Pastel pink hair with Bleach London

I love the pastel hair colours at the moment and after experimenting with Bleach London's Awkward Peach Super Cool Colour non-permanent hair colour I thought I'd give Rose a try, inspired by the brand's Instagram feed (which is amazing!).

The peach washed out after two washes so I picked up the Rose Shampoo and Rose Conditioner as well as the Rose Super Cool Colour to keep the colour up in between applications.  The Super Cool Colour is a thick cream and is very easy to apply and smells divine.  It goes a very bright pink but washes out to a lovely pastel.

Then I used the Rose Shampoo and Rose Conditioner each time I washed my hair after and it deposits a small amount of colour.  I was really impressed with these products - I was expecting both to dry out my hair with the colour but my hair was cleaned and conditioned as well as any other shampoo!  And I have very knotty, thick hair so that's saying something.  I swapped out the conditioner every other wash with an intensive conditioner which I left out for ten minutes or so to really nourish my hair. 

To keep the colour fresh I topped up with the Super Cool Colour about once a month. I had pastel pink hair for about four months and loved every minute of it!  Then I needed to go back to a sensible colour and used the Bleach London Washing Out Liquid which seemed to take most of the colour out, however there was a pinkish peach tinge to the ends but barely noticeable.  

If you fancy a bit of a change then these Bleach London Super Cool Colour non-perm creams are for you!  They are easy to apply and wash out quickly.  I went pink the first time before a holiday in Ibiza and I kept the colour topped up with the shampoo and conditioner but could easily have washed it all out by the time I got home a week later.

I had pale blond hair to begin, with a little warmth so my pink was quite peachy which I didn't mind at all.  If you are after a purer colour then you will need to start with white blond hair.

My hair before:

My hair during and when still damp:

My hair after:

And here's some pink inspo from the Bleach London insta feed.

 So, would you go pastel pink?  Or have you already?!

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge review

I'm obsessed with the Real Techniques make up brushes! They don't shed, are lightweight, fit beautifully in your hand as well as are fab for building/blending product and amazing value for money.  So I thought I'd give the Real Techniques sponge a try. 

Firstly, it's great value, two for £9.99, and a bargain compared to the cult Beauty Blender sponge at £16 for one.  I've never had a BB so I can't compare but am SUPER happy with this sponge! 

Secondly it's orange... My favourite colour 🍊👌. 

You wet it first, it's a dense sponge so this takes a while and it swells when saturated. Squeeze out the excess so it's damp - not dripping! - and you're ready to use. 

It's shaped like a petal with a pointed top one end and a flat section at the other. I used the pointed end for precision work, for example on a blemish or around the nose.  Then the flat end and sides for under eyes and rest of my face. 

I dropped liquid foundation straight onto the sponge and then applied to my face but for liquid concealer I put the product on my skin first and then used the sponge. (I've used it a few times now with the Smashbox Camera Ready BB Water liquid foundation, the MAC Pro Longwear concealer and the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer. It applies the Smashbox foundation like a dream!).

Blend the product by using a rapid patting motion, like you'd use a stippling make up brush, and move around your face for even application. Don't drag the sponge or rub as this leaves streaks. 

It blends foundation flawlessly and the damp sponge adds extra moisture to give a lovely dewy texture on the skin.  Using this sponge gave sheer coverage in contrast to using a brush which I find gives a full coverage finish.  It's easy to build up product of you want a heavier coverage. 

It takes a little while for the sponge to dry, so pop it next to a radiator or in a breeze. Also it sucks up quite a bit of product and needs a good rinse out before you use again and a proper wash using soap/shampoo (or whatever you clean your brushes with) every couple of uses. 

The blurb says:

"3-in 1 sponge that provides flawless results.The flat edge contours around eyes and nose. The sides of the sponge blend large areas of the face while the tip covers imperfections." It also says that it can be used dry (which I've not tried) and that it should be replaced every one to three months (which I won't be doing! I think if it's cleaned regularly then should hopefully last a bit longer...)

Pros: 

Gives a lovely sheer coverage and dewy finish 

Quick to apply liquid foundation on full face 

Blends product flawlessly 

Easy to wash and keep clean

Cons:

Drying time, and when damp it picks up little bits of fluff etc

Not great for on the move application as I don't want a damp sponge in amongst the brushes in my make up bag (I have an irrational fear of everything going mouldy!) so when travelling I take my foundation brush

Would I recommend? Yes. Will I use again? Yes, for when I want lighter coverage e.g for a daytime look. 

Below- lovely dewy finish using the Real Techniques sponge and the Smashbox foundation. 

Clean: 

After one use: 

The point: 

Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque review

For years I steered well clear of face masks that weren't hydrating or for sensitive skin after a few face mask mishaps when I was younger (burning skin, rash, breakouts etc) but I was given a sample of this at the Dermalogica counter and braved it. 

And, boy, I'm pleased I did! I've used the Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque four times now (roughly once a month) and each time I've been delighted with the results. 

The charcoal in it is meant to absorb impurities and it also contains sulfur to promote cell turnover for brighter skin.

It is thick like mud to apply with a slight green tinge. It goes on smoothly but there are tiny grains in the product. I'm assuming this is the 'sea silt' listed in the ingredients?! 

Once on, the mask dries very quickly and starts to tighten. I leave it on for ten minutes and then wash off with warm water.  It takes quite a bit of water to loosen the product and then whilst washing it all off the grains exfoliate your skin. 

My face feels taut immediately after and I then use a toner to remove any final traces.

This mask leaves my skin smooth, glowing and feeling really clean. It doesn't aggravate my spots.  My pores are smaller and wrinkles less prominent. Wonder product!

It has quite a strong smell, quite medical and with a hint of tea tree oil (another ingredient).  It also contains witch hazel and both ingredients are meant to help with spots. 

I've nearly finished this sample and I will definitely go and buy a full size at £38. I think it's worth the price. 

Scary face mask selfie below 😆

Mac Pro Longwear Concealer review

This is meant to be one of the best concealers out there. According to blogger after influencer after celebrity after make up artist so I had high, high hopes. But boy, did they come crashing down! 

Purchased for £18, MAC claims this concealer lasts 15 hours, is water and transfer resistant, is for all skin types and offers medium to full coverage. 

I was advised by a lovely MAC person that I needed shade nw20 and the shade is perfect. However! This concealer is simply *not great* on my skin (combination, spot-prone, dry and sensitive all at once, with a few wrinkles thrown in for good measure). 

I've now tried it under foundation, over foundation, on its own, under power, applied with fingers, applied with brush, applied with damp sponge and it always seems to do the same thing: cake. Urgh. 

I tried it on my undereyes and it found and clung to every teeny fine line going and settled in them making my skin look cracked, papery, wrinkled, puffy, ugly. Here are some weird coloured, weird faced pics so you get the gist... 

Horrible!! So I removed it all and started again. Here's what my undereye usually looks like using Laura Mercier secret concealer in shade 2, applied in exactly the same way a few moments later... 

Phew. The MAC Pro Longwear concealer aged me by about 30years! So, that was a fail.

I also used it on my spots. These are always quite red and generally always in an area of dryness (weird I know!) so a concealer needs to have excellent coverage and sit well on dry skin. So how did the MAC concealer do? 

Yup, you guessed it, not well! Sob. The coverage is great, hiding the redness and it does last a long time. But it is not good on dry skin. It seemed to migrate into every pore and shrink to leave a streaky line around the area covered, exaggerating all the uneven texture and patchiness. Believe me I blended this product in very carefully. I applied it in the morning and went out for the day and looked in the mirror when I got home and was mortified that it looked so caked on and obvious (sorry, more hideous pics coming up)...

Reluctant to give up on this product I have used it since over foundation, applied with sponge, ONLY if I'm going out to a dark bar/club and want full, heavy coverage as it is excellent at covering red spots.  My skin is also a little less dry at the moment so it stays smoother on the skin. 

I'm also not impressed at all with the packaging- the pump dispenser is meant to be convenient I'm sure but it pumps out waaaay too much product! I end up using about a third of a pump and the rest is binned. A lot of wastage on an expensive product. 

Verdict- would I buy again? No. Will I use again? In very specific circumstances. Would I recommend? Perhaps suit normal to oily skin better than dry. 

I LOVE 😍😍 MAC select sheer powder, lipsticks and lip pencils, eyebrow pencil in fling, 217 small fluffy brush and the Fix+ finishing mist but I don't get on with the brand's foundations or eyeshadow and now I can add concealer to the MAC-products-that-aren't-for-me list. 

Copper & rust eyes with plum lips

I created this copper and rust eyes with plum lips look using the following products... 

Face

On my face I used (in order of application):

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer 

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Water foundation in light

Mac Pro Longwear concealer in nw20

Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer in 040 soft beige (under eye) 

Smashbox Halo Hydrating perfecting powder in light / neutral 

Benefit Hoola bronzer 

Smashbox LA Lights blush & highlight palette in Pacific coast pink (used shade rich pink)

Laura Mercier radiance baked powder in highlight 01 

Mac Fix+ finishing mist

Eyes

On my eyes I used (in order of application):

Smashbox 24 hour photo finish shadow primer 

Sleek Makeup divine eyeshadow palette Sunset 568 (various shades)

MUA eyeshadow in shade 17 

Barry M liquid eyeliner in black

Benefit They're Real mascara in black

Eylure lengthening lashes in no 116

Mac eyebrow pencil in fling 

Lips

On my lips I used:

Mac lip pencil in vino

Rimmel Lasting Finish lipstick in cutting edge 120

Tools

I used the following makeup application tools: 

*Top row left to right 

Real Techniques blush brush

Real Techniques powder brush

Bare Escentuals powder brush (use for bronzer) 

? Cannot remember the brand of this fan brush and doesn't say it! 

Make Up For Ever spoolie 

Real Techniques miracle complexion sponge, used damp (in depth review coming soon)

*Bottom row left to right 

Real Techniques base shadow brush 

Bare Escentuals 'light stroke' brush 

Model's Own angled brush

Real Techniques deluxe crease brush 

Real Techniques accent brush 

Mac 217 brush 

Eylure lash applicator (in depth review coming soon)

Tweezerman eyelash curlers 

I also braided my hair, apologies for the fat roots, getting them fixed at the weekend ;-)

And there you have it! What do you think? 

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence review

Whilst I was waiting for a delayed flight out of Tokyo last summer I splurged on the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence after seeing it on the gorgeous model Jourdan Dunn's Instagram and also raved about by the equally gorgeous actress Cate Blanchett. Both have glowing, clear, smooth skin and I always want a piece of that action! 

I got the 75ml glass bottle and I'm not sure how much I paid but it retails in UK for around £40-£50. 

It is a clear liquid, like water, that you splash a few drops onto your palm, rub together with other palm and then pat onto your face- don't rub. It is super gentle and I can use it around my eyes with no stinging.  I use after cleansing and toning and before moisturiser and SPF. 

It's formulated with a 'magic' ingredient called Pitera which is basically a naturally derived liquid that comes from the sake fermentation process. Sake is an alcoholic drink made out of rice, so this is basically fancy rice water! The Facial Treatment Essence contains vitamins, amino acids, minerals as well as organic acids apparently that work together to rejuvenate the skin's outer layer. 

It says to use twice a day but I love sploshing this on my face in the morning as it is so refreshing and instantly perks up my dull, tired skin. I prefer to use heavier facial oils and creams at night. 

The liquid absorbs quickly with zero stickiness and leaves skin hydrated, smooth and dewy. My Olay Total Effects moisturiser goes on top perfectly and provides a perfect base for make up. 

The only downside is the smell (like the smell of water that you've boiled your rice for dinner in) which is strong at first but disappears after the liquid has absorbed into your skin.  I've read some reviews where people hated the smell so much they stopped using the product but I really don't find it too bad and it doesn't linger at all. 

It's pricey but lasts a long time as you only need a few drops per application. My 75ml bottle is about half full after six months of near daily use. 

Would I buy again? TBC. I'm not wholly convinced of its value for money, but I'm enjoying using it whilst it lasts! 

Review: Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid in Electric Pink 15

The bright, almost neon, shade of this Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid lip product caught my eye whilst I was browsing and waiting for my sister. Now I really don't need any more pink lipsticks however I was intrigued and was hopeful this would be a similar texture and have a similar staying power as my beloved Giorgio Armani lip maestro but in a really vibrant colour and at a bargain £6.99.  

I love the square tube with black lid and the thin applicator that allows you to get right into the corners. The 'liquid' goes on beautifully smooth and is easy to blend and layer on. 

The colour Electric Pink 15 is not quite so neon on my lips as when swatched on my inner wrist but is definitely a vivid, fabulous pink. 

However! This is definitely not matte! It is glossy with a lovely sheen and is more of a lip gloss. 

I applied it as I do every lipstick: I line my lips with MAC subculture pencil, apply a first layer, blot off.  Apply a second layer, smooth lips together. It didn't dry at all (even with me wafting it with some paper!) and remained 'slippery', moving off the edges of my lips and sticking to my teeth. I wouldn't trust this to stay put for ten minutes!  See pics below...

Not confident that I could go out to dinner with slipping gloss on my lips (I'm not a gloss fan anyway), I blotted again, which took the majority of product off and left me with a rather blotchy matte pink, definitely not as vivid. More like a lip stain. See pics below... 

Verdict: if you like the look/feel of shiny lip gloss but are looking for a bright opaque pink then this is for you! And if you are not eating, drinking, talking or doing much with your lips then this will probably stay put and look amazing for ages! 

But for me I sadly wiped it off before I went out- I know from experience that gloss that doesn't dry moves around in mere minutes on my lips and I'd be eating with it all over my face/teeth/napkin/fork etc (which is never a good look!) and I'd constantly be checking it in the mirror and worrying it looks terrible (zero fun!). I might try to wear this again but not long wear and not for drinking/eating/talking! Maybe at cinema?! 

Highly pigmented pink colour is spectacular, packaging is perfect, product description is misleading. 

Smashbox hits and misses

Recently I went *crazy* at the Smashbox counter in Boots and have had a chance to try out all the products I invested in... 

Some I LOVE and a few I wasn't so keen on so here's my assessment / mini reviews: 

Hits (will buy again, will recommend): 

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Water SPF 30 foundation - this is super lightweight and gives amazing sheer coverage. Easy to apply using a damp Real Techniques miracle complexion sponge or a brush and lasts all day. It covered my dry patches and my spots beautifully and didn't go cakey or wear off. It has a small pipette to drop product onto the back of your hand / straight onto your sponge or brush which is very handy for getting just the right amount. Thumbs up. 

Smashbox LA Lights blush & highlight palette in Pacific coast pink - I love this! The two matte pinky blush colours look gorgeous and can be built up for a strong look or just a small flush of colour. My favourite is the paler shade in the middle. The highlighter is a perfect complement and has a subtle golden shimmer which is perfect on cheekbones. Love. 

Smashbox photo matte eyes palette with shadow, liner and brow powder - This is such a little compact palette and I adore it. Probably my favourite buy of the haul. All the colours are matte and work beautifully together. Easily blendable the texture is powder but seems quite creamy.  I have used these as eyeshadow and eye liner and not as yet in my eyebrows but am super happy with the staying power and the subtle, everyday shades. 

Smashbox 24 hour photo finish eye shadow primer - OMG I love this stuff! A teeny blob goes a long way and is easy to pat onto the eyelids and blend out. Shadow sits incredibly well on top and does not crease or budge all day. Absolute winner! 

Smashbox be legendary lipstick in coffee run - I adore lipsticks from this brand and this chocolate brown is no different. It glides on, stays put, doesn't fall into cracks or wear off in patches. A dream! This shade is tricky to pull off but with pinky cheeks and golden eyes it looks great. It has a glossy finish and barely any scent (hurrah!). The sturdy packaging is perfect for nights out when it's rattling around in a handbag. 

Smashbox photo finish primer water - I have only used this after make up application to set my look and as a refresher, it makes skin look healthy and hydrated and gives a dewy finish over foundation and powder. 

So-so (might purchase again, will definitely use until finished): 

Smashbox photo finish foundation primer - I was buzzed about using this product as have read so many positive reviews about it but for me it made my foundation slide straight into lines around my lips and lines in my forehead. On my cheeks and smooth areas my foundation did look flawless and smooth but a primer for me should keep foundation in place and should hide flaws like wrinkles and lines rather than highlight them. Will keep experimenting though as perhaps I used too much setting spray or not enough or maybe it works better when foundation applied with a brush rather than a sponge etc. 

Smashbox halo hydrating perfecting powder - I like this powder, it's light and a fine dusting is all I need to take down shine and set foundation. Is it hydrating? Not sure... Does it perfect my skin more than any other loose powder? Not really. It does work great with the BB water foundation so I'll definitely keep using it until the end. Also way too much powder comes out when you 'shave' it so just be careful to only move the dial a teeny amount each time or tap off excess as otherwise be easy to over powder.

Smashbox photo finish hydrating under eye primer - I was expecting big things from this as I was the primer but it is just ok. It definitely brightens my undereye area but it doesn't stop concealer gathering in fine lines. And that for me is why I would use a specific under eye primer. My concealer definitely stayed in place but almost immediately creased into lines and I have to pat it out all day / reapply. 

Misses (definitely won't buy again and unlikely to use again): 

Smashbox X-rated mascara volumateur - this was a sample size so possibly the full size is better however I really disliked the brush. It has three lines of bristles (so looks like a triangle) and I couldn't angle it to coat my lashes without touching black dots all over my eyelid or undereye. Urgh. And then when finally on it didn't seem to lengthen or thicken or volumise my lashes and wasn't the blackest of blacks. Disappointing. 

Smashbox always sharp clear lip liner - this does a mediocre job at stopping lipstick bleeding into fine lines but as it is invisible when applied it is near impossible to get a precise line around the lips. Plus the sharpener doesn't quite work to produce a fine point, more a blunted end which I have to 'sharpen' a couple of times during each application as the waxy product seems to wear down v quick and occasionally break up and form tiny balls which I have to pick off otherwise would get caught in the lipstick as lumps. Will stick to my MAC subculture lip pencil. 

In general I love the Smashbox brand and I will always recommend it to others and be loyal to a few of its products :-)