Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Emerveillé

I've been contemplating purchasing one of the Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Eyeshadows (£25) for a while now yet I was reluctant to splash the cash on a product I have only really ever seen online. Luckily, the other day I managed to 'accidentally' find myself at a Chanel counter where I swatched one of these shadows and was completely sold. I am a big lover of cream eyeshadows but often find they only really work well as a base for other powdered shadows as the formulas are often fairly sheer and crease easily. This is most certainly not the case with this little pot of beauty from Chanel.  I picked up the shade Emerveillé, a beautiful natural pink shade that reminds me a lot of MAC's Naked Lunch but bolder and slightly more iridescent. The consistency of this product is incredibly odd and feels sort of mousse-like when touched. The cream-to-powder formula is what enables this product to apply so beautifully on the lid and warrants its amazing lasting power. I originally applied this product expecting to have to pair with a similar toned shadow so I could gage the full beauty of this product but I was so wrong. A couple of swipes of this with my finger on the lid and the colour was opaque, iridescent and lasted all freakin' day! The only thing I regret about this product was not picking up more shades when I was already at the counter. 

Let me know what you think in the comments.

What's your favourite cream eyeshadow?

March Beauty Favourites 2015

                          

Swatches L-R: (Top photo) S&G Solar Powder, NARS Matte Multiple, Chanel Illusion D'Ombre.

(Bottom photo) Vapour, Phloof, Omega, Quarry, Satin Taupe, Stroke of Midnight.

Back again with another monthly favourites. I am excited to share these with you all as pretty much every single item listed are a new addition to my collection. So lets get straight into it.

First up, the Soap and Glory Solar Powder (£11). Who hasn't heard of this by now? It's seriously raved about all over the blogging/beauty world and it's understandable as to why. I've had this in my collection for a few months now and although I try and circulate my products (the curse of having too many!) I also find myself resorting back to this one as it is actually better than a lot of my pricier alternatives (ahem - NARS Laguna). It's split into two shades where the right, for me, makes a perfect bronzer shade and the left is light enough to work as a great natural contour that is brilliant for my pale skin. It's fairly cheap and cheerful so do check it out. 

Next, the MAC Cinderella Eyeshadow Palette in Stroke of Midnight (£38.50). Of course the month of March bought the hyped up release of the MAC Cinderella collection and I can easily say it is by far my favourite collection from MAC. I wore this palette so much throughout March as the six shades offered endless options of looks and each eyeshadow lived up to the amazing quality of MAC. I am ridiculously happy that I managed to get my hands on this. 

Next up, the Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Emerveille (£25). I do have a full review coming soon about this little pot of glory that I have been wearing on my lids either alone or in-cooperated into a much more intricate eye look and I seriously cannot get enough. If you're after a long-wearing cream eyeshadow then check out your local Chanel counter - you won't be disappointed. 

Moving on to another gem that has pretty much reached a holy grail level in my books. The NARS Matte Multiple in Altai (£29). I was hesitant to purchase this as I was cautions that the shade would be too dark for my very pale skin but luckily it didn't disappoint. The foolproof application allows for a sharp, concise contour and I am now reluctant to try anything else. This paired with the S&G Solar Powder creates a bronzed/contour daydream that everyone needs to try. 

Finally, the MAC Turquatic (£38.50) fragrance has quickly become one of my all time favourite scents for S/S. I don't know why I waited so long to try this as after one spritz I was sold. If you're looking for something thats fresh and uplifting but still lasts on the skin, please do try and give this a go!

I hope you enjoyed my round up of the products I have been loving throughout the month of March.

Let me know what you think in the comments.

What are your favourite products from the past month?

MOTD

Face

Chanel Perfection Lumiére Foundation in 20 Beige 

Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer in SX02

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer in Light

No7 Perfect Light Loose Powder in Translucent

NARS Matte Multiple in Altai

Soap and Glory Solar Powder

NYX Blush in Angel

MAC MSF in Soft and Gentle 

Eyes

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Dark Brown

Rimmel Brow This Way Gel in Clear 

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original

Too Faced Boudoir Eyes Palette (Satin Sheets all over the lid and in the inner corner, Sugar Walls in the outer third, Voulez Vous through the crease)

The Balm Schwing Liquid Eyeliner (review here)

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Eyeliner in Nude

Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara

Lips

MAC lipstick in Hue

Hope you enjoyed this quick post about my make up of the day. Please excuse my brows - I am in desperate need of getting them done. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

What products do you wear day-to-day?

My Beauty Empties Menu

Urban Decay Naked Skin, NARS Sheer Glow, Estée Lauder Double Wear, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle, MAC Mineralice Skinfinish Natural in Light. 

Diesel Fuel For Life, Estée Lauder Modern Muse, Anna Sui Flight of Fancy, Lancôme Tresor Midnight Rose, Jean Paul Gaultier Classique. 

Chanel Hydra Beauty Gel Créme, Origins GinZing Moisturizer, Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch, Benefit Porefessional. 

NARS Creamy Concealer in Vanilla, Collection Lasting Perfection Concealler in 1 Fair. 

Clinique High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara, YSL Shocking Mascara, Benefit They're Real Push-Up Liner.

I am fully aware that this is a lot of Empties for one post but I have been accumulating these products for a long period of time and have finally found the motivation to sit down and write this menu. I'm not going to mention every single product featured in the photos as otherwise we will be here all day. Instead I will pick out a few of my up-most favourites which will most likely be the products I will be repurchasing. So to get straight into it, I made my way through a number of base products, all of which I have been incredibly impressed with and would honestly purchase every single on of them again in the future.  I have a more in-depth post about my current base products here. I will also be holding on to the empty MAC products so I can qualify for the Back To MAC scheme. I have gone to town with fragrance usage in the past few months. Two of which are the Estée Lauder Modern Muse which is one of my personal favourites and I pretty much found myself wearing it everyday during A/W. I will be sure to purchase another again within the next few months as the smell is honestly to die for. If you would like to see a full (really old) review on this fragrance - check it out here. I also tried and tested a number of moisturisers and primers. I found the Chanel Hydra Beauty Gel Créme a little too overpriced for the quality of the product as it was far from outstanding. With the primers, I would definitely purchase the Benefit Porefessional again but as for the Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch, I found the packaging size fairly impractical and the product performance slowly deteriorated with use. Concealer wise, there isn't a lot to say other than I love both these products and have already repurchased all of them multiple times. Finally, to add a few eye products in the mix, I love the Clinique High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara and would definitely recommend it to anyone whose after a great amount of volume for their lashes. As for the YSL Shocking Mascara, I found this to be pretty average and the product dried up in a matter of weeks which was slightly disappointing due to the price I paid to have this product. As for the eyeliners, I am a big fan of the Benefit They're Real Push-Up Liner and have already written a raving review here.

Hope you enjoyed this post. Let me know what you think in the comments!

What products have you used up recently?

August Favourites 2014

It's the beginning of September, so that means it's August favourites time! This month I pretty much established an 'everyday make up routine' due to the fact that I found a palette of colours and finishes that worked well for me. So seeing as I've been using pretty much the same products on a daily basis, this meant that it was pretty simple to round up my favourite products from the month of August.

First things first, a rather overused and well-loved eyeliner pencil from Rimmel. This is the Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal pencil in the shade Nude. Nude eyeliners are simple but extremely effective when it comes to making the eyes appear more bright and wide awake. I've used this everyday this month and traded it in for my typical black eyeliner to adopt a fresher brighter complexion for the sunny months. This is ultra pigmented and honestly stays in place all day, I highly, highly recommend it! Next up is one of my all time favourite (and expensive) blushers I own. This little sleek, black package of beauty is the Le Blush Créme De Chanel in the shade 64 Inspiration. This gives a beautiful, natural flushed appearance to the cheeks with a satin finish that lasts and lasts all day, better than any other blush I've tried. The colour is build-able so wether you want a slight wash of colour or an intense pop to the cheeks, it's really up to you. Another product that I've used non-stop this month is the Dior Addict Gloss in the shade 257 Venus. This is just a really pretty pinky-nude with a shimmery, ultra-shine finish that looks beautiful with any make up look. This is my go-to lipgloss on a daily basis as it looks so natural but still very lovely. This next favourite is definitely my 'most loved' of the month and that is my MAC Pro Palette, I've been using at least one of the four shades in this palette everyday this month and I honestly can't get enough. My favourite eyeshadow combination that I've fallen in love with is the shade Naked Lunch washed over the lid with Mythology blended through the crease and then Nylon dotted onto my tear duct, all of which creates a simplistic but 'pretty in pink' smokey eye. Next up is a fragrance favourite,  this being Estée Lauder's Modern Muse - a repurchase of mine that I bought and loved all through A/W 2013 and used up way before the first signs of Summer. I then tried to dabble in some other perfumes that were more fitting for the S/S months but now the weather is cooling down and thicker coats and leather boots are making an appearance on the runway, I decided to repurchase this beautiful fragrance and have loved it even more. Last up is a revolutionary product when it comes to self-tan. Of course, it's by St Tropez, my favourite fake-tan brand and it's their Self Tanning Express Bronzing Mousse which is basically a beautifully bronzed self-tan in a bottle where you can choose the depth of colour depending on when you wash it off. You can let it develop for just an hour for a light wash of colour of three hours for a deep, dark bronzed glow that carries on developing for up to eight hours and the colour pay-off can last up to a week. If you love fake-tan then I seriously suggest splashing the cash on this one!

Let me know what you think in the comments.

What products have you been loving in the month of August? 

Beauty| Chanel Perfection Lumiére Foundation

I'm sure that many of you agree that Chanel just screams luxury with its simple yet elegant packaging and the beautiful, well put together products. After being impressed with the Chanel Beauty Hydra Gel Créme (review here) I bit the bullet and splashed out £36 on the Chanel Perfection Lumiére Foundation, an extreme amount of money I know but it felt like a necessity at the time. I have tryed and tested a copious amount of foundations, more high end then drugstore then I would like to admit as it seems I am a shameless snob when it comes to products for my complexion but I like to think I've built up a good amount of knowledge and extended a long list titled 'Foundations I would buy again'. The ones that gain the glory of having a snug little place at the top of my list are the few that tick the majority, if not all the boxes, for what I look for in a foundation. 

Being someone that suffers with combination skin meaning one day I'll have horrific dry patches and the next a completely unexpected and unappreciated break out, I need a foundation that conceals the blemishes but doesn't cling to the dry areas. A quality I'm pleased to say this foundation possesses. Now the most important thing to be said with this foundation is a little bit really does go a long way and less most definitely is more. I found myself struggling at first with a cakey and an if ever-so-slightly uneven finish which is something I was not expecting with it being a very upmarket product but luckily this was not so much as the foundations fault but simply mine. I found once applying this foundation lightly, buffing it evenly over the skin and then setting it with a baked powder, the finish was completely and utterly flawless, just what the foundation claims. 

Chanel state that 'perfection has never been so simple' when using this foundation with its beautiful matte finish, radiance and colour correction qualities that cancel out even the reddest of areas creating something stunning and flawless, a trait I can really can get on board with. With a light-medium coverage that can be easily adjusted and builded, this product has shown me that I don't necessarily need to hide my face under a heavy coverage foundation layer but instead embrace the natural look, colour and radiance of my very own skin. The only downside to this product being the shade that I own 20 Beige is a shade too dark for me, a personal imperfection I know but something that slightly taints the overall perfection of this product. Luckily the colour seems to calm and adjust to my own skin tone soon after making it perfectly wearable which I would hope so too when I'm paying so much for a bottle that's slightly on the small side.  

Overall a lovely product that I have thoroughly enjoyed wearing and I'm already counting down the days until my spending ban is over so I can splash my cash and treat myself to a few more Chanel products!

Let me know what you think in the comments!

What's your favourite high end foundation? 

Beauty| Chanel Hydra Beauty Gel Créme

For the past few months I have been looking for a decent moisturiser that actually makes a difference to my skin. After trialling and testing a number of drugstore products ranging from Sanctuary to Olay and none being exactly life changing I decided to splash a little more (or a lot more) cash on a high end moisturiser that may well be the miracle product I've been searching for.

The Chanel Hydra Beauty Gel Créme is a light gel-based moisturiser that radiates the skin and both feels and appears hydrating. I stumbled upon this when getting colour-matched for a foundation at a Chanel counter where the lady used this as a base. The instant cooling effect was enough to win me over, creating a sense of relaxation and rejuvenation that made my skin feel instantly restored and almost too soft to touch. 

This miracle product is made up of a number of key ingredients that ensures that this moisturiser delivers a sense of freshness when still intensely hydrating the skin. The first being, of course, Chanel's trademark Camellia flower that enables hydration with it's incredible moisture-retaining powers that restores any dry or lifeless skin to a healthy glow. This product also used the power of Blue Ginger which aids to protect the skins appearance with its antioxidant power that helps to control and prevent oxidation of the skin. 

A moisturiser that is best suited for Oily/Combination skin the light but rich, hydrating gel really soaks in whilst  delivering the epitome of freshness with an amazing, uplifting smell of an abundance of fruit and flowers that make even the dullest of skins or even moods feel rejuvenated. If you don't like fragrant products this product probably won't be for you. Perfect for all year round this product seems more of an investment then an item of skin care. Once applied my skin feels smooth and soft even after a foundation application - a quality that is often a rarity with cheaper moisturisers. A little bit goes a long way making the painstaking price of £50 slightly more justified. 

The only negative of this product being that it doesn't bode well with most primers and instead works better with serums, a minor set back for some but when I have a couple of primers on standby that I'm desperate to use but can't to avoid an overly moistened base, this can be quite annoying. Although I am impressed with this product I am not sure I would repurchase it again as for the high end price I wasn't blown away with its performance and feel that there may be just as good out there for a more affordable price tag. 

Let me know what you think in the comments.

What's your favourite moisturiser?