Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation - Reviewed

I'm sad to say at the age of twenty, I'm still searching for my Holy Grail foundation. One that offers great coverage, gives a dewy look without the oil and stays put all day - not too much to ask it is? I'd come to the end of my Max Factor Facefinity (which is good but the closest shade is too pink for me)  and my EL Doublewear samples were getting low so I trailed fellow blogs in search of a new one. One product that kept appearing was Vichy's Dermablend Corrective Foundation. Everyone was raving about it's longevity and amazing coverage, some blogs even said they noticed in improvement in their skin. I contacted the company myself and they informed me that they are completely against animal testing which I was really pleased about.

You won't find this foundation alongside the rest of the make-up, it's sneakily hidden away with the skin care. It's designed to cover minor to major skin concerns, from a few spots to rosacea. My skin has improved a lot over the past few years so my it isn't in need of serious coverage however I like to have a medium to full coverage with my foundation. What attracted me to this product was that it supposedly lasts 16 hours and gives great coverage without feeling like a mask. At £15.50, it's on the high end on the low end price wise so I thought I'd give it a shot. Oh by the way, I think it's important to point out for reference that I have combination skin which has been quite oily recently. This is how I got on with Dermablend...

The Good

I opted for the palest shade, Opal 15. I'll be honest, when I initially squeezed it out, it looked much too dark for my skin. However, once I applied it, the colour surprised me as suited my skin very well. As I mentioned, my previous foundation was a little pink and made me look redder than I am but this one is more yellow in colour and makes me look what I can only describe as healthy. I kept catching my reflection in the mirror and was stunned at the glow it has given me. I usually stipple my make-up on but with this, I've found it's better to apply it in gentle strokes and add a dusting of powder to set if your shinier.
It's quite thick in consistency which I actually prefer to a more liquid foundation. It is easier to sweep over your face and you don't have to work too quickly with it. It also means you don't need a lot to cover your entire face. It feel very hydrating on the skin and unlike others I've used, doesn't settle into the pores. It immediately looks flawless and the coverage is great, I didn't even need to use a concealer for my dark circles.
Now for the big one - does it last? Without the powder, it looked okay for about ten hours, but the shine showed through. After that, it began to shift around the oily area of my nose and cheeks - it still looked okay but not as immaculate as when it was first applied. I expected this, not even Doublewear provides me with flawlessly matt skin without a small dusting of powder. With powder it lasts all day and looks flawless, it's given me the best coverage and look than any other foundation I've tried. I also contacted them personally and found out that they are against animal testing which is great!

The Bad
As I mentioned, I first tried the foundation without any powder just to see how it fared with an oilier skin type solo. After a few hours, I noticed it let through a little more shine then I'd have liked. Although the coverage was still intact, there was a considerable amount of shine on my forehead and chin, and a little around the corners of my nose. Having said that, with a little bit of powder dusted on top, it looks great. If you have dry skin I can't see this being a huge issue but if you're in the oilier side, definitely use a powder to set it. By the way, I use Natural Collection Translucent powder in Cool. It's cheap but does the trick.
When applied, it does feel like I'm wearing something on my face; it's not especially heavy but it's definitely not the lightest foundation I've tried. It has a strong scent that's reminiscent of paint. It doesn't cause a huge issue, it's just during the application that you notice the smell. I noticed this with Doublewear foundation also, I figured it's because they are both quite thick and designed to last a while. I could see how this could put some people off but it doesn't bother me very much.
The packaging isn't really my cup of tea; it looks like a moisturiser or hand cream. I'm a sucker for pretty products and this isn't exactly going to look great on my dressing table. There also isn't a huge choice of skin tones, only five to choose from. I honestly can't see how they can go from pale white to black skin in just five colours, it just isn't going to work. I've been quite lucky with my match but I bet others have a really tough time finding a suitable shade.

The Bottom Line
After road-testing this product for about a month,  I must say I've found a new favourite foundation. It makes my skin look poreless and although I haven't noticed my skin improving, my skin hasn't been breaking out either. With a little powder, it looks great and makes me feel really confident. Plus they aren't against Animal Testing, which is what sold the last star it for me! Is it my HG foundation. Hmm... it is for now!

Rating
★★★★★

You can pick this up at Boots, just remember to look in the skincare aisle, you'll find it!
♣

Also guys I wrote an article for Vanity Hype's online blog, all about Christmas Jumpers. Check it out here 

Philosophy Mini Miracles - Reviewed

I visited London recently for my friend's 21st birthday. We were taking the obligatory stroll down Oxford Street when we were approached by a friendly woman who offered us free Philosophy goodie bags. I'd never heard of this brand before so I was intrigued. I received three products in total.

 Purity 3 in 1

It's quite a runny consistency, but as you massage it into your face it gets a thicker creamier texture. In all honestly, I wasn't crazy about this to begin with, it felt a little heavy, it kind of felt like I was rubbing Vaseline onto my skin. However it rinsed off easily and left my skin feel rather refreshed. 

The next day my recent breakout looked much flatter and calmer. I don't know whether this was a coincidence, my skin has random off and on day so I will have to test this further to see if it really does help. Overall, I'm pretty impressed with this product; I'll definitely finish up my sample and if it continues to do good for me I may consider purchasing the full size bottle.

Rating:

★★★★★

Exfoliating wash

Again, this product is surprising runny, rare for an exfoliator but I really like the consistency. The micro beads are very fine and it feels really light when you massage the wash into your skin, quite relaxing really. I'm not crazy about the scent - it's very faint and I can't quite put my finger on what it smells like. I feel it's a scent that would appeal to older women but I wouldn't say it was particularly nice. However, I guess it's good that it's not heavily perfumed like most skincare products.

It made my skin feel incredibly soft which makes me feel like it's actually doing it's job of buffing away old skin. I think so far I'd rate this exfoliating wash over my current regular Soap & Glory's Scrub Your Nose In It, which I find to be a bit harsh.

Rating:

★★★★★

Amazing Grace perfume

The goodie bag contained a small sample of Philosophy's new perfume Amazing Grace. The bottle for the actual product is very simple and understated. They call it a 'clean floral scent' and I would say this is a pretty accurate description. It's very feminine but not girly; it feels sophisticated and is definitely more of a day perfume than night. 

Amazing Grace is pretty scent but again I feel like it's for the more mature lady. It's a little musky for my taste and I associate that with the older demographic. It sort of reminds me of laundry detergent; it's a little soapy smelling, which reminds me of my Grandma who'd probably love it. If you're a fan of grown-up musky smells then don't let this discourage you. Perfume tastes are very personal and I'm afraid this one didn't really do it for me. It is pleasant enough but just not for me.

Rating:

★★★★★

Overall my favourite product was the exfoliating wash - it felt gentler and less harsh than others I've tried. As for the others, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by what I've seen from the cleanser. My skin doesn't often agree with them but so far it seems to be doing it some good, or at the very least, not causing further breakouts. Although I'm not a fan of powdery perfumes, I think girls who are would like this floral scent and it would make a good present for mothers and grandmothers.

Have you tried any products from Philosophy?

♣

I watched ... THE PURGE

 If you lived in a world where any crime was legal for just one night, what would you do? Would you hole up in your home and try to stay safe until morning, or use it as a chance to release your carnal animal instincts? That's the premise of James DeMonaco's thriller The Purge (rated 15 in the UK), in which a family find themselves in serious danger when they let a stranger in need into their home.

The Lowdown

For those of you expecting a serious scare, you may be disappointed. In my opinion, the advert (and movie poster) sells a film that this, well, just isn't. It's full of suspense, tension and it's pretty violent, but it's not exactly scary. I am a huge wimp when it comes to films and I can say with some confidence this won't be keeping me awake at night. However, I can guarantee it will spark a lively debate between you and your friends after watching, it gives you a lot to think about. I personally like these kind of films but if you want a slasher horror flick, it's not likely to deliver. 

Considering twists are one of the most important aspects of a good thriller, I found this film a tad predictable. Having said that, it has quite a few small twists throughout which I think keeps the audience on their toes.  I thought the actors were all rather good, I didn't spy a wooden one amongst them, which can really ruin a good film (looking at you, Mr Radcliffe). My favourite character was the 'Polite Stranger', played by Rhys Wakefield. He was without a doubt the best of the bunch. Is it strange I found him weirdly attractive? Must have been the charm.

The Bottom Line

The Purge is worth a watch if you want a thriller that's more tense and interesting than scary. You might guess the twists before they happen, but it doesn't really take anything away from the story. I found it a bit unsatisfying as nothing was able to surprise me, but that's not to say everyone will see what's coming.   Although I enjoyed it, I can't say that it completely lived up to my expectations. Even so, I'd recommend it for a late night cinema trip, it's a pretty good film and makes for an thoughtful discussion on the drive home.

Rating

★★★★★

Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter - Reviewed.

I have a confession. Red lippie and I don't really get along. Yes, I am a pathetic excuse for a girl. The truth is, I wish I could wear it but instead of feeling like Marilyn Monroe I just feel like The Joker. My lipsticks of choice tend to be very pale pinks and nudes, but this time I decided to try something a little different. Cue Wild Watermelon; a shimmery coral shade with hues of both pink and red.

The Good

This is literally the most comfortable lipstick I've ever worn. Jack scoffed at the name lip 'butter'; sure it was just a marketing tactic, erroneously claiming to be more nourishing then your average lippie. He was wrong, it feels amazing from the first slick. I tend to be stingy with lipsticks and pick the cheapest brand (I know, I'm a bad beauty blogger!) It is always a mistake as they cause my lips to flake and the colours disappears within an hour. This lip butter truly feels like you've smoothed on Vaseline - so soft and kissable, with no signs of flaking. This is very good for someone who has notoriously easily chapped lips. 

The packaging is totally cute, I love the diamond patterned lid and the case is chic and shiny. Such pretty little thing to have in your make-up bag! I was amazed by the choice of colours available too, a total of 21 shades. 

The Bad 

Honestly, I don't really have anything bad to say about this lip butter. At £7.99, it's not the most student friendly price but it's worth ten cheaper lipsticks, I promise you. Obviously, you need reapply after eating and drinking, but it lasts a couple of hours on it's own, so keep it in your bag for touch-ups. I shall definitely be picking some more shades up soon.

The Bottom Line

Get this, just get it. Super soft feeling, brilliant choice of colours. An essential for every girl. 

Rating 

★★★★★

Garnier Moisture Match Shine Be Gone - Reviewed.

Oh the search for the perfect moisturiser. It's ongoing, right? One leaves your face flaking and the other feels like you're rubbing on chip fat.  I have normal to combination skin, but recently my current moisturiser (Simple's Hydrating Light moisturiser) leaves me with quite a few dry patches after applying foundation so I decided it was time to shop around for a new one. I'm sure many of you will have probably heard of Garnier's new range of facial Moisture Match moisturisers, which claim to be tailor made to all different skin types. I decided to give them a whirl.

 I originally purchased Start A Fresh for normal to dry skin but realised from first use it was not for me. It didn't feel as though it had sank into my skin at all, and left my face rather shiny. Obviously the wrong choice for me. My sister, who has fairly dry skin, is now using it and says it works perfectly for her. So dry-skinned ladies, this is rated. Try it.

So onto my review of Shine Be Gone...

The Good

The thing that originally put me off purchasing this one in the beginning was that my face is not necessarily shiny and I was worried it would leave my skin with no glow and banish the 'dewy' look I like. I can say that so far this hasn't been a problem. It does make the oilier parts of my face look less shiny but still leaves me with a nice glow.

I also noticed how quickly it absorbed, almost instantly I was ready to apply foundation. Unlike my old moisturiser, my whole face feels soft and moisturised, with no tight, dry areas, and the feeling really lasts. I used to notice the skin above and between my eyebrows would flake and dry out even after moisturising especially carefully. So far, this hasn't been an issue at all. I also had some really dry patches on the side of my face that Simple's moisturiser just couldn't handle. No exaggeration, after one use of Shine Be Gone, they have well and truly disappeared. Impressive.

 I really love the smell of this; so fresh, like cucumbers. The sorbet texture was quite unexpected - a kind of whipped foamy formula, but feels very pleasant on the face, it's almost cooling. I also really like the colour, not really a pro, but green is my favourite, which makes it even more appealing to me ☺

The Bad

Although it does mop up the majority of shine on my face, I am curious about how it would fare on someone with a lot of excess oil. This isn't really a bad point, I just wonder if it would be as effective on quite greasy skin. In my opinion, I think it would work fine, as it really does seem to keep unwanted shine at bay. Although, I have noticed a teeny bit of shine reappearing on my forehead after the day is done. If you pick this up, let me know how you get on!

 I do wish there was more of this; true, a little goes a long way, but it kind of looks like a travel sized moisturiser. When you first apply it, it doesn't feel like you're putting on enough, but only a small amount is required. One other qualm I have is not with this particular moisturiser but with the collection in general. I really wish they had created a normal to combination formula, that way I'd know I was getting exactly what my skin needs, but perhaps normal/combination is more obscure than the other types? I don't know anyone else with such specific skin. Trust me to be awkward. However so far Shine Be Gone has been suiting me fine, so it's not a huge problem. 

The Bottom Line

This moisturiser has a lovely light texture that sinks into the skin in seconds and still manages to banish stubborn dry areas without leaving skin oily. If you're like me with normal/combination skin, I'm certain this will work for you. Reading other reviews, I think it'll be just as good for regular ol' combination and oily skins. Could do with being a bit bigger, but you only need to use a little at a time. Will be repurchasing. Get it at Superdrug where right now it's on sale for £3.99.

Rating

★★★★★

Big ol' Soap & Glory bundle

Yet another pressie post aha :) My brother and his girlfriend Emma bought me this lovely bunch of Soap and Glory products. I've long admired these soapy and glorious products, the only thing I previously owned from the brand was the exfoliating gloves, which by the way, I love.

I love the iconic old school style of the packaging and the old fashioned models they use. I found out something really cool about this brand - if you send in an old pic, like of your grandma as a young lady, they could use your image on their products, which is a wicked idea 8)

Top to bottom - Scrub your nose in it, Calm one calm all, The Righteous Butter, Hair Turban,
Sexy Mother Pucker, Mist Me Madly

Scrub Your Nose in it

So you may have guessed by the name, this is an exfoliating scrub but also doubles up as a deep cleansing mask. I always tend to expect Soap and Glory lotions and potions to have a sweet smell and of a light colour, so I was surprised to squeeze out a minty blue thick cream, which if I'm honest, reminded me of toothpaste, in a good way :') The smell is really fresh and feels really cool on the skin, particularly when you leave on for three minutes as a mask. after using it it the night before, I did notice the next day my face seemed more dewy and fresher than it tends to look first thing in the morning :')

Calm one, Calm all

Calm one calm all is a bubble bath with moisturising lotion within it. If you add it to a full bath, you end up with a tub brimming with lovely bubbles. Make sure you put plenty in if you want a totally bubbled up tub :) It has the same scent of the Righteous Butter (below) so when you moisturise with it afterwards, they complement each other, which is always nice. It leaves my skin smelling sweetly scented and smooth.

The Righteous Butter

I think this is my favourite product of the lot. It's a gorgeous smelling body moisturiser, but I've also used it on my face and neck 'cause I like it so much. As you can see, it comes in a big mighty tub so it will take ages to run out. The tag line says your skin will be so smooth that 'you'll swear your wearing velvet', and this is really accurate and it made my skin feel so silky and fresh, especially after exfoliating. The smell is so sweet and lovely and I get little whiffs of it all day long. My boyfriend and mom both commented on the nice smell, but don't worry it's not overpowering at all, it's just like a little subtle scent.

Hair Turban

My sister used to have one of these (not exactly sure what happened to it) and I was constantly stealing it so I'm pretty pleased to know have my own. It's so useful when I'm applying moisturiser and make-up and want to keep my annoying little hairs out of the way.

Sexy Mother Pucker

What a cheeky little name! I see what they did there ;) This naughty little lip gloss gave me quite a surprise. I applied it to my lips and started to feel a tingling sensation. It was then i realised it was lip-plumping gloss. I got quite excited then as I've never owned one before. The cool tingly stops after a minute or so. My lips looked noticeably pouty and I'm always drawn to glosses and lipsticks with scents and this one smells like marshmallow. Win win.

Mist Me Madly

I don't use body mists regularly it's usually perfume for me, but since the weather is heating up, this will be perfect for shoving in my bag on a hot day. The scent is light and sweet, not too much so could be worn as an accompaniment to perfume during the day without overpowering the smell or mixing together. I also love the bottle shape, it reminds me of a potion :3 Admittedly, it's not my normal kind of scent, it's a bit soft for my regular taste, but it makes for a refreshing spritz when I need cooling down.

Have you people tried any Soap and Glory products? What do you think of them? If not, hope my little review helped you guys :) Laterzz.

Umberto Giannini Glam Hair Backcomb In A Bottle - Reviewed.

WONDER PRODUCT ♥

If, like me, you have fine hair and struggle to get it big and bouncy, you need to try Umberto Giannini Glam Hair - Backcomb In A Bottle. The sleek and stylish bottle should be enough to attract the eye, but the results certainly will have you rushing back to the shops to get more.

The product claims to create the look and texture of back-combed hair without the inevitable damage and tangle and guess what people - it actually does :| After spritzing into a few sections of my hair and styling it in 

My advice is quite simply go out and get this NOW.

Have you used this or a similar product?

This is an older review from my tumblr blog Bambino Sayz,  but I wanted to share it on here 'cause I love this product :)

New ID i-Volumise - Reviewed.

Yesterday, a women approached my friend  Laura and I and offered us a chance to get our hair styled, facials, and have a photoshoot, Sounds pretty interesting, no? We also recieved free New ID i-Volumise mascaras and 'cause I don't get free stuff often, I thought I go ahead and do a little review for you doods.

I tend to go for lengthening mascaras rather than volumising, so I was curious to try this one. The case is chunky and funky and looks expensive. The wand is reaaaally thick and I was surprised at how short the actual wand was ahaa I thought this was gonna make it hard to maneuver but it was really easy to use.

After using it, my eyelashes look really thick and blacker than black after only about three coats of mascara. What I always hear people complaining about cheap mascaras is that they tend to clump if you aren't careful. You guys will be pleased to hear I didn't get one single clump with i-volumise wahhh :) The coating looks natural and thank god, un-spidery.

Now, there's just the unpleasant matter of the bill muaha.The lady says it's priced at a pretty hefty £23, but I've found it online for a more reasonale £15, so to be honest, I don't know what she's chatting :')

Sooo guys, the overall thoughts coming outta my brain. If you're searching the beauty couters in vain for a volumising mascara, try this one out. it does exactly what is says on the tin. Case, whatever. It's not a cheap brand so it doesn't clump and it comes off easily. Plus, it looks nice. I'm still more into lengthening ones if I'm honest, but it would work really well with statement bright make-up for a night out or party :)

Oooooo FYI, my top is from the super shtylin' peeps at Narzipan

Checkit.

www.narzipan.com

Kevin Murphy Colour Bug - reviewed.

So I've wanted to try the ombre hair trend for quite some time now, so when Kevin Murphy released these new color bugs, I bought one straight away. The color bug uses 'hair powder' to add temporary colour and comes in a small dome shape applicator that's easy to hold and control.

They come in a choice of orange, purple and pink and because I wasn't sure how it would show on my dark hair I chose purple. It is very easy to apply however it is rather time consuming and messy, I'd recommend draping a towel over your shoulders to protect your clothes as that powder goes everywhere!

It did take me quite a long time to get any sort of noticeable colour on the tips of my hair, but after some perseverance, you can clearly see the results :) I realised after taking the shots they weren't very clear due to the light so I took a some more to show you the vivid colour.
Because of how powdery this product is (my fingers have turned my laptop keys purple :'] ) I don't think it's intended for everyday use. It would look amazing on a night out, party or any other special occasion :D
I'm seriously considering getting my sister to dye my tips now... hmmm.. watch this space ;)
If you'd like to purchase one, you can order them online here