June Make-Up Wishlist: Nude Eyes and Bright Lips

I really have my head in the clouds if I think that I'll be able to afford any of this for this month but isn't that what wishes are for?! Recently I've been wearing a lot of neutral shadows and bright lipsticks. I've completely ditched my signature liquid liner flick for a much more subtle, sculpted look and I'm loving it for Summer. I've even started some gentle contouring with bronzer and I'm feeling so much more confident with my beauty choices these days. The bright lips are turning a lot of heads in my small town but I'm putting it down to the classic "jealousy-gawk." As such, I think it's high time to get some higher quality shadows as "investment" pieces (wink) and throw some even more fun lipsticks into my collection!

1. Maybelline Vivid Lipstick Hot Plum, 2. Benefit Most Glamorous Nudes Ever, 3. Lime Crime My Beautiful Rocket, 4. Stila In The Light, 5. Lime Crime Velvetine, 6. Urban Decay Naked Basics

See? Gorgeous. Am I right or am I right? 

1. I have been declaring my unending love for Maybelline's Color Sensational Vivids for a while now and already have 3 (review and swatches here) but Hot Plum is calling my name. I originally deemed it too close in colour to Fuchsia Flash to warrant a purchase but I'm officially retracting the statement, I want! Being the cheapest product in my list it's possible I'll be able to smuggle this one into my collection... I'll keep you posted. 

2. I had Benefits Most Glamorous Nudes in my clutches in Cambridge after I had scrimped and saved my Boots points for MONTHS and what do you know, the tills weren't working and I couldn't spend my points. I reluctantly handed my beloved palette back to the grumpy assistant and never saw it again. My lust hasn't subsided and I'm determined to get it one day!

3. Lime Crime is the stuff of my dreams. I adore oranges and My Beautiful Rocket is perfection in a tube. I have a similar shade from Models Own but I imagine the pigmentation and lasting power of this is infinitely superior. One please!

4. The In The Light palette is so friggin' pretty! I love the colours and the swatches I've seen have been incredible. I'm also really excited about the liner included as I've been searching for the perfect brown liner for a while and I love this deep chestnut shade.

5. Lime Crime makes an impressive second appearance with it's beautiful Velvetines. I've heard tell that there will be some new colours in the future and I can't wait to see them! Frankly I'd take any of them; it's the stunning rose petal texture that has me clamouring for my purse and I think these are the epitome of old Hollywood Glamour.

6. Last but far from least. Velvety smooth and richly pigmented, the much loved Basics have been at the top of my list for way too long and it's high time I took them home. One day, I promise you Naked Basics, one day.

Has your wishlist just grown? I would love to hear any comments about the products shown if you've tried them!

Lauren

Review: Maybelline Color Sensational Popsticks

Ahh my first review after a whole month! And it's not going to be pretty. I'll be honest straight away and say that these products are the worst that I've ever tried from Maybelline which is usually a brand that I rely on for high quality drugstore makeup. Luckily I bought these Color Sensational Popsticks from Wilkinsons where they were only £3 each in a little bargain box. I'd be a lot more upset if I'd paid the usual £7.99 for them. I imagined that these were going to be something akin to a more waxy version of the Clinique Chubby Sticks. In theory this is great, a little sturdier and less prone to melting but still imparting sheer, shiny colour with a moisturising balm texture. Sadly these actually do nothing. I feel like Maybelline were relying on the gimmick of the translucent bullets to sell these and forgot to make them do anything.

One of the few praises I have for these products is the cute neon pink packaging. It's similar to what Maybelline uses for their other lipsticks but really fits in well with the bright translucent theme of the product. It also has a slight fruity scent which I personally don't like - it's very acrid and fake smelling. The colours themselves seem very vibrant and I loved the idea of a solid lip balm for Summer. However, if I'd wanted a clear lip balm, I would have bought one.

I don't even know if this is Citrus Slice or Crystal Pink as they are literally identical. There was really no point putting more than one swatch up. I wouldn't have been quite so heartbroken if it wasn't for the fact that these aren't even that moisturising! The only thing I can liken them to is very cheap children's lip balms. Waxy, thin and short-wearing. Just disappointing all round.

Final Verdict: It's pretty clear, I am very unhappy with these. If you're looking for moisturising colour I'd definitely recommend the Revlon Balm Stains or Lip Butters or even better, the Clinique Chubby Sticks. If it's just lip care you're after, save your pennies and get a Nivea lip butter - they're awesome!

Lauren

P.S. Thank you so much for all your kind and supportive words on my last post. I really appreciate your patience and understanding and am very happy to be back! I hope you liked this (particularly scathing) review!

Review: Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Lipsticks in Fuchsia Flash, Shocking Coral and Neon Red + Potential MAC Dupes?!

A couple of weeks ago I was casually swatching everything in Superdrug with a little "new" sticker (as you do) and came across these lipsticks. Honestly, it was love at first swatch. Sadly I had no money (why do I this to myself?) but the next week my absolutely gorgeous, perfect, wonderful, shopping-addiction-enabling boyfriend gave me some money to treat myself! The first thing that popped into my mind was these beauties and before I knew it I was heading home with three new lipsticks. 

The Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Lipsticks are a capsule collection of bright, highly pigmented lipsticks within the Color Sensational line of lip products. Sadly there are only 5 shades currently available in the UK but I really hope they extend it to the full 10! I'm dying to try Vivid Rose, Vibrant Mandarin and Brazen Berry. The colours that I picked up on this occasion were Fuchsia Flash, Shocking Coral and Neon Red.

Fuchsia Flash

I have never in my life worn a colour like this but I regret not doing it sooner! I've seen a whole bunch of comparisons and this looks like a very good dupe of MAC's much loved Candy Yum-Yum but with a shinier finish. It's a beautifully opaque neon pink with blue undertones.

 

Shocking Coral

I personally think of coral as a bit more peach/orange than this but I was pleasantly surprised with how wearable this yellow based pink is. This looks so beautiful worn with pared down eye makeup and soft peach blush. For potential dupes I've seen it compared to MAC's Impassioned and Party Parrot.

Neon Red

An orange based red. The colour in the bullet for some reason looks a lot darker than the colour when applied. It's a little difficult to tell from this image but I assure you, it's very orange based! From what I've seen online the colour looks extremely similar to MAC's Lady Danger which is one of the shades I've been lusting after for a long, long time. At least I know now it'll suit me!

First things first, big thumbs up for the cute neon/bright inspired names and packaging. The only thing I'll have a slight moan about is that because the colour of the packaging is identical they're a smidge difficult to differentiate. If you store your lipsticks upside down in an orderly fashion this obviously won't be an issue, but for my woefully disorganised basket of products I do have to check each one. Saying that, they really stand out amongst my other products so at least I only have 3 tubes to check! There is a slight, sweet scent too but nothing overpowering and it doesn't last when applied.

Most importantly, these are without a doubt the best lipsticks that I've ever tried. I know that doesn't mean a ton since I don't have that many actual lipsticks but regardless, I thought you should know! The colours are beautiful. Soft, shiny, opaque, super pigmented, long lasting, non-drying, creamy, non-feathering and I could go on like this all night. One of the massive pluses for me was the truly outstanding staying power. I can wear these all day and only have to top up after heavy meals. I've eaten sandwiches and drank from glasses and it doesn't really go anywhere (I was surprised too.) Admittedly, I do apply, blot, reapply for that level of staying power but still, pretty impressive. I also find them quite versatile too; a light blotting will create a matte effect and applying with some balm will create a sheer, pretty tint. I swear these will not leave my face for Summer 2013, I'm in love! I really think that this is evidence of the high street upping their game when it comes to lipsticks and I'm overjoyed to see it happening.

£7.19 from Boots or Superdrug.

Final Verdict: I adore them. Pigmented, creamy and long lasting, Please try one!

Have you tried any lipsticks from this line? What are your favourite drug store lipsticks?

Lauren

Valentine's Day Inspired Makeup Tutorial

Ahh, love is in the air... and by love I mean an inordinate amount of money and the pressure to somehow make sex more exciting than usual. I'm only joking! I'm not a total grouch. Whilst it's absolutely true that you should be loving your significant other pretty much every day, it's kind of nice to have a day dedicated to it. And it certainly doesn't have to cost a lot of money. I for one am intending on making my lovely boyfriend breakfast in bed which I know he's going to love.
Regardless of what comes with Valentines Day there's no denying that it can be pretty inspirational with it's classic girly colour palette and patterns. Since I recently received this palette (only £1.99!) I decided that I was going to experiment with some pink shadows.

1-2

Gently pat the lid shade all over the eye. I used my Body Shop Eye Shadow Brush. Blend slightly outwards to create a more soft, rounded shape. Using the same brush, work the crease shade into the crease and bring it under the eye about half way across. Using a clean brush (or even your little finger as I did) pat some of the lightest shade into the inner corner.

3-4

Apply a liquid liner. I used Illamasqua Precision Ink in Havoc which is a deep red/purple shade and dries to a wet-look finish. Matte black would be fantastic and much easier to wear, but since we're experimenting I think Havoc is great! Slick two coats of black mascara onto the top lashes and one coat onto the bottom lashes. I then defined my brows and highlighted the arch on the brow bone using the Soap and Glory Arch de Triumph.

4-5

That's the eyes finished! Looking very sleepy. For the lips I wanted to tie into the colour palette but keep them quite muted so as not to overpower the rest of the makeup. Annoyingly I didn't actually have any pastel pinks in my collection so I had to get creative. I began by slicking on a thin coat of Rimmels Apocalips in Nude Eclipse and evening out with a lip brush (or fingers.) I then used Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie over the top by rubbing the product onto my finger and gently patting across the lips. I am absolutely thrilled with these lips! It just goes to show that you don't always need new products to get the desired effect and I'll be experimenting some more in the future with colour mixing.

Here's the finished look. Fit for Aphrodite herself! ;)

Products Used:

Face:

The Body Shop Moisture Foundation in 03

The Body Shop Lightening Touch Concealer in 01

The Body Shop All In One Face Base in 03

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer in Light

Illamasqua Illuminator in Slay

Maybelline Dream Touch Blush in Berry 06

Eyes:

Technic Electric Beauty Ultra Violet Palette

Illamasqua Precision Ink in Havoc

Soap and Glory Arch de Triumph

The Body Shop Super Volume Mascara in Black

Lips:

Rimmel Apocalips in Nude Eclipse

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie

I really hope you liked my look and would love to see some links to your Valentine's looks! Obviously this is a bit "out there" with the red liner but I still love it and I did wear this out! Very brave for such a beauty and fashion backwards town but I felt great.

Lauren

January Favourites

Since I've now been blogging for over two months I feel familiar enough with my stash to start my monthly favourites! What better month to start than January?  I have a bit of a mix here, there's few old favourites and some new products too. So here are my most reached for this month:

From L-R: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains in Honey and Crush, W7 Nail Varnish in 11, The Body Shop Aloe Gentle Foaming Face Wash, Naturals Mango and Papaya Lip Balm, Maybelline Dream Touch Cream Blush in Berry 06, The Body Shop Shea Body Butter, Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid Liner in Black

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains in Honey and Crush
I was very late on the band wagon with these but I'm enormously happy that I finally jumped on! I've literally been swapping these back and forth for Day and Night. Honey is a pretty soft pink and Crush is deep berry tone. I find them absolutely ideal for the Winter since they're slightly moisturising. Matte lipsticks tend to dry my lips out in this weather. Swatches and full review here.

W7 Nail Varnish in 11
A beautiful powdery pastel blue. I've worn it twice already this month! I even accidentally bought an Illamasqua dupe but I find the slightly thinner formula of this polish works better for me. It's a great colour to take me into Spring. I love it!

The Body Shop Aloe Gentle Foaming Face Wash
I've been using this for a couple of months now and it's almost empty. It's super light and refreshing and I love using it. I always feel extra clean and my skin looks more radiant in the mornings. I can't sing it's praises enough. Colour, fragrance and paraben free, it's ideal for sensitive skin girls like me.

Naturals Mango and Papaya Lip Balm
A more recent addition to my stash! I actually won this from Jasmine and it came in a collection of four different scents. I love all of them but this is my current favourite. It smells absolutely divine. Really fruity and fresh. It has a slight orange tint to it which comes out as a very natural peachy shine on my lips. Perfect for day time. I haven't put it down!

Maybelline Dream Touch Cream Blush in Berry 06
I bought this all the way back in November but I've only recently started full embracing it. This is 100% my go to blush. I prefer a slightly dewy finish because I feel it looks much more natural on my dry skin and this is just perfect for a touch of natural colour. It only takes a very small amount and I buff it on using my round Nanshy brush for a flawless finish. Lasts forever, looks gorgeous. Review of Nanshy brushes and cheek swatch here.

The Body Shop Shea Body Butter
The very first Body Shop butter that I ever bought and still a firm favourite. It's the one that I reach for when I have very dry skin and I love it for some extra moisture in Winter. I have quite a few of the butters and there are an amazing selection of scents. They sink in really fast and you can smell them all day long. Perfect mosturisers.

Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid Liner in Black
This is has always been my go to liquid liner and this is a brand new tube since I tragically lost my old one. It's ultra black, dries fast and doesn't transfer despite not being waterproof. It also has my favourite kind of applicator, a slightly firm point that doesn't splay or pull on my skin. Forever repurchase.

Quite a few this month that I wanted to feature! Have you tried any of these products? I'd love a link to your favourites this month!

Lauren

Review: Maybelline Master Smoky Shadow Pencil in Smoky Violet

Is it smoky or smokey? I never know so I change it all the time. Luckily I know this one is smoky since it's printed on the side. Crisis averted.
I've seen a few reviews for this product and they've been overwhelmingly negative. I do smoky eyes so rarely because I don't feel confident with dark shadows so this really appealed to me. A two-step, one product smoky eye? Where do I sign?! So regardless of the negative reviews I was drawn to the Maybelline counter to give this baby a swatch.

There was a few colours to choose from, all very imaginatively named smoky "insert colour." In my dreams this would have been a dark jungle green but the violet seemed like the next best thing. Bright enough to be considered colourful and the shade would ideally enhance the green tones in my eyes. The product itself is a chunky crayon encased in wood with a sponge "smudger" on the opposite end. It does come with lids on both ends but I'll explain why mine doesn't at the end of the post. Nothing innovative packaging wise, but nice and neat. I also liked that the colour of the pencil was an indicator of the product shade. I much prefer products presented like that because when you have a lot of makeup you can spend several minutes just trying to find the products you're after. Buzzkill. Here's a swatch on my hand:

So far so good right? The "instructions" on the pencil simply say, draw a thick line, blend out. Absolutely idiot proof. It wasn't really all as simply as that, you have to layer it up quite a lot and blend out gradually to get a look with real impact.

I did really love this look though. It's a little muddy on the lid but it would make a great addition to some dark purple shadows and absolutely does work fine on it's own. It's quite "safe" as far as smoky eyes go as a single product, but I'm really looking forward to having a play and seeing what I can achieve! It was fairly soft but it did drag a little on the skin. Not terrible but perhaps enough to irritate very sensitive eyes. The pigmentation is fantastic and I love the colour! It's not obvious from the photos but my eyes looked very green in reality. The smudger wasn't half as bad as I imagined it would be from other reviews, I felt it did the job quite well to be honest. These retail for £5.99 each at Boots or Superdrug. There's also a mascara in the "Smoky" range but I really don't feel it could do anything more than what any other volumising mascara could, so it was a miss for me. I did quite like this product and might pick up the brown shade too.

Final verdict: It's not a must-have product, but it's a nice addition to my liners and I'll probably reach for it a few times in the coming evenings.

What do you think to this product? Have you tried any pieces from the Smoky collection?

Lauren

P.S. The story behind the missing lid:  I was about to pay for my full  price Smoky Violet when the assistant whipped one out with a missing lid and offered it to me for £1 since they couldn't sell it for full price. Needless to say I didn't dither for long. £5 is a big saving, and I store my pencils upright anyway so it's not as if the sponge is going to gather dirt in the bottom of my makeup bag. Hell yeah savings!

Mini Superdrug Online Haul

I've been staring at the Sleek i-Divine Glory Palette for months now and it breaks my heart that we don't have a Sleek section in my local Superdrug so I couldn't even see it up close! I know that it's late to be jumping on the bandwagon but I just had to have this before it was taken out of circulation. It just so happened that Superdrug still had their 3 for 2 offer on when I placed my order so I picked up a couple more pieces because why the heck not?! Here's what I picked:

Sleek i-Divine Palette in Glory (£6.99) Max Factor Liquid Effect Eyeliner in Violet Voltage (£6.99) and Maybelline NY Dream Soft Blush Berry in 06 (£6.49.) They also sent me two samples to try that were Lacoste Rouge for Men and Superdrug brand BB cream.

I think that £7 is a lot to be paying for a single eye pencil from a drugstore brand so I am prepared to be amazed (and probably let down) by this Max Factor Liner. It includes the above "smudger" that has a rubbery texture. I haven't swatched yet so I look forward to reviewing this for you!

This is something that I've been looking forward to trying for a while. I've only recently started wearing blushes because for some reason I thought they would just make my face look even redder and bigger (how stupid am I?) I know that these have been out since the dawn of time but I'm quite excited about the texture of this and I love that soft rose pink shade.

And for the main event:

Tube, Overground, Bakerloo, Jubilee, Platform, Northern

District, Hammersmith and City, Picadilly, Circle, Victoria, Central

Excuse my cardigan in the mirror! I couldn't seem to angle it so I wouldn't be in the picture. 

The colours here are beautiful. I love the mix of neutrals and brights and mattes and shimmers. I can't wait to try these. 

So that's everything! Have you got any of the products here? I would love to see what people have been doing with the Glory palette.

Lauren

NOTD: Maybelline, Winner Takes It All

I've decided that I'm going to do my nails every Saturday from now on because it's probably the day that I'm least likely to be doing a long shift at work.

Today I picked Winner Takes It All (820), a gold metallic from Maybelline's Forever Strong Pro range. This is the first time I've used this shade and the first time I've used a varnish from Maybelline full stop. I only just stopped a life long nail biting habit this Summer (I'll post about how I did this because when I searched online there was very little to help me!) so colouring my nails is still somewhat of a novelty for me and as such I haven't tried many brands and I certainly haven't perfected my application technique, so be gentle!

Here it is on me. Chubby fingers and all.

This really is a gorgeous shade and I really liked the shape of the brush - it made application super easy, even when using my non-dominant hand. I did find that the varnish was a little thick though and difficult to apply evenly. This has led to clear (when up close) brush strokes on my nails which is a little annoying. It's quite a flat metallic and I think that the next time I buy a shade like this I'll get some with more of a shimmer in it. I've used two coats here but I could have easily left it at one, this shade is super opaque so great for when you're in a rush. It also dried really fast which is always a bonus. It retails for £4.09 for 10mls so it's really affordable and worth a try. I bought this as part of a buy one get one half price offer at Boots though so for just over £2 I couldn't say no! I used my Barry M all in one as a base and top coat.

Which metallic shades are you loving at the moment?

Lauren