Life of Pi

 

Just a general tip-off that 'Life of Pi' is a complete gem! I went to see it last week and thoroughly enjoyed it, I would definitely recommend it if you're planning a trip to the cinema.
Not only is it a visual masterpiece, but it also has a deeper meaning and gives you plenty of food for thought. Such a beautiful analogy of our place in the universe :) Don't want to spoil it but... Mind. Blown.

XXX

The Perfect Pick-me-up?

The Caudalie Beauty Elixir is a product that is very much raved about on the blogosphere and YouTube beauty community. Put simply it is water in a bottle! I picked up the 30ml size for around €10 when visiting Brussels last week to see what all the fuss was about.
The scent is very much an 'acquired taste' I would say, the main ingredients are extracts of grape essential oil of rosemary (..wtf), orange blossom and rose extracts etc etc. When I first used this product I was overcome by the scent, it is very strong and sort of herbally-smelling but quite pleasant in my opinion. However, it may not be to everyone's liking and I have heard many people complaining about it (including essiebutton and Zoella).
I was quite sceptical about spending my money on this as it is not cheap (the full-size is nearly £30) and the first time I sprayed this on my face, in all honesty I didn't notice much of a difference. However... I've come to notice a real difference in my skin after several applications, and it leaves you with a much more glowing complexion. I like to use it if my makeup is looking a bit too cakey and I want a more fresh and dewy finish. The smaller bottle is also the perfect size for popping in your handbag to refresh yourself throughout the day.
I'm not too sure if I would invest in the larger size in the future, I've heard that some people like to use it as a toner but personally I think you can get better things for the price. I would definitely consider repurchasing the smaller bottle though for using on days when I'm feeling a bit bleurgh! ;) 
You can pick up Caudalie products in the UK at www.feelunique.com

Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse

Quite a few of my friends swear by the Maybelline 'Dream Matte Mousse' foundation, an air-whipped formula for normal to oily skin. It comes in a cute little pot and with 18ml of product at £7.59, it was a bargain especially compared to other foundations I have tried.
I decided to try it and picked up the shade 010 Ivory, the third-lightest shade. I normally go for either the lightest or second-lightest, but this colour seemed to match my skin the best. It is best applied with fingers which is quite good for on-the-go I suppose, and blends very easily.
However, in terms of longevity, it really didn't last the day. I applied it the other day at about 7.30am and when I looked in the mirror at about 10am my skin really wasn't looking great. In my opinion its an OK foundation for touch-ups throughout the day, but really isn't very good if you need lasting coverage, so I would suggest using a different foundation in the morning and carrying Dream Matte Mousse in your bag.
It did live up to its name upon application, and certainly mattified my skin. The problem was it just didn't last.
Have you tried this foundation? What did you think?

Dainty Doll by Nicola Roberts

'Dainty Doll' is a line of cosmetics by Nicola Roberts (from Girls Aloud) designed specifically to cater for pale complexions. As I have very fair skin, when I saw the stand in Boots I decided to give it a try.
I purchased a blush in the shade 03 'Money Talks', a beautiful dusty mauve colour with shimmer, comparable to 'Sin' by Nars in my opinion (although 'Sin' is more red-toned). The slimline compact comes with a mirror for on-the-go application, and has a funny retro picture of Nicola on the front. I think the packaging of the whole line is very nice and sleek, quite simplistic but tasteful.
'Money Talks' suits my complexion well and I would imagine it suits other girls with pale skin too, there are only three blushes in the line but this was definitely my favourite judging by the testers I swatched in the store.
If you're a Snow White like me, I'd definitely recommend you check out the Dainty Doll line available in Boots!

Thoughts: Clinique 'Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss'

This week, bored waiting for a train at London Bridge I popped into a newsagent's in search of a magazine. I was so excited to discover that this month's 'Cosmopolitan' (£3.50) comes with two mini Clinique products!

I snapped one up quick, and received my free 'Moisture Surge' and 'Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss'. There is also another edition where you can receive the '7-day scrub cream' and a mascara.
The concept of the superbalm is that it adds gloss and a hint of colour to the lips, while also acting as a conditioning balm. Mine is in the shade 10 Grapefruit, a pale blue-pink, and the mini size is 7ml (full size 15ml).
The gloss claims not to be sticky, and I would definitely agree with this. It doesn't give quite as much sheen as I would have liked, but it was a great bargain! Clinique seems to have a good range of neutral shades, and the full size retails for £13.50 (the same as MAC lipsticks).
I am obsessed with lip balm and carry one in my handbag at all times, so this product is great for using on the go. I would definitely recommend picking up a copy of Cosmo to get your free gifts!

Thoughts: Maybelline 'Falsies' Mascara

I know I'm a little bit slow on the uptake, seeing as this product was raved about more than a year ago. However, it is something that I only recently brought myself to purchase. I usually try not to have too many mascaras on the go at once, as (as I'm sure many of you know) you need to throw out your mascara every three months to stop bacteria from forming.
'Falsies' is a cult favourite of beauty bloggers, so I was excited to try it out for myself! The packaging is quite cute, and it was down to £5.99 in Superdrug (normally about £7.99) so I decided to give it a go.
The wand itself is quite chunky and slightly curved. I find that when this mascara is applied, my eyelashes can usually hold a curl pretty well. I normally apply it with the curve in more of a 'U' shape, then flip it over for my bottom lashes.
In my opinion, this product is not completely worth the hype. I think it's very good value for money, but it definitely isn't my favourite.

Thoughts: Collection 2000 Cream Puff

In terms of lip colour, I usually go for pink, glossy lipsticks (as shown in my most recent blogpost: http://blackeyebeauty.blogspot.com/2012/02/top-neutral-lipstick-picks.html). Recently, though, I have been getting into a product that gives a very different colour and finish.
The Cream Puffs by Collection 2000 are a product that I've seen quite a few beauty bloggers talk about. They are comparable to the NYX Velvet Matte Lip Cremes, in that they are a moisturising lip cream that give a matte finish to the lips. I chose the shade Angel Delight, a dark brownish colour. I love it! It's very pigmented, and cheap as chips at just £2.99. The only problem is that there is a very limited choice of colours, in fact I think there's only 4 shades available. Despite this, in my opinion, you'd do well to pick one of these up!

Top Neutral Lipstick Picks!

Left to right: GOSH 'Darling', 17 'Beehive', Natural Collection 'Rose Petal', MAC 'Creme D'Nude', MAC 'Hue'

I've never been one for dramatic makeup looks, I prefer to stick to more natural colours on my lips. My perfect colour would be somewhere between a nude and a pale peachy-pink.
Here are a few of my personal favourite lipsticks to wear during the day. There are a couple of MAC ones but they are mainly cheaper 'drugstore' brands. I apologise - they are very similar, I tend to go for the same shades!

1. MAC lipstick in 'Hue' (glaze) - the perfect daytime peachy shade
2. MAC lipstick in Creme d'Nude (cremesheen) - a creamy nude
3. 17 Mirror Shine lipstick in 'Beehive' - most glossy lipstick ever! Peachy-pink colour, similar to 'Hue'
4. Natural Collection Moisture Shine lipstick in 'Rose Petal' - a more matte pink with coral undertones
5. GOSH lipstick in 'Darling' - a matte nude-beige

My Skin Saviour!

During these dreary winter months I have been neglecting my skin somewhat. I usually remember to cleanse and moisturise of an evening, but often forget to apply a moisturiser in the morning - or simply cannot be bothered!
However, I have recently discovered a product that saves SO much time - the Garnier B.B. Cream! Mine is in the shade 02 Light, and it claims to have 5-functions-in-one. In contains an SPF, moisturises, clears blemishes, and also acts as a foundation for your makeup.
I have been applying it every morning for the past few weeks for school, and it is a beautiful light base, much more natural than the Nars Sheer Glow foundation I usually use. I have also noticed a difference in the actual condition of skin, as it feels smoother and I am getting less spots.
All in all, a fab product, I'd definitely recommend it! Perfect for lazy girls like me!

NARS Laguna Bronzer vs Soleil Tan de Chanel

Left: NARS Right: Chanel

I happen to be extremely fair-skinned, so the invention of bronzer is a gift from the gods! I apply it using an angled blush brush across my cheekbones, and dust it lightly across my forehead and down my nose.
NARS bronzer in 'Laguna' has been a favourite of mine for a while for contouring too, but more recently I have discovered the Moisturising Bronzing Powder from Chanel. Mine is in the shade 62 Terre Epice which provides a more natural-looking glow to the skin.

I originally ventured to the Chanel counter in order to try out the infamous Bronze Universel. However, as I suspected, it was far too dark for my skintone, and instead the MUA recommended the Moisturising Bronzing Powder. It comes in a beautiful velvet pouch with a free brush too, which is a bonus. I've tried out the brush and it is questionable, but then again it did come free. In terms of packaging, I definitely prefer Chanel. It is just so sleek! It is quite a lot lighter in colour than Laguna, and it is slightly shimmery.

NARS Laguna is a cult favourite on beauty blogs and channels, and unlike Tan de Chanel it is completely matte. It is a fair bit darker which is great for contouring, but when I apply it all over my face, being so fair it can be a bit 'much'.

For darker skintones I would definitely recommend Laguna (or for a cheaper alternative, try the contour shade in the Sleek Contour Kit), but for pale girls like me I'd try Terracotta.

Thoughts: Benefit 'That Gal' Face Primer

I recently took the plunge and purchased a product that I have been lusting after for a while. The Benefit 'That Gal' Brightening Face Primer has rave reviews on the blogosphere, so I wanted to try it out for myself.
I bought it whilst in Brussels, in a Belgian department store called Inno. It cost me €29, but it retails for £21.50 in the UK (where I live). It's obvious what you're spending your money on: the packaging at Benefit is super-cute (although a tad unnecessary).
Actually getting the product out of the container is a little bit confusing, you have to remove the lid and twist the base until the product comes out of the holes at the top (get it?)
When the product finally did emerge, I was shocked - it was bright pink! I was a bit like wtf I'm not putting that on my skin. However, once I blended it into my skin with my fingers, it actually looked very natural. It smooths your skin and illuminates your face really nicely, and made my foundation go on a lot easier. It's only 11ml, so whether it's worth the money, I don't know. It's definitely very different to any other primer I've seen on the market, but I've yet to decide whether it's THE best.
Overall, a lovely product that I would definitely recommend if you have very fair skin like me. I'm not so sure how it would look on darker skin tones, as like I said, it is bright pink...
I'd also like to try the Smashbox Photofinish primer, so if I do invest in it expect a blog post later.

Lots of love xxx