*MAC* Makeup Review – Gingerly Blush

Hey pals

I don’t have a great collection of blushers as I do lipsticks, as it’s so easy to get it wrong and the wrong blusher colour on your cheek is unforgivable and tragic – so I have a couple which I love and wear on more or less a daily basis.

One such blush is Macs Gingerly blush, it’s a orangey brown nude shade, and comes priced at an economic £18.00 – this stuff lasts ages. I have yet to hit pan and I have had it ages…the pigment is true to colour and compliments my NC42 skin tone greatly.

So glad I found it! I came across it whilst purchasing a nude lipstick at Mac – Freckletone, if you’re interested in knowing – apparently its Kim K’s signature colour – but who cares?

I sometimes use it to contour when I have a lazy day and can’t be bothered to reach for my Tom Ford contour kit. It lasts all day and it doesn’t feel like you have an obvious blusher on which is always great!

Applied using a powder brush (see my review on my favourite brush to powder with here - http://animassays.blogspot.com/2014/12/chanel-make-up-brush-love.html ) it is just effortless to apply and doesn't come with a cheapo blusher brush as you find with some other brands…

After using this though, I will try and be more adventurous and purchase other blushers from Mac and see how I go…

Have you tried this?? If not give it a whirl – you won’t regret it x

*Chanel* Make Up Brush Love

I know I say this a lot, but my affinity with all things makeup did not start too long ago – the obsession has overcome me quite recently. Anyhoo I was the type who never used makeup brushes for any purpose. I was a ‘apply-foundation-with-the-hand’ kinda gal and loved it this way. Until I became a bit conscious of hygiene and my lack of any brushes at all! So I invested and I invested good.

I still remember the look of longing on the sales assistants face as I bought the Real Techniques Face and Eye Brush collections last year – bless her!

Anyway this post is all about one brush, one single beautiful brush! The Chanel No 1 Powder Brush. This brush is the dream *sighs*.

It applies any powder formula evenly and without leaving any streaks *rolls eyes* or any residue or even (as some Mac brushes have a penchant of doing) shedding.

Priced at a whopping £44.00 you can buy the entire Real Techniques range for that much and more! But once in a while you feel like a splurge…I have often used this to apply my Chanel Universal Bronzer which as you all know is a cream formula and therefore this is a great all-rounder.

It has a domed shape so great for bronzing, contouring and blushing hehe… and I know a few people will die of disgust, but you don’t even need to clean it often…I simply don’t have the time to go around cleaning my brushes 24/7 but thankfully this doesn't require that much care…*thank god*

It also comes in a velvet sleeve embossed with the Chanel logo to keep it from getting dirty which is great! Much better than the Tom Ford range of brushes which come in a box and nothing else and you basically have to re-mortgage your house to buy…tut tut Tom Ford.

I just felt like raving about these brushes as no one online ever does!

Animas xx

*Review* Bobbi Brown Art Stick in Rose Brown

Hello folks 

I have been sampling many delights recently which I cannot wait to share with you!!

But right now, it's all about the Bobbi Brown Art Sticks!!! OMG I was mesmerised as I meandered by the BB counter in Selfridges and ogled these beauties!! 

If you like the Nars Lip Pencils well these are their big sisters!! Without a doubt the pencil is jumbo - so more product for the same price - one thing I was left wondering was where am I going to get a sharpener that size! But thankfully the Art Sticks also come with sharpeners!! Yay!!!

I bought the colour Rose Brown which is a pretty muted rosey brown, exactly what it says on the tin. The finish is semi matte - and they're quite long lasting. Priced at £19.50 they're not too bad. You gotta remember it is BB we're talking about here not drugstore so the price is justified!!!

I love these Art Sticks/pencils - and another thing, they market them as a 2 in 1 lip liner and lipstick. The top edge of the dome is supposed to be used first as a lip liner and the edge of the dome as a lipstick after which I think, having followed the tip is quite effective...and really suits my NC42 skintone!

Let me know if you've bought any and what colour....I will definitely buy more - I believe the range is pretty new so watch this space for hopefully more colours soon!!!

Ciao xxx

*Review* YSL Baby Doll Kiss and Blush Lipsticks

These are amazing and I have three! The formula is liquid but dries to a matte finish. Which for any of you who love long lasting lipsticks, it’s a great thing!

The packaging is funky too, it looks like you’re carrying nail polish in your handbag! And you can use it as a blush too! I find that element bizarre and don’t use them for that purpose tbh…Think the colours show up much better on my lips than my NC42 cheeks!

The ones I have are No 11, No 9 & No 5 and these retail at £27.00 each. I think I got a little carried away that day….oh well it happens…I have yet to visit a Guerlian counter for fear of the havoc I may cause to my bank account…

All in all very pretty colours, they have a wide range of colours. Very moisturising and good colour pay off – you do have to reapply after eating etc but its matter of preference really. 

Matte lippies are not my friend and I usually find I have to apply a balm before putting them on.  However these are great because they’re a liquid consistency so I don’t need to do the lip balm step first. Yay!

Have you tried these – what do you think?

*Review* Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir

Hi guys

This is more of a personal taste thing really so this review will be more about the brand, service and utter quality personified that is Jo Malone! J

I was first told about JM a few years ago and since I have had some form of product from JM sitting on my dresser since…JM traditionally produce fragrances and home perfumeries (if that’s even a word, well Word hasn’t auto-corrected so I assume it is :/ ) for all occasions. The have recently branched out into skincare too.

To give a brief history…

Jo Malone joined The Estée Lauder Companies' family of brands in 1999 and is available in 22 countries and territories. Jo Malone is a British lifestyle brand known for its unique fragrance portfolio and luxury products for the bath, body and home. Rewriting the rules of perfumery by mixing unexpected combinations of ingredients and providing elegant yet playful concepts where scent is used with abandon, the world of Jo Malone continues to inspire a loyal following.

One thing about the fragrances to remember is that they are all Eau de Toilette, I know some people really fuss about these things, myself included and I usually don’t bother with them unless they’re EDP. So I was a little miffed when I found this, however they have an intense range of fragrances which are the EDP equivalent, packaged in black bottles to discern from the normal range (which is packaged in clear glass bottles).

Sadly, the fragrances in the intense range are completely different and unique from the normal range….so I cannot buy my favourite Pomegranate Noir in the intense range *sad times* However, all is not bad because Pom Noir can be bought in a lotion, crème or candle form to help alleviate the sadness a bit…and naturally because I’m so obsessed, I have all of them!

You will also be happy to read that all their fragrances are unisex so sharing is caring peoples! The bottles come in 30ml (£40.00) and 100ml (£80.00) and for Christmas they have put together some amazing gift sets  and even a special edition Pom Noir bottle in festive colours!

Also because the bottles are so beautifully packaged and presented it saves a lot of money on gift wrapping etc. Another few firm favourites of mine are Blackberry & Bay, Peony Blush & Suede and Wild Sage & Sea Salt…

I have linked the website below for you all to check out - http://www.jomalone.com

Let me know what your favourite scent is…

See you soon

Animas x

*Review* Tom Ford Brow Sculptor in Espresso

Hi guys

Believe it or not, up until a year ago I never touched my brows, they were just a pair of furry stamps on my forehead awaiting rescue. Then I suddenly decided to throw caution to the wind and have them threaded.

OMG that was the worst pain ever. Maybe because it was the first time and the hairs were long. Who knows.

Anyway I was a little paranoid as to what product to use to fill them in as my eyebrows are quite fine and I couldn't

afford buying some random branded makeup which would result in shedding! I have read some horror stories *shudders*.

A visit to a Tom Ford counter a few months ago lead me to buy the Brow Sculptor in Espresso (£34.00) and much like the Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil (£26.00) it is amazing. The Hourglass one is slightly cheaper but for me they do the same job however the Tom Ford is more readily accessible to me.

The Tom Ford Brow Sculptor comes in a range of colours and the pen is really quirky, it comes with some extra features including a brow brush (always handy!) and a sharpener. The pencil inside is not a pencil so to speak more like the lead found in a pencil and easily sharpenable (if that’s even a word).

The product stays in place after use and all day, so I find no need to buy a brow gel to further lock it in place, another product I’m a little skeptical to use…however you never know, may be open to it in the future…I know a few people use eye shadows, however my skills with an arched makeup brush are abysmal – therefore I steer clear, because this sculptor is shaped in a sort of arch, I feel it gives me more control than a brush.

Since purchasing this I have repurchased and probably will do again, however I have my eye on the Anastasia Brow Whiz, but since that’s only available online I’m a little vary about ordering and then finding I've bought the wrong colour….always annoys me! Who has time to faff around with returns? K

Let me know your thoughts guys and what products you use to get the perfect brow…

See you soon

Animas x

*Review* Marc Jacobs Lip Gel in 114 Understudy

Hi guys

Anyone who knows me at all knows that I have an obsession with all things lipstick. I have perhaps a lipstick from most brands and a new launch always excites me!

I will eventually review my favourites and the ones I would not repurchase, so if you have one you’d like reviewed, give us a shout, I've probably tried it!

Let me start with a firm favourite of mine, priced at £19.00 the Marc Jacobs Lip Gel in Understudy is a firm favourite. When MJ Beauty was announced last year, I like many other women screamed in utter joy and happiness. So on a visit to London in June I walked a mile from the tube station to locate the elusive store in Chelsea that housed the range and went crazy, not literally LOL.

I picked and swatched Understudy and immediately fell in love as at the time I was having a coral love, as you do in the height of Summer…MJ market these Lipsticks as Lip Gels, complete fad in my opinion LOL but we must be different…

The formula is one of my favourites, as you all know I have chapped hideously dry lips so the moisturising nature of this lipstick is right up my street. It’s neither matte nor too glossy and sits in between the two. The colour pay-off is excellent, I usually find I don’t need to reapply after I’ve eaten which is great, hate having to reapply…The colour of the actual lipstick is a dull coral which I LOVE.

The packaging the lipstick is housed in is very luxurious, on a par with Tom Ford, right up there with the greats! Quality shines through! Looks good in the bag etc etc.

So yeah, I will be repurchasing more colours in the range in the near future and can’t say enough good things about the range to be honest…

Let me know what you guys think…have you tried MJ Beauty?

Talk soon

Animas x

Hunt for my Holy Grail Foundation - Part Two…

Hi again everyone

To continue my journey, I was once again lured by heavy brand marketing and ended up getting the YSL Youth Liberator Foundation (£32.40) as a birthday gift. Firstly, this doesn't come in many shades unless this has changed since I bought earlier this year and secondly, it’s fragranced!!! For someone with sensitive skin buying this was probably not the wisest of moves…Naturally I broke out in spots *ergh* and the coverage was light to medium and not quite the dewy finish I look for in foundations. Sometimes fashion houses should probably stick to what they know best really…

So this foundation has been filed away in the foundation archives to be pulled out in desperate times. This means I was once again on the hunt. A visit to the Chanel counter at House of Fraser lead me to buy Chanel’s Vitalumiere Foundation (£29.70).

Although I like this, I find the colour to be a little too dark for me and the lighter colour was too light!!! I also find it doesn't blend well, as even after buffing in for a few minutes it just sits on the skin and can literally be wiped off….grhhh I also find it transfers quite a bit but only when you've touched your face and you’ll see it all over pieces of paper/clothes etc…

Another horror on the transfer front was Nars Sheer Glow Foundation (£35.00 with pump) in Tahoe/Syracuse/Barcelona -  yes I tried nearly every shade in my colour range and still didn't get anywhere near! Also I am totally against having to buy a powder to set my foundation, why should you? Perhaps it shouldn't transfer to the extent where you have to?! This is what I found with this foundation a lot…

Another major downer with this is you have buy the pump separately or risk spilling liquid foundation all over your furniture, hate that! Money making exercise or what!

So to conclude I probably will go back to my Mac foundation when the Chanel one finishes, but happy to hear any recommendations….

See you soon

Animas x

Hunt for my Holy Grail Foundation - Part One…

Hello folks

Up until two years ago I never wore foundation as part of my daily makeup routine. I was living in a delusional world where I thought I had flawless skin and never thought I’d need to wear it. I didn't understand the concept of foundation until I happened upon the Lancôme counter at Boots and life as I knew it changed forever…

I was matched with Lancôme’s Teint Miracle Foundation (£25.65) in shade number 40, I suppose this is where my obsession with high end makeup started. After a year of use, I wasn't too blown away with this, it didn't do anything for my skin, it was I feel too light of a coverage for me and not feeling any loyalty to Lancôme I ventured over to the Mac counter in Harvey Nichols.

After watching Wayne Goss’s awesome review (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PxKhkATy0Q) of the Mac Mineralise Moisture SPF 15 Foundation (£24.00) I decided to buy in NC42 – the MUA at Mac was very professional and listed all the qualities of this foundation. I was impressed with the finish and decided to buy, and the rest is history really as I was matched with what I think is my HG foundation…

My skin felt flawless and I even got the elusive glow all women aspire to so happy days!! The foundation is light to medium coverage, great for dry skin and very dewy and lasts about a year with daily use, so I’d recommend this to anyone!

Stay tuned for part two tomorrow…

Animas x

The Awkward Moment....Underwear Shopping!!!

Hello everyone J

Does anyone like me experience that awkward moment when you realise it’s that time again where you need to replenish your underwear drawer? *shudders*

What makes me cringe out of my skin the most is when you walk into a store, trying to appear all covert and nonchalant and you come across a couple in the underwear aisle and you immediately just die. Oh god why??!! Especially, when the poor guy looks weirded out by the whole situation.

Also why do some stores look so cheap and tacky? Who wants a neon pink or green bra please? Let’s take Victoria’s Secret as an example; it looks like it could be an additional set from the Fifty Shades movie and any minute Mr Grey will be walking out of some random corner with a whip! I mean great brand, good quality and great runway shows, very popular, however you walk into a store and it’s just sleazy, doesn't make you want to go back!

This experience and many other such awkward tales have me pulling out my aged laptop and ordering online. Shopping online for underwear is so much more convenient and no embarrassment or weird looks from the sales assistant serving you at the till with the look that says: ‘Are you sure that’s even your size?’ Grrhhh

So I retreat behind the privacy of my laptop screen once every other quarter and do it online!! Yay!! Now what do I look for when ordering online? Usually I’ll click through to Debenhams/Next – good websites good underwear too. However, Ann Summers is one of those you wouldn't touch with a barge pole, dire quality and did I mention tacky?

So take my word for it peoples, save the awkward times and order online, hassle free every time! Plus I have recently found an interesting article which details how women tend to buy underwear modelled by Brunettes as oppose to Blondes, interesting times….give it a read…

http://zite.to/1xwiLIY

Ciao for now

Animas x

Asian Weddings...

Hello morning of wedding reception. As I sit here attempting to get ready for this shindig I sometimes wonder, why am I even bothering to go? I feel like such a wallflower at these things...

Seriously these days you have to paint yourself with makeup to fit in...what happened to lightening up? Going for the subtle, natural look...give us working women a much needed break instead of making us feel even more inadequate or otherwise lacking in the skill to achieve the plastered look.

Why do these women take it too far??? The furthest I'll take it is two pumps of my foundation which gives me a full coverage look...but that won't do, you need excess eye makeup, blusher and lipstick....Francois Nars eat your heart out mate! There are no rules! Ha! There are in this circle.

Then there's the outfit, oh lord, having to iron anything on a weekend when all you want to do is lounge in your pyjamas (unironed) and watch trashy TV you can't! as it's so and sos wedding, we must attend. Therefore outfit must be pristine I.e ironed and accessories must match...

What a drone fest, people spend way too much time critiquing the food at a wedding and the brides outfit to care what the guests are wearing...

So my message to any of you girls out there is, be yourself! We are giving our time to these people, time that can be valuably spent elsewhere so they can bloody well appreciate us being there at all...

High five 🙌

Animas x

a photo of me at one such occasion...

The Lip Balm Edit

Do any of you, like me, suffer from hideously dry and chapped lips ALL YEAR ROUND? Grrhhh

I can never find the best product for me, that will help alleviate this problem for the rest of my days, however I have come across some goodish ones and some completes waste of money and time…let me list for you below:

Mac Lip Conditioner (£11.50): I bought the limited edition one form their Marilyn Monroe range a few seasons ago and even though it’s been a while it’s still going strong. Very creamy, highly moisturising -clues in the title really and smells delicious, like vanilla.

Mac Prep & Prime Lip (£13.00): Designed to be used as a primer for lipstick, I find its more of a dry balm you can apply to create a smooth base for your lipstick. Isn't anything amazing and if you didn't apply you wouldn't be bereft without it…

Lush Lip Scrub, Mint Chocolate (£5.50): This is amazing; words cannot describe my love for this. I’ve been told that this is a fad and that an old toothbrush brushed over the lips can do same trick but really? I don’t have the habit of collecting old toothbrushes and they are only used for one thing, in my opinion.

Anyway, to use you rub on the lips from which it can then be eaten and the Lush lady actually ate it whilst demonstrating, each to their own I suppose. However I wash it off, can’t quite understand why you’d want to lick off your own chapped skin off??? However the end results are amazing and you’re left with smooth, silky lips…the dream!

Nuxe Rev De Miel Lip Balm (£9.50): This product gets a lot of positivity; it comes in a little 15ml screw top, matte glass tub, very cute. The balm itself is of a light brown, orangey colour and it smells divine. However I find it is too dry for me; it literally just sits on the lips and creates this layer on my lips. I don’t need that thank you; I find I have to use this product after exfoliating for it to work to its full potential otherwise on its own it does nothing for my lips, if they’re dry.

Jo Malone Vitamin E Lip Conditioner (£23.00): Being from JM I assumed the product would at least be fragranced, but instead it smells of something a pharmacist would dispense at a chemist. Not impressed. Like the Rev De Miel I feel it just does the bog standard job at protecting my lips and nothing else, perhaps a Body Shop cheaper version would do the same, however I won’t be repurchasing and wasn't too bowled over.

Anyway to conclude, I’ve found the best combo for me is to exfoliate my lips with Lush’s Lip scrub and then to immediately follow this up with Nuxe Rev De Miel as I find my Mac Lip Conditioner is more of a day, keep in bag, product as oppose to night time treatment.

Let me know your thoughts guys….

Animas x

My thoughts on the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Duo

Hi guys

Today I will be reviewing the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate cream  duo. 

The fact that I have dry skin and this is a cream based product is absolutely fantastic for me as it sits well on my face doesn't move, doesn't dry out. The product applies really easily and blends well. 

I also bought the TF Shade and Illuminate makeup brush that is used with this duo however I found that for my little face it was perhaps a little too wide and it just made me look like I had a huge splodge of product under my cheekbones when contouring (awkward times) so I use my Real Techniques foundation brush to apply and buff it in with an RT Buffing Brush. 

So yes people, unlike me please don't get wooed by the brand and buy the brushes to go with the makeup!!!

I use a whole host of brushes but at the moment RT are quite simply amazing. Easy to clean, no fall out hairs and make application so easy! Oh and did I mention they are a drugstore brand so very very affordable.

Anyway back to the Duo - as I said the philosophy in using the duo is that you use the same TF brush to contour, you then wipe on tissue and use same brush in the highlight shade and highlight your upper cheekbones. I was shown this in store and didn't realise that when done at home you simply don't have the time to faff (working woman!) around cleaning brushes and so I have a not so clean highlighter now which I don't use too often.

As contradictory as this will sound, I'm not a big fan of the highlighter, I prefer powder highlighters they just feel like you haven't got an extra layer on around that part of your skin and this highlight makes me feel that way, matter of opinion I guess folks.

The contour part of the duo is however amazing. I bought the lighter shade as I wanted to use it as a daily contour as oppose to 'night out' full on contour. However it is buildable so you can do that also. I would repurchase this product simply for this part of the duo as it gives me a lovely shadow under my cheekbones and it stays in place all day! Even on top of my liquid foundation.

So all in all, the product is hit and miss and for the price point (£56.00) you really do want to be very sure you want to buy it. Unless you get someone to buy it for Christmas haha. 

It is a luxury product and that is clear from the beautiful packaging which makes the TF brand stand out especially. I am always drawn to this counter as it just screams quality and class! Oh and did I mention it comes with a fairly decent sized mirror too so you can touch up on the go!

Let me know your thoughts in the comments box below and whether you feel the same or otherwise...

See you soon

Animas x

Start of a very exciting and hopefully long lasting adventure....

Hi everyone 

Here I am, writing a blog and I never thought I'd ever have anything interesting to say or write about.

However I will try, I have a huge interest in beauty and lifestyle products (who doesn't really, if you're a girl especially) and thought, hey why not shout about it to you guys, the wise world out there. Perhaps then we can share thoughts and honest reviews on some of the hot products and epic fails on the market.

So stay tuned and well see what comes up...I have some amazing reviews to share on some Tom Ford and Chanel beauty items I have bought recently as well as some absolute treats from Jo Malone...

See you soon

Animas x