The Search For The Perfect Eyeliner : B. Dramatic

In the makeup and beauty world, everyone is looking for that Holy Grail product, that product that you put on your face (or hair, or body!) and just think..."This is it." For me, as I feel a bit naked without it, it's eyeliner. Gel, pencil, liquid, whatevs. So here lies the beginning of a new quest for Nikki Rocks, the search for the perfect eyeliner.

Spoiler. This isn't it...otherwise this would be a really short quest. Like Lord of The Rings condensed into 2 minutes. (Actually, if someone had condensed LOTR into 2 minutes for me I could have 327 hours made to watch it of my life back. Anyway, I digress.)

This claims to be a "long wearing felt pen eyeliner which provides bold precise strokes in a single sweep."

No.

Just...no.

I have so many issues with this eyeliner it's not even real, mostly because when I swatched it in my local Superdrug it appeared to be the blackest black eyeliner of all black eyeliners. Then I actually put it on my eyelids. (Not the tester, cause that would be gross, I obviously bought it to try!)

Please excuse the fact I look about 80.

First of all, it is so so so patchy and you CANNOT fill in the gaps. It's not even the way of a cheap eyeliner that it flakes off if you try and go over it, it just doesn't fill in! So that rubbishes the claim of a "single sweep" and it isn't precise in the slightest due to the fact that nothing comes out of the tip, you have to try and hold the tip parallel with your eye but it means that if you're trying to get a really precise cat-eye flick, it's just not going to work.

To give Superdrug's advertising some semblance of credit, it is long wearing. I have oily eyelids and this doesn't transfer at all which is great as I find this really hard to combat, so this might be suitable if you just like a little definition along the lashline, but if you're like me, and bolder is better - this ain't the one for you.

Recommendations of what to try next would be much appreciated!

1 Month Today!

It's the 15th today which means my little blog is officially 1 month old! Yay!

My first Topshop makeup purchase!

Okay, so I know Topshop makeup has been around pretty much longer than I have, but as it's not somewhere I go in very often, the makeup's just kind of passed me by. Until today. I say that with a sigh as now, now I'm an addict.

How Armour appears on the lips

I was in with my friend, and as the clothes don't really interest me (no size 18's. Really?) I wandered over to the makeup to check it out and stumbled upon this little beauty. This is one of their regular lipsticks in the shade Armour, priced at a reasonable £8. It's described on the website as being rose gold in colour and I'd agree. I usually avoid frost/metallic finish lipsticks like the plague but something about this one just sang to me when I swatched it on the back of my hand so I bought it.

I usually associate frost finish lipsticks with the 80's and that horrible gritty feeling on your lips but this glides on so smoothly. It's so soft and creamy, so on the other hand, you'd think it would wear off quickly? Nope. Had it on for 3 hours and it's not moved. I've not eaten mind you, and I think after that, reapplication would be required but I wouldn't mind that.

More Topshop lippies required? Hell yeah. ANOTHER makeup brand addiction? Need it like a hole in the head, but I'm doing it for you guys! Or that's what I keep telling myself!

What's your favourite Topshop lipstick shade? Any recommendations?

N x

You can purchase Armour on the Topshop website

Essence XXXL Longlasting Lipgloss Review

So recently I went to a shopping centre I don't normally go to and discovered it had a Wilkos, which I don't have anywhere near me , so decided to go on a little Essence haul! (£45 on makeup of which pretty much nothing costs over £2...oops.) 

One of the first things I went for was the lip products as I am a lip product junkie obviously! I really enjoy the different types of lip creams that are popular at the moment so I though I would give these a try in the shades Velvet Rose and Silky Red.

These feel lovely on the lips, really soft and creamy and so moisturising, unlike other matte lip creams. The red is slightly more opaque than the pink and that's probably the only issue I have with them is the opacity. As you can see, I've applied them here without lipliner and they're quite sheer, so I would suggest a lipliner underneath. I pair the red with the Illamasqua lip pencil in Fiesty and the pink with the Rimmel Exaggerate lipliner in Eastend Snob and I find they go well together but obviously you can try anything you like.

The one thing I love about these lip creams (they're called a lip gloss...but they're not glossy...) and it makes them an absolute dream to apply, is first of all the applicator. When you take it out of the tube it looks like a normal doe-foot applicator but it has a little lip on it so it hugs your lips perfectly. Secondly, the taste and smell is the best of any lip product EVER. I know that's a bold statement, but all I need to convince you is three words. Costco. Birthday. Cake.

There's not a wide shade range of these, only 5 shades but there's definitely something in there for everyone.

Have you tried these? Do you have any other Essence recommendations?
N x 

MAC "Cyber" lipstick

So after saying "I'm not much of a MAC girl", my second ever make-up review here is a MAC one. Go figure. 

As soon as the weather drops below 10 degrees here in Glasgow I'm all about the dark lippy. This means I wear coral for a week in June, but we'll talk about that in June. After a quick review of my makeup stash I decided I wanted some new shades, more specifically something from MAC. I initally was going to go for "Rebel" but on seeing "Cyber" I totally fell in love. 

This is a really deep purple and I'd say it has no berry tones in it at all. It's described by MAC as "an intense blackish-purple" and straight after first application it definitely is, but as it wears through the day it shows more purple in tone. I think perhaps this may be down to the finish, which is Satin.

I love the formula of this lipstick but it definitely does not last well, even with a lipliner so reapplication is needed. I don't mind this but I know for some this is a downfall. Overall, it's a lovely colour and finish so I'm a happy camper. 

If MAC is out of your price range then there's a few alternatives I've found :

Collection Gothic Glam in Scorned

Revlon Super Lustrous in Va-Va Violet

Sleek True Colour in Mulberry

Are dark lipsticks your thing? What's your favourite colour for this winter?

N x

MAC Select Sheer Pressed Powder

What's this? A makeup review?

When it comes to makeup, I'm actually not much of a MAC girl, but recently I was in Selfridges with some friends and I was looking a little shiny, so I decided to pick this up for a touch-up before going out for dinner. 

This powder comes in the classic black MAC compact with a handy little powder puff and mirror. The packaging also clicks closed, which is great for keeping it secure if you want to just throw it in your bag to touch-up during the day.

This powder is described on the MAC website as "micro-fine, sheer and silky" and comes in 13 shades. I selected shade NC15 as a total guess and it's a good match and not too yellow. I tend to go the whole hog when it comes to face makeup and this powder works really well for setting everything down and locking in my foundation. I have quite oily skin but this wears well throughout the day (usually about 4 hours which is about the most I get from any powder really!) and doesn't separate or look cakey after reapplication. Coverage is very light, so if you're looking for something just to control shine and even out skintone, then this is one for you. I suggest starting with a concealer for blemish-covering because this unfortunately ain't going to get it done. It blends beautifully when applied with a brush and I'd say that for me, the shade is spot on. 

For my first MAC face product I'm pretty pleased! I wouldn't exactly rush out and repurchase if I ran out but I would definitely advise everyone to try it out for themselves!

Have you tried this powder? Let me know what you think?

MAC Select Sheer Pressed Powder available here for £20.50

Yankee Candle Chocolate Layer Cake Review

Another day, another candle review! I told you, I really do have a problem.

This candle was one I ummed and ahhed about buying because it's only available in the large jar size which is £19.99. I normally only buy the little wax tarts, or, if I'm feelin' fancy, one of the small jars but in my local Yankee store I was informed that it's limited edition and I knew I'd regret not picking it up!

This is described on the Yankee Candle website as "The scrumptious layering of cocoa and chocolate mousse" and I couldn't agree more. I was worried that when burning this would be seriously sickening but it's actually so subtle and lovely. It makes my whole living room smell like dessert! I have nothing more to add on the actual scent as it does smell exactly like chocolate cake. The thing I love most about this candle is that it lingers, all throughout the day it's been sitting on my coffee table unlit and I still get a little whiff of chocolate every now and again which is so pleasant when I'm sat working on my laptop.

Chocolate Layer Cake is available here for £19.99

Will you be indulging in this scent? Let me know what you think if you do!

N x