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.

Revlon Photoready Skinlights

So when Superdrug had their 3 for 2 offer I jumped at the chance to get these little beauties.

These Illuminating liquids are so fab. . .  This one below is 100 Bare Light... I'll show you the tube, a little dot of the liquid on my hand and then that little dot blended in, all in natural light.

This is the second tube I bought, in 400 Bronze Light. . .

And thirdly, 300 Peach Light. . .

You can wear these for a light sheen all over your face, but probably best aimed at people with dry/normal skin. I wear these either mixed with foundation or blended all over the foundation for a subtle glow/dewy finish. Heavy finishing/setting powders for combination/oily skin like mine can hide all the shimmer and leave your face looking like it would normally, so take care to be light handed with that pesky powder!

Don't apply these after you've set your foundation with powder as it will only mess up your beautiful makeup!

Will I repurchase? Without a doubt, these are absolutely fantastic and give me a lovely subtle glow as Autumn arrives. I think I'll be using these for a long time to come, so please Revlon, please don't discontinue these beauties!

FAKE Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

I have never bought any of the UD's Naked palettes. . .  I know, shame on me. . .  I should, but every time I go to buy one I think "Can I justify spending this amount of money on an eyeshadow palette?" and then I run away and don't bother.

So when I saw a Naked Basics Palette online from aliexpress.com for around £4.40 (instead of it's usual price tag of £18-20) I thought "Oh, alright then, I'll give it a go! If it's crap then it's only £4.40 wasted!". So I bought it. It took 23 days to get to my house from day of purchase, so not too bad, considering it is from China.

So this is what the little palette looks like from the outside...

And this is what it looks like opened. I'd already swatched and used the shadows, so please forgive the fingerprinted shadows haha!

The first 3 shades; Venus (shimmery white), Foxy (matte cream) and W.O.S (abbreviation for Walk Of Shame, which is a matte pale pink-cream)

The last 3 colours; Naked 2 (matte pale brown), Faint (matte mid-dark brown) and Crave (matte black)

Swatched on my hand in daylight. W.O.S & Faint are almost undetectable in this light, which is a shame.

I used the Naked Basics Palette to create this really easy look and it does look really soft and natural.



My Thoughts: 
The shadows smell kind of funny, they remind me of kiddie's makeup, to be honest. They're slightly lacking in pigment except for Venus and Crave, but on a serious note, for £4.40 I was expecting complete rubbish. I know these eyeshadows are not as pigmented as the real deal, but they're a really great dupe for beginners, people on a tight budget and those looking for a bargain. For lovers of the real thing, please don't buy this as you'll only be disappointed.

Autumn :/

After a long time of a crappy, rainy summer, followed by a monsoon Autumn (so far) I've decided that I have to come to terms with the fact that summer... Is over. But I refuse to let that little fact get me down - or get me pale! I have been using fake tan pretty much non-stop since May when I went to my friend's wedding. I went over the top with the way I used fake tan, but after turning myself into an Oompa Loompa a couple of times I've learned my lesson. So now I've got my fake tan under wraps, it's time to get my Autumn makeup on!

Warm, neutral colours on my eyes (but they are shimmery - Hell, even I won't use mattes if I can get away with it) by MUA Undressed Palette, my absolute favourite mascara of all time - Love Alpha, an old bronzer by Bourjois, a clear lipgloss and Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection foundation in Honey. Who says we have to rock being pale when we can rock being (unnaturally) tanned? So we didn't get a proper summer - well, I'll be prepared for a proper Autumn and Winter!