Max Factor Clump Defy Volumising Mascara

If like me you live in the UK it has been pretty much impossible to notice the advertising for Max Factors new mascara, from the back of magazine covers to TV adverts. This new mascara is Max Factors Clump Defy Volumising Mascara. 

 

I love trying new mascaras and am always on the lookout for drug store bargains, so when I saw this on offer in Superdrug last week for £7.99, usually £10.99, I had to pick it up. This mascara claims to achieve lashes which are both volumised and defined without clumps! This is down to the new “Anti-clumps” brush. This brush is the first “clump-free lash loading brush” used by Max Factor and this is down to the brushes “tight, evenly spaced bristles stopping clumps forming and hugs the lashes to define and separate.” 

I have been using this mascara every day since I picked it up and I have to say it definitely does what it says on the tin. My lashes were separated, lengthened and, with a few layers applied, looked noticeably thicker. 

I love the fact that this mascara does not have a wet formula. I feel this makes it so much easier to work with and helps avoid clumpy lashes. The mascara comes in two colours, black and black/brown. As I have naturally black lashes I picked up the darker of the two.  The only thing that would make this mascara better for me is if it came in a waterproof option. I tend to have an oily skin in the eye area and usually go for waterproof mascaras to avoid panda eyes, which unfortunately does happen with this mascara after wearing it for a long period of time. 

Have any of you tried out this new mascara?
Thank you for reading :)

Nails Inc 3D Glitter – Marylebone

I recently purchased one of Nails Inc’s new special effect 3D glitter polishes in the colour Marylebone.  Marylebone is a baby pink based glitter polish with micro-glitter the same shade as the base colour and larger silver glitter chunks. 

£11

After two coats this polish is opaque and with a top coat lasted around 4 days before it began to chip and peel. For a glitter polish I didn’t think this was too bad! However, like with all glitter polishes, this was not the easiest polish to remove from my nails! Using the nail polish remover and tin foil trick this was eased, but still took a while!  (If you would like me to do a blog post/video post on this trick let me know!) 

Have any of you tried any of these new 3D glitter polishes?  What was your reaction? Do you have any favourite shades? Leave a comment below and let me know!

My Goals for 2013

This post is a little bit different to those I usually write, but I thought for this year I would mix up my blog posts a little and branch out from just beauty reviews! I’m not one for making new year’s resolutions as, let’s be honest, the majority of resolutions I have made in the past never last for more than a week and I’m sure I’m not the only one who is in that boat! So, instead of resolutions I have decided to set myself some realistic goals for this year.

Become more organised

When I was at school I was always super organised with my work. I had everything in folders, a planner to keep up to date with my homework and everything was put away neatly at home. HOWEVER, since finishing school that’s gone downhill quite a bit! As I am both working pretty much full time and studying at university at the moment, I’ve found it hard to get the balance between both and, as a result of this, my studying gets put to the side with the attitude of “I’ll do it tomorrow” and I end up rushing it at the last minute to get my assignment in on time! So, this year I want to organise my time better to relieve the stress of getting everything done on time!

As well as getting more organised with my work/uni life, I want to organise my bedroom! Now, my bedroom isn’t the biggest room in the world and as I keep accumulating belongings, I run out of places to put them and my room is, to be honest, a complete BOMBSITE. So, throughout January I want to organise my space more effectively and keep it that way!

Get fit and eat healthier 

I’ve been going to the gym for around 3 years now, but it’s always been an on/off relationship. I’ll get really into going to the gym and get myself into a routine, however, this usually only lasts until I go on holiday. Whenever I return I never seem to have the motivation to keep going, make every excuse under the sun not to go and it gets put on the back burner. However, I love the way it makes me feel when I go. I am so much more awake, energetic and feel better about the way I look. My goal for this year is to try and go to the gym three times or more a week. 

As well as aiming to get fitter, I want to start eating healthier. This doesn’t mean I’m going to deprive myself of the food I love, but start to take the healthy option. 

Run 5KM

Along with my plan to get fit I want to train towards being able to run 5km. Running and myself have never really got along. Despite being able to power walk, power walk on a gradient, work out on the cross trainer, step machine or bike for long periods of time, I have never been able to run long distances! In the past I’ve always gone “Right, today I am going to run X distance” and when I’ve not been able to do it because I’m tired or my asthmas playing up, I give up. So, before the New Year began I found a 6 week training plan for a 5KM run. This training plan starts off basic, e.g run for 1 min, walks for 1 min, repeating 10 times and then gradually builds up the distance. I have just completed my first week of the training plan and so far so good! If you would like me to keep you up to date with how this training programme is going let me know! :)

Pass my current OU Module with a 1^st or 2:1 

I have currently studying towards a Bsc degree in Mathematics with the Open University and recently just finished my first two modules with firsts in both! In November I started my next module and, although a lot harder than the previous, I am determined to pass this module with a first, if not a 2:1!

Be more positive 

I am one of these people who tend to see the worst in situations and if something goes wrong I get upset, rather than looking at what I can do to make it better. Due to this attitude I have stopped myself doing things in the past. I’ve always over thought what could happen, what if I embarrass myself, what if I can’t do it etc.   So, this year I am going to try and turn that round and have more of a “glass half full” mindset, rather than a “glass half empty.” You only have one life and you’re only young once, you might as well make the most of it!

Those are my goals for 2013! I’m going to try my best to keep up with them and shall keep you updated on how they are all going! :)

Have you set yourself any resolution/goals for 2013? Let me know what they are by leaving a comment below!

TOP 12 OF 2012

Hi everyone!

To start 2013's blog posts I decided to do a round up of my favourite beauty products of 2012 by doing the Top 12 of 2012 tag! This tag involves picking two favourites from various categories, so lets get on with the tag!

Face Products

Dr Jart+ Waterfuse BB Cream has definitely been my favourite face product of 2012. Dr Jart’s products were released in Boots in the UK towards the end of the summer. I fell in love with this product as soon as I started using it. This particular BB Cream is aimed at people with dry/combination skin as it contains water beads which “burst” on application and helps the skin to stay hydrated throughout the day. Despite the hydrating feature, it is also oil-free so you don’t end up with shiny skin and the rest of your makeup sliding off your face throughout the day! Although it is not a full coverage foundation product, this BB Cream evens your skin tone, provides enough coverage to minimise the appearance of imperfections and lasts for a long period of time. The last feature I love about this product is the fact is contains added sunscreen with an SFP 25 which is ideal, especially in the winter.   

The Concealer I have been reaching for the most is Benefit’s Boi-ing Industrial Strength Concealer in the shade #01 light. I’ve owned this product various times in the past, but this year I rediscovered it and have no idea why I stopped using it in the first place! The shade #01 light is the perfect shade for my skin and covers my under eye circles all day without creasing. I also use it to cover any redness and on blemishes if necessary. Benefit only use to have this product in 3 shades, but they have now added to more, so if it was too light for you in the past or you haven’t tried this concealer I definitely recommend taking a look at the new shades! :)

Cheek Products

Nars Laguna Bronzer is a cult product in the beauty community and this has been my go to bronzer for well over two years now. I love to use this in the summer as it is the perfect colour to give me that sunkissed summery glow. I’m now working my way through my third repurchase!

I received Benefit Dallas for Christmas a few years ago in a Benefit sample box powders set, but never really used it. However, this year I rediscovered it and it has been my go to blush! Dallas is a deep pink blush and, unlike other blushes, I don’t just use this on my cheeks but also on my forehead and nose to give my skin a healthy glow!

Eye Products

Maybelline’s False Lash Effects Mascara is my number one eye product of 2012. I have been using it for around 8/9 months now and have repurchased both the original and waterproof numerous times during this period. I have written a more detailed blog post on this product earlier in the year so if you want to find out more go and check it out!

I’m not a huge user of eye shadow but the Maybelline eye creams look amazing on their own and can look like you’ve put a lot of effort into your eye makeup when you haven’t! Maybelline’s On and On Bronze 24Hr Colour Tattoo is my favourite of the Colour Tattoos that I own and I love it for a night out. It is a deep browny/gold and lasts on my eyelids with a primer all night without creasing!

Lip Products

Revlon’s Lip Butters have been a hot topic in the beauty world this year and I completely understand why! I own multiple lip butters from this collection and can’t get enough of them! As they are more of a balm than a lipstick they keep your lips hydrated and have an amazing colour pay off! I’ve written a more detailed blog post on the first few colours I owned from this collection so for a more detail review go have a read! :)

My favourite lip stick of the year is Rimmel’s Lasting Finish Lipstick in #03 from the Kate Moss collection. This has been my go to lipstick since owning it in the second half of this year. As this shade is a deep nude colour it was perfect for everyday use from wearing it for work, to shopping and going out in the evening. I don’t usually tend to wear lipstick as I find them drying on my lips, or they wear off quickly, but I find this particular one creamy and long lasting and for under £5 it’s a steal!

Nail Polishes

OPI Nail Envy in matte has been my nail saviour this year! Due to my line of work it involves me washing my hands a lot and as a result of this, my nails have suffered by becoming soft and breaking easily! Since I’m not supposed to wear nail polish or have fake nails at work this matte polish has been amazing! You cannot tell that I’m wearing nail polish at all! If you want to know more about my experience with this polish I wrote a more detailed post a few months ago.

It’s really hard for me to pick a favourite polish from my collection as I tend to change polish often. However, as 2012 was a big year for the UK with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 olympics I decided to go along with a patriotic polish I purchased this year. That polish is Nails Inc special edition Jubilee crystal cap glitter polish.

Hair Products

Aussie Miracle Insurance is a leave in conditioner which has been a stable within my hair care routine for many years. I spray this on my hair when my hair is damp and comb through. Whether I decide to straighten my hair or leave it naturally curly this gives my hair an amazing shine and leaves it feeling hydrated, soft and smooth.

I only picked up the Tangle Teaser at the beginning of October, but I seriously do not know what I was doing without it! As I have thick curly hair it is extremely tangly, especially when it is wet! I know you’re not supposed to use a brush on wet hair as it is extremely damaging, but using a comb for me is practically impossible and I felt I was doing more damage than good! When I used this product for the first time I was extremely impressed! I could easily run it through my wet hair, without catching on knots or pulling my hair! Definitely recommend this to every, especially my fellow tangly haired people!

What were your 12 favourite products of 2012? Let me know in the comments below! 

***PICTURES TO COME***