Friday 30 December 2016

Review: Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask

This face mask is widely available at drugstores and supermarkets for around £1. I was lucky enough to receive this as part of a Christmas present from my thoughtful sister. My skin is normal with a tendency to dryness, especially in cold weather.
Garnier sell a separate Moisture Bomb Day Cream and this mask is apparently an intense hit of the same hydrating serum formula. It claims to "unmask smoother, bouncier, healthier looking skin in just 15 minutes". The packaging says this is suitable for all skin types, but I would say it is most suitable for dry, non-sensitive skin as it is fragranced and intensely hydrating.
The product has a light, fruity fragrance and is folded inside the foil packaging. The mask is completely saturated with heavy serum and quite tricky to unfold at first.
It is a generous size and gives plenty of coverage over the face.
You apply the mask with a thin, blue layer facing outwards and then peel that blue layer away, leaving the tissue mask on your skin.
The mask felt very cold and wet to begin with, and slid around as there was so much moisturising product in it.
After 8 minutes, a large amount of the serum had sunk into my skin, and the mask was more comfortable to keep on my face.
After 15 minutes the mask peeled off easily and left a good amount of moisturising product on my face which I rubbed in with my fingers. My skin felt extremely hydrated and fine lines around my eyes had been smoothed by the plumping action of the mask. It left a noticeable softness which lasted almost 24 hours.
30 minutes after removing the mask, I left my skin bare and applied mascara and lipbalm. The plumping and softening action of the serum left an impressive radiance and my face continued to feel smooth, as the mask left behind a protective layer of moisturisation.

After 5 hours (picture above), my skin still felt boosted and glowing. I had been outside on a cold day, and the residue of the mask had kept my face completely protected and hydrated. Extra tip: there was enough product left inside the foil wrapper for me to scoop out the next day and use as a thin layer of moisturiser.


Overall, this is a perfect, budget treat. On my skin, it performs as it claims to and I would recommend this for a delightful mini-pamper or pick-me-up, particularly if you find other face masks to be drying.

Thanks for reading,

highstreet_beauty

Snapchat: highstreet_b
Find this mask here: http://www.boots.com/en/Garnier-Moisture-Bomb-Tissue-Mask_1864094/

Friday 23 December 2016

Tanya Burr Enchanted Dream Eyeshadow Palette Review

This palette is available at Superdrug and Feelunique.com for £5.99. The shades are mauve and berry-toned and can work together to create some lovely, soft eye looks.
The packaging, as with all Tanya Burr's products, is beautiful. From the heart-shaped mirror to the addition of the fabric tab on the lid, the look and detail of these palettes really appeals to me and I'm sure they are a huge hit with Tanya's younger YouTube following.
The silvery lilac theme echoes the four powder colours inside, which range from the shimmery Moonlit Walk to the dark, matte Magic Carpet.


Moonlit Walk
This shimmery eye shade could also be used as a pretty highlight. It lasts well on the skin and adds a brightness to any look.

Cocoa Plum
Cocoa Plum has a subtle sheen to it and is a flattering shade to add into the crease or to line the eyes with. This shade looks smooth on the skin and also lasts well.

Berry Souffle
This looks a beautiful, matte mauve in the pan but does not transfer so well onto my eyes. It is not as pigmented as the other shades and I find it fades or blends away during the day.

Magic Carpet
The darkest shade, Magic Carpet is the most powdery of these shadows. I think the colour works very well with the others here, and if used on a damp brush this shade has good staying power.
Overall
The tones in this palette are well thought out and create lovely, mauve-toned looks. The shadows themselves are not as easy to work with as those from other highstreet brands such as Makeup Revolution, but I am sold on the fact that a whole, fool-proof look is here, beautifully boxed in four shades.
Great for starting out with eye makeup, or for easy, low-impact eye definition, I think Enchanted Dream represents good, drugstore value.
Thanks for reading,


Friday 16 December 2016

Road Test: Rimmel The Only 1 Lipstick

Rimmel The Only 1 lipstick is widely available for around £6.99 and comes in 20 different shades ranging from nudes and pinks to reds and dark purples. According to Rimmel's website, these lipsticks offer "the perfect balance of high impact colour, moisture, all day comfort and staying power." I have the shade 700 Naughty Nude to test out today.
First Impressions: The packaging is an unusual shape, with Rimmel's name embossed on the lid and a plastic band showing the colour. I like to store my lipsticks upside down so that I can see the shade or name printed on the base, but the angled style of this tube makes that difficult. The lipstick itself is strongly scented with a sweet, fruity fragrance.
I like the slanted shape of the product, similar to the Revlon Ultra HD lipsticks, which I think makes for fool-proof, smooth application. The lipstick goes on easily with just one swipe giving opaque colour, and this shade is very pretty.
Cup of Tea Test: There was transfer onto my cup (hot chocolate today!), but the lipstick still looked flawless on the lips after drinking.
After drinking

After Eating: Again, I was impressed with how well this lipstick stayed in place. Because it is such a smooth, moisturising product, I did not expect it to last so well.
After eating

Overall: I like this shade and the hydrating formula of this lipstick. It lasts impressively without feeling drying, so would be a great option to wear without worrying about re-applying during a work day. The application is smooth and easy but the scent might be overpowering if you are sensitive to fragrance. The packaging is not my favourite from the drugstore, although I do appreciate the shape of the actual bullet. Overall, a very wearable, comfortable, everyday option, especially in this beautiful shade.

Have you tried this range? What are your thoughts?
Thanks for reading,
highstreet_beauty

Snapchat: highstreet_b

Find Rimmel The Only 1 lipstick here: http://www.superdrug.com/Make-Up/Lips/Lipstick/Rimmel-The-Only-One-Lipstick-Naughty-Nude/p/559003



Friday 9 December 2016

I Heart Makeup Chocolate Vice Palette

Available from www.tambeauty.com and Superdrug for £7.99.
This palette contains a range of matte and shimmer eyeshadows, a lovely selection to create warm, wintry looks with.
Starting at the left hand side of the palette, the larger pan holds a shimmery, highlight shade which looks pretty on the browbone or the inner eye corner.
The dark brown shade is matte and useful for adding definition to both neutral and brighter eye looks. It could also be used as a contour shade, depending on skin tone.
The pretty, peachy shades on the bottom row could easily double as blush colours. All of these powders are pigmented and last well on the skin even without primer or setting spray.
The central section features useful, neutral browns which are perfect for everyday base, crease and lid shades.
The warm shades on the bottom row would again look gorgeous on the cheeks and can build a beautiful peachy eye look.
This part of the palette also contains my favourite shade, the dazzling copper on the middle left. I like to use this on a damp, angled brush as eyeliner.
With minimal makeup, it gives a flash of glamourous shimmer or with a full-on party look it adds a real wow factor.
The right hand side of the palette features a shimmery colour and a pale, matte brown on the top row. I find these two shades are the least pigmented although still useful for everyday makeup.
The middle shades are the darkest in the palette, both shimmery and both buildable for a dramatic effect.
The whole palette has a faint, vanilla scent and all of these shadows have a soft texture. The shimmery shadows are easy to use and do not lose any glitter throughout the day. The matte shades are smooth, pigmented and easy to blend.
The colour selection offers options for neutral, everyday looks and also bolder makeup. Overall, this is a versatile eyeshadow palette from I Heart Makeup at a great drugstore price.
Thanks for reading,
highstreet_beauty


Snapchat: highstreet_b







Sunday 4 December 2016

Tanya Burr It's Kissmas Lip Duo Set

Available from Superdrug for £5.
This festive set contains two limited edition 5ml lip glosses in perfect stocking-filler packaging. The tubes of gloss feel sturdy with chunky, gold lids. The glosses have a sweet, vanilla scent which fades once applied.

Candy Cane Lip Gloss

This shade contains micro-glitter sparkles in a pretty, pink gloss which looks sheer and shiny on the lips. I am pleasantly surprised at how even the colour looks, and pleased that it is not as dark as the packaging suggests.
It is extremely wearable either alone or over lipstick, and very comfortable. The texture feels slightly tacky but the gloss lasts well and feels moisturising, almost like a lip oil or thick balm. The day after wearing this my lips felt healthy and hydrated. Perfect for this cold time of year.

Berry Pavlova Lip Gloss

This berry shade goes on smoothly and lasts on the lips perfectly in between eating or drinking.

Easier to apply and wear than a bright red lipstick, it gives that festive, winter look without too much effort. Again, this left my lips feeling very moisturised and was comfortable to wear all day long.
Overall
These are beautiful to wear over the holiday season, but sheer enough to be worn with Spring and Summer looks, too. Both glosses are smooth and hydrating, with good staying power. I am more of a lipstick than a lip gloss person, but I am impressed with this set and surprised at how pretty they look in person. Overall, a great value and versatile lip duo, suitable for Tanya Burr's young fans and also old ladies like me.


Thanks for reading, as always,





Friday 2 December 2016

Rimmel London Kate Sculpting Palettes

Many drugstore brands launched contouring palettes during 2016, containing cream or powder products to help define your cheekbones and contour your face. These two sculpting palettes designed by Kate Moss with Rimmel contain highlight, blush and bronzing powders. They cost £6.99 at Boots.

Coral Glow Palette
The packaging is neat and appealing, with pretty rose gold on the lid and just enough of each product to dip a brush into. Each pan of product is separated which makes them easy to use, and the whole palette is the perfect size to fit into my hand.
The highlighting powder in Coral Glow is very soft and subtly illuminating. The matte bronzer is a pale shade more suited to giving the face a sun-kissed glow than carving out cheekbones on most skintones. The coral bush is very pretty and has a velvety soft texture.

Golden Bronze Palette
The shades in this palette pack a bit more of a punch. The highlighter has a satin effect but not the super-reflective quality you would expect from a Makeup Revolution or MUA highlighter for example. The bronzer here is slightly darker than Coral Glow's, and blends out well.
The stand out shade in this palette is the slightly shimmery blush which reminds me of Sleek's Rose Gold and gives a beautiful, summery flush to the cheeks.
Overall
These cost a similar price to some single, separate drugstore highlighters, blushes and bronzers, so represent great value if you spot a shade in here that you like. They are also very handy for travelling with or creating a look on-the-go as both of the bronzers and highlighters multitask as pretty eyeshadows. In the picture below I used the Golden Bronze bronzer on my lashlines as eyeliner. I also used the bronzer lightly in my crease, through my eyebrows and on the cheeks. I used the highlight shade on my eyelids, browbone and inner eye corner, and the blush on my cheeks. So, a whole look with just one of these palettes.
I find all these powders to be smooth, soft and blendable. They sit well on my skin and are perfect for everyday makeup looks.
Thanks for reading,