The Underdog

I'm thinking about making this a weekly series, since there are so many products that I don't think get enough attention from bloggers and makeup lovers! Let me know what you think in the comments!

This week I wanted to mention one of my favourite drugstore mascaras. I don't think I've ever seen a blogger mention an NYC product, but I'm obsessed with this mascara. I picked this up in Superdrug when I was short on money, but had forgotten my mascara. I wasn't expecting much, but I was wildly impressed. 

NYC's Big and Bold mascara claims that it will increase the volume by fifteen times their natural amount. Now, this might be a slight exaggeration, but it does a pretty good job. In fact, when I compare this mascara to my YSL, Benefit, Clinique and Soap and Glory mascaras, this comes out on top, every time.

It's not really a day mascara, the volume and lift it gives is much better suited to nighttime wear, and it layers really well, so you can just wiggle the natural bristle brush over your day mascara, for a fierce lash evening look!

The only gripe I have, is that after a days wear, it can be a little crumbly, but I wouldn't really recommend it for in the day anyway! 

The best thing about this mascara? It's £2.95. Yup, and I would repurchase this over and over again. And I'm not sure I could say the same for any of my higher end mascaras!

Do you have a favourite product that isn't well recognised?

Let's Talk Drugstore

Is it just me, or have Drugstore brands really stepped up their game recently?! Whilst rummaging through my makeup collection, I realised just how many products I have purchased from Rimmel in the last few months, and they've all become staples in my everyday makeup routine.

Rimmel nail polishes are my absolute favourite polishes. I reach for these over my OPI, Essie and Models Own polishes all the time. They last a good three or four days even without a topcoat, before they chip, and you only really need one coat for amazing colour! The flat brushes make application a piece of cake, and for the impatient amongst you (like me) they take little over a minute to dry. And they're like £3.99. Seriously, go buy some now, you won't be disappointed.

I have reviewed both the Wake Me Up foundation and concealer, and the Stay Matte powder recently on the blog, so for more information, follow the links. But I reach for these every single day without fail, and actually prefer them to my Benefit alternatives. My one gripe with the Stay Matte powder is that I've been using it less than a month, and as you can see, I've already hit the pan. But at £3.99, who's complaining?!

Now I'm not a massive fan of Eyebrow Pencils, I feel like they make your brows look a little too artificial, and very drawn on, but when I do want to adopt a bolder brow look, I head for Rimmel's Eyebrow Pencil in Dark Brown. It's a pretty soft formula, which is easy to smudge in so that they aren't too 'tattooed', and the lid has a handy brush attachment to smooth over any strays.

No matter what the red lip colour may be, Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Pencil comes out. It's just perfect. End of.

Lasting finish by Kate Lipstick in 110, 08 and 111, Lasting Finish 1000 Kisses Lip Tint in 100 Endless Blossom, 700 Nothing But Nude and 600 Carry On Cherry.

I genuinely think I may prefer my Kate for Rimmel lipsticks, to my MAC colour equivalents. I'm sorry MAC, I love you forever, and I will never leave you, but I really do love everything about these lipsticks. 110 and 111 both give matte finishes, without drying out your lips, or needing forty layers of lipbalm underneath (I'm looking at you, Ruby Woo). They don't necessarily stay put through the day, I find I need to top this up after lunch, or a Starbucks or two, but I really don't mind topping up my lippie throughout the day! 110 is a warm coral red, that suits pinky toned skin perfectly, and 111 is a bold red for every skin tone! 08 is my perfect 'my lip but better' lippie. I'm not sure these pictures do it much justice, in the barrel it's a purpley shimmer creamy lipstick, but it applies as a slightly pinky, brown nude. It's not matte at all, it gives you a perfect soft lip.

I bought one of these 1000 kisses lip tints, and the next day went back and bought the other two colours they had in stock. I actually keep these in my handbag, they are my favourite go to lip product. I can't sing their praises enough, they stay put all day, look great, and you can build them up to create different intensities of colour. 

So there you go! Do you have a brand you just keep going back to?

A Miracle Skincare Product

My favourite part of the day is always getting ready for bed. There is something so wonderful about that moment when you get to take off your heels, peel off your skinny jeans, unhook your bra, and cleanse every shred of makeup from your face.

And what makes that time even better? New skincare range B.'s Micellar Water.

"Quick and easy 3-in-1 cleanser that dissolves impurities in a single sweep, no water required."

This is, without a shadow of a doubt, the most gentle cleanser I have ever used. It doesn't sting if you get it in your eyes, it won't agitate your skin, and it even helps get rid of spots.

I finally tracked this down, seventh Superdrug lucky, in Wembley, I picked up the last bottle. For £4.99 you get 150ml of product, which is going to last you forever, since the tiny hole at the top of the bottle, stops you from using excessive amounts, and wasting half the bottle!

Grab a cotton wool pad, squeeze a little of the water out, and wipe over your face to cleanse, tone and refresh. It removes any makeup and dirt on your face, this stuff tackles waterproof mascara with ease, it helps to restore your skin's PH balance, and the cucumber extract refreshes your face, making your skin feel supple and smooth.

This has, in the space of a week, become my favourite cleanser. The first time I used it, it banished a couple of small, persistent spots that had been aggravating me for a week. After using this, my skin feels healthier, cleaner, and smoother, immediately. No dryness, no oiliness, just smooth, clear skin. I've also heard great reviews from people who struggle with very spot prone skin, who say this clears it all up.

Could this be a new miracle product?

B. Micellar Water is available exclusively in Superdrug stores and online, and is £4.99.

March Wishlist!

MAC Brick O La // Illamasqua Cream Blush in Dixie // Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base // YSL Rouge Volupte in Red Muse // Chanel Nail Colour in Black Pearl // MAC 228 Shader Brush // NARS Blush/Bronze Duo // Rimmel Kate Matte Lipstick 111 // Urban Decay Primer Potion // 

 This spending ban is killing me. I spend most of my time trawling makeup counters and the internet for the next thing to splurge on! 

I've wanted Brick O La for ages, I'm going to buy it on my birthday! Two weeks to go! When I bought my Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge on Friday, I tried out the Vitamin Face Balm, and I'm literally in love. When I run out of Benefit's Porefessional, I think I'm going to try using this as a base instead! It smelt lovely and was super soft on my skin! I'm so impressed with my Benefit Eye Primer, I've never really used one before and it's converted me! I've heard great things about the UD primers, so I'm keen to try one out! I actually caved and picked up the Kate Moss for Rimmel London lippie in Boots today, as a little treat. It's only a fiver, so I'm gonna pretend it doesn't count... 

I swatched the NARS blush and bronzer duo in store last week and loved it! I'm not that impressed with my Real Techniques eye brushes, despite my love affair with the face brushes, I'd love the MAC 228 brush for smokey eyes! This would be a great handbag compact! I love Chanel nail varnishes, and I'm obsessed with this colour, not very summery I know but so pretty! And really, does the YSL need any explaining?

What are you lusting after this month? Have any of you broken spending bans?

Weekly Round Up

The nicest burger ever! // This crisp is as big as my face?! // Cute Valentines bears in Starbucks. // A beautiful view down the Thames. // Carbonara at Vapiano! Go Team Pasta! // Lunch on the balcony at Somerset House. // American treats! // Catching up with my kitten. // Baby Lips!

Weird Kitty. // My favourite bath product. // I missed you, tub! // Casual selfie. // Yummy fudge from M&S. // Recent beauty purchases. // "I shall lie in your way" // Bedtime reading. // Intense drunken Scattegories.

Soft kitty, warm kitty... // First roast of the year! // Passionfruit bath bomb. // Not to share! // Cute new purse/phone holder from eBay (read more here) // Editing for uni // Casual Selfie. // I don't think this is navy... // Be mine, Alexander McQueen.