Make-up

Make-up, News

MUA LUXE Velvet Lip Lacquer Review

March 12, 2014

I’ve seen a host of reviews on this product all talking about how amazing it is and with the temptation of the shade “Atomic” (you’ve guessed it, a bright red) being too much for me to resist, I ended up buying this a few weeks ago. Usually not being a fan of wand style lip applications, I was sceptical to begin with.

I tried it out the day I bought it and slapped it on quickly, whilst running late for a meal with friends. Wondering if I’d made the right decision to indulge in a red lip shortly before stuffing my face I can safely say it was probably -the- best choice I could have made. During application, I ended up with a rich, yet bright full bodied red with a matte finish. This dried in less than a minute and didn’t rub off onto my wine glass during the evening. I also remembered when getting home, that I had swatched this on my hand with a tester in Superdrug and it remained there even after scrubbing it in the shower – however this seemed to come off pretty easily at the end of the night with my trusty micellar water.

The next test was during our last gig – with more time to apply this evenly and with two coats – this remained absolutely perfect after a half hour set on a very hot stage and even survived further on into the night after Gem and I ditched the venue for a slightly stranger environment – a 90’s esque bar, for our friends birthday.

Here’s me rocking the new MUA Luxe Lip Lacquer in “Atomic” on stage last week. Photo Copyright our lovely live photographer Tony Gaskin at Stagedive Photography. (Sporting the mouth wide open and sweating like a mofo look)

I am absolutely over the moon with this purchase, I really hope MUA release some more neutral “everyday” shades since this red is going to be reserved for less ordinary days and I can see myself getting a lot of use out of it. And if the product itself wasn’t enough – it comes with a purse friendly price tag of only £3.00 and you can find it here at Superdrug. My next purchase is definitely going to be “reckless” which is a much darker red.

Have you tried this out yet? What were your thoughts?

Totally hellbent for lipstick that stays put until the end of a very sweaty night!

-Pants

Make-up

Sleek i-Divine Eyeshadow Palette Au Naturel Review & Swatches

March 11, 2014

I’ve been tempted by Au Naturel for the longest time, but couldn’t really justify it when I already have so many neutral palettes. Luckily for me I spotted this in the Superdrug reduced basket for only £3.50 and absolutely jumped on it! The only damage was to a chip of plastic in the upper right corner and the eye-shadow Taupe beneath, and even so there’s plenty left in the pan.

Au Naturel contains twelve colours, eight mattes and four shimmers, all unsurprisingly in neutral tones. There’s some definite similarities to a certain cult Urban Decay palette, but as I don’t own any of the Naked sets I can’t comment on how close other than the theme and shade choices!

All the colours have good pigmentation and a dreamily smooth and creamy texture that blends amazingly. There’s fallout with every shade but not enough to risk contaminating the other colours so it’s not really a bother.

The shimmers are of course my favourites, but really I can see myself making use of every single shade. The surprise hit for me though was Noir, the matte black – it is SO heavily pigmented yet blends so easily. Conker and Mineral Earth come very close seconds for favourite, both have a gorgeous rich texture and shimmer but are very wearable.

Taupe and Nougat both make excellent highlights, I really like that they included both a matte and shimmer in suitable colours, it makes the palette so versatile that you really could pop this in your make-up bag and not need anything else in a neutral shade at all.

The packaging is very sturdy and stylish with a matte finish, and I love the huge mirror that fills the whole of the lid. As with most palettes it comes with a dual ended sponge applicator that will do in a pinch (but really if I’m ever caught without my brushes I’d rather use my fingers than those rubbish things!)

Onto the swatches!

I’m definitely going to get a lot of use from Au Naturel and can’t recommend it enough if you’re looking for a natural palette at a reasonable price!

Have you tried out any Sleek palettes? I definitely think I might add a few more to the collection on the basis of this one!

Available for £7.99 from Boots.com.

Totally hellbent for going au naturel!

– Gem

Make-up

MUA Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlighter

March 10, 2014

I’ve been trying to get my hands on one of these for absolutely ages and now suddenly they are everywhere!

When it comes to highlighter I am a firm fan of Benefit Highbeam, so much so I’ve barely tried any powder highlighters – this might be the one to change my mind though!

The Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlighter has a gorgeous peachy colour with a -lot- of shimmer, I really wasn’t expecting so much pigment but really I would be happy with the pay-off from this on a much higher priced product. The fact this costs only £3 makes it all the more sweeter.

With a very light hand you can achieve a subtle day-time friendly look that isn’t loaded with glittery shimmer, but it’s very build-able for those times when you want a little more of a dazzle to your cheeks. The powder is easy to pick up with a brush and has surprisingly little fall-out, so I expect it will last a really long time considering how little you need to make a even a more striking look.

The packaging is as simple and plain as most of the MUA range but the actual pan is a gorgeous swirly design that might just be inspired (borrowed shamelessly!) from some of MAC’s much higher end powder products! It gives it the sort of elegance that makes you proud to pull it out of your make-up bag in public though, and you don’t often get that with budget drugstore brands, so props to MUA for giving a little bit of class!

Overall you really really can’t go wrong with a product this beautiful for only £3.00!

Available from Superdrug.com

Totally hellbent for gorgeous design on budget products

– Gem

Make-up

Real Techniques Brush Collection

March 4, 2014

Ever since Gem has discovered how beautiful these brushes are, I too unfortunately sucumbed to their spell and have been pulled into the Real Techniques obsession. Luckily for me, Gemma started my collection off by purchasing not one set, but three of these bad boys for my birthday.

Core Collection Kit

This set comes with a contour brush, pointed foundation brush, detailer brush and buffing brush.

From Left to Right:

Contour Brush – The first thing I noticed about this brush, is that it’s slightly domed towards the tip and I’ve been using this for contouring ever since getting my hands on this set. This brush is perfect for defining my cheeks with bronzer, the sides of my nose and also my jawline, although I don’t use this for highlight or blush. Although this is slightly domed, the brush itself is quite fluffy which is great for blending, ensuring I don’t end up looking like I’ve drawn a few brown lines from each ear to the corner of my mouth.

Pointed Foundation Brush – I’ve used quite a few foundation brushes in my time, but this one is so soft, and having used it a few times now, it isn’t congealed with foundation and is pretty easy to clean. I was worried at first that the brush wasn’t big enough for my face, but actually because it is pointed, it ensures an even coverage by getting into the hard to reach places (namely around piercings). Definitely not an every day brush, but I am favouring this over all my other foundation brushes.

Detailer Brush – This is mainly for “problem areas” or lipstick – I’ve been using it to apply my concealer and it seems to be working quite well. My only major issue with this brush is it’s not as fluffy as the others, but this is Okay because the last brush makes up for it! It didn’t wow me as much as the others but I’m still finding it hard to pick out any flaws.

Buffing Brush – Why haven’t I had the pleasure of using this before? This can be used to apply loose powder or mineral powder but I’ve been using it after my foundation and concealer to blend and buff my base to perfection. It’s such a simple thing but honestly, it’s done wonders for me.

Real Techniques Core Collection Kit – £20.99 from Feel Unique

Starter Set

This is by far my favourite set of the three. Predominantly for eyes, this literally has all the brushes a girl could ever need to perfect the simplest to the most dramatic eyes. With an amazing 5 brushes, it’s well worth the money to start any brush collection.

From Left to Right:

Deluxe Crease Brush – Although designed to fit in the crease of your eye socket, I’ve actually been using this as a base and blending brush. My eyes are quite little, but unfortunately if I blend my darker shadow too much, I end up looking like a drag queen – I just can’t pull it off! In my opinion, this definitely works better for applying my base colour, because it’s fluffier and bigger too, it blends like a dream.

Base Shadow Brush – This brush I’ve been using too add my middle colour and blending it into my darkest. It’s nice and fluffy but not as big as the crease brush, which means its perfect for my little eyes and means I don’t go overkill on the darker shadows. The best thing about this brush is that even if I only throw on some eye shadow in a few minutes before going out, it looks absolutely amazing!

Accent Brush – This definitely completes the look along with the two above. I’ve been using this mostly to add my darker colour to my crease, and the base shadow brush to then blend my darker shades together. It’s absolutely perfect and the best thing about it has got to be being able to use it under my eye to create a smoky look, since the brush is small and flat.

Pixel Point Eye-liner Brush – I haven’t actually used this brush yet, when applying gel eye-liner, I tend to use my Loreal Brush and I haven’t found anything that beats it yet. Having said that, I may give this one a go and see if it lives up to the other brushes in this set. If it doesn’t, it’s a perfect shape and feel for applying lipstick.

Brow Brush – I didn’t think I was going to use this brush. For my eyebrows, I use an old Gel eye-liner brush which has short and stiff bristles, perfect for defining my outline, and a smaller brush similar to an eye-liner brush to blend my brows. I tried this one just so I knew how it applied and since doing so, this has now replaced one of my other brushes and I’ve used it every day. It’s just the right shape to fill in my brows and blend the harsher outline to make them look more natural and is also brilliant for applying my clear gel top coat to keep my brows from straying here there and everywhere.

Real Techniques Starter Set – £20.99 from Feel Unique

Travel Essentials Kit

After watching some of the video reviews available on the Real Techniques website, apparently you can take this anywhere and not need any other brushes. I’m inclined to believe this and if I ended up stranded with no other tools except these, I could definitely get by with just these three.

From Left to Right:

Essential Foundation Brush – I love this brush for full face foundation coverage – the speed in which I can apply is brilliant with this brush and it doesn’t hold too much product either. It does mean that I can cover my face before my foundation begins to dry, teamed with the pointed foundation brush and it’s a match made in heaven.

Domed Shadow Brush – I have also been using this as a blending brush and it’s so so soft! This is also a brush I’ve been taking out with me to keep my eyeshadow in check or turn day makeup to almost stage ready makeup.

Multi-task Brush – Another firm favourite of mine – Kabuki brush move aside because you have been well and truly replaced. I absolutely thrive off using this to apply my powder – the bristles are far enough apart for them not to hold too much product and coverage is even and beautifully flawless. I’m not even sure I would go back to my Kabuki now that I’ve been using this.

Real Techniques Travel Essentials Kit – £20.99 from Feel Unique

It’s safe to say that I am absolutely smitten with these brushes – but one of the best things about all three is that they come in a case that also serves as a stand, whether you are applying make-up in a service station (as Gem and I often indulge in on the way to gigs) or just want them displaying nicely on your dressing table, they are a great extra. The cases also have space for additional brushes, although I fear I will never fit all of mine in them when I take them out and about! I honestly do not need any more brushes after finding these – although I’m sure I will find a way of talking myself into buying others down the line!

These are absolutely brilliant sets, perfect for those who want to invest in some brushes but arn’t sure what to buy and also not too pricey considering how wonderful they all are – not to mention the fact that the Real Techniques website has lots of tips and tricks for you to try out with your new brushes here.

Have you tried any of the Real Techniques brushes? If so I’d love to hear your thoughts. You can also view Gemma’s review of her Limited Edition Duo Fibre set here.

Totally hellbent for a purely effortless face thanks to brushes.

Pants

Make-up

Benefit Dallas Boxed Blush

February 26, 2014

As a lover of all things Benefit I don’t know how I lasted so long without one of their signature box blushes!

Dallas could be considered somewhere between a blush and bronzer, and as a pale girl I’m so happy to finally have my hands on a bronzer that doesn’t make me look like I’ve been tangoed! Benefit describes this as “An outdoor glow for an indoor girl” and it certainly lives up to that.

Just a quick sweep over my cheeks brightened up my whole look, but it’s easily build-able for a more solid wash of colour. Used sparingly all over it gives a really natural warming glow, without ever looking even slightly orange!

The brush that comes with all Benefit boxed blushes is unfortunately made from animal hair (goat most likely) so it wont be going anywhere near my face. I think most people tend to prefer their own choice of long handled brush anyway, so no big loss.

One of my worries was that the cardboard casing would fall apart easily and I planned to leave this on my dressing table where it could come to no harm, however I love it so much I’ve had this in my make-up bag constantly (and have even taken it over-seas) and the box still looks absolutely pristine.

Dallas and I are in for the long haul together I think, but I’m already looking forward to adding more of Benefit‘s boxed blushes to my collection!

£23.50 from Benefitcostmetics.co.uk

Totally hellbent for an outdoor glow for a VERY indoor girl!

– Gem

Make-up

Avon SuperSHOCK Gel Eye-liner in Blackened Metal

February 24, 2014

Today’s post comes from the top of a very very very very tall nekro-mountain, where the wintermoon shines in a spiritual black dimension over my new favourite eyeliner!

I’ve dipped in and out of a few potted gel eye-liners in my time, but I can’t believe I’ve never tried an Avon one before! Blackened Metal is not, as you would suspect, a metallic black, but rather a very dark grey with fine multicoloured glitters. Hardly suitable for drawing on your kvlt corpsepaint, but perfect for a shimmery little cat eye.

The formula is so creamy and soft and applies really easily with a good eye-liner brush. If you’ve a steady enough hand you can built up a couple of layers to get a “blacker” finish, however I think I will actually use this most as a cream eyeshadow as the consistency is perfect, and the metallic grey looks gorgeous in a thin layer!

As for longevity – as an eyeliner it lasted the whole day yet still came off easily with a single swipe of make-up remover. You get the usual creasing to be expected when using it as cream shadow, but a good primer will make it last a lot longer!

A definite addition to my stage make-up bag, I can see myself getting lots of wear out of this!

Unfortunately Blackened Metal isn’t currently available on the Avon website or brochures, but I’ve found it here on Amazon for only £5.99! Bargain!

Totally hellbent for kvlt with a girly shimmer!

– Gem

Make-up

the Balm cosmetics “time balm” concealer

January 30, 2014

I know, I know … January is not the time for spending. But before I’m given the look of disapointment, I didn’t spend a penny! I promise! Thanks to Birchbox though, signing up to that wonderful beauty box of joy means that when I complete surveys on the products I receive, I get points. Luckily for me, these points can be used in their online shop which contains many beautiful products including a favourite of both Gem and I – Benefit. You can find out more about Birchbox here.

Enough of the beauty boxing though – this is the Balm “time balm” concealer. Having been a fan of theirs for a little while now and always wanting to try out new concealers, I figured I would give this a go. What can I say – once again I am totally and utterly in love. It came in quite a dinky screw top clear jar – slightly bigger than an eye shadow dust, but that’s Okay, not only is it packed to the brim but it’s small enough to sneak into my makeup bag when I’m running low on space. Consistency wise it’s nice and thick, but not too overbearing, I’ve worn this both under my foundation and without any at all and it blends beautifully. A nice fluffy brush to buff it in and my skin looks so much better. I’m also pretty impressed at how my skin reacts to this, it hasn’t made my skin feel tight or dry which is often the problem I face and despite looking a little darker, the colour is perfect for my daytime wear, but also works well even with my lightest foundation.

This is definitely a keeper and I even used it with my stage make-up last week. If you want to try this out they are available in the Birchbox shop for £12.00. The one above is in “lighter than light” and perfect for my paler complexion. According to the Birchbox website “It’s so pure that you can wear it 24/7. By day, it serves to hide our puffy circles and other flaws. By night, it works to undo the look of fine lines and wrinkles.” it suggests dabbing some under your eyes before bed, but I haven’t been brave enough to try this as I like my skin free from all make-up to sleep in but who knows, maybe I’ll give it a try?

Totally hellbent for hiding unsightly blemishes and red patches

-Pants

Make-up

Real Techniques Limited Edition Duo-Fibre Collection

January 22, 2014

When the Real Techniques brushes launched a while back, the blogosphere went into total melt down over them, and my lust to own some grew and grew! It’s harder than you think to find synthetic pro-standard make-up brushes that don’t cost the earth, but finally I have found my match in make-up brush heaven!

The duo-fibre collection contains three brushes – a face brush, a contour brush and a eye brush. There’s no travel case as with the core collection sets, instead they arrived housed in a spongy tray. I don’t think it’s intended to be used as storage but I have kept mine for the time being as it makes them super easy to find in my brush collection!

All three brushes are made from ridiculously soft synthetic taklon that feel amazing on the skin, with a design that means they pick up only the minimum of product. The face brush is perfect for daytime powdering, there’s literally no way your powder can cake with how delicately this applies! You can also apply liquid and cream products, but I think by far this works best will loose or pressed powers.

The contour brush is perfect for building up blusher, bronzer or highlighter to a very natural look, no more frantic rubbing because your blush brush picked up half the pan! I reckon this would make a sneaky foundation brush too if you were hard pushed as it’s dense enough and a good shape!

The eye brush for me is a perfect blending tool, so light and fluffy! I’ve been trying this out as a crease brush too, and though it does work well enough I think I’ll be using it for blending more than anything else.

Overall I would definitely recommend these to absolutely everyone. The face brush alone is worth the investment – I’ve yet to find another brush that applies powder as flawlessly light. If you want to get your hands on this set, I’d do so quickly as they are a special edition so could quite easily be gone if you linger in indecisive territory!

Available for £23.99 from Boots.com.

Totally hellbent for fabulous affordable cruelty free brushes!

– Gem

Make-up

Contouring here I come … (featuring W7 & Benefit)

January 15, 2014

I have been most spoilt over the festive season. My dad Neil brought me a benefit tin which I was absolutely over the moon with (I’m guessing it has something to do with his beautiful daughter pointing him in the right direction and I don’t mean my good self!) the contents of which contained the Hoola bronzer. Gem also brought me Candy Floss highlighter and Africa bronzer by W7.

Although the Africa was largely due to the beautiful animal print inside, Gem highly recommends the Candy Floss as one of her (many) fav’s when it comes to highlighting.

I’ve been after a good bronzer for a while, one that I can use for contouring that isn’t going to make me look like I’m auditioning for a part on “The Only Way Is Essex” and thankfully once again to the Christmas fairies, I can now play to my hearts content.

I am overly chuffed with the swatches:

The Candy Floss gives a perfect shimmer and I can’t wait to try this out.

Similiarly the Africa bronzer has a subtle shimmer to it, but looks to be an absolutely perfect shade for contouring. The Hoola is also fairly light and once teamed with Africa is going to make for some beautifully chiseled cheek bones!

From left to right: Candy Floss, Africa, Hoola

Now I just need to spend some time working on my contour skills ready for the next social outing!

Totally hellbent for Christmas Piggies

-Pants

Make-up

Avon Shine Attract Lipstick in “Passionate Red”

January 7, 2014

I’ve been lusting after this colour for a while, like I do with all red lipsticks I eventually relented and purchased this from Avon whilst it was on special offer for just £5.00.

When swatched, it’s not quite as red as I hoped, however whilst on it’s a little brighter and something that I can easily get away with wearing during the day. The lipstick itself is surrounded by an outer gel layer which is supposed to give a satin shine without the stickiness, I have to admit I’d probably agree with this, the shine was nice and it wasn’t too sticky. Unfortunately, this gel layer does make it hard to apply well and it took some practice before I a) managed to get full coverage over my lips and b) avoided getting lipstick all over my face. That aside, full marks for packaging since that is one of the things I was drawn to most whilst lusting!

Not one of the best lipstick’s I’ve bought, but I will certainly get some use out of it and I quite like the subtlety of this shade despite it supposedly being red.

The Shine Attract Lipstick range from Avon is currently £8.50, a little overpriced if I’m being completely honest although that’s only based on my opinion of this one shade. You can check out the rest of their range here online.

Totally hellbent -unfortunately- for anything that even resembles red when it comes to lipstick.

-Pants