Oriflame Review: Lipstick, Mascara & Eyeliner

Oriflame Makeup Look Culturazzi 054

Hello!

I’m always up for trying out new make up brands, especially ones which are not so readily available.

Oriflame is a bit like Sweden’s Avon, and after Mad Men I thought it would be good timing to feature them on the blog. The company itself is actually pretty huge. I’m sure I’ve heard of them before but it’s only been recently I’ve started seeing their products around – they operate in 60+ companies and have over 7900 consultants. Wow. Actually, one of my favourite things about the rise of e-commerce is the visibility we now get on overseas products – the skin & beauty products like Vichy from France, Benefit from America and Moroccan Hair Oil. There’s actually a pretty good list of things to pick up abroad here.

But, back to Oriflame. I guess there’s a few things you might want to know:
- No, they don’t test on animals
- Yes, they are big charity supporters
- Yes, they do everything from skin, to fragrances, to hair
- No, they aren’t new. They’ve been around since 1967.
- Yes, the prices are great! (And if you sign up as a consultant you get up to 35% off)

I tried 3 of their products, chosen because it’s pretty much the same as what I wear on a daily basis (but a lot less expensive) and here’s what I thought:

Oriflame Volume Build Black Mascara 049

Mascara // VolumeBuild

I was slightly concerned at how this mascara would perform, judging as I always do, by the packaging. While it’s a very lovely purple colour, I’ve been recently spoilt by the Lancome packaging and wasn’t impressed with the cheapness of the plastic!

But, cliche time. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.. and after all, mascara is supposed to define your eyes, whether or not it comes in posh packaging. What I particularly liked about this mascara was it’s texture. The actual liquid was thick enough to actual define my eyelashes whilst not being clumpy.

I think for £8.45, without consultant discount, this is just as good as standard mascara’s you get on the high street which cost around a tenner. Can’t ask for more than that!

Oriflame Studio Artist Gel Eyeliner 051

Eyeliner // Studio Artist Gel

I’m somewhat of an eyeliner junkie. I love a good cats eye, and have tried everything: kohl, pen, gel & liquid. My favourite for years was the Bourjois ‘Liner Pinceau’ which I now seem to not be able to buy at Boots, so recently I’ve been trying out gel eyeliner (as is all the rage!).

This Oriflame Studio Artist Gel comes in a very cool little box with a tiny brush (although I will admit I used my longer version). It was really easy to apply, however I found it to be much thinner than I am used to, not creating such a defined line. I was a bit put off by this, but later on in the day I thought that it would actually be great for making a more smokey eye.

Oriflame Powershine Satin Lipstick ultra pink 053

Lipstick // Powershine Satin in Ultra Pink

Finally – the lipstick. I never used to wear lipstick pre-Topshop make up, and now only ever wear matte shades or use my fave Nars pencil. And it’s normally red (unless it’s Brighton Rocks!). So this Ultra-Pink satin shine was a bit out of the ordinary for me!

I actually really liked the result and found that after I blotted it, it actually went a bit matte and lasted quite well. I reckon you could wear this both day and night and have 2 different looks. But, my absolute favourite thing is the grapefruit smell, something I’m not used to having in a lipstick!

Overall, Oriflame: Thumbs up, you get what you pay for, and a little bit on top. And it’s different. Can’t ask for much more than that!

Mascara Review: Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes

Lancome Black Hypnose Mascara Review 048

I used to be the person who buys 15 different types of cheap mascara and then leaves them to dry out, wondering why it’s all clumpy and horrible after 2 months even though I’ve only used it once.

Then I discovered Benefit’s BADgal lash mascara, which became my firm favourite. I loved the mega wand (and the packaging, and their entire brand, let’s not pretend I’m not swayed by all that stuff!).

Recently I did a piece of work which led to me having to learn loads about mascara (I know, the great thing about being the token girl in a male dominated workplace!) and I found out that mascara is something Lancome are supposed to be pretty good at. Doll Eyes is the Hypnose variation which is supposed to give you a ‘wide-eyed’ look. I was actually in Boots looking for the ‘Star’ version, mainly because there’s a special edition Betty Boop variation, but there wasn’t any, so I decided to give Doll Eyes a go, in black. It weighed in at £21, but in my opinion, it’s well worth the money.

Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes Mascara 044 mini

The wand is conical shaped, and this ties into the ‘wide-eyes’ description as it allows you to get to those pesky eyelashes right in the corners of your eyes. I actually found it a lot easier to get to the base of my lashes when compared to the large BADgal wand. It gave me a really good coating on all my lashes, and you could really get away with just one coat.

Probably my favourite thing though is the packaging. You can tell this is where the money has gone – it gives that satisfying click when you turn to close it. Though I’m not sure that’s what I should care about with a Mascara, it is what it is!

Are there any other mascara’s I should be trying? I’ve heard good things about the Chanel one too, maybe that will be next on my list!

OOTD: Warehouse Jersey Dress

Warehouse Pink Jersey Dress Office Cutout Sandals 046 mini

Well, thank god it’s summer (for now).

My black winter tights were really reaching the end of their very well-worn life, and it was getting to the point where I was almost considering buying some new ones. But then out came the sun! And it was glorious! Now I just need to do something about my pale, hairy, out of shape legs…;)

This is not really outfit of the day, as much as outfit of the weekend. We visited a place called Parham Park, which is a beautiful deer park about 5 minutes from where I grew up and took the pup along with us. Apparently she has now acquired a taste for deer poo. Dirty Dog.

Headshot Culturazzi Warehouse Dress Zara Leather Jacket 045 mini

Needless to say, the sun was out and I was happy. We did a little stroll around the park and took a couple of photos. I’m wearing my new Warehouse dress which was in my previous post, and not only is it super comfortable, a great colour and really nice fit, it’s also a size smaller than normal. BONUS.

I think if I was going to any more festivals this year (I’m not, sad face, unless I do what I did last year and rogue win tickets to Latitude on the day!) then this dress would be my go-to. Cute, but comfortable. My favourite.

Warehouse Print Jersey Dress Parham Park 044 mini

Dress // Warehouse
Multi-strand gold necklace // Topshop
Pink Satchel // Warehouse
Black Cut-out Sandals // Office
Faux Leather Jacket // Zara
Dog // Pain in the Ass

Paired with these Office nubuck cut-out sandals, (which as I’ve said before are like *the* comfiest, best shoes I’ve bought in a while), my small pink Warehouse satchel, TopShop Multi-strand Necklace and Zara Pleather Jacket, this is perfect for Spring.

Long Bob and Bangs Lancome Mascara 047 mini

I’m also rocking some of my new make up in this picture. Lancome ‘Doll Eyes’ mascara, which was well worth the splurge (more to come on this!) and some new foundation – L’Oreal True Match, which is a bit more ‘liquid’ than I’m used to, so the juries still out on this one.

Anyone been up to anything fun this weekend?

Payday Splurging

Pay day. How do I love thee, let me count the ways (or days, in this case).

There’s nothing quite like making it to the end of the month and knowing that the weekend after pay day will be a little bit like Christmas to myself (albeit, shopping in Brighton in June leads to a very sweaty Christmas). This last shopping weekend was pretty successful by all counts – Dan had to drive his mum back to Gosport so I spent a glorious 3 hours mooching around all the shops I normally bypass for the sake of speed.

While I bought quite a few beauty bits and pieces, I thought I’d share with you my new favourite shoes and a great comfortable dress from Warehouse that really suits my colouring, plus a go-with-everything multi strand gold necklace.

 

Warehouse Topshop Stuff I Bought 043 mini

Aztec Print Dress // Warehouse
Tan T bar Clogs // Topshop
Multi-Strand Necklace // Topshop

And a little close up on the sandals. They’re called Nano T-Bar Clog Sandals, these ones in Tan, and I am pleased to report that after an hour of traipsing up and down Bexhill (land of old people) Promenade on Sunday night, they are pretty damn comfortable too. My feet are kind of wide so they rubbed a tiny bit, but I think they’re probably the most comfortable wedge/high heels I’ve had in a while! Topshop also do them in white and patent red (which are kinda cool) so I would highly recommend them.

 

Topshop Tan Clogs 042 mini

 

Coming up on the blog soon I have a few beauty posts – a new perfume, mascara and a review of the infamous Benefit ‘Fake Up’ concealer. Keep your eyes peeled, yo.

What have you bought recently? Leave me a comment! (Go on, you know you want to :) )

Ootd: Mucking about in a Mac

Mac White Shirt Acid Wash Jeans mini

Eva’s getting big now. I think she’s almost doubled in size in the four weeks I’ve had her. But when I say ‘Big’, that’s in perspective. When you see her among other dogs, she’s barely the size of their heads!

We took her to see her Grandmother near Gosport. Dan took these photo’s on his new camera, a Contax G2. I am told that these are good cameras, and the results from the film came out pretty cool (except the close up picture where you can really see my crows eyes, sad face). I’d like to use more of his photos from his different cameras on my blog, when he’ll let me!

I barely ever wear trousers, and it’s something I’m trying to do more of. These jeans are from ASOS, their new ‘Ridley’ style. I’ve got 2 pairs now, both the same style and label size, but both vastly different sizes in practice. That old cherry! Sort it out ASOS! I also spend a ridiculous amount of money on this white Levi’s sleeveless shirt, but it’s a really nice cotton so hopefully it’ll stay white and not go that murky grey colour that all my white clothes go after their first wash.

This Mac though, well, I bought this maybe 5 years ago? £20 from H&M back in poor uni student days. I didn’t wear it much then, as it was a bit ‘old’ for me, or so I thought (pretty sure ‘old’ meant ‘stylish’ for me back then!). Now, all of a sudden, Mac’s (or trench coats, not really sure which this is!) are all over the high-street, and I dug through my suitcase of old smelly clothes for this one!

MiniDachshund Office Idol Sandals mini

Trenchcoat // H&M
White Sleeveless Shirt // Levi’s
Black Acid-Wash Skinny Jeans // ASOS
Black Cut-out Sandals // Office
Gold Long Necklace // Warehouse

I bloody love these Office ‘Idol’ sandals. Although they haven’t been particularly practical this rainy ‘summer’, all the mums love them, all my mates love them, and they are super comfortable. What more could I want? I love them so much I think I might splash out and get the tan colour too!

Cornflower Blue Nail Varnish mini

And finally, the crows eye close up. Eva looks pleased at being shoved in my face like she’s a guinea pig (she’s pretty much the size of one). I’ve bought a couple of new bits & pieces of make up, not least this bourjouis cornflower blue nailvarnish, which reminds me of wearing paint on my nails when we were doing GCSE art back in the day.

I hope you all are enjoying the fact it’s sunny, pay day and friday!