BPerfect Mineral Power + Primer (Banana Powder DUPE) ft. Ben Nye | BEAUTY

Hello!

"allow you to create a finish that looks less cakey"

If you've been in the beauty loop for a while (Read: New Maybelline Lip Colors) , you'd know of the oh-so-famous Ben Nye Banana Powder that has taken our world by storm (link here). By that, I mean it has been given good review after good review, yet the only thing that may stop one from buying that thing? It's not the easiest thing to get a hold of, especially if you do not live in the states! There are many knock off's out there, and being Kim K's staple, it obviously has high demand! Yet, when I was told BPerfect have released a dupe of said Banana Powder, I was more than excited to give it a shot and compare.

"BPerfect is a much more available product"

The first thing I noticed was the difference in the powder itself. Not only is the Ben Nye powder a slightly warmer tone, which of course you can choose from a variety on the BPerfect site, but the texture of the powers are different. The Ben Nye Banana Powder is a lot thinner, and has been milled to a finer finish whereas the BPerfect is a lot thicker.

As shown in the picture above, it would take more to fully blend in the BPerfect powder than the Ben Nye. Having said that, both do blend in quite well, though the Ben Nye would be more likely to fit a variety of skin tones. I do think that if you were to use the powder as a setting powder, the Ben Nye would allow you to create a finish that looks less cakey. Though I'm sure you can achieve a similar look with the BPerfect, you would have to be more careful, due to the thicker mill of the powder.

"well let's say they've really nailed it"

Either way, I do think they're quite similar, but for me, the Ben Nye wins the fight, but just by a slight amount. The BPerfect is a much more available product (link here), if you are looking for a dupe. Though, if you are going to buy one and are willing to invest, I'd go with the Ben Nye.

BPerfect also have a primer. This primer that I speak off, well let's say they've really nailed it. 

"makes the colour a lot more vibrant, and it looks smoother"

Not only is the packaging beautiful, which I'm a sucker for, but the product itself is great! It's a clear colour so will suit everyone. The primer also blends very well, creating a smooth/velvety layer for you to apply your makeup onto. You only need a tiny bit, which will go a long way.

Just in case you're not entirely sold by my brief description above, look at the images. It's the same eyeshadow colour on top of a part of my hand with the primer, and again on a part without the primer. The primer area makes the colour a lot more vibrant, and it looks smoother. Not only that, it is easier to apply without any unwanted creases forming. If nothing else, I will be using this for my eye makeup/concealer area! 

Overall, an upcoming brand that has a few great products that you need to check out. If you're only going to buy one thing from their range, I'd go with the primer!
Check out their other range here.

Tell me, do you use a 'Banana Powder', and is primer a staple for you? 

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Maybelline Color Drama Velvet Lip Pencils POTW | BEAUTY

Hello!

"I had my eyes on this beauty for the longest of time. I'm talking months."

Purchase of the Week (or POTW) had become quite a series on BBXO (Read: POTW Chanel No 5). Until, one day, I kind of forgot about it. Okay, there were hauls featured (Read: Summer Holiday Haul) but the tag POTW was forgotten. Well, now we're bringing it back. Full force and in action! What better product to kickstart this series again than the oh-so-famous NARS velvet lip pencil drugstore dupe (wow, that's a mouthful): the Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Pencil.

"I did also like the colour range, there's a nude, an orange, a coral, a few reds and a few pinks"

I had my eyes on this beauty for the longest of time. I'm talking months. But with exam season upon us when my obsession first began, I wasn't able to satisfy that need for this pencil... until now. Well, the wait was worth it, because I am LOVING this lip pencil.

If you're a fan of the velvet/matte finish (Read: Bourjois Velvet Rouge), this product is right up your street. The Bourjois Velvet Rouge had become my go-to lip product that I'd dab on for a soft, everyday look and apply a thicker layer for a bold, going out look. After reading the reviews of more Bourjois Velvet Rouge colours, I had found out the best formulation was with the shade 'Nude-ist', which was the shade I had. Therefore, I was looking for something with the same finish without lacking in the quality front. This seemed like the product for me.

Before I make this entire post about Bourjois Velvet Rouge (goodness, can I say that any more times?!), let's refer back to Color Drama. Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet is also quite versatile as it can be dabbed on for a softer, everyday look, or applied as a thicker layer for a bolder look.

"What better product to kickstart this series again than the oh-so-famous NARS velvet lip pencil drugstore dupe"

Be sure to have your lips moisturised before applying the product, though (something I should've done). In the bottom photo you can see the little transfer it has, and that was only a very short while after applying. So you don't need to worry about that mug lip stain!

All in all, a great product that won't break the bank (£4.99 each at Boots.com) and good for various occasions. I did also like the colour range: there's a nude, an orange, a coral, a few reds and a few pinks. You're bound to find something you like!

Tell me, what's your favourite finish of a lip product? Do you prefer a sheen, matte or something in between?

No 7 Auburn Whispers: POTW

Hello!

Being a creature of habit, I'm not much of a person to switch up lip colours really often.  At the moment I've been wearing Bourjois Nude-ist (post about it here) pretty much all the time. Eye makeup? Yes! Give me a new mascara and I'm good to go.. for 3 days until I swtich up the routine again! Yet, give me a lipstick, if I love the colour, I'll be wearing it for a pretty long time.

This lipstick was totally an impulse buy. Actually I was in the store and stumbled across the 'buy one get one half price' section, so just picked it up because it was, well, half price! Having never owned No 7 Lipsticks before, I was skeptic about their quality. Non-the-less, a swatch or two later, the texture of them seem just right! Moisturising with great colour payoff! 

Nothing too bold, and by dabbing the colour onto the lips rather than applying the colour properly, you can get a light wash of colour that looks almost-natural.

So, if you see me around after I've given this colour a whirl, you may see the same colour for a long time! 

Tell me, are you a creature of habit when it comes to lip-colours, or do you like to switch up really often?

POTW: Bourjois Velvet Rouge Edition Lip Gloss - Nude-ist

Hello!

"knew it was a must-try"

Where have you been if you haven't heard of this product or the Revlon ColorStay Moisture Stain, currently only available in the US, which are coincidently both very similar in packaging?! I must say I was VERY excited when they were sitting there in the store and knew it was a must-try, especially with all the hype in the online beauty world! 

"Anything that is hair-sticking free, count me in!"

The shade Nude-ist was the one that found its way in my basket - the matte finish lip stain/gloss was another aspect of the product that caught my eye. Anything that is hair-sticking free, count me in! 

"looks as though it will last all day"

Having tried it on today, the colour is really pigmented - much more than I had thought, it also seemed to dry matte very quickly and looks as though it will last all day. The overall effect of the stain looks lovely, although I would recommend you to exfoliate your lips to avoid the flake thing that can be nasty.

"you'll understand the hype about them in the beauty world!"

The colour is gorgeous - even the swatch shows the pigment of the product when a tiny bit was used. 

Overall, definitely check these products out, they are totally worth their RRP of £8.99 and I'm sure you'll understand the hype about them in the beauty world! 

But tell me, are you more of a glossy or matte lip kind of person? 

Purchase of The Week: Sleek Face Form Palette + First Impressions

Hello! 

You know those days when you go shopping, not really expecting to buy anything, but end up buying everything - well last Thursday was one of those days...

This has been on my 'To Buy' list forever, so when a day like Thursday was upon me, it was about time I picked this up. Actually, I attended wedding last weekend and I wanted to wear the blush from this palette on her big day, so what better time to buy it, hey?

 Seeing as this is said to be a dupe for the oh-so famous NARS Orgasm blush, you know I was so excited to try it!

"look like they'd be more expensive than they are"

One thing that I do love about Sleek is the beautiful packaging! It's... well, sleek! The products from sleek look like they'd be more expensive than they are - which is always a plus! 

"dupe for the oh-so famous NARS Orgasm blush"

Having tried it on, I love the bronzer more than I thought I would, the highlighter is lovely too - however, the one I had most hopes for is what I am more disappointed with. The blush just was coming off as gold shimmer and not much pink/coral. So far, I am not happy with the blush but am in love with the other two. I will have to use the blush more to make a better decision on what I feel about it but for now, it's not that impressive. 

"I was so excited to try it!"

The face form has a RRP of £9.99 and can be bought from Superdrug.
The shade 'Light' and 'Fair' are the one with the blush shade whereas the other shades do not have the same blush shade - you can also buy the blush shade individually here.

"perfect for your bag"

Oh, and another plus side of this palette is the HUGE mirror! It is perfect for your bag and on-the-go makeup too!

What's been on your beauty wish list for a long time? 

Manicure Monday: Goddess - Rimmel by Kate Moss

Hello!

The sun is peaking out from behind the clouds (about time, it IS June) in the UK and quite possibly where you are too! That means the darker shades are to be put away and lighter, brighter shades bought out for the season. Being a fan of Nudes and Taupes, this was a lovely colour I was dying to try since receiving it with the Rimmel by Kate Mascara - see post here.

It's a lovely shade, less coral than I would have adored but a lovely shade, anyway. It is basically a complete white with a tiny bit of orangey/pink added to it - know what I mean?

In terms of applying it, the brush is SUPER wide but short, so you cover a large amount of nail at a time - making it really quick to do your polish! 

See the Shimmer?

You can just about see it, but the shade has a slight pearly shimmer (see picture above) which you cannot spot when on your nails. In fact, the colour looks more matte on the nails. 

Have you tried the Rimmel by Kate Moss line yet?

Purchase of the Week: Rimmel Kate Rockin' Curves Mascara + Goodie Bag!

Who doesn't like free Makeup Goodie Bags?! 

Hello!

Happy Wednesday! Shopping always makes the day better, especially if it's a haul like this one! The Kate Moss by Rimmel Mascara came out last week and seeing as I run a beauty blog and the fact that I needed a new mascara - obviously I had to pick it up! With it's weird shape of wand, I was a bit skeptical but intrigued nonetheless... 

That's the shape of the wand and after trying it out today, I can truly say I already love it! It gives great volume and length, making your lashes look fuller and lovely! I used it with a mascara base by Kiko and it worked wonders!

So, I had mentioned a 'Goodie Bag' earlier and you might be wondering how that came about... Well, Boots and Rimmel had a scheme whereby the first 180 people to order the Rimmel mascara were to get 4 products from the Kate Moss line for FREE! I was in awe and really wanted the product now more than ever! As soon as I got the e-mail from Boots that I am now able to purchase, I went for it, and 3 days later, I had this baby in my hands! 

The goodie bag was packed with great stuff! It had a lipstick (pictured above) which is a lovely baby pink shade. A green gel liner was also included, which I am super excited about!! As well as a lovely bronze shadow stick (I think it's waterproof :O) and a peach/nude shade nail varnish - all of which I'd use! 

Want an in depth review of the mascara? Leave a comment! 

Have you tried anything from the Kate Moss line?! 

L'Oreal Skin Perfection Micellar Solution Review - Makeup Remover

Hello!

I hope you're having a great time with parties all around, as the New Year brings! With parties comes MAKE UP and with makeup comes great responsibility!

Obviously, by that I mean that we need to remove that makeup - and that's is great responsibility! If your skin is anything like mine, you may notice that as you apply more makeup, especially things such as foundation, your skin gets worse and worse when it's 'naked'. So to prevent those unwanted spots and break outs, we need to remove makeup as best as we can… therefore, makeup remover comes in!

I bought the L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3-in-1 Micellar Solution (woah, that's a mouthful!) and thought I'd give you a review. Put it this way: this is my second bottle!

I love this product. It removes makeup without any stinging solution and it's simple to use. Unlike skincare wipes where I feel you're tugging against your skin and not being very gentle, this Micellar Solution feels like water and sort of glides makeup off from your skin.
To use, I apply this to a cotton pad or two and start from my eyes, hold the pad there for a couple of seconds and swipe away the makeup. Then I use the pad around my face to remove everything else. Simple! Okay, on days you're wearing a LOT more makeup, you may need to go over your face twice!  But, that's basically it!

Have you heard of Bioderma? If not, it is a french product which is said to be very similar to this. It is described as 'like water' which means it is very light on the skin! I would agree to say that the L'Oreal is like that too! However, Bioderma has a much bigger price tag and is hard to find, whereas L'Oreal is quite the opposite.

So, I guess that the L'Oreal may not be AS great as Bioderma, for a price of just over £4, and just over £3 if you're like me and buy it on sale, there is nothing to complain about!

Like I said earlier, if you're one for being gentler on your skin and are using skincare wipes (which I find also leave my skin a little red later too, due to friction - which could possibly give premature wrinkles) maybe you should give this a go - you may love it more!

What do you use to remove your makeup or tone your skin? 

Current Everyday Makeup - Less than 5 minutes!

Hello!

Compliments are great, aren't they? Well, when I wear this look, I get a few of them and I thought I'd share a QUICK makeup look that takes me a maximum of 5 minutes to do every morning before I leave the house - because, let's face it, who's fully awake enough to do an entire face of makeup when you have to leave the house in 15 minutes?!

Something that adds a little extra but doesn't make you LOOK extra is the perfect mix for me. This way, I'm wearing makeup, yet tend not to look overdone - because at a college where most people are in jogging bottoms, this isn't cute!

 First of all is the eye makeup. I love eyeshadow pencils. I use the Barry M Eye and Lip Crayon on my lid, then use 'Erotica' from the Too Faced Natural Eye Palette in my crease.
This defines my eye shape and adds a little depth.

I also curl my lashes and then apply mascara - at the moment I've been using Maybelline The Falsies… not sure it beats my favourite mascara of all time, though!

My eye looks red here - I think it's because I'm tired… that's why mascara is important - to make you look more awake - I obviously need it! haha! 

Next is Blush and I have been using 'Golden Hour'. I found this in my mums vanity so I don't know where it's from. I LOVE it, though and have hit MAJOR pan on it - well, basically it's finished! :(
It was a rose gold shade and was gorgeous! I need to find a dupe… ASAP!
I just sweep this on my cheek bones using a MAC 168 brush.

Finally, I use a lip colour! Recently I have been reaching for my Revlon Liquid Lipstick in Perfect Peony. I apply a bit on my lips and then use my fingers to rub it in. It looks so nice and even if it wears off a little bit throughout the day, it doesn't make your lips look bad.

I also use translucent powder if need be but try and avoid foundation.

This has been my current everyday makeup taking me less than 5 minutes!

What's your must-have makeup for everyday?

BeautyBuys: Rimmel London Apocalips!

Hello!

As for posting a Fashion Haul last Friday I thought I'd show you a Beauty Buy that I picked up during the weekend. I went shopping and as soon as I saw this on the shelf I knew I wanted it. Okay, I want a lot of things but this was something I REALLY wanted! So, I got it!

This product had a huge phase in the beauty blogger world and at the time I didn't pay attention to it! Now, however, I thought I'd pick it up - better late than never?

All the colours are very vibrant and it is said to be a lipstick in a lipgloss form. This is good as lipgloss always tend to be easier to apply colour evenly on the lips - and this was no different.

I went with Stellar, a deep red (slightly pink) shade, which is perfect for this season, alongside other makeup trends you can view here. Also, every girl needs a red shade in their beauty cabinet!

So, yes, I don't have much else to say about this product other than the application is easy (as far as I can tell with the one time I've used it so far!), the colour is bold/intense and the packaging is nice! You can pick one up for £6.49, have a choice of 13 shades and can buy more than one from here!

What's your favourite Red Lipstick? Leave a comment!

Autumn/Winter 2013 Makeup Trends

Hello!

Firstly, I want to say Hello Fall! Today marks the first day of fall, hence why I decided to write this for today! Many people think that Fall/Autumn starts on the 1st of September but it's actually towards the end of September - huh? Who woulda known? haha!

Okay, so I was going through many articles on Fashion Week, and 2014 summer/spring trends that I thought I'd just take one step back and put together a Fall-Autumn (whatever you want to call it) and Winter 2013 Makeup trends - talk about living in the moment, hey?!

So there were some that really stood out to me:

Focus on the EYES

The eyes are the 'centre-piece' of this makeup look - this would be perfect for a night out, also blue compliments many eye shades, so it is definitely something you can try out. Also note the nude-ish lips and cheek colour - and how they're very much the same shade. That's also trendy.

Liquid-Lined Liner

Liquid liner was seen in a variety of places, Alexander Wang had a very simple thin lined look as well as nude everything - very minimalistic - and on the contrary was this Dolce & Gabbana thicker flicked feminine line. As well as this, notice the blood red, almost vampy lips - also very popular.

Lashes Ahoy!
Okay the 'Ahoy!' was very summery and out-of-season of me, I apologise! ;)

 

This image captures the trend of bold brows as well as the full lashes. Not only that, also see the same nude lips and cheek colour effect as earlier (this time by Emilio Pucci). 

This image features the full lashes, thick, flicked liner and blood red lips - a very classic look, presented in this image by Dolce & Gabbana, that never gets old and is again on trend this year. Check out my Review for my FAVOURITE mascara here. 

Smoked Out

Finally, the dark eyeshadow from the first image is matched in another classic: the Smoky Eye. Paired with nude lips and cheeks, this is another great evening look, easily pulled off and something that will forever be in style. 

Okay, so that's it, fellow glam-ista's! 

Let me know you're looking forward to/enjoying this season! 

& Check out this post for fall fashion! 

images from: here