Blog posts I have been reading

Photo: Haute Chocolate

Before I took my slightly longer than planned absence from blogging, I used to love doing these posts. In fact, it was a challenge for me not to make every single blog post a 'look what I have been using as procrastinating reading' type of post. During my break I still read blogs but I just didn't have anywhere really to tell anyone, except my mum often got a 'ooh look at this' when she was trying to do housework, but now I am back much to my mums relief, and so are these posts.

Firstly is Amyleigh at Northen Blood with her Real Talk: Let's Stop Body Shaming post. To be honest, I am not going to even comment on this as Amyleigh has covered this topic spot on and anything I will add will more than likely ruin her efforts - just go and read.

Next is Lily and her majorly atheistically pleasing blog Pint Sized Beauty. In particular Makeup For Dehydrated Skin post. To be honest, Lily could get away with not writing a single word and just having a picture blog and I would still be her number one fan. But to go alongside her top photography efforts she knows what she is taking about to...proved in this post.

Still ever unfashionable as ever, meaning myself, so fashion blog posts are something I will forever be in awe of. Just how do you put everything together? Just how? Well put together outfits aside, even one statement piece is often too much for me, and seeing Ellie at El Willmer pull off stunning red/ orange boots in her The Boots to Kick Start Your Spring Wardrobe has made me even more jealous yet strangely encouraging of her style. Sideline cheerleader right here for all on trend fashion.

Is there any blog posts you have been loving recently?

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The NYX perfect lip pair

A girl can not have too many almost identical lipsticks. And a makeup bag would not be complete without 68 different nude shades would it? There was no way I was letting my standards slip when I saw NYX had a new lipstick range out, even with a questionable range name Lip Lingerie - really?

Not one to be swayed by names (well only sometimes)  the NYX Lip Lingerie in Satin Ribbon (£6.50) made its way into my hands. A pale nude pink which sold me on the liquid to matte formula. Admittedly when I first applied this I wasn't overwhelmed, luckily I was only standing in Boots, but after a few minutes once this had dried I had to march back to the NYX stand to make sure I got the last Satin Ribbon. Do not mess with a woman on a nude lipstick mission.

Then what happened? Not surprising considering my apparent lack of self control, but I did also buy the NYX Slide on Lip Pencil in Nude Suede (£5.50). The had two liner options, and please do me a favour and don't bother with their Mechanical liner but go straight to this 'Slide on' option. This is one of the creamiest lip liners I've tried, and with the pinky nude tones this makes it the perfect pairing with my new lingerie...and that is never a sentence I thought I would be hearing myself say...

Have you tried the NYX lip lingerie range?

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The Spring Makeup Cliches

Although technically we are not quite in Spring, March for me is spring. Come 28th February (or 29th every now and then), I get into full on Spring mode, and with that is my makeup follows. Gone are dark warm tones, and I pull out all the stops to make sure I am a walking Springtime cliche.

Firstly with the L'Oreal Rose Nude Eyeshadow palette. A mixture of rose shades (who would of guessed) is the ideal choice for me to replace the darker more brown and nudes shades that help me and my eyes throughout the winter.

Next, my Rose Gold Eye Lash Curlers. And I am aware these are not makeup, nor Spring related, but what is more of a cliche than Rose Gold? Actually...wear is my marble?

Back to makeup with my L'Oreal Paris Nude Magique Cushion Foundation. Purple, shiny and round, I was very much a foundation magpie with this. Gone is my Estee Lauder Double Wear for the winter, well part from a few more spot covering sessions, and in is this lightweight dewy foundation. This provides more coverage than your typical lightweight foundation, and I can build this depending on how much my face needs a cover up. This is the ideal winter to spring transition foundation as I still get my coverage, just in more a of velvety finish. Plus it is so pretty to look at.

Sticking with my face and the Makeup Revolution 'The One' Blush Sticks. Hello the Nars iconic 'The Multiple' stick in a cheaper version. Foolproof to apply (if I can apply this blush then anyone can), and with a coral pink matte finish this is ideal for me in the spring as it make me look more alive than the winter has left me feeling, but isn't as heavy as a bronzer would look. And not to mention fake, no one in the UK can manage a natural glow over the winter period. In fact, if you have please tell me your secret.

Lastly finishing up with my lips and the NYX Lip Lingerie Gloss in Satin Ribbon. No, I don't know why this is called 'lingerie' either, but does it matter when a colour is this pretty? Again like my eyeshadow choice for the winter, this nudey pink shade is a step away from heavy winter lipsticks and onto a gloss which for some reason just feels more spring like that a matte finish. I just have seem to forgotten we are not quite out of winter and those winter winds does make my hair stick to my lips...roll on proper springtime.

Do you stick to Spring Makeup Cliches?

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Rimmel Wonder'full Mascara with Argan Oil

If you ever wondered why my blog is called Mascara & Maltesers, now you know. Is it even normal to buy this many mascaras? You can just imagine my Malteser intake, I don't have blood, I have Maltesers.

So my latest purchase? Slightly different (or as I keep telling myself) mascara from most, is the Rimmel Wonder'full Mascara with Argan Oil. As the name suggests, this mascara contains Argan Oil. My first thoughts? This will just slip off my lashes, it seemed contradictory to use a oil in my makeup when its sister product coconut oil can be used to remove makeup. But as my hair loves a bit of Argan Oil I thought I would give it a whirl. Again with being slightly unique, this comes in a bronze metallic tube, and offers a plastic bristled spiky brush. This could be due to the Argan Oil softening properties but this is a very velvety and cushiony plastic, if there is such a thing. Sometimes plastic brushes really drag and catch on the inside of my eye making them water, but it you was blind testing this (which obviously is very hard for a mascara) you wouldn't guess this was plastic.

The brush reaches the real bottom of my lashes, without jabbing my eye, to push them up and out without the dreading clump, and even managing to produce a curled finished as well. This is more on the natural side of mascara finishes compared to L'Oreal or Max Factor yet it is easily buildable, and considering I normally layer my mascara anyway this really isn't a problem. Plus it may make me wear less mascara during the day...

The finished look of the Wonder'full mascara lives up to its name sake, and is very much a featherlight like mascara with its non crispy and natural finish, that does feel more conditioning that other mascaras. Whether this actually conditions lashes like a typical Argan Oil remains to be seen...and I doubt it seeing as mascara probably isn't the best thing to coat your lashes with daily. 

And no, this didn't slip off my lashes....shows what I know.

Have you tried the Rimmel Wonder'full Mascara with Argan Oil?

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Bee Venom Facial Serum

Why does the word 'venom' just sound so scary and horrible? I know it is a toxin but for a skincare product it sounds like a odd choice...especially when the product is actually rather very nice. But hello to the Bee Venom Facial Serum from skinChemists. I also often avoid bee related products as a few years ago I sat on a bee (insert crying face emoji) so I tend to just keep our lives separate.

But then I know what a good reputation skinChemists have for their skincare, and when I heard they have come up with this Bee Venom serum, I caved, which for a serum does claim to do a fair bit;

Number 1) The Bee Venom aims to plump and firm the skin while 'stimulating collagen production'.

Number 2) Manuka Honey in one of the ingredients to nourish skin.

Number 3)The Hyaluronic Acid in this aims to maintain moisture within the skin.

If you apply the bee venom to your skin daily after cleansing, the product is designed to give a bea sting mimic (lovely eh), just much more gently of course - and not like those memories for me of sitting on a bee. I'll be honest and say this doesn't feel like a sting at all and feel no different whatsoever to a normal non venom serum. This applies with a light non greasy texture, and the manuka honey does give this serum scent of, well, honey. If you're not Winne the Pooh and honey scents bother you, then this isn't the serum for you.

After applying this my skin felt moisturised, and once it sunk in I added my own day cream as my skin needed a bit more attention, and after a week of use I can notice the difference in my skin. You can probably guess at 26 the appearance of lines and wrinkles isn't a issue for me, but I do use anti again products as a method of prevention rather than cure, and this serum will be staying part of my skincare routine. Hopefully over time, and as I get older (sob), this serum will do as it says and 'restore a plumper and firmer skin structure, slowing down skin sagging and dramatically reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, particularly in areas of the skin most prone to aging around the eyes, forehead and mouth'.

The only downside to this for me, and I'd imagine most people is the price, £135 is well, ouch. But but but, skinChemist are currently offering this for a steal of £19.99 with the code MASCARABLOG, so now would be the ideal time to copy me and top yourself up with bee venom - just don't follow me when it comes to where I choose to sit when there are bees around.

Have you tried the Bee Venom Facial Serum?

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Liz Earle Sweet Orange and Mint Hot Cloth Cleanse & Polish

You know when you get a limited food item that doesn't quite beat its original (chain cafes I am looking at you)? Well I thought that this would be the case with the limited edition Liz Earle Sweet Orange and Mint Hot Cloth Cleanse & Polish, as what really beats the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish? Unless you have a lovely budget of course. Admittedly this sat in my bathroom for a few weeks (Christmas edition and all that give it away...) before I took it out the tin and used it.

Oh and that was a mistake - the not using sooner, not the actual using of it. The same method as the original applies; lotion added to dry skin, rub in, and then rinse and wipe off with the muslin cloth included, but for some reason the Sweet Orange and Mint seems creamer. The scent comes through straight away and banishes the originals slightly 'older lady' smell which doesn't take much beating. To rub into my skin, it feels like it is really giving my skin a clean and then once wiped off with the cloth my skin feel like it has already been moisturised as well as having a mini facial on a Tuesday night.

There is defiantly more to the Sweet Orange and Mint than just the scent, the texture and finished product would of had me guessing I was using a far more high end brand. I am just gutted once this goes that it is and I have to go back to the plain old original...

Have you used the Liz Earle Sweet Orange and Mint Hot Cloth Cleanse & Polish?

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