Prime and shine

Eye shadow is definitely one of my favourite stages of make-up. I love experimenting with colours, shapes and seeing how with different blending techniques you can manipulate the appearance of your eye shape. The one thing I used to struggle with was getting it to stay as perfect an our later as it did when I first did it. Especially with colourful looks it really didn't look good when the colours sunk into the creases of your eyes! So I invested in primers, the first primer I used was a cheap one from Asda, I didn't really see a huge difference so started using different kinds of eye shadows and although some eye-shadows do stay better than others the problem wasn't solved. I then decided to try the primer thing again but this time I did some research and heard about the Urban Decay eye-shadow primer potions. I got myself one and only then did I realise it was fully possible to have long lasting eye-shadow! I sort of became obsessed and started out trying different eye-shadow primers and after having tried almost every eye-shadow primer out there i have found the best two (even better than the Urban Decay one...)

1. Benefit Stay Don't Stray

This stuff will literally keep your eye-shadow unmovable for hours on end. Perfect for a night out where you are likely to get all hot and your make-up could melt, this will keep it in place.

It prevents creasing if you have particularly oily lids and  prevents smudging. LOVE this stuff and there is a darker shade for darker skin tones.

2. Helen E Stage eye-shadow primer

This primer I only got introduced to recently but I already love love love it! It gives even the most subtle eye-shadow colours more pigment. Its great for making colours stand out and the matte texture really helps keep the shadow in place. There is only one colour of this but I find it works perfectly on my skin which is dark, if anything it helps to make the shadow stand out more. 

So... just had a thought whilst writing this... Is mixing primers allowed? I definitely know you can mix face primers, so I'm officially going to go and try out mixing these two shadow primers and see how well it works. It can only be twice as good right?

Mwah x

Natural Vs Made up

 So i got bored and made up half my face. Creativity meets boredom i guess lol. I started off doing my eye then thought id just do exactly half my face and compare the difference. I was glad to see the difference wasn't crazy dramatic as this is a look i could do for the day and was very simple. Firstly i used the prep and prime balm that i mentioned in my previous post as a primer on my eyes to really bring out the colour of the shadow. I used this eye shadow palette to create a smoky effect using the dark green as the crease colour, the black at the outer corners, the pale pink in the corner and the light green under my eyes. I then lined under my eye with a green eyeliner from Helen E lined my waterline with the elf kohl pencil.

 I used Mac studio finish concealer under my eyes and on my brow bone, which i then highlighted with bronzer (Helen E - Diva). I used a tiny amount of no 7 liquid foundation around the rest or my face. I used a dark powder lightly under my cheekbones and a lighter powder under my eyes to set the concealer. i then dusted Mac studio fix all around my face and added a brush of Mac's raisin blush under my cheekbones and around the sides of my face. A thick application of eyeliner and lashings of mascara and the look was complete!

Underneath i have shown where i have highlighted (Orange lines) and where i have contoured (Blue lines).

Hope this helps

Mwah xo

Eyes Lips and Face

E.l.f Cosmetics is an international online cosmetics brand. The main thing about this site that really catches most peoples attentions (yes and me) is how cheap it is! Like ridiculously cheap! At first i was very skeptical because of their prices,i mean there is good price and then there is dirt cheap... I first ordered the 'All over cover stick' for £1.50. I was pleasantly surprised to be honest. It is good as a light concealer, I never really used it all over my face but it did well to hide blemishes and its light weight texture felt nice and almost moisturising on my skin. Although i do feel like it is very hit and miss with this product as there are only 7 shades and not everyone will find a match. I recommended it to one friend who has lighter skin and it just didn't suit her skin, whereas another friend i recommended it to loved it and replaced it with her foundation.

Another item i ordered was the kohl black liner with a smudger on the end, i LOVE this item! The pencil is so dark and smudges really well, easy application without any effort, smooth strokes. Okay so up until this point e.l.f had done well by me so i got a bit experimental and ordered a big shop with all sorts of products from brushed to eye shadow primers... The eye shadow primer had me kind of speechless if I'm honest. When there were different shades i was a bit confused but thought id go with it, i really should have been put of then, but i chose a dark shade for my skin even though i was sure primer was usually supposed to be translucent or a in concealer style so the luminous gold i was seeing was questionable but i thought 'its a primer, it will do the job'. When it arrived it was even brighter and still with hope left in me i tried it on and i honest can say it is the weirdest product ever. The primer was so bright no amount of eye shadow even showed up over it and it was so slimy and didn't set at all so i had watery eyelids ...ARGHH it was a nightmare (stay away from the primer) i don't know how the other colors are so i guess i cant be too skeptical. BUTTTTT having said that, I do love the brushes! Like wow! 

They are so cheap and honestly (please no abuse for what I'm about to say) there are some brushes i have found better than Mac brushes :O yes i said it. I have the Mac set of brushes and am in love with their brushes but i prefer to use the e.l.f studio stipple brush for only £3.75 over the Mac 190 foundation brush to apply my liquid foundation. #JustSayin 

So overall i think its very hit and miss with e.l.f, i love so many of thier products but be weary as there are some products that show exactly why they are so cheap, i will continue to order from e.l.f as i feel like my mistaike has made me wiser on what is good and not, and when there good, there reeaall good. If your worried about an item before you order it leave a comment saying what your considering because chances are I've tried it and ill let you know what i think of it :D

Thanx for reading guys, still getting used to this blogging thing!

Mwah xo

P.s. Nearly forgot! Check this out... AHHMAZZZE http://eyeslipsface.co.uk/en/restofworld/+pound10+-gifts/100pc-marble-eyeshadow-palette/invt/71614