Contouring Tips & Products

Hi guys

I know most of you probably have heard of the term contouring by now. Anyone who knows Kim K will concur with that fact!

Anyway I wanted to share with you an item I have been extensively using to contour. I’ve recently realised that my actual foundation doesn’t match my skintone *covered monkey face*. What a rookie mistake. I am so in love with the foundation formula itself I forgot to check it actually matched my neck colour etc etc.

Anyway that’s a blog for another time. I have used many items to contour in my time. I mainly concentrate the contour underneath my cheekbones, but on YouTube you’ll see girls (and guys) contouring to the extreme. Unless it’s a special occasion or you just love sculpted, chiselled cheekbones; a natural contour can still be achieved without looking streaky or caked.

I’ve gone through cream formulations and powder and to be honest I use both. When in I’m a rush I reach for my Bourjois Bronzing powder to set my Becca Radiant Skin Satin Foundation in the Colour Mink. This is more of a liquid formula but I cheat and use a foundation instead of a normal creamy contour.

But whatever you use it’s important you use the correct technique regardless of the colour. As long as the colour is a few shades darker than your own skintone you’re good to go.

I use the Becca foundation because it just blends seamlessly into the skin, doesn’t leave streaks and it’s so easy to work with. A little goes a long way. I bought it in the Space NK sale; it must have been a colour people weren’t buying often so it was mega reduced to like £3.00 or something ridiculous. I understand normally it’s around the £20.00 – £25.00 mark.

I am not a great at advising how to contour, so I suggest you watch beauty bloggers on YouTube as it’s become almost a part of nearly everyone’s routine as part of a regular tutorial.

There are so many contouring products out there, when I first started out, I had to get my head round the idea that most makeup companies don’t actually product special contour products, its mostly bronzers and mattified powders. However here is a list of some common ones:

Laura Mercier Contour Kit - £34.00
Mac Mineralise Skinfinish Natural - £24.00
Anastasia Beverley Hills Cream and Powder Contour Kit - £39.00
Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate, Cream – I have a blog about this.

The Bourjois setting bronzing powder I use is under £10 from Boots and I think it’s just one universal colour as oppose to different shades. It is also available in different variations; it can come with a highlighting powder or with two blocks of bronzer and its packaging is pretty neat too.

And remember, if you ‘over contour’ you can always just go over it all with a little bit of your regular foundation and start again. Also if you have amazing contoured cheeks already why are you bothering??!!

Hehe we all love a bit of contour!

Ciao for now

*REVIEW* LA Girl Pro HD Concealers

Hi guys

I feel like I've completely abandoned my blog of late. I am so lame, I blame my short attention span for my lameness.

Anyhow you're not here to read about my incessant lameness, you're here to read about my take on all things beauty.

Today I'm talking about the LA Girl Pro HD Concealer. This is a concealer like no other. Incredibly affordable, super full coverage and it doesn't budge!!! 

I have been pretty lazy with concealer and just using the one that came with my foundation. I was using the Mac Moisture Mineralise concealer for an age...I wasn't as happy with it as the foundation as it just sat in my lines and was just, too light coverage. 

So I decided to experiment, I've seen other bloggers go on and on about this concealer and saw it mentioned on a friends Snapchat recently which prompted me to buy my own. Now I couldn't be bothered paying shipping costs at places so I just bought my tube off of EBay, the seller is called jewelry_fantastic135...

I know the name sounds dim and dodgy, but the products are far from it. I bought two shades to find my true match and then another for contouring purposes. They were £3.44 each which is great to be honest. 

The shades I bought were Fawn, Warm Honey and Chestnut. Fawn was too dark and Chestnut was my contour colour, however Warm Honey matched perfectly.

I find with these concealers you don't need much to conceal, a little goes a long way. It has a brush applicator which looks convenient at first but in time would be a cesspit of disease, so I steer clear of using it and apply the product on the back of my hand and use a brush to apply.

Also guys, if your looking for stiff packaging or if you're expecting what you're used to with the high end brands, don't! You're getting what you're paying for here, the packaging is cheap and functional.

I also found with these that they don't require powder to set, which is convenient because I hate powdering, bane of my existence. 

You don't have to purchase a few shades to get your perfect match if you don't want, do some research look online at swatches and compare. I'm NC42 skin tone and Warm Honey went perfectly.

So yeah, go check it out, I'm sure there are official stockists somewhere but hey at eBay shipping was free hehehe.

See you soon x

*REVIEW* The Balm Mary-Lou-Manizer

Hi guys

It's been too long since my last post and I haven't got an excuse really, just been busy with life and not really been testing many new products.

Recently however I gave into the hype and bought myself a highlighter, specifically the Mary-Lou-Manizer highlighter from the Balm cosmetics. these retail at £17.50 on Feel Unique but I understand they are obtainable from the drugstore.

Anyhoo, before this I had a specifically bad experience with one of those Mac highlighter/ blush hybrid things and they colour pay off on my skin wasn't too great it shimmered too silver and you could see exactly where I'd placed it on my skin brushstroke wise and it just felt streaky.

This product however is rave worthy, so here it comes, it leaves a golden shimmer to the skin that is so seamless with no lines, transfer or fallout. It looks really natural and can be used on the cheekbones, cupids bow, bridge of the nose, the brow bone and even as an eye shadow. Having used this religiously for a week I am hooked it lasts all day and does not budge. 

On my NC42 skin tone it compliments nicely, however I imagine this would suit all skin types and would be exceptionally great for the summer months when everyone is vying for that elusive summer natural glow.

So go on guys, give this a try, it's inexpensive and gives the more high end products that are similar a run for their money. 

Let me know your thoughts in the comments box below

Ciao for now xxx

*The Original Beauty Blender* - REVIEW

Hey guys

For the longest time ever, I used to use my bare hands to apply makeup. From eye shadow right down to foundation. I was too afraid to venture into the unknown and rather expensive world of makeup brushes.

I made the transition to brushes a couple of years ago when a good friend of mine showed me her Mac makeup brush collection and I thought, I need me some of these NOW. Especially since my interest in eye makeup was growing and getting the desired blended effect was just not happening with my fingers.

So I went ahead and splurged, and randomly splurged a lot, on not one brand of makeup brush but many...this is getting very wordy....

Anyway I then discovered the amazing world of sponges. I had heard of this phenomenon for a while but loved my Mac face brushes too much to let go, having then had a little jaunt with the Real Techniques face brushes I decided to buy a Beauty Blender since it was on for £21.00 for two on Beauty Bay. A bargain, since one usually retails at circa £16.00

Oh my god guys, this sponge is amazing, no longer do I have to use separate brushes for my foundation, contour and highlight, even concealer. I can use every little nook and curve of this sponge and it does the job fantastically.

It provides an absolute flawless finish, and has just revolutionised the way I apply makeup on a daily basis. Long gone are the days when I used a brush for makeup. Poor face brushes are currently lying dormant in a drawer, never to be seen of again.

A bit about the Beauty Blender, when I first got my hand on these I thought they were the mini version of the original, they were quite tiny from what I'd seen. I then discovered that they had to be thoroughly washed and squeezed of any excess water before you left them damp and ready to use. At first I thought the application of an almost wet sponge on my face would ruin and disturb my makeup but for me I felt like this added to the effect and gave me a dewy look, which I love.

So glad I purchased the pro pack which was released in Black and came with two sponges because I love these!!!

Now to find a use for my other brushes....

X

*Review* Nars Dual-Intensity Eye Shadow Palette

Hi guys

I have been testing the Nars Dual-Intensity Eye Shadow Palette for a couple of weeks now. I was so so so excited when I heard Nars were releasing a palette because, and a few of you may agree with me on this, I hate buying single eye shadows, they hardly get used and you have to pair them up with other shadows. When with a palette most of the work is done for you!!

In this gorgeous palette come 8 shades all of which can be purchased in the single form, apart from the matt brown which is unique to the palette The shades are highly pigmented and apply wet or dry which gives you 16 eye shadows!!! 

The colours and contents are as follows:

Europa - Gossamer Pink Peach

Himalia - Shimmering Topaz

Ursa Major - Chocolate Glaze

Subra - Black Orchid

Andromeda - Alabaster

Lysithea - Shark Grey

Giove - Navy

Sycorax - Black

#49 Wet / Dry Eyeshadow Brush

The palette has a mirror whereas normally, the lid is the signature Nars matt packaging which we all know and love, however I find it quite cool and quirky.

The palette retails at £45.00 and is limited edition, so get your hands on it now! Or miss out as it is a steal considering one dual-intensity eye shadow costs £21.00 👀

What I also love is that it comes with a brush too!! Having used it, I would personally only use it wet when tapping the pigment on my lids as it isn't too great at blending personally, what could beat a 217??!!

Also having had the shadows on for a period of at least 12 hours I can endorse them for long lastingness!! Is that even a word??! But the colour doesn't budge once on, I normally use a primer as my lids are disgustingly oily, but it's worth a shout out - Urban Decays Primer Potion love ya - so the shadows with primer do not move until removed.

Nars have done a few tutorials on the palette and they're deck worth a watch - link down below for one of my favs

http://youtu.be/po7njs-pwEk

Let me know if you have this, and what shade is your fav???

S x

*Drugstore Dupes* - Kiko EyeShadow Sticks

Hi guys

It's been less than a year I think, since I first discovered this brand. It may have been when my sister hauled me into the Oxford Street store one time in London, gushing about the bronzers etc etc etc...

I did buy a bronzer that day, and fell in love. Ever since I was happy to hear a store opened more closer to home 💃. Recently I visited and purchased a few of the eye shadow sticks, having heard a few rave reviews I thought I'd try them out for myself and see what the fuss was about. My god were the reviewers right. These are amazing!!! 

I bought three colours, numbers 37 (Burgundy), 38 (Golden Taupe) and 44 (Ocean Blue) -

The colours look terrifying in the tube but apply and look really natural on the lids. I wear them as part of my everyday makeup routine and have received many compliments, especially when wearing the reddish brown shade.

The lighting in the picture doesn't do the colours justice but do go ahead and check out the website for swatches - www.kikocosmetics.co.uk

These are a great dupe for the ByTerry Ombré Blackstar shadows if you're looking for a lower price point product - I bought these for £4.80 each which I believe was the sale price, but these RRP for £6.80 which is a steal compared to the £29.00 each for the ByTerry sticks. However, to give credit where credits due - the ByTerry ones are more shimmery with glittery specks as oppose to these, which appear matt on application.

Kiko claim that the sticks have a long lasting 8 hour sticking power, and I have to agree - the shadow is still on my lids unless I rub it off myself and so buttery  as a result. The formula is so blendable once on the lids and doesn't set at all which means you have more time to blend away and play around.

Eyeshadow sticks are a quick and easy way to get a wash of colour on the lids without making a huge effort with powder/cream shadows and brushes, it literally takes one or two swipes and a bit of blending with your fingers and you're good to go! These also act as a great base for other powdery eyeshadows!

I will definitely be buying more shades when I next pop into my local store, the shade range was quite extensive and a poor friend of mine was getting quite irate at having to wait whilst I swatched away!

See you soon people xxx

Best mascara of all time!!!! ❤️❤️❤️

Favourite mascara time!!!!!

I am one of those rare women who have found and fallen in love with their holy grail, best of the best, cream of the crop, amazingly great, mascara of all time. This blog literally cannot continue without me squealing my delight at my long lasting love affair with this product. 

You want volume, length, dreamy thick lashes?? Then look no further!! 

Lancôme have a range of Hypnose mascaras all under the Hypnose umbrella but affixed with another name I.e  Hypnose Dolls Eyes etc and the one I love in this range is called Hypnose Drama. Simply amazing.

Blacker than black, in a few strokes it achieves a look most women die for. Immediately lifts the eyes to create a wide awake look and seldom requires any other application of makeup. Great for busy working professionals or mummies out there!!

Having had a brief fling with Max Factor mascaras I wasn't too fussed, they didn't necessarily wow me. I also felt the same for the Loréal red and white one (they use unnecessarily long names for their mascaras). This was one which involved priming the lashes with a white coat and then following up with the black coat. What a farce, I mean who has time to do that? So i decided to go high end and after using a sample of the Hypnose Drama I decided to buy the real thing.

Retailing at £22.00 it is expensive, but if you're a savvy shopper like myself, you'll wait for the periods of the year when you know it'll go down to at least £15.00 and stock up then. Which is what I did during Xmas. 

What I also like about the Hypnose range is that the mascaras can be bought in gift sets which includes the amazing makeup remover, which has a French name I can never remember. So I always look out for these too.

Another thing I love about this mascara, is the wand. Now I know a lot of people talk about the wand being the actual thing that makes or breaks a mascara, and the formula not really much of a deal. I can't say that's true. Although I love the wand on this mascara the formula is exceptional too. Doesn't clump and smudge and is very easy to remove.

The wand however, is curved. Which bemused me at first but then the lady at the counter showed me how to use it, to make make the most of it. The idea is that you use the outer part of the wand first, apply a generous coat, then twirl the wand and use the inner part and reapply. This is amazing. It definitely makes a huge difference and cuts out soo much time I wasted in the past with the priming mascara.

So yeah guys, I definitely recommend this if you're on he market for a new mascara, let me know your thoughts in the comments box below if you have a HG mascara you love.

X

Burberry Lipstick Edit

Hey guys

Today's post is all about Burberry Beauty. Inparticularly, Burberry Lipsticks!!! 

I have a colour from all the different ranges  apart from the Lip Glow range as I'm not a major lip gloss fan tbh. I can easily say they are beyond fantastic. I love the colours, the formulas and the long lasting power!!

Burberry have four different formulas: 

1. Lip Velvets - these are basically matte lipsticks - across the board all Burberry lipsticks have an amazing scent to them and the Velvets really do embody that. They apply really smoothly and I have no issue (even on my charred lips) of applying. Some formulas can really drag on the lips but these beauties are not in that category.

I have two shades in this category - Rose Pink No. 307 and Peony Rose No.302. Both shades are as the names suggest a shade of pink - beautiful colours I can't get enough of them. I very rarely feel the need to reapply once these are sealed on my lips!!

2. Lip Mist - these are lipsticks which apply very sheer. The colour I have make my lips look a little grey, so I apply it as a highlight as oppose to a full lip colour. These don't apply opaquely, so you do need to apply a good few coats to get a decent colour pay off. But then again, they're mists so how much opacity do you want people??!!

3. Lip Cover - now these lipsticks are your moisturising lipsticks, so uber hydrating and extremely shiny, not gloss like, but you get the opacity you would from a matte lipstick. I love the colour I have of this, it is Primrose Hill Pink No.30, a beautiful orangey pink.

4. Lip Glow - I haven't tried these but if I was to judge them based on the other ones I have tried I'd give it a go!

Priced at £22.50 they are a luxury buy but again I would highly recommend, depending on what formula suits you best. My favourite being the Lip Covers and Lip Velvets.

What I really like about the Burberry range of lipsticks is that every range has a different lipstick case. The Lip Velvets have a matt case, the Lip Mist has a gold shiny case and the Lip Cover a dark grey shiny case. So the formula is easily identifiable without Loki g at the bottom of the lipstick, as I find myself doing, quite regularly, with my Mac lipsticks!!!

Below is a swatch of all the lipsticks on my arm - starting from the wrist downward:

1. Lip Velvet Rose Pink No. 307

2. Lip Mist Trench Kiss No.216

3. Lip Cover Primrose Hill Pink No.30

4.Lip Velvet Peony Rose

I'll see you soon in my next blog!

Happy reading

X

*NARS* Narsissist Palette - Review

Hello all

Happy new year to you and a warm welcome to today's blog!!!!!

I have absolutely adored Nars Cosmetics since I first discovered its philosophy and obviously the quality of the makeup is just out of this world.

I was lucky enough to get my hands on this palette early 2014 when it was released limited edition.

It retailed at £50.00 and I thought as a regular user of Nars eyeshadows that this was a bargain buy!!! Tonnes of colours all in one palette. I believe this is the first time Nars released such a large selection of colours in one palette, So you can imagine my excitement!!!

The palette itself consists of 15 shades of colour, a mixture of mattes and shimmers and is ideal to create any eye look, from day to night!

As you can see this palette has seen a lot of use. It has an amazing range of highlights, warm browns and darker shades to create the ideal smoky eye look! 

Another amazing thing about this palette is that the shades are not exclusive to this palette, they are available as either singles or duos, but there is one colour exclusive to the palette -

Top row, from right to left - All about Eve, Madrague #2, Fez, Bali & Coconut Grove

Middle row, from right to left - Madrague #1, Nepal, Ashes to Ashes, Brousse #2 & Mekong

Bottom row, from right to left - Belissima #1, Lhasa, Bad Behaviour, Dogon & Pandora #2

Dogon is the exclusive colour, all the rest are readily available.

I love this palette and have rarely used any other palette since, it's a great all rounder and if in some miraculous way you can still get your hands on this, or you have it closeted away for a special occasion - USE IT!!!! Don't be a closet makeup hoarder!!!!

As I say to my friends - YOLO!!!! And makeup has a shelf life!!!

Have you used this, what do you think?

Sam

X

*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

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