Monday, 21 November 2016

False Eyelashes and my Application Tips

false eyelash application tips duo lash adhesive red cherry sam faiers

I remember the first time I wore a pair of false lashes years ago on a night out at uni and loving the difference they made. They were the Eylure Girls Aloud (Nadine) ones if I remember correctly and they just made me feel so much more “done” if that makes sense? I vowed I would never go out again without a pair of lashes on but that didn’t last long and I generally have a love/hate relationship with false lashes. On one hand I love the added length, volume and definition they give but I hate the extra time they take and as someone who is usually rushing to get ready, false lashes are the first thing to get left out unfortunately!

When I do wear them, I am mostly loyal to the infamous Ardell Demi Wispies and the underrated No.7 Natural Volume lashes but I was excited to try some new natural lashes when falseeyelashes.co.uk got in touch! It was perfect timing too as I was on holiday last week so had some extra time to apply them as we weren’t in a rush!

I was sent a couple of pairs so here’s what I thought of them and my application tips if you’re a newbie to lashes! Also, apologies I don’t have any photos of them on me but I forgot my camera when I was on holiday and I've never been great at taking close ups of my eyes! The falseeyelashes.co.uk website shows the lashes on a models eye though!

I knew I would get on with these as soon as I saw them! They are a gorgeous pair of lashes with a really subtle flare at the end of the lash. These are the first pair of lashes to fit my eyes perfectly and I loved that I didn’t have to cut them! They are really lightweight and comfortable to wear and came with lash glue included. I’ll say that I didn’t love the lash glue though – it felt a little like a gel but I don’t think the lashes felt as secure as when I use my usual DUO glue! The second time I went to use the glue that came with them I found it had dried around the lid a lot too so I was definitely glad I had my DUO with me!

false lashes by samantha faiers oh so natural review

I know I’ve read that Sam suffers with a compulsion to pull her eyelashes out so I think she is a great person to put her name to false lashes and there seems to be a few other lashes in her range if you want more drama!

red cherry false eyelashes 747s primrose review

Red Cherry is a brand I’ve heard a lot about but I had never tried and when I first saw these, I thought they looked so different to what I normally go for because they seem to have more length in the middle then taper towards each end. I had to trim these lashes by three segments as the lash line was so long! They are made of real hair and although the description says they are “short length falsies” I would disagree as they are quite long when they are on. Saying that, they do give a lovely full lash effect but are a bit more dramatic than what I go for. I do have hooded eyes though so that could be why I felt like that! These are also lightweight on the lash line but bear in mind that these don’t come with a tube of glue. This isn’t something that bothers me as I always have a tube of DUO and I find the lash glue that comes with most falsies dries out quickly and is only good for one application anyway!

red cherry false eyelashes 747s primrose review close up

Anytime I wear a new pair of lashes I like to have a few things by my side namely some tweezers, nail scissors and some DUO glue and then I’ll follow these steps!

1.      Gently remove the lash from the packaging and check how it fits against your eye. If it's too long for your eye line, trim the outer edge with nail scissors to fit. Bend the lash a little to loosen it up so it’s less likely to lift at the ends.

2.      Grab a pair of tweezers and hold the middle of the lash while applying a thin, even layer of glue all over the band.

3.      Hold for about 20 -30 seconds to allow the glue to half dry and go tacky so it sticks easier to the lash line.

4.      Using the tweezers, find the centre of your lash line and stick the band here then grab each end in turn and place them as close to your lash line as possible.

5.      Allow to dry then using the tweezers or your fingers make sure the falsies are blended with your own lashes – I sometimes add another coat of mascara as well!

Oh and just a quick word on DUO - I don't know how many tubes of this I have thrown out straight after opening because I though it was off, the stuff stinks! It has an awful fishy smell which is completely normal according to the Internet and it does dry scent free and clear thankfully!

The falseeyelashes.co.uk website has a really great range of lashes including Ardell, Eylure and House of Lashes as well as mascara and brow products at really affordable prices and they offer free first class delivery in the UK! I’ll definitely be ordering from them in the future!

Let me know what your favourite false lashes are!

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own.

Danielle xx



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Monday, 14 November 2016

My Favourite Makeup Brushes #2

favourite makeup brushes zoeva real techniques morphe anastasia beverly hills

I did a “My Favourite Makeup Brushes” post way back last year and although all those brushes are still in daily use, there are a few more that I use regularly so I thought I would do a little update!

I really didn’t like this brush to begin with and it sat unloved in my brush pot because I found it left a streaky finish with my usual liquid foundations. That all changed when I got the Vincent Longo Water Canvas Crème-to-Powder foundation* recently. I found the sponge that came with the foundation didn’t give me enough coverage and my usual fail safe Beauty Blender had the same problem so I dug around for this and it works perfectly! It helps build up coverage and it’s so easy to work into the skin because the bristles are so tightly packed.

zoeva 102 silk finish brush real techniques blush brush review

This is a brush that I used to use daily about 3 years ago for blush until I felt it was putting a little too much blush on my cheeks and I switched to an angled blush brush (how many times can I say blush and brush in a sentence). Nowadays, I much prefer this as a bronzer brush and I love it with NARS Laguna and Charlotte Tilbury Bronze in particular!

As someone who has a tendency to be a little heavy handed with blush this brush is a godsend for blending! If I have gone overboard it does such good job of helping to fade it a little and make my blush look more natural!

real techniques duo fibre face brush morphe badger deluxe fan brush review

Morphe B8 Badger Deluxe Fan Brush
With my fear of highlighter, this brush means that anytime I apply it, it’s subtle exactly how I like it! The brush is very soft and I would prefer the bristles to be a little stiffer but it does the job and it didn’t break the bank!

I've been using this brush to highlight my inner corner and brow bone and really like it! It’s quite stiff and allows you to be quite precise too so is great for applying the likes of the Makeup Geek foiled eyeshadows all over the lid!

zoeva 232 227 luxe classic shader soft definer rose gold review

This has replaced my beloved RT angled shadow brush as my preferred eyeshadow blender brush now! It is the perfect size and just makes blending so easy and I now have three of these babies! I also have a full review of the set these last two brushes came in here!

anastasia beverly hills 12 large synthetic duo brow brush review

This brush makes applying Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade a doddle! It’s quite a stiff angled brush with synthetic bristles and it gives such a fine line it makes it so easy to apply hair like strokes through my brows! I love that it has a spoolie on one end too which makes it perfect to travel with!

So that’s my updated favourite brushes! I have to add that all these brushes wash up really well even though they are from different brands and I haven’t noticed any of them shedding which is another bonus!

As you are reading this I’m on holiday for my birthday (which is tomorrow!) but I’ll be doing my best to keep up with comments so do leave me one below and let me know if you have any of these brushes and what do you think of them!

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own.

Danielle xx



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Monday, 7 November 2016

Five Things I’m Loving | November 2016

five things im loving smashbox bed head revlon vichy nars

I can’t believe I haven’t done one of these posts since March! This is the reason I could never commit to a monthly favourites! Anyway, there are a mix of products here, some are new to me within the last month and others are on their last legs and I love them so much I thought they deserved to feature in a post other than an empties!

I picked this up ages ago (definitely longer than I care to remember!) but it seems the longer its open the more I like it! I know mascara is a very personal choice but I’ve found this does exactly what it says and gives me both length and volume as well as separation and definition! I love that it has bristles instead of a plastic wand and it is impossible to get clumpy lashes with this! I've tried so many time to get close ups of my lashes but its impossible – if you have any tips please leave them in the comments!

Vichy Quenching Mineral Mask review

Vichy recently came out with three new face masks and I was sent the Quenching Mineral mask which could not have come at a better time for my skin! Every year I have the same problem where my usually oily skin goes haywire with the change in weather and becomes dehydrated and patchy in places. This mask feels amazingly cooling and refreshing and has been helping to regulate my skin! It contains thermal water from the French volcanoes, vitamin B3 and glycerin which all work to soothe and hydrate my skin leaving it feeling plumper and smoother!

Vichy Quenching Mineral Mask review moisturiser

The mask itself has a non-greasy, lightweight gel texture that sinks in quickly. It’s scented of green tea, jasmine water and bamboo and smells amazing! I know some people are sensitive to scented products but I personally don’t mind! The mask is also allergy tested and paraben free. I've been keeping this on my bathroom windowsill to keep it as cool as possible and it is a real treat to apply! I use it over the top of my trusty Vichy Aqualia Thermal serum and the two are a dreamy combination! The Vichy Quenching Mineral Masque is available from Boots, Escentual and Feel Unique!

Smashbox Photo Matte Eyes eyeshadow palette review

Another all matte eyeshadow palette, I know! But it’s another palette I love and after giving all the attention to the Kat Von D Shade + Light and Urban Decay Ultimate Basics I thought it was time to talk about this one! I adore the shade range in this and there isn’t a shade I wouldn’t use – even those couple of pinker shades! It has a great range of cool tones as well as a few warm and the shades can be used wet or dry and as shadows, liners or brow products. The brush that came with it is probably one of the better brushes I've received with a palette!

smashbox Photo Matte Eyes eyeshadow palette review swatches
Clockwise top l-r: Desert, Heirloom, Dune, Vanilla (large pan), Canyon, Suede, Earthy

smashbox Photo Matte Eyes eyeshadow palette review swatch
Clockwise top l-r: Wheat (large pan), Grounded, Rosehip, Haze, Blackout, Ditch, Jolt

I would say that this palette isn’t just as pigmented as the Kat Von D or Makeup Geek shadows I’ve tried but it’s of the highest quality, the shadows don’t fade and they last all day on my oily lids with a primer. Smashbox do mattes really well, they are never patchy and there are no disappointing shades in this palette! I ordered directly from the Smashbox website and they always have discount codes available! I can’t get enough of Smashbox at the minute and have a lipstick set on my Christmas list!

Another oldie but a goody and this has actually featured in a post before! I always come back to this when my hair starts looking a little straggly and I'm trying to hold off going to the hairdressers. It makes the ends of my hair look so much thicker and healthier and helps seal my split ends until I wash my hair again. It also acts as a thermal protectant and just generally makes my hair easier to blow dry and straighten! I’m not normally a fan of fruity scents but I love this and even though it’s a cream it doesn’t add oil or weight to my fine hair!

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Anita review

This is one of the newest lipsticks in my collection and one I can’t believe took me so long to get! The Audacious line is very hyped within the beauty blogging world and now I can see why! This lipstick is so creamy and opaque with great lasting power! I struggled to pick a shade but eventually went with Anita which is a rosy pink and I definitely don’t think this will be my last! It also has quite possibly the most satisfying magnetic lipstick closure!

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Anita review swatch

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own.

Have you tried any of these products before? Tell me what you’ve been loving recently!

Danielle xx




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Monday, 31 October 2016

Introducing Vincent Longo Cosmetics

Vincent Longo cosmetics review foundation blush stain eyesahdow 2016

Happy Halloween everyone! I hope you had a lovely weekend if you were up to anything for it! Today I have a little brand focus centred around Vincent Longo Cosmetics! This was a brand I hadn’t heard of until I started seeing them pop up on my Instagram feed and I’m so glad I got the chance to try them out! Founded in 1995 by you guessed it, Vincent Longo, the cult cosmetics range has been reintroduced to the UK market and is stocked exclusively at Cult Beauty. Presenting innovative formulas and award winning products, read on to see what I think of the items I was sent!

Vincent Longo Water Canvas Creme-to-Powder Foundation in Porcelain #1* RRP £43.50
When I first opened this I thought it was actually a powder and it was only when I touched it that I got my first experience of the beautiful VL crème-to-powder formulation! The foundation is so cooling and refreshing to apply it’s unlike anything I've tried in the past. I personally don’t like the Vincent Longo Water Canvas Sponge* that comes with it – it doesn’t give enough coverage for my liking so I’ve been using my Zoeva Silk Finish brush which gives me a gorgeous buildable medium coverage that is very natural and skin like. I do still like to conceal any scars or marks first before applying this then the foundation works really well to even out my skin tone.

Vincent Longo water canvas creme to powder foundation porcelain review

The foundation is so lightweight and not cakey at all, it’s formulated with 75% microwater and seaweed extract to protect, nourish and lock in moisture so I can imagine this would be perfect for those with drier skin. Saying that, it also works amazingly well on my oily skin due to its oil free formulation. I only have to top up my powder at lunchtime which is standard for me and it’s a very subtle shine that comes through.

I didn’t see many swatches when I was trying to decide my shade so screenshotted this helpful guide Cult Beauty had on their Instagram stories a few weeks ago! I decided to play it safe and go with Porcelain as I am usually the lightest shade in foundation when I have no tan on and this is a perfect match for my skin!

Vincent Longo Cosmetics water canvas creme to powder foundation swatches cult beauty
Taken from Cult Beauty Instagram Story

Vincent Longo Water canvas travel compact sponge review

As well as being oil free, the water canvas foundation is non comedogenic, hypoallergenic, fragrance free and cruelty free. The only bad thing I have to say about it is it’s so bloody expensive! I was also sent the Vincent Longo Water Canvas Travel Compact* RRP £12.50 which is airtight to maintain the moisture content of the foundation and its worth mentioning that it is recommended to keep the lid closed tight between applications to prevent evaporation of the product!

Vincent Longo Water Canvas Creme-to-Powder Blush in Swan Lake* RRP £33.50
Like the foundation, this has the beautiful creme to powder formulation that again is a dream to apply. I started by using my Real Techniques Stippling Brush with this but I don’t like the shape of it so switched to my trusty Zoeva Cream Cheek brush which makes it so easy to build up the pigment.

Vincent Longo water canvas creme to powder blush swan lake review

The shade itself is a lovely natural pink and it lasts so well on me unlike other cream blushes I’ve tried giving such a healthy flush of colour! It looks matte in the packaging but I do detect a few hints of shimmer in the swatch however these aren’t noticeable on me when I’m wearing it! Like the foundation its oil free, fragrance free, non comedogenic, hypoallergenic and cruelty free.

Vincent Longo water canvas creme to powder foundation porcelain blush swan lake swatch review
Vincent Longo Water Canvas Creme to Powder Foundation in porcelain and Blush in Swan Lake

Vincent Longo pearl x eyeshadow novalei review

Vincent Longo Pearl X Eyeshadow in Novalei* RRP £19
This is my least favourite of the bunch simply because it’s not a shade I would go for with my boring neutral eyeshadow tendencies! Saying that, it’s probably the most unique item of makeup I have in my collection and though the colour isn’t very ‘me’ the formulation is! It’s really smooth, nicely pigmented and the packaging has a very satisfying magnetic closure! Sadly not a shade I will be reaching for though!

Vincent Longo pearl x eyeshadow novalei review swatch

Vincent Longo Lip/Cheek Gel Stain in Baby Boo* RRP £18.50
I have been loving this stain since I got it! I've been using it more on my lips than my cheeks as I find I can go overboard easily but I appreciate the duality of the product. At first glance I thought this looked a little like a tube of fake blood and expected it to be very dark and gloopy for some reason! Like with the foundation and blush, when I felt this formula for the first time I was surprised yet again. Its water based and gives a beautiful sheer wash of colour to the lips that can be layered for a deeper colour payoff.

Vincent Longo lip cheek gel stain baby boo review

It dries in quickly without drying out my lips and it’s so lightweight I can’t feel it yet its super long-lasting and water resistant. A pet peeve of mine is when my lip product wears off and my lips end up looking like the same colour as my foundation. With this I am guaranteed a subtle lip stain that lasts hours through eating and drinking! My lips have been drier than normal recently and this has been perfect to give me some colour that sticks around and that I can layer my favourite lip balm over to keep my lips hydrated.

Vincent Longo lip cheek gel stain baby boo review swatch

I do find the packaging of the products a little simplistic for such an expensive price point but the quality of the products more than makes up for that! Vincent Longo is currently exclusive to Cult Beauty and can be found here! (Discontinued brand!)

Have you tried anything from the brand before? Do you like the sound of anything here?

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own.

Danielle xx





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