MAC Cinderella Fluidline Eyeliner Gel: Little Black Bow

Morning!

A few weeks ago my amazing friends got me some lovely gifts for my birthday - MAC is always a lush present to receive right??
They got me both of the items below, the limited edition Cinderella Fluidline Eyeliner and the Toledo Ombre Blush. I will come to the blush in a separate post so this one is for the Cinderella liner.

If I'm honest I can't say the packaging excited me that much. I loved the look of the eyeshadow palette but that's maybe because it has Cinderella plastered across the front!
I just didn't feel like it was as magical as it could have been - though it is a pretty blue and matches the dress that she wears in the film. It needed a little more sparkle in my opinion!





The MAC Fluidline Eye-Liner Gel is called 'Little Black Bow', and is classed as a grey liner with silver pearl.

It's quite a dark grey liner gel with silver glitter particles, though it isn't gritty. It's one of those shades that can be used as intended as an eyeliner, but also as a cream eyeshadow. The texture is very smooth and has a sheen finish, it's a thin gel so applies really easily regardless of your application.

So for application as a eyeliner gel, how does it look?

I applied this using the Real Techniques liner brush, it was super easy to get a perfect flick considering I haven't worn eyeliner for a good few months recently. It may need a few layers to get a decent uniform effect but I didn't find it was too much of an problem.
I normally love liner but it's too fiddly for work and I haven't had any occasions for anything different.

I liked this in the pot but I wasn't sure I'd get much wear out of it. Having used it a few times now I can say that I surprisingly love it and it's a beautiful alternative to a black. I could in theory wear this grey to work as its a great subtle alternative to black (though maybe the glitter wouldn't be ideal....)



I was also impressed with how well the liner lasted too, it didn't smudge or budge all day and I think that wearing it alone as I have above or with a subtle or full blown smokey eye would be a really nice alternative to a black, especially for summer nights out when minimal make up is the best option.

What do you think of Little Black Bow?

I love receiving limited edition products but they can be hard to write about especially as they sell out so fast! Allegedly this has been brought out before under a different collection but a dark grey liner is generally a good addition to any make up collection.

Do you wear dark grey instead of black liquid liner? Do you buy from MAC limited edition collections?

I normally lust after them as they sell out!

L xxx

Review: Smashbox Jet Set Waterproof Eye Liner and Brush

Hello all!

I hope your weekend has started well.

I'm actually going to a hen weekend of the first of my friends to be getting married, so I'm sat at home writing this on a Friday night whilst surrounded by all manner of shoes, dresses and make up!

My bag is bulging and I haven't even begun with the accessories and make up eek!

A few weeks ago I picked up this beauty from the Cosmetics Company Outlet in Swindon.

If you've never been to one of those shops then I seriously recommend it, owned by Estee Lauder it has an array of Mac, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Smashbox, Ojon and Origins amongst others for you to get your product greedy mitts on just like me for a discounted price!

I personally spend a rather generous sum and I hope one day to own the whole shop.

I was lucky enough to buy Smashbox's infamous waterproof eye liner along with the matching brush (Arced Liner Brush #21) to use together and I have to say, I'm completely converted to using the brush!

I obviously bought the liner in black, there were other colours present but wanting to get the best value and check out the product first I bought it in black for maximum wear.

The brush you can see below is really thin and has quite long hairs matched with an angled tip making it easier to line your eyes without your arms getting in the way and stopping you from being able to see....wicked!

I'd never used a brush like this so was a bit suspicious but I've been told multiple times how amazing they are so just caved and snapped it up!

I like that the brushes are bright red making them easy to find in amongst the darker packaging of my other make up. I like things to be kept simple but this is massively helpful at 6am!

The design of the pot is pretty bog standard, glass pot with screw on lid, nothing too out there!

Look at the pot of smoothness!

It's so creamy and easy to apply I cannot say a bad thing about it.

This cost me £11 at CCO but normally retails for £16.

I wouldn't spend £16 on a gel eyeliner as I know that Maybelline's is rather good and I am quite a big fan of it, and couldn't justify spending the extra £10 on something that although is amazing, isn't £10 amazing.

However for an extra £5 I think this liner is worth every penny!

It's so creamy and easy to apply, easy to mop up mistakes (as long as your quick!) and stays put all day whether wind, rain or shine.

Even at the end of the day however it swipes off with a tiny bit of make up remover and requires no rubbing.

It's just like the Maybelline one which was my first love, but better.

I'd definitely pick this up again from CCO!

Here's a few pictures of it working it's magic...:

The one below shows me without mascara so you can see the liner better.

I did edit it on my phone, but as black is black it hasn't edited the colour at all.

The one below has mascara on the top lid, and shows a bigger flick.

The brush makes it so easy to do these neatly and quickly and only requires a baby wipe to clean off during the week!

What do you think of the gel eye liner? Are you a fan of them?

What other Smashbox products have you tried?
This was one of my first and I've loved it!

L xxx

FOTD - Step by Step Make Up

After seeing a FOTD on Palindrome Poppet's blog I liked that she did it step by step and showed the before and after photos. I decided to do something similar on my go to comfort everyday look. For me this is what I do when I can't be bothered with my make up and it takes me about 15 minutes to do.

This is the first photo I've put on the blog completely make up free. Please ignore my hair I hadn't done that yet either and it's fading unevenly.

What a difference a bit of make up makes!

On my face I used 

• Sleek blush by 3 in lace. I used the red shade
• Benefit Erase paste in Shade 1
• Miss Sport bronzer (I've lost my favourite No7 blush in honey)
• Mac Studio Fix Fluid in shade NW15
• Revlon PhotoReady powder in translucent.

I really love the finish of Studio Fix. It really evens out my skin tone, covers and imperfections and leaves a natural semi matte finish to the skin. This definitely beats my old love of Prolong wear.

On my eyes I used

• From Naked 2 Palette: Bootycall and Tease
• Maybelline Gel Liner
• Avon Super Magnify
• Lancome Hypnose Doll Lashes
• Eylure Shape and Shade brow pencil

Firstly I apply my Erase paste reviewed yesterday to under the eye and over my lid as an eyeshadow base. I apply bootycall all over my lid and then blend tease into the crease. I really love tease. It's the perfect crease colour and looks amazing blended out.

For this look I always used gel liner. I love gel liner and wear it most days. I find it much easier to work with than any other type. I find the maybelline last extremely well all day. I start of with a thin line and blend it towards the outer corner of my eye. With this look I don't wear anything on my bottome lases. Just a bit of bootycall blended into the tear duct.

Next is lashings of mascara. I apply the Avon one first to separate my lashes, then my Lancome one on top to define and volumize.

I use the Eylure pencil to fill in my brows and give them some shape. I'm still learning and have now bought Brow Zings which I'm hoping will make me better at my brows.

For blush I apply a bit of bronzer to the hollows of my cheeks to make it look like I have cheek bones. Then I apply a small amount of the red from my sleek palette to the apples of my cheeks. This blush is so pigmented I have to use a light hand.

These are my go to brushes. The Avon one is what I use for Gel Liner and is the best of the best for gel liners. The accessorize brush was a brush my mum gave me from a set. I use it to put shimmer into my tear ducts. Then My Real Techniques Stippling Brush. The next brush is actually a lip brush I recently picked up in M&S for 25p it's great for blending out the crease (which I use the brush from my Naked 2 palette to apply). Then the jolie box conealor brush. I like to blend my Erase paste in with this. FCUK blush brush. This is the softest brush ever. The Mac 168 I use to contour. It's amazing and lastly is an avon fluffy brush I use to apply bootycall.

And last but not least my No7 lip liner in plum and Mac lipstick in Plumful. I love this shade. It's a perfect pink colour. Followed by a gently powder with my Revlon PhotoReady.

And that's my go to make up. Seems a lot when I describe it.

What do you think of step by step FOTDs? Do you prefer them like this or is it too photo heavy for you?

Love M

xxx

Make Up Haul

Over the past few weeks I haven't been able to resist the great 3 for 2 offers across all of Superdrug make up and the 3 for 2 on Maybelline make up in boots. I'm very drawn to lipsticks at the moment. It's a product I used to not even think about considering but lately I'm favouring a bright pink lip. (suggestions on brands and shades to try appreciated!!)

First up Superdrug last week. I was instantly drawn to the Sally Hanson nail shades as I hadn't seen them before. I've only just started noticing Sally Hanson nail polishes in boots and Superdrug. This one is called Glitzy Gal and while the nail seems a bit cheap to me I love the polish. It's jam packed with glitter and only takes two coats. Will do a NOTD soon. I'm yet to try the look nail pop. This is in the shade kimono a duo chrome nail polish in a khaki and gold shade! 

As I needed to get one more thing I went to the sleek stand. I was disappointed at first as there were none of the blush by 3 palettes and I'd been wanting one for ages! So we opened the draw below and there was one left in the shade Lace. This was the palette I'd wanted so I was pleased. L was with me at the time and also found the palette she wanted. I know you're not meant to but I do have a quick peek if what I want isn't on display. I have used the blushes everyday since I got them! I am in love with the colours!

 A quick trip to boots for lunch ended up with these three. I'm definitely not normally a lip gloss girl but a super stay 10 hour lip tint caught my eye. (I was hoping it would be similar to the YSL glossy stains I'm currently lusting over) I will do Lipstick Monday's with all the lip products. I love love love this gloss. Does it last 10 hours...... No it doesn't but it's a gorgeous bright pink shade I'm happy to reapply (Forever Fuschia) I also picked up my favourite mascara ever! Been using it for 3 years now and don't think it'll be replaced. I've tried lots. And lastly the Maybelline colour pop in Shade 80 cherry pop, this is similar to the topshop cult pink glittery lipstick but gives a gorgeous sweep of red sheer cover and smells amazing like cherries! I'm going back for more colours.

And lastly I picked up two of the Maybelline Dual 24 hour stay lip products (they come with a balm and stain all in one). Can you see a pattern. I was so impressed with the Maybelline lip products. Originally I swatched these on my hand in the morning and had to go back and buy them as they had lasted all day even with lots of hand washing. Unfortunately the lasting power on the lips isn't quite as good but I still love them and would buy more. I got shades 195(Raspberry) and 510 (Red Passion), a bright pink and cherry red. I also picked up a new gel eyeliner as I've almost used my first pot I bought when it first come out. I love this product!

I've been spending loads but couldn't resist a good deal. Plus I'm loving a bright lipstick now the sun is shining. Have you taken advantage of the 3 for 2 offer?

Love M

xxx


Giveaway ends on Sunday only 7 entries so far so great chance of winning x