2020 || SUMMER SKINCARE WISHLIST

*The images used in this post have been taken from the Cult Beauty website, and are not my own.

I haven't bought any skincare since December 2019, can you believe it?! I have so many unused products put away in the drawers that I wanted to get through before buying new products to try, but I can't help but create a wishlist of a few products I am dying to try! To be honest with you all, I have never tried any of these brands other than a couple of body products from Caudalie which I really liked. I'm hoping that my family members will come across this post and decide to treat me to something nice 😂

REVIEW || LANCOME HYPNOSE MASCARA & LANCOME BONUS TIME - IS THIS THE ONLY TIME YOU SHOULD PURCHASE LANCOME PRODUCTS?

Lancôme is one of the most known and loved high-end beauty brands out there and there is a good reason for it. They sell their Hypnose mascara every 15 seconds across Europe and you can’t blame people for stocking up on this beauty.

I don’t want to give too much away from this review just yet so carry on reading for my opinion on this mascara and whether it’s worth your money.

The packaging:

I believe that the brand is known for its very luxurious and sleek packaging and this product does not disappoint. The mascara handle is narrow on the tip making it easy to grip and manoeuvre for the most precise application. I like holding the mascara by the tip to add on extra volume after applying the first coat.

The wand is quite thick with a lot of bristles for more precise application. The bristles are quite short which allows the wand to get very close to the lash line for a ‘false-lash with liner’ effect.

The formula:

The formula of the Hypnose mascara is different to most I’ve tried before as it applies absolutely beautifully from the first use up until the last, meaning that even when it dries out it still works just as well as it did the very first time I used it. The product doesn't feel sticky, it feels more smooth and creamy to touch (yes, I have touched the actual mascara to check the texture).

The longevity:

I have currently been using the travel size version of it which I received as a part of the free gift with purchase, and I must say it has lasted me nearly two months! I was told that a full-size mascara should be replenished every 8-10 weeks because of the hygiene reasons and best effect but it can usually last me around 4 months with daily use so I tend to pick up two every time they’re on gift! The product itself lasts all day/night long on my lashes and doesn't seem to wear off at all. Having very fair blonde lashes I find some mascaras difficult to cover my full lashes as no products ever seem to reach the roots of my lashes, but this mascara is definitely the best one I have tried so far that gently combs over my natural lash and defines my eyes without clumping.

The Overall Verdict:
Obviously, if you are reading this review then you are already considering whether to purchase the Hypnose mascara or not. Let me make this decision a lot easier for you - BUY IT. Try it out, if you don't like it or feel like it's not doing anything for you then return it back to the retailer, but I promise you that you will not be disappointed with this product. £25 might seem like a lot to spend on a mascara but this can last you up to 6 months which will only make it £4.30ish a month which will actually save you a lot of money as you don't need many coats of the product for the desired effect, but you might go through one drugstore mascara a month which will cost you £10-£12 a month.

Lancome Bonus Time - Gift with Purchase
To be honest with you, I didn't even know what 'gift with purchase' was until I started working in the beauty industry. I always assumed that high-end makeup brands never offered any samples or gifts, so I stayed within my budget and continued to purchase drugstore branded makeup. After finding out about the bonus time I was in shock because you could actually receive nearly £200 worth of free gift just by picking up your favourite products! I know I will most likely only purchase Lancome products when they have bonus time unless I run out of my beloved Hypnose mascara then I will just have to buy it anyway, but I know it's worth every penny!

I usually buy my makeup from House of Fraser in Nottingham as I want to support my friends and their businesses in the store. I believe that Lancome has bonus time twice a year - once in March and once in September. This year was the first year I bought enough Lancome items in one transaction to qualify for the free gift with my purchase. In March I bought two sets of the Hypnose mascara as I know how much I love the product and as the third item I bought the Honey Foaming Cleanser which melts makeup away (it's great).

As a free gift, I received:
- full-size Micellar water £23.50
- full-size Rose Sugar scrub £30
- travel size Hypnose mascara £8
- travel size Genifique serum £11
- sample size Teint Idole Ultra Wear foundation £5.50
- travel size La Vie Est Belle perfume £7
- travel size Absolue day cream £39
- travel size Absolue night cream £45
- travel size lipstick £10

More recently, in September, I purchased a Monsieur Big mascara set, Gel Eclat cleansing gel, and Creme Mousse foaming face wash. This time I already knew that I really liked the honey cleanser and thankfully it was a part of the free gift this time around so I thought I'd try something else.

As a free gift, I received:
- full-size Honey Foaming Cleanser £24
- full-size Hydra Zen Jelly mask £31
- travel size Hypnose mascara £8
- travel size Genifique serum £11
- sample size Teint Idole Ultra Wear foundation £5.50
- travel size Hydra Zen day cream £12
- travel size Hydra Zen night cream £13
- travel size comforting toner £8.50

I really hope that this post has helped you decide if Hypnose if the best mascara for you, I absolutely love it and I can't imagine myself replacing it with any other mascara, but I cannot wait to try the Monsieur Big mascara as this is my Mum's favourite.

Have you tried any of the products mentioned above? Would you recommend any other Lancome items for me to try for my next purchase?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

BEST AFFORDABLE DRUGSTORE DUPES FOR HIGH-END MAKEUP

I cannot be the only person who's on a constant lookout for a more affordable dupe of a favourite product. It all started with my Urban Decay Naked 3 palette, one that I love and use regularly but never want it to run out so when I saw that W7 created a palette with similar shades I had to try it out.
If you have read my review of the UD Naked palettes then you'll know that I think they're slightly overpriced for what you get. On the other hand, the W7 palette is only £7.99 but you can buy it here for only £5.99 which is less than 1/6 of the price for the real thing. The W7 palette is very similar to the UD Naked 3, the shadows swatch nicely and come up quite pigmented on the lid but there is a bit more fallout which is to be expected.

Another product that I've had my eyes on was the Milani Conceal and Perfect 2in1 foundation which has to be the perfect dupe for the Clinique Beyond Perfecting foundation. I picked the shade 05A Natural which turned out to be a lot darker than I thought but it blends lovely when I wear fake tan. One thing I noticed about the Clinique foundation was that it comes in 28 shades, but the Milani one only comes in 16 shades which is a downside to it as it might not suit everyone. The coverage of the Milani foundation is absolutely fantastic, I feel like it sits on my skin better than the Beyond Perfecting foundation and for only £12.95 I cannot fault it at all.

Last but not least, the L.A. Girl Strobe Light Highlighter! I'm a huge fan of the L.A. Girl Pro Concealers so I've been wanting to try more of their products, including this strobing highlighter as it's the perfect dupe for the Jeffree Star Skinfrost in Ice Cold. Being pale isn't fun when it comes to picking the right highlighter shade, so when I saw that L.A. Girl has come out with the brightest highlighter in the drugstore I knew I had to have it. At first it might feel like it's a bit too powdery but once you go in and swirl your brush in the compact you'll see the pigment transfer onto the brush and change your life forever... I have been wearing this highlighter every day for a while now and I must say it is now a staple in my makeup bag and I wear it more than the JS Skinfrost as it shows up more pigmented and stays on for longer.

*This post was a collaboration with Beauty Based and the products mentioned were gifted to me. However, all opinions are mine and always remain honest.

What's your favourite high-end makeup product that you found a perfect dupe for?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || ARE THE URBAN DECAY NAKED PALETTES WORTH YOUR MONEY?

The Urban Decay Naked eyeshadow palettes have been a big hit since the first one came out in 2010, but now with so many amazing and more affordable palettes out there, are they really worth their price tag? I can finally say that I own the first 3 naked palettes and have put them to the test. After lusting over them (especially the first one due to the packaging) for years now, my wishes came true and the makeup fairy gifted me with these three beauties - in this case, my mum turned out to be the fairy.

The packaging:

Like I've mentioned above, I love the packaging of the first palette. It's very unique and you can actually open it all the way around so it's great for travelling. The only thing that annoys me about this one is the size of the mirror  - it's pathetic. I'm the type of girl who uses her palette mirror on-the-go, but using this one I can only touch up my lipstick if I hold it close enough to my mouth! 

On the other hand, the Naked 2 & 3 palettes come in a metal packaging which I really dislike. It reminds me of a very cheap palette that you could buy in like corner shops or something, but they do come with a large mirror and the metal case protects the palette from breaking while you're travelling.

Naked:
I feel like the shades in this palette are great for people of all skin tones and ages. It has a variety of subtle matte shades as well as pigmented shimmers. My favourite shades from this palette are 'Buck' and 'Toasted', which you can use to create a full eye-makeup look using just these two shades. Even though this palette was the first one to come out, it's one of my favourites and was actually my latest addition.

Naked 2:
The Naked 2 palette is a cool-toned shadow lovers' dream. The shade 'Tease' was literally created for me... it's a beautiful transition shade for all skin tones and looks lovely on its own too. I enjoy using this palette but I don't reach for it as much as I'd like to, so I would definitely suggest that you try the colours out in store before deciding on which one to buy.

Naked 3:
Now, I feel like this palette is very girly and versatile. It's great for every-day use, and the shades compliment each other very well. It has a lot of pinks in it, so if you're not a big fan of pink shadows then stay clear from this one as you might not like it. I think the shades 'Blackheart' and 'Trick' are my favourite as they're very pigmented.

If you're interested in more affordable dupes for these then I suggest the W7 palettes or the 'eBay' alternative 1 and 2.

^swatches from the Naked palette.

^swatches from the Naked 2 palette.

^swatches from the Naked 3 palette.


Overall, I found it hard to decide which palette I liked and used the most out the three, but I chose the first original Naked palette. I chose this one because I thought it suited me the most as there are 10 nude shades and 2 silver shades which make smokey eyes a lot easier to create. However, the price tag of £39.50 is way too high for what these palettes have to offer, but I will probably buy the Heat palette as I've heard lots of great reviews of it.

Do you own any of the Urban Decay Naked palettes? If so, what do you think of them?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || LOOK INCREDIBLE BEAUTY BOX UNBOXING & FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Who doesn't love avoid old subscription box? Especially if it includes high end beauty products. Well, I couldn't resist and I just had to get my hands on a Look Incredible Beauty Box a few months ago. I believe, I got this back in April so this post is just a little bit late... But it doesn't mean that my opinions have changed on it.

I liked the packaging, I think the box looked very sleek and classy. What I disliked the most about it was that the logo was stuck on with a sticker and not imprinted - kind of tacky if you ask me, especially as it was stuck in wonky! 

For £18.99 I did not expect anything amazing, but I did receive an £86 worth of makeup so I was pretty happy, even though they're not exactly what I would usually go for but then again, that's what beauty boxes are all about - experimenting with new products.

This is how the box looked like when I opened it and to be honest with you, I was really disappointed that it was packaged neatly and the products bashed about as there wasn't enough tissue paper now bubble wrap. The products themselves weren't that great. The nail varnishes weren't somethings I usually go for so they're still untouched. The brush is quite soft and dense so it's perfect for bronzing my face. The blusher is not that great, I don't like the colour very much as I feel like it's too bright for me and it's quite chalky so it's not the best - you can find it on my Depop here. The Mac patent lip polish is alright, it's moisturise and the colour is pretty but I've only swatched it as I don't know if I'll get much wear out of it (this is also listed in my Depop). And last but not least, the Korres eyeshadow primer - it's a good product but I don't think it's worth £15, I'd rather stick to my Mac painterly paint pot!

Have you purchased a Look Incredible Box before? If so, what piece was your favourite and what did you think of the box as a whole? Would you recommend any subscription boxes?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

Massive High-End Makeup Haul

Good Morning Everyone!

How much do you love hauls? Because I really enjoy reading/watching other peoples hauls, especially high-end ones so I can drool all over everyone's new stuff which will obviously then go on my wishlist!

I have been splurging over a few weeks time so I thought I'll put all the new stuff together and do a big post on my recent buys. Just to clarify, I am not bragging about any of these products and that I can afford them, I work very hard and am very good at my job so I can spend my money on myself. Anyway, let's get to it!

As you can see, I bought a lot of make-up! Many of the products are amazing, some of them I wish I never bought. The total price of these comes up to £372

Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipsticks in shades Breakfast at Tiffany's and Redrum. These retail at $18 in America, however, I bought them off a website called cocktailcosmetics.co.uk for £14 each, which is cheaper than a MAC lipstick and I am over the moon with them! Since taking this picture, I have added another shade to my collection - Celebrity Skin. It is by far my favourite shade.

Illasmaqua Nail Varnish in shade Noble. These are normally £14.50 but I bought it for £3.99 in TKmaxx. Bargain, yess!

Too Faced Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue RRP £17, but I had bought it for £6.99 from TKmaxx.

This is by far my favourite fragrance this summer. I've been meaning to buy this perfume since it had come out but I was hesitant with the price as it retails at £50, but I found an amazing deal for this perfume which was only £27 from allbeauty.com! I've bought about 5 different fragrances off that website now, and I highly recommend it.

Benefit's new summer collection is amazing. I wanted to cry when it first came one, primarily because I knew I couldn't afford the whole collection. However, I managed to get my hands on Dew The Hoola (£23) which is a liquid bronzer, and Dandelion Shy Beam Liquid Matte Highlighter (£19). On the other hand, the blot stick was in my wishlist for quite some time and at only £15.50 I had to buy it.

In my April Favourites, I mentioned that I love Benefit's travel-sized products and got my hands on the whole collection, and I really did mean it haha. Because the skincare range was not available to buy separately I thought that I'd get the whole set for £18 which means that each product only cost me £3!!! I love Benefit's skincare range. Especially the emulsion and eye cream, I have doubles of them because I'm scared of running out! But I thought that the travel-sized ones will be better for my holiday to Rhodes in less than two weeks time!

These were £5 each, however, I got them on offer at Boots 4 for £15 plus a free make-up bag. If the offer is still on I suggest you drop everything you're doing and get some NOW!

Just look how beautiful this bronzer is... Not like I need any new bronzers, with my trusty Hoola and Make-up Revolution palette I shouldn't be buying any more, however, I feel like this one is perfect for the summer as it has bits of shimmer to it and looks beautiful on tanned skin. Will definitely be taking this with me to Rhodes!

Now, for those who like me are MAC junkies. The two collections I've been loving! I got three lipsticks at £17 each, I got Hot Chocolate from the Tribe collection, and Whirl and Mind Control. I also bought two lip liners for £12.50 each in shades Spice and Whirl (I had lost my other whirl pencil so had to repurchase!). I bought my favourite mascara by MAC which is the False Lash Extreme Black Mascara which is around £18/19, and a paint pot in shade Painterly (£16) as I love their paint pots and have heard lots of good things about this particular one. I had also bought two travel bottles to carry my make-up remover and blush cleanser in during my holiday for £4.50 per set. And moving onto the Tribe collection, I bought a blush in shade Mandarin (£18) and a cream colour base in shade Yellow Topaz (£16).

Last but not least, the Bobbi Brown BB Cream in shade Extra Light (£29.50). I was so disappointed with the service I received at Bobbi Brown and the product was even more disappointing :( I had issued a complaint and thankfully I will get my money back in new products. I would not recommend this BB cream as it looks horrible on, but it might have just been on me as my skin is hard to please.

So, did you enjoy my haul? I certainly enjoy using these products! Have you got any of the products mentioned above? If so, let me know which ones in the comments section down below!

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || ESTEÉ LAUDER DOUBLE WEAR MAXIMUM COVER FOUNDATION IN CREAMY VANILLA

Who's still struggling with finding the perfect foundation? Me Me Me!! But not any more. Now that I've found my long lost best friend I am forever happy. This miracle foundation is what everyone with any skin concerns needs. It does its job better than any other foundation I have ever tried - and trust me, there have been many.

I have heard so many good things about Estee Lauder's Double Wear foundations and have decided to try out both of them. I went to my local Estee Lauder counter at Boots and asked for a sample of the normal Double Wear and one of the Maximum Cover. I got given the shades 'Cool Bone' for Double Wear and  'Creamy Vanilla' for Maximum Cover. What I can tell you is that the colours did NOT match my skin tone at all. I am usually NW10 or NC15 in MAC foundations, depending on the type and consistency so I would expect to be similar colours in Estee Lauder but I guess it's just the personal opinion of the staff that work there, as well as the store's lighting.

After long consideration, I decided to purchase the Maximum Cover foundation in the shade 'Creamy Vanilla' as it is the lightest shade in the collection - not very impressed with the shade range, I'm hoping that the brand will consider expanding their shade range for lighter and darker skin tones in the future. And I am very impressed with the coverage it offers. It makes my skin look flawless, slightly orange (yikes) but flawless. Okay, I am exaggerating a little bit, it doesn't make me look orange but it is a lot darker than my natural skin tone so I have to blend it very well which can be time-consuming, or I would apply some fake tan to match this shade. However, you do not need a lot of product for full coverage which I like about this foundation as it is expensive and will probably last me for a year. A little goes a long way!

You can see here how dark it actually is and I only put the smallest amount on the back of my hand! I would say a pea-sized amount would be enough to conceal acne and scarring on my face (not saying that you need to do this). The consistency is very different from all the foundations I have ever tried. It is very velvety and smooth and almost like a cloud?? I cannot explain the texture of this foundation but it doesn't feel like you have any on your face after application so it's very good for people who wear heavy make-up and dislike the feel of it. I forget I'm wearing a full face of make-up when I use this foundation! 

Overall, I am very pleased with this product as it truly is a lightweight and very full coverage. A little goes a long way, meaning that one tube should last around 6-12 months even with daily use. Sadly, the shade range isn't great but hopefully, you'll be able to find the closest match to your skin tone. Sometimes I mix it with my NW10 studio fix foundation as it's too light for me at the moment. A girl can never win... but it's a definite 9/10!! YAY! - Estee Lauder has since updated their colour range and has added a few new undertones too.

If you are looking for a foundation that's similar to this one without breaking the bank, then have a look at the comparison between these two foundations.

Have you tried any of the Estee Lauder foundations? What did you think?

*This post contains affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

Good Afternoon Beauties!

So, recently I discovered the amazing Tmart online shopping website and couldn't believe my own eyes over the deals that they have! I've previously read about Tmart on other blogs and thought 'hmm maybe I should try it!'. I wasn't too sure at first whether I could trust the site as it includes ridiculously low prices and the delivery is free?! But I was persuaded by all the amazing reviews I've read online.

I bought quite a few things, but this item was the first to arrive as the rest was shipped from around the world. As you can see below, this looks like the authentic naked 2 palette by Urban Decay which costs around £37. This palette cost me £5.20!!! I was just as shocked as you guys! 

This is the palette in the original box. It looks 100% authentic and nobody would know that this is a dupe. As you can see, the box is a little bit creased on the right hand side and has glue from the promotional code sticker on the front of it from where I tried to scrub it off!

Here is the palette taken out of the box. It has a dint in the top right corner but I'm not too bothered about it as it was so cheap, otherwise I would have sent it back and asked for a new one.

Here's a picture of the eyeshadows. Nearly all are the same shades as the real Naked 2 palette, besides a couple which are slightly different. They all have the same names as the real palette. The brush included in the palette is very soft and firm at the same time. Very good for contouring.

This is the back of the box which shows all the eyeshadow colours, ingredients and the use-by date.

Lots of love,

Maya xo