Boots No.7 Brush Cleaner

Welcome to my first post of 2013, after a very long Xmas and New Year break. Hope Santa was good to you all and you had a lovely NYE! Now let's get down to the makeup business!
I've been searching high and low for a brush cleaner on the high street. I can't always get to a makeup counter and I'm too impatient to shop online a lot of the time. It's only when I actually worked in Boots over the Christmas period that I discovered No.7 stock a brush cleaner HA LAY LOO YAH!! I actually had to hide one to buy on my break-I can admit this now my contract has finished ;)
Boots No.7 makeup brush cleaner costs £8 for 185ml. This sounds quite expensive considering the mac one is only slightly more but if you are budget savvy like me, you'll purchase this when the renowned £5 off vouchers for No.7 are knocking about and get it for £3. Bargain!
No.7 say "This product is a quick fix when you don't have time to soak your brushes. Spray a paper towel or tissue with cleanser before sweeping brush bristles across the damp cloth. Let hairs dry before applying makeup."
I love this stuff! It's so quick and easy to clean brushes now after every use if you are a bit OCD like me, or even in the middle of an eye look where you need the same brush for a different colour. The brush dries within a couple of minutes. Also, I use revlon colour stay foundation which seems to stain my brushes, but after I've used the brush I give it a quick clean with this cleanser, which means when I go to deep clean my brushes with baby shampoo it's much easier to get the stains out. I like the fact it comes with a pump to. Less wastage. I'm so happy I found this, and so happy I can tell people it exists as I haven't read any other posts or reviews on it! If you already use it or intend to let me know what you think.
Thanks for reading, Love Steph xxx

The stuff I don't like TAG

This tag has been going around YouTube but I thought I'd write a post about it, I think it helps people get to know a person a bit better if they know what pisses them off! So here are a few things that rattle my cage...
1. People invading my personal space. If you are talking to me, please don't get all up in my face. I hate it when someone needs their head to be practically touching yours during a conversation, it just makes me feel awkward and cringey. If u see me moving back whilst you talk to me, YOU ARE TOO CLOSE, back it up a bit!!! Lol!
2. People who try to make you feel inferior to them. This is self-explanatory.
3. Very thick over drawn eyebrows or very thin over plucked eyebrows. Find the happy medium :)
4. Claw-like false nails, with dirt underneath *shivers* yuck yuck yuck.
5. Leggings as trousers when the leggings are see through. You offend my eyes. Wear another pair.
6. People who are incapable of talking about anything other than themselves, and who will always find a way to bring the conversation back to them, I just can't be arsed and I will scream.
7. Judgemental people. Nobody has the right to judge anyone unless you know the full story and set of circumstances behind every situation. Unless maybe you are an actual judge :-/
8. Those people who are always right. But I think I might be one of them lol!
9. Spiders. I have mentioned this before. Their very existence offends me. It's a fucking liberty.
10. People who don't like Irish people. Hehe!
11. People who never get drunk but instead just watch and store all the info to try and embarrass you in your hungover state the day after.
12. People who need to know the price of everything you buy or have ever bought.
I could go on and on but I think if I do I'll sound like a bitch and I promise I'm not in. In real life I'm very laid back and easygoing, and there's very few people I don't or can't get along with, this is just a light hearted list of stuff that is an irritation. Do you agree or disagree with anything I've written? I tag anyone reading to write their post and leave me a comment so I can check it out.
Thanks for reading, Love Steph xoxox

Maybelline Gel Eyeliner "Ultraviolet"

I do love a bit of gel eyeliner. I'm no good with liquid, my hand isn't steady enough but I find gel a bit easier because of the thicker consistency. My favourite is the Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner which I have in both black and brown and they can be found in Boots and Superdrug for around about £7 or £8. Sooo when I saw this new colour which is at the minute exclusive to Superdrug, I got excited!
It's a lovely purple colour, still dark enough so it isn't madly noticeable but a perfect colour for Christmas. This stays put all day, even in the waterline, comes with a decent brush and in my opinion is really good value for money. The only thing I would say is that the formula of the purple seems to be a bit dryer and trickier to work with than the brown and black, but if I can manage it then anyone can. Try it out!
Thanks for reading, Love Steph

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation

I have a confession to make: I am a bit of a foundation whore. I know what one works for me yet I continue to be lured in by adverts and blogger/you tuber recommendations. The latest one to tempt me was Maybelline Fit Me foundation, mainly because of Tanya Burr (Pixi2woo on YouTube or her blog is tanyaburr.co.uk)

The thing I liked most about this was the fact that you can choose a foundation to match either a pink(cool) undertoned skin or a yellow(warm) undertoned skin. However this presented a problem: what undertone is my skin!? I've never been matched up at a makeup counter before and not having any formal makeup training I was a bit stumped but I read a few blogposts etc on how to determine this and long story short chose shade 125 shown above. I really wanted to like this foundation, especially since its less pricey than many others at £7.99 in Boots and Superdrug. It applied well but once on, it just sat on top of my skin. All day. Allllllll day. Even though I powdered to set, it stayed tacky to the touch, patches disappeared off of my face and to be honest I just looked a shiny mess, so I hope you will forgive the fact I haven't shown a pic with this on. I just don't get what the fuss is about, quite frankly in my opinion it's not worth the hype! My oily skin could be a major factor here with Fit Me just NOT fitting me. Maybe it works really well for dry skin. I don't know. What are your experiences with this product?

Thanks for reading, Love Steph xxxxx

Christmas Jumpers!!

Is it just me who never knows what to wear on Christmas Day?! When I was growing up it was tradition to stay in our jammies all day long and be cosy and comfy. When I met my boy 10 years ago his family always put their glad rags on and went a-visiting and so since then I always am faced with a bit of a dilemma. I want to be comfortable and have room for all the turkey etc etc to get in my belly, but also look decent enough in case there's a knock on the door. I think I have found the solution to this year.....cue Primarks Christmas jumpers!!!

Nope, this is not a joke, we are actually wearing these!! A cosy jumper and a pair of leggings and voila! I look Christmassy but will also be comfortable. Now, I know these aren't for everyone but my tongue is firmly in my cheek here. I have a sense of humour and don't take myself too seriously and I think the kids will absolutely love it. These jumpers can all be found at Primark, £12 for the adult sizes and £7-£9 for the kiddies sizes. I know it's only November but I'm getting excited for Christmas :-D

What will you be wearing? Thanks for reading, Love Steph xxx

My 1st FOTD

Products used, in the order I used them:

Revlon Colourstay Foundation (combination/oily skin) in Natural Beige

Soap and Glory Kick Ass Concealer in Medium

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Transparent

MUA Eyebrow Pencil in Blonde

                                 MUA Clear Mascara through brows to keep them in place
                                                     MUA Bronzed Perfection to contour
                                                Natural Collection Blusher in Peach Melba
                                                           MUA Eyeshadow Primer
                                   Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze as a base
                      Suspect and Snakebite eye shadows from the Urban Decay Naked2 Pallette
                                                    Loreal Carbon Gloss Liquid Liner Black
                           Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara AND Bourjois Clubbing Mascara
                 MAC Mineralise Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle for cheek and brow bone highlight
                                       MUA Intense Lip Gloss in Sealed With A Kiss

Hope you like it! Thanks for reading, Love Steph xxx

Bargain Alert! Eyeshadow Singles from LOOK Beauty

I was browsing in Superdrug last week(as I do far too often), and came across the LOOK Beauty stand. I had never really paid any attention to it before but I read a few blogposts featuring their products for their Breast Cancer Awareness campaign and thought they looked nice! I didn't know what the quality of the products would be like so erred on the side of caution and in the end up I just bought one eyeshadow. At the moment these are half price at £2. Bargain!

The shade I bought is "khaki", I do love green on blue eyes but this is a darker more wearable green which I think anyone could get away with. Swatched on my hand with no primer:

I can't believe how good this eyeshadow is. Really well pigmented, soft and creamy and blends well. It's massive as well so will last forever, and the colour comes out exactly as it looks. I will definitely be going back to get more of these and try out some other products too. Has anyone else tried these, or do you have any recommendations from LOOK Beauty?
Thanks for reading,
Love Steph xxx