Makeup Revolution Redemption Palette Iconic 3

OK, that title was a mouthful! Now I have got that out of the way, feast your eyes on this...

If you have not been living under a rock for the last year or so, you may notice the striking resemblance of this palette to the Naked 3 palette by Urban Decay. The Iconic 3 palette is in fact a dupe for the Naked 3 palette. The main difference? The price. The Naked 3 palette costs around £37 and the Iconic 3 costs...wait for it...£4! £4 for 12 shades. Not just 12 shades but 12 highly pigmented and high quality shades which are pretty much identical to the Naked 3.

The brand, Makeup Revolution seems to have appeared from nowhere and they have become very popular amongst bloggers and beauty lovers all over the world. This palette is their best selling palette but the whole range of products (including 9 other redemption palettes) are absolutely incredible quality and value for money. There are a heck of a lot of dupes throughout their range, not just from their eyeshadows. I am so impressed with this brand, like seriously blown away that I will be blogging about them in a separate post.

Lets get back to this product. The palette consists of a mix of shimmer, satin and matte shades with a rosy gold theme. The shadows are also longer in length than the Naked 3 but about the same width. There is a dual sponge tip applicator included (which no-one ever uses!) All enclosed in a plastic casing with a clear lid.

Unlike the Naked 3, The iconic 3 shadows don't have names so I have numbered them to describe them.

1. The palest shade in the palette. A matte bone like shade which is great for an all over the lid base or for a non shimmery under the brow bone highlight.

2. A gorgeous pale pink shimmery shade. Great for all over the lid, over a deeper shade or for brightening the inner corner.

3. A lovely nude shade with a satin finish. Creamy with no fall out.

4. A very nicely pigmented matte shade. Pinky beige nude in colour with no fall out and a warm undertone. A great transition/crease shade.

5. A gorgeous shimmery deeper rosy pink shade. Beautiful as an all over lid colour or for the inner third of the lid.

6. A vibrant smooth shimmery copper shade. Great pigmentation and one of my favourites.

7. Another matte brown shade but with a cooler tone. Again, great for transitioning/crease and to smoke out a soft look.

8. A light brown taupey shimmery shade. A gorgeous colour for all over the lid.

9. A warm toned chocolate brown. Not too shimmery but more shimmery than a satin finish. Great pigmentation and all over lid colour.

10. A lovely cool toned taupe. Fab colour for all skin tones with a hint of a multi-dimensional sheeny finish.

11. A dark grey/taupe shade with a red undertone and a satin finish.

12. A really unique shade. It is very dark brown with red shimmer, making this shade look burgundy/purple. This reminds me of something from MAC.

All swatches were done on a dry arm, with dry shadows and no base. Pretty impressive huh? Not only do they swatch well, they did not fade at all on my eyes throughout the day and did not crease. That I was NOT expecting!

So, If you want the Naked 3 but can't afford it or don't want to spend so much money on an eyeshadow palette, I highly recommend picking this palette up. I would pay £4 for ONE of these shades, let alone 12! You are really getting so much for your money.

I also urge you to visit the Makeup Revolution website here and check out all their affordable products. I am so so so impressed how the quality rivals brands ten times their price! Makeup Revolution is also available from Superdrug and look out for their 3 for 2 offers where you can get even more products for your money!

Have you tried this palette?

Will you be picking this up?

Thanks for looking and I hope this helped you!

Coconut Oil - It's many uses...

I am all about discovering new wonder beauty products, and the more natural the better. So, I am thrilled to have found a true multi purpose 100% natural product that can be ingested AND used topically. Yep! You could actually eat this while applying it to your skin/hair - should you get peckish! I present to you.. 100% natural raw virgin coconut oil.

This is essentially pressed coconut meat which is solid-ish in the jar but it melts really quickly when applied to the skin. Years ago coconut oil took a bit of a shunning due to the fat content which has now been proven to be a unique healthy source of fat and not a bad saturated fat as once believed. Coconut oil is a truly wonderful multi purpose natural product which has more than 100 uses!! 

I use this on a daily basis as a make-up remover, moisturiser, hair treatment, added to black coffee and as a cooking oil. The health benefits and uses are so vast, I would be writing for eternity to get them all down.

I will however write about how I have been using coconut oil for the last 2 months.

1. Make-up remover : This is a no brainer. It's an oil. Oils are renowned for removing the most long wearing/hard to remove make-up products. I remove the majority of my make-up with a cleansing water then finish with coconut oil and a cotton pad. You'll be amazed at how clean and smooth your face looks after. Coconut oil is anti-bacterial too so double thumbs up!

2. Facial Moisturiser : This is my favourite use for coconut oil. After I have cleansed and removed all my make-up, I apply this all over my face and rub it in in circular motions for a few minutes. I do this early in the evening so my skin has all evening and night to drink it up. Some people are wary of applying oil to their face as it has been linked to spots and acne. However, as coconut oil is natural, anti-bacterial and non-clogging, even people with oily skin and acne have reported an improvement in their skin with the use of coconut oil. It is worth mentioning that during the first 2-3 weeks of using coconut oil on your face, you may get a few tiny spots. This is known as purging and will disappear once your skin is used to this new product. I have been using it on my face for two months now, and had very mild purging during the first two weeks only. My skin is now without a doubt smoother, cleaner and clearer than it ever has been so persevere with it! Coconut oil has also been known to help with the fading of scars and age spots due to the high level of antioxidants and nourishing properties. I also use it as a lip moisturiser and eye cream. It is worth mentioning that coconut oil contains an SPF of 4 (Not very high!) If you plan on applying coconut oil as a moisturiser, I recommend you use a moisturiser/bb cream/foundation with a higher SPF in over the top.

3. Body Moisturiser : Coconut oil tops any body oil, body butter or moisturiser I have ever tried (and there's a lot of them!) If the dewy effect it gives and scent win you over, the nourishing properties will. Rub this on your body wherever desired and inhale the tropical scent and enjoy the feeling as it melts into your skin, nourishing and moisturising leaving your skin looking smoother almost instantly.

4. After Sun : Coconut oil is well known for making a fantastic after sun treatment. If you have overdone it in the sun or not applied an SPF (tut tut!) You are probably looking more rouge than bronzed so you will definitely want to dip your fingers into a jar of coconut oil and smear it all over your sore bits. This method has been tried and tested by yours truly and the redness went the very next day! This is due to the high level of Medium-chain fatty acids and high levels of antioxidants. Plus the fact is contains no chemicals or fragrance like after sun does, will help massively in decreasing redness and not causing further irritation.

5. Diet : Coconut oil is repeatedly mentioned in posts regarding weight loss. It consists of mostly medium-chain fatty acids that can help with losing excess weight. MCFA are a type of fat that behaves differently from other fats. MCFA fats can be absorbed straight into the cell, where they can be immediately burned up as energy, making them less likely to be stored as fat. 

I add a tablespoon of coconut oil to my black coffee every morning. If you don't drink coffee, you could add it to tea or into a smoothie. I like to start my day taking in plenty of good fats, protein and vitamins after fasting overnight. A good breakfast high in nutrients, staves off hunger and bad eating throughout the rest of the day. Coconut oil is lower in calories and much more nutritious than other oils, so I also use it for stir frying and cooking. A dollop of this wondrous oil also gets added to my hot porridge in the morning and melts in like a dream.

6. Hair Treatment : Perhaps one of the most famous uses for coconut oil is as a hair treatment for dry and parched hair. For this, I apply a generous amount of the oil all through DRY hair and work through thoroughly. I then put my hair up into a secure bun and leave it in overnight. In the morning I wash it off, shampooing twice to ensure I wash it all off and then I condition as normal. My hair looks super shiny after this treatment and I swear my hair is growing faster too. Ooh which brings me onto my next point. This super oil can also help with hair growth and preventing hair loss. Simply massage into your scalp whilst applying it to your hair. I don't recommend using coconut oil on your hair as a serum however as it will leave your hair looking wet and greasy, it works best by being washed out as a pre shampoo treatment ;-)

So, that is what I use this super food for, of course the uses are endless and it is used for many different things depending on who is using it. Now Summer is here it's a perfect time to introduce this into your daily routine. After all, aint no-one got time for red skin, frazzled locks and dehydrated skin!

What to look for : When choosing Coconut oil, you want to make sure you get a 100% natural raw virgin one. This way you will get all the goodness and none of the hydrogenated nasties or added fragrance and chemicals. These are no-no's for your skin!

The one I use is by 'Perfectly Pure' and is from Holland & Barrett. Click here

It costs £15.49 for a 454g jar so you definitely want to pick this up when their penny sale is on or any other promotion. They are currently running a 'Buy one get one half price' sale ;-)

I seriously cannot sing this product's praises enough. It is going to be a staple in my bedroom and in my kitchen for the foreseeable future. I just wish I had discovered it sooner and saved myself a small fortune trying out different face creams, body moisturisers and hair treatments etc! I have found a truly remarkable product here, a gem amongst many much higher priced chemically infused products. Nature is marvellous and I believe all the best things for us on this planet are found on trees, bushes, plants and such like. Sometimes we should strip things right back to basics and remember everything we need is here for us, not made by man in a factory mixed with unnecessary chemicals, a high price tag and a brand name added.

I sure will miss my days of walking around Boots and Superdrug though searching for new skincare, body lotions and hair masks. But, there is still make-up :-)

Have you tried coconut oil?

What are your uses for it?

Leave me a comment if you've tried it or are going to. Thanks for stopping by!

See By Chloe Dupe...

I

L-R See By Chloe and L'eau Rose By Next.

I am a huge fan of Chloe perfumes so when I recently found a dupe for one of my favourite scents, I was soooo excited and I have to share it with you. High end cosmetics and fragrances are overpriced, there's no two ways about it. So, I like to help you guys out and let you all know when I find affordable gems. Because who doesn't love a bargain?

The dupe is 'L'eau Rose' from Next. I must say, I have never encountered a perfume that smells as close to the original as this one. Even I can't tell the difference (I'm serious!) The only difference is in the staying power. The Chloe one lasts longer than the Next one, but they are both eau de parfum so both last for a long time anyway.

A bit more about the original...I have the 50ml edp bottle and it cost £52. The fragrance is an addictive floral scent. The first sparkling notes of bergamot stir the senses. In an accord of apple blossom, the grace of jasmine caresses this natural seductress with sensual notes of sandalwood and vanilla. This is more sensual than the original Chloe which leans more towards the Rosy side. The bottle is quite simple and diddy, which I like and it is available in 30ml and 75ml bottles also. I absolutely LOVE this fragrance so I was overjoyed to find a dupe which is much more affordable, very similar and a long lasting eau de parfum scent. 

See By Chloe.

Now, onto the dupe. I actually had no idea what this would smell like. I sprayed it while I was queueing up in Next because it had 'rose' in the title and I love fragrances with rose in. I may have let out a rather loud shriek when I smelled it and instantly likened it to my 'See By Chloe'. Let's face it, Chloe ain't cheap so if I find a dupe for it that happens to be eau de parfum too, I will get excited and not care about the looks I'll receive from other shoppers in store. I excitedly selected the biggest bottle - 100ml and took it to the till. This cost a mere £12!! That's £40 cheaper than the Chloe one AND you get 50ml more fragrance! (winning!) L'eau Rose is described as ''Fresh and floral, this fragrance combines citrus notes with crushed petals upon a base of soft sandalwood''. I can't find the full list of notes used but they have got to be similar or the same!

L'eau Rose By Next.

The bottle is pretty and larger than the Chloe one. It has a glamorous and quite chic look about it. I really like the pink and clear ombre effect and the box is lovely too (Which I have misplaced).

L'eau Rose By Next.

There is a smaller bottle available and a roller ball version too.

I've got to say, I am blown away by this fragrance. The quality of the scent, the packaging and the price make this a winner. I will be repurchasing this as it's unlikely I will be forking out £52 to repurchase the Chloe one. I think I may get a back up sooner rather than later though, in case Next discontinue this.

If you are a fan of See By Chloe, Chloe fragrances in general or floral/rosy scents, I highly recommend you give this a sniff. It is truly beautiful. It is available Here

If you want to give See By Chloe a try, I got mine Here

What do you think? 

Which one would you try? 

Leave me a comment if you've tried them or are going to. Thanks for stopping by!

Bourjois Java Rice Powder review...

I'd be lying if I said it wasn't the packaging that attracted me to this product. Truth is, I didn't even know what it was but I wanted it because of the packaging. It reminds me of something I used to see on My Grandma's dressing table. Stunningly vintage and unique a vision to see in Boots in 2014!

So, of course it makes sense that this is a reinvent of the original Bourjois rice powder which launched in 1879. Celebrating Bourjois's 150th birthday by giving us modern day folk a chance to try this beautiful looking and smelling cult product.

On the to the product. This is essentially a face powder. A translucent face powder with very subtle illuminating properties. It is comparable to the Bare Escentuals Mineral veil in texture. The texture is beyond gorgeous. Silky, smooth, velvety, lightweight, illuminating and accompanied by an absolutely divine vintage rose smell. 

I did actually buy this to use as a highlighter but when I tried it at home, it didn't give as much highlight as I would like in a highlighting product. I applied more and more to my cheekbones but alas, it didn't give the desired effect. So, I got my face brush out and decided to apply it all over my face :-0 I know, an illuminating, slightly shimmery powder all over my face? Yup! And the results surprised me. It didn't give the expected ''glitter ball'' face and nor did it look 100% matte.

Java Rice Powder applied all over the face.

This powder gave my skin a lovely smooth slightly matte finish. It sets liquid foundation brilliantly and lasts all day. 

Summary:

The results are not what I expected. Upon swatching this in store, it looked really shimmery and perfect for a subtle highlighter. However, it's not packing enough of a sheen for me to use that way. As a face powder, it delivers the perfect amount of illumination whilst still looking quite mattifying. If you like a 100% matte powder, this won't be for you. If you like a strong illuminating powder, this won't be for you. For me I really like this as a powder to set my liquid foundation. It seems to lighten and brighten slightly and somehow, the minute glitter particles don't show up! It just gives your complexion a ''lift''.

Rumour has it that this is a limited edition so, if you want to get your hands on one, do it sooner rather than later!

This currently retails at £9.99 for 5g of product and is available from Bourjois, Superdrug and Boots. I got mine from Boots 

What do you think of this product?

Will you be trying it?

Please leave a comment and let me know. Thanks for stopping by!

Spring lipsticks...

Hi guys, it has been a while since my last blogpost (for various reasons) but I am back! Back with something I think everyone in the beauty world gets excited about...spring lipsticks!

So, it is the first day of spring today (UK) and what better time to share with you my current favourite lip products for springtime.

For me, spring is all about orange, coral and peach toned lipsticks. These are my absolute favourite shades to wear and there is a shade for everyone.

Here are my favourite five current shades...

L-R No.7 'Gay Geranium', Topshop 'Macaroon', Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balm 'Demure', Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm 'Mischievous' and Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm 'Unapologetic'.

L-R Revlon Matte Balm 'Mischievous', Revlon Matte Balm 'Unapologetic', No.7 'Gay geranium', Topshop 'Macaroon' and Revlon Lacquer Balm 'Demure'.

Wearing Revlon Mischievous.

Wearing Revlon Unapologetic.

Wearing No.7 Gay Geranium.

Wearing Topshop Macaroon.

Wearing Revlon Demure.

So, there you have it. I have included two brights, a peach and two ''nudey'' subtle shades, but it wasn't easy picking these five!

I do however have a bit of love for Revlon products at the moment and I urge you all to try these matte/lacquer balms. There are many gorgeous shades for spring/summer, they have great pigmentation and contain a triple complex of Shea, Mango and Coconut Butter so they are not drying. They are available in most drugstores across the world and from Boots and Superdrug in the UK.

Topshop make-up is also fab, across the board. The packaging is super cute and the products are extremely high quality. Lipstick available here Topshop

Last but not least...my favourite out of the bunch, Gay Geranium by No.7 at Boots A super bright orange. Orange is thee colour for spring/summer 2014 and you can't go wrong with this one!

What are your favourite colours to wear for spring?

Have you tried the Revlon balm sticks?

please leave a comment and let me know.

Thanks for stopping by.

My Top Budget Make-up Buys Under £5 (Part 2).

Hello, and welcome to my bootiful budget beauty finds...part deux! If you didn't see part 1 on my blog, please go and have a butchers!

I have lots of great affordable products I want to share with you. Personally, I only spend a lot of money on a certain product if it is worth it and there is no cheaper dupe/alternative. Luckily, I have found many cheaper alternatives and being the kind hearted person I am, I am spreading the word with you lovely people. The word being ''You don't have to spend lots to find high quality make-up/cosmetic products''. No siree!

E.L.F - Mineral Eyeshadows £3.00

I am starting this blog with my ABSOLUTE favourite under £5 make-up product. I present to you...the mineral eyeshadow from e.l.f. I simply cannot 'big these up' enough. The shade choice, the texture, the pigmentation, the formula, the appearance, the quality and their lasting power can only be rivalled by Bare Minerals and M.A.C's pigments.

I kid you not, these are the biz. I am still amazed that these cost just a mere £3 each!! They are one of my favourite eye products, full stop. Under £5 or not. I reach for these on a daily basis and can be doubled up as highlighters.

See those swatches above? They were done on dry skin, with dry eyeshadow and just one stroke. Look at the beautiful colour payoff! I own approximately 12 of the 28 shades. E.l.f deliver consistency here as each and every shadow offers the same pigmentation and texture. Shimmery or a matte finish? They are all great!

Let me just mention the ingredients also. Ok, so they are a mineral eyeshadow so they contain key vitamins A & B. They also hydrate and minimise the appearance of fine lines. These mineral beauties are 100% mineral based with no parabens, no preservatives and no chemical dyes.

Too good to be true? Nope! These are truly little gems.

Use instead of : Bare Minerals individual eyeshadows/M.A.C pigments.

Available from : e.l.f cosmetics

Miss Sporty - Curve It Pump Up Booster £3.99

I tried this months ago after reading a few good reviews on it. My Maybelline Rocket Volume Express had dried up and I was on the hunt for something similar, but cheaper. I found it. This mascara is seriously great. It was on offer when I bought it too so I paid £2.99 (even better!)

I have tried a few of the Miss Sporty mascaras now and honestly rate all of the ones I have tried, with the exception of the waterproof ones. They are not waterproof and the product disintegrates into thin air from your lashes. BUT, the non-waterproof formula's are really impressive. Mascara is not something I ever spend a lot on because it's not worth it. They simply do not last long anyway, regardless of price.

See my lashes above? That is just two coats, no primer and no eyelash curling. Not bad huh? I also buy the regular 'pump up booster' in the purple tube (it's very similar to this one).

What are you waiting for? Go pump it up!

Using instead of : Maybelline Rocket/Maybelline Falsies.

Available from : Superdrug/Boots.

Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil - 002 Hazel £2.99.

I have been using this eyebrow pencil for approximately 10 years! It is the right shade for me and allows me to fill in my sparse and somewhat naff fair brows. That is a woe of mine, being fair means you generally lack in the brow department :-( I do have eyebrows, but only 3/4 of the way along my head. The final quarter are sparse, sparse as sparse can be. That's where this little baby comes in. It's a fab, fab, fab pencil. It really is, everything about it. I even use the lil brush on the lid to shape the brows first and also remove some product if I put too much on. There are other shades for darker brows too and the price is phenomenal. It also lasts for a loooong time.

Available from : Superdrug, Boots and Rimmel London Uk

Collection - Work The Colour Shadow Pencil £3.19.

Never I have I been so bowled over by a drugstore eye pencil as I was when I discovered these! These pencils are utterly amazing. They can be used all over the eyelid and in the waterline, which I'm super happy about as they DO NOT budge. They can be worn alone or they make an excellent base for your eyeshadow.

These have everything you want in an eye pencil. They are soft, creamy, pigmented, extremely long lasting, affordable, wearable and there are some stunning colours for this time of year. I own all of the shades apart from a light pink one, which I wouldn't use. The swatches on my wrist are just one light stroke! 

 N.b When you do decide to remove them, it takes some doing! (Get a good eye make-up remover ;-)).

Use instead of : Urban Decay 24/7 Eye pencils.

Available from : Superdrug/Boots.

NYX - Jumbo Eye Pencil £5.

Yes, more pencils. I cannot let a budget beauty favourite blogpost pass by without mentioning...the infamous jumbo eye pencil from NYX.

I have been collecting these since 2009 after trying the matte white shade called 'Milk'. I echo what I said above for the Collection ones really. The pigmentation and the formula make for a fantastic eye pencil. That's what you want in an eye product, no tugging around the lid (nasty dry pencils, I am looking at you) and colour that lasts. NYX ticks all the boxes here. Again, these pencils can be used on the lid, the waterline and as eyeshadow bases. Love, love love these! I just wish NYX had a store here in the UK.

Use instead of : Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Pencils.

Available from : NYX cosmetics

E.L.F - Brushes £5 and under.

Last and certainly not least. Make-up brushes. Chances are, without the right brushes...your make-up will not look good. Simple as that. It's all very well buying fab make-up products but if you can't apply them properly, what is the point?

We can't all afford brushes from M.A.C or Sigma or any other well known brand so, I am so happy to share with you these fantastic brushes that cost VERY little. The majority of my make-up brushes are from e.l.f. I Cannot justify spending approximately £30 on one brush (Yes M.A.C, you!) There is also no need to as ALL of my brushes from e.l.f apply may make-up brilliantly, they never shed hair and they remain unaffected by countless washings too. They are also soft and dense, soft and fluffy and there are soooo many to choose from. 

Above I have photographed a very small selection of the brushes I own. From bottom to top I have the eyeshadow brush (MAC 239 dupe), the blending eye brush, the flawless concealer brush, the powder blush and the kabuki brush.

N.B I use the powder brush for buffing in liquid foundation, I have never used it for powder. It works brilliantly with liquid foundations. It really buffs the product into your skin giving you optimum coverage and a flawless finish. 

I have never had a dud or disappointing brush from e.l.f and I have ordered a lot! The value for money here is second to none. I will never buy high end brushes as long as I have these. Thank you e.l.f! 

Use instead of : M.A.C brushes.

Available from : e.l.f cosmetics

So, here lies the end of part 2 of my budget beauty favourites.

Part 3 will be up later this week.

I hope this has been helpful to you guys.

What are your favourite budget make-up finds? 

Have you tried any of the products I mentioned?

please leave a comment and let me know.

Thanks for stopping by.