Makeup brushes are one of the beauty accessories that often divide women. Some love using them and absolutely swear by the process, and others prefer using their hands. I can't even recount the amount of times that I've had discussions with ladies over using or not using makeup brushes.

Before I educated myself on beauty through various mediums i.e. like YouTube, beauty books and more, I also used to use my fingers with varying results. The first brushes I bought around 5 years ago were extremely cheap and sadly not very good quality. Once I started using better quality brushes it made all the difference in my makeup application, and not only did it apply much smoother, but I actually achieved better coverage with both my foundation and concealer.

Recently I was extremely lucky to have the opportunity to review a brand that I hadn't heard about before, So Eco, and also one brush from Japonesque. The very kind folks at http://makeupbrushes.co.uk asked me to choose two brushes, so I chose the So Eco Bronzer Brush as well as the Japonesque Mineral Blush brush.

So Eco - Bronzer Brush £12
So Eco is a beautifully affordable range of makeup brushes that is really easy to build up a decent collection of brushes with. I really could not wait to try the Bronzer brush in particular because my brush collection was lacking one of these. The best part of So Eco is the fact that their brushes are completely cruelty free, super soft, and the materials used in the brush and packaging is recycled, sustainable, compostable and  bio-degradable.

These points are all extremely important to me, as our impact on earth needs to be as minimal as possible. The handle is made of bamboo, which is extremely sustainable and the ferule at the top of the brush is made of aluminium that was recycled. The brush is suitable for both liquid and powder products.

I've used the brush a few times already to apply bronzer and my current bronzing favourite glides on effortlessly and the brush does not dig into my skin. The entire brush is incredibly soft, gorgeous and a great addition to any makeup collection. It is balanced well and sits comfortably in your hand during application. The price is no reflection on the quality of the brush and I wouldn't hesitate to add to my collection a few more brushes from this brand.

Japonesque - Mineral Blush Brush £20
Japonesque has also been one of the brands high on my 'to try' list, but I've never found it easy to get to a counter. I'm always weary to just buy brushes unless I see them first. But overall I am very pleased with the Japonesque brand.  A while ago I fell in love with angled blush brushes when applying a blusher, but sadly my current brush from E.L.F. is on its last limbs. So this truly came at the right time.

The brush is shorter than I imagined, but sits well in the hand whilst applying your makeup and again is well balanced. It is extremely light and the bristles are soft - albeit not quite as soft as the So Eco brushes. You can easily identify that the brush is well made from high quality materials.

This brush is really only suitable for loose or pressed mineral powders and can be used to highlight, contour and blend. I'm slightly dissapointed that this brand doesn't seem to promote the fact that their brushes are cruelty free, but that may be due to some of the bristles being natural hair which is only a by-product.

Overall, I've enjoyed using the brush and find that powders sweep onto the face well. I'm reserving judgement on this brush until I've used it with all of my blushes, because I really want to make sure that I'm not misleading anyone. But so far, so good!

Both of these brushes can easily be bought through the http://makeupbrushes.co.uk site. They offer free first class delivery on all orders and only sell original products. They regularly add new products to their stocks and have various beauty tools, brushes and lashes. I'm already eyeing up the So Eco Complexion Sponge and the Japonesque blending trio.

You can also keep up with any new products by staying in touch with http://makeupbrushes.co.uk on social media:
https://www.facebook.com/makeupbrushes.co.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/mub_uk/
https://twitter.com/mub_uk

Which brush is your favourite?

Get up and Glow

Morning Beauties!

By far today is definitely one of those days that shows you that summer is well and truly over.  It is dull, grey and super rainy.  We've even had forecasts of flooding in the majority of areas across the UK. 

However, with that being said, I'm going to be looking on the bright side and finding ways of staying chipper!  As this week is going to be filled with exciting new posts, which I'll get to tomorrow, I'm looking at something for today that will say:  "HEY, I am still a bit tanned and looking fabulous!"

This weather just makes me want to relax in my bed, snuggled up, and watching reruns of Sex and the City.  How cheesy, right?  But I love watching TV shows, especially ones with fabulous girls in that dress really well.  You'll have to let me know your favourite things to do when it gets rainy.

Ok, so my tan is GONE, I'm pasty and I'd like to claim some semblance of bronze back.  I've found the PERFECT solution!

The MeMeMe Shimmer Stacks are the perfect solution without being expensive!




Three colour options of bronze, pink and gold.

 
MeMeMe Shimmer Stacks are a beauty bag must. Each compact incorporates five different bronzers so that you can blend just the right shade for you.

Sweep over nose, brow bone and cheeks – all the areas the sun hits first – for a natural, healthy glow.

Visit MeMeMeCosmetics.co.uk as these bricks retail for a very reasonable £7.99 (was £9.99) each. 

MeMeMe Cosmetics also have a wide range of other great products at affordable prices.  Their website lists all the retail stores near you that will stock MeMeMe Cosmetics.

I'm going to get the gold and the pink, it will really give me some colour!  I've got to get some faketan as well.  No pastiness here!

Let me know what you think of these babies.  Hope you've had a fantastic weekend filled with fun.

xoxo,
Angelique

Back to School: Change your look for less

Everyone would sometimes like to chop and change their looks, but make-over's can be time consuming and expensive.  This is especially true if you are going back to school and would like to impress you friends.  So how can you change your look for less (time and money)?!  Easy with these few quick and easy little tips and tricks.  Just give it a try...

The Color Purple

We all know that mascara is the secret to instantly playing up your eyes, but who says it always has to be black? Try painting your lashes blue to spice things up, or if you’re feeling super-daring, go for purple (looks great on hazel eyes) or even green (for brown or blue eyes)!

Just Peachy

Switching up your lip color is an easy way to transition your summer beauty look into fall. This season, orange is the new pink, so trade in your rosy-hued gloss for a subtle peach or coral shade. Or, if you’re a fan of bold lips, try a bright tangerine lipstick for a pop of standout color.

White Out

White eyeliner is the beauty world’s best-kept secret. Take a break from your signature smoky eye and use white eyeliner on the inner corners of your eyes, and along the water line, to make your eyes look instantly bigger and brighter!

Pass the Highlighter

Waking up for school can be rough. Fake a fresh-faced look even if you’ve been up all night cramming for a test by using a shimmery highlighter on your cheekbones. This is a quick way to get a natural girly glow. Tip: Make sure to smile so you can locate the apples of your cheeks, then apply the shimmer in a downward slant right above them,  to create the illusion of higher cheekbones.

All Day Color

Tired of reapplying your lip-gloss after every class? Try out a fun lip stain in a berry or red shade and you’ll be well on your way to the perfect, lasting pout! Stains can last up to 8 hours, while glosses can fade after eating and drinking. To apply it smoothly, line and fill in your lips with a lip liner in a similar color, then apply stain on top with a lip brush.

Best in Brows

When making up your eyes, look beyond just your lids and lashes—eyebrows are actually the feature that frames your whole face, and a little grooming can go an extra-long way! If your brows are on the lighter or thinner side, try filling them in with a powder or pencil that’s a complementary shade to your hair color. For blondes, that’s usually a taupe color; for darker hair, it’s usually a light or dark brunette shade. You'll be surprised at what a world of different this quick trick makes—especially in photos!

Wing Woman

Leave your basic pencils in the classroom and try out liquid eyeliner to liven up your look. Liquid liners or brushes dipped in gel liner glide on much smoother than the kind you have to sharpen, and the result is more pronounced. If you usually stop your line at the end of your eye, tip the liner upward and extend it out into a slight wingtip—this shape is extra flirty and only takes a minute to complete.

 I know that I've written this as a 'back to school' special, however these rules can apply to anyone who'd like to change their looks without forking out mega bucks in the process.

I love the idea of coloured mascara, and can't wait to buy a purple mascara.  It means that I can accentuateeyes and that is always great in my books.

Plus lipgloss/stains are such an EASY way to change your look.  If you stick to nudes, go for a sexy pop of colour.  I'm going to be trying a lot of orange colours.

Let me know your quick fixes to change your look quickly.

xoxo,
Angelique

17's Summer Capsule Collection

It's summer, which means I've been paring down my beauty routine and adding new products to my stash.
I was pleased to hear 17 has introduced a brand new capsule collection to its already overflowing range, including a pretty line of mattifying and bronzing products.

For a base that won't budge, I've been using 17's Miracle Matte Skin Primer, £3.99. Ensuring your foundation stays in place longer and your skin remains shine-free, this handy little product is a lifesaver during balmy summer days.

I've been pairing the primer and my usual foundation with 17's Miracle Matte Pressed Powder, £2.99 dabbing it around the T Zone to mop up excess oil. I find it mattifies my skin perfectly, preventing the need for touch-ups.

The beautiful new Instant Glow Shimmer Brick in Gold Bronze, £4.99 completes my summer-ready look, giving a healthy-glow to my usual pasty white cheeks. And don't forget to take a look at the brand's Instant Glow Bronzer in Shimmer or Matte for an all over instant sun-kissed look - just beautiful!

Do you change your make-up routine during summer? 

Which products do you like to use?

xoxo,
Angelique :-)