April – 2014 – Hellbent for Lipstick

Make-up

MUA Power Pout in “Runaway” Review

April 13, 2014

This was a sheer accidental purchase. I didn’t need it, but as always when browsing the MUA stand, it slipped and fell into my basket. Well it would be rude not to take it home after all that wouldn’t it?

I chose this because it has a beautiful coral look to it. I didn’t actually realise that this was more of a tinted lip balm until I got home, but I still absolutely love it!

Considering this is just a tinted balm, the pigment is actually pretty amazing and I was really impressed with how it applied. It was easy to use, my lips felt nice and soft afterwards and it gave enough colour to satisfy my inner “coralove”. The longevity was about the same as a usual lip balm, but because of the consistency it applied well enough to top up without a mirror whilst out and about. It was also easy to remove – unlike the MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer’s that are very unforgiving if you make a mistake during application. This is definitely a new favourite grab and go balm, for when I don’t want to apply lipstick, but fancy a touch of colour in a hurry.

I’m so impressed by this that I’m going to grab a few more next time I’m in Superdrug. For a bargain price of £3.00 you can’t really complain at all. You can grab these from Superdrug online here or in store – next on my purchase list will be the “Broken Hearted” shade.

Have you tried these out yet? If so I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Totally hellbent for surprising balms with a flash of colour

-Pants

Beauty Boxes

Birchbox April 2014 Review

April 12, 2014

I’m sure the courier who delivers my beauty boxes thinks I’m absolutely mad because I squeal with delight every single time!

I have to say I’m really impressed with this month’s Birchbox on every factor except one – the new delivery box! The outer box was taped shut and I scored the box beneath in my excitement to find the treasure inside! I know it’s only a tiny thing but the usual boxes were just fine! Anyway, tiny side-issue nitpicking aside, this really is a great box, and though it has only one full size product (and one full size lifestyle extra) alongside four sample sizes, I’m really excited about every single product (and how often does that happen?!)

TheBalm Cosmetics – How ‘Bout Them Apples Cheek & Lip Cream in Pie

I love these tiny TheBalm samples as they take up so little space in my make-up bag. This is a multitasking product that can be used both as a cream blush and a lip colour in a gorgeous pinky-red shade. If the quick play I had with this is anything to go by I will be rushing to get the full palette sometime soon! I’m usually more of a powder blush girl but this blended so smoothly into a subtle flush of colour that I could see myself being converted towards the way of the cream blusher!

0.57g Sample

Full palette £26 from Birchbox.co.uk

RMK Make-up Base

When I first spotted this I thought it was another nail polish, but actually it is a make-up base. Not quite a primer (however it does promise to make your foundation last longer!) but a moisturising skin prep. It’s a very lightweight lotion with quite a thin consistency but a quick test on the back of the hand did leave my skin very soft and even. Perhaps something for those days when I’m in a hurry and just want something to throw my foundation on top of!

15ml Sample

Full size £28 for 30ml from Birchbox.co.uk

Colour Club Gala Gems Nail Polish in Breakfast At…

Birchbox sent an email a few weeks ago allowing subscribers to choose which colour of polish they would receive, which was a really nice touch and ensured that no-one got lumbered with a shade they would not wear. I picked this lovely metallic mint green and I’m happy to say it’s even prettier in person that I expected. I don’t really buy into the seasonal nail varnish trends but if you are the sort that does I think this would be great for a pretty spring shade. The swatch above is only one coat, though I’d likely go with two and a top cot on my nails for longevity!

Full Size

Set of four for £15 from Birchbox.co.uk

Laura Mercia Body Butter in Creme Brule

A squeezable body butter? I wasn’t convinced at first (and it is really more of a thick lotion than a butter!) but actually this is very luxurious and left my skin feeling extremely soft. The scent isn’t something I’d pick out myself and it’s quite strong, however I don’t dislike it enough not to use the rest of this up based on how well it moisturises.

30g Sample

Full size £27 from Birchbox.co.uk

Yin Yang Natural Moisturiser

Made with a whole host of natural organic ingredients and a lovely wholesome scent, this moisturiser won me over right away. It’s got quite a citrus smell but not so overwhelming that you wouldn’t want to use it on your face. The consistency is quite light and I think this will make for a lovely day moisturiser (though unfortunately it has no SPF) however I won’t be using it myself as it says that it is not suitable for those with oily skin *sadface*.

10ml Sample

Full size £13.95 for 50ml from Birchbox.co.uk

Propercorn Sweet Coconut & Vanilla

I’ve been snacking on popcorn a lot recently so this was a pleasant surprise! At only 40 calories I didn’t feel even slightly guilty tucking into it and was so surprised at how sweet and flavoursome it was for such a healthy treat! I’m not the biggest fan of coconut but the flavour was very subtle and really you could have told me this was just sweet popcorn and I’d have believed you. Absolutely scrumptious and definitely going on my food shopping list!

Full size

£0.90 from Birchbox.co.uk

Yet another great box from Birchbox! If you like what you’ve seen, you can get your very own monthy box of treats from www.BirchBox.co.uk for £10 & P&P.

Totally hellbent for tiny treats and yummy snacks

– Gem

Lifestyle, Vegetarian

The Vegan Kind April Box

April 11, 2014

After my week away to Scotland last week with an almost full on Internet ban, this was a great box to come home to to ease me back into blogging after catching up with all my e-mails!

This is my third Vegan Kind box – for those that haven’t seen this, it’s a box that contains around 5-8 products that are all cruelty free and Vegan – they also donate 10p of each box to the chosen Charity for the month. It’s a great way to discover new things that fit in with a cruelty free lifestyle. This months charity is The Excellent Adventure Sanctuary for Guinea Pigs in East Hunsbury, Northampton – go take a peek, the pictures are guaranteed to put a smile on your face!

Onto the contents:

The first thing to excite me about this box is that I finally received my recipe binder. This months recipe is a Salted Chocolate Tart – this looks very yummy and I may have a bash at this when my waist line has recovered from my week away! That aside, my previous recipe cards now live in this folder and it remains on my recipe stand in the kitchen amongst my others. If you do sign up to this box, you’ll receive the binder in your third box but you receive your recipe cards each month regardless.

Rebel Kitchen Choco Mylk 200ml (RRP £1)

I’m definitely excited about giving this a try. I’m a fan of milkshakes, although these days they are a rarity – I currently only drink Soya milk, although have tried Almond milk in the past. The bitterness of the Soya milk isn’t overly idea for full on milkshakes, so the addition of coconut milk and spring water sounds very appealing. It’s completely dairy free with no additives or preservatives and also comes in other flavours. With 102 calories per drink, and 2.8g of fat it’s definitely a good snack alternative to a bar of chocolate or a shop bought shake. The price is also fairly reasonable at £14.73 (not including postage and packaging) for a pack of 12 from their website which works out at roughly £1.20 per carton. You can take a look at their other flavours and purchase a taster pack from their website here.

Coconom Coconut Sugar 250g (RRP £3.25)

Wow – what a beast of a bag this is! I adore baking and always try to experiment with lower fat and sugar alternatives as well as trying to keep my recipes Vegan. Each teaspoon contains 15 calories, no fat, 9mg sodium and 4g of Carbohyrdrate (Sugars) compared to Granulated Sugar which is roughly 15 calories and 14.2g of Carbohydrate. Another interesting thing about the sugar is that allegedly due to the minimal processing of the product, it retains its nutritious components which include a verity of macro and micro nutrients. Having said that, I’m probably not going to start having sugar in my tea any time soon but I am very eager to start baking with this!

For more of their products and also some great recipes, check out the Coconom website here.

Freya Luna Lip and Body balm 10g (RRP £3.50)

This little treasure was almost overlooked, hiding in the deepest darkest depths of the box. Seeing the word Lavender instantly excited me though. I’m massive fan of most things Lavender-esque, not only does it smell beautiful but as a natural ingredient it’s also great for skin, whether this be for dry skin or sunburn. The thing I like most about this pot is that it can be used seemingly anywhere including lips and face, which is an added bonus. I have a feeling this is going to fit right into my handbag when I need some on the go moisture. On opening the tin, it smells absolutely beautiful and feels a little oily to the touch, but not in an overly greasy way. It glides onto the skin and seems easily absorbed. I reckon a touch of this either on your lips or your chest before bed will also help relax you ready for sleeping! Very impressed with this small but mighty tin of 100% natural balm.

To look at some of their other products, check out the Freya Luna website here.

Landgarten Organic Dark Chocolate Soya Snack 55g (RRP £1.99)

Since transforming my eating habits, Dark Chocolate has long been one of my staples when I just -have- to have something sweet. I find that one square of Dark Chocolate, gives me as much satisfaction as a whole chocolate bar, plus the added bonus of most Dark Chocolate being Vegan. This tasty looking snack is gluten free and rich in Magnesium, Calcium and Iron – although last time I tried Roasted Soyabeans I wasn’t overly keen, I’m willing to embrace this snack and give the beans another chance!

Landgarten have a fabulous range of Organic, Gluten Free and Vegan snacks that are well worth taking a peek at over at their website here and with 10% off for Vegan Kind customers, I may stock up on a few other nibbles!

Creative Nature Sublime Seed Bar 38g (RRP £1)

Whenever I try most healthy snack bars, they are usually crammed full of dates and raisins – and although I don’t mind the taste of dates, the texture really makes me screw up my face. This seed bar however contains roasted peanut, seed and hemp and is packed full of protein. Although not something I’m going to reach for as a lazy Sunday snack, definitely something I’m looking forward to trying after a hard session in the gym when I need a quick snack to pick me up. It does contain dates and sultanas but I’m crossing my fingers that I can’t actually taste or feel the texture of these so I can enjoy some healthy protein.

They have a few other interesting selections on their website here but nothing that jumps out at me.

Clearspring Miso soup on the go 8g sachet (RRP £1.29 )

I keep hearing about Miso soup and I actually had a packet in my cupboard from another box that I still hadn’t used. This was actually a replacement product as I should have received “Clearspring Sushi Nori” which unfortunately for me, looked quite interesting – a mix of Dried Sea Vegetables, probably right down my street. Alas, I received the Miso Soup and on the very same day my box arrived had decided to experiment and try the packet from my cupboard mixed with some noodles and vegetables. I made the wise decision of pouring the paste version into a jug first and adding water so I could taste it first – since I didn’t want to ruin perfectly good vegetables by throwing everything into a pan. Thankfully my wise decision paid off, since it tasted absolutely disgusting. Now I’m sure there are many people out there who really love Miso soup of all varieties, but it really isn’t for me. This little packet will be going to Gem’s partner Roode since I’ve heard he’s a bit of a fan!

If you fancy trying this out for yourself, simply visit the Clearspring website.

I’m actually really happy with this month’s box, its’ definitely opened me up to a few new brands which I’ll be going back to in the future. This is the main reason I decided to sign up to The Vegan Kind, in the hope I would have my eyes opened to some of the well hidden Vegan gems out there and I have to say, it’s doing exceptionally well so far. I’m already looking forward to my next box and definitely intrigued as to what recipes they will throw in. For some of our Vegetarian recipe posts take a look here.

If you want to try The Vegan Kind box, you can do so for just £10 per month and £2.95 p&p, simple visit their website.

Totally hellbent for soup that isn’t Miso and charities that help Guinea Pigs

– Pants

Facemask Friday

Facemask Friday: Murad Pomegranate Exfoliating Mask Review

April 11, 2014

Today’s facemask is the Pomegranate Exfoliating Mask from Murad, a brand that I’d not heard of before this sample arrived in last month’s Love Me Beauty box. I say sample, but it’s not actually a sample – when you purchase this you receive six of these little sachets, and I’m not entirely sure I like this concept as one of the first things I noticed was that you get way more than you need for one use.

The official description-

Dissolve tired cells and free skin from trapped impurities for a refreshed, revitalised and balanced complexion.

Despite being an exfoliating mask there are no grains or abrasive particles at all, the mask has a clear gel texture and no amount of scrubbing in the world is going to make it buff away dead skin like a conventional exfoliator. It gave a sort of tingly sensation that I imagine could be quite uncomfortable if you have very sensitive skin, but it was mild enough on my own skin which is tough as nails.

Although the Murad Pomegranate Exfoliating Mask doesn’t really “set” like a clay mask it does tighten ever so slightly after around 10 minutes which I always think is a good reminder to go take it off!

It washed off in a matter of moments and I have to say my skin felt amazing! When I got out of the shower and had a peek in the mirror I almost gasped, ,my ruddy greasy skin looked radiant and bright and the effects lasted for a good few days!

I’ve stuck religiously to my Soap & Glory No Clogs Allowed (Reviewed here) recently, but I think I might consider buying a box of these for days when I really need a pick me up.

£25 for a box of six sachets from Murad.com

Totally hellbent for being blown away by the results

– Gem

Make-up

MUA Up All Night Eyeshadow Palette Review and Swatches

April 10, 2014

A One Direction palette on HBFL? Sacrilege! Minus fifty krieg points!

This collection came out last year much to the excitement of far too many people who need more Norwegian black metal in their lives (shame on you!). I was pretty put off by the 1D branding for the longest time, but then I stopped to take a look at the colours (and realised the only 1D reference was on a sticker!) and soon enough it was in my basket.

The Up All Night palette comes in the usual MUA black plastic packaging which is more than sturdy enough to leave on the dressing table, but doesn’t stand up to much if you plan on taking it out and about. I’m very happy to say that the back of the packaging has a plan of the palette with the names of each shade (the older palettes have numbered shades instead) as well as a few suggestions on how to wear the colours, which is a nice touch for the teeny market this is aimed at.

The usual sponge applicator is included, but honestly ladies if you don’t have make-up brushes you are better off using your fingers!

Alright, onto the colours! There are ten shimmer finish shades in the Up All Night palette that lean towards metallic, one of my favourites, Love, has a glitter finish too. The only colour I was disappointed in was Debut, as it just didn’t apply very well. All the other shades are very pigmented and have a lovely creamy texture. We’re not talking the best eye-shadow in the world, but I challenge anyone to find better shimmer eye-shadows in this price range!

With a primer you can expect the colours to last out the day (or the night!) with minimal creasing.

And now the best bit – onto the lovely shimmery swatches!

If you’re after some cheap yet impressive brights, this palette is definitely for you! Another winner from MUA in my book! Unfortunately I don’t think this is available online any-more, but I’ve seen them in-store at most Superdrugs still, and you can find them knocking around on Ebay too!

Totally hellbent for taking off that pesky 1D sticker!

– Gem

Make-up

Real Techniques Silicone Liner Brush Review

April 9, 2014

I am -rubbish- at applying eye-liner! Considering it’s one of my make-up staples you’d think I would be better at applying it by now, but no, every day is a war on even level lines that I inevitably loose and then have to start all over again…till now!

When I first saw this brush launched I just knew I had to add it to my Real Techniques collection, I’ve been on the search for -the- eye-liner brush since forever and with the fantastic reputation of the brand I had a good feeling that this could be it.

First up let’s go over the basics, as with all Real Techniques brushes the Silicone Liner Brush has a signature colour coded handle (purple for eye brushes) with a black end; simple but effective and iconic. The handle itself is very slim as to be expected with a fine liner brush, but doesn’t feel too fiddly.

As for the tip itself, make from flexible silicone it is soft enough to not cause drag along the eye-lid, but rigid enough to draw the straightest of lines. The tip is tiny and perfect for getting right into the lash-line, in fact as a whole the brush is versatile enough to do everything from the most subtle lining to the biggest most dramatic looks you can imagine. I had no problem whatsoever picking up product with it, though of course it’s not as absorbent as a bristle brush so I did have to reload between eyes.

One of the things really worth raving about though is how easy this brush is to clean! Deep cleaning brushes is the bane of every beauty lovers life and it takes me a good few hours to get through my collection. Lip brushes and eye-liner brushes are always the worst though, often setting hard making them completely unusable till you’ve used half a bottle of brush cleaner on them – well no more! You can simple wipe away any residue with a tissue or baby-wipe after each use and it looks band spanking new again!

Overall I can’t recommend the Real Techniques Silicone Liner Brush enough, in fact that goes for every Real Techniques brush I’ve tried (you can check out my review on the Duo-Fibre set here and Amie’s massive post on the Core Collection, Starter Kit and Travel Essentials here). There’s a reason they are so coveted amongst bloggers and make-up artists, because they consistently deliver fantastic brushes at a more than reasonable cost.

Have you tried this brush yet?

You can pick up the Real Techniques Silicone Liner Brush for £5.99 from Boots.com

Totally hellbent for anything that makes eyeliner fast, simple and easy!

– Gem

Nails

Primark P.S Gel Effect Top Coat Review

April 7, 2014

Primark P.S I Love You Gel Effect Top Coat Review

If you’ve been into Primark recently you’ll likely have noticed that they are rolling out a new line of “P.S” beauty products. In my local shop they seemed to be mostly nail products but I’ve seen reviews popping up of all sorts of things! Being Primark they are all of course at ridiculously low prices with most being only £1.00, this of course lead to a smash and grab style shopping trip that left both Amie and I with a heaving bag full of bargain treasures!

Now given the price I wasn’t expecting much from this top coat, but the luxe packaging made it seem all the more tempting so I thought I’d give it a go. The brush itself was much better than I expected and although it isn’t wide enough to cover the nail in one sweep it applied very well!

As far as looks go I don’t think you can really see any difference at all between the swatches on the left with no top coat and the swatches on the right with one layer of Gel Effect Top Coat.

As for longevity (which is really the most important job of a top-coat in my book!) I tried this with a number of different familiar polishes and I’d say it fought off dreading chipping for maybe a day or so extra, so for £1 you can’t complain too much but it’s hardly an innovative must-have product.

Have you tried anything from the P.S range?

Totally hellbent for one more day at the very least

– Gem

Fragrance

Ghost Enchanted Bloom EDT Review

April 1, 2014

This gorgeous perfume has grown on me so quickly to become my absolute favourite daytime scent. I find it very fresh, feminine and floral without being too sugary sweet. The bottle is simple but very pretty with etched flowers, but is it a good or bad thing that I like how slim it is because I’m running out of space on my perfume storage?

The official description lists “Top notes of violet leaf, bergamot and cranberry, leading to the heart of jasmine, water lily and freesia. Caviar peach, musk and amber complete the fragrant composition with a seductive trail.” but I don’t think it really seems that complex as it feels very light to wear. It is however very long lasting, and I could still pick up traces of it after a long day at work.

Overall Ghost Enchanted Bloom is a very light romantic scent that is perfect as the days get longer and warmer, I expect to be wearing this well through the summer!

What’s your favourite summery scent?

Totally hellbent for finding a new favourite

– Gem