Estee Lauder Eyeliners and Shadowsticks

I was really chuffed to be sent these products by Estee Lauder to try. I had read alot about their Double Wear Eye Pencils and I know they have been awarded best buys in magazines quite a few times. I was also sent two Shadow Sticks and an eyeshadow blending brush.

Here's a closer look at the blending brush which is just brilliant for blurring any harsh lines and making your eyeshadow look seamless when you're blending shades together. The bristles are really soft and perfect for working into the crease... The two Shadow Sticks are in Silver Lilac and Golden Peach. The liners are in Onyx, Black Plum and Bronze...

I was immediately attracted to the Black Plum shade which is so unique and unlike anything else I have in my collection, it's such a gorgeous colour. Here are the swatches...

I just wanted to give you an idea of what the Black Plum Double Wear Liner looks like when applied, it has a metallic sheen to it that's just beautiful...

The eye pencils are so soft and smooth to apply, they are on par , if not better tha Urban Decay 24/7 liners. Now I know why people rave about these liners. The Onyx one is super dense black and the bronze one is gorgeous too (although I already have Urban Decay Bourbon and that's pretty much exactly the same). These liners are a pleasure to use, last all day with minimal or no smudging. Love them!

I wasn't as impressed with the Shadow Sticks, I loved the colours and the sheen they have to them but they were quite difficult to apply, they dragged my eyelid and not that much colour transferred to my lid in the process. Not very practical! It's easier to apply it to the inner corners or brow bone as you need a bone behind the skin to provide support (if that makes sense). When you press them against your eye lid, you can't press too hard as, well, it would bloody hurt! You don't want to be poking your eyes out! So I just couldn't get them to work for me, I even tried applying them to the back of my hand and applying it with my finger but nope, didn't work either.

Raquel Welsh Inspired FOTD

Ever since watching this Pixiwoo video on You Tube I have wanted to try this look out, it's so glamourous and I just love that sexy, sleepy eyemakeup look that so many starlets have used over the decades.

If you don't know who Raquel Welsh is, then here's a pic to give you an idea of what her look was all about...This wasn't the exact look that Nic from Pixiwoo did in her tutorial but it's similar. The look is all about matte bronzed skin, contouring, brown e/s and a nude lip. This was my first time I have tried this look and I kinda decided to do it on a whim, I was going out to meet a few friends and felt like trying something new (not so much colours but techniques and playing with the shape of my eye with e/s). I decided to tone down the look slightly as something this dark would possibly make me look a bit tired. So I skipped the false eyelashes, used a little less Carbon e/s in the crease and was light handed with the bronzer but apart from that, I followed the tutorial to the letter. And here's the finished result..

When your eye is open, the look is very subtle but all the drama of this look is in the crease using MAC Satin Taupe and a teensy bit of MAC Carbon e/s to accentuate... I really enjoyed slightly changing my eye shape by extending the Satin Taupe out towards my temple and using the gel eyeliner to draw a line parallel to that (I also followed the video and applied a white liner under the gel liner at the very outer corners to sharpen the line). Doing all that extends and lifts the outer corners of your eye. Here's a close up to show you what I mean...

The only thing that didn't go to plan is my mascara (I used Lancome Hypnose Drama)...it went a bit spidery and I hate it when that happens! So you'll have to excuse that.

I am making it my mission to try out one of their looks each week to avoid getting stuck in a makeup rut. Sometimes I find myself doing the same look every time I go out just because it's easy, I'm on autopilot and it's quick. But it was really fun to sit at the mirror with the laptop and follow the tutorial...it was like playtime! Makeup is always a pleasure, never a chore.

Beauty Blog Link Love

So I joined up to Beauty Blog Link Love recently and I think it's a fantastic way of introducing yourself and other people to some really great blogs (there's a button on my blog called BBLL linking to it). The blogs featured will always be good quality, regularly updated and relevant, which is always what I look for. I'm not on this week's link love but hopefully I will make next week's one. Link Love is basically a list of 15 blogs who are members of Beauty Blog Link Love and what they have been writing about this week. Of course if you are already subscribed to them then you will have seen the posts but if you're not, then it's a good way for you and your followers of finding more blogs that appeal to you.

theNotice is hosting a New Year's giveaway with lots of discontinued or hard-to-find items, and everyone has three chances to win!

Priminition, an expose on primers - over at Jeweled Thumb

A go-to neutral purple-beige look from Maggie at The Polka-Dotted Apple!

Krasey Beauty warms it up for winter with a golden makeup look using Chanel's Spring 2010 collection

This week at I Heart Cosmetics Sarah has been loving Mac's warm and cozy collection

Vex in the City explains why Dr Hauschka Rose Day Cream is all she needs to beat her winter blues

Amy over at Yoetke Beauty Blog is taking L'Oreal's 4-Week Lashboost Challenge!

Arianne can't stop raving about her holy grail foundation (OMG!) on Glitter Geek.

Lisa Kate has some Sparkle Approved Mineral Makeup Companies to share with you!

LiAnn asks what beauty products you tried that made you say "meh"

Retrodiva wants to know what your signature fragrance is!

Jellyminx Thinks swatches Sleek Eyeshadow palettes

Hot Beauty Health share some sexy haircolor ideas to start the new year off fresh!

Over at Lipglossiping this week, Charlotte contemplates life with triangle hair.

This week at Get Lippie, Louise tries out a Scarlet Johanssen-style makeover

Nars Orgasm Illuminator...I want it!

After seeing this product on Vex In The City's blog and what with me being a highlighter fiend, I knew I wanted it straight away! Although I'm not a big fan of the Nars Orgasm powder blush, I really like the idea of this liquid illuminator in a pinky/peachy 'suit all shade'. It looks great in the tube... I have been trawling for swatches but couldn't find any at all. It's described by Nars as a "sheer, weightless fluid that instantly makes skin refreshed, radiant and glowing. Flecks of gold, peach and pink shimmer softly diffuse light, melting into the skin to allow natural luminosity to shine through". That is a tantalising description and got my interests sparked up even more.

It can be used simply as a highlighter, mixed with foundation or as a primer for a glowy look. It looks like it will be a gorgeous product for summer time when I have a warmer shade in my skin. I need it, I want it and I'm damn well gonna get it when it hits the shops/website!

ALDO made me do it!

It wasn't my fault...I was minding my own business, just browsing the net, I happened to innocently click on the ALDO website link (ok, so maybe I typed the address) and there it was...a SALE! So I thought, well, I'll just have a look, I won't buy anything... ...So I bought something, well 3 pairs of somethings to be exact! But keep in mind, it wasn't my fault, ALDO had reduced these shoes by so much that it would have been outrageous to pass the bargains by. The first pair I got are beige snakeskin effect platform court shoes and I LOOOOOVE them. They will go with so many things in my wardrobe and the pale, almost flesh colour, means that they make your legs look super long...bonus! The next pair ALDO made me buy are these babies...

I really like the studded/eyelet details and they will add a bit of edge to some of the dresses I have. I always like to have a staple pair of black 'going out' shoes'. I think my favourites have to be these though...

They kinda remind me of ballet shoes but with a killer platform and heel! They are a gorgeous oyster pale beige colour and surprisingly comfortable! The only thing that's bothering me now is that I can't wear them until this bloody snow clears up! I doubt that will be anytime soon as the temperatures are dropping and there's more snow forecast for tonight and tomorrow! I'm sick of sliding around on the pavements now!

Dupe Alert and Quick Product Rave

I was tidying up my makeup collection today and it suddenly dawned on me that there was a great dupe hiding in there that I haven't mentioned on here before! The dupe in question is my much raved about ELF Mineral eyeshadow in Natural. I realised that it's almost identical to Bobbi Brown Metallic eyeshadow in Golden Peach... Ok, so the ELF packaging isn't quite as attractive as the Bobbi Brown product BUT when you're getting virtually the same colour for £3.50 instead of £14.50, well, you're not goingt to pass that up are you?! I mean, £14.50 is a helluva lot to pay, especially when the ELF e/s is actually smoother to apply and a better texture. Here's how the colours compare in the packaging...

I would say that the ELF e/s is very slightly warmer than the Bobbi Brown e/s but in my opinion that just makes it all the better. They look identical when applied on the lids anyway. I have also found that the shimmer particles are alot finer in the ELF e/s and you don't have to apply as much to get the desired effect. It really is SUCH a bargain and I would choose that over the Bobbi Brown e/s anyday.

I also wanted to rave a little about this moisturiser I was sent to try. I was also sent the cleanser and body lotion but this moisturiser was the only one that really stood out as something special. It's part of a range containing Rose Polyphensols and it promotes hydration, protection from the environment and radiance. After a week of using this moisturiser day and night my skin feels amazing! I have normal/combination skin most of the time so I get a bit oily on the t-zone but the rest of my face is pretty normal (I also get the odd breakout of dry skin in the winter). This moisturiser sinks in really quickly, smells divine and has really improved the texture and softness of my skin, the dryness I had on my chin and on my nose has completely gone. It's great as a base for makeup and I love the packaging, it looks great on my bathroom shelf (hot pink always works for me!). I have never tried the brand before but this is part of a new affordable range that has been available in pharmacies/drugstores since November

A 50ml tub of this moisturiser retails for around £9.00 which I think is pretty decent for such a great moisturiser. I always thought that Vichy was a more expensive brand so I kind of bypassed them but I think it's great that they have taken out a more purse friendly range. This cream really worked for my skin but as with all skincare, that doesn't necessarily mean it will work for you, but as it's such a reasonable price, I don't think it would break the bank to experiment if you're looking for a moisturiser that will really soothe and hydrate your skin without feeling greasy or too heavy.

FOTD using new MAC products

I hope everyone had a lovely New Year. I couldn't wait to try the new MAC products I got, as featured in my last post, so I went right ahead and used some of them. Now as you know, I'm not one for super dark, dramatic looks so as you've probably guessed, I have done a look using purple eyeshadow that's toned down and totally wearable for daytime. And shock horror, there's winged eyeliner...pretty much my signature look.ha ha. I guess I just find that when I try out really crazy makeup, it generally doesn't suit me and it just kind of defies the whole point of what I'm trying to achieve, which is to enhance my natural features. When I see other people's posts and how adventurous they are with their makeup, I sometimes feel I am too 'safe' but at the end of the day, what suits me, suits me and that's the most important thing I guess. Ok, so onto the makeup....Face: Virgin Vie Skin Dew (as a base), Revlon Colourstay in True Beige and Natural Beige (mixed to suit my paler winter complexion!), Bobbi Brown Colour Corrector (under eyes), Lise Watier Concealer Wheel (palest shade used for around nose and blemishes), MAC Prep & Prime Transparent Finishing Face Powder, Lancome Star Bronzer (all over face), Bare Minerals Faux Tan (to contour), RMK Blush in Holographic Coral, MAC Cream Colour Base in Pearl (on tops of cheekbones and browbones).

Eyes: Benefit Brow Zings palette, MAC Paint Pot in Painterly (as a base), MAC e/s in Naked Lunch (all over lid), MAC e/s in Parfait Amour (applied lightly on outer corners of lid and in crease), Bourjois e/s in Blanc Diaphane (dabbed lightly on centre of lid and in inner corner of eyes), Estee Lauder Double Wear Liquid Liner in Black (along top lashline), MAC e/s in Carbon (to tidy up and soften eyeliner), Rimmel eye pencil in White (waterline), Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara in Black.

Lips: MAC Creme De Nude lipstick, MAC Cremesheen Lipglass in Boy Bait.

I really love Cream Colour Base in Pearl to create a really nice glow, as I had said in a previous post, it's basically Nars Albatross in cream form. I also tried it over Nars Albatross very lightly to up the glow ante and it worked really well. As long as you don't overdo it, it has a really pretty effect (just remember to dab it on the back of your hand first for a more even application). The Cremesheen Lipglass in Boy Bait is gorgeous over any nude lipstick and I really like the formulation. The P & P Transparent powder, which some people hate, actually turned out to be really good. If you're expecting it to give a really radiant finish then don't get this powder (go for Korres Wild Rose powder or MAC MSF Natural). I found that it gives a flawless soft matte finish, without making you look cakey or ghostly. I do like the powder but it's not my favourite in my collection. I don't really need to comment on the MAC eyeshadows I used as we all know that MAC's e/s are always very good. What I will say is that Naked Lunch is an everyday essential and Parfait Amour, although it looks scarily bright in the pan, when applied lightly, it creates a really pretty effect. If you want a more dramatic look then you can just apply it with a heavier hand than I did. I never thought I would LOVE a purple eyeshadow but it's so beautiful and unique, I couldn't pass it up.