Are you Sure it's Maximum Protection?

Sure Maximum Protection Deodorant - £5.30

I thought I'd give my two cents on this product.  Having been really intrigued by the mass amount of sponsored blog posts popping up recently, I thought I'd give it a go.  I'm always boiling, and found that high street deodorants to be less than brilliant.  I wondered if my prayers had been answered with Sure Maximum Protection, especially since there'd been so many good reviews.

Pros: It smells really lovely - fresh and clean, rather than 'perfumey'.  It reduces sweating... Which leads on to my main con.

Cons:  It doesn't stop me from sweating, only reduces it.  To me, the marketing of it being 'for anyone who does not want to be held back by perspiration' suggests it effectively stops sweating.  There's nothing on the leaflet that says 'it might not work for everyone' either, which frustrates me somewhat.  The fact that we're only in spring in the UK, and I was using this during our less than sunny weather, suggests that come summer I'll be a sweaty mess.

I'm actually quite underwhelmed by Maximum Protection, which is a real shame!  Normally I'd use Anhydrol Forte in the warmer months, which is easy enough to buy from a pharmacy and the results are incredible... it's also cheaper.  It just doesn't smell as nice as Sure Maximum Protection, as it's a chemical liquid, which was why I was hoping Maximum Protection would work.

Unfortunately I don't think I'll be repurchasing this one!

xx

The Essential Make-Up Brushes

(L-R)

QVS Powder Brush - £5.48

e.l.f. Eye Shadow Brush - £1.50

e.l.f. Blushing, Bronzing and Blending Brush - £1.50

Real Techniques Contour Brush (Core Collection) - £21.99

e.l.f. Eyeliner Brush - £1.50

Real Techniques Buffing Brush (Core Collection)

Make-up brushes certainly require a lot of trial and error.  These are the brushes I reach for every single day, without fail.  On Monday I travelled back up to Manchester for the Easter break from uni, and it wasn't even a question to me which brushes I would be packing!

The most important ones are the RT Buffing Brush, e.l.f. Eyeliner Brush, e.l.f. Blusher Brush (although it needs replacing now!) and the RT Contour Brush.  The Real Techniques brushes are really fantastic; dense, firm enough to hold their shape, soft enough to glide over the skin, and the aluminium casing makes them light to handle too.  Plus, when washed they dry really quickly, which is an added bonus!

The e.l.f. brushes are great for the price - in particular the Eyeliner Brush is so firm that I use it to apply eyebrow wax (but fear it's way too firm for my eyelids), and it's the best brush that I've tried for the job.  The Blusher Brush is definitely on its last legs, but the angle of the bristles make both cream and powder blushes easy to apply, but I think I'm going to hunt for a denser brush next - although I certainly won't find a replacement for £1.50!

The QVS and e.l.f. Eyeshadow brushes I use a little bit less, but for setting powder or applying shadow, I find each brush is perfect for the job.  The QVS brush is huge, but I find that means powder is applied lightly and dusted on, rather than caked.  It very occasionally sheds, but it's not really been much of an issue, certainly not for the price anyway!  The e.l.f. Eyeshadow Brush is the perfect shape for my eyelid, is soft and dense enough to pick up a good amount of product, making the job easier.  It's tapered too, so I find it easy for eyelid crease blending.

I'm a firm believer that good quality products don't have to come with a price tag that makes you feel a little bit sick!  Some high street (priced) brushes are perfect for the job, don't shed and wash well - what more could you ask for?

xx

Sunday Round Up #5

Happy Sunday!  This week's been crazy as usual.  We've come to the Easter break now, which seems like it's much later than other unis - or so my Facebook newsfeed has been telling me for the past 2 weeks, with everyone else boasting about Easter relaxation!  Unfortunately my break will be less relaxation and more work, work, work.  I've got two huge projects to be getting on with and a week of work experience jammed in the middle.  No rest for the wicked, isn't that what they say!?  Even so, I'm feeling optimistic about everything.

I've had quite an exciting beauty week as I've been trialling some new products.  Both are for the face, but do completely different things, so I'll be sure to update on them in the coming weeks.  I've got a feeling that I'm in love with both of them, which is a rarity for me.  Maybe that's why I'm so excited...  I've also been enjoying a glorious (fake) tan this week whilst out with friends; the results are very impressive so I'll definitely be writing about that too.  

My hair on the other hand, despite my best efforts, is beginning to look a little frazzled.  I've been warding off split ends with a potent mixture of products, but heat and environmental damage always catches up with you, unfortunately.  I'm travelling back to Manchester tomorrow morning, so as I've already been given direction from my sister that I'll be cutting her hair at the first available opportunity, she can trim my ends for me as well!

The only sad part about breaks from uni is having to leave my boyfriend. :( He travelled home this morning, and there's a chance I won't see him for two weeks - it isn't very long, but it's always difficult when you live with someone!  As my Dad will be arriving with the dawn tomorrow (only kidding, but I'm on student time, so it feels like dawn) I better start packing...!

xx