Mel B on a beauty blog?

Yes, this is a post about Mel B, but not as you know her..

When I first got this eyeshadow, I couldn't see why the SA had chosen it for me.  It practically blended right into my lid and I could see no difference.

I chucked it into the back of my makeup drawer and there it rested for a long long time..

It only came out a few months ago as I was doing a massive makeup sort-out..I used it a few times and then realised it was my MEL B shade, the "my eye lid (but) better" shade.

My lids are not the same colour as the skin around my eyes, they have always been darker and this has always been a source of frustration for me.  I always wanted to do a neat eyeliner flick on a flawless eye but it never worked as I didn't realise that most of the models sporting this look were wearing an eyeshadow.

It photographed with a hint of shimmer because my I'd used my Natural High eye cream beforehand.

This photograph does the colour no justice as in real life, it blends in seamlessly.  I've used it practically non-stop since coming to that realisation and there is now a massive dip and I'm sure I will be hitting pan very soon.  It's surprisingly pigmented for a No7 shadow, very nice and smooth and applies like butter.

It is pretty similar in colour and consistency to Illegal by Urban Decay, the only difference being that Illegal is a bit pinker but I still make it work.

I know that Boots have stopped making this shade as I can't find it and this pains me but Urban Decay thankfully show no signs of d/c'ing it.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On eyeliner pencils on a budget

Urban Decay pencils, everyone loves them yet not everyone is willing to pay £11.00 for a pencil.  I'm not saying the pencils are crap, they're brilliant but something inside me doesn't want to pay that much for an eye pencil.

Anyway, whilst I was in this frugal state of mind, I went to Boots armed with about 5 £5 off vouchers.  I didn't know what to get and these were an impulse buy as my brother was getting pissed off carrying a basket full of "women's crap" around with him.

I've been using these pretty much whenever I can which has been more often than I thought I'd be able to.

Boots do these pencils, eyebrow pencils and normal eyeliner pencils.  I've been in to buy more of these in the past and they've only had normal pencils..which I realised once I got home with my latest acquisition.

I really want the green one so I'm going to buy it with the next voucher I get.

I have two of them and the last forever on the eye so you don't have to use too much.  I've used mine whenever possible and the pencils are still pretty big.

As you can see, there is a slight amount of glitter in these pencils but it's not so much that you look like a disco ball whenever you wear them, it's nice and subtle.

The colour range isn't as varied as Urban Decay but you do get the basic blue, turquoise, gold, purple and green which I think is more than enough for most people.

You can buy them here.  They usually cost £7.00 but I tend to buy them when I've got the £5 off voucher so I get them for £2.00.

Also, does anyone remember back in the day when Boots used to offer it on No7, Ruby and Millie and Jemma Kidd? I wonder why they stopped selling JK.

Do you guys have any of these pencils? Do you know why Boots stopped selling JK? Let me know..because I'm a nosey cow.

Urban Decay primer dried out? I've got the solution!

Back when I was a total makeup noob, I saw an article on Clumps of Mascara which taught you how to depot your UDPP.

Being the over zealous thing that I am, I decided to depot mine.  This was despite the fact that I hadn't even hit "pan" on it.

I only realised recently that mine had dried out and I was very reluctant to chuck it.

I bought this brush from Boots with my £5 off voucher (it cost me £1.50) and was quite let down by how well it worked on my eyeshadows.

I decided to use it on my UDPP and it worked a charm.  You just stroke the primer with it and apply it to your lids, it works really well.  You don't need to blend it or anything..and you don't get that chalky rubby bit either.  It doesn't work on the primer if it isn't dried out (I tried it on my cousin's one), you get too much on the brush but if it has dried out then it works perfectly.

Try it, it really works! If you've got the £5 off voucher, have a dried up pot of UDPP and can't decide what to buy from Boots, get this brush and kill a million birds with one stone.  You won't be sorry!

Review update

I was putting my face on today and realised that my current mascara (which is now no longer HG) wasn't really doing anything for me.  I remembered how thick my lashes were when I used my L'oreal mascara..I also remember that I said I wouldn't buy it because it made my lashes feel hard and that it smelt..so why was I reaching for it this morning?

So, with this in mind I decided to do a review of my reviews.  It' worked out pretty well because I have been using these items and my mind has changed about some as time went on..I think this kind of thing is useful for those of you, who, like me, take ages deciding whether or not to buy something and also equally useful for those who don't want to trawl through all my posts to find out about certain items.

By the way, if you click on the link it will take you to my original review.

Sleek palettes

• Still in love with these, falling more and more in love with them as the days pass.  I don't think theres an occasion where you CAN'T use them.

Benefit Badgal mascara

• Still not loving this, have tried it a few more times since the review but it has done nothing at all for me.

Maybelline Lash Stiletto mascara

• Have been teaming this up with the Maybelline Colossal and also using it alone.  I'd still buy it again as it makes my lashes longer.  No patent shine though.

Prestige My Biggest Lashes mascara

• Used this time and time again when I needed knockout lashes and it still works.  I have to remind myself that 2 coats is the magic key.  I'd still buy it again.

 Clearasil Pore Cleansing Pads and Boots Time Delay Balm

• I finished one tub of the cleansing pads and am half way through another.  I won't be buying these again, not because they don't work but because I've found something much better and also that the smell of these is VERY strong.  They're excellent if you have really oily skin and are prone to spots.
• I haven't finished a tub of the Boots balm as I have been using other cleansers but I have three backups which I will get through in time.  If I didn't have them, I'd buy it again.

Urban Decay eye shadows

• I loved these then and I still love them now.  The Illegal shade has been getting some serious love from me recently.  It's nice and matte and is my "my eyes but better" go to shade.  I'm going to incease my collection of these.

Biore Warming Blackhead Fighting Cream Wash

•  This was my lover back then and it still is now.  It's the only face scrub/wash that I've used consistently for more than a week.  I have half left and will buy it again.  The only issue I had with it was the fact that it gave me tiny whiteheads all around my nose..maybe because I used it despite having no blackheads? Anyway, if you do like me and do this, do not fear because I've found a cure..the things I do for you guys!

 MAC paint pot in Indianwood

• I wasn't too happy with how this looked in pics before but assured you guys it looked good IRL..which it did.  I tried it on many times since with varying amounts of UDPP and it just won't stick to my lids.  The colour is gorgeous but I just wish it would stay put! I won't be buying another one of these when the tub is finished.

Boots 17 Bronzed and Gorgeous palette

• Probably my all time fave freebie.  My current HG shadow has well and truly hit pan and I've been using my 17 palette for a while now and I'm loving the goldeny shade in it.  If they brought this out as perm, I'd buy it...or I'd buy £5 worth of products to get it free.

Boots No7 Eyeshadow Colour and Contour brush

• My thoughts on this brush are still exactly the same.  It's the shizz.  It's fluffy (but not too fluffy), it helps you blend like a pro and because the hairs are white, you can tell how much product you've picked up.  I'm buying it again when this one fails me.
  

Anatomicals Help the Paw hand cream and Badger Balm

• Nearly finished one "packet" of handcream and the Balm has well and truly finished.  Glad I bought backups of the hand cream, the sweet smell hasn't put me off yet!  I'd buy the Balm again too.

L'oreal Telescopic Explosion mascara

• I said I wouldn't buy it and honestly, I don't think I would.  It smells funny (this coming from a girl who has both the Colossal and Stiletto) and it made my lashes really really hard.  I wouldn't call it HG as I have Prestige for that so my opinion stays the same.