18 Eyeshadows in 2018, Update 1;-

Its been about 6 weeks since I posted my 18 Eyeshadows in 2018 so I thought it was about time that I update you on my progress. I've got to admit that I haven't made as much progress as I'd like, but this is my first eyeshadow panning challenge so I didn't really know what to expect. But even little progress is a step in the right direction and I want to set myself a few goals that I'd like to reach before I post another update next month.

My Smashbox palette is up first. I've managed to expand the pan all the way to the edge on the lighter brown shade this month. I use this quite often in my crease when I'm going to work, as its quite subtle. I would like to use this up as quickly as possible as there are some other shades that I think will work in the crease that I'd like to use more. I think that these shadows must be quite tightly pressed into the pan as I've found them really difficult to get through even though they're samples, but I'm hoping that I'll have this finished in the next 2-3 months. There's a tiny bit of progress in the darker shade, but I'm surprised there isn't more as I use this in my brows every day! But I'm not too worried about finishing this up quickly as its the only shade in my project that will work in my eyebrows.

In this project I'm looking to finish all of the shades in this palette except the dark brown. I've made some progress in the cream shade, which I use everyday to set my primer. By the look of the progress I'm hoping this will be done by the end of next month. I've used the light pink a couple of times on my inner corner. I'd like to get some more use out of this shade and the taupe shade, which I haven't even touched yet.

Next up is this palette of Freedom single shadows. I've managed to use every shadow, except the light pink at least a couple of times. I've used the sparkly brown the most, this is the only one with any visible progress. I'm hoping to hit pan on this in the next month. I've also used the pink shade a few times too, and I want to get as much use out of this as much I can. I quite like this all over the lid during the spring and summer.

Lastly, is my Sleek Au Natural palette shades 1, 3, 5 & 6 from the top line. I have only used the shimmery champagne shade. I use this on my inner corner and sometimes as a highlight. As it makes a really eyecatching highlight so I only really use it on the weekend, and I also quite often don't have time to even put this on my inner corner on mornings before work. I want to try and use this a little more so I can get some use from the other light shades in my other palettes.

See you for my next update in May.

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Re-Review L'oReal Infallible Matte;-

I watch a lot of Youtube videos where people go back to old Favourites and talk about what they think of the products down the line, and I've recently started using an old favourite foundation of mine and have found that my opinion on it had changed. I thought it would be interesting to revisit my old review on this and see what things still ring true and what I've changed my mind about.

The foundation in question is the L'oReal Infallible Matte, you can read my review from back in 2015 here. I remember this foundation being talked about a lot when it first came out, but I rarely hear anybody talk about this anymore. The formula of this is thin, making the foundation easy to blend, and gives a medium-high coverage.

The foundation was marketed with a matte, but not flat finish, which is something I would agree with. This is what initially drew me to the foundation because my skin used to be oily, but it could just be winter but my skin is a lot drier recently. My opinion on this may have changed because this isn't really suited to my skin type at the moment. I said in my first review that the product clings to dry patches, but that it doesn't look worse than bare dry skin. This is the thing I've my mind on most... Before going back to using this foundation I was using a very dewy and moisturising base (which I also didn't really like) and in comparison the L'oReal foundation really emphasises any dry parts of my skin. I also commented on the fact that I could use this without the need for a primer. I've now used this with a few different primers, but purely to try to stop this clinging to dry patches. I've found that primers can help with this a little... But not much. I will say that this foundation does last a really long time on the skin, in fact I think this looks better thoughout the day when my skin naturally creates oil. I have found using a liquid highlighter under my foundation makes this look the best when my skin is dry.
I said in my original review that this may be the first foundation I'd repurchase which was true at the time as I'm bottle two of this. However, I don't think this is the perfect foundation for me. I've also been thinking a lot about animal testing and L'oReal still tests on animals when there are now a lot of companies who don't, so I won't be repurchasing this for ethical reasons. I'll definitely use up what is left of this so as not to be wasteful, but for me its back to the drawing board to find a foundation that ticks all of the boxes.

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March Favourites;-

I haven't written a favourites post in the longest time, so I thought I'd show you a few things I've been loving lately!

Cream blushes are one of those products I keep tip-toeing between loving or never using. I'll go months raving about them and then they go back in the drawer until next time. At the moment I'm back on the bandwagon and I've pulled my Revlon cream blush in the shade Flushed (this is pretty old and I can't even find it on the Boots website). I find this really easy to blend and gives you that natural flushed look, so I guess the shade name is pretty accurate! I've been suffering from dry skin and I've found this is one of the few products that doesn't cling to dry patches and I'm really enjoying using this.
I really loved the L'oReal liquid eyeliner, but I've decided I only want to purchase cruelty free makeup so I've been looking for an alternative. I think I've found the perfect alternative in this Barry M On Point Eyeliner. Just like the L'oReal liner this is a felt tip pen eyeliner with a really fine tip. This is really black that I think is really easy to use and I'm glad I've managed to find a cruelty free version of one of my favourite products.
Another Barry M product that I picked up completely on a whim and really like is this Showgirl Mascara. I generally only have one mascara at a time and the mascara I had just before this one game me a reaction which it lead to an eye infection (it was literally disgusting!). After it cleared up I was in desperate need of  a mascara, so I picked up this one because it was easily accessible and again, cruelty free. This has a really large bristle brush, which I usually don't like, but this works for both lengthening and volumising as well as being super black. It's not the most volumising mascara I've ever used, but it also doesn't make your lashes too solid making it easy to layer if you want to up the amp! I've literally never heard anything about Barry M mascaras, but this is really good especially for the price!
I mentioned in my 5 Best Things from Makeup Revolution post that I really like the Makeup Revolution Matte Lip Kits. I wear the shade Reign all of the time to work, which is a really nice, subtle nude shade. I don't really like the pencil because it really tugs on my lips so I don't use it, however the liquid lipstick is really nice on its own. It applies really nicely and doesn't feather when worn alone, it lasts a really long time too! I find this doesn't dry out my lips and wears well, I also like wearing this under a more glossy nude shade to make it last longer.
I recently sorted through my nail polish collection and discovered that for someone who paints their nails a couple times a year I own quite a lot of nail polish, so I've been trying to paint my nails a little more and use some of my polishes. The nail polish I've used a couple of times since is this one I got from Urban Outfitters. I can't find a shade name but its basically clear with a subtle purple glitter running through it. I find that because this is quite subtle, it takes a few days before you can see any chips. I think its a really great low maintenance nail polish.

I don't really talk a lot about hair care on my blog, but I'm quite fussy when it comes to shampoo and conditioner, my scalp can be quite dry but I get greasy roots and dry ends of my hair so I really struggle to find something that works well with all of that. I've literally sworn by using only LUSH shampoos for a really long time, but I ran out of shampoo when I didn't have to get to my nearest LUSH so I picked up the Herbal Essences bio-renew Clean shampoo and conditioner at the supermarket. I've found the combination of this shampoo and conditioner makes my hair soft, but it doesn't make my hair greasy and it hasn't upset my scalp at all. I think I bought this back in August and I'm only just getting near the end of the bottle, so it's lasted a really long time!

What have you been loving lately?

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