Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker XL Lip Plumping Gloss

This is a lip gloss from Soap & Glory that claims to visibly increase the volume of the lips.

I have purchased the ordinary Sexy Mother Pucker lip glosses and enjoyed using them so I decided to try this XL version in the "Pink Out Loud" shade.

Much like the original Sexy Mother Puckers, upon application a tingly sensation begins, this is the supposedly plumping properties kicking in. Again, like the original version, I do not see a noticeable increase in lip volume using these glosses. I find that due to the tingly sensation you may actually pout your lips more (or at least feel that you are).

This XL version is much less sticky than the originals but as a consequence I do think that these are slightly less long wearing. The originals come in a tube with a doe foot applicator but these are just in a squeezy tube which you apply from directly. I find this squeeze and apply straight from the tube method much quicker and easier when on the go.

There is not a huge amount of pigmentation in this shade at least but I tend to opt for more natural shades with lots of glossiness anyway so for me, this is ideal!

Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker XL Lip Plumping Gloss in Pink Out Loud

Summary

Pros

• Tingly sensation (which is probably a love or hate effect).
• Lost lasting gloss.
• Easy to apply.
• Less sticky than original versions.

Cons

• No noticeable plumping effect on lips.
• Not as long lasting as original Sexy Mother Pucker glosses.

Cost: £10.00 for 10ml (you can often get these on 3 for 2 in Boots!)

Application: Very easy - unscrew cap, squeeze, apply.

Staying power: Good! (Not as great as originals)

Good value for money?: When bought on offer I think these are good value.

Would I repurchase?: Yes!

Maybelline Baby Lips Peach Kiss Lip Balm Review

Baby Lips are a range of lip balms by Maybelline that come in a variety of shades. They claim to leave the lips hydrated for 8 hours whilst providing SPF20 (although this particular shade does not say SPF on the packaging!).

I bought the "Peach Kiss" version. Peach Kiss leaves a hint of colour on the lip along with a slight gloss. I have found that there is a very slight glitter in this (very fine and subtle but there none the less), for me this can be a bit of a pain as I find that the glitter manages to migrate across my face.

There is nothing particularly amazing about this lip balm but it is affordable and therefore great for everyday use and for carrying around in your handbag.

Maybelline Baby Lips in Peach Kiss

Summary

Pros

• Feels moisturising on lips.
• Affordable.
• Choice of shades.
• Easy and quick to apply.

Cons

• Wears off really quickly if eating or drinking.
• Slight (and very subtle) glitter.

Cost: £2.99

Application: Easy - twist and go!

Good value for money?: Yes.

Would I repurchase?: Yes.

Bourjois Little Round Pot Cream Blush Review

These are cream blushes from Bourjois that come in very small pots indeed! It is claimed they have a cream-to-powder formula that blends effortlessly for a second skin feel.

(L-R) Sweet Cherry and Healthy Glow

These pots are tiny! They are quite cute though. I use a stippling brush to apply to my cheeks and blend in. I have never used a cream blush before because I worried it would leave my skin feeling greasy and oily looking. These blushes have left my skin feeling velvety and smooth however!

They apply very smoothly and evenly with the brush I own, leaving my skin with a nice colour and no powdery finish. The blush lasts all day on my skin, unlike many powder blushes I have tried in the past!

Both of these shades look great! They can be applied with a subtle finish or a more dramatic effect!

Summary

Pros

• Great subtle or dramatic finish.
• Long lasting on the skin.
• Looks good once applied - no "cakey" look.
• Great choice of shades.
• Easy and quick to apply.

Cons

• Fairly expensive given the size (for my budget).

Cost: £7.99

Application: Easy - I use a stippling brush to gently apply to cheeks after my foundation!

Good value for money?: I think so...the price seems high for such a tiny pot but I hope that the pot will last a fair while and seeing as the blush does last throughout the day, I can't really complain too much!

Would I repurchase?: YES!

Eyeko Fat Brush Mascara Review

This is a mascara from Eyeko with a large brush and a fibre-enhanced formula with keratin to condition and boost lashes.

You may just be able to see some of the fibres on the brush. I find that this formula is very "thin" in that it does not seem to thicken my lashes at all. This mascara does lengthen the lashes somewhat, but not as dramatically as you might hope given the fibre-enhanced formula. This mascara gives a subtle, natural finish to the lashes when compared with most mascaras I have tried. Personally I prefer a dramatic finish from my mascara so this one is not for me! If you are looking for a fibre enhanced finish to your lashes you'd be much better using something like the Divaderme lashes in a bottle. 

Summary

Pros

• Good if you want a subtle mascara (I don't though!).

Cons

• Fairly expensive (for my budget).
• Very subtle finish and not particularly lengthening.
• No thickening of the lashes.
• Big brush so can be a messy mascara to apply.
• I did experience some flaking and smudging with this!

Cost: £15.00

Application: Okay - but big brush can cause a mess!

Good value for money?: Not for me as I did not like the finish.

Would I repurchase?: No!

Eyeko Skinny Brush Mascara Review

This is a mascara from Eyeko that has a "skinny" brush which has been designed to capture even short lashes to lengthen and separate. It is claimed that this mascara is made with a unique botanical blend to promote growth and prevent breakage.

I really like this mascara, it is great for separating and lengthening lashes, even on my lower lashes! The skinny brush makes applying mascara to the lower lashes far easier and much less messy than those with big brushes.

The formula is marketed as "water-resistant" and I do indeed find that this holds up well with no smudging or flaking. It is also claimed that this formula is paraben free and conditioning. I did not notice any improvement in the condition of my lashes but it makes me feel better knowing that there's some good ingredients in the tube!

This mascara is easy to remove with a creamy cleaner. 

Summary

Pros

• Great thin brush - makes applying mascara to lower lashes easy and mess free!
• Good formula - water-resistant and flake-free.
• Easy to remove.
• Lengthens and separates lashes.

Cons

• Fairly expensive (for my budget).

Cost: £15.00

Application: Easy - even to lower lashes!

Good value for money?: Hmm, it's true that the skinny brush has it's advantages, but for this price you could probably get three decent mascaras on a 3 for 2 offer in Boots/Superdrug.

Would I repurchase?: Yes - only when I've got a bit of extra money though!

GOSH Forever Eye Shadow Stick Review

These are twist up eye shadow crayons that claim to be soft, blend-able, waterproof and long lasting.

These crayons come in various shades, some of which look fairly similar based on their packaging but the difference is notable when they are applied.

(L-R) 01 Silver Rose, 02 Beige, 03 Light Copper, 04 Brown, 05 Grey and 07 Blue.

I apply these over Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. They are easy to apply with no pulling or dragging of the skin. The soft formula glides onto the lid leaving a strong and glossy colour.It is also easy to blend more than one colour on the lid.

These can be worn alone or with a small dusting of powder eyeshadow over the top if you really want to "set" it. One of the great things about these crayons is how versatile they are because they are great as shadows and as eyeliners! I really like to wear the Light Copper or Silver Rose on my lower lash line as these shades really make blue eyes stand out.

I should note that I'm not sure how these apply without an eye primer as I have not tried!

Summary

Pros

• Easy and quick to apply, no need for extra brushes/tools.
• Strong pigmentation.
• Reasonably priced.
• Choice of shades (although it's a shame I have not seen a black version).
• Can be used as liners or shadows.
• Twist up - no need for sharpening.

Cons

• None!

Cost: £5.99

Application: Easy - twist up, scribble onto lid and go!

Good value for money?: Yes!

Would I repurchase?: YES!

Boots Botanics All Bright and Ultra Calm Micellar 3 in 1 Cleansing Solutions Review

I have purchased two of these Botanics cleansing solutions, an All Bright version and an Ultra Calm version. They are claimed to feel as gentle as water on the skin whilst using plant based natural ingredients to cleanse and calm the skin.

The All Bright version contains natural alpha hydroxyl acid which is said to act as a mild exfoliator. I tend to use these on my lazy evenings when I just want to quickly cleanse my skin and get to bed. Although it's stated that they "dissolve make up" I have always used a separate eye make up remover first and then one of these solutions because I worry that stubborn waterproof eyeliner would be a bit too much for these to tackle.

I have enjoyed using both of these solutions and could not really pick out any discernible differences between the two. One of them has been used more than the other based purely on it's availability at the time of my laziness! I apply a generous amount to a cotton  wool pad and sweep it across my face, I tend to repeat this process with a second cotton wool pad to remove any last traces of make up. They leave my skin feeling clean and fresh. I follow this with a toner spray (if I can be bothered at the time) and then a good layer of moisturiser as I worry about my skin being dried out.

Summary

Pros

• Easy and convenient to use, would be great for camping!
• Leaves the skin feeling clean and fresh at the end of the day.
• Handy for a quick freshen up.
• Very affordable.
• Fragrance free.

Cons

• None so far!

Cost: £2.99 for All Bright version and £3.29 for the Ultra Calm.

Application: Easy, apply to cotton wool and sweep across face, repeat if required.

Good value for money?: Yes! Especially as there are regularly offers on this range.

Would I repurchase?: Yes!