My New Red

I've always struggled to find a red lipstick that I like, either they make me look washed out, they don't suit my skintone, I don't like how they wear or I just don't feel comfortable in them. On a recent trip to Boots I was drawn towards the new L'Oreal Collection Exclusive Pure Reds (£6.99), this collection is similar to their Collection Privee Exclusive Nudes. The range has 4 different reds, all designed to suit different celebrities skin tones, the idea is you choose which skin tone is most similar to yours and that red should be perfect for you.
I picked up Eva's red. My skin is a lot paler than Eva Longoria's, but it's warm toned and to be honest I just loved the look of the lipstick. It's a pure brick red, with a gorgeously matte finish, and I adore it.

I think I'm quite fussy with reds because I'm fairly pale with olive undertones to my skin, I hate reds that aren't matte as well, I can't stand bold lipsticks that fade quickly or go patchy and I don't want to spend too much on reds as I'm never sure if I'm going to like them or not.
The L'Oreal collection caught my eye because I knew they'd be at least one I liked the look of…some of the shades are too pink based or too cool, but Eva's just stood out to me instantly.
The packaging of products is what draws me to them at first, I know you shouldn't judge a product by the packaging but I'm definitely guilty of doing so. The packaging of this lipstick is probably my favourite of all the lipsticks I own, it feels expensive, the lid clicks on so there's no fear of it coming off in your makeup bag and it's also really pretty with Eva's signature on the front.
The bullet is shaped really nicely, meaning it's easy to apply without needing a lipliner, yay for less faffing about when you're in a rush!
The application is perfect, it goes on so smoothly, evenly and doesn't feel sticky, tacky or drying.
The wear is damn good! I put it on at about 5:30pm the other night, I went out, had drinks and even some nibbles and when I checked at about 8:15pm the lipstick still looked almost perfect. The boldness had faded slightly, but it was even and looked pretty great…I'm very impressed! This is probably down to it being a matte formulation, and I also applied it by dabbing it into my lips first, then applying a full on layer….those things definitely help with lipstick longevity.
The colour is beautiful. It's a true red, with no blue or pinky undertones to it. If anything it's a lighter shade of brick red, that I think would suit more or less any skin tone. It's matte, bold, and can be built up or sheered down.

I'd definitely recommend trying one of the four lipsticks out from this range, I think I'm even going to go back and get a second one!

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My All Time Favourite Lipgloss

I've always very much been a lipstick over lipgloss type of gal. I'm not one for constant reapplication, I don't enjoy the sticky feeling, and I certainly don't appreciate the inevitable hair stuck to lips situation, however the NARS lipgloss in Stolen Kisses* (£18.50) (one of their new ones!) has got me reaching for it ever so often.

So, what's so great about  this lipgloss? Well, it's just miles better in every possible way to anything I've tried…(I mean, it really should be considering the price).
The packaging is classic NARS, very simple yet it feels classy and expensive, and you do get a fair amount of product.
Now, the gloss itself is extremely pigmenting, and the colour payoff is stunning. Stolen Kisses is a very natural shade, almost 'my lips but better' but darker and much prettier with a slight hint of shimmer…that to be honest is barely noticeable, but I like that. The colour goes well with any makeup look, I've worn it with a smokey eye and with a 'no-makeup' look and both look pretty gorgeous. I do get complimented when I wear it as well…always a bonus.
The texture is spot on, it's not thick and gloopy nor is it running, and it ranks very low on the stickiness scale; meaning it's extremely comfortable to wear and it doesn't feel like my lips are being glued together.
When it comes down to how long the lipgloss actually stays on the lips I was highly impressed, without eating or drink the shade was still there a good 3 or 4 hours later, obviously it fades over time but nowhere near as much as I had expected from a gloss…I was really surprised!
So, NARS, I applaud you!

NARS Lovin'

Makeup lovers everywhere love NARS, everyone loves NARS, right? Right. So, when NARS sent me a little message saying they'd like to send me some products for being a loyal 'NARSissit' I was over the moon!

Only 2 days later I received 3 full size products in the post, all wrapped up in gorgeous black tissue paper and a ribbon. I got a duo eyeshadow in Tropical Princess, one of their illuminators in 413 BLKR and a lipgloss in Stolen Kisses.

The Tropical Princess duo eyeshadow (limited edition) definitely isn't a product I would have personally picked out, I'm very much a neutrals girl, however after swatching them I think I can make them work! I can blend the purple shade into champagne eyeshadow which would look very pretty, and the green shadow will bring out my brown eyes. It's always good to try new things.
The 413 BLKR illuminator is actually a product I've wanted for a while. The only highlighters I own are powders, so I was excited to try one in a liquid form, especially as summer is coming up and it'll give that gorgeous dewy effect. I have tried this out and I totally adore it, I can tell I'm going to be using it a lot!
Last, but certainly not least is my favourite of the bunch - Stolen Kisses lipgloss (from their new collection). I'm not the biggest lipgloss wearer, as I find they don't last long on me and you have to keep reapplying which is a bit of a faff, but I have been converted by this! The colour is absolutely beautiful, a very natural 'my lips but better' shade with slight shimmer running through it, and oh how it really does make my lips look better. It's gorgeously glossy, well pigmented, non-sticky, and it actually lasts a very, very long time. I need more from this range!

I want to say a huge thankyou to NARS for being so kind and generous. They didn't ask me to write this post, sponsor me or anything like that. I think it's so lovely to see such a huge brand valuing their costumers. I now adore NARS even more!

Do you own any NARS products?

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Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Galaxy*

If you haven't heard of the Apocalips Lip Lacquers from Rimmel then where have you been?! On Mars? The Moon? Were you born yesterday? These products have been talked about a lot in the blogging world since their release early last year, with everyone raving about them and buying all the shades. I did try them when they first came out and thought they were great, but I kind of forgot about them..until the lovely people at HQHair.com sent me the shade Galaxy to try out.

Galaxy isn't a shade I would have immediately opted for, especially around this time of year. It's quite a dark berry/plum shade with shimmer running through it, very much an Autumn/Winter colour. Don't get me wrong, it's super pretty and I'll definitely be reaching for it in the colder months, but for Spring/Summer it wouldn't be my personal choice.
The formation of these lip lacquers is lovely. They're a bit of a lipstick/lipgloss hybrid, as they apply like a lipgloss and have that liquid consistency but they're a lot thicker and extremely pigmented. When they dry they have quite a satin finish, and they're surprisingly matte, which can lead them to being a tad drying after a few hours but a quick top up solves that problem. The staying power is what really wins me over with these, they last ages! I didn't expect them to be quite so long lasting, but even if you're eating and drinking they'll last a good few hours, in my experience.

The packaging of the apocalips is one of my favourites from the high street. The tube is regular sized, but it's been jazzed up. You can see the shade of your lip lacquer at the bottom, then it fades up to black and the lid is shaped into almost an irregular prism shape, which I think is edgy, interesting and sticks to the 'apocalyptic' theme. I also adore the doe-foot applicator, so easy to use and picks up product really well.

Overal I think the Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquers are fantastic, real gems of the high street lip products. There are 10 shades, ranging from nude, to pink, to red, there's something for everyone. I'd definitely recommend trying these out if you haven't already, at £5.99 with free delivery at HQhair.com you can't go wrong.

Have you tried this product?

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Merumaya Cleansing Balm | Review

I think we probably all know I'm quite big on skincare. If you have good skin then your makeup will look a million times better, you'll feel more confident and it's just generally good to look after your skin for all sorts of reasons, therefore using quality skincare that works for you is very important.
I do like to change up my skincare products, unless I find a complete 'holy grail' product. New cleansers I particularly like to try out, I've never really found one that I completely love, so my latest purchase (after hearing so many rave reviews) was the Merumaya Cleansing Balm.

I'd wanted to try a cleansing balm for ages, the Emma Hardie one was top of my wish list but with the £36 price tag I didn't dare buy it, but then I came across the Merumaya Cleansing Balm at £14.50 for 100ml I thought I'd give it a go.
Cleansing balms are oil based products that are particularly good at removing all makeup and dirt from the face. They're marketed at all skin types, even oily, but I feel dry skin would benefit the most, if you're someone looking for anti-aging properties cleansing balms are the best option also. You warm the product in your hands, then massage it gently all over your dry face and then remove with a warm, damp muslin cloth or flannel.
I can't speak for all cleansing balms, but the Merumaya Cleansing Balm leaves my face feeling more cleansed than any other product I have used before. The balm glides so smoothly onto my skin, it smells quite herbal which I love, it feels soothing and once removed my skin feels refreshed, soft, hydrated and more healthy than it did before.
I've been using this cleansing balm for over a month now and I have noticed a considerable difference in the dryness of my skin - it doesn't feel so tight now and dry patches have almost vanished. Before, I was using Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish which I did like, but all it was doing really was cleaning my skin, rather than improving the condition of it or hydrating it, the Merumaya product is different to this as the hydration in my skin has increased and although I haven't noticed a massive difference in any breakouts I may get I do feel my complexion has brightened and looks healthier.
The packaging of this product is a squeezy tube, which I really like as you can easily control how much of the balm you use (yay, no waste!), which FYI isn't much at all…a little goes a long way!
The only thing I don't like about this product is it stings when it goes in my eyes, it's not horrific but it's not comfortable. I remove my makeup with a micellar water before properly cleansing though, so I'm not too fussed!

I do love this cleanser a lot, and I'd highly recommend it, but it's important to remember everyone's skin is different. I personally think this cleanser would be amazing for pretty much everyone though - if you have dry skin it'll bring you some of that hydration you want, if you have blemishes it will sooth them, if you have oily skin the oils in the cleansing balm will help to balance things out.
The Merumaya Cleansing Balm will definitely be something I'll be repurchasing!

Have you tried cleansing balms?

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A Product That's Made A Real Difference

I have quite dry skin, and get hormonal blemishes, so using nothing in between my moisturiser and foundation often led to either the foundation not going on as smoothly as I would like, the foundation breaking apart on my skin throughout the day or it just left my skin looking quite dull. In the past I've tried different primers, moisturisers especially for dull skin and tried lots of foundations but nothing quite did the trick, until I found the Vitamin C Skin Reviver by The Body Shop.

The Vitamin C Skin Reviver is a serum type product that you apply after moisturiser but pre-foundation. The serum itself has a lovely smooth texture, and once applied to the skin it just feels really luxurious. Although I don't notice a huge amount of difference used alone, when I apply my foundation over the top I really see a big improvement compared to how my skin would look without the serum.
Firstly it's actually great if you're in a rush because your foundation will require less buffing and blending, as the skin reviver really helps to smooth everything out. Rather than my foundation looking so obvious, a bit dry and generally just not the best, it looks amazing. My skin feels and looks velvety soft, and my foundation blends perfectly. As well as this the product contains 'light reflecting particles', which I was concerned about as I hate those products that have glitter in them (Rimmel Wake Me Up, I'm looking at you!), however the skin reviver doesn't actually contain much, if any glitter, or shimmer, it's more of a pearlescent finish and any glittery particles it may contain don't transfer on the skin when blended, so rather than looking sparkly and unnatural you just look glowing, healthy and radiant. The product also contains fruit extracts and brazil nut oil which makes it feel really fresh, perfect for mornings, and will help to keep your skin feeling hydrated.

I really adore this product. I don't quite now how I'd live without it now! Before I would feel quite self conscious about how my foundation might look, and I'd spend ages getting it to look okay, but now I don't need to worry as this little product really helps me out. I've even had compliments from other people when I've used this, so it must be making a noticeable difference!
It's not the cheapest at £14 for 30ml but you only need the tiniest amount to cover your whole face, so it should last a long time, and for the quality and difference it makes I'd definitely say it's worth it!

Best Contour Shade For Pale Skin

If you're more on the pale side, like me, you may find it difficult to achieve a good contour with a bronzer. Most people do use a matte bronzer to contour their face, however if you're pale this can look too dark, too orangey or be hard to blend into a more subtle look. I have found a product that's absolutely perfect for getting that contoured look on pale skin, let me introduce you to NYX Blush in Taupe. 

Yes, this shade is marketed as a blush, but it's quite a cool toned, matte, ashy brown with slight hints of an almost purply colour - which is actually much better to contour with than most bronzers as it will help you achieve that shadow effect much more successfully.
I'm a big fan of the formulation of NYX blushes, they're soft, easy to blend, well pigmented, long lasting and very inexpensive. This shade didn't disappoint at all, and lived up to my expectations.
Since getting this product I haven't used anything else to contour with! I just find that Taupe gives me the most natural shadow under my cheekbone, creating the illusion of more defined features and slimming my face - I use the Real Techniques Blush brush to apply it in the hollows of my cheeks, or the contour brush for a more defined look. The shade doesn't look at look orange, it's not too dark, it can be sheered out or build up so if you want it for a daytime look or you're going all out for a night look then it'll work brilliantly and it lasts a long time. Another thing that I give a massive thumbs up to is the fact is fades so evenly, some bronzers I used to use for contouring faded quite patchy or moved around on the skin - very annoying! This blush shade doesn't do that at all, the colour will just naturally fade away.
The packaging isn't my favourite…I always wish they had little mirrors in, or weren't that quite cheap feeling plastic, however at the price of £6 (NYX website, not including shipping - or try Amazon) I don't expect the packaging to be really fancy, especially since the product inside is of such a high quality.

So, if you're a pale skinned girl I'd definitely recommend trying this product. You'll never have to worry about being too heavy handed, looking too orange or like you have a massive streak down your face.

No.7 Pop & Glow Cream Blush Stick in Classic Rose | Review

I think I've mentioned before I don't often try cream blushes, I'm not sure why because the ones I do have I really like and I think they're particularly great for Spring and Summer but I always seem to opt for powder. However, I recently tried the new No.7 Pop & Glow Blush Stick in Classic Rose and it's pretty darn good.

Firstly, I really do adore the packaging of this blush, it's in a stick form (much like Nars multiples) so you can just twist it up, dab it onto your check, smudge with your fingers or a brush and you're good to go! The application of this product is really great, it's easy to get a sheer wash of colour when blended or you can build it up to a more intense look if you wish, which still would only take a couple of swipes as the colour payoff is outstanding (swatches above).
The shade I have is Classic Rose which is a gorgeous hot pink, I think this is beautiful for Spring and Summer! I had my doubts that the colour would suit me, but I find it warms up my complexion and gives me a healthy glow - the fact it has a sheen helps with that.
Often cream blushes can be very sticky, but this blush stick is far from it - it almost feels powder like once it's dried. It's creamy, easy to blend and sets into the skin really well. But as it's that cream formula it hasn't got the longest staying power  -  I'd say it lasted about 5 hours maximum before it faded on me, however if you put powder over the top it will make it last longer and you can always carry this around in your bag for touchups during the day!
Overall I would definitely recommend this chubby stick style blush if you're new to cream blushes, or perhaps you're not keen on them because of the stickiness or difficult application but like the look they give, this will ease you in. They do 2 more blush shades and 1 highlighter in the same packaging and formulation which I must pick up! The price (£9.95) is definitely a bit much for a high street brand, I would say it shouldn't be more than £7…but if you'd like to treat yourself it's worth it for a lovely product.

Have you tried this yet?

What is your thoughts on cream blushes?

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La Roche Posay Rosaliac CC Creme* | Review

I've never been one for BB creams, or CC creams as I do like a medium coverage at least and I always find BB or CC creams don't seem to last a terribly long time on the skin. However, I was recently sent the La Roche-Posay Rosaliac CC Creme to try out and review by Escental and I do actually like it!

La Roche-Posay Rosaliac CC Creme is skincare and foundation hybrid. It will cover redness on the skin, correct colour flaws, hydrate the skin and protect your face from UV rays as there's as SPF30.
The CC Creme comes in one universal shade, which is meant to be for fair-medium skin tones, I did find the colour to be a little orangey but once blended it looks perfectly natural (see pictures), however very fair girls may struggle to make it work.
The coverage obviously isn't very high as it's a CC creme, but it does cover redness and correct uneven skin tone well. It also blends very smoothly which gives that 'no makeup makeup look'. The product feels very light, hydrating, non-sticky and smooth when applied, which impressed me because the BB and CC creams I have tried have always felt a bit too much like a moisturiser and taken ages to set into the skin. I really love the packaging, there's a pump and it's in a fairly slim bottle which isn't glass or that hard plastic that most foundations come in. This type of packaging is much easier to carry around with you and you don't feel like you're going to break it, bravo La Roche Posay.
Most days I do opt for a medium coverage foundation, I just feel more confident when wearing that, however this great product will be absolutely perfect for summer with the light-weight feel, SPF30, easy application (just use your fingers) and it lasts a long time too. It's also a product worth getting if you're someone who often wears very minimal makeup, it'll be a good base for you.
You can get this product from Escental where it's currently 1/3 off! £13 down from £19.50.

Have you tried CC creams?

What do you think of them?

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My Favourite Powder

Whether you have oily skin or dry skin powdering your foundation is a good idea to set everything in place and to help it last all day.

I've used the Rimmel Stay Matte powder for years now, I've repurchased it countless times and will continue to because it's so brilliant and a bargain at only £3.99.
It's quite a light pressed powder that comes in 5 different shades, and transparent too (which is what I use) so whatever skin tone you have you can use it.
I love the transparent one because it won't give me more coverage but it helps to minimise pores, control any shine I may have, helps foundation to look even better and really does set everything in place well so your makeup lasts a lot longer.
The powder contains natural minerals, is free from fragrance, oils, parabens and talc so it won't clog your pores and it feels silky soft and natural on the skin.
Rimmel Stay Matte does everything I want in a powder, and it's great for my dry skin as it's not heavy and doesn't accentuate any patches.
The only gripe I have with this product is the packaging, I'd much prefer something with a flip up lid and mirror….but for the low price I suppose I can't really complain when the product inside is so good.

What powder do you use?

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Makeup I Got For My Birthday

It was my birthday yesterday! I had a lovely day spent with my family, just relaxing at home, opening presents, having a nice lunch and then in the evening me, my mum (whose birthday it was too), my dad and my sister went out for dinner at a restaurant called Bill's.
I am very lucky to have got amazing presents, and I thought I'd share with you the makeup bits I got! I'm only doing beauty presents because this is mainly a beauty blog and I figured that's what would interest you the most, but if you'd like to see some of my other presents do let me know.

(Disclaimer - I know some people find these sort of posts boastful, but I really hope it doesn't come across that way. I'm in no way boasting or showing off, I feel very lucky and I'm so grateful for all my presents and I just thought it would be nice to share them with you)


I finally got the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette! I've wanted this ever since I really got into makeup. Everyone raves about it and it's definitely a 'cult' product, along with the other two naked palettes. Naked 2 was definitely my preference out of the 3, it's got the most wearable shades in it for me and you can create so many different looks. I've already tried the palette out when I went for dinner and it's a dream to use, the shadows are amazing quality, they look beautiful on and last a long time.
I got my first MAC lipstick…I know, I know, I should have got one sooner. The shade is Fanfare and it's a gorgeous yellow toned mid pink that has almost coral tones to it as well, I think this lipstick looks different on everyone though. It's a cremesheen finish, which means it's gorgeously creamy and has a more glossy finish. I love it! (FYI it looks darker in the picture than it does in real life).
I got another lip product, which is the Revlon lip butter in Wild Watermelon. It's the most beautiful pinky red shade, perfect for Spring and Summer. I wore this last night and I just adore it.
I also got a new eyeliner. I've really been enjoying creating flicks with gel eyeliner recently, but that can take a bit of time and it's annoying having to clean the brush every single time. This Supercat liner from Soap And Glory is a pen style, so it's super easy and quick to use…perfect!
Last but not least, is the NYX blush in Taupe. You don't use this as a blush but instead as a brilliant contour shade for pale skin. It's great as it's well pigmented, not dark, not orangey, easily blended and creates the illusion of a shadow very well.

I hope you enjoyed seeing what beauty things I got for my birthday, I love reading these sort of posts.

If you'd like an in depth review of anything mentioned do let me know in the comments!

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Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer | Review

Concealer is a makeup product I cannot live without. When you have the right one it will make you look more awake by hiding those under eye circles and will hide your blemishes to make your skin look more flawless than it actually is.
Normally I stick to my Collection Lasting Perfection concealer - it's cheap, it has amazing coverage, lasts a long time and conceals anything I want it to, however recently I've been finding it quite drying on my skin, so I picked up the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer to try.

I'm not the biggest fan of the Wake Me Up foundation, purely because it clings to dry patches and has glitter particles in it, so if you're in the sun you'll end up with that Edward Cullen effect. I didn't expect the concealer to have the same sparkly bits in it, I mean why would you put glitter in a product that's supposed to hide blemishes? That'll just draw attention to them! But I was wrong, the concealer does contain the same glitter particles, so it can't be used on blemishes…annoying!
I could rant on and on about the glitter particles, but I shall just say that they're pointless, make you look kinda weird in the sunlight and the Wake Me Up products would be a lot better without them.
Sparkles aside I do like the concealer - I adore the texture, it feels light, not at all dry and blends without any problems. The coverage isn't as high as the Collection concealer but it's still good, concealing under eye circles well. Rimmel claim this has an 'anti-fatigue effect', which I suppose it does, it does make me look more awake. They also say it illumines, which is achieved by those glitter particles….I don't want a concealer/highlighter hybrid, especially for blemishes, thankyou very much.

Without concealer (left) With Concealer (right)

So, I have a definite love/hate relationship with this concealer. I love that it's so non-drying and really covers those circles you get after a not so great nights sleep, but the glitter in it ruins it for me. For the price of £5.49 you can get better.

ENTER MY MAKEUP GIVEAWAY HERE

Bronzer & Highlighter As Eyeshadow

One of the big makeup trends for Spring is shimmery, golden, warm eyes, one of my favourite eye makeup looks! There are loads of shadows out there that will do an amazing job creating this look, but the easier option is to use your bronzer and highlighter.

I love a multi purpose product, it makes doing your makeup that much quicker, easier and if you're carrying your makeup around with you it means there's less to carry.
To create gorgeous golden eyes first apply your bronzer all over your eyelid, making sure to layer it up so there's less chance of creasing. I'm using the Nars Laguna Bronzer, which is lovely because it's so warm and matte. Bring it down along your lower lash line as well.
After you've applied the bronzer then go in with your powder highlighter over the top, this will create that gorgeous shimmer and sparkle to your eyes. I'm using the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle, this is perfect as it's got a beautiful metallic finish.
There you have it, golden shimmery eyes - right on trend for Spring 2014!

Will you be giving this a go?

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MY MAKEUP GIVEAWAY

The Lipstick I'm Currently Loving

Lipstick's are my favourite of all makeup products. I love wearing different shades, trying out new brands, and I like how a look can be completely made just by what colour you're wearing on your lips.
My all time favourite lipsticks from the high-street/drugstore are the Kate Moss for Rimmel ones, and lately I've rediscovered my love for shade 19.

Kate Moss for Rimmel lipstick in Shade 19 (£5.49) (damn I wish they gave them proper names!) is a kind of deep, warm pink colour, with nudey undertones and it's slightly berry like, in my opinion. I do find this a difficult colour to describe, thank goodness for pictures! Anyway, whatever colour you call it it's gorgeous. It's quite neutral but adds a lovely colour to the lips, which I love. I especially like how the shade looks on my skin tone, I think it suits me well and I always get compliments when I wear it. So if you're quite a pale girl this lipstick might be worth checking out, actually check it out whatever your skin tone -  I think it'll suit everyone!

This lipstick is from the Spring collection of the Kate Moss lipsticks. I don't know if the formulation is slightly different but it definitely isn't quite the same as the original line. Firstly the smell is different - I can't put my finger on what it smells like, it's not unpleasant it's just different. The pigmentation is still amazing, undeniably great, and the colour payoff is outstanding.
I find this lipstick to be a touch more drying than the other Kate Moss lipsticks I have, it's not super drying but with the other lipsticks I kind of forget I have anything on my lips, whereas with 19 I can definitely feel something there. I also found it didn't last quite as long as the others - still a good 3 hours but if you're eating or drink it fades quite fast. It applies easily and smoothly and doesn't go weird if you have slightly flaky or chapped lips.
I completely love this lipstick all in all, I think it's brilliant quality for the price and I highly recommend it to anybody.

Have you tried the Kate Moss

lipsticks?

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Have you ENTERED my GIVEAWAY yet? :)

MUA Undress Me Too Palette

Today I bring to you a cheap as chips eyeshadow palette that's a dupe, colour wise, for the cult classic Urban Decay Naked 2 palette.

The MUA Undress Me Too (see what they did there with the name?) is a clear obvious attempt by MUA at creating a dupe for the Naked 2 palette. The colours of the eyeshadows are practically identical and even in the same order in the palettes, just with the MUA having 2 rows and Urban Decay being all on one strip. They've even called one of the shades Naked!

But enough of the comparisons, let's just get on with reviewing this bargain palette.
I'd heard a great deal about Undress Me Too from different bloggers, the majority singing it's praises, but I was still skeptical..I mean how pigmented can a 12 eyeshadow palette be when it's priced at £4?! Well, I shall tell you that to my shock they are brilliantly pigmented! Okay, they're not as pigmented as Urban Decay, but you definitely don't have to work hard to get good colour payoff from these shadows.

Top row of the palette
(2 of the shades are very light - hardly show up
in the photo)

Bottom row of the palette

As you can see from the swatches the shades with shimmer are definitely a lot more pigmented than the matte shades, which is often the case, and you do have to apply a few layers with the matte's to get the colour payoff that there is in the pan..but that's okay, I always layer up my shadows anyway.
All the eyeshadows are really wearable, great for everyday looks and you can easily create a smokey eye from them too.
With a primer these shadows last a good amount of time, without they will crease after a while - but I expected nothing else from a £4 palette so I'm not complaining!

All in all I totally recommend this little gem, especially if you can't afford the Naked 2 palette which is £30 more expensive! The quality isn't going to beat high-end brands, but the for the price it's unbeatable and a truly brilliant high-street/drugstore palette.

I'll be holding a GIVEAWAY including

one of the MUA palettes on my blog

very soon so make sure you're

following me on Bloglovin' so you

don't miss out!

x

MAC Stereo Rose - Re-release!

MAC, as they so often do, are re-releasing one of their most popular limited edition products into a new limited edition collection, and it's the much talked about Mineralize Skinfinish in Stereo Rose.

If you've been an avid beauty blog follower for a while you'll have no doubt heard about this product before. It was first released years ago, then re-released last year, and will again be rereleased this year into the forthcoming Fantasy Of Flowers collection - which will be available 6th March (write it in your diary).

Stereo Rose is a gorgeous coral blush, with hints of pink and golden shimmer running through it - much like Nars Orgasm blush, and there are many other dupes out there. The shade itself looks very much like it would suit and compliment any skin tone. The golden shimmer running through will help highlight, so if you're in a rush there's no need to do both, and the colour will really help warm up your complexion.
Mineralize Skinfinishe's are really soft powders with a metallic finish to them, they're great for giving a healthy glow and a gorgeous sheen to the skin.

Stereo Rose will be ready for you to buy on 6th March this year, priced at £22.
Be quick, this will undoubtably sell out fast!

Best Bargain Eyeshadow Palette

One of the most asked questions I get is 'What's the best highstreet/drugstore eyeshadow?'. It seems most eyeshadows are either not good quality, have a rubbish shade range or are overpriced.
My favourite eyeshadow palettes you can get in high street shops are the Sleek palettes.

The Sleek eyeshadow palettes consist of 12 eyeshadows and are priced at £7.99 - BARGAIN!
My favourite of the selection is Storm (pictured). I use it often as most of the shades are natural and neutral, but there are some more daring shades in there like dark green or pink, and there's so many different looks you can get out of it. There's a mixture of light and dark colours, shimmery and matte. For the price I really don't think you can beat the quality of these shadows, they're so pigmented and you can really built them up to an intense colour. The wear of them isn't as long as high end shadows, that's expected, but they still last all day with a primer, without a primer they would last a good time still but just may crease a little - it's best to try and build them up to avoid this.

TOP ROW SWATCHES

BOTTOM ROW SWATCHES

Other than Storm there are 14 other palettes to choose from, so there'll be something to please everyone. There's some really bright and intense coloured palettes, some naturals palettes, matte palettes and of course palettes with a mixture.
The packaging is very sleek (yep) and doesn't feel too cheap. The lid on my palette has broken because I dropped it, but I think they're quite durable.

Sleek, in my opinion, do the best eyeshadows for such a barginous price. You can buy Sleek eyeshadow palettes on their website anywhere in the world and in Superdrug in the UK.
I've got my eye on the Oh So Special and the Au Naturals palettes next!

A Pretty Pink Pairing

I've never really delved into the world of lip product pairing, I always just stick to one product on my lips at one time, but recently I tried pairing a lipstick and a lipgloss together and to my surprise I really liked it!

Whilst looking through my draw of lipsticks recently I came across one of the first lipsticks I got that had been shoved to the back of the draw and forgotten about, it's a lipstick by Avon called Pout.
Pout is a really pretty cool toned pale pink, it's a gorgeous creamy texture and I really love the packaging. Although I do like the lipstick I have found that I much prefer the look of it paired with a lipgloss, and my lipgloss of choice is from the Revlon Colorburst range, the shade is Pink Ice. 

Lipstick only

Lipstick and gloss together

 SWATCHES TOP TO BOTTOM -
Avon lipstick in Pout
Revlon lipgloss in Pink Ice
Both products together

Pink Ice is a a very pale pink with silver shimmer particles running through it, I find it makes the lipstick look a bit lighter but also adds dimension and more shine. I'm glad I've found a lipstick to wear with this lipgloss because on it's on I'm not too fond of it, purely because on pale skin like mine it can make me look a bit washed out.

Both products feel nice on the lips, the Revlon lipgloss isn't sticky and isn't gloopy like some glosses can be, they're not the longest wearing products in the world, I'd say a 2-3 hours, but I can overlook that.
The two products work together really well and I really love this combination for a pretty and subtle lip look.

Tanya Burr - Lips and Nails

Tanya Burr - beauty blogger and YouTube star has just released a line of lip glosses and nail varnishes with eye CANDY. I for one am very excited about this!

As Tanya trained to be a makeup artist, specialises in the beauty business and knows all there is to know about makeup products I have faith that her products, in particular the lip glosses, will be amazing. I know Tanya has been working on this line for ages and I'm certain she wouldn't have released the products unless she was more than happy with them, so I'm expecting high quality glosses and varnishes from her line!

Let's start with the glosses - there are 12 in the line, with a beautiful selection of colours from bright red to pink to more natural shades. Six have shimmer in them and six do not, which I'm thankful for as I'm not a fan of shimmery glosses. They're being priced at £6.99 - a very reasonable price. I can't wait to try some out, Afternoon Tea, Chic and Lets Travel The World are top of my wish list (I know, I know, the names are too cute).

(photo via @TanyaBurr on twitter)

There are 10 shades in the nail varnish range, there are some gorgeous pastel colours in there that would be perfect for spring and some darker shades too. These are priced at £5.99.

The colours that catch my eye are Little Duck - a gorgeous pastel green, Riding Hood - a dark vampey red and New York Night - a dark brown. Again, how amazing are the names? I love how Tanya has given them proper names, I think it really adds to the product.

The packaging for both the lip glosses and the nail varnishes are gorgeous, simple but classy and pretty. I normally don't like it when there's a signature written across a product packaging butt Tanya's is super pretty, with a little heart, I adore it.
Tanya Burr's products are available to buy NOW at Feel Unique and they'll be available from other beauty websites and on the highstreet soon!

I can' wait to try Tanya's new products, especially the lip glosses!

What product have you got your eye on?

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