Monday 30 April 2018

APRIL FAVOURITES



Well hello there! 
I know I say this every time but I cannot believe we are yet again at the end of another month, time is going too quickly. I feel like January lasted forever and now it's flying by month by month. The April weather has been up and down, we have had the hottest days to the cold rainy days and in terms of my monthly favourites I do have a few to share with you.

My first favourite of the month is the Urban Decay All Nighter Concealer, this is the best concealer I have ever tried for covering up blemishes. I have done a full first impressions on my YouTube channel which you can watch here. I do not like this for under my eyes as it is thick and I have dry under eyes, but the coverage is next level for blemishes. It is very pricey for the amount of product you get in it as it costs £20 for 3ml but it is so worth it if you want the fullest coverage.

My second favourite of the month is the B01 Spectrum brush, I love all of the Spectrum brushes because of how soft they are but I have been using this one in particular every day for a few weeks. It blends out my foundation so smoothly, and it does not leave any streaks which is something I absolutely hate. If you are looking for a new foundation brush I would definitely recommend this one, because even for thicker foundations it does the job beautifully.

My next favourite is the Jeffree Star liquid lipstick in Christmas Cookie, I hate to even mention this because it's limited edition and I can never buy it again which makes me want to cry (please Jeffree bring this shade back permanently). This is the perfect nude shade for when you just want your makeup to look put together. The formula of his liquid lipsticks are what makes it part of my favourites because it just lasts all day, I don't know how he does it but even if I've been eating it will still stay on. It is the most comfortable and lightweight lipstick I have ever tried and it is never drying, I don't know how he does it.  If you have never tried his liquid lipsticks before, you need to!

My last favourite of the month is the Nivea Light Moisturising Day Cream, if you have been watching my tutorials on YouTube you would know I have been using this all the time. I put this on before my makeup everyday as my skin gets super dry in places and this also has SPF15 which is really good for your skin. It is a super cheap moisturiser you can get in Boots and I advice people to wear SPF as much as you can because it does protect your skin.

So those were my April Favourites!
Thank you so much for reading,


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Thursday 26 April 2018

RENAISSANCE ILLUMINATE HIGHLIGHTER PALETTE REVIEW



Well hello there!
I have another review for you today and yes it is another Makeup Revolution product, who would have thought?! I picked up this Renaissance Illuminate Highlighter Palette in the shade Radiant Rose, they do have 2 other shades I believe but I feel like this was the most suited to me. This palette retails for £8, and you can buy these here.

Packaging
It comes in this rose gold cardboard box that has a pretty pattern on it. I think they also have little eye shadow palettes with the similar packaging so it is not the first time we have seen it, but it is very different to the standard plastic packaging. When you open up the box and take out the product you are greeted with this gorgeous baby pink pouch which feels like velvet and is very soft. The palette actually feels nice and heavy which gives it that luxurious touch that you would get with a product 4/5 times the price. It opens up with these little ball handles which feels very fancy to do if I must say, and it does have a mirror inside (result!). Then I am presented with 3 beautiful shades, a pale icy shade, a light pink and a darker pink. It has a triangle pattern imprinted on the highlighters which looks very cool.

Application
I used the lightest shade on my cheekbones and the middle shade very lightly as blush topper. After using this a few times I can confirm that to me these are definitely highlighters you need to build up in order to get the full opacity. Once you do build it up omg do these look stunning, the lightest shade is perfect for pale skin tones. It is not a powdery or chunky highlighter in the slightest, it looks beautiful and just melts into the skin. It gives it that sort of wet and natural look.

Swatches
In order:
Lightest Shade
Middle Shade
Darkest Shade
Swipe Over All Shades

Longevity
I wore these over a period over 8 hours, and when I got back home it still looked pretty blinding. It looked as if I had just applied, if not looked even better because it had really melted into my skin. I couldn't tell whether the middle shade had lasted all day as I only used a tiny bit over my blush to make it pop a little more.

Opinion
So after using this a few times I have come to the conclusion that this is a really good highlighter palette, for me I will probably be using the lightest shade the most. If I do fancy using a blush topper that's when I will use the middle shade. The formula of this is definitely one of their best highlighter formulas to date, just because they are not powdery, they do not kick back and the product just melts into your skin. It also lasts all day long which tops off how this good this is. Even if you have tonnes of their highlighters already, just go and swatch it and try it out because to me I 100% think this is one of the best formulas from their brand. I will definitely be wearing this time and time again, I have had a couple of people ask me what highlighter it is I'm wearing when I have this on, so when that happens you know it's good. 

So that was my review on the Makeup Revolution Renaissance Illuminate Highlighter Palette in Radiant Rose.
Thank you so much for reading,





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Monday 23 April 2018

MY MAC LIPSTICK COLLECTION



Well hello there!
I have tonnes and tonnes of lipsticks in all formulas and since discovering the amazing formula and quality of Mac lipsticks, I thought for today's post I would show you what Mac lipsticks I have. I don't have as many as a lot of people purely because Mac lipsticks are now even more expensive they are £17.50!

I don't really wear this shade, my auntie gave to me because she does not use it. It is a cremesheen lipstick and is a bright pink shade. 

Velvet Teddy
This was the first Mac lipstick I ever bought and I got it with the shade scent packaging which I love. It is one of my favourite nude lipsticks and perfect for anytime of day. It is a matte lipstick and is a browny nude shade.

Bosom Friend
This is the other lipstick my auntie gave to me as she does not use it. I have only worn this once and I only use it to lighten up the lipstick I have on, this is way too pale for me to wear on its own. It is a cremesheen lipstick and is a really pale nude shade.

I used to wear this quite a bit but for some reason I don't reach for it anymore. This is a another cremesheen and it is a darker browny nude shade.

This is my other favourite Mac lipstick and as you can tell I have worn this quite a lot. I love the formula of this because it's not drying and its not too shiny. This is a satin lipstick and is more of a pink/browny nude shade.

So those are all the Mac lipsticks I have in my collection, I have not got a lot at all but I thought I would share the shades I have. I do want to get some more but the price keeps going up, if I see a really nice shade I will probably pick it up. Mac lipsticks are really good quality as they are super full coverage, pigmented and long lasting, so you do get what you pay for.
Thank you so much for reading,


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Thursday 19 April 2018

BLOGGERS HOLY GRAIL MAKEUP PRODUCTS



Well hello there!
Everyone has their holy grail/absolute favourite makeup item that they just can’t live without and I am always super nosy when it comes to knowing what makeup products people are obsessed with. So I thought it was a good idea to ask a few other bloggers what their holy grail item is and why.

Nina Louise – Anastasia Beverley Hills Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette
This palette is an essential in my collection. It contains 14 beautiful warm neutrals and berry tones which add a stunning pop of colour. It's definitely the perfect eyeshadow palette for creating burgundy smokey eye looks. It's mostly a matte palette, with 11 matte shades and 3 metallic shades. It also comes with a dual-ended soft blending brush which actually does a fab job. I’m really enjoying using pinks, reds and oranges at the moment and that’s pretty much exactly what this palette has to offer! I would definitely recommend this palette to anyone that loves using warm tones na enjoys creating some neutral looks but also throwing some pops of colour in there. It’s one of the most pigmented palettes I own, you merely have to tap the shadows lightly and you’ll have picked up plenty. It’s super pigmented and creamy and if that’s what you look for then it’s definitely worth every penny. None of the shades have been patchy and I’m yet to experience any issues with blending which suggests that the palette was created with high quality in mind. It's a really versatile palette as it can be used for daytime and nighttime looks If you're more adventurous with shadows, however, I would suggest maybe going for the subculture paletteYou can read my more detailed review here! Thank you to Alix for letting me share my thoughts on her fabulous blog.



Views Of Venus – Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

My Holy Grail makeup item is the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette. It probably seems cliché for a blogger to talk about Urban Decay, but I honestly use this palette every single day without fail. I find it really versatile; the paler colours and golds work well for a standard day at the office, but then there are some great darker colours that are great for a smoky eye look on a night out. Although £39.50 may seem steep, I truly think it’s worth it, for the adaptability if nothing else! It’s great if you team your eyeshadow with a primer and setting spray, to make sure the look lasts for as long as possible!

Her links: 

Luci Barker – W7 Delicious Eyeshadow Palette
My all time favourite product is the W7 Delicious Eyeshadow Palette. I couldn’t be without it. It’s the perfect dupe for the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette and there are lots of different colours to create lots of different looks. This palette is super versatile as you can create neutral looks with the orange and brown shades or there are a few pink, berry toned shadows that would be perfect for the autumn as well as a couple of perfect transition shades that will bring any look together. There’s even a couple of shimmery shades, to highlight the brow bone or use to create a halo eye ... what more could you want?
The pigmentation of the shadows is what really sells the palette, you can use the smallest amount of product for even the brightest and boldest of looks, which also means that the shadows will last ages before hitting pan! I would even go as far to say that the pay off from these shadows are better than a lot of the high end makeup brands palettes and for just £9.95 you just can’t beat it. The palette also has a pretty big mirror which makes it travel friendly and because of all the looks you can create with just the one palette, you also wouldn’t need to take any other ones. I really recommend this palette whether you’re on a budget or you just can’t justify paying over £40 for the ABH one, this will be right up you’re street!!


Her links:
Blog: www.lucibarker.co.uk
Twitter: twitter.com/LuciBarker_
Instagram: instagram.com/lucibarkerblog

LuLu Loves
I think when it comes to your personal favourites, every blogger out there has their own selection of holy grails that they simply couldn’t live without. The type of products that you always reach for and purchase back to back because you know they are both worth the money and you can trust them. These products can range from high end to drug store and something I have found is that you don’t always have to spend a lot of money to get the ideal beauty product. Sometimes the best ones are found right under your nose for the cheapest price.  Picking my ‘go to’ products was pretty easy for me. I have a selection of products that I always find myself repurchasing and I am still on the hunt to find anything better. I still like to trial and test new products, but if I want an easy guaranteed ‘good makeup day’ I most definitely reach for these.  

Skincare - Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream
As a sufferer of dry skin, this cream works wonders. It does exactly what it says on the tin, it really is ‘magic’. I have never found such a hydrating and nourishing moisturiser that is thick enough to tackle my skin. Although it is quite pricey, it is definitely worth every penny. 

Face - Too Faced Born This Way
I had been on the hunt for a new foundation for months when this was recommended to me and I can honestly say I haven’t looked back since. I finally found a trustworthy foundation that gives a flawless buildable coverage, doesn't dry my skin out and lasts all day.  

Eyes - L’oreal Ultra Thin Super-liner
This eyeliner has been a holy grail of mine since 2012. I have pretty much convinced myself that it is the only reason I can do a winged eyeliner because anything else I try I just can’t get on with and I end up in a mess. Super easy to use and doesn’t smudge, what more could you ask for?

Lips - Matte Lipstick

I was definitely part of the matte lipstick hype and I was obsessed with the look of a matte lip. I tried so many different brands and this has got to be my absolute favourite. The colour range is fab, the consistency is perfect and they are so affordable. 

Her links:
Blog - www.lululovesblog.co.uk
Twitter - www.twitter.com/LuluLovesxx
Instagram - www.instagram.com/lululovesblog

AlixKate
The makeup item that I cannot live without is concealer, recently I have tried the Urban Decay All Nighter liquid concealer. I have been using it non stop since I tried it because it is so so good for covering up blemishes. I would not be able to wear makeup everyday without this for sure, my skin is really blemish prone so it makes me feel more confident when I have a full coverage concealer on. 

Big shout out to all the girls that were involved in this post, I really enjoyed doing something different and I hope you enjoyed reading! Make sure you check out these girls socials as their blogs are amazing!
Thank you so much for reading,



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Tuesday 17 April 2018

DRUGSTORE MAKEUP HAUL



Well hello there!
So I have a shopping addiction, especially when it comes to makeup so I have another haul to share with you, it is a mix of different brands.

If you don't know Makeup Revolution are getting rid of their 'Freedom' brand and replacing it with a brand new one 'Revolution Pro'. They have recently released tonnes of new products so I decided to buy a couple. I first got this mischief mattes eyeshadow palette which absolutely stunning, I don't have a palette like this in my collection which is why I wanted to pick it up. It is only £8! and it has 18 shades I can't believe that. I am now hoping now I have this palette I can experiment with my makeup looks a bit more.

Obviously I had to pick up a new highlighter - I wouldn't be me if I didn't! This palette has 3 shades: a blue, champagne and a pink, I have tried this palette (in a YouTube video - I will link my channel below) and I can confirm these highlighters are blinding. They are a tad crumbly but that does not bother me when they are this pigmented, and this cost £6.

I have already tried this mascara and loved it, hence why I have picked another one up. It is really good for separating and curling you lashes. The wand on this mascara is very unique and it makes it much easier to grab the root of your lashes and coat them properly. It is super cheap as it is only £7.99 so it is really good quality for the money.    

I bought this on a whim because it was 3 for 2 in Superdrug, but I am glad I picked it up as it is another drugstore palette that I am yet to try. Kind of regretting picking this up in the shade I did because I did not realise there were shades in the first place. The shades do look a little too dark for me which is such a shame but I will try and make this work! This palette costs £6.99 for the 3 shades and it is very travel friendly.

L.A. Girl Matte Foundation
I heard of everyone raving about this on YouTube and how good of coverage it has, so I thought it I would give it a go. I have actually done a YouTube video testing this which went up on Sunday so you can watch it here. L.A. Girl is an American drugstore brand so this only costs £10 which is so good, and I can confirm that this is a good foundation so if you have oily skin especially you will love this! 

This is a drugstore brand that I have never heard of before, not sure if its a UK brand or not. There wasn't many products of theirs on Beauty Bay but from what there was they were all so so cheap, and I saw this and thought it sounded good. It is a 2 in 1 foundation and concealer, so I was hoping it would have really good coverage. It only costs £5! I am looking forward to trying this.

Lastly, I picked up another Natural Bronzer by Rimmel because this is my favourite drugstore bronzer and so I keep repurchasing it. I have loved this since I first started wearing makeup and I will continue buying it in the future, it's such a good cheap bronzer. It is warm toned but not too much where my face looks orange, and it is very pigmented!

So that was my latest drugstore haul!
Thank you so much for reading,


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Thursday 12 April 2018

GLOSSY BOX OPENING | APRIL 2018



Well hello there!
It is Glossy Box Opening time again and the theme for this month is nostalgia, products that are inspired from the past. I can't wait to tell you whats inside!!

Karl Lagerfeld & ModelCo Baked Blush - This is an early exclusive with Glossy Box, it's a baked blusher in the shade light beige. When I swatch it though it does look like a highlighter so I probably wouldn't use it for a blush. The powder is supposed to deliver a sheer, natural radiance that lasts all day - I am looking forward to testing this and seeing if it lives up to its claims. This is full size and I'm not sure how much it costs yet as it has not been released.

GlossyBox Angled Brush - Something really exciting is the angled brush by Glossy Box, I'm always after new brushes even though I already have loads so this will stay in my collection because ya never know when you need another angled brush. I love the design on the brush, it is simple with Glossy Box logo on the end and it is the classic pink shade Glossy Box is known for. It feels a little cheap but to me that does not really matter, a brush is a brush at the end of the day and if it does it's job then it's good enough for me. This is worth £5.50, I'm not sure if you can actually buy this as it says worth and not rrp.

Affect Transparent Loose Rice Powder - Another makeup product which I'm happy about as I am always open to trying new makeup. This is a loose rice powder which I have never heard of, it is supposed to mattify and set your makeup without looking cakey. The packaging is simple and with what most loose powders look like having a clear pot and a black lid with the brand name on the top. I am looking forward to trying this as it is something completely new for me, this is a full size product and it retails for £9.35.

Eyeko London Fat Liquid Liner - I haven't used liquid liner in a long time purely because I only really wear it when I go out out. But as said before I am always up to trying new things and I don't own a liner that has a fatter tip, so I'm not sure if its going to work for me as I'm not the best at liner. This is actually another full size product and it retails for £16 which is pricey for a linen so I will definitely try and use this.

Imperial Leather Foamburst - I have never in my life seen a body wash like this, it is literally foam and it smells amazing. It is scented 'Unicorn Marshmallow' which is so cool and yes I love this, the packaging is stunning as well. It is limited edition which is such a shame because I love it already and would repurchase just for the scent of it. The foam turns into a creamy formula that is supposed to make your skin feel soft and sparkling, and I am all for it! This retails for £3.15 for a 200ml bottle which I think is such a good deal.

So that was my Glossy Box Opening for the month of April. I have really enjoyed opening this months box purely because 4 out of 5 products are makeup related. If you would like to sign up to Glossy Box, then you can here.
Thank you so much for reading,


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Monday 9 April 2018

PRIMARKS NEW MAKEUP REVIEW



Well hello there!
I have picked up a few of Primark’s new makeup collection, their contour sticks, their body shimmer and the matte eyeshadow palette. I also picked up their liquid concealer which I am going to tell you about as well. As soon as I saw the nudes collection was out I was so excited to pick a few of these products up because I love the packaging, I think it’s the best packaging they have brought out so far.

Contour Sticks
This kit includes a contour stick, a highlighter stick and a brow bone highlighter, these are all cream products. The contour stick has a different colour at each end, one if more of a cool shade and the other is more warm. I used the cooler shade as I feel that suits me more when I am really pale, it does look really dark when you apply it but after you blend it out it does tone down. This does blend out very easy as well and actually looks really nice when blended out, I do like this contour stick and I will be using it again. However, I had a bit of a different experience with the highlighter stick. I'm not sure if its because its a stick formula but it completely ruined my foundation underneath so I stopped using it straight away. The other end of this stick is bright orange so I didn't use it - I don't even know who would? It's literally bright orange! The last stick is a brow bone highlight, which is good it does what it says and I had no problems with it. The colour is very icy which I love but not sure if everyone would like it. This set did come with a brush but I'm not going to lie I completely forgot to use it, but I have heard and seen that the brush end is quite good. This set cost £8.

Contour stick swatches

Highlighter stick swatches


Brow bone highlighter

Body Shimmer Dust
I actually used this as a highlighter because I could not resist the shade looks perfect for my skin tone. It's a loose shimmery powder that is supposed to be for your body to make it look more luminous. Omg I love this, it looks stunning!! It almost melts in your makeup so you don't have a streak of highlighter on your face it looks beautiful. It almost looks wet on your skin which I love, sometimes highlighters look like they're just sitting on your skin which does not look as 'natural'. This only costs £4, its so cheap and the product is amazing. I love the packaging as well it looks way more expensive then what it actually is.

Swatch

Matte Eyeshadow Palette
I also picked up the matte eyeshadow palette, which can I say it has one shimmer shade in it so not sure why it has matte in the name. I love all the colours in this palette, its not got all warm tones in it, it has a good selection of cool and warm tones. These don't swatch the best on my arm, but on the eyes they are quite pigmented. They do kick back a little but that does not really bother me, once I tapped off the excess none fell on my face. I love the shimmer shade in this palette because it is an icy shade and I love that. The matte shades were actually more pigmented then I thought it was so I am very impressed with it and I will definitely be using it again.

Swatches

Liquid Concealer 
This isn't in the nude collection but I saw this and thought I had to get it because it's only £2! The packaging does look quite similar to the Nars radiant concealer but it feels very light compared to the Nars one. The applicator is quite messy if that makes sense like it's not clear what the shape is but it looks quite thin and flat. The product itself is very thin so you need to get some more product to build it up. I will agree with the claims and say it is medium coverage, I'm actually very surprised with this as I thought it was going to be sheer and have no coverage but it does. For a concealer that's only £2 I am very very impressed because even after wearing it for 5 hours the coverage is still there.

Swatch (Porcelain)

Apart from the contour stick set I am generally very impressed with these products, I think a lot of people doubt Primark make up because they're not a makeup band specifically but I believe some products are just as good as drugstore brands. The prices are so cheap as well you really can't go wrong and if some of the products do not work for you then at least you have not spent a lot of money. I love the packaging of the nudes collection it is very Kim K and the eye shadow palette looks like the Kylie Jenner ones. For someone that can't afford Kim K or Kylie Jenner products I think these are good buys. I did not think the contour sticks were completely worth £8 just because of shades as they will not suit everyone so I think they should have had a light, medium and dark kit. That being said I will continue to use the majority of these products especially the eye shadow palette and the concealer.

So that was my review on some of the new makeup released in Primark.
Thank you so much for reading,



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