REVIEW // Soap&Glory Supercat Eyeliner

Potentially my favourite eyeliner i've ever used? I think so.. The Soap&Gory SuperCat Liner really does have a great status in my makeup collection at the moment, and there are many reasons for that. Firstly, the nib of the pen is sturdy, well structured and strong enough to withstand a flick; it doesn't feel flimsy at all either, so I know i'll get a good line with it. I'm definitely not saying i'm any expert what so ever, although, SuperCat does make eyeliner just that little bit easier.

As you can see above, the you can achieve different widths of your cat-flick with this eyeliner, so it pretty much covers daytime to night wear all in one. At a mere £6, I definitely suggest you pick this up on your next visit to Boots, see what the hype is all about, I understand the fuss.

Have you already tried and tested SuperCat? If so, what's your opinion? 

Tell me in the comments below!

3 Drugstore Lipsticks You Need To Try

Worthy lipsticks from drugstores are often hard to come by, fortunately, I thought I'd share 3 of my favourites (which, I personally recommend) that have put drugstore versions back in the game..

I'm definitely a dark lipstick lover, in fact, I'd find them easier to wear than bright, neon shades. One berry lipstick I think you need to try is the Revlon Super Lustrous in "Black Cherry" (£7.49): a vampy, plum that I think looks daring & brave on anyone - see the righthand swatch below. Try it for nights out, or a special makeup look with an extra something something. Soap&Glory, in my opinion, do lipsticks really well. Although they are often over-looked, I do think there are a few particularly great shades worth picking up. Soap&Glory's FabuLipstick in ''Blush Pink'' (£9) is the one I've been reaching for a lot since venturing into lipsticks - I think it's a lovely matte everyday option - see the middle swatch below.

Lastly, the Maybelline colourDrama lipstick (crayon) in Keep It Classy (£4.99); a rosy, perky red shade, is a shade you need to try next (after those other two..). Swatched left (above), Keep It Classy really is a classic lipstick. It's flattering and compliments smokey eye makeup perfectly. What more could you want?

Have you got any other recommendations? 

Any lipsticks you always reach for? Let me know!

BARRY M: RASPBERRY

I'm putting this out there, firstly, as one of my favourite colours; so expect high praise for Barry M's Raspberry as it really hit's the nail on the head as a ''deep berry'' (even though my pictures don't do it justice!).

This week I had ''Raspberry'' on my nails, despite the fact they chipped overnight (I know - overnight!), I do love this shade and pretty much wear it all year round. (Why should berries only be allowed in Autumn/Winter? The shade still exists in Summer!) I'd describe this shade a being inbetween a deep red and on the verge of plum. Potentailly, this nail varnish owns the title of "my favourite/most loved ever".. And that means it must be pretty good.

Find the Barry M Raspberry Nail Varnish (£2.99) here.

Currently Loving: Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer

Recently, I have been getting a whole lot of use out of the ever-so-coveted Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer (£5.49). Is it the dreamy consistency, perfect glow or easy application that ticks all the boxes with Wake Me Up? Read on to find out what makes this my go-to concealer..

I'll admitt now: I have terribly pesky - purple - under eye luggage (bags), which are undeniably hard to conceal even with the thickest camoflauge. But for some reason, the budget Wake Me Up was different. I applied around 2/3 thin coats of Rimmel's magic underneath my eyes (I know you're thinking "that much!", but trust me it works..) and pat down with my other recent fave: the EcoTools Foam Applicator (£4.99) (sponge-on-a-stick? - ha). 

I should have, really, done a ''before'' and ''after'', because I believe the results from this concealer are that noticable. My undereyes still aren't perfected, I know; nevertheless, Wake Me Up transformed the area and enhanced my eyes - taking the attention away from the blue-toned undereye gift my parents lovingly gave me.

In all seriousness, Wake Me Up has - for the time being - replaced my beloved No7 Match Made Concealer (which I've used for 6+ months straight, yeah). And that takes some beating.

I also used: Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum, Benefit RollerLash (first impressions here) and the Maybelline ColourTattoo (On and On Bronze).

What's your favourite concealer at the moment? 
Is the Wake Me Up foundation one for me to try? Tell me in the comments!

Benefit Roller Lash: First Impressions

As many of you will know, this months ELLE magazine features a sample size of the upcoming Benefit Roller Lash Mascara - which curls, lengthens and thickens lashes. Intrigued? Of course.

THE EFFECT:
After using Roller Lash yesterday for the first time I can confirm I let out an amazed 'wow!' once I had applied just one coat. The results, in my opinion, were amazing and really transformed my eyelashes. Roller Lash makes use of a medium sized, fairly thin brush with individual bristles to ensure all the lashes are coated. Firstly I used my eyelash curlers to prepare my lashes, and then took a swipe with the mascara. (The wand was perfectly sized for me - and I didn't make a mess of my eyeshadow either!)

THE WEAR TIME:
I did my makeup at around 1 o'clock yesterday (I took me forever to me motivated to get ready..), and then removed it at around 9.30 o'clock. I'll tell you now: Roller Lash did not smudge (on myself) at all. And I have oily eyelids, but no - no smudging what-so-ever. If that isn't a sign of a winning mascara then I don't know what is!

THE REMOVAL:
Easy, easy, easy! Honestly, I thought I might have a struggle to remove every last trace of the Roller Lash (considering Benefit's They're Real is reviewed as a nightmare to take off).. Although, yet again, I was proven completely wrong, because a few swipes with a cotton pad and liquid (or a face wipe for the lazy people..me..) took away all the mascara ever to flutter on my lashes.

Was I overall impressed? You bet. So will I buy the full version when Roller Lash is released? Well, the £19.50 price tag certainly is off-putting, but this could be my dream mascara - I think so.

5 Products To Add To Your Wishlist

1. CAMOFLAUGING: The high-coverage No7 Match Made Concealer (£7) did not leave my face once last Year - well, I lie, I didn't wear it 24/7, don't worry. But you get the idea.. I wrote a full post on this back in June (read it - here) and have used it under my eyes forever since. Available in very neutral shades, Calico doesn't look to dark on me despite my pale skin. I'd recomenend you check this out during the Year; especially considering the small pricetag.

2. FOR THE BRONZE: The Body Shop Honey Bronzer (£13) was definitely my most used contour/bronzer product of 2014 and despite the fact it isn't a high-end product I love it none-the-less. Also, I bought this bronzer (which is in shade 01) early in the Year (around April) and have only hit pan in December.. I really doubt i'd like to go a day without having the option to use this. Full review - here.

3. THE EYES: If you haven't heard about the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in ''On and On Bronze'' (£4.99) - where have you been? 2014 was the Year for creams:  cream eyeshadow, cream blush and so on.. The Colour Tattoo does not fail to stay put throughout the day and is such an easy product to apply very early in the morning.

4. TO APPLY: Last Year, Real Techniques were big, in particular, the Core Collection which features 4 necessary brushes all designed to aid in applying makeup for the perfect finish. In my opinion, it's a great deal at £22 for four (meaning each brush is around £5) and one to add to your wishlist in 2015.

5. BEST WAY TO FINISH: During the end of 2014, I began to complete my makeup routine with a quick spritz of the Avène Eau Thermale Spring Water (£3.50) to ''lock'' in the look i'd created and essessentially blend everything together. I recommend you try this technique soon too.

Have you got any recommendations to add to my wishlist? Have you tried any of the products i've mentioned? I'd love to know!

BRONZE: DO'S + DON'TS

Bronze shades can be the final touch to a makeup look or the last accessory to an A-star outfit; but, it can be too easily overused in wrong areas. Bronze needs to be used delicatly - here are some do's and don'ts when accepting to the Bronze trend..

// DO
Wear on the eyelids: A touch of bronze can look lovely complimenting every eye colour and can aid you in creating polished makeup. Try: smokey eye makeup using the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in ''On and On Bronze'' as the base; or The Body Shop Eye Liner in ''Burnished Amber'' in your waterline (just below your eye).

Bronze jewellery. Yes, yes, yes. One of the 2015 trends to come, in accessories, are minimlistic, dainty rings/necklaces/braceletts. Anything that looks like a Magpie might swoop it up, probably means you should too. Try: H&M Jewellery (they've had some lovely pieces recently).

For interiors: bronze lampshades, vases and pictures frames can look really classy and pull together an entire space. Try: H&M Home (again H&M are nailing it with decor).

//DON'T
Wear bronze (or gold, copper, silver) leggings. Unless your opting to look like a robot/disco ball, or you can totally pull them off (which most of us can't - but if you can then I admire you), stay away from metallic bottoms. Try: matte/leather style leggings instead - Topshop do some nice ones here.

Use a bronze-y fake tan. In my opinion, there's a difference between healthy glowing skin and the colour bronze. (I wouldn't honestly want to look like a metallic glitter ball all over no matter if this is how people expect to come back from abroad). Try gradual tan like the Dove Summer Glow instead or go au naturale and go without faking it whilst Winter is still here.

Do you like the Bronze takeover? Let me know in the comments!

(I'm no style/trend expert what-so-ever - of course - these are just some ideas I thought of.)

REVIEW // Smashbox Cream Eyeshadow

Can I just start by mentioning the packaging? How beautifully simple is that glass jar? Very. Smashbox is a brand, in my opinion, that bases its aesthetics to be very monochrome and stylish (both appealing to their target market). 

When I was in Glasgow with my Mum last month I was browsing around the high-end brands (knowing I had my Advantage Card Points stocked up), Smashbox was a stand that caught my eyes many times and so, I was intrigued to swatch more and more of their products. The Smashbox Cream Eyeshadow in ''Stone'', which is fairly similar to the budget Maybelline Colour Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow in ''Permenant Taupe'', was particularly memorable and temped me to part with my points. After having, and using, Stone for around a month now I thought it was time I split the beans. Is the Smashbox Cream any better than the Maybelline offering (1/3 the price) or do I recommend you keep your cash for something else? Keep reading to find out..

Stone - A silvery grey sheen

Honestly, the Smashbox version isn't overly more buttery or easier to blend than the budget option, but, I do think it has a better wear time. Smashbox also have available a large range of shades compared to others (except in the US.. of course..) and so this could be a reason to splash out. By choosing Stone, the tone isn't incredibly different, and so, I wouldn't repurchase it. Nevertheless, it does feel special and expensive to use - and it looks good on anyones dressing table. Overall, for £16 I don't think I could justify putting it in my basket.

Bought with my Boots Advantage Card Points (lucky me, I know).

Budget Buttery Eye Shadow

Eyeshadow is a part of the routine that's hard (for some) to perfect.You need the right tools and, of course, the actual magic worker: the product. Often, drugstore eye products are cheap and chalky, but, I really feel like the 17 Eyeshadow (very creatively named: ''brown'' - couldn't they think of anything else?) is far from what is considered a typical budget option. ''Brown'' is a classic smokey sheeny light brown.

Basically, this 17 offering is buttery smooth and much more of a quality eyeshadow than you'd expect. Personally, I like using this over the Naked Basics palette to add a neutral sheen (there ain't no clumps of glitter in this) and complete the look. (The photo, in the packaging, is from when I first bought this weeks before Christmas..) No on line link - but, have a look at the other 17 eye products here.

Do you have any recommendations for budget eye shadows to try? I love to know in the comments!

HAUL // Boots, Superdrug & Topshop

So, I went shopping (whoops) - I hit the shops and I spent my precious money. Get yourself prepared for a long post; here's what I bought (including a couple of bargains)..

Soap&Glory Glow All Out (£11)
I read one single review on this over the course of Christmas and knew I had to have it in the New Year. 'Glow All Out' is basically a very light, wearable highlighter that provides a radiant face all over - what more could you want? I'll have to report back on this because I could, potentially, end up looking like a disco ball..

Soap&Glory Supercat Eye Liner (£6)
I couldn't resist in falling for Boot's 'Buy 1 Get 1 Half Price' offer and so I have to admit that I ended up adding the Supercat Liner to my basket as well.. I suppose Supercat is just a standard eye liner; nevertheless, I'm intrigued to see if this proves champion against any other slim eye liner I have trialed before (will it fair any better?).

Topshop Grey Knit Hat (£10 £5) - No Online Link.
I was looking for a cosy hat throughout all of December and have only just found one now. After Christmas. Nevertheless, I think this hat is perfect for bad hair days, relaxing walks and wrapping up warm (especially considering it snowed yesterday)!

Topshop Nail Varnish 'Silhouette' (£5 £3) - No Online Link.
Bargain, I think. This nail varnish, although it looks black, in reality is actually a very, very dark grey. Topshop nail varnishes have a really nice consistency - not too thin, not too thick (I sound like Goldilocks..) - therefore, they apply ever so easily in one or two swishes. I've just painted my nails with Silhouette (they better not smude while writing this..) and think the shade looks fabulous despite the fact it needed at least two coats for the full opaque effect.

Rimmel Undercover Shadow Primer (£4.99)
Hmm.. I'm not too sure about this Primer after reading some reviews... I'll have to give it another couple of tries; but, after using this once I actually agreed with one of the reviews saying: this primer is the reverse of what it's meant to do. Personally, I think this primer made the wear time of my eye shadow worse..

Rimmel Moisture Renew Clear Lip Liner (£3.99)
Recently, I have been wearing lipstick more often in a vast variety of shades. For that reason, I thought buying a translucent lip liner would be more worthwhile (at the moment), instead of buying several coloured ones - I'll have to see if this liner is any good! I'll report back in a few weeks?..

MUA Trio Eyeshadow 'Emotions' (£2.50)
Firstly, the price tag means each single eyeshadow costs just over a mere 83 pence.. That's crazy! Secondly, I think there's something so pretty and interesting about marble effect makeup products. Whether it's eyeshadow or not, I think anything with a pattern intrigues me. These eye shadows, in particularly, are bronzy and compliment each other perfectly.

Makeup Revolution Vivid Baked Bronzer 'Ready To Go' (£4)
This product is, I think, a highlight-bronzer hybrid. Swatch it in store and see for yourself; but, I believe this bronzer will add an adored glowing effect to the high points of your cheekbones.

That is everything, I hope you've had a lovely day! 

Check back for my post on Friday (which could be is a post all about my new DSLR)...

REVIEW // Max Factor Miracle Touch Cream Blush

I bought the Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush (what a mouthful..) months ago and used it sparingly, but, recently I have been opting for it more and more often. Applied to the apples of my cheeks (after bronzer/contour - I always bronze up my pale face..), this cream blush looks stunning and creates a dewy, fresh result. I prefer to use the limited edition Real Techniques Cheek Brush (from the Nic's Picks Set) to apply; because just the right amount of pigmentation is dispensed.

Drugstores and highstreet shops, in my opinion, totally lack natural cream blushes; but, Max Factor's version is clever in the way it initiates a very genuine glow.

Do you have any recommendations? I'd love to hear them.

Eyeshadow Sorted In Seconds

Literally, one quick swipe over the lid with Rimmel's ScandalEyes Shadow Stick gives more pigmentation than needed and creates, in my opinion, perfected eye makeup in under a minute! Rimmel really have produced a winning product here: due to the pure strength of the shimmery taupe-brown shade.

EXTRA (If you have a minute spare): With ease, you can quickly blend the eye crayon with another eyeshadow to form further dimensions and then sweep neutral colour in the crease of your eyelid to complete the smokey eye look.

Rimmel's ScandalEyes is stocked at both Boots and Superdrug with change from a fiver - meaning you can save time in the morning and still have money in your purse!! What's not to love?

Are you interested in eye crayons? Let me know any of your recommendations by leaving me comment below!

REVIEW // Naked Basics 2 Palette

 One of the beauty products I received for Christmas was the impressive Ubran Decay Naked Basics 2 Palette (adored by everyone). Featuring 6 neutral toned, full-sized eyeshadows, the Naked palette has been loved by me and used on my eyes (almost) every day since the 25th.

SKIMP: A champagne highlight
STARK: A light red-toned matte brown (and the surname for Iron Man..)
FRISK:  A matte taupe
COVER: A medium red-toned matte brown
PRIMAL:  A medium brown
UNDONE: A smokey (so-dark-it's-almost-black) brown

The quality and pigmentation of these eyeshadows, in my opinion, definitely sets the product apart from cheaper alternatives and justifies the price-tag. My favourite combination at the moment is: using Frisk all over the lid and then Primal in the crease (blended outward seamlessly).

Overall, I would hands-down recommend the Naked Basics 2 Palette.

First MAC Lipstick // 'Retro'

The first MAC lipstick I have ever bought is.. 'Retro': a vintage, rustic deep orange-y-red. Perfect. Retro, in my opinion is such a lovely shade (and name) and therefore justifies the price tag - it's like no other! I do, also, think this will be my lipstick of choice for Christmas Day (ooh, what an honour..) and I think it will be a dream to wear. Take a look at some photos I took below.. And prepare yourself for the ''2 DAYS TO GO'' post for my Christmas Countdown (read yesterdays here) which will be uploaded soon.

MAX FACTOR SUMMER GIFT FREEBIE

Just to inform you all, at the moment when you spend £15.00 (or more if you're treating yourself) on Max Factor products they will give you a completely free Summer gift worth £27.00.

Which  includes...

False Lash Effect Black/Brown Waterproof Mascara // Full Size

Glossfinity Nail Varnish in Snowdrops // Full Size

Facefinity All Day Primer // Sample Sachet

I think this freebie is worth it, if you are intending to buy something anyways. Take a look online at boots.com - here.

REVIEW // The Body Shop Honey Bronzer

Who says pale girls can't bronze? The classy Body Shop Honey Bronzer (£13) is even light enough for us girls who look like we've never seen sunlight. Bronzers (used to contour, add extra dimensions and shape to the face) are usually harder to find for pale skin tones. Most bronzers would look muddy or fake, but not this one. And oh my, look at that gorgeous, reflecting, fancy packaging *drools*.

 I didn't specifically take any interest in this bronzer (although I am a big fan of the Body Shop) until I noticed Estee from www.essiebutton.com (go check her newly updated blog, I'm sure you'll love her posts as much as I do) recommended it in some alot of her Youtube videos. Her makeup always looks flawless, I mean FLAWLESS, and once I saw in a tutorial that the magical product she uses was The Body Shop Bronzer, I knew I had to have it.

I have the shade 01 (although I'm sure I could have bought a shade darker). This colour suits me well, it doesn't look orange at all or muddy and only takes a sweep of application with my RealTechniques Contour Brush (Core Collection) and my complexion automatically looks enhanced and more radiant (even if I'm not properly awake yet and I've just woken up at 7am..). 1 word: foolproof. 

In my opinion, the retail price of £13.00 is such a steal for 11g of product. Especially when The Body Shop has offers, deals and promotions on most of the time. I can't recommend this enough, so head along to The Body Shop, then swatch and watch this beautiful bronzer find a place in your shopping basket.