B is for Beauty: August Favourites & Reviews

GOSH Long Lasting Brow Pen- 001 Dark Brown (£6.49)

Product Info

With the special skinny tip it can make a complete and precise brow look. The drying time is optimal and it even allows for blending.

Packaging & Price

Retails at a low cost of £6.49. Packaging is slim with a very fine nib, perfect for precision

Review

This is a really nice product, very easy to use, cheap and effective. It is a dupe of the a la carte Brow Ink, which in comparison retails at £22. The thin tip makes eyebrow sculpting very easy, and it perfectly fills in any gaps leaving a sleek tidy finish. Gosh offers this product in 3 shades, Dark Brown being the darkest. I have naturally black eyebrows which means the colour is not a perfect match to my eyebrows, but the colour blends very well so that you cannot notice the difference. The colour lasts all day with no need for touch ups. The only problem I have with this like felt eyeliners is that they are prone to dry out, and there is no way of releasing more product into the nib. However this is a great price for a great product and worth picking up. Gosh also offer eyebrow gel and an eyebrow kit compact which I'll be looking into in the future.

Review 9/ 10

Available HERE

E.L.F Studio Eyebrow Kit- Dark (£3.75)

Product Info

Create brows that are fuller, thicker, and more defined! The pigmented wax defines and shapes brows and the colour complementing setting powder keeps them looking arched and perfected. The doubled sided taklon brush has one side to help arch your brows while the other side aids in filling them in. This duo provides lasting colour definition for a naturally beautiful look.

Ingredients
Brow Gel Ingredient:Paraffinium Liquidum (Mineral Oil) , Ricinus Comunis (Castor) Seed Oil , Talc , Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax , Ozokerite , Methylisothiazolinone , Caprylyl glycol
May Contain:Iron Oxides(CI 77491 CI 77492 CI 77499) , Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)
Brow Powder Ingredient:Talc , Mica , Caprylic/Caprictriglycerides , Hydrogenated Polyisobutene , Sodium Dehydroacetate May Contain: Iron Oxide(CI 77491 CI 77492 CI 77499)

Price & Packaging

This is a really reasonable £3.75. The packaging is a sleek black compact with a small mirror inside and brush included, for easy touch up throughout the day.

Review

This is another eyebrow product I've fallen in love with this month. I use the "Dark" shade compact but there are 3 other lighter shades available to choose from. The wax goes on very easy and the double sided brush included is perfect for applying the product evenly. I use this over my eyebrow ink to give a perfectly defined finish, but it could just be used on its own. This is the perfect product to use if you want to shape and define your brows. . The kit is very compact and easy to carry around, the mirror included also allows for easy application on the go. This lasts all day with no need for touch ups on to other brow kits that retail around £30, the unbelievable low cost of £3.75 also makes it a winner. Definitely worth checking put before investing in a more expensive brow kit.

Review 10/10

Available HERE

E.L.F High Definition Powder (£6.00)

Product Info

The high definition loose powder creates a "soft focus" effect to the skin. Masks fine lines and imperfections for a radiant complexion. The incredibly soft and invisible powder is great for on-screen and everyday wear.
The microfine particles are designed to be used with high-definition camera technology or for everyday wear. Apply powder all over the face for a professional and youthful look of perfection.

Ingredients

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica

Price & Packaging

This is a fairly reasonable £6. Packaging is a chunky black box compact, with a screw lid. Inside there is a powder filter and small powder puff included.

Review

I really like this product, I think it's one of the best translucent powders I have tried. I use this to set my makeup and it gives a perfect Matt finish without looking too "powdery". The product details state it gives a "soft-focus" effect and makes skin radiant, this is untrue. The finish is completely transparent, which is what I personally wanted but if you want a "soft focus" effect this is not the powder for you. Although I haven't had a problem with this I have read on other reviews that the bottom of the product can get a bit chalky so its best to give this a bit of a shake before using. I also would rate the powder puff included and find it easier and more effective to apply with the E.L.F Studio Powder Brush. I dip this in the powder tap off the excess in the lid and then dust all over my face to set my foundation. This is a great brush and perfect to use with this products its very large and soft and evenly applies the product and blends it easily. This powder can be a bit messy as a loose powder, if your not careful it can go everywhere. The screw top lid is perfect for avoiding such spills though. For £6 though you can't go wrong, and this is a great alternative to paying £30 plus for a department store setting powder that does exactly the same thing. I'd say this is one of the best products E.L.F has to offer and would recommend giving it a try.

Review 8/10

Available HERE

RMK Makeup Base (30ml- £28.00)

Product Info

RMK Make Up Base is a weightless, liquid primer formulated with silk extracts, for a smooth, even finish with a natural lustre. Quickly absorbed, this formula lightly covers the skin and gives a fresh, natural long lasting finish. Ideal for normal to dry skin types it leaves a fresh and dewy finish.

Price & Packaging

Quite expensive at £28.00 for 30ml. Packaging is a nice clear square bottle with a screw cap. There is no pump applicator however.

Review

I received a sample of RMK makeup base in a Glossy Bo a few months ago. It is the first time I've ever used an RMK product, and the only thing I knew about it was that the line is a number one seller in Japan. Although this formula is supposed to be more suited for normal to dryer skin types ( the Creamy Polished Base is recommended for oily/ combination or problem skin), I had no problems with it and I have oily skin. The formula is very light and applies easily, leaving the skin very soft and smooth. It doesn't irritate the skin and does not clog pores. I noticed an improvement in the texture and lasting power of my foundation immediately. I didn't find that this accentuated my oiliness or pores as some other people have commented on. This does not contain silicone of an SPF, which does not make it the best product for covering pores or to use in Summer, but a great one to use on a night out if you want to avoid "ghost face" in flash photography. Overall I thought this was a great product. It is however fairly expensive at £28 which is more than I'd usually pay for such a small bottle. However saying that I would probably purchase this when I run out, although I'd probably try the formula for oily skin, as I did really like the results it gave.

Review 9/10

Available HERE

Creamy Polish Base for oily/combination/ problem skin HERE

HD Brows Precision Tweezers - RRP £20

Product Info

Machine ground to a very fine point these tweezers really are superb. These precision instruments are designed for the most exacting type of work.

Review

I received a pair of HD Brows Precision Tweezers through Glossy Box a few months ago. If I'd seen these in the shop for £20 I'd probably think they were a waste of money (how good can tweezers be right) and would have opted for a much cheaper pair. However after trying these I can say that they are well worth the £20 price tag. They are incredibly easy to hold and use, and really can grip the smallest hairs. Usually I'd have to pluck my eyebrows everyday, but after using these I can leave it for over a week as they really get to the root of the hair meaning it doesn't grow back as quickly. The look of the tweezers is also very appealing. They are classic black and heavier than regular tweezers, clearly displaying their more expensive price point. As someone who has struggled for years to find a descent pair of tweezers, I've finally found the one. I would fully recommend purchasing these, they are an investment.

Review 10/10

Available HERE

Clynol Speciality Clear Purifying Shampoo

(300ml- £4.75 to £8.00)

Product Info

Clynol Speciality Clear Purifying Shampoo. Pro Pure Complex with special deep cleansing agents. For a deep cleansing effect, to remove oil and styling residues.

Review

Clynol Haircare has been a favourite of mine for a few years now, I've never tried a product I didn't like. It gives salon worthy results at generally low coat prices (it's available online very cheap). The shampoo and conditioner range are my favourites. They really clean your hair hair, leaving it healthy looking and smelling amazing. This product in particular is the best clarifying shampoo I've tried. It leaves your hair feeling so clean, getting rid of all that product buildup. And the great thing is it can be used daily without striping your hair. There are alot of reviews out there that rave about the Bumble & Bumble Sunday Shampoo, but that is only for non coloured hair like a lot of clarifying shampoos, making this shampoo a great option if you dye your hair and do not want to strip the colour. Clynol is not a range widely available in shops, mainly salons (and usually at a jacked up price). However most discount hair care sites carry the clynol range from prices varying between £4- £7 making it very good value for money. This is definitely a product that I will be repeat purchasing.

Review 10/10

Available HERE for £4.75

Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman Stippling Brush (£11.99)

Product Info

Real Techniques high tech brushes by Samantha Chapman help make you the expert. Create a flawless base with this Stippling brush.

This dual-fiber brush is the trade secret for creating airbrushed, high-definition results with all types of makeup:look pixel-perfect even in harsh light, synthetic taklon bristles are hand-cut and 100% cruelty-free, self-standing for easy storage, extended aluminum handle is light and easy to use.

Review

I'm sure everybody has heard of the Real Techniques brushes and the Stippling brush being the shining star of the collection. I picked this up a few months ago, deciding to try the "best" brush of the collection before making a final decision to purchase the rest of the brushes. I was sceptical that how good it was might just be hype, but I was more than pleasantly surprised and this is the best brush I have ever used. The bristles are so soft and do not drag across the face and the handle is chunky and weighted making it easy to hold. Visually the pink and black handle also look nice. This is a multi use brush that can be used on cream or powder products. Lots of people love to use this for foundation. I personally like to use this to blend my foundation in, and it really gives a nice flawless finish. I've never read a bad review about this brush and after using it I can see why. At £11.99 this is a great price for a very high quality brush. With the success I had with this brush I'll not only be buying a second stippling brush but I'll be looking into the full collection.

Review 10/10

Available HERE