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 palette. You can read my more detailed review here! Thank you to Alix for letting me share my thoughts on her fabulous blog.

Her links: TWITTER|FACEBOOK|INSTAGRAM|PINTEREST

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: 

Blog: viewsofvenus.com
Twitter: twitter.com/viewsofvenus
Insta: instagram.com/viewsofvenus

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,

Want to see more from me?

Twitter: alixholdenx
Instagram: alixkateblog
Bloglovin': alixkate
YouTube: makeupwithalixkate
Don't forget to subscribe to my blog to be notified every time I post!

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.

Revolution Pro Mischief Mattes Palette

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.

Revolution Pro Supreme Highlighter - Ice

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.

L'Oreal Miss Baby Roll Mascara

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.    

Rimmel Kate Moss Sculpting Palette

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! 

Jordana 2-in-1 Foundation and Concealer

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.

Rimmel Natural Bronzer

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,

Want to see more from me?

Twitter: alixholdenx
Instagram: alixkateblog
Bloglovin': alixkate
YouTube: makeupwithalixkate
Don't forget to subscribe to my blog to be notified every time I post!

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,

Want to see more from me?

Twitter: alixholdenx
Instagram: alixkateblog
Bloglovin': alixkate
Don't forget to subscribe to my blog to be notified every time I post!

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,

Want to see more from me?

Twitter: alixholdenx
Instagram: alixkateblog
Bloglovin': alixkate
Don't forget to subscribe to my blog to be notified every time I post!

MY TOP 5 DRUGSTORE NUDE LIPSTICKS

Well hello there!

Last month I put up a post with My Top 5 High End Nude Lipsticks, and for today I want to do the same but this will be for lipsticks that are waaaay cheaper. 

Colour Pop Ultra Matte - Beeper

This is probably the first ever liquid lipstick I tried, it came in a set with a few others but this is definitely my favourite one. It is a darker nude but I used to wear this all the time! I don't reach for it as much anymore, purely because the formula wasn't doing it for me. The Colour Pop matte formula is very drying and I just have better formula matte lipsticks in my collection. Colour Pop is very cheap but it is an American brand so the shipping fees add up, this lipstick costs only $6.50 which works out to be £4.62.

Makeup Revolution Lipstick - Stiletto

I have spoken about this lipstick a few times on my blog so I must sound like a broken record by now but my god is this a good lipstick! It only costs £3! I love everything about it, the price, the smell, the colour, the formula and the longevity. If you blot this lipstick down that is when it will look matte and when you do it really does last a long time. This is such a beautiful browny nude shade, the packaging is to die for and it has such a creamy formula which makes it easy to apply.

Makeup Revolution - Echelon

Ooo another Makeup Revolution product - I don't even do this on purpose their makeup is just too damn good! This is different to the above though this is one of their matte lip kits. I have reviewed this fully which you can read here, but to summarise you don't need to spend £30 on Kylie lip kits when you can pop to Superdrug and pick this up for £6. These are very pigmented lipsticks that last a long time, they can be drying but the majority of matte liquid lipsticks are going to be. The formula is very creamy and comfortable, and this shade is stunning as well.

Nyx Lip Lingerie - Ruffle Trim

I don't think I've ever spoken about this on here but I need to because I love this formula, it feels super creamy and comfortable on my lips. I love the applicator on this as well because it is so easy to fill my lips in. This is another browny nude, quite similar to Stiletto but obviously this is a liquid lipstick. I feel like Nyx are at the higher spectrum of drugstore, these cost £7 which is really not that expensive but when you buy a lot of Makeup Revolution products you do notice it. I need to buy some more shades in this formula so if you have any recommendations then please let me know in the comments!

Sleek Liquid Lipstick - Birthday Suit

It took me forever to get this because this shade was so popular, I honestly haven't worn this in ages but it is still one of my favourites. It feels very comfortable on the lips which I love, it is really creamy and it lasts for a very long time. I love the packaging of all Sleek products and this is no different, its simple but looks more expensive then it actually is. This is one of my favourite nude shades and these lipsticks are very cheap as well as they only retail for £4.99. 

Swatches

So those were My Top 5 Drugstore Nude Lipsticks.
Thank you so much for reading,

Want to see more from me?

Twitter: alixholdenx
Instagram: alixkateblog
Bloglovin': alixkate
Don't forget to subscribe to my blog to be notified every time I post!

MARCH FAVOURITES

Well hello there!

I love favourites post, reading what other people have been loving gives me ideas on what makeup to buy next. I feel like January went on forever and now February and March have flashed before my eyes, cannot believe we are now in April. Below are my a few products I have been loving throughout the whole of March 2018.

My first favourite of the month is the Rimmel Lasting Finish Breathable Concealer, I don't use this for under my eyes but I do use it for the rest of my face and I love it. Rimmel products in general agree with my skin type which is great and I never have a problem with them. This concealer is very lightweight and it feels hydrating, it blends out beautifully and it has a medium coverage. I like to wear this when I'm at work when I don't need a full converage makeup look. It costs £6.49 which is super cheap and I would buy this again, the only thing I don't like about it is the packaging - I hate the hard sponge applicator and it can be hard to squeeze the product out. 

My next favourite is the Anastasia Beverley Hills Contour Kit in light-medium, for some reason I only use it for the lightest contour shade but it blends out very nicely and requires little effort to work with. I need to use the lighter powders as well so I will make sure I give them a go, but I'm sure they will have the same formula. It is such a good light and cool contour shade and its very pigmented so you do not need a lot on your brush at all. The contour kit does cost £42 which is a lot for 6 pans but at the end of the day it's ABH and they are a high end brand. I think it is worth it for the quality of the products.

My third favourite of the month is Freedom Eyebrow Powder in soft brown, as I have recently had my eyebrows microbladed I don't use pomades or pencils anymore. However, when I do a full face of makeup I do like to make them look a tiny bit fuller and opaque so I use this brow powder to do so. It is so soft and pigmented it spreads across my eyebrows so easily which gives them a bit more definition. Freedom are being discontinued because of their new brand Revolution Pro, so I would stock up on this before it goes! I think these powders are only £2 at the moment which is such a bargain as well.

My last favourite of the month is the Nyx Pore Filler Primer, I have been using this a lot lately when I usually don't wear primer everyday. I think this is a fab primer that really minimizes your pores and makes your skin look very smooth.  It sits well under my foundations, especially ones with a matte formula. I have the travel size of this but I think I'm going to buy myself the full size as it's only £11 which I don't think is that bad at all. It is a silicone type of primer, so if you don't like them you won't like this but these are personally my favourite.

So those are my March Favourites!
Thank you so much for reading,

Want to see more from me?

Twitter: alixholdenx
Instagram: alixkateblog
Bloglovin': alixkate
Don't forget to subscribe to my blog to be notified every time I post!