The Mini Gerard Cosmetics Haul

After a long wait, I've finally gotten my hands on a couple of lippys from Gerard Cosmetics. (Note to self: Order from Beauty Bay next time.) I went for Jaclyn Hill's 1995 and Sophia Chang from Fashionista804's Kimchi Doll. Surprise, Surprise. I went for the nudes. At first I didn't think that I would be a fan of the gold packaging, but I am. They don't look or feel at all cheap and create a nice contrast amongst my MAC lipsticks on the top of my rather boring desk. That's a good excuse isn't it? Buy more lipsticks, it will make your desk look prettier!

1995 is my favourite of the two. It has a matte finish, but is creamy and comfortable. And quite frankly, one of the best browny nudes i've ever tried. It's what I like to call a nude for everyone. Gorgeous on both pale and darker skin tones. I find it quite difficult to find a nude that suits my tanned skin without it looking like i've lathered on the concealer. I wore 1995 for the first time after my last exam this year where there was quite a lot of drinking throughout the day and it stayed on! The lasting power is definitely there.

Lip Liner: MAC Whirl

Kimchi Doll is a cute, pink and peachy nude and like 1995, is creamy and wonderful. It's a bit on the pale side, so people like me with darker skin tones are better off wearing a lip liner underneath it in a shade darker. Nevertheless, I'm a fan and can't wait to wear it throughout the summer.

Lip Liner: MAC Spice

The price point is spot on at £11.50 each and I love the formulation of them. I find them extremely comparable to MAC in terms of quality and comfort, but not so much shade selection.

Comfortable, affordable and lovely.

Have you tried Gerard Cosmetics yet?

I've Been Sheer Glowed

A couple of posts ago I was ranting and raving about everything that was going wrong in my life with regards to poor foundation choices. But after months of 'umming and ahhing', I finally feel like i've made the right one. 

It was my 21st birthday last Saturday and my Mum and I took a trip into the Selfridges beauty hall. I absolutely adore Selfridges. You never feel at all looked down upon and there's always a fantastic atmosphere in there! DJs and half naked men were there promoting a new MAC collection (my Mum was loving that part), and everyone was enjoying the weekend vibes.

I walked straight over to the NARS counter and asked to be matched to Sheer Glow. There's a lot of hype around this foundation and I thought that it would be just my luck to be not that in love with it. But I was wrong, I really really love is one. For my sometimes flakey cheeks and oily t-zone, I find this product to be sensational. The finish isn't exactly glowy (which i'm sure you've read time and time again), but I sort of like that. It has a soft velvety finish that doesn't drag over your dry patches. An even better selling point is that it feels like you virtually have nothing on. But you can build it to a good medium to full coverage if you wanted to and there are shades for days.

The packaging is cute and petite which is fantastic for travelling. It sort of reminds me of a large-ish nail polish bottle, but not really large at all. 

The Downfall:

It doesn't come with a bloody pump. I knew this when I bought it so I can't complain too much. It's only until you get home and use it for a couple of days that it really winds you up and they're impossible to get a hold of. 

Have you been Sheer Glowed yet?

New In: Benefit Roller Lash Mascara

I always tell myself that i'm not going to splurge on expensive mascaras because I go through them too quickly. And with regards to Benefit, the They're Real! mascara wasn't doing it for me. It wasn't a horrendous product, but my lashes were a little clumpy and lacked length after I used it. When the Roller Lash Mascara came out there was a lot of hype around it, similar to that of the They're Real! and I convinced myself that it was something I could live without and save myself the £19.50. That was the case until I went into Sephora and saw the pretty pink, black and silver packaging on the shelf. Benefit always gets me with the outside packaging detail! 

My Thoughts

I love it! This mascara gives your lashes such a flattering curl. Voluminous and thick without the clumpy texture, and it gives the lashes a great length. This product is buildable, but two coats is more than enough to do the job. The longevity is to a good standard, leaving you with luscious long lashes throughout the day.The packaging is dainty and cute with a bit of a vintage feel to it. The wand curves in the right places and lifts and curls the lashes beautifully. 

Would I recommend it? Absolutely! Here are some before and after pictures for you to enjoy, featuring my lovely mug... LOL.

x

In The Nude This Spring/Summer

I never realise how much I have of something until I either have a gander into my make up collection or go to photograph things for a blog post. So when I was choosing which products to include and photograph it was then that I realised how many nude lipsticks or glosses I actually have. I like to think of myself as a bit of a nude hoarder. They're a safe buy and worth the money as nude shades are more often than not my go to lip colour, especially in the day time. There's something about wearing a bold block colour in the day time that makes me feel a little uneasy. I always think, 'is the colour bleeding' or 'has the colour rubbed off'. But don't get me wrong, on a night out I love wearing a statement lip.

The nudes i'm loving:

1. Marc Jacobs New Nudes Sheer Gel in Moody Margot - I've spoken about this two or three posts ago. It's a new addition to my lip collection and i'm really enjoying wearing it. I love the sheer simplicity of it.

2. Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 02 - It's no secret that i'm a huge fan of the formula when it comes to these Cream Lip Stains. They leave you with a matte finish that is extremely long lasting, but not at all drying. The shade 02 is a muted peachy brown nude.

3. Maybelline Color Drama Lipstick in Nude Perfection - Peachy, cheap, cheerful and an overall slap and dash product.

4. MAC Velvet Teddy - It's difficult to find a nude lip colour that suits all skin types. MAC's famous Matte lipstick 'Velvet Teddy' is one for all complexions.

5. MAC Spice Lip Pencil  - This '90's lip pencil looks great paired with Velvet Teddy or all over the lips on its own. Whatever takes your fancy.

My style and go to make up looks are always changing, but my instinctive reach for a nude on a daily basis will always stay the same. Is that boring?

What are your go to lip products this Spring/Summer?

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Which eyeliner works for you?

Eyeliner is a tricky old thing. I've never been good at it and after a few years trying, the term 'practice makes perfect' isn't very relatable. However, there are a fair few products out there that make our lives a little bit easier and our eyeliner a little more even.

In the last 2-3 years i've always reached for MAC's Fluidline Gel Liner in Black Track, accompanied by the MAC 210 brush. But like what happens with most gel pot eyeliners, they dry up, go a bit rank and don't function the way you want them to. Up until recently i've started branching out a little bit by experimenting with different products and formulas to either thicken up my lash line or to attempt a kick-ass cat flick. 

The findings

1. Soap & Glory Supercat Carbon Black Extreme Eyeliner Pen 

This product has a very sturdy tip that's just the right size to create a precise flick on the lid. I don't find it at all messy and for a drugstore product it's long lasting and doesn't seem to crumble by the end of the day/night. As much as I love splurging on the designer labels on the beauty market, as a student I sometimes have to be realistic and go on a hunt for products that are affordable and a great value for money. This product is definitely one of them.

2. Matte Black Eyeshadow

Along with the MAC Kohl Eyeliner Pencil in Feline, one of the easiest ways to line the upper lash line (with an added flick if you wanted one) is to use a matte black eyeshadow. The beauty of using these products is that you don't have to me neat. They can be blended out with a fluffy brush to create a smokey effect or even neatened up with a petite angled brush.

I go through stages where I tell myself that i'm 'totally over black liner'. It can sometimes be too harsh, not completely suitable for day time and a pain in the bum to correct if you mess up. And then I kindly introduced myself to the 3. Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Gel Liner in Brown at my local boots. The Rimmel gel pot eyeliners are great to begin with, but the shade Brown is very flattering on the eye. The Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner Gel Eye Crayon is also an eyeliner favourite and probably forever will be.

What are your preferences when it comes to eyeliner? Powders, pencils, liquids, gels, creams...ahh there are so many! It's funny how most of us girls want the same look but sometimes need to use completely different products and techniques to achieve it.

P.S - I'm sorry for the repetitive photography. My brain's a tad fried from revising for exams so the creative goddess in me is lacking! x