Bourjois Intense Smoky Eyeshadow and Liner trio

Superdrug currently has a 3 for 2 offer. . .  How could I not go in and purchase? I mean it's practically criminal not to, right? So I headed with great confidence to the Bourjois section, and picked up this trio, along with a couple of their lip crayons (red and plum that are oh-so-gorgeous).

The trio I bought is called Paon Élégant, and it looks like this:

Yeah, ok, not the best shot but it's 4am and I'm using my camcorder to take these photo's. So you open it up and inside it looks like this:

Sorry, I've already used it, but hey ho. . .
Once I was home, I decided to swatch it. . . And this is where my HUGE mistake was made. . .

NOT swatching this palette/trio BEFORE I bought it and took it home. The pigmentation is so poor - it definitely lacks in colour payoff and leaves me wanting. . .  More. . .
Bourois. . . How could you? You are the one drugstore makeup brand that normally gives us everything we desire and more; the quality, the sleek beautiful packaging, the chic makeup and bold, daring colours. . .  but seriously, what happened?
Intense? No way.
Seriously, they should have named this palette "Not So Intense Smoky" or "Sheer Smoky", it would have been more truthful.

I tried doing a smoky eye with this and had to layer colour over and over again trying to get an 'Intense Smoky' eye, but failed miserably - this goes for both the silver and the dark green colour. I ended up having to use a black eyeshadow to make it intense and smoky, which completely defeats the object that this product was designed to do. Its one saving grace has to be its eyeliner, which does not apply well with the brush provided, but isn't a bad colour, and it definitely makes a change from my normal black.

The only intense thing about this product is how overpriced it is for the quality, but because it was a 3 for 2 offer, technically, I didn't actually waste any money on it. Still, it's going right into my makeup drawer for makeup that either never or rarely gets used. *sigh*

Bourjois Color Edition 24h

So I was reading about a Barry M eyeshadow palette from Superdrug on a blog that I follow (http://youe3.blogspot.co.uk/), and I went running down to Superdrug to see if ours stocked it. Which it doesn't. Our store never stocks anything *sigh*. Seriously, I don't know why I bother. I think it's in the vain hope that the store will someday stock things like their own makeup brands like B. and Sleek, but they don't. . .  Yeah, go figure. . .

While I perused the store for anything else it had to offer, I found these instead. . .

Bourjois now do cream-to-powder eyeshadows? I was intrigued. These seem to be the new up-and-coming way to go when it comes to our eyes; long-wear and intense colour that normally claim to be crease proof too. MAC have their famous paint pots, Maybelline have their color tattoos, Benefit have creaseless cream eyeshadows, Superdrug's brand B. have cream eyeshadows and now Bourjois have jumped on the bandwagon too.

I believe there are 6 colours, but our Superdrug store only stocks 4 of them.

 This is a metallic pink (they're all metallic finishes)

This next one is a metallic platinum/silver

The next is a metallic beige-gold

And the last one is a metallic violet/plummy-red

My thoughts: These have a really smooth, lightweight, creamy formula that apply really well and are beautifully metallic and pigmented. The last shadow doesn't show up on camera very well; it's a really dark plum colour with a lot of red shimmer/glitter finish.

Would I recommend these? Yes, if you like metallic cream eyeshadows, and at £6.99, they're not too expensive.

Leopard Eye Makeup

So I was trying out a makeup look - I've been trying to think of something fit for Halloween - and ended up with this...

My darling hubby tells me I look creepy hahaha! Bless his heart! I was going to do a masquerade mask makeup tutorial for Halloween but when I received the mask, not only was it too big for my face, the eye holes were too far apart for my eyes, making me look cross-eyed *sigh*

For anyone wanting a closeup... There you go... NO, please don't run away! I'm sorry! Come back!

Ok, full permission to just keep running...

Makeup is so fun!

Collection Gothic Glam Lipstick; Seduction, Scorned and Revenge

As you may or may not know, I stick to safe nudes, pinks and browns (and some reds) when it comes to lipstick and lip gloss colours. I have a few bright coral colours but they're mainly for summer... But I hear that it's good to step out of your comfort zone every now and again, right? That's what I was thinking when I bought these three lipsticks from the new Gothic Glam range from Collection (2000).

The tubes look quite dark and classy; they remind me of older Lancome lipsticks...

These are the three colours, clearly labelled...

And these are the three lipsticks. Dark and gothic...

Then swatched them, left to right is Seduction, Scorned and Revenge.

How to these apply?  Not fantastically well, as it happens - a lip brush would be a good idea for more even lip colour.
Colour payoff? Very richly pigmented
Texture? Silky, smooth, creamy.
Lasting power? Not great, wears off fast, transfers like you wouldn't believe - but they do leave a bit of a stain if you work the colour into your lips, so it's not all bad.

It doesn't matter what happens, comfort zone or no comfort zone, I will never wear these out in public. They are far too dark for me. I'd rather go bare-lipped than wear these, to be quite honest.

But for anyone that likes dark wine and plum colours, these would be great. They also cost a teeny tiny price of £2.99, so they hardly break the bank.

I'd suggest using some kind of lip brush to apply these lippies as they give a more even result. If you apply using the bullet, the result can be somewhat patchy - thin in some areas of the lips and thicker in others. A lip brush helped me sort that out.

Do I like these?; No, these colours are just too dark for me.
Would I buy them again?; Not unless someone asked me specifically to buy them.
Would I recommend them?; Ooo, hard question! Yes and No. To all people looking for lovely dark gothic lip colours on a budget, then yes. To all those looking for a lip colour that goes on more evenly and has a bit more lasting power, then no.

Bourjois Happy Light Matte Serum Primer

Ok, another review. . .  Same story, walking around in Boots with too much money and not enough sense. . . But a matte serum and primer all in one?!? I just couldn't resist!

This is aimed at people with normal/combination skin. Mine is combination/oily. . .

It cost me £10.99 - although it's normal retail price is going to be £14.99 in Boots, so anyone that hasn't got it yet and wants it . . . You might want to hurry. . . 

A little part-pump of the serum, comes out in an opaque looking white-pink glob. . .

Rubbed in just a tiny bit. The serum becomes clear and starts to absorb.

Almost entirely rubbed in, it's become transparent and slightly glossy. . .

And here, it's dried down to a matte, clear finish.

I've edited this review. At first, I hated this primer/serum. I used it on its own as an oil control method underneath a foundation that was set with a powder. I was so oily I had to keep blotting until my foundation came off my nose.
SO I left it in a draw and thought nothing more of it until I came across it the other day... 
I put some oil controlling moisturiser on my face first, allowed it to sink in and mattify my skin, and then I smoothed this serum/primer over the top and allowed that to dry too. I applied L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint foundation over the top and set it with powder, and to be honest, my hopes weren't astonishingly high.
BUT my face remained relatively oil free for around 8-10 hours. There was a very slight sheen on my skin but it hardly needed blotting. My foundation hadn't melted away... I was over the moon.

This is the FIRST time in a long time that I haven't had to use Milk of Magnesia underneath primer and a foundation to make it oil/budge-proof.

Do I like it? Yes, over the top of an oil-controlling moisturiser, it really works for me.
Would I buy it again? Yes! I have seen the (happy) light of this serum/primer!
Would I recommend it? For anyone with normal/combination skin, this will be great on its own. For people like me, try a good moisturiser first - you might be pleasantly surprised.

Bourjois Poudre de Riz de Java

Do I get distracted easily? Nope, not a chance... Did I ever tell you the time that I - GLITTER!!!! SHINY!!! PRETTY!!!. . .  I. . .  erm, where was I?

I was in Boots today and saw this little beauty and tested the powder. Wow! Illuminating and slightly glittery, this is a silky, smooth powder to set your makeup to give you that sexy glow. Bourjois are celebrating their 150th year, and they are constantly bringing out fresh, new ideas and beautiful lines. Bourjois, has, without a doubt, some of the highest quality makeup that you can find in stores without the premium price tags.

Above is the top of the lid. Apparently this is what the original print looked like when it came out in 1879. Yes, don't worry, I couldn't believe it either. I love how original and classy the label looks. But that's where the originality stops. But I'm not complaining. . .

Inside it has a small and efficient powder dispenser, sealed with this sticker to make sure no one uses it whilst in the shop. . .

I turned it upside down, gave it a gentle tap and the powder tipped onto my hand. . .

So I smudged it out across my hand. The powder is fine, scented, and glittery, but the glitter is fine and not much more than the finish of the Revlon Skinlights, which I absolutely love.

This is what it looks like blended out. I could have blended it out more but I wanted you all to see that it does have a beautiful illuminating effect. The scent is quite prominent, and although I like it, others that are "'scent' sitive" may not. The scent lingers for a while too, which, again, I like. I have not yet used this as a finishing powder, but by golly I can't wait!

Then when I was finished with it, I turned the dispenser until it clicks into place, ensuring that if you carry it around in your bag or purse, it won't slide open and pour it's precious contents into your precious bag!

Do I like it? No. I love it!
Would I recommend it? Yes and No, because of the ingredients and perfume (please see below)
Would I repurchase it? Yes, definitely.


CONTAINS TALC, SILICA & PERFUME, so all people trying to avoid these, then you may want to try before you buy or avoid this powder.