beauty

Sleek MakeUp Face Form Palette Review

21 September 2015

As a growing beauty fanatic, I love experimenting with new products and concepts. I may be a little late to this party, but I have been looking at some cheaper alternatives rather than splashing out on a product I'm not really going to use on a regular basis. Sleek is a brand that I never used to pay much attention to; they have always been a reliable label for lip gloss, but as the name inherits more prominence and they begin releasing more successful products, I've started shopping in their amazing line. Sleek's face powder is an everyday use for me, so it was only natural I would edge towards them for my first contour kit, the Face Form palette.
The first thing I noticed about this mini palette is the smooth texture of each shade, including the shimmery, lighter shades. It's quite common for facial powders and products to have quite a rough feel, meaning you have to almost dig into the palette to use it. I found with this product, just a few simple stroked of a contour brush was perfectly effective. This palette does come in different shades: Fair, Light, Medium and Dark. I think this is one of the reasons why the product has become so popular. In my case, it can be quite difficult to find contour kits that blend well with my skin tone, either they're too dark, too light or simply too expensive. The shades are built to blend with skin tones rather than clash.
The Face Form palette is very light on the skin, and isn't dusty at all. The easy-to-apply texture and subtle shimmer highlight cheekbones and show brilliant definition. The packaging of the product is very sleek (pun intended) and easy to carry. The palette is light and would easily slot into an average sized make-up bag without taking up too much room. The mirror inside is the length of the product to help you touch-up throughout the day. For £9.99 I think this Face Form palette is a great buy and will last quite a while; it's available at most drugstores or make-up counters. I would definitely recommend this palette to anyone who's a beginner in contouring or doesn't need a wide range of colours and shades.

New CID Cosmetics i-flutter Mascara Review

24 August 2015

Finding an honourable mascara is a struggle for me. I don't often find ones that work for me as I have very small and thin eyelashes; luckily, they do naturally curl up so that is never a worry. On the other hand, I do look out for products that will lengthen and add definition to my lashes without making them bulky and heavy. I came across the New CID Cosmetics i-flutter Mascara after falling in love with their i-polish, which I reviewed in July. The mascara does come in three colour, but I would always stick to black. The one thing I adore about New CID Cosmetics is the high quality products, and fair price. For a good quality, sometimes we must splash out on a little more than £10.00. For it's reputation and prices, I would put New CID Cosmetics on a scale equally between high street or drug store and high label. 
It's not often I find a lot of blogs that review mascara so I tend to shop around and find what's best. I usually stick to Rimmel, as their wide range of lash defining products have been incredibly useful over the years. Yet, I have found this mascara to top them all. The brush is soft and easy to handle, the bristles aren't ever uncomfortable or prickly which is quite common on high street products. I've also found that the brush works for all lashes, not just the inner or outer ones. The actual mascara has a very soft texture and doesn't turn rock solid during the day. I've found that this brush separates my lashes, as one of the biggest problems I have previously had are my eyelashes getting stuck together and looking like the legs of a spider. 
After around a month of using this product, I would definitely recommend it to anyone who's looking for someone who's looking for something above high street level, without spending too much. 
Have you ever tried this mascara? Or any other New CID Cosmetics products?

Garnier vs Neutrogena - Facial Frenzy

29 June 2015

I'm always looking for ways to help keep my skin clear. It can be quite sensitive, so if I don't look after it properly, breakouts happen. My diet also affects my skin a lot, but making sure I cleanse and scrub the right way is a must. There are so many different products I've tried, and it's more common for the higher-end, pricier brands sell products that are no better than an average high street label. The two brands I have fallen for are Garnier and Neutrogena, which have become two of my summer favourites. 
This is one of the first ever face washes I have bought and I absolutely love it. The smell is amazing, but the gel is still great quality. Often you find face washes that have an awesome scent but do absolutely nothing for your skin. I'm obsessed with this wash because the gel is very thick, rather than too thin and runny. The greats a great soapy solution which helps clean any extra make-up from my face.
I also chose a scrub from the same PureActive range after my success with the wash. I adore the scrub simply because it's not too harsh on my face, which means my skin won't react too badly to it. The pomegranate scrub was only bought for £2.00 (on sale) which is the best price for a scrub I've come across in a long time.
I do like to shop around for different washes and products to try out, and I'm a sucker for a great scent. This pink grapefruit has become a favourite of mine as it fills the bathroom with a great girly perfume. The facial wash is really gentle on my skin and leaves it feeling incredibly soft without taking away all the moisture which can be quite common. I tend to use this wash more on the weekend ends rather than everyday.
This wash is on of my favourites as it creates the most amazing soapy mixture and is so soft. The solution is designed to keep stress spots under control and it seems to be doing the trick for me. It helps prevent spots but also gives your skin that fresh and clean feeling that everybody loves. The tap pumps out huge lumps of fluffy foam to apply straight on your skin.
I bought this scrub recently as summer begins to set in and make-up has more of an effect on my skin due to the heat. I wanted to look for something that would really scrub away any impurities without damaging or hurting my skin. I came across this scrub (which was bought on sale for £3.00) and haven't put it down once. Although I don't use it every day, I look forward to the great, clean feeling it leaves.
This little gem is a must for days when my skin really needs to be taken care of. The brush makes it so much easier to apply and the rubber bristles work well with water and softer or sensitive skin. I highly recommend this brush wash for anyone who doesn't like using a wide range of products and just wants to aid their skin in feeling soft and fresh. Plus, the price makes it irresistible!
Neutrogena Visibly Clear 2-in-1 Wash and Mask - £3.79
I prefer this product as more of a mask than a wash as it's not something used everyday. It really helps to unclog pores and remove any dirt and impurities deep down in my skin. Unlike a lot of masks, it's very soft on the skin and doesn't feel uncomfortable once it's settled. The soft clay mask absorbs oil from the skin still leaving it moisturised and refreshed. 
Like the Garnier daily scrub, this is also very soft and prevents spots in the skin. The beads in this scrub are a little tougher  but just as effective. It works really well with my skin and doesn't damage the over-sensitive areas. I have also notices this scrub reduces the appearance of pores which is ideal for me!

Real Techniques Brush Crush

18 May 2015

After hearing so much about these brushes and this brand - I decided to take the plunge and invest in a few. I have seen plenty of beauty and blog posts praising the fantastic value of each and every set, so after my research, I dipped into my savings account and follow the crowd. The brushes I bought were the pointed foundation brush, contour brush, detailer brush, silicone liner brush, buffing brush and the shading brush. The first thing I noticed after unwrapping these brushes was how soft they were, as well as how stable and sturdy they were. With a many brushes I have used in the past, the prickle my skin, making it very difficult to apply lighter make up like powder or bronzer. I have also found with a lot of wooden and metal brushes, they feel quite flimsy which usually means they're going to snap - one of the most frustrating things in the world. After a fortnight of using these brushes every day, they blend make-up amazingly well and don't create a mess due to the soft bristles. A quality I love in the brushes is that they wash and dry really well, including the silicone liner brush. I often find that foundation and powder brushes are never the same once they have been washed, but these brushes perfectly went back to normal after leaving them to air dry overnight. I would definitely recommend obtain at least one set of Real Techniques' brushes are the are wonderful value for money and work just as well, if not better than many of the high brand sets.

GOSH Velvet Touch Foundation Primer Review

8 May 2015

This review is coming from someone who know absolutely nothing about primers. I didn't start wearing foundation until I was around 17 because I was either too lazy or didn't really need it. But as I grow older, I use it almost everyday just to help my skin look even and smooth. GOSH's Velvet Touch Foundation Primer is my first ever primer buy and caught my eye simply because I appreciate the brand. GOSH Cosmetics is a brand I have relied on for a while, as they have a marvellous range of products at a high quality for a high street prices. As this was my first primer, I decided it's better be safe than sorry. 
I started using this primer at the beginning of April, and since then I use it every single day. The best way to describe it is 'velvety' as the texture is smooth without becoming oily and shiny - the opposite of what I wanted. I apply the primer using my fingers before applying any make-up to help it reach the full potential as the perfect base. The serum fills in any lines and pores I have on my skin, which helps create the flawless look with my foundation. My pores are much more visible just beneath my eyes, so I tend to use a little more primer there. What makes this primer the ideal base is that it doesn't take away from the colour of my foundation which I know can be common with high street brands. If anything, it enhances my skin tone and helps the foundation and powder blend a lot better. The Velvet Touch isn't difficult to remove and is perfume and preservative free, making it suitable for most skin types.
Copyright © Anika May | UK Life and Style Blog.
Design by Fearne