Sleek Blush by 3: Lace

I know I said that this week was gonna be mainly skincare but, in an attempt to be more organised, I did photos for some new Sleek goodies at the same time and decided that this little beauty couldn't wait. The Sleek Blush By 3 palettes aren't a recent thing. They landed last year in Superdrug stores and online. At the time I picked up the 'Pumpkin' palette (my post on this can be found Here) and missed out on 'Lace' (it always seemed to be sold out) but it occurred to me recently that I hadn't bought any new Sleek products in a while and I went along to Superdrug and came out with this. 

I think it's safe to say that this is such a pretty blush palette. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Sleek are my favourite drugstore brand for blushes and these palettes are great value (3 full size Sleek blushes for £9.99 vs 3 single blushes from their core selection at £4.99 each). This shade palette is much more subtle than 'Pumpkin' but just as pigmented and buildable. This is one that I feel like I will use all year round for both day to day and evening makeup.

The Shades Are....

Crochet (Matte)

A slightly muted deep orange/peach 

Guipure (Shimmer)

A cool-ish toned pink with a stunning gold shimmer

and

Chantilly (Satin)

A deep reddened pink which looks different in different lights

Just as I have come to expect from Sleek, these shades were a pleasure to swatch and took little building to show the true colour. I'd say this palette is perfect for fair to medium skin tones. The texture is very blendable so, even if you find you've put a bit too much on your brush, they're easily evened out with a few strokes. Guipure has the most beautiful sheen (this photo really does not do it justice) and could give the infamous NARS Orgasm a run for it's money. I think Chantilly will get the most use out of the bunch but we'll see. I also love these Sleek blush palettes for travelling because they're so compact (saves makeup bag space for more lippy hehe) and have a GREAT size mirror. 

 All Sleek products can be found in selected Superdrug stores and online. The Blush By 3 palettes come in 5 different shade combinations to suit different skin tones and cost £9.99. Browse all the shades at

 sleekmakeup.com

Do you love Sleek blushes?? What are your favourite drugstore brands for blush?? What other Sleek products can't you live without??

My Top 5 Drugstore Lip Products

Morning beauty seekers!!

I meant to post this last night, but I got kinda distracted downloading fonts and before I knew it 10pm had been and gone and I decided to keep it for this morning instead. Anyhoo, I was rummaging around in my lippy drawer the other day and came to the conclusion that my drugstore lippies could use some more love. After having a bit of a think I decided to pick out my top 5 and do a little swatchy post telling you why I love them. The products are featured in no particular order...

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in 700: Nude Delight is an old school favourite of mine. I actually have 3 of these dotted around in various handbags as I find it a great lipstick to have around in case of emergencies. The formula is super moisturising and it's just the perfect, peachy nude for my medium skintone. It's dark enough not to be concealer-y but light enough to look pretty yet natural. Great for dry lip days. 

Sleek True Colour Lipstick in Peaches and Cream is one of my all time favourite Spring/Summer lip colours. It's perfect for either day or evening and I find it lasts a long time on the lips. I only own this and one other Sleek lipstick (Fuchsia, which I'll admit I don't wear very often at all) but I like the formula. I hear the matte shades are a little drying but this is very comfortable to wear, although not as moisturising as the Rimmel one. 

Bourjois Rouge Edition Lipstick in No5: Brun Boheme* is the newest of the 5 products in this post. I was introduced to it by the MUAs from Bourjois during London Fashion Week and I utterly ADORE it! It's very different from the usual nude shades I tend to stick to. It's darker for one, but it's a brown toned dusky pink that looks so chic and is very versatile. It's neutral enough to wear with a toned down daytime look, yet dark enough to vamp up at nighttime. I find it to be long wearing and it feels lovely on the lips. 

I didn't go as mental for these lipsticks as a lot of people did. I only picked up 3 shades of the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters but this one ended up being a big favourite for Summer 2012 and I can't wait to bust it out again this year. The lip butter formula is intended to be a hydrid of lip balm and lipstick and offers amazing moisturisation. I don't find it lasts amazingly well, probably because it's more of a balmy product, but it's one of the very few PALE pink lip shades that I find I can wear easily. Certainly the only drugstore one anyway (the others are MAC's Hue and Creme Cup). Massive thumbs up for this product! I also adore their Just Bitten, Kissable Balm Stain in Cherish which is a very similar shade.

This is another recent discovery of mine. Again, Rimmel Apocalips were MASSIVE all over the blog-o-sphere when they were released yet I only managed to pick up a couple of shades. I chose well though. Celestial is an extremely wearable dusky pink which is slightly darker than any other similar shade I have in my collection. I also love the 'lacquer' formulation of the product. It applies like a gloss, but with the opacity and pigmentation of a lipstick! Genius! Super shiny and long lasting too. Extremely quick to apply and you get a glossy pop of colour that really lasts. 

So there are the swatches for all of the above lipsticks. I love how they're all so different. I feel like I can be more experimental with drugstore lip products as they're really affordable (none of the products in this post retail for over £8). You really can pick up some gems!! 

You can pick up all of these products in your local Boots or Superdrug and you won't have to spend a fortune. Perfect shades for the upcoming Spring/Summer season (when the sun finally decides to get it's hat on, that is).

What are your ultimate drugstore lip products?? What shades will you be reaching for for SS13??

My Xmas Face!

Hello there lovelies!!

I hope everyone had a truly wonderful Christmas and that you're not all stuck indoors full of flu like i am this New Years' Eve!! Brunette Beauty Banter has been extremely quiet over the festive period because myself and the fur-babies have been away visiting family in Derbyshire and Yorkshire for the past 10 days. That does NOT, however, mean that nothing has been happening and i have a couple of festive posts to go up tonight to end 2012. I thought i'd start with my Xmas FOTD and show you what my festive product choices were...

Forget the face for a sec, the first thing you'll probably notice is that i'm back to ombre, having removed all traces of the pink/red that was in my hair. Nothing against redheads at all, and it was fun while it lasted, but its all too messy and time consuming for me. And that's that. On to ze face....

Base:

I've got no time for anything mattifying at Christmas. It's all about the festive glow (helped along by lashings of pink bubbly and Baileys later on). The foundation i opted for was Max Factor Xperience in shade 80 (Dark Gypsum). I really rate this foundation for giving great coverage without being thick, heavy and generally obstructive. It's the ONLY drugstore foundation that i go back to again and again. The powder i went for was my Cover FX Illuminating Powder in Medium*. I have been very impressed by this powder, after being initially worried that it would be shine-city. It isn't at all and just gives a lovely glow to the skin as well as setting my foundation in place. 

Cheeks:

Kept it simple with just one product this year and it was Sleek Powder Blush in Fenberry (which i believe was a LE last year in the Berry Collection). I find this to be the perfect winter hue and gives a gorgeous warm flush to the cheeks. This blush only really gets used at Christmas, but i enjoy it all the more for saving it. I had intended to use a highlight as well, but i conveniently forgot to take it with me. Silly girl. In the end i didn't actually miss it. 

Eyes: 

Does this Mally "In the Buff" Palette* remind you of anything?? I'm going to do a full review of this palette VERY soon so i'm not going to go into detail just yet. I chose this for Christmas because i wanted a nice, neutral eye that wasn't overly shimmery and this palette has a great range of matte and shimmer shades so i could find that perfect balance. 

Eyes Ctd: 

These are all staple products in my makeup bag now. I use them EVERY day. I'm sure most of us can vouch for the awesome-ness of the HD Brows palette, although i'm using it less at the moment as i have a full fringe and that means i can get away with being lazy with my brows. HA! 17 Peep Show Mascara is my current favourite and i will be repurchasing it once its gone. It gives a lovely, long lash without being overly fibrous. My current Gel liner is the Maybelline version, but i plan on branching out in the new year and experimenting with other brands. 

Lashes: 

I'm not a massive wearer of lashes, but i chose these Eylure Katy Perry lashes in Sweetie Pie* for Christmas day because they are so pretty, yet aren't too RAWR. It wasn't a party party kind of Christmas this year, more of a family gathering so i went for the subtle-yet-sweet option. 

Lips:

This Christmas face was all about the lips. I knew immediately that this year i HAD to have MAC Ruby Woo (Retro Matte) lipstick. The lipliner i got to go with it was MAC Cherry lip pencil. I always seem to want a bold lip at Christmas and i adore the colour of Ruby Woo. It's so flattering. My only grumble is that its a little drying on my lips, but a dash of Carmex underneath is all it needs. 

So those were my Festive product heroes. Once again, i hope everyone had a magical Christmas and wish you all the best for 2013. I will be ushering in the new year eating Domino's and watching DVDs in bed witha BIG mug of Lemsip (Rock'n'Roll)

What products made your Christmas this year?? What shades make you feel festive??

My Autumn/Winter Colours 2012: Makeup Edition

Hello lovelies! 

I hope everyone's had a great week and keeping nice and warm from the cold! Speaking of which, I thought i'd do a post about what makeup colours i have been loving for the new season. Autumn/Fall is a season particularly associated with stunning colours and i've found myself reaching for a certain palette of shades without even realising it! So i thought i would snap a few to show you!

I'll start with the cheek products because i really pay attention to what shades i put on my cheeks in the winter months. As is to be expected in colder weathers i'm not as tan as i am in the Summer, and rightly so (i'm not inclined to overcompensate for this, but prefer to go with it). I really enjoy glowy cheeks in winter shades. My ultimate favourite is Sleek's Fenberry Blush from last year's Berry Collection but i conveniently left it at my parents house last week so it was unavailable for photos.

(L-R)
Sleek Blush by 3: Pumpkin
I think the name says it all to be honest. This palette is named and put together PERFECTLY for this season! You have a gorgeous reddened coral shimmer, a slightly darkened pink and a juicy tangerine. I've used all of these recently and it's permanently in my makeup bag when i'm travelling around for uni as i love to be able to choose.
BeneFit Dallas
Even though it's pretty matte, i just adore the burnt peach and plum tones this powder has! It really  adds a beautiful glow to the cheeks. I often use this with a gold toned highlighter in the evening or just a sweep on it's own in the daytime.
Bourjois Delice De Poudre: 
As i mentioned before, although i like to have a glow about my skin (nobody WANTS to look like a corpse at any time of the year), i do try and tone it down a bit for Winter. I fake tan more often, but don't build it up as much, if that makes sense. This bronzer on me is very subtle. Usually i would mainly use it as a contour, but recently i have been popping a bit on my cheeks, nose and chin to add a bit of warmth.

Sleek i-Divine Palette: Avoir La Peche (Paraguaya Collection)
I can safely say that, in recent weeks, i have NOT been into much on my eyes. My staple look of late has consisted of JUST my Maybelline Gel Liner and 17 Peep Show Mascara. But when i have reached for eyeshadows lately i have only reached for this palette. I love how it's warm, but not dark and how the shades brighten up my green eyes. Again, the peach and orange tones of the shadows are so seasonal, but are kept muted and flattering thanks to the grey and brown shades. This palette was Limited Edition BUT i find the Sunset palette from Sleek to be every bit as appropriate. It's a MUST have for the cooler months in my opinion.

Can you see a pattern emerging here for Pumpkin and Berry shades?? My nail choices very much fall in with this pattern. I'm not going to wax lyrical about the shades this time (i chose them pretty much for the same reasons as everything else above), but i will list the shades for you just for reference purposes.

OPI Barefoot in Barcelona
OPI Y'all Come Back Ya Hear
Nails Inc Piccadilly Circus
Nails Inc Victoria

I haven't been wearing a ridiculous amount of lipstick just lately because i haven't had too many excuses to, but i've been absolutely loving MAC Spirit (above) for an everyday winter shade. It's just such a natural shade but it's that tiny bit darker and that, to me makes it more special than your average nude. I find it leans slightly purple on me (not really demonstrated in this pic though). It's a Satin finish, which isn't my favourite but i'll forgive it. If i want a lighter shade i'll mix it with Honeylove or Myth.

MAC Vegas Volt (above) is my other winter pick of the year so far. It's a colour i'd usually associate more with summer, but for some reason i've felt like it's brightened up my cold, tired face on a couple of occasions recently. I'd usually go more for Morange in the run up to Xmas but, my hair is a little too purple-ish for it at the moment in my opinion so i substituted it for the, slightly pinker, Vegas Volt.

So those are what makeup shades are floating my boat for Autumn/Winter. I haven't done a makeup look post in a while so i think that, next week, i will combine a few of these products and show you my 'Winter Face'.

What colours are floating your boat this season?? Do you make a bold statement or keep it natural and glowy??

My Summer Essentials Pt3: Makeup

Not really summer any more is it??

BUT, as i can't leave this series unfinished and because lots of us will be heading to sunnier destinations in the coming months, i will crack on with the last instalment which is MAKE UP!! To be honest, I'm not sure if you guys are liking this series at all because i haven't really heard any feedback from any of you, but i'm enjoying writing it so will continue on regardless. 

As i mentioned, this is the last of my 3 posts about my favourite summer products (see my last 2 posts for Skincare, Tanning and Haircare picks), and today i'm going to show you my favourite summer makeup shades and products. 

Gonna kick off with bronzers cos that seems the most obvious thing...

MAC Mineralise Skinfinish: Goldstone

I got this as part of the Semi-Precious collection last year and it really is just like INSTANT summer on the face. Great multi use product as it can be used all in one, the darker area for a deeper bronze and also the middle area as a gorgeous highlight. I tend to use a sweep of this all over on top of my base. It gives am amazing glow to the skin. I'm trying to resist Gold Deposit as well as i'm trying to ration this and I'll be so sad when it does finally run out. 

VIVO Baked Bronzer

This is my ULTIMATE everyday bronzer and it is ALWAYS in my makeup bag. I'm sure you've heard all about it on this blog before so i'll not bore you with it again but i ADORE the finish (not too matte, not too much shimmer) and i apply this over the apples of my cheeks, nose, chin and wherever i want a bit of colour. I don't tend to use it for contour but thats not to say it couldn't be used for that too. Bargain product that looks expensive and lasts forever!! I've had this ages and i've barely made a dent in it!

Onto my two favourite summer blush products....

Sleek Blush By 3: Pumpkin

This is going to be my holiday blush saviour! It's just so perfect and you have 3 beautiful, summery shades to choose from. Extremely handy when you don't want to be taking loads of bulky blush compacts away with you and you get a choice of 3! These palettes come in other shade ranges too but this one just screams summer to me. I'm especially in love with the pink at the moment. Read my full review with swatches HERE!

BeneFit Coralista

BeneFit Coralista is one of my top 3 blushes of all time so far. I really can't fault it. Its the most beautiful coral/pink shade that can be as subtle or built up as you like. I love the packaging, although it isn't the most travel friendly in my opinion which is a shame. I will be doing a new post on this blush in the very near future as my previous post on it was published when i was very new to blogging and doesn't do it justice in my opinion! 

So here are my Top 3 Summer MAC lip shades!!

Viva Glam Nicki (Satin)

Such a fun yellow-toned pink shade which looks great with a tan. Great thing about this shade is it seems to suit most skintones! 

Vegas Volt (Amplified)

The original MAC coral shade. I suppose recent additions such as 'Watch me Simmer' and 'Reel Sexy' may have put VV in the shadow somewhat but it is such a great all round shade. Especially in the summer months.

Morange (Amplified)

This was the first MAC lippy i ever bought!! I think it was last June and the weather was starting to get nice and it just spoke to me. It's a totally tropical (slightly reddish) orange shade which looks much more orange on the lips than it looks in photographs. 

TOP TIP: If you are a bit scared of choosing a bold summer lip colour, make sure you invest in MAC Myth. A layer of this under any of the above shades makes them even more wearable! 

For a great, purse-friendly, daytime summer lip i'd highly recommend...

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters

Not too heavy in formula or colour, conditioning on the lips and available in a great range of shades! The shades i have are Lollipop, Cupcake and Creme Brulee and i have been wearing them soooo much! I'm going to have to go and buy a backup of Cupcake very soon as it's nearly gone! 

Some of the Lip Butter shades, so i'm told, contain quite a lot of glitter. This is NOT my thing at all but i can see how they would appeal over the summer months. None of the 3 i own contain any though and for more info and swatches check out my review of them HERE!

Onto my eye choices

17 Peep Show Mascara

This is a recent addition to my collection and i LOVE it!! It's a lengthening mascara with a great sized wand and it makes my lashes look so long!! As i don't tend to wear much other eye makeup other than mascara when its hot outside i will be turning to this for daytime and evening wear when i go away this summer. Great, affordable product that i will be doing a full review on very soon. Just wish they did a waterproof version!

Urban Decay 24/7 Liquid Eyeliner

Speaking of waterproof... Eyeliner isn't always the first thing i think about over summer as there aren't many i've come across that stay put for long enough to endure the heat, sweat and water. But this one doesn't shift!! When i first got it and tried it on my hand it didn't wash off for DAYS! Can't wait to put it to the test, although i think this will be more for evening wear than anything else. 

MUA Heaven & Earth Palette

This is going to be my go-to holiday palette i think. It's got everything you need to create subtle or dramatic looks and it has a gorgeous shimmer. I suppose it would be a toss up between this and my Urban Decay Naked palette but this palette is such great value for money. 

So those are my shades of choice for summer! I haven't included foundation or any base products in this post but, if you would like to see them, let me know and i will include them in a future post! 

What are your colour choices for summer?? What makeup items can't you live without when the weather heats up??

Sleek Blush By 3: Pumpkin

Afternoon lovelies!!! 

This blog post is the first to be brought to you via my new office. As a sufferer of ME and Fibromyalgia i was lucky enough to be offered some equipment from student finance to help with my University studies and it all turned up this week!! This chair is AMAZING!!!

But less of that.... on with the blog!!

This is a product i have been so excited about and i FINALLY got the opportunity this week to bus it into Chesterfield and snap it up. It is the 

Sleek Blush By 3 'Pumpkin' Palette. 

Isn't it a BEAUT!! I had seen photos from various events featuring these when they first came out and, once i'd seen this, it just HAD to be mine!! There were actually two from the range of 5 different palettes that caught my eye. The other was 'Lace' which has turned out to be the most popular and was, of course, sold out, however it was this one which got me the most hot and bothered. 

The palette is made up of 3 full size Sleek blush shades consisting of one shimmer, one satin and one matte finish and retails for £9.99 (a regular single Sleek blush will set you back £4.30 so this is a real bargain). It comes in the regular, neat, tidy black Sleek packaging which i think looks so smart and chic and the mirror you get is MASSIVE! 

So here are the shades....

Lantern (Shimmer)

Squash (Satin)

P Pie (Matte)

I really think this shade range is perfect! You've got a red/coral shade, a pink shade and a vivid orange shade. This palette just screams "Take me on holiday" to me. You really wouldn't need any other blush!! And these shades would be perfect with a tan.

My favourite, without a doubt, has to be Squash. This is my dream pink blush!! It goes perfectly with my skintone and new hair colour (more on that in another post). I will definitely be doing a FOTD with this and my Revlon Lip Butter in Cupcake as i've been loving this combination this week!! 

P Pie (which i'm assuming stands for Pumpkin Pie), at a glance, could be perceived as a dupe for Aruba or Pan Tao from previous Sleek collections (not Life's a Peach though -This is definitely more RAWR) but the colour, to me, seems slightly deeper and less acidic than Aruba and i feel perfectly justified in having both as these palettes are PERFECT for travel. 

I haven't actually got any further than a swatch of Lantern yet. But the colour is gorgeous and all three are very well pigmented.

Here are the swatches (in the order they appear in the palette)

This was just one swipe of each shade. I didn't build them up. But i've always found Sleek blushes to be perfect for building. You can have a light dusting of colour or really go for it. You don't need a lot on your brush though due to the crazy pigmentation of the product. Next to MAC, Sleek win hands down for me in terms of blush. 

So i am now on a mission to get my paws on 'Lace'. The other variants in the range didn't really appeal to me but if you want a nosey you can find all the details HERE or just pop into your nearest Superdrug store and have a good swatch-fest. 

Have you snapped one of these up yet?? What are your favourite shade combinations?? Are you a Sleek Freak??

Sleek True Colour Lipstick ~ Peaches & Cream

Good evening my beauties!!

Just a quick little post tonight to tell you about another of my recent lipstick aquisitions. I've been doing my best not to buy too much new makeup since xmas and new year but when a colour catches my eye and doesn't cost the earth i just HAVE to grab it!! This time around the colour that suckered me in was the Sleek True Colour Lipstick in the shade 'Peaches & Cream'. 

I've shouted from the rooftops before about my love for the Sleek Powder Blush in 'Life's a Peach' (You can find that post HERE) and when i saw this lipstick i felt the same flush of warm peachy goodness. This is only the second Sleek lippy i have purchased (I also have it in Fuchsia) but i really like the finish the sheen varieties give. I haven't tried any of the matte ones yet (if you have any recommendations i'm all ears). 

As you can see, the level of pigmentation is CRAZY (as i've come to expect and love about Sleek products) and the swatch lasted a LIFETIME before rubbing off. The light outside was actually MEGA bright when i was doing these photos so my skin looks a bit ghostly in comparison to the lipstick, but I'm actually a warm, medium skintone so this lippy is right up my alley! Its a beautiful, warm, creamy peach shade with the tiniest hint of pink, which i am going to enjoy so much as we go into Spring/Summer 2012.

The only other lipstick i own which is similar to this is my BarryM 147. However, even though i love that shade, the formula is ABYSMAL!! Total sandpaper lips. Although i have been very reliably informed that 147 is a decent dupe for MAC Everhip, i think i definitely prefer Sleek's offering and can't wait to wear this with my Sleek blush and some golden eye makeup through the warmer months. Another thing i'm thinking is i may be able to mix it in with my MAC Morange to make it a little bolder for nights out. It really is such a lovely, flattering and wearable shade. 

What Sleek lipsticks do you own?? Do you go potty for peachy makeup??

Make Up Bag of The Week #2

Good evening ladies!

Late one tonight (i over-napped) but wanted a bit of blogging time to share with you all my makeup selections for the coming week. I have been trying really hard to rotate my makeup bag lately to get fuller use out of all my products. The last week or so was a bit of a fail because i have been a bit haphazard in the products i've been using due to special occasions and my visit to London for #ZOMGbloggersbash so it changed a bit through those weeks, but i'm narrowing it down again this week and plan to stick to the products i've selected. 

So there's the overview of this week's picks.

As usual my makeup bag staples (that i just can't do without) remain the same and will not be made a big fuss of in the main post. They are:

MAC Matchmaster Foundation (Shade 4)

MSFN (Medium Plus)

Collection2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer (Shade 3)

My last makeup bag post seemed to take on a 'bronzing' theme and this week i seem to have gone for more soft, pinky shades (maybe it's the approach of Valentine's Day). I don't do this consciously, but there always seems to be a trend in what products i pick from week to week. 

MAC Mineralise Skinfinish in Porcelain Pink

In addition to my regular MSFN i have actually selected ANOTHER for this week's bag. There's a bit of a story behind it actually. The other night on Twitter i was contemplating a blogsale and umming and ahh-ing about what to part with and what to keep hold of. And this product was a sure fire cert for the chop... Until i started actually TALKING about it with someone and studied it again and thought to myself "Y'know what.... I haven't given this enough of a chance and it really is rather pretty". I understand why MSF are so hard to part with as they really are beautiful. This one disappointed me somewhat when i first got it. It DOES have gold veining through it but it wasn't NEARLY as prominent when i actually got it out of the box when compared to swatches and photos i'd seen online. 

After swatching around with it again and wearing it yesterday i have decided that it works for me as a pretty pink-toned highlight which doubles up as lovely, shimmery eye shadow. So i popped it into this week's bag. 

MAC Sheertone Blush in Pink Swoon

I don't know many who don't LOVE this blush! It looks stunning in the pan, but is so sheer and gives such a pretty wash of girly pink (that can also be built up for more drama). It goes great with the MSF highlight i picked. I'm going to be sporting a fabulous girly pink glow this week!

I've plumped for two lippies again this week. I decided to give my beloved Shy Girl the week off in favour of two other equally effortless and soft colours from my MAC collection.

Creme Cup (Cremesheen)

Well one of the lipsticks was going to have to be pink wasn't it. This is the newest addition to my MAC lippy stash and i'm so glad i finally have it. I'd heard so many great things about it and it really does seem to be a fab all round 'suits-anyone' kinda shade. I do rather like a Cremesheen finish, although i know there are a few who aren't as keen. 

Viva Glam Gaga 2 (Amplified)

The second MAC/Gaga Viva Glam collaboration was always going to be a hit with me. I'm always on the lookout for the ultimate nude lip and this one really is FABULOUS!! I'm going to be so gutted when this runs out as it was an LE shade and will no longer be available. I have heard that a good dupe for this is GOSH 'Darling' but have yet to test this theory. Until then i have this badboy and i love it!! 

Sleek iDivine Palette in 'Oh So Special'

The first of my eye choices this week is one that i have been neglecting recently. I've got myself into a comfort zone of reaching for either my MUA Heaven&Earth or my coveted UD Naked palette and have pushed thoughts of my other palettes to the back of my mind, which is so wrong of me because i do LOVE every Sleek palette i own. Oh So Special was the obvious choice for this particular bag, given the other shades in the mix, but i picked it more for the contour shades than for the pinks (you'll see why in just a sec). The matte brown shades are also fine for filling in my brows, so no need for a seperate brow product.

BeneFit Creaseless Cream Shadowliner in 'Sippin'n'Dippin'

I own three of these shadows which i bought from a blogsale quite recently. I've always been a bit of a sceptic about cream formulas but am really coming around to them now. This shade in particular has a lovely warm goldy sheen to it which is a bit lighter than my skintone and when applied all over the lid makes my eyes pop right out!! My everyday staple look has now become this shadow all over my lid, followed by a contour shade (applied with a fluffy brush) into the crease and finished off with black liner. It stays on like a dream too and also doubles as a base for other shadows. The other shades i own are RSVP and Bunny Hop. You will probably find a post on these from me in the very near future.

VIVO Lengthening Mascara in Black

This is possibly my FAVOURITE budget mascara. It's by VIVO who sell through Tesco's but i picked this up at the October TOWIB event along with a few other bits, which was lucky for me as i live nowhere near a Tesco. This mascara contains fibres GALORE and i love that the brush doesn't pick up a truckload of product. I get no clumping from this product at all and it really is quite decent at adding length and colour to the lashes. I'd highly recommend it if you're popping down Tesco and in need of a new mascara. 

Liners for the week are as follows.....

Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

Not a lot for me to say about this product other than i LOVE it!! The brush is super easy to work with, it goes on a treat and it DOESN'T BUDGE!! This is one of the only liquid liners i've tried that gives me a perfectly smooth line and i dont always have to pull my eye around to get it either. I got this as part of my Book of Shadows IV but i will definitely be repurchasing!

Avon Glimmerstick Lipliner in Rich Ginger

I usually feel like i want a lip liner when I wear my Gaga 2 just because it is so nude and i like this one just to bring out my lips a little. It's not a bad colour for eyebrows either. I love Avon Glimmerstick products (not just because i am a rep) and the eyeliners are another favourite of mine. 

So those are this week's product picks. 

I realised that i haven't actually included a bronzer AT ALL this week, which is possibly a mistake. I have fake tanned though so my only issue will be for contouring and i can grab my Sleek Contour kit for that if i need it. 

If you have seen an item in any of my makeup bag posts that you would like more information on or to see me write a more detailed review of, do let me know and i'd be happy to oblige. 

What's in your makeup bag this week?? Are you getting all pink and romantic too??

MakeUp Bag of the Week #1

Evening girlies!!

So the new year finds me rather limited budget-wise and i'm a MASSIVE fan of the very lovely Sunday Girl, so i have made a vow to appreciate the items i already have in my makeup collection a little bit more before i go blundering in with the Mastercard to buy any more. Doing my 2011 favourites last week really got me remembering and appreciating the items i have already so i have decided to follow the emerging trend of switching my makeup bag around each week to get more use out of forgotten about items. Last week's bag didn't get a post but now that i have a bit of extra time on my hands (all assignments are handed in until i go back to uni on the 24th) I'm showing my blog some love.....

So here's the items i picked out today to serve me for this week......

These first two items are likely to remain in the bag from week to week because they are my must-haves and  i cannot live without them, but they are...

MAC Matchmaster Foundation - Shade 4

and 

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural - Medium Plus

(One item i appear to have neglected in these photos is my recent concealer discovery, Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection in 03 Medium. My bad!!)

(If you're wondering why some of the photos are different, i ran out of camera battery halfway through taking these photographs and had to use my iphone camera to take the rest)

The Bronzer I went for this week is Bourjois Delice De Poudre 'Chocolate' bronzer. I decided it was time to give the VIVO a little break and I adored this Bourjois one earlier in 2011. It works for contouring as well as adding a gorgeous subtle glow to the face and it lasts forever! I've had this one since about June (ish) and have hardly made a dent in it yet!! Well worth its money. Smells delish too!

This week's Blush is Sleek Powder Blush in 'Life's a Peach'. Again, this was a big hit with me over the summer. Not sure why i'm going for glowy, gold, bronzey tones in this particular makeup selection, they just all seemed to jump out at me! Maybe its because its so cold outside that i'm dreaming back to summer haha. This blush is perfect for a subtle glow or a more vibrant look. 

Lipstick choices for this week are quite similar really. I have been in LOVE with my MAC Shy Girl (Cremesheen) ever since i got it late last year. Don't know why it took me so long to get my paws on it because i knew i'd love it and its been on my radar for a while now. So glad i own it and its been hard to separate myself from it so it had to go in this week's bag.

 My next choice is my Rimmel Lasting Finish lipstick by Kate Moss in shade 03. I bought this in September with Boots points and, after the initial play, i kind of tossed it to one side in favour of my MAC Hue. But i found it earlier while picking products and had to toss it in the bag because it really is a lovely nude pink shade which isn't too pale or too dark and i haven't really given it a proper chance.

Eyeshadow palette this week is my lovely MUA Professional Heaven&Earth palette. It really is a little gem of a palette and the shades go really well with the bronzer and peachy blush. If you don't own this yet i really do suggest you snap one up on your next Superdrug visit because its great value and excellent quality for the price. Great for everyday looks. 

Eyeliner this week is my Stila Smudge Stick in Moray that i got in a recent Glossybox. Its a lovely golden toned liner and is long wearing. Half the reason i picked this was because, up until the other day, i actually thought i'd lost it as i couldn't find it anywhere! I just so happened to have a re-shuffle the other day of my entire makeup area and it jumped out at me. Phew!! I didn't pick a black this week as I'm not really going anywhere (I've finally got some proper time off) but this is lovely on its own or with the golden brown tones from the palette if i do have to pop out anywhere. 

The mascara i chose was my L'Oreal Lash Architect 4D. I LOVED the original Lash Architect mascara and picked this up because i wanted to see if it lived up to it's predecessor.... It didn't QUITE match my expectations but i'd still say it's a pretty decent drugstore mascara. I have heard a few moans about this here and there but i haven't got any major issues with it as long as i wipe off the excess before applying it. It seems a little more manageable now that its been left to dry up a little. 

Some definite gold themes emerging in this week's choices. It wasn't deliberate but maybe its a reflection of something subconscious.... Like i wish it was WARM again!!

What old favourites have you been resurrecting lately?? Have you rediscovered any old favourites??