XMAS STOCKING FILLERS

Hey lovelies. I have missed blogging until now this week as I have been so caught up in work as well as Xmas bits and bobs. 

On Tuesday we had our Secret Santa with our Xmas lunch. I was lucky this year to have a friend of mine buy for me. She chose well knowing I am a make-up addict so here is what I received.

MUA (MAKEUP ACADEMY):

BRONZE EYESHADOW

ULTRAMARINE NAIL POLISH

BRUNETTE EYE BROW PENCIL

CANDYFLOSS BLUSHER

LILAC BELLE MATTE LIPSTICK

The budget for our Secret Santa is £5 per person so as you can see you can still give or receive fabulous make-up items this Xmas. Great as stocking fillers or perhaps table top gifts.

Available at MUASTORE.CO.UK where there is currently a 3 for 2 on all eye products. You can also purchase from SUPERDRUG where if you spend £8 on MUA products you receive the limited edition Twelfth Night Palette (subject to availability). 

I have made up a starter make-up kit for my Mum this year as she never wears make-up, but wants to try it. I have picked up a few MUA products for her kit, but unfortunately the free palette was sold out :(

Why not share your favourite things to find in your Xmas stocking below.

Love to you all

Vicky xx

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AIRBASE MAKEUP HIGH DEFINITION HOME USE AIRBRUSH MAKE-UP SYSTEM

Hi sweeties. I am back today with an airbrush make-up review for you. Yes you heard me right airbrush make-up and HD none the less.

All of the above photos have not been edited so are true in colour and tone.

The compact Airbase Makeup High Definition Home Use Airbrush Make-Up System and it's contents.

Currently includes a free Perfecting Primer worth £27.50! Other items in my kit were the Airbrush Thinner & Cleaner, Foundation in Light Medium FO02 & Medium FO03, Blush in BL02 Peach and a Mini Eye Shadow Palette.

Includes a light up mirror unit with compressor, mixing tray for foundations if using a brush, nozzle tool, airbrush nozzle, retractable hose, power plug, airbrush and product cup (shown below).

So now that I have shown you the results and the kit what do I think about the system? I was excited at trying a new way to apply my make-up, but a little nervous that I may end up spraying the floors and or walls of my house with make-up which is why I laid towels on my kitchen/diner floor to try this out. I however had no need to worry as the mist of make-up that is dispersed does not spray everywhere and is only released when you pull back on the green lever, even when the system is turned on. The make-up does not run once sprayed to your skin.

The Perfecting Primer feels lovely on the skin. Very silky and a good base for the product to cling to.

Once I had put all the parts together and emptied some foundation into the cup I could not get any product out. After adding more foundation to the cup and some thinner in case the foundation was too thick for the airbrush which it didn't look to be it still didn't work. I then tried tightening the nozzle (red part) more with the nozzle tool and the product started to come out. So as not to make the same mistake as me tighten the nozzle with your fingers, then give a half turn using the nozzle tool to allow the correct airflow through the airbrush. I applied the lightest shade of foundation all over my face and neck, paying extra attention to blemishes which you can move the airbrush a little closer for, but not too close or you will end up with obvious patches like I did. They were easily sorted though as I pressed a tissue over the area or just used my fingers to blend and went over the area again not so closely.

The darker foundation I used to contour my face. I simply sprayed out most of the previous foundation left in the cup onto a tissue and added the darker foundation to the little bit that was left to hopefully give a more seamless effect to my base and no obvious contrast, just definition. I think the foundation gives a matte slightly powdery finish once it has dried. It looks great in photos, but in real life I thought it looked like I was wearing more of a heavy base than I usually do. My boyfriend didn't think it looked that natural. I think the tones of foundation were okay to create a base and contour for me, but perhaps a little too dark and yellow toned. Not the worst match for my skin tone though.

Again I sprayed most of the remaining foundation out and applied the blush.

The eye palette I applied with my own make-up brushes:

white on my brow bones

gold to the inner corners and inner lids

purple in the crease, outer v and under the eyes

pink in the crease

blue on the outer v

grey in the crease, outer v and under the eyes

The mascara and lip gloss in this look are my own.

There was no need for me to use concealer with this make-up due to the medium/high coverage. Therefore this system I would perhaps recommend for those with rosacea or acne. The effect of this foundation was seamless not patchy as long as I did not get too close while working in circular motions.

Once you have this airbrush set up and working it's kind of fun to apply make-up in this way. I know I have been applying make-up differently for years, but for me I think it would take me too long to apply make-up like this though on a daily basis. 

Although the unit is not obviously noisy I apply make-up for work at about 6am so I know my boyfriend wouldn't appreciate me using this first thing. 

The lid on the product cup was quite tight so that made filling it with product a bit difficult to do trying to get it on and off, especially as there is a little hole in it that is meant to be there. 

The cleaning of the equipment was a bit hard to do because some of the parts are small and/or hard to reach and you don't want to cause damage to the more delicate parts of equipment. As you wouldn't want to leave make-up to dry in it I know I would get fed up of doing that every time I used it. 

Spraying the product on my skin was not an unpleasant experience though at all. It did not irritate my eyes (make sure you close your eyes when spraying close to them) and I did not feel like I was breathing in product through my nose or mouth.

I am very glad to have been able to borrow this system and experience using these products. If you love trying new things and being creative with make-up then maybe this innovative way of applying make-up is for you.

Find the kit here for more information as it is currently on offer for a limited time! Choose 3 make-up products to be included in your personalised kit from 7 shades of foundation, 2 blush shades or a bronzer.

Leave me your thoughts in the comments below.

Love to you all

Vicky xx

FESTIVAL EYES: MAJENTA BEAUTY

Hi there lovelies. How fabulous is the sunshine, yay :) It's such a nice feeling to have another bank holiday weekend with another one to come this month, whoop whoop! I have a photo filled post for you today showing off a great eye palette that was sent to me for free by Majenta Beauty to review for you. So here is a little intro ....

Majenta Beauty is the make-up brand founded by Jane Lyons who has an outstanding background. Jane has owned beauty and hair salons, delivered training seminars, written numerous articles for glossy and professional magazines, been a resident make-up artist on TV and a beauty consultant, phew! Jane has created a product range that has basics along with more fun and pigmented products. Jane's daughter Laura-Jane has since joined Majenta Beauty's marketing team in 2013. With a background also in hair and beauty as well as business and marketing from university I am sure Laura-Jane has been a great addition at Majenta.

EYE DUO ~ LEFT: MOONWALK, RIGHT: LAZY DAYS

This lightweight yet secure packaging comes with a small mirror inside perfect for travel. This shadow palette allows you to pick your own shades and formulations whether they be matte or shimmer. Moonwalk I would describe as a blue grey with gold shimmer. Lazy Days is kind of a pearl skin tone shade that glows subtly without the shimmer particles that Moonwalk has. Each shadow has the name stamped on its magnetic back so that for a refill it's easy to know the product name. The exposed top of the packaging makes the shadows easy to see at a glance which is handy for make-up hoarders like myself. Its great that the eye shadows can be taken in and out of the palette so that you can keep them with you for your chosen look of the day in case touch ups are needed. The shadow applicator that came with this palette does feel of better quality than most applicators of this kind, but I prefer using my make-up brushes to get a better blended look.

So how did I create this look? It was very simple really. I applied the shade lazy days to the lids and inner parts of the eyes. Moonwalk I applied to the outer V, in the crease and under the eyes. I didn't want to use too many products on the eyes so that you could really see the shades. I did not use an eye primer either as I wanted to see how pigmented the products are and how well they last alone. I have been wearing this look for about 5 hours now. There is no creasing or fading in the shadows. I do however think that they may show up a little more pigmented with an eye primer. They are easily buildable, especially the shade Moonwalk. I think this is a perfect palette combo for beginners as well as those wanting an everyday or buildable day to night look. These shadows are a little powdery and there is some glitter fallout from the shade Moonwalk so you may want to create your eye look first before applying the rest of your make-up.

With the names Lazy Days and Moonwalk in mind I couldn't help thinking of summer festivals and parties which inspired me to create this wearable day to night look which I think is sexy without being OTT.

Majenta also have some bolder shades which I would love to check out as I think they would be perfect for summer season.

Take a look at the Majenta Beauty online store HERE!

Majenta Beauty also do so much more. Check out this section on their WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS. Book their MAKEUP ARTIST ROADSHOW TEAM for special events and photo shoots. Plus their are FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES too!

Let me know your wish list products from Majenta Beauty in the comments below.

Love to you all

Vicky xx

Holly Sharpe Illustrations & Limited Collection For Marks & Spencer

Hey everyone and Happy Sunday. I hope you have had a great weekend so far. Apologies for not blogging this week until now, but it was my first week back at work after a long break, I had a couple of birthday celebrations to attend and we have been putting together some bedroom furniture at home which is still ongoing today.

For this post I want to talk about the fabulous designs of fashion illustrator Holly Sharpe and her Limited Collection which has now launched as of Jan 9th in Marks & Spencer stores as well as online for SS14.

Holly's illustrations I first noticed when perusing the Hey Sailor website.

This Exotic Girl A4 Print is the design that really caught my eye when I first saw her work.

Well now I am chuffed to see that this very design has been applied to Holly's Limited Collection with M&S.

There are lots of fabulous items including make-up, nail polish, an iPhone 5 case, a wash bag and an eau de toilette.

I have an iPhone 4 which makes me sad so no phone case for me :( I will however be popping into M&S very soon, especially as my birthday is this month. The Eau de Toilette I think will be my must have as the scent sounds scrumptious and I can then keep the beautifully designed bottle.

A lot of the shades in this collection appear to be taken from Holly's 'Exotic Girl' illustration which I think is such a great way of reminding us to be inspired and creative when applying our make-up and painting our nails.

I wish Holly the best of luck in her career and this M&S launch. I am sure it will be off the shelves in no time. Well done to M&S for choosing to work with such a talented artist.

Will you be picking up any items from this Holly Sharpe Limited Collection at M&S? With prices starting at £5 how can you resist? Let me know your favourites in the comments below.

Love to you all

Make-Up Eye Palette 2013 Favourites

Hi once again beauties. Today I am eager to share with you the 2nd part to my eye make-up 2013 favourites which are my most used eye palettes of the past year. I have been trying to make a real effort to use them more often as I sometimes find it easier to pick out my singular shades when I know the colours I want to use. This is because I have too many palettes (yes I said it) and sometimes I forget which shades are in them (shock horror)!

Sleek MakeUP I-Divine Palettes

I have many more than these four from the Sleek MakeUP I-Divine collection, but I found that I used these four palettes the most from the Sleek MakeUp line last year. There is such a great array of soft, light and nude shades here as well as much deeper tones for smokey eye looks. I love the Sleek MakeUP I-Divine palettes so much because they have great pigmentation, well thought out palette colour combinations and are great quality at just £7.99 per palette. That's 12 shades for less than a pound per colour. 

The Nude Collection Au Naturel palette (top left) I previously spoke about, including swatches and a brief description of each shade. I think this palette is great for those who prefer simple eye looks that can be smoked up when the mood strikes. A great everyday palette.

The Oh So Special palette (bottom right) I believed was limited edition at the time of my previous post, but it is still available to purchase now. This palette has some gorgeous pink and peach tones on the left with more smokey shades to its right.

The Bad Girl palette (top right) is definitely not for the faint hearted. When I pick up this palette I know I want dark, smokey impact eyes. It's a well named palette for you vixens out there.

The Limited Edition Paraguaya palette (bottom left) is no longer available on the Sleek MakeUP website, but you may be able to find it on Ebay or Amazon. This palette's collection of colours are real peach and rose tones. This is one of Sleek MakeUP's more lighter palettes with only one real dark shade. Applied carefully these shades can look amazing, but be careful if you do pick up this palette as some of these shades if applied to heavily, especially under the eyes can make you look a little hungover.

Each of these palettes has a mixture of matte and shimmer shades. They all have a really good sized mirror and very slimline packaging that stays shut when needed so great for carrying around if necessary. I just wish that there was some indication on the back of the shades included like colour swatches so that when I scramble through my make-up deciding what to use I can see the shade range at a glance.

Sleek MakeUp Molten Metal In Gold Leaf & Pewter

Oh my god let me just say that if you want bold metallic eyes that are easy to apply then this is a duo not to miss. As you can see I have used the shade on the right more, but OMG once again they are both beautiful gleaming cream shades. I love to use my fingers to apply the right shade to my eyelids and then smoke them up on the outer corners. Instant look at me eyes with sexy smoulder. These do not crease on me either, even without a primer and last all day.

Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palette

Now this palette was the first in the Urban Decay Naked line. There was so much hype around blogs at the time about it that you kind of felt like you must have it or you weren't part of the IT crowd. Maybe that sounds a bit OTT, but after oohing and ahhing over it for so long I took the plunge handed over my cash and here we are. I must say that I am so glad I did. These shadows are without doubt an investment. They are so smooth and creamy. I feel like I am treating myself still when I pull this out to decorate my eyes. Although this is a very neutral palette there are lots of glitter and shimmer shades in here and just two matte. I do think there are some great shades to just make your eyes pop using only one of the colours looking like you have made more effort than you actually have. Great for last minute invites! This came with the Urban Decay Primer Potion which was great, but I will still purchase my E.L.F. Eyelid Primer that works better and is a lot cheaper. I have the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils in Zero & Whiskey too that came with the palette. At the time I remember these palettes were selling out so fast that they had to bring out more, but with an eyeshadow brush instead of the pencils. My only negative towards this palette is the casing which is a velvet texture. Mine is very clean compared to what I have seen on a lot of blogs because I still keep it in the original plastic packaging otherwise make-up and dust would have covered it by now. I would therefore say it's not as travel friendly as the Urban Decay Naked 2 and Naked 3 palettes which have a tin design that should keep a lot more clean. There are 12 shades (including 7 best sellers) in this palette which works out to be just over £3.00 per shade. I really don't think that's bad for such a high quality product. I have been tempted by the Urban Decay Naked 2 & 3 palettes, but at the time I just couldn't justify spending the money on them. Obviously we have just had Xmas and I have 3 birthdays to pay for this month so I can't see me buying them any time soon.

So that's all for my most used eye palettes of 2013. Please let me know your favourites in the comments below along with any requests for make up looks from any of these palettes or swatches that are not linked in this post.

Love to you all   

Festive Treasures GlossyBox & NOTD

Hi there sweeties. Xmas is just over a week away and I still have so much to do, but one thing that always relieves any stress is the arrival of my GlossyBox :) This months box is a fab one so let me show you the products.

Loving the Xmas theme!

Beautiful Movements Cosmetics Nude Lip Gloss ~ £12.00 for 8ml

A natural mineral formula free from harsh chemicals and rich in jojoba oil. Non sticky, long lasting and tastes great. Cruelty free and BUAV approved. Suitable for vegetarians. 

My thoughts:

This is obviously a very natural lip gloss. It doesn't feel sticky at all. It's texture feels quite creamy and nourishing actually. I am not sure how long it will last on the lips as I have only just applied it. I wouldn't say it tastes good or bad. I think this shade is so neutral that it will suit all skin tones and could be worn over any lipstick due to it's milky, nude glossy shade.

Maybelline New York Color Tattoo 24hr Eye Shadow Everlasting Navy ~ £4.99

A cream gel formula that is fade and crease resistant. Long lasting vibrant and shimmery shades.

My thoughts:

I have always wanted to try one of these Maybelline Color Tattoos, but for some reason never actually picked one up. This shade looks fantastic and I can't wait to try it out. I think it will look superb when paired with the lip gloss above too. Now that this swatch has dried on my hand I have to say that this shadow is pretty resistant to budging. I had to really rub it with my finger to see the tiniest specs flake from it, but lets face it who is going to rub over their eyes so harshly. I will store this upside down to stop it drying out as quickly. A good tip for cream and gel eye formulas!

Wilkinson Sword Intuition Naturals Razor ~ £6.49

A 3 in 1 razor that lathers, moisturises and shaves. 100% natural aloe and enriched vitamin E to moisturise. The packaging is natural too. Pivoting head design to smooth around body contours. Indicator lets you know when to replace blades. Fragrance free.

Wet the conditioning solid to activate. Keep skin and razor wet as you shave and press gently.

My thoughts:

I find the thought of shaving without applying a gel or cream first a little weird, but I am happy to try this as it saves the need for another product.

Seche Nail Lacquer Takes Chances ~ £9.95 for 14ml

One coat coverage with a satin smooth finish that dries quickly.

Apply a base coat, apply one or two coats of the Seche Nail Lacquer and a top coat.

My thoughts:

Here I have applied a base coat, two coats of the Seche Nail Lacquer, my E.L.F. nail polish in Twinkle and my nail drying spray. Here is a link to this Seche shade on the Seche website so that you can see the colour better. I applied this on Saturday and it lasted until Monday when I did 4 hours of housework. It probably would have lasted better with the Seche Dry Fast Top Coat, but cleaning the house always chips my nails no matter what I use.

Lipsy London Glam ~ £18.00 for 30ml or £25.00 for 50ml

This full size Eau de toilette comes in a heart shaped, black jewelled bottle.

The scent combines fruity honey and sweet top notes, the heart notes complement with Orchid, Jasmine and Peony and the base notes are deep with Amarylis and black incense.

My thoughts:

This is my first Lipsy fragrance. I do like the bottle design, but I do not have a bottle to show you so you will have to look in the link above. It looks so much like the design of the Diesel Loverdose Tattoo fragrance. I am not sure who brought theirs out first though. Although both fragrances contain jasmine the other ingredients seem to be different. I do like this scent. It's a little deeper than other Edt I have tried which I like as I prefer a stronger scent. I can smell the fruity honey, but it does have a sensual, deep base.

So far I have been very impressed by this box. For more information on GlossyBox UK check this link and for the US GlossyBox see this link.

Which products did you receive in your GlossyBox this month and are you happy with them? Let me know in the comments below.

Love to you all

November GlossyBox

Hi sweetie pies. Have you got an interesting weekend planned? I have nothing on the agenda today or tomorrow other than blogging and mooching around the house. My GlossyBox products for this month are sat next to me right now so I thought I would share my initial impressions with you. 

Connock London Kukui Eau de Parfum ~ £75.00 for 100ml

This elegant floriental fragrance is built around the Gardenia flower and is complimented by a full bouquet of fresh flowers including Italian Bergamot, Moroccan Rose, White Jasmine and Calla Lily. The scent is further enriched with Sandalwood, Vetiver, White Amber and layers of cashmere and sheer musks, completed with the rich bitter chocolate sweetness of Vanilla Absolute and Tonka Bean.

My Thoughts:

This is a very calming scent. It's quite pure and settling. I imagine this to be a scent for some who always looks presentable even if they are just lounging around their house at the weekend reading a book.

Vichy Idelia Life Serum ~ £29.50 for 30ml at Boots

Instantly, complexion looks radiant and fresh, with a more even tone. Pores appear tightened and skin texture feels refined. Facial features look rested and skin looks younger and healthier. Tested on sensitive skin under dermatological control. Suitable for all skin types. Can be applied before moisturising.

- Hypoallergenic

- With soothing and fortifying Vichy Thermal Spa Water

- Non-comedogenic

- Paraben-free

My thoughts:

There are two samples of this in the GlossyBox. I am not sure why as I think trying three different Vichy products might have been better? Saying that though I have put some on my hand and it appears to give a lovely luminous glow. I am really looking forward to trying this out. I have added a link to Boots above, but this product is also available at other stockists. Please see here.

Vichy Idelia Smoothing and Illuminating Cream for Normal to Combination Skin ~ £22.00 for 50ml at Boots

Idealia cream visibly smoothes the look of wrinkles. The skin texture appears refined. Skin feels softer and more supple. It reawakens skin's natural radiance for a fresh and even complexion. Vichy Idéalia is tested under dermatological control. Apply after cleansing morning and/or evening.

- Hypoallergenic.

- Uses soothing and fortifying Vichy Thermal Spa Water.

- Paraben free.

My thoughts:

Again I have linked to Boots above, but you can also purchase from other stockists. Please see this link. This product also has a slight luminosity to it. I am looking forward to trying it out with the product above. This is also available for dry skin which I am on my GlossyBox profile so I don't know why I keep getting sent products for other skin types? Here is a link to the dry skin formula.

Elegant Touch Nail Polish remover Pads ~ £2.00 for 20 pads at Sainsbury's

Acetone free with vitamin E and moisturisers. 

My thoughts:

I have linked them above at Sainsbury's, but again they are available at many stockists. Please see this link. I will try these out, but usually I use nail polish remover that contains acetone to remove stubborn polish.

Emite Make Up Micronized Eye Shadow (Nect)

Micronized Eye Shadow - NECT is a highly pigmented eyeshadow that is completely nickel-free, paraben and perfume. The pigment is micronized to facilitate the application and to create an even and fine results. An excellent choice for lens wearers or those with sensitive eyes. Not tested on animals.

My thoughts:

I hope that you can see this product well enough in the photo above as I am pretty much as pale as this colour. When I swatched this on my hand I straight away thought of the moonlight. It's not ultra glowy or bright, but a really subtle pale shimmer shade. I think it would be great for the inner corners to brighten and open up the eyes making you look more awake or as an all over lid colour. It would be a good contrast against black liner and as the main lid shade for a smokey crease look. I don't think Emite Make Up is available in the UK at the moment and I am not sure on the price as there was no information card in my GlossyBox this month, sorry.

Yves Rocher France Moisturizing Hand Cream Cocoa & Raspberry ~ £1.95 for 30ml

Irresistible softness and indulgent fragrance to pamper your hands all winter long.

My thoughts:

OMG this really does smell of chocolate raspberries. Instantly I thought of the chocolate raspberry creams that I will be devouring from our Roses tin this Xmas. The smell is quite addictive already. For this price too it's a winner so far. The cream sinks really easily into the hands with no greasy residue.

The products from Vichy, Yves Rocher and Emite Make Up are the most impressive to me at the moment in this box. This GlossyBox did come with a GlossyBox magazine, but no information card? I find that really useful to find more information in the products in the box, prices, website links etc so will we not be getting those anymore?

For more information on GlossyBox UK click here and for the US GlossyBox click here.

If you received a GlossyBox this month which products did you receive and are you impressed so far? Did you have an information card included in your box? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Love to you all

High Flyers GlossyBox

Hi there loves. Today I have my latest GlossyBox products to show you. This box is named High Flyers as it includes items for us girls during our summer travels.

Urban Veda Purifying Exfoliating Facial Polish, £8.99 for 125ml

To be used for a deep cleanse, removing impurities, treating blackheads, reducing excess sebum, tightening pores and leaving skin hydrated.

Apply to a wet face, massage using gentle circular movements, and rinse with cold water to tighten pores and help mattify excessive shine.

This is for oil-prone skin and mine is dry, but I will still try this out. The granules in this scrub feel very fine on my hand. The scent is almost medicated, but in a purifying way. The packaging is green on the website so I guess the design has changed?

Emite Make Up Eyelash Curler, Approx £20.00

Developed with professional make-up artists this tool has a special curved design to suit all eye shapes, without touching your make-up base. 

Insert lashes close to the lash line and press to curl. Use before mascara,

This feels very well made and it's great that it comes with three replacement pads.

Jelly Pong Pong 2-In-1 Black Shadow/Liner, £10.50 

Doubles as an eyeliner for thick, precise lines as well as a perfectly blended eye shadow. This also comes in shades of plum, bronze and steel.

This is a very deeply pigmented black eye crayon. I think this will be great for smudgy liner looks and hopefully as a great shadow/base too.

Tresemme Keratin Smooth Concentrated Rinse Off Treatment, £1.49 for 15ml from Superdrug, Boots, Tesco & Waitrose.

Apply once a week to damaged parts of shampooed and rinsed hair, avoiding roots. Leave for 60 seconds and rinse well.

I like that this is a quick treatment as not everyone has time for products to work.

Oceane Makeup Remover Pen, Not yet available in the UK

A make-up touch up/remover solution. 

Shake before removing lid. Replace tip if needed.

I tried this out on the Jelly Pong Pong swatch above and it did take a bit of work, but it pretty much removed it all. I think this sounds like a good idea in theory, but I am just not sure if you will end up making a make-up mistake look worse by removing or smudging other parts of your make-up like foundation. I think it would have been handy if the extra tips came in some sort of separate packaging so that when you open this product they have somewhere to be stored. Especially if this is meant for on the go use.

I think this is a great box this month. I am a little disappointed that I have another product for oily skin instead of dry though.

For more information on GlossyBox UK click here. The US box can be found here.

Which products did you receive in this month's GlossyBox? Are you pleased with them? Let me know with your reasons in the comments below.

Love to you all

 

E.L.F. 50% Off Haul

Hi my beautiful people. I am sitting here munching on some tasty strawberries and typing with one finger. Now that's dedicated blogging, ha ha ;) Recently I picked up some products in the E.L.F. 50% off sale so I thought why not show them to you with swatches included :)

Far Left: Mineral Face Cleanser, £6.00 for 50g

This water-activated, powder based cleanser works to clean and exfoliate the skin for a beautiful healthy glow. 

Moisten hands and face with water. Pour a small amount into hands and rub together. Gently massage into face and neck and rinse off. Use morning and night or as desired. 

I usually only exfoliate my face and neck twice a week with facial cleansers/scrubs, but I found I was able to use this type of product daily. I really enjoyed using the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant which I previously reviewed here. I thought this might be a cheaper alternative if it works just as well. The bottle has a flip top lid with three holes to shake the product out. The bottle is just over half full with product so it could be smaller.

2nd From Left: Studio Concealer Ivory, £3.75 for 3g

Conceal acne spots, discolouration, under-eye darkness or any other place desired with this twist up concealer. The creamy lightweight texture blends evenly for a natural full coverage that lasts.

Apply to areas that need additional coverage. Gently pat onto skin and blend with fingertips or a concealer brush.

This is a very peachy stick concealer that I purchased to use under the eyes, but I will see how it covers blemishes too. The stick is a little smaller than I thought it would be, but a good size to sweep easily under the eyes I think. I hope it will work well.

2nd From Right: Studio Translucent Matifying Powder, £3.75 for 3.8g

This translucent powder works on a wide variety of skin tones to help set your makeup in so it lasts longer. 

Use the sponge to blend in the powder over the face, neck and decolletage as a setting powder. Reapply as needed throughout the day for a refreshed look.

(Sponge Applicator contains Latex)

I previously reviewed this product here.

Far Right: Studio Makeup Mist & Set, £3.75 for 60ml

Keep your makeup in place all day with a radiance boosting invisible hold.

After you have applied your makeup spray a light mist 12-16 inches from your face with eyes closed to set your makeup in place or use for a quick touch up throughout the day to refresh your makeup. Let it dry naturally or blot with a tissue to help speed dry.

Previously reviewed here.

Left: Studio Daily Brush Cleaner, £3.75 for 60ml

An anti-bacterial daily brush cleanser for quick cleaning in-between makeup applications. Disinfects brushes to provide a fresh and clean application every time.

After using your brush, spray several times over the brush bristles. Gently wipe the brush onto a clean cloth to remove makeup. Allow brush to fully air dry before next use. 

Previously reviewed here.

Centre: Studio Mascara Primer, £3.75 for 2.5ml

An excellent conditioning base for mascara. 

Apply the Mascara Primer like you would any mascara, but allow Primer to fully dry. Layer on your Mascara as usual, for an enhanced look. Remove with makeup remover.

I have used a mascara primer before from Jane Iredale which I found really made my mascara look more volumised and held a curve in my lashes better. I am hoping this will do the same.

Right: Glitter Eyeshadow Flirt, Currently £1.75, usually £2.50 for 4g

Achieve radiant shimmering colour with this luxe Glitter Eyeshadow. 

Apply with fingertip for vibrant colour or with a brush for a subtle effect. For best results use with an Eyeshadow Primer. Apply wet for more intense looks.

This is looks lovely in the pan. A bold lilac shade with silver glitter particles. I think there will be fallout from this product, but perhaps it might not be too bad with an eye primer. I have had this swatch on my hand while blogging and the glitter particles have all fallen off. The colour seems to have faded also.

Left: Studio Glossy Gloss Ballet Slippers, £3.75 for 6.8g

High shine, pigmented Glossy Gloss delivers a beautiful sheen and a rich tint of colour to your pout. 

This is a nude skin tone shade that is quite peachy. It's creamy and looks like it could be worn nicely alone or over lipstick.

Right: Studio Glitter Gloss Dazzling Diamond, £3.75 for 6.8g

Dazzle and shine with this intense, show-stopping glitter filled gloss. Infused with light-reflecting micropearls, this non-sticky gloss illuminates lips with sheer brilliance and lots of colour. 

This is a clear gloss with gold and lilac glitter particles. It looks like it would be good over any lip shade if you like glittery lips.

Studio HD Blush in left to right Diva, Encore & Showstopper, £3.75 for 10ml each

Rich and creamy HD Blush naturally sculpts and highlights the cheekbones for a soft-focus effect that is great for everyday use.

Press down gently on the pump to release a very small amount of colour. Apply with finger or a stipple brush to the cheekbone in a tapping motion and blend in.

I find these very impressive and I would have bought all 5 shades, but the other 2 were sold out :( I actually got these mainly for the lips as I am hoping that they will be long lasting. A bit like an OCC Lip Tar. I am not sure how these will work on the cheeks as a little goes a very, very long way so they might be hard to blend in and control which will be frustrating if applied over face make-up. 

Diva ~ A cool pink with a blue undertone

Encore ~ A deep rose pink

Showstopper ~ A deep plum

I am disappointed that it looks as though my bottle of Showstopper has already been used as there is product around the outside of the spout. Be careful when first opening these too as the first one I opened (Diva) spurted out some liquid.

All prices shown in this post are full prices, but as I had 50% off these 12 products only cost £25.95 which included delivery. I am one happy bunny other than the what looks to be used Showstopper.

E.L.F. products are available from eyeslipsface.co.uk and eyeslipsface.com

Did you take part in this E.L.F. sale? If yes, which products did you pick up? What are your favourite and not so favourite E.L.F. products and why? Let me know in the comments below.

Love to you all