Gimme Brow VS The Brow Artist Plumper

Benefits Gimme Brow is one on my Holy Grail products. It is a heavily tinted brow gel that contains tiny fibres that cling to your eyebrow hairs to help thicken them up. As someone with very fine brows, that is exactly what I am looking for. If my brows have been tinted, then I only need a couple of swipes of this to add some volume, or I use it after I have filled them in with powder.

So basically, I use this everyday. It helps to create such natural brows which is exactly what I want with mine, I don't want the main focal point of my face to be my brows. 

It also helps to set them in place, it's just a lovely product. 

However, I ran out of this a while ago and I heard a lot of people compare it to the L'Oreal Brow Artist Plumper and as it is much more affordable, I thought I would give it a go. 

L-R L'Oreal and Benefit

I'm sorry to say that in my opinion, the L'Oreal is not a dupe, I think the Benefit offering is so much better.

You can see the L'Oreal wand on the left is quite significantly bigger and more spaced out. Due to this, I find it can be very messy to apply and it's not good for grabbing on to the eyebrow hairs.

The Benefit one is small so offers much more precision, its very hard to over do and it has more pigment to it. 

Also I find the Brow Plumper sets very quickly and I can really feel it on my brows. 

I suppose if you have thick, unruly brows- you might quite enjoy that, but it makes mine feel too rigid and once it has set, you can't cant layer it up as things start to look really messy.

L-R: Benefit and L'Oreal

I find both these colours are suitable for those with dark hair like mine, but you can see that the Gimme Brow is a lot ashier whereas the L'Oreal is quite warm. That's another reason why Gimme Brow wins out for me as I favour an ashier, more natural brow.

Bottom Line : Sorry folks, but for me this is one of those times where the more expensive option is just genuinely better. I have since repurchases this little guy and I can't envisage a time when I don't use it.

I know it's pricey, but I got my first Gimme Brow as a Xmas present last year, I picked up another one a couple of months ago and it's still going strong. I use it daily, so to me, that makes it worth the money.

Whats your fave?

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Liz Earle Powder Blush : Swatch and Review

If you have read this post, you will be well aware that I totally adore the Liz Earle Cream Blushes. They are some of the best I have ever tried and really create that dewy flush of colour.

I realised whilst sorting through my make up stash that I had rather ignored their powder counterpart- so I just wanted to right this wrong!

This is the Liz Earle Powder Blush in Nude, which is described as a rosy apricot.

It has a matte finish, which is not usually something I go for- I like my blushes with a dose of glow, however this is one of the creamiest matte blushes I have tried.

It is surprisingly silky to the touch, it's not overly powdery, it kicks up very little powder at all in fact and it blends with ease considering it is a matte.

This colour does create a lovely natural flush and I really should make a effort to use it more often!

Do I prefer it to the cream blushes? No. I think if you are dithering between, the creams reign supreme. 

This is a lovely blush though so I have moved things around a bit so I have more easy access to it, the colour reads very autumnal to me and due to its rosy base, it suits a multitude of make up looks.

What do you guys prefer? Cream or Powder? 

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Autumn Lip Options No.3 : Maybelline Color Drama Lipstick in Berry Much

When I have been feeling a super matte, dark lip, this has been my lipstick of choice.

As you can see, the Maybelline Color Drama Lipstick comes in the form of a pencil, which has it's uses but I think I would rather it just came as a normal lipstick in a bullet.

The colour is a very dark berry, which right now I am obsessed with- it's so striking but surprisingly wearable.

I've been enjoying pairing it with super shimmery bronze lids, warm pink cheek and a flawless base.

This is a matte lipstick so it is fairly long lasting as well and quite comfortable on the lips.

The idea of this is that it can be used as a lip liner and lipstick in one. It can perform both purposes- but it means it has to be super sharp every time you use it, which means you have to sharpen it a lot- which is another thing I'm not mad keen on as I find things get a little wasteful.

I prefer lining my lips with Urban Decays Venom and putting this all over the top.

This is such a great lipstick that I have been enjoying wearing, it's fun to do full on vampy lips! I do like the formula- I don't think it's the best out there as sometimes it can wear away at bit in the centre of my lower lip, but it's very easy to reapply- it never flakes and its not overly drying either.

If you would like to see the other Autumnal lip options, click here and here. 

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Maybelline The Eraser Eye Concealer

If you read this post, you will be aware that I have tried a vast amount of under eye concealers in my time, and out of the many, there are only a couple that I would repurchase.
As you can see, my tube of  Maybelline The Eraser Eye is nearly finished, so would I repurchase?
The simple answer, is no.
I enjoy the application of this concealer- I like the sponge it comes with, I like the wind up mechanism as it gives you so much control of how much product comes out and I like that mechanism assures that you get to use up every last drop of product.
The consistency is thin and very flight reflective, so if I want a very natural highlight- this works well enough and that's what I tend to use it for, but when it comes to the matter of actually covering my dark circles, I am afraid it does not deliver.

I can still see the purple/blue shadows underneath the concealer- they have improved, but definitely still there. I find it worse on the inner corners of my eyes by the bridge of my nose, that's where I have most of the darkness and this concealer nowhere near covers them.
It is so liquidy that it takes some time to set, it doesn't sink into fine liners- perhaps if you have dry skin and or are more mature, it might suit you fine, but I found straight under my eyes it kept bunching up and I had to keep going back to blend it in.
The formula moves quite a lot and powdering doesn't really help.
I have tried powdering immediately, but it still bunches up under the eyes, the same happens if I wait to powder at the end of my make up.
Furthermore, the powder can stick to the concealer, making things look pretty cakey, which is obviously not the look I am going for.

Bottom Line : I think if you don't have bad dark circles, this may work for you, but for me, even though I enjoy its brightening effect, its not quite hardcore enough. I also don't like that powder sometimes sticks to it.

I wish there was a high street/afforable concealer that I loved! Any recommendations? 

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Shopping my Stash : Bobbi Brown Berry Blush

This little blush has been somewhat neglected over the past few months. Its just been sat gathering dust so I thought it was time to dig it out and make a point of using it again. 

The name doesn't lie folks, this is a berry shade- it's very intense and incredibly pigmented as well and I think that's why I haven't been reaching for it. 

However, 95% of my blush stash is of a peachy pink nature so I felt it was time to dig this little guy out as it has Autumn written all over it.

This is the most pigmented blush I own- without fail. It's quite intimidating actually. For those with deeper skin tones, this will look beautiful on you and I doubt you will have the same application issues as I do.
Even if I lightly sweep my finger across the surface of the blush, I am left with a fully opaque berry mark on my finger and you cannot simply brush it off.
The swatch below was only one or two swipes off the surface and my oh my, it does not wipe off. I couldn't just rub it off, I had to whack out the micellars.
If I am in a rush, this is too finicky to do in a hurry, but if I take my time, this is so beautiful.
I tend to use my Bobbi Brown Sheer Powder brush (which I am not mad keen on, but it serves it's purpose well here) and I very, VERY carefully dot my brush into the powder and tap off the excess on my hand. Even if you can't see any product on the brush, just trust me, it is there.

I then carefully and strategically, apply it to the apples of my cheeks in slow, small circular motions, blending outwards. It's not one of those blushes where you can swirl and go- you have to take your time.
If I do not apply in this way, I end up with bright red cheeks that aren't going anywhere. Once I have over applied, blending becomes redundant as this colour does not shift.
However, when I do it right-  it's beautiful. You know that look when you have been walking around outside on a cold day and your cheeks have that real genuine pink/red tone to them? This blush creates that, so when it is done well, it just gives such an English rose appearance to the skin.
It is matte as well so I think it would work beautifully as an eye shadow. I also think it was made in order to be paired with this Charlotte Tilbury lipstick.
I will make a conscious effort to use this more regularly from now on. It's too pretty to be left to collect dust.

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Currently Loving...

I try to shake up my make up quite regularly as I don't really like being stuck in a rut. but I noticed whilst putting on my make up this morning, that I have been reaching for these items almost daily.
So, without further ado...

Liz Earle Cream Blush in Blossom : Does any one know if this is discontinued? It's my favourite product from the entire LE line so I will be pretty gutted if that is the case. It's just my perfect cream blush, for a full review, click here. Also peeps, if this has gone, do you know of any dupes?

Nars Laguna Bronzer : What a cult product hey? Its a medium brown shade with a subtle gold shimmer throughout which never translates as obvious or chunky on the skin. I love applying it with my Bobbi Brown Bronzer brush to add a authentic warmth to my skin. I seem to go in waves of using this, but right now its my fave.

Mac Fluid Line in Blacktracks : I am clearly in a old school mood huh? I have had this for quite a while now so I was pretty certain it had all dried up - its 18 months old but it's still in perfect condition! I'm loving the thick opacity of gel eyeliners right now and this bad boy has some serious staying power. I use my real techniques eye liner brush to add a slim line and little flick to the top of my upper lashline. If smokes out really well so when I am not feeling the harsh look, I blend some eye shadow over top with a pencil brush and I am left with a soft smokey flick. I've used this daily and I won't be changing my ways anytime soon. I've missed you eyeliner.

Yves Saint Laurent Elle Eau de Parfum : Although I love to switch my fragrances up, if I were to have one signature scent, it would be this without fail. I have no idea how many of these I have got through in my time but it is a classic that I always come back to.
With notes of Patchouli, this is a woody and slightly spicy fragrance that has some real depth to it. There is a a floral element to it that stops it from being too heavy, but only a touch. It is very sophisticated and such a unique fragrance. I really cannot stand over the top floral fragrances as they make headachey. This is as 'floral' as I go.

Laura Geller Baked Eye Shadow Stripes in Plum Torte : This trio contains one white highlight, a bronze shimmer and a indigo shade. As pretty as this is to use on the eye, I have actually been using the white shade as a cheek highlight and it is glorious.
This baked white highlight produces the most incredible sheen on the cheek- it is so light catching but due to it being a baked product, it looks so natural and there is no glitter in sight.
I know Laura does a highlight duo which I may have to pick up because this is totally my favourite highlight right now. I dip my fan brush in and dust it on the high points of my face. This doesn't look white or obvious on the skin, it just captures light like nobodies business.

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara : I have had this sample for a while now but for some reason I never gave it a proper go.
The brush on this is really quite big - it is a thick, long bristle brush - perhaps it was that which put me off, but I love it. It builds up volume super fast which I really appreciate as layering endless coats of mascara first thing in the morning isn't ideal. This creates very thick black lashes. I love it and when it runs out I will pick up the full size.

Essie Nail Polish in Chillato : I just can't get enough of Essie at the moment. This is part of their summer collection and I just had to pick it up. It's very unique in my nail polish collection, it is a pastel lime green, I have pastel mints a plenty, but a lime version is such an interesting addition. I have repainted this countless times.

What are your current favourites?

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Urban Decay Diamond Dog : Swatch and Review

I have had this little guy for a while now, but I wanted to give it a good go before writing a review.

This Urban Decay single is from the Moondust line which are a range of eye shadows that are pressed glitter pigments. They feel almost wet when you touch them, but they go on as a powder.

Diamond Dog contains a super sparkly white gold glitter which is suspended in a deep brown base.

This is so beautiful and incredibly eye catching, but it can be quite tricky to apply, so after trying different methods I think I have somewhat got it down.

I primed my lids with Urban Decays Primer Potion and then dabbed my Mac 239 into the shadow and patted onto my lids. I was already thinking attempting this with a dry brush would be a disaster, and low and behold it was. Fall Out City.
The shadow did cling to the brush well, but the moment I patted it onto my lids,  my cheeks were FULL of glitter particles and due to the pressed nature of this shadow, the glitter is very sticky so no amount of brushing off with a clean powder brush helps. This.Stuff.Sticks.
If I was getting ready for a night out I would have been pretty irritated as I had to actually wipe off the glitter with a cotton pad soaked with micellar water so I ended up removing my make up underneath. Yes you could apply your foundation after, but still, this stuff falls out like mad if you use a dry brush.
I then attempted to apply it with a brush that I had sprayed with water and then dipped into the shadow and then I pressed gently onto the lid- the colour is so beautiful, but I did experience some fall out- not as much, but some. 

I have also applied with a finger tip which I think limits most of the fall out, but I just couldn't get the pigment to be as intense on the lids as I did with a damp brush. 

Bottom Line : This is a beautiful eye shadow but it is not without its problems.
When applied with a damp brush, I get maximum pigment, but some fall out is inevitable. There isn't a lot, but it is there and due to how incredibly sparkly it is, if I were to go out in the day with this on, it would be pretty damn noticeable. A finger limits the fall out further, but the colour doesn't show up as intensely.
I will one hundred percent use this, the sparkle is so damn pretty and I love layering it over bronze cream eye shadows, but I reckon I will use it for nights out as it doesn't last as long as other eye shadows I have- when I wore this all day, I did notice fall out on my cheeks by the end of wear.

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