Real Techniques Brushes: Expert Face Brush

Helloo! Welcome to my long awaited review of the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush* - a post that should have been published about 3 weeks ago, but due to endless schedule shuffling hasn't managed to make it's way live until today. Such a chaotic life I lead.. 

The love I have for the Real Techniques brushes isn't a secret, and is shared by many people everywhere. Most of us know the basics with these brushes now: designed by one half of the Pixi Woo sisters (Sam Chapman), made with synthetic taklon bristles so that they don't suck up and absorb all of your product, wash like a dream, and have colour coded handles depending on which 'category' they belong to - Base, Finish and Eyes. As an extra, they have a flat bottom handle so that they're self-standing on your dresser and they're just really lightweight, easy to use, fantastic quality and deserve all of the hype that they receive.

The Expert Face brush belongs to the BASE category and I use it for the sole purpose of applying liquid foundation. It has taken the top spot away from the Buffing Brush, which was once previously used for this purpose, and I now much prefer the Expert Face brush. The head of the Expert Face brush is smaller, and is a little wider that the Buffing Brush; think of an oval compared to a circle. Instead of buffing liquid foundation into the skin with circular motions, I instead use more of a 'painting' motion across the skin and this smaller brush head gives a much more precise and controllable application, but it is still quick, easy and flawless!

The Expert Face brush is quite comparable to the Buffing Brush and they perform similarly, so I would advise people wanting to try the Buffing Brush who do not want to spend £20+ on the Core Collection (the only way you can get the Buffing Brush), that the Expert Face brush would be a good alternative purchase, especially as it is just one single brush and if that's the only one that you're looking to use then it makes more sense than paying more for a full set!

Annoying for a lot of beauty lovers worldwide, a lot of stockists of Real Techniques don't ship internationally, leaving many potential fans deprived! A new site My Pretty Face Place has got the answer to this though and ships the likes of RT brushes, ELF, and NYX to anywhere in the world! And for a bargain price too! They stock the Expert Face brush currently for just £4.57 - wow! (link) (Plus p&p which is about £4 according to the online currency converter I used!). If you're a resident of one of the countries unable to get hold of Real Techniques then check out their site here.

Also, My Pretty Face Place have offered my readers an exclusive discount code for the month of August. Using the code 08cosmeticcrave15 all of you can get 15% off any purchase from their site, including the Real Techniques brushes! 

Thanks for reading!
Have you tried the Expert Face Brush?

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* (c/o) My Pretty Face Place

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Liz Earle 'Cleanse and Polish' Hot Cloth Cleanser | Starter Kit

Aloha! I thought it best that I get this post written and published with my documented thoughts before the new kid on the block (i.e. Limited Edition Grapefruit and Patchouli Cleanse and Polish) starts a whole new love affair and the original formula is pushed to the back of the stash to gather dust - You can think you love a product to no end, but somehow sooner or later this can happen to them all.

(If I sound loopy at all in this post, it'll be because I've just got back from work and inhaled too many cleaning product fumes - Honestly, my brain doesn't feel like it's in one piece at all at the moment). 

So, moving on.. Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish has earned itself cult status over the years and is a must have beauty favourite for women everywhere, not just the hardcore skincare obsessives - My nan has been using bottles of this stuff for years and absolutely swears by it! The brand Liz Earle, and their star product - Cleanse and Polish - receives so much high praise and attention that I'm surprised it has taken me almost 21 years to try it out and see what all the fuss is about! I can now say with confidence that the fuss is definitely worth it! 

For anyone who isn't used to spending any more than single figures on their skincare should definitely consider giving themselves a little splurge and treating their face to a luxury product (Not saying that cheap doesn't equal luxury, because it can! This is just like real life heaven for your face and in a league of it's own). I took the plunge after selling some old clothes on eBay and having a bit of spare cash to play about with, so parting with almost £15 for a 100ml cleanser seemed okay, and I was happy. 

As a newbie to the brand and the cleanser I ordered their 100ml Starter Kit: a 100ml pump cleanser with 2 muslin cloths (to remove the cleanser). Other options are also available, such as just the 100ml pump cleanser alone, 50ml plus muslin cloths, 200ml plus muslin cloths, 200ml alone ..you get the gist! The Starter Kit is a great idea for anybody who's a first time buyer of the infamous product, as it just makes it easier coming complete with the muslin cloths so you can get started with cleansing and polishing right away. Every order from Liz Earle also comes with a complimentary 30ml travel size Cleanse and Polish - perfect for taking on trips away.

From my very first use I knew that I was impressed and I have actually used this twice daily, every single day since it arrived! I use to remove make up, cleanse anyway even without make up on, and I absolutely love using it first thing in the morning. It has a soft, thick and creamy texture that spreads over the skin like butter, and I like to pretend I'm giving myself a little spa-style massage as I rub it around my face! You can rub it right into the eyelashes without any stinging or irritation of the eyes, which really helps with removing eye make up. 

If you've never used it, it's a simple process: 1) Cleanse. Massage one pump of the cleanser all over your face, onto dry skin. It melts away all make up absolutely effortlessly, or if you're using it on bare skin then it feels really nourishing, especially as it contains cocoa butter. 2) Polish. Run the muslin cloth under warm water and use it to remove the cleanser from the skin - This also provides the skin with a gentle exfoliation after cleansing, for a 2-in-1 step. 

I've never had any adverse reactions to this, and it's never dried out my skin or caused break outs - It's actually done the opposite and made my skin more supple, purer and cleared up small blemishes. It leaves the skin clean, but not stripped and absolutely baby soft with a fresh healthy glow after the polishing stage.

This is set to be a long term love, and I'm kicking myself for never entering the Liz Earle world sooner! Have you tried Cleanse and Polish?

Liz Earle 100ml Starter Kit - £14.75 | link

Currently offering Fast & Free delivery! 

Beats paying £3.75 for it normally!

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Cosmetic Crave has been shortlisted for 'Best New Beauty Blog'

Spare a minute to vote for your favourite blog(s) here:

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BlanX Teeth Whitening Review & Giveaway

Hey! Exciting post today: a quick review combined with a giveaway. But not just a giveaway, a giveaway with 5 winners - woo woo! And not just a giveaway with 5 winners, it's a giveaway with 5 winners that will make you teeth whiter too! Woah. Get entering girls! (and guys!).

The giveaway is open to the UK only (sorry) and for how to enter just follow the instructions towards the end of this post. Here's what you could be getting your paws on:

BlanX White Shock Formula Intensive Whitening Treatment with an LED gum shield*.

If you aren't already familiar with BlanX and their signature blue LED lights that activate their whitening formulas.. then where have you been? You may have seen various Instagram snaps such as my one right here showing the excitement that comes from a simple novelty such as a blue LED light to shine onto the toothpaste and onto the teeth. With the regular toothpaste and LED I didn't notice a dramatic difference in my teeth, but they're not too stained to begin with - I am a regular tea and coffee drinker, but I'm still quite lucky with my pearly whites.

The lovely people at BlanX told me that I might see a bigger transformation using their two week intensive treatment, which can make your teeth 'up to 4 shades whiter in two weeks'. I gave it a whirl without any concerns as the BlanX formulas contain no peroxide (bleach), so it isn't damaging or weakening on your tooth enamel like some other whiteners can be. Their formula is completely harmless and contains inorganic Actilux microcrystals which whiten the teeth and their effect is boosted by sunlight and also the LED light. There's no limit on how often or how intensely you can use the treatment, and the more light the Actilux (active ingredient) receives, the more intense the whitening action.

The treatment kit comes with a BlanXometer scale so that you can measure your progress along the way, and I would say that after using the BlanX Intense Treatment as my daily toothpaste twice daily for two weeks, and then shining the LED gum shield/bite onto my teeth for 5-10 minutes every other day, my teeth have progressed to about 2 shades whiter. Results may vary for each individual. The treatment is more than simple to use, and the gum shield/bite is a fun little novelty that isn't at all uncomfortable, however awkward it may look!!

To win yourself one of five of these intensive treatments then enter using the Rafflecopter form below:

(Prizes are provided by BlanX and will be sent out directly to the winners by BlanX).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

One last thing: If you do nothing else today, then just make sure that you definitely check out BlanX's Facebook page as they are also running a competition with an opportunity to win a £500 travel card. I don't know about you, but I'd be up for winning one of those! 

So, enter my giveaway for the chance to win 1 of 5 intensive teeth whitening treatments, and then head straight on over to BlanX's FB page to be in with a chance of winning the £500 travel card. You can't go wrong!

Good luck!!
Thanks for reading

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* (c/o) BlanX.
This giveaway has also been kindly sponsored by BlanX.

Voting is open for Cosmopolitan Blog Awards 2013
Cosmetic Crave has been shortlisted for 'Best New Beauty Blog'

Spare a minute to vote for your favourite blog(s) here:
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Available Now: Advertise With Cosmetic Crave!

Announcement alert!

As of Sunday 1st September 2013, monthly advertising options with Cosmetic Crave will be available to other blogs and small shops (providing the content is appropriate). 

I really hope that this opportunity appeals to some people and with three different types of advertising packages available each month, I hope that there is something in there to suit everybody's needs. Advertising is something that I have personally done quite a few times, both as an extremely new blogger when I first started out, and also as a not so new blogger as well. For reference the blogs that I have advertised on have been: Bonjour Belle, Tattooed Tea Lady, Couture Girl, and Birds Words. If I hadn't found it a valuable experience and worthwhile for my blog then I would not have continued to utilise the service other bloggers offer and I now hope to offer the same benefits to others.

All information can permanently be found in a new page that had has been added to the top of my blog (Advertising and Statistics) that will further explain the different packages, pricing and will also lay out all of my statistics that will be regularly updated - including follower numbers across various platforms and monthly page views too. If you choose a package, your blog will predominately be promoted via a linked button on the side of this blog, but can also be promoted through a linked mention at the bottom of every post, through a 'meet my advertisers' post on the 20th of every month, and also through Twitter.

Take a look at the new advertising page to see some more information, and if you would like to secure a package with Cosmetic Crave for September then please e-mail cosmeticcrave@gmail.com stating whether you would like a gold, silver or bronze package as soon as possible. 

  

Special Introductory Offer: all September packages 50% off regular prices.

Prices from as low as £1.00!

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Voting is open for the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards 2013
Cosmetic Crave has been shortlisted for 'Best New Beauty Blog'

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Bath and Body Works Hand Sanitisers | eBay Bargain

I wouldn't say that I'm a 'germ obsessive' by any means at all, but I do count hand sanitisers / anti-bacs as a little bit of an essential. There's always one hanging around in a pocket of one of my handbags as I use public transport quite frequently, but more importantly there's always a bottle sitting right next to my make up stash. Even if I'm not applying make up with my fingers, your hands are near your face and things are best kept clean and hygienic - right? 

The anti-bacterial hand gels from Bath & Body Works are quite a popular pocket essential for American beauty lovers and I do enjoy getting my mitts on something that's not readily available in the UK so I thought I'd share a handy little eBay link with you lovely lot.

For just £2.84, with free delivery, you can try out one of these unique and imaginatively fragranced 'PocketBacs' from Bath & Body Works. The Fresh Picked Strawberries is my favourite, but they also have lots of other interesting varieties such as: Fresh Picked Apples, Fresh Picked Tangerines, Island Nectar, Caribbean Escape, Apple Blossom and even one called 'Party Animal'. 

I

Fresh Picked Strawberries | Pink Lemonade | I Love Cookie Dough

£2.84 each, free p&p

LINK

Hope you enjoyed, thanks for reading!

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Cosmetic Crave has been shortlisted for 'Best New Beauty Blog'

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Bourjois Rouge Edition Lipsticks

Prior warning: This post may or may not influence you to buy more lipsticks than you need.

It would seem that the rest of the beauty obsessing population has moved on to loving Bourjois' newest and latest lip product offering, in the form of their Colour Boost lip crayons ..but I'm still here, one step behind and appreciating their Rouge Edition lipsticks to the fullest extent. I feel sad that these lipsticks didn't receive all of the praise that they deserved while they were the hottest new release, so I'm going to take a minute to remind everybody of how great they are and make sure they're not lost and forgotten amongst the midst of the hundreds of other lipstick ranges that are out there.

There are 16 shades available in total, but I have just four shades to show you today:

Top - Bottom:
Shade #07: Fuchsia Graffiti

Shade #10: Rouge Buzz

Shade #11: Fraise Remix

Shade #17: Rose Millesime

The formula for all of these lipsticks is soft and creamy, really moisturising on the lips and offers a shiny and glossy finish. They really pack a punch with pigmentation and last a good few hours before fading away. The range of shades provides something that should cater for all preferences, as the swatches above demonstrate how they can range from a super bright orange/red colour to a more subdued natural dusky pink. Each of the lipstick shades can be identified by the corresponding block of colour on the bottom of the tube and although the packaging is nothing outstanding I do think that they look nicer than a lot of other highstreet lipstick tubes.

The sharp, flat tip of the bullet makes it really easy to apply the product in a finer line and achieve a neat application around the cupids bow - an essential helper when using one of the bolder shades! Beware though: because of the super creamy nature of these lipsticks I have been subjected to an awful smearing incident with the bright pink shade (more than once!) and looked like I had a terrible mouth infection with bright pink stained skin! Other than that, these are a winner for me!

(Note: It's #07 Fuchsia Graffiti, not #11! I got mixed up). One of my favourite lip colours is a bright fuchsia pink and Fuchsia Graffiti nails it. Bright, pigmented, bold and beautiful! It's a really intense, vivid pink shade with purple undertones and I know it won't be up everybody's street because it's quite 'in your face', but it would be one of the first shades that I'd opt for on a night out. I mentioned about how the creamy texture led to smearing around my mouth (whoops!), but it also does leave a stain behind on the lips and I always have to bust out my top make up removers to get this off! (I see this as a good thing - I hate it when all the colour completely vanishes after only a couple of hours).

I'll admit that I'm not one in favour of a red red lip - I find it really hard to wear and just not at all 'me'. However, if I'm feeling bold then an orange red is something that I can try my hand at tackling. I've wanted to try Mac's Morange for quite a while and I'm pretty sure that Rouge Buzz makes a good dupe and it'll do for me! Although it dramatically emphasizes my Snow White pale skin, there is no denying how much of a statement this makes and it adds instant glamour to an otherwise plain and natural look. I'm not wearing a whole lot more than foundation and mascara but this lip shade automatically adds a whole lot of something special to the look. My favourite of the bunch!

#11 Fraise Remix and #17 Rose Millesime are both fairly similar looking shades and in my eyes are pretty boring and nondescript in comparison to the two brighter shades shown above. I'm sure it's clear that I prefer a bold lip colour! Although not all occasions call for a bright red or bright pink and every girl needs a more subtle option. Fraise Remix doesn't offer all that much to write home about, it's still quite bright but not too bold and it is a standard creamy pink/coral - it looks nicer swatched and in the bullet than it does on my lips so I just don't think this is a shade that was made for me (I know they're not great pictures either). The swatch for Rose Millesime shows a hint of shimmer in the shade which only translates a little bit onto the lips and I do find this to be a really easy to wear dusky pink that goes well with a neutral brown eye look. Although it's not my favourite, this is my most worn shade and I reach for it for most day time looks.

These Rouge Edition lipsticks are widely available across all Bourjois stockists, such as Boots and Superdrug, for £7.99 each (look out for 3 for 2 deals!). However, it is also worth noting that they can also be purchased through Amazon from Bourjois for a slightly discounted price of £5.99 each, with free delivery. So if you're interested, I'd head to Amazon! (That's where I bought shades #07 and #10 from).

Sorry for the abundance of selfies - you can rest assured there'll be no more of my face shown on here again for a good while now!

Hope you enjoyed, thanks for reading!

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Cosmetic Crave has been shortlisted for 'Best New Beauty Blog'

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Nails: Jacava '8-Free' Nail Varnish | Candy Floss

The pictures are pants because I use natural light, and.. well.. there isn't any!

Any regular reader of this blog will be aware that I am a big nail varnish fan. My collection is becoming overwhelming and chaotically vast.. but here I am today to introduce to you a brand that is new to me, and potentially may be new to you too. Be warned though, this could be the beginning of a new obsession! 

Jacava London produce absolutely amazing quality nail varnishes with a unique '8-Free' formula; being free from all traces of Formaldehyde, Camphor, DBP, Toluene, Collophane, Parabens, Phthalates or Animal Ingredients. Wow, I definitely was not aware that there was so many ingredients that could be avoided in a nail varnish! The benefits of the absence of these ingredients helps to create a formula that will help to strengthen the natural nails and aid them in growing longer, faster. I doubt many people would pass up the option to use a nail varnish that will help with the strength and growth of nails!

Jacava '8-Free' nail varnish in 'Candy Floss'* is described as a deep blush of the sweetest candy pink, and I would agree that it is an attractive deep pink shade, rich in raspberry tones and a very flattering and sophisticated shade while still being bright and eye catching. The photos show the nail varnish after it has been applied with one coat and no top coat either! Amazed? I am. It's an incredibly opaque consistency and applied like a dream with a super glossy, almost patent-like finish to it.

If you're interested in supporting a quintessentially British brand where the entire product is designed and manufactured in the UK, with absolutely zero animal testing or ingredients, plus an absolutely stunning design (24 carat gold printing!), faultless formula and on top of all of that it's good for your nails too ..then Jacava is a direction to look in! I cannot speak highly enough of this brand. Yes, I'll admit that a bottle does cost quite a bit over the average price that I'd happily spend on a nail varnish, but the colour is gorgeous and you definitely do get what you pay for, especially as it is not damaging or weakening to the nail in any way. This '8-Free' nail varnish is nothing short of amazing. 

Jacava '8-Free' nail varnish is available from Jacava.com or Feelunique.com for £14.50 / 12ml.

Thanks for reading!

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* (c/o) Jacava

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Cosmetic Crave has been shortlisted for 'Best New Beauty Blog'

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Monthly Favourites | July

It was quite a difficult task to pick out a bunch of favourites for the month of July, and I even considered not doing a favourites post this month because it was so hard to rack my brains and think of particular things that I've been enjoying using. In general I've been feeling very unmotivated, uninspired and everything in my life seems to be a little lackluster at the moment - yuck! Hopefully the dull grey cloud will lift from over my head asap and I can get back to normal again. (I suspect that it's the 'all work and no play' routine I've got into that has triggered this feeling).

I didn't want to break the tradition and miss out one of my favourite types of posts 

..so here is my July Favourites:

Original Source Shower Gel - Pink Grapefruit

Obviously not a life changing product - a shower gel. But I really wanted to mention this new seasonal edition from Original Source, mainly because of the heavenly scent! These can be found nationwide in the likes of Asda and Wilkinsons for just £1 each! (They're the two stores I've seen them for that price, there may be more places). They're a pretty standard formula as far as shower gels go and lather up to a nice mountain of bubbles to leave you feeling fresh, but I just adore the zingy and sugary fruity scent of this one. Why have I never known how good pink grapefruit smells before? It's really invigorating and for just £1 it's well worth sprucing up your shower with some yummy fruitiness.

Tresemme Keratin Smooth Deep Conditioning Mask

I have to say I'm not a fan of the matching shampoo and conditioner from this Keratin Smooth range, but the Deep Conditioning Mask is a little something special. It's a fantastic budget intensive treatment for the hair and while the results may not be permanent or long lasting, it offers an instant boost of smoothness to unruly hair. I use this around once a week in addition to a regular conditioner, wrap my hair up and leave this on for about 10 minutes and then rinse it out and find that my hair is instantly much more manageable, softer and smoother. This offers really reliable results if you're after a quick fix for your hair!

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner*

This skincare gem has ranked highly over the past fortnight and following the nightmare of my Liquid Gold and Radiance Renewal running out at the same time (!!) my skin has been flagging and crying out for some AHAs and chemical exfoliation back in it's life. The effects of this toner are by no means as immediate or as intense as those with Alpha H Liquid Gold, but it is a more gentle formula and is suitable to use twice daily, which I have been doing and have loved how much perkier and bright my complexion has been looking following a regular mild exfoliation with this lotion. 

N Spa Melting Gel Cleanser*

I briefly touched upon how much I like this cleanser in my post on the N Spa Beauty & Bathing Rituals, but it definitely deserves more of a mention. This is a super cheap cleanser (£6.00 for the full size, this is a mini) and it feels like you're giving yourself a luxurious spa treatment when using it. It sets off as a thick and oily gel that you rub onto dry skin and it dissolves away all traces of make-up, dirt etc from the skin and then body temperature melts the product down into a thick oil consistency that really helps the skin feel supple and hydrated. When rinsed with water the oil emulsifies to form a milk and washes away to reveal fresh and clean skin. 

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat

Gotta love a rediscovery of an old favourite! This coveted little gold pen stays in it's box most of the time and in a prized position in my make up collection, saved for 'special occasions' - so much so that it hardly ever gets used. I've been pulling it out more frequently over the past few weeks and loving the under eye highlight and general illumination of the face that can be achieved by using this. It really does deserve it's 'holy grail' status. 

Ciate Nail Varnish - Speed Dial and Big Yellow Taxi

What would my monthly favourites be without a mention of nail varnish?! Cosmetic Crave has gone into nail loving overload during July with two Fragrance Direct nail varnish hauls (OPI and Essie, and just Essie), an OPI nails post, a 'nail of the day' with Speed Dial, and a comparison of Big Yellow Taxi with Luis Lemon - Phew! So many nail posts! The two Ciate polishes that I've really been gravitating towards recently are two that I've done posts on recently: Speed Dial and Big Yellow Taxi. They're lovely and bright colours suitable for summer nails and the quality is absolutely faultless.

Seche Vite Top Coat

With nail varnish obsession must come a suitable quick drying high gloss top coat and Seche Vite fits the bill for that. The cream of the crop in top coats, this clear gloss adds an almost gel like finish to any quality of nail varnish with a high shine gloss, it dries completely in a matter of minutes and can last up to a week with no major chips and only tip wear. It's fantastic!

Sorry for the lack of enthusiasm at the very start of this post - I promise I'll cheer up soon!
Thanks for reading anyway.

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*PR Samples

Voting is open for the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards 2013

Cosmetic Crave has been shortlisted for 'Best New Beauty Blog'

Spare a minute to vote for your favourite blog(s) here:

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