Glo & Ray Mariposa Golden Dunes Palette

Glo & Ray Mariposa Golden Dunes Palette

Friday, 21 November 2014

I've got so many amazing palettes over the past few weeks, and I just can't stop buying! When this Glo & Ray Mariposa Palette in Golden Dunes* landed on my doorstep, I was so excited to use it. Glo & Ray are a brand that deserve so much more recognition, they're products are truly amazing and so affordable too. First of all, I love how sleek the packaging is, it's simple but looks very luxury, it's hardwearing and you get that really satisfying clicking noise when you close it. Is that just me that loves that noise? Maybe.

This palette is so convenient for travelling, it's got enough shades that work well together to make a few different eye looks. The mirror is actually quite big so makes it super practical to apply makeup or just touch up on the go! The mix of shades are quite unique actually, they're all shades I've seen before, but never in a palette together. 

The pigmentation of these shades is great. They're shimmery shades, but they're not full of glitter so not in your face, or all over your face by the end of the day. They're creamy, easy to apply and blend well. The lasting power of these eye shadows is great, I can wear them all day without them creasing. My favourite look at the moment is the lighter gold shade all across the lid, the darker coppery shade running through the crease and the white shade as a highlight on the brow bone and in the inner corner. I haven't actually used the silver shade yet, but it's a colour I'm quite wary of, so hopefully I'll use it soon.

Have you tried Glo & Ray products?

*PR Sample sent for review. 

Berry On Trend

Berry On Trend

Wednesday, 19 November 2014

Berry colours are always on trend at this time of year. I can't remember the last time over the past few months where a berry colour hasn't  featured in my makeup look or on my nails. It'd be pretty much impossible seeing as this is the only colour I wear on my nails anymore because I just love how it looks. I think berry shades are just so autumn winter. They're shades I wouldn't reach for in the summer season, I just find they're too dark, but they're perfect for the dark days and nights at the moment. They really reflect the season well, and I just love reaching for them everyday now. I'll be sad when they're put away for spring and the lighter shades reappear!

After going through my makeup stash I realised I actually own a lot of darker shades of makeup, which is odd because I always used to be a natural type of girl, not venturing out of the nude shades often. It was hard to pick a few favourites but my top picks at the moment are; Glo & Ray Skybreaker Eyeliner in Burgundy*, this is such a gorgeous wearable shade, I love sweeping this across my lower lash line to darken up a look, or just add some colour to a more natural look. Next is a Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Metallic Pomegranate, I cannot stop wearing this, even though it looks a lot different on than it does in the pot, I love it so much and it's just so pretty. 

My favourite autumn lipstick of all time is MAC's Rebel, this lipstick is so scary in the bullet, it's a colour I'd never even look at, but when you apply it the colour is so different, a lot more wearable. My autumn blush actually annoys me because I don't have a clue what shade it is! It's an ELF Powder Blush, I bought it a while ago and only recently started using it, but they don't have shade names on them! I'm taking a guess that it might be Blushing Rose, but don't hold me to that! Lastly, is obviously a nail varnish to finish the look, this is Barry M's Berry Cosmo. It is my all time favourite nail polish, I literally wear this all year round. Oops. Bad blogger.

Are you rocking the berry trend, what are your favourite products?

Makeup Revolution Iconic 1

Makeup Revolution Iconic 1

Monday, 17 November 2014

Makeup Revolution products have been on my wishlist for quite a while, but I never really knew what to pick up first! When I spotted them in my local Superdrug I was over the moon and picked up some products immediately, featured in my Autumn Beauty Haul here. The first palette I picked up was the Iconic 1, I really wanted the whole Iconic collection but they only had this one, so I'll have to pick the rest up another time.

At first I expected the packaging to be flimsy and break easily, and also get very dirty. I was surprised as the packaging is hard-wearing and doesn't get dirty at all, which is good if you have to keep all your makeup clean like me. For £4 I wasn't really sure what to expect with the product itself, but I'm so glad I picked this palette up. It's full of 12 very wearable shades that apply evenly and don't crease at all during the day, with the aid of a primer. 

The pigmentation of this palette is incredible, I'd say it's definitely a great alternative to the Naked palette by Urban Decay. All the shadows are easy to blend and although the shimmers have some fallout, I always expect this from a shimmer eye shadow. I love that this palette is a mix of shimmers and mattes, as a lot of the palettes I find like this are all shimmer and I'm more of a matte kind of girl. My favourite shade in this palette so far is definitely the gold shade, it's perfect for the Golden Eyes, Berry Lips trend. 

Have you tried any of the Makeup Revolution palettes?

Lush Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub

Lush Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub

Saturday, 15 November 2014

Ever since I got this, Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub, I've been using it so much. This has become my main face scrub, I'm not really sure what I was using before this but whatever it was, nothing lives up to this. It isn't a smooth scrub, it is quite tough on the skin as the pieces of sea salt that exfoliate the skin are quite big, but I actually really like this as it is obvious when the pieces have dissolved and your face is scrubbed clean and the dead skin is gone.

As the winter months are upon us, this scrub will be a statement in my routine as my skin is currently so dry and flaky. This scrub restores my skin to a healthy and smooth state, which makes my makeup apply more flawlessly as the dry patches my foundation normally cling to are reduced and barely noticeable at all. I love the smell of this scrub so much, it's so refreshing, as it smells like ocean salt, hence the name I guess. The scrub contains sea salt, lime and avocado butter as the main ingredients, and they really work so well together. You can definitely feel the difference in your skin after using this, the avocado butter works so well at softening the skin after the scrub. This is something that I find most scrubs lack.

It does state that is it a body scrub too, but I'm yet to use it on my body and I use the Lush Rub Rub Rub scrub as my body scrub seeing as the pot is a lot larger and it goes further. The Ocean Salt Scrub has lasted me a long time, and it's definitely worth every penny.

Have you tried any of the Lush scrubs?

W7 All About Eyes

W7 All About Eyes

Friday, 14 November 2014

Recently I was sent a package by W7 to create an eye look. To create this look I used; Lastastic False Lashes Mascara*, Yummy Baked Eyeshadow in Gold Dust*, Super Colour Shadow in Sugar Sugar*, Super Duo Eyeliner*, Magic Gel Eyeliner*, Skin Fresh Concealer in Fair* and Lip Paint in Queen of Hearts*.

After experimenting with the products for a while, I realised that both eyeshadows didn't add much colour, they just added glitter to your eyes, so I used Gold Dust all over the lid to create a subtle shimmery look, and popped a tiny bit of Sugar Sugar in the inner corner to brighten the eyes. In all honesty, I wouldn't recommend Sugar Sugar, I just couldn't find any pigmentation from it at all, just glitter. Gold Dust is more of a shimmery bronze which looks lovely all over the lid. 

I attempted to use the liquid eyeliner, but I am not a liquid eyeliner girl at all, I find it almost impossible to apply and I just thought the brush was a little to fiddly for me to work with to achieve the perfect liner. I'm more of a gel liner girl personally so I always struggle with liquid eyeliners. On the other hand, the mascara and gel eyeliner pencil are incredible. The mascara worked wonders on my lashes and really lengethened them, and gave volume, which gives that false lash impression. I applied the eyeliner along the lower lash line, it applied very smoothly as it is a creamy eyeliner and just darkened the look nicely, making the eyes stand out.

I am never ever a pink lip girl. Ever. I'm always wearing a nude shade or a red or darker. Never inbetween, so when this arrived I was a little wary of it. After the first application I was so shocked, it's a pink lip I don't feel ridiculous wearing! This lip paint is a gorgeous bright pink, but it's not too in your face either. It's a lovely texture on the lips and isn't sticky at all.

P.s. The reason I'm looking slightly patchy orange is because the Skin Fresh Concealer I used was slightly to dark for my skin!

Autumn Beauty Haul

Autumn Beauty Haul

Wednesday, 12 November 2014

At the moment, Boots and Superdrug both have 3 for 2 offers on, or they did last week anyway! I obviously had to take advantage of this and spend some money. I've been wanting to pick up these items for a while but I've been avoiding all shops to prevent myself from spending money, but let's admit it. I'm pretty much failing that as my bank balance is £3.42 at the moment. Oh well, who needs money when you have makeup? 

Top: Essential Shimmers
Bottom: Ionic 1

First off I picked up two of the Makeup Revolution palettes in Superdrug. I originally wanted all three of the Ionic palettes, but they only had the Ionic 1 in stock! So I picked up the Ionic 1 and the Essential Shimmers palettes. £4 for 12 shades is such a bargain, I just wish my local Superdrug had more of them in stock so I could've picked up a few more.

L-R
Creamy Beige
Metallic Pomegranate
Permanent Taupe

I have been loving Maybelline Colour Tattoos over the past few months, but it was definitely time to pick up some new shades! I wanted some more autumnal colours, as the shades I have are all quite light and shimmery summer colours. I picked up one shimmery shade and two matte shades; Creamy Beige, a matte 'leather effect' beige, Metallic Pomegranate, a gorgeous purpley pink shade and Permanent Taupe; a matte taupe brown shade. I cannot wait to start using these properly, as you can see I've already used the middle shade, I couldn't resist. I'm a bad blogger I know!

L'oreal Pure Reds - Julianne's Red

When L'oreal first released the Collection Exclusive Pure Reds, I wasn't that fussed about picking them up as I wasn't completely wowed by the Nudes Collection. I saw this in Boots and thought I'd swatch them, and my mind changed instantly! The Reds Collection is so pigmented and they apply so creamily, I just love the shade selection. After swatching them all, I decided to get Julianne's Red but I will definitely be picking up the other three shades. 

What products have you been picking up lately? 

Glo & Ray 'First Impressions'

Glo & Ray 'First Impressions'

Sunday, 9 November 2014

After seeing Glo & Ray on twitter about a month ago, I was dying to see what all the fuss was about and try some of their products! When they sent me an email asking if I'd like to try some, I was over the moon! I chose the Mariposa Quartet Eyeshadow Palette in Golden Dunes* and the Sky Breaker Eyeliner in Burgundy*. I've been using these products for about a week now and I can truly say I'm so impressed. I love the shades the products I got, the palette contains some gorgeous golden, coppery shades which is my staple look for autumn, you can create so many looks with this little palette. I've started wearing the eyeliner along the lower lash line to give a pop of colour, and it lasts for ages and doesn't budge.

I will be reviewing both products fully with swatches after I've used them more, I just wanted to do a 'first impressions' type post to let you know about the brand as not many people do, and the quality is too good to miss out on! I can see these two products becoming some of my favourites very soon.

*PR Sample sent for review.

November Beauty Wishlist

November Beauty Wishlist

Friday, 7 November 2014

As Christmas is nearing, companies are putting all their holiday collections and limited edition items up for sale, which makes my bank balance cry a little bit but I just can't help lusting over all the pretty products. This wishlist is a mix of some new releases, and some products that have been on my wishlist since forever but never actually picked up.

First up is the Urban Decay Vice 3 palette, this caught my eye since the day Urban Decay posted preview photos, and seeing people's blog posts on it is just making me want this palette so much more. There is a perfect mix of colours, and strangely for me, this is a palette that isn't just neutral colours. Next is the Smashbox Full Exposure Palette, you're probably all thinking, Ami do you really need another neutral palette? I'm a little obsessed really but yes I do. I just love the mix of mattes and shimmers in this palette, and the pigmentation is amazing. Another palette from Smashbox made it's way onto my wishlist, but just look at it. This is the On The Rocks Palette from their 2014 Holiday Collection, and I am in love. The purples in this palette stand out massively to me, and they're perfect colours for autumn/winter. 

Next up is the L'oreal Color Riche Collection Exclusive Pure Reds Set, I want all of them. They're four gorgeous red shades, and I don't actually own many true red lipsticks, so I just need them all. Another palette on this wishlist oops! This is the L'oreal Paris La Palette Nude, this is a gorgeous rose gold toned palette, and has been named to be a Naked 3 palette dupe, and for £15, who could say no? Last on my list is that one item I've been dying to buy forever and as my makeup brushes are on the way out, I need some new ones. The Rose Gold Zoeva Brush Set. I love anything rose gold. They're so pretty. Enough said.

What's on your November beauty wishlist?

October Favourites

October Favourites

Wednesday, 5 November 2014

It's November, where did October go?! This year is going way too quickly. Over the month of October I pulled out some old favourites and also found a new love for some products!

First up is the Naked Basics 2, it's safe to say I love this palette. I'm so glad I bought it and I've used it pretty much everyday since. I won't ramble on, but if you want to know more I posted a review here. Next is the Maybelline Rocket Mascara, this is an amazing mascara, it beats the They're Real Mascara for me, which is saying a lot. The Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze is such an easy product to use, and a perfect autumnal colour, I love to just swipe this all across the lid with winged eye liner for a simple look. Barry M's Berry Cosmo is the perfect autumn nail polish, this is definitely my most used and I'm so close to needing to repurchase which nevers happens with me. MAC Diva is an old favourite of mine, it's the perfect burgundy matte shade, I've been wearing it constantly, I'm wearing it as I type this. I'm obsessed. Last up is a skincare product; Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub. As the winter approaches, my skin dries out like hell and it generally looks awful. This product removes all my dry and flaky skin and makes it look healthy again, it can be used all over the body too, but this is my main face scrub.

What were your October favourites?

Lush Lipscrubs

Lush Lipscrubs

Monday, 3 November 2014

Another Lush post, yes I'm obsessed! It's come to that time of year, when your lips are forever chapped and nothing will prevent it from happening. It's the most annoying time of year because when you go to apply a matte lipstick, or most lipsticks actually, they cling to the dead pieces of skin and just make everything look awful. 

I've found something to help this situation though, these Lush lipscrubs are perfect for removing all the dead skin on your lips and make them soft and smooth. I have two out of the four lipscrubs available in Lush, and they're definitely better than other lipscrubs I've tried, like The Body Shop one.

I'm 100% more keen on the Popcorn one rather than the Bubblegum one, which some people will be shocked at! The bubblegum one is a little too sweet for me and the smell is quite overpowering, I don't not like it but I'd rather have one of the other ones. The popcorn one tastes amazing, so I may have eaten rather a lot of it, oops, but they're definitely edible!

To use these lipscrubs, just apply to the lips and exfoliate the lips to remove any dry skin and make the lips in tip top condition again, then simply lick your lips or wipe away! It's up to you what you do, as some people think eating the dry skin is kinda gross, but I just love the taste of the scrubs so I'm not fussed. To prolong the effect of these lipscrubs it's best to apply a lip balm after to moisturise them and prevent them from drying out again quickly.

What's your favourite lipscrub?