Influenster UK Max Factor VoxBox

Influenster concept you have seen springing up across social media sites and blogs lately and having been a US based online community it is now here in the UK. The concept is quite simply those people who have signed up to become members can post reviews of products they’ve tried, as well as being able to try products that they have been sent and you can sign up too.

To take part you simply need to sign up, and fill in some mini questionnaires as well as linking all of your social media profiles which will then give you a ‘social score’ and obviously the more you have, the better your score will be. Once you have completed all of the questionnaires, Influenster UK will then choose those members who qualify for their campaigns and my first campaign is the Influenster UK Max Factor VoxBox.

My first box arrived within a matter of days of singing up and one of the first things you have to do is be willing to share a photo of the products within the box on your social media channels with specific hashtags, fully disclosing that the products were sent free of charge by Influenster to ensure there’s 100% transparency on the origin of the products. All of this is detailed on the Influenster homepage and upon the accompanying leaflet within your box.

Within my first box there are two Max Factor lip products; the Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick, the Max Factor Honey Lacquer and some boxes also got the Max Factor Colour Elixir Universal Lip Liner, but this didn't feature in my box.

Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick  – Chilli £7.99

I haven't tried a lipstick from Max factor is quite some time, so it was nice to see a lipstick within my box. I have shade Chilli which is a crimson shade and it has gold flecks within the formula. Max Factor state that the Elixir Formula contains a 60% blend of skin emollients, conditioners and antioxidants including vitamin E, Shea, Avocado and Aloe Butters as well as antioxidant White Tea. The Colour Elixir lipstick works to actively moisturise and smooth the lips.

I didn't think I would like this shade as at a first glance it looks too red for me to wear, however. upon application, it is more of a deep berry red which I can just about get away with wearing and the gold flecks within the formula add lovely light particles to the lips. It glides onto the lips with no fuss and once on the lips, which it coats incredibly well, the pop of colour is really quite something. If Chilli isn't the shade for you, then there are another 16 shades for you to choose from. These lipsticks come packaged within a gold plastic rectangular case which has a clear base so you can see the shade of the lipstick. Priced at £7.99, I think the Colour Elixir formula is really impressive and worth trying if you like your lipstick to be pigment rich, smooth and creamy.

Max Factor Honey Lacquer - Floral Ruby 9.99

I loved the sound of this product before I had tried it. Max Factor claimed it was 3-in-1 Lip Lacquer which has 3 lip benefits in 1 product. The first is the intense colour of a lipstick, followed by the shine of a gloss and then finally the feel of a soft balm. 

Within my box I have the shade Floral Ruby, which is not a shade I am comfortable wearing but do appreciate just how stunning it is. Packaged inside an elongated tube with a gold lid and inside the long but narrow doe foot applicator which is perfect. Floral Ruby is the brightest red shade and it is incredibly pigmented, you need no more than a swipe across the lips for a pop of colour. What I like is that the gloss isn't too thick and nor is it sticky or tacky on the lips and the glossy shine is so pretty and perfect for those who are not a fan of the matte trend.

I have loved being able to rediscover Max Factor with these two products and I have since purchased another Lipstick and Honey Lacquer in different shades, so watch this space!

To find out more information on the community, head over to their website and get signed up (here) so you could perhaps be considered for their monthly campaigns, and be able to try free beauty products.

I would love to know if you’ve tried any of these Max Factor lip products?

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise

Oud Milano comes to the UK

A few weeks ago I was invited to a press event with Oud Milano. Oud Milano, if the name doesn't give it away, is an Italian brand who have opened a brand new flagship store in the heart of the West End here in London and you won't miss it on Oxford Street if you are walking by.

Whether you like lipsticks, eyeshadow, foundation, bronzer, nail polish, mascara, creams, applicator tools and scents, there is literally everything right there to play with to find your perfect shades, products and new look. I was given a selection of products to play with after the event and I thought they would be perfect for sharing on my blog. The first thing is the incredible packaging - sleek, chic and mirrors the decor of the store, a clever idea!

The first product is the Oud Milano Primer - Flawless Beauty. On the skin, this is one of the most lightweight primers I have used, there is no heavy silicone-like feel to it and it is almost as though there is nothing really there.

It has a light peachy tone to it but applies to the face like a dream and has no scent to it, which makes it all the more appealing to me. Oud Milano state that it is thanks to the presence of precious elastomers which minimises skin imperfections, on my skin, it doesn't work to conceal the redness, but it does help deal with any excess sebum thanks to my combination skin. Flawless Beauty retails for £35.

Then I have a Eye Shadow Compact in shade 321. Oddly none of the 30 shades have names, but are instead referred to as a selection of numbers and are available in either matte or pearled versions.

Shade 321 is a warm chocolate brown shade which is infused with gold flecks and it is sheer but buildable, which I like in an eyeshadow. Easy to use and with little fall out, this is a great everyday shade and it fits well within my 'I am a neutral eye' kind of girl, but if it is bright and bold that you want and prefer, trust me, the neons are incredible! Priced at around £20.

If lipstick is your thing then again Oud Milano has an abundance of types to try - a gloss, a liner, a balm, a stick or what is referred to, and the one I have, a Lip Colour.

Essentially a Lip Crayon and again with no name just a number, which in this case is 302, it is a bright, almost Barbie pink, not my kind of shade but the texture is something to talk about. Incredibly creamy and smooth, it glides onto the lips and delivers a pop of colour, it has a sheen to it and makes your lips feel as though you have actually applied a balm and not a lipstick. There are ten shades available and they are priced at £19.05.

The final makeup item that I have is a Kohol pencil in shade 201. Eyeliner isn't my most sought after product and it is something that I use occasionally, so I always have a pencil to hand. Shade 201 is a dark brown eyeliner shade rather than black, so it immediately appeals to me much more than usual.

It applies with ease and is quite a smooth creamy textured pencil, so it doesn't feel as though you are dragging it across your waterline or lash line. There is a black shade available alongside two beautifully stunning blues and each one retails for £9.53.

Saving the best product until last, well for me anyway comes something that is a first - The Crazy After Shower Raspberry Powder. In short it is a sparkling loose powder for the body. I have never tried anything like this before and I was literally like a Child in Toys 'R' Us at Christmas because it is such a fun product.

When you spray it, out comes a plume of white powder and within that power is a lot of glitter and it gives your skin a really lovely glow, now I am not talking covered from head to toe, but there is enough so that you can see a bit of a twinkle. A perfect product for the summer when the sun is out in my opinion. The scent of Strawberries and Cream is also pretty lovely, sweet and scents the skin really nicely. Priced at £20.11 it comes in two other scents which are Vanilla and Raspberry.

There are many many more products to be sought out form Oud Milano and the store is just beautifully laid out and worthy of the visit. The staff are lovely, knowledgeable about the brand and there are just one or two products which might surprise you!

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

He won’t propose? Drop some hints!

If he hasn’t proposed after a couple of years of living together, sometimes it can feel as though your relationship is stagnating slightly. You’re ready and waiting for him to pop the question, but it seems like he hasn’t even thought of it — so why not drop a few hints to your man so that he knows that you’re truly ready to become engaged and wear the perfect engagement ring.

Angelic Diamonds are here to help! Here are some of their best tips to make sure he’ll be proposing with the perfect engagement ring in no time.

Make sure that your married friends are always close by

Try to make sure that you and him are hanging around your married friends, or family members that have children, so that he experiences more serious relationships other than your own. This will make him realise that you’re comfortable with him being around others in more serious relationships. 

Even though marriage does have its ups and downs, this could be said of all relationships. Demonstrating this commitment through your friends will help him to understand that you’re who he wants to be with. Although men who have parents that are divorced sometimes struggle to trust this commitment, replacing negative feelings with positive ones in this type of environment may help to bring him around to your way of thinking.

Make sure you’re a go to guy

Relationships can become boring when you’re constantly in your assigned roles and doing the same things for one another, never fall into a routine. To avoid this, make sure you’re always his go-to guy as well as his girlfriend. If you’re constantly being left behind for the guys, then this is going to put a strain on his ability to propose and take you seriously. 

Like his interests, and share your interests with him, so that you can do more things together rather than apart. If you can be part of his whole life, rather than just someone he spends time with, then he’ll feel like you’re indispensable. Once you get to this point in your relationship, then he’ll feel like proposing, as he can’t spend his time without you!

Try and show some tough love sometimes

Being cruel to be kind can be really difficult, but when it pulls off it can really work. If you don’t see your relationship heading in the right direction, and things are flatlining, try and find his pulse again by telling him you may move out. 

Without being dramatic about it, why not spend more time with the girls or situations where he will miss you and want to know how you are doing? Although he knows that you’re always there for him, this will make him feel that he isn’t being as included as he should be, and he’ll start to wonder why. Keeping him on his toes in this way will make him realise that he needs to put the effort in (by proposing!) so that he can get your undivided effort and attention in the future. 

Always be open and honest

If you want to be in a successful relationship, then communication is always key – no amount of hints and tricks will completely make up his mind. If you want to get engaged, then why not talk to him about why it’s important to you. 

On the basis that he knows how much you mean to him, and how much he means to you, then your relationship is bound to end in happiness. Sometimes people have the same fears and doubts within a relationship, but they are just too afraid to address them with each other. By talking about your future together, he’ll know that you want to be a part of it. By giving him that gentle nudge in the right direction, you may just be engaged before you know it. 

*this post contains a paid for link

bareMinerals Unwrap Complexion Rescue Kit

This purchase is a case of 'The Blogger made me do it' versus 'Curiosity got the better of me' and it is not something I regret doing. The bareMinerals 3 Piece Complexion Rescue Kit is an introduction to the brand for me and until this, I had never tried anything. So off I went to Debenhams, forever the store that never lets me down and went to the counter and had a really good browse through the products. What I loved about this is the no pressure approach for sales and when I had finished, there was someone willing to talk me through products, what I wanted to achieve and what I did and did not like. At no point was I given a seat and within 3 minutes I had a full face caked with makeup.

So in the end I settled with the three-piece Complexion Rescue Collection. Described as being a kit which helps to create a smooth and flawless base, the kit comes packaged inside a lovely soft beige pouch and contains:

• 1 x Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream SPF30 (35ml) 
• 1 x Complexion Rescue Mineral Veil Finishing Powder (6g) 
• 1 x Mini Smoothing Facial Brush 

When I was shown how to use Complexion Rescue for the very first time I was wowed by it. Think BB and CC cream all in one, it is that clever and is described as being a tinted moisturiser it gives a sheer to medium coverage and it has an impressive SPF30. 

What I do love about this product is just how lightweight the texture when applied. It glides onto the skin effortlessly and has a cooling feel that evens your complexion. At the heart of this formula are marine botanicals, which work to replenish the skin with quenching care, mineral electrolytes to energise, and heart-leaf globe daisy to protect against oxidative stress. 

The Complexion Rescue Mineral Veil Finishing Powder is also a great product and one I have been using constantly. The loose face powder is completely translucent and again lightweight on the skin. 

What I love is that it gives a really light natural coverage and at the same time works to minimise not only the pores, but also any fine lines you might have. Add to that its ability to absorb excess oil it gives the skin UVA/UBV protection and brightens the appearance.

The final product inside the pouch is a bareMinerals Mini Smoothing Face Brush. This dual fiber synthetic brush which provides control and diffusion for a soft, smooth application. 

The dome-shape design blends seamlessly for an airbrushed effect. A really lovely inclusion into this set.

For an introduction to a brand, for me this bareMinerals kit is just a brilliant idea. I paid around £25 a few months ago for the kit which is a third of the price it would have cost me had I bought all three items at full sized offerings. This way I have been able to use the products in my own time, at home and have been able to put them to the test as well as making a decision as to whether or not I want the full sized products.

Have you tried bareMinerals before and have got any recommendations?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise