I'm currently going through a 'let's buy loads of nail polish' phase and to be honest, I think it's primarily due to my new love for China Glaze nail polishes. I had heard of China Glaze but thought it was only sold in the USA, little did I know that a couple of UK online shops also sell it too. (I will link shops at the end of this post).
Since I've accumulated a fair few nail polishes over the past few months (mainly China Glaze nail polishes), I thought I'd do a 'Top 5 Nail Polishes For Spring' post.
It's quite evident that pastel colours are going to be huge for S/S (spring/summer), everywhere you look there's mint green, coral, pastel pink, yellow, baby blue... and so on and so forth, so I thought I'd include nail polishes that 'fit in' with this pastel trend.
Neons also seem to be an upcoming trend in not only the clothing industry but in nail polish world too so I think I'll include neon shades in my 'Top 5 Nail Polishes For Summer' post as I don't think many people are likely to sport lime green nails in spring.
So without further ado, here are the nail polishes I think are perfect for Spring.
O.P.I 'What's With The Cattitude' - £11.00 - (15ml)
"Soft pastel baby blue"
China Glaze 'Re-Fresh Mint' - £6.75 - (14ml)
'Pastel green creme"
O.P.I 'Fiercely Fiona' - £11.00 - (15ml)
"Soft feminine pastel yellow"
China Glaze 'Peachy Keen' - £6.75 - (14ml)
"True peach creme"
Essie 'Lovie Dovie' - £8.50 - (15ml)
"A perfect true flamingo pink"
From: What's With The Cattitude, Re-Fresh Mint, Fiercely Fiona, Peachy Keen and Lovie Dovie
So there are my top 5 nail polish for spring! I thought I'd include a nice mix of colours as there's no point in me choosing 5 nail polishes with similar shades. I felt I had to include a mint green nail polish as it would be a crime if I didn't. Mint green is possibly one of the nicest and most worn colours, it's just simply amazing.
As many of you will already know, MUA have recently launched their latest lip invention, the 'Lip Boom'. The Lip Boom is a multifunctional product, meaning it has different uses. I don't think I've ever seen anything like the Lip Booms so as you can imagine I was VERY excited to try/review them.
The lovely Maggie sent me the shades 'Cheeky', 'Doin Good' and 'Bring It' to review so I thought I'd start by reviewing the shade 'Cheeky' as it's my favourite out of the three.
Lip Boom:"Lipstick and highlighting gloss that creates fuller curvaceous lips for a dramatic illusion of volume."
What MUA have to say about their Lip Boom...
"Created with Alexandra Burke by MUA!! Lipstick and highlighting gloss that creates fuller curvaceous lips for a dramatic illusion of volume. There are 4 amazing ways to transform your lips and give them some Boom! 1. Lipstick alone for a matte look. 2. Lipstick with highlighter applied just to the centre of your lips to create a full volume illusion. 3. Lipstick with highlighter all over for a super-glossy look. 4. Highlighter alone for a sheer pearl finish. There are 8 amazing shades in the range so grab yourself some BOOM!'
What are the different ways of applying the Lip Boom?
The lipstick can be worn alone for a matte look.
Whilst wearing the lipstick, the highlighter can be applied just to the centre of the lips to create a full volume illusion.
The highlighter can be applied directly over the top of the lipstick for a super-glossy look.
The highlighter can be worn alone for a sheer pearl finish.
Where can you buy the Lip Booms and how much do they retail at?
The MUA Lip Booms retail at £3.00 and can be purchased online at MUA. They will also be available in-store and online at Superdrug from the 5th of May. MUA currently have an offer where you receive an Immaculate Palette for free by using the code 'FB20000' so now is the perfect chance to buy one or two of the Lip Booms. The offer ends tonight at midnight night so get buying!
How many shades are there?
There are 8 different shades available, ranging from nude to deep vampy red. All of the shades have a matte finish too.
It's a situation - Berry Red
LMK (Let Me Know) - Deep Red
OK.com - Typical Nude
Vibe - Orange Toned Nude
Cheeky - Baby Pink
Doin Good - Orange Toned Red
OMG - Coral
Bring It - Typical Red
What does the Lip Boom look like?
Lip Boom in 'Cheeky' - Has a highlighter at one end and a lipstick at the other. There's also a small pot at the bottom which is filled with product.
I took this photograph to show you all how big the Lip Boom is, in comparison to my hand.
This is what the Lip Boom looks like separately.
The lipstick:
Has a blue toned pink shade. A typical barbie pink.
Has a matte finish.
Extra Pot:
Filled with a creamy product that has the same shade as the lipstick.
The highlighter:
Has pink/red tone with silver glitter particles.
Has a doe foot applicator.
Swatches
Top: Lipstick - True Barbie Pink
Bottom: Highlighter - Red Toned Pink With Silver Glitter Particles
Top: Lipstick worn alone
Bottom: Lipstick with highlighter in the middle
Top: Lipstick with highlighter all over
Bottom: Highlighter worn alone
Are the Lip Booms suitable for everyone?
Anyone can buy the Lip Booms but I would primarily recommend them to those who have normal lips and not those who suffer with dry or very dry lips as all Lip Booms have a matte finish. If you're a dry lip sufferer, you'll know that matte lipsticks aren't the best as the colour tends to stick to dry patches making the dryness look more obvious. Lipsticks with a creamy finish cover dry patches as opposed to sticking to them.
I'm also not saying that people with dry lips should disregard the Lip Booms as you could always exfoliate your lips or use a lip butter/balm underneath them.
If you have soft, supple lips then you will love the Lip Booms.
The Good
Concept - I love the concept of the Lip Boom as it's something different, a lipstick and highlighter in one. It is argue-able that the Lip Boom has the same concept at the Look Beauty Double Hit Lip but if you think about it, they're both completely different products. The Lip Boom comes with a highlighter and the Double Hit Lip comes with a lipgloss. Out of the two, I prefer the Lip Booms as the highlighter is utterly amazing. I also think it's brilliant how one handy tube enables you to create 4 different looks.
Pigmentation - The pigmentation of both the lipstick and the highlighter is amazing. The lipstick is more pigmented than the highlighter but you would expect that as it's a lipstick, it needs to be pigmented. I would compare the pigmentation of the highlighter to that of a lipgloss, the only differences are the highlighter has slight better colour pay off than a lipgloss and it also has a high amount of glitter particles unlike lipgloss. I really wish MUA sold the highlighters separately as I feel they are MUCH better than lipglosses. You get an intense shine and subtle colour but you don't get that awful sticky feeling.
Longevity - If I had to guess a time frame, I would say that the lipstick would last around 6-8 hours and the highlighter would last around 1-2 hours. If the lipstick and highlighter were worn together I would say 4-6 hours. Both the lipstick and highlighter have good pigmentation meaning they're going to last a while on the lips. The lipstick also has a matte finish and matte lipsticks tend to last a lot longer on the lips than creamy lipsticks.
Packaging - I think the packaging is practical, sleek and it certainly doesn't look cheap or tacky despite the VERY appealing price tag. My only issue is that the pot at the bottom of the Lip Boom comes off easily so a screw fastening would have been more appropriate. I also like how the highlighter comes with a doe foot applicator as I find that you're able to apply the highlighter evenly and precisely.
Price - £3.00 is such an amazing price, especially for a multi-functional product. I would have expected the Lip Booms to cost a lot more than they actually do.
Size - The size of the Lip Boom may be quite hefty and it may be bigger than my hand but it's certainly not so big that it won't fit in your bag or makeup bag. At the end of the day the Lip Boom contains both a highlighter and a lipstick so it's not going to be small. The lipstick also contains a lot of product, more product than most high-end lipsticks! Why pay £17.50 for a minuscule Nars lipstick when you can pay £3.00 for an MUA Lip Boom!
Shade Selection - There is a good selection of shades and I have to say that I'm very impressed that MUA have included deep, dark shades that are appropriate for A/W as well as bright shades that are appropriate for S/S. I'm impressed with the shade 'Cheeky' as it's pink, girly and right up my street. If I had physically bought the Lip Booms myself, I would have definitely picked up 'Cheeky'. I must admit it looks VERY similar to 'Overtime' by MAC so I think I have found myself a potential dupe.
The Okay
Availability - The Lip Booms can be purchased on the MUA online store and will eventually be sold in-store and online at Superdrug. It would be nice if MUA was sold in other stores, for example, Boots but I guess beggars cannot be choosers. Buying MUA products isn't an issue if you live in the UK but I would imagine that it might be a bit of an issue if you live internationally.
Texture - I don't know if it's just the shade 'Cheeky' but the lipstick had a really sturdy texture. I know 'sturdy' isn't the correct word to describe it but the lipstick was really tough. I found it hard to swatch on my hand as I really had to press the lipstick onto my hand and I also had to do the same on my lips. The lipstick doesn't have a smooth texture at all and I think this is primarily due to it having a matte finish. Ideally I'd like the lipstick to have more a smooth texture as it'd be easier to apply. Luckily the highlighter has a nice, non-sticky texture but it does feel very bitty and this is due to the high amount of large glitter particles within the highlighter.
Finish - All the Lip Booms have a matte finish and if truth be told, I do genuinely like a matte finish but at the moment I'm really disliking lip products with a matte finish as they all tend to stick to the dry bits on my lips. The only reason why 'finish' is in the 'okay' section is for the fact that the Lip Booms will not be suitable for the majority of people as a lot of people suffer with dry lips. Some matte lipsticks masque dry skin but this particular Lip Boom does not do this, maybe I will have more luck with the other two shades. The highlighter, however, has a glossy finish which looks lovely on the lips, especially when it's worn alone.
The Bad
Scent - The scent of the highlighter is absolutely horrendous, it's sweet, sickly and generally unpleasant. I personally think it smells of Kellogg's squares bars which some of you may like but I just think it's awful. You cannot smell it once it's on your lips, you can only smell it when applying it which I guess is a bonus. The lipstick also has a scent but I wouldn't necessarily say it was unpleasant or overpowering like the scent of the highlighter.
Overall...
Overall I like the Lip Booms as they're a handy product to chuck in your handbag as you've got a lipstick and highlighter in one and I especially like the shade selection as there's plenty to choose from. The only two things I do not like are the matte finish and the scent of the highlighter. I also feel that the texture of the lipstick could be a little creamier as it's quite stiff meaning it's hard to apply. Other than that, I like the Lip Booms and I'll definitely be purchasing the shade 'OMG' as it looks perfect for S/S. If you're looking for a matte pink lipstick with the added extra of a super sparkly finish, this Lip Boom will be perfect for you!
Would I recommend? Yes but be careful if you have dry lips!
Would I purchase? Yes Rating? 7/10
Have you tried any of the MUA Lip Booms?
:)
*The MUA Lip Boom in 'Cheeky' was sent to me for review purposes. This does not affect my thoughts and opinions on the product. As always, my reviews are 100% truthful.
I never usually post OOTD videos or How To Style videos on my blog but due to my blog and YouTube channel being linked with one another, I thought I'd start to post my videos on here too.
I know that some people like to see photos rather than videos but I personally think that videos are more handy. You can see what something EXACTLY looks like rather than debating on what something will look like if you get what I mean.
This is my first 'How To Style' video so I hope you enjoy it!
If you'd like to see more 'How To Style' videos, please comment below. If you'd also like to see a photo form of this post rather than a video form, please comment below as I'd like to see what people preferred.
I honestly cannot believe that this time last year, I had written my very first blogpost. I would link the post at this point but it's probably very cheesy so I've decided not to link it, obviously. I cannot believe how much my blog has changed and progressed over the year, it's changed so much that it's actually quite astonishing. In the beginning I used to write 5 posts a day but as time went on and uni took hold, the posts lessened. I don't see it as a bad thing as I'd rather write one very informative than 5 mediocre posts. Not only that but I'm pretty sure you'd all get sick to death of my posts.
The content in my blog posts has also changed so much, from photographs, to layout, to punctuation and language. I feel my blog has helped me so much as it's helped me to not only take better photographs, it's also got me into the habit of writing both negatively and positively, something which will come in handy when writing my dissertation.
Blogging has well and truly changed my life and I'm going to stick at it for as long as I can do as I enjoy it so much.
Also, If it wasn't for my lovely followers and readers, I'd be nowhere so I'd like to say a massive thank you to each and every one of you. It really does make me smile when people take the time to comment on one of my posts and it makes me happy to think that someone somewhere thinks my posts are remotely good.
So thank you to all of you have read/followed my blog, it means the world to me. I really cannot thank you enough.
:)
I'm always eager to try the 'new thing' so when I saw the new Bourjois Flower Perfection range, I knew I had to try it. I also noticed that Superdrug had a 2 for £13.00 offer so I bought the Bourjois Flower Perfection foundation and primer, how could I resist that gem of an offer. I'm going to be reviewing both products so thought I'd start off by reviewing the primer.
"CORRECTING AIRBRUSH ACTION FOR AN INSTANTLY BEAUTIFIED COMPLEXION!"
What are the product claims?
Even's out and refines the skin's texture.
Hides pores, blemishes and fine lines.
Has a soft texture.
Gives skin an airbrush finish.
Leaves skin looking flawless.
Can used alone or before applying foundation for an easier application and a long-lasting hold.
Where can you purchase the primer and how much does it cost?
The primer retails at £10.99 and can be purchased in-store and online at both Boots and Superdrug. The primer contains 7ml of product and is displayed in a circular pot with a screw top lid.
What does the primer look like?
The primer is displayed in a clear pot with a pink screw top lid. The primer has a very light pink colour but it is colourless once applied to the skin.
To avoid getting bacteria into the pot, a spatula could be used to apply the primer onto the skin, this is a handy tip if you're going to use the primer on clients. If the primer is for your own personal use and you're not fussed about bacteria, you could simply use your fingers.
By looking at the first the first photo, you would imagine the primer to have a smooth and creamy consistency but by looking at the second photo, it is clear to see that the primer has a thick and fluffy consistency. It reminds me of cotton wool.
Swatches
The first photo is before the primer has been blended in, the second photo is after the primer has been blended it. By looking at the 'after' photo, it is clear to see that the primer reduced redness, fine lines and pores. It's a magic product with magic powers.
Is the primer suitable for everyone?
The primer is suitable for absolutely anybody no matter if you have dry, normal, combination or oily skin.
The primer is great for those who have oily skin as it doesn't contain oil and it doesn't produce excess oil throughout the day, it purely has an oil-free formula. The primer also doesn't block pores, it hides them instead. Due to the primer having a smooth, easy to blend texture, it sinks into the skin as opposed to sitting on top of it, this is a huge bonus if you have oily skin.
If you have dry skin you will also love this primer as it sinks into the skin straight away. A lot of bloggers have said that this primer isn't ideal for those people who suffer with dry skin as it has a matte finish but I personally do not see the problem with this at all, it doesn't irritate the skin or create extra dryness so I cannot what the issue is. If you have dry skin but don't mind a matte finish then you will like the primer, if you have dry skin and don't like a matte finish then you will hate it.
The Good
Product Performance - What can I say, this is just a genius product. Not only did it reduce the size of pores and fine lines, it also kept my foundation on a lot longer.
Concept - A primer that can reduce the appearance of pores, fine lines and redness as well as increase the longevity of your foundation?.. Genius. It's also great how the primer can be used alone and underneath ANY foundation.
Blend-ability - The primer blends into the skin very well, almost a little too well. It sinks into the skin immediately, I don't find that you have to work the primer into the skin at all as it blends into the skin beautifully. Some primers take a little 'work', a prime example is my Nars multi-protect primer, this takes around 5 minutes to work into the skin and then you have to leave it 5 minutes to dry. The bourjois primer takes no work and it dries instantly.
Finish - The primer has a matte finish. I especially like to wear the primer on it's own due to it's matte finish.
Texture - The primer has a smooth and soft texture which melts into the skin instantly. The primer feels 'fluffy' when you initially touch it and you would presume that it'd have a thick consistency but it doesn't, it feels weightless and instantly blends in.
Packaging - The packaging is lovely, it's cute, girlie and right up my street. I especially like how the primer is in a pot as the majority of primers come in a tube. It's a different way of presenting a primer and it's certainly something I've never seen before. I also like how the primer comes with a screw top lid as this will prevent spillages and mess. The cute flower image and pink lid fits the name of the primer very well, the packaging has been thought through thoroughly.
Price - The primer retails at £10.99 which I'd say is very reasonable. Some people might think £10.99 is a little pricey for a primer but if you think about it, high-end primers retail at around £25-30 so £10.99 really isn't that bad, especially when it's a brilliant primer.
The Okay
Size - I like the size of the pot as it's the perfect size for your handbag and also your makeup bag. The only thing I'm not keen on is the fact that the primer only contains 7ml of product. A standard primer contains 30ml of product so you're getting half the amount, I feel this is very naughty of Bourjois. You also have to use a lot of the primer due so I would imagine that the primer would last around one month if that.
Availability - The primer can be purchased from both Boots and Superdrug which is great if you live in the UK but it may be an issue if you live internationally.
The Bad
Colourless - The primer is colourless once it's applied to the skin so you cannot see where you've applied it. Not only is this annoying, it wastes a lot of product.
Scented - Don't get me wrong I like the floral scent as it very girly and summery but the only issue is that scented products break me out. The first time I used the primer, I developed attractive spots on my chin and cheeks the day after. If this primer wasn't scented then it would tick all the boxes. If scented products break you out, stay away from this primer.
Overall...
I like this primer as it lives up to it's claims. It does reduce the appearance of pores and fine lines and it does reduce redness. Whether it gives skin an airbrushed look is quite debatable as it doesn't completely get rid of imperfections, it just reduces them. I also think it helped to prolong my foundation although this isn't a necessity for me as my foundations tend to last all day anyway. I think it's great how the primer is suitable for all skin types as it means anyone can use it.
Overall it's a lovely primer with lovely packaging and an even lovelier price tag, the only thing that isn't lovely is that it's scented which causes me to break out. If the primer wasn't scented it would be the perfect primer.
Would I recommend? Yes
Would I re-purchase? No, simply due to it being scented.
Have you tried the Bourjois Flower Perfection Primer?
I recently bought two of the new L'Oreal Rouge Caresse lipsticks as I wanted to know what all the hype was about. Not only that but when something new launches I'm eager to try it.
I only bought two of the lipsticks but now wish I'd bought more of them, especially since I could have taken full advantage of the Boots 3 for 2 offer.
I only bought a couple as I didn't want to buy 5 of them just incase I didn't like them, I'm also not a fan of sheer lipsticks as other ones I've tried in the past have been a disappointment.
The shades I purchased were '03 Lovely Rose' and '07 Cheeky Magenta', '03 Lovely Rose' is a lovely pale pink and '07 Cheeky Magenta' is a bright hot pink.
What L'Oreal have to say about the Rouge Caresse lipsticks...
"Don't just stroke your lips, Caresse them. Lips say yes to this Caresse. A flutter of kissably soft light-weight feeling colour. Its delicate texture glides onto lips creating a veil of colour with a lumious shine. Available in 10 bright and eye catching shades."
What are the product claims?
Have a weightless and feather light feel.
Provide lips with a luminous, fresh colour.
Have a melting soft application.
Where can you buy the L'Oreal Rouge Caresse lipsticks?
The Rouge Caresse lipsticks retail at £7.99 each and can be purchased in-store and online at both Boots and Superdrug. Both stores usually have offers on L'Oreal products so it might be worth picking up a couple of these lipsticks when either store has a 3 for 2 offer.
How many shades are there?
There are 10 different shades available, ranging from pink/purple tones to red/coral tones to nude/brown tones:
01 Fashionista Pink
03 Lovely Rose
06 Aphrodite Scarlet
07 Cheeky Magenta
101 Tempting Lilac
105 Mauve Mesmerising
202 Impulsive Fuchsia
301 Dating Coral
401 Rebel Red
501 Nude Indulgence
What do the L'Oreal Rouge Caresse lipsticks look like?
03 'Lovely Rose'
07 'Cheeky Magenta'
Are the L'Oreal Rouge Caresse lipsticks suitable for everyone?
The Rouge Caresse lipsticks are suitable for absolutely anyone, no matter if you have dry or normal lips. If I were to recommend these lipsticks to anyone then I'd suggest them to anyone suffering with dry lips as they're very moisturising so leave lips feeling hydrated. If you're looking for a lipstick with good pigmentation but a moisturising texture then you're going to love these!
The Good
Pigmentation - They have amazing pigmentation considering they're a mix between a lip-balm and a lipstick. I expected them to only have slight pigmentation so when I swatched them I couldn't believe my eyes.
Finish - They have a shiny, glossy finish which leave lips looking lovely and luscious. I also noticed that they made my lips appear fuller, something no lipstick has ever done before.
Build-able - The lipsticks have a build-able colour (coverage), one layer will give a sheen of colour, two layers will give intense colour.
Texture - They have a very moisturising texture, almost a water-like texture. They leave lips feeling soft, supple and hydrated. If you suffer with dry or chapped lips, your lips will love these beauties!
Packaging - I think the packaging is sleek, sophisticated and it's definitely something that I've never seen before. I think it's great how the lipstick is displayed in a clear tube as you're able to select the correct shade with ease. You don't have to faff around checking the bottom of the tube to see which shade it is.
Shade Selection - There are 10 different shades which is brilliant, L'Oreal really have catered for everyone. There is a lovely mix of different shades, from pinks to reds to corals to neutrals to nudes. Due to the wide selection of shades, there's going to be a shade for absolutely anyone. The only thing I will say is that it'd be nice to see a few more shades appropriate for autumn/winter as the shades seem to be very summery. I know you wouldn't necessarily wear these lipsticks in winter as they have a fresh, glossy finish but it's always nice to have to option. Sometimes my lips get really chapped in winter so I feel I cannot wear my vampy matte shades so it'd be nice to have the option of buying a vampy toned Rouge Caresse.
Price - The lipsticks retail at £7.99 which I think is quite reasonable in comparison to most sheer/glossy lipsticks. The Nars sheer lipsticks retail at £17.50 and the MAC glaze lipsticks retail at £13.50, both are a lot more expensive than the L'Oreal Rouge Caresse lipsticks yet they have the same concept, finish.
The Okay
Longevity - The lipsticks last around 1-2 hours before having to re-apply. I hoped that they'd last a little longer as applying every 2 hours can be quite annoying. Not only that but re-applying frequently means that your lipstick isn't going to last 2 minutes. Realistically, £7.99 could be deemed as quite expensive for a lipstick that doesn't last long. Although the lipsticks don't have amazing longevity, they do somewhat slightly stain (tint) your lips so even when the lipstick has completely faded, you're still left with a pleasant colour.
Availability - The Rouge Caresse lipsticks can be purchased from both Boots and Superdrug which is great if you're based in the UK but it may be a problem if you live internationally.
The Bad
Formula - Due to the lipsticks being so moisturising and water-like, they melt really easy so you HAVE to keep them away from any form of heat. That includes natural sun light, radiators, handbags etc.
Overall...
Out of the two lipsticks I purchased I would recommend '03 Lovely Rose' simply because it's more of an everyday, wearable colour. I also feel it has better pigmentation than '07 Cheeky Magenta' even though '07 Cheeky Magenta' is a bolder and brighter colour.
I think these lipsticks are great for anyone suffering with dry/chapped lips as they have a lovely light, moisturising texture, they leave lips feeling soft and supple but also hydrated. The moisturising texture doesn't fade away throughout the day which is a massive bonus as the majority of lip balms / glossy lipsticks give the lips a quick moisturising fix but then tend to fade quite quickly.
The lipsticks last around 1-2 hours on the lips so I wouldn't necessarily recommend them to anyone wanting a lipstick with immense pigmentation and staying power as they do only last a couple of hours. But if you're not looking for a lipstick thats going to last 12 hours then it's worth giving these a go as they're great for S/S due the vast selection of summer shades and luscious glossy finish.
Would I recommend? Yes
Would I re-purchase? Yes
Have you tried the L'Oreal Rouge Caresse lipsticks?
If you follow my blog then you'll know that I was recently sent a lovely box containing 3 products from the L'Oreal 'Lumi Magique' range. I have recently reviewed the Lumi Magique Light Infusing Foundation and a couple of weeks ago I reviewed the Lumi Magique Pure Light Primer but today I'm going to be reviewing the Lumi Magique Touch Of Light Highlighting Pen.
If you don't have a clue about what the Lumi Magique Touch Of Light Highlighting Pen is, then it's basically like a YSL Touche Eclat. Except it's half the price.
L'Oreal Lumi Magique Touch Of Light Highlighting Pen: "Light, luminosity and vitality at the click of a button."
What L'Oreal have to say about the Lumi Magique Touch Of Light Highlighting Pen...
"Smooth away the appearance of dark shadows with Lumi Magique Touch Of Light Highlighting Pen, a light enhancing concealer pen. In one simple stroke, this brush on perfector helps to brighten the appearance of your eyes with instant light infusing radiance."
How do you use the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Touch Of Light Highlighting Pen?
Can be used on bare skin or underneath foundation to correct dark circles and imperfections for a naturally refined and even complexion.
Can be used to highlight cheekbones, brow bones and the cupid's bow.
Can be used for touch-ups on the go.
Where can you buy the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Touch Of Light Highlighting Pen?
The Lumi Magique Touch Of Light Highlighting Pen retails at £8.49 and can be purchased in-store and online at both Boots and Superdrug. Both of those stores also have regular offers so you may be able to pick up to whole 'Lumi Maqgique' range on a 3 for 2 offer.
The Lumi Magique Touch Of Light Highlighting Pen is available in three different shades; light, medium and dark.
To give you an indication I use the shade 'light' and it's perfect for my ever so pale skin tone. If you use Nars 'Siberia' or are NC15 in MAC then 'light' will be the perfect shade for you.
What does the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Touch Of Light Highlighting Pen look like?
Shade: 1 Light
(Before Twisting)
(After Twisting)
Swatches
(In Daylight)
(With Flash)
Before (Daylight/Flash)
After (Daylight/Flash)
Is the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Touch Of Light Highlighting Pen suitable for everyone?
The L'Oreal Lumi Magique Touch Of Light Highlighting Pen is suitable for absolutely anyone. No matter if you have dry, combination, normal or oily skin, or a light, medium or dark skin tone. This pen is suitable for all skin types, tones and ages but you will not need to use a highlighing pen if you're under the age of 18, you lucky devils.
The Good
Application - The pen is very easy to apply, you just simply twist the bottom of the pen, product will then be dispensed onto the brush tip and then you apply it onto your skin. It's as simple and easy as that.
Coverage - It has a medium to full coverage. If you suffer with minor darkness then you will need to apply one layer but if you suffer with major darkness you will need to apply 2-3 layers, which is the obvious thing to do. It has a good coverage and it conceal darkness very easily.
Longevity - It lasts all day without creasing, sliding of the skin or completely disappearing. I also noticed that it doesn't settle into fine lines or end up looking cakey after a few hours of wear. You don't need to set it with powder and you also do not need to touch up throughout the day. The baby stays put all day but if I were to give a specific time, I'd say it lasts around 8-10 hours, if not more.
Texture - It has a lovely light texture which blends into the skin really easily. I also find that it isn't cakey at all and it doesn't settle into fine lines. You can either use your finger or a brush to blend it in but I find that fingers work best!
Finish - It covers darkness perfectly and leaves eyes looking light and also bright. I used the pen in the inner corner of my eye as well as underneath my eye and I have to say that it instantly made me look wide awake. It left my eyes looking luminous and revitalised.
Price - The pen retails at £8.49 which is absolutely amazing! The majority of high end highlighting pens retail at around £20.00 so £8.49 is great! The L'Oreal Lumi Magique Touch Of Light Highlighting Pen reminds me very much of the YSL Touche Eclat except the the YSL Touche Eclat is £23.00. You could buy two L'Oreal Lumi Magique Touch Of Light Highlighting Pens for the price of one YSL Touche Eclat.
Packaging - I absolutely adore the packaging, it's sleek, shiny and more importantly ROSE GOLD. The rose gold adds a touch of elegance, class and it looks as if the pen would cost at least £30.00. L'Oreal have got the packaging spot on even if it does resemble that of YSL.
Smell - It isn't scented which is great for me as scented products tend to break me out!
The Okay
Availability - The L'Oreal Lumi Magique Touch Of Light Highlighting Pen can only be purchased from Boots or Superdrug which might be a bit of a problem if you live internationally.
Shade Selection - There are only three shades available but this is the case with most highlighting pens. The shade selection isn't an issue for me as 'light' is perfect for my skin tone but I can imagine that a lot of people are going to struggle to find the correct shade as they're limited to only three shades.
The Bad
I don't have a bad word to say about this highlighting pen as it's simply amazing. It's a genius product in a tube and I don't know how I've ever lived without it. It instantly makes me look as if I've had 12 hours sleep which is great for on the days when I have to wake up at half past five in the morning.
Overall
Overall I really like this pen, it does a great job of concealing dark circles and it keeps darkness covered all day long meaning you don't have to touch up or fear that the dreaded darkness is going to be revealed half way through the day. I use the pen on bare skin and underneath foundation. I think the pen is very reasonably priced and I find it better than most high end highlighting pens. If you're looking for a good yet inexpensive highlighting pen then this is the one to go for. You won't be disappointed.
Would I recommend this highlighting pen? Yes Would I buy this highlighting? Yes
Have you tried the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Touch Of Light Highlighting Pen? :)
*The L'Oreal Lumi Magique Touch Of Light Highlighting Pen was sent to me for review purposes. This does not affect my thoughts and opinions on the product. As always, my reviews are 100% truthful.
It's this time of the month where every beauty blogger posts about their monthly favourites. I initially thought of doing a March favourites but I wanted to do something a little different in the form of 'loves, likes & loathes'. Not only can I tell you all about the products I've been loving, I can tell you all about the products I've been hating. I get a lot of people asking me to do posts/videos about products I dislike so I thought it'd be good to do a post that included products I both like and dislike.
I'm only going to include a couple of products into each category because if were to include lots of products into each category, this blog post would take a month to read and I'm pretty sure you've all got more bigger fish to fry.
So let's start off with my March loves...
Loves
Real Techniques Contour Brush
(As part of the 'Core Collection' kit)
£20.00
I use this brush for two things, for contouring and for applying blush. Although it's commonly used for contouring and is branded as a contouring brush, it can be used for other things too. I've washed this brush numerous times and it hasn't lost its shape at all, I don't find that it sheds either. This brush honestly looks the same as it did when I bought it.
L'Oreal Lumi Magique Pure Light Primer
£9.99
I recently posted about this primer and I have to say that it's absolutely amazing. Not only does this primer help your foundation to last longer on the skin, it also gives you a lovely radiant glow. I wear this foundation alone and also underneath all of my foundations.
It's a wonderful primer with a wonderful price tag. My Nars multi-protect primer has been well and truly been banished to the back of my draw until this beauty runs out.
For a full review on the primer, here is the link: L'Oreal Lumi Magique Pure Light Primer
L'Oreal Lumi Magique Light Infusing Foundation
£10.99
There's one word to describe this foundation and that's perfection. This foundation is perfect for my dry skin as it covers dry patches as opposed to sticking to them. It has a lovely light weight texture and doesn't feel heavy on the skin at all. It has a build-able coverage which is great for all seasons of the year as you're able to wear a light coverage in summer and a heavier coverage in winter.
For a full review on this foundation, here is the link: L'Oreal Lumi Magique Light Infusing Foundation
MAC Lipstick in 'Quick Sizzle'
£13.50
This lipstick was recently released in the MAC Shop collection, it's a lovely bright pink colour with a matte finish. As soon as I saw this lipstick I knew I had to have it, it's pink, girlie and right up my street.
What I love most about this lipstick is its pigmentation and longevity. This lipstick is uberly pigmented to the point where you only need one swipe and it also lasts around 12 hours on the lips, if not more. To remove this lipstick you really do have to scrub at your lips for about 15 minutes, and that really isn't an exaggeration. Due to it's amazing 'staining' power, see what I did there, you need to be very careful when applying it as you could get yourself into a tricky situation. I applied this straight from the tube and it ended up all around my mouth which led to having a pink stained face, attractive. So word of advice, use a lip brush!
For a full review on this lipstick, here is the link: MAC Quick Sizzle Lipstick
MAC Paint Pot in 'Bare Study'
£14.50
I have 101 eyeshadows primers and more to the point, 101 paint pots. I recently noticed that my beloved 'Bare Study' has started to dry up so in attempt to save it I've started to use it daily. MAC paint pots work as great eyeshadow bases as they prevent eyeshadow from creasing, fading and more to the point, they help eyeshadow to stay in place all day.
'Bare Study' is a lovely beige/neutral colour with subtle shimmer. I usually wear it alone but I also wear it underneath eyeshadows and I also blend eyeshadows into it, it really is a multi functional paint pot.
Likes
Inglot Blush
£10.00
I have to admit, I wasn't particularly fond of the blush at first but after using it a few times this month, I've started to like it. It applies to the skin very well and it has great pigmentation, one dab will cover both cheeks and more. It's also a great blush to use when wearing bronzer as it just gives the cheeks a subtle colour, it also contains shimmer which is great as it gives the cheeks a nice a glow. I wouldn't wear this blush alone (without bronzer) as the colour is quite flat and it gives a slight 'dead' look to the face. I do like the blush and will definitely use it throughout summer, the only reason why I didn't include the blush in my 'loves' is the fact that I don't reach for it on a daily basis.
Illamasqua Precision Ink in 'Abyss'
£17.00
I love winged eyeliner and I must admit that I'm a bit of a felt tip liner connoisseur. I have tried so many different ones over the years so I know which are good, bad and down right horrendous. The Illamasqua precision ink liners are possibly the best felt tip liners that I've ever tried, they last all day long without running, fading and flaking, the nib is small and fine which enables precise application and pigmentation is absolutely amazing. 'Abyss' is probably the best black felt tip liner I've tried due to its intense blackness, it's most definitely a true black. My only gripe with 'Abyss' is that if you don't apply it precisely, it settles into fine lines and cracks. I notice this happens more when using MAC paint pots and MUFE aqua creams so the trick is to only use this eyeliner when wearing eyeshadow. If this bad boy didn't settle into fine lines, it'd be well and truly in my 'loves'.
Topshop Nail Varnish in 'Pool Party'
£5.00
I bought this not long ago after hunting for a mint green nail varnish. I came across 'Pool Party' on the Topshop website, it looked perfect mint green but how wrong was I because in the flesh it looks more of a turquoise colour. I'm not unhappy with the colour it's just not what I was looking for, I guess it's just another lovely shade I can add to my collection. With regards to the quality of the nail varnish, it couldn't be better, it lasts around 5-6 without chipping and it also dries super fast. I don't have to use a top coat and more to the point, I don't have to wait half an hour for it to dry. Overall I think it's a lovely colour for summer it's just a shame it isn't mint green. Damn Topshop and their deceiving photographs.
Loathes
Estee Lauder BB Cream
£32.00
I couldn't take a photograph of the BB cream as I only got a sample of it so apologies for that.
I cannot stress how awful this BB cream is, it fades and slides off the skin after a couple hours and it also sticks to dry patches of skin. I would never buy this BB cream and it really isn't worth the £32.00 price tag. It's a big fat sham.
Nivea Deodorant
Aprrox. £2.00
3 words. Horrendous, horrendous, horrendous. This has to be the worst deodorant that I've ever tried in my whole entire life. When you spray this underneath your armpits you're left with big balls of deodorant that cling to your clothes, arms and even your hair. The only decent thing about this deodorant is that it has pink on the packaging. Honest to god, if you're not fancying balls on your armpits and clothes, do not buy this deodorant.
Lee Stafford My Big Fat Texturised Hair Super Spray
£9.99
I'm not going to talk about this spray in depth as I reviewed it on my blog not long ago and if I'm being perfectly honest it was a pretty negative review. If you wish to look at the review then here it is: Lee Stafford My Big Fat Texturised Hair Super Spray
This spray claims to give you big hair, a matte finish and it's also meant to give the hold of a hair spray. Does it do any of these?.. no. It' leaves hair looking flat, greasy and dull, the opposite of what it's meant to do. What's worse is that one bottle of 'super' spray will set you back £9.99, not good when it's a shocking product. Please do not buy this product as you'll be well and truly disappointed, you could spend the £9.99 on something a lot better.
I hope you liked my March loves, likes and loathes and I hope that you found it a little different to favourites.
