THE WORST FOUNDATION I HAVE EVER USED (DRUGSTORE)

I'm not one for expensive, high-end foundations - I can't justify spending £30 upwards for a foundation on my budget and that is absolutely fine for me. I find many drugstore foundations to work wonderfully and I'm usually very happy with them.
However, after recently running out of my Rimmel Match Perfection foundation, I was ready to test out a new foundation! This was mainly due to my increasingly pale complexion which required a really good colour match - I didn't want my foundation to have too many orange/warmer tones which I sometimes find the Rimmel foundations have.

So I went to Superdrug to test out some new foundations with high hopes and determination to find a good colour and what did I end up choosing.... L'Oréals True Match foundation (for 9.99). I can't criticise them for their large amount of choices on colour and the colour I chose (1N - Ivory) was honestly a perfect colour match so this was not my problem with it.

My problem was everything else. Okay, so first of all it quotes to be "super-blendable" - this is the least blendable foundation I have ever tried. This opinion hasn't come from using it once, I've been wearing it on my skin for the last five days now using a range of methods to make it work better.
I tried using it on its own, with my normal day cream, a thicker day cream, a drugstore primer (Rimmel "Fix and Perfect") and two higher-end primers (Benefit's porefessional and Talika's "Photo-Hydra" day cream which works really well as a primer). No method I use helps it to blend nicely. In fact, it is the most drying foundation I've come across - I'm not a person who has dry skin at all and I've never had a problem with products drying out my skin. Although I rarely have any obvious blemishes, this foundation picked up on all of the tiny little imperfections on my face. Even after exfoliating my skin, this foundation made it look so bumpy and uneven still - especially around areas like my nose and between my eyebrows, my skin looked terrible.

Another problem I had over the day was that it slipped on my skin everywhere and even if I just rubbed my skin or scratched my skin in the slightest way, the foundation came off onto my fingers and left my face patchy. This happened even when I used a primer as well as my Urban Decay "All-nighter" setting spray! The coverage is terrible and it is definitely not build able, applying the thinnest layer highlights all of your imperfections, never mind 2 or 3 layers. The suggestion to use a very thin layer was pointless, it was no more blendable than I had previously found and gave me barely any coverage.

I can safely say I will not be using this foundation anymore and I will be going back to my Rimmel London or Bourjois foundations (which are absolutely wonderful). I don't think I'd recommend this to anyone or any skin-type, I'm pretty sure it'd have the same effects on really oily skin too.
Highly disappointing!

Thank you for reading, I hope I've saved you from the very bad decision of purchasing this.

Holly Amber x

MEETING THE MEERKATS!

Myself and my boyfriend recently enjoyed a wonderful experience of meeting meerkats!  

The experience took place with Will's Wild Animal Encounters at the Hoo Farm in Telford where we had a full hour to interact with both the wild and hand-reared meerkats. The first half an hour was spent with the 5 wild meerkats where we got to feed them. As these weren't as human-friendly, we were advised not to pet them but they were still interactive jumping up onto our laps and running around our feet (maybe just because of the fact we had food).

One of the wild meerkats only had three legs but he was the cutest and kept up with the others. I admit, I did give him a little more food than the others as I felt sorry for him.

Throughout the whole experience, the meerkat handler was amazing; she gave us so many facts about them and made the experience really interesting. We learnt about how they behave in the wild, how the female meerkats are more dominant and that they are very territorial animals (and so much more).

The next half an hour was spent with the two hand-reared meerkats. We got to hold them, pet them and they loved the warmth of my coat. One of them ended up inside the jumper of another woman on the experience - I think they liked the warmer places. The one in the picture to the left especially liked a tickle under his chin.

It was such a lovely experience and I enjoyed it 10x times more than I had expected beforehand! I wouldn't hesitate to do it again and I really recommend it to anyone interested in animals (I also think it would make a really lovely present!).

The farm itself was also such a lovely, intimate place with so many lovely animals! From donkeys to cockatoos to otters (and I saw my first real-life warthog!). It didn't feel at all like a zoo where the animals were just there for display; there was a much more warm and comfortable atmosphere where the animals were obviously very well cared-for and loved.

 

If you are at all interested in visiting the farm, the meerkat experience or any of the other experiences they do (animal keeper experience / lemur experience / reptile experience and so many more!) please click on the links provided in this blog post, I can't praise the farm, the staff and the whole experience enough.

Thank you for reading, as always!

Holly Amber x

GLOSSYBOX - NARS EDITION REVIEW!

I was so excited to receive my long-awaited NARS GLOSSYBOX!

When I heard the postman come to the door, I was so very eager to get my parcel from him. I was so happy to have been one of the lucky few to have purchased the special box within the 27 minutes it had taken to sell out. Although I had some difficulty accessing the webpage at first, I soon sorted this out (although I'm not sure many other people had been able to get one for this reason, which was a little disappointing I'm sure).

Upon opening the box, it was beautifully packaged (as with all of the GLOSSYBOXes) and the products were also in the very high-quality NARS packaging which felt weighty and expensive. I absolutely love the sleek but simple design NARS uses - it makes their products look very appealing and sophisticated.

An information card was included in the box; this explained what each product was, how to use them and their full-sized prices. Each product in the box was 'travel-sized' - I usually really dislike sample-like versions of products but these did not feel like "samples" as they each had a fairly good amount of product within them and their size only makes them more convenient to carry around with you! 

Larger Than life, long-wear eyeliner in "Via
Veneto".

The first product I came to look at was the "Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner" in the colour "Via Vineto" which, in full-size, is £19.00. On the information card it states that this eyeliner "stays put" for 12 hours and that it has a rich and creamy texture. I definitely agree that the texture of this is extremely creamy and, although I haven't tried to wear it for the 12-hour claim yet, testing it on the back of my hand left it very hard to smudge and remove so I'm pretty sure what they claim is possible. 

Directions for use are:

"Rather than applying it in one motion, try sketching on your desired shape for more control and a sleeker finish."

I particularly like the jet-black colour of this eyeliner and the fact it twists to reveal more product (if you understand what I mean). I am very excited to test this out!

Audacious Mascara in "Black Moon".

The second product I looked at was the "Audacious Mascara" in the colour "Black Moon" which is, in the full-sized version, £21.00. It claims to give extreme volume and length with a brush that has "over 200 hooks to coat a silky formula from roots to tips with full precision". After trying this out for the day, I'm very impressed I must say. It does give you extreme volume and length if you wiggle the wand up from root to tip. My only (very small) criticism of the wand is that it may be slightly big for some people as, if my eyes were any smaller, I think I may have found it hard to use.

The next three products I am so very pleased with.

The Multiple in "Orgasm".

The first of these is "The Multiple" in the shade "Orgasm" (cheeky, cheeky) which is, in the full-sized version, £29.00. First of all, the colour of this is absolutely gorgeous, I would describe it as a dusty rose shade with a beautiful shimmer.

The information card quotes:

" The trick with this multi-use cult classic is to use it like a crayon. Rub a little on the back of your hand to warm it up, then dab along the cheekbones, lips, eyes and even body for a shimmery, warming contour. Its totally build able - One stroke will highlight, two will provide a pinkish glow and three a healthy blush".

Top : NARS Blush (in the shade Orgasm)
Bottom: The Multiple (in the shade Orgasm)

I was really surprised at the texture of this (in a good way). When applying it, it first feels very creamy but as you touch it to blend it out a little, it becomes so light and dry as it sets into the skin so quickly! Such an impressive, multi-use product which I'd really consider buying in the full-sized version!.

The next product was the NARS blush in the shade "Orgasm" again (cheeky, cheeky) which, in the full-sized version, is £23.00.
Again, the colour is the beautiful "dusty-rose-with-a-shimmer" shade which I love and the pigmentation is amazing. I would expect nothing less for the price you pay for the full-sized version which, if you were wondering, I would definitely consider purchasing.

NARS Blush in "Orgasm".

I very rarely use the whole of a blush product and the size of this one is no smaller than many I use daily so I'm sure it will last me quite a while!
I think that using these two products together would be a gorgeous combination - although they can be built up to a very defined colour, they can also both be used very lightly in combination.
As a wonderful little bonus, the blush also has a mirror - brownie points for that!

As if it couldn't get any better, the last product in this special box works beautifully in combination with these two products and is my favourite of the five.

Satin lip pencil in "Rikugien".

It was the "Satin Lip Pencil" in the shade "Rikugien" which, in the full-sized version, is £19.00. This shade is gorgeous and matches so perfectly to the previous two products as it is that "dusty-rose-with-a-shimmer" colour again. The information card reads:
"Its silken texture drenches your pout in a slick of moisture-rich, creamy lipstick. Tap the pencil onto the centre of your lips and use your finger to smudge outwards for a kissed-off look that works day or night."

The texture of this product is so creamy! It feels so moisturising on the lips which is a must for this time of year. My first time wearing this out was a very pleasant experience, obviously it didn't stay on all day as I was out for 5+ hours and I only expect that sort of "staying-power" with a matte product. However, for the majority of that time, the lipstick stayed on in full colour and even when faded, the shade looked gorgeous still. 
Most definitely my favourite product in the box and I will be soon to purchase the full-sized version when I use it all up. 

I cannot give enough praise to this NARS edition from GLOSSYBOX. I'm always so impressed with their regular boxes but this has stepped it up a notch! I look forward to seeing where GLOSSYBOX go in the future with any of their upcoming special editions.
As always, I urge you to take a look into their subscription service which is amazing value for money! Their rose-gold December box, where they have collaborated with beauty blogger Really Ree, will be amazing I'm sure (and I have recently read on the website that there will be 6 products in every box!)
If you are interested, I'd really appreciate if you subscribed through my personal link as I gain reward points :)

As always, thank you for reading!

Holly Amber x

NOVEMBER GLOSSYBOX REVIEW!

As always, the box came un-damaged and in its beautiful pink and black design. Upon opening the box I was extremely excited. I had received 3 full sized items and 2 travel sized items (which were still a surprisingly decent size).

The first product I came to in my box was a REVLON SUPER LUSTROUS LIPSTICK which can be purchased on the BOOTS WEBSITE FOR £7.49.

REVLON Super Lustrous
Lipstick.

"Pink in the Afternoon"

Each GLOSSYBOX subscriber this month got to choose between 4 shades of the lipstick. I can't remember the other three shades they had offered but the shade I decided on was "Pink in the Afternoon" - a beautiful, classic pink colour. 
The creamy consistency of these lipsticks is amazing; it makes my lips feel so plump and hydrated whilst being long-lasting at the same time. The lipstick itself contains vitamin E and avacado oil which gives it its moisturising properties.
The only thing I dislike about the lipstick is the scent, but it is barely noticeable after applying and it wouldn't put me off purchasing another of these in a different shade.

MUA Undressed Palette.

The next product I came to was an MUA eyeshadow palette (the UNDRESSED palette.)
I have previously bought many of these palettes and loved the eyeshadow formulation so I was happy to receive another which I hadn't previously owned.
Although these palettes are only £4.00 at most high-street makeup stores, you get 12 beautiful shades which are surprisingly good quality for what you pay.
In the picture to the left, the shades are (from the bottom, upwards) Cool Grey, Fuel, Henna, Tawny, Bronze ore, Lion, Hazel, Gild, Fawn, Rose Ash and Puff. 
I personally think these shades are beautiful, metallic shades which could be used for everyday wear or creating a smokey-eyed look for any occasion.

EYLURE Eyelashes.

The next item in the box was some EYLURE NATURALITES fake eyelashes which also came with the adhesive glue. I was very happy that they included some fake eyelashes which were natural-looking as I really dislike dramatic eyelashes for myself.
These lashes are "sweet and subtle" and add natural volume to your existing lashes without it being too obvious that they aren't your own.

They are suitable for all eye shapes, can be cut down to fit smaller eye shapes and can also be re-used.
There are so many different eyelashes you can choose from on the EYLURE WEBSITE for around £5.00 each and they are wonderful quality.

ROYAL APOTHIC Cream Creme Body
Lotion.

The next item I looked at was one of the two "travel-sized" products.
I had never previously heard of the brand ROYAL APOTHIC so I was intrigued to test out one of their products - a body lotion. 
First of all, the packaging of this product is gorgeous! I love the colours and design used - very appealing.
The instructions for use are to "massage into slightly damp skin after bathing to seal in the moisture". 
I'm not sure what the scent of this product is exactly as I can't find it on the packing or information sheet included in the box but it's very fresh and pleasant with some floral properties - nothing too overwhelming. 
The consistency of this product is very moisturising, creamy and absorbs into the skin quickly. 
"Formulated with milk proteins and lactic acid, this rich cream soothes, softens and hydrates dry skin without ever feeling greasy. Nourish your skin as you indulge your senses with subtle fragrance."

Due to the product being travel-sized, I will probably use this mainly as a hand-cream over the winter months as to not run out too quickly. It can be purchased (full size) on the ROYAL APOTHIC WEBSITE FOR £14.50. 

EMITE MAKE UP Diamond Heart (Illuminating)
Primer.

The last product in the box was also the other "travel-sized" product - EMITE MAKE UP's Diamond Heart (illuminating) Base Primer.
I was slightly concerned about the size of the product but when I tested it, I found that you need barely any product at one time anyway as it spreads quite far.
It feels very light on the skin and the scent is very pleasant but again, not overpowering which I like very much. It gives a very subtle, illuminating sheen to the skin which would look beautiful under foundation to give you a glowing complexion. 
"This peach fluid balances skin tone, boosts radiance and creates a smooth finish, perfectly prepping skin for the day (or night) ahead."
I am extremely excited to try this out under my foundation - I have very high hopes!
The full-sized version of this product can be purchased on the EMITE MAKE UP WEBSITE FOR £25.90.



The overall total of the products in the box this month is just over £57!
Although this isn't as high a total as the previous boxes, it is still 5x the amount you actually pay for the box each month which is pretty good value to me! 
Im so pleased with all 5 products I have received this month - wonderful choice from GLOSSYBOX.

I am very excited for the upcoming partnership of GLOSSYBOX with NARS and I will definitely be purchasing the box! Information about this can be found here, i really do urge you to have a look!

I am also excited for next month's GLOSSYBOX after reading the small message at the bottom of the information leaflet:
"Next month, we have a very exciting collaboration on the cards - a beautiful box to match. Beauty blogger Really Ree will be guest editing the Rose Gold collector's edition GLOSSYBOX - December has never looked so festive"

If you are at all interested in subscribing to GLOSSYBOX and receiving the December box, I'd really appreciate it if you did so through this link as I receive reward points :)

Thank you very much for reading!

Holly Amber x

THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING A BREAK.

6 weeks into my first year of university and I'm already feeling the pressure. I take my hat off to anyone graduated from university already, that is impressive stuff.

I'm definitely a person who puts too much pressure on myself to get things done which is not necessarily a bad thing, but after a continuous few weeks of hard work it was starting to take its toll on me a little.

So when the chance for a weekend away with my boyfriend and his family came about, I was more than thrilled.

We spent the weekend in Ladram Bay (Devon) which was such a refreshing environment. Beach walks, visiting the Donkey Sanctuary and going to Exmouth relaxed me wonderfully. 
Sometimes, removing yourself from the environment causing you to feel stressed is the best possible thing you can do. 
This doesn't mean everyone needs to spend the money on going away for a whole weekend though!

The main and most simple thing which I believe can lift your mood is surrounding yourself with people you love and those who make you smile. 
Taking a whole day, or even just a few hours, away from working can do you a world of good and will leave you feeling much more refreshed and motivated to complete that assignment, or write that essay, or make notes on those 40 chapters of a book you're meant to read.

Whilst it is important to do well in life and gain the qualifications or experience needed for a good career, remember to never put this in front of your health or happiness.
At the end of the day, what is a massive annual salary without personal happiness and fulfilment? 

Never lose sight of the most important things in life :) 

Thank you for reading!

Holly Amber x

Small side note: I definitely suggest visiting the Donkey Sanctuary in Devon if any of you are ever near. Such a lovely experience, such a wonderful facility which care for the beautiful animals amazingly. It was so lovely to be able to pet the animals and be in such close proximity of so many as well as seeing how well they are cared for at the same time.
Here is a link to their twitter page, their Facebook page and their website.

OCTOBER GLOSSYBOX REVIEW!

After being so impressed with my first glossybox, I was beyond excited to receive my second!

October GLOSSYBOX.

As always, the box was beautiful in itself and the packaging of the products. I love the simple, baby-pink and black colour scheme of the box - so simple but so pretty!

Upon opening the box, I found a very exciting leaflet about glossybox teaming up with NARS in November where subscribers can receive a special box of NARS products for only £30! An option to sign up for the sales information of this box can be found here and the box's go on sale on the 16th of November - absolutely thrilling!

The first product I picked up in my box was the NICKA K Airbrush Blending Sponge. 

NICKA K Airbrush Blending Sponge.

I LOVE THIS SPONGE.

The domed-shape is perfect for blending into the small areas such as around the nose and under the eyes. You can use this is a rolling motion to give a flawless finish on your foundation and it does not absorb much of the product into the sponge which I was pleasantly surprised about. 
Like other blending sponges, it is advised to dampen the sponge and squeeze out the excess water before use to prevent it from absorbing any product.
It can be purchased on the Beauty Crowd Website for £6.50 and I definitely would recommend it! As an added bonus, the colour is gorgeous and overall, I'm very happy with this product.

TALIKA Photo-Hydra Day Cream.

The second item I looked at in my box was the TALIKA Photo-Hydra Day Cream. The instructions for use are: "Apply in the morning to a thoroughly cleansed face, neck and décolleté." 
The cream itself is quite thin (and works very well as a primer) and doesn't have a very strong, if any, scent at all which I do like in a day cream. I find that, if a scent is quite strong, it can become overwhelming and sickly having it on your face all day. 
The consistency of the product means it applies smoothly and absorbs quickly whilst still being moisturising and I much prefer a thinner face cream for daytime use so my skin doesn't feel too thickly-covered. The only thing I dislike about this product is that, as far as I can see, it doesn't have SPF in it which I think is vital for an everyday moisturiser. For this reason, I would probably apply a product with SPF under this (such as my N-SPA brightening day-cream with SPF 15) and then use this as a primer before my make-up.
This can be purchased at BOOTS for £43.50 (for the 50ml version).

So Susan Haute Light Highlighting Pencil.

The next (and least favourite) product in the box was the SO SUSAN Haute Light Highlighting Pencil which is a peach-hued colour. In the description of this product, it is described as a "creamy crayon (which) flatters everyone and can be used in numerous ways". 
I do not dislike this product completely, but I do not think the consistency is very "creamy" and I struggled to use it along the inner-rim of my eyes like the instructions suggested.
However, to use on the brow-bone or cheek-bone, the colour of the product is very pretty. I will probably go on to use this as a base highlight for my cheekbones which I will then apply a powder highlight over the top of. 
The packaging of the product is absolutely gorgeous but I just do not, personally, like using pencil highlights anyway.
This can be purchased on the SO SUSAN Website for £14.95. For this price, I wouldn't re-purchase this or recommend it to somebody else.

Lanolips 101 Ointment.

The next product in my glossy box was the LANOLIPS 101 Ointment. The baby pink packaging with gold text is very appealing and the product itself contains 100% pure medical grade lanolin (this is a natural ingredient found in sheep's wool which has protective and moisturising properties). 
"Lanolin is an excellent moisturising ingredient for dry skin, as it emulsifies water on the skin and holds it there; its cushioning, plumping effect is noticeable."
It is a multi-purpose treatment but I think I will be using it primarily on my lips throughout winter where the weather can be extremely drying and damaging. Although I don't mind this product being unscented, it would be nice for it to have a mild scent (such as a fruity scent) as I like this in other lip balms/treatments but it is still my favourite product in the box this month.
This can be purchased at BOOTS for £10.99 and I definitely recommend it!

Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes Mascara.

The last product in my Glossybox was the JELLY PONG PONG Fairy Lashes Curl Mascara. I was so happy to see this brand in my box as I've previously used some of their other products and loved them (so I had high hopes for this).

It definitely didn't disappoint me! Although I wouldn't say that it is extremely volumizing, I definitely noticed as increase in length and it curled my lashes beautifully so I was very happy with it for everyday use. It is also very build-able for someone who would prefer a more volumized look.

As an added perk, I LOVE the packaging of the Jelly Pong Pong products - very appealing. 

The mascara brush itself was a nice shape for coating every eyelash right from the root and was also good for the bottom lashes as the brush wasn't too big.

This can be purchased on the JELLY PONG PONG website for £17.95 and I do believe it is worth the price.

Overall, the total cost of the products in my box was just over £72.00 which is amazing for the price you pay for the whole box being just £10.00! If you are interested in signing up for the monthly subscription, I'd really appreciate it if you did so through this link as I receive reward points :)

Thank you so much for reading!

Holly Amber x

MY FIRST (SEPTEMBER) GLOSSYBOX! REVIEW.

I've been super excited to receive my first glossy box after hearing so many good things about the subscription. 

Glossybox is a monthly subscription service where you receive 5 make-up products (mostly full-sized) for just £10.00! After hearing about this from a friend, I thought that paying just £10.00 for over £60.00 worth of products was a no-brainer and signed up to try it out - I am not disappointed. 

First of all, the design and packaging of the box is beautiful! A very simple but attractive design. When you first open the box, you find a card of information with all the products on - this describes the product and also gives you the normal price of the product and where it can be purchased from. 

Underneath this is the best part; the 5 beauty products.

The first item I picked out was a beautiful, nude-pink nail varnish called UPTOWN from NAILSINC. This product was full-sized and can be purchased from www.nailsinc.com for £11.00. 

The first thing to point out is that, just this nail varnish alone, is more than what you actually pay for the whole box! 

The nail varnish itself dried very quickly which is perfect for people like myself who get frustrated waiting for their nail varnish to dry. The consistency of the product was a little thin which made it slightly harder to apply neatly but apart from that I loved everything else about the nail varnish. The colour itself looks so pretty on my nails and has a slightly matte-finish but for £11.00 I don't think I would be purchasing this myself.

The next product in my box was the traceless invisibobble hair ring which can be purchased on amazon for around £4.00. Although this was the cheapest product in my box, this was probably my most useful one and I have actually been meaning to get some of these for a while. These bobbles are easy-to-use, prevent kinks appearing in the hair and reduces the chance of split ends whilst still having a strong grip on the hair. 

For someone like myself who regularly gets headaches from having their hair up, this is the perfect hair tie as it puts a lot less tension on the hair than a normal hair tie would. 

The third product in my box was MARIA NILA Luminous Colour Hair Masque which was also a full-sized product. This would usually be £18.95 and can be found on www.sallyexpress.com.

I wasn't crazy about the packaging of this product at first but the pomegranate scent of the product itself is gorgeous. 

This product is for colour-damaged hair which needs deep nourishment or coloured hair which needs colour protection to sustain it. 

I also have a 20% off code on Maria Nila products on the www.sallyexpress.com website if you are interested in trying out any for their products: GLOSSYMN (valid until 31/10/2015).

The next product in the box was MARSK Eyeshadow Brush pro which is (obviously) full-sized and can be purchased on www.marsk.com for £16.70. 

The brush is shaped to a pointed end and has tight, compact bristles. It gathers eyeshadow really well and deposits it onto the eyelid accurately. It's perfect for applying a base coat of eyeshadow which you can then go on to blend out for a smokey look.

The final product in my glossybox was a BELLAPIERRE COSMETICS Shimmer powder in the colour WHESEK.  The colour of the powder is a shimmery grey-silver which is the perfect base colour for a smokey-eyed look. This is a full-sized product which can be purchased on www.bellapierre.co.uk for £12.99 where they have a range of beautiful, pigmented colours. I would definitely purchase another one of these in a different colour as the quality of the product is wonderful and a little of this powder goes a long way; this means it will last you a decent amount of time and therefore, is worth the price you pay. 

I am extremely happy with this month's GLOSSYBOX where the products I received totalled at £63.64 and I really do suggest you take a look at their subscription service too. If you are interested in signing up for their subscription, please do so through my personal link (www.glossybox.co.uk) as I receive GLOSSYBOX points which you can collect to receive a free box :)

Thank you so much for reading!

Holly Amber x