Dove Original Deodorant....

I'm back guys but just for a relatively quick post today. It's on  product that i've loved for a long time and i actually photographed it months ago to review and never got round to it so when i got sent this for free from Dove to review (Thankyou by the way!), i knew that i was receiving a really great product and it was the kick up the backside i needed to get the post done.

Deodorants for me are a bit hit and miss and there are very few that i actually really think work for me, this of course is different for everyone, but in my opinion this is a really good quality deodorant for really not a lot of money.

When it comes to the anti-antiperspirant properties of this product, i would say it is one of the best out there, without leaving that irritating powder or white marks anywhere. With me, i really like being able to actually know my deodorant is working throughout the day, so when i might need a bit of protection, the scent is definitely there and i don't get self conscious about getting super sweaty. This is one of those products that you can feel kicking in and controlling the perspiration that you might be experiencing, and i'm not saying that it's perfect and works all the time but it definitely has an effect.

Another thing i really like is the scent itself which could be a bit of a 'Marmite' subject as it really is such a basic scent, i imagine you'll love it or hate it. I actually really love it as to me, it just smells fresh and clean and that's just what i want from a deodorant but i'd recommend having a sniff of it before you buy if your more into floral scents or whatever. I'm pretty sure it just smells very similar to the original dove line scent that they have across the board, but i couldn't be sure.

I also wanted to  comment on the fact that this product is the 'compressed' version and you can still pick up the full size original product, although i wouldn't now i've tried this one. It's the same price, lasts just as long i have found after using it solidly everyday at least twice a day for at least a month or so, and fits better in handbags for on the go. There isn't anything wrong with the original, but then this one is just as good, better for the environment and just a more convenient size for me then the larger version, so if you, like me, were a little dubious to whether the 'lasts just as long' claims were actually true, then i can assure you there very much were so don't fret! 

So overall, a good solid product that i will definitely be repurchasing. Like i said, i've used this deodorant for years and know i loved it but if you were on the market and this wasn't for you, i could possibly name some better if you wanted a bit more protection, and i definitely have a couple of other deodorants knocking around my bedroom that i think are just as good if not better but for a good all round and cheap deodorant, i'd say this is one of the best.

Thanks for reading guys,

Jo x

The Body Shop Lightning Drops....

Okay, so after my massive hiatus recently, i'm back! But i must warn you up until the start of my Christmas holidays next week i might still be a bit absent, I've just been so super ridiculously busy. I've been out every weekend and working every night and panicking about Uni every other second so i've barely had a moments rest over the past couple of weeks. So what's changed? I've opened my first week of advent calendars which i am LOVING, and i will definitely get a post up  about some products next because i know i promised, but what can you do? 
I've also done a tiny bit of Christmas shopping, which has brought me to this product funnily enough. My friend's mum has done body shop parties for forever and a day and i love going to them, especially near Christmas because i know i'll get a good deal one way or another, and a week or so ago, i went to one in particular where everything had 40% off, which i couldn't pass up! I'd had my eye on these drops since they were released as i do find that especially in winter, i really struggle to find a good foundation shade that doesn't make me look orange, but this really is a great product for that and i can't recommend this enough for those pale girls like me out there.


So essentially what it is, is a super highly pigmented white foundation that you mix into your regular foundation and apply as normal and it makes the colour a little paler. It might be worth mentioning at this point that there is also a darkening drops, which is like a dark brown and makes the foundation darker, which i may have to pick up in the summer if i get any colour and i imagine would be good for girls who have a slightly darker skin then yours truly. 

I found personally that the drops also seem to add just a little bit of coverage to my foundation, which i actually really like as it can mean that i end up using less foundation and less of the drops, which is always good. I like to use this and build it up a little bit in my problem areas which works really well and adds just enough coverage which doesn't look cakey which is always a positive. 
The drops also in my opinion don't add any more weight to the foundation, which seems mad i know as it does add coverage, but i have tried it with numerous foundations and have found that it feels heavy or sticky on my skin at all. My favourite foundation to use it with at the moment is the Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation which i picked up a couple of weeks ago and am really enjoying, but i also have loved it with more 'watery' foundations like the Lancome Miracle Air de Teint, which does thicken the foundation up a little but doesn't effect the texture too much.

One slight bug bear with this product is to do with the packaging. When using the little dropper, with mine it only gives one tiny drop before i have to refill, which is a bit of a pain as it makes it a bit more inconvenient to use, but i feel like this might just be a bit of a fault with my specific bottle, i doubt it'll be a range wide problem. But it is just a little something to look out for with this product.

These drops are available for £10 from the body shop, which may sound expensive but for that, you do get a quite a lot of product and it really does last. You only need the tiniest amount to visibly lighten the foundation and according to the website this product only requires '1 drop for 1/2 shade lighter' which i would agree with. So, if you do find foundations are a little dark for you, i'd definitely try this out, i haven't yet found any adverse reactions of it to my skin yet, if anything my breakouts have been better but that is probably just a coincidence, but it does demonstrate that for me, it hasn't done anything terrible yet. It also has not managed to dry my skin out anymore then my normal foundation does, so i'd also call that a bonus. This is the first one of these products i have seen on the 'drugstore' market, and it's a really good price, so treat yourself! 

Thanks for reading guys, I'll try and be a bit more active but i break up for the Christmas holidays next week so if i don't post before then, they'll definitely be one up next weekend. 
Jo x 

Clearasil Toner...

So as someone who is prone to breakouts and has dry skin, it is often difficult for me to find a skin product that helps my spot prone skin but doesn't dry my skin out too much. When i first bought this product i didn't actually go out for this specific one, and i only bought it because it was cheap and i thought it was worth a try. And surprisingly, i loved it.

This toner isn't anything special in the actual 'toner' department, i'm sure there are plenty of other toners that are much better then this and do wonderful amazing things for your skin, but it does what i want it to, it gives a thorough cleanse and makes my skin feel clean and refreshed without feeling dry or tight. The funky bit of this is that i've never found a product like this that really works in clearing the skin, without being drying and uncomfortable, especially after long term use. I also think it helps to prevent breakouts as it actually feels like it is doing something when i use it as it tingles and has a real deep cleaning feeling that some people might not like especially if you have sensitive skin, but i definitely felt the results after using this for a couple of weeks. I found that i had less spots, and when i did get them they weren't half as bad as they normally were and cleared up super quickly.  

Another super bonus with this, is that is really does smell nice. For a product like this that has to be medicated in some way, they have managed to live up to the 'Superfruit' claim and the smell is light and fruity without being too strong or sweet where it makes you not want to put it on your face. The toner itself is in a very liquid form, and i just pop a bit onto a cotton pad and wipe across my face, avoiding my eyes, and even if i have deep cleansed just before, it still manages to find some crap on my face to remove. If my skin is particularly bad, i'll often just work the toner on the cotton pad into that specific spot for a little longer then normal, until i can feel it tingling and stinging a little, and within a couple of hours the spot already looks smaller and less angry. This to me is one of the few products that i have found actually manage to help reduce the look of my breakouts and i have tried many let me tell you.

In all, there isn't much to say about this except for the fact that it is without a doubt one of my absolute favourite skin care essentials. I always try and use this product if i can, especially when i'm having a bad skin day, so if your on the market for a good simple toner which has spot reducing qualities, this is worth checking out, although it is safe to say that even though something might work for me, it might not work for you so be warned. I also know there are a couple of different Clearasil toner's so when this runs out, i might try a different one if i see one that takes my fancy so any recommendation would be gladly received. 

I'm tempted to do a skincare routine sometime when i really settle into my winter skincare regime, so keep a look out for that! I hope everyone is having lovely days and thankyou for reading x
Jo x

Advent Calendar Obsession....

So this year was the first year that i've had my blog and this has been my first full year where i have been really interested in makeup. Therefore, i knew i'd be mad not to get a beauty advent calendar this year as it just would give me so much to talk about and i'm sure it'd be somewhat interesting. I was also considering doing like a mini vlog series, or a Xmas series of posts where i'd focus on my beauty products from my calendars and gift guides etc. And me being me thought i'd cover all bases when i bought not one, not two, but three beauty advent calendars this year and i am really happy with them. I also didn't pay full price for any of them and two of them were paid for by others as gifts so i don't feel as bad, and which makes it even more exciting! So i thought i'd give my first impressions prior to doing full reviews when i open them up. 

I thought i'd also mention the fact that last year i had the body shop advent calendar, and i thought it was amazing, i know it is pricey but after seeing what is in it this year, i know i would have really loved this one too, especially that it has a bit more of a variety in it as last year, it was very bath and body based, and didn't have much makeup where i believe this one is a little better on that front. So i'd recommend that one if  you were a fan of the body shop like me and fancied trying some new products from them. 

This year i passed on that calendar as i couldn't justify it as i've still got lots of minis from last year that i'm still using up and still loving, so i've not gone off the body shop, i just wanted to try something new. The first calendar that caught my eye this year was the Makeup Revolution one as it was a brand that i classically love and there was so much in it, with 25 full size exclusive products, i couldn't refuse. Especially as i got my 30% discount from it also, bringing it down to about £30 in total. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up. I picked that one up a few weeks ago and am really excited to get into it! 

Benefit is a brand that i've heard a lot about and my friends all love, but it's not something that i've really tried myself, or is it something that i felt i could justify the price of. For the money, there was nothing really that took my eye enough to splash the cash on. However, knowing that the infamous Benefit advent calendar was hot property this year, i dared to have a look at how much it was, in curiosity about trying out something new. And i was pretty gob smacked to see that it was still in stock in the only place that i have a £20 gift voucher for, Debenhams! So after my discounts and their promotional offer on on that day, i managed to get my hands on the Benefit advent calendar for £11, yes you heard right! And then my dad offered to pay for me, even damn better! I'm super excited to try out some Benefit products as like i said it's not a brand i've ever really tried and i'm excited to see whether it lives up to the hype. A little sneaky preview though, the little tune it plays when you open it is SUPER SUPER SUPER irritating :) 

Finally, the last calendar i've got my hands on this year is by some minor miracle, the M&S beauty advent calendar. I was dying to get my hands on this for weeks, as it had some really interesting brands in it and was the only one with a mixture of skincare and makeup in which appealed to me. So when it went out of stock super quickly online yesterday i was pretty upset to be completely honest. However, one way or another my boyfriend managed to hunt one down and pick it up for me instore today, alongside a couple of beauty products to get the £25 calendar if you spend £25, which is worth it when full price, the calendar is priced at £200. I'm overjoyed with this and i'm really excited to try out some new funky brands from this calendar and i've also got a couple of products i have wanted to try for ages to make up my £25, which i'm sure will be reviewed soon. If your interested in the advent calendar like i was, i'd 100% head down to your local M&S ASAP to try and get your hands on one because i believe they are really flying off the shelves currently and are pretty awesome from what i have seen on first impressions. 

If your interested in seeing mini reviews, first impressions and like a twelve days of Christmas blog, keep with me because that is all coming up in the next couple of weeks and i've got loads of reviews coming soon on bits and pieces i've picked up around recently including the MAC XMAS COLLECTION!!!! Again my brilliant boyfriend outdid himself with an early Xmas present and these tend to fly off the shelves at this time of the year and i can tell you they make excellent gifts so i'd snap one of these up if you were after one or are just a collector like me.(For the record, i have the red lipstick collection which has a lip glass, lip pencil and lipstick all with a little clutch). All in all, i'm so damn excited for Christmas and i'm loving all the gift sets and makeup collections this time of year, so i'll try and give you some reviews and i pick things up. 

Thanks so much for reading guys and make sure you pick up your advent calendars soon as they'll be snapped up quickly this year and i don't want anyone missing out!
Jo x 

I Heart Drugstore Makeup Tag!

Hey Guys, i'm back after my hiatus after my surgery and hopefully am more up to blogging now, although we'll take it slowly, thank you for baring with me! 

I'm just going to throw this out there, These are all my own opinions and although you might not agree with them, and what works for me might not work for you, it's okay, and we're all different so embrace it!

Continuing from this, i had a little bit of a research about what tags and stuff to do as i've not really been up to writing a full review or post (but that will be back soon i promise), and i really liked the look of this one so here it is!

1. What is your favorite drugstore makeup brand overall?

I really love different brands at the drugstore for different reasons, for me they all have different strengths and i turn for different ones for different products. But at the moment, i'd probably say Rimmel as an old favourite, or L'Oreal for currently. I'd also have to give an honourable mention to Makeup Revolution and Freedom which are my budget brands that consistently perform well against other products. 

2. What are your favorite face, cheek and lip products?

Face: Currently my favourite foundation is the L'Oreal Infalliable, i'm a little obsessed with that and i've done a whole blog post on it if you want to know more but it's just excellent value for money, coverage and lasting power without being drying. My all time favourite concealer is actually a highlighting concealer from Maybelline that i have also reviewed but i've also got a soft spot for the Collection Lasting Perfection because who doesn't. My favourite powder of all time is the Bourjois Healthy Balance powder as it's a really flawless, finely milled powder that lasts a really long time on my skin.
Cheek: My favourite cheek products primarily come from Makeup Revolution although i do love NYX blushes for their amazing blendability and range of colours. I must admit, i've never found one brand that really does everything for me from the drugstore in terms of cheek products, but then i don't really use them all that often, so i'm not an expert on it.
Lips: Rimmel kill it in the lip product department, i would definitly say that their Kate Moss lipsticks are easily my favourites and i just love their colour selection and choice of finishes. They have something for everyone and i'd say they are easily some of the best value for money at the drugstore in terms of lip products. They are just consistantly excellent.

3. Least favorite product?

Ermmmmm, i have to say that i'm not a fan of the L'Oreal dupe of the Touche Eclat. It's very streaky and actually seems to remove my undereye makeup rather then add coverage. I was really disappointed in this product as i was expecting more from this for the money compared to other drugstore alternatives such as the Maybelline one that i love.

4. What is the best makeup bargain?
Just Freedom as a range. I recently did a haul and got so much stuff for under £20. It was insane. I really think a lot of people miss out on products from the super budget brands as they assume the quality is reflective of the price which i would totally disagree with. It's 100% worth trying stuff out and saving your money because sometimes the lower cost brands are so good compared to the more expensive equivalent. If i needed to name a product, i'd say the eyebrow pomade is such a high end product and yet is only £5?! Definitely worth checking out! 

5. What is your favorite underdog product? (Something you love that often gets overlooked?)

The low- cost brand essence which is available pretty readily in Europe and the US as far as i am aware, but is a little bit harder to come by in the UK, being available only really in Wilko's, is actually a really good brand in general for makeup. I especially love the lip products, which for very little money are really lovely quality, long lasting and comfortable. The blushes are also a highlight for me and generally there hasn't been much that i have tried from the brand that i haven't enjoyed. But from UK bloggers especially, i feel like there isn't that much discussion about them which is a shame as i think they are a really good low budget option in the drugstore. Okay it's potentially not as accessible as if it was in an actual drugstore like Boots or Superdrug, but all in all, i think it is worth a try as a lot of their products are great for the money. If i had to recommend a specific product, their lip glosses in the matte or shiny finish are really nice quality and really comfortable, and that is coming from a person who classically doesn't enjoy glosses, so if you are they are definitely worth a try. Also, maybe the lip liners too if, you know, you were already looking.....

6. A drugstore product that is overpriced?

A thing that really bothers me is that so many brands are so much cheaper in the states such as Max Factor/ Covergirl. I'm not sure i've ever tried anything from Max Factor which is a shame as it could be a really great brand, but i don't think the packaging is particularly appealing and the prices put me off when i know i have things i enjoy from cheaper brands that do the job just fine. I can't say individual products are overpriced because i haven't tried them, but i can say from my point of view, i feel i am put off by the price for sure.

7. Show your best drugstore dupe(s)!!

I don't have that many high end products to start with, but Mac lipsticks are my kryptonite in the high end and i do have a few that i'd definitely say i have duped in the drugstore and i would save your money on. One of these is Maybelline Creamy Matte in 'Divine Wine' being super similar in colour and finish to Mac 'Diva'. The Maybelline one if i had to be super picky is perhaps a little more purple as opposed to the slightly more redness of 'Diva' but you can hardly tell at all and for the price difference, it is nothing. Plus, the Maybelline one is creamier and therefore could be argued is more comfortable on the lips and although i personally do prefer the Mac one, It's worth considering if matte lipsticks are not your thing.
 Another is for the limited edition Giambattista Valli lipstick in 'Charlotte' which is really difficult to get your hands on now, which can be duped for Rimmel Kate Moss Matte lipstick in '111 Kiss of Life'. I'd say the only difference is that the Rimmel is slightly more orange, and is slightly shinier, but for the price difference and the availability, this is as close a dupe as any.

Top to Bottom: Rimmel's '111 Kiss of Life', 'Mac's 'Charlotte', Maybelline's 'Divine Wine' and Mac's 'Diva'

I also think that Makeup Revolution make incredible dupes of products, so close sometimes that they put it on the display that they are dupes. The one's i have personally tried and just found amazing are the Naked Palette dupes from Makeup Revolution called the Iconic 1, 2 and 3. These are really nice quality and if you don't want to splash the cash on the Urban Decay, or like me don't think you'd use the colours potentially as much to justify them, then these are a brilliant alternative. I also really enjoy the Iconic Pro's, the dupes of the Lorac Pro, which i really love. I don't have the Lorac but i've heard great things and i intend to pick one of them up one day, but until them, in order to fill it's place, the Makeup Revolution is a really nice palette in it's own right. Other products i'd keep in mind if you are looking for dupes are the highlighters as i love them and i have heard rumours about them being excellent dupes for the notorious Hourglass Ambient Palette, and considering the price, i wouldn't dream of picking up the Hourglass after trying these as they work just as well for me. 

8. Drugstore product that isn't worth the hype?
Dare i say it, i'm not a massive fan of Maybelline lip products. From what i tried, yes they are nice but they are more expensive then Rimmel for example and i'm just not a huge fan of them. I don't like the smell very much, to me it's not like fruity or sweet, it's like perfume, which is not appealing to me at all as a lip product. I'm also a let down by the packaging as i think it look pretty cheap and i've never liked the big lid and the tiny bit at the bottom to pull the tube out with, i just find it a little awkward. The formula's are usually reasonable, and they are good quality, but there is just something about them for me that i just am not such a fan of. But not everyone is the same, and i know a lot of people love these, so try them before you take my word for it. 

Thanks for reading guys, 
Love
Jo x 

Freedom Haul/ First Impressions! *Picture Heavy*

So when i first heard about freedom, i was really excited to try out some of their products and although i picked a few bits up way back when they first launched, i hadn't tried anything else as i was waiting until they came to superdrug so i could make the most out of my discount. And after a number of days checking the website three times a day, they FINALLY launched and i finally got my hands on the new products, and i just went a bit crazy. I must admit, i haven't actually tried all of these products yet, so this will be like a super basic first impressions post/ what i got.

So firstly, the thing i was most excited about with the new line, the eyebrow products. I ended up picking up an eyebrow pomade and an brow powder in my colours which is generally medium brown.

This pomade is one of the most exciting eyebrow products i have ever picked up from a budget beauty line and i feel like it is really excellent for the money. I have never tried the Anastasia Beverly Hills version that everyone raves about and what this has blatantly duped, but on first impressions, this is a really amazing eyebrow product which has totally changed the way i fill in my brows. It can be used lightly as it is super blendable, or it can be used as a harsher brow but either way, i'm really enjoying playing around with this, and you'll definitely see a follow up to this up soon. 

The powder again, on first impressions is lovely and although i've only swatched this so far, i'm impressed with the pigmentation of the two colours, i think i picked up 'Ash Brown' in this in order to try and achieve a slightly lighter brow on the days where i don't want to go all out. The colours are different enough to be worth having as well, which is a pet peeve of mine with these duo colour products such as this. In all, i'm excited to try this out! 

Now onto another super exciting part of this haul, the new contour products. I picked up a contour stick and a palette, which i was really excited about trying as i've never been someone who was great at contouring and i felt branching out into cream products might be a useful step in developing my skills in the field. And for the relatively cheap price followed by all array of discounts i couldn't pass up an opportunity to collect a few more of something i'm lacking. 

This stick is something i have been using a lot since i got it. And the number one reason? Because it is so damn easy and practical. You literally can't go wrong. You just pop a bit of the super pigmented and creamy product where it shows you on the packaging, then blend it out with a brush and your set. Another thing i'm loving about this is the highlighter colour is light enough on me to show up, which is a huge bonus as people as pale as i am will understand. If i could have a little gripe about this, it would be that i wish the contour colour was slightly more ash, but hey, we can't have it all and for the price, it is worth a try. To conclude, my first impressions are pretty damn good. 

This 'Strobe Kit' is something that i wanted but didn't want to pay £10 for, which i know isn't super pricey but when i wasn't sure whether i'd use it, it was a tad steep. However, in my crazy discounted glory, i managed to get it for like £3, which to me, makes it worth the gamble. And although i haven't fully tried it yet, i'm really excited to. Again, highlight colours are light enough, there is a nice variety in contour colours, and the brush that comes with it is actually pretty great. It really makes sculpting super easy and quick and although i haven't tried it with this kit yet, i've tried it with others and i already love it. If you can get your hands on it, i'd definitely recommend it. The contour colours aren't quite as pigmented as the highlighters i think, but they are both very creamy and bendable and currently my first impressions seem good. I might add that there is a powder version of this that i was less interested in personally, but if that is more up your street, be aware that there is that alternative. 

My last sort of cheek product is a highlighter, which is really up there with the highlights (pardon the pun) of this haul. I chose the colour 'Ambient' which was recommended by another blogger and i thought it looked pretty cool on her, so i picked it up to try and i haven't been disappointed as of yet.

This is just a really subtle glowy highlighter which could comfortably be worn all over the face without looking like a disco ball. It just brightens and does something to the complexion that is just so radiant and beautiful. I'm a little bit obsessed with this highlighter and i will be picking more up as time goes on. The embossing on the product is also a really lovely touch and it all feels much more expensive then it really was. This is a staple for me from this haul and if you are putting in an order i'd recommend you pick up one of these even just based on first impressions.

Next we have the lip products; i picked up one of the 'Pro- Melts' which seem to be another product that has been highly regarded since the launch of this brand and i also picked up one of the newly repackaged lipstick collections which i was really excited about. These are both really good value for money and from wearing both briefly, i have good first impressions. 

This is one of the Pro Melts in 'D- Ream' and this is just a really lovely everyday nude, which has just enough depth to it to make it look nice on my skin tone. The pigmentation of these liquid lipsticks is just amazing and one swatch produces a really lovely strong colour. This is also creamy but not at all sticky and although i haven't properly tried them so i can't say how well they set and last, i do really love the colour and i feel like i'm going to enjoy these, even although they are shiny rather then matte. I've heard a lot of good things about these, so i hope they live up to my expectations.

This is the 'Vamp collection' lipsticks that i picked up after wanting to try out the new lipstick collections in the repackaged formats. And for the super affordable price, i thought i might as well try it out. The formula, personally i don't think has changed but these new colours are really appealing to me as these are literally all i wear, year round and especially now they have come into season, so as to say. I must admit on first impression, the lipstick packaging is really impressive and the little touches of the shiny colour swatches on the side for example, is pretty neat. The colours are all different enough to need them all, but are similar enough for me to feel like i can wear them all. I would prefer if Freedom came out with some matte options but obviously i can matte these down with some powder so i'm not too upset. From what i know from other freedom lipsticks, i actually really like the formula and lasting power of these and find them pretty comfortable. They start off relatively sheer but can easily be built up to a really bold colour. In all, i'm excited to try all these out and i can see myself getting lots of wear out of these and would at this point recommend you try some of these out if your putting in an order.

Onto the palette that i picked up. I actually picked this up with the intention of trying out some new colours and stepping out of my comfort zone and pinks are definitely something i don't tend to reach for. But i thought this was a nice mix of really delicate pink shades and some really wearable neutral colours that i thought i could get a reasonable amount of wear from. 

 I'm really impressed on initial playing about with this palette. The shadows are very pigmented and with one swatch you get a lovely rich colour in both the light and the darker shades. There is a nice mix of mattes and shimmers and i can definitely create a lot of looks from this palette and i will be picking up another of these when i can for the brilliant price for the quality. If i had to criticise anything, it would be that there are a few colours that are quite similar base colours which could have been replaced with a better variety of colours but for only £4, i really can't complain about the quality. A full review will hopefully go into more depth in the future. 

The last product i picked up was something i'd never tried before but felt like i should have done. I don't have a huge problem with keeping my makeup on and i don't get that oily, but i do find that some makeup creases on me and if i am going out all day i do want to make sure that it is going to last all day, naturally. So i tried this out and i've actually been rather impressed. 

You apply this by spritzing it on the face on top of the makeup and the spray is not too powerful so it doesn't soak your face through or ruin your makeup. It absorbs pretty quickly and does leave my makeup on for longer. I've not used it enough to determine how much it dries my skin out if at all, so i can't give it a full review and i haven't anything to compare this against so i will give you a more thorough feedback when i do have a proper idea on the performance of this product. 

So thankyou for reading guys, and if there is anything you want to see specifically reviewed, i will do and i will review anything more in detail if i have a strong feeling about it in a positive or negative way. I'll probably be putting in another order at some point for a few more products although i did manage to get everything i wanted initially in this haul. I have been really impressed by freedom so far and will definitely picking up some more bits from them in the future, if anyone has any suggestions i'm all ears. 
I also am intending on picking up some bits from NYX in the coming weeks, so if there are any suggestions, let me know and i'll have a look into reviewing some bits. 

For those who didn't know, i had surgery on my knee on Tuesday, and if i'm honest it's knocked it out of me, and i haven't had the energy or the concentration to get into blogging or anything else for that matter this week, which obviously isn't ideal. So i will be back as soon as i can, but until then bare with me, i am trying! 

Jo x 

7 Lips in 7 Days: Calvin Klein "Dangerous Red"

Day 7
Let me start off by saying, don't be freaked out by the CK bit. These lipsticks are pretty damn affordable from the right place, namely fragrance direct. I haven't checked if they are still available but i picked this one up for peanuts last year and i went through a phase of wearing it everyday for weeks i loved it so much. And it was under £2.00 which for the big brand name i was super shocked by.  
I think the thing that i love most about this lip product is the colour. It's a beautiful deep red with a slight sheen to it, not glitter, but a slight iridescence to it. When applied it goes on slightly sheer, enough colour to recognise it, but not enough for it to be too bold for an everyday lip. It's also not bold enough for a matte lip girl like me to not want to wear, it's just enough to add a little colour to my lips without it being super over the top. This colour is a really nice one for this time of year and i love that it can be worn sheer or built up to a richer colour. I can see myself reaching for this a lot this time of year.

The formula is creamy which actually makes it really comfortable to wear and it leaves a stain on the lips afterwards which definitely means that it carries it's colour for longer then the wear time of the actual creamy layer. The creamy layer however is really lovely and moisturising and it means that the lipstick applies smoothly and evenly but it's not too creamy which would mean that it smears and bleeds. It's just dry enough for it to be practical but creamy enough for it to be comfortable. 

The wear time is pretty good on this, as the stain lasts for quite a while after the initial creaminess has worn off. This leaves almost a matte lip with just a tint of colour which is evenly distributed and although this can be quite drying, once reapplied, the lips do not flake or dry up, like some lipsticks like that do. 

Although the lipstick product itself seems pretty good, the issue i have that completely disappoints me about this product is the packaging. It just feels so plastic and without the CK label on it, you would assume this was from a very low cost brand. The lipstick in the packaging doesn't seem very secure either and i have to use it with such caution to ensure the lipstick doesn't snap or break off. It's not a deal breaker, but the packaging of this, especially if you were paying the full price, lets it down hugely.

In all, this is a nice product, but i feel like if you were having to pay full price for it, i'd look elsewhere for cheaper brands, as although the colour is beautiful and different to most i've seen before, i'm certain it could be duped for a lower price, and i genuinely think, according to the packaging, that you are 100% paying for better quality. If you can get it at the bargain basement price like i did, it's worth a try but i haven't tried any other of these lipsticks so this review may not be consistent throughout the line. I believe they have repackaged and re-branded these and they do look nicer now, but i am yet to swatch or try one and i am reluctant to pick up another unless they are significantly different. 

Thankyou for reading this series guys and i'll be back in another couple of months with another of these lip series's or maybe something different if there is any series you would like to see. 
 Jo x