Seventeen Cheek Stamp: Gimmick or Game Changer

Always one for gadgets (I have my dad and endless trips to staples to thank) I couldnt resist picking up this new launch from Seventeen. I mean, I used to go crazy for stamping when I was yay-high - you know that potato trick your mum would force upon you on a rainy day? I thought my stamping days were long gone, until I spotted this! Blusher in a stamp... who'd have thought it? Of course we have the likes of Benefit Fine One One and the Nars Multiples but I haven't seen anything in powder form.

First impressions - wow this seems cool, but does it actually do a good job? It did take a lot of getting used to and you have to get over the shock of looking very much like a clown in the few seconds before blending, but once you have conquered those fears it actually blends really well into a sun kissed rosy cheek. It reminded me a lot of the new Relvon highlighting palette actually, they both give you a similar amount of shimmer and add a very slight bronzed glow underneath the pink sheen.

To apply, I lightly (and I mean lightly!) stamp it right on the apples of my cheeks and use my blush brush from Real Techniques to get right in there and blend those perfectly stamped circles up the cheek bone towards my temples. There is a mirror on the lid of this product, which is always a great help for on the go, but I don't see this product as one to be thrown in my bag and applied on the move or throughout the day. It requires a lot of work to blend seamlessly and subtly - unfortunately not one of those blushes you can apply without actually thinking about it. One thing I did notice about this blush was it's staying power, it stayed put through a long days work and even out lasted my liquid eyeliner!

If you want a blush that gives you a wonderful glow that lasts, I would highly recommend this. However, if you don't have the patience to blend, blend, blend then maybe it's not for you.

Shade - Stare Struck £4.99

Topshop Lip Cream 'Double Take'

So I was recently jumped on by a YSL sales assistant and immediately colour matched to a lipstick, before my brain had even processed what was happening. You know, like that Michael McIntyre sketch where the sales assistant literally jumps into their lives - that was me. Anyway, the point is he actually picked out the most amazing plum shade from the Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick range and I instantly fell in love. 

Not feeling I could justify a purchase like that so spontaneously I fled the shop, and I am so glad I did... (trust me I'm going somewhere with this!) It just so happened that I stumbled across this beautiful lip cream in Topshop, which is almost identical in shade; and knowing full well how amazing Topshop's make up range is, I snapped it up immediately.

The texture is quite buttery and so applies smoothly, adding instant colour to your lips without needing to apply a lot of product. I found this lip cream lasts really well, almost like a stain. And can we just take a second to mention the colour again? dreammyyyy. It's a perfect transitional colour as we move into spring; not so bright that we're over anticipating summer's arrival, but not too dark that it should be paired with three layers and a woolly hat.

Topshop are on to another winner here, I simply cannot fault their make up range!

My Current (non beauty) Picks

I love a good beauty item, I do, but there are also many things in life that make it a whole better place, and I seem to neglect talking about such things. I am a big lover of the obvious; food, lie ins and a good ron-com. But here are the things that have been making my days that little bit brighter recently:

My Mad Fat Diary - God I love this show. Partly cause of the 90’s fashion nostalgia and party because of Nico Mirallegro (swoon). The story line is a teenage girls dream and nightmare all rolled into one. Following Rae Earl's battle through her teens is the perfect way to end a hard day of (adult) work; reliving your childhood 45 minutes at a time.

Mini Eggs - The obvious choice of Easter chocolate here. I can demolish a bag in less than half an hour, and not even feel ashamed – much to the despair of my metabolism.

Daffodils - You can’t beat fresh flowers; its basically spring in a vase! I currently have a bunch on my desk at work and at home, ever brightening a dull moment. There's just something about the colour yellow that makes you smile, I blame that infamous laughing baby in the telly tubby sun....

New Kicks - I finally took the plunge and bought some ‘cool-non-athletic-ever-clean’ trainers and I am so glad I did. My feet have been in shoe heaven! Okay so I may be reliving my teen years (I see a trend in this post) strutting around in Nike Airs but hey, anything goes these days, and if its comfortable then I don't care.

Camomile, Honey & Vanilla Tea - After a very unfortunate event involving tea, my 5 year old stomach and a stained dining room floor, I have since become an avid ‘non-tea-drinker’ only occasionally dabbling in fruit/herbal teas, but often finding they predominately smell A LOT better than they taste. However, I picked up these Sainsbury's Taste the Difference camomile, honey and vanilla pyramid teabags (cough fake tea pigs) and actually really enjoyed them, lovely to sip in bed with a good book.

So in case any of you were wondering, these are the things I enjoy in my spare time – and I do occasionally venture outdoors too… promise.

Bourjois Rice Java Powder Review

Right now my skin is about a temperamental as a two year old - having recently gone through a very dehydrated phase, it has suddenly done a 360 on me and often shines like there's no tomorrow. Before this purchase I only owned one powder (is that normal?), which is the old school Rimmel Stay Matte. Regrettably, this is normally thrown in my bag on a night out and applied more than needed, whilst balancing a gin and tonic in the other hand.

So when my skin felt like it needed a bit of TLC in the shine department I turned to this Bourjois powder. Released as part of their 150th anniversary, this powder was the brands first ever best selling product. You almost want to buy it purely on the historical factor (plus how cute is the packaging)!

Not being a big fan of face powders in general, I thought this loose 'feather light' powder would glide over my skin seamlessly whilst giving it a spot of radiance. I must admit, the product doesn't cake at all. It adds a airbrushed look and the finish is perfect; but disappointingly, and realistically, it does not last all day. Also, the smell reminds me of talc powder which I still haven't come to a verdict on...

This powder it great but it hasn't wowed me, anyone else feel the same?

Faith Restored

This post is dedicated to a few products that I've recently given a second chance - once thrown to the darkest corner of my draw to gather dust, these beauty products have now become firm faves in my routine.

I have had all of these products a while now and in time each one faded out of my make up routine for one reason or another. However, recently in a bid to rotate all of my make up, I decided to dust them off and give them another go. After falling completely out of love with them once upon a time, I now reach for these products on a daily basis...

The Bobbi Brown Corrector - how could I not love this little pot of magic. It really does work wonders, so much so that when I've scraped the last measly reminiscence from this pot, I'm heading straight to get a new one. It effortlessly corrects any dark circles and red patches you may have, creating a blank canvas for foundation.

The Real Techniques Contour Brush has nudged its way back into my Top 5 brushes and I have this (slightly) warm weather to thank. I have tried this brush for many purposes, but it's actually pretty amazing at what it's intended for - fancy that! A quick buff with good old Nars 'Laguna' to give your face a bit of colour and depth, and it's perfect for a summers day!

Another product coming out of hibernation is The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser Primer (dsndjbnz mouthful). When I first used this, my skin was dehydrated and so it did nothing but dry my skin out more but I predict that when if the warm weather creeps up on us, this primer will be a saviour. For now I have been applying this around my nose and on my forehead and chin, where my make up needs a bit of staying power.

As for the Vaseline and Natural Collection eye shadow in 'asteroid' - they're cheap and cheerful! I have been chucking these two in my bag for on the go, they can spruce up any old make up look ...and 'cause well, sometimes multiple eye shadow palettes and 5+ lipsticks in your hand bag just isn't practical.

Anyone given any second chances recently?

The Lazy Products - Eyes

Lets get one thing straight, I'm a sucker for anything that makes life easier, and when it's in the make up department - even better! 2013 was most definitely the year of the chubby stick and paint pot and I really enjoyed trying out various new 'quick and simple' eye products.  I currently have 3 easy bronze products firmly in my make up drawers for when I have very limited time to get ready (who am I kidding, I reach for them even if I have bags of time).

They are as follows:

Collection 'work the colour' Eyeshadow Pencil in Hot Chocolate

Maybelline color tattoo 24hr in On and On Bronze 

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Paint in Rich Russet

All carry the same principle - apply, smudge, go! I prefer to use my ring finger to apply and blend out the maybelline colour tattoo and the collection pencil. I reach for a tapered blending brush with the scandaleyes paint as the consistency is more wet. You have to work quick with the scandaleyes but once blended that baby won't budge for nothin'! I also find these bronze shades create definition on the lid without the need for any darker shades in the crease, a lazy girls dream!

Are there any products you use that look amazing in one swipe?

Revlon Highlighting Palette

Revlon have been releasing some corkers recently (matte balms, I'm looking at you) and one of their newest editions is the highlighting palette. Available in 2 shades, Rose Glow and Bronze Glow, and without stating the obvious one palette is pink based and the other more brown.

The idea is to achieve a quick and easy 'sun kissed glow'. With 5 stripes of colour, Rose Glow blends together to create rosy cheeks with a natural glow that isn't too shimmery. This blush is easily build-able but it's also reeeeealy hard to be heavy handed with, which is always a bonus at 7am. With bronzey shades plus a highlighting shimmery pink, it's the whole package.

I really like this product and actually enjoy using it, I may even pick up Bronze Glow in the near future if this spring weather keeps up! Yay for warmth!

Yes, It's the Naked 3 Palette...

It's here, in my hands... The 3rd offering from Urban Decay. Did I need this? No of course not, but just look at it, how could you deny yourself such beauty? I currently own the Naked 2 and the Naked Basic palettes - the basic probably being my most used palette of all time. So there was no doubt is was going to fall head over heels come release day.

This edition is full of rose gold pinks and browns and looks amazingly beautiful in the pan. I can predict this will be worn on my lids almost daily when summer finally arrives. No. 3 includes 3 matte shades and 9 shimmer - spanning from a creamy champagne to muted pinks and even a rose glitter infused black.

The thing I love about the Naked palettes is that there is always such an array of shades that you can create an easy day look as well as a intense night time look. I am so excited to try these out, particularly 'trick' and 'mugshot' they make me do a little ahhhhh every time I look at them. And my gosh 'blackheart' will create the most intense smokey eye known to mankind - can someone please invite me to a posh party now?

So there we have it, Urban Decay pull another beautiful palette out of the bag and it has well and truly gone down a storm. I know so many of you are already enjoying this dreamy offering, and for the rest - I bet it's on your wishlist!

Grab it! GLAMOUR Steals

Heads up old chums, this months GLAMOUR magazine is giving away a range of Model Co. products worth up to £16! GLAMOUR's offerings include two lipgloss shades; Berry Pink and Striptease, plus an eyeliner, mascara and illusion lip liner.

This little gem of a magazine provides you with fab reading plus a beauty product for just two squid! Naturally I scoured the shops to hunt down the mascara and the peachy lipgloss. Guys, they are selling out fast so i suggest you are quick on your heels!

First impressions on the Model Co products:

-The lipgloss is a tad sticky but smells super yummy, plus glossy smackers are the lip of spring '14.

-Their mascara gives a very natural fluttery effect, no clumps at all!

The mag also includes a 25% off voucher for H&M ladieswear - now c'mon, I dare you to say you're not tempted.