Mac

YSL Beauty Releases

- Vicki 2 Comments
YSL Beauty

YSL Beauty

YSL Black Opium Floral Shock Eau de Parfum

This is the fragrance to accompany the mascara and it is a modern more youthful twist on such an iconic scent. Not only have YSL updated the scent but the glitter encrusted bottle has also had a revamp. The bottle is just as luxurious as the classic version but it now has subtle frosted pretty pink hues but it still looks just as glam rock!

  • Top notes – Bergamot Essence, Pear Accord, Freesia Accord
  • Heart notes – Orange Blossom Absolute, Golden Gardenia Accord, Solar-floral accord
  • Base notes – Coffee Accord, Sandalwood Accord, Vanila

The fresh mix of fruity and floral scents work really well together and the addition of coffee is unusual but gives the scent a warmth that is quite sexy. Whilst the vanilla and sandalwood offer both sweetness and luxury. I am in love with it and I think if you find the original a little too heavy and heady, this Floral Shock version will feel more fresh and youthful but still with that edginess you expect from YSL Opium.

YSL Touche Éclat Blur Primer

This is very lightweight, not sticky at all and it sits so well on the skin. It instantly visibly smooths, blurs pores and brightens the skin. It has tiny (very tiny) gold flecks which help give your skin that subtle glow without looking like a disco ball. It gives the skin a subtle matte finish without looking flat. I am one of those people that tends not to wear a primer on a daily basis but for a special occasion this is the perfect product to help your makeup look flawless, last for hours and help your skin look fresh. If you’re feeling spendy and looking for a new primer then this is a great one to try.

YSL The Shock Mascara

YSL The Shock Mascara

Off the bat I have to say the packaging isn’t as glamourous or what I would have expected from YSL, it doesn’t look or feel as luxurious as the price tag but if you’re willing to overlook that the product itself is pretty amazing. It has quite a long, slim wand and its helix shape helps give volume and drama to your lashes without having to apply layer upon layer of product.

It does have a tendency to clump but if I apply whilst doing that magic trickery of wiggling the brush through my lashes it helps separate my lashes and ensure the product is applied evenly from root to tip reducing the clumping and giving the ultimate high impact look. I love the jet black formula and think this is a fantastic mascara for evening and making the most of your natural lashes without the need to apply falsies.

• This post contains PR samples

Shopping My Stash October 2015

- Vicki 3 Comments

Shopping My Makeup Stash

INIKA Mineral Foundation*

I’m not someone that uses mineral makeup, I am so clumsy and often I get more on the floor or my vanity than I do my face. In a nutshell loose mineral products scare me & the potential for mess is huge! I saw this INIKA powder foundation in my stash & I thought it was high time I used it again, I used it a little when I first got it but over time it was pushed to the back of my stash. I have been using this over my liquid base, which is usually my bareMinerals Complexion Rescue and it adds a little more colour and coverage but not full coverage by any means, so still quite natural but it looks so flawless and smoothing.

I am in love. I don’t think my base has ever looked as good and I use very little powder so it never looks overdone or like I have on a lot of makeup. I can’t believe I have never tried this before. I also like that this is 100% vegan and cruelty free. The powder also contains Titanium and Zinc Oxides provide natural sun protection with SPF15.

Lord & Berry Twistick in Shut Up 

I absolutely love lip crayons and think they’re such a no fuss quite effortless lip option and this Lord & Berry one is a gorgeous Autumnal shade. Its a deep berry and is very pigmented on the lips. Its quite a creamy formula so it won’t dry out your lips but it also means you will have to reapply throughout the day but the colour is just gorgeous. So pleased to have re discovered this and I have been keeping it in my handbag and using it most days.

Benefit Gimme Brow in Medium Deep

LOVE this product, its all I have been using in my brows. Its natural but gives them enough colour so they looked filled in but not too dramatic and I like that it also holds my brow hairs in place so they look neat and tidy on my face! The brush is just the perfect size its small enough that you won’t get product all over your forehead and you will be able to tame those brows with precision. I have repurchased this on many an occasion and & I can’t believe I had forgotten about it. I blame the house move, I am only now getting my makeup stash in order and rediscovering products. If you haven’t tried Gimme Brow you need to, its a must have in my opinion.

etos Smokey Eyes Eyeshadow 

I don’t use this to create a smokey eye but I like how pretty the shadows are and think they look natural on the lid and are ideal for a fresh daytime eye look. I bought this a while ago in a chemist in Amsterdam and I have hardly used it (eyeshadow hoarder) but this pink tones in this trio are pretty and not the colours I would normally use so I have been enjoying experimenting with those and creating a very pretty mauve pink eye look.

Shopping My Makeup Stash November

Maybelline Dream Flawless Nude Foundation

I do have a lot of foundations (too many) so I need to have them on rotation, that way I use them instead of gravitating towards just one. This month I have looked out my Maybelline Dream Flawless Nude Foundation this gives a beautiful satin finish to the skin and I am always shocked with how little product you need because it blends out so well. I would say that if you are prone to dry skin this foundation does cling to any dryness so use a primer or just make sure you moisturise well. I love the bottle too but I do wish it had a pump, as I said before I am clumsy and this is just a disaster waiting too happen.

The Body Shop All in One Instablur Primer

This has quite a thick gel formula and I find it takes a little time to work it in to the skin. I don’t often use a primer but I have had this one open for almost a year and I didn’t want it to go off and have to throw it away before I had the chance to really put it to the test. I use this to smooth my skin and give it that blurred effect, you don’t need a lot of product otherwise it can feel quite greasy on the skin, I apply it to my forehead, chin and a little down the sides of my nose. I do think my makeup applies well over the top and makes it look smooth, I wouldn’t say this was good for smoothing over blemishes but it is good as a primer if you want to achieve a flawless look with your foundation. I won’t repurchase because I like the Laura Mercier Primer better

Bath & Body Works Pocketbac in Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin

I am on the fence about the new B&BW packaging but I couldn’t resist a Autumn scent & this is sweet but not in a sickly sugary way. These are just a fun product, I know they contain alcohol before you all say how drying they are for your hands. I just love the range of scents and they’re a good way of keeping hands sanitised. Let me know what your favourite scents are.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

5 From MAC Cosmetics

- Vicki 16 Comments

I have a very small MAC collection, but the products I do have I love & use quite a lot. There are lots of eyeshadows I would like to try and I’m treating myself to them slowly. If you have any suggestions as to what products I need to try from MAC I would love to hear them & let me know if you have any of the ones I mention.

5 From Mac Cosmetics

MAC Pro Longwear Paintpot in Rubenesque – I have three paint pots & love them, they’re so easy to use and I find these Mac ones last for ages without drying out. Rubenesque is a pretty burnt orange colour, It’s creamy and pigmented. I think it has a slight frosty look to it and its so pretty. I often wear this alone all over the lid, I love how effortless cream shadows are to apply. It does make a really good base under shadows too & acts as a primer so they wear longer & the colour is bold and doesn’t crease.

MAC Sharon Osbourne Duchess Eyeshadow Quad – I know this was limited edition so I’m sorry but I do love it & the four shades that are included in this quad are my perfect colours. I’ve included this quad because I do like MAC eyeshadows as a whole. I’ve 11 in total & they’re all great quality. I like that they have such a huge selection of colours and finishes plus the quality is always so good, so I think they are worth the price tag (not that they’re massively expensive).

But focusing on this Duchess quad, all four shades are lovely, pigmented and very blendable. They work well worn together or alone & unlike a lot of palettes / quads there isn’t one dud shade, they’re all beautiful. Embark is matte and slightly dry but still pigmented, Sweet Eyes & Sexy Eyes are Veluxe Pearl and Femme Fatale is a Satin finish. I travel with this quad quite a lot & really love the quality of the shadows & the neutral smokey eye looks I (try) to create.

MAC Duchess Quad Swatches

MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Sweet Heat – The quality of this shadow is so nice, it looks like liquid metal. The finish looks metallic and you get amazing colour pay off. Sweet Heat is a peachy champagne colour with a super metallic finish. I like that this is a brightening colour & it stays pigmented all day without fading & you get no fall out either. You can use these Extra Dimension eye shadows wet or dry depending on how pigmented you want it to be. I love this eyeshadow & its a very pretty colour to wear all over the lid. This shade was from the Magnetic Nude Collection.

MAC Swatches

MAC Mineralized Skin Finish in Soft & Gentle – I use this highlighter all the time & it’s lasted ages, there is hardly a dent in it. I have to say its such good value for money. It looks a little sparkly in the pan but don’t be put off, It’s not shimmery but adds a flattering luminous glow to the skin, its beautiful when the light hits & makes you look like you have had the best Summer holiday! The product is baked and so very finely milled, it never looks powdery or too over done just beautiful on the skin (just apply with a light hand & remember less is more). I love having this in my collection & it gets a lot of love.

Five from mac

Mineralize Satinfinish SPF 15 Foundation – Sadly this has been discontinued but I have a tiny bit left which I’m using sparingly. I just love the coverage & smooth finish it gives. It offers a light coverage and reminds me of the Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in that its quite reflective (not shimmery). It gives the skin a fresh luminous finish and easy to blend the only downside is that is doesn’t last all day on my skin, I do need to touch up after 6 hours or so. As I said it is discontinued now but this is the only MAC Foundation I have liked up till now. This is in the shade NC25.

Let me know what Mac products you love, I do have some more to share with you but I will save those for another post.

Sharon Osbourne Duchess Quad

- Vicki 12 Comments

Mac Osbourne Collection

Osbourne Collection Mac

It’s been a very long time since I bought anything from Mac, let alone something from a Limited  Edition Collection but I just couldn’t resist this Sharon Osbourne Duchess Eyeshadow Quad. I bought it from my local Mac store and I bought the second to last one, I did want the Kelly one too but that had sold out but after seeing them both side by side in store I preferred the Sharon one. Nothing else from the Collection caught my eye.

I like the packaging and really like the new clear palettes, they are so user friendly and feel sturdy and have magnetic closing, that is so satisfying. The red looks glamorous and cute on my dressing table. I’m pretty chuffed I treated myself to it.

Sharon Osbourne Quad

This Quad has four shades that I will get a lot of wear from, the only permanent colour is Embark, the other 3 are exclusive to this palette.

  • Sweet Eyes (Veluxe Pearl) light champagne nude
  • Sexy Eyes (Veluxe Pearl) – bronzed toned & quite like a rose gold.
  • Femme Fatale (Satin) golden brown
  • Embark (Matte) deep matte reddish brown

All four shades are pigmented and very blendable, Embark is slightly dry but still pigmented. I think they work well together & unlike a lot of palettes / quads there really isn’t one dud shade, they’re all beautiful.  Three of the four have a pretty shimmer frosted finish and I think they will be gorgeous for Summer, I wouldn’t  say they’re overly frosted or shimmery but just enough to add some iridescence, glow and brightness to your look.I’m excited to try lots of different looks with these four shades.

I seem to be drawn like a magpie to Mac’s Pearl and Veluxe finishes and own quite a few others. So this quad will fit well into my collection, also I love neutral shadows too so these I’m sure will be getting a lot of love. If you can’t tell already Im very happy to have snapped one of these up & I’m going to enjoy using it.

Mac eyeshadows

Top – Bottom – Sexy Eyes // Sweet Eyes // Embark // Femme Fatal

Did you manage to get anything from Kelly or Sharon’s collection for Mac?

Sharon Osbourne Duchess Eyeshadow Quad £33.00