The First Lipstick One- Berries and Purples.

 Hello Hello, First things first ANOTHER apology from me. I did say I would upload at the weekend but it was so busy I didn't have the time. Two blog posts and I'm already slacking. Minus points for me. I did say on my last blog post I would do something about lipsticks because I have so many of them but then I wanted to do my evening skin routine because I've changed it up recently and my skin is both thanking and loving me for it at the moment. (You're welcome skin.) So what I'm going to try and do is post this lipstick one first and then try and write my evening skin routine after and maybe get them both up this week. (oh lucky you.) But no promises.

 This winter I have been LOVING berry and purple shades. Before this winter I was kind of afraid of going for bold colours on my lips and always felt self conscious when I wore them so tried to keep them to a neutral pink shade, but then I went into Boots and found a colour that I instantly fell in love with so I told myself to buck up my ideas and put myself out there. So if you're reading this and thinking "no I know bold colours aren't for me" don't be scared off because I was once you. However I have turned (quite literally) to the dark side.

 The lipstick in question was from the Rimmel Kate Moss Collection In the Lasting Finish Shade 30. When I first tried it on, because I'd never worn a dark shade before I wasn't convinced but I stuck with it and it's now one of my favourites (as you'll see from my photos.) When I wear this I get asked so many times a day at work where it's from and when I tell them Rimmel they are always shocked. This is because it looks so good. It's such a good quality and it's pigmented so lasts all day. It literally does what it says on the tin. I top it up once a day on my lunch break, but even without it the colour still lasts. The only downside I have with this lipstick is it gets on everything. I am constantly finding purple smudges in places (but this could be my fault for fidgeting relentlessly during the day.) I find with some of my other products that once I've applied and blotted them I feel free to do things such as drink and eat, however with this I do live in fear of constant smudges. This may sound kind of contradictory to my last point and I may not make sense so try it out. It's has a shine finish so if you're looking for a matte shade this isn't it but, if you're new to purple tones this is the one to go for, it's easy to apply and affordable find it at Boots for £5.49. It's also in Superdrug, I did try and find a link but there were none on the website so you may have to actually go in store for that one. This is a bargain steal style from my next shade. So if you're looking for a lipstick that lasts all day but don't want to spend that much, go for this one.

With flash.

Without flash.

Rimmel shade 30

 The next lipstick is from Urban Decay, in the Revolution range, shade Venom, you can find it here. I originally bought this because I'm really wanting to find a dark purple and thought this would be it but when I got it it turned out to be more of a fuchsia purple. When I put it next to my Rimmel Shade 30 one there is literally no difference in colour and at £15.50 it's still affordable but I would definitely recommend the Rimmel one.

Left is Rimmel shade 30, right is Urban Decays Venom.

 I find that this has the same factors as my Rimmel one aswell. It glides on, is really pigmented so has a good colour and leaves a lovely finish that stays on.Unlike the Rimmel, this one doesn't smudge as much, however I do find that the colour fades throughout the day. I also don't like the shape of it, I like my lipsticks to be shaped to make it easier to put on however this one is flat and slanted, so if you're a novice at putting on lipstick I'd say stay away from this one or, alternatively use use a lip brush to aid you.

 On the website a HUGE selling point for me was that is said there were different types of oil in the lipstick including jojoba oil and avocado oil aswell as cocoa butter and shea butter. Because of this it's meant to make your lips feel soft and this I cannot fault. This doesn't dry out my lips like some lipsticks, it leaves them feeling soft and moisturised, so this wins over Rimmel in that factor. I like this lipstick and it definitely has some winning factors but I do prefer my Rimmel shade. (Just in case that wasn't clear.)

Urban Decay Venom. (I want to apologise for how my smiles get wider and wider, sorry!)

Without flash.

With Flash.

 I feel like the three liptsicks (including the one I'm about to write about) are very similar, but stick with me, there is variety. I liked this next one because it seemed very simple to use and I got it around the time I got my Rimmel one (OK, we get it you love the Rimmel one, move on.) It's shaped like a pen/fat felt tip so was great for me to use and I was just starting out in the world of bold coloured lipsticks and didn't want to muck up the application of it. The lipstick I'm referring to is the Collection 2000 Lip Butter in the shade Perfect Plum.

 Again there are pros to this, good pigmentation so a good colour, as it's a lip butter it leaves your lips feeling super soft and moisturised again. It glides on almost like a lip gloss and as I said due to the shape it's so easy to apply. It's also super cheap at £2.99, get it here. However, this lipstick bleeds so I feel like I'm constantly checking myself and wiping my outer lips and it can get annoying. I also feel like the product itself wears down really quickly so it ends up almost like a blunt pencil so it gets harder to put on the more you use it so again would suggest a lip brush. Also because I have so many purples I seem to forget I have this lurking around so don't use it as much anymore but I would definitely recommend it for anyone who isn't used to applying lipstick or wants a lipstick that doesn't dry out your lips.

Without flash.

With Flash.

Collection 2000-Perfect Plum.

 Mistake is a word to sum up my next lipstick, and that mistake is referring to MACs Odyssey. Again I bought this because I'm desperate to find a dark purple shade and thought this would match what I want. Safe to say it didn't. First of all it's a frosted shade so it's kind of like an icy, light, shimmery look, if that makes sense, which I'm not a huge fan of and secondly, I feel like you have to go over your lips loads to build up a strong enough colour. If you're after a light purple that's almost like a lilac when you first put it on then this is for you. However I literally only put this on if I'm in a rush and literally grab the first lipstick I can see. So I don't hate it enough to not wear it but I'm not a massive fan. But if this glowing review has persuaded you then head to Mac, alternatively if you're lazy like me or lives miles away from a MAC also like me then head here but just a heads up I don't think the image they use accurately represents what you actually get and at the price of £15.50 I definitely don't think it's worth it.

Without Flash.

With flash.

MAC-Odyssey.

 I love MAC. I shop there (online) all the time so hate almost "slagging it off." So let's skip to a shade of theirs I do love which is D for Danger which is also £15.50 and you can get here. Whilst the other shades (excluding Odyssey) have been very purple, this one has more of a reddish undertone. It's a matte shade which I was looking for and I love. One negative I do have with this and sometimes find with all of MACS matte collections is if you apply it more than once it can be quite bitty, when you rub your lips together you can feel all the little bits of lipstick is what I mean. However I feel like you can go without reapplying as the colour does stay on.

Without flash.

With flash.

MAC- D For Danger.

 We started with a Rimmel and so it only seems fitting we should end with one. Again, it's another bargain style steal, this time from MACs D For Danger. It's the Kate Moss Matte Finish collection in the shade 107 so it even has the same finish as MAC.

Left-Mac. Right- Rimmel Shade 30.

 This similarly has red undertones and when put side by side with the MAC is very hard to tell the difference. It's nicer to put on than MACs as I find with MAC sometimes I'm really pushing the lipstick in order to get the colour to stick. It's cheaper than MAC at £5.49 here and Superdrug, so if you're on a lower budget then get this as no one would notice the difference in my opinion. The only downside to this is that it bleeds so once more I'm constantly checking to see if it's smudged which is slightly disappointing as I didn't get that with the Kate Moss shade 30.

With flash.

Without flash.

Rimmel Kate Moss- Shade 107.

  I'd say overall my favourites are definitely the Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Shade 30 (shock!) And the MAC D For Danger, but it's totally up to your personal tastes whether you be someone wanting to try out a bold shade for the first time but jut want to dip your toe in the pool (Odyssey) or you hate the whole process of putting on lipstick and just want something quick and simple (Collection 2000.) There is something for everyone. Don't be afraid of the darkness, embrace it!

L-R without flash: Rimmel 107, D For Danger,
Odyssey, Perfect plum, Venom, Rimmel 30.

L-R with flash: Rimmel 107, D For Danger,
Odyssey, Perfect Plum, Venom, Rimmel 30.

 Now for the part for me, I'm still desperately looking for a dark purple shade, so if anyone has any recommendations please leave a comment. I did look at MAC Boyfriend Stealer but it was always sold out and is no longer available online. I also had a look at Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in the Glastonberry shade, but at £23 a lipstick want to know it's definitely a dark purple before I purchase. Please feel free to leave any other recommendations, what are you favourite purple and berry shades?

 Thanks for reading, please let me know if this type of blog post is too long or if you want more content or more detailed content. I shall be back with my evening skin routine. Oh and feel free to follow me on Instagram here and Twitter here.
Xx

The First Hair One.

 Hi everybody and anybody, I hope you're still with me as I have an embarrassing confession, I wrote my "First Hello." I read it over and was so pleased with it, yes that was the perfect way (I say with fingers crossed and my hopes high) to introduce myself. Then I was like "oh God how do I publish it so it goes live?! I like to think I am down with technology (do people even say "down" any more?) But it took me multiple tries to get it up. But I succeeded- Hurrah! I hear you cry. More likely you're like "stop rambling AGAIN and get on with it!" OkOk I get the message.
 I've decided to start with a hair post. I should probably tell you a bit about my hair I guess. I wear it straight 98% of the time, this probably doesn't seem that unusual but naturally my hair is suuuuper curly, like tight curls- finding a picture of me with curls was so difficult, so you'll have to settle with old ones and one fairly recent one.

Ahh yes, younger me stroking a strange dog, looking oh so cool with her
little BlackBerry Bold. But take note of curls.

Me rebelling against my curls by tying them in oh so cool cowgirl style plaits.
Note the Blackberry makes another appearance. you're on holiday you fool. Get offline.

Discovered the art (albeit it, not well) of eyebrows by now.

 So, as you may be able to tell this takes so much time and effort and I've been doing it since I was around 13 so it's about 8(?!) years and countless hours of my life.

It can take a while to get from above to way I like it- straight.
What a lovely mess in the background. Apologies!

 Add onto this I've been dying my hair since it seems the land before time my hair can feel quite dry and brittle so finding good, affordable products to make it feel soft and look shiny can be a hassle, but fear not fellow curl tamers and hair dyers, I have at last found some that work and some that I will be giving a swerve in the future, I want to keep this post quite short and sweet to give you a taster of what I'm like when writing, so I'll focus on two products- both conditioners (sorry!) I also want to apologise for the quality of photos and the layout, I'm working on getting a proper camera and photo taking set-up! So let's crack on...

 I'll start with the one I least enjoyed and have to admit I probably won't be repurchasing this again. Lee Stafford Poker Straight Conditioner. I have to admit I bought this simply because it said poker straight on the front, and whilst not left disappointed per say-it does what it says on the bottle, there were some things that bugged me.

Lee Stafford Poker Straight Conditioner.

 The reason for my disappointment is probably my fault. I built it up to be something that would miraculously get rid of my curls- let's not kids ourselves it's not going to do that. Let's start with the positives. It's reasonably priced- I got it at Boots for £5.99 so it's completely affordable. I also happen to know there's an offer on at Boots at the moment where you can get two selected Lee Stafford products for £10, so if you want to try out his products head here or alternatively head to his website.

I also agree with the fact that as it says it fights frizz, my hair is alot easier to manage and straighten so that's always a bonus. They've also added P2IFTY Complex to help fight the damage from the heat of styling it. I have to say my hair certainly feels in much better condition after straightening, it no longer feels straw-like but I find this wears off very quickly. Another thing it says it does is battle static and this is where I fall out with this product. Because I blow dry and then straight away straighten my hair it can end up that my hair has alot of fly aways and static. This product has had no difference on that, I still find myself annoyingly with static hair which means I end up going over the roots with a comb spritzed with hairspray to try and tame them,

 It also says it has a great fragrance and this is my biggest pet peeve about the products I've used so far. I can't stand the smell. It reminds me of nit lotion (if you live with kids or remember the scent from your younger days you'll know what I mean, if not lucky you.) I honestly can't say that I enjoy walking around and every so often getting a faint whiff of nit lotion. For me this is the biggest turn off and the reason I won't be repurchasing. If scent doesn't bother you and you don't suffer with the almighty annoyance of static then this conditioner is perfect. Pair it with the Shampoo and Flat Iron Protection Shine Mist which I also have and you're good to go. For me it's not bad enough for me to stop using it but it will be a one time buy.

 Onto a more positive note, I have found a conditioner which I absolutely love. I don't have one fault with it. This product is OGX Hydrate + Defrizz Kukui Oil Conditioner.

Hydrate + Defrizz Kukui Oil Conditioner.

 This is definitely one of the best conditioners I've ever bought. It literally does everything it says on the bottle. As soon as you take the top off the fragrance hits you and it literally smells like holidays and summer which I love. As soon as I put this in my hair I could feel it working, once I washed it off my hair instantly felt softer and it stays that way until you next wash it. It again, definitely helps fight the frizz I usually battle with when I'm straightening my hair. This is also the type of conditioner I'd take on holiday with me as this is the only time I leave my hair natural- even I don't have the patience to straighten it when I'm away. It leaves my natural curls looking alot more tame and easily manageable unlike the usual lions mane I'm normally left with. I like that it's humidity resistant aswell as I find when I go away or on those once a year days in England where it's hot and humid my hair is literally impossible to do anything with so normally it's just throw up into a topknot bun. So it will be interesting to see what it's like in those weather circumstances. If any of you know feel free to leave me a comment with your findings. It also leaves your hair looking super shiny (hurrah!) Which is hard to come by with me thanks to all the abuse I've put it through in the past.

 This conditioner is also very affordable, I actually ordered this one off Amazon for £9.16 plus postage and packaging but don't make my mistake because they're in high street stores for alot cheaper, in Boots it's £6.99 and again there's an offer on at the moment where you can get two OGX selected products for £10. There are also OGX products on Feel Unique where you get two free samples on orders over £30 and free shipping on orders over £15 so definitely have a browse on there.

This also lasts ages. I bought this at the same time as buying the Poker Straight Conditioner and where that's nearly all gone this one is still fighting strong. The only downside is it's not an opaque bottle so you can't see how much you have left. That is the only- and it's minor downside I've found, I would definitely 10/10 recommend. 

 Sorry for the short Blog Post with only two products but I hope you've found it useful. I would love to hear your feedback before I start writing my next Blog post. Also any recommendations you guys have. Especially for tackling curly hair in the heat. What are your guys' go to products? Any tips or tricks I should know? I'm hoping my next post will be up next weekend. I'm not entirely sure what it's on yet. I have an unhealthy amount of lipsticks at the moment so might do something to do with them? When I know I will let you all know. Don't forget to give me a follow so you can keep updated.

Speak Soon. X x