Category: Beauty

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Manicure Monday #15 | Tanya Burr Penguin Chic

Tanya Burr’s lipgloss and nail polish line launched in store in Superdrug last week, and I had to pick some up (check out yesterday’s post here for a review of the lip glosses). It’s so exciting to see YouTubers and bloggers popping up in the shops – they’re becoming such an integral part of the beauty industry and I’m all for it.

Unfortunately, the Superdrug I went in wasn’t fully stocked, but the one that caught my eye was Penguin Chic. It’s a gorgeous taupe, and great for those who don’t love wearing bright colours on the nails or don’t want their nails clashing with their outfit. In terms of the formula, I was pleasantly surprised. It was smooth, and applied opaquely in two coats. I also really like the brush – It is standard, and on the thinner side, but I found it really easy to paint my nails with.























If I had to choose, I would say the nail polishes are my favourite of the line. This may well be because I am a nail polish addict, but I think that these are really well formulated, and there is a nice colour range. At £5.99, these are very reasonably priced, and I would definitely recommend picking one (or several) up if you are in the market for some new nail polishes. They are available in store in Superdrug and online at FeelUnique. I know that I will probably end up with a few more in my basket…

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Tanya Burr Lip Gloss Review & Swatches | Just Peachy & Picnic in the Park

It’s always exciting when YouTubers or bloggers are able to further their career outside of their channel or blog. Blogging is really a force to be reckoned with in the beauty industry, and it shows the influence that all the big bloggers have over the mainstream customers. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard that Tanya Burr has released her own lip glosses and nail polishes. I was a little wary at first, as they were only available online, but once they were released in stores in Superdrug, I definitely had to pick some up.

The lip glosses retail for an affordable £6.99, and for those outside of the UK can be purchased here on Feelunique. I’m not normally a lip gloss gal, so when looking through the shades, I decided to go for some lighter shades that were more appropriate for everyday wear. The first shade I picked up was Just Peachy. I will warn you that this is a very light shade, and worn on its own (swatched below) it is almost too light for me. It is slightly milky and slightly accentuated any imperfections in my lips, so you will need to exfoliate and hydrate before using this one. However, when using this over lipstick, it works great at toning down and lightening shades, so is perfect to pair over shades that are maybe a touch too dark for your skin tone. 


The second shade, and probably my favourite out of the two, is Picnic in the Park. This is a pretty mid-tone pink shade, that I found really brightened up the face. It has a similar milky texture as Just Peachy but it applied much more smoothly onto the lips. Both shades have a nice amount of shine, and are sticky in formula but nothing too overbearing. I find that stickier lip glosses tend to hang around longer on the lips, and these glosses lasted a good few hours before fading. 

Just Peachy























Picnic in the Park























I’m not completely blown away by these, but they are decent glosses. I am all for supporting any bloggers or YouTubers, and I think Tanya has done a pretty good job here. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Manicure Monday for a post on one of the nail polishes in the range. Have you tried any of Tanya Burr’s products?

–RachelElizabeth
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Mac Peach Blossom & Back to Mac Explained

Mac is by far my go-to brand for lipsticks. Their amazing range of colours and finishes means that there is something for everyone, from the most daring to the natural-beauty lovers (check out my favourites here). In case you weren’t aware, Mac offer a scheme called ‘Back to Mac’ which allows you to give back old and finished items in exchange for a lipstick. Over the years I have managed this many times, and is a great way to recycle and to try out new shades.

So what is Back to Mac? 

Back to Mac is a program that encourages recycling of Mac products. Once you finish up 6 products in their primary packaging, you can take them into your local store or counter and exchange them for a free lipstick of your choice (I think some stores also offer an eyeshadow or lipgloss). Think of it like a coffee shop loyalty card…

Recently I finished 6 products (4 brow pencils, brush cleanser and a studio fix concealer, to be exact) and I took them all to a mac store and exchanged them for Peach Blossom. Mac describes this shades as a ‘frosty cool nude’, which I don’t feel is a fitting description. For me this is a natural light peachy-pink shade, perfect for everyday. It has a cremesheen finish, but unlike others that I own, it has a lot less pigmentation. It still has the same creamy consistency, and glides along the lips, but it is quite sheer. For me, this makes it even more wearable as it’s a low maintenance lipstick that isn’t going to take too much trouble topping up throughout the day. Although I have many lipsticks, missing from my collection was the perfect every day shade, and I think this may have just filled that void. This would also be a great one to pair with smokey or heavy eye make up to keep everything balanced. 


So the next time you go to throw away your Mac foundation, think twice. Holding on to your products can feel a little crazy like you’re hoarding rubbish, but the free lipstick is 100% worth it. What’s the next lipstick on your wish list?

–RachelElizabeth
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Manicure Monday #14 | Barry M Berry Ice Cream

I’m not one for being too girly, but there’s something about pastels (regardless of the shade) that I gravitate towards at this time of year. I love the look of fresh, soft and feminine nails during the transition to spring – injecting colour into my wardrobe is never a bad thing, either…

Barry M Nail Paint in Berry Ice Cream (Boots list this as Ice Cream Purple)


The ice cream collection was a massive hit for Barry M a couple of years ago, consisting of pretty pastel shades, perfect for the spring and summer months. Berry Ice Cream is a perfect pastel lilac shade, which I find looks pretty fun and girly on the nails, but still looking more sophisticated than a barbie pink. As I have mentioned many times before, I love Barry M nail products. They are one of the most popular nail brands in the UK and also one of the cheapest, making them extremely accessible. The formula is great – it is not too thin nor too gloopy, and provides a shiny opaque finish in two coats. I find that all Barry M nail paints last well on my nails, not chipping for about 4/5 days.

Are you loving pastel nail colours as much as I am? Every time I paint my nails I can’t wait to put another fun colourful colour on!

–RachelElizabeth


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Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge | Review

I have never been one for makeup sponges – I have always associated them with the cheap sponges that come with high street powders that I used to use and how dirty they would always become. Surprisingly, I was never sucked in by the Beauty Blender. I’ve always opted for brushes, and honestly the price has always put me off. But when my favourite affordable brush band (and one of my favourite YouTubers Pixiwoo) comes out with an alternative that everybody is obsessing over, that is definitely coming home with me. 

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

My primary use for this sponge is for liquid foundation. When using it damp, it provides a flawless-looking coverage that isn’t too sheer or too full coverage. In terms of comparing it to other forms of application, it sits somewhere in between using your fingers and a brush (fingers being the sheerer option and the brush building to a more opaque coverage). I find that it works well for most formulas of foundation, except those that are water-based (e.g. Mac Face and Body) because the sponge tends to soak up more of the product. I like to use this when I don’t want too heavy coverage and have a bit more time on my hands – I find that this method takes far longer than any other application method.

The shape (similar to the Beauty Blender) is oval, one side being rounded, the other half flat and a pointed tip. The rounded side is the one I use for the majority of my face. I like to dip the damp sponge into some foundation on the back of my hand, and use a stippling/rolling motion across the face. The flat edge of the sponge is really good for getting the foundation in those tricky to reach areas such as the contours of the nose and underneath the eyes. 

However, it doesn’t just stop at foundation. If you like to use concealer to highlight under your eyes and on the high points of your face, this is great at blending it seamlessly into your foundation. Same goes with any other cream products – blush, bronzer, highlighter etc. Another tip is that if you go a little overboard with blush or bronzer, then simply tap this over and it will sheer it out. 

So am I now a sponge convert? I’m not so sure, as I love applying my makeup with brushes. But this is a really nice method for applying foundation. One con for me personally is that I have to clean it after every use because I’m a bit of a germ freak when it comes to face brushes. Whereas I can spot clean my brushes with a bit of Mac Brush Cleanser, for this I have to really work at it with baby shampoo, which admittedly I often forget to do meaning I end up choosing another method. However when I do clean it, I really enjoy using it. It’s really affordable so I would definitely recommend picking it up.

If my explanation didn’t quite cut it for you, check out Sam’s video explaining all its uses and applying it on camera here.

-RachelElizabeth
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Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation Review

Hourglass always have products that I’m pining for – their releases send the blogging world into a frenzy and it seems like everyone and their mother is loving something from them right now. I’ll say this as a warning: this is an expensive brand, especially here in the UK. But the products that I have tried are incredible. Today I bring you one of their foundations – oily girls, listen up…

Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation


Claims:
Consider Immaculate the miracle foundation for oily skin. This breakthrough liquid to powder formula absorbs oil, camouflages imperfections, and delivers a long-lasting velvet matte finish—without the need for touch-ups. In a consumer study, Immaculate’s advanced formula was shown to target oily, acne-prone skin. 

Side note – the claims list is quite lengthy on the Hourglass website. Read more about what the brand has to say about this foundation here.

Verdict
First off, this is an absolute godsend for oily skin. I have struggled with foundations staying on my skin for years and this is by far the best I have found. What I like a lot about this foundation is that it isn’t too thick or too full coverage like many of the foundations targeting oily skin (Estee Lauder Double Wear or Revlon Colorstay for example). It provides a medium coverage and is surprisingly buildable – when I first tried it I expected it to start looking cakey but somehow it doesn’t. The lasting power is pretty impressive – I can easily expect this to last a full day without touching up, but as with all foundations I find it performs better with the usual precautions: primer, powder, setting spray etc. It has a slightly mousse-like texture and dries to a powder finish. It contains no SPF, meaning it will have no flashback in photography. I found that in flash photography it looks great, so would be great for a night out. 

In terms of packaging, it is just what you would expect from a product from Hourglass; the signature gunmetal in the lid and the gorgeous slightly shimmery silver bottle. The pump is great – it dispenses a nice amount of product and keeps it sanitary which is ideal for a foundation targeted towards acne-prone skin. 

However, there are some negative aspects of this foundation that I need to address. Little does not go a long way with this product. I find myself having to use multiple pumps to cover my entire face and with such an expensive product like this that is a little bit worrying. It comes with the standard amount of foundation (30ml/1 fl.oz) so you aren’t getting much product for your money. You should definitely steer away from this if you have dry skin – it isn’t as bad as some foundations on highlighting dry patches but it isn’t going to do them any favours. 

In terms of the skin benefits that the website claim it to have, I can’t comment. I bought this in my natural skin tone, and I only use this in between self tanning. It is interesting though that many women have claimed that their skin improved in terms of oiliness, blemishes and texture after using this foundation for 4 weeks – I can definitely say that I have not had any adverse reactions and it hasn’t broken me out. 























All in all, if you have oily skin and you really struggle finding a foundation that will wear well on you, I would highly recommend saving up and giving this a go. If you live near an hourglass counter, or the next time you go in, definitely ask for a sample as it is an extremely pricey purchase. Next on my hourglass wish list are the ambient lighting blushes – how have I not purchased any yet??

–RachelElizabeth
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Manicure Monday #13 | Essie Blanc

White nails are definitely a love-hate thing. Often deemed as ‘tipex nails’, this trend tends to surface a lot during the warmer months, and some (including myself) see it as a fresh, clean look to the nails. I spilt the last white nail polish I had, so last summer when I was looking for a replacement, I instantly looked at the Essie stand – a brand that I often see as a reliable source for colours that are missing from my collection.

Essie Blanc is a completely pure white shade. I find that paler colours can be troublesome with their formula, and I tend to pay closer attention to their opacity than the brighter or darker shades. This one held up pretty close to my expectations, although I did end up putting on three coats for complete opacity. I think at two coats it would be enough for some, but I needed that tiny bit more colour. As all Essie polishes are concerned, it applied very smoothly and easily with its wide brush. Also like the other shades, the longevity is on point, and will last on my nails for a good while before chipping.























So unfortunately, I could not bring you the perfect white polish today, although this one does come close. If you are looking for a white polish, either for french manicures or all over colour like this post, then this is a good one to go for. Do you know of the perfect white shade?

–RachelElizabeth

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Everyday Makeup Look | Soft Winged Eye Liner

I have loved winged eyeliner for years – I find it’s really flattering on my eye shape (and on many eye shapes for that) and shapes the eyes to have a more feline effect. I am normally one for bold black liner, but recently I’ve been finding myself wanting to create softer looks, especially when wearing bold lips. Today I bring you a look I’ve been wearing quite a lot recently – a soft brown wing that still elongates the eyes, but in a much softer and more subtle way.
























Instead of a pencil or a gel, I have been reaching for eye shadows to create this look. My favourite option has been the Inglot Matte Eyeshadow Shade 327. It is a warm medium dark brown, and I find it really brings out the blue in my eyes. If you have brown or green eyes, a purple-hued shade would work well to make your eye colour pop. I apply it with the Sigma E65 Small Angle Brush starting by tracing the wing on the outer corner. I then drag the brush down  from the wing and line my eyes to about the middle of my eye. I find that this creates a more subtle look, and by not bringing the shadow into the inner corner of the eye, it makes them appear wider. 























Although very simple, this is becoming one of my favourite natural make up looks as it provides definition without being too obvious. This would also work great with coloured eyeshadow as it would create a fun pop of colour, but not in an obnoxious way.

–RachelElizabeth
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Manicure Monday #12 | Rimmel Salon Pro by Kate Moss in Reggae Splash

I am surprised that I have never mentioned my love for the Kate Moss for Rimmel collections on here yet. Everything they brought out was hugely surrounding by hype, and the nail polishes were no exception. Both the lipsticks and the nail polishes have a great variety of shades, and of course today I am showcasing a very spring appropriate shade. 
The first thing I will address is the brush – for those of you who are fans of the extra wide brush that covers your nail in one swipe, look no further. Personally, I prefer the precision of a thinner brush, but I can’t deny the convenience and quickness of the wider brush. The formula is very smooth and easy to apply, but I found that this particular colour needed three coats to be completely opaque. However, the colour and the final effect is really nice – it is a bright enough peachy orange to be noticeable and fun, but not so bright that is obnoxious. I find this formula to be relatively long-wearing and doesn’t chip too easily. At £4.49, and Boots constantly having offers, I definitely think it is worth picking up a shade or two.























I’m still loving all these summery colours, and I don’t doubt that for the foreseeable future Manicure Monday will consist of light, bright and summery shades. What’s your go-to spring nail shade?

–RachelElizabeth
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3 Orange Lips

Lipsticks are definitely my thing – if you hadn’t noticed in the background of most of my pictures, I have several drawers full to the brim of them. I will wear pretty much any colour, but when it comes to bold lips – and especially because summer is approaching – I tend to gravitate towards orange tones. I find they look great with a tan, and really bring out the blue in my eyes. I think there is an orange lip out there for everyone, from the bright lipstick-phobes to the bold lipstick obsessives. Today I bring you three of my favourites, from the sheer to the in-your-face loud orange.

Let’s begin with the sheerest of the three. The release of the Lip Butters sent the blogging world into a frenzy, and everyone couldn’t get enough of these. This is a slightly newer shade of the bunch, and is a sheer yet bright orange. The formula of these is really great – they apply with the feeling of a lip balm and are really comfortable on the lips. However, unlike some other tinted lip balms, they still deposit a decent amount of colour on the lips. If you’re a little afraid of orange lipsticks then this would be a good place to start. You’re not quite committing to the full-blown bright lip, but it leaves a nice sheer wash of orange. This is a great low maintenance option that you can throw on in the morning and not have to worry too much about it. 













































If you are a lover of red lipsticks but you’re not quite ready for a full blown orange lip, then an orange-toned red may be one to try. The Velvet Matte Lip Pencils – another product everyone loves – are amazingly formulated. If you love a matte lip then you need one in your collection. The pencil form makes it so easy to apply, they are so creamy and pigmented and best of all, unlike some matte formulas, they don’t dry out your lips. Red Square is a really vibrant orange-toned red which is perfect for the summer months. This shade is a nice modern twist on the classic red lip, and is another one that will suit so many different skin tones.













































I mentioned this lipstick in my top Mac lipsticks post here, and it is one of my favourite and go-to bright lips. It is probably one of the most famous orange lipsticks, and is definitely worth the hype. This is definitely not for the faint-hearted – it is described as a ‘loudmouth orange’ for a reason. It is a bright orange with a slight red undertone, making it easy to wear. The formula on this is beautiful – it has the right amount of moisture to make it comfortable, but it is still extremely pigmented and long-lasting. If you want to go all out, this is one you have to have.






















(Apologies for the inconsistencies in lighting – I couldn’t quite get Morange to show up true to life, so I used the picture from my previous post!)

If you liked the format of this post, I have also showcased three of my favourite red lipsticks here. I’m sure that I will do the same with all my other favourite lip colours to wear…

–RachelElizabeth
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