Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara Review

Since I started to wear make up as a teenager, I always found myself changing mascara brand in the attempt to find a mascara that didn't run, or flake. Mascaras that stayed put on some friends would run and make me look like a panda.

I think everyone goes on a quest to find their perfect mascara, which by no means will be the best mascara for the person standing next to you. I finally found mine by accident last year. After trying many of the drugstore brands I moved onto the more expensive end, starting with Lancome, and finally ending with Clinique. I'm a big fan of the Clinique 3-Step Skincare range, and during bonus time I received a miniature mascara in the gift bag. Running low on mascara, I gave it a go and haven't turned back since. 

The mascara I am now in love with is: Clinique's High Impact Curling Mascara. Despite not using it for it's curling ability, it does hold a curl quite well, but my main interest in this mascara is the staying power and the lack of flaking and running. I love it. I tried another Clinique mascara recently (another bonus time mini) and despite being the regular "Clinique's High Impact Mascara", I just couldn't get on with it. It may well simply be that I'm used to the curved brush, as there was nothing wrong with the formula in the slightest.

This is very easy to apply, lasts quite some time and even by the end of the work day, I have no flaking or dark circles under my eyes as a result of the mascara running. Often I wear a primer underneath, but regardless of that this stays put. 

 

The Curved Wand.

After a day at work!

Despite loving this mascara to pieces, I'm sure in the future I will no doubt give others a try but this will always be my go to mascara. 

What is your favourite mascara?

Kate x

Glossybox May 2012 - 1st Birthday

Hello! 

It's that time of the month again, Glossybox time! This month, however, it is a special box as it marks the 1st Birthday of Glossybox, and to commemorate this, the box included a couple of extra presents including:

Happy Birthday Glossybox!

After reading several reviews of this months box from other bloggers, the general tone seems to be slight disappointment, and more was expected given the special occasion. However, I can't say I share the same sentiments but that is because what I received in my box varies slightly to those I have read reviews on. 

I even love the paper this box comes in!

This is what I received:

 

 

Noble Isle Summer Rising Bath and Shower Gel 

This smells pretty amazing, however given that I've only just started last months Glossybox shower gel, it may be a while before I get around to using this. Given the size, it may even be used for travel!

 2 Lolita Lempicka Perfumes : First Fragrance Eau de Parfum & Si Lolita

Personally, I prefer the First Fragrance to Si Lolita, it isn't as strong. Si Lolita to me smells quite woody. I put these on in the office and the general preference was for the First Fragrance.

 

Apivita Express Beauty: Revitalizing & Radiance Mask with Pomegranate

I haven't tried these face masks yet, and given the packaging I am obviously unable to comment on the scent of it, but I imagine it will be nice. This mask targets dull skin and first wrinkles, and while wrinkles aren't really my main concern at 22, I do often worry about dull skin, so I look forward to seeing how I get on with these!

Osmo Berber Oil Hair Treatment

This is one of the products that has made this months Glossybox for me, I didn't get any hair products last month, and I've been quite curious about hair oils, so this has been perfect! 

Eldora False Eyelashes

There's not a lot I can say about these, false eyelashes are false eyelashes! However, after just looking at the website I have found out that this pair (H103) are human hair! I would definitely use these, I have seen others receive lashes with a gold effect, so I'm quite relieved to get a plain black pair!

So all in all I'm quite pleased with this months Glossybox! Out of everything, the thing I'm least likely to use is the perfume. Perfumes often give me headaches, especially when they're quite strong, so I tend to stick with what I know!

What did you get in your Glossybox? Which product do you think will get the most use?

Kate x

So excited!

May's Glossybox landed on my lap this morning at work. I've been anticipating this box ever since I received April's - my first Glossybox...and I'm already looking forward to next months - I think it's the thrill of opening it and finding out what's inside!

I will definitely be trying everything out and reviewing it at a later date - I just wanted to write about my excitement! 

I can't wait to see what everybody else has received in their boxes either!

Primark Beauty Ooh La La Nail Foils

Hello!

So I popped to Stratford Westfield last Saturday and had a quick trip into Primark while I was there. I spotted a couple of bits and bobs worth buying, but as soon as I saw the queue, my jaw dropped - it was halfway across the store. 

I decided to be patient and queue, and once I got to the partition (you know just before the tills where there is lots of stuff tempting you to add one last bit into your basket) and spotted these nail foils for £1. Bargain.

I've never tried Nail Foils or Nail Wraps before now, and I have seen some lovely ones featured in other blogs.

Albeit my technique for applying them isn't flawless, but I don't think I've done too bad a job. Here they are:

 

The foil does get everywhere, I've got little bits stuck to my top, so this is a bit messy but I'm quite enjoying the results. I'm going to keep my eyes out for more nail foils in the future, especially the next time I'm in Primark!

What are your thoughts on nail foils? Have you tried any?

Kate x

What's in my make up bag?

Hello!

So I thought I'd write about my current make up routine and what is in my make up bag at the moment!

I will admit my make up routine differs slightly on a weekend to a weekday simply because of time restrictions of a morning, and I'm not the fastest when it comes to application of make up, but the staples of my make up routine at the moment are:

 

Revlon PhotoReady Concealer & Clinique Line Smoothing Concealer

This is probably going to sound silly, but I usually have two concealers on the go at once - one liquid and one stick. The liquid one I use under my eyes and the stick for any blemishes or spots I have on the rest of my face.

Maxfactor Creme Puff powder 

I'm more of a powder person than a foundation person, so powder is a staple in my make up routine, it gets rid of any shine I may have, and by the end of the day I sometimes have a lot of shine.

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream

This is one of my alternatives to foundation, it is very easy to reply, but if I put too much on, I feel a bit greasy for the rest of the day. However it does have SPF 15 and is quite moisturising so I don't need to worry if I'm having a dry skin day, that it will highlight it.

Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturiser

This is another one of my alternatives to foundation at the moment, it has the consistency of foundation, but feels a bit lighter and also has an SPF15. It has really good coverage and I tend to use this either at the weekend or on special occasions.

Urban Decay Brow Box

I always used to use eyebrow pencil, but I decided to give powder a go, and this really is a lovely product. There are two shades of powder, I usually go for the darker of the two shades, but as I've recently had my hair coloured (lighter) I'll probably start using the lighter powder more. As well as two powders, there's a little drawer with wax to tame any stray hairs, an applicator brush and a pair of mini tweezers. 

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

Often when I use eyeshadow it does crease quite easily, however when I purchased the Naked Palette, it came with a tube of this primer, which I had heard good things about previously, but hadn't purchased. I can't go without it now if I wear eyeshadow, it lasts so much longer now.

Urban Decay Naked Palette  

I don't always wear eyeshadow on a daily basis, but I love this palette to pieces. I tend to use the lighter colours, as opposed to the darker ones, they're reserved for nights out.

Clinique Lash Building Primer

This is one of the products I'm more likely to use at the weekend than during the week, despite loving the results, I haven't got the time to wait for it to dry before applying my mascara. I feel this helps add length to my lashes, as well as defining my lashes. I used to have an obsession with making my lashes look as long as possible, and this was the solution I found. It also helps my mascara last longer. 

Eyelash Curlers

My eyelashes are fairly long, but don't have much curl, so these are a must when I'm applying mascara, they help open up my eyes.

Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara

Mascara is another staple in my mascara routine, and as far as I'm concerned this is the holy grail of all mascaras. It is the first mascara I have found that doesn't run or flake. I also love the curved brush, I'm so used to it now that I struggle using normal mascara brushes.   

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner

I use a variety of eyeliners (usually pencils) but at the moment I'm using my gel liner. I really like this as it is a brilliant black. I've had this since last June so it's been well and truly tried and tested. My only irk from this is that this stuff really dries hard onto the brush. It's getting harder to wash the brush, but that being said, I should do it straight after using, not the next morning once it's dried.

Benefit Dandelion/Benefit Dallas

Over the past couple of years I've been a bronzer person no matter the season, but as of late I've started going back to pinks and corals, and this is my blush at the moment. Dalles is my go to bronzer/blusher and I absolutely love it.

So these are pretty much my current make up products! Sorry it's so long, I didn't realise quite how much make up I do actually use!

What's in your make up bag? Do you use any of these in your daily make up routine?

Kate x

O.P.I NYC Ballet Petites

Hello!

Today I'm writing about O.P.I's New York City Ballet Petites. O.P.I have launched a "Soft Shades Collection" consisting of six sheer nail varnishes, four of which appear in the petites range. 

"The soft colour palette and effortlessly chic style of the urban ballerina comes to life in this elegant ensemble of six dreamy nail lacquers" (O.P.I) 

 

Of the six nail varnishes in the collection, the petites come with "My Pointe Exactly", "Don't Touch my Tutu!", "Care to Danse?" and "Pirouette My Whistle"

L-R Don't Touch My Tutu, Care to Danse?, My Pointe Exactly, Pirouette My Whistle

They are all lovely colours and I have tried 3 of the 4 in the box. It takes a couple of coats for the colour to build up, but as they are sheer colours anyway, it is a case of "a hint of pink" or "a hint of grey" which is quite nice as they are also quite feminine. 

Don't Touch My Tutu

This is the colour I am yet to use, but I think I'll be more likely to use it on top of another nail varnish than I am to wear this colour by itself. 

Care to Danse?

I really liked this colour, as it was very soft and delicate, but it was still evident that I was wearing nail varnish. Out of all the colours in the collection, I think this is the colour I associate with ballet the most in my mind, probably because when I was younger the leotards we wore were pink. 

My Pointe Exactly

I am actually sporting this colour at the moment, again it took a couple of coats to build up some colour. Initially I thought this colour would come out darker than it appeared to. As I applied this during the evening, it's possible that the lighting washed it out a little because in the morning it seemed darker to me. I would definitely say this is my favourite colour of the collection.

Pirouette My Whistle

This is a lovely subtle glitter nail varnish, which I have been using on top of the other two colours. I only own a couple of glitter nail varnishes which are bright bright colours, but due to the size of the glitter and the colour (I'd say more of a whiteish silver than anything) it's quite gentle, if that makes sense. 

 Here are a couple of photos including me sporting My Pointe Exactly and Pirouette My Whistle.

I will admit that the only problem I've had with these varnishes is that within a couple of days the colour appears to peel off as opposed to chip off so I often keep catching it on my hair, or getting so frustrated I peel it all off of one nail, which isn't good really. It could just be me, as I only use a cheap base coat, so I'll keep going, and may use these on my toes this summer as something subtle as I tend to use bright colours on my toes.

Kate x

Glossybox April 2012

So, I thought my first post would be about this months Glossybox, up until now I've only ever read other reviews, I've never really been able to afford the monthly cost, despite being very envious of what people would receive each month. Since this is my first Glossybox, I was stupidly excited when it was delivered and quickly awaited other bloggers to post what was in their box to compare. Here is what I received:

Protect Your Lovely Hands by Yes! Nurse

Now, none of the blogs I usually read seem to have received this in their box (although I know a friend of mine has). I really like the theory behind this hand cream - it has nurses in mind; given the nature of their job, clean hands are a must so the amount of hand washing and alcohol gel has a very drying effect. 

This hand cream is advertised as 'non greasy' and for once, it actually is non-greasy. Most hand creams I've found advertise this but often leave me with the inability to get a good grip on anything for about 15 minutes afterwards.

Caudalie Vinosource SOS Thirst-Quenching Serum

I get the impression that I may well be the only person that hasn't heard of Caudalie! I've been using this most days under my moisturiser since it arrived. Typically I get quite dry skin around my chin and nose, but I think I have noticed a difference since using this. Often when I get dry patches my make up looks a bit caked on which is one thing that will always get me down. This is also light enough to go all over without causing me to break out - always a bonus.

INIKA Cosmetics Certified Organic Lip Liner

I've never really used Lip Liner, and unfortunately given the colour of the one I received, I'm unlikely to start. Not to sound ungrateful but I think I much would have preferred to receive the eyeliner. I may well still try this one out, but I'm quite pale so I think the colour is too dark for me.

Ayuuri Natural Body Wash

This is the biggest product that came in my box, and I will admit I hesitated a little when I saw that is was rose scented. Rose seems to be quite popular at the moment, but I can't say I'm the biggest fan as I like stronger fruity smells and it's perhaps a little too gentle for me. However, as soon as I smelt this it seemed very bold and I'm quite excited to try it as soon as I've finished my current shower gel. 

Figs & Rouge Lip Balm

Most blogs I've read have received this in Peppermint and Tea Tree, but I have received it in Rose, much to my delight (see above), it does have the subtle rose smell that I'm not a fan of, but I will give this a go anyway!

All in all considering this has been my first box, I've been quite pleased with what was inside, and I will admit that despite being a little underwhelmed at the beginning with receiving the Yes! Nurse hand cream, that in fact it is the product I am using the most, so I take back everything I thought initially and I'm really pleased I got it! 

(Sorry about the quality of photos, I've left it a bit late to take them in natural light!) 

Kate x