Makeup

Sigma Beauty at HQHair

- Vicki 5 Comments
Sigma Makeup Review

I have never tried any products from Sigma Beauty but I always hear American YouTubers and Beauty Bloggers talking about this brand. You can purchase Sigma products from HQ Hair if you’re in the UK and they have a small selection of both makeup & brushes.

I have been testing out two products from them so I thought i’d let you know how I got on.

Sigma Beauty

First up the packaging of both makeup products is lovely and simple, I really like this minimal but bold style.

Sigma Power Stick in Sigma Pink* 

Hold on to your hats this is one heck of a bold pink – its POW in your face bold. Its pigmented and the colour is intense after just one application. Its a true magenta pink and its such a pretty shade. The formula is creamy and feels lovely on the lips. I thought with it having quite a buttery texture that it wouldn’t have great staying power but I was wrong, this stays put for hours and although the colour does wear down a little its still a lovely bright pink.

Sigma Pink Lipstick

The packaging is a gorgeous bold vibrant pink and the lipstick feels luxurious & quite weighty. It has a magnetic close which is very satisfying and means its not going to come undone in your handbag. It has Sigma embossed on the actual lipstick and a pretty holographic Sigma Pink logo on the outer pink packaging. It feels lovely in your hand and I think its up there in terms of quality. If you like that full coverage bold lip look then this Sigma Pink Power Stick is one you need to try.

I’m smitten and I now want to try a few more shades & there are 6 shades to pick from.

  • Sigma Pink: Signature magenta pink
  • Clover: Soft, wearable pink
  • In Spades: Earthy, natural lip color
  • Nancy: Soft peach
  • Bloody Good: Heirloom tomato red
  • Stamina: Electric, bold plum

Pink Sigma Lipstick

Sigma Makeup at HQ Hair

Sigma Line Ace Liquid Eyeliner* 

I do love an intense black liquid liner & love trying out new brands, they always have a lot to live up to if they are to beat my beloved Charlotte Tilbury. This Sigma eyeliner offering is in the shade Legend and its so jet black, as intensely black as it gets. It does have a glossy finish which I  personally do not mind. It dried down quite quickly and stayed put throughout the day, no transferring or smudging.

It has a very precise brush applicator, which was quite easy to use and I was able to get a very neat finish but I just prefer a nib rather than a brush. I find that is easier to achieve more of a bold liner look and I can control it better. I am going to practise a little more & see if it can win me over, because the colour is the blackest liner I have used.

This Line Ace comes in some beautifully vibrant shades & I think the purple looks amazing.

  • Sigma Pink: Signature magenta pink
  • Legend: Classic black
  • Inscription: Bold purple
  • Endorse: Bold white
  • Robust: Deep olive green
  • Monogram: Warm deep brown

Sigma Makeup Swatches

Have you tried anything from Sigma Beauty or do you like the look of the two products I have been testing out?

Urban Decay Alice Through the Looking Glass Lipsticks

- Vicki 2 Comments
UD Alice through the looking glass collection

Urban Decay Alice Through The Looking Glass Lipsticks

This limited edition Alice Through The Looking Glass collection from Urban Decay is just insane – the eyeshadow palette is full of bold beautiful shades and the packaging is luxurious and so much fun. The lipsticks are equally as vibrant and bold. I’m not really known for wearing a super bold lip but I’ve promised myself that I’m going to try & be brave enough to wear a few of these out and about.

There are five limited edition lipstick shades which are diverse and bold in colour they range from more wearable red, nude and berry shades to the more vibrant purple shimmer and a stunning blue. They are all very pigmented and feel lovely on the lips.

Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland Lipsticks

The packaging is just as eye catching as the lipstick shades themselves, they have a bold bright floral kaleidoscope pattern on both the outer cardboard as well as the actual lipstick packaging. This collection is as you would expect from such a colourful film as Alice Through The Looking Glass, its fun, exciting and a little playful.

The lipsticks are named after key characters from the film and I still can’t decide what my favourite shade is. You will have to let me know what shade is your favourite.

Urban Decay Disney Alice Lipsticks

Urban Decay Limited Edition Alice Lipsticks

Alice – Sheen Shimmer

This is a beautiful creamy sheer nude with a pink shift which looks gorgeous when the light hits it. This is the least vibrant of the 5 lipsticks but the pink shift in this formula gives it that pop of pink shimmer and makes it just that little more special. Yes its a nude lipstick but as you would expect from Alice its subtle and beautiful with a sparkle running through. This is a very pretty shade indeed and Its so hard to pick up the shimmer in photos.

Mad – Hatter Metallized

This is such a fun intense purple and I so want this to look good on me but I need a little practice in applying it, as It looked a little patchy on the lips. Its so bold and vibrant and although gorgeous the colour intimidates me slightly but Mad Hatter deserves such a quirky shade and I’ve seen this on a few people and it looks incredible, so I’m determined to wear it.

Urban Decay Alice Lipstick Swatches

Mirana (White Queen) Metallized

This is a beautiful deep rich berry shade, its quite dark on the lips but I just love these autumnal shades and this is one of my favourites from the collection. It can feel quite dry on the lips & it took a little perseverance to get an even coverage but I think thats quite common with the darker more matte shades.

Iracebeth – (Red Queen) Comfort Matte

This is such beautiful pigmented true red and the colour stays put for hours. This is lovely formula to apply and it dries down to a matte finish and compared to most matte formulas this doesn’t feel to dry on my lips. Its a gorgeous bright red and one that would look good on anyone.

Time Metallized

I think this is the quirkiest shade in the collection and it is a gun metal navy with silver shimmer, so it has it all going on! This isn’t a one swipe & you’re done lippie you need to take your time when applying to make sure you get an even application. I salute anyone who is able to wear this out and about, I love this shade but out of the collection I think its the hardest to wear and to apply.

UD Alice Through The Looking Glass Collection

So I would say the Urban Decay Alice Through The Looking Glass Lipsticks* offer something for everyone and invites you to step outside your makeup comfort zone. At first glance you may think the collection is a little off the wall or too quirky maybe, but it wouldn’t be doing the film justice if Urban Decay released a tame, subtle selection of everyday Pinks and Nudes. This is a fitting collection for a visually vibrant film.

My stand out shades are Iracebeth (gorgeous red) and Mirana (deep, rich berry) I think I will wear these two the most.

*PR Samples

House of Fraser Makeup Wish List

- Vicki 2 Comments

House of- Fraser Makeup Wishlist

Tom Ford Beauty Eye Colour Quad in Golden Mink £64.00

NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint SPF 30/PA+++ £30.00

Urban Decay Limited Edition Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette £40.00

MAC In Extreme Dimension Waterproof Mascara £19.00

Benefit Dew The Hoola Liquid Bronzer £22.50

Givenchy Les Saisons – Healthy Glow Powder £36.00

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick in shade 49 £29.00

bareMinerals Ready Colour Boost – the stolen heart £29.00

Perricone No Highlighter Highlighter £29.00

Benefit Cheekathon Blush Palette £44.50

Clinique Pop Lip Colour + Primer in Kiss Pop £16.00

YSL Touche Éclat Blur Perfector £32.50

I haven’t been makeup shopping for so long, I have been focusing on using up products that I have had for a while and falling back in love with products that I totally forgot I had. That doesn’t stop me from lusting over all the beautiful new releases and I have a cheeky wish list of products that I always add to my basket and then talk myself out of purchasing. Do you do the same?

Thats so true of the stunning Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette I think this is incredible value at £40 & I think I would get a lot of use out of the shades – I think I have just talked myself in to buying this, It is limited edition after all so I can’t wait around forever.

Also the Benefit Cheekathon Blush Palette is exclusive to House of Fraser and you get 5 full sized cheek products. I absolutely love their boxed powders & Rockateur is a personal favourite of mine. This would be such a cute palette to own.

I think I must be the only beauty blogger that has never owned a YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick – everything about them is so beautiful & I think 2016 is the year I treat myself to a shade that I will wear a lot & treasure. If you have any shade recomendations then let me know.

Perricone are a brand that I hear such positive things about and I like that their range is quite small and very specific, I want to try most things from them. I’m having a real love affair with highlighter at the moment & the one I’ve included on my wishlist sounds ideal – I like that you can wear it subtle or add more to make it a little more intense.

Let me know if you have any of my picks on your wishlist or if there is anything I should add.

This post has been written in collaboration with HOF but all opinions as always are my own

Shopping My Stash May 2016

- Vicki 3 Comments

Shopping My Stash May 2016

Cover FX CC Cream SPF30

This gives my skin a beautiful dewy radiant finish and It wears well on my skin throughout the day. It feels lightweight and is easy to blend, I have the shade N Light which is a perfect match for me. This is quite a thick cream which takes a little buffing to get a nice even coverage but it is worth the effort. It gives a nice natural light to medium coverage and it gives a lovely healthy glow to the skin. It has Broad Spectrum SPF30 in to its ideal for Summer.

Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes in Bountiful Beige

I think this will be a really nice brightening cream shadow for the warmer month. Just a simple champagne colour with a gorgeous shimmer finish (not glittery). Its so easy to apply & I like to wear it on its on all over the lid. I am so pleased I have rediscovered it.

Sleek Corrector and Concealer Trio SPF15 

Last time I used these I thought they were a little hard to blend but I like the colour selection & really want to give them another go. You get a peachy correcting shade, a concealer shade & a yellow toned powder. This is pretty good for travel & I am going on a road trip at the end May so this will be perfect to take with me. I am hoping now I have discovered my beauty blender that these are easier to blend using that.

Shopping My Makeup Stash May 2106

MaxFactor Berry Lipstick*

This is one of four reds that make up the Max Factor’s Marilyn Monroe Collection & this is my absolute favourite of them all. Its more of a berry red than a true red & I think thats why I like it so much, I love berry shades on me and think they compliment my completion. I am pretty excited that I have rediscovered this as I am heading up to Manchester for a few nights out and this is the perfect lippie for a an evening out.

BarryM Blusher 

WOW I’d forgotten just how bright and pink this is. I am trying very hard to fall back in love with blusher and use the few I own. As the weather is getting a little warmer I thought it would be a great time to wear this, if you use a light hand you can get more of a toned done pink and it actually looks pretty. This isn’t the most long wearing blush but to be honest I very rarely have my makeup on for longer than 5 – 6 hours.