First Impressions: Anastasia Beverly Hills DipBrow Pomade.

DipBrow Pomade by Anastasia Beverly Hills is a product I've been lusting after for quite some time. If you're an avid reader of my blog, then you'll probably know that I've been using Eyeshadow as brow powder for quite a while as I struggled to get a product which matached my brows. I finally took the plunge and invested in some Dipbrow and thought i'd share my first impressions of it with you.

Product: Anastasia Beverly Hills - Dipbrow Pomade (Taupe & Medium Brown)

Price: £15.00 each

Shade Purchased:  Taupe & Medium Brown.

Packaging:  I have to say, I adore the packaging on these. The product comes in a thick glass pot with a black plastic screw lid which features the logo on top. These look and feel luxurious in every way. Has to be some of the best packaging i've seen in a while.

First thoughts: I've been using a taupe eye shadow as a brow product for a fair few months now and when I heard a taupe DipBrow was available, I dived straight in. Unsurprisingly, it's love at first swatch with these for so many reasons. They have the most amazing staying power - they do not budge when set. They are easy too apply - I use an angled brush to apply mine, however, if you are used to a powder product, it will take some getting used to as applying these as it takes a different technique to get them blended correctly and looking natural due to the gel/mousse type formula. I'm still getting to grips with them at the moment, but i'm loving experimenting how they look.

On first impressions I'm definitely glad I took the leap and ordered them online and I'm looking forward to testing them further before I give my full review on them.

 I'd love to hear from you if you've used the Anastasia DipBrow Pomade and your top tips on how you apply them! Let me know in the comments!

Em xxx

My Top Tips for dealing with the Blogger Blues!

Sometimes the blogger blues gets hold of us all and no matter how positive we are about ourselves and our blogs... it often gets us down. I try my hardest to not compare myself to other bloggers, other writers, photographers or women, but no matter how hard I try, you can't always win against human nature. I admit, a least once a month, I may have a little sob, or a little wobble about how much time i'm spending on my blog, and if it's worth it. 

I, like many of you - put myself under great pressure. My Photographs must be perfect, my writing must be eloquent and my make up application - flawless. I'm a historic over achiever and I go from uninterested to absolutely obsessed at the flick of a switch. I've always read blogs, always searched for reviews, but It wasn't until I was actively encouraged by some like minded ladies on the internet did I start one. And now i'm here. Wittering on, almost seeming like I know 'how to blog' but the truth is, I don't - if anything I know less now than when I started as my eyes have been opened to new platforms and ways of working which I never knew existed before. 

There are a few ways I personally deal with the blogger blues they range from the sensible to soulful, but they get me through those moments.

1. It's okay to cry.

Yep, that's right, Let it go. You're upset because that blogger has the best pictures of a lipstick you've ever seen in your life. You didn't get invited to that event, you don't have as many followers... the list goes on. If any of these things get you down -  that's okay! Sometimes they get me down too. When these things happen, I like to have a sob fest and sulk in my bedroom. Jealousy is only natural, and it's how you deal with it that makes a difference. After I've finished having a little cry, I like to use it as a learning curve, and work harder and stronger. If you really want to be great at something, you have to work for it, and inspire yourself.

2. Compare your first blog post with your last.

The following two images were taken 6 months apart - from my first blog post and my last.

In the past 6 months since I started my blog, not only have I massively improved my make up collection, writing and confidence - but also my photography skills. It's easy to forget where you started when you only look at where you want to be.

Both images were taken by myself with the exact same camera. It's funny how much difference there is! It's a great visual reference for how hard I've worked and how much effort I've put in. 

3. Snap back to reality.

If you're not a full time blogger and you compare yourself to somebody who is - you're going to have a bad time. I spend at least 30 hours a week blogging, often much longer. I do this on top of the 50 hour week I currently work. 

Comparing myself to somebody who has 50 hours more time to focus on blogging will never work in my favour and it's important to remember that often the best blogs grow organically and at the right time. Blog for you, for the right reasons. Don't blog to become the next person with 5 million subscribers. The Sooner you snap back to reality and focus on your blog, instead of your expectations... the happier you'll be.

I hope my top tips came in useful and I'd love to hear yours! Let me know in the comments!

Em xxx

Kadalys Banana Balm Review!

As a beauty blogger, I'm fortunate that I get to try new products that I haven't heard of before. I've recently been testing out a product which is brand new to me - Kadalys Banana Balm*.

Although the Kadalys Banana Balm is new to the UK, it has earn't quite the 'cult' product status in France (so i'm told). Packed full of organic extracts and natural oils. This is a product that from the outside is a must have. 

I've been testing the Banana Balm over the past 2 weeks and I have to say that at first I wasn't too sure about it, but after giving it a fair chance - I've been won over. I've been wearing this balm every night before I go to bed, most mornings when I wake up and after using my Lush Lip Scrub. I have to say that the combination of the Lush lip scrub and the Kadalys Banana Balm has turned into a little dream team. They just seem to be working so well together, exfoliating and nourishing. 

And let me just tell you about how this product smells... I'm a massive fan of banana milkshake, banana ice cream, banana anything. This banana balm smells like a cross between an american banana milk shake and a foamy banana in the best possible way. I love how this stuff smells. When it arrived i think I spent a good five minutes sat at my desk just sniffing it and talking about it. However, just because it smells like banana, doesn't mean it tastes like it and that's true with this product. It doesn't have a bad taste, I find it doesn't really taste of anything, but I was a tad disappointed that it didn't taste as good as it smelt when wearing it.

Overall, I'm pleasantly surprised with this product and it's earn't it's keep as my go to post exfoliate lip balm. 

I'd love to hear about your favourite lip balms! What products should I try next? 

Let me know in the comments.

Em xxx

Bourjois Delice De Poudre Duo Review!

When I heard that Bourjois were relasing a Delice De Poudre Duo* I couldn't contain my excitement. I love that contouring is so mainstream now, as there are so many more products available on the high street at affordable prices. I've previosuly used the Delice De Poudre Bronzer, or Chocolate bronzer as I like to call it, for many years both as a contour and as a bronzer. 

On first swatch the bronzer seemed just like I remembered it. On the cusp of being slightly too warm for my skin tone, but light enough to be acceptable. In small doses, and with a light hand, the bronzer works on pale skin, but i'd treat it just as that- a bronzer . The thing about pale skin and contouring is that a lot of high street products don't tailor for are the 'grey tones'. Contouring is more about creating a shadow, rather than warmth, and after trying so many other fantastic products, I wouldn't go back to using this as a contour as it's just too orange for my liking. However, In terms of introducing some warmth, it works well!

If you watched my Dewy Summer Skin Tutorial then you may have seen that I'm currently using the Venus eyeshadow from my Naked Basics palette as a highlighter as it's working really nicely with my skin tone. However, I'm always keen to try new products and going back to one of my old loves was something I was looking forward to... especially with new edition of the highlighter all in one palette. 

However, that excitement seemed to be short lived with this palette. I swatched it on my arm, and nothing. Nada. I could barely see anything... and was like what? Have you ever been so let down that you just didn't know what to do with yourself? The problem with this highlighter, is that it's not very pigmented, and as a pale kid, one thing you need is a highlighter with a good colour payoff so it doesn't look caked on or camouflaged. The problem with this one, is that it's just not working for me. I have to run the brush over the product so many times to just get a natural glow, and that just doesn't cut it for me these days. 

I guess i'd use this Duo palette for the bronzer, or an emergency highlighter - but in terms of every day use... it's not the product for me.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this Delice De Poudre Duo Palette and if it's working for you! Let me know in the comments!

Em xxx

The Blindfolded Make Up Challenge!

Ever wondered how your makeup would look if your makeup artist was blindfolded whilst applying it? I recently teamed up with one of my favourite bloggers and friends - April from Beauiface Blog to do just that! We created these fabulous make up looks using some of our favourite products from our makeup bags and filmed it for you all too see! 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on how we did! Let me know in the comments.

Em xxx

Bourjois Shine Edition Lipstick Review!

 

 If you're looking for a 'My Lips But Better' lipstick then this may well be the post for you. I picked up the Bourjois Shine Edition Lipstick (shade 26) In the Bourjois Paris Goodie bag I was so generously given at Graduate Fashion Week last month.

As you guys know, I'm a massive fan of a natural nude and pink lip and when I had a little rummage through my Bourjois bag I didn't really think much of this lipstick, purely based on the packaging alone. I'd never heard of the Bourjois Shine Edition range, nor had I ever had an interest in shiny glossy lipsticks.

A few weeks after I received it, curiosity got the better of me. When I opened the tube and realised that the lipstick wasn't the horrendous warm brown shade that the bottom of the tube suggested, but was in fact a gorgeous natural pink I was pleasantly surprised.

I love how close to my natural lip colour this lipstick actually is and it's what I like to call a 'lazy girl lipstick' as the colour works well to enhance the natural shade, with minimal effort. It also fades throughout the day in a natural way, meaning I don't find myself with lipstick left on the outer edges of my lips and nothing in the middle, which is certainly never a good look when you're glued to your desk at work with no mirror in sight. I'd say you get around 4-5 hours with this one. it's not the most long lasting, but as it's such a natural shade, it's no fuss to reapply - when you eventually get around to it.

This Bourjois Shine edition lipstick has unexpectedly found it's way into my go to lip product pile and honestly, I only wish I'd started wearing it sooner.

I'd love to hear about your favourite 'My lips but better' lipsticks. Which brands should I try next? Let me know in the comments.

Em xxx

First Impressions: A Cohorted Urban Decay Electric Palette

Sometimes a new product comes out that is both incredibly amazing and scary at the same time. For me, that product is the Urban Decay Electric Palette. I've seen so many breathtaking looks on various social media sites that have been created using this palette and let me just tell you, they are amazing.

I recently won a mini Twitter competition and recieved £25 worth of points for Cohorted. In case you don't know, Cohorted is a 'new type of social shopping' where people shop in groups to drive down the prices on products. To simplify, it means, the more people who want an item, the cheaper it becomes for everyone! Cool right?

The Urban Decay Electric Pressed Pigment palette usually retails at £38.00. However, I was on a bus on my way to SpaceNK and noticed on twitter the palette was up as a Cohort, so I did what any self respecting blogger would do... I shopped, on my iphone and joined the Cohort. I Bought in to the palette at £29.49, which was already at an almost £10 discount... and after using my £25 winnings It meant that the palette was mine for the amazing price of £4.49! 

Although it gets better... because I joined the cohort before it closed and spaces were still available... the price went down even lower... to £27.36. Making this palette the very best £2.36 I've ever spent in my life.

Let's talk about the palette. The click. It makes the most satisfying click when you open and close it. One cannot talk about this palette without mentioning that. The colours. I think I stared at them for a solid few days before I even dared swatch them. They're so bright, so vivid and crying out for crazy makeup to be created using them. The swatch. It's a case of love at first swatch for some of these colours. I have to say that my favourites on first swatch are Jilted and Freak. I'm not sure why, but those are just really doing it for me. This will probably all change as soon as they get anywhere near my face... so stay tuned to find out if my favourites change.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this palette and see any looks you've created using it! Which swatch is your favourite? Let me know in the comments!

Em xx

LUSH Popcorn Lip Scrub Review!

 

I've been a bad beauty blogger and I've neglected LUSH for far too long. I was so obsessed with the store when I was younger and used to revel in saving up a few pounds to go there and spend it all on one single solitary piece of soap. I recently popped in to the LUSH store I used to frequent as a teenager and picked up the Popcorn Lip Scrub.

I'd noticed that my lips were chapped and desperately in need of exfoliating, and after putting off buying this because I had the bright idea of 'making my own' and hadn't actually got around to doing it (as predicted) so instead I picked this one up for the mere price of £5.50.

One of the things that attracted me to this product is that there are no nasties in the ingredients. I can read and pronounce every item on the list and I'd even cooked with half of them.

And let me just tell you about the smell... If you're a fan of salted caramel or sweet and salty popcorn, you will love how this product smells. It also tastes on the salty side of salted caramel, but it's not unpleasant.

The Lush Popcorn Lip Scrub is really easy to use. You take a small amount of the scrub on your finger and simply rub it over your lips. I like to use small circular motions for around 30 seconds. When you're happy you can simply wipe it off, or *shudder* lick (i hate that word) it from your lips. I like to go for the wiping with a clean tissue option because It makes me feel a little bit classy.

I love that this product actually works. I know that sounds odd, but so many products these days claim to do something they don't and it's actually refreshing to see one which works, and works well. My lips feel softer, smoother and in much better condition after using this product and it is one i'll certainly be reaching for twice a week from now on.

Have you tried a Lipscrub or even made your own? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Let me know in the comments!

Em xxx

3 Tips to get the most out of Bloggers Love Fashion Week

The first Bloggers Love Fashion Week took place in March this year. Now it's back and I've been asked to attend as a VIB, and I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about this.

For those of you who don't know, Bloggers Love Fashion Week is a 3 day event which takes place in the heart of London's West End - Leicester Square. Packed full of top brands showcasing their latest collection and bloggers from all over the country, it's certainly not one to be missed.

Bloggers Love Fashion Week was pretty much my first ever large scale blogger event. I'd been blogging for 2 months when I attended, and as a newbie to the blogging world it was both petrifying and exciting at the same time.

Like most things, the most important thing to remember about blogger events is, you get out what you put in and if you plan in advance, you can get so much out of it, so I've decided to write out my top 3 tips to make the most out of this 3 day event.

1. It's cool to get there on time!
If you're shy at blogger events, haven't made a blogger date, or wimp out of talking to other people (like me) then try and get to the event bang on time, or better still...early! You'll likely find that less people are there, and if there's just 3 of you in a massive room, you could find yourselves chatting away and making friends naturally, without the added worries of walking into a room full of people you may not know.

2. Set youself a goal of _____  people to talk to each night.
I've recently set myself a target of 2. When I go to events, I aim to meet and talk to 2 new people - per event. Harder than it sounds, but the past few events I've been to, I've surprised myself, got out of my comfort zone and smashed my target!

3. Lights, Camera, Action!
You don't need a fancy camera to be a blogger as you can take some fantastic photos on camera phones these days, however, if you are taking a DSLR or similar to a blogging event, one thing to take into consideration is that the light may not always be on your side. I have a Toplight that I bought for my Canon 600D and it was probably the best £20 I've ever put towards my blog. If you have a choice between a new outfit or a light for the event... screw the clothes and buy a light. I get so much use out of mine, and my value LED light I find works better than the £100+ Calumet Top light I have for pro use in work. You'll be amazed at how much difference good lighting makes to your photographs.

So there you have it. My top 3 tips to help you at BLFW. I hope they're even remotely useful, and I can't wait for next month to roll around for the pre party!

Are you going to Bloggers Love Fashion Week? Let me know in the comments! 

Em xxx

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet, Frambourjoise Review!

As a massive fan of a matte lip, I was super excited to try out the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet lipstick in Frambourjoise*! I'd been wanting to introduce some colour into my life and having been lucky enough to receive a few of these in a goody bag at an event, I made sure I got stuck in and gave it a go.

There are eight shades in the Rouge Edition Velvet line, and the lipsticks have a lightweight texture and provide an intense colour pay off. One of the things I really like about the them is that they're a sort of lipstick/gloss hybrid. They apply like a gloss with the wand applicator and dry to a vibrant matte finish like a lipstick.

I find the best way to apply for an even coverage is to apply in two layers. I apply one layer, and run a clean finger over it to make sure it's evenly distributed and then go back in with the wand to seal the deal. Be warned, it is a bit of a stainer on the lips so if you go outside your lip line or smooth it out with your finger, make sure you clean that up sooner rather than later.

In terms of wear-ability, I find the colour works well with my pale skin tone, and i'll even go as far to say that I've found my new red.

It's certainly one i'll be adding to my main collection, and when I build up the courage to wear more bright lipsticks out of the house, this will be one i'll be reaching for.

Have you tried any of the Rouge Edition Velvet Lipsticks? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Let me know in the comments.

Em xxx