MAC - Brooke Candy collection

MAC UK

I admit I dont know much about Brooke candy, other then this her second MAC collection. I loved the gothic colour and packaging when I saw the pre-release and knew it had to make my collection. 

About : 

Fiercely independent digital sensation Brooke Candy returns to M·A·C with her feisty colour collection uniting the past, present and future of her creative spirit. Shades for eyes, lips and nails dare you to stand up and stand out. Bold, brave, unusual, unstoppable.

- Lipstick - Witching hour

Four hues of Lipstick make a boldly confident statement – two, Mind Control and Witching Hour, return for an encore performance. Formulated to shade, define and showcase the lips. Unique chrome packaging featuring a graphic black splatter with Brooke Candy’s signature.

* Amplified: cream finish

* Apply directly to lips.

This heavy darkened mix of purple and black with that beautiful sheen and cream finish, well it just called to me. I love unique bold colours, this is something I love to set my looks alive. I will either have a bold lip or bold eye's, this lipstick is for that neutral natural day to bring some life to it. It's creamy, applied like a dream with maximum opaqueness. Definitely lined with a clear wax pencil to keep sharp the definition, I must admit its really a unique shade. Perfect for a dark and light ombre lip if you need dark colours to work with.

- Bronzing powder - Golden 

A subtly tinted powder that gives skin sheer colour and highlights. Perfect for enhancing skin tone for a natural, sun-kissed look or accentuating a tan. Formulated to provide smooth, even application on all skin types. Unique chrome packaging featuring a graphic black splatter with Brooke Candy’s signature.

* Contains light-reflecting bronzing pigments

* Provides a natural, sun-kissed look

* For a wide variety of skin tones

* Dermatologist tested

* Ophthalmologist tested

* Non-acnegenic

* Apply to face using a brush as desired.

Golden is one of those shade's that always gets repromoted over and over again. Its amazing for me as im so pale, however I do feel that they need to expand to cater for all skin tones. This was the only compact available in Brooke candy collection. 

I do feel they could have made a beautiful deep rich purple powder blush or a duo powder with something rich to cater for the palest of us and women of colour. Im saying that I must admit the quality is so good, I'm so tempted to purchase the lipgloss as its beautiful (I never reach for gloss) and unique. 

I definitely will be purchasing the lip pencil and may obtain the gloss also. So if you love the compact and dont have golden, then its perfect for a light and not to heavy bronzer. Witching hour is unique and im so happy I was able to snap it up. I will have a look via my Instagram, showing off "witching hour" and also how subtle "Golden" as a bronzer is. 

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Smooch cosmetics (Duo Blush, Bronzer and Eyeshadow duo)

I love Smooch cosmetics. There packaging is sleek and compact which is constantly compared to a high end brand, however they are more affordable. Offering a high quality of cosmetics with good levels of pigment and easy to work with being blend able. They offer a really nice wide selection of products. Currently the website is down, so i have found that they are being sold on Amazon. 

They say : 

Smooch Cosmetics known for their saucy, lacy packaging and highly desirable range of colours. The concept came, quite simply, from a drawer of lingerie. The idea was to create a lust worthy cosmetics brand that was saucy and sexy without being salacious. It's all about confidence. We love our packaging but know that if we were to peel back the lace, you still have a product that helps you to look good and feel great.

So the packaging is as it says in the above statement, lacy and chic with a hint of naughty to it. I find its very classy packaging with the inner case feeling like suede. Im in love with them so far so lets see how the products stand up to testing.

Smooch bronzer in shade "Smooched"

The bronzer in "Smooched" is a duo tone. With the main colour being around the "S" initial, you can use a small brush to just use this if you wish. Mixing the colours gives a light shimmer. So you have a choice within one compact. I found the colour to be very good for paler skin tones. The pigment is also very good and easily blend able. I love that this compact has a big mirror within it, so its the perfect handbag compact. The brush within the compact could be improved, to offer a little more control in the placement of colour and blend ability. Other then that its a beautiful compact bronzer. 

Smooch duo Blush in shade "Peachy" 

Now the blush in "Peachy" is again a duo shade product. One half is the more pink for a bolder look, the other half is peachy for a more subtle look. Mixed turns into a lovely peach with pink hints within it. Offers lovely pigment without being overbearing and also blends really well into your contour. This blush is a perfect daily use colour. It also has a compact mirror inside for travelling. 

Smooch Eyeshadow Duo in shade "Seattle"

I love the Smooch eyeshadows. "Seattle" is a beautiful taupe with shimmer and paired with a golden cream shade. They blend beautifully and this duo alone could be used, if you didnt want to take a huge palette or many shades. A lovely taupe smokey eye that can be intensified, by using a eye pencil smudged with the shadow on top to intensify. This is the ideal duo for all neutral shade lovers. Being so affordable and also the packaging is luxurious feeling. 

I loved using the Smooch products used to create the look below. Using the products for this look, I contoured with the darkest part of the bronzer. Then using both shades in the compact to bronze my face with. The blush was then beautiful to use with the bronzer and blended in so easily, i used both the shades within the blush. I have yet to use the eyeshadow duo on its own. However i will post more pictures on my instagram bar of looks featuring it. This will be doing a natural look for valentines day, then how to turn it into a beautiful evening look for those women on the run. 

Stargazer Cosmetics

Stargazer Website

I am so excited, to be given the opportunity to review for Stargazer. I have seen there products used by others. However I was taken aback by the abundance of colours. I was very kindly sent, a selection of products to try. 

They say : Stargazer was established in 1978 with the opening of a stall in the Great Gear Market on the Kings Road London. Kings Road was the centre of the punk fashion in London at the time, and it was this attitude towards colour and outrage that moulded many of the company’s ideas behind the ranges we produce. 

In the late 1980’s, we started to produce the products ourselves. Now in an effort to offer a wide range of cosmetics, hair colouring products. With a wild, colourful and in your face feel to them. Stargazer now is sold across the world. So be part of the Stargazer colour renaissance.

They say ; Pressed powder for blush/shadow application. Wide array of colours that will meet any requirements. Made up of both matt and shimmery shades. This is an example of how descriptives, separate a matte from a shimmer or any other finish. 

E.g : Black - matt finish

        Black gold - shimmery finish

Ice Rose, Champagne, Ice Peach and Bronze

So the eyeshadows I had to try were mostly shimmer, I would use for inner eye highlighting (Except the bronze). I have many looks I want to do. So the feel of the eyeshadow is very light, a fine milled buttery texture. Each of the shadows gives excellent pigmentation of colour. I'd say Ice rose, was the only one I found to be a let down. It's almost a loose glitter on appearenece. I would possibly use this, to jazz up a loved matte shade.

The bronze is by far my favourite shade. As it's effortless and versatile with any base, then blend in some bronze for day time. There you have a beautiful look or for night to transition the shade with some more golds/bronze, any shade to really make this bronze give you so many options. So these shadows are so pigmented, affordable and blend like a dream. You choices of looks is endless and if you want a particular shade, you haven't found as yet for rich colour. Then i would highly recommend looking into Stargazer's colour chart.

They say :  All the Eye Dust colours give you a fine shimmered effect, which can be applied by hand or make up brush. The colours are dense and give a good strong finish on the skin. 

In the past I've not had much joy with eye dust's, because of the fallout. However now I use paper tape to catch it. I must say that the colours are just stunning. The packaging needs some work, but that will be in my overall conclusion below. So eye dusts can be patted on with a dry brush, or finger as they say. I would suggest using a tacky primer, to adhere the eye dust. 

Now I personally love the Pink and Taupe/brown shade. I use pink as a pop of colour, more the vivid shade to the pastel. The Taupe/brown shade is so unique, as it has so many component's when you look up close. You couldn't say it's one particular shade. The pastel pink and blue dusts, I think are mixed with some form of duochrome's.

The hot pink and orange are my kind of colours. Orange for a beautiful sunset eye, or flash of something different to the cheeks. The hot pink could be combined with the orange for the sunset look. 

Personally I would use the Hot pink for a daring flash of colour, dampen my brush. Then flick the brush to give a speckled effect over my eye. Then continue with selected dusts to build, a unique and quirky look. I can't fault the Eye dust's, pigmentation in my swatches show's a little goes a long way. The colours are unique, the quality is just amazing. Also the amount of product, you receive is very generous. Plus the quality is second to none. 

They say : Pressed bronzer giving a  bronzed glow with a slight shimmer. Great for a year round summer look. 

I really like this bronzer and I know it may sound a little daft. This is probably the only bronzer I can comfortably layer.  Without feeling like I need to count, taps to dabs of product for the right amount. Plus then blend till my hand is stuck in "brush hold pose". I'm happy with one layer, for a gentle sweep of colour too my temples and cheeks. I would even use this after my setting powder, as a light sun-kissed colour without needing fake tan. Below I've shown the colour payoff blending's of product. To give a visual as to what I'm trying to explain. 

They say ; A exotic, bright and natural range of lipsticks colours. The lipsticks are available in a variety of colours and finishes (matt, gloss and pearl) and have a long lasting colour.

Lipsticks are one product I'm most fond of but i love rich and vivid colours. Looking at the swatches of the three shades i have, I shall purchase from Stargazer in future. As I love to experiment with makeup and colour, not usual to the market but mostly to professional's. However i have found that jewel in the crown, that gives me such quality to turn my visions into real life. The lipsticks above just give such rich depth of colour, without being dehydrating and patchy. They apply and wear as well. Given that as with all lip products, I say exfoliate and nourish before hand (This goes for affordable as well as High end). I do love that these lipsticks can be ombre so well, the colours just are made for each other. Plus the Red on the left gives the hint of raspberry tones with muted pinks. They are stunning to work with.

So my full rundown into the products I've viewed so far. The Eyeshadows and Eye-Dusts are beautiful and the formula is a rich texture. I would say the only one i found hard to work with was the Ice Rose. This was more suited to inner small highlighting and minor detailing, in which only small sections would need this shade. I would advise the Ice peach instead as this could do the same highlighting but be used on a broader scale. Really this was a minor flaw i found with one shadow, overall they are pigmented and blend fantastic. Im going to be purchasing most of the green shades, as i can never find rich enough greens.

(This next issue is not a reflection of the product). I would advise Stargazer to consider sifter pots, for any loose powder products. So as you opened the lid, there would be no loss of product. As I found that when opening/sealing, some product was trapped in the ledges. It was unfortunate to see such good product, end up on a baby wipe then going to good use. Not complaining as the products are affordable and very generous in quantity. I just would love to see it all go to good use. 

Each Stargazer product had me in awe at the quality and just sheer affordability. I went to see what other products i would be ordering, as i wish to do a part 2 review. Venturing to more supplies so i can showcase many looks. Apologies this review did not come with a look, i will showcase a variety via my Instagram this week. So to round this review up, Stargazer have a vast selection and i would highly recommend you have a wander over to the site. 

(Nail polishes : All of the Stargazer Nail polishes, are made from high quality materials. A wild and magical nail polish colour range. Including glitter and a bright fluorescent range. Every bottle contains a ball-bearing for fast mixing.)

I was also kindly sent 3 Nail polishes but as many of you know my hands are quite swollen still. So i will be doing a full review for the Nail polishes alone. As they really deserve proper swatches as well as a run down on wear time, chipping etc. They are beautiful and i cannot wait to share with you the colours passed onto me. Also i would love to hear feedback to any products you would love to see ? Im going to put in a big order, as i really want to venture into Stargazer's products more. 

New releases - Playboy

Now this is a brand where you just see the bunny, to know the name of the company. With a new set of high quality products, in my opinion. Playboy has really come into contend with the beauty community.

They say ; 

The Playboy brand has been synonymous with sensual glamour. Now one of the most highly recognized logos in the world, the cheeky bow tied bunny can be found on a new range of high quality colour cosmetics. It is that playful glamour that has been encapsulated into the new Playboy Make Up collection.

So the rundown of the products for your face. "Blushing Bunny" is multi tonal Blush/Bronzer. With the mixture of bronze, tans and vibrant pink within the bronzing pan. The rich warm hues of this matte powder will add a subtle glow to your face. In saying that, its very pigmented and i would use this more as a bronzer then a blush. The darker shade is very pigmented so just be aware when swirling your brush. 

The compacts have a leopard print design into which the infamous Playboy Bunny logo is embossed. The compacts contain a large mirror and a brush. Its also a secure compact and wont click open within your bag. I would say this type of blush is more of a bronze with a rose gold undertone to it stunning.

 I've used this for a while now, plus use a small angled brush. I love this blush bunny compact as it's so pigmented and just lovely. It's finely milled and a must have. 

Lipstick

I was kindly sent 2 lipsticks. Amazing packaging being that of a lustrious, alluring red with black writing. The shades I have are below and for a brand relaunch into makeup. Playboy really stepped there game up.

So as above you can see above, the red packaging with the bunny logo all over. 

Also on the bullet on the tube says "Playboy"in a way it's like a signature. 

I love centrefold pink, it's a vibrant and hydrating lipstick. Gives a beautiful even coverage on application. It's a really beautiful addition to anyone's makeup collection. 

Bunny girl is a vibrant vivid red. I was amazed how pigmented this lipstick is. Plus reds have a habit of not being so kind to wear. I didn't see any feathering or bleeding. Just a beautiful lipstick. 

Nail polish 

Is not usually my forte as I don't wear much. Il do the odd coat, as I do have shakey hands. 

Again vibrant pink with an extra bottle of polish sparkle. So application I must say was flawless. I only needed one coat and the above picture is the one layer. It goes on really smooth plus so vibrant and well pink. The pink is beautiful shade I would use. As for the sparkles will give you some bling for the weekend.

So the new releases I've not had the pleasure to review as yet, are below. Im looking into finding a supplier, so you can purchase if you like the cosmetics. Plus i myself wish to purchase some more facial items to try.

Introduction to the New Eye products from Playboy

Eyes 

Liquid Eyeliner & Mascara Kitten Eyes is a fabulously flirty, Liquid Eye Liner by Playboy Make Up. Kitten Eyes comes in a sleek black pot, the long wand and thin brush enables precision and perfection during application. Kitten Eyes has a wet look, jet black finish. 

Sleek Lashes

Sleek Lashes has lengthening, qualities ensuring your lashes appear longer. 

Playful Lashes

Playful Lashes volumizing to spread your lashes, too create fabulous 3D effect lashes.

W7 - New for spring 2014

So W7 is a brand of affordable makeup that I really enjoy using. I love the box powders especially and can't wait for the release of "Honey queen". They have just released some new products for eyes, lips and face. Also introducing real hair lashes. I've split the review into sections, so I can give an in depth.

Chunky eyes review 

So there is an endless choice of eye bases within the beauty world. I was very happy to see Chunky eyes. They are affordable. I love the colours in the range so far, hoping they release more options. 

Chunky eyes ; Cappuccino 

Chunky eyes are as good as the eye bases currently on the market. They are pigmented and butter soft sticks of colour. I use this as a base then set it with an eyeshadow, as a casual daily eye colour. You could use as your eye colour, set with a translucent powder so it can last. Very handy for travelling with being so compact. The shades I recieved are cappuccino and mocha. Cappuccino  is a dark bronze/gold mix and absolutely stunning. I would use this with my smokey bronze looks, as it really will make golds and taupe shades pop. 

Chunky eyes : Mocha 

Mocha is a lighter rose gold/bronze and the perfect base for daily/night out looks. Just shaded with some light chocolate brown. The options in which to use these are endless. The chunky eyes are so multifunctional, I will be looking for the other colours to purchase.

Get real lashes review 

So with the eyeshadows completed,you may require some lashes. W7 have released a new range called "Get Real". Made from real hair to get that natural look. They seem very light and also look so soft. So I wasn't expecting much, however they are really good lashes. The glue included is so strong, plus turns blue on contact with the lash. Also the band is  sturdy so you can apply the glue. They are easy to apply,to blend with your own lash using mascara. Light and natural finish for the day or add volume for night.

Here I am wearing the Chunky eyes in cappuccino, using a light dust of eye shadow to set it. Then using the Get real lashes to add some volume. I did not apply mascara, as I wanted to show the initial appearance when applied. 

Chunky lips : Scandal 

Chunky lips review 

Chunky lips I would say is the same principle, as the lip crayons in the beauty market. Same packaging as the chunky eyes for easy application. These are also creamy and highly pigmented. They are very nice on the lips giving a hydrated, non heavy or sticky feeling. 

Chunky eyes : Delicious 

They are very vivid colours, perfect for the spring/summer season. I the love Chunky lips colours I was kindly sent. I will also be buying more colours, on the release date. As you can see the pigmentation is fantastic. 

Honolulu box powder review 

Now we move onto "Honolulu" box powder, which is beautifully presented. I love box powders as they are different. The pigment on this bronzer is beautiful and not muddy/reddish looking. It comes with the softest brush, which I now use to contour. I found the powder was easily blendable, giving a soft warm bronze finish. I would always buy this now, Instead if the more expensive variety. I can't wait to purchase them all. 

Overall impression

So my overall impression on W7's new additions are really positive. I love the Honolulu box powder, so I'm excited to purchase the rest in the range.The Chunky eyes are fantastic quality and affordable. Again il be sticking with these bases, hoping they release more colours. The Chunky lip crayons applied to the lips were so creamy. They have a lovely finish, which helped my dry lips look a lot better. The formula didn't make my lips feel heavy, nor leave a sticky finish. Perfect for travelling, as the are easy to fit into a makeup bag. The lashes were soft and easy to use, they felt secure as the glue is so strong. The lashes give a boost, if you want a more natural look. So W7 are releasing some amazing additions. 

I am going to do a second part to this review, which will feature face products. (Primer, foundation, box powders etc). Then a review featuring my  "In the buff" palette. 

Are there any W7 products you love to use ? Which would you like to see in my next segment ?