Illamasqua Treats!

I nipped into Illamasqua a couple of weeks ago and picked up two lipsticks in the sale. I also finally managed to get hold of Rude cream blush which I've wanted for such a long time!


I really didn't need yet another red lipstick, I have way too many as it is! But I just could resist buying these....  I'm an addict!





Illamasqua Sangers lipstick is a gorgeous blood red shade. Illamasqua lipsticks are incredibly pigmented and last for hours on my lips with a couple of coats. This red shade contains both blue and orange tones, and looks ever so slightly pink toned once applied next to my warm complexion. Such a beautiful colour though!





Illamasqua Encounter is my favourite out of the two lipsticks. Described by Illamasqua as a classic brick red. This red has orange tones and looks so lovely on. It  really suits my complexion well and looks much more red on my lips than Sangers does. I seriously love this one, but I think I still prefer Illamasqua Maneater red lipstick the best. Encounter comes close, but not close enough. Maneater remains my favourite red lipstick so far. I have reviewed Illamasqua Maneater lipstick here, if anyone is interested in taking a look.





Illamasqua Rude Cream Blush  (pictures above are very true to colour).


I have wanted this blush for so log it is ridiculous! Every time I have tried to buy it, there has never been any in stock. I suppose I could have bought one online, but I wanted to test it out in the shop before I bought it. Sometimes there hasn't even been a tester of it out when I've been there which is very annoying! Not this time though, tester was available and plenty in stock so I've finally got my hands on one, and I'm so glad I did!


It is simply gorgeous. Described by Illamasqua as a warm peach pink with a dewy finish. I find this description pretty accurate. I think it is definitely more peach than pink though and provides the most wonderful warm flush. It's so easy to apply and is a lovely consistency, not greasy and easily blendable. I tend to just use my fingers but using a stippling brush is a great way of applying too. Longevity is fantastic and lasts hours on my dry skin. This blush was well worth the wait. It's such a unique colour and I love the dewiness it provides....perfect!


Here it is in action......





I definitely want to  try some more Illamasqua blushers and lipsticks.


Any recommendations for me?

Burt's Bees Citrus Facial Scrub

Hi all,


Sorry for the complete lack of posts this past month or so. I've been extremely busy in my personal life, and have recently changed jobs, so it's been a bit stressful and hectic to say the least! Time just seems to go so fast lately!


I thought I would share with you a product that I've been using almost daily for the past few weeks.....





Burt's Bees Citrus Facial Scrub





''Burt's Bees' Citrus Facial Scrub is a natural sulfate-free facial scrub that contains finely ground almonds, oats, pecans and rose petals to gently exfoliate skin. An all-natural, plant-based cleansing complex removes traces of excess oil, dirt and make-up and sweet almond oil and glycerin moisturise for smoother, softer skin, naturally.'' source





This is dry and grainy in texture in the jar, but softens up the second that water touches it. Because of this, I find that it is best to get a bit out of the jar prior to wetting my face. That way it ensures that the products stays dry within the jar itself. The scent reminds me of Christmas, it's so lovely and  has a spicy orange aroma.


I tend to remove my make up prior to using this, dampen my face,  rub into my skin then rinse away. It really does give a deep cleanse without feeling at all harsh. My skin is dry and has the tendency to flake if I don't exfoliate enough. I find this scrub not only exfoliates really well, but it is also gentle enough to use every day. I've been using this almost every night and it agrees with my skin well.


You literally only need to use a tiny amount, as shown in the pictures above. This is enough to cleanse my entire face and neck area, so the jar should last a good length of time. I love how my skin feels and looks after using this, it not only looks radiant but also feels soft and smooth.


It's a fabulous natural scrub, I highly recommend!

Avon SuperSHOCK Range

A while ago I tried Avon's Supershock black gel eye liner pencil. Thought it was amazing, and really wanted to try some more products from the range.






Here is Avon SuperSHOCK Eyeshadow Pencil, SuperSHOCK Gel Eyeliner in Silver and SuperSHOCK Mascara.






The SuperSHOCK  Eyeshadow Pencil is double ended. I have it in Princess Pink and Royal Velvet. I think this is lovely and is great for using as a base underneath eyeshadows. It gives the shadow something to cling to, makes it last longer and helps the colour become more vibrant. I haven't worn it on it's own so not sure whether it wears well that way, but when worn with a shadow on top it last all day on my eyes. I love the purple shade especially, great for green eyes!





Like the SuperSHOCK black gel eye liner, the silver one is equally as amazing. It is intensely vibrant and lasts for hours once applied. This really looks stunning worn on the waterline for an evening out. Looks very chic and instantly glams up any neutral shadow. Would be great to have in your make up bag, for those times where you have to glam up in a hurry. This will take you from daytime to night time in an instant! I love this!





The SuperSHOCK black mascara has quite a large plastic bristle brush (a bit like Max Factor False Lash Effect), which I am not too keen on. I much prefer a smaller brush as I find these easier to work with. However, I did love the effect it gave my lashes, and the fact that it did not clump. It also did a nice job of separating my lashes, giving them more length. I was left feeling quite impressed!


I really hope Avon extend their range of SuperSHOCK gel eye liner and eyeshadow pencils. I would love to see more colours become available!  I will be first in line to buy!

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Epatant

I perused the Chanel counter this weekend and tested out the new Illusion D'Ombre, Long Wear Luminous Shadows.





To be honest, after trying them out, I really wanted them all! They are all so beautiful. In the end I decided to buy..........





Epatant (84), a stunning metallic grey/silver/khaki shade. It's quite hard to pinpoint what colour it actually is, as it can differ in different lighting.





This has an odd consistency, and feels dry to touch and a bit spongy. Strangely, it is incredibly smooth and easy to work with. Once on, it sets and does not budge. The shadow also comes with a cute little brush, which is a bit small to apply with really. It may make a good eye liner brush though.


I'm in love with the colour. It is simply stunning, and I can't wait to wear it. I will be wearing this for my Christmas nights out for sure!


I really want to get hold of Illusoire and Mirifique too, as they are equally as stunning as Epatant!