Prime Time

Today's blog post is a requested one from a friend and it's all about primers! At first I was sceptical about the purpose of primers but once I started using them, I couldn't look back - it feels so strange to me to forget that step. I have a range of primers from budget to high-end and I thought today I'd review them for you!

Revlon 'PhotoReady' Perfecting Primer

I got this primer quite a while back and so have had it the longest and i really like it! I hadn't tried Revlon products for such a long time so I was keen to give this a try. It's the consistency of a thin moisturiser and is silicone-based, which i don't mind unlike some people. It smooths out my complexion and helps my make-up stay on really well. It costs £11.99 which isn't bad considering it works!

Benefit 'The Porefessional'

This little beauty was given to me in a Christmas set and I'm going to be sad when it's emptied. This primer is also silicone-based and focuses on minimising pores, which it does very well! It's slightly tinted and Benefit also recommend using over your foundation too but I haven't tired that yet. The full size costs £24.50 but you need such a small amount it lasts ages. 

The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser 

Now this primer is great because it's more of a lotion texture so it's better for if you don't like silicone-based primers. The tea tree in it helps reduce redness and calms the skin if it is inflamed with spots - you can feel it soothing the skin when you put it on. It costs £7.50 so the cheapest one of the selection and if you have spot-prone skin it's definitely worth a try :)

Clarins 'Beauty Flash Balm' 

This isn't quite a primer but it works as a primer as well. You put it on roughly (don't totally blend it in) then quickly put on your foundation and it just boosts your skin's complexion and makes it look healthier if it's feeling a bit underloved. Don't use it all the time though as it looses its effect! I got it as a freebie but I would definitely purchase it - it is priced at £29 so quite pricey but if you go to the Clarins counter they're more than happy to try it out on you before you make any decisions! 

SO I hope that was helpful in some way and help you decide if you want to try a primer if you haven't already!

See you soon and stay insane!

Bloggerella x

Maybelline 'Big Eyes Volume Express' Mascara

Hey guys! Hope everyone's had a great week, I certainly have! Today I'm doing a quick review of the Maybelline 'Big Eyes Volume Express' mascara, a new edition to the Maybelline mascara family. 

It focuses on volume rather than length but I have to say it definitely lengthens my lashes too! It has two brushes; one for your upper lashes which is quite like the 'Falsies' brush but it's twisted, and one for your lower lashes which is small and reminds me of the Clinique lower lash mascara. 

It's a really lovely mascara and at £6.99 (£8.99 after introductory offer) I think it's worth a try! It isn't clumpy at all and gives great volume :)

See you soon and stay insane!

Bloggerella x

The Beauty Room at Clarins

Hi guys, I hope everyone is well! I just wanted to say thank you to anyone who follows my blog - it means a lot and it's meant I've had the chance to do something really interesting today for you!

Today I got the chance to go into the new Beauty Room at Clarins in Debenhams, Newcastle. It's a completely free service and is basically what they'd do on the counter for you but in a more private, peaceful setting!

They fill out a skincare planner; it's a list of all their face and body products and after asking you some questions, they'll decide which products are best for you. Because of the winter drying out my skin, they recommended the 'HydraQuench' range which contains katafray bark extract; katafray is a plant that lives in the desert and seeks out water from the atmosphere to hydrate itself - and it does exactly the same for your skin!

They also used the 'Extra-Comfort, Anti-Pollution Cleansing Cream' which was a new product containing Moringa, mango and shea butter. Instead of rubbing it around with a cotton pad, they pressed it into my skin and removed it with a damp flannel in the same way, as to not stretch the skin or drag the makeup elsewhere. 

I will be reviewing all of the products at some point in the near future when I've tried them out a bit more! Don't forge to send me any pictures or use the hash-tag '#bloggerella' on Instagram or Twitter to show me any Clarins products you've purchased :)

See you soon and stay insane!

Bloggerella x

Eyebrow Tutorial

So I've had a lot of compliments from friends saying that my eyebrows are looking pretty good recently so I thought it must be a sign that I know what I'm doing :P. I'm by no means saying that I'm an expert but if I could give you some tips to stop the slug effect happening then that would be good enough for me :) 

TOP TIPS

Shape it up - either get a practised friend or go to a salon to get your brows shaped if you've never done it before! A friend of mine did mine a while back and all I do now is keep up the shape :)

Get yourself an angled brush - they don't overload your brows and give the most natural finish 

Powder power - There are lots of gels and pencils you can use but I much prefer to use a powder as it gives a natural finish 

Your best friends are your fingers - they can gently erase any overspill onto your skin and shape without removing too much 

Choose a shade that is right for you - I can't tell you enough how important getting the right colour is; too dark and you have slugs, too light and you'll look like a bit of an alien! The ladies at MAC are happy to help you choose your correct shade :) 

RealTechniques angled brush (from the starter kit)
MAC Omega matte eyeshadow
Eyebrow groomer

1. Comb out those brows! Then you can see the natural shape of your brows and all the hairs are going the same way

2. Start filling out your brows from the centre, moving in the direction of the hairs

3. Use your fingers to clean the excess from around your brows

4. Use your fingers to round the edges of the front of your brow - they shouldn't be square! 

5. Set with a brow gel like Maybelline 'Brow Drama' or Kiko 'Brow Gel' or even a clear mascara! 

And voilà, you now have beautiful brows! 

Send me pictures via my social media sites (where to find me) of your lovely brows if you tried some of my tips :) 

See you soon and stay insane!

Bloggerella x

2014 Is Here

No this isn't a 'new year, new me' post but it is a sort of reflection on 2013, which I have to say has been one of the best years of my life! I've got through my GCSEs (getting pretty good grades may I say), I started college and I've met some amazing new people that i hope will be there with me throughout 2014 too! That's not to say I'm leaving my old friends behind - they're still there, making me laugh and doing silly things with the me but now it's just not as often :P. 

Today my parents and I went to the beach as it is our yearly tradition. It's also a tradition for me to write my name in the sand and the year so each year we have a picture on January 1st. 

This man was selling buckets and
spades - a bit optimistic?

I hope 2014 brings all you wish for and deserve - you're all such lovely people and I want nothing but the best for you! Set yourself challenges this year - I've set myself the task of learning to play the guitar - it doesn't matter how big or small they are, just try and test yourself as you might be stronger than you think.

See you soon and stay insane!

Bloggerella x