Review: Maybelline Color Tattoo in Pink Gold

The Maybelline Color Tattoo in Pink Gold was one of those products I picked up as part of a 3 for 2 deal on a complete whim. The idea of a pink eyeshadow on paper is something which would usually fill me with dread but this pale pearlised golden pink is surprisingly flattering on my brown eyes. I suppose it fits in quite nicely with the rose gold trend which has emerged over the past couple of years however I think it's subtle enough to fall into the 'eternally chic' shade category.

I apply this product over my NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base either with my finger or a Real Techniques domed eyeshadow brush. I prefer using the brush as it deposits just the right amount of product more precisely. If I use my finger I tend to require a couple of layers to get the same amount of colour. Even without a base I find these don't crease until they reach the 7-8 hour mark - I have pretty oily lids so this is a decent wear time for me. 

All in all, I really enjoy using the Maybelline Color Tattoo shadows I've tried and Pink Gold has become my most used shade over the past six months. I wish we in the UK had access to the same colour range as the US because I've seen some gorgeous neutral shades I'd love to get my hands on.

The Maybelline Colour Tattoo cream shadows are available from Boots and other stockists priced at £4.99. 

Tell me about your favourite throw-on eyeshadows!

Stace xx

Weekend Haul: Philosophy & Boots

Hello!

I've finally done a little bit of beauty shopping! This haul is probably going to seem tiny compared to the monthly hauls I used to post but I'm sort of pleased about that. I generally try to be cleverer about the purchases I'm making now so will usually only buy one or two products over a period of a few weeks. This week I allowed myself to go a tiny bit crazy at the Philosophy counter and in Boots. I say 'crazy' because I don't actually need any of these things but that's not to say I won't enjoy trying them out; there could be some new favourites in here!

Philosophy as a brand is still fairly new to me. I've tried a lot of samples (and received even more after making this purchase - check out the cute little 'mini miracles' bag they came in!) and generally liked everything so I've been keen to pick up more of their line for a while. The 3-in-1 shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath is one of the brand's staple offerings; I went for the delicious citrus scented Señorita Margarita. At £14 it's pretty pricey for a basic shower gel but I've been trying this out and a little definitely goes a long way. I tried it in my hair too and liked it as a shampoo but my hair is ridiculously low maintenance so I wouldn't recommend this as a shampoo for all hair types. 

The second product I picked up is their primer: The Present. I've heard mixed reviews on this one and haven't tried it out myself yet but plan to this week so expect to see a review soon if I have especially strong feelings either way. This was £22 but you do get 60ml of product which is around twice the size of most standard primers from other brands. 

Then I had one of those trips 'I-want-everything' trips to Boots but I somehow managed to compose myself and not spend too much. Looking at it now it does seem like a random selection of products! 

I made a couple of repurchases from Rimmel; the Wake Me Up concealer has been a favourite of mine for a long time and another lipstick from Kate Moss's Lasting Finish range. I got the shade 05 which is a warm, slightly bright pink because I've misplaced my beloved shade 19 and I'm hoping to find it again soon! I got a free Scandal Eyes mascara in black which I'm not sure I'll be a fan of as the brush looks absolutely huge.

The next three products which swiftly made it into my basket are all things I was really excited to see because until now I've not spotted them in British drugstores. The Maybelline Mega Plush mascara came out in the States forever ago and I've been dying to try it. This is another product which appears to split the opinion of beauty addicts so I'm interested to see which camp I end up in. I imagine there'll be a review of this up fairly soon. Next up is a Sally Hansen Salon Manicure polish in the infamous shade: Commander in Chic. It's one of those griege-nudes that's been doing the rounds for the past two or three years but I'm still looking forward to trying it out. I also came across a Sinful Colors display with a wide array of shades which are a snip at £1.99. I've been hankering after green nail polishes recently so this one in Exotic Green is a good way to try it out on the cheap.

Finally, I need new skincare. My current skincare system is driving me crazy; largely because it's not really a system. I'm starting my mini-revolution with this Vichy Normaderm moisturiser because it claims to target the issues I've been having with my skin. I also need a new cleanser, toner, serum, exfoliator and mask...suggestions on a postcard (or in the comments, probably quicker), please!

Have you been buying anything lately? If you've posted a haul, leave me a link!

Stace xx

NOTD: Maybelline Forever Strong - Extreme Blackcurrant

This Maybelline Forever Strong polish in Extreme Blackcurrant has very quickly become one of my favourite polishes. It's a deep blackcurrant colour which looks almost black in most lights. It reminds me of OPI Lincoln Park After Dark but I find that Extreme Blackcurrant is a bit more red toned. I love these shades; especially during the winter months. 

The formula is easy to use but as with most dark shades, I needed three coats to achieve a completely opaque finish. The brushes on these polishes are wide and quite flat so they distribute the polish nice and evenly on the nail. The finish is quite shiny but I always apply a generous layer of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri top coat which adds more shine.

The best thing about this polish for me is the fact that it almost lives up to the outrageous claim that you can get up to seven days' wear out of your manicure. In the photos I've had this polish on for FIVE days. The fact there's only minor tip wear is pretty much a miracle as far as I'm concerned. I usually manage to chip my manicures after a day or so. I've tried another polish from this range (Rosy Sand) and had similar results so I think Maybelline have done a good job and I'll probably need to pick up a few more shades...

Maybelline Forever Strong polishes are available from Boots and other stockists priced at £4.09.

Have you tried any polishes from this range? Thoughts?

Stace xx

A Teeny Tiny Haul - Boots & Wild About Beauty

The last time I bought a beauty product of any description was over a month ago so I thought I was due a trip to Boots; partly to replace things, partly for new nail polish! I also popped into Debenhams and *ahem* accidentally managed to spend some more money there. 

Boots are running a 3 for 2 offer across all cosmetics right now so I decided to take advantage of that. I initially just wanted the Essie polish in Bordeaux but I decided to pick up another tube of the Rimmel Fix & Perfect primer because it's one of the best primers I've tried and I'm just working through other samples at the moment. I've heard so many good things about the Maybelline Forever Strong polishes so I picked one up in the shade Rosy Sand. I thought it would be a nice warmer toned alternative to Chanel Particuliere. I'm wearing it just now and I have to say, it applied beautifully. I'm not entirely sure I like the colour though.

My beloved Rosewater Toning Spritz from Botanics ran out a fortnight or so ago and I've been lost without it so I had to repurchase that. I also picked up a shower gel from the new Botanics bodycare range. It's the Restoring Cream Body Wash. I bought it because my skin is feeling quite irritated at the moment; I've used it a few times now and I think it's helping. I had a coupon for this Tresemme Volumising Dry Shampoo so I grabbed a can to add to my current supply. I can never be without that product!

When I was in Debenhams I spotted a new counter for a brand I'd never heard of before. It's called Wild About Beauty (I think the name is pretty silly) and the range has been developed by make up artist Kim Jacob and celebrity Louise Redknapp. The products themselves all look and feel really nice. I loved the shade selection; everything looks quite natural. 

I picked up a couple of products to try out. The first thing that caught my eye was the Nutritious Gloss in Astrid. It's a dark pink berry shade which is surprisingly pigmented. I'll need to wear this a bit more before reviewing it but expect to see a post fairly soon. I was intrigued by the Mattifying Balm so bought that too. If you've tried BeneFit's Dr Feel Good, this product is sort of similar. You can use it under or over make up but I'm planning to buff it on my T-zone after foundation with an ELF Powder brush. I think it'll be a nice alternative to powder for me; I hate looking powdery. I couldn't even wait to photograph this product before trying it so I apologise for the less-than-perfect photo!

The girl on the counter, Kathleen, was lovely. If you're in Glasgow I'd definitely recommend having a chat with her because she's more than happy to tell you all about the new range. So far, I'm quite impressed with what I've tried.

What have you been buying recently? If you have a haul post, link it below!

Stace xx

August Empties

It's empties time again! I didn't get through a lot of products this month but I did use up more make up items than in previous months.

Garnier Body Tonic Sugar Scrub

I mention this body scrub far too much on this blog but it really is my favourite! I've already bought another tube of it.

Sanctuary Mum To Be Shower Oil

I got this as an extra in a swap once and thought it was a bit strange to be sent something meant for pregnant women but I decided to use it up anyway. It's just okay.

The Body Shop Green Apple Shower Gel

I love the scent of this product; it really does smell of apples. It's not the most moisturising shower gel out there but I still like it.

Osmo Berber Oil Rejuvenating Shampoo

I enjoyed using this shampoo. I recently reviewed a trio of products from this line (here) including this shampoo. 

Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturiser

This moisturiser is great if you have blemish prone skin. I apply a thick layer of it before bed when I feel my skin needs it. It also works well under foundation so I sometimes use it in the mornings too. I've already picked up a couple of new tubes of this.

Revlon Lip Butter in Fig Jam

This is/was my favourite lip butter shade. It's a dark brown/plum shade that is a lot more flattering than it sounds! I actually tracked down a MAC lipstick to dupe this because Fig Jam is sadly not available in the UK. 

Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Sample

I mixed this with my Chanel Perfection Lumiere foundation sample to help with staying power/oil control and loved the combination but I won't be heading out to pick up the full size of this.

Estee Lauder Pure Color Gloss in Electric Cherry

These glosses smell delicious and I love the non-sticky formula. This particular shade looks a bit weird on me (according to my boyfriend anyway!) and it was limited edition, I believe, so I'll not be repurchasing it. I am interested in trying other shades from the Pure Color gloss range, though.

Maybelline One by One Mascara

I liked this mascara and reviewed it (here) but I don't think I'll be repurchasing it for a while because there are so many other mascaras I still want to try.

Chanel Perfection Lumiere Sample

I used this up by mixing it with the Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid and loved the results but on it's own I wouldn't recommend this foundation. 

Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash Sample

I really liked the effect of this mascara but it was so dry and quite difficult to use so I'm not sure if I'd purchase the full size. Besides, I've not managed to find a UK seller which stocks this.

MAC 188 Brush

I want to cry about this one! This isn't an empty as such but I managed to break/ruin my MAC 188 brush. I was washing it and pulled a little too hard on the bristles so the whole brush head popped out. I've had this brush for well over a year and it was my favourite highlighting brush. Let this be a lesson to you all...be nice to your brushes. 

Sally Hansen Insta Dri Top Coat

I've already repurchased this. It's frustrating when I have to get rid of these when they're still half full but they just become too gloopy to use.

Did you use up many products this month?

Stace xx

July Haul

I didn't think I bought too many products this month but I guess I was wrong!

I needed a new shampoo so picked up the L'Oreal Ever Strong Reinforcing Vitality shampoo; it's from their new sulphate free range. Having tried (and enjoyed) another (much more expensive) sulphate free shampoo, I've been keen to try another one. The E45 lotion was a necessity because the skin on my back and shoulders has been feeling so irritated recently. It's a decent moisturiser in general and something that's handy to have on hand when scented lotions are too irritating.

I popped into The Body Shop because it's my birthday month so I had a £5 reward plus a £5 reward on my reward card. I needed to replace my African Spa Hand & Foot Butter so I used my £10 of rewards on that.  From the sale I picked up a Raspberry body butter, a Green Apple shower gel and a Passion Fruit cleansing gel. I stupidly thought the Passion Fruit cleansing gel was a body wash, though. I added a Born Lippy balm in Pinkberry at the till and I've been enjoying this lip balm so much. It smells like a strawberry Opal Fruit.

I picked up the famous Rub Rub Rub body scrub from LUSH and have been loving it so far. The scent is really unexpected; because it's blue I was expecting it to smell fresh but it's actually a lot more floral.

I did a little blog sale shopping this month. From a US blog sale I bought a mini Make
Up For Ever Smokey Lash mascara but unfortunately it's very dry looking so I don't think it's usable. I bought two more Maybelline Baby Lips in Pink Punch and Cherry Me. Despite the naff packaging, these are great little tinted balms. I also picked up a Hard Candy 'bronzer' (what?!) in Tiki. It's a lovely highlight powder.

I accidentally bought another highlight powder from Lou's blog sale; this time it was Topshop's Sunbeam. This one is very pigmented and golden. I also bought a mini Burberry lip cover in Rosewood because I didn't get it in my Harrod's Glossybox and felt I was missing out! It's very cute.

I clearly had a thing for honey scented lip balms this month given that I purchased both the Nivea Milk and Honey balm and the Burt's Bees Honey balm. I have to say, I prefer the Nivea one. I picked up a couple of the new-ish Revlon Kissable Balm Stains in Crush and Rendevous. I wanted to try a waterproof mascara so picked up the L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Waterproof in Black; I've been enjoying using it so far. I had to replenish my stock of Collection Lasting Perfection concealer in Medium, too.

I attended a make up lesson at Urban Decay that I'd won and the make up artist used this concealer on me. I really liked the coverage and texture of it so I picked up the Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer in AFI. Expect to see a review on this sometime soon. The final product in this haul wasn't purchased by me. A lady I babysit for gave me this because she didn't think the colour would suit her. I've been hankering after a NARS Larger Than Life lip gloss for a while so it was a nice surprise. This is in the shade Place Vendome. 

Swatches

Hard Candy Tiki, Topshop Sunbeam, Urban Decay AFI, Collection Medium

Maybelline Cherry Me, Maybelline Pink Punch, Revlon Rendevous, Revlon Crush, Burberry Rosewood, NARS Place Vendome

If you'd like to see reviews of any of these products, please let me know!

Stace xx

Maybelline One by One Volum'Express Mascara

I've been trying out Maybelline's One by One Volum'Express mascara alongside BeneFit's They Real (yes, I know, I will never shut up about this mascara...) and it's quickly become my favourite every day mascara. I bought it on a whim because it was on 3 for 2 and there were only two other products from Maybelline I wanted at the time.

Maybelline say:

"Up to 4x bigger looking, flirtier lashes.

You’ll discover lashes you didn’t know you had, for clean, clump-free volume, instantly!"

I'd say they're half right. I don't think it makes my lashes look four times 'bigger looking' but the brush does catch lashes that other mascaras don't so I do look like I have more lashes when I use this. I wouldn't say it's clump free; in the photos I've used two coats and you can see that it does clump a little.  I put this on one eye and They're Real on the other to do the Boyfriend Test. He preferred the eye with They're Real on it because the lashes looked a bit more defined, longer and thicker.

I do find that I get a teeny bit of smudging after several hours with the One by One but it is so much easier to remove than They're Real which is a plus! All in all, it's a nice product and as I said, a great every day mascara.

This is the first Maybelline mascara I've tried in a long time and I have to say I'm impressed. I'm thinking of trying another mascara either from Maybelline or another drugstore brand so if you have any recommendations please leave them in the comments!

Stace xx

PS - You can pick this up for £8.49 at Boots (here) or anywhere else Maybelline is sold!

My Current Make Up Routine

I've been using almost exactly the same products every time I wear make up at the moment so I thought I'd share! I've not been feeling too adventurous, as you will see. 

Face

BeneFit POREFessional Primer 

Bobbi Brown Corrector in Peach

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Medium 3 

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B40 

Clarins Ever Matte Powder in Medium Transparent 

NARS Orgasm Blush

TheBalm Mary Lou-Manizer

Eyes

Smashbox Brow Tech in Taupe/Soft Brown

MUA Clear Mascara

NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base

L'Oreal Color Infallible Eyeshadow in Sahara Treasure

Maybelline One by One Mascara in Black

It takes less than ten minutes and lasts pretty well throughout the day. In the photos I'm wearing the Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Evasion. Once we've graduated and got settled into our new flat I'm going to have to make an effort to mix up my make up a bit!

If anyone has any tips on taking photos of their own face, please let me know. I was great at it when I was 16 but for some reason I'm terrible at it now!

Stace xx

PS - I have a blog sale going on if you're interested, almost everything is half price or less and the shipping is a flat rate so you can buy as much as you like without having to pay more for shipping!

Haul: NARS, Chanel, Illamasqua, Revlon, Nails Inc, Milani & Maybelline

I went a bit mad buying make up recently so I thought I'd share what I got. It'll be the last haul for a while; partly because I just booked a holiday and partly because there's not really anything I want right this second. 

I popped into Boots today and picked up a couple of Revlon polishes as they were in a two for £8 offer. I got Impulsive (the purple) and Dreamer (the light blue). They both have a creme finish, which I love! I also bought Nails Inc Baker Street from ASOS and it arrived today. I've been looking for the perfect true blue for a while so I hope it applies nicely!

I had some Debenhams Beauty Club card points so I decided to treat myself to a Rouge Coco Shine from Chanel. I wanted one of the more vibrant shades but my local counter didn't have the one I was looking for so I got Evasion which is a lovely neutral peachy pink shade. I can see myself getting lots of wear out of this one.

A few weeks ago I bought Illamasqua Skin Base foundation and Rude cream blush. Both of these products have been on my wish list for quite a while so I'm pleased to finally have them in my collection. I got the Skin Base in shade 11; it's a little bit too dark right now but I tan very easily when the sun comes out so it'll be a nice summer colour for me. 

I stopped by L'Occitane on a whim. I've never tried any of their products but I recently heard some good things about foot cream so I picked that up. I couldn't resist the mini hand cream because whilst I love my Clarins hand cream, the tube is too big to keep in my bag.

My Too Faced Shadow Insurance finally ran out so I've replaced it with the NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base. I'm excited to try this out.

Finally, I picked up a few bits from a US blog sale. I got a couple of Milani HD Advanced Lip Colours in Candy Apple and Classy Nude, a Maybelline Baby Lips in Peach Kiss and the controversial Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Coffee Cake.

So, that's all for now! 

Have you bought anything nice recently? I'm off to paint my nails with Baker Street!

Stace xx

A Little Weekend Make Up Bag

I went to see a friend on Saturday night and tried very hard to restrain myself make up-wise! It turns out that even though she finds it frightening that I can name eye shadow shades just by looking at them, she isn't too terrified by my make up obsession. I even told her about this little blog (hello if you're reading, you know who you are!)

Anyway, here's what I settled on:

Lips:

MAC Lip Conditioner

Estee Lauder Pure Color gloss in Electric Cherry

17 Mirror Shine lipstick in Beehive

(check out how used the gloss and lipstick are! I'm getting much better at using up products...)

Eyes:

L'Oreal Telescopic mascara

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze

Collection2000 Lasting Perfection concealer

(I kind of regret not bringing an eye base as the Color Tattoo did crease a bit)

Face:

BeneFit Watts Up! highlighter

MAC Warm Soul mineralize blush

Real Techniques Contour brush (for the blush)

Clinique Even Better foundation in 05 Neutral

Clarins Ever Matte face powder in 02 Transparent Medium

So that's it! To be honest, I wasn't 100% happy with the products I chose but since I only had to use them together once, it was fine!

Stace xx

FOTD: MAC Chatterbox & Maybelline Tough As Taupe

I wore this to the library because I wanted to try out Chatterbox before wearing it out and about. Plus, the library is so dull, this lipstick totally brightened my day! Please ignore my eyebrows (euuuugh! I will pluck them soon, I promise...) and the fact nothing looks perfect - I did this in about ten minutes because I was so keen to get to the library (hmm.)

Products Used:

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

Clinique Even Better Foundation in 05

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer in Medium 3

Clarins Ever Matte Face Powder in 02 Transparent Medium

Dior Glowing Colour Blush in Strawberry Sorbet

MUA Clear Mascara (as brow gel, not that you'd be able to tell!)

Too Faced Shadow Insurance 

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Tough As Taupe

Milani Liquf'Eye liner in Black

Bobbi Brown Everything Mascara

Jack Black Lip Balm in Black Tea and Blackberry

MAC Chatterbox

(Angry weird pose!)

I think I like Chatterbox. I'm not usually into pinks, especially bright pinks but this lipstick may have changed my mind. Tough As Taupe was pretty difficult to work with in comparison to the more shimmery shades from the Color Tattoo line so I'm not entirely sure if I love it or not. 

Stace xx

Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze

I've already chosen a different product to be my product of the week (watch out for that post tomorrow) but this product comes a very close second. This week was the first time I got the chance to try out the Maybelline Color Tattoo shadows I posted about a while back. I included Bold Gold and Bad to the Bronze in my little tin of make up for the week but honestly, Bold Gold didn't get a look in once I tried this shade.

 This shade looks very warm toned but on my eyelids it's a bit more neutral. It's not a true bronze shade - it's more like a bronzed taupe or something. And I love taupe.

The consistency of this particular shade is very similar to the more shimmery or sheer MAC Paint Pots which have come out in some of the collections over the past year or so but it's a lot more pigmented. It's super easy to sweep this on my lids with my finger and it always looks even. I always found my MAC Indianwood and Rubenesque Paint Pots looked a little patchy on my lids, as well as being a bit more dry in consistency. 

It has a nice sheen but it's not glittery, which I appreciate. It's one of those shades that looks like you've spent a bit of time blending a darker colour into the crease so it's great on its own. I've not tried wearing shadow over it because it's pigmented enough on its own and once it sets, it doesn't crease.

 I did a little comparison between this and MAC Morning Frost Paint Pot. They are a little bit similar but Morning Frost is much cooler toned and it has glitter in it. They don't look too different when swatched, though.

 L-R: Bad to the Bronze, Morning Frost

This is probably a bit of a cruel post as the Maybelline shadows aren't available in the UK yet so if you're a UK reader, I apologise! If/when they do arrive here, I'd recommend picking this shade up first if you're like me and have a thing for warm taupe-y shades and want something that is easy to apply, looks great and doesn't crease.

Stace xx