High End Makeup That IS Worth The Money!

As beauty bloggers and makeup lovers we all ponder the eternal question: 

IS HIGH END MAKEUP REALLY ANY BETTER THAN HIGH STREET?

ARE these cosmetics even WORTH the high price tag? Or are we just paying for fancy packaging and branding?

In my 30 years on this planet I have tried out every drugstore makeup brand available in the UK and now I'm working my way through the USA ones too! I've also tried out a large number of high end brands, So i'd say i'm qualified to comment on subjects like the one I'm now raising. 

I love drugstore makeup, I have quite an extensive collection (you can view it on my youtube channel) 

I would say that 95% of my collection is drugstore, with a few high end bits thrown in for good measure. 

I am an average working person who cannot justify paying silly amounts of money for high end makeup that I can get a dupe of for a fraction of the price in the drug store. So out of the high end things I've road tested, here are the ones that I think ARE worth the money! (Now you can buy them guilt free!)

MAC Pro Longwear PaintPots £15.00 

Mac PaintPots were a 'change your life' product for me, I use mac paintpots as eyeshadow bases, beforehand i was using various drugstore eyeshadow primers which were ok but never really amazed me. These little paintpots did amaze me! My personal favourite is Vintage Selection and i promise you that if you buy one of these you will never go back to a primer, and your eye shadow will not move! Maybelline do a dupe of these called 'Color Tattoo' which are good but nowhere near as good! The amount of product you get in these is plenty to last you 6 months with daily use! A little goes a really long way! 

Benefit Hoola Bronzer £23.50 

This is the UK's best selling bronzer, and there IS a reason for that! Given its steep price tag it is certainly a considered purchase, but one I do not regret! The colour is THE perfect brown. Not too light, not too dark, not too orange, no shimmer (perfect for contouring) and best of all not ashy. 

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Soft & Gentle

Honestly the best highlighter money can buy. It goes on, it stays on, it highlights to perfection! The nicest shade you can buy in any highlighter and I cannot find a drugstore one that can match it on shade or shimmer. 

MAC lipsticks £15.00 (Angel)

MAC are known for there awesome lipsticks, My personal favourites are Angel & Viva Glam V. Angel because it is the perfect nude pink and Viva Glam V because it is the perfect pinky beige. Mac's lipsticks are a lovely thick formula that glides on and colours in 1 swipe. No rubbing again and again to build colour. They have a really distinctive scent / taste too! Kind of like vanilla frosting! Yum!

Mac Fix+ £14.00

The controversial product that divided the beauty blogging world. MAC fix plus. Some loved it, some hated it, but everyone HAD to try it! I think a lot of the controversy that surrounded this product was that people mistakenly expected this was a 'Setting Spray' and would elongate the wear time of makeup. The truth is MAC do not claim this is a setting spray. They say it is a 'finishing mist' and before you ask - YES there IS a difference. A finishing mist simply stops makeup looking cakey and powdery and returns the face to a more natural skin like look. For this reason I LOVE Fix+ and will repurchase it again and again! It contains toners, caffeine and moisture locking ingredients too, so it can be used on bare skin as a revitalizing spray to really prep ths skin ready for makeup! Oh and it smells amazing too!

Benefit Coralista Blush £23.50

Benefit Coralista is a multidimensional peachy pink blush with an almost highlighting shimmer. It has to be swatched because it is VERY hard to describe. I think this is the most girly, pretty day to day blush the world has to offer and I can't get enough of its scent either! There are similar blushes out there but none quite manage to dupe its shimmery peach perfection, so for that reason, despite its high price tag, it makes my list.

I hope this blog helps you when deciding whether to spend or save on certain items!

Much love, 

Helen 

Face Primer Wars - High Street & High End

I'm somebody that rarely commits to one product or brand, I like to play the field when it comes to cosmetics and try out anything and everything until I find the holy grail. For me its a hobby, its fun and its rewarding. So here are the primers I have road tested, and what i thought of each.

For high street to high end (Price lowest to highest)


1. NYC Smooth Skin Perfecting Primer - Superdrug £3.49

CLAIMS: to extend the wear of foundation, minimize imperfections and to smooth and moisturise the skin

MY REVIEW: This primer is actually very decent for the price, it is a white cream, it does leave skin feeling smoother and softer and does illuminate the skin due to its slightly shimmery appearance. It has no scent, dries quickly and makes foundation application smoother and easier. For a basic drugstore product I think it is well worth the money. Would I repurchase? Yes. In a heartbeat. 

2.Rimmel Fix and Perfect Pro Primer Superdrug £6.99

CLAIMS: 5 in 1. Smooths, Perfects, protects,brightens, mattifies and resurfaces

MY REVIEW: This product is another white cream, it claims big things, and for the most part it delivers. The skin feels amazing after use, it does minimize pores and imperfections, it is slightly illuminating and shimmery so it does brighten and obviously any layer of cream on the skin will protect it to an extent - the resurfacing claim is a little far fetched but it does give you a nicer smoother base to work with, so I'll overlook the big claim. My only issue with this product was that I was allergic to it. That's not the products fault - its just unfortunate. The product itself worked in perfect harmony with my skin - my problem was the scent. It makes my eyes run, makes me sneeze and just generally caused a 'heyfever' type reaction. Would I repurchase it: NO  - but if they released a fragrance free version - then YES. 


3. Salma Hayek Smooth Start Smooth Skin Primer $10 CVS (USA only)

CLAIMS: To diminish the appearance of pores and fine lines and enhance makeup wear

MY REVIEW: WOW! this is a wonder product, I cannot honestly recommend it highly enough! unlike the previous 2 primers I have mentioned, this is a gel like formula, It is almost like vaseline but less greasy. It is a light beige colour. It glides on, feels super soft and hides a multitude of sins. Would I repurchase? YES! by the bucket!


4. MAC Prep + Prime Skin £20.50 MAC Cosmetics website

CLAIMS: To calm and soothe the skin, blot excess oil and even out skintone. Improve application of foundations.

MY REVIEW: Like the cheaper dugstore primers this is a white cream with a fair amount of shimmer which illuminates the skin. It is very light and non greasy, almost a little too 'watery' for my liking. super soft to touch and definitely good at its blotting claim, so if you have oily skin I would highly recommend this primer. It provides a perfect base to apply foundation on top of.  Exactly what I would expect from MAC. Would I repurchase? NO because I don't have oily skin so its not ideal for me. I would try a different MAC primer more suited to my skin type though.



5. Estee Lauder Matte Perfecting Primer £22.50 Estee Lauder website

Claims: To mattify skin, control oils and shine, even out skintone, minimise pores, calm and smooth

MY REVIEW: Given that MAC & Estee Lauder and one in the same it doesn't surprise me that this primer is similar to the MAC one, only this feels slightly thicker and less watery - therefore BETTER. No noticeable scent, definitely does mattify the skin and smooths to incredible levels, evens out the surface and generally delivers what it claims. Would I repurchase? Maybe, but its a little bit pricey!


6. Benefit The Porefessional £24.50 Benefit website

Claims: Minimize appearance of pores and fine lines, smooth and even out skin, Improve application of foundation.

MY REVIEW: For me, this is the best of the best. I do not think there is a better primer out there, I do not have problem pores or any issues with fine lines yet i LOVE this as a primer. It is somewhere between a gel and a cream and nude beige in colour (VERY similar to Nuance by Salma Hayek) Probably best described as a "balm." It really does smooth, mattify and even out the skin. It has to be felt to be believed. My skin feels like velvet after application. Would I repurchase? Despite its high price tag - YES, A little goes a really long way. 


In summary, I'd  move heaven and earth to get your hands on the NUANCE primer by Salma Hayek because for me it is the closest dupe to the best, which is Benefit's Porefessional :) There really isn't much in these two despite Benefit being $20 (£15) more expensive!

I really hope you found this review useful and I look forward to reading your comments and opinions.

Helen xx

Bella Capelli Salon Review

My Afternoon at Bella Capelli

Today I visited Bella Capelli Salon in St Helens for the first time.  There has been a Salon on this site for some time but it has recently come under new management and been refurbished, so in true beauty blogger style - i HAD to go and check it out. 

Firstly, I LOVE the name Bella Capelli which translates to Beautiful Hair! Genius. It just rolls off the tongue and is representative of what we go into a salon for! This salon offers much more than just a good hair cut though!

Upon entering the salon I arrived at a reception desk where I was greeted warmly by Stephanie, The salon owner. The first thing that struck me was the crisp clean modern decor and furniture which are both exquisite, and the art on the feature wall of a pair of beautifully made up eyes which i think is perfect for a beauty salon. 

I was taken over to the nail station where Suz, a nail technician spent some time going through my nail options with me. I was spoilt for choice there were so many beautiful colours and styles but I eventually settled on a beautiful red shellac. Then I was asked glitter or no glitter - I chose glitter obviously, who wouldn't right? 

Suz was very skilled at applying my Shellac with military precision whilst also chatting and having a good giggle. I felt very at ease and pampered. The end result was honestly the nicest my tatty talons have ever looked - I've had many manicures in my 30 years on this planet but none as good as this! Suz really did have her work cut out for her, my nails were a disgrace after months of DIY manicures (also known as neglect) and I was slightly ashamed to remove my nail polish and let her see them, but it was no sweat for her expertise and she had them looking ship shape in no time at all. 

Stephanie, the Salon owner is both a hairdresser and a nail technician and upon me asking about what else the salon had to offer she offered to show me around and show me some of her work so of course I accepted! Along the left wall there are hairdressing stations which are again modern and elegant, Stephanie offers all kinds of services for hair, from cuts and colours to the latest in hair extensions, trendy up doo's, bridal hair and treatments. Seeing her work proved to me she is the best in town and I know where I will be heading for my hair needs in future. 

Stephanie then offered to show me the beauty therapy room where they offer all other beauty treatments including waxing, facials, massage, makeup, lashes.... The room was beautifully decorated in bang on trend colours, relaxing lighting with candles and fluffy towels and blankets. Heaven on earth! I will be booking an appointment for some treatments and I can't wait!

I am really pleased that I went to Bella Capelli today, because not only did I get my nails done perfectly, but I also found a new salon which offers everything I need under one roof, but doesnt compromise on quality of service and lets face it - in this day and age who has time to be going to one place for hair, another for nails and another for waxing and facials? 

So from now on - I'm a Bella Capelli girl - and I hope you will be too!

For appointments contact:

Stephanie Meredith

Bella Capelli Salon 

44 Vincent Street

St Helens 

WA10 1LE

01744 322812

I Got Nail'd By Suz - Nails Review

I Got Nailed by Suz!



I went to get my nails done today by "Get Nail'd By Suz"  (Suzana Salvador) at Bella Capelli Salon in St Helens, Merseyside.  

This was my first appointment with Suz who is a nail technician, She has recently moved to Merseyside from Chelsea in London and I thoroughly enjoyed having my nails done by her and the warm friendly conversation that made me feel very welcome and at ease in the salon. She has a beautiful workstation within the salon where I felt comfortable and pampered.

She did my nails with Shellac in a gorgeous London Bus Red with Silver Glitter. Suz uses all of the best products and polishes and made my tatty talons look red carpet ready!

They look absolutely amazing, bang on trend for the festive season and I will certainly be going back again and again for my nails done. 

Suz also showed me a collection of samples of nail art she can do, anything from novelty festive nails for Christmas (which were too adorable for words! to stunning cutting edge high fashion designs) it didn't surprise me to learn that Suz has actually studied Fine Art at University, her talent is wonderful. 

If you live in the Merseyside area and are looking for a good nail technician who you can have a nice chat with whilst she works her magic then look no further! Go and get yourself Nail'd By Suz! 

Contact Suz for an appointment:

Suzana Salvador
Bella Capelli Salon
44 Vincent Street,
St Helens,
Merseyside
WA10 1 LE

Tel: 01744 322812
Mobile: 07817438030