FOTD featuring Illamasqua Pigment in Fervent

It's been a while since I've done a face of the day. I love playing with make up but lately I've been being lazy as being busier later in the evenings mean I just want my bed in the mornings.

When searching through my stash I found my illamasqua pigment that I haven't used much so decided to play around.

I applied my Avon eyelid primer all over my lid and started with a matte base using Foxy from Naked 2.

I then blended Tease (again from Naked 2) into my crease. This is my favourite crease colour. I love it for easy make up and use it most days. It's the perfect neutral matte brown.

I decided to use the pigment as a liner. This can be done in a few ways. You can either wet your brush to dampen the pigment. What I did was use something I got in the front cover sets (the ones in boots at christmas time) which is like a clear liquid that makes any colour eyeshadow a liquid liner.

I decided to pack the pigment on so you could really see all the colours. I love how it's reddy toned with some green tones depending on the light.

This is the first pigment I have got from illamasqua and I love it and want more. I love how they can be used in different ways and look different depending on how you apply them.

Here you can see the difference in colour depending on where you pack the pigment or blend it out. I really love the colour when it's packed on.

As it's a pigment it does get messy so I also do my eyes before foundation if I'm losing a loose pigment as it's much easier.

I used a coat of They're Real as I didn't want to use false lashes as I think they would be hard to blend with a coloured liner.

I used my studio fix fluid foundation. I don't really love this but I think it's more due to a the fact mine seems very yellow even though it's NW15 :(. I've been trying to use up an old mouse blusher. It's ok just not a colour I'd use any more and as always I used my Liz Earle bronzer.

I decided on Mac Plumful on the lips as it's a soft pink. I love this colour, especially now it's getting colder. I think it's a winter pink.

I really like how you can just see the glitter through the lashes and think it makes a change to the normal black liner.

Lately I've been getting back into using my Benefit Erase Paste. It is my favourite under eye concealer. It's so thick and just disguises those dark circles and lasts all day.

I think I need to get back into using different eye shadows for liners and using my make up more. It's so easy to get stuck in a make up rut!

Do you switch up your make up? I love finding that product I forgot about.

Love M

xxx

Review: Revlon Photoready Cream Blush in Coral Reef

Revlon have a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge fan base, including myself and M.

Both of us have been going mad for their products recently including Colorstay, nail polishes, lip butters and general love for the PhotoReady range.

I picked this up a fair few weeks ago now and have been meaning to write about it but the photos I kept taking were useless!

So finally I have something fairly decent that shows the product on my skin with true colours.

I love monochrome and I love simple shapes and designs.

This means I obviously love the packaging for this and that it comes in a box, it is wasteful as it's going straight in the bin to be honest (a recycling one!) but it makes it feel more expensive.

This cream blush is really easy to use.

I personally use the expert face brush from Real Techniques to apply this as its the perfect size and shape to pick up the product and apply it to the cheeks and particularly the hollows.

Eeee I do love how simple and amazing it looks.

It's faired pretty well in my gym bag too considering it gets carried around all day. It has never opened up by accident and the product sits at the bottom unaffected by any heat from car heaters etc.

I wish it still looked as perfect as this though:

This product is so easy to swirl onto a brush and straight onto your skin.

It blends with minimal effort and you need such a small amount that you will not need a new one for a long time!

You can see below pictures with a small amount and then the second with more:

It's really natural and can be worn all day every day, and out for an evening look.

After buying Cha Cha Tint in the summer I would say that the colours are comparable, with the Revlon being slightly easier to use with it being in a pot and not being runny.

However both have their place as I think Cha Cha Tint does last longer.

The only problem I've had with the Revlon Cream blush is bits of fluff from seemingly nowhere always finding their way into the product. This is easily rectified by wiping the surface with a tissue and it removes minimal product but it isn't great to see it all on the surface!

I would certainly buy this cream blush in another colour and have been eyeing up the pink!

It's currently on 3 for 2 in Boots which is asking for it really....

What do you think of the Cream blushes? Have you tried them out?

L xxx

Review: Collection Fix Me Up Spray

I was so excited when I opened a She Said Beauty box a few months back and found this little delight in there. Being an Oily/combination skin type a Make up Setting spray has been something that has interested me (and L who was equally eager to try it) for a while. I can't wear foundation without a bit of powder to set it or I'd just look like a shiny mess, but I've never been a fan of the powdered look. So a spray that reduces that was something I'd been meaning to try for a while.

There are so many of these type products around including the ever famous in blogsphere Caudalie Beauty Elixir and the Urban Decay up all night. For me it was just nothing I thought to spend my money on. Other more pretty make up appealed to me. Both these products have rave reviews and I will probably end up purchasing them at some point to compare. Especially as a quick google has bought up some reasonable prices for the Caudalie Beauty Elixir. Escentual have the 30ml bottle for only £9.99 (here). Note to self order that soon!!

The Collection Spray comes in at £5.99 for 18ml which when compared with other sprays seems cheap but is in fact more expensive than the Urban Decay ones which are currently on offer in boots for £16.15 for 118ml. Even when not on offer they are still cheaper than collection ones at £19.00 for 118ml. Urban Decay also do 3 different types for different skin types.

The packaging is a simple black bottle with a black sticker and pink writing. I like the combination of black and pink together and the fact it's plastic means I don't have to worry about throwing my bag around. I'm not the most careful of people. The lid to protect the spray pump stays on securely until you lose it in the pit of lost lids (you know the same one that swallows socks) I lose the lids to all things cosmetics annoyingly.

Ignoring the price of the spray how did I find it. I like the spray and have bought a second bottle since receiving it in my box (prior to comparing prices of others). It says to use three sprays but I usually use four. I absolutely love this product some days. But other days I find you can see where is has been sprayed on my skin and leaves marks in my foundation. It has a fine ish spray to it but I think it could be finer to help leave a more even finish.

The days I've loved it (I switch up my foundation a lot so I think it probably just doesn't agree with some of them) it has removed the powder look. I don't think it makes my make up last better but it definitely gives it a better finish. More smooth and fresh looking. This product is quite scented. It does dry pretty quickly so you don't end up with a wet face.

The big question would I repurchase. Probably to just chuck in my bag and for nights out it's size makes it good, but for a use everyday product I think there is better I just need to test them out and find it. I'd like one that's better value and with a finer mist. I kind of feel like this is one of those products I've made myself think is perfect but I'm not sure it really does too much.

Do you use setting sprays? What are your thoughts on them? Any recommendations on ones to try?

Love M

xxx

Like M I'd never tried a setting spray before this one came along.

I heard it had come in the Beauty Box so was intrigued when M said it was pretty good and so I picked it up on a 3 for 2 deal from Superdrug a little while ago and road tested it when we went out for Halloween.

It has since become an everyday part of my make up routine as I find that it leaves my make up looking dewy and has helped with the lasting power.

I do agree though that when you compare costs with other more widely known setting sprays the difference is minimal and I would be so interested to see how they compare.

I found that the Collection one was a little bit 'dribbly' for want of a better word, it could do with being finer as sometimes I did end up with droplets on my face. They weren't big enough to make my make up run or anything, but a mist would be far better!

This is great for a first try of a setting spray and perfect for throwing in your handbag for touch ups at work as the bottle is handbag sized.

I will be picking up the Urban Decay one though for comparison purposes!

What are your thoughts on setting sprays?

L xxx

FOTD Smokey Day Eye Mila Kunis Inpisired

After watching a few Mila Kunis films in recent weeks I've round myself leaving my beloved heaven and earth palette behind except for the shade I use on my brows. Mila works the smokey eye beautifully and her eyes always look stunning. Who wouldn't want stand out eyes like hers.

From google images

Here she is at the Ted premier (A film I loved) looking stunning. She has a really defined smokey eye with a hint of brown here and well defined cheeks and a nude lip. She works the nude lip and smokey eye combo well.

from google images

Amazing brows, a perfect black liner, well defined crease, volumised lashes, contoured cheeks and a nude lip! What's not to love about his look. It also looks to me like she has the Kim K contour make up on with the lighter under eye.

Enough of my girl crush and onto how I'm wearing my make up a lot at the moment. I know some may think this look is a bit much for every day but I love a strong eye look and it doesn't take me long to do.

So here is what I used. Wow that looks a lot doesn't it.  

To create the smokey eye I use the black from this beauty work palette. It's a little bit glittery in the pan but that doesn't show on the eye. I blend this into the crease of my eye after applying one of the nudes from my MUA palette. I apply the black in a v shape at the corner of my eye. 

I then line my eyes very close to the lash line using an Avon Colour Trend eyeliner. These are great and very black and cheap. Lately I curl my eyelashes. I blast them for a few seconds with the hair dryer so they are hot first. 

For mascara I'm using two Bourjois ones. The Volume max waterproof and the two step one. I like to use the two step one of the 1st step so my lashes get gently separated than apply two coats of my volume max one. I'm really liking this mascara which surprises me as I'm not usually a Waterproof mascara fan.

After eyes I do foundation. I do it after my eye make up so that any fall out from eye shadow can be easily cleaned up. I've been using this Collection primer at the moment but it's not one I'd repurchase. I have others I prefer. This feels to full of silicone for me. The Fix Me Up spray I love. I spritz it on after I've done my make up. I'm not sure it makes my make up last longer but it makes it look less cakey. 

Foundation wise I'm loving my Revlon Colorstay. I think this could be my perfect foundation. I love the finish on it, the lasting power and how it applies. I mix a small amount of wake me up in to add 'glow'. I'm using up my Collection concealer. I know it's a blogger favourite but lately I've been preferring others.

To do my cheeks I use three products. No7 blush in honey under my cheek bone (any pale girls this is the perfect under cheek day contour shade) My lace blush by 3 palette. I favour the orange and the red, when I bought this I though the middle shade would be my most used but I actually prefer the others. They are super pigmented and only needed the smallest touch.

I like the then add a sweep of MSF using my Mac brush over my cheek bone.

For lips I'm finding lately a nude shade just isn't suiting me aswell as bronze. For this look usually I would use Mac Fanfare (reviewed here) but as I had borrowed L's beautiful Russian Red lipstick I decided to take full advantage and use that. For a day time look so it was more subtle I applied it over lip balm

It gives it more of a soft red look.

And the finished look. Wow that was a long post. Who kept reading ;). I really like the smokey look even for days and find myself wearing it a lot varying the blush and lipstick I use. What do you think of a day smokey look. This make up probably only takes me 20 minutes to do this now.

Love M

xxx

First FOTD

Hey all

Today I thought I do a FOTD for you I took these photos a while back but haven't braved putting them on here yet. Hope you like this post, let me know. Personally I like seeing these posts as I like to see the products people use regularly and how they look on.

So here is the make up I used. This day was a cheap face make up day and a lazy one, no priming, eyeliner or contouring!

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in True Ivory - £5.99

17 blush in shade in Nude - £3.49

Natural Collection pressed powder in Cool - £1.99

MAC MSF in Soft and Gentle - £21.50

Accesorise brushes (part of a set at Christmas)

MAC 168 Large Contour Brush - £26.00

Real Techniques Stippling Brush - £11.99

Eylure Shape and Shade Brow Kit - £10.99

Soap and Glory Thick and Fast Mascara - £10.00

17 Peep Show Mascara - £6.29

MUA Heaven and Earth Palette - £4.00

MAC Fanfare Lipstick - £14.00

No7 Lipliner Shade Nude - £6.75 or £1.75 with voucher

Nivea Lip Balm - £1.65

First I apply my eyeshadow. 9 times out of 10 I will do my eyes before my foundation so if I get any fall out from foundation I don't have to re do my foundation. I also apply lip balm so my lips are ready for lipstick.

First I apply the 4th eyeshadow on the top row all over the eyelid. Next I define the crease of my eye with the 5th shadow on the bottom and lastly with eye shadow I do a V on the outer corner of my eye with the 5th shadow on the top row.

Next comes mascara. I always wear two different mascaras. I use two different ones usually depends on what two I grab out of my bag first. I apply thick and fast first to define and separate my lashes. I then use peep show to add some volume to my lashes.

I apply some of the lightest eyeshadow to the inner corner of my eye to make it look wider.

Next is foundation and Blush.

I apply Rimmel Wake Me Up all over using my stippling brush to get a nice even finish.

Then whilst doing the suck the cheeks in face I put the blusher on the apples of my cheeks and add a sweep of MAC MSF over my cheek bones and a sweep down my nose and under my brows.

Finally filling in my brows and wiping of my lip balm I line my lips to help the lipstick last.

This is such a gorgeous natural lip shade and one that gets plenty of wear.

So after all that my face looks like this!!

And in natural sunlight you can see the effect of the mineralize skin finish. This is the best highlighter I have used and I use it almost every day!!

So that's my first FOTD for the blog, hope you like it.

Love M

xxx