So-Eco Brushes*

I am 'that' someone who always reaches for the same brushes every time they do their makeup. Adding new brushes into my routine is silly right? Especially when I know which brush does what and which brush goes in which colour? Well today was the day I tried out some new eyeshadow brushes to see if they could take over my everyday (probably overused) ones.

The two brushes I tried out were both from So-Eco who promote that their brushes are from eco friendly sources as well as being cruelty free - hence the name 'So-Eco'.

The first brush was the Eye Shading Brush* which is perfect for applying a base colour all over the lid and for cutting the crease! The bristles are so very soft that they glide across your eye without scratching or taking away any product. The brush I find, works better with powders than a cream eyeshadow but works very well with concealer. I don't know what it is but whenever I cut my crease with this brush it works perfectly every-time!

The second brush I have been using is the Angled Eyeliner Brush*. I struggle as it is to use a liquid eyeliner with a pen-like tip so I was curious to see how I would do with a liner brush. I sucked. I was terrible at applying liquid eyeliner with the brush because I don't have a steady enough hand. However, as soon as I swapped to a black eyeshadow it looked amazing. The bristles are packed together to create a small line which is angled and positioned in a way that means you can see what you are doing. 

Both brushes also have a precision comfort grip, which I think definitely helped with me being more accurate in where I wanted the brush to go each time. The Eye Shading Brush I have moved into my 'everyday makeup brushes pot' as it is so good at applying the perfect base! As much as I have loved getting to experiment with the Angled Eyeliner brush I am going to save that for going out instead of everyday use for now as I'm still not good at getting it perfect... after all practice does make perfect.

You can purchase So-Eco brushes from many places but the easiest is probably Amazon as they are available on prime!

-Abigail x

Slapp Ldn Review*

Does anyone else struggle with trying to find the perfect foundation shade? Matching my face to my neck but then testing a certain foundation on a certain part of your body gets way too confusing for me. Imagine if there was an app that allowed you to match your selfies to different foundations... oh wait... there is!

Slapp London is an app that allows you to upload a selfie (or take a live one in the app), you can then select different parts of your face until you have a shade. Then the app works out which shade in foundation/concealer/contour you need to be wearing. It is a life changer! I have been playing around with the app for a couple of weeks now and I have tried some products that are in my 'shade' to see if the app truly does work.

I took some screenshots of me trying out the app and inserted them for you to see what I meant by my attempt of describing it above! To the right is my no makeup selfie taken in broad daylight so that I could get the best results. I tried to select areas of my face that I felt were most representable of my face so my chin, cheeks, nose and forehead.

The app matched me as shade #f5d3ae which is fairly pale... probably because I scrubbed off all my fake tan! Anyway, the lovely people over at Slapp then sent over two products that were in my shade so that I could see if the app truly works!

The two products I tried out were the LA Girl Pro Conceal HD Concealer in the shade Porcelain and the LA Girl HD Pro BB Cream in the shade Fair.

I was a bit sceptical on whether the products would match my skin tone, after all they were determined through my iPhone. The BB cream matches me perfectly, it blends into my skin so smoothly you can hardly notice it is there. The colour is identical to my face which is crazy to think.

The concealer is one shade lighter than my natural skin tone which is perfect because it allows me to use it to highlight and brighten up my under eye area. This concealer has quickly become up there as one of my favourite concealers because it is so full coverage.

If you're looking to get your hands on a new foundation or concealer make sure you go check out the Slapp app first! Not only will you get your perfect shade but it will then take you straight through to the website to purchase all the makeup to your hearts desire!

You can download it for your iPhone HERE





-Abigail x

Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Range* | A Review by My Mum & Me.

     

So three weeks ago now, I attended a blogging event in Soho, London with the lovely ladies who represent Johnson&Johnson. Before I had attended the event I never realised how many brands that I already use everyday are owned by them such as Neutrogena, Clean & Clear, Aveeno and many others. The ladies were all so lovely and let us take home some of the products so that we could test them out for ourselves.

One range of products that I have been lucky to try is the Hydro Boost range by Neutrogena which has recently been released. It is specifically targeted at an older generation (which I didn't even know Neutrogena did!) who have dry and thirsty skin. I wouldn't class myself as part of the older generation so I knew that I had to rope my mum into trying out some of the products while also testing some myself. Here is what we both had to say about the products....

My Review

I have been using the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gelée Milk cleanser, which you take on a cotton wool pad and wipe over your face, eyes and lips to remove all the makeup and dirt that may be on there. I was rather sceptical about the idea of a milk formula that you then don't have to wash off because you would think it would leave behind a residue of being greasy... but it doesn't at all! Like the rest of the Hydro Boost range that I have tried it leaves your skin unbelievably soft before even applying a moisturiser.  The smell of the Milk cleanser is also absolutely divine, its so fresh!

I am an awful blogger and lost my image of the wipes and now the packet is empty where I have been loving them so much,  I'm afraid there is no close up picture :(((

I have also been using the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Facial wipes. The wipes claim to remove waterproof mascara as well as boosting the hydration in your skin and trust me they do remove all my makeup! I am normally quite partial towards makeup wipes because they react with my skin and so make me break out a lot more than I would like, however because the Neutrogena wipes are suitable for sensitive skin they haven't been irritating me at all. Every time I use a wipe my skin is unbelievably soft and isn't dry to the touch either, even after removing all my makeup... even the stubborn mascara. If you are heading to a festival this year I would recommend you had some of these facial wipes to hand because after spending the day covered in glitter and whatever else, the hydration really helps!

Now onto my mums part of the review.....

Recently I have been loving a rather expensive high end moisturiser but at £80 a tube it was going to be costing me a lot of money. When Abigail returned home from the event she told me all about the Neutrogena Hydro boost range and I couldn't believe how affordable it all was. After using the Hydro Boost Water Gel for nearly 3 weeks now I can definitely notice a difference in how my skin not only feels but also looks. Every morning when I apply the water gel it wakes me up because of how refreshing it is but then soaks right up into my skin ready for my makeup. I am definitely sticking to this moisturiser instead of heading back up the expensive lane!

So because Abigail tried out the milk cleanser I have been using the Micellar water which removes waterproof mascara as well as moisturising your skin. You're probably thinking, how on earth can a makeup remover hydrate your skin? Well I have no idea either but Neutrogena have done it perfectly. You only need a little bit of the Micellar water on a cotton wool pad because a small bit goes a long way! There is no greasy residue either which is a bonus because I hate feeling like there is something still sitting on my skin even when the makeup is gone.

I hope you enjoyed this review that was done by my mother and I, let me know what your favourite skincare products are below!

- Abigail x

The Secret To Naturally Whiter Teeth In 14 Days!*

 

I was sat ticking off everything on my checklist to get ready for prom when I got to the last point. ‘Teeth?’ I wasn’t sure what to do because after watching over 100 prom GRWM on You Tube everyone had done something whether it be whitening them or somewhat. I obviously wanted to jump on the band wagon and do something but what exactly I had no idea.

That was until I got to work with OSHUNwhite, which are a company that have a natural method to whitening your smile. The method used to whiten your teeth is called oil pulling which at first sounds so strange yet it is so simple. You literally swish coconut oil around your mouth for 5-15 minutes every day for 14 days, plus you can choose from 4 different flavours (spearmint, peppermint, wild cherry or crushed lime) which made the experience taste a lot nicer.

I choose spearmint because I love anything minty and so I obviously had to go with that as my choice also because I believe everything minty just keeps your breath fresher.

I’m not going to lie when I used my first sachet I gagged slightly and thought it was such a weird texture however it’s grown on me. The texture is a bit like a smoothie because it is quite thick so I can see why it says start with 5 minutes then increase it. I do my sachet each evening then clean my teeth then use mouthwash before moving onto the OSHUNwhite Copper Tongue Cleaner. Now if there is anything slightly stranger than swishing oil around your mouth then it has to be using this contraption. You basically drag the copper along your tongue because the properties in the Copper help to make your tongue free of bacteria.

The way the oil works is by reducing the harmful bacteria from your mouth. Now you’re thinking right that’s good but how does it whiten my teeth. Well with low levels of harmful bacteria it helps to naturally reduce plaque, whitening your teeth and a fresher breath.

I was sceptical that something like this wouldn’t work but it truly did. I would recommend these two products to anyone especially with how cheap they are with £20 for 14 sachets! They are so incredible my teeth look not only one but two maybe three shades whiter than before which was all done naturally!

Let me know in the comments below or on twitter (@_abigailjessica) if you have ever whitened your teeth and if so how!

-Abigail x

Head Over Heels by Holly Smale-Review*

                                    

Ever since I began reading Holly Smale books, I fell in love with the way she wrote. Her writing makes you feel so warm inside and the characters become so alive you fell like they are your best friends. 

Through out reading Head Over Heels, I found so much of it relatable that I began to wonder if it was a story of my life because it covers so many different aspects like: struggling to fit in, friendship issues and finding out who you really are. 

Harriet the main character who is all of us inside, is an attentive, hilarious and trustworthy friend who struggles with what could only be known as signs of anxiety all because she feels like she doesn't meet the expectations over what is stereotypically society's 'teenage girl'. I feel like this is why people relate to her so much. 

If you haven't read the series I recommend you do start from the start as it makes much more sense that way! The book follows Harriet in yet another adventure as she embarks onto sixth form... Obviously it wouldn't be a book about Harriet without including her modelling ambitions. Harriet's agent Wilbur has decided to set up his own business but has very minimalistic funds to do so. Harriet realises this and throws herself into the deep end of the modelling career and lands herself a vogue contract for not only herself but also her sister. 

I love reading along to the adventures that Harriet embarks on because they are something as a 'normal' person you wouldn't expect to happen, but to Harriet they do happen. I would definitely recommend Head Over Heels to anyone who simply wants a book that keeps you wondering what could ever happen next or if you want a good laugh. On a scale out of five I would have to give Head Over Heels a definite 5/5 because of the messages it portrays (subtle feminism is fabulous in a book I must say) and just how Holly Smale writes. 

Also... How gorgeous does the book look without the sleeve on it!

-Abigail x

February Birch Box Review!

Hello Lovelies,

So halfway through the month of February I decided to order a birch box. My mum is always buying the look fantastic box and so I thought it was time to treat myself!

The birch box is only £10 with £2.95 delivery making it around £13, which is really affordable for a box of 5 goodies! I received mine within 5 days of ordering it and so i have been testing them out for over a week so i can then share my thoughts with you... enjoy!

The first thing I pulled out of the box was the main reason I had purchased the box. The Spectrum brush. The brushes add a pop of colour to a pot and stand out against the black and white brushes. The brush itself picks up quite a large amount of product and has quite a thin tip. I have been using it for blush because I like to apply it at the top of my cheekbone between my contour and highlight.

Also in the box was this hair band by . To me at first, I was wondering why on earth there was just a hair band thingymbob in the box but then I read the pamphlet about it. It turns out the little bobbly bit and odd texture are there to help prevent it tangling up in your hair. When I take one of my cheap Primark hairbands out they always snag at my hair but now when I yank this one out of my hair it literally just comes at ease.

LOC is a new make-up brand which has been launched by birch box on their website. For Februarys box you were able to pick between two shades, a gold shimmer or a silver shimmer. I went for the golden champagne colour as it is one of the main colours I regularly reach to use. The colour itself is really pigmented however I struggled to blend it out. After I had worked around with it and attempted to blend for a while it finally did and created such a beautiful colour.

This is a face mask that also has a built in scrub. The packaging of the product is really cute because it is white with red polka dots leaving spaces for the writing, I love the contrast of colours. I applied it like a face mask and then before I took it off I rubbed it around to exfoliate my skin. It does leave your skin clean but I was left with red patchy skin after and I'm not sure why. The product smells incredible but I won't be buying it again because it upset my skin:(

This spray has changed my hair. My natural hair is curly and quite coarse causing it to be kind of straggly I guess when I straighten it. However when I got out of the shower I towel tried my hair and prized this through, combing my hair. I then blow dried and straightened it. I have never felt my hair so soft. It didn't add any weight to my hair if anything it made it a lot more lightweight. The product is a leave in conditioner so I did find my hair felt a bit greasy by the next evening but nothing a little dry shampoo couldn't fix!

I'm not a big lover of hand and body lotion only because I'm too lazy to rub it in! The Cochine lotion smells amazing so I thought to test it out. I rubbed it into my arms and legs after a shower and could smell the lotion, meaning it clearly has good pigmentation... can you even use that to describe a smell? Im looking for a word like.. long lasting, strong but not overpowering, Not subtle?! help!! Anyway.. it smells amazing and doesn't leave a greasy feel to your skin. It dried pretty quick as well, which for someone partial inpatient is good for me! I couldn't test it out however on my hands because of my eczema, cream always stings my hands:(

I hope you have enjoyed a review of Februarys Birchbox, you obviously can't order this one because its now march but March's box is now out so go and check it out over on birchbox.com

-Abigail x

I feel a lot more comfortable in my skin... and here is how*

Hello Lovelies,

So I have always had quite bad skin and it has affected how I feel about myself. Until recently when I switched up my morning and evening face routine. Before I was just splashing water on my face and taking my makeup off thinking yeah this will do, but then as soon as I started to use the right products I was becoming a lot happier with my skin. Just because this worked for me doesn't mean that it will work for you because everyone has different skin!

I obviously start in the evenings by taking off my make-up... this is the most important part. I just use a make-up remover and cotton wool.  But apart from that everything else I do twice a day!

1. Liz Earle Hot Cleanse and Polish.

Liz Earle products are one of my favourites when it comes to keeping my skin clean because they are so natural. The Hot Cleanse and Polish leaves your skin feeling really refreshed and as soft as a baby’s bottom. It also removes any excess make-up your remover may have missed while taking away any dirt that may have accumulated. You rub it into slightly damp skin and then use the muslin cloth to wash it off; however I do that slightly differently...

2. Magnitone BareFaced!*

I rub in my Liz Earle Hot Cleanse and Polish using my Magnitone because it works it into my skin, cleaning all my pores out. It also means I make sure I cover my whole face because it feels so nice I make sure I’ve covered everywhere. On top of that it also adds to your face feeling like a baby’s bottom which... I might add helps makeup go on a lot better in the mornings because it is such a smooth base.

3. Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic.

If in the final two steps I hadn't removed all the dirt then after this it is all defiantly gone! I apply a few drops onto my cotton wool pad and wipe across my whole face. It helps adding to the feeling of freshness. I love adding this to my whole routine because it makes sure I'm super clean.

4. Skin Clear Spot Treatment By Insta Natural*

In the evenings only I take a cotton wool swab and dip it to the bottom of the bottle. It picks up a brownish liquid which you then hold onto one spot. Obviously you have to keep changing cotton wool swabs as to not spread the germs of each spot but it helps. It dries on the spot white a bit like toothpaste does but then dries out the spot reducing the redness also. It basically gets rid of it in two days!

I hope you have enjoyed a little insight into my morning/evening face routine, leave a comment or tweet me if you'd like to see a morning routine or something!

-Abigail x

Live Love Makeup Obsession London Review!*

 Hello Lovelies,

So todays post is going to be a review of s few products by Live Love Makeup Obsession London. A little while ago I was lucky to come home and see a parcel arrive from them containing a few goodies. Live Love Makeup Obsession London is a new brand on the market which has come into BHS Stores.

Top row!

Middle Row!

Bottom Row!

The Love your eyes palette has to be my favourite product that I received. There is a variety of colours ranging from warm browns to dark greys and purples. Most of the colours had good pigmentation apart from the gold shade in the top row. I loved the look of the bottom right hand colour however it did have a lot of fall out. Apart from those few minor issues I really loved the other colours. The purples weren't too bright which is something I hate when I try to blend them out. Also the colours on the far left can be used in the inner corner or even as a cheekbone highlight. Mentioning blending all of the colours can easily be blended out from the crease to make a smoky look or even along the top lash line for a definition. I guess its a bonus that I love the simple monochrome packaging because I feel like it has more of an effect than a brightly coloured palette.

The lipstick is the perfect nude pink. It is very moisturising once on the lips. The colour is pigmented for the first 2 or so hours however I found it started to fade away and it wasn't there after about 4 hours. But when the lipstick was first applied I loved it.

The body spray I have been carrying in my school bag and taking out with me because I always love to put some more on after pe or just in class! Everyone has been asking what it is and where can they get it because it smells so good! The smell (you know I'm awful) is fruity but musky. I don't know how to describe it but its good okay. Just smell it next time you are in store and you will agree with me! Also the bottle is perfectly sized!

The volume spray I was feeling a bit sceptical about because I wasn't sure if it would work. But I was completely wrong. When I have my natural curls they are big and have tons of volume but as soon as I straighten them out my hair is super flat. I first tried the spray in dry hair and it worked a bit like hairspray that was workable. It didn't make my hair wet causing it to curl up, it helped hold the straightness (is that a word?!). I then tried the damp hair, style and blow dry. This worked in a different way to before. This made all of my hair seem thicker and have twice as much volume than before. It also made sure the product was distributed a lot more evenly. If you want to just have your roots seem not so flat then go in when your hair is dry, if not after you wash it!

I hope you have enjoyed this post. I tried to be honest and say how I truly felt instead of dazzle up the product. But overall I was really impressed with the makeup and sprays! I would recommended these to anybody who is just trying out makeup and wants to start trying new colours and the spray... well everyone needs it!

-Abigail x