Sunday 13 July 2014

Arbonne - A product review

This week, I was lucky enough to have been given a couple of products to try from the company Arbonne*. I had never heard of this company before, but it works a bit like an Avon, you have your friendly local consultant, or you can order online with a consultant’s code.

I was given the It’s a Long Story Mascara and the eyeliner in the shade Ebony.
 
 

Let’s begin with the Eyeliner (£17). This product comes in a crème stick formula, not very dissimilar to the Avon Glimmerstick. It applies very smoothly, with no tugging or pulling, and blends out easily. The colour is not so intense on first application, but it can be built up if you are looking for a harsher black line. This Arbonne eyeliner also comes with a very handy sharpener at the end, so it is really easy to maintain a point. I did like this eyeliner, however, I think that there are others on the market which are cheaper, that will do as good a job!

I was more impressed with the mascara I was given. The ‘It’s a Long Story’ Mascara (£25) is one of Arbonne’s newest products.  The applicator wand is made up of silicone spikes arranged in a squareish formation. There are also some spikes on the very tip of the wand, which are useful to separate lashes. As consistencies go, this mascara is very thin, which makes it prefect for creating spidery lashes. I found that it did give my lashes a dramatic lengthened look and did not clump them together. It also worked great for my lower lash line, and I loved the end result.

Overall, although I liked these products (particularly the mascara), the only reservation I have about them is the price. They are very expensive. Arbonne is cruelty free and try to use as natural ingredients as possible, so if you like these kinds of brands this may be one you want to give a try!

Have you tried any Arbonne products? Which ones would you recommend?

If you would like to order any products from the website, https://www.arbonneinternational.co.uk/, you can use the consultant ID: 441218632. Contact consultant Emma Richardson at emmarichardson1@outlook.com if you are intrigued and she will happily arrange for some samples to be sent over to you!

*Disclaimer: Although I was given these products free of charge, the thoughts and opinions expressed in this blog entry are all my own. I was not paid to write this post or to feature these products.

Sunday 6 July 2014

Top 5 According to......Me!

I’ve wanted to write a series like this for a long time, and I thought it only apt that I start with myself. We all have different routines, techniques and favourite or well used products. Reading about what different people wear, use and how they apply is what makes beauty blogging great, and what makes us all come back for more.

The plan with this series is to take you through a variety of people’s top 5 beauty products. You never know, it might show you something new, or rediscover old favourites.

So here are my top 5, in no particular order:
 
 

1.    A decent cleanser. I can have really spot prone skin, so it is important for me to keep up a regular skin care routine. At the minute I have been loving this First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser with Red Clay. It has a rather peculiar smell, and quite a thick texture when it comes out of the bottle. However, once mixed with water it becomes a milky consistency and leaves the skin feeling fresh and clear.

2.    Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. The rest of my top 5 is focussed around the eyes. During the week when I am at work, I do not bother with base. I always start with this Primer Potion. My eye lids can be oily and eyeshadow only lasts a few hours without this miracle product. When I use this, my eyeshadow is not only brighter and more pigmented, but also lasts all day. As you can see, mine is very well loved however one tube lasts a really long time.

3.    Urban Decay Naked palette. I have only had this since Christmas but I think I have used it pretty much every single day since. It is the perfect collection of natural eyeshadow colours, 10 shimmer and 2 matte. You can create all sorts of looks with these eyeshadows, daytime to evening. All of the shadows are packed with pigment and, although I know some people have had different experiences, I find there is little fallout. It is also perfect for those who are just starting to experiment with makeup.

4.    MAC 217 Blending Brush. If you only ever buy one eyeshadow brush, this has to be the one! It is the ultimate in eyeshadow brushes. Not only does it help to blend eyeshadows with ease, but it can also be used to apply and pack on colour. The 217 is so versatile, and I have even used it before to blend out my concealer. I actually have 2 of these because they are so amazing!

5.    Mascara. As a blonde haired lady, although my eyelashes are quite thick, they are not very visible. I truly believe that a good mascara is one of the most important products you can own. There is such a variety available, all for different looks and there are decent ones available for all budgets. I have been using this Arbonne It’s a Long Story Mascara – expect an in depth review on the blog next week!

So there you have it, my top 5. Have you tried any of these? What did you think? Which products would make it onto your top 5?