MAYBELLINE LASH SENSATIONAL VS BENEFIT ROLLER LASH - FIRST IMPRESSION!

Hello lovelies!
I'm definitely late jumping on the Lash Sensational bandwagon since near enough everyone owns/has owned this in their lifetime, except me, until now!
My current favourite mascara has been the BENEFIT Roller Lash which is on the higher price-end for a mascara (£19.50 at BOOTS) so if I could find a cheaper alternative with the Lash Sensational (£7.99 at BOOTS) then brilliant!

PACKAGING
The Roller Lash packaging is definitely prettier and feels a lot higher quality but I feel as if this contributes to the price whereas I'd rather pay less for a simpler packaging design. The handle of the mascara wand is easier to hold than the Lash Sensational however, as it is a rubber material.
The lash sensational isn't even close to how pretty the Roller Lash packaging is but I don't dislike it at all - its compact and pleasant to look at so I can't complain.

MASCARA WAND
The Roller Lash has a slightly curved rubber wand which has small "hooks" which apparently help curl the lashes. The Lash Sensational wand is very similar in that it is a slightly curved, rubber wand but this one is slightly bigger. They're both very similar which is why I'm guessing many people compare them.

LENGTHENING
I find the Roller Lash to be slightly lengthening but I do believe it would work better for those with lashes that are already long, unlike mine. However, it does curl the lashes well, giving the appearance of longer lashes.
Although a slightly clumpier formula, the Lash Sensational lengthens my lashes A LOT more and I can apply multiple coats without it looking too clumpy. This did take some getting used to and I have to spend a little more time on completing my mascara but the overall look is much longer in the end.

VOLUMISING
I definitely believe the Lash Sensational too be better at volumizing as the formula is thicker. It can take some practice as it can be a "clumpy" mascara when applying for the first time but when you get the hang of it, it makes the lashes look much better in comparison to the Roller Lash, which doesn't do much for volumizing. However, I'm pretty sure the Roller Lash doesn't claim to be a volumizing mascara, simply more curling and lengthening so I didn't expect this anyway.

PRICE POINT
If you have the money to splash out on the Roller Lash, it is not at all a bad mascara and gives a much more natural look to the lashes. It was a lovely treat as a birthday present for myself and I still use it on makeup days where I want a more natural look. 
However, I would much sooner recommend the Lash Sensational if you are going to be using this type of mascara day-to-day as it is a lot cheaper. I prefer the overall look when using this mascara in comparison to the Roller Lash but it is all about how you prefer your lashes to look. If you're looking for natural length and curl - Roller Lash, if you're looking for stand-out length and volume - Lash Sensational.

I hope this was helpful and thank you for reading!

Holly Amber X

NYX LIQUID SUEDE MATTE LIPSTICKS REVIEW! (WITH SWATCHES)

Hi lovelies!
I recently purchased another shade of the NYX liquid suede lipsticks- I purchase mine from BOOTS for £6.50 where there are 12 shades available - so far, I own the shades "Vintage", "Soft Spoken" and "Kitten Heels".
These liquid lipsticks contain avocado oil and vitamin E so I find them a lot less drying than most liquid lipsticks. When they are applied I find that I only need one coat for a completely opaque look mostly (as I'll explain later on) and they dry down to look matte whilst being slightly sticky - this means they don't feel as drying on your lips and they stay on longer than other liquid lipsticks. However, because they dry to a slightly sticky finish they do transfer onto things if you eat/drink etc.
I can definitely vouch for their long-lasting power - I wore "Kitten Heels" from 7pm till 3:30am the other night, only having to reapply once just in the middle of my lips. I find that these lipsticks layer perfectly so theres no worry with this anyway. 

I love the shade "Kitten Heels" the most - I have found it to apply the best and sit the nicest on my lips. It is completely opaque with just one coat and isn't too hard to apply - a true red, I'm in love and think every single person should buy it.

The next shade is "Soft Spoken" which looks like a pink-nude in the tube. However, on the lips I find it to be darker than it looks. This one is mostly opaque with one coat but may need a little more in the middle of the lips. I recommend using a lip liner with these lipsticks as they are quite liquidy.

The last shade I own, "Vintage", I couldn't even get a decent swatch of. This is the darkest colour - a reddish-purple - and I couldn't get a an even coat of it on my lips. Without a lip liner this shade is near impossible to apply. It slips everywhere and seems so much thinner in consistency than the others. I find the darker the shade, the more patchy these lipsticks are and its shocking how much I love "Kitten heels" and how much I dislike this one. 

If I had to complain about anything with these lipsticks in general it would be that I wish there were more nude-toned shades or just more shades altogether! Some of the 12 shades aren't as wearable for myself - such as "Stone Fox" which is a very dark grey or the purple shades "Sway" and "Amethyst" and I can imagine them to present the same problems as I have with "Vintage". However, if you enjoy more outgoing and fun shades such as bright purples, bright pinks and oranges, I'd suggest trying them out.

Thank you for reading as always,

Holly Amber X

PLAYA DE LAS AMERICAS, TENRIFE (AUGUST 2016)!

Hi lovelies, hope you're all well.
Last week I returned from the beautiful Tenerife which I've now visited three times with my family. Each time we have stayed in the same area of Playa De Las Americas in the chain of Parque Santiago hotels which are brilliant with lovely, friendly staff. It is honestly the perfect family location with the beach a 5 minute walk away, too many restaurants to count, a variety of shops, the most amazing waterpark - SIAM Park and the offer of water sports (not to mention the ridiculous tan you get in the Tenerife sun).

Siam Park Wave Machine Pool.

My lovely, lovely little family X

Holly Amber X

SLEEK "EYEBROW STYLIST" EYEBROW PENCIL!

Hello lovelies!
So another recent purchase of mine is the SLEEK "Eyebrow Stylist" eyebrow pencil which can be purchased for £6.49.

Top: SLEEK Brow Stylist
Bottom: Soap & Glory Brow Archery

I initially went to BOOTS to pick up either my regular brow pencil, the Soap & Glory Archery (Brow Tint and Pencil) which is £10.00 or the Soap & Glory Brow Archery which is £8.00, both in the shade "Brownie points". However, when

I got there both were sold out in my shade and I was in desperate need of a brow pencil so went on the hunt around the other brands.
That's how I ended up at the SLEEK stand, which is a brand I really do like, looking at their brow products. I was surprised to see the "Eyebrow stylist" pencil which looked extremely similar to the NO7 Eyebrow Sculpting Pencil, but cheaper! On the one end there is the pencil which is slanted at an angle to help with precision and the other end has an eyebrow brush which is extremely helpful to have alongside the pencil. The packaging is extremely plain with the SLEEK logo barely visible on the one end of the product but this doesn't bother me too much, as long as the product itself is good then I can look past the packaging.

The product comes in three different shades ("light", "medium" and "dark") but there was not a tester for "medium" so I went to the "dark" to test the texture. I found it was a lot less stiff than the NO7 product which I liked and the shade definitely wasn't as dark as I had expected looking at the swatch on my hand. This put me in a dilemma of which shade to get. 
I asked one of the sales assistant if she had another "medium" tester but she simply replied she hadn't which wasn't very helpful. Worried that the "medium" wouldn't be as cool-toned as the "dark", I ended up going for "dark".

When I got home, I tested the pencil on my eyebrows. If you plan to get this product I do suggest you use a very light hand as it can be extremely pigmented - this isn't a bad thing at all! It may just take a little getting used to since I used to press quite hard with my S&G pencil. The colour wasn't too bad towards the end of my eyebrow where I fill them in fuller but I do find it too much for the front so I'll probably use a lighter eyebrow pencil there.

Overall I think this product is brilliant considering the price you pay! Some may not like the very small range of shades on offer or the packaging, but the texture of the product and design with the eyebrow brush at the opposite end is great. I am definitely impressed!
Thank you for reading, you lovely people!

Holly Amber X

TWO WONDERFUL REVLON LIP PRODUCTS!

I recently took a trip to BOOTS which lead to me to two new purchases - both lip products, both REVLON and I am in loveeeee.

I'm a person who's always looking for the perfect nude lip products and after trying the following two I am extremely happy and they're all I have been wearing since I bought them. 
The first of these products is the (relatively) new REVLON Ultra-HD Matte Lip Colour in the shade 'Seduction' (a peachy-pink nude) which is £8.99. I'd been looking for this shade for weeks and it was always sold out - I can see why as its my favourite shade out of the line by far.
I love the packaging of these with its frosted-glass looking plastic tube which you can see the lip colour through. I also quite like the scent of the actual product - it's slightly sweet but even if you disliked the scent you cannot smell it once it sets on the lips anyway.
The product has quite a 'moussey' texture and I find that it doesn't actually set down completely matte on my lips but I've found this with other matte lipsticks with this texture too such as the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams. This means that it doesn't last on the lips for as long as a liquid lipstick does but this doesn't bother me too much as I've been pairing it with my second lip product anyway.

The second product I've been loving is the REVLON Super Lustrous Lipgloss in the shade 'Super Natural' which is £6.99. This shade is less peachy than the Ultra-HD Lip Colour but pairs beautifully with it as its a little more sheer anyway. The packaging is again quite simple but very pretty and elegant but I much less like the scent of this one. However, this doesn't matter to me anyway as you cannot smell it on the lips either once you apply it.
I just think the shine this gives your lips is absolutely beautiful and it makes them feel a lot more hydrated. The texture is quite sticky but it is bearable and means the product stays on a little longer than other lip glosses. 

I am defintiely loving this lip product combination and will be continuing to wear them daily for a long time. Good job REVLON!
Thanks for reading as always,

Holly Amber X

GROWING LONG, HEALTHY NAILS!

When I tell you I was an terrible nail-biter for well over a decade I'm not lying and its a common misconception that these years of biting can do damage to future nail growth (from my experience anyway). I really wish I had a "before" photo to show you but I doubt I ever would even think to take a photo of them when they were so badly bitten.

The hardest part is giving up the habit of biting them which isn't actually that hard once you start to see an actual nail tip growing after what feels like a lifetime. Then comes the task of maintaining this without your nail falling to pieces - chipping and cracking and flaking every time you touch something. So here's a couple of tips that come in handy!

1. USE A CUTICLE OILS AND HANDCREAMS!
A very easily forgotten part of looking after your nails is to revitalise them with hand creams and oils as this will help to prevent flaking. This is extremely important after drying out your nail with nail polish remover, water etc. The cuticle oil and handcream I use regularly are from the BODYSHOP's Almond Hand Care Range and they smell absolutely delicious, an added bonus!

2. KEEP THEM PAINTED!
Another common phrase I hear is "Oh no! You need to let your nails BREATHE" and I honestly don't think my nails need to do that when they are technically dead the moment they appear from my nail bed. So, ignoring this comment, my nails are so much stronger when painted - even if this is just a clear layer or two of base coat and top coat. When doing this its also very helpful to "wrap" the nail polish around and under the tip to prevent it peeling!

Revlon Colourstay Gel-Envy Nail Polish.

3. CHOOSING A NAIL POLISH!
Although any type of polish on your nails can help to keep them stronger, I've definitely found using a "gel" type nail polish is a lot better. My definite favourite "gel" polish is the Revlon ColourStay Gel-Envy nail polish which you can read about here.

4. CUTTING AND FILING.
Another tip I'd give to someone trying to grow bitten nails is to keep them short at first. For one, it takes some getting use to having longer nails which means you may break them easier and, secondly, the nail may be a little weak at first to withstand being longer. Also, make sure to file in one direction rather than back and fourth as this is more likely to cause cracks and splits in the nail. For someone prone to nail biting, having a nail file on hand can prevent this if a nail does happen to break!

5. REMOVING NAIL POLISH!
To make nail polish removal easier, you can prep for this by using a peel-off base coat which could reduce the use of nail polish removers altogether. However, if you do use a nail polish remover, make sure this is acetone free as to reduce dehydration and flaking! If you tend to switch up your nail polish regularly, a peel-off base coat would definitely be your best option!

There are plenty more things I'm sure you can do, especially nutritional wise, to grow strong, healthy nails but these five tips I find help me out massively!
Thank you for reading as always,

Holly Amber X

KOLYMPIA, RHODES (JUNE 2016)!

Hello Lovelies!
So recently I went on holiday with my lovely boyfriend for a week to Kolympia, Rhodes in Greece and I had a beautiful time. We stopped at the Imperial Resort and Spa in Kolympia which was honestly the most beautiful hotel with the loveliest staff, I couldn't say a bad word about it! The reps from Thomson and TUI were extremely helpful also and were always on hand through each step of travelling and our stay at the hotel. Im extremely sad to be back after such a lovely week.

The View From Our Balcony.

Atlantica Imperial Resort and Spa in Kolympia, Rhodes.

Kolympia Beach.

Boat Journey to Lindos.

Acropolis of Lindos.

Lindos Town.

Mountain Walk Up to Tsambika Monastery, Kolympia. 

Old Rhodes Town.

I had the most wonderful time with the most wonderful person in the loveliest of places. It was lovely to destress and just relax for the whole week and I can't wait for more holidays with my favourite person in the future. We chose the perfect location to relax in whilst being able to travel to the towns of Lindos and Rhodes within 40 minutes where we shopped and saw some beautiful sights. It's always sad to come back home but memories of our first proper holiday together will always be there.

Thank you for reading!

Holly Amber X