Batiste Dry Shampoo: Friend or Foe? // BeautieCollected

I think almost everyone has experienced at least one dry shampoo horror over their time, and if not...HOW?! Before I even bought a dry shampoo, I watched so many videos and read so many blogposts about how to apply it and use it correctly so you don't look like a massive plonker. However, it's probably no surprise to some people that, no matter how many videos I watched, or tutorials I read...I still made myself look like a massive plonker!

Batiste is the most common and popular dry shampoo, not only is it affordable but it works *temporary* miracles! Dry shampoo is by no means an answer to not washing your hair, because trust me when I say that if your hair is too dirty and greasy...it doesn't work and feel absolutely disgusting! 

I tend to use this product more on second and maybe third day hair...at a push. This is because I found that if I use it past that, it doesn't work and I just make myself look worse! The product aims to absorb the oils from your hair to make it look and feel fresh and clean, which helps it last an extra day if you woke up late and forgot to wash your hair!

I also sometimes use this on freshly washed and dried hair as I feel it adds a nice bit of texture to my hair and helps hold a style, rather than it being totally sleek and smooth and unable to hold itself in a bobby pin. The fact it absorbs oils means it doesn't really add any sticky residue to your hair, as many other products do...it actually benefits you! 

It sprays like an aerosol deodorant onto your hair, and it is white. Now don't panic that you may have just spray painted your hair white for a while...you haven't! Once you have applied it to the areas you wish to cover, take your *clean* hands and massage it into your hair with your finger tips, this will make it blend in and not appear white anymore!

It comes in a variety of scents, the one I prefer the most is the "Clean & Classic Original" - It just has a fresh and clean scent which I prefer, rather than shoving my hair full of different scents and products! You can also purchase one for brunettes which has a brown spray I believe, although I'm a bit conscientious about using this as I don't want any change to my hair colour (there is no guarantee this will happen, although I don't wish to take the risks!)

I think as long as you apply it correctly, and just take time to learn the best way it works for you, then you shouldn't be afraid of using it! Dry shampoo is friend NOT foe!

Which brand of dry shampoo is your all time favourite?!

Take care!

- Katie x

Soft Kohl Eyeliner: Rimmel // BeautieCollected

I'm sure I'm not the only one when I say that eyeliner is a staple in my everyday makeup. With just an eyeliner alone you can create so many looks that appear as if you spent about an hour attempting to perfect it! My preference of eyeliner has always been kohl, I love the way you can slightly smudge it so it doesn't seem too harsh for more casual wear, or you can build it up so it is more bold and daring! I'm still on the market for a decent kohl eyeliner that is affordable but does a perfect job! Obviously, as the saying goes "You have to kiss a few frogs before you find your prince"...putting this in eyeliner terms, there's going to be a dodgey few before the perfect one comes along!

The one I wanted to try out was this Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eyeliner Pencil. This retails for £2.99 in Boots and is essentially an extremely affordable kohl eyeliner. My first test whenever I buy an eyeliner is how dark the pigmentation is and how it feels. When applying it, this eyeliner seemed to have a very impressive colour pay off, it was black and not some sort of patchy make-do shade. Also, it didn't tug on my eye when I applied it, which is sometimes really hard to find in cheaper eyeliners!

The consistency of the eyeliner is the perfect combination of being creamy and blend-able, yet firm enough to apply without it going all over the place! One thing I like about this eyeliner is that the end rounds off with use and becomes more soft, rather than being pointy and jagged! This makes it a lot easier to apply and layer up once I have smudged a section out, and just makes it so much easier to work with in general!

My only issue with this eyeliner is the lasting power, I find that once I've applied it in the morning and had a full day out and about, by the time I get home it's almost non-existent apart from the little part at the roots of my lashes! I'm not sure if this is me doing something wrong with regards to applying it, but for me it doesn't last as long as I would like it do. 

So overall I'd definitely recommend this eyeliner for someone that is on a budget and wants something affordable, great to work with and that gives you endless possibilities as a product! 

If you have any tips that I can use to see if I can increase the lasting power of my eyeliner in general please let me know in a tweet (@kxtiecollected)!

Take Care!

- Katie x

Rimmel Volume Flash X10 Mascara ~ Yay Or Nay // BeautieCollected

Earlier this month I went out and bought a couple bits and bobs to try out, one of those being this Rimmel Volume Flash X10 mascara. I'm a big fan of finding cheap products that do wonders, especially with mascara as I find it dries up before you can really use it all! With this in mind, I went out and bought a cheap mascara that I thought I'd give a go and see how it went!

This mascara retails for £5.99 in Boots, you can also purchase it in "Extreme Black" "Black" "Black Brown" and "Waterproof Black" - straight off the bat this mascara is catering for many different types of people, this will cause it to gain more attention. 

First Impression: I'm usually that person that would open the mascara, have a little look at the wand, then not use it till the next day or the day after that! This time, I decided I would open it only when I was going to use it, so essentially the product inside didn't start to dry up or change from what it was. The first time I used it, I absolutely loved it! It separated my lashes perfectly, it made them look extremely long, however it didn't make my lashes as voluminous as I expected it to, however there was enough definition there for me to be satisfied regardless.

The want itself isn't too large, in fact it's quite petite to say it's a mascara that should give a voluminous effect. The smaller wand helps you coat every lash as you want it and to precisely coat your lashes, rather than going and throwing it on and hoping for the best!

The disappointing aspect to this mascara is that a few days after opening the product, I revisited it as I knew I loved it the first time round. Since I opened it, I assume it must be due to having the brief opportunity to dry up and it just became extremely clumpy and hard to work with. Every time I would try remove a clump, an even bigger one would form and it just became uncontrollable and a right royal pain!

I attempted to use it again and the same situation occured! I personally am not a fan of the clumpy look, I like full looking lashes, but not clumpy looking ones! Because of this, I have to say that this product is a NAY for me! If it stayed in the state it was in when I first used it, then it would definitely be a yay...but not this time unfortunately!

Are there any products you'd like to see me review? Let me know in a comment or a tweet!

Take Care!

- Katie x

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water Review // BeautieCollected

I'm very picky when it comes to removing my makeup, not just because I want only the very best products to do the job, as I find I can make a lot of different products work for me even if they didn't to start off with! Personally I feel it's all about how you use it, not the product itself...only sometimes though!! 

Micellar waters have been a beauty craze for what seems like a good year or two now, I believe they started to come onto the scene when every blogger seemed to pick up Bioderma, which is a brand of micellar cleansing water. I personally have never tried it, but there are so many good reviews out there that I must remember to give it a whirl!

I mentioned in my very first blogpost back in September that I used the L'Oreal micellar water religiously! It was the only makeup remover I would use as it was what I knew worked for my skin, and the last thing anybody wants is a pesky breakout after having relatively clear skin for quite a while! After running out of the L'Oreal water, I opted for one which was on offer for £2.50 at the time I purchased it. This is the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water.

From my experience, I can't tell a major difference in the two products - they both do the same job pretty much the same way...after all they are the same product! However, to be gentle on the bank balance I would recommend the Garnier version over the L'Oreal one as even at full price it is cheaper and easier to purchase if you are on a budget.

The Garnier version claims that this bottle of micellar water will do 200 uses - which is pretty fantastic if it's not a false claim! Obviously we all use more than one cotton pad of makeup remover to get rid of every trace of makeup, but it's always good to know a rough estimate of uses!

As for actual removal, it does a brilliant job of taking off your foundation, powder, blush and any other face products from the day. It removes it almost effortlessly which I couldn't believe when I first tried it! If you are a 'heavy' eye makeup wearer, then you may need one cotton pad of the water per eye, to make life less messy and just generally easier for you. If this seems like too much of a faff, you could always use a separate product altogether!

Overall, I really would recommend this product to anybody thinking of trying it out, or for anyone that is on the market for a new makeup remover!

What is your favourite makeup remover? and have you tried any micellar waters before?!

Take Care!

- Katie x

The Glasses Life // BeautieCollected

I'm the worst for not wearing my glasses. I always go get my eyes tested, new prescription, new frames and I even splash out on some glasses cleaner! But I'm the first person to complain that they irritate me or that my hurt more than they help. The second point isn't strictly true, but it's an excuse that makes me feel better!!

Another struggle whenever I do wear my glasses is makeup that flatters them. It is so hard to find makeup looks that are still seen behind the glasses! This obviously depends on the frames you have, and sometimes if you have coloured frames you can get away with adding a pop of colour to match!

If any of you are wondering, these glasses are by Tommy Hilfiger.

You can definitely expect a post in the future all about glasses and makeup, and the best ways to rock your favourite look and still be able to show it off!

If you have any tips or tricks for wearing makeup with glasses let me know in a comment or tweet!!

Take care!

- Katie x

Mini Makeup Haul // BeautieCollected

I thought I'd treat myself to a couple bits and bobs since my mascara is coming to an end...and there was a 3 for 2 offer on! Shhh!

I only bought a couple of things as I find as soon as I have the money to spend, I can never decide what I want to buy! However when I have nothing but a penny, I have a list as long as my arm!

The first item I bought was a Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in Shade 08. I absolutely love the Kate Moss lipsticks, the way it applies and lasts is amazing and they aren't sticky either! This shade is the perfect summer to autumn transition colour, but it's also a nudey-pink colour, so it's perfect for everyday wear!

Like I said at the start, my mascara was on it's last legs and I'm pretty sure I've gotten about all I can get from it! So I decided to just get a quick replacement whilst I find one I want to spent more money on! This is the Rimmel Volume Flash X10 Mascara. The brush is very spaced out which will help to coat all the lashes, and the product doesn't have a nasty fragrance! I will let you know how it goes!

Finally, I picked up this Rimmel Soft Kohl Eyeliner in Jet Black. I like smudging a kohl liner along my top lashline for a softer look, rather than straight up liquid liner, as I feel it can look a bit too harsh on me!

Are there any affordable lipsticks, mascaras or eyeliners you'd recommend? Let me know in a comment or tweet!

Take care!

- Katie x

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Autumnal Nails // BeautieCollected

With autumn settling in, I thought it was about time I put away my pastel nail colours and brought out my autumn faves! Deeper nail colours in the autumn and winter months is almost essential! Although when I started painting my nails, I realised how awfully short I'd let them become! I'm an avid nail biter and just generally forget that they need taking care of and maintaining too! So I opted for something that probably won't help the state my nails are in, but they will look so good for the length of time they're on!

Yes! I opted for some false nails! Now I know they are so much better and long lasting when you have them done professionally, but for me, I just really wanted the look and feel of long nails! The set I bought is by Nailene and it is a 200 piece set including nail glue! They hold on for so long and the polish holds well too!

The colour I picked as my first autumn nail colour is Downtown Red by Maybelline! It's a perfect deep red for autumn and the shine is flawless! I don't usually wear a base or top coat, just because I like to change my nail colour frequently anyway,l but the lasting power of this polish without them is incredible! Definitely recommend you test it on your nails so you can see the full effect!

Let me know what your favourite autumn nail colour is!

Take Care!

- Katie x

Preparing For Autumn! // BeautieCollected

Autumn is fast approaching and I don't think that I'm the only one that wants to know what's in for autumn 2014. I thought I'd ease myself into autumn gently with some classic autumn colours and staples for anyone at this time of the year!

The hardest thing for me about seasonal changes is keeping up with the trends and fashion and how you can bring your summer wardrobe into autumn without looking too crazy! There are many places on the internet where you can keep up with all the latest fashion and makeup trends, whether it's through social media or celebrity gossip! For me, I like something that I can refer to and I don't need to add another page to my favourites or need wifi to see the image of that cute jumper that girl wore on tumblr. Magazines are a must for me! Not only does it keep me occupied and let me have a bit of relaxing down-time while still looking at stuff I enjoy, but it's the perfect way to refer back to trends! If you are a hoarder like I used to be, then you can always keep them for next year and see if you can recycle any looks! My favourite magazines for all things fashion and beauty related are Glamour, Marie Claire, Elle and Vogue (Vogue is that magazine that I find myself flicking through for hours on end). But all of these magazines have great tips for keeping in trend this autumn!

For me, nails are a must! Even though you'll have those days where you can't be bothered, you can't deny that having painted nails is just another addition to what could be a fabulous autumn outfit! Autumn is known for its classic dark colours; deep reds, plums, purples and borderline black colours are all in around this time of the year. As this time of the year is a lot colder, the warmer colours seem to be on trend and what everyone likes to rock! Now, I don't always wear false nails, but for this nail colour it just looked so good! This nail polish is the Maybelline Colour Show Nail Polish in the shade Downtown Red. In some lights it will look dark, but in others it has a lighter, more transitional look which I really like.

And finally, the dark lips. This is a hard one for me as not a lot of reds seem to suit me. The more plum tones do, but I really have to be careful with what I wear! I picked up this lipstick which is the Collection DeLuxe Lipstick in the shade 01 Prohibition. I find it can either be a nice red colour, or turn a pink/red mix depending on how thick you layer it or what look you're trying to achieve!

These are my essential go-to's for transitioning from summer to autumn! If you have any fashion tips for autumn let me know in a comment! 

Take care!

-Katie x