Naomi Elizabeth Buckley

Illamasqua Blushers are one of my favourite formulas so I thought I would show you my collection. The finish is completely mat and really finely milled they blend well on the skin and because the formula is mat they do not emphasise pores. The pigmentation is really strong  but can be applied sheer if you use them with a light hand. They have a light fragrance of vanilla which dissapates following application. I have four singles and one blush palette that contains two shades. The shades I have are as follows.

Naked Rose - neutral beige pink, this is perfect if you are wearing a strong eye/lip look and just want a little something on your cheeks that brightens and does not steal focus.
Tremble - soft lilac pink, this doesn't seem that exciting in the pan but on the skin it is very brightening and perfect for a no-makeup makeup look.
Excite - vivid apricot, this shade is not for the faint hearted as it is neon bright however it looks lovely with a light hand and is also really flattering in the summer when you have a tan.
Tweek - deep hot pink, this is a great stable shade every girl needs a bright pink in her collection.
Lover - soft apricot, this is a lovely brightening peachy shade, and I  always go sans highlighter when I use this shade.
Hussy  - bright candy pink,  more subtle then Tweek but along the same vein and adds a really nice pop of colour. My favourite shades and the ones I reach for the most are Naked Rose and Lover.

I have and always will be a skincare junkie and I get really excited about trying new products. However in recent years I have learned that trying too many new products and having a complicated skincare routine does more harm than good. Also following 2013 when I suffered with acne I am now really careful and stick to tried and tested things that I know work well for me. My  current skincare situation is streamlined and I am currently experiencing really good results *touch wood* and a whole forest worth at that!

In the morning I wash my face with Eucerin Dermopurifyer Cleanser (here) on my skin I find this balancing without leaving any feeling of tightness, I then generously spray my skin with La Roche Posay Serozinc (here) which I have spoken about numerous times. This balances the skin, hydrates, and relieves any irritations, such as pesky spots and bumps. Serozinc was difficult to to get a hold of in the UK, fortunately it is now available from Escentual. I then use L'Oréal Revitalift Miracle Blur Eye Cream (here) this contains polymers which instantly fills out any fine lines and smooths the under eye area.  It also has a highlighting affect so it reduces the appearance of dark circles. This is great to use before applying makeup as it works instantly, it also claims to produce permanent results over time in terms of lines and dark circles, but I cannot comment about that. I then apply Clinque Custom Smart Serum (here)  I absolutely love this stuff, it has a nice light texture that melts into the skin. It adds moisture were needed on my combination skin without  overwhelming my oilier T-zone. It has also helped to lighten the dark spots on my face from my post acne scarring. I then  finish up with Clinque Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel (here) which I have raved about (here) In the evening the one difference to my routine is that I use the Garnier Micellar Water (here) on cotton pads to remove the bulk of my makeup before I go in with the Eucerin for a second cleanse.

The only other things I do religiously is exfoliate twice a week with Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Brightening Toner (here) a mud mask once a week on my T-zone. Also I use sunscreen everyday namely Clarins UV Plus (here)  before I apply makeup.  So that is my routine for now and I am feeling quite proud of myself for being so consistent.

L'Oréal Infallible Mattifying Primer (here) prepares the skin for foundation. 

 Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze (here)  a cream eyeshadow that can be used underneath eyeshadow to intensify the colour or on it's own.
Collection All About The Eyes (here)  a great little palette with 6 shades, really pigmented and fantastic value. This is now available in three other versions.
Avon Supershock Gel Eyeliner (here)  my favourite eyeliner ever. It can be used on the upper water line without irritation or on the upper lash line to really smoke things up.
Collection Waterproof Fast Stroke Eyeliner (here) a precise applicator that allows you to draw a really defined cat flick.
Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Stick in Bad Bronze (here) and Gosh Forever Eyeshadow Stick in Silver Rose (here) I  love eyeshadow sticks they are so quick and easy to use.
Essence Get Big Lashes Volume Curl Mascara (here) gives you really big lashes with a few coats.

Lip Products

Essence cosmetics have been available in Wilko for a while now, after a long browse (they have so many products) a cheeky purchase ensued.  Following testing them for a couple of months I am reporting back to say I am suitably impressed. The prices start from £1 and I purchased a blush, lipstick, lip liner, mascara and duo eyeshadow for just under £12! Cheap as chips and a couple of Mac Dupes thrown in.

The star of my little mini haul is definitely the ombre blusher in Heat Wave (here) this is bright orange on one side of the pan then fades into a warm coral.  This swatches very similar to Mac's Ripe Peach and only retails at £2.80. I thought it seemed a bit powdery in the pan, however if you swirl the colours together with a fluffy brush and buff it onto the cheeks it looks really brightening. It is a lovely pop of colour for the spring season.

The 3D Duo-Eyeshadow in Choco Cupcake has a gel/powder  texture it adheres well on the lids without any fallout. This duo is really pigmented and they come in some nice staple shades, this also costs £2.80 (here)

Essence Get Big Lashes Volume Curl Mascara (here) has a big curved wand that really builds up the drama, it lengthens adds volume and curls really quickly. It doesn't smudge or flake during the day. This retails at £2.30.

Soft Berry Lip Liner Costs £1 (here) it has a really creamy formula, it is non-drying and does not drag on the lips, but the most exciting thing about this product is that it is really good dupe for Mac Spice lip liner.

I am also loving the Long Lasting Lipstick in shade 07 Natural Beauty (here) it has a nourishing texture, and the colour is a wearable dusky pink suitable for everyday. The embossed 'e' on the lipstick itself is really cute, and this will set you back £2.30.


I am really happy with the Essence products that I have tried and shout out to Wilko for stocking them, It's nice to see a budget brand produce quality products. 

Dark circles under my eyes is a constant struggle, it probably does not help that I never go to bed on time! I'd heard really good things about Mac Pro longwear Concealer (here) and went to the counter to try it on. I have been previously matched as a NC20. As you may know the Mac colour system works on the basis that if you are warm toned you should wear a cool toned base and vice versa to balance everything out. But with the under eye area you need to use a NW shade as warm tones help to counteract the blue and purple tones of dark circles.

I assumed that I should just pick NW20, but was convinced by the lady on the counter that this shade was too light and that I should have NW25. This looked great under the shop lights but in broad daylight I had orange circles under my eyes *shudders* I then exchanged this for NW20, which actually was too light.

So unfortunately with my current colour i.e my skin has not seen the sun for a very long time there is not a perfect match for me in this concealer.  However NW20 mixed with NW25 is a perfect shade on me. The formula is light and very pigmented, the coverage is meduim to high and it really does last for hours. My only complaint is that it can be quite drying on my skin.

So I thought I would mix it with my favourite liquid illuminator namely the Soap & Glory Hocus Focus Instant Visual Flaw-Softening Illuminator (here) to see if this would help make the area look a bit smoother and more hydrated. Tapped on with my ring finger then blending the edges away with a Mac 224 is a very effective mix and really does brighten things up.

Dream Team For Dark Circles

The dreaded cake face is a thing of the past if you own any of the formulas I am talking about today. These powders do more then finish the skin and set your foundation. Everyone likes a little multitasking? Non?

My first love and foray into powder of the glowy variety  was Guerlain Meteorites (here) Gotta love those ballz! This formula prolongs the wear of your foundation and gives the most amazing halo like affect. Your skin looks perfected, when you catch sight of yourself during the day you do a double take, as your skin looks airbrushed. Whenever I get compliments on my skin this is what I am wearing. My only issue is that it is heavily fragranced, it smells of parma violets which adds to the luxury of the product but it can be quite irritating. So it is not something I can wear every day.

Georgio Armani Micro-Fil Loose Powder (here) is another good one with a different function. As well as setting your makeup it adds a small amount of coverage.  For reference I use shade 02. This basically fills and smooths out the skin, so pores look less visable. This has a very youthful effect on the skin. I really enjoy using this powder and I reach for it often. Although it is a bit of an investment you get bang for your buck, as you only need a small amount and you get alot of product.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Palette (here) this has three shades in it. Dim light is a light peachy colour which works really well as a finishing powder on me. Incandescent Light is a subtle illuminating Highlighter and Radiant Light is a warming shade which works nicely to shade the face and add dimension. This would be ideal if you are extremely fair and too pale for traditional bronzers. I like this palette as it is easy to carry in your bag for touch ups.

Last but definitely not least a really lovely drugstore take on glowing powder. Bourjois Java Rice Loose Powder (here) to me this is very similar to the Hourglass Incandescent Light shade, but in loose powder form and more transparent. This can be used sparingly allover the face. It has a subtle rose smell and is especially nice used as a powder for under the eyes to set concealer.

If your not a powder gal, have I convinced you to give them a whirl?

Left Alluring Rose & Right Seductive Pink

Max Factor Creme Puff Blush are adorably packaged in collectable round pots. They have been dubbed as the drugstore dupe of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes. I have two to show you namely Alluring Rose, a golden coral shade and Seductive Pink, a brightening pink number. Both shades are perfect for the spring season. Available here and at £8.99 they are alot friendlier on the purse strings then the Hourglass blushes.  They are a baked formula, with a brightening effect on the skin. They are not heavily pigmented, however you can build up the colour which I think is rather nice because it gives a very fresh look. Also if you are heavy handed with blusher you will find them easy to work with, as you can build up the colour slowly to the desired effect.

Alluring Rose & Seductive Pink swatched heavily.

I think both shades are really nice layered on top of one another to create a custom shade. There is four other colours in the range of which Lavish Mauve interests me as I think it would work well as a subtle contour colour. As to them being similar to the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes, yes they are both baked formulas and they look similar with the veining effect in the pan. The Hourglass ones are alot more pigmented and the texture is smoother and more blendable. I also think they are more dual purpose in terms of being a highlighter and blush hybrid. Ultimately though the Max Factor Creme Puff Blush are a very nice product and the price is on point.


Have you tried them yet?

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It has taken ages to build my Mac Eyeshadow collection and with only two spaces left to fill I thought I would show you what I have so far and maybe you could help me choose the final two shades I need to complete my palette.

Row on the right
Phloof
All That Glitters
Expensive Pink
Patina
Woodwinked
Middle Row
Stars & Rockets
Cranberry
Wedge
Cork
Left Row
Greensmoke
Club
Brun
Carbon


I absolutely love all the shades in this palette except for Stars & Rockets which isn't very pigmented and it is not a shade I wear, this definitely was a impulse buy.  My favourite shades are Patina and Woodwinked which are gorgeous as a all-over the lid colour. Wedge and Cork which are brilliant for defining the crease. For highlighting the browbone and inner corner of the eye Phloof is my go to. As for the last two spaces I am still deliberating. The contenders are Swiss Chocolate, Soba, Starviolets, Coppering, Antiqued and Amber Lights. Decisions decisions!

Any suggestions let me know.