PRODUCT REVIEW x SWATCH: Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick 08

PRODUCT REVIEW x SWATCH: Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick 08

I'm back from my week long vacation and I'm also back in school. But I wanted to do a quick post and share with you my current favorite everyday lipstick :) It's the Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish 08. I also got 01, the red lipstick Kate, yes we're on a first name basis, is wearing on the ad but that's for a later post ;)

Kate Moss Signature

Honestly, the Rimmel website is a bit frustrating as it merely shows you a picture of the swatches which you can't even zoom in on. I don't think we have Rimmel here in Manila so I had to do a bit of research to find the most suitable color for me.

For all you queens :) Here's what the website has to say about the Lasting Finish Lipstick: Rimmel’s cult classic Lasting Finish Lipstick has been redefined with Kate’s glamorous style. A collection of 9 striking shades is now infused with Black Diamond. This unique formula boasts light-reflecting power – adding depth to every pout so that you ooze the same confidence and impact on entry as Kate.

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss in 08

Kate has made her mark on this collection in every last detail. The chic matte black pack has captured her staple rock’n’roll fashion. Her runway know-how teamed with red carpet experience and in-studio spotlight are all energised into creating the perfect lipstick shades. And only at this point does she seal each with her signature.

Get a kiss from Kate with her Lasting Finish Lipstick Collection.

Used already :D The above is a picture of my already used lipstick. Isn't it so frustrating when you accidently hit the tip of your lipstick and have to bear with it?! Often happens with clumsy me :/

Swarovski Crystal Earrings from JewellerySmith

Swarovski Crystal Earrings from JewellerySmith

One of the things Nikki Bogardus told me at my colour analysis was that as a Bright Winter, I need sparkle and bling. As the budget isn't going to stretch to real gemstones any time soon, I've been scouring Etsy for good Swarovski pieces. 

I found these earrings at www.etsy.com/uk/shop/JewellerySmith. Sapphire blue Swarovski crystal drops are individually wrapped with silver wire and attached to delicate silver chains. They cost £22.95, and £2 for postage in the UK. JewellerySmith is based in the UK, so there is no risk of being stung by Customs charges either. 

Here they are worn. The drop length and colour/sparkle are absolutely perfect. I've worn the heck out of these, so I've just bought myself a red pair from the same jeweller, and I've enquired about the possibility of other colours. 

NARS BLUSH IN DOUCEUR

NARS BLUSH IN DOUCEUR

It's been a while since a make-up item made it onto my wishlist. I have my 'staple' make-up bag and if I'm honest, it's kept me pretty satisfied for a while now. However, after seeing NARS Douceur blush feature on endless blogs it quickly made its way to the top of the list. Coincidentally, I got some good grades from uni, I got paid, AND asos tempted me with 25% student discount all at the same time, so it seemed the perfect excuse to treat myself.

Douceur is my first ever product from NARS. Described as a soft pink-brown, I've read amazing things about this matte blush and I'm not disappointed. It isn't as pigmented as i'd like so I do pack quite a lot on but it creates a soft everyday hint of colour. I can see me reaching for this religiously as it blends so beautifully and I feel like it will go with lots of different looks. It is a warm colour so really brings some life to my face. If you want to see what the product looks like on, you can see me wearing it in my what's in my makeup bag video.

The only niggle I have with this product is the size. I was very surprised that it was so small (you get 4.8g of product), particularly for the hefty £21 price tag. Would I let this put me off buying more? Definitely not, but it's certainly something worth mentioning. I'd love to hear your recommendations for other NARS products as I will definitely be purchasing more in the future!

BALANCE ME SKIN BRIGHT HYDRATING FACE MIST

BALANCE ME SKIN BRIGHT HYDRATING FACE MIST

Balance Me Skin Bright Hydrating Face Mist* - £20. Balanceme.co.uk

Throughout my teenage years I suffered terribly with oily skin and acne but since stepping out of the realms of teenagerdom my skin has calmed down a LOT. Often I am finding myself with dryer skin in the mornings and my skincare regime is swiftly moving from harsh, oil-fighting products to those aimed at creating radiance and keeping my skin soft and healthy.

I've really upped my game when it comes to skincare recently (I was always a bit half-arsed with it if i'm honest) so I welcomed the introduction of this face mist from Balance Me. This beauty water contains the much raved about hyaluronic acid, pineapple and rose floral waters ,revitalising neroli and spikenard essential oils.

I've been finding that this product works best for me in the mornings AFTER I've put my makeup on. It just seems to help everything blend seamlessly together to create a natural looking base. I don't use it as a toner in the evening as I prefer to use a cotton pad and wipe my face to get rid of any left over dirt or makeup. However, it is also works well in the morning after cleansing or during the day to brighten and freshen up your skin. I don't find that it gives enough moisture to the skin to be used alone for this purpose, however.

I like that the mist is so fine that it doesn't soak your face or disturb your makeup and it smells fresh and floral. I'm not going to pretend this spray will provide mind-blowing results when used alone but it certainly makes a nice addition to my morning skincare routine. I respect Balance Me as a brand and have been more than satisfied with the products that I have tried. Although they are a bit more expensive than what I normally try, I feel they're certainly worth the money and are a pleasure to use.

VO5 PLUMP IT UP AMPLIFYING BLOW DRY LOTION

VO5 PLUMP IT UP AMPLIFYING BLOW DRY LOTION

My cupboard is absolutely full to bursting of volumising products. Everytime I go to Boots I seem to pick something new up, so as you can imagine, quite often I end up rooting through everything and finding something I used to love. This was one of those products.

This is a spray (it doesn't have any qualities of a lotion whatsoever, so I'm baffled as to why they named it this....) which you spritz through your hair before you blow dry. You can get away with using plenty of it as it literally disappears into your hair with no residue at all. I still feel the need to blow dry my hair upside down when I use this but I find it gives my big hair considerably more hold than blow drying alone. 

I have to say- the results for this are impressive. Okay, so it won't turn you into Bridgette Bardot,  but your hair is left feeling thicker and certainly more bouncy at the roots. I like that it works as a heat defence spray and therefore doesn't really require much extra effort to use. It smells pleasant and just does an all round lovely job.

BALANCE ME CLEANSE AND SMOOTH FACE BALM REVIEW

BALANCE ME CLEANSE AND SMOOTH FACE BALM REVIEW

Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm* - £20

I've been pretty big on skincare recently. Whilst my makeup drawer is overflowing (no joke, it's a good job I live in two places otherwise I wouldn't be able to store it all...) my skincare cabinet is pretty bare in comparison. Balm products seem to be all the rage at the moment (yes i'm talking about the infamous Emma Hardie cleanser) and with winter still taking it's toll on my skin, I jumped at the chance of trying this offering from one of my favourite skincare brands.

The consistency of this product isn't as I expected; it is quite an oily, runny balm which massages beautifully into the skin. After you've done this, you add a bit more water and massage again, before taking a muslin (provided) or flannel to wipe it away with warm water. Although this does require a bit of effort, it certainly gives your skin a treat, leaving it soft and clean. 

Although quite difficult to remove, this product leaves my skin feeling INCREDIBLE. Don't be afraid of it's oily texture as it moisturises your skin beautifully. My skin has a complete mind of it's own so I tend to use this on dry, dull days where my skin needs a bit of livening up. I wouldn't recommend using this as an everyday cleanser if you have oily skin, but for those with normal/dry skin it would be perfect.

I tend to use this at night mostly as it does a thorough job of getting rid of makeup, but the antioxidant ingredients leave my skin feeling so bright and full of life that it would be a perfect morning cleanser too.

LA ROCHE POSAY EFFECLAR K: MY THOUGHTS

LA ROCHE POSAY EFFECLAR K: MY THOUGHTS

Hello!
I know I know, it's been a while....

I'll admit I've taken a bit of a backseat recently. I've almost finished my second year of uni which means work work work. And to top that off I'm coming home every weekend to work as well!

Anyway, onto the review...

I'm definitely one of those people who buys straight into blogger hyped products from the high street. I'm definitely a budget girl at heart (not that I have much choice, being a student and all...) so I love a good bargain. Although i'm not entirely convinced that £13 is a drugstore price, I shelled out for the La Roche Posay Effeclar K regardless. 

 I've been using this for a LONG time now (at least 5 months, hence why it looks very loved in the picture!) and at first I wasn't crazy about it. It didn't clear up my skin, it didn't dry it out, it didn't moisturise it. Essentially, it did a big, fat nothing. I left it for a while and one day I noticed it again in my drawer so I decided to give it another go and I have to say, i'm really impressed. I can't comment that it stops you getting blemishes (although I haven't had any for a long while) but it certainly has improved the condition of my skin. When I use this at night, when I wake up my skin looks a lot clearer and brighter, particularly on my cheeks. Please don't think this is a miracle product; it hasn't helped my pores and hasn't completely cleared my scars up but it has definitely done something right! It is a milky cream which blends into your skin beautifully. The smell puts me off A LOT but I do use this religiously now. 

I tried using this before my makeup but it doesn't do much for me in terms of providing a base and I didn't notice as much a difference to when I use it at night.

Would I recommend this? Yes, totally. Although you need to give it a chance. Most of the reviews I read showed results within the first few days and initially I was disheartened. However, this has become a staple in my skincare routine and i'd definitely suggest you give it a go.