My everyday make up brushes

Hey guys so unfortunately I came down with the flu and so I think I just wanted to recover fully until I was 100% better *90% at the moment though but its been toooo long*. I can finally share with you my favourite everyday make up brushes! 

*I have recently ordered a few new brushes from eBay awaiting to be picked up at the depot by my boyfriend* *currently waiting TOO long :(* 

When my addiction to make up began the only brand I was totally in love with was M.A.C cosmetics, therefore I would have loved to have bought their brushes but never wanted to spend so much money on them and I never really wanted to use eBay to buy them at cheaper prices. So anyway I always had a foundation flat head brush which was a very basic brush from a drug store but I was so happy to get rid of that when I discovered a great YouTube channel and the reason why I bought an elf kabuki brush (off eBay-dirt cheap). Eventually, I went to boots and then discovered the EcoTools make up brushes which were my first ever proper make up tools! I was so excited to try them and even more excited when I was thrilled with the brushes because they were ever so soft and great beginner brushes. 

As I began to build my make up collection I can not thank the Real Technique girls for their brushes because I would be nowhere with out them *bit extreme* but no seriously, amazing brushes! Even though they were not cheap however neither were they expensive. I did space it out when buying the brushes because I knew by this stage I wanted them all.
*I am yet to purchase: Shading brush, Kabuki brush and the Travel essentials pack (only because I really want the Multi-task brush)* Eek!

Everyday most - used, make up brushes >>

Contour/Foundation - Contour brush,  Buffing brush & Expert face brush

Eyeshadow/Concealer - Revlon contour shadow brush, Real techniques pointed foundation brush & Base shadow brush

Highlight/Blusher - Real Techniques Stippling and Blush brush 

Powder/Bronzer - EcoTools  Powder & Blush brush 

I did firstly start off with the E.L.F Kabuki brush to apply my foundation which was brilliant but honestly I wasn't a fan of the kabuki style brushes for foundation because compared to the brushes I have used and the one I use now, I didn't feel that it gave the face a flawless finish. The buffing and expert face brush are both brilliant for my liquid foundation but I always reach out for the buffing brush because it does a great job at reaching all the areas on the face and really buffing the product in but I do love both.


The contour brush is soft just like all the Real Technique brushes however, a little bit small for my liking although I use it daily I did go back to using my EcoTools blush brush because of it being a bigger brush and easier to blend.  I would prefer a large contour brush to cover more of the area when contouring and especially an angled one because I find that this real techniques brush creates a fine line to my face/cheekbones for an everyday look and I would most likely use it when going out for that more defined look.


Again, I had also purchased an EcoTools bamboo bronzer brush - Omg is that a big brush or what, well yeah its mahoosive! I bought as a powder brush just to see what It'd be like *trial and error  of course* so when I got home and tested it I found it to be awful when applying powder *my bad I know*. With the brush being so densely tight it felt as though the powder was just getting packed on my face and sitting there rather than setting my make up. The powder brush by EcoTools however, is a lot easier to apply powder to the face although I don't feel that it has the right shape to it and it doesn't give that flawless finish but hey ho it'll do for now **Ebay brushes couldn't come any faster**!

This Revlon brush was literally a one off as when I was just routing around the odd shops around my boyfriends area when I came across Lloyd's pharmacy and got myself a nice little inexpensive brush (£2-£4). *Haha who'd of thought it* I thought It'd be a brilliant brush for creasing eye shadows which I have always used it for as it creates that crease and it's easy to blend if needed.
For all over the eye I always use the crease brush but not only for that use, but because I love it for absolutely everything - creasing, blending, powder shadows and shading. *Well not everything but you know multi-use* :) 

Most admired brush is the pointed foundation brush, its ever so small but the perfect size for patting and setting my concealer !!

Blusher brush is great!! The size is quite big but I think it covers the areas of the cheeks where blusher is applied quite evenly and sparingly. Again its soft, I think the size allows you to blend it in rather than thinking that because the brush is big a lot of product will be applied - not true just use a small amount of blush and build if needed *Best, personal make-up tip*. The stippling brush is not my greatest although I have used it for blusher, liquid foundation and highlighter. I think for me its been mostly used with blusher but when I get a new highlighter I think it might be a hit because my current highlighter is a liquid form.

Ever so sorry its been long!! Be back soon with everyday make up P R O D U C T S and hopefully my N E W brushes.

I hope this may help some of you or found it interesting...

Stay Flu-less

XxX

What's in my Aunty's Make-up bag?

So this week my aunty and cousin had come down from Manchester to visit me and as you guys know from a previous post she is the prominent family member that also loves her make-up and it’s great because I get to test them before buying them. So my aunty has gone from many brands such as M.A.C, Bare Minerals, No 7, Body Care and a few others because as quoted by her "you should change your foundation and some other make up items every now and then because its good and refreshing for the skin", not that I do this when I've found a Holy Grail product, but mainly with foundation!

I had a sneak peak through her bag as she showed me some items that she was excited about sharing with me... so here are two products that I wanted to test out and share with you...

1. Rimmel London Waterproof Gel Liner Black

Can be found at: Superdrug

Overall - I was so excited to test this product because I'm a huge fan of gel liners. I must say I do like the packaging and the way it is equipped conveniently with a small size brush in the lid and a perfect carry size. Applying this isn't the best application with the brush being ever so small and it felt as though even after applying more product to the brush the gel was just very thin and it wasn't thick enough to give it that dark black look or in my case the matte look which I like and look for in gel liners. I understand its gel but my M.A.C Fluid line in Black Track and my L'oreal Paris Super Liner Gel Intenza in Pure Black. I can say it did actually smudge after a few hours but I cant deny that the M.A.C and the L'oreal one haven't they just have better pigmentation and a shocking effect. 

L'Oreal Paris Super Liner Gel swatch

2. M.A.C Cosmetics mineralize blush in Love Joy 

Found at: M.A.C

Overall - The pigmentation was beautiful, the colour that came out on my cheeks was amazing as I've never actually tried or bought a M.A.C blusher and the hint of an illuminating shimmer on the cheek bones is just the right amount of glow. The blusher is build-able as I noticed when applying more so it was easy to over do it so it is important to take a little bit of the product on your brush first and then slowly build on that and by using my Real Techniques blush brush was a great lightweight brush that makes the blush sit even better on the skin. I don't think this particularly colour is valuable for daily use as I did test these products out during the evening because me an the family were heading out to eat :) However I am dying to try out the other colours in store and I've got my eye on Gentle and Gleeful. 

Winner of my Aunt's Make up bag >>

 ** M.A.C Cosmetics mineralize blush in Love Joy **

XxX

Slow Poke

Hi guys sorry you might have noticed I haven't been posting much so many apologies the reason being my close family are down as they live like 2 hours away but we don't see each other often so clearly making the most of it and not enough daylight in the day as its winter. But once I'm back on track hopefully by Sunday I can get back into the swing of some cool posts :) Sorry for the wait!! 

XxX

The proof is on the nails

Hi all so the Seche Portobello nail varnish I received in my December '12 Glossy Box has finally been used as I decided to paint all my nails one colour (where I usually go all out and try some designs) and this is how they came out. 

I am so pleased with it being a random colour as I'd have never picked this myself but I love it as I said in the Glossy Box post its great in drying fast and the colour has come out great on my skin tone. Unfortunately, I'm not amazed at the image because I don't think it does the varnish justice and would love to purchase the Seche clear top coat to see the difference. 

I must say I cannot wait to begin my new Seche Vite collection :) Eek!!

Any colour suggestions that I could add to my new Seche collection?

XxX

Lash up... My mascara's + reviews

L'Oreal Paris Telescopic Mascara Black/Carbon Black

I must say I've been through a lot of mascaras (trial and error) and until I came across the L'Oreal Paris Telescopic Mascara Black I had found my holy grail mascara. My aunty had kindly gave me this I she had bought a twin pack from the airport which was beneficial for me to try out for free and not having to spend £10.99 (I think). I must say to me most mascaras I used didn't have much difference in them and they were drug-store brands, but this one had blown me away on the first use I couldn't believe how each individual eyelash was defined and the lengthening of my eyelashes was incredible. I do have to say the only bad point I found about the product was the lack of volume but hey that's why its telescopic and not volume-scopic. When I had ran out I definitely knew what mascara I was buying so I decided to buy the same product but in carbon black. It did help a little but if you have short lashes and you are still looking for that life time mascara this is the one it certainly extends your eyelashes to its fullest. The brush itself does have comb-like bristles which does help elongate your lashes. 

Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara Black**Can be found at Boots currently £8.99 (usually £10.99) or Superdrug for £10.99**

Max Factor False Lash Effect Fusion Mascara Black Brown
**Can be found at Boots currently £8.99 (usually £11.99) or Superdrug for £9.99**



The price of the mascara is totally worth it because these were the best ever mascaras I had purchased even if they were just basic mascaras and even if I did accidentally pick up the black/brown colour, both colours were great obviously black is better for my black eyelashes. For me they did the job for a natural look for everyday usage and it was only when it was a special occasion that I would wear false eyelashes so no need for a better mascara. Of course once I fell in love with the telescopic I stopped using these but they are so brilliant that I was still alternating between the two mascaras and even today I do use them but mostly on my bottom lashes when I want to add a bit of volume and length to them for a natural look.

L'Oreal Mega Volume Collagene Mascara Extra Black

As my mascara finished I felt like it was time for trial and error, now don't get me wrong I don't love to just spend my money here left right and centre but I do love trying loads of different products out. After thinking long and hard I decided to pick up the L'Oreal Mega Volume Collagene Mascara Extra Black and it was a little cheaper pricing at £9.99. After using the product I felt that it did not have the same effect as the  L'Oreal Paris Telescopic Mascara mainly because they are certainly two different products as they specify in their names and the brushes are different. After applying telescopic (of what I had left from the  L'Oreal Paris Telescopic Mascara) I then applied the L'Oreal Mega Volume Collagene Mascara on top it certainly did help however I'm not a fan of double layering on mascara because for me I do find that it goes quite lumpy and I end up having to sit there picking away the lumps of my eyelashes but it does the job. Even better the next day I decided to just layer up on the  L'Oreal Mega Volume Collagene Mascara. Overall there's something about the packaging I do love compared to the telescopic (nice size) and a great investment but I wont be repurchasing this one just yet I think I still want to have a play with some others.


**L'Oreal Mega Volume Collagene Mascara Extra Black: Superdrug > £9.99**

**L'Oreal Paris Telescopic Mascara: Boots > £10.99 **
 (I don't know whether they have stopped selling it or just run out because every time I have been to shops such as Superdrug and boots they never seem to have it but they do price for £10.99 on the website HERE.)


What do you think?

Any holy grail mascaras to share??

XxX

Glossy Box

GLOSSY BOX; December 2012

Hi!! I hope you are all having a wonderful start to the new year I thought I'd show you guys my first ever Glossy Box and hopefully if any of you are thinking to maybe purchase the box to give you an insight on my thoughts of Decembers 2012 edition.

** Just in case for those of you who may not have heard about Glossy Box or know what it is, Glossy box is an on-line monthly subscription full of 5 latest, high-end beauty samples. ** 
> Check it out HERE 

Glossy Box blusher: The blush comes in the colour 'Glossy Rosewood' and it has a velvet finish with a touch of a lovely scent. As you may be able to see from the image that the blusher is pink and I thought that the colour would look too vibrant on my skin. However, it gave just the right amount of colour to the cheeks as I applied it using my Real Techniques Blush brush.

Sleek True Colour Lipstick: The colour was in 'Candy Cane 773' with a sheen finish. Even though it was a very vibrant pink (colours I do not wear) the wear on it is great as I had tried it on at home and it had lasted the whole day. I was very tempted in purchasing this lipstick in another colour seeing as it is an inexpensive drug store brand, however their variation of colours is limited and none that I would personally go for.

Seche Nail Varnish: I painted one nail and I fell in love with Seche nail lacquer straight away for many reasons such as; it is fast drying (even with the application of two coats) and the finish of the product feels and looks like a  finishing top coat has been applied. I will definitely be purchasing nail varnishes from Seche, especially being the awarded winner of top coat! The product came in the colour 'Portobello'. When I first saw the product I wasn't too excited as I don't own many brown colours however when I tried it on I had simply fallen in love with the colour too. 

Rituals Magic Touch: The smell of this product is absolutely divine and I believe you cant go wrong with a cherry blossom scent but the addition of the rice milk just gives it that balance of a lovely smell on the skin. Although it says it is an 'ultra rich, whipped body cream' it does not leave the skin feeling sticky neither does it feel thick on the skin. I have not fully tested the product but from a slight test it is a nice cream overall. 

Seba Med Anti-dry night intensive cream: I have not used this product yet for the one reason that I use other medication on the sides of my face for mild acne so hopefully once the medication is finished I can try out the Seba Med.

Lemon by Mary Greenwell Eau de Parfum: When I tested this product I didn't think it smelt so much of lemon but more of a strong musky fragrance, although don't get me wrong it does smell nice but its just not what I would personally go for or wear. I read that the Plum scent by Mary Greenwell was in the September edition which would have been nice to know what that smelt like :)  

Happy New Year !!

xxx