Younique : Moonstruck 3D fibre lashes

Younique UK : Reliable representative

A product from one of the most talked about, plus heavily promoted brands of this year. Has caused quite a divide of opinions, especially this particular product. Hence my curiosity was heightened to try it for myself, to experience its use and then seeing the results first hand. 

Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes

Our best selling product, 3D Fiber Lashes dramatically enhances and magnifies the appearance of your own lashes.

They say : 

Our simple three-step process combines Transplanting Gel and Natural Fibers, to help create the appearance of incredible thickness and volume to your existing lashes. The 3D Fiber Lashes are water resistant but easily wash off with warm water and facial cleanser at the end of the day. It will quickly become your favorite makeup must-have.

So how to use ? 

- To prepare your eyelashes for optimal results, first apply one thin coat of your own regular favorite mascara and let it dry. 

- Then apply Moodstruck Transplanting Gel to your lashes.

- Immediately following, while the gel is still wet, apply the Moodstruck Natural Fibers.

- Reapply the Transplanting Gel a second time to secure the natural fibers onto your lashes.

Natural lashes & Younique 1 Layer 

So the above photo shows my natural lashes, against 1 layer of the Younique mascara. Application was easy and followed as the instructions say. However i have some pointers for people whom are seeing the "spider" effect. 

On the fibres brush there are alot on there (first use there will be), so applying that to mascara is going too obviously cause clumping. I ran off the excess fibres on a clean wipe, making the fibre brush visible which ensures brushing onto the lash. So when i came to apply the fibres onto the gel, there was an instant noticable thickness of my lashes with no clumping. So preparation of the fibres to brush the lash, then have the wand pass like a mascara wand should is key. 

It was a obvious change from my natural lashes and using my tips and representative's help. I experienced no clumping, falling of fibres or irritation. Next time i will curl my lashes as they are so long afterwards, that they would benefit from a light curl. Also i had a clean spooly which combed my lashes as they dried, just to keep them straight. As my lashes can cross over (even with false lashes and mascara) so thats why i do this step. 

Now ive tried a handful of lash fibre's with mixed result's. So i tend to stick to false lashes or plain mascara. However Younique impressed me, as it made my lashes very long and increased volume. Despite the heavy selling technique's and bad photo's circulating. I wanted to try this myself and see if this product did what it said or would i have the same experience. I've used tips and steps, from my experience and also an amazing Younique representative. I liked the packaging and presentation, it is too a very high standard. The product for me is very good. If you want more thickness, yet no fuss of false lashes then its a brilliant addition. I will continue to use Younique Moonstruck 3D fibre lashes. 

Essence - New products

Essence Europe Website 

So the new Autumn/Winter editions by Essence have been released. Available now at wilkingsons stores, its an affordable line worth trying.  

They say : 

Following trends in a fun and unique style but never expensive. A striking range of caring cosmetic products, essence is the ultimate brand for all beauty queens.

  New for Autumn/Winter 2014 

Soft touch Mousse : 

The range with a delicate mousse texture. Gives your face a smooth and natural-looking, matt complexion while allowing your skin to breathe freely.

Essence mousse in 04 

Unfortunately this mousse was to dark for my skin, it was however very creamy. Smooth to apply and blended into the skin well. I didn't see any cracks in application, nor did it oxidise. I hope to get this in a lighter colour and try it fully as to give a proper review. 

Soo glow!

Cream to powder highlighter and blush bring that glamour and glow. It sets gorgeous accents on your cheekbones, underneath the brows or in the inner corners of your eyes.

Blush No.20 : Everything is better in pink

 This blush gives your complexion a touch of colour for a healthy, fresh look. The creamy texture with a powdery finish, practically melts with your skin. Its easy to apply and blend with your fingers

Amazing pigment that needs only a little dabbed on, then can be blended with a stipple brush. One of the most beautiful shades and great for the winter dry skin. Blends beautifully on the skin. 

Highlight in 20 : Bright up your life

The highlighter gives your complexion a beautiful shimmer. Its creamy texture turns into a velvety, powdery formula upon application. Easy to apply with your fingers.  

This gives an amazing swatch, yet when applied it doesnt buff well with a brush. It seems to just fade away, unlike the amazing blush. Applying with fingers will leave the colour as above, however you may need to let it dry to buff it lightly. 

Shimmering bronze powder 

Keep up your summer tan with the shimmer bronzing powder. The essence sun club range, provides your face & neckline with a lightly tanned finish. Its silky-smooth texture, puts you in the mood for summery complexion. 

Bronzing powder in 01 light

This is a beautiful bronzer and also not to sparkly to be a light contour. Very impressive and great for lighter more fair skins. Didn't leave an orange nor odd shade during the day. Its beautiful and stays true to colour through long wear.

Metal glam eyeshadow

Metal meets glam in metallic and shimmering effects on your eyes. The  ultimate trend, with especially soft texture. Metallic expressive eye make-up guaranteed to be eye-catching. The range of colours is huge, sure to make every beauty’s heart beat faster.

Metal glam 

This was a disappointment as its so beautiful. The top is a spray on of heavy glitter and the brown/bronze underneath, doesnt yeald much pigment. It needs a couple of applications to see true colour. However its so affordable, perfect for those learning to blend. 

Kajal in black and white

Kajal eyeliner

Crazy and vibrant new colour. The kajal pencil creates fashionable colour. Highlights your eyes in cooland trendy colours, to ensure a totally individual style. 

Kajal in Samba green 

The colour is beautiful on this new shade of pencil. It blends nicely for a subtle hint of liner with a creamy texture. Just like the Black & white kajal liners. 

3d Eyeshadow in Lavender dream

3D shadow

With an improved texture thats even softer and easier to blend. The 3D effect (from satin to metallic to shimmering) upon application. Apply moist the  eyeshadow gives a more intense result.

I found these shadows applied well with my finger but took a lot of to apply well with a brush. Once it was applied it did blend out well. They do pack a lot of shimmer and are perfect for those looking to practice with shimmer shades that can easily be blended .The choice is impressive and i do love the Green 3d version as this is beautiful. Overall the shadows are pigmented and work well primer or none. Its affordable to gain the colours you wish to add to your kit and i found this was a perfect subtle grey for a daily light smokey eye. Teamed with a lovely highlight colour, the only thing needed is a Matte to transition and add that main lid colour.

New long-lasting lipstick 

The lipsticks provide your lips,with intensive colour for several hours without drying them out. Your sure to find whatever you’re looking for, from bright pink to subtle nude shades. 

Long lasting lipstick : 14 adorable matt

The essence logo on the texture and the matt, black packaging with a ring of colour to match the actual colour of the lipstick are true eye-catchers. 

Beautiful creamy lipstick that sits well on the lips and doesnt dry out the lips. The lipstick formula is very surprising and well executed both in comfort and pigment. 

Wearing the Essence products, i found that the Blush, Bronzer and Lipstick impressed me the most. They have such rich picgment that not alot is needed and you can blend plus apply them with ease. The Kajal liners are soft and offer very good colour payoff, they are not waterproof so may need touching up.

 The Highlight and Glam eyeshadow i would say are fine, they do take getting used too. They eyeshadow needs a few applications to gain sufficent pigment, so its good for a beginner learning to blend. The highlight again needs to applied with the fingers to gain any pigment, then tapped in rather then blended with your cheek products.

The mousse foundation feels creamy and does seem to blend well. However the colour was to dark for me to review properly. The 3d shadow gave me some colour dry, not much though. I may try these damp, as i think they may work in a similiar fashion too a baked shadow. 

HD brows Kit - In foxy for brunettes

HD brows well known for its treatments at spas and salons to maintain eyebrow care. They released a selection of products but the one that is well known is the brow kit. Now I'm a brunette so the Foxy kit is my shades, they have kits for blondes and especially dark hair.

They say 
For super-sharp salon brows - our Eye&Brow Palette makes it easy to maintain that freshly groomed look. The long-lasting, anti-smudge powders stay in place all day to keep your brows perfect.

Includes a versatile brush, a nude and carbon shadow and two brown tone powders – everything you need for perfect brows. 

‘Bombshell’ is best for fair hair and skin. 
‘Vamp’ is best for medium hair and skin. 
‘Foxy’ is best for dark hair and skin.

So the kit is very impressive packaging being black with a gold embossed "HD brows" logo and the kit you have. So once opened the top of the compact has a paper and plastic covering to prevent scratches and damage. 

Now for a kit I am aware there are cheaper and more budget friendly kits, which I'm all for and have used for quite a while thinking "Brow kit, all the same thing... Right". Rarely do I admit I'm wrong and certain items I think, yes you need to spend more to get quality. I'm not rolling in money and save. Now honestly this is pigmented as brow powder in my opinion should be with all the blending for a natural effect. However the one thing (of a few) that made me go wow, was the lack of throw up from my angled brush. The brush in this kit is ok for a kit brush and I would use it, again another point. Unless I was out from morning till night I would not need too. My brows were on point for hours.

That's something I've not had in a brow kit, I've always had to touch up and yes they last ages as well you only need so much powder on a brow. 

I've tried powders, pens, pencils, tints and nothings I've felt comfortable with other then my brush and powder kit. This does retail at what some people perceive as expensive but honestly. The colour mix is more to my shade and I compared that alot of kits come reddish undertones

for brunettes. This doesn't and it was so natural everyone was like wow, before it was a 15 minute job to fluff and colour right to blend etc. Now not even 5 minutes, plus the tweezers included are I think amazing. Some women don't like sharp tweezers however I do as I get really small hairs just a few millimetres above my crease so they need to be a point for me to remove. They don't hurt and I've found it useful when you notice a hair to have a mini set and just remove it.

I'm so impressed with this kit. I would purchase this again. As its lasting power as well as just sheer value for the use you will receive is second to none. Amazing quality product if you cannot use HD Brows salon to hand. 

HD Brows website

HealGel - Eyes serum

Okay dokey, so I've had the most amazing opportunity to review HealGel and wow I just want to say a massive thank you to them. 

They say

HealGel Eye is an advanced corrective formula designed to condition and lift the delicate eye area.  HealGel Eye contains Arnica and Madecassoside which are suspended in liposomes with powerful peptides and biodynes to initiate a uniquely soothing and collagen boosting process.  Sluggish micro-circulation is stimulated and irritation is soothed.  In addition, HealGel Eye contains a duel action hyaluronic acid complex that locks moisture deeper into the skin and firms the eye contours.  The effect is to soften the appearance of fine lines, even skin tone and improve the elasticity of the skin through intense hydration.  Light diffusers in the gel further improves sallow areas for a brightening and smoothing effect. 

This serum is set for the eye area and its the same gel consistency and also slight smell of lavender to me but then disapates on absorption. It's quick absorbing, cooling and wow amazingly for a serum this actually works. (For me) 

Now I have the most unforgivable bags as I'm a insomniac and can't sleep so I have periods where my anaemia will knock me side wards then my insomnia will be like "no you shan't sleep", joys of womanhood right lol 

So to say I conceal within an inch of my faces life is the biggest statement of my life. This serum I read was to ease and also remove the trace or calm fine lines and just make me look human. All I wanted and expected. 

Now honestly my routines not changed and my eyes have, I've noticed I have not concealed as much over the period if time I have used the serum. I use it at night as a lovely cooler for my eyes as they dehydrate from lack of sleep and now its getting colder. So preventative measures. Also the morning this gives your eyes such a zing even if I've not slept it eases the hurt as insomnia fellowers will know the "eye hurt" come lunch. 

For me its worked, I still have one line that honestly we all have and unless its botoxed (never would I allow a needle in my face, needle phob lol) or I received a face lift in my house. Again not likely, this line is a age line and I can't turn the clock. My puffiness, finer lines etc have gone. I have one line which is not even worth concealing as my foundation is pretty much polyfiller so once that's on, I'm astounded. I actually out of the whole range was most interested and the most sceptical about as well all serums claim to work but this actually did. 

Which kinda is a major dampened on my concealer review lol but I'm sure they will be needed when this runs out as it goes very far. That's one thing I do love is its expensive but the product doesn't require you excessively pump and feel like you didn't get your monies worth. 

However it's not in my price bracket which with Christmas and winter coming I wish it was as well I would buy this in a heartbeat to set me for the cold months ahead. So dry skin sufferers if you get a chance to try HealGel then please do as its amazing and my skin is really loving it.

Natural and just honestly if I hadn't seen Pixiwoo then I would never have known. 

HealGel website

Haute couture Lashes -

So Lashes have always been a bane of mine and something i find quite tricky, as i will tend to buy ones that are sparkly and glitterific yet forget you need to walk before you can run. So I've made it my mission to learn how to apply lashes better and use them as i think if done nice they can really set the eyes alive and who doesn't want more lashes ? So this and improving my liquid liner skills are 2 hotspots on my makeup tutorials list this year. 

Now i was kindly sent some Haute Couture lashes to review, i wanted to review these as they have a applicator which really seemed quite handy to me if your a novice and want to know how to get into the tighter areas to make sure the lash adheres well to the lash line.

Haute couture Lashes

So on looking at the lashes they are curled and luscious looking, the spine is not too bad on them. I would suggest thinner if you don't like the feel of something on your eye. I did find after a while i didn't notice it and you could curl them or just get a shorter set, as its literally the flutter you can see. I would say these are a going out lashes or ones you would use say if on a date and you want your eyes to be your main focal point.

Now application, I found the lashes easy to remove from the packet, as i have used some before and they have been stuck on so well they kink as you try to remove them so these didn't. The adhesive is underneath, affixed to the packet and the tube has a spatula applicator. Now the amazing thing about this is that most adhesives are clear so you cant see if you have covered some bits and you don't want your lash to hang off halfway through the night. Now the adhesive when it hits the lash turns a light blue to let you know where its been applied to and which bits you may have missed. I like the spatula as its easy to control the amount of adhesive, your in control rather then a squeeze tube that can easy dispense too much.

The contents of the packet plus instructions

Now when the adhesive is applied take the little pink tweezers and pick up the glued lashes (i glued mine whilst i held the lash as i didn't want them to fall from the tweezers with adhesive) the glue should be slightly tacky, by the time you do this and they get to your lash line they should be. If you place them where you want them and i found it easier to get a swing circular mirror, or any mirror you can have underneath your eye as your looking down. Apply the lash and i found another tip, to apply them in the downward angle your looking down, as they curve and will find the natural curve of your lash line approaching it from this way.(hope that made sense, if you would like a step by step pic tutorial comment below and il do that for you all)  I found i could see where it curved to my eye and i got it in one go. So if your on youtube i found some great lash tips. 

The lash up close

Then use the tweezers to lightly press the corner in and then the outer side, if your happy with the placement. Leave to dry then apply some eyeliner to the inner corner so the lashes look more natural to the lash line. I didn't apply mascara as i think they are dark enough and enough of a statement for me, but by all means apply some, i would  apply if i was using a smaller, natural lash.

My finished look

So i think i will definatly be purchasing more of these lashes as they have the right size spine for me to be able to control without being flimsy. I can use the adhesive and i like the way it goes blue on contact with the lash, so no loss of lash during the day. Im really impressed with these and as my look above shows the finished result.

So have you used Haute couture lashes ? Do you like lashes and what are your recommendations ?