Airplane Beauty Essentials + Mini Haul!

Hi guys, I know I haven't posted for a few days but I will have a post up every other day this week (and hopefully next week) as I am writing a few as I am sitting here on the plane. Oh how I love my iPad!

Ok, so today, I am going to show you the beauty items I took on the plane.

Simple 'Kind to Skin Cleansing Wipes' - £1.29 from Boots

Cuticura Hand Sanitizer - £2.75 from Boots

Clinique 'All About Eyes' Eye Cream - £24.00 from Boots

Simple 'Kind to Skin Hydrating Light Mouisturiser' - £1.52 from Boots

Burt's Bees 'Refreshing Lip Balm with Grapefruit' - £3.69 from Burt's Bees

Dr Jart 'Regenrating BB Cream' - £21.00 from Boots

Rimmel 'Stay Matte Powder' - £3.99 from Boots

Sigma 'Breakfast with Audrey' and 'Miss Taylor' Retractable Kabuki Brushes - No link online

Kleenex 'Shine Absorbing Sheets' - £1.49 (normally £2.99) from Superdrug

Rimmel 'Volume Flash Mascara' - £5.99 from Superdrug

Burberry 'Body' Perfume Sample - £39.99 for 35ml from theperfumeshop

At the airport, my mum bought me the Marc Jacobs 'Dot' perfume which I had been wanting ever since I first saw it. As you may have seen in my Perfume Collection post I am ever so slightly obsessed with Marc Jacobs perfumes so this is a lovely addition to my collection!

She also bought my sister and I two eyeko mascaras which I am very excited to try!

Hope you enjoyed seeing my airplane beauty essentials and looking at my mini airport haul.

As I am finishing off this post, this is my view. I am so lucky!

Thanks for reading.

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August Favourites 2012

Goodness me, I can't believe August is over already. Seriously, can someone please tell me where that month went.. I go back to school on the 5th September so wish me luck guys!!

Overview:

iPad

So, yes, I got an iPad. I actually only got it on 29th August so I've only had it a few days. But yes, I consider it a favourite :)

I got the white 'New iPad' (or iPad 3). 

Michael Kors Crossbody Bag

I have literally only been using this bag this month. I also have this bag in pink but my black one has been used much more this month. This is quite a small bag but I find that it holds all my absolute essentials and then I'm good to go. Also, since I have been using this over a bigger bag, my back and shoulder have not been aching. Bonus! If you'd like to see a 'What's In My Bag' with this bag then leave a comment below :)

Kleenex Blotting Paper

I am in love with these things. There will be a full review coming very soon so I won't give much away. Basically, they are a necessity for people with oily skin, like me! I picked up 2 more packs of these in my recent haul post.

Miss Dior Cherie L'eau

This has been my most worn perfume of the month. I usually don't like citrusy scents but this one is simply amazing. I am so upset that they discontinued this fragrance. I will have to try the original Miss Dior Cherie when this one runs out! Also, how adorable is the bottle, it is by far my favourite out of the perfumes I own.

Maybelline 'One by One' Mascara

At first, I wasn't too keen on this mascara, I thought it was really drying out my lashes which meant it was a pain to remove. However, after giving this another go, and using my MAC Cleanse Off Oil (which is an awesome makeup remover) I had no problem with it. It separates my lashes so well and it honestly makes them look the longest they have ever looked!

The brush allows you to coat every single lash in mascara. It is a really good drugstore mascara!

Sigma F80 Brush & Real Techniques Powder Brush

I use the Sigma F80 brush to apply my foundation. I don't know why, but I really don't like applying foundation with my fingers. This brush is very densely packed and it buffs foundation in like a dream. I could not be without this brush. 

The real techniques powder brush has replaced my love for the Sigma (F20) Large Powder Brush. I do still use my sigma powder brush but I find that the real techniques brush just does a slightly better job. I still love Sigma brushes don't get me wrong.. I was thinking of doing a Makeup Brush Collection post if you guys would be interested??

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder

I don't really know what to say about this powder. It is awesome. That's all. :)

La Roche-Posay 'Effaclar Duo'

Another favourite of the month would have to be Effaclar Duo. Since I started using it I have noticed a big difference in the overall texture of my skin. I also think my acne scarring has faded slightly since using this. I like it so much that I picked up two other products from the Effaclar line which you can see in my recent haul. 

Favourite song of the month:

Taylor Swift - We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

View on iTunes - here

Favourite TV Show of the month:

Pretty Little Liars. I am in love with this show!

Hope you enjoyed seeing all my favourites of the month of August!

Thanks for reading.

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MAC Paint Pot Collection - Review and Swatches

So, as you can see, I have 9 of MAC's Paint Pots. These can be purchased for £14.50 each from MAC

Top row (Left to right) - Let's Skate!, Bare Study, Morning Frost

Middle row (Left to Right) - Nubile, Treasure Hunt, Rubenesque

Bottom row (Left to right) - Genuine Treasure, Idyllic, For Effect

MAC Let's Skate! - Glitter & Ice Collection

Light pink with gold shimmer. Doesn't look overly shimmery in the pot, but when swatched, it is very shimmery!

MAC Bare Study - Permanent Collection 

Cool toned beige. This is probably my favourite of my collection because as a primer it makes your eyes look much brighter. I also love using it as an inner corner and brow bone highlight, it's beautiful!

MAC Nubile - Posh Paradise Collection

Creamy peachy beige. This is a bit darker and pinker than my skin tone but I love using it as a base for my eyeshadow. This would be perfect for someone with a slightly darker skin tone.

MAC Morning Frost - Glitter & Ice Collection

Frosty taupe brown. I love using this on it's own if I'm feeling lazy! It makes your eyes look brighter and it is so simple to just sweep on in the morning!!

MAC Treasure Hunt - Posh Paradise Collection

Cool toned yellow gold. This is great as a base for golden shadow!

MAC Rubenesque - Permanent Collection

I love using this in the Summer. I will be taking it to America in October when I go on holiday. It is perfect for sweeping over the lid when you don't want much makeup on at all! Perfect summer colour.

MAC Genuine Treasure - Posh Paradise Collection

Glittery antique gold/bronze. Due to the glitter, the texture is pretty rough and gritty. It is also not as pigmented as any of my other Paint Pots. For those reasons, I don't use this very much..

MAC Idyllic - Posh Paradise Collection

Frosted burgundy red. I really like this colour but have not used it much at all. I think I will use it more when Autumn and Winter come around because it's definitely not a Spring or Summer colour. Very pretty though!!

MAC For Effect - Glitter & Ice Collection

Charcoal grey/black with silver shimmer. This is gorgeous as a base for a smokey eye. I will be using this more in Autumn and Winter because again, I don't think this is a very summery colour. 

Pros:

- Versatile. These can be used as a primer for your eyeshadow or can be used as a cream eyeshadow on their own or for a complete eye look.

- Quality. The MAC paint pots are extremely pigmented and creamy (with the exception of Genuine Treasure). They are also easy to work with as they are easily blend able and don't crease on me.

- Value. A 5g pot will last you a long time. I got my first Paint Pot (Bare Study) around 9 months ago and I have barely made a dent in it!

- Packaging. The glass pot makes the product feel very luxurious. However, if you don't like sticking (dirty) fingers in a pot, then maybe you could check out MAC's Paints which also retail for £14.50. If anyone has tried MAC Paints then comment below because I'd love to try one!!

Cons:

- Price. At £14.50 a pot, they are very expensive. However, they last a long time so you have to consider that too.

- Colour range. The colours in the permanent collection are all neutral. MAC release Paint Pots occasionally in limited edition collections but not that often.

Overall:

Packaging - 4/5

I love the luxurious feel of the product. Very impressive!

Product - 5/5

Long wearing. Easy to use. Pigmented. Creamy. Versatile. Awesome.

Price - 3/5

For how long they last, I can just about justify the price. For a cheaper alternative you could try Maybelline's Colour Tattoos which are £4.99

Tell me what you think of MAC Paint Pots in the comments!

Thanks for reading. xoxo

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July Favourites 2012

Wow, didn't July just fly by?!? I can't believe how quickly that went!!

Anyway, rant over!! Here are some of my favourites of July:

Beauty:

1. Burt's Bees 'Nourishing Mango Lip Balm' - £3.69 from Boots

2. Marc Jacobs 'Daisy Eau So Fresh - 75ml' - £38.00 from The Perfume Shop

3. Revlon 'ColorBurst Lip Butter - Pink Truffle' - £7.99 from Superdrug

4. MAC 'Powder Blush - Well Dressed' - £17.50 from MAC 

5. No7 'Beautiful Skin Quick Thinking Wipes' - £7.00 from Boots

Fashion & Accessories:

6. H&M Jumper - £14.99 from H&M

7. Accessorize necklace

8. Topshop 'Rose Gold Triangle Ring' - £5.00 from Topshop

Random:

Lily-Flame 'Chocolate Truffle Candle' - £8.50 from Lily-Flame

Oh and of course I have enjoyed writing a blog post every day during the Summer holidays!!!

Hope you enjoyed this post.

Thanks for reading. xoxo

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Make Up Academy 'Immaculate Collection Palette' Review and Swatches

MUA 'Immaculate Collection Palette' - £8.00 from MUA Store

As you can see, this palette comes with 24 shades. There are 4 matte shades in this palette - Shade 4, Shade 13, Shade 16 and Shade 20.

My favourites out of these 12 shades are definitely Shade 2, Shade 7 and Shade 11. Shade 4, the matte black is fairly pigmented - I had to layer a few layers to get it that opaque though. 

My favourites out of these shades are Shade 14, Shade 15, Shade 18 and Shade 21. 

Shade 15 and 24 are both really pretty and unique. Shade 15 is a green/gold duo chrome and Shade 24 is a pink/purple duo chrome colour. 

Shade 16, a matte grey is fairly pigmented and would make a good crease / blending colour. 

However, the other two mattes in the palette - Shade 20 (matte white) and Shade 23 (matte brown) - are not pigmented at all. You have to really dig your finger in to get some colour!! 

All of the shimmery shades have good pigmentation and texture and the matte shades are questionable to say the least. 

Pros:

- Price. At £8 for 24 eyeshadows (around 33p per eyeshadow) - most with great pigmentation and texture- you can't really go wrong. 

- Quality. 20 of the eyeshadows have amazing pigmentation and texture!

- Colour selection. There is a great range of colours in this palette. You get everything from neutrals to brights!!

Cons: 

- Packaging. I don't know if its just mine or what but I struggle to open this palette. The opening is very stiff and I feel like I'm going to break it every time I open it - However, I haven't yet!!

- Mattes. Bad pigmentation for the most part.

Overall:

Packaging: 3/5

I like the clear window that allows you to see all the colours; however, the palette is fairly difficult to open. Perhaps to secure..

Product: 4/5

The majority of the shades have amazing pigmentation and texture. However, MUA need to work on the formulation of their matte shades.

Price: 5/5

£8 for 24 shadows (33p a shadow). Amazing!!!

Leave a comment with your thoughts on this palette!

Thanks for reading. xoxo

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Urban Decay 'Naked Palette' - Review and Swatches

Urban Decay 'Naked Palette' - £36 from House of Fraser

The palette came with a mini 'Eyeshadow Primer Potion' (in the old packaging) and a 'Good Karma Shadow Brush'. I really like this brush as the bristles are really soft and it is good for packing shadow onto the lid. I also love the Primer Potion. I bought a full size of this in the new packaging and I prefer that packaging but they both work!

The palette consists of 12 warm neutral shades. There are 2 matte shades in the palette.

Left to Right - Virgin, Sin, Naked, Sidecar, Buck, Half Baked.

Virgin - Frosty creamy beige - This makes a beautiful inner corner colour. Not as harsh as white.

Sin - Metallic light pink - More cool than the other shadows.

Naked - Matte light nude/brown - for darker skin tones, this would be a good brow bone highlight.

Sidecar - Metallic pink toned brown - This is one of my favourite colours to sweep over the lid.

Buck - Matte darker brown, slightly red toned - Nice, natural crease colour.

Half Baked - Metallic yellow gold - This is super buttery and applies like a dream.

Left to Right - Smog, Darkhorse, Toasted, Hustle, Creep, Gunmetal.

Smog - Metallic deeper golden bronze - This looks so pretty in the outer corner.

Darkhorse - Frosty dark brown with gold sheen - Great outer corner colour or liner colour.

Toasted - Frosty medium pinky brown - This is another one of my favourites. So pretty!

Hustle - Metallic purple toned brown - Great crease colour


Here come the swatches!!

Top Row: Virgin, Sin, Naked (matte)
2nd Row: Sidecar, Buck (matte), Half Baked
3rd Row: Smog, Darkhorse, Toasted
Bottom Row: Hustle, Creep, Gunmetal

Pros:
- Quality. The shadows are all really pigmented and buttery. They blend really well too!!
-Wearability. These shadows are all really wearable. I don't use Creep or Gunmetal as much as the other colours but that's just personal preference.
- Packaging. Magnetic flip-up lid with a mirror. Sturdy - Good for travelling.

Cons:
- Price. £36 is quite a lot to pay for some eyeshadow. However, that makes it £3 per shadow so it is good value for money if you look at it like that.

Overall
Packaging: 5/5
Feels really sturdy but is still easy to open.

Product: 5/5
I seem to reach for this all the time when applying eyeshadow. The shade selection is amazing. Perfect for everyday and special occasions. Shadows are good quality. Blend easily and are the perfect texture.

Price: 3/5
It is a lot of money for a one off purchase but if you think about it, it is really good value for money. It is just a lot of money to be paying at one time...


Tell me what you think of the Naked Palette in the comments!
Thanks for reading. xoxo

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