House of Glamdolls for Freedom

Hi Guys,

This has to be one of the most exciting launches of the year for me, Freedom Makeup London teaming up with House of Glamdolls. Although they have teamed up before to offer the #Glamacademy Courses at the House of Glamdolls, this is the first makeup collaboration between the two brands.  

 I'm a big fan of the House of Glamdolls as part of the team is David Horne, who you might know from creating a lot of the well loved Illamasqua products. His work and way of working is incredible, he is definitely one to learn from, if you haven't seen it already, the Art of Male Makeup Book is one to take a good look at.

The palette's themselves come in four options, each one offering a great selection of products and shades to create a variety of looks. Each palette includes four brow shades, three highlighters, two blushers, four lip products and ten eyeshadows. There is also a little booklet included with a step by step guide to creating the face charts on the front of the packaging, so you can recreate the exact look.

 Exotica Doll

I love the combination of matte and neutral shadow shades in this palette, you get a bit of both and they all compliment each other so well meaning you can mix the two. Its a great one to get a taste of the brighter shades, It's also very festive with its glittery gold and beautiful shimmer green. As well as having the option of doing a subtle purple smoky eye too. I love that it has a type of bronzer kind of shade, which is actually matte, so you could use this for contouring on certain skin tones and then you also get your peachy blush. 

 Spirit Doll

If you like purple tones, that aren't too bright then this palette is for you. It's a great one to subtly add colour, as its calmer than the brighter palettes. You get a fantastic shade range, especially if you're looking to create a smokey eye that's not as harsh as black, as the grey shade in the palette is a really good substitute. You also get the choice of two more naturally flushed blushers, which both pair really nicely alongside all the highlighters included. The lip colours are more on the roses and nude side, which again pairs really well with a smoky eye. 

Vintage Doll

You can really create some pin up looks and really dramatic emerald 1920's style eyes with this palette. Which is right up my street, especially when there's a lip stick called Flapper. The lipsticks in this one are brilliant pigment wise and some of the darkest ones available. The Blushers as well are very classic rouged  shades, you can really get a timeless look. 

 Fairy Doll

Possibly my favourite palette from the whole collection is this one, it just screams colour and an endless amount of fun with spotlight eyes, liner, there's so many options! You don't have to look at it and be terrified, you can add just a hint of colour to a smoky eye and it will instantly change it. It's not as overwhelming as it looks, once you've found a way it works for you. Again you get a sculpting shade, which is cooler than the one in the Exotica palette and great for paler skin. The blush is extremely pretty and flattering on and if you want to, you can also use it as a Lilac shadow too. 

(Swatches: Left to Right - Taupe, Brunette, Bark, Ebony, Mischief,  Pure, Jet, Starlight, Light & Haze)

Each palette contains the standard black and white shade in Pure and Jet, as well as the same three highlight shades, a peach tone shimmer in Haze, a pink toned shimmer in Starlight and a matte nude in Light. Three out of the four palettes all contain the same eye brow shades, the only difference is that Fairy Doll includes Mischief, rather than Taupe. 

(Swatches: Left to Right - Serenity, Peace, Hope, Crystal, Utopia, Euphoria, Zen, Ash,Cloud, Petal Bloom, Magic, Glade, Sorcery, Fantasy, Ash, Silverscreen, Starlet, Vamp, Delicate, Siren, Heroine, Allure & Demure)

All of the palette has a fantastic level of pigmentation and none of my swatches do them any justice compared to when they're on the face. If you want to see any looks with the palettes, let me know, as I was contemplating doing them in this post but it would of been so long!

The only products that you might be a little let down by are what are presumed to be lipsticks, but they're actually designed to be more of a lip balm or lip gloss formulation, some colours are supposed to be slightly less pigmented than others.

(Swatches: Left to Right - Naked, Pout, Seduce, Bitten, Sensual, Feline, Sultry, Charm, Enhance, Exotica, Envy, Tempt, Nature, Flutter, Glamour, Retro, Cherish, Devine, Sculpt, Mystery, Spell, Believe, Enchant, Wicked, Aura, Delight, Love, Passion, Ruby, Power, Dark Cherry & Flapper.)

With each palette coming in at £8 each and offering the selection and quality that they do, this is a really good bargain buy. There are so many opportunities to create something with just one palette, let alone all four. But then again, how can you really just pick one? I couldn't! 

Eloise x

My Christmas Wishlist

Hi Guys,

I have actually had no clue for ages now on what I want for Christmas, I've been asked and I just have no idea. So I thought what have I been eyeing up over the past year, but its not really something I would necessarily buy myself. I've come up with this dream list, selection of bits and pieces that I keep meaning to treat myself to and never actually do.

The Lush Spa Gift Set was actually on my Christmas Wishlist last year, its just not something I would go and buy myself, yet I'll happily spend a fortune in Lush on other things. When it comes to the Gift Set's I just always leave them! I just really want to try this one down to the fact that it includes The Comforter Scrub!

I have to admit I really disliked the Topshop Tall Checked Twill Skirt  when I first saw it, I just couldn't picture me wearing it at all. Then while in work the other day, a girl came in with it on and I was just obsessed. It looks so much better on than it does on the hanger or online.

I had the No7 Cleansing Brush which I loved and then lost, then I never actually got round to getting a new one. But the benefits they have for your skin are amazing, so I think the Magnitone Bare Faced Vibra-Sonic Brush will have to sneak on the list. 

As soon as I saw the Nars Steven Klein collection I was in love, the creativeness behind the packaging is just fantastic. I know it'll be a love or hate thing for a lot of people, but I personally think its just so imaginative but at the same time simple and really you cant go wrong with some lip pencils. 

I'm still kicking myself over the fact that I didn't go and see Paper Towns in the cinema, I loved the book and just never got round to seeing it. I loved the Fault in our Stars and the fact Cara Delevigne is in this one just makes me want to see it even more. Plus I love the way John Green writes, he's so to the point and there's no messing in a sense. 

I really just blame Jamie Genevieve for this, I always used Illamasqua Vow to sculpt out my brows and I love it. But the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer  looks amazing around the brows, plus that little pot would probably just last a lifetime, its never ending! 

Another thing that I've been saying I'll get myself ever since I was in London last year is the Charlotte Tilbury Bronze and Glow, I can just never actually bring myself to buy it and I don't know why. It has so many rave reviews and I mean the packaging is rose gold, I should of been sold already!

Finally the one that intrigues me the most is the Escentric Molecule's Molecule 01, I always attempt to have a sniff of this when in Liberty London. But the fact is I cant actually smell it, it smells different on everyone and the wearer doesn't actually seem to be able to smell it. Which is a bit odd, but Ive had so many compliments when trying it. 

Eloise x

Big Milestone and Blogmas Giveaway!

Hi Guys,

I recently realised that actually I've hit a lot of milestones recently, which I could never of even imagined reaching and I thought it would be nice to do a little giveaway. Especially as its coming up to Christmas and with Blogmas too! 

So to say thank you to one lucky person, I thought I would giveaway the Nars Modern Future Gift Set in Roman Holiday. I've really gotten into NARS over this past year and I have fallen head over heels for the blushers, the nail polishes are another not so heard of favourite of mine. So I thought the Roman Holiday Set kinda gives you a bit of everything! 

I wish I could do something for everyone who's supported me through my now three years in blogging! It certainly has flown in, as well as everyone who follows me, another one I cant believe is the fact I've hit 800 Bloglovin followers too, which is a bit surreal! So thank you very much for all the support!

If you win I will be giving out a new set, the ones pictured are my own. The set includes the mini blusher in Roman Holiday, full size Nail Polish in Roman Holiday and the full size Lipstick in Roman Holiday. It's all housed in a gorgeous reusable plastic box too!

If you want to enter all you have to do is follow me on Bloglovin. There's also a few extra entires if you fancy it, but all the terms and conditions will be below! The competition starts on the 2nd of December 2015 at 12am GMT and will be closing on the 16th of December 2015 at 12am GMT, so that leaves enough time to hopefully get it to the lucky winner before Christmas!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open from 2/12/15 12:00am GMT till 16/12/15 12:00am GMT.

One winner will be picked at random using Rafflecopter.

This is an UK only giveaway. (Sorry, Royal Mail restrictions sadly!) The Prize is a Nars Modern Future Gift Set in the shade Roman Holiday, There is no cash alternative. If you are under 16 please get your parents permission as I will need an address. I will be contacting the winner by email if there is no reply after 28 days, then a new winner will be chosen at random. All entries will be checked, any false or duplicate entries will be removed. Must have completed the mandatory entries to enter.
The prize will be delivered by Royal Mail and sent once agreed with the winner. 

Thank you so much again and good luck!

Eloise x

November Favourites

Hi Guys,

It's officially the start of Blogmas already! So I'll be posting every day from the 1st to the 31st of December hopefully. Please bare with me though as I'm currently a bit swamped with college and work, but I'm hoping it will all go to plan!

I thought I'd kick everything off with my monthly favourites, everything I've been loving from my beauty bits to lifestyle. I've changed a lot of my makeup up this month, so I've only really gone with the pieces I've loved the longest. The rest will probably go into next months favourites as I think I already have quite a few! 

Firstly there's been really one main eye look I've worn for practically all of November, it's basically just been a dark smoky,  how much glitter can I pack on one eyelid, kinda look. So I've mainly just been reaching for my Urban Decay Naked Palette. This is a bit of a tradition for me now, without even realising it, it gets to this time of year and it gets brought out the drawer. I have to admit it hardly makes an appearance at any other time. I've been using a lot of Naked and Buck, in the crease and as transition shades. Then using Smog and Darkhorse on the outer corners, to add depth. 

Though when it comes to what I'm applying all over my lid, I don't think Illamasqua Feverant has left my side. It's the most gorgeous, shimmery brown pigment, with a green duochrome. So depending on what you apply it over, it can either look reddy brown or have a beautiful green shine to it. Plus it's super quick to apply and you can have a really effective eye makeup look in minutes. 

As if that wasn't enough shimmer and glitter for me though, I discovered the Urban Decay Heavy Metal Liner in Distortion this month. Why I have never bought these before I don't know, there's definitely more on the list now! Although it's a glitter liner, I've been using it in the inner corner as a highlight, or in the centre of the lid for a glittery spotlight eye. What I really love about this colour in particular though, is that when layered over different colours it also changes colours. So over fevernt it goes green, perfect for festive eye looks. Especially as once it's on and dried, it's not budging anywhere.

After Halloween when I did my Dark Emerald Tutorial, I then started to think, I actually have to remove this from my face. Which it hadn't really dawned on me how much makeup I had on, I picked up my  Clinique Take the Day Off which hasn't been used in quite some time. Again it's now another one I can't believe I've just left lying about, it is incredible, it's nice and gentle on the skin, it removed my makeup in minutes, even my eye makeup. As soon as you massage it in, it just melts it all straight from your face, I'm now hooked. 

I've not had much time this month, so I haven't really painted my nails Beth much at all. But when I have, I've been reaching for Tanya Burr Toasted Marshmallows. I would never really reach for this sort of shade either, but it's just so natural and pretty. It reminds me of caramel as it has a really warm tone to it. It also applies and dries like a dream, making it perfect for a quick and effective manicure.

Finally beauty wise I've been getting into the spirit of Christmas with the Lush Christmas Range. Some nights a pamper is just required and one of my favourites that I've been using is Lush Butterbear. I end up stock piling this little guy after Christmas, just incase he's not brought back. He has a comforting warm vanilla scent and leaves you feeling moisturised and pampered afterwards. Which is defiantly needed now that it's getting colder and colder. 

I was off to see Disclosure the other night in the Hydro and it's the first time of been to that venue, which if you get the chance to go there, definitely do it. It's fantastic for that kind of music and of course a Glasgow crowd is pretty amazing to be in amongst haha. Especially if they start playing anything Sam Smith related. 

I also had a bit of a make up masterclass month, which are fantastic but dangerous for the bank account. Though if you want some makeup inspiration, I went to the Danielle Roberts Urban Decay masterclass and the makeup Danielle does is fantastic. Take a peek at her Instagram! I also went to the Jamie Genevieve masterclass, I've known Jamie for a while now and she's a blast! Her makeup is beautiful and she's just one of the funniest people I've met, it's always a pleasure to see her. Make sure to have a look at her Instagram and binge watch her tutorials too. 

Music wise I pretty much just love anything Hobbie Stuart does, but his Hello Cover is fantastic. I was already obsessed with the original, then this one was released and now I think I might be a tad too obsessed haha. 

Eloise x