Sunday 28 June 2015

My Top Three Holy Grails

Hi Guys,

I was trying to choose my monthly favourites this month and it got me thinking about products that actually rarely make my favourites as I use them all the time. Which then got me thinking about three products that I use practically every single day without fail and have done for years now. 
 I would class these three products as my ultimate holy grails, yes I have holy grail specific products such as foundation and things. But these three I haven't switched up for a good couple of years at least now and are products I would repurchase in a heartbeat. 
 Makeup wise I cant think of a single time I wouldn't use MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot, its the perfect base for eyeshadow, to make the colours stronger. Im also quite prone to creasing on my eyes, so without this, my eye shadow doesn't last for very long at all. But with a layer of this underneath any eye makeup, even just winged liner, my eye makeup lasts all day. As it has a yellow undertone it cancels out any darker pigmentation around the eyelid and creates an even base too. Even though its a cream shadow, it sets and goes even almost like a powder but not quite. Its also highly pigmented so a little goes a long way, as I'm using it every day too, the product is yet to dry up, which can be a problem with the Paint Pots sometimes.

For my eyebrows, I swear by the Illamasqua Brow Cake, these are just genius! I wear the shade Thunder which is a dark brown, as I like quite strong brows. However if I wanted something a little lighter I would use Motto, which is perfect for blondes with ashy undertones. Illamasqua do a large range of shades in the Brow Cakes for lots of undertones and hair colours, which are actually really true matches. Again as the product is so pigmented you need the littlest bit, Ive had my brow cake for 2 years? now and thats the dent thats left in it after using it all that time. It is fantastic value for money.
Probably one of the only Skincare items that has stayed the same for me for four years now has been Clarins Hydraquench Moisturiser. My skin has always been dry, but before using this it was extremely dry and nothing I seemed to use actually helped it at all. Once I started using Hydraquench I noticed a huge difference in my skin and could actually wear foundation without it catching and looking caked on. Its really cooling on the skin due to its almost gel like texture, so its perfect for the Summer. Its also made up of quite a few natural ingredients that boost the moisture levels in the skin and has Hyaluronic Acid in it to restore how much water is in the skin. As well as containing SPF, making it perfect to use as a daily moisturiser.

I may try a lot of products, but I always go back to these three, I just cant imagine not using them now. They're the perfect staple items in my collection.

Eloise x
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Friday 26 June 2015

SugarPill Shadow's

Hi Guys,

Sugarpill has fast become a go to brand for me in my kit. Between Sugarpill, Illamasqua and the odd MAC shadow, I really don’t use much else for eye shadow.  I think sadly as well Sugarpill isn't as known as it should be, but they're still such a new brand at only 5 years old! I think everyone needs to know about the range because it is absolutely fantastic when it comes to colour range and pay off.
 Sugarpill is an American based brand, which specialise in mainly eye products but have also brought out a set of adorable brushes and brand new nail polishes. Which I am really hoping get to UK stockists because they’re like sweeties in a bottle! All the products are also cruelty free as well as a lot of them being vegan too.

I currently only own two products from them, which I am really hoping to change at IMATS in a few weeks, (please bring the new polishes)! (Let me know if you're going to IMATS too!)



The first palette I own is the Pro Palette, which you can’t actually buy like this unless you attend a show such as IMATS as it’s a pro product. However every shadow in this palette can be bought in single form and it is also made up of the three quad palettes available! 


The palette is made up of 12 out of 13 of the original line up of shadows available, the only one missing is Bulletproof, which is their matte black shade. Most of the shades are also matte, minus Poison Plum, Midori, Afterparty, 2AM, Acidberry, which all have more of a satin finish to them. I find these five shades are that little bit creamier, but all of the shades blend beautifully and you can get such opaque finish too. As you need the teeniest little bit due to the pigmentation, I’ve hardly dented a lot of this palette and I use it A LOT!


Even though the shades are quite bright and maybe not everyone's cup of tea, it wasn’t really mine till last year. Its surprisingly wearable as a palette, of course you can do bright fun looks. But its perfect to use as a liner, blend out black with the orange for a smoky eye, the white is amazing as a highlight. Blues are also highly on trend makeup wise just now too, plus if you use quite a light hand you can even use it for blusher!

 The other palette that I own is the extremely cute Sparkle Baby Palette, I think this is just the princess palette. Unlike the other palette this one really packs a punch with the sparkle. I especially love Kitten Parade, which is one of the prettiest and most pigmented rose gold shade I have ever seen. It is very creamy in texture along with Candy Crush. Frostine and Hotsy Totsy are that little bit drier, but all four shades blend like a dream and make fantastic transition shades, especially for the shades in the Pro Palette.


Due to the pigmentation in the palette and the silver shimmer that runs through the shades, especially both Kitten Parade and Candy Crush, they do have a little bit of fallout. I would say that Hotsy Totsy as it is quite bright is the hardest one to clean up after just due to this. However its so simply fixed with a little bit of makeup remover, (just make sure to do your eyes first, before your base!), that I can live with a little bit of fallout, I expect it from such a highly pigmented palette.

(Swatches: Left to Right - Kitten Parade, Frostine, Candy Crush & Hotsy Totsy) 
(Swatches: Left to Right - Tako, Acidberry, Velocity, Flamepoint, Buttercupcake, Dollipop, Afterparty, 2AM, Mochi, Love +, Poison Plum & Midori)
Ive just got to quickly say sorry because I had no idea my camera hadn't focused on the swatches properly! I'll get some new ones retaken this morning for you!

If you’re looking for a rainbow of colours or a pastel palette to make you feel like a princess, I cannot recommend these palettes enough. Highly pigmented, very long lasting, especially with a primer underneath, a massive range and they're actually really affordable once broken down, for such fantastic quality shadows.  Definitely check out the rest of the Sugarpill range too, from their loose pigments to amazing range of eyelashes.

If you’re in the UK you can find Sugarpill at Love Makeup.

Eloise x
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