Mac Spring Forecast and Too Fabulous

Mac's latest collections hit UK counters this week and although I hadn't planned on investing in much this month as I'm trying to save my pennies for the beautiful Liberty for Mac collection in April, I had to go take a look.

I went into my Mac store the day after the release to mainly get one thing and one thing only, Ripe Peach. To my horror my little store had sold out in ONE day, other beauty addicts pipped me to the post so I left without it.

But I didn't leave completely empty handed, with such huge collections this month I spotted a few gems I had to take home with me.

Spring Forecast was a beautiful collection made up of four separate colour specific sections, pink, coral, plum and amber. This was a great collection for anyone from Mac enthusiasts, those just getting started into makeup or being introduced to the brand.

From Spring Forecast I only picked up two things mainly because I had so many similar products already in my collection, none of the single eyeshadows grabbed me although the quads were gorgeous. The stacked pigments were pretty but knew I wouldn't use them as I'm not a fan of loose eyeshadow.

Victorian lipstick is the most gorgeous bright pink with a hint of coral shimmer, perfect for summer. I love this lipstick so much, it really compliments my skin tone and blonde hair, such a lovely bright but wearable shade.

I also picked up a lovely lipgloss from the Coral section called Ember Glow, if you love your peaches this is the perfect colour. It is extremely pigmented and is not a peachy nude but more of a true orangey peach.

I'm not too sure how to wear this yet as I'm used to paler peaches and don't really know if this suits me. It would look amazing on darker skin tones though.
For me the Too Fabulous collection was the most exciting, all of the Cremesheen lipglosses were beautiful the only reason I passed on them is that I already own three of the re promoted colours and didn't need anymore.

If you don't own any though don't pass Mac without taking a look, they are the perfect lipgloss for the non lipgloss lover, creamy, smooth, pigmented and non-sticky!

Six lip pencils were released with this range and I couldn't go home without a few.
I've just started getting into lipliner, they really help keep your lipstick in place and allow you to create those Angelina lips you've always wanted.
I picked up the two palest colours, In Synch, a gorgeous baby pink which will look amazing with lipsticks such as Angel and Plink. Naked Liner is of course a nude for my favourite barely there lipsticks.

My favourite purchase has to be this beautiful mineral blush, I love Mac's mineral products in general. I have most of their mineral shadows and blushes from previous collections as I find they are really nicely pigmented, give subtle shimmer and are easier to blend than the normal shadows/blushers.

This is Rhapsody In Two.

A gorgeous combination of pale dusky rose with peachy gold. You could use the shades separately as a blush and highlight but swirled together they make a lovely peachy pink shade which I love.

Bottom- Top - pink shade, pale gold shade and mixed together the perfect peachy pink!

If you are not a fan of shimmer then these blushers are not for you, although they aren't glittery they do have quite a bit of shimmer which I like. It allows your skin to look healthy and radiant without being over the top.

There was no need for an additional highlighter when I applied this yesterday as it adds a lovely subtle glow to the skin.

As well as a slight sheen it also adds a nice flush of pink to the cheeks. Rhapsody in Two is a lovely product for those with paler skin tones wanting a pop of colour and a healthy glow.

Although I was a little disappointed I wasn't able to get my hands on Ripe Peach I did pick up some lovely products I know I'm going to love using once the sun comes out!


I'd love to know what you guys got from these huge collections? Is there anything I should go back for? I rush purchased and usually skip past some gems unintentionally!
xxx

Eye love you - YSL's new Dessin Du Regard pencils

Shiny gold packaging can only mean one thing, more YSL, I love this brand and it's products rarely let me down. I was sitting at my dressing table yesterday and thought which brand do I use the most? Where were my 'Go To' products from? The majority of my staple items were by YSL.

When I saw a new stand consisting of two rows of gorgeous looking eyeliners at my favourite counter I had to have some.

WARNING! Before you read on you must understand and dismiss the fact that I AM boring but there is NOTHING boring about this product. The thing I love most about these eyeliners is the amazing range of colours they come in which of course I didn't buy but you don't have to be boring like me!!

There are around 12 colours in the range, I can't tell you the number precisely as I can not find these anywhere on the web. I swatched them all and wish I'd taken a picture to show you all but the colours ranged from dark purples,blues,greens to bright aquas, lilacs and even a baby pink which would look amazing on those with darker skin.

The pencils are double ended similar to the Estee Lauder Double Wear pencils which I also love, one side is the pencil and the other a smudger (if that's a real word).
They have an angled rubber hoof shaped smudger on one end which is perfect for creating a smokier, lived in look for your eyeliner which personally I prefect to a perfect line.

These eyeliners are incredibly long lasting, I had the swatched on my hand for over two days and yes, I do wash!

The consistency is smooth and non scratchy, they are soft but not as creamy as the Estee Lauder eyeliners.
They are pricey at around £16 which I know is a lot but think about it, eyeliners are so long lasting, I've had some of my favourites for over a year. They also come with a cute sharpener to keep them in shape.

I was really unadventurous and purchased two brown shades but I just knew that if I was trying them for the first time I wanted colours I knew I would wear. I bought shades 6 and 8.
The top brown which I love is No 8, a really gorgeous reddy shade and below is No 6, a lovely bronze with a hint of deep purple.

Below is the effect given when smudged to create the softer, smokier look.These eyeliners are great if you want a really long-lasting line or a product that gives the gorgeous smudged effect you get when you apply eye shadows over a eyeliner only no need for the powder with the Dessin Du Regard pencils.

I really recommend checking out the colour range because it is simply stunning, there are beautiful shades for all skin colours and they are amazing quality.

For some reason these are not on any other websites yet but has anyone else seen or tried YSL's latest addition to its range?
xxx

GOSH your eyelashes look IRRESISTIBLE and INTENSE!

I've seen an empty shelf for Gosh's latest product in my Superdrug for the last few weeks now and have been desperate to get my hands on it since then. So luckily when I took a trip to pick up Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation yesterday it was out, at last!

Gosh has jumped on the ball shaped wand bandwagon for it's newest mascara, Irresistible, Intensity Mascara copying the likes of Givenchy Phenomen'eyes and L'Oreal Telescopic (both of which I also own).

This budget version does differ slightly from the above as it still has the traditional bristles in the shape of a sphere where Givenchy and L'Oreal both opted for plastic.


How does it compare I hear you ask? Well, Gosh has definitely done it's research and taken it's time to bring out this new type of mascara which I have to say is a million times better than L'Oreal Telescopic.

Telescopic for me was unusable as it had the flimsiest wand making it almost certain I poked myself in the eye every time I used it, meaning pain and mascara smudges galour.

Gosh has been clever enough to know that this not being a traditional, wiggle it along type of mascara requires a slightly different technique regarding its application and means the sturdier and thicker the wand the better. Givenchy knew it and Gosh does too.

I only applied one coat to my lashes this morning and this is the effect it gave. Lovely, natural, separated and lengthened lashes.

And UP!!

I'm really impressed with Gosh's version of the ball shaped mascara, the thicker wand, natural bristles and size of the ball make this mascara a pleasure to apply, no pokes or smudges.

It grabs all lashes from root to tip really making them exaggerated and double the length while still looking natural and fluttery!

Gosh is on to a winner with this one, I can see this replacing my Givenchy as lash elongator of choice. This is a much better dupe for Phenomen'Eyes than L'Oreal Telescopic ever was.

Irresistible, Intensity Mascara cost £8.99 and I purchased it from Superdrug.

What do you think? Will you be trying Gosh's latest product?
xxx

On a budget makeup I love!

I'm the first to admit that most of the time I am a high-end cosmetics snob and in most cases you get what you pay for.

But surprising as it may seem I also love drugstore (hate that word FYI) make up, who doesn't love a bargain. Nothing excites me more than finding a great product that looks great and works for a fraction of the price.

After watching MizzWorthy's drugstore favourites video I decided to do my own YT vid HERE and this post to share with you the affordable make up that I'm currently loving!

On a daily basis I tend to mix it up and use a good balance of high-end and low-end products.

Foundation - Collection 2000's Lasting Perfection

If I hadn't of been sent this about three weeks ago I would never have picked this up in store so I'm so glad I received it to try. This is the best affordable foundation I've tried in a long, long time.

It reminds me a lot of my beloved YSL Teint Resist but with slightly more coverage, making it perfect for bad skin days. It is a little heavier so not as easy to blend or as light on the skin as YSL but still gives great coverage without being cakey.

It is a long wearing base on my skin as it is oil free but I find I still have to use a powder on top to ensure it stays put all day. I would definitely buy this foundation, it is rare that I reach for drugstore bases over my higher end ones but this gives a lovely matte finish and great coverage.

Key features: Oil free, SPF 20, 16hour wear, transfer resistant and a medium/heavy coverage.

Concealer - Bourjois Healthy Mix Correcting Concealer

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this product! This is the only item I own by Bourjois and I think it is fabulous, this could be the start of a beautiful relationship!

I decided to buy this last week after seeing lots of rave reviews across the internet and couldn't wait to try it for myself.

The formulation is lovely, it feels silky and moisturising on the skin and is easy to blend. The smell is fruity a mix of the Apricot and Raspberry which is incorporated to encourage radiance and micro-circulation(???).

The main thing I love about this is the colour, I picked up Light (51), a lovely soft peachy, yellow which suits my skin tone perfectly. It highlights perfectly, banishing nasty shadows while covering imperfections instantly.

It is also oil free and stays put all day meaning no touch ups needed!

Mascara - Revlon's Double Twist

My second favourite mascara of all time, following closely behind my YSL Singulier. I can't believe I've never talked about this great product before, I've always meant to do a review but never got around to it.

Double Twist is a fabulous mascara for those who like the voluminous, very black lashes look. This mascara is not subtle, it gives impact, just the way I like it!

The wand is fat, for the me the bigger the better and is made up of a mixture of natural fibres and plastic bristles which helps to grab every lash and give maximum effect.

See below for one coat effect!
Blush - Ruby&Millie Cheek Colour

Mainly because the packaging has never attracted me this is the first product I've ever purchased by Ruby and Millie. I couldn't resist this lovely cheek duo in the colour Orange 33!

This has been the blush of choice for the last few months, the colour is gorgeous, a lovely combination of matte baby pink and pearl peach which look lovely alone or swirled together.

It is silky soft to touch with good pigmentation making this blush effortless to use. It gives the most gorgeous healthy flush of peachy pink with a subtle highlight from the pearl half.
Eyeliner - The Body Shop Eye Definer

I was sent a whole range of The Body Shop eye liners months and months ago but have only just got around to trying them out. Shimmering Steel is the one colour that stood out to me instantly and it's all I've been reaching for over the last few weeks.

The lovely slate grey colour with a hint of shimmer is perfect for days when a harsh black is too much and I fancy a change from my usual dark brown.

The formulation is so creamy and non scratchy making it so easy to apply and smudge out on the lower waterline. Grey is definitely a great colour to try if you have blue eyes as I find when I use it they seem to stand out so much more. (swatch further down)

Lipgloss - Natural Collection Juicy Lips

I love this bargain lip gloss which if I remember right cost me under £2. I spotted the gorgeous colour, yes another peachy nude and had to have it.

Fondant is a lovely vanilla flavoured lip gloss which is non sticky with good colour payoff. I love wearing this for a pretty and natural everyday lip with my Eve Pearl Nude Beach or Mac's Equality.

The only negative about this product is the doe foot applicator, it is tiny making it hard to get much product out and a little scratchy but hey it I can't complain much it was a bargain at £2. (swatch below)

From left to right - Barry M Lip Lacquer Crayon in No4, No 5, Natural Collection Fondant and Body Shop Shimmering Steel.

Lipstick - Barry M Lip Lacquer Crayon

Who would of thought applying lipstick with a Crayola would work but it does. Barry M's newest lip product is fabulous, the colours are gorgeous and bright, formulation spot on and the application unique.

I ordered two of the lip crayons a few weeks ago and have been meaning to review them for ages. I love the innovative idea of colouring in your lips with a giant colouring pen. The concept makes for a precise application, allowing you to draw and shade in effortlessly.

The formulation is surprisingly soft and luxurious, leaving my lips feeling soft with no need to a balm or gloss on top. I really enjoy using my lip crayons especially No4 which is the most gorgeous fuchsia pink with pink and silver shimmer.

I've worn this for several nights/meals out and love it. The other colour No4, Ballet Pink, is OK, I thought I would favour it to be honest as it is a pretty baby pink but I find it hard to apply.

I found the best way to make Ballet Pink work is to apply it over another nude or matte lipstick, it adds a pretty pink shimmer.

No 4, Party Pink!

I really enjoyed doing this post and would love to see your budget must haves! Please let me know if you do a similar post I love trying out bargain products!

xx

YSL Teint Resist Foundation Review

Are you on the pursuit of a flawless face or a foundation that simply stays in place all day? YSL just might have the answer. It's new Teint Resist foundation is the perfect non make-up, make-up leaving a weightless feel to the skin while at the same time holding back the shine for up to 14 hours.

Sounds to good to be true doesn't it but trust me it isn't.

I honestly thought I'd found as close to perfection as I could get with Nars Sheer Matte, still a great foundation offering coverage, shine control and lasting power but unfortunately not flawless skin.

I often found it difficult to blend and hard to get it to look natural around certain areas such as my nose, between my eyebrows and on my chin. Yes, it does control shine and offer good coverage but for me it's just that little bit too cakey.

YSL does exactly what Nars does but even better by offering completely weightless coverage on the skin, so good in fact that over the past few weeks I've had more complementary comments on my skin's appearance than ever before.

What this foundation offers?

• Oil free formula - perfect for those like myself with oily skin meaning it will last much longer on the skin.
• SPF10 - SPF is always essential in a face product for protection from the sun.
• 14hour wear - I can confirm that even on my mega oily skin this does indeed stay put from morning to night.
• Endless comfort - the formulation is so light, it feels like your own skin when applied and blended allowing for a flawless and natural finish.
• Transfer Resistant - no nasty foundation marks on your white shirts.
• Medium and buildable coverage.
• A PUMP - thank you YSL for offering a handy pump so you can only take as much as you need and no mess!
• 8 shades for most undertones, if you have a peach undertone like me then 5's your number!
• Leaves a matte but semi-luminous finish!
  

I can't tell you how happy I am to finally find a foundation that ticks all the boxes, I've tried so many that come close but for me this does it all.

It is the first foundation that I never need to touch up throughout the day or wear a powder with. I love how it is easy to apply and a little really does go a long way, I use three small pumps for my whole face.

The finish is neither matte or luminous it is a nice mixture of the two which I love, I'm not a fan of the glowy finishes due to my oily skin but neither do I like the pure matte look which often makes skin look flat and unhealthy.

I would say Teint Resist is one to try if you a) have oily skin b) work long hours c) want a foundation to take you from AM to PM or d) are looking for a flawless finish with coverage!

Has anyone else tried this?What did you think?
xx

Please vote for YM!

Yesterday I had a surprise e-mail from BeautyJudge UK telling me my blog has been nominated for the 'BeautyJudge UK Beauty Blog and Vlog 2010' award in 'The Beauty Leader Award'.

I can't tell you how excited I am and how much it means to me just to be recognised along with some other amazing UK bloggers for the advice and help I give through YMbeautyblog.

The award is created for 'appreciating those UK women who we turn to for inspiration and advice on beauty topics'.


So if you feel I help you in any way on your quest through the wonderful world of cosmetics please vote for me!!

You can vote HERE and my special code to enter is BLA1006.

Thank you so much, I really appreciate you all for reading my blog and helping me to get nominated in the first place. There is also a chance you could win a Voters Prize worth £100 just by voting!

xxx

Mini reviews and swatches - Eve Pearl, MUFE and A-Design

Those of you that watched my IMATS haul video on YT (here) last week will know that I picked up very little at this years trade show compared to last years. This was mainly due to the insane crowds of beauty addicts that flooded the stands making it near on impossible to see anything let alone swatch.

But I did manage to barge my way through, elbows out, to get my hands on these four great products. I knew before I went I had to have some Eve Pearl, MUFE and a giant powder brush in my life.

I had several request to post pictures and reviews on my blog of what I purchased so hope this helps!

First up is my top purchase, Eve Pearl's famous Duo Salmon concealer in the colour Light/Medium.
I've wanted this for so long after reading and watching hundreds of rave reviews on the Internet but as I'm not a fan of buying makeup over the Internet I never dared order. I wish I had because this concealer is the most effective under eye cover up I've ever used.

Formulation wise it's second to none, luxuriously creamy, velvety to touch, non cakey and blendable.

It is effortless to use, silky on the skin and the two colours make it so easy to cover dark circles perfectly. I apply the darker more salmon shade first to conceal blue/purple tones around my eyes and then I go over the top lightly with the more natural shade to help it blend with the rest of my skin tone.
As much as I love my Bobbi Brown this under eye duo definitely has the edge texture wise making it my new handbag essential.

The other Eve Pearl purchase was this amazing lipstick in Nude Beach. I couldn't resist this gorgeous shade, you know how I love my nude peaches.

This has overtaken NYX's India as my all time favourite lipstick, it's a more subtle and wearable peachy nude making it perfect for everyday. It goes with all looks and has become my daily must have.
Please excuse the hideous blemish on my lip!!

The texture is as luxurious as the concealer, creamy and silky like YSL Rouge Volupte's but much longer lasting.

I had hoped to get hold of MUFE's Mat Velvet and HD foundation but by the time I made it to the stall they were all sold out of my shade but I did walk away with one thing.
This is MUFE's lip liner in No44, a gorgeous blue toned pink. After watching The BombshellSuite's video on enhancing her lips with clever shading I thought it was about time I ventured into lip liners.

I've always wanted lips like Angelina but without the injections and lip plumper's.
Mac's 150 fluffy brush has never really worked for me, I like powder/bronzer brushes big to get a more natural finish but it's simply to small to do that.

After scouring the stalls for a brush big enough to fulfill my needs I came across this humongous powder brush by A-Design.
It cost around £13 which not only is a bargain for the size but the bristles are unbelievably soft putting my Mac 150 to shame, I often find it to be a little scratchy on the skin.
It creates a lovely, natural finish, the shape is rounded and perfect for buffing, blending in product, bye bye streaky bronzer.

I hope this helped!
xx

Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener, Pot Vs Pen.

Since having Lily just over three years ago under eye concealer has become my best friend, sleepless nights still plague me and trust me they leave their mark. Big purple ones.

I've tried them all to conceal my lack of sleep but over the time there's only been one winner.

In my book there is no concealer like a Bobbi Brown concealer. I have them all in my collection and use them daily so when I heard a 'Touche Eclat' like pen was being introduced I had to have it.

Essentially the Tinted Eye Brightener Pen is the same product as the Tinted Eye Brightener in the pot with slight differences, both are great concealers but which one would I re-purchase?

This is the original version sans pot which I love. The pale salmon coloured paste is perfect for hiding bags and circles. The consistency is lovely and light, blends easily and is non cakey leaving a natural semi matte finish on the skin.

I apply it using my Bare Minerals eyebuki brush which helps to blend it flawlessly and making it easier to get in the fiddly areas around the eye.

The only negative about this product is the POT, it's so messy, you can't take it on the go for touch ups during the day which used to drive me mad. When you love a product, you know it works but you can only use it at home kind of seems pointless.

So... Introducing the Tinted Eye Brightener Pen.

You'd be right in thinking I thought my prayers had been answered with Bobbi Browns latest addition to their range but alas in reality it isn't as good as it looks.

It's not all doom and gloom, on the plus side I do love the tiny black packaging and the fact that this pen comes in 7 different shades as opposed to 3 in the pot, making it much easier to find the right shade for your skin tone.

I don't know if it's just mine but I have to click it literally 20 times to get any product out every time and when it does come out too much flies out, leaving a big mess and excess product.

Also the consistency is not the same, obviously they had to make it thinner to make it work in a tube which I understand but it simply isn't as good. It doesn't cover and brighten as well, leaving me a little disappointed every time I use it.

Pot (left) Vs Pen (right)

As you can see in the photo's its nowhere near as creamy or of the same coverage. Having said that it does cover OK and is good for on the go, better than Touche Eclat any day but I still wish it was as amazing as the pot.

Oh and one last reason the POT out ways the PEN in popularity is the VALUE aspect, both cost a hefty£22 but the pot contains 7g of product where the pen has only 1.5g of product. That's a big difference in my mind not really fair.

It's rare that I am negative on my blog as I try to only review products that really impress me but I thought a comparison might be useful if the Tinted Eye Brightener was something you were thinking of purchasing.

For me it's the pot all the way. Have you tried either?Thoughts?
xx

My Shu Uemura lash loves

Every so often us women need a little artificial help.

Now I'm not talking anything drastic like Botox or surgery but it is amazing what a pair of false lashes will do in both enhancing appearance and confidence.

I don't know why but I feel like a whole new women wearing falsies, especially when I'm wearing my Shu Uemura's.

Yes, there are loads of great false eyelashes on the market for under a fiver, Ardell and Eylure's Girls Aloud sets being some of the best but nothing seems to beat my Shu's and I always end up reaching for them when getting ready for a night out.

At around £12-£20 they may seem pricey but trust me they are well worth it. Shu has an amazing range of unique and beautiful lashes which not only look amazing can be used over and over again, making them well worth every penny.

Here are my faves:

Personally I prefer corner lashes, if you have almond shaped eyes like I do I find these look the best and really enhance my eye shape. I do like the look of full lashes but I've never really found a pair that looks right on me so I end up cutting them to leave the outer corner.

The lashes above are my absolute favourite ever, they are the Mini Khaki and create the most amazing, fluttery, girly lashes.

They are a mix of black lashes with a light green which sounds odd I know but they look amazing on. I must have worn these at least 15 times since I purchased them last year for a New Years Eve party.

In the photo above and below I'm wearing my beloved Mini Khakis, hopefully you can see how they create such a gorgeous shape to the eye and really enhance the almond shape without looking too dramatic.

Me and Hele last New Years!

Now I'm not the kind of girl that does bling, crystals are not usually my thing but I couldn't resist these Madonnaesque corner lashes.

I've had these for quite a while but was a bit unsure to wear them as they aren't the most natural falsies but this New Year's I thought to hell with natural and dug them out.

Lily and I before we went to a New Years party so you can see what they look like with my eyes open. They add a subtle amount of length and flick when looking straight on, it isn't until I look down or close my eyes that you see the bling.

I have been converted. I love the crystals, they add just a little something to a somewhat otherwise pretty boring eye look.

They were a little fiddly to apply as the diamantes mean the part of the lash you stick to your eyelid is more rigid but I eventually got them on OK.

If I was to wear a full lash then these are my favourites, they aren't your usual full falsies, the V shape really makes them stand out and create a gorgeous effect with your own lashes.

Unfortunately I don't have a picture of me wearing the Black V lashes but they really are pretty on and unique in shape.

Apart from their amazing range of gorgeous falsies Shu Uemura also do the best lash glue I've ever used, no matter which brand of lashes I wear I always use this glue. It comes in a cute little white tube containing 7g of product for £12. I've had mine over a year and it's still 3/4 full.

It keeps lashes glued all night, is easy to apply and although looks white on first appearance turns clear when it dries making any mistakes invisible.

I have 5 pairs in total and I love them, there are so many to choose from, full, corner, individual, natural, dramatic, feathered, lace and all different colours. If you love your false eyelashes and are looking for something a bit different its definitely worth a trip to your nearest Shu lash bar.

I've always purchased mine from Harvey Nichols but they also stock them in other department stores and online at Space NK here.

What are your favourite false lashes? Tempted to try Shu Uemura's range?
xxx