Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tints Review...

Ever since Clinique first released the very popular and very cute Chubby Stick lip balms I have been a little obsessed. I have a few colours from the range and love every single one. But this review isn't about the lips, it's all about the Chubby Stick shadows!

They were first launched earlier on in the year in a whooping 12 shades and just like the lip balms, they grew increasingly popular. With their super cute packaging and range of gorgeous shades I really struggled to pick my first one. As I have blue eyes the lady on the counter recommended the shade ample amber, a gorgeous bronze, gold colour which compliments my eyes beautifully.

The unique design of the sticks make them so easy to use. No need to ever sharpen just twist the end and apply to the lid. The formulation is also pretty great, the pigmentation & longevity is second to none and they are so easy to blend. I either use my fingers or a blending brush and often wear this colour just by it's self. It looks really nice with lashings of mascara for a glamorous look and smudged underneath the eye. They also come in handy when I only have 5 minutes to put my makeup on, quick and easy to apply, it gives a nice sophisticated touch for a daytime/work look. They also make for a lovely base for other eyeshadows. 

So all in all I love these shadow sticks and will definitely be adding more to my makeup bag. They are available for £17.00 each from all Clinique counters or you can purchase them online here.

L'Oreal Paris GlamShine Stain Splash...

I have been wanting to try the L'Oreal Paris GlamShine lip glosses ever since I heard they were a really good dupe for the YSL Glossy Stains. The YSL stain comes in at around £23.50, a pretty hefty price considering the L'Oreal ones are only £7.99. I actually prefer the packaging and overall look of these, they look so expensive and the colour I chose, Romy, is such a pretty pink.

The consistency of the stain feels slightly creamy when first applied but when built up it drys to a non-sticky, glossy finish that lasts for hours, even after eating. You do need a few coats to build up the colour, I find 3-4 gives a really good colour pay off. It also has quite a pleasant smell and the applicator makes it really quick and easy to apply. The one thing that really impressed me is how they wear off, they don't leave a horrible scummy mark on your lips, plus they really condition the lips as well.

The only downside is the colour range, it's pretty limited but what they do have to offer are all really nice. Colours Lolita and Juliet both look really pretty so I think I will definitely purchase a few more.

I don't own any of the YSL Glossy Stains so I can't compare the two products in too much detail, but for £7.99 I think I will definitely stick to the L'Oreal stains.

Clinique take the day off cleansing balm review...

So I have been lusting after the Emma Hardie cleansing balm for months now but I just haven't been able to give in to the hefty price tag. It costs £35 which just makes my eyes water so I have been searching for something very similar. All hail the Clinique take the day off cleansing balm! I was so happy to see this in stock in my local Boots store after reading Caroline Hirons exceptional review. As some of you know Caroline is the queen of skincare so if she thinks something is good then take it as Gods words! 

At £21 for 125ml you will not find a better cleansing balm for the price. And this stuff is amazing, I have been using it for a month now and I cannot fault it. It's a pleasure to use, melts off every inch of makeup including water-proof mascara and leaves skin moisturised and so soft. It's fantastic for my dry, dehydrated skin but I also think it would suit all skin types. It doesn't leave an oily residue on the skin and as it's fragrance and essential oils free it's not going to irritate. Caroline recommends this for the most sensitive of skins.

A little goes a very long way, massage the product all over the face and with a hot muslin cloth or flannel gently wipe away. No fuss, no mess just super clean skin. I actually have a lot of redness  to my face but since using this it has really evened out my skin tone, my pores slowly seem to b disappearing as well!

I highly recommend this to everyone, if you were like me dreaming about the Emma Hardie balm but didn't want to pay the price then seriously give this a try. I'll be honest and say I am not a fan of any other Clinique's skin care products but this is on another level. Go on and treat your skin, it will seriously thank you for it.

Lanolips Banana Balm...

I have heard nothing but good things about Lanolips products and when the Banana Balm hit the shelves it seemed that YouTube guru's and bloggers went a little bit crazy! I absolutely love flavoured lip products so there was really only one reason I bought it, it's banana flavoured! It's also a great lip conditioner and protector with over 50% of ultra pure grade lanolin. It also contains actual banana extract, shea, beeswax and coco butter, all lovely things to keep your lips super soft during winter.

The smell and flavour is AH-Mazing but if you don't like bananas then this product isn't for you but if you do then this is a must! It also contains tiny flecks of shimmer so it looks really pretty on the lips. I am seriously impressed with this stuff, it's non-sticky, ultra-moisturising and long lasting (if you can sustain from constantly licking it off your lips as it tastes pretty good!)

If your not a fan of banana then don't let this put you off trying something else as Lanolips do plenty of other lip products. I've heard that Lemonaid is supposed to be pretty good as well. Check out the entire range here

The Banana Balm is exclusive to Victoria Health for £8.99.

YSL Youth Liberator Foundation...

The Youth Liberator foundation from YSL launched early September this year. It's the first of it's kind to be made with Glycanacrif Complex which is designed to plump, revitalise youthful brightness and even out your complexion. The creamy coverage makes skin look rejuvenated and masks the appearance of any imperfections. It also contains vitamin E and SPF20.

The foundation is available in 7 made to measure shades, I use the shade BR20 which is the perfect match for my pale complexion. I have been wearing this foundation for nearly 2 weeks now so here are my thoughts...

First of all the packaging is uber chic, the glass bottle is a little on the heavy side but it looks beautiful sat on my dressing table. Take the black lid off and you will find a neat little pump that's easy and fuss free, I use 3 pumps to cover my whole face. 

The texture of the foundation is really creamy, the best way I find to apply it is with my Real Techniques buffing brush. Apply the desired amount onto the back of your hand, dab the brush into the foundation and evenly distribute across the face. I like to start from the centre of my face working outwards. The buffing brush creates a seamless finish and buffs the foundation into the skin really quickly, there is no need to blend with your fingers or any other brush which I really like.

It's medium to full coverage that is also really build-able. I find it's the perfect foundation to wear during the day and also perfect for nights out. It feels so comfortable and light-weight on the skin and the staying power is pretty incredible. I normally set the foundation with a pressed powder (currently using Rimmels Stay Matte powder) and that helps make the foundation last even longer. I was actually in Tenerife last week and wore the foundation every day. It was around 25degrees and this foundation didn't budge, I was so impressed! 

I have quite dry skin which can be a real pain but this foundation feels really moisturising and makes my skin feel really fresh. When you first apply it the skin looks really dewy which I love, but as my skin is dry it sets to leave a beautiful glow which lasts all day. Something I find really difficult to achieve with other foundations. I found it really smoothed out my uneven skin tone and didn't cling to any dry areas or cake around the nose (which the NARS Sheer Glow does) I also love how it diminishes the size of my pores.

For me this is best foundation I have tried to date and I can't recommend it enough. Price wise it comes in at £34 which is definitely on the more expensive side for a high end foundation. However I do think it's totally worth it, it's a 30ml bottle which will hopefully last me a long time even if I do wear it every day. When I did my course with Pixiwoo back in April they recommend that you invest in a high quality foundation and then you don't have to worry about purchasing expensive products for the rest of the face. I think as long as your base looks perfect then you can buy that cheaper bronzer & blush and still look really polished!

I really enjoy using this foundation and will definitely be re-purchasing. It beats my NARS Sheer Glow hands down and I will be wearing it pretty much every day. Unfortunately you can't get a sample of Youth Liberator foundation but I would definitely recommend you go to your nearest counter and get a colour match so you can see for your self how it looks and feels.

Let me know if you do purchase this or already have it, I would love to know what you think!