May Favourites

Monthly favourites time! Fair warning, it's quite blusher heavy. Not sure what's been going on, but I've been really into blush! Let's start with those. 
Nars Orgasm Multiple

I've never really owned many cream blushes, but lately I've been enjoying having a more dewy complexion. I love the original Orgasm as much as the next person, and the multiple is just as pretty. It isn't too glittery, the shimmer just translates a more of a glow on the cheeks. It really just makes my face appear more awake and healthier. It doesn't even look like I'm wearing blush! I can see myself using this a lot throughout summer. 
Urban Decay Afterglow Blush (Obsessed)

These blushes were on my wishlist this month, but I wasn't sure which shade I'd go for. I swatched them all, but couldn't get past Obsessed. I couldn't think of anything in my collection similar to this, and the swatch on my hand just seemed so brightening on my skin tone. It's really pigmented, so a light hand is needed, but it really does bring my face to life. It blends really well, and lasts the full 8 hours that it claims to. I would recommend them to all of you!
Milani Luminoso Baked Blush

I'd heard lots of beauty fanatics talking about the Milani baked blushes, all absolutely raving about them, but we don't have them in UK stores. I decided to order one online to see what the fuss is about. The shade Luminoso is a beautiful peach shade with some very fine golden shimmer running through it. There is no fallout whatsoever, and it just adds a gorgeous warm glow to the cheeks. Milani is such an affordable brand, too! I definitely plan to try some of the other shades. 
Mac Creme Cup 

I haven't really been wearing bold lips lately, so my more natural shades have been getting a lot of love. Mac Cosmetics Creme Cup has been one that I've reached for a lot in May, it's just such an easy shade of pink that goes with everything. It's a cremesheen formula, so it's nice and comfortable. Mac Angel has been another fave. 

Nars Outer Limits Eyeshadow

I've already reviewed this in detail, so I won't say too much, but it definitely deserves a mention. It's just so beautiful and sparkly and flattering! Go and swatch it. 
What have you been loving throughout May? Bloglovin' / Instagram

Dupe Alert! Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector

I was strolling through Marks and Spencer with my children earlier today when my eye was drawn to the Autograph makeup range. I have never tried anything from the range, or even really heard anything about it, but I just had to swatch one item in particular; Pure Luxe Powder Highlighter in the shade Golden Rose. 

Photo credit: marksandspencer.com

Be still my beating heart. The design on this highlighter is so dreamy, and the texture is even better. It reminded me of a product I already owned, but I couldn't be sure how similar they were until I got home and checked. This highlighter is VERY similar to the cult status Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector. 

Firstly, the texture of both products feels absolutely identical. Highly pigmented and creamy, both applying smoothly to the skin without fallout. They both have a peachy gold tone to them, with the Autograph powder having the merest hint of champagne to it. Any differences are barely noticeable, and they both create the same effect on the cheekbones. 

The only major difference is the price. Autograph Golden Rose is £15, while Becca Opal is £30. If you've been admiring Opal from afar, but haven't made the splurge, this is a must for you. Half the price and an almost identical product! The design on the powder and the texture make it seem like a high end product, and the packaging is sleek. 

This is truly the best dupe I have ever found, and honestly think that they are both as good as each other. Save your pennies and go for the dupe! or if you already own Becca Opal, but you're a sucker for anything rose gold like I am, the Golden Rose will be a welcome addition to the collection.

Autograph Golden Rose is available at Marks and Spencer for £15. 

Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector is available at cultbeauty.co.uk for £30.

Bloglovin' / Instagram

What I Wore Wednesday

As it was my birthday last week (*cough* 30 *cough), I've accumulated a few new makeup items. One of which is the Urban Decay Afterglow blush in the shade Obsessed, a beautiful cool toned pink that looks so pretty and fresh on the skin. Yesterday I wore it for the first time and got quite a few compliments, so I thought I'd show you a breakdown of the look. 

Products Used
Base Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk (4) Bobbi Brown Corrector (Light Bisque) Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer (Fair Neutral) Brows Mac Cosmetics Brow Fluidline (Deep Dark Brunette) Eyes Mac Cosmetics Brown Script Mac Cosmetics Macroviolet Fluidline Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara Cheeks Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit (light) Urban Decay Afterglow Blush (Obsessed) Mac Cosmetics Soft and Gentle Lips Body Shop Born Lippy balm (Watermelon) Have you tried any of the Urban Decay Afterglow blushes? Which colour should I try next? Bloglovin' / Instagram

Review: St.Tropez Gradual In Shower Tanning Lotion

As soon as I glimpsed this product on Boots' Instagram page, I went to their website and ordered it. I mean,  a sunless tanner that works in 3 minutes as you're showering?! Intriguing, to say the least. It could be amazing or it could be a disaster. 

The directions say to wash as normal then turn off the shower. Apply the tanning lotion in circular motions, leave it on for 3 minutes, then rinse it off with water only (as well as rinsing the palms of your hands thoroughly). It then develops over the next 8 hours. I found it to be really simple to apply, and the 3 minutes passed quickly. I was a bit worried that the area around my neck would be streaky, as the water was dripping from my hair, but it wasn't a problem. The legs were slightly trickier however, due to smaller surface area it wasn't as easy to stick to circular motions. The lotion rinsed off easily,  and didn't leave my skin feeling sticky.  Here are my thoughts after a few applications: PROS There is no biscuity smell! I repeat, no biscuity smell!! Easy application. Incredibly quick to do. It doesn't stain the shower.  It leaves a really natural, non orange colour.  It's really affordable at £14.50. CONS It's impossible to tell if you'll have any streaks until the tanning lotion develops. I ended up with 3 quite noticeable streaks on my legs.  The colour is very subtle (I know it does say gradual on the bottle). It does take a few applications to build up a noticeable tan, so it wouldn't be for use the day of a night out. If you're used to a deeper tan, this product wouldn't be for you. Overall, I like this product. It's fuss free to use, and and smells quite pleasant. It builds to a natural colour that I really like for this time of year, but I may use my old favourite St.Tropez Express Mousse if I want to achieve a deeper tan.  St.Tropez Gradual In Shower Tanning Lotion is £14.50 at Boots.com.  Bloglovin' / Instagram

Review: Nars Outer Limits Eyeshadow (Christopher Kane collection)

As soon as I saw the previews of the Nars Christopher Kane collection online, I fell for the single eyeshadow called Outer Limits. It had me at the words 'iridescent rose gold'. *sigh* I had to have it, despite the eye-watering price. I love every Nars product I've ever tried, so I was pretty confident that I'd be happy with this eye shadow in my life.  Firstly, look at the beautiful packaging!

Think this is pretty? wait until you see what's inside.

I mean, just look at it!! It's like a peach/ gold with pink/ purple duochrome. It's really hard to describe, and even harder to capture the dimensions of it on photo. 

Here are my first impressions:

• This is a straight up glitter rather than an eye shadow. The base colour behind the glitter is quite sheer, and needs a bit of building up. The glitter isn't TOO chunky, so it doesn't feel gritty at all, but there is a bit of fall out. 
• I initially pressed the shadow onto my lid with my finger over a primer, but I did find that it applied best when I sprayed a flat brush with a setting spray. 
• Although it is a glitter, it isn't too much for daytime. 
• It is probably the most unique shade in my collection. 

Overall, I absolutely love this eye shadow. It's sparkly and multi-dimensional, and I doubt you've got anything too similar already. Go and swatch it, see what you think. I got mine at Selfridges for £18.

Have you tried anything from the Nars Christopher Kane collection?

Bloglovin' / Instagram

Graze Unboxing/ Review

I'd heard bits and bobs about Graze box, and seen a few TV adverts, but I've never actually spoken to anyone who has tried it. Recently it got a mention in a YouTube video I was watching (Makeup By Tiffany D, in case you were wondering), and it really intrigued me. I decided to give it a whirl, and I didn't regret it. I'm a snacker and thought this would be a good opportunity to try some healthier ones. I thought I'd share with you what I got, and give my thoughts on each snack. I find the Graze website to be remarkably easy to navigate, enabling me to manage both the content of the box and how often it arrives. You can customise your profile to include your likes and dislikes, ensuring that you don't get sent anything that you really don't fancy. It's quite exciting when the box arrives, finding out what's inside! Here's what I got in mine:

The Graze Brownie
This is a lighter alternative to a chocolate brownie, containing 110 calories and tasting absolutely delicious! This really doesn't taste like a healthier option. So yummy.

Brooklyn Bites
This is a mixture of poppy seed pretzels, cheese cashew nuts and roasted pumpkin seeds, which is far tastier than it sounds. It's quite moreish!

Rough Blend Peanut Butter with Pretzel Sticks
I love peanut butter. LOVE it. So I was really pleased to see this snack. This isn't at all sweet, and quite rich, so I had to eat it over 2 days. Still tasty, though. 

Beach Bum
This is a mixture of pineapple, banana and coconut flakes, It reminds of Malibu! Really refreshing and sweet. 

Overall, I really enjoyed my Graze box, and would recommend it to all of you. It's affordable and is a really fun opportunity to try some new lighter snacks.  Have you tried Graze? which snacks did you love? Bloglovin' / Instagram

My Current Wishlist

I know I'm not the only one who has a beauty wishlist. At any given time, there is a substantial list of items that I'm daydreaming about. However, May is my birthday month and this one's a big one, so I think a makeup shopping trip is definitely on the horizon. Here are some of the things I have my eye on!

Make Up For Ever Artist Shadows

There are rumours that this popular brand is hitting Debenhams in the UK this month, and I've heard nothing but rave reviews of the Artist Shadows. The colour and formula range looks enormous, so I can't wait to try them.

Photo credit: www.temptalia.com

Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator
This highlighter looks to die for, and is described by Laura Mercier as having a soft rose gold glow. I haven't even seen in the flesh, but I feel like I need it! :) I mean, just look at it. 

Photo credit; www.lauramercier.com

Nars Outer Limits Eyeshadow
This is part of Nars' collaboration with Christopher Kane, and it just looks absolutely perfect for me. Nars describes it as an iridescent rose gold, words that always appeal to me. It does look quite similar to some shadows that I already own, but when has that ever stopped me?!

Photo credit: www.temptalia.com

Urban Decay Afterglow 8-hour Blushes
I'm a big fan of urban decay eyeshadows and the Naked Skin Concealer, but I've never tried any of their other products. These blushes look really appealing, and the range seems to have some unique colours. This is the shade Obsessed, 

Photo credit: www.temptalia.com

 Soleil Tan de Chanel
I've heard so many good things about this universal bronzer for so long, but I've never taken the plunge. It's just such a splurge! I'm really loving a naturally bronzed look lately, so this really appeals to me. 

Photo credit: www.chanel.com

Makeup Geek Foiled Shadows
I've window shopped on the MUG website for so long, but I've never placed an order. They do deliver to the UK, but I've heard rumours of big customs charges. However, these foiled shadows have made my mind up. They are what eyes dreams are made of, I just have to try them! The only problem will be choosing which colours!

Photo credit: www,temptalia.com

By the time you've read this post I'll probably have added five more things to the list! What's on your wishlist? Bloglovin' / Instagram

What I Wore Wednesday

Morphe Brushes Jaclyn Hill Favourites Palette

Products Used
Base Nars All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation Bobbi Brown Corrector (Light Bisque) Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer (Fair Neutral) Eyes Mac Cosmetics Soft Ocre Paint Pot Morphe Brushes Jaclyn Hill Favourites Palette Mac Cosmetics Teddy Kohl Pencil Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara Brows Mac Cosmetics Brow Fluidline (Deep/ Dark Brunette) Cheeks Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit (Light) Milani Baked Blush (Luminoso) Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector (Opal) Lips Mac Cosmetics Enchanted One Lipstick Bloglovin' / Instagram

Brunch in the Sunshine

Last weekend I got to do my absolute favourite thing in the entire world: spend some time in the beautiful sunshine with my beautiful family. We had brunch in a cute local cafe, and the food looked so good that I had to snap a few photos! (obv) 

If you're ever in the St.Helens area, definitely make a visit to Toast. It's an adorable little cafe that offers delicious food and drinks in a really pretty setting. My children love it, too. I mean, who doesn't love French Toast?! There's outdoor seating with cosy blankets if the weather isn't so good. One not to be missed. Bloglovin' / Instagram

Review: Mac Burgundy Times Nine

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of warm-toned eye shadows, I'm like a moth to a flame. So many times I've swatched a beautiful Mac eye shadow and fallen in love with it, only to find that I already own it. I just can't resist the way they make my blue eyes pop! Enter Mac Burgundy Times Nine.

  The Eyes On Mac Collection features four palettes containing nine colour-coordinated shadows; Amber, Navy, Purple and Burgundy. They're well-edited to enable endless look options and are the size of the Mac quads, so they're really travel friendly. It's a chance to try some new Mac shades without purchasing the full size.

Mac Burgundy Times Nine

There isn't a single shade in this palette that I wouldn't use, they're so versatile and wearable. At £30 for the palette, I think it's really good value for money. The only reason to skip them would be if you already have any of the shades in the collection. In true makeup hoarder form, I also have my eye on the Amber palette.  Which palette is your favourite?  Bloglovin' / Instagram

What I Wore Wednesday

Products used
Base Nars All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation (Gobi) Bobbi Brown Corrector (Light Bisque) Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer (Fair Neutral) Brows Mac Cosmetics Brow Fluidline (Deep Dark Brunette) Eyes Maybelline Colour Tattoo (On and On Bronze) MUA Cosmetics Chocolate Box Trio Mac Cosmetics Teddy Eye Kohl Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara Lorac Pro Palette (White) Cheeks Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit (Light) Nars Roman Holiday blush Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector (Opal) Lips Revlon Ultra HD lipstick (Peony) Bloglovin' / Instagram

My Mac Lipstick Collection

As it's bank holiday weekend (woop woop!) I thought I'd use the extra time to show you something dear to my heart; my Mac lipstick collection. Is there anything better than a brand new Mac lippy? That delicious vanilla scent. *Sigh* So here are the Mac lipsticks I've collected so far... The bolds

Viva Glam Miley Cyrus This is a hot pink with an amplified finish, giving excellent colour pay off with a creamy texture. It is bright, but really wearable. The lasting power is quite good, but I do find that this can move around on the lips without a lip liner.  Diva This is an intense reddish-burgundy with a matte finish. It is absolutely gorgeous for Autumn/ Winter, isn't particularly drying and lasts for hours.  Candy Yum Yum Instantly recognisable by Mac lovers, CYY is a neon blue-based pink with a matte finish. Not for the faint hearted, it has a neon tone that doesn't seem to be truly dupable (Maybelline Fushia Flash is the closest I've found, but it isn't quite the same). I love wearing this in the Summer with simple winged eyeliner and lots of mascara.   Pink Nouveau This is a cool-toned blue-based light-medium pink with a satin finish. It's bright, but still really wearable. A pretty Spring/ Summer shade.  Lady Danger This is a vivid bright coral-red with a matte finish, and I absolutely love it! It's the perfect Summer red, although I wear it all year round. It's a must for any makeup lover's collection.  Rebel  This is a pink plum with a satin finish, and one of my all time favourite Mac lipsticks. It's vampy without being too much, and it lasts for hours. This will definitely be a re-purchase when the time comes. The nudes

Creme Cup This is a light blue-pink with a cremesheen formula, and probably forms part of every Mac lover's collection. It's pretty, wearable and goes with most makeup looks. It's probably my most used Mac lipstick and is a regular fixture in my handbag. 
Angel  Everyone and their mum has heard of Angel, and probably has it. It became sort of a 'cult' Mac product because of Kim Kardashian rocking it constantly back in the day. It's a light-medium pink with a frost finish, although it doesn't come off at all frosty on the lips. It's really similar to Creme Cup (you probably don't need both, but I'm a lipstick hoarder), but it maybe lasts a little longer. Posh Tone This is a warm peachy-beige with a mineralise rich formula, feeling extremely creamy on the lips. It's a warm nude, and one of my most reached for Mac lipsticks. I'd definitely like to try more shades in this formula.  Enchanted One  This is a similar peachy-beige shade to Posh Tone, but with a matte finish. It was part of the Alluring Aquatics collection from 2014 (remember that gorgeous packaging?). It's a pretty colour, just make sure your lips are well moisturised.  Plumful This was an Essie Button/ Amelia Liana recommendation, and they were so right to sing it's praises. It is a pinky-plum with a lustre finish that really does seem to flatter all skin tones. If you don't have it, you need it.  Sweet and Sour This is my most recent purchase, and I've been wearing it almost constantly. It's a light peach cream with a cremesheen formula, which does look quite scary in the bullet. I wear it over a lip liner, often Soar, and it creates such a beautiful peachy-nude. Gorgeous for this time of year.  What is your favourite Mac lipstick? Which ones do I need ?  
Bloglovin' / Instagram