Kevyn Aucoin : The Sculpting Powder in Medium : Swatches and Review

This is one of the original contouring powders- it's a classic.

I am not into contour kits- I have never seen the appeal of the Anastasia Beverly Hills contour kit because I simply don't need 6 shades and I know at least 3 shades won't suit me.

I do have the Smashbox contour pencils (review here) and that is as far as I go with the contour thing- I feel at tops you only need 3 shades- the ashy contour for definition, the bronzer for warmth and a highlighter to lift your features.

I am not an everyday contour sort of girl and to be honest I am so bored of those excessive contouring videos where people slather themselves in bright yellow or warm brown. I don't think it looks natural, but if that's your thing- please carry on.

However, if your like me and enjoy every now and then adding a bit of extra definition, let me introduce you to one my favorite contours of all time; the Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder in Medium.

This is a very ashy shade so it is perfect for creating that shadow under the cheek bone.

In photos this looks fantastic, but for everyday wear you need to take your time blending otherwise it can look muddy on the skin.

I have found the best way to use this is to first powder the section of you face where you want to contour with any matte translucent powder to make sure there are no excess oils on your face for this powder to cling to, as if it does cling it is a right bugger to blend out.

You can see from these swatches that this is a taupe brown- perfect for a shadow!

This is very pigmented, so powdering before hand and blending is absolute key.

I like to use my Mac 168 brush to carve the cheek bones out and blend, but if I need extra help blending I will go in with my Charlotte Tilbury Powder and Sculpt Brush.

Bottom Line : Kevyn Aucoin just hits all the marks for me...I have his highlighter in Starlight (reviewed here) and that is a peachy shimmery dream and I have swatched so many of his eye shadows and they are so creamy and pigmented I am dying to get my hands on a few.

I know KA is a high end expensive brand, but I do feel like it is worth it- you get what you pay for. 

This is a fantastic, matte ashy contour that really does give the cheek bones an extra boost.

This is in my top 2 favorite contours- the other being the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow - I am more than happy to do a review if anyone is interested!

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Because Charlotte told me to....

I was lucky enough to meet Charlotte Tilbury last November in the Manchester Selfridges when she was launching her Christmas collection.
If you have been reading this blog for some time, you will be aware that I am totally in love with Charlotte and her brand- I have loved pretty much all of her products, everything about them just speaks to me.
I was really excited to meet her, so after she had demonstrated her new collection, I joined the que to say hello and have a picture taken.
She's so cool! And totally and utterly lovely. I am an even bigger fan now.

Just before the picture as taken, she said I was the  'Dolce Vita', the 'Golden Goddess' and the 'Rock Chick'.
If Charlotte herself is telling you what would suit you- you get it!

I already had the first two and I had been longing for the Rock Chick palette for some time, but I kept dithering as I never know how well grays will suit me.

When Charlotte said it, that was it, I immediately marched over to the counter to purchase it, and I am so glad that I did.

You can read my reviews on The Sophisticate here and The Vintage Vamp here, I love them so much and I know I keep saying how they're my favorites...but I just adore this one as well.
It's hard to pick a favorite when they all offer such different looks. Honestly it's like Sophie's Choice, I can't pick.

I hadn't worn this in a little while, but I wore this yesterday and I forgot how sexy and smokey it is.

Honestly, if you want a sultry, smoldery eye- this is life.

From the top left going clockwise we have the : 

Prime :  pale grey with a slight frosted finish

Enhance :  shimmering taupe grey

Smoke :  matte dark grey

Pop :  glittery taupe grey

My favorite way to wear this is to put the prime all over the lid and on the inner corner to brighten, layer the enhance shade on the mobile lid and use the smoke shade on the outer corner, through the crease and smoke out on the lower lashline.

The key to making this really smolder, is to apply black liquid liner and wing it out slightly and then to give  you the authentic Rock Chick look, use the smoke shade on a smudger brush and smoke over the black liner.
Just try it, it looks amazing.
The final step is the glitter shade- it feels like a cream to touch, I rub my finger in (its very pigmented so I make sure i'm not too rough with it) and then I put this all over the lid.
The glitter shade is just on another level.
It creates a intense wet look sheen to the eye.
Of course you can press it gently and apply a subtle wash of shimmer on the eye, but I love a metallic wet looking eye.
This doesn't fade or crease- sometimes I notice a couple of rogue glitters on my cheek but I just brush them off.

L-R: Prime,Enhance, Smoke and Pop

Prime, Enhance, Smoke and Pop

I think the best way to wear this eye look is with clean skin, a chiseled cheek, a subtle champagne highlight, no blush- which I know is weird coming from the blush fiend, but I think it can look over done- if you can't go without blush, just go for something neutral that won't detract from the look.
Then you need a good smudging of black kohl - lining your top and bottom waterline and then finishing off with your  perfect nude lip, which for me is either CT Penelope Pink or Nars Barbra (see Babs in action here)

I was never into grays, but this palette has converted me

Out of the 3 Charlotte Tilbury quads I've reviewed so far, which one is your favorite?

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Kevyn Aucoin Starlight : The Summer Highlighter

I'll admit I haven't tried a huge amount from Kevyn Aucoin, but what I have tried, I have loved and the Celestial Powder in Starlight is no exception. 

I have had my eyes on the original Celestial Powder in Candlelight for some time which is a pale, champagne gold colour, however, the highlighters I already have seem to be in such a similar colour family I didn't know if I could justify it, such as the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow and The Balms Mary Lou Manizer (you can see a swatch of Mary Lou here) .

Candlelight just looks so beautifully subtle and more muted than Mary-Lou.

However, when I saw Starlight I thought I could definitely justify it as it is quite unlike what I already have!

Starlight is a gorgeous peach/pink colour. 

I'm not talking pink like benefits High Beam (which is too pink for my tastes) it definitely has some warmer peach in there. 

 When I first swatched this in SpaceNK, I could believe how pigmented and glowy it was.

It was so smooth to the touch and the colour just screamed summer.

 There are more shimmer particles in this than Candlelight, but it is not obvious.

I love wearing this on the tops of my cheek bones, sweeping up in a C-shape near the ends of my eyebrows and on the cupids bow. 

I think if you are going for that summer bronzey look and you want a highlighter that adds a warmer peachy glow a oppose to a champagne, I think you will really like this. 

I have been loving adding a touch of this over my Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel. 

If you are familiar with the Mary-Lou Manizer, you will be aware that you have to be very, very careful to make sure you don't get too much on your brush and you have to make sure you really tap off any excess- you wont have that issue here.

This never looks metallic like an over application of Mary-Lou can do. 

I apply this with my Smashbox Fan Brush for a lovely peachy sheen that can be built up if needed.

I know I will be getting a lot of use out of this this summer.

I am all about the warm corals/peaches/bronzes - nothing looks better with a tan so I know this little guy will be my new summer fling.

Have any of you tried the Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Powders?

Do you reckon I can justify Candlelight?

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Worth The Hype : Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronze Universel Bronzing Makeup Base

This product has been around for a few years now and has really amassed a cult following.

I have always been intrigued by it and yes I have seen rave reviews, but the colour when swatched looked very warm and quite orangey so I didn't really know what to do with the thing. 

I'm not going to lie, I was pretty swayed by the gorgeous Chanel packaging and I was impressed by the smoothness of the bronzer, so I took the plunge.

However, after having it for a few months, I just didn't get it. 

I used to apply it after my foundation with  my Real Techniques Stippling Brush and just swirl it around and then work it into my cheeks and temples- where I would apply any other bronzer.
But it just looked far too warm and I couldn't get it to mesh with the skin.

However. 

NOW I get it. I flipping adore it, and I have not been able to stop using it.

What was I doing wrong? 

My application. For me, I cannot use a brush and I don't know why I didn't use my fingers- I love using fingers to melt products into my skin, why didn't I try sooner??

What I do now is, after applying my foundation, concealer but before powder, I rub my clean ring finger into the product, when I have a fairly decent amount on my finger tip, I blend onto my cheeks and temples, a mixture of rubbing in and tapping and then reapplying if needed.
Just for good measure, after I have applied my desired amount I do a quick once over with my Sigma F80 brush- it's so soft that it doesn't cause it to move too much, it just makes sure I have blended fully.

Now I understand the hype!!

The result I am left with is gorgeous. So much so that I think this could be my favorite bronzer. No joke. 

It makes me look sunkissed and healthy- there are no harsh lines, no tell tale streaks, nada.

It just makes me look like I have a natural tan, like I have been sitting in the sun all day, minus the skin damage.

This does take a little more work than powder bronzers, so if i'm in a rush I do tend to favor powder, but if I have an extra few minutes, this.is.life.

I only need such a small amount to achieve my desired effect and this is a real whopper of a tub so it is going to last for some time. 

This is quite a solid cream, so you need the warmth of your fingers to melt it in- hence where I was going wrong by applying it with a brush first.
After rubbing my finger in, the thick cream then melts down into a much more malleable almost mousse like cream so blending in is a cinch.

I also think it is best to apply before your foundation has totally set.

 This swatch does look on the orange side of things, but once blended in, I assure you I don't look orange.

I cannot stand obvious fake super orange bronzers, so if this made me look like a oompa loompa, I assure you I wouldn't be using it. 

I am shade B20 in Chanel foundation and this shade suits me, however, if you are much fairer, I fear it could veer quite orange on you so if you are interested in this- please try it in store first. It's a pricey item and I don't want you to waste your money!

The one bummer with this though is that there is only one shade. 

I am sorry if this is too dark or too light for you. 

Chanel say you can use this as a bronzing make up base- so effectively a bronzing primer, which I haven't actually tried, I would find it weird applying foundation on top in case I made it move underneath.

For me, this is quite possibly my favorite bronzer and when applied with fingers, I just feel like it creates the most natural, sunkissed satin finish I could imagine. 

In. Love.

Expect this in a favourites post soon!

Have any of you tried this? 

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Too Faced Melted Lipsticks : Swatches and Review

Liquid Lipsticks seem to be all the rage now....so many brands are coming up with their own versions...some good...some atrocious...

I am glad to say that the Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipsticks are the former.

These lipsticks have a sweet (but not overpowering) scent, which is always a plus and they are incredibly pigmented.

The swatches below are literally from one swipe which I find very pleasing as I don't tend to see the point in a liquid lipstick that is lacking in pigmentation as I think it then falls out of the LL category and into the realm of lip glosses. 

If you are familiar with the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors, then you will already have had experience with this type of applicator.

The applicator is a sort of foamy/felt nib which (when the tube is pressed), slowly dispenses the product- as you can see above.

For me, I quite enjoy this application but I can understand that some point might find this a little clumsy.

As I mentioned, these are highly pigmented, so these need to be applied carefully and due to the large tip, if you don't have a steady hand/often struggle with applying lip products neatly, it may take a few attempts to get this right.

Alternatively you can use a lip brush, which I haven't tried yet but although I can be pretty cack handed, I don't normally mess these up.

The two shades I have are Melted Fig and Melted Coral. 

L-R: Melted Fig and Melted Coral 

These were the two colours that I really had my eye on.

Melted Fig was my obsession in the colder months but I should really bring it out again and yes it is another mauvy purple with a satin/semi glossy finish.

I really don't find these drying at all and I think that's down to their satin finish, I feel it is those ultra matte liquid lipsticks that are the main culprits in turning normal pillowy lips into something that resembles a dried prune. 

There's just something unique about melted fig, I really love it.

It looks great with very clean skin, a slight contour, a subtle rosey/nude blush (think Nars Douceur) and a naked eye with loads of mascara. 

It looks so modern, i'm definitely going to crack this out again.

Melted Fig 

 Please excuse this really messy Lip Swatch, but it just gives you some idea what this looks like on. 

Melted Coral was my first purchase but for reasons unknown I haven't actually worn this a whole lot, even though I became obsessed with finding it, I will also amend this. 

This is a very vibrant creamy coral with a semi glossy/satin finish. 

Melted Coral

This is my favorite kind of coral, it's so clean and summery.

Again pigmentation is on point.

Another thing I really like is how they last, I can't stand it when lipsticks fade from the inside out...so you're left with that awkward unflattering ring around your mouth, I don't have that problem with these.
The one thing I would say about Melted Coral though is not to layer up too much- you don't need to anyway because it's so pigmented, but if I do apply that little bit too much it wont sit properly on the lips and it can gather around the inside of my bottom lip. 

Bottom Line : This is a non drying, highly pigmented and long lasting liquid lipstick.

I think Too Faced have really lived up to their claims here!

They are not transfer proof- I do end up getting this on my coffee mug, but saying that it's never messy- I don't end up with bright orange on my chin, awkward patchiness or end up having to reapply every time I take a sip.

The colour will hold up on your lips, but transfer does happen.

I have had both of these for about 6 months and I would say that so far they are fine, but one thing I am slightly concerned about is that perhaps after some time the lipstick might dry on the nib and I could imagine getting a little crusty or perhaps unhygienic.
I haven't read anything online to justify my suspicion, but we will see!
They have released several new shades recently and I reckon I will pick up Melted Chihuahua- a hideous name and one that I don't really understand but its a peachy brown that looks pretty unique...much like its name. 

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If Warm Shadows Are Your Thing...

I don't know why it has taken me so long to pick this up....

This is the Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow in Camel.

Camel is a very warm brown with orange/yellow undertones that is matte and unbelievably pigmented whilst being one of the smoothest creamiest eye shadows I own. 

It does kick up a bit of powder when you swirl your brush round, but that is a common factor of being a matte powder (however, Charlotte Tilbury somehow manages to avoid that in her mattes....it must be witchcraft) but even though there is excess powder, there is zero fall out upon application, so I'm really not bothered.

I have worn this almost daily since I got it and I am beyond obsessed...I have received quite a few compliments on it as well which is always a plus!

This shade is so multi purpose as it works very well in crease to warm up other eye shadows, but I have been wearing it alone, all over the lid and blended out.

I love it that much I just want as much on as possible.

  I am only wearing Camel in these pictures. 

I love warm eye shadows and this has to be the ultimate warm brown.

If warm colours are your thing, this will be so up your street - check it out!

Look at that pigment!

If you are looking for a warm shade, especially in these Summer months as all our make up tends to transition from cool to warm - Bobbi Browns Camel is your guy.

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Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer : Luminous Bronze

I was planning to write this review last week but I just wanted to give it a proper test run as it is on the much pricier side at £42.

This is the new Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Luminous Bronze from Hourglass.

Before the Ambient Blushes and Bronzers, came the Ambient Lighting Powders which were designed to mimic the effect of soft focus lighting on the skin. 

A lovely idea no?

The blushes and bronzers are infused with these ambient powders in order to create that same airbrushed finish.  

Enough waffle, onto the Bronzer. 

One thing that I found a bit of a let down was the shade range; there are only two.
I just think it's a bit disappointing as we have 7 beautiful blushers, but only 2 bronzers. 

This is the lighter of the two, Radiant Bronze Light is darker, but to be honest there isn't a huge difference when blended into the skin.

I wish they had created more than two shades so people with fairer skins and much darker skins could get involved.

Luminous bronze is a warm tan shade with a fine gold shimmer running through. 

The texture of this Bronzer is one of its best points, it is very smooth to the touch and said smoothness helps it to blend effortlessly into the skin.

Even though it is not picking up in the photos, one of my concerns was that when you look at it in the pan, there is some very obvious shimmer going on.

I am  ALL about that glow, but tonnes of shimmer on my cheeks?
Not so much.

The most important thing with this bronzer is to go slow. VERY slow. 

I swirl my brush ever so gently and then tap off any excess.

Then I apply to my temples, tops of my cheeks and just touching the jaw, in a 3 motion.

If I need more, I just repeat the process.

When I have achieved my preferred level of bronzing, the result is absolute seamless luminosity- the name does not lie. If you can be light handed with this I am sure you will love it- I don't end up with sparkling tinkly cheeks (which was my preferred look about 14 years ago at school discos) I end up looking warmer and healthier.
This honestly is beautiful. Just beautiful. Well done Hourglass. 

Here is where I want to add a little warning, as when this is used incorrectly you will end up orange and super shimmery.

Here is a swatch to show you what the colour actually looks like

You can see there is some serious pigmentation going on here, which is a good thing. 

However, here is that heavy swatch in bright day light:

BAM. Shimmery.

If you are heavy handed and don't blend properly and then walk out into bright daylight, it can look pretty darn obvious. 

Bottom Line : I love this bronzer and it is a pleasure to use.

I couldn't really believe how luminous it looked without looking like I had doused myself in highlighter. For those glow-getters out there, I think you should look into this one. 

Just take your time with application, that is all. 

If you do tend to be heavy handed, perhaps use a duo-fibre brush (Real Techniques makes one of the best) so it does most of the hard work for you.

If you are looking for an alternative that is a bit lighter but still brings some glow (though perhaps not as much as Hourglass) and kinder to the purse, maybe look into Liz Earles Radiant Glow Bronzer which I reviewed here.

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My Latest Obsession...

This is my first Clinique blush and it certainly won't be my last.

This is the Clinique Cheek Pop Blush in Heather. 

The Cheek Pops have been around for a year or two and I have been eyeing them up ever since their release...but I could never commit to a purchase.

However when I was in Boots the other week, I had points to spend so I wandered over to the Clinique counter and started swatching.
Four new shades have been released and I initially thought that Melon Pop would be the one that I would go for- a light peachy colour, but after swatching Heather, is was so spot on, I went for it instead.

Heather Pop is a beautiful, cool toned pink with a very slight sheen to it.

Obviously the flower imprint is stunning, but it is the formula that really makes this blush a winner.

They feel very creamy to the touch and when you swirl the brush around, it kicks up zero powder, but it definitely is a powder... it's hard to explain, but this formula just works.

It leaves a totally seamless yet luminous flush on the cheeks.

Pigment is there, but it's not in your face and you barely need to actually blend it in...it does all the work for you.
It just gives you such a soft, luminous glow with absolutely no harsh lines. 

I know I've only had this for a couple of weeks but I've found it so hard to put down and it's really climbing up the ranks to becoming one of my favorite blushers.

As I purchased this with Boots points...I reckon I can justify picking another one up soon...

These Cheeks Pops are fantastic, and with such a variety of shades, I am sure there will be one for you!

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The Five Pound Miracle Product

This product is bloody brilliant. I love love LOVE it and I do not use the word 'Miracle' lightly.

I do suffer from quite dry hands here and there so I do use a lot of hand creams.

However, for the past 2 months I have had this patch of very dry, very sore skin on my right wrist.

It cracks, it burns and stings and I reckon it is a patch of eczema as I have had these sort of things growing up.

However, I have not had it like this in years and nothing was helping.

It just got so sore and I couldn't think of anything to soothe it until I remembered when I had something similar about 13/14 years ago.

I had had similar issues so I went to the pharmacists and he actually recommended this product to me....my Mum and I thought it was odd as we were in Boots or wherever so one would think you would recommend those products, but no, he told me that he often recommended The Body Shop Hand Hemp Protector so we popped into the body shop and picked it up,

And it performed miracles.

How did I forget about this? It was such a life saver back in the day!

I picked up this tube 2 weeks ago and I am not lying to you- within two/three days. my hands are beautiful and soft again.

I apply this before bed and sometimes once or twice throughout the day, but it is a rich cream so it takes a while to absorb but holy cow is it worth it.

My hands are not sore or dry at all.

I am using it once a day now and I will always keep one round in case my hands get sore again.

If you have incredibly dry skin/eczema and you cannot find anything to work- jut give this a go if The Body Shop is accessible to you.

Of course I have to say that I am not a dermatologist so I cannot give you any sort of medical advice, all I can do is tell you about what has worked for me,

The smaller tube costs a fiver and it will last you a while.

The way I see it, its a bloody life saver and I would spend a hell of a lot more for it.

If it doesn't work for you, I am sorry, but at least it's only a fiver.

Nothing is worse than sore, dry skin.  

Have any of you tried this little gem?

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The Vintage Vamp Palette by Charlotte Tilbury

This is one of the most gorgeous palettes I own.

I have a few of the CT palettes, but I reckon this one and The Sophisticate (reviewed here) are my two favorites.

Every time I use this I cant get over how simple the application is, it is so pigmented and smooth that it takes no time at all to create a full impact burgundy smokey eye, which makes a nice change to the browns I often use.

The prime shade (top left) is a very pale shimmery pink- I normally can't stand pinks anywhere near my eyes, but this shade is so flattering and neutral, its just a bit more interesting than going for a run of the mill champagne.

This shade isn't quite as smooth and buttery as the others in the palette, but nonetheless it is still very easy to work with.

The next shade (top right) is more of a red based burgundy whilst the one underneath is more purple, I understand in the pan they do look similar, trust me that upon application the difference is quite apparent.
Both shades are a satin finish that blend seamlessly.
If you click this link you can watch Charlotte apply this onto a model, which makes this palette a lot less intimidating as she tells you where to apply each shade, which I love, but even if you want to freestyle it, these colours practically blend themselves, so you can create a nice diffused smokey eye.

You can create a day time look, which involves combining the two shades at the top. You will easily end up with a lovely eye but I find it so hard to hold back so I often go the whole hog.

The final shade is the 'pop' shade which is possibly the best glitter shade of all the CT palettes.

It is a bright gold colour and very pigmented so you can use it as a strong gold pigment across the lid, however only press your finger in the pan slightly if you want a wash of gold.

I have done the full on Vintage Vamp look during the day...because life is too short to not rock a smokey eye at breakfast. 

Now onto the swatches:

L-R: Prime, Enhance, Smoke and Pop

L-R: Pop, Enhance, Smoke and Prime 

None of the CT shadows crease on me, but sometimes I notice after a few hours of wear there can be minor fading- an eye primer is a good idea, but the fading is slight so it's not a big deal.

Creasing I cannot tolerate at all. 

When I first saw this palette online, I thought it looked really similar to the Dolce Vita palette.

It doesn't in real life- this is very burgundy/wine/purple whereas the DV is warm bronzes and reddish coppers. 

I do have that palette as well if anyone is interested in a review?

Here's a little picture of the prime shade in the centre and the other two burgundy shades blended around, with a slight touch of the gold pigment on top.

Bottom Line : This is one of my favorite palettes of all time...I just haven't seen anything quite like it.

Pigmentation is on point, whilst still being smooth and blendable- it's a difficult mix to get right, but Charlotte does it flawlessly.

It can be hard to wear reddish colours on the eye as one can end up looking a tad ill...or it can just look messy or almost costume like.

Not here. It literally is the classic burgundy smokey eye, and when I finish this palette, I will one hundred percent repurchase- and I don't say that often with shadows.

Have you tried any of the Charlotte Tilbury quads?

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