Three Tubing Mascaras You Need to Try

Weirdly, I don't actually have a favourite mascara. I guess I just get bored easily and brands are constantly releasing new and improved formulas and high tech wands and brushes that promise to lengthen, curl or volumise lashes and I inevitably get sucked in and want to try what's new. While I can't say I have a favourite particular mascara, years of trying out various high street and high end offerings has led to the discovery of a favourite formula; tubing. Tubing mascaras are not a very new concept but the 'tube' formula is being adopted by more and more brands due to its staying power and ease of removal.

Tubing mascaras use polymer formulas that encase individual lashes rather than painting them, so they are generally a good option if you don't want to deal with smudges (and who does, really) and want a mascara that requires minimal effort to remove. Tubing mascaras generally remove easily with just a little warm water to loosen the bonds, so little to no rubbing is required- great for sensitive eyes and arguably better for the condition of the lashes themselves.
My first experience with the formula involved a miniature sized tube of Clinique Lash Power which I think may have been a magazine freebie or part of a gift with purchase. I remember being a little bit mesmerized by how odd it felt when taking the mascara off- like each eyelash had been wearing it's own little rubbery suit of sorts- and how there was no evidence of the dreaded panda eye in sight.
Since that first wear of Clinique Lash Power, tubing formulas have been one of my favourite types of mascara to use so I'm always keen to try tubing offerings from various brands. These are my current tubing mascaras I have on rotation right now:

DHC Perfect Pro Double Protection Mascara

I find the simplicity of this DHC mascara quite refreshing. The sleek, silver packaging and minimalist design perfectly complement the small brush which seems to easily grab every lash. Apparently this is Emma Watson's favourite mascara and I totally get why-  it's really, really easy to use and utilizes Japanese tubing technology to add volume and length to every lash. This mascara lasts ages on means I've even put in and taken out contact lenses with it on. The small brush and non-smudge formula make it perfect for doing bottom lashes too. £15.90 at Escentual.

L'Oreal Double Extension Mascara

I rather enjoy the two-step ritual of applying this mascara. First priming the lashes with the white conditioning base coat that contains little fibres and then sealing the deal with the inky black mascara. This mascara gives great 'length' due in part to the fibers in the base coat so it's a worthwhile option if your lashes are on the shorter side. The longevity is decent too but I did find it a little more difficult to remove than the other two tubers. £11.29 at Boots.

Eyeko Black Magic Mascara

Eyeko are pretty well know for their excellent tubing mascaras and Black Magic is no exception. Featuring a sizable curved brush, this mascara curls and lifts the lashes in one go and the formula dries pretty quickly once on the lashes. I really like the packaging of Eyeko mascaras in general- the squeeze tube means you get the most bang for your buck as you can almost get to every last drop before giving up and getting another tube. £17.50 at Marks and Spencer.

Like virtually all tubing mascaras, these three remove easily with just warm water. I found DHC Perfect Pro Double Protect Mascara removes the quickest though and (just like Emma Watson) I would say is my favourite out of the bunch for every day use.

L'Oreal Age Perfect Extraordinary Facial Oil Review

Facial oils only really started appealing to me four years ago when I moved to the UK. Before that, I lived on the sunny east coast of Australia that has an average temperature of 30 degrees for most of the year so the idea of putting oil anywhere near my face didn't really entice me.

Now however, not only am I older (29 in 3 days!) but my skin is subjected to cold winters and rather drying weather all round so facial oils are now a pretty important part of my skin routine. I love the indulgent aspect of using facial oils and feel like there's something a bit special about pressing beautiful oils into a freshly cleansed and exfoliated face.

My latest facial oil purchase happened a few months ago now in the form of L'Oreal Age Perfect Extraordinary Facial Oil and after using this 3 or 4 nights a week since June I think I'm ready to share a fair review. 

Firstly, this facial oil smells gorgeous. It's packed with essential oils - lavender, orange, geranium, rose, lavandin, chamomile, marjoram and romarin and therefore has a lovely, comforting scent that's perfect for use in the evening. 

The Extraordinary Facial Oil is supposed to 'replenish, smooth and brighten' and I have to say that I've found it effective in contributing to all 3. 

Though I mainly use this after I've washed my face before bed, I will occasionally pat a drop of the oil into my skin before foundation application as I find it gives quite a smooth base.
After using this at night, I wake up to smooth, soft, glowing skin with no oil slick in sight and I can genuinely feel the difference. What's not to like about that?
Due to the fact that this is a 'dry oil', the formula absorbs quickly to a non-greasy finish and you only need 2 or 3 drops per application.
You can find L'Oreal Extraordinary Facial Oil at Boots, Superdrug and pretty much anywhere that stocks L'Oreal products. RRP £19.99 

L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint Foundation Review

The L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint is not exactly a new product but I only got it myself very recently (thank you Boots 3 for 2) so thought I'd put forward my two cents.

The Eau De Teint is touted as a feather light foundation that feels as light and fresh as water and instantly fuses with the skin blending seamlessly to leave a silky, second skin effect. 

The foundation has been compared to Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion thanks to the unique oil formula that sort of evaporates, leaving a veil of pigment on the skin.

The application technique for Eau De Teint is pretty unusual too as it's advised that you tip a little on your fingertip then apply directly to your skin. I used about three 'fingertips' of the foundation on my skin and found that it provided pretty good coverage (though the shade I chose is a little dark for me) and certainly felt lovely- virtually weightless really.

I have a pretty complicated relationship with L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint. We haven't been together long but it's already clear that we only really get on when I'm having a good skin day.

I'm hopeful that things will improve in the coming months when it warms up a bit and my skin stops being so dry because I really feel that this is a foundation that requires a pretty smooth canvas in order to really work its magic. In other words, this stuff clings to any dry bits it can find and that's rarely a good look.

While I'm not completely crazy about the L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint, I'm going to hang in there and see how we get along come summer. You can find it at Boots or Superdrug for £9.99. 

Bonfire Night Hair - L'Oreal Preference Wild Ombres

The ombre/ dip-dye look isn't exactly a new trend - in fact strictly speaking it's totally last season, but I think it's perfect for Autumn (kind of matches the coppery-red-yellow leaves) so I thought I'd give it a go again, this time using the new kit Wild Ombres kit from L'Oreal.

Because my local Boots was sold out of Ombre no. 1(for dark hair) I went for Ombre no. 2 which is designed for dark blonde to medium brown hair. This may not have been the smartest move but I had Boots Advantage Card points to burn and a distinct lack of patience.


The result of using a kit designed designed for light hair on my almost black tresses?

A subtle reddy, coppery dip dye that's bonfire perfect :)

I picked up the L'Oreal Preference Wild Ombres kit from Boots on special for £6 (it usually retails for £6.99) and even though it was the wrong strength for my hair, I'm pretty happy with the results!

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Last time I ombred my ends I just used a bleaching/ lightening kit and it pretty much had the same effect as this did - in fact the only really difference between the ombre kit and a regular bleaching kit is that the ombre kits makes it easier to find the right bleach strength for your hair and it includes a brush for easy distribution through your ends.

Will you be giving yourself an ombre this Autumn??

Thanks for reading :*

L'Oreal Youth Code Luminize Super Serum!

I'm totally into serums at the moment and lately I've been putting L'Oreal Youth Code Luminize Super Serum through its paces.

The original Youth Code collection hit the shelves a little while ago but the 'Luminize' version contains all the nifty anti-ageing components of the original, with the added bonus of illuminating particles to instantly improve the appearance of the skin.

The selling point of the Super Serum is that it's a 2 in 1 product - the high concentration of vitamin Cg (a slow release form of vitamin C) goes to work on refining texture and banishing pigmentation while the luminescent pearly formula creates a healthy glow instantly.

The formula itself is quite light and refreshing with a strong yet pleasant citrus scent and one pump of the serum is more than enough for one application.
While I've not seen a huge difference in my skin (yet), I can say that this is a pretty decent product and I'll be using it to pep up my dry complexion this autumn.

L'Oreal Youth Code Luminize Super Serum retails at £24.99 for 30ml at Boots but is currently on offer for £16.66.

Have you tried anything from the Youth Code range? Thoughts?

Thanks for reading :*

Lipstck I Love: L'Oreal Rouge Caresse in Dating Coral 301

This lipstick is a world away from the usual bold, bright mattes that I love so much, but sometimes I like to dress up my lips with something a little bit muted.

Rouge Caresse lipsticks are the latest pout perfecting product from cosmetic powerhouse L'Oreal and after trying one of the colours out this morning, I've already become a firm fan of the range.

The colour I have is 'Dating Coral 301' - an innocently pretty hue that would suit pretty much any skin tone.

Upon application Rouge Caresse sort of melts onto the lips like an oily lip balm yet feels virtually weightless, a far cry from that heavy gloopy feeling that some balms and glosses can leave you with.

L'Oreal Rouge Caresse comes in 13 playful yet wearable shades perfect for a fresh summery make up look.
I found it to be exceedingly easy to apply as it literally glides on and it seems to stick around on my lips for a while despite its slippery formula, which I think is pretty impressive!

You can find the Rouge Caresse range at L'Oreal stands everywhere for £7.99 a pop (of colour).

Boots are currently holding a L'Oreal promotion that means you receive a pretty great gift when you spend £15 or more on selected products, so now is an ideal time to quite literally put your money where your mouth is and pick up a couple of these lovely lippies.

Have you tried Rouge Caresse by L'Oreal?
*PR sample

L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream

L'Oreal released this BB Cream a few months ago now but this is a handbag staple for me, so I say it deserves a few kind words.

The 'magic' aspect of this BB Cream is the incorporation of 'Smart Pigment Capsules', which burst and self adjust to your personal pigmentation upon contact with the skin.

To me, this concept is a little far fetched (and the fact that the BB Cream comes in different shades is testament in itself that it's not going to match your skin as perfectly as it claims) but I think it's a great product all the same.



The liquid formula is quite runny, so I wouldn't recommend wearing your best whites while applying it, and I've found that a small amount goes a very long way, so don't go to crazy with it!

To give you as much evidence of the results as possible, here are some freakishly close up photos of my bare face, spots and all.

After applying a small amount of L'Oreal Magique, these are the results:

This BB Cream is available in 2 shades: Fair and Medium, though I picked up Fair and it's still quite dark, so if you're very pale this might not be your best match.

Have you tried L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream? I'd love to hear you thoughts :)

I purchased mine months ago at Boots for £9.99.

Thanks for reading!

Giveway! Colour Tattoo + Lip Butter + L'Oreal Liner

Hello!

I thought that since I've just passed the 100 follower mark, I should celebrate by giving one of you lovely people a token of my appreciation.

Though I wish I could give everyone a little something, I am but a lowly bookseller on a budget so there can only be one winner ;)

Here's what I've got for you:

A Maybelline Colour Tattoo Cream Gel Eyeshadow in Eternal Gold

A L'Oreal Super Liner in Black Crystal

A Revlon Lip Butter in Sweet Tart

Want to win these goodies (and a couple of little surprise extras)?

All you have to do is use the form below to enter, then Sit back and wait with your fingers and toes crossed sending positive vibes into the universe

*This comp is open to UK readers only. Sorry :(

Good Luck

First FOTD

Hello! I'm posting on my iPhone again because the dongle I got just isn't coming through with the goods :(

Anyway, to the point: For my first (and possibly last!) ever FOTD post, I thought I'd just show you the makeup look I wear most days.
It's all about flicked black eyeliner and bold red lipstick. Pretty simple really and oh-so-easy to achieve.

This morning, I almost went without the token red lip in favour of a neutral pout...

But I ended up reaching for the Ruby Woo :)

So a run down of the products used:

Base:
bareMinerals Prime Time Primer
bareMinerals Foundation in Fairly Light
Bourjois Blush in 34 Rose D'Or

Eyes:
L'Oreal Super Liner Carbon Gloss in Carbon Black
Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer in Noir
Rimmel Eyebrow Definer in Black Brown

Lips:
Lucas Pawpaw Ointment
MAC Ruby Woo


So there you have it, hope you like it :)

Can't wait to be back online properly again :0
X

DIY Dip Dye

Hello! So I've already started suffering lack-of-internet induced psychosis and simply couldn't exercise the patience to wait for it to be connected, so I bought an extortianately priced dongle to tide me over :o.
Hooray for painfully slow internet!

Anyway, to the point of this post:

You may have glimpsed that terrible picture of my recently dip-dyed hair in my previous post. For your viewing pleasure, here is a slightly more clear one:

And another...

So how did I do it? Pretty simply really.

I went to Superdrug and picked up a pack of this:

I chose the highlight kit after reading about Zoella's experience with using it to ombre her hair, though I was slightly scared about what shade it would go on my black locks :\

So how did I do it?

Firstly, I fashioned myself a beautiful cape from a rather large garbage sack, then mixed the colour according to the instructions, sectioned my hair into two low pigtails, applied the mixture messily to the tips of my hair, wrapped the two sections in tinfoil, ate dinner, had a cup of tea, watched an episode of Sons Of Anarchy, rinsed the bleach out in the bathroom sink, conditioned the ends, rinsed, allowed to dry naturally, smiled at how easy it was.

I left the bleach to work its magic for about an hour, resulting in a coppery-reddy colour that I rather like!
I thought my hair would feel a bit nasty afterwards, but I'm pleased to report that it does not, though I do work a fair dollop of  Alberto Balsam Intensive Treatment into the ends when I wash my hair.

What do you think? Do you dare to Dip-Dye? (sorry)

xx

Star Product: L'Oreal Paris Super Liner Carbon Gloss

Before I washed my face tonight, I noticed something strange in the mirror (it wasn't my face, I've grown quite used to that now), it was the fact that my eyeliner was exactly where I left it this morning - on my eyes.

I'm such a massive advocate of the winged-liquid-eyeliner-look that I've forgotten the last time I went without it. Subsequently, I've tried many different brands, gels, liquids and felt tips to achieve that lovely cat eyed look. Most of the liners I've tried have been good, some have been tragic, but this one has to be my favourite to date, thanks to its glossy finish and awesome staying power.

L'Oreal Super Liner Carbon Gloss
£6.49 at Boots (currently 3 for 2)

My eyes 12 hours after application!

 *Apologies for the dodgy instagram pics :o 

I actually bought this a few months ago and always thought it was good, but tonight I was compelled to write about it because it survived a fairly active day at work! I like how shiny it is (much like a moth, I'm attracted to shiny things) and the fact that you can use it to create wafer thin, subtle lines, or thick and dramatic statement flicks.

The only issue I have with this product is that the tip is a little long and bendy, which can sometimes be a bit difficult for me to control enough to get a precision flick. I'm sure those of you with steadier hands than mine won't have a problem though!

I'd love to know if anyone else has tried the Super Liner? What did you think of it?

Hannah Rose xxx