MAC Wishlist

This has been a long over due post, but recently I've been getting into products for my lips - I know how that sounds but I've always been eye heavy so it's like a breath of fresh air to be focused on another aspect of my make up for a change. I will always love my basic pink, nude shades but I have been really experimenting with different shades of lipsticks and MAC has to be the ultimate queen of lip products, so I've made a wishlist of what shades I would like to get.

Now I haven't been blessed with having a MAC Counter near me, so I can't just go in, swatch and take the lipsticks home then and there. So I've taken to the internet along with millions of Google Image Searches to find out what colours I would use... After my latest MAC Google Image binge, I have made a list of the products I managed to narrowed it down to.

Lipsticks
Brave - light pink, nude
Candy Yum Yum - bright pink
Pink Nouveau - light bright pink
Rebel - plum
Ruby Woo - bright red
Russian Red - deep red
Twig - dark pink, nude
Viva Glam Miley - hot pink

Lip Pencils
Burgundy - deep red-ish purple
Dervish - light pink
Soar - dark pink
Spice - dark mauve
Stripdown - light nude
Subculture - light pink
Whirl - light mauve

Face
MAC Studio Fix Fluid - NW18
Pro Longwear Concealer - NC15

Emma xo

What's in your MAC wishlist?

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Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer vs Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer

Lately my obsession with concealers has been out of control. Has anyone else tried the baking method? It really works!!! Anyway, I couldn't decide between getting the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer or the Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer... What a mouth full. So in true Emma style I decided to buy both instead of choosing (this is why I'm poor most of the time).

I chose the shade Light 2 Vanilla from Nars and Light Neutral from Urban Decay as from Google Images I thought they were similar shades but obviously I was wrong as the Urban Decay concealer is a tad darker (Urban Decay is the top swatch and Nars is the bottom). As for shades, the Urban Decay one I picked matches me better than the Nars one, but that doesn't stop me using the Nars one all the same, sometimes you want to highlight your under eyes. 

Next off is texture, I think it is quite clear from the swatches that Nars has quite a dry, matte finish, where as Urban Decay looks wet when first applied. I personally don't like when a concealer goes on looking like a foundation, because I feel that the coverage is going to be awful, and I'm all about that coverage. Don't get me wrong, the Urban Decay concealer has good coverage... But... Nars. Wow. Why have I not tried this concealer sooner?

I'm sorry if this comparasion is coming off a bit biased as don't get me wrong, I do think the Urban Decay one is a good concealer, maybe for when you're having a lighter, more natural looking make up day. But if you want strong coverage then Nars is the one for you.

Emma xo

What is your favourite concealer?

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Crown Brushes Purple HD Set | Review

If you know me, then you'll most definitely know that my all time favourite colour is lilac (hence my blog layout), so when Crown Brush kindly sent me their Purple HD Brushes Set to review I was so excited to get using them right away, but being a good blogger I made sure that I actually took photos first...

One of the first things I noticed (other than the colour) before I started using the brushes was just how soft the bristles were, I absolutely love that new untouched brush feel, it almost makes me not want to use them... Almost. Also these brushes have purple ends which just makes me adore them even more and they definitely add a bit of colour to my brush collection!

Pro Powder Brush - This is just your standard powder brush, because of the super soft bristles it leaves you with a nice even finish when setting your make up.

Tapered Blush Brush - I've been a bit of a contouring freak lately so I have fallen in love with this and the Deluxe Contour Brush together. As this brush is tapered it is so much easier to get blushes/bronzers/highlighters to go exactly where you want them to go.

Deluxe Contour Brush - This brush great for defining certain areas in small quantities, for example I like to use a darker powder in certain areas of my face like the sides of my nose and the hollows of my cheeks, giving them the illusion of a shadow therefore making them look more defined, then a lighter bronzer using the Tapered Brush in surrounding areas to rid any harsh lines. 

Chisel Shadow Brush - As the bristles are quite short they have become quite stiff, making this brush perfect for applying cream eye shadows all over your lid.

Crease Blender Brush - This brush is similarly shaped to most other brushes, but I'm not to fond of this brush. I find it is too soft, which tends to make applying powder eyeshadow difficult. I think this is much better for blending or using a light shade on your brow bone.

Detail Liner Brush - I'll be totally honest, this is the one brush in the set I will 100% never use. I prefer using angled brushes to apply my eye liner with as it tends to look sloppy other wise.

Overall I definitely love this brush set, from the quality, the colour, everything! The only thing I would change is I would include a foundation brush so it could become a brush set that has everything needed for creating the perfect base.

Emma xo

Have you tried Crown Brushes?

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Benefit License To Blot | Review

Don't you just love a new Benefit release? They don't release too often that you lose track of what they've released, but often enough so that you don't get bored of them. I really don't think I could ever be bored of Benefit! A lot of Benefit's releases for me are amazing and have been some of the most used make up in my collection, but a lot of the time I've been a little sceptical at first until I've tried it. License to Blot is another one of those products that I'm feeling sceptical about as there is literally no other product on the market like it...

But the fact there's no other product on the market like it, I was drawn in. Of course there are blotting papers on the market, but I tend to stick to the old fashioned way of powdering my nose. But this is a stick, that you can apply before and after make up application... What!? I know you can also use the Porefessional primer before and after make up too but this is for blotting.

So I decided apply it before doing my make up on a day where I knew I would have a full face all day long. I focused on my most oily parts of my face which for me is just my nose and the space around it (I have combination skin) and you could see right away that it took away the shine, it mattified the look of my skin and definitely did what it said on the tin. YAY! It's not just a gimmicky product! But of course I still had to test it on the top of my make up.

After my shift at work I got home and I could see that the oily areas of my face has started to shine so no better time than to pull out my License to Blot, right?! So I did the same as I had done in the morning and applied it to my nose, but in a slight more gentle fashion so I didn't disturb my make up. Again it did the job, those areas did indeed mattify my problem areas, therefore reducing shine.

BUT, (sorry there is a but here) when I applied it on top of my make up it had removed some of the foundation from my face and gotten the License to Blot stick a bit... Mucky. I weren't too pleased with that honestly...

Overall I do think this is an amazing product, I love it underneath my make up as I feel it does hold off the shine from coming through quite as quickly as it would've done. But as in terms of blotting, I think I'm going to stick to my good old Rimmel Stay Matte Powder!

Emma xo

Have you tried License to Blot yet?

*PR gifted*

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Urban Decay Naked, Naked 2 & Naked 3 Comparasion

My favourite part of my makeup always has been, and always will be my eyes. So that plus my spending problem meant the day that I would own all three Naked palettes was inevitably going to happen. I just had the urge to own the whole collection... I definitely think I have an eye shadow addiction... is that weird? I don't think it's weird. Either way, I wanted to make my 'addiction' productive, so what would be a better to do that other than to do a comparasion post?

I'm going to start off with packaging, Naked 2 and 3 have the same metal casing which has clasps that safely clip into place protecting your eye shadows from any damage, they also both have a nice big mirror so that you can clearly see what you are doing at any angle that suits you the best. The only differences are that the styles vary a bit, with Naked 2 coming in a greige (brown/grey) coloured tin with dark brown writing and Naked 3 having a bit more texture in a copper/rose gold coloured tin with gold writing. Then Naked has the most stylish packaging in my opinion, being coated in brown velvet certainly makes it stand out from most other eye shadow palettes, however it has a magnetic lid instead of the clasps that Naked 2 and 3 have which slightly puts me off, I've had no problems with it to date but it hasn't ventured out of my bedroom so I haven't put it to the handbag test.

Next up is the eye shadow shades... Naked 1 is a warm toned palette which is perfect for those with warm undertones to their skin, the palette has 2 matte shades and 10 shimmer shades and my most used shades are Virgin, Naked, Sidecar, Buck, Smog and Darkhorse. Naked 2 is a cool toned palette which is perfect for those with cool undertones to their skin, the palette has 3 matte shades and 9 shimmer shades and my most used shades are Bootycall, Tease, Snakebite, Suspect and YDK and last but not least, Naked 3, which is a pink toned palette, perfect for those with fair skin, the palette also has 3 matte shades and 9 shimmer shades, and my most used shades are Limit, Nooner, Liar, Factory and Mugshot.

As for quality, all 3 eye shadow palettes are amazing quality and there's not one palette that stands out over the others in terms of quality! But like with most palettes the shimmery shades are that bit more pigmented and the matte ones are a tad powdery.

Overall the final choice is definitely shade based, if you chose by your personal style or skin tone there will definitely be something for you as each palette varies in shades.

Emma xo

What's your favourite Naked palette?

Naked L-R: Virgin, Sin, Naked, Sidecar, Buck, Half-Baked, Smog, Darkhorse, Toasted, Hustle, Creep and Gunmetal
Naked 2 L-R: Foxy, Half Baked, Bootycall, Chopper, Tease, Snakebite, Suspect, Pistol, Verve, YDK, Busted and Blackout

Naked 3 L-R: Strange, Dust, Burnout, Limit, Buzz, Trick, Nooner, Liar, Factory, Mugshot, Darkside and Blackheart

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Brand Focus: Benefit

It'll come as no surprise to you that I do love Benefit... I mean most people do! Their packaging is always super cute and flawless, then their products often tend to work wonders. I know don't have the most impressive collection of Benefit make up but I thought I would share it with you all the same!

Concealers - Fake Up, Erase Paste and Boi-ing

• My favourite products from Benefit has to be their concealers, regardless of the fact that they're well known for their 'brows. But I am a bit of a concealer freak, hence why I have all 3 of them, I just think they are worth the money more than any foundation as my most used foundations are all from Bourjois. 

• Out of the 3 concealers Erase Paste is definitely my favourite, it has what the other two haven't, it has the strength of Boi-ing and the hydration of Fake Up combined into one. Fake Up is really good for under eyes because it has moisturising capabilities but it hasn't got as much coverage as Boi-ing, but Boi-ing is quite drying so it's nice to have an 'in the middle' concealer that has the best of both worlds.

Foundation - Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow

• When I first got this foundation I was in love as you could probably tell from the review I had posted, 6 months down the line and I very rarely reach for it whilst doing my make up. The reason I first loved it was the reason I fell out of love with it too, I prefer something a little more... heavy duty? I don't have the most perfect complexion (sob) so when I put this on, I feel like it worsens my imperfections by making dry patches on my face very visible...

Powder - Hoola Bronzer

• This is most definitely my most favourite bronzer in the World! I had to rebuy this soon as my old Hoola was beginning to reach the pan. It has such a nice undertone to it which doesn't make you look like an utter tango. It's also very buildable which I find is perfect for contouring, as some areas of the face need a heavier contour and others only need a light sweep, so you don't need two products to achieve that.

• I do want to try out their other powders, I have my eyes on Rockateur, I've started to use blush a bit more now and it just looks like it would be the perfect shade for me, so who knows it might knock Hoola off as my favourite Benefit powder (but I doubt it)

Mascara - Roller Lash & They're Real

• Since the release of Roller Lash I have definitely been team Roller Lash over They're Real. I found that it really did amazing things for my eyelashes and I was literally "wow"ed after trying my free sample from Elle. I went on to buy the full size ASAP because I didn't want to run out of the Roller Lash goodness, props to you there Benefit marketing team! But after reading Annabel's post on 'Mascara Layering' (link here) I tried the duo together like she suggests, starting with a layer of They're Real followed by Roller Lash and I was in love with They're Real once again as the duo works amazingly together!

Eyeliner - They're Real Lash Hugging Eyeliner

• All I can really say is that I have a very love/hate relationship with this eyeliner. Some days it works AMAZINGLY, like I can't believe just how well I had perfected my cat-eye, then others it looks like a total mess. I find applying it quite easy, but every time you use it you're mean to rid of the existing product and push up a new one, I'll be totally oblivious to where I put the old product and I'll rest my hand on my face and leave the most unattractive black smudges all over my face. 

• I'd like to try their 'Magic Ink' liquid eyeliner because I find liquid much easier to apply, however I have 'leaky eyes' which is a really gross way to put it (sorry) so when my eyes run liquid eyeliners tend to run down my face, whereas They're Real doesn't budge so I'm hoping that Magic Ink would be the same.

Eye Gel - Puff Off

• As my review states I really wasn't too impressed with this gel, it just doesn't work the wonders I was expecting, I know, I know, I shouldn't of had such high hopes. But I do feel like this is Benefit's let down product, I feel like too much time went into making the adorable packaging instead of getting a product that really works. 

As mixed as my feelings are about some of the products I do really love Benefit and I always get excited when I hear about their new releases. But I do think you either love their products or you hate them, and different products work better for different people.

Emma xo

What is your favourite Benefit product?

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My Top 5 Concealers

I love concealers. Products that help mask my under eyes and blemishes are always a good thing in my books! So I thought I would share the concealers that I tend to reach out for most when applying my makeup.

5) Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch | £6.99 Boots
This is a highlighting concealer, so for those days where the circles under your eyes are slightly darker than usual this is amazing for both covering them up and making them appear brighter! It's really pigmented too, making it amazing value for money.

4) Soap & Glory Kick Ass Concealer | £10 Boots
I love this concealer simply because it's a three in one! You have step one, which is the pinky toned concealer to help mask those under eyes. Then there's step two, a yellow toned concealer to help mask redness and spots. Then finally there's the third step, a powder to set the concealer. If you don't do step three, then the concealer has a tendency to crease around the eyes but other than that it is perfect!

3) Benefit Boi-ing | £17.50 Boots

I really was having a hard time choosing between Boi-ing and Eraser Eye for 2nd place.. But obviously Boi-ing lost. Both concealers cover my under-eyes really well and I use them both quite often, however Boi-ing is a little drying on the skin, which isn't so good for under-eyes. Benefit do however claim this to be 'Industrial Strength' which I can certainly agree with them on, it is amazing at covering imperfections I just wish the formula was a little creamier.

2) Maybelline Eraser Eye | £7.99 Boots
Eraser Eye feels a lot nicer on the skin whilst hiding those tired eyes than Boi-ing does. There's a reason that most of the blogging world is in love with this product! However, I am really surprised at the lack of colours available especially with how popular it has gotten, there is only Light and Nude... I've got Nude because I tend to fake tan but I can use light on the non-tan days which is crazy!

1) Benefit Erase Paste | £20.50 Boots
After buying this from my local Benefit counter it very quickly became my favourite concealer. I was so pleasantly surprised when I tried it out! The texture is creamy, easily blendable and it covers my under eyes amazingly! My only complaint is the packaging is kind of small, which hard to just use my pinky when I have nail extensions... so I tend to use it with my Zoeva 142/ Concealer Buffer brush.

I really love my concealers, I've also recently bought the Nars Creamy Concealer and the Urban Decay Naked Concealer, I'm just waiting for them to come through the post (sucks not living near all the good make up counters) so this list is definitely subject to change but who knows!? Maybe I'll love them, maybe I'll hate them. All I know is that I feel like I'm the only person who doesn't like the Collection Concealer...

What are your favourite concealers? 

Emma xo

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Maybelline EyeStudio Color Tattoo | Review

I don't know about you guys but I hoard makeup, really badly, I just think it's nice having a range to chose from! There are so many different shades, brands and products to try... The possibilities are endless! But I admit, the makeup item that I hoard most is definitely eyeshadow. I've tried cutting down by selling palettes I don't like/use on Depop, but that just means more room and money to buy more... *cough* Urban Decay Naked Smokey Palette *cough*

A few months back you might have seen me review Rimmel's Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Sticks, where I was saying about how much I loved how creamy and blend-able they were compared to standard powder eyeshadow, which is why I've decided to *finally* try cream eyeshadows, and I couldn't think of a better start point than Maybelline's Color Tattoos.

When I was swatching in store I first decided to go with On and On Bronze (middle swatch), but then I really regretted getting only one and went back and bought Permanent Taupe (left swatch) and Creamy Beige (right swatch). There is such a range of colours to chose from, so if you don't like neutrals like me, worry not as there will definitely be something for you too. Another thing I noticed when I was swatching in store, the pigmentation is ahhhhh-mazing, I really had to scrub to get them off my hand!

Anyway, I had high hopes after seeing SO many people mention them in their blog posts (especially On and On Bronze) and I'm happy to report that these little pots of creamy goodness really do not disappoint! They last all day, are extremely blendable and work amazingly as an eyeshadow primer. Some days if I'm feeling lazy, I just quickly rub one of these all over my lids and compliment it with some eyeliner, other days when I'm doing my makeup properly I use them as a primer/base and work around them with some powder eyeshadow. Naked 1 and On and On Bronze really work a treat!

So that's ANOTHER eyeshadow product I've fallen in love with, will the madness ever end?! But this has made me want to try the MAC Paint Pots (I'm sorry bank account)

Emma xo

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Nip + Fab Shimmer Leg Fix | Review

I can't believe we're in June, where has this year gone?! Meaning that we're already in Summer, even if the weather is only just realising it... But that also means that it's that little bit less acceptable to wear tights. I'll be honest, I'm not leg confident as I don't have Taylor Swifts $40 million legs, so I tend to wear skin coloured tights to hide any imperfections, or lack of tan I may have.

But let's be honest, we all get leg envy and when I get leg envy it is sometimes to those who have thinner legs than me, but it's also to those who have those shiny hairless legs as mine look so boring in comparasion, even when I've used a normal moisturiser and fake tan over the top! They just haven't got that gorgeous glow that I have always longed for.

That's until now, Nip + Fab's Shimmer Leg Fix does exactly what it says on the tin, it's a moisturiser for your legs which also has added shimmer. So not only does it moisturise your legs, the added shimmer helps you achieve that gorgeous glow! It is basically like liquid gold for your legs. However if you're not a fan of shimmer, then don't worry as the shimmer isn't noticeable once it's been rubbed in.

I found that my skin absorbs the formula quickly, not leaving any sticky residue behind and leaving my legs feeling so silky soft. Even hours after application my legs still feel touchable-y smooth and definitely don't look dull any more!

The only problem I have with this product is the scent, I'm really, really not a fan of ginger, I don't like the smell or taste (lucky I don't have to eat this...) but the scent doesn't put me off using the product, as it's ever so subtle, it doesn't linger and you can only smell it if you try hard enough. So if it's the ginger smell you're after I recommend a stronger smelling product.

Overall this is definitely the most perfect leg prep for summer, if you're planning on having your legs out in summer then I definitely suggest you try this out for yourself! 

Emma xo

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Top Ten Under £10

I love my high end products as much as the next girl, but nothing can beat a good drugstore find. I still spend most of my time (and money) browsing through my local drugstores searching for a new find and most of the time, they do not disappoint.

10 Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Stick | £4.49 RRP
I love these little sticks for when I'm in a rush in the morning. Powdered eyeshadows take a lot of time and skill to do, so I tend to spend longer on that area than the rest of my makeup. But sometimes I just don't have the time to spare, which is where these come in. I literally draw them on, blend, then I am good to go. Like with normal eyeshadow, I use the lightest shade in the inner corners of my eye and my brow bone, a medium shade over my lid and the darkest shade in my crease.

9 Bourjois Rogue Edition Velvet | £8.99 RRP
I'm not a glossy lip kind of girl. I love matte lips so, so much! But a lot of matte products can be quite drying and feel horrible on the lips. These however, are quite the opposite, they go on to your lips like a gloss then they dry with this gorgeous matte finish. They're amazingly pigmented and they have the best staying power I have ever seen from a drugstore lip product.

8 Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer | £7.99 RRP
I am quite crazy about concealers, I don't know why, but I have loads of them and I probably won't stop buying them until I have them all! But I honestly believe this is the best one you can get from drugstores. I don't like the Collection concealers for my undereyes which is a big selling point for me, I'd use them as a cream contour.

7 Maybelline EyeStudio Color Tattoo 24hr Eyeshadow | £4.99 RRP
Cream eye shadows have quickly become a favourite of mine. I think they make a great base before applying a powder eye shadow! I think because of their creamy texture, powder eyeshadows cling on better therefore almost acting like a primer.

6 Barry M Chisel Cheeks Contour Kit | £6.49 RRP
I've been a bit contouring mad lately. It's very rare that I skip it out of my makeup routine. But I have a bit too many products to achieve one look, a bronzer, a highlight then the contour itself... So it's nice to have all three in one palette so I can achieve those 'chiselled cheeks' without the extra products.

5 Maybelline Lash Sensational | £7.99 RRP
After having most the blogging world hail it as a Benefit Roller Lash dupe, I fell in love with this mascara because it works wonders on my lashes, just as well, if not better than Roller Lash.

4 Lush Bubblegum & Popcorn Lip Scrub | £5.50 RRP
These are a new edition for me, but have fast become a favourite. Reason being is they work so much better than your normal lip balm! I find I tend to neglect lip balms until my lips start feeling dry, or a bit flakey (gross). But once your lips have got to that stage, balms take a little while to get them back to their normal moisturised self, where as these scrubs just remove all the unwanted dry skin. Plus they taste delicious!

3 Bourjois Paris Happy Light Luminous Serum Primer | £10.99 RRP
Okay this one is 99p over £10 but hear me out. It was the primer to convert me! I've never been bothered by primer but this one ticks all the boxes for me, but most of all it leaves me skin feeling soft and my makeup definitely tackles the day a lot better.

2 Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation | £8.99 RRP
This has been my favourite foundation for what feels like forever. It is, and probably always will be my most re-bought foundation ever. I just can't get enough of the shimmer! It's not in your face, it's gorgeous and subtle, you can see the shimmer when the sun is shining bright.

1 Real Techniques Face Expert Brush | £9.99 RRP
This has to be my favourite foundation brush. It's cheap, and as it's by Real Techniques it is of course good quality! I never really considering buying more than one of a brush, because if you already have it what would be the point... But, I think you can't have too many of this brush - as we all know what a pain it is to clean foundation brushes so I will definitely be investing in some more.

What are your favourite drugstore products?

Emma xo

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Witch Skincare | Review

I've been a massive fan of Witch for years now, I was first introduced to them roughly 5 or 6 years ago as I'd been complaining about having horrific breakouts to a friend of mine, so they recommended that I try them out because their products contain witch hazel which is well know for fighting blemishes. I honestly haven't looked back since, I've tried other brands but nothing has come close.

Witch Blemish Stick | £2.59 Boots

I have re-bought this little stick countless number of times now, it was one of the first products I bought from Witch! You know when a spot hasn't quite developed but it's so...angry, and it irritates the skin and becomes quite painful because of that? Well I can't recommend this more! It does tingle which makes it very tempting to itch at, but it will help the spot go down quicker. 

Witch Concealer | £3.79 Boots

This is another product I've bought a few times before. It's quite a strong concealer and helps reduce the apperance of spots rather well! I tend to use it twice, once before my foundation and once afterwards. I do this as the concealer has ingredients that help fight spots as well as hiding up the redness, it'd be a waste if it was just applied on top of foundation like I usually do! I would never use this concealer for anything other than a spot though, because it's a spot fighting product it is quite drying to the skin, not something you want to be using for your under eyes.

Witch Cleansing and Toning Wipes | £2.99 Superdrug

I used to use make up removing wipes daily, but after discovering that they can be bad for your skin if not washed off properly I started to use micellar water. But let's be honest, when you've gone for a night out and you get home, us girls will still have skincare in the back of our minds and wipes are the quickest and easiest thing for us when we're being lazy and just want to get into bed. They remove make up easily, mascara takes a bit longer to get off but I think that's the case for most make up removers. These are perfect to combat your spots whilst removing your make up, especially if you're in a rush, having a lazy day, or even travelling. 

Witch Overnight Clearing Serum | £5.99 Boots

As I mentioned earlier on, spot fighting products are usually quite drying for the skin, but not this one. Not only does this minimise blemishes, reduce redness and prevent future breakouts, it also leaves your skin feeling incredibly soft from the added Vitamin B3. My skin has been alright lately so I can't comment on the blemish reducing side of things yet (touch wood), but maybe this is why I haven't had any unwanted spots - who knows! Either way, my skin absorbs the serum pretty fast and feels so incredibly soft when I've woken up even from the first use.

Witch Hazel Bursting Beads Face Wash | £3.99 Superdrug

I've used face washes by other spot fighting brands and I haven't liked them to say the least. They tend to make my skin feel dry, tight and just really horrible. But desperate times call for desperate measures and all that! So I try to avoid them unless my skin has gotten bad. But this one actually leaves my skin feeling refreshed and soft which is such a nice feeling! Making it perfect for everyday use.

You can win all these skincare goodies in my current giveaway which ends Friday 5th June! 
Click here to enter.

Emma xo

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theBalm Nude 'Tude | Review

You know how I'm a sucker for adorable packaging on my make up? Well I fell into that trap again. But I have no regrets! I absolutely loved theBalm's Mary Lou Manizer, so when I found out they did nude eyeshadows, which featured naked ladies on them, I was all in! (In the least creepy way that sounds)

What I love most about this palette (excluding the packaging) is the colour range. Most nude palettes have either blatantly duped, or have been inspired by one of the 3 Naked Palettes by Urban Decay and as much as I love my Naked Palettes, it's a breath of fresh air to see a palette being more versatile. You've got Sassy, the most pigmented white shade I have EVER seen, Sexy a gorgeous burgundy red and Silly, a matte brown with red and gold glitter. Did you also notice how all the shades' names start with an S? I only just noticed that as I was writing this...

I was seriously so impressed at how pigmented all the shades were. Even in expensive eye shadow palettes you usually get that one shade that's a lot less pigmented than the others but not with this one! That makes the palette so easy to work with, along with how blend-able the shades are and the very little fall out they have. I have one too many times ruined my make up because of eye shadow falling on to my cheeks, it is literally the most frustrating thing EVER.

As much as I love this palette, I have one tiny complaint... The brush. I really don't like the brush. It isn't a issue as I have plenty of eye shadow brushes but I just find it's too stiff, and I end up flicking eye shadow down my face... It might just be a preference thing, but it doesn't ruin how much I like this palette at all!

Have you tried anything from theBalm?

Emma xo

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Witch #stressfreeskin kit | GIVEAWAY

So yesterday was the last of my exams, I'm officially on my Summer holiday now - yay! Meaning I can focus more on my blog over the next few months so it's a win, win situation. I'll be honest though, I've been pretty stressed out with Uni work the past two months, and my skin really hasn't taken it well... But I was extremely lucky to have received a #stressfreeskin kit from Witch Skincare, which has helped with my skin, and more! Oh, and did I mention that one of you lucky guys will be able to get your hands on your own #stressfreeskin kit too!?

What you'll get inside:

• Witch Blemish Stick
• Witch Overnight Clearing Serum
• Witch Hazel Bursting Beads Face Wash
• Witch Concealer
• Witch Cleansing and Toning Wipes
• Twinings Calming Camomile Tea
• Snacks
• Sharpie Highlighters
• Pencils

That's a WHOLE lot of stuff! I honestly have been using my #stressfreeskin kit rather regularly and it has been an absolute godsend. Obviously during exam season, your skin is the least of your worries so it's so lovely to have a kit, that so much thought has gone into, made for you to cover all your exam season needs. Hungry? Have some popcorn, yogurt covered raisins or even a Nak'd bar! Have you got an unwelcomed spot? Fight, and cover it with the Witch Concealer stick! Feeling overwhelmed with all your revision? Open one of the pick-me-up cards!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Emma xo

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*PR gifted*

You may have noticed I removed some items on the list, there was a slight mix up in what the prizes were but the lovely ladies at Witch are kind enough to amend as much of the prizes as they possibly can, so sorry for the confusion! 

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My First (Mini) Lush Cosmetics Haul

For so long I was under the impression that I didn't live near a Lush store. Why? I couldn't tell you. So a friend of mine set me straight and showed me where our nearest store was, and it was literally on the same high street where I used to work... How did I not know?! Either way I had to go and buy something and show you guys what I got!

Bubble Gum and Popcorn Lip Scrubs

These have been on my wishlist for so long, ever since I discovered them online! Normal lip balms on their own are good, but these just make your lips so, so, sooooo soft removing any dry, flakey skin. And they also taste amazing! I couldn't pick between the two flavours so I bought both. 

Twilight Bath Bomb

I've used this up already... I was so excited to use it that I literally photographed it then jumped straight in to the bath! I actually broke some of the pink shell off whilst taking it home from the shop, which kind of bummed me out about, then my boyfriend was like "it'll still do the same thing" ...he doesn't understand. 

Anyway I have wanted to get my hands on Twilight for what feels like years! I knew that it had a blue interior and it fizzed up both blue and pink in the bath. But what I didn't know was that it turns the water a deep purple colour with little sparkles floating around... Really taking after it's name of Twilight, I was totally in love and I didn't want to ever leave the bath! I am 100% re-buying it again!

So my first trip was definitely a success! I loved everything I picked up, but I didn't get much, I just got the things that I've always want to try. But I will definitely go back again soon and get more, especially now I know where the closest store is!

What's your favourite Lush Cosmetics product?

Emma xo

Bloglovin - Twitter - Instagram

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MAC Velvet Teddy Dupe

Who doesn't love a nude lip? I mean, it's simple and easy and goes with any look. Velvet Teddy is quite infamous for often being sold out and has been hailed as one of the MAC lipsticks used by the one and only Kylie Jenner, and who doesn't want her lips? It's a shame that she's had lip injections at such a young age, even if she is famous, but let's not go off topic...

Velvet Teddy left, Rich Truffle right

I was recently sent for review the new MeMeMe Lip Glides, one of the shades I received, 'Rich Truffle' really reminded me of MAC's Velvet Teddy, aka the only MAC lipstick I own... Don't worry I am going to get more, it's just hard not having a counter where I live, so it takes some thorough Google searching!

Anyway, I wanted to put this to the test so I swatched them both on my hand and I honestly couldn't believe how similar they were! The only difference is that Velvet Teddy is a tad lighter than Rich Truffle but when on the lips it really isn't noticeable.

Formula wise, MAC is hard to beat as you get what you pay for. But in my review of the Lip Glides, I mention how good the staying power is! So MeMeMe do give MAC a run for their money, and at half the price. One thing I do prefer about the Lip Glides is you don't need a lip pencil to help with precision... As it is a pencil! Maybe I'm just awful at applying lipstick (in fact I am) but I find I will always mess it up without my trusty lip liner.

What's your favourite MAC lipstick?

Emma xo

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Benefit Puff Off! | Review & Swatches

For many months since its release I have debated getting Benefit's Puff Off, but as I have been so sceptical towards it, I put off buying it. I do really want Puff Off to work, but at the same time it just looks so gimmicky (like the personalised Hoolas...which I still kind of wanted). But after eyeing it up in Boots and swatching it for the millionth time, I finally caved and bought it.

before and after

It's no secret that Benefit has amazing packaging on all of their products, and this one is no different - the packaging is adorable, with the little iron applicator and the lid that says 'smooth O-MATIC'... As much as I really love this, it also made me fear about the products capability, would I be paying more for the product inside, or the fancy packaging along with it? 

So I will be completely honest with you, when I took it home and started using it for the first time I could barely tell the difference and I very quickly came to the conclusion that it didn't work and it really was just gimmicky. 

I actually first tried it over the top of my makeup, like a concealer, as I assumed it would be like a highlighting concealer. But that didn't work. Then I asked my friend who works on a Benefit counter how it's meant to be applied, before or after makeup application, and she recommended to use it before. So I gave Puff Off a second chance before writing a bad review for you all to read...

This time around, I could see the difference, it hadn't reduced the puffiness of my eyes like an eye cream, but it had highlighted the darker areas of my under eyes and made them look smoother. So I was wrong, it does work and I can see the difference! But it was nothing life changing like I was expecting, but I think I was expecting too much from the product if I'm honest.

Have you tried Puff Off? Did you like it?

Emma xo

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Don't miss out my giveaway! WIN a heat styling tool of your choice! 

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MeMeMe Cosmetics Lip Glide | Review & Swatches

As much as I love make up, I notoriously always forget, or leave out my lips. I have quite thin lips so I tend to shy away from making them stand out by sticking to neutral/nude colours. And trust me, I have tried to do that whole, lip liner-Kylie Jenner thing, but I felt that I looked ridiculous...

Rich Truffle, Winter Berry & English Rose (no lip liners used)

Rich Truffle - a very neutral/nude colour, reminds me of MAC Velvet Teddy... Called it! Either way those 90's brown lip colours are so gorgeous.
Winter Berry - a deep plum colour, perfect for the winter months (but I'm going to wear it in Summer anyway)
English Rose - a cute, girly, light-pink colour.

But MeMeMe have turned that around for me, I always just assumed that I wouldn't suit bolder colours because I didn't suit one shade of red lipstick that I tried 5 years ago. But I have honestly fallen in love with their Lip Glides, especially in the shade 'Winter Berry', after initially thinking that 'Rich Truffle' would have been my favourite.

The pigmentation of each of the Lip Glides are amazing, you don't need much more than one coat over your lips to make a difference. One thing I have really noticed is the amazing staying power, especially with Winter Berry, I tend to wear it with a lip liner and what I find with a similar colours from another brand is they'll fade leaving behind just the lip liner and looking rather strange. But the Lip Glides have just as good staying power as a lip liner.

The formula is really creamy, and isn't drying on the lips either, they simply glide over your lips easily, meaning it doesn't matter how dry your lips are. Also, because of the pencil shape of the Lip Glides it's much easier to be precise than it is with a normal lipstick. Lastly, the size of the glides are perfect! I've had my trust Winter Berry sitting in one of the pockets in my hand bag ready for the odd top up during the day.

I honestly have never loved a lip product this much before, there are two shades I haven't gotten which are Deep Scarlet and Playful Peach - but I plan to add those to my collection soon and hope there may be some new shades released in the future! But for now you can see the rest of the range here.

Emma xo

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PR Samples

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My Rodial Glamtox Routine

As a person who loves all things makeup, you would think I would be high up on my skin care... Shamefully, I'm not. But the past month I have been determined to change that! One of the brands I tried to up my skincare game with is Rodial, who are a brand that I've heard so much about but never had the chance to try them out for myself, so I was extremely excited when I was given the chance to try out some of their products from their 'Glamtox' range...

Step 1:
Once I've woken up, I'll wash my face (to rid any makeup I might have missed the night before) then brush my teeth etc. Then when my face has dried I use the Serum (£59). I was kind of wary at first because I've used so many hair serums where if you use too much you end up with greasy hair, so the thought of a greasy face really didn't appeal to me. But I was pleasantly surprised, my skin absorbs the serum quickly, no sticky or greasy residue left behind and it leaves my skin feeling ever so soft.

Step 2:
Once the serum has absorbed into my skin I then use the Day Cream (£75) over the top for extra moisturising effects. Both the day and eye creams have SPF 15, which is really useful for the up-coming summer months!

Step 3:
I then rub in the Eye Cream (£50) using my little finger in circular motions to help tackle my dark under eye circles. Dark under eye circles is something I am REALLY paranoid about, I don't know why but I try to focus on them a lot in both my skincare and make up routines.

Step 4:
I then proceed to apply my makeup as usual!

Since starting my glamtox, I have noticed great changes to my skin, it has never felt this soft in my life, it feels like a baby's bottom! The one big change I've noticed is the pesky dry patch of skin I had on my face seems to have cleared up greatly too, still a bit dryer than the rest but I think with continuous use of this product it will definitely clear up. However since I am only 20 years old, I cannot really comment on the anti ageing/wrinke side of things yet, but it has definitely made a difference on my dark under eye circle and the hydration works a dream, I am still so impressed with how soft my skin is!

Have you tried anything from Rodial? If you would like to see more of their Glamtox range you can find it here.

Emma xo

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PR Samples

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Brand Focus: Seventeen

Okay so I'm going to start on a personal note - I have finalllllllllly finished my last assignment for this year at University, so blogging will be back on track from now on! Yay! To get back on track I'm going to introduce you to a brand I think is highly under-rated which is Boots' own brand, Seventeen.

Stay Pout Lipsticks, Showmance and Rule Breaker | £4.49
Showmance is a light, coral-y, orange colour which is a perfect for the up-coming Summer months! And Rule Breaker is a red-y plum colour, a lip shade I've recently discovered I love. I always avoided colour in my lips and stuck to nudes because I have small lips, but since trying a plum shade I'm in love and I can't get enough!

CC Cream w/ SPF 25 | £6.99
I've been reaching out for this a lot lately, with the really hot weather that we've been having the high SPF is perfect! It glides on to the skin easily, sitting well and leaves a lovely radiant glow.

Wow! Tan Liquid Glow | £5.99
I would describe this as a highlighting bronzer, but it is really quite a light shade, I don't think I would ever use this for contouring. However it is perfect for mixing into foundation, it gives a lovely glow to your skin.

Instant Glow Bronzing Rocks | £4.99
Firstly for this product I have to comment about just how gorgeous the rocks are, one is this stunning pale pinky/nude colour which I adore and the other is this lovely bronze shade, which looks like a metallic bronzer. Both the colours help achieve a more natural glow, than just the one on it's own.

Seventeen Gel Colour | £3.99
The colour of the nail varnish I received is stunning, I love a green nail, it reminds me of summer and festivals... I really can't wait for festival season! It's really easy to apply, and it leaves a super shiny finish to my nails once it's dried.

Have you tried anything from Seventeen?

Emma xo

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PR Samples

Go check out these lovely ladies! Gemms Beauty, Bella La Moda  & Burning Blonde <3

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How much is my makeup collection worth?

So, like many other bloggers, I have a spending problem. And as I'm a beauty blogger, I'm always excessively buying new make up! That's why this idea occurred to me, one day I was wondering just how much is my stash actually worth? Of course I won't have spent as much as the total as I have taken advantage of my fair share of 3 for 2s and I have a Superdrug discount card. But still, I can't help but wonder...

I've decided that listing every single product I own would make this post waaaay too lengthy and I really don't want to sound braggy because that really isn't the aim of this post, so I'll keep it short and sweet and do it by 'category'. 

Brushes
19 items = £141.98

Primer

4 items = £52.49

Foundation

14 items = £139.27

Concealer

6 items = £60.07

Highlighters/Bronzers/Blushes

13 items = £202.35

Eyeshadow

16 items = £345.88

Brows

6 items =£61.46

Sharpeners

2 items = £10

Eyeliner

3 items = £39.99

Mascara

9 items = £107.44

Lipstick

15 items = £136.39

GRAND TOTAL = £1,297.32

How crazy is the total?! I'm half shocked, but I was also expecting it. I would love to see anybody else doing a post like this to make sure that I've not totally gone make up mad... But I know that I would hate to part with it all.

Emma xo

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Go check out these lovely ladies! Gemms Beauty, Bella La Moda  & Burning Blonde <3

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