My Expanding Blush Collection!

Good evening lovelies!

Hope you've all had a great day. We've had some gorgeous sun here in Bakewell. Sunshine is soooooo good for me (although the heat is just a recipe for lethargy - can't win. Bleh). Keeps my head a lot clearer and lifts my mood. Perfect weather for blogging!!

I'm planning on posting my lipstick collection in the very near future but, seen as my LAST post was a lippy post I thought I'd guide you through the most recent additions to my blush collection first.

And WOW how it's grown!! I've gone from this....

To THIS!!

Not bad for someone who didn't discover their love for blusher until March/April this year!!

For those of you who need bringing up to date on my original blush collection post you can find it HERE! 

Most of the swatches and info from the original post have been left out of this one for fear of sounding like a broken record. So if you find this post lacking info on the blush you like, do please check there!

I MUST MUST MUST start with the Sleek blushes. Because i absolutely ADORE Sleek blushes! I'm up to 4 now and have no plans on stopping there.

Main: Aruba. Top Right: Life's a Peach. Bottom Right: Santorini

So my new additions are as follows (in chronological order) Santorini, Life's a Peach and Aruba. 

Sleek blushes are a favourite of mine because they are so easy to apply, blend so well and can be as subtle or as RAWR as you like depending on how you build them. The LEs (Aruba and Santorini) are definitely more pigmented than those from their regular line (which are also really well pigmented so not saying they're not) but even though they look scary in the pan can be blended to a softer finish. 

L-R: Coral, Santorini, Life's a Peach, Aruba

All these colours are gorgeous summer shades. Life's a Peach gives a gorgeous subtle glow (see my post here...) as does Coral while Santorini and Aruba are the ones to DAZZLE with!! So far I've used Life's a Peach the most as its more of an everyday, all round lovely shade. It looks gorgeous used on its own for a peachy hue OR dabbed on top of a bronzer for an amazing summer look (Adrienne taught me that one). 

Next on my Sleek Blush wishlist is definitely Rose Gold. All the shades I own are matte and this looks to have a lovely golden sheen to it. Can't WAIT!!

Next up is a little MAC blogsale bargain... Breath of Plum

This is the only MAC blush i own so far (although I lust after so many of them). I bought it from Emma's blogsale. It caught my eye because I don't have another blush with plummy tones and thought it would look perfect with my MAC Liberty of London lippy in Blooming Lovely. It did and, although it isn't one i reach for often, its lovely for when I go for purple toned eyes or lips. 

As its my first MAC blush experience I have to say i do like it. No complaints about formula/consistency/pigmentation whatsoever but I'm not gonna go into mega detail on it because we ALL love MAC blushes don't we?! I'm planning a trip to Meadowhall with my mummy for my birthday in September and THAT will be my big MAC blush splurge. I plan on buying AT LEAST one!! 

Next up is my FAVOURITE blush of the moment and a little drugstore BARGAIN!

BeneFit Coralista has been my best friend ever since I got it! I just love the colour and the lovely summery sheen it gives my skin. And I can't help sniffing it everytime i use it because i swear it smells like HOLIDAYS!! The little brush it comes with isn't spectacular but its useful for carrying around, is lovely and soft and works quite well with the product. I haven't got a bad word for this blush. I have read some people saying they didn't get on with it and it IS a subtle shade but it is buildable and gives a gorgeous finish. Not too intense, but not non existant either. Its my go to blush and I. LOVE. IT!!

I've included the BeautyUk blush in the same section as Coralista, not because it is a DUPE as such but it gives a VERY similar finish on the skin. I didn't realise this until I'd put it on my face but it really reminded me of Coralista when I was applying it so the comparison is worth making (especially as it only retails for a couple of pounds)!!

Left: BeneFit Coralista. Right: BeautyUk

So those are my most recent editions... I would have waited longer but it would have turned into a more EPIC post if i had as I'm waiting on a certain NARS purchase and an Accessorize blush as well now! At least it will give me another excuse to do a another blush post! I do love me blushers I do haha ;)

What blushes have you rushed out to buy so far this summer? Which MAC shades should i consider for my birthday haul? 

Beauty UK Bits'n'Bobs

Evening lovelies!

Just recently I won a little giveaway over at Ms Red's Beauty Blog to celebrate her reaching 250+ followers and was sooooo EXCITED with my package of loveliness arrived (VERY quickly too). Thanks Ms Red and well done for passing 250!!

It contained all manner of gorgeous things. There was things for hair, things for my face, things for body and some really cute travel sized products! It ALSO contained 2 items from the Beauty UK make-up brand and i got chance for a little play around with them for the first time today.

I've seen this brand a couple of times while i've been in my nearest Superdrug (its next to the MUA stand so how could i miss it) but had never actually tried anything of theirs before. Not through a conscious decision not to, its just i usually have a shopping list to stick to when i go into Superdrug haha. 

So the items I received were a lovely little eyeshadow palette (no4) and a really girly pink blush (well actually it calls itself a blusher on the front of the pack, but on the BACK it claims to be a bronzer). However I'd say it's DEFINITELY a blush so i will treat it as such. 

Will show you the shadows first...

There are 12 shadows here. These colours are what i would usually go for for my eyes with a couple thrown in that i had been meaning to purchase with summer in mind. The khaki green to the top right is a colour that has been missing from my collection for a while and I'm so glad i have another now. The gold/browns are always a hit with me and so on trend for summer. The browbone-type highlight shades are also lovely and show up really well, unlike a couple i own which hardly look like i have a highlight shade on my eyes AT ALL! 

I had NO need to build these up at all for these swatches so the colour and pigmentation is GREAT! The consistency i would compare to MUA shadows. These were VERY easy to swatch and, although i haven't tried all the shadows on my eyes yet the ones i have used were pretty easy to apply and to blend. From what i remember these little palettes are only around £3-4 and, although it is a LITTLE palette, i think i will enjoy using it.

So onto the blush/bronzer hybrid....

This would work great as a highlighting blush on medium to dark skin tones or show up a lovely baby pink hue on those with paler skins. The only blush in my collection that i would compare it to is actually my current FAVOURITE which is BeneFit Coralista. Not saying its a MAJOR dupe but the consistency and finish of this blush really reminded me of something when i first put it on my face.... and that was the one. 

So here i swatched it next to Coralista (BeautyUK is on the right) and, while there are definite differences in colour the effect achieved on the skin is very similar. Both have that lovely summery sheen. I have not swatched each stripe individually, just altogether, but if you would like to see the different colours swatched please let me know and i will add it on. 

Any other BeautyUK finds that i should check out?? I love discovering affordable make-up brands which really DELIVER! 

Many thanks again to the lovely Ms Red for holding the giveaway... You've introduced me to something new! :)