SPACE NK: Make Up Brushes

Hasn't it been an age since I last blogged?

Moving house was hectic and renovations even more so.  I am living with only a livingroom and bedroom and teeny en-suite at the moment so taking any blogworthy photos has been a little difficult as well as having little to no time to sit down with the laptop.

Anyway, I have wanted to blog about these make up brushes for a LONG time so with a spare 10 minutes this evening, here goes ....

I got to try out some Space NK brushes, which led to me purchasing some Space NK brushes.  Their quality is comparable to high end make up brands and unfortunately so is their price.

I have the blush brush (RRP £28 - my own purchase), the eyeshadow brush (RRP £18 - PR item for review), and the foundation brush (RRP £25 - PR item for review).

The blush brush is large, dense and squared off in shape.  It is actually quite different from blush brushes I have used in the past which have been softer, fluffier and rounder but I have to say this is working well for me.  It gives good placement of the blush and covers a larger area of the cheek, which dependant on the overall finish you want may not always be a good thing.  It has made it into my everyday make up bag so it is a thumbs up purchase.  It's biggest flaw is its price ... for £28 I would rather buy from a major brand ... however, I managed to purchase in the January sales but would never repurchase at full price i'm afraid.

A closer look 

As far as the eyeshadow brush goes, it is great for placement of shadow on the lid, I also use to blend as the brush is quite fluffy despite being densely packed. Again, the price tag lets me down but this is probably because I expect cheaper as it isn't branded MAC, Space NK, Bobbi Brown etc.

Space NK brush on left, MAC 190 on left 

The foundation brush is my favourite of the 3 with it being comparable to the MAC 190 but with only £1 price difference I would personally go for the MAC brush everytime.

Space NK left, MAC right

Although the Space NK foundation brush is a little bit wider, it makes little difference to make up application and these 2 brushes are near enough like for like.

As much as I really really like Space NK brushes, I wouldn't purchase them over branded make up brushes like MAC unless I picked them up for half the price on sale.  With so many similarities to their more popular competition and very little in the way of price comparison, I can't see these brushes standing out in the market place.

Have you tried Space NK brushes? What are your thoughts on quality and price?

x

Eyeko Fat Balm

Yesterday I was completely inspired by the lovely Oxford Jasmine who had tweeted a photo of herself wearing Eyeko's recently relaunched Fat balm on her lips and cheeks.

Lucky for me, that morning some samples had arrived in the post from Eyeko so I wanted to copy Jasmine's gorgeous look.

I received a fat balm in Toffee (rrp £6) which is a lovely warm caramel nude. I also received a London Lips gloss in Mayfair (rrp £6.50) which I believe to be limited edition and is the perfect companion for Toffee fatbalm.

Fat balms have been relaunched with SPF15 and contain jojoba oil for moisture and a fuller, softer lip and just pigmented enough to add a hint of colour and shine.

I patted the fatbalm straight from the tube onto my lips and cheeks. The fat balm gives your cheeks a lovely glow that eliminates the need for a highlighter. It isn't too sticky but I did get a couple of hairy face moments when my hair needed sweeping out of the area with the fat balm applied ... nothing that wasn't easily rectified though. The shade toffee is particularly lovely, it is a very natural looking colour that gives a warm flush to your cheeks. Lovely for winter and a fantastic product for a minimal hassle free make up kit.
This was my first ever experience with a Fat balm and I have to say it felt really lovely on. On your lips it felt hydrating and can certainly be worn on it's own but as I love my gloss I teamed it with london lips in Mayfair.
Mayfair is just like toffee fb but in lipgloss form. It isn't too sticky and smells delicious giving a lovely plump shine.

The fat balm lasted all day on my cheeks while the lipgloss lasted a good while on the lips before needing a re-application for full on gloss again. Even when the shine had disappeared there was still a lovely hint of caramel colour on the lips so that it wasn't necessarily vital to re-apply.

I really think Eyeko products are worth a look, they are fantastic value for money and the products are of great quality. When I tweeted Jasmine about my copy cat look yesterday, she even claimed that she thought the fat balm was better than Bobbi Brown's pot rouge which is quite something. I haven't tried the BB pot rouge so can't comment personally but it certainly food for thought when you think of the price difference and the reputation of such a high end brand as Bobbi Brown.

What do you guys think of Eyeko's fat balm?

x

Smokey but Subtle FOTD

As mentioned in my previous post I attended a Christening at the weekend. Being a religious and special event I still wanted to look glamorous but a little more toned down in keeping with the tone of the day.

I decided on an understated smokey eye using the following 3 eyeshadows from Estee Lauder:

From left to right: Twilight Rose; Sizzling Copper; Hot Cinammon

These shadows are positively lush. They come in matte, shimmer and metallic, all apply beautifully and are incredibly pigmented. All 3 colours I used are available at Estee Lauder counters now except for Twilight Rose which will be available in the Blue Dahlia collection which is available in August priced at £15.00.
FACE
Estee Lauder Double Wear (shade Al Fresco)
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer (shade Warm Ivory)

EYES
Estee Lauder Twilight Rose all over the lid
Estee Lauder Hot Cinammon in outer v and under eye
Estee Lauder Sizzling Copper blended into the crease and under eye
MAC Shroom to highlight
Bobbi Brown gel liner in Caviar
Clarins Mascara

CHEEKS
Nars Laguna
Bobbi Brown Apricot blush

LIPS
MAC Angel

The end result was soft and subtle, perfect for daytime but could easily be transformed into an evening look by adding a little more definition using Hot Cinammon.

My standout products from this look are the eyeshadows in Hot Cinammon and Sizzling Copper as well as my fail safe MAC Angel lipstick which is such a versatile colour. I manage to go through at least 1 every few months!

What are your stand out products of the moment? Anything you can't get enough of?
x

Subtle smokey eye FOTD

As mentioned in yesterday's post I was at a Christening this weekend. Because of this I didn't want to go too heavy on the eyes but still wanted a smokey look that wasn't too dark or overly done up looking.

Soft and subtle was order of the day which I achieved using these 3 colours from Estee Lauder.

From left to right; Twilight Rose; Sizzling Copper; Hot Cinammon

Firstly, I should say that only Sizzling Copper and Hot Cinammon are available to buy at counters now. Twilight Rose will be launched along with the Blue Dahlia collection in August. All individual shadows are priced at£15.00.

These shadows are beautiful and come in matte, shimmer and metallic finishes. The metallic finishes are really lovely but may be a little too frosty/glittery for some.

To achieve this look, I used Twilight Rose all over the lid, a little Hot Cinammon (shimmer finish) on the outer V then I applied Sizzling Copper (metallic finish) to the crease blending well with the Hot Cinammon. I brought this underneath the eye before adding some more Hot cinammon to define and again sweeping this underneath the eye.

I used some MAC Shroom to highlight before adding Bobbi Brown gel liner in Caviar and my Clarins mascara. On the cheeks I stuck to my fail safe Nars Laguna and Bobbi Brown Apricot blush.
On my lips I went with MAC Angel. I love the soft finish of Angel, it's one of my favourite lip colours, a more muted and almost dusky pink that complements this soft, smokey look.
The shadows lasted the full day, even in the heat as we were lucky enough to catch some sun in the afternoon (after a week of bucketing rain).

I was really pleased with the result as it was soft and subtle enough for the event while still being glamorous and polished.

x

Bank Holiday FOTD

It has been a glorious bank holiday weekend for me, friends, fun and good weather. The last of my 3 day obligatory bank holiday bender was an event called Fiasco Secret Location. An intimate number of revellers all get together at a bar then a bus/taxi transport us to a secret venue for a massive party and fantastic line up of DJ's! Oh and a random bungee run was thrown into the mix too - Great fun!

Anyway ... the day kicked off around 3pm ... I decided on casual but cool look - peg leg trousers with a loose fitting vest, leather jacket and wedges. Comfort prevailed as I knew I would be on my feet dancing from early on. As for make up - I decided to put my Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland palette to use. It had lay unloved for a few months as I let everyone else get on with the hype of such a delightful feast for the eyes (quite literally). I think I may be delving into it daily though as I loved the colours so much! FACE:
Foundation: Estee Lauder Double Wear
Concealer: Bobbi Brown creamy concealer
Bronzer: Nars Laguna
Blush: Illamasqua Unrequited
Highlighter: Topshop Sunbeam
EYES:
Shadow: Urban Decay AIW palette -Drink Me Eat Me - all over lid, Mad Hatter - crease, White Rabbit - browbone, Alice on lower lashline
Eyeliner: Bobbi Brown Gel liner and Urban Decay liner in teal on waterline
Mascara: Cover Girl Lash Blast
Lashes: Revlon Lush individual lashes on outer corner
LIPS:
Lipliner: Urban decay Wicked
Lipstick: MAC Angel
Lipgloss: Dolce & Gabbana Candy
I was so pleased with my make up, it felt fresh and lasted the whole day and night with no touch ups other than lipgloss. This is the first time I have worn EL double wear for a night out and it really lasted well and looked fresh even after hours of dancing!

Sadly, I am back in the office tomorrow ... hope you have all had a great bank holiday!

x

Cheek of the Week!

Getting the time to blog this week has been hard! I have been moving flat this weekend, which has been a complete nightmare ... I really don't recommend it guys! Too much stress and disorganisation!


Anyway, my cheek of the week didn't happen last week so lets pick it up again from here. This weeks cheek belongs to Bobbi Brown and it just happens to be my all time favourite blush. I even wore it on my wedding day.

(apologies for the terrible photos - i am restricted to my iphone at the moment)

It's Bobbi Brown Apricot. This is it in the old style BB packaging, I believe it now comes in a square package - man, i'm so out of date. Anyway, the shade is not quite the peachy apricot tone you may expect, it is a lot more pinky but a lovely warm pink with definite hints to it's apricot name.



This is the type of blush you can really over-do on the cheeks and come out looking like a trendy Aunt Sally ... if you can imagine such a thing?! Or you can just go for a subtle flush across the cheeks.

When all else fails this is the blush I am most likely to go to.

Things might be quiet on the blog front for the next week or so but my broadband will be installed by the end of the week so normal service will resume :)

x

Nicola Roberts Purple Eyes EOTD (picture heavy)

A few weeks ago I was asked to try and recreate the dramatic smokey purple eyes that Nicola Roberts sported on her documentary: The Truth about Tanning. Did you see it? It was an eye opener into how damaging sunbeds can be - a must see!

Anyway, back to Nicola's eyes ... here are a couple of very dodgy pics of the look. Sorry, I literally took a photo of the screen with my iphone. I'm sure there is a better way but ... ah, here you go ..
I decided to tone down the look ever so slightly as it is quite dramatic and dark on Nicola's eyes and could be overwhelming if you're not used to wearing your eye make up so dark. I'm actually so disappointed at how my camera has picked up the colour as it was much more intense and very similar to what we see in Nicola's pics in real life.
Enough already with the cringeworthy photos!!! Okay okay, so onto how I created the eye. I hate anything too complicated, it's just laborious, time consuming and requires far too much precision when using too many different colours so I stuck to 3 shades to create the look.
I used Bourjois Bleu Lavande and 2 shades from the Sleek Graphite palette. First up was the Bourjois Bleu Lavande, all over the lid. Then I used the dark purple from the Sleek palette (bottom row, last colour) in the outer v, socket and blended right along the crease, I also sweeped this underneath the eye. I then used the shade next to this (bottom row, second last shade) which is slightly darker with a hint of navy to add some depth, again this was blended along the crease, outer v and underneath the eye.

Finally, I used MAC Blacktrack to line the eyes and UD 24/7 liner in zero for the waterline. I added some of the white from the graphite palette to highlight the browbone and added lashings and lashings of mascara.

For the rest of the face, I used Revlon Colourstay in Buff, Bobbi Brown concealer in warm ivory, Nars Laguna to contour, MAC Springsheen blush, MAC Redhead MSF as highlight and Rimmel Foxy lipstick with MACs ample pink as a gloss. In hindsight I would have gone for a peachier look on the lips.

How does this look? Was I close?

x

Halloween Solstice Star

So, I hadn't planned to go out for Halloween, If I had, I would have made sure I had a kick ass outfit. However, we decided last minute to get together at a mates flat and obviously dress for the occasion. Our dressing up box (yes, we do have one) is at my mother in law's at the moment since we are packing up to move so I had to use the resources I had at hand. Mainly make up!

Initially I was going to go as a doll but then decided I wanted a more casual approach (read: I hadn't tanned or de-fuzzed the legs so a dress was a no-no!). So in the end, I decided to wear a black assymetric top with black bootleg trousers which had a bit of a 70s vibe to it.... make up wise I took inspiration from one of Kate Moss' birthday looks a few years back.
I love this look and have always wanted to try it. I had hardly any time to recreate it so what I managed to churn out is a bit shoddy but I now know what I would do differently.
To create the look I used a Bobbi Brown Foundation stick - this is definitely one thing I would change, the coverage just wasn't enough for this look. I then concealed and contoured with nars laguna.
I used Illamasqua Liquid Metal in Solstice for the star - which looked great to start with but as the night wore on it creased really badly over the lid. I drew a light outline fo the star to begin with then literally coloured it in with the Solstice.
I then lined my eyes with MAC Fluidline in blacktrack then added Ardell False Lashes.
On the lips I used Rimmel Foxy with Gosh Darling on top.

The Hair? Don't even go there - it was a flippin' disaster!!

So that was my last minute Halloween look - what did you guys dress up as?

x

FOTD - Sundown Glow

Last night I was asked to join an evening out with my husband and work colleagues but I literally had about half an hour or so to get ready!

I knew I had to do a quick make up look and also wanted something that was simple enough so I could cart the make up with me wherever I went. So on I donned the new Christopher Kane dress, teamed with opaque tights, platforms and a blazer and as for make up here is the rundown ...
Face:
Mac SFF mixed with Lustre Drops sunrush
Mac Select cover up concealer
Nars Laguna bronzer with dusting of Prestige Glam Tan over the top
Nars Orgasm blush

Lips:
Barry M Peachy Pink and a clear plumping gloss on top

Eyes:
The Body Shop Eye Trio in Sundown Glow
Mac Carbon to define
Bobbi Brown Gel liner in Caviar
Jemma Kidd Corrector pencil on lower lash line
Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara

I chose to use the Body Shop eye trio as I could take all 3 eyeshadows in one little compact container instead of bulking my bag with individual eyeshadows or a bigger palette. I really like this little trio and the quality and longevity of the shadow is great. I have recently been using sleek palettes and my final conclusion is that although they are great value for money, I personally hate the quality of them and the colours and textures don't sit well with my skin. I think when i tried the body shop trio I did expect it to be the same kind of quality but I was pleasantly surprised! It's a great product to reach for when you are in a hurry and think I may add it to my work make up bag which I do try and keep as minimal as possible.

In the end my night out actually got cancelled so I was all dressed up with nowhere to go :( Oh well!

x

Products i'm McLovin!

A few posts ago I shared the products that weren't really doing it for me at the moment so now it's time to share the products that are floating my boat!;)

1) The Body Shop Black Velvet Apricot Lip Balm
This is from a new range at TBS. This lip balm feels lovely and moisturising on the lips, smells nice and has the slightest tint and sheen to it. It's great for on the go and can be worn over lippy too so to tone down the colour. This range also do the burning oils (is that what they are called?) for at home which I am also loving!


2) MAC Moisturelush Cream
I purchased this last month for the first time. My skin once again is going through a rough patch and I honestly put it down to all the messing about with different products that I do. A MUA recommended this ... in fact, I should add it was an MUA with to die for skin so I put my trust in her 100%. I have to say the tip off has bode well and my skin is feeling lovely and smooth with this and dare I say it, younger! The cream is rich and thick in texture and warmed up a little it is easily massaged into the skin. I wear this at night as for me it is too thick as a morning cream. My skin is far from perfect but I do believe I need to work from the inside out to achieve that *pledges to drink more water*

3) MAC All That Glitters and Glamour Check
Admittedly, All That Glitters is a bit of a cult favourite and probably needs very little explanation but the reason it is in my favourites just now is because I have been wearing it most often teamed with Glamour Check (see previous FOTD post) and I am loving the results. Glamour Check is a lovely deep, warm brown with burgundy reflects. I have been creating a daytime smokey eye with this and for night time I add some definition using carbon or beauty marked. I would say that Glamour Check is very very close to Twinks and Antiqued so if you already have those then there may be no need for this product.

4) MAC Vegas Volt
I blogged about this a few posts ago and it was my holiday product winner! The tone of the coral-orange is just gorgeous and is versatile for day or night time wear. I'm off on holiday next week again and this is definitely coming with me :)
5) Bobbi Brown Colour Corrector in light bisque
I love my concealer, i pack it on especially under my eyes, however a few weeks ago while visiting Bobbi Brown the MUA suggested instead of packing on the concealer ensure I used my colour corrector more readily (already in my stash) and I should feel less need to layer up on the concealer. You know what? She was right! I've been using the colour corrector every day and I there is definitely less concealer wastage. This particular colour corrector is a light pink in appearance and it counteracts purple tones (undereye dark circles) in the skin. This really is a wonder product for me.

6) Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick in Sand
I mentioned in a previous post that YSL perfect touch really wasn't doing me any favours in the beauty stakes and vowed to stick to what I know. Well, this is what I know! Bobbi Brown foundation stick is what I wore on my wedding day and my skin looked flawless so going back to this has been a bit of a saviour. It is medium coverage but can be built up to full coverage without looking cakey, thick or greasy. I find it gives me a radiant glow and lasts the full day too which is a major plus point for me!

That's my top products of the moment, what are your favourites just now?

x

Caviar Ink ...daahling!

On Friday I took a trip to Bobbi Brown with the purpose of picking up the infamous Long wear gel eyeliner. I have noticed that black can sometimes be a little severe on my eye so I set out to find me the perfect brown that gave a softer finish without losing the definition.

The MUA at Bobbi Brown couldn't have been more approachable and helpful which is a rare find at a make up counter these days! She pointed me in the direction of their new Nude collection, specifically the new shade of eyeliner - Caviar Ink.

Caviar Ink is a rich brown-black that adds warmth and definition to the eye. It is still very dark but softer than using black. The MUA (whose name i forgot to ask!!) demo'd a winged liner look with the caviar ink and i loved it.



If I can apply my flicks this perfectly everyday I will be very happy! :) I also enquired about the brush she used as she seemed to complete the look so effortlessly. It was the Bobbi Brown ultra fine eyeliner brush. I usually use a Mac or Nars very fine brush to apply my liner which does work well but is sometimes difficult to control and really needs a steady hand. With this brush it is so much easier. It is slightly stumpy and wider than you would imagine and the bristles are tapered at the top. I feel i have more control using it gives a better result. Obviously I had to have it ;)

So far, I think I may prefer this liner to Mac Fluidline which I have worn for years and have always loved. The consistency of the long wear gel liner seems much smoother and less gloopy than fluidline.

Although caviar ink is not a true brown and would look black to the untrained eye it is a lot less severe. Here it is photographed next to Mac fluidline in blacktrack, hopefully you will see the difference. (fluidline in blacktrack is on the left and caviar ink on the right)

Does anyone use this already? Do you prefer a softer option to black too?

x

More Illamasqua ... haul time!

Sorry to bore you all but I am just really excited by Illamasqua right now. It is fast becoming my favourite cosmetics brand. The day after it launched in Glasgow, I went back to purchase a few more things.

While I was there, I was assisted by the lovely Sian who is a fellow blogger! Check out her blog, she is one talented girl! It turns out that I had met Sian just over a year ago - she had tried out some products on me just before my wedding when she worked at Bobbi Brown. She is the reason i love bobbi brown creamy concealer and bobbi brown apricot blush!

So moving on to the haul ...Here we have under eye concealer, Rich Liquid Foundation and Powder Foundation. I think these are all in shade 205. This is only from memory as the shade details have rubbed off the back (only flaw so far with the packaging). I will be doing a seperate review on the Rich Foundation which is immense .... as are the powder and concealer. The powder is so smooth and as Sian described, mousse like. It glides on the skin and covers blemishes up instantly and naturally without looking caked. The Pressed Powder... wow! This is so finely milled and I literally dust it over my face as if it were fairy dust ... well bit of an exaggeration but that is how fine and soft it is. My usual powder of choice is Mac's pressed powder. Never again. Illamasqua wins this hands down. Mac is cakey in comparison.

So next up we have powder blusher in 'unrequited'. This is quite a warm pink, somewhere inbetween barbie and baby pink. Its so soft on the cheeks. A little similar to Benefit Dandelion but way nicer and much better pigmentation.

I also picked up a sheer lipgloss in 'Devine' .. i think.. again the name rubbed off (please fix this Illamasqua, i hate not knowing the names of what i'm wearing). I already have an intense gloss which I love so thought I would try a sheer this time. In its tube it is electric, almost neon pink but on the lips it is much less so, very wearable.

I loved Baptiste nailpolish so much, I just had to have another one so i picked up this bright coral/orange in 'Whack'. Again, this colour is almost neon and it just looks fabulous on your nails, perfect for Summer! I have this on my hands and tootsies just now (just one coat) and i love it!

So there we have my Illamasqua haul. I am still waiting on the Sirens collection coming to the Glasgow store so as soon as it arrives I will be there ... with bells on!!

So what do you think of my purchases? What is on your Illamasqua wishlist?

xx