Brand Spotlight: Urban Decay

Urban Decay is one of those brands that I will always browse the counter of when I am in Debenhams. I adore everything about the brand from their ‘beauty with an edge’ motto to their cruelty free status. They encourage individuality and urge you to express it through their stunning range of eyeshadows, award winning eyeliners and a host of other fantastic products. I first stumbled upon Urban Decay several years ago when desperately seeking a product that would make my eyeshadow stay put. That was the start of a beautiful relationship that is still blossoming to this day. I’ve tried many of their products over the years, but wish to share my absolute favourites with you today.

Primer Potion
This is something I simply cannot be without. It goes everywhere with me and I will forever repurchase, although a miniature always seems to find its way to me just before my previous one runs out! It keeps powder eyeshadows lasting the whole day without budging or creasing at all. I recommend this all the time to non-experienced makeup users and always get gushing reviews back.

The Naked Pallets
Need I even explain my love for the very popular Naked palettes? I use Naked 1 and Naked Basics nearly every single day, whether I’m wearing a neutral eye or a bright eye, I will 100% have used at least one shade. I tend not to use Naked 2 as much but am really interested in trying Naked 3 and more of the Naked extended collection.

Bright Eyeshadows
This is where my love-affair with Urban Decay became really intense. With all the hype around the Naked collection it seems their amazing brightly coloured eyeshadows have gone on abit of a back burner Not for me. They are by far the best none-indie brights I have ever tried. Buttery, pigmented and easy to blend, what's not to love?

24/7 Glide on Eye Pencils
Again, these are the best eyeliners I have ever tried. They literally do not budge and come in a whole host of colours. Oh how I wish I could have justified buying “The Vault”. Perversion is the blackest black I have ever seen from a pencil liner and the coloured versions are all equally pigmented.

Super Saturated High Gloss Lip Colour
Chunky lip pencils are my preferred type of lip product, so how could I not go for the brightest, most sparkly offering. They are super pigmented and really moisturising on the lips while also lasting a long time. Perfect! They come in a range of shades from bright to nude to suit all tastes.

Some other favourites include the Revolution lipsticks, which I adore the formula of, as well as the Good Karma Shadow Brush. A daily staple in my makeup routine is also the All Nighter Setting Spray, I kid you not, it seriously works in making my makeup last longer throughout the day. It was a saviour for me during my 10 weeks in the humid Florida weather.
I think future purchases will see me try more of the makeup brushes and the liquid eyeliners, as I’ve been dying to treat myself to them. Another thing I wish to note is how perfect the Urban Decay packaging is! Their products always look beautiful and well thought about. Although they are a high end brand, therefore can be pricey, I would happily continue to purchase their products due to the amazing quality and cruelty free status.

What are your favourite Urban Decay products? What would you most like to try?

xox

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Collection Eyeshadow Pencil Review: Vintage Blush & Hot Chocolate

Last month I had abit of a phase with pencil/cream eyeshadows. Getting up at 6:15am is tough, especially when you’re a complete night owl like me, so the last thing I want to do is faff around with makeup so early. I spotted the Collection Eyeshadow Pencils on offer while browsing the Boots makeup aisle so thought I would give them a try. They look pretty standard and require a sharpener but have the cutest names! Vintage Blush is a beautiful rose gold pink and Hot Chocolate is shimmery medium/dark brown. They are both very pigmented and glide onto the eyelid evenly without any tugging. I’m also happy to report that they both blend out easily although you will have to be speedy as they do dry rather quickly. Once dry though, they surprisingly last a decent amount of time, around 6 hours, and considering cream products like to crease on my eyes that's pretty good! If you have oily eyelids like me, I would recommend using a primer and setting powder to make them last even longer. There are 6 shades in the collection ranging from a shimmery white to a navy blue, although would like to see more colours become available. Overall I am really pleased with both of the shades and have been getting alot of use out of them, particularly under powder eyeshadows.

At £3.19 each (and often on offer) the Collection Eyeshadow Pencils are a complete bargain. You can pick them up from Boots or Superdrug.

Pros: Affordable, pretty colours, applies beautifully, blends well, even application, lasts a fair amount of time.
Cons: They dry quickly so you have to blend fast, only 6 colours.

Have you tried the Collection Eyeshadow Pencils? What is your favourite cream/pencil eyeshadow?

xox

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Video: Frontierland Makeup Tutorial

Hello there lovelies! Today I want to share with you a Disney makeup tutorial which I created while doing my Frontierland Look. If you didn’t already know, I have a YouTube channel where I post a Disney themed video every Saturday, such as collections, hauls etc, as well as vlogs from my trips to Disney Parks. I want to develop my channel more in the future by incorporating more of my interests, basically makeup and fashion. You can expect to see more themed makeup tutorials over there as well as Disneybounding  Look Books and cosplay costume making. Of course it’s not going to be purely that, I still want my main focus to be based around the parks, so I may aim to create a video of this style maybe once or twice a month. Anyway, you can check out the video below! Thanks for watching <3

Do you have any Disney video requests? What makeup tutorial should i do next?

xox

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Pixi Glow Tonic Review

Alpha Hydroxy Acids have stirred up quite the fuss over the past year in the blogging world. Dubbed as the modern exfoliator, everyone is wanting to get their hands on a jumble of products which have made their way onto the market. One such product is Pixi Glow Tonic. After being hailed as a dupe for the expensive P50 by blogger and skincare expert Caroline Hirons, it became a hugely coveted product yet has only recently become readily available via their website. I’m not gonna lie, i checked back frequently until I finally saw that Pixi Glow was in stock.

The packaging has been changed from the original bottle into something more aesthetically pleasing yet still simple, with a small stopper instead of a pump. The liquid itself smells a little strange, but that's not something that really sways my opinion on a product. Pixi Glow claims to tone, firm and tighten the skin while removing dead skin cells for a healthy glow. I use it in the evening after cleansing, before my serum and facial oil, by soaking a cotton pad then wiping over my skin, taking care to give some extra love to dry patches. So, does it actually work? Since using this exfoliating toner I have most definitely seen the annoying, sometimes sore dry patches by my nose reduce as well as the dry bits on my chin practically disappear. I’ve also noticed a reduction of oiliness during the day and I’m pretty sure this is working in combination with my other skincare bits to keep any breakouts at bay. Overall I’m really happy with Pixi Glow Tonic, its a great addition to my skincare routine which really was in dire need of a good exfoliator. At £16 this 250ml bottle will last you for ages! I’ve had mine for 2 months and am still not even a quarter of the way through.

Pros: No fuss packaging, reduces dry patches, lasts a long time, keeps oiliness at bay, improves the general look and texture of skin.
Cons: Hard to get hold of when out of stock online, smells weird.

You can pick up Pixi Glow Tonic online here!
What's your favourite AHA product? Have you tried Pixi Glow Tonic?

xox

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Frontierland: Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Inspired Makeup Series

How do you do? Mighty pleasant greetin'… How do you do? Say it when you're meetin'…
I couldn’t resist abit of the Splash Mountain music in there. Anyway, this weeks look is based off Frontierland which is home to two of my favourite rides in the whole of Disney World, Splash and Thunder Mountains. I remember being terrified of the drop in splash when I went with my family back in 2001 and refused to go on it. I’m a wuss when it come to “big rides” but surprisingly I found myself going on nearly everything this summer…except Tower of Terror…that's going abit too far haha. I would never normally be partial to the whole “Wild West” atmosphere but Frontierland brings back so many amazing memories that I cant help but love it. Watching the 11pm ELP outside Country Bear Jamboree, Turkey Legs in Training (those pesky birds that are always on the prowl!) and it’s also the place i worked my first ever shift! I chose to base this look around Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a mine train rollercoaster that hurtles through caves and flies around bends.

I wanted to use more neutral shades on the lid with a pop of gold to reflect that gold mine theming of Thunder Mountain. Using my Naked Basics Palette I applied Venus on the lid and up to the brow bone, adding Naked 2 to the crease then Faint to deepen the colour. Next i darkened the outer corner with Darkhorse from Naked 1 before using Sugarpill’s Goldilux wet to create a winged liner effect. After applying mascara and eyeliner, I put a bit more Goldilux onto the lashes for a flash of gold. These images haven’t really done the look much justice if I'm honest, as the browns were more noticeable/darker in person.

Face:
Inglot Primer, Illamasqua Skin Base 02, Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair, Fyrinnae Pressed Powder, NARS Laguna Bronzer, NARS Blush in Boys Don’t Cry.

Eyes
Too Faced Shadow Insurance, Urban Decay Naked Basics (Venus, Naked 2, Faint), Urban Decay Naked Palette (Darkhorse), Sugarpill Goldilux, Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner Pencil in Zero, Barry M White Khol Liner, Benefit They’re Real, HD Brow Kit in Foxy.

Lips
MUA Velvet Lip Lacquer in Reckless.

What is your favourite ride in Frontierland?
Remember to go and check out Sam’s look here!
I have also made a video tutorial on this look which should be up soon on my channel so keep your eyes peeled!

xox

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Beating Hearts Baby

There has been one item in particular that has stood out as a staple in my winter wardrobe this year. After seeing a few people rocking the burgundy heart print shirt from New Look I fell in love, opting to get the black and white version. You really can’t take the monochrome away from the girl…
The material feels gorgeous and the loose fitting makes it unbelievably comfortable. It’s casual yet I've still found it suitable for wearing to my teaching placement. It’s a great affordable dupe for the popular Burberry heart print shirt at only £17.99. A winner all around I’d say!

Diverging away from my wardrobe, the past week has flown by in the most unproductive manner. Well…when it comes to university work and blogging. I spent the weekend with my boyfriend while on Monday I headed off to Leeds to visit my Disney room-mate Hayley, Tuesday being spent in university. I now have a week off though, so expect extra posts to compensate for the ones I've missed! If only I could transfer some of that motivation to the 6000 word essay on curriculum theory that I have to do…

xox

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Adventureland: Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Inspired Makeup Series

Welcome to the second instalment in mine and Sam’s Magic Kingdom ‘Land’ inspired makeup series! Today’s makeup look is based around Adventureland, which is designed to reflect two different themes, an Arabian village as well as a Caribbean plaza. Here you can find the Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean and the infamous Enchanted Tiki Room in this jungle-like area of the Magic Kingdom. It has an explorer vibe to it while also being home to a Disney Park lovers favourite sweet treat. Dole Whip. You simply cannot go to Disney World without getting a Dole Whip! I spent alot of time in adventureland as a parade vendor, as my daily route saw me hanging out in the shade by TinkerBelle’s Nook. It’s not really a prime area for major shows but it does have its little quirks such as the Jack Sparrow show and the spitting camels. Oh them camels. Many a time did I see an unsuspecting adult or child be squirted with a jet of water as they walked by. Their reactions were hilarious!

I wanted to reflect the jungle-like qualities of Adventureland with my look so went with greens and browns.I probably should have used a darker green but Sugarpill Absinthe just tempted me too much for the lid colour. In the crease I used Naked 2, Faint and Crave; finishing with black winged liner and mascara. After I took these photos I did add a little bit of pale yellow to the inner corners to reflect the yellow tones of the Caribbean Plaza but forgot to re-photograph.

Face:
Inglot Primer, Diorskin Forever in 011, Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair, Fyrinnae Pressed Powder, NARS Laguna Bronzer, NARS Blush in Boys Don’t Cry.

Eyes:
UDPP, NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk, Urban Decay Kooky, Sugarpill Absinthe, Urban Decay Naked Basics (Naked 2, Faint, Crave), Sugarpill Tako, Inglot AMC Shine 35, Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Zero, Collection Felt Tip Liner, Benefit They’re Real Mascara, HD Brows in Foxy.

Lips:
Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Striking

Do you have any good memories of Adventureland? What’s your favourite ride in the land?
Remember to check out Sam’s look here!

xox

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Naked Basics Makeup Look

If you saw my review of Urban Decay’s Naked Basics Palette you know how amazing this little beauty is. It’s been getting a lot of love from me over the past few weeks as my go to everyday makeup, especially the Matte browns, Naked 2 and Faint. Today I thought i would share one of my most worn neutral looks using Naked Basics in combination with a Collection Eyeshadow Pencil. I start by priming my eye, before adding some of Collection’s Work the Colour Eyeshadow Pencil in Vintage Blush to the lid, blending out with my finger. I then run Naked 2 though the crease, blending out, before applying Faint to the outer corner for definition. A bit of smoked out eyeliner and lashings of mascara make a quick and rather simple everyday look.

Products Used:
Urban Decay Primer Potion, Collection Eyeshadow Pencil in Vintage Rose, Urban Decay Naked Basics (Venus, Naked 2 and Faint), Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil Eyeliner in Zero, Benefit They’re Real Mascara, HD Brows in Foxy.

What is your current everyday makeup look? Do you have the Naked Basics palette?

xox

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MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer Review

 

 

 

Purchasing the MUA Velvet Lip Lacquers was a long time coming, me being a fan of a bright lip and favouring a matte finish. It took me a while to track them down in Superdrug stores as they kept selling out! Hailed as a dupe for the raved about Lime Crime Velvetines but for a fraction of the price, as soon as i tried my first one I knew I had to have the rest. Firstly the packaging is rather luxurious, especially seeing as this is a budget brand and the doe foot wand surprisingly allows for precise application. All of the shades are intensely pigmented, becoming instantly opaque on the lips with minimal time required for the product to dry. Once they are dry, they literally wont budge for hours, and that is not an exaggeration. The matte finish is absolutely beautiful. Moisturising with very minimal clinging to dry patches. I have heard that some people experienced flaking of the product, but I haven’t had anything like that. The only possible downside to the Lip Lacquers, is that removing them can be abit of a pain and it can take some scrubbing to remove the colour, even using the likes of Bioderma. If you want a long wearing, intensely pigmented lip colour though, these are your kinda thing.

There are five shades in the range, Criminal, a neon pink, being the absent party. I love that even though there are only five shades, they are all very different with something to suit every skin tone. Atomic is a neon orange-red, Kooky is a dark plum purple, Reckless is a cool toned red and Funk is a bright raspberry pink. My favourites have to be Reckless and Funk while Atomic I probably wont get much wear out of, as I don't suit orange tones. For £3 the Velvet Lip Lacquers are an absolute steal and I really hope that MUA will bring out more shades in the future. I should probably find an excuse to place an order for Criminal to be honest (i cannot find it anywhere in store!) as the colour looks right up my street.

Pros: Cheap, pretty packaging, pigmented, long wearing, diverse shade selection.
Cons: Can be a pain to remove/stains.

You can pick the Velvet Lip Lacquers from Superdrug or the MUA website.
Have you tried them? What is your favourite shade?

xox

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Polka-Dot Skirt

Top: Primark
Skirt: Primark
Jacket: New Look
Necklace: Matalan
Shoes: Matalan

It is a rare thing indeed to see me in a skirt. I pretty much live in black skinny jeans, but when I saw this Polka Dot skirt in Primark for £3 the bargain hunter in me snapped it up. It probably won’t get alot of everyday wear but it will be useful to have for work wear. The jacket is one of my absolute favourites and I wear it constantly. It’s appropriate for teaching, looking almost like a blazer but still appropriate for everyday. I had my first teaching observation this week, and although my subject (Photography) is more lenient with dress code as there’s alot of practical work and chemical use, I should probably have some more semi-formal clothing for assessments and future OFSTED inspections.

xox

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Main Street USA: Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Inspired Makeup Series

To all who come to this happy place, welcome! Today is the start of a new series, a collaboration with Sam from Sam-I-Am Style, in which we shall be creating makeup looks inspired by each of the lands in one of my favourite places on earth, The Magic Kingdom. You can expect to see a new look up every Friday and what better way to begin, than Main Street USA. This is one of my absolute favourite places to be in the whole of Walt Disney World (and to work)! Main Street is designed to resemble an early-20th-century small-town America, inspired by Walt Disney's childhood and acts as the entrance to the Magic Kingdom. It has prime viewing for the Electric Light Parade and night-time spectacular Wishes, while hosting delights such as the Dapper Dans and the Main Street Philharmonic. Most importantly, who can forget the feeling of walking down Main Street and seeing Cinderella’s Castle for the first time? For my makeup look, I tried to incorporate the American colours with the small-town feeling, creating something simple yet bold.

As you can see I used Sugarpill’s Royal Sugar and Asylum pigments wet to create a winged linger effect while on the rest of the lid and lower lash line I used Sugarpill Tako and a white Inglot shimmer. For the lips I used one of the MUA Velvet Lacquers which are fast becoming my favourite for a bold lip. Overall I created a bright yet wearable look which I believe successfully reflects the hustle and bustle yet quaint atmosphere of Main Street USA.

Face:
Inglot Primer, Illamasqua Skin Base 02, Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair, Fyrinnae Pressed Powder, NARS Laguna Bronzer, Hard Candy blush in Living Doll.

Eyes:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance, NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk, Sugarpill Tako, Inglot AMC Shine 35, Sugarpill Royal Sugar, Sugarpill Asylum, Urban Decay Pencil Eyeliner in Zero, Benefit They’re Real Mascara, Anastasia Brow Whiz in Ash Blonde.

Lips:
MUA Velvet Lip Lacquer in Reckless.

Make sure you pop back next Friday to see an Adventureland inspired look. You can also check out Sam’s main street look here!
Have you ever been to Walt Disney World? What is your favourite land in Magic Kingdom?

xox

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Real Techniques Powder Brush Review

Would you believe I only had one Real Techniques brush before now? I adore my Stipple Brush so why the heck it took me so long to pick up another, I do not know. I’ve been in the market for a new powder brush, as my Eco-Tools one is looking a little sorry for itself, so while browsing the aisles of boots the Real Techniques Powder Brush was popped into my basket. A now combined venture of Pixiwoo sisters Sam and Nic, Real Techniques is a reasonably priced and readily available brand which has swept the world by storm, enticing all from the most experienced makeup artists to makeup newbies. I love how the brand combines unique packaging with quality product.

At first the large brush head put me off, but its a perfect size/shape for applying powder evenly and keeping the dreaded “powdery” look at bay. The bristles are made with synthetic taklon, making them gorgeously soft and gentle on the face. The brush handle itself is a rather random colour, like some of the other brushes in the range, but it makes them stand out while the flat bottom enables it to free stand (lucky for me as my face brush pot is full)! At £12.99 this powder brush a complete steal and i would highly recommend giving the brand a go.

Pros: Soft bristles, freestanding, reasonable price, widely available, unique packaging, perfect brush head design.
Cons: Whereas i think £12.99 for a brush is a decent price, for those on a budget it may be a little too much.

You can buy Real Techniques in Boots or online at various beauty retailers.
Have you tried the Powder Brush? Whats your favourite Real Techniques brush?

xox

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Etude House XOXO Minnie Mouse Collection Nail Polish Review

I have a major weakness when it comes to Disney themed makeup. The Etude House Minnie Mouse Collection was no exception. After eyeing them up for a few days I finally decided on getting the pink glitter with white mickey heads and the pink, black and white glitter with black mickey heads. Unfortunately, there was a mix up and the ebay seller I got them from sent me the silver ribbon shade instead. Luckily it was quickly resolved and they sent out the correct polish instantly. There are six choices in the range although none of them seem to have proper names, or at least ones that are in English. From what I can gather the shades I have are translated too ‘Minnie Silver Ribbon’, ‘Mickey White Face’ and ‘Mickey Black Face’, which sound rather inappropriate. I guess translations may be the culprit to that one. The packaging is pretty adorable, the lids being covered in little Mickey heads while the clearly visible sparkle inside makes the glitter lover in me squee with delight.

Unfortunately I have to say that I am rather disappointed with the performance of these polishes. The larger pieces of glitter, such as the mickey heads, don’t adhere properly to the nail while being rather hard to fish out from the bottle. They require a little bit of fiddling with to position in the desired place and flake off quicker than I would have expected too. These are not a daily wear kinda deal, although I think they would be perfect for a special occasion or night out for that little touch of Disney (at the risk of becoming abit tacky). I don’t regret buying them as they were a cheap addition to my Disney Makeup collection at £3.28 each with free shipping and I will probably get a little use out of them.

Pros: Cheap, pretty packaging.
Cons: Hard to apply to the nails, glitter pieces do no stick properly, flakes off quickly, dodgy names, can only buy online.

You can buy these nail polishes here along with the rest of the collection, which I am eyeing up as I’ve heard good things about the blush & highlighter.
Do you have any of the pieces from the XOXO Minnie Mouse Collection?

xox

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The Disney Tag!

For today’s Sunday post I thought I would share with you a new video that’s gone up over on my Disney YouTube channel. If you didn’t already know, I used it to post all of my vlogs from my ICP program there but have since decided to continue it, making more Disney related content. I’m going to be featuring future trips to the parks, Disney hauls, tags and general Disney shenanigans. I’m going to try and upload a video every Saturday, so found it fitting to start with the Disney tag.

A scene in any Disney movie you wish you could experience.
An unforgettable moment you’ve had in the parks.
A non-Disney song that reminds you or brings back memories of Disney or the Parks.
When was the first time you went to a Disney park?
If you could choose any of the characters to be your best friend, who would it be?
Who are your favourite Disney princesses?
Name a scene or a moment in a Disney film that never fails to make you cry?
What is your favourite Disney movie?
Share a video or a photo that shows your love of Disney.

Apparently I forgot to include the question “What is the first Disney movie you remember seeing?” oops. That has to be The Jungle Book! Apparently I watched it every single day from being born up until i was about five according to dad. It’s the first film I remember watching and the songs are that first songs I remember singing along too.

I would like to tag Katie from My Makeup Obsession who is lucky enough to be going back to Florida this May *jealous* and I would also like to tag Sam from Sam-I-Am Styles who I am going to be collaborating with over the next few weeks on a Disney makeup series.

If you’ve done The Disney Tag or will be doing it I would love to see it so send me your links!

xox

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