MAC Heavenly Creatures haul: Center of the Universe MSF and Meteroic Cremesheen Glass

Hey ladies!

I hope you've all had a lovely Monday :-)

Recently, I hauled the latest MAC collection, Heavenly Creatures.

I've never bought anything from a Limited Edition MAC collection before so this was a first for me!

I had my eye on LOADS from the collection but in the end I picked up just two items.

Here's what I hauled...

Cremesheen Glass in Meteoric - RRP £17.00

The first thing I bought was a limited edition lipgloss in the shade Meteoric.

It's my first MAC lipgloss so I wasn't really sure to expect. It features my favoured doe foot applicator - but I noticed there's not as much product in the tube as I was expecting from the size of it.

Meteoric is described as a light coral with gold micro shimmer. It's perfect for me as I'm a huge fan of coral lip products, but I wasn't sure about the gold shimmer.

Lips before and after:

Luckily, the coral micro shimmer wasn't immediately noticeable on the lips, instead it just looks like the coral is glistening in the light.

[My recent haul at MAC Westfield and my MAC FOTD!]

Swatches:

(left without flash, right with flash)

Top: Stila Lip Glaze in Raspberry

Middle: MAC Cremesheen Glass in Meteoric

Bottom: Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Gloss

The only other two coral lip gloss products I own are swatched above and I'm quite pleased they're all very different as it justifies my purchase! Haha.

I found Meteoric to have about 3 hours wear before it started to fade, and it has a semi-opaque finish. It has the lovely, vanilla scent (like the lipsticks) - it's just a shame that there's such little product in the tube.

[MAC make-up haul!]

Mineralize Skinfinish in Center of the Universe - RRP £21.50

The next thing I picked up was this limited edition Mineralize Skinfinish in Center of the Universe.

Like the lipgloss, I didn't own a MAC Mineralize Skinfinish before so I had no idea what to expect at all.

From what I've learnt from using this product and from what I've read online, MAC's Mineralize Skinfinishes are supposed to be used as a final highlighting product.

Centre of the Universe is described as coral with gold shimmer. It features different swirls of gold, bronze and orange, that blend together to create a goldy brown shade.

Swatches:

(left without flash, right with flash)

Top: GOSH Giant Sun Powder

Middle: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Center of the Universe

Bottom: ELF Blush in Peachykeen

I compared the Mineralize Skinfinish to what I thought were two similar bronzers in my collection, but I found Center of the Universe to have much more of a shimmer than the other two, which were much more matte. It also looks peachier in colour compared to the others, more like a rose gold.

I found Center of the Universe to look like a glistening gold/orange on the skin, and I like to use it as a bronzer type highlight, brushing it up along my cheekbones and temples to create a sun-kissed glow. It lasted around 5-6 hours before fading and it's VERY pigmented - you only need a very light hand!

[MAC Pro Longwear Foundation + 190 Foundation Brush review!]

FOTD featuring MAC Heavenly Creatures Collection:

MAC Fix+

Estee Lauder Doublewear Concealer

MAC Studio Fix Concealer

Bourjois 10 Hour Sleep Effect Foundation (applied with ELF Stippling Brush)

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Center of the Universe

MAC Blush in Harmony

MAC Painterly Paint Pot

Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid Eyeliner

Avon Color Trend Kajal Stick

Clinique High Lengths Mascara

MAC Cremesheen Glass in Meteoric

What have you hauled from MAC recently?

Let me know!

Love,

Sophia 

xo

A lovely gift: NARS LE Blush & Bronzer Trio in Orgasm, Laguna, Albatross and FOTD!

Hey ladies!

How are you all? I hope you've had a lovely weekend! If yours is anything like mine - it's gone far too quick, right?! It's been non-stop!

Anyways I thought I'd share with you a lovely gift that I received recently. It's the NARS Blush & Bronzing Trio that my other half treated me to for our anniversary. Needless to say I was very happy with my gift! :-D haha. I bought the NARS Blush & Bronzing Duo a couple of years ago, but I lost it, and I was missing my Laguna fix!

Outer packaging:

There's something about the NARS packaging that just screams luxe! To me, NARS is absolutely a luxury, and so I love opening it and seeing the NARS logo. 

Inner packaging:

The inner packaging of the trio is different to the duo. The duo is your standard flip top bronzing case, but this is a zip up material compartment. I actually really love this, it's something a bit different - and very sturdy!

Inner shades:

From L-R: Orgasm, Albatross, Laguna

It features 3 of NARS' most infamous shades - Orgasm blush, Albatross highlight, and Laguna bronzer. You may be interested in reading my Massive ELF haul part 1 - Make-up and FOTD! post, where I compared the NARS Bronzing/Blush duo to the ELF Bronzing/Blush duo. They are remarkably similar! :-)

Swatches:

(top without flash, bottom with flash)

From L-R: Orgasm, Albatross, Laguna

(excuse my hairy arms!) As you can see, Orgasm is a peachy toned pink with gold shimmer.  Albatross is a striking white shade with white shimmer, and Laguna is a tan brown shade with faint gold shimmer.

More swatches:

(top without flash, bottom with flash)

From L-R: Orgasm, Albatross, Laguna

These swatches are more heavy handed, but it shows just how pigmented the products truly are! 

FOTD:

FACE: MAC Fix+, Benefit Boi-ing Concealer (02 Medium), Bourjois 10 Hour Sleep Hour Effect Foundation (52 Rose Clair - applied with an ELF Foundation Brush), NARS Blush & Bronzing Trio, MAC Fix+

EYES: Soap & Glory SUPERCAT on top lid, Avon Color Trend Kajal Stick on bottom waterline, CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara. Mac Brow Pencil in Dirty Blonde to fill in brows.

LIPS: NARS LE Lipstick in Mayflower

To me, the quality of these shades are just second to none. Orgasm is so lovely and you need just one swipe on an angled brusher brush for rosy cheeks. Laguna is the perfect bronzer for my NC15 skin. It comes out quite dark, so I find I need to go over it again with a large powder brush to really blend it in. I apply Albatross with my fingers, and wipe a little over my brow bone, bridge of my nose and upper temple. 

You can view the NARS Blush & Bronzer Trio on the NARS website. It retails for £39.00.

Have you tried NARS Orgasm, Albatross or Laguna before? Are you a fan?!

Let me know!

Love,

Sophia

xo

Benefit Girl Meets Pearl, Posie Tint and High Beam reviews and FOTD!

Hey lovelies!

I hope you've all had a fab Tuesday! Is anyone getting Domino's Two for Tuesdays? I could kill for a Domino's right now! Ha.

Now I don't know about you guys but I'm certainly stretched for pennies at the mo. That doesn't exactly go hand in hand with wanting to try loads of new beauty products! But I've found an innovative way around that... Buy sample sizes!

(From L-R: Benefit High Beam/Girl Meets Pearl/Posie Tint)

If I fall in love with it, or run out of product, I'll think about buying the full-sized version but until I'm 100% sure I want it, it's a waste of money really!
I bought all these Benefit samples on eBay for about £2-3 e, all you have to do is eBay 'Benefit minis' and LOADS come up!

Girl Meets Pearl

Liquid pearl for face

I've been absolutely craving this product ever since it was released! I swear by That Gal brightening primer in the evenings, and so I figured this primer would be a great addition to my family of primers! I envisioned it making my skin look luminous and radiant, like liquid pearl!

The sample size is only 7.5ml, which as you can see from the picture below, is pretty tiny!

Here's some swatches (left without flash, right with):

It's a pinky coloured liquid that appears iridescent when blended out. I have to admit it did not work AT ALL for me as a primer. It contained SO MUCH shimmer that it just looked unnatural all over my skin. It changed the colour of my skin to pinky and it just didn't work for me. So I gave it a bash as a highlighter instead and it worked MUCH better! :-)

Girl Meets Pearl as highlight. Love!

Girl Meets Pearl (as primer) - 2*

Girl Meets Pearl (as highlight) - 4*

Posie Tint

Poppy-pink tinted lip & cheek stain

I've had my eye on Posie Tint for a while, but I've restrained from buying it as I really hate the consistency of Benetint and I figured they would be the same. I had high hopes for Benetint but I was bitterly disappointed as it's just so watery. However, the consistency of Posie Tint is COMPLETELY different! (in a good way)

Again the sample size is pretty small (just 2.5ml) but provided you don't use it every day, it should last!

Posie Tint swatches (left without flash, right with):

I don't know why they describe it as poppy pink because it really isn't. It's a very bright, almost bubblegum pink, that blends out into a 'flush' of pink. I love the consistency, it's not runny at all, and so easy to blend! I don't often wear blusher but I can definitely see myself wearing this cream blusher! I wouldn't wear this as a lip colour though, I prefer more of a natural look to my lips most of the time!

Posie Tint (as blush) - 4*

High Beam

Luminescent complexion enhancer

OK now this is a product I've been lusting after for many a year! My friend Becky had it at uni and I was always well jel! I guess I couldn't justify buying it when I already have a heap of highlighters!

High Beam is the same sample size as Posie Tint (2.5g) but luckily you only need the TINY amount!

High Beam swatches (left without flash, right flash):

High Beam is used as a highlight, and highlight only! It's made for that job and it's absolutely wonderful at it!

(High Beam as highlight)

I simply added a TINY amount to my cheek bones, temple and bridge of my nose and it instantly attracts the light to create a luminous complexion. It's SO natural looking, perfect for wearing during the day to give that 'glowy' look!

High Beam (as highlight) - 5*

FOTD:

FACE: Benefit Girl Meets Pearl as primer, Stila Oil-Free Tinted Moisturiser (01 Medium), Benefit Some Kind-a Gorgeous Foundation Faker (02 Medium), Benefit Boi-ing Concealer (02 Medium), YSL Touche Eclat (#1), Benefit Posie Tint as blush, Benefit High Beam as highlight.

EYES: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (Original), Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow (RSVP) all over lid; TOPSHOP Mousse e/s (Glint) both applied using a No7 lip brush, Soap & Glory SUPERCAT liner on top lid, Avon Color Trend Kajal Stick (Black) on lower waterline, 2 coats of CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara (Black).

EYEBROWS: Mac Eyebrow Pencil (Dirty Blonde).

LIPS: Benefit Her Glossiness lipgloss (Who Are You Wearing?)

I used all of the mini products I mentioned, but I would definitely swap the Girl Meets Pearl from primer to highlight as it just looked so glittery as a primer! I also forgot to add bronzer (I say forgot, I thought it would make the other products stand out more) - NEVER again! I look like death!

What Benefit products are on your lust list? Tempted to just buy sample sizes instead?

Let me know!

Love,

Sophia

xo

A few new Fragrance Direct / No7 products!

Hey loves!

Now I know you know how much I love Fragrance Direct. In fact, I just blogged about my recent Rimmel nail varnish purchase from them - I just can't stay away! Their prices are just SO cheap! I bought a couple of items from there recently along with something from No7 with a spare £5 off voucher I had.

(l-r: Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Ambre Rose, Bourjois Illuminating Blush Creme & No7 Perfect Lips Liner in Nude)

First up, here's what I bought from No7...

It's the Perfect Lips Liner in the shade Nude. It retails for £7.50 but it was only £2.50 with the voucher, bargain! I had my eye on this product after seeing it featured on celebrity make-up artist Lisa Eldridge's blog. It definitely lives up to the hype; it's soft and creamy, and the perfect nude shade. I use it whenever I'm wearing a nude/pale pinky lipstick (I've got a red/bright pink one already for those colours). This is fab!

Here's what's currently on my No7 wishlist...

• Another Exceptional Definition Mascara in Brown/Black RRP £12.50. I bought this quite a while ago and using it everyday has taken its toll on it! This is my holy grail brown mascara without a day. It's like my eyelashes but better. Read my review here.
• Cheek Tint Blusher in Peach/Rose Silk RRP £9 each. I've swatched both these colours instore and they feel/look amazing!
• Silky Leg Oil RRP £11. I love the sound of this, I'll use it just before I go out for a sexy sheen! I've just seen it's currently sold out online, noo!
• Triple Protection Tinted Moisturiser RRP £12. Just because.

Hurry up No7 vouchers, I'm not paying full price!!!

Check out my other No7 hauls here and here.

Meanwhile, here's what I picked up from Fragrance Direct...

It's the Bourjois Illuminating Blush Creme, which was only £1.99!

I use it as a highlight on my cheekbones, it's lovely and creamy and has a slight glimmer to it, I was surprised by how small it was but it's perfect for popping in your handbag!

Lastly, I bought the Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Ambre Rose for £1.99 again! I'd read about it on Lollipop26's beauty blog (now Buy Now, Blog Later) and had to have it :)

Here it is without flash...

and with flash...

It's a creamy pastel pink, mmm!

Here's my lips before...

and after...

I am seriously in love with this lipstick. It's so soft and creamy and perfect for daytime wear, it's lovely and subtle. For £1.99 you can't beat the price either! Woop woop!

(from top-bottom: Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Ambre Rose, Bourjois Illuminating Blush Creme & a swipe of No7 Perfect Lips Liner in Nude)

FOTD including all products...

I'm really pleased with these bargain products, you can't beat Fragrance Direct for cosmetics at seriously low prices! (and no, I'm not affiliated with them LOL). Did you guys know they sell MAC now? I've got my eyes on some of their eyeshadows, yum!

Shop Fragrance Direct here and Boots No7 here.

What are your thoughts on Fragrance Direct and/or No7? Would you recommend any of their products? If you haven't tried either of these brands/stockists before, I would seriously advise you do :)!

Love,

Sophia

xo

My first ELF haul!

Hey everyone!

I feel like a right loser, I must be the only person in the blogosphere not to have tried ELF before! I guess I always buy my make-up on the high street, whereas I mainly buy my clothes online! But, having read a few blogs, I knew I exactly what I wanted to order and ELF were offering free delivery (it was Easter weekend) and I jumped at the chance to try some new make-up :) I only spent about £20 overall.

Well, I have to say, it's rather mixed reviews! I've sectioned it off into the standard line, Studio line and Mineral line. I won't bore you with what ELF say about the products because you can always look that up on the ELF website :) Here goes...

WARNING: PICTURE HEAVY!

Standard

All Over Color Stick in Pink Lemonade - £1.50

So impressed with this product, amazing value for £1.50! I would honestly compare it to my Nars - Orgasm mini multiple that I bought in my first ever Nars haul. It's literally an exact dupe! It's a lovely glistening raspberry pink, perfect for the apples of the cheeks!

ELF All Over Cover Stick in Pink Lemonade:
Nars Orgasm Mini Multiple:
They're exactly the same weight as well! (4g)
(ELF - left, NARS - right)

Here's Pink Lemonade on my cheeks...
I love it! If you have £1.50 spare (and let's be honest, who doesn't?) you have to get this! You won't be disappointed, and I've heard you can wear it on your lips as well, double whammy!

Duo Eye Shadow Cream in Butter Pecan - £1.50

I picked up this eyeshadow cream after reading Muhsine rave about it on her blog (Bubblegarm). However I was really unimpressed with it as an eyeshadow.

Here's my eyelids before...
and after...
Can you see why I was disappointed? It really did nothing for me, it left a very slight, thin glaze but nothing really, and that was using both shades.

HOWEVER...

It works really well as a highlighter :) I applied it to my cheek bone (below)

So it's not a total waste of £1.50! It is sucky as an eyeshadow, though.

Studio

Stipple Brush - £3.50

I've never used a stipple brush before but I bought this to apply my cream blusher with (namely my GOSH one which I love!) When I applied it without the blush on one cheek, and with the brush on the other cheek, it looked exactly the same to me. That might be because I'm not using it right, tips please bloggers?

Makeup Mist & Set - £3.50

I was definitely expecting a bit more from the Studio line because it's double the price of the standard line. However I'm not entirely sold with this product. Supposedly a dupe of the infamous Max Fix+, this kind of just left my face feeling wet and I had to rub it in and then it didn't really do anything. I will keep trying because I would love a product that helps to keep my make-up on all day, who wouldn't!

Blush in Peachykeen - £3.50

Before you give up entirely on the Studio line, you have to read this! Probably my favourite product of the haul, I have nothing to compare this to because I don't own any peach blushers at the mo, but just check out the picture below...
How much do you love it? It's SO pigmented, it only needed a quick swipe and that's it! Done. It's such a LOVELY golden peach colour, it's worth way more than its £3.50 price tag! YAY! :) I can definitely see this becoming my summer blush staple!

Mineral

Lipstick in Nicely Nude - £3.50

I had my eye on LOADS of the mineral lipsticks but kept changing my mind which one to get (ripe rose/natural nymph/rosy raisin/runway pink, etc) as they looked so different on all the swatch pictures I found online! Nicely Nude was O/S online so I figured it must be popular and gave it a shot.

Here it is without flash...
and with flash...
I would say it looks *more* like the without flash pic, but it looks nothing like that on the lips really!

Here's my lips before...
and after...

It definitely lives up to its reputation in terms of application and moisture, it's so lovely and soft, a dream to apply! ELF describe it as 'A sheer warm pink with a hint of gold shimmer' and I would definitely say it's not the most 'out there' shade but at the end of the day I just wanted a nice, natural shade I could wear during the day and I think Nicely Nude lives up to that :) I prefer nudey pinks on my lips anyway so this is right up my street, but I would say it's more of a tinted lipbalm than a lipstick. I will definitely be trying out more of the Mineral lipsticks in the future though :)

Nicely Nude on the lips...

:)

Lipgloss in Au Naturale - £3.00

Another disappointment unfortunately, I hated the consistency of this :( (almost wrote constituency lol, too much talk of local elections!) This lipgloss is thick and gloopy and just feels uncomfortable on the lips.ELF describe their mineral glosses as 'a soft and silky formula that glides onto lips to create a luscious shine without feeling sticky or tacky' however I would completely disagree with that (based on my experience) as it just leaves your lips feeling completely sticky and tacky!

Here's my lips before...

and after...

It's just a bit 'gold sparkly' for me I'm afraid. I wanted a nice natural lipgloss to wear during the day, hence choosing the lipgloss named 'au naturele' but this just doesn't do it for me...

Au Naturele on the lips...

:(

IN CONCLUSION...

If you buy ONE thing from ELF, make it the All Over Color Stick in Pink Lemonade, I think it would suit any complexion and it's a BARGAIN at £1.50!

If you love peach blush or fancy trying it out, get the Studio Blush in Peachykeen, it'll be perfect for the next couple of months especially!

and definitely try out the Mineral lipsticks if you get a chance, and pick up Nicely Nude if you like a sheer natural coverage :)

but skip the rest!

Next, I want to try their Studio Lip Conditioners (I've got my eye on Mellow Melon!), HD Powder and Eyebrow Kit! What do you think?

Love,

Sophia

xo