I would like to state to begin with; I never really use flat foundation brushes. The only time that I've ever really used them is back when I just wanted something to dab a bit of foundation on my face before I buffed it in with something else. It's not that I don't like them, it's more that I just prefer using something that has a wider surface area as it feels like it's doing more at a quicker rate.

Last week, however, I was sent the B. Foundation Brush by Product Testing UK as a sample so I could do a review of the product. Despite the fact that I don't particularly like using these brushes, I was more than happy to try it out and give it a fair test.
 For starters, I quite like the packaging that it is sold in, more for the information on the back of the product. Being a more low end make-up brush, only costing about £8, I feel like a portion of the people that it will attract will be people who are maybe just starting out using brushes in make-up. Thus, I thought it was quite useful to have a little guide on how to use it on the back. Also, it tells you how to best look after your make-up brushes, which I wish I had known more about when I first started applying my make-up as a teenager.

In terms of the build of brush, the 100% synthetic bristles feel fairly soft and quite firm, which I definitely feel you need with a foundation brush. I wouldn't say it's as comfortable to use as what I would normally use, mainly because the bristles are perhaps that little bit harsher and for reasons that I will explain below. I do like the actual handle on the brush as I feel that it is the perfect thickness to hold in my hand, making it comfortable to move and generate the circular motions you need to buff the foundation in. It has a smooth paint over the handle, which doesn't irritate your fingers and generally just makes it easy to hold.
 Now getting down to the actual use of the product. I'll be totally honest, I wasn't particularly impressed. I found that it took a lot longer than it usually does to apply my foundation and buff it into my skin to give a nice, flawless finish. Despite the fact that I used the same amount of foundation that I normally would, I actually found myself feeling like I needed to apply more to my face because it just didn't seem to give the same coverage. Whether this is because the brush was picking up more of the foundation than what I'm used to, or because it just wasn't buffing it the same way, it just didn't give the finish that I wanted. And, because of the fact I had to keep buffing for quite a while to get the finish I wanted, I found my skin getting irritated by the bristles on the brush, making my face redder and more difficult to judge whether or not I had the right finish I wanted. One good quality that I found with this brush is, because of the flattened tip, it was a lot easier to get into the nooks and crannies in my face; around my nose, the corner of my eye, etc.

Overall, I'm not the biggest fan. This may be because I have been ruined by my current foundation brush, but overall I don't think I'll be using it again. I may consider using it to apply concealer or liquid contours but, otherwise, I'm really just not that impressed with the finish it gives or the time it takes to buff my foundation in.

If you're interested in beauty product testing, click here!

Have you tried any of the B. beauty brushes? What are your thoughts on flat foundation brushes? Let me know in the comments below!

When It Rains Cushion | £5.93 & Toile Double Duvet Set | £14.93

I'm really not the most tidy of people and my room isn't exactly the largest considering it has to house two adults and a majority of their belongings (including a desktop computer, camera equipment, and somewhere for us to sleep). For a while now, our room has felt a bit dingy and, because of this, we've both lacked the motivation to make sure the floor remains clear, the bed gets made and random crap isn't all over the place. It was always a chore trying to navigate through the clothes, the computer cables and so on.

As some of you may know, I work for a company called Homebase in the UK and I always get tempted to purchase the little knick-knacks that we sell in our Home World section. I'm a bit of an impulse buyer, and so you can guarantee that I will see something, fall in love with it and then put it to one side to buy at the end of the day. At work, at the moment, we are running a mass clearance sale on a large amount of lighting, homeware and gardening products. You can see how the whole 'impulse buyer' and 'clearance sale' thing can pose a bit of a problem here.

So. I may have ended up completely re-accessorizing our bedroom.

The colour theme we had before was a deep red tone, which was nice to begin with, but it got dull pretty quickly and it just made the room seem even smaller. So, I decided that we needed to lighten the place up and bit and give it a fresh, new feel with some blues and greens. I'll post some pictures below and provide the links to the products that are in them, though, some were bought a while ago and may not be available anymore. If that's the case, or I simply cannot find the link, I will try and provide one for something similar.

 Over the past week, I have had a major issue with my skin. I tried out using a product that caused my skin to temporarily turn from being oily/combination skin to being ridiculously dry, to the point where I had to purchase several different skin care products that were more focused on treating dry, flaky skin rather than my usual favourites.This is the product that I think really managed to sort my problems out!

For a comparison shot, check out my FOTD #1 !

 'A Test of Time' is going to be a series in which I test products throughout the day, normally whilst I'm at work, to see how well they hold out. This will go from eyeshadows, eyeliners, foundations, powders, etc. And guess what lucky product gets to go first?! That's right, you guessed it - Nars Sheer Glow in Mont Blanc Light 2.

The photos above and below were taken after a full day of wear, from 5:30am all the way up until 7pm. Now, it is fairly obvious that I am a bit shinier, and you can tell that the foundation has started to sink into those unwanted little nooks within my face. I did notice throughout the day that I became more aware that the lines underneath my eyes and above my cheeks were becoming increasingly more noticeable, to the point that I felt it aged me quite considerably. Though I was able to correct this with a small swipe under my eyes with my fingers, it did make me more paranoid about it as the day wore on. I would like to add that I made sure to set it correctly with powder in the morning, as well as making sure to swipe my primer under there beforehand.

In terms of shine, you know what, I'm actually pretty okay with this. I've definitely had foundations that have done much worse, and I only really felt the need to powder my face once at work and then once as soon as I got home. Though I did feel quite conscious of this, given the fact this is a more dewy foundation, I think it performed pretty well, especially considering the heat today!
I do really like this foundation. It gives a fantastic finish at the beginning of the day, whilst managing to maintain good coverage as the hours wear on. I do have combination skin, and the shine is definitely most noticeable around my t-zone, so it probably would not be the most ideal foundation for someone with oily skin. However, around the sides of my face and the back portion of my cheeks, the foundation is still staying pretty strong, and looks pretty much the same it did this morning when I applied it. So, I would be inclined to say that this is definitely a foundation suited for those with dry skin, though I do not know how well it would cope with flakiness.

And there you are, my first ever 'Test of Time' using Nars Sheer Glow Foundation. I hope you liked this post. Is there anything else you want to know about this foundation? Or is there anything else would you like to see take on the 'Test of Time'? Let me know in the comments below!

So, I was browsing the New In pages on New Look the other day, and decided to post my current wishlist. I normally hate buying clothes, mainly because I feel that high street stores very rarely have products that suit my shape or my style. But, as of late, I'm trying to push myself to actually treat myself every now and again whilst being pushed out of my comfort zone. I spend far too much time worrying about how bad certain parts of me look, rather than just focusing on the presence of the whole. So, I think a bit of a wardrobe overhaul is needed..

Make-up isn't the only thing I frequently feel compelled to throw my money at. My Steam library is pretty much chock-a-block with games that I've felt I needed there and then, but then end up being left to play at a later date. If my library were on a shelf, it would be covered in dust, aside from the from the few empty spaces of the favourites that manage to escape once in while. Occasionally, I feel compelled to try out one of these games, whether it's because I've seen a new Youtube series based on it, or because I've been really struggling to find something to do (more often than not).

Not too long ago, Don't Starve Together, a multiplayer version of the game Don't Starve, was released and this sparked several series to crop up amongst my favourite youtubers. I had played Don't Starve several times before, though not for particularly long periods of time. But, the new release, prompted me to start playing again.

Don't Starve is a game that's title makes it pretty self-explanatory. The idea is not to starve, but that's not the only problem you face. Your character, Wilson in the first instance, wakes up in a randomly generated world with no idea what is going on around him. The only clue provided is a passing comment by a tall man in a dark suit, who vanishes in a puff of smoke the moment Wilson starts to come to.

The mysterious Maxwell addressing a knocked out Wolfgang - The Strongman.

The idea of this game is to survive. You have three measures that you have to keep an eye on; your hunger, your health, and your sanity. If any of these fully deplete, your character dies, never to return unless special measures have been put in place. It may seem simple enough - just find food, explore, build fires and pick some pretty flowers. But, in a world where everything is out to get you, it's really not that simple. From spiders to killer bees, from ravage hounds to enraged trees and the pitch black of night, you will die one way or another. It's just a matter of how long you last.

Don't cut down too many trees. They don't appreciate it.

I've played this game a lot now, mainly in sandbox mode, but there's still a lot of it I have yet to explore. I haven't actually even completed the campaign for this game, I've just been enjoying exploring and trying to survive as long as I can. It's a fantastic game to play, though can be rage inducing if your character dies in some silly way. I can't tell you the number of times I've decided to attack a spider on the spur of the moment, only to be killed by a horde of them because I misjudged just how many there were in the area.

I would definitely recommend this game to anyone, especially if you have friends that would be willing to play with you in 'Don't Starve Together'. It's wonderfully quirky, and fun to play. But, be warned, you may end up spending a bit too much time playing it!

I hope you liked this post! Have you ever played this game? Let me know what you think in the comments below!

I found this tag whilst I was trying to think of the best way to introduce myself on this blog on my first post. I wanted to give you guys a bit more information about the writer, but without forcing you to endure a lengthy post explaining the ins and outs of my life. So, when I stumbled upon this little gem, I thought I might as well give it a go. Plus, after being out of the blogging game for a while, what's the best way of getting back into it? Doing a tag.

1. Are you named after anyone?
   Yes, I am named after my Mum's Great Aunt Jess. My middle name is, also, Jo, which is actually my Mum's first name. 
2. When was the last time you cried?
   Already jumping into the fun questions. Probably a couple of weeks ago? I think.
3. Do you have kids?
   Nope.
4. If you were another person, would you be friends with yourself?
   I'd like to think so, but I'd probably be too awkward to initiate a friendship.
5. Do you use sarcasm a lot?
   Nooo. Never.
6. Will you ever bungee-jump?
   I barely trust myself to jump down three stairs and not hurt myself, let alone off a bridge or a building.
7. What's your favourite cereal?
   I'm actually not much of a cereal fan. I'd probably have to say Cinnamon Grahams, though, but without the milk. I can't stand it when they go soggy.
8. What's the first thing you notice about people?
   Depends. If it's a visual thing, then generally their face, I guess. I don't really notice the small details in the first instance, because I'm just not that observant. If it's a personality thing, probably their attitude towards me. I can be pretty stand-off-ish, though this isn't always on purpose. If you act a certain way around me, my brain tries as hard as it can to just shut the conversation down.
9. What is your eye colour?
   Depends on the lighting. My Mum is adamant that my eye colour is blue, but I'd say they're more of a green/grey tone.
10. Scary movie or happy endings?
    I love scary films, though they seem to be less atmospheric these days and more about the shock factor and jumpscares. But I still like sitting down to a good horror film or a horror game playthrough.
11. Favourite smells?
    My boyfriend's Creed Virgin Island Water cologne.
12. Summer or Winter?
    Winter, because you can always layer up but, in Summer, there's only a certain degree you can strip down before it's classed as 'undignified'.
13. Computer or television?
    I don't own a tv. We have one in the house, which is my Nan's, but I never really watch it. Computer is where it's at!
14. What's the furthest you've ever been away from home?
    Probably when I went on holiday to Boston with my family.
15. Do you have any special talents?
    I can spend an entire day playing computer games and still feel like I've been productive. Does that count?
16. Where were you born?
    South England. 
17. What are your hobbies?
    Playing computer games, watching Youtube videos, cooking, finding new beauty tutorials and struggling to recreate them.. I live a very fulfilling life.
18. Do you have any pets?
    No, but I really want to get a Corgi. I'm hoping that if I mention them enough, I might be allowed to get one. But I don't see that happening in the near future. 
19. Favourite movie?
    I don't really have a favourite film. Collectively, I've probably watched the Lord of the Rings films most but, even then, I wouldn't call them favourites. I'll have to have a think about that one.
20. Do you have any siblings?
    Yes, three younger sisters. 
21. What do you want to be when you grow up?
    Happy, healthy, in a job that I enjoy, with a family around me that I can look after and who can look after me. 

Well, that's everything from me! I found this tag here on a very old post, and just thought I would give it a try. Hope you enjoyed!

Yves Saint Laurent describes their Rouge Volupté lipsticks as a 'long lasting, comforting formula' that is 'intensely pigmented and imparts an irresistible glossy shine'. I've wanted to test this theory for some time now, partially because I couldn't resist that premium looking packaging, but also because I was getting bored of my usual go-to lipsticks.

Though I can be horrifically stingy when it comes to buying make-up (and it did take a lot of mental brawling to finally take the plunge), I found myself finally taking a little gold package of my own back home.

Now, the first thing that I have to mention is the packaging. I love the gold, metallic look, and it definitely feels like you're holding a premium product in your hand. The way the colour is displayed behind the branding also makes a nice change, as I'm used to having to look at the bottom of the tube to get any idea of what colour I've picked up. One thing that I don't like, though, is it is difficult to determine the actual name of the colour of lipstick that you've chosen. On the bottom of the packaging, the only description you get is a number, like 8 or 29. However, on YSL's website, the colours have actual names; like number 29 is Rose Opera. This might be just a weird thing on my part, but I like being able to give a colour name if someone asks me what I'm wearing. 'Oh, I'm wearing Peach Passion' sounds better than 'Oh, I'm wearing number 7'. Or is that just me?

Enough about the aesthetics, you don't just buy a lipstick because the packaging looks pretty. Unless you're a bit of an impulse buyer, like I can be. Like I said, this is a first impressions, and I have by no means tried every single colour that this range comes in. The first one that I bought is simply Number 8 (I wasn't able to get the actual name off of the website). It's a pale, peachy tone that is probably one of the lighter colours that I own. It actually matches my lips quite well, and gives them more of a glossy, shimmery finish whilst not diverting too far away from my natural tone. I will say, though, that I found the colour displayed on the packaging of the colour that I bought doesn't entirely match the colour of the actual applied lipstick. I was expecting a much paler, lighter tone than what I actually got, but that was just a small disappointment.

The first time that I wore it, I was going out for afternoon tea with my other half and some family. So, this tested the lipstick quite thoroughly as it had to survive a variety of food and drink; from dainty sandwiches to chocolatey desserts, from mango flavoured tea to ice cold water. I found that it still remained quite firmly on my lips, and I didn't feel like I had to keep reapplying it every few minutes. Despite the fact that I don't have the most hydrated lips in the world, I did find that this lipstick managed to keep them fairly nourished throughout the day, though there was some peeling as evening approached. I wouldn't use this as a firm judgement of how moisturising Rouge Volupté Shine is, however, as I have yet to find a lipstick that doesn't cause my lips to at least lightly peel after extended use.

This is from my first FOTD, where I am wearing YSL Number 8.

Because I loved the feel of this lipstick, I actually managed to persuade myself to purchase another one, number 29 Rose Opera, the next day after I wore it for the first time. I'm not as keen on this colour, as I find that it seems to collect in the creases of my lips and makes the colour seem more uneven. But, despite this, I had the same experience in terms of feel, moisture and pigmentation.

I will definitely be wearing these more often, especially my Number 8, and I might even treat myself to another one in the future. We'll have to wait and see on that one. Have you tried any of the YSL Rouge Volupté Shine lipsticks? What do you think about them? Let me know in the comments below!