Products that aren't worth the hype

I am not, nor have I ever claimed to be, an expert when it comes to make-up but I thought I'd do a post a bit different to what I'm used to seeing. I know that a lot of people look at reviews in the blogging world and take them as gospel but from experience, something that works wonders for someone else might be useless to you. This post centres around products which are hugely raved about here in blogger land, that I don't feel were necessarily worth it. It works both ways though, so something that I don't like might be one of your holy grail products, this is just my opinon.

one - Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer, RRP: £4.19. I don't think I have ever read a negative review of this, everyone and their mother seems to use it and they all seem to love it... and I know everyone says "well, you get what you pay for" but with such strong positive reviews, I was expecting the Earth. I don't like it. I find that it's too thick and it feels heavy on my skin. It cracks easily too because it's so cakey. I also didn't find the range of shades had enough variety, Lasting Perfection Concealer can be bought in fair, light, medium or deep with very obvious colour differences between the four, I find it hard to understand how every single girl is expected to be able to match one of these to her skin.

two - Nars 'Laguna' Bronzing Powder, RRP: £26.00. It almost pains me that I had to include this here, simply because I wanted it for AGES and when I received it as a Christmas gift, I was over the moon. I'm not saying I dislike it, because I don't but I just don't understand why everyone is so crazy about it. The packaging is pretty and the shade is gorgeous but it's not really any different to any other bronzer out there, which could probably be picked up for half the price! Everyone seems to love this, but I just like it. 

three - Real Techniques Stippling Brush, RRP: £11.99. I'm generally fan of Real Techniques brushes, but I just don't get on with this one. The bristles are super soft and it looks elegant and pretty but I just don't understand it! I've tried it with foundation, blusher, bronzer, in fact almost everything in my make up bag but I just don't like the way it applies anything to my face. 

I don't like writing 'negative' reviews but I just feel that there isn't enough variety out there with some products in the blogging/YouTube world and I thought it'd be nice to have a view from 'the other side'. I'm not saying people shouldn't love these because I know there are hundreds of you who do!

Are there any products that you believe get more recognition than they deserve?!

*pictures in this post are not my own and were sourced from Google*

Christmas Wishlist

Genuinely cannot believe how fast this year has gone and seeing as Christmas is just around the corner, I thought I'd share with you what I hope Santa will be bringing down my chimney. Christmas is my favourite holiday and I can't wait to go home and spend it with my favourite people in the world. I'm so excited to name the Turkey (is it just my family that does that?!), sit in front of the fire for hoursss and play a ridiculous amount of games with my siblings whilst mama makes a feast of yummy yummy food. It's impossible to be unhappy at Christmas, right?!

1 - Pandora Music Note Charm: I got a pandora bracelet for my birthday this year and ever since I've been dying to fill it. I loved this charm ever since I set my eyes on it because everyone who knows me knows that music is probably my favourite thing in the world.

2 - NARS Laguna Bronzing Powder: I'm sure I don't need to tell any of you this but the world and its wife seem to have this bronzer and I want in! Every single review I've read of it has said how amazing it is and how every girl should have it, so it went straight on my Christmas wishlist!

3 - Paco Rabanne Lady Million Perfume: This is probably the nicest smelling thing in the entire world (not even exaggerating), I've dropped about a million hints to my dad about this including practically crying down the phone because I ran out of perfume the other day.

4 - MAC Lipsticks in 'Blankety' and 'Pink Pearl Pop': Simply because a girl can never have enough lipsticks, I've become a little bit addicted and could probably buy every colour in the entire MAC range but these are two that I am fully lusting for at  the minute.  

5 - Pandora Open Your Heart Charm: This is soooo adorable, I have the openwork butterfly charm and thought this was so cute that I had to slide it in here somewhere

6 - Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow All Over Radiance Creme: I saw a review for this the other day and wanted it instantly, I've looked for a highlighter that would work with my skin tone for absolutely ages and this one seems perfect

7 - The Body Shop Rose Vitamin E Face Mist: Hannah has raved about this so many times and she swears by it, I've wanted a face spritz for so long because I realise that spraying my face with hairspray to keep my make up on probably isn't the best option for my skin...

8 - MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder: Again, slightly addicted to MAC, I'm yet to find a pressed powder that actually does what it's supposed to but my housemate has this and adores it so I'm bursting to give it a try!

9 - Daniel Sandler Liquid Blush, 'Flush': I am actually intrigued by this, I'd love it if a liquid blusher worked just because it seems so much easier and a lot less effort than powder.

10 - Pandora Flower Spacer: How adorable is this? I think if I bang on any more about charms my head might explode but I think this is so pretty. I realise that I probably should have just asked for my make up bag and my Pandora bracelet to be filled...  

What are you asking Santa for? Are you as excited as I am? I'm literally like a little kid at Christmas!

**The images used in this post are not my own, and were sourced from Google**

V05 Instant Oomph Powder Review

V05 Give Me Texture Instant Oomph Powder 

"They say good things come in small packages... This tiny pot of powder gives BIG results!"

No one in the entire world likes flat hair and since big hair has been on trend for what feels like decades, everyone is always looking for that magic fix which will give your hair that little boost within seconds. Well, stop searching girls, I've found it! 

I know hair volumising powders aren't a 'new thing' and I've previously used Label M Resurrection Style Dust which has the same effects but is almost double the price!

V05 'Give Me Texture Instant Oomph Powder' comes in a pretty pink bottle and is so easy to apply. The only way I can describe the texture is by saying it's a little bit like salt crystals. You literally give the bottle a bit of a shake and then dazzle some of it directly on to your roots, give your hair a little rub et voila, you have almost effortless volumised hair!

The only criticism I have of this product is that it does leave hair feeling a little bit greasy and your roots don't feel as soft as the rest of your hair does but it's so much better for your hair than dragging a comb through it backwards all day. A little bit of hairspray applied directly to the roots after this and it stays for hours.

Instant Oomph Powder can be purchased at Boots and retails at £4.07 (I never understand how they work out these precise prices but whatever, haha).

Overall rating: 4/5

Review: Nivea Express Hydration Primer

Nivea Daily Essentials Express Hydration Primer (RRP: £4.99)

"moisturises and provides a smooth base for effective make up application with effective hydrators"

It's come to that time in the semester where my student loan has disappeared before my very eyes and I've had to abandon the hope that I'd be able to afford to replace my MAC primer, but my skin couldn't afford for me to stop using primer altogether (honestly, if you don't prime your face before you apply your make up, START!). I'd seen this advertised everywhere and thought it was worth giving a try.

It smells like a typical Nivea product: fresh and light, with what I can only describe as smelling like something with a hint of cucumber. The normal and combination skin one (pictured above) contains lotus extract, but I don't know what that smells like so couldn't tell you whether or not that affects the fragrance! The consistency of the product is extremely light, I was going to show you a swatch on my hand but it comes on pretty clear. 

The product also has moisturising qualities, so leaves skin feeling really soft. As for its use as a primer, I was not at all disappointed. It is absorbed by skin almost instantly so there is no waiting around for it to dry before being able to apply make up and it creates a base in order to make sure make up is applied on to as even a surface as possible and it practically makes your make up cling to your face so it doesn't move or wear off all day. 

This provides everything you ask for in a primer, and a small amount of it definitely goes a long way. As far as primers go, I'd rave about this until the cows come home. I don't think I'll ever pay £19.50 for a MAC primer again!

Overall rating: 4.5/5