Blooog it!

Hyperink Question of the Month

2012-01-18T10:21:00.000-08:00

Reading is a number one love for me and I think you can get so much enjoyment out of it. By reading a book you're creating a movie in your mind, a unique set of imageries where no two versions would be alike. I recently read Flowers in the Attic by Virginia Andrews.

It is the sad tale of a family who in the beginning of the book lose their father in a car accident. Forced into poverty, the mother is left to contact her estranged parents setting the ball rolling for a whole series of disastrous set of events. Stuck in an attic the mother and her four children are locked away, seemingly forgotten. However as time drags by the mothers love for her children is overcome by her greed and seeking for wealth leaving the children to the elements almost like rats...

The book covers a number of very sensitive topics such as incest, abandonment and death but I feel these are not used flippantly and you really feel for the characters. It is a story that is incredibly deep but will have you rapidly flipping pages to the end. I would also highly recommend the prequel to the Flowers in the Attic (Garden of Shadows) as it will really help you understand the iron maiden's grandmothers actions.

HyperInk
Does anyone else have a favourite book? What do you like about it? Leave a comment below.

How to keep your skin looking good in Winter

2012-01-17T09:22:00.000-08:00

In winter it's even more important to take care of your skin as the combination of cold winter air and central heating cause havoc.

The three most significant areas are dull parched skin, irritated tight skin and chapped lips. We often just slap a bit of moisturiser on and hope for the best, but sometimes getting a product that is specific to your problem may help it go away.

Dull parched skin
When your skin feels dry and rough like sandpaper, it's lacking one crucial element - moisture. Short of spraying water on your face every five minutes there are products that will help get back that vital element. Aim for a moisturiser that has the keywords 'nourishing, hydration, radiance and moisturising'. Save with the Simple brand Hydrating light moisturiser, a moisturiser that not only adds moisture to skin but adds that vital glow too. Or why not spend on Clarins Blue Orchid face Treatment, a world famous brand that uses emolient patchouli to drench and revitalse skin.

Save

Simple Hydrating Moisturiser £3.25

Spend

Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil £29

Irritated, tight skin
If your face feels a bit like someone is giving you a improptu face lift there's probably something wrong. Not only does your face lack moisture but it needs a awful lot of tlc to get it back to its original condition too. Try to find a product that has the words 'soothing and hydrating on'.Save with the combination skin treatment Avene Trixera at £9, a solution that works on Eczema sufferers both adult and children as well as helping heal sore skin. Or if you're feeling flush buy Elemental Herbology Purify and Soothe Facial cleansing balm at £29 to hydrate and nourish your skin with vital nutrients.

Save

Avene Trixera +Selectiose Emollient Cream 200ml

Spend

Elemental Herbology Purify and Soothe Facial Cleansing Balm 75ml

Chapped Lips
One of the number one problems in winter are chapped lips. Having sore wind bitten lips is not only painful but not very pretty too. To get back your perfect pout for those nights in all you need is a soothing and nourishing formula that will restore your lips to their former selves. Save some pennies with the famous Burt's Bee's lip balm at £2 or splash out on the honey Reve De Miel lip balm that offers a luxurious creamy texture that will heal your lips with its natural elements.

Save

Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm Tube

Spend

Nuxe Rêve de Miel - Honey Lip Balm 15ml

Barbara Daly Peach Melba Eyeshadow

2012-01-13T17:30:00.000-08:00

I love eyeshadow, even though I have a box full I'm always buying more. Whlist I was out in Tesco's this little pot of delight caught my eye. This cute little eyeshadow is known as peach melba and has a trio of pastel shades - baby blue, peach and cream. The shadow is very glittery so will add a lovely sparkly effect to your eye makeup.

The packaging is pretty simple, a black and clear container with a see through lid. It's easy to open and apply and quite small so will fit easily into your makeup bag. The eyeshadow really does make me think of Summer when I look at it as the colours are so cheery. It's very easy to apply and you can wear the colours alone or altogether, layering them for a different look.

The overall effect is quite light but is good for wearing to work or on a casual day out. Probably the only disadvantage would be that it might be too light for some people.

You can buy Barbara Daly makeup from Tesco.

The below result is by using the peach and cream shades

Advantages

Easy to apply
Three for the price of one!
You can wear alone or layer them together to create a different look
Lovely sparkly look

Disadvantages

The colours are very light pastels so it may not be dark enough for some eyeshadow users who like their eyeshadow to be "totally visible"

Barbara Daly Fair Concealer

2012-01-12T05:39:00.000-08:00

Whilst shopping yesterday I decided to try a concealer by Barbara Daly as I wasn't completely satisfied with my current concealer.

The concealer comes in very plain black and clear packaging and you can see inside to ascertain the colour. The concealer is very creamy and applies to your fingers or a brush very easily. I applied just a little to my problem areas and found that the redness was camoflauged by the cream.

Obviously no concealer will ever be able to completely eradicate darkness or blemishes but I felt whilst it helped reduce the redness it still doesn't achieve the result I want ultimately. For example if you look closely you can still see a semi shadow. Unfortunately the product also shifted on my nose and you can still see the blemish underneath.

At under £4 the product isn't expense and is good to grab in a bargain, but there are better products out there.

You can buy Barbara Daly makeup from Tesco.

The left side has concealer, the right side doesn't

Advantages

Creamy texture means its very easy to apply
Reduces most problems areas
Cheap to buy

Disadvantages

The product shifts quite easily, so concealment isn't perfect
Even after applying I didn't feel the result was as good as it could have been

The Bank Job - George Lamb's Boobs up

2012-01-08T13:15:00.001-08:00

If you were following the nerve wracking drama of The Bank Job last week (in a real life vault!) you probably noticed George Lamb's continous boobs up. I'm not sure if it was because it was live and nobody could cut the mistakes, but with other live shows I've not seen people make so many mistakes. It made me wonder if they'll choose him to present it next time.

The ending was fantastic, when the two guys went up against each other to see who would win the money. They had the choice to share, or to take it all and if they both decided to take it all, they went away with nothing. You could hear a pin drop as they waited for the boxes to be revealed. They had both decided to be greedy and take it all which meant nothing for them. Now I see quite a life lesson in that game as I've often found when I'm doing a bit of gambling and I go for the more money I lose. Greedy people don't prosper they trip up somewhere along the line for someone else to benefit.

So be kind... share..

ING Direct gets you saving for your beauty goodies

2012-01-02T23:00:00.001-08:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of ING Direct for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

When we're out buying the latest mascara, new perfume or latest foundation it can be hard to think of the bank balance. In recent times however thinking about finance is more important then anything, especially if you want to be able to budget to buy next months makeup.

If you've grown tired of all the old high street banks - Lloyds, Halifax, Santander why not consider ING Direct - the decent way to do banking. With award winning mortgages at competitive rates of 3.24% and a large range of saving accounts ING Direct give the ultimate value into saving<br />

ING Direct is now the home of 23 million customers worldwide and someone new joins every 20 seconds. The accounts are easy to open with only a pound opening requirement and offer fantastic rates of interest on your money.

Recently ING have created a comparison chart to show you just how much money the average household in your region has. The innovative widget is the perfect application for seeing how much each individual region is saving. All it takes is a few clicks and you could be seeing how well off your region is. If you've ever felt that your savings account didn't really add any interest, this widget could be the perfect start for 2012. It's free, easy to use and could soon be earning you money. So what are you waiting for - get clicking! <br />

Find out more about ING Direct Savings

Savings Accounts

Kathcake Blogging has page ranking after 2 years!

2011-12-27T13:38:00.000-08:00

I checked out my site on Google PageRank Checker tonight and couldn't believe it when I saw that my little blog had risen to the high stoops of level 2. Now considering the last time I checked this out maybe a year ago it was at 0 I think i've achieved a LOT in one year.

Here's to be even higher next year!!

If you've just started a new blog, here's a few tips:

Submit interesting content often
Start competitions to get regular visitors
Mention famous people once your page is indexed on Google, it will make people more likely to happen across your page!

Cosmetics A La Carte Brow Ink

2011-12-26T14:00:00.000-08:00

I received this cute little product in one of my monthly Carmine beauty boxes. Its claim is to be a "semi-permanent" brow, eyeliner and body ink, a bit like a dye without the chemicals. I decided to test the product on my eyebrows as they are pretty thin and pale looking so a little extra colouring might make my eyes stand out more.

The shade I've received is a taupe colour which comes in a brown pencil with a handy lid so the product won't dry out. Inside the nib is a bit like a felt tip, and like a felt tip you have to be careful not to wear the colour out!

I applied the pen in very fine little strokes, colouring in like a kid with a crayon wouldn't make for a good look. Gradually I managed to fill my eyebrows in a bit more to make them a little bit more compact, and to give them more shape.

Whilst the colour is a dark brown when colouring onto my eyebrows it seemed to match in and made them almost a black colour (but it didn't look odd)

As for semi-permanent well I'm not sure I can agree with that. A day after applying the pen I can't say they're as filled in as they were yesterday but you can still see a bit of the marking. However the pen doesn't take very long to apply and is very easy to use so applying everyday shouldn't be too much of a problem.

A nice little product that helps to make your eyebrows the real feature of your face.

You can buy brow ink for £22 off Cosmetics A La Carte
Before

After

Advantages

This brow filler is cheaper then going for a eyebrow dye at a salon
Easy to use
Offers nice shape and colouring once used

Disadvantages

Slightly pricey
May dry out easily, especially if the lid is left off!

MyFace Spi"ce"y eyeshadow

2011-12-25T08:16:00.000-08:00

MyFace are the brand with the crushed pearl pigments inside their vivacious eyeshadows.

As part of thee December Carmine box I was delighted to receive a Spi"ce"y version of their eyeshadows. Coming in a small compact eyeshadow the colour is a rich sparkly brown which quite easily creates a gorgeous smokey eye.

You can apply the eyeshadow with your fingers, adding a little for a subtle effect or a lot for a really noticable glam night look. Alternatively you can wet your finger and see the deeper colour the wetness gives the shadow.

I felt the colour was really rich and really made my eyes sparkle. The only downside is because the eyeshadow is heavily glitter focused over the period of a day a lot of it may end up around your eye. Not really a problem but it may ruin your perfectly set makeup!

MyFace is only really available in Boots shops or online

Advantages

Really bright colours
Leaves your eyes sparkling like a diamond
Has crushed pearl extracts inside for extra colour va va voom

Disadvantages

As the eyeshadow is heavily glitter focused a lot of it may settle under your eye over the period of a day

The real December Carmine box

2011-12-23T13:26:00.000-08:00

I previously reported that I had received the December box, but as I had only just signed up it appears they sent me the November and the December box.

I received the December box today and I have to say what a lovely christmas present, Carmine boxes are really worth the money.

Inside was:

A Japonesque brush - perfect for smudging your eyeshadow and creating the ultimate in smokey chic
Weleda Pomegranate Creamy body wash - Fresh from the orchard this creamy body wash is packed with nutrients - perfect for revitalising your skin during a hot bath
KMS California Freeshape quick blow dry - This product claims to reduce your blow drying time by up to 50% and it leaves your hair soft - what a product!
Institut Esthederm Time Technology Cream - A lightly whipped moisturiser that is perfect for all ages. The time technology cream has light reflecting particles inside to give you a instant glow as well as providing deep moisturisation that one day your skin will thank you for!
MyFace Cosmetics Blingtone Sp"ice"y eyeshadow - I love love love MyFace they have such vivid colours on their eyeshadows. This product alone would be around £10 in the shops (well Boots) and gives off really long lasting colour that will wow those around you.

So if you're still not convinced Carmine is amazing value tune in next month for the next installment :)

Revlon Custom Eyes Masacra

2011-12-22T12:00:00.000-08:00

I bought this mascara under the recommendation of a friend, in the end I bought the wrong one but it looked good so I thought why not try it. The mascara comes in a small tube and has a quite large plastic brush which gives the impression it covers all lashes.

Now what marks this mascara out as different from the others on the shelf is its claim to give two different mascara options: 1. - Add length and drama, and 2 - Add length and definition.

I quite eagerly tried both options but I could not see any change happening with the mascara at all. When you twist the nozzle the wand stayed the same shape and consistency so I don't quite understand how they can claim any difference in overall effect.

The result is pretty average, my lashes were covered quite well with both options but there was no wow affect. On the plus side the mascara doesn't clump and your lashes are left feeling pretty individualised.
Before

Option 1 - Length and Drama Option 2 - Length and Definition

Advantages

No clumping
Good definition on lashes
Long wand so minimal reapplying

Disadvantages

I don't feel it lives up to its claim to have two different application options
No wow factor - quite a average mascara

You can buy this mascara for £4.45 from Ebay

New Id I-Pout Scarlet Lipstick

2011-12-21T13:04:00.000-08:00

As part of my first Carmine box I received the lovely New Id I-pout lipstick in Scarlet. The lipstick comes in quite a attractive white case, and its most attractive feature is its inbuilt light - perfect for dark nightclubs and bars!

On the side of the lipstick is a a reasonably sized mirror so when team with your light you'll be the envy of all your girl mates!

The colour is a lovely bright red which is perfect for the Christmas season and really brightens up those pale complexions. It smells absolutely gorgeous which is perfect for cheeky kisses under the mistletoe and it glides on like a dream - no stickiness like some lipsticks.

I can't really find anything negative to say about this lipstick, other then the fact that it doesn't last that long. However with its endearing features you won't have any qualms in applying it again and again!
Before

After

Advantages

Gorgeous smell unheard of in a lipstick - perfect for kissing
Lovely scarlet colour
A inbuilt light so you can apply in dark places!
Has a mirror as well

Disadvantages

The only one I can think of - it doesn't last that long!

I'm going to be in Shout!

2011-12-21T12:54:00.000-08:00

Recently Shout were asking for beauty panellists so I thought I'd apply, as I love testing makeup and free hair and beauty products are even better!

My blog link will be included, and my top secret review product will be revealed, so keep your eyes out. I will post when I know further details!

17 Magnetized Nail Polish

2011-12-19T13:33:00.000-08:00

If you've ever wondered what a magnet does to wet nail varnish this gives you the answer.

Having seen the results on my friends nails I really wanted to give this a try, as it looked so cool.

As they're quite new the nail varnish is still quite pricey compared to normal polishes. I got mine for about £5.99 from the 17 brand in Boots.

I applied the Blue shade to my nailsin the normal way and then came the magic. Whilst my nail was still wet I held the magnet over the top and it creates a ripple effect that changes the colour of the polish.

Your result is a two toned nail varnish which you would find very hard to create normally.

Now the magnetic nail varnish is quite a difficult art to master as whilst my right hand came out lovely, the left didn't..

We all have a hand that is a lot harder to paint and this was it, so maybe the best idea would be to do that one first.

However I was impressed with the result and will be buying more colours in future!

Advantages

Brand new!
Creates a effect unseen before
You will wow all your friends with the results (unless they've already got it that is!)
Saves on buying nail transfers for crazy patterns

Disadvantages

Quite pricey compared to normal nail varnishes
Easily goes wrong

My December 2011 Carmine Box

2011-12-19T13:19:00.000-08:00

I recently signed up to Carmine as I loved the thought of recieving beauty goodies every month, and today my December box came.

* * * Drum Roll * * *

The box was very securely wrapped with a box in a box and the inner box is stuck down very firmly!

You have to rifle through the shredded red paper before you find your beauty goodies; in December's box I got:

:Lulu's Time Bomb Flashback Night Cream
Neom Organic Body Lotion
Dainty Doll eyeliner by Nicola Roberts
A la Carte Cosmetics Eyeliner
NewId lipstick with a light (Review coming tomorrow!)

The products are very generous samples, wth several like the eyeliners and New Id lipstick being full sized so I'm very impressed as you'd probably pay £10 apiece for those.

So why not check it out for yourself at Carmine Prices start at £12 per month including postage.

Nail Art pens for under half price!

2011-12-11T10:26:00.001-08:00

If you love your nails then creating wacky and beautiful designs on top of your nail varnish is the perfect thing to impress your friends.

The nail art pen set comes with four extra fine tip precission nail art pens in blue, yellow, pink and purple.

Don't leave your nails looking plain, give them that va va voom with this pen set. Half Price Perfumes are selling the set which is worth £18 for only £7.99

Check it out here

Sign up to Carmine - great a free beauty box in the post EVERY MONTH!

2011-12-11T09:00:00.001-08:00

Like most girls I live and breathe beauty, I'm always buying the latest lipstick, mascara or eyeshadow. So when entering competitions one evening I came across Carmin, I dedcided to have a closer look.

The website links up with various beauty brands over the month and sends out generously sized samples for you to trial as you wish. Now unlike most samples that are under the size of a postcard and don't have much in them, these are virtually real products for testing - by you.

This is an example of November's box. Click to enlarge.

You can start by paying monthly for £10 or go for the whole year for £110 and get one month free. I'll post a update when I get my first box and show you all the treats inside!

Check it out at Carmine

Kathy's Top Tip of the Day!

2011-12-08T09:30:00.000-08:00

Recently I decided to have a make up switch around as I felt my concealer wasn't doing me justice. Originally I was applying it on top of my foundation and just before powder. Now I apply concealer first then foundation and finally powder.

The results I have to say are fantastic. The concealer doesn't appear so bright or obvious and settles on the skin a lot more. So if you are in doubt of why your makeup isn't working for you test alternatives and see if a different combination will work better for you.

Check out the results below:
Before

After

Can you spot a difference? Drop me a line

Fabulous Bingo Calvin Klein giveaway

2011-12-07T15:02:00.001-08:00

Are you a gambler who loves make up?

Fabulous Bingo have got a fantastic offer on at the moment where all new registrations get a free Calvin Klein lip gloss worth over £15.. How's that for a bargain?!

When you deposit £10 you get £30 to play with, and if you're lucky that could be Christmas paid for!

To get started go to Fabulous Bingo

Do drop me a comment if you win big or you want to tell me what you think of your lip gloss, i'd love to hear from you!

2True Colordrench Lip Gloss

2011-12-07T14:33:00.001-08:00

This lovely little lipgloss dropped through my letter box the other day. The lipgloss comes in average packaging and can easily be fitted into a makeup bag or handbag. The colour I had recieved was only identified as 6 so I'd have to be n the shop to see what tone it is. From looking I can see it is a dark pink berry colour and the lip gloss aims to be a intense colour, high shine lip gloss.

The gloss is very easy to use, on opening it has a little brush which you can apply the gloss. The product has a lovely vanilla smell which you'll just want to eat!

After applying I could see that the gloss had left quite a nice shine on my lips but I can't say there was any increase in colour. Perhaps with a darker shade the colour change may have been more evident.

Overall a very nice ,cute little lip gloss that half lives up to what it claims to. But at a couple of quid you're hardly going to complain are you!?

Advantages

Gorgeous vanilla smell
Leaves a sultry gloss
Very cheap product
A little goes a long way, product will probably last quite a while

Disadvantages

The lipgloss only half lives up to its claim as I didn't feel there was any increase in colour
The 2True range is quite limited and only available in certain outlets

Buy 2True lip gloss and others on this Ebay site

Christmas presents pick and mix!

2011-12-03T14:30:00.000-08:00

If you're christmas shopping but have no idea what to get your friends and family why not try a little present pick and mix?

Halfpriceperfumes have started a present scheme that is very similar to Boots and Superdrug where you buy 3 presents and get 2 free. With most items under £5 this will be one very cheap christmas. But don't tell them that!

Check out the range at Halfpriceperfumes

Modelling YummyMe clothes

2011-12-02T11:45:00.001-08:00

These fantastic clothes were sent to me by the wonderful YummyMe University a fun clothing site based in America

Bourjois Illuminating touch

2011-12-02T10:18:00.001-08:00

It's Christmas and that means party season!

Now that you've got the gorgeous sparkly dress you need the makeup to go with it. I recently bought Bourjois Illuminating touch as part of a 3 for 2 offer in Superdrug. The product aims to give you a sparkling shimmer to the apples of your cheeks and your temples.

The pink pot it comes in is really dinky and you even get a free brush to apply the powder with. It comes in a hard block like blusher and you just apply it where you want it. I applied it along the apples of my cheek and slightly up to my temples and found it did give off quite a subtle sparkle. However I think you would need to apply quite a lot to get a real effect. In the light you get the impress that you've got a real shimmer.

The product does last the test of time but as mentioned earlier it doesn't really show up that much so if someone didn't know you were wearing it they probably wouldn't notice. Unless you trowel it on. But if all you want is a little glint under the disco ball this season then go and snap it up now.
Before applying After applying

Close up

Advantages

Cute little pot which can easily be snuck into your bag
With every product bought money goes to charity
Gives off a cute little sparkle

Disadvantages

Not a huge shimmering effect
Whilst it does last it doesn't really show after a few hours

You can buy Bourjois Illuminating effect for £7.49 on Superdrug

Eyeliner masterclass!

2011-12-01T13:34:00.001-08:00

Applying eyeliner can sometimes be like venturing into the Amazon - if you don't know what you're supposed to do you might get bitten, or end up with eyeliner everywhere!

In this masterclass you will learn three techniques in which you can apply your eyeliner to suit your mood or the situation i.e. going to work or getting glam for a party. For a steady line you will need a handheld mirror and a steady hand. If you're worried you'll smudge your liner rest your arm on a steady surface like a table.

Technique 1 - A simple but effective line
This technique is best for going about your day to day business, going to work, looking after the kids etc. To apply it get your eyeliner and slowly go from one corner of your lashes to the next and stop at the last lash. You will end up with a look that will make your eyes stand out more that is not too dramatic.

Technique 2 - The line with a flick
The second look is perfect if you've got a important meeting where you really want to impress or a hot date. It's very much like technique no1 but with this flick you can add more of a accent to your eyes. I've made my flick quite small but you can make it as long as you wish! Start off by moving the liner from the inner corner of your lashes to the outer corner but then slowly draw upwards to create what is almost like a rotated tick.

Technique 3 - Cats eyes
There is nothing more glamorous then having a real block effect to your liner. It gives a real cats eye effect to your eyes and in my opinion makes them stand out. Instead of applying liner like you would in the two steps above go straight to the corner of your eye and create a outer arrow effect with block liner on both top and bottom lash corners and a exaggerated flick at the end. If you can't understand what I mean the picture will explain all. For extra emphasism make the lines quite thick.

If you haven't already got any eyeliner I would suggest the product I use Colorsport 24 Hour eyeliner. It's perfect as its designed to last all day and rarely smudges so its perfect in case you feel teary or wipe your eyes a lot. Colorsport also manufacture 24 hour mascara and eyebrow dye solutions. You can find the product for £5.99 at the Retail Supermarket

Competition Time - Win a EcoTan bottle from Su-do Professional

2011-12-01T07:24:00.001-08:00

With Christmas coming we're all expecting a few goodies or too, but why not speed the wait up and try to win yourself some fantastic beauty goodies.

This Eco-Tan exofliating gel prepares your skin for even self tanning so when you go to get brown for your christmas parties you won't end up with streaky skin. Leave the streaks for the bacon you'll be eating the next morning!

Su-do is a supplier of beauty equipment and solutions including airbrush tanning, skin graphics, makeup, hair, body and nail art.

To take part in the competition all you have to do is comment on any other post in the blog archive on the side and like me on Google Friends Connect. You will also need to tell me what would make you more likely to visit my site. Anyone who doesn't do the above will NOT be entered.

Please put your answers to my question in the comments below this post.

Fantastic half price Revlon makeup buy today!

2011-11-30T14:32:00.001-08:00

Revlon could be considered quite a pricey makeup so when it's going half price it's a real investment buy - even if you don't need any makeup.

Halfpriceperfumes have got a fantastic combination foundation reduced from £12.49 to £6.50 and a Revlon photofinish blusher from £12.99 to £5.99.

What are you waiting for? Get them now!

Buy the foundation here

Don't forget the blusher !

REVLON GROW LUSCIOUS BY FABULASH

2011-11-28T02:53:00.001-08:00

The other day I received this mascara in the post as part of a competition win so I thought I'd share my results with you all. The mascara comes in a light green tube with the brand name Revlon and its claim to 'grow your lashes luscious.' The wand was average sized and coated pretty much all your lashes in one stroke. However I felt that the mascara was a little dry, that it lacked the consistency of most other leading mascaras. For example when I applied the mascara it didn't feel like there was enough product on the wand even though I had just taken it out of the tube.

It takes quite a while to get your desired effect on the lashes, and with me I expect lengthened, slightly volumised fluttery lashes. The product claims to have Fabulash ingredients in it which I must say does surprise me as I would've expected that to mean instantly lengthened lashes, however it may indicate that if you keep using this product your lashes will grow in time.

The mascara didn't really clump which was good and saves time in the morning. However in regards to my perfect mascara Revlon Grow Luscious doesn't really fit. Shame.
Click to enlarge Click to enlarge

Advantages:

May have possible lash growth effect over time due to Fabulash ingredients
Lashes don't get left clumpy like some mascaras
Perfect for a day look

Disadvantages:

Felt really dry like it was lacking product when you apply
Takes a while to get your desired effect - not good in the mornings!
Not really worth its pricey retail price of over £8

Now to get yourself a bargain, and avoid paying the price of Revlon in the shops head over to Cosmetics Skin care where you can get it for a cheap£5.99. But hurry there's only 1 left!

Christmas is coming and that means Xmas shopping!

2011-11-12T10:47:00.001-08:00

If you've ever done your Christmas shopping, walking in one shop to another with no idea what to buy someone you're probably not alone. Christmas is one of the busiest times of year with the holidays looming, and numerous friends and family to buy for you end up more skint then a 16 year old on minimum wage!

It's not all doom and gloom though, the lovely people at Half Price Perfumes are always looking out for ways to make life more simple. For under £6 you can buy a 20 piece goody bag filled to the brim with hair products, eyeshadow, lipstick, nail varnish and more. Why not treat yourself and the women in your family :)

Buy it here

Feminist poem

2011-11-09T08:50:00.000-08:00

A feminine predicament

while giving birth

to sadness, fear and empathy

the female turned down a chance to prosper

she didn't sign

she didn't copyright

she didn't remember to record

or to witness

while small faces suckled at her soul

the feminine being

continued to garden her love

now, what has she got?

a small planet

with well-fed predicaments

This is an entry for the Mookychick blogging competition, FEMINIST FLASH FICTION 2011. Enter now.

Rimmel's Scandaleyes mascara

2011-11-05T12:12:00.000-07:00

Rimmel has a brand new mascara out - the very eyecatching Rimmel Scandaleyes mascara in a bright orange tube. The mascara claims to capture every lash to create a real eyecatching look. So how does it fare? The mascara has quite a fat long wand so you get quite a lot of mascara on your first application which saves you pumping the brush in again and again.

On occasions it does come out with too much product and your lashes can end up looking clumpy however this doesn't happen on too many occasions. At about £7 its about average for a highstreet brand mascara and it does do quite well in its claim to capturing every lash.

There's probably an increased volume level of 3x natural lashes and you only need one or two applications which saves a lot of time - perfect for those rushed mornings.

Before After

Advantages

You don't have to keep pumping the wand to get a lot of product on
Gives off quite a bit of volume
Keeps to its claim to capture as many lashes as possible
Doesn't break the bank

Disadvantages

On occasions too much product comes off and your lashes can end up clumpy
Does tend to go on your eyelid a bit so try to leave eyeshadow to the last minute

Britains Next Top Model Review

2011-10-31T07:06:00.001-07:00

On Saturday me and my friend Rachel visited Britain's next Top Model event in the ExCel centre in London. Having been to a similar event before I was pretty sure what I would be expecting, and I do love a good free sample or competition.

The exhibition was way back at the far end of the ExCel centre and wasn't very highly publicised in comparison to the Batman and comic book character show that was clearly prominent in the various characters wandering around the centre!

There were a few fashion stalls, a lot selling make up and beauty goodies as well as your catwalk which you could take part in to feature with the real models, as well as a under 14 masterclass. Sadly there wasn't many free samples on hand, other then toothpaste, Elemis skin cream samples and free makeup applications.

I was eagle eyed for the competitions though and found about 5, there was the NYX face of 2012 model comp, Gingersnap Model comp, Colour Coture model comp as well as a highly established agency being there (Models 1)

The event was a pretty fun shopping experience, with some nice freebies and opportunities thrown in too, and is perfect for the aspiring model. They were also selling the goody bags off at the end which had some good bits in like toothpaste, a full size Galaxy bar, Famous makeup, Nivea samples, Well Woman sample pack and lots more.

Create a scary halloween face and get rewarded!

2011-10-24T13:13:00.000-07:00

If you love experimenting with makeup you've probably heard of MyFace cosmetics, a new range of makeup inspired by celebrity make up artist Charlotte Tilbury.

Myface.cosmetics are giving you ladies the chance to win over 15 products and Kabuki's signed spider woman sketch simply by creating your own halloween makeup design.

Get creative and get spooky and who knows you could be the lucky winner of some fantastic quality makeup.

Tesco's Barbara Daly Flawless primer

2011-10-15T11:35:00.000-07:00

If you get to the end of the day, look in the mirror and wonder where your makeups gone you're not the only one.

Foundation is great when first applied, making you look just like a catwalk model, but when it fades you really don't have much base left.

So what's a girl to do? The best way to keep your makeup on your face is to invest in a really good primer, apply this before your foundation and somehow it makes your makeup 'stick'.

Whilst browsing through Tesco's the other day I thought I'd give the Barbara Daly primer a go, I've tried the 17 one before, and whilst the results were okay I got fed up of using it after a while as it wasn't brilliant.

The primer is like whipped cream, it has a very light texture and goes on really smoothly. I apply all over the T zone, cheeks, forehead and face and then leave it a minute or two and apply the foundation on top. The foundation seems to just slip on with ease and application is very easy.

Several hours later my makeup is pretty much still there I don't have too much slippage and I would probably say the makeup has reduced by about 20% but considering you often wipe your face without noticing that's not a high percentage. Overal a very good product with good consistency and staying power!

You can buy Barbara Daly primer in all good Tesco stores for around £9.
Morning shot

Evening shot

Advantages

Lovely whipped texture that goes on easily
Very good results
Small pot but a little lasts a long time

Disadvantages

Some may consider it pricey
Can only be bought in one place so could be seen as hard to get hold of

Zalanda fashion wardrobe

2011-09-19T05:55:00.000-07:00

This is my favourite outfit over at Zalando - my entry for the competition.

A gorgeous black dress which hugs the figure and bringa your shape.

Then a gorgeous pair of high heeledTamaris shoes with a small heel so I'm not staggering all over the place at my classy event.

And finally a gorgeous French Connection cardigan in Metallicas to keep me warm in these Autumn chills.

Why not have a go yourself at:

Zalando

MaxFactor Smouldering Twilight duo eyeshadow

2011-09-16T10:01:00.000-07:00

Due eyeshadows are great as they give you two for the price of one plus the chance to mix and match your outfits according to the colours you have available. MaxFactor Smouldering Twilight is a interesting mixture of silver and purple that gives of a real smokey, night look or gothic day look depending on how you apply it.

Advantages

Applies easily with no powdery excess under your eye
Gives off a shimmery attractive result
With the two colours you can really mix and match and go for a day or night look

Disadvantages

Colour does tend to fade after a few hours usage

The best price you can find this is at Blush Cosmetics for £1.99

Copywriting

2011-09-08T09:41:00.000-07:00

Imagine writing for a living and being able to use that to support yourself and your family. For some people it's a reality, and copy writers can work in a number of different formats and environments. A copy writer will normall work as part of a creative team normally in a advertising agency or public relation firm and gives the writer complete control over the content. The idea is to create a story that will create "visual communication" that will create a emotional connection with readers/viewers.

Copywriting is the term used in the promotion of a person, product, opinion or idea. Copywriters can be involved in a large number of promotional or media situations such as direct mail pieces, taglines, jingle lyrics, web page content , online ads, e-mail and other Internet content, television or radio commercial scripts, press releases, white papers, catalogs, billboards, brochures, postcards, sales letters, and other marketing communications media.

The internet has expanded people's chance to get involved with copy writing with opportunities such as web content, ads, emails and online media. It has given writers the opportunity to thoroughly research their career, view other writers work and take up new opportunities.As a result of these freelance contractors are far more prominent then they were say ten years ago when freelance copywriters were virtually unheard of.

If you're considering a career in copy writing you should be aware its a extremely competitive career path to go down and you will need to get as much experience as possible. Whilst a education or a degree in a related subject will be helpful in your search its definitely worth requesting work experience or an internship with a advertising agency.

Maxfactor False Lash Effect Fusion Volume & Length VIDEO review

2011-09-04T14:19:00.000-07:00

Now its one thing to do a review of a mascara, but when its a 3D video review it all seems so much more real.

From now on I will be doing a mixture of both normal and video reviews.

Advantages

Accentuates top and bottom lashes
Doesn't clump
Lasts for hours

Disadvantages

Lashes do occasionally stick together if you apply too many coats
Could be seen as expensive for a mascara

You can find Maxfactor False lash effect mascara for £5.50 (cheapest price) at Ebid

False nails for less then the price of a sandwich!

2011-08-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

Lets face it beauty can be expensive, getting a false set of nails in a salon can set you back from around £20 - £30. So why not fake it, and do it yourself!

Kiss every day french nail kit gives you 24 false nails worth £8 for only £1. It comes in ten sizes and has a pink gel glue and manicure strip file included.

To get this fab beauty buy just type "kissme" when checking out at Halfpriceperfumes.Go now!

Free Revlon Lipgloss!

2011-08-22T10:29:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a little pick me up to help you get through the Monday blues then why not check out this offer where you can get a free Revlon mix and mingle lip gloss (you do have to pay postage and packaging)

The creamy multi tonal lip gloss is tinted in juicy spring colours and natural shades, perfect for giving off that lipstick look without lipstick. You can wear them individually, layered of blended with another product.

Use the code 'freerevlon' to get your free lip gloss. This is part of the halfpriceperfumes newsletter, but you should still be able to apply for your free Revlon lip gloss!

Blog Interview with the Editor of Fabulicious!

2011-08-19T15:44:00.000-07:00

Some of you may be new to Blog interviews - a way of linking blogs up and sharing useful tips and insight. My first blog interview is with Sarah Berryman, the editor of I Am Fabulicious a fun, beauty blogging website that really describes the epitome of beauty. Log on now to find amazing beauty competitions, useful tips and well constructed reviews.

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

Im a 26 years old, married, living in Essex and working in Media in London. I have a 3 year old cocker spaniel called Dexter and I love make up, celebrity gossip and sweets!

2, Your site is an inspiration to budding blog writers, how did you get to where you are today?

Through hard work and determination. I started my blog a long time ago but didn’t put any love into it. I knew I wanted to write but thought ‘whose going to read this’, so I started writing for an online magazine. Sadly that didn’t work out so at the end of May I went back to my Blog and decided to make it something special and something to be proud of.

I spend literally all of my spare time working on my blog, be it attending product launches, press days, or researching, writing, testing and photographing products. Blogging is a full time job in itself sometimes!
3. What inspired you to write your blog?

My love and passion for writing and my love and passion for beauty!
4. What tips could you give other blog writers as to how they could get their blogs up in the ranks and gain more visitors/comments etc?

Your blog shouldn’t be about gaining more visitors and comments. If anyone reads your blog you should feel lucky and proud as with the thousands of other blogs out there its no mean feat!

Just make sure you spend time on your blog- create interesting, engaging and original content. Do your research- see what people are interested in reading about.

5. what do you do when you're not working on your blog?

Eat and sleep! No seriously, I love spending time at home ( im a real homebody) seeing my family and relaxing with a good film.

6. How would you describe your blogging style?

As intelligent, creative, honest and informative.

7. I see you have a lot of product reviews on your site, did you get companies to send you samples and if so how did you gain the respect and appreciation of companies to send you products?

The majority of the products I review I have paid for out of my hard earned cash!

Occasionally a PR company will contact me and ask if I am interested in reviewing an item, or I may see an item that I think is fab and will contact them for a press release and to get more info.

8. What networking do you do that you feel helps your blogging business?

Cover as many social networking platforms as you can- Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, You tube.
9.. What was the most challenging moment in your blog content development process and why?

Getting to grips with technology! Im a huge technophobe so trying to get used to the mechanics of how to blog was the most challenging.

10. A lot of people are interested in blogging for the money earning potential. What are some tips for people interesting in making money from blogging? What are some realistic expectations in regards to what can be made?

I have literally no idea- I blog because I love it, not to make money

11. What’s your take on sponsored reviews?

I don’t have an opinion either way. Each to her own.

12. How do you keep coming up with material/content for your blog? Many people struggle with coming up with different articles/posts and they only have one blog.

Im never stuck with ideas- there are always new, interesting and exciting products out there. There is always exciting celebrity beauty news, nothing stands still and I find myself daily wanting to write at least 10 different posts!

Have I got a treat for you!

2011-08-15T14:22:00.000-07:00

If you're on a budget makeup probably goes on the bottom of your buy list. With deals like Halfpriceperfumes offer however you can still get the best at a fraction of the price. Offering products like Rimmel Jelly lip gloss, Rimmel 1000 kisses stay on lip liner, Rimmel lasting finish kiss all for only £1 and more.

Check out the amazing Rimmel products here

Also if you want a goody bag full of Boots products including Prestige and 17 for only £5 check out this link

Three of the best concealers to try

2011-08-14T11:19:00.000-07:00

If like me you have industrial strength dark circles under your eyes you will probably have tried every product under the sun trying to get rid of them. Either the concealer is too light and makes you look like a panda ala YSL touche eclat, or its so dark it looks ridiculous.

Today i'm reviewing three of the best (that I have found so far). I far in and out of love with them at various points as they start to fail at their job etc but they're better then the rest!

Benefit Erase Paste
This lovely little pot of goodness is a liquid concealer with a medium consistency that does pretty well to cover the redness under my eyes. You can apply with your fingers or a brush in a gentle patting motion and just use a little to cover up the problem area. Whilst the product covers pretty well I do find it to be quite light in comparison to the rest of my face which makes the concealer quite obvious. Also it doesn't last as long as I ideally would like it to. I'd give it a 3.5/5. Benefit products are quite pricey but you can get it for an amazing £10 at Trinity Divinity

Advantages

Easy to apply
Good consistency
Covers dark circles

Disdavantages

If you apply more then you need your circles will be highlghted rather then hidden
Doesn't blend in with the outer areas all that well
Quite expensive

Estee Lauder Ideal Light
Now this little baby I have a love/hate affair with. It's such a light liquidy consistency that you really don't know it's there and your dark circles are hidden by a light reflecting sheen. However I feel that the concealer doesn't really last long and by lunchtime the cracks are starting to show. Have you ever noticed how when you take a picture of yourself at the beginning of the day and your makeups perfect that you have a real glow to yourself? Try that again at 6pm and see the result you get - that's all down to the makeup and I feel that whilst this concealer has a great instant effect it doesn't last more then a couple of hours. I'd give it a 3/5. Whilst Estee Lauder is quite pricey you can get it for a good price at Yes Style for £22 (really not a cheap product!)

Results:

Advantages

Very light texture
Goes on really easily
Gives off a lovely sheen which knocks off the light under your eyes

Disadvantages

Doesn't last!
Can be quite expensive depending on where you buy it

Benefit Booing
Years ago I was recommended this by a old friend and as she said it was the best she tried I thought i'd give it a go. The concealer claims to be a industrial strength concealer and when the lady applied it in the shop it really seemed to do the trick. The consistency is really quite thick and less is really more on this product or it will look caked on. The concealer works really well at covering dark shadows but after a while I guess it just slips off and you find yourself needing to touch it up again. I have used both primer and powder to fix it down but its completely resistant, so yet to find a perma solution concealer! I will however give this a 3.5/5 for its hiding power. You can find Benfit Boiing for a bargain £8.50! at Trinity Divinity

Results:

Advantages

Does really well at covering up resistant dark circles
Easy to apply
Smooth results

Disadvantages

Apply to much and you'll find yourself in a caking situation!
Takes a certain knack to apply properly

Now as it takes a lot to impress me and I love trying new things I've just bought a brand new Lancome concealer, and i'm hoping for £20 it will blow my socks off! The review will be up very shortly so watch this space!

Potatoe and Sausage casserole - homemade sumptuousness

2011-08-06T08:01:00.000-07:00

Potatoes go into many recipes that we all think of as comforting or delicious, take Shepherds pie for example or even Pie and mash. I'm a sucker for potatoes myself and love coming up with new and exciting ways of using potatoes as a base to create something that's even better then the last recipe.

Casseroles are a sumptous and yummy dish with a warmth that will last on in you for the rest of the night, which is why I decided to create a sausage and potatoe casserole. The sausage gives off a nice tasty kick whilst the potatoes add a crunchy, but enduring texture to the dish.

You'll need:

Method:

Heat the oil in a large frying pan; fry the potatoes and sausages for 5 minutes.
Add the pepper and onion and cook for a further 5 minutes.
Turn the sausages occasionally until browned.
Add the pasta sauce to the saucepan along with 1-2 tbsp of water
Cover and cook for 5 minutes before serving

The casserole with serve 4 people and should be in the oven for around 15 mins. Tuck in!

2011-08-06T05:38:00.001-07:00

Too much emphasis is placed on 'i want' rather then 'i will'. I firmly believe if you want something enough you should do your damn hardest to chase your dreams and get there. I want to make a name for myself but instead of just sitting there and waiting for it to come to me I'm chasing the dream.

So if you want to go to the theatre - go. If you want to explore the Himalayas - go. Don't leave it to the moment when its too late and you're making a now list as the last thing you do

Comments welcomed!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Chatham,United Kingdom

Bookmarks are very random

2011-07-20T13:53:00.000-07:00

It's strange how we can use the most unique of objects as our book marks. Even though bookmarks are generally readily available we'll use the latest receipt, bus ticket, or even old notes that we have lying around.

When I've bought books from bootfairs I've found rather unique items used as bookmarks , like old club invites and tickets to places. Surely these people missed them when they couldn't find them anymore? God forbid someone placing a winning lottery ticket as a bookmark!

What are your thoughts on the matter? Do you use anything random for a bookmark or do you just prefer to fold the page? Comments welcome!

Read the original post on bookmarks at Literary Legs

Butts bees honey lip balm

2011-07-18T11:37:00.001-07:00

I was lucky enough to be sent this burts bees foot and hand set as a result of a competition and my first item to be reviewed is the honey lip balm.

My first impressions are good ones; burts has a good reputation for a leading beauty range.

The lip balm I hate to say has a really off-putting, strong smell which perhaps could have been toned down a bit. However the product applies well and leaves your lips feeling really smooth and not at all sticky which is the effect of many lipbalms.

The ingredients are all natural with items like beeswax, Rosemary and soybean listed on the ingredient list.

Priced at around £2-£3 the product is quite pricey for a lip balm but you do get a very natural product and effect.

Overall this is a decent product but has been really let down on it's smell. I'd give it 2.5/5.

Advantages
All natural ingredients
Easy to carry around with you
Has a good reputation

Disadvantages
Has a really strong off-putting smell
Pricey for what it is considering you can buy lip balms for a lot cheaper

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Alamein Ave,,United Kingdom

At gala bingo

2011-07-14T05:11:00.001-07:00

So this is my first post on my mobile and here I am at gala bingo playing the free tickets. I highly recommend you come along and try your luck - what have you got to lose it could be you!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Makeup for less then the price of a ice cream!

2011-07-11T12:42:00.000-07:00

If you're a girl on a budget finding makeup that's good quality and suits your budget is hard. I've just discovered the Pretty Cosmetics range where you can replenish your makeup bag for little more then £10!

Check out the amazing range of eyeliners, mascaras, lip balms etc at Half Price Cosmetics

Let me know what you think girls!

If you're a girl you have to try 17 Wild Lash mascara!

2011-07-09T08:21:00.000-07:00

Like many girls I've been on the hunt for the perfect mascara all my life. Either they're not lengthening enough, or they don't add any volume, or they're simply okay, I've not found the one... till NOW!

I was browsing Boots the other day when I spotted this one and thought i'd check out reviews, and with 5 stars, I thought I couldn't go wrong.

The mascara comes in a really jazzy leopard print tube and comes in a number of colours; black, brown/black, wildest black etc. It has quite a large brush for lots of application and applies really easily. Lashes are instantly extended and even curled, and for the result on the bottom lashes is simply quite amazing.

At £6.29 a tube its probably one of their more pricey products but I would so recommend it, beats high priced brands like L'Oreal and Maybelline hands down.

I'd give it 5/5.
Picture below with Wild Lash top and bottom Picture 2 with Avon Supercurlicious diamonds mascara

Advantages

Curls lashes as well as volumising them
Gives a real false lash effect that can actually prove its claim!
Applies easily and makes your eyes really stand out

Disadvantages

Wasn't available sooner!

Farm holidays or sunning it up abroad - is it a no contest?

2011-06-19T05:08:00.000-07:00

When it comes to our annual holiday we all want something where we can put our feet up, sit back and relax. So our first choice is where do we go? For many its the lures of foreign shores that means going abroad is the first choice for the holiday but is a holiday in the UK just as good?

Holidays abroad have a lot of advantages - guaranteed sun for one, and a chance to really get away from it all but they have a few drawbacks too.

If you're travelling with kids the airport debacale can be quite tiring dragging irratable kids through checkin
You're limited on luggage so you can't take as much as you might want to
Keeping the kids entertained can sometimes result in you needing another holiday yourself!

Holidays in the UK can offer a number of different experiences depending on what you're doing, where you're going and who with. Holidaying on farms is a new experience that offers all the fun of the farm, fresh air and a chance to really experience the countryside.

By staying on a working farm you get the chance to stay in converted farm buildings with real character and original features, get a warm welcome from the host who is only too happy for you to stay and you and your friends/family can get a real feel of 21st century farming,

You and your family can feed the animals, watch the cows getting milked, collecting eggs for breakfast, taking a tour in a landrover across the farm and talking to the farmer about what farm life is like.

Whilst you probably won't get the sun you might desire by holidaying in the UK it can offer a completely different experience that should be tried at least once. You can experience the joys of being on a farm, immersed in fresh country air and eating real fresh produce that has just been produced. You can also visit local attractions and the sun exposure to your children will be far less too.

For more information on farm holidays try Cartwheel farm holidays

Model Co Fibre Lash

2011-06-16T12:01:00.000-07:00

Now I bet you have all seen this product advertised for months and heard that it will be so popular it will be sold out in Boots for months etc etc. So having read something about it a while ago I thought I'd try it and see if it lives up to the hype.

The product comes in a smart velvet like box with a normal mascara and a fibre mascara. First you apply the normal mascara and then coat your lashes with fibres, (which look pretty weird btw!) and then cover up with another coat of mascara. I have to say I can see a marginal difference, like if I look in the mirror my lashes look slightly extended - but it's definitely not a 'false lash' affect as the product describes.

I'm sure you can buy false lashes that aren't as ott as some but these would be on the very lower end of the scale if they could be considered false lashes. For £35 retail price it is pretty expensive and perhaps its better to wait till another beauty shop gets them for a cheaper price.

However whilst not quite what it claims to be it is a decent product that will give you some reasonable lash lift, so if you have some cash to splash, why not!
Before After

Click to enlarge

Fantastic Bourjois mascara and nail varnish for £1.99!

2011-06-15T14:32:00.000-07:00

Bourjois is a fantastic brand with a wide range of mascaras that really accentuate the eyes.

This brilliant new offer from Half price perfumes gives you the chance to get a Bourjois clubbing mascara in brown for only £1.99 (Asos price of £8) and a free Bourjois nail varnish.

Don't hang around buy today!

You can find this offer at Half Price Perfumes

Fantastic beauty buy!

2011-05-25T11:10:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for great deals on makeup Half Price Perfumes is the place to go.

With regular postage only deals you can only get mascaras, eyeshadows, and so much more for little more then it costs to send the product.

The latest fantastic deal is a Bourjois Effect liner mascara worth £7.99 for only £1 or Bourjois 1001 CILS Lashes for £1.99.

To make this offer even more amazing is you get a free Ombre eyeshadow with it - nothing like getting two things for the price of one!

To take part in this fantastic offer all you need do is click here for Bourjois Effect :Liner Mascara, here for Bourjois 1001 CILS lashes mascara. Then add the eyeshadow into your cart and don't forget to put 'freeombre' in the code box at check out!

Look out for more great deals at HalfPriceperfumes

SALLY HANSEN AIR BRUSH SUN

2011-05-06T10:55:00.000-07:00

Sally Hansen is well known for producing top quality nail products, but when it comes to self tanning does she reach the same standard?

On first impressions the product did seem to have a rather odourous smell that made me not so keen on using it. However when I inspected a little closer it seemed just to be the after smell rather then the smell of the product. The tanner comes in a small aerosol can with its use specifically intended for the face.

I was directed to spray all around my face whilst closing my eyes and mouth for a certain amount of time and then quickly rub the product in for the full effect. I did as I was instructed however I did feel the final effect was lacking something. In all honesty I didn't think I looked any different to how I did before, however it may be because I perhaps did not spray enough product on.

There doesn't appear to be any after smell which I found quite surprising and at only £1.99 on Direct Cosmetics it's worth a try. There were no streaks, but there wasn't much of a tan either.

I'd give it 1/5.

Advantages

Small, so easy to carry around with you
Cheap to buy online

Disdavantages

Doesn't appear to be any actual result?
Strange smell comes from the can

Sally Hansen Air Brush sun is available for £1.99 and other products from the range are available at Direct Cosmetics.

ST MORIZ SELF TANNING MOUSSE

2011-05-06T10:45:00.000-07:00

If you want a less hazardous route to bronzed skin forget the sunbeds or sizzling in the sun, self tanning products can give you the same effect in half the time!

Today I am reviewing St Moriz self tanning mousse which I got sent from Direct Cosmetics. The product is quite cheap in most places so definitely starts off on the right foot and has very similar features to the more expensive St Tropez. When you press the nozzle the liquid that comes out is pretty foamy and brown in colour and all you do is rub that into your skin. It's suitable for all over the body but I tend to not use it on my face just in case...

Now its best to exfoliate first to get rid of dry skin as self tan can get caught on this and create a very attractive streaky look. I have used spray tanners before and found I instantly got these horrible streak marks but with St Moriz mousse if you rub it in well enough you can hopefully avoid those.

The product is light but straight after use it does leave you with a slight stickiness that isn't too comfortable. Unlike most tanners though it doesn't have that horrible biscuity smell and you can go about your daily basis comfortable that you won't be attracting a flock of piegeons.

However, even with the best of intentions you do still get streak marks with St Moriz mousse, especially in areas such as back of legs, inbetween fingers etc which you don't notice till you get into a well lit area. My advice - wait till you get into natural light before applying, you'll get far better results that way!

Before After

I'd give it a 4/5.

Advantages

Lightweight
Simple to use
Cheap and available from a lot of specialised beauty shops/online shops
Good contester to St Tropez without the price tag
Gives off a deep bronzed glow

Disadvantages

Slightly sticky after use
Streaks do occur!

St Moriz self tanning mousse is available for £2.99 at Direct Cosmetics

And the winner is...

2011-04-30T10:22:00.001-07:00

Chloe Samantha who is the proud winner of the Revlon Beyond Natural mascara.

If you enjoyed this competition you'll be glad to know there will be more coming soon!

Oh Eugenie what were you thinking!

2011-04-30T10:16:00.000-07:00

Now the picture says it all - who in their right mind would wear that get up to a wedding that is going to be broadcast to millions of people?!

I'm sure they won't be living that nans curtains meet nans ornaments meet nans best frock fashion statement down anytime soon. Where is the style?!

Comments welcome :)

Calvin Klein Brush Set

2011-04-30T10:10:00.000-07:00

If you often find yourself struggling to find a brush set that will have a function for every application then you really don't need to look any further. The Calvin Klein brush set is designed exactly to replenish a woman's tired and worn old brushes.Although you do have to buy seperately you can buy brushes such as a large powder brush, angled cheek brush, concealer brush, eyeliner brush, eyebrow brush, foundation brush, eyeshadow brush and small powder brush.

Now anyone who applies makeup knows the art of application often comes in the brush you apply it with. If the brush is falling apart and the bristles end up all over your face, you're never going to quite get the look you desire for.

The Calvin Klein brushes are sturdy, very soft and use fibre bristles to ensure you'll get a controlled, light and even coverage. What makes these little gems even better is that they come in their own plastic case to protect the bristles after use.

Each brush applies the makeup really well and left me with the kind of result a make up artist could achieve with top quality brushes. The only snag you might come across is as there are so many of them if you were going away you wouldn't want to take up all available room with these brushes as a lot of storage is required.
Natural look - before make up is applied

Below: foundation applied using Calvin Klein foundation brush

Below: powder applied using small and large Calvin Klein brushes

Below: blusher applied using angled Calvin Klein blusher brush

Below: Concealer applied using Calvin Klein concealer brush

Advantages

You pay more for quality, so even though you get great deals at Direct Cosmetics you get the Calvin Klein quality
The brushes come with their own protective cover so you can keep them like-new for longer
Make up settles into the skin really well with each product brush

Disadvantages

As they are full sized to take them with you on the move would take up a lot of room
If you put the brushes in the plastic cover the wrong way the bristles will get caught up

Calvin Klein makeup brushes can be bought starting from £3.99 at Direct Cosmetics

MAYBELLINE THE ONE BY ONE VOLUM' EXPRESS MASCARA

2011-04-23T15:35:00.000-07:00

Now it's been a little while since I last reviewed as life just seems to get in the way! Hopefully it won't be this long before a proper update again though.

The Maybelline one by one mascara comes in a really girly bright pink tube with simple green lettering on the side. The brush is quite big and the bristles seem to get coated quite evenly which is always a good start.

Mascara applies really well and doesn't scratch which some plastic mascaras can do and gives off a natural looking longer lashes. I wouldn't say much volume is added but you will notice probably a 40-50% increase in length from the before result.

At around £7 per tube it is probably average for the market but if you buy now you will benefit from the new product money off deals. I'd give it a 4/5.

Before After

Advantages

Applies easily and smoothly
Nice longer lash result
Reasonable price tag

Disadvantages

Doesn't really add any volume

WIN REVLON BEYOND NATURAL!

2011-04-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

For all you beauty lovers here's a competiton that's bound to get your fingers typing faster then they would when your favourite person is online.

To win a brand new Revlon Beyond Natural all you have to do is follow my blog, write one comment on one other blog post and answer one simple question:

Abbey Clancy and footballer Peter Crouch had their first baby recently, what was it called?

Please send a email to kathycakebread@gmail.com with your answer and contact details. All entries will be put into a draw and a winner will be picked on 30 April 2011.

ROC Minesol Triple Defense

2011-03-25T15:11:00.000-07:00

ROC Minesol Triple Defense suntan lotion is perfect for those with sensitive skin, or babies or children who need that little bit of extra protection in the sun. With protection from UVA rays and SPF factor 50 it is a really strong deterrent for the suns rays.

The tube is 200ml so it will last quite a few applications when you really need it on those hot summer days. To apply you just squirt as much or as little as you want on to different areas of the skin and they should be protected for several hours.

The solution doesn't have that nice sun tan lotion smell that you'd normally expect but its not unpleasant. It rubs in easily and doesn't leave a visible white mark. I'd give it 3/5.

Advantages

Easy to use
Gives the ultimate 50 SPF protection for children
Quite a big bottle so will last quite a while

Disadvantages

Smell not as nice as most sun tan lotions

ROC sun tan lotion is on sale for £2.99 at Direct Cosmetics

Kate Moss Sublime body Lotion

2011-03-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

When we choose a body lotion we want a cream that will leave our skin smooth and smelling lovely. I feel the Kate Moss Sublime body lotion comes up trumps on this.

The lotion comes in quite a sophisticated dark pink/brown tube with a dark black flower on the side to establish its design.

It is very easy to apply and comes out in small squirts so you're not fighting with a load of liquid all over your hand. It has a pleasant floral smell that is pretty long lasting and will give a good foundation to the Kate Moss perfume if you have that as well.

I felt the cream rubbed in really easily and left my skin feeling smooth and soft, always a plus when you want to feel pampered after a bath or shower. I'd give it a 3/5.

Advantages

Attractive packaging
Pleasant smell
Get quite a lot of product for your money

Disdavantages

The smell doesn't suit everyone so perhaps try a tester before buying the full version.

Kate by Kate Moss is available for £3.99 at Direct Cosmetics

Elizabeth Arden Sun Goddess Bronzing Powder

2011-03-17T04:38:00.000-07:00

Like most girls everyone looks healthier with a warm glow and I'm no different. Bronzers give you the effect that you've been living it up in some warm, gorgeous haven without even having to leave your bedroom. Elizabeth Arden's bronzing powder comes in a really pretty package with warm colours that instantly make you warm to the product itself.

On opening the bronzer box I was surprised to see both a mirror and a handy applicator brush which is pretty rare as most bronzers come with nothing but the powder. The powder itself had a pretty floral like design on it but that will fade pretty quickly with constant use!

I applied it to the apples of my cheeks, forehead and face lightly to see what kind of result I would get. The effect is one that makes my face look darker but not orange, with a outer glow that you might get after sitting in the sun all day.

The only issue I really had was that not all the powder rubbed into my skin first time with the brush and I had to use my fingers to rub it in properly. I would have to say this bronzer comes in a darlingly cute package with the little extras that you just don't tend to expect with a bronzer, and best of all it does the job its supposed to do. I'd give it a 4/5.

Before After

Advantages

Comes in a cute box that you can store your bronzer in if you wanted
Has both a mirror and a brush with it
Gives a nice warm glow

Disadvantages

Not all the powder rubs in properly when you apply with the brush so you have to rub it in slightly with your fingers

Elizabeth Arden bronzing powder is available for £7.99 at Direct Cosmetics

Beauty UK Glitter Eyeliner

2011-03-11T08:50:00.000-08:00

When out looking for a glittery eyeliner one day I was specifically looking for Collection 2000, but when I couldn't find the right one I was looking for I tried this make instead.

Beauty UK are a cheap makeup range available in most Superdrug stores, they sell eyeshadows, concealers, foundations, blushers etc and offer a cheap alternative to the expensive brands like Revlon. This liner looks pretty nice in the tube and shows instantly how glittery it appears to be.

It applies easily to your lash line and you get quite a bit of product on the brush. However when you draw a line you find the result is really quite thin and you might not get the wow factor you expected from a liner. It took me a few times going over the same line to get the thicker glittery effect that I desired from the product.

The liner does dry pretty quickly which is a plus when you have eyeshadow to apply and gives you a really pretty glittery line. At only around £2 this product is a little bargain. I'd give it a 3.5/5.

Advantages

Easy to use
Dries quickly
Pretty glittery effect when dry
Cheap

Disadvantages

Product comes out quite thin so needs to have several applications to get the desired effect

Rimmel London Eyeshadow Alluring

2011-03-11T08:43:00.000-08:00

The Rimmel London collection of eyeshadows offer you a velvety smooth experience that will really make you enjoy wearing their shadows. Rimmel shadow in alluring is a strong dark blue colour that makes you think posh, which is a really good look for a night out or something formal.

It's easily applicable with your fingers and slides on quite smoothly. You find you do need a few coats to get an even cover on your eyelid but the overall effect is quite a strong color that would go nicely with white/black clothes.

The colour is pretty stay proof and hours later its still going strong. The shadow range normally retails at around £3 in most good supermarkets/beauty stores and come in a small range of colours. I'll give it a 3/5.

Advantages

Goes on smoothly
Has pretty good staying power
Nice bright blue colour
Reasonable price range

Disadvantages

May not suit everyones skin tone
Some people don't like using their fingers to apply eyeshadow so might not be for everyone

Miss Sporty: Shimmer Dust in Allure

2011-03-08T02:52:00.000-08:00

Miss Sporty eyeshadow in Allure retails at around £2 and gives off a gorgeous alluring (see the play on words there) colour that will really draw attention to your eyes.

To apply simply dip your finger into the pot and dab onto your eyelid or use a small brush and apply it to your lid that way. The colour is really shimmery and almost bronze in the effect it gives off. The shadow is quite long lasting and gives you a great glitzy effect all day long. The only thing you need to remember with glitter shadows is that they can sometimes rub off underneath your eye, however this shadow has yet to propose any problems.

The packaging is really small and it can easily fit into the tiny space you might have left in your makeup bag. The only issue with it being small is it might run out quicker then you like, but if you apply gradually you shouldn't have any problems.

If you use a brush you can perhaps apply it along your lower lash line for a really pretty party look, applying with fingers may make for a rather messier style. Overall a really nice eyeshadow that has a pretty gold appearance that will pretty much go with any skin colour/clothing. I'd give it a 4/5.

Miss Sporty is available in all good Superdrug and Boots stores.

Advantages

Small so its easy to store
Pretty effect that will go with pretty much everything
Very cheap to buy in store
Many other colours available

Disadvantages

May run out quicker then you thought

Collection 2000: Brilliant Shimmer wand

2011-03-07T08:54:00.000-08:00

On a recent visit to All Well An Good I discovered one of Collection 2000's new editions - the brilliant shimmer wand. Designed as an eyeshadow it is a double ended wand with two different colours on either side. I picked up the shimmery pink/purple eyeshadow as i've tried the pot versions and thought they were pretty good.

To apply you need to take the lid off each end and then dip it into the powder thats in the coloured end compartments. I can't say I got a huge amount of product each time I dipped the pen in but there was sufficient colour to spread over my eyelids. I swept the pink colour over first to give a nice base and then applied the purple colour up by the brow bone.

I'm not really sure of the blendability of the purple shadow as it just seemed to make a dirty mark when I tried to mix it in but with a brush this can probably be sorted out.

The overall look is a pretty two toned one that can be switched around to create different looks depending on what you've got in mind for your day/evening. Another idea would be to perhaps use the pen to go underneath your eye as its perfect for that kind of thin application. The product retails at about £3-4 normally and is available in all Superdrug stores and selected beauty/drug stores. I'd give it a rating of 3/5.

Advantages

Double the product for your money
Easy to use
So versatile that you can use it for your eyelids/brow bones or just underneath the eye
Cheap range of makeup
Glitzy party look achievable

Disadvantages

May seem slightly hard to get product out of the wand because of its design
Blending ability wasn't great

Lacura Powder Blush in Sunset

2011-03-03T08:38:00.000-08:00

The Aldi makeup range isn't that well known but it offers a select number of makeup items such as mascara and blushers. The items are really cheap at a couple of pounds each and are can easily be slipped in with your shopping.

The blusher in sunset comes with a really handy mirror so its perfect for slipping in your handbag and applying on the move. The blusher itself isn't particularly large but like everything a little does go a long way. The colour is a peachy pink that can be applied lightly or heavily depending on the kind of look you're going for. With one or two sweeps of a brusher blush you have a rosey cheeked look that makes you look healthy and glowing.

The product lasts quite a few hours with no loss of colour however on close inspection you do notice that the colour isn't as hot as it was when you first applied. The packaging is a quite plain silver oval but for a couple of quid you can't really expect much more. I'd give it a 3/5.

Before After

Advantages

Has a handy mirror so you can slip it into your handbag
Very cheap
Gives off a nice rosey glow

Disadvantages

Packaging quite simple and boring
Deepness of colour does fade after a few hours

Miss Sporty : Shimmer Dust in Enchant

2011-03-03T08:28:00.000-08:00

The Miss Sporty make up range is a cheep and cheerful selection that offers mascaras, foundations, concealers, eyeshadows, blushers etc for low prices. I don't tend to buy too much from Miss Sporty as I've never been too amazed with the results but there are a few products that are worth trying.

The shimmer dust eyeshadows retail at around £2 and have a lovely glittery texture that looks great on and can be used in many different situations. Shimmer dust in enchant has a bright pink hue that is very girly looking and will be great for the upcoming spring/summer season.

You can apply it easily with your finger (no brush available) and gently smooth it on to your eyelid. A little goes a long way with this product and you only have to apply a little to get the right style. The look you get is very bright and eye catching and any other makeup you apply should be dumbed down.

Generally the shadow lasts quite a long time but the colour does tend to thin out after a couple of hours. With a price tag of only a few quid the eyeshadow is really worth trying out and using for glamming up on nights out or on a hot summers day. I'd give it a 3.5/5.

Advantages

Easy to use
Applies smoothly
Lovely bright pink colour really draws attention to your eyes
Low cost
Lasts a long time

Disadvantages

Colour doesn't suit everyone

Urban Decay Makeup palette

2011-03-02T08:14:00.000-08:00

If like many girls you need to apply makeup on the go, a all in one set is very appealing. I bought this set from All Well An Good a couple of months ago and have used it now and again since. It consists of four eyeshadows, four lipglosses and a blusher so you can mix and match your looks, so one day you could be feeling white and another brown, or you could blend them all together.

It comes in quirky colourful packaging that make you want to buy the set, even if its just so it looks good amongst your other makeup. It even has a useful mirror so you can apply makeup where ever you are, be it at home or on the train.

Today I tested the white shadow with a brown up top to go with the white top I was wearing. The shadow applied smoothly, and comes with a handy applicator brush if you don't fancy using your fingers. It blends in quite well together and the overall look is a white sparkly colour that is good for sprucing up your day to day look or going for glam in the evening.

The shadow is long lasting and you can still see it clearly hours later however it is a glitter shadow and as most people generally blink a lot you will end up with glitter all around your eyes and on your face. Now for someone who likes to keep their makeup together that can get slightly irritating.

The set comes with four lipglosses that look pretty different, they all have a glossy texturised shine and a glittery consistency that makes you think this will look cute. On application my lips did feel glossy and looked after but I felt the colour was lacking a certain something. As you can see from the photos every lip gloss looked exactly the same despite the appearance in the packaging.

The Urban Decay palettes generally retail at around £20+ so are great for an investment buy for something to use when you don't want to be lugging your whole makeup bag around. However in terms of the colours and products available for more general use a average makeup brand would do the job just as good.

Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara

2011-03-01T02:49:00.000-08:00

I have heard many people rave about Benefit's mascaras so one day I thought I'd try out one of the most recommended selections Benefit's Bad Gal Lash mascara. The mascara has a big wand so you assume you would get lots of product on your lashes but in fact you get very little product when applying.

It took me quite a few strokes going over to get a decent length to my lashes, and considering the reviews I've heard I wasn't amazingly impressed with it. In addition when you apply this to your bottom lashes, as the brush is quite chunky you do find it quite hard to get the brush under your eye and apply it properly to your bottom lashes.

I would honestly say this product does not live up to the hype and you're better off buying Avon's Anew lash Transform mascara if you want real length to your lashes (See previous review for details).

Rating 2/5.

Before After

L'Oreal Holographic eyeshadow in Meteorite Bronze

2011-03-01T02:42:00.000-08:00

L'Oreal holographic eyeshadow in bronze has an interesting colour to it that makes you want to pick it off the shelf. It gives you the impression that there is a array of colours in the one shadow that will really give character to your eye.

You can apply the shadow with the brush provided or use your fingers, but you'll probably find it easier to blend/smudge with your fingers. It applies easily and looks really smooth on your eyelid, and I've always found that you don't tend to get a lot of colour loss on the lighter L'Oreal colours.

The overall effect is a dual colour that gives the impression you took your time in blending together two different coloured eyeshadows. The colour is a gold/beige/green that changes as the light dips in and out.

So for around £5-6 you will be getting yourself a product that makes you look like you've spent ages applying your makeup when you can dash this on in five minutes. I've always loved L'Oreal eyeshadows and this is one of the main reasons for it. My verdict, 5/5.

Advantages

Very simple to apply
Comes out with a gorgeous dual colour that looks like you spent longer applying then you did

Disadvantages

The colour is quite unique so is probably not for everyone
Clunky packaging

Benefit Confessions of a Concealaholic: That Gal Primer

2011-02-28T13:56:00.000-08:00

We all have those days when perhaps we can't really be bothered to do our makeup and just want something simple to prep our skin, or maybe we want an all over glow that a blusher just can't do.

In times like these we turn to a product that will make our skin glow, and that is exactly what That Gal is intended to do. The product is priced at around £21 for a full sized product but its quite large so it will go a long way. I'm testing the small tube that came in the Confessions of a Concealaholic set.

It's quite hard to squeeze out of the tube but as this is just the minature version it probably won't apply to the full size stick. The product is a nice pink colour and rubs in gently like a moisturiser. I can't say I really saw the difference after applying the product but it may be more of a subtle glow that only other people can notice.

Before That Gal After That Gal

As you can see from the before and after photos the difference is very subtle but there is certainly more of a glow that is given off by the That Gal primer.

So if you're looking for a cream that will give you a barely there makeup look this is ideal as it gives you a rosey cute complexion that doesn't require a lot of makeup to achieve.

Rating 3/5.

Advantages

Nice natural glow
Versatile as it can be used both before and after makeup

Disadvantages

Quite an investment product because of the price
If you're looking for a dramatic look this certainly won't give you that

Make Up Academy Eye Dazzle

2011-02-26T09:46:00.000-08:00

Makeup Academy aren't one of the larger brands like Maybelline or Max Factor and you're probably unlikely to heard much of them. I got this as a present from a friend for Xmas and have only actually just got round to trying it. It applies like a pen and you shade the colour onto your eyelid like you would colour in some paper.

It feels quite dusty going on but applies pretty well and you do get an all over colour. Whilst the colour does appear gold on the outside the overall effect is more of a bronze type look that doesn't suit every skin tone, as it does tend to wash out pale tones.

Whilst the colour does stay on the lid quite a while it does tend to fade after a few hours and to get back its vibrancy you will need to reapply.

If you're looking for something new to add to your makeup wardrobe maybe give this a try. Rating 2.5/5.

Advantages

Easy to use
Quite long so will probably last quite a while
Versatile as it can be used for both bottom and top lids

Disadvantages

Not available universally so quite difficult to get hold of
Colour fades after a while

Maybelline Superstay Powergloss in Glass Rose

2011-02-25T10:22:00.000-08:00

Maybelline Superstay powergloss lipgloss is a double ended wand with colour on one end and gloss on the other. The idea is that it provides 12 hours of colour shine to keep you looking good all night long. I have to say the promise doesn't live up to reality. Like most products you're lucky if you can keep this on for more then a hour especially if you're drinking all night.

When you apply the coloured end you find that it is really quite sticky and doesn't feel as smooth as some lip glosses. After application my lips still feel sticky and almost stick together when pressed on top of each other. When I applied the gloss I also noticed that the colour actually comes off on the gloss brush so it does make you think maybe you have to wait a while before applying the other side.

The overall result you get in the end is quite a nice sparkly colour that has a slight glean to it. However I wouldn't say the gloss really adds much to the effect. This lip gloss is okay for the money (around £5-6) but don't listen to the hype - it's rubbish.

I'd give it a 2/5.

Advantages

Nice sparkly finish
Nice range of colours available

Disadvantages

Feels really sticky on your lips
Colour comes off when applying gloss
Does not last 12 hours

Maybelline Superstay powergloss is available in all good supermarkets and high street stores.

Revlon : Diamond Lust eyeshadow

2011-02-24T03:48:00.000-08:00

The most important thing about a eyeshadow is that is makes your eyes the centre of attention.

Revlon Diamond Lust eyeshadow comes in a rather bulky package which takes up a lot of room so take heed if you don't have much space!

It appears really sparkly and pretty through the see through case which inspired me to buy it as generally that's the result i'll end up getting. The eyeshadow doesn't come with a brush so you just apply it with your fingers and it goes on really smoothly, although it does feel a bit salty under your fingertips.

Diamond lust is a almost beige/gold colour that is most likely to suit all eye colours although it may bring out lighter ones more. After application your eyes immediatly look really sparkly and the light reflects off the shadow really well. However the colour is not that lookatme that people will instantly notice it and comment. This eyeshadow is great for a subtle look that is good for work or more private affairs. If you were to wear this of a evening it can be spruced up with massive false eyelashes and a lot of eyeliner.

At around £6-7 Revlon prices it isn't cheap but you can find it cheaper on makeup sites that retail such products or in cheap department stores like TJ Hughes. Try Ebay for a good starting out point for cheap Revlon makeup. I'd give it a 3/5.

Advantages

Applies smoothly and evenly
Lovely sheeny colour
Great for daytime looks

Disadvantages

Quite pricey depending on where you buy from
Quite a light effect so maybe not so good for a evening look unless you spruce it up with the ideas mentioned above
With any glitter product some of it may end up coming off under your eyes

Maybelline Liner Express in black

2011-02-24T03:36:00.000-08:00

Some people find applying liquid eyeliner very difficult but it is in fact very simple to do. The trick is to keep a steady hand, perhaps rest your arm on a flat surface whilst applying the product. Maybelline liner express in black offers you the chance to add real versatility to your eyes - to make them really stand out.

The liner comes in two shades black and brown and applies smoothly with enough product on the nib to give you a really nice black line. I've had this product for quite a while now and for the most part its still going strong so it really does last quite a while.

It goes on really smoothly and you can use it for both top and bottom lash lines however you must be aware that the product tends to smudge when wet. Looking like your five year old sister applied your makeup is never a good look.

With the liner you can create a general day look or for the evening go for something really dramatic like sweeping lines at the side of your eye. Below are a few examples of day time and evening looks.

General daytime

Little more extragavant daytime look

Push the boat out for a night out look

I've always loved eyeliner as its great for making my eyes stand out and this product is really good value for money. It costs around £6 for the product but you get a professional look that people will be more then impressed with. The only real disadvantage with this product is the fact that product builds up inside the tube and it can get very hard to put the wand back in properly. In other words you find it harder and harder to get black onto the wand and this may lessen its lifetime.

I'd give it a 4/5.

Advantages

Applies smoothly and evenly
You get a lot of life out of the Maybelline liner express
Professional result
So versatile that you can create so many looks with it

Disadvantages

Product builds up inside the liner making it hard to shut and this may result in it drying up before it should
If you apply on your bottom lashes it may smudge from the wetness of your eyes

George Creamy Cheek Tint in Tulip

2011-02-24T03:20:00.000-08:00

There as so many blushers on the market its hard to find a blusher to suit you and your skin tone. There are two types of blusher available, cream and powder and generally each is designed for different reasons. A powder is great for adding real colour and shape to your cheeks but should be avoided by older generations as it tends to sink into wrinkles and fine lines. Cream blushers add a real dewey look that is suitable for all ages but tends not to have as much of a stronger colour.

The George creamy cheek tint range is quite cheap at around £1-2 (don't quote me on that!) and offers around 3 to 4 colours to suit all. With this product you only need a very small nib size amount as it widens on application and you end up with more product then you thought. The cheek tint is quite messy to apply and often doesn't end up where you want it to and I had to work hard to remove product from sinking into the edge of my cheek and hairline.

I think you need to apply it a few times before you can really see any effect as its such a light consistency and even after several applications the effect is a light creamy glow. The look is really natural and is more for daytime when you simply want a healthy look that will make you stand out amongst your friends.

As the product is quite light it probably isn't going to last the whole day and will probably need to be reapplied somewhere down the line. However at the price it is and for the look it gives it really is worth buying for that healthy glow. I'd give it a rating of 3.5/5
After application

Advantages

Gives off a natural dewey look
Not heavy
Very cheap range to buy

Disdavantages

Isn't as likely to shape your cheeks as a powder one would
Effect isn't as obvious so if that's your forte - avoid
Can be quite tricky to apply and get the right shade as its so creamy

This product is available in all good Asda stores.

AVON Magix Foundation

2011-02-24T03:10:00.000-08:00

Till about the middle of last year I never felt the need for foundation as I generally have quite good skin. However after a few makeovers or two I realised the beauty of foundation is simply to give you a all over even complexion - clear skin or not.

I've tried a few in the past and haven't had too many horror stories, albeit looking slightly orange with a previous Avon foundation.

Now after finishing my other foundation I decided to finally try Avon Magix which has been sitting in my drawer for over a month. The foundation comes out really smoothly and has a mousse like texture which you can put on your hand before applying.

It glides on easily and gets absorbed quite quickly although you do need to rub in the odd bit a bit more with your fingers. The idea of this foundation is to give you a cashmere finish that is smooth and luminous. I have to say it passed the test - this foundation is fantastic. Not only does it suit my skin tone but it gives me a really classic finish that makes me look fresh and alive. It gave me all over even coverage and even masked many of my blemishes so I had a even base even before I applied concealer.

The effect was immediate as a friend at work noticed the difference on me, Magix foundation is one that really brings out your own features instead of masking them. At around £10 it's quite pricey but as most foundations are generally its worth the small investment. The packaging is small and quite cute with a shiny magix logo on the front.

I'd give it a rating of 4/5.

Before Magix foundation After Magix foundation

Advantages

Glides on really smoothly
Sinks in quickly to give you a cashmere finish
Adapts to your skintone rather then masking your features
Gives you a fresh just stepped in from a spring days look

Disadvantages

Can only be obtained through a Avon Rep or online on Avon Shop

The sweet smell of success

2011-02-23T08:39:00.000-08:00

As many of you Kathcakeblogging readers know I recently tried to start a new angle to my blog as I felt I just lacked the inspiration to write anymore which was sad and a real shame. So after finding out I could entwine two things I love makeup and writing I realised I could really make this something good.

So after starting out writing many makeup reviews I started contacting round a few makeup providers to see if anyone would be interested in me providing them services in exchange for reviewing products.

I've had many positive responses which is amazing and I'm so pleased about it, and I got a email today from Lush who said could I send them my address so they could add me to their press distribution list.

Absolutely fantastic news and I just hope it gets better and better! :)

Benefit Confessions of A Concealaholic - Erase Paste

2011-02-23T08:36:00.000-08:00

So it's back to reviewing my big box of tricks from Benefit - Confessions of a Concealaholic. Today I will be looking at the small pot of Erase Paste that comes with the set. This is a creamy concealer that comes in three shades light, medium and dark to suit different skin tones.

You can apply using either a brush or your fingers but its generally easier to use your fingers as you can use the warmth of your skin to blend the product in. The general idea is to only apply a small amount to your fingertips so you're not overloading yourself and that way the product will last longer too.

Dab it on whereever needed such as dark eye circles under the eye, blemishes and to cover fine lines and wrinkles.

The product applies really easily and gives off a light reflective surface that is designed to bounce off light so it looks like you don't have any imperfections. I am quite aware of the dark circles under my eyes and I'm always trying new things to try and hide them. In light the darkness isn't as evident and it is a lot less noticeable although its not 100% as no product ever really is.

Overall impression is that skin is a lot lighter and the real imperfection is concealed. I'd give it a rating of 3.5/5.

Photo no1 shows circles before foundation is applied

Photo no2 shows circle after foundation is applied

Photo no3 shows circle after application of Benefit's ErasePaste

Advantages

Only need to use a small amount at a time so lasts ages even in a small pot
Easy to use and apply creamy consistency
Can be used for both blemishes and undereye circles

Disadvantages

Product on its own is generally quite expensive at around £19 a pot so if it's not the right shade you've wasted your money!

Benefit products are available at all large Boots stores, Debenhams and other large department stores. You will also find it widely available online.

~~Tip~~ - Try before you buy!

NYC New York Color: Sunsational Mineral Bronzer

2011-02-22T06:36:00.000-08:00

In modern times its all about mineral makeup and how good it is for your skin. In all honesty of all the mineral products I have tried I can't say I've been particularly impressed with any of them. They're genreally more expensive and don't really do anything different!

The NYC selection is a really cheap makeup range and having tried a few of their eyeshadows in the past I was impressed. So after seeing a new mineral bronzer available I thought I'd give it a go as an alternative to my other powder bronzers. The product doesn't seem to really come out evenly and just ends up all over your clothes which can be quite irritating so remember to use a clean surface when applying.

Its relatively easy to use with a twist bottom to get powder into the applicator brush and simply means you don't have to get out as many brushes in the morning. I applied this all over my face (cheeks, forehead, nose) etc to get an all over glow and was expecting a reasonable result.

The product doesn't sink into your skin very well and a lot of the powder just sat on my face and I had to try rubbing it in. The product gave a slightly tanned look to my skin but it wasn't really a nice tan it was more a unshimmering version.

After application

In other words the product didn't really give me a glow. I'd give it a rating of 1/5.

Advantages

Don't need to use a brush to apply
Cheap

Disadvantages

Doesn't give off much of a glow
Hard to apply
Lid hard to get back onto the brush after use
Gives off too much product on application and goes everywhere

NYC products are available in most Superdrug stores.

The Happy Couple: Duo Blusher and Bronzer

2011-02-22T06:25:00.000-08:00

When you're short on money buying a product that is both a blusher and a bronzer is a real bargain. This blusher/bronzer duo has a lovely cute cartoon design that looks more alike Benefit packaging then Primark and really inspires you to pick it off the shelf.

Today I am just reviewing the blusher part of the package. As described on the box the blusher is sat alongside the blusher and you have half of each to use. As it is quite small it may run out quickly but at only around £2 its a product that will hardly break the bank to get a new one.

The blusher applies really easily and you don't get colour on the first application unlike some blushers where even after five applications you can still hardly see it. The colour is a really sweet pink hue that makes you look really healthy and well.

The blusher has very good staying power and generally stays on for hours without sinking into the skin which is surprising for cheap makeup ranges. Just be aware however as the product is so small you may struggle to get big blusher brushes in and may end up mixing the blusher with bronzer.

Before blusher After blusher

Overall rating 4/5.

Advantages

Really cheap to buy
Strong pink colour
Long lasting colour
Doesn't take many applications to get a strong colour

Disadvantages

Quite small so may run out quite quickly
Quite difficult to get a brush in because of its size

The range is available from all good Primark stores.

L'OREAL PARIS BLUE JEAN CHROME INTENSITY EYESHADOW

2011-02-22T06:13:00.000-08:00

I have always loved the L'Oreal range of eyeshadows as they've always provided a result that seems to surprise you in one way or another. The Chrome intensity eyeshadows are supposed to give your eyes that real intense look you can only get with highly pigmented eyeshadows.

The range is available at variable prices depending on where you shop from around £5 and Chrome intensity has a selection of 4 colours to pick from.

Blue Jean is a vibrant shiny blue that looks pretty in the packaging which made me think it'd be just as good on. The eyeshadow comes with a handy applicator brush which glides on easily with minimal powder and after only one or two applications you have a really strong colour to set off your look.

Blue Jean is probably a little ott for a day time look as it gives off a strong smokey look more suited to a glam night out (even though I wore it) but if you have neutral lips and cheeks it may be good to add a little va va voom to surprise your work mates. After a few hours unfortunately the eyeshadow does start to seperate and you can start to see your eyelid through the shadow. Not a good look. However as the colour is so strong in the first place unless you look really closely that isn't as obvious as it might be with some eyeshadows.

Overall a strong eyeshadow that applies well but could just stay on that bit longer.
Rating 3/5.

Advantages:

Strong colour
Easy to apply
Even after losing its staying power the colour is still quite vibrant

Disadvantages

Can be quite pricey depending on how much you pay for your cosmetics
Starts to rub off after a couple of hours

L'Oreal Chrome Intensity blue jean is available in all good supermarkets/beauty stores.

W7 Carnival Dust Eyeshadow: The Fuchsia Thistle Sparkle

2011-02-21T09:12:00.000-08:00

W7 are a range of makeup that can only normally be found online on sites like Faith Cosmetics but have a large selection of facial makeup available like eyeshadows, mascara etc.

The Carnival Dust range are similar to Barry M eyeshadows in which they are a small pot of glitter that gives a sparkly glam look. Today I tried The Fuchsia Thistle Sparkle in 22 which is a lilacy colour that comes out almost light pink on application.

The eyeshadow gives off a really fresh pretty look that would really suit a spring/summers day with summery makeup and does draw a small amount of attention to your eyes. The colour isn't as strong as some eyeshadows so it would perhaps suit to be worn with a strong lipstick or lipgloss.

The products are pretty cheap and tend to stay on most of the day although you will get a small amount of glitter under your eyes due to the nature of the product. Overall opinion 3/5.
Before After

Advantages

Makeup range is really cheap
Lots of colours to choose from
Does what it claims to add sparkle to your eyes
Nice spring/summery colour

Disadvantages

The range isn't too easy to get hold of and you won't find it on the High street except in specailist makeup stores such as TJ Hughes
Colour isn't as strong as Barry M range

Champneys Collection: Perfect Lips Plumping Lip Gloss

2011-02-21T09:01:00.000-08:00

Many lipglosses claim to have the power to pump up your lips but do they really? I put Champneys plumping lip gloss to the test. Champneys products are generally mid range prices but I believe I got this lip gloss on sale reduced from £6 to £3. They are available from all large Sainsbury's or online.

The product looks quite fancy and claims to give you fuller looking lips whilst boosting your lips collagen. When you apply the product you do feel a slight tingling in your lips and get quite a strong sweet smell from the product. Having taken before and after photos of the product I could only see the smallest variation in lip size. The photo on the right having a minimal 10% increase.
Before After

The product slightly fulfills its claim to give you fuller looking lips but is not perhaps the large improvement many may expect.

So if you're looking for a clear lip gloss that will give your lips the impression that they're bigger then this product will do the job. However if you're looking for a Angelina Jolie job perhaps this product isn't for you. Rating 2.5/5.

Advantages

Nice packaging
Somewhat fulfills its claim

Disadvantages

The overall effect isn't as strong as you want to believe
Strange smell

Benefit Confessions of A Concealaholic - Booing shade 2

2011-02-21T08:45:00.000-08:00

When you need to cover up a blemish or dark circles concealer can be one of the most vital make up elements known to man. For years I've strived to find a concealer that will hide dark circles and give me back an all over fair complexion. So far I've tried virtually every concealer going (well it feels that way anyway) and still can't say I'm truly satisified. They're either too bright, too dark, just sink into your skin and simply diseppear or make you look like a panda.

So a couple of years back a friend recommend Boiing a industrial strength concealer. So this brings me onto the current review Benefit's Confessions of a Concealaholic. At £32.50 it's incredibly steep for a makeup product but it does include both shades of Boiing concealer (Boing 1 and Boiing 2), That Gal brightening face primer, Erase paste, lemon aid and eye bright.

This review is primarily about the Boiing shade 2 ladies so don't get confused.

The saying less is more certainly applies when applying this concealer and after stroking the brush over once or twice you will have enough coverage for any darkness or marks. The result is suprisingly quite light and depending on whether you like that or not you can cover up with a powder finish.

Above photo shows my face before Booing shade 2 is applied

After booing shade 2 is applied

Now there is a noticeable difference between the two photos (apart from the clothes of course) of a fresher look in the lower photo. You must take care when applying though as if you don't rub it in properly you will end up with blobs of concealer all around your eye. The concealer does work well on covering up blemishes such as red marks too which I use it for but be warned it doesn't stay on that long.

By about 5 a clock the product will have pretty much soaked into your skin and you will have little coverage left so don't forget to reapply.

Advantages

Good coverage that lasts many hours
Versatile so it can be used on both blemishes and dark circles
Has a good coverage
Strongest concealer on the market

Disadvantages

Although this product came in a pack the product alone can cost about £19 so it can be very expensive
If you don't apply it a certain way you will end up looking like a panda

Little pots of gold...Barry M

2011-02-18T08:06:00.000-08:00

I love creating a spectacle of my eyes as I've always been told they're my best features and I have to say the Barry M makeup range are the best eyeshadows out there. They come in a wide range of colours from gold, to pink hues to blacks and blues and they have pigments in them that make your eyes sparkle.

You can buy Barry M dazzle dust pots or fine glitter dust and you can get amazing results from both. If you want a new look for daytime or a glamorous look for the evening you can create so many different looks from these. The problem with many glitter eyeshadows is that they often don't stick and end up all down your face after five minutes but these have pretty good staying power without using any eyeshadow primers.

Over the period of about ten hours the product does eventually start to crease and lose some of its original sparkle but with any makeup that's going to be expected. So if you were using this for the daytime and planning on going out later you'd need to reapply but if you didn't you'd still retain the same sort of look.

They are so quick to apply and leave minimal mess after application. Today I used Barry M Dazzle Dust in 39, a beige goldy colour that brings out the blue in my eyes. I'd give it a 4/5.

The cheek of it pink blusher

2011-02-18T07:59:00.000-08:00

Do you feel that expensive makeup is really unneccesary when you can get the same effect without breaking the bank. TJ Hughes department stores have a small range of makeup products you've probably not heard of but they offer decent results for half the price. After browsing yesterday I found The Cheek of it which is a selection of rather pink blushers - from baby pink to excessively pink and thought i'd try it out.

At £1.50 a pop they're cheap and cheerful and provide a nice coverage that doesn't sink into your foundation. You can apply as much or as little as you want and you will still get a nice pink healthy glow that makes you look like you've just stepped in from a brisk walk in the cold.

It also helps you don't need to apply lots of product so you certainly will be getting your moneys worth. I'd rate it 4/5.

Before                                After

Avon Anew lash transforming mascara and serum

2011-02-18T07:49:00.000-08:00

Any girl who's into her makeup will know there's far too many mascaras out there, that's why its my job to try them all and get back to you whether they're any good. I got this one free after buying a Anew product from the Avon catalogue. It's normally about £10.50 and claims to drastically increase the size of your lashes.

I'm generally not a huge fan of two tipped mascaras as they take even longer in the morning to apply but as it was free I thought why not. You initally apply the white serum which I guess has special potions to make your lashes grow and then you go over with the mascara.

I've not really been using it too long but when I do put it on I would say there is probably a 15-20% increase in length of my lashes, especially compared to the mascara I was using yesterday (Myface.cosmetics)

In terms of lash growth I guess its a bit too early to tell but they seem to be slightly more refined.

It is quick and easy to use and does make your eyes stand out. I'd give it a 4/5.

Playboy Stiletto Hot Red Lipstick

2011-02-17T07:35:00.000-08:00

When you're out on the town you want your lipstick to stay on and not end up all around your face. I'm just the same and love a hot red lippy to accentuate my lips as my mouths quite small and make it the main feature. A while ago I bought Playboy Stiletto lipstick from TJ Hughes that looked like it would give me a really glamorous effect.
The lipstick glided on easily and had a really bright lip stain in a raspberry shade that immediatly made my lips stand out. I'm quite fair skinned but I don't feel the lipstick washes me out I think it simply just creates a real look at me factor. My lips felt really smooth and moisturised unlike the chapped dry feeling you get with some poorly constructed lipsticks. The product unfortunately doesn't last that long and does start to come off after about a hour or so. Even after the product comes off you're left with much brighter lips then you had at the start.

Overall a good product that is well worth buying if you want a lipstick that can really make your mouth stand out. I'd give this product 4/5.

See for yourself

Before After

Myface.cosmetics mascara review

2011-02-17T07:25:00.000-08:00

Have you ever watched the Mascara adverts on TV and thought wow this mascara is simply amazing... well keep watching and make sure you read the small print that's so small you can barely read it. The model's eyelashes are lined with eye lash inserts just to 'even the lash line out' so in other words the ad is fake.

So in line with my new makeup reviews I will show you the real effects of various different mascaras that I own and you can then decide on the best for you based on the truth.

Whilst in Boots in Bluewater a couple of weeks ago I found a new make up line called Myface.cosmetics, I believe it's exclusive to Boots and offers a interesting number of makeup products. You can get nail varnishes, foundations, eyeshadows, mascara, eyeliner etc. After seeing a offer for a free nail varnish, eye liner and lip gloss if you spent over £15 I decided to try their mascara (and eyeshadow but I'll tell you about that later).

The product is very black and glides on easily so you don't have to constantly dip the wand back in for more product and is easy to apply. I felt it does lengthen my lashes slightly but doesn't do much for volumising unfortunately. The end result is a longer look that is very black so its clearly defined against the rest of your eye. The mascara also applies well to the lower lashes and doesn't end up poking you in the eye like a lot of wands can if they're too big.

I'd give this product about 3 out of 5 as it does a reasonable job but I wouldn't say it's the best mascara in the world. Any good? You be the judge!

Before After

Its time to put a niche to Kathcakeblogging!

2011-02-16T15:39:00.000-08:00

It's about time I had some sort of niche for my little blog and after some inspiration from a friend of mine i've decided to give reviewing make up a go. I do use it every day and find it the perfect solution for inspiring me to feel good about myself so why not!

My first review will be on Benefit's Stay Don't Stray solution.

The product priced at around £19.50 isn't cheap but depending on what you're looking for it maybe the perfect solution. I was finding that by the end of the day my make up would simply have diseppeared and for a girl it's quite annoying to have to keep reapplying your makeup.

When I initially bought this product I was pretty impressed at how my make up did seem to stay on a lot longer, and I didn't seem to look as plain jane as usual. I normally applied a few spots on my skin before putting my foundation on and rubbing that in.

The product is mainly for eyes as well to be used a eye primer so you can keep your eyeshadow on for longer but after using this with cream eye shadow I can't say I had much success, as the shadow still creased!

After a while of using this product I do find that by the end of the day my makeup still isn't perfect but it probably stays fresh for maybe half a day longer then it would without the use of this. Perhaps doesn't help that I constantly touch my face all the time!

At the price of almost £20 it's quite a investment buy and you only get a small tube so think carefully whether you want to risk it all on this product or perhaps look for a cheaper alternative. I would rate this product 2.5/5

Your best price is Asos at £19.50

Brit awards launch party 2011

2011-01-25T15:05:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I attempted to attend the Brit Awards launch party with tickets I had won in a competition. Didn't get in which enraged me as 'there was a lack of space' but I did get some quality photos of Tinie Tempah and Olly Murs who happened to be standing outside. Check these bad boys out!

Finally to top it off here's the real star of the show - Me ! lol

Finally it comes together

2011-01-03T13:08:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago around September time I replied to a ad on Star now about beautiful ladies who find it hard to find love. Five months later the story is finally printed. Read the full reveal here:

My first national story (lol)

This is only the online version as I thought the paper was coming out tomorrow so bit useless really lol. Thought there'd be more pictures but hey ho.

Me with the other ladies who took part (L to r) Belinda, Caroline, Emi and me.

Competition fairy strikes back

2010-12-18T13:14:00.000-08:00

In the last few months I thought i'd up the competition entries as things were running a little dry in winning land. So instead of around 400 a week I entered as often as I could so it amounted to probably over 1000 entries a month.

Now that has had a positive effect on my wins as lately I've won so much more and it certainly gives you a little happy feeling in the pit of your stomach :)

Recent wins include:
Ipad from Promotional Codes
Tent from Misco
Brit Awards Launch party tickets
Recliner chair which i've yet to receive
New trivial pursuit game
Christmas hamper
Several sets of tickets which don't really interest me much sadly

So far that's all but hopefully that list will continue to increase as the days roll by :)

Comping is so worth it people!

Cambodian water festival disaster

2010-11-28T05:25:00.000-08:00

When reading the Metro newspaper on Tuesday I was shocked to see the picture of the Cambodian bridge disaster when party goers were crushed after panic spread.

I have to say reading the account the situation must have been terrifying trapped in a bridge with others falling on top of you and knowing there was no possible way you could escape. To me the idea of being crushed is one of the most horrific ways to die. God bless their souls.

Urban legends

2010-11-06T04:49:00.000-07:00

The other day I was round my friends and we were discussing as you do urban legends. I was reading a few out from my iphone and seeing if they agreed they were scary. I told her and her boyfriend the one about the girl who had a dog that was chopped up by a psycho and instead had him licking her hand under her bed but I got it a bit muddled up and they didn't find it scary. Then there was the one where a guy driving one night sees another car with its lights off so flashes them, the story goes whoever flashes them gets chased and then supposedly killed. Apparantly that story was true and occured in London years ago (doesn't surprise me if it did).

As we were watching Saw 4 at the time (quite appropriate I think) I brought up how when you get into your car at night don't you ever think there's someone sitting in your back seat and just when you look in your mirror they leap up with an axe, knife, rope or any other appropriate weapon. Of course it's too much horror movie consumption for me but my friend agreed so clearly its a girl thing. That night on my way home I checked the back seat just to make sure...

Do any of you have any worries about urban legends coming true?

Contemplating the facts of life...

2010-10-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

Contemplating the facts of life (Ooh hooray a update!)

Hello people. I wonder how the not so successful people get successful in life. In recent times I have started to wonder what it is exactly I want to do in life, as my past intention of writing for a living isn't panning out too well. Perhaps I am losing my motivation, as I didn't fall straight into a job I don't know but right now it's not happening. I'm good at Administration and it's what I've been applying for till now but it's not too exciting. So onwards I go onto trying to get my name out there through applying for various castings on Star now and seeing what luck will throw my way.

So far the path to success has included a fruit sellers role in the Pirates of Caribbean 4 movie (not too bad you might say, money certainly wasn't!), a starring role as a hair model in the Great British Hairdressers competition in which my hairdresser got through to the next round. Shame she didn't have time to finish my hair cut!

I also earned a bit of money through selling my story about learning to swim at a later age, which appeared in Love It and a recent newspaper story about good-looking girls who find it hard to get boyfriends, as they're afraid to approach, which is yet to go into print.

So... what's happening at the moment? Well I've got a interview with a agency tomorrow which I hope is worth the train fare! Friday is a quick meeting with the Grazia team for a new show that helps people who are more then stuck in a rut... situation sounds quite familiar funnily enough. Hopefully they will see my dilemma in that I need a little direction for my next step. I have considered starting a writing course but it's quite expensive at £400+ with VAT and I still have a lot of clothes to buy so its quite hard to balance it all out. However I recently started my Avon business (ahem) up again and so far apart from three non-starter streets I have started to do quite well on my first order. With almost £200 worth of orders and another 2 weeks of canvassing to go I could do very well indeed and see sky high commission... woohoo! Then I can put that commission aside into my little ATM piggybank, which is currently sporting £0.00 pence.

Right now I was doing some admin work for my dads sort of business but as that's drying up I have to find some more part time work to earn the pennies until I get some sort of interesting permanent job or until I land my big film part... haha. I think as I'm quite ambitious I will fall on my feet somewhere along the way, whatever that is I don't know yet but I'm still quite young so there's plenty of time. It's just when I creep up to the wrong side of 30 and I still haven't got myself something permanent that I probably need to start worrying a little more!