When it comes to mascara, I always feel that I’m left underwhelmed by the most hyped mascaras which is exactly what happened with the massively popular MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara; I’d read endless rave reviews on it and when I tried it for myself, I really wasn’t as impressed as I thought I would be. Whilst perusing the Feelunique website, I spotted the NYX The Skinny Mascara and it really caught my eye as it’s so unlike any other mascara I’ve tried so I added it into my basket and figured it was worth a try, especially as it’s only £6.50 which is pretty great value. NYX describe their The Skinny Mascara as being perfect for coating heard to reach lashes from root to tip, with a water resistant formula which particularly appealed to me as my lower lashes always seem to smudge so I’m consciously checking throughout the day to make sure the mascara on my lower lashes hasn’t smudged or crumbled all over my face.

From what I can gather, the NYX The Skinny Mascara is only available in black but that’s ideal for me as I much prefer black mascara over brown as my lashes are practically black anyway. The brush on the mascara is so strange in that it’s long and very narrow without any tapering like typical mascara brushes so I thought it would be amazing for the lower lashline and I’d hoped it’d be less messy too as I always end up coating my under eyes in mascara when applying to my lower lashes as they’re such short lashes.

I’ve seen reviews where people rave about using the NYX The Skinny Mascara on their upper lashes, but I think it would possibly work best for those who are already gifted in the lash department as my pathetic stumpy upper lashes don’t work well with a wand like this as it just ends up coating them in product without a curl, or any volume. On my lower lashes however, it performs considerably better and has replaced all of my other lower lash mascara options as it does a great job of catching every single tiny lash without making a mess which is a massive bonus. The formula is definitely smudge proof, and it doesn’t crumble or flake during the day but I wouldn’t describe it as being water resistant as it smudged when I got caught in the rain but the fact it doesn’t smudge or crumble throughout the day makes it a definite winner. I can’t believe this mascara is only £6.50; it’s such great value, especially if I’m only using it on my lower lashes every day.. I imagine this 6ml tube will last me ages, as I’m already six weeks in and the formula is identical to how it was when it was new so I’d really recommend giving it a try if you’re in the market for a fantastic bottom lash mascara regardless of budget.

Buy your's today at Boots.com or in-store

NYX HD Studio Finishing Powder is my current favorite product to finish off my makeup look!  It is so soft and silky and gives a very natural finish to the skin.

 The product comes weighing a mere .21 oz (6g) but do not let the weight fool you! It is so lightweight, there actually is a lot of product that will last a very long time.

Buy your NYX HD Studio Photogenic Finishing Powder today at Boots.com or in-store!

One thing I always say I love about Essie polish in general is how fast they dry and this new Gel Couture collection is no different, maybe even quicker than normal polish. With 42 new shades and with a promise of 14 days wear with a no LED lamp application - could it be too good to be true?I was sent 3 shades & a top coat: Signature Smile is a sharp fiery rosé, Hang Up the Heels – jet black accessorized with jade shimmer & Bubbles Only – classic burgundy crème. 

The designs of the gel bottles set them apart, with a twizzled body shape and the same goes for the applicator, which is wider, flatter and allows you to push the brush down and stroke up with ease - meaning you apply less coats as it covers the nail bed. Because the applicator has a swirled body, the polish can gently run down, instead of running down a straight body and you getting a blob of polish that you didn't want - you know what I'm talking about.

So far I've tried Signature smile, that took 2 coats and came off using regular nail polish. I did only wear it for a couple of days as I really wanted to try the 'anti Summer' shade, Hang Up The Heels, the jet black with jade shimmer running through it. I only needed 2 coats and by the time I had finished both hands, the gel top coat was ready to go on and nothing smeared, smooth application. It's important to cap the free edge of nails to prevent any nails from chipping or peeling. It'll be interesting to see if through, showering, cleaning and whatever else if these hold up for 14 days.