MUA Undress Your Skin Highlighting Powder - Review

Pink Shimmer

Iridescent Gold

I feel as though I have reviewed a lot of MUA recently but oh well, I am loving their products so far!
The highlighter comes in 3 shades: pink shimmer, opalescent amber and iridescent gold. I have the pink and gold ones and I do have a firm favourite. The pink shimmer looks so natural and subtle on the skin and doesn't make you look caked in highlighter. The gold one, in my opinion, would look great on someone with a tan but I just don't and probably never will. However, this is beautiful for the inner corners of your eyes and as a brow bone highlight. It is absolutely stunning.

The texture is not too powdery as all and it is so compact in its packaging that I originally thought it was a cream to powder highlighter.. oops. Shimmery and pigmented, what is not to love? It also looks great on both matte and dewy skin but I definitely love it more with a dewy finish as it gives you an amazing radiant glow.

Iridescent Gold with flash

Pink Shimmer with flash

For £3, how could you even go wrong? I was not a highlighting person before I used these products.. wow, it sounds like I have a newly found proclaimed love for something which is starting to get slightly strange and weird.. The best thing ever is there is no oil so therefore, no acne breakouts!

With 63 5* reviews on the MUA website on the pink shimmer alone, I think you should try it!

As of the 30th of May, Iridescent Gold is sold out online!

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MUA Colour Blast Eyeshadow Tint - Review

This eyeshadow stick was bought on a whim but thought it looked very similar to the Clinique Chubby Sticks so I just knew I had to try it! On the website, the eyeshadow tints are described as 'Get a long-lasting tint of colour with this smooth cream eyeshadow. The easy-glide formula can be blended or worn alone for cool, block colour eyes. Encased in a handy chubby pencil the applicator rolls up for ease.'

Honestly, I have been looking for a perfect base for my eyeshadows and these work perfectly and help my eyeshadows stay put and not budge at all. It even lasts me a 7 hour shift at work! I bought the shade 'A Girl Like Me' (a dark gold/champagne colour) and when I swatched the tester in the store, it looked a lot more darker than what it does now but I have noticed that the top of the eyeshadow tint is a different colour to the rest of the tube so whether something has gone wrong in the factory I do not know but honestly, both of the colours are amazing and I feel as though I am getting 2 for the price of 1. 

Sticking to the name of the product for one second, all of the eyeshadow tints in the range are named after Rihanna's songs: 'Diamonds', 'A Girl Like Me', 'Bring It Back', 'Loud', 'Unfaithful' and 'Stay'. I am a bit disappointed there are only 6 colours in the range though! 

The consistency is very smooth but can be a little sticky when first applied but this feeling does go away after a few minutes. It is the perfect make up piece to have when you're in a hurry or just want something quick and look effortless. It is also easy to blend and ahh, I love it! What I like to do it apply this all over the lid and take my crease brush from Real Techniques and whatever colour has been on the brush the day before, use it in the crease and outer corners and my eyeshadow is done. 

If worn on its own, it does have the tendency to crease after a few hours but I have not found any problems with creasing if an eyeshadow is applied over the top.

Overall, I really would recommend this product if you're looking for an everyday eyeshadow base or as an eyeshadow colour to add to your collection. 

Available in Superdrug for £3! (Sold out as of 24/05/2015 on the MUA store)

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MUA Limited Edition 5th Birthday Eyeshadow Palette - Review

I never actually planned on getting this palette but because I spent over £8 in Superdrug on MUA products, I got this free £4 eyeshadow palette and I'm really glad that I did!

I do believe that this is definitely one of the best palette's that MUA has graced us with and I'm very proud to say I've been buying their products now since they have been stocked in Superdrug. It comes with a mixture of matte and glittery shades that would look beautiful whether they were used as a day time or night time look.

The eyeshadows themselves are very pigmented and creamy, making them easy to blend and they all compliment each other very well. The first 5 colours in the palette are my absolute favourite and I believe they are very similar to those in the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette. The only downside that the black eyeshadow is not the best and it needs to be built up to get noticeable definition.

If you're planning on spending over £8 at Superdrug any time soon, I would highly recommend going as soon as possible so you're able to get your hands on the make up palette for absolutely free! Once they're gone, they're gone!

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Review - MUA Merged Trio Eye shadow Palette (Legendary)

Product | Without flash | With flash

On the bottom of this palette, the colour is stated to be 'Legendary' but after looking online, I am pretty sure this palette is messed up. The bottom two shades (on the swatches) seem to belong to 'Emotions' but the last shade definitely is Legendary as it has no purple tones in it like Emotions does. Whether or not this is because it is a 'merged' eye shadow and all of the eye shadows vary from palette to palette, I don't know but overall, I love the palette I purchased.

This product comes with an applicator and I hate eye shadow applicators like this and as you can probably see by the first photo, I haven't used it. I first applied these eye shadows by following the instructions on the back which told you to put the middle shade all over the lid and in the crease, the dark shade as a liner and the lightest shade as a highlighter. I feel as though this would look good on anyone apart from me as the colours are very complimentary, it's just I can't get away with it! I love a good shimmer on my eyes but a gold-y toned eye shadow as my brow bone highlighter just does not look good on me and seems to really stick to my dry spots so if you're dry in that area of your eye, the 'highlighter' eye shadow is probably not the best. I also don't suit shimmer on my lash line so I already knew the darker colour here would probably make me look like I have a black eye and sure enough, it did. However, if you were to smudge it out and make a really thin line of black eye-liner, I bet it would look great!

On the plus side, all colours are amazing as an all over colour with a matte colour going through the crease. It can make a really nice smokey eye for both night time and day time so this is a very handy little palette.

I purchased this from Superdrug for £2.50, however online they are currently on sale for £2 but originally £3 so I don't know why it was £2.50 at my local Superdrug.. Anyway, these merged eye shadow palettes come in 3 shades:
'Theatrics' - Hint of blacks, blues and purples
'Emotions' - Pale shimmery pink shades
'Legendary' - Gold and brown shades

I'm not sure whether I would repurchase again due to the colours varying in different palettes.. bit of a disappointment but they are highly pigmented so I may consider it when I run out!

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Mini Review - bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream

Unfortunately, I called into Debenhams today and they did not have my colour in stock *still screaming on the inside* but the lady behind the counter was nice enough to take off my make up and do it all again using this product and other products but this was by far the highlight. (However, let's go back to the lady for 1 tiny moment.. how nice of her!)

Debbie (I think she was called Debbie.. I'm just going to call her Debbie) explained that this product was perfect for all skin types but amazing for dry skin. She asked whether I liked a dewy finish and I nearly cried of happiness.. I love a dewy finish but I really don't know why I got so emotional over it. She applied it with a buffing brush from their range and it felt lovely and when she told me she had applied it I felt a bit confused, it honestly felt like nothing was on my skin. I felt it with my hand and had an 'ooooooh' moment because it was so silky smooth. I was so amazed by the coverage of this gel cream that I knew I had to purchase it so she took down my number and had agreed to get somebody to call me when it is in stock.. very pleased.

She was definitely selling it to me though by telling me 100% of women saw an improvement in their skin texture, it was safe to say I was already sold when I felt my face. I just want that perfect summer colouring and I really hope this is going to be it as I love the finish and feel to my face.

I promise that once I get the full product, I will create a new post on any other pros or some cons I may have but as of my first try, I love it!

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Review - No7 Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask (Dry to Very Dry skin)

I saw this and I just had to get it.

Look at the pretty colours for starters! When the winter approaches, I tend to get very dry skin due to it getting chapped from the cold and the dryness started to wear away through February-March but it's still there however towards the end of March and into April, I start getting horrible dry patches on my face which my make up sits and looks terrible. I have tried a lot of moisturisers and exfoliators but never a hydrating mask but with a £5 off voucher for No7 skincare (and being a massive lover of EVERYTHING No7) I thought, why not?

The product comes out in a slightly off white colour and it feels like a foamy cream but it looks just like a cream. You need to apply this to freshly cleansed skin so I like to use this once I have used my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish products which I use twice a week on top of my usual night-time routine. I leave this product on for around 15 minutes and rinse off with warm water and my face always feels amazing afterwards. When I wake up in the morning, I can apply my foundation with ease and there are hardlies any dry patches. I also saw a difference in the pigmentation in my face straight away after this and it did not look so dull, red or puffy.. it looked glowing and slender. It was really weird when I woke up, I felt very refreshed and like a different person. This might sound really strange but waking up and having smooth skin is not normal for me so it was like I was in different skin.

This is the perfect product for me as it is also hypo-allergenic. I still can't believe that it has been out for years though.. why have I never seen this before? I am an avid No7 fan and I honestly can't believe it! If you have dry patches, I can not rave about this enough.. even if you don't, it is a fabulous pampering product. My friend uses this as a weekly pamper and she has oily skin and says she also feels very refreshed after using it and her face also doesn't seem as puffy. Win win for all skin types!

The only downside is I really wish there was more product, even if it did not look as pretty and just came as a simple moisturiser, so I could use it all over my body for the summer as I do have a lot of dry areas and this would honestly be perfect! However, for the price their is definitely the right amount of product and is well worth the money. As said above, I use it twice a week and have used it for around 2 months and I am about 1/3 of the way down.

But wow, this is an utter delight to put on my face!

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Review - MUA Lipstick (Shade 14, Bare)

MUA has certainly been my holy grail over these past few months. I have been wanting to try out products and colours out of my comfort zone but refuse to pay £15 for a purple or nude lipstick from MAC when I might not even suit it. So this is where I turned to MUA. I wanted to try out a nude lipliner and MUA was ready and waiting with a product called 'Nougat Caramel' and it is amazing.. especially for £1!

I thought it would be a good idea to try out the MUA lipstick in shade 14 - Bare, as I already have shade 11 and it is a gorgeous creamy consistency, stays put for around 3/4 hours and is extremely pigmented.

It also has a light smell of vanilla. I can not stress enough that the colouring for this nude is amazing. Even though it is quite a light nude colour, it does not look like 'concealer lips' which I had been worried about for a long time whilst looking for a nude colour. As I am also very pale, I was delighted to see that this did not drain my face. It is not matte, but it is also not shimmery.

It isn't much of a statement nude and if that's what you are looking for, I don't think this product is for you. It is a very light, natural nude with a slight hint of brown. I am very thankful that this does not set in the dry patches of my lips as I do suffer from quite dry lips but this lipstick is incredibly moisturising. A big part of the packaging for me is that it comes with a twisty pot at the end of the lipstick which you can use your fingers for a subtle wash of colour or use a brush to line your lips with.

Whilst I do love this on it's own, I do agree that with me being pale it isn't the best of colours but as said above, it doesn't wash me out. However, this paired with a darker nude gloss is perfect for a night out or an occasion and it has been my go to for around a month now.

In all honesty, all I can actually think about is how much of a nice shade of nail varnish this colour would be if you had a tan *swoons*.


Available for £1

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Review - Maybelline Colour Drama Lip Pencil (Nude Perfection)

I wish I had those gorgeous full lips that always appear on blogs for people to model their lipsticks but unfortunately I do not so therefore an wrist swatch is the best I can do..

The colour above is in Nude Perfection which is a beautiful deep pink/brown shade and looks perfect of all skin tones. I was slightly confused when I picked this up and saw that it was a 'lip pencil' because it was so chunky but it is basically just like a lipstick just slightly more creamier and a little bit thicker which I do not mind at all as it makes my lips look a bit bigger and I am definitely not somebody to complain about that (I am 'Little Miss Thin Lips'). The only negative thing that I have to say about this is that, because it is a pencil, you have to sharpen it and you lose some of the product in doing so and trying to find a sharpener that would fit was a bit of a task (I have now learned you can buy these in Wilkinsons and Claire's Accessories).

It is a matte formula but thankfully does not go on too cakey but can look very crumbly if you use this on dry lips. It does not budge for at least 4 hours but if you eat or drink, you have to top up - this lip product does not like liquid so if you are like me and like a bit of colour on your lips when you go to the gym, these products are a no-no. However, it does stay put quite well with Rimmel Lipstick Lock. You only need a small amount of the product as it is very pigmented and the colour I have (Nude Perfection) resembles Myth and Velvet Teddy by Mac. I am also absolutely pleased with how compact this is and it fits nicely into my pencil case for University (huge bonus in my eyes).

I never used to be attracted to Maybelline lipsticks when I was younger due to being obsessed with Rimmel but I definitely think they have re-formulated their products as they are a lot better since I last tried them and can not wait to try some more lip products from them!

Speaking of more, I am going to give you a run down on the other colours available and the colours I am next going to purchase which I will take photos of them and post on my blog Instagram account (linked to the left of this post).

Berry Much - A rich purple/brown
Fab Orange - A bright orange with a slight hint of red
In With Coral - A rich coral/medium pink
Light It Up - A medium red (Next purchase)
Fuchsia Desire - A medium pink/purple
Red Essential - A deep/dark red
Love My Pink - A bright bubblegum pink
Minimalist - A nude pink (Next purchase)

Available for £4.99

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Review - Soap and Glory Archery Brow Tint and Pencil

I am the first one to admit that I have purchased way too many eyebrow products in order to get a natural looking brow but I am so happy to say that I have found my holy grail! First off, I was very nervous about the brow tint as my brows have a very ashy tone to them and anything with the slightest hint of orange makes me brows look completely drawn on but this is a perfect combination. This is in the shade 'Brownie Points' but you can also get it for lighter eyebrows which is called 'Love Is Blonde'. My friend actually uses the blonde version and it is very versatile and also blends in with my light brown eyebrows too!

I use the tint to fill in my sparse areas and then use the pencil to line the outsides of the brows which gives it a beautiful natural effect. It is super long lasting and I never have to top up anything on my brows. I even want to go to extent to say it was water proof after being caught in a disastrous rain pour, all of my make up ran apart from my eyebrows so well done Soap and Glory! I have been using this product every day for the past 5 weeks and the pen and pencil still work amazingly well so I am hoping to get a lot more use out of this before my next repurchase. For £10 and to be confident in my brows looking natural and not orange toned, I would spend £10 every month if needed. 

I am struggling to think of any other brand of eyebrow pencils I have used that comes close to this. I have used Soap and Glory's Arch De Triumph before but whilst this is a highlighter and a pencil (a very good pencil), I feel as though the brow tint and pencil is a perfect combination. It is so simple to use and the only brow product I need which is amazing. I love how compact it is that is it so easy to just slot in your make up bag and that you don't have to carry around a gel, powder, wax ect. 

The product is not too harsh, dark or cakey and can easily be swept on for a natural look or can be built upon to get a darker look or for those with darker or thicker brows. 

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Available for £10.00

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Review - Mac lipsticks (Velvet Teddy and Patisserie) + DUPES

And so it begins.. the Mac lipstick obsession. In this photo is Velvet Teddy and Patisserie. Two Mac lipsticks I have never owned before but have wanted to try for a very long time.

Mac Velvet Teddy became very popular when it was rumoured that it was Kylie Jenner's lipstick of choice. It had sold out in every Mac shop I went into for a few weeks but finally, I have it! This lipstick is a pinky nude colour and is in Mac's matte range. I am very pale and I definitely think this would look better on darker skin tones as it is a slightly dark nude for me, however I still like it! It has the gorgeous formula as most Mac lipsticks have and I honestly love most of the collections, the only thing I believe you have to get right is the colour. Unfortunately though, I do prefer my MUA lipliner in Caramel Nougat for an all over colour and it is at a fraction of the price of a Mac lipstick at only £1. Another great alternative which I love and has just as much staying power as a Mac lipstick is Maybelline Colour Drama Velvet Lip Pencil in the colour Nude Perfection.

Mac Patisserie is my firm favourite out of the two. When I wear dewy foundations, I feel as though it does not look 'dewy' enough on my skin and that actually, my skin goes a bit matte after a while so wearing a matte lipstick sometimes looks a bit over the top with my matte face. However, this lipstick is from Mac's lustre range and has gorgeous flecks of gold shimmer which really illuminates my face and takes away from my dry patches as it really is the focus point. Even with a small amount of BB cream and some mascara, this lipstick can make you feel as though you have put the effort into your make up and really looks flawless on all skin tones. When I went into the MAC store, the woman behind the counter was actually wearing it but I had already bought the lipstick and didn't know at the time. I walked away and had to come back to the shop to ask her what she was wearing on her lips and it turned out to be patisserie, it was beautiful and a good choice on my behalf. Rimmel's Airy Fairy is very similar to this lipstick but can leave my lips a bit dry so I need to apply a lip balm over the top, however, you do get more product at a fraction of the price.

Patisserie is definitely my go to lipstick if I'm looking for that extra something but I still think I will be sticking to my MUA and Maybelline loves that were listed above and also my Bare Minerals Moxie lipgloss in Spark Plug for my everyday lip colour.

I really need that every day MAC lip colour that suits me.. I just haven't found it yet!

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