Silver & Smokey.

Sometimes breaking out of your comfort zone is an absolute disaster, but sometimes it results in a new favourite. I've mentioned before that I flock like a magpie to brown and bronze eyeshadows and really neglect the other colours for fear that I can't pull them off.

I decided to try a silver eyeshadow, and created a smokey silver eye that I wanted to show you all- I think these colours are perfect for this time of year as they are cooler and seasonal, they're not colours I can see myself choosing in hotter weather.

Products used:

Maybelline 24 hr Tattoo in 'On and On Bronze'

Estee Lauder Eyeshadow in 'Cyber Silver' (LE)

MAC 'Coppering' Eyeshadow

Laura Mercier Eyeshadow in 'Rich Sienna'

Laura Mercier Eyeshadow in 'Black Coffee'

Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner in '2 Sepia Ink' 

YSL 'Shocking' Mascara.

I was really pleased with how much I liked silver eyeshadow on me, what colours do you love to use on your eyes? What shades should I experiment with next?

Eyeliner Review #1 Maybelline, M.A.C, Rimmel

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner £7.99

M.A.C. Superslick Liquid Eye Liner £15 for 1.8ml

Rimmel London £5.29 for 2.5ml

 

As promised in previous posts, I'm going to compare three different eyeliners, all of which you can create the winged flicks with, the makeup trend that I posted about here. Two are liquid liners and one is a gel liner.

1) Maybelline's gel liner caught my eye earlier this year because firstly I hadn't tried it before and secondly, it made a change to liquid liners. I had heard a couple of good things about it so bought it and gave it a try.

• This pot of gel liner has so much product for the money you pay and will last you yonks.
• The container it cute and small, and frosted glass- like! And it comes with a precision brush.
• The gel liner is a good shade of black, but I find that it needs two coats to be jet black. I find this quite difficult, as the line always seems to thicken the second time and I don't always want this to happen!
• I personally find the brush to be too thick and hard to control. It is especially difficult when using it on the inner corners of the eye, where you would want a thinner line (ready to graduate to thicker once gliding it accross the lid). It really depends on how steady my hand is that day and if I have the patience to try this product, as it does take a lot longer to apply than a liquid liner. 
• It has pretty good lasting power.

The gel liner does give a nice effect, it is more soft focus than a hard line. It does seem to fade throughout the day, not too drastically though and I'm sure this might be prevented through wearing an eye lid primer.

I think this product's success is down to personal preference for how you like to apply your eyeliner and how thick you like your lines and flicks to be. I think I'll be trying this out more; I used it for a couple of weeks and put it aside, some mornings I find the brush and the pot too fiddly and time consuming. Practice makes perfick though, I suppose!

2) One of my most disappointing purchases from M.A.C. I even repurchased when the first one ran out thinking maybe the one I'd had previously had been a dodgy one. No such luck, the finish and colour pigmentation is terrible for the price, the lasting power even worse, shame!

• Superslick eye liner is supposed to leave a wet look finish. It does leave a slight glossy finish. 
• The colour is more of a charcoal- grey than a black, which is fine if you want a more subtle or natural look.
• The brush is my favourite part, it is thin and precise which means excellent control over how thick you want the line to be, also means a perfect flick, there's less room for mistakes to be made with this brush.
• Only hours after application the eye liner fades dramatically, it smudges and rubs off a bit too easily, a definate disadvantage.

These photos were taken about an hour after application, as you can see there is clear fading already happening [ :-( ]. I'd recommend this product if you're looking for a precise brush and therefore a precise/thin/subtle line, but be prepared to reapply throughout your day.

3) I bought this Rimmel eyeliner partly because I was broke, needed a liquid eyeliner and it was cheap, and partly because I had read pretty impressive reviews. I must say, I think this is my favourite of the three, I pick this one up before the other two when I'm applying my makeup in the mornings.

• The brush is slightly fatter than the M.A.C. one so it is a bit harder to apply such a precise or thinner line, but the pigmentation is fab. 
• The formula is slightly watery and can take a couple of minutes to dry, but this is common amongst wet cosmetics such as liquid eyeliner. It can rub off quite easily, but in comparison the previous M.A.C. one this one has excellent staying power. I can complete a 9hr shift at work and still have a clear line and flick by the end of it.
• It can take two coats, but this is easily achievable with liquid eyeliner. I only struggle to go over lines with the gel liner.

Eyeliner really is one of those personal choices every girl makes because every girl wants something different from an eyeliner, from price, to finish, to overall look. I hope these mini reviews help at least one of you out there to make a decision though! :-)

Top; Maybelline. Middle; M.A.C. Bottom; Rimmel

What eyeliner do you use? Do you have any products where you pick the 'drugstore' brands over the more high end brands?

Maybe it's Maybelline

Maybelline New York Dream Touch Blush in 02 Peach and 06 Berry £6.49 for 7.5g.

Maybelline discontinued one of my favourite blushes;

Maybelline 'Dream Touch Mousse' in 01 Dolly Pink; The Ultimate Girly Shade, an unnatural barbie pink, glittery and shimmery, excellent lasting power, this looks adorable on pale skin. Not for everyday use, but a really fun product that can be used in a really pretty way.

01 Dolly Pink, 02 Peach, 06 Berry

 I thought I'd try the 'Dream Touch Mousse' collections younger, yet more sophisticated sister, 'Dream Touch Blush'. These come in four fruity shades; Peach, Apricot, Berry and Plum. Maybelline state that this product gives 'A lighter- than- air feel on the skin with an all- day freshly applied look.'

The texture is completely different, unlike 01 Dolly Pink these aren't a mousse forumla, but a solid -to -cream blush, and unlike 01 Dolly Pink, the shades in the collection are a lot more natural and subtle.

Shade 02 Peach, Barry M Nail Paint in Peach Melba

Shade 02 is a natural, glowing peach. If a couple of shades darker, this could be used as a subtle bronzer, however I find that the shade is too similar to my skin tone to be used in this way. 

Once applied, Peach creates a dewy, fresh faced look. It is really natural, and I can't say that I use it as a blush per se. It looks lovely on the cheeks, but it doesn't have much 'oomph' or definition. I'm sure it would really benefit girls with more tanned/olive skin tone, as that base would bring out the coral hues more sucessfully. Great for the Spring/Summer months.

Shade 06 Berry is a deep rose shade, with purpley undertones. When applying, it is better to add it bit by bit, to avoid looking like a clown! (Not talking from experience...) but it is easier to add more than it is having to find a way to cover up after putting to much on yo' face. I haven't used it much since I bought it, but lately it has really grown on me, it can be used quite dramatically and it looks great with nude or brown lips (nice for this season).

Unblended

Blended

Although they're nothing like their predecessor in terms of texture or colour, these 'Dream Touch Blush''s are pretty good. They are highly pigmented, handy to have around, and although they aren't really long lasting (a problem I generally find with blush that aren't in powder form) they have their time and their place! I found that over the summer, 02 Peach is nice to have for a more natural look, on my (fake) tanned skin. Shade 06 Berry I will be using more over autumn/winter for rosey cheeks!

Final Portrait; 
I apply these using my fingers and gradually build colour intensity.

02 Peach

06 Berry

What do you think of these shades? Were you a fan of the Dream Touch Mousse collection back in the day? Have any products you loved ever been discontinued?