Witch Naturally Clear Blemish Stick

With products I review, I generally either love them or hate them. With the Witch Naturally Clear Blemish Stick it's neither and I really can't decide how I feel about it. I brought it on a whim whilst doing my shopping and Morrisons a while ago to get rid of blemishes following parties and such. I've been using it ever since to get a really good feel for it but I'm really on the fence.

Firstly, the packaging and the application. As far as design, it's cute and a handy travel size. However, I'm not really a fan of the application. It's a push-up bottom which you then blot on blemishes as and when you need. The reason I don't like this is because I feel like I'm moving the germs around, ew. The smell, which usually isn't something I usually take into consideration, is heavily alcoholic and makes me feel like I'm putting some serious chemicals on my face. Also, I don't have particularly sensitive skin but it does feel a little irritated for a few seconds after I put it on. One positive is that although it is a bright blue, it comes out completely clear.

Now down to the meat of this review, the results. I found that the results of using the blemish stick were widely variable.  Sometimes, I put it on blemishes before bed and they would be completely gone in the morning, others would not shift until a week later. I think this may mean that it only works on certain types of spots, perhaps ones that are from clogged pores, not hormonal ones. As to whether I would buy this product again, I really don't like how 'chemical' it feels on my skin (does that even make sense?) I would much prefer to tackle spots and blemishes with something that is more gentle on my skin.

If you want to try the Witch Naturally Clear Blemish Stick, you can pick it up for just £1.92 from Superdrug here. Overall, I would say that it is a reasonably good product, great price but I don't like the application or chemical feel. For really stubborn spots, you might want to give it a go. Have you tried it? If so let me know what you think below.
Laura.

The Lipstick Tag

 

I have seen this Tag flying around for ages and whilst cleaning up my makeup case I thought the time had come for me to finally get involved. 

1. How many lipsticks do you own?

I was slightly embarrassed to discover I had twenty two (not including lipgloss or lipstains etc) , especially since I know that I've definitely lost two. It could be worse, I haven't breached fifty yet, when I do (yes it's a case of when not if) then I'll start to re-evaluate my choices.

 

2. What was the first lipstick you owned?

The first lipstick I owned (that I can remember) was this absolutely awful cheap red lipstick that I brought for £1.99 from Bodycare. Despite the quality being less than great, the colour was actually really nice and started my full blown love affair with red lips.

3. What is your favourite lipstick brand?

I only own two Mac lipsticks but I really love the quality and how it feels to own them. There is quite a hype around them and while I'm never usually one to get drawn into hypes, I feel Mac is more than worthy. If not Mac, I'd say Loreal lipsticks are my close second favourite brand. 

4. What is your most worn lipstick?

My most worn lipstick is easily the Loreal Collection Privee lipstick in Cheryl's shade. It's such a gorgeous pink that you can wear it everyday or for a night out with dark smokey eyes. I absolutely adore it. My lovely friend surprised me with it for my birthday (thank you Laura!) and I haven't looked back since.

 

5. What is your favourite finish?

I tend to think that bright lip colours can look too much with a high shine finish so I opt for matte for the really vibrant lip shades. Alhough a creamy, silky finish in natural lip colours looks good too.

 

6. What was the last lipstick you bought?

It was Rimmel Moisture Renew in Vintage Pink which was pink/plum sort of shade. I did like it but it didn't suit me so I traded it with one of my friends for her MAC Vegas Volt as it was a shade she didn't really like.

 

7. How many lip products do you currently have in your bag?

I currently have three, my Kate Moss nude in shade 3, My Loreal Colour riche Nudes in Eva and in Cheryl. Nudes are a good on the go colour as you're never at risk of applying too much and you can get away with not using a mirror if you're absolutely desperate.

8. What is your favourite red lip colour?

I am such a worshiper of red lips that I have so many but it has to be my MAC Russian Red that my lovely boyfriend brought me (thank you Stephen) as it is the perfect bright red lip. I also love a lipstick my sister brought me which comes shaped like red lips, I have no idea what the brand is but I absolutely adore it! If you recognize it please let me know, I neeed to repurchase this.

9. How do you store your lipsticks?

I currently own a beauty box which I had brought for me a few Christmas' ago. However, I'm actually having to think about makeup storage now as it is full to the brim and beginning to overfill. If there's anything you recommend please let me know as I am at a loss for what to opt for!

  

10. Which lipsticks are you currently lusting after?

Unsurprisingly it's MAC. There's several colours I want but top on my lust list is Angel, Naked Bud, See Sheer and Brave. I've also been eying up the Lime Crime lipsticks I keep seeing everywhere, gladly welcome your opinions on them!

I've really enjoyed this tag (don't I always) and tag everyone that wants to do it, leave me your links if you have, I love to have a read!

Five reasons to love Summer

Afternoon everyone, I hope that whilst I've been stuck in bed nursing a hangover, you've been out and about doing something useful. In little old Aberystwyth, we are starting to see a glimmer of  Spring on it's way (between bouts of rain and bitter cold.) The smallest ray of sunshine and I'm lost to daydreams of bikinis, beaches and barbecues. So I thought what better way to get excited for summer than a reminder of just some of the reasons to love it. I think we can safely say that everyone has more than enough of winter now, we need some sunshine!

1. Beautiful Beaches
When I was younger, I always used to have a tanned back and no tan anywhere else. This was because whilst other people were sunbathing of splashing in the sea, I was crouched over some rock pool looking for the creatures that call them home. Entirely the reason I began my love affair with the ocean. Now I'm a little older, I still make time for a relaxing swim in the ocean and a cheeky sunbathe here and there. There's something about the beach, you get a feeling you just can't get anywhere else (how cheesy is that!)

2. Cute Bikinis and clothes
I adore summer clothing and eagerly await the days where maxi dresses and skater skirts start flooding the stores. I love that in summer you're able to put on a bikini, throw over a dress and some flip flops and you're good to go and beach ready. My bikini collection is border line ridiculous and yet I still find myself lusting after new ones every year. I've already started the ordeal of getting my bod bikini ready, feel the burnnnn. This year I want to pick up lots of little skater dresses in cute colours or with pretty floral patterns for everyday wear, I'm getting excited for summer just thinking about it!

3. Tanned skin
This year I'm planning to go away with the boyfriend and our only specification so far is that it's hot hot hot. I cannot express how much I love having tanned skin and golden limbs, even the process of sunbathing is just a relaxing experience for me. Now don't get me wrong, I understand the dangers of tanning and always aim to do so as safely as possible. That being said, there's no greater feeling that coming in from the pool and seeing those cheeky tan lines begin to emerge. I feel so much more confident with a tan, my eyes appear bluer and hopefully this year, I'll be a blonde for summer too, yay!

4. Low Maintenance Beauty
During the cold winter months surrounding Christmas, it's okay to don all things glitter and fur and adopt a darker lip. However, in summer, I like to strip it all back where au' natural is best. Walking out the door with wavy, barely styled hair and minimal makeup. This year, I'm keeping my eyes peeled for a flower headband, how cute do the ones above look? All you have to maintain is chip free painted toes and fuzz free legs and you're good to go.

5. Holidays Abroad
What better point to land on than the best. Summer is the perfect excuse to get away. Last year I was incredibly lucky as I went away five times during summer including a cruise. Safe to say last summer was one to remember and I aim to make 2014 the same. By summer of this year, I will have finished university, hopefully have begun the world of work and passed the four year mark with my lovely boyfriend. So to celebrate we've said we're going to go away on a couples holiday and I cannot wait. My friends have also asked about us going on a girls holiday so fingers crossed it goes ahead. Seeing the world and exploring different cultures is the only real way to experience summer.

So my lovely readers, I hope I have passed on the summer daydreams to you and that like me you're counting down the days until summer. Are you going away anywhere nice? Or do you know of a good couples holiday, let me know!

Coley & Gill Aroma Lamp & Tealight Set

Good afternoon all, hope you're having a good start to the week. We're two days in and already I am feeling so stressed out.  I am in my third year of my Marine & Freshwater degree (which you probably already know from other stress-related ramblings) and have my dissertation in the pipeline, coursework and the post-uni world of work looming. So this may explain to you the sudden purchase of this gorgeous Coley & Gill Aroma Lamp & Tealight Set.

I am never usually a 'candle' loving sort of person (is anyone really or have I made this up?) and so decided I'd pick one up to fragrance my university room and hopefully create a stress free environment. This lovely little set came wrapped up like a little gift, with gold ribbon and an instructions booklet, I'm only sorry I didn't take a picture before I ripped it open. If like me, you're a complete 'tea light set' novice, it may help you to know that while the candle burns away in the alcove, a fragrant oil mixed with water (which you do yourself in this case) is sat in the top. The candle heats it up causing it to evaporate (ooh science) which fragrances the room it's in.

I have to admit, for a tiny tea light set such as this one, I really wasn't expecting it to work at all. You can imagine my surprise when I returned to my room five minutes later to it smelling of Vanilla, after just a few drops of the fragrant oil. You can safetly assume that I am more than pleased with this product and it looks so gorgeous in it's new home atop my fireplace. The best part is you can replace the oils and candle with other fragrances when you get bored, I have my eye on fresh linen next.

So, do you want to know the best part about this little set? It cost just £1. Yes, you didn't read that incorrectly, I picked up this little cutie at my local Poundland, can you believe it? A bargain like this just had to be shared! Who knew that Poundland had something to offer the beauty blogging world?

Are you totally astounded by the value of this little gem? Have you got any bargains to share, as always leave in the comments below, I love reading!

Valentines trip to Varsity

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Valentines has been and gone, I'm blinking and missing 2014! I hope you all had an amazing Valentines day, whatever you lovely readers got up to. The boyfriend and I are not usually big Valentines celebrators, we prefer to go full hog on our anniversary instead (4 years this may, woohoo). That being said, when we realized the weekend we were seeing each other fell on V-day, we knew we had to do something!

Aberystwyth has so many great pubs and places to eat so making the decision as to where to go was quite a mission let me tell you. In the end we settled for the Varsity pub as it was close by (useful as the weather was rubbish) and the food is always good. They had a deal on for two meals and a bottle of wine £15.95. In the end, we couldn't resist the rest of the food on the menu and when I heard a bottle of Kopparberg softly calling my name, how could I resist? The hunters chicken I had was literally a taste sensation. If you go to Aberystwyth for no other reason, you will not be wasting your time. Stephen tucked in to a BBQ Bacon & Cheese Burger and though he wouldn't let me take a photograph, he assured me it was quite delicious.

The meal was fantastic and the company even more so, I'm only sorry it's already over! So only a short post from me today as the lovely boyfriend wants me to watch Brooklyn nine-nine, apparently really funny. This post has given me an idea though, before I leave university, I plan to do a full review of all the best places to go in Aberystwyth. Hope you all had a lovely day!

Monthly Favourites// January

 

Hello gorgeous readers, hope you have all had a brilliant weekend! I am astounded by the fact we are a week in February already?! I feel like I celebrated new year like yesterday, does anyone else feel like this? Anyway, disbelief aside, I bring you my January favorites! If you are an avid reader of my blog, you will have most definitely seen these products before as I am currently obsessed with them! So keep reading for my January favourites!

Rimmel Kate Moss Lipsticks in Shade 03 (Link) and Shade 101 (Link)
I brought the Kate lipstick in 03 a while ago and have been in love with it ever since. I wear it in the day, for meals out, nights out and always. You can see how much I have been using it by the state the lipstick is in, not pretty! Since I knew how much I loved shade 3, I found myself drawn to the 'Kate' sections of the Rimmel stands and before I knew it I had Shade 101 in my basket, oops! As expected the colour is a gorgeous soft pink, it's a beautiful quality and the pigmentation is amazing. I haven't worn it all that much lately, simply because I've been using shade 03 so much but I have my eye on it for a cute night out makeup look.

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair 1 (Link)
I had never really had much experience with concealers and was completely stumped as to what to buy. There seem to be a lot of different types that all have different applications and finishes. I found myself needing one after the university lifestyle of nights out, dealines and little sleep was playing havoc on my skin. After doing a good deal of research, I found this little beauty coming up time and time again. I haven't been disappointment as this is a heavy duty concealer, a perfect match for my under eye bags. I've even taken to using it for contouring as it really brightens the under eye area. Again, you can tell it's had some use as the label on the tube has completely worn off. Again, oopsie!

 

Rimmel 60 Seconds Nail varnish in Mary Mary Quite Contrary (Link)

You may recognize this lavender looking beauty from a recent Beauty Haul post I recently blogged about. It really is the most beautiful lilac shade and I've found the finish of the Rimmel 60 second range to be better than most, especially when this pretty little thing costs just £3.69. So easily affordable as a pocket money purchase. For gorgeous spring time nails, look no further. 

Barry M Kohl Pencil in White (Link)

I hadn't thought to include this product until last minute as I've found myself reaching for this everyday without really noticing. On early mornings when I'm getting ready for lectures and I'm still half asleep, this little beauty does wonders in making my eyes appear big, bright and awake. It is really deeply pigmented and I only need around two 'coats' to build up a bright white colour. The only thing I dislike about this product is the clumpy appearance it can give your bottom lashes if you accidentally get this on them. Overall though, I have been loving using this product and for £2.99 you can't really complain.

Maxfactor Face Finity All Day Flawless 3in1 Foundation in Beige (Link)

If you've been reading my blog, you will have heard me go on and on about this foundation. I first heard it described as a holy grail foundation and was truly intrigued. Since buying it, I have been wearing it everyday and have adored the look it gives my skin. I wont say anything more as not only have I already blogged about it (you can read that here) but I have been talking non-stop about it ever since. Put simply, It's love.

That's all for my January Favourites. Have you tried any of these products and is it love for you too?