The Smokey Eye

Who doesn't love a smokey eye? I felt like glamming it up a bit the other night and decided to do a graphite/charcoal themed smokey eye. I paired it with a nude gloss to keep the focus on the eyes and used a bronzing blush to sculpt my cheeks and not introduce too much colour. I love this look and will definitely be re-creating it at the weekend when I go out for a Christmas meal! 

I am so obsessed with eyeshadows and my collection is ever-growing. I wanted to delve into some more smokey/dark colours so I added the ones I used here to my collection recently. I usually wear browns, neutrals and bronzes but I am really getting into my red toned browns, greens and greys lately.

Here I used:

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Cashew

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW25

Estee Lauder Automatic Brow Pencil in Soft Brown

Benefit Speed Brow

Lime Crime Eyeshadow Helper

Clinique All About Shadow Eye Shadow in Graphite

Estee Lauder Pure Color Eyeshadow in Black Crystals

Estee Lauder Double Wear Eye Pencil in Graphite

Estee Lauder Lash Primer Plus

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Mascara in Black

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder

Benefit Dallas Box 'O Powder

Estee Lauder Pure Color Gloss in Tempting Tearose

Are you a fan of the smokey eye look?

Face of the Day - 04/06/13

A cheeky little face of the day from Wednesday and a very firm affirmation that I am indeed in love with bronzer. My Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Deep 4 infact (review here). I urge every girl to try it when you're next near a Bobbi Brown counter, it's such a great quality product. The shades are perfect for bronzing, I feel like mine is quite red toned, which keeps me from looking 'orange' and like I'm 'tango-ed' LOL! The texture is very blendable and not heavy what-so-ever which makes this bronzer so easy to use. 

My favourite bronzing brush is my Real Techniques Buffing Brush, traditionally used for foundation. It provides precision bronzing with the perfect shape and soft synthetic brush hairs that buff out the product to look natural and perfect.

In the photos, I have contoured my nose also which I had never done before. Again I achieved it with the BB Bronzing Powder and my Eco Tools Airbrush Concealer brush which worked really well. I kept the rest of my makeup simple with only mascara on my eyes, some brows and a lipstick.

Heres what I wore:

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Cashew

Benefit Erase Paste in Medium No2

Estee Lauder Ideal Light in Medium

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Natural Tan

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Deep 4

Estee Lauder Automatic Brow Duo in Soft Brown

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara

MAC Lipstick in Kinda Sexy




I clipped my hair back as it needed a wash and my top is from Zara! I hope you enjoyed the post! Please let me know of other things you'd like to see on the blog - and I may have an outfit of the day post ready for next week of my outfit for this Saturday night!

Remember to check out my blog sale here!

What make-up have you been sporting recently?

'The Estée Lauder Face'

Just a quick snap of the make-up I did for my first day on Estée Lauder. I didn't have any Lauder blushes when I started, but have bought one since which will feature in one of my next posts! So the make-up here is pretty clean and simple and I applied blush once I got there before the store opened.

I was going for a clean and flawless look rather than a smokey eye or anything, as I think Lauder's image is quite sophisticated and understated. The eyeshadow I wore, Pure Color Eyeshadow in Tempting Mocha completely stole the show and I got so many compliments on it!

Double Wear Flawless Wear Concealer in
Warm Medium and Ideal Light Brush-On
Illuminator in Medium

For concealer I went for Double Wear Flawless Wear Concealer in Warm Medium to help conceal any redness. I then mixed this concealer with Advanced Night Repair Eye to create something hydrating enough for under the eye as the DW Concealer on it's own is quite drying for that area. At Lauder we call this the 'Fatigue Fighter' and it's used to help hydrate and conceal the eye to give a more flawless and awake look, hiding bags and dark circles.

I then used Ideal Light in Medium as it is a brush-on illuminator that reflects light and helps to brighten under the eye further. It's a correcting salmon type shade which is perfect for dark circles. The texture is great for the under-eye area as it is light and not drying. 

For brows I used my Automatic Brow Pencil in Soft Brown which has a dry/waxy texture which is great for natural looking brows that stay all day. I have used this non-stop since I got it - a great product.

Pure Color Eyeshadow in Tempting Mocha

Now for the hero - Pure Color Eyeshadow in Tempting Mocha, a shade that sometimes looks Taupe, sometimes looks Purple and sometimes looks Blue. Underwhelming in the pan, this shadow looks amazing on, and can be worn lightly swept on or more heavily with other darker shadows depending on what look you are going for. 

A slick of mascara and gloss and I was done. I used Sumptuous Extreme mascara and Pure Color Gloss in Rock Candy. 

Pure Color Gloss in Rock Candy

It's going really well at Lauder, I have a lot to learn still but I am really enjoying it and getting to grips with it all as quick as I can :-) My favourite part has been doing the iMatch (foundation matching) and getting to grips with all the foundation shades and the application.

I am really missing my other make-up as it feels like I am only using my Lauder products *cries*, but it's nice to explore the brand and see what make-up they have to offer, as everything I've tried has been of amazing quality and I've really been enjoying using them. 

I will update again on how I'm getting on soon - feel free to ask me any questions that you may have, I'd love to read them!

Ta ta for now!

My Favourite Concealer - MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW25 (Review)

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW25 - £14.50

First things first, I am a complete concealer junkie. I didn't actually realise this until I looked at how many concealers I had and I wondered 'why do I buy so many?'. The reason is, I really cannot stand under-eye darkness. I loathe it. And I have quite bad darkness under my eyes which is really problematic to me, I have a tough time finding a concealer that covers it well enough. But with the under-eye area, it's not just about coverage - it's about longevity too. How long is this concealer going to last on me? I've always had a problem with concealer creasing, fading, sliding - you name it. I have so many and am always on the hunt for more. I'm quite keen to get my hands on the new Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer (here) as I've heard such great things about it's coverage and wear. But for the time being, I introduce you to the concealer that I am absolutely loving at the moment, and that is quite something coming from a concealer snob.

The first thing that drew me to the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer is the 'Pro Longwear' part. As I mentioned, I find it really hard to get concealers to stay on me without fading or creasing, despite setting them with powder. I was intrigued by the impressive title so I decided to look at reviews for more information. I went onto MakeUpAlley (where you can find reviews on most make-up products on the market) and was so impressed by the comments and claims. 'No creasing', 'lasts all day', 'great coverage' etc etc. I was also really sold on the fact that it is a liquid with high pigmentation. The liquid consistency means that you can work in thin layers but still get the coverage - eliminating any chance of creasing.

In MAC I am an NC42 or C5 (it can change depending on how tanned/not tanned I am) and was unsure what shade to order as I was doing it online. Lots of reviews mentioned that they got their concealer in an NW. For anyone not familiar with MAC's shade system:

C is Cool - Yellow - Golden Olive

NC is Neutral Cool - - Golden Beige

N is Neutral - Beige

NW is Neutral Warm - Pink Beige

W is Warm - Pink

MAC like to confuse all of us and refer to what we would call warm (yellow, olive undertones) cool, and what we would call cool (pink undertones) warm. How confusing. 

My skin has a golden, yellow undertone but under my eyes is dark and needs correcting. For this reason I chose an NW25 in the Pro Longwear which is absolutely perfect for me. NW25 is a pink beige colour slightly lighter than my skin colour. NW25 seems like it would be worlds away from NC42 but it is actually quite dark. I was fairly sure this colour would be good for me as I am quite familiar with MAC shades, but if you are unsure I really recommend going in store to get your perfect shade.

 This shade really helps to correct and lift the darkness under my eyes which is something that all my other concealers in more neutral tones couldn't tackle. This concealer is so concentrated and it covers so well - I wanted it slightly lighter than my skin colour as I love the bright under-eye Kim Kardashian look and this concealer does it very subtly but effectively. It's so liquid-y and easy to blend (I use my Beautyblender) and sets really quickly which enables me to build layers without it becoming cakey and thick. Another thing I search for in a concealer is if it looks natural. If a concealer looks really heavy and obvious then I don't think it's doing it's job. Make-up is there to enhance what you already have, creating the illusion that you have perfect skin. I remember when I was reading reviews about this concealer, a male reviewer said that he wore it because it was so covering but so undetectable - this concealer is really lightweight and applies smoothly which makes it look really natural but it still gives the coverage.

The wear time is great and it's still hanging on at the end of a long day. I make sure that I always use eye cream under my eyes and let it skink in before I apply my concealer as I can get quite dry under there, which makes concealer look horrible. I set this concealer with my Ben Nye Banana Powder which is yellow toned and helps to brighten on top of the pink toned concealer.

All in all, if you struggle with concealers fading and creasing and have a lot to cover - this concealer might just be the one for you. You can pick up MAC Pro Longwear Concealer online at maccosmetics.co.uk or at any MAC store.

Whats your favourite concealer?

The Classic Beauty Blender Review

Beautyblender Classic Duo Set - £24.00 here.

The Beautyblender is something I have been wanting to try for so long and I have no idea why I waited because I think it is the best thing I have ever applied my foundation with - ever.

A lot of foundations I like are quite lightweight and dewy - meaning that sometimes because they are light and fluid they can look streaky if applied with a brush. A brush also doesn't allow much coverage to be built up with these more lightweight foundations, but this is where the Beautyblender really succeeded for me.

I start by running the blender under cold water and squeezing repetitively so it soaks up water and doubles in size, becoming spongey and more springy. I then squeeze out the excess with my hands until it doesn't release any more water, followed by gently blotting excess moisture with a towel. I now have a fluffy and slightly damp blender to begin my make-up application with!

The sponge allows you to press and blot the foundation into your skin, taking away any chance of streaks or un-even application. Pressing it into the skin also keeps it lasting so much longer than applying it with a brush - for me anyway. Because you are pressing rather than 'painting' it on, it allows you to work in layers, pressing the foundation into the skin on the areas you need more coverage until you have the amount you need. Squeezing and pressing with the blender also seems to release more product which is great also - the sponge doesn't just absorb it all up and waste product.

The slight dampness of the sponge when you use it makes the foundation apply better, as if you were using MAC Fix+ to help it blend better. The application is so even and so easy to apply.

I use the pointed tip with my MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW25 to again work in layers and build up coverage under my eyes and around my nose and mouth (the areas I need it most). The blender applies this liquid concealer like a dream and working in thin layers, I can press the product in rather than blending it out with a brush. By pressing it in I can get such a higher amount of coverage for the product I'm using as it's not just being blended away. The thin layers along with the concealers quick setting time means that I can build up coverage quickly but without it looking cakey or creasing.

This sponge has made my make-up in the mornings so quick and easy to apply - I can do it quickly and evenly with long lasting results - whats not to love??

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I really really really recommend the Beautyblender for foundation, concealer, cream blush, liquid highlighter, cream highlighter.......the list goes on. 

Have you ever tried the Beautyblender?

Make-Up Wishlist - February

So I've done a few 'wishlist' posts before, but this one is strictly make-up. There are a lot of products that I'm lusting after at the moment, and my birthday is coming up so I hope to pick up some of these things in the very near future!

1. Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush in Cherub - I've been dying to try Daniel's Watercolour blushes for so long, the idea alone intrigues me and they get such amazing reviews. Cherub is their bestseller and looks like my kinda colour! He is the nicest guy too which is always nice to know - he's always talking to bloggers and make-up lovers on Twitter (he replied to me once *screams*) so check him out @danielsandler Love you Daniel *blows kiss*!

2. Estee Lauder Pure Colour Shadow Paint in Chained - I decided I had to have this when I saw it in one of Anna's (ViviannaDoesMakeup) videos, Chained is a gorgeous deep bronzey colour which I think would be great for a really quick smokey eye applied all over the lid with a finger.

3. Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer - Really intrigued to try this one as I really don't get on with Benefit's The Porefessional primer after trying very hard to like it - too greasy for me. This Clarins primer promises to smooth out lines and imperfections which is what we all want, right? I'm very keen to try this under my eyes to hold onto my concealer. 

4. Illamasqua 'Blush Up' Brush - A great idea from Illamasqua as I always apply my blush to my cheekbones not the apples of my cheeks - I feel it sculpts and lifts my face much more. This brush would make it so much easier to get that chiseled strip of blush.

5. Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Powder Pink - Having never tried a cream blush product before I am really keen to get my hands on this Bobbi Brown one. The price point is quite reasonable as it's a multi-use product and the colour looks subtle with a beige hint which is different from the peachy pink blushers I usually go for. (My fav being Laura Mercier's Second Skin Blush in Peach Whisper).

6. Kevyn Aucoin 'The Celestial Powder' in Candlelight - I first heard about this highlighter from one of my all time favourite make-up artists Mario Dedivanovic - Kim Kardashian's make-up artist. He used this on Khloe Kardashian for a photoshoot and it looked absolutely beautiful on her.

7. Kevyn Aucoin Pure Powder Glow in Myracle - Another one introduced to me by Mario, he used this on Kim Kardashian for a red carpet look (*edit* I found out that the shade he used is actually called 'Shadore' and is not quite as bright as Myracle *edit*) and it contrasted beautifully to her bronzer as it brightened up her face so much. It looks very shocking in the pan but looked beautiful on the skin. 

8. Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation - Need I say anything about this product? I need to get my mitts on it. Medium to full coverage with a luminous finish?! Yes please. 

9. theBalm timeBalm Concealer - I had never heard about this product until a few days ago when I saw Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog (She's hilarious) say that it was one of her all time favourite concealers close behind MAC's ProLongwear Concealer which I really like. The word 'balm' just seems to get me every time. (I'm sure its my Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm obsession that has spurred this on.) The texture looks creamy but is apparently non-drying and has great staying power. It retails for around £12 on Feel Unique also which is great!

Have you tried any of these products? What products are you lusting after this month?