Battle Of The Mascaras

It takes a lot for me to love a mascara.  I'm looking for super black, long lasting lashes, with lots of volume, length and a fanned out look grabbing all of my lashes and for a lot of mascaras, that is quite a lot to ask.  I find that I can sometimes tick a lot of my mascara boxes but not all. Now for my mascara reviews:

Too Faced 'Better than Sex':

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara creates gorgeous blacker than black lashes every time I've used it which really makes my eyes stand out.

The wand is shaped like an hourglass so it is wider at the ends and thinner in the middle.  When you pull the wand out of the tube it looks as though it picks up a lot of product but this isn't overly dispersed onto the lashes, the wand literally evenly distributes just the right amount of product onto the lashes to create gorgeous lengthened, volumised eye lashes.

The brush is quite big as far as mascara wands go and I was worried that I would end up getting the product all over my lids.  However it is actually very easy to apply and achieve a faultless application.

The packaging of this mascara is really sturdy.  It comes in a quite a big, metallic pink tube that's easy to hold and use.  It feels really substantial and overall for the packaging and the product itself, I really think that it is worth the £19 price tag.

So, is it Better Than Sex?  I guess that depends on who your partner is but one thing is for certain, it is better than any other mascara I've ever tried.

Tarte 'Gifted'

Now this is the kind of mascara that gets me talking. If super, long, thick, curly lashes are your dream then look no further. This mascara just has it all it lifts, curls, lengthens and lasts brilliantly. I don't even curl my eyelashes prior to application, the brush just works it's curly magic as you apply. It coats each lash in a silky, volumizing formula and leaves the lashes lengthy luscious after only one aplication. This is the newest mascara I've tried and it's already straight to the top and I just love the bamboo packaging. 

It’s also supposed to help lash growth which is always a bonus.

Bonjours 1 second mascara:

So, what do I love about it? Well, firstly, the packaging is pretty darn cool - I love the silver tube with the coral branding (the waterproof version is blue) and it certainly brightens up my makeup bag! 

I also love its unique design because unlike traditional mascaras with a fluffy or bristled wand, this one has tiny little balls strategically placed between the wands bristles to ensure the mascara coats every single lash in a 360 degree motion. Paired with the standard straight bristles,

This makes a winning combination and results in long, thick, curled and clump-free lashes. But I do find that I need a few coats to achieve fabulous results.

Younique 3D Fiber Lashes Mascara:

I’d heard quite a bit about the Younique Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lash Mascara as I’d seen people on my Facebook raving about it, so I was pretty excited to try it. I love the look of false eyelashes but I am WAY too lazy to put them on very often, so I thought this might be a handy alternative to keep in my make up bag and give me beautiful flirty lashes.

The mascara is in two tubes - one is the 'Transplanting Gel', which seems to be a mascara, and the other smaller tube holds the fibre lashes. Basically, you are supposed to use another mascara of your choosing, then go over it with the transplanting gel. Once you do that, you then coat your lashes in the fibres and then go back over with the Transplanting Gel to seal in the product and prevent those pesky fibres from moving from your lashes. I'm not 100% sure if Younique recommends to repeat the process or not, but I don't see why not.

To be honest I'm not a fan of this mascara at all, I honestly haven't a clue what all the hype is about, Sticky lashes that were more voluminous, but looked like fake, ugly spider lashes. This look is so unattractive! I really feel that I have wasted my money and £23 isn't really cheap.

If anyone takes their time to read my blog I hope you enjoyed my in-depth mascara review! I know there are more great mascaras out there, I'll  just have to include those in a part 2 maybe? 

Lots of Love

Caryl Ann xx 

Real Techniques Sculpting Set 'Collector's Edition'

Now who wants to see some gorgeous makeup brushes?! Urm yes please! I'm a big fan of Real Techniques. When I heard they'd released a new set of brushes called the 'Sculpting Set', I knew they had to be mine. I had been lusting after them since the day they were released and I just had to get my hands on them, I finally bought them when they were on offer at Superdrug for only £13.99 (BARGAIN)

The set includes three brushes and they all have a pretty Pink metallic finish, just like the Stippling, Blush and Setting brushes from the original line. As the name 'sculpting' states, these brushes have been designed with the intention to help define the face and most of them can be used with contour 

highlighting products which is the main way we give our face some definition. The three brushes include the Sculpting brush, the fan brush and the setting brush. 

The Sculpting brush has a wide angled shape and dense bristles. It can be used to contour the cheekbones and create a defined line or it can be used with a liquid foundation to buff it in to the skin. I haven't used it yet but I think that's how I'm most likely to use it as I feel it's a little 

dense and too chunky to create a precise contour. None the less it's s lovely brush and one I'll get a lot of use out of.

The Fan brush is exclusive to this set and although I've never really understood the need for these kinds of brushes in the past, since using this, my opinion has changed completely. I've been using it to lightly dust highlighter over the tops of my cheekbones and because the bristles are light and wispy. It applies just the right amount of product to the skin. It could also be used for sweeping fallen eyeshadow from under the eyes or even for a very light contour as the thin shape allows you to add product with precision to specific areas.

Finally, the Setting brush, as you would imagine from the name, this brush is amazing at setting products on the skin, especially under eye concealer and highlighter as the size and shape of the brush allows me to get into all the hard to reach areas. It's also great for any precision work needed around the nose and again, it can 

also be used to contour with.

Overall I think this is a brilliant little set from Real Techniques as there isn't one brush I won't get a lot of use from. I love how they can all be used for different reasons too so you can really play around and see what works best for you.

Lots of Love,

Caryl Ann xx

Urban Decay Naked3

I first came across the Naked3 eyeshadow palette whilst shopping at Selfridges at the Bullring in Birmingham, with one of my best friends Becca who came up from Wales to visit me for a few days. 

I stumbled across the Urban Decay stand and the first thing I saw was the palette that I had been lusting after for ages and instantly had to check it out! 

The colours were so pretty and the kind lady at the stand offered to give me a demonstration and a step by step tutorial on my eyes to show me how to do the perfect smoky eye. The colours were so pigmented and I had to buy it regardless of the price. £38 for an eyeshadow palette is quite steep in my opinion, as you can purchase some for under £10, but I thought what the heck I'm getting it! 

Let's move on to the palette itself...

12 shades ( three mattes and nine shimmers ) lined up in a rose gold metal case which looks so sleek and packaged with a dual ended eyeshadow brush. I like the brush to apply the eyeshadow but it's not as good for blending it in.

Now for the shades themselves...

Above Photo: ( Strange - Trick ) the lighter colours in the pallette.

Above photo: ( Mooner - Blackheart) the darker colours.

Strange: A pale neutral matte satin peach, a light peach which is perfect for under the  brow highlighting.

Dust: A pale metallic pink shimmer which looks rather glittery, such a pretty colour.

Burnout: A pinky peach satin, a not too pink-pink but would also look nice for under the brow highlighting.

Limit: A light dusty rose matte, perfect for those creases ( I Love It ).

Buzz: A metallic rose shimmer with a hint of silver glitter. 

Trick: A light metallic, pinky-copper, shimmery, sparkly colour. The sparkle is there but yet it's a rusty gold shade ( So beautiful ).

Nooner: A pinky brown matte, perfect for sweeping over the eye and gives a nice definition. 

Liar: A metallic mauve shimmer, another pinky brown with a tweak in the undertone that looks like a golden pink. This is one of my favourite shades and the one I seem to wear the most on a day to day basis. I just can't get enough of it.

Factory: A rich pinky brown satin, with a not too in your face dose of shimmer, perfect for the creases.

Mugshot: A classic silver, greyish taupe with a slight pink undertone.

Darkside: A deep purpley-brown perfect for the smokey eye look and for under the eye.

Blackheart: A smokey black matte with a rosy red sparkle. Also perfect for s smokey eye and to add a bit of dazzle to the eyes. It's blooming beautiful and I use this quite a lot when doing to the smokey eye look. 

I Love all the colours in this palette and will definitely be using them all at one point. I can't really compare this palette to the other Naked ones as I don't own any of them nor have tried them out, but have seen a lot of good reviews. 

All in all I am so pleased I purchased this and it's a must in my make up bag ( Not that it fits in my make up bag lol ).

Hope you all enjoy my review and if you don't own this palette, then get yourselves down to your nearest Urban Decay stand!

Lots of Love,

Caryl Ann xx

  

Hello Blogging World!

So here goes....

I have been wanting to set up my own blog for ages now, and have finally taken the plunge as I have lots of spare time since becoming a mommy to my beautiful daughter Krystabelle so I'm currently on maternity leave. 

This is my very first post and I am very excited! This blog is basically going to be about everything in a girls life that makes you smile :). 

I have a massive passion for all things beauty and I'm addicted to beauty boxes. As my collection of beauty products develops, so does my love for it. 

I am beyond obsessed with trying out new products and sharing my thoughts with family and friends or just anyone who will listen to me blabbering on :)

I have been inspired by various beauty bloggers who have made a success for themselves and I look at their blogs and think "I could do that" so I thought what the heck!

I think beauty comes from many things, and makeup is there to help make you feel prettier and give you the confidence to strut your amazing self down the street. Learning to find the humour in life and laugh is half the battle. It's the only beauty secret I truly believe in. No amount of shimmer powder can ever fix a sad face! 

Although I have a fair amount of make up, I don't have a HUGE collection, but I want to base this blog about products I have been fortunate to have already try and my favourite products so far, and also products I can't wait to get my hands on. 

I love a lot of different brands of make up (my favourite being Urban Decay) and thinks it's the perfect reason to start blogging and reviewing products! 

Well this is me and can't wait to get stuck in with my next post... So don't forget to keep an eye out for it :) 

Caryl Ann