Brand Introduction | Makeup Atelier Paris

As a blogger, I love discovering new brands and trying out things I might not have tried otherwise.  I'd never heard of 'Makeup Atelier Paris' until recently.  I'd seen it appear on a few blogs and was really intrigued by some of the palettes - so I was really excited to be given the chance to give some of their products a try and see what the brand is all about.  Originating from France, Makeup Atelier Paris is a professional makeup brand which offers a vast array of products - from eye shadows of all colours of the rainbow to brushes and skin products.  I thought I'd give you the rundown on what I thought of each product...

Corrector Concealer Palette | £25* | link

I was really excited about this one.  I've recently ran out of one of my beloved Sephora concealer palettes and this one looked like just the thing to replace it.  The palette contains a mix of shades with a green toned concealer for redness, and comes packaged in a neat little plastic box.  The concealers themselves are fairly creamy, and when applied with a concealer brush blend really easily into the skin.  It's great for concealing small blemishes and redness, although dark circles require an extra layer or two. I like the fact that they don't feel oily and remain fairly matte once on the skin.

Cream Blush in 'Ambering Rose' | £12* | link

Of the lot, this has to be my favourite (no surprise there then! I love a good cream blush, me ;)). The shade is so pretty - a rose pink shade with a slight coral tint to it that adds warmth to the skin and looks dewy and fresh when applied.  I found the pigmentation to be really good and it blends really nicely.  It's not quite what I'd call 'cream to powder' but it doesn't feel greasy or heavy on the skin - it's just a nice little mid-ground cream blush that can be built up or worn subtlely. It adds a bit of moisture without looking 'shiny' - the formulation is definitely the type of thing I lean towards. I apply this using either my fingers or a stippling brush - and both ways provide a lovely finish.  I love this one!

Eyeshadow in 'Blue Marine' | £8* | link

I'm still undecided with this one.  I don't tend to wear a lot of colour and I've never really thought of wearing a navy shadow before.  That being said, I headed over to Pinterest (as you do...) and found heaps of inspiration for creating a gold & navy smokey eye.  I'm promising myself I will try and be brave and create more of a colourful look next time I'm heading out for the night and feel a bit daring with my makeup! I didn't find the eyeshadow to be the most pigmented shade I own, nor is it the softest - it took a bit of working up to build up an intense colour but I found it worked better with a really soft blending brush.  

Eyeliner Cake in Black | £12.50* | link

At first, I'll admit I wasn't keen on this one. I found it quite hard to work into and when applied I had to use a few layers before it looked like an intense black. I also found it a little uneven to apply at times. However, when I decided to give it one last try with a wet brush I found myself eating my words! To get the full potential from the cake eyeliner you have to use it wet - it gives a really, deep intense black colour that smooths on really easily and dries quickly.  You can see the difference of colour from the swatches above (the top photograph shows it applied with a wet eyeliner brush, the bottom one shows the eyeliner applied dry). Once it's on, it's on - although it does smudge a little in places throughout the day if you're not careful.  I've never used an eyeliner like this before, so it's been quite a refreshing change for me.  It's really grown on me!

I think it's safe to say the cream products came up tops for me - the cream blush and the cake eyeliner being the favourites by far! I wasn't so blown away by the eyeshadow, sadly - although this may be partly because it's not a shade I'd normally lean to anyway and i prefer a more creamy feel to my powder shadows.  I really want to try more of their cream products - inparticularly the HD Blush and Iridescent Highlighter. And of course I'm tempted to give the lipsticks a try (typical Beth...)   At the moment, I believe you can only buy them online from the actual website (you can find it here) - but I definitely look forward to hearing more about the brand in future and hope to give some more of the cream products a try!  I'd be interested to know other people's thoughts on the products as they seem to be a bit 'hit and miss' for me - but I cannot deny that I have found a couple of new additions to my makeup collection that I know I will use often.

Have you tried anything by Makeup Atelier Paris? I'd be interested to know your thoughts!

My First E.l.f. Haul | First Impressions & Swatches

And so it finally happened. I placed my first ever e.l.f order. Cue lots of gasps from the bargain-hunter beauty bloggers amongst you all. I'd spent a few weeks twiddling my thumbs and waiting patiently for a certain item to come back into stock, and when it did - I pressed the order button rather swiftly and felt jolly well pleased with myself.  I've sat and read countless blog posts about e.l.f products and had built up quite a lengthy wish list over time - so much so that some of the products I'd written down aren't even stocked anymore! I managed to compose myself, refrain from adding the whole website to my virtual basket and ordered just 4 things (I deserve a pat on the back for that big fat dose of willpower, surely?) - i figured I'd try them out, see if I liked them and then make an even larger order next time I fancied treating myself.  This post is quite photo heavy - I do apologise for those of you who prefer my shorter, snappier variety of post, but you have to understand I was incredibly excited when Mr Postman came a knockin' with this little parcel of bargainous, beautiful goods... Fat kid in a sweet shop doesn't even begin to describe...

Mineral Lipstick | Runway Pink | £5.00

I believe I ordered one of these when there was an offer on - as I definitely didn't pay a fiver (I think I paid £2.50!) Nonetheless, for a lipstick these days it's not a bad price at all and by the looks of this lipstick I shall be ordering another one pretty swiftly regardless of whether or not it's on offer. Runway Pink is a gorgeous salmon pink with yellow undertones.  It's one of those really natural, rose petal pinks that looks very 'vintage' and effortless on the lips.  It's noticeable without being overly pink.  I'd liken it to a lighter, slightly 'watered down' version of Mac's Fanfare if you're familiar with Mac's shade range. I'm so glad I picked this colour out - it's just my cup of tea and the creamy formula glides on smoothly.

 Powder Blush | Peachy Keen | £3.75

I've always wanted to try E.l.f's blushes - and it was extremely hard to pick a shade to try. In the end it was a toss up between this one and 'Candid Coral' - both my kind of shades.  I always lean towards warmer, peach tones when it comes to blushes.  Peachy Keen is a lovely light peachy/orange shade with flecks of gold shimmer running through it.  I'm not entirely sure if it will be too glittery for me just yet - but now summer is coming around I seem to be preferring a subtle glow compared with a matte finish.  I will definitely do a review of this once I've had it on my cheeks. When swatched, it seems really decent quality for the price - the pigmentation is particularly good.

Contouring Blush & Bronzer Cream | St Lucia | £3.75

This is the product that I was waiting for. I finally thought it was time to place an order when their popular 'St Lucia' cream contour palette came back into stock. If you're a regular reader of my blog, you might know that I am a massive fan of contouring - I'm always scouting out new products to use on my cheeks/cheekbones and I'm the first in line to try anything new if it has the word 'contour' in it anywhere.  This palette is a cheap and cheerful little duo containing a blush and bronzer cream. The colours are said to run similar to Nars infamous Orgasm/Laguna duo - I own both of these so it will be interesting to see whether or not they lean towards the high-end favourites. Whether or not they do - I still love the shades and cannot wait to start using them. When I swatched both colours I have to admit a little 'wow' escaped my lips (and that hardly ever happens so I'm hoping they live up to the first impression!) they're incredibly pigmented and smooth in consistency and sweep onto the skin with ease.  They seem creamy and soft - just what I look for in my cream products (I'm not a fan of cream to powder formulations) and I cannot wait to give this a whirl.  The palette is also of good size - much bigger than I envisaged (it's a good bit larger than Nars Laguna - if you're looking for a comparison!)

All Over Colour Stick | Spotlight | £1.50

Of course, I just had to complete the contouring cream palette I'd bought with one of e.l.f's All Over Colour Sticks. I opted for the highlighting shade 'Spotlight' which is the lightest of the bunch.  When it first arrived, I wondered if they'd sent me the wrong shade as it looks rather non-descript in the tube. However, it's a deceiving little devil - as when swatched it shows up incredibly bright - a great deal lighter and more noticeable as a highlight than how it looks in the tube.  I've been wondering if these little sticks are cheap versions of the Nars Multiples (I've recently got my hands on Nars 'Copacabana' so we shall see whether of not they're alike in any way!). I've really got into my cream products at the moment so I had to throw one of these in my basket. For £1.50 you really can't complain and I can't wait to start using it.

Swatches | Runway Pink / Peachy Keen / St Lucia / Spotlight

Of course, this post wouldn't be complete without a little swatch or two! I will definitely do a few reviews on these products once I've been using them a while and let you know how I'm getting on. So far though, I'm so impressed with e.l.f. Their prices are really fabulous and competitive with similar brands on the high street - and for the quality I've seen at first glance I will definitely be ordering again. The packaging is right up my street - sleek, black and simple and all boxed neatly. My favourite so far has to be the contouring cream duo - it's had my name written all over it ever since I first laid my beady eyes on it...

Have you tried any of these products?

What are your thoughts on E.l.f? What would you recommend?

May Favourites

Change of scenery for the ole' bloggles today.  The sun was shining so I thought I'd make the most of it - the neighbours must think I'm a right nutter sat out in the garden, photographing a pile of lotions and potions.  The weather has been undoubtedly warmer of late (hooray) and it's fair to say we have been spoilt just recently with a day or two of sunshine.  I tend to switch up my routine as soon as the slightest hint of summer rolls around - I banish my wintery cosmetics to the bottom of my makeup drawer and go a little crazy for cream products and anything coral...

| Garnier Ambre Solaire | After Sun - Hydrating Tan Maintainer |  

Okay. Not the most exciting of products to kick off my monthly favourites, but it's one that I swear by through Summer. I've had countless bottles of this stuff now and when I jet away on holiday, rest assured I have one in my suitcase.  It's such a lovely little after sun - it smells like holidays and is cooling and calming and the gel-like consistency sinks in really quickly.  Nothing special I hear you say? No, I suppose not - aftersun is aftersun after all. But this one helps to maintain your tan. It contains a teeny-tiny amount of false tan that helps to deepen the natural tan you already have - without smelling of typical false tan.  It's very subtle, but there's something about it that really does work - and heaven forbid they ever discontinue this. Garnier - you have been warned ;)

| Garnier | BB Cream in 'Light' | 

Most bloggers I know really aren't a fan of this. I think I must be in the minority that really get on with Garnier's BB Cream.  It was the first one I ever bought. I've branched out and tried many others, but I always come back to this one.  I don't have oily skin in the slightest so I guess this is why I find it works for me - it's very creamy and moisturising.  It's just perfect to 'slap on and go' when I'm having a lazy summer morning or if it's really warm and I don't want to have foundation sitting on my skin but still want a light bit of coverage. The sun protection in it just adds to it's appeal in the summertime.  I personally really like it and find myself continuously going back to it.

| Revlon Photoready Cream Blush in 'Pinched' |

An old favourite of mine and one that I always reach for as soon as the weather warms up.  It's such a lovely cream blush - it's not too drying (I'm not a fan of cream to powder blushes) and it's not greasy - for me, it's just the perfect, light consistency that makes this blush one of my top summer products. I'm a fussy little madam when it comes to cream blushes - and Revlon have got it spot on with this one.  It's very subtle - so on darker skin tones or on deeply tanned skin it's not the most pigmented of blushes - but this is what I like about it. I've been opting for a dewy, bronzed look just recently so I don't want my blush to be too overpowering. A quick sweep of this with my Real Techniques Stippling brush of a morning and I'm good to go.

| Models Own Nail Polish in 'Blueberry Muffin' |

I tried so hard to resist this. I really did.  I'm a sucker for blue polish and I lost count of the amount of times I shuffled past this on the shelf... I finally caved.  It's such a lovely shade of powdery, pastel blue, and to say it's such a light shade it really does show up on the nails which is what I love about it so much.  Oh..and it also smells of blueberry muffins - what more could I ask for?!

| Lord & Berry | Luminizer Stick in 'Moon' |

I won't say too much about this, since I already have a full review here, but I've really been loving this just recently.  Similar to the Nars Multiples, you simply twist the product up and apply straight to the areas of the face you wish to highlight.  It's such a lovely shade and very easily blendable.  It's effortless. If you're a newbie to cream highlighters or just fancy something a bit different from powders - it's worth giving this a whirl.

| Origins | Super Spot Remover | 

A cult favourite amongst beauty bloggers everywhere so I'm sure you've all heard of this little miracle worker. I've been reaching for it a lot this month as I've been on and off medication and my skin has had a little strop as a result.  This bottle may look tiny, but my goodness it packs one heck of a punch and stops any spots right in their tracks (it also lasts a lot longer than you'd imagine - I'm not even halfway through mine and I've had it since Christmas).  If you pop it on as soon as you feel that 'tingle' then it more often than likely won't even surface.

| Balance Me | Balancing Face Moisturiser |

I've written a whole post on this moisturiser (you can read that here) so I won't say too much - but it's a fabulous product for combination/normal skin and really helps to balance your skin.  It sinks in quickly and leaves your skin really smooth to the touch - making it perfect for using both morning and night.

| Chanel | Tan De Soleil 'Bronze Universal' | 

I've included this in a couple of posts before and it's featured in my 'How I Contour' post here if you fancy a nosey at how I use it.  It's just such a versatile product and one that I always reach for. Even when the sun isn't shining.  It can be buffed in over foundation or worn underneath to give a bronzed glow.  I sometimes use it for contouring my cheekbones and the consistency is just perfect - I haven't touched my powder bronzers in quite a while because of this little gem!

| Rimmel Lipstick in 'Nude Pink' | 

May saw me rediscover one of my old favourites in the lipstick department.  I'm a big fan of Rimmel lipsticks (especially the Kate Moss ones!) but this shade is one that I always return to.  It's more of a nude coral than a pink as the name suggests, and it looks really lovely with a tan.  The slightly frosted finish is surprisingly flattering - and although it's not everyone's cup of tea, I really love it. I love nude lipsticks for daytime, and the coral tone to this one is just perfect for summer.

And there we have it. My monthly favourites for the month of May.  I'm sure now I've stacked up all of my cream products and summery stuff that the weather will go back it's usual cruddy self.. but this month has really got me into that 'summery mood'. I'm just about to sit down and look for some late holiday deals now...wish me luck!

What have you been loving this month?

April Favourites

It's the beginning of another month. Which can only mean one thing. Favourites time! I do hope you have all been enjoying the rare occurrence that has been this wonderfully sunshine-y bank holiday! For those of you who are blessed to live in sunnier climes (lucky devils, you), it is simply an unwritten rule that whenever the sun decides to show itself in the UK, everybody, everywhere across the whole country must adorn their summer wardrobes, dust down their flip-flops and herd to the nearest watering hole. And stay there. Even when the sunlight is fading for the day and a mere strip of light on the pavement is all that remains of the excitement of the past few hours, we stay there. Until every last ray that we can possibly squeeze from the day has disappeared.  And even then, by heck are we taking our sunglasses off!? I love it when the sun comes out - it's amazing how much happier it makes you feel and even the simplest things like going for a walk and queueing for a Mr Whippy feel like the most exciting thing you've done since forever.  The pubs are full of bare beer bellys and football shirts galore, and the air is filled with many a whiff of BBQ's from every single garden on the street.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a red-hot summer now (even if red-hot simply means that we remain in decent double figures for more than the one week of nice-ness we usually get..)  Anyway, typical British rambles aside...here are a selection of my monthly loves..

| Moroccan Oil Treatment |

After using my mother's sample size of the Moroccan Oil treatment, it's safe to say I'm hooked. So much so I now have a fuller version.  You may have seen my post a while back on my love for hair oils (here), and my love very much remains the same.  I can't say I can tell a huge difference between this and my Macadamia Oil, but the smell of the Moroccan Oil is just divine. Honestly. I urge you to sneak a little sniff of this beauty if ever you get the chance. It's just what dreams are made of.  Yes, it's pricey. But it's worth every penny and a bottle like this would last you an absolute age! It leaves your hair feeling incredibly soft and nourished and I will never ever wash my hair again without applying some form of oil to the ends. Honestly, trust me on this - never again will conditioner simply be enough.  I really want to try their shampoo and conditioner now - my mum uses them and loves them to bits so I'm definitely on the hunt for some to try for myself now!

| Mac Turquatic Perfume |

The sun came out. So it's only fair that this little beauty came out too. If you have never copped a sniff of this summer-staple, I urge you to do so right away. Seriously, go knock yourself out and drown yourself in it. It's beautiful. Now, I'm no good with describing scents whatsoever, but I shall try to nonetheless. Imagine sitting by a pool somewhere tropical, cocktail firmly in hand and the sound of the sea gracing your ears. It sounds obviously cheesy, I know, but conjure up an image of your ideal sunshine getaway and this perfume is exactly what it would smell like. Right down to the tropical fish swimming around your ankles.

| Benefit High Beam |

I wrote about this product briefly a while back when I reviewed Benefit's Coralista set (here) and I've always enjoyed using it.  Ever since I first sampled 'Sun Beam' a while back it's safe to say I've had great admiration for these highlighters. The past month, I've been using this over all of my powder highlighters (my Nars 'Albatross' has taken a firm backseat for now) and I just love the dewy glow it gives.  You don't need a lot at all, and just a few dots of it along your brow bone and your cheek bones blended into the skin with a small fluffy brush gives such a gorgeous bit of dimension to the face without being glittery.  I find it looks a lot more natural than my powder highlighters and it's perfect for the slightly warmer weather we are having - I love that it looks dewy and glowy without looking false. It looks like your own skin. No glitterball-face in sight!  I even pop a few dabs on my chest area if I'm going out - it's such a versatile product, and one that I guess I didn't realise just how good it was until just recently. I'll definitely be buying the full size bottle once this runs out - and I really want to try Moon Beam now.

| Nyx Cream Blush in 'Natural |

This blush is one of my spring/summer staples (I actually have two pots of it so I have back-up!) and I included it last year in my 'Top 5 Summer Blushes' (you can have a nosey at that here). I have another shade of theirs and absolutely adore the consistency.  I'm really not a fan of cream to powder blushes as I find them drying - so this one is perfect because its moisturising enough to feel silky smooth on your cheeks but not so heavy that it slides off. Nyx have got the creamy texture spot on the mark and I get a good few hours wear out of them before they fade.  They don't go patchy either.  I simply love the shade - it's a perfect pinky-nude shade, making in the perfect summer companion. 

| Loreal Super Liner Perfect Slim Liquid Liner |

OOf. What a mouthful! I'm a big fan of liquid liner. And a big fan of Loreal's.  I usually use their ever-famous Super Liner Carbon Gloss, but on a recent makeup spree I decided to throw this one in the basket instead.  I wasn't instantly fussed but now I find I'm reaching for it quite a bit and I really quite like it! It's different to the Carbon Gloss due to the slightly thinner, and less flexible tip that makes it more of a felt-tip styled liner.  It's slightly less glossy and looks a little more matte in finish. What I love is the the fact that you're able to vary the weight of line effortlessly, and cat-flicks on the outer corners of your eyes are much easier to achieve. I really like it. Stays put all day, a doddle to apply and a offers a little more precision than other liquid liners I've tried.

| Mac Lipstick in 'Freckletone' | 

I've just realised I have no photograph of the lipstick in the bullet, but I've actually taken photos for a compilation of my nude lipstick collection to be posted soon so it will be included there.  This lipstick deserves a lot more recognition. If you're a fan of Shy Girl - then you will love this. It's a beautiful glossy mid-peach/nude shade that looks very flattering on both pale and darker skins. It's also rumoured to be a favourite of Kim Kardashian and Beyonce. Who can argue with that!? It's a lustre finish so wear time can be a little disappointing, however I can overlook this. It's such a gorgeous, glossy shade and one that I've been wearing almost every day since I bought it.

Also, before I tottle off to paint some more pictures for my children's book (the end is in sight!) I thought I'd be a little bit cheeky and mention the Cosmo Blog Awards. If you're a regular reader or somebody that enjoys reading my blog, it would mean one heck of a lot if you hopped over and voted for me here (it only takes a second or too..I promise)! My category is 'Best Established Beauty Blog'. I shall give you the biggest virtual hug ever if you decide to drop little old me a mention :)

What have you been loving in April? Anything here take your fancy!?