Armani Eye Tints Worth The Splurge?

I am no stranger to Armani makeup. I have tried their foundations, blushes, lipsticks and mascaras (my all time favourite mascara is the Armani Eyes To Kill one). As such I was pretty intrigued when they launched their Eye Tints which were a little bit more exciting then your average powder eyeshadows. I picked two shades and have put them to good use so I can tell you my honest opinion and provide hopefully an insightful review. Shall we get right into it?

L-R: Armani Eye Tints 9 and 6

A little bit of background: Armani falls under the L'Oréal umbrella and is one of their most luxurious makeup brands. In Finland if I am not mistaken you can find an Armani counter only at the Helsinki city centre Stockmann Department Store. Since it's a higher end brand it comes with a hefty price tag. I decided to get two shades just to see if the formula is consistent throughout or not. I have the following shades: 9 Cold Copper - a brownish-taupe and 6 Green Iron - a bronzy-green. Altogether they have 12 shades in a range plus 3 new shades. I think the colour selection is great, you have  neutrals, deeper tones and pops of colour. 

T-B: Armani Eye Tint in 9 Cold Copper and 6 Green Iron

L-R: Armani Eye Tint in 9 Cold Copper and 6 Green Iron

Armani Eye Tints come in sleek packaging. You wouldn't expect anything less from Armani. It's very classy and neat. I personally like the tube-like packaging, it reminds me of a mascara weirdly enough. Unlike with mascaras that come with a brush wand you have a doe foot applicator. I think the idea is brilliant, since a lot of cream eyeshadows come in pots and you have to dip your finger to scoop out the product. The texture of these eyeshadows is somewhere in between a liquid and a cream, so it's very easy to apply and blend out. You actually get a decent amount of time to work with these before they set. They provide a smooth metallic finish to your lids. They are not shimmery or glittery by any means (at least the two shades I have). In a tube you get 6,5ml of product and that will last you a very long time, as you need just a tiny little bit. You can use these shadows as a light wash of colour for a day look or you can intensify it by layering the colour for a little bit more drama. Either way these work beautifully. 

Armani Eye Tints Applicator

L-R: 9 Cold Copper and 6 Green Iron

On the Armani website they claim for these to have 16 hours of fault-proof, smudge-free and crease-free wear. I would have to disagree with this statement. On their own without a primer I have to say they last about 5 hours before I can start seeing some creasing. With an eyeshadow primer you can get an 8-9 hour wear out of these with no smudging, creasing or fading. I have to say this is not the most long-wearing formula of cream eyeshadows I have tried and for the price you pay I would have liked the longevity to be slightly better. That being said they are extremely easy to work with and I believe would be a lifesaver for women on the go with busy schedules.

Overall I really do like Armani Eye Tints. I can't fault the texture, the quality is great, you get a variety of colours to choose from and they are especially good for those days when you don't have time to fuss with eyeshadows. However, in terms of longevity and being cruelty-free they are not the best on the market. If that is your priority I would highly recommend trying out By Terry Ombre Black Stars. They are fantastic and around the same price point.

Let me know if you have any budget-friendly alternatives for cream eyeshadows, I would love to try some!

Cheers,
Muffy

The Best Cream-Coloured Eyeshadow

If you have been following my blog for some time you know it's not the first time I mention Wet n Wild single eyeshadow in Brulee. I decided why not make a separate post on it since it has a special place in my makeup collection. As a matter of fact it's the only single eyeshadow that I have used up completely and as soon as I did I had to get a new one. If you want to find out why this little guy is so special then keep on reading!

Shortly Wet n Wild is an affordable cruelty-free brand. In my opinion they make one of the best eyeshadow pallets on the market which can easily rival some of the higher-end ones. One of my all-time favourites is the Comfort Zone palette which I have raved about earlier. Recently I have tried their Megalast Liquid Lip Color but more on that in another post. From their single eyeshadows I have used obviously Brulee, but also Nutty. Both are fantastic, but Brulee is a definite winner. 

Wet n Wild Single Eyeshadow in Brulee

Wet n Wild single eyeshadows come in simple plastic packaging, nothing fancy. I personally don't mind the design and think it's quite sturdy for what it is and pretty compact for travelling. You get 1,7g of product which is a good amount for an individual shadow. For comparison Makeup Geek single eyeshadows contain 1,8g of product. Brulee to me is a perfect creamy-nude colour. It's not too warm and it's not too cool. For example Makeup Geek's eyeshadow in Baby Face is more cool toned while Peach Smoothie is warmer/peachier. The texture is buttery smooth and you need a tiny bit of product to get full opacity. It can be slightly powdery, but I don't see it as a problem with such a light colour. Plus you can always tap your brush to get the excess product off. Now that I think about it, in terms of consistency it reminds me of the Urban Decay eyeshadows. When you apply Brulee on the lids it doesn't feel or look chalky and it doesn't leave any streaks or gaps. I use this colour every time I do my makeup. It works great as a base to help other colours blend easier or you can wear it on its own with a darker colour in a crease.

Wet n Wild Single Eyeshadow in Brulee

The only downside I can think of is when you hit pan on it big time, it can crumble/fall apart easily. To be fair I witnessed it happen to other powder products such as powders and blushes. Just don't take it with you on the go when it's in that state. Besides great quality this eyeshadow comes at an extremely affordable price point. Of course that varies depending on the location but I got mine from Bulgaria and it was around 1,99€. For my Finnish readers out there you can get Wet n Wild products from Pretty.fi or BeautyJoint (ships internationally). 

If you are looking for a staple to be added to your makeup collection I suggest you check Wet n Wild's Brulee out. It's a perfect cream-colour eyeshadow that can be used in multiple ways. Once you try it I guarantee you will never want to use any other skin-toned, neutral, cream-colour shadow. At least I haven't found anything better and I have tried a ton!

Let me know if you know of any other hidden gems out there that I should try!

Cheers,

Muffy

Milani Amore Matte Lip Crèmes

Today I am bringing your way a truly exciting post. If you follow beauty blogs, instagram and other social media you know all the hype about liquid lipsticks. Pretty much every brand is coming up with their version. I am all about matte lips regardless of the trend or season, therefore I am the first to jump on the matte liquid lipsticks bandwagon. The ones I have tried come at a relatively high price point since they are not from a mass market. Imagine me going all bananas when I heard that finally a mass market brand was coming out with matte liquid lipsticks, I just could not resist. I am referring to the Milani's Limited Edition Amore Matte Lip Crèmes. If you want to know if you need to run out and get them, then stay tuned!

Milani Amore Matte Lip Crèmes

Milani is an affordable USA brand. I haven't tried a lot of their products, just the Shadow Eyez, because it's not readily available where I live. I was very happy to discover that Milani has an actual European website, so there is no need to order directly from USA. Amore Matte Lip Crèmes come in 8 shades and they are limited edition. This means if you want to get your hands on these you need to be quick. They are cruelty-free and infused with Vitamins A & C for added hydration. I picked up two colours: Lust, a muted-pink and Crush, a brownish-red shade. I figured for me to make a proper review on these I need to try both lighter and darker shades. I honestly think these are the two stand out shades from the entire collection. 

L-R: Milani Amore Matte Lip Crèmes in Crush and Lust

Milani Amore Matte Lip Crèmes in Lust and Crush

Now let's start with the packaging. I personally like it. It's sleek, non-bulky and doesn't feel cheap. You get 6g of product which is a standard amount. For comparison Sephora Cream Lip Stains contain around 5g of product, while Sleek Matte Me Lip Creams have 6g of product. Milani Amore Matte Lip Crèmes come with a flat doe foot applicator which I find easy to work with. You need just a tiny bit of product, therefore prior to application I suggest you wipe off the excess from both sides. The consistency is quite liquidy compared to some other formulas that are creamier or mousse-like. In my opinion it's most similar to La Splash Lip Couture's and Aromi Liquid Lipsticks textures. They have a sweet vanilla butter cup scent to them which I don't mind. I much prefer it to the La Splash chemical scent, which puts me off every time I use their products. 

When it comes to longevity they work really well. I have been wearing Lust for the whole day including drinking and eating. It did fade a little bit in the centre of the lips but nothing major. Since it's such a "my lips but better" colour you don't really notice the stark line as much. With Crush it's way more noticeable. In my opinion these are not as drying as for example the La Splash Lip Coutures and feel comfortable on the lips. Both colours applied beautifully with one coat and no streakiness was detected. I would say that you need to exfoliate your lips especially if you are planning on wearing darker colours. This is applicable to all liquid lipsticks brands. You will see why in the lip swatch below. 

Milani Amore Matte Lip Crème in Crush

Milani Amore Matte Lip Crème in Lust

Overall I am very content with these lippies. Would I recommend them? Hell, yes! I have been wearing Lust non-stop for the past few days and I just can't get enough. The formula is comfortable, cruelty-free, stays all day and is affordable. I wanted to get this post out as soon as possible so you could have a chance to try these out before they are gone. If you have been wanting to try liquid lipsticks but could not justify spending twenty euros and maybe not liking it at the end, give these ones a go. They retail for only 7,16€ and have a pretty good colour selection. If I had to recommend one, Lust would be it, as I think it's a universally flattering shade. If you want something more unique and bold, Crush fits right that bill. I would not suggest Flirt just because I read some negative reviews of it being streaky and hard to work with. I like these so much that I am contemplating of buying a backup of Lust and that's unlike me as I think there will always be something better.

Let me know if you have been converted to the liquid lipsticks and what are you favourites! 

Cheers,
Muffy

Maybelline The Nudes Palette - Take It or Leave It?

I haven't tried anything from Maybelline in a while, but I got pretty intrigued when I saw they were coming out with The Nudes Palette. Who doesn't like a good neutral palette, right? I have been playing around with it and have formulated quite a solid opinion. If you want to find out what I think about this palette just keep on reading!

Maybelline The Nudes Palette comes with 12 shades. The packaging is nothing special. To me it does feel a little bit cheap and flimsy, but I am willing to overlook it as long as the product is good. You also get a dual-ended eyeshadow application sponge, which I honestly never use. I think the concept behind this palette is pretty neat as you get both shimmery and matte shades which is perfect for creating any look, be it an everyday simple no-makeup makeup or a smokey eye. At the back of the palette you get instruction as to how you can pair various shades together. For beginners or people who struggle with eye makeup this is pretty handy. It says you can get 13 different looks using this palette. 

Maybelline The Nudes Palette

Maybelline The Nudes Palette

When it comes to the actual product inside I am not a fan and I'll tell you why. First of all the texture of these eyeshadows is chalky, especially with the matte shades. I think the shimmery ones are creamier but still nothing to be impressed with. In terms of pigmentation it's also hit or miss. The matte shades are not too pigmented while some of the shimmery shades do surprise. For example my favourite of the bunch is the 4th shade on the top row - a bronzy-gold, while my least favourite is the sparkly white shade which is the first one at the top row. These blend out poorly. Due to their chalky consistency you don't get an even colour distribution but a rather patchy one. The lighter matte shades you need to seriously build up in order to get any colour payoff in your crease. I do like the actual colours they chose to include in this palette, but I wish they would perform much better.
  

Maybelline The Nudes Palette - Top Row

Maybelline The Nudes Palette - Botton Row

Overall I say skip this one. Even though it's visually appealing and you feel like you get more bang for your buck, don't give in. If you want an affordable and good quality neutral palette I highly recommend Wet n Wild's Comfort Zone Palette. I have a separate review on it here. Plus if you are concerned with animal welfare Maybelline is not cruelty-free, while Wet n Wild is. Another alternative would be Urban Decay's Naked Basics palette which is a bit more pricey but frequently on offer at Feeluinque. I hope this post was helpful in case you could not make up your mind whether to take it or leave it!

Let me know what's your go-to neutral palette!

Cheers,
Muffy

Underrated Lip Liners

I don't hear anyone talk about the Kiko Automatic Precision Lip Liners. I have tried many lip pencils and I am always on a hunt to find something better and these are among my top lip liner formulas ever. Besides, the colour range is extremely vivid ranging from nudes to reds to pinks and to deeper tones. So far I have two shades 500 and 502 and believe me when I say, this is just the beginning!

Kiko Automatic Precision Lip Liners

Kiko is an affordable Italian makeup brand. I came across it for the fist time - surprise surprise - in Italy but you can also buy their products online. I have also tried their blushes, lipsticks, eye primer and nail polishes. Out of the entire selection these lip liners are surely the standout products for me. The 500 is a natural rose while the 502 is a deep pink. I use 502 more frequently just because it's closer to my natural lip colour. I get so many compliments when I wear this particular colour!

T-D: 500 Natural Rose and 502 Deep Pink

Let's talk about packaging. As the name implies they come in a retractable format, which I appreciate. On one end you have an actual pencil while on the other a silicone-tip applicator. I don't really use the applicator and honestly fail to understand its function. You can take the applicator out and there's a sharpener, which is quite handy. A similar concept with the NARS Velvet Lip Liners if you are familiar with those. I don't normally use the sharpener these products come with but in case you need to, there is that option. The formula is extremely pigmented and creamy. It doesn't tag or pull on your lips like for example MAC lip pencils tend to do. As such Kiko lip pencils do not emphasise the lines on your lips. The staying power is exceptional. It claims to be long-lasting and water-resistant which I completely agree with. These pencils do not budge. I think in my collection this is the longest-wearing lip liner formula hands down.

L-R: 500 Natural Rose and 502 Deep Pink

In my opinion when it comes to texture they are most comparable to the Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liners, which I also adore. I have reviewed one, in Eastend Snob which happens to be my all-time favourite shade. If you want retractable lip liners that are cruelty-free and in the similar price range these are it. I can't really fault these products, maybe only for the fact that you can't go to the store and buy them as easily as Rimmel, Maybelline or L'Oreal. 

If you love lip pencils and haven't tried Kiko's Automatic Precision Lip Liners you have been missing out! Even if you are not into lip liners but want to give it a go, check these ones out. They are affordable, cruelty-free, long-wearing and have fantastic pigmentation as well as colour selection. You just can't go wrong! I will be surely picking up 501 Salmon Pink next time I am near a Kiko counter.

Let me know what's your go-to nude lip liner!

Cheers,

Muffy

My Go-To Eyeshadow Bases

Nowadays an eyeshadow base is a staple in my makeup routine. I have no idea how I lived without it before. I always thought that it was acceptable that eyeshadows would crease and fade throughout the day. Now I know better. I have tried a lot of bases and primers both from  the mass market and more expensive brands. I have been able to narrow it down to my three go-to products that do not disappoint. If you want to know which are the lucky three, then keep on reading!

First up and the newest one to my collection is the Armani Eyes & Brow Maestro. I have the shade 03. I don't use it for brows as obviously this is not my colour. It's more suited for redhead girls and boys. However it works great as an eyeshadow base. You can wear it on its own or as a base for warm toned shadows. I usually gravitate towards warm tones, therefore it's perfect for me. I would describe the colour as copper or burned orange with subtle shimmer. The shimmer does not translate on the lids at all. The consistency is quite interesting. It's not as creamy as your standard cream eyeshadows like Maybellin Color Tattoos or MAC Paint Pots nor is it as dry as the brow gels that come in pots. It's somewhere in between. It applies nicely on the lids but it dries pretty quickly. And once it sets it's not moving anywhere. It claims to be waterproof and to have 20h of wear time. I don't keep my makeup on for 20h so I can't say much about that. But I agree that you need to use an oil or makeup remover to take it off. I think for redhead ladies and gents out there this could be a true multitasking product.

Armani Eye & Brow Maestro in 03

Next up is the Lancome Long Wear Eyeshadow Base. I have it in the  shade 03 Nude. As the name suggests it's a nude beige colour, very similar to Mac's Paint Pot in Painterly. It has a creamy texture that blends like a dream. You need just a tiny little bit to cover both of your eyelids. I usually apply these types of products with my finger but lately I have been cracking out the Zoeva 142 Concealer Buffer brush and it works well. As with the Armani Eyes & Brows Maestro you can wear it on its own or under an eyeshadow. It's great for neutralising redness and veins on the lids. As you can see mine is very well loved, especially during warmer months. It lasts all day on me without creasing. That being said, it did crease on my friend, so if possible I would recommend testing it out first since it's not cheap. I do want to mention that if you have dry eyelids (like yours truly) you can't use this product regularly. It will dry them out even more. Therefore, it's best to switch it up once and again with another product, like the one I am about to present next.

Lancome Long Wear Eyeshadow Base in 03 Nude

Last and my most used is NARS' Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base. Unlike the other two it comes in a tube with a doe foot applicator. It has no particular colour to it, just a slight white hue but once blended on the lids it disappears. In terms of consistency it's the most liquidy from the bunch. It leaves a faint tacky veil on the lids allowing for eyeshadows to adhere nicely. I usually dust a neutral shadow over it like Wet n Wild Brulee or Makeup Geek Baby Face, which helps eyeshadows I put on top to blend seamlessly. As a matter of fact I use this technique with any eyeshadow base. This is my tried and true eye primer that I recommend to everyone. It's cruelty -free and I know that my eye makeup will stay put all day. You need just a little bit of product, hence the tube will last you for a long time. It will not dry out, which tends to happen with cream products that come in pots. It's also the most travel friendly since it's not made out of glass.

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

L-R: Armani Eye & Brow Maestro 03,
Lancome Long Wear Eyeshadow Base 03 Nude,
NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

Eyeshadow bases are something I have overlooked for a long time. Now I can't do my makeup without them. If your eyeshadows crease and you struggle to find an eyeshadow base or primer that actually works, try at least one of these. Although a good all-rounder and my favourite has to be NARS' Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base. It's cruelty-free, comes in a handy packaging, has no tint to it (can be used under any makeup) and won't dry your eyelids out. Believe me it will change your eyeshadow game! 

Let me know what's your trusty eyeshadow base or primer, I'd love to know!

Cheers,
Muffy

NARS Knows How to Make Lip Products

It was unintentional but somehow all the lip products I own from NARS fall under the same colour family of dusty purple lilac hues. I don't wear purply shades on an everyday basis, however I do enjoy having those options for a pop of colour. If I want to rock a bold lip I either opt for an orange-red or purply shade. Today I will share with you my NARS goodies comprising of Larger Than Life Lipgloss in Anneés Folles, Velvet Lipliner in El Agua and Audacious Lipstcik in Dominique. 

NARS Larger Than Life Lipgloss in Années Folles,
Velvet Lip Liner in El Agua, Audacious Lipstick in Dominique

I am sure most of you are familiar with NARS, and if not, it's a cruelty-free makeup brand that is part of the Estée Lauder group. In their range they pretty much carry everything you can think of when creating a makeup look plus some skincare bits and pieces. If you are in Finland the easiest way to get your hands on NARS is to order online from their EU website where you get free shipping on orders over 50,00€. And believe me it's not difficult to spend that amount, especially if you are just getting to know the brand. But let's jump right into the product, shall we.

L-R: NARS Larger Than Life Lipgloss in  Anneés Folles,
Audacious Lipstick in Dominique, Velvet Lip Liner in El Agua

First up is the NARS Larger Than Life Lipgloss in Anneés Folles. On NARS' website it's described as sheer violet. I would say it's pretty accurate. This lipgloss comes in a sleek packaging with 6ml of product. The main reason why I don't have a lot of lip glosses, and to be fair this is the first one I purchased in years, is because I hate the sticky feeling. However NARS Larger Than Life Lipgloss has converted me back to using lip gloss. I can't speak for the entire range but the Anneés Folles formula is fantastic. It's non-sticky, easy to apply, doesn't gloop and lasts for a really long time considering it's sheer. The colour is everyday-suitable especially if you go for more cool-toned looks. I can't really fault this product. Of course some might find spending over 20,00€ on a lipgloss insane and I get that.

NARS Larger Than Life Lipgloss in Anneés Folles

NARS Larger Than Life Lipgloss in Anneés Folles

Next up is the NARS Velvet Lip Liner in El Agua. I am not going to lie, it was a pain to get this pencil. It was sold out for quite some time. I might have overlooked it if not for the hype. NARS describes it as lavender rose and it's exactly that. It's a mix of purple and rose. The packaging is sleek and is colour coded which is a plus if you are like me and store your pencils upside down to see the colour. You get 0,5g of product. It's a retractable pencil that comes with a sharpener. You can pull out the sharpener from the flat end of the pencil. I think that's pretty neat especially if you want to get a more precise application, but I honestly never use the sharpener. In terms of formula it's creamy and glides on the lips without tugging or pulling. It's extremely long-wearing. However, I would say that it's pricey for what it is. If you are not too crazy about the colour I say Catrice and Rimmel Exaggerate Lipliners are as good. 

NARS Velvet Lip Liner in El Agua

NARS Velvet Lip Liner in El Agua

Last but certainly not least is the NARS Audacious Lipstick in Dominique. It's described as a pinky-lilac. I personally think it's more of a greyish-purple shade. It comes in a black sleek packaging with 4,2g of product. I really like that the packaging is magnetised, it feels weighty and luxurious. The texture of this lipstick is buttery smooth. The pigmentation is on point. With one swipe you get the colour you see in the bullet. This is by far my favourite lipstick formula and I have tried a lot of lipsticks. The finish it gives is not too matte nor too shiny. It's that sophisticated creamy matte look. The colour lasts really long on the lips and when it does wear off it does so nicely. You don't get that weird line in between your lips. This is the only shade I have from the range as I thought it was the most unique. But now I am also tempted to get more of an everyday type of colour. These lipsticks are priced similarly with Charlotte Tilbury, however I really think they are worth it. Plus the colour selection is outstanding, you are bound to find a shade that appeals to you. 

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Dominique

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Dominique

My final thoughts are that NARS do lip products really well. I cant complain about the ones I tried. If I had to recommend just one product it would be the Audacious Lipsticks. These apply like a dream, they are opaque in one swipe and they last really long. Over the years I happened to realise that it's better to buy one good lipstick that you will use every day than have a bunch of mediocre ones that you don't care for. If you have a NARS counter near you I warmly suggest going and swatching a few shades. If you are not so fortunate and don't have Sephora or NARS near you, I suggest looking into shades like Anita (antique rose) or Brigitte (nude rose). Those are universally flattering. 

Let me know if you have tried anything else from NARS and would you recommend it!

Cheers,
Muffy

Budget Pick - Essence Blushes

If you have been reading my blog for a while it's no secret that I have a special love for blush. I am convinced that you can't have too many blushes. They're something I like to collect and also something that actually gets used up. And let's be honest, who doesn't like a good deal. I asked a friend of mine to bring me a few blushes from Central Europe and I have put them to a test. These are Essence Silky Touch Blushes from a permanent line and the Nauti Girl Blush from a limited edition collection. To find out my thoughts, stay tuned!

Essence is an affordable cruelty-free makeup brand that has recently become available in Finland, yes! In Finland you can find it at the Tokmanni chain. I got mine from Austria but now I know if I want to repurchase I can get it locally. In the USA you can purchase Essence at Ulta. Besides blushes, I have also tried their lipliners, nail polishes and lipsticks. A separate review will be coming up on those, so keep your eyes peeled. Essence Silk Touch Blushes come in a round compact and you get 5g of product. I appreciate that the packaging is see-through. This means you can easily find the right colour amidst an overwhelming amount of blushes, if you are like me. It's plastic but doesn't feel flimsy. Sure it's nothing fancy but considering the price point it serves it's purpose well.

Essence Silky Touch Blush in 10 Adorable and 40 Natural Beauty

Now let's talk about the actual product. The shades I got are 40 Natural Beauty (brownish-nude) and 10 Adorable (rosy-pink). On the Essence website they have 6 shades altogether. In Finland I saw only 4 shades on display. I have to say that the colour range isn't too diverse. For example 10 Adorable and 20 Babydoll are very similar. The texture of these blushes is silky soft, hence the name. It doesn't kick off a lot of powder when you dip your brush, which was a positive surprise. In the pan they look pretty matte but when swatched or applied on the cheeks you can see a sheen. I don't mind a slight sheen as long as it's not chunky glitter. They are quite well pigmented. They are not as opaque as the Makeup Geek blushes but they are not bad at all. I would have expected no colour payoff whatsoever, but they swatch beautifully and you can build up the colour to your liking. When applied on the cheeks I haven't noticed any patchiness or streakiness. They also wear nicely throughout the day, I would say a good 5 hours. They have no scent to them, which is a plus. I don't know if you have tried the Lancome blushes, but the scent gets to me every time. In terms of ingredients Essence Silk Touch Blushes do contain talc and parabens. 

Essence Nauti Girl Blush in 01 Anchors Aweigh!

Next I have here the Nauti Girl Blush in 01 Anchors Aweigh! from the Essence Nauti Girl limited edition collection. As the name implies it has been inspired by sailing, marine style and the nautical colour scheme of red, blue and grey. This blush comes in a slightly different packaging. It's still see-through but a square shaped compact with a cute anchor imprint on the actual product. You get 8g of product and it's the only blush in the collection. I would describe the colour as a bright coral. The packaging doesn't feel flimsy but a tiny bit bulky for my liking. In terms of pigmentation I think it's quite sheer and not as impressive as the original Silky Touch Blushes. If you want the colour to translate exactly like you see it in the pan you need a lot of building up. That being said, it could be a good thing if you are starting up with makeup and afraid to overdo it in the blush department. The texture is not as silky smooth as with the Silky Touch Blushes but still decent and not powdery. I wore it the other day and it started to fade after about 5 hours. As with the other Essence blushes it contains talc. 

L-R: 01 Anchors Aweigh!, 10 Adorable and 40 Natural Beauty

Overall my thoughts are that these are good budget options. If you are looking for everyday neutral colours you can't go wrong with these. They are smooth, easy to blend and wear well throughout the day. Would I say these are better than Catrice blushes I reviewed recently? I don't think so. But if you can't get your hands on Catrice then these are really good alternatives. However, if you are sensitive to talc or parabens I would say skip these. Instead try the Makeup Geek blushes, they are paraben and talc free. Essence Silk Touch Blushes retail for under 3,00€ depending where you buy them, but nevertheless it's a bargain! These would be amazing for travel and even if they do get damaged you can easily replace them as they don't cost a fortune. I don't take my expensive powder products with me when I travel and I had to learn it the hard way.

Let me know what your all time favourite blush is, maybe I am missing out on something!

Cheers,
Muffy

By Terry Ombre Black Star Worth the Splurge?

I am always up for finding great products at an affordable price. However, there seems to be a lack of cream eyeshadow sticks in the mass market. The very few I found and tried haven't performed too well. For example the Kiko Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadows crease on me if I don't use a primer. The very reason why I opt for a cream eyeshadow stick is because I want a fast one step solution. As such I decided to bite the bullet and get the By Terry Ombre Black Star Melting Eyeshadow in Misty Rock. To find out if it's worth the splurge, keep on reading!

I am quite new to the By Terry products. I haven't tried anything but the Ombre Black Star Melting Eyeshadow in Misty Rock. By Terry is a luxury makeup line that is cruelty-free. Neither its finished products nor ingredients are tested on animals. It's an independent company that doesn't sell in China. By Terry Ombre Black Star Melting Eyeshadows are meant to deliver intense, light-catching pigment with long-wear results. They are packed with Tahitian Black Pearl Extract which is rich in calcium, trace elements and pearl proteins. 

Let's start with packaging. It's sleek with no unnecessary bulkiness. It's surprisingly light weight. I would have imagined it to be a little bit more weighty. But other than that it looks and feels expensive. I appreciate that it's also colour coded, which means if you have several shades you can see which one is which. The eyeshadow comes in a stick format that you can twist up or down. Extremely handy for if you are on the go. The colour I picked is Misty Rock. I figured if I am going to spend a considerable amount of money on an eyeshadow I want it to be wearable yet unique. This shade did not disappoint. It's really difficult to describe as it's so multidimensional. To me it looks like a dusty-rose mauve with flecks of silver running through it. I heard that this shade is a chameleon since it looks different on everyone depending on your complexion. 

By Terry Ombre Black Star in Misty Rock

By Terry Ombre Black Star in Misty Rock (the swatch doesn't do it justice)

Besides the beautiful colour the formula is out of this world. This is one eyeshadow in my collection (and I have plenty) that I can wear on its own and it won't fade or crease. I can't stress enough how crease-proof this little guy is. A lot of cream eyeshadows claim to be long-lasting and crease-proof but most of them fail to deliver in that department. This one does exactly what it promises. The texture is creamy and glides effortlessly on the lids. I will however recommend doing one eye at the time as it dries pretty quickly. I apply it directly on my lids and smudge it with a fluffy blending brush, usually Zoeva 227 Soft Definer Vegan. I always suggest using a synthetic brush with cream products. 

What I also appreciate about this product is that it can take you from day to night. You can swipe a sheer layer of colour all over your lids for a day time look and when going out at night you can intensify the colour by applying a little bit more (until reaching the desired effect). The only downside of this product is the price. I purchased mine from Feelunqiue but you can also find it on Net-a-Porter. At the time of this post going live, Feelunique is running a 20% off site wide including By Terry products. If you wanted to try this product, now is the time to get it! In general, always be on the lookout for offers and discounts, as Feelunqiue has those quite frequently. 

Overall this is one of the favourite products I have purchased in a long while. If I want a no-fuss eyeshadow look that won't budge, I pick this one up. It's pricey but, in my opinion, worth it. I am thinking of getting at least one more shade - Bronze Moon - in the future. A not so little hint, this would make a wonderful gift for a special other. 

Let me know if you have tried anything from By Terry and what you would recommend!

Cheers,
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