REVIEW: ORIGINS Drink Up 10 Minute Mask

Sometimes skin needs an instant boost, and what better way to treat that than with an intensive face mask.

I recently had an Origins haul last month, and this is my first encounter with the brand - the Drink Up 10 Minute Mask. It's a super quick fix for dry/dehydrated skin, standing by its promise to 'quench skin's thirst'.

(Additionally, I bought the Make a Difference starter kit containing cleansing milk, toner, serum and moisturiser... Review to follow)

The reason I was so drawn to the Origins brand is mainly to do with its no 'nasties' policy.

All products are without: 
• Parabens 
• Phthalates 
• Propylene Glycol 
• Mineral Oil 
• PABA 
• Petrolatum 
• Paraffin 
• DEA 
• Animal Ingredients (except cruelty-free honey and beeswax)

Apply to clean skin (as always) for an instant moisture hit. It won't leave your face feeling tight or uncomfortable. After 10 minutes the cream is completely absorbed leaving a light dewy texture. It is without doubt the most hydrating mask I have ever used. Perfect for an immediate radiance boost. Skin is left glowing and soft.

I am so impressed with this product that it has become a firm favourite, even replacing my beloved Elemis.

Tip – massage any remaining residue into your hands for 10 minutes too. It's a dream come true for thirsty skin!


By Natasha Cooke

TUTORIAL: MILA KUNIS Smoky Eye Makeup by TANYA BURR

Credits
Source: Tanya Burr via YouTube

REVIEW: MAC COSMETICS Extended Play Lash

Here at NLCbeauty, we’ve tried and tested a lot of mascaras, but like most, we’ve bought in to the eccentric packaging and over-selling of words that never lived up the hype.

This week, we tried MAC Cosmetics’ Extended Play Lash mascara. It’s a lightweight curling mascara that comes with a slim-line brush. The mascara lifts and bends each lash effortlessly creating fantastic definition and extreme volume, minus the clumps.

After one easy application, this quickly became my favourite mascara. If you’re a big fan of natural looking lashes that pop, then this is the product for you.

The easy wash-off formula boasts 16 smudge-free hours of fabulous fluttering, and comes in the shade Endless Black. At £14, this mascara is a must-have beauty bag essential. You certainly get what you pay for, and this product will be our No.1 for quite some time.


By Lisa JC

REVIEW: CLINIQUE Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup

Formula: Liquid
Coverage: Moderate to Full
Benefits: Oil control, Natural skin-perfecting look, Long wearing


As any sufferer of acne-prone skin knows, having enough coverage without clogging your pores is an absolute must when it comes to foundation.

I've been a huge fan of Clinique foundations for many years, and I confidently stand by the brand in saying they produce some of the best foundations out there.

Since being in London for the past month, my skin has had a hard time adjusting to a new city. It sounds crazy, but it's amazing what a change in water and pollution can do to your skin (...blog post to come), so I was on the look out for a new foundation that didn't leave my skin feeling even more clogged than it was.

A Clinique counter assistant advised the Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup. First, she gave me a sample, and I tried it out for a few days. RESULTS: AMAZING.

What Clinique says: 
"Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup is lightweight for oily or blemish-prone skin that needs smooth coverage and skin-clearing treatment benefits. The oil-free foundation, conceals, controls breakout, neutralises the appearance of redness and helps prevent future blemishes while providing moderate coverage and a natural finish that never looks chalky and is soothing to the skin." 

The foundation does what it says on the tin. I was particularly impressed with the coverage, how long wearing the product was, as well as feeling extremely lightweight. Use this during the day or night for a fantastic base. 

At £23.00, this foundation may be out of some people's price ranges, but a little goes a long way. It's always worth investing in a good foundation as it's the ground work to looking great.

Have you tried any other Clinique foundations? Tell us about your experience.


By Lisa JC

REVIEW: YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat Foundation

Review by: Natasha Cooke

The hype for this product was phenomenal, not surprising really being the foundation equivalent of the iconic Touché Éclat highlighter. The beauty world couldn't wait to get their hands on it!

I picked this foundation up months ago, but I don't like to review foundations until I’ve used them for a considerable amount of time.

The official description:

'The light of Touché Éclat foundation targets shadowy areas and highlights the contours of the face. With no opaque powders, its perfecting texture evens the complexion and helps conceal your imperfections, while enhancing your skin’s natural beauty.'

I'd say this was medium coverage; a little goes a long way. I found that it was a great foundation to build, making it my go-to product. It was light enough for everyday use, but builds enough for great 'night out' coverage. For the best results, I used my Real Techniques stippling brush which ensured a flawless finish.

The formula is illuminating, but not shiny, lightweight and left my skin looking radiant. Even after a heavy night out the foundation stayed put, so it has great staying power.

It's available in 22 shades, so there should a near perfect match for you. I was the lightest shade, B10 (B is for natural beige, BD for golden beige and BR for rosy beige). I went to the YSL counter in Boots, Newcastle, for a skin match and trial sample before buying the full sized product, which I recommend you do before buying any foundation, especially high-end. If you’re going to part with all that money you’ve got to love it, right?

I also LOVED the smell. It's quite an unusual thing to pick up on, but I couldn’t get enough of the scent, beautiful!

The packaging is lovely; a glass bottle with a pump dispenser ensures it is mess free. It's very luxurious looking, and it sits pretty on display next to my dresser.

Overall this foundation gets a big thumbs up from me; the 30ml bottle has lasted a long time, so I would say it was good value for money. £28 is a little pricey, but it's not the most expensive on the market.

Remember a little goes a long way, use sparingly and build up.

NLC rating: 4*

REVIEW: Percy & Reed Hair Products

Review by: Monica Turnbull 

Unlike the clever bargain hunters of this world, I'm quite ashamed to say I never take advantage of magazine come-with products. However, Glamour Magazine were giving away £14 Percy & Reed shampoo for a simply fabulous £2, so I had to give it a whirl.

When I leaned into the corner shop shelves to pick up a copy of Glamour, I discovered not only a free sample of the conditioner, but hair serum and finishing product too.

Hairdressers to the stars, Adam Reed and Paul Percival, joined salon forces and decided to bring their talents to the masses, giving you Percy & Reed hair products.

Percy & Reed developed a range of products that are available to buy online – or in the salon, if you're in London. The Really Rather Radiant Colour and Shine shampoo and conditioner (£14 each) are a treat for dyed hair. I've departed from my ginger roots, and I am now sporting tiger stripes of blonde and brown which can sometimes feel really dry. These dream products – which you only need a pea sized amount of – soften hair, leave it feeling light and brought out the tones of my highlights.

After towel drying, I applied a quick squirt of the Smoothed, Sealed & Sensational Volumising No-Oil, Oil (£14). Even after blow-drying, my hair was left feeling soft – still – and manageable enough to curl. I finished off with a slick of Flawless Finishing Product (£10) for some extra taming and shine, and I was good to go.

What a discovery! Never dismiss a magazine freebie, it could be your new favourite product.

NLC rating: 4*

Buy Percy&Reed products at www.percyandreed.com

DIY Ombre Nails

By Natasha Cooke

Here is my easy step-by-step guide to creating the sought after ombre nail effect. It’s requires a little of your time and patience, but practice really does make perfect. 

My first attempt was awful, but I was really pleased with the results second time round! A heads up...if you’re a nail biter, this will look really messy, so you best avoid this until you’ve kicked the habit!

WHAT YOU NEED:

*Base coat
*Two nail polishes - One light and one dark
*A tiny strip of foil 
*A little sponge
*Nail corrector pen (or in my case, nail varnish and an old concealer brush)
*Top coat

STEP 1 

File, buff and add a base coat. Prep the nails so that you have a nice clean canvas to work on.

Essie - Bikini So Teeny and CHANEL - 461 Blue Satin

STEP 2

Pick your nail varnish; I prefer to use two shades of the same colour. I use a dark and light blue, but any colour would work.

Paint all your nails the lighter colour. I find with Essie they need a minimum of 2 coats as the first can look a little watery; nevertheless I love the finished result.

          

STEP 3

Take your foil and sponge. If you don’t have foil use a plastic wallet just something that wont absorb liquid. I just use an everyday washing up sponge. I keep it in my nail bag and cut chunks out of it. Or if you have any of those (vile) eye shadow applicators lying about, the ones with the sponge ends that often come in makeup pallets or brush sets, they would also be ideal for this.

Once your nails are dry (totally dry!), dab the darker colour nail varnish onto the foil. You don’t need loads; just keep adding more if it dries up. Take your sponge and dab it into the varnish.

Tap the sponge onto the edge of your nail. Try and press on harder towards the end of the nail tapping light nearer the middle. Remember, you're trying to create a gradual change in colour from light to dark; keep taping until you’re happy with the amount of colour on the nail. Don’t worry about making a mess, and continue until you have done all fingers. Leave to dry.

STEP 4

I took an old concealer brush, and dipped it in nail varnish remover, or if you’re real posh and have a nail varnish corrector, that’s even better. Clean up the mess the sponge made on the side of your finger. Once all tidy, add a top coat , cuticle oil and you’re done. Not too bad is it?

I hope you found this informative. It's definitely worth a go if you have a spare half an hour, and don't forget to tweet us a picture if you do @nlcbeauty