Naked 3 palette, first trial naeutral look

I haven't done an eyeshadow look for a while now and yes I know I always do neutral looks, but you see so many of these dramatic looks that not many people wear in the daytime.

I received the Naked 3 palette for Xmas thanks to my buddy =) So I thought I'd give it a shot and crack right into it!

List of shadows used: Strange / Dust  /Buzz / Liar / Darkside

1. Buzz - All over lid, up to crease (used wet)
2. Liar - Above crease and on outer V
3. Darkside - Just on the outer V to deepen
4. Dust - on inner tearduct (used wet) *has a lot of fallout!*
5. Strange - To highlight Brow Bone

I know the metallic colours don't show much under bright lighting. This was my first attempt experimenting with the colours. It was quite a pink look, so I think in future cases I will venture more with the browns.

A quick FOTD snap

What do you think of the Naked 3 palette? x

Thoughts & Review: Maybelline Fit Me concealer - shade 20

Today I have for you one of my favourite undereye concealers. The Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in shade 20.

*(Excuse the state of it - you can tell I've used it alot!)*

I have never really been into underye concealing until recent years. Ever since having my own business it has been a chore to try to sleep and it's alot more exhausting, so although my undereye circles aren't bad, they are visible.

Still being new to this whole undereye concealing thing I only picked this up after seeing that Jessica Harlow mentions it in one of her videos as one of her favourite concealers. Several other bloggers have raved about this too so I thought I'd give it a try.

Relatively inexpensive at £5.99 from Boots for 6.8ml of product you can't really go wrong?

It's a standard doe foot applicator which is just the right size to dot around the face or under eye eyes. The only thing is after a while, the product gets really messy around the rim of the tube, kinda like lipglosses do.

The consistency is creamy and blends very easily. It doesn't dry too quick which allows time to blend.

The first picture is my face with everything done with a light foundation, as you can see there's still some darkness peeking through.
Underneath is dabbed and blended. The results are that my under eye area is brighter and colour is more even. It doesn't accentuate any fine lines or crease through the day. You can either use a regular setting powder under or sometimes for extra brightness I use my Ben Nye Banana Powder to set and this stuff doesn't budge!

I can go a 11 hour day without my undereyes wearing and my foundation can be nearly non-existent.

As you can probably guess by now I'm coming to the end of my tube. I suggest getting this when Maybelline go for 3 for 2 at Superdrug's to get the best out of your money (Oh! And don't forget your points card! ;) ).

I also have the shades 25 and 35 for when I need spot concealing or something I can rely on to take on the go. In the summer I also just use this alone in 25 and no foundation. Anyhoo, more on that another time.

Now on the lookout for a new undereye concealer. What do you recommend? x

NYX Matte Bronzer - MBB03 Medium Review

For the majority of 2013 I have really loved contouring. It's a religious everyday routine that I cannot live without now. 

When you have a oval face shape, tying up your hair for work everyday is very unflattering so contouring is a must!!

Along my contour journey the NYX Matte Bronzer wandered into my path and said "oh hello, I'm completely Matte, and I'm affordable! Try me!"

The Bronzer comes in 5 shades - MBB01-05, Light, Deep, Medium, Dark Tan & Deep Tan.
My skin ranges from NW20 to NC/W30 throughout the year and this shade Medium has served me well.
I can't remember why I didn't go for Deep and went straight for Medium, I believe that some of the bronzers have more of a pink tone to them.

There sis 9.5g of product for GBP8.00 (but I got mine at IMATS London for around £5/6 I think?) which really I couldn't pass!

The colour is a little too warm for me in the winter when I have lighter skin. It comes off a little orange if you apply too much. So you can use a softer bronzer and then this on top if you want more definition. Otherwise its great when my skin is a little warmer.

The texture can be a little chalky and heavy but with a good blending/blush/contour brush it does the trick. Just make sure you don't apply this straight onto liquid foundation! It's so hard to blend out afterwards! Make sure you set your liquid foundation with a setting powder first and this blends beautifully.

I can also use this for a soft contour when I have false tan on for a night out. It doesn't show much but the intensity is buildable.

Below are pictures of before and after in daylight. I am currently Mac NW20 skintone.

*Skin with just foundation*

*With NYX Bronzer to contour cheekbones*

It actually looks harsher close up in pictures from the side than it does face forward. After using this I feel like my face is so much slimmer!

I love this bronzer for the price but the ONLY downfall it being that sometimes it's the minutest bit orange but then I guess I need the lighter shade for those lighter skin days.

For £8 a pop you can't really go wrong with this. I am hitting pan now which doesn't happen often with me. I would give it a try but find the right shade for you!

Have you tried this? Can you recommend any other drugstore matte bronzers? x

NYX HD Studio Finishing Powder

Helloooo there my beauts!
My recent thoughts for blogging have constantly been skincare as I have really been getting into more skincare products this year. There's no point putting makeup on nasty skin right? It'll just look worse! HOWEVER, I already did a skincare post last so without trying to bore you all here's a makeup review for you todayy =)

When you have a long and hard week at work without leaving yourself much time to look in the mirror AT ALL through the day you need your makeup to last flawlessly. Sound like you? Well if so you will know that setting powder is an essential in a makeup routine to make your makeup last all day!
It's certainly within my EVERYDAY routine!

My current HG is the Laura Mercier Universal Loose Setting Powder, but recently I have been using the NYX HD Studio Finishing Powder.

(I have new makeup brush storage in the background, aren't they prety :D:D:D. (I did have the old clear rectangular muji ones)) Needed a change...

anyway back on the subject!

The packaging is very basic. It did have a removable plastic sticky sheet that you peel off initially and when that's gone you get this basic round hard plastic container with little holes inside. With the amount of setting powders I've used I don't rate this at all. Everytime I twist this thing open there's too much powder out so when I dip my brush into it, half of it flies away. Bleh, messy.

The actual product itself however is very nice.
It's 6g for arond £10 (prices vary online) compared to 11.34g for £29 (Laura Mercier setting powder).
It's less than half the price for around half the amount.
I wouldn't say it's quite as finely milled as the higher end finishing powders but  when blended on the face it's exactly the same. It mattifies the face and makes my makeup last just as long as higher end powders have. It's also completely translucent and doesn't give a cakey white or dry layer over my face. I've used it in targeted areas, under my eyes, my slightly oily t-zone, and all over the face and never any problems.

Overall if you don't want to splurge your money on a high end setting powder, this will do the same job for a fraction of the price. Yes you get less product but you can buy 2 of these and it would still be cheaper than Laura Mercier or Makeup Forever.

I purchased mine from IMATS this year. In the UK I believe this is only available online.

Have you tried this? What are your thoughts? x

L'oreal Volume Million Excess Waterproof Mascara Review

Lazy Sunday at home and my quest to join the gym is failing...bf is too lazy and I don't wana go alone...*sigh*

So I guess my quest for blogging begins here.. with a review =)

Funny enough its a mascara review even though I don't even use mascara that much..

L'oreal Volume Million Excess Waterproof Mascara.......bleh bleh bleh names a bit long right? They could of given it another name instead of adding "excess" and "waterproof" on the end of the original Volume Million lashes.

I had finished using my Maybelline falsies mascara and I loved it, but as a beauty junkie I like to try something different. This was my next step.
I have been using this for a few months now so it's drier than what it was. At first the formula was a little wet. The brush is great for separating the eyelashes but the formula itself isn't great for lengthening or volume. At first I had to layer 3 coats for my lashes to be visibly voluminous and it can get a bit clumpy after the first coat too.

These are my already curled lashes with one coat. It looks OK up close but in life its really very light. Not enough for my short Asian lashes. Works very well with the upper lashes and not so great for the lower. On the other hand it doesn't transfer onto my lids whilst drying so I can get right into the roots of my lashes for more umph.

Second coat. Now thats a better result! It can get a bit clumpy in places but a few more strokes takes the clumps out. My lashes are no longer than they were without mascara but they do seem fuller. As for the waterproofness..blehh I don't think its the most waterproof mascara I've tried but it does hold probably 90% of my curl.

OVERALL:
PROS: - 

• Holds curl.
• Separates Lashes
• Doesn't transfer

CONS:-

• Gets clumpy
• Doesn't thicken or give volume
• Not entirely waterproof - still wears off just a little on a normal day

Would I buy again? I don't think I will, although I love how it separates the lashes beautifully and holds my curl, there's nothing else about this mascara that makes me fall in love with it. It'll be great for those who have naturally luscious lashes already and just need that little extra something.For £11 I don't think its worth it.