Review ||| Benefit Boi-ing Industrial-Strength Concealer

I've had a couple of requests to review the Benefit Boi-ing Concealer so of course I was going to! One word for this product = love.

Let's get the negatives out of the way first. I bought this in America for $20 which equates to around £12 which is slightly cheaper than what it retails for over here in the UK which is £17.50. Now, I don't usually like to pay this amount of money for a concealer just because I feel like drugstore ones are just as good. What usually sucks me in with higher end products is the luxurious packaging which, lets face it, this product really doesn't have.

Yes, the cardboard box is cute but the actual concealer is contained within a standard plastic circular pot where the lid spins off. So it really wasn't the packaging which sucked me in on this one. It was the amazing reviews I'd read about it and the fact that it has won awards! I had to find out for myself what the fuss was about.

So, quickly stemming away from my negative opinions on the packaging! The actual formula is a thick yet creamy consistency which I find needs minimal blending considering how thick it is. It is SO pigmented and is a very heavy coverage - I guess the whole 'industrial strength' thing makes sense!!

It covers any blemishes or dark spots PERFECTLY with only a small amount of product needed so I can see this concealer lasting me a long time. Like seriously, I may even still have this in the year 2020. I got mine in the lightest shade (01) just because I have pale skin anyway and I find the palest shades always brighten up my under eye circles. I always recommend buying concealer in a lighter shade to your foundation.

It has quickly become my new favourite concealer and I truly recommend you try this if you are looking for a wonderful concealer and you don't  mind spending a bit more on something that will last you ages.

Love Leah x

PRODUCT REVIEW | KAT VON D STUDDED KISS LIPSTICK

After watching Kat Von D's make-up line being reviewed on various you tube videos, I was SO excited to have a nosey at the line myself when I was over in America. This was serious business. I love Kat Von D and her fearless attitude to appearing how she wants to in terms of her tattoos, her style and her often heavy make-up. I was excited. Reeeeally excited.

I played around with the testers for a good half an hour swatching every lipstick and her tattoo foundation. I was so tempted to get this as well but as it covers tattoos (I tested it on my own tattoo so I can confirm that it does completely cover tattoos) I didn't really want such a heavy coverage on my face.

I settled on the shade called 'Motorhead' which, if I remember rightly, was the second darkest shade. If you're gonna get a Kat Von D lippy, you may as well follow in her footsteps and go dark right?!

So let's start with the packaging. It came in a lovely black box similarly to the MAC lipsticks however, in my opinion, the packaging is better quality to MAC. As the lipstick range is called Studded Kiss, the box itself was subtly studded as you can see here:

I thought this was a really lovely effect - you can tell that Kat has gone all out in the production of these lipsticks even down to the packaging. So, following with the studded theme, can we just take a moment to appreciate this amazing lipstick packaging?!

I just love it. It's so unique and I can't stop holding it! Yes, I realise this is really weird but c'mon, just look at it! There clearly has been a lot of thought into the manufacturing behind the packaging and I feel like it really reflects Kat Von D's image and the rocker/goth vibe about her. 10/10 for this!

The shade is a little scary for me personally. I think it would get a lot of getting used to if I were ever brave enough to wear it and to be honest, I wasn't expecting it to be that dark on the lips. However, that doesn't dismiss the fact that I do love the colour. I'm just unsure if it suits me! It is VERY matte and can be a little awkward to apply due to this - as you can see in the follow picture, I've not been able to perfectly apply it but without a lip liner I don't think I've done too shabby!

Finally, the scent is pretty much identical to that of MAC lipsticks. Anyone who loves that gorgeous vanilla smell will love the scent of these lippys!

Has anyone else tried these and if so, what is your favourite shade?

Love Leah x

NEW YORK MAKE-UP HAUL + US vs. UK PRICE COMPARISONS!

As a self-declared make-up junkie, going to America meant taking advantage of the much cheaper make-up available out there! A girl I got talking to in Sephora even said herself that the UK has to be one of the most expensive countries for beauty related products. This definitely made me cry a little inside! So here's what I picked up in America along with the prices I paid, what price they sell for in the UK and the savings I made!

Top row: 

MAC Sheertone Shimmer blusher in  'PeachyKeen' 

US price - $22 (around £13)

UK price - £18

Saving - £5

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette

US price - $54 (around £32)

UK price - £37

Saving - £5

Benefit The Porefessional 

US price - $31 (around £18)

UK price - £24.50

Saving - £6.50

Urban Decay Primer Potion

US price - $20 (around £12)

UK price - £16

Saving - £4

Second row:

MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in 'RubyWoo'

US price - $16 (around £9)

UK price - £15.50

Saving - £6.50

Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in 'Motorhead'

Unfortunately this isn't available in the UK yet but I paid $21 (around £12)

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks

US price - $27 (around £16)

UK price - £19

Saving - £3

MAC 168 Brush

US price - $35 (around £21)

UK price- £27 

Saving - £6

Sephora Pro Brow Brush

Again, this isn't available in the UK but I paid $15 (around £9)

Sephora Mineral Powder Brush

Not available in the UK but I paid $24 (around £14)

Origins Eye Doctor Eye Cream

US price - $36 (around £21)

UK price - £28.50

Saving - £7.50

Bottom Left: 

Anastasia Eyebrow Gel in Clear

US price - $22 (around £13)

UK price - £16.50

Saving - £3.50

MAC Studio Fix Powder

US price - $27 (around £16)

UK price - £21.50

Saving - £5.50

Bottom Right:

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer 

US price - $20 (around £12)

UK price - £17.50

Saving - £5.50

MAC Studio Fix Fluid

US price - $27 (around £16)

UK price - £21.50

Saving - £5.50

TOTAL SAVING - £63.50

I really hope you enjoyed this blog post! Let me know if you want me to do any reviews on the products mentioned!

Love Leah x

10 Things I Did In New York City

On 25th July, my Mum and I ventured off on a seven hour flight to New York for my 21st birthday - and what an amazing time we had. Here's ten things we got up to:

1. We saw Rock of Ages on Broadway. Four rows from the front, we had such a fun night and listened to the cast sing and dance to various rock songs (my fave genre) throughout history. It was so much fun and so entertaining - the cast were all fabulous and I would definitely recommend this show to anyone who loves rock music and getting involved!

2. We also saw Wicked on my birthday night. Differing from Rock of Ages, this was in a huge theater so we were at the front on the first tier. Again, I'd really recommend this show but Rock of Ages slightly tipped it for me just because of how much fun it was and how hilarious it was. I had wanted to see Wicked for ages though and already knew all the songs (haha loser) and it definitely didn't disappoint.

3. We went to the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building and my god, did my legs know about it. They went to absolute jelly which I do feel slightly stupid about considering how amazing the view was. You could literally see over every skyscraper in Manhatten all the way to the Statue of Liberty. Luckily it was such a clear, beautiful day as well so the view was really breathtaking and something I will always remember. That image is definitely not leaving my head any time soon!

4.  We also went to the Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center) only we did this at around 10pm at night so we got to experience the view of NY lit up for miles and miles. It was such a beautiful view and I really did love seeing what a mad place NY is in terms of how many skyscrapers there are! Again though, legs were absolute Jelly. I guess I've learnt a new fact about myself though - I'm not brilliant with heights!

5. We went to Madame Tussauds. Now you can go here in London but I've never been and the NY version I imagine is very different to the UK one as they had significant people from American history in that famous clay form which was really interesting along with all the pop stars, sport stars and film stars. Half way through the tour there was also a 3D film to watch featuring the likes of batman, the hulk etc which was a lot of fun too! I'd definitely go back here and recommend going!

6. We hopped on a water taxi down to the 9/11 memorial. No words can describe how heartfelt and emotional it was to be there after witnessing it happening on the TV yet I'm really glad we went. It meant we could truly get an insight into what happened on the day by talking to  people who were there as it happened and pay our respects to those who lost their lives. It was on my mind for days after and still is now which I see as a good thing - their memory lives on.

7. We saw the Statue of Liberty - a strange experience after seeing it so many times on the TV or online etc. It was really cool to see and of course, hundreds of pictures were taken!

8. We did a touch of shopping on Fifth Avenue! I'm not talking a lot of shopping, after all it's the most expensive Avenue in New York! We did have a little shop in Michael Kors though and I was lucky enough to be bought a watch from there for my birthday. Maybe one day I'll be able to splurge in Tiffany's! A girl can dream!

9. We went to Grand Central Station. This place was so crazy with people rushing all over the place to catch their train! We went in the afternoon so I dread to think how busy it would be in a morning! It was a really interesting place though and we got to learn all about the architecture through an audio tour along with how many people use the station. There was also a market there - in a station! It was a million miles away to the stations I'm used to at home!

10. Last but not least, we went to Central Park. That quieter place away from the madness of rushing people and tooting horns amongst the skyscrapers. It was lovely really with people on bike rides, running, horse and carriages, people on their lunch break and people just watching the world go by! You have to go to Central Park if you go to New York just so you can say you've been - or is that just me?!

So there's ten things we got up to! I certainly had the best week ever and fell in love with this crazy city. I definitely am aiming to go back there in the future. 

Here's a few little snaps:

Water Taxi on the Hudson River

Grand Central Station at Whispering Gallery

Overlooking Times Square

View from Empire State Building looking slightly nervous!

Hanging out with Lady Gaga

Mammoth breakfast pancakes!

Love Leah x

Update, New Blog Name and Lost Followers!

So as I'm quite the technophobe, I somehow have lost all my blog followers from Bloglovin' :(

I think this is because I changed my blog name so if you could follow me again (if you want to that is) then that would be fab!!

Silly Leah for messing with things she doesn't have a clue about!

So my new blog name is Lashes and Curls - slightly less mundane than Make-up, Hair and Fashion! I love this new name and think it fits well as if I had to pick two things I like about myself then it would be my crazy curly hair and my long eyelashes which I luckily inherited from my Dad.

So there we have it. Just a little update. So gutted about losing my followers though. I guess it's because I changed my link to my blog so lesson learnt!

Thanks for reading

Love Leah x

What Have I Just Smelled?!

I just had to blog this straight away! I'm literally like what on earth have I just figured out?! The start of the story is always good so here's a basic overview. Recently when over in New York I purchased the Origins Eye Doctor eye cream. I'd read nothing about it but heard lots of positive reviews about the Origins brand in general. I was in desperate need of a moisturizing eye cream that could help with the dry skin on my eyelids and so, the girl in Sephora told me that this would be perfect if I only wanted it to moisturize. For a price of $36 it wasn't exactly cheap so I had extremely high hopes for this product even if it was at a cheaper price than you'd find in the UK (in the UK it retails at around £28.50 and in the US it works out to be around £21.)

So, now the interesting bit. When I came back to the UK, I began using this on my first night back. It's in the cutest little pot and feels really soothing on the skin but I couldn't help but notice the smell! At first I could smell the cucumber which it claims to contain but after continuously smelling the pot, I came to the realization that it actually smells like stale cigarettes??? Wait, what? Surely this can't be right!

Over the past few nights I have continued to apply the cream before bed and low and behold, it definitely smells like stale cigarettes. Not exactly the most heartwarming smell right?

I don't know if anyone else has noticed this smell and I actually feel stupid for writing this but I wouldn't write something unless I was 100% positive it was what I thought. 

Please let me know if anyone has tried this cream and what they think of the smell?

Love Leah x

CONCRETE JUNGLE WHERE DREAMS ARE MADE OF!

New York, New York, New York. What can I say about this bustling metropolis of gigantic buildings, swarms of people dashing about left, right and centre and eccentric bright lights scattered all over the place? One word - amazing. I can even stretch it to three words - a different world.

I have always dreamt of visiting this city and until recently, I never really knew why I was so desperate to visit.  I figured the skyscrapers would make me feel claustrophobic, the amount of people would make me feel anxious and I imagined the fumes would make me feel sick. Some of this appeared to be true. I did feel anxious aimlessly wandering around Times Square on the Friday evening we arrived - being surrounded by hundreds of people who were pushing and shoving wasn't my idea of a good time! I just realized that Times Square was to be avoided at night time if you wanted to come out with all limbs attached! That being said, we did arrive on a Friday evening so the busy-ness was kinda to be expected and when visiting Times Square again the following morning, I fell in love. The gigantic billboard screens of advertisements, the booming music coming from shops, the famous red steps, the rows of yellow taxis like you see in movies - everything just got me like wow.

As for the vast amount of skyscrapers which you definitely couldn't escape, I didn't feel claustrophobic in the slightest! I was in awe looking up for hundreds of feet at these man-made masterpieces towering over everybody thinking 'how on earth did they build something that high?!' Going up the Empire State Building made me realize that New York really is a concrete jungle (props to you Alicia Keys) and has to be one of the most amazing cities in the world. 

We saw two shows - Rock of Ages and Wicked - both of which were fabulous and lived up to their high expectations! And of course, who goes to New York and doesn't go shopping?! 

I had the most amazing birthday visiting all the sights of New York and would do it all again in a heartbeat.

Haul to follow!

Love Leah x

View from the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building!