E.L.F Studio Matte Lip Colour in Tea Rose.

Last month I had a little spend on the E.L.F website for the first time, you can see my haul post here. Since then I was a busy bee, got ill and then had problems with Blogger errors! Now I'm back and raring to go again, woohoo! :)

One of the products I couldn't wait to get my mitts on (among many, I might add) was this E.L.F matte lip colour in tea rose, since seeing Miss Budget Beauty use it in one of her videos.

I like the packaging, it's simple without looking cheap or boring and it twists up for more product which there is 2 inches of inside. I was expecting much less so was pleasantly surprised. It will last quite a while, making it great value as it only costs £3.75. Online, it is described as jumbo which I disagree with but it's not a problem as it means a more precise application.. Speaking of application, it glides on easily and doesn't pull at your lips - I hate when products do that!

I love the colour of this product, it's a purpley-pinky-nudey kind of colour. I'll be honest, I did expect it to be more pinky than purpley but that could be down to the colour of my lips? I like it nonetheless. I do usually prefer a matte lip because it lasts longer than a glossy lip.. Plus when the wind blows my hair doesn't stick to it!! It easily lasts a few hours without the need to touch up although of course, everyone is different and it depends if you're eating/drinking too obviously. I don't find it's all that moisturising, in fact it can be a little drying which for me it isn't an issue but if you suffer from dry lips you'd want to wear lip balm with it.

Overall, I really enjoy using this product and have found myself wearing it most days. I really wish I'd taken advantage of their 50% off offer a few weeks ago because I'd like to try the other colours too but they're well worth the money full price so I shall definitely order a couple more in the near future.

You can purchase the E.L.F Studio Matte Lip Colour here for £3.75.

Do you have any of the Studio Matte lip colours? Can you recommend any of the other colours to me? xxx

Charles Worthington Strength & Repair Shampoo Review

I've decided, I love Charles Worthington shampoo. I really enjoy using their On The Go hair serum too, which I reviewed earlier this year, here and used to love the Frizz Free shampoo - which has been discontinued and replaced with a generous handful of new ranges and that is where the Strength & Repair shampoo comes from.
The new ranges include Volume & Bounce, Moisture Seal, Shine Booster, Strength & Repair, Colour Enhancer, Style Setter, Straight & Smooth, Curl Definer and more. So there really is something for everyone but for me it was between Strength & Repair and Straight & Smooth although I thought if I get a repairing one then my hair serum can do the smoothing part which helps it stay straight.. Good thinking, right!?

The shampoo now comes in an upside down squeezy type bottle which although doesn't look quite as nice as the old style shampoos, in my opinion, it makes getting all of the product out of it much easier. For £5.99 per 250ml bottle, it's not the cheapest of shampoos but it's very thick and lathers up well so a little goes a long way. I found one bottle lasted me around a month to a month and a half - baring in mind I have quite long and very thick hair and I wash it twice every time, 3 times a week. So it probably works out cheaper than the shampoos I used previously once you weigh it up - they may have been cheaper but I found myself using more product to get a good lather which means it runs out quicker.

I have noticed a difference where breakage is concerned although I have also been very good and not used my GHDs in over a month. I've been using this shampoo with the Goldwell Elixir hair oil which I reviewed here and where my hair used to feel a little bit dry and coarse, it now feels "normal" again :) I do keep meaning to use some hair masques too though so if you can recommend any, please do!
It may also be worth noting that I don't use conditioner on my hair, I never really have but my hairdresser said my hair is in very good condition. It's mainly because I can't be bothered but also cause it makes it greasy too quickly and I don't see the point in spending out on finding one that doesn't when I'm too lazy to use it anyway.. Least I'm honest!

I find my scalp can be rather picky when it comes to shampoo.. Unfortunately there are some brands I really don't get on with, mostly all for the same reason - product build up on my scalp where it just won't wash out properly. I have no idea what it is about certain brands, does anyone else get this? 4 brands I know I can't use because of this are Aussie, Herbal Essences, Tresemme and Fudge.

Smell wise, Charles Worthington are way above any other brand I've used. Sure, Tigis gorgeous Oatmeal and Honey shampoo that they discontinued (booo!) is amazing at first (or when you're undoing the bottle over and over to have a quick sniff) BUT you can still smell this stuff in your hair 3 days after you've washed it, which I've never found in a product before.. And the smell is just SO good. Literally, I couldn't stop going on about it to Aaron!

I love this shampoo. I can't fault it.
I'd really like to try the Straight & Smooth and Moisture Seal too but I'm on my 2nd bottle of this stuff with 3 bottles left (they're on offer!) so I may be a while!
You can buy Charles Worthington Strength & Repair shampoo from Boots, here for £5.99 per bottle. Sometimes it's on 3 for 2 but the current deal is 3 for £12 on selected Charles Worthington haircare.. Which is pretty much 3 for 2 anyway!

What shampoo, conditioner, hair masques do you love? xxx

Sports Direct Review

When I was contacted by the lovely Natalia from Sports Direct, offering me the chance to review something within the category of ladies swimwear, I was in 2 minds as to what I should do. I don't wear swimwear but I've also not put many clothes type posts on my blog yet, although I have said on Twitter several times that I want to, once I have more money (which will start happening very soon!) I replied letting Natalia know that I don't wear swimwear but would be happy to review something else and she gave me a link and said to pick out something myself which I thought was a really nice thing to do.
I chose a funky pair of shorts and a summery top :)

The top I picked is the Ocean Pacific Koh Samui vest. Unfortunately, they didn't end up having this top in my size so I was sent a size smaller. I tried it on and it's only just too small around the top part so providing I continue to lose weight, it will fit me nicely next summer so that's not a problem. I love the bold, colourful print on this top which is why I chose it - I don't have anything like it in my wardrobe and I'm always saying I need to wear more colour! It's elasticated and more fitted around the bust area then the bottom part flows out a little which makes it really comfy to wear. In my opinion, the picture on the website doesn't do it justice, I can't wait to get some wear out of this!

The shorts I picked is the Ocean Pacific Caribbean small shorts. Thankfully, they did have these in my size and they're a perfect fit. I thought they might have been slightly shorter than they are as they're called small shorts but they're "normal" (if you know what I mean!?) which made me like them even more, although it depends where you wear them, of course! I have always loved the look of these type of shorts and since I don't have many clothing items in purple, even though I really like the colour, I thought I'd pick these. The waist is elasticated and like the top, they're so comfortable to wear - I've worn them a few times already. I popped into Sports Direct last weekend for some trainers for Aaron and had a look to see if they had these in any other colours but they didn't :(

As you can see, the top has some purple in it so you probably could wear the top and shorts together although personally, I would wear the top with my plain white shorts or white leggings and the shorts with a plain white/cream or black top but it's all about personal preference. I'll be honest, I never thought Sports Direct had nice non sporty looking type clothes - I always think of them as just a sports shop but they actually have some really nice items too (and nice shoes!) so I will definitely be popping back to purchase things myself :)

You can purchase the top for £4.50 (reduced from £14.99) here: Top.
You can purchase the shorts for £4.00 (reduced from £12.99) here: Shorts.

Where are your go-to shops for summery clothes? xxx

Max Factor Wild Mega Volume Mascara Review

You know when you go to pay in shops and you're asked if you'd like any of the products they have next to the till.. I always said no.. Until the other week that is. I saw Alice over at Bright Town Girl had purchased this and it made me want it too.. So when I was asked by the cashier if I'd like it, I said "Ummmm.... Oh go on then!" This is the first Max Factor mascara I've ever tried - I'm not really sure why.

I really like the packaging of the Max Factor Wild Mega Volume mascara because it stand out unlike other mascaras I have that all blend in together with their black packaging.. Yawn! The wand is completely different to any I've used before too and the product appears quite dryish already so I'm unsure of how long it will last although you're supposed to chuck them after 3 months anyway. Am I the only one that doesn't do this though?

When I saw the wand, I wasn't sure what it would do for my lashes, if it would be messy or hard to get your lashes to look how you want them. It sounds cheesy but the wand/product really seems to do the work for you. It can be a little messy if you're not careful (nothing a cotton bud can't fix though!) but apart from that it's a dream! You could actually get away with one coat if you want a more natural look, that's how good I found this mascara to be. I love how I no longer need to spend forever adding coat after coat to get my lashes to look half decent.

It coats my lashes evenly and doesn't clump on the first 2 coats, anything more and it will start to though. It's called Wild Mega Volume, and it does give a natural looking volume to my lashes but it done a pretty awesome job at lengthening them and giving them a good curl too, which lasted all day - I've never had that from a mascara before so I'm really impressed.

I found this mascara easy to remove of a night time and on a normal day, I didn't find it half way down my face although on the few really hot, sticky days we had, I did find it smudged a little bit after half a day at work but it hasn't put me off at all. I have naturally short eyelashes that usually won't hold a curl so finding a mascara that makes me look like I'm actually wearing some has been a job and a half but I think I've finally found one in the Max Factor Wild Mega Volume, currently priced at £4.99 here.
I will purchase this again, I know it. I'm a happy bunny! :)

What's your favourite mascara? xxx

Goldwell Elixir Oil Treatment Review

I haven't done many hair posts on my blog so you may not be aware of how much I love my hair and try to keep it in as best condition as I can, but I do! When I was around 12 years old, I was determined that I wanted a perm and long story short, it went wrong and I ended up having my hair cut off really short. When I say short, I mean it was all between 2-4 inches in length!! :O Then when I was 16 I bleached my hair 3 times in one night to get it blonde and went through a phase of dying it each week in different colours. Needless to say, it started to fall out and I had to stop. I had quite a lot cut off again and I've literally been growing my hair since!

I still dye it regularly (from medium brown to dark brown) but I take much better care of it now than I did before including regular trips to the hairdressers, only touching up my roots instead of dying the whole lot, heat defence spray, decent shampoo and some kind of serum or oil too. I very rarely use heat on my hair now, maybe once or twice a month, otherwise it's up in a bun or I have a fishtail braid to the side. My hairdresser said my hair is in very good condition but it helps that it's so thick too.

When I was asked if I'd like to review this product, I jumped at it! I'd heard of Goldwell before so I had high hopes. This an oil treatment and it's meant to be regenerative and protective for all hair types. It contains Argan oil (regenerative and moisturising) and Tamanu oil (protective antioxidants, moisturising and repairs dry and damaged hair) and we all know how much Argan oil has been raved about lately! It has a slightly sweet smell to it but you can't really smell it once it's in your hair.

I like the packaging and the bottle, they're nice and simple without looking or feeling cheap, even though the bottle is plastic it doesn't give it a cheap feel, in my opinion. The bottle has a pump which dispenses the product cleanly so there is no worrying about it dripping everywhere which is good.

I've used this every time I've washed my hair since having it and use it the same way each time, on damp hair. I use 3 pumps (I have long, very thick hair remember) and apply it to the bottom third of my hair, focusing on the ends. I then brush my hair (it makes it a lot easier to brush too!) and leave it to dry naturally. Just as it says, it absorbs straight away and it doesn't weigh it down or leave it feeling greasy (even the next day) but gives it such a soft feel and a natural, healthy looking shine and really helps with frizz too - which my hair is pretty terrible for by the way!

Overall, I've thoroughly enjoyed using this product, it has quickly become a statement product - I haven't stopped using it since I got it because I just love how it makes my hair look and feel. Would I go out and purchase this myself once it's all gone? Yes, yes and yes again. I've used many different serums and oils and none of them have made my hair feel or look as nice as this one does - most of them I hadn't noticed I'd even used it (John Freida I'm looking at you!) They've all been much cheaper products so maybe you get what you pay for with this.

You can purchase Goldwell Elixir Oil Treatment here for £20 with free worldwide delivery.

Which hair oil do you use? xxx

*This product was sent to me for review. All words and opinions are my own.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Review

I've read many positive reviews about this little purple tube and often wondered what it was like in comparison to the MUA eyeshadow primer, which I had first.. Now I know!
At first glance, the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potions* packaging looks really cheap - the box it comes in and the tube itself. The design and style is nice but it could have been made from better quality materials to give it a more expensive feel as at £15 it costs six times as much as the MUA eyeshadow primer.

The product comes out of a long thin nozzle which is handy for controlling exactly how much you'd like and isn't messy. One good thing about the tube is that when you can't squeeze anymore out, you can cut it open to use the last bit. I'm not the only one to do this with the more costly products am I?? It is quite thick in consistency and looks a little bit bobbley (see pic below) but it blends out smoothly and dries quickly which is a big plus as you don't need to worry about waiting to apply your eyeshadow.

Longevity wise.. I tested this out during hot, sticky weather at work with no air con, an evening out and numerous days out too. The first time I used it, I applied a really tiny amount and found it creased quite quickly so obviously I didn't use enough. After that, I applied a more generous amount and it lasted perfectly - no creases what so ever. I should also add that I have naturally quite oily lids. Just so you know. Lovely yes? :)

So how does Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion* compare to MUA eyeshadow primer - which will it be in future? Urban Decay without a doubt. The MUA primer creased for me every time after 2/3 hours but this one doesn't so it's a clear winner. MUA might be cheaper but it doesn't work for me - I'd happily pay more if I know it's actually going to work.

You can purchase Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion* here (free delivery too!)

Which eyeshadow primer do you use? xxx

*This product was sent to me for review. All words and opinions are my own.

Seascape Island Apothecary Uplift Body Wash Review

You know when you stay in a nice hotel and get home only to realise the complimentary shampoo, body wash etc. have accidentally-on-purpose come back with you... and you know how it smells so good you save it because you couldn't possibly use it for every day.. Well that's exactly what this Seascape body wash reminds me of!

Everything about it says luxurious to me. It's the kind of body wash that not only comes in gorgeous packaging and looks lovely sitting on your shelf, it's a dream to use too. It has such a refreshing scent (eucalyptus, lime and lavender) which has been a blessing each morning during this hot, sticky weather. Personally, although I love sweet scents, they don't make you feel half as clean and fresh during hot weather as fresh fruity/flowery scents like this do.

You don't need much product to get a good lather going so it might seem a little on the pricey side at £16 for 300ml but it will last you a long time compared to cheaper products so it does even it out a little. It really woke me up and made me feel ready for the day ahead, unlike sweet scents that make me feel like putting my jammies on and hopping back into bed!! The scent is strong enough that you can smell it but not overpowering or offensive by any means and it leaves the skin feeling squeaky clean without drying it out.

"Contains 100% natural essential oils of Jersey Eucalyptus to stimulate the circulation, Lime to energise the body and Lavender to refresh the senses"

I was particularly impressed to discover that it's made in the UK from locally sourced ingredients and doesn't contain any of those "nasties" that many others on the market do. Big thumbs up!

"Our products are paraben, silicone, petroleum and SLS free and are suitable for vegetarians. We do not use artificial colours or synthetic fragrances. We are against animal testing. All of our ingredients are sourced from ethical suppliers and our bottles and packaging are recyclable."

My only gripe, if I really had to give one is that I'd have liked the bottle to have been glass just to give that extra lux feel.. But then I'd have moaned I couldn't get the product out and you can't have it both ways! ;)
Would I go and purchase this myself? Although I've enjoyed using it, probably not this one in particular as I very rarely use the same one twice but I would definitely try other Seascape products, particularly the Peppermint Oil Lip Balm or the Sooth Body Wash and I think anything from Seascape would make beautiful gifts for your loved ones.

If you'd like to purchase Seascape Island Apothecary Uplift Body Wash*, click here.
Have you tried anything by Seascape Island Apothecary yet? xxx

*This product was sent to me for review. All words & opinions are my own.

Skinetica Review

A few of months back all I saw on my blog feed was rave reviews of Skinetica, the English wonder product made up of just 4 ingredients. It was very hyped up and everyone seemed to love it. It seemed to me that a little miracle had been found for those with less than perfect skin and everyone apart from me was enjoying the benefits of it! Fast forward a couple of months and I get offered the chance to review this product myself. Awesome!

My initial thoughts were.. The bottle is small (80ml) but cute and I like the packaging. One of the first things I done was open the lid and have a good sniff. I had read reviews that said it didn't smell of anything.. Did these people had blocked noses at the time? ;) There is a slight smell to it, nothing outrageous though and it doesn't hang around once you've applied it.

I was sent this at the perfect time this month, that time.. I do have quite blemish prone skin at the best of times so it was really put to the test in the first week. As the directions suggest, I applied it to clean, dry skin, every 12 (ish!) hours. I found it fitted nicely into my routine - before putting my make up on in the morning and when I take my make up off in the evening. The first time I used it was an evening before bed.. I took my make up off as normal then applied this and left it to air dry. As the bottle says, it's kind to skin, non greasy and has no harsh chemicals. In the morning the first thing I done was check my face! I'm happy to report that it was noticeably clearer, yippee!

Over the next couple of days I noticed my skin looked a lot less uneven and I had less blemishes. Usually around this time my skin would have been awful but it looked better than it had done in a while. I continued to use it for the next week, I did have a small breakout but nothing a bit of make up didn't cover up! It cleared up quickly and my skin is looking clear again. I honestly didn't expect it to work as well as it did for me as other hyped products I've tried haven't made a difference but.. It did :) My only downside to this product for me is that I can't walk into town to purchase it but I don't mind ordering online so it's not a big issue. You can purchase Skinetica online here for £9.99 although the more you purchase, the cheaper each bottle costs :)

Would I purchase this myself? YES!
Have you tried this? Did you like it too? xxx

*This product was sent to me to review.