Rimmel Glam’ Eyes Eyeshadows Campaign

I wis I had known about this... looks like so much fun!

For the launch of their new eye shadow range, Glam’ Eyes Eyeshadows, Rimmel London wanted to do something a little different. Their new product launch encapsulates young, vibrant, London inspired colour and Rimmel London wanted their advertising to reflect this.


In September 2010 they set out on a mission - to find real girls who love Rimmel London to star in their latest campaign; covering TV, Press, instore and online. Fans were invited to enter the competition online for the chance to be the next face of Rimmel London.

The girls were then invited down to London in November to shoot the campaign which goes live on national TV on 24th February 2011. Check out the sneak peek video behind the scenes below :).

Messy Up-Do

If you have curly hair you will understand my fear of the rain. I rarely wear my hair up, but yesterday I was too tired to style it and couldn't face the frizz in the pouring rain. I therefore decided to pin it out of the way in a messy up-do, inspired by missglamorazzi (her version of a side bun can be found here).

To create the bun I tied my hair into a side ponytail and looped it over so the hair was cinched in the middle with the hair tie. I then pinned random sections to the base of the ponytail to create a full, textured bun. If you have very straight hair you may want to curl it beforehand, but as my hair is naturally wavy it was easy to mould. I finished the bun off with a hair accessory to hide a few of the pins and add a little extra interest. This feather broach was a gift from my friend, and I think it makes just as good a hair accessory!

As my hair is layered I decided to leave the front section out, as it would invariably fall out anyway. I split this into two pieces, twisted them in opposite directions, then twisted them around each other. I then pinned the end around the bun to secure the twist.

This such a great little up-do for when you are in a rush as it takes just minutes! Since my hair is heavy, and I have a lot of it, I did use quite a few bobby pins to secure the bun, but it stayed perfectly in tact for the whole day. Let me know what you think my lovelies! xxx

Browhaus Lashes in Bloom

Lashes! 

As a girl who hasn't been blessed with naturally long, flirty lashes I have always been obsessed with them. False lashes, growth serums, old wives tales of Vaseline, I have tried my fair share! So when I was invited to try Browhaus' new Express Lash in Bloom I decided it was time for me to delve in to the world of eyelash extensions.

So on a Friday night I made my way to Floral Street in Covent Garden to get my lashes pumped up to their fullest. I was given a form to fill out with the usual checks and swiftly lead downstairs for my treatment. Lying back in the cosy chair my therapist Ellie explained the procedure in detail and answered all my questions showing great knowledge (and patience as I was curious about every step).

First she applied tape to my lower lashes to prevent them from sticking to my upper lashes. Although this did feel a little strange at first it wasn't all that uncomfortable and I soon got used to it. As I closed my eyes Ellie applied the dark glue to my lashes and began carefully adding in the clusters one by one. The whole procedure was very comfortable, there was absolutely no poking or pulling, and towards the end of the 40mins I let the soft music relax me and actually fell asleep!

As the glue dried Ellie gently fanned my lashes to speed up drying time. I then slowly started to open my eyes. Now, I have to warn you that my eyes are extremely sensitive. I have a million allergies and my eyes get irritated by the most benign of substances on a daily basis. As I opened my eyes the fumes from the glue did make them water (a lot!) and when I looked in the mirror I could see that they looked sore. The redness and irritation lasted for about half an hour, but as the glue used is an extra strong formulation that insures the lashes stay in tact for three to six weeks, this was to be expected. It was not painful at any point, just annoying as my eyes were watering. Seeing the results was definitely worth it though!

The pictures below were taken as soon as I got home. I am not wearing any eye makeup - no eyeliner, and definitely no mascara, so you can see just how amazing these lashes look!

I was given a booklet of instructions and after care tips to take with me and Ellie made me promise not to tug on my lashes as my natural ones would fall out with them (I would never, ever do that anyway lol)! I was also told that I should be very careful in cleaning them - avoiding any products that contain oils, which would start to dissolve the glue. I also had to be careful not to let them get too hot eg. in a hot shower or bath, and not to flatten them eg. by letting shower water beat down on them.

This all sounded fine until I tried to wash my face that night. I never realised before just how often I rub my eyes! As I normally use my cleanser all over I had to be very careful to keep it away from my eyes when washing my face. I also had to use an oil free makeup remover on a q-tip and sweep it very lightly across my lash line. Though the lashes are a great time saver in the morning, as I no longer have to apply mascara and can quite comfortably skip the eyeliner, at night my cleansing routine is a little more complicated and time consuming.

In the same way in the shower I try to keep my face as dry as possible. So when I (inevitably) get shampoo in my eyes it's very uncomfortable as I can't rub my eyes or rinse them under the shower. Of course this would be the same with any eyelash extensions. In fact I think the whole process has been quite (excuse the pun) 'eye opening' and I am now learning not to touch my eyes so much, and be more delicate when I do, which can only be a good thing!

This is what the lashes look like a week after application. As I write this review a week and a half later I am still sitting here with every cluster perfectly in tact.. yay! I shall update you all further on their longevity when I have them taken out (or need to have infills, I haven't decided yet).

As you can see with just a flick of eyeliner my eyes look complete. I have definitely started wearing less makeup on a day-to-day basis as the lashes look so beautiful on their own, I feel that my eyes don't need a lot of extra definition.

Browhaus are currently having a promotion where their Express Lash In Bloom is just £30 for first time customers! You can find more information about the treatment and how to book here.

Have you ever had lash extensions? What has been your experience? Are you curious about trying them? xxx

25% OFF Accesories Direct

And while I'm giving away discount codes why stop there? You can get 25% OFF any puchase on  accessoriesdirect.com with the code SPRING. You will also get free P&P with orders over £30!

I already have my eye on this beautiful clutch bag by Kate Benjamin ;).

Exclusive Feelunique Discount Code!

You may have noticed me mentioning feelunique.com in a number of my posts. I think it is a fantastic site that contains so many different products from a huge range of quality brands. Makeup, skincare, fragrance, hair, tan, men's, spa.. whatever your beauty needs you can probably find what you are looking for on this site, and with free shipping throughout Europe I would challenge you to find a better deal!

The challenge will now be even harder as  feelunique.com have kindly offered my readers an exclusive 5% discount across all products on their site. You can either enter the promotional code: FGMAKEUP at checkout or click here to navigate to the site and get the discount added automatically!

Happy shopping my lovelies! xxx

Simple small print - This voucher code cannot be used in conjunction with any other feelunique.com voucher code promotions and excludes ghds.

E.L.F. Mango Madness

I have been a fan of E.L.F. polishes for quite some time. They have a brilliant choice of colours and finishes, and at just £1.50 make the perfect guilt free purchase. With Valentine's day approaching last week I decided to switch up my french manicure for something a little more fun and romantic. I decided to go for one of the new colours in the range called Mango Madness.

In the bottle this colour is absolutely stunning - a warm pink flecked with the finest gold shimmers that glow in the light. In the past I have found ELF polished to be opaque and long wearing, however this one didn't quite live up to its promises. Mango Madness is a sheer polish, so much so that after 4 coats of colour I could still see the french manicure peeking through. It did dry very fast so by the time I was done with one hand I could reapply another coat on the other, but still I found this very arduous! I was also surprised that it dried fairly matte and the gold shimmer wasn't as visible as it had been in the bottle. I topped it off with my trusty Seche Vite, but as you can see the results weren't quite as vibrant as I had expected.

Excuse the ridiculous amount of growth, I am overdue for infills! This photo was taken a week after application so there has been some considerable tip wear. However, you can see just how sheer the polish is after 4 coats of colour, and how different it look on the nails as opposed to in the bottle - I would say it is more of an orangey coral than a peachy pink.

I have never had this before with ELF polishes, and to tell you the truth it's not something that worries me since I still like the colour, and if I didn't have french tips underneath it would be opaque enough to cover the natural markings on my nails. I maintain my love of these polishes and will continue to purchase and recommend them regardless of this minor mishap as they are fantastic value for money. Check them out here!

Have you tried any ELF polishes? What have been you experiences? Do yo have any favourites? xxx

17 Mirror Shine On Lipstick

During a recent trip to Boots I spotted the 17 Mirror Shine On lipstick display and couldn't resist a quick swatch! I have noticed these lipsticks mentioned on a couple of blogs, but as 17 is a brand I'm not terribly familiar with my expectations were not all that high.

I was therefore surprised by just how wonderful the texture of these lipsticks was - glossy, creamy and sheer while still delivering a juicy burst of colour. I chose to go for the natural shade of Belle as I thought it would be perfect for work.

Belle is a beautiful, full rosy pink that really has that natural 'my lips but better' look and I absolutely adore it. Its a perfect lipstick for every day that works effortlessly with any eye look.

(Apologies for the washed out colours in this photo)

At just £4.59 it makes a great dupe for many high end lipsticks and is comparable in formulation to MAC slimshines and Chanel Rouge Coco Shines. They are available at Boots stores nationwide, and can be found here online. Definitely worth a look!

Have you tried the 17 Mirror Shine On lipsticks? Let me know your favourites as I will be picking up a few more shades to review soon! xxx

Introducing... Batiste Tones

When I was told that my beloved Batiste Brunette was to be phased out I almost panicked. I have tried many a dry shampoo, but this has always been a favourite. Dry shampoo is a hair essential due to its versatility and speed in adding texture, volume and making third day hair presentable again. So let me introduce you to Batiste's latest offering... Tones.

The three tones - light, medium and dark are designed to blend with all hair colours. Initially I was unsure of which would be most suitable for my hair, so I was sent both the medium and dark to test out. Prepare yourself for probably the most hideous swatches to have ever been shown on a beauty blog ;).

As you can see dark is a deep, rich brown/ black, while medium is a warm toned brown. Medium works perfectly on my hair, but I think it would also suit red hair pretty well. As with all Batistes a little goes a long way, so the colour is not as visible as above, and I could easily use the dark too. The application with the tones is the real selling point as there is no white powder left behind that has to be disguised. Spray and go!

Have you tried the new Batiste tones? xxx

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*Witch Giveaway*

Some of you may have already read my recent post on the Witch Skincare Challenge, if not you can find it here. So to introduce you all to this new cosmetics line what could be better than a giveaway?

All you have to do to enter is pick your favourite duo and write a comment below! Witch are kindly providing 20 sets for this giveaway, so get entering ladies (one entry per duo please, so you can enter up to 4 times, UK entrants only please)!!

• Prize no. 1 - Primer + Exfoliating wash

Witch Anti-blemish Skin Clearing Primer is designed to help prepare your skin for foundation by mattifying and absorbing excess oils, providing a smooth, silky base that helps you achieve an even and long lasting finish with any foundation or powder. Added to this, the Witch Anti-blemish Skin Clearing Primer also helps prevent and target blemishes by protecting skin from the layers of makeup which can cause or aggravate blemishes. This primer works well in creating a barrier between your skin and makeup, it's great at controlling oil too!

• Prize No. 2 -Tinted Moisturiser + Wipes

Witch Anti-blemish Tinted Moisturiser is available in three shades, light, medium and dark. Formulated for oily/combination skin it mattifies skin, helping to control shine and target spots and breakouts. This tinted moisturiser is fairly sheer, so it would be perfect for sunny summer days when you want a little bit of light coverage!

• Prize No. 3 - Powder + Anti blemish stick

Witch Anti-blemish Pressed Powder helps target spots and breakouts by absorbing excess oils and controlling shine. It is designed to give a natural medium coverage of imperfections and to visibly refine pores, giving an even skin tone. Antibacterial actives help clarify the skin. Although the colour of this powder is very light, I have seen it applied to different skintones and it works beautifully, without creating a white cast. A little goes a long way too!

•  Prize No. 4 - Primer + Wipes

Who doesn't need wipes? These are one of my favourites as they are gentle, yet effective at removing makeup and freshening up on the go!

 

The giveaway will run for 2 weeks, but if we don't manage to find a loving home for all these fabulous duos by the 2nd of March I shall hold a few flash twitter giveaways too. 

Good luck my lovelies! xxx

Perfect Valentine's Day Makeup

A little late to go up here, but this look is great for any event, not just Valentine's!

Products used in this video:
．Bourjois - So Rouge Ready To Wear Lipstick - # 32 Fashion Rouge http://uk.strawberrynet.com/makeup/bo...

．Benefit - Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner - # Recess http://uk.strawberrynet.com/makeup/be...
．Benefit - Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner - # Carte Blanche http://uk.strawberrynet.com/makeup/be...
．Benefit - Thrrob Turned On Face Powder http://uk.strawberrynet.com/makeup/be...
．Estee Lauder - Double Wear Light Stay In Place Makeup SPF10 - # 10 ( Intensity 1.0 ) http://uk.strawberrynet.com/makeup/es...

Hope you all had a perfect Valentine's day my lovelies! After roses being delivered to work and a three course meal being cooked I can't complain ;). xxx

I want you, I need you, oh baby, oh baby

This weekend in between writing law essays, revising and generally stressing about my current workload I have been obsessing over the most beautiful bag - the Oversized Mulberry Alexa in Mini Patent Leopard.

I'm not a huge fan of Mulberry, though I appreciate the brand; neither am I partial to Alexa Chung, I find her as dull as any matchstick, but this bag.. oh this bag! Classic, black, leopard, patent, roomy - it may as well be called the Natalya.

I have found one on ebay, but with 2 days to go it's already up to £550... oh the misery of lust! I. Can't. Stop. Dreaming. About. It. Help!

Perfect Valentine's Day Gifts

Panicking about what to buy your loved one this Valentine's day? Do not fret! The bf and I have been hectically reviewing products to find the perfect gifts for you. Though don't tell him that's what all these presents have been for, he just thinks I'm really generous ;).

First up are Gifts for Him.

A fragrance always makes a lovely present. So why not treat him to a new scent this Valentine's day? Over the past few weeks we have been liberally spritzing ourselves with Paco Rabanne 1 Million. With notes of peppermint and blood mandarin mingled with cinnamon and rose absolute, with a touch of leather, this is a masculine fragrance with a modern twist. Sexy and deep, yet not too heavy, it's easy to wear and versatile. I am told that this is currently a very popular fragrance, and I can see why!

If your man is a little hesitant (or just plain lazy) when it comes to skincare, why not introduce him to an easy and effective routine gently? There are many kits out there designed to give you a taste of the products on offer, and this can be a great way to nudge him along, while letting him chose a few favourites. The Liz Earle Men's Try-Me kit has four travel size products in a handy re-usable wash bag including the amazing Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser (with muslin cloth), Sensitive Shave Cream, After-Shaving Moisturiser and Face & Body Wash all for £15.60.

The bf has developed a particular soft spot for the Shave Essentials kit (£28.35). He already likes Liz Earle, after constant thieving of my products (deep marks from greedy fingers digging around in my moisturiser are a deadly giveaway!) and he has not been disappointed by the 'manly' products. He tells me that the Sensitive Shave Cream and After-Shaving Moisturiser make for a smooth and comfortable shave.

Why not add some fun to Valentine's day? Men are encouraged to purchase us sexy underwear, so why not turn the tables on him with some novelty pants? These ones from ASOS are just too cheesy not to love ;).

Gifts for You, Both of You

I always like to by a gift for Valentine's that we can both share. Let's keep it clean now ladies... 

Why not treat yourself to a beautiful candle to set the mood? I was recently sent the Thalgo Indoceane Relaxing Scented Candle (£16.50), which promises to burn for 50 hours. I have noticed that even after about 6 hours of burning it still looks very full, so fingers crossed it lasts forever lol! Not only does this candle look gorgeous, it smells divine with spicy Indian notes of Coriander, Cardamom and Incense on a tender, enchanting base of Patchouli.

If you are planning a romantic night in you may want to indulge in Linden Leaves Aromatherapy Synergy Body Oil (£16.20). I have been testing out 'In Love Again' with organic rosehip and avocado oils blended with pure sweet almond and apricot kernel oils, enriched with vitamin E and infused with a sensual blend of neroli, vanilla and sandalwood this oil smells absolutely delicious. The packaging is also unique with tamrillo and strawberry floating inside the bottle. This natural oil is perfect for daily use after bathing or showering in place of a lotion, especially for dry skin. It also works especially well as a soothing massage oil or bath oil ;).

I hope you all have a lovely Valentine's day! What gifts will you be purchasing this year for your loved one? xxx

I Whip My Hair Back and Forth

Hairspray isn't the most exciting of topics, but it is the one product that unites us ladies. Whether you are a low maintenance girl (which I doubt as you are reading this lol) who is hiding a can of Elnett in the back of her bathroom cupboard for 'special occasions', or one of my friends who carries an industrial size Tre Semme in her handbag (you know who you are) we all need a little bit of hairspray every now and again.

Having tried a gazillion different hairsprays I have stumbled on one that fits my needs perfectly. It holds hair really well without being crunchy or sticky, doesn't smell awful and make me feel slightly faint if I over do it, is affordable (£1.99 for 175ml) and pink! I have noticed that it keeps frizz at bay efficiently when straightening and works hard to maintain my style throughout a long night. In fact after curling my hair for a night of 'whipping my hair back and forth' (I mean dancing, I don't know what you were thinking!) the curls were still pretty much in tact the next morning, which is more than could be said for the rest of me lol ;).

Phil Smith's Xtravagant hairspray promises to be long lasting, give a brilliant shine and a firm, but natural hold and it delivers. Now if only we could all find a man who will do the same!

Have you tried the Xtravagant hairspray or any other products from the Phil Smith range? xxx

Witch Anti-blemish Cosmetics

Recently I took part in the ultimate skincare challenge - a fun filled week of activities designed to test Witch's new anti-blemish cosmetic range. I am a long time fan of Witch products, having used their witch hazel oil control foaming face wash religiously throughout my teens, so I was excited to see what their new cosmetics had in store!

As someone who has oily skin will tell you - makeup and oils do not mix too well. I have always had oily/combination sensitive skin, and despite now peeking into my mid twenties (I'm 24.. gasp!) I still have the skin of a spotty teenager - unpredictable! Witch hazel is a fantastic ingredient that has always worked well for me as it is astringent (tightens the skin), hemostatic (reduces blood loss/ inflammation) and contains a range of antioxidants.

The cosmetic range aims to still deliver all the benefits of witch hazel skincare in makeup. I think this is a brilliant idea, especially as there is growing concern over the various ingredients used in cosmetics. If you put effort into your skincare routine, why not extend it into your beauty regime and make sure that all the products you use not only make your skin look good by covering imperfections, but also targeting the problems?

So to thoroughly test the new range we embarked on a week of challenges. On day one we met up for some drinks, nibbles and introductions to our fellow bloggers, the Witch team and of course the range.  We were also colour matched - no surprises there, tinted moisturiser in No.1 light for me! However, I was impressed to see that the translucent pressed powder worked well on all skin tones without casting a white veil.

On the second night the girlies had a shopping experience, to test how the makeup would stand up under bright lights and the pressure of Oxford street's Primark. As I was in Paris for work I wasn't able to witness the madness for myself ;).

On Wednesday night we embarked on the biggest challenge of all - a dance class at Pineapple studios! If our makeup could last an hour of (perfectly) synchronized Gilrs Aloud routines it wouldn't fail us on a night out.

I chose to wear the Skin Clearing Primer under my usual foundation and was happy to see that after more than a little perspiration it was holding up well as the curtain fell ;). Those wearing the tinted moisturiser were impressed how well it had lasted too.

On Thursday we had a jazz filled night at Ronnie Scott’s, in the heart of Soho. The lights were low, the music was loud, but we still managed to fill the room with our makeup chit-chatter.

Friday came all too quickly, and while I was attending my best friend's 25th the girlies were feasting on Byron burgers - I was more than a little jealous! Our pick of the top Witch products in this new line were the primer and the concealer (which is currently residing in my bag).

Of course it wouldn't be much of a challenge if my lovely readers were not able to take part and test the cosmetics for themselves, so in my next post I will be giving away 20 sets (!!!) of products from the new anti-blemish range!

To learn more about Witch's new cosmetic range you can visit their website here. Do have a look at the 'witch challenge' section to see more photos and information about our escapades!

Have you ever tried Witch products? What are your thoughts on anti-blemish makeup? xxx

Aveda Smooth Infusion - The Products

As my final installment in the Aveda Smooth Infusion series I wanted to review the products that make up the range and share with your my experiences in testing these out over the last four weeks.

Before I get into too much detail let me give you my overall impression. The Aveda Smooth Infusion range sets out to protect hair from humidity and banish frizz. On my wavy/ curly frizz prone hair I noticed a marked difference while using these products. Firstly, my hair was much smoother and had less texture and curl when left to dry naturally. Personally I prefer a little volume, and though I wouldn't say that these products weighed my hair down, they definitely made it more sleek. When used in conjunction with heat styling I noticed that (despite my best efforts) my hair didn't frizz as much as it normally would, however if I left my hair to air dry there were still quite a few flyaways to be found. Therefore, I think these products would be best suited to someone with frizz-prone hair who wants their sleek look to last a few hours longer, without having to worry about humidity. If you are someone who religiously straightens their hair this would be the perfect range as it will reduce the time needed for styling, protect from heat damage and ensure your style lasts!

The Shampoo contains an exclusive plant infusion—a blend derived from organic aloe, maize and guar bea to create a smooth new hair surface. Not only does this shampoo smell fantastic (herbal yet fresh) it gives a really lovely soft lather that feels moisturising and in no way strips the hair. As with most Aveda products this is great for use on a sensitive scalp, or dry, colour treated hair as it cleanses effectively while being gentle.

The Conditioner has a slightly stronger, more spicy smell than the shampoo, which is in-keeping with the range. Its rich texture makes it easy to use as both an everyday and a leave in conditioner. I tend to overdo it with conditioners, so the narrow nozzle made it easier to control the amount I was getting as you really don't need very much.

The Style-Prep Smoother contains hydrolized wheat protein to protect against surface damage from heat styling and organic tapioca to defend against humidity for up to 12 hours. I use 3-5 pumps of this (as I have quite a lot of hair) and spread it throughout the ponytail section of my hair. The formulation of this is very smooth, and not at all sticky, so it spreads easily and evenly throughout the hair. Since I am pretty lazy when it comes to hair, especially as I mostly wash it just before bed, I like the fact that this is a multi-functional product that tames, battles frizz and protects against heat styling damage.

The Glossing Straightener, as all other products in this range, smells lovely - a fresh yet spicy citrus-floral blend with rose oil and certified organic bergamot, palmarosa and Australian sandalwood. It contains natural cellulose to deliver long-lasting hold and maintain a straight style all day. However, as I rarely straighten my hair I have had less use of this product. The few times that I have straightened my hair with a flat iron I have noticed that my hair looked a little more shiny, though I can't be sure if this is due to the straightener, or the whole combination! I have however tried this on the ends of dry hair for a little 'pick me up' and it works well at defining sections, or applied sparingly throughout to reduce frizz.

I hope this review is helpful to some of my wild hair beauties - I will definitely be using these products in future when I am going for a straight style. Usually when I straighten my hair I leave it for 3 days before washing and it has always been a stretch. However, the Smooth Infusion range has really helped my style last longer, and anything that saves time on two work mornings deserves praise from me! If you missed my 'results' post with before and after photos you can check it out here.

Let me know your thoughts on any of these products... I have been impressed by Aveda and am keen to try their range for curly hair next!


*This post was sponsored by Aveda as part of a month long challenge to see how the products perform*

Guilty Pleasures

After a weekend of revision and not much else Monday feels just that little bit more painful. So tonight I will definitely be treating myself to one of my guilty pleasures - E!



Be it Keeping Up with the Kardashians or Kendra, it's the perfect way for me to mindlessly unwind after a long day. Some people take baths, others drink wine or ice-cream, the ones I envy play sport, but I watch trash lol.

What's your guilty pleasure my lovelies? xxx

OOTD - Tassels

While browsing through my wardrobe on Saturday night I stumbled upon one of my favourite little LBDs. This dress always reminds me of the scene where Carey goes on her first date with her Russian 'luva' (Mikhail Borishnokov).

Tassels, fringing, whatever you may call it, they make the perfect dancing partner!

For makeup, I stuck to a basic smokey eye using MAC bronze and espresso eyeshadows, with a natural lip gloss from Beaute.

Being short on time I left my hair natural, but added volume by blasting it with a hairdryer with my head upside down and tying it up in a bun while it cooled (leaving time for makeup). If you have naturally wavy hair this is a great trick to add some movement and bounce!

Do you have a secret love of tassels? xxx

Work It Out: Instalment Vingt-Huit

Sometimes it's fun to add a little splash of colour. I call this my Charlotte (Sex and the City) dress ;).

 Berham Dress: Hobbs. Patent leather belt: M&S.

Despite being sleeveless this boiled wool dress is super warm and cosy. As many Hobbs dresses it is designed for the classic English pear shape - skimming over any lumps and bumps, while accentuating a slimmer waist. Luckily as the material has a good amount of stretch it works well on a bigger bust too, plus the fuller skirt creates some balance. It's currently in the sale in graphite, purple, red and storm as above.

Eyeko Big Eyes Mascara

The search for the perfect mascara is a quest that every woman embarks on. I am yet to find the ideal, though some have come close!  Recently I have been testing out the Eyeko Big Eyes mascara RRP £8.50.

When this sample first arrived at my door I wasn't too sure what to expect. Firstly this mascara stands out as it is packaged in a squeezable tube, more like a lipbalm or toothpaste than a mascara. I think this is a great idea, many a morning have I spent pumping and wriggling dried up mascara in the hopes of

scraping some off the sides; with this you can just squeeze the tube so none is wasted. The brush is pretty thin, with loosely packed spiral bristles. This is great for precision and grabbing every lash, as well as the bottom lashes. However, as the formula of this mascara is rather 'wet' it doesn't separate the lashes well enough and they do tend to stick together and can look a bit clumpy. To overcome this problem I have been using it with a different wand (L'ancome Hypnose) and with a more dense brush it works perfectly. I think that given a few weeks the Eyeko brush could work well too as the mascara starts to thicken a little as it dries.

As you can see the formula is a fantastic deep black, and the mascara does lengthen and volumise, while retaining the natural curl to my lashes. The above was taken after 2 coats.

The Eyeko mascara lasts well throughout the day without flaking or smudging, though it can be a little difficult to remove as it disintegrates into pieces, rather than dissolving. As far as drugstore mascaras go I do think it's a good formulation if you are looking for a dramatic lash look, I just wish the brush was fuller so it would separate my lashes.  Have you tried Eyeko's Big Eyes Mascara? Let me know what you think! xx