I'm back again with my round-up of the best products from all the high street make-up brands!
Here are my personal favourite products from Collection 2000, Boots No7 and Sleek.
Collection 2000
Collection 2000 to me is a true high street makeup line and hasn't changed in recent years like other brands. It's still cheap, fun and simple. But if you look closely you will find some real gems!
Hotlooks Fast Dry Nail Polish (8ml/£1.79)
The phrase 'hot looks' and the font do slightly term me of these nail polishes however I always have to put that aside as the shade range is so nice and fun. The shades definitely try to be on-trend and really as the best low cost nail polishes I have found aside from George at Asda nail polishes. They are all fairly opaque taking only two coats and looks quite shiny and even when applied. Just nice little nail polishes for such a small price.
Lasting Perfection Concealer (£4.19)
This is definitely the hidden gem of the brand, as for the price this is the best opaque concealer you will find on the high street! If you do suffer from spots and find your current concealer isn't doing a good enough job in covering them then really, try this! My go-to concealer for spots and even concealering under eye circles. Just a dream concealer that lasts!
Dazzle Me! Eye Dust (Around £3 each from eBay)
Forget Barry M Dazzle Dusts, these are were it's at! Okay... well maybe not as they have been stupidly discontinued by Collection 2000. But still, you can find these on a lot of websites, in pound shops and there are tons on eBay to be had, so at least if you want a certain shade you can get it still. The pigments come/came in such lovely shimmery pearlescent shades and I highly doubt anyone would be able to finish one of the pots as you need so little but you get so much product. The gold/pink shade above is Paradise and the green/gold is Lustrous.
No7
To me No7 are a mid-priced brand that quite a lot of people find over priced. But I do think the quality of the products do warrant the prices. There is nothing bold about No7 but if you want to look polished and preened then this is the brand for you. However it is nice that Boots do the £5 off vouchers so often - making No7 an affordable brand for anyone.
No7 Brushes (From £7.00)
These along side Eco Tools are the best makeup brushes on the high street. They may seem a little steep per brush but with the No7 £5 off vouchers they become very affordable. The best brushes from No7 seem to be their eye brushes with my favourite being the Blend & Contour brush for blending eyeshadow... I actually have 4! I also love the precision eyeliner brush, which I own two of - one for concealer and one for with gel eyeliner. These really are a staple of my brush collection and they have really held up well. Really nice brushes.
Stay Perfect Eye Mousse (5ml/£9.00)
These really as just lovely mousse eye shadows that glide onto the eyelids and blend easily even with just using the fingers. I think these are aimed at the over 40's so really won't stay for anyone with oily lids. But for anyone over 40 or anyone with normal eyelids these really do look lovely. Just the right amount of shimmer and they do come in some lovely tones. Very flattering for most eyes.
Quick Cover Blemish Stick (3g/£8.00)
I feel I'm becoming a broke record with these concealers now as I must have talked about them over 6 times on my blog already... but I do own 4 of the shades! This product just works wonders for oily spots... and lets face it, which over high street brand has a concealer that is focused towards oily skin and soaking up excess oil? None! So if you do have oily skin that breaks out a lot then this really is the concealer designed for you!
Sleek
Sleek are still fairly new to the high street but have some A-mazing products that not only give you a lot for your money but are also really good quality. Sleek really are the only high street brand that caters for all skin tones and has the largest shade range of all the high street foundations! Just really impressive and a fun brand to use.
New Skin Revive Foundation (35ml/£7.30)
This is just a good quality foundation that I actually cannot see any flaws with. Like I mentioned above, this foundation has the largest selection of shades with 30 in total, plus for only £2.99 (here) you can purchase a tester kit that comes with 5x2ml shade samples with a choice of 5 shade ranges to pick from, so that you can find your perfect match. This definitely contains more silicone than other foundations I own, so it applies and blends very easily. The coverage is medium and the finish is semi-matte and is also oil-free. Not a hugely mentioned foundation online or in the media but definitely one to try out for the quality and price!
Eyeshadow Palettes (£6.49)
Now if you like eye shadows and haven't got at least one of these palettes then you NEED to, right now! These really are a lovely addition to the high street... though I think I may have enough now with my 6 palettes. Each palette contains 12 good sized eye shadows in mainly shimmery and frost shades with a few mattes in each palette. My favourites have to be either the Storm i-divine palette or the Oh So Special palette. Super pigmented, super smooth and just super lovely.
Sleek Blush (8g/£4.30)
These blushes are my favourites, ever! Yes, I said it and I do actually mean it... I think! I'm not a massive blusher fan, though I do wear it most days. However these blushers just come in some of the best shades and they really do complement the skin. Again like the eye shadows the blushes are highly pigmented and you only need the smallest of amounts, meaning one 8g blush with last you forever. If you don't trust me on this, have a quick swatch when you next spot a Sleek stand in Superdrug.
Should I make a Part 4? Or is that pushing it! I feel like I could go on and on with these posts but then really would I have anything to post about?!
Read Part 1 & 2 featuring - Rimmel, Maybelline, Natural Collection, Elf, 17 and Bourjois here.
Really hope you all enjoyed part 1 containing my favourites from Bourjois, ELF and Rimmel (see here) as I thoroughly enjoyed writing it.
So here is part deux following the same theme...
17
17 are just one of those brands that are fun and well priced! I love that they are always coming out with new limited edition ranges and also giving us products we need like the first lower priced primer and matte top coat. They are just totally on the ball and that is what makes them so good!
Wild Curls Mascara (9ml/£6.29)
This is my favourite mascara along side YSL Faux Cils mascara which is a pricey £22! This doesn't give as much volume as the Faux Cils mascara does, but it does give incredible results especially if you wiggle it at the base of the lashes and also add a second coat on the out part of the lashes for a really feline look. Is for it's curling claimed I'm not 100% sure it lives upto it however it does give a lovely fanned out effect on the lashes. Also the formula with this is just perfect. The best mascara in the whole 17 range.
Supreme Shine Nail Colour (10ml/£3.99)
If you have a love of super shiny nails that have a gel like finish to them, then this range is for you! The formulation and brush make for a super easy application and a lot of the bolder shade only need one thick coat to be opaque and the pastel shades taking 2/3 coats however. Also the clear Lasting Fix nail polish (£2.99) is another favourite of mine.
The 10-day wear claim is a tad bold but the polishes do last for around 4/5 days before chipping I have found.
Solo Eye Shadow - (£3.89)
You just need to read the reviews on the Boots website to see that these eye shadows are loved by many. For the price the shade range, texture and finish of these eye shadows are just outstanding. I have so many favourite neutral shimmery shades that I love in this range that really do remind me of Urban Decay eye shadows in texture. The texture really is the most surprising thing about the shadows at they are just so soft and creamy feeling. Again if you have never been tempted by these just have a swatch of a few of the shades when you are next in Boots and you may just be impressed!
Maybelline
Until the start of this year Maybelline hadn't been on my radar for quite some time, all their products seemed okay but they remained just okay. But suddenly this year Maybelline seem to stepped up their game and brought out some fabulous new products.
Forever Strong Pro Nail Polish
(10ml/£4.09)
The Forever Strong range really is my new found love as I just can't get enough of them right now! What I love most about the Forever Strong range is that the formula is strong and actually sets hard once dry. So no perfectly nude nails being ruined by opening a jar or catching them on your keys. Plus the polish actually does make your nails feel stronger whilst wearing it which I really love. Also there are some fab shades in the range from brights to lots of pretty neutrals.
Dream Satin Liquid Foundation (30ml/£8.19)
I have a feeling I'm pretty rubbish when it comes to describing foundations so you may have to bear with me and maybe not take the follow as fact! This is a medium to full coverage foundation which has a very soft, light feeling to it that is probably best for oily/combination/normal skin as it does tend to look cakey on dry skin. What I love most about this foundation is that it does give a really good even coverage and a slight dewy look to the skin without feeling heavy in the least! The only downside to this foundation is that is does look thick when applied over dry patches, so moisturizing pre-foundation is a must if you have dry/combination skin. But overall this is an understatedly good foundation.
Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner
(£7.99)
Ahhh, the most lovely low end gel liner you will come across! Without going into raptures about this, this is the most amazing gel liner I have tried on the high steet and does rival other more high end eye liners! The liner is opaque, it applies smoothly, dries quick, doesn't dry out in the pot, is the right consistency for a gel liner and the brush that comes with it is also pretty dam decent! The only thing now is for Maybelline to bring out some more shades!
Natural Collection
Natural Collection my first ever dabble with makeup (like many I'm sure)! Granted their packaging is cheap as... but they are a subtle confident brand with decent products that can't be faulted for theor low price. They aren't a brand I rely on as such but nor would my make-up bag be without them when I want a cheap tinted moisturizer that does the job perfectly or a pretty shimmery eyeshadow for in the crease.
Moisture Shine Lipstick (Boots £1.99)
For £2 you really cannot go wrong with these! As someone with dry lips these are just perfect for me and just the right side of being pigmented but also hydrating. These also come in some lovely, lovely shades like Pink Mallow and Candy Mist. I still have a lot more shades I want to try though as they are such fool proof lipsticks that you can't not like!
Solo Eye Shadow (£1.79)
I've been purchasing these solo eye shadow for many years now as they are just so soft and pigmented which is what I like! The shimmery eye shadows in the range are my favourite are they have some beautiful shades like Moss Shimmer and Asteroid (above - the swatches really does show how nice they are especially the green shade) however they also do some pretty nice matte shadows with Chocolate Milk springing to mind for being really soft and for being a lovely lid colour. The only thing you do need to watch with these is a bit of fall out but for the price you really can't complain when everything else is so good!
Nail Colour (8ml/£1.89)
I think this swatch of Hibiscus (here) just shows what you can expect from this £1.89 line of nail polishes. From all the shades I have tried in the past they have all given even application with no glopping and always pretty opaque in finish. Just lovely cheap nail polishes that don't feel cheap by being on the thin side which is what I really like and also that they are nice and shiny!
Make sure to watch out for part three next week! I'm thinking Collection 2000, N07 and something else!
When you accumulate so many cosmetics (sadly like myself) it can be hard to see the wood for the trees and which products you love by which brands. So to cleanse my makeup palette I thought I'd rummage through my makeup and pick out my personal favourites and then show you by brand!
Bourjois
Myself and Bourjois have a love/hate relationship. I love a lot of their products but sadly their prices are a bit steep for the high street. However it is nice to know their products are of great quality and do last a long time!
Bronzing Powder shade 51 (16g/£6.99)
This IS the best high street bronzer you will find, fact! This really is what a bronzer should be, it's so smooth, non-orangy, blends well, no shimmer, perfect for contouring, perfect for bronzing, smells heavenly and if that isn't enough... for just under £7 it contains a huge 16g of product which will last you literally forever!
Now this is more my love of Bourjois foundations in general as they are such good quality. My personal favourite is the Bio Detox as I like to use natural ingredients on my skin whenever I can but as it is so natural it doesn't feel as smooth and definitely don't blend as easy as other foundation (which is due to it not containing silicone) but I love that Bourjois have given me a high street organic foundation. But the best all round foundation by Bourjois has to be Healthy Mix (30ml/£9.99) which is amazing for oily/combination/sensitive or normal skin, just such a good quality foundation that is comparable to a lot of high end foundations.
Little Round Pot Blusher (2.5g/£7.49)
These are just lovely blushers for the high street. They come in such a good range of shades and seem to compliment every skin tone. As for pigmentation the baked blushers allow you to just have a sweep of colour or you can build up the colour for a more contoured look. Just really nice and very good quality.
ELF Studio line
Elf is another brand that I have a love/hate relationship with... but I do feel I am a little harsh with e.l.f as when they are good they are very good! But I can't forgot that when they are bad they are basically crap! So it's definitely a brand that you need to know what you want to purchase and then have a look at a few blog reviews before hitting 'checkout'. Which is exactly how I came across all their amazing quality products.
Cream Eyeliner (4.7g/£3.50)
Other than Maybelline's quite new gel liner the high street doesn't really do potted cream/gel eyeliners, so these fill the gap perfectly coming in 8 different shades! I have quite a few of these and have to say they apply well (even though on the soft side) and stay put all day. The brown is a favourite of mine as who else does a good brown not glittery cream liner for under £5! Just really great and they don't dry up!
Blush & Bronzer Compact (8g/£3.50)
Love, love, love this duo compact which is amazing value for the quality and amount you get! Just two pretty shades that will suit a wide range of skin tones - one being a pretty pink/peach with golden shimmer and the other a great bronzer with no noticeable shimmer or glitter on the skin, which even though is slightly too dark for very pale skin does make a great contour shade.
Powder Brush (£3.50)
This is my favourite brush from the ELF studio line which I have two of, one for using with setting powder and the other for sometimes applying my liquid foundation with. This just seems the most perfect brush for patting on translucent powder and then sweeping it off with the side of the brush. I've have minimal shedding with this and it has kept it's shape though washing it every week for the last year! Again, just a great quality product for such a low price. You really can't go wrong with this brush or even the studio line of brushes.
Lip Stain (12ml/£3.50)
Lip stains are known for being drying and this really is no different but what I love is that ELF have realized this and included a gloss with the product which make the stains a lot more lip friendly. Also I love the shade range with 'Birthday Suit' being my favourite shade. Just a great line for people that love stains but don't want to be spending £7+. Here are some great swatches from xsparkage.
Rimmel
Rimmel have been a brand that I've used for many years but I've never noticed how many products I rely on daily until now really! They are just there with their reliable products that just do the job which is what I love about them. Also it's one of the few brand that have good quality products but haven't increased their prices in recent years.
Colour Mousse Eye shadow (5ml/£4.99)
These mousse eye shadows seem to get no attention at all and I haven't a clue why as they are pretty damn amazing! These are the most beautiful shimmery, pigmented, long lasting eye shadows you will find on the high street and they will last you forever and a day! I literally have only good things to say about the eye shadows which I have to say are more liquid than mousse in texture, they feel so nice to apply with a lovely cooling effect and last on the eye all day (unless you have a problem with oily eyelids). If you don't trust me on anything else trust me on this and swatch a few when you next spot a Rimmel stand!
Stay Matte Foundation (30ml/£5.99)
This is my go-to foundation on really hot days as I know this will keep the shine at bay and will last all day on my skin however hot it gets! It is light on the skin but gives a nice medium to full coverage and just blends like no other foundation with no cakey-ness. A really good quality feeling foundation for Rimmel.
Stay Matte Pressed Powder (14g/£3.99)
I have been using this for many, many years now and cannot be without it! I use this daily down my t-zone and it keeps oily pores at bay all day long. Really finely milled and not at all heavy looking on the skin. Another really great product from Rimmel.
Of course these are just my own stand out products from each brand and I'm sure you all have your own favourites, so please do tell me if you don't agree/love something I haven't mentioned.
Also make sure to keep your eyes peeled for part 2 containing Maybelline, Natural Collection and 17!
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