LORAC Pro Palette : Review

A recent discovery that Nordstrom not only sell LORAC Cosmetics, but even better ship to the UK, led to a rather hefty online purchase of one too many eyeshadow palettes. Anyone living in England will understand the difficulty of getting your hands on these beauty gems. Once I realised, I simply couldn’t resist placing an order after a long year lusting over online reviews. I am happy to report that my expectations were exceeded and I have the low down on the original LORAC Pro Palette.

The first thing I noticed when sliding this from its packaging, was how surprisingly sleek it is. The palette is lightweight and ideal for traveling with; yet filled with a variety of fourteen stunning shades.

Inside is the ultimate collection of light, neutral shades and darker, cooler tones, spread over an even mix of eight matte and eight shimmer shadows. Each is the perfect sized square for easily dabbing your brush into. This has quickly become my favourite palette and will be featuring in countless future tutorials.

The formulation of these shadows do not disappoint; they are creamy, buttery and blend seamlessly. They are highly pigmented and one simple swish will leave an opaque wash of colour over your lid. I love the simple design of this palette; it is understated yet sophisticated and hidden inside is an array of amazing eyeshadows.

Two further boxes on the attribute checklist of the ideal travelling palette are also ticked off as this contains a large mirror and miniature Behind the Scenes Eye Primer. This primer creates the perfect smooth, matte base for your shadows to sit on top off and keeps the colour looking intense and flawless. 

This review would not be complete without a final shoutout to the shades I love the most. From the matte collection, I adore Expresso and Sable for adding definition through my crease. Narrowing down the shimmers is definitely a struggle; Gold, Garnett, Pewter and Deep Purple are all stunning. In particular, Garnett and Pewter stand out as unique and unlike anything I already have in my collection.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone that is able to get their hands on it or are willing to pay the unfortunate shipping costs to become the proud owner. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments. I hope you enjoyed this little review and be sure to follow my blog so you don’t miss out on the low down of the Pro 2 Palette!

Devon

xoxo

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Beauty 411 : Primers

I am a firm believer that to achieve a long-wearing flawless finish, your makeup routine should always kick off with a decent primer. This invisible yet powerful base will improve the appearance and wear of any makeup sitting on top. In this post I shall share my dynamic duo for ensuring an impeccable finish that lasts as long as possible. 

Both these products are each primer a-listers in their own right; however their performance is even more impressive when paired together as I often do.

Firstly I apply the Stila One Step Correct Colour Corrector; a triple-swirled helix serum to even out and brighten my skin tone. My attention was instantly captured by the intertwining lavender, peach and green serums that swirl up the centre of the bottle. 

When you pump the product out you are left with a swirl of the three tones, which then blend seamlessly into your skin. The effect is to add life to a dull complexion by calming down redness as well as blurring out uneven skin tone and imperfections. 

Once I have this initial base, I then add the Benefit Porefessional Primer to my t-zone. This is the area where I suffer the most with large pores, breakouts and oily skin. This primer provides extra power for keeping my makeup in place and looking flawless on top of these troublesome areas. 

This Benefit primer is a holy grail beauty product that is worth the hype. It blends into my skin to even out all imperfections and create a smooth, matte base for my makeup to sit on top off. 

Once I have this perfect base I can trust that any foundation I wear on top will blend evenly, look flawlessly smooth and last a lot longer. If I were to suggest one beauty product for anyone to invest in it would always be a flaw-defying primer.

I hope that you all enjoyed this Beauty 411 post and I would love to hear what you think either in the comments below. What is your favourite primer or makeup essential?

Devon

xoxo

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Bourjois Paris BB Bronzing Cream 8-in-1 : Review

In my most recent drugstore haul I picked up the Bourjois Paris BB Bronzing Cream 8-in-1; a universal shade that claims to blend into the skin to create a natural tan and offer eight skin benefits. This was an entirely new type of product for me and I have spent the last week testing it out to see whether it lives up to my expectations.  

When you first pump the product out onto your finger it can initially look a little scary as it is a dark bronze shade. However it truly does blend into the skin and creates a tan that naturally matches your skin tone. Being pale, I find that a little goes a long way and would defiantly recommend applying this in stages to gradually build up to the tan you want.

Although this could be blended over your entire face to act as a base underneath your makeup; I chose to apply it after my foundation and only around the perimeter of my face where I would add contour. I dotted the cream onto my temples, the hollows of my cheekbones, the sides of my nose and along my jaw line.

I then used my bdellium tools 957 precision kabuki brush to blend this into my skin using both a stippling and buffing action. I continued to do this all around by face until the product was completely blended, I then added more to any areas that I wanted to be darker.

The result was a natural warmth to my skin that gave a sun kissed glow. The product does reflect the light and create a glow so, if you have an oily t-zone like myself, I would suggest to avoid using this in the centre of your face. Also, apply a bronzing powder over the top of the areas where you blended the cream to prevent your face from becoming too shiny and to keep the product in place for longer.

Throughout the day I found that the product wore well and I could still notice the glow to my skin at the end of the day. However due to the nature of the product, my skin did get oily throughout the day and I needed to powder my face and use a blotting sheet.

Overall I think this is a great option for those days when your skin is feeling a little lacklustre and you are longing for your summer tan. I do think that it is perhaps slightly over priced at £9.99, although this cream is entirely versatile and you can use as little or as much as you desire. Either all other the face, as a contouring base like I chose to or simply pump out a small amount with your foundation and apply the two together.

I hope you enjoyed this review and that it helped you decide whether this is a type of product you might be interested in. I would love to hear what you think in the comments below.

Devon

xoxo 

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Drugstore Stars | Revlon Super Lustrous Lipsticks

This short post is dedicated to talking about my current favourite drugstore lipstick brand; the Revlon Super Lustrous. These gems are available in 82 gorgeous shades as well as the choice of a peal, matte, crème or shine finish. Once you buy one you won't be able to stop till you own them all!

I want to start by talking about the packaging. These lipsticks feel and look so much more expensive than they are. The sleek black and gold bullet is reminiscent of Channel and the ultimate edition to any makeup collection. It is a truly glamorous and luxurious lipstick and a bargain at only £7.49.

Moving on from the gorgeous packaging; the lipstick itself is of an amazing quality. Each shade is richly pigmented to produce an intense, opaque colour with just one swipe. The formulation is creamy with ingredients such as Vitamin E and Avocado oil that nourish the lips with moisture. This means that they are extremely comfortable to wear and not at all tacky. Even when wearing a darker shade I can easily forget that I am wearing a lipstick at all. Not only do they have an excellent colour pay off, but they are also long-lasting and I find that I rarely have to reapply throughout the day.

In this post I am going to share my three favourite shades. Firstly I adore the shade 440 'Cherries in the Snow'; a gorgeous blue toned red with a crème finish. This looks stunning on the lips and surprisingly sophisticated. Next is the shade 028 'Cherry Blossom'; a slightly orange toned classic red in a pearl finish. Lastly is 460 'Blushing Mauve', I adore mauve toned lipsticks and prefer wearing them over a brown nude. The pearl finish of this one in particular leaves a gorgeous glossy colour that is slightly darker than your natural lip colour.   

(Cherries in the Snow)

(Blushing Mauve)

(Cherry Blossom)

I think Revlon storms ahead when it comes to drugstore lip products. Whether it be the infamous lip butters or gorgeous balm stains, they are always a winner. Their Super Lustrous lipsticks however are my favourite by far and I definitely feel as though they do not receive the hype they deserve!

(Left to right: Cherry Blossom, Cherries in the Snow, Blushing Mauve)

I would love to hear what you think about them and the shades that you have tried. Also, tell me what your favourite brand is at the minute as I am always dying to find new amazing lip products.

Devon

xoxo

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Makeup Essentials: AW 2014

A new season is the perfect excuse (if one is even needed) for refreshing your makeup collection with a few essential pieces to help transition your look into Winter 2014. 

Youthful  Skin

This season starts with a fresh face so use a dewy-light finish foundation like Bourjois Paris Happy Light and buff this into the skin with the Real Techniques buffing brush for the perfect barely there base. Next it’s time to ditch the shimmery bronzes, opt instead for the Sleek Face Contour Kit or Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder as both are matte shades that will perfectly add subtle contour. Pair this with a sweep of highlighter over the cheekbones, inner tear ducts and cupid’s bow for a naturally defined youthful finish.To complete this winter’s day complexion stipple Max Factor Creamy Blusher to the apples of the cheeks and add a moisturising nude-lipstick. My current favourites are Soap&Glory Fabulipstick in ‘The Missing Pink’ and Rimmel lasting finish by Kate Moss in 03. 

Bold  Brows

Inspired by the infamous power brows of Cara Delevingne, ultra-defined, groomed brows remain a staple this winter. Fake that fuller brow by using the Anastasia Brow Wiz or Soap&Glory Archery and draw light, short strokes to keep the look natural before blending it out with a spooky.

Big  Lashes

Every holiday season calls for volumised lashes and should echo Sixties glamour with the rule go big or go home. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that a decent mascara is essential as false lashes will never make it into my everyday routine. To achieve that false effect try Benefit They’re Real! or Max Factor Masterpiece Max. For a little extra effort on special occasions the Ardell Individuals are perfect for creating those Bambi lashes whilst remaining natural and effortless.

Graphic  Liner  and  Metallics

The feline flick is back this winter so its time to practice perfecting that dreaded liquid liner. Use L’oreal Superliner Black Lacquer and layer over the top of a pencil liner to amp up the staying power. The Maybelline Colour Tattoos are perfect for recreating this season’s metallic eyeshadow trend. Simply sweep across the lid and then blend out with a fluffy brush for a long-wearing metallic hue.

Smokey  Eyes

If you’ve been guilty of waking up rocking a not so hot version of last night’s eye make up then fear not as Charlotte Tilbury describes this seasons eye look as ‘left over makeup from the night before’. So walk confidently knowing that you’re accidental slept in smudgy liner is bang on trend. For a slightly more planned looked, roughly run the Maybelline MasterSmoky kohl liner across the upper and lower lash line and blend out for a simple, quick smokey eye. 

The  Red  Lip

The signature red lip is an instant beauty boost and an eternal classic from hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe to pop starlet Taylor Swift. The key to perfecting this timeless staple is not to over complicate the look. Keep the face fresh and eyes neutral so that your crimson pout remains the focus this season and isn’t fighting for attention. The Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss in 107 and the Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in ‘Standout’ are perfect for a matte, velvety finish without being overly drying. For a satin finish I love Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss in 30 and Maybelline Colorsensational in 547 both are moisturising, highly pigmented and long wearing, perfect for the harsh winter weather.

Hopefully this will give you a few ideas of how you can change up your look this winter with just a couple key purchases. Keeping your look and makeup bag fresh definitely doesn't have to be expensive or difficult. Whether it be a metallic eye shadow, smokey eyeliner or show-stopping red lip, there is something for everyone and we can all avoid getting trapped in that dreaded makeup rut this season.

Devon

xoxo 

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