REVIEW | REVLON UTLRA HD MATTE LIPCOLORS

Liquid lipsticks are definitely having a moment right now, most of the big make up brands seem to have new collections of them out and it's pretty easy to see why they're so popular.  I first noticed these Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolors in Boots, and the style of them reminded me of the ones by Hourglass.  I like the design, they've got a high end feel to them and they are not just the standard lipgloss kind of tubes that you would usually get from a drugstore brand.

I picked up the shades HD Love (red), HD Seduction (nude) and HD Obsession (pink) and I already know that I need to pick up the rest!  The pigment is amazing, as you can tell from the swatches in the photo, even the nude has good colour payoff - which can sometimes be a bit hit and miss with this kind of formula.  

They apply really easily with the small doe foot applicators; the formula feels really sheer and even moisturising, you kind of forget that it is a matte finish because it doesn't feel heavy or drying at all.  The pink and red shades are really bright and vibrant, and the strong colour helps to give the illusion of fuller lips which is absolutely fine by me!  The nude is a pretty subtle shade but it is a good warm colour that lasts a lot longer than most others that I own.  

At the moment these lipsticks are £8.99 each or 3 for 2 in Boots, which is a good way to get a few at once, as one of these is not really enough! 

I'm really impressed with them so far, Revlon has always been one of my favourite drugstore brands and I think that they do lip products in particular very well.  These are excellent quality for the price, and I think the design is cute and perfect for carrying on the go.  

Have you tried these lipsticks?  What do you think of them? xx

MY CURRENT FAVOURITE NAIL POLISHES

l-r: Rimmel Precious Stones in Diamond Dust, No.7 Gel Look in Grey Mist, Barry M Sunset Daylight Curing in Vengeance is Wine & Essie in Summit of Style

I change my nails every few days, I get bored easily and usually if I see the odd chip here and there that makes me want to change them too.  I have to say that I've been pretty boring lately, and the four that are featured on this post are the ones that have been in my regular rotation for the last few weeks!  

I do love me some glitter, and Rimmel Precious Stones polish in Diamond Dust is perfect for an all out sparkle.  The concentration of glitter is the best I've ever come across, you wear it alone and it's a heavy duty grey/silver sparkly finish.  I tend to wear this with false nails, as it is pretty difficult to remove as you can probably imagine.  

Another favourite glittery offering is Essie in Summit of Style, which is a gold glitter that I either wear alone under a clear or nude polish, or with another colour for extra effect.  I also use this to create a sparkly tip, it's really easy and is a quick way to go from a regular mani to something with a bit more oomph! 

My favourite colour this winter season has definitely been grey, and this No.7 Gel Effect polish in Grey Mist has been my go-to since before Christmas.  It has a super glossy finish, lasts for around 4 days without chipping, and is an all round good'un. 

Lastly, I absolutely ADORE this Barry M Sunset Daylight Curing polish in Vengeance is Wine!  It is the most beautiful deep red shade, and when worn with the topcoat is it incredible glossy and looks a lot more expensive than a drugstore brand.  

What nail polishes have you been loving lately?  Do you like any of these? xx

MY AUTUMN FACE.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation, Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow, Maxfactor Smokey Eyes palette, Too Faced Natural Eyes palette, Maybelline Master Precise eyeliner, Soap & Glory Smoulder Kohl eyeliner, Maxfactor False Lash Effect mascara, MAC Velvet Teddy. 

I LOVE Autumn.  I think everyone does, don't they?!  It's cold enough to start wearing a few layers and enjoy scarves, dresses with tights etc without it being freezing cold; it's great for getting beautiful photos outside amongst the falling leaves and it's my favourite time to play around with make up.  

Whatever the trends, smokey, golden colours are always huge for autumn and I love nothing more than experimenting with all my favourite coppery shades.  I've been going for this look day to day for the last few weeks now, it's a mix of all my current favourite products.  I love using Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow for contouring as it is the perfect shade combination for my complexion, and it goes really well on top of Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation which gives me some much needed extra coverage.  

Too Face Natural Eyes palette is a beautiful combination of nude and brown eyeshadows that I use over and over again.  The quality is amazing and they are the most flattering selection of shades - all perfect for day to night bronze eyes.  MAC Velvet Teddy is my current go-to lipstick, a dark nude that can be dressed up or down depending on the rest of your look in my opinion.  

What are your go-to products this Autumn?  xx 

MAKE UP PRODUCTS WORTH THE HYPE | 2

I thought that the time was right to take a look at some more make up bits that were both influenced by other bloggers and worth all the hype that they receive.  I can be worryingly weak when it comes to caving in and buying products based on what I've heard about them, regardless of whether I need them or not, so it's always a great relief when they turn out to be as good as people say!  

I'd only seen one or two posts featuring the Maybelline The Nudes palette, so it wasn't totally blogger-influenced - I snapped it up because I couldn't believe that a nude set of 12 eye shadows was only £10.  This palette definitely wins best value for money, I've used every one of the shades at some point, and all of them are of good quality and have good pigmentation.  

NARS Walkyrie Velvet Lip Pencil was included in my last Cohorted Beauty Box, and it was love at first sight.  I love lip crayons in general as I find them so easy and quick to apply, but the formula of this NARS one is super soft and truly earns the Velvet in it's name.  I love this shade too, it's the perfect day to night colour.  

MAC Velvet Teddy has had more than it's fair share of hype this year thanks to Kylie Jenner, but it really is a gorgeous deep plummy nude shade that is super flattering.  

Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo in On and On Bronze is just the dream.  I think I've gone on about it enough on this blog already, but if you want a bold metallic shade that doesn't crease, then this is it.  

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow is a product that I could talk about again and again and again!  It makes it so easy to contour, the shade is brown toned rather than orange, so it's as natural looking as you're going to get; and the highlight shade is luminescent without being shimmery - total perfection.  

Let me know what products you think are deserving of all the hype they receive!  Do you love any of these bits? xx

ESTEE LAUDER HAUL + GIFT WTH PURCHASE

Well, after another little impromptu blog break I'm back and what better way to return than with a little haul?!

I've been kind of boring lately in that I haven't tried many new products or switched up my usual ones for something different, but this is only because the things that I have been using have been so good that I've not felt the need to try anything else.  So that is why, when my beloved Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer finally ran out I headed straight to Boots to pick up another.  It is without doubt my holy grail concealer these days, I use it for both my dark circles and spots.  At the counter however I saw that Estee Lauder had a gift-with-purchase offer on, so naturally I wanted to get my greedy little mitts on it!  This make up bag full of goodies is available when you buy two products from them, one of them being foundation or skincare.  I ended up buying the concealer and a repurchase of their Double Wear Foundation, in the shade cool bone.  

The free gift included a super cute make up bag, which always come in really handy; a full size lipstick in the shade Melon, which is a gorgeous coral orange, and sample sizes of their Day Cream, Take It Away make up remover, Advanced Night Repair Serum, a mini Double Wear Foundation (perfect for keeping in your handbag), Modern Muse perfume, and three mini base samples to create their 'Instant Glow' look.  I'm really impressed with this generous offering from them, and think it's a great incentive to stock up on a couple of bits if you're running low on foundation or skincare.  

I can't wait to give the lipstick and serum a go, I've heard great things about the formulas of both!  

Did you take advantage of this Estee Lauder offer?  Have you tried any of these products? xx

REVIEW | CHARLOTTE TILBURY FILMSTAR BRONZE AND GLOW

I don't feel even a little bit guilty for treating myself to the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow palette (£49), because it has been on my wishlist for months now and I think that it is actually an achievement that I resisted it for so long and only bought it when I had run out of my last bronzer.  So really I guess that makes it a well deserved treat.  

Obviously this beautiful little palette has been raved about on so many blogs, and you can't really escape it right now; however I think it is with good reason - it looked so good in the photos I'd seen, and now I've tried it myself I totally get why it is so popular.  

I bought the light version, and when it arrived the first thing I admired was just how good it looks.  Gold packaging is an instant win in my books, and having a mirror in a palette i also something I love, as it makes them extra handy useful for keeping in your handbag.  

The bronzer is a soft brown shade; I have been using it to carve out some cheekbones and it really does work - it's perfect for my skin tone and looks natural too thanks to there being no orange tones in it.  Since I wasn't bless with visible cheekbones, I trace the shape with my brush by slightly sucking in my cheeks which makes it easy to see where you should contour.  I also take it up to my temples, blend it around my jawline and also down the sides of my nose to make it look slimmer.  

The highlight shade looks really subtle in the palette, and compared to some other highlighters that I've used it doesn't look very shimmery at all, so I was a bit dubious about how well it would show up.  However, it is actually a gorgeous soft shimmer that both looks natural and makes my skin look 100% more glowy and radiant, in a way that I've never found another product to do.  

Quick warning: below is a selfie taken from my phone which best shows up how it looks.  Apologies in advance for the complete un-bloggerishness of the picture, but since rain has made the light awful for photo taking today then it will have to do!  

I hope that gives a good idea of how it looks on, my skin is certainly not that glowing without help so Bronze and Glow has immediately been put into my daily make up bag, and I can't see anything replacing it anytime soon either. 

Have you tried Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow?  What do you think of it? xx

COHORTED SEPTEMBER BEAUTY BOX

Yep, I ordered another Cohorted Beauty Box despite being pretty disappointed with the last one - and it turns out that this month's box is far better and now all is forgiven.  I was really pleasantly surprised when this box got delivered a few days ago and the first product I saw was from NARS!

The NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil (£19) came in this box, and I got the shade Walkyrie which I already absolutely love .  It is a dark red with burnt orange tones, and it is the perfect transitional autumn shade.  The formula is as the name suggests; it is velvety soft to apply and the pencil style makes it super easy to fill your lips in.  

Another excellent product included this time was The Balm Nude Tude eye palette (£35) , which is a set of 12 shades ranging from light shimmery pinks to dark plums and blacks.  I've seen a lot of reviews of this and other products from the brand on blogs before, and I've never actually bought anything myself from them before because I think the packaging is a bit tacky looking considering the prices.  However, my first impressions of this palette are that the shades are really pretty and deeply pigmented, although I've found that there's a fair bit of fallout from the darker shades.  I probably wouldn't have paid £35 for it myself, but it's definitely a nice addition to any eye shadow collection and a great product to find in this £20 beauty box.  

There is also a sample size of The Balm Put A Lid On It eye primer, which is only tiny but the product itself seems to do it's job and if I remembered to prime my eyes regularly then I would definitely consider buying the full size version.  

There is also a sample size of the Gucci Premier Shower Gel (£7.50), which smells amazing and claims to deliver 'ultimate relaxation and freshness' - it sounds pretty impressive so I can't wait to give it a go.

Another bath product came in the form of Molten Brown Seamoss Bath and Shower Gel (£10.00), which also smells gorgeous and fresh.  I've used Molten Brown bath products before and have never been disappointed so I'm sure this offering will be just as good.  

So there is another month's Cohorted Beauty Box!  I am far more pleased with this box than the last one, the products are of excellent quality and there was a bit of everything included.

Have you tried any of these products?  What do you think of them? xx

REVIEW | CHARLOTTE TILBURY MAGIC FOUNDATION

I'm a sucker for a new foundation release, and I'm also a sucker for all things Charlotte Tilbury; so when these two things combined and Magic Foundation (29.50) was born, I was naturally all over it and bought it straight away.

I don't have any stockists local to me, so I had to choose my shade online which I usually don't like doing as 50% of the time I choose wrong.  However, I picked up the second lightest shade and hope for the best.  

When it arrived I was instantly in love with the packaging - rose gold lid = ummm yes!  It comes in a glass bottle and has a pump so from the outside all is perfect.  

I've been wearing it for almost two weeks now and as much as I really hate to say it, it's just not completely bowled me over like I thought it would.  As a base, it does tick most boxes in that the coverage is full but lightweight, it's easy to blend and it evens out my skin tone which is always a good thing for me as I get a lot of redness.  I love it for all of these reasons and I think it does out do a lot of other bases out there that claim to do the same.  The only bad thing for me is that when I'm having a bad skin day and I have some dry patches - it clings to them.  This has happened a few times now, so it makes me think that to get the full benefit out of this otherwise lovely base you would be better having more oily combination skin rather than dry.  My skin switches annoyingly between the two, and my cheeks are the places to get dry whereas my t zone is always combination.  I think this would definitely be the perfect base if you have more oily skin, as the finish is matte with a slight sheen to it. 

I'm really disappointed, as this was one product that I was sure I was going to love!  I do like it for every other reason, but while I still suffer with dryness I won't be able to use it on a regular basis which is such a shame.  However, I totally recommend it if you have more oily skin and want a base that will leave it looking sheer but matte.  

Have you tried Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation?  What do you think of it? xx 

MY TOP FIVE EYE SHADOW PALETTES

I think that eye shadow palettes are one of the most exciting make up products that you can buy, or at least it's a close call between them and lipsticks.  I love coming across a new set of shades, especially if there are some lovely nudes or rose golds or dark smokey colours thrown in!  

I've picked my all time favourites (so far...there's always room for more) out which all take pride of place in my collection.  

First up is the Maybelline The Nudes palette (£10), which has 12 matte and shimmer shades from a bold copper and bronze to very light whites and greys.  So many different looks can be created from this absolute bargain of a palette, and the pigmentation is really good - even with the lightest shades, which I use for highlighting or dotting in the corners of my eyes.  

Too Faced Natural Eye Palette (top middle, £32) is another favourite; it has the perfect mixture of nudes and browns and the quality of them is incredible.  They are the sort of shades that you only need one sweep of to get a good colour payoff, and the colours themselves are just beautiful and so flattering.

My top budget palette is hands down the Make Up Revolution Iconic 3 (right, £4), which has a gorgeous selection of rose gold, pink and mauve shades.  The quality of these shades is excellent considering it costs less than a fiver, and you can create lots of beautiful day to night looks with them too.  

The Urban Decay Naked Smokey palette (bottom, £38) is the newest addition to my make up collection, but it's already become a firm favourite.  I did a full review of it here, but it's made it to my firm favourites because I just love all of the shades in it - you can easily go from day to night with them and with twelve colours to choose from there is a look in there for everyone. 

Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita palette (middle, £38) - need I say more?!  This is the stuff that eye shadow dreams are made of.  I use this palette usually on nights out or special occasions, mainly because of the dramatic look you get with it but also because I just never want it to run out!  There is a highlight, base and crease shade as well as a glitter top shade and the three of them together look absolutely stunning.  I would 100% recommend trying this, I can't wait to try another palette from the collection.  

So there are my five favourite palettes!  Are there any here that you love?  What are your favourites? xx

MY PICK OF THE BEST AUTUMN MAKE UP

So: it's September.  Which means it's officially ok to get excited about autumn make up again, doesn't it?  It is very tempting to dive straight in and go for bold dark eyes and deep berry lips, but I've been going for some more coppery shades lately and nude pinks that make for good transitional looks.  

Without a doubt, the best eye shadow palette I own is this Two Faced Natural Eyes one (£32), the shades are a mixture of shimmer and matte bronzes, coppers and browns which are perfect for autumn.  My favourite shades are Push Up and Sexspresso (awesome name), and Silk Teddy is a perfect highlight colour too.  I've been using this palette with my usual make up bits, but I've been switching my regular black eyeliner for this brown one: Smoulder Kohl from Soap & Glory.  This really adds to the coppery look and it is also a softer, less harsh alternative for daytime.  

I've also ditched the coral and bronze blushes in favour of another old favourite, NARS Orgasm which is a deeper and rosier shade.

Lipstick wise, as always I am loving everything from nudes to bright pinks; lately though I have been reaching for the more plummy nude pinks (worst description ever) and I've been using Maybelline NudeSensation in Velvet Beige and this cute Clarins Mini in the shade Woodrose - which I will definitely hunting for in full size form when this one runs out! 

I can't leave out nail polish when talking autumn shades, and I had to pick out my favourite purple colour from the Revlon Parfumerie range, in the shade Bordeaux.  It looks like burgundy and purple shades are set to be pretty darn big this season, so I reckon I will be getting a lot of wear out of this gorgeous colour!  

What products and shades are you loving for going into autumn? xx

URBAN DECAY NAKED SMOKEY PALETTE

Here I am again with another great example of what listening to other bloggers can do!  I have seen a lot of love going around lately for the new Urban Decay Naked Smokey palette (£36), and as a lover of both the brand and the whole smokey eye look, I caved in and treated myself to it.  

The palette is made up of twelve matte and shimmer shades, ranging from highlights to deep greys and black.  

My swatches do not do the colours or the pigmentation justice, however like the other Naked palettes the quality of the shades is excellent and miraculously you do not get much fall out from the darker colours.

My favourite shades so far are High, which is a good highlighting shade which I've used along my brow bone and also in the inner corners of my eyes, and also Dagger which is a lovely ash grey that I sweep over my lid and then layer with Black Heart if I am going for a dramatic look.  

I love how with the Naked palettes you can create so many different looks, and this one is just the same.  If any, I think that the one I will probably use the least is Thirteen, which is pretty much white and likely to make me look even paler than usual. 

Have you tried the Naked Smokey palette yet?  What do you think of it? xx

CHARLOTTE TILBURY | MATTE REVOLUTION LIPSTICK in '1975 Red'

Charlotte Tilbury.  That woman really can do no wrong, and her latest collaboration with photographer Norman Parkinson is proof of this.  I am always adding make up from her range to my wishlist, but when I saw her latest addition to the Matte Revolution lipstick range I had to add it to my basket straight away.  My bank account said 'please don't do this', but my heart said 'YES YES YES' so that obviously won, and I'm now the very proud and excited owner of this beautiful new lipstick in the shade 1975 red.  Inspired by the flirty and glamorous 1970s, this red is orange toned and a bright, vibrant shade that is perfect for summer nights (and days).  As with the rest of the collection, it is a velvet matte lipstick, the lasting power is super impressive and somehow it manages to make my lips look fuller.  I really love the formula of the matte revolution shades, and I love this sunset red colour and how looks against my awkward colourless complexion!   

The Matte Revolution lipsticks are £23.00 each and when I bought it from Charlotte Tilbury's own website, I got two free samples!  

Have you tried any Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks?  Do you like this shade? xx

LIPSTICK | PRETTY PINKS

Another day, another lipstick post.  There's something quite nice though about photographing bright and colourful lipsticks as opposed to the more neutral ones, or is that just me?!  Summer is almost here and that means there is no excuse not to go all out and wear a bold and beautiful shade of pink on your lips, there's a shade for everyone - but obvs you wouldn't just stop at one!  

Hot summer evenings (fingers crossed for the uk) mean deeper darker shades - cue MAC All Fired Up.  It's a rich, cherry pink with mauve undertones and I love the matte, full finish.  This is perfect for wearing with floral prints I find, and looks good with simple, minimal eye make up.  

Tanya Burr lipgloss in Picnic in the Park is a girly, candy pink colour that looks really pretty and gives a soft but bright pop of colour which is super sleek and thankfully doesn't leave you with the dreaded sticky lips situation.  

Topshop Macaroon is a beautiful coral pink/orange shade with a matte finish and really impressive staying power.  The quality and finish of these lipsticks is really similar to MAC I find, only cheaper!  Macaroon is a more lighter shade than the others, but the colour is opaque and is ideal if you're not up for going full on barbie pink just yet.  

Maybelline Colour Drama lip pencil in I Love Coral is a colour that's along the same lines as Maaroon, only a bit brighter and a good choice if you want to build the colour up gradually and create a fuller shape.  These pencils are my holy grails these days, they are easy to use if you want to overline your lips just a tad, there's no bleeding out of colour at the edges (unlike with certain liquid lipsticks), and you can either apply a bold swipe of it or pat on a small amount and smudge it in with your fingers!

YSL Sheer Candy Volupte lipstick is the high end choice, this shade is 019 Exotic Pitaya, which is a vibrant and juicy pink.  The colour looks almost neon in the photo, but it applies very sheer - almost like a lip butter - and feels like lip balm.  It is incredibly moisturising, my lips feels so soft as soon as I apply it, and the finish is subtle and not dissimilar to the Revlon Lip Butter range.  This is the perfect product for any minimal make up look, or for lazy days where you just want a hint of colour to make your lips really pop. 

So there are a few of my favourite summery pink shades, there's one of every type thrown in there for day and for night!  What shades do you love for summer?  Have you tried any of these? xx

CLARINS AQUATIC TREASURES SUMMER BRONZING COMPACT

I'm going to be honest here and say that the deciding factor in me buying this bronzer was the look of it - it's embossed! (is that the right word?) I know that makes me a bit of a Shallow Sharon but it would just be so boring if make up was in plain packaging!  This is just  so pretty!  And I've used it quite a few times already and the pattern hasn't worn off - blogger photo bonus! 

When I hit pan on my beloved Benefit Hoola, it was a very sad day and I wasn't looking forward to going to work and being asked if I was sick (that's how pale I am).  So I went to replace it but then came across this little beaut.  I am a big fan of the Clarins Radiance Boost facial tanner already so I was curious to see if their latest Bronzer, from the Aquatic Treasures S/S 15 collection, was just as good.  

Aside from the lovely design, I really like this, it is a really good bronzer with no fake looking shimmer, a nice matte but not-too-matte finish, and I especially like that the colour can be built up too.  This is really handy for someone pale like me, it is far easier to build upon a light colour than to try and blend in a shade that is far too orange or dark.  I use it in pretty much the same areas that I would contour: my cheekbones, along and just under my jaw line, a sweep on my temples and also down the sides of my nose.  

The colour is a soft bronze with brown rather than orange tones, so there's so chance of that dreaded tangoed look!  

An added bonus to this already gorgeous compact is the big mirror!  This makes it perfect handbag size and ideal for when you need touch ups throughout the day.  

At £30 it is no bargain, but for the beautiful style, good colour and overall high quality of it I think it is a luxury product that earns its price tag. 

Have you tried the Clarins Aquatic Treasures Bronzer?  What do you think of it? xx

FORGOTTEN FAVOURITE | MAYBELLINE COLOR TATTOO in ON AND ON BRONZE

I love eye shadows, and especially palettes which can create a number of different kinds of looks, so it is probably that which has made me forget how much I love this single little pot!  The Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo in On and On Bronze is a blogger favourite for good reason: it is a beautiful metallic bronze shade that can be built up as much as you like, so you can either create a gentle daytime look or a full on gold colour.  Then there is the fact that it just does not crease.  Not one little bit!  This is a major plus for me, as I've rarely used a non powder eye shadow that doesn't crease at least a little bit.  On top of that is the fact that it really does last all day; I wouldn't know if it stays in place for 24 hours as I always take it off at night, but it definitely doesn't budge if I'm wearing it all day!  

I'll go back though to the colour, which is the main reason why I love this eye shadow so much.  The bronze, coppery shades suits my eye colour and looks great with bronzer and a tan - perfect for summer!  

Have you tried any of the colours from this range?  Do you like this one? xx

HAIR HERO | THE DENMAN TANGLE TAMER ULTRA

Having long hair has as many downs as it does its ups for me, and a big nuisance for me is how to keep it smooth without doing too much damage.  This is where I have to try and pick good conditioners and also good hairbrushes, which is where the Denman Tangle Tamer Ultra* steps in.  

As you can guess from the name, it is a clear rival for the Tangle Teezer (which I also own) and the first obvious difference between the two is that this one has a handle.  For me, this is immediately a big selling point as it makes it so much easier so brush it through long hair.  I should probably say that I have pretty long hair, and the large paddle style of this brush makes it perfect for getting out any tangles and it leaves it looking and feeling silky soft.  This is probably down to the nylon bristles, which are really soft and help to prevent any damage being caused.  

I also really love the bright yellow colour!  The Tangle Tamer comes in a selection of bright shades, which stand out against the black cushion and bristles.  If you like your brushes to be soft and not tug at you hair, and prefer them to have a handle then I would definitely recommend giving this one a go.  They are £11.50 and can be bought from denmanbrush.com.

What do you think of the Tangle Tamer? xx

*The Tangle Tamer Ultra was kindly sent to me for consideration by Denman.  

REVIEW | NO7 ROSE GOLD EYESHADOW PALETTE

Who doesn't love an eyeshadow palette?  I certainly do, and if it's got rose gold packaging too then that just seals the deal.  I picked up the No7 Rose Gold palette a few weeks ago in Boots, I can't actually find it online anymore but it could still be in stores.  

It is a neutral palette with a mixture of a couple of matte shades, some shimmers and some full on glitters that take the natural look from day to a smokey night one.  Unfortunately no shade names are given, but I know that each shade is picked from other palettes/duos already in the No.7 range, so all of these eyeshadows are available separately.  The colours are very pigmented, and even the lightest shades look good, especially in comparison so some other drugstore eyeshadows.  I have to admit, I do have to tap off a lot of excess with these, else the result is a hell of a lot of fall out - not a good look!  I think think would be sorted if I invested in a new eyeshadow primer though, so it may not just be a reflection of the quality of this palette.  

In the photo I am wearing the second shade in on the top row, and the first shade on the bottom row, which together create a soft neutral look which I am wearing most days lately.  The dark shades are perfect for creating smokey looks, and for using under the bottom lash line for a softer finish then eyeliner.

I'm pretty impressed with the palette, and obviously I love how it looks on the dressing table too!  Have you got this?  What do you think of it? xx

HAUL | NEW MAKE UP BITS

I still haven't gone crazy buying things lately, mainly because nothing much has caught my eye!  I had to take advantage of Boots 3 for 2 though (who wouldn't), so picked some new bits to try that I've seen some good reviews of.  

I'm a sucker for a new foundation, and when I heard about the new L'Oreal Infallible 24hr matte I had to see what all the fuss was about.  I bought it in the shade Vanilla, which in my local Boots was the lightest shade, and it is for once an excellent match for my skin.  I usually find that drugstore foundations can be too yellow or pink toned for my skin, so I was really impressed that this was neither.  It is full coverage too, which I probably won't be reaching for in the warmer weather, but for now while I'm covering up the last signs of my recent breakouts this is doing the job really well.  

From Maxfactor I bought their Masterpiece Transform mascara, and as always with them I'm really loving it and cannot fault it at all.  All my favourite mascaras are by Maxfactor, my top pick being Masterpiece Max, and this one is just as good.  It adds a decent amount of volume, and lengthens my lashes a fair bit too so this will be a definite repurchase.  

Also from Maxfactor, I had to see what all the fuss was about with their new Creme Puff Blush so I picked up the light pink shade called Lovely Pink.  I have to say that usually I'm not fussed about baked blushers and I'm happy with my Benefit ones, and sadly I haven't changed my opinion!  This blusher is probably too light for me, as I like more of a peach/orange shade, but I wasn't over impressed with it anyway, there didn't seem to be much colour payoff and I felt like I was applying loads to get it to show up even a little bit.  I have read quite a few good reviews about this so am pretty conscious that I might be alone in thinking this, but I would love to know what you think of it!

No trip to Boots is complete without picking up a nail polish or two, so I went to Barry M and chose one of the Speedy Quick Dry polishes in the shade Eat My Dust.  This is a pretty pale grey/blue shade that I really love, and yes it does dry quicker that normal polishes too!  

Aside from Boots, I also had a look in The Body Shop and bought their Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner.  I love the smell of tea tree, and have always loved the tingly, squeaky clean feeling it leaves on my skin; I've been using this after cleanser and I have been noticing a big improvement to my skin, especially around my t zone, so I'm tempted to try some more bits from this range.  

Have you tried any of these products?  What do you think of them?  Tell me I'm not the only one not loving the Maxfactor blushers ha! xx

SPRING LIPSTICK PICKS | HIGH END vs DRUGSTORE

I do love a good bright lipstick, and spring is the perfect time to dig out or buy some fresh new shades.  I love to wear reds and pinks any time of the year, but there's no denying that spring and summer just feels right for them - and they go with all those summer dresses nicely too!  I tend to go for peachy and coral shades, because I know they suit me best and I just like them the most anyway.  

I've picked out two high end favourites and two drugstore beauties today, so there's the best of both worlds!

First up is Tom Ford in Spanish Rose, which I have raved about on here more than once before but with good reason.  This lipstick is a peachy nude which I have been wearing on an almost daily basis for a long time now, and worryingly it is now starting to shrink quite a bit - eek!  I really love how moisturising the formula is, which at £37 is the least you would expect of it (I got it for £33 in the Selfridges sale which makes me feel a tad better), and it lasts for ages too.  The colour is a great choice for daytime wear as it is still pretty subtle, and the nude is a your-lips-but-better kind of shade.  

Next there is my beloved Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution lipstick in Sexy Sienna, which I reviewed in full yesterday so I'll keep it short here.  Obviously the finish is matte with this one, and the colour has more orangey tones in it, although it's still not too OTT and is still one that I wear on a daily basis.

On to the drugstore picks then, and I had to include my favourite Maybelline Color Drama lip pencil in the shade In With Coral, which is a vibrant pink toned colour with a velvety matte finish.  This is a great alternative to the high end brands and these pencils make it so easy to fill in a decent, fuller shape. 

Last up is Topshop lipstick in Macaroon, which is similar to the Maybelline shade but a little softer.  Again, the quality is fantastic for a budget buy, and I always find that Topshop lipsticks are very similar to MAC ones.  

I could have picked lots more but I kept it simple and stuck to four colours!  Have you tried any of these lipsticks?  What shades do you go for in spring? xx

FOTD | FT. CHARLOTTE TILBURY MATTE REVOLUTION LIPSTICK

Today I thought that I would dedicate a post to the beaut that is the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution lipstick in the shade Sexy Sienna, which I was lucky enough to win in an Instagram competition.  I felt extra lucky because I was sent Sexy Sienna, a warm peachy orange shade which would have been the next lipstick I purchased from the Matte Revolution collection as I find oranges suit my skin tone best.  

The lipstick applies really well, which is helped by the angled shape of the product as it traces perfectly round the shape of your lips..if that makes sense!  The formula is quite creamy yet the finish is matte (clue in the name!) and the colour payoff is fantastic.  As you can see it is really pigmented and the colour is an orange/peach shade that is perfect for summer.  Obviously the packaging cannot be ignored, and if the product itself isn't enough to sell it, then the beautiful rose gold design is!  I love rose gold, and these lipsticks just look so beautiful on my dressing table that's it's almost worth getting them for that alone (almost!).

This range is branded as being able to create the look of fuller lips, which is a bold claim but somehow it works, and I think that my lips definitely look more shapely - especially my top lip - but I can't really explain how!  These lipsticks are definitely a treat at £24 each, but in my opinion they are totally worth it and earn their value.  

Have you tried any of the Matte Revolution lipsticks?  What do you think of them? xx