Revlon For The Win!

In the past I've mentioned that Maybelline or maybe even Rimmel were the best on the high street, never Revlon though. However, it hasn't gone unnoticed that Revlon are catching up quick! They have really upped their game recently with lots of new and amazing products being released. Lets take a look at some. 

Highlighting Palettes - Let's start with the most recent, the most hyped and one that I am yet to get my hands on. The highlighting palettes, said to be a dupe for the Bobbi Brown shimmer bricks, are beautiful, cheap and the perfect addition to your makeup bag this S/S. Buy here. 

Colorburst Matte Balms - I think you either love these or you hate them. I personally like my matte balm, the bright colours are, again, great for S/S and they are nourishing to the lips - unlike most matte finishes. Buy here. 

Photoready Cream Blushes - Another product I'm pretty desperate to get my hands on, these cream blushes are sleek and silky. They claim to be buildable and give a beautiful flush of colour. Buy here.

Lip Butters - One of my favourite products the lip butters came out a while ago but they are still pretty hyped and for a good reason. These are are glossy as a lip gloss, as pigmented as a lipstick and as nourishing and soft as a lip balm. You can't possibly want more from a product. Buy here.

Nail Enamel Electric-Chrome Collection - Brought out for the new Spiderman film, these stunning electric-chrome polishes are a must for those of us who love having fab looking nails. Buy here. 

What do you think of Revlon? Yay or Nay? Have you tried these prodcuts? Also, I hope you don't mind me taking a break from Battle of the brands, there will me more very soon.

Until next time

xx 

6 Lipsticks: I Regret

This is the last in my little trio of lipstick posts but I will finish of with a lip gloss one next Saturday. I hope you are enjoying this series, getting a glimpse into my collection!

Lets get the worst of the worst out of the way first. These two lipsticks from Evie Mai, a brand I struggle to find, came in a vanity box I treated myself to one Christmas. I hate them. They are the palest of colours that I really cannot imagine suiting anybody, the first one makes you look like death and the second one doesn't come out anywhere near as pink on the lips as it does in the swatch. Also as you may be able to see in the picture, the stick itself goes sort of dry and patchy, odd. Sigh. It really is a shame because they are very creamy and it is a pretty colour. I was extremely disappointed. :( 

MUA Shade 12 is a nice enough colour if you like the glitz and glam, personally I think it looks way OTT on me and after my cousin 'made me look pretty' it isn't in such a good state. I think the glitter is a little too big as well.

There is anything major that I don't like about the AVON lipstick in Berry Berry, the packaging is classic and the colour is beautiful but I can't handle the smell, it is so drying and the shade, although nice, doesn't suit me in the slightest. 

There is just one reason I regret buying the Calvin Klein lipstick in Desire and that is that I really, really do not suit purple lipstick. *Shudder*

Finally, the first MAC lipstick I ever bought and it was a huge let down. I don't, however, think this is down to MAC. I believe this is a fake. I have the shade Shy Girl and it is terrible on application, it doesn't cover the lips and if you go for a second coat it wipes away the first. Full coverage is impossible. It also makes my lips feel horrible and when compared to my other MAC lipsticks, the packaging does differ. Lesson learnt: Always buy direct from the brand and not over Amazon, even if the price is attractive. 

Anndd there we go! Which lipsticks do you regret? Are there any I should avoid?

Until next time

xx

Battle of the Brands #3

This week in Battle of the Brands I am comparing eye shadow primers from Smashbox and Urban Decay.

The Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer (full size) retails for £15.00 here. I have the mini version which I got in a set of the photo finish range for wear at my prom last year. I really love all of the products though I must admit of the three, this is my least favourite. 

Don't get me wrong this is a good primer it just dries out so easily and there isn't much product inside the bottle.

It has a doe foot applicator that applies a good amount to the lid which I then blend out. It is much more light weight that the UD primer potion which is a bonus and is also more matches to my skin tone so doesn't make my eye lid look orange before I put on my makeup. 

I swear by the Urban Decay primer potion. I've used it for a coupe of years now and love it but it does have its cons.

Pros include the beautiful packaging, how long one bottle lasts (and I only have the mini) and of course that it keeps eye shadow in place all day.

Cons are that it feels heavy on the lids, you can apply too much and it makes the skin slightly orange which I don't like. 

You can buy the full size Urban Decay primer potion here for £16.00 or travel size for just £8.00 - bargain!

Right: UD primer potion, Left: Smashbox Photo Finish lid primer

My winner is Urban Decay primer potion, despite its cons I love it too much for it to lose and the Smashbox primer just dries out too quick. Have you tried these? Did I make the right choice?

Until next time

xx

6 Lipsticks: I should wear more

This week I thought I'd share with you six lipsticks from my collection I think I should wear more. You will probably notice that they are all light natural shades of pink - that's all I wear day to day really. 

The first one is MUA shade 1, this is a deep matte red that suits all skin shades. I especially like it on me because most reds are really hard to wear and make my teeth look so yellow, this one is more flattering and isn't it just a stunning lipstick? All the better at £1!

MUA shade 7 (although looking a little worse for wear) is a great pink nude that I enjoy wearing. 

I got this lipstick 'Very Pink' from Marks & Spencer some time last year when they first began stocking cosmetics in store, it is a beautiful bright pink. I actually wore it to prom so it is very special, though when I wear it my uncle likes to refer to me as Miss Piggy (muppets reference) - not a nickname I can say I enjoy greatly. 

Wet N Wild Silk Finish lipstick in shade 40 is my favourite lipstick! I wear it almost every day and it is the perfect 'your lips but better' colour for me - how cliche? It really is silky and very moisturising. As you can see the packaging is getting a little damaged and fading - I use it a lot.

Another of my favourite lipsticks, particularly in Summer and even Autumn is my Calvin Klein lisptick in Mesmerize. If you've been reading my blog since last year you will know just how much I love it! It's a deep pink that I'm told looks very bright on the lips - I get comments like 'oh that's very bright for you'.

Finally, one last lipstick, a beautiful pale pink in the form of Calvin Klein 'Etheral'. I really do like the lipstick and definitely need to wear it more often! It's great for Spring. 

There are the lipsticks I think I should give more love, how about you? Do you have a favourite lip product you think you should wear more?

Until next time

xx

Battle Of The Brands #2

This week's choice of product for battle of the brands is lip crayons and I chose Bourjois vs Revlon. 

- so much shadow and bad photography, sob -

The Revlon matte balms have not long been released. They are available in Boots for £7.99 and Superdrug for a mere £5.99 among other stockists. There are a range of colours available for all skin tones. 

They are described to be stains with a velvety matte colour and lip balm feel. Lightweight and moisturising. 

I have the colour Striking which is a lovely red, nothing like the online swatch I must add. I agree it is matte and lightweight though I would not say it is velvety or moisturising. Though it isn't at all drying either. I had originally planned to tell you that it feels nothing like any lip balm I have used either but after a few more days of wear it actually does feel similar to a balm and is almost nourishing. It is rich and long lasting and I just love the colour.  

It goes on easily and is just lovely to wear. Revlon are really on the ball this year!

As for packaging it is a classic chubby stick style. The stick itself represents the colour inside, it has a silver end - just like the Bourjois Colour Boost - and is not too large in size. A staple handbag piece I'd say. 

Boujois Colour Boost lip crayon is Red Sunrise is more of a luscious glossy lipstick. The shade I have is a vibrant almost blue toned pink, perfect for S/S time. The packaging (and naming) is almost identical to Revlon's though Bourjois released the colour boost first. Is it OK to say there was some copying going on here?

The product is £7.99 is Boots and Superdrug and I personally think there is a much more attractive colour range. 

The lipstick itself is soft and moisturing, the lasting power is similar to Revlon though I find it does sometimes fade to that dreaded bad lip liner look. Oh no! 

From the swatches you can see both have excellent colour though I think Revlon is slightly more pigmented. They are both appropriately named (nothing crazy unlike some items you'll find) and I really like them equally. However, I do have to pick a winner since that is the whole idea of this series so I am going to chose Bourjois Colour Boost. 

Revlon are doing amazingly with their releases recently and I do love my new chubby stick but I just think Bourjois is that little bit better! 

Which is your favourite? Do you agree with the winner? Leave me a comment. 

Until next time

xx

Tag Tuesday | The Makeup Mishaps Tag

Becca from Becca's Fashion and Life created this tag not too long ago and I have since wanted to give it a go. Here are my answers... 

You're going to a high end beauty event - would you rather:

Have really thick, dark, sharpie eyebrows or a major neck/foundation line?

Thankfully this is a theoretical question because I don't think I could cope with either! haha I am going to say major foundation line because it's easiest to hide and I'm really self conscious about my brows. 

Have chipped nail polish or horribly faded lipstick?

I really hate horribly faded lipstick and my nails often go days, even a week being chipped before I  do them again so I pick chipped nail polish.

Have smudged all your eye make up or have lipstick on your teeth?

Without a doubt lipstick on my teeth because I usually wear lighter lipsticks that would be harder to notice on the teeth than smudged eye makeup. Eughh. Panda eyes!

Over highlight - a la disco ball - or over pluck those brows and look constantly surprised?

As much as I like a dewy finish I have to say over pluck those brows. Constantly looking surprised is better than looking like a disco ball any day, and I could fill them in to a nicer shape.

It's a typical working/school day, and unfortunately your beauty products have gone missing. You can only find a few things hidden at the bottom of your makeup bag, and have to use what you can find. What do you choose?

OTT unsubtle fake lashes or clear mascara?

I've never worn fake lashes. Can you believe it? I've often worn clear mascara though so I'll go with that. 

A foundation five shades too dark or five shades too light?

Five shades too light I think because I hate looking orange or dark especially if it doesn't match the rest of my body and I can make it look better with other products and a lotta concealer. 

Hair-gloss (a beautifully sticky gloss: perfect for getting your hair stuck to in the wind) or gorgeous concealer lips?

I hate the sound of both of these but I hate concealer lips most of all (even though I used to think it looked nice, oh dear) so I'm going with hair-gloss! I always have my hair tied back so it would be ok. 

Finally, it's the middle of summer - you can have either a manicure or a pedicure. However, the other set of nails have to be bare - what do you pick?

Manicure of course! I hate my feet so rarely ever have them on display however I love having my nails painted so definitely manicure. 

I really enjoyed doing this tag and encourage everyone else to give it ago. Specifically though, I tag Sophie, Jessica, Corinne and Rachel. 

Until next time

xx

5 MakeUp Brushes Every Girl Needs

Hello lovelies

Today I want to share with you 5 make-up brushes that, I think, every girl should have. 

Disclaimer: The brushes in the pictures aren't necessarily the exact brand you need, just the brand I own and so have photographed. 

The first one is the buffing brush. This brush is fantastic for perfecting the flawless base. 

The big face brush is a must have. It can be used for powder, blush application, bronzing and blending. A multitasking gem in the beauty world. 

The detailer is a good sized brush to carry with you, it can be used for concealer, lip products, highlighting or ever brows if you really wanted to get the use out of it.

The fluffy brush is one of the first make-up brushes I ever bought. I couldn't do eye shadow without it. I personally think it is the best for eye shadow application and I like blending out with this one too. 

Finally the 'pencil' brush (I use quotation marks as I'm not sure if this is the official name but it's what I call it) can be used in the crease or for under eye concealer (specifically the Real Techniques crease brush for the latter). This brush is good for creating depth in a look.

What brushes couldn't you go without?

Until next time

xx

  

Wishlist #1

Hello lovelies

So I've seen a lot of wish list posts around and I haven't done one since before Christmas so I've decided to start a new series of wish lists, a different one each week, starting today with makeup. 

Although I'll admit this is not the best put together collage this is what's on my current makeup wishlist (if only the money fairy would drop by my house).

MAC mineralise skin finish in soft and gentle - This has been on my list for a while and I am desperate to try it out!

Illamasqua glamore collection nail polishes - I adore the look of these and the thought of 'adult glitter' makes me smile. I'd like to try two out of the three shades (the orange doesn't appeal).

Revlon highlighting pallete in peach glow - This looks so perfect and I'm on the hunt for a new highlighter for Spring. They say this is a good dupe for the Bobbi Brown shimmer bricks but more affordable so I'm up for that.

MAC blush in Petal Pink - From the 'A Fantasy of Flowers' collection of 2014 this blush is right up my street. There are a lot good reviews about MAC blushes and I feel like this one is a good place to start.   

Revlon Colorburst Matte Lip balms - These look like my kind of lip product. I'm all up for shimmer and gloss but a good old subtle matte is as good as anything. 

Bare Minerals Make-up - I'd like to get into mineral makeup because I'm never happy with how a foundation makes my skin look and I'm not the best at colour matching. I want to look after my skin more this year and so cutting back on the product is a good place to start. 

Bourjous Colour Edition 24hr - As a fan of the Maybelline Colour Tattoos and the old swipe and go eye looks, I just have to try Bourjois' new cream shadows. This is one of my favourite high street brands and so I'm excited to see what they can offer.

Ted Baker Make-up Bag - I need a new (and bigger) make-up bag and the Ted Baker ones are so beautiful (and so expensive). I've been lusting after one for a while now (remember my Christmas wish list?).

Benefit Gimme Brows - These were released this week and from the reviews I have read they look great. A tinted brow gel that looks natural and doesn't go crispy? Surely such a think doesn't exist? We shall see!

That's all for this wish list - it was a long one I know. There'll be a new one next Thursday.

Until next time

xx

New Years Eve Get Ready With Me

Hello lovelies!

Welcome to my first BeautyShine post. It's the last day of December, oh my goodness where has the year gone?! So here's how I got ready to celebrate New Years Eve...

So this picture is a complete fail! I took it on my iPhone and the lighting wasn't bad - you could at least see what the products were. I'm sorry! We can pretend we can see that when I jumped out of the shower I straight away brushed it and smoothed in some of my Avon hair oil. I LOVE this stuff! It smells great and makes my hair lovely and soft (second to left). 

I then sprayed my face with some Boots Botanics Rose Water Toning Spritz (tall bottle), moisturised with a basic Simple moisturiser (second to right) and finally applied my favourite Baby Lips in 'Hydrate' (far right) to settle in while I got dressed. 

For my makeup I used my Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation and concealer which I am loving right now. To keep it simple on the face I have used my Sleek Contour Kit to define my cheeks and applied my Calvin Klein red lipstick beneath my beautiful Revlon 'Cherries in the Glow' lip gloss. 

The real focus of my look tonight is the eyes. As a base, I've used my MAC paint pot in 'Morning Frost' and then done a beautiful rose gold smokey eye using my Naked 3 palette. I will do a full post on this soon. 

I hope you all have a fantastic evening seeing in the New Year whether your going out or staying in. I'll see you in 2014!

Until Next Time

xx

Stop! You're Making Me Blush

Hello

A bit of a quirky title today, non? Well if you couldn't guess today I am talking about blush and how to find the best one for you. Are you a pink or a nude kinda girl? Matte or shimmer? Cream or powder? Gel or Mousse? 

I'm basically going to talk about the variety of blush products I own and their pros and cons for different skin types. So if that sounds good to you, read on!

Let's start with with the basic of basics; just a powder matte blush. I have a bunch of these. My favourites include Sleek Flamingo and Life's A Peach and No7 Honey. If you've read any of the numerous posts in which I've talked about my Honey blush you will know just how much I love it and that I have majorly hit pan and need to repurchase!

Powder blushes are good for women with normal to oily skin types because they do a good job of absorbing oil and so wont slip around your face therefore turning you into a lop-sided clown. Nobody wants that. The benefits of powder blushes are that they give a more natural look - a subtle tint shall we say - and they are easy to apply to the skin so you are a lot less likely to go over board and again end up looking like a clown (no offence to the clowns of this world).

Cons, however, are that the colour doesn't last as long as say, a cream or liquid formula and if it does last, it may change slightly depending on the oiliness of your skin. 

You can pretty much get hold of most colour blushes but the main shades are pinky/peachy/rosy colours and a good all round palette for those with a budget I find, is the Body Collection Dusy Pink blush set (see below). I really like this and I picked it up in Scotland for less than £5 - bargain. 

You can also pick up shimmery powder compacts such as my MUA blush in shade 5. 

(on my nails I am wearing Bourjois gel polish in beige distinction with a London cosmetics clear glitter top coat)

If you are going to wear a shimmer on your cheeks it is best if you do not have oily skin or else you will just highlight the oiliness and it, uh, wont look good to say the least. Each to their own however and if you think you can pull it off then go for it. 

Next up is one of the most popular blush types these days and that is acream formula, for this I only have the one product which is Romancefrom No7. I'll admit that I am fairly new to creamy products and I haven't used this too much but I really do like the application and how easily you can blend. So far so good. 

A cream blush is best for women with normal to dry skin due to its hydrating qualities and it will also stick better to a non-oily skin type. 

Benefits are of course the hydration, the easiness of blending, long lasting and the pretty glowing finish. 

The disadvantage is that it is slightly less easy to apply subtly. 

Now lets combine the two and discuss Bourjois's cream to powder blush.  

I really like the packaging of this and the shades are super cute. The product itself is just like a cream blush in the container but once it's on the skin it is a lot more powdery and therefore carries the qualities of a powder. My only advice for this product is be accurate with your application because once it's on it is hard to blend out. All in all, though, this is a very good product which would suit normal/combination skin.

With only two remaining categories (for me anyhow since I have no experience with liquid tints or cheek stains) I would like to talk about my favourite. The mousse blush. I am a big fan of the Maybelline DreamMousse range, particularly their blush and foundation. I do, however, currently only own the blush which is fantastic. 

A mousse blush is similar to a cream but a lot lighter and very easy to blend. You definitely do not need a lot of product on your brush or finger to get noticeable coverage. I would recommend this to women with normal/dry skin because on an oily surface this would melt away and look terrible. 

Pros are definitely blending, lightness and lasting power but cons are that it is too easy to go OTT and it doesn't work for oily skin. 

I forgot to take this one on my little trip to the outdoors for photographing. Oops!

Anndddd finally we have the gel formula. Everything seems to have a gel version these days; eye liner, foundation, eye shadow, blush, lip products. The whole darn lot. I guess it must be pretty good, eh? 

Well I think so anyway. 

I do love my gel blush from coty (which I cannot seem to find anywhere on the internet or in town so where did my auntie find this for me?!) in shade 01 Highlighter. Most gel blushers come in little tubes where you just squirt some onto your hand and blend onto the skin using your finger. It looks radiant and glowing. Beautiful! It is off course suitable for normal and dry skin but I think it could work on oily skin too so long as your skin is not overly oily. 

The pros are that is looks good and is easy to apply and the only con I can think of is that it may not work well on oily skin types. 

So which blush is for you? Which is your favourite? I hope this helped you decide. 

Until next time
xx 

No7 Beginner MakeUp Bag

Hello

So this was sort of a blog request but I'm making a little change. Today I want to talk to you about makeup for beginners and the best products to use. Even now after testing Rimmel, Bourjois and Maybelline I still think No7 is the best for beginners.

Let me run you through what I think should be inside a younger persons makeup bag and why.

Essentially Natural foundation - A liquid mineral foundation. This was my first foundation and I still love it. It is not too harsh and gives a natural, good coverage without being too heavy. I think this makes it the perfect base for a teenager or beginner to makeup. 

There a lot of different foundations from this brand but from the ones I have tested most of them don't have too good a coverage so this one is great. 

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder - Maybe you wont need a powder if you have dry skin already but if you prefer to set your makeup or have oil/combination skin which leaves you shiny, without a doubt this is the powder you need. Get it in translucent if you all you need is a setting powder or in a skin colour to add tone to your face.

Brown Exceptional Definition Mascara - I say brown because it is a much nicer colour for a younger persons face. It is natural but defined, less harsh and much more attractive. I also love the three way applicator which gives you a variety of looks to opt for. This mascara does not clump so it's perfect for a young look. 

Natural Blush Tint Powder - This gives a lovely warm, natural glow to the cheek so is perfect if you're just starting out. A good natural look is best for beginners but if you don't want to, you don't have to be subtle, the colours you choose and how much you build up the layers affects your finished look so don't be put of by me constantly saying 'natural' if you're after something more bold. 

Stay Perfect Eye Shadow Trio - Unless you work in beauty or fashion or you're a makeup junkie like myself you really don't need to wear eye shadow on a daily basis, I rarely wear it at all but for special occasions and outings. A successful eye look takes a lot of practice but for those who want to jump in there or if you want something special for an occasion this eye colour trio is perfect. My personal favourite is 'Cappuccino' and I love the colours from 'Organza' and 'Beside the sea'. Retailing at £9.50 this is a good addition to anybody's makeup bag for a quick and easy yet gorgeous look. 

Natural Collection Wild Strawberry Lip Gloss - Now, at a young age you don't want to be wearing a lip stick (although if you do I suggest MUA or Calvin Klein) so a gloss adds the perfect finish to an every day look. For a cheap glossy shine I would go with a lip gloss from Natural Collection, or for something more high end but still affordable I would definitely go for a Benefit gloss such as THIS one. 

Extras

So there you have the main products for your makeup bag but what about extras?

For tools I would go with Real Techniques every single time. They are fanastic and last a long time! You can pick them up from Boots. 

For eye liner a gel is always best, try the SEVENTEEN Smoulder Gel Liner. 

For eye brows the Smashbox Brow Tech To Go is fantastic, however, I'm not a fan of the coloured in eye brows, especially on the younger generation. A natural shape looks so much better. If you really feel you need some filling in then try and go lightly. 

So there you go, now please do remember this is purely based on my first make up products and is only No7 products (excluding the extras). I will do another post like this soon on different products and make up looks I think are best for teens or beginners. 

Also I am sorry there are no pictures in this boring post but I don't own enough of these products anymore to photograph them and I do prefer my own photos than ones from the internet. 

Until next time

xx