I've been seeing a lot of hype over MUA and Makeup Revolutions new Lip lacquers on Insta/YT so I decided to finally give them a try!
I don't typically use lip lacquers so I wasn't really sure what to expect since I don't own any to compare.
MUA (Make Up Academy) is a relatively cheap drugstore brand that can only be found in Superdrug in the UK. Their Velvet Lip lacquers are priced at £3 which is such a bargain compared to other matte liquid lipsticks.
The first colour I bought was TRANQUILITY which seemed to be a brown/nude shade.
MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Laquer
MUA Luxe - Tranquility
MUA Luxe - Tranquility
The shade seemed totally different on my lips.. I'm not sure if it's because my natural lip colour but it appeared much lighter and more of a pink nude instead of brown?
Halcyon is a bright coral nude which seemed like a nice daily lip colour.
MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Laquer
MUA Luxe - Halcyon
MUA Luxe - Halcyon
Yet again, the colour is totally different in comparison to the swatch. It came out quite a bright pink on my lips. I wonder what colour these turn out on other peoples lips..?
The texture of these lacquers are super comfortable to wear and dry to a matte finish. It feels slightly drying so I would recommend using a lip balm underneath before you apply it. I really couldn't complain about this product since it was only £3, and I found it to be very decent for its price! I am just slightly wary of the colour range, so Swatches are definitely a must!
NEXT: Makeup Revolution Retro Luxe Matte Lip Kit. These have been getting a lot of hype on the internet since the beginning of the year and I have finally got my hands on one! It was pretty hard to decide which colour to go for since Superdrug didn't have any testers out, so I just based my decision on the colour swatch on the outer packaging..
The lip kit comes with a lip liner and a lip lacquer, both in the shades REGAL. But as you can see from the pictures, the lip liner is a slightly lighter-coral shade compared to the lipstick; which can be worn by itself or with the lacquer to create two different looks. The shade of the lip lacquer is very
accurate to the swatch I did on my hand and shows up as a bright blue-toned red on my skin tone.
The texture of the lacquer is a lot thicker than the MUA velvet lacquer, and is also pretty sticky too. I found it quite hard to apply the lipstick evenly on my lips because of the stickiness, and it was actually very obvious since some of the areas appeared darker from applying a thicker layer..
Many people complained of the stickiness of the lacquer, but I found that once it had dried it was Matte; and not sticky at all. And does not feel sticky at all? Maybe people did not let it dry properly, or simple applied too much?
I have to give this lip kit a hands up for staying power because this lipstick did. not. budge! It was actually quite hard to remove from my hand too! So the long wearing factor is definitely better than the MUA which removed very easily and needed re-applying often.
CONCLUSION> If you are looking for comfort - go for MUA. If you want a long lasting lip that you don't need to think much about - go for Retro Luxe. But do keep in mind that the colours for both of these ranges are very confusing and deceiving, so definitely get a swatch if you can!
Hello everyone!, today I bring you my first impressions of the SkinnyMint 28 Day Ultimate Teatox program, priced at £39.90.
I have collaborated with SkinnyMint to test their product out since I have never tried any Teatox tea's before and was really curious as to what benefits I would get whilst drinking it!
The Teatox is formulated from natural ingredients and uses their natural properties to help detox your body and give you other benefits such as decrease in bloating, increase in metabolism and boost your energy (Just to name a few).
The 28 Day Ultimate Teatox program is a 2 step program.
1 - Morning Boost, which is drank every morning with/or before breakfast for the whole 28days.
2 - Night Cleanse, which is drank every Other night starting from day 1 as a detox.
Here is an image taken from the SkinnyMint website of the list of ingredients in the 28day program and their benefits:
Morning Boost & Night Cleanse ingredients.
I will be recording my experience of both tea's on this blog post and update on a weekly basis about any changes in my body, side effects and any benefits I have been having!.
Monday 9th Jan 17::
Morning Boost
9.30am // I drank the Morning Boost teabag before breakfast today and my first impressions of this tea was: It is easy to drink and smells fragrant of oranges. It is more on the bland side of teas compared to what I am use to drinking, so I added in a slice of lemon to give it a hint of taste and it definitely tastes better with lemon in my opinion!
10.30am // I'm not sure if it is the caffeine in the Morning Boost (not recommended to drink after 5pm) but I felt an increase in my energy levels probably about 30-60mins after drinking it. It feels like an actual "Boost".. like I was charged up? And I managed to be very productive and filmed 2 videos after feeling this kick of energy, Loving this affect!
Night Cleanse
10.00pm // It is super late now since I fell asleep earlier whilst putting Elyana to bed..XD But I managed to wake up and drink my Night Cleanse!
The teabag has a strong fragrance of Ginger and tastes mainly of ginger and peppermint. The peppermint leaf gives your mouth and throat a tingling sensation and the ginger makes the tea a bit spicy to drink. I personally really like the tea and prefer the Night Cleanse over the Morning Boost!
WATCH MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF SKINNYMINT!:
Day 2 :
I went to sleep shortly after drinking the night cleanse so I didn't wait to see if there were any affects.
9:00am // This morning I drank the Morning Boost with some lemon again like yesterday, but I drunk it whilst eating breakfast today. I also noticed that my stomach is a lot flatter than usual, even after eating breakfast, it isn't bloated. Looking at the ingredients, I think the cause may be the Night Cleanse since it has the Peppermint and Senna Leaves which says decreases bloating. *THUMBS UP!*
About 15mins after I felt the slightest of cramping (which is a known effect of the cleanse), but it wasn't severe at all and didn't make me feel like I needed the toilet in any way.
But when I Did go to the toilet, I felt a bit constipated..? I'm not sure if this is due to the tea, or the fact that we went to a buffet last night..LOL. But i will see if it carries on throughout the week and update you on it.
10:00am // Feeling the "Boost" from the Morning Boost tea again, but not as strong as yesterday.
I won't be drinking the Night Cleanse tonight since it is meant to be drank every other night; therefore I will update you all again about my teatox journey in 1weeks time!
16th Jan 2017::
Hello guys! I am back with an update on my SkinnyMint progress! I have been drinking the tea for 1week now, and I have stuck to it pretty well apart from I missed 1 Night Cleanse tea mid week, because I fell asleep again.. ':)
I am currently drinking the morning boost, without any lemon or honey, since I have grown to like the flavour of the tea and don't find it as bland as I originally thought. :)
I've noticed more significant effects of increased metabolism because I am ALWAYS HUNGRY! Lmao! I have to admit that I hardly ate before I started this program.. what I mean is I never stuck to 3meals a day. But now I enjoy eating 3 or more meals (smaller sizes) a day without the bad effects of bloating!
The night cleanse does a great job at keeping your stomach flat! I do still feel the mild cramps the day after I drink the night cleanse; but like the first time I tried it, it was nothing severe.
I know that during the program it advises you to eat healthier and exercise.. well.. I haven't stuck to that at all! >_< Reason being that I am currently moving houses so I snack a lot, and my family is also over from HK, so we've been out for family meals etc..
23rd Jan 2017::Wow 2 weeks are over and I'm on my 3rd week of the tea already! I was originally afraid that I wouldn't stick to it because it was such a long program; but it has become a part of my routine to drink the Morning Boost now! I like to change up the taste by alternating the lemon and honey with the Morning Boost, it definitely helps if you get bored of one drink easily! :)
The Night Cleanse has been slightly more difficult to remember since I have bad memory.. but I have managed to take it religiously every other day too. It still has a strong effect on my body after each drink which I have been really enjoying; because lately I have been eating so much rubbish, and I feel the Night Cleanse really helps to detox my body of all the bad toxins! It also helps me unwind at the end of the night because I like to drink something hot before bed (usually green tea!) But The Night Cleanse has no caffeine which is an extra PLUS since it won't keep me awake at night, and I actually think it has made me sleep better instead!.. Not sure if it's due to the Lemon grass/Orange leaves since they are a relaxant/sleep aid ingredient within the tea?
Looking forward to another week of this!
30th Jan 2017::
Hellooo, Jodie here again with another weeks' update! The past week was a bit different than the rest since I was on my period for most of the week. My menstrual symptoms usually include fatigue, weak legs, cramping, back aches and moodiness.
I still experienced all these symptoms but my weak legs and cramps were more intense. Which is most likely due to the Night Cleanse since I do usually experience slight cramping after the drink anyway.
The Morning Boost didn't help much either with the bloating that I usually get during my cycle; but I wasn't expecting it to either since my body is totally different when I am on my period.. so I wouldn't think the Teatox would work the same as it usually does.
One positive thing that my hubby noticed is that my teeth have gotten whiter! :D I use to drink several cups of tea a day, but after starting SkinnyMint I stopped drinking the other teas and I'm so surprised it hasn't added any yellowness to my teeth! ^__^
6th Feb 2017 - FINAL UPDATE!::
Wohoo! I have finally finished the SkinnyMint 28 Day Ultimate Teatox Program!! :D :D
It has been such a fun journey drinking this tea everyday and I feel like I have experienced all the benefits that were possible from this amazing Tea!
During this final week me and my family have been ill.. So I have been drinking the Morning Boost with some honey added in, to help soothe my sore throat and also add some taste to the tea. This has been working really well since honey has antibacterial properties! :)
Here is a photo comparison of when I started the tea and after finishing the tea!
It may not be a huge difference but my stomach area has definitely gotten flatter and more toned! And this is the result of me eating a lot of junk as well.. so I can't imagine how my body would've looked if I had stuck to a healthy diet throughout the 28days!
Since I have been drinking this tea for such a long period of time, I feel I can finally give you all a list of all the benefits I have experienced during this 28day Program!
PROS:
Increased Metabolism
Energy Boost = More Motivation
Body Cleanse (Detox)
Less Bloating
Slimmer Figure/Face
Whiter Teeth
CONS:
Cramping
Taste
Can be difficult to remember to drink the Night Cleanse
As you can see the Pros definitely out weigh the Cons! I would endure the minor cramping to experience all the benefits from the tea; and the taste is no biggie with a bit of lemon/honey added in! :)
Tip:
If you are experiencing strong effects of the Night Cleanse i.e. Bad Cramping. It may be because you are soaking the teabag for too long!. It is recommended to soak it for only 1-2mins since the longer you soak it, the stronger it is.
Therefore, adjust the soaking time to suit your own body and take the teabag out of the cup after soaking so it will not get stronger as you drink it! :)
Remembering to drink the Night Cleanse for hard for me because I have a bad memory, so I mainly looked at my calendar and worked out which days I needed to drink the night cleanse. If you have good memory, I'm sure you can give this a skip! XD
Check out my final review below on my channel! :D
So that pretty much wraps up my whole review for the SkinnyMint 28Day Ultimate Teatox Program!
I hope you have all found this review helpful and I would Fully recommend giving this Teatox a try! :D
For as long as I can remember I have been using the 'Beauty Blender Cleanser Solid' soap to clean my brushes, cushions and sponges. However, I have just finished using it up and decided to search for a replacement since the Cleanser Solid is superrrr expensive! :o and i wasn't willing to spend that much money soap, especially when it is only a small block!
~ THIS IS WHAT I FOUND! ~
Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Bar Soap
If you haven't noticed the ingredients list yet...please take a look again!!.. (Organic.. Organic.. Oil.. Oil..) This soap is literally made out of the best ingredients ever!!
Which also means it is super gentle for anyone with sensitive skin, or even babies! This soap comes in an unscented version which is ideal for children and it would be super hydrating for kids with excema or dry skin! :)
"We are All-One or None!"
Summary:: Dr Bronner's is such an amazing product that aims to produce socially and environmentally responsible products of the highest quality as well as committing to make the world a better place by putting profits towards certain causes. Their most recent cause was to support GMO labelling for food products, and also reintroducing hemp farming in the U.S.
Absolutely love the engravings on the soap!
If you would like to see this soap in action to clean dirty brushes then watch my video below for a demo! :D
Heyy guys!, I have been testing a new Japanese moisturiser for the past month and have finally decided to make a review on the product! Afriel & Lofiel Perfect Crème is a product designed for women age 20+ and aims to help your skin maintain moisture, gain firmness and promote skin renewal; as well as many other benefits!
The product contains 3 Key Ingredients which help with the effects of the cream.
Hello lovelies! Today I am reviewing a BB Cushion that I have been REALLY LOVING and cannot stop using! :O
I've had this cushion for a while now and it is so effortless to use and therefore I really wanted to review it for you guys! :D
The product is the Hera UV Mist Cushion which i've heard a lot about previously but never purchased. This is my first ever Hera product and it doesn't disappoint!
*A multi-function sunblock foundation that works as a mist, foundation and sunblock to brighten and cool down the skin for skin that’s dewy and glowing.
>> Instant hydration and cooling effect with mineral clay water
Mineral clay water contains microscopic clay, which is found in icy seawater and is smaller than fog particles. It is used in place of purified water to enhance hydration in the skin through control of osmotic pressure to help lessen impurities, remove dead skin cells and excess sebum to keep the skin clean, clear and moisturised. In addition, it contains 30% mineral clay water that cools down the skin temperature as soon as it touches the skin to leave the skin feeling refreshed.
>> Thin, fresh, dewy and glowing makeup like the work of makeup artist
Hyperfine emulsion formula stabilized with fine cells of the Cushion penetrates through the Cushion layer into the puff to allow you to wear thin, clean, fresh and glowing makeup with a dewy finish, just like wearing an invisible shroud over the face.
>> Anti-oxidative effect of Smart Layer UV in addition to sun protection
With high SFP50+, PA+++ it effectively protects the skin from harmful UV rays, while Smart Layer UV Complex contains anti-oxidative β-Carotene, sunflower oil and vitamin E, which provide protection for the skin against harmful UV rays to prevent any photoaging of the skin.*
What is behind the HERA BB Cushion technology?
1. Moist, Hydrophilic puff 2. Moist cushion with 800,000 pores 3. Mineral Clay Water 4. Double-walled Compact
What colours are available?
Unfortunately, like most asian brands, HERA only have a limited range of colours available for their BB Cushions!
*To create more natural looking skin..
Choose the N series to create a natural, yet clear, dewy and shining skin. If you want to cover skin imperfections, put a good amount of the C series on the puff and dab it on any imperfections to create clear, flawless skin.*
If you are looking for a brand that provides a better colour range then Laneige is a great option since they have 5 colours to choose from.
((Paragraphs marked with ** are taken from the HERA website))
Now time for my photos of the actual product!
My shade is: C21 which is the higher coverage option!
I was super excited to try this product because of the Mineral Clay Water which has many benefits stated in the features section and also helps enhance hydration which is a main factor for my dry skin!
The BB Cream feels cool on the skin when applying and is a semi-thick type of formula, not thin or watery, therefore it provides a medium-full coverage and is very pigmented.
I tested the product by applying it on one side of my face only to compare the difference. The left side of this image has the bb cushion on whilst the right side is bare with just skincare products on.
Left: UV MIST // \\ Right: Bare
My complexion is visibly brighter with reduced redness around my cheeks which are quite red on the bare side.
The coverage is very good for a BB Cushion since it has managed to cover my dark circles pretty well and I will need only a slight bit of concealer on top.
My pores are typically largest around my cheeks where I have redness and this cushion has blurred my pores out, making them appear smaller and less visible.
The BB cream dries to a semi-matte/velvety finish which doesn't really need any powder since it's not overly dewy and just gives a natural glow on the skin.
What the BB Cushion looks like on my whole face
WHAT I LIKE:
This BB cushion has gorgeous packaging!, i really like the silvery purple hue instead of the typical white casing.
The box comes with a refill which is always great because I don't have to worry about it running out just yet! xD
SPF50 & PA+++! Most cushions provide the same protection nowadays, but its just one less thing to worry about in the morning when you're in a hurry!
The bb cushion provides a lot of coverage in a thin layer which feels light on the skin yet still looks natural with a slight glow.
The cushion is also cooling on the skin so it will be nice to use in warmer environments to help soothe the skin.
The finish is very natural even though it is in the shade C21 and feels very soft to touch, not sticky like some BB Cushions that provide Dewy finishes.
WHAT I DISLIKE:
The product has high coverage however it isn't as moisturising as it claims.. On some days when my skin is quite dry, the cushion highlights my dry patches.. making them super visible and not a pretty look.. >_<
The packaging, even though it is super pretty, is slightly thicker than my Laneige bb compact so therefore it takes up more room in my drawer.
The shade C21 is my usual go-to shade for bb cushions, however this HERA one seems slightly too light for my skin tone; which isn't a major issue, but I thought I would mention it anyway!
