Round Cheeks

A little DIY: Custom Concealer Palette & Swatches

2013-02-04T09:00:00.000Z

I wanted to quickly show you all this concealer palette I put together. Recently MAC came out with their 'Conceal & Correct' palettes incorporating six different shades of their Studio Finish Concealer in order to brighten, correct and conceal areas of the face or even use as a foundation by sheering out the consistency. I loved the idea, especially because they is one for every skin tone. What deterred me was the hole it would burn in my pocket. £35 for a total of 6 grams of product - meaning each section holds 1g of product when a single pot of Studio Finish Concealer contains 7g for £14.50. The sleek magnetic closure packaging similar to MAC's Lipstick Palettes or eyeshadow quads almost won me over but when I popped my daydream bubble I knew I would regret my purchase soon enough. So I created an alternative.

The pillbox is from Muji (£1.25) and because it has moving dividers I superglued them into place to avoid overspill of product. After sanitising the tools I was using including the box, I scooped out different concealers that I use around the face/under the eyes. In order for the product to be a little more even I placed it in the microwave for 20 seconds. If you plan on doing this, I suggest you put less product in the middle compartments since there is a dip in the dividers making it easy for product to spill into either section. Note: if you use any heat in the process, like I did with the microwave - move the pill box as little as possible afterwards. I just left the box in the microwave while it was off until it completely solidified (approx. 30mins), or you could carefully put it into the fridge/cold surface (leave the lid open whilst it solidifies!)

I know it looks messy - but the functionality wins me over. In any case when is any sort of cream product palette look perfect? For size reference the pillbox fits in the palm of my hand and each well fits a ton of product - in the top left corner is an entire pot of MAC Studio Finish Concealer with space to spare.

The concealers are as follows: (left to right)

Top Row: MAC Studio Finish NC35, MAC Studio Sculpt NC30, Benefit Erase Paste

Bottom Row: Revlon Photoready 'Light Medium' 003, Cinema Secrets Foundation #301-63A, Illamasqua Emerge Cream Pigment

I placed a label on the back, which I just realised isn't written properly (the left and right column should be switched) but it still works.

Swatches (Left to Right)

MAC Studio Finish NC35, MAC Studio Sculpt NC30, Benefit Erase Paste #2 Medium, Revlon Photoready Light Medium 003, Cinema Secrets #301-63A, Illamasqua Cream Pigment 'Emerge'

I typically mix and match but if you are wondering - I use Benefit's Erase Paste and Illamasqua's Emerge to brighten up underneath the eyes as they are correcting shades to disguise darkness. If you have a yellow undertone I implore you to try Emerge under the eyes - it is simply THE BEST colour (similar to Armani's correctors in cream form) to brighten and gives great coverage too! If you have a pinky undertone to your skin I think Erase Paste would work better.

Hope you enjoyed my little project - please leave your recommendations of concealer in the comments! (In case I'm missing out on something great).

xxx

Rimmel Apocalips: Review & Swatches

2013-02-01T01:10:00.000Z

Everyone and their mother has been 'oohing' and 'ahhing' over the liquid lipstick phenomenon that has revolutionised the beauty world. It started with the YSL Glossy Stains and then high end brands Guerlain, Hourglass, Shisiedo etc all had a stab at it. Credit must be given to Chanel though, as their Rouge Allure Laque line established itself many moons before most. I'm sure there are takes on this product that I don't know about but I was waiting for the day when more affordable versions were going to become available. I mean I don't think I'm the only one who wants a whole range of liquid lipsticks but I'm not to keen on selling a kidney to fulfil my superficial desires.

So naturally I wanted to 'ooh' and 'ahh' as well, bringing us onto the Apocolips line (£5.99) by Rimmel - I had a bunch of points to spend on my Boots card and by taking advantage of the 3 for 2 on Rimmel, not only did I manage to get these for free but save on my points as well!

For a change, I'll start with the only negative point I have to make.

- The Colour Range

There are only 8 shades in to choose from:

- Nude Eclipse: A light beige nude

- Luna: A pale peach (a little on the sheer side)

- Celestial: A mid tone cool toned neutral pink

- Nova: A bright bluish pink

- Galaxy: A darkish mauve with shimmer

- Apocaliptic: A bright fuchsia pink reminiscent of MAC's Girl About Town

- Big Bang: A bright true red (the most amazing shade of the bunch in my opinion - leans warm or cool toned depending on who wears it).

- Stellar: An almost neon orangey coral shade that reminds me of YSL Rouge Volupte #27 Rose Paris

If you have a fair complexion - you can jump for joy as all of these colours will look stunning on you. But for the rest of us, well..we need to be a little more selective - that is in the nude category. Nude Eclipse is extremely light and at least on my medium olive skin tone makes me look dead.

Swatches (Top to bottom): Big Bang (Red), Celestial (Pink), Luna (Peach)

Luna

I did however pick up Luna which is also fairly light, but because its one of the shades that can be sheered out one can facilitate the use of a darker lipliner and a bit of blending to make it work for them. Here I just blended it into my lips with the sponge tip applicator.

I have done some research and it looks like the colour range differs slightly in the rest of Europe. Apparently in Italy more universal nudes are available so I really hope Rimmel decides to bring out more colours.

Celestial

I'll leave the best for last so that leads to me the shade I decided on to achieve the 3 for 2: Celestial. This shade bored me a little - but because its a little on the cool side I decided to try it. It just so happens this is the only shade I don't have to think about which is something I really appreciate. Nonetheless on my lips this colour differs from the swatch - I also see some of MAC's Snob in it.

Big Bang

And…..drum roll please… BIG BANG - excuse the use of capitals but it needs to be done. I mean… Chanel Dragon who?.. Yes you read correct. Once I learned about the hype over Dragon I bought it just before it was discontinued. but turns out it reads extremely dark on me, and I need to extremely precise when applying due to its thick texture.
On the other hand, Big Bang stays to true to colour and whilst leaning a little warm on me, it's the most rich and mesmerising shade I've seen in a while. Don't even pay attention to the swatch - try it out if you can and if you can't then just buy it and trust me you won't be disappointed!

And finally, the formula is wonderfully smooth, creamy and glides on effortlessly. The glossy texture disappears within 3 hours and dries to down to satiny finish and stays true to colour as well as comfortable for up to 5 hours depending on whether you're eating/drinking or not - the stain left behind is stronger with the darker shades. The doe foot applicator captures enough pigment and product on it where one doesn't need to put it back in the tube so another tick for packaging. It's great that you can use the sponge tip applicator to outline as well as blend the colour into your lips. I also appreciate the clear tube so you can see how much product you have left. Another thing to note is the scent - I might be crazy, but it to me it smells like banana, or some sort of banana fruit cocktail. I'm not too affected by fragranced products but I know for it can be a turning point so.. smell before you buy!

All in all, a fantastic launch from Rimmel - I'm really looking forward to if they expand the colour range and I highly recommend them especially with the 3 for 2 offer in Boots or www.boots.com at the moment!

What do you all think? Thanks as always for stopping by and taking the time out to comment.

Have a great weekend.
xxx

Loving at the moment...

2013-01-31T03:56:00.002Z

Swatches MaqPro Morag Ross Foundation Palette (Top to Bottom): C.R, TL3, 124, 14, C.I, 117

Le Maquillage Professionnel (MAQPro) Foundation & Lip/Cheek Palette & Make Up Mixer: I've been delaying this review for so long - I bought this back in August! These are wax based products that can be used anywhere on the face and body and are extremely popular in showbiz. The finish is unlike I've ever seen before and they are so reasonable! The make up mixer is a brilliant multi use product as it works as a moisturiser, primer, makeup remover and foundation base meaning you can mix it with any foundation from powder to cream as well as controlling the coverage of the product! I'm working on a full review soon.

MaqPro Classic Lip/Cheek Palette Top Row (Top to Bottom): 252, 2207, 2216, 256, 2208

MaqPro Classic Lip/Cheek Palette Bottom Row (Top to Bottom): 216, 226, 253, 2262, 268

Swatches (Top to Bottom): NYX Taupe, Shu Uemura Nobara Compact Foundation #754, Benefit Erase Paste: Medium, Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer: 53 'Dark Radiance'

- Shu Uemura 18R Goat Foundation Brush: It is fearful that this brush has made all my other face brushes obsolete, I'm glad I saved up for it. Review coming up soon!
- Benefit Erase Paste + Bourjois Concealer: I was so disappointed when I purchased Benefit's erase paste in 'Medium' as the colour didn't work for me at all and I think I would have been better off purchasing the darker colour as this looks very ashy on me. Just as I was about to get rid of it I tested it with another concealer I hardly every use: Bourjois' Healthy Mix concealer - hey presto! A great combination. I lay down the Bourjois under my eyes and then brighten with Erase Paste.

- Shu Uemura Nobara Foundation: I picked this up in the Space NK sale as it was cut down to £10 with free delivery from £28. I thought it would be their stick foundation and not this discontinued compact version. Nonetheless, it's got amazing pigmentation and coverage - you only need a tiny bit! It's creamy and sits really well on my dry skin so I'm thinking the stick version is similar.
- NYX Taupe: Another all time favourite as you can see from how much I've used. Before I bought it I thought it wouldn't show up on my NC30/35 skin tone as everyone said it was a great contour for fairer complexions - but Taupe is uber pigmented and would even work if you were darker than me even though it hasn't swatched well above.

Swatches (Top to Bottom): MAC's Smut, Brown Script, Tempting, Tan Pigment, Illamasqua Solstice

- MAC Tan Pigment, Tempting, Smut & Brown Script: This quad is my essential colours to go from day to night for the moment. Lots of combinations and still exciting.
- Illamasqua Solstice: This shade is has been replaced with Electrum which is supposed to be extremely similar. Even though these metals do crease I find the way to show off these true gold beauty is to place it in the inner V of your eye and it adds that something special to your everyday neutral eye.

Swatches (Top to Bottom): Sleek Makeup 'Cherry' Lipstick, BarryM 'Toffee' Lipgloss, Urban Decay Stardust 'Midnight Cowboy' Lipgloss

- Urban Decay 'Midnight Cowboy' Stardust Lipgloss: I'm not into glittery lipgloss, or lipgloss in general but during the holidays I wanted something to make my reds/berries look extra special and this really did the trick. It smells and feels minty. It's slightly thick but not sticky or tacky and has wonderful fine gold sparkle which isn't gritty. I'm now enjoying this over any colour as it makes the lips look luscious and plump! The swatch doesn't do the sparkle justice.

- Barry M 'Toffee' Lipgloss: I have 2 of these glosses and they have such a great moisturising texture and don't settle into lip lines. Definitely worth a look!
- Sleek Cherry: I try and wear this every chance I get at the moment. The colour is rich, sultry and warm dark cherry red. I pair it with MAC's Currant lipliner around the outer corners to add some dimension.

- Loreal Telescopic: A fantastic mascara! I don't even need to curl my lashes and I've been getting so many compliments with this.

- Guerlain Powder: It's widely known Guerlain makes the best powders and this is no exception! It gives a great soft focus finish that's undetectable on the skin. Any meteorite powder is amazing - this just happens to be from a collection a couple years ago that I was lucky enough to pick up cheaply from Ebay a while ago!

- Romwe Shoes: Bought these guys a couple of months ago and them misplaced them! Found them and been wearing nonstop! They're surprisingly comfortable and are such an easy way to edge up a casual outfit.

I'd love to know what you guys can't get your hands off these days?

xxx

Makeup Forever Aqua Creams Review & Swatches: #1 Anthracite, #11 Gold, #15 Taupe

2012-12-21T19:22:00.002Z

I really love the way a cream colour looks on the eye - but more often than not, creams tends to crease when not set with a powder. So when I heard good things about these Makeup Forever Aqua Creams and the fact that they are waterproof I knew I needed to check them out.

Texture: Creamy & smooth and dries quickly.
Colour: Very Pigmented! Very large shade range
Longevity: Seems like forever!
Price: £18 for 6 grams
Packaging: Containers are light and made out of plastic.
Fragrance: One can smell the product when in the jar - a sort of cosmetic/alcohol scent.

#1 Anthracite: A dark charcoal silver grey with a brown base.

#11 Gold: A true yellow molten gold.

#15 Taupe: A browny taupe with a bronze base and sheen.

All the colours I have are metallic and look great sheered out as a wash (great for day time) or as an intense colour.

Left to Right: #1 Anthracite, #11 Gold, #15 Taupe

(The picture on the right (swatches blended a little) is after running my hand under warm water for a couple of minutes!)

The are colours in this line that can be used on cheeks and lips too but you'll have to check whether colours and lip/eye safe. I don't tend to react with these sorts of products so I would use them everywhere really but do so at your own will, although it does seem like they would dry out your lips.

As a base/primer these work extremely well and will ensure your eye makeup stays flawless all day. The colour sets very quickly so I suggest working on one eye at a time or apply and blend out quickly!

I'm excited to get a couple more shades because I know these ones won't be leaving my daily makeup bag! I will keep you posted on whether these dry out in the jar.

Available in the UK:
www.preciousaboutmakeup.com
www.gurumakeupemporium.com

Have you tried any? If not which cream shadows are your favourites?

xxx

GIVEAWAY WINNER!

2012-12-18T19:48:00.001Z

Thank you all for entering my Christmas Giveaway and a very warm welcome to my new readers!

I am pleased to announce that the winner is………………….

……….

…..

Iheartmexo!

Congratulations! An email has been sent to you, please reply with your address so that I can send you your prize!

Once again, thanks for participating and if you didn't win this time hopefully you'll win the next one!

xxxxxx

Tom Ford Lipgloss in Naivete (Review & Swatches) : A Little Holiday Luxury

2012-11-29T01:13:00.000Z

Last week my parents came into town and since it had been a while since I'd seen my mother - we had some serious beauty related retail to catch up on - hence she gifted me with a Tom Ford lipgloss which literally oozes decadence and opulence.

Normally, I'm not a girl for lipgloss. Enter: Naiveté.

The rest is history, I was officially seduced and it must have been effective since my mother insisted upon it not giving the price a second thought. Well done Mr. Ford. Very well done.

The color: A rich sultry reddened plum.

The texture: Moisturising and smooth, not sticky at all.

The wear: 2-3 hours leaving a lovely stain behind.

The price: £32

The packaging: Tom Ford. I don't think I need to explain further. The brush is short and stiff making it easy to apply and obtain precision.

Due to its rich pigmentation and moisturizing formula it applies evenly and glides over any lip lines giving you a perfectly lacquered pout. One can wear this on its own or over a berry toned lipstick. I personally think it'll look great over a red lip. Nonetheless my favourite way to wear it is to pair it with dark eyes to emulate the current runway trend. When I say dark eyes I don't mean slathering black all over your lids. Test it out and see what level of intensity works for you.

For me, some neutral shimmery eyeshadow and smudged out matte black eyeliner is the ticket. Ooo and some glowy skin. And… Voila! Step into a world of sparkly chandeliers and gilded candlelabras.

The colour does remind me of MAC's 'Rebel' lipstick (with a redder base) but Tom Ford's texture definitely surpasses it and I feel as a thoroughly pigmented gloss it's more versatile.

So, am I telling you that you need it? No. But I need it (I say with a cheeky grin on my face).

It is part of the limited edition Fall collection so if you're looking to treat yourself and your budget allows it - there isn't a real reason to say no. Obviously you can dupe nearly anything these days - this is just the high end choice.

Available here.

............................................

I really have to include my experience at the Tom Ford counter at Selfridges.

1. If you're looking to try anything out - ask for Ross, and if he's not there, come back on a day he is!

Rarely do I feel as comfortable at a beauty counter, and so when I do I feel it's my duty to share it with you. Ross is really patient, friendly and demonstrates the products to their optimum glory. And when you're embarking on the Tom Ford journey then obtaining knowledge before purchasing the product is the route to take.

Hope all of you are doing well!

Enter my Urban Decay Giveaway if you haven't already!

xxx

Urban Decay Giveaway (CLOSED) & Comeback!

2012-11-17T17:50:00.000Z

Hello Everyone! I realise it's been 2 months since you've heard from me and for that I apologise. I've just been able to keep my head above water with University so I hope you all understand. Anyway, now that I've found my rhythm I'll be blogging twice a week!

To thank everyone for sticking around and to the newcomers I've decided to host a CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!

Up for grabs are these infamous Urban Decay Eyeshadow Palettes!

Rules:

- The giveaway is open worldwide! Anyone can enter, although if you are below 16 please ask for parents/guardian's permission.

- You must be a follower on either Google Friend Connect (GFC), Bloglovin, Twitter and mention in your comment which one.

- Please leave a comment with your email address and which palette you would like: Naked, Naked 2, Smoked Palette

- The giveaway closes on the 17th December 2012. The winner will be announced on 18th December 2012 at random (random.org) and be sent their prize within the week!

- Please follow these rules so I confirm your place in the competition.

GOOD LUCK!!!

xxx

YSL Anti-Cernes Multi-Action Concealer #2: Review & Swatches

2012-09-17T17:18:00.003+01:00

I'm back! I took a little break as other areas of my life required a little attention and since class is starting up again I've been having to get organised. Nonetheless, I have some exciting posts coming up!

So……….

Like an absolute dummy I forgot to bring my concealer with me when I came home for a little while. So naturally this meant I needed to buy one, and why not take this opportunity to try something new.

I had heard some great things about the Makeup Forever Full Cover concealer but since that was not available to me I when around swatching and getting a feel for concealers from all different brands. I decided that I wanted a concealer stick as I've never had one before and though it would be convenient and thus honed in on two brands, Clarins & YSL. I felt as though Clarins was a little bit dryer and stiffer in consistency and although this might make it last longer on the skin - I just couldn't get along with the colours.

YSL on the other hand, had four colours to choose from - of them one included a peachy tone, but since I was looking for something to cover up redness I settled for the yellow toned #2 Nude Beige.

Packaging: AHHH-MAZING! Yes it attracts fingerprints - but are you really going to wave your concealer around at people? No. So it doesn't matter in the slightest.

Coverage: High and extremely pigmented - (can be layered as well & because it spreads evenly it doesn't get cakey)

Consistency: Very creamy, smooth and easy to blend

Longevity: NEEDS to be set with powder, 5-6 hrs

Price: £22, 2g

One of things I love about YSL's concealer stick is the colour. It's such a lovely mach for my NC30/35 complexion and has a well balanced all around tone in that it's not too yellow or too pink making it useful for under the eyes as well.

This concealer has been working really well for me as I'm really fond of the fact that it's creamy, opaque and compact! I carry it in my bag and it's great for on the go touch ups, especially when I'm having a casual no makeup day. If my dark circles aren't too obvious on a particular day I'll just go ahead and put it under the eyes and thankfully it doesn't settle into any of my fine lines.

I recommend checking YSL Anti-Cernes in store and testing it on your skin first and concealers can sit very differently on different skin types and due to it's creaminess I'm not sure how well it would act on an oilier skin. It's not the best value for your money as I suspect one would finish it pretty quickly but if you're looking for convenience and if your budget allows it - check this one out and let me know what you think!

xxx

NARS Vent Glace Eyeshadow Duo

2012-08-25T22:10:00.000+01:00

I really don't mean this to become the 'NARS Eyeshadow Review Blog' but what can I say I love their colours and textures. Vent Glace (French for 'Cold Wind') combines two cool toned shimmery shades, a platinum with slight teal undertones & a light dirty khaki taupe.

Out of the two the left shade is definitely more pigmented and can easily overpower the other shade but when the colours used separately and over a darker base they look stunning. I really think these are great daytime cool toned colours which still manage to look fresh and demure. I've been using this duo quite a bit lately (I have nothing else like it) and paired it with MAC Coffee Eye Pencil. The colours brighten up your eye and put together with warm lips and cheeks really completes the look. In the look below I just placed them quickly over the eye to show them to you, but I suggest using a matte blending colour to soften the shimmer a little. Having said that I happen to like a messy application sometimes, just looks a little more casual.

The light washed out the khaki taupe shade a little - I've used it around the lash lines of my eye.

Vent Glace makes for a nice break from usual browns and bronzes and still manages to look neutral. As always NARS' eyeshadows are soft, pigmented and long lasting even without a primer.

This duo retails for £24 and is available here.

What do you all think? What colours are you wearing lately?

xxx

Holy Grail! Giorgio Armani Designer Lift Foundation #5.5

2012-08-25T00:47:00.000+01:00

I still remember the day, March of this year and a 2 hour makeup session at the Giorgio Armani counter at Selfridges with Mother Round Cheeks. We sat there and chatted to Tran, a chatty and endearing fellow beauty enthusiast/MA.

I had been to Giorgio Armani once before with my best friend on the hunt for her perfect foundation. We took over numerous makeup counters including Bobbi Brown, Illamasqua & Tom Ford but ultimately settled for Giorgio Armani's Designer Lift. The makeup artist then applied it for both of us then but I wasn't too confident with my colour match so decided to re-visit another day. My best friend bought it and has been using it ever since.

Designer Lift is GA's newest foundation which promises to adapt to your skin type and balance out oily and dry areas alike, great for combination skin. As you all know I have extremely dry skin so for foundation to last on my skin, it needs to be emollient and stay that way throughout the day. So on dry skin, it is very moisturising and makes my skin feel comfortable and soft.

Giorgio Armani states that this is a full coverage foundation but I would describe it to be a medium buildable coverage - in that 2 layers would be full coverage but still natural looking. The packaging, being glass feels luxurious and has a controllable pump as well as a cap that fits snugly on the bottle. I've applied it with several types of foundation brushes and whilst all work well, Real Techniques' Buffing Brush is my favourite for a flawless yet natural looking finish. Designer Lift applies extremely smoothly and as it's a very thin and fluid/runny consistency feels and looks incredibly light on the skin. I usually set it lightly with MAC's Careblend powder in Medium Plus and it lasts until I decide to take it off. Without powder I would say it lasts up to 6 - 7 hours (I always use Laura Mercier's Hydrating Primer before any base makeup) and with, the entire day. The finish is natural yet luminous in that it colour corrects you skin tone and adds a glamorous glow. Giorgio Armani has a large shade range and the use of 'Prussian blue pearl' in DL gives one's complexion a much brighter appearance much like YSL Touch Eclat Foundation. Another plus is that one may mix all of Armani's foundations and it won't change their texture or performance.

When applying the foundation it does have a scent, yet it's difficult pinpoint. I would have to describe it as a pleasant floral yet fresh makeupy scent. Once applied the smell fades away quickly. DL has SPF20 yet still manages to photograph well but I will say that cream foundations like Cinema Secrets photograph better.

All in all, the standard size 1oz foundation bottle would last me just shy of a year with a daily use of 1 pump. Even though it is expensive at £39, it works so well on my skin that I cannot give it up. I'm visiting home for a little bit and it's the only foundation I brought and I know I won't be missing any others. If you have the opportunity to visit an Armani counter then I'd really recommend at least trying it. I'm wearing this foundation in a previous FOTD - I would have put up a new one but my skin is looking a little worse for wear lately…

To see what shades I am in other foundations, I've listed them on the right hand side of my blog.

Thanks for stopping by and I appreciate all your lovely comments!

xxx

Street Photography #1

2012-08-22T18:18:00.001+01:00

NARS Galapagos Eyeshadow Review & Swatches & Quick Camera Update!

2012-08-16T22:29:00.000+01:00

The last couple of weeks I've felt pretty uninspired on the beauty front and haven't really lusted after much. So a couple of weeks ago when I had £5 at Space NK I decided to pick up an item that I had been delaying for a while. NARS Galapagos (£17) is a rich, warm chocolate brown shot through with gold sparkles. Immediately I was lifted out of my stagnant trance and itching to play with it. For all you neutral lovers out there (A.K.A everyone) this shadow can be incorporated into every look.

In the pan it stuns. Swatched dry however, it's disappointing - nonetheless it performs completely different on the eye - in a good way. One can build the intensity so that a touch of gold it visible or sheer it out as a wash of colour/deepen the socket. Whilst using it - I felt as though the sparkles turned into shimmer and its intensity quite easily. Galapagos when wet is very impressive - nonetheless I'm not very experienced with using shadows wet and was nervous as although NARS claims you can use their shadows wet I do not want to spoil the surface of the shadow so instead I load a dry brush with colour and then spray it with Fix+ or water. If anyone uses these shadows wet or any shadows wet please comment below with technique!

NARS Galapagos swatches left to right: Dry, Wet

Essentially, it's very straightforward. NARS Galapagos cheers me up and I'm more than happy to cross it off my list.

Do you have something similar? Any thoughts..?

……………………………………………………………..

Forgive another quick update, I realise I've been a little inconsistent with my posts lately - this past week I finally decided to buy a camera and after A LOT of research I decided upon the Panasonic Lumix DMC GX1. It's a mirrorless compact system camera which in layman's terms is sort of like a DSLR in a compact form with interchangeable lenses. This camera suits me because I feel it will teach me the art of photography to a good level as well as - plus it is a nice balanced size . Furthermore I can choose between Olympus lenses as well as Panasonic ones. If you didn't already know, up until now I had been using my IPhone for blogging.

Image taken from Google

At the moment, I'm trying to learn everything I can about photography and how to use my camera to its full potential by watching tutorials and I'm really enjoying DigitalRevTV on Youtube which is like Top Gear with cameras. I've always wanted to immerse myself in photography and now I can so expect some shots soon!

How are you all doing?

xxx

Must See Makeup Tutorials!

2012-08-09T16:54:00.000+01:00

I thought I'd put together my favourite makeup tutorials around the web for all of you guys to check out! I watch countless tutorials and only a few stick with me so here they are…

1. Tanya Burr's take on Frieda Pinto's Immortals Look

I love this look so much, I practically where it every chance I get - it's sultry and laid back and makes me that way too! Tanya is one of my all time favourites, she's so down to earth, stunning and wonderful to watch and her tutorials are so exact - now the thing is I think all her tutorials are great and I would paste all of them here but that'd be pointless so I'll just point out a few!

2. Natalie's Smokey Taupe Eyes!

I rarely see really great blog tutorials but I really admire the effort that Natalie makes with hers, I know how long blogging takes sometimes so she really deserves recognition! Click HERE to be directed to her fabulous blog.

3. Nikkie's Sarah Jessica Parker's NYE Smokey Purple Eye

First things first, this girl is absolutely HILARIOUS and therefore a delight to watch! This look isn't your typical smokey eye but is absolutely stunning and eye catching.

4. Nic from Pixiwoo + Kirsten Stewart = PERFECTION

The technique in the video is easy to follow with really great results. I feel as though I do most of my smokey eyes like this now. I also learned that because I have a smaller gap between my eyes and brows than Nic does that I have to place the shadow just by my crease and blend outwards in order for it to work for me.

5. Tanya Burr takes on Beyonce's Why Don't You Love Me Look

This makeup has such interesting details that really make it unique. It' such a great going out look - I really hope you all try it - I wore this on New Year's Eve

6. Kim Kardashian by Tanya Burr

I appreciate the beauty breakdown is this video and the way in which Tanya performs it is excellent, It's glamorous but still not over the top.

7. Nic recreates Haifa Wehbe

An intense Arabic look, it matte, striking and fantastic! It's really warm and complimentary.

8. Tanya Burr's Christmas Look!

The sparkly gold eyes are what makes this one for me - I probably don't have the guts to wear the lip with it but it's still amazing!

I realise I might have gone a little Pixi crazy but I can't help it!

Which one's are your favourites?

xxx

NARS Modern Love Palette Review & Swatches + Update...

2012-08-07T03:00:00.000+01:00

Like any makeup junkie, my eyeshadow collection is overflowing. From random singles to duos and quads going on to larger palettes there comes a point where there is too much choice. So when NARS' Modern Love (£39, available at ASOS) palette offers a great selection of neutral shades that can take you from day into night as well as offer a variety of other looks - with the added bonus that the shadows are soft, pigmented and a dream to blend I'd recommend it to everyone and anyone.

Alhambra:

A shimmery peachy pink, an amazing brightening shade for anywhere on the eye. This has no glitter and when blended out has a satin finish so it doesn't look obvious as a highlight.

Tokyo:

A whitish subtle silver, it's shimmery but again not overly so - the mix between white and silver is very flattering as it's not too cool and therefore very versatile.

Jezebel:

A shimmery maroon/brown with pink/gold shimmer. It's surprisingly wearable and probably the shade I'm drawn to the most.

Habanera:

A shimmering taupish purple with lots of pink and aqua coloured sparkles. It's a very unique shade and as one of the cooler shades in the palette makes for a great addition.

India Song:

Another warm shade, this time a bronzey brown with gold shimmer and khaki undertones. A great staple which everyone would enjoy.

Pandora:

An intense matte black - richly pigmented and not at all chalky, great for deepening look or lining eyes.

There are other NARS palettes such as Pleasures of Paris, Night Series etc and a couple of new ones American Dream + New Wave and even though I'm tempted I suppose I feel as though I already have the colours from NARS that I love so buying the palettes would mean buying duplicates. Having said that NARS Palettes are so well executed and contain a nice amount of product and especially if you're having your first dip into the brand I'd suggest testing them out. Unfortunately I've never seen them in store, only online - nonetheless they contain permanent shades so one could swatch them in store.

I thought I'd show you the kind of eye look I've been going for recently - mostly consisting of various warm browns put together with an array of brown eyeliners. I really like the versatility of this look and wear it day and night.

Base: MAC Nubile Paint Pot

Eyeshadow: Alhambra + Tokyo = inner corner & brow bone highlight, Jezebel + Habanera on lid & lower lash line, India Song in crease & upper lash line, Pandora = outer V and along lashes. Burberry Almond (Review here) blending out between crease and brow bone.

Eyeliner: MAC Coffee = waterline, MAC Teddy = lower lash line, Urban Decay Lucky = underneath the eye, AVON Supershock Black = tightline

Mascara: L'Oreal Telescopic, MaxFactor False Lash Effect

Concealer: MAC Studio Finish NC35, Bare Minerals Well Rested

Eye Brushes: MAC 224, MAC 239, MAC 219, Louise Young LY13

Concealer brushes: MAC 217, Real Techniques Setting Brush

How would you use the palette? Do you have any favourites amongst the palettes and should I splurge on one more?
xxx

AND……….In other news, apologies for my absence, I took a short trip to Paris, quick tip to anyone travelling from London: TAKE THE EUROSTAR! It's a headache driving….Anyway I got lots of sun and had a fabulous time savouring croissants and foie gras oh and did I mention the wine. Yes I think there were many bottles. I think, it's hard to remember hehe...

Also - I'm taking a Tango class tomorrow. Needless to say I'm nervous - but hey how bad can it be eh?

Hope you all are having fun wherever you are!

My Summer Colour: Essie Meet Me at Sunset NOTD

2012-07-29T16:27:00.000+01:00

Nothing much to say about this polish, it's pretty self explanatory - I really like this bright reddish orange shade and the formula is easy to apply and lasts nicely.

What sorts of shades are you drawn to in the Summer?

xxx

Lip Pencils/Liners!

2012-07-25T23:15:00.000+01:00

I've never been that girl who had a bunch of lip pencils and up until 4 months ago I never really saw the point unless I was sporting a red lip. But, when girls around me got increasingly poutier, I became eager to step it up a notch and off I went splashing cash on lip pencils. I had one, bought three and got given one - and there ends my quest. First things first, I never overdraw my lips, some people can carry it off - not me. What's more, I tend to use the pencil all over my lip lightly if I'm going to pair it with a lipstick. Lastly - I blend profusely in order not to look like a barbie - not saying that people who use lip pencils look like barbies, in fact most look great, but for some reason using a lip pencil just on the outer edge of my lip makes me look over done and fake. So, what do lip pencils do for me then? Well they certainly prolong my lipstick wear and softly define my lips.

From Left to Right:

MAC Stripdown, MAC Nice 'N' Spicy, Illamasqua Titivate, MAC What A Blast!, Pupa True Lips #07

MAC Stripdown Lip Pencil:
Stripdown is a great nude lip liner for medium skin tones. Unfortunately, out of all the lip pencils I have this one has the driest texture and lasts the least amount of time and it takes a little building to achieve an opaque intensity. Having said that, it's easy to use lightly and once on the lips doesn't feel too dry.
MAC Nice 'N' Spicy Pro Long Wear Lip Pencil:
Is a little rosier than Stripdown but can definitely be used in the same way. The texture of these liners are really soft and creamy & they last FOREVER! In fact, I have a tough time taking them off. Due to it's longevity comes the extremely dry finish - If I had to wear this alone, I'd use Nuxe Reve De Miel Lip Balm to condition my lips - the effect would still be matte but conditioned at the same time. I don't recommend wearing this alone, the finish is a no no.
Illamasqua Titivate Medium Pencil:
A crazy pigmented fuchsia that can be used anywhere - eyes, lips & face. I really like how soft and creamy this pencil is, the finish is great too: non drying and once set wear very well but not as long as MAC's Pro Long Wear pencils. Most of the time I wear this without anything else on the lips.
MAC What A Blast Pro Long Wear Lip Pencil!:
As I love orange lips, I thought it'd be a could idea to invest in an orange lip liner. What A Blast! is a bright neon shade, very pigmented, long lasting and creamy but again very drying. I find I can't wear it alone due to the finish and neon tone.
Pupa True Lips #07:
I bought this a couple of years ago and it's the only red pencil I ever needed. I love the creamy texture and it lasts long without being too drying. The shade of red is blue based, nice and bright and so easy to wear on it's own.

All of these pencils are pigmented enough that they translate on the lips just as they swatch.

Thanks as usual for reading this post!

What kind of relationship do you have with lip pencils? Any favourites worth mentioning?

xxx

Wish List #1

2012-07-24T02:30:00.000+01:00

Recently, I've had my beady little eye on a few things. Nonetheless these are only material products and if you asked me right this minute what I wanted - my answer would contain things that are a lot less frivolous but since those aren't within my grasp at the moment I'll settle on these items!

1. Tarte 12 Hour Amazonian Clay Blush: Exposed & Tipsy: I think just about everybody wants one of these blushes! Exposed is supposed to be the perfect nude blush and Tipsy is a hot coral. Unfortunately Tarte isn't sold in the UK so until I hop across the pond these are going to make themselves comfortable on my wish list.

2. NARS Galapagos Eyeshadow: Seriously, I don't know why I don't have this dreamy golden brown shade yet considering I live opposite Space NK.

3. MAC Eyeshadow: I don't know who I was kidding, I can't have my MAC palette the way it is now - I NEED MORE NEUTRALS! Currently I need to have a closer look at and decide between: Nylon, Ricepaper, Era, Soba (even though I was told Cork is similar but the junkie inside me needs to consider), Arena, All That Glitters, Patina, Handwritten and Typographic. I still want to fit everything in my original palette so I'll probably take out the divider - if anybody else has done so could you please tell me if you've had any problems travelling with it.

4. Louise Young Super Foundation Brush: You see this is where it gets stupid.. I apply foundation which a brush that I love and truth be told I don't need another, but this one has always intrigued me!

5. Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Makeup: Every blogger that I love, loves this
foundation so I'm thinking I would do - I'm really attracted to it's longevity. Let me know if you've tried it.

6. Monica Vinader 17/18" Marie Pendant: I'm really drawn to the aztecy nature and the size of this pendant - I only wish it was available in solid gold and not just plated.

7. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencils: I have one, 'Lucky' a gorgeous copper and can't get enough of the texture/colours of these pencils. I want all - but I'll probably pick up a few neutral shades.

Tell me what you're lusting over these days - maybe I can too!

xxx

Firefly Tonics Natural Drinks: Peach & Green Tea!!

2012-07-22T18:33:00.000+01:00

It's not to do with beauty but I just had to tell you all to go out and try this drink if you can! Firefly makes natural drinks in a variety of flavours (Check out their site here!) and they come in different coloured old style retro milk bottles. I might just make a chandelier out of them soon (you can easily peel of the label if you want)!

My personal favourite is Peach & Green Tea (oh you have to have them cold), which sort of tastes like peach ice tea but not nearly as sweet and 10 times more refreshing! It contains Grape, Peach and Lemon and still green tea. I personally love green tea but even if you don't the taste doesn't take away from the drink's fruitiness.

I really like to drink this is the morning as it gives a me a boost of energy..! It's available in Waitrose and Holland & Barrett in the UK as well as online (around £1.52/330ml). Their site has full details of where it is available around the world. Here's the link!

Anyway, it's my favourite drink at the moment so if it sounds like something you'd like - try it out next time you're out and about!

xxx

Dolce & Gabbana Beauty: The Bronzer Review & Swatches: #40 Bronze

2012-07-21T17:05:00.000+01:00

For some reason bronzer is the one face product that I carry around. It adds colour, warmth, shapes the face (not to be confused with a contouring product which is usually cool toned to mimic a shadow) - a must have in anyone's collection. The tone of bronzer for you depends on your complexion and undertone as well as what you like, or what look you're going for. After my first delve into Dolce & Gabbana it was hard to stay away and whenever I'd be around Harrods I'd have to swatch and try and get a feel for the products. Upon testing out the bronzers I realised that they were quite unique, and so were the shades, so let me talk you through them.

Dolce & Gabbana has 5 shades of bronzers, suitable for very pale complexions to the darkest shade which I have: Bronze. In my opinion if you're above NC45 they won't bronze you up, instead you could use them as a highlight or blush. I know light complexions some times have a hard time using a bronzer without looking too orange, so these would be an option if you happen to have such an obstacle. The idea behind it's formulation and colours is to create most natural looking of tans believing that lighter bronzers will achieve this.

- All the shades are buildable, regardless of tone it still packs in plenty of pigment yet there is a lovely translucent quality that envelopes these powders - meaning you can't go overboard with the bronzing.
- Next, these bronzers aren't matte, they do have a very subtle golden sheen much like NARS' Laguna bronzer that adds a soft effect - not at all glittery.
- The bronzer is incredibly soft making it very easy to blend and pick up product, requiring almost no effort.
- Lasts all day so much so I don't need to carry it around - but I like the puuurrrrrddddyyy compact!

- The brush (flat & thin shaped and good for on the go sculpting) that comes with is isn't the softest but if washed with conditioner does get softer.
- Retails for £33 for 15g of product, to give you an idea NARS Laguna retails for £25 and contains only 8g - so that's £8 extra for 7g more. Good value in my opinion.
- I love the gold packaging and it's retro feel. The pouch it comes with is also clever in that it stores the brush as well.

This swatch is one swipe of the bronzer

The colour I chose, #40 Bronze, the darkest of the range has a lovely caramel hue without looking orange on the skin. When I tested it at the counter I loved the effect - especially the colour it gave me on my cheeks. Nonetheless, this colour would look great on a medium to tan complexion - otherwise I have a feeling it'd be much like Chanel's Bronze Universal Cream Bronzer and look orange on lighter skin tones but like I mentioned above there are shades in the line that are perfect for lighter complexions. I've been using this product for around 2 months now and it hasn't left my makeup bag yet!

What bronzer do you use? Willing to check out Dolce's?

xxx

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipsticks! Review & Swatches

2012-07-18T17:38:00.000+01:00

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipsticks (£14.50) are a lipstick/lipgloss/balm hybrid but unlike other versions, most of them have a lovely opaque coverage in a single swipe. Their formula is really moisturising/glossy and pretty long wearing for a lipstick with so much slip. Wear time depends on how rich the colour is, from 3 hours for Bare Again & around 4 for Blossom Culture and nearly 6 for Korean Candy.

The packaging is sleek and shiny and what I love most is that the lid 'clicks' to be secure - no lipstick lids floating around in your handbag here!

Bare Again: A pink based beige (reminiscent of Hug Me or Kinda Sexy). A great nude that is suitable for all skin tones as it isn't too light that'd wash you out & a classic pairing with a dark smokey eye.

Korean Candy: An amazing orange with reddish undertones, and it's no surprise that I love it! Because it has those reddy tones unlike more neon orangey lipsticks makes it really wearable, especially on warm complexions.

Blossom Culture: A coral pink colour that could actually be a dupe for MAC Flamingo lipstick. This shade has tiny little shimmer particles but it's not noticeable on the lips. Furthermore, of the shades that I have Blossom Culture is a little on the sheer side. Another colour you could pair with many looks - it's the kind of shade that brings a certain radiance to your face without being too much.

Edit: I took this picture in a different light so excuse the colour of my complexion - it's a little light! The lip colour is the right shade though.

In my opinion these are a great formulation and credit should be payed as it's a worthy section of MAC's lipstick line. Colours are universal and wearable and it seems like everyone would find a colour they would like. They are richly pigmented and still have a nice glossy moisturising feel as well as have a more than decent wear time sets them apart for all the copycats out there.

Have you indulged in these? If not, they deserve a look..

xxx

L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil Review!

2012-07-17T14:58:00.001+01:00

I don't know about you but I like my skin to be soft and smooth and all times - but at the same time I don't appreciate the elbow grease that goes into applying body moisturiser again and again. So if I can cleanse and moisturise at the same time I'm all for it. I'd heard about this shower oil from ViviannaDoesMakeup on Youtube, she was saying that it really helps with dry skin and is intensely moisturising. The product feels just like an oil but some how not greasy or sticky - on contact with water it thickens and foams up a little and therefore it's easy to cleanse your body with.

Left to Right: L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil without water, with water

I've been using it for around a week now and I feel as though after every time my skin feels smoother and no more dry patches - meaning I can cut down on the tedious body moisturiser! I like that there is no oily residue and did I mention it smells DIVINE! The scent is pleasant, not over powering or food like and even though it contains almond oil it smells of a lot more than just almonds!

The lady at the store told me that it also works well as a sort of shaving base and I've read that people really love it for that, I wouldn't know as I tend to stick to wax when it comes to hair removal but I can say that it removes any stickiness that is left over from waxing.

The bottle (lovely packaging too!) contains 250ml for £16.50. Pricey yes and I go through shower gels so quickly that you'd think I drink them. Having said that I'm loving the way my skin feels at the moment and I'm just not willing to give this up.

Are you guys up for this one? If not - what's your shower favourite?

xxx

Cinema Secrets Foundation Review & Swatches: Holy Grail

2012-07-15T13:05:00.002+01:00

So I haven't yet spoken about one of my favourite foundation and I'm feeling bad now because I'm keeping it a secret! Nonetheless, without further ado.. here comes my full review on Cinema Secrets foundation!
I will list where I got these products down below - but I do know in the US you can order from camerareadycosmetics.com and one also has the option of choosing to try samples for a small price in order to find your colour match.

When I first heard about it - I couldn't find much online or where I could buy it in the UK. Furthermore, since I couldn't get hold of shades looking for colour swatches was really difficult. Luckily, Natalie (Miss Natty's Beauty Diary) has a great review that helped me out incredibly. EDIT: Check out Imani's (Nudelips on Youtube) here for her review too, her makeup is always flawless and I learned about theatrical foundation like Cinema Secrets whilst watching her videos!

I'm going to break this review down into sections…

Coverage: Full

Texture: Cream

Colour Range: Extremely extensive, I guarantee everyone's colour is available.

Finish: Natural (skin like), Dewy with a damp sponge

Longevity: 10hrs of flawless coverage when set with powder (this is on my skin, which even though is dry doesn't hold foundation well!)
Sensitive Skin: YES!

I bought this foundation at the time of my brother's wedding because I needed something that would photograph well and heard Cinema Secrets did - so I went out scouting for it immediately. By the way it photographs amazingly! My favourite way to apply this is with the Beauty Blender/Cheaper Cosmopolitan Sponge - in my opinion this technique pushes it into the skin and sheers out the foundation just a tad giving a slightly dewy finish whilst a brush would give slightly heavier coverage - I use a steel spatula to take the foundation out in order to maintain hygiene. Since my skin is so dry I cannot use a powder (I have to to make my foundation last) unless my foundation is quite emollient and after testing several cream foundation this seems to be the most moisturising one. It is extremely pigmented so you don't need much at all (in fact the palette lasted me for a month in itself) and it spreads so easily providing excellent coverage and on top of that manages to be undetectable. I have also heard from people with oilier skins that it holds up very well. You might just need a little more powder, and a mattifying one if you want a matte finish.

Now on the shades…

Foundation Kit #3, Swatches from Left to Right: 301-63A, 302-65A, 303-66A, 201-67, 202-20

Since I didn't know which colour would be my match, and I couldn't get my hands on any samples, I decided to invest in a palette that incorporated most of the colours that would suit my medium olive complexion: Foundation Palette #3. For reference, the right hand side of my blog are my foundation shades in various brands. Turned out that #302-65A (NC30/35) was my perfect match and #303-66A (NC37ish) would be my colour when I'm very slightly tanned. Needless to say the palette lasted me quite a while and the other shades come in handy for concealing or contouring. I ended up ordering a small pot of #302-65A which I'm sure will last me a very long time! (0.25Oz/7.5g I didn't go for the bigger one simply because I didn't want it to go bad if I didn't finish it in time)

I was wearing this foundation in my previous FOTD post, click on the picture below to find out the rest of my makeup!

I realise that a little extra effort is required to find your correct match - but if you can, I would strongly suggest it. Let me know what foundations work best for you!

You can view all the shades available here

Another disadvantage on product availability - I had to figure out my shade, call and order it over the phone - which is not the most convenient. Lastly, below are the places where I know Cinema Secrets is available, depending on where you are you could enquire whether they ship to you.

Available at Oona Doherty Beauty Clinic (Ireland) €5 Postage
- Foundation Palette: €28.94
- Small (0.25Oz/7.5g) Pot of Foundation: €16.88
- Large (0.5Oz/15g)Pot of Foundation: €26.52
…………………………………………………………….
www.cinemasecrets.ie
- Foundation Palette: €28.94

- Small (0.25Oz/7.5g) Pot of Foundation: €16.88

- Large (0.5Oz/15g)Pot of Foundation: €26.52

They sell the entire Cinema Secrets range as well as other brands and a whole host of professional cosmetics.

…………………………………………………………
Camerareadycosmetics.com (Worldwide Shipping)

- Foundation Palette: $23.99

- Small (0.25Oz/7.5g) Pot of Foundation: $13.99

- Large (0.5Oz/15g)Pot of Foundation: $21.99

-Samples: $3.99

xxx

Laura Mercier Metallic Creme Eye Colour 'Platinum' Review & Swatches

2012-07-11T14:52:00.002+01:00

I've seen this product around Youtube and really loved the metallic finish of all the colours so I decided to take a bite! Laura Mercier (£16.50) claims this eye colour to be 'non greasy and waterproof' and I would have to agree. From the numerous colours available I chose 'Platinum' - normally I'm drawn more towards warmer colours but since I have to many of them I wanted something different. I like the packaging too - having it in a tube means more hygienic and it has a retro feel to it as well.

Platinum is a buildable highly metallic frosted peachy/silvery champagne colour - if used as a base it adds a reflective quality to shadows placed on top - otherwise alone it's the perfect tone to open up the eye area whilst adding an enticing summery essence and it doesn't hurt that you get a good amount of product too..

I would suggest blending it carefully though as you could end up with shimmer all over your face and if you want to reduce the shine just dust a little powder on top. Like I said, it's buildable so it's starts off sheer and then you can build its intensity using layers - don't apply a whole bunch at first because it won't be as precise.

So everyone..did I tempt you?

xxx

Benefit Cha Cha Tint Review & Swatches

2012-07-05T15:06:00.002+01:00

Welcome to the newest addition of my orange/coral craze! I had been putting off buying this for a while but since it's summer - and I'm really loving stains lately I decided to bite the bullet! Benefit's Cha Cha Tint is the coral version of their regular tints and is designed to be used on lips and cheeks. It's so appealing due to it's thin non sticky texture and the fact that it's so easy to use and carry around! The bottle mimics a nail polish and the packaging couldn't be cuter!

The mangoish stain wears extremely well - on the cheeks: from morning to night, on the lips: around 6 - 7 hours! Note: If you are tan this is your new best friend.

On the cheeks, it adds a great tropical/radiant glow (there's no shimmer & dries down to a semi-matte finish) and as it looks different on lips and cheeks you won't look too matchy matchy if you get what I mean! Directions: Dot 3 times on cheeks and blend. Hands down - Top product for summer! You could use a lipstick and or cream blush in a similar way but I don't think it will be as long lasting - but by all means you can skip this if you are not worried about wear time.

Benefit sells this for £24.50 for 12.5ml which no doubt is quite a bit - but the way I see it you're getting 2 products in 1 and I doubt you would finish this as one gets a lot product so the value seems fair. If you just want to try it I suggest going over to ASOS (click here) and trying out this package where you get a full size Hoola Bronzer and mini Watts Up Highlighter along with a small bottle of Cha Cha Tint for £23.50.

I couldn't get the lighting right for lip swatches so check out what a light application looks like by clicking here and heading over to Temptalia and for a full on built up coral click here to go to one of my favourite blogs: The Burgundy Book

The only thing I would criticise is its application on the lips - after it's wear time - 6 - 7 hours it doesn't wear down evenly so just make sure you reapply after a while.

xxx

BRUSHES Review! The ones I use the most...

2012-07-03T13:38:00.001+01:00

So instead of showing you each and every brush I have - this post will let you in on which ones I rely on the most. I know that when I started getting into makeup - getting the actual products was easy but choosing which tools to use was the challenge. After lots of trial and error I now can say I don't need anymore brushes and am more than happy with the ones that I possess.

Face

Left to Right: RT Buffing Brush, RT Contour Brush, MAC 109, NARS Yachiyo, RT Setting Brush, RT Blush Brush

Real Techniques Buffing Brush (Synthetic): Absolutely great for foundation for the sole reason it blends effortlessly - quick, easy and flawless each time. I'm so happy Sam Chapman made these brushes - they are so reasonable and perform amazingly - I have never even thought about looking for another foundation brush. I use these for pretty much all foundation except cream based ones like my beloved Cinema Secrets where I prefer a damp sponge.

Real Techniques Contour Brush (Synthetic): I use a lot of cream product (bronzer, blush & highlight) and I hate shedding and having hair in my products so this a godsend. I like that its small and precise but still so soft and easy to blend with. Plus all RT brushes are easy to clean and dry quickly making them much more convenient.

MAC 109 (Natural): I love this brush for powder contouring - it's a really good shape and fits directly in the hollows of your face. On the downside - the 109 SHEDS like crazy! Because of this I use it only for powder products. Another thing to look out for is because this brush is so dense is that deposits colour pretty heavily so use with a light hand.

NARS Yachiyo (Natural): My holy grail blush brush - I also occasionally use this for bronzing too - read my full review here!

Real Techniques Setting Brush (Synthetic): This is great as it differentiates itself from other powder brushes by being small and manageable - by being so it's easy to set one's concealer under the eyes and powder around the nose. Personally, I prefer using a puff to set my foundation but for hard to reach areas this brush really does come in handy. Furthermore, I like it's tapered tip which lets it be useful for precision highlighting as well.

Real Techniques Blush Brush (Synthetic): First things first I don't use this for blush - instead I prefer this for bronzing all over the face and neck due to it's fluffy and large head. This brush is incredible soft and I know many who use it for powder too. Another use for it is to blend any harsh edges of your makeup once you are finishing your look.

Concealer

Left to Right: MAC 217, Sigma P84, RT Deluxe Crease Brush

MAC 217 (Natural): When I learned about this brush, I learned of the hype that went along with it. For many this is the perfect brush for eyeshadow blending (I prefer the MAC 224 for eyeshadow) and while it may work - I feel as though this brush excels when blending out concealer.

Sigma Precision Angled P84 (Synthetic): My first and only Sigma brush and I like the quality and its performance. I use this small dense angled brush for a concealer (particularly on my cheeks) and for contouring my nose. Its synthetic bristles are soft and easy to clean.

Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush (Synthetic): Another star at buffing in concealer and in my opinion the only brush worth something in its set. My only gripe with brush is that it stores a lot of product in its bristles so it seems like a better idea to apply the product on your face first and then buff it in with the edge of this brush

Eyes

Left to Right: MAC 224, MAC 239, MAC 219, Louise Young LY13, Random Shadow Brush, Louise Young Fine Liner LY24

MAC 224: First I used this for concealer but once I realised that it sheds all over my face I switched to eyeshadow and have never looked back! I feel because of it longer bristles and looser quality - blending out eyeshadow barely takes any time. I'll use this to contour my nose from time to time as well.

MAC 239: The BEST at applying eyeshadow - delivers rich pigmentation with a soft patting motion and the tip is excellent for placing eyeshadow underneath eye to complete a smoky look.

MAC 219: A classic pencil brush - and extremely useful when creating eye looks as it allows you to place and blend shadow in precise places such as the inner corner, crease and along the lash line. Since I don't do anything to my eyebrows but thread them, if I felt like giving them more definition I'll run a little bit of shadow through them with this brush - it's fast and gives an alluringly soft focus effect!

Louise Young LY13: I love the short stubby head of the pencil brush so I did have to include two. This brush is much smaller and denser too that makes it a dream to take shadow underneath the eye and smudge out eyeliner.

Random Shadow Brush (LY 09): I don't have any idea who made this brush or where I got it from. I realise that this might be quite unhelpful but I wanted to show you the shape and suggest an alternative. I like the shape because it's slightly flimsy and therefore very easy to use. The flat part can be used to pat shadow and the tapered tip is helpful for shadow placement around the eye's lash lines. This brush also comes in handy if I need a lip brush but I hardly ever use one.

Louise Young LY24 Fine Liner Brush: First I thought that a brush like this would make eyelining difficult and tedious but I was incredibly wrong. The fine tip glides easily along the eye and difficulty doesn't waver whether you are creating a thick or thin line.

What are your essentials?
Thanks for stopping by!

xxx