Review: Nars Nepal Eyeshadow

With all the love surrounding the NARSissist Eyeshadow palette at the moment, I thought I'd dig out an old favourite - Nars Nepal. Nepal is described as a soft, sheer rose on the Nars website, however I would describe it as a peachy bronze-rose with a frost finish and it is the perfect everyday eyeshadow.

I tend to wear it on its own with a sheer wash all over the lid and then blended heavier through the crease for a one-shadow-look, but you can also pair it with darker browns or matte tans in the crease for a pretty eye look.

The eyeshadow is buttery and very pigmented. I tend to apply it dry, but you can use a damp brush to make the colour more intense.

What are your favourite NARS eyeshadows?

Joy xx

February Favourites

I often find it hard to compile a list of products to mention in my monthly favourites, as my day to day makeup and skincare routine generally stays the same, but I thought I'd share a few products that really stood out to me last month.

I've used the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask before and while I liked using the product, I never really got how good it is and thought it was just a thick moisturiser... However I was really ill and sick at the beginning of February and my whole body (including my skin) became very dehydrated. My skin was looking very lacklustre and makeup was not sitting well on it. Enter the Origins mask and after a few days use, it left my skin feeling rehydrated and plump. It has a lovely citrusy smell, which reminds me of citrus polos (Does anyone else remember those?!)

I've also been loving the Superfacialist by Una Brennan Vitamin C+ Skin Renew Cleansing Oil (which is quite possibly the longest name ever!). I'd never used a cleansing oil before, but wanted to give one a whirl and decided to give this Superfacialist one a go after hearing lots of good reviews. It makes makeup removal very simple and leaves my skin feeling nice and clean, without any tightness or greasiness. This also has a nice citrusy smell, which I really like.

Chanel Lotus Rouge is a gorgeous deep raspberry red colour, which I have been sporting on my nails a lot recently. It's perfect for the colder wintery months, but is also versatile enough to be worn all year round as it's not too dark. Although the lasting power of this nail varnish leaves a little to be desired, the brush and application are top notch. I have a NOTD of this here.

I have been experimenting with cheek products this month, as they have been neglected for a long time. The Makeup Academy blush in Cupcake is a lovely matte peachy, pink which adds a natural flush to the cheeks. I find that even though it's a matte blush, it gives your complexion a glow and really perks up the skin. Another great thing about this blush is that it only costs £1! I have also been using the Soap and Glory Solar Powder bronzer from my Christmas Soap and Glory palette (which I plan on doing a post about). It has a darker shade and a lighter shade (which also has a little shimmer), which you can use separately or mixed together. I tend to mix them together and they give a natural looking shade, which isn't too dark or muddy for my pale complexion.

What were you loving throughout February?

Joy xx

Beauty Wishlist

Over the majority of 2013, I realised that my beauty spending habits changed quite a lot, moving from makeup to mainly skincare. I currently have a some vouchers burning a bit of a hole in my purse and I feel like a makeup splurge is in order, so I decided to collate some beauty bits and bobs that I'm lusting after.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation is hailed as an almighty foundation by many in the beauty blogging community. Apparently it has good coverage, good longevity, photographs well and comes in many shades. As a bit of a sheep and on a constant hunt to find the perfect base, Luminous Silk has made its way onto my 'to try' list. Amelia Liana recently posted about how L'Oreal True Match Foundation is a good dupe of the almighty, so maybe buying that will save me some pennies but give me a similar effect...

Another thing that has caught my attention is the Topshop Glow Highlighter in Polished. This is a cream highlighter, which has received a 4.4 out of 5 rating on the Topshop website and is many getting rave reviews about the beautiful highlighting qualities of this product. Coming in at less than £10, you can't really go wrong.

Tying in with trying to find the perfect base, I'm still on the hunt for the perfect concealer too. As a low maintenance makeup gal, I want a concealer that can cover dark circles, redness and blemishes. Enter the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, an all around concealer which can cover everything that you want hiding. Coming in 8 shades, you're bound to find the perfect shade for you.

I saw a picture of Essie Marshmallow on Pinterest and was instantly drawn to the shade. It is a sheer white shade, which can be your perfect French manicure base or can be built up to a jelly-like white. I like that it's not as full on as a pure white and can be used a base for glitters and nail art.

I've wanted the Naked Basics palette for a while as the matte shades in my Naked I palette are nearing pan and I was on the hunt for new matte eyeshadows. After being overwhelmed on the MAC website (anyone have any recommendations?), I thought this palette was a safe bet.

The Charles Worthington Texturising Spray isn't necessarily a makeup item, but it's something else I want to try. Currently being claimed as the cheaper alternative to Oribe's Dry Texturising Spray, the volumising and texturising properties of this spray sound like something my occasionally flat-looking hair can benefit from.

What's on your beauty wishlist at the moment?

Joy xx

Review: L'Oreal 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Water

As a loyal Bioderma Sensibio H2O fan, I was interested to see how this L'Oreal 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution compares as it is a fraction of the price. I use micellar waters daily to remove my eye makeup and the top layer of my foundation, before double cleansing with either a cleansing balm or oil to remove the rest of my base.

When I first started using the L'Oreal micellar water, I noticed it had a little bit of a plastic smell, but as I have used it more I don't notice it any more. I have quite sensitive eyes and have never found this to irritate them, unless there is too much on the cotton pad and some of the solution goes directly into the eye. After use, I don't find this leaves any residue on my skin and doesn't leave it feeling tight.

I find it removes the bulk of my makeup well, but occasionally leaves random patches of foundation on the skin, especially around the nose. This fares averagely on eye makeup removal, unless I'm prepared to rub with more pressure. I have never used this with waterproof mascara, but I imagine you may be there for a while trying to remove it. On the back of the packaging, it states that the micellar water "acts like a make-up remover, toner and skin soother", which is a little misleading as it sounds like they are suggesting that you can use this alone to remove your makeup, cleanse and tone. I have found that this doesn't leave my face completely makeup free after use, so this would never be a standalone cleansing product in my skincare routine and should be something to bear in mind if you're after a quick and easy makeup removal fix.

The packaging is extremely annoying, as the micellar solution flows out very quickly and you either end up with a drenched cotton pad or solution on the floor - both of which are super annoying and a waste of product. I've found the key to getting the right amount is to put the cotton pad directly on top of the hole (rather than a few cm away) and then just tip the bottle, but don't squeeze it.

While I remain a firm fan in the Bioderma camp, I would repurchase this again, as you can just nip to the shops to purchase this which is handy if you're running low and don't want to shop online and it's also well priced. I believe this usually retails around the £5-6 mark for 200ml, but I'd advise you to shop around, as it's always on offer somewhere. I bought mine for half price from Tesco!

Do you use micellar waters? I'm interested to try the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, has anyone tried that?

Joy xx