A Long Awaited Haul!

After a self-imposed curb on beauty product spending, I've recently found my shopping mojo again and this week, I've had a lovely selection of goodies come into my possession.

I went a bit crazy on the nail polish front and purchased 6 Essie polishes - the entire Mirror Metallics collection, and Lilacism, which I've had my eye on for quite some time.

I won a giveaway from the lovely Sukie at A Little Bit of Everything, of one of the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stains which I have been dying to get my hands on, along with a Lancome Juicy Tube in Mandarin and a No 7 Lip Liner in Nude.  I'm so excited to try all of these out as I am a total lip product junkie!

And finally, Charlie at Lady of the Lane held a blog sale earlier in the week where I picked up two items - a Mac Lip Gelee in Lush & Bright and a Chanel liner in Platine.  

Let me know if there are any items you would like to see reviewed.  I'm off for a play with my new goodies!

My Lip Products Collection!

I was inspired to write this post after seeing Sandra Beauty Balm's post about her collection.  I have to say that lip products are my 'thing' and I find it very hard to resist purchasing them on a regular basis!

These are the majority of my collection, although there are bound to be some hiding in the bottom of bags that I haven't photographed.  I've linked to reviews where possible.  Sorry that this will be a photo-heavy post!

I keep all my lip products in these stackable draws from Muji.  I think they were around £9-£10 for the set of two draws but I'm sure you can get cheaper ones elsewhere.  I'm almost at capacity with these so I will need to invest in a couple more draws to stack on top of them soon.

In the top draw, I have all my glosses. 

And in the bottom draw, my lipsticks.  Note that the lipsticks are much tidier!

 Here are my Mac lippies, from left to right:

I Like It Like That (Limited Edition), Cremesheen

Radicho (Limited Edition) Lustre

Chatterbox, Amplified (review here)

Laugh a Lot (Limited Edition), Lustre

Ravishing, Cremesheen (review here)

See Sheer, Cremesheen (review here)

Crosswires, Cremesheen (review here)

Viva Glam Cyndi (Limited Edition), Lustre (review here)

Cockney, Lustre (review here)

My small Chanel and Dior collection

• Rouge Dior 35, Elegant Pink (review here)
• Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet La Distinguee (review here)
• Chanel Rouge Coco Mademoiselle (review here)

Some random high end lippies

• Dr Hauschka Violet Marble 15 (review here)
• YSL Rouge Volupte 9 Pink Caresee (review here)
• YSL Rouge Volupte 27 Rose Paris (review here)
• Estee Lauder Pure Colour Crystal Baby (review here)

And more randoms, including Revlon Lip Butters

• New CID iPout Nude
• Max Factor Ruby Tuesday (review here)
• Revlon Lip Butter Lollipop (review here)
• Revlon Lip Butter Tutti Fruitti (review here)
• Revlon Lip Butter Creme Brule (review here)

Some Bobbi Brown

• Bobbi Brown Lip Shine in Naked Pink
• Avon Metallic Pink
• Jane Iredale Lip & Cheek Stain in Forever Pink
• Bobbi Brown 20th Anniversary Lip Palette

Phew, and onto the glosses:

Benefit, Paul & Joe and Laura Mercier

• Mini Benefit glosses from Christmas Gift Set (review here)

Frisk Me

Kiss You

Foxy Lady

Spiked Punch

Life on the A List

Nudie-Tude

• Paul & Joe Brilliant A Levres Gloss in 15 (review here)
• Laura Mercier Mystic Mauve

 Mac, Clinique, Becca and Carmex

• MUA Gloss in Candy Pink (review here)
• Becca in Grenadine (review here)
• Clinique Chubby Stick in Chunky Cherry (review here)
• Bobbi Brown Brilliant a Levres in Petal
• Mac Lipglass in Viva Glam VI (review here)
• Mac Lipglass in Mad Cap (review here)
• Pout Plump - had this for ever but seems to still be ok!
• Carmex Moisture Plus in Sheer Berry (review here)
• Carmex Moisutre Plus in Sheer Pink (review here)

And finally, the randoms

• Clear gloss from M&S which has now turned a little pink as I use it over my YSL Rouge Volupte all the time
• M&S Colour Intense Lip Lacquer, Orange Fizz
• I Love... Juicy Watermelon Shimmer and Shine lip gloss
• Clinique Superbalm Moisturising Gloss in Apriocot - this was a sample with a Clinique bonus time, a nice neutral colour.
• L'Oreal Glam Shine in Aqua Watermelon (review here)- very disappointed with this, no colour, very sheer and wears off almost instantly
• Miss Sporty - no idea of shade name as it has worn off but its a nice peachy shade.
• NYC Liquid Lipshine in Brighton Beach Peach (review here) - another peachy pink staple!
• Rimmel Stay Glossy - again no shade name but a lovely peachy pink with micro silver shimmer
• Bourjois Effect 3D Max in Rose gold - a pink with gold shimmer

 

Have you tried any of these lip products?  

What do you think of them?

Loved but Overlooked

I was dithering over what to call this post as I wanted to encapsulate the idea of products that I love, that other bloggers either seem to overlook or dislike.  Here are a few of them:

Bobbi Brown Cream Shadows

I adore these little pots of cream shadow from Bobbi Brown.  I seem to hear so much about Benefits Creaseless Cream Shadows but there never seems to be much love for Bobbi Brown's versions.  Perhaps it is because Bobbi Brown tends to produce 'safe' neutral colours or perhaps it is just because people don't know enough about them, but I love these and wouldn't be without my small, but ever growing, collection.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shines

I own two of these to date and love them both dearly.  I adore their super light hydrating formula which provides a sheer wash of colour to the lips.  General consensus seems to be that these are too sheer, especially for the price, but I find them to be perfect for giving a subtle, neutral look without much effort, especially during the Summer months.  

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Eyeshadow Base

Estee Lauder is another brand that is not written about to a great extent within the blogsphere, probably because it had a reputation for being rather mumsy at one point.  One of their staples that I have been using for several years now is their eye primer.  It comes in a small pot but it lasts for ever and helps my shadows stay put all day.  I would recommend their face primer too.

Cowshed Bath Oils

Cowshed are very well known but I never really see much posted about them.  Yes, they are pretty pricey but their products are priced similar to other luxe bathing brands such as Neom and Aromatherapy Associates and I believe they are just as good too.  My favourite items are the bath oils (I love a Lazy Cow!) but I have tried pretty much everything from them at one time or another.

Bomb Cosmetics Bath Bombs and Melts

I've posted about my love for Bomb Cosmetics previously and it shows no sign of wavering.  For  me, these are the more grown up versions for Lush's bath products and I find them infinitely more moisturising.  The presentation of the bath melts are gorgeous too with some disguised as mini cup cakes!

Are there any products that you love that you feel don't get enough attention from the blogsphere?  

NOTD Chanel Coco Blue

With Flash

A quick spring NOTD for you today.  I received this a couple of weeks ago from my mum for my birthday and I haven't been able to try it out until now as I've I've only just removed my Shellac.

This is one of Chanel's recent limited edition shades that was released in the Spring with two other blue-hued polishes, Blue Rebel and Blue Boy.  I believe this is the only one of the three that is limited edition.

No flash

I found the colour on the nails to be virtually identical to that in the bottle - a gorgeous pastel blue cream.  The photos seem to show a more vibrant colour similar to China Glaze's For Audrey, but in reality it is much more subdued.  

The polish applies smoothly and evenly and has a similar consistency to other Chanel polishes.  It can be quite runny so you do need to take care when applying, although the wide brush allows for easy, one-stroke painting.  

The photos above show three coats.  I could have managed with two but I found it looked slightly more opaque with three.  I find Chanel polishes to wear very well on me, despite not using a top-coat, and I can easily go for 3-4 days before any chips or tip wear appears.

Verdict

Whilst this may not be a unique shade for many, it is unique to my collection and I always have a fondness for Chanel polishes due to their easy application and great consistency.  A perfect shade for Summer, I suspect I will be wearing this a lot over the next few months.

4/5

Price - £17.50

Where to Buy – Debenhams, Boots, Selfridges, House of Fraser

Weekend Wants!

Why is it that when there are lots of new collections on the way, I have no money?!

I've been reading a lot of US beauty blogs recently and there are several items that are on the horizon and have caught my eye.  I hope they are on their way over here, otherwise I will be resorting to eBay!

Benefit Snow White & The Huntsman Kit

Although you can buy each of these products separately and they are not limited edition, I am in love with this kit!  Containing the POREfessional, BAD Gal Lash Mascara, Benetint and High Beam, and accompanied by a gorgeous large makeup bag which is far more chic than the usual make up bag offerings, this looks like a great way to try out some of Benefits most lauded products.  I haven't managed to try out any of these products previously and I am very tempted.  I hope it becomes available in the UK soon.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

Pic borrowed from Musings of a Muse

I am so excited to try these out!  I love the Clinique Chubby Sticks and these look very similar.  I hope they aren't too drying though as I find the Clinique ones so comfortable to wear and a cheaper dupe would be amazing. I love the look of the coral / orange one, Rendezvous.

Chanel Polish in Delight

Delight (centre)

I adore this bronze, shimmering polish.  Its certainly on my 'to-buy list' when it is available over here.  I can see myself wearing it constantly over the Summer, and it will look stunning with a tan!

 

What do you have your eye on at the moment?  

Chanel Illusion d' Ombre in Mirifique

When they were initially launched, I purchased three of Chanel’s Illusion d’Ombres in quick succession (review here). I was also very tempted by the black shimmer shade, Mirifique, but due to funds, I decided to hold off for a while.

Recently I caved in and bought it and here it is!

The packaging for the Illusion d’Ombres is standard Chanel – luxurious, heavy glass pots which look very ascetically pleasing. The eyeshadow comes with a small brush for application, but I tend to use my fingers to apply and only use the brush for lining.

As you can see from the swatch, the shadow initially looks very pigmented, however it can easily be sheered out to provide a less bold look. The shimmer is what I would term a ‘grown-up shimmer’, not so sparkly that it leaves you looking like you have dived into a bucket of glitter, but subtle enough to provide extra interest and dimension to your look.

I’ve covered the consistency of the product in my previous review – its very soft and is essentially a cream shadow, which blends quickly and easily to help you achieve your desired look. You do have to work quite fast when blending as it sets very quickly and once set, it is budge-proof for the remainder of the day!

I find lasting time with the Illusion d’Ombres is generally very good. When used with primer, Mirifique easily lasts through an eight-hour day, although without primer, I only get around half this time, but I have exceptionally oily lids. When used as a liner, the shadows last all day without migrating or fading. My favourite way to wear Mirifique is probably as a liner, smudged along my bottom lash line, although I have been experimenting recently with pairing it with dark grey shadows and using it to smoke out at the outer corner.

Verdict

Like the other shades amongst the Illusions d’Ombres, this doesn’t really have any particular faults. It is pigmented and easy to apply, staying put throughout a whole day without migrating, fading or creasing. The only downsides to Mirifique would be the price, which is pretty high, although in line with other products from Chanel’s range, and the fact that you need to ensure you screw the lid on VERY tightly to ensure the shadow does not dry up. This is common with all cream shadows but it especially seems to be the case with Chanel’s Illusion d’Ombres. All in all, a recommended buy if you enjoy perfecting a smoky eye look or if you fancy adding a sophisticated edge to your everyday liner.

4/5

Price – £22.50

Where to Buy – Boots, Selfridges, House of Fraser, Debenhams

Review: Chanel Black Pearl

I don’t know about you but I always feel as beauty bloggers and readers we are constantly on the lookout for the next new product or item.  It is therefore easy to forget about permanent products that may have been available for some time, and are unloved gems.

Please excuse my awful cuticles and smudge on the 2nd finger - taken in a rush!

Chanel’s Black Pearl is one of my favourite polishes.  Released in late 2012 and now available on a permanent basis, this is an almost greened grey with a pearly finish (hence the name!).  When I was first introduced to it, I was a little afraid that it would be tricky to use without having the dreaded visible brushstrokes so often present in frost-type finishes.  However I am pleased to report that the formula is very easy to use, and two coats produces the perfect opaque finish. 

I’ve personally never got to grips with the whole, almost-black nail trend as I just look someone in fancy dress pretending to be a goth!  This is a much more wearable way of wearing dark polish as, although it is dark, it is a very easy-to wear grey, and the finish makes it significantly different from any other polishes that I own.

Verdict

If you like dark polishes and enjoy Chanel’s formula, this is a must-have in your collection!   It is the very definition of a grown-up grey polish and I feel extremely sophisticated when wearing it!  

5/5

Price - £17.50

Where to Buy – Debenhams, Boots, Selfridges, House of Fraser

Review: Mac Interior Life Eyeshadow Quad

The Mac Daphne Guinness collection was launched in stores a couple of months ago and I picked up this quad, Interior Life after being drawn to its subtle grey and purple shades, in the hope of creating a neutral, soft smokey look.

It is well-known that Mac’s limited-edition quads have been lacking in pigmentation lately, but these shades looked so pretty in the pan, I couldn’t resist!  The shades included are:

• Stratus – a very pale pink which was very difficult to swatch.  I have been using this mostly as a highlight shade or as a base for other colours.
• Bruised Sky – a mauve / purple tone that I have been using as a subtle wash of colour on my lids for an almost neutral look.
• Interior Life – a medium grey.  This was my favourite of the four shadows as it was very easy to apply and blend.  I have been using it a lot with my Chanel Illusion d’Ombre in Illusionoire, and blending it out a little.  It also works well in the crease with Bruised Sky.
• Heather Belles – a charcoal black which you will probably have similar versions of in your collection.  I use this either to line the eyes or blended in the outer v for a smokier eye. 

L to R: Stratus, Bruised Sky, Interior Life, Heather Belles

The shadows all appear to be of a matte consistency when swatched and applied to the lids, (so there’s nothing here for shimmer addicts!) although only Stratus is actually named as a matte. Bruised Sky and Heather Belles are named as satins, and Interior Life is a veluxe.  They do take a little more effort to use as they are on the whole, very sheer, but when layered and combined, they work well for an understated, polished look.  As with other Mac eyeshadows, these have an excellent wear time and last throughout a full working day for me, without creasing or fading, when used in conjunction with a primer. 

Verdict

For those of you who prefer more pigmented shadows with a good colour payoff, this quad probably will not be suited to you.  However, if you want a subdued look which would go perfectly with a light rose lip, this quad could work well.  It will especially suit those with fairer or cooler skintones and I always find Mac’s quads useful for helping to formulate a complete look for your eyes.  It would also be very useful if you want to branch out into matte shadows as these are all neutral colours which can be adapted for a variety of looks.

3.5/5

Price – £35

Where to Buy – This is now sold out online but I found it at House of Fraser last week so there is definitely still stock available. 

Review: Chanel Smoky Eye Palette (Les 4 Ombres, 83)

One of my first introductions to high-end makeup was to Chanel, over ten years ago when I first travelled to Paris with my mum.  It was the first time I had ever seen a Sephora and I remember being completely overawed by the giant store on the Champs Elysees and its vast array of products from almost every brand I could imagine.  It was a revelation to be able to be able to look at luxury brands such as Chanel and Givenchy, which were all just laid out on shelves rather than the more traditional counters in department stores I had seen previously.

My mum and I enjoyed a happy spree for a couple of hours in the store, oohing and ahhing over all the pretty products, and I recall that one of the purchases I made was a Chanel eye palette in various shades of grey and silver.  This palette has stayed with me throughout the past ten years and I am now on to my third repurchase!  It is by no means the best smoky eye palette ever - I know there are many who detest the European Chanel palette formulas, as they tend to be baked shadows and less pigmented than their North American counterparts - but it has worked for me over the years and has become almost like an old friend!
Lets take a closer look.

The palette contains four shades: A shimmery pale white highlight, a soft, pale grey / silver with shimmer, a darker, deeper shimmering grey and a matte black.

As you can see from the swatches below, they do not look terribly pigmented.  However this is with one swatch with my finger and the most attractive property of these shadows for me is that they are so easy to build up and intensify, so it is easy to go from a  sheer wash of colour to a bolder, full on smoky eye.  The shimmer in these shades is carried out in the elegant way that Chanel is so adept at.  It is a very grown up shimmer, which catches the light perfectly and doesn't make you look like you are ready to go out all night partying when you are just heading to the office!  

The shadows blend easily and last for a full eight hours for me without creasing.  When used with a primer, I would expect an additional couple of hours wear. When they wear off, they do fade slightly but the glitter also fades with them, meaning that you are not left with only glitter and no colour, sparkling on your lids.

I wear this palette in a multitude of ways.  The lightest shade is often used on the browbone as a highlight or occasionally as a base colour for the lid.  The lighter grey is sometimes used as a wash of colour for days when I just fancy something neutral and easy or if I am in a rush, and the darker grey is often used in the crease to add definition or in the outer V, when paired with the lighter grey shade.  The matte black is an excellent liner shade and stays put for hours.

Verdict
I love this palette, although I accept that for some it may have its flaws.  If you prefer super-pigmented products, this is not the palette for you, but if you enjoy easy to use, blendable shadows with a hint of sparkle, or are just a fan of Chanel's eye palettes in general, this is a must have staple buy.  I'm really hoping they don't discontinue this palette as I'd be lost without it! 
4.5/5

Price - £37 , pricey but this is to be expected with Chanel. I actually made my latest repurchase from Buyapowa for almost £10 less!
Where to Buy - Boots, House of Fraser, Debenhams

Review: Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet La Distinguee

A little bit of Chanel always brightens up my day, and no more so than their lippies.  The fairly recent introduction of their Rouge Allure Velvet line with their take on a matte lipstick piqued my curiosity and I snapped up this one, La Distinguee, when it went on sale on Buyapowa.

I am not normally a fan of matte lipsticks as I tend to equate them with drying formulas that cling to every flake of your lips.  I love Chanel lipsticks in general though, especially the Rouge Allure Coco formula, and I was eager to see how this one would perform.

The first aspect which struck me was the packaging, which is typical Chanel – a gorgeous black bullet with one end encased in gold that you press to release the lipstick.  I’m rubbish at explaining how things work so I’ll leave it at that, but suffice to say it is very satisfying to pop open and closed!

In the tube, the colour leans a peachy brown shade (although it was very difficult to capture this in the pictures of the tube above which look more pink than peach) and it is very obviously matte, with no visible shimmer or sparkle.  When swatched, it is certainly more of a peach colour than a brown, with perhaps a trace of pink visible.

Application is, as usual with Chanel, a breeze, and one swipe is sufficient to cover the lips.  I would say this is semi opaque as you can certainly see the colour, however it is quite subdued and works with the natural colours of you lips, although if you have very pigmented lips it will be less visible.  I had a good 4 hours wear with this, and for a matte lipstick it was fairly comfortable to wear, although I would still recommend using a balm beforehand.  You could put a gloss over it but that would defeat the point of a matte lipstick!

Verdict

A good, basic colour if you are looking to dip your toe into matte lipsticks for the first time and would like to treat yourself to a little bit of Chanel.  Compared to other matte lipsticks I have tried in the past, the formula was much less drying and wear time was good.  I could see this going well with a neutral eye and peach blush for a soft daytime look and it would especially suit warm skintones.  I’ve got my eye on La Raffinee next!

4/5

Price - £23.50

Where to Buy – Debenhams, House of Fraser, Boots, Selfridges

January Favourites

I seem to have quite a few favourites this month, I guess because some of these were Christmas or Post Christmas purchases and they all still seem very shiny and new!

Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash

I haven’t managed to review this yet but I am finding it great for my oily / combination skin as it cleans without stripping away oils and really makes my skin feel very clean.  I’m not sure how good it would be for drier skins though.

Tom Ford Violet Blonde

A Christmas present from my lovely hubby!  This is more of a weekend scent for me, reminding me of holidays and trips away.  I won’t embarrass myself by trying to describe the notes, but needless to say it is gorgeous!

Top Shop Cream Blush in Neon Rose – I reviewed this here as part of my cream blush post and was reminded of it when The Sunday Girl posted about it recently.  I love the way that it is not a traditional cream blush formulation, as it changes from a cream to a powder on the skin and lasts all day.  Only the tiniest amount is needed!

Laura Mercier Full Blown Volume Mascara – review here

This is my current favourite mascara (and boy do I have a lot of mascara!).  A great natural look, no flaking or smudging and the most important thing-  no CRISPY LASHES!

Mac Matchmaster in 3.0 - review here I have been wearing this foundation a lot recently and although I did find it a little too dark initially, I have been wearing it with a little of the Nars Orgasm Illuminator to tone it down a little and give a more radiant look.

Kiehl's Eye Alert – review here

I really enjoyed using this eye cream which I bought on a  whim from a blog sale.  I’m almost finished it and currently deciding whether to repurchase at full price or to finish off my Liz Earle eye cream which I wasn’t as enamoured with.

Laura Mercier Lip Gloss in Mauve 

This is my first Laura Mercier gloss and I very much like it.  A great my-lips- but-better shade, it has a gorgeous cocoa butter scent and is a great shade to go with lots of looks.  This was a limited edition product I think with the Space NK gift set, but based on the quality of this gloss, I will be investigating others from her line.

Chanel Illusion d’ Ombre in Emerveille - review here

This has been included in my monthly favourites previously and I am still enjoying the ease at which I can smooth this on with my fingers, add some mascara and I have an easy eye look in less than a minute, with no complex blending of several different shades. 

What were your favourites this month?  See anything above that catches your eye?

Make-up Haul!

Rubbish pic, sorry!

This will be the last make-up haul I do for a while, although in my defence I didn’t pay full price for any of these products and some of them were won in giveaways and competitions. I will be reviewing most of these over the coming weeks. Let me know if there are any you would particularly like to see reviewed

Lipsticks / Lipgloss

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in 33 La Distinguee – my first Rouge Allure Velvet, I adore the packaging for this, it just feels so luxurious and I can’t help but keep clicking it open and shut as it is so satisfying!

Mac Chatterbox – I picked this up in a blog sale from the lovely Rachel (Life of a Sweetaholic). I had been after this for a while so was pleased to pick it up.

YSL Rouge Volupte Rose Paris – This is SO bright but I do really like it. Another I picked up from Rachel’s blogsale.

Mac Lipglass in Madcap – I bought this around the same time as I purchased Pink Clash and I don’t think I will be purchasing any more lipglasses. It is a fairly nude, unremarkable shade, although I think it will go well with a smoky eye.

Mascara

Bobbi Brown Extreme Party Mascara – Another BuyaPowa purchase. I haven’t tried this yet though as I’ve got a couple of other mascaras to finish first

Barbara Daly Lash Boost Mascara – I won this for doing a Tesco Beauty Survey. Again I haven’t tried it yet due to my mascara mountain!

Others

Mac Humid Eyeshadow – I had been looking for a well-pigmented green eyeshadow and Humid fitted the bill. Initial impressions are that it is very smooth, buttery and easy to blend.

Rhianna Perfume Reb’l Fleur – this is quite fruity and not nearly as sickly sweet as I thought it might be!  I’m not generally a celeb fragrance fan but I won it from a competition on The Perfume Shop’s website, and although it doesn’t linger for long, it is perfectly acceptable.  I also received a rollerball of the fragrance (handy for keeping in my bag for reapplying), a body lotion and shower gel too.

Glitter Tattoo Set – This was also a win from the fantastic Emma (Computergirl). I haven’t had a chance to try this out yet but I do have a friend’s hen night coming up next month so it may get an outing then. You can never have too much glitter on a hen night!!

Let me know if there are any reviews you would like to see or if you have tried any of these products.

Victoria

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