Morphe 35O: Swatches

The long awaited Morphe 35O palette arrived at my door today, to the sound of a choir of angels. It is even more beautiful than I'd imagined. This palette was a tricky one to get hold of, it had been sold out for months. I already own and love the Jaclyn Hill Favourites palette, so I knew how good the quality of Morphe shadows is. 

Just wait until you see the swatches...

*dies*

Every single shade is smooth and pigmented. Every single one. There are some wonderful mattes, ranging from a wonderful cream to an almost black. There are some which I'd describe as satin, with a sheen to them. And then there are some straight up foiled shadows, and they are OFF THE SCALE. It's been said that some of them are dupes for the gorgeous Makeup Geek foiled shadows. 
Morphe shadows have become my absolute favourites, I much prefer them to Mac and Urban Decay. The quality is good, if not better, but they are so much more affordable. This 35 shade palette cost me around £25 INCLUDING SHIPPING FROM CALIFORNIA TO ENGLAND. I know! 
If you haven't already, and you love makeup, have a browse of the Morphe website. Also, Cult Beauty have recently began to offer a limited range of Morphe brushes and makeup. Have a look, you won't be disappointed. 
What do you think? 
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Review: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation

You know I had to try this one. The Charlotte Tilbury brand is definitely one of my faves, and the claims about her new Magic Foundation were just impossible to ignore: 
My Magic Foundation is a miracle in a bottle that transforms skin for all ages, skin tones and skin types. I have worked with laboratories for five years to create a “hyper-intelligent” formula that gives full-coverage yet feels completely weightless, with all the anti-ageing and protective benefits of a luxury skin cream. It conceals imperfections, glides on like a dream, and literally feels like a second skin. Whether your skin needs just a bit of perfecting, or you struggle with a frustrating issue like acne, melasma or rosacea, my Magic Foundation will give you a perfect looking skin day, every day!

FYI I'm also wearing the Film Star Bronze and Glow in this photo, it's DREAMY.

It has quite a thick consistency, and two pumps are enough to cover my full face, It blends really nicely and doesn't look or feel cakey. I'd say the coverage is medium buildable, and it sets quite quickly. Once it sets, it feels really skin like, not tacky at all. It has a demi-matte finish, so it doesn't look too matte. It lasts pretty well on my normal to slightly oily skin, but does develop more of a glow as the day goes on. I usually have to powder around mid-afternoon (my makeup is usually on by 7.30am just for reference). 
I didn't find that it did anything to disguise or blur my pores, however. My skin issue can be a bit of texture, and the foundation doesn't reduce the appearance of that in any way. The formula really reminds me of the L'Oreal Infallible 24H Matte Foundation, the major difference being the shade range. The Magic Foundation has a really wide shade range, something to suit most people. 
A foundation that took five years to develop? a must try.  Do I like it? yes.  Is it magic? no. 
Have you tried it? Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation is available here and here for £29.50.
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Review: Mac PRO Conceal & Correct Palette

Given that I have SUPER dark under eyes, a corrector is a vital part of my makeup routine. I've used the Bobbi Brown peach corrector for a long time, but when I recently ran out I decided to give something new a try; Mac Pro Conceal and Correct Palette in the shade light. 

I was interested to try the palette because it has so many shades! NC15, NC20, Pale Yellow, NW10, NW20 and Pale Pink. Pale Pink is a beautiful brightening shade for my under eye area, I find that it works even better than the shade I had from Bobbi Brown, Pale Yellow is good to counteract redness, as well as being a good highlight shade for me. I then just use the a mixture of the other shades to conceal any blemishes, depending on what shade I am or whether I am self tanned.  I think this palette is a great addition to any makeup lover's collection, and obviously it's very useful for MUA's. It's lightweight and compact, but holds a lot of product. Each shade I've applied has lasted well on my face, throughout the full working day. They blend well, and don't look cakey. I love it! This has become a staple product for me.  This palette is available on maccosmetics.co.uk, you don't have to be a pro member to purchase it. Have you tried it? Bloglovin' / Instagram

Olive Green Eyes

Olive green is everywhere this Autumn, and I think it's such a flattering colour to wear on the eyes. It's a also a really subtle way of wearing colour, for those of us die hard neutral fans. Here's my #FOTD:

Products used
Base L'Oreal Infallible 24H Matte Foundation (Vanilla) Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer (Fair Neutral) L'Oreal Infallible 24H Matte Powder 
Brows Beauty UK Brow Kit Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel
Eyes Mac Soft Ochre Paint Pot Too Faced White Chocolate shadow (all over lid and up to brow bone) Anastasia Beverly Hills Morocco (Crease) The Balm All About Alex (lid) Anastasia Beverly Hills Metallic (Centre of lid) Mac Nylon (inner corner) NYC liquid liner Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
Cheeks Nars Laguna Bronzer Mac Peaches Blush Benefit Watt's Up! highlighter
Lips Mac Soar lip liner Mac Sweet and Sour lipstick
I just love Autumn makeup. I hope you like it! 
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For My Mum

Hello everyone! I've got a bit of a special post for you today. 
Every one of us has been affected by cancer in some way, everybody has a story.  October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009. She battled bravely and thankfully won (touch wood), but it will be with our family always. 
I wanted to create a makeup look using shades of pink, as well as making a donation to a cancer charity. I was also inspired by Sprinkle of Glitter's  incredibly moving pink hair story. I just don't know what I'd do without my mum, I'm so thankful that she's still here. 

Products Used
Base L'Oreal Infallible 24H Matte Foundation (Vanilla) Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer L'Oreal Infallible Powder (Warm Ivory)
Brows Beauty UK Brow Kit Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel
Eyes Mac Soft Ochre Paint Pot Mac Haux (Crease) Mac Sketch (Outer crease and lower lashline) ABH Noir (Outer corner) Mac Nylon (Inner corner) Mac 3D Pink Glitter  NYC Liquid Liner Estee Lauder Double Wear Liner (black) Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara Velour Lashes (You Complete Me)
Cheeks Nars Laguna Bronzer Urban Decay Afterglow Blush (Obsessed) Benefit Watt's Up! Highlighter
Lips Mac Creme Cup Lipstick L'Oreal Protest Queen Lipgloss

Go and watch Louise Sprinkle of Glitter's video, I've linked it above. If you can wear something pink, or do a little something to show your support for Breast Cancer Awareness month, that would be wonderful. If you can donate a little something, even better. Let's look after each other and appreciate our loved ones. 
Louise's Just Giving Page
Cancer Research UK Love you, Mum.
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Autumn Daytime Glam

Hello everybody! I hope you're having a good week. I have another Fall makeup look for you, and I just love it. It's a plum-toned matte look with no liner, so it isn't too over the top, but I did use some dainty lashes for a little bit extra. I used the Jaclyn Hill palette from Morphe Brushes, but this look can be recreated with any matte shadows that you have in your collection. 

Products used
Base L'Oreal Infallible 24H Matte Foundation (Vanilla) Bobbi Brown Corrector (Light Bisque) Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer (Fair Neutral) Bourjois Healthy Balance Concealer (52 Vanille)
Brows Beauty UK Brow Kit Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel
Eyes Mac Soft Ochre Paint Pot as a primer Matte cream coloured shadow all over the lid and up to brow bone Warm light brown blended into the crease and just above Matte plum shade packed onto the lid up to the crease Mac Nylon to highlight inner corner and under brow Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara Fleur Loves lashes by Eylure
Cheeks Nars Laguna Bronzer Nars Goulue Blush Benefit Watts Up! highlighter
Lips Mac Enchanted One lipstick (Alluring Aquatics collection) L'Oreal Protest Queen gloss
I really enjoy an all matte eye look, with that bright inner corner highlight. I hope you like it!
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Review: Velour Lashes 'You Complete Me'

I'm going to come right out and tell you that I'm not a false lash girl, despite loving little more than getting glammed up. I used to be, even wearing one pair stacked on top of another at times (*cringe*), but these days I rarely wear them. Plus, I don't really find them TOO comfortable. However, I do still wear them for a night out or a big event, and love the difference they make.  I'd heard lots about Velour Lashes (cruelty free mink lashes that can be used up to 25 times), and finally gave them a try this month. After quite a bit of research, I chose the style You Complete Me.

You Complete Me are considered to be part of the medium length range, adding some length with significant thickness to your own lashes. They add more fullness to from the middle to the outer corner of the eye, with more fur concentrated at the ends. They're nice and fluffy, not at all blunt. 

Once they're on, they actually looked quite natural. It wasn't blatantly obvious in person that I was wearing false lashes, they just looked like really full natural ones. They were easy to apply and quite comfortable. My eyes are quite wide, so they lashes fit me without having to be trimmed, but I did snip off the tiniest bit to make sure they were comfortable. What surprised me was how many people noticed a difference in my makeup when I wore them. I had so many compliments, even from strangers. The lashes really kicked my eye makeup up a gear, extra without being too much. I love them!  They come in a really sturdy box, making it easy to store them safely after each use. They are pricey compared to the disposable drugstore lashes, but they last SO MUCH LONGER. Cost per use is so much less, when I barely even use the cheaper lashes twice before I have to throw them away.  I think a pair of mink lashes is an investment. If like me you only wear lashes when you're going out, these will last you ages (if looked after correctly). They just feel really special, and who doesn't want that every now and then?! I've already been admiring some of the other styles, perhaps I AM a lash girl... Velour Lashes are available from beautybay,com,

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September Favourites

Happy October! Here are some of the things I've been loving during September: Mac Quad If you saw my Mac shadow collection, you'll know I recently depotted my them and put them into palettes. It was definitely the right thing to do, and I've found it far more convenient. 

Clockwise: Nylon, Coppering, Mythology, Brown Script

These are definitely my favourite kind of shades, warm-toned coppers, oranges and browns. I think they're so flattering on blue eyes, I always go back to them, Nylon may be my favourite ever Mac shadow, A pop of this on the inner corner takes any eye look to the next level. I love the way it looks on all of my clients, I can't recommend it highly enough.

Red Cherry Demi Wispies 

These lashes are so light and wispy, glam without being too much. The band is almost invisible, making them easy to apply and comfortable to wear. I always have these in my kit. Nars Laguna Bronzer

I've gone back to my good old faithful Laguna this month, it's such good bronzer. Not too warm, lovely for contouring. It never seems to look too much. Batiste Heat & Shine Spray

This is a new addition to the Batiste range, a dry heat protection spray that adds shine. I spray this on the mid lengths to ends of my hair, and I instantly feel it smoothing the texture. It reduces frizz and fly aways before curling or straightening my hair, and smells really nice. One of the most useful elements is that you can still use it when you haven't washed your hair. It's really affordable, too.  Pantene Age Defy Conditioner

Excuse the beat up bottle, it was straight out of my bathroom. I've been surprised how well this conditioner worked, it honestly felt like a rich hair masque. It kept my lightened ends feeling soft and moisturised, and I'll definitely buy this again. Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm

Photo credit: feelunique.com

This is just a good simple cleanser, it does exactly what it claims to do. Breaking down makeup with minimal effort and leaving my skin feeling clean. It also seems to last for ages, making it good value for money. What have you been loving this month? Bloglovin' / Instagram