Can you save dried up cream eyeshadows?

So recently I got the new lavender scented MAC Fix+ and I had been researching on ways to use it. I spotted online somewhere that it can be used on dried up cream eyeshadows to restore them, and I remembered about one of my faves from last year, which was the Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in New Moon. God, I was obsessed with this thing but somehow it totally dried out despite me being so careful and always making sure the lid was on tight. So here is a little experiment to see if I can fix it!

So you can see that the shadow has shrunk from the edges of the pot…

In fact it has shrunk so much that it just falls out of the pot and looks like this little dried up disc.

So first I sprayed 2 sprays of MAC Fix+ into the pot, then I got a little spatula and just started mixing it together.

At this point it started flaking like crazy and I was so upset because I just thought I had ruined it completely!

Then I just started packing it down with my finger and it began to look a lot more smooth and almost normal again.

I was afraid that the Fix+ would water the shadow down and it wouldn't look the same as it used to, but  so far the formula was pretty much the same and the pigmentation seems unaffected, fingers crossed!

So the next part of the experiment was to actually use it on my eyes!

It felt very smooth and creamy, just like when I first got it and I applied it just using my fingertips like I normally did. I always loved this cream shadow because it was like nothing I had ever seen before. It's completely multi dimensional and has pink, purple, brown, even red tones in it. I think this shadow was limited edition too which was another reason why I was prepared to give it another lease of life! I had to take the below photos with a desk lamp shining on me so you can see how incredibly sparkly it is too! 

So there is hope if any of your cream eyeshadows have died on you! 

Chanel Stylo Eyeshadow - Laurier Rose

 This is another new product I picked up on holidays. I was just randomly swatching things in Sephora and this one really took my breath away. All of the Chanel Stylo Eyeshadows looked lovely, but the Laurier Rose shade in particular just looked fantastic to me. It was €30 from what I remember, so not cheap but I knew I'd get plenty of use out of it.

I actually used to be really obsessed with pink shades on my eyes but I haven't worn eye looks like that in a long time.

Isn't that swatch just heavenly? It almost has a metallic quality to it. It's a really warm toned pink with a subtle sparkle. Actually Chanel describe the shadow as having "fresh and iridescent effects". I definitely get that, and the eyeshadow has a cooling effect too when applied to the eyelid. It's very creamy and glides across the eyelid with ease.

I have never actually used an eyeshadow in a pencil form before, but I literally just swipe it over my eyelids and blend out the edges for a simple everyday look. It just adds a little "something" to the eyes, but when I want something a little more eye-catching I deepen the crease using some shades from the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette, as below. 

I just adore this Stylo Eyeshadow so much, it's a fantastic product and I am so delighted how easily it applies. I actually would love a couple more shades so that I can play around and experiment and try out a whole entire look using the Stylos.
The wear time is really good, I got a good 8 hours wear time before it started to crease (I always wear it over my MAC Painterly Paint Pot).

I'm just so in love with this Stylo Eyeshadow. It's so incredibly easy to apply, and you can make it as simple or dramatic of a look as you like. It has definitely impressed me! Who doesn't love a bit of Chanel!

Bobbi Brown Gel Sparkle Shadow & Liner

This little pot is something that I bought with my Christmas vouchers. I used to really love cream eyeshadows, and since doing a huge makeup clear out a few months ago I only have one cream eyeshadow left in my collection! So I wanted to add to it. I wanted something kind of neutral, but sparkly too. I was looking at MAC Paint Pots but they seemed more metallic than sparkly. If there are any nice shades I should check out, do let me know.

Anyway, while browsing I ended up looking at Bobbi Brown eyeshadows, and with "sparkle" in the name, this one caught my eye. I looked at a few reviews and swatches, and finally decided to order the shade "Smokey Topaz".

When it arrived I was a little taken aback by how small the little pot actually is. It contains 4 grams of product (compared to 5g in a MAC paint pot). I know it is called "Shadow and Liner" but to me the design of the pot is more geared towards using it as a liner. I don't intend on doing that (I only use black liner) and I always apply my cream shadows using just my fingers. So the small jar opening is a little disappointing for me.

Swatch time! What I actually really like about this product is that it is very sparkly and not shimmery or glittery. That is exactly what I wanted.

Smokey Topaz is not the colour I expected it to be. I expected it to be more of a bronze but to me it's more like a pewter type shade, but still it is perfect for everyday wear. 

The shadow is very easy to apply. I just use my ring finger and then blend out the edges with a fluffy brush. It definitely is very easy to apply and I have had no problems! Wear time is really good, the Bobbi Brown website states up to 12 hours wear. I definitely got a good 8-10 hours wear time before it started creasing on me (and that was after using a primer as well). 

I think it looks fantastic all over the lid on its own, a bit of eyeliner and plenty of mascara! Sometimes I blend a darker eyeshadow into my crease for a bit of definition. But it's one of those quick, easy to apply eyeshadows for fuss-free make up! Especially in the sun light it looks incredibly sparkly for that little something "extra".

I haven't experimented using this as an eyeliner yet. I'm not sure how it would look to be honest because the shade isn't too deep.  I'm sure it would apply really well though as the texture of this gel is so smooth.

The Gel Sparkle Shadow & Liners cost £20 which honestly is quite expensive for me. There are 5 shades available, and they all look lovely. But I wouldn't mind trying different cream shadows from other brands. If you have any recommendations please let me know (particularly MAC paint pots!).

Do you like the look of this product?

*new* Lancome Visionnaire Advanced Multi-Correcting Cream

Lancome's latest innovation - a cream version of their fab Visionnaire serum. I remember last year, I was given little samples as a gift with purchase, and I received a tiny bottle of Genefique and Visionnaire. I know lots of people rave about Genefique, but honestly that little sample of Visionnaire made such a difference to my skin, it was unreal.

I suppose I am rather lazy about my skincare routine, it's all about cleansing and moisturising with me. Anything extra, such as applying serum, is too much effort for me! So this little pot of Visionnaire cream is amazing, in that I have been using it as my daily moisturiser and seeing the effects of a serum. 

I would say that you would need to be using something like this for a good 6 months or so, but let me tell you that even after just 3 weeks of use, I am seeing the benefits! 

The texture of this cream is very unusual. It is lightweight, almost gel like. It's not oily or greasy in any way. It is very creamy and smooth and blends into the skin beautifully. It smells gorgeous too, the scent is that of pure luxury and reminds me of a lovely day spa. 

Even after just one week, my skin was noticeably brighter and I looked almost glowing! My skin just looks and feels so healthy. I am lucky in that I do not have any major skin issues. My skin is pretty normal - I don't suffer from oiliness, dryness, redness or anything really, but my major battle has always been dullness. What this cream has done to brighten up my skin is nothing short of astounding. Even the expression lines around my eyes appear reduced! 

Visionnaire can target anything from wrinkles, pores and dullness, and injects youth and vitality into the skin. 

If you are in the market for a new moisturiser, I couldn't recommend this highly enough. It's definitely a luxury product - however after trying it even for just a few weeks, I would say that the results genuinely speak for themselves. I don't think I have ever been this happy with my skin! 

*Product provided for review

*new* YSL Baby Doll Kiss & Blush - review

Lately I have been kind of obsessed with cream blushes. I don't know why, I just love how they apply as opposed to powder blushes. Plus they are so easy to use while on the go!

This is the new offering from YSL - Baby Doll Kiss & Blush - a multi use product which is designed for use on the lips and cheeks. I was so excited to try these out - however, because I am quite prone to coldsores I would be reluctant to use this on both my lips and face.

The bottle is just a little taller than a standard nail polish bottle. The applicator looks like a doe foot applicator but you can see there is a "bead" in the centre, designed for comfortable use on both the lips and cheeks, and also disperses the perfect amount of product. It's really soft and flexible to use too.

On to the product. This is the shade 10 Nude Insolent. YSL describe the formula as "air whipped" and I agree. It is very soft and creamy, and feels very velvety. It has a lovely matte finish and when blended on your cheeks it feels so smooth and powdery.

I like to dab three little dots on the apples of my cheeks and pat it in. There is so much pigmentation but it blends out very nicely. I absolutely adore the finish of it, you could wear this every single day. Sometimes I dust a little of my Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick over it if I fancy a little bit more "glow".

This is how it looks when worn as a blush. I have tested it on my lips too (not using the applicator) and while it does feel very nice on, it looks just a little too matte for me. It feels incredibly soft and not drying at all, but still I prefer a glossy finish on my lips. I do love this shade "Nude Insolent" on my cheeks, but not on my lips! There are 12 shades available in these and there are lovely orange and pink shades which might look better on lips.

What I really love about this product is the packaging. It looks so adorable and is so convenient to use - also I think this would be a great blush to travel with if you were going on holiday. The formula absolutely surprised me. I love the soft velvety texture, it feels so luxurious.

Let me know what you think of this product!



**Product provided for review

MAC Treats - Veluxe Pearlfusion Pinkluxe and Face and Body

I am really not familiar with MAC stuff at all. I only have a couple of eyeshadows, and I used the Prep & Prime protection over the summer and really loved it.

I spent the day in Dublin yesterday and while wandering around Brown Thomas I just decided feck it, I'm going to treat myself to a couple of MAC bits. Perfect cure for the January blues!

I definitely wanted a new foundation. I currently use IsaDora Wake Up Makeup most days and my Lancome Teint Idole when I want to be more "done up". I don't like BB creams but wanted a very lightweight, sheer foundation. So, Face and Body seems like it fits the bill!

MAC shades confuse me. This is the shade N1. It suits me fine. Out of interest I tested the other shades and was surprised at how either yellow toned or pink toned they were. 

The consistency is very fluid like. It is really kind of watery. The blob that I put on my hand for this photo was way too much! A tiny bit will go a long way. It gives a lovely, luminous effect to your skin and I think it makes me look really healthy! (Today I feel like death, thanks to this nobody would know!)

The only thing I really dislike is the smell! It is horrid! I can't even describe what it is like, but it's not a nice perfumey scent, it's more like...glue or something!

After reading about these lovely palettes on many blogs, and lusting after them for many months, I really couldn't resist picking one up for myself. I chose Pinkluxe because I really felt it suited me the best. The blue one and the green one were so beautiful and striking, but I would definitely get more wear out of this palette. And the shades are really remarkable. Pinky eyeshadows are my favourite, but I have never seen shades like these before, ever.

My absolute favourite is the second from the bottom. It is just incredible!

So far I have only used these shadows dry. Apparently when applied with a wet brush they transform into pure shimmery, metallic shades. I would definitely apply them this way for an evening look, but for day to day I love the sheer, shimmery colours. They are just perfect! 

Texture wise, I haven't used anything like them. They aren't powder, but they are more like a very light cream shadow. They are actually quite easy to blend out and to apply. After wearing them today I can see that they don't have the best longevity, despite me using my beloved ArtDeco eyeshadow base which I swear by.

I am really happy with both my purchases! I am quite impressed with MAC. Are there any other must have items that I should consider buying? 

The Best of 2013 (Beauty Edition)

It is so difficult for me to believe that 2013 is at an end. I have to say that it has been a wonderful year for me, and I hope 2014 will be just as good. I wish everyone a very happy and prosperous new year.

I started this blog in January 2013. I have always tried numerous, varied products but ever since I started blogging I find that I have bought things that I wouldn't normally have looked at, thanks to everyone's great reviews and blog posts. 

I had to think long and hard but I have chosen seven products which have entered my life in 2013 and hopefully will never leave!

1. Clarins Instant Eye Make Up Remover - This is one item which will now always be a staple in my skincare routine. This eye make up remover has an oil and water layer which you shake together and which really cuts through all eye make up with one swipe. It is so gentle on your eyes, there is no need to tug or pull on the skin. It is £15.00 a bottle which normally lasts me about 10 weeks. It is worth every penny!

2. Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan Mousse - I never used to wear fake tan, until I discovered this. Now I wear tan every single day. Isn't it funny how things change? I don't know what I would do without my Cocoa Brown. I don't look normal without it. Actually I don't even remember what I look like without tan. It is just the most natural looking tan, so easy to apply and it is dry almost instantly after applying. Sure it is so handy, why wouldn't you wear it all the time?!

3. Lancome Teint Idole Foundation - I decided to invest in a good foundation back in May and I am so delighted I chose this. I have not spent this much money on a foundation before, but I can tell you that you can actually feel the difference in quality compared to other foundations. This is without a doubt the best foundation to ever land in my make up collection. It is so light yet gives great coverage. It has a nice scent, and I love the glass bottle with the pump.

4. Art Deco Dip Eyeliner - I used to be so crap at applying liquid eyeliner. I don't know how I can apply this little beauty so easily, but I can. The formula, the brush, everything about it makes it so easy for me to line my eyes. And it has lasted so long too and hasn't started to dry up or anything. Although, I am incredibly upset now that I have just realised Debenhams do not stock this anymore! I don't know what I will do when this runs out!

5. Lancome Hypnose Mascara - After trying my first Lancome mascara earlier in the year (Hypnose Star) I can confirm that out of all the brands of mascaras I have tried, nothing even comes close to the quality of Lancome. I love the formula and the wand. My lashes are so amazing looking when I use this!

6. Illamasqua Cream Blush - Remember the Illamasqua 50% off sale everyone went crazy for? The only thing I bought was this cream blush in the shade "Dixie". I didn't really get on with it at first, but I have worn it every single day and have not even hit pan yet! I like to apply it with the Real Techniques Stippling Brush or I tap in on with my fingers. Even if I am wearing a powder blush, I always put on a bit of this underneath as a base. It is absolutely brilliant and well worth the money,

7. Urban Decay Naked Palette - I snubbed this palette for such a long time. I didn't like the idea of "nudes", I mean what is the point of wearing eyeshadow at all if you are going to go nude? But when I first saw this palette up close in real life, I quickly realised that my assumption was wrong. These shades are all so beautifully shimmery and in my opinion they are not what I would call "nudes". I love bronzey, gold shades and this palette is packed full of them. Since I got this palette I have worn no other eyeshadows! I like the idea of Naked 2 and now Naked 3, but in my opinion, the original Naked palette is the best.

Do you like any of these products? What products have you tried in 2013 that you love? Please let me know in the comments below.

My Blush Collection!

I do love a nice blush on my cheeks. These are the products I currently have in my collection. I have tried many over the years but you will notice they are all of a similar colour. I have definitely found the shade that I think suits me and that I wear every day. So here is what I have...

 Catrice - "Gone With the Wind" 

This is from the Catrice Fabulous 40s collection, named after my favourite novel/film of all time! It is a pinky, corally shade that I love. It is matte too. I absolutely adore this one, I wore it quite a lot during summer and I think it is the most natural, flattering shade.

 Illamasqua Cream Blush "Dixie"

I got this in the 50% off sale Illamasqua had a few months ago. It was purely an impulse buy to try something by Illamasqua and only pay half the price. Their cream blushes were recommended to me and I chose this shade as it is just very "me". At first I was kind of disappointed by it, then I started using it with my Real Techniques stippling brush which I think is the best way to apply it. I think this is brilliant, it is currently my only cream blush and this is the one which I use pretty much every day as it is so quick and easy to apply while I'm getting ready for work!

 No.7 "Soft Damson"

I got this one in a goodie bag at the recent Cocoa Brown Afternoon Tea. I was a little apprehensive as the shade has kind of a lilac tone to it, which is not something I would usually wear. I find this one looks best when I am not wearing fake tan and have paler skin. It turns out a very pale pink colour and looks so sweet. It feels so silky soft too.

 Benefit "Hervana"

This once well loved blush has been neglected in my make up drawer for I'd say close to a year. I used to love Benefit cosmetics. I don't really anymore. This blush cost me over £20.00 and while it is nice it is definitely not worth the money. I loved it for its peachy tones but it is definitely not something I would repurchase in the future.

Lancome Blush Subtil "Nectar Lace"

I think I have saved the best for last! This is the pride and joy of all of my blushes. This one is a real standout. This blush is the most corally, shimmery blush ever and I adore it. I try to only use this one I guess on special occasions or if I am going somewhere nice. I don't consider this an everyday blush. It looks fantastic on and the contour and highlight shades are fabulous too.


How many blushes do you have in your collection? Which one is your favourite?

Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadows

These have been in my make up bag for a little more than a year, and I adore them so much! Before, I wasn't really into cream eyeshadows but these have completely changed my opinion and now I couldn't live without them (well, not literally).

 I love the bird design on the lids!

 L-R - Get Figgy, Tattle Tale, RSVP

They come in a nice, sturdy glass pot with a plastic screw on lid. You get 4.5g of product, and you will see that even after more than a year of me owning them, there is still plenty left.

 Get Figgy

 Tattle Tale

RSVP

They have a subtle scent which reminds me of cookie dough or cake mix! It's strange but very pleasant. They are lovely and smooth and I just apply them using my finger all over my eyelid. My favourite, everyday shade is RSVP. I use Tattle Tale as a highlighter, it's a really nice, creamy white shade. Get Figgy is an absolutely beautiful purple, I just wear this one on it's own. 

They absolutely do not crease, they still look perfect at the end of every day (or night). They do not budge, and that is why I love them. I do not own an eye primer, but I do use these, under any eyeshadow. They do the exact same job, and also add a little more depth to your eyeshadows. 

They cost £14.00 each and I really think they are worth every penny. I couldn't recommend them enough! I have tried other brands of cream eyeshadows but I haven't found any good dupes for these at all. I believe that Benefit may have changed the packaging slightly, I am not sure how true that is but at least all the shades will still be available. Check them out if you can!