R.I.P Benefit Powderflage

Ahh the pride continues another product gone!

Benefit Powderflage is an under eye concealer that's a powder, I have mixed feelings on this product.

I am one who definitely needs to powder under my eyes otherwise I end up a big smudgy mascara mess, but normal powder can make you look really cakey. That's what I liked about Powderflage. I used my regular concealer then powdered on top with this. It didn't look at all caked, felt nice and matte and no smudging. BUT I don't think it illuminated nothing! You could not achieve the Kim Kardashian under eye with this little bad boy. Which is such a shame, cos I loved everything else about it :( surely it would be really easy to make it more illuminating, there's enough highlight powders and the like out there.

So while I have liked this product I wont be repurchasing for now as I feel there is better out there. I have now moved onto Benefit Multi-Tasking Minerals in "Bisque" and although I've only been using it a week, I definitely feel it brightens up my under eyes more than Powderflage although I think I prefer Powderflage's texture.

Kick arse red lips hit Croydon town ;)

So for my night out on the town on Saturday night I decided to go for a pin up look. This is one of my most favourite looks to do and probably the look I do most often.

I tried out quite a few new products for this look, one of which was purchased that day.

So to achieve this look here's what I used:

Face:

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation "Fresco 01"

Benefit Eye Bright

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural "Medium"

Bare Minerals Multi-Tasking Minerals "Bisque"

Chanel Bronze Universel

Nars Bronzer "Casino"

MAC Cream Colour Base "Pearl"

Eyes:

MAC paintpot "Painterly"

Urban Decay Naked Palette "Virgin" on the lid "Naked" and "Buck" outer corner and crease

Chanel Stylo Liquid Eyeliner "Black 10"

MAC Eyeshadow "Carbon" to set my eyeliner

Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express Mascara "Black"

Playboy eyebrow pencil and gel

Lips:

L'Oreal Infallible Longwear Lip Duo Compact "504 Immortal Red"

So the product purchased the same day was the L'Oreal infallible lip colour. I had wanted this after seeing Kandee Johnson rave about it on her blog. She uses the Beyonce Red which I don't think you can get in the UK, not anywhere Ive seen anyway. So I asked my friend to just pick me up the reddest one she could find, which was "Immortal Red" (Love the name!) Now the Beyonce Red which Kandee uses has a lip gloss applicator but the one I have is an actual lipstick. I think the lip gloss style would definitely be better as the lipstick was quite dry and hard to apply and dragged on the lips when applied.

So yeah not the best application and it does feel drying on the lips when its on, but this baby does stay on. Now my main problem with red lipstick is that I get it on my teeth! Cringe, so that's why I wanted to try this one. You have to leave it to dry for a minute, but after a minute I drank some water and there was no lipstick mark left on the glass at all! Now this claims to have 16 hours wear.....I would imagine if you were wearing this in the day that would be no problem at all but if like me you are on a night out drinking several glasses of vodka and orange.......not so good! Near the end of the night i noticed where I had been drinking the red has started to turn a pale creamy colour and when i tried to reapply it was almost caking on my lips. To be fair though from what I was drinking I don't blame it!

So yeah all in all I would recommend this as you don't have to worry about it getting on your teeth, smudging or reapplying every 10 minutes and I liked the colour but if you're drinking anything potent use a straw! ;)

R.I.P Jack Wills English Velvet Perfume

I told you I've used up a lot of products recently! This is the first perfume that I've used up in a while though.

This is from Jack Wills, best way I can describe Jack Wills is the English version of Abercrombie and Fitch. They call themselves the University Outfitters.

I love the smell of this perfume but I cannot for the lift of me describe it to you! It has a really unique scent, like nothing I've ever smelt before and people always ask me what my perfume is whenever I wear this.

As I knew I would not be able to describe this, I looked this up on the Jack Wills website and here is their description

"With top notes of pink grapefruit and Mediterranean fig, this youthful and carefree fragrance is balanced with orange blossom, rose petals and soft freesia. A sensual mood of sophistication is created by the undertones of creamy amber, Indian sandalwood and Oriental musk"

I can't say enough good things about this perfume! I love the smell, I find it really comforting and it really pains me to part with this :( I 100% recommend this, its also nice to wear a perfume that not everyone and his mother owns! Love Love Love this

R.I.P Maybelline The Colossal Volum' Express Mascara

It is with great sadness that I retire this mascara to the bin. When I originally bought this I wasn't a fan thought it was alright a bit blah. Then months later I found it under my bed and thought I would give it another go and I'm glad I did.

I have loved this mascara, builds volume and adds length, no clumpiness and no smudging or flaking by the end of the day, plus very affordable

I highly recommend this mascara and would repurchase. If you are unsure try leaving it a few weeks so it dries up a bit, like I did.

R.I.P L'Oreal Serie Expert Force Vector Shampoo

I've used up quite a few products lately (I don't know why I get a little kick out of using up a product.....OK a really big kick!) but I always feel proud of my accomplishment (Clearly not satisfied elsewhere in life!)

I also had the conditioner to this shampoo but as I'm quite liberal with conditioner that's already long gone.

I bought this after the umpteenth time of dying my hair, this time from blonde to a very dark raven brown and my hair was feeling ravaged! I am a fan of the L'Oreal professional hair range after my hairdresser recommended them to me. I had started using Kerastase but she advised me that L'Oreal is the company who make Kerastase products so they are basically the same products, expect the L'Oreal range is much cheaper. Keeerching

So i picked this up at a salon near where I live, the hairdresser looked at my hair and recommended this. She advised that this was better then an ultra hydrating/conditioning combination as this would actually improve the condition of my hair and reinforce it, instead of just making it feel softer.

This is the first time I have used a product from the Force Vector range and I have to be honest I was really unimpressed with both the shampoo and conditioner. The shampoo just would not lather up in my hair. I have a lot of hair so I need some lather to actually distribute the shampoo evenly round my head. I had to do 2 washes every time and towards the end I was doing 2 washes with this and then using whatever other shampoo was in the shower to do a final rinse so I actually felt like my hair had been cleaned! The conditioner/masque was a more watery texture then I am used to with conditioning masques and didn't really seem to do much.

The description on the back of the bottle states "Reinforcing anti-breakage shampoo for fragile, brittle hair. Hair fibre is fortified and protected leaving hair soft, shiny and feeling stronger"

Hmmmmmm how about no!

My hair didn't feel conditioned, didn't feel soft, and if anything I have been noticing breakage more then usual.

So a big fat thumbs down for this shampoo :( I will purchase from the L'Oreal professional range again but not their Force Vector line.

Now its the turn of Ojon hydrating shampoo and conditioner to step up!

Barry M Racing Green Nail Polish

Slipped this little baby into my basket at Boots, think this is the last Barry M shade I wanted now until they release some more ;)

I have mixed feelings on this, it looks darker in the picture then it does in real life. I wish it was more of a black with a emerald shine in the light, instead its more green then black. Maybe it would work better if you used a black nail vanish as a base. The jurys out on this one............

Face Of The Day

Face of the day

Moisturiser:

Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturiser

Face:

MAC Face & Body Foundation

Benefit Eye Bright

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural

Benefit Powderflage

Nars Bronzer 'Casino'

Natural Collection Cream Blusher 'Rosy Pink'

MAC Cream Colour Base 'Shell

Eyes:

MAC Prep & Prime Eye 'Light'

Make-Up Barbara Daly @ Tesco Souffle Eye Shadow 'Driftwood'

Nars Eye Shadow 'Mekong'

YSL Faux Cils Mascara 'Brown'

Playboy Perfect Pair Brow Liner & Gel 'Blonde Bombshell'

Lips:

No7 Sheer Temptation Lipstick 'Attract'

And here I was going for the 'natural look'.........

Urban Decay Naked Palette

So finally after what feels like years of waiting my Urban Decay Naked Palette finally arrived! For those of you in the UK i ordered mine from House of Fraser online, if you find its out of stock on the website keep checking, as I have found it keeps coming off the website and then a week later its back on. Its also available at Debenhams now as well along with the Vegan palette eeeeek. Which I have also ordered! When my Vegan palette finally arrives I will do a proper review of all 3 of the new Urban Decay Palettes for you, so if you have some sense, unlike me you wont buy all 3! For now this is just a phew I can rest easy it finally arrived post! I also noticed they've just released the Black Palette as well, which is a smaller palette just with darker shades. I wont be purchasing that. I wasn't too impressed but then I saw some swatches online and the colours looked really beautiful, but no I have to draw the line somewhere!

So I havent even had a chance to use my palette yet, it was almost an anti climax when it finally arrived as Ive seen so many pictures and swatches and videos on this palette that it didn't really feel 'new' but the colours are beautiful and I cant wait to try it. I have to admit though I cannot wait for my Vegan palette to arrive just so I can look at the cute packaging in person!

R.I.P Miss Sporty Fabulous Creamy Blush

So I thought I would start a feature on products that I've used up, as if you have managed to use up a product completely for whatever reason, you will have definitely formed an opinion on it.

So the first project to meet its end is by Miss Sporty and it's their Fabulous Creamy Blush in '201 Bare'

I have had this blusher for years and finally its finished, is it sad that I'm incredibly proud of this achievement?

I got this blusher as a gift and its the only Miss Sporty product I've ever owned. Miss Sporty is a drugstore brand here in the UK and I think everything in the line is under £5, so very affordable.

This is a cream to powder blush and the colour is very natural. I don't know why but I really struggle finding blushes to suit me, blushes really are my least favourite make up product, hopefully that will change one day but I just can never find a colour that looks good on me, that's what I loved about this blush though, the colour is completely inoffensive and you can wear it with any look, you don't need to worry about it clashing or being too much as its the perfect pinky/brown neutral shade.

The application was great as well, very smooth and blended into the skin really easily. I much preferred the application of this to the MAC Cream Blushes, I find they are really hard to blend, almost stiff and you definitely need a brush of some sort. With the Miss Sporty blush all I needed to use was my fingers.

So yeah I am very impressed with the blusher, I have worn it everyday for the past however many months. Can you tell I'm not a blusher fan?! I would definitely repurchase this and whereas before I wouldn't have given the Miss Sporty range a second glance, now I would definitely check out their other products and I am quite excited to try out another colour in their blush range.

A big thumbs up for Miss Sporty!

Nars Haul

When I'm good I'm very very good and when I'm bad I'm AWFUL! I have told myself no makeup until next month but then I remembered Mac Venomous Villains is released in October!

So, I went onto the Nars website.....I ordered a few things and they finally arrived. I have to admit the Nars website is very slow with delivery but seeing as I don't have a Nars counter anywhere near me, whats a girl supposed to do ;)

So I ordered.......

Nars Bronzer in 'Casino' - I have wanted a Nars bronzer for a while, but I tend to shy away from bronzers with shimmer or glitter as these tend to give that 'dirty/muddy' look which unless you are a piglet, is not cute! But I had heard so many good things about Nars bronzers, that I finally thought, sod it! I was torn between 'Casino' and 'Laguna' but was swayed towards 'Casino' by 'BelledujourNYC' I haven't used any of these products yet as they only arrived yesterday but I'm very happy so far! I love the packaging on the bronzer as the large mirror is ideal, great to put in your bag. 'Casino' is a lovely colour and the sparkle doesn't seem to show up too much on the skin which is great, I cant wait to try this!

Nars Eyeshadow Duo in 'Rajasthan' - When Temptalia reviewed the new Nars collection and raved about this product, I was kind of like 'meh' but then I saw BelledujourNYC raving about it and I thought what the hell! The colours are a beautiful taupey gold and a greeny/black peacock colour. I think what I really like about this duo is that the colours are really unique but still very wearable and like all Nars eyeshadows they have that beautiful buttery smooth texture

Nars Eyeshadow in 'Mekong' - This is a beautiful rich dark brown with bronzey gold shimmer. This colour is extremely pigmented! I just did a swatch on my hand and now I've got dark brown eyeshadow all over my keyboard grrrrr, I imagine fall out would be a mo fo with this colour, so word of warning there!

Nars Eyeshadow in 'Bali' - If you have never used a Nars eyeshadow before and wonder why everyone always comments on their texture, well....stick your finger in Bali and you will see what I'm talking about! You just want to keep touching this shadow it feels so rich and smooth, I don't really want to use the word buttery again as its a bit weird but it really is the best way to describe it. Bali is a dark brown but you can sheer it out more on the lid, there is no shimmer so it would make a great everyday colour, or you could use it as a liner or in the crease. Great staple eyeshadow to own.

Nars Lipstick in 'Barbarella' - I bought this lipstick pretty much on the name alone! When my parcel arrived this was the product I was most disappointed with. It just seems so small, and its really light. Compared to the luxury of the rest of Nars packaging, the lipstick definitely feels cheap. Having said that I compared it to a MAC lipstick and there really is not much difference in size. I guess as you are paying more I just expect more product! But I don't want to slate this too much as the colour really is lovely on the lips, doesn't look much in the tube at all but its a lovely coraly/pink very wearable everyday neutral lip colour.

Ill post some more pictures and reviews when I have played around with these colours more but on first impressions alone I am very pleased! I find there's something really exciting about getting Nars makeup, I don't know if its because I have no Nars counters anywhere near me so its all very new and exciting or if its just the packaging. Mmmmmmm posh makeup!

Essie Chinchilly Nail Polish

I must be the only person excited that summer is almost over and autumn/winter is approaching. I love all the darker autumn/winter colours and I recently bought some new darker nail polishes in my excitement.

The first being Essie Chinchilly........I love this colour its a grey/taupe colour literally the same colour as a chinchilla! Ahh makes me go all cuddly.

It applies really smoothly and not at all streaky I know that some people have beef with occasional streaky Essie, but this is not the case at all with Chinchilly (aaaaah)

I'm really pleased I got this colour, I know its going to be a colour I will regularly reach for. I really should buy more colours like this as I love them so much more and get more use out of them then say Chanel Nouvelle Vague (what a waste of money that was!)

Urban Decay Book of Shadows Volume III

Theres something that I just need to get off my chest.......

Squeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllll

My Urban Decay Book of Shadows Volume III arrived today!

Now as I have only had it in my grubby mitts for a few hours this is no in depth review, just a first impressions, look what I got smug post ;)

I ordered mine from Debenhams website here in the UK. It set me back £30 and I gotta say as always when you are really looking forward to something it takes ages to arrive in the post! I was quite surprised, no shocked would be a better term that this was available in the UK before the US. And yes that I'm talking about you Naked Palette and Vegan Palette. It is like torture seeing everyone in America with these coveted items when you know it wont be available in Blighty for months! Its like a red rag to a bull, and I think we all saw that angry Bull in Spain a few weeks ago!

But I can finally say that I have finally managed to order the Urban Decay Naked Palette! Whoop whoop and it should be here next week (fingers crossed) The only place I have managed to find it is House of Fraser online, this is literally after checking boots, debenhams, house of fraser websites 3 times a day! Do you know how tiring that is, it really takes it out of you! So as soon as that little beauty arrives no doubt I will do another post. I still cant find the Urban Decay Vegan palette anywhere in the UK though, if anyone reads this perhaps you might know the release date? Then once I have those 3 items i will finally be able to rest slightly easier. And yes I purely want the Vegan Palette for the packaging, I told you already I have a problem!

Now I gotta say when I first saw this on Temptalia, I was like no I dont really need that but what swung it for me was the whole New York theme. Just a little background info I am completely and utterly obsessed with New York, it is my favourite place in the whole wide world and I have managed to go there 4 times so far and everytime I go I always do the obligatory Empire State viewing and I always cry as I look down on the city that I love and that I know I have to leave :( It really is my dream to live their one day. So yeah anything NYC related I feel compelled to buy (Hello Tweezerman NYC anniversary tweezers!)

On first swipe the colours that I love the most are Rockstar, Money, Suspect and Bordello. Theres a lots of wearable colours in this palette and I am a total neutrals girl! If you have this palette let me know what you think!

I present my shoddy camera work ;)

(left to right - Bordello, Rockstar, Suspect & Money

And so it begins

Ooh scary first blog post! So I thought I should introduce myself before I begin my ramblings......So first of all hello :) My name is Laura, Im 23 and I am a make up addict.

Feels good to get that off my chest

I have always loved make up, so much so I have studied it and even gained qualifications in it (Yes believe it or not you can get a qualification in make up ;) Then this past year I started watching all the make up tutorials and hauls on YouTube and its completely reignited my passion! I love reading make up blogs and watching all the videos on YouTube and Ive finally plucked up the courage to give it a go myself because what the hell, even if Im the only person who reads this....at least its more productive then watching another episode of True Blood ;)