Sleek Pout Paints Review

I been looking forward to these being launched ever since I saw them on quite a few blogs earlier this year as they seemed to be the high street answer to OCC's Lip Tars and would be easier to get access to as they are sold in Superdrug.

I literally stalked my two local Sleek counter for 3 days because all the testers had come in but no stock, I finally managed to get my hands on 3 of the colours (has they are on 3for2 at the moment) and I'm not that impressed.

 Peachy Keen, Minx, Milkshake

They might look like the Lip Tars in the tube but they are nothing alike when applied to the lips.

Lip Tars are a highly pigmented liquid lip cream that lasts for hours, have a pretty satin finish and leave a stain behind when they wear off.

They are a little drying but they fade nicely and evenly and require little in terms of touch up.

The Sleek Pout Paints on the other hand are more like a liquid lipstick, very pigmented but with a glossier more moisturising finish because of this they do glide on quite easily in comparison.

The lasting power isn't bad but I found the product settled into the creases of my lips making them look quite old and as the product wore off it left a white ring round the inside of my mouth which isn't pretty.

Peachy Keen, Minx, Milkshake

One other major issue with the product is that it separates in the tube, when you first squeeze the tube this clear oil comes out first which in turn makes the product apply unevenly, you can kind of see what I mean if you look at my swatch of Minx.

I"m also not a fan of the scent, they have a slight orange scent but it can be too much after a while, the OCC Lip Tars on the other hand have a minty scent that is much more tolerable.

For the price they aren't worth it, the OCC Lip Tars are a little more expensive but a better option overall.

Have you tried the Sleek Pout Paint and what did you think of them?

GlossyBox August 2011!

I'm a little late this month, I actually recieved my GlossyBox last Thursday but haven't had time to put up a post. I'm really impressed with this months box, it's actually my favourite so far, a nice mix of skincare, haircare and make-up.

Murad Time Release Blemish Cleanser (£29)

I've been wanting to try Murad for a while and this cleanser does not dissapoint.

It work really well at deep cleansing skin without stripping it and feels nice and refreshing on the skin, I only wish that it would foam up a little better as a like my cleanser that way.

Ahava Mineral Body Lotion (£22)

I absolutely love this product and plan on buying the full size as soon as this runs out.

It has a light, easily absorbed texture and it smells gorgeous too and my skin feels super soft and moisturised after I've used this.

I would be perfectly happy replacing all my moisturisers with this one and I want to try the body sorbet and dry oil body mist too

Daniel Sandler Jumbo Jet Mascara (£14.85)

I like it, it's nice and works well but I'm fickle with mascara so probably wont repurchase.

It give nice volume and the brush gives an even application, it's long lasting and didn't smudge even though I rubbed my eyes a couple of times.

I like that the formula is a proper dark black as opposed to that sort of grey/black that most mascaras are.

KMS Colorvitality Shine & Shield (£12.70) 

This is a lightweight cream that adds shine while providing heat protection.

It's nice as a leave in treatment as it cuts frizz and adds moisture, if I let my hair air dry with this in it it's a lot more tamed and it sets in nice waves.

Not used it as a blow dry lotion yet but I'm sure it will work wonderfully.

Rebel Nails Nail Wraps (£7.99)

Wont be using these, the patters isn't me at all and I'm not that keen on nail wraps anyways.

A lot of people love them though and Rebel Nails do have a ton of different patterns so if nail wraps are your thing then you might like these.

I loved this months GlossyBox and can't wait for next months to arrive. 

What did you think of this months box and what were your favourite products?

Large ELF Haul

I recently took advantage of the 50% off sale ELF were having has I've had my eye on a few items for a while now but have put off ordering from them because I generally don't get on very well with lower end make-up.

I was particularly intrested in the Studio and Mineral lines has they both seemed to have fairly good quality items for a low price and a lot of people seemed to rave about them.

Well, I'm kinda disappointed, none of the items I purchased really did it for me and while some of the lip products look gorgeous the smell and texture is enough to make me never use them.

I't not all bad though, the brushes are fantastic for the cost and I would purchase more in the future, they feel a lot better quality than you would expect to get for £3.50 and you could afford to buy multiples so you have spares.

Full review to follow.

Matte Lip Color in Natural , Cream Eyeshadow in Candlelight and Dawn, Conditioning Lip Balm in Nice & Natural, Peaceful Pink, Mellow Melon x2 and Romantic Rouge.

Mineral Lipstick in Nicely Nude (top) and Natural Nymph (bottom)

Mineral Lipgloss in Bare (top) and Pageant Princess (bottom)

Liquid Lipstick in Pink Lemonade x2, Hypershine Lip Gloss in Fairy and Plumping Lip Glaze in Peach Passion

Studio Stipple Brush x2 (top) and Studio Powder Brush x2 (bottom)

What do you think of ELF? Do you have any favourites?

Fan Di Fendi Review

Fan Di Fendi is the latest perfume launch by the fashion house Fendi  and it's a light fruity floral with a powdery dry down.

It's notes are:

Top: Juicy Pear, Blackcurrant Accord, Tangerine from Calabria & Pink Peppercorns 

Middle Notes:Demascena Rose, Yellow Jasmine & Indian Tuberose

Base Notes: Leather & Patchouli

This starts of quite fruity, I get a strong burst of tangerine followed by the pear but it's quite subtle and not at all overpowering, after a few minutes the pink peppercorns kick in but it's barely there and just takes the edge of the sweetness.

Once it's been on the skin for a while the jasmine notes starts to come trough, it's a sweet but delicate jasmine scent and doesn't turn heavy or cloying, I don't get any of the rose at all.

As the fragrance develops even more I start to get leather and a soft powdery note that makes the scent smell ever so slightly old fashioned.

I've heard a few people are comparing it to Fendi Palazzo, it's similar but Palazzo is more complex and stronger but the final dry down is practically identical.

Overall it's a very light, soft, pretty fragrance but one that's sophisticated too, it lasts a fairly long time on the skin and is perfect for day or night time.

July Favourites!

I don't have that many favourites this month as I've generally not stuck to using anything consistently and have swapped and changed products quite a lot.

Garnier Pure
An old favourite, I always find myself reaching for this in the warmer months as it deep cleanses and refreshes my skin.

MAC Strobe Cream
Nice light texture, easily absorbed and adds a subtle radiant sheen to the skin.
I find it works well as a brightening primer too.

Lush Sweet Lips Lip Scrub
My lips have been so dry this past week and this as really helped get rid of any rough, dry skin and help my lipstick go on smoother.
Tastes nice too so that a bonus!

YSL Volupte Sheer Candy
I love these, nice sheer juicy looking shades, feel nice and light, not sticky and smell so good.
I do find you have to reapply them quite a lot and they aren't as moisturising as I would like them to be but I love them all the same.

Fan Di Fendy
One of the nicest perfume launches of the year!
It's a nice, light, fruity floral with a slightly powdery dry down, I'm not going to say to much about it in this post though as full review is coming soon.

What were you're July Favourites?

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation Review

Skin Base is the latest foundation by Illamasqua and is inspired by the Beauty Balm/Blemish Balm creams that are so popular on the Asian market.
BB Creams are a multi-purpose product that combines your moisturiser, primer, foundation, concealer and SPF all in one, sort of like a supercharged tinted moisturiser.

I was matched up to shade 03 which is a little too yellow but shade 04 is slightly too dark, I can make either one work but for the price of it I would have liked a perfect match, I also find it highlights any dry, flaky areas and can clump if your skin isn't well moisturised.
I loved it the first couple of days I used it but it's almost as if my skin got used to it and started to dry out from it and it also felt quite heavy on my skin.

I don't know what I was expecting but I feel Skin Base is no different to any other medium coverage, dewy  finish foundation on the market, it's okay but I wouldn't choose it over my other foundations.

Have you tried Skin Base and what did you think? What are your favourite BB Creams?

Essie Spring 2011 French Affair Collection - Swatch & Review

I'm very late with this collection but I love the colours so much I felt the urge to blog about them, it's took me a while to work my way trough all the shades anyways.
I have a love/hate relationship with Essie, love the shade selection but the application can be tricky, the brush isn't quite thick or flat enough to allow for a streak free finish, particularly with the more pastel or lighter shades.

French Affair
Very pretty cool toned pink, almost lavender in undertone,  this is similar to OPI's Mod About You but better as it's not so light and applies easier. I got so many compliment while wearing this shade and for me one of the must have of the collection.

Day Light 

Artificial Light 

Nice Is Nice
A soft pastel lavender with a pink undertone, compared to Essie Lilacism it's a lot warmer toned and more flattering on my skin tone.
Nice but not very unique, I have quite a few similar shades.

Day Light 

Artificial Light

Coat Azure

A muted cornflour blue shade with silver microshimmer, not a colour I've seen elsewere.
I like it and I'm normally not a fan of blue nails, the consistency of this one was quite thick so I managed to make do with two coats.

Day Light

Artificial Light

Topless and Barefoot
My favourite of the whole collection, I love it! I've searched high and low for the perfect nude polish and this is it, I still want to try Ciate Sugared Almonds though.
It's a flesh toned nude but with a peach undertone that stops it looking flat, and one of the few nudes that does not give me the "corpse hands" look.
It is a little streaky so it's best with 3 coats and a little patience.

Day Light

Artificial Light

Sand Tropez
The other nude in the collection, a light grey toned nude almost in the taupe territory but not quite.
I can imagine this would look best on someone with a cool toned skin toned, on me it just doesn't look quite right.

Day Light

Artificial Light

Kisses & Bisses
(not pictured)

Tried it and didn't like it so I never got it, kinda boring on it's own but I guess it would look okay layered on top of other shades.
Think slightly cloudy cream base with a duochrome pink/gold pearl finish.

Did you get anything from the Essie French Affair collection? What are you're favourite summer nail polishes?