Dare I say it, the weather has started to move away from freezing-arctic and is becoming a little more spring-like (I have probably jinxed it now I'm so sorry). While it's probably not quite time to pack up all your wooly jumpers just yet, it doesn't mean that you can't embrace something a bit lighter and brighter in your makeup! Spring is all about bright pops of colour, and nothing goes better with that than a glowing complexion. But if you're like me and your skin hasn't quite come out of hibernation yet, theBalm are on hand to give you a radiance boost with the Mary-Lou Manizer.
Let me start by saying whoa mama! This stuff is potent. The website claims that it "diffuses light so your skin looks softer and younger while adding a subtle glow." The website should also come with a warning that you only need a teeny tiny dusting of powder to achieve this; I kid you not, my first attempt at using the Mary-Lou Manizer resulted in my cheekbones giving off more light than the sun. A duo-fibre brush like the Real Techniques Duo Fibre Contour Brush would help to avoid this, as it only picks up a small amount of product.
Colour-wise this product has a lovely honey tone to it, which really helps to lift the face and would suit most skin shades. The colour also makes it perfect for layering over a neutral eyeshadow to give a soft shimmer, and as a highlight in the inner-corner of the eye. As for the texture, this baby is so buttery soft that it practically melts on contact - no chalkiness here! I haven't found that it exaggerates pores either, which is always a risk with high-shimmer products.
The Mary-Lou Manizer is priced at £16, which for something so high quality and versatile I think is very reasonable. Not to mention it will last you a good while! So if your skin is feeling a tad lacklustre, I can't recommend it enough.
Have you tried Mary-Lou?
This little gem of an eyeliner has somehow managed to go relatively undetected on the blogging radar. I've seen lots of talk about the new Bourjois Mega Liner, and the L'oreal Superliners in Perfect Slim and Blackbuster also got many a compliment when they launched. But for me, the Rimmel Glam'Eyes Liquid Eyeliner is the one that I keep coming back to, time and time again.
For starters, this bad boy is black. And I mean, black. A lot of felt-tip eyeliners I have tried end up looking a bit grey or blue if you don't do more than one coat, which isn't ideal when you're aiming for a classic feline flick. It also doesn't transfer onto the upper eyelid, something that I've definitely had trouble with when using the L'oreal Perfect Slim liner. Although the teeny tiny brush might not be suited to everyone's tastes (especially if you're just starting out in the world of liquid liner), I actually find it far easier to use than the alternatives. Pencil, gel or felt-tip liners tend to tug on my eyelids, leaving more of a zig-zag than a smooth line. Not a zig-zag in sight with Glam'Eyes though! The thin, liquid formula and skinny brush glide over the eyelid like a dream, rather than tugging on the skin and leaving a wobbly mess. The formula also works excellently over the top of eyeshadows, where felt-tips often get clogged and ruined. The lasting power is impressive too - in fact I've woken up after a night out with my eyeliner still very much in tact!
I can understand why a lot of people won't get on with this product. The brush can be a little fiddly if you're not used to it, and the formula isn't as forgiving as a gel liner. For me though, nothing beats this if you're after a classic flick. Not to mention that it's only £5.29!
What's your favourite liner?
