MAC Kinky Boots Collection

So! This is my second try at blogging today... My cat deleted my last attempt with just one paw. I lost all my pictures, words, everything. So, im going to start again! 

Kinky Boots is based on a true story of a man whose shoe making business is going under, so he ends up making kinky boots that are made just for men. Apparently this MAC collection is based on the Broadway play, which I've never seen (but I did watch the film when it came out around 10yrs ago, and I really enjoyed it). 

Kinky Lipstick:

 

Kinky Lipglass:

The last picture is the lipglass applied over the lipstick. 

The lipstick is a blue based red matte, smoother/easier to apply than other, older formula mattes I own, and it's not quite as drying as them either. The lipglass is a sheer red with tiny flecks of gold glitter. It looks beautiful on its own or on top of the lipstick (it gives it an attractive, darker, glittery finish). 

My thoughts: MAC already has some very famous blue-based red lipsticks (Ruby Woo and Russian Red being amongst the favourites), so this lipstick doesn't really stand out but it definitely holds it own with pigmentation and staying power. The lipglass, however, is more of a favourite with me. The base colour has just enough pigment to make my colourless lips look rosy (when applied on its own) and the glitter makes my lips sparkle. Another plus is that when the gloss wears away, the glitter remains on the lips, which I personally like a lot. 

Have you got the Kinky Boots Collection? 

Any collections you absolutely love that I need to know about? Please let me know! 

Sad News and Max Factor False Lash Effect Waterproof Mascara Review

I'll begin this blog with some sad news. On Friday evening (12th December), my husband and I got home from work at about 6.20pm. Our neighbour was sat on the road just outside our driveway, with a bundle of towels by her side, with our eldest cat Zeus inside. Her boyfriend had run him over with his van. They called the RSPCA just before we got there. My hubby and I sat with Zeus for a few minutes, trying our best to comfort him, but he was in so much pain that he passed out. I thought he had died right there on the street, so I started to cry, but he came to after a minute. I decided that I couldn't wait for the RSPCA, so I rang my local vet and told them it was an emergency. We got Zeus into a box and we drove as fast (yet as gently) as we could (the vets is only a four minute drive). When the vet checked him over, he gently shook his head and told us that Zeus' pelvis had been crushed. Zeus had to be put down quickly, to minimise his suffering. My hubby stayed with Zeus whilst he was being injected, stroked his face and spoke to him as he passed away. I couldn't face watching him go, I was crying too much at that point. 

Zeus was just 7 years old, he was a lovely cat, friendly to strangers, loved to eat Pringles, cheese, even bananas. He was our first pet cat, and his untimely death has broken my heart. 

I knew that work this weekend just gone would be hard. I own just one waterproof mascara as I am not a huge fan of them, but as my tears didn't seem to stop flowing, I had no other choice. 

I like the wand, with the plastic bristles which separates the lashes quite well. The formula is quite wet, which normally spells disaster for anyone that really needs to curl their lashes like me. 

BUT! Keep looking, dear readers... 

After two lavish coats of mascara, my lashes stayed curled and set that way. I went to work, a snivelling, crying wreck, and I cried on and off, all day, for 10hrs. When I got home, I cried even harder. I thought my heart might break with the pain and loss that I felt. I looked in the mirror as I took off what remained of my makeup, and was astonished to see that despite my tear-stained face and red eyes, my mascara had remained exactly where it was and my lashes were just as perfect as they were 12hrs before. 

I decided that people should know just how wonderful this mascara is. And for anyone that has really watery eyes or has a funeral or wedding to go to, then please check out this mascara, as it was a life saver for me. 

This is for Zeus. August 2007 - December 2014. Rest In Peace xxx

Love and Beauty Don't Always Go Hand in Hand

If you have read my blogs or know me at all, you'll know that I love makeup. Love. I breathe-eat-sleep-dream makeup. I love how it makes me feel, I love to make my skin look more flawless, I love playing with eyeshadow colours, the whole shebang. BUT! This is not about me, this is about people's opinions on whether or not you like wearing it or like to see it on other people. 

Y'see, sometimes, people say things that I find upsetting. For example, not so long ago, a guy told me that he wished his new girlfriend would wear makeup like me because makeup made her "more attractive". I was thoroughly shocked, as I sat, trying not to let my mouth open in horror. Why couldn't he just love her the way she is, naturally? Why is he already on a quest to change her? Why did he think - just because I wear makeup every day - that I'd agree with him? I tried to (unsuccessfully) tell him tactfully that he shouldn't tell her that - ever - and he quickly changed the subject. But y'see, now I know how he thinks about his new girlfriend; he thinks she's not attractive enough. He's used to prettier models of women, I'm sure, but sometimes the right fit comes along, and you have to overlook your ideals, surely? 

My husband knew me well before my addiction to makeup began. He knows my bare face, spots, scars, freckles, fat and all. He loves me with and without makeup. Yes, I understand how lucky I am, I truly am blessed, but sometimes it makes me wonder why can't some people just accept who their partner is and stop trying to change them? 

I think that people that don't wear makeup look more naturally radiant and more alive. Their skin looks more real, their perfections and imperfections shine and I love that about bare faced women and men. 

But I also love makeup, I love the almost flawlessness of skin that has foundation and concealer and powder, the perfect arched brows, the sculpted cheeks and gorgeously long, mascara'd lashes. 

Here's the thing. I love people for who they are. I won't try to change someone, just because I'm not keen on their appearance. I wouldn't ever tell my husband to shave or wear different clothing. All I care about, whether you wear makeup or not, what clothes you wear or car you drive or where you live is that you are who you are (and of course that you're happy and healthy). And if you're my friend, I'll love you for being a friend to me. I accept that not everyone will see my point of view, and that is fine; I'm not going to try to change your mind if you think I'm wrong. 

Please, just remember that love - unlike beauty - is not skin deep and can last a lifetime. 

Top pic: me with a bare face (sorry that it's black and white, I couldn't find any other bare face selfies on my phone). 

Bottom pic: me with a face full of makeup.

Where have I been?

I have been either stupidly busy with college work or simply too poor to buy any new makeup or beauty purchases! It's been tight - money-wise - for me, what with buying stuff for college, paying bills and basically living hand-to-mouth, like a lot of us in Cornwall do. So I'll show you my life in a few pictures... 

Been in college (sneaky photo alert!)...

Got my new uniform... 

Snapchatted a picture of our cat Plumpy whilst he was asleep... 

Had a beautiful O.P.I nail varnish turn up in my November Birchbox (was seriously not keen on this month's box)...

Been practicing on my French manicure skills (or lack thereof) for college... 

Been mightily impressed by my fellow college student's paraffin-wax-hand-mask/mould...

And yesterday I actually had time (but not the money to buy) to visit my work colleague/friend's tea & coffee shop in Plymouth. My hubby bought me two different teas, I was so chuffed! 

So that's basically my recent life in photos. I've been really boring, just trying to get by... I'll try to get some beauty blogs out soon! 

Thanks! 

Review: MAC Blush in Style

I've been lusting after this blush from MAC for over a month, but for some reason I've felt too guilty to buy it. So when I went into MAC the other day I bought their Prep + Prime setting powder and this at the same time, but I thought I'd do separate blogs on them. 

As you can see, Style is a Frost blush. It has a really plain peachy colour just sat in the pan, but when it's swatched on the skin, it's beautifully pigmented and leaves the skin with a golden-kissed shimmer. 

This blush is so pigmented, too much can be applied quite easily, so being light handed is key. It reminds me of Sleek blush 'Rose Gold', but this one suits my fake tan better - being peachy instead of pink-based. 

This will definitely be my go-to blush for the autumn and winter months - hell, probably for the foreseeable future - and I'm looking forward to using it in different makeup looks. Love it or hate it? Let me know x

MAC Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder

I've been wanting to add this setting powder to my makeup collection for a good long while now, and now I have it... *Cue evil laughter*

So I wanted to do a first impression/review on this product.

This box is actually pretty cute, which is saying something because I'm not all that hot on packaging. 

The powder is white, but according to MAC, this powder will suit all skin colours once it's applied/blended in. 

Apparently this powder is good for oily skin, and has very positive reviews on the MAC website and also on Makeup Alley and across the web. I have combination oily skin so I had to try this out...

I applied my eye makeup and brows, then applied Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation and contoured with bronzer and let it set... 

Then I applied the setting powder in small amounts in small circular motions, concentrating on my nose and inner cheeks nearest my nose, where I'm definitely the oiliest. 

After I had applied it, my skin felt super smooth and my huge pores on my inner cheeks looked much smaller, and the pores on my nose looked smaller too. There was also no white powder showing on my skin either, so good news there.

The finish wasn't too matte either, so it looked more natural. Plus there is no build up of colour over my foundation, so my face stays cake-free - thumbs up. For a proper review, I didn't use any oil controlling primer under my foundation as I wanted to see how well the powder would control my oily skin.

I also thought I'd do a photography flash test too, to see if there was flashback. Let's check for "ghost face", using my iPhone's flash. 

I think I'm pretty safe from that, I reckon... But what about oil control? I applied the powder at around 3pm, then checked my face six hours later... 

Sorry for super creepy closeup! My nose and inner cheeks could definitely do with a little blot and maybe a little extra powder, but it didn't do too badly on my face. 

With an oil controlling primer, I don't doubt that this powder will keep the oil at bay for at least ten hours. 

Thoughts?: It's relatively expensive at £20.50 but a little goes a long way. Loose powder is not exactly travel friendly, so the pressed version is probably more desirable for those purposes. It makes my skin feel amazing after application, doesn't create "ghost face" or "cake face" and doesn't do a terrible job at keeping my oil at bay, so it's a good all-rounder. 

I got some bling bling!

I can just see your jaws dropping down in amazement... Did my hubster suddenly win the lottery???

Say whaaaaat?!? 3 carats of untamed, pure, asscher cut beauty, perched proudly on my chubby, unrefined finger...

And here, paired with my wedding band...

So did we win the lottery? Hell no. We don't even play... This is from eBay (all the way from America) - the diamond is completely fake, along with the teeny diamonds set in the band (which puts the total carat weight at 3.25). But by golly it's pretty! And it only cost $29.99 (around £18.81 for us in the UK). It took a week for it to get to the UK, which is brilliant. Want a ring like this for yourself? Check out the seller's shop - "shopdluxe" on eBay...

Xx

Review: Bourjois Shine Edition Lipstick in "26 Beige Démocrachic"

So as you all know I'm such a daredevil when it comes to lip colours (hahaha yeah, right), so when I saw this lip colour, it had to be mine. 

I love nudes, seriously, if I had to wear nothing but nude lip colours for the rest of my life, I'd die happy. And this lipstick doesn't let me down in any way. 

It applies as a sheer, shimmery, brown-pink nude with a glossy, sparkly sheen . It wears smoothly and comfortably without any unpleasant side effects like being drying. It is very similar to the Revlon Lip Butters; light on the lips, feels moisturising and even good for wearing at cold temperatures like 2 degrees centigrade (I work in this temperature all year round). 

Any moisturising lipsticks/glosses/balms that you recommended for everyday that stand up to winter-like temps? 

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette Swatches!

Yes, yes, oh God, yes!!! Ahem... I mean... So my Naked 3 palette turned up today and I wasn't excited in the slightest *cough, lie! cough*.

I've been wanting to get this palette since I first saw Kandee Johnson (amazing girl from YouTube, I adore her) show this palette last year. And now it's mine at last!!! Mwahahahahahaaaaaa!!!

I do apologise! And now for the rest of my blog...

So before I show you the shadows, I'll show you a neat little freebie that Urban Decay have kindly added for their buyers so that they can make the most of their eyeshadows... 

There's a booklet, and inside this booklet there are four - yes, four - samples of their famous eyeshadow primer. 

They're tucked handily in the sleeves in this booklet, with each different primer's name, colour and effect written on the package for your convenience.

I think that these are a brilliant way to advertise their own primers for anyone that hasn't tried them so they can make up their mind. I used to be a huge fan of UD e/s primer (original) but ended up using MAC Paint Pots. 

Anyway, swatch time! 

I am so excited to use this palette; the first eight colours are light enough for me to use on a regular basis (with Naked 2 I can only use the first five - the rest are too dark or too grey), the colours are beautiful, pigmented, creamy and a delight to use. I am very happy with this palette indeed! 

As for the primers, I won't be using the samples, I'll stick with my Paint Pots. I had a very bad experience with UD Sin (creased within an hour, no matter how I applied it) so I'm not tempted to use anything but the original, but I'm hoping my sister might take these off my hands... *hint hint, mei mei!* 

Do you like/hate the Naked Palettes? Got a palette you recommend? I'd love to know xx