MAC Alluring Aquatic: Aphrodite's shell and fathoms deep

As foretold in our previous post, the release of the MAC Alluring aqua collection meant that our bank balances once again became endangered.

After frantically running to Charlotte's house with visa in hand, I ordered Aphrodite's shell extra dimension bronzer and fathoms deep extra dimension eyeshadow.

My parcel arrived today, a day later than Charlotte's...? But ah well. Aphrodite's shell bronzer is a natural warm golden shade that will work best on light to medium skin tones. The powder is extremely finely milled and almost feels like a cream to the touch.

Fathoms deep appears to be a navy blue on the MAC website but in person it's more of a dark charcoal grey with a blue undertone. This eyeshadow is beautifully pigmented and provided an opaque swatch with one swipe. I really look forward to using this all over the lid for a dramatic smokey eye.

On a final note, yes it was most definitely the packaging which attracted me to this collection with the metallic blue and raised water droplets. I think this is one of my favourite packaging designs MAC has produced.

Grace xx

MAC Eyeshadow Collection And Swatches

 L-R: Pigments: Vanilla, Golden olive
Eyeshadows: Top: Texture, Heaux, Carbon, Middle: Kid, Cranberry, Woodwinked, Bottom: Honeylust

Heaux, Honeylust, Texture

Top - Bottom

Texture, Honeylust, Heaux, Cranberry, Woodwinked, Kid

With flash, Last three swatches are Carbon (I know -_-) Golden olive, Vanilla

On the whole I am a huge fan of MAC shadows for their amazing pigmentation and huge range of shades. I have been trying to build up my collection over the last couple of years, at the moment I own Heaux purple grey (Satin) Kid, Light warm beige (Veluxe) and Texture, a Warm orange brown (Velvet) These shades are my favourite blending and crease colours. I also use texture across the lid quite a bit as it really makes green eyes pop.

The shimmery shades I own are Honeylust, a warm gold glitter (Lustre finish) This shade is stunning when used wet alone or over Woodwinked (Veluxe pearl) which will forever be one of my favourites. Cranberry (Frost) makes a nice change from neutral shadows and is perfect for Autumn/Winter smokey eyes.

The pigments were 'borrowed' off my mum, I think they came out in one of the holiday collections? Unfortunately I am still mourning the loss of Tan pigment, which met its tragic end on the bathroom tiles *cries* Golden olive is a beautiful shade and the name is pretty self explanatory, I don't really find myself reaching for this shade though as green smokey eyes isn't a look I do often. Vanilla is similar to NARS Albatross in colour except Vanilla is much more glittery. This pigment makes a gorgeous highlight either on the inner corner or the tops of the cheekbones for a dramatic glow.

Finally can we just talk about what the hell is going on with Carbon, this is my least favourite from MAC, instead of being a pigmented black as the name suggests, this comes off as a dirty grey/green colour. I have seen black eyeshadows that put Carbon to shame from Urban Decay and even Sleek!

I hope you enjoyed this review, Let me know what your favourite MAC eyeshadows are.

xx

Illamasqua Pure Pigments: Feverent, Static and Ore (Glitter lovers prepare...)

 

Every makeup lover is sure to have that one product that draws attention every time you wear it. Illamasqua's pure pigments are my new holy grail eyeshadow for going out, I even wear these in the day because I am so addicted to the finish! 

The packaging of the products is a little messy, however I have yet to come across a container that can hold a loose pigment without dispersing too much product, at least these pigments have a sifter, unlike the MAC ones.

The first shade I purchased was Feverent, a duo-chrome shade that can be compared to MAC blue brown pigment although Feverent is much more of a reddish tone. The product applies with full opacity giving a smooth red brown base with reflects of blue and green glitter. Every time I wear this with a smokey eye I am plagued with endless questions about the glittery wonder that is the pure pigment.

Completely and utterly in love with Feverent, I went out and purchased two more shades. Static is a white pigment that reflects lilac and pink in the light. I love using this pigment to hi-light my inner corner for an ethereal feel, and also this shade is amazing when layered over a black base to create a purple glitter smokey eye. With regards to application, I would stick to using these pigments dry as they tend to go a bit clumpy when wet.

The third and final shade in my collection is Ore, a stunning bronze gold with both gold and silver glitter particles. This has been my go-to lid colour since I bought it and reflects the light beautifully. All the pigments, as you can see from the swatches are very opaque and intense, much more than the MAC pigments I have tried previously. I find the lasting power to be faultless also with minimal fallout for such a glittery product.

At £16.50 these pigments are not cheap, but trust me when I say they are worth every penny!

Nars Fez Eyeshadow

On a recent shopping trip in Manchester I found myself at the Nars counter as I had been on the hunt for the perfect brown eyeshadow to add to my collection. Brown shades are often overlooked yet this shade really caught my eye. Fez is a warm brown shade with golden undertones that catches the light beautifully. I found it to be the middle ground between MAC bronze and Mulch which I had also been debating. Unfortunately the Nars counter in Selfridges did not have this shade in stock but the sales assistant kindly pointed me in the direction of Space NK (I thought Space NK was only in London!) where the sales ladies were lovely I would highly recommend a visit to those who live in Manchester.

I had never previously tried the Nars eyeshadows as I feel their blushes are the brand's most coveted products however I have been really impressed with the formula. The shadow is buttery in texture, blending like a dream and provides even coverage. The lasting power is also very good and Fez remains on the lid a lot longer than the Naked 2 palette shades especially when combined with a primer or the Maybelline colour tattoo in 'On and on bronze.'

I plan to post a 'face of the day' featuring this eyeshadow very soon, let me know what your favourite eyeshadow single is!

Grace xx

FOTD: Woodwinked bronze

Face

Foundation - MAC Studio fix fluid NC20

Concealer - Bourjois healthy mix 52

Blush - Mac dainty mineralize

Bronzer - Bourjois chocolate bronzer

Lips 

 NARS chealsea girls lip lacquer

Eyes

Lid - MAC Woodwinked

Crease - MAC Kid

Crease - MUA Heaven and earth palette (golden brown shade)

Liner - Maybelline studio gel eyeliner

Lashes - Avon supershock

Brows 

Mac dirty blonde gelcreme

Maybelline Brow Drama in blonde

Woodwinked is one of my holy-grail MAC eye-shadows and a fail safe option for both daytime and night time looks. This warm golden shade is one of the veluxe pearl finishes and provides opaque coverage, high pigmentation and buttery soft application. I would definitely recommend Woodwinked to anyone who does not already have this shade in their collection as it is a truly beautiful eye-shadow.

I am not usually a fan of shimmer in the crease however in combination with the golden lid colour, a warm brown shimmer creates a soft bronze smokey eye whilst still providing definition.

I have also been loving NARS Chelsea girls lip lacquer ever since receiving it as a Christmas gift from Charlotte Radcliffe of Exploring Wardrobes. I have been using this product religiously as it creates the perfect nude pink colour and has amazing longevity.

 Hope you are all doing well, Grace xoxo

Naked Basics Palette: Taupe matte smokey eye

This look was inspired by Cara Delevingne in the Burberry AW 2012 campaigns. The look is a very blown-out taupe smokey eye that intensifies at the lashline. I really like this look as it is dramatic without being too dark, I used the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette to create this look and I highly recommend it. All the shadows are pigmented and buttery soft so they blend like a dream. Crave is my favourite matte black eyeshadow as it is so pigmented and intense compared to many other matte black shadows such as MAC Carbon which swatch grey rather than true black.

Products used:

Lashline - Crave

Inner lid, socket and lower lashline - Naked 2

Outer lid - Faint

Mascara - Revlon grow luscious mascara in blackened brown