Showing posts with label Budget Beauty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Budget Beauty. Show all posts

Thursday, 21 April 2016

Revolution Vivid Baked Highlighter

Today, I'm gonna just wax lyrical for a bit about the Revolution Baked Vivid Highlighter in the shade Peach Lights. It's a very shimmery, beautiful highlight with a neutral pigmentation to it, not too pink, not too golden, which is perfect for my fellow Pale Princesses out there!

I picked this up a fortnight or so ago in my local pharmacy, for €3.95. Yep, you see where that decimal point is? It's in the right place, friend!



I admit that at first I was a bit deflated by it because I thought it wasn't that great. That's until I got the top layer off the product. Basically I swirled a "fluffy" brush over it for a couple of minutes, til I wore the baked top off it. Until I did this, there was no product on the bristles of my brush, there was no highlight on my cheekbones,and  a bad time was had.

Now that I've got this issue resolved, let me just sing from the mountain tops how unbelievably incredible this highlight is! It's so shimmery, when you apply it you suddenly become a sculpted, gloriously lit supermodel. How can one little pan of iridescent powder be so magical? I apply it with a tapered Blank Canvas F15 brush, and honestly, it's my favorite part of my makeup routine!

With change from a fiver, I have to tell you, even though you have to work to get the product to show it's full potential, it's so worth it! I am completely in love, it's such a bargain and it makes you look radiant, sculpted and incredible.

You can find Revolution HERE and I apologize in advance for your bank account hating the two of us... 

Amy 
xx

Monday, 19 August 2013

Catrice Glamour Doll Mascara

I have finally parted ways with my Maybelline The Rocket Volum' mascara.

It was heartbreaking to the point where I had to give it to my mother and have her dispose of it. I knew the time was coming, and so to prepare myself, I decided to treat myself to a Catrice mascara, because there is NO WAY on Earth that I am opening my Covergirl mascara from Kayleigh until at least Christmas.

I hadn't heard much about Glamour Doll mascara, to be honest, and what I had heard, well... Wasn't good. But something in me was drawn to it, and so I decided to go for it. The logic there was, "If its awful, I'll open my Covergirl, and that's that!". When I got it home, I was beyond expectant, and since I wore no make up at all today (until I got back to the house) I knew I could road test it straight away!



First up, I'm diggin' the applicator.

I really like rubbery/plastic wands with those little nubby bristles. I'm also enjoying the tapered shape of the wand. It looks like that Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes, but also like the Maybelline The Rocket too... The tube is also nice too, with undulating curves, and neat silver wording. Very appealing, and very slick looking for under €5.00.

Next up, first impressions. Please remember this part of the post was written one week ago today.



Upon first application, I have tentatively decided I like it. First applied around 1pm, and now at almost 11pm (at time of writing), it's still pretty perfect. My lashes still hold a lovely curl and are dark as well as evenly coated and separated. It doesn't irritate my eyes either, which is a huge selling point I would happily point out to my fellow lens wearers. The formula is nice, not too wet, not too thick, and very, very black.

Removal was easy enough, it comes off with ease using a facial wipe and it left no clumpy "after the fact" lashes in its wake.

So far, so good! I will be happily using this for the next while, that's for sure! I'm really glad that I decided to pick this up, as for €4.49 in Penneys, it was a worthwhile purchase. I have no doubt if I were to decide to watch the pennies, that I would repurchase this lovely budget beauty in a heartbeat.

What do you think of Glamour Doll Mascara? Have you tried it in its Waterproof version? Tell me what you thought of that, please! 

Amy
xxx

Sunday, 18 August 2013

That's What I'm Talkin' About... Catrice Cosmetics

Since I started blogging, I've been more open to trying new products. As a result, I've been buying a lot of new things, different brands, snapping up good deals and trying to figure out what works for me and what doesn't! 

A brand that has impressed me at every turn is Catrice Cosmetics. Catrice is a budget brand that comes from Cosnova, the company that produces both Catrice and Essence, another budget cosmetics range that far outdoes itself when you consider the price! 

Catrice is that tad-bit pricier than Essence, but it is that bit better in quality, so the price is nothing but reflective of that. My Catrice collection is modest, but I have been nothing but impressed with every product! I have not felt that I have wasted a single penny with any of my purchases. The best bit is because of the modest price tag, you can treat yourself, and there is no guilt! I don't think I've ever found a Catrice product over €6.00!!



The collection I have pictured is the product of a few months of small investments, and it is all made up of things from the permanent collection. I haven't included my lipsticks or lip-liners because I think they deserve their own post. 

Lets start with the Translucent Loose Powder. I adore this and will absolutely repurchase it again and again! The best bit is that it is un-tinted and so will be perfect over any foundation to set it. It leaves a matte, almost velvet finish. Another point in its favour is that it does not leave a white cast in flash photos (at least that's what I have found, though I apply it with a light hand). 

Next, my Eyebrow Stylist in the shade "Blonde But Brow-d"... That's true love right there. It's got a spoolie on one end and a lovely pencil on the other, which goes perfectly with my ginger brows - no mean feat, that's for sure!

A more recent addition is my highlight powder. This is in the shade "010: Fairy Dust" and it's a really subtle highlighter, definitely appropriate for daytime wear, with a warm undertone, perfect for summer! 

Next up are my Lip Cream Colours. These were chosen from a sale basket and are absolutely beautiful, sheer glosses that I am pretty sure can still be gotten off any Catrice stand. They also smell lovely and are housed in very sturdy square tubes with the usual doe-foot applicators. 

A new love of mine is the Glamour Doll Volume mascara! I admit that I didn't hear good things before I bought it, and many people would consider me to have gone against my better judgement, but it's proven me wrong, and I'm very happy with it! It holds the curl all day and doesn't flake or smudge. A worthy purchase, and definitely a contender for my beloved Maybelline The Rocket. 

My last item and my latest purchase is my Calligraph Eyeliner Pen. It has the finest nib and the blackest formula of all budget eyeliners that I have tried to this day. I am beyond impressed, especially with the fine, flexible nib on the pen and the ease with which you can create either a fine, subtle cat eye or a thick, bold flick! Definitely one to revisit, especially if you are new to winged liner!

What do you think of Catrice Cosmetics? Have you tried any of these? Is there anything you would like to recommend to me to try? Leave me a comment down below! 

Friday, 9 August 2013

Catrice Prime and Fine Translucent Powder Review

Hi, my name is Amy and I have an addiction to budget beauty products.

On a recent foray to Maynooth, I wandered into a small chemist where I knew there was a very good, largely unspoiled Catrice stand. I was just gonna pick up "one thing, one treat, that's it, Amy, do you hear?!", but as usual, I went a tiny bit mad... There were half price things, who was I to ignore that?!

I knew I wanted to try the Prime and Fine Translucent Powder, and so I grabbed that, and snagged some other bargain, went up to the counter to pay, and verbally abused my lack of restraint all the way back to the car!

I must admit, this white powder looks scary as hell. I was actually a bit intimidated by it at first... But I tried it and I was surprised!

Monday, 5 August 2013

MUA Blusher Review

On a recent trip to Newry, the idea of which was to procure make-up brands we find hard to get down here in the Republic, I picked up two MUA (Make Up Acadamy) blushes (on Audrey's recommendation) for £1.00 each.


Left: Marshmallow; Right: Bubble Gum
 


                                             Left: Marshmallow; Right: Bubble Gum
 

These blushes come in sleek black and clear acetate packaging and snap closed with a very reassuring "click". For £1.00 that can't be faulted. They are also slim and very compact, though the pans are large enough to be considered generous, especially for the price. 
                                    Marshmallow and Bubble Gum, good enough to eat? 

When I tested these out, by swatching each of the colours, I was extremely impressed with the softness and the pigmentation! They glide on with wondrous ease and they are super easy to blend. I know I'm labouring the point here, but these beauties are a pound!!!

This is what they look like on...
                                Left Cheek: Marshmallow; Right Cheek: Bubble Gum

As you can probably tell from the pictures, the Marshmallow shade is much more pink-toned than the Bubble gum, which has an almost coral hint. 

All in all, I am very impressed with the quality of these bargain gems! They are beautiful and very easy to apply, with wonderful results! 

What do you think? Are they as impressive in your opinion as they are in mine? 

xo
Amy