DIOR & CHANEL | Cream Shadows

Oh don't you just love splashing out on super pretty make-up! These two just accidentally fell into my hands, as soon as I tried out the colours I new I had to have them!

Christian Dior: Diorshow Fusion Mono
Long-wear Eyeshadow
001 Lune

Chanel: Illusion D'Ombre Longwear Luminous Eyeshadow
82 Emerveille 

The main reason I bought them was because of the shades, they are PERFECT for bridal make-up. Both have a soft shimmery/metallic finish, blurring any imperfections and subtly adding a wash of colour. The swatches below were easily done by using only my finger. I must admit the Dior eyeshadow colour I have come across before within a different brand though, and I could not imagine how it would come out, I suppose I thought it would be a bright white pasty colour! But how wrong I was, it is a beautiful pale silver sheer wash with very fine micro-glitter. Whereas the Chanel shade is a warm peachy champagne shade, both giving a gorgeous, iridescent luminous finish.

Both have an amazing silky soft texture which I love, making it very easy to apply but as you can see by the swatches I found (especially with the Chanel pot) they are very sheer and hard to build up the colour. I tend to push a similar shade over the top to intensify the colour, "chopper" from Naked 2 Palette works well, or "all that glitters" from MAC. Fair enough if you wanted just a sheer wash of colour but due to the product being such a creamy texture I feel like it would crease very easily if worn alone. 

Very luxurious products, a bit pricey at £24 a pot, especially with better options out there.

Have any of you tried these two out? What cream shadows do you like?

Love Jess x

MAC Eyeshadow Palette

TOP (left to right): Vanilla, Blanc Type, Brule, Omega, Corquette

MIDDLE (left to right): Naked Lunch, All that Glitters, Wedge, Texture, Charcoal Brown

BOTTOM (left to right): Mulch, Trax, Satin Taupe, Smut, Black Tide

I have the Large Single Pro Palette with x15 eyeshadow insert. All found on www.maccosmetics.co.uk

TOP (left to right): Vanilla, Blanc Type, Brule, Omega, Coquette

MIDDLE (left to right): Naked Lunch, All that Glitters, Wedge, Texture, Charcoal Brown

BOTTOM (left to right): Mulch, Trax, Satin Taupe, Smut, Black Tide

I use Vanilla and Blanc Type for highlighting the eye area, so the brow bone and tear duct, really helping to lift and open up the eyes. Blanc Type and Brule are also great for a matte natural base to work other colours onto because of the beige tones. 

Omega, Coquette, and Charcoal Brown are the colours I use for brows, with an angled brush to fill in and add shape. I use Omega for blonde and light brown hair, whereas the other two are slightly darker and Coquette has muted grey tones, so a great all rounder.  

Now, Naked Lunch is my favourite out of my whole palette, its super subtle and flattering for any make-up look! This and All that Glitters complement each other really well as they both have the pink/pearl undertone and shimmer, I love to layer these two on top of pink cream eye shadows to add texture, and to deepen the colours.

I use Omega and Wedge to define the crease and outer V of the eye, these muted beige shades can be great to break up other colours, or for a soft natural smoky eye, I like to sweep the colour all over the eye and blend well. 

Mulch, Satin Taupe and Smut are also perfect shades for a darker smoky eye, I love the bronze/red undertones they can be blended out really well. An easy to do smoky eye! You can also push the shadow along the lash line with a small flat brush (MAC 239) for a softer winged out look.

I really liked the look of Texture and Trax, Trax is a burgundy plum with a bronze/gold shimmer, I like to use them to add a little under the eye, only very subtly though. Texture can also be a an alternative to a natural crease colour to add a little more depth to the make-up look. 

Finally Black Tide, this is perfect for sweeping along the lash line with an angled brush to create the illusion of thicker lashes, great for blending but careful as it can drop a little. I love the little sparkle in this shadow too.

What is your favourite MAC eyeshadow?

Love Jess x

No7 | Stay Perfect Superlight Foundation

I must say I struggle to find a foundation that I really like, stick to using, and manage to finish the whole bottle. I have now been using this one for a good month or two and I love it! This foundation says it is suitable for all skin types (I have oily/combination skin) using a Zoeva Defined Buffer brush I work the foundation into my skin, starting from the centre of my face and working the product outwards to create a fresh natural complexion. When I purchased this I was suffering with dehydration and had flaky/crepey skin (doesn't sound nice, I know!) unlike many, the No7 foundation did not cake up around these areas, it totally smoothed out my skin. Obviously I use other products to help out with staying power and the finish but without powdering this gives a lovely natural dewy finish. I can apply it first thing in the morning and know I only have to powder once through the middle of the day and it will still look perfect when I get home later in the afternoon. It does say "up to 24 hour wear" but lets face it who wears foundation for 24 hours!
This is called a "Superlight" foundation and I definitely agree, this foundation has a very runny texture a bit like MAC Face and Body and gives a light to medium coverage, and it is build-able too! I do still need to conceal and some redness from my cheeks does show but that is understandable for a lightweight foundation. So all you girlies who like a more heavy coverage this would probably not be good for you, but I really do not like the "caked on" look so this is perfect for spring/summer!
As for the colour shades available, I went into Boots and had the No7 Match Made Service, I must admit they did choose a shade a little to dark for me and had to go back to get the lighter shade but this range has fourteen shades, and I now have a darker shade which I could mix if I get a little tanned this summer! phahahaa!
A little random but some people do like to know about packaging, this foundation is small and compact great for travelling and putting in your handbag, also I really like it is in a squeezy bottle so you can use it all up! 
Another plus ... with a SPF 15 and this foundation is also Hypo-allergenic. 

Stay Perfect Superlight Foundation £14.50 Boots

Has anyone tried this out, or any other No7 foundations?

Love Jess x

LIFE UPDATE!

The last two and a bit months have been super busy and you will probably understand why I haven't posted anything for a while.
I have been doing a make-up course through the summer! YES! I am now a make-up artist, I have had the best summer travelling down to Bath every weekend to attend a Fashion, Bridal, and Beauty Make-up course.
This all started in March/April time when I was competing in my college competition for Avant Garde make-up, my tutor actually kept me back after class one day to talk to me about what I was going to do when I finished college (Beauty Therapy) I had been thinking about carrying onto a make-up course but had no clue where to start looking or what kind of course to look for. My tutor is actually the one who convinced me to go for it and over the next few weeks I was searching on the internet for courses I could take.  This search was very difficult as there were so many options and routes to take, from a one day course to a three year degree at university. I came across a college that offered courses running over a number of weeks, they had a number of courses to choose from and I settled with a ten week course running over weekends in the summer. It was perfect!
The college is fairly new as it only opened a year ago, so my class was small, well only me and another girl. Which was great as we got one on one tuition and a lot of support. I also made a friend for life and I know if I needed to talk to someone she would be there and offer me support.
Anyway this summer has flown by and I have learnt so much, when I was researching where to go I came across some comments about going to make-up school, such as its not worth your money. Yes I admit it is a lot of money to part with. I couldn't get a loan so I had to use all my savings and the money my mum and dad put aside for when I was older. But was it worth it? HELL YES! I could have got tips and tricks of YouTube and maybe taught myself but it wouldn't have even come close to what I have achieved over these last ten weeks. Firstly you get an amazing kit and help with how you can build it up without spending a fortune, portfolio building we had a professional photographer in for some shoots other times we used the college camera and messed about with different shots. We covered so many looks and even put our own spin on them, training with other people helps you broaden your own skills, it was so interesting watching other people apply the make-up and how they interpret a certain look. Getting taught by someone who is actually in the industry! Most mornings when she was going through a look with us she would stop and randomly come out with stories of people she has worked with and experiences  she has. Also we had a couple of weekends with other make-up artists, being taught by them allowed us to ask questions and learn about other areas in this industry. I also met Peter King! I could go on forever .... but the one thing you cannot get from teaching yourself in the confidence. I am a shy person and that I don't think will ever change but my confidence with make-up and hair is so much better!
Last night I went to my college presentation evening and picked up my Level 3 Beauty Therapy certificate, as well as a surprise award for best in Level 3! So happy with my Dermalogica goodies. My tutor was amazing over the last two years!

Anyway this is what I have been up to over the summer, it was amazing and I will never forget it!

Love Jess x

Urban Decay: de-slick Make-up Setting Spray

I got mine from the Urban Decay stand in House of Fraser for £20

A couple of summers ago now I moved down to a cafe my boss had newly refurbished, its so close to the sea and attracted so many customers. When we got good weather through the summer it was super busy and really warm. I was just so sick of coming home with most of my make-up melted away or the remainder smudged all over my face. So this year I am prepared as I have found this A-mazing product!

I came across Urban Decay de-slick Make-up Setting Spray on a monthly favourites video, she raved about this product, so when I was down in London I picked one of them up with a palette as well!

Usually my make-up stays put until about half way through the day, I start to get an oily t-zone and the foundation just slides straight off. So one weekend I new we would be super busy at work so I sprayed this on after I finished my make-up just before powdering everything in place, and ten hours later when I finally got home.... yes! my make-up was still there, same as I had applied in the morning!

The setting spray was developed in an exclusive partnership with Skindinavia, the solvers for vanishing make-up. Using temperature control technology this fine weightless mist allows your skin to breathe and prevents the moisture from your skin evaporating as quickly. The de-slick formula is oil-free, controlling shine and helps the skin to stay looking matte, as well as keeping all your make-up in place all day .... no smudging, no fading, no more make-up sliding away!

I tend to apply all my make-up expect my powder then apply the spray. Giving it a good shake I hold it 20cm away from my face and spray an "X" shape and a "T" shape over my face, these techniques ensure you are spraying the most oil-prone areas on your face are covered. Sometimes I like to spray a layer of this on my face first before any make-up and again at the end, for them extra long days!

For those of you who don't worry so much about the oiliness but the longevity of your make-up should try the All Nighter Formula ... Like I say to my brides "It's like hairspray for your face. Your make-up will not budge!"

Love Jess x