Top 5 | Lush Face Masks

Buying a new face mask is like trying on new lingerie, essential and it makes you feel fab. Though when it comes to what face mask is right for you, the struggle is very real. Am I right? LUSH Face Masks are not only preservative free, but contain fresh ingredients that will have you well on your way to healthy looking skin. Take a look at these top five picks, to find the perfect mask for you!

Catastrophe Cosmetic  

Where blueberries and essential oils meets to replenish your skin. This mask has a lot of moisturizing but yet cleansing properties, that make it a gooden for all skin types- but particularly combination. There's chamomile and rose to soothe and calm the skin, accompanied with fresh blueberries, that act as an anti-oxidant. If you're on the hunt for an all-rounder, this is the pot for you. 

Love Lettuce

This tub of goodness caters to a more oilier skin type and reeks of freshness. Packed with essential oils and honey, it doesn't stop there folks. This mask not only has an outstanding five star rating, but contains bits of almond shell that work to gently exfoliate the skin, whilst still cleansing. No it doesn't have lettuce in it, no you cannot eat it. 

Cosmetic Warrior 

Vampires beware, this stuff is heavy on the garlic which helps to medicate and cleanse the skin thoroughly. Although the ingredients may seem bizarre, they work effectively to treat problematic skin. If you have sensitive, pubescent or hormonal prone break outs, this bad boy is definitely for you. Treat yourself to this antibacterial dream or tea tree, honey and even fresh egg to tighten the skin. 

Brazened Honey 

If you want amazingly clean, and glowing skin this mask is definitely one to consider. What makes this product great, is that whilst removing and applying the product, it also gently exfoliates the skin. With stimulants, anti-oxidants and fresh galore, this mask is fab for just about everyone. Moisturizing and cleansing are only a few benefits of this mask, but if you fancy getting rid of some dead skin- why not?

Oatifix

It smells like pudding and works like a treat. This exfoliating mask contains oats and banana, making it great for replenishing and hydrating dry/ sensitive skin types. The texture is a little sucky and vomit-like, but has been said to help care for Rosacea amongst other sensitive skin problems. Treat yourself, and don't let the texture be a cause of concern. It works wonders!

Ellen Tracy Thick Stick Lip Color Review

Ellen Tracy, more prominently known as a designer label that decided to dabble in cosmetics- and this is why she shouldn't have. The Emma Tracy Thick Stick lip color pencils looked beautiful at first. From the small and travel friendly packaging, the colours stood out and are actually very reminiscent of a cross between the Revlon Balm Stain, and Nars Velvet Lip Pencil. When swatched they were balm-like, glossy with slight shimmer, and the pigmentation was subtle but still visible (for some). At this point I appreciated that they were not a lipstick, but more of a tinted lip balm. When applied to the lips they were undeniably soft, with very minimal amount of colour pay-off. Upon application they were soft at first, but after a few seconds of being on the lips, the product had seeped into dryer parts of the mouth, and clung to them like icing to a doughnut. The lighter shades in this set were very similar in not only shade, but pigmentation- they were basically the same colour three times over, and did not compliment darker skin. The two red shades were slightly more manageable and pleasant, as they provided more pigmentation and definition to the lips. Overall these name-less bad boys are relatively moisturizing on the lips, but have a very unflattering formula with poor colour pay-off and shade range. They are pretty to swatch, but have no stain power or benefit- harsh but true.

Purchase the pricey, and disappointing set here..

Top 3 | Remedies for Under-eye Circles

So, whether you've been on the pull all night, to even the kids just keeping you busy. It's no secret that under eye bags and dark circles are like the scouse brow of our generation- unwanted. Lack of sleep, dehydration and stress are only a few contributors to those shadows of doom, and if you're after some at home remedies for treating them, look no further. These quick, simple and all natural ingredients will not only work wonders, but will only require a quick trip to either your kitchen, or local supermarket!

H2O

Such a cliche I know, but hydration is key when it comes to skin care. By drinking your daily dose of water, you're not only fueling your body and detoxing it, but hydrating your skin at the same time. In some cases, under eye circles occur through dehydration and toxins from using cosmetics and products everyday. This remedy is definitely a no-brainer that won't completely banish your dark circles, but will help to prevent dehydration and gradually reduce the appearance of them. 

CLEAN & GREEN

The old tales of a cucumber. Something you see in movies accompanied by a mud mask and white robe, but never actually tried yourself. Cucumber rounds can be used as natural eye pads, that work to hydrate the sensitive skin under your eyes, reduce puffiness and replenish those dull bags. Light some candles, run a bath, get your cucumber on and have a snack at the same time!

GO NUTS

Almond oil is said to be one of the best ways to reduce and treat dark circles, but why? This fabulous source of vitamin E, is best served organic and absorbs into dehydrated under eyes like a dream. The nutrients in this carrier oil work best, when massaged into the skin to help improve circulation. Using essential oils are an all over plus when it comes to beauty, but if you do in fact have allergies, then why not try extra virgin olive oil? 

Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Eraser Review

It's no secret that under-eye circles are the bain of every woman's life- along with large pores and grey hair. It's so important to not pack on, and over-apply product under the eyes, as the skin is very thin and sensitive in that area. If there's too much going on, the skin will generally crease, cake and look like crap. If you are tired of those stubborn dark circles, and need a little pick me up- look no further.

Despite this product having different names, it is in fact an all-time favourite as far as drugstore concealers go. It works perfectly for tired, dry and dark under-eye imperfections, AND retails for a cheap and cheerful £7.99. The formulation of this little gem is light but in no way sheer. The coverage is build-able making it brill for all your skin's desires and most importantly, blends like a dream. This is in no shape or form, a correcting concealer, if you are looking to correct dark tones under the eyes, this isn't what you're looking for. It does however, work well to brighten under the eyes and helps with uneven tones and shades around the eye area. Not only is it creamy, but also is long-lasting and gentle for your delicate little peepers. Maybelline claim that this "next generation of concealer" is formulated to reduce fine lines in appearance, and cover your dark circles flawlessly. The recipe to this product calls for Goji Berries, which apparently enrich the formula and hydrate your eyes- who knew? I can't disagree with any of this, it keeps my under-eyes hydrated and bright for hours, and also is great for popping into your purse. My product has seen better days and isn't exactly brand new, but over the last couple of months, this 6.8ml baby bottle has lasted me months with so much product left in it! 

Lets talk about the applicator...The only two faults I have on this bad boy is 1) the lack in shade range, and 2) the bloody applicator. Now in Maybelline's defense the sponge/ foam applicator is so soft upon the skin, and comes with a trusty plastic lid, BUT it's just so unhygienic. When I think about all the germs that this innocent sponge picks up, I cringe but it does in fact distribute the product evenly and well. Although this concealer is not freelance friendly, (unless you use a brush) it is outstanding for the price, available in your local drugstore and highly recommended by bloggers and product experts. If you're yet to find an affordable concealer that you adore, definitely try this!

Pros 

-  Brightens your under-eyes & perks up your whole face.

-  Blends flawlessly, helping to reduce fine lines.

-  Long-wearing and light.

-  Build-able coverage, ranging from light to medium.

-  Perfect for on the go makeup application (tote touch-ups).

Cons

-  Lack of shades, doesn't cater to darker skin tones.

-  Unhygienic applicator, collects germs and product build-up.

Lee Stafford Chopstick Styler Review + Demo

Lee Stafford CHoPstick STYLER 

Price: £19.99

Stockist: Argos 

Whilst Kim K goes from long and luscious to short and defined, I've been experimenting between straight and mega curly styled hair. For thin spiral, Afro-tastic curls I have found the most perfect styling tool that creates Foxy Cleopatra hair. Firstly, no matter how resistant your hair is to heated curling tools, this bad boy will guarantee you the big hair you've always wanted. There are no heat settings on this tool, just your bog standard on/off switch, however the temperature of this baby is quite high, so make sure to prep your hair with a decent heat protectant. The chopstick styler provides instant volume with it's stick thin, slightly squared wand- it really is a chopstick I guess? Depending on how small the sections you take are, the tighter the curl. By taking larger and thicker sections of hair you can create looser type curls. The only niggle with this wonder wand is that sometimes the wand itself, can almost stick to the hair making it quite difficult to unravel the curls.

My just below, should length hair curls in around 30 minutes; simply because I like to take smaller pieces. As you can see from the photographs below, I love creating a tighter curled look that contrasts with my waved everyday hair- it's fun and different! The different ways I like to wear this style is firstly, in a middle parting. It adds so much volume and makes my noticeably oblong shaped head, well less oblongy? For a quick but subtle change, I will often swoop my whole mop over to one side, with a side parting; this emphasises the curls, making them super wild. Finally, a style I like to wear that is slightly childish and reminiscent of Saved By The Bell days but nevertheless, still cute- the half up, half down look. This style is perfect for when your locks start to get a little greasier and is quick, cute and big! When curling my hair with this tool (which I've done a lot recently) it genuinely stays put for 2-3 days, and that's without hairspray!

What's your favourite styling tool at the moment?

Current Favourites | Jan 2015

Despite the freezing cold and bitchy antics of this year so far, I have come across some fabulous new-to-me products to share. If you are a permanent passenger on the beauty band wagon, then some of these may not come as a surprise- especially Benefit's Roller Lash, which has already surfaced the beauty blogging world like a tornado. But, if you're looking for some hot new products to either add to your kit, or to your personal makeup bag, this post is for you- or you might just be a makeup addict, like myself. My first favourite of the month not only screams for a premature Spring/ Summer, but contains fresh, floral notes that match it's super cute packaging. Marc Jacobs Daisy was very recently gifted to me and so far, so good. It has a very clean, floral scent that fills my surrounding air with some fresh scents and girly vibes. I'm usually more of Guerlain Insolence kind of gal, but something new and different seems to be satisfying my perfume palette- can't argue with that can I? The next product has quickly become my favourite drugstore concealer. It brightens my atrocious dark circles and ties together my whole look. The Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Eraser concealer undeniably has a very unhygienic applicator, but has trended the drugstore beauty department for a few years. I finally gave in to the hype and tried this little gem- now i'm hooked. It wears very lightly on the skin creating brightened, flawless under-eyes as well as a great base for any makeup look. The product itself is perfect for tote touch-ups and for a drugstore concealer, is actually very long-lasting with the help of a little setting powder. Another favourite, the MUA Eyeshadow in 'Fudge' is also a product I have been loving because 1) it's matte and 2) it's so versatile. I use this cheapo beauty buy under my eyes for a more dramatic under-eye highlight, as a bog standard highlight and as an eyeshadow. This shadow doesn't have outstanding pigmentation, but applies evenly and gives a really nice sheer, matte finish upon application plus it's £1- how can you beat that?

Now for an oldie, but a goodie. MAC Lip Conditioner in 'Pink Fish' is a limited edition product that released in 2008- a time that humoured my overpriced beauty addiction. I often forget I even own this product and in all honesty- it's one of the most moisturising lip products I have ever owned. It adds instant moisture to your smackers but also with a cheeky pink tint. A couple of other lip products I have really been enjoying is a combination of both KIKO Smart Lip Liner in '712' and YSL's Rouge Volupte Lipstick in 'Peach Passion'. This lip combo is a great alternative to the dark mauve/ brownish tones that have been popular throughout Winter, and really compliments clean, natural makeup. The consistency of the rouge volupte lipstick from YSL can only be described as heaven; the formula is beyond moisturising, pigmented and works well when applied with both fingers and brushes. To see what I think about the Kiko Lip Liners, click 'here'. Now for the grand finale, the piece de resistance- Benefit's Roller Lash Mascara. Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll know that ELLE magazine distributed samples of the exclusive mascara in this months issue. I luckily managed to get my hands on the £4 publication to only be amazed by the little sample that came with it. The wand of this product, grips to the eyelashes like a shark to bait; it perfectly curls them from the very root and lengthens so much, that my eyelashes actually tickle my brows. The formula isn't great in the volumising department but really does help to separate and extend each eyelash, making the eyes pop. As far as durability, this bad boy leaves you with fluttery and fabulous eyelashes all day.

What products have you been loving lately?

Travel Photo Journal | Venice, Italy

If hot, passionate Bellini loving wasn't enough, the phenomenal architecture was. Me and my partner travelled to Venice, Italy for three nights of pure bliss; this involved being in full-on tourist mode, eating our way into a Venezia food coma and bickering over who took the wrong turning. The weather throughout our stay was surprisingly sunny but definitely required layers- especially for the Gondola ride. Giving in to the selfie stick men and consuming endless amounts of coffee were only a few of the smaller perks that made the experience even better. One of our favourite moments was going into the Campanile, reaching the very top and being able to see pretty much all of Venice. It was every photographers dream and was made even more special through our exchanging of souvenir key rings. The bridges, boats and small pathway views were picturesque- as was all of the beautiful city and despite the cumilative amount of pigeons, everything was perfect. In regards to food, I aimed to try the typical Venetian delicacies- however my boyfriend was more than content with his red wine and 34 ounce steak. Pizza, gnocchi and vanilla cannolis were only a few culinary delights we tucked into, and my Spaghetti Lobster from Pizzeria Da Roberto was a meal made for the Gods- fresh and delicious! Our quaint and old-fashioned hotel sat perfectly amongst Cartier, Chanel and Burberry- window shopping galore. The near paths and small streets were beautifully lit with fairy lights that led us to St. Marks Square and Rialto, and in spite of the dropping temperature the ten minute walk to Rialto Bridge was packed with short panini breaks and €1 souvenir shops. Our attempt at seeing the different parts of Venice in only four days was impressive; we paced back and forth from San Marco to Rialto, getting lost in between and thoroughly enjoying ourselves.