NOTD #8 | Winter Tale |

Just as I jump feet first back into blogging I come back home and realise I left my camera at Uni. Fail! This won't stop me though so for this week the photos I upload will be taken on my phone. I know, not the best quality but it will do for now.

No7 'Winter Tale' is what I have on my nails today and it's actually quite a hard colour to describe. I would say it's a muted purple, grey, blue colour and that is one thing I love about some of the No7 nail varnishes, they are so original! Seeing as it's meant to snow in England tonight I think it's a very apt nail colour and I love it.

I find the No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colours to last for 5-7 days with a good top coat which is what I would expect for paying £6. Also, I normally get them when there is a 3 for 2 on No7 in Boots which is quite often. They dry fairly quickly and appear glossy when dried so I have nothing really bad to say about them.

Off I go now to sit by the fire and hope for snow tonight!

Review: Real Techniques Brushes

Recently I purchased both of the Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman makeup brush sets. These brushes used to be exclusive to online websites so were pretty hard to get but now they are stocked in most Boots stores so it couldn't be easier to get your hands on them. The first brushes I knew I wanted were the Core Collection (orange handle) which I had seen used so many times by Sam and Nic from Pixiwoo and the second was the Starter Set (purple handle).

Firstly, I love the design of the brushes. They are lovely to hold because they are so lightweight and they feel really sleek. They all have flat bottoms to them which allows you to stand them on your desk. This is great if you just use a couple daily so they are there for you in the morning however if, like me, you have a vaster collection of brushes it can be quite awkward to get them all to fit into a holder. They also come with a brush stand (as pictured above) which is useful if you like to have your brushes on display. It can also be doubled up as a travel case that folds in half so that your brushes aren't damaged while on the go which I think is a brilliant addition.

~ Buffing Brush ~

This brush by far is my favourite out of all the real techniques brushes. I solely use this brush for foundation whether it's liquid, compact or mineral and it looks great being used with all three. First, I stipple it onto my face then use buffing motions to create a really flawless finish to my skin. I have heard others use this brush for bronzer and setting powder too.

~ Contour Brush ~
Funnily enough I use this brush for contour. I love the way it is small enough to fit into the hollows of your cheeks. You would imagine that with such a small brush it would leave a harsh line however the really soft taklon (synthetic) bristles allows your makeup to be beautifully blended. This too is one of my favourites.

~ Pointed Foundation Brush ~
I have to admit out of all of these brushes, this is the only one in which I have yet to use. I have never used the 'paint it on' style foundation brushes and would be interested in giving it a go however this brush just seems too small. I would be scared that my foundation would start to set before I have fully blended everything. In saying this I will try it out at some point which may force me to eat my words but at the moment I don't want to use anything other than the buffing brush, that's how much I love it! I have heard that some like to use it for concealer so keep that in mind too :)

~ Detailer Brush ~
This teeny tiny brush is for the little details that finish off your makeup such as concealing small areas or using it as a lip brush. I tend to use it with a light eye shadow for highlighting the inner corner of my eye because it is the perfect size. It also works as a perfect lip brush however I only tend to use a brush for applying lipstick when it is a darker shade so that it lasts longer on the lips.

~ Deluxe Crease Brush ~

I think after the buffing brush this would be my favourite. I always used to use my ring finger to apply concealer however I have been loving this recently. It is just like a mini version of the buffing brush which just seamlessly applies your concealer. It is marketed as an eye shadow brush which I have yet to use it for because after seeing the Pixiwoo tutorials with them using this brush for concealer, I haven't used it for anything else. 

~ Base Shadow Brush ~

As the name suggests, this brush is used for eye shadow. I really like to use it for just a sheer wash of colour as well as putting a darker colour through the crease of my eye to add subtle definition. Many have compared it to the MAC 217 however I haven't got that brush to confirm the similarity.

~Brow Brush ~

I don't do my eyebrows on an every day basis however when I feel like they need a bit of filling in I do use this brush. I find its a bit wide for the ends of your brows where you may want a stronger line but for filling in random sparse patches it is perfect. I also use this sometimes for applying colour underneath my eyes with eye shadow as well as above the  top lashes.

~ Pixel Point Eyeliner Brush ~  

When I first saw this brush I was a bit disappointed as it looked to chunky for gel eyeliner which is what I intended to use it for. I gave it a shot expecting a really thick messy line however the bristles all clump together with the product which actually allows a really thin line if you use a light hand. I also really like it for applying gel liner onto the top and bottom water lines as it tickles much less than a thinner brush. 

~Accent Brush ~

Lastly is the accent brush which I didn't really know what to use for at the start. After playing around a bit I have found you can use it for a load of different things which include highlighting the inner corner of the eye, applying eye shadow to the lash line as a liner and smudging out kohl eyeliner. It's a really great multipurpose brush which comes in useful when doing your eye makeup. 

Overall I really like these brushes and I think they are amazing quality for the price. As an added extra everything about them is cruelty free which is never a bad thing in my eyes. Also, some brushes tend to eat up product as so much gets lost into the hairs however these don't seem to do that. I have washed both sets once so far and they wash well and have kept their shape without loosing any hairs. The only negative point I can find is that you can't buy the brushes separately. I love that they come in sets initially however if I was to loose one brush or if I wanted a back up, it would mean I would have to purchase the whole set again.

I hope you enjoyed this rather long post. I hope it makes up for the lack of posts lately as I have been ill. I blame it on all of my looming exams :( Have you tried any of the Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman brushes, if so, which are your favourite? 

Hayley xxx

April Favourites

Above are two of my favourite brushes for the month from Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman. The top one is the Contour Brush which enables a really great, well blended contour and bronze. The one below is the Deluxe Crease Brush which for me, is the best brush for concealer because it's just like a mini buffing brush which blends concealer under my eyes seamlessly. In a few posts time there will be a review all about these brushes and others in the collection so keep your eyes peeled :)

I bought this Bourjous felt-tip eyeliner a while ago on a whim but never really used it because gel eyeliner had taken over. However, I have found that the pointed shape means that you can just place the pen on the outer corner of your eye and pull inward to create a perfect mini wing. I am not a fan of long winged liner but I feel just a little stubby one can really make your outside lashes look much fuller so I have been loving that look this month!

On an every day basis, teamed with the eyeliner I use the No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara because it gives me full, thick lashes but nothing too crazy for the day time. The actual brush itself is really unique and I tried to photograph it but it just came out as a black blob. One third of the wand length ways are shorter plastic bristles, the next third has long bristles for more length and then the last third has sort of small paddles which really add volume. The tip of the wand also has bristles coming out of it like a ball so its great for building up the outer lashes. It's pretty hard to explain so I guess you'll just have to do and take a look at Boots but I really love this mascara for both the wand and the consistency as you can layer it without it looking clumpy or spidery.

I know what you're thinking...'Why on earth would you wear bright pink eyeshadow?' I thought exactly the same thing when I received this sample of one of the No7 Stay Perfect eyeshadows in Antique Rose No#42. I thought it would have been more of a blush colour however when you swatch it, the pink hardly transfers which leaves a lovely neutral golden shade which is actually really subtle and nice for every day wear. I will include swatches at the end of my this post if you really don't believe me :P

Lastly, this is the Collection 2000 Cream Puff Lip Cream in the colour Cotton Candy. I bought this last month because of the really opaque colour but once I got home I was hugely reluctant to wear it because of  the smell. It's a really sweet, sickly, vanillery, strong smell which some people may love but I think it just smells too artificial. I do love this thought because of the colour and the consistency. It applies really creamy then once it drys it doesn't transfer like a lipstick which I really look for in lip products because I don't want to have to check my lips and teeth every few minutes for colour. I want to get more of these but at the moment they only do two other colours. Do you know of any other brands which do a similar product?

As i promised before, here are a few swatches of the products I mentioned. The first is the eyeshadow and as the photo shows it's a great all over lid, sheer wash of colour which I love. The next one is the felt tip liner and the last in the lip cream. As you can see, the colour is so opaque and rich!

I hope you have enjoyed my second ever monthly favourites!

Hayley xxx

Online Cosmetics Website Review: Boots

Before I buy from a website I always try and find reviews to make sure that:

1. I trust giving my money to them

2. They sell genuine products

3. Their delivery service is decent

4. They have a good returns policy

The above didn't really apply to Boots because it is an extremely well known store where most people in the UK venture to for high street makeup. This means I wouldn't typically buy online however it was the last day of the three for two offer and I didn't have time to go into town. Also, as my purchase was over £40 so I got free shipping which is never a bad thing!

If you are an advantage card holder then you will already have an account so it is really easy to buy online and even if you don't it only takes a few minutes to set one up. I'm not going to tell you what I bought just yet because the next post I plan put up is a mini haul :) My order was dispatched two days after I placed my order and came the next day which is pretty good seeing as they probably had a lot of last minute orders.

Website Positives:

A lot of products stocked

Free shipping when you spend over £40/ £2.95 for standard delivery

Normal delivery within 5 working days

You are able to track your order

You can order your purchases to your local store which I think is really useful if something is sold out in your Boots but not online 

There is a 28 day returns policy

Website Negatives:

Only delivers to the UK

My package was delivered to my porch because no one was in therefore it got soaked. Luckily the products weren't wet

I hope you find these kinds of post useful because I know I do :) There will be another one soon reviewing cheapsmells.com which is a discount cosmetics website.

Hayley xxx

Top 5 Spring Nail Polishes

Those eagle- eyed of you would have seen the title and expected a picture of five nail polishes not four however my first spring favourite is one that I have ran out of recently. It was a limited edition No7 polish in the colour Top Toes and even though it was a tiny 4ml bottle, I am rather impressed that I have actually finished a nail polish! The colour is a very natural, light taupe shade with no shimmer to it and I can safely say it is my all time favourite colour. It's appropriate for all year round and looks sophisticated on the nails giving off slightly different hues in different lights. If anyone can recommend me a similar shade based on my limited description please do not hesitate to comment below!

Anyway, on with the first polish in the picture above.. This infamous Barry M nail paint is in the shade #317 Blue Moon and looks almost matte however does in fact have really tiny blue shimmer throughout which is hardly noticeable. This shade is perfect for the spring as it fits the trend of pastels and makes blue a very wearable colour to sport on your nails. For an opaque colour two coats is necessary and I find it lasts a good four to five days with a good top coat which I think is pretty decent. 

My next pick of the bunch is another Barry M nail paint in #308 Berry. It's not at all a berry shade but more of a lilac which also fits in the the pastels trend. I find Barry M has an amazing colour range at a great price, the consistency and longevity on your nails isn't too bad either. Downsides of this brand include that some are hit and miss in terms of opaqueness with some having to apply 3 coats to create the desired effect. Also, the brush isn't for me. As I said in my 'Nails of the Day' post a few days ago, I prefer larger, flat brushes to apply my polish however these are small and thin.

I'll not go on too long about my next polish as I featured it in my last 'Nails of the Day' post which you can read here. Mango Madness by e.l.f. is the only bright colour I have featured but makes me happy whenever I look down at my nails and excited for the summer. All e.l.f. nail polishes are only £1.50 and great value seeing as this colour stayed on my nails for 5 days before a tiny chip appeared!

My last spring nail polish is Pinky Pure by No7 and I picked this up recently with a £5 off voucher that Boots give out when you make a purchase of £5 or more. Like Mango Madness and Berry there is no shimmer to the polish and it's the prefect pink to wear for a bit of subtle colour. It's really fast drying however a massive con is that you have to apply three or four coats to achieve an opaque colour. This makes the whole process of application really long as you have to wait til each coat is perfectly dry before applying the next or else it gets ruined easily. In saying this, the colour is lovely and does stay on your nails without chipping for a good six days if you're careful.

So that's my roundup of my favourite spring polishes, do you have any you'd like to recommend for me to try?

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butters

So, with the newest Revlon lip product release being such a hit across the beauty community worldwide I thought I better have a go. I went out, cash in hand, on the release day a few weeks ago but my local Boots didn't have any of them stocked. However, a couple of days ago I was in another town and picked up the Revlon Lip Butter in the colour Strawberry Shortcake. I went for this colour as I thought that by picking a more everyday colour, I would have more chance to wear and test it out. Here are a few quick snaps.

Firstly I love the packaging. The see through quilted design is fun and you can clearly see which colour you have picked up as the colour of the packaging is coordinated with the lip butter colour. There are 14 shades to choose from which I think is pretty good and I love the formulations and the way it doesn't cling to dry patches (I have dry lips). The pigmentation is not the best but that's what the whole idea is about; a buttery, sheer, moisturising lip product. As you can see from my swatches below you can apply is very sheerly for just a tint on your lips or apply it more heavily for a bit more colour.

One downside which I have found is that the become a little 'squished' when you twist  the stick back down as the formulation is so soft so I wouldn't recommend taking them out into the sun or into a club :P

Overall I love these lip butters and I have my eye on a few of the other colours. Especially lollipop which is said to be a sheerer dupe of MAC's Girl About Town. They currently retail for £7.99 and are stocked in most Boots stores. Do you own any of the colours?

My Every Day Make-up Bag

So, what is in my everyday make-up bag? I thought I would do this post to give you a little insight into me and what I put on my face every morning all bleary eyed and half asleep :) This is one of those if-you-buy-many-no7-products-then-you-get-a-free-make-up-bag-filled-with-make-up bags and as you can see it is fit to burst. I switch up the content from time to time but this happens to be what is in there now.

First of all I start by giving my face a good moisturise which the Olay day cream with SPF 15. I have incredibly dry skin, especially in the winter months, and i find it really helps my foundation to glide on as well as giving me a little bit of sun protection. The foundation I am using at the moment is Bourjois healthy mix serum in the colour Vanilla and it describes itself as a semi-matte finish. I find it is perfect for a nice light coverage used with my elf powder brush. In conjunction with this I use the healthy mix correcting concealer which really helps to cancel out the blue tones under my eyes. I seem to always neglect powder which I probably shouldn't do. I haven't found one that copes well with dryer skins to help set my base. Any suggestions?

To the right are the tools I use. The elf powder brush for foundation, the elf stipple brush for a light dusting of bronzer (as I am so pale I find this brush really helps to deposit a small amount of product) and the elf complexion brush for blusher. The one item I could not live without are my eyelash curlers (RED at Boots) which just help to give me that wide eyed, fresh faced look.

You've all seem this bronzer before. It's the Bourjois powder bronzer aka the chocolate bronzer. I have been using this for years and some days I love it but some days I hate it as it can look a bit orangey on my skin tone. As i said this before, I use it will a stippling brush to apply minimal product. I often skip blusher as I get very very rosy cheeks and I don't like to emphasise it. However on that odd occasion when I do reach for it, I usually go for more peachy/coral colours such as the elf mineral blush in coral.

Up to now my daily make-up routine is very similar, however when I get to the application of eyeliner, it changes daily as I never seem to be satisfied. One day it is no eyeliner, then its just eyeliner on the top water line, then its Kohl smudged into both top and bottom lashes. For the water line and winged liner I love the elf cream eyeliner as it glides on effortlessly and hasn't dried up in the four or five months I have owned it. For pencil, I regularly use the Bourjois eyeliner- black with purple reflections. I find the hint of purple really brings out my brown eyes.

Lastly is mascara. If there was only one product I owned it would be this. Maxfactor masterpiece max is the best mascara I have found to date. It really volumises whilst holding curl which I really look for. For my bottom lashes I need something more waterproof so at the moment I am using Loreal waterproof telescopic. I really don't rate this mascara for top lashes because I find they go spidery however it doesn't budge, even when I use make-up remover which can be quite frustrating. To finish my face off I use the MUA clear mascara just to brush through my eyebrows as they don't really need any filling in.








I love to read blogs about a persons daily make-up as it gives me inspiration to use different things. Comment if you have any views on any of the products I use or if you have any recommendations :)