REVIEW || DENIVIT ANTI-STAIN INTENSE WHITENING TOOTHPASTE

After trying out many teeth whitening products, including the Procoal charcoal powder, I thought I'll give drugstore products another go. I bought this Denivit toothpaste for around £2 at my local Savers store so I wasn't expecting anything amazing to come out of it for that price, but I shouldn't judge a book by its cover, right?

I have to say I'm not the biggest fan of the packaging as it's very awkward to squeeze the product out the tube, but I guess it's good for letting the product go down to the nozzle before application. I do prefer to buy kinds of toothpaste that are easy to squeeze out rather than come in thicker tubes that are impossible to get the product out. This toothpaste is quite small so with daily use it would only last around 1 month, so it might not be the best option for you if you're on a strict budget. However, I believe that it was under £3 so it won't exactly break the bank if you really wanted to try it.

The consistency of the toothpaste is really smooth and tastes like bicarbonate soda, so it should really be used alongside a normal minty toothpaste as an additional cleanse as often as you like. I personally did not replace my usual toothpaste with this one as I found that I didn't really get a fully clean feel after using this on its own. The taste did put me off using it a bit, so I never looked forward to using it and at times had to force myself to use it for the purpose of this review (not something you'd want to force yourself to do when tryng to look after your teeth).

I used this toothpaste for around 2 weeks and it claims to show results after the first use, and I must say that it did not work for me. I have been sceptical about this product to begin with as I've never found a teeth whitening toothpaste that worked for me. 

Honestly, I did not notice any difference in the shade of my teeth at all, I feel like it might work better on teeth with weaker enamel (Stronger enamel tend to be naturally more beige than white) but I know I won't be wasting any more money on drugstore products for teeth whitening. Hopefully, I will find a solution that won't cost me an arm and a leg haha, but if you have any recommendations then please let me know in the comments section down below :)

Update - I have tried two different types of whitening strips and one of the brands has worked well for me! You can find those strips here.

Have you tried any teeth whitening products that were really not worth the hype?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

2017 || MARCH FAVOURITES

Oh, well wasn't March an eventful month for me?! I have bought my own domain, updated my blog, did many collaborations with some amazing brands, went to a fashion show where I won the 'Best Dressed' award, got good grades from uni, and got rid of horrible people from my life! I can honestly say that March this year has made me stronger as a woman and I'm very grateful for all your support.

Moving on, March wasn't my best month for beauty favourites therefore I will say that the events mentioned above are a part of my monthly faves, but I did fall back in love with a couple of items I've had for a while.

First up, MAC's Paint Pot in the shade Painterly. I have previously reviewed this product here, but I started to reach for it more throughout the month to make my eyeshadow last longer. I really love the shade of this paint pot as it's very close to my natural skin tone so it makes it easy to blend any eyeshadow colour on my lid. I also have 3 more shades of these, would anyone like an updated MAC makeup collection? Please let me know!

The other product I've been loving this March is the glorious Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Eau de Parfum - 100 ml. I wanted to get this perfume for so long, and one of my closest friends bought me a bottle for Christmas last year! I was so happy when I opened it up - you should have seen my face! It smells great, it's suitable for all ages (especially teens and young adults, and anyone who loves sweet scents!). And can we just sit back and appreciate the packaging? It's so bloody gorgeous that I think I'll keep the bottle on display after I use the product up!!

*This post isn't sponsored but may include affiliate links.

What have you been loving this March? Have you tried any of the products mentioned above?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || COLOURPOP PERSUEDE ME LIPPIE STIX COLLECTION

Ever since hearing about Colourpop I've been wanting to try out their products. I finally decided to make a big order back in October (I think) and bought a set of Lippie Stix along with other items and I must say that was one of the best decisions I ever made! Even though custom charges killed me after already spending around £50 on products D: - but when I think about MAC I usually spend the same amount on 2-3 things.

I don't really like the packaging that much. I mean, it is nice but nothing exceptional; it kind of looks like a jumbo eye crayon by NYX, but then again this is a drugstore product retailing at only $6 so the packaging isn't the post important.

They have a variety of lovely shades to choose from but because I chose a pre-packed set I was 'stuck' with all nudes. I'm not complaining though - they are lovely! My favourite shade has to be 'Le Freak'.

The consistency is very creamy and easy to apply, the lipstick literally glides on nicely and stay put all day. I do have to touch up after eating/drinking and it builds up quite easily so it's best to apply a thin layer with a lip brush to avoid it gathering.

Overall, I would rate these a solid 9/10 as the formula and price are amazing but the main issue for those who live outside the US is the VAT and custom fees :(

Have you tried any of the Colourpop products before? If so, which ones?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

WHAT'S HOT THIS SPRING/SUMMER - #NOTTMFW PRESS EVENT

Last month I attended a press event hosted by Gemini Marketing in Nottingham which was a cheeky preview of what's hot in SS17 before the fashion show in Nottingham on the 25th March.

I was greeted with the most beautiful glitter bomb cocktail, oh my, I was in heaven. There was also lots of tasty snacks varying from cupcakes to MOD pizza (my new favourite pizza place). The staff at the Beauty Temple were very lovely and welcoming, and I got complimented on my outfit and makeup (yes, get in haha!!).

The mini show was presented by two lovely ladies (forgive me for forgetting their names) who looked amazing in their outfits! I actually bought the same top one of them was wearing - thanks for the inspo! The two models - Jamie and Ryan rocked the SS17 looks.

*the micro bag is my new favourite statement piece - but will our huge phones even fit in?!

So, what are the hot trends for this year? I'm so excited that it is officially Spring so I can use it as an excuse to buy loads more clothes hehe...

Back to the Fuchsia - definitely one of my favourite trends as I love bright pink colours - I know for a fact that my mum is gona go crazy over this trend and wear pink head to toe as she owes so many gorgeous fuchsia pieces!

Born in the 80's - say yes to Madonna Rock 'n' Roll leather trousers and cowboy boots! This S/S is all about shoulder pads, ruffles and neon - yes, yes, YES!!

Statement Sportswear - probably the most comfy of all of the trends! I'm looking forward to styling
up plain joggers with some fishnets tights and cropped jumpers.

Twisted Tailoring - who doesn't love a funky detail to their outfits? Like one of those 'half and half' jumpers you can buy in Topshop. If you don't want to splurge on a new outfit but make it look very trendy then put on an old checked shirt (Gingham is very in atm) and pin it up wonky - this was our biggest nightmare a few years back but it's now turned into a trend!

Check-Mate - like I mentioned above, gingham is very much in and I couldn't be happier. I saw a gorgeous checked dress in Primark and I wish I bought it! Now I'm gona have to go back and try it on to see if I can pull it off haha!!

Spring-Bling - if you're very much into sequins and sparkles then this is perfect for you. I love glitter, I would bathe myself in it if I could so this is a great opportunity to add some bling into your wardrobe.

We were all spoilt by the organisers of the event (thank you so much Gemini!). In my goodie bag I received a bottle of Orangina with a cute paper straw, a free pizza voucher from MOD pizza (yum yum, a full restaurant review will be up soon!), some perfume samples, a front row seat ticket to the Nottingham Fashion Show, a magazine and some other bits and bobs!

I'm very excited for the fashion show, I will take many snapchats and insta stories so be sure to follow me on those: @missmayasx 

Lots of love,

Maya xo

TOP 4 EYESHADOW PALETTES YOU NEED IN YOUR LIFE

I have spent years searching for the right eyeshadow palette to suit my skin tone and that's affordable, but after finally finding the 'one(s)' I can confidently say that you shouldn't search for a palette with colours that will suit the colour of your skin, but ones that you actually like. Don't listen to people who say you don't suit bright purple eyeshadow - if you like it then go ahead and buy it!

I thought I'd share my wisdom when it comes to eyeshadow palettes and share with you my 4 staples that you just might have to buy hehe.

MAC eyeshadows are amazing, there's no doubt about that. There are many cheaper alternatives that are just as good however, I will never give up my MAC shadows as they were my first luxurious purchases. The refill pans retail at £10 each however, some of the ones I bought were actual eyeshadow pots which I then depotted to put into my pro palette (£8 + £2 for the insert). The pigmentation of these is insane, but you are paying a lot of money so you get what you pay for. The colours I have are: (top-bottom) Era, Amber Lights, Beauty Marked, Creme de Violet, Deep Truth, Naked Lunch, Tempting, Trax, Pink Venus, Steamy, Brule, Honesty, Mythology, Haux, and Electric Eel. I would say that creating your own eyeshadow palettes with the shades that you love and will get use out of is a must-do!

I recently got my hands on this limited edition Pulp Fiction palette by Urban Decay and I am in love... I'm a huge fan of Uma Thurman and to see that UD brought out a palette of one of my favourite movies I had to buy it. It is true guys, UD eyeshadows are amazing! Everyone has been going crazy over the Naked range (read my reviews here, and here) but I have to say that the Pulp Fiction palette is my favourite as the colours are very wearable and obviously because of the packaging haha! Tyranny is my favourite shade from the palette as I can even use it to contour my nose!

If you're looking for something more affordable but still amazing quality then I have to direct you to any of the Makeup Revolution palettes. I have been using their products for probably 4-5 years now and I absolutely love them, especially the palettes. MUR has been slaying the eyeshadow game for a while now, and I must say that this palette is my all-time favourite and I use it nearly every day. It's a fantastic dupe for the Kat Von D Shade and Light palette which retails at £37 whereas, the MUR one is only £8. I use this when I'm running out of time when doing my makeup as it always looks good, no matter how little it takes me to blend out the shades!

Last but not least, we have the Jeffree Star Beauty Killer palette. I've been lusting over this palette ever since it came out and then I was lucky enough to snatch it at half price in his sale at the beginning of March. I must say that this has lived up to my expectations completely and I'm in love. The shades are amazing and so up my alley, I really want his new Androgyny palette now!! (If anyone wants to donate one to me please do haha). The formula is very different from the three mentioned above as the shadows feel very buttery and are a dream to blend! I know that the shades aren't for everyone, but they will look amazing on literally anyone! My favourite shades from the palette are Confession, Princess and Violence - they look amazing together!

What's your Holy Grail eyeshadow palette? Would you recommend the ones I mentioned above?

Lots of love,

Maya xo