Nail polish dupes - Purples

The second post in my nail polish dupes mini series is on purples.

1. Max Factor - Purple Haze - £3.99

2. Bourjois - Bleu Violet - £5.99

2. No 7 - Violetta - £7.00

These colours are virtually identical. I have used the Bourjois polish for years and love it as the quality is really good but in terms of colour the cheaper Max Factor one is a good match. If you get a £5 off No 7 voucher that always seem to be floating about then try the No 7 polish in Violetta but I've always loved the Bourjois So Laque polishes, they have a good pigmentation, long lasting and have a nice shiny finish to them.

Overall, I think this one is just about personal choice and how much you want to spend on a polish.

Review - MaxFactor Eye Brightening Mascara

An eye brightening mascara - yes you heard right and I am equally baffled by this claim as you are.

I have to admit I only bought this as I got caught in a mega rain storm whilst walking back to my car  after work last week and I went to see my friend in Boots and saw that this was on offer and I had some Boots points burning a hole in my purse.

So how does it claim to brighten your eyes? Well there are 3 different shades: one for brown, green and blue eyes where the mascara colour is slightly different. As I have brown eyes that's the one I got and the mascara colour is black pearl. If you have blue eyes the mascara colour is black sapphire and for green eyes it's black emerald.

After using it everyday since I got it I wouldn't say it brightens my eyes but it does fan out my lashes nicely. It doesn't give mega volume, I have used other mascaras which I prefer for this, but for everyday use this is perfect. 

Thinking back Boots 17 range brought out a Photo Flawless mascara which was similar as you chose your shade depending on your eye colour. I haven't used this one so can't compare.

Overall I would buy this again but purely for the fact that it made my lashes look nice for an everyday look and not for the claims that it makes my eyes look brighter.

Have you tried this what did you think?

Available from Boots and Superdrug.

Nail polish dupes - Blues

Whilst sorting through my huge bag of nail polishes I was astounded by how many shades I had that were the same but from different brands. I am planning on doing a little mini series over the next few weeks to show which ones I have found. First up it's navy blue.

1. 2True - Crystal Shade 1 - £1.99

2. Max Factor - Prussian Blue - £3.99

3. No 7 - Betty Blues - £7

All three colours are very similar but vary significantly in price.

After trying all three of these polishes out the 2True and Max Factor are most similar in colour but after just one coat the 2True and No 7 polishes apply the best.

I'm not sure which one I would chose out of the 2True or No 7 polishes but I wouldn't pay £7 for the No 7 one, I would wait for the £5 off vouchers and buy it at £2. The lasting quality of both of these are very good and you can easily get away with just one coat of each so these are perfect of you're in a rush.

A Year of Nail Polish - May

Maxfactor - Graffiti

Bourjois - Lime Catwalk

Orly - Terracotta

A year of nail polish - April

Maxfactor - Meteorite 

Bourjois - Shade 18 (not sure on the name)

No 7 - Me Me Me

Review - L'Oreal Studio Secrets fibre lash primer

Has anyone else noticed that recently there has been a little bit of a boom in products being released that have in fact been out on the market years before? Well anyone remember the white lash fibre type products which were big about 6 years ago? Well L'Oreal have released one of these as a part of their Studio Secrets range.

I loved these products first time round, and yes I'm aware that there are still a few of these being sold now where you get the white primer and the mascara in one. My favourite product was by Bourjois and I was really sad when it then was discontiued but I never really looked for others until I stumbled upon this little beauty from L'Oreal.

You just get the white lash fibres, which act as false lashes to give maximum volume and length, as you can team it with your favourite mascara. The brush is the same as a normal mascara one and you just apply to your lashes before mascara.

(Left eye with the primer, right eye without) 

Once applied you wait for it to dry before applying your favourite mascara.

(Left eye with primer and mascara, right eye without)

You have to make sure you give a good coat of mascara as you don't want patches of white showing through!

(Both eyes with lash primer and mascara)

As you compare the photos I think you'll agree that the lash primer does add length and volume to lashes and then when mascara is applied you end up with amazing looking lashes!

The lash primer is available from Boots in the L'Oreal Studio Secrets range for £10.29.

Oh and I used Maxfactor False Lash Effect mascara and my eyeshadow is from the MUA Glitter Ball palette. 

A year of nail polish - March

Maxfactor - Purple Haze

MUA Love Hearts - U R Fab

A year of nail polish - February

Yes I'm late posting this but I've had a pretty hectic few weeks and as they say it's better late than never!

Maxfactor - Hot Pink

Maxfactor - Prussian Blue

This was two coats but I should have done a third as it's not opaque enough for my liking

Mega Haul

Boots

No7 Beautiful Skin foaming cleanser - £4 (was £9)

Maxfactor nail polishes - £3.99

(shades Sunny Pink, Graffitti, Red Bronze and Meteorite)

Maxfactor make up must haves - free gift

Bourjois flower perfection foundation - £11.99 (2 for £13)

Bourjois flower perfection primer - £10.99 (2 for £13)

EcoTools sleep mask - £4.99 (buy 1 get 2nd half price)

EcoTools facial buffs - £2.99 (buy 1 get 2nd half price) 

Superdrug

Kleenex eye make up remover pads - £1.49 (half price)

Simply Pure cleansing mask, face scrub & eye make up remover - £2.59 each (3 for 2)

Primark

Blue and brown shoes - £8

Red leather shoes - £12

Cherry Coke Lip Smacker - £1

Set of 4 rings - £2

Pug PJ's - £5

Skull print scarf - £3 (I think)

Owl print top - £4

Car print top - £8

Block print t-shirt - £4

Avon

Smooth Minerals foundation - £10.50 (2 for £12)

Colour Trend lipsticks - £3.50 each (was on a buy one get 2 free promotion)

So there is my haul, Primark has so much good stuff in at the moment, could have spent a fortune in there but was good and resisted! Like usual send me the links to your latest haul posts.

Massive make-up haul

I recently had a massive haul of make up and cosmetic products so I've decided to put it all on one blog post and include swatches too. Oh by the way this post contains a lot of photos.

Boots

L'Oreal - Buy one get second half price

True Match minerals foundation - £14.99

Studio Secrets lip glow - £8.49 (or £4.24 with the offer)

Studio Secrets mattifying primer - £10.29

Studio Secrets lash primer - £10.29 (or £5.14 with the offer)

Soap & Glory It's About Prime eyeshadow primer - £8.00

Too Faced Lemon Drop Shadow Insurance - £16.50

Collection 2000 Cream Puff in Cotton Candy and Fairy Cake - £2.99 (2 for £5)

Maxfactor False Lash Effect mascara - £10.99

Maxfactor False Lash Effect Fusion mascara - £11.99

(Maxfactor was on 3 for 2 so I for a £10.99 mascara free)

Collection 2000 Cream Puff swatches Cotton Candy and Fairy Cake 

Maxfactor Max Effect nail polishes - £3.99 each (on 3 for 2)

Shades: Prussian Blue, Hot Pink and Purple Haze.

MUA

Love Heart collection

Lip Balms and nail polishes - £2 each

Nail polish colours are U R FAB and U ROK.

Swatches: Sweet Kiss, Sugar Lips and Kiss Me. 

Eye palette trio in Eden - £2.50

 Eye palettes - £4

Pretty Pastels, Glitterball and Starry Night

 Swatches: Pretty Pastels 

 Swatches: Glitterball

 Swatches: Starry Night

Sorry that the swatch photo's aren't very good, I took them at night and I couldn't get the light right.

So that was my haul and I think I have enough eyeshadow and mascara to last me a life time! March is going to be another spending ban month, oh but I have ordered a few things from Avon...oops!

Like always let me know if you've tried any of these and what you think and link me to your haul posts!

Favourite products - Make-Up

Way back last year I started writing a few posts showing my favourite products but I didn't write one showing make-up so here it is.

W7 Africa highlighting powder - £2.99

This is a cheaper alternative to Too Faced's leopard highlighting powder and I use this several times a week.

Benefit Hervana - £23.50

This is Benefit's latest box of powder and it is a collection of 4 shades and leaves a matte finish. I've had this a couple of weeks and love it already!

Avon Smooth Minerals foundation - £10.50

One of mu favourite mineral foundations and it has a slight shimmer to it which gives a lovely glow.

Witch pressed powder - £4.99

I swear by this to alleviate any shine on the t-zone area and it has a nice smooth texture and isn't chalky like some other powders.

L'oreal Colour Appeal eyeshadow in Real Silver - £6.19

The first silver eyeshadow that was actually silver rather than grey. Long lasting and great pigmentation. I've been repurchasing this for years.

Maxfactor False Lash Effect mascara - £10.99

Bourjois Volume Clubbing mascara - £7.99

These are two of the best mascaras I've ever used. They give fantastic volume and length and lasts all day. I can't decide which one is my all time favourite.

17 Mirror Shine lipstick in Belle - £4.59

A gorgeous natural shade and a lovely creamy formulation that doesn't dry your lips out.

What are your favourite make-up products? Is there anything I should try that you can't live without?

New cosmetics

This is just a quick post to show some of the new cosmetics that have recently been released.

Max Factor Ageless Elixir 2 in 1 Foundation

£12.99

Available in 6 shades

This foundation contains a serum which has a SPF 15 and instantly revitalises your skin.

Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick

£7.99

Available in 15 shades

Maybelline Volume Express Cat Eyes mascara

£7.99

Available only in black

Rimmel Kate Lasting Finish Lipstick

£5.49

Available in 7 shades

Kate Moss has created her own collection of lipsticks exclusively for Rimmel.

L'Oreal Superliner Luminizer
£6.49
Available in 3 colours

Products available from Boots and Superdrug.