Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Liner & Lipstick

It's well known within the makeup world that Charlotte Tilbury's Lip Cheat (£16) in the shade Pillow Talk is a cult favourite. And then the beauty community lost their minds when Charlotte released the best selling shade as one of her Matte Revolution Lipsticks (£24). This duo was so iconic that I actually couldn't get my hands on it anywhere until now. 

The lip cheats are designed to re-shape and re-size your lips. Personally, I have the thinnest "white person" lips imaginable and over lining my lips always looked fake. However, with this lip cheat, you can literally draw them on as big as you like with them still looking natural. 

The shade Pillow Talk has been such a hit because it happens to be a shade that suits everyone. It's the perfect your lips but better shade. One the first glance I thought this shade wouldn't suit me because it seemed too pink for a nude lipstick, however when I tried it I realized it was in fact pretty close to my natural shade. 

And this lip liner also helps me to apply my lipstick with precision without going over the lines, and it keeps my lipstick on longer in general. It's not hard to apply at all, with the tip being small enough for precision, but also allows you to colour in your whole lips if you wish. This little cheat has become a handbag essential of mine!

Now onto the main show, the lipstick. The application is so easy, it literally glides on. Considering it is a matte lipstick it isn't drying at all on your lips. The only thing I will say is that compared to other matte lipsticks I have, it doesn't last as long. However, it does last an entire afternoon without needing a retouch so it's good enough for me. The colour is also a perfect match to the liner too, making it a perfect combination.

This lipstick and liner combo is the ultimate power couple of lip products, and I would rate it a 9/10 overall. It most definitely will be repurchased for me when I inevitably use it all up. And friends, if you don't have them in your collection I would definitely recommend it,

Izzy K xxx

Son Of Rambow Review

Today's review is going to be of an older and, in my opinion, underrated film which is Son Of Rambow (2007, Garth Jennings). This is a coming of age comedy, set in the early 80's staring Will Poulter as the rebel 13-year old Lee Carter, and Bill Milner as the shy and naive 11-year old Will Proudfoot.

The boys couldn't come from more polar upbringings. Will was raised as part of the Plymouth Brethren Church, meaning he had to follow a strict lifestyle which includes not being able to listen to music or watch TV. His world turns upside down, yet maybe in a good way, when he first meets the school bad boy Lee Carter, who has just been thrown out of class for misbehaving.

Lee manages to convince Will to be the stuntman in the homemade film he's making to enter in a Young Film Maker's competition. As the name suggests, the movie they create is a spin off of the hit Rambow series. Soon, this film becomes the talk of the school, with everyone from the popular kids to the French Exchange students wanting a role in it The story really touches on the importance of friendship over popularity, and Lee becomes very vocal about the fact he feels like it was more fun when it was just the two boys making a film.

This film really is a family favourite. My parents love the nostalgia that it gives them as it shows children simply playing out and having fun with friends. For me, I could relate to the timeless childish humor and the banter between Will and Lee. The film is filled with funny lines and moments, including Lee's quick one-liners and the hilarious innocence that Will brings to the screen.

It isn't all fun and games though. The plot covers dark themes too, such as the death of a parent, prejudice and bullying. Son Of Rambow is an emotional rollercoster, which still manages to be a feel-good film at the end of the day.

My favourite thing about this film is the casting. Milner plays a convincing sweet character, who still has a lot to learn about the world. And Poulter is able to show a range of emotions, from being the cheeky schoolboy in one scene, to crying his eyes out about his family in another. This was the first film I'd ever seen staring Poulter, and ever since then I knew he was an actor to keep an eye out for because his talent was bound to take him far. The chemistry between the two characters is sweet to watch too, because it is clear they balance each other out and need each other's friendship.

Overall, this is the ultimate feel-good comedy. I would rate this a 10/10 because for me it's a film I can watch over and over without getting bored. Have you ever seen this film before? If so let me know in the comments, 

Izzy K xxx

The Notebook Review

It actually feels like a sin to admit this, but I'm a 20 year old girl who had never seen The Notebook (2004, Nick Cassavetes) before this week. Everyone always told me "Izzy you need to watch it. You'll cry your eyes out, but in a good way" so I decided to finally give it a go.

The story itself is set in the 1940's, where a young but poor man, Noah (Ryan Gosling), meets his upper-class love interest, Allie (Rachel McAdams). The plot takes part in 3 stages within their lives; their initial Summer romance, during their adult life, and during their golden years. 

Initially, Allie's parents disagree with Noah being suited for her, considering his background, as they don't believe he can offer much to her. However, Noah works hard his whole life to provide Allie with her dream life, building the exact house that she once wished for as a 17 year old. Fate continues to bring the pair together throughout their lives. 

The first thing that came to mind when I was watching this film is that it is very predictable. From start to finish, I near enough guessed what was going to happen next. It was clear from the beginning that Allie and Noah would not only fall for each other, but end up with each other. Therefore, the inevitability of this took away any suspense for me when it came to love rivals and obstacles in their way. 

Another point I want to make is that I wasn't particularly moved with emotions at this film. Call me cold hearted, but I was seriously imagining me having to reach for the tissues during every scene which just wasn't the case. For me, this movie was just as touching as literally any other romance film. It has it's moving moments, but it's nothing too dramatic considering the reputation this film has for being emotion provoking. It also seems pretty unrealistic that Noah, coming from noble beginnings is somehow able to inherit a fortune and build his dream life. But you know what, we can all be dreamers!

One thing I will praise this film for is the acting. Gosling and McAdams are able to portray convincing characters, taking the audience along with them on their love journey. You relate to the happiness and joy that the characters feel whilst experiencing their first love since it seems so legitimate. They are then able to switch into more mature roles as their characters age and become "proper adults".

And at the end of the day, films don't have to be realistic in order to win the hearts of their audience. The Notebook has managed to be a reality escape for many people, showing a cheesy yet heartwarming portrayal of true love.

Overall, I would give this film a rating of 6/10. It was an enjoyable watch, but not something that stood out to me amongst other Romance films. Have you seen this movie? If so let me know what you thought about it in the comments,

Izzy K xxx