Underrated Make-up Brand- H&M

When we're shopping for make-up and new products to try, it's easy to gravitate towards the glitzy make-up counters in department stores. The perfectly pristine counter girls, with their on point make-up, photo ready lighting and not a hair out of place are calling your name and before you know it you've spent £40 on one lipstick and an eye liner. Although it's a nice feeling to walk away with posh make-up, in a little shiny bag, with CHANEL plastered across it, the feeling is only temporary and believe it or not you don't have to break the bank to have high quality products. 

Although, I love my Benefit Highbrow, MAC lipsticks or Dior mascara and desperately long to get my hands on some Charlotte Tilbury... on the whole I genuinely prefer the high street brands and most of them are associated (and develop) with the high-end brands anyway so it's basically all the same shit. Now, admittedly, it's rare I find a clothing store brand that I love. I'll find the odd gem in the Topshop range but on the whole, it's a no go. That being said, one brand that I absolutely love is H&M. I remember when I was about thirteen and was given an H&M eye shadow palette for my birthday. I think back then it was aimed more at the younger generation... you know, the days when we used to experiment with pastel blue eye shadow? However, today it is a completely different ball game and most certainly not child's play.

My most favored products from the range are definitely blushers and eye shadows; each are about £5. Their packaging is very clean and chic which I love as, it's not only pretty to look at but also easy to store and find. Their wide range of eye shadows range from light mattes to striking metallics, each high pigmented and long lasting. The shades you see here (Chin Chin & A Pretty Penny) have seen me through everyday wear to nights out on the town and are versatile enough to mix with other palettes. The best thing about them is they're build-able so you can choose between a subtle dust of sparkle or high impact colour. Another desirable product of theirs is their matte range of blushers. I find matte products, from other brands, don't blend so easily or can look 'too much' so I'm pleased to have found a product that's easy to use. My favorite is 'Pink Coral', absolutely perfect for summer, as it's not too bright yet injects a splash of colour and makes your lippy pop! I wouldn't recommend this particular shade if you're going for the natural look but it's suitable for all skin tones and particularly compliments a tan. 

Neeks ☯

Blend Active Review

Aloha!

I tend not to drift towards health & lifestyle posts, not out of ignorance but simply because I am more passionate about beauty so my blogging brain tends to float more in that direction; it's like a magnet. Saying that though this is definitely a health/ lifestyle product worth talking about! I've always loved smoothies but buying them from the shop can prove costly, so lately I've been keeping an eye out for a smoothie maker and that's when I stumbled across Blend Active!

Blend Active is an easy, quick and effective smoothie maker. The best part about it is that it doesn't need a jug, so you can wave buh-bye to those palaverous days of trying to clean those horrendous blades! It comes with two ready to go flasks and the blender itself. You simply fill your flask with your chosen ingredients and screw on the 'blending lid'. Then, stand it on the blender, 'press blend' and you'll have a delicious, healthy smoothie in seconds. It's perfect for those dreaded mornings, where I'm running late and don't have time for breakfast plus there's endless recipes to try. 

Lately I've been having a strawberry and banana smoothie with grapes, orange juice and Greek yogurt.  It doesn't take long to do and perked me up while I sipped it on the way to work. Now, on a serious note, I have to say that I have been a victim of the 'leaking flask' before so I will screw the lid on as hard as tight as I can and even wrap it in a plastic bag to avoid it leaking in my handbag but amazingly, this flask doesn't leak at all so I can keep it in my bag at work or take it to the gym, without the worry of ruining my cherished belongings.

I'm guessing that you're probably wondering if it's easy to clean and I must say I was quite impressed. I mean trying to clean blenders, whisks, colanders, anything under that awkward umbrella truly is the bane of my life so it's great to have a blender that does the job for you! I just squirt some Fairy Liquid into the bottle with some warm water, blend then rinse. It's perfect as it doesn't take up to much room in the cupboard and there is endless tasty drinks to make. For instance, Oreo milkshakes! I'm telling you, if you like Oreos.. and who doesn't? Spoon in some vanilla ice cream, a dash of milk and tons of Oeros! Trust me.. it's the most dreamy milkshake you'll ever taste.

So for any of you guys who's new year's resolution was to be healthier, I'd recommend getting one of these, it's quick and easy, doesn't break the bank and encourages a healthier lifestyle. It also includes a little booklet with recipe ideas which is a nice touch if you're stuck for ideas. 

What ingredients would you choose?

Neeks x