I had one of those £5 off vouchers to use in Boots. Y’know the ones. My bag is always swimming with them though they’re rarely used. No7 just fails to ever truly impress me.

I did however want to try the new Exquisite Curl mascara, it’s been getting rave reviews and I’m trying to kick my L’Oreal Voluminous habit for good (animal testers…). With the voucher the mascara cost me £8. Fair enough. They were also running a gift with purchase, buy the mascara and get a free Define & Shimmer Eye Palette.

Tbh I clocked the colours and kinda wrote it off as “one to give to Mum”

I was wrong. After having a little play with it this morning it’s actually a really pretty palette. Perhaps more autumnal in hue than Spring/ Summer but really very nice all the same. There was minimal fall out (the majority from the lightest colour) and it was super easy to blend. I’m impressed, even more so because it didn’t cost me anything

As for the mascara, I really really like. I don’t think it gives curl AT ALL but it does give flattering volume and builds nicely without clumping. The only small negative is that it really does take you to pump the wand before use to get the curved brush coated adequately in product. Not ideal but hardly the end of the world.

Thumbs up No7. You’re back on my radar

Well folks, I may have to eat my words here…… as through gritted teeth I must confess that the Sleek Safari Palette isn’t half bad…. in fact its pretty great.

Under Flash

The pay off from the majority of shadows in the palette is superb, to the point where you might like to use a light hand!

The colours in the palette are also well chosen. I found it pretty effortless to pair colours that would compliment each other, always a good sign, and the shadows are easy to work with and blend.

The only thing I can really find to criticise is the fact that the palette does get quite messy (like the others) as the shadows break down very easily. However that really is me looking for a flaw

£4.99 well spent xox

Yesterday I went to my local Boots Chemist in search of the St Tropez Gradual Tanner.
I love this branch, its so odd, they always have random things discounted, normally by loads more than other shops. It’s very odd altogether but also great!

I ended up coming away with a couple of things, namely….

• St Tropez Everyday Gradual Tanner in Medium to Dark £13 – pleased to report it smells non offensive and was easy to apply. Will take a few applications for colour to build so will report back on this soon with a Yay or Nay.
• Prestige Loose Transluscent Powder £1.52 – this branch of Boots doesn’t even have a Prestige stand but they seem to get all the reduced items from other branches. Love this, gives a really smooth flawless finish on top of my liquid foundation.
• Prestige Dramatic Minerals Eyeshadow in 02 Copper £1.50 – What a find, this is a dupe for MAC’s All That Glitters with a more peach undertone rather than pink. Gorgeous finish.

L: MAC ATG R: Prestige Copper

• Dove’s Summer Glow Gradual Facial Tanner in Medium to Dark £2.99 – This is a re-purchase as my bottle has run out (I actually got this in the Alliance chemist down the road). This smells really good, very citrussy and fresh. I honestly can never smell the tan element from it, even as it develops. It gives a lovely colour without being overly dark and it doesn’t settle into my pores. I can’t use any of the body tanners like St Tropez on my face, I break out immediately but this has never irritated my skin. Highly recommend.

Definitely check out Prestige’s range of eyeshadows if you like MAC but you’re maybe wanting to tighten the purse strings, the formulation is really very good and this lasted 8 hours on my lids yesterday without creasing!

xoxox

I like Rimmel eyeshadows, I don’t love them, I like them. I think that generally they are good value and have more than a few of the palettes and trios.

I never normally buy the single, mono eyeshadows, mostly because the one time I did it was a spearmint green and the pay off was poor. However while in Superdrug last week I spied a beautiful shiny coppery bronze, one of the new Colour Rush offerings, 060 Bronzed.

I nearly discounted even swatching it, I was convinced the beautiful shimmer top was simply that, a topping, and that once swatched the shadow below would be matte & bland.
I was wrong, as soon as I saw it on the back of my hand I instantly knew it was a winner. The consistency also seemed very velvety. I’m not 100% sure how much it was as I can’t find the receipt. I think they are about £3.50 normally, my Superdrug was running a £1 off promotion.

I wore it on Saturday night, I used my 239 brush and hardly needed any product. Finish wise it reminds me of a MAC veluxe pearl, think woodwinked.
The colour itself though is a true bronze, its everything I ever wanted MAC Bronze to be but wasn’t, I can now safely say I love a Rimmel eyeshadow. The price truly is a bargain, if this was in a MAC pan I’d have paid £10 for it in a flash and balked at anyone who suggested it was a Rimmel special!

Minus Flash

With Flash

If you love your pearl finish, warm neutrals and a shadow that takes little effort you really should pick this up next time you pass a Rimmel stand. It’s loose change for a super e/s.

xox

Yee Haaaaa!! I am feeling thoroughly spoilt on the make-up front, as late yesterday afternoon my second NYX haul arrived courtesy of Cherry Culture

From date of shipping it took 10 days to reach me, not as quite as fast as Coastal Scents, but still pretty damn quick for international delivery, especially at this time of year. Everything was packed really well, bubble wrap, surrounded by tissue. On top was a free Cherry Culture own brand lip gloss (cute idea, tastes gross, think plastic)

So here it is….

Lets take a closer look at what I got….

Six Eyeshadow Trio’s $4.00 each (£2.63 each)

• Anti Diva
• Lake Moss
• White/ Grey/ Black
• Aloha/ Mink Brown/ Deep Bronze
• Copper/ Rust/ Bronze
• Golden/ Rust/ Walnut Bronze

1 Tinted Lip Spa in Jewel $4.00 (£2.63)

1 Jumbo Lip Pencil in Narcisse $3.00 (£1.97)

1 Doll Eye Mascara – Long Lash Version Extreme Black $5.50 (£3.62)

2 Ultra Pearl Mania Pigments $1.25 each (£0.82p each)

• Nude
• Rust

Initial thoughts on all products are good, yes the trio shadow formulations are different, but certainly not terrible. They just lack the creaminess of the singles, pigmentation is far from poor though, so I think some internet critics have been overly harsh here.

The Jumbo Lip Pencil is devine, Narcisse is a deep plummy colour, perfect for this time of year. The formulation is fabulously smooth and I much prefer it to the like of Benefit’s Color Plump, which is grainy in comparison. I will definitely be looking a few more of these!

The mascara was a impulse add on when I placed the order, I didn’t expect it to be ground breaking, and its not but actually it is really good at giving curl to my lashes. However the formulation is a bit clumpy which means a lot more work with the wand to get each lash looking smooth. Can I be bothered?….

My favourite items from this haul hands down are the Ultra Pearl Mania pigments. What a complete bargain. Sure, the bullets are small, but don’t under-estimate the colour pay off in this stuff. A little, and I mean a little, goes a very long way. I’ve quickly put some on in the picture below to give you an idea of what to expect in regards to colour. Nude is on the inner third and under the lower lash line. Mascara is Rimmel London’s Sexy Curves.

Altogether my order value was $39.00 (£25.59)
Shipping was $9.95 (£6.53)
I did not incur any customs charges as the box was labelled as a gift.

All in all, even with shipping, it is far cheaper to buy NYX from the USA.
In the UK we pay twice the price for the trio’s. In fact we pay double for almost all NYX cosmetics.
All I can say, is in the future my NYX hauls will be bought at Cherry Culture and not All Wellan Good! I’m happy to wait the 10 days and pocket the difference

I took inspiration for my eye make-up today from MakeupByTiffanyD (You Tube). First I prepped my lids with MAC’s Paint Pot in Painterly. The main lid colours are MAC’s Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo in Illusionary/ Burning Ambition. With MAC’s Mylar on the brow bone.

I absolutely love this look, the colours are so warm and perfect for brown/ green eyes. You could go a lot heavier with this look to take you into the evening, but I think its nice like this, where when your eyes are fully open it looks quite neutral and pretty and yet when you glance down, people get a flash of the gorgeous shading and shimmer.

Eyes

• MAC Paint Pot in Painterly (eye base)
• MAC Mineralize Duo in Illusionary/ Burning Ambition (main eyelid)
• MAC Eyeshadow in Mylar (browbone)
• Max Factor Masterpiece Liquid Eyeliner (upper lashline)
• Rimmel Exaggarate Eye Definer in Emerald Sparkle (lower lashline)

Face

• Revlon Colorstay Foundation in Sand Beige
• Barbara Daly @ Tesco Concealer in Medium
• NARS Blush in Torrid

Lips

• Rimmel Moisture Renew in Vintage Pink

Really pleased with the Gosh Quattro that I purchased. The greys are predominantly matt in finish and the highlight isn’t too shimmery. I find grey can be difficult to wear as a daytime look, as it can look quite sultry if smoked out, however this palette is subtle enough to get away with it.

I was out shopping today for clothes with my hubby, but I wouldn’t be me unless I came back with at least one item of make-up. And surprise surprise I came back with two!
MAC Paint Pot in Painterly – I wanted a good nude base for eyeshadow, and also NARS eye shadow in Lola Lola – described on their site as “a neutral brown with shimmer”.

I’m really excited about this shadow as its been getting tonnes of good reviews lately from fellow make-up lovers, however I’d love to know what everyone else is pairing it with. Whats a good contrast colour for the crease? I’m thinking something like MAC’s Mulch might make a lovely smokey eye with it, but then its such a warm brown would MAC’s Cranberry work? Hmmmmm will let you know