Review: NYX HD Concealer

Hello everyone! Now, I know Concealer isn't exactly a sexy makeup product. It's like a nude underwear, it's just something we all have to use. I've been trying out a new one, so I thought I'd share my thoughts with you. 

The first thing I noticed about the NYX HD Concealer is that it is VERY similar in texture and coverage to the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer.  It's fairly thick, but blends out seamlessly and covers most things well. My main skin concern is dark under eyes, and this concealer works in that area as long as I set it. I've been using the NYX Studio HD Powder to set my concealer and it works treat. I could never skip this step now. The packaging is also really similar to the Nars concealer, a doe foot applicator that's quite stiff. I prefer the flexible applicator of the Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer, but this one works fine. Did I mention the price?! £5! Compared to £22.50 for the Nars one.  If you're in the market for a new concealer, I'd recommend you give this one a try. NYX is becoming much more readily available in the UK, with counters popping up in lots of Boots stores. However, if you don't have NYX in your local Boots, you can order them on the Boots website and they'll be delivered for free into store the very next day.  What's your favourite concealer? Bloglovin' / Instagram

Naked 3 Look

Hello everyone! I hope you survived the heat this week.  Today I pulled out an old favourite palette that I haven't used in quite a while, Urban Decay Naked 3. It has such a pretty range of rose toned shades that I find to be flattering on everyone. 

Base Mac Skin Base Primer Maybelline Matte + Poreless Foundation (115) Mac Pro Correct & Conceal Palette NYX Studio HD Powder
Brows Illamasqua Strike Brow Gel
Eyes Mac Painterly Paint Pot  Kiko 05 Shadow Stick (all over lid) UD Limit (in the crease) UD Liar (all over lid)  UD Nooner (lower lash line) Mac Nylon (inner corner) Mac Coffee Eye Pencil Kiko Waterproof Liquid Liner Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
Cheeks UD Beached Bronzer Kiko 208 Water Shadow (as highlight)
Lips Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Cheat Charlotte Tilbury Kim K W Lipstick NYX Fortune Cookie Butter Gloss

*spot the photobomb*

What do you think?
Bloglovin' / Instagram

Girls Night Out Look

There's nothing like a bit of sunshine to make me fancy a night out. The weather is set to heat up in the UK this week, so I thought I'd show you one of my favourite looks to wear for a night out with my friends. It's really simple, winged liner and a bright lip, but it looks really summery. 

Oh hey, bra strap.

Base Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation (115) Mac Pro Correct & Conceal Palette NYX Studio HD Powder
Brows Benefit Gimme Brow (5)
Eyes Mac Painterly Paint Pot ABH Fudge (all over the lid & lower lash line) Mac Nylon (inner corner & brow bone) Mac Coffee pencil Kiko Waterproof Eye Liner Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
Cheeks Urban Decay Beached Bronzer Kiko 208 Water Shadow Nars Mistinguette Blush 
Lips Mac Candy Yum Yum 

Pass me a cocktail and play some Beyoncé.
Bloglovin' / Instagram

Maybelline Matte + Poreless Foundation

Another day, another foundation. This was released in the US ages ago, and I heard lots of good things about it. So when I spotted it on the Maybelline counter, I had to pick it up. 

The UK packaging is much more travel friendly, instead of a glass bottle with a pump it's a super lightweight squeeze tube. It contains the average 30ml of product. The texture is a thick liquid, almost a cream, that blends nicely into the skin. On me, it's a semi matte finish. Not at all dry or flat, but it does control my oil. Throughout the day a slight glow peeks through, but it doesn't need blotting or powdering. It gives a medium coverage without being cakey. I really do like it! Does it make me look poreless? no! But it's still definitely worth trying out. I've worn it most days since I got it. Plus, it's a steal a £5.99! (I got mine for £4 on an introductory offer)
If you have oily skin, or just get a bit shiny in the summer, I'd give this one a whirl. I'll be taking it on holiday with me, as it's so lightweight and comfortable, as well as portable. Have you tried it?
Bloglovin' / Instagram

Charlotte Tilbury Kim K W Lipstick

Queen of the nude lipsticks Kim Kardashian West has for the first time ever put her name to a lipstick. Celebrity MUA Charlotte Tilbury has created a shade inspired by Kim as part of her Hot Lips lipstick range, as well as 15 other celeb inspired shades. £1 from each sale will go to Women for Women International. Kim's is a vintage inspired pale nude pink, reminiscent of 1960's icons.

Kim K W is in the KISSING formula, which is creamy, and reminds me of Mac Amplified lipsticks. Very pigmented and full coverage, but comfortable to wear.  I actually have an almost dupe to show you. Mac Blankety is very similar, albeit ever so slightly darker. The formula is almost the same and they look similar on the lips. 

So if you already have Blankety, you may not want to get Kim K W. Mac lippies are far more affordable than Charlotte Tilbury's. However, her lipsticks really are something special. The packaging, the formula, the longevity are all outstanding, absolute luxury. They're a lovely treat, for someone else or yourself. 
See the full Hot Lips range here.
Bloglovin' / Instagram

Review: Illamasqua Precision Brow Gel

I've been a fan of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade for a couple of years now. She's the queen of brows, and I just trust her brand so much. My Dipbrow was running low, so instead of just automatically repurchasing, I decided to try the Illamasqua Precision Brow Gel.  I've been having a bit of an Illamasqua moment, and since becoming a pro member, I've been adding quite a few of their products to my kit. 

The texture of this product is really similar to Dipbrow, the tiniest bit goes such a long way. Using an angled brush and a light hand, it can create the illusion of individual hairs. It's waterproof and sweat proof, perfect for the warmer months.  My favourite thing is the colour of the shade Strike, it's absolutely perfect for me. Given that my hair is mostly blonde but my brows are brunette, it can be hard to get the right balance of warm and cool tones. Strike is just right, even more so than Soft Brown in the Dipbrow range. However, there are only four shades of the Illamasqua gel, compared to eleven Dipbrow shades, so it may be a little trickier to match yourself.  What's your favourite brow product?
Bloglovin' / Instagram

The Power Of Makeup

Hey everyone! I've been meaning to do this tag for ages, and finally got around to it today. I used my everyday products on the right side of my face, and left the other side completely bare. Thank goodness for makeup!

Right side of my face
Base  Maybelline Matte + Poreless Foundation (115) Mac Pro Correct & Conceal Palette NYX Studio HD Powder
Brows Illamasqua Strike Precision Brow Gel
Eyes Mac Painterly Paint Pot Urban Decay Tease (Crease) Maybelline On & On Bronze Colour Tattoo (Lid & lower lash line) Urban Decay YDK (Lid) Mac Nylon (Inner corner & brow bone) Kiko Waterproof Eye Liner Mac Coffee liner (Water line) Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
Cheeks Urban Decay Beached Bronzer Kiko 208 Water Shadow
Lips Mac Stripdown Lip Pencil Mac Honeylove Lipstick NYX Fortune Cookie Butter Gloss
I can't quite believe the difference! My lips look so much bigger with that nude liner on, and my eyes look so much more awake.  What do you think?

Bloglovin' / Instagram