beauty

Payday weekend means one thing... shopping for makeup. I usually stick to the brands that I know work for me when I am buying makeup online, but after reading good things about the brand Morphe, I was very eager to give them a try. I was browsing Cult beauty, which for all the people in the UK, it is a website where we are able to get worldwide makeup brands shipped fast and easy to us. 

After hours of browsing cult beauty, I decided on what I was going to buy. Along with a lot of Morphe brushes (which are absolutely amazing) I decided to get my hands on the Morphe 12NB Natural Beauty Palette. I was very torn between this and the 35 Colour Fall into Frost Palette (35F) which is a much bigger palette containing 35 shadows and retails for £21.75. I went with the smaller Palette, as I have never tried anything from Morphe before I didn't want to dive straight in with one of the larger palettes just in case I didn't like their eye shadows. 


The Morphe 12NB Natural Beauty Palette retails for £13.25 (Cult Beauty) and it has 12 square eye shadows ranging from nudes to deep rust tones and you get a mixture of shimmer, mattes and satin eye shadows ,which make it very easy to transition from day to night time looks. 

I do have to mention, one of the first things I noticed about this palette upon opening was the smell. Does anybody else remember having makeup as a kid and that cheap smell that came along with those kind of products? That was the first thing that came into my mind when opening this. I think if you're going to write a review on a product you need to be honest, everybody isn't going to love every product and everybody is entitled to their own opinion. The packaging of this product is compact, matte black and actually seems although I do wish that It contained a mirror. It's already the perfect size for travelling, but it would be an extra perk if I didn't have to bring another mirror with me. 


Upon swatching this palette, I was actually quite impressed with the pigmentation of the shadows. I do suggest using a primer with these though as some of the lighter tones do need a bit of extra work to make them as visible and primer will also extend the longevity of these.  I do love this palette for the shades and it has been my go-to palette for my everyday looks.


Here are the swatches of the shadows and they are just one swipe so you can see the true pigmentation without me building them up.
 (I swatched the shadows in reverse compared to the palette, so please bear that in mind. I am working from my swatches, so shade 1 is technically shade 12 in the palette.)

Shade 1 - A matte burgundy shade. This has to be one of my favourite shadows in the whole palette, it is perfect for using in the outer V and lower lash line to really deepen the look.
Shade 2 - A cool tone matte brown, I've found myself using this as a transition colour on darker makeup looks and actually used it in my brows before! I did find this shade extremely chalky feeling, It does apply quite patchy but with a little time it does blend out smoothly.
Shade 3 - A warm tone matte brown. This shadow feels so silky and buttery compared to some of the others. It is a perfect everyday all over lid colour, or can be used in the crease.
Shade 4 - A matte chocolate brown. This shadow contains quite a lot of fall out, but does apply on the lid very pigmented. Build-able for maximum pigmentation.
Shade 5 - A metallic brown shimmer. Does need to be applied wet or with some kind of Fix + as you can't really see the metallic that well, it is quite subtle without. Would use all over the lid for a stronger makeup look or use on the bottom lash line to add some dimension to a simple look.
Shade 6 - This shade has a satin finish as is a warm brown but has some copper/orange tones to it. Can be worn all over the lid or use a tiny amount in the crease to create some definition.
Shade 7 - A pink/brown shimmer. This shadow does contain tiny gold flecks so bear that in mind. This one does apply quite easy but again, this one will leave you with a fair amount of fall out on your cheeks.
Shade 8 - A Soft brown with pink undertones, a really nice brown shade with with a hint of pink pigment that gives a really nice look as a transition shade, would be better for paler skin tones.
Shade 9 - A shimmer gold colour. I love this it is the perfect gold shade and is really shimmery so looks perfect with the rest of the eye matte. Use on the middle of the eyelid or on the lower lash line.
Shade 10 - Pale peach shade. Quite buttery and applies nicely, looks amazing on the eye lid or as an under brow highlight.
Shade 11 - A cool pink/white shade - A perfect highlight. I adore this I use this in the inner corner or under the brow. I have even used it as a face highlight. 
Shade 12 - This is just a white matte eye shadow, Quite disappointing as the pigment isn't that great and you can't really see it on the swatch or on the eye unless you had a deeper skin tone.


Overall I am quite pleased with the Palette and I am intrigued to try some more shadows from the brand. Have you tried the Morphe shadows? If so do all palettes have the weird smell?
I'm keen to find out...


Morphe 12NB Swatches/Review

7 October 2016


Payday weekend means one thing... shopping for makeup. I usually stick to the brands that I know work for me when I am buying makeup online, but after reading good things about the brand Morphe, I was very eager to give them a try. I was browsing Cult beauty, which for all the people in the UK, it is a website where we are able to get worldwide makeup brands shipped fast and easy to us. 

After hours of browsing cult beauty, I decided on what I was going to buy. Along with a lot of Morphe brushes (which are absolutely amazing) I decided to get my hands on the Morphe 12NB Natural Beauty Palette. I was very torn between this and the 35 Colour Fall into Frost Palette (35F) which is a much bigger palette containing 35 shadows and retails for £21.75. I went with the smaller Palette, as I have never tried anything from Morphe before I didn't want to dive straight in with one of the larger palettes just in case I didn't like their eye shadows. 


The Morphe 12NB Natural Beauty Palette retails for £13.25 (Cult Beauty) and it has 12 square eye shadows ranging from nudes to deep rust tones and you get a mixture of shimmer, mattes and satin eye shadows ,which make it very easy to transition from day to night time looks. 

I do have to mention, one of the first things I noticed about this palette upon opening was the smell. Does anybody else remember having makeup as a kid and that cheap smell that came along with those kind of products? That was the first thing that came into my mind when opening this. I think if you're going to write a review on a product you need to be honest, everybody isn't going to love every product and everybody is entitled to their own opinion. The packaging of this product is compact, matte black and actually seems although I do wish that It contained a mirror. It's already the perfect size for travelling, but it would be an extra perk if I didn't have to bring another mirror with me. 


Upon swatching this palette, I was actually quite impressed with the pigmentation of the shadows. I do suggest using a primer with these though as some of the lighter tones do need a bit of extra work to make them as visible and primer will also extend the longevity of these.  I do love this palette for the shades and it has been my go-to palette for my everyday looks.


Here are the swatches of the shadows and they are just one swipe so you can see the true pigmentation without me building them up.
 (I swatched the shadows in reverse compared to the palette, so please bear that in mind. I am working from my swatches, so shade 1 is technically shade 12 in the palette.)

Shade 1 - A matte burgundy shade. This has to be one of my favourite shadows in the whole palette, it is perfect for using in the outer V and lower lash line to really deepen the look.
Shade 2 - A cool tone matte brown, I've found myself using this as a transition colour on darker makeup looks and actually used it in my brows before! I did find this shade extremely chalky feeling, It does apply quite patchy but with a little time it does blend out smoothly.
Shade 3 - A warm tone matte brown. This shadow feels so silky and buttery compared to some of the others. It is a perfect everyday all over lid colour, or can be used in the crease.
Shade 4 - A matte chocolate brown. This shadow contains quite a lot of fall out, but does apply on the lid very pigmented. Build-able for maximum pigmentation.
Shade 5 - A metallic brown shimmer. Does need to be applied wet or with some kind of Fix + as you can't really see the metallic that well, it is quite subtle without. Would use all over the lid for a stronger makeup look or use on the bottom lash line to add some dimension to a simple look.
Shade 6 - This shade has a satin finish as is a warm brown but has some copper/orange tones to it. Can be worn all over the lid or use a tiny amount in the crease to create some definition.
Shade 7 - A pink/brown shimmer. This shadow does contain tiny gold flecks so bear that in mind. This one does apply quite easy but again, this one will leave you with a fair amount of fall out on your cheeks.
Shade 8 - A Soft brown with pink undertones, a really nice brown shade with with a hint of pink pigment that gives a really nice look as a transition shade, would be better for paler skin tones.
Shade 9 - A shimmer gold colour. I love this it is the perfect gold shade and is really shimmery so looks perfect with the rest of the eye matte. Use on the middle of the eyelid or on the lower lash line.
Shade 10 - Pale peach shade. Quite buttery and applies nicely, looks amazing on the eye lid or as an under brow highlight.
Shade 11 - A cool pink/white shade - A perfect highlight. I adore this I use this in the inner corner or under the brow. I have even used it as a face highlight. 
Shade 12 - This is just a white matte eye shadow, Quite disappointing as the pigment isn't that great and you can't really see it on the swatch or on the eye unless you had a deeper skin tone.


Overall I am quite pleased with the Palette and I am intrigued to try some more shadows from the brand. Have you tried the Morphe shadows? If so do all palettes have the weird smell?
I'm keen to find out...



Hello Again, I hope you are all well and have had a lovely (very hot..too hot) week. I've not been feeling so great the last few days, having a cold in 30 degree heat has to possibly be one of the worst things to deal with! A light and easy post today all about my first impressions/review of the L'oreal True Match foundation!


THEY SAY:
The new vision of skin matching technology. With the finest pigments, invisible to the naked eye and a creamy ultra-gliding texture for a unique silky touch. Giving you a natural finish. The new technology captures the undertones from warm, neutral to cool.

NEW FEATURES:
  • New true match, super blendable foundation
  • The new formula contains 3 new shade enhancers for shade matching precision
  • Skin perfecting pigments and the ultra gliding creamy texture give a homogeneous finish
  • Even better colour matching, and more luminous and radiant skin than before
  • Even longer wear and better comfort
  • All you see is your skin at it's best
The formula of this foundation is quite thick compared to other foundations I have used in the past but easily blend-able. I found the best way to apply was with a Beauty Sponge. I did try to apply with a foundation brush but I found it was just moving around my face not sinking in and applying smooth like it would with a sponge. 


The finish on this foundation is kind of semi-matte, it has a bit of a glow so that you look healthy, but not in a oily or greasy kind of way. I always apply a face powder to set my foundation, I always have done, so the finish doesn't really bother me. I would personally say I think this would suit combination skin better than oily skin as I've read a few reviews of people feeling like the foundation is "slipping off their face" having oily skin, I personally couldn't comment as my skin is combination. 

I do really like the staying power of this foundation. I usually get 6+ hours out of foundation before It starts to look patchy and shiny, but I had this on for 10 hours on the day I tested it out, and other than needing to touch up my nose and forehead, it still looked really good!


In terms of coverage this foundation is up there with one of the best. I don't have 'problematic skin' a few uneven patches and discolouration, but no obvious blemishes. Although my skin is fairly good I still prefer to have a full coverage base (personal preference). I would say this is a medium to full coverage foundation which I found to be build-able on area's where I wanted a bit more coverage. 

I think the most amazing thing about this foundation is that in the UK they have an amazing 23 shades to choose from! I don't tend to have a problem finding a colour to match my skin, but they are so many skin tones that this foundation has you covered! It has neutrals for pink undertones and yellows, and has warm and cool toned deeper shades. Currently retails for £7-£10 in the UK.

Have you tried out this foundation? If so, what did you think of it?

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: L'OREAL PARIS TRUE MATCH FOUNDATION

18 September 2016


Hello Again, I hope you are all well and have had a lovely (very hot..too hot) week. I've not been feeling so great the last few days, having a cold in 30 degree heat has to possibly be one of the worst things to deal with! A light and easy post today all about my first impressions/review of the L'oreal True Match foundation!


THEY SAY:
The new vision of skin matching technology. With the finest pigments, invisible to the naked eye and a creamy ultra-gliding texture for a unique silky touch. Giving you a natural finish. The new technology captures the undertones from warm, neutral to cool.

NEW FEATURES:
  • New true match, super blendable foundation
  • The new formula contains 3 new shade enhancers for shade matching precision
  • Skin perfecting pigments and the ultra gliding creamy texture give a homogeneous finish
  • Even better colour matching, and more luminous and radiant skin than before
  • Even longer wear and better comfort
  • All you see is your skin at it's best
The formula of this foundation is quite thick compared to other foundations I have used in the past but easily blend-able. I found the best way to apply was with a Beauty Sponge. I did try to apply with a foundation brush but I found it was just moving around my face not sinking in and applying smooth like it would with a sponge. 


The finish on this foundation is kind of semi-matte, it has a bit of a glow so that you look healthy, but not in a oily or greasy kind of way. I always apply a face powder to set my foundation, I always have done, so the finish doesn't really bother me. I would personally say I think this would suit combination skin better than oily skin as I've read a few reviews of people feeling like the foundation is "slipping off their face" having oily skin, I personally couldn't comment as my skin is combination. 

I do really like the staying power of this foundation. I usually get 6+ hours out of foundation before It starts to look patchy and shiny, but I had this on for 10 hours on the day I tested it out, and other than needing to touch up my nose and forehead, it still looked really good!


In terms of coverage this foundation is up there with one of the best. I don't have 'problematic skin' a few uneven patches and discolouration, but no obvious blemishes. Although my skin is fairly good I still prefer to have a full coverage base (personal preference). I would say this is a medium to full coverage foundation which I found to be build-able on area's where I wanted a bit more coverage. 

I think the most amazing thing about this foundation is that in the UK they have an amazing 23 shades to choose from! I don't tend to have a problem finding a colour to match my skin, but they are so many skin tones that this foundation has you covered! It has neutrals for pink undertones and yellows, and has warm and cool toned deeper shades. Currently retails for £7-£10 in the UK.

Have you tried out this foundation? If so, what did you think of it?

I was never the type to write about hair as it was never a subject of interest to me, but about a year and a half ago I dove into the world of hair extensions and now I am hooked. I will be the first to admit, I didn't look after my hair very well. If any of you may remember on here I had very short hair and although I kept it trimmed and coloured, I never used to use any products and I used a lot of heat.

After months of waiting, my hair didn't seem to be growing, not that I could see anyway. I was so interested in having princess hair and watching videos of all the amazing hair tutorials online, I was so fascinated, I wanted it. I was bored of short hair. Although I will always have a love for shorter hairstyles they get very tedious. The constant styling of it, there is no 'I'm having a bad hair day, lets shove it up!" kind of deals, its a constant thing having short hair and although people say its so much easier, actually I disagree.



The journey begins with the first picture, short and red. I had this hair for roughly 3/4 years and I had a love hate relationship with it. I first saw hair extensions when a local hair extensions specialist in my area had a sponsored advert on Facebook and I was looking through some of the photos, the before and afters were incredible. I booked in for my consultation and 4 weeks later, photo number two happened.

I chose to have keratin bonded hair extensions put in, and used the hair by 'Beauty Works'. I wish I had my first set longer but having 'long' hair for the first time in years was a drastic change for me. Everything you thought you knew about your hair..gone. From brushing it to washing it and everything in between, the difference is drastic. I did experience a few days with a sore scalp and trouble sleeping, but I'm sure that was just from the extra weight and the bonds on my head, as I never experienced this with the second set. Hair extensions are a huge investment costing hundreds of pounds so the aftercare is key!

I can't stress enough the importance of a Tangle Teezer, this changed my life. Bonded extensions are very fragile and you have to use specialist products on them or they can get ruined very quick. The longevity is roughly 3-4 months, after this time I would recommend getting them reapplied. I made a huge mistake with my first set, because they were so expensive I wanted to keep them in for as long as I possibly could before I had to get them redone and the thought of being without them after all this time, I couldn't bear it. I kept mine in for much longer than I really should and looking back now I wish I didn't. Although I had long hair, the longer you keep it in, the harder it will become to maintain. Its inevitable that matting will occur in your hair as your hair grows the bonds move down and the new hair between the bond and your scalp just gets knotted. It took the hairdresser two hours to get through the matting in my hair after removing my first set and It was probably one of the most painful experiences of my life, but it was my own fault so who was I to moan?

I had my second set put in on the 26th July and I am absolutely in love with them. I went to a lady who does them from home and although this can be very risky as not everybody is honest with their skills, it was one of the best choices that I made. They are long,dark,smooth and soft... and I adore them.

Aftercare is essential and you have to use sulphate-free hair products as the chemicals in your normal shampoo and conditioner break down the bonds in the extensions and will ruin them, which isn't worth doing after spending so much money on them. Your natural hair creates its own oils so has the tendency to get greasy and of course the hair extensions do not, which means sometimes you end up unnecessarily washing your hair when really you only need to do your roots. (top wash!)

I found the brand OGX in boots when they had a deal on for 3 for £15 so I got the shampoo,conditioner and the oil. My hair has a tendency to get very dry and frizzy on the ends, its something I'm still working on. The scent of these is gorgeous! Usually shampoos without the chemicals have a really plain scent and you end up with hair smelling of nothing, when there's nothing I love more than the smell of coconut or fruit after washing my hair. After the first use of the shampoo and conditioner I noticed a huge difference with the condition of my hair and how shiny it looked!

I used to use hair oil previously but found it made my hair greasy extremely quick which is why I went for the dry oil which I had never heard of before. Its a real game changer because it seems no matter how much I use my hair doesn't get greasy any quicker than usual and it leaves you hair with the most amazing shine. The Beauty works 10 in 1 Miracle Spray is essential to me as it keeps my hair in such good condition and has so many amazing benefits to it, including protecting your hair from heat, and is created especially for use on extensions, although you can still use it on natural hair.

I will be getting my hair redone roughly about Christmas time/new year and already I'm browsing the transformation photos online, its so crazy how you can make such a huge difference in the space of a few hours, it truly blows my mind. Have any of you guys got hair extensions? If so, if you have any recommendations for products for maintaining them please list them below as I would love to try some more!





ALL ABOUT: MY HAIR

12 September 2016


I was never the type to write about hair as it was never a subject of interest to me, but about a year and a half ago I dove into the world of hair extensions and now I am hooked. I will be the first to admit, I didn't look after my hair very well. If any of you may remember on here I had very short hair and although I kept it trimmed and coloured, I never used to use any products and I used a lot of heat.

After months of waiting, my hair didn't seem to be growing, not that I could see anyway. I was so interested in having princess hair and watching videos of all the amazing hair tutorials online, I was so fascinated, I wanted it. I was bored of short hair. Although I will always have a love for shorter hairstyles they get very tedious. The constant styling of it, there is no 'I'm having a bad hair day, lets shove it up!" kind of deals, its a constant thing having short hair and although people say its so much easier, actually I disagree.



The journey begins with the first picture, short and red. I had this hair for roughly 3/4 years and I had a love hate relationship with it. I first saw hair extensions when a local hair extensions specialist in my area had a sponsored advert on Facebook and I was looking through some of the photos, the before and afters were incredible. I booked in for my consultation and 4 weeks later, photo number two happened.

I chose to have keratin bonded hair extensions put in, and used the hair by 'Beauty Works'. I wish I had my first set longer but having 'long' hair for the first time in years was a drastic change for me. Everything you thought you knew about your hair..gone. From brushing it to washing it and everything in between, the difference is drastic. I did experience a few days with a sore scalp and trouble sleeping, but I'm sure that was just from the extra weight and the bonds on my head, as I never experienced this with the second set. Hair extensions are a huge investment costing hundreds of pounds so the aftercare is key!

I can't stress enough the importance of a Tangle Teezer, this changed my life. Bonded extensions are very fragile and you have to use specialist products on them or they can get ruined very quick. The longevity is roughly 3-4 months, after this time I would recommend getting them reapplied. I made a huge mistake with my first set, because they were so expensive I wanted to keep them in for as long as I possibly could before I had to get them redone and the thought of being without them after all this time, I couldn't bear it. I kept mine in for much longer than I really should and looking back now I wish I didn't. Although I had long hair, the longer you keep it in, the harder it will become to maintain. Its inevitable that matting will occur in your hair as your hair grows the bonds move down and the new hair between the bond and your scalp just gets knotted. It took the hairdresser two hours to get through the matting in my hair after removing my first set and It was probably one of the most painful experiences of my life, but it was my own fault so who was I to moan?

I had my second set put in on the 26th July and I am absolutely in love with them. I went to a lady who does them from home and although this can be very risky as not everybody is honest with their skills, it was one of the best choices that I made. They are long,dark,smooth and soft... and I adore them.

Aftercare is essential and you have to use sulphate-free hair products as the chemicals in your normal shampoo and conditioner break down the bonds in the extensions and will ruin them, which isn't worth doing after spending so much money on them. Your natural hair creates its own oils so has the tendency to get greasy and of course the hair extensions do not, which means sometimes you end up unnecessarily washing your hair when really you only need to do your roots. (top wash!)

I found the brand OGX in boots when they had a deal on for 3 for £15 so I got the shampoo,conditioner and the oil. My hair has a tendency to get very dry and frizzy on the ends, its something I'm still working on. The scent of these is gorgeous! Usually shampoos without the chemicals have a really plain scent and you end up with hair smelling of nothing, when there's nothing I love more than the smell of coconut or fruit after washing my hair. After the first use of the shampoo and conditioner I noticed a huge difference with the condition of my hair and how shiny it looked!

I used to use hair oil previously but found it made my hair greasy extremely quick which is why I went for the dry oil which I had never heard of before. Its a real game changer because it seems no matter how much I use my hair doesn't get greasy any quicker than usual and it leaves you hair with the most amazing shine. The Beauty works 10 in 1 Miracle Spray is essential to me as it keeps my hair in such good condition and has so many amazing benefits to it, including protecting your hair from heat, and is created especially for use on extensions, although you can still use it on natural hair.

I will be getting my hair redone roughly about Christmas time/new year and already I'm browsing the transformation photos online, its so crazy how you can make such a huge difference in the space of a few hours, it truly blows my mind. Have any of you guys got hair extensions? If so, if you have any recommendations for products for maintaining them please list them below as I would love to try some more!





Today I am posting about New Look's new makeup up collection. When Topshop came out with their cosmetic collection everybody was Obsessed! New look have revealed they have created a 100 piece collection which is now available online and in stores. It is a very inexpensive range but has a huge variety. Prices start at £1.99 and range up to £5.99 for the foundations. 

New Look | Pure Colour

14 May 2015

Today I am posting about New Look's new makeup up collection. When Topshop came out with their cosmetic collection everybody was Obsessed! New look have revealed they have created a 100 piece collection which is now available online and in stores. It is a very inexpensive range but has a huge variety. Prices start at £1.99 and range up to £5.99 for the foundations. 


 Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara is a new, Spring 2015 Mascara that Is now available in shops. I knew I would love this mascara the first time I used it. It has a great formula, isn't too dry or too wet, so there's no need to wipe the brush on the top of the tube before you apply either. The bristles on the brush are perfect being two different lengths and they are very strong and do an amazing job at separating your lashes.

Review || Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara

11 February 2015


 Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara is a new, Spring 2015 Mascara that Is now available in shops. I knew I would love this mascara the first time I used it. It has a great formula, isn't too dry or too wet, so there's no need to wipe the brush on the top of the tube before you apply either. The bristles on the brush are perfect being two different lengths and they are very strong and do an amazing job at separating your lashes.

Hello Everybody I'm back! Today I'm here to talk about MUA Pearl Eyeshadow's! These are new to my collection and at £1 each you can't go wrong! I got them in three shades, Shade 24 which is a pink shimmer, Shade 7 which is an emerald green shimmer and Shade 10 which is a navy blue shimmer.

I am VERY impressed with these eyeshadow's. I love all of MUA products and are one of my favourite brands, but these eyeshadow's are very very good for how inexpensive they are. They come in big single sized pots and you get 2g of product in each, so will last you a long time.


MUA Pearl Eyeshadow review and swatches

15 September 2013

Hello Everybody I'm back! Today I'm here to talk about MUA Pearl Eyeshadow's! These are new to my collection and at £1 each you can't go wrong! I got them in three shades, Shade 24 which is a pink shimmer, Shade 7 which is an emerald green shimmer and Shade 10 which is a navy blue shimmer.

I am VERY impressed with these eyeshadow's. I love all of MUA products and are one of my favourite brands, but these eyeshadow's are very very good for how inexpensive they are. They come in big single sized pots and you get 2g of product in each, so will last you a long time.


Latest Instagrams


© kimberley. Design by Fearne.