L'Oreal Infallible Sexy Balm

Hi everyone! I know my last post was also on a L'Oreal product however I also have another face mask post coming out soon and I didn't want to do two face mask posts in a row, so I decided on a post centering around the L'Oreal Infallible Sexy Balms. I picked up two of these from Boots, mostly because I'd seen them around online and they sounded like my ideal products! I'm not into matte lips at all, I own hardly any matte products just because the finish really isn't for me. So any creamy lip products are absolutely perfect for me, especially as Autumn is approaching and my lips tend to be a lot more dry around this time of year. 

These are described as a 'moisturising gel balm with a weightless velvet texture and vibrant pigments for a true kick of colour'. What I love about these is that there is also two finishes you can choose from, sheer or bold and they have different colours for each finish. I actually chose two from the sheer selection, just because I really love subtle lip shades, I basically never wear a bold lip shade, for me I just love the 'my lips but better' look so if you're like me then I think you'll love these! There isn't the biggest shade range however which isn't the best, but I feel like with the shades they do offer there is something for everyone. 

One of my issues with this product, and to be honest it's probably the only thing I don't like about it, is the packaging. I feel like it just looks cheap, these are a really affordable product at £4.99 each but I feel like L'Oreal usually has nicer packaging than this, it just doesn't really match the rest of the brand for me. The applicator also isn't my favourite, as you can see it kind of reminds me of a felt tip style applicator kind of like a chubby stick, which just isn't as nice to use as the standard applicator you would find with a regular lipstick. You twist these up from the bottom similar to a lipstick and you actually do get a lot of product so don't be deceived by first impressions! To be honest though I can look past the packaging and the applicator because I absolutely LOVE the formula of these!

102 Gossip, 103 As If

The shades I chose were 102 Gossip and 103 As If, probably the most neutral out of all the shades which is so typical of me but I'm all for playing it safe! The reason I love these so much is because for a product which is essentially a tinted lip balm, for me it performs much more like a lipstick, they remind me of a cremesheen finish lipstick but a lot more balmy and moisturising. For a lip balm the colour pay off is so nice, you can see in the swatch picture that while they are quite sheer they still apply colour really nicely and they look so pretty on the lips. I would say both the shades I got are pinky nudes, with 102 Gossip being a bit lighter and a lot more on the baby pink side but not too light so that it washes you out and 103 As If is slightly more mauvey, definitely a 'my lips but better shade'. If I had to pick a favourite it would probably be 103 As If, but I really do love them both and would recommend either of them to anyone who loves subtle lip shades. In terms of staying power it was kind of what I expected from a lip balm, it lasts really well when just sitting on the lips but doesn't really stand a chance if you're eating or drinking a lot. 

I really think these are going to be one of my go to lip products towards the end of the year, especially as it starts to get colder because these are so moisturising and leave your lips feeling so soft! These really are such pretty shades as well, perfect for anyone who loves neutral lips like me, plus they're so affordable for £4.99 each. Let me know in the comments if you've tried these and what you think!

L'Oreal Pure Clay Glow Mask

Hi everyone! I have really been on a major skincare kick recently because my skin at the minute is probably the worst it has ever been in years, I don't know if it's because I've been feeling really stressed but I've been breaking out constantly which never really happens to me, and my skin is so dull and tired looking all the time. If anyone has any good skincare recommendations please let me know in the comments because I'm on the hunt to find new products that will work for me! Having such an issue with my skin at the minute has led to me changing my skincare routine around and I've started using more face masks, I actually really enjoy using face masks, I feel like it's less of a chore than your nightly skincare routine and they always feel like a nice treat. I'd seen that L'Oreal had released three pure clay face masks targeted at different skin issues, they have a purity mask to mattify the skin, a detox mask to clarify the skin and finally the one I have which is the glow mask that brightens and exfoliates the skin. I definitely need to work on my skin's glow at the minute, it's severely lacking which is why I choose this one, however I would also like to try the detox mask which has charcoal in it as I love charcoal masks and they've always worked for me in the past.

I had seen these online quite a lot before I actually went into Boots and bought one but I found that they are so much bigger in real life than how they look in pictures, the box says you will get 10 applications out of this and there is 50ml of product but after using it a few times I definitely think I will get more than 10 applications out of this! This mask is created of three pure clays which are koalin, known to absorb impurities and excess sebum, montmorillonite, recognised for helping to eliminate imperfections and ghassoul, renowned to help clarify the complexion combined with red algae extract which is known for it's brightening properties, the packaging claims that the "beaded creamy texture illuminates tone by exfoliating the skin's surface without drying it out". I'm really into exfoliating products at the minute because of how dull my skin is, however my skin is also dry so I do need to be careful that it won't be too drying.

I actually love the packaging of this, it's in quite a heavy glass pot with a little cover inside the lid to keep the product fresh, it doesn't come with any form of applicator though so I just use my fingers to apply. 

The claims that this mask has a beaded creamy texture is definitely 100% accurate, I've never actually tried a product like this before for a face mask I feel like it's so different. When I first applied it I was a bit worried it would be drying on me as I could tell at the same time it would be really exfoliating. You leave the product on for 5-10 minutes and then remove with a wet towel or warm water, what I found was that it is very creamy and doesn't dry like other face masks which will crack after about 10 minutes. You actually look a little bit crazy when it's on, it looks like you've put some really dodgy fake tan on but that really doesn't bother me! One really good thing about this product is that it was really easy to take off, I absolutely hate when a face mask doesn't want to budge and then it ends up all over your towels and in your hair while you've been trying to scrub it off! After I had taken it off my skin definitely did feel a lot smoother and cleaner, thankfully it didn't dry my skin out either. It definitely didn't hydrate my skin at all but didn't make it feel any drier so I think it's great to use this and then apply a moisturiser straight after so it will sink really nicely into the skin.

I bought this from Boots for £7.99 which I think is a very good price considering how much usage I will get out of it, it didn't change the whole texture of my skin so I wouldn't go round saying this was a miracle mask or the best mask I've ever used, but it did make my skin a lot smoother and help to exfoliate but I personally feel like it didn't leave my skin any brighter. I do like this mask and will use it up and it does perform well but it didn't leave me massively raving about it however for the price I'd still recommend you trying it and seeing if it works for you. Let me know in the comments your favourite face masks as I'm on the hunt to try more!

Too Faced Born This Way Concealer

Hi everyone! Just wanted to mention that this is my 100th blog post which I think is so crazy! I've seen a few comments on my recent posts about people being interested in reading a review on this product so I've finally got round to writing one! I bought the Too Faced Born This Way concealer in a Sephora in Rome so it's fairly new in my makeup bag and I wanted to wait a little while before reviewing it so I could know fully how much I liked it. The Too Faced Born This Way foundation is one of my favourites, it's quite expensive but definitely worth the money so when I had seen that Too Faced were releasing a concealer to go with the foundation I was so excited. I don't own too many high end concealers, the only experience I've really had with one was the Nars Creamy Concealer which I did love, I'd wanted to try the Urban Decay Naked Skin concealer for ages however Too Faced took priority for me when they released theirs as I love them so much, so the UD one is definitely next on my list!

The packaging is standard Too Faced, so pretty and girly and it is basically identical to the Born This Way foundation packaging. You get 7ml of product which I think is pretty standard for a concealer and it has a doe foot applicator. Similarly to the foundation it contains coconut water to replenish skin moisture levels, alpine rose to brighten, and hyaluronic acid for a smoother more youthful appearance. It also claims to provide a natural undetectable, smooth, creaseless finish and a "no makeup" look. I'm also al for natural looking products, I very rarely want to wear something too heavy it's just not for me, plus I have very dull dry skin so anything moisturising and brightening is also something I go for. I do need coverage when it comes to concealer though because I do have quite dark under eyes.

I love the applicator I feel like it's the perfect size, one thing I noticed straight away with this product and it's such a strange thing to point out, but how flexible and smooth the wand is to use, even when you're putting the wand back into the bottle it feels really smooth, it's so hard to describe definitely something you'd have to experience yourself to get what I'm saying, this is probably my favourite applicator for any concealer I've used. It also doesn't affect your base makeup when you apply it which does bug me about some products.

I have mine in the shade fair, which is light with pink undertones, there are 10 shades available which I think is good for a concealer, I'm really pleased with the shade I picked I'm so bad for getting it wrong but this is a really good match especially for my under eyes. I think you can tell from the swatch that the formula has a very liquid consistency, it's definitely not runny though it just isn't as creamy as other concealers I've tried however I really like this, it's so hydrating and blends very well I think you just need to be careful with how much you apply as a little goes a long way. There is a scent to this which I personally don't mind but I do think it's fairly strong so anyone who isn't keen on stronger scents may not like this, I think it smells like coconut which is a scent I love with a bit of a strange undertone which is what makes me not love the smell. I don't mind it but definitely don't love it! 

My favourite thing about this product is definitely how brightening it is though, it makes me look 10x more awake as soon as I put it on my under eyes and it does blend so well plus the coverage is amazing! It covers blemishes pretty well however the under eyes is my favourite place to apply it and where I think it performs best. My only issue with this however is that because I already have fine lines under my eyes, if I don't set this with powder it will crease over time. I don't know how it performs on people with smoother skin but powder is a must for me when using this, that is one of my pet peeves with makeup, when I get home and my skin looks all creased and gross! It's not a problem with a good setting powder though which is what I've found when I had it on all day, I just wish it didn't crease because then it would be perfect! It's definitely not a cheap product at £20 which I think is a lot for a concealer, but to me it's worth the price and it's up there as one of my favourite concealers. If you have very dull skin like me that needs hydration and something that is going to brighten it up then I think you'll love this, I still want to try the UD Naked Skin concealer next so I think that's what I'll try when I've used this one up. Let me know in the comments if you've tried this and what you think!

August Favourites

Hi everyone! I can't even begin to describe how excited I am that September is finally here, normally I'd be so upset that Summer is almost over but this is the first time in years I haven't been in education so when I used to hate September and October because I had to go back to school/college/uni I can finally enjoy these months, plus Autumn is one of my favourite seasons so it's not been ruined by endless amounts of uni work! Also I go on holiday in two months which was definitely an incentive to be excited for the end of Summer as it means that it's getting closer and closer. I've tried quite a lot of new products in August so that has definitely reflected on my favourites, but I love that because I hate using the same things for months on end.

- NYX Tinted Brow Mascara in Espresso (£5.50). I've been using Maybelline Brow Drama on my brows for ages now because I didn't want to repurchase Benefit Gimme Brow because it's expensive, and it worked well but it kind of just tidied my eye brows up. This NYX brow mascara makes such a difference though it's amazing! It definitely fills in sparce areas which is one of my problems plus it holds them in place as well, I'd really recommend them if you like easy natural eye brows like me and it's really affordable.

- Herbal Essences Hello Hydration shampoo (£3.99 400ml). I only have the smaller bottle of this because I took it to Rome with me, but for an affordable shampoo I really like this, it smells of coconut and it's targeted for people with dry and damaged hair which is definitely me. I'm obsessed with shampoos that smell like coconut it's definitely my favourite scent.

- Beauty Blender (£16). It took me so long to like this product, even though it's so hyped up I really didn't like it at first, I definitely prefer make up brushes but I decided to give it another try and it really grew on me! I can understand why people love it now, I'd still most likely choose a make up brush over a sponge but that's just personal preference, it does work really well and leave a flawless finish without streaks which is my biggest issue with make up brushes.

- Sephora Kiss Me Balm in Pink Bubblegum (€6.90). I've had to add the price in euros as I bought this in Rome and they don't sell it in the UK but this is definitely one of my favourite lip balms I've ever bought. It's so moisturising plus it smells amazing and leaves a really subtle tint on the lips, so it's not full on or anything. If you get the chance to try one of these you definitely should!

- Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 4 (£37). I've talked about how much I love this before but I finally repurchased it this month and I'm so glad I did. It is the best foundation I've ever used by far, I try and use it so sparingly, I will never ever use it for work or a day where I won't see anyone because it's so expensive but I just feel so much better when I'm wearing this! I've got dry skin and if you're oily it might not be for you but I can't recommend it enough for anyone with my skin type. The shades are really good as well if you struggle to find a shade that matches you.

- Too Faced Born This Way Concealer in Fair (£20). This was another new purchase, I don't want to talk about it too much as I have a post going up on it this week but I've really been enjoying it recently, I feel like it's really different to any other concealer I've used and it works so well with the Born This Way foundation!

- MAC Lipstick in Koi Coral (£15.50). I've really not been using lipsticks that much until recently, I've either been going for lip oils or lip creams but I used this while I was away and fell in love with it again, this is definitely a perfect summer shade, I like corals but I hate when they are too bright and over the top, so this is the perfect coral for me as it's so pretty and subtle,

- Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream (£24). This is another product I'd forgotten about until recently, even though it's expensive I feel like it's such an essential in my make up bag because my skin instantly looks better and more refreshed after using it. I need to try more Kiehl's products so I might ask for some for Christmas so if you have any recommendations please let me know in the comments!

There's quite a few non-beauty favourites I've been loving this month, in particular Gilmore Girls which I'm so sad to say I've finished now! I can't believe how quickly I got through it considering there is 7 seasons at 22 episodes each and I watched it in about a month, every spare chance I got I'd binge watch it, I'm so thankful the revival starts in November! Also if Rory doesn't end up with Jess I'll be so annoyed, I don't think I've ever loved a character as much as I love Jess he's amazing. I've just started Sons Of Anarchy on Netflix now which I'm also obsessed with, I'm only just finishing the first season so I've got a long way to go but I really like it so far. I also finally read All The Bright places by Jennifer Niven this month after seeing all the hype about it, I really did love it I feel like it's such a page turner, however I was so sad at the ending! I felt really down after reading it however I can understand why it ended like that and the message it wanted to get across but still, I can't wait to see the film adaptation as well! Let me know in the comments what you've been loving this month!