Quad

ZOEVA The Spectrum Collection

- Vicki 6 Comments
New Zoeva Eyeshadow Palette

Zoeva have just released The Spectrum Collection and it almost took my breath away, it’s that beautiful. The packaging is sleek, slim and luxurious whilst the products are equally great quality and the two palettes I’ve tried from this collection are amongst the best products I’ve ever used. Yes they’re that good!

The Spectrum Collection is made up of three eyeshadow palettes (each containing 15 shades) – Warm Spectrum, Nude Spectrum, Cool Spectrum as well as three blush palettes (each containing 4 shades) Pink Spectrum, Nude Spectrum, Coral Spectrum.

New Zoeva Eyeshadow Palette

Zoeva Nude Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette* £28.50

This without a doubt is one of the most beautiful palettes I have ever used, the shadows are ALL perfect for me and it’s just utterly gorgeous. The palette is a mix of matt, satin, and pearl finishes, all of the shades are pigmented and are ideal for the neutral, earthy toned fans. There is a real mix of colours but the copper and browns for me are so exciting. I haven’t stopped wearing this palette since it came.

The shadows are easy to blend with minimum fall out and they have very good staying power with & without an eye primer (I’m lazy & rarely wear a primer).

Zoeva describes this palette as ‘Reminiscent of the wild breathtaking beauty of the desert, the ZOEVA Nude Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette unveils a perfectly synchronized assortment of mesmerizing earth-toned and subtle sandy shades. Invigorated with gold, bronze and copper reflections, the iridescent hues waft shimmering effects on the lids – just like a mirage in the endlessness of the Sahara. Create luminous down to earth daytime as well as fascinating evening makeup looks, flushed by a haze of heat’.

All 15 shades in this Nude Spectrum palette are beautiful and wearable, I’ve forgotten what eyeshadow I was even using before this landed on my doorstep & I know It’s going to continue to get a lot of love.

The Nude Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette is formulated with Vitamin E and is free from Parabens, Mineral Oil and Fragrance.

Zoeva Nude Spectrum Swatches

Zoeva Spectrum Collection

Zoeva Pink Spectrum Bush Palette* £15.00

This has made me fall head over heels in love with blush, I’d started to skip this step in favour of using just bronzer but now I can’t wait to put blusher on. This has four gorgeous pink shades ranging from a soft light pink to a much bolder, intense pink. These all need a light hand because they’re incredibly pigmented and you don’t want to go OTT.

Zoeva Pink Spectrum Blush Palette

You get a mix of satin and matte shades and as you can see all four shades are beautiful.

  • PK010 – Apricot pink nude
  • PK020 – Soft pink with peachy beige undertones.
  • PK030 – Dusky rose pink with soft mauve undertones.
  • PK040 – Pop of fuchsia pink

Zoeva describes this palette as, ‘A hymn to rosy cheeks, the ZOEVA Pink Spectrum Blush Palette is the ultimate essential for a natural-looking, radiant complexion. As fresh as morning dew, it provides a range of blossoming pink and rosy shades for a crisp appearance. The soft matte and shimmery powder formulation blends smoothly and adds a vibrant pop of colour to the cheeks that can be layered from medium to high coverage for innocently sweet to flirtatious looks’.

Zoeva Blush Quad Swatches

This is such a girly, feminine palette and the blushers give you that pretty pinch of colour, which of course you can build up to be as intense as you like. The packaging it exactly like the eyeshadow palette  – sleek, elegant and I think quite sexy. It has a rubberised finish and a magnetic close. These are the ideal size to travel with because they’re so slim and they’re that beautiful you won’t want to leave home without them.

The formulation of the blushes is enriched with vitamin E and is 100% free of parabens, mineral oils, perfume and phthalates.

Its love & I can’t recommend them highly enough. There is not a bad word to say about this collection, you must check out the collection and let me know what palettes you fall in love with.

*PR Sample

Winter Makeup Edit

- Vicki 5 Comments
Whats in my makeup bag

I wouldn’t say that I change up my makeup every season but I have been using a few new products this past few weeks & also rediscovered a few old favourites too.

Winter Makeup

Origins Nanette Lepore. Makebag* – This is a great size makeup bag & manage to fit so many products in. Its the perfect size for a weekend break. It’s a limited edition makeup bag and sees Origins team up with fashion designer Nanette Lepore. Origins are offering this complimentary makeup bag with any purchase over £50.

Available while stocks last at Harrods, Selfridges London, John Lewis nationwide and Arnotts Ireland.

Bourjois Bronzing Duo– This is quite a new addition to my makeup collection, it came in the recent British Beauty Box. These make a pretty pairing and I have been wearing them both a lot. The bronzer isn’t at all orange & gives you just the right amount of colour, no shimmer. I have been attempting to contour with it & so far so good. The highlighter is a pretty pearl shade, not white & stark. This gives your cheekbones an instant lift & and adds just enough glow without looking like a disco ball. This will be a staple in my makeup bag this winter for sure.

Clinique All About Shadow Quad* – These colours although not bright or too out there are still not in my comfort zone when it comes to eyeshadow but I have been trying to use some of the less loved products in my collection. The colours are beautiful & after getting to grips with what colour to put where on my lid I have been creating some winter appropriate smokey eyes. The plum & browns work so well together. The shadows themselves are easy to work with & very pigmented. The palette is packaged really nicely too & is so slim. So ideal for travel.

Whats in my makeup bag

Origins GinZing Brightening Mascara* – This mascara has a HUGE wand & I have little eyes so I thought that was going to be a major problem, but I have discovered that it means I can apply my mascara in double quick time. This mascara isn’t going to wow you if you’re looking for volumised lashes, but this mascara is great at separating your lashes & it keeps a curl like no other! I like my lashes to look fluttery and this works well at achieving that. I also like the chunky packaging & I’ve grown to love the big oversized wand.

Korres Wild Rose Lip Balm – These Korres Lip Butters are fantastic, not only are they hydrating but the colour pay off is pretty damn good too. These won’t hang around for hours & hours on your lips but still they will give you a pretty flush of colour & keep your lips moisturised too. I need to get a few more of these in different colours.

Soap & Glory Glow All Out – I’m still on the fence about this powder, I like it & think it gives a illuminating glow but I’ve heard some people say they sweep it all over their face, I am a little scared of that & use it as more of a cheek highlighter. Its beautiful used like that & think I will stick to using it that way. I hate the cardboard packaging & wish they would repackage it.

L’Oreal Super Liner – L’Oreal make my favourite liners, there are a few but this Super Liner is the one I have been reaching for the most. The nib is long and easy to get right up close to you lashes. I like to wear eyeliner most days & like it to be subtle. This liner is great at getting a precise line. It has a glossy deep black finish, that stays put all day.

Seventeen Stay Time 18 Hour Concealer – This is great for both under eye area & blemishes. I do powder over the top to ensure it stays put all day. Its a great affordable concealer and I’m thrilled with it. Although not too sure about the 18 hour claims, nothing a quick touch up won’t solve.

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation – This foundation, applies really nicely & gives me a natural finish with a good amount of coverage. Never does it look cakey or too much. If I want it to last all day & in to the evening I do need to wear a primer, but thats OK with me. I might be speaking a little too soon but I may have found something to rival my beloved L’Oreal True Match.

What is in your winter makeup bag, have you switched up any products?

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.

Top Essence Makeup Picks

- Vicki 20 Comments

I have been working my way through the very generous goodie bag I received at the Essence Makeup Launch last month. There have been so many gems & a couple of misses too but I thought I would share with you 8 of my top picks. If you didn’t already know Essence is a very affordable German makeup brand that’s very popular not only in Europe but also worldwide and they have launched in all branches of Wilkinsons in the UK & also online. So we are all able to get our hands on them, very exciting.

Essence Makeup

German Brand Essence

Quick & Easy Sponge Nail Polish Remover £3.00

A lazy girls best friend, quite a few brands are doing these now just a big sponge soaked in nail polish but they’re so handy for quick nail polish removal & this Essence one is budget friendly & works a treat. It is also acetone free

Essence Kabuki Brush £4.00

Black & Pink …. how cute right! This is comparable to my elf Kabuki Brush which I have used almost daily since buying it 2 years ago. This Essence one has been taking its place, I apply my bronzer or face powder with this & its does a very good job. No shedding and the bristles are soft. I have washed it a couple of times and it comes up clean & goes back into shape.

Essence Colour To Go  Nail Polish in 128 Lets Get Lost £1.60 

I love this colour & this is the shade I picked at the event (as they had lovely ladies doing nails). Its a stunning vibrant summery blue, this lasted so well on my nails I wore it for a full week with minimal chipping. I now have this colour on my toes and my love for it is only growing. I have to say that if there was one thing Essence does very very well its all things nail related. They have a huge selection of polishes, decals and everything you could want for nail art. I have used a few polishes and I haven’t found a dud yet.

Essence Studio Nails Better Than Gel Nails Top Coat £2.50

OMG! This is my new favourite top coat, it has replaced my Orly and I can’t see me picking up anything else. This applies very glossy and dries in a couple of minutes to a very hard but ever so shiny finish. I have applied this over every manicure since I came home with it & its helping my manicure stay in place and looking fresh for a week at a time. It really is living up to its name.

Eyeshadow Quad

Essence Makeup

Essence Neutral Quad

Essence Quad in 05 To Die For £3.00

This is a good neutral quad, the two darker colours are a lot more pigmented but if you wear a primer and take a little more time over applying the lighter 2 shades you can get them to work. This a great quad for achieving a brown smoky eye. The two light shades have a slight shimmer to them & so to does the more copper toned brown, then you also get a fantastic dark brown matte colour. The lighter colours give a little fallout but nothing that can’t be cleaned up when you have finished, all the colours are easy to apply and to blend. I’ve really been enjoying using this quad & want to try a few more colour options.

Blush My Lips

Blush My Lips 12

Essence Long Lasting Lipstick in Blush My Lips 12 £2.30

This has to be my favourite product from the whole goodie bag. Its a bright pink creamy lipstick. It goes on the lips so smoothly and the colour is vibrant and beautiful. This is long wearing & thats on me (I’m terrible for lippies wearing off so fast & going patchy) but this one is great. The packaging feels more expensive than it is & the lipstick doesn’t have that cheap scent that many budget friendly ones have. Its a big hit with me & I have a few other shades that are also just as good but this pink stood out for me, it pretty & the perfect Summer shade.

Essence Big Bright Eyes in highlight it ….. pearly £2.00 

This is a cream coloured pencil which is fantastic under the brow bone or in the inner corner of your eye to brighten & highlight that area. This has a lovely creamy texture and a pretty iridescent finish so it catches the light. A staple in your makeup bag, especially if you like your eyes to look fresh & bright.

Essence Eyebrow Tweezers £2.00

Not as exciting as the pink lip stick but never the less still a vital part of my beauty regime. A good pair of tweezers is a must & these look cute and get the job done. Enough said ….. tweezers that work & look cute

If you have tried any products from Essence let me know what you loved & also what not to buy.

I received these Essence products at a recent event. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

 

It’s All In The Eyes

- Vicki 10 Comments

As some of you may know I’m a real neutral eyeshadow addict. I’m drawn to them like a moth to a flame. I seem to wear them the most. I rarely go for anything too bright & I think that a lovely brown / warm eyeshadow suits me best. So I won a giveaway a little while back and this Maybelline quad was one of the prizes & I have to tell you its a great quad

Maybelline Eyestudio quad eye shadow Coral Drama

I don’t own too many Maybelline products. I’ve a few nail polishes and I’ve tried a couple of their mascaras but it’s not a brand I tend to pick up. I think this quad has persuaded me to give Maybelline a second chance . I’ve found myself reaching for this Coral Drama quad  day after day. The shadows are so creamy soft and easy to apply and blend. Before I was sent this I hadn’t seen anything about these quads anywhere & now I discover they have a few different colours available. I will be picking up a few of the other ones too.

I’d describe the shades as a Soft Champagne , Light Gold, Peachy Pink, Copper Brown.

The only downside to this quad is there isn’t a matte shade but apart from that there isn’t a bad thing to say. These have a little shimmer to them and the peachy pink and the copper brown shades are my favourite. They just pop on the eye and they aren’t powdery at all. I’m seriously impressed with this. It is so handy to take with you on the go, its such a compact quad & really versatile.

Have you tried any of these quads? Let me know how you liked them or if there are any other Maybelline products I have been over looking.

You can pick this up from Superdrug for £7.19 – Although I have seen it on this site for £4.29.