Beauty LAT: Manchester Haul and trip

So last Saturday I had a day trip to Manchester so my sister could look round the uni there! It was a bit of a miserable day, very cold and rainy, but a little shopping trip towards the end of the day perked us all up a bit. I got a few little things:

 

I finally got round to buying the Illamasqua Skinbase! First thoughts... I'm not really that sure I like it. I'm going to do a proper review of it soon but right now... hmmm. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Lots of hmm-ing about this!

I also picked up two MUA Intense Colour eyeliners, and some of the new Kleenex range- the face wipes, the facial cleansing cloths and the oil absorbing sheets.

I'm hoping to have reviews of all these coming up soon!

I also took a few photos of the Manchester Museum, which is part of the university:

How beautiful are these paper cranes?

Skelly skeletons.

Desperately wanted to steal these, but they were a bit big to smuggle under my coat.

Check the badass T-rex.

My new pet. I'm going to keep him in the garden and call him Fluffy.

So that was my trip!

Love B xxx

FOTD #13- A trip out!

So a few days back I went to see Othello at the Sheffield Crucible (the one with Dominic West in, there's been quite a lot about in the papers if you read the arts or theatre bits) and I wanted a pretty but glamorous look. The play was amazing by the way, and Dominic West was scene stealing as Iago!

Face- Gosh Velvet Touch Clear Primer
MUFE Mat Velvet + in #15
elf Complexion Perfection
Bourjois Mini Blush in 03 Brun Cuivre

Eyes- UDPP
Shade 9 of the MUA Pro Heaven & Earth Palette (all over lids)
Organza from the Sleek Oh So Special Palette (lightly on outer side of lids)
Maybelline The Falsies Waterproof Mascara

Lips- Revlon Colourburst Lipstick in 095 Crimson

I apologise for endlessly using the Heaven & Earth palette, I'm so not a neutral eyeshadow girl (I don't even own the Urban Decay Naked Palette *shock horror*) but I'm really loving this at the moment! I suppose it's hard to get wrong for novice eyeshadow blenders like me. And *even more shock horror* I'm wearing BLUSHER. I can get the concept of blusher, but I naturally have pink cheeks and ultra pale skin, so I very easily look like a painted doll. I applied this one really really lightly, and actually... it's ok. I would actually consider buying more than two I currently own. Progress. Oh yeah.

Love B xxx

Lipstick Forever #5- Mac Ruby Woo (Matte)

This was a birthday present from the lovely Dani amongst others!

Packaging: Classic Mac. Very uncomplicated, but very pretty and very grown-up. I'm not over fond of the lid shape though if I'm honest.

Colour: It's... red. That's the closest I can get. I think this is a much more orange red, but in certain lights it can look more like a true red. So perhaps it's an orange red, but isn't too difficult to pull off if orange isn't your colour. Sorry, I'm rubbish at judging the undertones in red!

 

Application: This is one of the tougher lipsticks I own to apply. The matte finish makes it drag a little, and it definitely applies better if it's a little warmed up. It doesn't bother me too much, but it does make me think carefully about whether I've got time to apply it properly. As with most pigmented lipsticks, you have to apply carefully to not end up with looking wobbly, but you can apply from the bullet if you're ultra careful.

 

Kiss Test: There's pretty much nothing coming off this baby.

 

Lasting Power: Um... here blog readers, I fail you. I can't actually remember (it's taken me ages to write up this review and I've been busy). I think it falls under the 'decent lasting power as long as you don't eat or drink' category, as I *think* it got ruined when I had a meal. But really to qualify a lipstick as good it needs to last about 4 hours (which is a breakfast to lunch kinda time span) and it wouldn't have problems doing that.

I do like this lipstick, even with it's orangey side, but it isn't one to reach for every day for me. I love a matte finish, but it can be a little drying and a bit tricky to work with if you're in a 'no effort' mood. I love this more for evening- it's a great party lipstick because it's so vibrant! 

5/10 for day, 7/10 for night- 6/10 overall.

Love B xxx

FOTD #12- A Sad FOTD, but with new hair!

This FOTD is a sad one... I was dressed up to go to an interview, which I thought went ok, but I didn't get the job. So it kinda sucks looking back through these! However in better news, I can show you my new hair colour. I went for Superdrug's Colour Radiance Intense Rich Chestnut Brown:

Medium to dark brown right? LOOK at my hair in the photos below! It's actually black. In a weird way I don't mind this- my hair was dyed black for about 5 years when I was younger. I loved it being so dark, but it really sucked all the colour out of my face and was really obvious when the roots grew out. This is still a little harsh (it'll probably soften after a few washes) but I actually rather like it!

Face- Gosh Velvet Touch Clear Primer
Gosh X-Ceptional Wear Foundation in 11 Porcelain
elf Complexion Perfection Powder

Eyes- Gosh Velvet Touch Eyeliner in Black Ink (on lower waterline)
Sleek Ink Pot Gel Eyeliner in Dominatrix (Black) (on upper lash line)
UDPP
MUA Pro Heaven and Earth Palette (can't remember which shade)
No 7 Lash Adapt mascara

Lips- The Body Shop Lipstick in 22 Garnet

Of note here is the Sleek Ink Pot Gel Liner- I really love this stuff! It's really easy to put on (I use a little brush from an Urban Decay Palette), it goes on easily and lasts all day without smudging or looking harsh. It's understated but really properly good.

Love B xxx

FOTD #11 (a bit of a cheat)

This FOTD is a bit of a cheat, as it was the same day I was doing loads of lipstick review posts... which is why I'm wearing the same outfit and have crazy hair in all of them. Winner. But still, I feel quite corally and summery in this look.

 

Face- Witch Skin Clearing Primer

Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + in #15

Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation in Porcelain

Eyes- Collection 2000 Collagen Curl Mascara in Ultra Black

Shade 4 of the MUA Heaven and Earth Palette

Lips- Chanel Hydrabase Lipstick in 81 Rouge Peche (I believe discontinued now)

Love B xxx

Lipstick Forever #4: Chanel Hydrabase Lipstick in 81 Rouge Peche

As a tiny warning, I think this might be discontinued, I've had it about 5 years so it's quite old!

Packaging: This is Chanel, so it's obviously going to be understated and have a bit of sophistication. It is a bit unsatisfying though- this is an older product, I think the current Chanel designs are prettier than this. It's very nice, but I don't find it particularly exciting.

Colour: Yes it's coral. Yes it shouldn't work on me, a neutral-pink toned girl. But actually... I really like it. There's a definitely pinkyness to it which stops it being that kind of orange coral I just can't wear.

 

Application: The formulation of this is very nice, for a lipstick it feels very smoothing and a tiny bit moisturising. I found this easy to apply even with the strong colour.

 

 Kiss Test: Not the worst I've seen, but there's more coming off than I'd like.

 

Lasting Power: Again not terrible, but after a meal it wasn't just faded, rather it was completely destroyed. As it is a creamy moisturising lipstick rather than a matte finish, it is probably to be expected that the focus is on colour and smooth application rather than lasting power. Apart from the meal, it lasted decently for about 3 hours before that.

I really like this lipstick on balance. I prefer it if it was a little bit longer lasting, but it's such a beautiful colour and lovely to wear!

7/10

Love B xxx

NOTD- 17 Fast Finish Nail Polish in Pink Lemonade

I'm not much of a fan of pink nails if I'm honest. I loved Barbie when I was little, but now bright pink nails make me quite nervous. Pink Lemonade, while not a bright pink, manages to be a pink that I really love.

Pretty right?! I would say this colour exactly fits the idea of 'pink lemonade'- sheer glazed pink with a yellow undertone. This is with 3 coats so it was much more opaque, but if you use 1 or 2 coats it's much more sheer. The formulation is ok, but not stunning- it was a bit uneven, and I seem to have lots of little bubbles or bumps in the polish which annoys me. Lasting power is decent, a little tipwear but nothing terrible. I think of this as somewhere between a manicure shade and a full colour- perfect for pretty low key nails!

You can buy this for £2.99 from Boots

Love B xxx