A Limited Edition Morphe Treat

 

When Beauty Bay announced that this palette was back in stock, I think I might have squealed. I've been on a beauty spending ban during the last couple of months, and considering I didn't buy a single item during that time I thought it was justifiable to pop onto BB and buy the Limited Edition Morphe 25B Bronzed Mocha Eyeshadow Palette (£19).

 

I was drawn into this palette mainly because I think the style and packaging of the product is gorgeous; the transparent lid means that you can easily see the shades inside, something that I also love about my holy grail Z Palette. There's just something undeniably jazzy about transparent packaging, am I right? I would however be a bit wary of travelling with such a heavily plastic product - the thought of a suitcase disaster like that practically brings a tear to my eye.

 

The square layout of the 25B is different to the usual large Morphe palettes and more compact, which I think I prefer - 25 shadows for under £20 is a bargain that I just couldn't pass up! Particularly now that its Summer, and I get the opportunity to wear make up more often since I'm not stuck inside a room revising (hallelujah).

 

This isn't a Beauty Bay review, but I couldn't not mention that this arrived the morning after I clicked 'order', despite only selecting standard delivery. Now THAT is customer service.

 

The other option for these limited edition palettes is Copper Spice, and I may have to pop back online to pick those copper shades up later in the Summer, but for now I just couldn't resist this collection of deep browns and purples. When I was swatching the shadows for this post, I think I sat there for a good two minutes just staring at the pigmentation. Hooooly moly does this palette have pigment. (And I'm talking opaque colour pigment. Swatches at the bottom of the post!)

 

As always when it comes to these kind of palettes, the shimmer shades are the goldmine in terms of colour payoff, but I was pleasantly surprised by the range of mattes. The only way I can think of describing the formula is buttery, as the shadows are smooth to the point of just gliding onto the eyelid. Morphe consistently impress me with the quality of their palettes; I've never tried one of the larger products, but everyone raves about them and if they're up to the standard of this 25B, I can see why.

 

I can't wait to play around with this and see what looks I can create - my only qualm is that the shades don't have names, so I can't show you my current favourites (but think all of the shimmers and brown mattes). I've been waiting months to get my hands on this, and I'm pleased to say that it does not disappoint in the slightest. 

 

Products on Trial #2

 

I think I'm going to have to start doing these trial posts way more often, considering that the rate with which I'm trying new things is consistently increasing (honestly, someone needs to organise a makeup intervention for me.) Washing my face, sitting down in front of my make up mirror with my speakers on and just setting myself up for a face full of first impressions is up there with my ultimate favourite past times. The only thing slightly more exciting than that is setting them up for a pretty photo and review over on this little thing I like to call my own.

 

The first item that I've tried over the past few weeks is the Charlotte Tilbury 'Legendary Lashes Mascara', which totally wins on the mascara packaging front. I like the wand on this, its nice and chunky to give volume, and even though the mascara is a mini version, I feel like you get the effect that you would with the full size (some mini versions just aren't as good as the real thing for some reason.) Aside from adoring the volume I get with this and that the shade is black as black can be, I'm a disappointed with how this smudges a tiny bit around my eyes; not something I would usually expect from a luxury mascara. It's nothing major, just something to bear in mind.

 

 

Ever since purchasing Woodwinked by MAC and falling completely in love with the formula and pigmentation, I've wanted to trial another shade. Mythology is a gorgeous deep rose shimmer that works as an 'all over the lid' shade, and I'm definitely glad that I went out and bought it. With most of my single shadows I tend to buy them in the pan so that I can transfer them to my custom palette, but I love the MAC shadow packaging so much that I can't resist buying them in the usual form. This will be one of my go-to shades in Spring, I just know it.

 

Luminoso by Milani is a cult favourite blush that I've been desperate to try out for quite some time, and I wasn't disappointed because boy that product gives some pigment (but not like the stodgy pigmented blushes that leave an unblendable heap of product on your cheeks.) The consistency of the powder is quite light so settles easily, and the peach toned colour is so adorable, especially on paler skin like mine. I have to say that the packaging is a bit more bulky than I would like, and the brush included is below that standard of a usual blush brush, but the actual product is a right old gem, and the mirror is divine. I got this from Beauty Bay when it was on sale, so for the price I paid for it, Luminoso has proved its worth.

 

Finally, the Morphe MB23 crease blending brush is not a brush that I can imagine living without. I have other blending brushes in my collection, but this is so soft and sturdy that it does the job perfectly. I am consistently impressed with Morphe brushes; I don't think that for the price you can beat the quality! This brush paired with MUG shadows is a dream come true.

 

The Loveliest Warm Toned Palette

 

Lately I've been feeling myself fall a bit off the blogging train; its a big change to go from writing posts up in my bedroom at home to finding the time at university to sit down and take photos (never mind finding a lighting spot that works!) Anyway, this palette by Morphe landed on my doorstep a couple of weeks ago, and I couldn't resist writing about it, because isn't it just the prettiest range of colours you ever did see?

 

I've never tried out any eye shadows from Morphe before, and the bigger palettes just seemed too daunting to go for as an introduction, so I settled on adding the 12NB to my basket. I always gravitate towards palettes that I can easily reach for when I'm in a rush in the morning, instead of single eye shadows that consistently seem to wander off in the same way that hair ties do.  The 12NB palette costs £11.95, which is basically £1 a shadow - I know, pretty darn good value for money. 



 

As for shades, this beauty is all about the warm browns and autumnal shimmers. Ever since an incident in my early make up days where I attempted a smoky eye and came out looking like I'd been punched in the face, I've steered clear of cool tones when it comes to make up. The golden rule of warm browns is (obviously) that you can never have enough, and there are so many shades in this palette that I just don't have anything like them in my collection okay? It's the phrase we all use to justify beauty buying, no secrets here.

 

The only thing that I struggle to get on with is the lack of shadow names, which I'm guessing is only really an issue if you're attempting to write about it, like I currently am. My go-to overall lid shade to set any eye look using this palette is the second shade in from the left on the top row, a pale nude that just evens out colouring. The shadows are almost buttery, is that a word that fits here? I love the formula, there's something about creamy powdered eye shadows that is just so much more preferable to powdery textures that never seem to blend the way you want them to. Another couple of shades I've completely fallen in love with are the first shade on the middle row (a gorgeous warm brown matte that works well as a transition shade) and the third shadow on the middle row that's basically a slightly darker, shimmery version. I can see myself at least trying every shade in this palette, which is always a bonus when it comes to beauty products like this.



 

The last thing I wanted to mention about this product is the packaging; who doesn't love a good matte black case? It clicks shut so there's no chance of any mishaps happening when you travel with the palette, and the compact-ness (is that a word?) is brilliant for the price that you pay. Credit to Morphe, you can consider me impressed!

 



A Killer Contour Duo

 

When it comes to make-up buying habits, I tend to pick an item that I'm obsessed with and buy a million different versions of it, until I finally accept that I have enough and move on to the next category to binge buy. Lately, my crazy habits have leaned towards the contour side of the spectrum; as a pale girl, its hella difficult to find a bronzer or contour kit that works with the skintone (too warm and you look orange, too cool and you look a bit grey and under the weather.) So, with that in mind I thought I'd introduce you to an affordable contour duo that at the moment is right up there for me with the bigguns that I've had in my collection for years.

 

It's no secret on this blog that when it comes to buying make up brushes, I'm a bit of a beauty blogging failure. It isn't often I'd go down the practical route and pick up a brush that I actually need, when I could pick up yet another variation of a nude lipstick. Hey ho, we all have our faults. I was however, extremely excited to pick up a Morphe brush, since I've heard great things and watched endless Youtube videos to find the exact brush that I was looking for (believe me, there are zillions of brushes made by this brand.) If there was a particular brush I was definitely lacking it was a contour brush, meaning that up until two weeks ago I didn't own one.

 

The Morphe 438 from Beauty Bay is such gorgeous quality, and I literally look forward to using it every morning. It's a pointed contour brush, meaning that for the first application of a bronzer, its very easy to get a detailed application that you can then blend out. The bristles don't fall out and the brush stays in shape and is so flipping soft. For £7.95 its actually a pretty affordable addition to a minimal brush collection; I know that I'll definitely be looking on BB again soon to find another brush to add from this range.



 

As for the actual bronzing product, I was completely blown away by the 'Bronze and Sculpt' Contour Kit from MUA Luxe - they are absolutely slaying it with their luxurious range at the moment, that packaging is unbelievably high-end looking! The product is basically a bronze, highlight and mirror kit all in one. The bronzer is slightly on the warm side but doesn't have that orange tint which so often makes an appearance with cheaper bronzing products, and looks beautiful paired with the highlight shade (or the Mary-Lou Manizer I've been finding.) For only £5 I had to try it, and I've not been disappointed at all. Some drugstore bronzers I've tried can have very little colour payoff, but you really only have to use a little with this product to go a long way, and the mirror is fab. I would pay £5 just for the mirror alone; its perfect for your handbag and the kit would be a good choice for a travel make up bag.

 

I'm so impressed by MUA, a brand that I haven't tried much of but seem to create products of a high quality for a majorly reduced price. I do remember writing once that I was a strictly high end bronzer girl, but I have to hold my hand up and take it all back. The bronzer applies beautifully with the Morphe brush, meaning that these products combine to make a killer contour duo (hence the title of this post, don't you just love it when a plan comes together?) I wouldn't quite yet sign my NARS Laguna off, but for a handful of loose change in exchange for a product like this, you certainly can't go wrong.

 

 

Have you ever tried either of these products or brands?