Make Up Geek Haul & COMPLETED Z Palette

After 2 years, guess who finally completed their Z Palette full of Make Up Geek eyeshadows?!

I bought the final four eyeshadows in the BeautyBay Boxing Day Sale.

BeautyBay Haul + Updated Z Palette

Hey!


BeautyBay had an offer for students going on last week so I had to take advantage!

Brands I Want To Try Out In 2018

I love trying out new beauty products and brands, so in 2018 I would like to try new brands whilst trying more from brands I have only had one product from.

The Best Make Up of 2017

Hey!

I know this comes really late into January but I wanted to share my 2017 make up favourites so much!

What I Got For Christmas 2017!

Hi everyone!

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas (or a great holiday if you don't celebrate)! Today I would like to share with you the presents I received for Christmas. As usual with these type of posts, I would just like to put a disclaimer that I am not trying to brag. I love reading/watching these and find it interesting so thought I would share too!

ColourPop Liquid Lipsticks First Impressions

Hey!

A couple of months ago my friend was making her first ever ColourPop order and asked if I'd like to order anything. Of course, I said yes! These are my first ColourPop items and I decided to go for two very different liquid lipsticks.

BeautyBay Haul

I have been experiencing a tough couple of weeks, so what else would I do other than give myself a little retail therapy?

July Favourites

Hey!


My July Favourites comes slightly late but I wanted to do a favourites post as I haven't done one in ages. Some months you don't feel there are products that you've really been loving but for July there are a few items for me.

Urban Decay 'Stark Naked' Comfort Matte Lipstick

Hey!


Yesterday was National Lipstick Day, so in honour of that I thought I would upload a lipstick review. I've had the Urban Decay 'Stark Naked' Comfort Matte Lipstick for many months now so it is about time!


With lipsticks, I like to have an easy nude colour that is quick and easy to put on when I am getting ready in a rush and don't have time to spend on perfecting my lipstick. After my favourite BareMinerals lipstick was discontinued, I needed to find the perfect new nude for this job. And this is what I chose. 

Make Up Wishlist

Bad times when there is lots of make up you want to buy but you need to save money! And then the list just keeps building up and up...Here are a few on my wishlist/radar:

Gerard Cosmetics Hydra Matte 'Cher' Liquid Lipstick

Hey!

Sometime last year my friend and I were talking about Gerard Cosmetics and I mentioned that if I were to buy one of the liquid lipsticks, that I'd go for the shade 'Cher'. My wonderful friend remembered that and bought me it for Christmas! This is my first product from Gerard Cosmetics.

The range of Hydra Matte lipsticks, which you can guess from the name, claim to be a comfortable and nourishing formula whilst still being matte and long-lasting. The packaging looks luxurious with a gold cap and frosted glass, making it one of my favourite looking products. I absolutely love the frosted design! The shade 'Cher' is described as a 'Muted Purple'. 

I'll begin by saying that I absolutely adore the shade. It goes nicely with my purple hair and it surely is a unique colour in my collection. It applies rather easily with a little time to play around with before it dries completely matte. You're able to layer it up too to build up the colour and make it darker. The applicator is shorter than the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks that I own but not too short to make it difficult to apply.

Lasting time I find fairly good. It it non-transferable, which makes it kiss-proof(!). This type of lip product I like to use when I'm wearing make up for a long duration as it doesn't come off as easy as say a lipstick. Eating dry snacks and drinking water is fine, it is just when I am eating a big meal that it comes off on the inner parts of my lips. However, it is easy to reapply and doesn't look patchy.

In conclusion, I really like this lipstick and the formula. I would happily buy more liquid lipsticks from Gerard Cosmetics as this one has become one of my favourites and will continue to use it regularly. 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette

Hey!


My birthday was in April and I decided to gift the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance to myself as a treat. I have been lusting over the palette since it first made the rounds in blogs and YouTube, but I was put off at the price (£41.00). But let me tell you now, it was so, so worth it! 

The packaging is luxurious with a pink velvet lid and a long mirror on the inside. The shadows are a nice square shape; easy to dip your brush in to. The palette features 14 eyeshadow colours: 11 mattes and 3 metallics. It also comes with a double-ended brush which is actually nice and not one of those flimsy brushes some palettes come with.


Below is a close up of the eyeshadows. In addition I will also insert two swatch photos- the top row and the bottom row, left to right, as well as my opinions on each colour.

Top Row

• Tempera- (Matte, Beige). A lovely brightening colour which I like in my inner-corner.

• Golden Ochre- (Matte, Earth-Toned Yellow). A unique colour I've used as my lid base and an easy crease colour. I haven't seen this in other palettes.

• Vermeer- (Iridescent Shell Pink). Another favourite for an inner-corner highlight.

• Buon Fresco- (Matte Antique Lavender). My most used colour so far! An amazing lavender which I love all over my lid.

• Antique Bronze- (Metallic Sable). A deep colour that I've mostly used in my crease.

• Love Letter- (Matte, Raspberry). A beautiful colour which is unique to the palette.

• Cyprus Umber- (Matte, Dark Coffee). A nice, deep brown, good for the outer 'V' and crease.

Bottom Row

• Raw Sienna- (Matte, Neutral Amber). A neutral crease and transition shade.

• Burnt Orange- (Matte, Deep Orange). I love this colour as it is unique and goes well with Realgar.

• Primavera- (Metallic, Shimmery Gold Dust). This is an amazing inner-highlight that pops like nothing else! 

• Red Ochre- (Matte, Sienna Red). Truly stunning. A lid colour and crease colour.

• Venetian Red- (Matte, Crimson). I love the colour of this but don't find it to be as highly pigmented as the other colours, so needs building up.

• Warm Taupe- (Matte, Earthy Grey). I love this as a crease colour as it is super easy to blend which is perfect when you need to do your make up in a rush!

• Realgar- (Matte, Brick). Unique to my collection, oranges aren't praised enough.

The overall pigmentation of these shadows are insane! The only slight let down is Venetian Red, but it can be built up. I can't stress enough how velvety and smooth the eyeshadows feel when applying it which I haven't seen in other palettes that I've used. 

The only other issue is that you really do need to use shadow shields, or like me, a tissue under your eyes. The majority of the colours do have fall out that will smudge if you swipe it away. It may even be worth doing your eye make up before your base make up so you can remove any fall out with a make up wipe. This also means that little crumbs of shadow build up in the palette when you've put your brush in it, so I do recommend putting your brush back in to use those little crumbs on your eyes rather than leaving them in the palette to make a mess. This isn't really much of a problem but something to consider when using them.

In conclusion, I LOVE LOVE LOVE this palette and it is definitely my favourite in my collection! I use it every day so the amount I use it justifies the price of it. It has many unique shades and I love every colour. I've already recommended it to people and will continue to recommend it.

Lipstick Declutter!

Hello,


I have too many lipsticks! So the other day I decided to make myself go through them all and get rid of any I don't need anymore. I counted I had 29 lip products in total and my little basket was overfilling, so it was time to cull...

The photo above is a photo of my entire collection of lipsticks, liquid lipsticks, lip liners and the one lipgloss Juicy Shaker from Lancome. Here are a few of interest that will definitely be staying:

Urban Decay Comfort Matte 'Stark Naked' Lipstick- A creamy, matte, nude perfect for when you're running late and have to do your make up quickly.

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick 'Lolita'- I have already nearly finished one. One of my favourites out of all my lipsticks as it's a beautiful nudey-brown colour.

Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani Lipstick 'Rock Steady'- A creamy, shiney red from the Gwen Stefani collection. I adore the packaging!

Kiko Milano Endless Love Lipstick 'Soft Marsala'- From their Valentine's Collection. The lipstick is in the shape of a heart! Although mine is slightly ruined by a terrible ex who decided he would "stamp" the heart on his face...How ironic.

Now on to the items that I decided to get rid of:

BareMinerals Marvelous Moxie 'Break Away' lipstick- This lipstick is discontinued and I am so gutted! These are the first lipsticks I've ever finished and were perfect for days where I needed to do my make up super quick. Also good for nights out because it wouldn't noticeably come off when drinking.

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick 'Dark Night Waterl-Oops!'- My second ever lipstick! It's a beautiful purple but it's so old now that it is 'wet', applies patchy and feathers immediately. It has to go!

BarryM Cosmetics Lipstick '37 Black'- Younger me wanted a black lipstick to rock. It is sooo patchy! I have the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick 'Witches' now which is 10x better so this is going to go.

Rimmel Super Lustrous Lipstick (Colour Unknown)- The most terrible lipstick I've ever used. I recieved it in a Glossybox and it's so patchy and streaky that I won't even bother giving it to someone else. It looks like the 'concealer lips' trend from years ago on me so I am just not digging it.

Essence Liquid Lipstick 'Show Off'- The only item I can give away to someone. I got it in a Glossybox and the colour really isn't my style. I've given it to my sister Kelly who suits this colour far better.

So these are all the items I have gotten rid of. 6 may not seem that many but for me I am quite proud and now I have a bit more space in my lipstick organiser to add much nicer lipsticks in to!


*Since this post I have also managed to give away to my sister my Max Factor 'Cherry Kiss', true red lipstick. It is a nice lipstick but quite frankly I have too many red lipsticks and just don't get the use out of it. I am sure my sister will love it.



Thanks for reading!

The New FeelUnique Pick 'N' Mix Service!

Hey!


FeelUnique have a new Pick 'N' Mix Service! You are able to pick out 5 samples once a month out of a list of make up, skincare, hair, nail etc products and have them sent to you for only £3.95 (shipping). Then, what is even better is that you then get sent a code to redeem your £3.95 for free shipping on your next Feel Unique order! I use Feel Unique frequently for the student discount, so this is perfect for me.


I'll admit, I am a sample hoarder. I like to store samples away to take on holidays and over night stays so I have less bulky products to carry. It is also of course perfect for trying out new products! This is what I got in the month of April:

L'Occitane Amande Milk Concentrate Body Cream- L'Occitane is a brand I've only ever tried out in sample form, but the idea of using a body milk intruges me. I can imagine it to be very moustirising and nourishing and apparently it helps the apearance of firmer and smoother skin. 


Laura Gellar Spackle Treatment Even Tone Make-Up Primer- I love trying out samples of primer as I refuse to do my make up without a primer! This one claims to even out skin tone which is good for someone like me who has a lot of redness.


Vichy Normaderm Anti-Blemish 24hr Hydration- I've heard lots of YouTube and in blogs about Vichy, but never tried anything from them. I've recently stopped taking one of my acne medications so it seemed like a good idea to get something anti-blemish.


Bioderma Sebium H20 Purifying Cleansing Micelle Solution- Bioderma is another brand I have heard lots about but haven't tried. I like how it limits sebum, sounds like my kind of cleanser!


Bioderma Sensibio Eye Contour Gel Sensitive Skin- Due to excessively watery eyes, the skin around my eye has become red, sore and sensitive. Because of this I need to spend more time looking after the skin around my eyes, so I thought this might be a good product to try.


I am really interested in the samples I have and I will continue to use this Pick 'N' Mix service. Next time I hope to try out more make up samples! 


Will you try out this new service?

Mini Sephora Haul

Hey!


Last year I did my first ever Sephora haul from Paris. This year, I am coming at you with another mini Sephora haul, also from Paris (photos from the trip coming soon)! I was lucky enough to have a Sephora nearby my hotel in the mall next to us.


The first thing I think of when I think of Sephora is their face masks. So, I picked up a few. Their face masks are sheet masks, meaning they're super easy to apply. You're able to mix and match them like a pick 'n' mix and they're at a very affordable price.

The first one I picked up is the Sephora Avocado face mask which is for nourishing and repairing. I used this mask last year (and reviewed it), and really enjoyed it.


The second one that caught my eye was the Pearl face mask, for perfecting and brightening. I normally always go for face masks designed for acne or for dry skin, so I wanted to try something a bit different. Plus, the idea of pearl caught my eye!


The last mask I picked up was the Charcoal nose strip. I don't remember seeing these last year and I wanted to get it because I have not done a charcoal nose trip in years. They're good for pulling out blackheads and other impurities.


In usual Sephora style, I was also given a sample of the Mon Guerlain Eau de Parfum. I didn't notice I had been given this until I got home from Paris, which is a little annoying as I had forgotten to bring my perfume with me so this would have been useful!


I was also mesmerised by the Kat Von D stand they had. I knew France recently got Kat Von D Beauty in store, so I was hoping to see it! Although we can buy Kat Von D Beauty from Debenhams here in the UK, it's only online which means you can't see the colours in person. I made sure I took a good look at the formulas and colours of different items so I know what I want to buy when I can.


I am a bit disappointed I didn't buy any make up, but I knew I didn't have enough euros left to buy anything. I nearly bought a nude lip liner, but forced myself to put it down for the sake of having euros. I will try to bring more next time!

February Favourites

I haven't done a monthly Favourites post in a long while so thought I'd bring it back again this month!

1. Monkl Shady Lady Eyeshadow Palette- This was a Christmas present from my friend Ruby. I have been enjoying a particular shade from the palette this month which is the first shade- a glittery silver. I have been loving this colour as a base colour on my eyelid and it goes well with multiple crease colours. On a night out I have used black to create a smokey eye and in the day time I have used a purple which I absolutely loved the combination of! I find this colour becomes more pigmented as well with a damp brush so prefer to use it that way. It also makes for a fab inner corner highlight!

2. Urban Decay Aferglow 8-Hour Highlighter 'Sin'- I bought this beautiful highlighter with a gift card after eyeing it up for 6 months. The packaging is stunning to match the stunning silvery highlight. It goes on sheer so you can build it up depending on how bold you want your highlight to be and is easy to blend. This also makes for a fab inner corner highlight.

3. Real Techniques Your Picks: Berlin 'Base Shadow Brush'- Although this is a base eyeshadow brush, I've actually been loving using it to blend out the edges of my crease colour. Although I do use a crease brush first to pack on the colour, I find it is far easier to blend the edges out for a less harsh line with this fluffy brush. I reviewed the whole set on my blog so be sure to check that out!

4. Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Bronzer- This is a cult favourite for all beauty bloggers and I am certainly late to the bandwagon but I can see what the hype is about now! I've been loving how easy it is to start lightly and then build it up if necessary. The perfect bronzer colour which is also good for subtle contouring.

5. Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick 'Exorcism'- I have been wanting this browny-red vampire colour for ages so when my friend Antonia bought it for me for Christmas I was ecstatic. It's not as good at layering as 'Lolita' is but nevertheless I still love it and it doesn't have to be a bold lip that takes forever to apply. LOVE this colour!

L > R: Monkl Shady Lady '01', Kat Von D 'Exorcism' & Urban Decay 'Sin'

Beauty Haul | Urban Decay, Benefit etc!

Hello!


It had been a long time since I went to the shops and just shopped, browsed the make up section etc so yesterday I decided to remedy this with Christmas gift cards in hand.

I first of all went into Boots, which I was most excited about. I can't remember the last time I went in and just looked at everything and bought what took my fancy! 


I noticed it was 3 for 2 on Eylure, so I picked up 3 pairs of eyelashes as I didn't have any left in my collection. I always used to wear fake eyelashes on nights out and special occasions but I just hadn't got round to buying more. I like more natural one's that don't look heavy but still make my eyelashes look fuller and longer. I chose: Naturals No. 33, Naturals. 020 and Lengthening No. 116. I am particularly interested in trying No. 33 has it is an angled lash with a lengthening finish so I am hoping they will look amazing with winged eyeliner and give a feline look to the eyes.


Then I picked out the Collection Powered by Witch Mattifying Pore Minimiser Primer as I noticed that morning I was coming to the end of my primer. I picked this one because I like witch hazel for acne and my friend recommended it. An absolutely budget friendly primer too so it will be great if it is good!

After, I went over to the Benefit counter. I love Benefit but rarely buy anything from there due to their prices and me liking to save my pennies. However, I thought I'd treat myself by getting the cult favourite Hoola bronzer. I was confident I would like it as everyone and their dog seems to like it so I am looking forward to giving it a go!

Then of course, I also had to lastly pick up my holy grail Batiste dry shampoo. I have spoken about this dry shampoo way too much on my blog as I just can't live without it.

I then went over to John Lewis to check out the Urban Decay counter where I saw the Urban Decay Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Highlighter in 'Sin'. My friend and I had seen it back in June when we were travelling in Berlin and I instantly fell in love with it. I had been thinking about it ever since so I just went for it! I had space for a decent highlighter in my make up collection and I am extremely excited to use it.

That was it for my make up items. It isn't pictured but I additionally went into Topshop and picked up a 'night out' dress which was on sale from £39.00 to £15.00! My friend spotted it and I fell in love. It is a tight nude coloured dress with black lace overlay and spaghetti straps. There is also another spaghetti strap forming a 'V' over the chest which is what had particularly drawn me to it. 

Real Techniques Your Picks: Berlin Brushes

Hey!


Throughout 2016 I was finding that many of my older make up brushes, from Seventeen, were coming off their handles. I was trying to use stubbly little brushes without the handles, so I knew it was time for some new make up brushes! 


These are the Real Techniques Your Picks: Berlin brushes which were bought for me for Christmas. This design was voted for by fans of Real Techniques to represent art found in Berlin. As you can see, they are white with black splodges, with pink at the end of the handles.


The brush handles are heavier than I'm used to with Real Technique brushes but I suppose that helps give more precision. There are five brushes: Buffing brush, contour brush, stippling brush, deluxe crease brush and base shadow brush.

• Buffing Brush: For full coverage powder and mineral foundation application. I haven't used it for applying foundation yet as I love my RT Expert Face Brush for that. Instead, I've been using it to apply my powder which is quite good at applying it over large areas. As mentioned, it is fab for full coverage because of its density!

• Contour Brush: Before this brush I was using a small powder/face brush from Seventeen. Now I've got this contour brush I can contour so much easier. However, because it is dense I need to ensure that I only use a small amount of contour otherwise it starts to go stripey! It's description also says it's good for highlighter so will need to check that out.

• Stippling Brush: I've read that this is good for an airbrushed look for all types of make up and I honestly agree. I've been using this to stipple over my face after applying foundation and concealer and I'm seeing a difference! Not only does my concealer look more blended in to the foundation but the foundation looks like a part of my skin! It looks flawless and definitely evens out any build up of foundation.

• Deluxe Crease Brush: This brush is very soft and not dense like the other brushes. I like it best for blending out the edges of my crease colour and under eye colour so the lines aren't harsh.

• Base Shadow Brush: Another soft brush! I use this to apply my base colour as it is wide but I also like it for blending out the edges of my crease colour too. Love a good multi-task make up brush!

The only fault I can pick with these brushes is that when I got them, there was a bristle coming out of my deluxe crease brush which wouldn't come out. After my first time cleansing the brushes I then had a few bristles come out like that with my other brushes. I haven't had this happen before with Real Technique brushes so it is a bit annoying but hopefully it is just a fault in my own set and not a fault with them in general.


This brush set retails for £24.99 but is currently on sale at £18.74.