Rimmel Lasting Finish Colour Rush Balm Review

When I found out that Rimmel would be releasing a new range of lip products at the start of October, I knew that I would have to check them out. Although Rimmel have released new shades for their lasting perfection lipsticks, it was the colour rush balms that I was excited to try out.

'Not An Illusion'

With a whole range to choose from, I decided to go for the shade called 'Not An Illusion' because I am a huge fan of nude/pink lip colours. I also thought that this would be perfect to wear on a daily basis, so I didn't want to try out anything to bold or bright. 

  Lip balms with colour in them are a new product to me. Before now I was regularly using lipstick or Vasaline and so the thought of something new excited me. 

  I've been really impressed with this product, right from the start of using it. The balm is so hydrating on the lips and applies so well. I like that the product looks like a massive colouring pencil as it makes putting it on so much easier. Also regarding the packaging, I love that the colour of it reflects the colour of the balm, which makes knowing what colour it is much easier. I was also worried that the balm would leave my lips feeling sticky, but I'm pleased to report that this hasn't been the case. 

As well as not feeling sticky, I was also surprised at how much colour are actually in these things. I was expecting a slight tint, but as it says on the packaging, the product really does give your lips a real colour boost.
  The fragrance that a product gives off can sometimes put me off. Happily I love the smell of these balms, they smell like vanilla essence and are super sweet. Just like the price. At only £5.49 each they are so affordable and competitive with the other products out there.

 Perhaps the only disappointing thing with this product is that it doesn't last that long on the lips. I find myself having to regularly reapply this balm, but maybe that should be expected as it is only a balm. However, this small inconvenience isn't enough to put me off this product, it is still very good.  

I've been wearing this product almost everyday throughout the month and have been seriously impressed with it, so next time you walk past the Rimmel products, I suggest you give this little gem a try!

Beauty Haul

A few months ago I shared my recent purchases in a mini beauty haul. Since then however, I've found myself to have brought even more products from both Boots and Superdrug so I thought that I would share these. Some of the products I brought here were also in my other haul post, but these are repurchases and so I have included them to illustrate just how much I love them!

Firstly I went into Superdrug. On this trip I knew that I needed to pick up a few essentials and one of them was the orange and satsuma shower gel. I brought this product in my last haul and have used every last drop so a repurchase was necessary. It was so cheap at only 89p and it smells gorgeous. It is also really refreshing and lovely to use in the morning shower, even if this scent is not for you Superdrug have a huge range of scents to try out.

Another essential purchase for me was these cotton buds. I got these for 99p and they will probably last me a while considering there were 200 in this pack. They are a lifesaver for correcting any makeup mistakes such as eyeliner and mascara smudges and also for removing nail varnish from the skin if needed.

When I was at school Bic made pens. Apparently they now make razors aswell and these ones pictured above were my last unglamorous purchase. The colour of them was probably the deciding factor in buying them although they aren't actually a bad razor. They're called the Bic soleil lady and for a pack of 4 cost something like £2-£3

With the Autumn/Winter season officially here, I've been on the lookout for deep shades of lipstick to wear throughout the season. I've been a big fan of the Kate Moss lipsticks from Rimmel, although I was rather late to jump onto the bandwagon. However, in Boots recently I picked up this shade, 107 (wine) and have fallen in love with it. It cost around £5.49 which is a reasonable price for this type of product. 

I was also aware that Rimmel have recently brought out a new range of lip balms as well as some new lipsticks to their 'moisture renew' collection. Eager to try some of these products out I went into Boots and picked up one of the colour rush balms. A sucker for pink/nude shades I decided to try out the shade 'Not An Illusion' and I'm sure a review will be coming up soon. I think this also cost around the £5.49 mark. 

What I love about shopping in both Superdrug and Boots is that they always seem to have some amazing deals on. During my shopping trip, Boots were giving away a free Rimmel Scandal Eyes Lycra Flex mascara when you spent £10 or over on Rimmel products. As I had picked up the two lip products I got this free when usually it retails at around £7-£8 so this was a real bargain. 

So my lip product collection is expanding and I am falling more and more in love with Rimmel products, I'm already looking forward to my next shopping trip!

October 2013 Favourites

I say this every month but I cannot believe how quickly October has gone. There are now only 2 more months left of 2013 and that is one scary thought. Here are the things that I have been loving this month!

Beauty/Makeup:

Rimmel Colour Rush Balm in 'Not An Illusion'

When I found out that Rimmel were releasing some new lip products into their range I knew that I had to try these out. I picked up the shade 'Not An Illusion' and with a retail price of £5.49 they are so affordable. I've worn this product most days as the shade I brought is a light pink and is perfect for everyday wear. I plan on expanding my collection of these balms because they are so hydrating yet also give your lips a real colour boost.

Kate Moss Matte Lipstick in 'Wine'

Having been looking for new lipstick shades to try out when I came across this little beauty in the Rimmel range I knew I had to try it. I've seen it on other people and love that it fits perfectly with the Autumn/Winter season. Like with the other Kate Moss lipsticks in the Rimmel range the product applies so easily and evenly, and it is so hydrating. Also retailing at £5.49 it means that I continue to buy them because they are such a bargain. 

Fashion:

New Look Printed Top

Prior to this month, I had not brought new clothes in such a long time. So this month, with some money to spend and some time to waste in New Look I decided that I was going to treat myself. (I was also going out the night I went shopping so needed an outfit to wear.) The first thing I brought and have loved this month is this spaghetti styled strap top with this aztec pattern on it. I love the bright colours from the red to the blue to the purple and although it may not be the most practical in terms of keeping warm I know I can layer this with cardigans and also wear it next season. It cost £12.99 from New Look.  

Leather Sleeveless Jacket

Another of my cheeky purchases from New Look was this leather jacket. When I tried this on alongside the top I fell in love with it and knew that I would have to buy it. However it is sleeveless which may not be great for the Winter, but again I'm sure I can layer this up with jumpers or cardigans to make it a bit more suitable. I also only paid £11 for it, as it was in the sale and originally cost £24.99 and I couldn't leave it. 

Denim Skater Skirt

My final purchase and another favourite of mine this month has been this denim skater skirt, also from New Look. It is so comfortable and versatile and I was surprised that I didn't already have one in my wardrobe. I love the colour of the denim and the fact that it can be worn with tights or alone in the summer and I can see this being a staple in my wardrobe for a long time. Also it was another bargain at £14.99, and so it had to come home with me. 

Scarves 

Finally in terms of fashion items, I have really been loving wearing scarves as the weather gets cooler. In particular I have loved this printed scarf which I got at the beginning of the winter last season because I love the bird print and also the colours. 

Food/Drink:

Wrigley's Extra Mints

A bit of a random food favourite this month has been the peppermint mints from Wrigley's. They are so refreshing and much more practical than chewing gum and leave my mouth feeling really clean and fresh. A lifesaver if you've had a particular smelly sandwich at lunch time or anything with garlic or onion in it. You get 16 in a pack for around 40p, so you get more for your money than with gum. 

Pitta with hummus & pepper

Another food favourite this month is this combination of hummus, pitta bread and red pepper. I've found myself reaching for this during lunch breaks and have occasionally enjoyed this as my evening meal if I am not feeling that hungry. I buy a pre-made pot of hummus, costing 99p from Morrisons and a pack of pittas for 70p. I then toast the pittas in the toaster and cut up the pepper, and then dip them both into the hummus whilst eating. I've also found breaded chicken strips to be delicious with this and I've also eaten these foods with guacamole as well on occasions.

Games:

4 Pics 1 Song
There haven't been that many games that I've really enjoyed this month and I haven't really had the time to find some, but I have been enjoying the 4 Pics 1 Song game. Basically you are given 4 pictures which give you clues to a word which will be the name of a song. They get harder as you progress through the levels and the developers are always introducing new levels so I am no where near completing it yet. Admittedly I have googled the answers once or twice because some of them are really hard, but I have enjoyed playing overall. 

Dumb Ways To Die
I recently discovered this game on the Apple App store whilst browsing through the top categories. This game is strangely addicting, and the purpose of it is to stop the characters in the game from dying. You earn points and then the points unlocks new characters on the 'home' screen of the game. So for example, one of the ways you have to stop the character from dying is by swatting the wasps off the screen with your finger so that the character isn't stung to death. It is a strange game, but one that I've found to be a good time waster.

Music

Bastille- Of The Night
I am a massive fan of Bastille and I absolutely love their cover of 'Of The Night.' I'm not a massive fan of the original song, but there is something about the vocals of Bastille that I love and I have had this song on repeat although I was only introduced to it towards the end of the month. 

Conor Maynard- R U Crazy
This is another song which I have had on repeat throughout the month. I love the bridge in this song, especially the first one and I've turned it up every time I have heard it on the radio. It took me a couple of attempts to get the words right at the bridge but I think I've finally nailed it. Woo. 

Scouting For Girls- The Light Between Us
I've always been a fan of albums and would much prefer to have a physical CD as opposed to a download. I have a fairly large album collection and so I love it when I rediscover an album that I haven't listened to in a while. This month I have rediscovered Scouting For Girls' album The Light Between Us and have honestly fallen in love with it all over again. My favourite songs from the album are 'Snakes & Ladders', 'Rocky Balboa' and 'Somebody New.' 

Films/TV:

The Guardian
I am a huge Ashton Kutcher fan and so I'm always keen to watch the films that he has starred in. I realised that I had never seen The Guardian and borrowed it off a friend to watch. Admittedly it did take me a long while to finally get round to watching it, but I seriously loved it when I did. I never usually cry at films and this film nearly, but not quite got me. That is quite some achievement. Basically the film centres around a coast guard and the training of Ashton Kutcher to become a coast guard. Honestly, the film is much better than I just described it and I can't believe that it's taken me this long to watch it.

The Magaluf Weekender
One TV program that I have watched throughout October is The Magaluf Weekender. Basically this is a 'reality series' which follows a bunch of reps at a hotel in Magaluf. Every weekend a two new groups of people check into the hotel and the cameras follow what they get up to. i.e. Getting very drunk and trying to 'pull.' It is entertaining to watch and there is always drama between the reps too and it is really is just easy viewing. I think the series has now ended, but it will be returning for it's third season next year. 

8 Out of 10 Cats
I love this program. 8 out of 10 cats is basically a comedy panel show all about statistics and opinion polls and the news and is hosted by comedian Jimmy Carr. It has nothing to do with cats apart from if they've been in the news, but it is so funny and a good way to start the weekend. They've also recently made their own version of Countdown which was hilarious, but now I think they are back to the standard format of the show. 

These are just some of the things that I have been loving this month. I'm really looking forward to seeing what will be included in my November favourites, especially because I know I will be shopping more with Christmas just around the corner!