LauraHadley.co.uk: makeup

makeup

AD/PR Sample | Maybelline Color Strike Eyeshadow Pen

Maybelline New York is the number one global cosmetics brand that has products available in almost 130 countries across the world. They have been creating makeup products for many, many years, and were the company that introduced the first daily-use modern mascara back in 1917. I've used Maybelline's Total Temptation Mascara for years now and I swear by it, so I know that they already produce good quality eye products.

They have recently launched a new eyeshadow with a bit of a difference. There's no palette or brush in sight, as this one comes in a pen with a precise cushion tip. It's smaller than my mascara so could easily be thrown into a small bag to take out. I can see this coming in really handy, as being able to have a product to top up my eyeshadow if I was out on a particularly long day would be great, particularly given that I have oily eyelids so I'm more prone to needing to touch them up, regardless of which eye product I'm using.

The eyeshadow is a cream-to-powder pen that can give you up to 12 hours of wear with only one easy strike without having any fallout due to the way the cushion tip glides across your eyelid to apply. It's also smudge, crease, and fade resistant to give you a long-wearing eyeshadow that has a 'bold color impact'. Several matte and metallic shades are available including Tempt, Spark, Chase, Hustle, Ace, Crave, Charm among others, to give plenty of choices to suit your style. I received the Spark and Rally shades Spark is my favourite of the two as it's more of an everyday shade for me. You could wear them alone or with other eyeshadows depending on the look, and the lighter shades could double as an inner eye and below the brow highlighter too.

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AD/PR Sample | My Glossier Summer Picks

It's been a couple of months since I picked up some of Glossier's bits for spring. I had a browse on their website recently and chose three products to try out. The first thing I ever heard about Glossier was their balms, and although I've had the chance to try out a couple of them previously, I fancied testing out their birthday balm this time around so that was on my list to pick up. Glossier offers both makeup and skincare products, along with a few body and fragrance items too. They have their own beauty website called Into The Gloss which allows people to share the products they love which help to drive the ideas for the new items they bring out which ensure they are designed around what people actually want and need.

The Pro Tip Brush Point Liquid Eyeliner (£15) is a black liquid eyeliner that will allow you to get "a smooth, precise line every time". The smudge-resistant formula and incredibly fine tip will make getting that perfect line achievable. It has flexible fibers that will curve along the lash line to make it nice and easy when applying. The quick-drying time helps you to build this product up to create the look you are going for which can last for up to 12 hours, although as it's a densely pigmented product, you shouldn't need to apply too much each time you wear it. With certain products, they tend to get decreasingly effective over time, but the Pro Tip has an internal ball shaker that means the formula can move around evenly inside the product to ensure you get that smooth line each time you use it without it dragging on application. I've found it easier to achieve a good line with this product as the fine tip makes it much easier to apply exactly where you want it.

The second product that I picked up was the Wowder Weightless Finishing Powder (£18). Glossier say that it will give you the "perfect matte-not-flat finish" as it is designed to reduce shine, set your makeup along with softening the appearance of your pores. You can apply this across any area of your face where you want to reduce the shine and it won't leave a film on your skin. It also won't show up when taking photos with flash which I'm really happy about as this is something I've experienced before with other products and it can be super annoying. Another bonus of this powder is that it doesn't get stuck in your fine lines which can sometimes be a problem with certain powders I've used in the past which then affected the overall appearance on my makeup. This Wowder should enhance your makeup rather than giving a cakey layer over the top while still helping to tackle oily skin. I'm excited to keep using this as I'm impressed so far.

As I mentioned earlier, I was lucky enough to test out some of the Glossier balms previously, but the one I've been looking forward to most is the Balm Dotcom (£10) in the Birthday flavour. Not only will this hydrate, but the natural emollients and antioxidants also help dry skin to improve the condition of your lips. It combines Beeswax, Caster Oil and Lanolin to boost and seal in moisture without making your lips shiny. Not only do I adore the packaging of the birthday flavour balm, because who doesn't like something sparkly and glittery, but I also love the subtle shimmer it gives when you wear it along with the vanilla cake flavour. I love funfetti cake and I've had birthday cake pancakes before so anytime I see something like this I am drawn to it for its appearance and flavour. It's perfect if you don't feel like wearing lipstick or lipgloss but want something a bit more than a clear lip balm to still give your lips that little pop.

I've loved trying some other Glossier bits again. I've been really impressed by what I've had so far as you can tell they have really thought about the products they create. They don't overcomplicate things, just produce quality products that work well for what they are designed without having a big price tag. I'd definitely recommend having a browse on their website and see for yourself what products you like.

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AD/Gifted | Honey Bunny Lashes

Lashes are a staple item that many people wear on a regular basis, whether this is using more subtle and natural ones or going for a bolder pair for events. As I have hooded eyes, people have previously made derogatory comments about the appearance of my eyes which has made me self conscious. Since then, I have found that wearing the right lashes can really open up your eyes and has definitely helped to boost my confidence. There are numerous different options when it comes to buying lashes, and many of them are made from real mink (and minks are animals). I have been a vegetarian for 7 months now and don't buy products made from real animal fur and I cannot stand animal print items for the same reason too, so I'm trying to be as ethical with my choices as possible. Honey Bunny Lashes are the first fully cruelty-free and vegan luxury lash brand in the UK, and they got in touch to see if I would like to test out some of the lashes. They produce both natural and more dramatic lashes that are the closest thing to mink, without actually being made from minks. The company started up in December 2019 with the aim of bringing "cruelty-free vegan glamour to everyone".

The lashes from Honey Bunny Lashes are layered & stacked and also taper at the ends to give the look of mink ones without any use of animal fur. I was really impressed by how lightweight and soft they are and the very high-quality look and feel to them. These ones I was sent are not too dramatic but a little longer and fuller than a subtle lash. As I have blonde eyelashes I'm inclined to think that anything that isn't quite short and thin would be more of a dramatic lash but that's only because when I don't wear mascara you can't see my lashes. If you have dark lashes they are definitely more of a natural style. They are exactly my kind of length and thickness and I would only really wear this style or none at all. I was also sent this super handy Lash Applicator which is going to save me a lot of hassle when applying them. I have previously used a pair of tweezers and nearly always end up dropping them when picking them up from the packaging or poking myself in the eye from using normal pointed tweezers. The applicator is curved to match the shape of the lashes - I've used it backwards in the photo above to help display them, but you can see how they will grip onto the lashes to make application nice and easy.

The lash glue is non-animal tested and as no animal ingredients are used to make it this is suitable for vegans. It has a brush applicator to make applying the glue to the lashes easier, and with the glue being black it means that you are less likely to notice the glue against the lashes. If you do wear an eyeliner then any mistakes with black glue can also easily be blended and hidden anyway. The Honey Bunny Lashes start at £10 and you get free glue with each purchase you make. And when you consider that they can be reused up to an impressive 25 times, it's quite good value. If you wanted to pick up any additional glue you can grab one from £8 and if you normally, like me, struggle when applying your lashes then the applicator is only £8 which I'd say is a very good value given that you'll get a specifically designed product that you will have forever. If you want to pick up some quality lashes while also purchasing cruelty-free then it's well worth checking out Honey Bunny Lashes for your next set.

Products were gifted by Honey Bunny Lashes

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.

An Introduction To Glossier's Favourite Products

Glossier is a beauty brand with a difference. Their approach to beauty is based around using the thoughts, opinions and feedback from the people who use their products to inspire their improvements and inventions. The company was founded with the focus that beauty is about celebrating the individual and that personal choice in products should be determined by the user of them, not the brand. You'll know what works best for your skin, and Glossier offers a range of products that you can choose from to get the most suitable. I can resonate with where the brand is coming from as I've often tried products from other brands 'because that's what I should be using' only to find it doesn't actually work for my skin or style and I go back to what I know works for me. I'm excited to try out some products Glossier have sent to see how they are. The Lash Slick Film Form Mascara (£14) is designed as an everyday mascara to emphasise, sculpt, curl and lengthen your lashes rather than clumping them together. It has mini fibres that cover your lashes from the root right through to the tip to lengthen them. The mascara is also water-resistant but will still rinse off nice and easy with some warm water at the end of the day. I liked the feel of the wand on this mascara as the bristles are gentle on the lashes which makes it pleasant to use.

I also tried out a couple of the Balm Dotcom Universal Skin Salve (£10), one in Berry and one in Rose. They also offer 6 other colours that each give their own subtle tint. These products can be used as lip balm or skin ointment, with the natural moisturiser and antioxidants contained within meant to help with dry and chafed skin. I've been using the Rose one a lot recently and was impressed at how long it lasted, along with noticing my lips are a lot smoother than before. The Milky Jelly Cleanser Conditioning Face Wash (£15) is designed as a product to use daily for freshening up in the morning or remove makeup and dirt in the evening. It leaves your skin feeling soft and healthy and can also be used around your eyes. This cleanser also comes in a mini size (£8) which would be ideal to throw in your travel bag. Another skincare product I received was the Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen + (£20). It has a clear watergel formula that is perfect for those who don't like wearing suncream as it soaks straight into the skin, is not greasy and with SPF 30 you'll be protected against harmful sun rays. An additional feature of this product is that it "works to neutralize harmful free radicals, and keeps pollutant junk from getting in".

Brow products are one of my stable items due to my blonde eyebrows meaning I always need to fill them in, so I was pleased to have the Boy Brow Grooming Pomade (£14) to try as this is so much quicker to apply compared to a powder or pencil. This one comes in four different shades, I received the blonde and the brown shade, and it's designed to be a product that can groom, thicken and shape your brows to where you want them. It has a creamy wax formula that will hold your brows in place without causing them to flake or harden. The blonde Boy Brow has impressed me a lot and has become a daily staple for me. A lot of blonde brow products tend to have a warm tone to them, which can come across as 'strawberry blonde' which is not helpful to someone with ashy blonde hair. Now and again I do dye my hair different colours so I'll come to use the brown shade, but for now, I'm really impressed with the colour and applicator of this product.

The Lip Gloss (£11) comes in three different shades; a Clear, Holographic and the Red, which I received, which will give a "subtle, sheer tint". The applicator is designed to pick up the perfect amount to allow for an easy and smooth application. It's been years since I've worn a lip gloss but it was a pleasant switch up and a welcome change. The last product I received was the Cloud Paint Seamless Cheek Colour (£15) in the Puff shade. It's super easy to apply the gel-cream with your finger to add some colour to your cheeks and with this product, it's a sheer enough help you look naturally flushed. I was hesitant when I saw the cloud paint in the bag as I'm not one to stray away from powder blushes because I'm used to them and know the right amount to apply. After testing this out I was relieved to find that it gives a natural look and is easy to build up, it will just take a little getting used to the amount needed. Thank you to Glossier for sending some of their favourite products to try. I've been really impressed so far and I'm already starting to look into which products to buy in the future.

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Urban Decay Naked Cherry Palette Review

Urban Decay has shocked us all again with the release of the Naked Cherry palette and I have to say straight off the bat - this is my favourite palette yet! I was blown away by the Naked Heat palette last year but with me using more pink eyeshadow shades this year, this is by far my favourite now. Urban Decay sent me this palette to review and it came on my birthday so it felt like an extra treat. I think Urban Decay is one of my most reviewed brands on this blog and although they do send me a lot of their products, I'm confident that time after time they produce some high-quality palettes and that definitely makes me look forward to seeing what they bring out with each release.

The eyeshadows come in different formulas, including metallics, mattes, shimmers and even a shadow with an iridescent micro-sparkle. As always, the palette includes a mirror and a double-sided brush for precise application on one end and 'seamless blending' on the other end. There are plenty of shades in the palette to go from natural makeup to going out makeup and I've not stopped using this since I received it. It's a really wearable palette with some shimmers that pack on the pigment, but I'm a tad scared to use Privacy as it is so dark next to my skin tone.

The shades include:

Hot Spot (an ivory matte which I use under the brow)

Caution (a soft neutral mate beige)

Bang Bang (a shimmering pink with a gold shift and iridescent micro-sparkle)

Feelz (a soft taupe-pink matte)

Juicy (a warm peach)

Turn On (a palette rose metallic shimmer)

Ambitious (a metallic rose copper)

Bing (a deep mauve matte)

Young Love (a metallic cranberry)

Drunk Dial (a metallic deep burgundy)

Privacy (a deep brown matte)

(swatched: Ambitious, Privacy, Bing, Feelz, Juicy, Bang Bang and Devilish)

Overall I'm even more impressed with the Naked Cherry Palette than I first thought, and more so than the Naked Heat Palette. I adore that palette but I can't stop picking this one up. I am a complete sucker for shades like this, and personally, it has a great balance of mattes to shimmers, blends really well, isn't too powdery and hasn't let me down so far. You can bet I've not yet rocked a complete dark look yet but the time may come closer to Christmas.

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Win A Huda Beauty Obsessions Palette

I only started using Huda Beauty products in December and I fell for them pretty quickly. I was keen to try out the Faux Filter Foundation as I love a full coverage foundation, and aside from that, all I knew I wanted was some eyeshadow palettes. I swore I wouldn't buy Huda Beauty products here but after receiving the Desert Dusk palette for Christmas and two of the Obsessions palettes, I immediately changed my mind. For me, they work really well. I like a shadow that looks silky, a shimmer that glimmers and the lasting power even when using an eyeshadow primer. The Obsessions palettes are perfect for travelling with, they're a good introduction to the brand if you're new to trying them, or if you're looking for something at a specific price point. Currently there are six Huda Beauty Obsessions palettes: Coral Obsessions Palette, Electric Obsessions Palette, Gemstones Obsessions Palette, Mauve Obsessions Palette, Warm Brown Obsessions Palette and Smokey Obsessions Palette. I'm giving you the chance to win one of your choice down below as a thank you for supporting me for almost four and a half years of blogging, and for bearing with me whilst I've been moving house.

RT to win a Huda Beauty Obsessions palette 💖
Follow @laurahadleyx and RT to enter ✨
Extra entry follow @laurahadleyx on Instagram 📸
Quote RT's don't count 💞
t&c's: https://t.co/npnwIeZFkl #win #rttowin #giveaway #bbloggers #hudabeauty pic.twitter.com/ufGy2SWwpB
— Laura Hadley 👱🏼‍♀️ (@LauraHadleyx) August 17, 2018

T&C's

UK entries only. 'Win A Huda Beauty Obsessions Palette' giveaway ends 26th August at 11:59pm. You must follow @laurahadleyx and still be following by the time the giveaway ends. To enter, follow @laurahadleyx and on Twitter and retweet the tweet to qualify, quote retweets and replies are not permitted. For an extra entry, follow @laurahadleyx on Instagram. Winner will be notified via Twitter. The prize will be posted within 15 working days of receiving the winner's details and choice of palette. No cash alternative.

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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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