AD/Gifted | My Glossier Spring Picks

I've written about Glossier previously when I reviewed some of their favourite products. The company concentrates on taking inspiration and information from people who share what products they love, to ensure that are creating beauty products that you wish existed. It's about time that I had a pick-me-up seen as our wedding that was due to take place this month has had to be postponed due to you know what. I had a browse through their website and picked out three products to try out. There is something about the Glossier product design that I love, with the minimalist packaging and branding looking great and is one I always recognise as theirs. 

The first product I tried was the Generation G Lipstick (£14) in the shade Cake. It's a sheer matte lipstick designed to always give that freshly applied look without showing any excess product on your lips. The dialled-down pigment provides a casual look, and because it adjusts with your natural lip colour it will appear slightly different on those wearing it. Due to the 'diffused matte texture' you can easily apply this wherever you are and not have to worry, so it would definitely be one to keep in your handbag for the day. The buildable nature of the lipstick means you can layer up without it looking as though you have applied too much product while still providing you with an enhanced lip look. It's a vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, hypoallergenic, allergy tested and dermatologist tested product which will give you some peace of mind when using it. There are six different shades available ranging from peach to plum to give you the choice to match your own style.

You might notice from my last Glossier review post that I loved the Boy Brow Grooming Pomade (£14), so much so that I've decided to pick it up again! I have the Blond shade which suits me better as I have fair skin, but it also comes in Brown, Black and Clear for other skin types and hair colours. This product is a "brushable creamy wax" that will help to shape, groom and thicken your brows. Applying this product can be as easy as one swipe and you're done and it will give you a flexible hold without any flaking or stiffening of the wax. Ingredients contained in the Boy Brow are designed to moisturise and condition your brows while also being alcohol-free, paraben-free, fragrance-free, cruelty-free, hypoallergenic, ophthalmologist tested, dermatologist tested as well as being suitable for all skin types. As far as I can say for now, there is no other brow gel that is better. This is a lifesaver.

The last product I picked up was the Soothing Face Mist Rosewater Spray (£13), a face spray to help soothe and hydrate stressed skin without the need to rub into your face. If you apply it immediately before moisturiser and serum it will help seal in hydration to your skin but can also be used during the day when you feel like you need it. I'd just give myself a quick spritz when I desired. The product contains glycerin to seal in the moisture, rosewater to soothe and aloe to hydrate which all come together to provide a refreshing spray. With it being non-irritating, alcohol-free, cruelty-free, vegan, hypoallergenic, dermatologist tested and suitable for all skin types, you can rest assured you are providing your skin with the healthy boost it needs. 

Glossier has a range of carefully designed products for you to choose from including makeup, skincare, fragrance and body products. I already have a few of Glossier's items as staples in my makeup bag and can see this expanding as I try more products. Thanks again to Glossier for letting me test some products and I look forward to seeing what else is going to be released in the future.

Products were gifted to me by Glossier.

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Spring Makeup From Urban Decay

Spring is finally here and it's time to switch up your makeup. A brand I love very dearly, Urban Decay, has sent over some products for me to try out. I think I own more products from Urban Decay than any other brand and they managed to send me products that were not duplicates of items I already had. I started using their makeup when the Naked 3 palette came out so I didn't have the original or the second palette and only really used their eyeshadow palettes until the last few years.

Having combination skin is one of the most annoying things about having a makeup and skincare routine. I'm trying to combat oil whilst keeping my skin hydrated. One way of helping is having a spray to hand to help your makeup last longer with a few added benefits. The Urban Decay Rebound Collagen Infused Complexion Prep Priming Spray smoothes and evens the skin tone out and provides intense hydration. It has a microfine mist and will help wake your skin up before you apply makeup, soothe the skin before your nighttime treatments and can be applied over makeup for a boost. Ingredients include chia seeds which have a rich source of Vitamin E, chameleon plant and Centella which is an ancient healing herb. Rebound is a versatile spray and can be used on any skin type which is perfect for people like me.

I originally thought the next product was a lip pencil, but to my surprise, it isn't. The Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Alkaline. I've used a black version of this eye pencil before and it really is a great product. With the name including '24/7', it boasts that it's long-lasting that won't budge, and from my experience from using it on my waterline, it is. For me, using products on my eyelids requires a specific primer which stops my eyelids getting watery, so I know when used in conjunction it will last until I remove my makeup. The ingredients include Vitamin E, Jojoba Oil and Cottonseed Oil which give it a creamy texture without being wet. The shade Alkaline would look beautiful against the eyes, but I think would also double as a great lip liner.

The most obvious product out of the lot is the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette which contains 12 matte and shimmer shadows that are neutral-toned including some well-known shades like Blackout. The shades are: Foxy (matte cream), Half Baked (shimmery gold), Bootycall (pale pink shimmer), Chopper (rose gold shimmer), Tease (matte taupe), Snakebite (chocolate-bronze shimmer), Suspect (beige-grey shimmer), Pistol (grey with a shimmer/metallic base), Verve (pale grey shimmer), YDK (pink-bronze shimmer/metallic), Busted (purple-brown shimmer) and Blackout (deep black matte). The palette comes with a double-ended brush to apply the eyeshadows with and comes in a tin case to match.

The final product is the Urban Decay Mega Matte Vice Lipstick in 714. I've tried a Vice Lipstick before but it wasn't an everyday shade so hard to wear frequently enough. There are actually 100 shades of the Vice Lipstick overall in various shades, and 714 is a Mega Matte which is a super-intense matte with a ton of pigment which makes it last all day. The creamy formula includes Avocado Oil, Aloe Vera, Jojoba Oil, Illipe Butter and Vitamins E and C. The smoothness of the lipstick prevents dragging on the lips and doesn't need a lip liner underneath to show off the colour payoff. The packaging is similar to a shotgun shell and has UD embossed onto it too.

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Charlotte Tilbury Lipsticks For Valentine's Day

With less than a week to go, Valentine's Day is going to be my best one yet. I'm engaged, I'm far more confident than I was a year ago and I've been stepping my makeup game up a notch. Why bother showcasing a ton of lipsticks to wear that I probably won't pick out on the day, when I can show you some of the highest quality ones? I tend to go for either of two lip colours on days like Valentine's; a simple nude in case I smudge my lippy all over my face, or a bold red whilst remembering that I need to consume all drinks with a straw. Either way, here are a few shades I'd personally recommend from Charlotte Tilbury.

The two red shades I love are both from the Matte Revolution range; Love Liberty and Red Carpet Red. Love Liberty is described as a 'berry pink matte lipstick' but definitely comes off more red-pink on my lips. It has rosy undertones which make it quite different from the classic bold red shade if that's what you prefer. Red Carpet Red is a 'true ruby red matte lipstick' and screams glamour from the old Hollywood days. The main reason I love the Matte Revolution lipsticks is that it softens and protects the lips to hydrate them, so you have a matte finish without completely drying them out like a lot of other matte lippies. They're long-lasting thanks to the oils, waxes and triglycerides and you can precise application from the angled tip so even when the lipstick wears down you'll still have that square tip. I tend to use a Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat liner underneath and the colours stay bold and bright. Other great reds from Charlotte Tilbury are So Marilyn (a bombshell red), Shanghai Nights (a deep rich sultry red), Dangerous Liaison (a warm rusty rose) and Legendary Queen (a soft neutral wine).

If you're more of a nude-coloured gal, shades like Bitch Perfect from the K.I.S.S.I.N.G range are perfect. Bitch Perfect is a peach-toned nude and really brings out my blue eyes and pale skin. I think nudes really differ depending on your skin colour but then again, you should wear whatever shade you want. The K.I.S.S.I.N.G lipsticks have light-diffusing pigments to give your lips a multi-dimensional finish to capture the light and reflect it back for a full-bodied effect. The 'Lipstick Tree extracts' nourish the lips to protect them from UV damage and keeps them lovely and smooth. They also contain a special blend of waxes to make the lipstick glide over the lips to maintain the rich colour without bleeding outside of the lip line. For further prevention of bleeding you can use a Lip Cheat in the corresponding colour. More nudes to choose from are Pillow Talk (a dreamy nude pink), American Sweetheart (a naturally tawny pink), Best Actress (a creamy brown nude), and Kidman's Kiss (a rose petal-pink). Rachel from Beauty And The Bird has reviewed Bond Girl which is another stunning shade.

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3ina Makeup

3INA is a fairly new entry to the beauty scene and is trying to shake up the 'one size fits all' approach to the cosmetics industry. Their products have a functional design with long-wearing formulas while still being an affordable option for many people. The products I've tested are paraben and cruelty free and come from their bestsellers list that are designed to be 'tools for self expression and colour confidence'.

The first item I tried out was The Longwear Liquid Lipstick which comes in 20 shades and is priced at £7.95. It's designed for those who would like to have the colour payoff from a longwear lipstick while still being able to enjoy the application method of a lip gloss. I've got this in the shade colour 500 which dries as a matte cherry red. To apply, you need a generous amount of the product to put one coat over the top of a base of lip liner on clean dry lips. If you start at the Cupid's bow and work your way outwards, you'll get the best application. The gloss will then turn into an opaque matte lipstick that will stay on your lips for hours. When you want to remove the product use their 'The Eyes & Lips Make-Up Remover'. 

If you fancy something to use on your eyes, the 3INA The Cream Eyeshadow (£7.95) is waterproof and available in 18 different colours. It gives you a strong, shimmery magnetic colour that will last all day. I've got this in the number 301 which is a dual-toned coppery bronze metallic shade. To apply, you can use concealer brush to blend outwards towards the outer edge of your eye. To get a sophisticated finish, you can blend a number of shades together. For me it's not an everyday product as I've got oily eyelids, but when I set my eyes with primer it works quite well.

If you want a product that is a 'flashbulb for your skin', this 3INA The Highlighter (£10.95) can illuminate your face. For applying you can use a fan brush or makeup sponge to lightly add the powder to your temple and cheekbones. You can also dust over your eyelids or Cupid's bow using your fingers to light up these areas. Don't think that this product has to be limited to your face as it can add glow and radiance when wearing a strapless top by adding it to your shoulders and collarbones.

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Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Review & Swatches

Wearing lipstick is something that gives me confidence, but I'm always worried that it will rub off on my chin or get on my teeth. I love liquid lipsticks as they help prevent this, especially matte finishes. The new Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Lipsticks (£9.99) come in a range of colours in a matte finish for '12 hour wear' with their high-intensity formula.

There's a precise arrow applicator which is larger than I'm used to, but applying your liquid lipstick is much quicker when using this. The pointed tip helps define the bow of the lips too. Maybelline describes the formula as "an intense ink colour concentration" that provides a flawless matte finish. The formula for me is not ultra matte and takes longer than usual to try. It does bleed a little so definitely wear a lip liner with this too. The photo below shows them whilst they're drying and you can see, the thicker you apply it the longer it takes to dry properly. They're really comfortable to wear and they're certainly long lasting, with barely any transfer.

The colours I have, from lightest to darkest, are Heroine (an orange-red), Romantic (a hot pink), Creator (the perfect lilac) and Escapist (a vampy brown-red). From packaging to swatching, there is one colour that doesn't match up, and that is Escapist. On the packaging, it looks like a red wine-purple but when swatched and worn, it's quite a dark brown. Aside from this, the rest of the colours are pretty spot on which is pleasing. At the moment, there is an offer on for buy one, get one half price so it's worth checking out here.

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L'Oréal's Latest Beauty Releases

During this time of year, there are so many beauty releases launching that it can be overwhelming to see what products are worth buying. It could be for Christmas presents or to glam up your festive party look, but in stores and online you can't see swatches of the products themselves. To make it easier for us, L'Oréal Paris has sent over some of their new products for me to try out and swatch for you, and for me to see what's the most worth it.

Right in time for Christmas, there is the Merry Metals collection which is full of shimmery products with luxury-looking packaging. The Merry Metals Glow Drops (£9.99) is a highly pigmented illuminator that is buildable for a bold shimmer and daylong glow. You can use the tiniest amount of a subtle shimmer or pack it on for an intense glow which makes it a very versatile product. The concentrated glow drops can be mixed with a primer or foundation for an all-over glow or added on top of lipstick and it's just beautiful. This is definitely a firm favourite of mine. There are three Infallible Metallic Lip Paints (£6.99) with similar packaging, and I have the shades Internet and Pixie. I'm not really sure about the name 'Internet' as it seems a bit random but it's a gorgeous shade nonetheless. The name 'Cute Psych' is another name I'm definitely not sure of but since I've not received this one I'm just going to leave that there. The lip paints have a shimmering metallic finish and they're not completely opaque but again this means you could apply them on top of another lip product. They're a long-wearing formula with high shine and shimmer so you can celebrate the festive season with a glossy pout. I'm not head over heels with the shade 'Pixie' as I'm fair with blonde hair but if you're daring enough to pull it off, I can imagine it would look amazing.

My photos just don't do this palette justice. It's the Merry Metals Highlighting Palette (£12.99) with 5 high-shimmer shades inside, from icy tones through to golden shimmers. I was originally a bit wary of the shade 'Make Me Flush' as it seems quite peachy but I'd use this and 'Pearlista' as blush shades instead. Make sure to head over to my Instagram to see the video I've uploaded of the swatches with flash on as they are far more shimmery with a light shone on them. I'm in love with the shade 'Metallicious' as it's basically a rose gold and I've been using it as an eyeshadow which you could do with the rest of the shades in this palette.

 

I have to admit, these are my first lip kits. Ever. I was never taken by the Kylie trend, nor the subsequent products that followed suit, but I can see why some were obsessed with them. Cheryl has collaborated with L'Oréal to bring out her own lip kits that include a lip liner with matching lip paint, and I have the shades 'Paint It Peach' and 'Paint It Greige' and there is a Burgandy shade too(£9.99). The Lip Kits are a match made in heaven to create a flawless pout that's matte, with a lasting time of up to 8 hours. You outline your entire lip with the lip liner then apply the lip paint all over and it's just such a pretty look and would compliment every skintone.

I know that Halloween is over, but the Autumn/Winter season is not. These are the Infallible Vampies Lip Paints (£6.99) in the shades 'Bye Felicia' and 'Purple Panic'. Unlike other lip products I've tried out before, these have a lacquer finish so they're opaque and high-shine, with shades suitable for your inner vamp. There's even a black shade in the collection so fear not, you can wear whatever shade you like right now with ease. I love that they've brought out more unique colours but since they're not incredibly wearable for me, I've not had too much wear out of them yet.

Unique to Superdrug, we now have brushes! These are the Infallible Makeup Brushes (£5.99-9.99) which are made for applying foundation and concealer, stippling, contouring and applying blushes and powders. I don't tend to use brushes for exactly what they're meant for, and I am a bit sad that the contouring brush is dual-ended as I stand my brushes up in a pot (when I say a pot I mean three...) and this means one side has to get squashed, but nevermind. I love that these brushes are affordable with soft bristles and I would definitely check out the concealer and blusher brushes if you come across them.


The products I'm most excited about have to be the Glow Drops and the Highlighting Palette from the Merry Metals Collection. You can't go wrong with a bit of shimmer and you can use them in so many ways that they're so worth picking up. Boots quite often have 3 for 2 on too so grab yourself a bargain if you can!

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Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick Nudes Collection With Swatches

I am well and truly guilty for being a liquid lipstick hoarder. As soon as the trend hit I wanted to try every brand and every shade available. The first major chance I had to stock up on some was in Los Angeles last year, and included in my haul was two mini Kat Von D Everlasting Lipsticks and the full sized version in Lolita. I loved the formula and for Christmas I received the Everlasting Miniature Set ($49) that was available from Sephora that included 8 mini Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks. Kat Von D have recently released their Nudes Collection in 6 nude shades, with one to suit everyone and they kindly set two shades for me to try, Crucifix and Hawkwind.

I'm a pale gal, so these two shades are definitely not 'nudes' to me, but I like the shades regardless. There are six shades in the Nudes Collection; Crucifix, Hawkwind, Ophelia, Ludwig, Muneca and Sanctuary. Crucifix is the darkest shade in the collection and is a deep brown, Hawkwind is more of a nutmeg shade, Ophelia is pink/brown nude, Ludwig is a mauve, Muneca is a light peachy-pink, and Sanctuary is a darker mauve. These are just 6 shades out of a total 43 available and I think Ludwig would be my perfect nude out of all of them as although I'm quite fair, my lips are a bit darker than you'd expect.

The formula has impressed me since I first tried Lolita, and they're creamy in nature and try fairly quickly to reveal a matte finish. When I've worn the Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks they've never flaked off but some shades are more opaque than others, but Crucifix and Hawkwind are very much true to colour and try opaque. No matter where I go, I always bring the lip colour I'm wearing with me just in case but I can't recall every re-applying these. They claim 24-hour wear but to be honest I've not worn any lipstick longer than about 16 hours and they're not as perfect by the end of the day as they were when first applied. 

I've compared the swatches of Crucifix and Hawkwind to two other Everlasting Liquid Lipstick shades in my collection; Lolita and Plath, to show what the shades look like. All of the shades dry really well without dehydrating the lips as they contain Vitamin E and Sunflower Seed Wax as natural moisturisers. I noticed that Plath doesn't dry as opaque like I mentioned before, but thought it was worth showing a few similar shades out to aid people looking for their perfect nude. For the best results. Kat Von D Beauty recommends shaking the products well before application for the best results.

The new Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick Nudes Collection is available exclusively from Debenhams, Debenhams.com and Debenhams.ie for £17 each.* I know I have eleven shades already but that's not going to stop me picking up Ludwig and Sanctuary to try out! Make sure to check out my Kat Von D Alchemist Holographic Palette review too!

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