Review & Swatches: Makeup Revolution Baked Eyeshadows in Chocolate Deluxe

It's been a couple of weeks since I received my Makeup Revolution order and I have had time to have a good play with them so here is my first review.
The first item I have chosen to review is the small Baked Eyeshadows palette in Chocolate Deluxe. 

The packaging of this palette isn't as nice looking as some of their larger palettes, it is just plastic with a clear lid and no mirror, but it costs just £2.50 so I think this can be forgiven and it's certainly not a deal breaker for me.

The palette contains 5 eyeshadows. They are not named but there are 2 pale shimmery pinks which are very similar but one is slighter warmer than the other, a deep pink, and two chocolate browns, one slighter bronzer than the other, see swatches above. There is some fall out but not too much considering the cost.

The joy of baked eyeshadows is that they can be used both wet and dry. Above is a swatch of them wet. As you can see it makes a more intense colour.

When I try a new brand I like to do a longevity test and when I first use a palette I do not use any primer so that I can see how well it lasts on its own.
Here are the shadows applied, dry: 

I found they applied easily and I was pleased with how they looked.
However, 10 hours later...

I was so disappointed to see the shadow had creased and had almost disappeared. Then I realised the price of the eyeshadows, which works out at 50 pence per colour, and thought what did I expect?!  Anyway, determined not to be defeated, the next day I applied the same eyeshadows, but this time I first primed my eye lids with Urban Decay's Primer Potion.
This is the result after 10 hours with primer...

Wow! What a difference a primer makes! I really do like the shades in this palette and, if applied over a primer, then I think this is a lovely little palette and well worth the £2.50 price tag. I haven't tried them wet yet, so perhaps they will last longer on their own once applied wet. Makeup Revolution Baked Eyeshadows can be purchased from their website here or from Superdrug. There are currently 5 different baked eyeshadow palettes available.

I am really impressed with this range and look forward to reviewing the rest of my purchases from them.
Have you tried this range? Do you have any recommendations?

Thanks for reading.
Enjoy the rest of your day.
And, as usual, take care!
CJ xx

**puchased with my own money

Recent Purchases: Makeup Revolution

Yes, I know, I know, I'm very late to the party with my very first purchase from the Makeup Revolution range. I have been tempted ever since this range first launched because the Naked dupes looked fantastic. However, I already have all 3 Naked palettes plus the MUA dupes for 1 and 2 so I resisted. Then they released some more products and resistance was futile!

As soon as I saw the Girls On Film palette I knew I HAD to buy it for my best friend. Back in the 80's she was a massive Duran Duran fan, a Durannie as they were known. I knew she would love this palette purely based on the name of it and love it she does. She says when she opened it she bored her hubby by singing the lyrics the shades are named after! 

Now being a virgin to Makeup Revolution, I couldn't make an order without trying out the brand for myself, I mean it would be rude to give a gift before I knew if the quality was any good, wouldn't it?! So into my basket I popped another Girls On Film palette for moi along with a Cover & Conceal palette, a Blush & Contour palette, a baked eyeshadow palette, an eye primer and a lipstick! Well if you spend over £30 delivery is free, so it would be silly not to...

I've not had chance to have a proper play with them all yet, but first impressions are good and I think I will definitely be going back for more. 
Why did they not sell decent, affordable make up like this when I was a teen? *Shudders at the thought of my Constance Carroll days!* (anyone, not young enough to be my child, remember that brand?!).

I will be doing a full review of each product in due course. 
Have you succumbed to Makeup Revolution yet? 
What did you buy?
You can purchase the range from Superdrug or online here. 

Thanks for reading.
Enjoy the rest of your day.
Take care.
CJ xx

*all items purchased with my own money*

Review & Swatches: Tarte Amazonian Clay Sultry Sunset Eyeshadow Palette

When Tarte launched here in the UK on QVC recently, I got caught up in the hype and ordered several things. If you are interested, the haul details are here.

One of the items I was particularly keen to try was the Amazonian Clay Sultry Sunset Eyeshadow palette. This appealed to me because it had both neutral "daytime" shades alongside more pinky-purple "evening" shades. I thought this would be great for going away, having both looks in the one palette.

When it arrived I was very impressed with the palettes packaging. This palette comes in a gorgeous cerise pink faux leather case with a metal embossed Tarte branding plate on the outside. It was so tactile and lovely.

I really loved the packaging and couldn't wait to get inside! Opening it up, I wasn't disappointed. There was a lovely mirror in the lid and the colours were just what I was expecting. It contains 3 matte shades and 5 shimmers.

There was no applicator included, but that is no loss because I rarely use them anyway, preferring to use my own brushes. Here is a closer look at the shades, followed by a swatch on my arm.

As I hope you can see, the colour pay off isn't that spectacular and this is with me building it up. The matte shades did have a lot of fall out. The palette also contained a little "guide" on how to create 2 different looks.

Strangely enough they have used the pink- purples for the daytime look and the browns for the evening look. I would have used them the other way round but, hey, what do I know?!! 

Anyway, usually when I do make up reviews, I like to show them applied because I think it gives the reader a better idea of how they look, rather than just swatched on the arm. However, in this instance, there are no photographs of them applied! 

I tried this palette for around a month but whichever way I applied the pink and mauves I looked like I had done 5 rounds with Frank Bruno (a retired UK boxer for those who don't know!). My eyes either looked bruised or like I had been crying for hours! Not a good look unless it is Halloween! 

The brown shades were okay but I think I have pretty much all the brown shades already covered with my Naked 1-3 palettes. 

I REALLY wanted to love this palette which is why I kept it for almost 4 weeks to see if I could learn to love it but alas no. Thankfully QVC have a 30 day money back guarantee so if, for any reason, you are unhappy with a product you can return it to them within 30 days for a refund minus the postage charges so I have now returned it to them. This palette was £26.50 plus P&P so was definitely mid range veering towards higher rather than budget prices.

It hasn't put me off Tarte shadows by any means. These colours just weren't for me. Perhaps if QVC did a great value TSV which included a palette then I am sure I will be adding it to my basket but I don't think I would be tempted again to spend almost £30 for a Tarte palette alone.

I really hoped I would fall in love with this palette and I am so disappointed that I didn't.

Have you tried any Tarte eyeshadows? Did you love them?

Would love to hear your views.

Thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of your day.

Take care,

CJ xx 

*purchased with my own money.

Review & Swatches: MUA Luxe Pretty Edgy Eye Shadow Palette & MUA Intense Kisses Lip Gloss

I've finally had chance to try the new items I bought from Superdrug the other week.
First up is the MUA Luxe Pretty Edgy Eye Palette which was £8. Now I have several eye shadow palettes from the MUA Professional range, but this was my first purchase from their Luxe range.

The first noticeable difference is the packaging. The case is much sturdier than the other MUA palettes. This palette is made in shiny black plastic with gold plastic stud detailing in the top. Also, unlike their previous palettes, this comes with a substantial mirror in the lid. It definitely appears more robust than their Professional range. I do like it.
Now onto the eye shadows.

The Pretty Edgy Palette contains 6 shimmer shades and 4 matte shades. I would say they are cool neutrals with some having a pinky/violet edge. The colours are certainly ideal for me.

Swatches of the top row of shimmers, L to R: Antique, Bow, Toile, Ruffle, Flounce, Lace.

Swatches of the bottom row of mattes, L to R: Sinful, Gothic, Wrath, Envy.

I think they are pretty true to colour. I found applying them easy and they are definitely buildable and easy to blend. I found there was a little fall out but it was minimal.
Here they are applied: ( apologies for my unkempt brows, I'm currently doing a 60 day Revitabrow trial so trying not to pluck them!)

I purposely did not use an eye primer before application because I wanted to see how these shadows held up in their own right. The picture below was taken after 10 hours wear.

I don't know what you think, but I am pretty impressed at their staying power. I think this is a great palette for £8. Personally I think the colours, for me, are more suited for evening rather than daytime. I am not sure that the eye shadows are any better than their Professional range, but then I think they are great too! (Hate the MUA single shadows, though). In my opinion, I think you are paying extra for the packaging. 

With my Superdrug order I also ordered a MUA Professional Intense Kisses Lip Gloss in the shade "Lips Are Sealed" which cost £2. It has the usual doe foot applicator.
Here it is swatched:

And applied to my lips:

It is a brighter pink than I usually wear, but I do like it. It was easy to apply and didn't feel too sticky. I decided to test the longevity of the gloss so here it is 4 hours later, after a hot drink, a meal and a cold drink.

Yes, it has faded considerably, and there is a little bleeding on my top lip, but I think for a £2 lip gloss this is pretty good. Also, MUA do not make any claims that this is a long lasting gloss. I always know if I like a gloss when I am happy to purchase in another shade. I would most certainly buy other shades of this Intense Kisses gloss. At £2 I really don't think you can go wrong.

Have you tried any of the new MUA Luxe range? What did you think of it?
Would love to read you comments.
Anyway, that's all for now. Thanks for reading.
Enjoy the rest of your day.
Take care,
CJ xx

*both items purchased with my own money.

Tarte Haul! Purchases from QVC UK

They've arrived!
At last the products I ordered from the Tarte launch on QVC have arrived!
I've not had time to try them yet, but here is a sneaky peak in all their glory.
I ordered a blush, concealer, eye shadow palette and a set of 15 lip glosses!
It was my birthday earlier this week and my dear dad gave me some money so I used that to treat myself to some Tarte make up. The flowers in the pic were also from him.

First impressions are favourable but I will definitely be reporting back once I've had time to give them all a good try.

Have you tried Tarte? What are your favourites? I was tempted to go for the lipsticks too but most bloggers said they would be £20 but QVC aired them at £29.50 so it put me off. Have you tried the lipsticks?

I tend to waffle a tad in my blog posts, so today I have kept it short and sweet!
Thanks for reading.
Enjoy the rest of your day.
Take care,
CJ xx