The Urban Decay Primer Potion: Review

I said I would not. But I did. I bought a kindle. The kindle Paperwhite. I almost regret it. But it was bought out of necessity rather than preference. I still prefer to read from an ACTUAL book. I still prefer the smell in between the pages of a fresh new book. I still prefer to feel the thickness of the book I'm holding. Nothing feels more therapeutic and satisfying than flipping through the pages of a book and reaching its final page, and with it that feeling as if you've lost a friend. But it had to be done. With a collection of over 400 books, and the lack of space to store more, I had to resort to the kindle with complete reluctance.

However, every now and then I will purchase a real book and read a real book, for my sake and for the sake of Baby Bee, whom I want to grow up seeing me reading and hopefully instil the same passion in him.

One purchase I never regret is buying the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. This is the most popular eyeshadow primer out there, and it deserves the cult following it has. It's a beauty legend!

I have oily eyelids, and without primer any eyeshadow just melts away. This felt heaven-sent to me when I discovered it almost 7 years ago. I loved wearing eyeshadow but I hated that it would always disappear within an hour or two. The Urban Decay Primer Potion is simply amazing! It brings out the colour of any eyeshadow, and the colour lasts forever! Literally, I've slept without removing my make-up, (I know tut tut, but this was during uni days! I know better now!) and my eyeshadow would still look as good as new the next morning!

I absolutely looooveee this product and would recommend to everyone! The full sized product is £16 but it is so worth the price tag, as it lasts forever! One tube lasts me well over a year! Bargain!

RATING: 11/10

Max Factor Masterpiece Transform Mascara: Review

I do not snore. I can't sleep next to heavy snorers. For me, having to listen to someone snore is a form of torture and I've been victim to it many, many times. It baffles me that people who snore don't actually believe they snore. I had a friend who used to sleep over at my place every now and then, and every morning when I expressed how tired I was because I couldn't sleep through her snoring (even plugging in headphones and listening to the sound of heavy raindrops and splashing waves, on full volume from Youtube didn't help me sleep), she would exclaim with utter shock and disbelief in her eyes, 'Really?! But I don't snore!' Seriously. It shocked her every time. Hubby Bee lightly snores sometimes, and I have to elbow him or push him to his side to get him to stop.

When I was about 7 months pregnant, I woke up to find Hubby Bee laughing. Apparently I was snoring like an elephant in heat, and it woke him up from sleep. And supposedly my snoring was louder than his brother's snoring (boy, his brother knows how to SNORE in capital letters). Obviously, I didn't believe him- I'm not a snorer! Ppfft! And then one night, something ghastly happened! I woke up to the sound of my own snoring! Can you believe it?! I was immediately wide awake, looking around thinking was that really me?! Only to find Hubby Bee shaking violently next to me. Laughing his head off. Recording me on his phone.

Just as a side note, the snoring was a temporary pregnant thing! I have now resumed back to being a non-snorer and continue to elbow the Mr. if I catch him snoring! Let's move on to my review. Today I am reviewing the Max Factor Masterpiece Transform mascara. I bought this recently from Boots using a £2 off coupon they had sent me. I'm a big fan of the False Lash Effect Mascara also by Max Factor, and no matter how many mascaras I try, I always come back to this one. However, being a make-up fanatic, I'm always on the hunt for something better. Alas, I was disappointed.

I bought this mascara as it has such good reviews and seems to be quite popular. Sadly, the Masterpiece Transform mascara does nothing special. The formula is too wet and even though the wand is thin,  it makes my lashes stick together, rather than separate them. I don't find it lengthens my lashes much, and neither does it do anything about the volume. I also found that due to its wet formula, it smudges easily which is really annoying when you've spent time doing your make-up, as I always apply mascara last. I feel the wand applies too much product which can make it messy and contribute to smudging.

Unfortunately, I really disliked this product. It simply did not work for me. Even a basic, cheaper mascara would work better than this. Definitely a thumbs down.

RATING: 1/10

Bio Oil: Review

Mmmmm...I'm sooo craving a red velvet cupcake right now! Ohh I can almost taste the sweet deliciousness in my mouth...*mouth watering* *tummy grumbling*- damn you, diet! It isn't easy losing all this post-pregnancy weight. Just one dress size down, pleaaseee! It's not much to ask for! [Note to self: Need to stop eating waffles lathered in nutella and ice-cream].

On the bright side of pregnancy, having a baby is such a miracle and a blessing. How our body adapts and changes to cater another human life is simply amazing. Having a baby changes everything, and all the pain, difficulties, morning sickness, constant back aches, lack of sleep, and so much more, just having your little one staring at you with those innocent eyes, needing you, wanting you- makes it all worth it. Even the stretch marks.

Talking of stretch marks, I used Bio Oil throughout my whole pregnancy, and still continue to use it. Actually, I've been using Bio Oil as an all-over body moisturiser for the past 6 years. It's meant to be great for scars, stretch marks, uneven skin tone, ageing and dehydrated skin. Initially, I used it  for acne scarring but I continued using it as it left my skin glowing, soft and supple, and over time it improved skin tone as well as keeping my skin hydrated.

However, I wouldn't say this oil is great for stretch marks. I don't think it did much to prevent stretch marks, which I was quite unhappy about, but then again, stretch marks cannot actually be prevented as it is genetic. But, it does actually help minimise the appearance of the visible stretch marks and scars. 

I like to massage Bio Oil directly onto wet skin, as it is absorbed better this way and sinks in to the skin much quicker. I find it just sits on top if applied to dry skin. I love the way it smells, it isn't too overpowering and I even use it on my face when my skin feels a little dry, by adding a few drops to my moisturiser. I also love to add this to my bath as a bath oil, and it's sinks into the skin so well that you don't need to moisturise afterwards.

I do recommend this product as I do enjoy using it, however, you won't see benefits from using it overnight. It took me atleast 3 or 4 months of regular use before I noticed any change, so it does require dedication and patience. Overall, a great product.

RATING: 7/10

Mac Mehr Lipstick: Review and Swatch

Being a full-time parent now, and spending most my time catering to my beautiful son, a sleep-deprived, caffiene-driven me has many random thoughts going through her head! I was thinking to myself the other day, how would I get along with my siblings or childhood friends, or anybody that I've know for a long time, if I had met them for the first time today?

I think I would actually get along with my brother, Robi, if I had met him for the first time today- he's funny, caring and straightforward. He's actually more intelligent than he lets on and maturer than he shows. As a brother he's soooo annoying, spoilt and never ceases to drive me up the wall! He has many names for me: 'Miss Teacher', 'Miss Dictionary' and 'Miss Doctor', because he thinks that I think that I 'know it all'. Oh and 'Miss Shakespeare' because my english isn't so street-smart. Ppft...whatever bruvz. If I had met one of oldest childhood friend today, Shanaz, I would enjoy hanging with her...she's carefree and confident, but with one foot firmly on the ground. When I had first met her, she was the shy, innocent, new-girl that I had befriended at primary school. Whether  it was then or now, she's still easy to gel with. And my husband...well, let's just say if I had bumped into my husband first time today, I'd pick him all over again. Any day. Everyday.

Something else that I would pick over and over again is one of my favourite lippy- Mac Mehr. I hadn't thought that I needed this in my life, under the assumption that it was too similar to Mac Twig, but I was wrong. I sooo needed this in my life...like bread needs butter, bees need flowers, hubby needs chocolate, men need women...anyway, before I go off on a tangent...I was gifted Mehr by my cousin Ruba, and really fell in love with the colour. Whereas Twig is brown-ish nude, Mehr is more of a blue-ish, pink-ish nude. I absolutely LOVE rocking this colour with a bold, smokey eye!

This is a matte lipstick, but I don't find it to be too drying if I prep my lips with a little scrubbing prior to application. You may need a balm if you have extremely dry lips. The colour applies opaque and has good lasting power- roughly four hours before needing to reapply. As with all Mac lipsticks, I love the vanilla scent it has.

I definitely recommend this colour, and I reckon it would suit most skin tones.

RATING: 10/10

Make-Up Haul!

So yesterday Baby Bee, Hubby Bee and I went shopping for a few things. We had set the goal to be in an out of the shopping centre within an hour, as by the time we left the house it was quite late already and we wanted to go for a meal for lunch after shopping was over. If you're a mother you will empathise with me here that you never get to leave the house on time with a baby. By the time you've fed, burped, changed and dressed them, packed their baby bag and got yourself ready, it becomes time for their next feed, burp and nappy change...going out is like a serious rush against time! Anyway, so we wanted to leave the house at 10.30am, ended up leaving at 1.30pm, by then we were hungry and wanted to get shopping over and done with. Hubby needed a winter jacket (already decided which one before on the net) and baby needed a jacket. '10 minute job', said Hubby Bee.

We got there at 2.30pm, headed straight to Superdry for hubby's jacket, picked and purchased in five minutes. Went to next for little one, but nothing we liked. Went to Gap, but again nothing we liked. We decided to just order something off the internet when we got home and decided to leave. Until of course we started walking past Superdrug... knowing how I am, hubby tried to distract me by talking about something I had no interest in, but I put on my cute face and he gave me '5 minutes' while he waited outside the store. An hour and 15 minutes later I came out cheerfully with these.

- Real Techniques Nic's Picks, containing 3 exclusive brushes

- Superfacialist Age Defying Day Cream (I'm 26 but never to early to start anti-ageing!)

- Sleek Highlighting Palette

- L'oreal Le Blush

- Revlon Cream Blush

By then, we were starving and couldn't wait till lunch. And apparently neither could Baby Bee...roughly another hour later we finally got round to eating a lovely meal, and then going to a dessert place for yummy waffles! 

Anyway, I'm so excited to try these new products, especially the brushes. Looking forward to trying all these and writing up a review for you all! Have you tried any of these yet? Let me know!

Sleek Face Contour Kit: Review

Something that has been driving me a little insane for a while now- there seems to be an abbreviation for everything these days...like OMG seriously, trying to read messages is like having to solve a puzzle! Ok, I am guilty of using a select few abbreviations myself, like LOL (how many of you have actually said LOL out loud in a fit of laughter?! I have...), ASAP- this seems to have become a word now *aysap*, and BRB. But I do not abbreviate the entire english dictionary! Someone messaged me '10Q' the other day...I sat there, blankly staring at my screen, trying to decipher this new puzzle, until I finally relented and replied 'huh'. It's short for 'thank you' *rolleyes*

Also, why do people right 'hugz' if it isn't even a short form of 'hugs'? I've seen people even write 'ily' instead of 'I love you'- don't tell me you love me if you can't even be bothered to type it out! Which reminds me, I was playing Words for you (version of scrabble) the other day, and the opposing player messaged me 'ASL?' I thought THAT had died out a decade ago!! (I did reply. Pretending to be a male. The game was over pretty quickly though...) 

Anyway enough of my moaning and on to my review. The Sleek Face Contour Kit is one of my most used product. I have it in the medium shade, and I absolutely love it. Both the bronzer and highlighter are very pigmented, easy to blend and very buildable if you like dramatic contouring. I prefer to apply the bronzer and highlighter with a soft hand, to a sheer finish.

The bronzer is completely matte, with no shimmer effect which makes it perfect for contouring. The highlighter is very shimmery so you do have to be careful with it. I like apply it to my cheekbones, bridge of nose and on my cupid's bow. Its also perfect to use as a highlighter under the brow and on the inner corners of the eyes.

I would definitely recommend this product and would repurchase again. Although I do not use the bronzer every time, as I'm not much of a contourer, the highlighter is my absolute favourite. I have used this for over a year and still haven't hit pan! It's a perfect size for travel or for your handbag, and costing £6.49 it isn't too heavy on your wallet either. The only problem I have with it is that sometimes it's lid is hard to open as it is quite stiff, otherwise it's a complete winner.

Anyway, I gtg ladies! Have a gr8 weekend!

RATING: 9/10

Pixi Glow Tonic: Review

How many times have we given into a hype and then realised it was not worth it at all?! I remember when everyone was so excited to upgrade their computer/laptop systems to windows vista, which had become such a hype at its release, only to realise it was an epic failure. When I was in school, it had become a sudden hype for all the girls to get their own website at freewebs.com...so we all created our own website and upload tons of pictures of ourselves, extremely excited by this new novelty...and then that was it. We realised it really wasn't that exciting at all.

I also gave into a hype not so long ago. The Pixi Glow Tonic has such a cult following; bloggers rave about it, many have recommended it and it's out of stock many times online, so I had to give in to my curiosity and see what the fuss was all about. My skin has become rather dull since after my recent pregnancy so I ordered myself a bottle of Pixi Glow Tonic, in hope for this promised 'glow'.

Pixi Glow Tonic is an exfoliating, alcohol free toner, suitable for most skin types, with ginseng and aloe vera as its key ingredients. It promises to help tone, firm and tighten the skin. Many reviewers have claimed it has dramatically helped reduce their acne, scarring and preventing blemishes; most they hype around this product is how much it makes their skin glow.

To my utter dismay, this for me was just one of those hyped products that just did not work out for me. I have been using it for almost 3 months, and having tried so hard to like it and look for results, this product did nothing for me that any other toner could not do. It removes the last of the dirt or cleanser off my face and that is all; oh and it smells pretty lovely. But all in all, a waste of £18. 

I personally would not recommend the Pixi Glow Tonic, but it is a very popular product and does seem to work for the majority, it just did not work for me. 

Now to find something that will do something about this dull skin of mine...any recommendations?!

RATING: 3/10