May Favourites;

2 months have passed since my last favourites post, one of which was my birthday month. So its safe to say I treated myself to a few new things, so I have a lot of things to share with you and my god did it take some whittling down to keep this post short(ish) and sweet. But look forward to a lot of upcoming new product reviews.

I have a new little shower goodie to share with you first, the LUSH Shower Jelly in Sweetie Pie. This is a quirky shower gel, jelly hybrid. The instructions read; 'rub our wobbly bit all over you wobbly bits'. Getting the jelly out of the pot is a bit of a challenge, but I add this to a shower puff and it turns into lather. It lathers up so well that a little really goes a long way. 'Sweetie Pie' is a purple, glittery jelly, thankfully the glitter doesn't seem to stick to my skin. I don't think the Edward Cullen look is too 'this season'. This smells kind of like glacier cherries, or sugary berries, and its a scent that fills your bathroom when you use this, and I'm really enjoying it.

I picked up this Rich Moisture Face Cream from Avon a little while ago for about £3 as I was suffering with some dry patches and my usual face moisturiser just wasn't cutting it. Seriously this stuff cleared them up straight away. Its a little thicker than your average cream and so doesn't sink in straight away, but I've been using this daily and it works well under makeup, doesn't make my skin more oily and is continuing to keep my skin soft. It doesn't smell of anything much, and hasn't irritated my sensitive skin, all in all a £3 well spent!

I have also caught up (finally) to the hype surrounding Argan oil with this Leave In Treatment from Avon. I run this all evenly through my hair when it's wet and it makes my hair noticeably smoother and visibly shinier. The thing I love about this is that the shine lasts until my next wash and it only cost me £2.50 on an offer which is the cheapest I've ever seen an Argan oil treatment.

Onto the makeup favourites I have been loving this Makeup Revolution Ultra Eyeshadow Palette in Flawless. I raved about this in a full review here so I'll keep it to the point. This has every neutral shade you could need in one palette, the pigmentation and blendability is amazing especially when this costs just £8 for 32 shadows. Another great product from Makeup Revolution, I just wish I purchased this sooner.

Another product I wish I'd purchased sooner is the Sleek Blush By 3 in Pink Lemonade, which I got in the Sleek Party Box which I reviewed here (shameless self blog promotion, I know but I've actually keeping up-to-date on my blog and I'm proud!). These are truly as good as everyone claims, two of shades are powder blushes, which have just the right amount of shimmer. They are so eyecatching yet perfect for everyday, my favourite of the two is 'Pink Mint'. The middle is a cream blush, which I haven't used to much of but it is really pigmented for a cream blush.

Something I've recently rediscovered are my Revlon Matte Balms, I bought them about a year ago. They've spent a long winter in the back of my lip drawer as these shades are more spring-y, but since the sun has decided to make an appearance I've been able to bring them out of hibernation. I have them in the shades: Unapolegetic which is a truly unique, bright coral-pink. But showy is shade that has seen the most lovely recently, it is  a statement blue-toned bright pink. I love the formula of these because they're matte, but not drying. And you don't have to reapply often as when the color fades it leaves your lips stained.
Last is a candle favourite, I picked this up in a little store in St Ives when I was on holiday. This is by the brand Our Own Candle Company and is a large Mason Jar candle in the scent Very Berry. I was first drawn to it because its in a mason jar, and they have teeny, tiny ones which my mum picked up one of that are adorable! Secondly it has 3 colours running through which looks awesome, I hope they smell different but I haven't got that far yet as after burning for half an hour my room is filled with the scent. The scent smells like warm berries, the kind you'd put in a pie, which is lovely for this time of year. Plus when its done I have another mason jar cup, what's not to love?

What have you loved this month?

Creaseless Cream Shadow;

A few weeks ago I hauled a few things from Mac. Today I bring you the first review. This is the Mac Paintpot in Groundwork and I thought I'd review this first as it has actually been my favourite product of the bunch and the one that has surprised me most.

To give you bit of background although my eyes aren't generally oily for some reason me and cream eyeshadows don't really mix. I've tried the Maybelline Colour Tatoos which stayed perfect for about 3 hours then the product clung to my creases and the rest of the eyelid was left with little to no product. But I've read so many raving reviews of Paintpots that I decided to pick one up anyway and I'm so glad I did.

 The texture and consistency of these is almost thinner than most cream eyeshadows, it's easier to get out of the pot, easier to blend and just all around the texture makes it easier. When applying I press the product onto my eyellid with my finger which warmed it up making it even easier to blend. I then take a fluffy brush to blend any harsh edges, something that I find hard to do with other cream eyeshadows but is easy easy with this. This provides a blank canvas on your eyes, it covers up any veins, and is a great base for any powder shadows. I feared the consistency might make it greasy and not long lasting but it sets matte and dries completely, whereas I have found other cream eyeshadows leave a sticky feeling that is noticeable throughout the day.

As I said in my haul I bought this at a Cosmetics store so there were a limited selection of shades and Groundwork was pretty much the only neutral shade. It is a warm toned medium brown, I really love this shade as it looks great worn alone all over the lid with a flick of liquid liner. But with shadow on top it intensifies darker browns and provides a nice contrast to shimmery eyeshadows and really makes them pop. I do definitely want to pick this up in a more nude tone as well to use instead of primer so it will go with any colour because the lasting power is so great.

Are there any products that you thought you wouldn't like but fell in love with?

FLAWLESS;

If you were to throw away all of your eyeshadows today and survive with just one palette this would be the one I'd recommend. I mean in reality you're probably like me and have neutral eyeshadow palettes coming out of yours, which is why it took me until now to pick up Makeup Revolution's Ultra Eyeshadow Palette in Flawless.

 Gosh, the rose gold box alone is nice enough to keep just to stare at...

The Ultra Eyeshadow Palettes are made up of 32 shades. Flawless is one of the more neutral of these palettes, but still contains some truly unique shades to jazz up your everyday eye. The first column of four is all matte which is nice as a lot of the shades are shimmery and I can see myself wearing these a lot as they are all great base and crease colours. The next two columns are pink toned shadows that will look great for this time of year as they are really spring-y, there is also a lovely red which is really stand out. The middle three columns are all warm-toned mid shadows. There are a lot of brown shadows, but also a lovely gold, some coppers and a gorgeous khaki green as well as darker burgundy red. Some of these shades will be perfect to see you through into autumn for some deeper looks. There are then some more cool-toned browns and taupe, I love that there are both warm and cool shadows in one palette. The last four shades are silver, blue and blacks for night-time eyes. The variety of shades makes this palette so versatile. I recently took this palette on a long weekend with me and although it's of course larger than the average palette, I enjoyed that I could create eye looks for daytime wandering and nights out all in one compact. I also think this would be great for transitioning through seasons as there are shades to cater for all. This is all homed in a sturdy black packaging with Makeup Revolution's signature gold writing, and it managed being squashed in my suitcase unscathed. The top side also contains a huge mirror that made doing my makeup in a tiny chalet room a lot more manageable, and another reason I think this is great for travelling.

My favourite shades; Red Night, Green Stars and Lowlite after just one swipe.

As for colour pay off as soon as I swatched this I need I needed to review it, the shades above are my favourite and you can see for yourself. My Iconic Palettes have been my holy grail for the past year and I think the payoff in this is better. The lighter matte shades aren't completely opaque but a lot better than some drugstore ones I've tried, but the shimmery shades are completely opaque from first swipe. One thing I noticed is the dimension of these shadows, a lot of these you can wear on their own and give a similar effect to Makeup Revolution's Pure Pigments. Burgundy Nights worn over my Mac Paintpot gives a lovely twist to a smokey eye and Lowlite looks lovely with just a little liner smudged into the lash line and it looks great for day and night. I also think this palette would be great for beginners as you can creat some basic looks, then build up to more extravagant and inject a little colour into neutral looks. I think this is my favourite palette that I've ever tried so far. 

I'm thinking of starting a new series where I show several looks from one palette and I'd like to include this one, would anybody be interested?

Radiant Light;

If you haven't read about Makeup Revolution's Radiant Highlighters yet I don't know where you've been hiding, but when you've already read 40 reviews what's the harm in reading another? Mine is in the shade Breathe I did want to get my mits on the whole palette as I'd convinced myself in a moment of splurge that I needed it. But it was out of stock when I was making an order on Superdrug and I'm glad it was as I'd have probably only used 1 or 2 of the shades and Breathe definitely would have been one of them.

 In the pan this doesn't look overly glittery or sheeny and if I'm honest the first swatch didn't initially wow me. The highlightaholic that I was last year probably would have never picked this up. Swatching this just doesn't do it justice, it looks to be sheeny beige. But on the skin, this is phenomenal. It adds a glow and that's the only way I can explain it. These are dupes for the Hourglass Ambient Light Powders, I've never tried any of those, but I know the idea is that they give you the effect of being in candlelight and I can completely see that with the Makeup Revolution alternative.

I tend to use this as more of a dusting powder over my cheeks and forehead rather than a concentrated highlighter. This really lifts your skin out of the shadows and stops your skin looking flat without looking fake. I am forever noticing this when I catch myself in the mirror throughout the day and it only gets better. This highlight matches well to any blush you wear. I also enjoy wearing this alone as it adds a neutral glowy look and complements a dramatic eye and bold lip look. I really don't know if any description does this product justice but I've reached for this every time I've done my makeup since I bought it and haven't regretted it.

The Sleek Party Box;

With some of my birthday money I really wanted to get my hands on another Sleek palette as I only own one as well as one of their Blush By 3s as I'd never tried one and I've heard such great things about them. While browsing the Superdrug website I stumbled across the Sleek MakeUP Party Box Gift Set. This comes with 1 eyeshadow palette, 1 blush by 3, 1 eyeshadow and blush palette, a highlighting palette, an eyebrow palette and a lipgloss and a mascara, for just £30. It seems like a no brainer to me and I had to get this up ASAP so you can purchase it as I imagine it won't be available forever.

The first thing I opened was the i-Divine Palette in Storm. The shades are mostly glittery party shades, going with the theme of the gift set I guess. But there are enough neutral shades to create looks for this time of the year, there are also two matte browns that make perfect crease colours. I love the glittery blue and green as they're shades that my collection is lacking and they'll be great to add a twist to a smokey eye. I've swatched all of these shades and the pigmentation is just as great as my first sleek palette, I just can't wait for some nights out to use these! They also have themed names such as 'Electric Storm' and 'Eye of the Storm' which are one of those quirky things that make me love Sleek.

 And this little beauty is the Blush By 3 in Pink Lemonade, which is something I've seen pop up on a lot of blogs, and is probably the shade I'd have picked up. These live up to their reputation too as they're super pigmented but easy to blend out. The first shade 'Icing Sugar' is a lighter pink with glitter running through it which I think looks awesome on pale skin. 'Macaroon' is a cream blush, I love that they have incorporated both powder and cream finishes. This shade is a more neutral pink cream blush, compared to the ones I own and it really complements a bold eye or lip. 'Pink Mint' is my favourite so far, this is pink but also with coral tones, it also has glitter and I think its perfect and so eye-catching. I also love that Sleek seem to have the right amount of glitter and sheen to their blushes, there's enough to catch your eye but not so in your face that it looks horribly fake.

 This is the See You At Midnight Eye and Blush Palette. The back of packaging tells me includes 'Antique' blush which is a brown toned blush, with multi-coloured glitter, at the minute this isn't my favourite and I'm not sure if it will work with my skin tone as its too glittery to contour and too dark to be a blush, However 'Pomegranate' more than makes up for it, this is a pretty dark pink which I think will look awesome with a summer tan or as an autumnal blush, it also seems to leave more of a sheen than having chunky glitter. See You At Midnight also contains shades from the 'Vintage Romance' i-Divine, two purples, a gold and a blue, these will make some creative eye looks. My only issue is that I think you'll need more shades to make a full look, and that I don't know which drawer to put this palette into; eyes or cheeks?!? Ah the OCD in me. I'm guessing these palettes are new as I haven't seen one before and they have one of my favourite features... Magnetic packaging... ah so satisfying.

 Ooh and this here is the Precious Metals Highlighting Palette. This contains 3 cream highlighters, and one powder. The first shade is 'Platinum' which looks scary, but when blended away this makes a very dramatic highlight which I think would be perfect for nights out or for your inner eye corner. 'Royal Gold' and 'Renaissance Gold' these are both as it says gold toned, however 'Royal Gold' is more glittery whereas 'Renaissance Gold' leaves a gorgeous sheen. I love using gold highlighters even on my pale skin, during the summer I will pop these under my foundation and the cream formula only helps without application. I'm not sure 'Antique Bronze' is for me as its a little dark, its more of a beige with subtle glitter but I'm sure I can use this as an eyeshadow as its a really great shade. The packaging of this is also magnetic, and a gorgeous reflective chrome.

This set also includes these little goodies, the mascara I am yet to try as I don't like to have too many open as they dry out. I am so thankful the eyebrow palette was offered in dark, as its just my shade. And can I say finally a drugstore brow palette that isn't two red-toned, this is also the first time I've tried a coloured gel and I think it would be great to use alone as it keeps my brows in place all day and I can fill in with it. Brow-kit brushes are the only palette brushes I ever use, these and the tweezers will be super useful for on-the-go! The last product is Gloss Me lipgloss in the shade 'Hawaii Honey' and I really like it. I've only recently gotten back into wearing gloss, and this one is lovely as its not too sticky. The shade is a sheer coral when applied alone with golden glitter, which isn't chunky enough that you can feel it when applied, this also looks great over a red lip.

Wow, that was a lot of typing. Massive love to you if you got this far, what do you love from Sleek?