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