Shop the Stash | July

Hands up, I know I missed the June edition of this, sorry.  Life just got in the way a bit, anyway enough of the excuses, lets see what I've picked for this month :)

Lips

These are mostly new to me, which is why I really want to use them to give them a good test for you lovely peeps.  There's 2 of the new Bourjois Rouge Edition Aqua Laque's*, an old Makeup Revolution Salvation lip gloss* (crazy intense pigmentation!), a GOSH Forever lip shine* (crazy pigmentation again), a Neve Yumtime lip balm* (also very pigmented) and finally one of the new L'Oreal lip glosses (from my £15 high street challenge for June).

Base

For this I've picked the L'Oreal Infallible 24hr foundation (sadly, too dark for me - this was from my £15 high street challenge in April), I love the coverage and finish of this, I just need it in a lighter shade.  I've also picked the Claudia Louch mousse foundation*, this I had mixed feelings about, it's stunning when on perfect skin, so I've put this in there for the days in the month where I don't have any dry skin issues.  Finally, I'm trying to experiment and test my new YSL Fusion foundation - so far I've found this is best on well primed skin, applied with a brush and finished with a beauty blender (a nice combo I've discovered!) this is also the tiniest bit too dark for me (the YSL lady in Debenhams always insists on matching me too dark... ).

Eyes

Some staples here and some new things.  My Smashbox 24hr eye shadow primer is amazing, I don't use anything else, so I had to include it.  Same goes for my GOSH Forever eye shadow stick in 01 silver rose, they're a great combo for long lasting eye shadow.  I'm yet to use the crayon that came in last month's My Little Box*, so I've included that to give it a whirl.  I'm also giving some attention to the new Maybelline The Nudes palette*, this I've been seriously impressed with (full review coming soon).  Also my YSL Babydoll mascara*, there'll also be a full review of this coming soon, I just need to take the photo's (it's seriously amazing).  And finally thanks to Beauty at Tesco and their free sample thing they did, I've also got a Max Factor False Lash Effect mascara to try (given the name, I have high hopes for this).

Cheeks

I'm not quite ready to take the Milani blushers out of my makeup box and into my collection, so I'm keeping this out for my shop the stash, I bought these for another £15 high street challenge and really love them (the rose blusher at the top of the pic more than the other one).  I've also picked my beloved Smashbox blusher in the shade chiffon (here's an old review of it with bad photography!), it's seriously beautiful with a soft gold shimmer.

Concealing

I'm keeping my concealer choices simple, the Urban Decay Naked Skin concealer* (I freakin' love this - review here), and my Claudia Louch Concealer* - I've included this as I need to use it more so I can build up a review of it for you :)

Brows

All of my favourite brow products.  Starting off with the Anastasia DipBrow pomade (my go-to brow product at the mo), the Anastasia Brow Wiz (good for when you have maintained brows), the Maybelline Brow satin* (really nice product, good for pretty natural brows), and the Essence Make Me Brow (amazing dupe for the Benefit Gimmie Brow).

Lining

For bold liner, the Essence Liquid Eyeliner (it's decent, but not exactly precise), for precise beautiful liner, the Dolly Wink eyeliner* (possibly my favourite liner ever, a definite repurchase).  And for kohl I've picked my Tara Tarantino one (very black and pretty soft, very nice) and my new L'Oreal Infallible liner (not as black but longer lasting).

Contouring

Keeping it simple as I don't contour that much, so I've picked my Maybelline Master Sculpt contour kit* in Light/Medium (this is really lovely, full review here), and my Neve Contourmania contour pencil*.

Powder

I'm still testing these so had to include them really, there's the Laura Mercier Loose setting powder* in the lightest shade, and the Guerlian Meteorites compact* (seriously head over heels in love with this, SO BEAUTIFUL!)

I know there's quite a lot of PR samples in this month's shop the stash, but that's just how it worked out, I certainly didn't plan it like that :)  I hope you like my picks, and if there's anything you're desperate to see reviewed soon, let me know and I'll make sure I'll get the review up sooner rather than later.

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*Post contains PR Samples

Shop the Stash | May

It's the beginning of May which means it's time for me to once again, shop my stash - something I'll be doing every month this year.  If you want to see what I've shopped so far this year, you can read all about it here.  Some of these products you might have seen in previous 'shop the stash' posts - they're just products where I don't have many in my collection any more, like bronzers - I only have 3 (the Bourjois one, my Jouer one and the Body Shop one) so naturally, some products will keep reappearing.

Over the last month, I have been really waiting for May to arrive so I could start using these again, like my MAC blusher that I only bought a couple months ago in my MAC haul.  So naturally, I've included these this month too.  Here's a closer look at what I picked and why.

Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder

This I've had in my collection for a while.  I'm a little dubious (as much as I liked it before) as the powder I picked last month (Revlon Nearly Naked) I really didn't like, it left my skin/foundation really cakey, to the extent that I had to get my favourite one out (Japonesque) so I didn't look awful. I'm hoping this won't leave me looking like I've caked on the foundation, but if it does, I'll be switching back to the Japonesque quickly.

Benefit Rockateur blusher

I bought this quite a while ago and loved it, it really does give the prettiest soft gentle glow, and it smells awesome too!  It has a lovely soft shimmery glow to it, so I'm looking forward to getting reacquainted with this.

MAC blusher in Gentle

For the reasons mentioned above ;)

Makeup Revolution The One foundation

I really did like this, it's quite a thin watery foundation but it has really good coverage, so it'll be nice to give this a go again.

Clinique cream to powder eye shadow

I've picked the one matte one I had in the collection as I'm planning on wearing lots of matte eye shadows this month and I thought this would make a great base.

Dior BB eye cream

A firm favourite of mine, this really is amazing at brightening under the eyes, reducing redness and it doesn't crease on me which is a massive bonus.  It's getting close to it's expiration, so I'm trying to get a bit more use out of it before it self destructs.

Urban Decay Naked basics palette

You know I said I wanted to wear more matte shades? Well, this is where it's all stemming from - I saw this in my collection and thought 'yeah, this needs more love' so I'm planning on wearing it lots this month - keep an eye on my Instagram for matte selfies!

Bourjois light matte primer

Another great product! I'm rubbish at remembering to use primer, but this one will be coming up to it's expiration too so I'm trying to get some more use out of it :)

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Shop the Stash | April

Pinch, punch it's the first day of the month! Did you get any April Fools jokes?  Thankfully this year, I didn't :)  Anyway, as you know each month this year I'm shopping the stash, but I've been pretty lazy the last couple of months and I've not managed to get the post up about it until half way through the month, I know, bad blogger!  This month I'm being good and getting the post up right at the beginning of the month.

You all know how much I adore my Bourjois Radiance Reveal foundation, well this month I decided to try to break out of my comfort zone and use something different, that I've previously liked - same goes for lots of these products, I'll be trying to find new ways to enjoy them all.  Here's a list of what I picked:

Canmake BB cream

NYX eye shadow in 'My Favourite Colour'

Inglot eye shadow quad (no names on the shades)

NYX eye shadow in 'Taupe'

NARS single eye shadow in 'Ashes to Ashes'

Revlon Nearly Naked powder

Canmake blusher in 01

Illamasqua blusher in the shade 'Lover'

NYX roll on shimmer (silver)

Body Shop honey bronzer (in the lightest shade)

I'm actually wearing the Illamasqua blusher today, I'd forgotten just how beautiful it is (and matte), really perfect for spring, and subtle (although, it is massively pigmented!).  The NYX roll on glitter I'm planning on dotting on the centre of the eye to add some sparkle, and judging by the eye shadow colours I've picked, it's going to be a pretty neutral month in terms of colour!

Are you shopping the stash this month? Comment below with your picks :)

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*Some of the products featured are PR samples previously reviewed

Shopping the stash | March

So I kinda missed this last month (naughty blogger!), I did still shop the stash I just forgot to blog about it.  A couple weeks ago I went through my collection once again and picked out a few new products for me to re-discover, products I've previously used and liked, but didn't use enough (maybe only once or twice).  Here's a more detailed look at what I picked:

1.  Witch anti-blemish pressed powder

This item I won in a #FlawlessFollower(?) promotion on the Witch twitter account, but I never got around to trying it as I was always trying out another powder.  I've been using it for the last couple of weeks and well, it's ok.  It sets my foundation well giving me a pretty matte finish.  I just think for me, it can look a little cakey after being on for a few hours, and I really do only mean a little.  I didn't find it controlled my shine that well either.  I'm afraid to say, as much as I like Witch products, this isn't one I'd re-purchase.

2.  Urban Decay Flushed palette

There's just something about Urban Decay formulas that I really love - they're such great quality, really standing head and shoulders above their competition (in my opinion).  I love their 'Naked' range, especially since growing to love nude/brown shadows so much.  This I'm shopping the stash with more because of the highlighter in it, then secondly the blusher.  I probably won't use the bronzer as it tends to be a bit dark for me, what with being so pale.

3.  Urban Decay Naked lip gloss

I used to wear so much lip gloss, but as I got older, the hair getting stuck in the gloss became such an annoyance I stopped wearing it. Well, this month I've been trying to wear it again, albeit only every now and then.  This is such a lovely shade too, it looks so pretty on the lips with the naked palette.

4.  Elf mineral eye shadow in Sweet

This is a really fine mineral eye shadow, very sparkly/shimmery (not glittery).  Personally, this isn't a shadow I'd wear all over my lids, however, this is amazing just dabbed on the centre of the lid when wearing the Naked 3 palette as it's pinky toned - it really adds a highlight to the centre of the lid and makes the look really pop.  I'm looking forward to using this again :D

5.  Revlon lip butter in Candy Apple

I had this in with a Christmas swap with Laura from A Scottish Lass.  It's a really pretty red, not massively pigmented (in line with the other lip butters) but lovely and buttery :)  I really am trying to wear more lippies, I just fail so hard at it! lol

6.  Tara Tarantino kohl eye liner

This came in a Wantable makeup box last year and I didn't really give it the time of day.  However, since adding it to my shop the stash products I'm absolutely loving it.  It's very soft, and very black, it also stays put really well, at least, the way I've been using it.  When I'm putting my eye makeup on, I tend to apply it straight away, then when the look is finished, I re-apply it and it stays put really well.

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*Post contains PR samples (previously reviewed & blogged about)

Shop the Stash January

This might be a little late in the month to start this, but I thought, why not! What I'm going to do is a shop the stash post each month, hopefully I'll find some great treasures hidden in my collection, and even uncover some products I'm not so happy about.  One of the reasons I wanted to do this is because I realised the other day that last year I pretty much bought very little makeup, and as a result, most of my blog posts were PR samples.  I wanted to mix things up a bit, so most of the products in my shop the stash will be ones I bought (but not all of them).  I've also given myself a £15 budget each month to spend on makeup, I know that's not much, but things are pretty tight at the moment. I'll be searching through the high street to find (hopefully) 3 products each month to buy, try and review.

Anyway, here's what I've picked:  2 x Chanel eye shadow quads - these are pretty expensive and have hardly been used, so I thought it was about time I took them out to stretch their legs and gets some use.  1 x Bourjois lipstick in 18 - literally only worn this once!  L'Oreal pressed powder - again, pretty much never used this - you know what it's like when you find a product you love, nothing else gets a look in! I'd become loyal to my Japonesque pressed powder (it's seriously awesome).  Bourjois creme to powder shadow - these (when I bought them) I couldn't stop using, they're seriously amazing, but as is the way of the world, I discovered something else and moved on, well I want to give them a go again.  Tarte Amazonian clay blusher - this was a present from the lovely Laura from A Scottish Lass and I've barely used it (the curse of being a blusher addict!), so I'm vowing to use this more.  Rimmel  Scandaleyes creme eyeshadow - an amazing long lasting base for eye shadows, looking forward to using this again.  Collection fast stroke liquid eyeliner - I have a love hate relationship with this, it's a great product, jet black and matte, but the applicator means that the product gets on your lashes, not great.  Benefit browzings* this is a bit of a cheat, I didn't have any other eye shadow palettes in my stash to shop, and I love the light colour of this one :)  An inner corner eye brightener from Majollica Majorca - I had this in a makeup swap and have never really used it.  Bobbi Brown colour corrector - I never really got on that well with this, so giving it another whirl.  Cover Girl clump crusher - another gift from Laura, I've finally cracked it out of it's packaging to use up.  Rimmel fix and perfect primer - loved this when I used it before and for some reason stopped using it.  Bourjois healthy mix radiance renewal foundation - a perfect dupe for NARS sheer glow, and since I can't afford that, I'm using this again.  Sephora lipstick - it's matte red, long lasting and gorgeous!  Jouer bronzer - bought this, loved it, hardly used it and then it got stuffed away in my makeup drawer.  Benefit Gimme Brow* - to go with my Browzings and keep my brows in place.  MUA black kohl eyeliner* - cheap and cheerful, I've lost my favourite kohl liner, so giving this one a go.  Clarins eyeshadow primer* - I've had this since Autumn, I used it for a week or so, and haven't used it since.  

Well I think that's everything! I'll be back to chat about them more at the end of the month, I'll try and take some pics of the looks I create with them too :)  Here's the first look I created with the products (isn't that Sephora lipstick stunning!?)

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Shopping the stash

When I was having my big makeup clear out at the weekend, I discovered some products I loved, but don't wear enough, or haven't tried out enough to be able to review them, so this week I picked out a few pieces for me to 'shop the stash' with for the next week or two.

Wet n Wild palette

Laura (A Scottish Lass) kindly brought this back from America with her last Nov time and apart from using it as soon as I got it, I haven't used it since, so I decided this needed some more love.  It'll go really well with the purple GOSH forever shadow stick I've got (as the base) - oh yeah, I meant to tell you, after the success of the GOSH forever shadow stick I reviewed the other day, I decided to go out and buy a couple of others shades so I have a base of it to go with any shadow colour I decide to wear :D  They were on offer for £3.50 in Superdrug, and buy 2 get 3rd free, BOOM!

NYX palette

I picked this up a couple months ago when they launched in my local Next shop, I thought this looked really pretty, but I think I've only used it once and I'd like to review it, so I'm going to try and use this more over the coming weeks too.

Bourjois bronzing primer

Literally bought this, loved it, used it for about 2 weeks and haven't used it in like 6 months.  I tend to wear bronzer very rarely, so I'm going to try and make more of an effort with this one.

Bourjois java rice powder

I adore this and forget I have it.  I love the packaging, this will be something I keep because it looks pretty, long after it should be thrown away :)  It smells great too - looking forward to using this again as my setting powder.

Tarte amazonian clay blusher

This is another gem Laura brought back from America for me that I haven't used enough, so out with my current blush rotation (MK blusher mostly) and in with this one!

Chanel single eye shadow in Gri Gri

I bought this from their Autumn collection last year, it's very similar to their Fauve shade, but with less mauve in it.  I actually had forgotten I'd bought this, I remember the quad I bought at the time, and started wearing it again recently, but forgot this - so it'll definitely be making an appearance on my lids once more.

NARS snake eyes gel liner

This is a bit of a multi-purpose product, you can use it as a base for your shadow, or as a liner - personally, I prefer it as a liner for under my eyes, it stays put really well, and it's like the darkest green (almost looks black) with flecks of green glitter in it.

So that's my stash shopped for the next couple of weeks, what's your favourite piece from it?

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Shopping the stash

Happy Thursday!  I'm off to my work's Christmas do tonight and I've spent the last week or so shopping my stash so thought I'd share some of my choices with you :)

Before I get into it I just wanted to let you know that as a Christmas treat I'm giving you all 50% off advertising on my blog, whoop!  Just use the code Happy50 when making your order :)

So, the stash! (is it just me that here's stash and thinks 'moustache'?).

My Dior BB Cream has run out :(  Since I'm on a spending ban I'm hitting the stash, so I'm using the Bourjois healthy mix serum and the Smashbox Halo foundation (both totally decent!).  I also bought the Rimmel fix and perfect a few weeks ago and haven't really used it, so I'm trialing that too.

I've also picked out and started using my Bobbi Brown colour corrector as I'd stopped using this, so thought I'd give it another shot (I am still totally and utterly in love with my Dior BB eye cream though!).  I've picked out some eyeliners too, ones I like and ones I'd like to use more and give a fair trial too - like the Bourjois liquid eyeliner.

For mascara, the Maybelline Mega Plush - seriously if you build this up you get some seriously pretty lashes!  You know how everyone raves about MAC Cranberry?  Well, the Inika mineral eyeshadow in autumn plum - a confirmed dupe!

The NYX blusher in Summer Peach is super pretty too, I've had it quite a while but forget I have it.  To be honest I've been so addicted to the blusher in the Balm Jovi palette I haven't wanted to wear anything else, so I'm trying to re-broadened my horizons again :)

Why don't you shop the stash this week? :)

This months Biggest-Pixi3 advertiser is the lovely Amy from Srslylou

 

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Shop the Stash September

Hey guys!  Double post day again :)

I've decided to turn the rest of September into Shop the Stash month since I have a distinct lack of funds!  So, this is a quick post to show you what's in my collection :)

Thoughts

So as you can see I've picked a bunch of different things, most of which I have a choice with, like the way I have 2 mascaras (one by one and fashionista), 3 blushers (MUA, NYX and Fashionista) etc, but everything you see on the screen is what I'll be using over the next 2 weeks - I may add my YSL foundation to the mix too as at the moment only the Rimmel wake me up is in there :)  But I'll try to do a Photo of the Day each day and at the end of each week, or Sept I'll do a collage of all of them :)  Wish me luck!

Have you ever done a Shop the Stash?  How did yours go, and for how long?

Pixi3 out

xXx