In the beauty blogging world, good reviews spread like wild fire. Certain products generate such a buzz within the community that they often become hard to ignore. I'm not one for hype; usually and I often find that if something has been raved about too much, I actually feel more turned off than turned on. That being said, there are a number of 'hyped up' products that have made their way into my stash and today I'm going to be looking at whether or not they're deserving of their cult status.
First up we have the MAC lipstick on everyone's lips, Velvet Teddy. Nigh on impossible to get hold of at times, this matte formulated must-have is at the forefront of the nude lip trend.
A brand synonymous with quality, MAC truly hit the ball out of the park with this shade. Granted, it's not my favourite, (Mehr has my heart) but it really is a beautifully warm, nude shade. It's flattering and surprisingly easy to wear. I had my reservations when I picked this up as I wasn't sure if it would suit me but I reach for this lippie far more than any other nude shade that I own.
Worth The Hype? - YES
Next up is the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. I have heard hundreds of beauty bloggers raving about this bargain buy due to the fact that it's creamy, long-lasting and provides superb coverage.
I picked this up a couple of weeks ago in the shade Fair and I've been trying it out here and there. If truth be told, I'm still kind of on the fence with this one. Yes, it's cheap - a tiny £4 ish price tag, it does provide great coverage and works well with the rest of my make up, but there's just something about it that I can't really put my finger on. As an everyday concealer, I prefer the Maybelline FitMe concealer. The formula is better; albeit not as concealing as the Lasting Perfection and it just seems fresher and less cakey on the skin. I think the Lasting Perfection would work great on darker blemishes and problem areas, but it doesn't really win me over I'm afraid.
Worth The Hype? - MAYBE
I can see why people love it, but I think it's much more suited to those who like/need a really full coverage concealer.
The next product is an absolute favourite of mine. It's the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. I started using this in early January and my skin has loved me ever since.
I love that you apply it to dry skin as I don't love the foaming cleanser type washes. It's so simple and easy to use, especially when I'm half-asleep in the mornings. It's great at removing make up and my skin feels spotlessly clean afterwards.
Worth The Hype - ABSOLUTELY!
Next up, all the way from the US of A, we have the GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment. The award winning mud mask that is designed to banish blackheads and leave your skin looking fabulously fresh.
I ummed and ahhed over this one because it's pricey -£40 a pot. It's a lot to pay for a face mask. Despite my hesitation, I'm really glad that I picked this one up. The results are immediately noticeable when you rinse the mask off your skin. My face felt brighter, tighter and much clearer than before using. Bonus - It doesn't leave skin feeling dry either.
Worth The Hype - YES
On to a well known nugget from Benefit. The Porefessional Pore Minimizing Primer. I've never actually bought this product, but I always seem to end up with a steady stream of samples from the counters.
I tried this many moons ago and ditched it in favour of Prep & Prime from MAC almost immediately. I came back to a new sample several months ago and quickly realised it was causing my skin to break out, resulting in me ditching it again. Due to the fact that it's such a well-received product, I gave it one last chance with yet another new sample in January, hoping that my skin may have been breaking out for other reasons. Quickly, the dreaded pimples returned and I decided that it was time for Porefessional and I to part ways for good.
Worth The Hype - NO
Finally, we have the True Match Foundation from L'Oreal. L'Oreal is definitely one of the better high-street beauty brands and when it came to me looking for a relatively inexpensive every day foundation to use in place of my much loved Lancome foundation, I thought I would give this one a whirl.
I picked out the shade C2 Rose Vanilla which is a really good match for my sun-starved skin. It applies well; however I don't like the finish it gives my slightly drier skin. I actually liked this one at first but the more I use it, the more flaws I find in it. It creases terribly under the eyes and on my forehead if I so much as raise an eyebrow. My skin is rarely flakey, yet even with a moisturiser and primer, Scott pointed out that my face looked crap. Such a charmer. For oily skin types, this probably works a treat, but for me, it's a thanks but no thanks.
Worth The Hype - NO
There you have it. Please bear in mind that these are my opinions and what doesn't work for me, may very well work for you, and vice versa. Have you tried any of these hyped up beauty products? Do you rate/hate any of them? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
