Makeup Desk Inspiration
Ask Me Your Photography Questions
How do you stop the creasin'?
As you can tell from the above image I am in the latter camp - I like to use an array of products to combat the oily eyelids.
Affordable Metallic Eyeshadows Part. 2
I only started to buy 17 products afew months ago, even though I use to use alot of there products as a teenager and I have really re-discovered why I liked the brand in the first place! For the price these are really great - they all have a lovely texture to them and are nicely pigmented. They also blend out really nicely and actually look alot more expensive then they are. There is also a really nice range of shades from quite bright to neutral shades to some really dark shades. In texture and staying power these are very similar to the eyeshadows in the Sleek palettes.
If you ever get over whelmed with the amount of metallic eyeshadows by every brands, Number 17 is always a safe bet!
I actually don't know why there aren't hundreds of reviews on these eye quads over the internet, as for the price they are actually great. I think in the Beauty uk range there's 4 or 5 eye quads a bronze palette (the one above) a lilac quad, a green one and I think maybe a grey/silver quad and all £3.49 each! These really are lovely, lovely shades and the texture is actually quite buttery and just feel alot better than you would expect for the price. However the one downside to the texture is there is fall out, having said that layering the eyeshadows, by building up the colour gradually then blending then putting more on, really does help. But for four highly pigmented eyeshadow the price is great, as are the shades and even the little palette that it comes in!
Out of the 12 eyeshadow, nine are actually metallic - however I am quite glad there are afew matte eyeshadows in there in neutral shades. Always quite handy.
I was umming and arring whether to include this as I only recently bought this after being recommended it by someone on twitter (if you are that nice person just leave me a comment and I will include your twitter link). So I have only being using this for around two weeks, but I really do like it as it's definitely metallic but it also has a softness to it, that is really wearable in the day. As you can see from just slightly blending them together with my finger as I swatched the eyeshadows these are really blendable and also buildable. They also have a wide range of shades to the collection that also look really appealing.
Not as cheap per eyeshadow as the others but still really, really nice shades.
As for products I wouldn't recommend - The Stargazer eyeshadows all look really metallic and lovely in the pan, however they are abit of a let down. I much prefer the eyeshadow dusts. Also the Model's own duo eyeshadows are also nothing to write home about - quite chalky and not that pigmented.
Products that I didn't mention but are still great - Bourjois eyeshadow pots, the darker shades seem to be more pigments especially when used damp. Also any gold/bronze shades from NYX are always nice.
Make sure to watch out for Part 3 - metallic eyeshadow pigments (then I promise to shut up about all things bronze or gold!)
To read about other affordable makeup products just click here!
London Fashion Week Does Drugstore Makeup
L.A.M.B using Maybelline
Charlotte Willer (the one with the scary fringe in the adverts) was the makeup artist for Maybelline, creating the tribal punk look with the Maybelline Eye Studio 'Give Me Gold' Plush Silk eyeshadow quad and for the lips
Maybelline Shine Sensational lip gloss in Tempting Toffee. A really striking look!
Oscar de le Renta using Revlon
For Oscar de la Renta the Makeup artist and Revlon global director was Gucci Westman who applied an emerald shade to the eyelids (ahem not by Revlon) and just below the lower lash line, Revlon Matte eyeshadow in Venetian Blue. As for the lips - the lipstick was Fashion Night Pout from the ColourBurst range and the cheeks had a hint of colour with Cream Blush in Rosy Glow. Another really lovely look.
Beauty Google Searches, Answered
Affordable Metallic Eyeshadows Part. 1
Affordable Blushers, Tick. Affordable Highlighters, Tick! Now onto my epic three part ramble about cheap eyeshadows. If you are wondering why it's going to be in three parts...well ofcourse there are just so many types of eyeshadow, even though the 3 parts are all going to be just on metallic eyeshadows...so actually it could become 5 posts just on eyeshadow if you take into account matte eyeshadows and eyeshadow palettes. All important subjects that I just can't leave out, right?
So as you may of noticed I do quite like eyeshadows and in particular anything metallic or shimmery- there are just so many lovely shades out there.
Especially when it comes to cream/mousse or liquid eyeshadows you really get that intensity, which it what I really love in metallic eyeshadows.
Also all the eyeshadows I'm going to mention really do last on the eye all day without even priming the eyes first! Ok well maybe the All About Face one need an eye primer - but it is only £1.50!
Bourjois Shimmer Shine Liquid Eyeshadow 'Brun Magnetique' - £6.84
Now I have to admit this is a new product for me but I have used it afew times already and really do love it - I actually asked everyone on Twitter what there favourite affordable metallic eyeshadow was and the lovely Katy came to my call saying that she loved the Shimmer Shine Bourjois eyeshadows and to be honest when a talented makeup artist like Katy mentions a product, I take notice. So off I trotted (well I actually just walked) to Boots to have a look at the range and proceed to apply far to much of the product onto the back of my hand and had shimmery hands for the rest of the day. However I picked up the bronze shade out of the collection and oh it really is lovely. The top screws off to reveal this little sponge applicator that you can either dab directly onto the eye or put the product onto the back of the hand so that you can use your fingers or a brush. I personally like using my ring finger to tap this on and blend out. As this is water based it has quite a unique refreshing sensation when applied, which really is crease proof and long lasting. Once dry this really doesn't move and it's sticky in the least. A really lovely product that I think I will be purchasing more of! Oh and also a good 8.5ml of product.
No7 Stay Perfect Eye Mousse 'Vanilla' & 'Fudge' - £8.75
Okay, maybe these aren't the cheapest of eyeshadows however on 3 for 2 or for a little treat these are really lovely. There are six shades to the range, all quite soft shades and very wearable for the day and you really do need the smallest of amounts when applying this so they do last forever. The Vanilla eye mousse makes for a perfect base for all eyeshadows and really intensifies anything you put over it and will makes it last all day. Also perfect for applying all over the lid then placing a darker colour into the socket and then really blending out. I have to say I use Vanilla alot. As for 'Fudge' the swatch really does the talking...just a gorgeous shade and really lovely blended out. I can also imagine these being perfect on more mature skin - as the mousse really glides over the eye lid and doesn't settle into any lines. Just a really nice, easy to use product that will last you ages! - Also a little birdy tells me there are lots of sample sizes of the eye mousses on Ebay.
All About Face Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil ' Bronze' - £1.50
For the price I had to include this, it's just a really soft creamy eyeshadow that you can use directly onto the lids. It did say that it was crease-less...however that is very untrue and really does need some kind of base or eye primer to keep it in place or by the end of the day this will look awful....trust me! Having said that everything else about it is perfect.
It's really pigmented and just glides on. This also comes in a silver shade and I think maybe a pastel purple...but this my far the nicest of the shades.
Really worth a try if you are on a budget!
Rimmel Colour Mousse 8hr 'Breezy' - £5.00
These are very similar to the Bourjois Shimmering Shine eyeshadows in the fact that the mousse has that same cooling effect on the eyelid - not sure it makes the eyeshadow look any prettier but it is a nice feature! Also one of the shinier of all the liquid/ mousse eyeshadows I own, something to do with being 25% purified water or something. But anyways these come in a wide range of shades and can be bought from Asos.com, Boots etc . They also have afew darker shade such as Black Pearl and Midnight Blue which could be really worth a look.
Again this is a product that you need such a little amount.
As for favourites, I think they are all great!
However another product that is worth a try is the Urban Decay cream eyeshadows that are actually only £5.50 at the moment at Asos down from £11.00!
Make sure to look out for Part 2 - Affordable metallic loose eyeshadows.
Most Repurchased Makeup
Max Factor Second Skin Foundation £13.99
M&S Smoke Eyeliner Pencil
£2.50
This really is the best true smokey eyeliner I have ever owned, as you can see it is a slightly blue/grey/black smokey shade - it's actually quite hard to describe. But this is amazing to smudge around the eye and on the top waterline - however it's not too smudgy. It also lasts all day and night. You really can't go wrong with this!
Benefit It Stick
£6.95
I'm sure this retails for more on the Benefit website or at the scary Benefit counters, however on the Cheap Smells website it's only £6.95! This is supposed to conceal fine lines and what not however I think it pretty much conceals anything, especially my veiny under eyes! Also concealers spots and helps with redness around the nose. It's just a really good, quite soft concealing pencil that suits anyone with paler to medium skin.
No7 Eyeshadow Blend & Contour Brush
£6.50
I'm not even going to get into how this compares to the MAC 217 brush - I just know this is a great brush for blending with. Just so, so soft and works perfectly with just little circular movements in the eye socket.
Also surprisingly good for blending out any contouring under the cheekbones and for highlighting along the brow bone, cupids bow and cheekbones. So for that reason I actually have two of these. One for blending eyeshadow and one for blending highlighter.
For the price a really great brush.
Barry M Toffee Lip Gloss Wand No.2
£4.25
Again I own two of these one for at home and one to keep in my bag at all times! I am seriously in love with this lip gloss. It tastes so so good, especially when your hungry!!
It also seems to be unlike any other highstreet lipgloss in the fact it isn't sticky or tacky, amazing if you have long hair and it's windy!
But most importantly it's like my lips but better, if that makes sense...it goes with any type of makeup and just evens out my lip colour and slightly tones down the redness in my lips and ofcourse makes them abit sparkly!
It's worth noting that if you looking in Boots or Superdrug for this if won't say 'Toffee' anywhere on it...just a number 2 on the bottom!
I've shared with you my most repurchased makeup, so I would love to know what your main repurchased makeup product is!
NOTD - Twister Matt Finish by George
Illamasqua Inspired New Hermetric Lipgloss
There seems to be so much talk of the upcoming Art of Darkness collection by Illamasqua and I have to say the collection looks very inspiring and creative, especially the promo images and all the different characters. My favourite being the Queen of the Gypsies.
So alluring and quite sultry, my main attraction being the gilded skin and the almost venomous red lips. Also a look that that be translated into something quite sexy for A/W.
However at first glance of the lovely Hermetric Intense lipgloss I knew I had a shade very similar in the form of a NYX Chrome Eyeshadow pigment as it really has that metallic element and richness to it, that I knew would be perfect.
Now the Illamasqua Intense lipgloss' at £12.50 aren't that pricey really...however I know Hermetric isn't a shade I wouldn't be wearing that often as I am not that daring and of course £2.99 for a 2g eyeshadow that has a multitude of uses sounds alot better to me! Also having the added benefit of only mixing the lipgloss together when desired or making up a small pot of it.
As you can see the shade I mixed up isn't spot on but it does have the same qualities of the Hermetric Lipgloss, but to be honest I quite like my lighter version of it as it's that bit more wearable. However if you did want it even more similar you could always add the smallest amount of black pigment when mixing.
The actual eyeshadow I used was the NYX Chrome Eyeshadow in Penny (17) which you can purchase from Fragrance Direct for £2.99. I have found these types of eyeshadows so so versatile - you can just use them as intended as an eyeshadow, you can apply them with a damp brush for a more intense look, you can use them as eyeliner, nail polish and ofcourse lipgloss.
Your options are endless!
So to mix the lipgloss, I simply use the back of my hand to work on (make sure you have some makeup remover to hand though).
The bottom swatch is what the eyeshadow normally looks like if you are wondering. A really nice red/rusty metallic shade.
Anyway, I first apply enough clear lipgloss on the back of the hand, I find only a small blob is actually enough and makes the lipgloss easier to apply, especially with it being a darker shade than most glossies. I then scoop up a generous amount of the eyeshadow and place it next to the clear gloss. The amount doesn't really matter as once you have mixed what you need to, you can just shake of the rest of the loose eyeshadow into a tissue or the sink.
I then get onto mixing it - I just use a standard lip brush to pat the colour into the lipgloss and within seconds it will be looking as you wanted it to look. Really simple.
Then you can just apply this to the lips.
Ofcourse this all can be done in a little sample pot if you wanted more than just one application of it.
Really hoped you liked this as I know it's something that bit different for my blog.
I also before applying the lipgloss lined my lips with a deep red lip liner just to give a sharper edge, I wouldn't normally do this with lipgloss however it is such a vivid colour that I thought it need to look that bit cleaner on the lips.
Also as I mentioned before you can always deepened the shade with a darker pigment - here I just used a black pigment from Stargazer, again it cost me no more than £3.00.
However I wasn't feeling brave enough to show you all and to be honest I don't think I can pull a shade like that off!
As always comments are appreciated!