The Best Things About Being A Blogger: Part 1

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Meeting like minded people

This has to be the best thing about being a blogger - meeting so many lovely people who have the same interests as me. Before I started blogging, I used to ramble on to my friends and family about beauty products or my latest MAC lipstick purchase and for the most part, they weren't all that interested. Not because they're not interested in what I have to say but because that isn't their passion - unlike me, they don't have drawers and drawers full of the stuff! However, I love nothing more than chatting to fellow bloggers on Twitter or Instagram about my latest beauty find or lipstick love - its so much fun! Its also nice to have so many people to talk to at all times of the day. Its like having thousands of virtual friends!

Discovering new brands

Before starting my blog, I'd only heard of the big name brands. Take MAC, NARS, Bourjois, Rimmel and Maybelline for example. Now as much as I still love those huge brands, blogging has also allowed me to discover smaller but absolutely fantastic brands. I'm not going to name all the brands I've discovered here as there's just too damn many but yes, its safe to say the brands I now use has hugely expanded since my early blogging days. I may do a post all about my favourites soon.

Awesome opportunities

One of the really lovely perks that comes with being a blogger is being given the opportunity to do things you'd never have the chance to do otherwise. Some people get funny about bloggers being sent 'freebies' or getting to attend events but if a blogger has worked exceptionally hard on their blogs, which are free for anyone to read, I don't see anything wrong with them getting rewarded for their effort. Lets face it, most bloggers don't make any money from their blogs but put in just as much, if not more time than they would working part or even full time. So yes, I'm here saying it loud and proud that being given the chance to go and see a concert, attend a cool event or receive a new release from a beauty brand is one of the great things about being a blogger. As long as you're not blogging for the sole purpose of getting free stuff, I don't see anything wrong with that.

Helping/inspiring others

I've wrote a few lifestyle posts on my blog in the past about my own personal experiences (anxiety and bullying to name two) and the response I've received to them has been overwhelming. Whether its tweets, comments or emails - the fact that something I've wrote has helped or inspired someone has to be one of the most rewarding feelings ever. I've even received emails from girls who said they went to get help after reading one of my posts or that reading my story and knowing they're not alone got them through a hard time. Knowing these things makes blogging SO worth it!

Developing my skill set

Since starting my blog I've learnt so many invaluable skills that I wouldn't have otherwise. As a blogger we play so many different roles - content creator, editor, photographer, social media updater and decision maker. Taking on all of these different roles over the past (almost) three years has allowed me to get a glimpse into what its like to do these things for a business and it even landed me my new job which I'll be doing a post all about very soon!

There's so many other things I love about blogging that I've decided to split this post up into two parts. Keep your eyes peeled for the next installment!

What are your favourite things about being a blogger?

Lots of love,

TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | INSTAGRAM

New MAC Lipsticks | Rebel & Fanfare

Hi Ladies! I hope you’re all well and having a wonderful week so far – roll on the weekend! Today I’d like to introduce you to the recent additions to my MAC lipstick collection 'Rebel' and 'Fanfare'. A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to win the lovely Helen from Beautifully Superfluous giveaway of two MAC lipsticks of my choice – I know, how generous of her and sooo exciting for me! I actually couldn’t wipe the smile off my face when she contacted me to say I’d won. Thanks again Helen! 

As soon as I found out I’d won the giveaway, I instantly knew that ‘Rebel’ would be one of my choices as it'd been on my wish list for as long as I can remember. It’s a very ‘me’ colour, a deep berry pink (like I don’t have enough of those already) which of course meant I had to have it. I mean yes, I do have lots of berry pink shades in my collection but this one is rich, deep and just plain beautiful. Us beauty bloggers will use any excuse for another 'almost the same as all our other lipsticks' lipstick won't we? 8). Anyway before I start rambling I have one word for you all regarding this lipstick – LOVE! For me it’s just the perfect ‘night out’ shade. It’s deep, dramatic yet bright and vibrant at the same time. The formula is ‘Satin’ which isn’t glossy but not matte either, a happy medium I’d say. I much prefer Satin over a matte formula as they’re not quite as drying on the lips but still really long lasting and pigmented, which makes Rebel even more perfect for a night out. 

When it came to picking a second shade, I wanted something I could wear on an everyday basis. As I’m more of a bright lipped gal I don’t actually own a great deal of neutral shades, particularly from MAC. I do own and like Hue but it’s a touch too nude for me so I wanted something a little darker but still natural looking. After googling MAC lipstick swatches, I decided on Fanfare, a warm neutral shade with undertones of coral and pink. If you think of a ‘my lips but better’ shade, this is it. I’m so glad I chose it as I’ve had it on my lips every day since. If you follow me on Instagram (kayleighjcouture), you’ll of probably seen me posting about how much I love this paired with my Rimmel Stay Glossy Lipgloss in ‘All Day Seduction’, they really are the perfect every day combo. Fanfare is a ‘Cremesheen’ formula which is one of, if not my favourite formula of MAC lipsticks. Cremesheen is a hydrating formula that moisturises lips whilst still giving great colour pay off. 

It’s safe to say I’m completely in love with both of these lipsticks and as you can see from the swatches above, they’re super pigmented and pretty shades. They can be found on the MAC website for £14.00 each which is pricey but totally worth it right? If you’d like to see a more in-depth review or photos of me wearing either of these shades, don’t hesitate to let me know in the comments below. 

Have you tried Rebel or Fanfare? What’s your favourite MAC shade? I’m on the hunt for my perfect Spring/Summer shade next so leave me your suggestions below!

Lots of Love,
 

Review | NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

Hi Ladies! I hope you’re all well and had a lovely Mothers Day yesterday. I went out with the family for a three course lunch which was absolutely lovely and I of course spoilt my mum. I bought her some MAC goodies as she keeps pinching mine and a personalised mug from Getting Personal so she was very happy with those. I’m not happy its Monday again though, don’t the weekends just fly by? Roll of Easter and six days off work.

Today I’d like to review one of the new additions to my foundation collection. Yes you heard that right, a foundation collection. Once upon a time I was never really interested in trying new foundations and always stuck to my trusty ‘Studio Fix Fluid’ from MAC. However, fast forward a couple of years and I’m a woman obsessed. I can’t get enough of testing and trying new foundations that promise to make my skin look better than it does naturally. So after doing a bit of research I decided NARS Sheer Glow would be the next foundation on my hit list. After hearing various You Tube superstars (mainly you Tanya Burr!) rave about how much they love this stuff, I knew I had to try it out for myself. I’m also a huge fan of other NARS products so I came to the conclusion their foundation would be just as fabulous.

I was a bit lazy when it came to picking my shade in this foundation and ended up looking at swatches online instead of going in store. I have a slight phobia of getting colour matched in store these days after my disastrous experience with Estee Lauder. They matched me with Double Wear and it made me look like a grey and pink patchwork quilt – gross! With this being said I decided to read fellow bloggers reviews, have a look at some swatches and decide myself. I decided ‘Fiji’ was my shade after reading Kate from gh0st parties review here as like me, she’s a pale skinned gal. The foundation looks beautiful on her too, so I was even more excited to give it a go. Thankfully I was right and after swatching in store (just to make sure), I walked away with my Fiji Sheer Glow. I must admit, the price seriously unimpressed me (£30.50 – ouch) but hey, I can’t resist a product when there’s so much love and hype surrounding it. Another thing that unimpressed me (lets get the negatives out of the way first) was the fact that it doesn't have a pump. Don't get me wrong, the packaging itself is very luxurious, I love the glass bottle with the NARS logo down the side but the fact it doesn't come with a pump for the high price is quite annoying. It means you have to pour the foundation out of the bottle which results in a lot of mess and waste. The lid on my bottle broke a few days after buying this too so I had to transfer the Sheer Glow into another empty foundation bottle that did have a pump (what a faff!). I've since realised you can actually buy a pump separately but again, its annoying having to part with even more money for something that should already be provided in a high-end product.

So moving on from the things I don't like about this product, let me tell you what I do like. Firstly, I love the coverage. When I first heard about this foundation, the name 'Sheer Glow' gave me the impression it would have a light coverage and a dewy finish. However, after reading reviews and trying this foundation for myself, its actually the complete opposite. I'd class it as a medium-full coverage foundation and definitely buildable. I also find that it applies flawlessly, takes no effort at all to buff in and leaves my skin with a flawless 'semi-matte' finish. What I mean by semi-matte is that its not completely matte but definitely not 'glowy' as the name would suggest either, lets say somewhere in between. It definitely doesn't look cakey or too heavy, more like my natural skin but more flawless and radiant. This is a massive plus for me as I find I can wear it on a day to day basis or a night out without it looking caked in makeup. I've also found a little goes a long way so although its a pricey, it will last a long time. I tend to pop 1-2 pumps on the back of my hand and apply it with my Real Techniques buffing brush. I then lightly sweep Rimmel Stay Matte powder over the top to keep it in place. I've found it last well on the skin and doesn't separate or melt off your skin like MAC Studio Fix can.

Since buying this foundation, I've worn it every single day. I think its one of those that grows on you as when I first tried it, I wasn't blown away. I think for the price you expect miracles but its just a really nice and easy to use foundation. Like I said earlier, it looks like my skin but better when I'm wearing it and since wearing it on a regular basis, I've never had more compliments on my skin. So after all of this blabbering your probably wondering whether I'd buy this foundation again and my answer is 100% YES but with a pump next time. As much as I don't want to part with more money, a pump is a must-have! I'd also like to finish by saying, don't be put off this foundation if you have oily skin. My skin is combination (more on the oily side) and judging by the name 'Sheer Glow', it sounds like it would emphasise oiliness but trust me, it doesn't. Yay!

Have you ever tried this foundation? What do you think?

Lots of Love,

Monthly Favourites | February

Hi Lovelies! I hope you're all well and are having a fantastic weekend. I've had the best weekend ever as I went to pick up my new Mini Cooper on Saturday and I absolutely LOVE it. I can't drive it yet as I still need to past my test but its definitely given me the motivation I need to get my bum into gear and learn to drive again. I've also been to Ikea today to buy a new dressing table and  storage so keep you're eyes peeled if you're interested in seeing it as I'll definitely be doing a post when its all set up. 

Also, can you believe its March? February seemed to pass us by in a flash. I didn't write a monthly favourites post last month purely because there wasn't many things I was loving. However, fast forward a month and theres lots of new bits and pieces that I'd like to share with you all so sit back, grab yourself a cup of tea and enjoy reading!

Rimmel Apocalips

Okay so I'm sure you've all heard about the new Rimmel Lip Lacquers since every man and his blog have been talking about them 8). I of course couldn't resist temptation and placed an order from Boots the day they were released and on a 3 for 2 offer. I've blogged about the ones I bought here including swatches if you want to know more about them. Since then I've added another two to my collection and I love them all. The shades I currently own are Celestical, Apocaliptic, Big Bang, Stellar and Galaxy. My favourite of the bunch is Stellar - a gorgeous brink orange/pink that will be perfect for the upcoming summer months. The pigmentation of these bad boys is just insane which is why I love them so much. If you haven't tried them already, I urge you to!

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash

I've already blogged about and expressed my love for this body wash here so I don't think I really need to explain why this is in my favourites. I'll give you three words though - IT SMELLS AMAZING!

Macadamia Nourishing Leave-in Cream*

I was recently sent a couple of Macadamia products to try out (full reviews to come soon) but this one has been the stand out product for me. The idea is to pop this through the mid to ends of towel dried hair and leave it to work its magic. I won't say too much as like I say, I'll be doing a full review soon but it leaves my hair feeling super soft and it smells incredible.

Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner

I've recently blogged about this little gem here and I absolutely love it. I've never really got along with gel eyeliners in the past (even Bobbi Brown was a no-no for me) but this one is super creamy, pigmented, long lasting and easy to use. I've been loving using this on my top lash line and I find I can get a much more precise 'flick' with this than I can with a liquid eye liner. I really don't have any complaints about it. The frosted jar looks cute too!

MAC 'Smolder' Eye Kohl

Another eyeliner I've been loving this month is MAC's 'Smolder' which I recently re-purchased after my 'Feline' liner ran out. I usually switch between the two of them and as Feline wasn't in stock, I decided to go for Smolder again. I'm glad I did as its a lovely creamy and pigmented eye pencil. I use this everyday in my water line and I really can't fault it. It's humongous too so even though its a bit pricier than your standard eye liner, in my opinion, its worth it.

Rimmel Stay Glossy 'All Day Seduction' Lipgloss

I actually reviewed this lip gloss here earlier this week if you want to read why I love it so much in a bit more detail. Its basically just a fabulous lip gloss thats not sticky and makes my lips look plump and glossy. Perfect!

Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm*

I've been really enjoying cleansing with this product at the moment and will be reviewing it in full soon. Due to the cold winter weather my skin has been very dry and sore but this has helped sort that right out. It's a oil based balm thats applied to dry skin to exfoliate and then mixed with a touch of water to cleanse. It contains small grains of oatmeal which gently exfoliate the skin and sweet almond oil to cleanse and melt away makeup. I'll go into more detail in my full review but its a fantastic product and a real treat to use. It also smells yummy!

MAC 'Porcelain Pink' Mineralize Skinfinish

I bought this on a whim from a recent MAC collection (I have no idea which one it was, possibly Apres Chic?) as I was feeling in a 'why not treat myself' kind of mood and wanted a new skinfinish. I absolutely adore the MSF in 'Soft and Gentle' and this one looked quite similar so I thought I'd give it a whirl. Although it isn't quite as pigmented as Soft and Gentle, the effect it gives my skin is fairly similair. Its a beautiful soft pink with gold running through it and it adds a lovely 'candlelight' glow to my skin. I don't like it quite as much as Soft and Gentle but I've thoroughly enjoyed using it this month.

Origins Clear Improvement Face Mask

I received this face mask in a set of three for Christmas and I've been absolutely loving it for the past few weeks. Its a charcoal mask meaning its great for extracting excess oil and impurities from the skin. I suffer with an oily t-zone so I can often get clogged pores and a few pimples around that area. However, as soon as I use this mask my skin looks crystal clear and feels amazingly soft. I'm going to review it in full soon but I'd definitely recommend it if you suffer with excess oil or large pores.

I hope you enjoyed reading about the products I've been loving this month! Do we have any of the same favourites? Have you tried any of these products?

Lots of Love,

Rimmel Stay Glossy Lipgloss | All Day Seduction

Hi Ladies! I hope you’re all okay. Today I want to review my all time favourite lip glosses and that’s the Rimmel ‘Stay Glossy’ lip gloss in the shade ‘All Day Seduction’. I've been a huge fan of these lip glosses for a few years now ever since my mum bought one and I couldn't stop using it. I’m pretty sure she just let me keep it in the end as I used it more than she did, sorry mum! I can’t remember which shade she had but I remember it being the perfect nude ‘your lips but better’ shade that worked on its own or accompanied any lipstick beautifully. Fast forward a few years and you could say my lip gloss collection has grown quite dramatically. I’m always trying and buying new ones so my love for the Stay Glossy tube of loveliness had almost been forgotten about.

However, a few weeks ago whilst snooping about on the Boots website at the Rimmel Apocalips, I spotted the Stay Glossy lip glosses and instantly had to buy one. Its almost like the memories of being younger and loving my mum’s so much came flooding back to me and I was very excited to finally buy another one. I originally wanted to get the shade ‘Non-stop Glamour’ as I’m sure that's the perfect nude shade my mum owned but unfortunately, it was out of stock. I clearly couldn't leave the Boots website without buying one though so I eventually settled on the shade ‘All Day Seduction’ which looked like a peach tone on the Boots website and the closest match to ‘Non-stop Glamour’. I loved the look of lots of the shades but as I was buying it on a 2 for 2 with a couple of Apocalips I had to limit myself to one, boo.

So, why do I love this lip gloss so much you might add? Well, where do I even start? Firstly, the applicator of this gloss is unlike any other I’ve used before. Unlike your standard doe foot application this one is a flat sponge. It’s really hard to explain but it feels really nice to apply with and its certainly the best lip gloss applicator I’ve come across. I also find it had a somewhat ‘fury’ texture about it as well which sounds strange but I think it helps to pick up the product and smooth it across the lips. I also find the formula of these lip glosses absolutely perfect. You know how some glosses can feel tacky on the lips and your hair ends up sticking to your face as soon as you’re caught in the wind? Well, this gloss is the complete opposite. It’s smooth, moisturising and best of all, not sticky. It’s a real pleasure to apply and leaves my lips feels feeling silky soft.

As well as the great formula, it really is, as the name suggest, glossy. As soon as I apply this my lips instantly look plump and super shiny. The pigmentation of this particular shade isn't amazing when applied to the lips, just a light tinge of colour but I don't mind that as its the perfect 'my lips but better' shade that I can slick on anytime, anywhere for a polished look. I also find it perfect for popping over the top of lipstick to add a beautiful glossy sheen as it has beautiful flecks of gold shimmer. It also smells like cakes too and I could quite happily lick this off my lips and eat it after applying. Too far? As for the 6 hours wear time this claims to give, I'm not convinced. It does last reasonably well on my lips but definitely not for six hours. However, I don't think I've ever used any lip glosses that last six hours, even the super tacky and sticky ones. 

Overall I absolutely adore this gloss and its been part of my every day makeup routine for quite some time now. Its even been promoted to my handbag which is a sure sign that I love this product. Nothing gets promoted to handbag status unless its absolutely fabulous, right girls?

I'm certainly going to be picking some more up from Boots here when they have another 3 for 2 deal and I suggest you do too! They're priced at £6.49 meaning you can get 3 for less than £13.00. Not a bad price for lovely looking lips!

Have you tried the Rimmel Stay Glossy lip glosses? What do you think?

Lots of Love,

Tag | Confessions of a Blogger

Image: weheartit (edited by me)

Hi everyone! I hope you're all fine and dandy. Today I'm doing the 'Confessions of a Blogger' tag after seeing it over on the lovely Jessica's blog here (go and check her out, she has a fabulous blog). I thought it was a really fun tag and I thoroughly enjoyed reading her answers so I thought I'd give it a whirl myself. Tags are a great way to get to know each other so I hope you enjoy finding out a bit more about me and my blog.

All of the questions are related to blogging so its something you can all get involved with, no matter what kind of blog you write! So without further ado, here are my confessions of a blogger:

When did you start your blog?

I started my blog in November 2011 (the 18th to be precise) which means I've been blogging for just over one year and three months. I can't quite believe how quickly its gone - it feels like yesterday. As the saying goes, time flies when you're having fun!

Have you had any past online presence before (Other blog, YouTube)?

No I hadn't done anything like this before and it was never something I intended to do. Blogging was a very spur of the moment decision for me after reading lots of other blogs one night. My creative juices began to flow and the next thing I knew I'd created a blog. I did start my blog on Wordpress originally but I found it too complicated to use so after faffing around for a few hours with no success I moved over to Blogger.

Why did you start a blog?

I started a blog like I said earlier very spontaneously and very spur of the moment. Before starting my blog I always looked online for reviews before purchasing a new product. I was going through a bit of a MAC stage and was always looking online for swatches and this is how I stumbled across blogs. It was Belles Boutique that I discovered first and from there I just couldn't stop reading them. It came as a bit of a surprise to me as I genuinely didn't know this blogging world even existed but as soon as I clocked on to it, I knew I wanted to become a part of it. I've always been interested in the beauty industry and have had an unhealthy obsession with makeup and all things girly from a very young age. It seemed like the perfect creative outlet for me so I just thought 'sod it' and started my own. Very nervously might I add.

When did you become serious about starting a blog?

As I just said, I never intended to start a blog so I was never 'serious' about it so to speak. I'd always had a passion for beauty but because I didn't know blogs existed, I never started my own with a 'serious' goal in mind. I never once thought any would actually read, let alone enjoy my rambles, I just did it for my own enjoyment because I was writing about what I loved. It probably wasn't until the comments started to appear that I thought 'ooh, people actually enjoy reading what I have to say' which then gave me the motivation to continually improve and develop as a blogger.

What was your first post?

Oh gosh, my first post is quite cringey but I'm still proud of it and it makes me laugh to look back at older posts and remember how clueless I was. I had no idea what I was doing or that anyone would ever read what I had to say so I was essentially writing to myself like a total loon. I remember feeling excited and nervous when I published my first post as I was putting myself out there for people to judge. I deleted Facebook shortly after starting my blog too as I found it quite a negative place and I knew various people would judge me for 'having a blog'. I decided to completely remove myself from any negativity and do what I wanted to do which was the best decision I've ever made. I was never ashamed of my blog but the fact I was putting myself out there for people to criticise was certainly nerve-wracking. If you want to have a laugh at said cringey first post, click here to have a read (and probably a little chuckle!).

What has been your biggest challenge about blogging?

This a really tough one for me as I can't think of anything that I'd class as a challenge. I absolutely adore writing my blog and if I thought it was a challenge, the chances are I wouldn't be doing it. I guess the only thing I can think of would be ensuring my blog is constantly updated with new and interesting posts. Like all bloggers, I want people to enjoy coming to my blog for a read so my biggest 'challenge' would be making sure nobody gets bored and that I'm always thinking of new and exciting things to blog about. However, this is a good challenge as it allows me to be creative.

Where do you see your blog in one year?

Well I certainly see myself still blogging this time next year but where it will be in terms of readership and new opportunities, I have no idea. I'm very happy and overwhelmed by what I've achieved this far with my blog and anything else will just be a bonus. I certainly don't have any big plans in mind as like I said earlier, I write this blog for fun, not because I plan to conquer the world with it haha!

What is the most rewarding thing to you about blogging?

The most rewarding thing about blogging by a country mile is meeting like-minded people (some I would now class as friends) and reading all of your lovely comments, tweets and emails. I can't express how much it makes my day when someone says something nice about my blog or I receive an email saying I've inspired someone to start their own. The amazing support and feedback I've received in just over a year of blogging is outstanding and to everyone reading this now, I can't thank you enough.

What is the most discouraging thing that happens to you?

There isn't many things I find discouraging about blogging but if I had to pick one teeny tiny pet peeve it would be people stereotyping a blog due to the number of followers it has. I really dislike blogs being referred to as 'big' or 'small' based on their follower count and I really wish people would forget about numbers and enjoy blogs for what they really are, a reflection of someones personality and a fun, creative hobby. I also think its important to remember success is earned, not handed out on a plate. If you want your blog to be a success, make it happen. Be inspired by other bloggers, give it your all, put the effort in and it will pay off. You have to remind yourself that everyone starts off somewhere and forget about the follower number. I follow a massive variety of blogs regardless of their readership size and I value and enjoy them all equally. I think we should all appreciate the effort other bloggers put in a little bit more and stop being so consumed by that pesky follower number!

What's your lasting inspiration or motivation?

My blogging motivation is 100% other bloggers. Following on from my last answer, I read a lot of blogs and am inspired by each and every one of them. I love seeing what other people have been buying and which products they're currently loving. I enjoy reading about other peoples day to day lives and it excites me finding out about a new product release. I often get inspired to improve and develop my own blog after reading amazing posts from fellow bloggers or instantly feel like I 'need' to buy a product after reading another glowing review. I probably spend more money on beauty products now that I ever did before I started blogging but I don't mind, that's all part of the fun right?

I hope you enjoyed reading this and learnt a few things about me and my blog. I'd love to read your answers to these questions so if you decide to do this post, leave a comment below with the link so I can have a read. Happy blogging!

Lots of Love,

Review | Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner

Hi Everyone! How are you all? I hope you've all had a fabulous weekend and are having a relaxed sunday night. I've had a great weekend and am now sat on the sofa drinking tea, eating Reese's peanut butter cups and blogging - perfect! Today I want to review the Maybelline Lasting Gel Eyeliner that is often compared as a dupe for the Bobbi Brown and MAC gel liners. Now I've tried the Bobbi Brown gel liner before and wasn't impressed (I found it dry and hard to work with), so I didn't have great hopes for the Maybelline version. However, after reading some reviews and watching YT videos of people raving about how great the Maybelline version is, I couldn't resist temptation. In true beauty blogger style I popped onto the Boots website and bought it without a second thought.

So, first things first - the packaging? If you read my blog regularly you'll know by now that packaging is very important to me. If a product looks cheap, tacky or generally unattractive, the chances are I won't buy it. Gosh, that makes me sound like such a makeup snob but the way I see it is if I'm spending my hard earned cash, I want to buy something that looks nice. So, does this live up to my packaging standards you ask? It most certainly does! I absolutely love the frosted glass pot containing the liner and the fact it comes with a handy little brush is a nice extra. The Bobbi Brown and MAC liners are over double the price of this one and don't come with a brush so this was definitely a plus point for me.

Moving on to the actual liner itself, I am very impressed. To be honest, I don't wear liner on my top lash line all that often because I find liquid liner quite messy and hard to work with while I'm rushing around before work in a morning. However, this gel liner is so easy to use its almost foolproof. As the formula is gel instead of liquid I find it much easier to control and so easy to create a perfect winged effect (see photo above). I've also found that a little goes a very long way and with only one dab of the brush my whole eye is liner in a matter of seconds. The reason I prefer this to the Bobbi Brown version is because the gel is 'wetter', making it easier to apply. I've also tried using this on my waterline and although I don't like it as much as my MAC Smolder and Feline liners, it still works.

As for the claims that this lasts 24 hours, I'm not too sure. To be honest, I don't know many people who wear their eyeliner for 24 hours anyway but what I do know is it last a long time. I can wear mine for a full day without it budging and thats good considering I'm one of those silly people who is always picking at her eyelashes. Whoops! The colour I picked up is 'Intense Black' and like the name states its very intense, deep and rich. I personally prefer wearing black liner but for those of you who prefer brown, they also offer a chocolate brown shade.

Overall I'm very impressed with this liner, much prefer it to the Bobbi Brown version and would definitely repurchase (not that I'll need to for a while - this will last AGES!). I bought mine here from Boots for £7.99 and theres currently a 3 for 2 deal on Maybelline products. Bargain alert!

Have you tried this gel eyeliner? What do you think?

Lots of Love,