My MAC Eyeshadow Quad

Hello everyone,

Sorry I didnt post last week. Instead I thought I would treat you to a double bill this weekend. I have two MAC palette reviews for you.

Today I've got for you a review of my MAC quad which I started back in the Summer. I have a lot of single MAC eyeshadows but wanted to create my own signature quad of shadows that I can use on a day to day basis for a daytime and nighttime look and that I can easily fit into my makeup bag. So here is my MAC quad...

TL-Omega, TR-Blackberry, BL-Shale, BR-Satin Taupe

Omega:

This is such a nice subtle, neutral shade. If I'm not really feeling wearing much eyeshadow, I will just sweep a little bit of this along the lid. It is subtle enough to wear on its own or can be used as a base to build up other colours. I love this caramel-like shade and think it can be worn all year round. It is a matte shade which means it is great to be worn on its own. I personally would say that if youre looking to get a really basic, neutral base shade, that Omega is what you should be picking up and going to the counter with.

Blackberry:

I love a purple/burgundy eye sometimes, but after me not being able to work well with MAC Cranberry because I end up looking like I've been in a fight, I looked for an alternative. This came in Blackberry. Cranberry is a shimmer shade whereas Blackberry is a matte. It is a plum coloured matte shade which a perfect crease colour. Its a great shade that can really transform your daytime look to a nighttime look. It is really easy to blend and looks great with a range of other shimmer eyeshadows, especially MAC Jest for a really cute and girly look.

Shale:

This shade I got for Christmas and I love it. It is a great wintery eye shade because of the blue undertones it has. It is a lovely shimmer shade that can be used in the crease or all over the eye for a more dramatic and nighttime look. This can also go well with Cranberry. It can be used with browns and greys which makes it a great eyeshadow to have because of its multi-purposeness. It is highly pigmented so a little goes a long with and sometimes fall-down leaves shimmer on my face but it's easily rectified with a bit more powder. This was a shade I wasnt sure about trying because I didnt know exactly if it was me but I am very happy that I put it on my Christmas list.

Satin Taupe:

This is a MAC classic. Anyone who owns MAC eyeshadows owns this shade and so I was very late to get it. This was the other eyeshadow which I got for Christmas. If you are looking to do a brown smokey eye look this is the perfect dark shade to blend into the crease and the outer corner of the eye. It has some shimmer in it but its highly pigmentation is great for a bold and dark eye which stands out so much more than when using other shades. It has a metallic look to it, like Shale, but don't let that put you off buying it and wearing it. It is a classic shade to own and I would recommend it to everyone!

This quad is something I would use on a day-to-day basis and I think you can get so many great daytime and nighttime looks out of it. It is cheaper to buy the palette and fill it with the eyeshadow refills than to buy them all separately. I also think they look nicer. With MAC eyeshadows, a little goes a long way and I don't think you need much so they will last a long time. Having a variety of different shades means the combinations of looks which you can make are great and whenever I wear MAC eyeshadows, especially this quad, I always get compliments from people saying how great the shades are.

So if you are looking to buy some eyeshadows I would recommend MAC entirely and they have such a wide variety that there really is something for everyone. 

Let me know if you have any MAC eyeshadows and if you would recommend any to me to try because I am always up for trying new products.

So until next time lovelies xx

Liz Earle Skincare Routine

Hello everyone,

Firstly, a quick sorry for the lack of blog posts recently. Life stuff has been happening as well as A Levels and life is just very very hectic!

But I thought I would tell you my new skincare routine and kind of review the products which I use. I put some Liz Earle products on my Christmas list but unfortunately Santa did not deliver; the Boxing Day sales however did!

The gift set which I treated myself to was the Botanical Skin Saviours set. This included: the Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, the Instant Boost Skin Tonic, the Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion, the Skin Repair Moisturiser and two muslin cloths. I got this at a fab price and it also included free delivery and a 30ml Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser and a small muslin cloth.

After reading great reviews from a variety of bloggers I thought I would bite the bullet and just go for it. I was a bit apprehensive at first because as I still have quite young skin I wasnt sure if it would do anything for my skin and because I have skin which can get irritated easily, I was worried that it may cause allergic reactions but I needn't have feared because they are great. I use most of them in the evening after a shower for my evening skincare routine but also use them in the morning before I apply my foundation so I thought I would briefly run-through my routines...

Morning Skincare Routine:
In the morning I wash my face with warm water and use the muslin cloth to do this. If I have a bad breakout or need some nourishing I will use the Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser before this. But normally the warm water does the trick to make my face look more awake. I then pat dry my face with a nice fluffy towel before putting some of the Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion on some cotton wool and rubbing that all around my eyes. If my face is feeling in the need for some moisture I will then use about a pea size amount of the Skin Repair Moisturiser. Don't think that you will need lots of the moisturiser because a little goes a long way and leaves your skin feeling moisturised.

Evening Skincare Routine:
After my shower in the evening I tend to come out looking like a panda (girl problems!) I use the Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser on my dry-ish face and work it in using circular movements. I focus it around where I have breakouts and on my panda eyes. I then use a muslin cloth and warm water to wash the cleanser off. I focus a lot on my eyes to get all of the mascara and stuff off my face. I keep washing my face about 3 times to make sure all of the cleanser has gone and that my face feels clean. I then put some of the Instant Boost Skin Tonic on cotton wool and wipe that over my face before finally moisturising using the Skin Repair Moisturiser. As I said before, I only use about a pea sized amount because that really is all you need.

These products truly are amazing. I have used them for 14 days now and not used any other skincare products and I can really feel a difference in my skin. I have some breakouts but am not sure if they are because of the products. The products make my skin feel nourished and hydrated and I can see a great improvement in how glowing my skin looks. These products don't make me feel oily at all and I will continue to use these for a while. The muslin cloths do get a bit dirty because of the makeup marks but putting them in a wash after every 5 days of use or so cleans them up and they look new again. I have nearly finished my tonic and eye lotion which makes me a bit sad and as they are a bit pricey and out of my budget, replacements will be on my birthday list I'm sure.

I hope you liked my little reviews and skincare routines. I would really recommend these products to everyone and I'm sure they will do wonders for your skin like they have done for mine. Thanks Liz Earle for making great products. I am now hooked and will be investing in a lot more things soon. If you have tried any Liz Earle products let me know how you got on with them and I might have to do another little shop.

So until next time lovelies xx

No7 Advent Calendar - Week 3

Hello everyone,

This week has been a really good week for the products in the advent calendar. I would possibly go as far as saying that it has been my favourite week so far! There has been such a great mix of a variety of products. Lets see what week 3 had to offer...

15th December: No7 Stay Perfect Amazing Eyes Pencil in Black

After getting the Stay Precise Felt Tip Liner I have wanted to use every eyeliner under the sun! So when I opened this up I was excited to add another eyeliner to my vast collection and to actually try and use it. I wore it to school that day without any eyeshadow on and I have to say that it disappointed me. I had to keep on checking in a mirror because it left black marks on top of my eyelids. Once I wore it with heavy eyeshadow (like gold) it didnt leave this mark. I think that it only really works for me when teamed with a bold eyeshadow look. I think pencil eyeliner has to be applied well for it to look good and I dont think I've quite mastered it yet but I will one day! It is also a really handy size to keep in a makeup bag and I dont think it needs sharpening all the time which is a really good thing.

16th December: No7 Essential Lip Brush

I have only just started to use lip brushes for my lips. Normally I would line the lips or use a good lip balm then apply the lipstick over the top normally but during the colder Winter months, I have been putting a layer of lipstick on using a lip brush. I think this maintains the staying power of the lipstick and helps to give a bolder look which I really like during this time of year. I have tried a variety of lip brushes and I have to say that I think they all do great jobs whether they are expensive or cheap. I wouldnt have gone out and bought this product on its own but because I have got it as part of this advent calendar, I am very grateful and have used it every day since getting it.

17th December: No7 Intense Volume Mascara in Black

As I said before when reviewing the other mini mascara from the advent calendar, I am fussy when choosing a mascara. Like the other one, this has a furry fibre-y wand which I am not particularly fond of. I found the formula of this mascara more liquidy than the other one and I dont think that it gives a lot of volume. I just think that it shows that you are wearing a thin layer of mascara. If you are wanting a minimal makeup look then I think this would be for you. It gives a bit of length but not much volume. I would say that the mini sizes of these mascaras are great to take away or to keep in a clutch bag on a night out, but I wouldnt go out and buy the full size product of this mascara or the other one if I'm being honest.

18th December: No7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow Cappuccino (top shade)

I have recently become a lover of a gold eyeshadow look. I think that they are a great Winter party or going out look if you want it to be bold or even something subtle for day-to-day wear. I have been using this ever since I got it as a base for very highly pigmented gold eyeshadow products. I think it would look good with any colour over the top as it is a shimmery base coat. The size of the product is also something which I find great - it doesnt take up too much room in my makeup bag or makeup drawer! I also think it would go well with the other eyeshadow which came from this calendar if you were looking to do a quick and easy eyeshadow look if you were in a rush. I dont know how much I would use it any other time of year but I am loving it at the moment and I'm sure it'll be used at some point in the Spring/Summer months. I would also recommend using it under the bottom lash line as a way of brightening the eyes and making you look more awake.

19th December: No7 Nail Effect in Disco Ball

Now when I opened this up, it was safe to say that I automatically began to feel slightly more festive. I love wearing darker shades in the winter and then putting a top coat which leaves an effect on top. I have used some before but because the formula is so thick it just goes opaque over the nail varnish but this one I would say is multi-purpose. You could wear this as a glitter nail varnish on its own or you could match it with another colour and use it as a great top coat. I wore this last night with Barry M's Vintage Violet and thought they were a great combination. I think it a great product to have either full size or travel size. I would easily use this all Christmas and would recommend it highly. Its safe to say I will be using this for the rest of the Winter months and maybe even in Spring too.

20th December: No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Day Hand Cream

I'm not particularly one for hand creams. I have tried a variety but I just think that they arent for me. As an Avon Rep I have tried a variety of Avon ones and I have also tried the Soap and Glory Hand Food. Dont get me wrong theyre not bad products, I just generally have soft hands which dont tend to crack or get dry so I am quite lucky. Because of this I dont tend to use hand creams; but I know someone who does! I dont want to get used to this hand cream which costs £10.50 for the full size product, especially when there are cheaper alternatives which work just as well. I tried it on the day that I got it and thought that it was good - it didnt leave a sticky residue on my hands, it made my hands feel soft, but this isnt something I would use much. It also doesnt have a distinct smell which is something that I tend to like in body products so I dont think its for me. Because of this I am either going to keep it in my makeup bag or give it to mum. Even if I dont intentionally end up giving it to her, I'm sure she'll find it and keep if for herself anyway.

21st December: No7 Stay Perfect Metallic Eye Pencil in Metallic Grey

As you now know, my eyeliner obsession is going out of control! I am a lip product addict at heart and always will be but I am starting to really get into eyeliner. I have a few sparkly metallic eyeliners but not one like this. It has a great eyeliner like the Supershock ones from Avon - it is a gel-like liner in pencil form. Also this eyeliner has a smudger on the end which is really nice to have. I guess you could use this as an eyeliner or part of an eyeshadow look. I have used this eyeliner with my bold gold eyeshadow look and because it is a silver colour, I think it really works well as a contrast. And of course who doesnt love a bit of silver in the festive season? I am excited about wearing this on Christmas Day with my green sequin dress. The only downside with this product is that it is very long and it is hard to fit in a makeup bag, but because it has a strong staying power, it is unlikely that you would need to keep reapplying it.

I'm really excited to see what I have left to open and I will be reviewing the last 4 things from this years advent calendar. 

So until next time lovelies xx

Lush Christmas Presents

Hello everyone,

I was very privileged to get some little presents from family and friends from Lush this Christmas. I am a bath bomb lover and when it comes to the Christmas range but the thing I love the most has to be the Snow Fairy shower gel. Here are the little gems I got for Christmas...

I got some lovely things, some of which I have loved in the past and some of which are brand new to me. I thought I'd just do a mini review on them and get myself more excited about using them.

Butterbear Bath Ballistic:

I love the Butterball bath ballistic and when they brought this out for Christmas, it was definitely going on my Christmas list. It is the same as the Butterball but in the shape of a very cute polar bear. I think it is a great bath product because of all the great essential oils and butters which moisturise the skin. It has a vanilla like scent with hints of cocoa butter. Something I really like about the Butterball and other variations of it, is that it doesnt make the bath change to a bright colour. This bath bomb focuses more on the goodness of the bath than the colour and sometimes I need that to chill out and wind down after a stressful week or something. He really is a cute little fella and I can't wait to use him soon. 

Shoot For The Stars Bath Ballistic:

This bath ballistic gives off such a wonderful array of blue and pink colours which then mix to make a deep purple colour to make your bath actually look like the night sky. It has the same smell as the 'Honey I Washed The Kids' soap which is really nice also. It has quite a strong smell of toffee and honey which are kind of sickly but not so strong that it's overbearing. I dont know if I would buy it all year round so it is quite nice to try it at Christmas. This size bath ballistic you could probably cut in half to get two baths out of it but I dont know if I will be doing that when I use it or not.

The Christmas Hedgehog Bubble Bar:

The thing we tend to use the most of in baths in my house are the bubble bars. My dad and brother dont like bath ballistics because they make the bath water bright and vibrant colours. Bubble bars on the other hand are something we all use because who doesnt love a bubble bath? I searched for this when I went to Leeds in October because I wanted to try it before Christmas but I couldnt find it so when I got it in my stocking I was thrilled. I think it has quite an acquired smell but I like it and think that you can probably get two baths out of it. The smell I can get the most from it is Lavender and I think this little guy is very buttery and kind of melty so I have a feeling he will do wonders for the skin in the bath.

Snow Fairy Shower Gel:

Yes everyone, we got it!! If you read my first blog post back in October, I wrote about how I love this product and buy it every Christmas but because they didnt have the 100ml size in store I decided not to buy it. It was right at the top of my Christmas list and my gran bought it for me for Christmas in the 250ml size. I was very very excited about this. It goes without saying that it is the sweetest scent that Lush do but by no means is it sickly. Lush tend to do a variety of products with this sweet, candyfloss type scent and I think I have tried most of them. This now lives in the shower and I use it without fail everyday but I am not looking forward to the day where I run out of it. 

However I was lucky enough to get two Lush boxes which have it in also...

Little Snow Fairy Gift Box: 

I got two of these for Christmas; one from my cousin and one from my friend. I just love Snow Fairy and to get two minis means that I can take it away with me when I go for a sleepover or a weekend away. It also makes me feel less sad about the idea of finishing my 250ml shower gel. I have never used a FUN product before and I am really excited about doing so. The FUN is in the nice sweet, candyfloss scent which I really like. I know it sounds childish but I am looking forward to making a pig out of the pink FUN. I cant wait to use it as a bubble bar, shower gel, shampoo and just for modelling. I have heard great reviews for these and to get two of them really made me happy - so thank you Amy and Meera!

So they were the Christmas presents from from Lush from my family and friends. I am excited for trying the new products which I havent tried before and just stocking up on my Lush collection in the bathroom. Let me know in the comments what bath and body stuff you got for Christmas and if there were any Lush bits in your stocking from Father Christmas or under the tree.

So until next time lovelies xx

Favourite Products of 2014!

Hello everyone,

Firstly, Happy New Year! I hope you all had a lovely New Year and are looking forward to what this year brings to us. I have decided to pick out my favourite beauty and skincare items from 2014 and review them for you all. Enjoy...

Best Foundation:
Well this isnt exactly a foundation, it's a BB cream but I think that the formulation is that of a good foundation. My favourite foundation product has been the MAC Prep + Prime Beauty Balm in Light Plus. I think it has great coverage for a BB cream and often wear this on nights out. It has a light to medium coverage I would say and on nights out I wear it because it doesnt feel heavy on the skin so it makes it more comfortable to wear. I think it blends out really well and you can build it up as much as needed until you are comfortable with it. I think the shade Light Plus is great for my skin tone and I am very happy with it. I have used it quite a lot but there is still a lot left so even though it is slightly pricey, you do get a lot for your money.

Best Concealer:
I have tried a variety of concealers this year. Cream concealers, stick concealers, liquid concealers but there has been one which does wonders for my skin. This has been the No7 Match Made Concealer in Calico. I tend to use this most often when I use No7 foundations in Calico so the concealer and foundation match perfectly. I tend to apply this concealer using a concealer brush around my eyes, nose and on any places where I have a breakout. The only problem I have with this concealer is that I find it hard to use it on its own as a base as I dont think that it fully blends onto the face perfectly.

Best Powder:
I am a lover of anything matte as most of you know whether that be a matte face, lip or nail. Because I tend to get quite a shiny face throughout the day, I top up on powder when needed. The powder I have used consistently for this is the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in 001 Transparent. I use this after applying my makeup in the morning and at times when needed throughout the day. This is a powder which my mum also uses so we tend to have about 3 on the go in the house at any one time so it's rare that we would run out completely which is a good thing. If you were to look in my makeup bag at anytime throughout the year, I pretty much guarantee that you will find it in there!

Best Blush:
Now there were two products up for this title and I was going to give it to them both but then I thought about which product I would use most and how much I have used. So, for me, the best blush of 2014 has to be Benefit's Coralista. This is what I would say to be the most perfect Spring/Summer face product. I bought it back in February to treat myself for my Birthday and I am now starting to worry that I will soon hit pan as I have used it so much and there is a major dip. I am surprised that I havent hit pan already! The packaging is a bit bulky so is hard to fit in a makeup bag but all in all I would have to say that it is probably one of my makeup favourites of this year. It works perfectly for a daytime or nighttime look and would look good if you wanted a minimal makeup day as well as a full makeup day.

Best Bronzer:
I wasn't too sure about including this category as I dont own that many bronzers. They are mostly all drugstore ones which arent too expensive and I dont tend to use them too much with the fear of looking like an oompa-loompa. I purchased this bronzer in the Summer and had forgotten about it ever since but over this past month I have used it quite a lot. My Bronzer of 2014 has to be Nars Laguna. I gave in to all the hype and bought what I thought at the time to be a very expensive bronzer but I think it is just great. It is highly pigmented and lasts ages. I have used it quite a lot recently and it hasnt even got the slightest dip in the product. It is a great contour product too due to minimal amounts of shimmer and orange tones.

Best Eyebrow Product:
This was the year where I actually took care of my eyebrows. I had them shaped and dyed but when they werent looking as great, I looked for good brow products to help my brows shape my face. I have tried both high end and drugstore products but it is safe to say that there has only been one product for me this year and that is the Soap and Glory Archery in Love is Blonde. The felt tip end is great for drawing in hair like strokes and the waxy end is also great. I just love this and the duo always makes an appearance in my makeup bag. I have nearly finished the waxy end so will have to be repurchasing it very soon.

Best Eyeshadow Palette:
If you know me then you know what this answer is. The best palette of 2014 has got to be the original Naked Palette. I always take this palette with me when I go away whether that be for one night or for a week. It is lovely and lightweight and the packaging is perfect. The variety of shades is just perfect. I think that Naked as a base and using Half Baked all over the lid or in the crease is a great nighttime eye look. The only downside is there are barely any matte shades.

Best Eyeliner:
Now if you have read my weekly No7 advent calendar reviews, you will know that up until recently, I havent been an eyeliner girl. I owned shed loads of eyeliners but never used them because I didnt think that they really suited my eyes very much and wasnt sure what colour to wear etc. In the advent calendar though I was lucky to get the No7 Stay Precise Felt Tip Eyeliner which I have loved so much over the past month that it has to be my top eyeliner for 2014. Trying to master the feline flick is something which I have never really bothered to attempt after many failed attempts. This eyeliner though I think is perfect. It has a great felt tip nib which isnt too flimsy and it has a nice fine point so you can get right to the edge of the lid. It has great staying power and it looks great when applied subtly or going all out for either a daytime or nighttime look. The only downside to it though is that I dont know how long it is going to last before I need to invest in a new one; but I have my purse at the ready for when that day comes!

Best Mascara:
I love trying different mascaras but there is rarely a time where I find the perfect mascara. As most of you probably know, I am a lover of the plastic wand and not the furry fibre-y ones so when I found this I couldn't wait to use it. I love a mascara which can bring volume and length and this mascara brings both to the table. The Bourjois Volume Glamour Max Definition is so fab that I couldnt not give it a mention. You can use one coat for a great daytime look but you can also build it up really easily for a false lash effect in the nighttime. The best thing about this is that it doesnt clump your lashes together. The worst thing though is that it is a nightmare to get off. You think you have got it all off but then you find more and more hidden away somewhere in the eyelashes. Mine is beginning to dry up now so I will need to repurchase next time I'm in Boots or Superdrug.

Best Lip Product:
I was dreading this category! I have recently had to move my lipstick collection to a bigger box after a few new products headed my way on Christmas Day. Having to choose between nudes, pinks and reds, drugstore and high end, lipstick, lipgloss and lipliner was a bloody nightmare let me tell you! I got it down to 5 and then had to sleep on it but I think I have chosen one. This isnt necessarily my favourite one at the moment but it has been multiple times over the year and it is the one I think I have used the most and got the most compliments from. My lip product of 2014 has to be the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in 02 Frambourjoise. These lip products have amazing staying power and are really buildable. I think they look great whatever the time of day and whatever the time of year. If you are to look in my makeup bag, handbag, schoolbag or whatever bag I have, it is pretty certain that it will feature in it. I love a liquid lipstick and want to purchase some more of these to add to my collection - now to wait until theyre on 3 for 2 again...

Best Makeup Brush:
This is the category which I failed to only pick one for. I have decided though to pick one eye brush and one face brush. My top eye brush has to be the MAC 217. I finally gave in to the hype of this in the summer after contemplating buying it for 6 months previously but I am so happy I did. It is expensive for a single eyeshadow brush but I use it every day so you really get your moneys worth. My face brush of the year has to be the Real Techniques Buffing Brush. I got this last Christmas in the Core Collection Set and I use it everyday for applying my foundation. The main problem with this brush is because it obviously gets dirty really quickly, you have to keep washing it and after a while I would want to repurchase it but this brush is only available in the Core Collection Set or in the Sam's Picks Set and so you end up getting duplicates of other brushes you may not use. I am hoping to get another one at some point though but when that will be I dont know.

Best Skincare Product:
I have tried a variety of products this year from the drugstore and more high end ones too. I have tried makeup removers, cleansers, toners, exfoliators, moisturisers and basically the whole shebang! After much deliberation, I have decided that my favourite skincare product of 2014 has to be Benefit's Triple Performing Facial Emulsion. It is a great moisturiser for all year round. It doesnt make my skin too oily and it can be used before bed or in the morning underneath makeup. The glass bottle makes it look really sophisticated and only a few pumps are needed each time so it will last a long time.

Best Nail Varnish:
I have a lot of nail varnishes but I think that it was one of the easiest choices to decide which was my best nail varnish of the year. My top nail varnish of 2014 is the Barry M Nail Paint in Vintage Violet. Even though I only bought this at the end of November, there have only been a few times in the past month where I havent worn it. It is a great shade for all year round and it lasts ages with very few chips. It only needs 2 or 3 coats to look opaque. At £2.99 it is a bargain and I am sure I will continue to use it constantly over the next few months. It looks great on both fingernails and toenails and I always get compliments when wearing it. It is a great shade to wear with glitter effects over the top.

Best Fragrance:
I have wanted this for about the last 5 years and with my first ever pay packet last year I decided to treat myself to Marc Jacobs Daisy. It is a great scent for daytime and nighttime. I think it is nice to wear all year round even though I would tend to wear it more in the Spring/Summer months. Because it is quite pricey and therefore of high quality, a little spray goes a long way. It also lasts all day and because of it, I like to wear it on special occasions especially. The packaging is so lovely and it looks so beautiful on the drawers where all my beauty bits are stored.

Best Haircare Product:
There are a lot of haircare products I have used this year but this is the one which I have used constantly, when my hair was longer and now it is shorter. When curling my hair, there is only one hairspray for me and that is the L'Oréal Paris Studio Line #TXT Volume Supersizing Spray. It is a great hairspray and a great volumising product. I have already reviewed this fully HERE so if you want to read more about it please do.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about my favourite products of 2014. Please let me know in the comments what you have been loving and give me any recommendations as you know I am always up for trying and buying new things.

So until next time lovelies xx