July's Rants and Raves

Hi guys, this is a bit late, sorry!

Raves:

1) Z Palettes. I bought two in July and I love them! So versatile and I am really making use of stuff that just got left in the drawer previously. I am now on a proper depotting kick, having depotted my Urban Decay Deluxe palette, Too Faced Insurance Policy palette and several Urban Decay singles, Sue Moxley quads and random bits. I'm now really tempted to depot both my Book Of Shadows, but they are so pretty. :(

2) Red hair. As some of you may know, I am a hairdresser, so frequently changing my hair colour is part of my job. I've been a bit "meh" about my hair recently, I am growing it out - its was a bit of a mowhawk previously, a grade 2 in places, so it's taking forever and is really tricky to style. I've been loads of colour this year to help combat the boredom with it, from blue, platinum blonde, orange and red, then every colour in between! But I am loving my red hair at the moment! Not loving the red tidemark round the bath though!

3) Dare to Wear lipglass. I ordered two last week, So Bad and Bold and Brash. They are beautiful. Really glittery and pigmented. The only problem is that they tend to pull in strands when I pull my lips apart, but it's probably due to my crappy application. I'm still going to get other though, if they are still available when I go to London next week.

Rants:

1) MAC and their bazillion collections. Seriously MAC, what the hell? It really pisses me off that so many are produced and, specifically in the UK, when they are released at the same time. Fro example, Dare to Wear, Digi Pops and Alice + Olivia all came out together, as did In the Groove and Superglass. It drives me bonkers. Also, such HUGE collections. I read a blog regarding the upcoming Fabulous Felines collection saying that there were something like 55 new products? Are MAC bloody insane? Along with something like a dozen repromotes and some permanent products. That is truly ridiculous. Why don't MAC produce maybe 4 collections of this size a year? Split them into parts like they are with FF and release separately if they must?

2) Whilst we are on the subject of MAC, price gouging is doing my nut at the moment too. MAC release products like, Marine Life, Ripe Peach and Stereo Rose in limited quantities and cause huge buying frenzies and price gouging on makeup forums and eBay. I don't really understand why either. It's not like it goes into MAC's pockets. I don't think it's fair that to get a product that you need to get up at the crack of dawn on release day, frantically refreshing the MAC homepage like an idiot.

3) Eyebrows. I love my eyebrows when they are shaped. I have a strong arch and I think they are the best part of my face. I hate that I turn into a caveman if I don't pluck for two days. For realz.

June's Raves and Rants

These fly around a lot in the beauty blog world, so I thought I would be completely unoriginal and add my own! Hopefully one should pop up at the beginning of every month.

Raves:

1) MAC Mineralize Skin Finishes. They aren't a new invention, but dear god, I love them. I own three, Glissade, By Candlelight and Soft and Gentle. I also have two on the way, Petticoat and Stereo Rose. These add so much dimension to the face. By Candlelight I use almost daily for a pretty, soft glow, whilst Glissade is the nearest I've ever come to bronzing! The perfect accompaniment to a summery look. I wish MAC had a bigger range in their permanent collection.

2) China Glaze's Wizard of Oz Polish Collection. They aren't new, not even close. But how I love them so. I originally bought Ruby Pumps and Good Witch but in my local Sally's they had them on sale for £2! I picked up the rest, needless to say! I love glitter and these polishes do it so well! For those who prefer a slightly more subtle glitter effect, I say for Good Witch or the Ten Man.

3) Boots Own Cleansing wipes. These are always on offer in Boots, as a Buy One, Get One and so this month I probably picked up at least 4! They are so moist and get every last scrap of make up off and are excellent for spot cleaning brushes. They also come in two types, scent free or cucumber.


Rants:

1) Not having enough space. I absolutely hate the fact I can't fit a vanity in my bedroom. I have a low window and putting one in would mean blocking half the light out, but I am seriously considering it. I also put most of my collection in Sterilite drawers which is so out of keeping with my decor. Hopefully when I redecorate towards the end of the year, I will find something.

2) Drama. The makeup community has become plagued with negativity the last few months and I hate it! Makeup is supposed to be fun, not something to use to hate on people. Just let it go.

3) Flakies Nail Polish. I love my Gosh Rainbow polish, I do. But it is an absolute bastard to remove. It takes an age and half a bottle of remover to take it off and even then the remnants remain several manicures later. Pffft, I give up!

Until next time folks,

Chloe x

Inglot Freedom 10 Pan Palette Review.

I liked the Inglot store.

I like the set up of it, very streamlined and very easy to see everything. It was clean and well maintained, with a tester for every colour of every item. It is similar to MAC, as many have commented but I prefer it. Everything is spaced out and easy to touch and test.

There were 3 staff there when I went on a Friday teatime - unusually, two were male.

At the front of the store is a large island style unit displaying the freedom palette system and all the pans available. Pans are available in different shapes and sizes, although I think even though they are the same price. You can also have a mix of lips and eyes, although I wouldn't personally, it creeps me out to mix them. You can also get mix palettes with blush and brow pans. Nifty huh?

Prices very from something like £10 to £40. 10 pan palettes of eyeshadow/lipsticks are £35.

There are magnet boards on which you choose your pans from the samples and the SA takes it away and fills it for you. Ours also allowed us to arrange it ourselves, which wasn't important as you can rearrange them (they are like a MAC palette but a really tight fit, I use a nail file to get them out) as you please. The palettes are nifty, heavy and feel of good quality. You can also stack them, by taking the lids off and the magnets will lock them together.

The colours don't have names, just names and finishes. I spoke to Nea of Fashioned in Finland, who has reviewed a substantial amount of Inglot's products and she advised me on finishes beforehand. I like Veluxe Pearl textures, smooth, a little metallicy and buttery feeling and AMC Shine and Pearl finishes in Inglot are the closest to that.

I chose:

35 - AMC Shine - A metallic white with a hint of sparkle

393 - Pearl - A metallic peach

444 - Pearl - A blue-green grey

420 - Pearl - A metallic pale purple grey

10 - AMC Shine - A light orange with a glitter finish

449 - Pearl - A metallic red-pink

439 - Pearl - A metallic purple

429 - Pearl - A lavender blue

33 - AMC Shine - A turquoise with a glitter finish

41 - AMC Shine - A light lemon chartruse

Swatches:

I like the pay off from these on the lid, bit I find when blending, the colour can get lost, but using a base over a primer (TFSI with MUFE Aqua Cream or a Paintpot) usually solves that.

Price wise, they are excellent value for money. It works out at £3.50 per eyeshadow, with the ones I got, the almost square rectangles, for 2.7g of shadow. SCORE!

When I return to London in August, I will most definitely get another one of these bad boys!

I was going to blog about the rest of my Inglot purchases but have just realised how long this post already is!

So until next time, Gooooooodnight!

XxX

Aromaleigh is closing.

Aromaleigh, one of the front runners in indie cosmetics, is shutting down it's online store after 12 years.

What a disappointment and an absolutely terrible way to go. I have never purchased from Aromaleigh, nor have I ever had any real intention too. I have never spoken to Kristen or her team, so in all honesty, I can make very little comment in public.

I have viewed the recent goings on with much dismay. Neither 'side' has acted perfectly, from what I can see. No one is blameless.

Dressing up bullying, persecution and vindictiveness as so-called concern is absolutely vile. I honestly believe there is truth to both sides of the tale, but any attempt at acting with decency has now been ruined. Name calling completely discredits any other motive.

I'm sure there is much more going on in Kristen's personal life than we know, and I wish her, her son and her employees all the best for the future. Hopefully Kristen will return when she is able to and continue making the cosmetics that are held in such high regard in this community.

Aromaleigh is selling all stock with a 35% discount with the code 'ADIEU35'.

No one wins.

Chloe.

I'm not dead, just floating...

Can you tell I went to see Pink in concert last week? Haha. I'll put pictures up when my sister uploads some to FaceyB. She was amazing.

So, hi, just coming in to dust of the old blog. Sorry for the lack of updates. I'd give you an excuse, but I have none. I'm a lazy blogger. I don't often get on the PC and read blogs from my phone, but blogging there is nigh on impossible. Although, I spoke to Rachel from http://redlipstickblackliner.blogspot.com/ on Twitter today, and she mentioned being able to email blog updates, which I shall look into. I need a laptop, I know, I know.

So last weekend, Laura (of http://the-girl-with-many-eyes.blogspot.com/), my long time BFF and never-to-be-backup) and I went to London. IT WAS AMAZING. it was bloody roasting everywhere and I walked so fast I thought Laura was going to throw her case at me. She still has a swollen foot. Call her Pegleg, it'll make me do the lolz.

This trip was exclusively for make-up shopping, whoohoo! We went a bit nutso, even though I did not save as much as I would've liked.

We went to Parson's Green to visit GuruMakeupEmporium. It was amazing. It took us a little while to find it, and we were so hot and sweaty I thought the owners might chuck us out hahah. I was a little nervous about going there actually, as it's a store that aimed at professionals and it's difficult for me to put eyeshadow in my eye without getting it into my ears.

But they were lovely! I wish we got their names! They were helpful but not overbearing, and seemed totally used to non-trade customers who come far and wide with their lists for MUFE.

Make Up Forever is expensive. Gotta be honest, much more than I thought. £21.50 for a HD blush, say what? But, what I did buy, is worth every penny. I didn't really bother looking at the foundations and things, mainly as I didn't not want to get attached to things that were so expensive and so hard to come by when I need to use them everyday. I swached the HD foundation though, and I liked it. Laura says she was disappointed with the Aqua Eyes pencils, but I didn't really touch them, as for the most part, I don't wear makeup on my lower lids/waterline. (I'll explain another time.) I was desperate to try the Aqua Cream shadows and wasn't disappointed, I picked out two.

I didn't swatch much of the eyeshadows, they seemed good quality for the most part, but I have dupes for almost everyone, especially at that price. I was interested in the infamous #92, but it is exceptionally close to Sugarpill's Poison Plum, whihc I own two of, so I resisted.

I LOVED the HD blushes. When I swatched, I pumped out a whole pumps worth. It would've covered my face TWICE. So freaking pigmented. I loved them all, but they are so expensive and I haven't got much experience with cream blushes, so I just got one, to see how it goes. I now know I will definitely get more when the store gets online.

There was so much, but this post is going to be epically long as it is and I don;t want you to fall asleep already. I'll probably review the products at some point and can go in further detail.

JUST GO TO GURUMAKEUPEMPORIUM IF YOU ARE EVER 50 MILES WITHIN LONDON, M'KAY?

We also went to Westfield shopping centre, which was so big we couldn't find anything. Although it lacked a Primark, what the hell is up with that?

We couldn't find the Make Up Store shop, but we did find Inglot. It's going to be in my next blog post, so I shall explain later. Although, of the three staff, two were dudes, which is unuusal, although one did give Laura the stinkeye. I shoulda taken out his eyes with a pair of tweezers, the git. I got a few bits, a cream blush, lip paint, gloss and a 10 pan freedom palette.

We went to the MAC there, it had velvet ropes! I assume it was because it was quite busy and they kept a lot of their stock out, so to prevent theft etc. I got the new Opulash. I always said I wouldn't bother with highend mascaras, but drug store (Is there a British word for drug store? it freaks me out.) mascara is becoming increasingly expensive, I only ended up spending a pound or two more. In fact, are most of Max Factor's mascaras within pennies of price difference with MAC? The staff all had green cut creases too, maybe for To the Beach? I dunno, some of their make up was not all that good, from my point of view. They also had To the Beach t-shirts on. Didn't this collection come out over 6 weeks ago? Meh, most of it, and Pret a Papier, was sold out. I had to continue the hunt for Tissueweight!

Westfield, to sum up, was also immense.

We went to MAC PRO! Amaze. This was the second time. the first though, my interest in makeup was fledgling, and I only ended up buying two blushes in a palette. This time, I got Peackykeen pan, Soft and Gentle MSF and Tissueweight, which was in stock! Wheee. The Pro store was lovely, but they had a habit of not putting Sold out stickers on sold out items. Laura could only get 1/3 items.

I got the MSF because I love the crap outta my By Candlelight and I have this nightmare I won't get the back up before Into the Groove sells out. It's lovely, but not as nice as By Candlelight.

We went to the Make Up Store, which was round the corner, but neither of us were impressed, they were way expensive for the quality. Jangsara uses a lot of their products but I thought they were a let down. It was quiet there too.

We took a trip to SpaceNK, to check out Lime Crime, because I'm not a fan of the brand but I can hardly judged if I haven't swatched at the very least, can I? I wasn't overly impressed. They were lovely colours, but they were thick and drying, alos staining. The blue and the red wouldn't come off :( Even with MAC wipes.

We also went to Covent Garden, where I visited another MAC, and I splurged the last of my mega bucks on Boy Bait cremesheen glass and a 168.

We also went to a couple of other places, but I won't bore you!

Oooh, I also FINALLY managed to get a copy of Glamour! I got the Bad Gal eyeliner. Caught it at the departures lounge of the bus station.

Wheee.

Hopefully I shall blog before the end of the week, but last time I said this it took more than 7 months!

Much loves xxx

It;s a bit quiet in here, innit?

So yes, I've been a bit awol. I don't have much of an excuse really, except it's difficult to get on the computer these days. I use my Blackberry for most of my internet stuff, but it's tricky to update the blog on it, small screen and stuff. I need to kick my brother off of his RPG's.

I have plan though! That's good right? I've got a few things planned, I swear. I'll try to get something up this week, I've got a few new things to review and I've been taking pictures of my FOTD's a lot, I'll pick some of the best to put up.

See you soon! Promise!

Chloe x

Sleek Haul/Mini Review

So Sleek finally came to one of my local Superdrugs, although I am slightly baffled why. Not that I am complaining! Sleek is a cheap and generally excellent range aimed at those ladies with darker skin, so I am surprised it came to my town. The population is almost 100% white. Half hour away, in a city, they haven't got Sleek and they should, there would be a call for it. However, for everything other than their face products, your skin colour is completely irrelevant!

Almost everything I've tried in this range is highly pigmented, with excellent pay off and even better value for money. In the make up community, Sleek are probably most well known for their excellent i-divine palettes, priced at just under £5. I now own all 7 of these and love them all, with the exception of the Chaos palette, which is full of mattes and therefore harder to work with. But believe it or not, they make a whole lot more! Lipsticks, foundations, eye dusts and blushes as well as the other usual suspects are all there too.

Sleek is such good value for money! Nothing below cost more £5 (it might even be £4 but I can't for the life of me, remember the price on the blushes and I threw my receipt.). I think the priciest items are the foundations, powders and the highlighter at a little under £7, less than a MAC pan refill eyeshadow!

So on Friday I picked up this lovely little lot below:

Three of the liquid liners in Gold, Purple and Pink
Two Pout Polishes in Electro Peach and Cadillac Pink
Two blushes in Flamingo Pink and Pixie Pink

I love pink blush. Seriously. I have probably 20 blushers all very similar shades of Barbie-hot pinkness. These two are fab. I thought the palettes were always going to be favourite item in the range, but since they changed the blush packaging, it's definitely these! They used to be round pans with a silver base and a clear flip top lid and the Sleek logo in gold. Now they are black rectangles, like the palettes and helpfully labelled "blush", just in case you forget :). You also get 8g of product now, instead of the old 4.5g, almost double. *swoon* They come with a mirror in the lid and no brush. I prefer not to have one as I chuck them anyway and that empty space could be filled with product!

The Flamingo is a true vivid Barbie pink. It's awesomely pigmented and smooth. No chalkiness here. I think this colour is great for all skin tones.

Pixie Pink is similarly hot pinkish, as you can see from the pictures, but in reality between the two is quite clear. Pixie has almost got a blue-violet turn to it. I feel I've got to use it with a slightly heavier hand to make it work for me.

I don't know whether Sleek changed the formula when they changed the packaging, but I find these too much easier to use than my Flushed and Sahara. Whilst those two are beautifully pigmented colours, they are somewhat harder to blend out.

I wish sometimes my skin were darker so I could really pile these colours on and see the contrast!

Packaging: 5/5

Quality: 5/5

Would I repurchase: Yep

Now I have to say, these eyeliners disappointed me and I really wanted to like them!

The swatches make them look better than they are, I'm afraid! It was more so to do with the packaging than the formula I think, so maybe I can save these. First of all, I was disappointed that these colours weren't matte like the bottle. But OK, never mind they still looked uber pretty.

However, the brushes are crap! They are really hard to use, they stop the liner sticking properly, it picks it up fine in the bottle, but on the skin, it leaves, whatI can only describe as track marks. Drag marks? It's hard to describe. It then takes away what's underneath too. Ick. I'm going to try these again, I really want these to work, as they have some beautiful shades, like the pink, that you don't see often in a liquid liner. They might be OK on the side of the eye/face, for artistic looks, but on the eyeline? FAIL.

They are however, good value, think they were under £3.

Packaging: 2/5 (I hated those extended handle things and the stupid brush)

Quality: 4/5

Would I buy again?: Not unless they change the brush, or I can figure out a way to solve my issue myself.

And finally, the Pout Polish swatches. Ignore the mess in the background haha, it's my dad's fault.

On the left is Pink Cadillac is on the left, Electro Peach on the right.

I'm not a huge wearer of lip products, particularly coloured products but I'd been eyeing up MAC's tinted lip conditioner and thought I'd give these whirl, as they are some much cheaper at only £3.91.
My main reason for not wearing lip gear is that I am too lazy to reapply. Not only that, in my job, I don't have the time! I also drink a lot (not alcohol haha!), as I have this crazy fear of being thirsty, so it tends to wear off pretty quick.

I thought these would be good as they are sheer, if they wear off, it won't look stupid, like lipstick. They taste good too! So far, I like them. Even after the glossiness has gone, the tint remains and it looks pretty natural. It's definitely softened my lips too, without any other products.

Unfortunately, Sleek only make four shades, the other two are a plummy colour and a brown. Not my scene. A clear would be great and some more variety!

I've got all the girls in work obsessed with these now!

Packaging: 5/5

Quality: 4/5 (More variety please!)

Would I buy again?: Yes, if I remember to wear them!