Review: Collection - Big Fake Ultimate Mascara

Collection (Formerly Collection 200) has been one of my go to high street makeup brands recently 

Their Lasting Perfection Concealer has become a staple in my makeup bag 

So I popped into Boots at the weekend to repurchase it and noticed that the 3 for 2 offer was on 

Mascara has never been something I've been a snob about

I really don't think there is a massive difference between high end and high street mascaras

So when I seen Collection's newest mascara 'Big Fake Ultimate false lash effect mascara'

for £5.99 I decided to grab it 

The first thing I noticed  was the size of the wand

IT IS HUGE!!!!

Here is a comparison 

On the left is the wand from Max Factor's Masterpiece Mascara and on the right is the Collection wand 

Personally I find it difficult to use such a big wand and I've got pretty big eyes so I can only imagine how hard it would be for someone with little peepers! 

I just found it quite clumsy to work with. 

Especially on my bottom lashes 

I was however impressed with the effect it had on my lashes 

It  made them nice and long and gave them plenty of volume

The first day I wore it was on Sunday

I teamed it with a fairly new black liquid liner 

So by the end of the day when I looked in the mirror and noticed that I resembled a Panda with massive dark smudges under my eyes, I wasn't sure if it was the mascara or the eyeliner.

I didn't want to review the mascara until I'd given it a fair shot

so I have worn it every day this week. 

(without eye liner)

I haven't done anything to strenuous. I've been off work this week so some days I haven't even went out

Yet every single day I have ended up with dark circles under my eyes!

I really wanted to love this product

but unfortunately I'm really not impressed so far!

Has anyone else tried this mascara?

Have you had the same problem?

Jen <3 

P.s I'm off to Spain for a week tomorrow :) woohoo! 

I will try and write a few posts to schedule between packing tonight

Don't miss me too much :) x

My Blog Crushes #1

How are we all today?

Hope everyone is having a great weekend :) 

Today I decided to spread the love 

and share with you guys some of my all time favourite blogs and bloggers :)

I love reading posts like this and I always find some great new blogs to follow from them 

So I hope you guys will all check these gorgeous ladies blogs out! 

Now I have a LONG reading list of blogs 

but these blogs are the ones that I will always go and have a look to see what they have posted recently 

even if they haven't popped up on my reading list

First up is the beautiful Beth over at Bird's Words

Beth is my fellow bird :)

and is one of the first blogs I really started reading regularly

She posts about such a wide range of beauty products and has really similar taste to me 

which isn't great for my bank balance as I have ended up purchasing more than a few products because of her reviews! 

I always look forward to reading her posts as she puts so much personality into them.

She is also such a lovely girl and always takes time to reply to comments/questions.

<3

Next up is my blogging bestie, Izzie from Hola-Bambi

Izzie's blog has the most amazing nail designs

and her Models Own collection is something else.

She has also just got the coolest job at Mizz Magazine so you get to hear all about her exciting work adventures!

but most importantly Izzie is just the nicest person ever.

We talk all the time (not so much this week as I have been working soooo much :( Booo)

we are always tweeting/texting each other and we are deff going to try and meet up at some point 

not that easy considering she lives in London and I'm in Glasgow!

<3

The next blogger is the gorgeous Allie from Big Hair Bigger Heels

I haven't been following Allie for that long 

but her blog has fast became a firm favourite! I pretty much check on a daily basis to see if she has posted 

as she is most definitely my style crush!

She just has such an amazing way of putting outfits together and I literally have loved everything I have seen her in.

She is more quirky than me but I definitely get inspiration from her blog!

She also has some amazing DIY posts for all the crafty bloggers out there.

<3

Last but certainly not least

The wonderful Louise from Makeup etc

Louise is an animal lover and cruelty free beauty blogger 

which is something I really admire her for

I think the effort she puts in to use only cruelty free products is amazing

and her blog even includes a really well researched list of companies that aren't cruelty free!

Louise is doing a makeup course at college just now and I love seeing posts about what she has learnt 

I have actually had the pleasure of meeting Louise at the last scottish bloggers meetup and she is so lovely, we talk quite a lot on twitter as well and I can't wait to see her again at the next meetup :)

<3

Well I hope you have all found some lovely new blogs to follow!

and hopefully the more my reading list grows the more I'll be able to share with you guys.

Does anyone have any reading recommendations for me?

Jen <3 

DIY: Red Ombre Hair

My hair has now been the same colour for about 4 years 

Due to the fact that I dyed it from blonde to really dark brown and instantly regretted it

and it took me about 2 years and a LOT of time and money to get it back to being the way it is now!

As much as I love being a blondey

(we totally do have more fun)

I do sometimes get bored of just having the same hair all the time!

Especially because it's so short and there isn't much I can do with it!

So I decided I would try something a little different 

and go for Ombre hair

Now I didn't actually have the balls to dye my hair 

and although I have lusted after some red streaks since Christina Aguilera's Come On Over video 

about 15 years go!

It's not very practical for day to day life

and I'm pretty sure my boss wouldn't appreciate me turning up to work looking like Ronald McDonald 

So I used the less permanent option of hair mascara 

I actually really liked the way this turned out! 

It was nice to have a wee change 

and it washed out really easily the next day

What do you guys think?

Does anyone have any tips for changing up my hair without doing anything too drastic/permanent?

Jen <3

Book Review: Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual

After lusting after a makeup book for a while 

I ordered this whilst slightly tipsy one night *woops*

and had actually completely forgotten I'd done it so it was a really nice surprise when it arrived!

Like it says on the cover this book is for everyone from Beginner to Pro

now I can't speak for the Pro's but as a relative beginner I thought this book was brilliant

The photos in it are gorgeous 

It takes you through each step of makeup application from skincare right through to what tools you should be using and what you should have in your makeup kit.

It gives you step by step guides to create a variety of different looks

and what I really love about it is that it doesn't discriminate 

it caters to everyone from different skin tones to different eye shapes

Now with the obviously wonderful invention of the internet

and the fact that most of you girls will already have a keen interest in makeup 

this book isn't really going to tell you much that you don't already know 

or couldn't access at the click of a mouse 

but for me nothing beats the luxuriousness of a real book 

and flicking through the beautiful glossy pages 

The book is broken down into two sections
The first is full of hints and tips about basic makeup application
and the second is aimed towards people looking to break into the makeup industry
It really does cover all bases!

Overall I was really pleased with this book and I think it would make the perfect addition to any makeup lovers collection.
I paid £14.99 on Amazon with free shipping :)

Has anyone else read this book?
Do you have any other related book recommendations for me?

Jen <3 x

September Empties

This is my first ever empties post!

I always mean to keep my empties to one side to do an empties post

but I always forget!
This month I made sure I kept them aside so I have a few to show you

although I didn't use up as much as I would have liked!
 

I've got quite a good combination of different products to show you

I'll just talk briefly about each thing but if anything crops up in an empties post that you want to see a full review of just let me know in the comments and I'll be happy to do one!

FULL SIZES

Sure Crystal Clear Aqua Anti-perspirant 

Not the most exciting of products but we all need it! This is my favourite anti-perspirant. It doesn't leave me with any white marks. It lasts all day (It claims to last 48 hours but I shower every day so I can't vouch for that) and it has a lovely clean scent, not to overpowering or floral.

Repurchase: Already have 

Batiste Dry Shampoo, big and bouncy XXL volume 

I always have a can of batiste handy as it is without a doubt the best dry shampoo I have tried. I know a lot of my brunette friends have problems with it leaving quite a white residue on their hair but because my hair is so light that doesn't really cause a problem for me. If anything it actually hides my roots which is always a bonus! I have tried almost all the different varieties of Batiste Dry Shampoo but this is the one I like the best as it gives your hair some extra OOMPH!!

Repurchase: Yes but right now I am using the blush version 

TRESemme Heat Defence Spray 

If you don't already use a heat defence spray PLEASE START! I don't let any hot styling tool near my hair without spraying on a good dose of this first. This spray protects your hair from heats up to 230 degrees. Even though I use this every day it has still lasted me ages.

Repurchase: Yes 

ST. MORIZ Self Tanning Mousse DARK

I love this fake tan! I used to be a Fake Bake loyal but then they changed the formula and I absolutely hated it it made me go green. I bought this at the last minute one day about 3 years ago and have never looked back. I use this once a week, usually on a Thursday night if I am going out on a Saturday night and It gives me a really nice colour, Brown not Orange!

It doesn't stink the way some fake tans I have used do and it is incredibly good value for money

usually around £2.99 for 200ml.

Repurchase: Yes 

SAMPLE SIZES

Estee Lauder Idealist, Even Skintone Illuminator Serum

I have been looking for a serum for a while and I picked up this sample when I bought foundation from Estee Lauder a while ago. It is supposed to even out your skintone, which is something I could seriously be doing with. I am prone to redness across my cheeks and have been wanting something that will reduce it for ages.

This feels so luxurious when you put it on and although this is a sample size it genuinely lasted me about a month as you only need a really small amount (and the sample size is really quite generous)

The downside to this amazing serum the price, It comes in at a painful £47 for 30ml but I think it really would be worth the investment as it would last for so long.

Repurchase: Yes. I am lucky enough to have another sample to keep me going until I can afford a full sized bottle though! 

Elizabeth Arden, All Gone Eye and Lip Makeup Remover 

This is a dual phase makeup remover which means you have to shake it up before you use it.

I am really impressed with this it removes my eye makeup quickly and easily and most importantly of all it doesn't sting or irritate my eyes at all!

The only thing that might put some people off this product is that it is really quite oily.

This isn't really a problem for me as I don't suffer from oily skin and the residue can easily be wiped off with a wet cotton ball, but I can see how it might be a bit greasy for some people.

Repurchase: Yes but I have more sample sizes to use up first

Marc Jacobs, Daisy

This is without a doubt my favourite fragrance. I have a few full size bottles, both the original and the Pop Art version (which comes in a red bottle with black daisies) but this little miniature bottle was so handy to have as the full size bottles aren't exactly practical to carry in your handbag considering there is a massive plastic bouquet popping out the top of it! I'm sad that I have finished this! I'll need to figure out how to fill it up if that's even possible!

So there it is my first empties post! 

I'm hoping to continue doing this every month as I know I like to read these posts.

Hope you enjoyed!

Jen <3

H&M Lipstick or My never ending hunt for the perfect nude!!

My friend and I popped into H&M on Saturday

She was looking for a dress

and I was trying not to look at anything as I am trying my very hardest not to spend money!!! 

but as usual it didn't work 

and while she was in the changing room I found myself wandering over to the make up corner

ALWAYS DANGEROUS WHEN ON A SPENDING BAN!

Whilst I was browsing I saw this little Beauty

I've never tried anything from the H&M cosmetics line 

so I thought it would be rude not too! 

(Here I go again trying to justify my obsession)

I went for the shade 

DARE TO KISS 

I've been looking for a nude shade that I like for AGES 

and none of them have been just right

but I actually really like this one on! 

*Check my beautiful Teal work uniform BLEURGH!!!*
*The joys of having to rush home and take blog photos before it gets dark!!*

I really do like this shade 

I feel that a lot of nude lipsticks I have tried look really weird  on me 

and just don't suit my colouring at all! 

I don't think the fact that my hair is so light helps!

but this one so far seems to be just right! 

The staying power isn't great 

and it does need reapplied pretty frequently

but for £2.99 I'm not going to grumble!!

There was a gorgeous dark shade as well which looked a bit scary

but I think after trying this I'll need to go back for it!

Has anyone else tried anything from the H&M make up line?

Or does anyone have any more nude lipstick recommendations? 

They would be much appreciated :)

Jen <3