My Favourite Eyeliners

My Favourite Eyeliners

Recently I've been experimenting with different eyeliners and comparing them against my everyday ones to find my absolute favourite ones. I've really been loving brown eyeliners for everyday make up now and black eyeliner for events and more dressy-up days. So after playing around with various brands, here are my favourites...

1. Smashbox Always Sharp Waterproof Khol Liner in Sumatra (£16.00)

I actually purchased this product when I randomly found it in The Cosmetics Company in Bicester Village. I did a swatch on my hand and realised that it was actually really difficult to rub off! I had been looking for a dark brown khol liner for ages and when I discovered that the nib always stays sharp, I was straight in line for the tills. Although this liner is quite pricey at £16 (limited discounted price of £11 at Bicester Village) it is so worth the purchase and I use it practically everyday. It's easy to apply as its always sharp (no need for extra make up equipment!) and I love the colour! I also prefer having mechanical pen eye products compared to pencil ones because it can be such a hassle having to sharpen it so often, so this product ticks all the right boxes.

2. Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner in Forest Brown (£5.99)

This liquid eyeliner is my lower-end product, for £5.99 this product is perfect for my lazy days. I use this when I'm going to be at home or if I need to pop out to the shops or run errands. Although the product seems to run out quickly, its again easy to apply and is simplistic for a natural look. I do not tend to go for liquid eyeliners because I find that they run a lot but this one dries quickly and is light in colour to just give a subtle line to rim the eyes. As a top tip for storing liquid liners, try to store them standing upside down so that the product can filtrate the brush nib! This means next time you use it, you won't have to shake it manically trying to get as much product down to the brush.

3. Benefit's They're Real Push Up Liner (£18.50)

I had heard so many reviews for this eyeliner so I had my eye on it for quite some time. When I finally got my hands on it, I was dying to try it out. I already had some experience using a gel eyeliner pen so applying it was relatively easy and similar to the Maybelline version. It does have more of an elongated nib though which makes application more smooth-lined. Something I also noticed was that this product really stays! It always takes a little more eye make-up remover and time to remove at the end of the night. Therefore, bearing in mind the price, I tend to use this liner for nights when I really need my make-up to stay put and last all day.
It also worthy to note that with gel pen liners, you need to have the experience and practice before you can properly master drawing a straight and clean line.

4. Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Black (£8.99)

I have previously mentioned this product in a haul post and gel liners have always been my favourite. Therefore this eye liner is one of my go-to's when I am going for an everyday black liner look. The price make it really affordable and a comfortable replacement for the pot gel liners that require you to carry more around and constantly wash their brushes. I've always been a mega fan of Maybelline and this is another genius product, which I can praise them for.

I've swatched the different eyeliners below in order of them listed. I drew a small line to demonstrate the thinness the brush or nib can draw and a line beside it.



I'm constantly looking out for new eyeliners, especially ones that come in a pen form. But ultimately I always try to make sure I have a combination between cheap and expensive eyeliners so that I can use different ones for everyday or special days because that way I don't waste an expensive product on a normal lazy day.

What is your favourite eyeliner? I'd love to hear about your recommendations!

Love Anna x

Organix Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco

Organix Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Review

I've always wanted to try argan oil in my hair, especially since I have very dry ends that can feel very prickly.  So I picked up the OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco (100ml) from Superdrug for £6.99. It claims to 'penetrate the hair shaft restoring shine and softness while helping to strength and create soft, seductive and silky perfection'. 

I applied the argan oil to my towel-dried hair ever other day and I did this for about 2 weeks. During those 2 weeks, I felt and noticed a great difference. I love how my hair felt and smelt after I used this product and it was not too greasy that it made my hair look unkempt. It's not too oily that it just sits on your hair. Once applied it will slowly penetrate into your hair and it feels so natural after a while. After using it for several weeks, my hair just seemed to be so much healthier and it does not feel as bristly and bushy at the ends. 

I really recommend this product for people who need to rehydrate their hair and for people who just need to pamper their tresses. I think that for £6.99 it is a fast and inexpensive way to soften and treat hair. The product smells and feels amazing and the cute little bottle makes it easy for storing and travelling around with. I'll definitely repurchase this product if I don't find another hair oil that does a better job!

Rating: 4.5/5

Have you ever tried any hair oils? Which specific ones have worked for you? I would love to hear your personal reviews and opinions on different brands!

Love Anna x

Barcelona

City Break to Barcelona

Desperate to chase that last glimpse of sun before having to unpack my winter gear and have a relaxing extended weekend, my boyfriend and I decided to take a city break to somewhere nice and warm. It was all very last minute but we ended up jetting to Barcelona with a 2 night stay in a gorgeous hotel, Olivia Balmes Hotel.

In terms of planning the trip, I decided to use an app I used to plan Brussels: Tripomatic, which I can honestly say is my saviour! Its an amazing website/app that allows you to see all the top places to visit and places to eat. You can also purchase the offline maps so you can use it as a guide without wifi or internet (I honestly could rave about Tripomatic all day! because it is just so useful). After planning the trip I loaded it onto my iPad app and had it by in my handbag throughout the whole trip.

After an early morning drive and flight, we arrived in the El Prat, Barcelona airport and it didn't take us long to figure out the bus that would take us right to the centre of Barcelona, Placa de Catalunya. The weather was gorgeous already and I was so excited to get exploring. But first we had to find the hotel to leave our luggage and find our bearings. The roads were pretty easy to navigate and with the help of my Tripomatic app, we made it to our hotel and it was modern, clean and friendly. It also featured an infinity pool on the roof and I was just dying to jump in.

Day 1

I had to tear myself away though and resist the urge to cool down into the pool so that we could begin exploring all the attractions near us. We saw some of the famous buildings such as La Pedrera Building (which unfortunately was under construction), Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, Placa de Catalunya. Whilst trying to stay hydrated in the sun, we had so many juices and even bubble tea because there were so many places with delicious drinks and we wanted to try them all!

Since it was still early, we continued to walk further down to La Rambla and it was fascinating that no matter which side street we looked down, there was something else to be discovered. This is how we stumbled across the La Boqueria Market that had so many different stalls selling chocolates, sweet treats, fruit drinks, ice lollies...and so many more types of food. I literally couldn't resist trying out some of the delicacies!

Our wandering led us to the port and we weren't far from the beach so we continued walking till we reached Barceloneta Beach. The beach was so picturesque and alive with people as the sun was setting and we chilled by watching the local artists carve structures in the sand. 

It was getting late and despite losing track of time, it was most definitely time for some dinner. So heading back in the direction of our hotel, we passed a strip of restaurants close to the beach and ended up at a restaurant called El Ray De Gamda to tuck in to some tapas and paella. Once we finished, my boyfriend and I were very much in need of some rest, so we strolled back our hotel and passed other attractions lit up so beautifully in the dark. (I just couldn't resist an ice cream for the walk home as well!)

Day 2

The following morning, we both had the best lie in to catch up on sleep and then headed to the roof top to lounge by the amazing infinity pool and catch some of the Barcelona sun! Our plan was then to catch the cable cars to Montjuic mountain to see some of the sights up there. Since my boyfriend had already looked around the neighbourhood and he had come across a perfect place to grab lunch. It was called el Fornet and it instantly became our favourite place for breakfast and lunch as they had the most delicious variety of sandwiches and pastries.

After trekking in the blazing sun to the cable cars, located near the beach, we began queuing for a ride to the Montjuic mountain. Our patience did not go unrewarded, as the view from the tower and journey across Barcelona was beautifully scenic and I took so many pictures of the beach alone! Once we arrived, the area was really deceiving as it looked as if we had just travelled to a quiet little village with little to see. However, we decided to follow the map and our intuition and continued walking up a zig zag upwards path. We eventually reached several different parks and the Montjuic Castle. 

The next stop to the Magic Mountain was my top place to visit. I really want to see the pretty fountain display lit up by all the colourful lights. We managed to stumble upon it as well whilst walking in the right direction. People were already crowding around the National Art Museum of Catlonia steps getting ready for the light display that was due to start at 7pm. But unfortunately we waited almost two hours and nothing happened so we decided to go find dinner instead. 

We consulted my Tripomatic app for a good restaurant and came across Cerveceria Catalana, a popular tapas restaurant. There were lots of people when we got there, which meant the waiting time was about an hour. However we were so hungry and tempted by the food that we decided it would be worth the wait. So we headed to a bar nearby to try out a sangria, which is VERY alcoholic and a risky decision with an empty stomach. The food at the restaurant was amazingly delicious and I definitely recommend it for anyone who visits Barcelona. We ordered so many different dishes, especially since we were starving by the time we sat down and loved every single one. I went to sleep feeling very full and satisfied that night.

Day 3

The following morning was check-out day and despite feeling sad about leaving, I had such a lovely time in Barcelona and still had a few more places to visit before flying back home. We had the early afternoon to visit Park Guell and even though we didn't get to go into the main area, we still got to catch a glimpse of Gaudi's famous lizard. The sun was shining and the view was amazing as well so I really couldn't complain. With the remaining time we managed to purchase some souvenirs and one last ice cream =P. I also saw this vending machine at the metro station that was massive!

Barcelona was the perfect destination for a city break! I had so much fun visiting the attractions and taking pictures for my blog. The people were friendly, the food was divine and the weather was exactly what I needed. I seriously recommend Barcelona to anybody who is planning a getaway and I hope that my pictures have all inspired you all to write Barcelona on your list of places to visit!

Have any of you been to Barcelona? Or planning to go anytime soon?

Love Anna x