Going green FOTD

I've been wanting to do a look with Shiro's May The Fourth Be With You eyeshadow for a while now.  I picked Makeup Revolutions lipstick in The One when I had to break a £10 note for change before work, as they're only £1 each. I'm not sure on it yet.  It's a lot paler than I would usually wear.

Face
Illamasqua Matte Veil
Benefit Porefessional
YSL Touche Eclat foundation BR10
Illamasqua Skin Base Lift concealer White and Light 1
Urban Decay Ultra High Definition Loose Finishing Powder Light
Makeup Revolution Sugar and Spice blush palette

Eyes
Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Primer
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Jungle
Shiro eyeshadows in May The Fourth Be With You, and We're Up All Night To Get Loki
Detrivore eyeshadow in Plague
MAC Black Ore Solar Bits
Boots Natural Collection eyeshadow in Sea Shell
Rimmel Glam Eyes black liquid liner
Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Mainline
Lancome Hypnose Star mascara
MUFE Aqua Brow

Lips
Makeup Revolution lipstick in The One

It's been a while....

Eep, I can't believe it's been a month and a half since I last updated!  In between work, the gym, and generally feeling crappy, I haven't worn an awful lot of makeup recently.  Looks I have done have all been pretty basic 1 or 2 shadow looks that haven't really warranted a blog post.  I have 5 days off next week though, so hopefully I'll be feeling more up to playing with makeup.

Here's a look I did a couple of days ago.  Please excuse the brows, I'm trying to let them fill out a bit!

Face

Laura Mercier foundation primer

YSL Touche Eclat foundation BR10

Illamasqua Skin Base Lift concealer White and Light 1

Urban Decay Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder Light

Revolution Sugar and Spice palette

Eyes

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk

Revolution Eyes Like Angels palette

Bobbi Brown Silver Lilac sparkle shadow

Rimmel Glam Eyes black liquid liner

Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Zero

Lancome Hypnose Star mascara

MUFE Aqua Brow

Lips

NYX Candy Land Xtreme Lip Cream

Easiest Nudes Ever FOTD

I picked up the Easiest Nudes and Glamorous Nudes palettes when I got my allocation through from Benefit at the beginning of the month.  Here's a look I did using the Easiest Nudes palette.  I really like it, but definitely felt the need to add some black shadow to it to get the look I wanted.

Face

Benefit Porefessional primer

Benefit Big Easy Light

Benefit Boi-ing concealer Light

Illamasqua Skin Base Lift concealer White and Light 1

Urban Decay Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder Light

Benefit Majorette blush

Benefit Dandelion blush

Eyes

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk

Benefit Easiest Nudes Ever palette

Urban Decay Blackout eyeshadow

Benefit They're Real gel liner

Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Zero

Benefit They're Real mascara

Benefit Brow-zings Light

Lips

Revlon Strawberry Shortcake lip butter

Fall makeup is back!

I can't believe it's been almost two weeks since I updated!  I've been feeling pretty ill, so haven't been wearing makeup when I'm not in work.  I finally decided to put some face on yesterday, and although it's still fairly warm I'm definitely in the mood for autumn makeup.  Dark lips are back!  

I gave YSL's Fusion Ink Foundation a go.  It's ok, although I prefer their Touche Eclat Foudation.  Fusion Ink didn't hold up any longer on my oily skin, which was a shame as I had heard it was better for oilier skin.

Face

Benenfit Porefessional primer

YSL Fusion Ink Foundation B10 (for some reason they only go as low as 20 in their cooler toned BR shades)

Illamasqua Skin Base Lift concealer White and Light 1

Urban Decay Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder Light

Illamasqua Naked Rose blush

Eyes

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

Lancome Ombre Hypnose Dazzling Eye Colour in Topaz Dore

Urban Decay Naked 3 palette

Rimmel Glam Eyes black liquid liner

Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Zero

Lancome Hypnose Star mascara

MUFE Aqua Brow

Lips

MAC Lip Pencil in Vino

Shiro custom opaque gloss in Ganondorf 

Illamasqua Once review and FOTD

By now I'm sure you've seen Illamasqua's Once collection.  It's one of their tamer collections, which to be honest disappoints me a little.  I'd have loved to have seen a couple more 'out there' products mixed in to the collection.  I only picked up two items - Melange nail polish and Bibelot Vintage Metallix.

From the moment I saw Melange nail polish I knew that I had to have it.  It's the only item from the collection that really jumped out at me, and I have to say that I love it just as much as I'd hoped.  It's a lovely medium teal with gold shimmer running through it.  The website says it's a matte finish but I don't really think it is (it photographs more matte than it looks in real life).  I've have to try putting a matte top coat on it soon.

It applied easily and was opaque in two coats.  I've managed to go 24 hours so far without chipping it, which is fairly impressive for me.  If there is just one thing you're going to splash out on, make it this!

I also decided to pick up a Vintage Metallix, their new cream-gel eyeshadow.  I opted for Bibelot which is described as 'vintage green', which is pretty accurate.  It has the gold-bronze shimmer running through it, as is really pretty.

Application however, was interesting.  I found that the best way to apply this is in thin layers, buffing it out with a tapered blending brush.  Usually I'd apply a cream shadow with a synthetic flat shader brush, but I found that applied the colour unevenly to begin with.  I did one or two layers with my finger, blending it out, then patted some more onto the lid with the flat shader brush, again making sure to blend out.  Fortunately the shimmer doesn't disappear when blended out, although I did get some fall out.  I love the way it looks, but it was quite a lengthy learning process.

For a cream shadow it does wear well.  Usually cream shadows crease like mad on me within the first hour, even with a primer.  I did apply Bibelot on top of my Nars eyeshadow base, but even so I have been pleasantly surprised at how it wears.  There was a little fading in the crease area at around the two hour mark, but I've hit 7 hours now and there isn't much difference.  Not sure I'll be picking up the other two though.

I paired it with Illamasqua's Naked Rose blush (also part of this collection) and MUFE's Lab Shine Gloss in Shimmering Beige.  Liner is Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Scorch.

I guess you're ok FOTD

I used Shiro's I guess you're ok eyeshadow, and that's a pretty accurate description of how I feel about this look.

Face
Benefit Porefessional primer
YSL Touche Eclat foundation BR10
Illamasqua Skin Base Lift concealer White and Light 1
Benefit Boi-ing concealer shade 1
Urban Decay Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder Light
MAC Azalea Blossom blush
Laura Mercier cream highlighter in Pink Gold

Eyes
NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
Illamasqua cream pigment in Delirium 
Shiro eyeshadows in I guess you're ok, and I'll move that for you
Sleek Garden of Eden palette
Illamasqua pigment in Beguile
Boots Natural Collection eyeshadow in Soft Pink
Rimmel Glam Eyes black liquid liner
Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Zero
Clinique High Impact mascara
MUFE Aqua Brow

Lips
Too Faced lipstick in Nude Beach

Revolution lipstick in Divine - Review and FOTD

My skin has been going absolutely crazy this week so I've haven't really felt like taking photos.  To cheer myself up I splashed out a whole £1 and picked up Revolution's matte lipstick in Divine.  

It's a light peach, which just leans slightly pink.  This is about the lightest colour I'll go for on my lips, as anything paler tends to look a little corpse-like on me.  Mattes seem to be the toughest finish to get right, and when I first applied this lipstick I was expecting it to be drying as it was on the stiffer side and dragged across the lips a little.  I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable it was though!  I wore it without a gloss on top and didn't ever feel the need to add some hydration, which for me is very impressive.

It's not the most forgiving lipstick, and even though I prepped my lips you can still see where it shows up dry skin that I thought I'd gotten rid of.  It wasn't noticeable from a distance though, so providing you exfoliate and moisturise it's wearable.  I've reached for this lipstick a couple of times, and I'm eager to pick up a couple more shades.  They're so cheap that I won't feel guilty for treating myself!

The look is using my usual face stuff, and my Naked 3 palette with Urban Decay's Demolition and Zero pencils to smoke it out. 

Moss FOTD

Another look from my Revolution palette.  Moss is such a beautiful colour when layered on Jungle Caviar Stick!

Face

Laura Mercier foundation primer

YSL Touche Eclat foundation BR10

Illamasqua Skin Base Lift concealer White and Light 1

Urban Decay Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder Light

Sleek Antiqued blush

Eyes

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Jungle

Revolution Eyes Like Angels palette (Pearl Necklace, Moss, Molton Chocolate, and Green Stars)

Boots Natural Collection eyeshadow in Sea Shell

Rimmel Glam Eyes black liquid liner

Illamasqua pencil in Sophie

Clinique High Definition mascara

MUFE Aqua Brow

Lips

Dior Addict lipstick in Createur 

Pastel FOTD

Quick look using my Revolution eyeshadow palette.

Eyes Like Angels FOTD

Quick look I did using my new Revolution palettes.  I purposely didn't use NYX Milk as a base like I usually did as I wanted to test pigmentation of the eyeshadows on their own.  Both the eyeshadows and blushes were so pigmented and easy to work with, I'm super happy with my latest find!

Face
YSL Touche Eclat foundation BR10
Illamasqua Skin Base Lift concealer White and Light 1
Urban Decay Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder Light
Revolution Sugar and Spice palette (blush and highlight)

Eyes
NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
Revolution Eyes Like Angels palette
Rimmel Glam Eyes black liquid liner
Illamasqua pencil in Sophie
Clinique High Impact mascara
MUFE Aqua Brow

Lips
NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in Candy Land

Part two of my haul review! Collection nail polishes and NYX Extreme Lip Cream.

Onto the second part of my haul!  I picked up two Collection nail varnishes, Fairy Dust and Scorched Copper.  I really like their Work The Color polishes as they apply evenly, dry quickly, and have fairly good wear time on them.  And all for £1.99 each!

Fairy Dust was a little bit of a disappointment to be honest.  It's a beautiful shimmering colour, but it's just so sheer!  I'm not a fan of sheer polishes, so I'll probably use it layered over another colour.  Below is four coats and my nail line is still clearly visible. It still looks super pretty, especially when the sun catches it, but I wish it was more opaque!

Scorched Orange on the other hand is fantastic to work with.  It's a bright coppered red which was opaque in two coats.  Due to it's metallic finish brush strokes are a little more visible, but not to the point that it bothers me.  A really nice autumn shade!

And last but not least is NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in Candy Land.  I've read loads of reviews that rave about these, and I have to say that I'm also a fan of the formula.  They're lovely and opaque, but unlike other liquid lipsticks it doesn't dry down.  It feels to thick and creamy to be classed as a gloss though, and I didn't find this at all sticky.  Wear time was 3 or 4 hours, and my lips felt nice and moisturised.  I'm so picky about lipsticks that it's always nice to find a cheaper formula that I love!

I also picked up Revolution's Pink Lights highlighter today.  I doubt I'll do a review on it as highlighters are tough to photograph, but I love it and I'm sure it'll be used in future FOTD!

Revolution eyeshadow and blush palettes review

My lovely boyfriend took me shopping the other day for a couple of makeup bits.  I picked an NYX Xtreme Lip Cream that I'd been wanting to try, and a couple of new nail varnishes.  In Superdrug I spotted a new display of a brand I hadn't heard of before; Revolution.  They didn't have any testers out, but the prices were s good that I just had to try them!

The first thing I'll note about these palettes is they were both sealed.  One of the reasons I dislike buying drug store makeup (particularly from my local Superdrug) is that a lot of it has been opened and played with.  No worries with that here, the boxes were wrapped in plastic, the cardboard boxes taped closed, and then the palettes within the cardboard were wrapped in plastic too!

The palettes look nice, sleek black plastic with simple gold lettering.  They're weighty, making them feel more expensive.  The plastic does show finger prints really easily though.

They had so many eyeshadow palettes, but in the end I opted for Eyes Like Angels, a 32 pan palette.  The eyeshadows are on the smaller size, but I have so many eyeshadows that I rarely finish a pan.  There's a good mix of colours and neutrals .

The palette is a mix of frosts and satins, with some nearly matte shades.  As with most shadows, the frosts have better colour pay off than the matte shadows.  They're nicely pigmented, soft, and easy to blend.  I am blown away by the quality for the price!  I'm sure I'll be picking up more of the palettes soon.  

Black Stars, Green Dream, Peach Cream, Orchid

Sophisticated Pink, Dream, Pink Glow, Peacock Dream

Silver Star, Emerald Night, Lilac Shimmer, Purpled!

Cream, Pink!, Lilac Frost, Award

Pearl Necklace, Night Stars, Blue Sheen, Pink Frosted

Moss, Molton Chocolate, Choc!, Green Stars

Green Envy, Copper Dream, Bold Purple, White Light

Orange!, Aqua Dream, Truffle, Silver Dream

 I also picked up the Sugar and Spice blush and contour palette.  This palette is pink shades, and despite it's name, doesn't really have any contour shades.  There are 6 satin finish blushes, one frosted highlighter, and one frosted blush.

Like the eyeshadows, the blushes are soft, pigmented, and easy to blend out.  I'm in love with the highlighter.  I've been after a pink powder highlighter for quite some time (think powder version of Benefit's High Beam).  I'm tempted to pink up their baked highlighter in Pink Lights soon.

Overall I'm really impressed by Revolution's offerings, and I'm sure I'll be spending some of my pay check next month on a couple more items.  You can pick up the eyeshadow palette for £8, and the blush palette for £6 from Superdrug.  Their website also ships internationally!

I'll be putting up swatches of the lip cream and nail polishes tomorrow.