Winter Lip Care

I love the winter season. Wearing thick wooly jumpers with a hundred layers, the white hot chocolates at Starbucks in the classic red cups, opening the advent calendar every morning and all the prep leading up to the big day. One thing I don't like, however, is the weather. The cold seriously takes it's toll on my skin during the December month whereby no amount of moisturiser or specially formulated moisture-increasing treatment will keep my skin hydrated. And with someone who generally deals with combination skin, it is a little disconcerting! For skin, I use Hydraluron followed by Clinique Dramatically Different moisturising lotion and Garnier moisture renew. For lips, I have several favourite products that work absolute wonders during the winter.

Lip scrubs are a must in the winter to get rid of all the nasty dead skin cells collected. Afterwards your lips feel so much softer and make any further lipstick application appear more even and, well, nicer. My favourite for the job is by Lush and tastes like strawberry candy. I have a few favourite lip treatments. During the day I love to apply the Nivea Lip Butter in caramel cream as it just tastes so nice. I also carry around the original Carmex and for a little bit of colour I adore the vast selection of Baby Lips by Maybelline. For a lip balm they are fairly pigmented and give a wash of colour. Pictured is my favourite out of the punch, pink punch. During the evenings and before I go to bed, I always apply a thick layer of Blistex Intense Moisturiser. I have to be honest here; it tastes really bad - almost clinical, if you know what I mean - and feels slightly weird on. However, it is possibly the most hydrating and moisturising lip treatment I have tried and works wonders over night. It does leave a white cast to the lips as it is so thick, so I wouldn't suggest wearing this during the day! 

So there we have it. This will probably be my last post before Christmas so I hope you all have a wonderful day. I can't wait to stay inside, watch Christmassy films and eat loads of yummy foods. Enjoy your day, stay safe and merry Christmas! :)

Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara Review

Brows are one of those features that complete any look. I use charcoal brown eyeshadow by Mac on an everyday basis as it's the perfect shade for dark brown hair and I set it with a clear brow gel also by Mac. I have never tried a coloured brow gel before so I thought I'd try the new Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara - it comes in three shades, I went for the darkest which is dark brown.

And I'm afraid to report there isn't a single aspect I can rave about for this product.

First of all the wand is a ridiculous shape. The majority of people have thicker eyebrows that lead into a thinner tail, right? Yet the bizarre circular wand tip of this mascara certainly is not suitable for this. As it is a dark colour - it really is hard to cover all the hairs, especially on the thinner areas, without getting it all on the skin! Regardless of the colour, I just don't think that it's a good brow mascara in general. Granted the majority of gels do make the eyebrows feel "crispy", but none are as a extreme as this. It seems to take a while to dry and the colour seems easily transferable if you don't wait for it to set.

I can most definitely see where Maybelline are coming from in terms of design with this product, but I just think the practicality of the wand just isn't there. All in all, I think I shall be sticking to my trusty clear Mac brow gel in the future. If you are interested in trying this, it costs £4.99 x x x

Brand Focus: Maybelline

Another brand focus post for you. I previously done of one of these focusing on MAC cosmetics and this time, I'll be running through my favourite and most-loved Maybelline beauty products.

Face
Maybelline are my favourite for under-eye concealers and highlighters. I use the Anti-Age Eye Eraser religiously followed by the Dream Lumi Touch highlighting concealer pen on top. Both diminish any dark circles whilst brightening up the eye area. No cakey-ness whatsoever!

Eyes
Drugstore mascaras are so much more worth it when it comes to price. I own practically all Maybelline mascaras but my favourite and most used has to be The Rocket Volum' Express. The synthetic brush is perfect for adding length without any clumps. Despite the size of the wand, I love using it on my bottom lashes as it doesn't transfer (even though it isn't waterproof!). All of the Maybelline mascaras are great though including One by One, another favourite of mine. The Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner is my favourite drugstore liner. The applicator looks like a felt tip pen which makes it super easy to get a thick or thin line. It doesn't smudge, is super black and all day.

Lips
Honestly, the only lip products I love by Maybelline are the Baby Lips. I have a whole review dedicated to them with swatches but they are really great products. The majority include SPF and decent colour pay off. Not the best at moisturising, but still nice to use.

Have a great week, and halloween! x x x

New Beauty and Skincare Purchases

As I've just started college, I've been spending most of my money on new clothes. I've just realised how easier it was in high school when we had to wear a set uniform everyday. Deciding what to wear each morning has proven to be a struggle! Nevertheless, I still treat myself to some new beauty products now and then - mostly when I run out of things, though. I went to Boots the other day and picked up three new things and a repurchase.

L'Oreal Lumi Magique light infusing foundation
Now that the weather is becoming increasingly colder, I've been looking for the perfect dewy finish foundation. I thought I'd start my search with the "sister" of my favourite ever foundation L'Oreal True Match. It's meant to provide flawless coverage whilst still looking fresh and skin-like.

Collection Cream Puffs in "cotton candy" and "powder puff"
These just looked too pretty to pass up. I love the NYX soft matte lip creams but you can't get them in stores here, and these looked fairly similar. I picked up a light nude and a gorgeous rose shade. Apparently they smell like sugar frosting so I'm excited to try these out.

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch concealer
This is my repurchase of the four - I love using this over my under eye concealer. It just brightens the area up without making it look cakey. It's definitely worth the money.

I also picked up two new skincare bits. Both are repurchases, and both I use on a daily basis.

REN Clearcalm3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser
My favourite cleanser ever! It removes all traces of makeup, freshens up the skin, moisturises, deep cleans and just is a wonderful product. It's targeted at blemish prone skin but I think this will work for anyone, regardless of skin type. On average, it lasts me around five months which, for £18, isn't bad.

L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution
I've repurchased this five times now - it's getting a bit ridiculous. Thank goodness it isn't expensive otherwise I'd be in trouble. I use this to remove all makeup - eyes and face - before going in with my cleanser. It's refreshing, lightweight and does what it says on the bottle. You can't go wrong, really...

June Beauty Favourites (+ randoms!)

I actually can't believe we're more than half way through the year. Before we know it it's gonna be Christmas, then new years, then 2014! I'm going to Dubai next week (ahh!) so expect a couple travel-type posts in the upcoming week :) Anyway, here are my June favourites - as always, links are at the bottom of the post!!!

NARS Powder Foundation (Fiji), Model Co Ultra Shine Lipgloss (Strip Tease), Urban Decay Naked Basics, Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Concealer, Rimmel Exaggerate Eyeliner, Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

May Beauty Favourites

Happy June 1st! I love this day for many reasons: it's a sign that we're already half way through the year and that summer is approaching, school is nearly over (2 weeks left for me) and it's also my parents wedding anniversary! 29 years today which is so crazy! Anyway...

I only ever do monthly beauty favourites when I actually have favourite products to talk about, normally they're just the same as any other month so I rarely do them, but this month I have a lot of top picks!

Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation Primer, Essie #Tart Deco, Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch, L'oreal True Match #W3, NYX #Sweetheart, Benefit They're Real, MAC Lip Liner #Saunter, MAC #Creme D'Nude

Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation Primer
Best primer hands down! I've only just recently bought this and I'm already in love. Before I was using the Smashbox Photo Finish which was good as a primer but bad for my skin. It broke my out every time I used it so I stopped using primers for a while. On a whim I picked up the Laura Mercier one, in oil free, and I noticed the difference immediately. It contains no silicone which I think is what broke my out before and is so lightweight and refreshing as it's a cream product. I just love it and 100% recommend it to anyone needing a new primer or in the market to try a new one.

Essie #Tart Deco
One of my favourite summer nail polishes, it's such a nice coral colour which looks uh-may-zing with a tan! Boots normally do these on a 3 for 2 offer or something so check them out! I also love Mint Candy Apple which is a bright mint green.

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Concealer
It's the best concealer/highlighter hybrid I've tried. It doesn't crease under the eyes, it covers up dark circles and also acts as a really nice highlighter on the cheekbone. It's super cheap as well (only around £7) and lasts forever. I'm not even half way through mine and I've been using it everyday since I bought it around two months ago. I have shade 2.

L'Oreal True Match Foundation
My favourite foundation of the moment. It's a medium coverage but can be built up for a more full coverage - it's quite thin in consistency meaning it feels lightweight and doesn't cake up. It applies really nicely over the Laura Mercier foundation primer and it's what I've been using everyday - I'm already on my second bottle. They bottle doesn't last that long however but for £10 I don't mind repurchasing. I'm in the shade W3 normally but when I tan I'm a W6, even W7.

NYX Mega Shine Lipgloss #Sweetheart
I love NYX lip glosses - they come in so many shades and are not sticky. Unfortunately they don't have the best staying powder, some are better than others. This month I've been wearing Sweetheart over the top of Creme D'Nude by MAC and it looks so nice. It's a shimmery pink nude shade.

MAC Lipstick #Creme D'Nude
This has been my most used lipstick of the month. Creme D'Nude is a peachy nude shade that is very smooth and has a gloss-like appearance. It's really creamy, hence why it's a cremesheen. For a nude it's really easy to wear, probably the easiest one I have. It's one of my favourite lipsticks ever and I've been particularly using it a lot this month.

MAC Lip Liner #Saunter
I hate putting limited edition products in favourites posts but I do believe you can get this on the House of Fraser website still. It's the perfect nude lipliner which can be used as a lip pencil as it's so opaque. It does cling to fine lines and dry areas so make sure you exfoliate and add loads of lip balm before. I like using this with Myth lipstick (practically the same colour) and then adding a pink gloss over the top like Sweetheart by NYX or even a Rimmel Apocalips lip laquer.

Benefit They're Real! Mascara
I got this with a magazine as a sample and I'm in love! It's marketed as the best mascara and the UK's most popular with 10 being sold every minute or something like that, so I always thought it was fake. So when it came with my favourite magazine as a sample I thought I'd give it a go and I'm so glad I did. It lengths the lashes perfectly and makes them look false, it doesn't give much volume which is what I'm normally used to but I can deal with that as it's so good. I'm really tempted to buy the full size even though it's nearly £20 and they run out so quickly! Ugh decisions...

Anyway they're my favourites, I hope you have a great forthcoming month!

xx

Best of 2012

I just wanna start of by saying happy new year!

My posts will lack during January because of my exams so I thought I would do a pretty extensive blog post reviewing all my favourite products (as well as books, movies and music favourites) of 2012 today. Links are added to reviews :)

Best eyeshadows (palette): Urban Decay Naked 2
Best mascara: Rimmel Volume Flash Scandal Eyes or Clinique High Impact
Best pencil liner: Avon Supershock or MAC Stubborn Brown or Rimmel Scandal Eyes in Nude
Best liquid liner: Maybelline Master Precise
Best eyeshadow base: MAC Paint Pots
Best eye lash glue: Revlon Precision Lash Adhesive
Best eyebrow product: Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Ash

I'm not a lip product fan, the only lip products I use are MAC lipsticks. My favourites, and most used, during 2012 have been: Myth or Hue or Honeylove or Sunny Seoul.

Best liquid foundation: Esteé Lauder Double Wear in Fresco and Desert Beige
Best powder foundation: NARS Powder Foundation in Fiji
Best primer: Smashbox Photofinish
Best concealer: Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection in Fair
Best bronzer: NARS Laguna
Best blush: Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed
Best powder: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus

Best volumising product: TRESemmé Volume and Lift Mousse
Best dry shampoo: TRESemmé Instant Refresh
Best heat protector: TRESemmé Keratin Smooth
Best treatment: Moroccan Oil or Leo Bancroft Instant Sleek or Kerastase Nectar Thermique or Macadamia Oil
Best straightening balm: Redken Power Tame 16 or Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum

Best self tanner: St Moriz Mousse in Dark
Best face moisturiser: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel
Best body moisturiser: Shea body butter from The Body Shop
Best hand cream: L'Occitane
Best universal cream: E45 or Sudocrem (not pictured)
Best acne/red skin treatment: Mario Badescu Control Cream

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Favourite books of the year

- The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

- Unwind by Neal Shusterman

- Holy Bible (ESV)

- The Dog Stars by Peter Heller

Favourite movies (and shows) of the year

- Project X

- Ted

- Sherlock, both series

Favourite albums of the year

- Born To Die: Paradise Edition by Lana Del Rey

- Take Me Home by One Direction

- Life is Elsewhere by Little Comets

- Babel by Mumford & Sons

- Channel Orange by Frank Ocean

- What's The Story (Morning Glory)? by Oasis

So thats all of my favourite things of 2012. I hope you had an amazing year and I hope that the new year brings you happiness and lots of laughs.

Suzanna xo

Everyday Makeup Routine

NARS bronzer in Laguna, BareMinerals Touch Up Veil, MAC blush in Harmony, Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer, Esteé Lauder Double Wear Foundation, Benefit thePorefessional, Maybelline One by One, Maybelline Illegal Lengths, Clinique High Impact mascara, MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study, Avon Supershock Gel Liner in Black, Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner, MAC Brow Gel in Clear, Avon Brow Definer in Dark Brown and MAC lipstick in Hue

I call this my "everyday makeup routine" but, to be fair, it's really the routine I use when I actually wear makeup as I don't wear it everyday. I hardly have any time during school!

*Note: the links lead to separate reviews*

Taken by my iPhone, apologises for awful quality

For my face the first product I use is the Benefit Porefessional primer followed by my new found love, Esteé Lauder Double Wear foundation. I picked up a sample as I heard so many great things about this product, and after three uses, I can already tell it is going to be my new favourite foundation. The full size is on my wist list already! Using the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair I go over any redness or imperfections and then I set everything with the bareMinerals Ready Touch Up Veil in Translucent. To contour I use Harmony by MAC and then put some NARS Laguna bronzer all over the face. Done.

I use a lot of products on my eyes, I know. If I have time I'll pop a few eyeshadows on, but for everyday makeup I just put Bare Study Paint Pot by MAC all over the lid. I line my upper lash line by using the Maybelline Master Pecise Liquid Eyeliner in Black and my tight-line using Avon Supershock Gel Liner in Black. For mascara I use three: Maybelline One by One, Maybelline Illegal Lengths and Clinique High Impact. For my brows I use the Avon Brow Definer in Dark Brown followed by MAC Brow Gel in Clear.

Lastly I use my favourite MAC lipstick, Hue.

As for tools and brushes, I mainly use Real Techniques - their face brushes are perfection. For bronzer I use my MAC 129 as it collects the perfect amount of product.

What's your everyday routine like?

Suzanna xoxo

Ps. I've already started my New York countdown: 15 DAYS TO GO!

August beauty favourites

I never do favourite posts mainly because, 9 times out of 10, the products are generally the same. This month I have some new products and as always, I include non-beauty favourites too! I know it's cliché but this year has seriously whizzed past; I start my final year of school next week, my birthday is in a month and then we have Christmas in 115 days! Before we know it, it will be 2013. Anyway, let's get started.

Maybelline One by One Volum' Express Mascara, Urban Decay De-Slick, Nars Laguna, Clinique Airbrush Concealer, Ted Baker S'lip Liquid Lip Colour and imPRESS Nails

These are the products that I've used pretty much every day this month, especially when I was in Italy. I love trying new mascaras and I think I've found my new favourite in the Maybelline One by One Volum' Express. It doesn't clump, it nicely separates the lashes and gives a decent amount of length. I would say it gives that much volume, but layered with another mascara would do the trick. I opted for the non-waterproof, and it still stays on all day. The powder I've been using every day is the Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder - it's perfect. It doesn't leave a white cast, it keeps my skin matte all day, it comes with a puff for touch-ups (if needed) and the packaging is awesome. I love it so much I have even hit pan. At £20, it is decently priced yet I do think it's worth it. Another product I've hit pan on is the infamous Nars Laguna bronzer. I was sceptical about taking this abroad as I've heard all of the horror stories about it breaking but mine was perfectly fine. I love this bronzer, it works for all skin-types and is perfect for those with pale skin tones as it doesn't make you look muddy or orange. My favourite concealer this month has been the Clinique Airbrush Concealer as it's easy to apply, blend and is very natural looking. It also works as a good highlighter for the cheekbones. I've been loving the new Ted Baker Liquid Lip Colour in light rose. It's a shimmery blue-tone pink and is perfect. It lasts for a really long time and smells amazing, too. My final favourite are the imPRESS stick-on false nails. The first pair I bought was in "Starstruck" and I loved them so much I bought another pair (I can't seem to find the name of these, but they're leopard print). They last a long time, look great, are easy to apply as well as easy to take off. They are on the pricey side, but I do think they're worth it for those special occasions!

Now for the non-beauty favourites.

Nylon magazine, Union Jack sunnies, Contagion, sketching pencils and my iPhone

I'm a magazine hoarder. Each month I buy at least ten different monthly magazines - keeping in mind they are roughly £3-£4 each! But I just love them. Anyway, this month I found American magazine Nylon with the gorgeous Ashley Greene on the cover. It's such a good magazine, check it out. Even though the Olympic fiasco is over, I've still been wearing my Union Jack Sunglasses that my dad bought me on eBay. They're in the style of Ray-Bans which, he knows, I love. My favourite movie this month has been Contagion. Brief synopsis: a deadly disease infects civilisation and a team of doctors have to deal with the outbreak and conjure up a cure. It's f**king amazing. It stars famous actors like Matt Damon, Kate Winslet and Jude Law, so it's a definite must-see. I'm just annoyed that I didn't go and see it at the cinema! I've been getting much more into art recently - hence the representation by the two sketching pencils. My dad bought me a really lovely leather sketching book which I've been constantly drawing in. Then we have my iPhone, sneakily disguised by, what I think, is the best case in the whole world. It looks like a Nintendo Game Boy! I don't know what I would do without my phone - I listen to music, play games, surf the web, read e-mails, call, text, set reminders, take pictures and so much more. #TeamiPhone

No favourites post would be the same without a run-through of my favourite songs!

• Little Talks - Of Monsters and Men
• All I Want Is You - U2
• Family Friend - The Vaccines
• Some Nights - Fun
• Baba O'Riley - The Who
• Where I Belong - Building 427
• Runaways - The Killers (best song ever, hands down)

YouTube them all, and then fall in love.

Suzanna xoxo

What's in my travel make-up bag?

This time tomorrow, I'll be boarding the plane to go to Rome! I am so excited as I've wanted to go to Italy ever since my dad came back from a business trip and told stories of how wonderful the atmosphere is there. Plus, we're going for my mum's birthday which makes it extra special.

Considering I've never done any "what's in my ___" posts, I thought I'd start with showing you what I am taking in my make-up bag for Rome. The make-up bag that I am taking with me is see-through so I can use the products on the plane if needed. It also makes it easier for me as I know where everything is!

This is everything I'm taking...

Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara, Maybelline One by One Mascara, Clinique High Impact Mascara, Garnier Eye Roll On, MAC Eye Kohl in Smolder, MAC Eye Kohl in Fascinating, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion, Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner, Clinique Eyeshadow Duo in Victorian Pink, Avon Glimmersticks Brow Definer in Dark Brown and Blonde, MAC Brow Set in Clear, MAC Paint Pots in Bare Study, Nubile and Rubenesque, Benefit High Beam, Benefit The Porefessional, MAC Mineralise Skinfinish in Semi-Precious Crystal Pink, Nars Bronzer in Laguna, Urban Decay De-Slick Translucent Powder, MAC Powder Blush in Harmony, Revlon Lip Butter in Strawberry Shortcake and Carmex!

(Underlined items link to reviews)

It sounds like a lot, but trust me, it's not!

I hope you're having a great summer and I'll be back towards the end of the week!

Suzanna xoxo

PS. I've mentioned this before, but I'm going to New York in October for my birthday. I've planned to do several posts before then including what I'm taking for skincare and what I'm taking for haircare. I might also do a whats in my bag post - if interested :)

Cat-eye makeup tutorial

Products Used
MAC Paint Pot in Nubile http://bit.ly/Lj7d3p
MAC Paint Pot in Idylic
Clinique eyeshadow duo
Maybelline Master Precise liquid eyeliner
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On eye pencil in Perversion http://bit.ly/JuyRiP
Avon SuperSHOCK gel liner in Blackest Black
Maybelline Illegal Length mascara http://bit.ly/Ju8e83
Maybelline The Falsies Flared mascara http://bit.ly/K2xyq8
MAC Mineralise Skinfinish in Semi Precious Crystal Pink
No7 eyebrow pencil in Espresso
MAC Brow Set in Clear

1. Start with priming your eyelids, for this I used MAC's Paint Pot in Nubile however a similar alternative would be MAC's painterly paint pot or Urban Decay's primer potion.
2. Apply a dark plum shade to your crease; I used MAC's Paint Pot in Idylic to do this. Make sure you blend it so you see no harsh lines.
3. With a light brown, run it through the crease. Then with a light frosty champagne colour, apply it all over the lid with a flat shader brush. Go back with the light brown to blend any edges and to define the crease that extra bit more. Using a matte white shade, put this under the brow-bone and blend it into the crease colour. The eyeshadows I used are all from Clinique. Then with a champagne colour, I used MAC's Mineralise Skinfinish in Crystal Pink, put this in the inner-corner to brighten your eyes.
4. Using a liquid eyeliner, for this I used Maybelline's Master Precise, run it along the upper lash line. Start with a thin line and then build it up to a more thicker line. Create a cat-eye effect by continuing the eyeliner above your eye (see picture) as far as you wish.
5. Tight-line using your favourite black eyeliner and then line your waterline. I used both Urban Decay and Avon liners for this as I find they have the best staying power.
6. Curl your lashes and apply mascara to the top and bottom. I used Illegal Length for the bottom lashes and The Falsies Flared for the top lashes.

Hope you liked this! :)

Suzanna xoxo

Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara

I picked this up yesterday at Boots for around £6 along with an new liquid eyeliner that I'm completely and utterly obsessed with (review will be coming soon!) and some new boring hair stuff. Luckily, they were having one of their 3 for 2 deals that I love and can't stay away from. Anyway, I decided to give the Maybelline Illegal Length mascara a try as I've read some positive reviews about it online and I wanted to see what all the 'hype' was all about.

Sorry for the rubbish picture quality :'(

The length that it gives my lashes is amazing, it's not over the top but it looks really nice and full. Another thing I love about it is the fact it hardly clumps. My old favourite, the Maybelline falsies flared, clumped so much; which is fine for a night out but it doesn't look right during the day in my opinion. This mascara however doesn't clump which is awesome. The brush is a nice, long shape and the point can reach into the lashes in the corner or even the bottom lashes without touching your skin. Personally I've always had a problem with the mascara wand touching my eye, but this one doesn't do that thankfully.

When it comes to mascara, I think that the "drugstore" (Boots and Superdrug) brands are equally as good as the high end brands. You don't keep a mascara forever, so I don't see the point in investing in a £24 mascara! That being said, I am thinking about purchasing the Benefit They're Real mascara as everyone raves about it. If that makes me a hypocrite, then so be it ;)

Suzanna xoxo

Ps. I've got exams this week so my next post will be on Saturday! Wish me luck!

Neutral eye makeup

Just a quick post today.

Eyes:
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Semi Precious Crystal Pink
MAC eyeshadows in Cork, Carbon and Blanc Type
Maybelline The Falsies Volume Express Mascara - review
Clinique High Impact Mascara in Black
Avon SuperShock Gel Eyeliner in Black

Brows:
No7 brow pencil in Espresso
MAC brow set in Clear

That's it. See you mid-week :)

Suzanna xoxo

MAC Blot Powder Pressed

MAC Blot Powder in Medium, £20

MAC describes it as a "unique pressed powder designed primarily to provide shine control without adding any noticeable colour or texture."

This is one of my favourite all time powders mainly because it does keep the oils at bay and reduces shine as well as leaving a cake-free finish. It's hardly noticeable. I'm not entirely sure why they have a colour scheme, but for reference I purchased shade medium. At £19 it is pricey, but it definitely lasts a long time. I've had mine for coming up to a year, and I've nearly hit pan. I think it is worth it, however I believe that there are great blot powders at the drugstore. My favourite is the Maybelline "Dream Matte" powder - it's super inexpensive and lasts ages. Get it here.

Suzanna x

Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express Flared Mascara

Such a long name for a mascara, don't you think?!

This is Maybelline's second take on the original Falsies mascara released many years ago that was a huge public success. I liked it and went through at least three tubes of the stuff. After hearing that they've released a new, updated, version I was excited.

By the title and the use of the word "flared", I assumed that it would space the lashes out much more to make it more defined. And it certainly did that...

One coat applied:

Two coats applied:





As you can see, the more layers to apply, the more flared - separated - the lashes become. It all depends on what kind of look you are going for.


The applicator is curved slightly to give the lashes that extra curl. As a mini-experiment, I didn't curl my lashes before applying the mascara, just to see what it looks like and personally, I wouldn't know the difference. As well as giving volume and length, it also curls the lashed whilst doing so. This is one of the main reasons why I like this mascara so much. Yet some people might not like the fact that the lashes stick together. I definitely think it's worth a try. For an even more dramatic and intense look, I recommend curling your lashes like normal and then applying two coats of the mascara.




However, the downside to this product is the price. For a high-street (drugstore) product, it's rather pricey. When I bought it last month, it cost me nearly £11 which, I think, is crazy! I believe the price has gone down which is a good thing.

Have a great week!

Suzanna xoxo

Recent purchases at Westfield

Westfield is definitely one of my favourite places to shop. It has everything. Literally. Two floors of shopping amazingness. If you live in London, or near, go to Westfield at White City.

Anyway, I just got back shopping and I wanted to show you what I got!

Left to right:
1. Umberto Giannini Salon Straight Blow Dry Cream (review coming soon)
2. MAC Pro Eye makeup remover (*)
3. Rimmel London makeup remover
4. LO'real Paris gel eyeliner in black and brush
5. Maybelline the Falsies volume express flared mascara
6. Revlon lip butters (review coming soon) (*)
7. Garnier eye roll on
8. E45 cream
9. Carmex lip balm
10. Soap & Glory Hand Food cream
11. Barrel hair brush

Left to right:
1. Marie Clare magazine
2. InStyle magazine
3. Glamour magazine
4. The Big Bang Theory season 1-3
5. Maze Runner by James Dashner

and the most exciting purchase...

It's my Dad's birthday on Monday so we decided to treat him to the new iPad! Let's hope he likes it.

-

Have a great Easter weekend.

Suzanna
XOXO

Ps. I've been watching Bertie's YouTube videos on his recent trip to New York. It makes me want October to hurry up so badly. It looks breathtaking! Check out the videos here: BertiebertG.