Saturday 31 May 2014

Beauty| Sleek Make Up Blush in Rose Gold with Swatches

Sleek Make Up is one of my all time favourite drugstore brands as except for the more then affordable price tag, the quality and packaging of each product resembles nothing less then something more high end. I've been swooning over Sleek's Blush By 3 palettes for a while now but have been hesitant to buy based on the fact that I had never tried one of their blushers before and well there seemed little point buying three if I ended up not agreeing with the formulas. Instead I opted to buy one of Sleek's Single Blush (£4.49) in the most popular shade Rose Gold a renowned dupe for Nars Orgasm blush.

 Firstly, I must mention that the name couldn't be any more spot on with this shade. A beautiful mid-toned pink with a warm gold shimmer running through the powder making a beautiful, illuminating flush of colour once applied to the cheeks. This truly is a beautiful blush shade and would be great all year around, an absolute bonus in my eyes. The forumla is beautiful with amazing pigmentation, buttery soft to touch and heaven to apply. There was still evidence of this colour on my cheeks a good six hours after application, not bad for a drugstore dupe. The packaging does nothing less then resemble the brand name, 'Sleek' by look and touch, with its matte black extrerior that makes up this petite, little rectangle that is no bigger by length then my ring finger. After giving this product a go, I can't wait to try out more of the blushers that Sleek has to offer. 

Let me know what you think in the comments.
What's your favourite drugstore blush? 

Thursday 29 May 2014

Beauty| MAC ALLURING AQUATIC COLLECTION Extra Dimension Bronzing Powder

     
For those of you who have been reading my blog for a while now will know that I cannot resist MAC and I especially can't resist a limited edition collection from them, especially if it has alternative packaging. After spending literally hours online researching different items from their new Alluring Aquatic collection trying to decide on what product to get, I found myself mostly drawn to their Extra Dimension Bronzers (£24). These are pearlescent powdered bronzers embossed with the MAC name and elegant waves encased in a beautiful blue-teal packaging and accentuated with elegantly splashed rain drops. 

I'm always hesitant with bronzers as being someone with a very pale complexion, I tend to stay clear of deeper, orange-undertoned bronzers as these often give me the appearance of a more muddy, oompa-loompa then bronzed goddess. That's why I was pleased to find that the MAC Extra Dimension Bronzer in the shade Aphrodite's Shell was perfect for all skin tones, especially those with pale skin as the yellow undertone appeared subtle once applied to a paler complexion. Picture a couple of shades lighter than Nars Laguna Bronzer and you've got it!  In the pan the powder appears to be a pale brown with a slight shimmer laced through and a natural goldy-yellow undertone. Once applied to the skin, it not only instantly sculpts the face but also highlights and warms up ones whole complexion. I'm pleased to say that the bronzer is not overly pigmented meaning it's easier to apply and build so one can effortlessly achieve their desired look. The formula is long lasting and I still found evidence of the colour on my face a good eight hours later in the day.

All in all, a lovely new addition to my collection and a bronzer that I feel is definitely worth the hype. If Nars Laguna Bronzer didn't woo you then do give this a go!

Let me know what you think in the comments.
What's your favourite bronzer?




Monday 19 May 2014

Beauty| My MAC Nude Lipsticks!

Blankety, Pure Zen, Peach Blossom, Créme Cup, Hue
Swatches: Hue, Blankety, Pure Zen, Peach Blossom, Créme Cup

MAC's lipsticks (£15) are one of my most highly favoured lip products on the market with their amazing formulas, never-ending colour range and multiple finishes, no one quite does lipsticks like MAC. This explains why they have become one of my favourite things to collect, along with their simplistic, sleek but professional looking packaging that just completes any cosmetics collection. Being a girl who can't get enough of sheer, shimmery pinky-nude glosses, I decided to mix things up a little and go on the hunt for a perfect nude lipstick. Now don't get me wrong, there are a lot of drugstore brands out there on the high street which have great performing nude lipsticks but when it comes to MAC, the shade names are so universal making it much easier to track down a nude you've spotted on another girls lips that you just have to have, plus the slightly higher price tag makes it a little more satisfying to collect, bad I know!

Here is a little run down of my MAC Nude Lipstick collection:-

Hue - A pale, pinky-nude which is also renowned for being one of the best nude shades for pale skinned girls, like myself. It doesn't completely wash out ones complexion with it's subtle pink undertone and instead acts as a lovely, light, girly shade making it perfect for Spring/Summer. It has a Glaze finish meaning it glides on the lips feeling both silky and smooth but can occasionally highlight dry areas so exfoliation is a must! 

Blankety- This is a slightly darker nude in comparison to Hue and will be perfect for more olive skinned girls but that's not to say that those with paler skin can't wear it. This is my chosen nude for more often, evening looks with it's gorgeous pinky-beige undertones which really adds colour to ones face and brightens up a dull complexion. This beautiful bullet with its Amplified Creme and if-ever-so slightly glossy finish really completes a make-up look and I couldn't ask for anything else! 

Pure Zen- This shade is the perfect peachy-nude that still looks natural but adds a slight pop of colour to the face. This definitley has a warm undertone but still transfers subtle on the lips, making it a perfect addition to your Spring/Summer Lipstick collection. I can imagine this to suit a variety of skin tones and the amazing pigmentation, with the long lasting formula and ultra smooth, Cremesheen finish makes it to be a 'must have' in every lipstick lovers collection! 

Peach Blossom- A beautiful cool, pinky-nude that probably stands as one of my favourites out of my collection. The Cremesheen formula allows the product to glide onto the lips seamlessly and with a couple of swipes for a full coverage, you are good to go! If you are looking for something subtle, light but with a hint of pink that naturally enhances your lip colour, then this is the nude for you. 

Créme Cup- Probably one of the most talked about nudes around, this muted, dusty pink lippy with a blue undertone makes up the perfect nude for light to medium skin tones. Not to mention the subtle blue undertone enhances the appearance of white teeth, what more could one ask for? The Cremesheen finish gives a slight shine and the formula is long lasting but would work better prepped with a balm. All in all, a lovely lipstick which would be perfect for an everyday nude.

I hope you enjoyed this brief run down. 
For a full review on MAC's Hue check out this post here
and if you are after a statement lippy on the opposite end of 
the scale check out my review on MAC's Dark Side here.


Let me know what you think in the comments!
What's your all time favourite MAC lipstick?


Thursday 15 May 2014

Beauty| Benefit Rockateur Boxed Blusher Review

Benefit's Rockateur Blush (£23.50) hit the market with a bang at the end of last Summer and even still the hype surrounding this little boxed blush seems to be ever-growing. I've been lusting after this product for a while but tried to tell myself that I didn't need it because I have 'plenty of other blushers' but my rational thoughts were quickly trumped by my shopaholic mind which screamed 'but you can never have too many' and I popped my card into the machine without a second thought. The first thing that attracted me to this product wasn't the bold, cheeky if ever-so-slightly garish packaging but actually the beautiful rose gold interior which really came as a blessing to my eyes. I love the geometric designs created in the actual product and the embossed Rock that really sets it aside visually from most other competitor blushers on the market. 

The product is a subtle two-toned, muted pink shade with subtle hints of shimmer laced through the powder. In the pan the shimmer can appear slightly overwhelming and I was slightly precarious on whether it would result in the 'disco ball effect'. Luckily the shimmer transferred in a very simple but beautiful way and instead I was left with beautiful rosy, glowing cheeks that deemed an added highlighter as unnecessary - a bonus that can't really be argued with.

The product lasted well once applied and I still found traces of the pinky glow on my cheeks a good six hours later. The pigmentation is reasonably good but the long lasting formula will ensure for less re-applications which therefore results in less product usage and so you can save those pennies for a few extra months!

Overall, I'm very impressed with this product and if I'm honest I really didn't expect anything less when it comes to Benefit. I'm glad I finally bit the bullet and bought it and I'm sure my bank balance will forgive me soon for setting it back by £23.50.

Let me know what you think in the comments.
What's your favourite blusher?


Friday 9 May 2014

Fragrance| Limited Edition Esteé Lauder Bronze Goddess

Introducing the most perfect summer fragrance which has awarded a special place on my fragrance shelf and has tempted me on numerous occasion over the past few years to stock up on copious amounts of these limited edition bottles so I will never be without this gorgeous, gold packaged, Goddess. Esteé Lauder's Bronze Goddess 100ml (£47) truly is Summer in a bottle, with scents that remind me of sandy beaches, salty sea water and coconut sun cream. This fragrance radiates warmth making you feel heavenly bronzed a unique touch for a Summer fragrance. 

Esteé Lauder themselves state that this is the fragrance 'that worships every inch of you' and I really do agree. The fragrance is heavy but not overwhelming and applies more like a body spray that lasts all day giving off addictive bursts off fragrance that create a sense of nostalgia and is enough to win over even the biggest Summer Scrooge. 

The Bronze Goddess fragrance is concocted with various different ingredients which awaken the senses allowing them to be whisked away to a hot, Summers day. Picture this: The Warmth of the Sun  created with the likes of Amber, Sandalwood, Coconut Milk and a personal favourite of mine, Myrrh and that is really just to name a view. Then we have the Warmness of the Golden Sand best served between our toes and created with Lemon, Mandarin and Orange. And finally the Bronzed Skin that most woman crave in summer which is made up of a mixture of different floral scents including Jasmine, Lavender and Magnolia Petals. When all of this is wrapped up in a beautiful gold, reflective bottle, there really is little to no reason why everyone shouldn't have this in their collection ready for S/S. 

I can honestly say I loved it the first time I smelt it two years ago and it hasn't left my mind since until I finally bought it for this Summer.  For any of you that do want try it, you are certainly in for a treat. This fragrance is the ultimate womanly scent that everyone needs in their collection. Be quick though, as this scent is only around for a limited time only and if you don't snap it up quick you may find yourself having to wait a whole other year till next Summer, like my silly self, until you're finally reunited with it again. 

I hope you enjoyed this review.
Let me know what you think in the comments.
What's your favourite Summer fragrance? 

Saturday 3 May 2014

Beauty| High End HAUL! ft. Mac and Zoeva

Earlier this week I uploaded pictures of my Drugstore Cosmetics Haul which marked the end of my six week spending ban. A monumental occasion, I know. Unfortunately, (but also quite fortunately) the money spending didn't stop there and I decided to dabble a bit online with endless scrolling on websites such as Mac Cosmetics, to name a few. I personally cannot get enough of other peoples high end shopping hauls as at times I find myself to be a cosmetics snob and get much more pleasure and excitement when buying things from a premium brand. A blessing for me and my skin but definitely a curse for my bank balance. I've made a personal agreement with myself that once I have bought all of the items below I will lay the card to rest for a bit, at least until next pay day anyway. Here is a brief rundown of each item. I will be doing separate and more in-depth reviews on every said item below, on the blog, in the next few weeks so keep your eyes peeled! 

                                     
A sexy, womanly fragrance that's sophisticated yet pretty and perfect for all ages. Not to mention the beautiful, diamond-like bottle that shares a similar resemblance by shape and shine to a huge engagement ring.
                                       
The perfect summer fragrance. One spritz takes me back to sandy beaches, a hot sun and coconut smelling sun cream. The long-lasting smell is also a nice touch too. 
The second of a Mac Pro Palette which has started off with a bang with a beautiful, iridescent pinky nude that I just can't wait to try. This also warrants more shopping as I can't just leave all those empty spaces! 

Probably one of my all time favourite cosmetic items. A beautiful highlighter that transforms the face and emphasises the high points. This beauty will always have a place in my heart and make up bag. 

I have waited a long, long time for these and they were sure worth the wait. Never have I seen such beautiful brushes. I think my soft spot for rose gold plays a key part in this love affair. The quality of these brushes are amazing and the softness is slightly overwhelming. I'm almost too scared to use these encase a damage the beautiful exterior. 

I hope you enjoyed this High End Beauty Haul. As I said before I will be doing full reviews on these items over the next few weeks. I really hope you enjoyed having a little look in and if you have done anything similar please comment down below!

I'm also running a Giveaway on my blog where one lucky person can be in for the chance of winning three Essie Nail Varnishes. To enter click here and complete each entry on the Rafflecopter. Good luck!

Let me know what you think in the comments.
Have a good day!