Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush - Hot Tamale

I'm not going to beat about the bush.. you may have already seen it in my last disappointing products video (see end of post) but I thought it still deserved a mention on the blog.

I actually took these photos the day I got it, while still in Las Vegas and so the lighting etc is not to my usual standard, apologies! I've always had a love/hate relationship with cream blush, I've tried so many formulas and very few hit the mark for me. I find the majority remove any product underneath (eg. foundation/concealer) and most are too creamy to powder over. When I first tested this I was excited, it's a cream to powder formula, very similar to the dream mousse textures but possibly a touch more powdery.  It's just such an odd thing, you really have to apply it with your fingers but I feel a brush would give a better finish,  it turns to powder almost immediately and is impossible to blend without totally rubbing away your base makeup. I found the only way I could wear it was on bare skin and even then it was a little patchy.

The colour pay off isn't fantastic either, I chose the brightest shade, Hot Tamale, but ha I gone for one of the more subdued looking one's I doubt it would have made an impact at all. Perhaps that's the issue, do you have to layer this to get the desired finish? This bright coral shade would be a bit much if I built it up but maybe the lighter shades would work better, I don't know.

I've tried it several times since I've been back, today included and it just does not work for me. I initially loved the packaging but now I see it limits your application. If it was in a pot or a regular pan you could get a brush in there and rough it up a bit but as it's a dome it's not quite so easy without making a big mess. I really wanted to love it and I will keep trying but overall it's a miss for me. I'm not sure when/if these will be launched in the UK but for those that have been dying to try them.. you're not missing much!

If you have this and absolutely love it please share your secret!

Miss BB

Maybelline Color Tattoos

I know I'm still yet to comprehensively blog about our trip to Las Vegas but I have a few products and swatches to share before my haul video goes live this evening. I will start with the Color Tattoos. I bought Bad to the Bronze over in America which is why the branding is slightly different and the Eternal Gold and Permanent Taupe I picked up today...

True to the hype the staying power is incredible and the pigmentation is equally impressive. Metallic pay off is always good but I am especially excited about the taupe.. when do you find cream matte shadows? Never! Unfortunately in my experience they aren't creaseproof but they're pretty damn close and that's good enough for me.

I'm sticking with the neutral palette for now as I know no matter how great the colours may be I just wont use them. It would seem we are not getting the full spectrum that the US has but I believe all we're missing is a pink and a disappointing white so perhaps not such hard luck after all.

Maybelline Color Tattoos are available from Boots (link) for £4.99

*They're also part of the current 3 for 2 deal*

Miss BB

Maybelline Color Tattoos are HERE!!!

I'm blogging from my iphone right now 'cause I couldn't contain my excitement. I haven't got all the info yet but Maybelline Color Tattoos have arrived! They weren't priced and the testers were untouched so I have to assume they're brand new. I'm not sure if the 3 shades shown are all that will launch or just a tester display but I thought I would swatch them and let you know they're here. I will of course update with more info once I have it and if you know more please leave a comment! I saw them in my local superdrug but they don't appear to be online as yet.

In other launch news I saw the Revlon Photoready airbrush foundation but I did not see the Lip Butters (sob) ...have any of you seen them in stores yet?

Eternal Gold, On and On Bronze, Turquoise


EDIT

These will be £4.99 each and most stores should have them but the displays may not be up yet so if you're desperate phone around or ask in store and you may be lucky enough to get them before they're officially launched!

Maybelline Airfoam Foundation

When I saw the press release for this a couple of months ago I couldn't wait for it's UK launch to get my hands on it. I've been a long time love of Maybelline's Dream foundation range and am yet to find a version I don't like so I had high hopes for this new formula. Although it's a refreshing change of pace mousse/foam foundation isn't a totally new concept. It was popular in 90s, Elizabeth Arden's version has remained in their permanent line ever since and Revlon have recently launched an aerated version of their popular photoready in US so I'm sure we will see lots of brands having a go at something similar this year.

The first thing I'd like to clarify here is that I don't think this is going to be for everyone! Normal to oily skins will be fine but the formula is thin and quick to set so drier skin types might not get on with it. It will cling to dry patches making them appear worse. Extra oily skin might struggle too. The application is nice, it spreads nicely and I got an even matte finish, The coverage is a lot like that of a tinted moisturiser, very light but this is buildable and doesn't look the least bit cakey when layered on. It lasts as well as any other dream formula I've tried.. I would need to reapply for the evening but it will be fine for a days work.

My only real issue with this foundation is how difficult it is to colour match. The foam comes out as quickly as you'd expect - just the same as a hair mousse - so you get way more than you need if you're just swatching which means you can't swatch that many shades in store unless your armed with a packet of babywipes.. and even then it's just so wasteful! The shade I went for ended up way too dark on me and looking online I'm not sure they will have one light enough for my skin tone (NARS Mont Blanc FYI) so that's a big disappointment.

Despite my misgivings if you have normal skin with no more than an oily t-zone I would recommend you give this a go. If the colour match was good I'd have been really happy with this product but it was comically dark and the tester didn't appear that way.. I mean look at the pictures... I'm not crazy.. that's clearly not my shade! If I can find the right one for me it could just be my favourite foundation, it has the potential to build to a true airbrushed finish without all of the tricky machinery usually required to achieve it.

The RRP on this is £8.99

Currently available from Superdrug here for £6.99 so now's a great time to give it a go

Have you tried this already?

Thoughts?

Miss BB

Maybelline Colossal Cat Eyes

 

I know you've been asking after this review since I bought the mascara but I wanted to give it a good go before telling you what I thought. I spoke a little too quickly about the Benefit "They're Real" so I've used this for a few days and feel I'm in a better position to really review it. 

First up, Application. The wand is curved which I would generally associate with a curling mascara but that's not really what this is about. It creates lift but somehow sculpts the lashes outwards in a "cat eye" like effect. The wand is quite fine so it allows you to get right in to the root as well as catch the corner lashes. 

The formula is really wet which I usually don't like but it's not so bad in this product. Another big plus for me is it's easy to remove at the end of the day and yet it still stays put all day.

I haven't tried the original Colossal myself so I can't compare the two but I can tell you I am really warming up to Maybelline as potentially the best drugstore mascara brand. This and "One by One" are now my top 2 for sure.

 

It's available for just £5.99 from Superdrug now

You can watch my video review here

Have you tried this?
What are your thoughts?

Friday Night Swag

I love a bit of Friday night, after-work shopping, don't you? The only thing is I see things I don't buy and then the next day is Saturday so I inevitably return to purchase those items I've decided I must have after all.. d'oh! The whole point of late night shopping is to avoid the weekend crowds!!! Anywho. I thought I would share a few offers I noticed. Number one on my list was Boots are giving away a free Glam Eyes liquid eyeliner with any purchase over £5. Now they did me good 'cause I went in for the mint green nailpolish you see here which was £4.49 and there was no way I could find something for 50p to top uo my purchase so I ended up replacing my Stay Matte powder which died recently. Rimmel's Exaggerate liquid liner is my all time fave so I'm really looking forward to trying out the Glam Eyes. Second deal of the evening was Maybelline's new Colossal Cat Eyes mascara was down to £5.99 from £7.99 in Superdrug for it's launch PLUS you get 300 beauty card points with the purchase!! bargain! I know I bought a new mascara last week but with that kind of logic this one was practically free (expect pics and review very soon). Unfortunately as I am a total numpty I forgot to give them my beauty card when I got to the till so I'm more than a little peeved but am hoping they will add my points from my receipt.. I haven't opened it just in case.. I figured I was probably going back today anyway.

Not all of you will be interested in this next one but as I'm getting more and more fat.. okay, pregnant, I am developing the worst cellulite of my life and it's all the way down to my knee!! I know us girls are plagued with the orange peel, dimpled thighs but it's getting beyond a joke. I seem to remember getting a little obsessive about cellulite the first time round so I'm hoping it's just a symptom that will go away but none the less I couldn't resist half price Perfect Slim from Loreal. They do a whole range of "sculpting" type gels and creams and they are all half price in Superdrug right now so if you love them or have ever wanted to try them now is the time to go pick one up! I did also buy a new MUA eyeliner I've never tried before as well as a Models Own nail art doodah that I've wanted forever but they weren't as exciting as my final buy.. Coconut Oil. I forget the exact price but it was under £2 for sure. It can be used on the skin as a moisturiser, it can be used as a leave in conditioner on your hair and it can be used as an intensive mask for those with dry or damaged tresses like mine. Result! I slathered (lying - Lee slathered) it all over myself last night and this morning I am feeling pretty darn moisturised. It's a bizarre formula that is hard in the tub and melts on contact with your skin to a kind of oil. I will post about it in more detail but I urge you all to go out and get a tub.. I will be trying it out on my hair this morning too.. can't wait!

I also feel it necessary to mention this awesome jumper I got from Primark for the fabulous price of £10

I am totally in love and very excited that these plain, chunky knits are back in fashion. They are so my style and what I like is so rarely "in" so I will be embracing this trend to replenish my wardrobe for years to come. One of the items I'm going back for today is a Zara cardigan that I just can't stop thinking about. I dearly wish brands would give up putting weird elbow patches on stuff but the ones in Zara are the least vile so I think I must have it.

Do any of you indulge in a weekly spree? what awesome finds did you pick up this week?