An introduction to W7

It upsets me that its been a good while since my last post, but in all honesty I haven't been putting too many new products to the test lately. Instead I've spent the past month swapping lipsticks for highlighters in an attempt to keep up with my mountain of work. Although, I was recently sent a lovely parcel filled with a welcomed break from W7 and had to share it with you guys. W7 are a budget brand I hear a lot about, although up until recently I hadn't explored the range for myself. This is mainly because I haven't seen the products for myself in many stores, however the W7 website tells me that they are now stocked in a fair few!

Candy Blush in 'Galactic' (£4.95)* - I've always favourited the natural look a cream blush can deliver, so was taken by surprise when I started reaching for this powdered one on a daily basis. Not only does Galactic give a natural look I adore on my skintone, this blush is complete with some pretty impressive packaging, housed in this sturdy pink plastic case containing a handy mirror.

Yummy Eyes Baked Eyeshadow in 'All White' (£2.99)* - To be honest, I don't own many single eyeshadows so was excited to see the addition of such a practical shade to my collection. While 'All White' isn't the most pigmented shade in the world, I imagine this would make a lovely highlight, and could even act over other eyeshadows to create a subtle glittery effect, perfect for this time of year! 

Butter Kiss Lipstick in 'Candy Floss' (£4.50)* - I always look for moisturising qualities in my lipstick, so was super excited to see a butter kiss lipstick included in my parcel! What I practically loved about this product is while it gave my lips that more hydrated feel, the pigment didn't suffer at all and 'candy floss' was pretty bright on my lips. Not bad for under a fiver if you ask me!

Lashtastic Mascara (£4.95)* - I tend to spend quite a lot on mascaras, so was really pleased when I discovered a new everyday option in this one. While I didn't find that this product gave my lashes that 'false lash effect', this mascara certainly added volume and length to my lashes, whilst remaining put all day!

Overall I really enjoyed trying W7 products and have found a firm favourite in the candy blush!  I cant wait to try more of what the brand have to offer and already have my eye on a few bits. Like this They're Real look alike and these fun looking Chunky Cheeks.

Have you tried anything from W7?

Makeup Revolution Iconic 3 Palette

If there's one product everyone seems to be talking about lately it's this little beauty from Make Up Revolution.  At just £4, this palette appears to be a pretty good match to Urban Decay's Naked 3 filled with 12 rosey toned neutrals. The Iconic 3 provides a real mix of shimmer and matt shades meaning there's something for everyone and I was really pleased to find that these matt shades were just as good as their shimmey counter parts which isn't always guaranteed with cheaper eyeshadows.
While personally I prefer creating looks with the darker shades towards the right of the palette, I have been pleasantly surprised with wearability of some of the pinker shades. Applied on top of a decent eye primer the eyeshadow was still around eight hours later, albeit a little faded. As you can see below the shades are pretty pigmented considering the low price tag, although unfortunately the first shade matches with my skintone so isn't visible here.

At just £4 I think this palette is a complete steal! Have you tried anything from make up revolution?

Collection Work the Colour Palette

I was having a bit of a spurge in Superdrug the other day when I came across this range of palettes on the Collection stand. I figured at £3.99 a pop they were well worth a try, so went home with the 'nude eye palette' which is right up my street. Included in the cardboard palette is a mini duo applicator, eight powder eyeshadows and a cream highlighter. The idea behind the palette is that you use shades 1,2 and 3 along with the highlighter to create your desired look featured on the back, although personally I would have preferred another eyeshadow shade over the cream highlighter as all of the shades towards the left of the palette look as if they would make descent highlighters anyway. Although I guess the idea of an added cream highlighter would be welcomed if you are looking to build your make up collection collection.

To be totally honest I don't care too much for the top row of shadows. Number one here is a poorly pigmented white/cream shade which I suppose could be useful as a highlighting shade if you really tried to get the colour to show (below it is swatched twice as apposed to once like everything else). The next pan contains the cream highlight which is just as bad, I just fail to see the purpose in it as its pretty much undetectable on the skin. Things get better here with shade 3 which is by far the best shade in this first row, in fact it petty much matches up to the rest of the palette which despite the so far negative review I actually really like! It's just a really pretty shimmery brown which you can see demonstrated below.

The second row makes this palette worth every single penny to me! I really love it and have been sporting these three shades on my lids ever since I picked up this palette earlier in the week. As instructed to on the back I simply blend shade one all over the lid, add shade two into the center of the eyelid to add some definition then finally complete the look with shade three which I use to contour my eyelids! It just creates a really pretty natural look which I love against my skintone! Unfortunately I don't have an eye primer with me since the majority of make up is still in my flat back at university although I have been putting this to the test over my Becca cream concealer. In doing this have found that when I check this around right hours later there are still traces of the shades even if there is some cracking occurring, although I imagine this wouldn't be a problem with a descent primer! 

The final row is one I cant say I have used much (mainly because I've been too busy swooning over the second) although again its made up of three decently pigmented natural shades shown below. Like the rest of the palette they all have a hint of shimmer too them which varies from shade to shade.

Overall I really like this little palette! While it isn't the most pigmented product in the world that can be overlooked when you consider for under £4 you get a total of eight lovely eyeshadows and a cream highlighter. Plus I love the fact that it gives advise on how to wear the eyeshadows. A truly great product for beginners! 

The Eraser Eye from Maybelline

If there is one product I've been relying upon lately it's this under eye concealer from Maybelline. I've always stated that I do not suffer from dark circles, although months of late nights have finally started to take their toll and my eyes are certainly left tried looking on a daily basis. This is something I have found is easily masked all day long with a touch of this 'Eraser Eye' from Maybelline. I simply add a swipe of this under each eye and blend out with my fingers to brighten things up on the skin around my eyes. At £7.99 it works a treat, and I predict It will last me a good couple of months too!

What's your favourite concealer?

What's in my travel bag; make up

Yesterday officially marked the end of my final college exams and the start of my three month long summer. The past two years have been incredibly busy, meaning since I finished my GCSE's over two years ago I haven't had a chance to fly back and visit my family in Scotland, so I am welcoming my eight day stay and as you read this I'll either be on my way or already there. 

Since the last couple of weeks have been spent studying for exams I haven't had much time to prepare blog posts in advance so expect pecks into my travel bag over the next week or so. Today I figured I'd kick things off with make up, although I will also be posting my body, skincare, hair and nail picks later in the week.

When It comes to make up, I don't do compromise and like to have a range of products with me, although my base picks appear to remain the same until a new favourite comes along. With me I'll be taking my Origins Vitazing, Dainty Doll liquid foundation, No concealer concealer for under my eyes, collection's concealer for any blemishes and Rimmels stay matt concealer for any redness.

I'll also be packing my favourite blush of the moment, Dainty Doll's You Are My Sunshine along this cheap and cheerful MUA highlighter which together form one of my favourite combinations. I'll also be bringing this new Revlon Babystick to test drive and this cream contour in Billion Dollar Babies.

As for my eyes, I seem to have forgotten a couple of products in the above photo in the form of MUA's eyeshadow primer and 2true clear mascara for my eyebrows. For some reason I've decided on two mascaras ; Benefit's they're real and Max Factors Clump Defy, and two of these Scandaleyes seyeshadow sticks.

When It comes to lips I had to try not to include my whole collection! In the end I settled on my free lipgloss from this months Glamour magazine,Dainty Doll's Storm in a teacup, Revlon kissable balm stain in Honey, Kate Moss for Rimmel lipstick in shade 19 and 17's Purple Haze.

What's in your travel make up bag?

Avon Color Trend Pressed Powder

I've made it pretty clear that I was excited to see the relaunch of Avon's Color Trend range, I adore the new packaging and think its a massive improvement on the old design!  I feel the new white packaging gives the line a more modern feel, as well as feeling like it could take a beating or two.

Like the rest of the newly updated range Color Tend's final touch pressed powder comes housed in white plastic casing complete with a clear lid - There's also a sponge added for on the go applications. I couldn't find much of a description online but here's what Avon had to say about it on their website: 'Oil-free pressed powder with SPF10. 10g'

I was a little worried that the powder would be too dark for my pale skin tone - but it matches me perfectly and I really love the 'flawless' look it gives my skin. I use my Eco Tools brush to apply this and find that the powder pretty much lasts all day.

You can pick this up for just £4.25 over at Avons website here, although its currently in the 'buy one choose one for one pound offer'

What do you guys think of Color Trends new look?

MUA lipstick in shade 3

I've had my eye on MUA's lipstick in shade 3 for a while now, So when I popped in my local superdrug over the weekend I had to pick it up! Like all other shades in the range shade 3 is housed in a simple black plastic case which looks as if it could take a beating or two in my handbag.

Shade 3 transfers to the lips as a lovely highly pigmented pinky raspberry shade, which I think will look great against most skin tones. Like all MUA lipsticks I found it to be both long lasting and moisturising on the lips.

You can pick this up for just a £1 in selected superdrug stores or online from MUA

Look Statement Eyes in Luxe

Eyeshadow has become a must have for me over the past month, So when I was ordering from Look Beauty I knew I had to pick this lovely colour up! Like all of the shades in the 'Statement eyes' range 'Luxe' comes housed a stylish clear container which looks like it could take a beating or two. The shade itself is lovely, I wouldn't wear in during the day because it is rather glittery (even for me) but I'm happy I discovered it in time for the Olympics and see myself getting a lot of use out of it! 

You can pick this up online here or in selected Superdrug stores for just £4!

Ebay Ecotools Brush set!

Over the past few months I've seen a few bloggers post about how they've brought these little sets from Ebay sellers for under £4 and have been left very impressed. So naturally when I had the money in my bank account, I went on the hunt for Ecotool brushes. I needed a concealer brush so I figured ordering the 6 piece brush set seemed like a good idea as it came with one along with a blush brush, eye shading brush, eyeliner brush, Lash and brow groomer and brush roll for just £3.59! (with p&p)

I brought from this Ebay seller , and was very happy with the service given - I ordered pretty late on Saturday the 30th of June madly it was dispatched on the next day even though it was a Sunday. I was aware it wasn't going to be delivered over night because it had to come all the way from China - So I think 18 days is pretty acceptable (And I was told between the 17th and 1st of August).

At no point did I expect the brushes to be real EcoTools because of the stupidly cheap prise but when they got here I'm honestly debating if they are or not because they look exactly the same as the product on the Boots website right down to the packaging and they feel AMAZING! 

Sadly my Lash and brow Groomer was snapped, I assume in transit but I don't blame the seller at all for that, and I honestly probably wouldn't have used it. I've just finished washing the brushes before I test them out, So I'll let you guys know how I get on. If it goes well I'm tempted to order even more brush sets!

MUA Extreme Felt Eyeliner

I am terribly bad at eyeliner or anything that involves some kind of skill when it comes to make up - so when I saw this felt one from MUA for just £2 I figured I'd give it a go. I've tried all sorts of eyeliners; pencils, liquid, gels but nothing has been easier than this little beauty.

MUA's extreme felt eyeliner makes topping of a look with liner possible for us less skilled out there - For the first time in a long time I managed to wear eyeliner out today. I love that with this you can control how thick you want the line - Making a simple flick so easy!

The image to the left shows the eyeliner when first applied and the image to the right shows it after eight whole hours which is pretty impressive especially when you consider it only cost £2!
You can pick this up in selected superdrug stores or here

Free Jemma Kidd in Red!

I was browsing today when I spotted this freebie in Red magazine. for just £3.90 you get a choice of a mascara worth £15 or an eyeliner worth £14. I picked the I-Glamour Volume mascara although I may go back for the eyeliner if I'm impressed with it.Will you be picking up a copy of Red magazine this month?

On another note, I officially finished my AS exams today - So expect loads more posts to come!

My Daily Face...

During the week I am ridiculously lazy, So when It comes to make up I have about two minutes to apply everything  because I'm usually running late. The above products are staples in my routine. I use collection 2000's Lasting perfection concealer in fair under my eyes and to cover any imperfections. I then use MUA's matt eyeshadow in shade 16 Which does a great job at helping to brighten my whole eye area. After that I use my eyelash curlers from ELF which add to my whole lash look dramatically, Finally coat my lashes with my current favourite mascara - Loreal's False lash telescopic.

The Holiday Diaries: Make up

Since I'm going away for a long weekend, I'm putting my faith in 'Scheduled posts' - Aka - If you read this post after the weekend , It didn't work (which is most likely knowing my luck!). I've never been much of a make up bag person, My make up tends to stay on my bedside table ready for when I need it. Although I figured it would be easier to keep all of my products in one place while I'm away. And being the nosey person I am I love reading these post by other bloggers, So I figured its about time I showed you 'whats in my make up bag' as part of my 'hoilday daries'.

The make up bag itself was one an aunt gave to me years ago, I was shocked to learn that its by a brand sold at debenhams! When I think of them I expect high quality - I'm not quite sure this matches up to that.

I know what you're thinking - 'Wow, That's a lot of lip products'. Well my thoughts exactly, I'm not quite sure where they all came from! But I like having the choice so I would like them all with me, even its not possible to wear all of them. Other than that I don't use many make up products and have never been a fan of foundation so here it goes;

ELF's Warm Pro mini eyeshadow palette - I posted about this palette here. I don't get a chance to use it as much as I would like to, however it is the perfect size for my make up bag and houses some lovely colours so it would be a shame not to take it.

Miss Sporty's Dr Balm - I also posted about this product here , Although I have misplaced my favourite shade this does a great job at keeping my lips moisturised throughout the day.

The natural collection lipsticks - I'm taking the two shades I own, sorbet and Lotus. I love these and cant wait to fill my make up bag with more shades!

MUA lipsticks - I love these little gems read more about my thoughts on juicy and nectar by selecting a shade name.

L'oreal false lash telescopic - I've been meaning to post about this for a while, perhaps I will when I get back. The best 'drugstore' mascara I own - worth every penny!

17 Photo Flawless skin primer - I think this is the only primer I've ever bothered to use, I brought it last summer and seems to last forever!

Gosh Lip gloss- I just love the colour and staying power of this beauty, read more of my thoughts here

Collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer - Or am I meant to call it collection now? I'm sticking by the 2000, It sounds wrong without it! I really like this product, I've never given it it's own post though, Since pretty much every beauty blog in the history of beauty blogs already has done - Five times over.

MUA eyeshadow in shade 16 - One of the three MUA products I own, This is great for providing an everyday base. I really see a difference in my eye area when I have it on!

Vaseline- I couldn't travel more than a mile without some kind of lip care with me, Normally I'm a srtictly carmex girl! However my tube has run out and I'm too lazy to pick up a new one.

Tools- I dont really use many brushes. One I picked up in this Hello kitty set the other was half price from Avon. I got the eyelash curlers from ELF when mine had gone walkies - They do a great job and cost me a tiny £1.50!

MUA Lipstick in 'Nectar'

As I've mentioned before, after weeks of searching I was finally lucky enough to pick up MUA's Juicy and Nectar in my local superdrug! I love the fact that MUA has started to name their lipsticks, I feel like it gives them more of a personalty than just a shade number!

I've been looking for an orangey lipstick shade for a while now, but most of them just make me look like I've freshly finished a bowl of pasta - not attractive! However Nectar has an almost softer feel to it giving me just the right level of orange. (Swatches natural lighting then with flash)

As I've mentioned while talking about juicy, I was pleasantly surprised by just how moisturising these are. I'm becoming a big fan of MUA amazing products, and that's without considering the low Price point! I'll be going back for more!

MUA Lipstick in 'Juicy'

I don't own many MUA products; In fact this lipstick is one of the three MUA products I do own.

I find it quite hard to source - I feel like their stands are pretty much abandoned in most Superdrug stores, not being restocked for days- Despite the quality of the make up being much greater than some of the more expensive brands on the high street.

After reading so much about 'Juicy', 'Nectar' and 'Bare'. I began searching for them every time I popped into a superdrug. Of course every time I looked there was no place for them, or simply none left in the stand. It wasn't until one of my sisters was pestering me for a red lipstick that I finally stumbled across 'Juicy' and 'Nectar' in the smallest superdrug store I have ever visited!

'Juicy' really lived up to the hype surrounding it - It's an fantastic colour at such a low price point!  I was really shocked by just how moisturising it is, honestly I found it had more moisture than the now famous Revlon lip butters! And did I mention the great staying power?! Possibly the best pound I have ever spent - I'm Definitely going back for more shades!

Gosh Lip Gloss in '0084'!

I'm sure if you've been into a Superdrug recently you'll have seen the Gosh sale. I've never been bothered by it until I took my younger sister along with me, who insisted on looking at every product on offer! While I liked the look of some of the eyeshadow palettes on sale, I knew I'd never get around to using them. So I opted for this peachy looking lip gloss for just £3.25.

I really like this lip gloss; the colour is that 'perfect peach' shade I'm always looking for and the staying power is amazing! It can be a little patchy - but nothing that cant be fixed with the use of a mirror.

I'd also like to take this chance to thank Miss LV for adding me to her blog roll (www.misslv.com)



Nivea Pearly Shine

 I picked this up in Superdrug the other week because it was on offer, Up until now all of my lip balms  have tended to be clear, So i was in need of a change!

  

The packaging centres around a 'New shape' Which is literally the way the casing of the balm now slants at the top, Great? 

I really like this product, When my lips are starting to feel dry I pop it on and they feel instantly moisturised. 

I love the subtle shine it gives my lips, It's one of the things I make sure I have with me daily when I leave the house for college, Even if that does mean me being late ;)

Get your own - here

Soap & Glory - Thick & Fast

I mentioned a few posts back that I received a free Soap & Glory mascara with Elle magazine,

'This false lash effect mascara creates amazingly, longer, fuller, fabulous lashes. Featuring SUPERFILL™ False Lash Fillers, SHINE AMPLIFIERS, and NOFLAKE24 technology'

I was a little worried about the brush size at first, after trying 'Collection 2000's big false lash effect mascara'- I've tended to stay away from them, That was until I discovered this little beauty! 

The black and pink packaging is pretty simple, although I've always been a huge fan of Soap & Glory's normal fun packaging!

I really enjoyed using this brush- Despite the bush being pretty big the end of it allowed me to get right into the corner lashes.

And now for my shockingly bad before and after images- For some reason I couldn't get the lighting right and ended up using the flash- My eyes just look terrible!

After just one coat, I love the look it gives my lashes. Its quickly become my everyday mascara!

The mascara retails for £10 and can be found here at boots, I definitely see myself buying this over and over again!