Tag: bblogger

Crownbrush UK

There’s two must have products when it comes to wearing makeup; sponges and brushes. Of course the actual items are pretty important too, but you always need the tools to create the art, just ask Leonardo DaVinci! Well, anyone who uses brushes will do really.

It’s most definitely a good sign when a Brand has longevity and Crownbrush has just that, first originating over 35 years ago!

When I think of Brushes my mind goes straight to two of my favourite Brands; Spectrum and Morphe – however, for great companies to become established there’s usually one that has been continuously working for many years previously and Crownbrush is the one that stands out.

I was fortunate enough to be contacted by Crownbrush UK and gifted some products of my own choice to try, however the writing and opinions are all my own.

Something that is very important to me within the Beauty World is supporting Cruelty Free Brands and Crownbrush is thankfully one of them.

I picked seven of the Crown Pro Eye Brushes to use with the 30 Matte Colour Eyeshadow Palette. Over the years I’ve loved to try being more creative and colourful, which is now a must for me when creating an every day look. Yes, nude shades can be beautiful but they’re just not my style and if I’m honest, I find them a little boring. Plus, with June being the month of Pride, there was simply no other choice in my mind. 

The 30 Matte Colour Eyeshadow Palette is a collection of vivid and bold mattes, covering the whole spectrum of the rainbow with five rows featuring pinks, blues, yellows, greens, purples and oranges. If you like to stay in a safe makeup bubble, at first this product may look a little intimidating. However, there are so many styles that can be created with this product, especially for the Spring and Summer seasons. The corals, yellows and orange hues are perfect for a warm every day look, if the greens and blues feel a bit much. Plus, you can’t really go wrong with a nice pink overall base. Sometimes if I want to make the look more subtle, I’ll place one shade on top of the other and through trial (and occasional error!) I’ll blend and mix to build it into another variation.

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• C250-0 Mini Liner Brush

• C422 Cresent Shadow Brush

• C474 Silicon Pointed Crease Brush

• C513 Pro Detail Crease Brush


• C538 Precision Smudger Brush

• SS027 Syntho Deluxe Blending Crease Brush

• SS034 Chisel Fluff Brush 

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The overall packaging of each Crownbrush UK Product is sleek and minimal, with the objective being to deliver professional quality products to add to your Makeup Kit. The great thing about the brushes is they were designed with the aim of listening to what Professional Makeup Artists wanted, but making them available for everyone. Therefore, you can feel comfortable knowing you’re using great brushes and paying an affordable price!

Thank you to Sophie from Crownbrush UK for getting in touch and introducing me to such a wonderful Brand. I’ve used the Palette all week and not needed to pick up any other!

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Spectrum Collections X Alice In Wonderland.

Spectrum Collections first made their debut in the Beauty World in April 2014 and was created by Sisters, Sophie and Hannah, at home in their garage in South Wales. Fast forward seven years later and they’ve created huge collaborations with Household Names and Brands, such as Disney, Frida Kahlo and Mean Girls. Furthermore, they have an impressive list of stockists including, ASOS, Boots, Beauty Bay and SuperDrug. Pretty impressive, right?

On March 26th this year, Spectrum launched their highly anticipated new Collection with Disney; Alice In Wonderland! To say I was excited for this would be a big understatement, plus it just so happens to coincide with the original Walt Disney Classic, which was released to the public seventy – yes seventy years ago this year, in 1951!

There are five products within the set which are the following;

• Alice in Wonderland 10 Piece Brush Set

This product contains ten brushes, to complete a full makeup look, with one in particular having Alice’s iconic headband featured on the handle – absolutely adorable! Each one is an Alice pastel blue and has beautiful gold writing asking you to, “Meet me in Wonderland..” – whilst on that subject I’d happily travel to Wonderland right now, just saying. All brushes are Vegan and Cruelty Free, like the rest of their products. In my opinion, even if you’re not a huge brush person, it’s worth having for the packaging alone and if I had enough money, I’d probably buy another to have displayed in my room – it’s that pretty.

Brushes included;

• B13 – Complexion
• A05 – Cheek
• B14 – Concealer
• A33 – Luxe Fan
• A07 – Colour Applicator
• B06 – Blending
• A12 – Pencil
• A28 – Highlight
• A17 – Brows
• A15 – Lips

• Alice in Wonderland Key to Wonderland Brush

Without doubt, this is my favourite product within the whole Collection, I can’t even express how beautiful the quality and overall aesthetic is of this key. It’s such an amazing concept and I’m beyond impressed with Hannah and Sophie’s sheer creativity in coming up with this! On the top of the key is The White Rabbit, his watch, a teapot and The Mad Hatter’s hat, all stacked upon one another, with a pastel blue tag which says, “The way to Wonderland.” I’ve actually ordered myself another one today, as I simply had to have it on display with my Fantasia Magic Broom Brush. The packaging features Alice, The White Rabbit and The Mad Hatter in various stills from the film within keyhole shapes.

• Cheshire Cat Kabuki Brush

The Cheshire Cat is so iconic that even before looking on the lid, you see the pink striped packaging and know straight away which character is featured. It comes within a retractable casing, which once opened reveals a beautiful pink ombre brush and is used for the majority of face products, such as bronzer and powder. A further pink cover is used for storing him and also helps prevent any damage, whilst further showing the consistent quality and care that’s been put into making each item collector worthy.

• Alice Tears 2 Piece Sponge Set

The tear sponge concept is absolute genius! Two pastel blue sponges, one small and one full sized come in an adorable mini PVC bag, which features the memorable moment in the film, when Alice floats down a river of her own tears! I can’t bring myself to use these particular sponges because they are simply too beautiful to take out of the pouch! But they are proudly displayed on my dressing table in my room. However, I do use Spectrum’s sponges as well as they’re brushes and I can confirm that they’re top quality as always.

• White Rabbit Makeup Clutch Bag

An Alice In Wonderland Collection could not be complete without the least punctual rabbit known to humans! The White Rabbit Clutch is white faux fur, featuring the infamous pocket watch, a keyhole label with Alice and a little white bunny tail. If that wasn’t perfect enough, when you look inside you’ll see the beautiful pink lining which is covered with The White Rabbit himself and various other objects from the film! You also get a stunning pastel blue and gold velvet pouch, which the clutch comes in. I’ve actually decided to display the former and use the dust bag for holding my brushes!

• Alice In Wonderland Bundle

The entire set is available to buy together for the very reasonable price of £99.99, which is what I myself decided to do. It’s original cost is at £126.95, so you’re already saving nearly £27.00 and it truly is a must have for any Disney Collector or Makeup Enthusiast. Plus, if you add it altogether, you’re basically getting a product for free!

 

Not only are all of Spectrum’s products amazing quality – I’ve amassed a considerable collection of brushes that get used regularly so I feel I can confidently say that. But, in my opinion, they’re definitely the best ones on the market, and everything they make is Vegan/Cruelty Free and created with synthetic taklon hair. Not only is the aesthetic simply beautiful, the quality lives up to each ones appearance and the price is very reasonable too. Not insanely cheap, but not ridiculously overpriced, overall very fair and you definitely get your moneys worth! Spectrum also offer Beauty Points, in which every £1 you spend you receive 4 points and once you hit 500 you get a £5.00 voucher and 1000 you get a £10.00 one! You don’t have to buy things to gain points either, writing a review or recommending a friend will also help you build points.

I truly can’t wait to see what the Spectrum Sisters bring out next, I’m definitely sure they won’t disappoint and I can’t thank them enough for creating something so unique and beautiful.

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Essence Cosmetics X Disney Princess Collection.

As someone who has lived and breathed all things Disney for as long as they can remember, unintentionally discovering another Collaboration with Beauty Brand, Essence Cosmetics – on Wilko of all places, was a surprise I was very happy about! 

The Disney Princess Collection features three of Walt’s Royal Heroines; two from the Classic Era – the original Princess,  Snow White and Sleeping Beauty’s Aurora and one from the Renaissance Era – The Little Mermaid’s Ariel.

With Lockdown 3.0 continuing throughout the UK, having any shops to visit that aren’t online is a rare experience. Therefore, after browsing through Instagram and coming across this gorgeous Collection, I took a moment to sympathize with my Bank Account, as we both knew the inevitable was coming – bye bye money! 

Unfortunately, with a quick bit of research, it does now seem that Wilko have sadly stopped stocking the three Eyeshadow Palettes. Fear not though, Notino are also stockists of the products and although a lot are out of stock currently, you can click to be notified when available.

As well as the Disney Princess Collection, there is also a Disney Villains with their sister Brand, Catrice Cosmetics, featuring Maleficent, Ursula and The Evil Queen. 

I managed to get four products from the Essence Collaboration;

ESSENCE X DISNEY PRINCESS EYE BRUSH AND BAG SET:

Contains a rose gold brush bag, with three matching brushes;

• Snow White Eyeshadow Brush
• Aurora Smudging Brush
• Ariel Blending Brush

ESSENCE X DISNEY PRINCESS ARIEL 01 PART OF YOUR WORLD EYESHADOW PALETTE:

Featuring Ariel from The Little Mermaid (1989) – 14 warm, gold and red shades, embossed with sea shells.

• Curious – warm copper shimmer.
• Starfish – light beige matte.
• Ocean – orange shimmer.
• Waves – medium gold shimmer.
• Headstrong – burgundy shimmer.
• Treasures – medium peach nude matte.
• Flounder – peach metallic shimmer.
• Sea Witch – pink and orange pressed pigment.
• Mermaid – ruby red matte.
• Crab – light gold shimmer.
• Explorer – vibrant yellow shimmer.
• Kiss The Girl – coral pink matte.
• Seagull – dark brown matte.
• Under The Sea –  metallic brown shimmer.

ESSENCE X DISNEY PRINCESS SNOW WHITE 02 MY PRINCE WILL COME EYESHADOW PALETTE:

Featuring Snow White from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) – 14 cool, nude and copper shades, embossed with apples.

• Green Wood – vibrant yellow shimmer.
• Forrest Cabin – cool ivory matte.
• Seven Mountains – cool metallic brown shimmer.
• Dwarves – hunter green pressed pigment.
• Huntsman – warm brown and silver shimmer.
• Mirror – peachy gold shimmer.
• True Love’s Kiss – warm gold shimmer.
• Poisoned Apple – copper shimmer.
• Wicked Witch –  cobalt blue shimmer.
• Pure Hearted – muted brown matte.
• Ebony – light yellow gold shimmer.
• Cottage – warm orange brown shimmer.
• Happy End – brown gold shimmer.
• Cheerful – bronze metallic shimmer.

ESSENCE X DISNEY PRINCESS AURORA 03 ONCE UPON A DREAM EYESHADOW PALETTE:

Featuring Aurora from Sleeping Beauty (1959) – 14 pink, mauve and metallic shades, embossed with roses.

• Golden Hair – warm gold shimmer.
• Kiss – cool porcelain matte.
• Kingdom – pink nude matte.
• Castle – mauve matte.
• Deep Sleep – metallic dark purple shimmer.
• Spinning Wheel – light gold shimmer.
• Fairy – silvery gold shimmer.
• Thorn Hedge – deep purple and gold pressed pigment.
• Roses – hot pink matte.
• Golden Leave – baby pink mauve matte.
• Curse – warm gold shimmer.
• Dark Magic – cool dark burgundy matte.
• Magic Wand – copper shimmer.
• True Love – cool medium brown shimmer.

All of the Palettes are £10.00, which I think is an extremely good price, especially with it being an official Disney Collaboration and each one does include a mirror. I’ve tried all of the products multiple times and was pleasantly surprised at the pigment and quality of the Eyeshadows.

Out of the 42 shades, my favourite has to be Sea Witch from Ariel’s Palette, it’s absolutely beautiful and in all honesty, I wasn’t expecting it to be as vibrant as it looks. It’s perfect to use for an extra pop as a lid topper too. However, if I had to pick just one to own, it would definitely be Aurora’s, as not only is she is my favourite Princess, (Cinderella also) I love the variation of pinks and aesthetic of the colours.

The only slight disappointment within the Collection, would have to be the shades in Snow White’s Palette. This is simply because I can’t comprehend how there is not one single red colour within the fourteen available. I mean, I really think they’re missing something there as I’ve always associated this signature shade much more with Snow White than with Ariel.

With hers I’d expect more cool toned blues/purples and maybe one red for her hair and Sebastian – of course! Ultimately, the general aesthetic is a bit underwhelming for Snow White’s Palette and with only two matte shades – Aurora’s has six and Ariel’s has 5, there’s not really enough colours and variations to work with to create a full stand alone look.

However, I simply could not have left one out, they are definitely a must buy for any Disney fan and I will absolutely treasure them. The beautiful detailing and consistency in the overall aesthetic and theme for the Collection is greatly appreciated too. Thank you Essence Cosmetics and Disney for blessing us makeup lovers with this Collaboration and I hope there’s more to come! 

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meganmonroes@icloud.com

Revolution Beauty X Friends Series 1 Eyeshadow Palettes.

Firstly, long time no post! With every day life and in the insanity of 2020, I’ve sadly been neglecting Blogging and regularly posting. However, my love for all things Makeup related has never been far from my mind, in fact you could almost say it’s grown considerably – if that was even possible! As someone who suffers with various Mental Health issues, the creativity of the Beauty World has always been a nice outlet for me to try and switch off and have some fun with the weird and wonderful products released so often. However, the irony is my creativity and perfectionism can almost be a hindrance, as sadly, my anxiety loves to control me and my happiness, which is why all I can do is try and push forward, starting with this.

Therefore, although I’ve not been sharing much, I have been regularly purchasing new palettes and lipsticks, which has formed quite an archive! Therefore, I’ve decided to share my latest buys and an overall summary of the items contents and my humble opinion on it etc.

Since Revolution Beauty, (formerly known as Makeup Revolution) burst onto the High Street in 2014, they’ve grown from strength to strength, having amassed 2.9 million followers on Instagram. They’ve collaborated with a number of huge Celebs and Brands, including one of the most popular TV Shows of all time; FRIENDS – which is what I’m going to be reviewing in this post.

I think one of the huge successes with Revolution has to be, not only their reasonable pricing, but the high qualities they create, which are usually only expected with high end Brands. As someone who wears both high and mid/lower end products, I’ve really learnt that higher pricing does not always mean better products.

Having first aired in 1994, Friends captured the hearts of millions worldwide, finishing it’s long run ten years later in 2004, after 235 episodes. Since Netflix started to stream the show in 2018, it’s continued to snowball in popularity and has attracted even more fans. So much so that a Series 1 Makeup Collection with Revolution was released on September 16th 2020, with a Series 2 Collection being launched on November 4th, just under two months later.

The Phoebe, Monica and Rachel Eyeshadow Palettes feature iconic places in Friends on the packaging, all specifically associated with each of the three female lead characters and retail for just £8, with nine shadows.

Strangely, I weirdly like that the packaging doesn’t have the characters on the artwork. At first, I think I was a bit disappointed by this, but now I actually quite like it. There’s not many shows that can have such iconic places and items that are instantly recognizable, further cementing the legendary status of Friends and all who were involved.

Although I love all characters dearly, my favourite has and will always be Phoebe, her quirkiness, ditsy but quick witted responses and inclusiveness of all has always warmed my heart and endeared me to her. Furthermore, it just so happens that out of three palettes hers is my most loved – coincidence? I think not!

REVOLUTION X FRIENDS PHOEBE EYESHADOW PALETTE:

Featuring Phoebe’s Grandmother, Frances’ Yellow Taxi Cab as the artwork;

• Smelly Cat – rose gold shimmer.
• Lobster – warm orange matte.
• Triplet – mauve pink shimmer.
• Ice – warm brown matte.
• Flaky – warm gold shimmer.
• Buffay – muted cool pink matte.
• Science Boy – silver pressed pigment.
• Bike – icy blue shimmer.
• Ditsy – warm rusty copper shimmer.

REVOLUTION X FRIENDS RACHEL EYESHADOW PALETTE:

Featuring Rachel’s one time workplace, Central Perk as the artwork;

• Shopping – cool white matte.
• On A Break – vibrant gold shimmer.
• Dinosaur – muted light brown matte.
• 90’s –mauve pink shimmer.
• Barneys – cool mid brown matte.
• Tag – silver shimmer.
• Chip – warm copper shimmer.
• Push Over – hot pink matte.
• Crush – dark cool brown matte.

REVOLUTION X FRIENDS MONICA EYESHADOW PALETTE:

Featuring the iconic purple door with golden frame of Monica’s Apartment as the artwork;

*Fun fact* it was originally a mirror which got broken by a crew member and all I can say is, thank god it did and I really hope they weren’t fired..

• Clean – white gold shimmer.
• Chef – warm copper shimmer.
• Geller Cup – cool burgundy matte.
• Chicken – cool pink nude matte.
• Twins – icy silver pressed pigment.
• Frizzy – cool dark brown matte.
• Bing – cool nude matte.
• Obsessive – peach matte.
• Thanksgiving – burgundy shimmer.

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Bésame Cosmetics Sleeping Beauty Collection.

One of my absolute favourite Makeup Brands is the wonderful, Bésame Cosmetics which was founded by Gabriela Hernandez in 2004 and is primarily devoted to recreating authentic vintage makeup! As a true vintage girl myself, Bésame is basically a dream come true and is such a refreshing and unique concept in a 21st Century world. Also, all Bésame Cosmetics products are cruelty and gluten free as well as being PETA certified, which is very comforting to know.

Not only do Bésame focus on recreating a variety of retro products from the 1910s to the 1970s, they have also collaborated with Disney on a number of Classic Film Collections; starting with Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs (1937) (sadly no longer available!) Mickey Mouse (1919) and Peter Pan’s Mermaid Lagoon (1953). Fast forward to now and the latest collaboration is to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the eternal Sleeping Beauty (1959) which just so happens to be one of my favourites and features my most loved Disney Princess, (along with Cinderella!)

Each Disney Collection is intricately researched, with Bésame having rare access to the Disney Archives to recreate the famous colours from the film cells and tell the story as authentically as possible. With this particular collaboration, Gabriela incredibly recreated the famous Sleeping Beauty book, which features in the films famous opening sequence!

Although I dream of having all of the products, I sadly had to think with my head and not my heart and therefore purchased the following four items; 1959 Eyeshadow Palette, Locket Cream Rouge, Maleficent Lipstick and Briar Rose Blush Palette.

The 1959 Eyeshadow Palette may quite possibly be the most beautiful one I have ever owned, I didn’t think the Urban Decay Game of Thrones Palette could lose it’s number one spot but, this has definitely taken prized position! Inspired by the Fairy Tale Book in the opening scene of the film, the palette consists of twenty – yes twenty (!) matte eyeshadows. The shades are authentically reproduced from Aurora, Maleficent and the three Fairies’ colour palette that is used in the movie. The product actually includes four real pages inside, which recreate the looks for you to emulate and a mirror is also included!

At £57 this is the most expensive Eyeshadow Palette I’ve ever bought, but I can say with all honesty that if you’re a Disney, Sleeping Beauty, Bésame fan or super makeup lover, it is one hundred percent worth it. The quality is incredible and the time, effort and attention to detail that has gone into making this is truly laudable and does not go unappreciated. This product is without doubt a collectors item and if you were willing to pay an extra £8, you could purchase it with a special display case – however, that option is sadly sold out!

Here are the names of each shade within the palette;

Aurora – Color Call Outs;

Iris, Eyes – Grey Blue 104
Lips with peasant costume – Grey Pink 109
Eyelids – Rose 105
Skin – Coral 102
Legs – Adobe 102
Lips with pink & blue dress – Blush 105
Hair – 89343
Brows – Dust 107
Crown, necklace – 89339
Blouse, peasant costume – White 106
Skirt, peasant costume – White 107
Pink dress – Beet 105
Blue Dress – Royal 106

Maleficant – Color Call Outs;

Lips and nails – 89396
Eyes – 89348
Eye shadow – 89349
Ball on staff  – 89350
Pleat of cape and sleeves – Plum 107
Skin – 89352
Staff – 89353

Within the collection their are three lipsticks available; Sleeping Beauty Pink – based on Aurora’s lip shade, Make It Blue Make It Pink – a blue lipstick which applies pink – clearly a nod to Aurora’s colour changing dress and Maleficent – which I purchased.

As a red lipstick wearer I wanted to choose one that was closest to this colour and of course, that was Maleficent. Although most of us Disney fans associate red lipstick with the iconic evil fairy, the film cells actually show that her shade was more of a deep pink with a cool undertone, which I found really interesting! All three lipsticks retail for £20 and come in the stunning Sleeping Beauty pink packaging, as well as the 1940s vintage reproduction gold cases with the 1959 film logo. The finish is a semi matte satin, like all of Bésame’s products, which is faithful to the vintage era – although I would love a true matte, simply because I like my lipstick to not move all day. However, we can’t have it all and I do love the iconic shape of Bésame lipsticks, which helps create perfect precision and again is a nod to the vintage era.

At only £15, the Locket Cream Rouge is a wonderful bargain and a true collectible that once again recreates the stunning Sleeping Beauty Book on the front and features a portrait of Princess Aurora on the back. The product is rose gold plated and features a magnetic closure which when opened, reveals a pink cream rouge. This can be worn on both the cheeks and lips and if you want to use the locket for an actual photo, the rouge can easily be removed. Therefore, not only do you get a stunning necklace like no other, but it also features a unique Sleeping Beauty product – such a must have!

The final item I purchased from the collection was the Briar Rose Blush Palette, which comes with two rouge shades and two highlighters for a total of £29. All four colours are once again thoroughly inspired by the exact colours used in Sleeping Beauty. The two lighter blush and highlight are worn by Aurora in the film and the two darker blush and highlight are Maleficent’s. Therefore, you can create a lighter day look with Princess Aurora and then vamp it up for a dramatic style with Maleficent’s. Or, if you’re feeling creative, you could even mix them all together! The compact also comes with a mirror inside which features forest artwork from the film and adds such beautiful detail, as well as the front image recreating an actual film cell used from the movie.

Overall, it’s safe to say I am without a doubt blown away by this whole Collection and feel extremely fortunate to have been able to purchase four of the items. Furthermore, I also must note how with every special collaboration, Bésame creates their very own, “Bésame Bugle” which is inspired by a vintage newspaper. This particular one features all the behind the scenes information from the Sleeping Beauty film and the makeup products! It’s an absolutely stunning collectible itself and I will treasure it. Lastly, my only hope is as Cinderella’s 70th Anniversary is next year, I pray that a collection is released to celebrate this!

A big thank you to Bésame, Gabriela and Disney for creating such beautiful collectible products for us all!

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meganmonroes@icloud.com

Urban Decay x Game of Thrones Collection.

Game of Thrones has literally taken over the world and if you’re a devoted fan like myself, you’re probably more than happy about this. Therefore, when Urban Decay announced their latest collaboration would be a whole collection of Game of Thrones officially licensed makeup products, it was like Winter had finally arrived – get it? The Collection consists of a variety of items; an Eyeshadow Palette, Highlighter Palette, four Vice Lipsticks, four 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils, a Lip & Cheek Stain and the complete Vault Set which also contains two Eyeshadow Brushes in the shape of Arya’s Needle and Jon’s Longclaw.

As much as I dream of owning the entire collection, my bank account reminded me that I had to choose only my favourite products, therefore I picked the Eyeshadow Palette and the Daenerys Targaryen Vice Lipstick. I do have my eyes on the Mother of Dragons Highlighter Palette – it is simply a dream collectors item but, that will sadly have to wait.

The Game of Thrones Eyeshadow Palette is quite possibly the most intricately designed packaging I’ve ever seen, whoever came up with the concept deserves an award, it is absolutely stunning. No photo can emphasize how beautiful it really is, it literally comes to life, especially with the 3D pop up Iron Throne. The palette is split into four sections with the central theme being the three Houses vying for the Iron Throne and The North. Furthermore, the Westeros map is displayed throughout the product featuring two iconic quotes said by Daenerys Targaryen and Tyrion Lannister – which just happen to be my two favourite characters!

I was actually pleasantly surprised by the price of the Palette, at £45 it is in the higher range price of makeup products, however with it being a Game of Thrones collaboration, I was expecting it to be around £60. Altogether there are twenty shades; three mattes and seventeen shimmery metallics, with each theme containing five signature colours associated with them. It would be nice to have had a couple of more matte shades, however, with such a versatile collection of colours – I’m still incredibly happy!

The North; features cool toned icy blues, silvers and a midnight black.

Take The Black – jet black with silver sparkles.
White Walker – opalescent white.
Frozen North – midnight metallic blue.
Free Folk – cool ice silver.
Hard Home – blondish silvery gold.

House Stark; features earthy autumnal shades.

“Winter Is Coming.”

Nymeria – warm matte mid brown.
Winter Is Here – dark metallic brown.
Weirwood Leaves – deep metallic muted purple.
The Sight – vibrant forest green.
Winterfell – warm bold gold.

House Lannister; features warm rustic coppers and golds.

“Hear Me Roar!”

Red Keep – metallic orange copper.
Casterly Rock –  muted metallic gold.
House Lannister – matte cool peach.
Lannister Red – muted matte red brown.
Kings Landing – vibrant cool blonde.

House Targaryen; features cool pastels and bold metallics.

“Fire and Blood.”

Stormborn -metallic cool purple.
House Targaryen – metallic warm gold.
Dothraki – vibrant yellow gold.
Bend The Knee – metallic lilac.
Bay of Dragons – metallic pastel mid pink.

Out of the four Vice Lipsticks available, the one I knew I had to have was Daenerys Targaryen, which just so happened to be the red lipstick! This shade is described as a, “fiery metallic red” and is a clear nod to her fire breathing dragons and House Targaryen. All four Vice Lipsticks are created with the metallic formula, meaning they’re sadly not fully matte, but they do create a beautiful 3D effect. At £17.50, these are the same prices as Urban Decay’s other stick lipsticks, which once again is a pleasant surprise considering the exclusive packaging.

Each shade features the sigil and colour of the House it is made for and once again, is truly a work of art. The other two shades are as follows; Sansa Stark, a “warm peach nude” and Lannister Gold, a “metallic bronze“.  I came close to purchasing the final shade in the collection, the White Walker lipstick, which is described as a, “deep berry wine” but as silly as it seems to a non fan, felt like I was being a traitor to Daenerys! However, I did swatch the shade and it was very pigmented and super creamy – just as advertised.

Overall, I think Urban Decay have created a Collection which truly does justice to the incredible TV Show which Game of Thrones is. I honestly cannot stop staring at the Eyeshadow Palette especially, each shade is incredible and so magnetic. I also really love how the packaging is created to look like a book, which as most will know is the original  source for Game of Thrones – thank you Mr George R. R. Martin! 


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Anastasia Beverley Hills Riviera Eyeshadow Palette.

In my personal opinion, Anastasia Beverly Hills create the best Eyeshadow Palettes. Granted, I’ve only tried two; the Norvina and as this post states, the Riviera, but these are the ones I constantly come back to.  I was never really interested in purchasing the infamous Subculture palette, therefore I’ve been fortunate enough to experience only the star products. Plus, the Modern Renaissance and Soft Glam are definitely on my to buy list!

As soon as Anastasia announced this palette, I knew it was simply a must buy, the overall South of France aesthetic and the bold and vibrant shades instantly stood out to me. The bold gold font, striped nautical colours and denim like packaging exude the classic French Riviera theme. In addition to this, the black ribbon is an extra stylish touch. The more makeup I try and discover, the more adventurous and daring I become with my creativity. A few years ago there’s no way I’d ever have considered wearing a bold eye colour, especially a vivid blue – however, with time comes the ability to realize that there is in fact, no rules with makeup! Furthermore, after watching Samantha Robinson as, The Love Witch (2016) how could I not be inspired by such a retro aesthetic?

As mentioned before, the Riviera colours are inspired by the warm summer season and the extreme glamour of the vacationers enjoying the stunning Mediterranean. It is the must have makeup essential to take with you for your Holidays. Within the product are fourteen shades; eight matte, (three are pressed pigment), four metallic and two duo chrome. At £46, this is definitely not a cheap purchase, but, I am a firm believer in quality not quantity and this is well worth the price. Also, a duel ended brush is included, which is definitely an added bonus!

Here is a detailed description of eye eyeshadow as shared on the website;

Sails – a matte white.
Yacht – duo chrome mauvy taupe with a violet shift.
Seychelles – metallic aqua marine.
Palermo – metallic jewel pink.
Seaside – duo chrome silver with a subtle blue shift.
Inheritance – metallic true gold.
Mediterranean – metallic sky blue.
Estate – matte soft pastel peachy pink.
Cabana – matte muted birch mustard.
Coastline – matte pastel soft peach.
Bahamas – matte bright bold candy hot pink pressed pigment.
Monte Carlo – matte cool mid-tone pink.
Cannes – matte bright violet purple pressed pigment.
Palm – matte dark chocolate pressed pigment.

If I had to choose my favourite shade within the palette it would have to be, Mediterranean, I just adore the vibrancy and shock factor of the intense blue, the pigment is stunning and looks just as bold on your eyelid. I was fortunate enough to visit the South of France in the summer of 2017 and this colour especially is truly reminiscent of the incredible sky. For everyday use I’m really impressed by, Sails, it’s a perfect starter base or transition shade, I only worry I’ll hit pan on it as I have been using it every time I pick up an eyeshadow brush! I really enjoy using similar shades together, such as the blue or pinks and in doing so creating a two tone ombré look. I’ll also add a finishing touch by using a metallic colour on top.

I really hope Anastasia continue creating such beautiful palettes, they truly are pieces of art and a makeup lovers must have product. If that wasn’t enough, the Brand is also cruelty free and on their website they offer free shipping on orders over £25! Anastasia Beverly Hills is also available to buy on Beauty Bay, Selfridges and Feelunique.

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meganmonroes@icloud.com

Ciaté London Jessica Rabbit Collection.

Firstly, hello! It’s been a long time, almost six months in fact! However, I’ve finally found the inspiration to start writing again. Sometimes it can be hard to feel inspired when you’ve been blogging fairly regularly for over three years, however, I never intended to stop forever, I simply wanted to look forward to writing posts again and well, today is that day!

As a huge lover of makeup, I look forward to seeing what products are going to be released that I can add to my ever growing inventory. Therefore, when I discovered Ciaté London created a collection dedicated to Jessica Rabbit, I think my heart may have skipped a beat! If you know me it’s hardly a surprise, but, Jessica Rabbit is one of my favourite Bombshells, inspired by Old Hollywood’s Veronica Lake, Rita Hayworth and Lauren Bacall – she’s an absolute dream! Yes, she may not actually be real, (I know, I’m still coming to terms with it) but, there’s no doubt she’s an icon in film and as a pinup.

The Jessica Rabbit Collection features three products;

The Jessica Palette – a nine piece eyeshadow palette. (£35)
Glow To Highlighter: Roger, Darling! – a powder highlighter. (£26)
Glitter Storm Lipstick – a glitter metallic lipstick. (£19)

Each product can be bought individually, or altogether in a beautiful Jessica themed box set – naturally, I had to buy the full set! At £60, it’s definitely not on the cheap side, but you save a total of £20 compared to buying them separately, so if you’re a super fan, it’s worth it. Plus, the quality is incredible, arguably the most beautiful makeup packaging I own, each is worthy of being collector pieces. Currently, the collection is sold out, but the three items are still available on their own.

The amount of detail and research that has gone into every inch of the products is truly impressive, Ciaté have made sure to create the ultimate Jessica Rabbit products and they have not disappointed! Like the Superstar she is, Jessica features all over the items, even her stunning silhouette is etched onto the outer packaging. When she’s not gracing us with her presence, there’s the ever reminder of her through the signature purple shades of eyeshadow and the striking bold red lipstick. She’s one lady that definitely won’t be erased, (I’m sorry – it had to be done!)

With makeup constantly growing, you can often end up buying many products that look similar, however, I can categorically say that The Jessica Palette is a true individual and a must have addition. The palette features nine different shades in two different formulas; six shimmers and three mattes. Each colour is related to Jessica and the iconic film she stars in, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?;

Love Letter – a signature Jessica red.
Oh, Roger! – a midnight blue.
Sunset Blvd – a medium gold.
I’m Not Bad – a warm bronze.
Patty Cake – Jessica’s trademark purple.
Drawn That Way – a bright vivid gold.
Carrot Cake – a warm orange.
Toon Kisses – a muted lilac.
Honey Bunny – a light peach.

I feel this palette possess the shades to create both day to night time looks, going from day time dream to smokey screen siren! It’s a great size, not too bulky and therefore can easily be carried around from place to place.

The second product in the collection is the Glow To Highlighter: Roger, Darling! once again featuring an iconic pose by the leading lady on the outer compact and a beautifully embossed Jessica on the highlighter itself! I’ve seen various highlighters featuring lovely logos embossed, but this is truly on a whole other level! I can honestly say I wish I had the money to purchase another highlighter to keep in pristine condition, it really is almost too beautiful to use. For now I shall apply the highlighter by working my way from the outer corners! The colour is described as a, “soft focus peach/gold” and created using, “ultra fine pearls and a cream powder texture” it’s a little masterpiece, that’s the only way to sum it up. Also, I find the colour choice to be very universal and suitable for both day and night time.

The grand finale in the trio of products is the Glitter Storm Lipstick, a bold stunning true blue metallic red, definitely not for the faint hearted! This shade oozes Jessica appeal and helps you come one step closer to achieving your pinup bombshell dreams. The lipstick is described as a, “hybrid that combines star like pigments with a full colour base, for hyper shine and shimmer like never before” therefore, I’d say creating a semi matte metallic formula. It feels comfortable to wear and is a statement piece in the collection, there’s truly no mistaking that this is Jessica’s signature lipstick.

If you thought it couldn’t get any better then you’re wrong, as all Ciaté London’s products are Peta certified and cruelty free! Ever more fitting considering Jessica’s lovely husband is Mr Roger Rabbit!

I’ve bought Ciaté products and reviewed them before and I can honestly say that this Brand is extremely consistent in quality and has yet to let me down! I couldn’t recommend this Collection enough, I haven’t been this excited or passionate about one in quite some time!

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meganmonroes@icloud.com

Ash Lash Luxury Lashes By Ashlyn Coco.

If you’re a fellow Vintage Girl or lover of Old Hollywood and 1950s Blonde Bombshells, then you’ll know all about the incredibly stunning, Ashlyn Coco. I’ve been following Ashlyn for a number of years now and she is without doubt, the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen – if Marilyn and Jayne had a child together it would be her. Not only is she beyond gorgeous on the outside, but she has the purest heart and is such a kind soul, I feel very fortunate enough to know her. Therefore, I was simply over joyed when earlier this year she announced the release of her Brand, Ash Lash – a vintage aesthetic dream company, which sells all things retro style related, but most importantly as the title states – false eyelashes!

All the lashes are inspired by vintage decades and famous stars and they are 100% cruelty and vegan free, whilst being hand made individually to create a special, “3D” effect. Each pair of lashes costs $22, which is roughly £16 and if looked after, can be worn over 25 times – which is ultimately a huge bargain! Not only are you paying for possibly the most beautiful falsies made, you’re also purchasing the most intricately produced dream packaging. These aren’t a one time wear item, this is something you will treasure and they should take pride of place on your dressing room table.

With Ashlyn knowing how much I adore Marilyn, she kindly chose this pair for me to have – something I will always be forever grateful for! The Marilyn lashes are of course, inspired by the ultimate Star and exude quintessential Old Hollywood glamour, creating the perfect bedroom eyes she was so famously known for. This product is truly a work of art, featuring different variations in length which further create an added volume and luxurious look.

Not only are the lashes an incredible masterpiece, the box they are presented in is beyond beautiful, it reminds me of a vintage powder puff that would be key feature in a classic boudoir. The gold, pink and white colours blend together like an aesthetic dream and are so iconic and timeless – just like Ashlyn! Also, the actual shipping box simply has to be mentioned, it exudes ultra glamour and style and I will treasure it just as much as the products.

To apply the lashes, I used the  stunning premium gold applicator which retails for $6 and the lash adhesive glue
which is $12. Even these products which are only used behind the scenes are just gorgeous, it’s really so admirable how much time and effort has gone into making every single item and does not go unnoticed! With each order, you receive a complimentary postcard, featuring Ashlyn on the front and the lashes on the back – it will be taking pride of place on my dressing table!

Each lash style is specifically created to fit the era or star they’re named after, so there truly is a different look for everyone. However, if lashes aren’t your thing – and if not then they will be after wearing an Ash Lash! – there are plenty of other products available to purchase. Sunglasses, beauty accessories and various bundle deals are all on offer. The attention to detail is absolutely astounding and Ashlyn deserves all the success in the world, once you’ve worn an Ash Lash, it’s simply impossible to wear anything else! 

The lashes feel completely weightless and very comfortable to wear, even the adhesive glue smells lovely – a rare quality as falsie wearers will know! I can’t express how much I love both Ashlyn and her Brand, she is so authentically herself and her passion and love for Ash Lash truly shines throughout every detail. I am beyond excited to see the growth and expansion of this amazing company and will always be rooting for and supporting someone as special as Ashlyn.

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Primark x Alice In Wonderland Beauty Collection.

If you’ve been to Primark within the last year, then you’ll know that they are producing some incredible Brand themed products –  particularly with Disney! Every other week there seems to be a new genuine released item featuring their most cherished characters and films, which is basically every Disney lovers dream.

Within the last month, Primark have collaborated with Disney to create the most amazing collection of Alice In Wonderland beauty products and thankfully – I managed to get my hands on some of them! As well as a compact mirror brush and comb, perfume and false nails, also featured in the collection is a huge face and eye palette, false eyelashes and a trio of lipsticks – these two products I purchased for myself and will be the sole feature of this review!

The makeup bundle features the following; on the bottom shelf there are four square pan highlighters and two lip glosses and on the top there are twelve eyeshadow shades. If you’re familiar with Alice In Wonderland, you’ll know it’s known for its quirky, outlandish story and the items in the box most definitely follow that inspiration!

Within the eyeshadows, there are eight shimmer shadows and four mattes, which give a bold variety of creative colours. Personally, I would have preferred an equal number of matte colours, but both have strong staying power and are long lasting. If I remember correctly the palette was only £10, which although a bit pricey for Primark, is a great bargain in general for the amount of makeup purchased.

The four highlighter shades were very good quality and I was pleasantly surprised by how pigmented they were. In all honesty I simply purchased the products because they were so beautiful, so this was simply a huge bonus for me. I’ve yet to use the lip glosses as I’m more of a lipstick lover, but the packaging is also absolutely love and features illustrations from Alice In Wonderland too.

As for the lipsticks, you can purchase a set of three small versions together or one individually – I of course had to buy both, I have no limits when it comes to makeup! The packaging is absolutely stunning, once again featuring Alice and flowers, the full sized lipsticks are even heart shaped – which is very fitting to the theme! The three smaller lipsticks are available in a coral, nude and ruby shade which gives you the option to mix and match depending on your look for the day. The price for these products was only around, £3 – £4, so very affordable.

The Alice Eyelashes are natural but very voluminous and I think were £3 also, the only downside is they don’t come with their own glue – but this information is featured on the packet. I’ve now worn them twice and they’re still going strong, I’m very impressed and would definitely purchase more. Furthermore, not only do Primark offer Alice in Wonderland false lashes but, four Disney Princesses are also available too – each having a different style.

I’d recommend anyone who loves Disney or Alice In Wonderland to go to Primark as soon as possible and pick up these amazing products, they are without doubt any collectors dream and are simply beautiful to look at.

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meganmonroes@icloud.com