M.A.C. 'Shop' Collection Limited Edition Lipstick Reviews & Swatches

M.A.C. LE Lipsticks in 'Watch Me Simmer' and 'Naughty Saute', £13.50 for 3.5g

I talked a bit about 'Shop' and 'Cook' from this years M.A.C. limited edition collection exclusively for Selfridges (here) and how I wasn't completely sold on the products as a collective. But of course, after seeing swatches on Temptalia I was convinced that I NEEDED a couple of the lipsticks in my life.....

After texting and ringing round (by the time I checked they had sold out on the website), and eventually getting a friend of a friend (thankyou!) who works in Selfridges bagsy me them before they sold out, they've been posted from LDN and are now in my possession for me to wear and review for you lot! #TheThingsIDoForMakeup

Although 'Runaway Red' looked beautiful I was won over by 'Watch Me Simmer'- a neon-esque coral and 'Naughty Saute' - an irresistable bubblgegum pink.

Left- Naughty Saute, Right- Watch Me Simmer.

 'Naughty Saute' is a medium pink that has a luminous sort of finish, it's very bright and striking. The candy pink colour deepens on top of lips which is more flattering to the skin than really light shades. It's a cremesheen so glides onto the lips smoothly yet seems to last a good amount of time, and feels comfortable on.

'Watch Me Simmer' is a stunning, bright pink- coral. Similarly to 'Naughty Saute' it's very striking, not for the faint hearted! This colour seems to remain on the lips after the Amplified shine formula has worn off. It is smooth to apply and is almost milky in consistency. This colour develops over time on the lips to a pinker colour, and boy it don't half stain!! Be prepared for bright lips the day after wearing this!

Both shades can achieve an opaque finish easily yet you can also achieve a more subtle finish from dabbing/one layer.

I'm really happy with both of these shades, and I am looking forward to wearing them more! They also make a nice to change to my usual choice of matte lipsticks!

Dupes

'Naughty Saute' can be replicated, (I couldn't notice the difference) with Estee Lauder's Pure Colour lipstick in 'Electric Pink'.

'Watch Me Simmer' can be duplicated with Estee Lauder's Signature lipstick in no. 59 'Portofino Coral', the colours are pretty much the same. Estee Lauder's Pure Colour lipstick in 'Coral Fantasy' is also very similar.

Did you manage to get your hands on any of the lipsticks, or the rest of the 'Shop Shop Shop' collection?

LUSH Review; Dream Wash

LUSH 'Dream Wash' £9.25 for 250g.

I first came into contact with this last year when it was recommended to my boyfriend to go hand in hand with his Dream Cream- a moisturiser that is hailed as a wonder product due to it's natural ingredients and has been recommended as a healing remmedy for those suffering with dry skin or more serious skin conditions. 

Anyway, I took a real liking to using Dream Wash in the shower as a replacement to my shower gel. The consistency of the product was like nothing I'd ever used before - it's a sort of soft clay in texture, it's thick but once applied to wet skin it lathers and it leaves skin feeling squeaky clean. It's off- white, almost lilac toned in colour and is smooth to the touch. It's mild and soothing which is perfect for both everyday use and for those suffering with skin ailments, and leaves my skin feeling nourished and healthy!

Dream Wash really feels like it is doing your skin good when you use it, it contains so many ingredients that are well- known to be beneficial to the skin- Calamine, Aloe Vera, Tea Tree, Lavendar...Its scent is very natural and almost peppery, it reminds me a bit of that herby smell you get from Liz Earle products. The scent isn't overwhelming on the skin and because it smells so natural and organic, and due to it's thick consistency it feels luxurious to use.

Dream Wash can be found in the 'Shower Smoothies' section of the LUSH website.

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MUA Lovehearts Lip Balm & Single Eyeshadow Review & EOTD.

MUA Lip Balm in 'Sweet Kiss' £2 for 10g

MUA Single Eyeshadow in Shade 30 £1 for 2g

(Available in Superdrug)

I'm not usually attracted to gimicky or girly packaging as I always want to concentrate on the product inside, but something about these lipbalms with Lovehearts designs on the lids made me really want one! I think they're really cute and fun, and will stand out at the bottom of a makeup bag/box, and with it being Valentines week a review of one of them seemed fitting! I bought the shade 'Sweet Kiss' because I'm like a magpie to pretty coral pinks, particularly when in such a sheer form such as lip balm. This lip balm has impressed me with it's quality for the price, the formula is really smooth and glides onto the lips well, it isn't sticky at all but is slippery on the lips with a faint vanilla scent that doesn't linger for long. It adds minimal colour, just a wash of pretty pink over the lips and I really like the outcome.

So far the only downside I can find is also with the packaging, it is what I call a 'dippy pot', I've always found them totally off putting. I absolutely despise Vaseline with a passion and as long as I can remember I've always cringed at the sight of people prodding their fingers around vaseline pots and smearing the stuff around their lips. It literally turns my stomach. We'll see if I can get to grips with this dippy pot and enjoy using this lip balm, or if it will be a short affair.

I love anything copper, metallic or gold, particularly when it comes to eye makeup, so I picked this up. Similarly to my first MUA eyeshadow (EOTD Here) this is a pearl finish thats strong pigmentation is a joy to use and work with. It has quite fine glitter particles in it which makes it a bit more sparkly and jazzy than some of the other pearl finishes. It blends very well and I experienced no fall out, which really surprised me actually. To me, the pay off and the finish on the eye looks more high end than high street, so again MUA have impressed me here and I'll continue to buy their eyeshadows. The packaging seems sturdy enough, and 2g of product is generous considering it's £1!

Below is a FOTD using these two new products so that you can see how I've worn them, let me know what you think.

Eyes;

Benefit Stay Don't Stray Eyelid Primer

MUA Eyeshadow Shade 30 (all over lid and brought underneath)

M.A.C. Eyeshadow in 'Showstopper' (in crease and underneath)

Rimmel London Professional Eyebrow Pencil in 001 Dark Brown on the waterline

L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara 

Lips;

MUA Lip Balm in 'Sweet Kiss'

If you want to know any of the other products used on my FOTD then pop a comment below or tweet me @emilydimplesxo and I'll reply back to you straight away!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Two very sensible NARS purchases!

NARS single eyeshadow in 'Abyssinia' £16.50 for 2.2g

NARS lipstick in 'Bell De Jour' £17.50 for 3.4g

I always get a little overexcited at the NARS counter because it is one of my favourites, but I restrained myself and bought two very wearable, everyday products, and thought I'd share with you my sensible buys!!

Single eyeshadow 'Abyssinia'

'Abyssinia' is a 'delicate pearl sheen' (NARS website) however I'd argue that the pearl finish is very subtle and doesn't 'define' the finish if you like. The formula itself is buttery and blends fabulously. Because of it's cream shade it can be used as a base colour or as a highlight on the brow bone, or even on it's own for a simple day look. I'm pleased I bought this, for such a pale shade it is useable and wearable; does anyone else find that pale shades such as this are often annoyingly chalky with minimum colour pay off? Not with this one, worth the price investment if you get as annoyed at pale chalky shadows as I do!!

Lipstick in 'Belle De Jour'

'Belle De Jour' is a sheer finish lipstick, it leaves a subtle wash of colour on the lips but I've found this is buildable with a couple of coats for a slightly bolder finish. It is a beige colour that has nude and orange hues in it.

The shape of the bullet is perfect, the point is very precise and due to it's translucent finish this could be reapplied easily without a mirror if necessary!

I have found that is does dry out my lips slightly after wearing it, but this may change when the weather gets better as my lips aren't in their best condition at the moment. Obviously it's sheen finish means it isn't hugely long lasting, I'd say it lasts comfortably for a couple of hours maximum.
This lipstick was listed at number 6 on The Independant's list of top 10 lipsticks; the article states "This lipstick is one of those perfect in- between' colours, blending terracotta with taupe to create a modern take on a trendy neutral' (The Independant) - and I totally agree. It is a simple nude, but with a definite edge to it. I'd imagine it could be layered on top of bolder colours to town them down, or to add a sheen to your favourite matte lipstick, but I haven't tried either of these yet.

Both of these are what I call perfect 'interview' colours. They're neutral, inoffensive, light and don't make too much of a statement (obviously dependant on what interview you're going for!) ; )

Both are of high quality (as you'd expect from the price) and packaged in the sleek black NARS packaging that we all know and love. The eyeshadow feels particularly well protected, and even comes complete with miniature mirror inside the compact.

A Valentines Day Look #FOTD

Valentines Day Inspired FOTD

I wanted to try creating my own Valentines day-esque makeup look using colours we tend to associate with love and romance; pinks and purples! I missed out red because I didn't want to go too overboard!! 

I also wanted to try out Illamasqua's pure pigment in 'Static'- it's a loose glitter powder, similar in consistency and grain size to Barry M glitter pots. It's pure white glitter that sparkles lilac, blue and pink when the light hits it. It glimmers like freshly fallen snow, which I suppose is appropriate considering the current weather conditions accross the country!

I was feeling creative, so let me know what you think.

Eyes;

Overall look;

17 Photo Flawless primer

Estee Lauder Double Wear Maximum Coverage Foundation in 'Very Light'

Bare Minerals Matte Foundation powder in 'Fair'

M.A.C. Bronzer in 'Matte Bronze'

Benefit Hervana blusher

Benefit Stay Don't Stray eyelid primer

Illamasqua blusher in 'Lover'

Vivo eyeshadow in 'Purple Passion'

Illamasqua blusher in 'Thrust'

Laura Mercier eyeshadow in 'Fig'

Illamasqua pure pigment in 'Static'

Benefit 'High Brow'

Benefit 'High Beam'

Rimmel London liquid eyeliner

Yves Saint Laurent Dessin Du Regard Waterproof Black Eye Pencil

L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara

Eyelure false lashes no.151

Illamasqua lipstick in 'Plunge'

Yves Saint Laurent Golden Gloss in no.45

Will you be creating your own Valentines inspired look?

Estee Lauder's new B.B. Cream

Estee Lauder B.B. Cream in 'Light', £32 for 30ml

Estee Lauder are jumping on the B.B. Cream bandwagon with this new release! Like all B.B. Creams it claims to create a 'beautiful, healthy complexion all day long' because it 'moisturises, protects and perfects your skin in a single step.' (Estee Lauder website)

It is available in two shades, obviously I've got the light shade and unfortunately on it's own it is slightly too yellow for my skin, which is pink undertoned. However, due to it being a B.B. Cream it blends and adapts to skin well, creating that 'my skin but better' finish. They state that you can use it underneath makeup or on it's own, but recently I've been mixing it with my Illamasqua Skin Base (02 for reference) and that creates the finish that I want as it 'dilutes' skin base to a better, more manageable consistency.

It's part of their Daywear range which is one of their skincare lines, similar to Garnier's this has been marketed as a skincare item. I personally see BB Creams as makeup because it offers coverage and I find it too thick to be a categorized as a moisturiser. (The packaging states that this should be the last step in a skincare routine.)

It evens out skintone really well and being oil free is a definite plus. The SPF 35 is pretty advantageous, too.

It offers light- medium coverage, with powder swirled on top the coverage is more than enough for daily wear.
Because it is oil- free it doesn't feel greasy on the skin (like some tinted moisturisers do), and it dries to quite a matte finish with a slight dewy sheen, which I like.

The packaging is a squeeze bottle with nozzle which is practical and functional, and the pearlised opaque aqua tube is clean and sophisticated- very Lauder!

The texture is similar to most B.B. Creams I have come into contact with. It's a thick, balm like consistency that melts on body temperature enabling it to blend well. It has a vague scent of cucumber which is nice and fresh!

Would I recommend this?

If you like B.B. Creams or tinted moisturisers, and if you enjoy light-medium foundation coverage then yes, I would recommend. I like this product because it is oil free, has an SPF, perfects skin tone and is packaged well. It is more suited to those whose skin leans more yellow than pink. It provides a lovely base for makeup if you still want to wear a foundation on top. It's definitely going to be well used in the summer months for me, but at the moment I'm enjoying wearing it on my 'off duty' days.

Vogue Makeup Spring 2012 FOTD

I love reading Vogue Beauty online and their recent article depicting the makeup trends for the coming season using looks from the runways really interested me. I love reading about makeup trends, what's hot and what not, whether I choose to apply it to my face in day to day life is another story but it definitely inspires me

Look 01; Doll- like Prettiness

Vogue.co.uk

This look if from Louis Vuitton and the theme was also found in Marc Jacobs, Chanel and Dolce and Gabbana amongst others!

The look is youthful, freshfaced and simple.
There's emphasis on dewy skin, luscious lashes and a pink nude lip- very easy to translate into daily makeup, and probably one a lot of us adopt! The eyebrows are brushed upwards to appear bushy and natural which contribute to the overall youthful finish.
I really enjoyed recreating the look, I used a minimal amount of products, no brushes (does a mascara wand count?!) and kept techniques simple. I took a simple approach to application, and used versatile products that could be used in more than one way to keep it basic.


FOTD;

 

Estee Lauder B.B. Cream in 'Light' mixed with Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation in '02'. (Review)

M.A.C. Cream Colour Base in 'Pearl' (Frost) (Review) as a soft highlight on cheekbones, and down the centre of the nose.

M.A.C. Cremeblend Blush in 'Something Special' on cheeks and lips

Benefit 'Instant Brow' Pencil and 'Speed Brow' Gel

Rimmel London Soft Kohl Pencil in '071 Pure White' on the inner corners of my eyes, blended onto the top lid, along the waterline, and above my lip to gently highlight my cupids bow.

Benefit 'They're Real' Mascara

Eyelure False Lashes no. 151

Laura Mercier Lip Glace in 'Nude Lilac'.

Thanks for reading!