Veruschka- Eyes To Mesmerise by Charlotte Tilbury

I love Charlotte Tilbury's Colour Chameleon Eye Shadow Pencils so much that when I saw she was bringing out Eyes To Mesmerise in cream eye shadows, of course I had to have one.


Eyes to Mesmerise in Veruschka

After much deliberation on which colour was going to be my first purchase it ended up being Veruschka.

I wanted something a little different to what I already had in my collection, yet a colour that would be wearable for both day and night.

Now I must say I am a little on the fence when I comes to this product, there are elements of it I love and elements I, well lets just say, don't love.


First of all lets talk about the loves. The colour is very unusual it is like a greeny grey, the exact words they use on the website is a, "minky-mossy golden grey-green" which I guess it is. It does have beautiful golden shimmer throughout it and mines definitely more a grey than green. But a very apt description.

A truly unique pretty colour.

So I love the colour but I also love how there is no fall out as it is a cream eye shadow, probably didn't need to say that and my sensitive eyes also love it, another bonus.

So with all these loves why am I not head over heels in-love with it.

Well, personally for me it creases, really badly within a few hours of wear. I have tried using it with my MAC Painterly Paint Pot as a base and it helps out for a good few hours but inevitably it creases on me.

Although I must say I do have very oily eyelids, so a lot of things do crease on me. But I am slightly more disappointed as I got on so well with her Colour Chameleon Eye Shadow Pencils that I thought I'd be on to a winner here but alas not.

I also find it actually quite time consuming and messy to use, I put the majority of it on my eyelid with my finger and then have to go and wash my hand or rub the excess off somewhere and then grab a pencil brush to get into the inner corners of my eyes, where my fingers don't fit and then under my lower lash line. I guess I just wanted it to be as easy to use as an eye shadow pencil.

That being said I could just use a brush for the whole application, so perhaps I am just being picky. But I do think that you get a better colour pay off when applied with a finger.

An overall round up from me would be, love the colour and the feel of it on my eyelids but unfortunately it creases really badly on my lids and I find it quite time consuming to apply.

But if you don't have a creasing issue and are a dab hand at applying cream eye shadows for sure give them a go, all the colours look absolutely stunning.

The Perfect Red

I have written about this brand (Melt Cosmetics) before but I thought their red lipstick deserved a post dedicated all to itself, actually all their lipsticks probably deserve their own post, but for now lets concentrate on Belladonna 2. 

The formula is perfect, as I've said before Melt Cosmetics lipsticks are indestructible, they last all day and if and when you need a little touch up, no cakeyness, no rough bobbly bits appearing when reapplying, minimal/no smudging and well lets talk about the colour..

It is to die for.

MAC Cherry on the left and Belladonna 2 on the right

It looks sooo delicious it makes me want to eat it! And for a red it is an extremely versatile colour, just change the lip liner your using and you can adapt it to be more orange or more pink if that's your thing. Dab a little on for a less full on look or mix it up with plums or pinks and create the most beautiful ombré lip ever. My go to lip liners for Belladonna 2 are MAC's Cherry or Dynamo. 

Every single time I wear it people always stop me and ask where its from, guaranteed. It is such a pretty red that looks great on everyone. These lipsticks give you the confidence to wear a bright bold lip, and its down to the lipsticks formulation.

I have every faith that it wont be smudged down my face or half rubbed off after I've eaten or had a drink because like I said Melt Cosmetics lipsticks are indestructible and amazing!


Kissy kissy- Belladonna 2 with MAC's Cherry lip liner

After I've taken it off, or should I say tried to take it off, the stain it leaves on my lips is super pretty as well, I just go with it. A little bit of Lucas' Papaw Ointment on top and off I go. I am always pleasantly surprised at the amount of compliments I get with that lip combination, even after its off. Not quite as many as the full blown red colour but who doesn't love a compliment.

I just love this brand and dare I say it, I love their trusty lipsticks even more!

Bye-Bye Dry Eyes

This stuff is amazing! I genuinely want to tell everyone about it, it's the best thing ever! What is it? I hear you ask, well, it's lubricating eye drops, that are suitable for use with all contact lenses!! Aahhh *angels sing* Honestly I love this stuff!! 

After wearing contact lenses for over a decade I know the troubles of finding eye drops suitable to use with contact lenses. You either have to chuck them out after four weeks of opening or you can buy those individual sachets, which you can never find when you need them, scratchy to use and impossible to get open. 

So you can imagine my absolute delight when I discovered HYLO-FORTE^®  (also know as HYLO^® -GEL)  This my friends, is the answer to all your dry eye nightmares!

What makes it different to all the rest? It has the super cool (patented) pump thing at the bottom, which you press and it releases the perfect amount of drop right into your eye, so no tears running down your face or that horrible anticipation, waiting for the drop to eventually reach your eyeball.

The nifty container keeps the solution completely sealed, so no bacteria can get in there, making it preservative free and suitable for all contact lenses, hurra!!! As it's normally the preservatives in eye drops that react with most contact lenses, damaging the contact lenses.

You can keep it for up to 6 months after opening after that it is recommended to be discarded.  Although it normally lasts me around 4-5 months, so perfect timing. There is said to be around 300 drops in each packet.

When I put this in my eyes, I have immediate and long lasting relief, no more burning or dryness, it is aaamaazing! You can't actually feel it go in, it doesn't sting, burn or make your eyes cloudy.  It just kind of soothes your eyes, making them all happy, I guess once again living up to its name and lubricating your eyes!

I have definitely noticed a reduction in the little red veins in my eyes, thank goodness!  And of course I also use it on my beloved puggies if their eyes are looking a little dry or if they have something in them, and it is really easy to get in their eyes with the cool pump dispenser thing it has.

Now we have established that they are amazing and if you suffer from dry eyes and wear contact lenses, you have to get this, but here is a fun fact!  The ingredient that's in it to make it all silky and delicious on your eye ball is sodium hyaluronate also referred to as hyaluronic acid and is one of the most abundant components of your skin and is proven to help reverse and counteract the signs of aging caused by UVB. Ooo interesting.

If you look closely you'll find this ingredient in a lot of the expensive eye and face creams. So after using it in my eyes during the day, at night I pop a bit around my eyes, in-between my eyebrows and round my mouth, basically where I can see those lovely fine lines starting to appear. Funny thing is it actually feels lovely on my face as well!! Multi tasking product or what! 

Now it is expensive for an eye drop, around $32 (NZD) or £15 (GBP) but oh so worth it! I just get it from my local pharmacy and I have never regretted any money I've spent on this and you never know you might have even found yourself a less expensive anti-wrinkle cream! Bonus!! 

To the beach!

 

These Charlotte Tilbury Beach Sticks have really surprised me. I have had them for around 7 months and thinking about it, I realise they have become a staple in my make-up bag.

I must admit I was a little miffed about the size of them when I first opening them. Although, after having used them for so long and being nowhere near finishing them, I see my first negative impression may have been too critical.

To be honest they are the perfect size for applying to your face and chucking in your make-up bag.

The price point for these guys is $45 (USD) each or you can purchase two for $85 (USD).  Pretty pricey but in-line with her other blushes.

I have really enjoyed using them, they are so quick and easy to chuck on and gives you a lovely healthy glow! Just like you have been at one of the fabulous beaches in which each stick is named after.

Ibiza on the left and Es Vedra on the right.

They don't go patching on me and they definitely do not sit in my pores. They just glide onto the skin and give a lovely dewy finish.

They just give life back to your face.

During the summer my body gets quite tanned and sometimes my face is left slightly behind with wearing hats and a super high SPF. But this definitely gives me a beautiful sun kissed glow, joining my head back with my body! 

They generally last all day, I say generally because I definitely put them through their pace as I find myself wearing them either, whilst exercising, walking the dogs, at the beach or just generally every day life which has recently been during the summer, and it's been a hot and sticky one.

Actually they last pretty darn well with everything I put them through!

I use Ibiza as a bronzer, which has a beautiful gold sparkle through it, that isn't that noticeable when it's blended in and Es Vedra I use it as a blush, a little goes a long way with this one on my skin tone and I just love its coral red colour, definitely makes me look alive and less monotone.

I don't normally use them on my lips but sometimes I pop a little bit of Lucas' Papaw Ointment over top of Es Vedra but I just generally don't like the feeling of it on my lips alone, I find it quite chalky, but that's just me.


I just blend it in with my fingers and it's as easy as that!

Puggie Wilber and I showing off my blended Beach Sticks.

All I have on my face is Nars radiant creamy concealer, T-zone set with powder and my beach sticks in Ibiza and Es Vedra.  Mascara, eyebrows, lip gloss and done!

It's one of those products that I didn't think I would love as much as I do but I keep going back to them, as they always give me a fool proof healthy look.

Definitely my go to products when I just want to get out the door! 

Bedroom black

Over the past year I have been steadily growing my collection of Charlotte Tilbury goodies and one of those goodies, as you've probably already guessed, was her Rock'n'Kohl Iconic Liquid Eye Pencil in Bedroom Black.

When trying it out for the first time I was actually quite shocked by how good it was, now my expectations were pretty high as her other items have been sooo good but this did not disappoint.  It just glides on the eyes like well a lipstick or liquid (guess the clue is in the name) it just seems to melt into your skin at the point of contact, which means no tugging on the delicate eyelid area.  But at the same point it doesn't transfer, you have a small amount of time to play with the product, blend it out or create a lovely smokey eye but then once it sets that's it.  Perfect!

I also like using this product to tight line my upper eyelid and to use in-between the lashes as it is so soft and creamy.  It has also been a dream to use on my waterline as well, as I normally avoid wearing eyeliners in my waterline due to the fact that my eyes are super sensitive and they are very prone to becoming red, super quickly, if you get those rogue floaty bits in your eye (you know the ones) when using eyeliners in waterline, but my eyes don't seem to react with this eyeliner and there are minimal/no floaty bits when applying this in the waterline.  Yay! 

The consistency of the product very much reminds me of a gel eyeliner but in a pencil format, which I really like.  And the colour pay off it amazing, its bedroom black alright!

It has been my go to product to create a black flick, like above.  And to create the tail of the flick I took some product from the pencil tip on an angled brush, I used a MAC 266, to get that sharp tapered end, like how you would use a gel eyeliner but I find this much easier to work with.  It doesn't transfer onto my eyelid when I open my eyes and it stays put all day long.  This little beauty certainly has been a pleasant surprise. 

 

Copperlicious

Coppers and I have an attraction.. When I see them, I just need them, I have to have them, they make me feel warm and fuzzy inside and I have the most strange urge to want to eat them.  Random.  Anyone else?  Mmm ok, moving on. 

So when I saw that Sugarpill Cosmetics had brought out nine new loose eyeshadows and one of them so happened to be the most beautiful copper called Penelope I just had to have it!

While unwrapping it, I felt slightly ashamed of myself, did I really need another copper eyeshadow?  I mean I do already own MAC's Copper Sparkle albeit a vintage one but then I swatched it and my question was answered, yes,I did need this in my life.  

Left- Sugarpill's Penelope, Right-MAC's Copper Sparkle (no filter)

The colour is just delicious and it is different to Copper Sparkle, I find Penelope much easier to wear, either with a more natural look or a fully amped up copper look, it is just lovely or should I say.... yummy. 

The swatches above are straight onto my skin, no primer, the pigmentation on both is amazing!  I find Penelope has a slightly more pink tone compared to Copper Sparkle which is slightly more of a bronze tone.  I personally think that's why I find Penelope easier to wear as it suits my skin tone better, but if you want more of a bronze tone I'd say Copper Sparkle is the one for you. 






Penelope more intense look

To make Sugarpill's Penelope more intense I used MAC's painterly paint pot as a base and wet a flat brush with MAC's Fix+ and packed it onto the lid.  I then lined the eyes with black eyeliner. 

I must admit I thought it was totally going to crease and flake off but it didn't! I was super impressed and it lasted all day!  Maybe it was the painterly base, I will definitely be trying this application with other loose shadows I own and see if I have the same positive outcome.  


Penelope neutral look

For a more neutral look I used Charlotte Tilbury's Champagne Diamonds all over my lid and used Penelope on the outer V corners of my eyes, just packing the loose dry eyeshadow on and blended them together with a large fluffy brush, I lightly lined my lash line with a brown liner and added some more Penelope on top to define the eyes.

I can't wait to try out loads of different looks with this versatile loose eyeshadow, next I think I will be using a dark base, or maybe even mixing it in with a green smokey eye could be cool, oh the possibilities are endless!

Bioderma, how does it work?

The Back Story

I love make-up, I love everything about make-up, how it can make you feel, how it can be transforming, magical, therapeutic, expressive, an outlet and sooo much more to sooo many different people.  I just love make-up. 

The only thing I dislike about make-up, is taking it off.  I used to dread taking off my make-up, due to the fact it would hurt.  To be clear it would hurt my eyeballs, yes my actual eyeballs, as I have extremely sensitive skin and most of all eyeballs, if any make-up remover/cleansers got in them, one ouch and two I would look like I was ready for a casting of the black swan.

The Hunt

I scoured the beauty world to find something that wouldn't react with my eyes, and yet take my make-up off properly.  So in turn I tired a lot of make-up removers/cleansers.  A lot.

And I'll tell you what, eventually, with the help of the delightful thing called the internet and YouTube, I found it!!  I found the one, the one that has helped me get over my one and only dislike of make-up.  I discovered BIODERMA Crealine H2O. 

I think if memory serves me correctly I was watching one of Lisa Eldridge's YouTube video's and there is was.  I was intrigued, I trust her opinion, she knows her stuff, so what was this mystical bottle?

So I researched it, purchased it, used it and well it was.. glorious!!  It was like heaven!!  It just kind of, dissolves your make-up, even water proof mascara and best of all no pain if it gets in your eyes.

But how?

BIODERMA is a French Pharmaceutical company whom specialises in dermatology, basically they have super intelligent people working on things for the skin that actually work.  They have a range of products which I would like to try more of but first things first back to BIODERMA Crealine H2O. 

As the bottle was in French (didn't do too well at French at school) I didn't really understand what it was and how it worked, I was so very intrigued.  It was like water but got rid of waterproof mascara?

Actually even after reading the English translation I still didn't quite understand it, micellar water?  What is that?  So I have asked the help of my beloved husband whom is a Pharmacist and has a much higher grasp of Chemistry terms than myself to explain it to me in a way I would understand..  So here goes.

How it actually works? (in layman's terms)

BIODERMA Crealine H2O is basically like some of the two part oil in water make-up removers/cleansers that you shake to mix up, but with a little extra magic thrown in. The main ingredient is water, at a higher ratio than most other removers/cleansers. This is due to it being a micellar/micellaire water based cleanser.  It is also free from SLS, parabens and benzoates, which are known to cause sensitivity reactions.   Good to know. 

So what is micellar/micellaire water?  Basically the oil part is wrapped up into little spheres (a micelle) by a surfactant. The easiest way to explain a surfactant is to think of a sperm, yup just like that. So the head is attracted to water and the tail is attracted to the oil, this attraction forms tiny spheres of oil with the tails going in and the heads facing out, protecting the oil from grouping together in the water.  Just imagine a load of sperm all around the oil or an orange covered in cloves. 

Now in the case BIODERMA Crealine H2O the surfactant is such a small size that the micelles they form can't be seen by the naked eye and so it appears clear. When you put it onto a cotton pad and remove your make-up the surfactant (mixed with the water) and oil both help break down the make-up, the oil parts removing oil based (waterproof) make-up and the water part with surfactants removing the rest.  There are also a few lovely things in there that help firm and refresh your skin as well. 

Try not to think about sperm next time you are taking off your make-up and please note there is NO actual sperm in BIODERMA its just an analogy.  If you don't understand it, don't worry, just think of it as fairy dust in water. 

Why I love it?

Because it makes taking off my make-up a joy.  Just put some on to a cotton pad, put it on your eye, leave it there for a few moments and wipe away, your make-up comes off without any scrubbing, rubbing or soreness.  My eyes don't nip, no redness and what's better is my skin adores it.  I feel actually clean after using this and it feels like there is nothing on my skin, no slimy oily residue, no smell, nothing.  Must be those little micelle thingies working their magic. 


See no rubbing required!

Another major plus, you can reapply make-up straight away.  As with some make-up removers, if you try and reapply your make-up after taking it off, it will just slip right off your face but not with this bad boy it's like a completely fresh face to work with.  Yay!! 

This is by far one of best things I have ever purchased.  I just couldn't live without it.  If you are considering trying this, go for it.  It has lived up to every positive review I've read and more.  I love it!! And Beautylish has just started stocking it as well, which will hopefully make it a lot easier for everyone to get a hold of! Whoop whoop! 

 

Lucas' Papaw Ointment=Magical

As a make-up lover,  addict some could argue, I have a habit of collecting lip balms, you know, picking one up here, another there and never actually finishing them, they either get lost or left in a handbag or just discarded.  

 

I went through this phase for a long time up until the day I got introduced to Lucas' Papaw Ointment..  And that's where the hoarding habits ceased..  Well for lip balms anyway!

 

This product is just magical, long gone are the days of dry, chapped and blistered lips.  It soothes them and actually nourishes them, quite often when using other lip products I had the feeling that they would just sit on top of my lips and not actually do very much, but you can feel Lucas Papaw Ointment relieving your scabby, yucky bits and in no time at all you'll have the most baby smooth lips that I never thought possible, especially for myself. 

 

But it doesn't just stop there, oh no, it has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties so you can use for a wide range things like on cuts, nappy rash, boils, gravel rash, splinters, insect bites and loads more.  I even use it on my puggie's noses, if they are ever looking dry, I just rub a little bit on, et voila.  No more dry cracked soreness. 

As you can see by the nibbled tube in the photo, if they had it their way they would eat the stuff.  This might be because it is made in Brisbane Australia out of fresh fermented fruit and has a base of wax and pharmaceutical grade petroleum jelly.  Personally I don't get any smell from it but as my puggies love them some fruit maybe that's what their picking up. 

One small thing is that I wouldn't recommend wearing it if you are going out in the strong sun as it doesn't have any SPF but apart from that use it to 'til heart's content, it also works a dream on relieving sunburn.   

 

Above is what it looks like out of the tube, it doesn't look that special but believe me it is magical.  I don't know what I would do if it wasn't for this little gem.. Well still buying lip balms I guess.. 

 

Thank you Lucas' Papaw Ointment for years free from dry cracked lips and coming from a matte lipstick fiend, this says a lot!  

 

PINK LIPS & IN LOVE

 

What can I say?  I love a good lipstick, who doesn't?  This little beauty from Melt Cosmetics has the best staying power of them all!!  I have so much faith in these lipsticks I even wore it to a wine tasting event.. 

Oh yes!

  

A giant bonus, if you need to do any retouching during the day they don't layer up and become cakey..  I guess it's because they are amazing!  For a lip liner I pair this particular lipstick, Stupid Love (cute name huh?) with MAC's pro longwear lip pencil in Shock Value, the colours match perfectly. 

 

Another plus for me is the smell, personally I get vanilla mixed with plasticine (just me?) which I love as it reminds me of a happy childhood.. Although don't worry if this doesn't sound appealing to you as the smell isn't that strong when they are on.

 

 

These lipsticks are extremely pigmented and not as drying as you would think for a matte lipstick, this electric pink baby is to die for and I love rocking it with a simple black flick.  

 

You will be guaranteed a compliment when wearing these lipsticks and you can have a look on their website and swoon over the creators (Lora and Dana's) beauty whilst getting some serious make-up inspiration.. 

 

I currently have four of these babies in my collection and have my wee beady eye on a few more.. eh.. well helloooo Dark Room.. They are a delight to wear and I guess its fair to say I am in love..