Monday 15 January 2018

Marc Jacobs Matte Highliners

Hey,

Recently I was very lucky to have a Voxbox from Influenster land on my doorstep. Influenster is an app/website you can sign up to and review your favourite products, occasionally you might be picked for campaigns as well, where Voxbox's are sent complimentary to review.

Inside this particular Voxbox was two of the Marc Jacobs Matte Highliners. As Marc Jacobs Beauty is found in the London, John Lewis store. I've not yet managed to try anything from the range. As I like to have a good browse in person when I try new brands. This has been perfect to see what all the hype has been about, when it comes to Marc Jacobs Beauty.
I was given two shades to try. They are (Earth)quake; a cool toned dark brown and Pink Of Me; a pale baby pink. There are however twelve colours in the range, in a wide array of shades. 
They include;


When they promise a matte finish as well, they do not dissapoint. Plus they're also a waterproof formula.
They are a gel formulation rather than a cream based pencil. However they still glide onto the skin, with no drag on the eye's at all. As they're so rich in pigment, you really get a bold application of colour while using such minimal effort. But you can blend them out beautifully, to make them more subtle if desired.

As the tip of the pencil is tapered off, you can be quite precise and really get into the lash line with them too. The packaging is retractable, so there's no need to hunt for the constantly disappearing sharpener! (I'm sure they go to live with the bobby pins!) 
I created an eye look using both shades, (Earth)quake and Pink Of Me. I wanted to really test what these pencils can do.

So I started by applying (Earth)quake into the crease and blending it out, to create depth to the eye. I then applied a little bit to the outer corner, blending out towards the crease. I applied Illamasqua's Stealth all over the lid, as well as a tiny bit of Wolf into the crease. However I didnt want to set all of the pencil in the crease, just to see how it lasted. So I only applied Wolf to add a little bit of warmth in the socket. I also applied a little bit of Pink Of Me to my inner corner, blending it with my ring finger, just to brighten the eye.

I then took (Earth)quake across my lash line, just smudging the edges slightly. As well as running Pink Of Me through my waterline and applying a coat of Illamasqua Masquara in Gain to my lashes.

I'm also wearing Illamasqua's Antimatter Lipstick in Bang.
(Swatches: Left to Right - (Earth)quake and Pink Of Me)
They claim to wear for twelve hours. I had that makeup on for six and I was pleasantly surprised by how it lasted. I fully expected the liner in my crease to of well creased and be a bit of a mess. It wasnt! It actually still looked like just how I applied it. Granted the liner in my waterline had dissapeared a little, although some of it did remain in the centre of my eye. Once these set they really do not budge. But removal wasn't a pain either, I used an oil based makeup remover and it came off like a dream. 

I actually cant wait to get to London now and pick up more shades. (Brown)ie is next on the list!

The Marc Jacobs Matte Highliners are £20 each and are available at John Lewis

Eloise ×

*I recieved these products complimentarly from Influenster for testing purposes. All views are 100% my own.*
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Friday 12 January 2018

My Illamasqua Lipstick Collection

Hey,

It's safe to say I'm a teeny weeny bit obsessed with Illamasqua, I have been for years. Over this time I've collected quite the personal collection of their lipsticks, some of which are now holy grails or have been repurchased for my pro kit too.

I am guilty of always reaching for the exact same shade in particular from Illamasqua. So I'm hoping by getting them all out I can encourage myself to use more than just nude.
Especially as after the past year I've bought quite a few new lllamasqua lipsticks as a pick me up treat, but as I hadn't been wearing makeup they're not been used as much as they would of been. So I'm determined to experiment more because they're absolutely stunning! As well as offering a brilliant formulation range, you really don't need a lot to get a bold lip though, as they really make a statement with their pigmentation. 

Illamasqua offer four different formulations;

  • Original - Matte finish, highly pigmented.
  • Glamore - High pigment, moisturising, satin finish. 
  • Antimatter - A semi matte finish, highly pigmented but comfortable. 
  • Lava - Highly pigmented marbled satin lipsticks.
They do also offer liquid lipsticks, however this post would be ridiculously long, so I'm only talking about the traditional lipsticks. However just let me know if you're interested in their other lip products. I can say as someone who's not a lip gloss fan, Illamasqua will completely change your mind on that!
The Reds...

  • Box - Traditional blue red in the Original formulation. Designed by the one and only Alex Box herself and it's her signature red lip. 
  • Maneater - A subtle neutral red. 
  • Vampette - A deep vampy Glamore berry. 
  • Virgin - A blue toned red in the Glamore range. This one was designed especially to go with the Virgin Atlantic uniforms designed by Vivienne Westwood, that the Virgin staff wear. 
  • Vixen - Lava lipstick, marbled with white, creating a soft true red. This one was exclusive to the Look Fantastic 2017 advent calendar
  • Kin - A brown toned red from the Glamore range. This one was limited edition and part of the Earth Collection, I really wish they'd bring it back as I use it so sparingly now, even though it may be one of my all time favourites. 
  • Growl - An original matte dark berry red. 
  • Vega - A Glamore deep berry lipstick with slight blue undertones. Again another limited edition part of the Equinox Collection
  • Shard - A matte red toned violet, from the original range. I haven't photographed this one as mine has gone walk abouts! But I love it at this time of year, for a dark red lip.
 The Nudes...
  • Buff - A Glamore fudge brown.
  • Born - An Original formulation, rose nude. It was a part of the Dusk Collection originally but was relaunched in the Vanitas Collection with rose gold limited edition packaging. It's the only one I have stock piled! 
  • Rosepout - A your lips but better shade, a light pink Glamore. My all time favourite lipstick from Illamasqua, if you cant already tell from the state of it. If I want a nude lip, its most likely going to be this one, It's probably the one I reach for the most out of all of my lipsticks and it just never seems to end! 
  • Climax - A dusty rose pink with an Original matte formula.
  • Bare - A pink toned light brown, it has the formulation of the Original matte line. 
  • Bang - A cool toned Antimatter dark rose nude. I find this one to be almost like the darker rose toned version of Rosepout. 
  • Cherub - A Glamore Coral Nude.
  • Cosmic - An Antimatter baby blue toned pink nude. 
The Pinks and Oranges...
  • Eurydice - A bright almost neon fuchsia pink, from the Original matte formulation. 
  • Activist - A marbled bright pink, from the Lava range, it has a mixture of blues and teals running through it. This one was limited edition and a part of the Hypnotica Collection
  • Physical - A bright Antimatter, deep fuchsia shade with a blue undertone. 
  • Solar - Another bright pink Antimatter shade, however this leans towards the coral tones. 
  • Wanton - A washed out rose toned pink and an original formulation. Another relaunched limited edition from the Vanitas Collection
  • Atomic - A cool blue toned bright pink, an Original formulation, however it is frost in finish instead of the usual matte. 
  • Brink - A warm matte coral, part of the Original range. I love this one with a purple eye look and this just blotted onto the lip so its not too strong. 
  • Blaze - A matte bright orange, almost red in tone. 
  • Obey - An Original matte pale coral. 
The Others...
  • Vendetta - A cool toned bright blue Glamore. This may be one of my secret favourite lipsticks, granted not one I get a lot of wear out of, but I fell in love with it from the To Be Alive Collection. I actually did a whole post on how to make more wearable shades from it HERE
  • Eclipse - A pigmented Antimatter white. Great to mix with other shades to create lighter tones or ombre lips. 
  • Apocalips - An Original matte, cool toned teal. 
  • Kontrol - Another Original formula, this time in a dark purple shade. 
  • Posture - A cool lilac, part of the Original formulation.
(Swatches: Left to Right - Vampette, Kin, Growl, Virgin, Box, Maneater, Vixen and Vega)
(Swatches: Left to Right - Cosmic, Bare, Cherub, Buff, Rosepout, Bang, Climax and Born)

(Swatches: Left to Right - Physical, Activist, Eurydice, Atomic, Solar, Brink, Obey and Blaze)
(Swatches: Left to Right - Vendetta, Posture, Kontrol, Eclipse and Apocalips)
All of Illamasqua's lipsticks retail at £20 each. However there are quite a few currently in their sale at £10! They're definitely my favourites when it comes to pigment and longevity. Plus always keep an eye out in TK Maxx too as I've grabbed a couple recently in there, just be wary though as I left a few due to them being used/swatched! 

Eloise x
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Wednesday 10 January 2018

Oliver Bonas Wishlist

Hey,

I dont know what it is about January, probably the whole New Year New Start thing. But it makes me want to just redecorate, reorganise, basically any excuse to have a good browse at all the gorgeous homeware pieces. One of my favourite stores to do that on aswell is Oliver Bonas...

So I've compiled together a list of reasonable and well, not so reasonable things that I'm currently lusting over. I mean a girl can dream!
I must admit, I'm partial to the odd gin and tonic. I fell head over heels in love with an Oliver Bonas Bar Cart because of course I *need* one of those! However it's since disappeared (insert sad face here). However If I had managed to get my mitts on one, I'd of decked it out with the Marble and Copper Bar Tools Set - £60. Though to make sure I actually have any idea what to actually do with it, I'd also probably invest in the Gin Shake Muddle and Stir Book - £9.99 too. Though this looks like such a great book to have anyway if you're a gin fan and there's even a rum one too now.

I also love the design of the Abstract Confetti Carafe - £15. I do admit I have no idea why I need a carafe, I'd probably end up using it for flowers. Although seeing as the Haze Small Vase - £16, is actually designed for flowers. It's probably the better investment, I love this wider style of vase for rose's or peony's.

Furniture wise, it's easy to get carried away on Oliver Bonas. They do such stunning pieces, like the Hudson Pouffe - £195, I'm sure The Anna Edit has this and it looks great with her dressing table. My totally ridiculous furniture want is the Margot Hallway Bench - £395. Mainly as I dont have a halway to put it in, I just love the style of it though, even if it does come with the eye watering price tag.

I'm very tempted to pick up the Wire Shelf with Hooks - £25 to keep bags on. The shelf would be great for my handbag and then I seem to have a thing for crossbody bags, which could be stored on the hooks.

Finally Oliver Bonas are great for little trinket bits like the Jewel Pink Small Resin Ring Holder - £5. It looks a lot more expensive than it actually is and is handy to keep rings on at the bedside. Also a luxurious wish is the Marble and Brass Oil Burner - £28, I prefer wax melts over candles and this burner is by far the most gorgeous one I've ever seen.

Eloise x
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Friday 5 January 2018

Boxing Day Sale Haul: Illamasqua, Boots + Superdrug

Hey,

Firstly sorry to bombard you with haul after haul. I'm just very conscious that things tend to sell out rather quick and I'd hate to post about something for someone then to want it and not be able to get their hands on it. I promise there's lot's of non shopping obsessed posts to come! Apart from a Topshop post, as I didn't want to add it all to this one, so keep an eye out for a more fashion related post from me for once! 
I've gone a wee bit nuts this Boxing Day, but I'm really pleased to of managed to get mainly items I've been eyeing up for months. That I put off buying as they have gone down in the sales in previous years. (Zoella, Tanya Burr and Cath Kidston I'm looking at you!)
My name is Eloise and I'm a Cath Kidston Mug Addict. I've calmed it down over the years, bar the disney purchases. But I do love a Christmas mug. I didnt really like last years design, so I left it. But this years Polar Bear Mug - £7.50 (NOW £5) was too adorable to pass up on.

I also fell in love with my first ever Cath Kidston Snow Globe - £30 (NOW £15), again in the Polar Bear design. I promise not to get addicted to collecting you! I also grabbed the Polar Bear Christmas Organiser - £25 (NOW £10) to put away for next year, as I must admit I was far from organised this Christmas and I'm determined to get things together next year. I'm glad I only paid £10 for it though, as it's really just a lot of note pages, there are some cute little stickers and handy pockets to store things in though. As well as an address book and recipe pages, for you to add to, so it is at least a little bit more interactive than I first thought when I opened it.
The trusty Boots half price sale, how can you say no... I cant say there was a lot in the Boots gifting range that really took my fancy. But I did really like the scents Zoella Lifestyle released this year. So 
I added the Cosy Christmas Candle - £12.50 (NOW £6.25) and the Reed Diffuser - £14 (NOW £7) to my basket. I'm not usually one for foodie sweet candle scents at all either, but the subtle vanilla scent of Festive Cookie is actually quite appealing. So I also grabbed the Candle - £12.50 (NOW £6.25) and the matching Diffuser -£14 (NOW £7) in this scent too.

I think the design of Zoella's Lifestyle gifting range this year was the best yet. The dark green and golden accents are festive, yet the palm leaf design of the Journal -£14 (now £7) makes it perfect for all year round. Plus they're just massive journals and have well spaced lines inside.
Superdrug know how to have a sale. I kicked myself last year for buying everything beforehand when I saw how much they reduced things by. So I took the risk and put off, buying a few of their bigger items, in the hope I'd get a better bargain the year. I'm glad I did, as I cant believe the Zoella Treasure Me Pamper Collection - £40 (NOW £19.99) has gone down half price. I have a post that details everything inside, HERE.

Also in the sale is Zoella's, You're Cracking Christmas Cracker - £12 (NOW £4.99) which include, her Winter Wonder hand cream, Snow Fresh body wash and Snow Silky body lotion. All great sizes to travel with.
Also in the Superdrug sale are the Real Techniques All About that Glow Gift set - £25 (NOW £6.99). I'm not usually a fan of double ended brushes, they're an absolute nightmare to store, but at this price and as they're Real Techniques I'll make an exception. I really like the looks of the dense spotlight brush for highlighting though.

I finally picked up both of Tanya Burr's Palettes. The Day Season to Sparkle Palette - £18 (NOW £6.99). The more natural glowy one or the two, with liquid illuminator, Champagne Cream shadow stick, a lip gloss in the shade Sweet Sundae and an eye shadow trio. Which consists of a shimmery vanilla apptly named Vanilla Pod, a warm golden shimmer; Honey Truffle and a cool matte brown in Toasted Coconut.

Then there's the Night Jingle and Mingle Palette - £18 (Now £6.99), the more dramatic kit. Again it contains a lip gloss in French Fancy and another eye shadow trio. This time more purple in tone, Frosted Violet; a glitzy taupe. Latte Love; a warm matte brown and Chocolate Drop; a purple toned matte brown. There's also a bronzer in Toffee Crunch, a standard black eye liner and a fun little pot of silver glitter in Silver Ice. Superdrug actually have loads of Tanya's range in the sale, I reviewed it - HERE, If you fancy a peek.
I usually go nuts in the Illamasqua sale, so I cannot believe I only picked up two products this year. I must admit its mainly because I seem to have most of the sale items already, I'm adicted I know! I made my purchases through the Cult Beauty website this year too. I got a new Fly Sketch Stick - £15 (now £7.50) as I damaged the one I have and I love it for fun eye looks.

The only other product I grabbed was the Powder Shadow in Forgiveness - £17 (now £8.50) which is a purple toned chocolate brown matte shade. I did get another item, (I'll review soon), which was full price. So as I spent £50, they also gave me a free makeup bag, filled with a full size Prescision Gel Liner, Hydraveil, Gel Sculpt in Silhouette and a full size Climax Lipstick.

Kinda completely randomly I also picked up the Aromatherapy Associates Space Nk Bauble- £10 (now £5) as it was too good a deal to mess for a vial or the Support oil and I've completely forgotten to photograph it! But if you see it in Space NK, definitely grab it! 

Well I'm all shopped out now for quite a while.. Though it's perfectly alright to have a browse through other boxing day sale hauls right...

Eloise x
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Wednesday 3 January 2018

Lush Boxing Day Sale Haul 2017

Hey,

I did it, I braced the Lush Boxing Day Sale. It's a bit of a controversial subject this year, as they did only hold it in store and not online. Personally I much prefer to shop it in store every year. Mainly because my local Lush store is amazing to me all year round. Their staff have been extremely kind to me over the years and I have to say a massive thank you to Iain especially as he actually put a few bits and pieces in a basket aside for me. As he knows I haven't kept well this year and didn't want me to miss out on the couple of things I really wanted if I couldn't make it in for the 9am start.
This is probably something I'm not sure I should admit haha, but I stock piled the Christmas range so much last year, that I've hardly gotten through it. I mainly always get bath products, but unfortunately this year I've had to swap my usual relaxing bath for showers as it was too painful for me to lie in the bath. Hopefully when I'm starting to feel better I can crack out all of last years haul too and get on with using them up.

It has meant however, that the classic Christmas products I would usually stock up on in the Boxing Day Sale I haven't really needed. So I've really just gone for the new releases I really fell in love with this year.
I think its safe to say Sherbet Dip is probably my favourite bath bomb this year. I just love the concept behind it and its refreshing scent. So I did go just a teeny bit nuts on the Sherbet Dip front...

I couldn't resist stock piling a couple of the Snow Fairy Jelly Bombs too. Controversially I'm not the biggest fan of Snow Fairy, but I actually prefer it in this form over the shower Gel. I tried not to go too nuts with this one though, just as it is a wee bit of a pain in the neck to clean out of the bath.

I also grabbed a Plum Snow Bubble Bar, as Plum Rain is my favourite permanent shower gel scent that Lush do. As well as a last minute add to the basket in the form of Never Mind the Ballistics, mainly because I'd just used one on Christmas Eve and couldn't bear the thought of having one less in my stash.
I love a Lush Christmas tin. I have a couple sat in my bathroom already, protecting my current to be used up stash. I love the traditional design of Seasons Greetings and I love the goodies it house's inside. Which include Christmas Sweater, Sherbet Dip and Thundersnow Bath Bombs. The Snowman Bubbleroon, Two Front Teeth and The Man on the Moon Bubble Bars. If you'd like a little more info on them all, I have a post HERE, that rounds up all the bath products from the 2017 Christmas Range.
A bit of a go on treat yourself purchase was the Secret Garden Gift Set. My all time favourite Lush Christmas Scent is Rose Jam. So when I saw this combined with Twilight, I couldn't resist. I swear by Twilight to help me sleep, so to have a great little selection of Sleepy Body Lotion, Twilight Shower Gel and the Lavender Vida Loca Soap on hand. I know If I need that extra help to get to sleep I've got it. I'm excited to try the soap too as that's one thing I've never picked up.

It also includes Rose Jam Shower Gel, Buffy Body Butter, my favourite shampoo bar; Jason and the Argan Oil and the Ro's Argan Body Conditioner. Which again I've never tried, so that completely sold it for me, as I always put off purchasing it, as it is a slightly more expensive lush product.
I grabbed a bigger bottle of Twilight Shower Gel too, just for emergencies haha. Plus I loved the Berry Berry Christmas Shower Gel scent this year, plus its glittery and I'm a sucker for glitter. (The second half of my Lush roundup which covers what each scent is like for the soaps and shower gels is HERE if you're interested in what they're like.)

I really liked the scents of the Bucks Fizz Body Conditioner this year too. It's sweet but refreshing with its orange base notes. But I also went for a big tub of Once Upon a time too, as So White is a favourite scent that they hardly do anymore. So I jumped at the chance to have the crisp apple smell back in my life.
I got back ups of the Twilight and Snow Fairy Sparkle Jars, as I'm paranoid they're going to run out really quickly in their new solid form. Which is probably far from the case, but just in case!

Then finally for similar reasons, I got the Sugar Plum Fairy and Santa Baby Lip Scrubs as backups. As again I'm not sure how quickly you go through these new naked forms.

I also picked up the Shades of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh lip block. Which I know in my Christmas Round up, I said I wasn't really that interested in. When I saw it in store, I couldn't resist it's gold shimmering goodness. I've not tried any of the lush makeup in this form, so I'm intrigued to see how good it is.

The Lush Sale is still available until January 7th in stores or until stocks last. My local, Lush Buchanan Street still had lots left when I popped in, so if you fancy a couple of things be quick just in case!

Eloise x
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Monday 1 January 2018

What I Got for Christmas 2017

Hey,

Firstly Happy New Year! Here's to hopefully a wonderful 2018!! Plus I just want to say a massive belated Merry Christmas too and I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday!

I love reading everyone's What I Got for Christmas posts. It's probably because I'm really nosey and love a good snoop at all the makeup goodies especially! I was well and truly spoiled this year, with such generous gifts from my Parents and Family, I can't thank everyone enough for everything I received.
I just want to add the usual Christmas not bragging disclaimer, I just genuinely love to see what everyone else gets and I'm extremely thankful for all of my lovely gifts.

So if these types of posts aren't really you're thing, then you'll probably just want to skip this one please.
My Mum very kindly got me an engraved bottle of My Burberry Blush, to match my bottle of my Burberry. I wear the original constantly, its probably my Signature scent. The blush is sweeter, with notes of pomegranate, lemon, apple, jasmine and my favourite rose.

I also got the Babyliss True Smooth IPL Hair Remover, very glamorous! Haha, but I absolutely love it. The thought of not having to constantly shave my legs fills me with sheer delight. I'll probably do a full review on this, as IPL is quite an investment but hopefully totally worth it in the long run.

My little brother picked the Kiehl's Disney Creme De Corps. Which credit where credit is due, I didn't think he usually paid that much attention. But l've been desperate to try this ever so popular body moisturiser and how can you not love a festive Micky Mouse.

I could of jumped for joy upon opening the Stylpro Expert. I don't know what it is about cleaning my personal brushes, but the thought of it makes me want to cry. Yet hand me my work 1 kit brushes and I'll clean them to my heart's content. I don't know If it's because I'm all brush cleaned out after them, but I really neglect my personal brushes a bit too often. However I can honestly say now, I've never been so excited to clean my brushes in my whole entire life haha!
It's no secret I'm Illamasqua obsessed, so my Dad got me the Illamusthaves set. Which is filled with some of my all time favourites in the most adorable minis. Masquara, Hydraveil, Gel Liner and Gel Sculpt, now I can travel easily with all my holy grails by my side. I also received the Shiver Palette, a stunning cool toned colourful eight pan eyeshadow palette. I'll pop up a full review of this soon, with its warmer counter part too.
A little fun fact, I love Lego! Makeup, Ikea and Lego, those three are like music to my ears. Haha. So to receive these Batman Lego sets, well I'm already dreading finishing building the Joker Low Rider. Just because then I won't have anything left to build as I couldn't wait to take the pictures for this post and I've already cracked open the Joker Balloon Escape... Sheer Joy!
I spend a lot of my time being all cosy nowadays. So I'm over the moon at the thought of wrapping up in my H&M Star Fleeced Blanket, with the Zoella Catching ZZZ's Hot Water Bottle and Rex by my side. (Everyone needs a Rex in their life.) My Dad also got me the most stunning Peter Pan and Wendy Illustrated Book from the Folio Society. I almost feel awful reading it though incase I ruin it.
I also wanted to give a little mention to a local small business that I was lucky enough to receive some gifts from, from various family members. Scissors Paper Stones is a gift shop here in Glasgow, that I've purchased from over the years. Ali makes the loveliest personalised gifts and homewares, a lot of my little trinkets and things in my blog photo's have come from her. I've linked to her Facebook Page. I would really recommend checking it out if you're looking for really nice quality handmade or personalised gifts. (The wax melts are to die for) I'm sure If anything took your fancy, Ali would happily ship to you. But if you're a fellow Glaswegian and on the South side, pop in and take a peek for yourself, You wont be disappointed.
Finally I was kindly given the best Converse I've ever seen, Rose Gold Low Leather Sneakers. I think they'll be great to dress up or down, plus they're really comfy. Speaking of comfy, I also recieved a pair of Jack Wills Redbrook Leggings. I get biological drug transfusions every two months for my Crohns disease. They're not the most thrilling of experiences as It's just being sat in a chair for hours hooked up to an IV. So I like to be comfy, especially as I seem to have a thing for passing out due to my needle phobia. Yay! So a pair of really comfy leggings is so grately appreciated. Then when I get home I can get even comfier in my Mickey Mouse Pyjamas!

A huge, huge thank you to all of my family for being so generous gifting me these thoughtful gifts. I'll try and get all my reviews up asap too!

Please If you have a What I Got for Christmas post, leave me a wee link in the comments. I would love to read them, or just leave me a link to your blog anyways, I really need a good catch up. It's long overdue!

Eloise x
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