No7: No Noticeable Difference?

I have always sworn by No.7 products and the brand is normally my safety net for all things beauty. No.7 is actually the brand that started my interest and collection of make up. However, this time I'm not so impressed. A mascara I've been a fan of for as long as it has been on shelves has an extended version and being the lover of No.7 I am, I didn't question to give it a try.

The original mascara claims to offer a waterproof, extreme length effect which I can agree it does, it works wonders on my eye lashes and I'm proud to say I'm a repeat customer. It's extension claims to do that and more, with a 'fibre enriched formula' and new packaging, things looked promising! I have been testing the new and 'improved' version for a few months now and am still yet to see a difference or improvement.

No.7 have let me down on this one: the brush is the same, the product consistency looks the same, applies the same and lasts the same amount of time. Both products are good; both products extend lash length and both products I would recommend. I suppose my only question is what on earth is the difference?

The 'extend' claim is not visible in results on my lashes and as I've read other's reviews after purchasing and testing, the same conclusion comes from many people similar to myself. My advice to any No.7 lovers out there is try not to get too excited if similar extension products are released, wait for reviews before spending unnecessary money on a product you already have in your collection!

Original Mascara: here.

Extend Mascara: here.

Until next time, Toni. xo

The Perfect Red Lip

 

As party season is just around the corner and Christmas is in sight it's time to pull out the red lippy and with long days shopping and late nights out you need a trusty one to see you through. I have the answer. L'OREAL's 'Color Riche' collection holds some beautiful colours but one of my favourites by far is 'Blake's Pure Red'.

 

The colour is deep and powerful with a matte smooth finish on the lip, this is perfect for any occasion night or day. Matching with Christmas jumpers and dresses, there is every excuse to pull out a bold, bright and beautiful red.

 

Not only is the product itself beautiful to wear and look at, so is the packaging, a matte black animal print touched with gold detailing and print, this is an essential for your make up collection this year. The quality of the product is a steal at only £6.99 from your local drugstore. The level of pigment and staying power is something only dreams are made of and I've never quite had anything like it. The product doesn't bleed off the lip or smudge and loose the shape. It has held strong through all tests of eating, drinking, talking and even heavy rain - you could say it's a super lipstick.

 

This is a must buy for yourself or any fellow make up and lipstick lovers this Christmas with seasonal colours matching the deep red pigment perfectly. This has been my favourite red lipstick I've ever tried and potentially the best lipstick find this year. You simply must try it.

 

Until next time, Toni. xo

Beautiful Skin: Winter Routine

 

Usually winter time for my skin is bliss, the cold dries out any impurities and the crisp air keeps me feeling fresh and awake. However, this year my skin hasn't reacted so well to the change in weather conditions. The cold seems to have dried out my skin a little too well leaving me feeling tired and washed out, yet the odd spot still appears! This called for emergency intervention: No.7 came to hand.

 

I have always loved the cleanser but needed something stronger that would really clean off any dead skin cells and make me feel fresh and awake like normal. After looking through the endless product choices at the No.7 stand, I opted for the 'Radiance Exfoliator' from the same 'Beautiful Skin' collection as my usual cleanser.

 

My daily routine (morning and night) consists of 3 steps, wash/rinse face with warm water, cleanse with the No.7 Cleansing Gel and finally gently scrub with the No.7 Radiance Exfoliator. This not only leaves my skin feeling clear, fresh and awake but I have noticed a drastic improvement with the dryness and blemishes.

 

No.7 have yet again provided me with a holy grail skin care product I'm sure to repeat buy and from now on, swear by. If you are looking for a cleanser and exfoliator this winter I would highly recommend both products for anyone with normal/dry skin consistency. If you are in the market for something for oily skin go down to your local No.7 stand as their extensive product range is bound to hold something to solve all your skin related problems this winter! Happy hunting.



 

 

Until next time, Toni. xo

Smashbox Contour Sticks Trio

These have been at the top of my must have list for a while now and since opening the box I haven't put the Contour Sticks Trio back! It's clear to say I'm loving these products. They have a smooth and silky, cream texture making them so easy to apply and blend.

 

The box also comes with a sharpener to fit the pencil sticks so worrying about ever being left with an unusable product is not necessary! I had heard some great things about these sticks and wanted to try them as soon as I got my hands on them.

 

I find that the contour stick works best for me with the bronze stick as a touch up for the top of my head. However, the highlight is surprisingly too dark for me but it will be perfect for if I get a tan or want just a tiny touch of highlight on a basic make up day.

 

As well as the sharpener, the trio comes with an instruction sheet including guides on where to apply the different colours and how to use the sticks depending on your face shape and how you want to look. I found this very useful as I was able to see exactly what shapes to draw, where and with which sticks.

 



 

 

A lot of people I know and those that use the sticks, blend the product with a flat, buffing brush but I prefer to use a beauty blender purely because I feel like I have more control over the product on my face and the finish is a lot more flawless. Since using the product I've really got into getting a good contour on a night out or even just a bronzed touch on a day-to-day basis for a slightly more defined shape.

 

The product is £35 which I personally think is very reasonable for the quality of product. I've had this product nearly two months now and have used the contour stick every day, I am yet to need to sharpen it more than once! You don't need a lot of product per application as it is so well pigmented and blends so well, therefore the trio will last a long time and probably save you money in the long run in comparison to your usual product that may run down quickly, due to you needing to use a lot of it per day.

 

I would recommend the trio to people who are already into make up and want to explore and venture further into face sculpting as this is quite a complex, heavy product for someone just beginning to get into make up. Alternatively, I would recommend a simple bronzing powder not to irritate or harm the skin and gradually build to using heavier products such as this one. The staying power is fantastic so they can be used day and night, any weather, any occasion to give you the extra pop to your face structure! The hype is totally worth it and I'm so grateful I can finally say I own a set of these heavenly products. You can find the sticks trio here.

 

 

Until next time, Toni. xo

One Direction : OTRA 10/10/15

October has been a busy month for me this year so I decided to take a month away from blogging to catch up with work and personal commitments, as well as a surprise visit from family living in New Zealand. I am excited to get back into it and just to kick start November I thought I would do a post about one of my favourite days from October, enjoy!

 

I went to One Direction's 'On The Road Again' tour in Birmingham at the Barclaycard Arena on the 10th October and thought I would share some pictures (below) that I took from the night.

 

 



 

 

 

Until next time, Toni. xo

My Top 3 Drugstore Foundations

 

I've always stuck to No7 foundation throughout my make up loving years however a few weeks ago I decided to give a selection of drugstore foundations a go to see if going for slightly cheaper alternatives made much of a difference. Turns out a few of these foundations actually work wonders on my skin so I've picked my top 3 from those I purchased to talk about.

 



 

L'OREAL True Match Foundation (1.N Ivory)

This is the lightest foundation of all 3 but provides a great, even coverage. The pigmentation isn't amazing but the texture and easy application makes it perfect for those confident days when you're skin is looking fresh and clear. I've been using this a lot throughout the summer because it allows your skin to breathe without moving or streaking on your face. The colour I have this foundation in is 'Ivory' which I've found is a great colour match for me. The foundation also has an SPF of 17 which is perfect for me! This foundation ticks all the boxes for a light, even and breathable foundation: providing what feels like a new top layer of skin that stays throughout the day without caking or slipping. It is also only £9.99 which is a great price for just how great this product looks and feels on the skin.

 

 

 Max Factor Face Finity Foundation (Beige 55)

This foundation is the smoothest foundation I've ever used! It is titled to be 'Primer, Concealer and Foundation in one' which I can absolutely believe, when putting it on it glides onto my skin as if I have a base of primer and covers the darker areas or blemishes on my skin perfectly. I purchased this foundation in the colour 'Beige 55'. This foundation would be perfect as a first foundation for people just getting into make up; the consistency is smooth yet buildable but not cakey or drying. This foundation offers a high SPF of 20 which is unusual with a lot of drug store foundations. This foundation is a great quality product for a fantastic price of £12.99.

 

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation (010 Light Porcelain)

 My favourite out of three has got to be this one: everything about it ticks all my personal boxes! The colour, coverage, staying power, breathability, SPF and even the smell! My colour is 010 Porcelain and I honestly cannot get enough of it! This foundation brightens my skin, covers all my dark circles and imperfections but isn't heavy or cakey. I feel like this is the only foundation of the three I can feel going onto my face but after a light powdering you can't feel it on your skin. I would recommend this foundation to anyone and at only £8.99 its a bargain!

 

Until next time, Toni. xo

Another Bourjois Lipstick Love Affair

 

If you have seen my recent post [here] about my Bourjois discovery and new favourite lipstick, you will notice I have found yet another loveable lipstick from the Bourjois 'Rouge Edition' range in a much more toned down, yet equally as beautiful colour! This new shade is the colour '02 / Beige Trench'. I purchased this as I felt the softer nude tones with hints of peach throughout would be very flattering against my skin tone to live out the final few weeks of summer and possibly for an understated make up look when I go back to college.  



 



'18' Alongside '02'

 

The lipstick has a slightly smoother and silky finish meaning I find application a lot easier and quicker than the previous shade '18'. This lipstick works very well with Mac's 'Whirl' lipliner as a base but also a simple, slighlty darker nude outline. Staying power isn't perfect on this lipstick due to the softer finish however, I find it quite a hydrating lip stick making it perfect for all seasons!

The colour is buildable making it wearable for near enough anyone being able to adapt to all looks.

 

I've found myself wearing this lipstick with a slight pink/gold eye shadow and soft blush on the apples of my cheeks. I am planning to try it with a dark smokey eye and defined bronzer contour very soon as I am interested to see how adaptable this colour really is!

Until next time, Toni. xo

 



Glossybox: 3 Month Subscription Review

Glossybox is an online beauty subscription box that has been going for many years - I discovered the subscription service through instagram when a sponsored avertisement popped up on my feed - I was instantly intruiged as I had never thought to sign up to a service like this one. I realised this was a great way for me to try new and different products I may otherwise never have the opportunity to.

After looking on the Glossybox website [here] I opted for the 3 month plan where you pay a set amount and get boxes for 3 months - if you like the service after 3 months the service continues in the same way with payments being taken quarterly (you can opt out at any time). There are other payment plans including monthly, half yearly and annually.
The less often you pay the cheaper it becomes!

Monthly = £10
3 Month = £9.50
6 Month = £9
12 Month = £8.50
 

 

My first subscription box was for June and arrived very quickly! I will be totally honest in saying I was slightly disspointed with this box as none of the products were make up and I'm not a lover of nail varnish. However, the actual contents of the box were good quality and worth a lot more than what I paid for my month's subscription.

 

Each month Glossybox selects a number of products from different companies across the world, ranging in price and what you get in your particular box is the luck of the draw. I know in June there was also an Essence Lipgloss I would have liked to try but my box just so happened to contain the nail varnish.

 

Out of this box I have only so far used the wipes and the body mist. I've found the wipes very gentle on the skin and the fact they're non fragranced means that sensitive skin isn't irritated! The pack is also a very handy size making it perfect for festivals along with the gold and black body tattoos. The body mist's handy bottle size is great for the bottom of your bag when you're skin is having a bad day and needs a pick me up. I've found the oil based product is a great, deeply moisturing spray that leaves your skin non-sticky and feeling refreshed. As the product is very oil based I would reccomend it only for people with dry/normal skin textures as oily skin would see no benefit.

 

 

July saw a collector's edition, French inspired Glossybox that focused on skin care! This box was very exciting to open as the packaging was completely different and I didn't know what to expect. I love the care that goes into the boxes as the products are layered with shreded tissue paper and wrapped with a sheet of tissue paper. This paper is usually black and baby pink topped off with a black ribbon bow and Glossybox logo sticker.

The July box cleverly used French flag colours throughout the box including the tissue paper, ribbon and Glossybox sticker. It is small touches like this that made me love the Glossybox packaging as I imagined each box personally put together by hand and sent off to each subscriber - giving the worldwide service a very personal touch.

 

 

When it comes to the products I was very happy with the contents as each product was amazing quality and great size. The difference with this box was that one of the products was actually a make up bag/travel pouch which I've been loving for transporting my brushes away from home! My favourite product from the box was: The Lollipop's Lip Balm. This box also had several products that you may or may not get due to luck of the draw but after looking over the other possible products on the site I was over the moon with the product selection I was sent.

 

The Lipbalm glides onto the lips effortlessly and leaves a perfect shine on the surface with long staying power and a perfect hydration impact. This is actually a product I've nearly finished and will be looking to find and repurchase as soon as I have emptied the tube. I would reccomend this product to literally anyone, I've luckily never suffered badly with dry lips but find this product locks in the natural hydration my lips have. If you have dry lips this will provide the perfect sollution to stop your lips feeling chapped or sore. Even over the top of your favourite lipstick, on a no make up day or just to give your lips a little added extra with soft makeup, this works perfectly.

 

 

August's box was back to normal packaging but the product content blew every other box I had recieved out the water! This box had set products with every subscriber recieving the same contents, I can honestly say I love every single product and they are all being used regularly within my make up and skin care collections. I struggle to pick a favoruite product from the August box as each of them have become go-to products in the recent month! However the product I have been using religiously every day is the Naobay Toner, not only have I used this to remove any make up that may be left after cleansing but also on non make up days to give my face a refreshing and hydrating boost. The bottle size is very generous and will last a while, however I know I will buying more before I run down this bottle to ensure I don't go a day without it. This product is good for all skin types and is very delicate on the skin not to irritate any sensitive areas.

 

 

I will now change my subscription to annual payments to save money and revieve boxes until my heart desires! I would reccomend this service or any similar ones to anyone wanting to try new products regularly and for an extreamly reasonable price as this service brings high end and sometimes holy grail products straight to your door offering a personal, fast and top quality service!

 

 

Until next time, Toni. xo

Bourjois Buys

Bourjois is an unfamiliar high street brand to me and to be honest I've always just walked past the stand whenever I've been in a drugstore. However, a few weeks back my friend introduced me to one of their lipsticks which I ended up going out to buy just days later!

The lipstick was from the 'Rouge Edition' range and was in the colour '18/Violine Strass'. I actually saw the product in my friend's make up bag and was drawn to the packaging, but I was instantly put off by the deep colouring with purple undertones. I've never been brave when it comes to my lip colour and often stick to nudes or understated pinks so this was a big jump for me to take. However, my friend encouraged (basically forced) me to try it and my goodness am I glad she did! 

Although not at all similar to my usual picks and far from my comfort zone; I loved how it felt and looked on my lips and I suddenly found my comfort zone expanding to make room for this unexpected, new love for colour. The lipstick has a matte, yet slightly smoother finish (making it easy to smudge and move around throughout the day) so I find it best to wear with a base of lip liner or even powder to set it in place. 

As the colour is fairly dark I'm saving it for autumn and winter seasons: my favourite time of year! I'm already excited to pair this colour to dark and warm clothing colours and textures as well as big chunky knit wear. 

  Onto eyebrows now which aren't really a big priority for me, and up until a few years ago I did nothing with them! Now, I fill them in lightly and just keep them neat, so as I was already at the Bourjois stand something I also picked up was the Bourjois 'Sourcil Precision' eyebrow pencil in the colour '07 Noisette'. 

I have mixed feelings about this pencil, although the colour is a well matched, build-able and easily applied product the lasting power isn't the best. I find that half way through the day it has faded and even smudged sometimes. 

I am going to continue using the product and using it alone, as well as along side my previous favourites, however I don't think I will repurchase and will continue my search for the best eyebrow pencil for me. 

Be brave with make up choices and try things you never normally would - you never know, your comfort zone may change - you might even learn a thing or two about different undiscovered products! 

Until next time, Toni. xo

London in July

I've said it before and I will say it again endlessly, London is my favourite place to be. This post focuses on a flying visit I took in July to go and see Ed Sheeran on his first night at Wembley, but I also spent some time during the weekend being a bit of a tourist! 

I always come away with the most bright and colourful photos so have to post them everytime; hence this post, enjoy! 

China Town

China Town

Ed Concert 10/07/15

Surprise guest Elton John 10/07/15

Ed 10/07/15

The Shard 

View from the Shard

Camden

Neal's Yard, CG

The Eye

The Eye 

Hummingbird Bakery 

GBK Last Day Lunch

Homeward bound!

{ To keep up with my future trips and to see more pictures follow my Instagram and Twitter: @tonigeorgiaxo }

Until next time, Toni. xo