Elf nail polish: Purple Pleaser

I have purchased a number of Elf's nail polishes and of the most part they are great. 

Product
Purple Pleaser has a glossy finish however is free from any form of shimmer. I find that the first coat of this polish can be sheer so I usually apply two costs to achieve the result I want.  The first coat of this dries very quickly and the second coat also dries quickly.
I also like that the formula of this nail polish doesn't get thick and the brush applies in smoothly and without any thickness on the nails.

Longevity

I was  very surprised as to how long this lasts. I can usually wear this for four to five days before I will see the top of the nail polish chipping.  I usually only apply a base coat with this polish and I dont use a top cost as I like the finish that this polish provides. 

Packaging

This nail polish comes in a small black box. I think this is nice considering the price and many expensive brands don't come like this. The bottle is a rectangular shape with 10ml or .35oz of product inside.  

Price

These are very inexpensive. I paid €1.70 for this nail polish. They are only available online at ELF. They also have really good offers if you like their Facebook page.  

Would I buy this again? Yes. I am currently loving purple nail polish and have use a lot of this bottle. So I will be ordering more of this when I make another order. 

17 blusher: Peach Paradise

This is the final review of the 17 blushers until I decide to purchase more of them.  

Product

I think that this is a very tropical colour and  would say that it is similar to some coral blushes that I have seen. Similar to the other 17 blushes that I have tried this one also has great pigmentation. I don't use this very regularly as I find the colour is a little too orange for my pale skin. I find that if I mix it with a face powder if makes the colour more suitable for my skin.   

I apply this using a blusher brush to the apples of my cheeks.  There is a very soft texture to this blush. It is not a matt blush but it is also not very shimmery.  

Longevity

I usually apply it in the morning and it will last me approximately six to eight hours.  I will sometimes have to reapply it, however this only happens on a rare occasion   

Packaging

17 blushers come in a small black round case with a removable lid. 

Price

I think it was approximately €5.50. It is available from Boots. 

Would I buy this product again? No. 

Sites of the Week: 19 August 2011

I love these pictures. They are really great photo's of different make-up products.  

Professional make-up tips on how to apply flawless looking make-up.  

If you ever wanted a pair of wrap heels and couldn't find the perfect pair...then make your own.

If you want to create a nude lip this is a great article on how to. It's all about blending.  

Not exactly beauty related but they will give you a laugh.  

Need more ideas of what to do with Vaseline then here is a few.  

If you are tired of the usual manicure this a new interesting spin on the old manicure.

Need inspiration for some dramatic eye looks this will definitely help.   

Elf High Definition Powder

 I mentioned this product a few weeks ago when I purchased it.

Product

Elf's High Definition powder is described as a 'high definition loose powder' that 'creates a soft focus effect to the skin.' It claims to 'mask fine lines and imperfections for a radiant complexion. The incredibly soft and invisible powder is great for on-screen and  everyday wear.' This is a very fine and white powder. There are only two ingredients in this HD powder, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer and Silica. Dimethicone is a type of silicone and this is used in face primers. It makes skin feel and look smooth. The second ingredient, silica, is a mineral that absorbs oil to prevent skin from looking shiny and keeps make-up fresh for longer. 

This powder comes with a powder puff that I don't use. It is good, however, for keeping the powder in the container when not in use as it will come through the holes very quickly and can get messy. I use either a large powder brush or a stippling brush. I apply this on top of my concealer and foundation. I will also tap any excess powder off the brush. I will lightly buff the powder onto my face. Although the powder is white it doesn't show up this colour when applied. It instantly gives my skin a brighter and softer appearance. 

I don't apply any liquid products over this powder, i.e a liquid highlighter. I have applied it under the powder and it has worked fine. Also, when this powder is used on it's own I don't see any improvement to skin tone and it doesn't cover blemishes.  

Longevity

The longevity from this product is great. I have applied this in the morning and can wear it all day and it will still look perfect in the evening, this can be ten to twelve hours later. Obviously if this is applied over a bad foundation the results won't be as good.

Packaging

Elf's High Definition powder comes in a black cardboard box. The powder is then stored in a chunky, solid square container with a lid that screws off. There is also a powder puff applicator provided. The area containing the product is very deep, which is necessary as this powder can go everywhere if not covered. I did find that the holes in the sieve are too large and can let out too much product. Therefore I covered half of the sieve. It lets out less of the product which makes application easier. This can be too large to carry in your bag which is the only fault I have with the product. There is 0.28oz or 8g of product provided. 

Price

This product costs €6.80 and it is available from Elf. 

Would I buy this again? Yes. 

Elf single eyeshadow: Pink Ice

Product

Pick Ice is not actually pink despite what that name suggests. I believed when I was purchasing this that it was a cool pale pink however it is more of a champagne colour. It does have very light particles of gold shimmer. This is a great colour for neutral looks. The eyeshadow is not very tightly packed into the container and therefore there can be some excess on the brush. I usually remove any excess before I apply it and this prevents any fallout. There is a soft texture to this eyeshadow.

Longevity

I will always use an eye primer with this eyeshadow and that can make it last for approximately eight hours.

Packaging

This eyeshadow comes in a small cardboard style box with the eyeshadow visible. When removed the eyeshadow is in a small silver circular container. This is then placed within an Elf 4-pan container.

Price

This eyeshadow cost €1.70 and is available from Elf. 

Would I buy this again? Yes. 

MAC Deep Truth eyeshadow

Product
Deep truth is a dark navy blue shade with a frost finish. This eyeshadow is highly pigmented. It has a very smooth and soft texture.
It applies evenly using an eyeshadow brush. It can be a little difficult to blend this but when it does blend it looks great. If using this to accent an eye look then only a small amount is needed as a small amount blends out a lot. This eyeshadow is hard to wear on the whole eye and has I had blue eyes I only use it on the crease or the outer corner.

Longevity
This eyeshadow has excellent longevity. I do always wear it with a primer. The swatch on the left below is shown with a primer and the swatch on the right has no primer.

Packaging
This is packaged in the usual packaging for a single MAC eyeshadow. It comes in a small black cardboard style box. The eyeshadow itself comes in a small circular compact container with the eyeshadow inside. There is 1.5g or 0.05oz of product inside.

Price
I think that this eyeshadow cost me approximately €15.

Would I buy this again? Yes. However, it lasts so long I don't know if I will have to.

Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Compact Foundation

Product

Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish is described as a 'Versatile cream foundation in a portable compact. Glides on, covers almost any flaw. Moisture-rich makeup with light diffusing particles to help diminish imperfections.' It is meant to offer 'adjustable coverage' with a 'satin finish'. 

This foundation has a thick yet creamy texture. It is also very soft to touch. There is a sponge applicator provided with this compact, however I do not use this as I find they can hold bacteria and also are difficult to clean. I will either use a MAC 187 or Elf's powder blush. I feel that the powder brush offers the best result as the bristles are closely packed. Elizabeth Arden claims that this offers an adjustable coverage I do however find that it is a full coverage foundation.  

I do find that the shade of this foundation is a little dark. I have it in shade vanilla and was told when I purchased it that it was the lightest shade. I however think that 'Ivory' is the lightest shade and will be getting that shade the next time I purchase it. 

Longevity

This foundation does offer great longevity. I do find that if you have oily skin then you will need powder over this to reduce any shine. I can wear this for ten to twelve hours. 

Packaging

The foundation compact comes inside a black cardboard style box. The actual foundation is inside a black plastic container as shown above. There is two compartments in the container, one with the foundation and one to hold the sponge, as shown below. The style of the compact is slightly old fashioned, it however remains simple and also expensive looking. It is also very easy to carry in a handbag for travel purposes and doesn't break easily. 

Price

I paid €15 for this foundation. The price does vary though depending on where it is purchased. 

Would I buy this again? Yes. I have purchased this twice already. I will be looking for a lighter colour the next time that I purchase it. 

Blog Carnival:15 August 2011

Skin Care


Ankita presents Where Can I Buy Hydroxatone?The Online Advantages posted at Best Anti Aging Skin Creams.

Jin presents How to choose a sunscreen sunblock for oily, combination and acne prone skin posted at Acne Skin Care.

Ivonne Manning presents Basic Skincare Blog posted at Basic Skincare Blog.


Fashion


s.phitidis presents Mss_comet: MyFashion posted at Mss_comet.

Jin presents Three most popular designer handbag purse brands with women posted at Jin1128.

Submit your blog article to the next edition of beauty and cosmetics using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Weekly Quote

 “Beauty is the pilot of the young soul.”

—	Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) U.S. poet, essayist and lecturer.

MAC Parfait Amour eyeshadow

I have been getting into purples and pinks a lot more recently so I have started to use make-up that I haven't used in a while, this eyeshadow is one such product. 

Product
MAC Parfait Amour eyeshadow is a blue-violet colour with a shimmer. It has a frosted finish. This eyeshadow is pigmented when applied with eye primer.  However, can be a little sheer when applied without it. I do, however, love the colour of this eyeshadow. It is easy to combine with many colours to create many different looks.  I have applied this eyeshadow both wet and dry. If I apply it wet it creates a very intense colour.  This has a very soft and smooth texture and there is no fallout when I apply it.

Longevity
This eyeshadow lasts for about ten hours, without creasing. I have applied this in the morning and it will last me all day. I do always wear eye primer when I wear this eyeshadow.

Packaging
MAC eyeshadows come in a small black box with the eyeshadow inside. The eyeshadow contained itself comes  in a black compact case with a flippable lid. It is very good for travelling with. There is 1.5g or 0.05oz of product in the container.

Price
It has been a while since I purchased this and I think it cost approximately €15. However on the MAC site it costs $14.50. 


Would I buy this again? Yes