theBalm Mary Lou Manizer Review

theBalm is a brand that I have admired from a distance for so long now, I have no idea why it has taken me this long to even try one of their products!
The packaging and naming of their products has always been something that has caught my eye when browsing sites such as Asos and Feel Unique and along with the fairly reasonable pricing they seem to have got their marketing on point.

I was extremely excited when theBalm recently contacted me and asked if I want to try out a few of their best selling products - of course I leaped at the chance (who wouldn't) and have been in awe of their awesomeness ever since!

theBalm Mary Lou Manizer*

I am such a highlight lover. For years now I have been constantly buying and looking for products to give my skin that radiant look that celebritys seem to rock with ease!

The Mary Lou Manizer (told you the names were genius) is a gorgeous pearly powder highlight which comes in a cute little compact with a handy mirror.

 I have been using this both under and over the top of my foundation to create a pretty honey hued glow for both everyday looks and my full-face "going out" make-up!

My favourite places to put it is on the apples on my cheeks sweeping up towards my temples, down the center of my nose and under my eyebrows!

Giving my skin a slight shimmer and dewy radiant glow this powder is definitely perfect for anyone's complexion, it gives the skin a softer and younger and it has gone straight into my everyday make-up bag to hang out with my other favourite highlighters!

This 8.5g compact is £16 - a middle of the road price overall I'd say but the quality in both product and packaging is much better than anything you'd get on the high street and I can tell this is going to be a product that lasts and lasrs!

If you are looking for a new highlighter or maybe thinking about treating someone for their birthday or Christmas I highly recommend this one! It isn't too OTT and you can build it up so easily - top marks to thebalm babes!

What are your favourite highlighters? Would you like to see my top picks for highlighters?

Like this post? Follow A Yellow Brick Blog on  Bloglovin so you never miss a thing!



To see videos check out A Yellow Brick Vlog on YouTube

Seventeen Skin Wow! Tan Liquid Glow Review

Seventeen are a brand I have been loving this past year - one of my favourite products that I have gone on and on about time and time again has been the Skin Wow highlighter (review here) and they've only gone and done it again with the Skin Wow Tan Liquid Glow

As the skin wow highlighter was one of my favourite beauty finds of 2013 this was a no-brainer - I had to try it out.
When I saw it I immediately thought  to myself oooo first a highbeam dupe and now a sunbeam - and I was not far wrong although this product is more of a bronze shade than a gold!

Like the Skin Wow Highlighter this stuff has multiple uses for making you look glowing and fabulous!
 You can use it on your cheekbones to help give yourself a lifting, flattering summer shimmer (my personal fav), to help contour or even mix with your moisturiser and give your legs a gorgeous tanned sheen!
The photo does make it look a little orange - it isn't! Once blended in it gives a lovely healthy looking glow!

I think this product is going to be so perfect for the upcoming spring and summer months (not long to go now!) when we can all emphasize our tan's and healthy looking skin! Right now I may be a little too pale (although with a bit of foundation and fake tan I'm thinking I can use this also as a highlighter type product under my bronzer) but roll on summer where I'll probably be rocking this head to toe!

I am loving Seventeen - loads of their new products are becoming staples in my make-up bag, I can't wait to see what they come out with in 2014!

 GFC | Bloglovin | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Tumblr

Indeed Labs Retinol Reface Review

Another product from Indeed labs today! I love my Hydraluron ALOT so I thought I'd try out something else from this new innovative brand!
Up today is the Retinol Reface - a skin resurfacer cream with a cutting edge forumla!

As Indeed Labs have 1/3 off at Boots at the moment I thought it was the perfect time to pick up this product I had been eyeing up for a while. Instead for the £19.99 price tag I paid only just over £13!

This serum has a list as long as my arm of benefits which is what got me interested in the first place. These incude - to increase cell turnover, to reduce the appearance of fine lines, to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, restore skin's radiance, reduce the signs of aging and improve the skin's tone and elasticity. 

Alng with all those benefits the number one reason I picked this up because it promised to give me softer and smoother skin - what every girl wants right?

This stuff uses different forms of retinol to deliver it's promises so here is a bit of technical talk for you all which I found on the official description of the Retinol Reface. 

 Retinol RA (Rapid Action) : Exclusive rapid action formulated with penetration enhancer that accelerates skin’s activity for rapid results on the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Retinol Micro-spheres : A soft , pure retinol encapsulated in plant microspheres that slowly releases into skin. This retinol has a low irritant potential and maintains all of its efficacy.

Retinol-like peptide : Multi-faceted , anti-ageing , retinol –like peptide technology that provides same benefits as traditional retinol, without the skin irritation and /or discomfort.

RETINOL [R]3 visibly helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, revitalises the appearance of sun damaged skin and restores healthy, younger-looking skin.

Although the word retinol has a bad reputation for side effects I can assure you this stuff is safe to use. Unlike other products this stuff also helps to moisturise your skin which stops the common redness, dryness and peeling in which other retinol products give. 

I apply this nightly after I have done my ritual of using Liz Earle's cleanse and polish followed by the skin tonic. I use about 2 pumps and apply it all over my face in circular motions whilst avoiding my eyes and lips. After it has sunk into the skin I just put on some moisturiser, normally just my Nivea soft cream, over the top and I'm ready for my beauty sleep!

I have been using this stuff for a couple of weeks now and I have actually have 3 seperate people say to me at work that my skin is glowing! 
Maybe it's just because I see myself everyday that I haven't noticed the subtle change but there has got to have been one! 
As for wrinkles I'm keeping a close eye on them and hoping that after a little while I'll see a change. I know I'm only 23 but I still have a few that I'd like to get gone!
My skin is feeling really soft and smooth aswell - just like it promise and the rough pimple patch of skin I once had has slowly started to dwindle away!
Although this stuff is probably aimed at a more mature audience I find it great and will definitely carry on using it!

For just over £13 I am so glad I decided to give this a go, now.... onto the next Indeed Labs product - any recommendations girls and boys?

 GFC | Bloglovin | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Tumblr