COLLECTION 2000 METALLIC CREAM EYESHADOW IN PLATINUM (£2.99)

Okay, so this product has me damn confused. 

Last week I picked up Collection 2000's Metallic Eyeshadow in Rock 'n' Rose and was pretty pleased with it. For £2.99, I figured it was a pretty cool-looking product and worth a purchase. However, this week, after picking up Platinum and testing it out, I didn't like it.

It feels kind of weird on your eyes as it's wet and you're left sitting there unsure whether to allow yourself to blink or not. I found the pigment disappointing, so once the first 'layer' had dried, I added another, which prompted it to get scaly and flaky. Then it decided it didn't want to blend at all. I was really disappointed and, since I was in a rush, resorted to patting some grey eyeshadow over the top and using it as a base (which worked excellently).

However, there's a twist, when I swatched it on the back of my hand to take pictures for this very blog post, the pigment was sufficient and the formula blended amazingly. I'm left somewhat confused. Were my eyelids in a weird mood that day? Or was I just being extra fussy?

Referring to the swatch on the back of my hand, I love the colour. It's a metallic taupe and, if it was this colour on my eyelids, it would look great with a dark brown or even black in the crease.

I'm definitely going to give this product a second chance since I liked Rock 'n' Rose and I'd really like to get hold some of their other colours.

SLEEK STORM I-DIVINE PALETTE (£8)

After recently discovering Sleek's blush powder in Pomegranate and being seriously impressed, I deemed it only logical to get myself one of their eyeshadow palettes. Their Storm palette lept out at me because of its range of colours and finishes, and for under a tenner, who could say no?

The packaging is essentially a bigger version of the blush compact, black, slim and light-weight with a decent-sized mirror.

The powders themselves are soft, pigmented and last almost as long as Urban Decay shadows for a fraction of the price. An absolute dream to blend with a brush or your finger without being too crumbly in the palette, this product is amazing as all get-out.

The first colour (top left) is a gorgeous, gold shimmery shadow. It reminds me a bit of Half Baked by U. D.

Next is a shimmery cream, perfect as a highlight.

The first matte in the palette is a warm nude that blends out beautifully.

Although this looks similar to the first shadow in the picture, when swatched it's a lot yellower.

I'm usually not a fan of wearing pink on the eye (although you wouldn't know considering how many times I've reviewing and liked pink eye products), but this pink has strong brown undertones when blended out and would look amazing on blue or green eyes.

Possibly my favourite shadow in the palette, this purple looks similar to Urban Decay's Rockstar in the palette but in fact comes out a lot more rusty-looking.

Shimmery browns add a bit of spice to a neutral look and this one's lovely. It has an almost coppery tone to it so, once again, would look sexy as hell on blue eyes.

This iridescent blue looks grey in some lights, blue in others and would make brown eyes pop.

Probably my second favourite shadow in the palette, everyone needs a shimmery, dark green in their makeup collection.

Shimmery blue, again, looks amazing on brown eyes.

Probably the only shadow in the palette that I don't see myself using very often, a matte mid-brown. It would probably look decent in the crease whilst using a lighter shade on the lid.

A pigmented matte black, does what it says on the pan.

This palette is perfect for anyone wanting to buy some top quality, pigmented, blendable eyeshadows but don't have the cash to splash on products by more high-end brands. It contains everything you need, mattes, shimmery, neutral, bright; a great addition to your makeup kit.

COLLECTION 2000 METALLIC CREAM EYESHADOW IN ROCK 'N' ROSE (£2.99)

I'm not very familiar with cream eyeshadows; in fact, they kind of scare me. They look messy and unmanageable and everything I wouldn't want from an eye product but when out browsing the makeup shelves the other day, I saw Collection's Metallic Cream Eyeshadows and was drawn in.

I'll be honest, it was the colour that sold me; well that and the £2.99 price tag. We all know I'm a sucker for metallics and pink is a lovely colour to wear in the summer, so this was just too enticing to pass up.

I really like the packaging; I know it just looks like a plastic tube, which it pretty much is, but something that puts me off about most cream eyeshadows is that they're often presented in a little pots where you, if you don't have the right brushes, have to continuously dunk your fingers, leaving prints and germs. 

The applicator is handy, since you can either apply it directly onto your eyelid or the back of your hand. 

The formula is soft but isn't as pigmented as in the pot. It blends out nicely and dries well so that it won't budge, even without the aid of primer. In fact, something I loved using this for was a base colour. You apply it over your lid as if it's primer, then apply shadows of your choosing over the top. It adds a metallic, pretty sheen to your regular eyeshadow while giving it a cute pink glow.

Overall this is a cute little product which is a cool addition to your summer makeup. It adds a little edge to any look and doesn't cost an arm and a leg so isn't a gamble. I definitely intend to purchase some more.

SOAP & GLORY: ONE HECK OF A BLOT (£12)

It's official, I've found a new favourite face powder and, surprise surprise, it's by Soap & Glory.

For around six months now, I've never strayed from my go-to powder Rimmel's Stay Matte Powder but recently decided I should branch out a little and since I'd heard a lot of great things about Soap & Glory's One Heck of a Blot face powder, I thought I'd give it ago.

As ever the packaging is cute-as-'heck' (although I feel as if the compact opens the wrong way... you'll see what I mean if you get it).

The powder itself is translucent, something that's a huge plus for me considering I find it difficult to get foundations that match my skin tone. It's incredibly soft without being crumbly and mattifies without clinging to dry patches of skin. It also lasted pretty much all day on me without primer; it even endured one of my afternoon naps, which is pretty good going.

£12 is pretty much the going rate - if not less - for a decent face powder so the price is more than worth it. If you're stuck for a face powder to buy, this is perfect as it works perfectly, isn't too pricey and takes out the hassle of having to test out different shades.

BARRY M: RASPBERRY (£2.99)

When I first picked out Raspberry nail polish by Barry M, I was looking for a sexy red, as the only sexy red I have at the moment is sparkly and not what I want for summer.

Swatches online made it look red, whereas the name Raspberry made me think it was more pink and after getting the bottle through the post, I was none-the-wiser!

What I got was the most gorgeous, sultry red, which is slightly pink in certain lights; I'd describe it as a raspberry compote, really intense and rich. I loved it as soon as I applied it and, as always, it lasted around 4-5 days without chipping. It only needed 2 coats, as ever with Barry M nail polishes and was wonderfully cheap.

Another Barry M nail polish for the favourites list!

SOAP & GLORY: FLAKE AWAY BODY POLISH (£7)

It's been a while, so what better way to get back into blogging than with a Soap and Glory review? Their Flake Away Body Polish is a fine scrub, which reminds me of sand both in colour and consistency and is a great little product.

As you can see from the picture, I've used it up pretty quickly (within a month of purchasing). It both smells and feels good on the skin. It contains large grains of sugar to scrape away dead, dry skin, but also contains Shea butter to keep you moisturised and smooth. My only two criticisms are that it does get used up quite quickly as it's thick and you need to use quite a bit, and that it can get quite messy as it dissolves in the shower.

 Only £7 for a generous pot, you'll find it difficult to discover a decent exfoliator cheaper than this and considering it's not even labelled as one, I'm looking forward to trying many more of Soap and Glory's body scrubs and actual exfoliators.

MAY '13 FAVOURITES

Another month has passed us by so here is my usual monthly favourites post. 

I'm going to start with a brand I've made no secret about loving: Soap & Glory. 

I've reviewed a few of their products this month but my favourite has to be The Righteous Body Butter. It's rich without being greasy, something which is a god-send in this hot, sticky weather, and smells gorgeous. Seriously great value for money.

My next favourite is another Barry M nail polish: Indigo.

With Indigo, what you see is what you get. The colour is awesome, a really gorgeous purple-blue with a hint of metallic about it. For a cheap nail polish, it holds up really well and is a great spring colour.

Yay, my favourites this month contains a mascara!

Collection's Big Fake Ultimate mascara has the 'wow' factor. First of all 'wow! They sell mascaras this cheap?' And then 'wow' because it's actually really good. It curls, thickens and lengthens your lashes without clumping or smudging. It does dry out quickly but considering what you get and how much you pay for it, I'd say it's worth it.

Sleek is a brand I wasn't familiar with but this next favourite has encouraged me to search them out and order more of their products.

Pomegranate is a gorgeous, warm pink blush with a slight shimmer. It's really pigmented, so can be lightly applied for natural looks or heavier for an evening look. What's great about this blue is it'll work all year round, not just in Spring or Summer so is a great buy.

I haven't written a review about this next item but it's been a favourite perfume of mine for a while, which once in a while I'll rediscover and fall back in love with.

Ed Hardy's Hearts and Daggers perfume is sweet and fruity, perfect for Spring and Summer. I don't find it sickly but the smell definitely lasts. 

My final favourite isn't a beauty product, it's an album. 

I wrote a review recently for The Dillinger Escape Plan's new album One of Us Is the Killer and, for the most part, have been loving it. One for the metal fans to check out.

10 BEAUTY MAKE-HAVES

1

Primer.

I think I've bored everyone enough with my rants about primer but no makeup bag should be without it.

2 & 3

Lipstick

Two lipsticks: one in your favourite nude, the other your favourite 'evening' colour. Mine would be Revlon's Pink in the Afternoon and OCC's Lip Tar in Super NSFW.

4 & 5

Foundation

One liquid (Rimmel Match Perfection Liquid Foundation) to even out the skin tone and a powder (Rimmel Stay Matte) to mattify.

6

Mascara

If I had to pick just one item of makeup to bring with me onto a desert island, it'd be mascara. Making your eyelashes thicker, darker and longer not only frames your eyes and makes them appear bigger, but it makes a huge difference to the rest of your face.

My current favourite is Collection's Big Fake Ultimate mascara.

7 & 8

Eyeliner

One pencil, one liquid or pen. Pencils are great for tightlining your waterline, liquid is good for thickening your top 'lash line. I'd recommend both in black, or at least the liquid; the pencil would also be good in a brown if you're into a softer look.

9

Blush Palette

There are some great blush palettes out there such as Urban Decay's Naked Flushed blush palette, which contain bronzer, highlighter and blush. These are really handy for carrying around in your bag.

10

Eyeshadow Palette

A good quality, varied eyeshadow palette is a must. My all-time favourite is Urban Decay's Naked 2 palette since it contains a range of matte, shimmery, light, dark, soft and striking shadows, which are all Urban Decay's trademark excellent quality formula. If I could only have one eyeshadow palette for the rest of my life, it would be that one.

5 BEAUTY DOS

1

Do exfoliate.

Exfoliating is something that a lot of people just brush over, thinking it's a bit of a fad, but in reality it's a vital part of skin care, getting rid of dry, dead skin cells and allowing you skin to regenerate. This gives it a fresh, glowing look, as well as dealing with hyperpigmentation and blackheads.

Make sure to buy a facial scrub for your face as body scrubs can be more abrasive and actually damage the delicate skin on your face, especially if you're extra sensitive. Another tip is to moisturise afterwards to keep new skin supple.

2

Do use primer.

Primer is only something I learnt about later on in life and I'm so glad I did. I'm always rattling on about it in my blogs but it's honestly so worth it; it not only makes your makeup last all day but brings out the pigment so that you get the most out of your products.

3

Do research.

Before buying a product, especially one that costs quite a bit, do a bit of research around the brand and product itself before buying it. Read reviews, look at vlogs, blogs and swatches so that you really know where your money's going and if it's worth it.

4

Do experiment.

At the age of 23, I'm still learning new techniques and trying out new products. Experimentation is half the fun and practice makes perfect. Try out a new colour that you wouldn't usually wear, or apply a bright lipstick and see how it makes you feel. You never know, you might discover something you like.

5

Do clean your brushes.

When you're using the same brushes on your face everyday, caking them in powder, they're going to get mucky pretty quickly. I try and clean mine at least once a week or after I use a lot of dark or bright eyeshadows, using warm, running water and baby shampoo. 

Don't leave them to sit in a sink or the water will get inside and either rust the metal parts, or encourage mildew to form.

PURPLE SMOKY EYE

Everyone loves a smoky eye, so here's another.

Just before I get started on the smoky eye, I used Rimmel's Match Perfection Liquid Foundation and Stay Matte powder on my face, Sleek's Pomegranate blush on my cheeks and Rimmel's Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Nova on my lips. 

I approached this a bit differently. Instead of priming my eyes with primer, I smudged some black eye pencil on my top and bottom lids (making sure to line my waterlines at the same time).

I then applied Vice (Urban Decay) all over where I'd smudged the eyeliner. I blended this out with a brush to make the edges softer.

I used Grifter (UD) above this on the brow bone and inner corners. Then mixed Busted and Rock Star to fill in my brows.

DAY-TO-NIGHT MAKEUP TUTORIAL

After I shared my everyday natural makeup the other day, I thought I'd show you how you can easily turn a natural day time look into an evening, going out look. It can be useful to carry a few items in your handbag if you're, for example, going to work and get invited out afterwards or have to get ready to go out in a hurry and already have a face full of makeup that it'd take too long to remove.

Skin

Firstly, I added a bit more blush to just under my cheek bones, merging onto my cheeks. I also added a bit more highlighter.

Eyes

To the eyes, I added Polyester Bride by Urban Decay to my inner corners and brow bones.

I then blended Busted (Urban Decay) into the crease and underneath the eye.

I then applied black eyeliner to my bottom waterline.

Ideally, I'd then stick on some false 'lashes but I didn't have any to hand today.

Lips

I then slathered on some Big Bang by Rimmel.

If I had to include just two items to turn a neutral look onto an evening look, I'd say false eyelashes and bright lipstick are 2 easy things that you can pop in your handbag and apply in a rush with minimum effort and maximum results.

PENCILS AND LIQUIDS AND PENS, OH MY!

Since eyeliner is a huge part of my makeup routine and something I not only love to use, but love to experiment with, I thought I'd do a little post on the different types of liners there are out there and what their strengths/weaknesses are.

Top: Pencil. Middle: Pen. Bottom: Liquid.

Pencils

Pencil is probably the most versatile liner. It can not only be used to enhance and thicken your top 'lash line, but can be used in your waterline to make a look more dramatic or as a base to either change or intensify eyeshadow pigment.

I find it harder to get a good, crisp upper lash line with pencils, no matter how 'sharp' I try and get it. However, it's great to roughly line your upper lid and then smudge out for a quick, simple smoky eye.

If you're just starting out with eyeliner, I'd recommend going for a pencil first, since you've less chance of blinding yourself with one of these than the other more runny products.

Liquid

Liquid liner is for the big boys. It takes practice and patience to get the art of not smudging this down and, unless you're a complete freak of nature (i.e. very lucky), you've spent many a teenage year cursing whoever invented these annoying little tubes of goop. However, once you do you get the technique down, you get amazing, intense results which make any eye makeup look 100% more impressive.

I definitely would not recommend this for your waterline. I have a distinct memory of being in my early teens with my first pot of liquid eyeliner, hovering in front of the mirror in my bedroom, trying to line my bottom waterline with liquid and suddenly everything going black. Do not recommend.

Pen

I love eyeliner pens. As with gel (which I'll talk about in a minute), these are quite new to the eyelining game. They are, however, genius. The mix the intensity and pigment of liquid liners, with the ease of pencils. They tend to last ages but come off easier than the other liners. They have a really thin nib, so you can do some pretty elaborate and dramatic stuff.

My favourite and I highly recommend.

Gel

I currently don't have a gel eyeliner, hence the lack of image and swatch. However, gel eyeliners are amazing. They're usually waterproof, so stay on forever, seriously intense and really easy to apply. The only negatives are that they dry out quickly and that decent gel liners are few and far between. 

The first one I ever bought was brilliant and the brush it came with was perfect, but I've never been able to find one that matched up so I'm still on the hunt. When and if I find one, you'll be first to know.

URBAN DECAY: 24/7 WATERPROOF LIQUID EYELINER in PERVERSION (£14)

A while ago, I purchased Urban Decay's 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner since I'm such a fan of their pencils (although I know that's hardly news).

As you can see, it's been rattling around in my makeup box for a little while now but I wanted to give it a proper go before I gave it a review since when I first started using it, I was considerably out of liquid-liner-applying practice.

My first thought was a disgruntled 'OI!' as I unscrewed it to find the large half was the brush end. The brush itself is tiny so you can draw a nice thin line or build it up for a thicker one.

The product comes out very thin and watery, which causes it to run a bit in the swatch, but when I used it on the eye I had no problem with this. I will admit, as someone who's got used to eyeliner pen, it was quite difficult to get a good, steady line but that's just me and with practice I got better.

The pigment is really excellent once it dries and it lasts for ages. Even after makeup wipes, I find myself picking it off my eyelashes the morning after wearing it. Its consistency reminds me of the glue you use to attach false eyelashes. Interestingly, despite this, it doesn't last quite as well as their 24/7 eye pencils, which I found interesting.

This is a decent liquid eyeliner and if you've got the cash, by all means go for it.  However, there are liquid liners out there that are just as good as this for about a third of the price. The only thing you might miss out on is the intensity of the pigment, but that's your call.