Click and Make-Up Beauty Blog

Wednesday

These may just convert me back to 'up do's'...

Spin Pins were on my US-wishlist for ages before I picked up them up in Miami last November . I'd didn't expect a lot from them, but have been pleasantly surprised. My hair is notoriously hard to keep up - because it's so silky, ya know? But these do the trick, and if the bun does work loose, you can get it re-fastened in a matter of seconds. They're proclaimed to do the work of 20 grips - I've never had 20 grips in my hair at once, so can't comment - but they are pretty handy to carry in your purse for an emergency up-do.

These pics don't really do the Spin Pins justice, I had just had my layered, and so there are random bits of hair sticking out - but if your hair is all pretty much one length, these are a very good option for an effortless up do. I don't mind my bun looking a little scruffy as I tend to just put my hair up when I'm at my desk at work and need my hair out of my face to get down to business.

Boots is selling them for £4.99 for two (I paid $6.99), so at least they've done the decent thing and at least tried to honour the exchange rate mechanism! While I wouldn't rave about these as I don't personally wear my hair up much, if I was that way inclined they would be a must-have piece of hairstyling kit.

Enter my Sigma Travel Brush kit giveaway HERE.

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Tuesday

My Holy Grail Toothpaste

A few weeks ago I attended the launch of this Oral B Pro-Expert toothpaste and it's become my firm favourite - so much so that it's going into my Holy Grail hall of fame, and I'm lugging the big tube on hols with me instead of my regular travel-sized paste, even though I am normally a stickler for space saving, mini products.

This isn't any old toothpaste - I've tried practically every one on the market, but never Oral B (I wasn't aware they made toothpastes). It is a blue gel formula which is slightly gritty to begin with. I like this sensation because it feels like it's really cleaning my teeth and tastes like dental products you use at your dentist. It's not a drippy gel, so it works very well with electric toothbrushes, and particularly my Sonicare.

We grilled Dr. James Russell (from TV's Embarrassing Bodies) about the merits of Pro-Expert - I was particularly concerned by his description of the paste being 'gritty' as too often, whitening toothpastes are actually just very abrasive in order to remove staining, but in the long run, damage tooth enamel. However Pro-Expert has chemically removes staining and the grittiness comes from the process whereby for the first time, Oral B boffins have been able to fuse stannous flouride (which we need to strengthen our gnashers) with their polyphosphate system, another vital ingredient, and as the bonded particles breakdown, the grittiness subsides. This combination delivers across eight key areas of teeth care: cavities, gums, plaque, sensitivity, enamel, tartar, surface stains and fresh breath.

I'm the kind of person who keeps at least four brands of toothpaste hanging around in my bathroom - Sensodyne, Beverly Hills, an Aquafresh can, Colgate Oxygen, you name it...but once these are all finished I'll only be needing one tube of this Oral-B good stuff. Streamlined bathroom and happy teeth! Ever since I whitened my teeth a couple of years ago I've been obsessed with maintaining the whiteness, and Pro-Expert is the perfect solution.

I've paid the best part of a tenner for toothpastes which promised the world in the past and did not deliver at all, so the most joyous thing about this one is it's only £3.49, a total bargain.

*PR samples provided for review

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Monday

Primark Make Up Sale Haul

I've found some pretty decent bargain make up bits at Primark, so decided to try some I'd had my eye on for a while when they went on sale...looking at them all together now I realise that they're all highlighters of some sort! Nothing like a bit of fake cheekbones...

These balls are in no way blusher - they're far too pale even for my NW15 skin. They make a pretty good highlighter, although they're a bit chalky. I like the novelty of the balls.

Again, these little pink hearts are touted as 'blusher' but they're more like Benefit Highbeam in powder form. You can use them as a very pale blusher I suppose, giving the effect of a very shiny MAC Well Dressed.

This wasn't in the sale, at £2.50, but at least it's accurately described as highlighter. I love the twisty packaging. For some reason I forgot to do swatches. This one gives a much more subtle effect than the previous two, but with the right brush it give a nice pale golden highlight, in the vein of NARS Albatross.

I'm very into pale, frosty eyeshadow at the moment, and this pencil is so easy to just swipe on in the mornings. However I also use it as an eyebrow highlight.

Have you picked up anything in the Primark make up sale?

Check out my Primark Accessories Haul over at PortobelloPearls.blogspot.com ...here's a sneak preview:

Enter my Sigma Travel Brush Kit giveaway - CLICK HERE

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TopShop Make Up - The Love Affair Continues... (very pic heavy)

This time last year if you told me I'd be obsessed with TopShop make up I would have laughed you right off my blog...my first impressions were so bad, I hated the packaging and didn't see any stand-out products. The Cream blush Flush changed all that...

I really regret buying NARS Portofino Multiple instead of Orgasm, but I found a pretty good dupe of it in Luminescence...

£10 instead of £29? Yes please.

It was about time I expanded my TopShop blush collection, and Head Over Heels fits the bill perfectly. £6.

Left: Head Over Heels, Right: Flush

I already have Dragonfly and Coal, so Bolt and Petrol allow me to add a nice pop of colour to my normally neutral eyes. Bolt is particularly nice as it's more navy than blue, so it doesn't look tacky, but the whites of my eyes appear brighter. £4 each.

Left: Petrol, Right: Bolt

Above: Bolt

Below: Petrol

My friend gave me this highlighter as she found it too glitzy for her. I'm not sure I would have purchased this myself, but I'm sure I can make it work!