Santhilea London: Magnetic Lash Extension Mascara

If you've not already noticed, I've always had issues with my eyelashes. They're short, lack volume and I only have to glance at my boyfriend's lashes before the green eyed monster in me comes out (yes,  I have wondered what they'd look like with a coat of mascara). After my previous mascara died I decided I wasn't going to repurchase and wanted something more exciting, a different brand that would wake up my sparse, short, lifeless lashes. Like knights in shining armour, Santhilea London were in the right place at the right time (Twitter, of course) and offered up their Magnetic Lash Extension Mascara. I'd never heard of this brand before which meant I was even more intrigued but what really swayed it for me is that they claim to use absolutely no inserts or post production editing (no asterisk to claim otherwise) in their advertising images and, after being reassured of this by them on Twitter, I was amazed. Their honesty is so refreshing to find, a product that actually produces what it shows!! But can a mascara really produce something like this without inserts and post production? Let's take a look at the evidence...

Santhilea London Magnetic Lash Extension Mascara*

On unpacking it became apparent that this was a dual effort mascara, I'd heard about these but had never actually tried one; with easy to follow instructions on how to apply you can't really do this wrong but I'd recommend doing one eye at a time. First off, apply the magnetic mascara in tube 1 to your lashes just as you would any other mascara. Then, while it is still wet - hence why it's best to do one eye at a time - take the lash builder in tube two and dab on the fibres. Finally, apply another coat of magnetic mascara to seal the fibres and repeat steps two and three as desired. I've not repeated the last two steps when I've used it and the results below are from one application only.

I don't think I've ever been more happy with a mascara, I'm in love with it. My lashes are longer and fuller and best of all they're separated and aren't a clumpy mess which I am so dubious about with volume mascaras. The fibres just seem to melt in! I'm more than happy with this naturally long look they've given me and if I wanted a more dramatic look I'd just have to go for another application. I forgot to curl my lashes in the above photo but it seems the mascara had my back and has lifted them for me anyway! The formula is lightweight and I've had no issues with smudging, transferring or flaking because it isn't oil based. I thought the fibres would be a pain to remove but everything comes off as easy as you put it on. Can't fault it.

So, back to the question at hand '... can a mascara really produce something like this without inserts and post production?' The answer is both yes and no, and that no isn't clear-cut at all, it's completely dependent on your lashes. The extension system mascara is thought to be an ideal alternative to false lashes, for someone with incredibly long, thick and full lashes they would get an incredible result that would seriously rival wearing a pair of falsies. If I, on the other hand, still wanted an overly dramatic look I'd probably have to wear false lashes, however Santhilea are in luck because I don't wear them (I'm useless at applying them) and I would much rather turn to these tubes of magic any day!

This could be a silly thing to say as I haven't actually tried it, but from what I've seen and heard, I think this could be a real rival for the Benefit 'They're Real' mascara. Retailing at £24.99 it's a little more expensive but I guess you could think of it this way, you're getting two products for that price - three if you count the Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E that acts as a conditioner.

Would I repurchase? I really, really would. Chuffed! 

Have you tried the Magnetic Lash extension mascara? What did you think? Will you be giving this a go?

RapidShield Eyelash Conditioner

RapidShield Eyelash Conditioner *

I've never considered taking care of and conditioning my eyelashes, but why not? They're not just a feature that can be enhanced for beauty but protect your eyes from dust, dirt and grit and take a heck of a beating from the elements and mascara. When you have lashes as sparse and short as mine with regular fallout you really do realise that you need to look after what you've got, even if what you've got isn't much.

RapidShield Eyelash Conditioner, part of the RapidLash range, is the wonder potion with 'triple benefits' that insists that 'Lashes will appear more conditioned with improved definition and luster*' over a 2 week period. Claiming to work on three levels, RapidShield aims to condition, shield, protect and nourish lashes; prime and prep lashes for mascara application and refresh/define by boosting volume and increasing shine and sheen. It's completely foolproof to apply, you simply use the thick bristle mascara wand to brush on the odourless clear formula where it dries almost instantly without a horrid sticky feeling. 

I've been using this product for over a month now and use it as a mascara base/primer and a conditioner to protect and nourish for those no make-up days. On application I do notice an improvement, my lashes fan out and lengthen slightly while mascara goes on more defined and volumised. After a few weeks small lashes I didn't know I had started to become apparent and my bottom lashes seemed to come out of nowhere. The differences aren't massively obvious but I've definitely noticed an improvement due to the condition they were in before. There is clear improvement on the fallout front too, I've not had any since using this even when going at heavy eye makeup with make-up wipes; this is probably due to the Sodium Hyaluronate which improves elasticity, Silk Amino Acids which act and repairing agents and Panthenol which seals in moisture and nourishment. There is absolutely no doubt that RapidShield has rescued my eyelashes from years of mascara abuse. At one point they seemed to start growing leaning together in small clusters so it's lovely to have them fan out again like normal.

Would I repurchase? I'm undecided, there's no doubt that it's done a great job, but would I pay £28 for it realistically? It's good for a beauty routine and a great addition if you want to look after your eyelashes but it isn't an absolute must have. I did really like it though.

Have you tried RapidShield or a similar Eyelash conditioner? Maybe you've tried RapidLash or RapidBrow, I'd love to know your thoughts and results. 

Too Faced Eyeshadow Duo: Rich Bitch

My most bought and used make up item is eyeshadow, there's absolutely no doubt about it. So, when I happened upon this little beauty by sheer coincidence one snowy afternoon as I was listlessly wandering around TK Maxx, I'll admit I got a little excited. I think it was the gorgeous packaging that caught my eye first; a pink, black and yellow retro affair. It was then that I saw the words 'Too Faced' staring up at me and something twigged in the back of my mind that I'd seen other beauty bloggers mention this brand, so I took a closer look. There were only four or five there and I began perusing the shades before settling on 'Rich Bitch'. 

Rich Bitch is a beautiful shimmery 'gold and teal' combo, although I'm not so sure I'd call these colours gold and teal, maybe more soft lemon and steel blue. I love the initial contrast between the warm and cool shades but once you swatch, you realise just how prominent the gold undertone to the blue is which is lovely. It didn't take a lot for that colour pay off - pigmentation ahoy! - but I'd say you need a good brush to apply it to the lids if you want it to be that intense; they melt together beautifully when blending and once on, they stayed all day without primer. I did find my MUA primer made it crease awfully. They are buttery smooth and I just can't remember the last time I felt an eyeshadow like it. Using a formula like this really does make you realise what you're missing out on/gotten used to with MUA shadows, and I'm a fan!

TK Maxx have the RRP of this product down as £17 and I've seen it selling online recently at around £14, but I swiped it for £3.99! Money saving me was very happy.

Would I repurchase? A thousand times yes. I'm on the look-out for more shades. 

Have you tried any Too Faced products or found yourself some cracking savings in TK Maxx? I'd love to know!

(Apologies for the creased sheets in these photos, that's a little embarrassing).

Keeping Up Appearances - The Rise of Male Grooming

Do you have to race your male counterparts to the bathroom? Or do you find you skincare and haircare products mysteriously disappearing? It's becoming apparent that men are putting aside more time for male grooming and priding themselves on their appearances, and I'd love to know your thoughts and experiences.

Apparently, on average, women spend between 20-40 minutes getting ready each day and, depending on what I'm doing and where I'm going, I definitely fit into this category. Washing and drying my hair can take twenty minutes by itself because it's so long and thick, but adding a bath or shower and makeup into the equation as well as moisturising and whatnot definitely pushes me to the far end of the scale. Would you believe, though, that men are starting to take even longer than that? We have makeup to sort and longer hair to curl/straighten/style yet they are somehow still trumping us. A quick search immediately brought me the results I was looking for, the average time it takes for a man to get ready is 83 minutes. Wow. I'm not sure how I'd feel if my other half took longer than me to get ready when going out, I'm so used to him sitting there waiting for me and rolling his eyes that it would be quite a shock and very weird; yet I can kind of believe that statistic.

While I prefer to jump in and out of the bath as quick as possible, my boyfriend will easily fall asleep in a steaming hot bath for an hour. I don't think he does too badly on the grooming part, he's very conscious about his hair and will quite often focus on his while I just bung mine up. He owns a few hair products and happily uses my dry shampoo and hairspray and owns his own pair of GHD's (this saves me having to borrow mine back from my brother - I know!) Recently I've been persuading him to take care of his skin with moisturiser because he's complaining of dry skin and breakouts, but to no avail quite yet.

I always remember the comedic portrayal of male grooming in FRIENDS. Chandler getting a pedicure, Joey having his eyebrows waxed and plucked and Ross getting a spray tan and having his teeth whitened (you have to give those episodes a watch). Media representations have, however, evolved since the 90's - TOWIE and MIC do a great job of reinforcing that men can enjoy beauty too and, based on a survey by First4Lawyers, 20% of men have sustained an injury whilst using a sunbed... I don't want to know how... or what!

All jokes and digs aside though, personally, it makes me really happy to see men taking pride in themselves by embracing a beauty regime no matter how small - it makes me feel great knowing a guy has made an effort for me. It's fantastic that society is finally opening it's eyes and saying 'yes, men like to take care of themselves - so what?!' Male grooming products are becoming much more commonplace and, while there are many more products specifically designed for men with masculine and powerful names endorsed by good looking male celebs, there is also more acceptance of the fact that men can use womens products. Times have obviously changed and, while we still may have a quick joke about men stealing our products or seeing the inside of the bathroom/salon more than us, it's great to move away from this 'girly' and overly feminine ridiculing. It almost makes me angry that pride in appearance and 'vanity' are considered a female trait, why can't guys look good too?

So I'd really love to know, how do you like your fellas? Would you mind a man in your life borrowing your products? Or do you think a man should be a man with their 'rough and ready' and 'blokey' exterior? Is this shift in the social paradigm and media representation for the better meaning guys can now take time on their appearances without pressure or funny looks? Opinions? 

*Partnered post, content written by myself.

Thou Shalt Not Steal

... but will buy bargainous cosmetics and skincare for a metaphorical steal instead. 

Beauty Steals is a great new website offering high street cosmetics, skincare and fragrances at discounted prices. They stock well known brands like O.P.I, MAC, Benefit, Urban Decay, Revlon, Maxfactor, Maybelline, L'Oreal, Bourjois, NYC... and the list just goes on. I've never bought MAC, Urban Decay or Benefit simply because I've gotten so used to 'drug-store' brands and prices that paying anything over those is painful. With this website though, I know I'll be back and keeping tabs on the more expensive products. 

Not only can you treat yourself to something a little more expensive for less, but you can also find discontinued items at a great price too. It's inevitable that at some point we will have fallen in love with a particular product, only to be told it's been discontinued causing us to cry all the way home on the bus. Enter Beauty Steals! They are often getting new stock in so it's always worth having a peep at who they get in.

Want a final cherry on the cake? Their P&P is free! You read right, there's no minimum spend to ensure eligibility, meaning your bargains remain bargains. It's crazy how much a £3.95 postage fee can ruin a great find.

A few bits!

Revlon Colorstay Quad Shadow in 'Lavender Meadow' - £3.59*

When I initially saw this palette, I thought 'gosh, I'll never wear those colours'. I think I've gotten so used to neutrals that purples were a big shock. Truth be told, the more I looked at the palette, the more I liked the colours and I could see they would blend perfectly. When it got to the swatches I fell head over heels for the colours, they really come into their own out of the palette and onto the skin. The shades are supposed to look freshly applied for 12 hours but I'd be inclined to wear a primer anyway. These will be perfect for Springtime looks alongside florals and denim! 

Girls Aloud Party Lashes - £5.99*

I've not tried these yet because I have massively shaky hands and I didn't want to ruin them! The application of my Katy Perry Eyelure lashes didn't go well as they got contorted and twisted in ways I didn't know possible. I look forward to giving them a go when I have a reason to wear them, hopefully at a family wedding this summer. With a mixture of short and long lashes I hold hope that they will blend in well with my existing lashes and will look natural compared to the others in the range. These are my favourites of the Party Lashes by far, the rose gold studs are bang on trend.  

Collection 2000 Hot Looks Fast Dry in Intense and Minx - £3.49* each

I love the brushes that these polishes come with, they lay flat against the nail and spread well. You need to apply a couple of coats to be sure of great coverage, particularly with 'Intense', but in the end they pay off with a super glossy finish. They dry insanely quick which is great for me as I'm always catching my nails after I've painted them. I love the glittery flecks both shades have, but particularly 'Intense', as the blue flecks amongst the dark lacquer really set it off - this is my new favourite dark shade. 

Laval Celebrity Lash Comb Mascara - £5.26*

I've never heard of the brand 'Laval' but kept an open mind. Unfortunately, it lives up to expectation of a cheap discount store brand which I was so gutted about. Taking the wand for the first time you could feel the product compacted inside the tube, in my clumsiness I actually caught the brush on the end of my nose but nothing transferred - there was nothing on the brush! After a few 'pumps' retrieving the product, the brush turned out to be useless at separating the lashes and the product went on practically dry meaning eyelashes clumped instantly. The product was so dry and hard to apply that it didn't reach the lash line and, when removing, it fell off in black flecks all over my face. It also smelt uncannily like PVA glue. The only thing it did well was lengthen my lashes slightly. I wouldn't pay £5.26 for this.

Olay Gentle Cleansers Conditioning Milk - £4.99*

As you may have seen from an earlier post, I'm a complete skincare novice and I'm slowly building up my knowledge. I couldn't place what a 'conditioning milk' was supposed to do, but I've treated it no different to any other cleanser, massaging into the skin and then rinsing. With cucumber and aloe extracts it smells great - but not too strong - and makes your skin feel super refreshed. I think this will be great for everyday use, conditioning your face and getting rid of muck, but I'm not sure how effective it will be removing heavy eye make up. I've not used it for a long amount of time so only time will tell if it breaks me out or if I have a reaction to it (which I might because my skin is SO awkward). It's designed for normal/dry/combination skin, so here's hoping.

Have you bought anything from Beauty Steals? Or are you heading over there now? I'd love to know your bargains!

Psst. They currently have Urban Decay Loose Pigment Eyeshadows for £4.20

Purely Natural '2 Dry Cleanser'

I am a self confessed skincare/cleansing novice. I have no 'routine' per se; I simply drink a lot of water and wash with nothing special. I've been influenced by plenty of beauty bloggers to expand on my skincare and maybe pick up a routine, and whilst I was on the hunt for something new, Purely Natural Skincare were on the hunt for bloggers to review some of their products - a match made in heaven. I'll introduce you quickly to Purely Natural Skincare. They're a company dedicated to creating 100% natural and handmade skincare products which are chemical free, cruelty free and vegan friendly, all of which are made in Great Britain. They have a wealth of knowledge and experience on their website giving out tips and tricks on how to cope with different types of skin and skin conditions, what you can try and do to improve your skin, plus a comprehensive list of natural ingredients and their benefits. What impresses me most is they don't just take into account sensitive, damaged, dry, 'normal' and oily skin with their grades (0 Tolerance, 1 for all, 2 dry, 4 Oily) but they also pay attention to skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, psoriasis, eczema and even cellulite. 

I've not got 'bad' skin, however that may be defined,  but I can be prone to dry, sore and sensitive skin particularly at the edges of my nose and the top of my cheek bones, therefore I opted for the '2 Dry Cleanser' and gave it a whirl over the course of a week. I've always been wary about trying products littered with chemicals and harsh ingredients. I've not always been convinced that they actually do any good; I've had my fair share of bathroom dramas featuring stinging moisturisers, so I was really excited to try it. 

As you can see they send a little tip sheet along with your product specifically aimed at the type of skin you have, handy stuff! When I popped it open I was initially greeted by a lovely herby smell, a great plus as there's nothing worse than having skincare or makeup items having an unpleasant aroma about them when you put them on your face. The consistency, as noted by other bloggers, is definitely like cookie dough. I was initially surprised but of course had nothing to compare it against as I've never used a cleanser before. It's simple enough to use; you crumble off as much or as little of the 'dough' as you like, you don't need a huge amount, and add to a small amount of water before rubbing between your hands to create a paste. It breaks down incredibly easily. I think the last time I stood at the sink in awe was when I had one of those magic flannels that expanded in water. I'm unsure of what the consistency should be, but I found it to be more effective when it was thicker as a couple of times I accidentally added too much water and I didn't feel the same gratifying effects. 

You simply massage into the skin and problem areas in a circular motion, and despite the particles in it, it doesn't feel half as grainy as I thought it would. Rinsing off was one of the toughest parts, we've got quite a small sink and simply chucking water over your face is nowhere near as easy as you think it is - after I had finished the first time it looked like Shamu had fallen through the roof of the house and landed in the bath. I find I get the best, but messiest, results when rinsing with handfuls of water. I've been using large cotton wool pads the past few nights to save mess, but you must rinse it off thoroughly or you may find rogue drying particles which add to your already dry skin. Maybe using it in the shower would be a good idea? A couple of times whilst rinsing I've got bits in my eyes, but please bare in mind I am ridiculously clumsy so this could well just be me.

Now, onto the nitty gritty - the results! I've been using it every night and my skin feels amazingly refreshed after a long day, not only that but my skin looks incredibly smooth, and feels gloriously tight (something I never expected). I can imagine it would be a great wake up aid in the morning so would be tempted to use it twice a day rather than once as recommended. It's caused no redness or soreness which I'm prone to but I do appear to have developed a couple more dry patches over the last couple of uses (sad face). I'm unsure whether this is due to not having put on moisturiser with it ( I initially wanted to see what the cleanser was capable of by itself), not rinsing off properly, having more sensitive skin than I ever imagined or simply because my stress levels have shot through the roof the past two days. Needless to say I will still be using this regularly, it was doing a great job of ridding dry patches on it's own and the two small ones I have now aren't noticeable, it's only because I can feel them that I know they're there - I have hope! 

It retails for £6.95 which is great for an organic, vegan, all singing and all dancing cleanser. Due to natural ingredients it has a shelf life of approximately 4 months but that shouldn't be a problem if you are going to be using it every day. 

In the end, would I buy this in the future? Possibly, BUT I would be more inclined to buy the '0 tolerance cleanser' instead which is especially designed for sensitive skin and use alongside the '2 dry moisturiser' for a killer combo.

Take a look at their website here and have a look at their great range. There's a cheeky sale on at the moment too so you can get a gift pack featuring two products for cheaper than buying them both separately. 

Will you be trying them? Or have you already? 

Gifts Vouchers Blogger Challenge

Fantastic Fashion gifts for £35 or less.

This challenge is perfect for the lead up to Christmas and I love a challenge. I must admit, I'm late at entering as I was contacted early October! My original excuse (to myself) was to wait so I could see what Christmas gifts were being offered up closer to the deadline but it turns out nothing from what I've chosen is in a Christmas collection.

I pride myself on my gift picking at Christmas, I love the buzz I get from seeing people genuinely impressed and grateful for their gifts wondering how on earth I found them. If you 'have an eye for quirky, stylish and cute products which would make great presents' like me, then this is a fab challenge to show everyone some great gift ideas for reasonable prices. All you have to do is search the web for at least 5 different gift ideas each of which must not cost more than £35. Entries end TOMORROW and you can find more information here.

Here are a few of my ideas: 

1. Kensington Lunch Bag- Yes, you're reading it right, this is a stylish lunch bag! From the outside it looks like a normal croc effect handbag with a cute Jammy Dodger-esque pendant, but really, it's a great insulated lunch bag! What better gift for a fashionable girl about town who needs to carry her lunch in style without the embarrassment of a kids lunch bag/box stuffed inside her handbag. The Kensington lunch bag is available direct from Clippy London at £24.50 plus £3 postage. It comes with a great accessory pouch so you can pop in your money, phone, sunglasses or any other bits and bobs that you don't want to be cooled alongside your sarnie or pasta salad. It's fully insulated with a zip closing to keep contents cool and fresh and has a handy shoulder strap. Different, stylish, useful and PERFECT!

2. Personalised Stitch Your Own Journey Map Print- I love a personalised gift, and I'm not talking about the hairbands or hairbrushes you used to get as kids with your name written on them in fabric paint (remember those?!). I find this Personalised Stitch Your Journey Map Print from Notonthehighstreet.com beautiful. Ideal for a special couple to stitch their life journey, a family to stitch their family holidays around the globe or a friend to mark your escapades together. 

Choose from UK, World, America, Ireland, Europe, Australia and New Zealand maps, print size a4 or a3(+£5.00), map colour and thread colour and input personal map title and date for title if required. For it to be within the £35 mark the recipient would have to stitch it themselves- but that's part of the fun and romance of a gift like this. 

3. Mens Yoda Dressing Gown- Do you have a geeky guy in your life or a guy that just loves random character based things? Well, Sheldon Cooper eat your heart out, get your fella or brother this Yoda Dressing Gown from New Look for £29.99 complete with Yoda ears. 

4. Bookshelf Curtains- I just LOVE these curtains. They're ideal for a bookworm's bedroom or hideaway, a study or a children's bedroom. From H&M home for only £12.99. The website says 'curtain' so I'm unsure if they only sell one side? Either way even if you had to buy two you'd be in budget.

5. D.I.Y beauty sample kit- This is quite possibly my favourite gift idea. There wasn't anything in the rules explicitly defining what a 'gift' is, so I took this as an opportunity to get creative and think outside the box - a d.i.y beauty set featuring some of my favourite different brands and items ideal for someone who wants to try something different. I suppose you could plonk all these items in a gift bag, but isn't it just better value if the thing your items are presented in could be a gift itself. These baskets are perfect for presentation of your gift but also perfect to use about the house or in your bedroom for storage- something we all need more of I'm sure. This one I found on ebay for £1.99 and 50p postage, the same price, if not less, than what you would pay for a gift bag in generic high street card shops. I like value for money so not only is your presentation a great gift itself, but Superdrug have a 3 for 2 promotion on hundreds of beauty items, free delivery AND points on your beauty card for yourself! 

I've included Barry M's NEW Hi Shine Gelly nail polish from Superdrug for £3.99, MUA undressed palette from Superdrug for £4, Revlon Colorburst lipstick from Superdrug for £7.99, NEW limited edition Vaseline Pink Bubbly Lip Therapy from Superdrug for £3.49, Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deep Conditioner from Superdrug for £1.69 and finally the cute And Mary Enamel Mirror Compact Necklace from ASOS for £15 (half price!). Including the Superdrug 3 for 2 offer and free delivery this whole gift amounts to £34.66.

Regardless of this being a competition entry, I hope you have all taken some inspiration from this for Christmas gift ideas.