First Light Cosmetics Review

I was recently sent a few products from First Light Cosmetics. I got to choose what I wanted which I think is a bonus as sometimes companies can send you a shade that isn’t suited for your skin tone.

First Light Cosmetics are a company that sell 100% mineral make up.

First Light say: “First light products are completely natural and 100% free of the chemicals and preservatives that are used to “fill out” many other cosmetics.”

“And Our minerals are not only free of all the nasty stuff, they are also healing and caring, hypo-allergenic, noncomedogenic and protect from the effects of pollution and sun damage with a natural level of SPF.”

Sounds pretty good!

I’ve also noticed that you get more product with First Light than other mineral brands, which is always a plus! Mineral make up can last for a good amount of time as you need so little, and with First Light giving you more, it’ll last you even longer, so you’re definitely getting your money’s worth.

The products came in this gorgeous pouch (Produced by disadvantaged women. First Light are committed to “helping women in economically disadvantaged parts of the world to develop their own commercial enterprises.”) Which I think is a thoughtful touch. You know how we all like pretty packaging!

The first product I chose was the Perfect Finish in Air Kiss. I’ve wanted to try a product like this for a while so this was a definite must have!

First Light claim: “Made of the finest, lightest minerals, our “Perfect Finish” powder gives the airbrushed effect you've been waiting for! Dust over your make up to perfect your look & keep in your handbag to keep the shine off all day long. Perfect Finish works by absorbing excess oil and reducing the appearances of pores, imperfections and fine lines. It can also work as a foundation if you want a more transluscent look.”

“Air Kiss: A perfect transluscent finish suitable for all skin tones.”

My thoughts: If a product claims to make me look flawless, my ears perk up and listen closely.

Here is the before and after photos: (I'm sorry for the messy hair.. and genetics :P)

Bare face, with Perfect Finish. The after photo looks lighter, I'm not sure whether this is the lighting or the product (A bit of both I presume).

I chose Air Kiss because it’s a product that will suit all skin tones.

I haven't noticed a great difference to make me go 'Oooh' and 'Ahhh' but I think it's slightly evened out my skin tone. It's similar to a normal powder, evening and 'smoothing' out your skin.

I haven’t tried ELF’s version of this ‘perfect finish’ powder so don’t know if it is any better, but with ELF you get 17.8g of product for £5 and with First Light you get 10g of product for £12.99, which is a significant difference (£8 less + 7.8g more with ELF’s version.)

Next up is one of their blushers in Kohilo. I know, I know, ANOTHER pretty candy pink! As if we need anymore! But I couldn’t resist; candy pinks lure me in as they’re just too darn beautiful!

First Light claim: “I'll have what she's having!!” Our 100% mineral blusher is as gentle as a breeze, kissing your cheek with silky sheer colour. For a natural, healthy flush that releases your inner radiance!”

Kohilo: “An air kiss of pale shimmery pink for any skin tone.”

My thoughts: Although this is described as ‘shimmery’, don’t be put off. I personally like a bit of ‘shimmy shimmy’ *do appropriate dance move* but this product’s shimmer is so finely milled, it gives you more of a sheen/glow. First Light blushes are priced at £7.99 which I think is a reasonable price as one will last you a long time.

It was hard to capture the colour on camera so I've also included a few 'face' pictures. Again it's not showing how pink this blush is but you can see the glow it gives:

EDIT: A day on and I love this blush ten times more! It's gorgeous! Gives a beautiful glow under or over the Perfect Finish.

Overall, I am really enjoying using these, you get a good amount of product and I love the packaging. Here is the website if you fancy having a browse: http://www.firstlightcosmetics.com/

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Sleek Professional 21 Piece Brush Set Review

Last week I received my prize from a Sleek competition. I was going to use the brushes for a week, wash them and use them for another week but I have fully developed my thoughts on them so I think it's time! I also washed a few earlier today so I can tell you how they hold up.

My camera is playing up so unfortunately I haven't got photos of the individual brushes, but I will soon!

I'll start with the positives: I like all of the small brushes, especially the light brown ones as they're so soft yet dense.

The light brown small concealer brush is perfect for filling in my eyebrows. There is an eyebrow brush - slanted, black and firm but I prefer to use a softer one.

There is a small (Yep you've guessed it, light brown!) rectangle brush perfect for lining your eyes.

The lip brush, also light brown is very handy as it slides in and out of a silver lid, so you can pop it in your bag and touch up throughout the day.

The foundation brush is very soft and firm, making it perfect for application.

Now for the bad:

I really don't like the powder brush and blusher brush; the two largest black ones. They feel quite scratchy (Especially compared to my ELF Studio brushes) and the first time I used the powder brush, it shed three hairs! Since I've had my ELF Complexion brush, it hasn't shed one.

I then washed the powder brush earlier and yet three more hairs fell out (I was extremely gentle with the brush too) but the most horrendous thing about this brush is this:

The colour ran! Can you believe that? As soon as the brush made contact with the water, black water just kept coming out.

This is such a shame because the other brushes are great, it's just these black ones which:

1. Are slightly scratchy

2. Shed hair

3. Turns everything black when comes into contact with water!

Overall, I rate this set as 60-70% positive. I know 30% negative for 2 or 3 brushes might sound steep, but you have to consider that powder and blusher brushes, to me, are the two most important brushes to have in a set.

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The shampoo I'm tempted to eat

Alberto Balsam Strawberries and Cream Shampoo.

Intense nourishment for dry/damaged hair.

This smells exactly like the 'Strawberries and cream' sweets - It's ah-mazing!

I love Alberto Balsam shampoos and conditioners; there are a lot of yummy fragrances, they lather well and are very affordable.

They are usually around a pound for 400ml but occasionally are on offer (3 for £2, 4 for £3..) and at the moment you can buy 3 for £2 in Superdrug.

I also picked up Sunkissed Raspberry Shampoo and Juicy Green Apple Conditioner:

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Beautiful gifts from beautiful people!

One of my best friends, Kelly, made me a bracelet and it's oh so beautiful. Kelly asked me what my favourite colour is and my favourite animal. My favourite colour is blue and I have many favourite animals but I do love elephants.

So today I was presented with this:

How beautiful is that?! It's a slightly lighter blue in real life and has cute silver elephants on it. Kelly is thinking of making a few more and selling them if any of you are interested - I certainly am!

And thennnn, Sarah, another friend gave me these:

She went on holiday so brought a little gift back. These are very simple and colourful, just what I like :)

Thank you so much! I love you guys (Only Kelly will see this as she follows my blog - Hi! :D)

x

Update on my school life, interesting I know ;)

I have no idea what I'm going to write but feel the need to blog! & this is one of those posts where most of you couldn't give a monkey's ass but I like to have a little ramble :)

Ok so, I'm now in my last year of sixth form! Gosh, University is right around the corner.

I've decided to carry on with English Language, English Media and Psychology. Although I love Biology, I'm dropping it because it has so much content, it will take away my time from the other subjects.

I'm going to have to work extremely hard this year. My Psychology results were really poor which really upset me because I answered all the questions with confidence and don't know where I went wrong. I'm a good student in class and do well, but I obviously am doing something wrong in the exams. I'm getting my paper back to see where I went wrong.

I'm going to be paranoid that my teacher will see me as the dumb student from now on.

She also said that normally when students get D's/E's in AS, they normally get E's at A2, but I know I'm better than that.

I didn't revise much for AS because I didn't revise for GCSE's and got A's and B's so I thought I'd do ok. But I know now that I need to knuckle down and get revising months before the exams, not weeks before.

For the re-sits, getting my exam paper back and revision books, it's going to cost around £70.. which I don't have. I'm really going to have to scrape by and definitely won't be able to buy a laptop for school any time soon.

As for University choices... I don't want to go up North. There isn't any particular reason, I know the Universities up there are amazing, I just want to stay down South. In fact, all the Universities I want to go to are all along the South Coast haha.

For most, I need a B in English to do my chosen course (English with Media) but I only need CCD for Falmouth which is reassuring. I'm still going to try my best but it's good to know I have a back up. Falmouth is in Cornwall and is an Art University but they do English with Media. I think the entry grades are so low because it's not a popular subject choice as most people go there to do Art.

So that's it! This was just a ramble to myself to get my thoughts together, thank you for reading, if anyone has!

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My diddy nails of the day.

Boots 17 Fast Finish Nail Polish in Firecracker. I love this colour!

Look how short my nails are! I have really short nail beds. They're like the third of the size of normal nails :( Even when I grow them waayyyy past my finger tips, they look average, but then they break so have to cut them down.

Now I've never used the title 'Nails Of The Day' because I never wear nail polish for a day, I wear it for a week (Hence the titles 'Nails Of The Week') but unfortunately I could only wear this for a day because it chips a lot. I put this on last night and this morning I had 4+ chips :( and I used a top coat.

I'm still going to wear it again because I love the colour orange and every time I wear it, it could be a different story for chipping (Although I haven't done particular much since last night so the story will probably be the same!)

Have a good day :)

x

I don't know what to call this post...

Catchy title I know!

So, for days and days, I get no post.. well except from a Jack Daniels letter with a leather card holder haha BUT today I received two parcels and three letters! My parents received nothing haha.

The letters were: an invitation to a friends 18th, a ring sizer and a letter from a creative artsy University because they have seen from UCAS that I'm interested in creative subjects. Yeah I am, but I don't want to do a whole degree on it! Nice thought anyway Bangor University :)

Ok so a few posts ago I told you guys I won an Accessorize competition. Here is the prize!

(Yes that is a rolled up sock to your right) It's very pretty. It's a little different to what I'd normally wear because I wear short dresses.. doesn't that make me sound classy? haha

Next up is the Sleek competition prize:

Ta daaaaa! So far the brushes are very soft and dense. I will use them for a week, wash them and then use them for a week again before I review them for you guys. Sleek will be announcing soon how much it will cost. I have no idea because when you think that ELF sell 11 brushes for £38.50 and this set contains 21 brushes.. but I don't think it'll be that expensive and it'll probably work out cheaper than buying the brushes from ELF.

Thank you for reading! :)

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