MAC In Extra Dimension Skinfinish & Blush Swatches

I literally just got home a little while ago and found a parcel that had arrived from MAC! It was some products from the new In Extra Dimension range. I picked up two Extra Dimension Skinfinishes and two blushes.

Here are some pictures that i have managed to take (whilst it's still light!) with some swatches! The MAC In Extra Dimension products are available online and will be launched at MAC counters on Thursday 2nd May (or so i was told by MAC).

Since my holiday in Cuba, i have tanned significantly and my shade is a MAC NC45, so please bare that in mind with regards to the swatches :). All pictures have been taken in natural light.

MAC Extra Dimension Blush Blazing Haute

MAC Extra Dimension Blush Flaming Chic

 Left-Right: Flaming Chic, Blazing Haute & both blushes mixed.

MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish Double Definition

MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish Shape The Future

Left-Right: Double Definition, Shade The Future

I will be doing in-depth reviews of the products later on but wanted to get the swatches up before the official UK release.

MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinishes retail at £21.50 and the blushes for £19. Both can be purchased online HERE.

What do you think? Anything you'll be picking up?

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Illamasqua Eurydice Lipstick Review

I received so many compliments about the lipstick that i was wearing in one of my recent youtube videos and thought it’s about time to do a review!

Eurydice is a colour that is urging to be worn for spring/summer. This beautiful lipstick is the boldest fuchsia i have seen! Like most Illamasqua lipsticks, it is super pigmented and also very matte, so for those dry lip suffers.....get out your lip balm!

I love wearing bold colours, but the one thing i struggle with is my dry lips. However, i always use the Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm (which is the best matte lip balm ever!) and this creates the perfect base for Eurydice.

Eurydice is such a sexy, fuchsia shade that compliments most skin tones. It is more on the cooler side, however this is what makes it pretty unique, as i don't normally go for cooler pinks.

I adore this colour and hands down this is one of my favourite lipsticks! I think this is one that i will be reaching for a lot in the next coming months.

Illamasqua lipsticks can be found HERE.

Have you tried Eurydice?

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Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil Review

I have been using the Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil* for a while now and when i first got the item, i thought, why would i be putting more oil onto my oily skin?! Ahhhh, i shall explain it all down below.

It comes in a glass bottle with a handy dropper, so you can control how much product you want. However, the glass bottle isn’t very ideal if you travel a lot, but you can decant it into a smaller bottle.

The Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil is specially for oily to combination skin and it helps to purify, balance, as well as improving the skin overall. It has essential oils such as geranium and rosemary, which balance the oil production in the skin. It also purifies the skin and the lotus extract helps to refine the skin.

At first i was a bit put off by the scent, however i quickly overcame that because i saw how much my skin had improved by using the product. I like to use this on its own at night, however you can also mix it with your moisturizer. The oil doesn’t sit on the skin, nor does it feel greasy. It gets absorbed into the skin pretty quickly and there is no oily residue left on the skin.

I think for many of us who have combination skin, it is very difficult to find that right balance because for me, even though i have super oily skin, the skin around my nose is mega dry. This oil has helped my skin so much. It has aided the control of oil, but also got rid of the dryness from my nose. 

The oil retails at £30, which may seem a lot, however you only need a couple of drops. This bottle will certainly last you ages and i have now incorporated it into my daily skincare routine and it is one i would highly suggest to you combination/oily folk out there!

Clarins products can be purchased at your local counters or online HERE.

Have you tried Clarins skincare before? Thoughts?

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Emily Pretty Little Liars Makeup Tutorial

Products Used:
Face:
Maybelline Fit Me Foundation (315) - REVIEW HERE
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer (35) - REVIEW HERE
Maybelline Fit Me Powder (315)
Pixi Bronzer (Summertime)* - REVIEW HERE
Wild About Beauty Blush (Kitty)*
Bobbi Brown Retouching Powder (Rose)*

Brows:
Clinique Superfine Liner for Brows (Black/Brown)
MAC Brow Gel

Eyes:
NARS Smudge Proof Eye Primer
Burberry Eyeshadow (02)*
Pixi Bronzer (Summertime)*
Sleek Contour Kit (Dark)
Urban Decay e/s (Blackout)
KIKO Pencil (01)
L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes
Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

Lips:
PIXI Tinted Brilliance Balm (Magnific Mauve)* - REVIEW HERE


Hope you enjoyed the tutorial!
x

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Urban Decay Naked Skin BB Cream Review

Urban Decay has recently launched another edition to the Naked range! It is the Naked BB cream*. The BB cream is meant to perfect the skin, as well as protecting it with the added SPF. 

Since BB creams came onto the market, i have really struggled finding one to match my skin tone. I noticed that they either come in one 'universal' shade or the brand just doesn't offer darker shades. This BB cream is a very light formula and almost feels like a primer. It doesn't give as much coverage like a typical asian BB cream.

When i first saw the shade, i thought oh my goodness, this is going to be way to light! However, when you apply it to the skin, it does blend in without leaving any obvious tide lines. This does kinda go invisible on me and doesn't really have any coverage. I am curious to know how it will look if i get darker in the summer.

The balm goes onto my skin so smoothly, it feels as though it has a silicone base or something? It feels very tingly and cooling on my skin because it has a mentholy scent to it, but i actually like it in the morning! I like wearing this under my foundation because it just preps by skin and i have seen that it does make my foundation last that bit longer on my face.

So, what do i think? I do like using this before my foundation and it has been making my makeup last much longer. I do wish they offered more shades instead of a universal colour! I love how it feels on my skin and once the weather starts to get better, i will probably start wearing it without foundation.

This product retails at £23 and can be purchased from Debenhams, House of Fraser and authorized online retailers.

Have you tried the BB Cream? Thoughts?

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The Body Shop Coconut Body Scrub Review

I have always loved using products from The Body Shop and about 2 months ago i was purchasing some Tea Tree Body wash (HERE) and i wanted to pick up a good body scrub. I decided to purchase the Coconut one because it had coarser granules to exfoliate the skin well. I love it when my skin is exfoliated, it just feels super smooth and soft!

The Body Shop has a wide variety of scrubs but some of the other scrubs have an oily residue, which i don’t really like.

I don’t use this all over my body, i just focus on my elbows, knees, feet and backs of my legs and arms. I tend to get ingrown hairs on my knees and using a body scrub helps the new skin come up and prevent ingrown hairs from forming. It’s also great to use if you have those bumps on the backs of your arms, the official term is keratosis pilares.

The smell is unbelievable and just reminds me of being on holiday. It is very subtle and isn’t overpowering, so you can use it with another moisturiser.

I have been using this non-stop and i adore this product! I am now on my second tub and just love using it! I have also been taking it to the gym, and have been using it after sitting in the steam room, as it sloughs off more dead skin!

Have you guys used this before?

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Wild About Beauty Smooth Cover Concealer Kit Review

I have been searching for a concealer duo that will cater for my skin tone and give me the option to use the darker shade if i am tanned and wahey discovered the Wild About Beauty Smooth Cover Concealer Kit*!

As i have said many, many times, my skin is going through some weird pimply phase....not the greatest! I wanted to find a concealer that would cover my imperfections and not accentuate them. I found when a spot was healing in that dry, scabby phase, some concealers would make it look even worse!

Wild About Beauty have got duo concealers, with a light and a dark shade and a setting powder. There are three shades available, fair, medium and dark. It also has skin nourishing and calming benefits, great for those zits!

I found the texture to be very similar to MAC Studio Finish Concealer. I had to mix both shades to get my perfect match. I found it no trouble, because i tend to apply it with my fingers anyway. I love how there are two shades available, because it gives the flexibility to mix shades. I find that if i have been in the sun and tanned (even just a little), my normal concealer can look too light. This is perfect to use throughout the year because you have two shades available and is ideal to take on holiday!

This covered my blemishes very well and didn't highlight any dryness that i had around my spots. It was very creamy and i only needed a small amount.

I would say that the colour selection is a bit limited, purely because the three shades won't cater for all skin tones. Hopefully they will be increasing the colour selection!

The Concealer Kit retails for £19.50 and can be purchased from House of Fraser, Debenhams and online HERE.

What are your favourite concealers?

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Dramatic Arab Inspired Makeup Using Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

Contact Lenses: Freshlook Colourblends (Pure Hazel)

Products Used:
Face:
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation (Syracuse)
Bobbi Brown Corrector (Dark Bisque)
Bobbi Brown Concealer (Honey)
Ben Nye Banana Powder
Sleek Contour Kit (Dark)
Urban Decay Baked Bronzer*
Tom Ford Blush (Flush)

Brows:
Clinique Superfine Liner for Brows (Black/Brown)
MAC Brow Gel

Eyes:
NARS Smudge Proof Eye Primer
Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil (Zero)
MAC Smolder
Urban Decay Naked 2 (Half Baked/Tease/Pistol/Busted/Blackout/Foxy/Bootycall)
Estee Lauder Gel Eyeliner (Stay Onyx)
 L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes
MAC Lashes (8)
MAC Chromagraphic Pencil

Lips:
MAC Lipliner (Nice n Spicy)
Burberry Lipstick (Field Rose 213)*

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial!
x

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KIKO Colours In The World Makeup

Loads of you know my love for KIKO makeup, and i had the chance to try out some of the products from their Spring/Summer line.

Colour Explosion Multi Tone Blush* (Wild Sienna) - This is simply beautiful! There are 3 gorgeous shades in one palette. You can apply these shades individually or mixed together. These shades truly do scream a fresh spring look.

4th swatch along is all the shades mixed.

Vivid Eyes Kajal and Eyeliner* (Buttery Rose/Black) - Inner and outer eye pencil duo.

Long Lasting Eyeshadow Stick* (Intensive Coral) - I don't actually have a coral cream eyeshadow and i think it's one of those colours people shun a lot, purely because it's a bright coral. This a super easy to apply and blend, however it does set very quickly. I would use this as a wash of colour or as a base for a brighter eyeshadow and trust me this does not crease on those oily lids!

Pigment Loose Eyeshadow* (Sunny Coral) - Loose pigmented eyeshadow, that looks beautiful on all skin tones. I used this recently in my Everyday Coral Spring Makeup Tutorial - HERE

L-R: Vivid Eyes Kajal and Eyeliner (Buttery Rose/Black), Long Lasting Shadow Stick (Intensive Coral) ,Pigment (Sunny Coral)

The new range from KIKO can be checked out HERE.

What do you guys think of the collection?

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Remington Keratin Therapy Pro Dryer Review

Many of you have asked me how i dry my hair when i want to wear it curly. I have been on the search for a good hair dryer that won’t damage my hair as much but is effective at diffusing. Everyone wants their hair to be looking good with minimal effort. The Remington Keratin Therapy Pro Hair Dryer* is perfect for just that! 

My hair is one massive frizzball and sometimes it is hard to find something that will help the frizz but define my curls. 

The Keratin Therapy range from Remington boosts the hair with shine, vibrance and health. The AC8000 Keratin Therapy Pro Hair Dryer comes with two concentrated nozzles and a diffuser. The ionic and ceramic technology ensures your locks are sleek without any frizz. There are 3 heat settings and 2 speed settings, as well as a cool shot.

I normally use the diffuser, as it helps with my curls and what can i say......well it dries my hair in about 10 minutes! It doesn't make as much noise as other hair dryers on the market, but it still does make noise......i mean all hair dryers do right?!

What are my thoughts? The advanced technology has made drying my hair much more quicker and simpler. It has made a significant difference to my curly hair and is a lot less frizzy. 

   
Below is a video to show you how i style my curly hair using the Remington Keratin Therapy Pro Dryer.

The Keratin Hair Dryer retails for £49.99, however i have seen it on offer in Boots.

Have you tried anything from Remington?

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Clarins Rouge Eclat Lipsticks Review & Swatches

Wearing True Aubergine

Clarins have brought out the new Rouge Eclat lipsticks*, which is ideal for those who love the lip butter formulas.

Left-Right: Nude Rose, True Aubergine, Juicy Clementine, Hot Chocolate

I have never tried makeup from Clarins before and for everyday use, i tend to stick to lip balms or sheer lipsticks....well, this had me changing that!

First of all let me say that i love the packaging. It screams super luxurious with its gold packaging and looks classy in the handbag.

Left-Right: Nude Rose, True Aubergine, Juicy Clementine, Hot Chocolate

The Rouge Eclat lipsticks are light formulas that are still richly pigmented. The lipstick literally glides over your lips, hiding any dryness that you may have on your lips. Clarins has also stepped this lipstick up a notch by adding a Nutri-Youth complex, which prevents the lips from dehydrating and also boosts collagen. Vitamin E helps to protect against free radicals and plant waxes have been used to hide any signs of aging!

Left-Right: Nude Rose, True Aubergine, Juicy Clementine, Hot Chocolate

I love how these lipsticks feel on my lips because i am quite fussy with lipsticks, especially when i am wearing them on a daily basis. These lipsticks don't settle in the lines or cracks of your lips.....they kinda plump the lips to give a more smoother appearance.

Nude Rose

True Aubergine

Juicy Clementine

Hot Chocolate

Left-Right: Nude Rose, True Aubergine, Juicy Clementine, Hot Chocolate

I have been avidly using shade 09 in True Aubergine and can't tell you how comfortable it feels on the lips. I don't even need a lip balm underneath! This is truly one of the best lipstick formulas, that i have ever tried!

What do you think of the Rouge Eclat Lipsticks?

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L'Occitane Shea Butter Skin Care Starter Kit Review

I was recently sent the L'Occitane Shea Butter Skin Care Starter Kit* and i have been an avid user of their shea butter hand cream, so was interested in giving this a go.

Unfortunately, this kit caters for a dry skin type, whereas i have combination skin, with some dryness on my nose.

What do you get in the kit:

Ultra Gentle Cleansing Milk 50ml

Fresh Face Water 100ml 

Ultra Rich Face Cream 15ml

I also received a mini Shea Butter Fabulous Serum that repairs damaged skin from harsh conditions and protect it in the future. It has a strong shea butter scent and is easily absorbed into the skin upon application. I use this prior to applying moisturizer. This made my dryness disappear! I have some flakiness around my nose and after using this serum for a couple of days, i had no dryness left!

I love using the Ultra Gentle Cleansing Milk (even though it's catered for dry skin types!) because it is so gentle to use on my skin. This removes all my makeup at the end of the day and adds a bit of moisture to the dry parts on my face without making me oily.

The Fresh Face Water is an alcohol free makeup remover, which is rich in shea extract and floral waters. Personally, i didn't use this as a makeup remover but more of a toner. I used this after cleansing my skin with the Ultra Gentle Cleansing Milk and it removed any last bits of dirt and makeup.  This did leave my skin feeling slightly tacky, which i have never experienced with toners.

The Ultra Rich Face Cream smells like shea butter which is divine, however, I found the cream way to rich for my skin type. It is a very thick cream and felt quite heavy on my skin. I think this is more suited for dry/sensitive/normal skin types. I wouldn't recommend this for combination-oily skin types.

What are my overall thoughts? I certainly like the range but unfortunately it wasn't catered to my skin type. I would definitely recommend this to dry and sensitive skin types, however most of the products were just too heavy for me.  I would love to see what they offer for combination/oily skin types.

Have you tried L'Occitane Skin Care?

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