Review: Smashbox Limitless Lip Stain and Colour Seal Balm

RIP red lipstick. The kind deposit of the Smashbox Limitless Lip Stain and Colour Seal Balm in a PR goodie bag has revolutionised my lip colour, so much so that there are many tubes of sad scarlet lippie left languishing in my dressing table, unworn and unloved. I've moved on.

This product is great, ten times better than the Max Factor Lipfinity Lip Tint Pen, here is my (gushing) review:

Shade: I was given Sangria, a rich deep red with pink undertones

Application: As with other lip pens, this is quick and easy to apply; simply trace around the lip line and colour in. Simple and quick.

Colour: Lip stains can be translucent and patchy, but this is bold. The colour builds up to a strong vibrant red, just as striking as lipstick, and you wouldn't noticed any difference in pigment. It goes on evenly and even with my paper dry lips, it didn't settle in the lines (unlike others, mentioning no names)

Longevity: This is amazing. It really does last! I applied this at 8am and ate breakfast and drank multiple cups of tea without it budging. After lunch, the centre was slightly faded so I topped up (could have gone without though) and then I sailed through to evening without hitch, simply layering on the softening balm to keep moisturised. I even went straight out after work to a magic show and ate a bagel without reapplying. 1 reapplication for a 14hr day is impressive.

Verdict: I love this. There are always occasions that call for red lipstick, and it's a relief to have found a option that doesn't require mirror checks every 5 minutes for bleeding colour and scarlet teeth. Also, it seems to have left my lips in far better condition that lipstick. Even after a creamy Chanel rouge, my lips are dry and sore the next day, but thanks to the inclusion of the colour seal balm, I didn't have any problems here. Best of all, Smashbox do not test on animals! I sense that I may have found my new favourite brand.

Smashbox is stocked in Debenhams

Illamasqua - The Final Act of Self Expression

I was enthralled to learn that Illamasqua have teamed up with London funeral directors Leverton & Sons to provide a makeup service for the dead. With prices starting at £450, you can book a professional artist to fulfill your last beauty desires and make you casket-ready for mourners.

This all sounds quite chillingly macabre, but more and more these days people are planning their own funerals, so why not order your final face alongside the coffin? As an A-Level student I wrote myself a requiem in music class, embracing the literature-fuelled romanticism of death, and this service taps in to this idea; though I'm sure most folk wouldn't want to be an Egyptian queen like the lady in the pic above, the idea of an post-life enhancement will probably be popular with many. The Illamasqua artists have had full training to enable them to work with the deceased, which indicates the company are taking this seriously, not simply presenting a press-grabbing gimmick.

This post comes at a time of riots in London; we seem to have avoided trouble so far, but pubs are boarded and shops closed. I'm currently keeping watch from the kitchen window for any hoodies on the street below! I won't go in to a rant, but I find the whole situation shameful; London's own people destroying the city and claiming their thievery and thuggery is protest.

The Only Way is Purple Nails!

Like most of the nation, the clubbing cousins (my flatmates) and I were gripped by the antics in Essex; will Arg lose weight? Will Lauren marry love rat Mark? What will Joey Essex come out with next? It was when watching and pondering such questions that we noticed a beauty must-have.

It was a spring evening, and Lydia was sat in the garden with Debbie, blubbering over James, when we noticed that she was sporting the most excellent colour nail polish we had ever seen, a bright creamy lilac that surpassed anything in our current collection! The hunt began for this shade.

Finally, flatmate Kat came home triumphant, a lunchtime Boots dash had unearthed Rimmel Pro 312 Ultra Violet.



This is such a great shade for summer, bright but not blinding with pastel undertones. It has an extra wide brush which paints it on in one sleek brush stroke, and dries quickly too. It lasted really well on my nails, but at that point I still had the falsies which hold on to colour for longer anyway (so glad to see the back of those acrylic claws- but more on that another time).

There are other candy brights in the Rimmel Pro collection, and it seems like a good cheap polish option for those on a budget, though personally I won't be purchasing further shades due to Rimmel's company policies*






* Rimmel is quite ambiguous in their animal testing policies; Googling lead me to this Facebook response from the company. It seems like though they are conscientious, they cannot claim not to test on animals. They are not the worst out there, but I don't think this is good enough to convince me to buy their products.

For full lists of companies that do and don't test on animals, please click HERE (Rimmel do not appear on either)

Ganjaran Akhirat

"Ramadhan bulan yang penuh keberkatan.  Di awalnya rahmat, di tengah-tengahnya maghfirah dan di hujungnya kebebasan dari api Neraka".

Rasullullah Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wassalam bersabda:
"Sesungguhnya Syurga itu mempunyai sebuah pintu, disebut 'Rayyan'.  Akan diseru pada hari kiamat: "Mana orang yang berpuasa?" Lalu bila orang yang terakhir dari mereka telah masuk, maka pintu itupun ditutup". [Hadis Riwayat Bukhari dan Muslim]

Rasullullah Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wassalam bersabda: "Dan orang yang berpuasa itu beroleh dua kegembiraan yang menyenangkan hati: di
kala berbuka, ia akan bergembira dengan berbuka itu, dan di saat ia menemui tuhannya nanti, ia akan gembira kerana puasanya."
[Hadis Riwayat Ahmad, Muslim dan An-Nisa'i]

Review: Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara

After my disappointment with Maybelline False Lash Mascara, I was keen to try the Max Factor version. I received Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara in a goody bag a month or so back, so have had a good length of time for testing.

Brush: Another rubber brush, medium sized with well spaced bristles. Lash separation is good, and the effect is certainly along the right lines of a false lash look.


Formula: The formula is a rich dark black that is not too wet. It dries to a long-lasting matte finish.


Effect: The finished result is quite impressive. My lashes were lengthened and appeared prominent above my eyeliner (no mean feat!). Without eyeliner, the effect is great and definitely mimics false lashes- perhaps a more natural day lash that full on party lashes but still, very good indeed.

Verdict: This is the best drug store mascara I have used for a long time, and it really does what it says on the tin. Unfortunately I will not be repurchasing due to Max Factor's company policies* so the search for false lashes in a tube continues!






* Max Factor appears on Peta's list of 'companies that do test on animals'.

For full lists of companies that do and don't test on animals, please click HERE