Wonders of Beauty: 2012

Swatches | Wet n Wild Mega Last Lipstick 908C, 901B, 965, 907C..♥

Hey beauts

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas!

As promised, I have swatched the Wet n Wild Mega Last Lipsticks that I bought recently so that you can hopefully see the colours better and also maybe to help someone out there who is having difficulties picking shades to buy. As you should already know, I only purchased four lipsticks to start off with because I didn't want to buy loads and then find that I don't like the formula. Now that I've had them for a while, I really do like these lippies and I'm happy to have had Wet n Wild lipsticks recommended to me :)

901B Think Pink can be described as a peach toned pink. Out of the four, this is the shade that I haven't really played with. It's quite light and I'd suggest darker skin women to use this lipstick with a lip liner. Light and medium tone ladies should be able to pull it off fine though.

Everyone's current favourite Wet n Wild lipstick - 908C Sugar Plum Fairy. As you can see this is a plum/berry shade and so far my most worn lipstick of the month! I'm really loving this shade at the moment and I always pair it with my NYX 808 Deep Purple lip liner. Every skin tone can pull off this shade with ease!

I've only ever worn 965 Cherry Picking once which was at home on Christmas day. It's sort of like a pinky red. It's a very feminine and bold shade in my opinion. I haven't really given it much of a chance as I'm always wearing Sugar Plum Fairy lol.

Over the past 2/3 days, I've been rocking this shade and also paired it with my NYX 808 Deep Purple lip liner. As the lip liner is closer to Sugar Plum Fairy, when worn with 907C Mauve Outta Here, it gives it a sort of ombre-ish look which I like.

The top set of swatches are without flash and the bottom set was taken with flash. I took both so that I could show you the true colours of these shades and hopefully give you an idea of the finish in the best way possible.

1. Mauve Outta Here 907C
2. Cherry Picking 965
3. Sugar Plum Fairy 908C
4. Think Pink 901B

I need your help ladies! One thing I do struggle with is pairing lip liners with my lipsticks as I don't have enough. Could you kindly suggest lip liners to be used with these lipsticks as I do always love to define my lip shape. Any brands that are easy to get hold of will do. I mainly own NYX ones though.

This is possibly my last post for the year so if you've got any NYE plans, I hope you enjoy them, keep safe and have a Happy New Year! ♥♥

Which is your fav shade? Are you thinking of buying any?

Twitter ♥ Bloglovin

Beauty Joint - 22:40

Swatches | Wet n Wild Mega Last Lipstick 908C, 901B, 965, 907C

Swatches | Wet n Wild Mega Last Lipstick 908C, 901B, 965, 907C.. ♥ Hey beauts Hope you all had a lovely Christmas! As promised,...

Beauty Joint - 15:00

What's New | Wet n Wild Mega Last Lipsticks and L.A Girl PRO Concealer

What's New | Wet n Wild Mega Last Lipsticks and L.A Girl PRO Concealers.. ♥ As I mentioned before, I've been interested in try...

When you’re not so clued up in the make-up field, choosing a lipstick may seem tricky as the variety available on the market is unbelievably wide. Before selecting a colour to suit you, it is important that you know the formula you’re after. The finish of lipstick you go for is a very personal choice as not every texture works for everyone. When searching for a lipstick, you may be after one with a lot of coverage or maybe you just want a wash of colour; some people require one that provides moisture, others do not mind. It is entirely up to you. You may have to play around a bit until you find one that you feel comfortable with.

To aid in your decision, here is a breakdown of finishes you may consider:

Matte

Matte lipsticks have absolutely no shine at all and give a flat colour. Due to the lack of shine or gloss, they have the tendency to make your lips appear dry and dehydrated. It is important that your lips are well prepped beforehand if you are going to be wearing a lipstick with this finish otherwise it may accentuate any fine lines and any dryness that you may have. A matte lipstick will definitely give you the most coverage out of all the different finishes available and due to its formula, it will also be very long lasting. This finish is good if you’re going for a sophisticated and classy look and is great for creating retro looks.

Example: MAC Matte lipstick range

Sheer or Glaze

Sheer or glaze finishes are great for a natural look or where you want your natural lip colour to show through as they provide a glossy, sheer wash of colour. Note that this type of lipstick does not offer intense colour, it really just adds a hint of colour. The coverage is not as long lasting as a matte lipstick obviously, but it will last longer than your typical lip gloss. This finish is especially good if you like to apply your make-up on-the-go as not much precision is needed during application.

Example: Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick or MAC Glaze lipstick range

Satin/Cream

In terms of coverage, satin lipsticks are very similar to matte lipsticks. The difference between a matte and a satin finish is that satin lipsticks contain more emollients. This means that you can get similar colour durability to a matte lipstick but with added moisture without looking shiny. A satin or cream finish tends to vary from brand to brand, with some providing more rich formulas than others and different levels of coverage.

Example: MAC Satin lipstick range, Wet'n'Wild Mega Last Lip Color range, YSL Rouge Volupte Lipsticks, Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense Lipsticks

Frost

If you’re looking for a lipstick with a shiny, metallic finish then you might be after a frosted lipstick. Frosted lipsticks have an added touch of shimmer to the colour and generally provide an opaque coverage. They are good if you want a shiny appearance without using lip gloss.

Example: MAC Frost lipstick range

I hope this has helped somebody out there who is clueless when it comes to choosing a lipstick. Believe me, once you've found the right finish then taking making a colour choice becomes easier. Try testing out different lipsticks to see which one you like the most. Eventually you’ll find one to suit you.

I really like lipsticks with a satin finish. For those daily lipstick wearers out there, which finish is your favourite?

Twitter | Bella Minx Lashes | Instagram

Back To Basics - 16:50

Back to Basics | Knowing Your Lipsticks

When you’re not so clued up in the make-up field, choosing a lipstick may seem tricky as the variety available on the market is unbelieva...

Going Bananas Over the Ben Nye Powder?..♥

If you haven’t heard of the Ben Nye Luxury Banana Powder then where have you been the last couple of months?! Ben Nye is a brand that specialises in theatrical makeup but their face powders have become very popular and in particular their Banana Luxury Powder used by Kim Kardashian’s makeup artist and also infamous for its use as a highlight setting powder especially amongst women of colour. The reason it has become such a cult product within the black community is because many women of different skin tones are able to use the shade ‘Banana’ for setting their highlighted areas without leaving an ashy or grey cast. In fact, many retailers have sold out of this product due to the sudden high demand and you may have to pre-order it to secure yourself one.

Although the finely milled powder is very yellow, it works well on just about every skin tone including black skin as it’s translucent and will definitely help brighten areas. If you’re looking for a not so yellow powder or an all over powder, Ben Nye also offers Luxury powders for different skin tones including darker skin.

If you’re one to use under-eye concealer then you know the importance of using a setting powder to prevent the concealer from creasing and settling into fine lines. The Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder does just that! When the correct amount of powder is applied with either a sponge or powder puff, this powder sets your concealer leaving a silky matte flawless finish. As long as you’re not a 24hr makeup wearer, this powder will also stop any product settling into fine lines for the whole duration of your makeup wear. In addition to setting your under eye concealer, when used elsewhere eg. to highlight forehead, for those with oily skin, you may appreciate that is does well at keeping the oil at bay so you stay shine free for longer!

In my opinion, the only downfall of this product is the way it’s dispensed. With it being such a difficult product to source, the last thing you need is product being wasted! Unlike most powders of its kind, it doesn’t come in a packaging where the right amount of product is being sift which makes it a bit awkward and messy to use.

Overall, I think this is a very good and inexpensive product to invest in. It is perfect for setting your under-eye area and will work just as well or even better than high end products that retail for £20+. Yes it is difficult to source and especially in the UK but make sure you grab them whilst in stock or secure one by pre-ordering. It comes in three sizes; 1.5oz., 3oz. or 8oz. (3oz. pictured above).

Availability: Can be found on Amazon (UK), Treasure House of Makeup (UK), Makeupmania (ship to UK), or Camera Ready Cosmetics (ship to UK)

Did you manage to get hold of the Ben Nye Banana powder? Or are you going to jump on the bandwagon? Let me know!

Twitter ♥ Bloglovin

Banana Powder - 20:59

Going Bananas Over the Ben Nye Powder?

Going Bananas Over the Ben Nye Powder?.. ♥ If you haven’t heard of the Ben Nye Luxury Banana Powder then where have you been the las...

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish for Darker Skin..♥

The MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural is by far my favourite powder to use for finishing/setting my foundation. Although it is by MAC and we all know MAC usually has a large variety of shades to choose from for darker skin but for this product, that isn’t the case. There are only two shades available; Dark and Dark Deep. Don’t let that put you off though! Because the powder has very low coverage it can be worn by many shades of dark skin without looking ashy or grey. For example if you’re between an NC45-NW45, then you may be able to go for the shade 'Dark'. Those that are deeper than NW45 may use the shade 'Dark Deep'. As I am a MAC NC50, personally I don't mind using either shade because the powder is on the sheerer side so, for someone of my skin tone the noticeable difference isn't great. I've been using Dark Deep since the summer when I got darker and now I feel it just gives me a bronzey look which I like.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Dark

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Dark Deep

“A luxurious domed face powder with minerals, slowly baked to provide a dimensional yet natural-matte finish. Provides perfect low coverage. Use to set and fix foundation or as a touch-up throughout the day.” – MAC Cosmetics

On the MAC website it does say that the powder is designed to be used to set and fix foundation but as it does have some coverage to it, if you have clear skin or very few blemishes then this powder can definitely be worn alone! Worn alone it acts as a sheer foundation. If you do have scars from spots then you can conceal them with a concealer of your choice and use it all over your face to act as a foundation and to set the concealed areas. This powder worn alone looks like your skin but better! It has an undetectable flawless finish but creates a radiant look. It’s almost as though it has tiny light reflecting particles because it really does make you glow yet look natural. A glow from within let’s say.

If you don’t feel comfortable wearing just a sheer powder then why not use it to set your foundation? The MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural powder is far from heavy so it can be used as a setting powder for your foundation. I would describe it’s finish as demi-matte. It doesn’t give you a definite matte finish which can come across as cakey but instead it’s more of a silky finish which I guess that’s probably why it has been described as luxurious. You only need a little amount to set your foundation and control oil but it can be built up for a fuller coverage without appearing cakey.

Price: £21.00

Availability: www.maccosmetics.co.uk or any MAC retailer

Do you own this powder or will you be trying it? If so let me know!

Twitter ♥ Bloglovin

Makeup - 12:19

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish for Darker Skin

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish for Darker Skin.. ♥ The MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural is by far my favourite powder to use for finish...

What's New | Beauty Blender, Gadi21, Anastasia, MAC + Samples..♥

So I've done mini makeup shopping again. This "What's New" post has a couple of repurchases but also products which I've been trying to get my hands on for a while and I've finally succeeded!

I'm lazy so as usual, the majority of these items were purchased online. I think I also just love the excitement of receiving packages!

First stop was MAC (bought from Debenhams)! I repurchased my eye brow pencil in 'Stud' and also my undereye concealer Prolongwear NC42. I'm not sure if it's just me but this Prolongwear concealer NC42 looks slightly off in colour compared to the two bottles I've previously owned. Maybe MAC have altered the shades from this range or maybe they just changed their NC42? I don't know what they've done but the colour definitely looks a bit different and I prefer the old shade. Has anyone else who usually uses Prolongwear concealer noticed this after a recent purchase?

After taking a break from MAC Fix + as it wasn't a necessity, I decided to repurchase it to use with my new Beauty Blender (featured later in the post).

I also managed to get my hands on MAC Whisper of Guilt Extra Dimension Skinfinish. Thank God they decided to re-promote it in the Glamour Daze Collection because I was wasting time contemplating and I missed my chance to get it before when it was a limited edition release.

MAC Prolongwear Concealer: £14.50

MAC Eye Brows: £12.50

MAC Studio Fix+: £13.50

MAC Glamour Daze Whisper of Guilt Extra Dimension Skinfinish: £21.50

I've never been one that's really into body scrubs but my mum purchased this for me from GADI21. Those who pass through Bond Street Station may know of this brand or you may have even been sweet talked into buying their products. I remember being persuaded into buying their Dead Sea Mud Mask for £50 a few years back. As the Dead Sea Body Scrub is an exfoliator, it is said to enhance skin renewal and refine and resurface the texture of the skin.

If I remember clearly, I think she bought this for £20. GADI21 is also stocked by House of Fraser for any one who is interested or you can check out their site www.gadi21.com

Last but not least, I made my first Cult Beauty purchase. Anastasia is said to be a popular brand in Hollywood with the likes of Kim Kardashian using her products. I can't remember which brow product from the Anastasia range that Kim Kardashian uses but I remember seeing Anastasia on her blog. I've also heard PixiWoo talk about the brand. Even though I've recently bought my usual MAC Eye Brows (first picture) as a backup, I decided that I wanted to give Anastasia a try. Cult Beauty are the only UK Stockists that I am aware of but I will say getting hold the 'Brow Wiz' has proven to be very difficult on the site. Every time I checked, the colour 'Brunette' was sold out and obviously out of the four shades, this is the only one I can go for as my hair is dark. Eventually I managed to grab it whilst it was in stock.

Whilst I was at it, I also bought the original Beauty Blender which I have been planning on buying for a long time now but I could never understand the price!

My order came with three samples which you can choose from a range at the checkout: Aesop - Fabulous Face Oil, Embryolisse - Lait-Creme Concentre and Jouer - Luminizing Moisture Tint in Deep Bronze.

If you subscribe to their newsletter, you get free shipping on your first order ;)

Beauty Blender: £16

Anastasia Brow Wiz: £15.50

Has anyone tried any of my new products? Would you like an in-depth review on any of them?

Just thought I'd also let you know that Sigma are doing free worldwide shipping for Black Friday until 11:59PM US CST!

Twitter ♥ Bloglovin

Makeup - 17:18

What's New | Beauty Blender, Gadi21, Anastasia, MAC + Samples

What's New | Beauty Blender, Gadi21, Anastasia, MAC + Samples.. ♥ So I've done mini makeup shopping again. This "What&#...

Review | Sigma F88 Flat Angled Kabuki..♥

This brush is very similar to my all time favourite Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki Brush but instead, the F88 is an angled version. Since I had taken a picture of this brush when it was brand new and I'm able to use the picture for this review, I thought I'd review this first. I've got this thing where I don't really like taking pictures of stuff to upload onto my blog unless it still looks brand new and my F80 has seen better days which is why I haven't taken a picture of it to show and review to you all. I do plan on ordering a new one soon so when I do, I may review it although it is very similar to the F88.

The F88 is part of Sigma's Sigmax collection which was released a while back. I'm sure many of you who keep up to date with beauty on YouTube and blogs would have heard about this collection.

I use this brush to apply my foundation. Its recommended use is for cream foundations but personally I don't use cream and I find it works very well with my liquid foundations. As the soft synthetic hairs on the brush are so densely packed, it's great for those who require good coverage and definitely creates an airbrushed finish. Because the brush is angled, it allows you to easily reach areas that other brushes may not as comfortably including the contours of your nose. I also find that after my brows have been filled in, the angled brush allows me to apply foundation around them more easily as areas become a lot more reachable due to the angular shape.

I find the best way to use this brush is in a stippling motion initially to apply your foundation. This way gives you the most coverage and an airbrushed finish. Once you've stippled on your foundation, any further blending can be done with the same brush and it does this very well as you are left with absolutely no streaks like some foundation brushes give you. I also find that it makes my application quicker because of the density of the brush. You cover more areas of your face a lot quicker!

You may find that compared to other brushes with less density, the F88 is harder to wash as there are so many hairs. It does need a little more washing time to return to its natural colour but the more regularly you wash your brush, the easier it is to achieve this.

The brush may also feel a bit heavier than some of the other brushes you may own. This is due to the ferule being thicker than most but I wouldn't say it is uncomfortable to use, it just may feel weird at first.

Overall I feel that the F88 or even the F80 are definitely brushes that one should own in their collection. It can even be used for nights out when you want to make the extra effort and have a flawless base because of the coverage and finish the brush gives. I currently alternate between the F88 and F80 when one is dirty but they are definitely my go to brushes.

Price: $18 (Sigma are currently doing 10% until Nov 30th!)

Availability: www.sigmabeauty.com

Sigma are currently doing 10% off their products until NOV 30th using the discount code SBAP12.

For my UK readers, they do ship internationally!

Click HERE to purchase and don't forget to use the discount code for your 10%!

Will you be buying this brush? Or do you own any brushes from the Sigmax Collection?

Twitter ♥ Bloglovin

Brush - 15:46

Review | Sigma F88 Flat Angled Kabuki

Review | Sigma F88 Flat Angled Kabuki.. ♥ This brush is very similar to my all time favourite Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki Brush but inst...

Rimmel London Kate Moss Lasting Finish Matte Lipsticks..♥

Hey beauts!

About two weeks ago, I decided to add some drugstore lipsticks to my collection. I'm sure you've seen numerous blogs about the new Rimmel London Lasting Finish lipstick collection by Kate Moss. Her new line is a range of five matte lipsticks but to try them out, I picked the three shades that I liked most. I've never tried any lipsticks from her previous collections and from what I can remember, I don't think I've ever tried Rimmel lipsticks either! I may take a break from purchasing MAC lipsticks because I find that most of them really dry out my lips and they're left feeling uncomfortable and sometimes sore for days. I don't know if anyone else gets this or maybe I have some sort of allergy to them? I'm going to give lower end brands a chance but if we're talking high end, I do find the YSL Rouge Volupte ones moisturising although they don't have a matte finish.

I did order these online from ASOS (currently on sale for £3.84!!) so I picked my shades based on online swatches and therefore couldn't really tell how the texture was and they didn't appear matte in pictures. After owning them, I can now tell you that they don't have a true matte finish (well, compared to let's say Ruby Woo) and personally I would describe them as semi-matte. They have a slight sheen but less of a sheen than let's say MACs Satin finishes. Even though they are said to be matte, I find them a lot more comfortable to wear at first application in comparison to matte lipsticks from MAC.

For anyone who is interested in purchasing but is not sure of the shade they want to buy, I've swatched the three that I own and hopefully it will aid someone in colour selection. If texture/finish is very important to you, then I guess it's better that you check these out in store for yourself!

Did anyone purchase the new Kate Moss lipsticks? If so, which shades did you get? Which shade is your favourite from the range?

Twitter ♥ Bloglovin

Makeup - 11:52

Rimmel London Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick

Rimmel London Kate Moss Lasting Finish Matte Lipsticks.. ♥ Hey beauts! About two weeks ago, I decided to add some drugstore lipsticks...

What's New | MAC 163 Brush and CLARINS Beauty Flash Balm..♥

How sad, I've saved this what's new post in my drafts for nearly a month now and I never got around to completing it until now.
Yes I know there are only two products in this post but I guess nearly every little beauty buy is worth mentioning right? Although the MAC 163 brush is currently sold out, the Clarins Beauty Balm is still available to buy. I have a feeling the MAC brush will be back in stock sooner or later as I've heard it's always in and out of stock but you have to keep an eye on the site as it is a limited edition brush!

MAC 163 Contour Brush

The MAC 163 brush came out with the MAC Face and Body Collection. It's a contour brush designed to be used with the MAC Sculpting Cream. The shape of the brush is really good for use on the cheekbones to achieve prominent face definition with either a contour cream or powder. After reading reviews of the MAC Sculpting Cream at the time of purchase, I decided not to get them (I was also unsure of which shade I'd use and I was too lazy to check them out in a MAC store). I am after a product with a cream finish that I can use to contour with. If you have any suggestions, please let me know!

Price: £26

Availability: MAC

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

This is one of those products that there's so much hype around. I'd been contemplating buying it for a long time so when it finally went on a 3-day sale at CheapSmells for £13.99, I grabbed it as soon as I could. The product is a favourite of Tanya Burr (Pixi2woo) so I really wanted to see what it was about. It is said to be an instant radiance booster which gives a softer, smoother and healthier looking complexion. It also claims to "promote firmer looking features and reduce the appearance of fine lines and "Enhances make-up's luminous appearance and lasting wear." Sounds appealing right?

RRP: £28
CheapSmells Price: £17.95

Did anyone manage to grab the MAC 163 brush?

Twitter ♥ Bloglovin

Brush - 14:29