Kryolan Illusion….

I feel about illuminators like a fat kid feels about cake just recently. Powder, cream or liquid, I'll mix them with my foundation, use them as an illuminating base, or use them as a highlight on the tops of the cheekbones and under the brow bone. Basically, they're my new makeup obsession. I went to the UMA expo at the weekend and spent ages browsing the Charles Fox stand checking out the Kryolan offering and, when I saw the Illusion highlighters were half price, I squealed. And I wish I could say that was an exaggeration. 

They're a creamy formula with lots of sparkle in them and come in various colours. I could have gone mad and got the lot (I think there's about 8 in the range) but to be honest I've got to the stage where I'd rather buy one great product and actually get to use it, rather than it being overshadowed in my ever growing makeup collection. I picked Organza which is a pretty pink shade (my cheekbone highlighter colour of choice). It looks quite scary in the pan but when it's on the skin and blended in it's so beautiful and leaves a lovely flush as well as being super light reflecting. A little goes a long way so I'm pleased I only picked up one (for now!)

Has anyone else tried the Illusion highlighters from Kryolan? What other illuminators do I need to try?

Loves

xxx

March Favourites...

So with me being in London studying at the beauty and makeup academy, I've barely worn makeup and it's been such a chaotic few weeks living out of a suitcase! Which leaves my favourites a bit sparse this month but here we go anyway…

The hype around the L'Oreal Elvive Fibreology shampoo and conditioners is extremely well deserved. I am lucky enough to have naturally very thick hair to start with but this just makes my natural curls so thick and full which means much less time wielding a pair of straighteners. In my attempt to find a more readily available Bioderma alternative I have really started to love the Garnier Micellar water, and I've even decanted it into a smaller bottle for my kit to use on clients! Putting makeup on, taking it off, putting it on again, and then taking it off. While I was at the academy we were practicing on each other and my skin really suffered, so I turned to the duo of the St Ives apricot scrub followed by a long standing favourite, La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo, only this time it's the new improved '+' version. I don't know what's changed exactly, but it still works just the same so thats fine by me!

My base has been all about Nars this month, and on the rare occasion I've done my own makeup I've gone for the classic Nars Sheer Glow and Nars Creamy concealer paring which I have reviews on here and here. Another well hyped product has been the L'Oreal Miss Manga mascara which I wasn't expecting to love quite as much as I do…it's super thickening and makes my lashes look so black and full! My Nan bought me the Body Shop Illuminator in pink when I got back from Australia and it's such a perfect pinky shade as a blush or on the tops of the cheekbones for a glow in the evenings. 

Finally my favourite lip offering this month is my newest addition to my ever growing lipstick collection - Mac Pure Zen. It's a peachy nude shade and perfect for the sunny weather we've been having these past few weeks!

What's everyone been loving this month?

Loves

xxx

Nars Adelaide Illuminator review...

Swatched and blended out

You know when you're having your makeup done and it's really distracting because the lady (or gentleman!) doing it is wearing something gorgeous on their face and you just want to ask them what it is? I recently went to get colour matched for Nars Sheer Glow and the lovely girl doing the honours had what I can only describe as pure magic on her cheeks. It was, as the title of this post suggests, the Nars Illuminator in Adelaide, which I believe is part the Final Cut Collection. 

Its a lilac toned bright pink with a silver shimmer running through it, which makes it really wearable as an everyday shade blended onto the cheeks and up onto the cheek bones. It really brightens my complexion and I think it would really suit most skin tones. 

I've also found it a really great product to pop on underneath a powder blush. It gives matte pink blushers a bit of life, and also makes them last a lot longer so perfect for a night out or if you prefer a brighter cheek.

This probably won't be the last Nars Illuminator I'll be adding to my collection! What do you think?

Loves

xxx

NYX takes on Illuminators....

My last makeup purchases in Australia (I promise) was, quite predictably, from the NYX stand in my local Target. I've heard on the grape vine that you can buy NYX in some Next stores in the UK but as I'm unsure how true this is I'm taking no chances and stocking up while I can! I've only really got into highlighter and illuminators in the past 6 months but now even my usual oily skin is loving it!

Usually one for powder highlighters I picked the Born To Glow Illuminator (mine is shade 01 Sunbeam) up a bit unsure what to expect. It's very glittery so calls for a matte face to begin with, and I would recommend to keep this one purely on the tops of the cheek bones to avoid the dreaded disco-ball face. It blends to a beautiful pink sheen on the cheeks which is my preferred illuminator/cheek colour so I love pairing this with Sleek Pixie Pink type shades. I would say this is a soft highlight that doesn't really build to well but for something sheeny and pretty on the cheek bones this one is your winner.

I picked the powder Illuminator for Face and Body up in the shade Narcissistic after seeing a few reviews floating around on the blogs, and immediately fell for it. It's a powder, which I prefer, despite it being a peachy golden colour which is a bit of an unusual pick in my collection. It can be applied lightly all over the high points of the face and on the body (as the name suggests) with a duo fibre brush   or built up for a more obvious, stronger highlight for the evening. It has some glitters in this but most of them seem to disappear when blended. 

Personally I think I'll be getting more use out of the powder illuminator but I think, for dryer skin, the liquid illuminator is still absolutely beautiful. All in all...NYX can do highlighters!

Has anyone else tried these? 

Loves

xxx

Introducing Makeover Essentials...

I was stopped recently by a lovely representative from Makeover Essentials asking if I wanted to try some of their new makeup, soon to be making appearances in Debenhams near you! Of course I said yes and picked up a few bits from the range.

First up was the 'Complete Petite' which was, I have to say, an incredible little product. This little beauty that packs away to a tidy little handbag friendly cube, includes a mirror, sharpener with lid to catch sharpenings, two blushes, five lip colours, five matt day eyeshadows, five shimmer night eyeshadows, mascara, lip liner and an eyeliner, and even a couple of cute little brushes. I've not had chance to try this yet, but hopefully the quality is as good as the packaging.

Next up is the illuminating powder. Again I've not tried this apart from on the back of my hand, and as someone who doesn't really use powder illuminator it's quite fine and isn't too glittery on the skin. It's quite a bronze shade and I usually go for more of a pink shade, but with a bit of a tan when I go back to Australia I think this will look stunning.

I also got a cute little Kabuki in it's own little pouch, which I have used and loved. Nice and soft, doesn't shed, and spreads powder into the skin evenly. 

I saved the best till last; this is their bronzing powder which is a gorgeous soft silky powder with a tiny hint of shimmer. It's a very light bronze shade, and I've been using this for the past week daily, on top of my EL Double Wear, in place of my Mac MSF natural powder and I love it equally as much. 

This is definitely quite an interesting brand, and I'll look forward to seeing more of them when they reach Debenhams stores over the next few months. If you want to check out their products now they're available online here. 

Has anybody else checked out anything from this brand yet? Will you be heading to Debenhams to check them out?

Loves

xxx