- The Face Essentials.

G'day!

This evening I wanted to talk about some of my most favourite face products. For me, these are essential staples that I feel like I need to have for my face when doing my makeup.

 

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion:

This one is a very long standing favourite of mine. I can remember when I first tried an eye primer (this one) and being so massively amazed at how it kept my eyeshadow in place all night and it didn't crease! My eyeshadow was always a creasy mess before I discovered eye primer. This one remains a favourite, I have tried others but nothing else seems to compare.

 

Sleek Brow Kit:

A fairly recent discovery, and a brow game changer from the first use. I love that it has a coloured wax and powder to set it with. It just works - well! I use the wax then the powder with a stiff angled brush, and it gives me somewhat decent looking brows... most of the time! Although brows are always my nemesis.. This just makes them a little less so.

 

Garnier Anti Dark Circle Roll On:

I've been using this one for years, since it came out (whenever that was!) It soothes and cools my undereyes, which is great on those early mornings. It's brightens and conceals and soothes all in one, a win-win-win! I couldn't be without it.

L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Tint*:

I got this one sent to me when it was first released. I remember anticipating it coming out here when everyone across the pond was talking about it. I wasn't sure it'd be for me because of how light people were saying it was, but I LOVE. This is a must have for me, it's so weightless, covers well and doesn't highlight dry patches or make my face an oily mess. My skin stays reasonable matte because of the powder finish. I have run out at the moment and I am itching to go and repurchase again!

L'Oreal Brow Artist Plumper:

I was very excited when cheaper drugstore brands started latching on to the tinted brow gel idea. I have a few, but I tend to reach for this one the most, I really like how the spoolie wand is teeny tiny, so a perfect size for your brows. It does add thickness to them too, and obviously colour.. Plus it's massive mascara size, so will last for ages!

*PR Sample.

____________________
Thank you for reading!

- Love, Sophie xx

Where else to find me..

Facebook | Instagram | Bloglovin | Twitter

Read More

♥ Makeup Revolution Love! ♥

I was so excited when I first heard about the new makeup brand Makeup Revolution and I couldn't wait to get my hands on some of the products to try. I had seen reviews and they were all positive, and the prices are so crazy good! So I got some lovely bits from them to try out and here are my thinkings on them!

Read More

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation and Shimmer Touch.

I was completely sucked in by all of the hype surrounding the Rimmel 'Wake me up' foundation when it was released. Bloggers and you tubers were raving about this amazing product that gave a gorgeous, natural, dewy, fresh faced finish. I was a little unsure how it would work for me though, because I have oily skin and looking shiny happens naturally for me most of the time.

But when I spotted it on offer in Superdrug last Summer I knew it was a sign, so I picked a bottle up. I am the lightest shade, Ivory, and it's a pretty perfect match for my skin. I got this around the same time that I got my Real Techniques core collection brushes, so I used the foundation brush with this foundation for the first time and I was in heaven.

This foundation makes my skin look so flawless, so glowy and fresh and I don't look like a shiny ball of grease at all... It actually looks good and it has exceeded my expectations and now I am addicted! I still use a primer for oily skin under this and I powder my t-zone too (needed for me), but my skin still looks super fresh and doesn't get super oily, super quick.

A couple of bonuses about the foundation are that the packaging is awesome and has a lovely pump bottle and also the foundation actually smells really good!

So, fast forward a few months and I spot the instant radiance shimmer touch highlighters from the same range... Get this, in a pound shop! As you can imagine, I snapped those babies up. They are perfect for Summer to give a gorgeous glow.. I'd say they're a little too shimmery and pigmented for a highlight on my skin tone, but I like to dot the smallest amount on my cheeks for some added summer freshness and glow.

All I need to do now is try out the concealer.. Which I've heard good things about!  What are your foundation faves?

Read More

Beauty Look Book #FOTD: Blue Glitter Liner.

Today I wanted to post a face of the day look that I did a few weeks ago.. I can be so terrible at getting these up on time sometimes! Anyway, this look was basically done to showcase my new glitter liner that I got from Collection (2000) to add to my collection, it's in the shade night fever and it's so vivid! The glam crytals liners are seriously some of the absolute best, so packed with glitter and they show up so well.

So I kept the eyes simple with a skintone shade all over the lid, then I added some definition into my crease using MAC's Era and Mystery eyeshadow mixed together, I then used my Maybelline black gel liner and created a semi heavy winged liner, then I carefully did a line directly above that line with the night fever glitter liner, I did this for a couple of coats. I rimmed my eyes with black kohl pencil, smudged a little mystery and era along the lower lashline and threw on a few coats of Max Factor false last effect mascara.

The skin was simple, I used my Nude Magique from L'Oreal and some stay matte powder from Rimmel and I contoured with The Balm's Bahama Mana matte bronzer and used the Glossybox blusher on my cheeks. On my lips I filled in my lips with nude lipliner from rimmel and lightly topped them off with MAC Snob lipstick.

Finito!

Read More

A Beauty Haul.

I don't often post hauls on my blog because it isn't THAT often that I go out and just buy make up . . because I already have so much, so only if a product really grabs my attention will I make sure I get my hands on it.

From the above, I was really wanting The Rocket mascara and the Brow Drama, the others just came along because Revlon had 3 for 2 in Boots and Maybelline had Buy 1 get 1 half price in Superdrug. It would've been rude not to take advantage of such offers!
-
-Revlon Powder Blush ~ Racy Rose
-Revlon Colorstay Concealer ~ Fair
-Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm ~ Insaisissable Elusive
-Maybelline The Rocket Mascara ~ Black
-Maybelline Brow Drama ~ Dark Brown
-
I'll probably have individual reviews up on some of the products, sometime soon. As a quick over view though, I will say that I am enjoying all of my purchases! The blusher is a gorgeous colour and so blendable, the matte balm makes me want all of them, I love matte lips and it lasts so well. The concealer is amazing! I love colorstay foundation, so had an inkling the concealer would be great. The brow drama was something I wasn't sure of getting since I had read so many negative reviews on it, but it totally works for me and I am so glad that I have it, and I also love the rocket mascara!

Thanks for reading.. I hope y'all are liking the new layout too!

Read More

Loving .. Eye of Horus Smokey Eye Pencil.

I love eyeliner. I love trying new eyeliners and comparing them to the current fave eyeliner that I am using, whatever that may be. It's like a never ending search for a perfect smudgy, black, long lasting, waterproof eye pencil that stays on the waterline.

This smokey eye pencil* by Eye of Horus (a brand which is new to me) is an excellent eyeliner choice. As you can see from the swatch above, it is the blackest of black, and to add to that, it smudges really well (with the smudger on the other end of the pencil), but you have to be quick because once it sets in place it ain't going anywhere for a while. This is very possibly the blackest liner I own and the one that lasts the best on my waterline. Up until now I've been trying out all sorts, which were good - but not quite as good as this one.

.. The smokey eye pencil from Eye of Horus is uniquely formulated with Jojoba Wax and Mango Oil, and is 100% waterproof, so it glides on without tearing and stays on without imprints on eye lids.

Perfect for day wear to accentuate eyes, or evening wear to get that sensual smokey look. Smudger on tip allows to define or smoulder as much as you like.

Due to the beautiful natural soft waxes and oils in the smokey eye pencil, a high grade cosmetic sharpener must be used to sharpen, clean and maintain the integrity of the pencil. Paraben free ..

So, I really like it, a lot. This brand is Australian, but it's available in a few online shops. If you do a Google search, you'll see. They're a little pricey, but judging by the quality of this liner, they're well worth it. This liner is available from Eye of Horus, or here here for £13.

Read More

Beauty Look Book #FOTD: New Years Brights.

Happy New Year all!

I'm back with a new haircut and a face of the day.. I know, I know! Crazy right? I always promise myself I'll post these regularly and then I don't, so my first official 2014 post is a FOTD. I am going to try and be more regular with these... Maybe one or two a month.

So, I wanted to play with some brights since I'd been sticking to neutrals for such a long time, with the new hair cut I thought I'd go for a bold eye and lip!

I used urban decay primer to prime my eyelids and then I started on my crease. I first used a light brown (MAC Era) to get some definition, then I added a lid colour, I used a navy shade (MAC - Deep Feelings) from an old holiday palette that I have on the inner and outer corners on my lid and then I added a bright blue (MAC - Deep Truth) all over the centre of the lid and blended it in with the navy. I then added the pink into the crease above the blue and I used two shades mixed for this (The Body Shop - Berry cheeky & MAC - Feast, from the same Holiday Palette) .. I blended them softly as I didn't want it to be too intense.

For liner I used a gel liner (MAC fluidline - Blacktrack) and I also tightlined my eyes with this and smudged it along my lower lashline, then I added some shadow over the top along my lower lashline (MAC - Feast). I added two coats of black mascara (Max Factor False Lash Effect) and highlighted my browbone (MAC Holiday Palette - Satisfy).

For the skin I used L'Oreal Nude Magique Foundation (Porcelain) and a translucent powder, I concealed with Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection (Fair) and I used a C-2000 Blush from the Little Mix Collection in the 'Perrie' shade (Love this!). I contoured/highlighted (Sleek contour kit - Light) and filled in my brows (HD Brows - Foxy) to finish the face.

Finally for the lips I mixed some liptars from OCC (Demure and NSFW) with a pout paint (Cloud 9) from Sleek Makeup to create a hot pick shade.

And that's it! I hope you enjoyed the post and that you like the look. Let me know if you'd like more of these.

Have a great week!

Read More

L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint Review.

So, I have had this bottle of foundation for about a month or so now. I had seen multiple reviews on You Tube from US people before it was even out here. I was intrigued about it, they had been mostly positive and I always want to try every single new makeup product that's out, because I am an addict. Yep, I admit it!

So, I got this and I tried it and I wasn't sure at first - but now I really like it. So, the first time I used it I hadn't moisturised first and it clung on to every tiny dry patch I had on my face (not too many!) .. However, after moisturiser I don't have that problem. I always use my fingers, because this is so runny and I suspect a brush would just soak it up. It recommends you use them too.

So I dot it on and blend.. It blends effortlessly and looks so nice as it smooths everything in it's path, my pores look a little smaller and everything just looks more fresh. It sets to a velvet soft powdery finish, but I always add a little more because I'm oily skinned anyway. The finish is so natural looking and weightless, it doesn't give major coverage, but for me it evens my skin out and makes me feel better about it.

Another thing to note (if it matters to you) is that it photographs well too. The picture above isn't to show this point, that is just to show how it evens out my skin. But I can tell you that with a flash it looks great and so natural. So, I love this! It's going to be a part of my collection for a long time to come, I am sure of it. Oh, I love the packaging too, I heard people complain about the non pump bottle, so you had to pour it, but it's such a runny foundation so I don't think it makes a difference if you have a pump or not.. Just my thoughts!

You can purchase this from Boots for £9.99 (worth every penny) and I wear the lightest shade, which is great for pale skinned faces.

Read More

My Halloween Cute Cat Look, With Green Eyes!

This weekend I felt inspired to play with some Halloween type of looks, I did one cute and one scary, here is the cute one. I already had some cat ears, and for a costume it's easy to wear black, so I just did the makeup look and added some cool lenses that I recently received from a website called Lenstore .. They have a really nice selection of coloured lenses that are really nice for all sorts of looks, but I really loved the green ones and figured they'd be perfect for a cat.

It's not the most perfect makeup, but I think that it would be super cute and fun for a night out. The lenses really take it up a notch too, I love how vivid the lenses look, yet so natural. These lenses are the Freshlook Colorblend lenses in Gemstone Green and they feel so easy to wear and put in and remove. They are really soft and went it with ease without my eyes watering at all, and they make me look like I have real green eyes.. I always wanted to play around with eye colours! I did also get the same lenses in the shade amethyst, they are pretty but much more subtle than the green, I didn't feel they made such a dramatic difference. Check the lenses out here and check out the range of Halloween Lenses here.

So, onto the actual makeup look. It's quite self explanatory really, I did a very dramatic eye with my Crown Brush smoky eye palette, I used some purples and blacks. I added some very dramatic lashes on my lower lashline and a ton of mascara on top. I did a dramatic winged liner, coloured my nose and top lip with black gel liner and added the red lips and whiskers.  I think when you're doing a look like this, it's best to just go with it and see what happens.  The lenses and the ears were my final touches to becoming a black cat!

I'm actually going away for a week tomorrow and my little Sister is very excited for me to do her makeup as a cat, I'll try and post a couple of pics of that, either here or on Instagram.

Thanks for reading everyone! Have a Happy Halloween! . . Oh, and Lenstore are offering 10% off for new customers when you enter the code Makeupwonderland_Reader at the checkout.

What are you going to be this year?

Read More

Some things from Stargazer.

I was recently contacted by a nice lady at Stargazer and asked if I would like to try a few of their products out. I hadn't tried anything of theirs in quite some time so I accepted their kind offer.

I remember buying this makeup when I was in my teens and I was looking forward to seeing what it was like now. The answer is that it hasn't actually changed that much. I was sent a mix of products, most of them are in shades that I wouldn't ordinarily have chosen for myself, but it's been fun playing with them and swatching them.

Read More

Beauty Lookbook : Berry Rosemance!

Face of the day time!

This was the makeup I wore on Sunday. No special occasion really, just me experimenting and playing with my makeup. I really liked how this look came out. I absolutely love burgundy and berry tones, especially for fall/autumn time of year.

I decided I'd pull out my MAC Infatuating Rose Holiday (2008) eyeshadow palette!... Yes, it's ancient, but it's fine and the shadows still apply perfectly.

It's pretty much a shimmering pale rose shade all over the lid, with a matte berry shade in the crease, then I added a smidgen of dark brown to define it some more. I did an nice dramatic winged liner with MAC Fluidline and added lots of mascara.

On the lips I have a nude lipliner all over the lips (mine is Natural from Rimmel) and I applied the Collection (2000) matte lip cream in Cotton Candy over top.

The blusher is MAC Peachy Keen. Can you tell I was having a MAC day?! Oh, and to finish, I added a small bit of pink glitter over the lid to add some sparkle.

I like this look and think it's going to look great with a ton of colour combos. I liked the drama of the winged liner against the pale shades though.

Thank y'all for reading!

Read More

Crown Brush Smoke It Out Palette..

I can see you... Staring at the picture of that gorgeous palette in wonderment... Go on, look a little longer, I'll wait right here...

Haha! Isn't it gorgeous? Blog readers, meet the Smoke It Out Palette* from Crown Brush! It's the most me palette I've ever seen, and I have a lot of palettes.

The thing is, my favourite make up is dramatic and smokey, but I love colour! So put them together and what have you got?  This beauty! It's really, really gorgeous and I've been playing with it for a while now. You can see a couple of examples of looks in the collage above, and I can assure you there will be many more to come.

So let's talk about the palette. . It has 36 eyeshadows and each one is pigmented, even the few matte shades that are included. They are soft like buttah and blend like a dream, they really do. I didn't do swatches, mainly because I do them so badly and I thought the makeup I've done with the palette was much more interesting anyway.

The shadows come in a sturdy black casing which is light weight and stays firmly closed.. this is important because some palettes try to open in my luggage when I travel and I hate it!

I really don't know what else I can say to sum this palette up. If you love dramatic makeup and experimenting with colour and this makes you go wow, then you'll love it and you should get it! I am very happy that I own it. It's a perfect palette for any season too, because the colours are so versatile.

Do check it out here if you're as in love as I am. It's only £19.99.. Yes. Under twenty quid.. I know!

If you follow my blog via Google Friend Connect (GFC), it's going to be gone soon. Please follow me on Bloglovin' to keep up to date with my posts.

Read More

Photo-a-Day ~ Day Twenty One ~ Red vs Nude.

This is a day late again, I know! Haha.

Anyway, I had a quiet weekend, but I always like to play with makeup if I get the chance and take some pics for a FOTD (which I do not post enough!) this was yesterday's FOTD and I tried it with a nude and a red lip. I love bright lips and red is my all time fave, but I think I liked the nude better this time.. Others prefer the red more though. *Shrug*

It was just a smoky eye with club eye shadow from MAC (a fave!).

Did you have a good weekend?!

If you follow my blog via Google Friend Connect (GFC), it's going to be gone soon. Please follow me on Bloglovin' to keep up to date with my posts.

Read More

Photo-a-Day ~ Day Twenty ~ Swatchfest.

My name is Sophie and I have too many lipsticks...

Haha! This pic is a couple of weeks old, but I've been slowly sorting through my lipstick drawer and these were some swatches.. To be honest it's not helping me to get rid of any, I just swatch them, sort them into brand and put them neatly away .. not how it is supposed to work.

I need new makeup storage badly. I don't want to get rid of makeup but I don't have room for it all.

How do you store yours?

If you follow my blog via Google Friend Connect (GFC), it's going to be gone soon. Please follow me on Bloglovin' to keep up to date with my posts.

Read More

Beauty Look Book: Naked Neutrals, Hot Red Lips! | Melovemakeup.

Hello!

Guess what? I'm going to actually post a face of the day today! I am terrible at these, I know I say it every single time that I do one.. It's lame, but I just forget or something! I usually post my FOTD looks on Instagram though, so check that out if you like. But I am going to try getting better at posting them here, you wouldn't believe how full my FOTD folder is. Really!

I don't often do natural makeup, but I do like to use neutrals sometimes and do a little something smokey with a bright lip, red is my absolute fave!

Here's what I used:

Face:

Liz Earle Foundation. (I love this stuff)

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer.

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder.

Sleek Pixie Pink Blusher.

Sleek Contour/Highlight Kit. (Light)

MUA Matte Shade 19 (Brows)

Eyes:

Naked Palette: (Virgin on the lid. Darkhorse, buck and creep blended into the crease and lower lash line)

L'oreal Superliner, Black.

GOSH 24/7 Kohl, Black.

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Black Mascara.

Outer Corner lashes (Ebay).

Lips:

Barry M #3 Red Lipliner.

OCC Liptar, NSFW.

That's all for now. Thanks for reading! :)

If you follow my blog via Google Friend Connect (GFC), it's going to be gone soon. Please follow me on Bloglovin' to keep up to date with my posts.

Read More

Beauty Look Book: Purple and Gold Glamour | Melovemakeup.

I'm trying my best to post a FOTD every so often. As usual, I have a ton of them saved, but no products listed. I'm thinking of posting some anyway.

This look was a combination of purple and gold - I love how they compliment each other, so I thought I would try a glam, party type of look with the shades. You'll notice from my looks that they are mostly dramatic. I love that look most, I like lots of black so that a look stands out. But don't get me wrong, I do wear natural too, usually if I'm going to the shops or whatever.

Anyway, enough talk, here's what I used.

FACE:

Liz Earle Signature Foundation

Rommel Stay Matte Powder

Sleek Contour Kit

Revlon Rose Rapture Mosaic Blush

EYES:

Urban Decay primer Potion

NYX Jumbo Pecil (White)

120 Manly Eyeshadow Palette (Purples/Blues)

H&M Glitter Black Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Half Baked

Urban Decay Zero 24/7 Pencil

Eve Pearl Liquid Eyeliner Pen

Rimmel Lash Celebrator Mascara

Outer Corner Eyelashes (Ebay)

LIPS:

Sleek Mystic Lipstick

MAC Girl About Town Lipstick

That's all for now! I hope you like the look.

Thanks!

If you follow my blog via Google Friend Connect (GFC), it's going to be gone soon. Please follow me on Bloglovin' to keep up to date with my posts.

Read More

– FM Cosmetics Products/Review.

Hey everyone! Today I have a post about a makeup brand that I recently tried out.

Now, being a blogger, I sometimes get sent products to try out and post about if I choose to… So when I got the email about this brand (FM Cosmetics), I was really excited, as I love to try new makeup, especially new brands! I had never even heard of this brand before, So I took a look at their catalogue and emailed back with a yes please!

So, a few days later I got rather large package from them with a lot of things to try out! I kid you not, they sent quite a few things for me to try, which I am so grateful for. I do think it’s important to test more than one or two products, as every brand and range have good and bad products.

I've spent the past month (maybe a little more), using them in my routine, trying them all about, and I wanted to mention a few of my faves..

The Second Skin Foundation is a very lightweight, light/mediun coverage, buildable foundation. I really love how it looks on the skin, and the glass pump bottle packaging for £12.99 is impressive.

The Shiny Nude Glossy Lipstick has such potential to be a popular product! It's such a nice shade, very natural without giving concealer lips, and the glossy finish means that it is hydrating and looks good on the lips. 

The Nail Lacquer and Extra Rich Lipstick in Hot Red. Wow, BAM! These are bright and sexy! Like a bright, in your face red, I love having the two match. The lipstick is so pigmented but such a perfect glamour red shade. The polish is great for any time, but I can't wait to put it on my toes for Summer.

I also love their Mineral Eyeshadow Trio in Chocolate Mousse. The little compact is cute, the pattern over the eyeshadow adds a nice touch, and the shadows have really good pay-off ad are great day to day shades. They're also very buildable for an intense look and they have a lovely satin finish.

I hope that gives you a bit of an idea. You'll see these popping up in some FOTD looks soon, I'm sure of it. I'd definitely recommend taking a look at their website. The prices are great and so is the quality. Link!

If you follow my blog via Google Friend Connect (GFC), it's going to be gone soon. Please follow me on Bloglovin' to keep up to date with my posts.

Read More