⊱ Clinique Naturally Glossy Mascara | Review ⊰

When I was younger, my mother never really had a lot of makeup, but what she did was always gorgeous and it was almost always Estée Lauder. My auntie was always the Clinique one! I've grown up on Estée Lauder's Projectionist and now matter how many 'drugstore' mascaras I bought I always went back to it. 

Well, a few months ago I decided to try some new mascaras - drugstore and 'high-end'. Needless to say my drugstore experiences have never really been good - with one exception. I don't know why I can't find a good drugstore mascara that really works for me but rather than waste money on something I know wouldn't work and I wouldn't use I decided to give Clinique's High Impact a try seeing as it seemed to be so crazy popular on YouTube. 

(I might actually do a post on my favourite mascaras and maybe one on the worst ones that I have ever had the misfortune of encountering.)

The night before however I changed my mind and decided to look into the Naturally Glossy as the description seemed to fit exactly what I really wanted. 

"Lifts, Lifts, lengthens, and separates lashes. Lashes stay silky, pliant, clump-and flake-free through multiple coats. Bushy, easy-to-use brush"

Top - Bare
Middle - 1 coat
 Bottom - 2 coats

 Perfect! I wanted something to enhance my lashes but not for it to look like I tried really hard to make it happen. I've read some reviews of people saying that their lashes didn't feel 'glossy' or enhanced in any way different to other mascaras but I disagree. I've owned this for well over four months, so its approaching its expiration and I've had plenty of time to really try it out, up and down.

This is a beautiful mascara to me. It's almost perfection. The brush is my favourite type - and actual brush, not too thick and holds the formula well rather than letting it gloop all over the place (is gloop a word? 'Tis now). My only quibble is that the formula dries out a little quicker than I am used to, but at the same time that is the reason I am able to get my lashes the way I want for regular wear. It gives me those subtle maybe-I-was-born-with-these lashes but also the option to go for something more dramatic without me getting sloppy mascara everywhere. One thing I can't stand is a really runny mascara. I like having control of the mascara - as my tool - the way it was intended and the Naturally Glossy is perfect in this sense. 

Left - Bare, Right - 2 Coats

My favourite will always be Estée Lauder's Projectionist, but the Naturally Glossy is my current go-to, especially at only £16 compared to EL's £19.50. I now use my Clinique almost daily and I honestly don't know what I would do without it!

⊱ Poppy King 'Raindrops' Lip Crayon | Review ⊰

I had been eyeing these for a while but never really got around to getting them but since Boots started their half-price clearout on No7 make-up I figured it was the perfect time to have a butchers and see if they were in on the promotion.

They were!

Eager to get them before they sold out, I ordered two with Next Day Delivery: "Skipping" and "Smiling". The packaging is nice, matching the shade of the lip crayon with the addition of raindrops - that is the title of the collection after all!

The lip crayons come with a sharpener on the lid which I'm very thankful for as it is a thoughtful addition. It adds convenience to the crayons as if you were to take them out with you, if they did need sharpening, you'd be able to do it there and then rather than having to search for a sharpener! I only wonder how they will turn out when I eventually have to sharpen them ^_^ (note - open with care, don't be heavy handed like I was and dismantle the sharpener straight away)

I have always preferred these types of 'chubbier' lip pencils or crayons because I think they tend to cooperate with my lips better and these definitely reinforced that thought!

As they are described by Poppy, they really do give you a silky smooth, moisturising sheen of colour.



Of the two that I bought I think my favourite is "Skipping" as it looks like a deep red in the pencil but it comes out as a really subtle, beautiful nude to pink tint. It really does look like my lips, but better!

"Smiling" is a bolder shade, the type you would probably wear with simpler make-up so that the attention would be to the fantastic colour on your lips. I also found that mixing the two together a little   also gives a nice healthy tint to the lips.


Overall I think these lip crayons are beautifully made and definitely worth the usual £11.50 price tag. They are even more enticing now that they are half price! 

Another set of 'chubby' lip crayons I have my eye on are the Clinique Chubby Sticks which retail for £16.00. I've been very impressed with Clinique lately (post coming!) and I'm almost certain these won't disappoint!

Pros:  Soft on the lips, moisturising, simple, no parabens,
Cons: None really - for some maybe the amount of shades (5)