NARS A Woman's Face Neutral Lip Set

 

Hi everyone!

So it's that time of year again where all of our favourite beauty brands bring out gift sets for the holiday season. This year NARS have teamed up with photographer Steven Klein to offer a range of great sets!

 

This set is called 'A Woman's Face' and is one of two lip sets available. This one contains neutral shades and includes Dolce Vita Lipstick, Dolce Vita Matte Lip Pencil and Patong Beach Velvet Lip Liner.

Dolce Vita Lipstick 

Dolce Vita lipstick is a cult product from NARS and is a 'warm rose shade'. The colour pay off is quite sheer but can be amped up by applying the lip pencil first for a stronger look.

 

(L to R) Patong Beach Pencil and Dolce Vita Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

Both the Lip Liner Pencil and the Velvet Matte Pencil apply smoothly and evenly and both have excellent staying power thanks to their matte finish. The Matte Lip Pencil is also fantastic is you love the Dolce Vita colour but would like more colour pay off than you get with the original lipstick alone.

(L to R) Patong Beach Lip Pencil, Dolce Vita Matte Lip Pencil, Dolce Vita Lipstick

(Shown on MAC NW20 skin, for reference).

Overall, I really like this set. You get a good amount of product for your money (remember this is NARS!) and its a great way to try out the product ranges included, I also think that this set will appeal to a lot of people and look great on a large range of skin tones.  

You can purchase this set from NARS here for £29

Maz x

 

The Palette Tag!

 

 

Hi Everyone!
I recently did the lip product tag and really enjoyed it so I thought that I would do the palette tag! This was a really tough one but I think I have made some good choices!

Nars Narsissist Palette

Hi Everyone!

Today I have a quick review of the NARS Narsissist palette for you. This palette is limited edition and was previously released earlier this year, I believe. I missed out on it that time so when I saw that it was back in stock on the NARS website and quickly ordered!

Lip Product Tag!

Hi Everyone!

I have recently read a few bloggers post's on their favourite lip products and decided to join in!

Nars And God Created the Woman Palette

Hi everyone!

So I have been a fan of Nars for quite some time now and have several of their lipglosses and blushes, however, I have never tried any of their eyeshadows before so when I saw this set at Space NK I decided to give it a go!

The 'And God Created the Woman' set comes with a palette containing six eyeshadows in the typical Nars packaging, a small brush and a sample size of their eyeshadow primer.

NARS Bad Education Lip Gloss - Review & Swatch

Hi Everyone!

I am a big fan of the TV show Gossip Girl and especially of Blair Waldorf, played by Leighton Meester. I recently researched the make up used on the show and found that Leighton has worn NARS's Bad Education lip gloss both on the show and off (Source: coolspotters.com) I always love her make up so thought I'd give it a go!

Picture from Cool Spotters

Bad Education is described as a 'Sheer crimson red'. I read that this gloss was used over NARS' Lipliner pencil in Jungle Red which is described as a 'Classic Red' colour, I also think that it looks great over MAC's Beet Lip Pencil too. This is such a nice shade and a really wearable red. I am quite pale and sometimes reds can look a little harsh on me but this one doesn't!

SWATCH SHOWN ON NW20 SKIN:

I really love this gloss! It's a gorgeous colour and one that I would definitely recommend if you want to try out a red lip for the first time. It is expensive, as all NARS products are, but it's great quality!

You can purchase this lip gloss from NARS for £17.50

Maz x

My Top 5 Contouring Powders

CLICK here to read my updated contouring post from July 2016!

Hi Everyone!

More and more of us like to contour out faces nowadays and this technique can be done using a variety of products, I would recommend trying out a few and finding out which one is best for you. Here are few of my favourite products that I use to contour my face:

(Colour guide: I have MAC NW20 skin)

MAC Harmony Blush:
This is my favourite product to use when contouring my face. MAC describe Harmony as a 'Muted rose-beige brown'. I really like to use a blush product when contouring my face as my skin has pinkie undertones and the pinkie undertones in the blush help me to blend the product in and avoid that over-done look! Harmony contains no shimmer or glitter which is great as it can look a little obvious if you have a lot of shimmer on one section of your face!

You can purchase this from MAC for £17.50

Sleek Contour Kit in Light:
This is a great product and very popular (it's always out of stock!) The kit comes with both a highlighter and contouring powder. The colour of the contouring powder is great for my skin and blends well, I slightly prefer Harmony over this one even though they are very similar in colour as the MAC powder is a little easier to blend and work with in my opinion.

You can purchase this kit from Sleek for £6.50

NARS Laguna Bronzer:
I am a huge fan of the NARS Laguna bronzer which is described as a 'brown with golden shimmer'. This powder does contain some shimmer but it is quite subtle. I tend to use Laguna as a bronzer for an all-over colour but it does double up really well as a contouring powder too. As with all NARS products, this is great quality and is really easy to work with. NARS also offer the Laguna shade in the cream, multiple stick form which would also be great for facial contouring.

You can purchase the Laguna powder from NARS for £25

Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder:
This is my most recent purchase from this post and I admit that I have only used it a handful of times so far. I have used this is a similar way to Laguna in that I use it more as a bronzing powder than a contouring powder but it makes a great contour powder due to it's lack of shimmer.

You can purchase Hoola from Benefit for £23.50

NYX Powder Blush in Raisin:
This Product is a lovely brown shade with a slightly red undertone. It does a great job at shaping your face and is really reasonably priced. The texture is silky smooth and applies brilliantly as all NYX blushes do!

You can purchase Raisin from NYX for £5.50

Swatches shown on NW20 skin:

So the big question, I am sure, is which of these products would I recommend if you are only going to buy one! I would probably go with the Sleek kit, it is very nearly as good as MAC's Harmony blush and is also great value for money especially if you are just starting to contour and highlight your face. Despite all of this, MAC's Harmony will always be my favourite, go-to contour powder!
In case anyone is wondering - my favourite brush to use when contouring my face is the Sigma F25!

I hope that you have enjoyed this post and found it useful. Please feel free to share your favourite contouring products in the comments section below.
Maz x

 

Face Make-up Routine Using High-end Products

Hi Everyone!

I recently blogged about my every day face make up routine using drugstore/ low end products so I though that it'd be fun to share my more high end face routine with you all that I wear for nights out or when going shopping or out for a meal so let's get started!

My favourite face primer at the moment is the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer in Light. It feels so light and silky on your skin and helps to control shine throughout the day. I apply this all over my face using my fingers and it really helps with your foundation application. I purchased my primer from Debenhams for £29. You can also get it from Amazon here: Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Light 1 fl oz (30 ml)

I started using the Makeup Forever HD Foundation last month and I have never looked back! It is absolutely amazing! I like to apply it using the Beauty Blender Sponge. Please click here to read my review of this foundation. I ordered my foundation from Guru Makeup Emporium for £28.95. You can also get it from Amazon here: MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Invisible Cover Foundation 118 Flesh

I have used under eye concealers for many years but I discovered Bobbi Brown's Creamy Corrector around 12 months ago and I love it! I apply around my eyes using my fingers and then blend it in, I then apply my concealer over the top of it. I was amazed at how much better your eyes look for the addition of a corrector. I bought my corrector from John Lewis for £17. You can get it from Amazon here: Bobbi brown Corrector ~ Peach

I have been really getting in to Smashbox products recently and I love their High Definition Concealer. I pat a small amount of this under my eyes and then blend it in using my fingers. It does a great job of reducing the appearance of under eye lines and darkness. I purchased my concealer from Debenhams for £20 and you can get it from Amazon here: Smashbox High Definition Liquid Concealer, Light .27 fl oz (8 ml)

To cover up any blemishes or redness on my face I like to use MAC'S Studio Finish Concealer. I usually apply this using a concealer brush. This product is quite thick and paste like which is great for hiding breakouts. You can get this from MAC for £13.50 or from Amazon here: MAC Studio Finish Concealer SPF 35 NW20.

I recently discovered the Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder and I love it! This powder not only sets your make up but it also reduces your fine lines and wrinkles. It is very expensive but you do get a lot of product and you only use a small amount for each application. I use my MAC 150 brush to apply this, first I pick up some of the loose powder and press it onto the different areas of my face and then I blend it in. I got my Halo powder from Debenhams for £47. You can also get it from Amazon here: Smashbox HALO HYDRATING PERFECTING POWDER, Light .75 oz (21 g)

I have tried so many bronzers over the years and none have come close to the NARS Laguna bronzer, it is now the only one that I use. It is perfect for my skin tone and really warms up my complexion without making it obvious that I have bronzer on. I use my Sigma F brush to apply a light dusting all over my face and neck. I purchased my bronzer from Selfridges for £24 and you can also get it from Amazon here: NARS Bronzing Powder Laguna.

My favourite brow product at the moment is the Smashbox Brow Tech to Go. I use the pencil end to fill in my brows and then set them using the gel at the other end of the pencil. I especially love the slanted tip that the pencil has which makes application quicker and easier. I purchased my pencil at Debenhams for £22.50 and you can also get it from Amazon here: Smashbox Brow Tech To Go Brunette

To highlight my cheekbones I use MAC's Cream Colour Base in Pearl the post and often pat some of their loose powder in Silver Dusk over the top of it. This powder is stunning and gives an amazing effect, the cream colour base helps the powder adhere to the skin. To contour my cheekbones I use MAC's Harmony Blush. You can purchase all 3 of these products from MAC.  

I have a large selection of blushes in my collection but my favourite at the moment is the NARS Orgasm blush. It is is a gorgeous coral-pink colour with a hint of gold shimmer. I usually apply it using my MAC 129 brush. I bought my blush from HQ Hair for £20.50 and you can also get it from Amazon here: NARS Orgasm Blush

 I hope that you have enjoyed reading about my high end face makeup routine. Click to here read about my face makeup routine using drugstore products.

Maz x

Favourite Brow Highlights

Hi Everyone!

I previously put a post together about my favourite cheek highlighters (click here to read it) which has been pretty popular so I decided to share my top brow highlights with you all too. These are the powders that I use to highlight my brow bones and in the inner corners of my eyes. Here are the descriptions of the powders followed by the swatches.

NARS Albatross: I use Albatross to highlight both my brow and cheekbones. It is a soft neutral colour with a subtle shimmer.

MAC Ricepaper: Ricepaper is described as a peachy gold with shimmer, I think that it looks great with gold and brown eyeshadow looks.

MAC Brule: Brule is a soft creamy beige colour that is very similar to the colour of my skin and is my most used highlighter. It is also fairly matte which makes it extra versatile.

Sigma Approach: This shadow is from Sigma's Bare palette, it is a creamy, pale colour with a pink tone.

MAC Shroom: Shroom is very similar to Brule but with some shimmer. It's great to use if you are wearing matte eyeshadows on your lids.

MAC Yogurt: This is a pale pink colour which I love to use when I am wearing a pink or purple look.

MAC Naked Lunch: This is a pink with some shimmer that also compliments a pink or purple eyeshadow look.

Urban Decay Virgin: Virgin is from Urban Decay's Naked palette and is a pale shimmered nude beige.

Swatches shown on NW20 skin:

(Top Row, L to R) Albatross, Ricepaper, Brule, Approach

(Bottom Row, L to R) Shroom, Yogurt, Naked Lunch, Virgin

Thanks for reading this post and I hope that you have found it useful.

Maz x

August Favourites

Hi Everyone!

I can't believe that another month has passed by so quickly so it is time for my monthly favourites post! These are the products that I have used and loved a lot over the last month!

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Ultra Darling: I love MAC's Sheen Supreme lipsticks and especially Ultra Darling which is a beautiful mid-tone pink colour that is so flattering and perfect for the daytime. The greatest advantage of these lipsticks is you get the ease of application of a lipstick plus the shine of a gloss without any stickiness! Click here to see a swatch if this lipstick.

NARS Orgasm

NARS Orgasm Blush: This is one of my favourite blushes of all time and I especially love to wear it during summer as it really complements a tan! It is a stunning peachy-pink colour with a golden shimmer. To see a swatch of the blush please click here.

Sigma Flare Palette: I purchased both the Flare and Bare eyeshadow palettes from Sigma a couple of months ago and whilst I love the neutral colours in the Bare palette, the more adventurous side of me adores the Flare palette! I love to create purple and teal eye looks using this palette and have found the shadows to be amazing quality that stay in place all day. I highly recommend this palette! To read my review of it please click here.

Sigma F25

Sigma F25 Tapered Face Brush: I have recently started to use the F25 brush to contour my cheekbones after watching a pixi2woo tutorial on YouTube. Previously I used a MAC 109 brush but I find that this brush does a much better job. It has a tapered point, as you can see in the picture above, so it has a precise application but does not lay down too much product at a time which allows you to build up your powder to your desired finish and avoids that awful dark line that you can sometimes create when contouring!

Beauty Blender: I am fairly new to the Beauty Blender craze but I love it! I find it applies my liquid foundation effortlessly and I haven't reached for a foundation brush since I purchased it. You can read my full review of the Beauty Blender by clicking here.

China Glaze, For Audrey

China Glaze Nail Polishes: China Glaze is a pretty new brand to me, I love nail polishes and always go for OPI and Essie but for a change I thought I'd give this brand a go and I am so impressed with their colour choice and longevity. My favourite colour so far has to be For Audrey which is a lovely Tiffany box blue (Click here for a swatch of this polish).

Superdrug Coconut and Shea Butter Body Polish

Superdrug Coconut and Shea Butter Body Polish: This has to be my star product of the month! I am a huge fan of the smell of coconut and use the Body Shop's Coconut Body Butter regularly and I used to also use their exfoliating body wash too but it is so expensive and I find that I get through it quite quickly. I found this body polish in Superdrug recently for the bargain price of £1.99 and I have to say that it is amazing! It smells delicious and leaves your skin feeling supper soft and smooth, I would definitely recommend giving this product a try!

Marc Jacobs, Lola

Marc Jacobs Lola Perfume: I recently picked up a sample of this fragrance from a department store and I am in love with it! It is so light and fresh, I have never tried a Marc Jacobs fragrance before and I am definitely going to purchase this ASAP!

So they are my favourite products for August, I hope that you enjoyed the post!

Maz x