Maybelline Colossal Kajal 12h Extra Black eyeliner review

Finding a great eyeliner is tricky... Getting the right thickness, longevity and ease of application sees a whole sea of options from pencils, to liquid, to gel to powder. 

This one from Maybelline is called colossal kajal 12h extra black and I was intrigued by the extra black and 12h claim. 

It is a roll up pencil which starts with a fine point but after one use it is a thick blunt, soft blob! It's easy to apply and glides on quite smoothly, but definitely not an option if you want a fine line. A great option however if you want to smudge the line out rather than have anything precise. 

It was definitely an opaque, strong black which I was very happy about, however it did not quite last perfectly for the 12hour claim... After a seven hour night out it had started to smudge and the colour had started to break up- but it definitely lasted much better than some other eyeliners I've tried (Sephora's was useless!). 

A great choice if you're looking for a blacker than black eyeliner which blends well and has better than most staying power. 

The fine point before: 

And after one use:

Just applied with no mascara: 

Finished 60s inspired look:

And at the end of the night (about seven hours later):

L'oreal Paris collection exclusive by Doutzen lipstick review

When I think L'oreal I rarely think make up - more haircare and when I think lipstick this is never a brand that comes to mind. 

However, this L'oreal Paris collection exclusive Doutzen Color Riche Lipstick in Doutzen's Nude is a lovely neutral pale pink shade that is moisturising, easy to apply and although it's quite sheer it also has an even colour payoff. 

It is a long lasting lipstick but it does have quite a distinctive smell. Thankfully that gradually fades! 

It's so moisturising that it almost looked like frosted pink on me as I'm quite pale (not a good look!) but after blotting it took some of the sheen down. 

It comes in a stylish matte black and gold packaging that is sturdy and will hold up in quite a few handbag journeys. 

This lipstick is from a collection of six shades chosen by L'oreal ambassadors including Eva Longoria and Julianne Moore and Doutzen is a supermodel. It has a matching polish if you like the barely there pink look on your nails too. 

It is very easy to wear, almost like a tinted lip balm, easy to apply and it wore off evenly (hurrah!) and didn't crease or run into the fine lines around my mouth. A good day lipstick to add a bit of subtle colour at work. 

Swatched below on the inside of my wrist.
It is very easy to wear, almost like a tinted lip balm, it didn't crease or run around my lips and wore off evenly (hurrah!).

Sunsilk refreshing dry shampoo review

For as long as I can remember I've used Batisse Dry shampoo to refresh my hair between washes. I've tried out lots of variations: original, blush, tropical, brunette etc but never switched brands. I always thought it was the first on the market and likely the best. A classic like L'oreal Elnett hairspray that I'd never deviate from.

Well, then I arrived in Dubai and put on the infamous Dubai stone in the first year and have spent my second year exercising like crazy to try and take off the stone! I exercise five or six times a week at the moment and just don't have the time - or the energy - to wash and dry my thick wavy/curly hair everyday. So I have been relying heavily on my trusty Batisse. Except recently I've noticed it hasn't been all that effective in masking the root greasiness. 

Enter Sunsilk refreshing dry shampoo for normal hair. This came in my Glambox recently and Sunsilk isn't generally a brand I'd ever go for. Well, I've been using it this past week and I'm happy with the results!

It comes in a pink aerosol can, is easy to apply and has a barely noticeable smell - hurrah! I can't handle overbearingly smelly hair products.... 

It sprays on as quite a grey powder and initially I thought: "urgh this isn't going to rub in", but you need to leave on your hair for a few moments to soak up the oil and settle (maybe brush your teeth in the meantime!) and then thoroughly massage in to your scalp. The colour disappears and you are left with a powdery look on close inspection but nothing noticeable. 

It totally stripped the greasy look and also added some good volume which I was really happy about! 

The hair is left with a dry textured feel and doesn't feel soft but this dry shampoo does the job it's meant to do and lasts all day in my hair. Impressed!  

Before... Greaseball (sorry!): 

During... Bit grey eek!

After- all rubbed in, volumnised and grease free- winner!

Victoria's Secret Glam and Go portable makeup palettes review

This makeup was a birthday gift and I would never have thought to look in Victoria's Secret for makeup- however it's such a brilliant idea! 

Four makeup palettes in one big case that can be popped out and slotted into a smaller portable case with a mirror. The perfect handbag size! Great for touch ups on the go as comes with two little brushes- for eyeshadow, liner and for blusher. 

The eyeshadow and eyeliner was really long lasting and had a great colour pay off, the blusher gave great colour although perhaps a little too sparkly for my liking, and the gloss was long lasting and not sticky. All in all really awesome gift!

Below a look from each palette :-)

Foreo Luna Mini Review

For a while I've been pondering getting the Clarisonic but then I have erratic skin and have read mixed reviews. It also looked a little clunky and perhaps not great to travel with. 

The idea of giving my skin a really deep cleanse every time I wash it really appealed to me and that's when the Foreo Luna Mini entered my life! It's small, light and has a sensitive skin setting. It's also purple - winner! 

This is a small device that fits in your hand, you charge it by plugging the USB into your laptop and the battery lasts for yonks (I charged it once and a month later it's still fine!).

It has a small button at the front with two settings: normal and sensitive. It is a waterproof silicone and you can get the whole thing wet with no problem. It has a semi circle of small brushes that are finer on the side of the button and chunkier on the back. It also lights up on the bottom when you turn it on which is a nice touch.

You wet your face, and smother on your favourite cleanser / face wash (not exfoliator or anything with any beads etc) then you take the luna mini in your palm, wet it under the tap, turn it on and the device vibrates. 

Using circular motions I move it around my jawline, then chin, cheeks, nose, forehead and then I turn over to the back and quickly go up my neck. Then I switch it to the sensitive setting and very gently sweep under my eyes and just go over any areas where I have any blemishes. Then wash it off, wash your face and ta da! All thoroughly cleansed. You shouldn't be using it for longer than one minute. 

I've been using this Foreo Luna mini nearly every evening for the last month whenever I've had make up to remove. I have sensitive skin that tends to be dry and I never use cleanser in the morning, just splash my face with water, so I only used at night to remove make up. I used with creamy cleansers including Dermalogica ultra calming cleanser, Yllume ultimate illuminating complex cleanser and Decleor aroma cleanse 3 in 1 hydra radiance cleansing mousse. 

Although it doesn't clear up my usual couple of spots, it didn't prompt any more and my skin feels thoroughly cleansed and happy every time I use it. I always use toner after I cleanse and often there are still small traces of make up left to remove, however there wasn't a trace of make up remaining after using the Foreo Luna mini. 

All in all I'm really happy with this product- easy to use, looks sleek as compact and stands up and is easy to transport around. It doesn't over stimulate my sensitive and spot prone skin, just gives it a thorough clean. Perfect if you wear light or heavy make up, easy to keep clean and no fuss with changing any parts etc. I'm in Luna love :-)