Mac Cosmetics Up The Amp Lipstick

Yep. ANOTHER Mac Lipstick. I really have jumped on the bandwagon haven't I?! What the hell. These lipsticks are fantastic!

I've been after Up The Amp for months. It was the first shade I wanted to try but wherever I went it was always sold out. I was heartbroken. It was very quiet the other day at Bluewater so I thought I'd pop into House Of Fraser to see if they had it in stock. I was in luck! I was so excited I just ran out of the store and popped it on in the car.

What a colour! I'm a fan of purple lipsticks, but most are too dark for my skin tone and, usually, the time of year! Up The Amp is a lighter shade of purple so I can wear it any time, any day! I've worn it to work, to a Christening and even on a night out and the colour just pops! It's a great colour for when you are going for a nude eye or even just a flick of eyeliner.

As usual, this lipstick has a lovely scent and lasts hours and hours without a top up. I am absolutely in love with this shade and will never be without it!

Do you own Up The Amp? Don't you just love it?!

HD Brows Eye and Eyebrow Palette Review

Today I thought I'd review a product I've been using for about 6 months now. It's another item I got in the

Latest In Beauty Glamour Edition; The HD Brows Eye and Eyebrow Palette!

I've been in desperate need for an eyebrow palette for some time now and wasn't brave enough to go out and spend a tonne of money on a palette if it turned out to be rubbish. I used to use an eyebrow pencil, but looking back now that was a huge makeup disaster! Since using this palette for the first time I haven't gone a day without using it. It's such a fantastic kit!

These kits come in three different shades, Bombshell for fair skin and hair, Foxy for medium hair and skin and Vamp for dark hair and skin. I luckily received Foxy which suits me best as I have dark hair and fair skin. There are four different shades of powder in the palette. Each one is designed for building up colour on your brows and highlighting them with the lighter shade. Some days I go for the second darkest shade for a more natural look, but when I want a more dramatic look I build up all three browns!

The brush included is fantastic. I use the slanted brush to shape my brows and to create the arch, and I use the rounded brush for highlighting underneath to define the brow even more.

The difference between using a pencil and using a powder is this; during the day my skin gets oily and most of my makeup starts to slide off. Eyeliner is the worst, and because eyebrow pencils are basically soft eyeliners, it tends to either sink into my skin and lose it's definition, or it starts to slide off leaving a "panda-eye" effect under my brow. AWFUL I know. Powder is dry, so it tends to stay put. If it does start to fade, I just dust a little more on et voila.

The eyebrow palette also doubles as an eyeshadow pallette. I find the brushes too small for initial application so I use larger ones, but the powder works incredibly well on my lids. Again, this powder doesn't slide off during the day for me which is an added bonus. The above picture is me wearing the powder on both my eyes and my eyebrows, at least 8 hours after putting it on, with no touch ups! If I do require a touchup during the day, the small brushes are perfect to fill in the little areas that need a little more definition. The slanted brush works wonders for topping up my eyeliner flick too!

I really don't think there could be any better palette for your eyes. It has everything and comes in a perfect little compact with a mirror so you can easily top up on the go.

I believe HD Brows have now changed the packaging of the palette to include more colours, and is only £25. I think this is a bargain, as I've had it 6 months and my most used powder still hasn't run out.

If you are looking for a great eyebrow palette, this is the one for you. I will never be without it. It has become my number one essential!

Glamour's Spring Latest In Beauty Edit Review

Glamour Magazine has teamed up again with Latest In Beauty to bring us this Spring's must have goodies. The products included in this box are some that I would have never tried but am so grateful that I have. Here's why...

L'Oreal Paris Miss Manga Mascara

I've recently only stuck with my They're Real Mascara by Benefit, thinking that there would never be another mascara on par with it. Boy was I wrong. I wasn't really interested in this mascara at first, as I didn't like the results of the mascara on the adverts. However, if you apply this mascara as you would any other, it doesn't actually clump your lashes that much! After application, my lashes are longer, thicker, darker and more defined than any other mascara I've tried. It makes my eyes look wide awake, even on my worst mornings at work! For only £8.99, this mascara is a bargain and one that I will be purchasing again and again.

Daniel Sandlers Longlasting Waterproof Eyeliner

Ok, so I didn't love this product, but only for one reason. The colour. Had we received a black or a brown, I would have raved about this eyeliner forever. I applied it once to see what it would look like and I really was not confident enough to wear the colour blue. However, it does what it says on the tin. It lasted all day, and was just as colourful as when I first applied it. It didn't run like some eyeliners, giving you the panda eye! It genuinely stayed put. I put it to the test and left it on before washing my face, and it didn't budge. It only came off using eye makeup remover which proves that it really does the job. I found it for just under a tenner for the colour black, so I'm thinking of investing...

Burts Bees Beeswax Lipbalm 

What a lovely product. I'm a big fan of lipbalm, and I'm constantly applying it at work instead of wasting my lipstick at the computer, so a tasty, longlasting lipbalm is essential in my makeup bag. This lipbalm is rich in vitamins and oils which help to keep your lips plump and soft. Gone are the days of chapped lips! It has quite a minty flavour which can be overpowering if you don't like mint, but I found it so yummy! When it runs out I'm definitely buying another!

Cheeky Chat Me Up Nail Paint

This is nail polish came in such a lovely colour, it's a shame that it chipped so easily! The brush was very thick and made application easy and it dried very quickly on my nails. There was a shiny finish once the nails were dry, but again, it chipped within hours, so I don't think I will purchase this product.

Invisibobble Hair Rings 

AMAZING. This has completely changed the way I tied up my hair. The concept is simple, a hair tie that looks like a phone cable, in lots of funky colours. The results, AMAZING. The rings help to hold hair evenly in place and ensure that when you take down your hair there are no kinks. Literally none! When you work in an office like me, it tends to get stuffy and all you want to do is tied your hair up. I usually put it back down at the end of the day but it is just a mess after my normal hairbands get hold of it. My hair kinks so easily! With these, I can put my hair up and down as many times in a day and when i take my hair out it looks just as before. These bands don't tug on your hair either and feel very loose, even though they are holding your hair tight in place. I do sometimes suffer from headaches when I tie my hair up, but not with these. I suppose that because of how gentle these are on your hair they reduce breakage, which is fantastic as I'm trying to grow out my hair! I will definitely buy some more of these, in all different colours!

Percy and Reed Abundantly Bouncy Volumising Mousse

I've tried a couple of Percy and Reed products before and what attracts me to the brand is the cute packaging, relaxing scents and the beautiful, salon results. This mousse is no exception. I have naturally curly hair, but it does go flat at the top, so I now use this to give my locks some oomph! Unlike most mousse products, this is non-sticky, you don't even have to wash your hands afterwards. This mousse also doesn't make your hair go "crispy" which is a common issue I find with other brands. It smells fantastic and my hair never felt softer. The price is the only thing that puts me off this product, but I reckon I will buy it once it runs out. You only need to use a pea sized amount for decent results, so it won't run out any time soon!

Rituals Zensation Foaming Shower Gel

I have never used a Rituals product, but I am always in awe when I pass the store in Bluewater. I've heard rave reviews about their skincare range, and those reviews aren't wrong! You shake this can like a hair mousse and pump out a pea sized amount onto your hands. It grows and lathers into a shed load of foam that you can use on most of your body in one go. It left my skin feeling delicately soft, fresh and smelling delightful. I had many relaxing baths with this due to the scent! The bottle lasted quite a few washes, so £8.50 for a full sized bottle is well worth the money.

Out of the seven products I received, being willing to purchase six of the products is fantastic! I was so happy with this box that I am seriously considering purchasing another...

Have you tried any of these products? What were your thoughts?