Empties #3 | Makeup I've Used Up Part 1

This post is going to focus on Makeup that I've used up. I don't often use up a full product because I have too much makeup and try and switch it out. That might give you some idea of how long I've been saving these products because there is quite a lot of makeup here.  I won't say too much on each because I don't want you to feel like your reading a novel but I'll let you know if I would repurchase and link up any reviews I might have done. 

MeMeMe Flawless Cream Foundation in Blushing Beige, £12.50, link 

I got this free with an order I made with MeMeMe ages ago and didn't expect to love it but I really did. The shade was a little dark for me, but for something that was free it was a pretty decent match. I would repurchase this but it seems like MeMeMe is no longer stocked in the UK and online they only have darker shades. 

MAC Select SPF15 Foundation in NC20, Discontinued. 

I picked this up in a blog sale ages a go as a way of trying out some MAC foundations without the huge price tag. I think this was 3/4 full and only cost me £5. The colour was great, though I prefer NC15 and I really enjoyed the foundation. It's a shame this is discontinued because I would have repurchased but I might try something similar if anyone has any suggestions?  

MUA BB Cream in Light, £4, link

I brought this when everyone was jumping on the BB cream band wagon. I wanted to find a cheap BB cream that actually offered what I wanted but I soon learnt BB creams, no matter what the price, were not for me. This was a very thick BB cream which I found harder to blend that I thought it should have been. The colour was very nice though so I watered it down with a little more moisturizer and used it as a tinted primer

Sleek Be Beautiful Blemish Balm in Fair, £8.99, link

I really liked this BB cream but it was more of a foundation that BB cream. It offered light but buildable coverage, and didn't have the light effect other BB creams have. It wore quite well, and was perfect paired with a simple pressed powder. I used it on days when I was just popping out to the shops or felt like I was having a good skin day. I wouldn't repurchase because I've found other things that work better for me but for people with a light skin tone that want a light coverage foundation this is for you. 

Maybelline  Dream Fresh BB Cream in Light, £7.99, link

This is my all time favourite BB cream, and I have repurchased it. It offers a nice light coverage, blurs imperfections and sits on the skin nicely. The colour is perfect and I find I can use this two ways. I really like using it as a primer under foundation to make it stick and to alleviate the need for layering up foundation that can cake up. I also like using it alone, with some concealer and a powder with a little coverage.  

A while a go I brought a little sample pack thing on eBay and I finally worked my way though some of them. The only one I didn't get off eBay was the Max Factor sample, which came in a little kit you sometimes get free when you buy something from Max Factor.

Rimmel Fix and Perfect Primer, £6.99 full size, link

I liked this because it was just a basic primer that worked. It feels like the Laura Mercier primer on the skin, but is just a little less "priming" than that. It did make my makeup last long and gave it a slightly smoother base but the Laura Mercier option makes my make up last until I take it off.  

Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation in Natural Beige, £9.99 full size, link

I didn't enjoy this all that much but mostly because of the colour. It seems that when you get free gifts and it includes foundation or concealer they assume everyone is tan. Not the case Max Factor, but I did try this out and mix it with some super pale foundations to use it up. It was okay, but I wouldn't repurchase it in the full size.  

Rimmel Match Perfection Cream Gel Foundation in Ivory, £6.99 full size, link

I really liked this foundation and am pretty gutted it's been discontinued. It was a nice texture, had a decent coverage and it lasted pretty well. It was nice on my dry skin, and the gel texture made it great on drier patches and it felt more hydrating. 

Rimmel Match Perfection Liquid Foundation in Light Porcelain, £6.99 full size, link

I have purchased this in it's full size. I love that the colour is actually a match for me, and the coverage is great for everyday wear. It's not going to hide everything, which I sometimes like, it does even out the skin tone. It helps blurs the appearance of pores and blemishes. It offers a light to medium coverage and is buildable. The finish is nice and natural, and it doesn't cling to dry patches. 

 

Rimmel BB Cream in Light, £6.99 full size, link

I like this BB cream, but I wouldn't repurchase this shade. I might look into the Very Light shade that has been released recently, but I think the matte bb cream might be more for me. I don't love matte finish things on my face but this is crazy shiny so I had to pile on powder to knock out the shine. It was okay, but there are better bb creams about. 

 

Maybelline Super Stay 24hr Foundation in Ivory, £8.99 full size, link

I like this but I don't love it. I found the matte finish a little to much for my dry skin .If I was having a good skin day or used a crazy intense moisturizer then this worked for me but not all the time. The colour was nice, and the staying powder was lovely. I have purchased a super stay foundation but it is the newer option which isn't as matte but lasts super long on the skin. 

Part two will be up Friday because, while I wanted this to be one post I know that nobody wants to be reading a novel on my garbage. Check it out here! 

You can also check out my previous empties: 

Empties #1 link

Empties #2 link

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Clarins Splendours Colour Quartet and Eye Liner Palette

The Clarins Splendours Colour Quartet and Eyeliner Palette is a set of 4 eyeshadows concentrated in mineral pigments that claim to be long lasting effect that illuminate the eye and add warmth and intensity to any look. 





There are three golden colours which can be used all over the lids or as a highlight. They have shimmer running through them to bring out the eye.The last eyeshadow is a more satin finish as is a gorgeous warm brown which is great for running through the crease and adding warmth and definition to the eye. 



The liner in the palette is almost a combination between gel and powder. It's not quite powder but it's not quite liquidy enough to be gel. It goes on to they eye easily and gives a subtle smokey/smudged effect along the lash line. The plum/grey tone to the liner makes it less intense than having something jet black along the lash line, meaning the shadows pop that little bit more. 

I found the shadows to last all day without fading or creasing. These are some of the only shadows at the moment that won't crease on me for some reason so I've been reaching for them on a daily basis. The shadows stay the same intensity through out the day and the liner is just as good. It stays in place and remains just as intense as the moment I applied it. 



The packaging is gorgeous. I can't say I love it quite as much as the normal Clarins packaging but it still carries a luxurious feel and the red casing makes it stand out as something a little more exclusive/limited edition. It feels very secure, and waiting which adds to the luxurious feel and the free little applicators aren't as terrible as they could be. 




The little pouch that it comes it makes it feel more luxurious. Normally I don't care what the packaging is like if the product is good but the lovely casing for this just makes me love it more!

You get two applicators, one of which is double ended. The sponge tip ends aren't amazing but you can use them to smudge out some liner or darker shadow and the angled brush is great for applying the liner. 

This is pricey, at £31 for the palette, but I think if you want to treat yourself then this is something worth looking at. You can create so many looks with the combination of colours and the liner. 

This is limited edition but you can still grab the Clarins Splendours Colour Quartet and Eye Liner Palette here for £31 and I'm sure that Clarins counters still have this in stock. 

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Daniel Sandler Long Lasting Waterproof Eyeliner

The Daniel Sandler Long Lasting Velvet Waterproof Eyeliner is a waterproof, long wearing and smooth eyeliner that claims to have rich colour pay off. They apply smoothly due to a high silicone content. It claims to provide excellent colour pay off without any smudging. They are free from animal derived ingredients, mineral oil and preservatives and contain a vitamin C derivative and vitamin E to help skin.

I can't really tell you about all the benefits from the vitamin C and E and if they actually do anything but I can tell you that this eyeliner is brilliant, and I will definitely be repurchasing it. I got this as part of the "Complexion Perfection" box from Latest in Beauty, and this was by far my favourite product in there. The box contained 6 products, and cost just £11.95 (and £3.95 p&p). You can buy it here!  

Now, let's go onto the eyeliner itself. 



The formulation of this eyeliner is gorgeous. It glides onto the skin with absolute ease and is really pigmented with just one swipe. It does smudge slightly at first, but after leaving it to set for some time it stays in place. It lasts well on my lash lines, but really stands out when I use it on my waterline. It doesn't move all day, and doesn't fade either. 



The pigmentation for the shade "Black Velvet" is brilliant. The swatches in the pictures show the liner swatched just once and then built up with a few swipes. The difference is minimal which should give you some idea about how pigmented the liner is. 



I love that the pencil is in a twist up format, because I am useless at sharpening pencils. I loose the sharpeners, and then just forget about the pencils.  The twist up format means it's simple to use it all, and that it's easy to touch up on the go. 

You can pick this Daniel Sandler Long Lasting Velvet Waterproof Eyeliner up online here for just £9.25 and it comes in 6 shades so there is something for any occasion.

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Dainty Doll Eyeliner Pencil in 002 I'm So Pretty

The Dainty Doll Eyeliner Pencils claim to be perfect for adding either strong definition or adding a smokey effect. They are supposedly soft kohl liners that allow you to define and line your eyes for that added shine. The RRP for these pencils is £10.50, but you can pick them up for just 99p on Fragrance Direct at the moment. 

 I picked up the shade 002 I'm So Pretty because it looked like a colour that I would wear most often. It's a dark/medium brown colour free of any kind of shimmer or glitter. 

The pencil itself if very stiff and 'creamy' is probably the last word I would use to describe this. It drags on the skin, and takes quite a lot of pressure to get the pay off you see in the swatch above.

 

I like the casing, like most Dainty Doll products. It's simple, elegant and sleek. The gold branding helps make that so.

 The colour, once I got it on my eyes, was long lasting. It did fade a little over the 8 or so hours I wore it but it didn't smudge or end up sliding of my eyes. It's nice to have a long lasting pencil but I'm not sure the effort of putting it on is worth it. 

If you wanted to give this Dainty Doll Eyeliner Pencil in I'm So Pretty then you can pick it up here on Fragrance Direct for just 99p. 

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Dainty Doll Mascara and Eyeliner Duo

 























As you have probably seen on my blog over the last week or so I have recently purchased a few Dainty Doll product, one of those being the Mascara and Eyeliner Duo. 

 

 This Dainty Doll Mascara and Eyeliner Duo claims to be an essential for all makeup lovers because of the rich liner which effortlessly glides on and the lash boosting mascara adds a lovely finish touch to a look

 






























Sadly, this doesn't live up to that claims. It's not completely terrible, but it's not great either.  

The mascara doesn't hit the mark for me. It's okay if you want something that is going to give you a really natural looks but it offers nothing that I'm looking for in a mascara. I have short, blonde lashes so I need something lengthening and volumising and really black. This doesn't do that. It offers a little bit of colour to my lashes but doesn't give them the 'boost' it claims to give. 



The eyeliner isn't brilliant either. If you have the talent for not blinking while it dries you might be able to get away with it. This liner takes forever to dry and the colour is not buildable. The black colour is sheer at best, and when you try to add another line on top the colour just disappears. I just found that this got everywhere because the formula takes forever to dry. The applicator is nice though, so it's a shame the formula sucks. 

Overall, I'm not a fan of this but if you fancy picking it up you can do so on Fragrance Direct here for just £1.99. It's quite the bargain considering the RRP is £17.50. 

P.S: Have you entered my Nars giveaway? It ends April 29th, so head on over to it here for your chance to win!

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Rimmel Gel Eyeliner Reveiw | Black & Aubergine

Rimmel London Glam Eyes Gel Eyeliner in Black and Aubergine, £6.49. link

I've been getting into gel eyeliners recently! I never really used to use eyeliner on my top lash line, but after trying it a few times, getting a method of application down and finding a good brush to apply it with I really like having liner on the upper lash line. 

I picked up these two liners in Superdrug after trying to find a good, cheap liner that was actually good. The best I've found so far is the Maybelline Gel Eyeliner, but these are a close second. The only reason these do hit to top spot is because they can transfer and I'm not a fan of the packaging. 

The Maybelline liner feels expensive to me, and these just don't. I think it's the brush/lid combo that makes it feel cheaper and less luxurious. The brush is great for touch ups, or if you have the skills to use it but for a beginner like me it's just not a good brush. It's very wide and I end up with liner everywhere! 

I have had these transfer onto my upper lid a few times, but it only seems to happen when I apply them with a heavy hand and the product takes a little longer to set. Other than than, they are pretty great at staying in place. The intensity on the colour remains through out the day, and they are pretty darn pigmented for drugstore liners. The black is more so than then purple, but I'm impressed with both. 

The texture is gorgeous. These are more gel like than most I've tried, and glide on smoothly. I find that some can be creamy and a little stiff, making it hard to get a nice, clean line on the upper lid. The gel-likeness about this liner makes it easy to get a smooth, crisp line.  

  
I would recommend these to anyone who wants to give gel liner a try, and wants something other than plain ol' black. I believe they also do a brown and blue shade if you fancy giving those a try. You can get the purple here and the black here for £6.49 each.  

 

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MUA Eyeliner Pencils

MUA Intense Colour Eyeliner Pencils, £1. link
Malt Chocolate, Royal Blue, Snow White, Forest Green, Gold Nugget and Turquoise

MUA, or Makeup Academy, is a fabulous brand that you can get online or in Superdrug stores. Unfortunately, it's only available in the UK. Anyway, it's great quality stuff for amazing prices. My most recent love from this brand is the intense colour eyeliner pencils. They are just as good as some of the more expensive brands I've tried and they are only £1 a pencil.

They offer two types of pencils that are both just as good as each other. The Intense Colour Pencils are shimmery or matte, whereas the Intense Glitter Pencils are full of glitter.  They are both really well pigmented and reasonably soft too. They don't quite glide on like Nyx Slide on pencils or anything like that but they don't cause any hurt on the lids anything like that.

Snow White, Royal Blue, Gold Nugget, Forest Green, Turquoise and Malt Chocolate

The best colours that I have are gold nugget and forest green. They are both beautifully pigmented and I feel like I could wear them every day, where as some of the both colours are a little brighter and are more for special occasions.

I would say that the worst colour is the snow white shade. Its not as pigmented as the rest of the shades. It's still an amazing white eyeliner for the price, but it's not as great as the others.   only really got it for use on the water line and it doesn’t show up on the water line at all.

I think the sharpeners on the lid show that it's a slightly cheaper product because it's not the most ascetically pleasing but it's really handy. It's also really nice to have a sharpener on hand all the time. A sharpener alone would cost more than the pencil itself and I use the for almost all my pencils simply because it's the only one that I don't loose. 

Smokey Eyes | Drugstore Edition

I love a good smokey eye for a night out and I have a number of options in my collection to help me create a nice look. I was thinking about it the other day and my favourites for creating a smokey eye are all drugstore products so I thought I would share with you my favourite products to create a nice look. 

Let’s start with bases. I think when you are using dark colours like grey and black it’s essential to have a good base down so that the colours go on opaque and stay there. I either reach for my Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Immortal Charcoal (link) or I use my Maybelline Gel Liner in Black (link) as a base all over the lid. It just makes everything more intense which I love. 

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Immortal Charcoal and Maybelline Gel Liner in Intense Black

When it comes to shadows only every really reach for three palettes. The first is from Miss Sporty and is the cheapest of the bunch. It’s just their Eyeshadow quad in Blue Eyes (link). It has four shadows in the tiny palette, and I like that it’s not just greys and black but they have thrown a deep purple in their two. It really makes my eyes pop which I adore. 

Miss Sporty Smokey Eyeshadow Quad in Blue Eyes

The other palette I quite often reach for is the MUA Professional Eyeshadow Palette in Starry Night (link). This is a total bargain at £4 for 12 incredible shadows. You get a nice range of greys and dark colours to create a look along side some amazing highlight shades to make every seem a bit brighter. 

MUA Professional Palette in Starry Night

The last of the shadows that I reach for is a quad from GOSH. I’m not sure you can get this in this packaging any more but GOSH still do quads and trios with amazing smokey eye colours. Anyway, this quad is called Smokey Eyes (link) and had 4 colours in there to create the perfect smokey eye look. I love this palette because I can use it a mirror on a night out to and make up that my shadow stays nice and dark. The colours range from a really nice shimmery white to an intense matte black. The black is actually pretty amazing, and is a really deep black colour. 

GOSH Eye Shadow Collection in 001 Smokey Eyes

Now, in my opinion the smokey eye isn’t complete with a beautiful bit of eyeliner. I tend to switch it up between liquid liner and gel. My favourite gel liner is the Maybelline one I mentioned above, and my favourite liquid liner at the moment is the Collection/Collection 2000 Extreme Felt Tip Liner (link). It’s a nice liner that is really black, and because of the felt tip style it’s nice and easy to apply.

Collection 2000/Collection Extreme Felt Tip Liner (Black)

Kohl liner is super important to me with a smokey eye. A white on the waterline can open your eyes up a little if the black on your lids closes your eyes to much. A black can intensify the look and add a little more drama. I love the Sleek Eau La La liners in Noir (link) and White Noise (link). There are a number of other great liners to like the MUA Intense Colour Liners (link) and Maybelline Master Drama liner (link).

Sleek Eau La La Liners in Noir and White Noise