Shimmery Brown Smokey Eye Tutorial

I decided that I'd be a bit different with this blog post and show you a tutorial for a shimmery smokey eye which I created using the MUA Undress Me Too Palette. It's a really wearable look for everyday and pretty easy to create. I hope you enjoy wearing this look! Feel free to send me pictures of this look if you do create it.

 First of all, I make sure I prep my under eye area. The skin under your eyes is quite delicate, hence the occurrence of those dreading dark circles and shopping bag eyes! I use Boot's Vitamin E Gentle Eye Cream which was a recommendation by a blogger friend of mine ItsAmiieeism. I seem to always go back to this eye cream as I find others make my eyes water and nobody wants puffy eyes before applying makeup! I highly recommend this eye cream. I place a few dots under my eyes and pat it in with my ring finger. It hydrates the eye area and makes for a great base for concealer (it can prevent concealer creasing and stops you from getting dry under eyes). 

After the eye cream, I apply a light primer on my eyelids and under eyes to keep the eye shadow and concealer in place. As you can see this is a face primer, not an eye primer but I think eyelid primers are a bit of a rip off to be fair. Most primers will do the same job in keeping your makeup in place all day. This Revlon PhotoReady Face Perfecting Primer is super light and smooth. It feels like velvet when applied and does not transfer like some silicone based primers. It hides pores and fine lines and just makes an amazing base for makeup.  

Then apply the Color Tattoo by Maybelline in 'On and on Bronze' with a flat blending brush. The Colour Tattoos are an amazing base for eyeshadow and are long wearing. Once applied they are hard to budge. On and on Bronze looks amazing on it's own also and would make a great simple smokey eye if you want a quick yet dramatic look. I look how easy these are to apply. I take some of the product on a blending brush and pat the product on before blending it in so that I can build the pigmentation. 

I then take the MUA Undress Me Too Palette. I use the shades Lavish (a matte chocolate brown shade) 

I contour the crease of my eye with Lavish using the Real Technique's Base Shadow Brush. I then apply Fiery/Tranquil over the Colour Tattoo. If you'd like a more defined eye then you can add the colour Obsessed in the outer corner of the eye using a smaller eye brush. I then use the Base Shadow Brush to blend those colours together. This brush is so soft so it's really easy to blend with. 

I then take the Loreal Super Liner Blackbuster to line my eyelids. Keep the liner as close to the lash line as possible so you don't draw attention from the shadow. It will also help to emphasise your lashes. I absolutely love this eyeliner. Liquid eyeliner is very much like marmite. You can end up looking like a panda with most liquid liners, which is why pen liners are so brilliant. This Super Liner Blackbuster is so easy to use and creates similar drama and pigmentation to a gel liner. It also does not dry out easily which is what I dislike most about pen style liners.  

You can then tight line your upper lid using Maybelline Gel Liner. 

I then take the Scandal Eyes Kohl Kajal Eyeliner in Bronze  and apply it to the lower lash line. You can smudge the liner with an angled brush for a more smokey look. 

Take the The Rocket Volum' Express Mascara by Maybelline and apply this to the top and bottom lashes. This mascara adds volume and length. I've always adored the Max Factor False Lash Effect mascaras and never seemed to like any others. This mascara is just fantastic though and makes your lashes stand out without looking too clumpy or false. Apply two coats of mascara from the root of the lash and shimmy the wand up the lash (shimmy means to shake the wand if you didn't know). 

I then take Mac's Studio Finish Concealer in NC15 and apply that in a triangular shade under the eye. I applied the concealer using Real Technique's deluxe crease brush. Because of it's domed shape it is great for applying concealer under the eyes and blending the product. I love this Mac concealer as it has a great coverage but does not look to cakey. You can set the concealer with powder to stop it from creasing. It really brightens the under eyes and covers dark circles amazingly. 

So here is the makeup look! As you can see it's super easy to create. I also applied Bourjois's Healthy Mix and Rimmel's Natural Bronzer as well as applying Lavish shadow to my eyebrows. 

I hope you like the makeup and if you have any requests for other makeup looks, comment below with suggestions. 

Lots of Love 

G x

Mac: Pro-Longwear SPF 10 Foundation Review and Online Experience

For months and months I've been wanting a Mac Foundation. If you know anything about the beauty based world, you'll know that the Mac brand is the holy grail of the makeup industry. You'll also know that a Mac product comes with a hefty price tag, ranging from 14 to 40 pound for a single product. But believe me when I say, a great deal of them are worth every penny. 

I had read some great reviews about the Mac Pro-Longwear Foundation with SPF 10 and after a fair bit of research into which Mac Foundation would best suit my skin type, I finally decided to give the Pro-Longwear ago. At 24 pound it's not a product you could buy in bulk, but it's certainly worth the money in my eyes. I was looking for a foundation that stays all day, especially on my T-Zone as I feel that due to my slightly oily skin, many foundations begin to rub off or even melt off my face by late afternoon. The first day my Mac foundation arrived in the post, I was eager to give it a try and applied it during mid morning. By the time my family got back from work around 6 in the evening, they complimented me on the radiance and flawlessness of my skin! The foundation looked just as fresh and new as it had done the morning in which I had applied it!

I will say this foundation is very matte, which I love but many may not have the same feelings towards foundations of this kind. I find a matte foundation such as Pro-Longwear gives the appearance of flawless skin, which is particularly helpful when trying to cover breakout scars or particularly annoying breakout zones such as the forehead and chin area. I brought my Mac Foundation in the shade NC15 which is perfect for my skin tone as I have yellow undertones and often find it hard to match foundations to my skin. I didn't want the foundation to be too dark as this would make it obvious but pale foundations often gives me the complexion of an anaemic vampire. The shade is just perfect for me though and I feel like it blends effortlessly into my skin tone, creating a natural yet flawless finish. The application of the foundation is really lovely. It's texture is smooth and surprisingly light, which means it doesn't feel like it's being caked on or is blocking your pores. I must add though that my mum also tired this foundation but found it very drying on her skin, so I'd recommend that people with less oily skin or more mature skin (in the politest way possible) try one of Mac's other foundations such as StudioFix or Match master as these are not long wear foundations and will be lighter on dryer skin. 

Now, although I do have a Debenhams that supplies Mac products just an half hour drive away from me, I didn't have the time during the Christmas period to take a visit, yet was still desperate to get my hands on a Mac foundation. Much to my mother's warning that I should not, I decided to buy online, however, as I had not used Mac products beforehand, I did not have a shade to go by. I thought I might guess, but 24 pounds is a lot to pay for a product if it turns up and is WAY to dark or light a shade for your skin, so I decided to search around Mac's sight a little more. To my surprise, I found out that Mac have their own online makeup artists who can advise you on what shade will best suit your complexion. You can drop the artists an email if you are not in a rush, or even chat online (which I highly recommend as the reply is instant and you can talk to your artist for along as you please). My artist was Sarah and she gave me a great tip in order to find out what shade would best suit me. If you clench your fist and look at the veins on the back of your hand you will see they are either blue or green. If your veins are green, it means you are an NC shade, which is for people of a more yellow undertone. If they are blue, you are NW, for those with a pink undertone. This tip as well as the knuckle test (clench your knuckles and white knuckles mean NC, pink mean NW) can really help you when choosing a MAC product as MAC skin products are all built upon this system of undertones, allowing you to buy a foundation that really fits your complexion. However, I was still unsure of which  shade of NC to buy. Most people will be able to guess their shade based upon previous foundation colours and comparing them to the colour samples shown online. But as I said before, my skin can often be unpredictable and I didn't want to buy a foundation too light or even too dark. Sarah gave me an email address in which to send a picture of myself without foundation, so she could recommend a shade she believed would suit my tone. Within a few minutes I had sent a webcam picture through to the email address and had a reply from Sarah telling me that NC15 would be the shade to suit my complexion. 

Overall, I am ecstatic with the customer service I received from Mac. They are SO very helpful and I honestly felt like I was given all the information I needed in order to make the right choice. The shade matches my skin perfectly and the online service provided is fast and simple, allowing you to talk to knowledgable and friendly artists just a click away. The product is literally the best foundation I think I've ever brought. I've never had a foundation which matches my skin so perfectly and allows my skin to look flawless whilst still looking effortlessly natural. I will defiantly be purchasing more products from MAC in the near future and feel like my money has been spent well. I would recommend this foundation to anyone and everyone! 

Picture of me with Mac's Pro-Longwear Foundation.

http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/shaded/158/10180/Products/Face/Foundation/Pro-Longwear-SPF-10-Foundation/index.tmpl

Hello everyone!

Sorry I have not written any blog entries over the festive season! I have been very busy but will start posting some very soon as I have some new products to tell you guys about!

I hope to speak to you all soon!

Happy New Year! 

oxoxoxoxo

Rimmel- Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick

Now I'll be the first to admit that lipstick has never been my favourite 'can't live without' makeup product over the years. Being of a rather pale complexion I have always felt lipsticks tend to look wrong against my skin and often don't suit me. But over the last two years my love affair with lipsticks has really ignited. 

However, I am not very experimental with my lip colour and have only ever brought the classic red. Then, whilst searching through my local Boots a few weeks back, I found Kate Moss's new lipstick collection. 

For those who might not know who Kate Moss is (You never know!), she is the UK's biggest international super model and once dated Johnny Depp! I know right!?!

So, when Kate Moss signs her name over to a product, it's usually a massive success (take her Topshop range for instance). That wasn't the only thing that instantly drew me to the product though. The lipstick has a lasting finish giving it a matte application. I don't know about you but I love lipsticks that are matte as they really allow the product to stay true to it's colour. It's important that a makeup product transfers the exact colour it is showing me. 

I recently purchased two MUA lipsticks (I'll write up a review about those ones) and found that the colour's transfer to my lips was nothing like the original colour so it was great for me that the Kate Moss lipsticks really were the exact same colour as the were show. 

The lipstick also does not need re-applying as much as a lot of the lipsticks I have tried as the colour almost stains the lips (in a good way!).

I also love the feel of these lipsticks. They aren't too heavy and glide on for a smooth application. I brought two of the Rimmel Kate Lasting Finish lipsticks in Shade 01 and 03. Shade 01 is a dark, vampy red colour and 03 is a nude. I felt the two colours really complimented my skin and didn't wash me out like most lip products do. Overall I just really liked the application and look of these lipsticks. I am a really big fan of Rimmel products and feel that they are possibly the best high street makeup brand with strong products at a reasonable price. I would, however, like some more shades in this specific lipstick- especially some vampy winter colours like Mac often produce!

I would definitely recommend you give these beauties a try though! You won't be disappointed and at £5.49 who can resist?

http://www.boots.com/en/Rimmel-Kate-Lasting-Finish-Lipstick_1230439/

Beauty Buy Wishlist!

Seeing as Christmas and my 19th Birthday is just around the corner (Boxing Day), I've been keeping my eyes peeled for any requests for prezzies this year! There are a few products I would love to receive in my stocking this year or will either be purchasing after the Christmas period when I have saved up a few pounds! 

Here are just a few of the beauty buys I have my eyes on:

Kat Von D's Tattoo Concealer in Light 16

I've heard it's one of the best concealers around die to it's high level of pigmentation and therefore it's strong coverage. I'm a massive fan of Kat's Tattoo work so I'd love to own a few items from her makeup range seeing as I'll probably never have the money to get one of her inks! Only problem is, Kat's range is only sold at Sephora, who don't ship abroad. :(

http://www.sephora.com/tattoo-concealer-P231113

Mac's Pro Longwear SPF10 Foundation in NC20

Mac has been a brand raved about by beauty bloggers and celebrities alike. I'be heard there foundation gives a fantastic matte finish which I love in a foundation. Although their products are quite pricey, I have heard they last a while and are worth every penny. I need Mac in my life!

http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/shaded/158/10180/Products/Face/Foundation/Pro-Longwear-SPF-10-Foundation/index.tmpl

Mac's Marilyn Monroe Lipstick in Charmed I'm Sure 

I'm not the biggest fan of lipstick but when I do wear it (usually for evenings or nights out) I like the finish to be matte. Mac lipsticks always appear to be true to their colour (unlike a great deal of other lipsticks) and leave you with a bold, statement lip that can last you hours. I'm also a Marilyn fan.

http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/shaded/168/22455/Products/Lips/Lipstick/Marilyn-Monroe-Lipstick/index.tmpl

Bourjois's Queen Attitude Khol Kaja (Eyeliner)


I was in Superdrug the other day and came across this interesting eyeliner. It's very much like a pencil eyeliner yet presents itself like a liquid. It allows you to create bold black eyeliner looks without the mess and stress of liquid liner. Quick and simple, it slides on with ease and is quite pigmented. 

http://www.bourjois.co.uk//catalog/make_up/eyes/eyepencils_eyeliners/queen_attitude_khol_kajal/node_242730

Revlon Nail Enamel in Dreamer 



I love pastel coloured nail polishes, so when I saw this beauty from Revlon I knew I had to have it! I love the baby blue colour of this nail polish as it reminds me of the sky on a summer's day. This will go great with my collection and I would love to try Revlon's range out as I have never used any of their items before. 

http://www.superdrug.com/nails/revlon-nail-enamel-dreamer/invt/398353/