VEIL COVER CREAM SAMPLE KIT LIGHT

Hi my loves and happy Sunday! I have been trying out this camouflage concealer that beauty bloggers were asked if they wanted to try out on Twitter and and it's actually pretty good so I thought I would share my thoughts with you.

VEIL COVER CREAM SAMPLE KIT

The idea of these sample kits are to allow you to try a variety of shades before committing to a full size cover cream jar only to find the shade doesn't suit your natural skin tone. A great idea to save wasting money.

There are 12 shades in each kit along with 2 finishing powders (translucent and dusk) that are included in all of the kits no matter which tones of light (paler skin), medium (darker or suntanned skin) or dark (very dark skin) you choose. I chose the light kit as I am very pale.

I was very surprised to find that the shade Natural suited me the most as I thought perhaps one of the top four shades (cream, vanilla, wheat or natural light) may suit me better. 

I found that the translucent powder was okay, but that other powders I have work just as well too.

I did find that the formula worked well after covering most blemishes, but I do have a couple of annoying red veins that no concealer has ever managed to cover including this one. As a regular concealer I would say this covers very well, but because it did not cover all of my problem areas ie red veins I can not be certain it would work well for all as a camouflage concealer.

It has a soft matte finish that did not cling to my dry areas which other concealers have in the past. It is also said to be waterproof.

Here are the problem areas it is meant to cover:

Birthmarks, Burn scars, Scars, Age spots, Moles, Broken capillaries, Varicose veins, Acne marks, Tattoos, Rosacea, Portwine stains, Vitiligo, Permanent pigmentation and Eczema.

The kits themselves I think are a great idea. More make-up companies should put sample kits out there for foundations and powders also so that customers will more often come back if they are able to find their perfect shade straight away from their kit.

I would love to know how any of you find this product to work for you. Does it cover your problems areas well? Please comments below along with your specific skin concerns so that others can see how this product may work for them too.

Love to you all

Vicky xx

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POUNDLAND'S NEW MAKE UP GALLERY

Hi lovelies I have another bargain post for you today, but this time we're talking new affordable make-up on the high street from one of my favourite bargain stores POUNDLAND.

With each item in the 100 strong range costing just £1 there are an array of products that I am dying to check out including:

Long lasting foundation with UVA/UVB filters

Volumising and lengthening mascara with conditioning formula

Quick dry nail polish

Sheer lip gloss with moisturiser

Pressed powder with Vitamin E

as well as concealer, eye make-up and lipstick.

Initially the range is being rolled out in 480 stores so check out this link to find the nearest for you.

If you have already managed to pick up some items let me know what you chose and your thoughts in the comments below.

Image not my own.

Love to you all

Vicky xx

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ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK MAKE-UP

Hi sweeties. In my last post I shared with you a wearable Halloween outfit for day or night. The make-up look from that post is inspired by Alex Vause from Orange Is The New Black so here it is.

Above image from source

Products Used:

BENEFIT POREFESSIONAL

MAX FACTOR SKIN LUMINIZER FOUNDATION 45 WARM ALMOND (PR SAMPLE)

BOOTS NATURAL COLLECTION COVER-UP CREAM FAIR

MUA HIDE & CONCEAL COVER UP STICK FAIR

W7 HONOLULU BRONZER

MILANI GLIMMER STRIPES ALL-OVER COLOUR 05 HONEY GLIMMER

NYX THE CARIBBEAN COLLECTION I DREAM OF ST. KITT PALETTE (THREE LIGHTEST SHADES)

MUA MASCARA SHADE 4 (BROWS)

PRIMARK BEAUTY FELT EYE LINER PEN BLACK

SMOOCH BLACK LASH MASCARA (GIFTED)

99P STORE FATE LIPSTICK (FROM PACK OF THREE)

BARRY M LIP PAINT 54 (OVER FATE LIPSTICK)

I realise that my lips are lighter than the Alex Vause picture, but I wanted a brighter look. To be honest the winged liner is more of what I wanted to bring out in this look.

Let me know what you think of this FOTD/FOTN look in the comments below and don't forget to check out my WEARABLE HALLOWEEN FASHION OUTFIT also.

Love to you all

Vicky xx

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SUMMER IS HERE GLOSSYBOX

Hi there sweeties. I am back again today with my first impressions of this month's 'Summer Is Here' GlossyBox.

NAILGIRLS 3-IN-1 BASE/TOPCOAT & NAIL STRENGTHENER

Apply this as your base and allow to dry before applying your nail colour. Once that has dried use this product again as your top coat.

I hope this product works well as having one product to use instead of two would be a bonus, plus it has strengthening properties.

GOT2B RISE 'N SHINE SOUFFLE

This lightweight product is designed to give you textured volume along with silky shine.

Rub the product between your palms and work through the lengths of dry hair or for an extra boost use fingertips and work from the roots lifting as you style.

This sounds like the type of product my fella would like, but the pink shade of the product and the jasmine scent which I like may put him off a bit :)

This product is currently reduced to £2.66 at Superdrug in the link above.

TEEEZ TREND COSMETICS BEAUTIFUL FLAT STIFF BRUSH

To be used to apply powder and cream eye shadows.

This eye make-up brush has a beautiful design. I like the shape and density of the bristles. 

ROGER & GALLET FLEUR DE FIGUIER DISCOVERY RITUAL (SHOWER CREAM, BODY LOTION & EAU FRAICHE FRAGRANCE)

Fruit-floral and fig inspired scents. Cleanse with the shower cream, replenish moisture with the body cream and dab on fragrance for an all over irresistible scent.

I have tried quite a few Roger & Gallet products which I love and this fragrance does not disappoint. It is definitely a fruit-floral scent that is great for summer.

SO SUSAN COSMETICS CONCEALER QUAD

Can be used to cover minor blemishes and imperfections. A lightweight formula ideal for summer. Can also be used as a contouring kit.

Dot over the desired area and blend gently until full coverage is achieved.

I have yet to try this palette on my blemishes or as a contoured look, but on first impressions swatching it on my hand I think it won't give too much coverage. Lightweight products are great for summer, but concealer palettes like this need to have a little more density I feel in order to work well. I will however try it out properly before saying that I don't like it.

I am happy with this month's box, but not ecstatic. I am excited however for next month's limited edition box.

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

Were you excited by your GlossyBox this month? Let me know your favourite products in the comments below.

Love to you all

Vicky xx

E.L.F. Concealer & Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream Reviews

Hi there people. I have been so lazy today getting in and out of bed. I don't know what's up with me I just feel wiped out. Anyway I hope your weekends are going well. Today I have two product reviews for you from E.L.F. and Clarins.

Top: E.L.F. Studio Concealer Ivory, £3.75

I used this concealer straight from the tube to swipe underneath my eyes and on the blemished areas of my face. This went on really smoothly as it's a creamy formula, but it not at all slippery as it dries slightly more matte on the skin once applied. It does give you time to blend with either your fingers or a brush. I usually went with using my fingers as the warmth from my fingertips helps to set it in nicely. I used a slight patting motion. The colour match for my skin is really good. I would certainly recommend this for paler skin tones. I really enjoyed using this product as it worked as good as higher end concealers I have tried and is great value because it lasts for ages. I would say that this lasted about 3-4 months. Because it can be applied using your fingers it is travel friendly too so no need to carry a make-up brush around. The packaging looks slightly different on the website now as their is no concealer shade around the middle, but I believe the product to be the same. I would definitely repurchase this product. This comes in three other shades of beige, honey and tan.

Bottom: Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, £16.99 for 100ml with free delivery

I think I got this free sample when I purchased something else from Clarins. This product is said to work towards minimising age spots, softening the skin and strengthening the nails. I don't have age spots on my hands so I can't say how it works in that way and my nails are usually pretty strong anyway so for me this product was really just used to see how it cared for the skin on my hands. The scent of this white cream is quite pure and delicate. I have to say that this was a really nice hand cream to use. The cream was not sticky or greasy. It left a smooth layer over my hands and did actually make them feel softer with continued use. I would say that if this product does work for age spots then yes I would pay this price in the future if I get them on my hands, but for now this is a product that is a bit too expensive for me to use just as a hand cream.

Have you discovered any great products from E.L.F. or Clarins recently? What are your favourite concealers and hand creams? Let me know with your reasons in the comments below.

Love to you all

Pure B.B Cream Daily All In One Light

Happy Friday to you. Today I have a make-up/skincare product to talk to you about. I am a big fan of the idea of a bb cream and so I have been trying another one out.

 Pure B.B Cream Daily All In One Light

I have previously tried other products from this range such as the Pure Revitalising Daily Moisturiser and the Pure Revitalising Eye Make-Up Remover. Both of these products I picked up from Poundland, but this B.B Cream I believe I got from PoundWorld. Unfortunately I can not find a link to this on their website and I can't remember the price, but I did find this on Ebay for £3.25 plus £1.00 delivery for 30ml.

I bought this in two shades of light and medium as I could not see what the shades looked like from the packaging. These were the only two shades available in store, but now I have come to realise that this product also comes in ultra light which I would have tried.

As a bb cream this is fabulously easily to apply. I used my fingers to dot it over my face and neck before massaging it in. It covers well, but still looks natural with one layer. I did sometimes add another layer if my skin was quite uneven that day or just add more over blemished areas for a deeper coverage. 

It is not drying, but smooth and does actually feel like a skincare product because of the balm texture. It can be used as a make-up base to give a tinted moisturiser or foundation finish depending on how you layer it or just use one coat. It can simply be used as a concealer too.

I do find this to be a bit orange in tone though so I would not repurchase it for that reason. If however I come across the shade ultra light I will give it a whirl because I do like the way this applies and feels on my skin. The medium shade that I already have I will keep for when I fake tan and see how that works.

Here is a face of the day post where I used this product, link.

Have you tried the ultra light version of this product? Do you think it would work well for a pale one like myself? Let me know in the comments below.

Love to you all

FOTD: Will you be MesmerEyezd?

Ello ello beauties. How are you all on this dreadful rainy day? I feel for any of you that have had to venture out in this today. I have been sent some coloured contact lenses for free to review so I have this FOTD post for you :)

MesmerEyez Muliti-Purpose Solution, Lens Case and Lenses in left: Jade Green (Intense Range) & right: Royal Blue (Illusionz Range)

Left: Jade Green, Right: Royal Blue

I went for the Jade Green lenses for this FOTD as my eyes are already blue so you will hopefully see more of a difference.

 

This Jade Green shade is a little less intense than I had expected as I thought it was more of bright emerald green, but I still really like it. I quite like the misty effect that the lenses appear to have around the pupil area as it makes my pupils look a little smaller so that I think you notice the colour more. The edging of the lenses are very defined so I think that makes them look less natural than they could be, but I guess if you want your eyes to really pop it adds to that effect.

These were really easy to use for me, but then I am a contact lens wearer at least four days a week. You simply wash and dry yours hands, peel back the foil seal to the packet each lens is in and ensure that the lens is the correct way up for insertion into the eye. It's very easy to tell as the side with deep colouring is the side that will be on show. It should basically sit on the tip of your forefinger like a bowl with the edges curving inwards. Use the middle finger of your other hand to lift your top lid slightly and pull down with the middle finger of your hand with the lens to open the lower lid just a little and insert the lens with your forefinger. I can place mine straight onto the centre of my eye, but if yours need adjusting just look in different directions and the lens should slip into place. Blink a couple of times too as this sometimes helps.

The lenses I have are meant to last for 3 months once opened. To look at all of the fantastic range from MesmerEyez check out this link and use the colour studio to try the shades on the model. There are a variety of styles that are natural, intense, sexy or even wild. So if you fancy a change or just want something crazy to make those eyes pop these lenses could be a new addition to your night out.

3 Month lenses cost £19.99 (cleanser and lens case included). To purchase check this link.

Other products used in this FOTD are:

Helen É Cosmetics Stage Foundation Ultimate Performance Liquid Make-up For All Skin Types (Monroe - Very Fair Skin)*

Helen É Cosmetics Miracle Concealer*

E.L.F. Studio Translucent Matifying Powder

E.L.F. Studio Cool Bronzer

HD Brows Brow Beater

BellaPierre Cosmetics Lash Building Mascara Black

E.L.F. Studio Mist & Set

*Both Helen É Cosmetics were PR samples previously reviewed here.

Removing the lenses with clean hands pull down the lower lid gently, pinch the lens at the sides and pull out. You can look upwards if it makes it easier. Remove make-up AFTER removing lenses.

To store the lenses rinse to clean before placing in the lens case with solution for at least 6 hours. Rinse before placing the lenses into the eyes on next use. Change the solution in the lens case every week even if not in use. The lens case is labelled left and right, but I think it could be bolder so that it's a little easier to see.

I have been wearing these today for four hours and they have not bothered me at all. There is no irritation or discomfort. It is recommended to wear these for a maximum of 8 hours so I could not wear these to work as it's almost 12 hours for me from getting up to getting home. I would still wear them on a special occasion or night out though. These are not prescription lenses. They are only for cosmetic use.

 Many thanks to Amazing PR for sending these out to me. I have always been curious to try coloured lenses so thank you.

Are you a fan of coloured lenses? Do you have any favourite colours, styles or brands? Let me know 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

 

Scrub, Conceal & Spray

Hello loves. Are you having a fine and dandy Wednesday? Today I have 3 product reviews for you so here I go :) .............

Left: Natural Collection Cover-up Cream (Fair), £1.99 for 8ml

To cover spots, blemishes and under eye shadows. Easily blendible.

I bought this concealer quite some time ago when I couldn't find my usual concealer the Collection 2000/Collection Lasting Perfection Ultimate 16 Hour Wear Concealer (Light 2) which has proven to be very popular and rightly so as it works very well. However after trying this Natural Collection concealer out I have to say that on me this works just as well as the Collection 2000/Collection concealer. This concealer comes in two shades of Fair and Medium and Fair is fine for my complexion. I do think it would be good if there were more shades, especially for darker skin tones as two is not very many and will not suit everyone. This has a creamy, but not slippery formula that is buildable and covers well, but does not cover my red veins so good. It has a simple twist up tube that unscrews and the wand has a doe foot applicator. The writing does wear off just like the Collection 2000/Collection concealer as you can see. I will repurchase this for sure.

Centre: St Ives Elements Olive Scrub, Currently £2.48 for 150ml at Superdrug

Gently exfoliates away dead, dull skin. Mild enough for frequent use, your skin is left re-energised, feeling moisturised and smooth with a healthy glow. Natural Ingredients of Olive oil which helps nourish, without greasiness and Olive oil leaf extract, a natural anti-oxidant. 

Apply to damp skin in gentle circular movements, avoiding the eyes. Rinse off with water.

I was sent this ages ago with a magazine subscription. This has fine granules within the scrub that feel comfortable on the skin. The shade is a fab green that is different from most scrubs. I found the granules in this product good for both face and body so it saved me taking two products in the shower. I used this twice a week on both face and body and it worked well. I like the scent of this it's very natural.

Right: Primark Breath Spray Peppermint Coolness

Sugar Free. Spray as frequently as needed into mouth.

I purchased this product in November as part of this haul. It was about £1-£2. I love the bottle as it's leopard loving fun. This worked well and I would pick this up again.

So that's it for this review post. Have you discovered any cheap, but well worth the money concealers? What are your Natural Collection favourite products? Do you know of any face scrubs that also work well for the body? Do you know where to find cute breath sprays like this one or any other handy handbag products? Let me know in the comments below.

Love to you all

 

Lips Of The Day: Sexy Pout Temporary Lip Tattoos By StarGazer

Hey loves. Happy Sunday to you. I have the house to my self today so I thought why not try out some temporary lip tattoos as you do. 

StarGazer Sexy Pout Temporary Lip Tattoos In Top: Red Hearts, Left: Red Cheetah & Right: Pink Tiger

I was sent the designs Red Hearts and Pink Tiger quite some time by StarGazer for free. They did not ask me to review them at the time, but I gave the Red Hearts design a go and was unsuccessful.

Kat from Touch Media recently sent the Red Cheetah design along with the Temporary Eye Tattoos which I recently reviewed here. I hate being beaten and not understanding how a product works so I gave this design a try.

Application:

• Ensure your lips are dry and clean as well as free from any other other lip products like lip balm or make-up.

• Pop the lip shapes out of the packaging. Snip to adjust the design to fit your lip shape and size. I found these designs quite large for my lips and although there are guidelines on them telling you not to cut from the top of the top lip or the bottom of the bottom lip I cut all around both in the end as they were just to large and an awkward shape to fit to my lips.

• It's not in the instructions, but you must peel the plastic from the front of the design and place the sticky side against your lips.

• Press a damp cloth or flannel against the design and try to keep the tattoos in place. This was a little difficult to do. I will warn you that it does feel weird and you will be trying not to drool (nice).

• You will see the design start to slip away. Gently peel off the backing after about 30-40 seconds of dampening. Use your cloth or flannel to gently press against the design now on your lips to mould it to your lips.

•  I applied the top lip first, but it's up to you which way you do it. Apply the design to your other lip in the same way trying not to let your top and bottom lips meet as these tattoos take 5 minutes to fully dry and seal.

• I applied these before any of my other make-up as I thought it would be easier. I had a little overlap on one corner which I managed to manoeuvre in place and then I applied the rest of my make-up. 

• To remove use gentle make-up remover or baby oil. Oily food may cause the design to be removed.

As you can see the design could be a little bigger on my lips, but I found it difficult to size and get a great fit. Nice attractive ring around the mouth (not).

Open mouthed to show you how it looks on the inner parts of the lips.

 

I do think these are a really fun and creative way to make your make-up stand out. However I think these are too fussy to apply and get the right size and shape for your mouth. I have been wearing the look while writing this post and already it's peeling from my lips dues to the saliva in my mouth as I haven't even had a drink. They are meant to last all day, but I don't see how they will stay in tact. I have one more of the designs to try which I will probably reserve for a Halloween look on my blog this year as I wouldn't feel comfortable or attractive when out in public and these start peeling away.

Other products in this LOTD/FOTD are:

Pure BB Cream (Light)

Helen É Cosmetics Miracle Concealer*

 

 E.L.F. Studio Translucent Matifying Powder

E.L.F. Studio Cool Bronzer

 

NYX Cosmetics Eyeshadow Base (White)

 

E.L.F. Mineral Eye Liner (Black)

 

 No7 Exceptional Definition Nutrient Enriched Mascara (Black)

HD Brows Brow Beater

*This Helen É Cosmetics Concealer was a PR sample that I reviewed in a FOTN post here.

There are many designs of these temporary lip tattoos which are available for £4.00 each here.

Are you a fan of temporary lip tattoos? Do you know how to make them stay on the lips for longer without peeling? Are there any products from StarGazer that you recommend? Let me know in the comments below.

Love to you all

FOTN: Helen É Cosmetics Reviews

Hello you beauts. How are you on this fine Sunday morning? I hope fabulous. Today I want to show you some products from a brand named Helen É Cosmetics. I received one of their Long Lasting Lipstick's in my last GlossyBox and gave my initial impressions which you can see here. I have been asked to review some more of their products which were sent to me for free and so I thought I would show them off in a FOTN post.

So here are my thoughts on the Helen É Cosmetics:

 Stage Foundation Ultimate Performance Liquid Make-up For All Skin Types (Monroe - Very Fair Skin), £20.00 for 35ml

 

Helen É Cosmetics, the Make-up Sponsor of the Miss England Competition have taken inspiration from iconic actresses when developing the Stage range. It is aimed at professional Make-up Artists and customers alike. The Stage Range is made up of Stage Liquid Foundation in four shades, Stage Matte Mousse Foundation in three shades, Eyelights, Stage Eye Shadow Primer and Cheek Radiance in two shades. The collection is available from the Helen É Cosmetics website and selected stockists now, priced between £8 and £24.99. 

When I heard the term 'stage make-up' I did think this foundation was going to be heavy duty and very mask like, but it is quite the opposite. It feels as light as a BB Cream and is buildable. I would say it gives a medium to full coverage without being dry or cakey. Great for my dry skin. It does not streak and lasts very well. I am still undecided if this shade is right for me, but it is the lightest of the four. I am not too sure if it's a little too yellow on my skin, but let me know your thoughts. This foundation is paraben and fragrance free. It comes in a squeezy tube with a screw top.

Chunky Twist-Up Miracle Concealer, £8.00 for 3.5g

I have never used this style of concealer before. I expected this to cling to dry patches everywhere and not apply very well. This is a correcting concealer which should be used to neutralise dark pigmentation or shadow before applying a skin smoother or foundation. I always apply my concealer after my foundation otherwise I think you just end up ruining the effect of the concealer or wiping it away all together. I used this under my eyes and on blemishes. I have to say this worked really well. It comes in just one shade which I thought may be a little too deep for my skin tone, but it blended in easily. This may be because the foundation is a little more yellow than I am used to as well though. It did crease just a bit when I initially applied it under my eyes, but when I corrected this and used a setting spray to seal all of my make-up there was no further creasing. This also covered my blemishes pretty well. I used it on my eyes as a shadow base too and it did not crease there. The pencil did start to get a little loose a couple of days ago though and start dropping forward a bit without the need to twist up.

Powder Blusher (Candylicious), £7.00 for 2.5g

This coral blusher is pigmented and easily buildable. It's a little hard to tell in the photos because my cheeks are naturally flushed from rushing around getting ready after shower, but this is a really pretty, wearable shade that I think shows up best in the 1st and 3rd photos. I also used this on my eyelids on another day and it really made my blue eyes pop. This has a very secure click shut compact with a transparent lid. There are 5 shades in this blusher range.

Cheek Radiance (Oyster), £10.00 for 5g

This product is said to add a flush of colour to your cheeks or to be used as a highlighter for the cheekbones, brow bones, collar bones and shoulders. This is another twist up product. Inside the pop off lid there is another cap, but I'm not really too sure of it's purpose as I think the click shut lid is sufficient. This comes in two shades. The one I have is a peachy golden highlight with glitter particles. I found the best way to apply this was to apply a fair amount to the back of my hand and use the tip of my finger to dab it on where needed. I applied this product on top of my cheekbones, on my cupids bow and a little down my nose. On another day I applied this too my eyes to add a very subtle shimmer. I think this added a nice highlighting sheen to my cheekbones and the cupids bow. It leaves a trace of a few particles of glitter on my cheeks which didn't bother me, but that may not be for everyone if you just want the sheen effect.

Long Lasting Lip Colour, £8.00 for 3.5g

Left: Blush

Centre: Coral

Right: Hollywood Red

Blush (shown in the photos above) is a very natural rose lip shade that is one of those 'my lips but better' tones. I find these lipsticks so moisturising. They are not drying at all and the pigment in them lasts so well. It barely fades at all and does not go patchy so great for an all day event or a night out. I like the clear packaging at the top so that I can actually see what the shade is inside at a glance. There are 21 shades in this range of both cream and pearlised colours, including neutral and more vibrant tones. I really want to try some more as I am so impressed by them. My only fault is that the stickers do tend to come off so that's a bit annoying if you want to repurchase a shade and can't remember it's name.

The next two lip swatches were applied by using my I-Phone camera to apply them on the weekend while making breakfast as I was trying to catch the sunlight so please excuse the not so neat looking lips. Photos were taken with my digital camera though.

Coral

This is actually a really nice nude shade. Not too pale and deathly as some nude shades can make you look. I think this is very wearable for many skin tones. Unfortunately this one snapped while using and I didn't use extreme pressure so that was a real shame.

 Hollywood Red

Just wow. This was an amazing colour to wear and is not for the faint hearted. This lasted so well throughout the day considering it's vibrancy.

Other products I used in this FOTN are:

No7 Exceptional Definition Nutrient Enriched Mascara Black

E.L.F. Studio Translucent Matifying Powder

Peacocks Quad Palette (White Shimmer Shade)

E.L.F. Studio Mist & Set

Overall I am very impressed by this range of products from Helen É Cosmetics. I am totally in love with their lipsticks and want to try out more products too.

CEO Helen Elowe also has a blog called Helen's Make-up Tips where you can discover more about Helen É Cosmetics with helpful tips and advice. I think it's great when brands back up their products with advice on how to actually use them. I believe it gives consumers the confidence to work with the items they have purchased and perhaps try new things.

Have you tried any Helen É Cosmetics? Which products are your likes and dislikes and why? Let me know in the comments below.

Love to you all

neutralises dark pigmentation or shadow before you apply your Skin Smoother or foundation. - See more at: http://www.helen-e.com/cosmetics/face/chunky-twist-up-miracle-concealer.htm#sthash.ic1cWzDP.dpuf