September Favourites...

Hi Everyone!

So it's that time again where I show you some of the things that I have been loving in the month of September. This month has been really busy for me so trying to juggle work, blogging and YouTube has been somewhat difficult. I'm trying my best so bear with me!

So the first items on my are beauty related (shock!)

The first item on my list is Ariana Grande's new perfume called "Sweet Like Candy". This is her third fragrance in her line after Ari and Frankie, unfortunately you can't get Frankie in the Uk so I was super happy when I saw Sweet Like Candy in stores here! I bought the 50ml bottle for £30 from Boots. This was on special promotion when I got it which meant I also got a water bottle and some fluffy pyjama shorts for free! The perfume has a sweet scent and is quite long lasting on the skin. If you want a full review on this product, then just click here.

My second favourite this month is the Garnier 24hr Hydrating Face Cream enriched with Rose Water. I only got this because it was part of a promotion when you bought a micellar cleansing water, but I am very happy with the purchase. It leaves your skin feeling very soft and hydrated. If you have dry skin like me, then you will definitely love this product, my face feels moisturised for the whole day. I have also noticed a change in my skin since using it, my skin no longer feels tight or dehydrated.

I'm now going to move onto fashion items. The one thing I have been obsessed with this month are bomber jackets! I picked up a thin sateen jacket in the sale from New Look for £12. It has cream sleeves and a black body with floral print, I'm totally in love with it! It's coming into autumn now, my favourite time of year, which means jackets are becoming a necessity but thick winter coats aren't. This jacket is perfect to throw on for those chilly mornings but still thin enough to not make you overheat during the day.

Due to my love of this jacket, I treated myself to a thicker bomber jacket, again from New Look for £24.99. I got it in a deep burgundy colour, perfect for Autumn. It goes really well with any outfit and is super warm.

Another favourite of mine this month are these 'Old Skool' Vans my Dad got me from America. I've been wanting these for ages after living in my Disney vans and I'm so happy that they didn't let me down! I chose to get them in black to make them more versatile outfit wise. They are so comfy and I wear them all the time.

My next favourite is a bit random, and that is Oreos! Again, I asked my dad to pick me up some Oreos from America as they do lots of crazy flavours that we don't have over here. I asked for Birthday Cake and Cinnamon Bun flavour. I only asked for two and my Dad went a bit over board with 6 packets, I mean it's safe to say that I didn't complain!

My final favourites are music favourites!

The first is Defying Gravity from the musical, Wicked. I have been obsessed with this song ever since I saw Colleen perform and now I am constantly singing it. When I'm doing things around, I will randomly burst into song - kinda embarrassing really!

My next music favourite is Jason's Song (Gave it Away) by Ariana Grande, let me tell you that this song is a bop! I can't stop listening to it!

So those were my favourites, what were yours?

Ellie xx

Instagram: cottoncxndyheart
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/HeartbeatEllie/featured

Introducing...Boots Emporium!

Hi everyone!

So today I wanted to talk about something very exciting which is happening at Boots! Available in 30 stores and online is the brand new Boots Beauty Emporium!

The Emporium is a premium beauty area which displays all the latest products and trends to always keep you up to date. It also has lots of different makeup and skincare tips. These are displayed via the electronic screens which also show clips from London Fashion Week and advertise new products. The main aim of the Emporium is too experiment with the latest trends and brands in beauty right now.

The whole feel of the Emporium is very luxury with white surfaces and mirrored sides. It feels clean and smart, making it very appealing to its target audience. Following the beauty theme, the Emporium has specific stations set up for customers to have makeovers and advice from consultants from Benefit and No7. This includes the opportunity to try out the No7 match made service - something I would really recommend!

Moving through the Emporium, you will find the "Test and Play" station. This consists of key makeup essentials for lips, eyes, eyebrows and nails. All products are laid out neatly to make it super easy to find the product perfect for you. Testers are also available to help you make the right choice. On the shelves below, you will find a range of makeup brushes and bags to go with your chosen product. I think this completes the whole shopping experience.

One of my favourite areas of the Emporium is the "build your own palette" station. This side has a huge array of eyeshadows (£2 each) and highlighters, blushes and contours (£3 each), all from a brand called Makeup Obsession which appears to be very similar to Makeup Revolution. The colours are really pretty and the product is super pigmented. You can either buy them all individually or buy an empty palette to put them in. The palettes come in two sizes to fit 12 and 6. The type of palette available does vary between store, but the full range is available online at Boots.com.

Next to this, you will also find beauty miniatures from Benefit and Estee Lauder, which you can buy 3 for £25 along with your chosen gift box - an ideal present!

Moving along to the final area of the Emporium, and one I am most excited for - the gift wrapping/engraving station! It is here where the personalised present ideas really come in to play! Any product you buy in-store can be engraved for an extra £3. You can engrave anything from someone's name, too a long Christmas message. I think this adds such a special touch as is makes the product more unique to its recipient.

The engraving does work best on glass objects such as perfume bottles but equally makes plastic and metal objects look great too. Whether you engrave a gift for a friend or make your own makeup collection more unique too you, the engraving machine is really worth checking out!

Personalised ribbon is another great way to make a gift more special to receive. You can write any message onto a ribbon (maximum 75 characters) and print off to fit either a small (£4), medium (£5) or large (£6) gift box. The colours come in pink or grey.

 Adding a more personal touch to a perfect gift will really make someones day.

Whether your store has the full Emporium or just a gondola end, I would really recommend checking the products out. Its the ideal opportunity with Christmas just around the corner. You can find out more details at Boots.com/Emporium where you can also watch tutorials on the latest beauty trends.

Don't forget to share your look by using #BootsBeauty on Instagram to be in with the chance of appearing on the selfie wall!


Ellie x

Ariana Grande: Sweet Like Candy Perfume Review...

Hey everybody!

So I recently picked up Ariana's new perfume 'Sweet Like Candy' after waiting for ages for it to be released in the Uk. I already have her other perfume, 'Ari', which I love, so I had high hopes for this one too. I got the 50ml bottle which retails for £30 at Boots.

I think the packaging for this product is really cute! She is still following the same theme with all her perfume bottles which I think brings the brand together nicely. I like that you can take the pom pom off of the bottles, this makes it easier for travelling and allows you to put the pom pom on other things if you wish too. The only downfall which the packaging for 'Sweet Like Candy', is that you cannot see into the bottle. Therefore you have no idea when you are running out, so you just have to guess. This is an inconvenience but it wouldn't put me off buying the product.

The scent is a lot sweeter compared to her first perfume and again is quite hard to describe. I find that this perfume also lasts a lot longer on your skin compared to her other one. This is better as you are getting more for your money because you are not wasting as much product. I don't know whether Ariana has changed the formula to make it more long lasting or if it is due to the scent being a lot sweeter and stronger.

When you buy the 50ml or 100ml 'Sweet Like Candy' perfume from Boots, you also get a free gift. You get some super cosy pyjama shorts, they are so fluffy and warm I'm obsessed! You also get a water bottle that says 'Team Ariana' on the side. The gift is subject to availability so you have to be quick if you want it!

Overall, I love this new perfume and would definitely would recommend it. 

Ellie xxx

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/HeartbeatEllie/videos
Instagram: cottoncxndyheart

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponges Review...

Hi everyone!

Today I wanted to review the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponges. I know I am quite late to this product as they have been around for ages, but I have never used sponges for my makeup before so I was curious to try them.

These retail at Boots for £5.99 for one or you can get a pack of two for £9.99. I got the pack of two as I knew I needed more than one and it works out cheaper if you buy the multipack. 

The first thing I noticed when I got them out of the packet was how soft they were. I knew instantly that these would be good as they weren't rough or harsh on your skin. They don't hurt your skin or irritate it when you're applying makeup.

The sponges are angled in a way that makes them multi-purpose which is perfect for blending foundation and concealer into every angle of your face. I personally prefer how my makeup looks when I blend it with the sponges as I feel it gives a more flawless finish and doesn't leave streak marks like some brushes do. I also feels it give you higher coverage as the makeup is blended directly to the part of the face that you want it and not spread all over. However, the only downfall to this is that sometimes when you sweat it can make your foundation look a bit odd and slide down your face which doesn't look nice. You can reduce this though by making sure you use a primer and setting spray. I recommend the Max Factor FaceFinity Primer.

A lot of product also gets stuck in the sponge so you have to be careful about what you use else you could be wasting a lot of foundation, hence why in my photo, they are dirty. They are also hard to clean, being a sponge that absorbs water, you are going to have some difficulty. Due to this, the packet actually states that you should replace your sponges every month. This makes the overall cost of the product way more expensive compared to your regular makeup brush that you can wash and reuse. I try and use a mix of my brush and sponge on alternating days, this helps me get better use out of it. 

Overall, I would repurchase the sponges as I think they blend your makeup so well and I love how my makeup looks when I use the sponge. However I will buy them as more of a treat product every other month to save money and either use brushes or other cheaper sponges instead.

Ellie xxx

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/HeartbeatEllie/featured
Instagram: cottoncxndyheart 

Kylie Jenner Lip Kit Review...

Hi everyone!

Back in July, I was very lucky to get my hands on one of Kylie Jenner's renowned 'Lip Kits'! I have been looking at them for ages but have always been unsuccessful when trying to buy as they sell out within minutes. This time however, Kylie announced on her snapchat that she was doing her biggest restock yet which would allow you to browse through her shop and not worry about them all selling out. I still wasn't taking any chances and this time I was able to buy one within 2 minutes of being on the site!

Before purchasing the lip kit, I watched a lot of reviews and swatches on YouTube to help me decide on the colour to get. I was really tempted to get one of her metals but decided on a lip kit as you were getting two products rather than one. I chose 'Posie K' as I wanted a more natural colour so I could get the most use out of it as possible. The swatch videos I saw did make it look like a deep pink colour but when you actually apply it, it is definitely more towards purple and maroon. I am a huge lover of berry toned lips so although it wasn't what I expected, I wasn't disappointed.

Price

The price of the lip kit was $29 but in the packet you get a lip liner and a matte liquid lipstick, so essentially you are paying $15 for each. This is around the same price as other high end makeup brands such as Mac so I wouldn't say it is extravagantly expensive. However, the delivery costs and custom fee is! The price to deliver to the Uk was $14.95 and then when it actually arrived I had to pay a customs fee of £11.95. Making my overall cost come to about £45 which I think altogether is far too much money for what you are getting. I know the customs fee is not Kylie's fault and I should have researched this first but it is still slightly annoying.

Packaging

The box the product came in was just plain black on the outside but when you open it up it has Kylie's name, website, and her signature white lipstick drips. I know this used to be on the outside of the box too but she had some trouble with people breaking in to the box and tampering/stealing the products while they were in transit. I like the contrast between the black box and white writing giving it a basic but classic look. Inside the box is your product and a postcard from Kylie with a secret note.

The lip kit comes in a white box with a block colour down the side and top, this matched the shade you chose. The product name stands out underneath a painting if some lips wearing the lip kit. On the back of the box, it gives you some of Kylie's tips on how to apply the product. This does show that she put a lot of time and thought into the packaging.

The lip liner is just a plain black liner with the shade of colour at the end. The liner packaging does feel and look matte which I think is nice as it links the packet too the product. The liquid lipstick packaging follows the drip theme and contrasts well with the black and the shade of product.

Overall, I think the packaging looks really nice. It is quite simple which I think works and you can tell that Kylie has added some personal touches and it is to her taste.

The Product

The product is advertised as a creamy, lightweight, matte liquid lipstick which I do agree with. Both the lip liner and liquid lipstick are super easy to apply to your lips and are very soft/creamy when applying. The product dries matte within about 30 seconds which is very quick in comparison to other matte liquid lipsticks. It is lightweight on your lips so it feels like you are not wearing any product.

Although it feels creamy when applying, it does feel very dry on your lips which I personally don't like that much. Although it feels dry on your lips, it doesn't flake off and doesn't leave your lips dry or chapped. That sounds a bit contradictory I know, but if you have a lip kit or have tried other matte liquid lipsticks, you'll probably know what I mean. It also has a tendency to crease which can give your lips a more dried out look. This only happens occasionally so I wouldn't say this is a huge negative. The formula is very different to other liquid lipsticks I have tried such as NYX and Maybelline, which I think could be the reason behind how long it lasts on your lips. It will easily last all day without the need to re-apply and it is actually really difficult to get off with makeup remover!

One downside to this product is that if you make a mistake while applying, you will have to remove all of it and start again. You are unable to fill a little bit in due to its speedy drying time. I know this a common issue with liquid lipsticks, but with the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams, you have enough time to cover your mistakes before it completely dries which makes your life ten times easier!

Overall, I think the product is great but is definitely not worth the price! There are a lot of cheaper alternatives such as the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams which are just as good, if not slightly better! The colour is super pigmented and the product is long lasting but can make your lips look a bit dry. I think I won't be buying a lip kit from Kylie again unless I see a colour I really love. However, I think the brand itself is great and I do fancy trying one of her metals or glosses.

Ellie xxx

Travel/Holiday Essentials...

Hi everyone!

While you are reading this, I would have just got home from my holiday in Spain. We flew with hand luggage only as we were only going for a week, so I thought I would show you some of my travel essentials. 

Cosmetics

As I was only taking hand luggage, my liquid cosmetic allowance was minimal. I picked up some miniatures from Boots before I went so I had a mini deodrant and a mini shower gel. I also picked up some small empty bottles so that I could decant my other liquids. I would really recommend doing this as it made it a lot easier to take some of my favourite products with me. I put my face cream in a small pot and my Victoria Secret spray in a small bottle.

My top 3 cosmetics items for travelling would be a lip balm, a face cream and micellar cleansing water. It is always important to keep your skin healthy and moisturised so that is why lip balms and face creams are important. I added micellar cleansing water into this list too as not only is it used to remove your makeup, it is also perfect to deeply clean your face. I always find travelling or staying in a different place makes my skin feel a bit gross, this just helps remove excess oil and cleans your pores.

Now I'm going to move onto to other non cosmetic travel essentials.

First thing to not forget when travelling is earphones! I usually bring earphones and headphones in case one of them breaks, I at least have a spare. This is also useful if you are going on a long haul flight or a really long car journey as sometimes earphones or headphones can get uncomfortable so you are able to swap them over. Along with earphones comes music, make sure you have a good playlist sorted before you travel somewhere. Listening to music helps pass the time so well!

Second is a book. Books are great too pass the time when travelling and are also perfect for when you get on holiday. There is nothing I love more than reading a good book while sunbathing beside a swimming pool!

My third essential is a camera. I am a huge photography geek and I love taking a million pictures and videos so I can remember memories forever. However, I think taking a camera is important to help document fun things you get up too. Just remember too live in the moment and not through a camera lens!

My fourth item is not really essential unless you are going on a really long journey and it is a colouring book. I took a colouring book with me when I travelled to New York back in April. I really enjoyed doing some colouring while watching a movie on the plane. However, I didn't take it with me too Spain as it is a much shorter flight and I did not have much room in my bag.

What are you holiday essentials?

Ellie xxx

July Favourites...

Hi everyone!

So it has come to the end of another month - this year seems to be going by so quickly! So today's blog post is going to be my July favourites, so these are just a collection of items that I have been loving during the month of July.

My first favourite this month is the Real Technique Beauty Blender (£5.99). I got my beauty blenders in Boots after looking at them for months, I finally caved in and got them and I am so glad I did! They blend my foundation so much better than a makeup brush and gives you a more flawless finish. Where you use the beauty blender to dab the product on your face, the product stays put and is not dragged around your face giving you higher coverage. I would 100% recommend this product, I know there are cheaper beauty blenders around but I don't think this one is too expensive and does the job really well!

Ariana Grande's perfume 'Ari' has been a huge favourite of mine this month, I am completely in love with the scent and it stays on your skin for quite a long time. It is quite a sweet scent and smells a little bit like marshmallows. I also think that the packaging is the cutest thing ever! I know that I am quite late to the game with this perfume especially as she is bringing out a new one soon, but I think this scent is perfect for summer and I love it!

My third July favourite is my Sleek Blush in the shade flushed, I think this is a very pretty pink blush that adds a nice glow to your face. I think this is great for summer when you don't want too wear too much makeup and still look quite natural.

Over the course of this month, I have fallen in love with scrunchies again. I recently bought two velvet scrunchies from Boots, one in black and one in a deep red and I am obsessed! I always find my hair so dull and boring so what better way to make it slightly better than too add a cute scrunchie! I know scrunchies aren't too everyone's taste, but once a 90's baby, always a 90's baby!

My fifth July favourite is something that I have had too keep super secret and it is my Lokai bracelet. I have wanted one of these for ages and so I got one for myself and one for Leonie for her birthday. I actually bought this back in June but have had too keep it hidden as Leonie's birthday wasn't until the end of July, I'm pretty certain I might have accidentally sent her snapchats with it on my wrist - oops! Anyway, I think the meaning behind the bracelet is really sweet. It reminds you too keep yourself balanced and positive during both low and high times.

My sixth July favourite is my Kylie Jenner Lip Kit in shade Posie K. I have wanted one of these for so long and was debating whether to purchase one or not. Kylie announced that she was doing her biggest restock yet which would allow you too browse the shop and not have to worry about them instantly selling out, she was also releasing them at a reasonable time so I decided to try and get my hands on one. I am so glad I did! I watched a lot of Youtube videos before deciding on the shade I wanted but I picked Posie K as it goes with everything and is a colour I will wear a lot. I am going to be doing a more intense review on the product soon, so stay tuned!

My final favourites from the month of July are music related. The first is The Bird and the Bee's latest album Recreational Love. This has a slightly different sound to music I would usually listen too, but I love it! My favourites from the album are "Los Angeles" and "Young and Dumb". My second is Selena Gomez. I have fallen in love with her music over the past month especially from her new album "Revival". I also really like her older songs such as "Who Says" and "Love You Like a Love Song"

What have been your favourites this month?

Ellie xxx 

NYX vs. Maybelline: Matte Lip Creams

I am completely obsessed with lip products; lipbalms, lipsticks and more recently matte lip creams! I recently bought two new matte lips creams within a day of each other. The first one is the Vivid Matte Liquid by Maybelline, the second is the Soft Matte Lip Cream by NYX. As they are both very similar products, I thought I would directly compare them to each other to see which product is better.

I got the Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid in shade 40 Berry Boost, and I got the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in shade 18 Prague. They are both berry toned colours, the Maybelline one is slightly more pink whereas the NYX cream has more of a purple hint too it. I love both shades a lot!

Packaging

The packaging for both products are very similar. They both have black writing which contrasts well with the shade of lip cream. They also have a matte black lid which reflects the product itself, with the products being matte, I think this links everything together well. This again contrasts with the shiny bottle.

I think the packaging is quite simple but it works as it doesn't take your focus away from the product itself.

 The Applicator

The applicator is vital to the products success, if it doesn't apply the product well then its just not worth the hassle. 

The applicator on the Maybelline product is quite long and flat, this makes it a little difficult to accurately apply the product on your lips. This also makes it more likely you will go over your lip line and not evenly apply the product.

The NYX lip cream has more of a generic applicator, however, this does make it a lot easier to apply the product to your lips. 

Both applicators are sponge tips so are soft on your lips and doesn't leave them sore or dry after applying.

The NYX lip cream is a thicker formula which mattifies quickly without drying out your lips. In comparison, the Maybelline Matte Liquid is more of a gloss and takes a lot longer to turn matte, sometimes it stays glossy. I have also found that this one also spreads around your lips a lot, which isn't great. 

The Product

I think both products are nice but I do prefer the NYX Soft Matte lip cream, it is easier to apply onto to your lips and has a lot more staying power. It also looks nice when applied and can have a nice professional look to it. The Maybelline Vivid Matte liquid doesn't have the same affect. Sometimes it takes ages to actually dry matte and sometimes it never actually dries. This means it is very easy to spread which is annoying when eating a drinking. When it does dry matte, it dries matte in the middle of your lips and leaves a glossy line around your lip lines which looks nasty. However, this may just be more noticeable as I have a bright colour, if you went for a more nude colour, this might not have the same affect.

I think both colours are really nice and I think the colour ranges for both products are really great as there is a lot to choose from. 

NYX Soft Matte lip cream in £5.50 from Boots and the Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid is £6.99 from Boots. The Maybelline product is more expensive and not as good as NYX.

Ellie xxx

The LUSH Tag...

I love LUSH! Every time I go shopping, I always have to go in LUSH and check out all of the new products. This is why I thought doing the LUSH tag would fit quite nicely. I got the tag off of http://prettyrainclouds.blogspot.co.uk/ who is my best friend, Leonie, so you should all go check her blog out - its pretty cool!

Lets proceed with the questions!

1. How did you get into Lush?
I am not sure really! I always saw people post photos on instagram and I thought the bath bombs looked super cute. I was intrigued so I went and had a look!

2. How often do you go into Lush?
I always like to pop in whenever I am near one. I follow Lush on instagram so if I see them promoting new products that look nice, I always like to go and see the products in store. I also like going around key holidays such as Christmas and Halloween.

3. What is your favourite all time product?
The Comforter Bubble Bar is my all time favourite! I think this was the first product I got and is now a consistent repurchase, I currently have three! 

4. What is your favourite soap?
I have only used Miranda, which was in a gift set. It smelt very nice but I probably won't repurchase.

5. What is you favourite bath bomb?
This is a difficult one! I really love the Fluffy Egg bath bomb from the Easter collection, it smells just like the Snow Fairy shower gel and leaves your bath a cute bubblegum pink. I also really like Golden Wonder from the Christmas collection and Intergalactic.

6. What is your favourite bubble bar?
Other than the Comforter, I really like Unicorn Horn and Big Bang. The Unicorn Horn smells of Lavender so is very relaxing, whereas the Big Bang has a sweet scent of candy.

7. What is your favourite shower gel or jelly?
I love Snow Fairy shower gel, this is from the Christmas collection and it smells super sweet. 

8. What is your favourite skincare or hair product?
I am not sure whether it counts as skincare, but I really love the Rub Rub Rub shower scrub. This scrubs your skin getting rid or dry patches and leaves your skin soft and smooth, it also smells very fresh and lovely.

9. What is your 'go to' product in the morning?
I am not too sure on this one, but I would probably say the Snow Fairy shower gel, the scent helps to wake you up!

10. A product you regret buying?
I don't regret buying any of the Lush products. However, some bath bombs, such as Honey Bee, stain your bath which can be quite annoying. 

11. If you could invent your own Lush product, what would it be?
This is a difficult question! I would probably invent a bath bomb that has a sweet scent similar to the Comforter. When you drop it in the bath, it will turn the water is deep red wine purple colour, without staining the bath tub. I would also like it to have glitter in it to make the water shimmer!

I hope you enjoy this slightly different type of blog post, and make sure you check out Leonie's blog too!

Ellie xxx

Make-up Revolution Golden Sugar Palette Review...

I have recently fallen in love with Make-up Revolution! I think that they make really high quality products for a very reasonable price! 

I follow Make-up Revolution on instagram (@makeuprevolution) and envy every product they promote, however a particular product caught my eye - the Golden Sugar Palette!

This palette contains 8 stunning powders made to contour, highlight and to add blush to your face. They are all highly pigmented and work for any skin type.

 I adore the highlighter as it leaves a beautiful white/silver shimmer to your upper cheek bones, making your skin look dewy and healthy. I personally wouldn't wear this as an everyday product but it is perfect for work and going out when you want a bit of sparkle!

The blushers are also super pretty, making your cheeks have a hint of pink. They aren't really pigmented but they are very build-able. I really like this as it creates a very natural everyday look.

I really like this palette and I think it is very reasonably priced for the amount of products you get, for £6 it is definitely worth it!

Ellie x

February Favourites...

It is nearing the end of the month, so it is that time where I talk about a collection of items I have been loving in the month of February.

1. Notting Hill

My first February favourite is my all time favourite film - Notting Hill. This romantic comedy set in Notting Hill stars Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. It is about a normal English boy who falls in love with a Hollywood Actress, what could go wrong with that? I adore this film, it makes me laugh, it makes me cry and it is an all round 'feel good' film.

2. Lush

My next favourite is the shop 'Lush'. Lush recently introduced their new Easter products and I am obsessed! I used the 'Fluffy Egg' bath bomb in my bath last week and it was incredible, I think I would even go as far as saying it is my favourite bath bomb from Lush. It turned my bath a deep pink colour and it smelt amazing! If you are a fan of the Snow Fairy shower gel, then this is the bath bomb for you! 
While I was in Lush, I also picked up the 'Unicorn Horn' bubble bar. This is a multicoloured bubble bar infused with scents of Lavender, perfect for making you feel relaxed! I have not used this product yet, however, I have heard a lot of great things about it so I am very excited to try it out!
Make sure you pop over to your local lush store and have a browse of all the products, new and old!

3. Max Factor Miracle Match Foundation

I am fast becoming a huge Max Factor fan! I think their products are high quality and do exactly what they say on the tin! My latest Max Factor purchase is the 'Miracle Match' foundation, this retails at £12.99. Yes it is expensive, but 100% worth the money. The foundation is medium to high coverage and is perfect for all skin types. I really like this foundation, as there are a huge range of shades to choose from, making it a lot easier to find your correct skin tone - something that other foundation companies lack! A great buy!

4. Babylips by Maybelline

I love Babylips lipbalms as I think they are all so unique and give your lips a lot of moisture. My current favourites are the Dr Rescue range, these are made specifically to soothe dry lips with long lasting moisture. This makes them absolutely perfect for the cold winter months. I really like Babylips as they also leave your lips with a hint of colour, finishing any make-up look well.

5. End of the Day - One Direction

My favourite song this month is End of the Day by One Direction. This is off of their latest album title Made in the A.M. It is very upbeat and easily to sing along too, I love it!

Thanks for reading!

Ellie xxx

Max Factor vs. Maybelline: Mascara

Mascara is one of my favourite make-up products, if you find a really good one, it will make your eyes pop and finish off any make-up look perfectly. I am always on the lookout for new mascaras to try and add to my favourites list.

Recently, Maybelline have released a new mascara called "The Falsies Push Up Drama" it is supposed to add a push up false lash effect. Due to this, I thought I would do a side by side comparison with the Max Factor "Velvet Volume False Lash Effect" mascara. Both products are supposed to achieve the same thing with your lashes, I wanted to find out which one was better. 

 Packaging

To help persuade you to buy a product, the packaging has to look attractive and appealing. I think that both of these mascaras do that very well! The Maybelline mascara has a red/pink packaging with a black stripe in the middle, this contrasts very well with the brighter colours. The packaging has a shiny effect which I think is very pretty. Unfortunately, this is where the positive points about this product end. 

The Max Factor mascara is completely different with its packaging, it focuses on black and gold. These are the Max Factor colours and are interlinked with all their products, I really like this as it connects all products and makes them immediately recognisable. Unlike the Maybelline mascara, the Max Factor packaging has a matte finish. I like both the matte and shiny finish as I think it works well for both. 

The Brush

The brush is a vital part of mascara, it can make or break the product in my opinion. The Maybelline mascara has a very short bristles, this makes it hard to separate your lashes, instead, it immediately clumps them together, giving you a 'lovely' five spider legs effect. If you are into thick clumpy dry lashes then this is definitely the mascara for you! The substance is sticky which sticks your lashes together and also makes it difficult to remove the product at the end of the day. Personally, it is the worst mascara I have ever bought! It does not achieve the false lash effect that it says it does, I am very disappointed!

The Max Factor Velvet Volume is my favourite mascara! I bought the Maybelline mascara to try something new that was slightly cheaper as I assumed it would have the same effect on my lashes. I wish I just replaced my Max Factor mascara instead. The brush head on this mascara has a lot more bristles that are also a lot longer. This gives it the ability to brush through your lashes and separates them to achieve the perfect false lash effect. It does not clump your lashes and is definitely worth trying out!

The Price

I have taken my prices off of Boots.com so you may find the products cheaper else where.

Maybelline "The Falsies Push Up Mascara" retails at £7.99, I was able to get this at £5.99 due to an offer going on at the time. In my opinion, I think the mascara is not even worth £5.99.

Max Factor "Velvet Volume False Lash Effect Mascara" retails at £11.99. This is quite expensive for a mascara, and you can easily find some cheaper alternatives. However, if you want to get a really high quality product that does exactly what it says on the tin, then it is 100% worth the price.

Overall, I think the Max Factor mascara is a better quality product that is definitely worth the money. I am disappointed in Maybelline as I have had so many amazing products from them, I feel very let down.

This is just my personal review, you may think different. 

Thanks for reading!

Ellie xx