Saving Face

Things have been a little bit hectic around my face of late... For some reason, my skin has been incredibly aggravated and areas that have been calm and acne-free for about a year have flared up. We've all been there and there is nothing more frustrating. So, I've up my water intake and busted out the big guns and have gone shopping. Obviously.

In an attempt to clear my face up, I've repurchased two cleansers: the Emma Hardy Amazing Face Lift and Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm and REN's Clearcalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser. These are two old favourites that do not irritate sensitive skin, yet do a fantastic job of keeping things clean and clear. I've already mentioned these two cleansers on my blog before, but they really are staples in my skincare regime and are worth every penny, in my opinion at least.

Next up, I've invested in a couple of treatments. I've always found that acidic treatments have done wonders for my skin when it's been at its worst. I've tried two options and both seem to be doing a good job of calming everything down. The first is another product by REN; this time their Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask. I've been wanting to try this for a while now, but the price tag has always put me off. However, desperate times call for desperate measures. I've only used this once, but I'd say that it lives up to what I was expecting so far. It's a good mask. The other comes from Elemental Herbology. I ordered their Oily Skin Starter Kit in their January Sale, as I was eager to try the brand and it was a very good bargain. My skin isn't oily as such, if anything it's combination dry/blemish prone/eugh, but there were a few products in the kit that appealed to me. One of these was the Facial Glow Radiance Peel, a four minute treatment that buffs away at dead skin to buff away dead skin and raise the skin's pH, making it a more hostile environment for acne-causing bacteria. I've used this three times and have been really impressed with the results. It's helped with scarring and has greatly reduced inflammation.

I've also been busting out the clay masks to try and eliminate impurities. Origins Clear Improvements is always a good choice, as it doesn't irritate my sensitive skin but makes sure that it is nice and clean. I'm also a long-time fan of Lush's Mask of Magnaminty, a tingly peppermint based mask that exfoliates and calms inflamed areas. The ingredient list is great and it isn't at all pricey, so this is also a relatively guilt-free option. I've also tried Elemental Herbology's Facial Detox Purifying Facial Mask, which I've also really enjoyed. It's one of those masks that really digs the grime out of your pores, which has especially helped the skin on my forehead. I've definitely noticed a reduction in blackheads since I've been using it and a little bit goes a long way. I'd definitely consider purchasing the full sized version.


Finally, the pièce de résistance in my spot fighting arsenal has been another product from Elemental Herbology: their Perfect Clarity Blemish Minimiser. Oh my word. This is hands down THE best blemish buster I have ever used. Amazing. You can actually see the redness and size reduce within a few minutes, and blemishes actually disappear overnight. The catch? It's £25 for only 2.5ml, so if you're using it every day it will only last a couple of weeks. I've already gone through one tube and have nearly finished another, which will be heartbreaking. It's a great product, however, and is great for tackling hormonal spots. Definitely a pay-day treat.

Spots, I'm ready for ya. 

The Perks of Being a NARSissist

It's been a week and a half since my NARSissist Eyeshadow palette dropped through my letterbox, and I can honestly say that my life has changed for good, in the superficial way that only fellow makeup addicts can understand, of course. 

Gone are the days when I had to decide which eyeshadows to take home with me at weekends... Gone are the days of not having a palette that fit in my makeup bag... And I could not be happier about it.

The NARSissist palette is just easy. There. I said it! There's enough variety between light and dark shades that I don't feel the need to look anywhere else for both day and night time looks. There's enough variance in texture to keep me satisfied, something the Urban Decay Naked Palettes have always lacked for me.  More importantly though, given the hefty price tag, the quality is bang on. There is little-to-no chalkiness or powdery-ness, the lasting time is fab and I don't find creasing to be an issue, despite my oily oily eyelids.

As far as I can see with the palette in front of me, it's split into three tonal families: warm, neutral, cool. Quelle surprise. The top row contains much warmer browns and bronzes, and contains some of the more pigmented shades of the palette. The middle row is a bit more neutral, with a mix of pinks and cool-toned purples, whilst the bottom row is your more traditional white-grey-black cool toned smokey shades. So I'd say that if you aren't interested in the Naked Palettes for whatever reason, this would be a brilliant option. It's considerably more portable than three palettes that are bulky in comparison, but you're not going to miss out on the wide range of shades. Although I wouldn't say that this makes UD's offerings redundant, I found a lot of very comparable shades (in terms of colour - not texture!) during a marathon swatching session last night.

Obviously, £55 is a lot of money. Heck, it's more than I spend on food in a week (but not even a third of my weekly rent *cries and gives thanks for student loans*). BUT, may I point out that a single eyeshadow from NARS costs £18, meaning that you'd only be able to buy three of these for the same price. Three eyeshadows, or fifteen...  I'll let the girly maths do the talking here.

Below, I've written a more in-depth 'review' of each shade, with a few comparisons to shades from the Naked palettes thrown in, because it's Tuesday and I have nothing better to do! Just a reminder here that I'm not expert, just an enthusiast.

Column 1
All About Eve #1 -  A brightening, slightly peachy neutral shade. Makes a brilliant brightening base. I also have this is the At First Sight palette, although this version is less champagne-y and leans more pink. Available in a Duo.



Madrague #1 - A bone coloured matte. I find this to be quite light on pigment, actually, and can only get true-to-pan colour by pressing hard on the shadow. Works well as a base, though, and evens the eyelid out well. Available in a Duo.



Bellissima #1 - An off-white with pink-y, slightly iridescent sparkle. The photo does not do this shade justice! The sparkle makes for a stunning highlight shade, which I've taken to wearing on its own. The texture could be smoother, but it's a really nice and unique colour. Available in a Duo.

Column 2 
Madrague #2 - This has photographed way too warm and dark, so apologies for that. My room at uni is yellow so there's not much I can do about it I'm afraid! I digress. This is a matte caramel colour, with nice texture and pay-off. It's a good dupe for Urban Decay's Naked from the Naked 1 palette. Available in a duo.


Nepal - Again, this is too warm toned. Nepal is, in fact, a very pretty rose gold pink, comparable to Burnout from the Naked 3 palette. It's a lovely colour to use as a wash over the eyelid and is relatively complex. Pigmentation and texture are beautiful. Available as a single.



Lhasa - A lavender grey shade. This photo is actually an okay representation of the colour. I have this in a pan on its own, as it really is a lovely colour. Essentially, it's what I want MAC's infamous Satin Taupe to be, although I still don't find it to be all that flattering on my dark green eyes. This is sheerer than the single, but the quality is still good. Available as a single.

Column 3
Fez - This is one of the more striking shades in the palette, and you can see why. The quality is just perfect. Perfect. It's a complex mid-toned bronze, and I have no 'dupe' for it in my stash. It's one of those rare shades that does the work for you. Available as a single.



Ashes to Ashes - Quite a difficult shade to describe, I'd say that this shadow is  the colour of a sheen-y iced latte. It's actually my favourite colour of the palette due to the way it translates onto the lid. It blends wonderfully and takes on a golden nuance. It's love. Available as a single.



Bad Behaviour - A gunmetal silver/grey. This is the sort of shade that I normally avoid, as I don't tend to find them that forgiving, but this is actually pretty good. The texture here again is great, really nice and blendable. It's quite similar to Gunmetal from the Naked 1 palette. I've found this to works really nicely as a liner. This is a limited edition shade.

Column 4
Bali - A cooler toned matte brown. For me, this is how a matte shade should be. It's creamy and makes a wonderful transition colour and liner. The colour is unusual, although it's sort of similar to Tease from the Naked 2 palette. This is proving to be something of a workhorse. Available as a single.


Brousse #2 - This is a very unusual and beautiful eyeshadow. It's a purple-y brown shade with shimmer. It's sort of similar to some of the darker colours in all of the Naked palettes, but this is more complex. A nice addition. This has been discontinued elsewhere.


Dogon #2 - Again, this isn't normally the sort of colour I use much of. It's a shimmer black/very very dark grey, depending on the light. The pigmentation and shimmer aren't too heavy, though, so I find it to be more wearable than Creep from the Naked 1 palette. This works well for taking a look from day to night (so cliché it hurts, I know). Available in a duo.

Column 4
Coconut Grove - A chocolate matte brown. Again, the formula is excellent. This is great for using as a liner on 'no-makeup-makeup' days. It also looks really nice with a bold lip, as it adds definition without demanding too much attention. Blends and adds depth to the crease well. Available as a single.


Mekong - Just look at that shimmaaaah. Now that's out of my system, this is essentially Coconut Grove with golden, peachy, stunning shimmer added.  This would be my second favourite shade of the palette. It's just amazing. Available as a single.



Pandora #2 - A matte black with decent, but not outstanding, pigmentation. I don't actually like my black eyeshadows too black (I know, I know...) so this is great for me. It's a nice definition shade and that never looks too dominating. The quality is really nice, as it should be. It's not as pigmented as Blackout from Naked 2. Available in a duo.



And that's all she wrote... Pfft, as if. 

Whistles Stop Tour

Lately, I've not been able to get Whistles out of my mind. There's something about the minimalism that I just cannot resist. This, in combination with the January sale, has been deadly for my bank balance. 

First up, the Alexandra top, a purchase inspired by none other than Anna, from Vivianna Does Makeup. This is the perfect mix of lace and black, two of my favourite things in clothing. The fabric is heavy and good quality, whilst the lace is delicate and as pretty as you'd want it to be. At full price, this was £110, and I can absolutely see why. I grabbed mine for £42 from ASOS. Bitchface is optional.

Then, my second ever Whistles purchase, a grey and black sweatshirt. I don't have the name of the top and can't see it online, but I've seen similar tops in New Look lately. It's a good stable for the Winter, in my opinion, as it's thick but flattering. Role up the sleeves and wear with leather-effect jeans and heels for a night out, or with blue jeans in the day. Costing me £45, I think that this will see me through a few years to come.

Lastly, the Rivington Clutch. As soon as Whistles released their classic clutches with a chain, I knew I would have to get one (I just can't say no...). Although it hasn't photographed particularly well, shocker, this has a patent navy blue finish. It's big enough to fit my purse, sunglasses, lipstick and a book in, but I can't quite manage to get my water bottle to fit. Nevertheless, I'm really happy I picked this bag up as it's casual enough to be worn during the day for errand-running, but small enough that I can easily take it out at night. I grabbed mine for £45, reduced from £95.

Revlon Colourburst Matte Balms // Review

First and foremost, apologies for the hideous photo quality. I don't actually have a camera at the moment, so am forced to use my iPhone to take these photos for the time being (first world problems and all that...).

However, please don't let the atrocious picture above put you off. These new releases from Revlon are amazing. Amazing. The Matte Balms are essentially what I've wanted every matte lipstick I've ever tried to be. They're long lasting, leaving a stain that lasts hours behind even after they've disappeared, and yet manage to be incredibly moisturising. Impressive stuff.

I opted for three bright colours, as matte nude lips don't really appeal to me as much, but I can't resist a good pop of matte colour. The shades pictured above are (t-b): 220 Showy, 245 Audacious and 240 Striking.

Showy is an all-out, 'Look-at-me! Look at me!' hot pink. On my yellow/golden skin tone such shades aren't often that flattering, but I actually think that this is a very wearable shade. It's a fresh pop of colour that can be patted onto the lips sheerly, or built up to full capacity. I've been loving this paired with minimal face makeup, a smudge of deep brown eyeliner and lots of mascara for a fresh every day look.

Audacious is an orange toned red. These sorts of shades are, in my humble opinion, very flattering. They just to a really good job of perking up the complexion enough to distract from any signs of fatigue around the eyes. This shade also leaves an incredibly pretty stain after it's worn off, so this is a good one for a night out.

Striking is much more of a classic red. I love me a good matte red, and the Revlon offering does not disappoint. I actually find it quite reminiscent of the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Red Square, which I appear to have lost (insert wailing and hair-pulling here), but nearly £10 cheaper. I'm very much looking forward to wearing this with a bit of a tan come Summer, as I think it will look quite striking.

The overall quality of these products is, to my mind at least, unexpectedly good. The colour selection is fresh, easy and, as much as I hate to use this word as an adjective, fun. These are the matte lipsticks for the people who didn't think they liked matte lipstick.

Self-Confessed NARSissist

As soon as I saw the promo images for the NARSissist eyeshadow palette, I knew I had to have it. NARS is probably my favourite cosmetics brand; it's the perfect mix of natural beauty and edginess. The NARSissist Eye Palette does not disappoint.

Containing five matte shades and ten shimmers, this is the perfect palette for both day-time and night-out appropriate looks. What's more, there's a wide range of cool tones and warm tones, so it should suit near enough everyone.

Judging by the swatches, pigmentation does not disappoint, nor should it at £55. Mine literally arrived about three hours ago so I can't comment on wear time just yet, but I never normally have any issues whatsoever with NARS shadows.

All I can say for now is that this is easily the most coveted piece in my makeup collection. I vow never to be without it.

As soon as I've had a chance to play around with the palette some more, I'll try and and get a full review up... But for the moment, would you just look at that beauty?

Ode to an Instant Classic

Much has been written about the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, but none of it quite prepared me for how much I would instantly love this base. Nothing else I have ever tried has managed to look so much like skin whilst also being so perfecting.

Having quite golden-yellow undertones, I can quite easily look very sallow this time of year, but Luminous Silk instantly adds a bit of light to my complexion. For some reason my skin is also highly inflamed and acne-prone at the moment, hence the lack of photo of me in this post, but this has me covered, pardon the pun. All scarring and redness is concealed with ease, whilst my cystic spots are covered without looking smothered. It's love.

The finish is glow-y where I want it to glow, matte-without-being-too-matte where I don't want any shine. Somehow, this foundation manages to find some sort of balance with my currently combination skin. So far, I've worn it for 10+ hours with a setting powder, no problem.

In comparison to my previous favourite foundation, NARS Sheer Glow, Luminous Silk has slightly more coverage and is marginally less dewy. I always found that Sheer Glow started to look a little to bit too shiny after a few hours and faded a bit too quickly, but the Armani is definitely longer lasting. For reference, I wear Shade 4.

It's pricey, at £34.50, and it's not the easiest of bases to get hold of. However, if you're in the market for a foundation that doesn't have SPF, making it perfect for a night out, that is light enough to wear in the day and just makes you look better, it's certainly worth considering over a MAC or CHANEL base.

NARS At First Sight // Review

AKA, the palette that made my entire makeup collection redundant. This matte black beauty has been my absolute go-to since it came home with me. Containing a bronzer, a blusher and four eyeshadows, this has you covered for a plethora of looks, from 'no-makeup-makeup' to a sultry smokey-eye. It's just so good.

First up, the cheek products. These were the main reasons I picked up this palette, as I was looking for a NARS bronzer and blush anyway. Included are Laguna and Deep Throat, two cult classic shades. And honestly, they are worth the hype. Laguna adds just the right amount of colour to my face to restore a 'healthy glow'. In other words, it makes me look less like I've been sat inside on my laptop for the last four months, more like I've been to Monaco. I'm a big fan. As for Deep Throat, the texture and the pigmentation cannot be faulted. I've found that it's quite easy to be a little bit heavy handed with it, but that's as much my fault as anything else's. It's one of the blushes that instantly just makes you look better. This is my second NARS blush (I also own Sin) and I'd say that the high quality is consistent.

Now onto the eyeshadows. I have two single eyeshadows by NARS in my collection, Babygirl and Lhasa, and haven't really been blown away by either. Babygirl is too gritty and Lhasa always just looks a bit 'meh' on me. The shadows included in the At First Sight palette are, however, a very different story. The lightest shade, All About Eve, is amazing at opening up the eyelid and making you look awake. It's become my go-to neural over any of the shades in my Naked palettes. Then there's Bellissima, a cool-toned matte shade that looks fantastic through the crease. In my opinion, Bellissima actually has the most buttery texture of the four shadows in the palette, even though it's matte. The darkest shade in the palette, Codura, is a blackened brown shot through with gold shimmer. It's a stunner. I personally use this as a liner and a little bit through the 'outer-V' of my eyes. It's brilliant because it has all the depth you'd ever want, without the harshness of black. Finally, there's the wildcard shade of the palette,  Nouveau Monde, a super shimmery silvery-lilac. I thought that this would be my least favourite of the bunch, the the opposite couldn't be more true. My preferred way of sporting this colour is as a 'lower lash line smudger'. It frames the eyes perfectly, without closing them up too much.


At £45, it isn't particularly budget friendly, but I don't think it's unreasonable in the slightest given the high quality of the products. If you love neutrals and keeping it easy, this could be one to check out. Available here. 

Being Better

I'm not one for New Years' Resolutions and the like, but this year I am determined to be better. And superficial as it may be, I want to be better at blogging. It's something I've wanted to do for so long and as you may have noticed by my utter lack of posts later, I've been slacking somewhat. Between studying for a course I don't enjoy (I'm currently trying to change to History... Fingers crossed on that front) and developing a full-on Netflix addiction, I've not really given my self a chance to get into things. So, I'm making a plan. Every week this year I am going to write a post every Tuesday and Thursday. Mark it in your diaries ;)