The Products I Use In My Daily Make-up Routine

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Sabrina

Women often get asked what their daily routine consists of, so today I have arranged and photographed the contents of my makeup bag for you beauty enthusiasts to have a nose at!

All of the products that I use on an almost daily basis are outlined below. I am going to explain why it is that I use these items and what my honest opinion about them is.

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No7 BB Lips Beauty Balm with SPF15
I received this little BB Balm in a set at Christmastime and I was surprised what a lovely shade of pink it turned out to be. I wear this if I want a little bit of colour on my lips but I don’t want to wear a full on lipstick. It’s ideal for shopping and work, a subtle shade and it will protect lips from the sun. I hope the next time I get a No7 gift set there will be one of these inside.

Makeup Revolution Eyeshadow Palette Iconic 3
This is by far one of my favourite palettes. I’m a brunette and have hazel eyes, so the brown, gold and pink shades work perfectly with my complexion and eye colour. This eye shadow is good quality and are not expensive to buy. Unless I need a specific shade to match an outfit, I usually wear the range of colours in this palette. I can recommend both the brand and the size of these eye shadows, they last a good while and the palette is thin enough to pop into most decent sized make-up bags. Makeup Revolution London does a range of them, and they bring out new ones often too.

Rimmel London Soft Kohl Eyeliner Pencil in Black
I have being using Rimmel London eyeliners since I was a teenager. I find the quality to be good and they go far. Black is the colour that I normally use to make my eyes stand out more. Not as an everyday look but if I were going out on date night or out in the evening. I would create this look with the pencil and smoky eye shadow to compliment the outfit.

Rimmel London Wake Me Up Concealer
This little bottle of concealer goes a long way and hides blemishes and dark circles in a matter of seconds. It blends well and I find it to be a staple piece to use when applying my make-up. (I did a review of this and the foundation, see my beauty section).

Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara (Waterproof) in Black
Another staple product that I always reach for is my Max Factor mascara. Not only do I normally wear waterproof to save myself looking like a panda after a long day at work, but I also choose this brand because of the items consistent good quality. I find that this mascara lasts me a long time, because you don’t need to apply a lot of it to get a nice result.

Rimmel London Wake Me Up Anti-Fatigue Foundation
This foundation is fantastic because it not only blends brilliantly, it covers so well. Dark circles and red patches disappear as you smooth this lightweight foundation over your skin. Now I’m not someone who uses a foundation every day, especially if I’m not leaving the house. And I have found that this one doesn’t make my pores feel clogged after using it. (See my individual review for more on this product). It is my current favourite to use when I am in need of applying an overall coverage to my face.

No7 Protect and Perfect Day Cream
This lightweight cream is perfect for a daily moisturiser and gives SPF15 protection to the skin. I use this every morning unless I’m planning a mask or a cleanse. This product works well for my skin, which can sometimes be sensitive, and allows me to use it in confidence. These are the smaller versions I have that go in my handbag and travel bag. My main creams are large tubs that live in the bathroom. It’s great that No7 have these products in a range of sizes, very convenient.

No7 Protect and Perfect Night Cream
I will be completely honest with you, I don’t always apply my night cream, and that is because I don’t like to overload my skin. Moisturising is very important, but you don’t want to make your skin oily because you mess with it too much. With my skin being sensitive, I normally only moisturise at night, two to four times a week. Normally on nights that I haven’t had to get a lot of make-up off my skin first.

Rimmel London Stay Matte Long Lasting Pressed Powder
Would you believe me if I told you I had been using this product for ten years? Well I have been. I adore this powder, it’s not only quick and easy to apply, but it gives a nice coverage so if I have any breakouts or any red patches, they quickly get blended away. I use it most days, and it’s the one thing that I do apply to my skin after moisturising so that I have more colour in my skin tone.

Other products that I use that are not shown on my photograph are:

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water
I use this wonderful water to remove dirt and makeup from my skin, and use it every day to generally clean any impurities off my face and neck. I haven’t tried any other Micellar water related brands because I’m so happy with Garnier, it suits my skin (because it is designed with sensitive in mind).

Nivea Daily Essentials Light Moisturising Day Cream For Dry & Sensitive Skin SPF15
I normally use Nivea face and hand creams in the colder months, because I can suffer from dry skin. While moisturising daily this is reduced to only a handful of days out of the season, and occurs especially if I have spent time outside in a cold biting wind. When I notice the start of any dry skin patches, I reach for this cream, and within a few days my skin is back to its normal behaviour and I am free to use my No7 products again. But Nivea is a brand that I trust, and I have used them since I was a teenager, for face and hand creams as well as body lotions.

Nivea Essential Care Lip Balm
This little lip balm lives on my bedside table, and I put it on my lips every night to keep them soft. I use it all year around and I always have one in my handbag as well, for when I want to protect my lips but I don’t need any colour on them.

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I hope you have enjoyed reading about the products that I use. There are so many choices out there, and I think we all know when we have found a favourite, we tend to stick with it. Well I do anyway! I’ve been buying some of the same products for ten years, and I have no shame. The companies must be doing something right if we are all going back for more.

Funko Reveal

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Sabrina

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Funko is a company from the United States who originally began with the bobblehead back in 1998. Funko now holds hundreds of different licences which allow them to create toys and collectibles in all manner of characters. Funko can now be found in stores worldwide and they have a fantastic social media presence as well. This is how I came to know about them, I was always looking to get some Pop! characters.

I was extremely lucky to win one of their Twitter competitions a few weeks ago, and when my Funko box arrived by airmail this week I couldn’t wait to open it! I knew it was going to be a Batman related prize, but I had no idea he was going to be this cute!

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Here is my Batman Dorbz Ridez! My own little Batman in his very own batmobile! Designed for the new Batman VS Superman movie, this vinyl collectible contains a happy looking batman who is fully kitted out with his ride. This particular collectible is released in the United Kingdom from April 10th 2016, so I am even more lucky for receiving mine before anybody else.

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I have decided not to open him up, I want to keep him in pristine condition. Plus he seems lovely and snug in his batmobile already.

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A huge thank you to Funko for sending me this wonderful prize, I am over the moon with it, and he is going to have pride of place on my shelf along with my super hero movies and games.

New Mascara Comparison and Review

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Sabrina

I have decided to purchase two new mascaras this month. I would always buy Max Factor False Lash Effect, and have done for about seven years or so. It really works for me, but there comes a time when something new catches your eye and you think, I just have to give that a go…

Deciding upon which two new mascara’s I was going to try out was tricky because I have seen some fantastic adverts lately. I wanted to give Max Factor a go because of the loyalty I have to them for the number of years I have purchased their products. So my first choice became their new Voluptuous False Lash Effect Mascara. This latest product sees a new style of brush which is meant to lift your lashes and add a dual application, all in a single stroke. The bristles are supposed to separate lashes while the fins grip them to add more volume.

My second choice comes down to the fact that I use their foundation and other products on an almost daily basis. Rimmel London has recently released the Supercurler Mascara which not only claims to be 24 hour wear, but also builds dramatic curl with a unique brush. The eye-shaped brush of this mascara is a perfect shape for the eye which allows for mistake free application. It has a formula that pushes the lashes up into a curve that is meant to last the whole day.

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So here are my two mascara’s and also a picture of my lashes with no products on them (before I show you my ‘after applying’ them photographs) and both of them are the generic black colour.

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Max Factor Voluptuous False Lash Effect had a brush that certainly had enough product on to coat my lashes; I didn’t need to refill the applicator while I was combing it through my lashes. It was able to get across my lashes well, and then I used the end of the wand to get into the lashes in the corner. The overall look was good although I didn’t feel like it pulled my lashes up as much as the original False Lash Effect had done. As for wear, it has stayed on all day and is only just starting to flake (12 hours).

Rimmel London’s Supercurler Mascara had the unique eye brush which was great to use, it really did fit into my lashes and pull them up gently. The brush coated well and lifted as I did this, getting right into the corners of my eye with ease. It didn’t coat my lashes as well as the Max Factor mascara had done, but the application itself was smooth and clump free due to the brushes design. It was much easier to apply and I found it to keep my lashes curled up all day (approximately 12 hours).

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I have labelled this next photograph so you can see which eye I have used which mascara on. As you look at my eyes the right has Max Factor on my lashes and the left eye has Rimmel London on my lashes. By comparing the two you can see that the Max Factor has coated my lashes better, they are darker and defined in a bolder manner, a tiny amount of clumps. The Rimmel London mascara has curled my lashes up high and achieved a curl throughout and they are also defined with no clumps.

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Overall I like both of these products for different reasons. If I wanted to go for a glamorous look I would use the Supercurler mascara because I believe it gives me a wider and brighter eyed look. However the Max Factor mascara gives me a darker lash and a bolder look, which can look great with a smoky eye shadow, when paired with a dark outfit. Here are my ratings for the main aspects of the products.

Rimmel London Supercurler Mascara
Value for Money 5/5
Effectiveness 5/5
Quality 5/5

Max Factor Voluptuous False Lash Effect Mascara
Value for Money 4/5
Effectiveness 4/5
Quality 5/5

Which mascara should you try? Well that is up to you, I’m just giving my opinion on two of the many great mascara’s available to us here in the UK. We are all different, and we all want different things from our make-up. I will definitely use both of these great products over the next few months, and then I will decide which I prefer to be an everyday item. I hope you have enjoyed seeing this comparison.

National Fragrance Day

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Sabrina

In honour of National Fragrance Day I thought I would show you what my 3 favourite perfumes are and why I love them.

The first is the wonderful and delicate Emporio Armani Diamonds which I normally wear on date night. I did a little research today to find out why it could be that I loved this scent so much. Well it turns out the top notes of this particular perfume are Lychee and Raspberry (I love to eat raspberries). The flower scents include Lily of the Valley, Roses and Freesia. Even though this perfume was launched in 2007 I didn’t add it to my collection until 2012, and it’s still very popular it seems.

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My second go-to scent for days out is the gorgeous Giorgio Armani ‘Acqua di Gioia’. This is a perfume that as soon as I had smelt it I wanted it. Sometimes a scent just suits you, well this is mine. Launched in 2010 I bought this scent that same year after sampling it in a local store. The top notes of this scent include Mint leaves (crushed) as well as Jasmine, and it has an aquatic heart note too.

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And my final perfume that I normally where on a night out is Dolce & Gabbana ‘The One’. I have always adored the original, which came out in 2006. My (now husband) partner had bought it for me, I think for a birthday, and as soon as I opened it I was smitten with the scent. This perfume has top notes that include Bergamot, Lychee and Peach. As well as these it’s heart notes of Madonna lily, exotic fruits, Jasmine and Plum, and base notes of Vanilla and Musk. Over all a very complex perfume compared to my other favourites it seems.

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So it we can see from my favourites that a pattern emerges. I like perfumes that smell of Roses and Lily’s and whose top notes often include Jasmine and Raspberries. It is very interesting when you dissect the items from your routines, and perhaps something to think about when it’s time to try a new perfume.

Happy National Fragrance Day every one.

Review – New In at Dorothy Perkins – Button Detail Striped Dress

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Sabrina

So I decided to pop into one of my local Dorothy Perkins stores over the weekend to have a look at the ‘New In’ stock and to try on some items I had been browsing online. While in the shop one dress in particular really caught my eye. This beautiful striped number has buttons on the neck and chest, and is a lovely thick material. The dress has a collar which gives it a touch of sophistication and the buttons are proper working buttons too.

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This dress was both stylish and comfortable, and could be worn with leggings and boots, or with a nice pair of shoes and bare legs with a jacket. In the pictures below including myself (yes I realise I bought another dress with stripes on because I absolutely love stripes). You’ll see that the dress is a great length. If you’re taller than 5 ft 4″ though the dress will end further up your legs than it does on mine. (For me it was knee length). This is a perfect piece for a Spring transition when you’re not sure how warm or cold it’s going to be. Pair with a black jacket and boots for a perfect ensemble.

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As you can see the dress is not only flattering but the nice detail with the collar and buttons make it a staple item for most women’s wardrobes. I’m fairly certain you could make this piece your own by adding a belt on the waist and perhaps pairing it with some large earrings. You wouldn’t be able to wear many types of necklace with this dress, so you need to think of other ways you can enhance the dress with jewellery. Large bangles on your arms will distract from all of the stripes.

NewInDP I tried to find this piece online so I could put a link up for you all, but it’s not on the website yet! So you’ll have to search for it in a week or so once the site is updated. They had so many nice pieces it was hard for me not to buy the whole store!

My final over all review of this piece is;
5/5 for comfort
5/5 for durability and quality
4/5 for style and appearance
4/5 for value

The Order 1886 Review

Posted on March 20, 2016 by Sabrina

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I’ve always been interested in playing games that have great depth and story behind them. The Order 1886 not only has these qualities, but it also combines historical and geographical facts with fictional mythology. This means players get a unique game that has a blended alternative history, to make a thoroughly enjoyable piece of gaming.

For those who are unaware of the games origins I will give a brief synopsis for you. Set in the year 1886 in Victorian London. England, The Order directly refers to the Knights of the order, which is the main character you play. Back in the Victorian era when technology was making leaps, the knights protect London from the half-breed creatures causing havoc in the London Underground. The main character gets to use new age gadgets and weaponry, some of which is fact and some of which has been introduced just to make the game more exciting. So much so, that you cannot help but wonder if these weapons could have been possible, but sadly they didn’t exist outside of this game. The unique style of The Order 1886 represents the look and texture of old reels of film, which adds to the overall effect of the piece, almost like memories…

So what is so good about The Order? In my opinion the voice actors are superb, at times you really are immersed in their era and are experiencing everything they are, the emotion really made the cinematic sections of the game more realistic for me. Also it’s both graphically and atmospherically beautiful throughout.

Over all the game-play itself is quite short, compared to other games which have side missions and extra things to unlock adjacent to the original story-line to complete. I finished the entire game in approximately twelve hours. That included taking my time and replaying sections in order to find all of the collectibles to achieve every PS4 trophy available.

The game is an eighteen rating due to the story-line containing dangerous creatures, as well as the use of weapons and violence throughout. As an adult who enjoys the fiction that games such as this bring, it’s like being emerged into a book where you aren’t sure what you are imagining is reality or not. There are twists in this game that you don’t always see coming, which makes it more fun to play. There is nothing worse than too much predictability.

So my overall review is that its a fantastic game if you’re a liker of science fiction meets historical fact. Although its a fairly short game, the content within it will make you want to play all the levels. And because its quite a challenging game, I’m sure that you have some enjoyable hours completing it.

Rayman Legends Review

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Sabrina

When I purchased this game last summer it was for two reasons. The first was because I wanted to play a relatively easy and laid back game, the second was that it would be a change from my usual games. I usually am found playing my favourites which include Destiny and the Assassins Creed franchise.

After the first 10 levels or so of Rayman Legends I found that I was in for a shock. For a minimum of 7 years age to play the game I thought it was going to be a piece of cake. But it’s actually a lot more fun than I thought it would be and at times can be very challenging. Here are a few examples of what happens during these Rayman escapades. You can be running across the screen being chased by a wall of fire. You need to save the Teensies who are dangling in cages sometimes over lava filled holes or piranha infested waters. I’ve even had to out run dragons who are spitting fireballs at you! And that isn’t the half of it. With daily challenges, time limited levels and creatures to collect, this game has literally kept me going for hours and hours. And I am about 97% through it now!

For those who like a challenge in order to complete to 100% then this is the game for you. Don’t be put off because Rayman is a cartoon, the game play is suitably challenging enough for even a regular gaming adult such as myself.

Any cons of this game I hear you ask? Well in order to complete the game in its entirety you need to put in a lot of hours and effort. For example there are 700 Teensies to collect in the game, and that doesn’t mean you will complete just by getting those. There are Lums, Creatures and Worlds to unlock and conquer. Rayman needs thorough completion of the levels, in order to unlock everything. There is a lot to achieve, whether you play alone or as a family. It’s multiplayer aspect lets you link up to four PlayStation4 controllers to the game, and you each do the same level at the same time. The multiplayer side can be really laughable at times, when characters get taken out for whatever reason they end up in bubbles. So if you fall off a cliff you have to be popped back into the level by any remaining alive characters to continue the participation.

The great thing about all the levels is that even if you don’t finish one of the levels to the 100% required, you can go back and revisit it another time, and even redo the paintings (the levels) as many times as you wish just for fun!

So overall I give the game and it’s game play 5 stars! You don’t have to be a child to enjoy it. It has many hours of play-ability. Rayman is pretty cool the way he glides around using his hair… Here are some screenshots of me playing so you can see what I’m rambling on about! But seriously, I think this game came out on Playstation4 in 2014, and I’ve been playing a little of it most days for 9 months, and I’m only just finishing the final sections now. It would be something to keep the children occupied over the holidays for sure if nothing else. And you never know you might enjoy it too!

Here are some screenshots from me playing the game. Some of you might recall the earlier Rayman games for PC and the like, it is very similar in controls. You can even get little Rayman on the app store now! Regardless of how you play the game, it’s always good fun where Rayman is concerned.

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Review of Horizontal Stripe Blanket Cape from Dorothy Perkins

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Sabrina

When I first saw this style of clothing come into fashion it reminded me of the poncho I had when I was a child… A warm and stylish (at the time) piece of clothing that I would often pull over the top of any manner of outfit. But times have changed. Blanket Capes are now all the rage! And I just had to get one.

So why this one? Well I love Stripes! (See my SS16 post for more stripy buys!)
The style and colour of this particular one from Dorothy Perkins really caught my eye. And once I had my whole DP outfit on I was more than impressed.
Below is a selfie of me wearing my cape with my lace tee and my soft eden jeans from DP’s too.

The quality of this cape is great, due to the nature of the material it will snag though if you aren’t careful with it. And it needs to be washed on a woolen cycle. But other than that I have no other cons about it.

I’m relatively petite and I was worried about the cape drowning me, but because of the half length sleeves this piece flatters the figure rather than hides it.
Over all I think the blanket cape makes a statement and keeps you warm on these relatively still cold Spring days. It’s a staple piece for everybody’s wardrobe, and I think it would be great for the cooler Summer evenings as well. And if stripes stay in fashion you’re looking at a piece that will become a regular wear for 2016.

My Overall Review for this item of clothing is;
5/5 for comfort
4/5 for durability and quality
5/5 for style and appearance
4/5 for value

Dorothy Perkins have lots of these types of clothing now in stock, and if you go to your favourite high street website, type in either ‘cape’ or ‘blanket’ to see what is available.
For anyone who wants to see this item on the Dorothy Perkins page then the link is below.
http://www.dorothyperkins.com/en/dpuk/product/horizontal-stripe-blanket-cape-5183147
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Imperial Candles Reveal and Review

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Sabrina

imperialcandlereview I have always been amazed at how they manage to wrap jewellery up inside foil and then submerge them in candles such as this one. At the end of last year I decided I just had to try this for myself.
So I burned the beautifully scented candle, and I waited, and waited. It did take a fair few hours before I could see the foil in mine beginning to appear. And even then a few more hours before I was able to pull it lose and see what I had gotten inside.
I was so surprised by how nice the ring was. A lovely green stone and a pretty pattern surrounding it. When I ordered my candle I chose a ring rather than a necklace or earrings, which is great that you get that option. By having so much choice it makes the purchase all the more special.
A present within a present is not a new thing, but the excitement of not knowing what you’re going to get is the best part. Yes I chose to have a ring and the size I wanted for my delicate small fingers, but I didn’t know what style or cut or even what colour it could be. Luckily I absolutely love it!
I would recommend Imperial Candles for one of those unique presents. If you’re looking for something a bit different, and so long as you know what the person likes and dislikes. You choose your candle scent, what piece of jewellery you would like to be inside, and then you patiently wait while they receive and burn said candle, only to find a wonderful extra present part way down.
I purchased one for my mother at the same time I ordered mine, she had a beautiful necklace inside hers, and was over the moon with it.
So if anyone out there sees this and thinks, is all that choosing really worth it? The answer is yes. Because even after you’ve done your reveal, you still have around half of the candle to enjoy. And with loads of scents to choose from as well, Imperial Candles really do give you great ideas.
You can find Imperial Candles at their website and they also have a Facebook page. http://www.imperialcandles.co.uk/

Prom and Summer Ball Dresses 2016

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Sabrina

Summer Ball and Prom Dresses for the 2016 Season.

As the Summer Ball and Prom season is just around the corner, I thought I would share my thoughts on the most beautiful pieces that I have come across while browsing online. Of course not everybody buys their Prom dress online, some go to little boutiques and vintage shops, and others even make their own! But in case you were looking for any inspiration, here is my list of top Prom picks for £65 or under. And the great thing is that you can on hold on to these kinds of dresses to wear for future weddings and christening invites and such like.
I have tried to choose a variety of pieces for all shapes and sizes. There are the strapless, the skaters and the maxi dresses, as well as the traditional prom style like image number 5. I hope you enjoy looking at my ideas and it might give you an idea of what sort of dress you would like for your prom.

PromDressesPic1 PromDressesPic2 1. V by Very Metallic Stripe Prom Dress £35.50