Rimmel Fresher Skin Foundation Review & Swatch

Rimmel Fresher Skin Foundation Review & Swatch

Saturday, 17 September 2016

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The Fresher Skin foundation is the new kid on the block in Rimmel's foundation line up and one I was really eager to try. Promising 'light breathable coverage for an even, natural-looking, fresh finish that stays shine-free all day' it's whipped formula comes housed in a squat glass jar and that is just one of the many things that I don't like about it. Yep, sadly this foundation is really not for me, and I don't think it would work well for people with oily skin either.

Firstly let's talk about the packaging, which I hate. I really don't like it when foundation, or make up in general, comes in tubs or pots because it feels unhygienic to be dipping my fingers (which I always make sure are clean) in to the product. I much prefer pumps for this reason. It also makes application messy, and it's also quite difficult to gauge how much product you'll need, so you do end up wasting quite a lot of it.

So onto the product itself, I've tried it a few times now and, I hate to say it, but I really don't like it. It has a whipped, mousse-y texture that is quite creamy in consistency. It applies like a standard liquid foundation, however it goes on really patchily. Herein lies one of the biggest problems because it takes a few layers to build up to even coverage and if you're using a damp beauty blender or a brush then you're actually more likely to take off what you've just put on. I found the best way to apply it is with my fingertips but even then it doesn't go on evenly. Despite being very patchy the actual coverage itself isn't bad, not great but not bad. It's very light and natural looking and with the addition of Aloe, Sea Algae and Chamomile to the formula, it does reduce redness. It doesn't, however, cover blemishes or spots at all well. The shade range is also, sadly, limited. I picked up the shade 100 Ivory, which was a good match for me, but those with darker or more olive skin will struggle to find a decent match in this range. It's a shame when budget brands only cater to a few skin tones, but Rimmel aren't the only high street brand guilty of this. The main issue I had with the foundation, pants packaging and shade range aside, is that it doesn't sink in, it just sits on the skin and doesn't really dry down. I'll give you an example: I had some mascara smudged under my eye and when I went to wipe it off I ended up taking a load of foundation with it. I had such high hopes for this foundation and it just didn't deliver. A rare miss for Rimmel, whose foundations are some of my favourites on the high street.

Rimmel's Fresher Skin Foundation is available from Boots for an introductory price of £5.99. Rimmel products are also currently 2 for £10 in Boots.

Have you tried Rimmel's Fresher Skin Foundation? Let me know by commenting below - I always reply so check back -, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

Barry M Coconut Infusion Nail Paint Review & Swatches

Barry M Coconut Infusion Nail Paint Review & Swatches

Tuesday, 10 May 2016

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The beauty industry is having a major moment with coconuts, coconut oil, coconut water, the numerous benefits of this humble nut - is it really a nut? - means that it is everywhere these days. And it looks like it's finally made it's way to our nails, including Barry M's latest release.

My love for Barry M's Nail Paints is seriously well documented. For me they're up there with some of the best on the market and I've even known them to out perform their high end counterparts. The overall quality is excellent, they have an incredible colour range and a really affordable price point. What's not to love? In the past few years Barry M has added a ton of new formulas to the line up - Gelly Hi-Shine, Speedy Quick Dry and Daylight Curing to name but a few - and I've loved them all, although it does have to be said that the Gelly Hi Shine formula is my favourite. So when I saw their latest drop of coconut infused polishes I was intrigued and a purchase was inevitable.

The range is made up of nine polishes: five summer ready shades and four beachy nudes. Now I'm not a huge fan of nude polishes and the other two colours in the collection, whilst pretty, aren't something I would normally go for.  But the three I did pick up are right up my street. I chose Laguna: a sky blue, Bikini: a bright turquoise-y green and Surfboard: a light pink-y lilac. The colours are lovely, but very similar to a lot of my other Barry M faves, not that I'm complaining. Now onto the important part the formula. Described by Barry M as 'a unique and caring blend' the polishes are formulated with Coconut Oil, Coconut Water and Vitamins B & C to both condition and hydrate the nail with High Reflective Resin for a super glossy, high shine finish. The polishes are designed so nourishing on the nails that Barry M advises against using a base coat so as to feel the full effects of the new formula.

After trying out Laguna I'm happy to report back that they're really lovely! I used two coats in the above picture, mostly out of habit but the finish was pretty much opaque after just one coat. They apply beautifully and I can already see an improvement in the condition of my nails. I really like them.

Coconut Infusions retail at £4.99,  a pound more expensive than the regular paints but definitely worth the increase, and are available at Boots and Superdrug.

Have you tried any of Barry M's Coconut Infusion Nail Paints yet? What;s your favourite? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Fleur De Force's Make Up Line: Review & Swatches

Fleur De Force's Make Up Line: Review & Swatches

Thursday, 26 November 2015

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If you've been reading me for a while now you'll know that I'm a bit of a Fleur De Force fangirl. I just love her. Mostly because there is nothing she can't do. Like actually nothing. She is Wonder Woman... with a sausage dog.  - I should really stop fangirling now, before I make myself look like a super creepy stalker! - So when she announced her new make up line with feelunique I was all over that business. It was inevitable that a rather hefty feelunique order would be made. And made it was.  Obviously.

FDF's make up line consists of 6 lip glosses, 2 eyeshadow quads, a make-up bag and a mirror. I 

picked up 2 of the lip glosses, both quads and the make up bag because why not?

Fleur De Force Make Up Bag - £8.99 from feelunique.com

Let's start with the least interesting thing, the make up bag (which is still pretty awesome by the way... just saying.) A white leather-effect box pouch with Fleur's trademark watercolour print and beautiful rose gold detailing & hardware. The make up bag is ideal for travelling, as it's quite compact, but also holds a redonkulous amount of stuff. It's really practical as well because the material, and I think the lining  too, is wipeable. It's also extendable which is both really clever and so handy. For a make up bag it is pretty epic. 

Fleur De Force Lipgloss in Lucky Star & Starry Starry Night  - £6.99 each from feelunique.com

Now let's talk about the more fun stuff, starting with the lip glosses. I picked up Lucky Star, a deep but very bright, blue toned red, and Starry Starry Night, a rich, berry pink, which I am completely obsessed with, just fyi. The lip glosses are formulated to be somewhere in between a liquid lipstick and a traditional lipgloss. A kind of best of both world's (HANNAH MONTANA REFERENCE! Sorry... I got excited) hybrid. They have fabulous opacity and an amazing colour pay off, but unlike a lot of liquid lipsticks they're not chalky or drying in any way. They're really moisturising and are so comfortable to wear, however it is a bit of a double edged sword because they just don't have the longevity of a liquid lipstick. For a lipgloss the wear time is amazing, but for a liquid lipstick it does leave a little to be desired. However they do stick around a lot longer than most other lip glosses, even if they do need reapplying every few hours, or after eating and drinking. The packaging and application is fairly standard with the glosses being housed in a tube and applied with a doe foot applicator, however, and I'm aware that this sounds weird BUT I think the pewter lids on the lip glosses are absolutely gorgeous. Strange but true. Anyway. Overall they are fabulous and I'll definitely be picking up more, I've already got my eye on Starlight.  

Fleur De Force Eyeshadow Quads in Cosmic Bronze & Lunar Rose - £7.99 from feelunique.com

So onto the best bit... the eyeshadow quads. There are two in the collection, Cosmic Bronze and Lunar Rose, I got both because I couldn't decide between them. Cosmic Bronze is more of an 

everyday quad, made up of 4 neutral brown shades; 2 matte shadows - a light, almost sandy shade and a dark chocolate brown, a pale, gold-y taupe highlighting shade and the most beautiful bronze shimmer. The shadows are amazing, either used by themselves or together to create a day time appropriate smokey eye. The second quad, Lunar Rose, is Cosmic Bronze's smokier, sexier, more evening appropriate rose-gold toned older sister. Again it's made up of  4 shades; a pale, matte ballet slipper pink, a stunning rose gold shimmer, a lilac-y pink shimmer and a deep, dark purple with a fine gold glitter running through it. The shadows are amazing, they complement each other beautifully to create a super sexy evening look. Both quads are equally fabulous, with the shadows being highly pigmented, with an amazing colour pay off as well as having a beautifully soft, buttery smooth consistency that blends flawlessly. They don't crease, they stick around for ages AND the colour range, in both, are lovely. The packaging is simple and fairly standard, playing host to the quad itself and a little brush. Now as a rule brushes that come in eyeshadow pallets are generally quite naff, and while this is definitely not the best eyeshadow brush ever, it is so much better than the standard sponge applicators, which are pretty much the worst things ever. Anyway...

The collection is fabulous, everything is of seriously excellent quality and it is obviously well thought out by someone who clearly knows what she's talking about. Fleur I salute you! 

Have you tried any of the FDF's make up line? What did you think? Let me know on twitter, by commenting below or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat - search lolarocknroses - &  pinterest for updates.

Love love love xxx

Lipstick Queen Liquid Assets Vesuvian Collection: Review & Swatches

Lipstick Queen Liquid Assets Vesuvian Collection: Review & Swatches

Thursday, 29 October 2015

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Lipstick Queen's Liquid Assets Vesuvian Collection - available individually from £13.20 from feelunique.com or £12.99 for the set in store at T.K. Maxx, subject to availability. 

On one of, now weekly, excursions to the beauty aisles in T.K. Maxx I discovered Lipstick Queens Liquid Assests Vesuvius Collection. Having never tried Lipstick Queen before, and being a self proclaimed Lipstick Queen,  I was curious so into my basket it went. Containing three liquid lipsticks in three versatile shades: Vesuvian Blush - a peachy nude, Vesuvian Fuchsia - a sassy hot pink and Vesuvian Red - a rich and beautiful scarlet, the Vesuvius Collection is a complete lipstick wardrobe, catering for all occasions. Now when it comes to bold lips I like my finishes matte and my colours cool toned. So the red and fuchsia are right in my blue-toned lipstick loving wheelhouse - the nude wasn't really my thing so I ended up giving it to my mum - the high shine finish,  although not normally my cup of tea, did make a nice change. 

Whilst not the most long lasting  the formula is quite lovely; moisturising and comfortable to wear, with unbelievable pigmentation and a high shine but non-sticky finish PLUS it smells like peppermint, which is amazing. It claims that the formula 'protects and pampers the lips in a single moisturising, and stickiness free slick' and I have to agree . However the finish means that it does have a lot of slip and movement to it, occasionally bleeding into the lipline, and it doesn't stick around for long if food or drink is involved.I really liked the packaging as well, as it is sleek and slimline, with the product being twisted up and dispensed through a nylon brush, for an even and tidy application and a neater finish. 

Overall I really liked the lipsticks. No I probably won't be reaching for them on a daily basis, matte formulas being way more my thing, but I will definitely be using them on special occasions or a night out. 

Have you tried Lipstick Queen's Liquid Assets? Let me know on twitter, by commenting below or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat - search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for updates. 

Love love love xxx