Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in #005 Crush

Winter has well and truly arrived in England and so that only means one thing for a beauty crazed girl like myself.  Bold berry lips. I've talked about the Rimmel London Kate Collection offering to the trend but today I want to talk about a new favourite of mine, which I picked up on a whim in Boots.  It's the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in #005 Crush.  

Now, I'm a bit late when it comes to this product, as they've been on the counters for a few months, but I was initially put off by the smell, which is a mixture of peppermint and herbs.  Smell aside, this product is pretty good.  The packaging is much the same as Clinique's Chubby Stick but the products differ in that Revlon's is a stain as well as a moisturising balm.  

The colour is more blackcurrant, making it a purple shade.  It's a sheer product, but it's definitely buildable depending on how bold you want to go.  When you first apply, the product leaves a lovely gloss from the moisturising balm.  Once the balm has worn off, it leaves a subtle stain of colour.  It's also extremely easy to use, I usually use the tip to line my lips and then the side of the crayon to colour them in and build on pigmentation.  I find myself reaching for it more than a lipstick because it is so easy to use and is great for on the go top ups.  I definitely want to pick up 'Lovesick' next which is a bright fuchsia colour.  

Have you tried the Revlon balm stains? 

Revlon ColourStay 16 Hour Eyeshadow Quad in Siren

Whilst browsing the make up aisles of Boots, I came across the new Revlon ColourStay quads and was instantly drawn to Siren.  I far prefer cooler tones on my eyes and I had been looking for the perfect, inexpensive set of eyeshadows for a while.  The quad features three shimmery colours including a blue toned silver highlight shade, a taupe colour for all over the lid, a darker purple toned taupe for the crease as well as a matte charcoal grey for eyeliner.  My two favourites are the two taupe shades, I use them either alone or together.  

The pigmentation is good on the shimmery shades but I feel the matte charcoal shade could be more intense if it's supposed to last 16 hours (although, who really wants their make up to last that long?)  To make the most out of my eyeshadow, I always use my trusty NARS Smudge Proof Base (reviewed here).  Using the two products together, I have found that my eyeshadow stays put for around 6-8 hours before it starts to crease or fade.  They are smooth in formula, making application easier and they sit comfortably on my eyes.  

At £7.99 and 14 different quads, there is definitely going to be something for everyone.  Revlon have even included a little diagram on the back of where and how to apply the colours, great for any beginners who don't know what the terms 'crease', 'inner corner' or 'outer V' mean and just want to know where each colour goes.  

Have you tried any Revlon eyeshadows? 

New In: Recent Beauty Buys

After lectures today, I popped out shopping, mainly to buy my mum a present for Sunday.  I knew there were a few things I wanted to get myself from Superdrug and I also had to top up some of my skin care.  I also went into Primark, but if you've seen any of my latest tweets, you'll know I'm not happy.  To cut a long story short, I found THE shirt I had been searching high and low for only to have to go up FOUR (not exaggerating) dress sizes.  I'd already gone up three and thought that the next size up would surely be the perfect fit.  How wrong was I.  I've just tried it on and want to scream. I might be curvy but there is no way I am anywhere near a size 20 yet this still didn't fit - Primark, sort your life out! I wont be spending my money in there anytime soon.  Back to the goodies - beauty products never fail to disappoint me (unless they don't actually work...) so here's what I bought. 

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish 100ml and Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator

I've been pumping the last of my C+P for a few days now, and I know that if I don't use it. I'll experience some horrific breakouts.  I picked this up and also the Exfoliator which I haven't tried as I want to scrub away my winter skin.  I'll let you know how I get on with it, but if it's anything like my other Liz Earle products, I'm sure it'll be great!

Loreal Super Liner 24 Hour Gel Eyeliner, Loreal Lumi Magique and Loreal Super Liner Perfect Slim

I have wanted to try Loreals liners for a while now, as everyone seems to rave about them.  I took full advantage of the 3 for 2 offer in Superdrug and picked up the newest editions to the liner family.  

I've never tried a gel before but have been looking into it for a while so I will give this a go. I love my MAC penultimate liner but have been looking for a high street alternative.  

My Clinique highlighter/concealer completely run out this morning, so I picked up the new Loreal one to try.  I've swatched it and it seems exactly the same! 

Revlon Lip Butter in Sweet Tart

My most exciting product of the day.  I've wanted to try these ever since the American guru's have gone mental for them.  I got lucky with this as they weren't actually out on display, but I asked a shop assistant if she knew when they'd be out as they were released this week and she found them for me! I'm wearing it on my lips now and it is really pigmented and feels lovely on my lips.  I'm definitely going to pick a few more of these up - hopefully they will be on a 3 for 2 or something like that.  

Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze

A surprise buy today as I didn't even know these had launched in the UK yet, I just happened upon them whilst wandering around the make up stands.  I wasn't sure which ones to get as I know the Taupe one is quite saught after in America.  I went for this bronze shade as these colours bring out my blue eyes.  This is going to be perfect for those days when you just want a wash of colour all over the lids and nothing more.  

Now we just need the dream bouncy blushes to launch here! What high street make up launches are you looking forward to most?

Oops I Did it Again: Collective Haul

So over the past month life has gone back to normal.  I started University up again and am now juggling Push PR and my hectic student schedule.  The beginning of a new University year means one thing, student loan.  You may have read my student loan lust list here, and will already know the kinds of things I wanted to get my hands on.  So, without further adieu, here's what I bought!

FASHION

Topshop; £75.00

O.M.G. I cannot tell you how much I LOVE these heeled chelsea boots.  I had spied them instore a while back during the summer but never had the money to get them, so I made a bid that once my student loan came in, they'd be mine. You can wear them with everything and the outfit just looks 10x better.  I now want some flat chelsea boots so that i'm fully prepared for the winter months.  

18 AND EAST; £38.00

You all know it by now, I'm addicted to 18 AND EAST.  I recently bought this shirt in berry which is gorgeous and so I had to get the bird/floral print one too.  The delivery is super-duper quick as well which is always a bonus.  I'm now after some of their galaxy print bits!

That's it for fashion, I did buy a new pleather black jacket and a new bag but I haven't got round to photographing them as yet.  I'll put them in an outfit of the day soon! 

BEAUTY

Clinique High Impact Mascara and Clinique Airbrush Concealer

I got sucked into House of Fraser last week when they were offering 10% off all beauty so I thought I'd buy my favourite mascara.  The Clinique lady then talked me into getting the concealer, but i'm now glad I did as it's the best liquid concealer I've ever used!

Benefit Powder Wowza

I've always wanted to try the Benefit powders but could never justify the £23.00 price tag.  Walking around I happened to notice this limited edition powder palette for £19.50 - bargain!  It has Coralista, Bella Bamba 3D and Hoola.  

Confessions of a Concealaholic

This boxset has been around for a couple of years now but I like the fact you get a lot of product for the price. 

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua

I took the plunge and bought this foundation and I'm so happy I did.  It's medium coverage which is buildable so if you want to try it and you prefer a full coverage foundation, get a tester first.  The only thing I dislike it that their isn't a huge colour range yet and they all have a hint of yellow in.  

MAC Prep and Prime

This is probably my holy grail primer as I've repurchased it 3 or 4 times now.  It just does its job well!

(L-R)

Rimmel Hide the Blemish Concealer,

Topshop Lipstick in Innocent,

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation,

Revlon Nail Varnish in Facets of Fuschia and

L'Oreal True Match Powder

A little high street beauty haul.  I love the rimmel concealer, it may well be the first one I ever bought when I first started out with make up.  The Topshop lipstick is a nice bright baby pink colour which looks nice with my bleach blonde locks.  I wanted to buy a cheaper foundation to rotate between my Chanel as it was so expensive I don't want to use it all up at once. The nail varnish was a bit of a whim as I saw it on an advert and loved it - it's an absolute bitch to take off though. I needed a new powder that didn't turn me orange.  

Moroccan Oil for Fine and Light-Coloured Hair

I can't get enough of this product, it makes my hair feel so soft and lovely and it smells great too.  I got the small size to try but it's perfect to put in your make up bag to top up during the day.  

MISCELLANEOUS

I Don't Know How She Does It

A Discovery of Witches

I wanted to a couple of new books to read after finishing One Day (it ruined me).  I wanted Water for Elephants but once I saw the buy one get one for £1 offer, I couldn't resist.  I've heard good things about both books - have you read any of them?

That's it for my haul.  If you'd like to see any in-depth reviews or some outfits of the days, leave your suggestions in the comment box below! 

 

Debate Day: Paraben's

Welcome to a new series on my blog!  Debate day will feature a series of different controversial fashion and beauty topics which will hopefully get the blogging community talking.  A lot of people may already have made their assumptions on the fashion and beauty community, so it's time to show them that beauty and brains can be combined.  

*image taken from tumblr.  

Today's topic is parabens and after watching some youtube videos, I'm a little worried about the state of our beauty products.  If you don't already know, a paraben is basically a cheap preservative used in beauty products from body lotions to perfumes, mascaras to cleansers, to help give a longer lasting shelf life as well as protect it from growing fungus over time.  The main types used in products are:

- Butylparaben 

- Isobutylparaben 

- Ethylparaben 

- Methylparaben 

- Propylparaben

Now, you're probably thinking, what could be so bad about making our make up last a little longer and being a bit safer to use?

Parabens can mimic hormone estrogen (you know those buggers that make you moody, spotty and really emotional?) which plays a part in the development in breast cancer.  18 out of 20 tumours had been found with up to 5 types of parabens in.

I want to discuss brands that shockingly use parabens in their products, one which claims to be 'fresh' and 'handmade'.  The first brand is Lush.  I know, you're all probably wanting to hit me, but it's true.  I decided to go online and click on 3 products at random and see how many had parabens in.  

Gorgeous Moisturiser:

Any parabens? Yes. 

How many? 2 - Methylparaben, Propylparaben

Source

Dirty Hair Cream:

Any parabens? Yes.

How many? 1 - Methylparaben

Source

Big Blue Ballistics

Any parabens? No.

Source

So 2/3 randomly chosen products had parabens in, slightly worrying for a company who claims to give you 'fresh' products.  

The next brand I want to talk about is Revlon.  Now, this is a rediculous case of paraben use. Almost all Revlon products contain parabens.  This wouldn't be such a big deal, if the company didn't hold a marathon every year to raise money for breast cancer.  So why would they put chemicals into their products which have been found in breast cancer cases?

After researching a lot into this subject, I started to worry about one particular product I used.  If Lush claims to be 'fresh' and natural, when really half the products aren't, would my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish disappoint me too?  I went and grabbed my cleanser with fingers and toes crossed and am pleasantly surprised to find it does not contain these chemicals.  This goes to show that companies may say they are all natural, but what it comes down to is the small print.  

So, what are your opinions on Paraben's?  Should they be in our beauty products, or should the beauty companies look into alternative preservative chemicals?

Join in the debate on Twitter using the hashtag #NonOptionalDebate

I look forward to your comments!

What's in the Chiltern?

I've seen a few of these blogs around and decided to add to it - I think it speaks a lot for your personality what you covet in your handbag.  

Meet Chiltern - I adore her, she's a classy bird.  The charm on the bag is additional, my best friend bought it for me. 

It has three sections which each has a zipped pocket.  I don't really use the zipped pockets, except for a mirror (which i've forgotten to photograph - ooops)

So in my bag you'll find:

- Clutch purse from Accessorize

- Cath Kidston train pass holder

- iPod Classic 80GB (headphones were in my Macbook)

- Revlon handbag sized hairbrush

- Soap and glory 'Hand Food'

- Vaseline tub in Cocoa 

- Moleskine notepad and pen

- Benefit Boi-Ing in no.1

- MAC satin lipstick in Myth (depends on make up i'm wearing)

- Clinique High Impact mascara

- Limited Edition Ray Ban Wayfarers 

Case closed.  

---------------------------------------------

So other than this I just wanted to share the new Chanel 'Mademoiselle' Handbag campaign with Gossip Girls notorious bad girl Blake Lively.  I  cooed over these pictures for a good five minutes, she looks incredible, as do the bags.  Well done Lagerfeld.  Enjoy my pretties!

*Thanks to We Can Pretend for the pictures.