REVIEW: Rimmel Exaggerate undercover shadow primer

What, a drugstore eye primer? You mean, I can find an eyeshadow primer that is as good as my NARS eyeshadow primer, but costs just a fraction of the price? You'll have to read on to find out!

All hail on deck, the eyeshadow primers seem to finally start hitting the drugstore shelves. Well, in the UK at least they have, since I still haven't seen any drugstore eyeshadow primers in the drugstores in Belgium. I picked up the Rimmel Exaggerate undercover shadow primer on my London trip at the local Boots counter. Well, what's it like??

Well first of all; what does it claim to do?

"Rimmel's unique primer to maximise the colour and wear of your eyeshadow! Makes color waterproof! Apply to lid, let try, apply eyeshadow colour."

Packaging: The packaging looks nice, sturdy, decent and qualitative. It wouldn't break easily. The product has a dope foot applicator, just like my NARS eyeshadow primer.

Quality: The product comes out very watery and colorless, similar to the NARS one, only a bit more fluid.

How does it do the job? After applying, it dries fast and easily. It might give the eyeshadow colors some extra pigmentation, but it is not very noticeable.

Already a few minutes after applying, my eyelids became greasy and my eyeshadows creased a few hours later. My liquid liner transferred immediately to my hooded eyelid and thus, I walked around with very indian warrior-esk stripes on my eyelids. Not really the look I was trying to achieve.

Conclusion: What a let down. I expected too much from this product, just because it seemed similar in packaging to the NARS eyeshadow primer. A real shame! I won't be repurchasing. Maybe if you don't have very oily lids though, this might work for you.

What is your favorite eyeshadow primer?

Xoxo

Anine

Beauty discoveries of 2013

Hi everyone,

Instead of talking about my 2013 favorites, today I will be telling you what my biggest beauty discoveries were this past year.

1. Maxfactor Clump defy mascara:
This all time favorite mascara of mine is the lovechild of the Benefit They're Real and the Maybelline Falsies mascaras. Just perfect for separating, volumizing and lengthening!

2. Maxfactor 3-in-1 foundation:
The first time I tried this, I was disappointed. Every beauty blogger seems to like this, but I had a hard time blending it into my skin, especially around my nose. Then I tried it with the Real Techniques Expert Face brush, and all of a sudden, this miracle happened. This foundation stays put for SO long, longer than I've seen any foundation last on my oily T-zone.

3. MAC blush in Bad Girl Gone Good:
This blush equals gorgeousness. I don't have anything like this blush color, it is so unique. It makes me look Fierce (yes, capital F) in just a few brush strokes. Amazing.

4. Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray:
This setting spray really made my make up look more natural and healthy after application. It also made my make up last a bit longer and made my foundation wear off in a very natural way.

5. NYX lipliner in 836 Bloom:
I never liked lip liners, they seem to harsh for my lips. But this one is so creamy and soft, I like to use it as much as possible!

6. Smashbox Photofinish foundation primer in Light:
I've been using this almost all year round and this really makes all the difference. It influences the staying power of my make up so much for the better!

7. Rimmel Scandaleyes waterproof Kohl Kajal in 002 Sparkling Black:
This kohl eyeliner pencil is so unbelievably creamy! I accidentally picked up the sparkling black, not the normal black color. But I like the subtle glitter in the liner, it adds something special but subtle to the look.

8. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush:
I've been using this brush for almost a year straight now. It is my favorite way to apply any form of liquid or cream make up, especially foundations. I use this all day, every day! Secretly I might go and buy a back up.

What have been your beauty discoveries in 2013?

Xoxo
Anine

NAILS: Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint in Lychee

What a mouthful; the Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint in Lychee. From previous blogposts you know I'm a sucker for nude, clean nail looks. That also means I had to try this nail color by Barry M.

This nail look is perfect for a very subtle, but sophisticated look.

The polish applied very smoothly, didn't chip easily and stayed on perfectly for a week. It is true that this polish is thicker and shinier than average polishes, but I wouldn't say it is as strong as a gel based formula.

This nail polish costs £3.99 and thus is a steal! I can't wait to try out more Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine polishes.



Have you tried many Barry M polishes? What is your favorite nude nail color?

Xoxo,
Anine

HAUL: London shopping

Hey everyone,

It is finally time to wake up from my christmas/winter slumber and to get back in action in 2014. As some of you know, I have been to London the days before christmas. It was wonderful to be back in my natural English habitat (I'm a UK girl through and through), and I missed the highstreets/drugstores so much.

As you can imagine, I also went a bit bonkers there, so get yourself a cup of tea, sit back and relax while reading my London shopping haul!

First of all I went into Boots, specifically eyeing the Barry M polishes. I've always regretted not having more of these in my nail polish collection and simply love the colors I picked up; Crush, Prickly Pear and Lychee. Crush is a matte nail polish, the other two are gelly polishes. I've already tried all three of them and LOVE these so much!

I knew I wanted to pick up the powder brush and new make up sponge by Real Techniques, but unfortunately, Estée's or Essie Buttons review of the duo fibre brush set also made me pick these up. I'm very excited to review these!

I found this Rimmel Exaggerate Primer at Boots and was so intrigued by it! For one, because I've never seen a decent drugstore eye primer, and I haven't seen any blogger talking about it yet. But also since I've run out of my NARS one and I'd love to find a cheaper alternative. A review will be coming up soon!

Yes, yes, yes! I have found it! I finally stumbled upon the Rimmel Scandaleyes Kohl Kajal in 005 Nude. I have been looking for it in Belgium for over two years, but never saw it in any drugstore. It took one visit to Boots and BAM, I'm all set to use this one my bottom waterline for big, doll eyes!

The last make up item I bought was a Rimmel Apocalips in 400 Big Bang (Yes, another Rimmel product! They had a 2 + 1 sale going on!). I love this for a red, sophisticated lip. It takes nothing more than some concealer, mascara and this lip lacquer to achieve a simple, fresh look. Love!

Then I went to Primark for a hectic but strategically planned shopping trip (I was in the company of le boyfriend and so had to do some fast shopping to save him the shopache). I picked up these cute boots in a lovely taupish color and this beautiful tartan scarf. I have been wearing both items every day since I purchased them! In the end I also gave in to this cute pyjama, which is London themed, of course.

Finally, after years of lusting, I picked up two Starbucks christmas-themed mugs. I've been wanting these for so long and will be using them year round, I don't even care if it's a tropical hot day whilst wearing a bikini, I will use the crap out of these! Look at their gorgeousness!

Few, that was a lot of stuff. I might have gone a little overboard, but all this stuff basically is stuff I've wanted and needed for such a long time! I can't wait to try out and review the make up products!

I hope you enjoyed your holidays, and I will be bringing MORE content to you in 2014! I'm excited, are you?


Xoxo
Anine

Empties #3

Today I've got more empties to share with you! Keep on reading for some more mini-reviews of these products.

I used up another of the Maybelline Lumi Touch Concealer in the color 1. This concealer is just perfect for a light concealing effect. All my other concealers have been too creamy for my lighter foundation application I've been doing lately. This thing is my holy grail, I actually have to get myself to use up my other concealers for once since I can't stop using this one.

Hema nail polishes are by far the cheapest ones out there, and they really have been stepping up their game. I've been using their base and top coat for as long as I can remember (they're so darn cheap) and they do a good job too, I find. 

I've also been trying to use up some perfume samples. Here I have two Hermès Kelly Calèche perfume samples. Like, don't love. 

I love me some Rituals products, and their body scrubs are very nice and smell amazing, and they're affordable too. This Wai Wang exfoliating body scrub has tiny particles that don't scrub too harshly. Does the job just fine.

For some reason I had tons of these sample sachets of the Rituals Organic Bamboo and Ginger Face n°1 gentle facial cleanser. It lathered very nicely and left my face feeling very soft. I doubt if it cleansed very decently though.

I'm already almost at the end of my second tube of this Vichy Normaderm night cream. I used to like it when I was on my exchange program in England and my skin was drier, but lately I've been dreading using it. It separates when squeezing it out of the tube and leaves my skin oily in the morning. I think it might have been an old tube.

Last but not least I have this Biotherm claryfing lotion sample. It's not very much like a lotion, more like a micellaire water and it didn't do much for my skin.

What products have you been loving or disliking lately?

Xoxo,

Anine

NAILS: OPI Mariah Carey liquid sand set

I love the small nail sets from OPI, since I find the full size nail polishes too big to ever finish. I was able to try out a full size OPI liquid sand in the color Can I get your number, and loved it. Then I saw these natural colored liquid sand polishes and simply was sold.

In case you haven't heard about nail polishes with a liquid sand: as the packaging describes, they basically dry to a textured matte finish infused with reflective glints of light. 

Instructions: Apply a base and two coats of colors. Do not use a top coat.

In the nail polish set contains three small bottles with the colors Baby please come home (a champagne, light golden color), Make him mine (a dark purple color) and Silent stars go by (a rose gold color).

Baby please come home

Make him mine

Silent stars go by

Quality: As always with OPI polishes, the quality is perfect. They didn't chip on me and lasted for almost nine days. One down side, as usual with glitter polishes: they're a pain to remove.

Packaging: Nice as always. The brush also is perfect in size.

Price: I paid around 25 euros for this set, and later I found it online for 15 euros. Bummer!

Conclusion: LOVE them!

Have you tried any liquid sand polishes? From which brand is your favorite christmas/holiday nail polish?

Xoxo,
Anine

REVIEW: YSL cream blush

One of those high end items I've always wanted was a YSL cream blush. They always looked so luxurious and perfect and ever since I was a little girl, the golden packaging seemed to promise me eternal happiness. 

In the meantime I've realized that nothing of the sorts is true, but it can give you the necessary high feeling every beauty addict experiences when shopping at make-up counters they usually avoid because of the high price range.

I finally got my hands on this beauty, in colour number 2, and have to admit that I like it, but don't plan to spend my money on this blush product again. Read on to find out why!

Packaging: What can we say about this? It is gorgeous. It looks great on your vanity or dressing table. It attracts attention and makes you believe you are a princess.

Quality: It applies nicely on the cheeks, is easy to blend out and stays on a lot longer than most cream blushes I've tried. No complaints here whatsoever. 

Price: $38 - €36 The priciest blush I've ever purchased!

Conclusion: Then why wouldn't I repurchase this? For some reason, I don't seem to use this as much as I should, considering the price point of this product. The natural English rose blush look from Keira Knightley as Elisabeth in Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice is perfectly achieved with this blush. However, it takes more time than using my beloved powder blushes, and the effect is just so-so. I am not as much in love with it as it has already been the case with previous blushes. Sorry YSL, but I'm a little disappointed! However, it is still a nice product.

Have you used this product before? Do you prefer cream or powder blushes?

Xoxo,
Anine