MAC MINERALIZE SKINFINISH HIGHLIGHTER REVIEW

Hi Lovelies happy Monday! I'm uber excited it's officially Spring which means we are that much closer to Summer!!

With that being said I thought I would review this Mac highlighter I just got my hands on, i'm not generally one for highlighting my theory is if you contour, your cheekbones tend to pop and stand out on their own and visa versa (if you highlight, the areas you want to contour end up looking darker) but thats just me. 

So in the past I'd just stick to using a bronzer and that got me through 2014 summer and it worked for me but this year I thought i would switch it up and use a highlighter.

I have heard loads in the blogging world about Mac's msf highlighters namely Global Glow so I thought I would try it.

I went into the Mac store with the intentions of buying that but when I tried it on I didn't quite get the hype to be honest so I put that one down and had a gander at the other shades they had to offer and the one that looked the best on me was the Gold Deposit this shade went so well with my skin tone it literally made me glow and this was just me putting a swatch on my hand so obviously I purchased it.

I am quite yellow toned, so that is obviously why Gold Deposit looked amazing on me as apposed to Global Glow, as the name suggests it is a golden based highlighter whereas Global Glow is silver toned, which doesn't look as good on yellow toned people as it does on others. The day after buying this highlighter I used it to highlight my cheekbones and I used the smallest amount and it looked amazing, I am definitely going to contour and then use it and I'm pretty certain it'll look even better.

I use to be the biggest Mac fan but that's probably because it was the first brand I ever tried leaving school and as far as I knew it was the only brand that provided make-up for all skin shades, but I was clearly wrong and now that I have found a brand that I like I don't generally go to Mac for anything other than Lipstick and the occasional concealer.

With that being said I have to say I probably will start using more Mac products I definitely want to try their eyeshadows and most likely made up my own pallet.

What Mac products are you loving at the moment, have you tried the msf Highlighters, what do you think of them?

Until next time xx

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ZOEVA ROSE GOLDEN LUXURY SET VOL. 2

I've had my eye on the Zoeva brushes for a while now but me being the indecisive person I am couldn't choose between the classic luxe set and the Rose Golden set, It took be about two months of watching youtube reviews and reading blog posts and me thinking over and over about which make up brushes I use on a daily basis and after some carful consideration I decided I was going to get the Rose Golden Luxe set.

The day I wanted to order them I saw it advertised that they were launching a Rose Golden Luxe set volume 2 and as much as I was excited I was devastated because it put me back in the which set do I get predicament and again I was stuck!

So after a little more research and comparing all the different sets on the Zoeva Website I decided I would get the Rose Golden set Vol. 2 and because it didn't come with a powder brush I got that separate.

      

I ordered it from Love Make up and the set was £56.95 which is an amazing price for the quality of these brushes with free delivery and then the powder brush was an additional £11.50. 

Delivery took roughly 4 days I ordered on a Friday and received them the following Tuesday so if you order early in the week i'm certain you'll receive them before the week is out. That morning when I heard that knock on the door I ran to answer it and I don't run for anything.

The set comes with three face brushes and 5 eye brushes all in an equally beautiful Rose Gold cosmetic bag which I'm slightly afraid to use because I don't want to get it dirty its so pretty. 

So far I have used the Powder brush and one of the eye brushes and I am definitely not disappointed with my choice they are amazing quality and feel so soft as their still new I will need to use all of them and write a review on my experience but as of right now I am extremely happy with these brushes and can't wait to use them properly.

I am so pleased with these I'm pretty sure you can tell, have you tried Zoeva brushes what do you think of them?

Until next time xx 

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BEAUTY WISHLIST

Hello Lovelies, hope you are all feeling fierce and enjoying all the joys March has to offer like Spring! I actually cant wait for Spring it means we are one step closer to summer.

Anyway regardless of the amount of beauty products and make-up I have there will always be a need (or should I say want) for more, so I have put together 8 items that I want to add to my collection.

1. Zoeva Rose Golden Brushes Vol 2. I have been in love with the original Zoeva Rose golden brush set until about two weeks ago, I was randomly browsing the Zoeva website and saw Rose golden set vol 2 and I needed them they were my new babies and I don't even have them yet, I'm a big fan of Rose gold in general so both sets would be amazing but lets be realistic I'd be happy with Vol 2.

2. Mac Mineralize Skinfinish - Gold Deposit. I have never purchased a Highlighter product, I always seem to reach for the bronzers instead and this Mac highlighter is one I have had my eyes on for a while and I think because of my skin tone a gold toned one will look a lot better than a silver one.  

3. Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm. I love Aesop their products are amazing and I have tried the hand balm and it's probably the most moisturising product I have tried and it smells so so good. I generally go into my local Boots and purchase the first hand lotion I set eyes on but they are generally so cheap that they don't last on my hands, so maybe it's time for some High end hand products.

4. Burberry Kisses Lipstick - Oxblood. Every since Burberry launched their beauty range I have wanted to try it but haven't gotten around to yet, on my internet browsing I have come across this Lipstick and I need it the colour is so pretty and I've been loving a bold lip recently and could totally pull it off with this lipstick. That is if I ever got around to using it at all, it looks so pretty I'd probably just stare at it and admire it for a while.

5. KMS Freeshape Quick Blow Dry Spray. My hair takes forever to dry and it is a chore when it comes to straightening it, so any product that'll make it easier and quicker to dry is a product I am more than willing to try. I have heard nothing but good things about KMS Freeshape so I definitely need to try it. 

6. Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash. Its only fair that you have a set of hand products I can't get the hand balm with out the hand wash and because I generally just purchase hand wash from a supermarket while doing my grocery shopping why not treat myself and my hands for a change.

7. Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. I have heard a lot of good things about this sponge and I really want to try it, generally I use a stippling or foundation brush to apply my foundation but if a sponge will make blending easier and quicker it's definitely something I would purchase on a regular basis.

8. Juliette Has A Gun - Not A Perfume. With Perfume i'm a really indecisive person, Just because I like a smell doesn't mean I want to spend money on it, but with not a perfume I fell in love with it the first time I tried it, Its one of those smells that lasts all day and is really subtle and powdery and I love smells like this but for ages I couldn't find one that worked for me until now so this is a must have.

What Products are on your beauty wishlist this month?

Until next time xx

     

   

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BENEFIT ROLLER LASH MASCARA

Last week I did a February Favourites post and I included the New Benefit Roller Lash Mascara but I also had my reason for disliking it.

Now that I have had a little more time with it I may have pre judged it because I actually love it more than I originally did, it had become my go to mascara over the past week.

I have had an extremely busy week working every single day and while doing my morning make-up routine I have found that each and everyday, I have had three mascaras laying in front of me but I always went out of my way to look for this one and I think it's because it's so easy to remove and makes my make-up removal routine that much easier.

I generally use Estee Lauder Double Wear mascara, Loreal Paris Double extension waterproof mascara or Clinique High Impact mascara and as much as I love all three of these they are not the easiest to remove and I know I said I didn't see any improvements in the length department in my Feb Favourites post, I'm starting to think I was just having an (i'm going to be judgemental day) because over the past week I noticed it made my lashes a lot longer and held the curl through out the day and I didn't need to pre curl them or use a primer.

I think this mascara is pretty good and I will definitely be purchasing it, i've not tried many Benefit products but after trying this and actually giving it a fair amount of time it is worth buying as it makes life so much easier when it comes to make-up removal I have paid a lot more than £19.50 for a mascara so to me that is nothing, especially thinking about how much I generally spend on my face on a monthly basis.

Have you tried Roller Lash yet, what are your thoughts on it? I hope my thoughts have helped if anyone is thinking about getting it.

Until next time xx     

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FEBRUARY FAVOURITES

I've not actually done a favourites post before so I figured February was the perfect month to start as there are quite a few products i've fallen in love with this month.

Kiehl's Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter has to be my favourite body moisturiser its extremely moisturising leaves my skin feeling super soft and it smells amazing, I personally think it smells like coconut others may disagree but either way I love it it's my go to body moisturiser when it's cold and my skin is dry and in need of a little love.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream I love this face moisturiser because it's so hydrating and while its cold my face gets really dry and this helps to keep that dryness at bay, I love using it just before bed and I always wake up with my skin feeling super soft each morning.

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara this was a freebie with the March edition of Elle magazine and even though i've had a love/hate relationship with this mascara I thought I'd add it to my favourites, what I liked about it was how easy it was to remove, it didn't make my lashes clumpy or crispy and it did indeed curl and add volume them so it does what the package says. But what I didn't like was the fact that it is also suppose to be lengthening and I didn't see much improvement in that department, but because it didn't make my lashes crispy I was able to layer it on which I really liked so it may well be a mascara I do purchase in the near future.

Burt's Bees Replenishing LipBalm with Pomegranate Oil Im a lipbalm fanatic so when I find a 100% natural lipbalm that works for me I'm really happy and this one definitely works, It smells yummy and stops my lips peeling which they often do when its cold.

Sephora Eyeshadow Pallet 4 I pretty much use this pallet for everything, Eyeliner, Eyebrows, Contouring and of course as an eyeshadow, nude pallets are a must for everyones make up kit and I like this one so much because its not to big so it fits in my bag and I can take it with me. Also because it was part of a prezzie from my boyfriend when he came back from holiday and in London we don't have a Sephora. 

Lancome Advanced Genifique has become a part of my skincare routine and I like it because I actually feel like its doing something I skin feels firmer and more hydrated since i've started using it and because its such a simple step it doesn't feel like a chore or an added part of my routine the bottle is also self loading so you get the perfect amount each time which is so handy.

Lush Dirty Shower Gel has become one of my favourite shower gels because I am not a morning person but the smell of this Shower gel wakes me up in the morning it smells like spearmint and is so refreshing it wakes me up.

Illamasqua Translucent Loose Powder has been my go to finishing powder recently, I have a few that I like but I think this one will always be my first love because it doesn't change the colour of my foundation in any way where as other powders that are coloured darken my foundation or make me go a redish colour which I don't like. 

Illamasqua Blush Up Brush Is my favourite make up tool this month it makes applying blush and contouring so easy and because its so soft I figured I'd try using it to apply my foundation and it gave me a flawless finish I was so impressed, because it has sharp edges i found that it applied my foundation so much better than a stippling brush or a foundation brush.

What are some of your favourite products this month?

Until next time xx

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ILLAMASQUA LIGHT LIQUID FOUNDATION

The Illamasqua Light Liquid foundation is another one of my favourites, it gives you a lighter coverage than the Rich liquid foundation that I did a review on a little while ago, if you haven't seen that yet you can click here.
Wierdly I buy my foundation in bulk and I order it online, I get 3-4 bottles at a time so I don't run out because I just hate running low. I brought this foundation when Illamasqua was last on sale and I actually got them for £5 a bottle which is what I love about Illamasqua, their products are absolutely amazing but that doesn't stop them going on sale but to be fair I am so addicted to their products I would keep buying it even if they didn't go on sale.

Depending on how you apply this foundation will determine the coverage you get, applied with the fingers gives you that light "no make up" make up look that is always good for those days when you want to keep it natural, if you want a light-medium coverage applying it with a stippling brush allows you to build up to the desired coverage.

This foundation goes on so smoothly and blends in effortlessly and flawlessly, it gives my skin glow and when I have it on I totally forget that I'm wearing any foundation it's so light but I would definitely say it's a satin finish and doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy or tacky.

Like the Rich Liquid Foundation this one also comes with a nozzle opening which I like but I'd probably say my only issues with the packaging is because it's such a fluid foundation having it stood upside down when I do open it the foundation sometimes tends to come out faster than I want it to.
This doesn't happen extremely often but when it does i just put any excess into a tester pot and take it with me for if I need reapplying later.

This foundation was in no way made to cover imperfections but if you want to use it and still need imperfections covered I have found that it can be used with the Rich Liquid Foundation and I don't mean mixing the two, I have tried and it doesn't work the consistencies of the two foundations are not compatible and don't blend well! If you use the Rich Liquid as a concealer on any imperfections and blend out and then apply the Light Liquid anywhere you haven't put the Rich Liquid and use a stippling brush to blend out any edged it gives you a flawless finish topped off with a little of the Illamasqua Loose Translucent Powder and you set for the day.

 
I could talk about Illamasqua foundations for hours that's how much I love them, they on your face over 8 hours without needing a touchup. This foundation lasts due to you needing the smallest amount so regardless of the price it is a must have.
What's your favourite foundation? as you can probably tell by now mine is Illamasqua

Until next time xx

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ILLAMASQUA RICH LIQUID FOUNDATION REVIEW

For ages I have been trying to find a foundation that was full coverage but didn't look too heavy once applied and it's safe to say I've found it.!
Illamasqua's Rich Liquid foundation is absolutely amazing just like it stated in the name it is Rich in pigment, texture and moisture and since finding this product I use it religiously, I am so hooked I refuse to let it run out and always have two and three spares in my make up collection.

Like everyone I have imperfections that I want covered and I have tried several different brands but couldn't find a product with the desired coverage and the perfect finish I wanted all in one product until I came across Illamasqua one day I was at a photo shoot. The make up artist was using Illamasqua on the models so I tried a bit of the foundation on my tattoo I have on my wrist, thats generally where I test my foundation to see how pigmented they actually are, I took the smallest amount thinking it would only cover a section of the tattoo and it covered the whole thing. You couldn't even tell I had a tattoo to begin with and from that moment I was sold. I searched for an Illamasqua store and went the following day to get colour matched and I haven't looked back ever since.

I have tried several foundations and this one has to be the fullest coverage foundation I have come across, it has a creamy paste like consistency, from my experience using it I have found that if I apply a pea sized amount on the back of my hand and warm it up slightly I end up using less but still get that perfectly defined coverage. I generally use my fingers once its warm to get it on and then blend it in with a Real Techniques stippling brush and when I'm done a still have a reasonable amount left over.
In the photo above I have done a swatch of both the colours I have and I took the smallest blob of each. I used this wrist because I have pigmentation and I wanted to show you just how good the coverage is.
In the photo below I blended the two colours together and as you can see the pigmentation is totally covered you wouldn't even know it's there

The foundation comes in transparent plastic packaging that helps you see when you're about to run out which I love, it has a tiny nozzle, which makes it easy to use you don't squeeze out too much and it's more hygienic compared to other foundations that open fully and it comes with a black screw on lid which keeps the nozzle clean and it helps you to stand the foundation up nozzle downwards so you don't need to shake the foundation before use its ready to squeeze.  

The finish is semi-matte which is perfect for all skin types and because it is so moisturising you don't need to worry about you're skin drying out like you would with other full coverage foundations I have tried in the past.

I recommend this foundation to everyone because it literally comes in every shade and if they can't find your shade they show you how to mix to find your perfect shade, which is what they did for me because my shade was sold old because it is such a popular colour this is why I have two shades pictured above at the time when I was colour matched they were out of stock of my colour so I got matched with two shades and I stuck with it, mostly due to the fact that during the winter I'm lighter so I use more of the light shade than the darker one, and then in the summer I'm obviously darker so I vary it according to the seasons.

For those who are a little weary of the full coverage foundations I will be doing a review of the Light Liquid Foundation very soon.
Thanks for reading, let me know if you've tried any of the Illamasqua foundations and what you think of them...

Until next time xx

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MAKEUP BAG ESSENTIALS

After doing my make up each morning I always need a few items through out the day to maintain that fresh faced look firstly I always have: 

1. MAC Studio finish skin corrector pallet in the shades Light peach and Deep brown because you never really know what's going to happen through out the day so this corrector pallet is good for those mini breakouts you may get I like that there is 2 shades for mixing my own colour and it covers everything in an instant.  
   
   
2. Studio fix powder plus foundation in shade C8 just to get rid of the shine I tend to get through out the day, it generally happens on warmer days but there are times at work when the lights are beaming on me and I end up becoming shiny a lot quicker than usual so this powder stops that.  
   
   
3. Clarins instant light natural lip perfecter in shade 01 rose shimmer some days I don't feel like putting much on my lips and just opt for my clarins lip perfecter because it has a little colour and just the right amount of shine to give me that slight nude lip look, it smells amazing too its almost like a sweet buttery smell and I always want to lick my lips when I wear it. The one I have pictured are the mini ones that come in their christmas gift sets, I did want to put the big one in there but I conveniently misplaced it after using it last night.
   
   
4. Estee Lauder Double Wear Mascara again another miniature I was given this mascara to try while buying a few of the Estee Lauder eyeshadows and I keep it in my make up bag because I don't always remember to do my lashes while doing my make up, so when I have those days I just use this one which might I say is pretty good, it lengthens my lashes and it doesn't clump or flake which I love.
   
   
5. Illamasqua Matte Lipstick in Encounter which is always in my make up bag due to me having to wear a red lipstick at work, it's one of those lipsticks that you can wear on a daily basis because it doesn't dry out your lips like others I have tried.
   
   
6. Mac Amplified Creme Lipstick in Fast Play has become my favourite, its for those cheat days at work when I don't want to wear red but still want to have a colour on my lips, when I first brought this lipstick I actually went out to buy a red but while looking I saw this colour and tried it on and I never looked back.
   
   
7. Neutrogena 6 Hour Protection Balm is a product I've only recently started using again, as its getting colder my lips tend to be the first place to suffer and this balm is amazing it keeps my lips moisturised and stops them cracking, its also amazing put under matte lipstick as is just keeps your lips hydrated and soft without the need to re-apply.
   
   
8. Carmex vanilla is probably my favourite carmex flavour, its safe to say I've tried them all and I don't no if its because I'm such a big fan of everything vanilla but I just love how this smells and feels on my lips and I especially like that when I haven't had anything on my lips for a while and I put carmex on them it slightly tingles. It is also one of those items that I loose on a daily basis or I'll take it to work with me and leave it there and have to buy another one. What are your makeup bag essentials?  

Until next time xx