Tarte Tartelette 2 In the Bloom Palette

First off, apologies for the lack of posts recently, I have well and truly neglected my little blog. However, I’m back and with yet another review.

As soon as I saw this, I knew I had to add it to my collection. Yes, I have far too many eyeshadow palettes as it is, but the Tartelette In the Bloom palette is mostly all matte shades, making the splurge seem a little more justifiable..

All the shades are just up my alley; all gorgeous warm naturals. It has everything you need for any look, and conveniently is divided into ‘strips’ of shadows  to create different looks, or shadows that go best with one another. For me, the addition of a matte white highlight shade, as well as two almost identical brown/black liner shades, makes this the perfect everyday go-to palette. As well as the mattes, the three shimmer shades are also stunning – Funny girl, Firecracker and Rocker. Funny girl has probably been my most worn shadow, only because it’s so versatile and acts as the best highlight shade.

I picked mine up on QVC here in the UK, and the introductory offer was £30 (ish) and came with a Tarte eyeshadow brush (it’s surprisingly really good). BUY HERE

If like me and you’re obsessed with neutral palettes, defiantly pick this one up. Not to mention the packaging is absolutely stunning!

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation

 

I had heard so much about this foundation for years before I finally decided to splurge recently.

Chanel describes this foundation as having a “soft and evanescent ultra-fine fluid texture” giving a “second-skin” perfecting result. “The complexion appears amazingly even, fresh and energised. The skin glows with seemingly nude beauty. As if lit from within. Bathed in light… “

I would have to agree that this foundation looks gorgeous on the skin. It evens out skintone and covers light blemishes yet still looks natural and radiant on the skin. When blending, it almost melts into the skin – it’s such a dream to use.

The formula is enriched with a UVB sun filter and has an SPF of 15, protecting your skin from sun damage – maybe not one to use if you’re using flash photography however.

I’ve found that it has a sunscreen smell, personally something that I love as it’s such an iconic Chanel scent. Having said that, if you suffer from sensitive skin you may want to be a little weary of this. The way I like to apply it is either with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush or Bold Metals 101, although Chanel say that best results are with your hands. I personally don’t like the feeling of having foundation on my hands, hence why I just stick with a brush. Alternatively, I have tried it with my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge and love the results that gives also.

This is 100% worth the £32 I paid for it, expensive yes, but the way it leaves my skin is like no other foundation I’ve used before (and trust me I’ve tried a few). Let’s just say I’m not looking forward to the day I run out.

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette | Review and Swatches

As with most things, I’m completely late on the band wagon with this palette. I tend to wait for the hype to go down before I rush to buy a new product, mainly because then I can see other peoples thoughts before deciding for myself whether or not to go and pick it up. I have seen everyone and their mothers talk about the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette for a couple of years now and have always wanted to get round to trying it. So, while out shopping with my friend the other week, who just happens to be as makeup obsessed as me, I glanced upon it in Debenhams. Having it herself, I was obviously talked into buying it..as well as a few other cheeky little purchases (we’ll leave them for another time).

(Sorry for the bad quality in swatches, turns out it’s quite hard to take a full length photo of your arm haha)

I’m so glad I finally added it to my collection; it’s been the only real thing I’ve been using on my eyes for the past month or so. The colours are gorgeous and so up my alley. A perfect mix of shimmer and matte neutral shades, along with the odd pop of slightly more adventurous colours. The shadows themselves are buttery, pigmented and blent like a dream. Being made of cocoa powder, the shadows also smell just like chocolate (as the name would suggest), though they taste like chocolate too!! (..not that i’ve been dipping my finger in and licking them that is) haha so guilty!

The one draw back I would say about this palette however is the packaging. Although it looks adorable and ties in with the whole chocolate thing well, it does feel a little cheap. The closure for instance is a bit weak and if traveling you would feel like it was opening quite a bit.

With that to one side, this is a stunning palette that certainly deserves all the hype. It’s defiantly becoming my favourite and most used in my collection!

MAC Midi-Mauve Lipstick

I’m constantly on the hunt for the perfect everyday lipstick shade, and when I received this as a gift recently, all my lipstick dreams came true. It’s a shade that I haven’t heard been talked about before, but Midi-Mauve deserves a lot more hype than it gets.

A mix between the likes of Syrup and Brave, this mid tone plummy/mauve is a gorgeous shade for any makeup look and outfit you throw at it. Being a lustre in finish, it’s also super comfortable to wear and gives off a lovely wash of colour.

This is defiantly going to be a favourite of mine in the coming months.

The Sale Edit | Winter Sale Picks

Everyone loves a good sale, am I right? I love nothing better than a browse of the sales, so I’ve put together a few of my favourite sale picks; maybe even to give you some inspiration of what’s hot at the shops.

Toptop black Bell Sleeve top 

Tiptop Feather Lace Up Heels

Topshop Faux Fur Jacket

ASOS Navy Front Split Pencil Skirt

ASOS A Line khaki Mini Skirt

Zara Navy City Bag with Handle

The Festive Makeup Edit

This has to be the best time of year, glitter is officially acceptable to smear pretty much all over your face (maybe not quite) and the party dresses get a good dusting off ready to be rocked once again. What a perfect opportunity to share with you all my Festive Makeup Edit.

I recently picked up a new base, one that I’ve been lusting over for forever! Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua is the nicest foundation I have used in a very long time. It’s lightweight but leaves your skin looking fresh and dewy. It also has amazing staying power so perfect for christmas parties or nights out.

For concealer, I have a new love in my life. Kimmel match perfection is great for under the eyes. It brightens up the area and covers dark circles without being too thick and cakey. A perfect pairing with the foundation.

My bronzer never changes so I won’t talk about it too much again, but it’s obviously my Hoola by Benefit.  I’m going for a gorgeous berry blush in the form of Illamasqua’s Beg. A dusting of highlighter finishes off the base – I love the cream highlighter from No7 as it gives the most beautiful ‘glow from within’ look.

For the eyes, I have another new discovery. The Max Factor Excess Shimmer cream eyeshadow in the shade 25 Bronze is so so pretty. It’s the perfect bronze shade with slight reddy undertones. Perfect with a little bit of Urban Decay’s Half Baked lightly swept over the top for the perfect bronzey/golden eye.

Last but not least is the lips – the star of the show! MAC’s Rebel is my all time favourite lip colour, and so fitting with this look.

What do you think? I would love to know you’re makeup picks for the festive season too!xx

 

Top 5 Nars Must Have Products

Recently i’ve been having a bit of a Nars moment; having “shopped my stash” i’ve fallen back in love with Nars’ products. Here’s a rundown of my top 5 Nars products, destined for everyone’s makeup bags.

The Nars Sheer Glow foundation has a lot of hype surrounding it, being a particular favourite with both YouTubers and Bloggers alike. It has medium, build-able coverage and leaves a satin finish on the skin, a little misleading regarding the “sheer glow” name. It is however perfect for nights out and special occasions, as it makes the complexion appear flawless. It has no SPF also, meaning it’s great for flash photography – although who really uses flash photography these days anyway! The one draw back to this product is that fact that it comes with no pump, meaning you have to pour it out onto your hand before use, something that can get a bit messy. With a price of (gulp) £33, it’s defiantly on the high end side of foundation, so wouldn’t be for everyone. I do however think that it’s a great one for makeup lovers who enjoy trying out all that’s on the market.

For palette lovers, Nars is a great choice of brand as they have a wide selection of beauties available. A favourite would have to be the “And God Made the Women” palette. It’s small and compact, making it a great one for travelling, or if you’re just wanting something to throw in your makeup bag. The shade range is gorgeous, and perfect for creating any eye look. It includes two matte shades, one being a light taupe and the other being a dark, chocolate brown, so perfect if you’re wanting to define the crease. It also comes with a light pink shimmer, ideal for highlighting the inner corner of the eye and the brow bone. Other shades include a shimmery black, great for eyeliner, and a stunning, almost metallic bronze. This is definitely the palette for neutral eyeshadow lovers. The shadows themselves are lovely quality, super pigmented in colour and have amazing blending ability. At £35 I think it’s not too bad a value for what you get. It also comes with a handy brush, and a travel size of the Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base; another favourite from us!

The Pro Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base is another popular Nars product. This eyeshadow primer is to be used under eyeshadow to make the colours appear more vibrant and stay all day without creasing. Again, it is on the pricier side at £19.50, but this little tube lasts a surprisingly long time, and guarantes a seamless canvas for eye makeup. The sponge-tip makes application quick and easy, and thepackaging is small and sleek. You defiantly get what you pay for, and is a must have in everyone’s makeup bag.

The lipsticks from Nars don’t get enough recognition as they should, when up against competition such as MAC and YSL. They are however the best on the market in our opinion, in terms of quality and long lasting power. Catfight is a stunning mauve pink shade, that looks beautiful on so many skin tones. It’s a matte formula meaning it gives high intensity colour pay off and the ability to last all day without re-application. Like with all Nars products, the packaging is compact and sleek, something that  looks high end and professional. With 38 shades to choose from in the original range, from mattes, satins or sheer formulas, there’s no doubt that there’s a lipstick for everyone.

Last but not least are the blushes. This cult product comes with 33 shades, from shimmers to mattes. The colour Doucer is a gorgeous rose pink, one that looks stunning on paler skins. Having said that, with so many shades to choose from, there’s one that will suit everyone. The formula blends beautifully into the skin, however it is very pigmented, so you only need to tap your brush in slightly to get enough product.

Party Dress Top Picks

 

ASOS Sequin Embellished Tabard Midi Dress – £95.00

If you’re feeling a little more brave, this is the perfect party dress! The twist on the LBD makes this piece sexy but at the same time very flattering. You’ll defiantly be the star of the party.

 

Self Portrait Azaelea Midi Dress In Textured Lace – £240.00

This dress is gorgeous for the festive season. Not only does the colour scream christmas, but it’s such a feminine and flattering style. The midi length gives it a flirty feel, yet the lace and neckline gives it a sexier edge. I love this one!

If you’re not wanting to pay quite as much, miss guided do a great alternative which is pretty much the exact dupe!

 Click here

 Limited Edition Embellished Shift Dress – £150.00

 This dress reminds me of the 20s, the perfect mix of embellishment and gorgeous chiffon detailing. I also like the fact that this dress has little sleeves and is a bit more loose fitting – perfect to hide any food babies!

 

ASOS Khaki Embellished And Embroidered Long Sleeved Mini Bodycon Dress – £75.00

The first thing that drew me to this dress was the colour – I think it’s so flattering on anyone. The sequins will make you ready for any party, and if you look at the back, it has a gorgeous lace up detailing.

Rare London High Neck Mini Dress With Split Sleeve -£38.00

This dress is so gorgeous! White seems to be a colour that is neglected in the party season, but for me it’s a colour that screams christmas and winter. The bodycon style keeps it fun and dressy, but the split sleeves along with the high neck makes this dress so sophisticated.

Lace Insert Sequin Bodycon Dress – £75

 I love the lace detailing along with the sequins on this dress. The spaghetti  straps also makes it fun and a bit more daring.

Which one’s your favourite?

Real Techniques Bold Metal Brushes

First off, sorry for the major blogging fail recently – I don’t even have an excuse as to why i’ve been neglecting my blog! But I’m back and I’m talking about one of my obsessions – make-up brushes!

I’ve been lusting over the Bold Metals collection from Real Techniques ever since their launch, but I never seemed to get round to picking some up. Compared to the original Real Techniques line, they are on the higher price end, having said that, the quality of these brushes are insane. Firstly, the handles are stunning (especially the rose gold ones). They’re designed in a pyramid shade, enabling them to lie flat once placed on your dressing table – such a simple yet great idea!

Out of the whole collection, the powder brush has to be my favourite. The bristles are so soft and disperse powder like a dream. It’s also big and fluffy enough to be perfect for applying bronzer. I do love however the contour brush also. It’s dense and neatly packed meaning it gives you a great sharp contour. It would be the ideal brush to use for cream contour because of this.

The most unusual brush out of the collection has to be the foundation brush. It’s like no other foundation brush I’ve come across before because of it’s shape. It is shaped like a pyramid meaning you have a flat side to ‘paint’ on the product, with narrow sides making it easy to get into the contours of the face. The tip can also be used to buff the foundation into the skin. It has taken me a while to get used to, but so far I’ve been loving it. Because of the fact that it doesn’t really buff the product into the skin, I find that it gives a higher coverage than the Expert Face Brush for example.

The eye brushes are also gorgeous. There are 3 in the collection all with silver accents. The base shadow brush is the one I have probably got most use out of so far, however, the crease brush is also great for defining the crease. The eyeliner brush is also really good – i’ve been enjoying it to apply black eyeshadow as a more smokey liner along my lash line.

If you’re unsure or having doubts, I would defiantly recommend you to pick up these brushes. If not all of them, then at least one. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!

MAC Haul

I may have had another splurge..this time it’s MAC (again). There’s been a couple of lipsticks that I’ve wanted to pick up and try for a while now, and I’m always wanting to buy more eyeshadows to add to my palette.

Starting with eyeshadows, and they’re all very Autumnal themed, though I’m guilty of wearing these tones all year round anyway! Sumptuous Olive is a gorgeous Khaki green colour, something I’ve wanted to try for a while as I wear so much of this shade in my clothing. Although it’s colour, it’s subtle so even washed all over the lid it’s not too in your face and gives a beautiful pop.

Antiqued is another that I’ve had my eyes on for a few months. It’s the perfect rusty shade for this time of year and looks great on it’s own with loads of mascara. I love this one for nights out, it’s so pretty and makes blue eyes (like mine) look so much more exaggerated!!

And last but not least for eyeshadows is Patina. This was a Lily Pebbles inspired purchase as i’ve seen her talk about this in the past. I wanted a colour that I could easily put all over the lid on fuss free days and for it to still look put together and gorgeous. I think i’ve found just that in this shadow.

(Left to Right – Sumptuous Olive, Antiqued, Patina)

The two lipsticks I picked up are two hugely popular ones on both youtube and in the blogging world. Brave is a stunning pinky mauve, the perfect “Kylie Jenner” lipstick which I think suits so many skin tones. I did buy this for a friend however, but I am defiantly going straight back to MAC and getting one for myself as it’s just too pretty!

Velvet Teddy was the lipstick I bought for myself on this MAC shopping trip. I’ve wanted this for SO LONG and am so glad I finally bit the bullet and picked it up. I’ve been wearing it every day since I got it and I love it. The formula is so comfortable on the lips and because it’s a matte, it lasts so long. I’m thinking of doing a post on this soon with the lip liner i’ve been loving wearing alongside, so stay tuned for that!

(Left to Right – Brave, Velvet Teddy)