PRODUCT OF THE WEEK - SMASHBOX BROW TECH TO GO:

Fresher Fenn O'Meally shares her product of the week:

Smashbox-

BROW TECH TO GO

What have we here? A defining, precision filling, long wearing waterproof eyebrow pencil… and yes it’s really waterproof! For a while now, I’ve been trying to find the right eyebrow pencil that fills the brow line smoothly yet doesn’t smudge! And here it is, come rain or shine, your brows wont budge.

So what are the little brainboxes behind Smashbox offering? A travel-perfect pen that comes double sided, with a long-wearing pencil at one and a gel at the other. Whilst the angled pencil provides precision shape, the gel, which is to be swept over the brows after applying the pencil, provides a soft coating for a long lasting fill.

With this product there really is no longer the need to constantly top up, tweak, and fine-tune those devious brows throughout the day. Fair enough, at £19 it’s slightly pricier than your average eyebrow pencil, but with a solid wax, it’ll last you longer and most definitely turn that frown upside down! 

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK: VO5 'give me texture instant oomph powder'

English Student Ellie Morson shares her product of the week with us:

As someone who has fine hair, I am constantly trying to find new ways of inserting more texture/ volume into my hair routine. Having fine hair, as well as dealing with the weight of having long hair can make it difficult to have any form of energy going on and my hair seems all too satisfied to sit limply on my head.  Enter the V05 ‘give me texture instant oomph powder’.  It costs £4.07 and I think the name alone was worth me purchasing it. I absolutely love this stuff, though it won’t be for everyone.

It’s ridiculously simple to use. I just section off areas of my hair/ specific places where I want a bit more texture and shake the powder onto roots. It resembles talcum powder, though it’s never left behind any stark white colouration in my hair, (that’d be embarrassing). Once I’ve placed it onto my hair, I just massage it into my roots for a few seconds, which creates instant texture and volume – amazing!

The downside – unfortunately there is one. If you love clean feeling hair, then I would not advise this product. This powder does give a fair amount of build-up and can leave the roots feeling quite dirty, (despite not appearing greasy in the slightest). So, if you’re someone who loves to have their hair feeling squeaky clean, then the chances are that you’re not going to love the feeling of this in your hair. The closest texture I can liken it to when on the hair is that it almost feels a bit coarse and spongy, as though you’ve overindulged in hairspray the night before.  That having been said, it does easily wash out.

However, for me the pros outweigh the cons. I don’t mind enduring ‘dirty’ hair for a bit of texture. This powder offers a cheap way of building some body into the hair and also allows me to skip backcombing, which is a definite plus. Whilst it most definitely won’t be for everyone, this powder is certainly a cheaper alternative to other, similar competing powder products available from different brands, so it may well just be worth trying out if you’ve been after some more texture.

#3 WHAT'S IN MY MAKE UP BAG?

Final year student Rachel Clarkson shares what's in her Make-Up bag:

MAC Prep + Prime- skin base visage

Well, first things first- a good primer is essential for the kind of nights out where you run the risk of your entire face of makeup melting off. I use MAC prep + prime which creates a velvety soft canvas and works like a magnet, securing everything in place. MAC doesn’t come cheap (£19.50 for this one) but since it’s not for everyday, it has lasted for months so I won’t feel too guilty when it eventually needs replacing!

Max Factor Colour Adapt Foundation

I’ve been using this foundation for years, I love its perfectly matte and even tone, it’s really easy to blend in and covers any blemishes well- a pea sized amount normally does the trick and it lasts all day.

Look Beauty, Holiday Glow

Since moving back to the UK with its bleak summer forecasts, I’m still grieving for the olive Mediterranean glow I used to have. So, as a healthier, British alternative I opted for a cheap bronzer to add a bit of colour and contour. I used to use Tan de Soleil by Chanel but the £28 price tag felt a little excessive- this Look Beauty alternative at £5 is much more purse friendly and does the job well.

Benefit, High Beam Highlighter

This Benefit highlighter is a pretty popular alternative to the touche éclat pen which started the craze. It brushes straight onto the skin- I use a dab atop my cheekbones, some beneath my brow and then just a fine sweep down the centre of my nose and a spot in my cupid’s bow (all magic techniques sourced from meticulous magazine research). Then just blend in and you’ll dazzle ’em.

Estee Lauder, Tender Blush in Peach Nuance

I tend to apply blusher after highlighter to avoid the risk of smudging and distorting the powder. This Estee Lauder blusher goes on beautifully and the colour options provide a natural, 3-dimensional peachy glow.

Yves Saint Laurent, Eyeshadow Duo in #13

I bought this YSL eyeshadow duo about four years ago in a pharmacy in Malta. I needed cashback so I grabbed it- imagine my horror when I saw €46.50 flash up at the till. To avoid embarrassment I just paid it and hurried out. However, four years later it’s still my favourite and I use it all the time. The brown and cream compliment my blue eyes and the applicators help sweep  the highly pigmented colour on with precision- worth every penny!

Collection 2000, Fast Stroke Eyeliner

I first bought this eyeliner when I was about 12 (cue horrible realisation that that is half of my entire life) and still use it every day- it’s so easy to use and creates dramatic, pure black definition. Cannot recommend this liner enough- and it is crazy cheap!

Max Factor, Clump Defy Mascara

In my never-ending pursuit of a good mascara that doesn’t cost the earth, I opted to try this new Max Factor ‘Clump Defy’ and hoped it would do as it said: Provide volume without the clumps. And it does! The rubber brush clings to each single lash and gives individual intensity- it takes a couple of scoops to get it perfect for a night out but for day-to-day use I’d say give it a try!

Dior Travel Studio Compact

Last but not least, this comprehensive compact is an amazing handbag staple. It has everything you need so it’s perfect for trips where space doesn’t permit a 3 kilo makeup bag! I picked this up in Venice airport for a shocking €35! And, of course, Dior quality makeup is not to be sniffed at- it’s definitely my best makeup bargain!

PRODUCT REVIEW: CLINIQUE - THE THREE MUSKETEERS

First year student Fenn O'Meally shares her love of Clinique with us:

Un, deux, trois… Oh yes Clinique have done it again. A new essential we all MUST get our hands on. But this time its not a new and improved ‘high impact mascara’  or even a vital ‘airbrush concealer’. Nope, now we’re going back to basics, back to ‘au natural’ with three ouber-easy steps that will leave your skin quite literally glowing. But how? Well for now lets just say the mighty minds behind Clinique have managed to cram all the fundamental ingredients for a healthy glow into three detoxing bottles.

So where do we start? Well luckily the helpful crew at Clinque have done all the tricky planning for us with 3-STEP, all we have to do is apply. First things first is a good old rinse! Whether its 7am or 7pm, there’s nothing better than a luscious lather to awaken the skin, and with Clinique’s liquid facial soap (Step 1) you simply can’t go wrong.  Take a pea-sized amount into the palm of the hand, combine with water, and form circular motions over the face and neck, then rinse with tepid (luke-warm) water. The simple non-drying formula leaves the skin feeling so perky and smooth, it’ll put any baby’s bottom to shame!

Once you’ve pat dry and taken a little breather, its time to move up a step, and delve into Clinique’s nose tingling, skin brightening, Clarifying Lotion. Using a cotton ball, allow a small amount of the lotion to soak in then sweep over the face and neck, focusing on the T-zone especially.  You’re small efforts will be awarded with a brighter, smoother complexion… It’s all-right for some!

So here we are, the last hurdle, Clinique’s little bottle of fortune. The Dramatically Different moisturizing lotion. So what have we? Softening, smoothing, moisture balancing lotion potion… simply smother over the face and neck (with a pea-sized amount!) and let your skin rightfully bathe in the final stage of Clinique 3-STEP!

I know it’s a tad on the dear side, and it’s not like we students have money to splash out on facial products galore, but I honestly think the more you value a product, the more careful you are about how much of it you use each time. My 3-STEP regime has lasted a good two months so far, and I’ve still got more than half of each bottle left. At £20 for all three, it would be ignorant not to… Well, at least, that’s my justification! 

#1 WHAT'S IN MY MAKE-UP BAG?

Frankie Dakin from eventhoughimskint.blogspot.co.uk tells us about her make-up bag essentials:

Revlon Colourstay Foundation for combination/oily skin - £12.49

I don’t really stick with a foundation and tend to rotate/mix my way through a few but Revlon Colourstay has been working pretty well for me at the moment. I’ve got pretty oily skin so the fact that it doesn’t just slide off is amazing, and it doesn’t rub onto my pillows (i’m one of those lazy people who never bother to remove their makeup before bed). Coverage wise, this foundation is medium to full so I can manage not to look like I put my makeup on with a trowel. Best of all it’s only £12.49 and lasts ages.

Real Techniques Stippling Brush - £10.99

I got this brush after hearing rave reviews from loads of other bloggers and It is AMAZING! It says on the box it helps you achieve an airbrushed high definition result which it definitely does. This brush could possibly make anyone bar Tulisa stand up to the HD test.

Mac Blot Powder in Dark - £20

Don’t know why this comes in colours because it’s supposed to be translucent but hey ho. This is my saviour, I get so oily as the day progresses, and this recent purchase has changed that for good. Walked into Mac the other day to pretend I wanted to buy something to fix my shine (just wanted a retouch) and she put this on me. I felt guilty and bought it, but I’m so glad I did. I apply it once in the morning, won’t reapply all day and later when I look in the mirror I won’t look like someone’s taken a can of Mr Sheen to my nose.

Bourjois Poudre Clubbing Gold Bronzing powder - £6.99

If, like me, you have a pretty much spherical face contouring is your friend. I go through a shit-tonne of bronzer, despite being a woman of colour, trying to give myself the cheekbones of Jourdan Dunn. This bronzer (which I stole off my little sister I might add) does a good job and it has tiny gold bits which are pretty - also IT SMELLS LIKE CHOCOLATE! Can’t go wrong with that one.

Rimmel Eyebrow pencil - £2.99

Its true eyebrows do frame the face, and my older Facebook pictures are testament to how weird I looked before I pencilled them in. Sometimes I’m watching telly wondering what’s wrong with someone’s face, and yep they’ve got invisible eyebrows. Sort it out.

Benefit Big Beautiful eyes – eye contour kit - £24.50

Another thing I stole off my sister...woops. It includes concealer, base shadow, contour shadow and liner shadow and I love all of it. I always use the concealer under my eyes, and considering I’m pretty much an insomniac it does wonders. The best bit is the gorgeous taupe contour shadow. The only time I ever get complimented on my eye shadow is when I’m wearing this.

Sleek Ink Pot gel eyeliner in Dominatrix  - £5.49

If you don’t use gel liner you are missing out. It comes with a little brush to put it on and never comes off. Seriously. I have difficulty removing it in the shower in the morning, that’s how good it is.

Mac lipstick in Sin - £14

The name says it all. I saw Rihanna wearing this exact shade at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show at the end of last year and I had to have it. This lipstick is sexy as hell - really dark cool toned matte red. Wearing this, it’s impossible not to feel like the baddest bitch alive.

Want to show us what's in yours? Tweet us @CUBMagazine or email yours to cubbeauty@gmail.com