Wednesday, 26 March 2014

Makeup Academy MUA Haul, again...

So, I think by now we have all realised that i have a serious make up problem!  I bought some more of my MUA luminous foundation (3 bottles of it!!) as it was £2 in the sale - my review on that can be found here along with my first review on MUA's fabulous products.  And this haul i'm about to tell you about resulted in me having to buy 2 more Muji acrylic drawers for more storage (review on these can be found here- my husband does not understand why i NEED so much makeup!  Its an addiction i tell you, i cant help it!

Anyway, let me begin my review on my latest MUA haul.  I only wanted to go on their website to see if i could get the Luxe Velvet Lips - which i actually couldnt get as it was out of stock, and ended up getting those in Superdrug.  But still ended up spending £30.34 on makeup i didnt realise i NEEDED until i saw them!!

On to my first product....  £1 Nail Polish in Amaretto Crush.
http://www.muastore.co.uk/nail-polish-amaretto-crush
MUA say:
The NEW Nail Varnish range from MUA - new shades, new bottle and a new and improved brush! A great range of amazing shades to suit any occasion- includes 3 new shades (Koala Bear, Bold Blue & Lush Lilac) that will keep you bang on trend! Apply the colour flawlessly with the new and improved brush. Don't forget to use the clear as a top coat too!
I just love this polish!  As soon as the package arrived on my desk, i got it out and put it straight on!  I'm so into pinks/corals at the moment, and this colour is just perfect for the Spring.  It dries really quickly, isnt at all gloopy and is easy to apply.  I found i needed 3 coats to make it as opaque as i liked, but the 3 coats dried well and didnt smudge - perfect! Super amazing value for a £1 when you think i spend over a tenner on most of my polishes!  More colours please MUA!

£1 Nail Polish - Amaretto Crush

£1 Lipstick in Nectar, shade 16
http://www.muastore.co.uk/lipstick-shade-16-nectar
MUA say:
Make a statement with our show stopping £1 lipstick, available in 16 shades. Make Up Academy provides on trend shades on a budget, allowing you to achieve the latest looks without breaking the bank!

This lipstick is beautiful!  I was a bit worried it might be a bit too orange for me, but i just love it on!  I wore it today (you can see it on my OOTD photo on my Instagram @blusherandbrownies ) It glides on so smoothly on top of my foundation (i always put foundation on my lips) its bright and lovely, but not too bright for work, feels really moisturising, will be my staple colour for the summer!
Nectar


 I also love Shade 15, Juicy.  Another pinky/coral colour, not as 'orangey' as Nectar, goes beautifully with my work bag!  As Nectar, goes on so smoothly and lasts really well. I probably reaply 2/3 times a day.  Lots of talking, drinking and eating.  Not bad going!

Shade 15:

Juicy
 
£1 Matte Lipstick in Pouty Pink
MUA say:
Everything from nudes to bolds, MUA's matte lipsticks are available in 5 wearable shades that glide smoothly over lips to give a beautiful non-glossy finish.
The beautiful natural pink colour glides over lips to give a soft matte finish
A pretty little pink lipstick perfect for these date nights!  I do prefer regualr lipsticks, as i find matte ones tend to dry out my lips a little, but this colour was so cute i had to try it.  Problem solved by putting a little bit of lipbalm on top!

£1 Matte Lipstick in Pouty Pink

Kiss Proof Lip Stain, £3 in Fabulicious
MUA say:
At last, colour that stays on with MUA’s Kiss Proof lip stain, the answer to the problem of 'bleeding' lipstick and lipstick that disappears all day long.
This is a very subtle lip stain that is barely there in colour. But its perfect if you are having a minimal makeup day.  Its just like a felt tip pen and it smells amazing, very fruity.  I think i should have gone for the Fruitalicious one, maybe the colour would have been a bit brighter.

Kiss Proof Lip Stain
Prime and Conceal, £1.50
MUA say:
Rid yourself of redness once and for all!
Our Prime & Conceal colour corrector has a yellow tone to counteract that redness around your eyes and will also tone down blemishes. Apply to your eyelids to give yourself a clean slate to create those amazing eye looks!
Everyone suffers from that annoying blemish that pops up at exactly the wrong time, no matter what you do that redness just shines through - not anymore! Using your F3 Concealer Brush dab Prime & Conceal over the area and blend around it, then apply your foundation. There you go! Your flawless complexion has returned!
All of the above is true!  True i tell you!!  I LOVE this product.  I have quite dark circles naturally, no matter how much sleep i get, they only get better in the Summer .  But this stuff is just a savious!  I purchased the F3 brush (which is brilliant, MUA brushes dont shed hairs) and apply as instructed, and it is yellow let me warm you.  I thought i'd have yellow circles, but you dont, it blends so well with your foundation, and makes me look less tired, and more fresh!  And every day must have.

Prime and Conceal, £1.50

Undress Me Too Palette, £4
MUA say:
The Undress Me Too Palette embraces this season’s fresh-faced look and urges you to strip back and go nude! Made up of 12 warm and timeless shades, this palette will suit all skin tones and any occasion.
The pearlescent flesh-toned finish of shades Naked, Devotion and Shy are perfect for highlighting the eyes, while the shimmering bronze hues of shades Fiery, Lavish and Dreamy give a sultry effect. There are even smouldering contour tones in shades Tranquil, Exposed and Wink so that you can transform your minimalist day look into a sexy smokey eye in an instant.
Featuring a shade range that runs from the palest champagne to the grungiest gunmetal grey, this isn’t just ‘shades of beige'. Each shadow has a distinct look that works for everyone.
I have to apologise and say my photo isnt great, the swatch on the website is much better.  But i love this eyeshadow palette.  I have Undress Me as well, in my previous review.  Undress Me Too is perfect for creating some beautiful day time looks, i've had a lot of compliments on my eyeshadow creations this week.  The colours are lovely, some are very subtle, but they do last well all day.  Some say this is a dupe for UD Naked 2 palette.... 

Undress Your Skin Illuminating Foundation in Porcelain, £5 (£3 in Superdrug atm)
MUA say:
The perfect blend of skin-care and make up, the Undress Your Skin Illuminating Foundation covers imperfections whilst maintaining your skins natural glow. With light-diffusing particles this product is designed to create that instant radiance on your skin.
This foundation is so lovely.  Its about this time of the year i switch up my makeup, and steer away from the heavier foundation in favour of a more dewy variety, and this my friends is the one!  I also bought it in beige for when the sun starts shining and the freckles and tan appears!  It glides on well (i use a foundation brush with a final touch up with my fingers) and it lasts all day.  I havent used an powder on the top as i didnt want a heavy look, i dont need to touch up at all, and i'm not shiny by the end of the day.  This is my spring/summer foundation!

Undresss Your Skin, Porcelain
Lash Boom Mascara, £2
MUA say:
Magnify your lashes for a spectacular false lash effect with the brand new MUA Lash Boom Mascara. Encased in a gorgeous purple tube, this volumising mascara has a long wand that creates length with added drama.
Coat your lashes from root to tip for longer fuller lashes in a flash, minus the irritating clumping. The multi-comb, silicone wand will catch each individual eyelash whilst defining and separating to create a flirty, fanned-out effect.
It’s perfect for short lashes too because the wand is the ideal shape and style to help add much needed love to short lashes – making them long and fluttery!
I really like this mascara.  I was a bit scared about tehe brush at first, i did poke myself in the eye with it once!  But now i'm used to it, it gives me a false lash looks and really gets all the little lashes. I use quite a bit of mascara, i'm not subtle about that, and this is the mascara to give you the boost your lashes need.

Lash Boom

Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer, £3
MUA say:
Smooch your way to red carpet glamour with MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquers. Long lasting and kiss proof, these intense formulas come in five rich, vampy shades. Encased in chic frosted glass packaging, these lacquers glide on with the ease of a gloss, drying in seconds into a matte velvety texture. They are the ultimate make-up bag must have.
I ADORE these lip lacquers, and i've been trying to get my hands on them for months, and i finally saw them in Superdrug and purchased 4 of the colours!!
you have to be really careful when you apply these, as once it dries, it aint coming off for no one!!  i had to scrub my arm after doing the swatches - that is staying power!!  The effect is beautiful, bright bold colours, that stays, and isnt sticky, perfect for a night out, sticky summer nights.  I cant wait to wear them all on holiday.  My favourite is probably Criminal, its a stunning fuscia pink colour, Love Love Love them!!

Velvet Lips
Velvet Lips in Funk
I should add in here that the Pro Base Primer i got it really good, feels quite wet when you apply it, but certainly helps keep my make up in place.
But out of all the MUA primers, my favourite is the Matte Perfect Primer £4 You can really feel the staying power, it is very similar to Benefits Prefessional...

Intense Glosses in Sweet Nothings, £2
MUA say:
Intense Kisses are high-intensity glosses which come in a wide range of bold colours and adds just the right amount of glamour to lips, whether you're strutting down the street or the red carpet. Wear alone or over your favourite MUA lipstick colour for gorgeous kissable lip effect
In love with this lip gloss!  It really gives the impression of fullness on the lip, its not stick, feels smooth and the colour is mega pigmented. Sweet Nothings ia real Barbie Pink, and i just love it!  When i received it and was doing my photos, i sat there with it on all night whilst in my pyjamas, i think my hubby thinkgs i'm crazy! This is a must buy.

Intense Glosses
So that is my review, well done if you made it all the way through, i hope i didnt bore you too much.
If anyone has any questions, please let me know.
What is your favourite MUA product?  I'd love to know!
Jx

Monday, 3 March 2014

Big Bushy Brows - well not quite...

I'm a massive fan of perfect eyebrows, and I have to say mine have been known to look like spiders on my forehead on occasions, but one must keep up appearances!

After getting my eyebrows threaded on Saturday, i paid my local Benefit Cosmetics counter a visit.  And boy, do they have some remarkable products in at the moment!  I follow them on Instagram, and also a sister site Brow Arch March, and had seen the launch of the new products, Speed Brow and Gimme Brow.



I have used both Gimme Brow and Speed Brow in this photo

I've always pencilled in my eyebrows with the old faithful Rimmel pencil, but by the end of the day, it had smudged off a little and i had stray eyebrow hairs not in place.  But what to use instead of a pencil for colour?  Gimme Brow is the answer!



What Benefit say:
Bring on the brows! This innovative brush-on fiber gel adheres to skin & hair…creating brows where before there were none. It builds easily for thick, lush arches, thanks to a tapered brush for blending & precision tip for shaping. Available in two shades.
 
INNOVATIVE BRUSH-ON FIBER GEL:
• Water resistant  
• Long-wearing 
• Natural-looking 
• Buildable
 
97% said brows looked fuller*
100% said it was smudge proof*
100% said it looked natural*
94% said results were long-wearing*
 
*Results observed in consumer panel survey
 
How to apply: Using short pressing motions, stroke brush tip along brow to define shape. Comb through to blend & build brows
 
It can be purchased here £17.50
 
I purchased the medium/dark shade.  Its like a teeny weeny mascara! Glides on really well, easy to manage, no blobbing and looks a lot more natural than a heavy pencil.  It covers my bald spots and gives amazing definition - i love it!  No more pencil for me!  It also keeps the eyebrows in place.  But for extra certainty i used Speed Brow over the top.
 

What Benefit say:

Why we love it!

Tint, tame and set brows in record time! This brush-on gel dries to a natural-looking finish for instantly beautiful brows. One natural shade dresses up all brows.

How to apply

Brush onto eyebrows in light, upward strokes. With the tip of the wand, trace along brow contour to create a smooth line.

It can be purchased here £13.00

This tamer is by far the best i've ever used.  Long gone are the days of clear mascara keeping your eyebrows in place, this isnt gloopy, and  when i say it lasts all day, it really does.  I put my make up on at 7am and take it off about 9pm and not a strand is out of place, no more crazy brows!  Makes eyebrows look fuller, more shapely, glossy and healthy - a real winner!

We've all overplucked at some point in our lives way back when, and if you, like are trying to undo the damage caused, then these 2 products are a must have.  They are a little pricey, especially Gimme Brow, but it is so much nicer than a pencil and more natural.

So, check out your local Benefit counter and see what the Benebabes can do for you!

Jx