Thursday 19 January 2017

Anastasia Beverley Hills Brow Wiz & Dipbrow Pomade

Anastasia Beverly Hills products have become instagram-famous and have become cult products for anybody wanted to shape, fill and improve the look of their natural eyebrows.


I purchased the Dipbrow Pomade first (in shade Dark Brown) after succumbing to the hype around how good it was, and I wasn't disappointed. I had to experiment quite a bit with using it and less is definitely more, but I really like it. It's waterproof and smudge proof so lasts all day, even after a full day at work and a brutal gym session (the ultimate test), which is pretty impressive! The consistency is a gel-like mousse and I recommend applying it using an small thin angled brush, so you can use the brush to replicate hair-like strokes for a more natural look. I am personally not a fan of using the product to 'colour-in' an eyebrow shape. The trick with this one is to use a very small amount of product, dabbing off any excess (I use the lid of the jar) before applying directly to the eyebrows. A pot of this lasts such a long time so although £15 might sound quite pricy, you get a whole lot of product for your money.

Apparently, you can also use this as a gel eyeliner, which I can't say I have tried yet but I can imagine it could work well. 

After hearing about Brow Wiz, I thought I'd give it a go and this is now the brow product that I opt for day to day, when I want a more natural look. I tend to use the Dipbrow Pomade if I'm heading out and want a more dramatic look. I use the Brow Wiz pencil to draw hair-like strokes to fill in any gaps in my brows and to even them out and extend them a little. I love how fine the pencil is and that the mechanical nib doesn't need to be sharpened. It's also really handy that it comes with a spooly brush on the other end of the pencil, which really helps to blend the product in to the brows for natural looking coverage. 

I'm not sure why Brow Wiz is slightly more expensive than Dipbrow as I feel like you get a lot less product, but as I really like the products I will continue to repurchase (I'm on my 3rd Brow Wiz now) and in comparison to MAC's Eye Brows in 'Spiked', which is £14, I much prefer it and the colour is perfect!

Dipbrow Pomade (Dark Brown) - Cult Beauty - £15
Brow Wiz (Dark Brown) - Cult Beauty - £15.50




    Top - Dipbrow Pomade (Dark brown). Bottom (including strokes) - Brow Wiz (Dark brown).

    Tuesday 17 January 2017

    MAC Liptensity Lipstick - Claretcast

    Mac's new Liptensity lipsticks are described as having extreme colour intensity, clarity and vibrancy, with a luxurious gel-like formula, which melts on the lips upon contact - and what they say is true...

    The shade I purchased is called 'Claretcast', described as a mid-tone magenta, but for me this lipstick is definitely leaning more towards a red as you can see in my photographs. 


    The lipstick has some crazy colour pay-off and is as long-lasting as claimed, however, I do find that due to the gel-based formula, the lipstick never dries down, which results in leaving a lot of lipstick on anything you eat or drink, which isn't ideal if you're out for dinner! I'd also recommend wearing a lipliner (I used Mac's Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in 'Dynamo') to make sure the lipstick doesn't bleed or smudge.

    Nice packaging is important to me when buying make-up and although I have always loved MAC's sleek and simple black packaging, I also love that the packaging for this range reflects the colour of the lipstick enclosed, meaning you don't have to take the caps off or check the label of every other MAC lipstick you own (you know it'll be the last one you check) before you find the shade you're looking for. 

    All in all, a lovely, creamy lipstick, which packs a punch with colour. 

    Liptensity Lipstick - MAC Cosmetics - £17.50 (available now)


    Have you tried any shades from the Liptensity range? I'd love to know which shades you've tried and what you think!

    Sunday 8 January 2017

    Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips Lipstick in Super Cindy

    I have been a huge fan of MAC lipsticks ever since I started buying makeup and very rarely stray from the vanilla-scented black bullet that MAC is famous for...

    ...but then makeup industry icon Charlotte Tilbury launched her makeup brand, featuring the most beautiful rose gold packaging and I was SOLD.

    I first discovered Charlotte Tilbury in Selfridges on Oxford Street, where I purchased my first Charlotte Tilbury product, the 'Legendary Lashes' mascara, which I'll review very soon (I'm a big fan). Then I was delighted that my local independent department store, Jarrold's in Norwich was opening up a Charlotte Tilbury counter in their beauty hall.



    After a lot of lipstick swatching, I decided to go for the Luminous Modern-Matte Lipstick from the new Hot Lips collection, in the shade 'Super Cindy' and I am not disappointed. Charlotte Tilbury's Hot Lips collection was created in collaboration with 12 inspiring women, and this shade in particular was inspired by the beautiful and timeless Cindy Crawford!

    The tip of the lipstick is square-angled, which is designed to mimic a lip brush, which makes applying the lipstick a dream, and the formula is beautifully smooth and long-lasting. The lipstick contains orchid extract, and voluminising 3D pigments, leaving a gorgeous cashmere matte finish on the lips, which feels hydrating, unlike most other matte lipsticks I've tried (sorry MAC!).

    The shade is a natural and neutral taupe-tone that will look great on any skin-tone, and looks fantastic with a bold smokey eye, or a laid-back every day makeup look.

    At £23.00 a pop, the lipsticks are pretty pricey, but if you want to treat yourself and are as much of a sucker for a lovely lipstick formula and packaging as I am, then go for it!

    Pros:
    • Beautiful formula, hydrating matte-finish
    • Easy to apply with the square, angled tip
    • Buildable coverage and long-lasting
    • Gorgeous rose-gold packaging
    Cons:
    • Cost



    What do you think of Charlotte Tilbury's makeup line? Let me know which products you have tried!