Coloured Mascara: Miss Sporty Fabulous Lash in Purple and Green

 

Coloured mascaras are a right bugger. We want them to be awesome, they so frequently are the opposite!If the colour is right, the formula isn’t and more often than not, getting the colour to actually show up is nigh on impossible. With fancy-pants brands like Chanel and Diorpopping them out left, right and centre, it made me wonder if perhaps formulas are a little better of late?  Having been pleasantly surprised by a Miss Sporty mascara I purchased recently, I was keen to try out their coloured offerings and at £2.99 each it almost seemed rude not to!

This looks actually… promising!

This is ‘ Extreme Purple.’ And purple it certainly is. If you want to try a coloured mascara without wanting to worry about looking too out there, go for navy, purple or plum, as this will still give you a little of the depth of colour your normal black or brown mascara one. Pleased with this one, at any rate.

Now this is where I got my thee quids worth, boys and girls! ‘Extreme Green’ is a bit of a corker.


Okay, okay. The formula on these is not going to give you long, luscious, thick lashes, but neither is it too dry or too clumpy which other cheap coloured mascaras are often guilty of. You’re not wearing these for that reason anyway – they’re for fun. On the lower lashline with a matching waterline they can look great, or if you’re feeling daring, coloured mascara against a deep black smokey eye looks awesome!

Now, Miss Sporty… may I pretty please ask for a pink?!

Quickie Review: Rimmel ‘Kate’ Waterproof Gel Eyeliner in Emerald

Rimmel have added some new items to their Kate Moss line this time we’re being treated to some eye makeup. The gel liner in ‘Emerald’ immediately caught my eye – I’ve always loved green liner and in my early twenties, green glitter eyeliner was a staple look of mine. The outer packaging looks very similar to the Maybelline gel liners too, so I was interested to see how they compare.



Very similar to the Maybelline, no?

Like the Maybelline one, this also comes with a brush. Sadly, the brush isn’t as nice as the Maybelline one at all, though it looks very similar. It’s hard to achieve a fine line with the Maybelline one but it is possible and I actually quite rate them, especially for lipstick and spot concealing. I really struggled with the Rimmel one, as you’ll see below.

The liner itself is the main event though. Unlike a lot of other high end and ever drugstore gel liners, the Rimmel comes in a cheaper looking plastic pot, with Kate’s signature on the top. I don’t really care about the packaging of an eyeliner looks wise, but in my experience products like this that are in glass jars simply last longer and don’t dry out as fast. It’s a shame considering that other liners at the same price point do have glass jars.

‘Emerald’ is a slightly misleading colour – this is a blackened green. I was expecting from the picture on the packaging for it to be a green matte, and this has a good amount of shimmer. Expectations aside, this is still a bloody gorgeous colour and very wearable! I’m excited to have a pretty liner I can pull off at work. The downside is, as with a lot of more shimmery gel liners, that you do sacrifice full opacity and you may have to go over areas once or twice to prevent patchiness – this is pretty opaque but not 100%.



A very quick application with the brush – the brush is just not great, folks. However, the liner applied smoothly, gliding across the lid really nicely, and it sets fast – this isn’t going anywhere anytime soon! I have to touch up a few tiny places where it looked less opaque, but


While this isn’t a totally perfect liner, it’s very pretty and not a purchase I regret one bit! ’Emerald’ costs £6.99 and is available from Boots and Superdrug.

Who makes your favourite gel eyeliners?

Spring Green LOTD

I am sick as a dog right now, but also sick of looking like it, so some makeup was much needed! A little pop of colour from the old Sleek Circus palette – which I haven’t touched in ages! – and some fluttery lashes did the trick and perked me up a bit, even if it was only for a duvet day!

 

Eyes: Barry M Kohl liner in brown. Neutrals from MUA Undress Me Too Palette. Green from Sleek Circus Palette (discontinued)
Lips: L’Oreal Extraordinaire lipgloss in Nude Vibrato. Brows, Kiko. Lashes, Vintage Lash Company Gracie.
FACE: MAC Face and Body, Rimmel Stay Matte powder, Collection2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer
Cheeks: MAC Buff, Boots No 7 Vital Enlightening Highlighter

I do miss wearing colour! I need to do a proper, all-out bright look soon!

Are you looking forward to the warmer weather? What are your favourite colours to wear in Spring?

Illamasqua Intense Lipglosses

Illamasqua are well known for their bold campaigns and fearless colour choices in their products and in my opinion, nothing embodies that view of the brand more than their Intense Lipglosses. I own eight of these beauties and I thought I would share just how gorgeous they are!

L-R: Boost, Touch, Shoot, Wanderlust, Violate, Galactic.

 

 

 

This is Shoot – isn’t she gorgeous? This is a newer addition to my little collection and I bought her for shoots, so I haven’t really worn her yet. She’s almost totally opaque, but due to the unusual colour I would recommend wearing a green eyeliner on the lips so if the colour moves around, you won’t see any pink underneath from your natural lip (which can really ruin the look of a green shade!)

 

This is Touch, from the 2014 I’m The One collection for Valentines Day. Not as unique as some of the Intense Lipglosses but certainly gorgeous! This has a lovely shimmer to it.

 

This is Boost – applied alone, and over a deep brown liner. Don’t you just love a duochrome? People went nuts for Boost when it was released and for good reason – it’s beautiful! This is fairly sheer for an Intense Lipgloss which tend to be thicker, but I suppose the effect is quite intense! I love the versatility of this shade.

 

 

 

Next up is Violate, one of my favourite Illamasqua products ever. I think this shade is really glamorous, and layered over a red is actually beautifully wearable. This isn’t fully opaque but you can get away with wearing it on your own.

 

 

From the Creator collection, this is Wanderlust. I LOVE this shade – if you like the brown shades of the 90’s revival that’s been going on in the makeup world, this is a really nice, different addition to that sort of trend. I can’t wait to use this shade on a model with deeper skin. And on a model with pale, pale skin. I just love it!

 

 

This is Galactic – very cool, but very strange! It doesn’t seem to have a base colour and seems to be made up of silver particles - if you click to see a bigger picture, you can see what I mean. This means it's hard to get a crisp line, but it's worth the work.

 

 

This is, Absorb. Alone, it’s.. well, on me it’s quite frankly nasty and a little um, biological, but it’s a great mixing shade, so I’ve kept it hanging around! Again, pigmented and glossy.

I *think* this may be Frenzy, but the label has worn off of this one so I’m not too sure. Sorry! However, I wanted to include it to show you again how lovely and pigmented these glosses are.

So there you are, thems my babies! The Intense Lipglosses do vary – some are sheerer than others, some have more of a creme finish for example – but on they whole they tend to be very pigmented, slightly thicker lipglosses that are nonetheless comfortable to wear and with fairly decent staying power. Out of these, Boost is probably the one I have to reapply most often. At £14.50, they’re certainly not the cheapest lipglosses on the market but if you want an unusual colour, I really don’t think you’ll find better quality. The only negative thing about these is that since they changed the packaging, sometimes the brushes in them are splayed which is very frustrating. However, because of the pigmentation of these glosses, you may wish to apply them with your favourite lip brush anyway.

Facade, Gender, Stranger and Absorb are next on my list. Do you have any of this range?

Quickie Review and Swatches: MAC Punk Couture Cremesheen Glasses

This is a bit of a 'mixed feelings' review. I both like the products and am quite disappointed at the same time!

Lots of people were excited by the Punk Couture release, especially those with a penchant for unusual or darker lip colours. I skipped the lipsticks (not that I could have got my hands on them anyway!) as I have purples, wines and blacks galore and went for the Cremesheen Glasses instead. Initially I wanted the black shade, Dark Outsider, as I love using these for layering and have misplaced my black Inglot gloss, and the green shade, Jet Boy, as I love green lip colours. On a whim I chucked No Apologies into my basket as well. In for a penny, eh?

Dark Outsider

Dark Outsider Layered over MAC Russian Red

I really enjoy black lipglosses. They do tend to be sheerer, and this one is no exception, but for once that's what I want from a gloss. You might ask why you want a sheer black gloss - well, if you've ever put your clear gloss over a black lip product and ruined it, that's one reason! They're also really fun for changing up red and berry shades.

So while this one is nothing overly exciting, if you like the Cremesheen formulas and don't have a black gloss for layering, I would happily recommend this one.

Jet Boy

^{Jet Boy layered over MAC Russian Red}

Oh, Jet Boy. This is the one I was really disappointed in. As mentioned, I know Cremesheen Glasses aren't big on pigmentation or anything, but I really, really wanted this one to show up more on the
lips in terms of the green sparkles. Compared to how it looks in the tube, it ain't shit. I do like how this one looks over red shades, however, and the grey undertone is really interesting, but what a let down!

No Apologies

No Apologies over a Sleek Matte Me Lip Cream

Again, this one is sheerer than I expected and not as sparkly. Due to the more conventional colour though, this comes off as a really pretty gloss. It still has the greyer undertone but I don't read it as
strongly as with Jet Boy on my skin due to the purple sparkles. I wore this on New Years Eve with a purple smokey eye and have actually worn it to work a few times as well. Again, I wish it looked more like it did in the tube. I really like it but wouldn’t normally pay the price for something so sheer. When it comes to lipgloss I tend to prefer more expensive ones but I still want the bang for my buck.

 

Dark Outsider, Jet Boy, No Apologies

So... would I recommend getting these? I find the formula comfortable, non-sticky and lightly moisturising and it lasts around 2-3 hours on me, which isn't bad for gloss with little tackiness to it, so that's nice.  If you're a MAC collector or like to use sheer tints to change your lip shade, yes, perhaps. If you want over the top sparkle or a really unusual shade on your lips, steer well clear. While I like the products and will use them, I wish MAC had chosen to release these shades in a different formula that offered more sparkle and pigmentation as these are way too expensive for what they offer.  If you like sparkly, unusual lipglosses and don’t want to spend these prices, I can’t recommend Darling Girl Cosmetics enough.

These can be purchased from MAC for £17.50 each.

Green and Gold LOTD with MAC and Sugarpill

My other half suggested a green coloured look and who was I to say no? I used Sugarpill Midori as the main colour for this, which just goes to show that even though Sugarpill colours look bright as all hell in the pan, they can be toned down really easily as well. Of course, that really goes for all colours – if you’ve got a good neutral palette with colours that suit you, you can make the scariest, brightest shades work on any level.

 

Eyes: MAC Old Gold Pigment, Sugarpill Midori, MUA Undress Me Too palette to blend/highlight.
Lips: MAC Subculture lipliner and Viva Glam Gaga 2
Cheeks: Sleek Suede, e.l.f Gotta Glow

I was so annoyed it was dark that day as I couldn’t capture how nice this look was. MAC Old Gold looks wonderful with greens and I was happy I managed to find a way to make VG Gaga 2 work for me. I really need to step it up with my makeup – I’m not allowed to wear coloured makeup to work anymore and it’s really making me lazy in the evenings and weekends!

What are your favourite green and gold shades?

Quickie Review and LOTD: Loreal Paris Colour Riche eyeshadow quad in Trésors Cachés

Curiosity killed the cat… Having misplaced a lovely khaki eyeshadow my friend Wendy sent me, I went searching in Boots for something similar and picked up this little quad. I’ve barely tried any L’oreal products at all but somehow this found its way into my grubby mitts.

 

 

 

The quad is slim and compact – it’ll fit easily in your makeup bag. It feels very light – no heft to it at all really - and doesn't have a mirror, but I always carry one with me regardless so not a problem in my opinion.

 

The khaki colour was pretty much what I was looking for!  It didn’t have the olive sheen of the one I’d lost and was looking to replace, but I liked the shade and I  thought I could probably get away with it for work. The blackened cranberry colour looked interestingly vampy too. The black and gold colours I was less impressed with, but as this little quad was so compact I didn’t mind two colours I wasn’t overly impressed with.

Eyes: Loreal Trésors Cachés quad, just over primer.
Cheeks: Borjouis Delice de Poudre bronzer. Sleek Suede
Lips: L’Oreal Colour RIche Collection Privee Lipstick in Cheryl: Barely Greige

 

 

 

I don’t really know what to say about this quad… I kind of don’t have any strong feelings about it either way. The khaki and gold colours look lovely layered together, and the cranberry shade either has the bonus or the downside of blending out to a reddish brown, depending on your preference. Applied over a black base or brown base it retains its cranberry-ness, and is a decent colour to put in the crease if you're wearing a rosy shade on your lids. The charcoal colour is nothing to write home about at all. The texture of the whole set is pretty decent but again, nothing to write home about. "Trésors Cachés" translates into "Hidden Treasures" and for me that's not really true. "Alright for Work, Not The Worst" isn't such a catchy name really though, is it?

 

I have nothing negative to say about this palette, but I can’t find anything overly positive to say about it either. Do you ever feel that way?

L’Oreal Colour Riche Quads are £7.99 from Boots.

Quickie Review and LOTD: MAC Nocturnals Green & Teal Pigment and Glitter Set

I normally don’t even bother to look at MAC’s holiday sets, but this one really caught my eye as I’ve wanted several of the colours for a long time. This is a pigments and glitter set including Reflects Gold glitter, Old Gold pigment, 3D Gold glitter, Deep Blue Green pigment and Just Before Dawn Pigment. Reflects Gold is part of the permanent Pro range, Old Gold and Deep Blue Green are part of the permanent core range, 3D Gold isn’t permanent as far as I can tell but gets released with various collections and is easy to find elsewhere online. Just Before Dawn is limited Edition.

I’ve tried MAC glitter before but never the pigments so I was excited to have a play around. These are in smaller pots than than usual with a gold and white colour scheme on the lid which is also printed on the box they came in as well. I think the presentation of these vials is really chic for a winter collection and certainly much more pleasing on the eye than plain old black. The set comes in a glossy black box with the same white-and-gold motif around the edge, but it was so shiny I gave up trying to capture it, to be honest!

 

Pigments over bare skin, glitters with Lit Cosmetics glitter base.

L-R: Relfects Gold (white glitter with gold sheen that looks champagne in some lights, as you can see here) , Old Gold (bright gold with an olive sheen), Deep Blue Green (blackened teal), Just Before Dawn (deep grey-taupe), 3D Gold (almost chartreuse holographic gold).

 

Old Gold on the lips with Inglot Duraline), 3D Gold on the lips with Lit Cosmetics glitter base. Here you can really see the greenish tone that Old Gold has and how vibrant 3D gold looks! Apparently 3D Gold isn’t lip safe, but personally I don’t care.

Just Before Dawn all over the lid and lower lashline with Deep Blue Green in the outer V. Reflects Gold in the inner corner and Old Gold and Deep Blue Green to line.

Reflects Gold on the lid.

Just Before Dawn in the crease and on lower lashline, Deep Blue Green on the upper lashline.

Overall, I really love this set! I think pigments work well together and that the glitters are a really fun addition that work with the pigments nicely too. 3D Gold might be a bit much for some, (especially as I’m sure it’s not technically eye or lip safe) but Reflects Gold is a really nice, “subtle” glitter than I think most people could get use out of. Personally the stand out for me is actually Just Before Dawn - I love the deep grey look it has and just think it’s a really sexy colour. I’m excited to work out what fun things I can do with 3D Gold as well as I’m a huge fan of the 3D silver glitter! I do find the name of the set odd – there’s not a true green shade in here at all and there are two gold shades? 

I was concerned the vials would be too small to get a brush into as they’re  slim openings on the jars, but I managed to get my application and blending brushes into the top, and can just about use the lids to swirl the excess products away. It’s not the easiest packaging to use but it’s not the worst, and there’s also a small plug on top of the opening to keep things a bit neater which is nice.

The set costs £25.50 from maccosmetics.co.uk. With one pigment from MAC costing £17 for 0.15 ounces (these pigments are 0.09 ounces or 0.14 ounces for the glitter)  you’re getting a pretty decent amount of quality product for your money. For a makeup lover, I think this is a really nicely presented gift!

 

 

Do you like MAC pigments? What do you have your eye on from this years holiday collection?

How To: Create an Eye Look With One Eyeshadow

Oh yes, one eyeshadow my friends! This is a really, really simple basic tutorial. Like, super simple. There are a couple of tricks you can do to make one shadow look better than just slapping it on alone, especially a shimmery, metallic or duochrome shadow. It’s great to able to do this in a rush or if you’ve got limited space to take makeup with you and you still want to create an impact. Also if you’re *just* starting out in makeup, or struggle with blending, this is a good one to read because one shadow applied well is never a bad thing! Also if you’re just staring out, you can do this look with one brush!

 

 

As always I try to go into detail in these ‘how to’ posts but if I’ve missed anything, please just let me know. You can use a loose or pressed eyeshadow for this look.  A shimmery, duochrome colour or one with different coloured sparkles to the main colour of the eyeshadow will look really good as well.

Step One: Grab an eyeliner pencil – any colour will do as long as it’s dark – the darker the better - and has no glitter particles. All my black pencils are AWOL so I grabbed a grey one. One that can be smudged out easily is good.

Draw a rough winged shape with the liner (see here for tips on how to draw a good wing)  and then smudge it out a little (you can use your finger for this.) The reason we’re doing liner first is it’s going to add depth to your shadow, but you don’t have to be super precise with it. Also if you have a duochrome shadow, it’s going to help bring out one of the colours in the shadow more than the other, so it will look like you’re wearing more than one colour. You can do a little patch test with your eyeshadow over your liner on your hand to see how the liner will affect the shadow first, if you like.

Step Two: Now take your shadow - a shimmery eyeshadow is the best to use. Pat it all over the lid, taking care not to go past where you drew your wing. (If you do, clean up under the wing with a cotton bud soaked in makeup remover.) If you have trouble placing your eyeshadow and not making it too ‘big’ for your eye, apply it inwards from each corner of your eye, don’t sweep it outward. Pack it on all the way up to the crease of the eye – again, you can use your finger for this. You can see that where it’s applied over the liner, you get more depth! This adds more dimension and definition and is much for forgiving than using liquid or gel liners if you’re a newbie.

Then, using with a blending or fluffy brush, take a small amount of the shadow on it and use little circular motions to blend the colour out just above your crease. Add a little more eyeshadow if you feel you need it, but try and take care to make it a nice soft line. No harsh lines please! If you’re just getting started, choosing a brush can be kind of hard, but this brush is my most recommended brushed to newbies because it’s fluffy enough to blend with, but dense enough and a good shape to pack eyeshadow on with too. Plus it’s only £1.50!

Before you finish up, add a little more colour right in the centre of your lid. Look straight on in the mirror and apply the colour right over your pupil. This just intensifies it a little bit and makes your eyes pop a little more – there’ll be more of a reflective surface on the centre of you eye and that’s going to make it look nice and big and round! If you like, you can dampen your brush for this part to make it extra intense.

Step 3: Finishing up time! The basics are done, it’s up to you how you want to finish it. I chose a *really* shiny colour so I chose to leave my lower lashline bare. I think it makes more of a statement but make sure you conceal any darkness under your eyes well. Adding false lashes that sweep upwards will help compliment the slight wing shape, but if you’re not good with false lashes just curl your real ones and add a good two coats of mascara.

 

If I was going out, I’d pair this with a nude cheek and a really bright pop on the lips – probably pillar-box red.

 

I know that was super basic, but I hope it helped someone!