Origins Zero Oil Moisturiser

Origins Zero Oil - £24

Blessed with my dad's oily skin, I'm forever on the lookout for products to control the inevitable 12 o'clock shine that arise and so the Origins Zero Oil moisturiser seemed just perfect. I've been using it for a few months now and to be honest, haven't been all that impressed. Read on to find out why!

Soap & Glory Archery Brow Pencil

Soap & Glory Archery Brow Tint and Precision Shaping Pencil in 'Brownie Points' - £10

I'm pretty lucky in that, due to my Middle Eastern roots, my eyebrows are pretty thick and only need some tidying up every few weeks, rather than needing filling in every day. For this reason I'm not much of a brow product girl but sometimes I just feel like I need to spruce them up a little, with a bit of filling in here and there. Looking out for a good budget buy, the Soap & Glory Archery Brow Tint and Precision Shaping Pencil seemed to be just the thing.

Ciate Velvet Manicure

Ciate Velvet Manicure - £10.50 (currently only available in Blue)

I've never been particularly adventurous with my nails- a dotting tool is as far as I've ever gone- but when I spotted this Ciate Velvet Manicure in 'Mink Cashmere' set I was intrigued. It comes with a great nail polish, a matching crushed powder and a small brush to use neaten up the distribution of the powder. 

Benefit High Beam and Cha Cha Tint

High Beam - £19.50 and Cha Cha Tint - £24.50

In my TropiCORAL set (review here) there were 2 minis- 1 of High Beam, a luminescent highlighter and the other of Cha Cha Tint, a coral tinted stain for lips and cheeks. Benefit's tints are products which I've heard a lot about but haven't had much experience with so I was really excited to try them out. Although these look comparatively small, they have lasted me for months, and I'm sure they will continue to last me for even longer.

Naked Palette vs. Naked 2 Palette

Naked 1 - £37 and Naked 2 - £37

The Naked Palettes are the popular neutrals palettes of the beauty world, but the question for those not brave enough for the Naked 3 still stands- Naked 1 or Naked 2? It's incredible just how amazing the quality of Urban Decay shadows are and they are worth every penny!

MAC Blush - Gingerly

MAC Sheertone Blush in 'Gingerly' - £18

Unlike a majority of the beauty blogging community, I only own a small handful of MAC products. To be honest, I'm not quite sure why, as I find their range really amazing but it's never attracted me like a new Benefit or Bobbi Brown launch has.

Over a year ago I bought this Sheertone Blush in 'Gingerly', which is described as a 'capri bronze'. It's definitely very warm-toned and has a lovely matte texture. I can see why this shade would be too dark for some, but I would say that I have fairly pale skin and I can make it work. 

The issue is (and I never thought that I would complain about this) that it is almost too pigmented, which means application isn't always so easy to blend. It's definitely very easy to pick up too much product on your brush and then from there, there's no going back! You either have to put some foundation on top or wipe it off (I opt for the latter rather than risking the possibility of looking cakey with the former). 

I'm pretty impressed with the quality of this MAC blush but I'm not completely smitten and it's not one that I find myself reaching for on a daily basis, due to the effort I have to put into application. I'll continue to use it, especially as it's a lovely autumnal shade, however it won't stop me from trying out blushes from other brands too!

Diorskin Poudre Shimmer in Rose Diamond

Diorskin Poudre Shimmer in 'Rose Diamond' - £32

I'd just like to start by saying sorry for my recent absence from Beauty for the Beauty; the past few weeks have been incredibly busy and so I've barely had any time to relax and write blog posts. I'm still quite busy for the next few weeks but hopefully I'll be able to fit in a bit more blogging and upload posts a lot more frequently! 

May Favourites

By the time my next favourites post comes up I'll be done with exams- it's been an insanely busy month with about 20 exams, 8 of which were in 3 days! For these reasons my favourites this month's post isn't particularly exciting, since I haven't really left the house to do much else other than do my exams. 

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Duo in 'Sin/Mushroom'

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Duo in 'Sin/Mushroom' - bought in a gift set

There's not denying that Urban Decay take the top spot when it comes to eyeshadows, with their insane pigmentation and creamy, easy-to-blend formula. No surprise to say that I was delighted when I received this eyeshadow duo in the Sephora Superstars set. 

Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque

Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque - £21.50

After my Origins Clear Improvement Mask ran out I decided to branch out and try a new mask, this time from Kiehl's- the Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque With 50ml extra, 50p cheaper and more convenient packaging, my expectations were high.

Nip + Fab Dry Leg Fix

Nip + Fab Dry Leg Fix - £10.25

While shopping in my local supermarket I managed to somehow end up with this little gem in my basket, snapping it up for only 50p when it retails for over a tenner! The question is, would I pay the full £10.25 for it?

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb

For someone with an ever-growing perfume selection, oddly, I've never properly reviewed a scent on my blog. Back in October I got a rollerball of the Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb perfume. It smelt absolutely beautiful and I couldn't resist picking up a full-size bottle in Sephora. 

It's such a feminine scent with a slight hint of sophistication, as well as being quite long-lasting. This is a scent that I could wear both during the day and the evening, being so versatile.

YSL Crème de Blush

YSL Crème de Blush - £29

As we're coming into spring I'm trying to get more into the peachy tones I have in my collection, and boy is this a good'un. I've had this beautiful YSL Crème de Blush for years but being so small, it always gets lost! I fished it out when I was organising my makeup collection and I have to be honest, it's been a great discovery.

February Favourites

As far as months go, February has been pretty relaxed; spring is on the horizon and I am ready to greet it with open, ready-to-be-tanned, arms. While I'm ready for spring, my lips are still stuck behind in winter, a condition which I'm trying to resolve by using my beloved Nuxe Rêve de Miel lip balm. I do, however, sorely miss my Dior Crème de Rose which has been sadly discontinued. -tear-

Wantable. Beauty Box

I have to be honest, I've never delved into the world of beauty boxes before, making me all the more excited to try Wantable.'s offering! They're based in the US but they now offer international shipping with a shipping charge of only about £4. Like the other beauty boxes each box contains 5 products, but the best part is that they're customised to your taste and they're all full sized products. Upon signing up, you can choose whether you want a Beauty, Accessories or Intimates box. I, being the addict that I am, chose the beauty option and proceeded to customise my box. 

My final choices were: 
Love- blush, lashes, eyeshadow and tools 
Like- brows, eyeliner, lip colour, complexion products, nail polish and bronzer 
Dislike- highlighter
and I got 3 of my loves and 2 of my likes - a pretty successful box, I would say and I have to say, being greeted by 'Hello, Knockout!' was a pretty nice touch!

 GlamNatural Creme Blush in 'You Make Me Blush'* - $32 (About £19)
The first thing I noticed about this was that it is insanely pigmented. You literally only need a tiny bit and blend it (quite quickly mind you, it could be prone to staining) and voilà- you're left with rosy cheeks. The whole philosophy of GlamNatural is that their products contain no water, leaving you with a really concentrated pigment. It's very long lasting and can look really beautiful, provided you haven't been too heavy handed with it. You can see from the swatch above just how pigmented it is, so you need to be careful with application.

Be A Bombshell Eyeliner in 'Espresso'* - $14 (Around £8)
I've never tried brown liquid liner before but upon trying this I've been really impressed - the fact that it comes out at a soft colour, rather than insanely pigmented, turns out to be an actual positive for it, making an eye look seem not so intense as black may look. Although it seems watery to apply, the second after I swatched in on my hand it wouldn't rub off. It wouldn't even budge! I had to use makeup remover and then it came off with ease, but it's pretty smudge proof which is definitely a plus for me (I have the tendency to rub my eyes. A lot.).

Golden Rose Sexy Black Mascara* - $12.99 (Around £7)

I love trying out new mascaras so this was the perfect thing to receive, particularly because of its differently shaped wand! I've never been particularly adventurous with wand types so I'll give this a go, but I can say that on first impressions it's quite volumising. 

Michael Marcus Prime Brush* - $38 (Around £23)
I have to be honest and say that I'm kind of over these kind of pointed brushes, I much prefer stippling brushes/sponges/my fingers, as I find them to be a lot less streaky. That's not to say that I won't be giving this a good go, perhaps it could be one for concealer in those hard-to-get-to areas.

FACE STOCKHOLM Nail Polish in 'Want-A-Blue' (Exclusive to Wantable.)* - $12 (Around £7)

First off I need to give serious kudos to whoever chose this colour as it's just a truly beautiful periwinkle blue - thinking Essie Bikini So Teeny without the shimmer. On top of the amazing colour, the formula is so creamy and an opaque paint job can be achieved in as little as 2 coats. I've been sporting it on my nails ever since I got it and I'm yet to spot a single chip (note: I am wearing a top coat) and its thin brush made application so easy! I think this is love. 

Sorme Treat & Tint Skin Perfecting BB Cream in 'Light Honey'*

I was lucky enough to get an extra mini sample in my box which I'm excited to try out, however I hope I don't fall in love with it as it's quite hard to track down!

Overall I'm really impressed with my Wantable. box, with a value of well over $50 when it's sold at $38/$40 depending on which subscription you decide to get. If you're looking for a beauty box which is truly worth the money, I can wholeheartedly say that Wantable. is the one for you. You get full sized products and products that are suited to what you want, not just what is available to the company, which is something that I haven't seen before. 

If you want to have a look at their website or even sign up for a box, go check them out here!

The Fresh Duo

fresh Sugar Lip Treatment - $22.50 and fresh Sugar Lip Polish - $22.50

I know, somebody needs to stop me reviewing items that are so hard to track down in the UK, but I just had to share my opinions on these wonder products. As someone with a borderline crazy obsession with lip balms/lip care products, I couldn't pass up an opportunity to try the fresh products.

fresh Sugar Lip Treatment - link
This was one of those products that every American YouTuber talked about, so naturally I had to get my hands on it- it'd be rude not to try it. It has a fresh (pun intended) citrusy scent and the formula is greatly nourishing. That being said, however, it wasn't exactly a wonder product. It's not thick enough to be an overnight balm so it's just a day balm. If I'm sitting at home and my lips are feeling a bit chapped I would use this. It's quite thick for a day balm but that's what I really like. While I like this, I probably wouldn't repurchase simply because it's quite expensive and I'm sure I cold find more purse-friendly options.

fresh Sugar Lip Polish - link
I never used to use a lip scrub but now I'm never turning back! This is so finely milled so it doesn't feel like you're just rubbing huge granules of sugar on my lips. It smells lovely and it doesn't make your lips feel stripped, on the contrary in fact- it leaves a little bit of moisture! Many people will recommend cheaper options but I've had this since October and I've hardly made a dent in it. It may be a bit more expensive but I think you get what you pay for, both with quality and quantity. 

Out of the two I don't think both are essential, I would prioritise the lip polish. However, if you really want to try the lip balm you could pick up one of the tinted versions for a little hint of colour. There's a flagship store in London but apart from that you have to either have a really lovely friend/family member who could bring it back for you if you aren't going over the pond to pick it up.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo [+]

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo [+] - £15.50

After my disappointing encounter with the Effaclar K (by the way, I have no clue why I bought it when it didn't really address my skin concerns!) I was a bit wary about trying the Effaclar Duo, despite having heard raving review. However upon a trip to The Garden Pharmacy in Covent Garden I was talking to a saleswoman about wanting to try this and she, very kindly, gave me a huge 3ml sample. 
I loved it and bought it, then a few weeks later out came the Effaclar Duo [+]*, a newly formulated version with dark spot correcting properties!

January Favourites

The first month of 2014 is already over and boy am I glad to see it go! It's been a slow and stressful month which has been filled with exams and rain- not a good combo- but these have been the products that I've been using all month!

Late night study sessions = dark under eye circles = Origins GinZing Refreshing eye cream to the rescue! Slightly tinted to counteract the darkness and then some, as well as feeling really refreshing and making my eyes look a lot more vibrant.
For that added coverage, I've been relying on the Make Up Forever Full Cover concealer which has really been the best thing to help me look presentable when I go out. I apply it with my fingers then blend it in with the EcoTools Airbrush Concealer brush, which makes it really look flawless.

I've been wearing the Urban Decay Eyeshadow in 'Sin' (the lighter pink shade) to add some brightness to my eyelids and give a bit of shimmer. It has a great formula and is just a dream to blend!
The Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner in 'Black' has been great for adding a bit of a dramatic line when I've gone out this month, staying on the hole time without a smudge in sight.
To add some colour to my cheeks, I've loved applying the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in 'Thankful'. It's a beautiful shade which adds a flush to my face, with an instant healthy glow.

To keep my hands looking presentable, I've loved the Nails inc. nail polish in 'Old Bond Street' which is a lovely, deep violet colour. Battling against the cold has taken a toll on my hands, so this Nivea Smooth Nourishing hand cream has been a welcome visitor! It's so moisturising and rich but not greasy, making it easy to continue going about my everyday activities. 

This Works Dream Team

This Works Dream Team - no longer available

I picked this little duo up from Boots before Christmas for just £10, so I could sample my first This Works products. With a stressful few months ahead, this is exactly what I've been looking for- good sleep in a couple of bottles. 

The Deep Sleep Pillow Spray (5ml) is quite a strong scent, so it's not one to spray directly before you're about to sleep. I prefer to spritz it lightly over my pillows and let it diffuse for a bit, so I don't end up heavily inhaling it as I sleep. It smells really relaxing and as soon as my head hits the pillow I instantly start to drift. 

However, the Deep Sleep Stress Less (5ml) rollerball is something that I use a lot more often, whether it's when I'm tackling a particularly challenging essay or if I'm trying to fall asleep. The smell isn't quite so overpowering but is concentrated enough for you to smell, enough to help you relax!

If I had to buy one of the two again, it would be the rollerball, as it's not quite so strong yet still relaxing. Unfortunately, this exact set isn't available any more but a similar (yet more expensive) version can be bought here with a full size Pillow Spray but the same miniature Stress Less rollerball. 

Concealers: Budget vs. High-End

Make Up Forever Full Cover - £22.95 and Collection Lasting Perfection - £4.19

My concealer collection is small but practical, to ensure that I get the coverage I need. However, from that small collection I only own 1 from the drugstore, the cult Collection Lasting Perfection concealer. 

Today, I'm putting it to the test against the Make Up Forever Full Cover concealer, to see whether it's worth splashing the cash for concealers or if it's better to save your pennies and go for the cheaper option.

Collection Lasting Perfection in 'Light' - link

At just over £4, I just needed myself to like this- think of all the money I would save! And it's not that I don't like it, because I really do, but the little niggles that I have with it is that is sinks into my pores and creases a little under my eyes.
The pore issue isn't such a big problem when I'm wearing a primer like The POREfessional, but if I just want to wear simple makeup going to the supermarket, I don't want to be faffing around with primers.
The problem with the under eye creasing is that if I need a lot of coverage (late night Netflix sessions are to be blamed) then it will crease when I apply more. When I just need a little pick-me-up, I can count on this to brighten my under eyes.
In terms of spots, the coverage is quite good but I didn't find it to be that buildable without getting cakey. 

Make Up Forever Full Cover in '5' - link
This can be bought in-store in the US and France, to my knowledge, but the link above is a UK seller. It is sold as a full coverage, waterproof concealer that can cover scars, hyperpigmentation and even tattoos. Now I don't have any tattoos to test this claim but I have plenty of scars!
It is the type of concealer that has to be built up, which takes a little longer but if you have scarring from old spots like I do, it's definitely worth it!
The way I use it is by applying it after primer but before foundation, then if I need any more coverage after foundation I can add some more. I've found that the best application method is to dab it on with my fingers then blend it in with a concealer brush. 
It has a matte finish and lasts for ages, as well as not being too drying so it can be used under eyes, too. It can crease a little under the eyes but when foundation is applied over it, this doesn't happen. 

The verdict? My purse hates me for this, but I think that the high-end option really is worth it. The £20+ that it costs really is worth it, because only a little is needed to get the best results. I've suffered from very dark scars and spots which really get me down, but this doesn't look cakey if blended well and covers up any imperfections.

However, the budget concealer is a strong competitor and, for the price, I'm not complaining! I would repurchase it, but for those days where I don't need as much coverage.