Makeup Revolution 32 Shade Flawless Palette

 

 

It's taken me positively aaaages to try out all these shadows, and you know why? There are 32 of them. 32! In one palette. The mind boggles. This beauty, is Makeup Revolution's Flawless Palette* (£8, here) and was very kindly sent to me to try out a while ago, and it's only recently that I've finished trying out every shade. There's a lot of them in there. I'll name a few favourites of mine, so you can search them out in the swatches below. In terms of the palette to the swatches - I went downwards in the palette, and from left to right on my arm... no idea why, just thought I'd best explain before I carry on.

From top left to bottom right; Paper, Almost there, Smudge, Pure Chocolate, Soft glow, Uncover, Shimmer Heart and Raw. 

The pigmentation is generally fabulous over the course of the palette, from mattes to shimmers it covers it all and packs some serious looks that you can mix and match based on how you're feeling, or where you're off to that day. The shimmers for me, have the best look and are just something that you put on, and it's a 'wow' result - the colour payoff is just right, and as you can tell from the second picture of swatches, they're the ones which are my favourite for playful, strong looks. As the palette goes from left to right, it develops in colour, going from subtle mattes (nude smoky eye all the way) to strong shimmers (a bronze/burgundy eye is amazing) and then back to your more classic colours, perfect for that dark grey/black smoky eye. They seem to be grouped in sections of four that go together the best, such as the first line of swatches, which I use so often for a muted, yet smoked out look on the eyes. Paper all over the lid, Almost There washed over the lid with Smudge blended into the crease as well as the lash line to give definition, before adding in Pure Chocolate to give that pow! of darkness that I love having through the crease, to make the makeup more defined, as well as on top of Smudge on the lash line. Definition, but keeping it subtle is what it's all about for me with a nude/brown/bronze smoked eye.  

Below, we have some shimmers that are so pigmented you run the risk of ruining your look if you don't use them wisely. It's all about layers with these, I find. Layering colour to increase the impact is how I do things, and trust me, it really works. Two colours that I find work so well together, are Buff and Lowlite, as they're both very neutral, but still have that sublet colour and shimmer, that I think makes it so wearable for daytime -  to amp up the drama for daytime, Lowlite and Universal are another two shades that I think look gorgeous together. With Lowlite all over the lid, and Universal in the crease and the outer eye to give a deeper, darker look - I think it's perfect enough for the day to night look - flick on some black eyeliner, and you're good to go. 

From top left to bottom right; Buff, Barely Pink, Universal, Red Night, Highlite, Lowlite, Copper Shimmer and Molten Chocolate. 

From top left to bottom right; Angel, Golden Night, Medal, Burgundy Nights,  Unlimited, Gold Digger, Darkest Shimmer and Green Stars. 

Next up, I'm going to combine both of these pictures of swatches to tell you about a wonderful eye colour combination, and it's using Unlimited and Brew; the first being more taupe-esc, and the second more copper based, so together, they look gorgeous. Combined with perhaps a little Pure Chocolate in the crease, this look is a thumbs up from me; and I'd add that the shimmers alone is a reason why I would buy this palette, as they just present a gorgeous mix and match selection, which I think can get you through party season very easily. The matte colours are a bit more washy than the shimmers at first, but can easily be built up to increase the pigmentation payoff, and I'd warn about fall down, as no matter what eyeshadow it is, there are always those dreaded specks of shadow littering your perfect base, so remember to give that shadow brush a good tap on the handle with your index finger, to rid yourself of any fall down. 

What do you think of this palette? Is it something that'd peak your interest for party season? Which colours have caught your eye? 

From top left to bottom right; Brew, Cheerless, Tarnish, Cafe Noir, Silver Smoke, Blue Stars, Black Tie and Night.

Jurlique - my first impressions.

Jurlique are a relatively new discovery for my in terms of skincare, as even though I had seen it on other blogs and wanted to try it, I had no idea where to start... who ever does in terms of skincare? With so many products on offer, I was overwhelmed, but the lovely people who run their Twitter offered to send me some products, and I practically leapt out of my seat, emphatically typing 'YES PLEASE'. Claire, the lovely lady who I was talking to via their Twitter sent me some wonderful items, and I was pretty speechless when I opened the packaging - I feel so lucky to get to try some of their highly recommend products. So, wanna read some of my first impressions? Let's crack on with them!

First comes first, is their Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum *(£45, here) and the immediate reaction was 'ohmygosh this smells so good' with the scent of rose and all natural goodness, I was impressed. It smoothes onto the skin so well and absorbs without leaving your face feeling oily or weighed down, plus, the packaging is divine. Then we have Herbal Recovery Antioxident Gel Mask *(£40, here) which sounds quite strange to me, as I'm all about my clay and moisture masks, but this was designed to add hydration to the skin, whilst brightening it up and reducing signs of ageing. I'm actually quite impressed with this - I won't say too much, but I don't think I've ever had a gel mask during my proper skincare years (since I was eighteen) so this is quite exciting - and once again, the smell is so floral and gorgeous. Continuing on with the gel theme is the Rose Moisture Plus Revitalising Gel-Lotion with Antioxidant Complex *(£32, here) which sounds like a rather loooong name, but there's a lot of goodness to get into the title, so why not? The texture is exactly like they say 'silky water-gel emulsion', it's so light on the skin, but moisturising, definitely looking forward to spending more time with this product.

Next up, is the product that I had heard most about, and it's the cult, Rosewater Balancing Mist *(£16.50, here) and to be honest, it was the product I was so excited to try, and Twitter conversations with other bloggers had be abuzz with excitement over this mist. With my combination/oily skin, I'm very excited to see if it gives me that kick of hydration, like my other sprays do... but this one is rose scented, so I'm very excited to get to know this product. It just picks you up and gives you a hit of hydration. What's not to love so far? We also have the Balancing Foaming Cleanser *(£27.50, here) and I was quite dubious about using anything that foamed, as a certain cleanser that I used when I was 20/21 ruined my skin, and I mean ruined. Brought out so much dry skin, eczema and acne on my face, I couldn't believe it - so this Jurlique Cleanser is going to go through some serious testing, and if my skin doesn't react well, that's going to be that. I did however, test it (nervously) and I think it's quite creamy, non-drying and left my skin feeling soft. This is going to be, perhaps, very harshly looked at - cleansers always scare me, so I'll be reporting back. But so far, so good. Last, but not least, is the Rose Silk Finishing Powder *(£24.50, here) and it's something that blew my mind. Fancy finishing powder. I'm usually a 'matte it down' with Soap & Glory kinda girl, but this, as well as obviously smelling amazing, actually worked at finishing off my makeup and reduce shine.

Everything from Jurlique smells like heaven. It's just so fresh, and it reminds me of walking through gardens and garden of fresh flowers, when everything is starting to bloom during springtime. They're gorgeous, and I cannot wait to give you full reviews of these. I'm so excited. I hope you are too.

Ren Skincare Bundle from M&S

My mum was the enabler in terms of this purchase, and I blame her everyday for it. Haha, no not really. This is actually an amazing skincare bundle from M&S, with two of their prized Hot Cloth Cleansers, Daily Supplement Moisturising Cream, a sample of their Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial and two muslin cloths. It's a pretty amazing deal, so when my mum showed me the advert in the paper, I immediately said 'omgosh yes' and popped online to order it. Costing just £30, for a a bundle worth £51, this package, which is still available from M&S (here) is pretty amazing. I had never tried any REN Skincare before; and I was initially so overwhelmed with the choices, I hesitated purchasing anything. So I kept my eye out on blogs whenever someone mentioned REN and lo and behold, when this became available, I jumped at the chance to try some products, as from what I'd read, their Hot Cloth Cleansers were an industry favourite, amongst professionals as well as bloggers.

I don't want to give too much away, as these products will pretty much be getting their own review posts, as you know, they deserve them. I'm especially feeling the love for the Hot Cloth Cleansers, as I've moved on from the same product from Sanctuary, which I adored so much; so this product, really impressing me, is something I so wanted, but was reluctant to talk about until I'd been using it for a good six weeks or so. I purchased this before my #beautystoptober, and have been using all the products, except the sachet for the Flash Rinse 1 Minute facial, over and over again - with the same skincare I always use, so my opinion is completely based on how my skin has reacted to them, with the introduction of the Hot Cloth Cleanser as the second step into my double cleanse routine, morning and night, as well as the Daily Supplement Moisturising Cream, which I've been interchanging with Embryolisse's Lait-Creme Concentre and Korres Wiold Rose Brightening Day Cream for Oily/Combination Skin. I like to switch moisturisers around, based on what my skin needs for the day ahead, or how it's behaving - and I'd like to say a quick little bit about how REN is holding its own against moisturisers that I've been using for a long time.

I cannot wait to get the full reviews up, and hear all your thoughts. Have you any favourite REN Skincare products that you'd recommend? Or any that you'd love to try?

Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in Barcelona Nights and Miami Fever

I was so excited by the release of these moisture stains. They're by Revlon, whom I have a massive love for anyway, but these little beauties, were drawing me in, and although I hadn't heard much about them over here, as I'd seen them being coveted by US bloggers, I knew I had to own one or two. I blame the amazing packaging. It just looks so chic. As soon as I saw them on Instagram, I just needed them. I came across them in Boots, and two colours really caught my eye. Barcelona Nights is a very vivid bright pink, that look so dazzling, it kind of smacks you in the face with the pow of it all. Miami Fever is just wow, an almost luminous orange red that is such an amazing pop of colour, it just lights up my entire face. So let's talk about them.

The packaging, as I already mentioned, is simplistic chic. It's completely gorgeous, and it's just one of those products that photographs so well - it makes me feel like a professional photographer, because they just look so damn good wherever I put them. These Moisture Stains (£7.99, here) go on very creamy and with such an intense punch of pigment, that you're like 'whooooa, do I apply more or just blend?' and that is a question which is totally your call. You can slick it on, or blend it in - it's basically an in-your-face or subtle look, there doesn't seem to be an in-between. Well, not that I've really found, although I'm sure that halfway ware is the not so subtle in-between look, but I've always seemed to miss it, I just pop a little bit more on and blend it out. 

The wands, are heart shaped and bursting with colour when you pull it out; it's so simple to apply to the lips, with a creamy formula that is so easy to blend, and after wear, it leave the most gorgeous stain - hence the name. It's completely non-drying, hence the name again, and leaves the lips feeling plump and non-sticky, which is a big selling point for me as I hate sticky glosses. It's the biggest reason as to why I don't wear lipgloss, or anything sticky. Ugh, sticky. When applying this, I know it may seem obvious, but you definitely need a mirror. It's not one of those 'apply in your reflection in a window', it's a take a good minute or so to get the perfect look, as I found Miami Fever did go a bit streaky when the product wasn't applied properly, and no one wants streaky gloss, do they? Nope. 

Barcelona Nights and Miami Fever are two gorgeous colours, and they're really bright, which isn't something I'd usually go for, post Summer, but they spoke to me, and I found myself walking away with these two amazing colours in a teeny tiny Boots bag (as well as some L'Oreal Colour Riche eyeshadows, but that's another post for another time). They remind me of Tropical holidays and I can imagine wearing a dress with palm trees and parrots on them - that's the power of a good lip product; the ability to take you to places in which you can dream and drink bright cocktails. These colours, I find, wear really well on me, and can be re-blended with a finger, just to give more even coverage should there be some wear in the middle of the lip. I just really adore the formula as well, as my lips just feel really moisturised throughout the day, which is a big thing when wearing a lip product. I think Revlon have knocked out another amazing product, and will stand alongside their other lip products as ones to definitely recommend, as they're glossy and moisturising, but not sticky. They tick all the boxes for me, and are something that I would definitely pick up in other colours. I think New York Scene and Cannes Crush are on my lust-list. What do you think of these colours? Which ones would you pick up?

L'oreal True Match Foundation in N1

I am the first to admit, I don't have that much experience with foundations, and although I own about four/five of them, I'm not very adventurous when it comes to base products. I like products that have a medium + coverage, as there is redness and uneven skin tone that needs covering, as well as using the combination of two concealers on top; I like my base to be flawless and well concealed, so imagine the surprise when I took a shine to the sound of L'oreal's True Match Foundation which boats a light to medium coverage, with a glow like property, that's been compared to Giorgio Armani's Luminous Silk Foundation. I can't say anything about the duplicate like quality of the foundation, (this knowledge can be found on Amelia's blog here) but it's been raved about, and I thought I would give it a go.

And I'm certainly glad that I did! It's sheer, but buildable, for when you want more coverage, and I like a good bit of coverage on my cheeks, but fairly light everywhere else, so this is a really great foundation for that. It gives me this glow, and having oily/combination skin - glow usually means oil, and whilst I may think 'Oh my god, I look so shiny', everyone says 'You look really glowy today'... I'm not sure if it's just my reaction to any type of shine (IT MUST ALL BE MATTE) but this foundation has actually allowed my matte foundation o.c.d to take a back seat, and just let me look all glowy. And I really like it. Now, I do use a primer (Witch's Anti-blemish Skin Clearing Primer), it's pretty much an essential with my skin type, and use Soap & Glory's One Heck of a Blot pressed into the skin to allow the foundation to last longer.

You see that blob of foundation? Well, you see what's to the left of it? Looks like nothing, right? Well, that's the foundation blended to perfection. Looks like skin? I know. Now, my hands are very pale, and this allows the blueness of my veins to really standout (currently there is a very purpley-blue one) on my left hand, but this foundation covered it with no qualms at all. I use the shade N1, and you can find your shade here, although they did tell me I was a N3 on the online shade range; so I wouldn't fully heed their advice, just take it into account, but don't be afraid to swatch in store - you know your colouring better than they do. 

Wear wise, this foundation does last for a good eight hours, with minor touch-up's in between (like a gentle powdering of the nose etc) and the glow it gives, lasts all day - so much so, that I sometimes hate to remove it at the end of the night, as no longer will I have that lovely, even glow. Being very pale, and having that wonderful glow usually associated with having a tan, is a lovely feeling, and it made me feel a bit more confident, as although i'm by far one of the palest people in my place of work, when I stand next to a tanned person, I don't feel like my skin isn't glowing, like theirs do (if that makes any sense). I just look glowy and I like it. Did I mention that my mum has stolen this foundation and claimed it as her own?

Let's talk about another skin type. My mum's. She has mature, dry skin, and this foundation makes her skin look so good. Now, she has really good skin anyway (and she's totally my inspiration for looking after my skin) but this makes her look glowy, and when combined with a Bourjois Cream Blush (also mine) she feels, and looks really good. It's definitely something I would recommend, not only for younger skin, but for mature skin as well, as who doesn't like a bit of glow?

What do you think of this foundation? Is it something that you like the sound of? xx

ELF Single Eyeshadow in Pebble

This was a cheeky little purchase from the ELF shop in Cardiff (it's amazing! Go there!) and I had been looking for an eyeshadow in this exact colour, so it was a brilliant little find. I think there's something so wonderful about a store filled with ELF products (so much makeup, I was practically drooling) and this little beauty, was an immediate place into basket as who doesn't love that colour? The colour Pebble (yes, it reminds me of Lily) is just gorgeous; a darkened taupe with a hint of rose gold/gold warmth behind it, that when worn, just looks so good. It's soft, blendable and buildable, a colour that everyone must have as it's so diverse, as it could easily be smoked up with some black eyeshadow and some black liner, but it can also be soft, with a nude kohl liner on the waterline, and some mascara (I adore both of these ways to wear it).

In the pan, it does look quite flat, but when swatched, there's a slight sheen to it, making this more of a satin than a matte, and in my opinion, matte would have been lovely, but with a sheen, this eyeshadow has become one of my go-to's for a quick look and a classic eye, when I want a simple, but effective look. The packaging is lovely, as i've always been a fan of ELF's matte black styling, with a good sized mirror, and with a little gap to see the colour, it would be simple to find if you had numerous amounts of these shadows. 

It swatches really well, and when applied with an eyeshadow brush (I use a real techniques domed shadow brush) it can be blended really softly and used as a base, or built up for more of an impact (it usually depends on how dramatic an eye I want for the day ahead). This powder shadow is a good step away from the cream shadows I've been frequenting (Mac's Vintage Selection, Maybelline's Metallic Pomegranate) and although it's a rather muted colour, I find that the depth of colour it brings, suits not only my skin tone (ghostly pale) but also my eye colour (greeny, bluey, grey). It makes me think that this colour would suit any eye colour, as it's a gorgeous neutral, but also any skin tone. The durability for me is a bit less with powder shadows (thanks oily eyelids), but I find that a good eye primer keeps them in place for much longer, so that the colour will last for a good five six hours before any fading. 

What do you think about this colour? Is it something that you'd wear?

Stargazer Makeup Review

When the lovely Patricia asked me if I wanted to try some Stargazer products, I jumped at the chance! I've always loved the look of Stargazer's products, as it's always been reviewed by other bloggers as having such good pigmentation and long lasting wear, which I am all about! I was sent a small variety of products to try, and I will admit, I am really, really liking them. I love trying out new products, and being introduced to different brands, so this is a review I love love love writing, and I hope that you'll enjoy reading it.

Let's start with the lipsticks. They're very pigmented, which is a very big thing that I look for in a lipstick, as no one wants to layer, layer, layer with lipsticks, as in my experience, they tend to look quite cakey around the lip line, and aren't all that comfortable to wear. But these lipsticks, which I find to be quite moisturising on the lips, are very true to colour from the bullet and last for a good two to three hours before another application is needed, which I think is standard for lipsticks. I was sent two lipsticks, one matte and one regular. The Matte one, is called 208*, and is woody brown, and does not look good on me. Maybe it's the pale skin, dark hair and dark eyebrows, but brown doesn't suit me. It's lovely for those of you who suit brown shades (lucky you!) and is very creamy, and doesn't drag when applying on the lips. The second lipstick in 118*, is gorgeous. It's a dark raspberry colour and I can see it becoming one of my go to a/w lip colours. It's seriously gorgeous, to the point where the swatch doesn't do it enough justice. I'll have to take a picture of it on the lips. Gorgeous!

From top to bottom: Quick Silver Star Pearl eyeshadow*, Pinky is Perki Baked Duo eye shadow*,  Metallic eye shadow pen in Brown*, Lip stick in 118*, Matte lipstick in 208* and Eye Dust in 1*. 

Now onto the eyeshadows! I do like a good eyeshadow, especially if it's in a fun colour with good pigmentation pay off, and these four eyeshadows do the job so well! First is the Star Pearl eyeshadow in Quick Silver* which is pigmented, and gives the dense colour in two applications, so it's not something that's 'bam! silver eyes' in one swoop. I think this is wonderful as it can be built up to give a more intense appearance, or used subtly for a more highlighted approach. My favourite is using it in the inner corners of my eyes to make them appear more awake, and bright eyed. Next is the Baked duo eyeshadow in Pinky is Perki* which is a very fun name for an eyeshadow in my opinion. It's got a lovely shimmer to it, and very good colour pay off, but like most eyeshadows, the fall down under the eye is something to look out for. It's an almost pearly pink, with a shot of shimmer running through it, and it's so soft and weightless on the eye, so I'd say it was perfect for a soft romantic, english rose pink eye. Now we have the Eye Dust*, and by gosh is this pigmented! I've never really been one for eye dusts, as they seem so messy, but the colour pay off is so good, I might be a convert! The closest relative to this product, is perhaps the Barry M Dazzle Dusts, and sometimes I've found the Barry M ones to not be as pigmented as they look, this colour (in 1*) has proved to me that a little goes a long way, and is perhaps just the right product for someone not entirely taken in by the Barry M dusts. The last eye product is the Metallic Eye Shadow stick in Brown*  and I have to admit, I love this. The bronze coppery colour is just my kind of shade, and applies like a dream. It's soft, creamy and well pigmented with a soft shot of shimmer running through it. It's easy to blend and doesn't budge very much over the course of the day. This is a winner from me, and can give more expensive eye products a run for their money. 

Nail Polish in 110* and 512*. 

Last, but not least, are the two nail polishes. The Blue (110*) is a pearlescent polish, in a lovely, dreamy soft blue. I was looking at this the other day and thinking it's the kind of colour a mermaid would have on her toenails... if she had toes... or feet, or legs for that matter. But anyway, it's a very sea foam related colour for me, but I also have the feeling that something like this can be worn in the dead of winter, to contrast red noses, chilled fingers and dark lips. It seems like such a go to winter colour for me, and teamed with the fact that it'll last for a good few days before any noticeable chipping. It took three coats to get the above look, but I found that the formula dried quickly, so it was not much of a wait. The second colour (512*) is a gorgeous pinky red that reminds me of summer (Oh, summer) and looks gorgeous on my toenails (which are currently covered in very thick, wooly socks) It took two coats for a completely opaque appearance, and much like the other colour, it lasts very well.

I've been very impressed with the quality of these products, especially for the price, as they seem to produce products that go above and beyond what you pay. These products have had a very large thumbs up from me (i'm determined to find another use for the matte brown lipstick!) and I hope that you've liked reading my thoughts on Stargazer. Are there any products that have caught your eye? Let me know (:

xx