I like to think that I don’t follow
convention but, in these five cases, I'm really glad that I did. I don’t really
wear a lot of make up and I definitely don’t consider myself to be a beauty
guru – I've never bought that Benefit They’re
Real mascara, and I don’t own that YSL concealer - but these products are so good I feel like its my social
responsibility to spread the word about them to my fellow low-key make up
wearers. And even if you love make up and can’t get enough mascara on your
lashes, these are the essentials you need in your bag.
First up is this
life changing BB cream. I never really understood what the hell a BB cream was
or what the difference between this and a foundation was, but on a whim (a.k.a.
the 3 for 2 offer in Boots) I bought this. So after using it for a week or so I
have come to realise that its kind of like a tinted moisturiser, but it has the
half the coverage of a full foundation. My skin is pretty good (probably
because I never leave the house without a water bottle – I have to balance
those crisps with something) so I don’t like to cake on foundation because it
makes my skin feel sticky, heavy, and generally not very nice. So for something
with light, everyday coverage and that only really requires a quick brush of
powder afterwards, this product is ideal.
Rating: 8/10
One day, out shopping with friends, we
ended up in Boots (Colchester is a small town) and I was pretty much bullied
into picking up this hairbrush – but boy am I glad I did. The Tangle Teezer is
well known for being the pain-free hairbrush and it can be used on all hair
types, not only that but it comes in a zillion cute colours and there's even a
version you can use in the shower on wet hair, and it really is that versatile.
I have no idea how, but this hairbrush has revolutionised my mornings. Its an
excellent product for thick, wavy hair like mine is naturally and one stroke of
this through your tresses guarantees no tangles. My old hairbrush has fallen
behind the bottles of cleaning products at the bottom of the rack in my
bathroom (for some reason its illogical to throw out things like hairbrushes
even if you replace them) and, as long as I have a Tangle Teezer, that’s where
it’ll stay.
Rating: 10/10
A few weeks ago I read an article on The
Debrief about the best Kylie Lip Kit dupes [knockoffs] and this little
product was on there. Being the broke student I am, I saw it in Boots and had
to buy it to see if it was really that good. Granted it probably doesn’t have
the longevity as a real Kylie Lip Kit thing (is a liner and a liquid lipstick
technically a kit?) but this is so smooth and the actual doe’s foot - that’s actually
what they're called, I looked it up – is rounded and makes application a dream.
Whatever the head/doe’s foot is made of needs to be applied to every single lip
product ever because it doesn’t pick up half the tube of product when you dip
it in, and there's hardly any need to dab it on the top of the tube and let it
go crusty and waste valuable lipstick. I am an official matte lipstick convert
and, if I wore lipstick more often, I’d have all the colours in the range.
Rating: 7/10
When I was in London, my friend asked me
about this palette when I whipped it out of my make up bag for a night out, and
I couldn't think of enough adjectives to praise this collection of eyeshadows.
There are six matte and six glitter shades in this palette which extends its
versatility. I’ve used it in the past for an everyday sculpt and I've used it
in conjunction with my Dior palette (that I nicked from my mum, don’t get
excited) to make a red-carpet ready smoky eye. Lou Teasdale did a series of
tutorials on how to use the twelve shades together (which you can read/watch here)
to create different looks and they're super useful and have literally never
failed me. It had a follow up palette with pink shades, but this palette is the
One Direction of the eyeshadow world and TheBlushed Nudes one is the Zayn version; it has a few good shades and isn’t bad
– but its not the original.
Rating: 8/10
I never normally used to embrace my natural
wavy hair because, to be frank, it’s a fucking nightmare - everyone’s seen the why don’t you brush your hair? vine by
now – and frizz is not something I want to deal with, even on a day where you’ve
got a bit of time to deal with your hair. But this “lightweight sea spray to
add texture to all types of hair” changed the game - especially for the price, its lasted me almost about 9 months! Not only does it tame my
waves and, after a scrunch or two, leaves my hair more manageable and just generally
feeling more presentable, it smells a m
a z i n g. You’ll spend all day inhaling your hair like a psycho in the street
but at least you're not chewing it like you used to do when you were five years
old.
Rating: 7/10
Rating: 7/10
