MAC // LOOSE PIGMENT IN 'COPPER SPARKLE'

For me, the best part of doing my makeup is my eyes. I am constantly playing around with different eyeshadows, and trying out different looks. I never stick to one look daily!

On my birthday in May, my uni friends surprised me with a few goodies from MAC, and this pigment was included. I have never owned a pigment before, but I was constantly using my flatmates pigment for nights out as it was so pretty and easy to apply.

'Copper Sparkle' is a gorgeous burnt orange tone, with an illuminous shine to it. I don't like to wear this on a daily basis though, as it is too pretty to just bring out. I save this for special, special occasions.

I usually match this pigment with either brown/orange toned eyeshadows within the crease, or I quite often put a black throughout the crease of the eye and then carry this pigment underneath the bottom lash line. If done quite subtly, this looks gorgeous and makes the smokey eye 'pop'.

Not a lot of this product is needed, and can be used with either a dry or wet brush for application. If a dry brush is used then it will be treat like a regular eyeshadow however, if a wet brush is used then the colour will be a lot more prominent, and it also stays on the lid better too. 

'Copper Sparkle' retails for a price of £16.00 and can be found HERE.

Have you tried any other pigments from MAC? What do you recommend?

PERFECT DUPE FOR MAC STUDIO FIX FLUID // BEAUTY

I'm not usually one for dupes. I just prefer to stick to what I know and have found, as I think this makes it a little easier. However, I feel as though I have found the perfect dupe for MAC's Studio Fix Fluid. 

Firstly, I chose to go for MAC Studio Fix Fluid due to the fact that my skin is combination skin. I suffer from both oily and dry however, it is more to the oily side, so I needed a foundation which would last all day without budging and I found this within MAC's foundation. Although I love this foundation silly amounts, it does make me break out if I wear it on a daily basis. Therefore I set out to find a dupe, and ended up with Revlon Colorstay foundation. 

In the Studio Fix Fluid I wear NC15 (as I went to a counter and got matched up), so I gathered that I would need quite a pale colour to suit my skin tone. After trying all of the shades, I found that 'Ivory' matched NC15 near enough perfectly, so I settled for that. Usually with a foundation I always have to set it with a translucent powder, but I have found that with Colorstay I do not have to do this at all, and it does not budge throughout the day. This really impressed me, as with Studio Fix Fluid I have to apply a little bit of powder to just ensure that it stays in place. Another similarity Studio Fix Fluid and Colorstay have in common is that they are both SPF 15, which is important for daily sun rays on the skin. 

I bought Studio Fix Fluid for £22.00, and you can find that HERE.

I bought Colorstay for £12.99 from Boots, and you can find that HERE.

Yes the Colorstay is a little pricey for a drugstore foundation, but it is near enough half the price of the Studio Fix Fluid, and it is perfect for a daily foundation when saving your better one for special occasions. Also, it doesn't make you break out so what could be better?

Have you found any foundation dupes recently?

MAC // 'DIVA' LIPSTICK

I have always had the opinion that a bold, red lip did not suit me, so for a long time I have put it off and always chosen to wear the darker purples if I was going to an occasion or somewhere more special. 

Spending the majority of my time around the MAC counter in Selfridges, I came to the conclusion that it was about time to ditch the dark purples for a while, and invest in a dark red lip colour. I was quite fussy however when I had to choose. This is because I didn't want to settle for a bright red lipstick, but instead a darker 'vintage vamp' type of colour. This is because I wear a lot of dark gold colours on my eyelids and I thought it may look better.

I picked up 'Diva', when I accidentally found myself standing at the MAC counter one afternoon. My flat mate wanted to start her own palette, so I saw this as the perfect opportunity to question the beauty guru's and see what colour would suit me best.

'Diva' is a very dark red colour, and comes off the bullet as a matte finish. I prefer matte finish lipsticks as they seem to last longer on the lip, and even when they begin to fade they always leave a stain which I also believe to look quite flattering.

Trust me when I say you do not need a lot of this product at once. I made the mistake of applying a little too much the first time that I wore it, and it just got everywhere. I advise to use a lip brush at first for precision purposes, and then go in with the bullet itself to deepen the colour if you wish. The colour ended up staying on all night, no matter how many drinks I had or what I had to eat. I wore this colour with a gold eye look, and even though some may say that it's either 'lips or eye' I thought the look went really well! Definitely one of my statement lipsticks in my collection I would say.

The online link to 'Diva' can be found HERE, and the lipstick retails for a price of £15.50 which is definitely worth it!

What bold lip colours are you loving at the moment?

MAC // 'DERVISH' LIPLINER

Since Kylie Jenner made an appearance with her fabulous lips, everyone wants one of those 'nude' lipliners to copy her looks.

I made my way to Selfridges in search of a lipliner that I could wear everyday, underneath different lipsticks just to enhance my natural lip line. I myself have been blessed with quite full lips (thanks momma!) so I never had the intention of making them look overly big, I just wanted a more prominent lip line underneath my lipstick.

When I got to the MAC counter, there wasn't a nude lipliner that caught my eye. Dervish was the closest to a natural nude that I could find, with a slight pink undertone to it. I wear it underneath any lip colour because of the basic colour that it is. 

Dervish is extremely loved as you can tell! I honestly wear this near enough every single day- unless I'm having a makeup free day that is. The lipliner itself is a soft nude with undertones of pink and a tiny bit of brown. It has quite a velvet finish, with a little shimmer being added to it. Originally I wanted a matte lipliner, as I thought that it may stay on better. However, this lipliner doesn't seem to want to budge underneath the lip colour that you may be wearing. 

It also doesn't change the colour of your lipstick either which is a benefit, as I thought that because I wear it with so many different lip colours that it would have an impact on them but it doesn't.

The lipliner retails at a price of £12.50 and you can obviously buy it online or from a counter. The online link is HERE.

What lipliner/lipliners are you liking at the moment?

MAC // STUDIO FIX FLUID

We all like a good foundation that will give us sufficient coverage when and where we need it, and that will last quite a long time without having to use so much at once.

Using drug store foundations, I had never really tried a high end foundation apart from Estee Lauder so when I contemplated buying the MAC Studio Fix Fluid I thought I may as well give it a go.

I had heard a lot of mixed reviews about this foundation. Some said to me that it was the best foundation they have ever tried because it gives a solid coverage and doesn't budge, but others stated that it it broke them out with awful blemishes and made their skin feel to clogged up.

For me, this foundation gives the right amount of coverage I look for when I am purchasing a foundation. I always look for a foundation which gives me enough coverage so that I don't need to apply a lot of concealer on any blemishes that I have, and just stick to concealer for highlighting purposes. 

I use the shade NC15 which I guessed is for paler people as this is pretty light! It doesn't provide flashback when taking photo's, and not a lot of powder is needed when setting the foundation. I personally do not think it looks cakey whatsoever. If I am using this foundation throughout the day, then I will not use too much and work it into the skin so it looks a lot more natural. If I want to use this foundation for a night out or an event, then I will use a little bit more than I would throughout the day, but still work it into the skin so it blends in. 

This foundation cost me £21.50 and you can buy it HERE.

If you are not too sure which colour you may be, I recommend visiting a store which sells MAC e.g. Selfridges, and have your skin colour matched up to a foundation. 

What do you think of MAC foundations? 

MAC // MY CUSTOM PALETTE SO FAR

Eyeshadows are my ultimate love in the world of makeup. I adore the different shades, formulas, types, brands... In fact anything I can get my hand on. And then I discovered MAC eyeshadows and I fell much more in love than I already was. 

I decided to create my own custom palette because that way I could choose the colours that I wanted, and know that I would 100% use them all. Don't get me wrong, the palette isn't cheap to put together but I would definitely say that it is worth it, and it gives you something to collect and put together yourself over a period of time. 

(I also own Satin Taupe but I still need to de-pan that one!)

These are the colours that I have accumulated over the past couple of months- and I love them all. All That Glitters must be the most used in the palette purely because I put this all over the lid before applying another colour to the crease. You can wear All That Glitters on it's own or as part of a dramatic eye for a night out, which is what I often do. Brun is my newest to the collection, but I didn't set out to buy this one. Cranberry was what I was hoping for, but unfortunately they didn't have it in stock at the counter so I will have to make sure to purchase it next time I visit! 

Do any of you guys have a custom MAC eyeshadow palette? What shade do you recommend me buying next?

MAC // LIPSTICK IN 'CRAVING'

MAC has always been one of my favourite make-up brands, and over the past few months I have seriously been obsessing over which product to buy next... So how can you go wrong with purchasing another lipstick?

Originally, when I walked over to the MAC counter it wasn't in my intentions to purchase this lipstick. I had my heart set on 'Twig', but when I went over to pay they didn't have that in stock. Instead, I was brought over 'Craving' and I instantly fell in love. 

The lipstick is like a red but it has a more pink undertone, which means you can wear this for either day time or night time. I like to wear this in a day time, but wear a lipliner underneath it if I am going to wear this on a night out as such.

This lipstick also has a satin finish. This means that it looks super shiny on the lips and doesn't leave them feeling dry if you keep on reapplying it. Although I do love the matte lipsticks from MAC, this just seems so much more moisturising and more satisfying to wear.

For £15.50 I don't think you can go wrong. The colour is super pigmented and it lasts forever on the lips... Even through eating and drinking!

Autumn Tag 2014

Image taken from 'Makeup-Pixi3'

Autumn is upon us, and I can genuinely say that I am so so so excited for this new season. I love autumn and winter purely because of the spicy candle scents, new hot drinks, dark makeup and wrapping up all warm. Oh! And the fact christmas us also upon us.

1. Ok we're talking coffee's- what's your favourite seasonal drink from Starbucks/Costa/Cafe Nero etc?

I only ever seem to drink coffee in the autumn/winter months. I don't know whether this is because I enjoy waiting for the new hot drinks to come out in my local Costa, or whether I just enjoy the warm feeling that they give me. 2 of my favourite seasonal drinks are both from Costa and these are the White Hot Chocolate and the Gingerbread Latte. Both as equally scrumptious, both as sickly, but both as more-ish as one another.

2. Accessories- what do you opt for? Scarf, boots, gloves?

All 3 accessories. I always grab my scarf and gloves and put on a pair of boots if I am going for an autumn walk. This way I feel so snug and put together for the chilly season. 

3. Music- what's your favourite music to listen to during autumn?

I can't really say that I change my music preferences depending on the season if I am honest. I do like to go for a more subtle type of music, like chill out music if I am trying to get things done. I am especially liking Lilly Ahlberg (check her out on YouTube) at the moment, so I think she will be the perfect pick for this autumn. 

4. Perfume- what's your favourite scent for this time of year?

I like musky perfume full of spice and depth. This is because it reminds me of the spicy candle scents you get in supermarkets or home ware shops, and I just think it is a staple scent for this type of year.

5. Candles- what scents will you be burning this autumn?

Anything autumn related will be having a flame taken to it's wick this autumn. I want my room/flat to be full of spicy scents and all of that autumn goodness. 

6. What do you love most about autumn?

It may sound strange, and I promise I do love the sun when it decides to make an appearance in the UK, but I love the dark nights and the slight chill autumn gives. I also love the tree's changing colour and long autumnal walks with family and friends. 

7. Favourite makeup look?

The makeup I wear during autumn is also one I wear quite often on a day-to-day basis. I love to wear a dark eye with a dark lip on pale skin. The products that I have been loving and will be carrying through to autumn are MAC lipsticks in Rebel and Heroine, Revlon Colourstay Foundation in Buff and MAC eyeshadows in Shadow Lady and Satin Taupe. They look beautiful on and are perfect for the autumn season.

8. What are you looking forward to most this autumn?

- Going to university and beginning my first year.

- Meeting all of the new people in my flat.

- Becoming independent.

- Bonfire night (I loveeeee fireworks!)

So there is my autumn tag! I tag anybody to complete this, but If you use the picture Makeup-Pixi3 put together then please reference her!

What do you love about autumn?

MAC | Brush Cleanser

Hello everyone! 

Just a little note before I begin my review. I have misplaced my camera and as a result I have to use my phone camera. However, when I tried putting the photo onto my laptop to show you guys, it didn't bleeding work. Goodness sake. I promise guys that I will get it sorted for my next review/post.

Anyway, push away the bad stuff, I have a review. Yay! I love trying out new things and providing new reviews for you all so that you can try these products too. The review I am going to be giving you all is about the MAC Brush Cleanser, and I am seriously impressed. 

Until this bottle of goodness fell into my hands, I didn't think washing my makeup brushes seemed like a big deal. I just got on with using them how they were and let the dreams of having clean brushes pass by.

Alas! I gained this little stunner and I have never seen cleaner brushes. Honestly. One teeny little drop is all you need, and you brush feels brand new. This cleanser also contains conditioner, which will keep your bristles soft, and it will also prevent them from falling out. 

This brush cleanser is a stealer at only £10.00 which I think is absolutely amazing for a product this good. You can find that HERE if you are interested in purchasing. 

This cleanser also works for any size brush that you intend on cleaning. It doesn't damage the root of the brush either, so even if you get a little bit of cleanser in the root, it will not cause the bristles to fall out. I highly recommend this product, and even though this my first ever brush cleaner, I think I have found the one.

What do you guys think? What are your favourite brush cleansers? What do you recommend? 

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Christmas Wishlist

Hello everyone. 

This must be a miracle. I am keeping up with my blogging! I promise you though, as soon as my new laptop arrives I will be able to blog more often, maybe near enough every day. Exciting!

So I bring with me today a Christmas Wishlist. I haven't done one of these before, so I thought that I would give it a go and show you all what I am dreaaaaming of this year for Christmas. Whether I receive them or not is a different story, but it is always nice to wish!

From left to right

1. Ted Baker Large Bow Washbag £29.00

2. MAC Lipstick in 'Rebel' £15.00

3. Marc Jacobs Honey £39.50

4. Real Techniques Core Collection Brush Set £21.99

I know my wishlist is limited, but right now I can't think of anything else that I would like! I am pretty sure that there are other things, and they will probably spring to mind during the day but that is all for now!

What is your Christmas Wishlist?

What Is In My Make-Up Bag?

For me, a good make-up bag is a girls best friend, so I thought I would share with you all what is currently in my makeup bag!

Make-up bag- Next

I recently purchased this make-up bag as my other one became very dirty, and it proved to be difficult to wash. Seeing as though I was in Next shopping for Sixth Form clothes, I came across this make-up bag and instantly fell in love. Purple is my favourite colour, and I thought that the little butterfly on the top added the finishing touch without it looking too much.

From left to right:
Real Techniques Blusher Brush
Real Techniques Buffing Brush
Real Techniques Stippling Brush
Real Techniques Shading Brush
Avon Powder Brush
Paddle Eye Shadow Brush
Angled Brush

When applying make-up, I always like to apply mine with a brush. Some people prefer to use their hands and fingers when doing this however, I think using a brush adds precision and gives the make-up a better finish. I am a big fan of the Real Techniques brushes, and I do like to add more to my collection whenever I can. What are your favourite make-up brushes?

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in Ivory

 Second in my make-up bag is my foundation. This Rimmel foundation is my all-time favourite drugstore foundation. This is because it gives an even coverage and it illuminates the face, making it look fabulous in photographs!

Max Factor Wild Mega Mascara & Rimmel Day 2 Night Mascara both in Black

 In a recent post, I noted that I am quite a skeptic when it comes to mascaras however, these 2 mascaras are the best mascaras I have ever used. The 'Day 2 Night' mascara gives a false eyelashes look, whilst the 'Wild Mega' mascara gives the volume. These are definitely 2 mascaras which I will be purchasing again.

No7 Duo Bronzer

I got this bronzer as part of a gift set for Christmas last year. I have never usually thought to use ronzer in my daily make-up, and it can be quite scary as sometimes it is quite difficult to determine how much is going to be applied to the face, and how much bronzer is actually going to come off the palette. I found this bronzer was very easy to apply, and not a lot came off the palette, making it very easy to use.

Eyelash Curlers

 I always carry a pair of eyelash curlers in my make-up bag, as I always use them. I curl my eyelashes because I think it makes the mascara sit better on the eyelashes and it always adds a simple finishing tough. It also makes the eyelashes look longer, so if your like me and suffer from short eyelashes, I would go and purchase yourself a pair if you don't already have them, and give them a go!

No7 Eye shadow in Starry Lights

 I always use a base eyes hadow even if I am not performing a smokey eye, or going for the no eye liner look. This is simply because I get very oily eyelids, so I have to use an eye shadow all of the time, to ensure that my foundation on my eyelids doesn't slide. This eye shadow has a gold undertone, so it looks beautiful on its own, but it also looks gorgeous as a base for a smokey eye too.

Natural Collection Eye Shadow Duo in Mocha/Latte

As you can see, this eye shadow palette is very well loved. I use the Mocha colour on my eye brows as it is the perfect colour for me, and I use the Latte colour as a highlighter on top of my brow bone. Even though I don't use it for its use, I do sometimes use the Mocha colour in my eyelid crease for a bit of shadowing, when I decide to do a smokey eye. I also sometimes use the Latte colour as a base eye shadow if I am wanting to go for a 'Plain Jane' kind of day.

Maybelline Baby Lips in Mint Fresh

 I am the proud owner of 2 Baby Lips lip balms, and since the day I bought them, I have never looked back. These are my favourite lip balms in the whole entire world. Even though I don't have a lipstick in my make-up bag at the moment, this is because I am trying to nourish my lips as they can become quite dry from using a lipstick so often, so I am having a break! My lips feel so much nicer and the smell and taste is delicious! Totally recommend.

Max Factor Creme Blush in Soft Copper

 I have been loving creme blushers at the moment as they are so much more pigmented than powder blushers. Creme blushers also last longer and they can be used much more precisely and go where you put them without them budging throughout the day.

Natural Collection Loose Powder in Translucent

 I always use a powder to seal my foundation and other make-up, and because I use so much of it, I found I was buying so much and spending so much money on this product. After discovering Natural Collection did loose powder, I made sure that I bought a couple for the same price as buying a high end powder. I always buy my powders in Translucent as well. This is so no other colour is added to my face, and it doesn't make me look 'orange' after completing my make-up for the day.

Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair

 I love a good concealer, and I always put it on top of my foundation. I apply it under my eyes, on my brow bone, on the bridge of my nose, around my nose, on my chin and on any other blemishes I have at the time. This concealer is nice and creamy and is of a nice consistency. I love the applicator as it makes it easy to apply, and it doesn't budge throughout the day.

MAC Kohl Eyeliner and Avon Color Trend Kohl Eyeliner both in Black

 I use black eyeliner in the corners of my eyes and to line the lash line, making it appear thicker than it is. The MAC eyeliner isn't as pigmented as the Avon one, but this can be nice if you do not want such a harsh look.

Natural Collection Kohl Eyeliner in White

 I use white eyeliner on the waterline of my eye sometimes to make my eye appear bigger and wider than it is. I also use it on the tear duct corner to add a bit of brightness to the inside of my eye. I didn't believe that it would truly work until I tried it out, and I found that I was wrong and it definitely does!

Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil in Dark Brown

 I don't often use my eyebrow pencil anymore, but if there isn't a part of my eyebrow which doesn't take to the powder, then I will fill it in with a pencil. I like the little brush on the end as it blends the powder into the eyebrow hairs, giving it that natural look.

Standard Angled Tweezers

I always carry tweezers around as you can never tell when you are going to need them!

I hope giving you an insight to my make-up bag gives you some ideas of your own, and if you choose to do a 'What Is In My Make-Up Bag?' then tag me as I would love to have a nosey!

Ciao for now!