Introducing / Stila

I got my eyes on the Stila palettes for a while. There are a few different ones on the market, all based around pretty neutral shades but with few variations.

Stila In The Garden Eye Shadow Palette* also includes a couple of brighter colours and, if you're not too sure how to incorporate them, the set includes a booklet with ideas and tips.

All eyeshadows are extremely pigmented and smooth to blend together.

My personal favourite combination is with Moss & Jupiter. I use the neutral colour all over the lid and then the teal as an accent in the crease.

Rosette - the purple shade - is also fantastic with Breeze and Freesia, used as a liner.

l-r: chinois, breeze, bark, freesia, rosette

l-r: nectar, honey, sage, moss, juniper

You also get a full size of Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner in Moray with this set; I have used this liner before and actually managed to finish it! It's a beautiful khaki green with silver shimmer and impressive staying power.

To summarise, I'd definitely recommend this beauty if you are not looking for your typical (and maybe a bit boring) neutral palette and you're not afraid to experiment with colour shadows.

Stila Stay All Day Vinyl Lip Gloss are lacquer lipstick with an impressive punch of colour. I love the super shiny finish - great to add volume to fine lips, like mine - but still with the creamy texture that I prefer in lipsticks. 

They are extremely comfortable on the lips, non-sticky or drying; they are also enriched with seaweed extract and organic green coffee oil to keep the lips moisturised throughout the day.

Nude Vinyl* is a beautiful dusty rose that compliments beautifully the eyeshadows from the In The Garden palette, actually. It's still into the neutral spectrum I think, and it's the ideal finish touch to complete any look.

It's such a pretty shade and I've fallen in love with it that I can see myself rocking it well into Spring too!

So, what do you think of Stila make up? Any recommendation/must have items? :)

Shopping My Stash / #8 + Giveaway Reminder!!!

Another week, another shopping my stash!

For the base I used Stila One Step Correct Brightening Serum and Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation in 42 vanilla - both favourites of mine. The primer is not oily or heavy and the foundation gives a beautiful, flawless finish to the skin. My skin has been oilier than usual lately so I'm really taking care to use a powder to set - Mac Mineralize SkinFinish Natural in medium is a trusty ally that never looks cakey.

I've also been in the mood for bold red lips so I used a combination of Mac Marilyn Monroe Lipstick in scarlet ibis and Maybelline Baby Lips in cherry me to top up the moist, throughout the day.

I chose Mac Sheertone Blush in blushbaby which is the perfect 'neutral' blush but with a red/brick undertone to tie with the lips perfectly.

I like big & bright eyes with a red lip - I used the Nars Trio Eyeshadow in ramatuelle and built up the lashes with Kiko False Lashes Concentrate Building Base Mascara and Pur Minerals Big Blink Mascara. I thickened the top lashline with Bourjois Intuitive liner and added Rimmel ScandalEyes Waterproof Kohl Line in nude to further open the eyes.

***Giveaway Reminder - enter here***

Shopping My Stash / #5

Still pretty keen with mineral foundation lately - I find that the Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF30 + Laura Mercier Mineral Powder SPF15 in real sand are the perfect combo!

For the base, I also used Stila One Step Correct Colour Corrector to even out skintone and Topshop Blush in butterscotch as an highlighter. I hit pan!!! I don't think it has ever happened before - I do love this item and I will have to limit the usage now, since I think it's discontinued. :(

Finally added a touch of Neal's Yard Remedies Mineral Blusher in 54 peony which is an iced pink and cool toned.

For the eyes I went with this FOTD look, using Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Stick in 003 Bad Girl Bronze on the upper lid and Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in 014 Bright Blue on the bottom; I like the motorized brush of the Bourjois Volume Fast & Perfect mascara but I think it's a bit drying and hard to remove.

The lip were effortlessly simple with 100% Pure Lip Glaze in peach bellini.

What have you been wearing lately? :)

FOTD - Rimmel Glam'Eyes Mono Eyeshadow in 171 Fancy Topaz

Few people asked me about the Rimmel eyeshadow I shared in my haul yesterday... so I thought to do a quick FOTD to show how it looks on the eyes... it's not that scary at all - Hope you like it! :)

Face: Ysl Touche Eclat Foundation in BR40, Stila One Step Primer, Giorgio Armani Master Corrector in pink, Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer in medium, Mac Mineralize SkinFinish in soft & gentle, Mac Mineralize SkinFinish in medium, Mac Sheertone Blush in blushbaby;

Eyes: Rimmel Glam'Eyes Mono Eye Shadow in 171 Fancy Topaz , Mac Paint Pot in Painterly, Max Factor Liquid Effect Liner in black fire, Ysl Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils, Neve Cosmetics Occhioni mascara;

Lips: Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Colour spf12 in 18 Soft Nude.

FOTD - New Lanark World Heritage Site

Face: Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Makeup Foundation Spf15 in 4, Stila One Step Primer, Giorgio Armani Master Corrector in pink, Estee Lauder DoubleWear Concealer in 07 Warm Light, Benefit Sun Beam, Benefit Bella Bamba;

Eyes: Kiko Water Eyeshadow in 202, Soap & Glory Thick & Fast mascara, Clinique Bottom Lash mascara, Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, Bourjois Intuitive Liner;

Lips: Ysl Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in 12.

FOTD - Casual Afternoon

eyeshadows used

Face: Stila One Step Primer, Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation in 3.0, YSL Touch Eclat in 1, Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer in medium, YSL Blush Radiance in 2;

Eyes: Guerlain Ecrin 4 Couleurs palette in les bois de rose, Ellis Faas mascara, Revlon GrowLuscious Lashliner in Espresso;

Lips: Liz Earle Signature Lip Colour in 13 Melon.

Selfridges Beauty Box

I would say the much anticipated box is here... but actually, Selfridges only announced it last week - released yesterday and I received it today!

First of all, very impressed with the delivery service - I know some people haven't received it yet - but as far as I know there was only an option of £4.95 p&p.

 Also, I know it was a limited edition but they should have really made more - may people were left disappointed and annoyed... not a good strategy, in my opinion.

 I got to say, I don't have any other beauty box subscription going at the moment (and haven't regretted so far) but as soon as I saw a preview of this, I WANTED it!

It's such a shame that people are already selling half of the items they received or flogging it entirely and personally, I really don't understand: I spent a few good hours, trying to buying it yesterday and I most definitely wouldn't have bothered just to resell it! It's really disappointing when other people really wanted one but didn't manage to get one.

Anyway, onto the box - Really amazing selection of brands and products and for that price!

I think it's a one-off box and marks Selfridges Beauty Workshop - "a revolutionary space designed to create a unique playground of exclusive services and products with over 100 new niche brands and cult classics."

 There's a booklet in the box, explaining more about The Beauty Workshop and with information about the products; there're, also, special offers and counter invitations but I'm pretty far from a Selfridges so unfortunately, I won't be able to take advantage of these.

Clearly, I can't review the products as I haven't tried them yet (they'll come in due course) but here is what you get:

Philip B Katira Hair Masque

Personally, I don't know this brand but I'm not a haircare expert; whilst, I don't use styling products massively, I do enjoy an hair mask weekly.

Star ingredient is the pure Katira extract which should help filling damage in the cuticles to add smoothness and strengh.

It can be used both as an instant 2 minutes treatment or overnight.

Antipodes Organic Avocado and Rosehip Divine Face Oil

Excited about this product - I've been looking forward to try this brand, for a while!

It boosts Type 1 collagen in skin cells, easing the effects of aging and leaving skin fresh and plumped.

I believe this is a full size bottle and comes with a dropper applicator.

Stila One Step Correct

Apart that it looks beautiful (!!!) -I think it's weird that it's described as a serum when in actual facts it's a primer.

So you would apply it as a primer, before foundation, and the three colours combined, target different concerns: green - redness, lavender - sallow undertones, peach - illuminates.

Again, full size product and looking forward to try this multi-helix technology.

Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask

This mask is packed with mineral-rich moor mud from the lake Heviz - effectively purifies and at the same time soothes the skin. It looks like a mud/clay mask which is a staple in my routine but we'll see how I get on with this as I was rather disappointed by the Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm.

Sample size, clearly - still around 6quid in value.

Estelle & Thild Lip Balm

This is the other brand I've never heard about; apparently, they're a swedish company, certified organic and their products are saturated with high-quality ingredients and vitamins.

Absolutely love the packaging and smells of raspberry - delicious! I got the natural, clear version but they do tinted ones, too.

If I don't absolutely hate this balm, I'm looking forward to explore this brand more in the future.

Full size.

Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Serum

Another brand that I wanted to try for a while.

Glad we got a serum in the box because I'm a total serum junkie and it's the type of facial skincare that I'm always excited to try out. This serum is good to use on all skin types and should leave a matte finish so I suppose, it can be used both in the evenings and mornings.

Good sample size but I just wish the bottle came with a dropper - it's gonna be unpractical to dispense.

BioEffect EGF Serum

Finally, the item that all alone was making this box exciting for me!

I adore BioEffect: I've been using it regularly since I first discovered in a GlossyBox, last year; I love it that much that I've used it (nearly exclusively) in the months previous to my wedding.

I can, honestly, say that I would be happy to use it exclusively but I like trying different products too much. :)

This little sucker is £49 (and worth it).

Did you get this box?

Have you tried any of these products before?

xxx

 

Bronzed Look Attempt - no2

For this look, I used Stila Custom Color Blush in Self-adjusting Bronze*.

Part of the Summer 2012 Collection, this blush/bronzer is the latest addition to the self-adjusting line; it's a shade which fits every skintone and leaves you with a beautiful sun kisses glow.

I'm, actually, a fan of this self-adjusting products but I had only used lipsticks before... actually, a cheek product makes even more sense!

This bronzer reacts to your individual pH and creates a personalised shade... and taking advantage of this technology, you can be sure it's the right colour for you and will never look like you used too much or that it's not complementing your complexion.

Swatched - you can see an hint of shimmer but in actual fact on the skin, it translates with a luminous glow... I'm loving it!

 I'm, usually, not a massive bronzer wearer but when the result is so beautiful, I can't help it but incorporate it in my make up routine.

complete look

Btw, I'm loving that lipstick too... no wonder I chose to wear it for my wedding. ;)

Have you tried any of this self-adjusting blushes yet??!

x

GlossyBox - October 2011

Hello girls!

I'm really late reviewing this box - going away I didn't have the chance to write this before but I managed to try the products; I''l try and be concise. :P 

All considering, I think this was quite a good box - value wise.

This was also the 6th box and to celebrate the 6 months, we also received an extra item plus beauty bag.

Dermalogica Age Smart trio: I wasn't happy to receive 3 items from the same brand, even if Dermalogica! The first is MultiVitamin Power Recover Masque with antioxidant vitamins which help skin recover and regenerate. It left my skin so smooth and I loved it!

The second is MultiVitamin Thermafoliant which is basically a face scrub that warms up when in contact with wet face and draws out impurities. Sorry for the lack of swatch for this item but I have decided to keep it sealed as I would rather swap it for something else.

I'm already using The Sanctuary Warming Microbrasion Polish which works on the same principles and I'm happy with it.

Finally, the 6th bonus item - Renewal Lip Complex which is quite a lovely lip balm; I've used it twice a day as suggested but honestly, I didn't experience any miracle. Plus, it smells nice but I can't stand strong smells (especially in lips products) so It happens to be a disadvantaged in my case.

I would say my L'Occitane Shea Butter Lip Balm is just as good (without the price tag).

The bonus lip balm came into this small beauty bag:

Leighton Denny Expert Nails Colour & Care in Hanky-Panky: I don't have any orange nail polish so I was happy to receive this one but I'm starting to have too many now!!! It's getting worst than with perfume samples. 

I liked the bottle and the brush; nice colour and good coverage but I felt it took too long to dry (hence the wee smudge!)

I teamed it with YSL La Laque no 127 here - I like the orange and navy together :)

Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner in Moray: I've never tried anything from Stila ever (I know, shame on me!!) and I was looking forward to find something in a beauty box soon. Unfortunately, I just bought an eyeliner in a similar colour from Becca a few weeks ago so this is also going in the swap box. :( I did tried it though and I can confirm the staying power is impressive.

Btw, I WILL post a look I made with the Becca Line + Illuminate Pencil tomorrow so if you like it and you also received the Stila pencil, you can recreate it. :)

Robert Piguet Eau de Parfums: finally, the usual perfume samples but 3 of them!!! In order, I liked the most: Fracas, Visa and Calypso not so much.