The Dry Shampoo Battle

Even when my locks are freshly washed, I like to use Dry Shampoo to style it. I just find it adds a little grit and texture to my hair making it easier to style, and hold it's volume. Also, I find that my hair gets oily quickly these days, and 24 hours after washing, I need a little dry shampoo to perk up my roots. That being said, I'm pretty picky in terms of what I use, so I thought I'd give you a rundown of the dry shampoos in my stocks at the moment. I have a fair bit, but I use it so much that I get through them pretty damn quick, so I like to stock up when they're on offer. 

First up is a newbie to the ranks, the Lee Stafford Original Dry Shampoo for Oily Roots*. This is one I've been reaching for for day old hair as opposed to freshly washed hair, since it's one of the most cleansing in the stash. I like this because it makes hair feel clean, without feeling dry, a winning combination in my books. 

The current favourite is the Dove Hair Therapy Refresh + Care Dry Shampoo, a shampoo that doesn't leave a white cast, and makes your hair feel freshly washed, no grit, no powder, no dryness, just clean and soft locks. 

I picked up the Girls Only Dawn Til Dusk Dry Shampoo in an emergency root cleansing situation, but I actually really like it. It makes my hair look clean, but also really bumps up the volume in my roots. You can however feel it in your hair, and by the end of the day it does get a little itchy. 

The Tresemme Instant Refresh Volumising Dry Shampoo comes a close second to Dove's offering. Cleanses your hair without leaving a white cast, but because it can leave a bit of a gritty finish, it's good for texture and volume. Doesn't leave your hair feeling as clean as Dove's, but it's great for styling.

I have a few cans of Batiste Dry Shampoo* on the go, Cherry*, Dark Brunette*, the Original* and this one Tropical*. I find Batiste Dry shampoos to be much of the same, they make your hair look clean but not really feel clean, and they add good volume, but that's because they leave quite a heavy residue in your hair. I use this stuff, but it's definitely not my favourite, and to be honest, I'm not sure I'd repurchase any of them. It's worth mentioning that I loved these until I discovered the others.

What is your favourite dry shampoo? Which should I try next?

The Review: Revlon Colourburst Matte Balms

These pencil style lipsticks appear to be taking the beauty world by storm the last six months or so. As a general rule, I'm a fan, they're easy to apply without a mirror, and they fit in my handbag nicely. I have loved Clinique, Bourjois, Revlon, Soap and Glory, NARS and Max Factor's offerings, and have built up quite the collection. However, only NARS offered a matte lip look in pencil form. 

When Revlon announced they were revamping their Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain line (and ditching the name, thank god, longest product name ever?), to include the original balm line, lacquer line and matte balm, I was practically hopping with excitement. I poured over reviews from our blogging friends in the states, analysed swatches, made wishlists, and wrote the release date in my diary. Obsessive I know, but hey, I've never admitted mental stability, and I'm on a lipstick thing at the moment. 

I was filling time in Westfield on a long uni lunchbreak when I stumbled upon a fully stocked Revlon stand, complete with the Colourburst balms, a whole six days before their release date. I nearly had a heart attack, and poor Joanna got very bored when I proceeded to swatch every single colour up my arms. 

I had a list of five or six colours I thought I'd like (shh, I know, it was for the blog!), but after some laborious swatching, I actually found it easy to leave with only two. I found the Colourburst Lacquer Balms really disappointing. The formula was glossy to the point of wet look, and nearly every single shade had a really chunky glitter. I tried to find one I thought I'd wear, but none of them looked likely. When it came to the Colourburst Matte Balms, the formula I loved, but the shade range was just a bit strange, they definitely didn't look as good in real life, all the colours just looked a bit off. 

I settled for two, Elusive and Standout, both Matte balms. The formula of these is downright incredible, completely matte without being dry at all, and incredibly long lasting, not even burger munching disturbs these once they're on. Elusive is a gorgeous rosy pink, very easy to wear with any eye look, and a definite handbag essential. Standout is a bold berry toned red, slightly darker than the likes of MAC Ruby Woo, but more pink toned than Russian Red. It's an incredibly flattering shade, I can't imagine any skin tone it wouldn't suit.

They still have that minty smell that the original Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains had, which is annoying since I'm not the biggest fan of mint, but they are transfer-proof, you won't be leaving lipstick marks on your drink, sandwich or other half's face, which is a bonus, right?

I love the two shades I picked up, I've been wearing them so much and can't fault them, but I can't see myself picking up any more. The shades are just a bit... weird.

Have you tried the Revlon Colourburst Matte and Lacquer Balms yet?

The Review: NARSissist Palette

Ahhhh, look at the pretty! How much hassle was getting hold of this palette?! After ordering it off the NARS website less than half an hour after it was released, I was told over a week later that I would not be receiving the palette due to a screw up with the orders, meaning too many people were allowed to place an order. I should point out that everyone had received their palettes by the time they told me this, and people that I know put their order in after me, got theirs. Not impressed NARS. Anyway, by this point I wanted the palette anyway, but once I couldn't have it? I NEEDED IT. Well obviously I didn't need it, it wasn't a life or death situation, but I really really wanted it.

So anyway, this hit department stores on Saturday, and after a brief ring round I found a store that had it in stock and a few at that. I jumped in the car and headed on down, and managed to get my paws on one finally. The woman behind the counter was lovely and gave me a stack of samples too, and weirdly, it was five pounds cheaper in John Lewis than from NARS? Odd. Apparently each counter was sent around 16 palettes, which really isn't much. 

ANYWAY. Onto the palette yes?

Any of you who have been around this blog for a while will know I'm a big fan of NARS, particularly of their shadows. I love my And God Created the Woman Palette, and I've recently been using the Fairy's Kiss palette too, I have a few duos kicking around too which I love. The palette is expensive, but it works out for fifteen shadows, cheaper than buying three individually, so worth it, right?

The palette contains 15 shades, five matte and the rest shimmers, I find the shimmers to be slightly smoother in application, but they're all really pigmented.

This could loosely be described as a neutrals palette, it's got a nice mix of highlight shades, good light bases, taupes and browns, but their are a few neutral toned colours in there, purples and blues. 

So the shades. Top left we have All About Eve #1, a pink champagne shimmery base colour, super neutral, the kind of starter colour you expect in every neutral palette.

Next is Madrague #2 a matte beige/brown shade. It looks like a bit of a nothing shade in the pan, but it is brilliant for blending into the crease to add definition, or even on the outer edge with a pale shimmery shade like All About Eve #l on the lid. Bobbi Brown Frappe (in the Rich Chocolate Palette) is pretty similar.

I can already tell you that Fez is one of my favourite shades in this palette. A burnt coppery brown with golden shimmer, I can tell I'll get a lot of use from this. It's probably the most pigmented shade in the palette.

Next up is Bali, a very cool toned matte brown that looks kinda taupey. Another shade that will look beautiful in the crease, to add definition. 

Coconut Grove is a shade I already own, but have actually hit pan on which has NEVER happened to an eyeshadow of mine before. It's a beautiful matte chocolate brown, with the odd fleck of multicoloured glitter, and I mean odd, there's probably like fifteen flecks in the entire shadow. I love this for blending into the outer corner, but also as a softer liner alternative to black. 

Madrague #1 is a matte cream shade, a lovely option for all over the lid with just a flick of winged liner. This is kind of similar to Urban Decay Foxy from the Naked 2 palette, but less yellow toned. 

Nepal is a peachy rose shimmer shade, a gorgeous shade for all over the lid. Looks like some of the lighter shades in the Naked 3, but the formula and pigmentation is much better (I personally found the lighter shades in the Naked 3 somewhat disappointing). 

Ashes to Ashes is another shade I feel like will become a firm favourite. A shimmery light brown with a subtle violet base, it comes across as a light taupey purple. This looks good washed across the whole lid, with a little liner round the lashes. 

Brousse is another colour I've used before, but I was still pleased to find it in this palette, a beautiful deep violet shade. Again this has slightly taupey undertones, and I find it looks fabulous with other taupe shades. 

Mekong is a dark chocolate shade, similar to Coconut Grove but darker, with a heavier spread of multicoloured shimmer. The finish of this despite the shimmer is fairly matte, it's super blendable and adds a nice depth of colour.

Bottom left is Belissima #1 a heavy white shimmer, perfect for adding highlight to the inner corners of the eye, and under the brow bone. It applies certainly peachy when swatched, but barely notices on the face. 

Lhasa is a cool toned shimmery grey with lavender undertones, possibly my favourite shade of them all in this palette. One of those ones that will make a great starting point for a smokey eye, but look equally as good alone on the lid. I could be tempted to buy this shade on it's own in the future. 

Bad Behaviour is described as a deep pewter, but I would describe it as a dark grey tinged teal. It's a pretty shimmery shade unlike anything else I own, looks equally gorgeous in the crease and all over the lid. This is a Limited Edition shade from the Guy Bourdin collection, the shade I was drawn to most when the collection was released, glad I didn't buy it now! 

Dogon #2 is a blackened navy with teal shimmer, but it applies as more of a charcoal shade. Again this is different to any other shade I have in my collection, but it looks gorgeous paired with Bad Behaviour, and I'm surprised at how much these shades suit me. 

And lastly, Pandora, a matte black shade that ties everything together. Makes a great liner and is also incredibly handy for deepening the shade in the crease.

This palette is the same size as the Guy Bourdin One Night Stand Palette, making it perfect for travel, and not too bulky and clunky. There's a better shade range than in the Naked Palettes, perfect for day or evening looks as well as neutrals, or a hint of colour. 

I'm so pleased I managed to get my hands on this palette in the end, and I'm pretty sure this will be making an appearance in my February Favourites! And that marks the beginning of my spending ban!

What do you think of the NARSissist palette?

This Month I...

... came back to London. I love living here but when I'm doing nothing but going to Uni and doing work in my flat, I tend to forget it. It's such a beautiful city when you know where to look. 

... learnt to like coffee. I've never liked tea or coffee, but with so much work to do this month, I just had to find a way to drink coffee to keep me going. Now I think I'm slightly addicted to Starbuck's White Caffe Mochas (topped with whipped cream, of course).

... made homemade pizzas with the boyfriend. We cheated a little and used premade bases, but it was fun picking our toppings, and we used the pizza herbs I bought back from my trip to Italy in September, they were so tasty. Served with our favourite cider and the latest episode of American Horror Story, it was like a date night in, and it was so much fun (not as fun clearing up grated cheese from all over the kitchen after though).

... went for drinks with good friends. I'm very much the epitome of 'Grandma' so the idea of being out past 8pm, or drinking alcohol is practically unheard of. But I was dragged out for a drink by the boys and felt very Sex in the City sipping my Cosmopolitan. On a Monday night no less! They may make a party animal of me yet. 

... did a lot of baking and cooking. I got a ton of kitchen bits for Christmas and have loved spending time in the kitchens, making soup and cakes and all sorts. These were a favourite, super easy to make Lemon Cake bars, and so tasty. 

... ate a lot of homemade Nandos. My parents made a hamper for the boyfriend and I for Christmas, and inside where some of the Nandos sauces. So we've had a lot of Peri-Peri chicken, served with wraps and salads, grilled halloumi and sweet potato mash. Scrummy.

... caught up with my lovely friend Melisa at one of our favourite restaurants. We hadn't seen each other for ages, what with me being back in Bournemouth for three weeks over Christmas, and the mounds of work we had before that. We filled up in Vapianos, and then hit the Selfridges Beauty Hall. Old habits die hard. 

All in all it's been a quiet month, as January often is. Filled with lots of work and little else, other than cosy evenings in with the boy, watching American Horror Story and Revenge, and falling asleep halfway through. 

What have you been up to in January?

The Drugstore Dupe #3

Eyeshadow primers are something that I've only really gotten into in the last six months or so. I never really saw the point until I discovered the NARS Smudge Proof Shadow Base. I got it free with my And God Created the Woman Palette, and instantly fell in love. The price however, not so enticing, at £19, it's not cheap, and I don't find it lasts all that long either. I ended up on the hunt for something similar with a not so similar price tag, when I came across the Rimmel Exaggerate Undercover Eye Primer. With a £5 price tag, it's definitely more budget friendly by any means.

In terms of formula, they're almost identical. They're both long tubes with doe-foot applicators, the primer is a satin finish formula and it applies transparent, so it has no effect on the colour of your shadows. You need the tiniest amount and they set pretty quick, leaving your lids feeling soft and even. There's not much to say about them really other than the fact they really are identical, and when I use either of these my eyeshadow won't smudge, fade, crease, or fall under my eyes at all.

Simple and to the point this one, but they're literally identical, and I might be able to babble about beauty all day, but how much can you say about an eye primer?

Have you tried either of these?