Review: 17 Photo Flawless Primer

Like many bloggers, I got the Porefessional sample free with Glamour mag earlier this year. I really really liked it and realised how much difference a primer can make to your overall make up. No matter how good it is I really couldn't afford to purchase the full size so I settled for this much cheaper alternative. 

The primer costs just £4.99 and as you know with Boots the make up is often on offer (I bought it as part of a buy one get one half price offer). At the moment if you spend £5.99 on 17 you get a free smokey eye palette. 

The primer itself looks like silicone but feels really silky and is so so soft. It blends onto your skin to make what feels like a protective layer and definitely makes a better base for make up. I'd also agree with the claim that it minimises pores, I presume it stops your make up clogging them up too. It does come in quite a small tube but I think considering the price it's still great value for money and a little of this goes a long way. This is something I'd definitely repurchase.

Do you use primer? Which brand do you prefer?

Lauren x 

Cosmetics Haul November 2012

I'm still trying not to spend or at least keep it to a minimum, but here are some things I picked up in town last week. 

I really needed some shampoo but knew I had an Avon one on the way, so I bought this double pack of shampoo and conditioner for £1.49 in Savers.
The Chit chat nail varnish was from Poundland, as far as I know it's their own range of make-up. They had this in quite a few different colours and I really liked this blue.
17 Miracle matte powder £5.49 - having a bit of a problem with the balance of my combination skin at the moment so hopefully this will control my shininess! Make-up is buy one get one half price at the moment in Boots so I also got 17 Photo Flawless Primer - this is my replacement for my Porefessional sample. I'm not expecting it to be as good but it's a fraction of the price at £5 and because of the offer I only paid £2.50.
Natural Collection Corrector Stick - I've seen this on other blogs and wanted to try it out because I'm intrigued. It was £2ish and with that I got a black cherry nail varnish which ended up costing around £1.
Last but not least, Burt's lip balm with pomegranate oil. I like to have a lot of lip balms on the go so I can have one in each bag/pocket/room pretty much.

Not bad for around £15. I just need to get my arse into gear and buy some blimmin Christmas presents now.

Lauren x 

17 Peep Show Mascara Review

If you read my review on 17 Va Va Voom mascara then you would have seen that I really liked it and because they worked out at £2 each I also bought two others from the range. One of these is Peep Show and I've been using it for about a month now. 

The packaging's so pretty!

After really liking Va Va Voom I have to be honest I was a little bit disappointed with Peep Show. With the promise of lengthening fibres which you would usually find in more expensive mascaras, I was quite interested to see the results. I'd seen a really expensive mascara and base coat with these types of fibres on QVC and the results looked amazing. 

The first time I used it I was impressed, I could see the fibres and how they were kind of attaching to my lashes. I found though that the more I've used it the less I've liked it. I'm not a fan of having a lot of claggy mascara on the wand and that happens a lot with this, normally I'd wipe it off against the top of the tube, but that just isn't possible with this because of the nature of the mascara. 

I also find that more often than not my mascara is ending up looking clumpy; the fibres are okay if they attach to the end of your lashes but if they hang around elsewhere they get in the way and join your lashes up. Perhaps you really need some kind of lash base to get the full effect from it. 

Some days I think this mascara looks good, but it's still not as good as others I've tried from the same range. In my opinion it's very hit and miss and I won't be bothering to repurchase.

Have you tried this one or any with lengthening fibres?

Lauren x

August Empties

Hello lovelies,

Have you all enjoyed the weekend? I know it's back to school/college for some of you this week, so hope you've made the most of it! I spent the last few days hanging around at my sister's house, watching films and tv, painting our nails, walking the dogs, and just doing the usual stuff really. Anyway, on to the empties...

I've not done an 'empties' post before, but as I seemed to use several things up at once, I thought now was the time! Hopefully it'll encourage me to use up some of the things that sit around doing nothing. 

1. Avon Advance Techniques Heat Protection Spray

When Avon changed the packaging of their hair range these were going super cheap for reps, so I bought four. I use it every time I blow dry/straighten/curl my hair. I can't exactly tell if it works, but my hair doesn't look damagaed and it gives me piece of mind!

2. Henara Shampoo

I picked this up cheap at a local discount store because it's meant to enhance your natural hair colour. I can't say I noticed any difference and I hate the fact that it doesn't lather up. It's also very liquidy, with no body to it. 

3. Avon anti-dandruff Volume Shampoo

I like this shampoo and would buy it again. I use it in conjunction with the Avon Volume spray and it does give my hair a bit of lift when I blow dry it after using this. 

4. 17 Va Va Voom Mascara

I did a post about this mascara earlier in the month. You can find it here. 

5. Garnier Deodorant Invisi mineral Calm

Looking at these deodorants in shops, there are so many different ones. I got this one because it has a really lovely, girly smell that lingers around. Having said this, I got a bit fed up with it by the end of the can. It is a good deodorant though and is really gentle on my skin.

6. Marks and Spencer's Cocoa Butter Lotion

I discovered a few months ago that M & S do a whole range of lotions, shower gels, bubble bath, etc, called Nature's extracts. The lotion's a light, non-greasy formula which actually feels quite thin but moisturises well. I opted for cocoa butter because I wanted something richly moisturising for my dry skin, but my mum has the lemon verbena and it smells gorgeous! 

So there you go, that's what's now in my bin. I'll be having to fish the mascara back out though as I read that the wands make excellent eyebrow brushes.

Lauren x

17 Va Va Voom Mascara from Boots

I mentioned in a recent post (here) that I've been using 17's Va Va Voom mascara. I've got on really well with it so thought I'd do a review. 

For anyone who is unfamiliar, 17 is a brand of make up that is made by the British chemist and beauty store, Boots. The range is aimed at the younger market, whereas Boots other make up brand, No.7, is aimed at a slightly older market.

This is what it looks like:

The tube is quite a chunky barrel shape similar to Avon's Supershock mascara. I like these as I find them easy to hold but I know that some people prefer something smaller and find these awkward.

My ancient camera didn't want to focus, but you get an idea of the wand.

The wand has the generic bristle brush end. It tapers ever so slightly to the end and is the type you would expect from a volumising mascara. Mine is looking quite clumpy now as the mascara's getting dry. I've been using it for a while now and I like to pump my mascara even though I know better!

The results:

left eye with mascara - right eye without

Sorry for the creepy, staring eye pic but it gives you a good idea of the difference between having it on and not. I think that it's a pretty decent mascara that does just as well as some higher end brands. Like I said, it's a little clumpy - I think this was a combo of my heavy handedness and also the fact that it's been open a quite a while now. I was pleasantly surprised by how good it is as to be honest I was expecting it to just be average. This is normally £6.29 but I bought it when all 17 mascaras were on offer for £4 and I had a £2 off mascara voucher from the advantage card machine, so it ended up costing me a mere £2!

What do you think? 

I took advantage of the offer and went back and got two other ones from the range too so look out for reviews on them in the future!

Lauren x

Mascara Bargain

I love a bargain as much as the next girl so I thought I'd share this one from Boots. This morning they put up a printable voucher on their 17 Cosmetics Facebook page offering a mascara for £1!

You can find the page by searching for '17 Cosmetics' on Facebook. 

I haven't tried this mascara before but at the moment I'm using the 17 Va Va Voom one, which is really good. At a pound I'm sure it's worth a try, just hope they have some in stock!

Lauren x