OPI | As Steady As She Rose

Desperately need recommendations on a similar shade to this one. I'm getting in an awful habit of getting acrylics done from the salon, my nails are gonna hate me soon! The shade I'm wearing is by OPI and is called As Steady As She Rose....however. It's a discontinued shade and more or less ancient. So any recommendations for something similar is more than welcome! 

Sabi x

Benefit x House of Fraser | Cheekathon

A few weeks ago, I was invited by House of Fraser to the launch (and learn) event of Benefit’s Cheekathon Palette* which was held at the Benefit Good Ship over by the Embankment in London.  It was such a stunning day in London that day, bear in mind this was back in April, and the view was just incredible as the weather was beaut and it was right opposite the London Eye, I definitely think the Good Ship has the best view in London town #justsayin

The event consisted of cocktails, cake pops, a makeup lesson by Lauren from Benefit on how to use the Cheekathon palette as well as the opportunity to get a brow wax and shop all of Benefit’s cult products. I do love Benefit as a brand from the products they sell to their branding. It was really great to learn about the Cheekathon palette, as it consists of Benefit’s iconic powders; Hoola, Dallas, Dandelion, Coralista and the amazing highlighter; Rockateur as well as a small brush which is great for contouring FYI! The palette is amazing, and also has a mirror too. I’ve been using the palette everyday versus my normal contour/highlighter (Anastasia Beverly Hills) and can truly say it’s an amazing palette, as you can see this post is pretty picture heavy!

The palette is £44.50 which includes 5 full sized blushes/contours/highlighters which retail at £23.50 each. I’m a NC30 in MAC’s Studio Fix Foundation, and I can wear all of the shades in this palette. On a daily basis, I use 4 out of 5 on my face, I would so use the 5^th blush if it was acceptable to use 2 blushes!

The Good Ship was amazing and is actually open to the public throughout summer as they have a Pinkton Parlour Bar, a Brow Bar where you can come in and get a wax and everything goes to charity, and a Lashitude Restaurant where you can stop by for lunch, tea and bottomless brunches Find out more about what’s going on at The Good Ship here and if you want to check out the Cheekathon Palette (I highly suggest you do) check it out here.

Sabi x

OPI | Big Apple Red

Big Apple Red by OPI

Sabi x

OPI | Lincoln Park After Dark

OPI Lincoln Park After Dark

Sabi x

Glam Glow | Review

This is probably the best skincare product I have ever used to date. I've seen a lot of bloggers/celebrities rave about Glam Glow products but could never justify spending over £40 for a small pot of face mask. However after buying the sample size from Sephora, after just one use I could really feel and see the difference and ended up buying the full size...and it's sister. Now this really sounds like one of those Proactive Skincare adverts but I honestly  saw results after just one use...

The black pot is the Glam Glow Youth Mud and the white pot is the Glam Glow Super Mud. Who knew there could be so many different types of mud, especially a mud that costs more than my foundation =P

What does it do?

Glam Glow Youth Mud is basically your all rounder mask as it does the following:

- Brightens skin

- Exfoliates

- Penetrates into the deepest layers of the skin to soften lines and wrinkles

- Tightens, tones and lifts the skin

- Minimises pores

- Absorbs impurities 

- Minimises spots

- Leaves a glow (guess it's called Glam Glow for a reason)

Glam Glow Super Mud on the other hand focuses more on your problem areas so it does the following:

- Helps breakouts/spots

- Minimises black/whiteheads

- Minimises pores

- Helps razor burns and ingrown hair bumps

- Helps skin clearing

Super Mud is the same price as Youth Mud but is smaller in size which is a little cheeky however it's much more effective on the skin. So from the moment you apply the mask on your skin, you will feel a tingle. For a split second I thought "I've just paid £40 for a product that's gonna burn my skin!" but no. It's all part of the process, so at first it tingles your skin but that's just all the natural ingredients working it's magic. The mask dries really fast, which is a bonus for me as I hate waiting. Once washed off, you instantly notice a glow and over time it makes your skin look a lot brighter and clearer. I use this 2-3 times a week only on problem areas, or areas I'm likely to breakout as it helps prevent this. 

I'm going to have to warn you though...once you Glam Glow, you don't go back. And the pot finishes quite quickly therefore before you know it, you'll be um-ing and ah-ing whether or not to buy your next pot as your wallet is probably going to be a little empty but I promise you, it's totally worth it!

Glam Glow is available to purchase online from Feel Unique and £40 each for the two products mentioned above.

Sabi x

The Beauty Blender | Review

If you follow me on Instagram, I'm sure you would have seen the *hundred* photos I uploaded whilst on holiday in Abu Dhabi and Dubai during December. Well, it's been a while as I've been testing out all of the products I purchased from my *daily* Sephora visits.

I've been a big fan of the Real Techniques Complexion Sponge ever since it came out, I haven't used a brush to apply my foundation since as the results are 100% better than a brush! Long story, cut short as I do like to ramble... I finally purchased the Beauty Blender in Black.

Now for those who haven't used a blender before, it's simply a latex free sponge which gives you a flawless base and finish. You simply wet the sponge under warm water, squeeze the excess water out. You'll notice the sponge increases in size slightly, and then you start applying your foundation and concealer with it. Some people use the sponge dry, but the finish you get from a damp sponge is a hundred times better. You waste less foundation with a Beauty Blender/Complexion Sponge compared to a foundation brush and it also gives you an even coverage all over.

Now it's really easy to clean the sponge, but it's something you need to everyday to ensure the quality of your sponge and finish of your makeup stays tip top. I clean mine with my Body Shop Tea Tree Face Wash every morning before I use it and it looks brand new every time. The one small thing I love about the blender is that the small container becomes an air dry pot when it's wet. Such a small simple thing, but clever and very hygienic! 

Tough question but you must be thinking it; which is better? The Real Techniques Complexion Sponge or the Beauty Blender. In all honesty, I think they're both "the bomb.com" however I love that the Real Techniques sponge, has a flat side which allows me to blend my concealer nicely. Whereas the Blender is complete a 360 shape. Real Techniques offers a cheaper price (£5.99) whereas the Blender is £16.00 so as much as I love the Blender, I do have to say Real Techniques wins at price and shape efficiency but otherwise is just as amazing!

The Beauty Blender is available to buy from:Cult Beauty for £16.00.

Sabi x

Bourjois | Rouge Edition Velvet

Left to Right: Fun-chsia, Maquillage, Hot Pepper & Red-evolution.

Red-evolution

Maquillage

Hot Pepper

Funchsia

I had the opportunity to try out the new shades of Rouge Edition Velvet* by Bourjois, which I was so excited about as I have heard nothing but good things, plus I love a matte lip product!

Rouge Edition Velvet is a matte lipstick which offers comfort, longevity and of course a gorgeous lip colour. Matte liquid lipsticks have been a thing for a while and I really think they are the way forward and may even replace the classic matte lipstick #justayin'

The packaging is cute and matched the colour of the product, the small applicator is also great as the shape of it makes it easier to apply the colour. I like how it feels as if you don't have any product on the lips, as it dries really quickly which made my lips feel really comfortable. Unfortunately it's not magic so it will come off if you're eating/drinking or smoking shisha in my case. The colours are super bright and pigmented, and I'm loving every single colour at the moment!

For £8.99 I feel like the product could be slightly bigger in size however the colour pay off and wear makes it worth it! Out of 10? I'd give it a strong 8.

This can be purchased from either Boots, Superdrug, ASOS or Feel Unique.

Have you tried Rouge Edition Velvet? Would love to know your thoughts, leave a comment below.

Sabi x

OPI Infinite Shine | Raisin' The Bar

I love OPI Infinite Shine* as it really offers SHINE! It's a three step process, so you first prime your nails, you then apply the colour and last but not least finish off with the top coat which offers shine and protects your mani.

I'm rockin' Raisin the Bar which is a dark red. It's a weird shade as in the evening it almost looks burgundy however during the day it's a dark red. I actually found my mani lasting a whole 7 days after buffing my nails and following the three step process which is a first for any nail polish! Big thumbs up to OPI!

Sabi x

Rimmel | The Only One

500 Revolution Red

300 Listen Up!

800 Under My Spell

820 Oh So Wicked

620 Call Me Crazy

110 Pink a Punch

610 Cheeky Coral

510 Best of the Best

I love a good lipstick swatch I do, so when I saw Rimmel's new lipsticks The Only One* which is supposed to be the only lipstick you will ever need, I had to try it.

So introducing The Only One which promises to deliver colour, comfort, a weightless feel, moisture and longevity. Now that's a lot of benefits but everything I guess is something that's been long needed in the lipstick game. I personally love Rimmel's lipstick formula especially the Lasting Finish range as I find them super comfortable, long wearing and the colours of course are stunning. 

There are 15 shades from your everyday mauves, nudes (which aren't swatched here) to your soft pinks, corals, hot pinks, purples and reds. Literally they have covered every single colour and of course every single benefit. 

The formula? Well it has a blend of lightweight oils for a gliding and cushioning sensation which makes your lips feel really nice and comfortable. Almost to the point you don't realise you're wearing lipstick. The wear? I wish this would stay on longer especially whilst eating/drinking but let's face it, what lipstick do you know that stays put for hours?

I love the shade range, I think it's their strongest colour palette with so many bold colours to choose from however there are more everyday colours such as nudes and mauves in the range, I just chose to blog about the boldest shades as I cannot get enough of bold lip colours at the moment! Overall I think it's a great product from Rimmel and The Only One can be purchased from either Boots or Superdrug for £6.99.

Sabi x

Anastasia Beverly Hills | Perfect Brow

I do love a good old Anastasia Beverly Hills purchase. I recently purchased the Perfect Brow Pencil in Medium Brown as my Brow Whiz pencil ran out. Anastasia is the Queen of brows and her products are worth every penny if you're wondering is it worth the price...

The Perfect Brow Pencil slightly differs to the Brow Whiz Pencil as it has a pencil formula whereas the Brow Whiz has a consistency of a gel mixed with pencil. Both are incredibly good and can create the perfect brow no pun intended from near enough nothing. It's amazing how faint the pencil is so it just looks like natural strokes of hair. As you can see from the swatch above, it's a really faint product which doesn't look harsh. I find pencil gives you more control when defining the brows and it just gives you more control on creating the perfect shape for your face.

Sabi x

Trend: Berry Lips

I love mixing lipsticks to create your own lip colours. Sometimes believe it or not, from my hundreds of lipsticks I just can't always find the right tone of red or nude. So the perfect solution is to mix them as long as they are the same formula.

I mixed Rimmel's Moisture Renew Lipstick in Glam Plum Fulham and Dark Night Waterl-oops!. Dark Night Waterl-oops is quite purple and Glam Plum Fulham is more of a red although the shade names can be quite misleading. I wanted a dark berry lip of course which is perfect for the season ahead So I decided to mix them. I chose the Moisture Renew range only because the formula is incredibly moisturising and mixes really well. If you want to create an ombre lip, I would definitely recommend this range. 

Sabi x

Bourjois | Rouge Edition Velvet

As autumn approaches, I'm already reaching out for the knits, dark nail colours and matte lip products. It's my favourite time of year and the matte lip trend is back again.

I am loving Bourjois' Rouge Edition Velvet in Nude-Ist which is a matte liquid lipstick. It's similar to Apocalips Matte and the Anastasia Matte Lip Liquids.The lipsticks come in a form of a lip gloss but after a few minutes the product dries to a matte finish. Now a lot of people don't like matte products because they fear they are uncomfortable but this doesn't feel uncomfortable at all. This doesn't feel uncomfortable, it's the total opposite. Often I forget I'm wearing this on my lips, as it doesn't feel drying or textured. 

The colour is in between a mauve and bright pink, I wouldn't say it's a true nude like the name Nude-ist however it's a pretty colour for the day and would look good on a night out too.

The only thing I don't like is that when you eat/drink, it does transfer slightly but once re-applied, it looks perfect again. I've heard a lot of beauty bloggers rave about this and now it's pretty obvious why...

Rouge Edition Velvet is £8.99 and available from Boots, Superdrug & ASOS.

Sabi x

MAC | Whirl Lip Liner

If you follow me on Periscope, you would have seen me broadcast a little live beauty haul a few weeks ago. I popped into Selfridges to repurchase the gorg 90's lipstick; Velvet Teddy as it's literally down to it's last bit (I don't think I have ever finished a MAC lipstick so quickly!) So I purchased the matching lip liner, Whirl...

Whirl is slightly darker then Velvet Teddy but there's no doubt about it, they are the perfect duo. I have only ever used a transparent lip liner when it comes to lip contouring, oh and Eastend Snob by Rimmel! 

The lip liner is matte and when applied feels slightly more creamier than it looks. As mentioned above, the colour is slightly darker than Velvet Teddy. I would say it's more brown on Asian skin tone and more of a mauve on lighter skin tones. I like to line my lips and fill them in with Whirl, and then apply Velvet Teddy on top. I feel my lipstick lasts much longer and looks super pigmented when I do this technique! It's such a pretty lip liner, although it is slightly expensive as it's £14.50 however it's MAC so it's expected.

If you know any dupes of Whirl, let me know! Otherwise tell me your fave lip liners from MAC?

Sabi x

Maybelline | The Nudes Palette

Everywhere I go, all I hear is nudes. No not those kind of nudes, I'm talking makeup kind of nudes. I went into Superdrug to pick up Maybelline's new eyeshadow palette; The Nudes. I'm not one to buy a high street/drugstore eye shadow product purely because I find they are never as good as my Naked Palettes by Urban Decay, however Maybelline has twisted my arm on this one. I have to say it's quite a new thing brands are starting to pick up as we are seeing an increase in palettes being sold on the high street, so who knows if my love for Urban Decay will stay or go...

So I'm loving this cute little palette which is super small but so ideal for travelling or just keeping it in your makeup bag for last minute nights out. The palette consists of 12 shades which cater to all skin tones (a very important factor when it comes to nudes). So we have 4 base colours, 6 neutral shimmery shades which are my face and a couple of matte block colours e.g. black. The palette comes with a brush applicator but I prefer to use my own. 

Are they pigmented? Yes, which had me like woah because I never thought they would be. Are the shades wearable?  Yes! When you think of nudes, you think they are only suitable for everyday but these are great to build up that day to night eye look. Do you need it? Yes if you don't have the funds to invest in a Naked palette I mean the Naked Basics is around £20 and this is only £9.99.

Sabi x