Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation, 30ml

The Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation has been on the makeup scene for quite some time now and receives mixed opinions and views from bloggers.

It's main selling point is that it "instantly reawakens skin with a healthy, radiant glow" that also "minimises premature skin ageing". To achieve said radiant glow it uses radiance illuminating pearls which tends to look glittery. I personally don't mind this - yet if you don't like it, then using a coloured powder will disguise the shimmer.

This foundation isn't full coverage. I would say it provides a medium coverage that is build-able. It doesn't cover blemishes or imperfections, yet it does an excellent job of covering redness which I love. If you were looking for a full coverage, then this isn't for you. Believe it or not, this foundation is actually good for your skin. Say what? Make up that is good for your skin? In a way, yes! This foundation includes peptides that increase elasticity so that the skin recovers and bounces back more quickly. It also includes a healthy SPF 15 to protect the skin all year round. Daily benefits also include reducing signs of tiredness and removing the appearance of fatigue.

It comes in 6 different shades. I picked up the shade in 200 Soft Beige and it blends in perfectly. At under £10, you can even buy two shades and mix them together to create the perfect shade. Overall, I really love this foundation. It evens out my skintone, covers redness and pores and provides a nice luminosity to the skin without looking like a disco ball!

So, what are your thoughts on this foundation?

Suzanna xoxo

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer

Possibly the most talked/blogged about concealer this year, the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer is definitely a holy grail for me.

Described as an "ultimate wear concealer" that "conceals flaws, imperfections and blemishes for up to 16 hours", it also claims to be transfer proof and water resistant to ensure a "full and long lasting coverage". For £4.99, is it just too good to be true?

Absolutely not! This concealer is perfect for those who want full coverage and want something that covers anything and everything. It has a rather thick consistency yet is easily blend-able and doesn't emphasis fine lines. 

I do have one issue with this product. The colour range is crap. It only comes in four shades: fair, light, medium and deep, and, to be honest, the "deep" shade could pass as a light shade. Fortunately I had no problems finding the perfect match for me - I decided to pick up the fair shade for under the eyes and the light shade for covering imperfections and blemishes, and it works perfectly. 

Have you tried this concealer yet?

Suzanna xoxo

Experiencing problems with malware on Blogger?

This is going to be a short, off-topic post, just to help those of you who are experiencing problems when opening your blog or browsing through other peoples blogs.

I have read numerous articles on how to detect the malware on your blog, each going into detail about various codes to look out for. Yet, the most helpful one I came across basically said to: delete all the gadgets/widgets on your page!

These include: page view counters, social networking links, hyperlinked pictures and links to other people's blogs on your homepage. On each of these gadgets, there is a high chance that malware (viruses) are being planted into your blog. So to prevent getting spammed, delete these now.

I've just done it, and all of the malware warnings have disappeared.

I really hope this has helped some of you.

Suzanna xoxo

bareMinerals READY Touch Up Veil

bareMinerals READY Touch Up Veil in Translucent

I bought the Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder back in May of this year, and have recently finished it completely. That's five months of using it daily: you can judge for yourself whether spending £23 (at time of purchase) was worth it. Anyway, I loved that powder and it did what it was meant to do perfectly. But instead of repurchasing, I wanted to try something new.

Enter the bareMinerals READY Touch Up Veil with SPF 15.

bareMinerals are famous for their loose mineral powders. I've tried it before and really enjoyed it, but always thought it was a hassle to use every day so I never repurchased it. So when I found out they were introducing a pressed powder version, I was excited.

The bareMinerals Ready Touch Up Veil is said to diffuse the look of imperfections whilst reducing shine to create a flawless finish throughout the day. Sounds brilliant.

And it is.

I've been using this powder ever since I got it and have been in love. I got mine in the shade translucent, yet there is a slightly tinted version available, and it doesn't look cakey at all. In fact, it's invisible. It also feels weightless, yet reduces shine completely. I also don't have to re-apply the product throughout the day which is what I had to do with the Urban Decay De-Slick.

It also comes with a really nice powder puff, perfect for on the go use.

Overall, if you haven't tried this product, and if you're already a fan of the bareMinerals range, then I definitely recommend you try this product. At £22 it can seem a little steep at first, but for 10g of product, and for the quality of the product, then it's worth it.

Have a good day :)

Suzanna xoxo

Kérastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique Nourishing Care

Kérastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique Nourishing Care, 150ml

Buying new haircare products is always fun. I love trying new things out. Yet the products I normally try out are inexpensive so that, if I am not fond of it, I can just toss it and not care. I only ever buy 'high-end' hair products when I know I already like them, such as Moroccan Oil and the Philip Kingsley shampoo and conditioners. So this product was a splurge for me, and the reason why I decided to pick it up was because of an amazing review by Vivianna who has the same hair colour, type and length as me. I needed to try it.

At £16.10, the Kérastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique Nourishing Care isn't the cheapest of products. This is a leave-in treatment that is designed to provide nourishing care for dry to very dry hair. It also has heat-activated thermo-protective ingredients, so is perfect for someone like me who straightens every day. Due to the fact it's target at dry to very dry hair, it provides "supreme shine" from root to tip. The website also claims that "hair feels supple and is protected from mechanical aggressions" - hair straighteners, curlers, hairdryers etc. It also says it "facilitates blow-drying for a smoother and quicker finish".

So in Layman's terms, it makes dry hair soft, shiny whilst protecting it from heat.

...and I love it.

The application process (as seen above) is simple. Wash and condition your hair normally, towel dry, apply the product onto the lengths of the hair and then blow-dry.

I've said it before: I hate products that are leave-in or are applied to damp hair. The only exception I have is the Redken Straight Power Tame 16 and now, this.

As well as smelling gorgeous, it leaves the ends of my hair soft and shiny which is perfect considering I have dry hair. I can't say enough good things about this. Kérastase is a brand that is used in most hairdressers, which I presume is why my hair always looks God-damn amazing when I walk out of the salon. This product just adds to my collection of holy grail must-haves.

If you haven't tried it, you must, and if you have, what do you think?

Suzanna xoxo

Yes To Tomatoes Clear Skin Clearing Facial Mask

Yes To Tomatoes Skin Clearing Facial Mask, 48g

Reviewing face masks is hard. My results for this product may differ and be the complete opposite to someone else, therefore it's hard to write a good review as, of course, I will be biased. Yet I will try to be as informative as I possibly can.

Yes To Tomatoes Skin Clearing Facial Mask, £11.99, is a total deep pore treatment that refines, purifies and even moisturises your skin, while keeping your complexion clean, clear and balanced. As for the scientific element to the product, it is filled with "potent anti-oxidents that fight free radicals, and bursting with powerful sebum (acne-causing oil) absorbers". It is 98% natural, uses dead sea minerals and is also petroleum and paraben free.

I done what it said: apply a thin layer by using circular motions to thoroughly cover the face. I left it for 5 minutes before wiping it away with a damp washcloth. My skin felt extra clean, polished and even moisturised which I didn't think a face mask would do.

The reason I bought this product was for the "clearing" aspect - I wanted  it to help it clear up my mild breakouts of acne. Obviously, a product doesn't work instantly and, to get full results, you have to try it several times. I've used this mask around 8 times and, so far, I haven't seen that much of a difference of my skins appearance. It cleans my skin and moisturises it, but it doesn't actually clear it.

I do have to mention the smell - it's amazing. It smells exactly like the Shea body butter from The Body Shop which is my absolute favourite. Ah.

I'm going to keep trying it, but I just don't think it's working for me.

Have you tried it? Does it work for you?

Suzanna xoxo

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Powder

NYC is a popular American drugstore brand that isn't really heard of in the UK, mainly because it isn't available. I've seen so many positive reviews from my favourite beauty bloggers and YouTubers that I decided I needed to try it. I'm going to the States next month yet I didn't want to wait that long so I perused on eBay and found it for £2.65 - bargain. Here is a link to the seller! 

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Powder in Sunny

The NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Powder in Sunny is said to glide on easily for a sheer bronze glow that looks like "you have just stepped off the beach". It says it's easy to use everywhere and is perfect for quick touch-ups throughout the day.

Most of the people I saw review it and claimed it was amazing had fair skin (for example, Ingrid and Lisa on YouTube). Having pale skin myself, I thought it would work as well.

I'm still on the fence about this product. It has it's positives and it has it's negatives. The positives being that it is a true bronze colour - not those horrible, fake orange colours - which is good because of the inexpensive price tag. It also glides on easily and blends out really well and effortlessly which is nice when applying in a rush in the morning.

However, it's really hard to get it show up on the skin. I have to layer it up in order for it to be seen which is a shame. It's weird because all of the people I saw review it had the same colour skin as me, but I guess it also depends on the skin type. This morning, though, I put it on top of my NARS Laguna and it looked so nice, so I think it's about trial and error.

I don't regret buying it (£2.65 is nothing compared to the £28 I spent for my Laguna bronzer), yet I did hope it would work for me. Hopefully, when it gets colder and my skin becomes even more pale, it will show up!

Suzanna xoxo 

Beauty Blogger Tag

I haven't got any products to review (until I've tried them out for a bit longer) so I've decided to do a tag posts which I've seen pop up on some of the blogs I follow. Just for something different, ok :)

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?
Straight, thank god!
2. What is your natural hair colour?
Dark brown.
3. Do you dye it yourself or go to the salon?
I've never dyed my hair but if I was too, I would go to a salon for sure. I'd probably fuck it up if I did it myself!
4.  How often do you wash your hair?
Every other day.
5. Do you wear the same style every day or change it?
I try and change it as often as possible, yet due to school and getting up at 6am every morning I normally just straighten it. If I have an extra 10 minutes I'll curl it.
6. Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to a salon?
Myself, or my mother does it ;)
7. How often to change your nail polish?
I only wear it on the weekend (Friday night until Sunday) because of school.
8. Do you polish your toes in the winter or just in summer?
Yeah, but not as much.
9. How long does it take to put on your makeup?
An hour, roughly. I take things slow ha-ha!
10. What do you do first? Face or eyes?
Depends what type of eye makeup I do, to be honest.
11. Do you "collect" makeup or just buy what you need when you need it?
I wouldn't say collect, but I do buy makeup even when I don't need it.
12. How often do you wear false eyelashes?
Special occasions, too much hassle for everyday.
13. Do you do a full face of makeup every day?
Hell no!
14. Do you wear makeup when you are home alone (or with family)?
Not a full face, but I do my eyes for sure.
15. Will you leave the house without makeup?
Yeah.
16. How many high end products do you have?
All of the makeup I own (aside from mascaras) is high-end - mostly MAC, Urban Decay, Benefit, NARS and Chanel. It's so much better quality, but the price kills me.
17. How often do you wash your makeup brushes?
Every time I use them. I have major OCD when it comes to things being clean - especially considering I have very acne-prone skin I need to be careful.
18. Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when your getting dresses?
I've never done an outfit of the day, but if I was I would just wear what I felt like at that moment. Or depending on what the occasion was. I love looking at other bloggers OOTD; my personal favourite is She Wears Fashion - best fashion blog ever.
19. How often do you change your handbag?
Quite often.
20. What time do you get up and go to sleep?
School days: in bed at 12.30 and get up at around 6.30am.
Weekends: in bed at 2 at the latest and up at 9am.
21. How often and when do you workout?
I walk everywhere and I go to the gym every other day.
22. Left handed or right handed?
Right!
23. How tall are you?
5 foot, 7 inches. Wish I was taller!
24. Do you speak a foreign language?
Si hablo espana ;)
25. How many pets do you have?
53, to be precise.
26. How often are you on blogger?
Couple times a week, not every day though.
27. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?
Yes all the time. It's addictive, especially when they're recommendations from bloggers such as Vivianna, Sammi and Laura. I can't help myself.
28. How did you come up with your blog name?
Fuck knows!
29. What kind of camera do you use for photographs?
Nikon P500 and a Canon 60D. My babies.
30. How often do you clean your house?
I don't clean the whole house, but my room every day!
31. Favourite colour?
Any and all shades of blue.
32. What is your favourite beauty/fashion magazine?
Allure, InStyle, Marie Clare, Glamour, Elle and Nylon.
33. Do you swear?
Way too much. My parents hate it.
34. What are you doing with the rest of your day?
SLEEP.

You've been tagged! :)

Suzanna xoxo

Redken Straight Power Tame 16

I recently bought a few new haircare bits (see here) and one of the items I picked up was the Redken Straight Power Tame 16 which is marketed as an "intense straightening balm for coarse hair." Feel Unique, on their website, says that it "slims down coarse hair and helps to tame frizz and transform unruly textures, sealing in lasting smoothness and shine." What I also loved about the claim was that it "helps protect from heat damage" which is perfect for me as I straighten my hair every day.

Redken Straight Power Tame 16, 5fl/oz / 250ml

This is probably a biased review as I have only used it once, yet I know for sure that this is my new holy grail hair product. It hands down beats my Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum by a long shot and here's why.

Despite the fact it's a thick lotion, it is really light weight and disappears into the hair without leaving it greasy or sticky. It tames frizz dramatically - I didn't even have to use hairspray. The smell of the product is really pleasant and, to me, smells like fruit salad. My hair felt so much smoother than if I didn't use this product and also added the perfect amount of shine. It says to "apply to damp hair and blow dry" and, when I read this, I was a bit sceptical. Products that I apply whilst my hair is damp never seem to work well. For instance, Moroccan Oil doesn't work for me when my hair is damp yet is a miracle when my hair is dry. This product did work though, which I was very happy about.

However, I can vision this product running out soon. This is because I use a decent amount of product due to my hair length. Yet, one good thing is that I only wash my hair every other day so I hope I can make it last.

What are your thoughts on this product? Have you tried it?

Suzanna xoxo

Welda Wild Rose Smoothing Eye Cream

Don't you just hate it when you buy something either online or in store then, when you get home, you find out that you already own it? I ordered this product on a whim from Feel Unique and, when it arrived, it looked awfully familiar. That's because I had already owned it, used it up and forgot to repurchase. It's like fate (not really, but in a way) and I'm so glad I did.

Welda Wild Rose Smoothing Eye Cream, 10ml

The Welda Wild Rose Smoothing Eye Cream is a light cream that helps diminish puffiness and fine lines. It is a specially formulated cream that is fragrance-free and can be used during the day or at night to help soothe tired and strained eyes. It contains high quality cold-pressed wild rose seed oil, peach kernel oil and almond oil, which strengthens the skin's natural protective barrier and gives the skin extra nourishment, thanks to their essential fatty acids. Eventually, the skin is left hydrated, soft and supple. In addition, eyebright (euphrasia) plant extract has a soothing effect on the skin, and along with the extra of sedum, eases irritation around the eyes. (Source: http://www.weleda.co.uk/)

As I mentioned before, I have owned this product before and used it all up. The reason why I didn't immediately purchase? Well, the price of it slightly bugged me. It costs £14.95 yet only contains 10ml of product, if that. You can see in the last image above, it's tiny! Considering I use this in the morning and at night everyday, the product soon disappears and seems to expensive to keep repurchasing every month or two. Therefore, when the first tube ran out I didn't repurchase.

Now that I'm re-using it again, I can definitely see the difference it makes to my eye area.

I hardly get any sleep - I go to bed at about 1am and wake up at 6.30am. So this product is my life-saver, especially when I have school and want to look awake! I don't have any fine lines but I read that using eye creams at a young age prevents getting lines/wrinkles when I'm older. The cream doesn't have any fragrance to it which is particularly good for those with sensitive skin, like myself. It makes my eye area really soothed and I can definitely see a reduction in the amount of puffiness. Overall, this product is definitely worth the extra splash yet, unfortunately, I don't think it's that much of a necessity for me so I don't think I am going to repurchase.

Suzanna xoxo

Recent Purchases from Feel Unique

In my last post I mentioned about an order I placed with Feel Unique, one of my favourite online shopping websites. Today, the package arrived so I'm going to show with you what I got!

Yes To Tomatoes Clear Skin Facial Mask, Bare Minerals Touch Up Veil, Cosmopolitan Beauty Expert Face Brush, Kérastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique, Redken Power Tame 16, Joico Smooth Cure, Neals Yard Remedies Remedy to Roll, Wedla Wild Rose Eye Cream

The main reason for going on Feel Unique was to get some new haircare bits. Ever since Vivianna's review on the Kérastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique (£18.90), I knew I wanted to try it. She has the same type of hair as mine (long, thick, dry) therefore I hope that it works just as well as it does for her on me. I also picked up the Joico Smooth Cure (£11.95) travel set which includes a shampoo, conditioner and leave-in treatment. With high-end hair products I always get travel sizes or miniatures before investing in the large bottles, just to make sure I like them. The last hair product I bought was the Redken Power Tame 16 (£15.15) which is an intense straightening balm for those who want straight, non-frizzy, glossy hair. I have seen any reviews on this, so I'm excited to do my own.

I picked up two skincare items with the first being Yes To Tomatoes Clear Skin Facial Mask (£11.99). I've been using my Body Shop face mask for a long time so I decided to venture out and try a something from a brand I have never used before. It's organic and is therefore filled with properties that are good for your skin. I also bought the Welda Smoothing Eye Cream (£13.45) that says it softens fine lines, preserves the skin's youthful vitality and reduces puffiness. I'm excited to try this. The size of the tube is absolutely tiny - it only holds 10ml's of product which, for the price, isn't a lot. I'll tell you my thoughts and whether it's worth it when I review it properly.

The last three things I bought were random and last minute. I've heard good things about the Neal's Yard Remedies Remedies to Roll (£5.50) oils and heard that they are particularly good for long-haul flights. They have a range of different types such as relaxation travel, yet I decided to try the energy version. I picked up a boring old face brush by Cosmopolitan (£5.95) to use my Mario Badescu powder with. The last thing I bought was the bareMinerals Ready Touch Up Veil in Translucent (£22.00) which was definitely an impulse buy. I've nearly finished my Urban Decay De-Slick and, considering bareMinerals were having a sale, I decided to purchase it. 

I'm really happy with my purchases and, as always, expect individual reviews on each of them in the upcoming weeks!

Suzanna xoxo

Ps. The Vaccines just came out with the second studio album. I'm in love and I definitely recommend you should check them out, here.

Headmasters Colour Brilliance Miracle Moisture Mask

The only hairdressers I've ever been too in my life (aside from going to my auntie when I was a kid) has been Headmasters. It's affordable, professional, quick and simple - I enjoy going there. So when I found out that they were creating their own line of hair products, I knew I had to try them.

With prices ranging from £2.99 to £5.99 and with products such as shampoos, conditioners, masks, hairsprays, mouses and various hair creams, it is the perfect haircare line.

I decided to try the Colour Brilliance Miracle Moisture Mask which claims to provide "intense nourishment to help enhance colour and bring out multi-dimensional tones". This product can be used for those with dyed hair or without dyed hair. It also says that the "luxury conditioning formula penetrated deep into the hair for extreme hydration and long lasting softness".

There are two types of 'treatments' that you can use this product for. The first one is to apply the cream to damp, towel-dried hair and massaging it through the ends. Leave it in for 3 minutes before rinsing it out with warm water. Or, to get intense moisture treatment you can apply the mask then wrap it in a warm towel and leave for 5-10 minutes before rinsing it out. I opted for the second choice, the more intense one.

I found that it took much less time to blow-dry than normal and my hair so much softer than normal. Perhaps this is because I have such dry ends that I managed to notice a difference instantly. The product is slightly fragranced which is nice when you leave it on, but it disappears when you wash it off. I don't think that it does bring out dimensional tones like it claims, yet for £4.99 I think that claim was a bit too adventurous. I do like the texture of my hair after using it and will definitely continue to use it.

Suzanna xoxo

Ramblings!

♥ I've just placed an order with Feel Unique so I'll share the products with you in a haul as soon as I receive the package. I feel like I haven't hauled in ages!
♥ I can't believe it's already September! This year has gone so fast.
♥ Just bought the new The Vaccines album. I'm in love.