Orange Lipsticks

L-R: Infrared, Bang, Bang! Bang!

Generally I'm not one to change my clothes or my face with the seasons very much (dark smokey eyes in August? Yes!) but summer really is the perfect time to be wearing an orange lip colour.  Orange has been quite 'in' over the last year or so and I feel like there are definitely more oranges on the market.

Whole Face Challenge with Illamasqua

Like with the last challenge, here, choosing Illamasqua was never going to be very difficult for me as they are one of my favourites and I have a lot by them. I knew what I wanted to do a bit more this time so didn't sit down completely aimless.  I knew I wanted to be uber pale, have red eye shadow and use some of my newer products.

Making Rubanesque Work

MAC Rubanesque Pro Longwear Paint Pot

I have been in love with MAC's  Rubanesque Paint Pot for years, swatching it on my hand almost every time I went in store and no doubt annoying all of the employees.  It is a beautiful shimmery peachy gold which changes with the light.  I knew I would love it but I just put off buying it every time...until April.  I got it home, so excited to try it for the first time but boy was I disappointed.  While the pigmentation was okay and it was definitely still pretty it was quite lack-lustre.  It did not look how it does in the jar.
And so began the mission to make it look amazing!

Illamasqua's Glamore Lipsticks

Glamore lipsticks

A few months ago Illamasqua launched a new lipstick formula with the Glamore campaign.  There were 3 shades in the initial launch but the formula was so popular; opaque and creamy; that everyone called out for more choice.  Illamasqua listened and earlier this month launched 4 more shades, and then another 7 nude shades this week.  The Nude shades are split up depending on skin tone, with 2 cool-toned, 2 neutral and 3 warm-toned.

Whole Face with One Brand: Urban Decay

So I've been wanting to start this challenge for a while, and that is to do my full face with only one brand, with as many brands as possible.  I picked an easy one for the first go; Urban Decay.  I had pretty much everything I could have needed, except for a concealer.  I'll probably only do these on a Saturday as it takes a while to root around and find everything.  This particular Saturday was very hectic and I charged head-first into my bundle of products with no real idea of what I was going to do.  I'm not particularly pleased with how it turned out but as I thought that morning, it'll do!  These photos are taken after 8 hours wear. 

London IMATS 2014

On the 28th June a friend and I went to London IMATS (International Makeup Artist Trade Show) at Olympia.  This was my second time to IMATS and I loved every second of it.  We had a 2am start for the 4am coach up from Cardiff.  Last year I was concentrating on buying for my bridal kit but this year, with a few exceptions, it was all for me.  While I like seeing all of the different stalls and trying new brands there, I mainly seek to buy things I already like but at show prices.

A New Superdrug for Cardiff

This is just a quick, picture-less post to say that a new Superdrug has opened up in St Davids 2 in Cardiff.   It is on the ground floor, just down from the Disney Store.

It opened yesterday and I was very excited to dash straight there after work yesterday afternoon.  Not only does it look a lot more sophisticated than the old store but it also boasts some new things.  There is the Ultimate Brow and Nail Bar (currently offering intro deals up to half off) and at the back of the store there is Hair Space which offer cuts and colour.  A few of the budget brands are missing from this Superdrug but, as far as I'm aware, the Queen St store is staying open so will be there for when I'm feeling the pinch.  I did see two new brands in the new store though.  Makeup Revolution products have been available on the Superdrug website for a while but this was my first time seeing them with their own display in store. The most exciting thing about the whole store though is that the sell The Balm! I've been drooling over The Balm for years but previously the only products of theirs I had tried was their Instain Blush in Swiss Dot (which I love) and Cabana Boy blush.  To be able to swatch the infamous Mary-Lou Manizer highlighter in person was so exciting.  They  also have the apple cream blush palette which I've been very eager to get.  I managed to restrain myself but only because it was IMATS last Saturday and I have so many new things to play with for the time being.

I highly reccomend you visit the new Superdrug.  It not only looks really good but has a wide range of brands and, unlike with the old store, everything is in the right place and is really well stocked.