Soap And Glory Thick And Fast Mascara Review

The full name of this beauty product is Thick & Fast Super Volume False Lash Effect Mascara, which is quite a statement as far as mascaras go. A mascara is the one product that most women can’t leave the house without and spend their lives trying to find the one that works for them.

As far as Soap & Glory’s Thick & Fast Mascara, and the bold title, goes, well, it’s mixed reviews. On the one hand, the price is right for almost everyone and the oversized brush combined with the quirky packaging puts the fun back into dressing your lashes.

However on the other hand, the formula is a let down. In the first instance, the results are good – lashes are given a good coating thanks to the wide brush and the deep, rich black shade is flattering.

While the mascara doesn’t dramatically change the appearance of lashes volume or lengthening wise, it does improve natural lashes and could definitely work as an everyday, work mascara.

Unfortunately, it isn’t waterproof and is prone to smudging. By the end of a normal day you’ll have to really squint and look close up to tell whether you have any mascara on at all.

If you’re still set on Soap & Glory’s mascara, use the zigzag motion with the wand and apply plenty of layers.

Soap & Glory’s Thick & Fast Mascara is £10 from Soapandglory.com.

Rating: 5/10 – This is a hard one to call as while it’s not an incredible beauty product, it’s price makes it slightly more alluring. For £10, this is a pretty good budget beauty buy, so I’ve given it a half way, middle of the road sort of score.

StriVectin Instant Retexturizing Scrub Review

StriVectin’s Instant Retexturizing Scrub feels like a rich, abrasive exfoliator as your massage it into your skin. However, while it removes dead skin quickly with little effort, skin doesn’t feel like it has been striped of all its moisture.

This is thanks to the inclusion of spherical jojoba beads. Softer on skin with no sharp edges, these beads cleanse skin without damaging it like some exfoliating grains.

The fresh minty scent of StriVectin’s face scrub makes it ideal for your morning beauty regime, although only use this scrub twice a week and make sure you have a rich moisturiser to use afterwards.

StriVectin’s Instant Retexturizing Scrub is £37 from SpaceNK.co.uk.

Rating: 8/10 – It’s expensive, but your skin feels so soft and smooth after just one use.

Aveda Petal Essence Eye Colour Review

A crease-proof finish is a tricky promise for any powder eyeshadow to make, but Aveda’s Petal Essence Eye Colour lives up to its claim. Using the waxes from jasmine flower, the eyeshadow has a silky finish that lasts.

While it does take several layers to achieve a darker, bolder shade, it is doable. Plus the eyeshadow is easy to blend if you want to create a smoky eye effect using just one shade.

Top tip: The eyeshadow doesn’t come with a brush, but using one makes applying much easier and achieves a neater finish compared to your finger.

Aveda’s Petal Essence Eye Colour is £11.50 from Aveda.co.uk.

Rating: 7/10 – My favourite is ‘Amethyst’, the colour is bang on trend for AW11/12 and it does last the day.

Nars Larger Than Life Longwear Eyeliner Review

As part of the 2011 Christmas collection, Nars has introduced two new shades of its Larger Than Life Longwear Eyeliner – both the purple and gold are perfect for the festive parties. While the whole range of shades are eye-catching (excuse the pun!) and can be matched with your party outfit, it’s the formula that makes the biggest statement with this eyeliner. 

The soft pencil literally glides onto your eyelids, allowing you to create thick statement colours or fine, feline flicks. In keeping with the name ‘longwear’, this eyeliner does actually last without the colour fading or smudging. 

As for shades, my favourite is ‘Campo De Fiori’ – great for channelling the metallic gold beauty trend for AW11. Be bold and brassy, and wear it thicker than normal to show off the colour and make an impact with your eyes. For a really dramatic look add a set of false eyelashes. 

Nars Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner is £17 and available from Narscosmetics.co.uk.

Rating: 8/10 – Easy to use and the colour lasts for hours, it’s a great eyeliner for a night out.

Smashbox Halo Highlighting Wand Review

Smashbox's Halo Highlighting Wand is a truly genius beauty product. Whether you want to highlight and define your natural bone structure or channel the dewy skin beauty trend, this is a beauty bag must-have. The click-through pen means you can accurately measure the amount of product you want to use so the product lasts for longer, while the brush applicator makes it easy to sweep across your face. Together with the compact shape, this is a quick and easy highlighter to use while on-the-go.

The formula is equally as impressive as the packaging. The consistency is loose enough to use and blend into your skintone, and the flecks of glitter reflects light and brighten up your complexion. Use it over your foundation to lighten dark circles and define your brow and cheekbones. After a minute or so the formula dries and feels like a second skin. There's no sticky or powdery film and you can visibly tell the difference straight away.

Smashbox's Halo Highlighting Wand is £29 and available from Debenhams.com.

Rating: 10/10 - You can notice the difference straight away and it's so simple to use, this isn't a highlighter you need to practice using before heading out.

Dolce And Gabbana The Lipstick Review

The most appealing bit of Dolce & Gabbana’s The Lipstick is unfortunately its biggest downfall. From the delicate rose scent to the classic streamline appearance, this beauty product is reminiscent of the old lipsticks that my mum used to use.

Unfortunately the formula doesn’t seem to have developed much further. Not only does the colour fade and come off relatively quickly, the lack of moisturising ingredients means this lipstick leaves your pout feeling and looking dry.

Saying that, the range of sophisticated shades and the luxury Dolce & Gabbana packaging is incredibly persuading and means you can’t dislike this product too much. It’s also worth noting that when you first apply the lipstick is does feel creamy, just make sure you’ve got a lip balm at hand.  

Dolce & Gabbana The Lipstick is £23 and available exclusively at Harrods.com.

Rating: 4/10 – There are definitely better lipsticks with significantly lower price points.

Chantecaille Compact Soleil Bronzer Review

Using the latest micronising technology, Chantecaille's Compact Soleil Bronzer is incredibly soft and lightweight. The extra fine powder blends in well to your skin tone leaving a natural glow. 

This powder offers more than just colour though. Ginkgo biloba - a powerful antioxidant known for its anti-ageing properties - helps improve circulation and encourage naturally rosy cheeks, while wild rose extract builds on this by brightening complexion and is proven to help reduce the signs of ageing. With these two key extracts you can rest assured that this powder is actually improving your skin, while also adding a touch of colour.

Apply the bronzer to the apple of your cheeks rather than along your cheekbones to avoid the streaky look. Give your forehead, nose and chin a light dusting of the powder.

Chantecaille Compact Soleil Bronzer is £36 and available SpaceNK.co.uk.

Rating: 9/10 – This is expensive, but while most powders just add colour, this powder actually works to improve your skin underneath.

Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil Review

Clarins has relaunched its Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil with a new pipet style application lid, which makes it much easier to use. However, there have been absolutely no changes to formula. Why? Because the formula can’t be improved anymore seeing as it is already made using 100% natural ingredients.

Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil is one of three of Clarins rebalancing oils and targets tired, dehydrated skin. It’s easy to use, smells divine and genuinely does help to fix problematic, dry skin. 

While rosewood extract provides a spicy floral scent and helps to rejuvenate tired skin, fragrance favourite, patchouli not only lends its scent, but also promotes the growth of new skill cells, which makes skin look and feel healthier. Blue Orchid is another key ingredient, which works together with these extracts to replenish skins moisture.

Hazelnut oil helps retain all this goodness to keep skin feeling nourished for longer, and I can testify that skin definitely does look much healthier. Although the instructions recommend using it as a night treatment, you can use it first thing in the morning if your skin is feeling particularly dehydrated. 

Clarins face oil is perfect for calming down breakouts and gives skin a light glow and clear complexion. 

Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil is £33 and available from Clarins.co.uk - You only need to use three or four drops a night, so you really do get value for your money. 

Rating: 10/10 – Although I was reluctant and slightly nervous about using an oil at first, after a few days I saw the results and I’ve been using it religiously ever since.

Lancome Artliner Precision Point Liner Review

The search continues for the perfect black liquid eyeliner, next up Lancome’s Artliner Precision Point Liner.

The first tick in the box comes with the sturdy foam tip, which provides enough flexibility to achieve a precise corner flick. The consistency of the liner is similar to that of a gel-point pen making it easy to draw on a straight line, second tick.

The third tick comes with the jet-black colour, which frames eyes perfectly making them look much wider. With a fast drying formula, not only can you easily line your lower lashes, but you also don’t get blink lines on your top lid, even when the eyeliner is first applied.

And finally, the last tick is awarded for the long-lasting wear. Whether you’re heading to the office or going dancing for the evening, this liner doesn’t budge, in fact it doesn’t even fade. Perfecto.

Lancome’s Artliner Precision Point Liner is £20 and available from Boots.com.

Rating: 9/10 – It’s a fantastic product, but nowhere on the packaging does it mention the essential word ‘waterproof’ – major downfall.

Read more eyeliner reviews and let me know which ones you rate.