Illamasqua Powder Blusher in Tremble

 Hey lovelies! I can't believe it has been so long since I last posted, but unfortunately uni and work got in the way and I've had to channel all of my energy into that. However, I'm back with a review of the Illamasqua Powder Blusher in the shade Tremble. I actually received this as a gift from my friend Alice back in February for my birthday, so I've had the opportunity to try it out numerous times with various looks.

(yay for colour coordinated nails!) ;)

This is actually my first ever Illamasqua product and on the website it is described as a "soft lilac pink, matte finish". I disagree with this statement for although in some lights this blush appears to have a lilac tint to it, I'd definitely say it's more of a true pink with a slight coral tinge when swatched. 

The formula itself is perfectly matte which I love. I tend to use my MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle as a highlight, so sometimes I feel as though using a blush with shimmer in simultaneously can be a bit much and I can end up looking like a glitterball. The incredible pigmentation of this product is actually both a blessing and a curse. On one hand the colour you see in the packaging is pretty much identical to how it transfers on your face. However, it also means that it is quite easy to apply too much and end up looking somewhat clown-like. That said, once you get the hang of applying this blush with a lighter hand, the colour pay off is wonderful and leaves your cheeks with a really pretty, doll-like flush.

I really like the packaging of this blush as the top is clear, meaning it's really easy to see the product inside and the shape of the pot itself is unique to Illamasqua, meaning it's easy to spot amongst the other blushes in my collection. 

This product is pricey and at £21.50 for just 4.5g of product these blushes are significantly more expensive than ones from other higher end brands such as MAC, whose powder blushes retail at £18.00 for 6g. However, unlike other high end brands, throughout the year Illamasqua have AMAZING sales during which these blushes can be reduced to around £5-£7.50, so if you're set on buying an Illamasqua blush look out for these as they're a great time to pick up some bargains and try out products that you wouldn't usually splurge on. 

To find out more check out the Illamasqua website.

Have you tried any Illamasqua blushes?

Collective Mac/Nars Haul

Over the last four or five weeks i've gradually accumulated a few new make-up items, but have been insanely busy with exams etc, so haven't really had time to blog about them. However, now i'm FREE (for a while), so here we go...

Since I live in the middle of nowhere and I don't have any decent make-up shops or department stores near me, I ordered all of these products online from http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/ and http://www.narscosmetics.co.uk/

Firstly, with summer approaching I decided that finally giving in to the hype and purchasing the Nars Laguna bronzer was justified. I was shocked to discover just how much product you get, I can tell that this is going to last me a very long time and I was also extremely impressed with the large mirror inside the case, as mirrors are always handy for on-the-go touch ups.The laguna shade itself is a lovely shimmery golden brown, which catches the light but is not 'glittery', like some bronzers can be, so is perfect for everyday use. It warms up my ghostly pale skin wonderfully and also helps to give the illusion of more defined cheekbones, which is always nice!

When I ordered my laguna bronzer, Nars also sent me a free sample of their famous Orgasm Illuminator (what a name, eh...) Although it is only an 8ml sized tube, I can tell that this is going to last me forever because with this product a little really does go a long way. Unfortunately it isn't very pigmented and so the glowy bronze colour you see in the tube doesn't transfer well onto the skin at all. It does add some light-reflecting particles, which look pretty on the top of the cheekbones and cupids bow, but after a couple of hours this wears off and I much prefer my MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle for highlighting. But hey, it was free!

Next, onto MAC. My eyebrows are a constant source of irritation for me, I can never seem to get them right. I've been trying out the MAC Veluxe Brow Liner for a while and although I love it and would definitely recommend it, sometimes it looks a little too dramatic for everyday wear. Therefore after a little research I decided to try out using eyeshadow to fill in my brows. I purchased a matte MAC eyeshadow in Charcoal Brown and the 208 angled brow brush to apply it. The colour is a perfect...well...charcoal brown! It is a great match for my natural eyebrows and so gives a naturally fuller look to my brows once filled in and helps define their shape. I'm also excited to try out a smokey eye with this shadow as it is such a pretty colour.

The handle of the 208 is very thin, almost pencil-like, giving you maximum control over it and the brush itself is perfect at applying the shadow carefully and precisely.

I also ordered the 168 large angle contour brush to use to apply blush/highlighter/bronzer etc. The bristles, though dense, are SO soft and are great at contouring the cheeks really naturally, without any fallout of product. Like most MAC brushes, this brush is GREAT quality and I can tell that it'll last me forever.

Although i've been investing in good brushes lately, I am AWFUL when it comes to taking care of them, cleaning them is always so laborious. So, I got MAC's Brush Cleanser in the hope that it would make the process a little easier. I can genuinely say that this product is AMAZING. I pour a little onto a tissue and then rub the brushes over it and even the dirtiest brush looks brand new in about 30 seconds!  Yes, it is expensive, but it cleans, disinfects and conditions the brushes and if you're going to invest in high-end brushes, you really ought to try to make them last as long as possible!

After hearing many great reviews of MAC's Fix + online, I decided to try it out. I opted for the smaller travel sized bottle so that I didn't have to buy the big bottle and end up never using it if I didn't like it. I've found that it helps set my makeup and reduces the 'powdery' look of some face products and is definitely great at refreshing your skin during the day, but i'm not sure whether or not there is a noticeable enough effect to warrant buying it again.

Finally, I bought the Viva Glam Nicki lipstick. I LOVE MAC lipsticks and this shade just really appealed to me! It is a bright, almost fluorescent pink, but can definitely be toned down for everday wear, I just use a lip brush to apply it so that it isn't so bright and it creates a lovely barbie pink colour. The packaging, as per usual, is lovely, particularly with the red detailing and Nicki Minaj's signature scrawled across the tube. The full RRP of these lipsticks goes to charity too, which is great and makes me feel a little better about spending so much on a lipstick!

Thanks for reading, I hope my ramblings haven't bored you too much! Have any of you tried any of these products too? Let me know what you thought of them! :)

Talk to you soon xoxo