Real Techniques PowderBleu Makeup Brushes

Real Techniques PowderBleu

Real Techniques Powder Bleu Collection

Real Techniques have really expanded their brush range over the past couple of years and they cater for all of your makeup brush needs (and wants). Everything from mini travel brushes & makeup sponges to more luxurious, pretty brushes. I’ve never tried a brush from Real Techniques that I didn’t like, their products are always fantastic quality and I love that they release limited edition and fun collections throughout the year. I’m a sucker for a limited collection.

I’ve been trying a selection of brushes from the recent Powderbleu Collection, made with FauxBleu synthetic bristles which are meant to perform as well as the infamous Blue Squirrel haired brushes which were so prestigious within the makeup industry. All the brushes are incredibly soft, but I have to mention how nice the handles are. They are a blue ombre and I just love the blue hues in this collection, the colour looks incredibly luxurious and gives me those old Hollywood vibes. I think it is the mix of deep blue and gold touches. Very glamorous! The handles are long, quite slim and taper to a point which makes them very ergonomic to hold and use.

Beautiful Real Techniques Makeup Brushes

B01 Soft Powder Brush £22.00

This is a huge, soft but dense powder brush that tapers at the top. It is like a much bigger version of the Soft Finishing brush. I like to use this to apply my finishing powder on top of my foundation. This picks up powder so well and is so light to sweep across my skin without disturbing my base. It feels so soft against my skin and my powder has such a flawless finish when I use this. It is a lovely brush to have in my collection, and I’ve used it every time I’ve worn makeup for the past 5 weeks.

B02 Soft Finishing Brush £22.00

Out of the four brushes that I have been testing, this is the only one that shed any bristles, and I was a little annoyed because it continued to shed even after I had washed it. This brush is domed and dense and is designed to blend + buff powder foundation onto skin for buildable, shine-free coverage, but I haven’t been using it for this purpose. I have instead found it excellent at applying powder blusher and bronzer, it picks up a good amount of product and places it nicely on my cheekbones. Because it is slightly tapered at the end, it means you get a higher degree of accuracy when placing the product. I also use this brush to blend out the blush/bronzer so it looks subtle and seamless.

Powderbleu Makeup Brushes

B03 Soft Complexion Brush £22.00

This is a wonderful brush for applying powder foundation, I have really been getting into mineral foundations this past 18 months, and I’ve almost always applied them with a standard kabuki brush which works well. This Soft Complexion Brush has a smaller, denser head, which makes buffing in the powder so much more effective. I also find having the long handle of a brush over the stubbiness of the kabuki brush easier to use, and it’s easier to lightly apply my foundation and really buff it in, giving me a soft focus finish.

B04 Soft Shadow Brush £15.00

The tapered, precision head of the Soft Shadow Brush makes it the perfect shape to layer and blend powder shadows for a naturally diffused look. It is incredibly soft, and it blends out your eyeshadow with ease. I would say out of the four brushes I have tried from this collection, this is the one I have used the most. Not only for creating beautiful soft eye looks but also for applying touches of highlighter to the areas you only want to place a subtle glow, like down the nose, brow bone and cupids bow. It is a lovely multi-use brush and I always say you can never have too many blending brushes in your collection, they always see so much use.

All brushes in this PowderBleu Collection are

  • Synthetic  FauxBleu™ Technology Bristles
  • Easy Clean
  • Long Lasting

I received the PowderBleu Brushes complimentary from Influenster for review purposes. All opinions are my own and completely honest.

Armani Ecstasy Shine Lip Cream Review

armani ecstasy shine lipcream

New Armani Lipsticks

Armani Beauty Ecstasy Shine

This brand new Ecstasy Shine launch from Armani Beauty combines the high shine finish of a gloss and the hydration of a balm into one handy lip cream. It is fantastic for giving a pretty wash of colour whilst also protecting and nourishing your lips. This is a great all-rounder.

As with all Armani Beauty products, the packaging of this new lip range is utterly luxurious. All 18 shades come in the signature ergonomic bullet case, lacquered in the immediately identifiable red 400 of Giorgio Armani Beauty, with the iconic magnetic clasp. They feel weighty and luxe, and the magnetic closure means the lid will never come off in your handbag!

NEW Armani Ecstasy Shine Lipcream

I have been testing 6 out of the 18 colours and as you would expect the lighter shades are more shear but the deeper plums and reds offer a more bold finish, but these are meant to be easy to wear and light on the lips. They have more of a fresh feel, modern feel, especially after a year of the ever popular Matte lip. I personally love the balm like texture of these, they glide on the lips with ease and because the colour isn’t too vibrant they’re fuss free to apply. No lip liner needed and if you’re in a rush a mirror isn’t even a must! As Armani say Minimal input, maximum impact. 

Armani Beauty Ecstasy Shine Lip Cream

New Armani Beauty Releases

These have a modern glossy finish to them, not your throwback gloss of the 90s but a more radiant, non-sticky, light reflectant finish. They feel lovely and smooth on the lips and despite them being a gloss / balm hybrid the staying power was impressive. I have to say at £29 each they are very much a luxury beauty product but If there is a shade you fall in love with (& with 18 wearable shades to pick from that won’t be too hard) I guarantee you will want to use it all the time. My lips feel and look so good when I am wearing these and also once the colour has faded my lips still feel soft and hydrated.

  • 100 is a light pink neutral
  • 200 is a nude brown
  • 401 is a cherry red
  • 500 is a pretty pink
  • 505 is a deep vibrant pink
  • 602 is a berry

Armani Ecstasy Shine Lip Cream Swatches

Top to Bottom > Night Viper 602 / Silenzio 200 / Crescendo 500 / Smile 100 / Ecstasy 505 / Hot 401 

Armani Beauty website RRP £29 each

  • PR Sample

Shopping My Stash September 2017

shopping my stash sept 2017

Shopping my Makeup Stash Sept-2017

I have been reducing down my makeup collection for a good few months now & have found a good way to weed out products you don’t enjoy anymore is to rotate your makeup & shop your stash each month. That way you get to use more of what you have, discover products you may have forgotten about & also reaffirm why you might not reach for a particular product anymore & pass it on to free up space!

Doing this each month has helped me no end and it means at the end of the month I have condensed my collection down even further and It is becoming more manageable. I’m aiming to be left with only products I really love. #makeupgoals

Current Makeup Bag Contents

Mii Power Matte Lip Creme in Eternity

I think I will just have to accept that 9/10 matte lip products are just not going to be comfortable on the lips. This one from Mii Cosmetics isn’t too bad if I put a crap tonne of lip balm underneath to lessen the blow. I suffer through (slightly dramatic) because this shade is just beautiful and it is such an easy shade to wear. I love it and I am willing put up with the tight, dry feeling on my lips. I am sure that most people wouldn’t find it that bad but I don’t often opt for a matte lip, however I have fallen for this nude shade in a big way.

Essence Blush Palette in Play it Peach

I adore this cheek trio but it has found it’s way to the back of my drawer, so I am excited to use it more. The shades are nice and subtle and you get two beautiful blush colours and a highlight shade. I often use the highlight shade as an eyeshadow too – I just sweep it all over the lid to brighten up my eye look and it works a treat.

 Rosie for Autograph Cream Shadow Sticks in Feline Fox

I am going to be bold and say this cream shadow stick is my all time favourite and I don’t say that lightly. I have quite a few brands and shades in my collection but I always reach for this one. I took it away with me on my recent trip to Amsterdam and I wore it on a night out & my eyemakeup stayed in place all night long. This shade is a stunning deep bronze brown shade and you can either blend it out really well so it is quite light or go bold and wear it quite dark. Either way it doesn’t crease and it looks so good either on its own, under a powder shadow as base or worn as liner.

What Is In My Makeup Bag

Primer Plus Skin Adaptor Anti Pollution

This is a base that transforms to your skin colour to give you that fresh, even skintone. It isn’t going to give you the same coverage as a foundation but I like to wear this either under my base or alone as a lighter coverage. I would compare it too a tinted moisturiser, it gives you a nice amount of coverage whilst feeling hydrating and lightweight on the skin and it also leaves your skin looking smooth & beautifully radiant. I loved using it over the Summer so I am going to carry on using it as my everyday base. I love that it has helps protect my skin from the effects of pollution and free radicals.

Rimmel Brow This Way Styling Gel

This is the only brow product I have been using these past few months so it is no surprise that I am keeping it in my everyday makeup bag again this month. The brush is small enough that you don’t get product all over the place and are able to be quite precise with where you place the gel. It tames, enhances and keeps my brows in place all day so that ticks all the boxes for me.

Rimmel Wonderfull Mascara

Rimmel Wonderfull Mascara

This mascara helps to keep your lashes looking and feeling their best – it contains Argan Oil which is nourishing for your lashes and stops your mascara from going crispy and flaking. I have recommended this product to so many people this year and love how long and fluttery it makes my eyelashes look! My tube is almost finished so I wanted to keep it on rotation this month so I could use it up but spoiler, I am going to repurchase ASAP!

Current Daily Makeup

Essence The Cushion Eyeliner

I stopped wearing eyeliner earlier this year mostly because I am lazy but I think the colder months call for darker eye makeup so it is the perfect excuse to get my winged liner on! This Essence Cushion Liner is jet black and applies very smoothly, it isn’t as much of a phaff as you’d think, just make sure you have yourself a decent angled brush and take it slowly. Do not apply too much at once & I find I get the pointiest wings using this liner and it doesn’t bleed at all.

Rimmel Radiance Brick in Medium

I love these kind of multi-tonal powders & have a few in my collection from different brands and they are such so easy & effortless to use. I just swirl my brush through all the shades and sweep it across my cheeks & you get a lovely glowing, bronzed look. Think sunkissed & fresh faced rather than disco ball. I am not too sure how much I will use this in the colder months but I will apply it with a light hand – oh & I have used it as eyeshadow too, it works really well!

makeup swatches

Essence Blush / Rimmel / Rosie / Mii Matte

What products have you switched in & out of your makeup bag this month? I bought a new foundation whilst I was in Amsterdam so I have been using that all the time this past couple of weeks. I will be spilling the beans on what it is in the coming weeks so keep an eye out for that. Al I will tell you is it was under £5.

*This Post contains PR samples

Delilah Cosmetics First Impressions

Trying Delilah Makeup

delilah makeup review

Earlier this month, I was lucky enough to win some makeup products from the British Brand Delilah Cosmetics & I had no idea that this was such a beautiful, luxurious brand.

This is my first time trying anything from them, and I’m absolutely thrilled with the four products I won. Everything feels and looks super elegant and luxurious, I am loving their aesthetic.

So everything comes beautifully packaged in dusky pale pink cardboard with rose gold writing, it looks and feels chic and luxurious. The two cheek products are in their own grey velvet dust bags which is a lovely touch, and I’m actually going to use them to pop some jewellery in when I travel.

delilah makeup first impressions

delilah Illuminating Powder in Aura

This highlighter comes beautifully packaged in a rose gold and pewter compact, it is stunning. This is the perfect subtle highlighter which gives you a lovely warm glow without the dreaded sparkle. It is so finely milled that it is lightweight and easy to blend. I like that it’s a mix of rose gold, soft peach and lavender pink – so you just swirl your brush and add it to your cheekbones, brow bones and I like to sweep a little down my nose too. It just brightens dull looking skin, giving it an illuminating glow. I am beyond thrilled with this, and I know I am going to get so much use from it as we head into A/W and Festive party season.

delilah cosmetics review

     delilah Brow Line Eyebrow Pencil in Sable

I have the shade sable, which is a nice dark conker brown & is the ideal shade for my dark brows. It is a retractable pencil with a spoolie on the other end, which is super handy to keep your brows looking tidy. The formula is a nice mix of being creamy enough to get good coverage whilst being waxy enough so that the colour stays in place all day long. I also like how slim the pencil so you can make precise strokes so they look like real hairs. This has gone straight into my everyday makeup bag.

delilah colour blush in clementine

delilah Colour Blush in Clementine

This comes in a similar (only smaller) rose gold and pewter style compact as the illuminating powder, and it is just as elegant. It is a pretty soft peachy pink blush that gives your cheeks that healthy flush of colour. It is a very sweet shade and very easy to wear. The formula is silky and is a dream to apply and blend. I think it is one of those subtle, easy to wear shades that would fit well into anyone’s makeup collection.

beautiful delilah cosmetics

Trying Delilah Makeupdelilah Colour Gloss in Amalie

This is a pretty bubblegum pink shade and the formula gives the lips a seriously glossy finish. This moisturising colour gloss not only delivers pigmentation but also contains vitamin E and emollient oils which nourish and protect your lips so they stay hydrated, whilst a botanical cellular activator derived from olive and jojoba keep them looking smooth. I think this shade is pretty not something I would often wear, so I’m thinking of treating myself to Amethyst which is more of a berry / wine shade and more up my street. I know my sister-in-law will rock this shade, so I am going to pass it on to her.

delilah makeup swatches

Illuminating Powder in Aura // Colour Blush in Clementine // Lipgloss in Amalie

I love being introduced to new beauty brands, and Delilah Cosmetics is a beautiful British brand that has incredible attention to detail. If you enjoy luxury beauty products then this is a brand you need to look out for, I know it is sold on Amazon