What´s in My Friend's Makeup Bag

I don't know about you but I am pretty nosey when it comes to other people's makeup, skincare essentials and home decor. I figured why not take a look inside my friend's makeup bag. I might even make a series out of this, lets see. I reckon it's curious to see what other people use on everyday basis and hear their opinion for a change, not mine. So let's get right to it!

 

Let's start with the makeup bag itself. It's a leather pouch from &Other Stories. It is no longer available but in case you are interested you can find something similar here. 

Just for reference my friend has neutral-cool complexion and dark hair. In MAC she is around NC15 and 0,5 in Urban Decay Naked Skin Liquid Foundation. Now let's talk about the most noticeable product from the bunch - an eyeshadow duo by NARS in Parallel Universe from the Christopher Kane for NARS limited edition collection. It comes with two stunning shades: the iridescent pink lilac and the soft iridescent violet. Even thought these are purple hues they are wearable for any day. In terms of pigmentation these perform really well. The texture is soft, however they have particles of glitter in them. The glitter isn't scratchy, but as expected there is fallout with these shadows. My friend recommends applying it with a flat eyeshadow brush and patting the colour onto the lids, not swiping around. This will allow for a minimal fallout. These eyeshadows wear for about 10h without creasing when applied on an eyeshadow base. My friend uses an original Urban Decay Primer Potion.

 NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Parallel Universe

Armani Sheer Blush #10

Next up is the Armani Sheer Blush #10. It's a pinky-neutral shade that is universally flattering. It's texture is soft, slightly powdery but not chalky. It has somewhat of a shimmer running through it, however it doesn't translate on the cheeks. It applies easily and you can build up the colour. The longevity is great. It lasts throughout the day without fading. The only downside is that it has been discontinued. But don't you despair Armani Cheek Fabric Blush in Daybreak (503) is quite similar. 

The lipstick of her choice is a recent purchase that is being put to the test. It's Charlotte Tilbury's Kissing Lipstick in Nude Kate. It's a nude with pinkish-grey hues perfect for fair complexions with cool undertones. The pigmentation is alright, however it applies a bit patchily. My friend has tried it over Mac's Prep & Prime Lip and Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide On Lip Pencil in Ozone. The texture is creamy but it feels heavy on the lips. The longevity is not too impressive either, lasting only for a couple of hours. The finish is slightly shimmery but that doesn't bother her. So far this lipstick has not lived up to expectations. My friend would recommend trying the Charlotte Tilbury's Matte Revolution Lipsticks or Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Naked instead.

Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt,
Charlotte Tilbury Kissing Lipstick in Nude Kate,
Jack Black Intensive Therapy Lip Balm

Jack Black Intensive Therapy Lip Balm,
Charlotte Tilbury Kissing Lipstick in Nude Kate, Mac's Prep & Prime Lip

Staying on the topic of lips, Mac's Prep & Prime Lip is an essential for my friend. As the name suggests it's a lip primer that ensures your lipstick does not feather and lasts longer. She has been using it excessively and it works like a charm. It's most effective in combination with MAC or NARS lipsticks but not so much with Charlotte Tilbury. If you are not a fan of MAC, a good alternative is Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide On Lip Pencil in Ozone but that one you need to sharpen after every use. 

To keep the lips protected and hydrated she uses Jack Black Intensive Therapy Lip Balm in Natural Mint & Shea Butter with spf 25. If you don't fancy a tingly sensations, don't you worry, this balm comes in various flavours. She highly recommends this product and it's already on my shopping list. 

Last but certainly not least is the Jo Malone Perfume in Wood Sage & Sea Salt. Jo Malone scents are fresh, simple, nothing too heavy or sweet, which is great for work or hanging out with friends. The 30ml bottle is great for keeping in your bag and re-applying when need be. The Wood Sage & Sea Salt is not the most enduring scent that Jo Malone makes. If you want something more potent try Pomegranate Noir or Birch & Black Pepper (limited edition). Besides the Jo Malone fragrances the ones my friend favours are by Maison Martin Margiela in Untitled and Lazy Sunday Monday, but those do come in 100ml bottles, which is not too travel friendly.

That's it for now. I hope you enjoyed taking a sneak peek into someone else's makeup bag and exploring these mini reviews. Maybe you'd even get interested in trying one of them!

Let me know what your makeup essentials are!

Till next time,
Muffy

Charlotte Tilbury Norman Parkinson Collection Lipsticks

When I heard that Charlotte Tilbury was coming out with a limited edition collection, I knew I had to have at least something from it. It was not just any limited edition collection. It was in collaboration with the famous British photographer Norman Parkinson and was vintage-inspired. I am not gonna lie the items in this collection are pricey. Therefore, I decided to go with the least damaging but still quite damaging option and picked up two lipsticks: Miss Kensington and 1975 Red.  

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipsticks in
 1975 Red and Miss Kensington

Let's start with the most obvious - packaging. It is no different than her permanent lipsticks, but it's nevertheless beautiful. I think there was no need to make a special packaging for these lipsticks as they already have a vintage look and feel to them. I adore the rose gold sleek bullets. In terms of texture these do not disappoint. No wonder it's called modern-matte, since they don't feel drying at all. They are creamy and glide on your lips. They also have an unusual sheen to them, featuring innovative 3D glowing pigments. Charlotte says it was designed to make your lips look more full and plumped. It's especially evident with the 1975 Red. As with all her lipsticks they have a light vanilla scent, which I personally like. I prefer it to for example the fruity scent that YSL Rouge Volupte lipsticks have (it's not bad by no means).

L-R: Miss Kensington and 1975 Red

Now to the most intriguing part - the actual shades she picked for this iconic collaboration. First up is Miss Kensington. Charlotte Tilbury describes it as a rose petal shade, inspired by the quintessentially English, ‘haughty but naughty’ girls of the swinging ‘60s in Chelsea and Kensington and the pastel hues in Norman Parkinson’s pictures of his muses: Audrey Hepburn, Twiggy and his wife Wenda. This colour she suggested especially for fairer skin tones and I agree with that. In my opinion the colour is more of a peachy-pink, I can definitely see some peach hues in it. It surely reminds me of the 60s. Next up is 1975 Red and it's a beauty. This one is by far my favourite. It is described as the classic ‘70s sunset red that captures the fun, naughty and glamorous mood of the decade. It is inspired by Jerry Hall’s Jamaica Blue & Beautiful, British Vogue cover from May 1975, shot by Norman Parkinson. It is a stunning colour. It applies like a dream. It's that perfect combination of orange-red with a vintage vibe to it. Unlike Miss Kensington I think this colour would be flattering on both light and medium skin tones.

Miss Kensington

1975 Red

L-R: 1975 Red and Miss Kensington

In terms of ingredients these contain: lipstick tree extract (I could not figure this one out), orchid extract, carica papaya fruit extract and safflower seed oil. Charlotte Tilbury's products are cruelty-fee. I don't think these lipstick are particularly long-wearing, especially if you eat or drink. But due to their unique shape they are extremely easy to re-apply, even the darker colours. I wore 1975 Red without a lipliner and it looked great.

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in 1975 Red

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Miss Kensington

Here comes not so nice part. I have to be honest and say I was disappointed with Miss Kensington. Don't get me wrong the colour is pretty but the pigmentation is not there. The swatch you see above is not with one or even two or three swipes. I had to seriously build up the colour to get the opacity. It's extremely sheer, not something I would have expected from a modern-matte lipstick at all. I will try to make it work by mixing it with other shades or pairing it with a lipliner, we shall see. I do love the colour, therefore I am willing to go through the extra trouble. The point being if you are looking for an opaque colour payoff with just one swipe like with NARS Audacious Lipsticks or 1975 Red, it's not going to happen. 

Overall, I am happy I have both. Even though Miss Kensington was a bit of a let-down, I like having it for sentimental reasons. However, if you are not into the whole vintage-inspired have to have it all type of thing, I say skip Miss Kensington. Instead pick 1975 Red. Even if you don't wear bold colours, this one just might make you do it! These lipsticks retail for 30,00€ a piece. You can purchase it from Charlotte Tilbury's website or Net-a-Porter. 

Let me know if you have tried anything from Charlotte Tilbury, I'd love to know!

Cheers,

Muffy

Charlotte Tilbury The Dolce Vita Palette

Today I am bringing your way something a little bit different. I don't own a lot of luxury makeup bits and pieces but the ones I do, I really like. As said in my previous posts, prior to buying anything higher-end I do thorough research. This time around when I saw this palette I knew I had to have it. It's all and more you need to feel sophisticated, independent and beautiful. 

Charlotte Tilbury The Dolce Vita Palette

As you might have guessed by the title I am referring to the Charlotte Tilbury's The Dolce Vita Palette. Oh it is so breathtaking! It is the most elegant and luxurious palette I have in my collection. This is the one I go to for special occasions, date nights or if I am just feeling like pampering myself a little bit. It comes in a quad format with four stunning shades. Going clockwise: pale pinky-champagne, burnt sienna, taupe-bronze and glittery gold. The first three shades have a sheen to them but they are not shimmery or metallic by any means. The last shade is more intense and has glitter in it but it's finely milled. I call it a grown up glitter. Besides the Dolce Vita palette Charlotte Tilbury has 8 more to choose from, so you are bound to find the one that appeals to you.

L-R: Pale Pinky-Champagne, Burnt Sienna, Taupe-Bronze and Glittery Gold

I can't fault the packaging, it has a classic design and feels expensive. The eyeshadows are buttery, highly pigmented and easy to blend. They pretty much do all the work for you and you don't have to be a makeup artist to create a wonderful look. They do not crease or fade on me, but I always use an eyeshadow primer. I like how versatile it is. You can take this palette from a day look to a night look. The eyeshadows look amazing on their own or blended with other shadows. At the back of the quad you have instructions on how to use each colour. You have them labeled clockwise as: #1 Prime, #2 Enhance, #3 Smoke and #4 Pop. You don't have to limit yourself to using these shades as suggested - the world is your oyster! Charlotte Tilbury also showcases two looks on her Youtube channel that you can re-create using this palette.

The Dolce Vita Quad Application Instructions 
(You can see mine is very well loved)

However I do have one complaint about this palette. I would have preferred if it came with a matte cream colour instead of the pinky-champagne. It would give it a desert island -status for me. I use any sort of matte cream colour every time I do my makeup to create a base, to make a simple natural eye or to blend out excess eyeshadows. In terms of ingredients do keep in mind that it contains talc and parabens.

Overall it is a fantastic palette. It's pricy but it is worth the splurge if you are looking for a good quality luxury eyeshadow quad. Charlotte Tilbury products are cruelty free. I was gifted this palette but I know it was purchased from Net-a-Porter. It retails for 50,00$ but if you compare it to a Channel quad which retails for 61,00$, it's as good if not better.

Let me know what's your favourite higher-end eyeshadow palette!

Cheers,
Muffy