On Test: Primark Mascaras

Sometimes, you fancy a change or in desperation, need that specific makeup item!  I was in need of mascara...

 

Now, the old saying goes, ‘you get what you pay for!’ & I wanted to see if that was indeed true when I decided to purchase my new mascara from Primark - a store known for it’s bargain prices.  My only problem was, I didn’t know which one to go for, as they had quite a bit of a range.

 

So…I went for 3!

 

I purchased -

 

False Lash Queen

3D Lash Effect

Fake It

 

 

 

Now, I’ve used all 3 for a while & I keep changing my mind on which was the one I really liked…so, today, this is my current thoughts on each one! 

 

False Lash Queen...

 

 

I’ll start with this one, as I think personally, this one is the worst of the 3.  

It has the biggest brush head, which is fine, but to me, the formula doesn’t do much.  It’s ok, but its supposed to give you ‘dramatic volume’ & I don’t think it really does & the majority of the product (unless I really wipe over the brush with a tissue) goes on my eyelids!  It does the job as being a mascara but doesnt really give amazing results.

 

Next up is...

 

3D Lash Effect...

 

 

Firstly, this looks different to the other 2, as they are in pink packaging & this is a more expensive looking gold.  

The formula is very wet, so go careful when applying.  You do get used to this though - & this is why I keep changing my mind as to whether I really liked it or not! I must admit, I do now!

It really does give you a quite dramatic spikey look to your lashes, while lengthening them too.  It has a tapered brush which is neat & slim to give you that longer length & a bit of a curl.

 

And finally...

 

Fake It

 

 

Now, some people say all these mascaras are dupes for other more expensive brands - I’m not entirely sure which ones (do you know?) - but this ‘Fake It’ mascara is the closest I think to Benefit ‘Roller Lash’.  It’s not quite as good, however, if you are being careful with the pennies then this is a pretty good dupe.

It curls your lashes well with it’s hourglass shaped applicator & it is buildable to make your lashes look thicker & more dramatic.  And like the others it is a bargain price - only £2.50!

I’ll let you into a secret too - I loved the ‘Fake It’ mascara so much, that I’m on my second one already! 

(Although I’m alternating with the ‘3D Lash Effect’ at the moment…see, I’m still undecided on my fave!  I guess you can’t ever have too much makeup in life!)

 

So, in answer to the saying ‘you get what you pay for!’ - that’s not always true!  Primark makeup pleasantly surprised me with their mascaras.  

 

What’s your favourite bargain makeup?  Let me know!

 

Bee x 

 

What I loved wearing this Summer

Well sadly, I think Summer is packing it's bags & Autumn (or 'Fall' if you are overseas) is moving in, but before we say 'au revoir' to Summer, I thought I'd let you know what I loved wearing while we were all sweltering under the hot sun.  

I'm sure most of us Brits would never have imagined back at the beginning of the year when we were shivering in our boots & jumpers & wading through deep snow that we would ever see that big yellow round thing in the sky again, let alone enjoy such a long scorching heatwave in the summer months.  

Well, we did. And boy, was it hot!

Most of us, during that sweaty period, would gaze into our wardrobe wondering what would, A; be the most cooling & comfortable without feeling like you were going to 'combust' at any second & B; most flattering - I mean, you can't go parading down the high street in a bikini in an effort to keep cool, can you? (Well, I definitely can't!!)    

Now, fashion changes like the wind & it is sometimes an effort to keep up,  but when you have places like Primark with their bargain prices, you can just about do it & one piece of clothing I have found everywhere throughout Summer was the buttondown strappy dress.  And yep, Primark have plenty of them! 

Now, I'm fairly tall; around 5'7"-5'8", curvy (small waist, large bust, big hips!), mainly a size 12 & these buttondown dresses seem a winner with me!  To be honest, I think they would suit most figures.  And in hot weather, they were cool too!  Another win! 

Aside from Primark, my first buttondown dress was purchased at New Look.  I just adore tortoiseshell buttons (I am sadly old enough to remember the trend the first time around!) & there are plenty on this dress; as are my others too (& they seem to be on every other garment in shops right now!).  It is cream or off white with black fine stripes & skims over my hips perfectly.  A fairly loose fit as I bought this in a size 14 as my size wasn't in stock.  However, it has adjustable straps which helped it fit better.  Also, the great thing about these dresses is that they are below the knee. I love that as I've never been a fan of my knees! (Or my legs for that matter!) 

Onto my next purchase & it was of course, from Primark!  A lovely red dress which I have seen on literally every blogger & youtuber but I don't mind copying them because I absolutely love it!

My local Primark store sadly didn't have it, but when visiting my mum in Norfolk, I went to the Norwich store & there was only one left!  But, it was in a size 10.  I didn't think it would fit but it did!  A bit snug over my bust but a good enough flare on the skirt to fit my hips & it looks really flattering (has adjustable straps too).  And what is even better....IT HAS POCKETS!! So handy! I love it! 

My final tortoiseshell button dress was again from Primark & actually in my size 12.  A lovely muted colour stripe dress in cream, grey, pale pink & pale yellow.  Again I'm really happy with it.

Another reason I adore these dresses is they are so versatile as well as keeping you cool & comfortable.  They go well with a cardie or little jacket slung over or even a little tee underneath.  For footwear, I wear mine with either chunky heeled sandals or flipflops.  You can also wear with converse, trainers or little boots too. 

Such versatile & flattering dresses I'm sure we'll all be wearing them again next Summer.  

So, what has been your favourite pieces during the warmer summer months?  

I'd love to know! 

Bee x  

Primers on test from Primark

I've never been that bothered about primers if I'm honest.  I always thought, surely my makeup will stay on all day?  It's meant to, right?

Well, I hadn't used a primer in ages so I thought, as I didn't want to spend too much money on a primer, I'd risk it & buy one from Primark.  I wasn't expecting much at all as it was so cheap.

Well, I was wrong!

From Primark's PS...Pro range was their mattifying primer.  I have combination skin, (part oily, part dry) so this was perfect for me. 

On application, it had a silicone type texture but felt nice on the skin.  And yes, it did work.  I didn't become shiny throughout the day & it did help to make my makeup last.  In fact, my makeup looked as fresh at the end of the day as when I first applied it.  I was shocked! 

On to my more recent purchase; their colour corrector primer with SPF30.    

I'm quite into colour correcting at the moment especially for under my eyes; I'm always wanting to look fresher & brighter! (Yes, I've mentioned it before!)  So, for brightening my complexion, I went for their yellow primer.

I will say, this primer has a more creamy texture (not as silicone like as the other one) & it does make my base last all day, but even though it says it's for brightening, it doesn't seem to have as much of an effect as I thought it would.  However, considering it only cost me £5.00 I can't complain! 

Do you use a primer?  What would you recommend?  Comment below!  Thanks!

Bee x   

My In-Flight Essentials

It's a new year and if you didn't go away during the holiday season I'm sure you will be thinking about or planning your next holiday in the coming months.  So, I thought I would share with you what I take in my carry-on bag for the flight!  

First of all, you need to decide on the bag itself.  I always have a small cross-body bag for my purse, passport etc., but the main bag itself is a small case on wheels (within the size guidelines of the airline) from the brand ITLuggage which I purchased from Primark.  And it is perfect to wheel along (has 4 wheels) in the airport instead of lugging a heavy bag on your shoulder!

Now, onto what to take! 

Two main essentials that I wouldn't risk skipping on, especially if you go on a long haul flight are a big blanket style scarf (I purchased this 

from New Look in a sale - it actually doubles up as a kaftan/robe) which is great if you feel cold or want to wrap up to snooze on the flight and a travel pillow (mine is from Primark) which again, is great for nodding off & not ending up with a stiff neck! 

Other essentials I would definitely recommend are headphones - there is nothing worse than being on a long flight & having the airlines own uncomfortable headphones rammed into your ears for several hours trying desperately to enjoy your in-flight films - so bring your own comfy headphones - they are a must!  Mine are from Ebay - so they don't have to be expensive!

And another essential if films aren't enough to entertain you, is a good book (two I'm currently loving are by Joan Khurody & Cressida McLaughlin) or magazines. 

For beauty essentials, some people do go the 'whole hog' and give themselves an in-flight facial, but if you are like me and find being without makeup in public truly horrific then these few bits are all you need....

Lip Balm - Your lips will get dry while in the air and some of the best around are, Vaseline lip tins, Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula (tinted balms are great if you are skipping lipstick), Burt's Bees, Aloe Lips (blog post here) & eos. (blog post here)

Shine Control Powder Sheets - To stop shine & to look fresh on landing.  These from Superdrug are cheap, cheerful & do the job! 

Hand Cream - Like your lips, your hands are bound to get dry, so slather it on!   Great brands include Soap & Glory Hand Food & Palmers Coconut Oil Formula.  Both are very rich & moisturising.

Hand Gel - As well as keeping your hands moisturised with hand cream, you also need to keep them clean!  There are always pesky germs flying about even at several thousand feet in the air, so it is vital to bring a hand gel along.  I particularly like mini ones from Bath & Body Works but ones by Cuticura here in the UK are great also.

Finally, before I forget, another tip worth remembering is to take a spare set of clothes and underwear (swimwear and sunglasses too if going somewhere hot!) as you never know if your main suitcase will be delayed or go missing!*

*Side note - Obviously never pack jewellery, money, phone, tablet or chargers in your main case!! 

So, that's about it! 

Have you got a trip planned for this year?  I hope my list of essentials will help you pack easier but if all else fails there's one essential you most definitely can't be without.....

your passport!!

Bee x       

The Contents of my Face: My Daily Makeup Routine (Or 'Dash Out the Door' Look!)

So, you go to bed with good intentions; you will wake up early, so you can spend more time on your makeup, right?  And what happens?  You either oversleep or spend too much time checking the internet or eating breakfast!

I seem to do all of the above!  Therefore, I thought I would share my makeup routine if I'm dashing off to work.  I must say it varies slightly depending on what products I use, but I've managed to get it down to 11 minutes - & that is quick for me! 

So, here goes...

After my skincare, I apply my base.  Currently its a BB cream instead of foundation, as for day to day & for work I generally prefer a lighter base during these summer months.  So, at the moment I'm using Dead Sea Spa Magik Diamond Range Beauty Balm in Natural with an SPF of 15.  I apply this with my Real Techniques stippling brush & buff it in. 

Then, I apply & blend in my NYX dark circle concealer (sometimes I do this before my base) with my fingers under my eyes to hide my horrendous dark circles & scar by my left eye.  I sometimes also add & blend in some of my Maybelline Eraser Eye concealer too. 

I then run some mineral powder under my eyes to set my concealer in place.  My current fave is by Primark! (see why here)

Next, I mattify my face with good old Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder in 001 Transparent (have used this since forever!) with my Real Techniques powder brush.

To brighten up my face a bit, I use various bronzers, but my current favourite is Bourjois bronzing powder in 51.  Perfect for contouring my cheeks & giving me a general glow.  I use, of course, (you guessed!) a fabulous Real Techniques brush to apply this.

For adding a bit of colour to my cheeks I apply a lovely blusher with (currently!) a different brush other than the wonderful Real Techniques - a very pretty brush by Spectrum!  My favourite blush (& now of all time!) & the one I tend to use more often than not is by NARS.  I received it in a beauty box & absolutely loved it, so I will definitely be purchasing a full size version.  I honestly think I won't ever need another blush....ever!!   And I'm sure you have guessed which one!!   

For highlight, I tend to use Golden Lights by Makeup Revolution, which I pop on the top of my cheekbones & under my brow bone. (see my review of this product here)  

Now, as I say, this is a 'dash out the door' look, so I don't spend much time on my eyes, but to make them look alive (other than concealer!), I firstly apply my Hi-Impact Brows brow powder to my eyebrows (I use the lighter shade), then set them with my clear Rimmel Brow This Way brow gel (which is looking truly disgusting right now!).

After that, I skip eyeshadow (no time!) & apply black eyeliner to my inner waterline & smudge.  I usually use Barry M's kohl liner.  My eyeliner I guess, is my signature look & my security blanket - I'm not 'me' if I'm not wearing it!

In the inner corner of my eyes I apply a little white eyeliner by Rimmel.  This is a trick I learnt years ago (you can use nude if you prefer) - it makes you look wide awake! And it definitely does! 

I then add a quick sweep of mascara.  At the moment I'm using a sample of Givenchy's  Noir Couture Volume Mascara in Black Taffeta (it's lovely by the way!).

Last, but by no means least, I grab a tinted lip balm or lipstick.  It could be anything!  Today, it was 'Modesty' by MAC.

And that's it!   

It may sound a lot, but it honestly takes me just a few minutes.

What do you use to make yourself look presentable if you only have minutes to spare?  I'd love to know! 

Bee x 

MAY FAVOURITES!

After a bit of a break, I'm back to blogging & even though we are well into June, I thought I'd share last month's favourites with you all!

So first up...

Soft skin in seconds...

I've used this product for ages now, but since the weather has been turning a bit warmer & I've been getting my legs out a bit more, I've needed my skin to look healthy & moisturised & not drier than the sahara desert! So, I've been reaching for this - Spray & Go body moisturiser by Vaseline.  I have it in the scent Cocoa Radiant.  I absolutely love the smell as it reminds me of chocolate! 

It's super light & not greasy at all. You literally spray it on, give it a quick rub & you are good to go! (Great for people like me, who haven't got the time to spend rubbing thick lotions into our limbs!)

What's not to love?!



Makeup that's cheap as chips!...

Now, I love a good bargain in Primark, but I've never been one for their makeup....until now.

I'm always a bit obsessed with hiding the shadows under my eyes & use various concealers (see my concealer post here) & powders.  So, when I came across a small pot of powder in my local Primark, I thought I'd give it a try.  It's the mineral loose face powder in the shade light.

I must say, I was really impressed.  Its a nice light tone (not orange like some cheap products can be!) & it sets perfectly under my eyes when applied with a small brush.  There is only 8g of product but I'm sure, as I don't use that much, will last for ages & its at the bargain price of £2! Wow!

I may just have to venture into their makeup department a bit more now! 

And while we are on the subject of makeup...

Hiding the shadows...

As I've mentioned, my under aye area is a problem! So, I've recently discovered NYX (see a recent post) & one product I love is their dark circle concealer correcteur.  A lot of beauty manufacturers seem to be cottoning on to the idea of colour correctors & they do work a treat, provided you know how to use them of course!

This corrector by NYX is a lovely peachy tone. Ideal for lightening up & hiding those pesky shadows under your eyes.  You only need to apply a little (or sometimes a lot!!) with your finger in small patting motions & instantly you can fake that perfect night sleep & hide the fact that you are no longer in your 20's!! 

It's another bargain too, so it's definitely one to repurchase!



Keeping your brows in place!...

You know when you have filled in your eyebrows with that perfectly complimentary colour & they look so neat & tidy? Then, at some point in the day, you might get a bit hot, scratch your forehead or flick that overgrown fringe out of the way, & then, yep, your once neat eyebrows, aren't so neat any more!

Well, this won't always be a problem if you buy this stuff - Brow This Way by Rimmel.  I always purchase this in the colour clear, hence why mine looks slightly mucky & beige now from brow product!

This gel sets your brows perfectly, doesn't budge & you don't end up with brow powder all over your forehead!

A great product & one to never go without!

A yummy treat for people like me!...

As you probably know if you regularly read my blog, I'm one of those.  One of those 'awkward people' with food intolerances!

Well, I'm so glad I've discovered these - a sweet treat that I can have without fear of at least one of the ingredients hating me!

It's the range of 'Perkier bars' & they are heaven in a bar!
The flavours are (& I think this is the whole range - correct me if I'm wrong)-
Cacao & Cashew (the BEST flavour in my opinion! Divine!)
Cashew, Chia & Pumpkin Seed
Cranberry & Cashew
Goji & Cranberry 

They are all high in fibre, protein, vitamin & minerals & are gluten, wheat & dairy free - perfect for me!

The bars seem to always be on offer in my local Morrisons too (I must stock up!!), so its a win win for me!
I love them! 

So, thats my May favourites done & I'm off to have another Perkier bar....

What did you love last month?

Bee x

My February Favourites!

It really doesn't seem that long ago I was sorting out my January favourites - time does fly! But, today is the 1st of March so as another month has disappeared I better share with you my February must-haves! 

Keeping My Eyes Bright...

So, I've been using this for quite a while...the Caffeine Eye Roll on by Garnier.  I have been using this morning & night.  I find it really refreshing in the morning as it really does wake my eyes up!  And at night time it soothes my tired peepers ready for bed time.
The rollerball is metal which feels really cold & soothing.  It is very easy to apply & particularly great when you are in a rush in a morning (no sticky fingers from creams & gels!).
While I don't think it has totally rid me of my dark shadows but it definitely has reduced the puffiness under my eyes.
I guess due to the fact it is so inexpensive it won't work miracles but it does do enough to refresh, hydrate & reduce the appearance of tired eyes.


The Cleanest Skin Ever...

In all my years of trying to find something that will take all my makeup off, I think I've finally found it!  It's another product from Garnier to make my favourites in February!  It's the micellar water for combination & sensitive skin.
I've mentioned my love for this cleansing water & others before (here) & since that post I've not changed my mind.  I think I've repurchased this product about 5 or 6 times!  It takes off my makeup well - I use about 4 cotton pads to remove it all.  It feels very refreshing on my skin & doesn't sting my eyes.  I have a lovely clean feeling afterwards!
It comes in a 400ml bottle (& it also comes in a handy travel/trial size too!)& is really good value for money - It seems to always be on offer, which is a bonus too!
I think this will be a 2016 favourite - not just for February!


Clean & Shiny Hair...

So, I recently received in a beauty box a clarifying shampoo by Kebelo.  I have heard quite a lot about clarifying shampoos & thought could they really do that much? 
They can!
From the first use I couldn't believe how shiny my hair managed to look.  Now, my hair has had it's fair share of problems & it's also coloured.  So, this shampoo was perfect for me to use to give it a real detox (you use it once or twice a month) - exfoliating & rejuvenating it & gently giving my locks a purified shiny result.
I only had a small sample size but it's still going strong.  I maybe purchasing the full size when this runs out!


Keeping Cosy...

Now, onto clothes! 
I thought I would include this in my monthly favourites because, well, it has been almost surgically attached to me this month!  It's a lovely & very snuggly scarf from those bargains giants that are Primark!
It's huge, blanket-like, burgundy & very cosy & seems to go with everything!  And it's all the tiny price of £5.00!
It also comes in 3 other colours - cream, pale pink & black.  I may just have to see if I can grab the black one soon before they sell out.  I mean, you can never have too many scarves can you?!


It's Iconic...

Well, what more can I say?  I bet you could guess what my last favourite was this month?!  Yep, Makeup Revolution's Iconic 3. (see my review here)
Out of all the palettes I own, it's my real 'go to' for shadows - easy & very wearable.  And very affordable too - I definitely recommend it!


So, that's my favourites this month! What are yours?

Bee x

It's the end of the month.....it's JANUARY FAVOURITES TIME!

Wow! It's the end of January & we've really settled into 2016.....& with that, I thought I would let you know what things I've been enjoying in this new year & new month.....

A new scent...

Now, we all love a Yankee candle, don't we? They have such an amazing range of scents.  I can't resist smelling every single one when I enter a store selling these.  So, recently I just had to treat myself to a new one!
It may be a festive fragrance but I think 'Snowflake Cookie' can be burned at any time of the year.  With it's vanilla sugary scent, I find it really comforting.  The only problem I find is, it can sometimes make you feel hungry! I'm burning it right now as I type this.  I'm glad I purchased the large size, so this irresistable fragrance will be filling my living room for some time....
Right, off to grab a biscuit.....!!

Smart technology at your fingertips...

Fancy some clothing with 'smart technology'? Well, I think I've found it! No, it's not a top that makes you invisible! It's touch screen gloves from Primark! And whats even better, they only cost me £1!
Oh & yes, they work.
Theres no sign of the weather getting much warmer at the moment & as I've said before in another post (Get Happy!), I suffer from dry hands, so I do like to keep them warm, but I am slightly addicted to my iPhone! Gloves & iPhones don't always mix! But now, Primark have come up with something that works for both!
And I love them. 
They have special stitching on your thumb & index finger on both gloves & work perfectly when using a touch screen.
And I love them so much that I have 2 pairs! One in black & one in burgundy!

 

A true match...

So, this month I've been wearing the lovely 'L'oreal Paris True Match' foundation.  I've found it to be really easy to blend & feels lovely on my skin.
I'm pretty pale & originally thought I would need 'Rose Ivory' thinking I was a bit of an english rose type tone, but soon realised even that was a bit pale for me & that really I have slight yellow undertones to my skin (& no, it's not jaundice!), so I thought I'd pick up the 'golden ivory' to warm me up a bit but without being too dark & it really did work!
It evened out my skintone & made me look less 'corpse like' & more 'alive'!
I may try out their matching powder next & see how that applies.  Always up for trying something new!

Tools of the trade...

Well, these had to be in my favourites, didn't they?  If you have never tried any of the 'Real Techniques' brushes before, then you really should!  They are great value for money & your makeup looks 10 times better than if you applied with anything else.
With my foundation, I had always used my fingers, but since trying 'Real Techniques' I have used their brushes - their 'Foundation', 'Expert Face' & 'Stippling' all do amazing jobs & vary the look depending on how much coverage you want.
I could talk for ages on the virtues of their brushes but I won't.  I'm challenging you to purchase any one of their range & you can see for yourself.  I promise you, you won't be disappointed!

A man from Memphis...

So, I must admit, I'm a bit of a fan of a certain guy called Elvis.  I've grown up with his music - mainly through the influence of my mum!
I remember one day, when I was a child, my mum sat me down to watch a film with her called 'Blue Hawaii'.  It was her favourite.  It starred a man with a slick black quiff, high cheekbones & a beautiful smile.  He intrigued me. 
And then I heard him sing.
And the rest is history.
So, this month it will come of no surprise, that my last favourite is 'If I can Dream: Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra'.
As I've heard many an Elvis track, I didn't think it would be that different. 
But it was.
It's classic Elvis but with a brand new orchestral accompaniment.  It makes the songs sound fresh & new....as if they were just recorded yesterday.
And I'm sure it will win new fans around the world.
It's definitely worth a listen, tracks in particular 'If I Can Dream' & 'Burning Love'.
It's enough to make a King proud....

 

So, thats what I've enjoyed this month....
How about you?

Bee x