Quick review: Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer

I finished my much loved Urban Decay Primer Potion but luckily was gifted the Smashbox primer at an event.

I'm going to jump straight into the thing I love most about this, and that's the colour. Rather than being translucent it has a nude/beige tone, which means I have been able to wear this alone as a way of evening out the colour of the skin around my eyes.

Quick review: Bourjois Intuitive Liner

This product is my cat eye secret weapon.

No matter how much I have practiced I cannot achieve a good winged eyeliner. Apart from gradually filling in my entire lid attempting to make the lines an even thickness I also have the problem of having the flicks at completely different angles.

Avon introduces True Colour Technology

Avon is a brand I have a lot of fond memories with. My mum and my aunt were both Avon ladies and my first makeup was all Avon. In fact I pretty much hijacked the little suitcase filled with mini lipstick samples, gloss and eyeshadow that she was meant to use to help clients decide what to buy.

It’s been a few years since I’ve used their makeup so when I was invited along to see the new offerings from the brand I was excited to see what had changed.

Smashbox Heatwave Palette

How perfect is this palette for the weather in the UK right now?

Appropriately named Heat Wave, this is the latest palette by Smashbox for summer 2013 and since the sun has been shining I have been wearing it every day because it adds that extra bit of good to my mood.

The colours are summery but in a subtle way, rather than filling it with bright colours, which I don't feel comfortable wearing on a daily basis, the shades are wearable for both day and night.

The shadows are all soft and pigmented and there isn’t one shade that is a lesser quality than the rest.

The colours included are a matte peach, a champagne beige, a matte caramel, a golden pink/peach (my favourite), a gold, a pink beige with silver flecks, a grey, a blue, a purple taupe and a deep brown.

A huge plus point about the palette is that the shadows can be used wet or dry. To use wet I dip my brush into water and then use it to pick up the shadow. The result is that the powder becomes more like a cream and the colour that much more vibrant.

My favourite look to date is the combination of the peach and gold shades with the light brown in the crease to add definition — but there isn’t a colour in the palette that I won’t use, which is a first.

The wear time of the shadows is good lasting over 10 hours with a primer and over 8 hours without.

It is also worth mentioning that this is the first palette I own that comes with a high quality brush that is actually useful for application.

The Heat Wave palette costs £36 and the summer collection also has some bright lip glosses to compliment.

What do you think of Heat Wave? And what is your favourite summer look?

p.s I was lucky enough to receive this palette after attending a Smashbox event.  

Quick review: L’Oreal Super Liner Perfect Slim

From what I can tell when it comes to eyeliner you are either a slick but thick kinda gal or you like it nice and thin.

I fall into the second camp so L’Oreal’s Super Liner Perfect Slim is just right for me.

The eyeliner has a nib style applicator, which you sweep across the lid. It is easy to get close to the lash line and the nib is firm but not too rigid.

The nib also lends itself well to achieving a flicked eyeliner and of course if you do like your eyeliner thick this can still be for you, all you need to do is keep building up the line to however you like it. The black colour is a good intensity and I can wear this all day without a worry about smudging or fading.

In all I love this, except for one thing. As with any pen style eyeliner because all the colour is in the base when you store it upright it drains away from the nib. This means that unless I store it upside down, I’ll get a faint black line rather than the intense black I want. When I do remember to store it upside down this isn’t a big deal, but it’s not ideal.

I have had the liner for a few months and I’m glad to say that it hasn’t dried out. It costs £5.49 and can be found in Boots, Superdrug and supermarkets with a L’Oreal counter.

So what’s your preference, thick or thin?

L’Oreal Intenza Eyeliner 02 Golden Black

When I was 16 I had the most perfect black eyeliner, it was a pencil of black and gold. You might not imagine that it would be but it was perfect to wear on a daily basis, it wasn’t quite a jet black, but it wasn’t a dull brown. I loved it and I wore it down to a stub (I think I even have it somewhere out of sentimental value) but I have never found it again or anything like it.

So when I saw the L’Oreal gel eyeliner in Golden Black, I thought I might have found something close. In the pot, the L’Oreal liner looks like a deep black with gold shimmer but it is much more subtle when applied. The glitter is fine and barely noticeable on the lid and it is not a dark black. If you are looking for something bold then this definitely isn’t it, but it does give a nice subtle effect, which I love and it makes a change from regular black liner.

On the whole, I’m not a huge fan of gel eyeliners, mostly because I find them difficult to apply. The L’Oreal liner also comes with a good quality brush, which makes the application smooth and you can achieve as thin or as thick a line as you like, but it still takes practice to get just right (for me at least!)

I’ve been using the pot for a few months and I’m pleased to say that the liner hasn’t dried out. The wear is good on the lash line and it doesn’t stray but can be smudged out if you like that look. However, I wouldn’t recommend it on the waterline just because of the lasting power.

L’Oreal also offer the liner in a black shade and each cost £9.99 and can be found in Boots, Superdrug and supermarkets with a L’Oreal stand.

If you know where I can find my perfect gold/black eyeliner mix please let me know!

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Nude

When white and pink eyeliner became the waterline trend I tried them and hated the look, rather than looking brightening the colours drew attention to my waterline and, in my opinion, looked odd.

But I still wanted to achieve that bright-eyed, awake look.

Cue Rimmel's scandaleyes eyeliner in nude.

Rimmel say that the scandaleyes liner range has long lasting shocking color intensity with an ultra smooth and creamy formula that glides on easily. Waterproof, smudge-proof, sweat-proof, heat-proof, humidity-proof and scandal-proof. It is dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested and is safe for sensitive eyes.

Nude from Rimmel is something I believe will suit medium to dark skin tones that want to achieve that brightening effect and that didn’t get on with white/pink eyeliner. The colour is a light peach-nude and the formulation is soft and creamy making it lovely to use on the waterline.

The wear is good, lasting at around 7 hours in the waterline before disappearing. Even though it is a waterproof formula I had no trouble removing it at the end of the night. This is a win from me and it means that these days I'm opting for nude eyeliner on my waterline during the day rather than black for a more natural/day friendly look.

The liner costs £3.99 and can be found in Boots, Superdrug and supermarkets with a Rimmel counter. I suggest waiting for a 3 for 2 offer and picking this up along with my holy grail black eyeliner, Rimmels exaggerate waterproof eye definer, and another product of your choice :-)

Of course you can choose any combo you like!  Let me know what yours would be.

Benefit Fake Up

Benefit is on a role with their product releases this year. First came Fine-One-One, then the World Famous Neutrals and now Fake Up. Of all of them, this is the one I was most excited for.

Fake Up is described as a hydrating crease-control concealer, that has been proven to keep the skin hydrated for 6 hours. It is made up of two parts, a hydrating ring containing vitamin E and apple seed extract for moisurisation and a concealing core to smooth skin, hide dark circles and diffuse light.

I am constantly being told I look tired (I know, thanks!). The skin around my eyes and their shape makes them look darker so I would love nothing more than to achieve that Kim Kardashian brightness. I also have dry skin and fine lines starting to develop so the last thing I want is something that settles in the lines and looks worse than going bare.

I was fortunate enough to be invited to the final stop of the Fake Up tour at the Benefit Spitlefields boutique. After quizzes, nibbles and some information on the product we were all given the entire shade selection to take home and a Hello Flawless Powder foundation to celebrate its 1 year birthday.

Fake Up comes in three shades, light medium and deep and we were told that all three shades could be used together for contouring. In fact at London fashion week, the Benefit team had gone as far as using the product as a foundation on the models when they were short of time.

I use the shade medium on a daily basis underneath my eyes, which glides onto the skin and blends in easil, without having to tug the eye area. I use my fingers to blend but you could also use a foundation or a concealer brush and I imagine a beauty blender or sponge would also work well.

From left to right: light, medium and deep

After wearing all day my eye area felt smooth and hydrated and I am pleased to report that I didn't experience any creasing. Even though it is so hydrating it doesn’t leave the eye area looking shiny.

Although the medium shade doesn’t give me that KK look, it does even out the colour around my eye area and make me look brighter on a daily basis. On a night out I would use the light shade to add extra brightness and it would also work well as a shimmer-free highlight shade. I used deep as an alternative to a powder contour and found it much easier to blend and get a defined look. However, I don’t think the shade is right for my skin tone.

Fake Up costs £18.50 for 3.5g. Considering I have paid £10 for Garniers eye roll on, which doesn't have the staying power or the level of coverage as this product, I think the price is reasonable. The only thing I can’t judge at the moment is how long it will last.

Finally, just a quick note on the packaging…how cute! I love the design of the tube but also that the boxes are slightly different colours to indicate the shade.

Fake Up is released today (30 March) in the UK and can be found in stores or online, will you be faking it?

Quick review: Inika organic eyeliner

I didn’t become aware of Inika until late last year, the brands unique selling point is that it offers all natural and almost all organic makeup and is certified as halal too. I’m a huge fan of mineral makeup and Inika offer a full range of makeup products and more than just powders.

Ingredients: Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*, Mica (CI 77019), Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax*, Levisticum Officinale (Black Lovage) Oil (Olus), Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil*, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbic Acid, May Contain (+/-):, Iron Oxides (CI 77491) (Red), Iron Oxides (CI 77492) (Yellow), Iron Oxides (CI 77499) (Black), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Chromium Hydroxide Green (CI 77289), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Pigment Violet (CI 77742) *Certified Organic

The liner comes with a complimentary sharpener lid, which did fall off in my bag so I would recomend keeping it at home or in a makeup bag 

I recieved the certified organic eyeliner in the shade black caviar in my #bbloggersxmas goody bag. It is not the darkest of black but it is good if you want something less harsh to use on a daily basis. The texture is smooth and creamy, which makes it easy to apply and blend if necessary.

The wear on the lash line is good and I didn't get any smudging all day. However, the wear wasn't as good on my waterline. After about an hour I started getting eyeliner underneath my lid and setting the liner with a powder didn’t improve the wear. I'm starting to think I'm always going to struggle finding an eyeliner that stays on my waterline unless it is waterproof….. is there such a thing as having a very watery waterline?

The eyeliner costs £13.50, which is more than a high street brands but great for a product that is organic. Inika can be found online or in John Lewis stores.

Although the liner isn’t quite right for me, I am interested to try out more from the brand. What would you recommend I try next?

Rimmel exaggerate waterproof eye definer

First off I have to thank my best friend for introducing me to this eyeliner, her eyeliner is always perfectly defined, dark black and stays in place all day and her secret..........Rimmel exaggerate waterproof eye definer.

I've worn this on both my upper and lower lash line and it has lasted me a whole day at work (applying at 8am and arriving home after 6pm).

With other eyeliners, I tend to find that after a few hours the eyeliner has gathered in my tear duct or spread onto my lower lid, which isn't very attractive! Although it does fade in the waterline after a about four hours, I have taken to applying it in between my lower lashes, very lightly and this does not budge for the whole day. Being a waterproof eyeliner, you might expect that it is more difficult to remove at the end of the day, but I haven’t found this to be the case. I use eye makeup remover before and after washing my face and this removes everything.

The packaging is simple and effective. On one end you have the eyeliner, which can be twisted to be revealed and on the other is a smudge sponge. I use the sponge to either correct any mistakes or to smudge out the liner for a smokey look. There is also a sharpener attached to the end of the sponge, which needs to be pulled out to be revealed. I prefer to wear my eyeliner thin, so being able to sharpen the eyeliner is a really nice feature.

I had said in my 'what I will and won't spend my money on' blog post that I would be willing to pay almost anything for an eyeliner that does not budge from my waterline. The fact that this does just that and costs £3.99 is just a lovely bonus. This can be found in all the usual places, Boots, Superdrug and even supermarkets that have Rimmel counters and of course it is made even more affordable when there are bonus points or 3 for 2 deals happening.

Maleficent inspired look (using Sleek dark matte palette)

Have I told you all how much I love matte shades? I’m sure everyone is aware by now that Sleek have released two matte palettes. I picked up version 2, which is a perfect mix of dark shades, which can create subtle day or smoky night looks.

I decided not to do a review of the palette, since there are so many good reviews and swatches out there. But briefly, most of the colours are very pigmented and all are soft and easy to blend. So far it is my favourite palette by Sleek and unlike some of their other palettes, I don’t see myself not loving it as much in a few months time.

On to the look I created. Whenever I see deep, dark purple I think of Maleficent, the villain from Sleeping Beauty, she was my favourite Disney villain so I took my inspiration from her.

I used the shades thunder (as a base), highness (all over the lid), villan (in the crease) and flesh (to blend out and as a highlight). I used a grey eyeliner on my water line and on my upper lashes and finished off with Benefit’s They’re Real mascara. I think the look could be improved by using some false lashes to really dramatise the eyes.

On the rest of my face I used No7 BB cream and ELF concealer. On my cheeks I used MUA blush (shade 4), which is a beautiful plum colour and helps to bring out the plum tones in the lighter purple eyeshadow. I also added some highlighter (from the Sleek contour palette) and rather than go for a red lipstick to really emulate Maleficent I chose to wear Rimmel nude delight lipstick. 

I’m hoping to put together a blog post containing lots of different looks, which can be achieved using the matte palette. In the mean time, tell me, who was your favourite Disney villain?

They’re Real! Benefit mascara review

Benefit’s Bad Gal Lash is the only mascara I have used, loved and repurchased. However, last year Benefit released They’re Real and replaced Bad Gal Lash as my favourite mascara.

They’re Real is a false-lash effect mascara, which is perfect for me since I can’t/don’t like applying false lashes. The secret to the mascara is in the wand. The rounded end means that each and every lash can be coated, and it only takes the one coat to get the effect.

For me, it’s perfect because it does the job it’s meant to do without clumping my lashes together or ending up all over my lids. I can easily get away with just one coat to get the effect I want.

Naked lashes

They’re real!

I have grown to like the packaging on this, although I am not much of a packaging girl generally. But I like that it is not too long and fits into makeup bags and pockets easily.

If I had to find a fault with this I would say that, because it is so effective at coating every lash, I don’t like the defined look you get on the lower lashes (think Twiggy). I skip using this on my lower lash line and opt instead to applying eyeliner so that my lower lashes are more subtly defined.

*This was a gift from my little sister. Thanks Sis! 

Face of the night

This is just a quick post to share the makeup I did for a wedding last weekend. I decided to go for a classic neutral eye and used my Naked palette.

Eyes:

UDPP

Naked palette: virgin, naked, buck, smog, toasted, dark horse

Saffron gel eyeliner 

No7 mascara 

Rest of face:

Bella Pierre foundation (cinnamon)

Bourgeois bronzing powder (contouring)

Sleek contour and highlight kit (highlight only)

Benefit Bella Bamba blush

No 7 marshmallow lip gloss 

I also attempted to overcome my laziness and attempt using false eyelashes. I managed to get it on one eye with the first attempt, but the other took about five! Any tips to make this easier would be much appreciated!

Quick Naked palette look

With all the blog posts about the Naked2 palette, I had a play with the original palette and decided to quickly share the look.

I used my typical combination of colours — toasted on the lid with buck and darkhorse in the crease.

I decided to experiment with how best to apply and started off using buck in the crease, then using dark horse in the outer corner only. I finally finished off with toasted all over the lid. I think this worked really well to easily blend the colours into one another. Then finished off with eyeliner and mascara.

Also, notice the new brows? Post coming soon...

My birthday face - upside down smoky eye

I celebrated my birthday last weekend, I had a really lovely few days celebrating with various family and friends.

On Saturday night, me and my girlfriends all headed to Shaka Zulu in Camden, which is easily the best decorated venue I have ever visited.

I planned to use my FashionistA cosmetics to reproduce the blue look I had done at TOWIB, but I left myself with little time and ended up doing something new but a bit simpler.

I was inspired by MakeupGeek, one of my favourite makeup gurus on YouTube, and tried to replicate her upside down smokey eye look.

I used my Urban Decay palette, with the colour “sin” all over the lid, I lined both waterlines and my bottom lash lined quite heavily and used “dark horse" to smudge and blend out the black liner. It did look odd to me to start off with, especially since the top lid was so bare but I really liked the final look.

It is actually far more subtle than I was expecting, so I probably could have gone for something with a bit more drama! That being said I don’t think it is subtle enough for an everyday/day look.

On the rest of my face I used Revlon Photofinish foundation, Bella Bamba blush my Benefit, Smahbox photo-op under eye brightner and a mixture of ELF bare brown and Rimmel Nude delight on my lips.