MUA Undress Me Too Eye Palette (UD Naked Dupe?)

Like the majority of the Beauty Blogger world, I have been lusting after the Urban Naked Naked Palette since the moment my eyes meet it's beauty whilst blog browsing last year. The only thing that has prevented me adding it to my collection is it's hefty price tag. At 30 pound it's not the cheapest of eye shadow palettes and not everyone has the money to fork out on such a product. 

But hold your horses! Before you run off into a corner to cry about the lack of Naked Palette in your life, why not try a budget alternative? 

Meet MUA's Undress Me Too Palette. Now MUA has never been one of my favourite makeup brands. I can hear you all screaming 'WHAT KIND OF BEAUTY BLOGGER IS THIS WOMAN!?'. MUA has been a much raved about budget makeup brand since the beauty bloggin' world was created, but I've never personally seen the hype. Do not get me wrong, I've never been a snob when it comes to makeup and I love a bargain just as much as the next folk but my love for MUA has never been ignited (possibly because of my CRAZY dislike of their lip products). 

That is until I acquired this gorgeous palette. The only products I've really liked from MUA were their shadows and this set is no exception. When I was given this palette in a recent beauty swap I couldn't wait to give it a try. I'd heard some rave reviews about it and had sadly not been able to get hold of it in my local Superdrug (*sobs*) so was more then ecstatic about it's arrival through the post. The first thing I really noticed about this palette was just how versatile it was. As I'm either at college or work most days of the week, I like to keep my day look's simple and demure. The neutral shades in the Undress Me Too are just so wearable for everyday and allow you to create the most simple of looks. 

The shades within the palette include Naked (a light nude/yellow toned colour which is great for highlighting), Devotion (cooper golden brown), Shy (pearlescent nude/creme), Fiery (shimmery dark bronze), Lavish (light toned brown), Dreamy (dark, shimmery brown), Tranquil (shimmery, light brown), Exposed (grey hued shimmer), Reveal (pearlescent taupe), Wink (shimmery Mocha), Obsessed (dark expresso shade) and Corrupt (black matte). As I have quite dark brown eyes, brown shades are a massive love for me. I love the way that these shades can be used to create a more smoky, shaded look or even a matte shadow with a defined crease (was it just me that laughed at that last part?). 

The fall out for this product isn't the worst I've ever experience was it not great. I use my FCUK shadow brush and a blender brush, pressing the shadow into the lid rather then swiping. I still, however, feel that I am left with slight fall out from the darker colours within the palette, which is one of the most annoying things about a shadow due to the fact it often leaves you having to re-do your concealer/foundation. The staying power of this shadows are acceptable. I find that the lighter shades literally have the staying power of a buttered fly especially Shy which creases within the first few minutes of application. The darker shades however, particularly Obsessed, Dreamy and Wink have long wear. I find they do not crease throughout the day and would probably have even more staying power when applied after eye shadow primer. I have to say I was a little disappointed with the pigmentation of the matte shades within this palette. Lavish and Naked have little pigmentation and are not as true to their shade as I would have liked. However, the more shimmery shades such as Devotion, Fiery and Tranquil apply really nicely and are great for creating a more defined brown eye.  

I did swatch the shades for you below but it isn't the best lighting in the world. As you can see, these shades are really simple and understated which really help to create that 'barely there' makeup look. Overall, I really enjoy this palette. It helps me to create an everyday look perfect for spring. I have yet to try the Naked Palette so I can not say exactly if this is a great dupe for Naked, however, for 4 pound, this set of shadows are a great price for such a good product. Their shades are VERY similar to those found in the UD Naked Palette, Shy being a great dupe for Virgin and Tranquil a dupe for Dark Horse. The palette itself is also a lot more versatile and functional. It's small and secure enough to pop into your handbag on the go and fit's into my dressing table snug as a bug alongside larger palette neighbours. I still would LOVE to get my hands on Urban Decay's Naked but feel that MUA's Undress Me Too is a great substitute for those who want a bargain and can't defend spending 30 pound. It's a great price for a great product that I feel a great deal of you will LOVE. You won't be disappointed with this perfectly neutral palette. 

Let me know if you have tried this MUA product yet and how you compared it to the UD Naked if you have tried both! I'd love to hear your views. 

Georgia 

oxo

Max Factor's Clump Defy by False Lash Effect Mascara Review

I just wanted to say a massive sorry to you guys for leaving it SO bloody long to write a post! I've been super busy with college recently and have been having a really shit time in the last few weeks. I'll tell you guys more about that at a later time, for now though, let's talk makeup!!! 

Now mascaras are always one of those beauty products that are hard to get right.  I'm pretty sure many of you will agree with me when I say that the epic perfect mascara search has been the bane of my life. Years have been spent trying to find that mascara with the ideal formula. But it isn't very often you find a mascara that has everything going for it. It seems there is always something that has to let it down. However, I believe I may have found that PERFECT mascara that all of us have been dreaming off. So without further a due, please welcome, MAX FACTOR'S CLUMP DEFY!

Now you are all probably thinking, 'wow Georgia, bit late on that band wagon' but it isn't the first time I've tried a Max Factor mascara. Three years ago I was introduced to the beautiful predecessor that is the 'False Lash Effect' mascara by Max Factor when I 'borrowed' it from my Mum. I honestly feel in love from the moment I swiped that baby across my naked lashes. The formula was just fabulous. Not too thick yet thick enough to create amazing volume and length whilst keeping the dreaded 'spider leg' lashes at bay. However, the False Lash Effect, which has been a staple of my makeup bag for many year, was recently replaced by it's younger and fresher sister. Now what I love about the Clump Defy first and for most is it's ability to really create luscious lashes with only one coat. That's right my lovers, A SINGLE COAT! 

It's one of the things I hate most about the previous mascaras I've tried. 

Now don't get me wrong, a second coat of mascara never did anyone any harm and I often put on a few coats before a night out to create that extra va va voom. But with many mascaras I have tried in previous years, the second coat can often leave you with clumpy lashes *sob*. That's also the great thing about this mascara! During the day, one coat creates enough volume and length to really open the eyes and create a natural yet wide awake look. As evening sets upon you, a second coat can be added and you have enough volume for a night on the town without the hassle of using a pair of falsies. This mascara is so versatile. I love the fact it works well with so many different makeup looks. I also really love the wand that comes with the Clump Defy. While the False Lash Effect's brush was rather dense and hard, the Clump Defy uses a more sparse spoon shaped applicator, which catches all your lashes with the first sweep. The formula is also a lot less thick, which means that less of the mascara's wand picks up less product. I find this means that not only less product is wasted, but it also prevents the formula was gunking up (if that is a word) the wand. This also prevents clumpy lashes which I found was a problem with the previous False Lash Effect as the wand would often clog up with extra product. 

Overall I just love this product. I've always been a massive fan of Max Factor and trusted their high quality products. This product is defiantly a staple mascara for any makeup bag. It's one of these products that would be hard to fall out of love with and I just feel like Max Factor have really pulled it out of the bag with this one! It's defiantly my favourite mascara of all time!

£10.99

http://www.boots.com/en/Max-Factor-Clump-Defy-Volumising-Mascara_1294933/

SO have you tried this product yet? Let me know what you thought in the comments below! 

Georgia 

oxo

My BAD Bio-Oil Experience.

Bio-Oil is one of those beauty products that seems to be continuously present as time goes by. It's been called 'the magic oil' by the likes of Kim Kardashian and Rochelle Humes for it's ability to banish wrinkles and stretch marks. I was looking for an inexpensive skin oil I should use to replenish my skin and keep it hydrated during the night, as I felt my skin was started to really hydrate during my sleeping hours, meaning I woke up with dull and drab skin. Bio-Oil promises to hydrate skin and ACTUALLY says it can be used on the face. So, for 6 pound, I thought Bio-Oil would do the trick. I started using it about 3/4 days ago. I would use it after moisturising in the evenings and would massage it into my skin for full impact before settling my head down for the night. 

The first few mornings, my skin actually looked great! My blemishes were a lot less noticeable and my skin seemed a lot brighter. Then, on the Friday night, I started to feel a burning sensation about my lips and on my chin. It felt like my skin was on fire and really tight, which really worried me as I'd never had this problem before. The next day, which thankfully I had off college otherwise I would have cried, I found my skin was a dark brown/red colour up both sides of my face, primarily around my t-zone and my skin resembled that of a reptile. I have never in my life experienced such dry and damaged skin on my face. My face burnt for the rest of the day and no matter how much moisturiser I applied to the area, it still felt dry and sore. The only product I could really connect to my skin change was Bio-Oil. I had been using some new Simple products BUT I have used this products in previous years with no trouble, so I can definitely write these out!

I decided I would research a little bit more into Bio-Oil and any side effects that could be present with it's use. I found out that Bio-Oil actually contains a great deal of chemicals.

Botanicals

Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract (Calendula Oil)
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil (Lavender Oil)
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil (Rosemary Oil)
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil (Chamomile Oil)

Vitamins

Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A)
Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E)

Oil base

Paraffinum Liquidum
Triisononanoin
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Isopropyl Myristate
Glycine Soja Oil
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
BHT
Bisabolol

Fragrance (Rose)

Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Amyl Cinnamal
Benzyl Salicylate
Citronellol
Coumarin
Eugenol
Farnesol
Geraniol
Hydroxycitronellal
Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
Limonene
Linalool

Colour

Orange: CI 26100 (Red 17)
Pink: CI 26100 (Red 17) and CI 60725 (Violet 2)

An ingredient that really stuck out for me was Benzyl Salicylate, which is a fragrance additive and UV light absorber, primarily used in perfumes and hair dye. This ingredient is scientifically proven to cause dermal irritation. I found this bit of information when researching into the product:

The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) has restricted its use in fragrances because of the potential sensitization and allergic reactions. In Europe, it is listed as an “allergenic” substance and the European Cosmetics Directive requires OTC leave-on products to indicate its presence, even at concentrations of .001%.

I also started to think, how can an oil get rid of scars and stretch marks. When you think about it logically, a scar and stretch marks appears when the dermis (which is the deep, thick layer of skin) is damaged. This is why scars are usually so hard to get rid off as they are when the body forms new collagen fibres to mend the damage. These new fibres create the scar tissue which appears on the skin. Now, if this damage and the scar tissue's source is within the dermis, a product has to be very penetrating to get to to this layer of skin. It also must have some kind of drying and abrasive effect which allows the scar tissue to be broken down (which can usually only be accomplished when the first few layers of skin peel off which allows new skin cells to renew). Our faces are made up of natural fatty acids and oils which when lost can expose our face's to skin damage and dryness. My theory here is that Bio-Oil is not as natural or demagogically safe as it would like to make out it is. I CERTAINLY don't believe it should be put on your face is it's primary use is to rid you of scar tissue. 

I'm actually really upset with the damage this product has done. Thankfully for me, I found an amazing face cream by Superdrug called Vitamin E moisture cream which I have been using morning and night over the weekend in order to help my skin heal and I've got to say it's really working. However, my skin is still very dry and damaged. It's still sore and feels almost burnt. I also found out from a friend and a few other bloggers that the same damage has happened to them after using Bio-Oil on their face. I don't know if this is an allergic reaction to something in the product OR one of the ingredients of this product has reacted badly to my sensitive face but I know this oil is to blame. 

Please let me know if you have EVER experienced a similar problem with Bio-Oil as I really want to know if I'm one of the only ones to have a bad experience with this oil?

I will be keeping you updated on the healing of my skin!

Thanks 

G

x

P.S. Sorry for the grim pictures! I wanted you to see the real extent of the damage! 

Pearlys Magic Dazzle Dust (Weekly Brighten Powder) Review

I'd always dreamed of having the Hollywood smile since having my braces taken off last year. But as a student on a part time wage, this was only ever a dream. That was until Pearlys dazzled their way into my life. You may have seen the Pearlys range while rummaging round your local Boots but if you have not yet had the pleasure of knowing who they are, I'll inform you! 

So Pearlys is the UK's premier provider of in-clinic and at-home teeth whitening treatments. Although the company is primarily based in London, they have a number of stockists and clinics nationwide, so wherever you may be, you can treat yourself to a set of beautifully white nashers. Pearlys are the brand that celebrities such as Mark Wright, Alexandra Burke and JLS put their trust in to keep their smiles looking beautiful, so it's quite clear to see this is a brand that can be trusted. After a few weeks of following the brand on Twitter and seeing the raving reviews their home whitening kits were receiving from customers, I decided to get in contact with the team at Pearlys and see if they could send me any products to try! 

A few days later, I received the company's 'Magic Dazzle Dust' in the post! The brightening powder which gives you the same sparkling clean you'd get from your local hygienist! The powder is very easy to apply and I got to work using it almost immediately, desperate to see what difference the product could make. Now my teeth are in a great condition as I was always taught by my mum that mouth hygiene was of the upmost importance, so I never thought that a deep clean would make that much of a difference, but this product really does leave your teeth feeling squeaky clean. The product should be dipped onto a wet tooth brush, focusing primarily on the teeth rather then the teeth and gums. You should brush the product in for around 2-4 minutes depending on how much of a deep clean your teeth need before rinsing your mouth and admiring the new polish. After using this product for the first time, I saw a difference straight after using the product. It felt like a deep clean at your local dentist and I could see that my teeth, especially the top row, were a lot brighter then previous to using the product. I've been using the product for around 3 weeks now, once or twice a week and can feel a massive difference. I'm so impressed with the level of customer service I also received from the staff at Pearlys. I feel like they are definitely a company I can trust with my teeth and I'm looking into having my teeth whitened with them in the near future! 

If you haven't tried any of Pearlys products out, you can find their products stocked at the local Boots or you can contact them through Twitter to find out where their nearest clinic is to you. With affordable at home kits and experienced staff, I just think this company is really great and hope to see a lot more of them in the future. 

Overall I'm really impressed with this product and will definitely be re-purcashing some 'Dazzle Dust'!

Give it a try and let me know what you think! 

http://www.pearlys.co.uk/

http://www.pearlys.co.uk/pearlys-products/ 

Pearlys Weekly Brighten Powder – £12.50

EDITED: A few readers have pointed out the fact that Pearlys may not be working within the new EU guidelines surrounding teeth whitening. New legislation says that only registered dentists are allowed to prescribe and provide 6% hydrogen peroxide. Non-dentist can only supply 0.1 hydrogen peroxide.

Pearlys actually supply most of their teeth whitening ingredients to licensed dentists. 

Here is the disclaimer regarding their EU Safety Certificate which can be found on their website: 

Pearlys provides products to both dentist and non-dentist teeth whiteners.

Pearlys dentist-only products include 16% carbamide peroxide (which is equivalent to 5.33% hydrogen peroxide) and are only sold to GDC registered dentists. By law, the first application of this product must be made by the dental professional, after this first pass the patient may continue to use the products provided by their dentist at home.

Pearlys non-carbamide/non-hydrogen-peroxide cosmetic whitening products may be provided by both dentists and non-dentists. The Daily-Whiten Foam, Whitening Pen and Syringes of Whitening Gel  contain the active ingredient sodium perborate 0.16%.

All Pearlys cosmetic products comply fully with the EU legislation click on the links below to view the EU Safety Certificates.

EU cosmetic safety certificate Pearlys Teeth Brighten Powder

EU safety assessment Pearlys Teeth Whiten Foam

EU Safety certificate Whitening Gel in Pen & Syringes

The whitening gel that is used in Pearlys Whitening Pens and Whitening Syringes provided with Pearlys Professional Teeth Whitening Home-kits is the same gel. The original EU Safety certificate did not spell this out and so we have had an additional EU Safety Certificate produced here:

EU Safety Certificate with Whitening Pen & Whitening Syringes in the title

This shows that the company do comply with the law and are professional and safe in their actions. 

Thanks 

G

x

25 Random Facts about Me.

I haven't been able to post as much as I would like these last few weeks as I have had a LOT of trouble with our internet provider, BT! Thankfully our internet is now fully working so be sure to check back on the blog weekly for new blog posts! 

Since it may take me a few days to write up all the posts I was meant to write about my new beauty products, I decided I'd do a fun, personal post today!

My good beauty blogger friend, Amiiee from the Blog, Amiieeism posted this '25 Random Facts' tag earlier on and I just knew I wanted to have ago myself! I have not been tagged for this post, but I thought it would be a great way to share some personal information with you guys, so here it goes! I hope you enjoy learning a bit more about me! 

1. I'm currently a Creative Media student at a local college.

2. I'm hoping to study Media Production at Salford University in September.

3. I'm a self-confessed shopaholic who finds it hard to go a week without spending money! (I'm literally the worst saver ever, which I'm hoping Uni will help me with!)

4. I sometimes have anxiety attacks and worry about the silliest things!

5. I aspire to be a TV/Radio presenter as well as a Director.

6. I want my first media production to be an independent British Film. 

7. I sometimes believe I was born in the wrong era and I'm 100 per cent sure I should have been born in the 80's! 

8. I adore 80's music and fashion (my favourite bands being The Smiths, The Cure and U2)

9. I have an undying passion for fashion due to it's ability to act as an extension of a person's personality (it allows people to express themselves and their interests)

10. I have a brother called Elliot, who can often be found messing around on my Youtube channel. 

11. I am a Youtuber. Check out my channel, GezzieeTbh for vlogs and comedy sketches. 

12. I get bored really easily and I often wish I could change this element of my personality. (This includes getting bored of

 routines, hobbies and even people! :/)

13. I tend to suffer from low self-esteem which in turn makes me a bit depressed. (I often find I can't leave the house without makeup and feel shit when I'm not wearing it)

14. I LOVE independent films due to the dynamic stories and emotions that can be conveyed through them! (I also love the creativity of them and how relatable they are!) 

15. I can talk for England, literally! 

16. I'm very opinionated and stand up for what I believe is right! (Which often gets me in a bit of trouble!!)

17. I have MAJOR girl crushes on Lana Del Rey, Mila Kunis and Penelope Cruz. 

18. My perfect man would be a guy with a great sense of humour, a nice smile and a kind heart. (Think a dark haired Russell Howard!) 

19. I want to adopt a child from South Korea. 

20. I am literally in love with French Bulldogs and want to have one when I leave home! 

21. I am the 19 year old Virgin! (Because no man will have me ;D AHA ) 

22. I'm terrified of heights to the point where I break down and can't breath if I have to go up an escalator more then 3 floors heigh. 

23. I often fancy/fall for guys I can't have. 

24. All I really want from life is to be happy and love the job I do.

25. I was a very interesting child and loved to record my own radio shows on old cassette recorders!

Love G

x

benefit 'It's Potent!' Brightening Eye Cream

Now, I don't know if you guys have noticed this yet, but I'm literally the BIGGEST benefit fan girl ever! The first time I tried a benefit product was 2 years ago when I nabbed my Mum's first buy and I've been addicted ever since. It wasn't until I really got interested in makeup and different products that I really saw what it was that I loved about benefit. 

As you all know, benefit are not the cheapest of makeup producers but they are one of the best. Their products always seems to receive raving reviews and I honestly feel benefit is a product I can trust, hence my decision to put my skin care into their hands. Although I have tried a great deal of benefit's makeup range, I had yet to try their skin care collection. For the last year I had suffered from extremely tried eyes which has in turn gift wrapped me the present of dark under eye circles!! Stubborn little blighters aren't they? I've been trying to rid myself of these ageing features for the last few months with an array of products including under eye caffeine rollers and home made spells to rid me of them. But these sadly left me with nothing but disappointment. So, after reading up about benefit's skin care range, I decided to invest in their 'It's Potent' brighting cream in the hope that it may work a treat. 

I purchased my eye cream from Debenhams for £23.50 but can be purchased online through benefit's own website if you live internationally. 

I've been using 'It's Potent' for about three days now and I can already see a difference. Although my dark circles are still quite visible, my under eyes feel and look a lot smother and more hydrated. My eyes don't feel as tried which is an extra bonus. I use the cream in the mornings, after moisturising and in the evening after removing my makeup. I'm in love with everything this product has to offer. I love the smell of it as well as the way it's packaged. The smell is really fresh and unique and the vintage, faux cord lid really adds this alternative, shabby chic look, looking great in my vintage themed room! 

I personally believe this product is definitely worth the money but many may find the price tag to hefty for something they may not find works for them. Debenhams do sell a benefit six piece skin care set with samples from all of benefit's radiant skincare if you'd like to try their products without investing in one! And it's only 10 pound! 

Overall I really do love this product. It's light yet creamy consistency means it doesn't feel heavy on your delicate under eyes and I just feel like the quality of my skin has improved drastically within only a few days of usage! If your willing to get past the price tag, I'd say it's worth the investment. A good quality eye cream can last you for a good few months! So ban those dark circles and bar those under eye wrinkles with this miracle cream. I promise, you won't be disappointed! I want the moisturiser next! ;) 

Lot's of Love,

G 

oxoxox

Calling all Beauty Bloggers Everywhere!

Hello you beautiful people!

Are you a avid beauty blogger? Would you be interested in swapping reviews and products with other beauty junkies?

Follow my blog and get in touch with me via Twitter or Email if you'd like to get involved! 

@thatgeorgiacoan 

gezzieecoan@gmail.com

I'd love to network with you guys and possibly arrange some swaps of products with international beauty bloggers as well as just chatting to you guys to swap tips and tricks for beauty blogging and makeup/fashion!

Thanks

Georgia 

oxoxo