To Tint Or Not To Tint?

I know that Benefit Benetint is a favourite product for many out there, but I haven’t really felt it’s lived up to expectations...

Personally, I think that there are lots of other products on the market that do a better job than Benetint; but then again that’s just me.

As a lip and cheek stain, it’s designed to give your cheeks a gorgeous glow and a your lips a warm tinge. I must admit, it worked far better on my lips than it did on my cheeks.

In order to use this product on your cheeks, you are told to draw three small stripes onto the apples of your cheeks and blend in circular motions with your fingertips.

After trying this for myself, I found that it made my skin look blotchy and uneven; far from the effect that I was going for. In my opinion, powder or pressed blush are much better products to use in order to get rosy, glowing cheeks.

For lips, the effect is slightly different. I have tried using Benetint in two different ways and one certainly worked better than the other.

Firstly I tried using Benetint on its own. I found that initially it gave me a nice, warm, even colour; however, it wore off extremely quickly, quicker than any lipstick or lip stain I’ve ever used.

Secondly I tried it under lip gloss. This worked extremely well and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to try Benetint for themselves.

Unfortunately, as you may have read in one of my previous blogs, I don’t really like wearing lip gloss. So while it’s fine round the house, I wouldn't want to use this method when venturing outside (especially in windy weather!).

There is a third way to use Benetint on your lips, (which I haven’t tried yet) and that is to use it underneath lipstick. Therefore, when your lipstick wears off, you’ll still have a lovely, warm colour left on your lips.

I think that the third way is probably the best idea, and would be a great way to always have beautifully coloured lips.

However, I have come to the conclusion that Benetint is not an ideal product for me and I very doubt that it will ever feature on my must have list!

If you have a different opinion on Benefit Benetint, feel free to comment below. I’d love to hear your views!

Define Your Eyes

I have wanted to try Gel Eyeliner for so long and had been saving up to buy Bobbi Brown’s award winning Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner; until I saw that Maybelline had also created their own version of this renowned product.

At first, I was extremely sceptical about the Maybelline eyeliner, thinking that it could not possibly live up to the more expensive, legendary Bobbi Brown product. This was until I tried it for myself...

The first thing that attracted me to Maybelline’s Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner 24h was the fact that it came with its own brush; whereas you have to buy the Bobbi Brown brush separately.

The second reason that made me want to buy this product was the price. This Eyeliner and Brush combo costs a minuscule £7.99, compared to a hefty £16.50 for the Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner and £21.00 for the brush.

These were the fundamental reasons for my decision, so when I tried the product at home, I was even more delighted with the decision I had made.

Having never used Gel Eyeliner before, I was a little bit unsure about how the product was going to work. I was comfortable using kohl, liquid or powdered eyeliner to create definition, so really had no idea how a gel would differ.

After trying it out for myself, I can hand on heart say; it’s the easiest product I have ever come across. It simply glides along your eyelid, creating a wonderful, precise, defining black line.

This amazing eyeliner is also smudge and crease free, can be used on sensitive eyes (including contact lens wearers) and will last up to 24 hours.

You only need to use a very little amount at a time, so this product is fantastic value for money and bound to last you for ages!

The brush is also very easy to clean, as all you need to do is use a dry tissue to wipe off any remaining traces.

I truly recommend this product for an easy, cheap and fuss free way to get stunning, striking eyes.

Does Perfume Go Off?

Perfume is one of my favourite beauty products and I love to have a selection of different scents to wear at any given time.

At the moment, I have around 5 different bottles of perfume open, which always causes me to worry that they will go off if I don’t use them up quickly.

Of course I have my favourites, which I use more often than others, but as my collection broadens, it seems as though I’m using hardly any of some.

I know that the perfume I have now will physically last me for years, but my concern is that they will become unusable, before I have the chance to finish them.

After doing research, I found out that perfume CAN go off after a period of time, HOWEVER, there are certain variables which increase and decrease the lifetime of your scents.

In general, perfume is supposed to last around 3-5 years, but it’s thought that if you store and look after them correctly, they are more likely to last longer.

It is best to keep your perfume in its original box, in a cool, dark place, with a consistent temperature. A place where they aren’t exposed to significant amounts of humidity, oxygen, heat or sunlight (bathrooms are a definite no no!); as these are known factors to cause perfume to go bad.

There are certain signs which enable you to tell whether your perfume has gone off or not. Firstly the smell; if there is an acidic, vinegary smell to it and its original, gorgeous scent has diminished somewhat, it has more than likely gone off. Secondly, if the perfume has become darker, with a thicker consistency, again, chances are it has gone off.

On the other hand, in my opinion, it's best to use your own judgement. If after a number of years your perfume still smells and looks great, don’t throw it away just because you think it might have gone bad!

Also, it's worth keeping in mind, that if you look after your perfume in the right manner and under the correct conditions, they can last up to thirty years! That really is amazing value for money!

Massaging Mitt

A couple of months ago, I was traipsing round Boots, trying to find a new, easy, non-invasive way to cleanse my face, when I spotted the Soap and Glory Face Massage Mini Mitt.

I had seen a similar sort of concept which came with other exfoliators and cleansers, and had wanted to try it out for ages, so I just had to buy it.

This mitt is designed to improve circulation, whilst removing any dirt or toxins. When used with a cleanser or exfoliator, it also hydrates skin and gets rid of any remaining traces of make-up.

I was very excited to try my new purchase, so as soon as it got to bedtime I was ready and raring to use it!

The first time I tried it I added a little bit of exfoliating scrub to the top of the mitt, however this did not quite go to plan…

Most of the exfoliator got stuck in between the little spikes and hardly any of it actually made it onto my skin, making it very hard to evenly exfoliate the whole of my face.

Also, it was extremely difficult to get the scrub off the mitt, as it was trapped in all the creases and crevices.

The next time I went to use the Soap and Glory Face Massage Mini Mitt, I decided to use a cleanser. This time it worked perfectly!

The cleanser seemed to glide over my skin, cleaning and smoothing, whilst the spikes and dots on the mitt gently massaged.

It is an extremely easy product to use, as it comes with a small handle on the back of the mitt which can be held between your thumb and finger or two fingers. 

All you need to do is add a dollop of cleanser onto the mitt and away you go!

The Soap and Glory Mitt can also be used by itself, for a stimulating, invigorating facial.

Smooth Out Your Skin

Do you ever look in the mirror and think that the texture of your skin feels bumpy and uneven, or that your pores look massive? If so, I have discovered an amazing product which actually solves all three of those problems, a miracle solution of sorts.

I had all these worries myself, and after going through those horrific teenage years of spots, scars and other skin stresses, the look and feel of my skin was starting to really bug me.

It was just by chance that I came across Clarins Pore Minimizing Serum, but when I started using it, I was extremely surprised by how brilliant the results were.

This serum is specifically designed to reduce the amount of oil that your skin produces, whilst improving and combating enlarged pores. It also smooths out the texture of your skin, making your complexion look flawless and luminous.

I really noticed a difference in my skin's texture and smoothness after just a few uses, and will always return to this product whenever I feel my complexion needs improvement.

All you need to do to get these fantastic results is to apply Clarins Pore Minimizing Serum to the areas you feel need targeting every night after cleansing.

If you like the sound of this product, check out the website gorgeousshop.co.uk, where you will be able to purchase this product, plus many other top of the range beauty products at great, value for money prices.

http://www.gorgeousshop.co.uk/shop/clarins-465/clarins-face-466/clarins-day-and-night-treatments-472/clarins-pore-minimizing-serum-30ml-2241.html

Highlight Your Skin

I have wanted a YSL Touche Éclat for as long as I can remember and I was finally given one for my birthday this year.

It’s one of the most amazing beauty products ever created and a must have for any woman’s make up bag.

Touche Éclat is designed to rid your face of dark circles, fine lines and any signs of lack of sleep.

This complexion highlighter works wonders, once applied it gives you the appearance of having a full night’s sleep, making you look refreshed and glowing.

I personally can never seem to get enough sleep and my average amount would probably work itself out to be about 6 hours a night. I constantly feel tired, but this wonderful invention actually hides the fact that I look tired.

People will never know that you’ve been out all night partying…unless you’ve got a raging hangover that is!

When I wore Touche Éclat for the very first time I couldn’t believe the results. I really did look refreshed and in fact I thought it was the best my skin had looked for a very long time. My boyfriend even commented on my appearance and said that it was the nicest I’d ever looked.

It’s also so very simple to use. All you do is press the end of the pen a few times and then gently sweep a couple of strokes underneath your eyes, by your mouth, nose and around your brow area, then blend into your skin.

You can wear it over foundation or on top of your natural skin. So it can be used at any time, day or night.

It comes in 7 different shades, for all different skin colours. Therefore you’re bound to find one to suit your skin. 

At £24.50 it’s a little pricey, but if you’re in need of a product to hide those late nights and to give you a ‘just been to the spa’ appearance, then I would say it’s well worth the money.

I’d certainly recommend Touche Éclat to anyone!

Pamper Your Hair

Sometimes after vigorous hair styling with hair dryers, straighteners and curling irons, or even just using a little too much product, my hair is left feeling dry, brittle and in need of some deep conditioning.

I have never been one to use those leave in conditioning hair treatments, as if I did, I'm pretty sure I'd wake up looking like I'd poured a vat of grease on my head, rather than the shiny, gorgeous hair you're supposed to end up with.

For all the people who have the same problem, I have recently discovered a fantastic solution. A product which not only does the same job as the leave in conditioners, but also only needs to be left on your head for a total of 3 minutes.

This amazing product is none other than Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor.

Strangely, I have never used any Aussie products before this, but have always been told by friends how good they are. Luckily, Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor definitely lives up to expectations.

This deep conditioning treatment helps reconstruct damaged hair, mends split ends and helps keep your mane more manageable and looking luscious.

The best thing about this conditioner is that it even smells amazing. Although it does remind me of those little tablets you used as a child to determine how much plaque you had on your teeth, (I actually loved the taste of them...but hey that's just me).

At a reasonable £4.69 per bottle, why don't you try it for yourself and see if it works wonders for your hair like it has done for mine!