MUA Luxe velvet lip lacquer "Kooky" review

As soon as I heard about the MUA luxe velvet lip lacquers I knew I needed to try them. I have wanted to buy a Lime crime velvetine (£13.50) for years but never got round to it. So I thought MUAs lip lacquer may be a good dupe at a cheaper price (£3.00). 

Unfortunately at the moment these babies are pretty difficult to get your hands on. They were pretty much sold out on Superdrug’s website and I couldn’t see any sign of them in Newcastle’s store. So I was a bit miffed.

I was after “Reckless” but the only shade available on the website was “Kooky” which is a purple. No doubt about it, its straight out purple. I was a bit hesitant as I’ve bought a lot of purple hued lipsticks lately and they’re not the sort of lipsticks I get to wear often. I usually wear them on nights out, not during the day (Apart from MACs “rebel”)

I have to say I’m very happy with “Kooky”. The formula is interesting, a sort of thick cream texture that drys to a matte finish relatively quickly (similar to Collection 2000’s Cream puff lip cream but less moisturising). The colour is surprisingly wearable even though it’s definitely a dramatic statement lip, I feel like I’m channelling my inner Lorde. It seems to be pretty long lasting too. I applied it then a couple hours later had my tea and afterwards it looked pretty much the same, it only wore a bit on the very inside of my lip.

I am definitely purchasing more of these when they are back in stock and for £3 I can safely say they’re a bargain and I am very happy with my purchase!

Till next time,

Beth

LUSH Bubblegum lip scrub

 I have an obsession with keeping my lips soft and moisturised. I thought i'd treat myself a little and have a trip into lush (A place I rarely ever venture into for reasons unknown)
I picked up this lip scrub last minute on my way to the till, after I had decided on buying the honey I washed the kids soap.
If you like bubblegum/bubblegum flavoured sweets then you will adore this! 
It smells incredible.

To use it you scoop a small amount out onto your finger and rub it all over your lips. I probably do this excessively but it feels like it's really getting rid of dry skin. Its best to do this over a sink or something as it can get a bit messy.

Once you've thoroughly exfoliated the best part about this scrub is that you can just lick it off your lips. It tastes fab and you're left with nicely soft lips. Its a great way to prepare your lips for those sort of dark or drying lipsticks which show any dry patches on your lips.

If you're a bubblegum/lip product fan give it a go!

Beth.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick 31 review

 So my lovely boyfriend knew of my desperation to own a YSL lipstick but my hesitation at the price. I'd stare in admiration at them often but always resist buying one. Recently that same lovely boyfriend just happened to give me a huge surprise and bought me this beauty. 
This is Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick in number 31. First of all, lets talk about the packaging. It's stunning. Its a rectangular gold mirrored case that I really do feel luxurious using I have to admit. The lipstick bullet itself also has the YSL logo engraved into it. It's close to the top so i'll be sad when i use it up! 

The lipstick itself is a deep (but not dark) plum colour which is perfect to me. The formula of the lipstick is so soft and buttery, it really does feel moisturising on the lips. It also stains the lips which I personally like. 

An undeniably unique thing about this lipstick to me is the scent. Everyone knows Macs lipstick smell of vanilla and many brand have reproduced that scent. Revlon and others often have minty smells. However this YSL lipstick has such a strong floral scent, it's impossible not to notice. It literally smells like you are putting a perfume on your lips. Luckily, it does not taste like perfume. It thrills me everytime as i've never experienced a lipstick like this before.


This lipstick not only has all the aesthetics of a high end luxury lipstick but the smell and quality to match. I will be adding to my YSL collection.

Urban Decay Naked 3 palette review

I bought the Naked 3 palette from Urban Decay a few days after it was released. (So a while ago now...sorry for the lack of blogging!) It retailed for £37.00 so it was a bit of a splurge for me! But for 12 eye shadows that means roughly £3 per eye shadow so I persuaded myself!

Strange,Dust,Burnout,Limit,Buzz,Trick,Nooner,Liar,Factory,Mugshot,Darkside,Blackheart.

I was super excited when I received this palette because it was the first Naked palette I'd ever bought. I swooned over it and fell in love at first sight. All the colours are beautiful.

Strange is so easy to use as an all over colour to blend harsh lines out with a fluffy brush or used more intensely as a highlight on the brow bone or inner corner.

Dust is absolutely gorgeous; a really sparkly but delicate colour, however I do have some issues trying to get it to stay on the lid. I find spraying my brush with "Urban Decay De-slick" helps a lot. (Or something like Fix + by Mac. The same goes for Buzz and Trick although they're slightly easier to work with.

I also really like Limit and Nooner for crease colours and find myself reaching for them very often.

The other colours such as Liar, Factory and Mugshot I haven't experimented with as much but are all lovely colours with great pigmentation. 

Darkside I really enjoy. It's a very different colour that you don't come across every day. Looks fantastic if you use it right but you have to be careful not to "muddy" your eyeshadows with it. 

Finally Blackheart I feel like many people say this is their favourite so it's a bit unoriginal but it really is something special. It's a deep black/purple with red/purple glitter in. It resembles "Beauty marked" by Mac in the pan. however I find it has MUCH better pay off in pigmentation and glitter than Macs equivalent (and I'm a huge lover of Mac). It is fantastic for a quick eyeshadow eyeliner with a kick of glitter.

Overall I am extremely pleased with my purchase and would highly recommend this palette to any one who is deliberating over it. 

till next time,

 Beth.

Sugar Skull Halloween face makeup.

Just thought I'd share my look this Halloween. I actually went to the pub like this with a friend on halloween night (a Thursday) and unfortunately found nobody else was dressed up. Awkward moment. Typical Beth.

The look was done with Stargazer white face powder, a black eyeliner, black eyeshadow and a red lipstick. A purse friendly look if I do say so myself!,
Beth

Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick Black Cherry (477)

 This lipstick has been in my collection for a good year roughly. It was my first plunge into dark lipsticks (and initiated a dangerous addiction) 
Its a beautiful deep burgundy/red.
It retails for £7.49 at Superdrug, so is a slightly more expensive high street lipstick. But like almost all other Revlon products, it's worth it. 

It has a relatively thick texture but not too thick and as the name suggests has a lustre finish. It feels nice and moisturising on the lips. It requires precise application as it is a dark colour so a lip brush and lip liner are helpful! (I use MAC "vino" lip liner)
I adore the colour of this lipstick as although it is a deep colour, it is by no means too dark. 

The only downfall of this lipstick is that the application is inconsistent , Ie) When applying the lipstick some parts will come up darker than others. However this is not a major problem and it also is not as apparent with a lip liner underneath. 

I think this lipstick is a great way to branch out into more bold dark lips as it is definitely still wearable,

"Black cherry" with no lip liner.

Beth.

MAC "So Chaud" lipstick review.

 As I said I would in a previous blog post. I purchased "So Chaud" the other week online from MAC. This lippy caught my eye after seeing it in numerous videos from Jen ( "clothesencounters" ) on Youtube. I told myself I didn't need it, but clearly didn't convince myself.
The first time I tried it on I shocked myself a little as it seemed very orange. But I've gradually got used to it and I think it could be my new favourite bold "dressy up" lippy. 
It's definitely a bright lipstick that seems a cross between postbox red and orange. Being pale it seems to go nicely with my skin tone, although when fully applied it takes a while to get used to. I wore it out for the first time yesterday and I must admit my Uncle did give me a double take and a confused look as if to say "What on Earth is on your face?", but never the less I'm pleased with it! 
The lipstick is £14 and is a matte finish which I absolutely LOVE. The colour is also surprisingly long lasting which is fab! And like MACS "Rebel" It also seems to stain my lips, I don't know if anyone else has this trouble or whether it's just me? Let me know, 
Beth x

Taken in natural daylight with no flash.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable balm stain"005 Crush"

 This is one of my new favourite lip products. I've really been loving the deep berry shades since they became popular near the start of 2012. But like (I suspect) quite a few people I find them difficult to pull off casually. Unless....they're in a completely wearable balm form!
Plus, I adore the packaging as the lip stain in basically a huge retractable crayon.
It's so moisturising on the lips and is convenient to throw on (without worrying about being neat) to add a pop of colour to your lips whilst feeling great.

I've been absolutely loving Revlon so far this year, and can't wait to see whatever else they bring out before 2012  is over!

Gosh lip marker "003 Berry" review.

No flash

 I bought this lip marker about a month ago and thought it was time for a review. I bought the colour "003 Berry". It's a lovely sort of raspberry colour. Like most lip stains; the colour is buildable. Gosh says the lip marker is "long lasting". For a lip product, I agree. It's especially good for not rubbing off or leaving lip stains on glasses of mugs when drinking. however it can't quite last after eating.

Flash

I also think this lip maker has a taste. It's almost like an artificial raspberry flavour, which I don't really mind. I picked this up at Superdug for £6.99. As always I love the Gosh packaging, It's modern and minimalistic; definitely my taste.


Although it isn't shown very well in these pictures the colour can be rather bold when applied fully. As I'm pretty pale skinned with pink cheeks (which I despise), when fully applied, this lip marker compliments my skin tone well. 

Beth x

Real techniques blush brush review.

When I first started buying decent make-up I told myself I would own all the MAC brushes because well....they were MAC so they must be the best. Wrroonnngg. I can't stress how happy I am that boots (however not my tiny local one) are selling great quality brushes at acceptable prices.
What makes it even better is that these densely packed,soft, stylish and girly brushes are in our Boots stores because of the gorgeous Samantha Chapman. 
I watch every single video Pixiwoo make, and it amazes me how creative both Sam and Nic are (Often sitting in front of camera without a plan at all!) I knew I had to try these brushes!
I wasn't surprised at all that the two brushes I own by Sam were basically perfect for me, as the two girls obviously know everything there is to know about make up ad therefore know what the customers want out of their brushes. I will definitely be purchasing more of these brushes and I highly recommend them.
Beth.

MAC "Rebel" lipstick review

Definitely not the neatest application.

My most recent MAC purchase is this gorgeous berry coloured satin lipstick called "REBEL".

Excuse the shockingly chipped nail varnish!

I've been eyeing this lippy for quite a while and was even going to buy it online instead of taking a trip into town, only to find it was out of stock (must be a popular one!). But when I was shopping and passed the MAC 
counter I thought I would try my luck.
Good job I did as well!
It's a beautiful bold colour and the quality is just as fab as you would expect from a MAC lipstick. I've worn this lipstick about 3 times now and something odd about it is that it stains your lips. Like, really stains; you can remove it, rub at it, irritate your lips but when you wake up in the morning they'll still have a slight stain. Which Is odd as i've never had a lipstick that does this. However I suppose it's the price you pay for the wonderful pigmentation.

The lipstick is priced at £14 (standard MAC pricing). I'm pleased with it as I definitely don't have a colour like it. My next purchase will be "So chaud" as that too was out of stock when I tried to buy it! ...boohoo :( 


Till next time,
Beth 

Real Techniques competition.

One of my favourite make-up looks (definitely not an everyday look) for the Real Techniques competition. Who's brushes I absolutley ADORE.

Revlon Lip Butter review!

So a couple of weeks ago I decided to jump on the "Revlon lip butter" train. I decided all the hype must be for a reason, so I had a little splurge for 16 year old, living on pocket money me.
I've never really purchased Revlon products before apart from the odd nail varnish, but I am so very pleased with these products! All very smooth glossy lipsticks retailing at £7.99 each.  
All pictures below are applied with only ONE coat. The pigmentation of these lipsticks can build up much vibrant than this.

2

"Cotton Candy" Is probably the most wearable of the 3 lip butters i bought as it is a natural pink tone. However it also has a lot of shimmer with gold reflects. It gives a very pretty look without looking overdone. It is also easy enough to slap on without having to apply it precisely in a mirror. Definitely a good buy in my opinion for pretty pale gals like me!

 "Lollipop" Is a more bright pink/fuchsia colour. Very lively and definitely summery! It doesn't have any shimmer in like "cotton candy". Because the colour is slightly more out there I think it is wise to keep the colour the strong point and not add shimmer. It seems to have the best staying power out of the 3 I bought and I'm sure would be a night time lipstick when applied fully.

"Cotton Candy" Is definitely my favourite out of my 3 lip butters, I adore red lipstick but don't wear it on a day to day basis as It can definitely be hard to pull of.  However when this is applied lightly it looks gorgeous as it is a very light and subtle hydrating lipstick. Great for pale skin! 


I definitely feel these lip products are worth the money and i would recommend them. Even if you just try one shade. They are very wearable and I also think fabulous for the summer months ahead! ( Even in England! )
Till next time, Beth

Jeffery Campbell Lita Spiked heels

Can't stress how much I want a pair of these... (Even if there's no way I could walk in them)

Are they not just some of the most gorgeous shoes you've ever laid eyes upon.

Gosh "Gloss eclat & brilliance" lipgloss (02)

So, I picked this little beauty up a couple of weeks ago in a Superdrug sale. Now, anyone who buys Gosh will know that they tend to be quite pricey for a "drug store" brand. although they do have a good range of products including things like primers and brushes.

These "Gosh gloss eclat & brilliance" originally retailed for about £7-8 I believe, so when I saw this for £3 in such a mad colour (number 02) I had to get it.

The packaging is attractive, with a minimalistic feel to the square container. The lip gloss also has a mirror on the side which is a nice touch. But inside, it gets even better! There are two small LED lights above the wand. Pretty helpless for application, but it still looks cute!
The brush is also nice and it is an actual brush rather than a "felt/sponge wand" If you understand what I mean?

The product itself is rather sticky which I am not too much of a fan of (and is the reason I tend to stay away from lip gloss). However the sheer amount of holographic shimmer makes this lip gloss an exception in my books. The lip gloss is (as you can see) a slightly berry-like pink with different coloured very fine glitter and an overall underlying blue tone.

A rather unattractive picture, attempting to show the amount of glitter in this bad boy!

There's something about Gosh products that is undoubtedly attractive, probably because they appear so modern and simple but colourful.


Hope you enjoyed this quick review,
Beth x

MAC "soft ochre" paint pot review

 Recently I purchased the MAC "Soft Ochre" paint pot.It's my first paint pot and the main reason for purchasing this was because of NikkieTutorials.

If any of you watch her Youtube videos you'll be well aware that almost all her looks begin with "so I'm going to take MACs paint pot in soft ochre". I love her videos to the stars and back so I thought I would purchase something that she loves and something that I should be able to use a lot.

 It's a very plain, wearable colour so I think it was a good paint pot to start out with. It's great at supplying a plain canvas for almost any eye make up. As with almost all MAC products I feel like the quality is worth the price. 

The product is a creamy consistency and applies pretty smoothly but once it has dried on the eyelid, it's there to stay. Which is what you want from a product like this. however it does mean you have to work quickly.

 I do worry about how long this product will last without drying out. But as it's MAC and paint pots are so highly regarded by most MAC users, I have faith. Taking precautions like screwing the lid on tightly and storing them upside down should help them to live on longer!

I love the packaging of paint pots. the typical  glass pots with the large black lids (like a larger version of MAC gel liners) and overall i'm sure this product will be a staple piece in my make up kit for years to come.

I will definitely be purchasing some more paint pots. I have my eye on "bare study" next.

The paint pots are priced at £14.50 for a 5g pot.

Till next time, 

Beth.

My Jewellery "organisation"

 Just thought I'd give you a peak at my jewellery organisation, although it's nothing special.
I basically hang my hair bands/accessories and necklaces on this sliding jewellery organiser from IKEA. It slides in and out of my wardrobe on a hinge (very handy as my room is absolutely tiny! The extra room is appreciated) 




I don't have a huge jewellery collection and what I do have often isn't put to good use. I tend to be way to lazy to pick out jewellery on a day to day basis. Unless it's a special occasion like a meal out/party or gig, I'm often extremely minimally accessorised. 

I love quirky pieces like this beetle necklace!

However this doesn't mean I can resist the gorgeous items I pass in the shops, oh no. 


2 of my most recent purchases are the black and silver chunky necklace made up on geometric shapes from H&M for about £6-7 I think. My other recent purchase that i believe was an Absolute steal was the silver spiked necklace in front of it. It was in the Dorothy Perkins sale for £3! and it makes a fab statement piece for a dress-up occasion. However it does slightly remind me of a cave woman's bone necklace. Anyone else?

Yeah...totally organised.

 This is the other part of my Jewellery storage. As you can tell, I'm not the neatest organiser...whoops.
I basically keep all my rings and bracelets in one of my bedside table draws. I lined it with a bandanna to make it look a bit more lively. 
Every year I buy stacks of summertime brightly coloured beaded bracelets but they never get worn enough. So this year my objective is to wear them throughout summer! 

Benefit mascara "they're Real!" Review.

"They're Real!"

 So I've always been a "Maybelline Volume Express Colossal Mascara" girl. I think I prefer big mascara brushes, as I'm too lazy to be precise!
 However after my 3rd tube of the same mascara ran out i decided it was time for a change. 
Now if you read any beauty blogs or watch any vlogs I'm sure you'll be aware of the ongoing hype over this mascara. I wanted to see whether it really was this miracle mascara!

2 light coats of "They're Real!"

The brush is medium sized, and slightly flexible. However something slightly special about this mascara brush is that it has bristles going around the end of the brush. They do help to de-clump lashes when using the brush horizontally.
I'm not gunna lie, I wasn't struck by the wonder of this god send. It is a decent mascara and it does have snazzy packaging (easy to find in your make up bag) It is also my very first purchase from benefit. It does provide you with longer and blacker lashes, however I don't feel it makes lashes appear very full or voluminous. For £18.50 I personally feel it is overpriced and very over rated.
Till next time, Beth x

MAC Cream Colour Base "Luna" Review.

 I recently purchased "Luna" by MAC. I tend to use this product on the very top of my cheekbones, brow bone, inner corner of the eye and sometimes my cupids bow as a highlighter. 
The texture isn't very thick, and i would say is rather greasy. However it isn't so greasy once on the face. I feel that once it sinks in it stays put and provides an attractive natural highlight.


I chose the lightest colour (very white, very fine shimmer). This was just due to the fact that i have rather pale skin (I was tempted to purchase "pearl" which is more of a cream colour with gold shimmers, but thought that the white would suit my skin tone more.) Due to it being very light it does reflect the light nicely and I find because there are no large glitter chunks , only extremely fine shimmer it does not look overpowering.

I apologise for the pretty useless swatch.

I have not used this fully as an eye shadow base yet as I feel it may make my eyelids greasy due to the texture of the product. However a base of "UD primer potion" underneath may do the trick.                                                                                                                                                                         I'm rather useless at contouring my face ( as I'm pretty pale I always feel bronzer makes me look like someone off Geordie shore...) so highlighters are kind of my way out of contouring at the moment, until summer comes around and I have a slight tan again!

"Luna"used lightly on brow bone and very top of cheekbone.

I feel this product does make an excellent highlighter and as it contains 3.2g, and a little goes a long way I think it will last me a substantial amount of time. I prefer to apply this product with my finger, rather than a brush .I think it blends into the skin easier this way, as creams quite often do. This product is £14.50. 

Beth x

China Glaze "Fifth Avenue"

 Now, I'm not the best at painting nails. I'm definitely not a perfectionist although I wish I was. But i do love a good nail varnish! 
I purchased China Glaze "Fifth Avenue" quite a long time ago but haven't used it as much as I should of. After rediscovering it hidden amongst dozens of other nail varnishes, I adore it once again. 
I really feel like it's such a wearable colour. Yet quite girly, but as it's more of a dusty rose pink rather than fluorescent or hot pink, it also appears sophisticated.
As China Glaze polishes always are (in my opinion) the quality is tip-top, and a mere 1 coat is all that's needed.
I'm not sure if this particular colour is still retailed, but if it is I suggest you grab it quick! 
It's definitely my favourite at the moment,
Beth x