Nivea Daily Essentials Cleansing Lotion and Garnier Fresh Essentials Refreshing Toner.



I've lost count of the number of times I've purchased these, so you're going to be getting a comprehensive review here!

Let's start off with Nivea Daily Essentials Refreshing Cleansing Lotion.

This is a cream cleanser that I use with cotton pads like the ones in the above picture. It's not too thick or too runny, which makes it perfect for removing face make-up. I also use it to remove eye make-up, which is does extremely well. I've used more 'water-like' specialist eye make-up removers in the past, and I have to say, I prefer this one to all of them. The creamy consistency doesn't feel harsh on the skin (nothing worse than tugging and pulling at the eye area!) and you don't need a whole lot of product to do the job. As far as fragrance goes - it's nothing fruity or floral, but pleasant enough. It smells more like a lotion than a cleanser, which I think is a good thing.

This cleanser really does take off everything; foundation, concealer, mascara, lipstick - you name it! The only flipside to it is that this isn't one of those cleansers you can use on its own. You need to wash it off afterwards, otherwise it might cause breakouts. I have fairly sensitive, combination skin, and found that if I didn't wash my face after using this, my skin felt kind of greasy. Maybe if you have dry skin, it'll be different for you - but I think on general principle, you need to wash your face at the end of the day anyway!

All in all, I think this is a fantastic, great value product. You get 200ml for less than £4.00. I wanted to link to it on the Boots website, but it isn't listed there for some reason! It should be available in the bigger Boots stores in the cleansers section though - I've never had a problem getting hold of it.

Now,  moving on to Step 2 - Garnier Fresh Essentials Refreshing Toner.

I use this toner after I have cleansed and washed my face. It's a wonderfully cooling toner, that leaves my skin feeling clean and fresh. It also catches any last traces of make-up that might still be lingering (eyeliner, I'm looking at you!)

According to the bottle, it's supposed to have grapefruit and Pro-Vitamin B5. I think it's the grapefruit that gives it its fresh scent which I really enjoy. I like to soak cotton pads with it and place them on my closed eyes. It doesn't irritate them at all, but actually makes for a very relaxing experience!

I was also impressed with the fact that this toner doesn't dry out my skin. Although I have combination skin, my cheeks can get pretty dry here in the UK, and I was apprehensive when I used this for the first time, but I've had no issues so far. I really recommend this product.

You can get it online on Feelunique for £4.03 but it's about 80p or so cheaper if you pop into your local Boots.

Hope this was useful, have a nice day!