EcoTools Review

Recently i have been obsessed with EcoTools make up brushes, the finish they seem to give is amazing. i bought the Domed Bronzer Brush a while back and i absolutely loved it, so i bought a few more online and i got them cheaper than i would get them here.

Domed Bronzer Brush

this was around £13 i think and from from Boots.
I use this for applying bronzer all around the sides of my face and also to blend out in bronzer or concealer used to contour the cheekbones.
i am really impressed with this, as it’s quite a stiff brush. i was convinced it was going to apply the bronzer in a big blob but it applies even and really easily.
i once tried to use this for foundation, and it was a huge NO NO, the liquid went on my face in big blotches rather than evenly!

Deluxe Fan Brush

this is one of my newer brushes, which i love! this was $5.82 which was around £4.00. i can’t see it on the Boots website, so i don’t know how much the retail price would be.
i use this with Hoola around the sides of my face – and i know i just said this about the Bronzer Brush – and to contour my cheeks.
i also like to apply a highlighter on my cheekbones and the center of my face.

Custom Coverage Buffing Brush

this brush is not on Boots.com but i paid $5.75 for it, which is around £3.90, thats amazing for a make up brush this good!
this is beyond my new complete absolute favourite shiny amazing brush!! i’ve been using to apply my foundation/tinter moisturiser/BB cream. i can’t actually believe how perfect the finish is on it.

i’ve been using it with my Estee Lauder Double Wear, Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturiser and No7 BB Cream. So here you can see i’ve been using it with three completely different types of product, and they all have different consistences, coverage, purposes etc.
I pour some of the product to my hand then lift it up with the brush and apply it to my face, using swirling motions, buffing it or slightly stippling it on.
i am 100% satisfied with this brush, and would recommend this to strangers on the street.

Airbrush Concealer

i wasnt really sold with this brush until around now to be honest, the only thing is that you need to be careful that you don’t pick up too much product. i merely dab the brush into a concealer before using it on my face.
i also find it works best with a concealer wand applicator. i use my Estee Lauder Double Wear concealer and i apply it under my eyes, then i use my brush in light, circular motions. Lighter around the eyes, as this is the most sensitive area.
using it with a cream concealer i find you need to be a little frugal with the concealer you use, if you use too much you end up with far too much product and
1. the concealer looks too cakey
2. the “airbrush” effect, that the brush is meant to have, just doesnt work

Six Piece Essential Eye Set

this contained 5 brushes and a travel bag for them, but i ditched the bag ’cause i wouldnt use it really. the brushes are travel size, so i wasnt sure what i really thought of them, i like 2, maybe 3 out of the 5 i got.

large eyeshadow brush – the website says “the large eye brush to blend a base shadow over the entire eyelid.” i use this brush to set concealer under my eye with a setting powder or a MAC MSF powder, which works so i don’t actually know how effective this is at applying eyeshadow.
angled crease brush – this “adds definition to the outer crease of your eye”, i use my no7 Crease/Blending brush to add the crease colour and then i use this brush to go back in with the final darkest colour to really make the crease stand out. Looking at the brush i thought it was too big, and looked like it was make a mess, but it’s really good and a handy brush!
petite eye shading brush – this “s perfect for an accent color.” i like this brush for applying the highlight colour in the inner corner. If i’m doing a really dramatic cut crease look, i use this brush or other small brushes to do the crease as it needs to be more defined to achieve that look.
highlighting brush – this is used to “accentuate the brow bone and inner corners of the eye”. this isnt used for either of these things. i use this to blend colours in the crease and outer corners. i couldnt even imagine applying anything into the inner corners with this thing! it’s a really big brush for that.
smudge brush –  this is for “mudging the shadow and liner along the lash line for a smoky finish” it’s probably my favourite in this pack actually! it does EXACTLY what it says and i use it for EXACTLY what i’m supposed to! the brush is stuff enough to manipulate eyeliner and shadows to achieve the perfect smokey eye!

this blog seems horrifically rambly, but i had to share it with. i am in love with ecotools and everytime i’m in boots i always just standing in the aisles just staring at them. i would definitely recommend this brand of brushes to anyone and everyone. they are amazing, and not too pricey!! especially if you get them on ebay! or anywhere else.

and they’re ECO FRIENDLY!

what more could you ask for

LCx

spring fling – essentials for the season

the weather in scotland has been gorgeous this week. there was constant blue skies and the sun was out all day, in work i was sunning myself and actually got some colour. not bad for March, i thought!

but finally spring has sprung and the sun had shone, so i thought i’d share some of my favourite spring/summer products…

No7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream Normal/Dry, Medium
so, i only got this like a week ago but i already LOVE it. i think i’ve used it a bit more than i normally would because of the weather.  this BB Cream is SPF 15 and has 5* UVA technology which protects the skin. it’s great for this season and the weather we’ve been having – of which i hope we get more of – with it being really light on the skin. i use this in the day time, and set it with my MAC powder. with this BB Cream i don’t use concealer, well really in this weather i don’t use concealer (only because i’ve yet to come across a good one that will stay!), i only don’t use concealer because the shade of this i have seems to cover up enough with just one layer.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion – Original
primer is a great invention in the warm weather, there’s NOTHING worse than extreme panda eyes and smudged eyeshadow when you’re getting your tan on. this is the best primer i’ve ever used and it’s UD’s #1  best selling product and i can fully see why. primer potion makes colours pop and it’d make the colour on your eyes look great in this season. i’m sure i read that pastel colours were in and there’s nothing i dislike more than pastel eyeshadow, but after trying it out using the primer it looks really cute and would look great on holiday or just in the park with your friends, or sitting in a beer garden finding your next spring fling…

NARS Blush – Orgasm
i am just in love with this pinky-peachy-corally coloured blush. this picture does NOT do the colour justice (give the NARS website a visit and check it out). it highlights the cheeks as well with the subtle accents of gold shimmer. it’s a great colour for the time of year, really natural and bright. a big plus for this being a blush and faint highlighter, is that it’s a 2-1 which means the less product packed on your face when it’s warm or humid outside

MAC Lipstick – Girl About Town
the things i love the most about MAC lipsticks are probably…
1. the smell
2. the pigmented colour
3. how moisturising they are.
the strong pigmentation really helps in the weather and maybe fun spring activities, where you’d forget to re-apply so it really stays and you don’t need to worry about it. the lipsticks are so moisturising which is great, especially for people like me who forget to use product to prevent the lips from being burnt. and after the lips are burned they need to be moisturised and this not only helps the burnt lips, looks amazing on…the smell is just a bonus.

Some fun flower hair clips from various shops
i love putting flowers in my hair, at the weekend me and my sisters were rocking about Aberdeen with daffodils stuck in our hair. it always looks so summery and pretty. i need to stack up on them for the summer – TITP and Zante – so i can shove them in my hair for something cute to add to the style.

hope you loved my spring fling blog, what’s your favourite product for the sun and the season?

LCSx

S&G – Thick and Fast Mascara Review

so i was extremely pleased when i received a free mascara with my Elle subscription at the end of January. I was running out of my Lash Blast and Bad Gal, and i was thinking i would like to try a new mascara.

I use three mascaras on my eyes. Bad Gal is really good for intensity, it makes my eyelashes really dark and i like that ’cause i don’t like to wear false eye lashes as i muck up my eye make up when i try to put them on. After that i put on my Covergirl Lash Blast, i LOVE the brush wih this mascara it helps separate the lashes. Then after that i’ll use my No7 Extreme Length on my bottom lashes.

So i thought i’d use the Soap and Glory Thick and Fast Mascara which i got free with the magazine. I decided to use it instead of the Bad Gal as the brushes look really similar. The first time i used it i was going on a night out, so i was really careful when applying it, and i was really impressed with the outcome and how much coverage of the lashes that it gave.

The second time, however, i think i was just going to work maybe, i cant remember. So i just kind of rushed it and then went to the mirror closely and i had mascara gloop EVERYWHERE…i wish i took a picture it was horrific. my lashes are quite long so when i am applying mascara i need to pretty much close my eyes so the tip of the lashes wont hit my eyelid. so i corrected the make up and took a closer look at the wand.

you can see it in this picture…at the bottom of the wand there is so much excess mascara there and even at the tip too.

i was really disappointed in this product and thankful that i received it for free because i definitely would not buy it. it may be a cheap mascara at only £10 (yes thats cheap…i hate my new “anything under £15 thats a make up product is crap” attitude…that’s where my money is!!) but i would rather buy a cinema ticket than buy that.

and i would tell anybody this.

Fall Favourites

i just want to share all my fall favourites, i don’t want to have to a monthly favourite blog every month. i change my mind like i change my clothes really. So i just went through my hair and make up products and pulled out what i think i have been using most in this season.

 armani diamonds perfume. i have wearing this non stop. its such a gorgeous smell, and it’s not summery. i always wear florally/sweet smelling perfumes but this one is perfect for fall/winter as its got notes of vanilla in it. i am not a fan of vanilla in the slightest but vanilla candles always remind me of Christmas.

these two i have been using for the same reasons. i honestly feel like since it has gotten colder outside i look paler than ever. i fake tanned to go out for my cousins birthday and it was so rushed, so it was very bad. so i’ll need to pay more attention when tanning next time. i always apply hoola to my face, really lightly if its a normal day or a bit more for going out along with contouring and everything like that. i hate looking pale, i feel like i look really ill and tired. so i need colour and its alot healthier than sunbeds!!!

i am an absolute victim of chapped lips in the winter. never mind vaseline (unless its bedtime and its smeared ALL over your face!) this is amazing. i got it about 4 years ago in spain for about 2euros. its really good and smells of parma violets (you know those sweets that apparently taste like soap…they help heart burn by the way!). i also love carmex and vaseline but this has to trump both.

as well as chapped lips in the winter i get dry hands. the l’occitaine hand cream on the right it amazing. i have never used l’occitaine products until this and i only got this free from a magazine. it really helps my dry hands this season. and of course my hands need to be clean clean clean. i am not a germophobe but before i eat or when i feel like my hands are quite dirty i’ll use this. it’s cute with my star sign on it and everything. i got it from bath and body works from the Florida outlets! i love it.

this is a benefit primer, and i know i always bang on about the Lancome primer i love but this one is really good to put on with your foundation. like literally mixing it in with it. its a kind of pink colour, and it kind of brightens the face up. and during winter it’s always nice to have a little more colour or glow in the season. it also smells like raspberrys or something.

i wanted to change the faves a bit and not just do make up and stuff. i borrowed GG season 4 off my friend, Joanne and started watching it on Friday and finished on Sunday…i clearly had no life that whole weekend there. i also borrowed the Friends boxset from Linda and i have kind of been watching it in the background, as i have seen them all before. but just keeping them on is a nice distraction from what i should be doing like tidying, searching for jobs, applying to uni…etc etc.

speaking of jobs. i left my job. blah blah blah. so i left. that was me telling yous why and me ending the story with “so i left” cos i am so so so so so…. sick of telling the story of why i hate Morrisons.

i will need to have some sort of constructive blog post put together with proper paragraphs and not an absolute riot like they are. i feel so bad for rachel when she is asked to seperate the hangers….

anyway, i hope this was  delight to read…my friends have all discovered my blog this week and find it just hysterical.

“tikka masala and skittles”

LCSx

Tuesday Off.

On this nice tuesday off, i figured i should probably blog since i haven’t since before GC. and i’ll be blogging about just that.

Gran Canaria was amazing. I wish i had a better tan though *sad face. I am also blogging while wtching jersey shore and texting/making arrangements for a group hang so it’ll probably take me forever and i’ll ramble – much like i’m doing now…

Lopesan Baobab is probably the nicest hotel i’ve ever stayed in. We (Me and Melo) were in awe the moment we stepped in the front doors. The African/Modern decor was just fabulous.

The head board was snakeskin – most likely not real. but gorgeous and the TV was hidden behind those wooden sliding doors. the room was such a perfect size and look a the lamps at each side of the massive bed!! it was all just awesome!!

Our first night –>
<– Our last night

On our amazingly huge balcony with a self timer! and infront of the main bar R. Burton Bar where we snagged some yummy cocktails some nights!

Me and my Meloneras cocktail! it was so very watermelon-y and delish!!

I would send everyone there! although it might be a bit pricy, melo and i booked it on a whim and we are so happy we done do. thats all we kept saying on holiday… “im so happy we done this”. the weather was gorgeous and the whole experience was amazing. i could never go below a 5* now! haha! no im completely kidding on…

On the way home i had some euros that i wanted to spend. on the way there i spotted the Urban Decay naked eye palette and i have wanted this for ages, and i had the euros so i though “why not?” and it turned out they never even had any! i was serously distraught ha! bit dramatic. but i bought an UD nail polish set, the colours are so gorgeous.

I’m currently wearing “superfreak” (second from the left) on all my fingers but the ring fingers, on which i am wearing the purple one (third from the right) and i cant remember what its called. The colours are all so so so pretty and you only need two coats. Theres nothing i can’t stand more than crappy nail polish that you need about 7 coats before it starts actually showing.

This is rather rambly and whatever. But I enjoy rambling and all. so i hope you enjoyed and please google lopesan baobab and see how amazing this hotel is! it’s just gorgeous!!

Laurxx

I Want! I Want!

So, its Friday night BLOGOC’CLOCK! Parents are away so me and Linda have planted our bumbums on the couch since 6pm (its now 10.30pm) with an Indian takeaway and “The Other Guys” – i highly recommend watching that movie, it is hysterical! I don’t ever want to move. Now the Chris Moyle’s Quiz Show is on, one of my new faves and I cannot wait to watch the one with America Ferrera!

Today I had my job interview (I’ll tell you about it when I find out about the job). Just keep your fingers crossed for me!

Well, I decided that if i got the job I want to spoil myself and (not like i need anymore make up) I want to buy this:  Urban Decay Naked Palette

I have seen a few YouTube gurus using this and i love it!! I love how with this palette you can create a look for everyday, nights out, dinners out, work, play, dates etc.

Also there was another small palette from YSL i like.

I was walking past the counter in Frasers yesterday and the middle colour caught my eye and i just stopped in my tracks and stared at it. The assistant then came over and chatted to me about it and asked me if i wanted my eyes done…i lied a little bit and said i was on my lunch, but i might just go back on Monday and get it done! I was fairly interested until she told me it was £40. Thats just a NO NO for any types of make up.

So this was just a short blog with a little up to date on the job-ness. But also if anyone has tried the Naked Palette or the Ombres 5 Lumières please give me a short review and maybe tell me if you’d recommend it.

chicken tikka masalas and skittles

LCSx

What I Use In Everyday Life.

Happy Friday!

I have just been sent home sick from work, and I’m the most bored person ever. So I looked around and caught sight of my lil laptop sitting all along wanting to played with. its BLOGO’CLOCK – new word for blogging time!! I like.

(Watching Valetine’s Day Glee and Puck is singing “Fat Bottomed Girls” – to me of course! God i’d marry him!!)

So todays  blog is about my everyday skin/hair products i use. Perhaps not every single day but maybe everytime i wash my hair or every few days as some products are not recommended to use every single day! So to start i’ll begin with hair products.

MOROCCANOIL
This stuff came free with a subscription to Elle magazine and to be frank i had never heard of it at all. But after using it, i noticed such a huge difference. It is applied when hair is damp (i apply after a thorough towel dry). It gives the hair a gorgeous shine and it looks a lot healthier. For best results i always straighten my hair after use. If i am leaving my hair curly i’ll use my Flirty Curls Scrunching Jelly (In previous blog).

JOHN FRIEDA LUXURIOUS VOLUME BLOW DRY LOTION
This is a lil travel spray (Top Tip! If i’m looking for new hair products [Shampoos/Conditioners/Hairspraysetc] I always first purchase smaller or travel sized ones. I bought the travel shampoo and conditioner of this and it is actually really good. I don’t know wether it’s because i always dry and style my hair properly now. Before i’d just dry it without sectioning it off, now i use about 4 clips to keep all sections away! This is very impressive and i’d recommend it!

These two, along with the scrunching jelly are my three favourite hair products – the ones i’d take to a deserted island! Now onto the face! (Currently jamming to Artie singing “Pretty Young Thing”)
LET ME TAKE YOU TO THE MAX.

BOOTS ESSENTIAL CUCUMBER CLEANSING WIPES
These are really my favourite ever face wipes. I used No7 ones and they were really just the same. The No7 ones were about £6 and you get 3 packs of these Boots wipes for £3. Sometimes i may need to use two, but its the same with the No7 ones especially if you have heavy eye make up on. These ones being cucumber are all really refreshing, sometimes good to use in the morning and just before applying make up just for a clean and fresh start. I also suggest that if you have make up wipes, store them upside down to keep the topmost wipe moist.

CLINIQUE DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT MOISTURIZING LOTION
(I use ‘Very Dry to Dry Combo’)
I bought this with the other Clinique 3 Step Skin Care products. These were the Liquid Facial Soap in mild and the Clarifying Lotion. Out of all 3 the moisturizer i use most. I use it after washing my face and before applying make up. My skin always changes from oily to dry at different parts of the year. Right now – summer – its very oily. But i still find this useful and to work really well.

NIVEA REFRESHINGLY SOFT MOISTURIZING CREAM
I got this in my stocking for Christmas from my boyfriend. It’s one of them best hand creams i’ve used. I bought another one to take to Florida with me and it really wasn’t as good and the consistency of the creams were different. I’ve used this one, mostly for my hands, but for other things. I bought a Sephora foundation and  it was a bit too orange so i mixed it with this moisturizer and it went onto the skin alot better. It’s also got a lovely smell to it!!

CARMEX ORIGINAL
I LOVE CARMEX!! ILOVE CARMEX!! VASELINE WHO??
I honestly have about 5 full tubes of this bad boy! One in my work locker, one in my hand bag, one by my bed and two in my make up drawer. I used to love Vaseline, but up until i was introduced to Carmex by my sister, Vaseline and I are no longer!! “It soothes, It heals, It protects” – it sure does! It’s great in the winter and summer and autumn and spring! ALL THE FREAKING TIME! There’s also a cherry one and thats awesome, and it’s got a nice lil tingle on the lips 😉

So these are my everyday uses. I know i keep going on about a make up…i am currently trying to put a look together!

Now i may just lay in bed and watch Tangled because the other night while it was on, i was busy busy trying to put together my first blog!

Catch you at the next BLOGO’CLOCK

LCSx