Thursday 21 February 2013

Lee Stafford "Hair that never grows past a certain length" treatment review


I first bought this product about a year ago after reading loads of beauty blogs that said it does wonders for your hair. The name instantly got my attention, it’s not the most imaginative title but I’m sure a lot of people have the same problem of hair that NEVER grows!

I went straight to boots and shelled out £7.99 for a 200ml tub. I personally love the packaging the hot pink tub makes it stand out amongst the other products I have in my bathroom. It states that it helps your hair grow faster, improves the volume and feel of the hair and improves the condition of your hair. My hair is not in the best shape, I’ve been dying it blonde for around 7 years and it simply refuses to grow. I’ve tried so many treatments that have may have slightly improved the condition of my hair but have not resulted in hair growth. Needless to say, I wasn’t convinced it would actually make my hair grow longer but I thought I would give it a go anyway.


Application
It is suggested that you use the treatment after shampooing and before conditioning. You are to use an egg sized amount and massage it into your hair from roots to ends and leave for 5 minutes (which can be quite tedious standing in the shower staring at the bathroom door). 
The tub states that you are to use the treatment every time you wash your hair until hair growth improves. The problem with this is you have to use a fairly large amount to cover the whole of your hair each time, the tub isn’t that large so it only last a few weeks. As it is quite expensive I would recommend buying 3 tubs when there is a 3 for 2 offer on to save you some money. I'm often in a rush in the mornings so don't have time to stand about in the shower so it doensn't get used everyday.The smell of this is AMAZING and lasts throughout the day.

Results
As I said, I’ve been using this for about a year now and have gone through quite a few tubs. I definitely wouldn’t say that this treatment has made my hair grow sadly BUT it has improved the condition of my hair and I love how soft and shiny it makes it. I have also noticed it feeling much stronger, something I have had problems with in the past.

Overall, I would recommend anyone who has hair growth problems to try out this product. It may not work wonders for me but I put this down to my hair being beyond repair-I’m sure other people would see much better results than I have.  It has definitely improved the condition of my hair so that in itself makes me continue using it.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this review and if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment.


MAC Pro Palette Preferred Pinks Review


I could not be more excited about my new MAC pro lip palette (Preferred Pinks). Packaged in a hand held transparent palette which closes magnetically and of course wouldn't be MAC without their statement vanilla essence, it could not be more practical for slipping in to your clutch or make up bag.
                                

MAC brought out the palette firstly in MAC Pro stores in August 2012 then later online in October. There are five different colored palettes (Containing Reds, Oranges,  Plums, Browns and Pinks). Each with six different shades. 
The palette provides a mixture of shades and textures including Violetta (amplified creme), Show Orchid (amplified creme), Creme de la Femme (frost), Lovelorn (lustre), Please me (matte) and Pretty Please (lustre). Each pan of lipstick is less than you’d get in a tube, however, it gives you a good idea of which shade is your favourite before you splurge on the real deal. 
I wasn’t sure whether you were meant to use your finger to apply the lipstick and when I tried it didn't provide the coverage that I wanted. I struggled to get any color on my finger without numerous attempts. I was lucky enough to have my MAC lip brush 318 on standby. Using a lip brush sealed the deal and resulted in some seriously voluptuous lips. I would say one application lasts for 2-3 hours before having to touch up.
Pretty Please: A lovely neutral shade which would be perfect for everyday use, you can't go wrong here. I prefer to add a few coats to get the full glossy look but equally looks good with one layer.
Pretty Please

Please Me: I have to say I’m not the biggest fan of matte and was a bit apprehensive of the color itself BUT when I put it on it felt and looked very natural. I would suggest to wear this for work or an interview. 
Pretty Please, Please Me, Lovelorn, Creme de la Femme, Show Orchid and Violetta.

Lovelorn: Not much I can say other than I LOVE lovelorn. All it makes me want to do is pout. It applies evenly and smoothly no matter how much you use, I think I will purchase the lipstick.

Lovelorn


Creme de la Femme: A cool pink with hints of gold shimmer and purple. I will wear it but its not my favourite.

Show Orchid

Show Orchid and Violetta: Now where to start with these two Vibrant and out there colors. I was hesitant to put them both on as I tend not to go to the extreme with bright coloured lips. However I bit the bullet and... I love them both. The Violetta is a warm purple applies smoothly with an intense sheen and the Show Orchid a hot pink with an amplified creme finish. 
Violetta

The great thing about this palette is even if a color or two isn't quite your cup of tea you can mix and match to find a color which is. 

I am wearing a mixture of Violetta and Pretty Please.
You can find these beautiful limited edition palettes online at www.maccosmetics.com priced at £35. Considering one lipstick ranges from £14-£15.50 and your getting SIX (that’s without creating your own). That is what “wee” would call an ultimate purchase.



Wednesday 20 February 2013

MAC Lipstick Review


I’ve been a huge fan of MAC lipsticks for as long as I can remember and I’m pretty addicted to lipsticks in general. I’d almost go as far as saying that I rarely leave the house without it on! MAC is my go to brand for a good quality, long lasting lipstick. I can’t resist a nude or light pink lip and these shades are definitely dominating my make up bag just now.

These are the lipsticks that we currently own (along with a sizeable amount of empties *sob sob*).



Ravishing, Brave Red, Snob, Chatterbox, Gaga, Nicki

Brave Red (cremesheen)
This is a deep red shade that is bound to get you noticed on a night on the tiles! The cremesheen finish gives your lips a striking glossy shine and medium coverage. Personally, I prefer lipsticks with a relatively matte finish as I find glossy lipsticks a bit high maintenance on a night out. The staying power is amazing, having to only top up every few hours or so. Overall, this is a fantastic, bold red that I would definitely recommend.

Me wearing Brave Red and Kirsty wearing Pretty Please 

Snob (satin)
Now, where to start with this one? Snob is my absolute favourite shade MAC, or any other brand has to offer and it is always kept in my make-up bag. As I said I’m a huge fan of light pink shades and this one is perfect. The satin finish doesn't have such a creamy consistency that cremesheen does and is slightly more glossy than matte, a perfect combination in my eyes.  As snob is a fairly bright pink, steer clear if you’ve overdone the fake tan if you want to avoid looking like a walking Barbie doll. I often wear it during the day in which case I’ll only apply a subtle amount, if I’m going out I’ll apply more. That’s the beauty of many MAC shades, they’re buildable.

Me wearing Snob
Viva Glam-Gaga (satin)
Around 2 years ago I was obsessed with this lipstick and went through 4 tubes. It’s the perfect shade for a night out, or even during the day. It’s hydrating so doesn’t dry out your lips. The more dramatic the look you’re going for, the more you apply. It’s fairly similar to Snob but I grew tired of wearing it after so long. I definitely recommend this shade.

Viva Glam-Nicki (satin)
A lot of people like to compare Nicki and Gaga but in my eyes they are two completely different shades. It is a very bold neon pink shade which you have to be pretty brave to wear. I can’t say I am (hence the love of pale pinks and nudes) so it hasn’t had many wears unfortunately. It does have amazing staying power though. It is pretty drying on the lips so it’s not for everyone.

Chatterbox (amplified)
I got this shade for my birthday a few years ago and I think it is an ideal shade to wear for a night out or in the summer.  The amplified finish is similar to cremesheen but longer lasting. It is a bright, red-pink so it is easy to wear and quickly adds a dash of colour to the face that is not too overwhelming. It applies very easily and is very pigmented so only a few applications are needed to complete your look.

Ravishing (cremesheen)
Ravishing is a light peachy coral shade, ideal for the Autumn months. I really don’t suit shades like this as it washes me out too much. Overall, a nice shade if it suits you, perfect for everyday wear.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this review and if you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation Review



It would only be fitting to do our first review on Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation as it is an absolute staple item in both our make-up bags. I first bought Double Wear in the summer of 2011 in Fenwicks in Newcastle and was matched to Ivory Beige (3N2). I decided to buy it after a recommendation by my sister who worked in Jenners and had heard raving reviews about it. Kirsty has been using MAC studio sculpt for years and has even been converted! I can safely say I have never looked back. I think I've went through about 8 bottles now! It comes in 30 different shades so has a good range to cover most people’s skin colours. Double Wear claims to last for 15 hours, staying fresh and natural through heat, humidity and nonstop activity. The question is does it meet these 
claims?

 Staying Power
Granted, I was a bit sceptical at first about the staying power of the foundation as I had failed to find another foundation that I can wear all day without it sliding off my face before lunchtime, however it certainly doesn't disappoint.  I can put it on in the morning before uni/work and besides the occasional brush of power over my t-zone, (usually MAC blotting powder) to get rid of any shiny-ness, it pretty much looks the same when I get home for dinner. It doesn't rub off on clothes either. I even wore it on ridiculously hot and humid nights out Thailand and it managed to stay put, amazing!



The Foundation
Double Wear has a fairly thick consistency compared to other foundations I’ve tried. It is an oil free foundation so it is a definite no go for people with dry skin. For people with oily skin, like me, it is perfect. I apply Double Wear with my Real Techniques buffing brush (will do a review on these brushes soon!) and Kirsty uses her MAC foundation brush (107). I use a small amount on the back of my hand. Estee Lauder describes Double Wear as a medium coverage but I would definitely say that it is a maximum coverage foundation. You can build it up depending on your preference. That said, I wouldn’t recommend it to people who like the “fresh faced” look as this is definitely not the foundation for you. It covers all my blemishes and imperfections and is not the most natural looking foundation.  I always apply the Double Wear concealer before I apply the foundation (more on this later). Double Wear has an SPF of 10, it is commonly said that foundations containing SPF make you look less than flattering in photos as it can make your face look lighter than your body as it reflects light from the flash. After over 2 and a half years of wearing it, I disagree. What I would say that if you are not used to such a full coverage foundation then it may feel a little heavy on the skin but without this then it would not achieve such great results.
Pebble, Wheat and Outdoor Beige
Kirsty-mid-application
Kirsty-Double Wear Applied
Price
Double Wear retails at £27.50 for 30 ml. At first I thought this was a ridiculous price for a foundation but I’m a firm believer that if you’re going to splurge on any cosmetic item, it should be foundation. It sets my face and makes the rest of my make up look better as a result. It also lasts for a good while. I usually buy a bottle every 3 months or so but bear in mind that this is my everyday foundation so it gets used a lot. What I would suggest, if you like Double Wear obviously, is to try a variation of shades by getting samples. I’ve been using it for years and still have to find the perfect shade for me. I tend to change my shade through the seasons. I’m currently wearing Wheat (3N2) and think its a pretty good match. Kirtsy is wearing pebble (3C2).
Estee Lauder frequently has promotions where if you buy two products you get a free gift. I would definitely suggest taking advantage of these offers as they are fantastic (We will be doing a review on more Estee Lauder products soon)

Packaging
I’m not going to sit on the fence here. I hate the bottle Double Wear comes in. It is frosted so you can’t see how much you have left and there is no pump so you have to spill it on to your hand often leaving you pouring more than you want and wasting it (I recommend buying the MAC pump for £3.50 to save you a lot of hassle). I do think the bottle looks quite sophisticated but aesthetics aren’t everything. That said, I think it speaks for itself when the only real complaints I have about Double Wear is the packaging!

Overall, we both think that Double Wear is a brilliant foundation and is definitely worth the hype.

Phew...and there is our first proper blog post :)  If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment and we will get back to you.


Wednesday 13 February 2013

Our First Blog Post!

Joanna and Kirsty
Welcome to our blog "What "wee" love"- a witty (or not) reference to the fact we are both Scottish and vertically challenged. 

"wee" are Kirsty and Joanna. Kirsty works in social media and Joanna is a law student.

We have decided to start our own blog after following other beauty and lifestyle bloggers for a while now. We both have a massive addiction to beauty products and fashion. As a result, we've got a growing collection of make up, beauty products, clothes and shoes we want to write about. We will also be blogging about food, travel and all things lifestyle related. 

Please follow us on twitter: @WhatWeeLove and instagram: @whatweeloveKJ

We hope you enjoy reading our blog.