Anastasia - DipBrow Pomade | Professional Brows Made Easy

Ohhh you cannot fathom the excitement I felt when I finally got my mitts on this little pot of joy. Prepare yourselves for a rave n' a half! Anastasia is a brand that's become rather renowned for its brow products the past year or so and as soon as I heard of their 'Dip Brow Pomade' - I knew I simply had to have it (cue stalking the CultBeauty website daily until my shade was 'back in stock').  Now, let me just say that my eyebrows leave much to be desired - Cara Delevingne I certainly am not! I must have got quite pluck-happy with the ol' tweezers in my teenage years because I've been left with quite possibly the shittest brows known to womankind (pardon my french). I need all the help I can get and without filling them in, you'd need to squint down a microscope to see them (think Homer Simpson's two tufts of hair but on the brow area). Ok. So maybe I'm exaggerating slightly - they're not a complete lost cause but if I could click my fingers and get them to sprout a few extra hairs here and there, I'd be a happy chappy.  That's why I put a great deal of hope in Anastasia's Dip Brow. Claimed to be the 'long-lasting answer to eyebrow perfection whatever the state of your arches' I was sold on words alone.  It's said to be smudgeproof, waterproof and ideal for creating a defined, professional brow shape that won't budge if you're caught in a downpour or are lucky enough to be jetting away to sunnier climes.  Well. My eyebrow prayers were answered.

Does it do what it says on the tin? Ohh yes it does indeed. I'm addicted.  I remember the first time I used it and I rushed downstairs to show my mother my new eyebrows - I kid you not - it's comparable to a push-up bra for your brows.  I've never been able to achieve such a defined, professional looking brow - ever.  I've also never been able to keep my eyebrows looking groomed all day but this product eliminates the need for touch-ups or taming  - once it's on, it's on and it's not budging for nobody. It also seems to keep the hairs in place which takes away the need to apply setting mascara or wax.  When I remove my makeup at night, I have to go over my brows a good couple of times to get it all off - just goes to show how well this stuff sticks around!  The consistency is like a gel/mousse - it's really quite hard to describe but one thing I will say is that it's incredibly pigmented (check out that bad-boy of a swatch!).  Seriously, this pot might not be cheap at £15 but it will last you ages. I've been using mine for about 2 or 3 months now and I've hardly made much of a dent.   To apply, I use my Eco Tools Angled Liner Brush (found here) as it's really thin and precise to work with (Anastasia also do a brush to use alongside it if you're in need of one) - I simply dip into the pot and trace the shape I want in small strokes to mimic brow hairs, and then fill in using the remainder of the product on my brush using similar movements.  Anastasia says that the formula 'adheres to every single hair' - making your brows appear fuller - I can definitely vouch for this and I've noticed such a difference since Ive started using Dip Brow - I don't think I'll ever go back to using a pencil now as it's near on impossible to achieve the same results. One thing I will say though - if you're a bit cack-handed and make a mistake, it can be quite a kerfuffle to correct! If you're a bit of a brow novice, you might want to stick to pencil instead but personally, I've found that this product has made doing my eyebrows of a morning so much quicker.  What used to be a chore is now a quick, swift job and I'm left with perfect looking brows that I know won't fade or smudge throughout the day.   After I've applied, I'll sometimes apply my Benefit 'Gimme Brow' (review here) as I find it finishes the look off perfectly - to be honest, it's not really needed but I really enjoy the finishing touch it creates as my eyebrows are fairly light in colour.

Even though I'm blonde, I do like a defined brow and I'll often use a light brown to fill them in (we aren't talking scouse brows here but I do prefer the slightly darker look). The shade 'Blonde' is perfect for me as it isn't so dark that it looks false, but it's dark enough that it provides a good bit of definition.  It has a grey/ashy toned hint to it that keeps it looking natural (something I struggle to find with brow products) and there's no shimmer or sheen to it - it's just perfectly natural looking.  The shade range isn't incredibly vast - which is the only issue with this product as if you're after something lighter, you'll be at a bit of a loss unfortunately (there's also a big jump between this 'Blonde' shade and the lighter brown).  This being said,  I personally think that most people will be able to find a shade to suit them as they're all very natural in colour and there's a couple of brown tones to suit different shades of brunette.  Apologies I haven't included a photo - I'm currently in the process of attempting to grow my brows out so as you can imagine, they aren't really in any state to be photographed despite how fabulous Dip Brow makes them appear! 

Overall, I've been wow'ed by this product - i prefer it over my HDBrows palettes which really is saying something.  The little glass pot finishes it all off nicely - it's luxurious, elegant and small enough to take with you if you're going away. Yes, it might be a little more hassle than simply taking a pencil but for the effect is gives - I couldn't care less.  I'm definitely going to be bringing this with me to Crete in 2 weeks - for once I might actually be able to have decent eyebrows whilst sitting round the pool (not that I wear makeup in the day but I'm all in favour of a little light cheating if needs be). If you already have a cracking pair of brows then you might not need this but it's definitely worth a look if you favour the defined, 'HD Brow' look.  I shan't ramble on any further but if you're at your wits end with your brows like I was, I'm pretty sure you'll join me in the 'product rave' camp! In fact, I almost don't want to share this post with anyone in case everyone discovers my little secret and DipBrow will be forever out of stock...but some secrets are too good to keep, right? ;)  You can find Anastasia on CultBeauty and also on BeautyBay for £15.00 - and dare I say it but it's worth every single penny.

Have you tried anything from Anastasia? Recommend me some more good'uns, girls!

Sleek 'Hero' Products

When it comes to drugstore brands, Sleek have to be one of my all time favourites. I'm particularly fond of their collection of blushes and face palettes and their Brow Kit was one of the first eyebrow products I ever fell in love with.  I always find their products to be incredibly pigmented and really good in terms of quality and wear-time.   Without jibbering on any further, I shall jump straight in and talk you through some of Sleek's 'Hero' products...

Sleek Eyebrow Kit in 'Light' | £8.49* | Link
I make no exaggerations when I say that this kit completely transformed my eyebrow routine.  Honestly, before I discovered this duo, my brows weren't exactly what you'd call 'top notch' - in fact, I look back at photographs and wonder what the flippin'eck I was thinking!  I have to spend quite some time filling in my brows of a morning because they're so light in colour (blame the blonde barnet!) so having a powder and a coloured wax in one palette is very handy for those mornings when I need to get up and go.  I actually find the 'Dark' kit works fine on my brows as well depending on the level of definition I fancy - sometimes I'll sweep a bit of the darker shade into the arch but overall, the 'Light' version seems to look most natural on me.  I simply sweep a bit of the powder through them, making sure that I'm creating definition into the arch, and then brush a little of the wax on to help set them in place.  If you've been after Benefit's 'Brow Zings', then Sleek's version is more or less an exact dupe aside from the fact the wax is a little softer.  Well worth the money!

Sleek Face Form Palette in 'Light' | £9.99* | Link
Ohhh my love for this product runs deep, let me tell you! It's been featured on my blog a fair few times in the past so I won't say too much about it as you can read my full review here.  It's essentially one of my favourite palettes for all my contouring, highlighting and blusher-ing needs! The blush shade in the palette is an amazing dupe for Nars' infamous 'Orgasm' blusher and looks amazing throughout the summer months.  I always end up taking this one away on holiday with me - it's got everything you can possibly need all in one place - and if you're a contouring fan like me, then it's well worth getting your mitts on.

Sleek 'Blush by 3' in Pink Lemonade | £9.99* | Link
I've really been getting into my pinks just recently. I know, shocking right? I've actually given corals and oranges a temporary heave-ho for the time being! This palette is simply stunning. It contains 2 powder blushes on either side and has a cream version in the middle for those days where you fancy a bit of something more dewy.  This palette has to be one of my new favourites and I shall certainly be picking up another shade of their 'Blush by 3' palettes in the near future - they're well worth the money! Each blush is incredibly pigmented, really easy to blend and the addition of the cream blush makes it perfect for travelling as you have the choice of 3 different shades, of varying consistencys.   The cream blush is such a lovely addition to the palette - I've only ever tried Sleek's Powder Blushes but their cream ones are just the ticket - really creamy, moisturising and dewy and pigmented but blendable.  Everything my cream blush dreams are made of...

Have you tried any of these Sleek products? What's your favourite blush by them? I'd love to add a new one to my collection!

Brow-WOW | My Thoughts on Benefit's 'Gimme Brow'

Benefit | Gimme Brow | £17.50* | Link

If I could go back in time and offer my teenage self any beauty tips, (aside from staying away from the blue sparkly eyeshadow...) it would be to put the bloomin' tweezers down and stop over-plucking my brows within an inch of their life.  Skip forward a good few years and I'm stuck with rather sparse eyebrows that lack shape, fullness and definition - being blonde also doesn't do them any favours as they're very light in colour and without being filled in with a pencil, well, you'd question whether or not I was actually eyebrow-less. So, this being said, I think it's safe to say that my eyebrow routine is an important part of my daily getting ready process! As soon as I heard of Benefit's 'Gimme Brow' being released, I was intrigued.  I'm all for a good brow product, me. There's been a lot of brow products released onto the market just recently, and I have to say I'm always left feeling a bit disappointed - I'm a toughie to please! However, I can genuinely say I think I may have finally found one of my 'holy grail' brow products...

'Gimme Brow' is more than just a brow gel. Which is why I like it so much! Not only does it do a fantastic job of keeping the eyebrow hairs in place, but it's also buildable.  The fiber-gel attaches itself to the skin and hair and instantly makes your brows appear fuller - perfect for someone like me who's brows are definitely on the more 'sparse' side. Not only this, but Benefit have hit the nail on the head when it comes to the perfect wand - finally no more faffing around with awkward sized brushes (I've always been a fan of Mac's Brow Set and although I like it - the size of the wand can be hard to work with). The brush is just the right size to comb through your brows with precision and the ease of use is definitely one of its selling points for me.  It also contains no shimmer, and although it only comes in 2 shades, both are extremely universal. The pigmentation is actually really impressive - usually, brow gels can be quite sheer but these little beautys actually manage to provide instant colour pay off. I actually suit both colours - I've found it works for me when I use the lighter shade on the inner half of my brows and concentrate the darker one into my arch and the outer half for a perfect natural look.  Personally, I still have to fill in my brows either with a pencil or with the Benefit 'Brow-Zings' kit beforehand just because mine are so incredibly light, but I can image if you're blessed with good eyebrows already or have dark brows to begin with, a touch of this might be all you need.  Gimme Brow is the perfect finishing touch for me - the hairs appear much more defined and natural, and the fact it's buildable is such a good aspect. It's easy to apply 2 or 3 coats to build up definition to the level you desire without the finish going crispy (something I've found with other brow gels). My brows appear much more full after use and don't budge out of place all day.

So, are you fed up of me singing Gimme Brow's praises yet?! I really do think I've found my perfect brow gel and I will definitely be grabbing more when these run out.  I think that Benefit have ticked all the boxes for a perfect brow mascara and I'm still yet to try anything else on the market that's amazed me as much as this.  The fiber-gel concept is one of its main selling points for me - and it's made such a difference to the overall appearance of my eyebrows.  If you struggle with sparse brows, or have been a little bit disappointed with current brow-mascaras on the market, 'Gimme Brow' is well worth a try.  For £17.50, it isn't the cheapest, but definitely worth that extra bit of money. I wouldn't think twice about buying it again and I cannot fault a thing about it - it's very rare that a product really does impress me like this!  Ok, praise singing = complete. I think you've all got the picture now so I shall tottle off before I reel off anymore gushy phrases of adoration...

Have you tried Benefit's 'Gimme Brow'? Did you like it as much as me?

Current Eyebrow Favourite | HD Brow Kit in 'Bombshell'

Even before I started blogging, I wanted a HD Brows kit. When I saw this kit in a blogsale a good while back for around the £6 mark I practically snapped the fellow blogger's hands off for it.  Sadly, I wasn't handed the naturally amazing eyebrows card in life, and after a serious over-plucking mishap when I was about 13 I think it's fair to say that I'm definitely not blessed with the most defined, full brows in the world. Trust me - without a little bit of colour whipped through them they look quite sparse to say the least.  Being blonde, my eyebrows haven't got a great deal of colour to them as it is, and as eyebrows essentially frame your face, I find that I do need a selection of products in order to give me a helping hand. I like them to look naturally defined and noticeably darker than my hair, but not so much so that I end up rocking a scouse brow.  For a good while now I've been happy using my Sleek Eyebrow Kit which comes with the wax and the powder - but ever since I purchased my HD Brows I've been switching back to pure powders a little more.

I bought my palette in the shade 'Bombshell'. I'd always had my eyes peeled for the brunette version (I believe it's called Foxy?) as I must admit I'm partial to a slightly darker brow, but when I saw this I thought I'd just throw caution to the wind and give it a try whilst I had the chance.  I'm so glad I got the blonde version now - the colours are actually quite pigmented and look dark enough without look false. I won't harp on about the kit too much as I'm sure you can all recall the rave reviews that hit your laptop screens a couple of years ago now when people received these palettes in their Glossyboxes, but I really think it's worth a mention on my blog as it's something I've really been loving recently.  The powders themselves are very soft to the touch and really highly pigmented, making them perfect for definition. You definitely don't get any 'fluffy' smudgy edges with these shadows and it's very easy to get a crisp, even line.  Usually, I don't use the brushes that come with kits and palettes, but I actually really like the little brush in this one - the slanted edged one is particularly useful for getting that perfect shape and defining the arch - and the fact it's so travel friendly means it's great for on the go (you even get a mirror in the lid). I personally find a mixture of the two brown shades works a treat for me, and I use the slightly darker one for the arch of my brow.  I pop on a little bit of Mac's Brow Set in 'Beguided' on afterwards to add that finishing touch and I'm good to go. If I want an even more defined look, I will apply a little bit of wax from my Sleek kit beforehand and apply the powders from this set over the top to set the colour from the wax.

The nude shade doesn't show up on me too well unfortunately - and for that reason it doesn't get a great deal of use but I often pop a little bit under the brow bone for a subtle finishing touch.  What I love about the HD Brows kit is that it's so versatile.  You can use the powders as long wearing eyeshadows also - meaning Carbon is perfect for a smokey eye on a night out.  I've used eyebrow powders in the past and have always been a little bit disappointed with the finish and the wear time, but the HD Brows kit really does last all day and stays in place whilst looking natural and groomed. I'd go as far as to say I couldn't be without it in my makeup drawer now. I really do think it's worth browsing blog sales every now and then - I've certainly grabbed some bargains! If you spot a product you've always wanted to try but never been able to get your hands on or never been able to justify the price tag - then it's a really good way to try something out. I picked up an barely used Nars Multiple the other week and am so glad I found it as I'd never felt entirely sure about parting with £30 for one! I shall be doing a post on blog sales soon - I've found some really good things from my fellow bloggers and it's a really good way to discover things you might not have discovered before.

Have you found any bargains in any blog sales recently? If you have one running currently then let me know - I'm getting quite the bargain hunter! David Dickinson eat your heart out, pal!

March Favourites

Where has this month gone? In fact, where is this year going?! Nothing highlights how fast the years begin to go by when you're getting old like a good ol' monthly favourites post. Last week saw the clocks go forward ready for Spring. I must admit, getting an extra hour of daylight each day is a blogger's dream - no longer have I got to get up at the crack of dawn to photograph products like a mad woman! I missed the boat for my monthly favourites last month, so I relished picking out some of my favourites from the past few weeks for March's offering (explains why I have 10 - a little more than usual..apologies!). Here's my mini-reviews and thoughts for you to dip into this month..

Ecotools Bamboo Kabuki Brush | £9.99 | 

I've been wanting a brush for a while that I can apply bronzer to my face with, but one that offers a sheer, even coverage. This one is perfect. I'd never tried Ecotools before but I really like them (I've also picked up an eye brush recently) - the bristles are so soft and smooth and the chunky handle is really good for grip. Also fairly lightweight and small in size, this brush has been my perfect bronzing companion.

Mac 'Plink' Lipstick (lustre) | £14.50

Another Mac lipstick. I swear I adopt a new favourite Mac lipstick every month! A while back I did a collection post on my Mac lippies - but I'm going to have to redo it in Summer as the selection I have seems to have bred slightly... This colour is beautiful for everyday. It's a lovely seashell pink with a little bit of shimmer to it.  It shows up on the lips even though it's a lustre finish, and is a perfect 'your lips but better' colour that brightens the complexion and looks lovely with a natural blush and neutral eyes. I love it.

YSL Rouge Volupte 'Nude Beige (#1)' | £24.50

I bought this a while back whilst on holiday but it's a lipstick I always go back to. I really love the formulation - although it's very soft and can be quite slippery to apply, the colour pay-off is second to none and the colour is really natural and pretty. It's a lovely nude shade with hints of warm, light pink. Very flattering on my paler skin throughout these colder months.

HD Brows Palette in 'Bombshell' | Bought in a blog sale 

I've wanted a HD Brows palette for ages. When I saw this one in a blog sale recently I snapped it up! I had my eyes on the dark version but threw caution to the wind and went for it anyway. I'm so glad I did, as the colours are spot on for me. The powders are wonderful - really silky and smooth and apply really evenly, and the little brush and mirror that come with the palette is really handy. They also last amazingly well and the dark shade, 'Carbon' works very well as an eyeshadow. I might do a more in-depth post for this palette soon which I why I've skipped on the swatches.

Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Polish in 'Blueberry' | £3.99 

I did a post on these beauties a while back including swatches (you can find that here). I love them even more than the regular Barry M polishes and dashed out to grab more or less the whole spectrum of colours. They apply really nicely (2 coats and you're done) and dry very glossy.  Blue is my favourite colour to wear on my nails so I've been getting a lot of use out of this one (Greenberry is also a current fave!)

Hugo Boss 'Orange' Perfume | £32 (30ml)

One of my lovely colleagues at work bought me this a couple of years ago for Christmas. It's not a fragrance I'd have chosen for myself but when I got a whiff of it I fell in love. I've since bought 2 more bottles and am currently spritzing my way down this one! I'm not one for describing scents, but it smells really fruity - but not in the way you'd expect - very luxurious and a little spicy. I currently have my eye on the summer version,  'Orange Sunset' - definitely one to whack on the summer wish-list!

St Tropez Everyday Moisturiser for Face in 'Medium Dark' 

I'm very loyal to my St Tropez. I love their tanning mousse and very rarely cheat on it with other fake tans. This one I've recently started using again. It's a summer staple for me and I apply it when I want a bit of colour in my face! It's quite thick, so some of you may be put off by this, and it also smells a little more 'tan-like' than the mousse. But it does the job and I never look orange from using this - my skin always looks really smooth and even.

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream (mini)

I got this as a sample ages ago. I've been using this the past few weeks and typically, I've fallen in love with it. I reckon the full-size is about £20 - so it isn't in the bargain bin of all the eye creams available on the market, but it's one that really does what it says on the tin. It's really smooth and has a gel-like consistency that applies like a dream and doesn't leave a sticky residue like a lot of eye creams I've tried. It feels really refreshing and de-puffs your eyeballs in an instant. Result.

Maybelline Dream Touch Blush in Shade 2 - 'Peach' | £6.49

I was so intrigued by the formula of these blushes and when I found out they had a peach shade, I was sold.  It's not exactly mousse-like (definitely not the same as the Dream Matte Mousse formula - if you're wondering!), but it's very smooth and creamy, and really light and silky to the touch. Unlike any other cream blushes I own consistency wise, this one has become a current favourite and It's so easy to apply either with your fingers or with a stippling blush. It looks natural, and feels so light on the skin. It also blends incredibly well. A winner in my books! I wish they'd bring out a couple more shades!

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in 'Soft Beige' | £6.99

I won't say too much about this, as I'm planning a full review soon. But my goodness, is this a good drugstore foundation.  As much as I love my YSL Touche Eclat (review here), I wanted an alternative for days when I wasn't going to be out long or just needed a quick fix. I've been wearing this for a good month now and have to say I really, really like it.  It's knocked 'Wake Me Up' out of the water for me and I much prefer the consistency of this one. It's less dewy, and gives a semi-matte/satin finish on the skin.  It can show up dry patches but I haven't really had many problems with this, and I currently have dry skin! A really good all-rounder that is worth a try if you're in the market for a good, medium coverage and lasting foundation that doesn't look overly dewy or overly matte.

What have you been loving this month? Anything here that tickles your fancy?

 ♥

Mac Brow Set in 'Beguile' | Review, Thoughts & Swatches

 Mac Brow Set in 'Beguile' - £12.50

If there's one thing I often struggle with - it's my eyebrows. They're ridiculously light due to me being blonde, and this compared with the fact that I was once ridiculously pluck-happy with them when I was about 13 means that I don't have a great deal to work with. Damn you, tweezers! On a recent cosmetic splurge, I decided to give Mac's Brow Set a whirl. Now then, I'm not going to tell you fibs - it took a good fortnight or so for me to fall in love with this product - and it's one that you're either going to love or loathe. I'd read a handful of reviews previous to buying it, and the feedback is so mixed that it's impossible to come to a conclusion without trying it for yourself. So, obviously I had to try it! It would be criminal not to...

I've tried clear brow gels in the past - and although they work in the sense that they keep the hairs in place, they do nothing for my barely there little shoddy excuses of brows! I opted for the shade 'Beguile' - the mid-brown shade. A lot of people get put off by the slight shimmer that's in the product - it is quite obviously there, as you can see by my blended out swatch. However, don't worry your little noggins off - you won't step out of the bathroom with eyebrows to rival a disco ball - the product applies so thinly, that any shimmer is barely noticeable, even in bright sunlight - and the finish is both professional and natural.

The only thing I struggled with is application. This takes some practice - especially when you're still bleary eyed and half asleep in the morning like myself. Unlike clear gels, you can't just merrily comb this through your brows! The first few times I used this I had to grab a cotton bud to wipe off any blotches I'd accidently applied to the area underneath my eyebrow - you have to be quite gentle with it, especially if your eyebrows need plucking - as this will pick up the tiniest of hairs. It took a good week of persevering for me to begin to like this product due to the tricky application - I find the brush slightly too big but I've learnt to work with it now. I tend to just use the end of the bristle brush to apply the brow gel, and any excess on the tip i scrape back into the tube to avoid a heavy handed application. I find the best way is to apply bit by bit rather than in one swift movement.

I still use a brow powder to fill in the arch of my brow using my Sleek Brow Kit - and then go over the hairs using the Brow Set. I've been so impressed with how this product manages to keep my eyebrows in place all day. One problem with having lighter coloured brows is that towards the end of the day, product wears off and you tend to find your eyebrows don't look as defined as they once did. For me and my cruddy eyebrows, the Mac Brow Set solves that problem, as the hairs are actually defined and coated in product, rather than just the skin underneath them.

Top: Finished result - more defined eyebrows

Bottom: 1. Dull light / 2. Natural light / 3. With Flash - swatches of my natural brows filled in with Brow Set - before addition of eyebrow wax. Swatchin'ell!

Please excuse my unshapely eyebrows - I'm aware they are in need of a good plucking ;) I've recently tinted them and I've had to avoid shaping them at all for 72 hours prior.. eep! (If you want a run-through of how I did this let me know) The days of drawing my brows on are long gone - this product just gives them the definition they need. I usually apply a touch of powder or wax from my Sleek Brow kit to achieve a slightly darker look than you can see here in my swatches (I have a review of the product here - I've since bought the 'dark' version as it seems to work better for me). It's entirely up to you how dark you go with them - but the Brow Set provides the perfect finishing touch and adds so much definition that is impossible to achieve through brow powder alone. I've had a few comments on my eyebrows since using this - and I'm so glad I didn't just throw this back into my makeup drawer when it didn't work for me at first. Eyebrows are such a key part of makeup application - they define your face - it takes different products for different people to get it right, but I think I've finally found the last step in my brow routine that generally makes my whole face look more groomed and perfected.

Apologies about the long review - I don't think there's much on the bloggersphere about this product currently - so I felt the need to chatter a bit more than usual!

Have you ever tried Mac's Brow Set? What were your thoughts? 

  ♥

Beauty Haul | Mac & Nars

Swatches L-R / 1. Mac Brow Set 'Beguiled' / 2. Mac 'Velvet Teddy' / 3. Mac 'Cranberry' / 4. Nars 'Mekong'

I think it's safe to say, I was a little bit naughty last week and indulged myself fully in cosmetic goodness. Sometimes we all need a little pick me up, and in attempt to cure myself of this horrible flu-thing i've all week, I found myself wandering on to the Mac website (cosmetics cure everything, didn't you know?). I could have gone absoloutely crazy on there, and I had to seriously cut down the contents of my online shopping cart when I went to checkout - I haven't been in Mac in quite a while so I have accumulated quite a long wishlist! 

Mac Brow Set in 'Beguiled' - I've been umming and arring over this for ages. I've read so many reviews and have come to realise that a lot of people aren't too keen on this product, but i've been switching up my eyebrow routine just recently and I quite fancied giving it a go. I must have the world's worst eyebrows - I overplucked them and just generally abused them when I was a young'un, and i'm paying the price now! My eyebrows are ridiculously light and I just wanted something that I could brush on after applying my brow powders to make them look more groomed and natural. The only thing I was unsure about is the slight shimmer the Brow Set has - but it really isn't noticeable in the slightest once applied to the brows. I love the finish it gives. I've been using it for about a week now, and first impressions are fairly good.. but i'm still getting to grips with the application. If this is something you're interested in, fear not - i'll probably be doing a full review of this soon.

Mac Matte Lipstick in 'Velvet Teddy' -  Nude-coloured lipsticks are an all year round staple in my make-up bag. Just recently, i've been into light browns rather than milky, natural shades. This one is perfect - it's not everybody's cup of tea but I really like it. It's very much a 'my lips but better' kind of shade but it's more noticeable than your average 'nude' - it's just a bit more interesting!

Mac 'Cranberry' - A gorgeous reddy brown shade. I saw this on Kayleigh's blog and knew I had to have it - it just makes such a nice change from the usual browns and golds I usually opt for.

Nars 'Mekong' - I spent ages on ASOS viewing all of their shades, and settled on this one. It's a beautiful deep brown shade, and the gold flecks throughout it are just beautiful - and I really can't wait to create a wintery smokey eye with this beauty. Nars is one of my favourite beauty brands - but this is the first eyeshadow of theirs I own and I've already popped some more of them onto my Christmas list - the pigmentation is amazing - seriously.

Have you tried any of these products? What are your thoughts on them?

 ♥