All Time Top Five in Collaboration with PerfectlyImperfectBeauty

I am bringing you this post in collaboration with Agota from PerfectlyImperfectBeauty, favourite products vary from person to person so we thought it would be interesting to see what products two different people value the most in their collections. I will talk through my Top Five beauty items and over on Agota's blog she will talk you though hers! Feel free to comment on either post telling us what your personal faves are! 

I haven't tried to choose an item from each area such as a foundation, a concealer, a liner etc.. I have simple chose my favourite items, my most used and most loved products from my makeup collection...

1. Urban Decay Afterglow 8hr Powder Highlighter in Fireball

Highlight is my favourite step when applying makeup, I literally wake up in the morning and long to highlight. Fireball is a really unique shade, it is pink in some lights and more orange in others. When I first bought this I thought it would be fun but it actually turned out to be surprisingly wearable for me. It provides a beautifully light sheen of colour, it look healthy but also looks a little alternative which I like as I hate to look the same as everyone else. 

2. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in 01 Fair

This is everyones favourite isn't it? I have used this every single day for as long as I can remember. I don't ever try other concealers and I never will, why would I when this is so affordable, such high coverage and so long lasting! 

3. Ted Baker Blush Stick

I received this blush as part of a Christmas gift set a few years ago and it has been a staple every since. It is a hot pink with a slight peach undertone and small shimmers. It is the perfect everyday colour for me, I like to used a stippling brush to gently take product from the stick to my face. It is a really natural long lasting gorgeous blush. I don't think you can get this anymore but ill link you the Ted Baker for Boots page.

4. Urban Decay Perversion Mascara

This is a recent purchase for me but I'm so in love with it that I can't see myself using any other mascara for a very long time! It does such an amazing job of thickening and lengthening my lashes without making them clump together at all. I also die for the packaging!

5. Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in Solstice

This eyeshadow is the most beautiful thing I own by far. It applies to the eyes like silk, so sparkly yet so wearable. I could easily wear this everyday. It is a duo chrome shadow, it is a hard shade to explain, it has hints of red, blue, purples and pinks. A firm favourite of mine!

Well, these are my little love of my life! Pop over the PerfectlyImperfectBeauty to see Agota's faves and don't forget to let us know yours! 

Smashbox Covershot Eye Palette in Metallic

I think we all sat up and noticed the release of these little palettes didn't we?!

It felt like in a matter of a day, they appeared in every youtube video I was watching. 

They are very compact 8 shade palettes which come in seven different options...

Smokey, Matte, Bold, Golden Hour, Metallic, Soft light and Ablaze.

I went for Metallic which as suggested is a selection metallic shadows, I chose this one because I love a metallic eye and the palette includes a good selection of everyday shades. I could envision a lot of eye looks that I could make with it.

I honestly cannot remember which swatch is which shadow as I just went crazy and shoved my nubby fingers in them all!As you can see they all seem very pigmented and bold which I suppose they are but the problem is that they are also very crumbly in texture. 

I found that when using a brush, most of the pigment either falls off the brush or crumbles off my eye when I'm trying to apply it. Which is really not what you want. I changed my approach so using my fingers to apply I tried again, I managed to get a little more pigment but somehow the shades still crumbled off of my lids.

I can't understand it as they seem so buttery to the touch, I have really tried to work with them but I just cannot get them to work well. They have also been reviewed so well so I don't know if I got a bad one or something but I just didn't enjoy this palette at all. 

It isn't the worst palette I've ever used, I'm sure i'll get some use out of it but I just expected better quality from such a well loved brand. 

Although the product inside isn't great, I do adore the packaging. The colour explosion image on the front changes as you move it, it really is cool. I've never seen this used on a makeup palette before. As you can see from the size against my fingers, the palette is tiny! I probably will still take it when I travel simple because it is perfectly made for it. Taking up barely any room in my makeup bag.

Other people see to love this little palette, have you tried it? What did you think?

Valentines Night Away

The Boyfriend and I have had a stressful few weeks so for Valentines this year we decided to avoid the hustle and bustle of the typical Valentines Day activities and go for a peaceful, relaxing night away.

We chose to visit Eastbourne, yeah I know it's a destination for the elderly but we really enjoyed it!

We explored the sea front, walked along the pebbles and took some time to breathe it the brisk, cold sea air. The weather was really nice, it was cold and a little foggy but most importantly, it was dry and bright which makes for a lovely walk wrapped up in our warmest coats and hats! 

I stupidly decided to chase the water, ended up sinking into the stones with very wet ankles...

We went to see the Bandstand which was so pretty, I like how old and retro everything in Eastbourne is. It is all so detailed and incredible photogenic which I really appreciated! 

                                            

The buildings are so grand, all the houses are so tall and painted in crisp whites and yellows with detailed moulding and steep staircases leading to huge Victorian porches. The whole sea front is lined with decedent hotels, all so old but beautifully taken care of and restored. The whole place is preserved in a way that makes you feel as though it all hasn't changes in years. 

The pier was actually burned down a while back so isn't original but who ever restored it has done such a good job as it still has such a retro take you back in time feel. The boyfriend and I had a walk all the way down to the end of the pier, looking out on the sea and exploring every inch of the pier.

We stayed in The View Hotel, our room was modern with a balcony and a glorious view of the sea. We went out for drinks at a local vintage style cocktail bar which cost a fortune but was adorable and we had such a nice time sipping on Espresso Martini's. 

We ordered room service, snuggled in bed watching Netflix and I had a relaxing bath with a Lush Bath bomb in the hotels luxurious bath tub. 

We had a really nice time in Eastbourne and would definitely go again! Maybe next Valentines Day!

Sillisponge Review

The online world has been going mental for this little silicone sponge, youtubers, bloggers, instagrammers all testing it out. At first, everyone wanted to get their hands on the sponge because it was all over Instagram, it looked amazing, cleaner and more hygienic than a beauty blender, less product wastage and apparently making foundation look flawless. 

Molly Cosmetics, the original maker of the Sillisponge have this to say...

Wasting products is history now cos, of course, it doesn't soak in a thing! The foundation needed is literally just half the amount compared to directly using brush or sponge. Spreading product with it will take some getting used to, final blending can always be finished with oval brush or usual sponge (for example beautyblender), that means washing the oval brush or the sponge will be minimized and they will last a whole lot longer. It is ideal for people who don't like messy fingers during makeup. AND I bet you can imagine cleaning THIS APPLICATOR will literally take no more effort than rubbing it with a little soap and rinsing with some luke warm water. If you are a professional makeup artist, can you imagine how exciting it is that you can use it on one client/model, clean it with a makeup remover and sanitizing spray, and then you can use it on another client/model immediately just like that? Throwing away disposable sponge can totally be minimized!!!!

...it does sound awesome doesn't it?! Except before long bloggers and youtubers began actually review the Sillisponge and they hated it.  

People were saying that it was hard to blend, that it used as much product as any other applicator and that it made foundation sit on the skin rather than sink into it. All things that you really don't want from a makeup sponge.

The buzz of the whole thing made me desperate to try it for myself!

Now, I'm not going to lie to you and say I love the Sillisponge or that it will replace my beloved beauty blender but I certainly don't hate it either...

What I have found is that yes it does sort of cause foundation to sit on the skin and it is hard to blend some foundations but I have also found that if you are using a foundation that is a thicker consistency  it can actually blend out really well and because the product doesn't sink into the skin, it gives a really high coverage. While these points in my opinion make this product harder to use and not particularly versatile, I feel that it does have its place in the beauty world and I am actually enjoying 

experimenting with it.

I love the fact that it can be so easy cleaned so I really want to find a way to make this my new everyday sponge!

All I'm saying is, don't write it off after one try. Keep experimenting and maybe, just maybe, you'll like it. 

Simple and Sexy Valentines Look

Personally, I'm not all about the heavy makeup and a red lip for Valentines day, who wants to kiss a sticky red mouth? 

This is what I would go for...

On the skin, I used a high coverage foundation and concealer. I wanted to create a flawless base, keeping a natural my skin but better look. I didn't want to contour because it makes you look too done up but I did want to define my cheek bones a little so I used a contour shade but used it more of a bronzer just to lightly bronze the skin without adding any shimmer. 

For blush, I used a light peach shade, I wanted something sheer that just gave a healthy glow to the cheeks without being overpowering. 

Highlight is my favourite step so I knew it had to be intense but I didn't want much glitter, more of a healthy glow from within sort of sheen. I applied an absolute load of this highlighter but because the highlighter I used is so finely milled it layered really well and still looked super natural in my opinion.

My boyfriend loves me in black eyeliner so since it is Valentines Day I went for a statement black winged eyeliner and thick, fluttery lashes. I didn't want to go to heavy on the rest of the lids but I couldn't leave it bare so I went for a light brown shade in the crease and a shimmery gold all over the lid. 

For brows I did my usual everyday look. Sculpted but still natural looking. 

On the lips, I wanted some definition but I didn't want anything too statement or sticky, I was tempted by matte lip but they can be drying so I thought for smooching purposed that I wasn't the best idea. Instead I opted for a pinky nude lipgloss. 

Products used...

Foundation - Rimmel Lasting Finish (100 Ivory)

Concealer - Collection Lasting Perfection (01 Fair)

Powder - Rimmel Stay Matte (Peach Glow)

Contour - MakeUp Obsession (Light)

Blush - MakeUp Obsession (Honey)

Highlighter - Technic Get Gorgeous Highlighting Powder 

Eyeshadow - Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette (Crease - Salter Caramel) and (Lid - Creme Brûlée)

Eyeliner - Soap and Glory Supercat Liner

Mascara - Urban Decay Perversion 

Lipgloss - Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker (Charm Offensive)

What do you think of my Valentines look? Would you wear this look? If not, what would you go for?

Valentines Night Away Travel Make Up Bag!

Me and the boyfriend are soon off on a little one night away, partly for Valentines Day and partly because we need a little break away from our lives! Everyone needs a break every now and then for a de-stress amiright? 

As we are only away for one night I will only need to do my makeup from scratch one time and maybe a little top up in the evening so this is what I have chosen to take...

Foundation: Rimmel Lasting Finish in Shade 100 Ivory

 I only bought this the other day and have only worn it a few times but I really like it! It's a perfect colour match for me and the high coverage means my skin looks flawless!

Concealer: Collection Lasting Perfection in Shade 01 Fair

This babe is everyones favourite and I am no different! It has such high coverage but never feels caked on.

Powder: Rimmel Stay Matte in Shade Peach Glow

LOVE THIS POWDER! It makes my skin feel so smooth and keeps it looking matte for ages which is great for me as I am really not a fan of the dewy look!

Contour: MakeUp Obsession Contour in Shade Light

A really natural looking contour shade, warm but also slightly ashy which really helps to both warm up my skin while still looking like a natural shadow. Also great because it is super small!

Blush: MakeUp Obsession Blush in Shade Babe

This range of blushers are so incredibly pigmented and long wearing! They are also in incredibly small, travel friendly packaging which is why this is perfect! I chose this shade because it is very natural but still noticeable.

Highlighter: MakeUp Obsession Highlight in Shade Bare

You get the picture these MakeUp Obsession products are small and travel friendly. This highlight is great for an everyday glow or can be built up for my evening look.

Brows: Models Own Now Brow! Eyebrow Kit in Shade Medium Brown 

I recently bought this little kit on a whim and it was a great choice! It is compact, long lasting, contains two shades and two little brushes...

...also for brows I includes the Models Own clear brow gel to keep the hairs in place.

Eyeshadow: Smashbox Covershot Metallic Eye Palette

I will probably be too lazy for eyeshadow but it case I do fancy it, I packed this little palette because it is super tiny and includes 8 versatile shades that can be adapted for a daytime look or an evening one.

Lashes: Urban Decay Perversion

What else would I used?! I love this mascara, though not particularly travels sized, I love it to much to used anything else. 

Tool: 

Models Own Tweezers for any pesky stray hairs

Sillisponge because I'm starting to really like it for some reason and it is cleaned than a beauty blender to put in with all my makeup and not end up with orange products

Models Own Spoolie brush to brush my brows before filling them in

Lastly this random brush that I have had so long that it no longer even has a brand name or number on it. It is essentially a long haired blush brush but I really like it because it doesn't everything. It can be used for powder, works super well for contour and blush and can be squeezed to make a good highlight brush so it saves some room in the bag by being a little multi-purpose miracle. 

Have I missed anything vital? Guess I'll find out when I try and use all this stuff in the hotel! Too late by then though! 

Urban Decay Liquid Moondust in Recharged

I am a huge fan of Urban Decay as a brand and I love glitter, especially duo chrome glitters. So buying one of these bad boys was never in question, it just had to be done. 

Prior to Liquid Moondust's release, Urban Decay already had a range of duo chrome pressed powder shadows and more recently released the Moondust palette (which I'm dying to get) but these are the first in the liquid formula. 

Let talk about the packaging. The card outer packaging is a purple toned black with a gorgeous space/star motif. With the same Moondust font as with on all the other Moondust range, the embossed glitter writing is my absolute favourite. The whole outer packaging is so luxe and yet so unique compare to other brands.

The product itself is in a thick plastic tube containing a long applicator wand with a brush tip. It is very simple packaging compared to the outer box but it is still nice, I'd have appreciated something a bit snazzier but it does the job well enough. The brush applicator is ok, I mean, it gets the product on but it is so thin that I find it hard to disperse the product on the eye lid and end up having to use my finger to blend it all in. I think a sponge tip/large doe foot applicator would have worked so much better. 

The shade I chose is "Recharged" it is a peach shade with pink duo chromes, in the tube it is beautiful and intense looking but when swatched, it just isn't as intense. It's a bit of a let down. 

You can layer the colour to make it more intense but it seems like the layers get lifted off with every new layer that is applied. I also find that because it dries quickly, when you blend it with your finger it gets lifted off and your finger ends up with more pigment than your eyelid. 

Left: Unblended - Right: Blended with fingertip 

As you can see by these swatches, it is quite underwhelming. It doesn't look bad by a long shot, it is pretty and I do like it but I just expected more from such a great brand and a product I had been so excited about. 

Overall, I would say that Liquid Moondust is not a bad product, I will wear it but it just doesn't live up to the standards we have come to expect from Urban Decay. I would much rather invest in another powder Moondust or the palette than buy anymore of these.

Purchase Here