American Haul & Review | Sephora and Bath & Body Works

Now to me Sephora and Bath & Body Works are all I thought of when my Dad told me he had to go to America on business. Gone are the days of longing for Hershey's Cookies & Cream, thanks to watching and reading so many amazing American & Canadian Beauty 'gurus' (such a funny term but what else do you say?) I long to peruse the aisles of these two beauty meccas.

Now luckily for us Sephora now ships to the UK (sorry Dad when I gave you this giant list that wasn't the case!). However thanks to pesky shipping regulations, this means we still cannot get perfumes or nail polishes delivered. Hearing so much about Sephora's Formula X Polishes ($10.50) and the Fresh's Sugar Lychee Perfume ($22), I had to pop these on my list first. 

Review | Smashbox Brown Eyes Palette

I'm taking a moment out from frantically Googling the delectable Narsissist Eyeshadow Palette to sing the praises of Smashbox's Brown Eyes Palette. I was lucky enough to receive this palette for Christmas and I'm so glad I did! I've always wanted to try Smashbox after my friend (and MUA) Natalie,  had sung the brands' praises for being of incredible quality, whilst being one of the few brands to be totally bunny friendly. 

Though my eyes are a mixture of blue and green, with a brown ring around the pupils (I'm not known for being straightforward), I feel this palette could compliment any eye colour. The pigmentation is incredible, I would say stronger than Urban Decay and Mac, and on par with Stila. 

Now I'm sure established bloggers would think me silly for this, but after I swatched the shadows on my arm I was so excited I ran through to tell my boyfriend Tomás how I was now officially a beauty blogger..! Simple pleasures!

Something I've been meaning to try for a long time has been Amelia Liana's smoky-eye Post-It Tip. I picked up these page markers from Asda for 50p (my Dad thought I was barmy when I explained why - hey ho there's no pride lost here!). Taking the line from my lower lash towards the edge of my eyebrow created the perfect guide to wing out my shadow. 

After applying my MUA Eyeshadow Primer, a product I feel is on par with the UD Primer Potion, I applied the base cream shadow first to take out any redness. I used the infamous Mac 217 Blending Brush (worth the eye-watering amount of money, though the No7 version is a mighty close second) I took the pink/brown shimmer shade from the middle of the 'Smoky Trio', and blended this from the outer corner and into the crease. To deepen this I took the darker brown and once I'd tapped off the excess (these will bleed if you don't) worked this through the crease with the same brush. Finally I took the frosted pink colour across the center of the eye to add dimension, then the base colour to soften the edges of the look once I'd removed the post-its. 

 Smashbox - If this is the quality of all of your products I feel I may have found a new love amongst the aisles of Boots. Have you tried any Smashbox products? What would you recommend I should try out next?

Lily x

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What's On My Face

So as a means of easing myself in I'm going with a popular post theme today:
What's On My Face.

Face Make Up

Clarins Instant Smooth Self Tanning - Like most of my Clarins products, this puppy has lasted me over a year now and it's going strong. Leaving my skin with just a more 'alive' glow, all the while leaving my pores blurred. 

Clarins Instant Light Complexion Perfector - The smallest pea sized amount of pearly goodness over the face leaves, well, what can only be described as beer goggles for the skin tone!

Nars Sheer Glow - A January Blues purchase that needs no introduction. Dewy, yet also somewhat matte, medium coverage. 

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - We're into double figures now on the repurchasing stakes. I stray occasionally but this creamy, long lasting formula will also rescue those bags and monthly chin eruption.

Nars Dolce Vita Blush - I don't hear enough about this and I just don't know why! The ultimate Autumn/Winter flush that somehow gives cheek bones simultaneously.

Brows & Eyes

Benefit Brow Zings - Genuinely I've had this longer than I care to admit and though the wax and I have fallen out of love, the powder is a gem.

Maybelline Brow Drama - I could not love the brush, colour or formula more. My caterpillar brows tamed in one sweep. 

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers - I'm lucky enough to have long eyelashes (despite my frequent fringe trimming mishaps!), but they wouldn't pack a punch without help from these expensive, but utterly worth it, gems.

Maybelline 24hr Colour Tattoo in Tough as Taupe - This matte pot gives definition on lazy days and doubles as the perfect base to other eyeshadows.

Urban Decay Naked Palette - "How do I love thee? Let me count thee ways..." In the midst of Naked 3 pandemonium, can we all take a second to just swoon. For you were the first, my last, my last, my everything and I will certainly write you a post of your own.

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara - Now on my 5th tube of this and though I've had moments of adoration for Benefit They're Real and Maybelline The Rocket, I can't stop coming back to this one for lengthening.

Nars Sheer Glow Deauville, Real Techniques Buffing Brush, Clarins Instant Smooth Self Tanning, Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer 01, Clarins Instand Light Complexion Perfector.

Nars Dolce Vita Blush and Real Techniques Blush Brush.

Urban Decay Naked Palette

Now if anyone wants me I'll be playing with composition of products and drooling over how pretty they all look together. 

Are you starting a blog in 2014 too? How was my first makeup post?
Let me know your thoughts & what you're hoping to achieve this year!

Lily x