Monday 25 January 2016

iDorottka loves: JANUARY 2016 BEAUTY FAVOURITES

Hello ladies :) Welcome to the first favourites of 2016. It's been a while, huh? Nah, not really :) It seems all I've been doing in the last month or so is write about favourites lol. It's a good thing I love so many things ;) Without a further ado let's dig in, shall we? January has been a month of a cleanse, I haven't been feeling well at all and bracing life has been pretty difficult. I am little better now, more calm and looking forward to a new month. I haven't been playing too much with my makeup, on a daily basis I was back to my favourites :)



Starting with my all time favourite palette - Makeup Revolution Death by Chocolate is just that, awesome every day palette. This is perfect for your every day makeup needs, you can even do your brows with it. Mattes are semi-mattes here so the whole look you create is less harsh and easier to do, if you're only just starting your journey. Shades are buttery and soft but with minimum fall out. For the mere £8.00 - It is a winner !!! :) Check it out here.

Last year has been a year of base discoveries for me and with the realisation my skin does not need full coverage came lighter, glowing bases. I have been looking for a cheaper alternative to my trusty Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue and I found it in the drugstore, for less than £6.00!!  I did good, haven't I? Collection Illuminating Touch Foundation is a pretty awesome, glowing foundation. It gives some coverage, but without the feeling you cake it up. It's light, highlighted at its best. I really like it in the shade Porcelain. It does go just a tad darker during a day on me if not powdered down, so I have been setting it down with Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit. If you're looking for a light, glowing base that doesn't break a bank - go and check this baby out :)

As to continue on the trend of looking for 'dupes' of my favourite luxury products. Let me introduce you to this slanted flat top brush from Makeup Revolution. It does come as part of a set Ultra Sculpt & Blend Collection and it's my alternative to Sigma F80 flat top. It isn't as dense but it blends my base liquid products beautifully - no streaks !! This is pretty unusual for drugstore brushes but this set is pretty awesome in general. There's only one brush I don't like there, even the sponge is decent. I have been using this brush on those days my trusty Sigma hasn't been washed in a week (lazy girl issues right here lol). Buy it here.

Lazy girl makeup cannot be completed without two staples - great mascara that lasts all day and a nude lipstick, that's barely there and yet, it gives you that better than your lips effect. In January these two for me were L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes So Couture. This mascara is pure gold. It volumes, lengthens a bit but what's awesome about it - it lasts all day, no smudging which is huge for me :) It's just a tenner too, so doesn't break a bank ;)Buy it here. January is a month of savings, so what's better than a free lipstick. My Lancome Pop Lipstick in Nude Pop mini was a gift with purchase of Glamour few months back and it has been in my makeup bag ever since. I reviewed it recently so if you'd like to know more, check out my post, but it's a great addition to my lazy day routine ;) Check it out here.

Back in December I started playing even more with my hair and by playing I mean dying it super light blonde just to put pastel purple and then crazy arse purple few days later. In order to get that frizz under control I rely on my trusty oils. You know I'm crazy about Coconut Oil in general but this month I have been adding some Argan Oil goodness to the mix. I was lucky to be send some goodies from Insta Natural and this 100% Pure Organic Argan Oil has been a life saver. It comes with a pump which is great for application and a glass bottle that I already know I will be re-using. Oil itself deeply conditions my hair laving them soft - and it's all thanks to the oil goodness. Buy it here. On top of oils I have been using this super cheap, yet effective Superdrug own Coconut Oil & Coconut Water Masque. It smells delicious, it doesn't weight down my hair and it gives them shine. Superb :) Go & check it out here.

I have been treating myself to my absolute favourite scent from Body Shop. Their HoneyMania Shower Gel has been a staple in my bathroom for years now and I keep going back. It smells delicious, leaves my skin soft and cleanses well. Not much else to say - great buy :) 

For my face cleanse I have been going back to creamy textures as my poor dry and dehydrated skin is in serious need of a little moisture. This No7 Cleansing Balm has been designed for super dry skin and it is a god send. It doesn't irritate, it's pretty good at removing makeup, although I use it mainly as part two of my cleansing routine. It's very creamy in texture and leaves my skin moisturised which is always a plus in those scary winter months. Great buy on a budget ;)

Lastly my better than awesome eye cream. One luxury product that I just keep mentioning because it is that great !! Origins Plantscription Eye Cream is an anti-aging master. I can see the effect, my under eye area is smoother and more plump, my eye bags are reduced and dark circles as well. It does it all. Worth every penny :) if i could ever make you go & buy one product in your life - let it be this one. You will not be disappointed I promise :)

That's it for the lazy girl's guide to surviving post Christmas blues. Easy favourites with easy and great makeup and some skincare goodness to top it all off. How have you been this past month? Have you been suffering just by looking at your credit card statement and promising yourself 2016 will be the year you will save like I was? I have been strong and made NO PURCHASES so far and I'm proud, oh so proud of myself :) Tell me all about it and of your favourites that you think I should try in the comments below :) Don't forget to subscribe & stalk me everywhere - it means a world to me :)

Thank you for reading,
Love

Dorota x

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Monday 18 January 2016

iDorottka loves palettes: ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS SELF MADE UNDER THE RADAR, WITH SWATCHES.

I'm so excited about today's post, it's almost too much. I have dreamed to get my hands on Anastasia Beverly Hills for so long, but I've been waiting for the perfect product. I contemplated trying different things, but I finally made up my mind, when ABH announced the release of Self Made Palette. It hit all the boxes with me and I got it on the release date back in November. I apologise for such delay in getting this review to you, but I had to get Blogmas out of the way  first:) Here we go ladies and gents - Anastasia Beverly Hills under the radar, was it worth the wait? Stay with me to find out :)




" This limited edition, fashion forward eyeshadow kit is the ultimate makeup artist's palette. Fourteen shades - ranging from a neutral beige to galaxy black - deliver intense colour, so you can create an endless array of custom looks." 

Where to buy? 

I got mine at Cult Beauty, but it was also available at Beauty Bay. Unfortunately it is now sold out. Priced at £27.00. This was a limited edition palette, now unavailable. There are still few available here and there on both Ebay and Amazon but I would be very careful, as once they are overpriced plus you are running the possibility of getting a fake. 

Packaging/What's in the box.

Made of reinforced cardboard, coated with textured steel gray plastic like material, with silver plaque at the front with ABH logo. I really enjoy it, it looks professional and still quite light, making it perfect choice for travel. It comes with decent sized mirror of a medium quality. There's a double sided brush included, but it feels really cheap and bristles aren't too great either. It's not either soft or usable in my opinion. Palette closes with magnetic clasp. 14 shadows of different finishes ranging from matte, through satin, metallic and titanium (super glossy metallic), weight 0.65g per shade.

Formula:

Most shadows are super soft to touch, buttery in texture. It makes them prone to little fallout in the palette itself, after watching and with the use of fluffy brush. It's a little disappointing given the brand, but it happens with any soft buttery shades in my opinion. Pigmentation is great with all shades. Swatches to follow. ABH shadows are cruelty free, which is a huge bonus.

Shades:

Pink Champagne - rose gold, titanium finish - super pigmented.
Metallic Plum - medium to dark plum, metallic finish, great pigmentation.
Self-Made - bronze, satin finish, , great pigmentation, more powdery formula.
Witchy - grey with a hint of khaki, metallic finish, great pigmentation.


Blush - yellow beige, duo chrome pink finish, great pigmentation.
Blossom - pink, lilac metallic finish, great pigmentation.
Buttery - beige, matte finish, great pigmentation.


Deep Purple - purple, titanium finish, great pigmentation.
Treasure - light Champagne, metallic finish, great pigmentation.
Hot & Cold - brown, metallic finish, great pigmentation.
Sherbet - peach, satin finish, great pigmentation.


Isla - sea green, duo chrome gold finish, great pigmentation.
Spirit Rock - matte black, purple micro glitter running through, great pigmentation, glitter not visible on the lid.
Hot Chocolate - dark brown, matte finish, great pigmentation.


Pros:

All shadows are super pigmented and only little fallout is experienced. I adore the individual shades with Pink Champagne, Buttery, Deep Purple, Treasure, Sherbet, Isla, Spirit Rock and Hot Chocolate being my definite winners of this palette. Packaged very well, great for travel. Great to creat both daytime and night looks. Pigmentation can be enhanced if white cream base used.  Wearable shadows with some superb colours in the mixture.

Cons:

I find the brush to be of very poor quality and useless for professional makeup. Shadows are quite small and if used frequently, I can't see them lasting  very long. Only two matte shades are the biggest con in my opinion, but what I like about them is the possibility of mixing shades to create crease shade from Buttely and Hot Chocolate. Missing proper crease shade though.

Overview:

I give this palette 4* out of 5, as in my opinion it's super wearable and by introducing some colour also very versatile. When looked at first time, you may think it's very strangely built, with the placement of the shadows being a little all over the place. I am being told it was a conscious decision. All shadows are to be treated as quads. And if looked at from that perspective you can see how perfect the shadow placement actually is. I really love how pigmented all shades are and the formula being super soft as well. Very well done to ABH team for creating this special palette.

Thank you for reading,
Love

Dorota x

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Wednesday 13 January 2016

LIPSTICK HOARDER #2: CLINIQUE POP LIP COLOUR + PRIMER REVIEW WITH LIP SWATCHES


How are we doing today? I'm out of breath, trying to sort out all pre-payday bits, like wish lists etc ;) This month I'm banning myself from any beauty spending, as I am going to get a shiny new iPhone 6s :) Can't wait !!! Second in my new series, we're talking Clinique Pop lipsticks. Have you tried them yet? Two shades I own are minis and I got them included in Glamour couple months back. I had time to thoroughly test them and today I take them under the radar. Stand with me Lip Maniacs - let's do this :)



PACKAGING:

Square with coloured bottom, showing the shade of the lipstick and silver shiny top with Clinique logo. Very modern and I like it. It also fits in my lipstick organiser which is a huge plus :)

FORMULA:

Creamy but light, it sits comfortably on the lip without drying it. Pigmentation is great, it goes on smoothly. Lasting power not too great but a little pigment left after lipstick has worn off. Finish is similar to MAC Creamsheen but more comfortable to wear. It stays on for 2 hours with little drink, not food. It has a lip primer built in so you can actually skip prep of your lips. I have very dry lips so scrub and lip butter is a must, but honestly you can wear this on your own.

SHADES:


Cherry Pop - it's an intense raspberry red, a perfect mixture of red and pink with glossy finish. Great as a statement lip that goes on smoothly and make lips appear fuller.


Nude Pop - it's a pink nude, your lips but better kind of shade, again with glossy finish. I love wearing it as a combo with Rimmel's lipliner in East End Snob.


OVERVIEW:

I am forever a matte lip lover but during these tough winter months, when my oh so dry lips deserve matte lip break, I have found myself reaching for Clinique Pops a lot. Combo of Nude Pop with Rimmel liner is my favourite nude lip ever!! I like Cherry Pop too as it stays on nicely and doesn't bleed even though the lasting power is somewhat shitty ;) Thanks to them being mini size too, I find myself always having one or both of them in my daily makeup bag. Yes they won't last all day or even a breakfast but they're super comfy to wear, have primer built in so your lips look yummy and are generally really great quality. It's a yes from me :)


Thank you for reading,

Love

Dorota x

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Monday 11 January 2016

iDorottka loves palettes #1: MAKEUP REVOLUTION PINK FIZZ REVIEW WITH SWATCHES

Welcome to the first palette review of 2016 and what better to start this year off than new palette from the brainiacs behind Makeup Revolution? Pink Fizz is the 4th in the series of MUR's Chocolate series, but isn't a dupe for any product on the market. Yes, yes Too Faced Bon Bon is also pink but the two of them have no major similarities between them. So if you're interested in what I think, please read on :)





PACKAGING:


As with any of the series, Pink Fizz comes together in the pink shell of melted chocolate design. Inside you will find a large mirror. Plastic is sturdy and feels heavy, making it more professional looking than any other "basic" MUR designs. However it does remind me of toy makeup, but that's mainly because of baby pink colour of the palette.


FORMULA:


Mattes are little chalkier than the shimmer shades, you only find three in the whole palette. The light ones (Champers & Drink) are lacking in pigmentation and it's hard to even swatch them. I have a very pale skin so it adds on to my inability to swatch them so colour will show. The dark, chocolate brown (Pop) swatches much more easily and pigmentation is great, it's also more buttery than others.


Shimmers are softer to touch, pigmentation on most shades is great and they swatch beautifully. Colours are intense, some come with micro glitter. There's also Rosy, iridescent shade that's purely pink glitter and this swatches very weak. It is, however, completely different type of shadow so it's hard to judge, should it be this way. France is a duo-chrome, mainly black matte with purple shimmer running through, it looks very promising when swatched. 



COLOUR SCHEME/DESIGN:


You will find couple of warmer toned shades, but the palette is mainly cool toned and light. Thanks to Pop, Truffle & France you can still create evening looks but I see this palette as a daytime favourite. If you're a fan of shimmers - this one is definitely for you :). It's a shame it's lacking in mattes as except for Drink, there's not much out there to transition with and the shade lacks in pigmentation as well.


SHADES:



Champers - matte champagne shade with pink undertones. Weak pigmentation.
Drink - matte light beige with peachy undertones. Weak pigmentation.
Flute - shimmer medium champagne shade. Great pigmentation.
Sparkling - shimmer cool pink with silver shimmer running through. Great pigmentation.

From left: Champers, Drink, Flute, Sparkling
Toast - satin peachy coral. Good pigmentation.
Bubbles - white silver shimmer. Great pigmentation.
Girl - medium pink/brown with silver shimmer. Great pigmentation.
Party - light gold copper satin. Great pigmentation.

From left: Toast, Bubbles, Girl, Party
Elegant - shimmer medium copper (slightly cooler in tone than Party). Great pigmentation.
Celebrate - shimmer silver grey. Great pigmentation.
Truffle - medium cool toned brown with micro glitter
Rosy - iridescent pink glitter. Pigmentation hard to describe.

From left: Elegant, Celebrate, Truffle, Rosy
Cork - medium/dark satin brown, cool tone. Great pigmentation.
Pop - chocolate brown, matte. Great pigmentation.
France - duo-chrome, matte with purple shimmer running through. Good pigmentation. Hard to work with to pack colour.
Pink Fizz - pink champagne shimmer. Good pigmentation.

From left: Cork, Pop, France, Pink Fizz
OVERVIEW:

If you're looking for a new daytime palette and you're fond of shimmers, Pink Fizz is the one for you. For me it's lacking a little in mattes department. Having no light/medium mattes that are nicely pigmented is a big con in my opinion. However shimmers and satins are just gorgeous. Shades are very on point, with pinks and coppers being so in right now. This palette will suit anyone really, there are shades here to compliment any eye colour. If you're looking for warm toned palette, this one isn't it. I like some shades more than others. I love Bubbles and Sparkling for the inner corner and Pop is definitely a gorgeous chocolate matte. I'm intrigued by the beautiful silver Celebrate as well. Rest of the shades are something I've already seen before, some are heavily inspired by Naked 3 again. I think this is my least likeable of the chocolate palette offerings, but I still enjoyed using it, as most shadows are of really good quality. So far Death by Chocolate does not need to surrender the crown of my favourites MUR palettes of all time :)


What do you think? Let me know in the comments below :)


Thank you for reading,
Love

Dorota x

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Wednesday 6 January 2016

Lipstick hoarder diary #1 - Ellie Goulding for MAC "Only You" review with lip swatches

Good morning ladies :) If you follow my blog or Instagram, you know how much of a lipstick hoarder I am. It's really a disease. I thought I'll start a weekly/bi-weekly column here on a blog, talking about new lip products or existing ones in my collection. Starting with something super exciting - Ellie Goulding collaboration with MAC Cosmetics. I love MAC lipsticks so I treated myself to one shade for Christmas :)





Only You is a peachy pink nude. It's a MAC Creamsheen finish. Pigmentation is ok, nothing special to report, swatches easily but a little patchy in places.
I found that due to its sheer finish it can in fact accentuate any dry skin on your lips, so a good prep is needed. It doesn't however dry out your lips when applied, it's got a moisturising effect on them and sits very comfortably. Wear time: 2-3 hours (drinking only).
As per usual a formula is great and the vanilla scent is lovely. It makes wearing it a real pleasure, as with any other MAC lipsticks. I like the packaging. Black, shiny with Ellie's logo printed both on the plastic bullet as well as the lipstick. 
Shade is a lovely nude, not too warm, not too cool. It's a perfect daytime nude. I wouldn't pair it with the evening smokey, because the pigmentation and lasting power is somehow lacking. If you're looking for a day to day pinky nude, look no further. 

Is it really worth the money? you may ask, and the answer is: Probably not. I'm a hoarder collector so I welcome it in my collection and I'm sure I'll have a lot of wear out of it, but you can find shade like that in any drugstore brands offerings. As previously mentioned, there's more of what's this lipstick is lacking than the actual pros. Yes, the shade is lovely but it's so sheer on the lip, I can't imagine ever wearing it alone again (lip swatch fiasco!!!) but I will definitely pair it with a lipliner and see how that goes.

You must decide for yourself here, if you like to collect MAC's limited editions, you will love this, if not, you are better off finding something at the drugstore. I love the packaging as well as the shade so it's landing in my permanent day lip collection.

Thank you for reading,
Love

Dorota x

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