Monday 28 October 2013

My Monday Wishlist - all about rosy & bronze shades

M y   M o n d a y   W i s h l i s t!


bobbi brown brightening brick urban decay naked skin ysl volupte shine art deco bronzing powder compact bare mineral marvelous moxy lipstick dior rosy tan



1. Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxy Lipstick in "Be Free"


I love this lipstick's barely-there, rosy nude and creamy formula!


Available here for £16!


2. Dior 5-Couleurs Eyeshadow in "Rosy Tan"


I love the combination of rosy and brown shades allowing for multiple looks. I have heard such good things about the outstanding quality of these colours that these are an absolute "must have"!


Available here for £40.


3. Bobbi Brown Brightening Brick


The brightening effect of this product is more subtle than that of the shimmer brick and consequently, can be used both as a spot highlighter and all over face powder for a flattering glow. WANT!


Available here for £40.


4. Urban Decay Naked Skin in 05


I am always in search of the perfect, barely-there skin perfecting foundation and Urban Decay's Naked Skin might just be it! It has got fantastic reviews and claims to create a natural, illuminated, bright, demi-matte finish.



Available here for £27.


5. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Shine in "Beige Instinct"

This shiny dark nude lipstick with its glam shine just needs to become part of my collection for a chic, autumnal look!

Available here for £24.


6. Art Deco Bronzing Powder Compact in "Brazilian Summer"


This snazzy little compact which looks like straight out of the silent film era combines two shades of bronzer which complement each other perfectly and it would be the perfect handbag size!


Available here for £23.50.


What's on your Wishlist?

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Mountainbeauty2013













Sunday 27 October 2013

My first E.L.F. Haul Review

I've been reading loads about E.L.F. products on other blogs & also had watched quite a few You Tube beauty videos talking about E.L.F. makeup before finally biting the bullet and ordering some myself.

When E.L.F. offered 35% off a couple of weeks ago I took the opportunity to peruse their website thoroughly!

And this is what I got:

My E.L.F. Haul!


The Shopping Experience
I found their website easy to navigate, pictures were clear and the different colours & shades available were shown for ease of selection.

I had no problem applying the 35% off code (and bearing in mind that E.L.F.'s product range is already very good value anyway, it felt even more bargainous).

Delivery was quick and the products were well packaged and arrived undamaged.

You might want to think about following E.L.F. on Facebook and/or Twitter to be always up-to-date in relation to product launches and promotions/discounts.

The Product Selection
When ordering I focused on cheek and eye products as I had heard great things about their baked eyeshadows, the blushers and bronzers.


Product overview of my autumn inspired colour selection!




Single Eyeshadows in "Sunset" & Raspberry Truffle (@£3.38)

Left to right: "Rapsberry Truffle" & "Sunset"

I was really happy with my colour choices! 


"Sunset" is a beautiful burnt orange shade - the kind of slightly muted shade which really comes into its own in autumn.

"Rapsberry Truffle" is nice aubergine colour with hints of brown which I have been using as a crease colour (However, if you are into more dramatic, dark eye looks then I can totally see this working as part of a smokey eye look).

Perfect for autumn!
(No primer or flash used)
Both colour have tiny gold fleck added creating a very subtle, flattering shimmer!

They look great together but can also easily be combined with other shades to switch it up.

They were easy to apply, had great pigmentation, were buildable and lasted well throughout the day without creasing - with and without a primer.

I also really liked the black, sleek packaging with the little mirror in the lid - great for touch ups on the go!

("Buttermilk", "Oatmeal" and "Wild Wheat" are on the list for my next shop!).



I chose these two colours as I had heard great things about the baked eyeshadows and am also a massive fan of both baked eyeshadows and neutral colours.

Left to right: "Enchanted" & "Toasted"

The colour pay off for both colours is really great and I love their warm, multi-dimensional tone with hints of metallic.

Gorgeous colours!
(No primer or flash used)
"Enchanted" - a really pretty muted rose gold shade - is the lighter of the two colours and looks really good giving a shimmery finish to my lids. 

"Toasted" is a nice taupey, metallic, mid-tone shade which I liked both on the outside corner of my lid or in the crease.

Both shades have really great colour pay off and I was again impressed with their staying power.  I did not experience any creasing and wore the baked shadows with and without a primer.

As the shades can be built up to be quite intense, I felt that they would also look good for a more dramatic going out look.


Baked Blush in "Pinktastic" (@£3.75)


"Pinktastic" is a great very light shade with a very subtle pink shimmer to it which makes a fantastic golden highlight on the top of your cheekbones.  I have also used a tiny bit on the middle of my lid to really add light to an eye look and it worked great for that as well.

Baked blush in "Pinktastic"

The golden base colour of this baked blush creates a great golden-toned highlight with pink undertones when the pink swirls are mixed in with your blusher brush.

Intensive golden shimmer
This product is very pigmented and a little goes a long way. This is definitively on the shimmery side so you really only need a tiny bit to achieve a super glowy finish.

Super pretty, intensive, rose-gold highlighter
(no primer or flash used)
In terms of glowy finish and shimmery effect, it really reminds me of "Mary-Lou Manizer" by The Balm (though that is slightly more golden toned).

Once applied this easily lasted the whole day on my face!


Blush in "Giddy Gold" (@£3.75)



If you want the look but not the price tag of Nars "Orgasm" then you should give E.L.F.'s blush in "Giddy Gold" a try! (for £3.75 this comes pretty close!)

"Giddy Gold" close up
I love that the packaging also comes with a mirror in the lid making an additional mirror unnecessary!

Muted pumpkin colour with glold flecks


It's a muted pumpkin colour colour with very tiny gold flecks making this a really glowy blush, so I think there is no need for an additional highlighter.

A nice, versatile blush shade
(no primer or flash used)
The colour goes on evenly, is blendable and definitively buildable.

This blush does wear really well on me and hasn't faded during the day.




Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder in "St. Lucia"(@£3.75)

Handbag-friendly packaging

As my skin is pretty pale I chose "St. Lucia" as this compact holds the lightest colour combination.

Good-sized mirror
Both the blush and the bronzer are easily applied, blend well and had great staying power on me.

Very wearable colours!
The Bronzer was great for contouring and was light enough to not look unnatural on my skin while still adding a touch of natural looking colour with a super subtle sheen to it.

Good pigmentation!
I thought that the dusky rose blush shade really complimented the bronzer giving a super pretty, flattering cheek look!

No primer or flash used!
Great for warming up pale skin!


Overall Verdict
I am really happy with my product choices! The colours I chose work really well with my light skin tone and I was happy with the application, staying power and colour pay off of every product.

Considering that I had also heard that E.L.F. products can be a bit "hit 'n miss", I can only say that my experience with this brand so far has been outstanding!

(I'm sure that there are products which work less well for individual people or which don't quite match up to expectations, but I guess that could be said about just about every brand).

Without a doubt I'll be back for more!

(I also wished I lived a bit closer to Cardiff and not at the other side of the country...)



What's your favourite E.L.F. product?

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Mountainbeauty2013






Wednesday 23 October 2013

Review - Vaseline Spray & Go

Now I have to admit that I'm absolutely terrible when it comes to using body moisturisers consistently - in the past it has always ended up being a case of the way to hell is paved with good intentions (the only moisturiser I have been loyal to before is the amazing Soap & Glory The Righteous Body Butter when my skin felt particularly dry).


However, let me introduce you to the body moisturiser which in the course of just over two weeks completely changed my sporadic/on-off moisturising habits (see my last Boots haul where I got it here!)



Vaseline Spray & Go Body Moisturiser in "Cocoa Radiant"


Vaseline Spray & Go cocoa butter oats aloe moisturiser moisturizer


It retails for £4.99 for 190ml of product.


This is what Vaseline say about their product:
"New Vaseline Spray & Go Body Moisturiser is a quick, convenient spray lotion that deeply moisturises and absorbs fast so you can put your clothes straight on. The revolutionary continuous spray dispenses the lotion quickly and evenly. With pure natural extracts and a Stratys-3 multi-layer moisture complex, the lotion absorbs into skin in seconds. 
The fast-absorbing formula of Vaseline Spray & Go has been designed to lock in moisture whilst leaving the skin feeling instantly soft - not greasy or sticky. 
All Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturiser products are dermatologically approved. Available in three variants: Oats, Aloe and Cocoa."


Application
I found the application super easy and quick and because it's a moisturising spray it made it really easy for me to reach my back.

On average I was able to moisturise my skin top to toe in about a minute without missing out any spots. 

Vaseline Spray & Go cocoa butter oats aloe moisturiser moisturizer


The Moisturiser & my Clothes


The sprayed on lotion dried super fast after having rubbed it in allowing me to get dressed without having to hang around waiting for my moisturiser to sink in - very handy in the mornings!

A great product if you want to moisturise your skin rather than your clothes!



How my skin felt

My skin continued to feel moisturised and soft throughout the day. 

In fact the Vaseline Spray & Go moisturiser left me skin so well moisturised that there was no need to re-apply this or another product throughout the day!

The Smell
I loved the subtle cocoa butter smell and it lingered for a good couple of hours after application making my skin smell yummy.

Note: If you are not into cocoa butter then maybe try the Aloe Vera version they have got in their range as the cocoa butter smell is quite strong on initial application !



My concluding thoughts on the product:

I am REALLY impressed with this great moisturiser and would absolutely recommend it to anyone!

It's especially good if you are all about getting out of the door fast while still looking after your skin.

In fact I have nearly finished my bottle and have already got a replacement one in "Pure Oat Extract" which I'm excited to use next!

Vaseline Spray & Go cocoa butter oats aloe moisturiser moisturizer



For a chance to win some great cosmetics enter my "Autumn Giveaway" HERE!



Have you tried the Vaseline Spray & Go moisturisers?

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It would be great if you subscribed to ensure that you are always the first to read my new posts!

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Mountainbeauty2013






Saturday 19 October 2013

*CLOSED *Autumn GiveAway!

__________________________________________________
This Giveaway is now closed and the winner has been contacted & has been in touch with their details.

Thank you for participating!
____________________________________

To add a bit of cheer to the - at least in Northumberland - somewhat rainy and increasingly dark autumn weather,  I thought it would be a great idea to throw together a little "Autumn Give-Away" containing my favourite Drugstore/Highstreet beauty buys!


Giveaway; give-away, blog giveaway; make up giveaway, cosmetics giveaway, open internationally; soap and glory; rimmel, l'oreal, maybelline


One lucky winner will receive the following:

Rimmel Kate Lasting Lipstick in "01"

Rimmel Apocalips in "Aurora"

Maybelline 24h Color Tattoo in "Pink Gold"

Maybelline 24h Color Tattoo in "Pomegranate"

Maybelline Eye Studio Khol Liner Masterdrama in "Ultra Black"

Rimmel Scandaleyes Flex Mascara in "Black"

Soap & Glory Lid Stuff Flawless Finish Eyeshadow in "What's Nude"

Soap & Glory "Love at First Blush" Multi-Shade Blushing Powder

Soap & Glory™ Glow All Out™ Luminizing Face Powder

&

L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution



This Give-Away will be open internationally!

I'll be announcing the winner on my blog after I have checked entries after the closing dates and will also message the winner directly to sort out posting etc.

The winner will need to contact me within 48 hours of my blogpost going life and him/her being notified of having won!

(Should the first person chosen not get in touch within that period, then another winner will be chosen.)


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good Luck All with my "Autumn Give-Away"!

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See you soon!

Mountainbeauty2013




Thursday 17 October 2013

Great You Tube "How to" beauty videos!

In case you feel you do not spend enough time watching You Tube beauty videos, then this is just the post for you!

I have found You Tube beauty videos incredibly helpful for updating my look, getting tips for improving application or just creating a creative springboard to experiment with make up!

I thought I compile some of the videos I currently find particularly helpful and inspiring:


If staying power is an issue and you are after longevity this video by the fantastic Tati from Glam Life Guru has some great pointers:





For a really detailed guide to achieving flawless skin incorporating skin care advice I love Pixiwoo's video below:




Sometimes I really love to cheat the "I look like this naturally" Look and found this video by Tiffany D a really great help in going for a naturally beautiful look without looking overly made up:




The below video by Melissa Raymond is great in showing how to achieve a virtually identical look with high-end products being applied to one side of the face and drugstore/highstreet products to the other side of the face:




I really love this tutorial by Emily Noel for creating a classic look with a vintagey  feel which is easy to recreate (Emily has now also a great second channel just doing mini reviews):




Hope this is helpful to you (and no responsibility shall attach to the writer for unconscionable amounts of time spent watching You Tube beauty videos ;0))!


Which are your favourite You Tube beauty videos?

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Mountainbeauty2013

Monday 14 October 2013

My Monday Wishlist - very neutral with a pop of colour!

M y   M o n d a y   W i s h l i s t!




1. Urban Decay "Naked Basics"

As one can clearly never have enough beautiful, matte, neutral shades, I really NEED to have this wonderful, compact palette as it will not only be indispensable in creating a variety of natural yet stunning looks and to boot will be a perfect handbag fit!

This amazing palette is currently reatiling at www.debenhams.co.uk for £20!


2. Lime Crime Lipstick in "Cosmopop"

Because it is a super fun colour which would give a great pop of colour to my otherwise very neutral look.  I really love how it looks so creamy & richly pigmented!

The Lime Crime lipsticks retail for £11.50 via their official UK retailers (www.cutecosmetics.co.uk, www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk and www.love-makeup.co.uk) - I will resist the lure of the Ebay resellers and instead faithfully monitor the official retailers' websites!


3. Marc Jacobs Genius Gel Super-Charged Foundation in "Ivory Light"

I have watched so many videos on You Tube now showing the amazing finish which is achievable with this foundation that I absolutely have to try it out for myself! Just now need to do some hard core research on where to get it in the UK! 

In the US it is currently avaliable at Sephora for USD48!


4. Too Faced "Milk Chocolate Soleil"

I am forever looking for the perfect bronzer to compliment my pale skin and perk it up subtly through the autumn and winter months and this appetisingly named bronzer from Too Faced might just be it!

Available via www.boots.com for £25.


5. Charlotte Tilbury "Filmstar Bronze & Glow"

This super glam offering in its streamlined, classically beautifully compact combining a nice bronzer shade with a pretty, complimenting highlight shade would just look so perfect taking pride of place in my collection!

Available in the UK £49 via www.selfridges.com.

6. Benefits "Rockateur"

I just love rose gold - it's such a flattering shade which works for a range of different skin tones.

And as I have always been very happy with all my Benefits boxed powders, I just can't wait to give this one a try!

Available for £23.50 here!

What's on your Wishlist?

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Mountainbeauty2013














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