Top 3 Highlighters / Review

A review of 3 of my favourite highlighters. These are:

-Benefit High Beam

-MAC Cream Colour Base in 'Pearl'

-MAC Iridescent Powder in 'Silver Dusk'  

Benefit High Beam

High Beam is described as a 'Satiny Pink Liquid Highlighter'. The colour is a very light pink, with slightly blue undertones, so I would recommend this for paler skin colours. Benefit also offers 'Moon Beam', which I would recommend for darker skin tones. This product is so pigmented, but not over shimmery (see photo below) which is the problem with many highlighters on the market. The brush makes it super easy to apply, and it blends really nicely. As for the durability, it lasts really well and doesn't begin to look greasy towards the end of the day. 

(Above: High Beam with blended in product to its right)

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MAC Cream Colour Base in 'Pearl'

Pearl is described as 'Pale Gold with icy shimmer'. By this description you think that this would be for darker skin tones because of its golden colour, but this colour really is suitable for most skin tones. This product is quite pigmented, but more subtle than the High Beam, so more suitable for daily use. The consistency is thick and creamy so it does take a little effort to blend (I just use my finger to apply), but once blended it gives a really nice , subtle sheen. I wouldn't say this stays put quite as long as the High Beam, but lasts without spreading shimmer down your face! 

(Above: Pearl with blended in product to its right)

MAC Iridescent Powder in 'Silver Dusk'

Silver Dusk is described as 'Pinky Beige with Silver Shimmer', which makes it sound very shimmery, and although it's more shimmery than High Beam and Pearl, it's not as it sounds. It's a less subtle sheen than the other two products mentioned, so not recommended for everyday use. But as a special occasion highlighter, this is the best! I apply this using my MAC 130 Short Duo Fibre Brush and just tap it along the top of my cheek bones. It spreads out nice and evenly and the light really reflects off it. As this is a powder product it stays put for hours and hours without budging!

(Above: Silver Dusk with blended in product to its right)

(Above: MAC Iridescent Powder in 'Silver Dusk')

Hope you find this helpful, and feel free to ask any questions :)

Where yu can purchase the products mentioned:

You can get both MAC and Benefit products from department stores such as Debenhams and Selfridges in the UK and stores such as Sephora and Nordstrom in the US.

Also online at:

Sephora- http://www.sephora.com/

Nordstrom- http://shop.nordstrom.com/?origin=tab-logo

Debenhams- http://www.debenhams.com/

Selfridges- http://www.selfridges.com/

L'Occitane Shea Butter Body Range Review

I received this lovely gift set for Christmas from a friend and I'm absolutely in love with it. I'd had a L'Occitane fragrance before (Cherry Blossom), but I'd never tried out their Bodycare range, so this was the perfect Christmas gift. The Shea Butter line is a range of body and face care products that each contain a certain amount of pure Shea Butter. The line has a gentle frangrance, it reminds me slightly of baby powder so not over powering if you're planning on wearing perfume as well. I also ADORE the packaging design, as it has a really vintage and classic feel about it. Shea Butter has many benefits including:

-Soothes skin irritations

- Rich in Vitamins A, E and F

-Moisturises skin without clogging pores 

L'Occitane Dry Skin Hand Cream

This hand cream is 20% Shea Butter, and you can really tell. It has a thick, creamy consistency and melts into your skin just like butter. It leaves your hands feeling smooth and hydrated and not at all greasy!

L'Occitaine Dry Skin Foot Cream

This cream is 15% Shea Butter, and so is not as thick as the hand cream but is just as luxurious. This product has a slightly different scent to the other products in the Shea Butter range, as it has added Lavender Essential Oil. It sinks into your skin really fast and leaves your feet feeling nourished.

L'Occitane Ultra Rich Shower Cream

This shower cream has the same scent as the other products in the line but a lot milder. It is 5% Shea butter, and feels lovely on your skin, but it doesn't lather up very much at all. Although this isn't a negative as once you've washed the product off, it leaves your skin feeling nicely cleansed and moisturised. 

L'Occitane Ultra Rich Body Lotion

This body lotion is 15% Shea Butter, the same as the foot cream, but its consistency is a lot thinner. That said, it feels just as moisturising and again sinks in lovely.   

L'Occitane Extra Gentle Milk Soap

I've not yet used this soap but I will give an update once I have done so :)

These products are my new bodycare favourites, and I will definitely repurchase!

Hope this helps, and feel free to ask any questions :)

You can purchase the products mentioned in store at most Debenhams and on their online store ( http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Navigate?ps=&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&x=0&y=0&txt=shea+butter )

You can also purchase directly from the L'Occitane site ( http://uk.loccitane.com/FO/shea-butter.htm )

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in '513 Black Pearl' Review

I purchased this nail varnish a number of weeks ago, but have only just gotten around to using it, and I must say it's not all I thought it would be.

I prepared my nails by filing and buffing the edges to the shape that I desired. I then wiped over the nail surface with acetone to remove any oils (this helps the varnish last longer). I then applied my base coat ( I used Stickey by Creative Nail Design). Then comes the nail varnish, I applied one coat of 'Black Pearl' and it appeared a bit thin and see-through, but after the second coat it was completely covered and appeared the same colour as in the bottle. I waited for that to dry and then applied my top coat ( Seche Vite). 

The end result was brilliant, and the colour looked amazing (see below).

But this didn't last long, and the varnish started chipping after about a day. For the price  (£17.50!), I expected a little more. But for a night out this nail varnish makes you feel just that little bit more glamorous, so why not treat yourself?

Hope this helps, and feel free to ask any questions :)

You can purchase Chanel Nail colours at many Debenhams and Selfridges and also on their online stores.

Selfridges- http://www.selfridges.com/

Debenhams- http://www.debenhams.com/ 

Top 3 Eyeshadow Primers/ Review

A review of the three leading eye shadow primers on the market. These are:

-Urban Decay Primer Potion

-MAC Paint Pot in 'Painterly'

-Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

This primer has a light velvety consistency, and glides on effortlessly. It does take a little while to sink in though, before you can apply your eye shadow. When applying the eye shadow the pigment really sticks to the primer so it does take quite a lot of blending for the shadow colour to look seamless. As for staying power, I would say it stays put for around 6 hours but then it does start to crease slightly. 

MAC Paint Pot in 'Painterly'

The consistency of this product is quite thick and therefore a little hard to blend so I would suggest applying with a concealer brush. As for the colour it's a nice natural nude colour, but is quite light so may not be suitable for darker skin tones. When applying the shadow it smooths on really nice and the pigment of the eye shadow really stands out. Although, this product isn't specifically a primer so even though it does create a flawless finish it doesn't stay for long and starts to crease after just a few hours.

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Saving the best until last, Urban Decay Primer Potion is by far my favourite eye shadow primer. It again has a light, velvety consistency much like the Shadow Insurance, and feels like silk when applying. It sinks in instantaneously, and creates a nice matte finish to apply your eye shadow. The eye shadow goes on nicely and blends easily. The staying power for this is amazing, it lasts for hours and hours, but comes off nicely when it's time to remove your make-up.     

The eye shadow I used for these photos is 'Parfait Amour' by MAC.

I hope you found these reviews helpful if you're considering purchasing an eye shadow primer but just can't decide which, and as always feel free to ask any questions :)

You can purchase the products mentioned from:

-Urban Decay Primer Potion (new packaging) http://www.beautybay.com/cosmetics/urbandecay/g/eyeshadowprimerpotion/ 

- MAC Paint Pot in 'Painterly' 

http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/shaded/154/1573/Eyes/Shadow/Paint-Pot/index.tmpl

- Too Faced Shadow Insurance

http://www.beautybay.com/cosmetics/toofaced/g/shadowinsurance/ 

-MAC Eye Shadow in 'Parfait Amour' 

http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/shaded/154/363/Eyes/Shadow/Eye-Shadow/index.tmpl