New Make-up Buys: Bourjois Aqua Blush and Liner Pinceau Reviews

Hello there!

How are you?  I am now married!  I got married at the weekend and am now a Mrs.  I had a wonderful day and will hopefully get up some wedding day related posts when things calm down a bit and I have more time.  We came almost straight back to work after the wedding day and are now almost in the throws of performances!  So I'm sure you can imagine how busy things have been.  Since I've been in London though I have done a little bit (or not so little, oops!) of shopping.  Some of my favourite things I've purchased have been new make-up additions.
One day at work they suddenly announced to us that they were going to take our head shots for the programme!  Normally I wear a bit of make-up to work but this particular day I'd been so tired I had gotten out of bed late and was completely make-up free!  I also didn't have any make-up with me that day so I had no choice but to pop out in my break and buy a few things.
After perusing the aisles of Boots for quite a while trying to work out what was the best offer I settled on the Bourjois deal where if you spent £15 or more you got a free gift consisting of a Colour Boost Lip Crayon in Peach on the Beach and a Maxi delight bronzer with a kabuki brush.
The items I bought were the Liner Pinceau Eyeliner in Ultra Black and the Aqua Blush in Shade 03.

I was worried that these products might end up being a waste of money seeing as they had been purchased in a hurry just because of bad planning regarding the photo shoot, however they have both proved to be really useful additions to my collection.
I actually ended up using both these products on my wedding day.  I was disappointed at first when I opened up the liner and found it to be a small brush which I have found more difficult to use than a sponge wand tip, yet somehow it was easy to get the hang of, perhaps because the brush itself is so fine making it easy to control.  The colour really is 'ultra black' which I appreciate, I can't stand a wishy-washy shade of black liner.  It also does seem to be long lasting.
The Aqua Blush I've been really loving as well.  The shade is really perfect for me, a slightly warmed up true pink and I only need a tiny bit to provide a subtle flush on both cheeks.  The formula is super smooth and feels lovely gliding on the skin.  I would recommend this.  I haven't really been checking on how long it's stayed on yet but I did pick it to wear on my wedding day as well!

  Of the free gifts the bronzer was in shade 02 for more olive toned complexions, unfortunately too dark for me.  I tend not to wear bronzer but thought I would give it a go, however the tone of it just doesn't work on my super pale skin.  The free brush was a nice touch but I felt that the bristles were a bit too rough.  The Models One brushes I own are so much softer and compared with them I really didn't like this one.
The one part of the free gift I did love was the Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon.  The shade looked like it might be a bit too Barbie coral pink but once I tried it on I really loved it.  The formula is really creamy and the shade is bright and wearable.  I loved that it wasn't opaque but it definitely wasn't too sheer either.  It is a perfect shade for summer and I've kept it in my bag and taken it to wear at work with me everyday.  The SPF 15 in the formula is an added bonus and a great incentive to keep applying it throughout the day.  It's not that long lasting but I enjoy re-applying it and it does leave a subtle tint of colour on the lips anyway.
If you're interested in the free gifts the offer still seems to be on at Boots.

Till next time :)

Twirlybirdie

GOSH Forever Eyeshadow Stick Review: Shade 03 Light Bronze

Hello!
I hope you're having a good week.  It was my birthday recently and I've developed a little tradition of buying myself a couple of things to celebrate.  I usually end up purchasing cosmetics and this year was no exception.
I had been eyeing up the Gosh Forever Eyeshadow Sticks for a while after testing them on the back of my hand and finding they had really good staying power as well as being very pretty shades.  I particularly loved the neutral shades.  My favourites were 01 Silver Rose, 02 Beige and 03 Light Copper.  I went for the light copper because it's the kind of shade I knew I would wear every day but the other two were really beautiful too.
The eyeshadow sticks have a metallic sheen which is pretty and shimmery without a hint of glitter and the colour payoff is rich and opaque.

As with most crayon stick type make-up products it is really easy to use.  The crayon is just the right size, not too chunky so that you get more control over where you apply the shadow.  It glides on a creamy consistency and I don't tend to blend it out but I imagine it would blend really well.  Having worn it many times now I noticed that it does eventually start to disappear in to the crease of my eye lid yet it does remain on the lower part of the lid near the lashes.  This hasn't stopped me wearing it regularly as it's what I expect now as the same happens to me when I wear the Maybelline 24hr Tattoo cream eyeshadows.  I have sensitive eyelids that become dry easily if I don't moisturise them every day so I put it down to the moisturiser I put on underneath the shadows causing the cream eyeshadows to slide about.

It claims to be waterproof but I haven't worn it swimming or anything like that so I can't attest to that.  My favourite thing about this product is the colour.  It really is a beautiful bronzey-coppery-gold which is subtle enough to wear everyday but is also visible enough to make an impact.  This cost me about 10 euros which is a fairly reasonable price, but sadly too expensive for me to feel like I could buy the other shades I like too!  Maybe I will purchase at least one of the others in the future but for now this eyeshadow stick is being used enough to make the purchase worthwhile.

Till next time :)

Twirlybirdie

High Street Mascara and Eyeliner

After having quite a spendy December and January I promised myself that I would keep to a tighter budget this month.  I wanted to buy a new mascara as the L'oreal Telescopic one I had been using was drying out a bit and I like to have more than one mascara on hand at a time.  I was determined to buy high street so went for a browse in our local department store.  One brand on sale here is called Manhattan, which when I looked it up is owned by the same company that produces Rimmel make-up.  I had noticed that some of their packaging was exactly the same, particularly their own version of the Rimmel Apocolips.  I quite like Rimmel products so I decided to check out a mascara from Manhattan as Rimmel is not so widely available here.
I took a look at all the brushes and settled on the Volcano Explosive Volume mascara as it had a nice big bristle brush, similar to brushes I have liked in the past.
I also wanted to try a liquid eyeliner again after not using liquid liner for ages in favour of eyeshadow or pen liner.  The reason I stopped using liquid liner was because it started to irritate the skin on my eyelids a little.  I was using the L'oreal Super Liner Eyeliner and loved it as it was so black, richly pigmented and easy to apply.  Possibly because I was wearing it everyday for many months I suddenly developed a slight reaction to it which was disappointing and unsurprisingly put me off liquid eyeliner for a while.
I decided I wanted to get back in on the liquid liner so I decided to opt for Lumene's Blueberry Liquid Liner which, with 90% natural ingredients, I am hoping wont irritate my skin.  I also chose it because of the applicator which is a tapered nib which I find easier to use than a thin brush.  The colour was a rich dark black, similar to the L'oreal one.

I've been using these on and off for about a week now.  The mascara when I first tested it out wasn't what I had expected it to be.  The bristles on the brush were much stiffer than what I had imagined and it turned out the formula was waterproof which I normally avoid because I can't be bothered with the hassle of trying to get it off.  Once I got the hang of it though I didn't mind and I'm sure the waterproofness will come in useful.
The liquid eyeliner has also been good.  I've been enjoying having liquid liner back in my life again and love the definition it gives my eyes.  No irritation so far either.  I'm wearing both the liner and mascara in the photo below.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening!  I feel like I could use an early night tonight,
till next time :)

Twirlybirdie

Berry Lipstick - Shopping My Stash

Hello!
 I hope you are having a lovely day.  I'm on my break between rehearsals and feeling pretty tired already.  Phew!  At the weekend I felt like I wanted to switch up my make-up look a little.  Berry lipstick shades always seem to become popular around this time of year.  I really want to try the dark berry lipstick shade that lots of people seem to be sporting at the moment, however I don't have anything quite like that right now so I shopped my stash at home for the most berry like shade I could find.

I came across a lipstick that was one of my faves for dressed up nights out in the past, but I haven't worn it for quite a while.  The lipstick is a Clinique one from their Colour Surge range (I'm not sure it exists any more).  It's shade name 'Berry Nugget' even has the word Berry in it.  It was brighter and pinker than what I'd had in mind but even so it still felt more autumn/ winter than the more fushia toned pinks I've been wearing lately.

I teamed it with brown eye shadow and brown eyeliner as I thought black liner might look too made up with such a strong lip in the day time.  I really liked the look.  I took a picture in my bathroom as the light is much better in there compared with the dull light coming from outside at the moment.

I successfully managed to 'shop my stash'!  I was pleased to find an old favourite lipstick and wear it in a new way.  Maybe this means I will be able to put off purchasing a new lipstick for a little while longer.....maybe.....

Till next time :)

Twirlybirdie

Hot Mama Blush by The Balm Review

Hello there!  It's been a busy week for me.  We're preparing for the premiere of a new show which means non stop rehearsals and late nights.  I realised it was time for a post!  This was something I bought recently in the sale.  I was hoping for Mary-Lou Manizer but they were all sold out so this was my compromise.
I do like the retro packaging and even though the cardboard compact feels somewhat flimsy there is an appeal to it's lightness.

The Hot Mama blush claims to be eye shadow as well as blush all in one, but this really isn't the sort of colour I would use as an eye shadow.  The shade looks like quite a dark peachy pink with a hint of shimmer in the compact. I applied this to my cheeks with a blusher brush and was surprised by the colour pay off.  I only really needed one swipe for the colour to show and I found the gold shimmer to be very visible on my cheekbones.  Pretty!  This is definitely a shade to go easy on if you have really pale skin like mine however I like how quick it is to apply because you only need one light application.

It does give a nice glow and I like looking a little healthier, particularly a the moment with the dreary weather.  I've been using this pretty frequently since I bought it so I'm guessing it's going to be a useful favourite.  I think the fact that the colour is slightly deeper and less pink than my other blushers is making it appealing for autumn.  Also the golden shimmer is making up for the lack of sun!  I realise I haven't taken a photo of it on my cheeks so I will have to get one up as soon as possible!

Till next time :)

Twirlybirdie

Topshop Gloss Ink In Sugar Rush

Hello there!  Ever since I bought Topshop Gloss Ink in Smitten I've been, well....smitten.  Ha, I had to.  Seriously though, I was so impressed with the staying power of the bright pink lip stain that I was determined to buy others.  I thought I needed a day/work version, something as long lasting and pretty but in a more natural shade.  Enter Sugar Rush.  The perfect everyday pink.

I love the shade.  It really is my natural lip shade but with a slightly more enhanced pink hue to them.  Plus the glossy-ness is quite nice.  The formula is really nice to apply using the soft doe foot applicator and it smells good too.  It smells super sweet which suits my taste fine, I mean it is called Sugar Rush after all!  It has a slightly gel like consistency which feels like it should be very sticky but isn't.

So far so good.  Unfortunately the down side of this shade is that it doesn't seem to have the lasting power of Smitten.  Maybe it's something to do with the high pigmentation of the colour of Smitten that means it still seems to be lingering on my lips even into the next day, but with Sugar Rush as soon as I had gone out for some lunch I needed to re-apply it.  The thing I loved most about the Gloss Ink was the lasting power so this was disappointing.  Maybe the other brighter shades will have the staying power of Smitten but Sugar Rush doesn't stain the lips as well.  Never mind though, I still love the shade and will just have to keep re-applying it for the time being!

Most Used Make-up Products Lately

Hello!  As autumn sneaks in I have been noticing myself using the same make-up products over and over the past couple of weeks.  I have been feeling glossy brown shadow and natural lips with a hint of pink.  Starting back at work after the summer holidays has been a struggle so I've been in need of hiding the dark bags under my eyes.

1.  Clinique All About Eyes Serum

I've been finding it difficult to wake-up in the mornings and like using this cooling roller ball under my eyes to reduce puffiness before applying concealer.  Honestly I have no idea if it actually works but it does feel nice.

2.  Maybelline Fit Me Concealer.

I have this in shade 20 which I think is slightly too dark for me but if I just dot a little bit of it on under my eyes and blend it out it looks fine.  It's a nice creamy consistency too.

3.  Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24hr in On and On Bronze

Nice shimmery metallic-y bronze.  Not too much of a stand out colour but adds some depth to my eyes and brings out the little bit of green I think I can see in them.  It does slide off my lids after a while but I exercise for a living so I think that's to be expected.  Autumnal, but light enough for daytime.

4.  Joik Red Wine Lipgloss

More of a nice lip balm than a gloss.  I like to put this on to soften my lips before adding colour over the top.

5. Topshop Gloss Ink in Sugar Rush

Very wearable natural pink.  Glossy on first application.  Does wear off though.  Looks natural and adds a subtle wash of colour to my deathly pale lips.

6.  Models Own Shading Brush

I've been using this to blend in my concealer under my eye and much prefer it to just dabbing it with my finger like I was before.

7.  Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh in my portable perfume bottle

Very useful for regular mid rehearsal spritzing.  The scent is fresh and not too overpowering for work.

So that's my list for now.  I'm sure my make-up tastes will get darker as it gets further in to darker and colder weather.  For now a nice subtle brown shadow and polished lips are easing me in.  Has the weather convinced you to change your make-up habits yet?

Birthday nails, BYS in Red Carpet

Hello there!

I hope your week has started off well.  I actually haven't had such a busy time recently so I've been trying to rest as there's a really busy couple of months coming up soon.  I already posted about some of my birthday presents.  I also got a few new polishes.  One of them was by BYS in the shade Red Carpet.  I decided to try this one first and was really impressed by the colour and the formula.  I put on two coats of this lovely dark red and a top coat and it was glossy and opaque.  My nails never normally last me long at all and it took this a few days to chip which surprised me.  It also seemed to dry relatively fast luckily as I'm a fidget.

I applied some Misslyn nail stickers which I had been given as a present for my birthday last year and haven't used up yet.  I really like the effect and I love the deep red colour with the rose gold of my ring.
I also got this cute set of Nails Inc Minis which I am looking forward to testing out once this nail varnish comes off.  It has it's own caviar base and top coat in the set which I've never tried before.

There's two pretty shades of pink: pastel and fuchsia, and a bright red.  I really want to try the fuchsia shade next!

Till next time :)

Twirlybirdie

Garnier BB cream Pure Active

Hello!

How are you?  I hope you had a nice day.  I recently wrote about the Garnier BB cream for sensitive skin which I loved but was put off using once I realised it contained parabens.  Then I saw that they had just brought out a new Pure Active anti-imperfections version which seemed to be paraben free!
I had ordered a new Bourjois foundation from ASOS so tried to resist buying this but my skin was being temperamental and it was taking ages to arrive so when I saw the BB cream on offer I decided to give it a go.

I like that this is designed for 'combination skin prone to imperfections' and contains 2% salicylic acid to help clear your skin as well as cover it.  There were only two shades available, medium and light and as my skin is quite pale I went for light.  I have used the shade 'light' in the other range of Garnier BB creams before but I found that this one was a bit too orange for my skin.  It's not too noticable if it's spread out quite thinly over my skin but I definitely noticed it more than when I used the Garnier BB cream for sensitive skin.

Maybe it's a coincidence but since I started using this my skin has cleared up quite a lot.  I've ended up using this more as a concealer and mixing it with the bourjois foundation which did eventually arrive and is quite a bit paler than this to lighten it up.  I quite like the idea that it is helping to fix the blemish as well as cover it up.  All in all I like the concept of this BB cream a lot but it would be great if it came in a paler shade as well.
I'm off to sleep now, I need an early night!
Till next time

Twirlybirdie :)

February Favourites: Make-up

Hello!

I hope you enjoyed my February favourite's for body care.  Here are the make-up products I've been enjoying recently.

On my lips I have been using the Joik red wine lip balm.  It's super light packaging makes it great to cart around in my bag.  I like it on it's own as a really smoothing balm or as a moisturising prep for lipstick.

The Lumene Natural Code lipstick in Crystal Rose I bought because it was really cheap in a sale.  It's turned out to be really useful as it's a pretty semi-sheer light pink colour which seems to work with any make-up look.  Many lipstick shades make me look drained but this seems to perk up my face in a subtle and easily wearable way.

The Balm Stainiac in Prom Queen has been neglected for a while but I recently re-discovered it when I was wanting a natural looking flush of colour to my cheeks or lips which be long lasting.  This does the job really well and the colour is very natural looking on me as long as I don't over do it.

Another pretty blush I've been using a lot is this pink blush from my Too Faced Glamour to Go palette.  It's a subtle blush with a hint of gold.  The shade is not too pink and when lightly applied is very natural looking .

So those are my February favourite's for make-up.  No eye make-up products but I've been experimenting using different eye shadows on most days so that's probably why I haven't narrowed down any favourites.

I hope you enjoyed this post!

Twirlybirdie :)

My first Feel Unique order! Maybelline Haul

Hi there!

I hope you're having a great weekend :).  I recently placed my first ever order with feelunique.com.  There is usually quite a big mark up on the price of cosmetics over here so sometimes it is cheaper to buy them online.  They have free worldwide shipping on orders over 10 pounds, although not all the items are available for shipping overseas.  Once I had found enough items of make-up I was wanting to purchase that met the free shipping amount I made my first order.

 The order arrived in this box which was quite a lot larger than the items inside!

The box was filled with these foam pieces which freak me out for some reason.  They just give me the shivers!

I ordered the Fit Me concealer in shade 02 and two Colour 24hr Tattoo eye shadows from Maybelline in the shades Rose Gold and Bronze on Bronze.

I'm really looking forward to testing these beauties out!  Reviews will be coming soon.
Over all I'm happy with my first experience of ordering from Feel Unique and will probably be ordering from them again in the future!

Twirlybirdie :)

Garnier BB cream

Hello!

I'm still enjoying my chilled out week.  I wore white to work for ballet class today and was told I looked like a bride!  I hope I'm not going to be walking down the aisle in a white leotard and cut off tights but well you never know.....
I'm not really a foundation person.  I just don't like the feel of something thick on my skin and my skin is really sensitive.  Most of the time my skin is quite clear and if I have a blemish I just use some concealer on it.  A while ago I decided that I would give a BB cream a go as they seemed like they would be lighter and I liked the idea of having a more even complexion.  I went for the Garnier version because it was a good price and I saw it was paraben free.
I liked the way this looked on my skin, however I just didn't end up wearing it that often because I still didn't like the feel of it.  It felt a bit waxy on my skin and if I wore it everyday I felt like it would break me out, so I ended up using it for my stage make-up base instead.
I bought a second box of this product when it was on offer again and decided this time to buy the sensitive skin version.  I recently decided to give this a go as my skin had been having some trouble and I fancied more coverage.

I actually much preferred this product to the original one as the formula felt a bit wetter and less waxy and the colour of it seemed a bit less orange.  This formula contains calming allantoin and mineral pigments and it really did feel calming on my skin.  I would use it under my eyes and I felt it did make the under eye circles less visible.  I swear my skin would look even better at the end of the day after I'd been wearing this than when I had first put it on in the morning.  I see there's salicylic acid listed in the ingredients so maybe that's why.

After a couple of weeks of using this I read the ingredients properly and realised that this version of the BB cream has parabens in it!  Arghhh.  I guess I had just assumed it would be paraben free because the original formula was.  It's a shame because before I read that I had really liked using this.  It has a very sheer coverage but you can definitely see a difference to your skin when it's on.  I find it makes the skin tone more even.  You still need concealer though to hide any obvious red spots.  If you're not bothered about using parabens on your skin this is really nice stuff!  Now I'm going to be on the lookout for something similar that's paraben free.  Any suggestions?

My current stage make-up essentials

Hello,

I hope you are having a good start to the week.  I went to the chiropractor yesterday for the first time ever.  I was a bit nervous as I was having my neck done.  It cracked LOADS, it was quite intense and I think I squealed a couple of times after some extremely loud cracks.  I think it did some good though because my neck tension seems to have dispersed quite a lot.  I have four more sessions so am looking forward to seeing how I get on with that.
I thought I'd do a post of some of the make-up products I've been wearing rather frequently for stage.  Some of these products I use for day to day activities too but less intensely.

 I also use different eye shadows and blushers depending on the role but the products here are current stage make-up staples.

The Garnier BB cream in Light would probably surprise a lot of people who perform on stage as traditionally very thick foundation is considered a necessity.  I find if I apply the BB cream with a brush I get enough coverage.  This is fine for me when my skin is quite good.  I use a concealer as well to hide any redness from blemishes and under my eyes but I prefer this to heavy thick foundation which I can't stand and makes my skin itch.
The Art Deco eyebrow powder is good for day or performance use.  I just apply it more heavily for a show than I would during the day.  It is quite a dark powder for me so it shows well on stage.  For normal day wear I just brush it lightly through my brows.  I also set it with a brown eyebrow gel.
The Lumene Rasberry Miracle lip sorbet in Full of Berries is a bright red very highly pigmented rich colour which is why I started using it for the stage.  I feel like the brightness of the colour lifts my face and my otherwise quite pale complexion.
For eye-liner I like to use the Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in 01 Black.  I originally bought this for normal day use but found it more suited to stage make-up.  Unlike my mornings when I'm in a rush I can take my time to apply it for a performance using the little brush.  It's quite an intense black and is a thick formula which lasts well making it good for the stage.
We can get our make-up done by great make-up artists at the theatre but I really enjoy doing it myself and using my own products.  I'm pretty sure that wearing make-up for performances is at least partly responsible for my obsession with make-up!

Till next time :)

Twirlybirdie

Topshop Gloss Ink in Smitten

Happy Saturday!  It's still a work day for me but I'm happy knowing I have a lie in to look forward to tomorrow.  The weather here has warmed up quite a lot although it's still quite overcast.  I'm still feeling chilly enough to be enjoying my hot tea in the evening and lighting candles though.  Sometimes when it's dark and gloomy a bright lip colour is needed to brighten the day.  When I was at home for Christmas I picked up a Topshop Gloss Ink in Smitten.  Well what can I say, I was....smitten.  Haha, sorry.

This is one of the brightest lip sticks I've ever owned!  Not only is it super bright, highly pigmented colour, but it manages to be glossy as well.  I've never known anything glossy to stay on my lips for longer than say 1 hour but the first day I wore it out I popped in to a cafe for a drink with my Mum.  After drinking my coffee I got out the Gloss Ink expecting it to be desperately in need of re-applying, when what did I see in the compact mirror?  It was still almost perfect!

I genuinely couldn't believe it was still on my lips and it made me really want to buy more different shades to try out.  I haven't got round to that ( maybe after a few more pay days!) but I have worn this out a few more times.  I would say that it is gorgeous and glossy but watch out because it does transfer!  You don't want to accidentally smudge it with your hand and end up staining your face.  Other than that I would really love to try this in a more neutral shade for general day time activities. maybe the light pink Sugar Rush?.  

I hope you enjoy your weekend!

Twirlybirdie

My New Art Deco Eye Shadows

Hello!

How are you?  I hope you are having a good day!  Continuing with the theme of sales shopping I picked up some Art Deco Eye Shadows in the sale recently which were a bargain at 2 euros 90 cents.  I've always fancied having one of their compacts with the magnetic holding strips so you can put in whatever colours you fancy but they were a bit expensive.  Luckily they had one in the sale so I bought it to put my new eye shadows in.

I bought shades 13, 289 and 227.  I have to admit I was a bit disappointed that the box didn't even come with an eye shadow brush.  I was also fooled by the blurb on the back which stated that it was for 'eye shadows and blusher of your choice'.  So I assumed I could fit eye shadows and a blusher in there so that there would be two compartments.  That was not the case you can use this for eye shadows or for blusher so it's a good job I decided not to buy a blusher then as well!

The colours seem quite richly pigmented apart from the purple-pink one which takes a little work but is subtle and pretty, perfect for me for work.

I'm thinking of taking the pink shade out of the palette and replacing it with my Art Deco eye brow shadow so that I have a nice palette of browns.  The palette is quite light which is nice as it will be comfortable to carry around in my handbag.
I really like the idea of having a compact like this where you can choose your own content.  The refillable magnet system is really clever.
Have you tried any Art Deco things before?

Till next time

Twirlybirdie :)

Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for eyes- Lots o' Latte

Hello!

I'm enjoying my Sunday off work, the first for a while as we've been performing recently every Sunday.  I hurt my neck a couple of days ago which was quite stressful so today consisted of a trip to an out of town shopping center to buy a foam pillow to see if that will help.  I've been pulling the muscles in my neck quite frequently in the last two to three months so need to try something to stop it happening.  I'll let you know how I get on!

When I was home for Christmas late Christmas Eve I was left on my own waiting for my family to turn up to Debenhams.  My sister had forgotten to phone me to let me know they'd taken a little detour on their way, typical!  I ended up wondering around the beauty section for so long I started to feel like I was looking a little weird and had better purchase something!  Haha.  I managed to test out quite a few Clinique products in that time and really took a liking to the colour of the Lots o' Latte Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for eyes.

I really like the packaging of chubby sticks, they're really easy to use.  I've also been obsessing over neutral colours I can wear to work recently and this fit in with that really well.

The colour comes out a little darker on these images than it does in natural light (of which there isn't much around these parts lately).  It's a nice soft wash of colour that lasts a while.  It has a slight shimmer to it.  It does sit in the crease after a bit but all my cream eye shadows seem to do that.
I'm happy with this and can see it getting a lot of use.  I've bought a few new eye shadows recently as I seem to be going through a bit of an eye shadow plus mascara faze in place of my old eyeliner plus mascara routine.
I would love it if you would subscribe to my blog!  You can use one of the links in the right hand sidebar.  I hope you enjoy the rest of you Sunday :)

Twirlybirdie!

Eyebrows with Art Deco powder and Lumene brow gel

Hello!

It's my weekend.  I've got a slightly more extended weekend than I was supposed to have because one of the guys in our company hurt his foot so the show we were meant to be performing on Sunday was cancelled.  It's a relief in a way as this is the only weekend we have to move out of our apartment.

Asides from that it is a very grey day today.  It was dark by about 4.30 pm which I found pretty depressing.  I managed to have a nap as I was super sleepy and now I feel a bit brighter.  I really fancy a bit of reading and chilling and just general snuggling.  Today I popped in to the shops and sprayed myself with the tester for the Prada Candy perfume which I'm in love with right now.  It's a very rich warm and sweet scent which I love for winter time.  I wouldn't wear it in the summer when I prefer a fresher scent like Lacoste Pour Femme but for winter time this sweet scent is warming and perfect.  I can't really afford to buy it right now though so I guess spraying the tester in the shops every now and then will have to do for now!

I thought that I would write about some more new make-up products I recently purchased.  I find it quite strange that I love make-up products so much when most of the time I actually hardly wear any.  I find that as my job involves me sweating and exercising there's not much point dolling myself up for that.  I'm so used to not wearing a lot that I feel self concious if I wear more than usual at work in the day.  I try to wear more at the weekends but even then more than a little feels strange.  One area I quite like to wear make-up on though is my eyebrows.  I find doing them really makes my face look more alive and I still feel quite natural.  I think it makes a real difference to my face more than doing any other one area.

Normally I use an eye pencil and just pencil them in a bit.  I decided to have a go with some eyebrow powder and found this Art Deco eyebrow powder on offer recently so I decided to give it a go.  It's quite a dark shade but my eyebrows are naturally quite dark and prefer to use a slightly darker colour on them.

This eyebrow powder comes with a little angled brush which is useful for applying the powder.  I found it quite strange to use at first though as the bristles on the brush are really stiff.  I ended up just having to dab the tip of the brush on the top of the powder to not take too much powder on the brush and then stroke it through my brows.

You can see in the pictures that the shadow is quite dark.  There were three shades in the shop and I went for the one that was in the middle in terms of darkness.  I quite like dark brows at the moment though,it suits my winter mood.

I then use the Lumene Brow Gel to keep my eyebrows in place.  I like this because it's a brown gel which adds a little bit of colour when I use it on it's own.  Also it doesn't start to look manky like a clear gel does when powder from the eyebrows gets on the mascara wand when you use it over the powder.

I like the dark brows with neutral make-up.  I think they make my eyes stand out more.
Do you have a particular area of your face you like to wear make-up on more than any other?

I think a warm snuggly bath is in order!

Until next time

Twirlybirdie :) xxx