e.l.f.

For budget make-up, e.l.f. is fantastic. I mean, where else can you find a decent eyeshadow or primer for £1.50?

I was sent the Flawless Finish Foundation and Matte Lip Colour, from the Studio collection, a couple of weeks ago. On first impressions, the products look a lot more expensive than they actually are. The designs are simple, but effective and the foundation comes in a smart glass bottle. The lip colour in a simple, crayon like applicator.

Flawless Finish Foundation in Porcelain (£6.50)

The foundation is slightly lighter than I'm used to. Coming in a liquid formula, it blends well and gives a lightweight, medium coverage. It really is a good budget foundation and it's smart enough to leave on your dressing table.

Matte Lip Colour in Coral

The Matte Lip Colour is another fab product from the Studio collection. The colour really pops and the product is creamy too, so you don't have to worry about it drying on your lips. I wore it out the other day and I can say it lasted most of the day. Obviously you have to reapply for the colour to really show, but you can still see the base colour once it's worn.

Although the Studio collection is slightly more expensive than the average e.l.f. product, they're better quality and look more expensive too.

For other e.l.f. products visit www.eyeslipsface.co.uk

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Barry M in Peach Melba

Summer may be over, but I'm certainly not putting a damper on my nails. Love this colour and it's perfectly streak-free after two coats.

Bare Escentuals SPF 15 Foundation - blog love!

I’m super fussy when it comes to foundation. If you were to come beauty shopping with me, you’d know that I spend hours testing and trying different foundations, always avoiding powder at any cost. I have always hated powder foundations – the way it sits on your skin, accentuates every tiny hair and never covers imperfections, making your skin look worse and older. It’s just personal preference.

I was given Bare Escentuals SPF 15 Foundation a couple of months ago. It wasn’t a product that immediately stood out, which is why it’s taken me until now to blog about it. In fact, it was a friend that mentioned the product, which sparked me to give it a go.

For a small pot, I think it’s quite expensive (£23 I think, but correct me if I’m wrong) but surprisingly it works. Unlike normal powder foundations that just wipe onto the skin, this one is buffed in circular motions. The more you buff, the better coverage it creates – don’t ask me how or why, but it does a bloody good job! You don’t need a lot either, in fact you’d be surprised at how little you use.

On first use, I thought ‘Oh come off it, this is doing nothing’ but after looking at my skin afterwards, I was really impressed. I’ll admit I used the dreaded primer on my skin first, but this was just to give it something to stick too and give better coverage. Honestly, I’ve never seen my skin look so flawless and my imperfections were covered too. It gives the perfect amount of coverage without looking thick, cakey or uneven and it lasts a fair amount of time too.

So, for someone that never liked powders before, I have 100% been converted. I was so impressed, that it’s actually become my foundation of choice on a daily basis – in the bin my liquid goes. I never thought I’d say that!

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Dove Nourishing Oil Care

The first time I used Dove hair products, I was in my early teens. I was fed up of having to use shampoo my parents chose, so went out and bought my very own. After washing and blow drying, my hair turned into volumised, super frizz - the last thing I wanted when I was 13 and pre GHDs. So I'm pleased to say these three products didn't have the same effect.

The Shampoo and Conditioner were a dream to use. My hair felt soft and easier to brush afterwards - because my hair is coloured blonde and long, it's a real chore to brush through after washing. After a couple of washes, it's hard to tell whether my hair is in any better condition. Only time will tell.

The Express Treatment Conditioner, was by far, my favourite product from the range. Unlike other conditioning treatments, this one is applied exactly as you would apply your normal conditioner - no waiting around for five minutes for it to work. As cheesy as it sounds, my hair felt more nourished and better condition.

I was immediately sold by the white and yellow swirl! Simple things, for a simple mind...

My opinion of Dove's haircare products have definitely changed since using these three. My hair, didn't once turn into a ball of fluff. In fact, the morning after I'd washed my hair, it felt sleeker and wasn't as unruly as it usually is in the morning. Definite thumbs up for Dove!

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No7 Lash Adapt Mascara

This new mascara from No7 boasts beautifully volumised lashes from one coat up to six, defining lashes for a more dramatic look the more coats you add. After six coats, it's worry what damage it might do, but according to the experts it contains jojoba oil to help nourish and condition - thankfully.
Here's a quick insert from the press release, showing how each coat of mascara can dramatically change once added on top of another.

I can't wait to get my hands on this mascara and will be first in line at my local Boots on Wednesday.

Can you recommend any volumising mascaras? I'm always on the look out!

Veet Hair Minimising Body Moisturiser

I remember the very first hair minimising moisturiser I ever used - Johnson's Hair Minimising Body Lotion. Unfortunately for me, it bought me out in a terrible rash. Luckily this time, Veet's Hair Minimising Body Moisturiser didn't.

Containing a special ProMinimise formula, which with a cocktail of other ingredients contains natual botanical ingredients that claim to slow down the activity in the hair follicle, causing it to minimise hair re-growth. Now I love it when a product exceeds my expectations and changes my opinion and because of the problems I'd had before, I was expecting the same results.

Much to my surprise, after two weeks of using the moisturiser - the recommended time - I started to see subtle results. The hair on my legs didn't feel as coarse after re-growth and the stubble wasn't as obvious, visually.

For £4.99 it's quite a good buy. If you're after a thicker lotion then maybe it's not for you, as it's extremely thin. But it sinks quickly and has a lovely subtle fragrance that lasts.

I'm definitely going to carry on using this moisturiser because I'm hoping the results will continue to improve and fingers crossed I won't have to de-fuzz as often as I usually do!

PR sample