Benefit: She's So Jetset

This is the lovely 'She's so Jetset' gift set which I was lucky enough to get for Christmas. It includes testers of 'The Porefessional', 'They're Real' and 'Life on the A List' lipgloss. Along with this is a four eyeshadow palette, face powder and two brushes. On first look this set looks gorgeous and the products don't disappoint either!

The POREfessional is a fantastic product. It does cover the appearance of pores and overall is a fantastic primer. It isn't quite as drying as others i've tried and does go that little bit further. It has a much thinner consistency and is more lightweight than other primers I have tried. This actually may be a primer that I'll actually use!

The eyeshadow palette is gorgeous. The colours compliment each other wonderfully and are super easy to apply. They are silky and light yet they have a good staying power. The colours are also highly pigmented - which I expect considering the price! I have been looking for a good nude/brown palette and I think I have found it.

I am not a user of face powders and blushers but the one included in this palette is very wearable for me. It acts more of a highlighter if I am honest. There is a bit of colour to it, but it is not obvious. In theory, I should be able to wear this blusher/face powder without looking like a clown. I still need to test this....

The lipgloss, 'Life on the A List', is a shimmery, pale peach. It's a super flattering colour that is super versatile. I also found that I needed so little at a time. I ended up dotting a few blobs of the lipgloss on my lips and using a separate brush to apply it. So much comes out on the attached lip brush and you don't need that much! However, it's a lovely colour that I'll definitely use.

Lastly, there is the 'They're Real' mascara. This one has received so many awards and I know quite a few people who love it and buy it on a regular basis. However, I was not too keen. I was amazed at how easy it was to apply. It instantly gave crazy long lashes with incredible curl. The brush is quite large and even has the ball at the end for the hard to get lashes. What the mascara does is incredible.

However, I felt like it clumped my lashes together. Sure, I still had many lashes but they felt a tad spidery. I seem have this problem with all plastic brushes - they don't give the volume and separation that a bristle brush can give. However, I still consider it to be an amazing mascara. I personally wouldn't buy it again but I will most probably use up this tube. I really want to know how it works (maybe I could go to the NMR lab?).

Overall, this is a lovely gift set. The colours are super flattering and compliment each other fabulously. They are all of fantastic quality - as expected from Benefit - and I will use this palette over and over again. It even comes with an 'in-flight manual' showing various ways to use each product. Sure, it isn't exactly the easiest thing to carry around with you. It is a tad bulky but I very much doubt you'll need to take it in a handbag. I love this.
Rachael xxxx

Review: Soap and Glory Small Wonders

Merry Christmas to one and all! It has definitely been a busy Christmas for me with very little time for blogging. If I'm honest, I've been stuck in books for the past week or so and when I get in a reading rut it's impossible to get a word from me! I have been spoilt this year for sure and for starters...I received this set from my flatmate from our Flat Secret Santa!

When I went shopping in Norwich before Christmas, my flatmate could not believe I had never used Soap and Glory before. She loves it as much as I love my L'Occitane so obviously she thought this was the perfect gift. I can tell you now, I am so happy she bought it for me! I am now unconditionally and irrevocably in love with it (props to Stephanie Meyer for that quote).

Soap and Glory 'Small Wonders' gift set: £10 (not currently available online 26.12.12)

The set includes the travel sizes of four products: Hand Food, Scrub of Your Life, Clean on Me and Righteous Butter. Also included is the largest body puffs I have ever seen. It takes up 60% of the gorgeous gift box! The first thing to say about Soap and Glory is that their packaging is super lovely. I love the whole vintage theme - especially when it comes to cosmetics. I will have these on show in my bedroom when I go back to Uni in January.

Soap and Glory 'Hand Food' hand cream: £2.50 (travel size)

This cold weather we are having is making me reach for hand cream whenever I get into my room. I have so many travel sizes now that I even have one in my bag at all times. I am a huge supporter of L'Occitane's hand creams with their 20% Shea Butter. Hand Food also has Shea Butter in it but hasn't got as high a concentration. However, it is still a very good hand cream that I would happily buy again! You only need a small bit on each hand and my hands instantly feel seriously moisturised. It has a gorgeous smell and of course - it looks super pretty! In comparison to L'Occitane - it does not soak in as quickly and can feel a tad greasy. However, it is still the second best hand cream I've ever used and it is half the price of L'Occitane (which is a hefty £18 a tube for the full size). On my student budget this will definitely be my hand cream of choice. Sure, it's not as cheap as other brands but with the travel size at only £2.50 - I can live without a couple of coffees on campus.

Soap and Glory 'Scrub of your Life' smoothing body buffer: £2.50 (travel size)

I don't use scrubs and exfoliators often. I probably should use them more often but I really don't. Therefore, I can't really compare this scrub to any others. However, after using it my skin felt significantly softer. It advertises moisturising properties and I would agree with that. I will probably use this whole tube of the scrub but who knows if I would buy it again. I don't usually bother with a scrub (especially when I am running later for a lecture!) but maybe I will change my mind!

Soap and Glory 'Clean on Me' shower gel: £2.50 (travel size)

Clean on Me is now my favourite shower gel. It has the same yummy pink lemonade smell that all of these products have and I love it! Even better, you only need a small bit at a time and the scent stays all day. I have experienced very few shower gels that actually have a long lasting smell but this one definitely does. It is quite moisturising although not as much as I expected. However if you layer the scrub and the body butter too, I expect you'll have skin as soft as a baby! I am seriously considering buying this shower gel in the full size but I really don't think I should be spending £5.50...

Soap and Glory 'The Righteous Butter' body butter: £2.50 (travel size)

Lastly is The Righteous Butter body butter. I don't often moisturise either so again - I doubt I will buy this again. However, it is incredibly moisturising for quite a long period of time. There is no doubt that this is a very good product. In reality, I should be using a body butter regularly and if I was I would happily buy this butter again.

Overall, these Soap and Glory products are amazing. They all smell super yummy and are seriously moisturising. They aren't cheap, but they aren't quite the price of the more upmarket counterparts. I can easily see myself buying more Soap and Glory in the near future (unfortunately for my bank balance). I would recommend every single product in this kit - especially if you have never used Soap and Glory before. I feel an obsession coming on...

Rachael xxxxx

Nail Art - Santa Nails!

Hey guys!

Christmas is nearly upon us! With my new found Christmas freedom I have painted my nails with cute little Santas!

Surprisingly, they were dead simple to do! After a base coat, put a french tip in white, followed by a red semi-circle at the bottom of your nail. Once that has dried, simply use a dotting tool to put the white circles for the trim on Santa's hat followed by dots for eyes and a nose. Simple!

Products Used: Barry M 'Bright Red', Barry M 'Matt White', Barry M 'Black' and Nails Inc. 'Basil Street'

My cat looked impressed by my nails - look at the smile on her face!

Just a quick mention on the quality of these polishes: I love them! Barry M polishes are almost always a good quality. They only need 2 thin coats and don't chip easily if you put on a top coat. I would thoroughly recommend you buy these three colours as they really are staples in any nail varnish collection.

However, Nail's Inc. 'Basil Street' is one of my favourite polishes. It is a gorgeous nude that goes with absolutely everything I own. It can be worn on it's own, with various gradients, with french tips - basically everything! If you want a nude, I would totally recommend this one! The formula is great, leaving a sleek, shiny look in 1-2 coats. It also dries relatively quickly. It is a tad pricey at £11 but I got it free with Glamour magazine about a year ago. I still use it like mad so surely that is a sign it is a fab nail varnish.

There are so many different designs I want to try out over Christmas and New Years. I just hope I get the time! Have you been inspired to try out some festive nails?

Rachael xxxx

Review: e.l.f. Haul

A couple of weeks ago e.l.f (www.eyeslipsface.co.uk) had a 50% off everything offer. I took full advantage of that and picked up over £75 worth of stock in the form of Christmas presents and a few little treats for me. Luckily, I only paid £30 for the largest box of make up I have ever seen.

If you have never used or heard of e.l.f. before, I would definitely tell you to look at their website. They have a wide range of products from as little as £1.50 ranging up to around £15 for gift sets. Sure, they can be a little hit and miss, but when you are on a tight budget and are in need of a new lipgloss - it's totally worth it!

A word of caution, follow e.l.f. UK on Facebook. There are regular offers on postage, or 20% off for one reason or another. There is no reason to pay full price for anything on e.l.f. (sorry!).

These two nail varnish trio sets are relatively new in. At £4 they aren't a ridiculous price. I like the fact they are relatively small bottles. I always pay for larger bottles of polish and never finish them (unless they are black or white). I personally love smaller bottles of polish as I actually manage to finish them before they dry out and are a pain to apply. My view of e.l.f. nail varnishes is that the colours are quite nice and they apply relatively well. I have my fair few e.l.f. nail varnishes and whilst they apply well for the money they cost - I'd much rather splash out on a Revlon/Rimmel nail varnish which will give a much easier application. However, for nail art - the cheap prices are perfect!

I picked up these two beauty books as presents. They come with 6 eye shadows, an eyeliner, an eyelid primer and eyeshadow applicator. With full instructions for both day and night application they look like a really nifty kit. The colours are gorgeous and for £3 each they were definitely a bargain! I'm not sure how happy I'd be with them if they had cost £6 each - but if they are on offer again I'd pick one up.

I have wanted an eyeshadow palette of browns for a while now. I was intending to get the MUA palette, or perhaps splashing out on a Bourjois trio but when I saw this for £2.50 (50% off) I couldn't help but pick it up. The packaging is super cute and there are so many different shades of brown. Honestly, I didn't think that many shades of brown existed (slight exaggeration). Sure, they may not have the pigment or the staying power of a more expensive palette, but if I don't wear them it has saved me the £8 I would have spent. I have a cooler skin tone so I am worried that this 'warm palette' will not suit my skin tone at all. I guess I'll just have to experiment. Swatches will come!

The first of the new lipsticks I bought is this Studio Matte Lip Colour in 'Tea Rose'. Online it looks like quite a bright, pale pink. However, it is actually a very dusky pink with cooler undertones. Even though I have a cool complexion I do not feel like this lipstick suits me at all. As it is only £3.75, I paid less than £2 so I'm not too bothered but I am sad this isn't as bright as I pictured it. It has a really thick, creamy formula and is incredibly matte. If this is the type of colour you are looking for I'd recommend it. It has good coverage and relatively good staying power. I will continue to wear it - layered under the Luscious Liquid Lipstick in 'Baby Lips'.

The reason I have bought so many pink lip products (I prefer a bolder lip) is because I'm really into smokey eyes at the moment. I can't pair a dark eye and dark lip all the time without scaring people off. Unfortunately, my constant use of dark lipstick has turned my lips quite a strange colour so I need a pale pink lipstick that looks natural for those mornings in the lab when I don't want to sport hot pink lipstick/stain or want a smokey eye.

The Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Baby Lips is a lovely product. I expected it to be more like a pale pink than a nude pink but it is seriously wearable. It is more like a clear gloss, but has a slight tint. It is perfect for pairing with smokey eyes or for a barely there look. Although it isn't what I expected, I am incredibly happy with this product. It doesn't wear for that long, but as it costs £1.50 (I paid 75p!) I really can't complain.

I also picked up the Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Nude Pink. I expected this lipstick to look more like Baby Lips and vice versa. It is a pale, bubblegum pink. Again, it is completely wearable and at £1.50 it is a fantastic product. It is sheer enough to not be overpowering but tinted enough to give a fresh, barely there look. Again, the staying power isn't fantastic but you can't even buy a coffee for the price of this lipstick. I'd definitely recommend this lipstick too.

Top to bottom: Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Nude Pink, Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Baby Lips, Studio Matte Lip Stick in Tea Rose.

As earlier reviewed, the Revlon Colour Stay eye shadow quad does not have the advertised 16H wearing time. I have read that length of wear dramatically increases with the use of an eyelid primer and this one was just £1.50 (full price). I don't know how well it will perform in comparison to it's more expensive counterparts. However, it did soften my skin and seem to even it out. I'll put it to the test next time I go out for sure...

This All Over Colour Stick in Spotlight is a product I do keep re-ordering. I have never finished a whole stick but the colour is really pretty. It's just a sheer, shimmery white/pink. It's a perfect highlighter for your cheeks or eyes and is just an overall good product to have in your make up bag. My mum used to have an Avon highlighter that was super similar to this. Unfortunately Avon discontinued it so this is the best replacement I've found. At least it's only £1.50!

I've just popped these photos on the end as gift ideas. The lip glosses are part of the more expensive Studio range. They have good reviews so picked them up for my sister. I still can't get over the brush set in the faux Leather wrap. It's perfect to put in your back and includes five 'professional' brushes. I'm not too sure about the sponge applicator but the lip brushes are absolutely lovely! At £2.50 I picked up two!

So that's the majority of the products from my e.l.f. haul. I didn't include a few products as I have never used them and they are gifts for others. However, I hope this gives you a little insight into e.l.f. cosmetics and perhaps pushes you towards trying them sometime. Remember, like them on Facebook and wait until there is an offer unless you are going to be buy anything and you can wait!

Rachael xxxx

Wishlist: 8th December (with update!)

Hey guys, sorry I haven't posted in a while. We're about to start the last week of the semester and I've had coursework, tests, labs, tutorials and extra lectures left, right and centre. I have decided to give myself an hour off from revising (erlack, maths) to post as I am a fabulous procrastinator. So here is my wish list!

Kindle Fire: Now, don't get me wrong, I love books! I love having a book in my bag and reading it in a coffee shop, on the bus, on the train, wherever! For the past couple of years I have said that I could never have a kindle. I love the feel of books too much. I like to hold a book in my hand and see how many pages to the next chapter and visibly see how far I've got till the end. However, as a student, I have very little shelving and lots of text books so I have very little space to store other books. I see people around campus with their kindles and iPads and it does look incredibly convenient. I think now might be the right time to get one - they now have colour screens and can easily browse the web. You can use them to stream from Lovefilm, play games, check e-mail/facebook and more. They are now much more like a tablet and much less like an e-reader.

Classic Book Cover for Kindle: now, if I am honest, these covers are the main reason I now want a kindle. They are gorgeous and I want all of them. I am undecided as to whether I could get the Einstein cover (I am a scientist after all) or the Alice in Wonderland cover (it is one of my favourite books). However, the cases are super cute and I could happily have that in my bag at all times. At £30, they aren't that expensive and I now wish that my flatmate had never told me about www.notonthehighstreet.com

Super cute mugs: Both mugs are from the same seller and I can't get over how cute they are! I don't even like tea but I can't get over the 'you are my cup of tea mug'. They will make lovely christmas presents for people (i.e. me!) but I cannot warrant spending almost £10 on a mug.

MICHAEL Michael Kors Essential Zip Wallet for iPhone 5: Now, it has slipped that I am getting an iPhone 5 for Christmas. I am super, duper excited as I have had my old 3Gs since the month they first came out. I think it's about time for a new phone. Obviously, because it is so goddamn expensive, I want a really good case to protect it. I love tiny clutches that hold just my phone and a card and you can't get them for the 5 yet unless you get them from Apple. Yes, it is Michael Kors, and yes it is £80. It is so simple and classy (and leather) and if I was not a student it would be mine. My only problem is I know I'm going to put the purse down on a bar somewhere and it'll be ruined. Sucks right?

The Enderby Core Hoodie: I have got my Alchemy society hoodie and basically live in it at the weekend. I mope around the flat wearing leggings, the hoodie and slipper socks wishing revision would end. Because it is so oversized I feel like a complete slob leaving the flat in it so I don't. I am really in the mood to waste money on a hoodie and when I popped into Jack Wills earlier in the week I almost left with this hoodie. I think I might have to pick it up next week.....

Ipstones Travel Pass: Now, as I am a student and Greater Anglia try to rip you off left, right and centre, I now own various travel passes (16-24 and oyster ofc). They give you travel pass holders with them but they aren't pretty and I would love a new pretty holder. I love the look of this one but I really can't warrant the money. My flatmates do not understand why I even want one (and they don't like Jack Wills - that doesn't help). However, the temptation is definitely there

Update!

It's almost Christmas! I have one week left of semester. This means I only have 1 lab session left (hopefully) and 4 out of my 11 tests left. I have had so much coursework and revision to do this past month that I haven't had time to think and I haven't done nearly enough work to pass. I'm sure I'll work it out somehow...

I seem to be doing relatively well at the moment somehow - in the lab anyway. I got 82% in the lab report I slaved over one weekend so I am super happy about that! If I am honest, I'd have been super happy with anything above 70% as I had no clue what I was doing. I've also got the majority of my lab notes back and so far they've come back full marks. I can tell you now, my lab work has improved in leaps and bounds since A Level. I guess that is due to my 7 hours in the lab per week...

I also got 85% in my maths coursework! Hallelujah! I've submitted my article for another module and now all I have left is 2 summative tests and 2 formative tests. This week can't pass soon enough! I can't wait to go home and really get in the Christmas Spirit and most of all....watch TV!

Unfortunatley ELF had 50% off of all their products last week. I ended up spending £35 on products for myself, my sisters and my mum. I will definitely do reviews of all my products when I get them. After Christmas I will beg my mum and my sister to let me borrow their presents so I can swatch. I know it's dead cheeky but I want to know how they come out just as much as they do! I find Elf products to be hit and miss but since I splashed out (ha) on the studio cosmetics, I hope they are even better than their price (I don't know how that'll happen. £3 for a primer is amazing!).

Okay, so I'd best go revise differentiation and intergration. I'll do some work on electrostatics too. I'm trying my hardest not to spend any more money, but I don't know how long that will last. Have I inspired you to be more creative with your Christmas shopping? If not, look on www.notonthehighstreet.com. You will never be stuck for ideas.

Rachael xxxx

Review: Natural Collection moisture shine lipstick in Cherry Red

Hey guys!

I was in town the other day and had a cheeky look at the Natural Collection stand in Boots whilst my flatmate was obsessing over Soap and Glory. I spotted this lipstick and swatched it on my hand to find it is the exact colour I was looking for about three months ago - typical huh? At only £1.99 I picked it up and here it is - Cherry Red.

This is Natural Collection. The lipstick cost £1.99. The packaging isn't great but it is a cheap lipstick. You can't expect a glamourous looking lipstick when it costs less than a coffee in Starbucks.

The colour is a dark cherry red. It has a slight blue undertone, more so than Scarlett, so for my skin tone it is great. I attempted to put it on one morning and almost screamed at how dark it was. I swiftly took it off and re-applied by Revlon Balm stain in Lovesick. This is definitely an evening lipstick if you are pale like me.

It is advertised as 'high shine' - which it is. It's not obnoxious. It is probably just the right amount of shine for a lipstick so dark. You could easily apply a gloss over the top to make it more dramatic. It is also supposed to 'gently moisturise the lips'. I'm not too sure about this statement. It is definitely not as drying as some lipsticks I have tried but I wouldn't say it moisturises my lips. However, it is nice to not come home with chapped lips after a night out.

This lipstick seems to run quite a bit on me and it is fairly visible due to the colour. This could easily be fixed with a lipliner and Topshop have one almost identical at the moment for about £7. It would also make the lipstick last longer - although at £1.99, I don't think anyone would mind re-applying.

As a cheap lipstick, this product is fantastic! I do like Natural Collection lipsticks as they are so cheap and the colours are quite trendy compared to some other cheaper collections. They are a fab way to try out a new colour without breaking the bank. The colour of this is gorgeous and can definitely be a staple for this winter season. Unfortunately, I now have about 3 staple winter shades and not enough days in the week to go out and wear them. I might just have to go crazy over Christmas and New Years....

One last note...on my hand it looks very similar to Revlon's 'Cherry Blossom' which I have been pining over for the past month or so. I would love to do a comparison but at £7.50 a lipstick I'm not likely to want to buy it. However, in store they look uber similar - I can't imagine it coming out as dark as this though!

Rachael xxxx

Review: L'oreal Super Liner Perfect Slim in Extreme Black

Hey guys!

I have been in need of a new liquid eyeliner for a while so I splurged a little on this L'oreal liner. Technically it was free due to the 3 for 2 offer - but it usually RRPs at £6.49. I usually get the Collection 2000 Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner if I am in need of a liquid liner but as I was spending so much on my other two products, I treated myself just a little bit.

I love the felt tip liners because they are so much easier to control than a normal liquid liner. The tips are usually quite a bit larger as well so it is easier to get the dramatic look I prefer much more quickly than with the tiny nib of a liner pot.

This liner has a very slim, long body. It is easy to hold and only slightly bigger than actually holding an eyeliner brush (like that with gel liners). It is super easy to control. The packaging is quite classic, and I wouldn't be at all ashamed to have this in my make up bag.

The felt tip is quite thin, although much bigger than a liquid nib. It is also loaded with liner. The lightest touch onto your eyelid and liner is present on your eyelid. There is no need to put pressure on your eye to get the liner to come out - in fact the lighter the pressure the more control you have! Because of this, it does mean that you have to get the liner right first time. However, you can do it with pencil and cover that in this liner. A point to mention is that whilst it is still wet (for all of 3 seconds) it does come off very easily so it is seriously easy to fix the liner. Just have some make up remover at hand because after it has dried - it is significantly more difficult to remove in comparison to wet.

The liner does dry relatively quickly. After about 5-10 seconds it is completely dry and will not transfer to the top of your eyelid (I have had this trouble with so many liners!). I recommend trying not to blink for at least 5 seconds just to ensure it is dry enough to not transfer.

As I said before, the nib is relatively slim. It is super versatile - creating tiny feline flicks to the giant flicks that would make Amy Winehouse jealous. It just takes time and a steady hand to get whatever look you'd like.

It is very pigmented giving a good, dark black. It is great alone and with a smokey eye. It also wears very well. I have not tried it during the day, but I applied it at 6pm and it was still very wearable at 3 in the morning (and even at half 12 when I woke up!). It definitely has some staying power

Overall, it is a good liquid liner. It's relatively easy to control once you have the hang of it. It applies evenly and easily to leave a very dark, sharp liner. I would probably buy this product again, although I don't often buy liquid liners. However, I don't think you need to spend that much to get a good liquid liner (as I said before about Collection 2000). It obviously has its perks, such as the quick drying time, but you can get liners equally wearable for a third of the price. If you don't mind spending a bit of money on a liner - go for it! If you are on a tight-budget, you might want to look around for a slightly cheaper liner. You don't need to spend this much to get a good one.

Rachael xxxx

Review: Maybelline Falsies Volume Express Mascara

Hey guys!

This is just a quick one but I have a spare ten minutes in between lab work and dying from a god awful cold! I know Maybelline Falsies has been out for ages but I have recently bought it again after a stint with Smashbox's Full Exposure mascara (thank god I ran out). I remember buying the mascara when it first came out and loving it.

The RRP is £7.99 and it is very rare that it is on offer. Luckily, Superdrug have their 3 for 2 offer on so I got three products for £16. I can't really complain about that. Anyway, I love this mascara and keep coming back to it so I thought it really was time I did a review and told everyone how bloody brilliant it is!

The first thing about this mascara is the curved wand. It is still a large applicator but the curve makes it easier to control in my opinion. For example, comparing it with Rimmel's Scandaleyes - half of the mascara was around my eyes from lack of control! I have not had this problem with the application at all with my falsies.

The consistency of the actual mascara is great for me. It is quite runny when it is new, which makes it so easy to put on incredibly quickly. One coat of a fresh bottle will last you all day. After about two weeks or so, the mascara dries out considerably but it is still very usable. It may take slightly longer to apply but I get even less mess when applying it. It takes a lot more layers but in general, the mascara still lasts about two months (for me).

In the plain 'Black' colour, it is very dark. As it is not a smokey black, it looks more natural than perhaps the 'Black Drama' edition of falsies. I find the mascara is very versatile in the fact that if you are pairing it with a smokey eye, it does not look pale in comparison to the rest of the eyeliner/shadow. If it's dark enough for Chanel, it's dark enough for me. (That is a reference to the Chanel eye shadow my flat mate has that I am borrowing way too much. It's such an interesting texture and super pigmented).

Overall, it is a fantastic mascara that I keep coming back to, time and time again. it gives long, full, volumised lashes that do look false - yet natural. It could be improved if the formula could add a little more curve to my eye lashes, but this is fixed with the use of eye-lash curlers before application. This really is a fantastic mascara with great staying power at a reasonable price.

If you are ever stuck on what mascara to get and you want one that will transform your lashes - this is definitely for you!

Rachael xxxx

Review: Revlon ColourStay 16 Hour Eye Shadow Quad in Siren

Superdrug at the moment are offering a 3 for 2 mix and match on all of their cosmetics. I always take advantage of this offer but by that, I mean spend way too much money in Superdrug. Just a tip, Superdrug give 10% student discount to NUS Extra card holders! Show them those student cards!

Anyway, I seem to have a small obsession with Revlon Products recently. I must have spent about £50 on Revlon products in the past 3 months or so and it’s killing my bank balance. I have had my eye on this palette for a couple of weeks so unfortunately, I did pick it up.

At £7.99, it is not a cheap palette. I have had many more colours for less money, but as it is Revlon, I expected the quality to be better than most. I have various smoky eye palettes from other brands, like Avon, but on a whim, I picked this up. I was going out for dinner in the evening so thought, ‘hey, why not?’

The palette consists for 4 complimentary colours. Top left is a shimmery silver and top right is a shimmery purple/grey. Bottom left is a shimmery taupe and bottom right is a matte black. The matte black has specks of glitter, but they aren’t prominent – especially when the eye shadow is on.

The packaging is okay. You can clearly see each colour through the clear window in the glossy black casing. It is a pretty classic, almost cliché, packaging for eye shadows. I am a fan of the old style Revlon shadow palettes – a long thin strip of each eye shadow. However, I don’t dislike this new style – it’s just different. Each eye shadow is a different size and I assume that this corresponds to the suggested application on the back of the palette.

Swatches ( I apologise for the bad quality, but it really shows how unpigmented these shadows are):

From using the palette a couple of times, I have found that the eye shadows are not very pigmented. They are very shimmery, except the black, and it takes a lot of shadow for a colour to be seen. I found that application was slightly easier with a proper eye shadow brush rather than the foam applicator given. Even with three layers of each shadow, I found it to be a very subtle smoky eye. For some, a subtle smoky eye is exactly what they are looking for and if this is you…go for this! However, I like a very dark, dramatic smoky eye so this palette doesn’t fit the bill. I find it so weak that I could potentially get away with full application during the day. The matte black actually wears as a dark grey - can you imagine how pale the other shadows are?

The colours are very complimentary and blend together well. If you don’t mind taking your time to apply the shadow, you can create a very dramatic look. After putting the shadow on my eyes (and hands when swatching) my skin felt significantly softer.

Unfortunately, I felt like there was quite a bit of fall out with this eye shadow. Because so much is needed to get a serious colour, I feel like I’m losing the same amount of shadow that I’m putting on my eye. It is significantly reduced to other, cheaper palettes but I still was quite disappointed with how much was lost. Again, I can’t stress enough how un-pigmented these shadows are. For the price they were, I expected much darker colours.

Lastly, does the shadow last for 16H? In short, no. I went out for a meal followed by an evening in a club and the eye shadow stayed for the whole evening. When I put it on at 8 in the morning, it lasted all the way till 6pm. However, if I was going to go out in the evening, I would definitely re-apply the shadows. It might only need to be a touch up – but new shadow would need to be added. I hear that when wearing an eye primer the shadow lasts even longer – but I’m not too keen on primers myself so I doubt I’ll try that.

So, overall, the palette is of okay quality. It gives a nice effect but is not pigmented enough for the money that I spent. For some people, £7.99 is not an expensive palette but when I’m living on a student loan I do feel a tad guilty spending that amount of money on one piece of make up. If you want a subtle smoky eye then this is the product for you. If you want something a little darker and more dressy, then don’t be tempted to pick this up.

Rachael xoxo

Update: Birthdays, lab reports and the vampire diaries.

Hey guys!

Again, sorry for my lack of posting. I think I underestimated the amount of work I would be getting this semester. I have had maths tests; lab reports, lab prep, course tests, tutorials and now I need to do my maths coursework! I have been working non-stop for the past 5 days or so I thought I deserved an hour to myself to watch the vampire diaries and do a blog post.

It was my birthday last week! I went home for the weekend to see my family and have a night down Bas Vegas with the gals. I bought a dress from Asos and it was atrocious so I went shopping and bought a new dress in River Island. I also got my cape from Dorothy Perkins (see winter coat fiasco) and I was thoroughly disappointed. It came faulty so I’m sending it right back. What coat did I get in the end I hear you ask? I ended up getting the black tweed and fur coat from Wallis. I feel like a bit of a granny but I can deal with that.

On my actual birthday, I went to ‘a night at Hogwarts’ at the union and if anything it was an utter laugh! I enjoyed being a slytherin for the night. Also, they were selling ‘polyjuice potion’ which consisted of cherry sours, lime vodka and lemonade and it is the best thing! If you ever want to try mixing your own cocktail, try that!

I’m not going to lie, I got some super stuff for my birthday from my friends. Here are just a few bits and bobs:

I got this super cute watch from my flat mates Amber and Valerie. As you know, it was on one of my first wish lists! Man, I'm getting good at making these wish lists come true...

My sister reluctantly gave me this watch for my birthday - she wanted to keep it for herself! I think it is the closest I will get to a Michael Kors watch for a while. The face is rather interesting - it's see-through! It's definitely an interesting detail.

As you can see, my notice board is covered in birthday cards! I really should take them down soon....

This is one of my favourite cards. I don't know why but it's so cute!

I just love this wrapping paper.

As you may, or may not, know, Superdrug have got a 3 for 2 offer on all cosmetics. This is super dangerous for me (see what I did there?) as I think ‘well if I’m buying one £8, I might as well get two more’ even if I don’t need them at all. However, I did spend a good £16 on three products so I will post reviews soon!

Now I'm off to do my maths coursework...wish me luck!

Rachael xxx