Eden

Urban Decay 'Eden' Eyeshadow Primer Potion, £15 for 11ml.

Back when I used to work next to an Urban Decay counter the girls let me take a little sample of 'Eden' home with me, and I gotta say, it surpassed all expectations. I went out and bought the full size tube and it is now something I use on myself regularly (when I can be bothered to wear eyeshadow that is) and is a constant in my makeup kit.

It's creamy on first squirt, but as it is worked into the eyelid it dries down to a stiff, matte finish. While it clearly has amazing grip for eyeshadows, the super matte finish means you have to work quite fast when applying eye makeup, blending quickly as you go to ensure that eyeshadow doesn't get stuck where you didn't want it to be, because boy it is hard to budge if you don't blend in time.

It's very yellow, and while I'm sure this is purposeful in order to counteract any redness, so commonly found on eyelids, it is so visible on a pale, pink person such as me that I do have to wear colours that balance it out i.e. I cannot wear it simply as a colour correcter or tiny-vein-hider. When I use it, I can only use it if eyeshadow is actually going on top. The same goes for when I use it on a dark skinned model, I have to be so careful to only apply it where I know eyeshadow will be, or it is visible against them. You can be the one to judge whether you think this would be an issue for yourself or not.

It grips and holds onto every particle of eyeshadow that you put on top of it. There's no creasing after 8 hours and it definitely helps bright and deep colours alike 'pop' to their full potential, true to pan colour. The tiniest bit is needed to cover both eyes, but sometimes the squeezy tube can dispense more than is needed, a problem I find commong amongst all of the eyeshadow primers I have used. It's not a deal breaker, because I think it is fantastic value for money and something that I know will last me a long time, and something that I will definitely be buying again. Thumbs up from me!

Thanks for reading,

E.

Hydra Veil.

Illamasqua Hydra Veil, £27 for 30ml.

When I first heard about Hydra Veil I thought it was a very daring move for a colour brand like Illamasqua to release something with a rather large nod to skincare. They market it as a hydrating fluid with it's high content of hyaluronic acid, however for me it works fantastically as a primer.

HydraVeil smoothes out my skin, it isn't full of silica and it doesn't feel like a thick, heavy paste like other primers that I have used in the past. It prolongs the wear of my foundation by 2-3 hours than if I wear it without. Even on high heat days, it performs well. I use it regularly on clients and models alike because it has no SPF so benefits the photography, it also seems to suit all skin types and help the foundation apply as smoothly as possible.
I don't notice any skin care benefits, I don't even notice the 'flood of hydration' that Illamasqua describe, rather the finish is actually quite sticky which I am sure helps adhere the foundation. Expecting my skin to look dewy and refreshed, it actually makes the finish of my foundation quite matte.


It's a very unique consistency. A wobbly jelly in the pot it smoothes to a more liquid finish when being massaged into the skin. No matter how many times you stir the product, it always settles back down into a smooth, ice like finish in the end.

The packaging lets the product down. It isn't very nice to look at, it's a bulky black cauldron and the 'Illamasqua' branding rubbed off after about three uses. There's a flip lid underneath the main screw lid, and this has snapped off and won't go back on. It's a pretty integral part of the design as it protects the jelly from any dust etc. It's really disappointing because I have over half of the product left. These are the sort of elements that should have been tested thoroughly before a product release, it seems rushed and the packaging would definitely benefit from a redesign.

While primers often get forgotten in my daily routine more often that not, I do use this product in my kit on the regular. It's hard to say right now whether I'll repurchase or try something else, at £27 it deserves to have sturdier or more aesthetically pleasing packaging!

Thanks for reading,

E.

Empty Products- the August Edition.

I've not done one of these before but found myself really enjoying other people's posts on what they've used up so am giving it a bash myself. Grab yourself a cup 'o tea, I hope you enjoy!

 17 Photo Flawless primer 

Since becoming a DoubleWear convert I have strayed away from using primers as I haven't found it completely necessary to use one due to the 15hr staying power of the foundation. I've owned this product for a while and repurchased many times as I found this primer to be of excellent quality particularly for the price and I noticed no difference between this one's performance and the infamous Smashbox Photo Finish primer. If you're looking for a cheap silicone based primer that will mattify the surface of your skin and absorb excess oils aswell as minimise the appearance of pores, then give this one a go!

Will I buy this again?

Oneday I'm sure I will, but I don't need it right now.

17 BB Blemish Balm, All In One Magic Makeup, SPF15.

I was so impressed by this, as always the quality of 17 makeup seems to surpass it's pricetag. In hindsight it was too deep for my skin but I did enjoy mixing it in with Illamasqua's Skin Base foundation for a while. The SPF15 is quite low considering this is meant to be a BB cream and while I didn't notice particular skincare benefits, it offers a great coverage and leaves the skin looking so fresh and healthy. Full review here.

Will I buy this again?

Whilst I recommend this, it's not a product I need or want at the moment so I probably wouldn't.

Revlon Colorstay Makeup in 'Ivory'

In a bid to use stuff up before I moved house, I used up the last few drops of foundation after it sitting at the back of the drawer for a few months. This was a foundation I absolutely loved last year, despite it's initial stench of emulsion paint this foundation offers medium, buildable coverage and lasts really well. Pretty much a DoubleWear 'dupe' on the highstreet, plus it comes in really pale shades- wahoo!

Will I buy this again?

I will certainly buy this again, it's a good foundation to have 'just in case'. 

CHANEL Poudre Universelle Libre AKA Natural Finish Loose Powder  

A full review can be found here if you wish to know more detail however I'll state a couple of points about it. I love how fine this setting powder is (it's like dust!) and the amount you get is so generous that this product lasted me 6 fabulous months. The grate that controls the product can be a little wasteful at times and the packaging is huuuge and bulky!- Definitely one you want to depot if going away for the weekend! 

Will I buy this again? 

For now, no. I do think there are better powders out there for perhaps a cheaper price. I did love having a bit of Chanel luxury on my face everyday, though and it was a great match!

MAC bronzer in 'Bronze'

Yeah this is a pretty good bronzer, it's matte, fairly soft and not too dramatic on fair skin. You get a fair amount of product and don't need to use much, but I haven't felt the need to use bronzer much and so just used up the last scraps of it this month.

Will I buy this again?

Unlikely.

Avene Very High Protection Cream Factor 50.

I have given this a full review here and stated my love for this product. I believe it is a must have for everyone, but especially fair skinned ladies such as myself. It absorbs well and keeps me completely protected and burn free on those sunny days.

Will I buy this again?

Already have, haven't I!

Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanse and Polish

I'm always a little bit sad when this runs out as I do think it is a brilliant cleanser, and it has done wonders for my skin. I've recently been using Vichy's 3in1 cleanser instead, however I don't like not having one of these in a drawer somewhere as a 'back up.'

Will I buy this again?

Absolutely, it's a must have!

Lee Stafford Flat Iron Protection Shine Mist

I've been using this for a long time as I think it does the job alright for the price. As I've said numerous times before, I'm terrible at hair and don't really know much about it or what it needs, but yeah, this seems good.

Will I buy this again?

Most probably, plus I like the sweet musky smell!

Cutex Nourishing Nail Polish Remover

This is my standard, go-to nail polish remover. After the disaster that was Sally Hansen Acetone Free Nail Polish Remover I slapped myself on the wrist for even daring to try another. This works and does the job efficiently, and doesn't smell too bad.

Will I buy this again?

I'll never betray you again, Cutex. (Already repurchased)

Elie Saab 'Le Parfum'

I've actually got through several samples of this as the 5ml tubes do not last me long considering I like to soak myself in the stuff! This is such a me scent at the moment, I could literally bathe in the stuff and I'm hoping to have a full sized bottle in my possession ASAP! Elegant, feminine, floral. Lovely.

Will I buy this agin? 

Yes please!

 

If you have any questions about any of the products mentioned, you can leave a comment below or tweet me @emilydimplesxo. Do you use any of these?

Samples.

NARS Sheer Matte Foundation in 'Fiji' (full price £29.50)

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base (full price £18)

Illamasqua 'Freak' fragrance (full price £59 for 75ml)

Yves Saint Laurent Shocking Mascara (full price £22)

My boyfriend bought me some christmas presents from NARS and the man on the counter threw in some samples, which made me feel a bit better about not being able to play with my new makeup until Christmas day!! (so frustrating! Boyf has now had to go and hide all my presents at his mums house to stop me finding them!)
He threw in two samples of Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base; "No smudging, no creasing, no caking, no looking back."

Review; The consistency is a thick, creamy texture and is colourless. I've used a few eyelid primers and am very happy with the one I'm currently using, and I've got to say this NARS primer won't be replacing the one in my collection. I found it a little hard to manage, in terms of it's texture, and the length of time it seemed to take to dry (still felt a bit tacky/sticky for a while after application). It seemed to collect in the outer corners of my eyes throughout the day, and end up a bit dry/crusty on the skin. I really think eyelid primers are down to personal preference, but I'm glad I've tried it and it did work, in terms of making eye makeup last longer and aiding the colour pigmentation to both remain and 'pop'
.

2x 4ml sample pots of NARS Sheer Matte Foundation made me very happy as I'd already been looking at the foundations and who wouldn't want free foundation?! It's oil free (bonus) and works on controlling shine throughout the day. It's in the shade 'Fiji' which is one of the light shades; 'Light with yellow undertones'. See full information including shade swatches here.

Review; Although I think the shade may be a touch too yellow- toned for me, I have worn it for two days now and am really happy with it; it's a thin, light liquid that offers medium to high coverage from one layer. It remained quite fresh looking throughout the day, apart from some slight drying areas. The only thing I'll say is it didn't really prevent shine throughout the day, but this can be overlooked as I liked the formula. I'll be buying this full sized, but perhaps trying a couple of the other lighter shades to find my best match.

A few weeks ago Illamasqua sent me this sample of their Freak fragrance. I was proper chuffed when I opened up my box and saw it in there because I've been wanting to try it for aaaaages but hadn't been near a counter to have a spritz, and if you read my blog regularly you'll know I am their biggest fan. I loved the campaign with the purple-octopus-on-girl images for Freak. I also ADORE the bottle, so imaginative and beautiful. The fragrance includes scents of opium flower, Queen of the Night and Frankincense.

Review; I had my suspicions it wouldn't be for me, and it did smell how I kind of expected it to. I am usually a fan of quite heavy scents, but I am instantly drawn to sweet scents (think Prada 'Candy', Marc Jacobs 'Lola') and this smelt just that little bit too masculine for me. The scent definitely does develop through wear, and it is long lasting, both of these factors are a huge plus. I'd recommend it for girls who wear scents like Tom Ford 'Black Orchid', spicy, heavy scents. Just not 'girly' enough for me, I like to smell sweet like cherry pie!

I bought a couple of bits from YSL for christmas presents and thrown in was 'Shocking' mascara. It is one of their newest products and claims to give a false lash effect, available in 6 variants of black including cherry black and and bronze black.

Review; The wand is quite slim which allows more control as it's easier to use and you can get to the root of the lash- I cannot work with big, round brushes so was happy when I saw that the YSL wand was the 'type' I like. Its fibrous rather than plastic which was a nice change to my regular L'Oreal Telescopic and I really love the results. It instantly thickens, extends, volumises and colours lashes a deep black. It is quite a thick formula so a good outcome comes from only one coat. I'd say this product is suited for girls who like big, obvious lashes. If you prefer your lashes soft/subtle then this may not be for you. See for yourself the results;

When the samples run out, I'll be buying this full sized.  I like my lashes full, thick and defined, but for some this might be more of an evening mascara! It doesn't flake or cake throughout the day and comes off easily with makeup remover.

Do you own any of these full sized? Do you love getting samples as much as I do?!!