REVIEW || GIORGIO ARMANI LUMINOUS SILK FOUNDATION

I'm sure that all of us would have heard about Giorgio Armani's Luminous Silk Foundation - the rave about it coming from beauty gurus such as Jeffree Star etc. I just had to buy it and try it out for myself. Is it worth the hype? Is it worth the high price tag of £37? Read on to find out...

I don't owe a lot of high-end foundations. I've always been going back and forth to my favourite Rimmel Match Perfection foundations or the trusty MAC Studio Fix, but when I heard so many positive reviews of the new Giorgio Armani foundation I went ahead and bought it as a birthday treat last month.

I really love the packaging. It screams 'sophisticated' and 'expensive'. It looks gorgeous on my desk, alongside the matching primer and my MAC lipsticks. As soon as I opened the box, I had high hopes for the product. I chose the shade '02' which I believe is the lightest shade available, well it was the lightest one when I was buying it anyway.

The colour match is perfect for me. It's not too pink yet not too yellow either, giving me a nice colour to my pale skin without being too dark - I do need to blend it down my neck slightly but I have to do this with all foundations so no biggie.

The coverage, ha, it states it is medium coverage however I think it's more of a light to medium coverage if anything. It applies on smoothly but I've noticed it moves around a lot when I try to blend it with my beauty sponge. I don't know if it's my skin and the redness or whether it's the actual product but I find that it does not conceal much. I feel the need to use a lot of concealer in places I need it, whereas when I use my Loreal True Match foundation I don't need to use a lot of concealer at all...

I think it lasts a full day without smudging or separating, it doesn't oxidise and it sits well on the face.  However this might be due to my setting spray, but my skin does tend to get quite oily throughout the day so maybe a luminous foundation is not the best one to wear haha. I will continue to use it every day and see how I feel, but I think it will suit me better in the summer as it has a beautiful glow to it, and at the moment I feel like I need a little bit of extra coverage to my skin.

If you're a fan of Giorgio Armani cosmetics then check out my review of the Light Master Primer.

Overall, I rate this product a 7/10.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Have you tried this foundation? If so, what did you think of it?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || BOUX AVENUE UNDERWEAR - WHAT TO WEAR ON VALENTINE'S DAY WHETHER YOU'RE SINGLE OR TAKEN - TREAT YO'SELF

Who can exist a great offer on some pretty underwear? Not me! On my recent visit to Birmingham (Clothes Show Live) I had to pop into Boux Avenue did I not? Especially when I saw the offer '3 for £12' in the window!! I sprinted faster than Usain Bolt into the shop and started picking out some pretty thongs.

I love lacy underwear, it makes me feel so powerful as a woman and instantly improves my mood. I chose these colours as I thought they're best for Winter time (Yes, I choose colours according to seasons ha ha silly me..). I love the feel of the material, it's super silky and smooth bearing in mind it is made out of lace and stretchy material.

I usually go for a size 10 and have also done this with these pairs, but I thought they looked slightly bigger than they should have been - maybe they are true to size and I'm suddenly a size 8?! A girl can wish...

I feel like they come up way too big for the size, so I would suggest to go one size down at least because of the stretchy material - you don't want your bits jiggling about if you know what I mean.

I received amazing customer service by a lovely student who chatted with me for a while and complimented me on my makeup! - how nice is that?! She actually thought I was a makeup artist! Surely compliments don't get better that this?!

I also managed to see one of the loveliest people again - Abby whom I've worked with before! She's an absolute star and I love her to bits!

I was offered a VIP membership card which is only making me want to go all the way back to Bham just to buy some lingerie and receive points 🙄🙄 is that cheeky to say?? Oh well, I don't care! The knickers are lovely!!!

I really hope they will open a Boux Avenue store in Nottingham soon - I am getting so itchy just thinking about the pretty lace and mesh patterns!!!

What do you think about Boux Avenue? Have you tried any of their lingerie or PJ's?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

2016 || DECEMBER FAVOURITES

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Toner - £17 

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Perfume - £91

Urband Decay All-Nighter Make-up Setting Spray - £23.50

MAC Star Trek Highlighter in Luna Luster - £24

December was an amazing month for beauty products. I managed to get hold of some great items which are all high end, but are they worth the high price tag?

I haven't tried many Kiehl's products before but after hearing some of my favourite bloggers - including Emma - rave about them, I had to buy something to try out for myself. I decided to pick up a toner, as I always buy the Clean&Clear one which I love but I feel it's too harsh for my skin type. My skin is dry in some places and oily in others so I thought I'll try the oil-free toner to use daily. I love the smell and consistency of it. It feels like it's gliding onto my skin making it feel fresh and plump. I definitely recommend it to those who have combination or oily skin, if you have a dry skin type the go for the original toner as I've also heard some pretty good reviews about it.

One of the items I asked for last Christmas was the Black Opium perfume as I've been lusting over it ever since it came out two years ago. It smells amazing and I couldn't pull myself to spend so much money on a fragrance, whereas my parents were struggling on what to get me so I thought I'd ask for this beauty! Oh boy, I am not disappointed at all - it smells divine and I can wear is as an every-day scent as well as in the evening.

The Urban Decay setting spray has been so hyped up by so many bloggers including Jeffree Star and Nikkie Tutorials, so I finally decided to get one and try it out for myself. I find that it sets my makeup well and makes it last longer, however it's not as hydrating as I was hoping for it to be. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great product but I was expecting slightly bit more from it for the price. I do like the new design of the packaging though and know for a fact that I will be repurchasing this product!

Last but not least, the Star Trek for MAC limited edition highlighter in Luna Luster is a-m-a-z-i-n-g!!! It's great for those who love to collect LE pieces, as well as enjoy a natural glow to their face. This highlighter isn't as blinding as I was hoping for it to be, but it's still very beautiful and great for an every-day makeup look.

What did you love last December? Have you tried any of the products I've mentioned?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || ARDELL DEMI WISPIES FALSE LASHES

I used to be obsessed with big, full lashes but now that I'm more experienced in the beauty industry I prefer a more natural look. I've tried many falsies before and have usually been pretty happy with my purchase until I bought these.

They feel so soft and the lash band is very thin, making the application process easy AF. I love that you get a Duo glue included in a set as I really do think it's one of the best false lash glue out there.

As it states on the packaging, the lashes are very lightweight - I honestly could not feel them on my own lashes, they didn't weigh them down either which is also a plus. The size of the lash band is also quite good as I did not have to trim it down when I usually do when I buy cheaper lashes i.e. Primark's sultry lashes.

I first came across Ardell 5 years ago when I was looking for false lashes to wear to my prom. I got some gorgeous human hair ones with glitter on the lash band for an extra special look. I really enjoyed wearing them and have been seeing the Demi Wispies around social media a lot recently!

I got these on offer from Boots I believe, I think they're buy one get second half price, so I'd say get them while they're cheaper because not only are they amazing but also long lasting!

You can buy them -> here.

Have you tried Ardell lashes before? If so, what did you think of them? What's your favourite brand for false lashes?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || PROCOAL ACTIVATED CHARCOAL TEETH WHITENING POWDER

I've recently got back into drinking lots of tea and coffee and feel like it has made my teeth look less white than usual. I'm not fortunate enough to have perfect pearly white teeth, however, they're not that yellow most of the time.

I came across the company Procoal when doing research into natural teeth whitening products, and I was kindly sent a jar to try out. Kieran was particularly happy about this seeing as he was going to buy a jar a few days before I received mine, so I thought I'll be nice and share haha!

First impressions: I like the small packaging, it's not too big yet not too tiny. Really good for travelling and storing in the bathroom cabinet as it does not take up much room. There is a lot of product in the pot and will last a long time! It says on the back of the jar to use it twice a day for best results. 

First use: I found it quite hard to use for the first time. I started brushing my teeth normally with a thin layer of the charcoal and it started spraying everywhere! I stopped immediately and cleaned the whole sink and walls and tried to give it another go. The powder is very fine, so you won't get any bits stuck between your teeth which is great news for those with gaps!

Few uses later: What I find works best for me is to use less powder as it creates a paste and foam while brushing so it makes it seem like I'm using toothpaste instead. This doesn't go everywhere either so it's actually a lot cleaner and better to use!

Results: I immediately noticed results after the first use. My teeth seemed a lot cleaner and shinier, as well as brighter than normal. I've been using this product for just over a week and I must say I'm very pleased with it. It's not made a huge difference yet, probably because I've not been using it for that long but I will continue to use it at least 5 times a week and see how I get on.

Final thoughts: I'm very impressed with this product. I would definitely recommend it to everyone who's wanting to brighten their teeth naturally with a long-lasting effect. I would also suggest using coconut oil to swish around in your mouth for 10-15 minutes a few times a week as well as using this charcoal powder for best results. Also, invest in a good electric toothbrush! I got mine from Oral B on offer!


*This post contains PR samples.

You can buy the Procoal powder here, it's currently on offer at half price and 2 for £15! Grab one before it's gone!

Lots of love,

Maya xo