Too Many Lip Products in One Bag

I know that we are all guilty of this. Keeping a ridiculous amount of lip products in the bag that we are currently using. Let's face it, most of us probably have at least three lip balms on the go at once. But we are women. We like options. What if we don't fancy a red lip? Or sometimes we need to change the look from day to night. Or sometimes it's too windy for the lipgloss and a switch to lipstick is needed.
When I tipped my bag out, these were the lip products that I found...

Everyone needs a good lipbalm. The one that I am currently carting around (I say this as I have three next to my bedside table and at least another few on my desk) is the Blue Maybelline Baby Lips. This is just a great standard lip balm; it's clear and with SPF20.  
Yes I am carrying around two of the Revlon ColorStay Moisture Stains. But these are jsut incredible! I have Stockholm Chic,  which is a great deep orange with just a slight bit of shimmer and New York Scene, a classic blue based red. You glide these on in the morning and they're there all day! Having now been to both of these places as well, I can truly appreciate them!
The Topshop Sheer Lips in Play With Fire, was a great sale find. I picked this up and a few others (see here) for only £3. It's a great medium coverage in a pastel like orange. It seems that you can no longer get this particular colour, but there are still some available on sale.
Who doesn't have a Rimmel Lasting Finish Kate Moss Lipstick? I have colour 110 and it's a great reddy-orange; perfect for those days when you don't quite want a red lip but you still want something bold. (Yes there is a pattern emerging here with the oranges...)
The Stila Lip Glaze in Kaleidoscope was really in there for a weekend of family gatherings and has just remained in there. However it's comforting to have a nude with a bit of sparkly is never far away.
I think that Tanya Burr's Lipgloss in Chic is one of my all time favourites. I don't need to rave about these as everyone already knows how good they are, but this is basically the perfect nude. And just so wearable!

All in all, I think I have justified the need for all of these products, as I'm sure everyone else would with theirs!

How many lip products do you currently have in your bag?

xoxo

Current Obsession: Using Things Up

(Can you believe there is a Czech film called Empties?! This was the first thing that came up when I was perusing potential images for the top of this post; I couldn't not use it.)

Does anyone else sometimes go through this phase? Where you suddenly seem to an have an overwhelming need to try and use up every single product that you have open? Is it normal?
I think for me it began when I was roaming the States before I left. I was extremely concerned about the weight of my lugagge. When I moved out there I only had my hand lugagge and one big case; I left with an overflowing large case and a giant holdall that I had had to buy for the rest of my stuff. (I had a grand total of nearly 60kg; I had nightmares and constant anxiety about carting all of this stuff around).
Thus in attempt to lighten 'my load', I frantically tried to use up everything that I possibly could. Face wash, shower gel, shampoo, nail varnish base coats (Sorry No7, but you had gone gloopy), travel size body lotions (Thanks Ben for inevitably then squeezing out way more than I thought possible from that tube), etcetc. Although this probably all made minimal, if any difference at all, it made me feel a tiny bit more at ease.
And so since coming home it seems as if I have subconciously become obsessed with using up everything that I possibly can. I know we all find it pretty satisfying when we do in fact use up an entire concealer or finally let go of a mascara that we really should have stopped using a long time ago. But I am taking this to a whole new level, and using waaaay more of something than I need to in order to finish it quicker.

Here are then are the products that I have now used up or am in the process of!

Aromatherapy Associates - Rose Collection, Moisturiser, Cleanser, Face Mask

When trying to organise my ridiculous amount of stuff (still a work in progress), I discovered a sample size set of these. I do believe they came free from a magazine. I have since then encorporated the Renewing Rose Cleanser into my evening routine and the Triple Rose Renewing Moisturiser. Am yet to try the Rose Face Mask, but so far the other products aren't too shabby. Only problem for me is that I am not fan of the rose scent. 

Micellar Cleansing Waters

Remeber when these suddenly emerged onto the scene and everyone instantly fell in love with them? Well I am still pretty much on that bandwagon. I took the Garnier one with me...and then brought the rest of it back. Only to then remember that I still have my original L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution. Awks. 

Soap&Glory Heel Genius Amazing Foot Cream Marvel

The smell of this always reminds me of first year; it was an integral part of my evening routine. Then that particular Heel Genius went a bit odd and only gave out greenish water... But this always comes in the giant Soap&Glory Christmas boxes and so I always have one lurking. This summer I am really trying to use it every night and actually put it to good use. Definitely seems to be keeping my feet looking fairly decent! 

Mascaras

Why is it we always end up with way more mascaras than we are ever going to use? I finally let my Maybelline The Falsies go. Definitely a repurchase needed (when I've used all the others up!) Currently trying to force myself into using the Physicians Formula Organic Wear mascara; you know the one that comes in that green leaf packaging. It's just really, meh. The brush is tiny and the mascara itself just doesn't really do anything. The love, sorry mascara, of my life, my trusty Lancome Hypnose is however on it's last legs. Not to mention Soap&Glory Thick and Fast; one of those is always lurking (see above for why). 

Moisturisers

Preface: I have enough mositurisers to last a bloody lifetime. Currently working through Hollister Crescent Bay (which is in very different packaging to the current one, but the product itself seems to improve with age), Garnier Summer body; I have both light and deep. Deep?! What was I thinking?! And a Boots Natural Collection Vanilla Body Lotion which you can no longer even still get. Don't worry though, other than the really nice smell you're not missing much with that one. 

Believe me, I could carry on here. But I will let you some time to consider the products that you're trying to use up subconsciously!

xoxo

Maybelline The Falsies

I have had this post on the back burner for quite a while...I really wanted to give this mascara a really good and proper review. We, bloggers, youtubers, everyone, alike all know that this is Tanya Burr's favourite mascara and although that is credit enough to it, I feel like when a big name blogger like Tanya expresses these kinds of views you then tend to only ever hear that that's why people love something.
Now don't get me wrong...I bought it because if Tanya Burr loves it, it's not going to be bad is it?!

I only brought to the States with me my Lancome hypnose mascara which I adore, but I felt like I needed a 'drug store' version to use for more everyday. So I thought I'd give The Falsies a go; I got them in 'Black Drama' which I think just means they are a bit blacker than the original ones.

The brush is a bristle applicator and not plastic and the wand does have a little bend to it if you really work it. At first I wasn't quite liking the way the brush works and it came across a little clumpy. However after getting used to it, and using it everyday for weeks...I do love it. It makes my lashes look much longer and they are definitely thicker and blacker.
The only issue which I have with it, which has remained despite my thinking that it would go away after I perfected my technique, is that it is a bit clumpy. On one of my eyes, my eyelashes are a bit weird and overlap in odd angles (I know; and I'm sure you're imagining this a lot worse!) So it may just be because of my eyelashes, but as long as you know how to work the clumpier looking lash, then it's fine. And it is worth the length this gives you, without being spidery!

So overall I would definitely recommend The Falsies. It reminds me of Max Factor's Falsh Lash Effect, that I loved throughout my teens, but this is most definitely better!

You can get Maybelline (Volum' Express) The Falsies at Walgreens here for $7.79 or at Boots here for £7.99.

Are you a Falsies fan?

(Falsies has started to sound so weird after writing this!)

xoxo

Post Essay Treats! | Oh My Haul

So firstly I must apologise for my lack of blogging of late; The Kazlight Anthem had to take a seat on the back burner for a bit whilst I worked on my four essays. As a student first and foremost I do have to prioritise my work! After finally submitting them last night (there's a 1/4 of my degree gone eeeekk!) I felt today was the perfect time to do absolutely nothing at all except treat myself to some new beauty purchases.3 for 2 offers are both heaven and hell for beauty addicts; I went in to The Body Shop to get one thing and yes, came out with 2 other things...

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder in 02 fair matte. I saw this bad boy in a recent collaboration with essiebutton and Fleur De Force; Estée said she used this as it was the perfect non brown/orange bronzer which sounded perfect to me! Being from Essex I aim at all costs to avoid any sort of orange or overtly tanned look so this seemed the perfect solution.

As I said 3 for 2 is a dangerous business...

Amelia from Liana Beauty raved about this product (here) and I had been eyeing it up ever since. Despite the fact that I reeeeally didn't need another cleanser...but I am very excited to try this Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil.

                                                  

I gave up trying to align this...

The final product I picked up was the Extra Virgin Minerals Loose Powder Foundation, SPF 25 in shade 102 Natural Ivory. I really liked the sound as this, as I just mentioned, I'm really not a fan of the very foundationed/-orange face and so really fancied trying a powder foundation. You shake the pot and a small amount of the foundation comes into the top section meaning you only ever have out as much as you need.

This eyeshadow just looked such a lovely colour and the formula felt really nice to try and was so pigmented! I got the shade Platinum Beige and this is the L'Oreal Paris Colour Appeal eyeshadow.

Now I already love these; they are the Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoos and these are incredible. The colour is amazing, the formula is great and they last for ages. (The bit I tested on my hand has still not washed off after numerous attempts!) Not to mention, they're only £4.99 so are a complete bargain! This is the colour On and On Bronze and it is the most gorgeous bronze colour.

And finally I picked up on the Rimmel Scandal Eyes Shadow Sticks. Now I don't really know why it took me so long to pick one of these babies up; Fleur De Force talks about them a lot and they always looks so nice! and are again, so cheap! I picked up the shade 011 Bluffing (can you see a colour theme here...) It's another gorgeous taupe-y brown shade.

I hope you enjoyed seeing the few bits that I picked up and once again I apologise for my lack of blogging! Hopefully this will keep you going for a little while whilst I sort my life out!
Also, currently to join the Love Your Body Body Shop Membership thing... it is currently free for students! I'm not sure if this is in all branches or for how long but this means you get 10% off your first purchase and from then on!

Have you been loving the 3 for 2 offers?

xoxo

Party Season Make Up

As my lovelylovely friend Lucy said, we all need to know how to nail that perfect party look 'without looking like a drag queen'. As it is the Festive Season, it is also the time for all that sparkles, glitters and twinkles. This can only mean one thing: shimmer eye shadows and lip gloss.

1. First thing's first. The Face. Think of your face as a blank canvas; making that first mark is always the hardest and so you need to prep the surface first. One of my absolute favourite products is concealer; seriously, the right one works wonders. I have been loving Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer. I use it in the colour '2 Light". I personally blend this into my skin using a Real Techniques Foundation Brush (I know, I know, the wrong brush but it's so good!), or even sometimes I just use my fingers. I apply this under my eyes, around my nose and wherever else I might have blemishes or any redness.
2. From here, foundation. As it is a party look, I think that a foundation which has illuminating features makes your face have that little extra glow and means that you are left looking even more radiant. The Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation is perfect for this; it has a slight shimmer with it, which not only wakes up but does also give your skin a lovely complexion.
3. At this point I would move on to eyes. If you have an eye shadow primer/base, now is the time to use it! If not, don't worry just take a bit of extra care when applying. If you're going for a sparkly finished look, I would use a matte shade as a base; this will enhance the shimmer and help the top layer blend better. I am currently really loving he MUA Undress Me palette; it is very similar to the Undress Me Too Palette which is a Naked palette dupe, however  I feel that the Undress Me palette could quite easily be a dupe as well! For all eye shadow needs I absolutely adore the MAC 217 brush, (it has served me better than any man ever could!) Blend your shimmer eye shadow from the inner corner of your eye to your brow bone, blending into the crease of your eye. 
4. Over the top of this I would then advise, not even suggest, advise, you to apply a little of MAC's Vanilla Pigment into the inner corner; this really opens up your eyes. Also apply this to your brow bone; it works as a wonderful highlighter. At this point fill in your brows however you wish!
5. Now Mascara. I have absolutely been. loving Avon's Mega Effects mascara so will be applying lashings of that. don't forget to curl them beforehand! This means your lashes will look even fuller and longer once mascara is then applied. 
6. As it is Winter, I also like to give my cheeks a bit of sparkle with a slightly shimmery blusher. I go for reds/pinks during this time as it gives you a nice natural outside glow. I would use either a Sleek blush or Avon Face Pearls. 
7. During this process I would have applied some lip balm of some sort (the amount of lip balms I own is beyond ridiculous; didn't stop me buying two more today though...). This just means that your lips are really ready for lipstick/gloss. I would go for some form of red; I'm really liking Sleek's Rioja Red Matte Me Lip Gloss; it is a very vibrant red. If red isn't for you, maybe try a shimmer gloss such as Soap & Glory's Sexy Mother Pucker. Whack one of these on and you're ready to go! 

Autumn Favourites

This is one of my favourite times of year, (despite the cold dropping to below double digits and it being pitch black dark before half 5). Autumn make up and clothing, I feel, is definitely one of the best. After all the bright and sunny colours of the Summer, everything moves into much more darker, warmer tones.
As I love Autumn, I thought I would share some of my favourite Autumnal products!

Lips
(From left to right) Bellapierre Super Lip gloss in 'Raspberry'. Revlon Lip Butter in 'Peach Parfait', Maybelline Baby Lips in 'Cherry Me', Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in '005 Crush', Sephora Lipstick in 'No.19' and MeMeMe Cherub's Blush Cheek and Lip Tint. 

 Face
Rimmel Stay Blushed in '001 Pop of Pink'

(From left to right) Garnier Moisture Match - Combination to Oily Skin, Benefit Triple Performance Moisturiser, Clinique All About Eyes and Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief

Hair
(From top to bottom) Herbal Essences Beautiful Ends Split End Protection Mask and L'Oreal Elvive Smooth and Polish Mask

 Nails
(From left to right) Leighton Denny 'Nude', Barry M Nail Paints in 'Raspberry' and 'Indigo' and Sinful Colours in 'Winterberry'

And of course cosy clothes!!

 What are your Autumnal favourites? 

  xoxo