Revlon ColourStay Concealer Review

Hola!

I'm very fussy when it comes to concealers and I have very high expectations as my under-eye circles are quite dark and uneven and just generally in a bit of a state.

I bought this with high hopes because of the name ColourStay, but that was not to be. Just to say, the colour is not really right for me as it is a little to yellow-toned for me.

My main issue for me is how much it creases and how quickly it comes off. When I first apply it, it really brightens my eye area and the coverage isn't terrible (although it could be better), but within minutes it settles into the creases and lumps in my skin and rubs off the raised areas within a couple of hours, even when I powder it. It's also quite thin and oily , so I definitely wouldn't recommend it for oily skin as it would just slip off!

In comparison to other concealers I have tried, this is not my favourite. For example, the Rimmel Wake Me Up is quite similar, just this is not as brightening and is a little more cakey when dry. My favourite concealer (so far) is the Collection Lasting Perfection as although it is a little dry, it provides far more coverage and stays in place for longer too.

All in all I would not recommend the Revlon ColourStay concealer compared to others that I think are far better value.

May | Monthly Top 5

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This year is flying past, were almost half way already, whaaaaat? May seemed to go even faster than usual, although I feel like I say that every month. Anyway, it's time for another monthly top 5 and I'm going to get straight into it.

5. Models Own Buffing Block
At the start of the month I had a bit of a spree in a Models Own bottle shop (which are adorable if you haven't seen one) and bought a few bits, most of which appear in this months favourites. The first thing was this buffing block. which I got as a free gift for going into the store, which I think is a really nice touch. It's come in really handy and has kept my nails looking smooth and neat. The nail file is especially good as far as nail files go and the shine side makes them really smooth and nail polish goes on a lot better too. All in all a really useful tool to have.

4. Models Own nail polish in Red Alert
Next is a standard Models Own nail polish in a bright post box red, which I was missing from my collection. It's the perfect red that just looks so classic on fingers and toes. The formula is really nice too, its really shiny and long lasting and I would really recommend Models Own polishes.

3. Yankee candles
This is more of a general favourite but anyone who has ever had one will get it. I have two: Vanilla Cupcake and Orange Spice, which I love to burn together to create orange spice and vanilla cupcake scent! So good! The orange one is more of a Christmassy cinnamon smell and the cupcake scent is spot on, it's gorgeous. I don't know how they do it but all the other ones I've smelt are always so accurate. Plus they're relatively cheap, easy to get hold of and long lasting.

2. Models Own Hyperlips Lip Gloss in Premier Plum
I've worn this gloss a lot this month as although it looks dark when you swatch it, it's barely darker than my natural lip colour. It's really shiny but hardly very sticky and it's just a great your-lips-but-better everyday lip gloss. It doesn't dry out or go patchy when it wears off, which admittedly it does after not too long, a couple of hours at most. Apart from that its pretty much perfect.

1. Invisibobble
These have been absolutely hair saving for me. I tie my hair up every night when I sleep and several times a week at school, so it's up a lot and I like my hair to be as straight as it can be, which doesn't happen with normal hairbands; they leave a large kink. But with the invisibobble, my hair stays straight and it doesn't look like it's been tied up. It doesn't pull on my hair and feel uncomfortable or get caught or knotted. They're quite pricey at £3.75 for a pack of 3, but they last for so so long as they don't thin down or snap over time and I would 100% recommend them.

I know I normally stick to beauty favourites as that's what this blog is about, but I just had to mention music. My friend introduced me to Fall out Boy about two weeks ago and ever since I've been completely obsessed. I love their two latest albums and have played them to death: Save Rock and Roll and American Beauty/American Psyco. Some of my favourite songs include Young Volcanoes, Immortals, Centuries, Jetpack Blues, The Pheonix, Uma Thurman, Alone together and too many more to list right now! I had heard them mentioned a few times before but shoutout to Niamh for telling me to listen to them.

So those are my favourite things from May and I hope you liked reading about them. leave below what you've been enjoying in may, I'd love to know.

Handbag Essentials

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I carry a handbag/school bag around with me all the time I'm out of the house, so I thought it would make sense if I did a post on the essential bits I have with me.

The first thing is body spray. The one I have at the moment is the So.....? Enticing body spray. It's ok, but I prefer some of their other fragrances, like Brit and In Love.

Next up is hand sanitiser, which is particularly useful in winter when there are loads of colds and germs around. At the moment, I'm using the satsuma one from The Body Shop, which smells amazing!

I also have some Tic Tacs to keep my breath fresh. These are the spearmint twist ones, which I really like.

The next thing is just a packet of tissues as they always come in handy. There's not really much else I can say about tissues...

The next thing is less of an essential,  more something I like to have with me, and that's hand cream. I use it a lot in winter as my skin gets really dry. I'm using the Body Shop honey hand cream, which I really like, although I can imagine it to be an acquired taste for some people if you don't like strong scents.

The last thing us a little makeup bag, which I just have the essentials in: concealer, powder, mascara and the lip gloss/lipstick I'm wearing that day. These are the four main things I'll touch up on the go, I don't see the point of bringing any more than that, personally.

So that's what I carry around in my bag. Let me know in the comments the things you can't leave the house without, I'd love to know! 

April | Monthly Top 5

Hola!

Where on earth did April go? Yet it feels like an absolute age since my last top 5, so I'm just going to get on with it!

5. Revlon Colourstay Shadowlinks in Sand and Plum

I bought these because I really like the idea of being able to create your own palette of eyeshadows, like MAC or KIKO, but without paying for the palette, especially as these are a steal at £2.99. They are really good quality, pigmented and blendable shadows. I love the colours I have and they go really well together: I use Sand as a base all over the lid as it adds a nice shimmer without being at all in-your-face, then I use plum smoked around the edges and through the crease. Plum is a really lovely purple as it's subtle, not too intense and is a really autumnal shade. I love them both and would like to try some more shades.

4. KIKO Smart Lip pencil in 702 Coral

I only bought this recently (as you might have seen in my Spain haul, feel free to check that out here) and I've only worn it a couple of times, but I really like it. Its the perfect spring/summer shade and  the formula is lovely, matte and long-lasting without being too drying (although I wouldn't recommend it for really dry lips). I use it one of two ways: to line the lips before lipstick or all over the lips with lipgloss on top. Both of which look really pretty and I can't wait to wear it more in the summer.

3. Vaseline Spray and Go body moisturiser

I took this on holiday as that's the only time my legs and arms have actually been on show so far this year (damn English weather!) and I really like it. At first I wasn't sure as, although its claims on the bottle not to be greasy, it goes on quite greasy, but when you rib it in it sinks into the skin so quickly and leaves no trace! You really can use it and get dressed almost immediately, which will be great in the summer when I'm in a rush to get out the door. Plus, it smells great and was pretty cheap too., would definitely recommend.

2. Topshop Matte Metallic nail polish in Heathers

I bought this purely out of curiosity (and an unhealthy obsession with nail polish) as I wanted to see how matte and metallic worked. I'd wanted to try a matte nail polish for a while and this was the perfect opportunity. It was around the £5 mark and I was pleasantly surprised. In fact, I love it! Firstly, this pale, baby blue shade is beautiful, and I can confirm that matte metallic works super well, it looks gorgeous! Shimmery yet matte at the same time! I don't understand hoe it works but I'm obsessed, I wish I could wear it permanently. It did chip a little more easily than I would have liked as a top coat would have ruined the whole matte thing, so I'm now determined to find a good matte top coat. Until then, I will definitely still wear it as it is just the most beautiful nail polish.

1. Topshop eyeshadow in Interstellar 

As soon as I saw this I had to get it, no questions, no hesitation. It's just gorgeous. I'm definitely a neutrals girl when it comes to eyeshadow and who can resist glitter? It's not excessive fall-down-your-face sort of glitter either. The colour is perfect however you wear it and it catches the the light really nicely and I can't express how in love with it I am. I've only recently discovered Topshop makeup and so far I'm really impressed, I would definitely recommend you check it out!

So that was April in 5 beauty products for me. Let me know down in the comments what you've been loving in April, beauty or anything!

Spain haul

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Just before I start, apologies for not posting for so so long, but exams :(

Anyway, in the easter holidays, I went on holiday to Spain and we went shopping both in the local town and to a shopping centre out of town. I didn't buy that much but I thought it would still be nice to share what I got with you.

The first place we went to was actually the shopping centre, where there was a KIKO Cosmetics store! I got very excited and bought a couple of bits. 

The first is a nail lacquer in a really nice pinky nude colour, which would be great for a french manicure. I got the shade 372. It doesn't have a shade name on the bottle, but when I looked up the price online it's called Nude. It cost me €1.99 in Spain and would come to £2.50 in England.

The next thing is an eyeshadow in 133, which is a gorgeous red-brown shade called Pearly Hot Chocolate (again, not on the shadow but I found the name online) that looks great in the crease or all over the lid if you can pull it off! It's really pigmented and was €2.90 and also £2.90 in England.

Next up from KIKO is a Smart Eye Pencil eye liner in shade 802, which is a very pretty brown that shimmers slightly purple in the light, hence the name Dark Amethyst. It's really pretty and easily smoked out and cost €2.50/£2.50.

The last thing from KIKO is a Smart Lip Pencil in a really pretty coral pink called shade 702 Coral. I really like this shade as it works like a matte lipstick all over the lips or under a nude lip gloss. It was €2.50/£2.50.

The next place we went to shop was the local market, where I picked up a large beach bag in a purple and grey leopard print. It was only €2, which is a fantastic bargain, plus it's really spacious. I would have liked a little pocket inside, but you can't really complain for that sort of money.

After the market, we went round the town and I bought something in two shops, the first was a jewellery/accessories shop called Jakarta, where I bought possibly my favourite item of the holiday: a nude, faux leather purse with gold hardware. I love it so much! It's such a staple and I will go with any bag as it's a neutral colour, plus it has 17 card slots!! It's really roomy but still fairly compact and it was €10.99 (£7.87).

The last shop was called Ale-Hop and it sold so many different things, from bags to hats to stationary to toys to make up and so much more! I wanted loads but the one thing I came away with was a little A6 notebook with a peacock feather design on the cover. It's really pretty and the pages are ruled, plus it's perfect handbag size and was only €2!

I know a lot of you guys are UK/US, so you may not be able to get hold of some of the products I mentioned, but I hope you liked seeing what I got and I'd love to hear where you've been on holiday, so let me know down in the comments!