#shonagh scott
LONG-WEARINGMODERN-DAY WET LOOK CURLS
I loved scrunching my hair in late 90’s and early 00’s, the only downside to it was the crispy finish and the frizz that accompanied that style by day 2. This method overcomes both pet peeves, the hair remains predominantly soft with zero frizz until you wash it again - in my case, 4 days later.
Want to see how I achieve this gorgeous modern take on wet look curls? Watch my tutorial!
This week VIEVE landed on my doorstep, and spoiler… it’s amazing!
VIEVE is the baby of makeup artist and influencer, Jamie Genevieve. She is known for her love of neutral eyeshadows, nudes lipsticks and modern-day-nineties looks. And this love of neutral tones are apparent across the first run of products from VIEVE.
This is the one and only eyeshadow palette from the brand thus far; The Essential Palette - an everyday-neutral palette, offering a mix of matte and multi-dimensional shimmers on the warm spectrum.
Each eyeshadow is a buildable, blendable, buttery high-pigment that enables the wearer to achieve subtle day-looks as well as amped-up evening looks!
I swiped over each eyeshadow twice to achieve the opacity you see in the above swatches. Very impressive!!
This palette is priced at £43.00 and is available here!
I have 3 of the 5 Modern Matte Lipsticks;
- VIEVE - Jamie’s true nude; soft beige
- TREASURE - A pretty, peachy nude
- NINETEASE - a definitive ‘90s feel; cool brown
Matte lipsticks are often perceived as being quite flat, dull and drying but VIEVE Modern Matte Lipstick has been formulated with nourishing ingredients and waxes to leave your lips feeling silky and moisturised.
Much like the eyeshadows, these lippies were swatched twice to achieve the above opacity, and I think you’ll agree with me when I say that the pay-off is brilliant!
Each lipstick is prices at £19 and is available here!
I hope you get a chance to try the brand.
Shonagh x
NARSCLAUDETTECOLLECTION
I’ve been having a play with the new NARS St Germain Des Prés Eyeshadow Palette that was recently released within the Claudette collection.
This palette looks extremely pretty; in an attractive glassy Black finish with an arrangement of different shaped red hearts, you can’t not love it!
Inside the palette we have 6 warm and neutral eyeshadows, in a mix of matte, satin & shimmer finishes.
Along the top we have a mix of champagne shades, varying from a pinky hue to a yellow hue. And then below those we have a rust-red, and two brown hues.
The pigment pay-off of these eyeshadows really is impeccable! This is one swipe of each colour and you can see how opaque each shade is.
The palette is limited-edition and costs £36.00/$49.00
I think this palette is SO worth the price! The colour pigment is fab, the amount of product you get in each pan is generous, and the colour palette is perfect for everyday wear.
Shonagh x
LIFTED SMOKEY EYES + SKIN UNDERTONESEXPLAINED
This week I received the new Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Eye Filter Palette in the shade Diva Lights, and it’s beautiful.
It’s contains the shades rose champagne, soft glitter rustic rose, matte black and rich taupe!
With this palette I decided to create something very soft but extremely effective. You can replicate this look whether you have monolids, hooded lids, or even large lids! You simply adjust the placement to suit your eye shape. If you hold on to the end of the tutorial I briefly explain the positioning of the wing for those who have hooded eyes.
During my tutorial I also touch on the subject of skin understones and how to tell which undertone YOU are? This is extremely helpful when it comes to choosing the right foundation shade.
There are 3 main understones;
• Warm
• Cool
• Neutral
You can see both Blue AND Green veins in my arms which indicates that I am a neutral undertone.
Want to learn how to create a lifted smokey eye? And have a bit more of an understanding of skin undertones? You can check out my tutorial below.
Enjoy,
Shonagh x
OVERPRICED FOUNDATION?
Would you pay £115/$147 for a foundation? I purchased this expensive new release from ALLEVEN to test it out!
It’s a 20ml All-In-One Concealer, Foundation & Treatment that is a lightweight, water & oil emulsion, and high in pigment so it colour corrects the skin while adding great coverage. Ideal for those who have redness, pigmentation and/or acne prone skin.
For £115/$147 you would expect it to be hand delivered with a fanfare and wrapped in silk, am I right? Checkout my review to see all the details, how it wears and if it’s worth the hefty price tag!
Shonagh x
EYEBROWS
This week I purchased the Bushy Brow pen by Lime Crime. I am an avid fan of using brow pens and prefer this method to any other when it comes to filling in my eyebrows.
Why do I love them so much? Well, they produce a more precise and defined finish, and enables to you create the most natural looking hairlike-strokes. It also come in a waterproof formula, meaning they last longer than a pencil or powder.
My natural brow colour is pretty ashy, so I need an equally ashy brown pen to fill them in and match my hair. Most brands eyebrow pens are just too warm! But I’ve managed to find 3 amazing ones;
•Lime Crime Bushy Brow - Dirty Blonde
•MAC Shape + Shade Brow Tint - Fling & Taupe
•Urban Decay Brow Blade - Cool Cookie
The Bushy Brow pen by Lime Crime is my latest find, and is a great alternative to the other two in my collection - Dirty Blonde sits perfectly between Cool Cookie (ideal for when I have a tan during the Summer as it’s slightly darker) and Fling (which is a cool blonde but slightly more caramel than Cool Cookie).
The tiny brush tip allows you to flick very thin hair strokes throughout your eyebrow to give a fuller finish. If you apply a bit more pressure you can create fuller lines, and you can mix the thickness to your desired finish. My person preference is to follow my natural shape and to concentrate on the outer top half where the brow hair is particularly fair in colour. Naturally, this area of my eyebrows appear more sparse due to the light colour, so by flicking in hairstrokes with the pen and following the natural direction of the hair-growth, it looks fuller without really changing the shape too much, and by using the Dirty Blonde shade it means my brows don’t become the focal point of my face but rather enhances them for the perfect natural finish!
Here’s my tutorial using the Urban Decay Brow Blade:
Shonagh x
GLASSY NUDE NAILS
I often receive messages asking for a tutorial on how I do my own nails, so here you go!
Some of the products are only available if you have a certificate, however, alternative products are available on the market that you would use in the same manner.
You can also use this builder gel to extend short nails if your natural nails aren’t long enough. I use it an overlay on my natural nails for strength & shine!
Shonagh x
BECOME A MAKEUP ARTIST
One question I receive over and over is about how to become a makeup artist?! Having over 850,000 of you on here, from all over the world, it makes choosing one school to recommend very difficult, especially since I can’t attend all the schools globally before being able to genuinely recommend them. SO… I’m very excited to be partnering with the Online Makeup Academy to share my review of their Master Makeup Course, after having gone through the entire ciriculum myself.
No matter your location or current job/life situation, you can attend this school and become a fully certified professional makeup artist, all at your own pace! You get 1-2-1 tutition with your online tutor over video calls, a makeup kit worth $700, you can fit the course in and around a current job, and you will qualify for pro-discount of up to 40% off from many high-end makeup brands.
OMA have kindly given my viewers $100 OFF by using the discount code SHONAGHSCOTT when you purchase the course. If you want to learn more about the two courses you will cover within the Master Makeup Course, watch my review below:
Enjoy,
Shonagh
TIPS TO LOOK AFTER YOUR HAIR
This week I’m sharing the first of two hair tips videos! Today’s tutorial is more generic and covers my favourite ways to look after and maintain my long locks, create volume and prevent damage, as well as some hair hacks for those of you with fine hair!
The second haircare video will focus more on best practices to achieve long hair (outside of genetics), as well as my favourite hair growth products, favourite brushes for long hair, towels for drying hair without damage, bleaching and trimming your hair!
If you have any amazing hair tips, leave them below.
Shonagh x
CREAM EYESHADOW STICKS
Today’s makeup tutorial features some of my favourite easy-to-use cream eyeshadow sticks!! This is the perfect tutorial for beginners and professionals alike. Whether you’re young, middle-aged or mature, cream eyeshadows will suit you as they are flattering at any age.
This cool-toned makeup can be adapted using any colour palette, so feel free to create the same look time after time, and simply change the shades to suit your needs.
THE BEST NATURAL LOOKING LASHES
This week I filmed a video on my favourite natural looking lashes - these will still give you volume, texture and length but won’t leave you looking like Daisy the Cow.
I’ve specifically chosen comfortable sets that are on a cotton band or a clear one so they aren’t difficult to apply or uncomfortable to wear:
One of the brands I’ve featured is ESQIDO, which I have managed to secure a discount code: SHONAGH will get you 15% off your entire cart at the checkout.
False lashes are a great option if you are someone who usually wears semi-permanent individual lashes and are currently having to go without.
Enjoy,
Shonagh
HEATLESS CURLS -with a twist! (Quite literally!)
This method has been trending all over the internet recently but I spotted a bit of flaw in the technique, so,I tweaked it to give you the most voluminous, bouncy curls that start at the root of your hair!
You don’t need any tools or products for this hair tutorial.
This works on both long AND short length hair, I’d say no shorter than jaw length though. Since I created this tutorial I’ve been tagged in so many of your recreations and they all look beautiful, especially those with shorter hair!
TIP: The twist in my method is to wrap the hair in two directions, which is what creates definition and texture, also taking larger sections will create more volume at the root.
If you don’t have a bathrobe-tie get creative, use a sock, a soft belt, your kids dressing gown robe-tie! Anything that will allow you to wrap your hair around and be comfortable to sleep on.
Enjoy,
Shonagh x
COOL GOLD EYESHADOW
Here I have created a cool Gold eyeshadow look paired with a smokey wing! This is a beautiful way to elongate the appearance of your eyes without losing space between your eyelid and eyebrow.
Enjoy!
Shonagh x
Instagram: @showmemakeup
WHITE WALKER - MAKEUP TUTORIAL
I can’t quite believe that it’s been over a year since I created this look!
If you missed it give it a watch, it’s really fun to see this look come together. Especially when I start applying the hair - I cut up a £1 Halloween mask that had hair attached to it and used it for this look!
Enjoy,
Shonagh x
BRONZED & GLOWY
Last week, I uploaded this neutral bronzed smokey eye that I paired with a dewy body glow to enhance the décolletage for a sultry finish.
When you play-up the eyes, it’s advisable to keep the skin fresh and less full-on. You want to look effortless, however, everything is down to personal preference and here I’ve amped up the highlight whereas usually I am one to shy away from shine! I think it works well here but take what you like from it and create your own.
HUDA BEAUTY NUDE OBSESSIONS
NEW!Huda has released 3 Nude additions to the Obsessions family; Light, Medium and Rich. A trio of mini eyeshadows, each containing 9 shades in a mix of finishes; matte, metallic and shimmer. All three palettes are suited to all skin tones, how you choose depends on which hues you prefer!
•Light - creamy praline hues in both warm and cool tones.
•Medium - a rich mix of spicy tones combining chestnuts and deep browns.
•Rich - milky and dark chocolate browns, crimson red, dusty rose and sandy fawn with pink undertones.
Each palette is £27/$29!
I’ve created a warm, sparkly smokey eye with a Rosy Gold vibe that is PERFECT for the festive season! I used a mix of all three palettes so you could see each of them in action:
MUMMY - LAST MINUTE HALLOWEEN COSTUME
If you need a last minute Halloween costume, look no further! Grab yourself some bandages, a cheap greasepaint kit from the Halloween section of a superstore, some food colouring for the teeth and some eyelash glue to create the infected parts!
This easy Mummy makeup transformation is suitable for ALL ages! How gruesome you go is entirely up to you…
THE LOST BOYS - TRANSFORMATION
Who was a fan of The Lost Boys?!
My tutorial, inspired by the 80’s cult classic vampires, is now live over on my YouTube channel.
Also, if you fancy yourself a detachable mullet as seen here on Billy, you can watch me butcher the life out of a £10 eBay wig to create one!Follow along and you too could be the proud owner of a mullet this Halloween (or Christmas, depending on how much you like it )
Watch the tutorial here: https://youtu.be/lMUtBEFvI1I
THE JOKER - MAKEUP
Here is my version of The Joker from The Dark Knight played by the late Heath Ledger!
If you can find an amazing wig then this makeup shouldn’t take you more than 1 hour! If, however, like me you cant find an authentic wig you can make your own like I did in this tutorial. It is time consuming but it does look AMAZING!
Again, I have applied gelatine pieces as these are super easy to use and blend, you don’t need to be a pro to work with them.
Watch me transform my model into The Joker here: https://youtu.be/C0T_GnZyT6U
FRANKENSTEINS MONSTER
This weeks Halloween makeup transformation is Frankenstein’s monster!
I have created a bunch of Halloween classic characters this year, Frank being the most iconic! I used minimal prosthetics to achieve this look if you want to see the ‘how-to’ here!
Shonagh x
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I ordered 2 of the 4 new lipstick releases from Lisa Eldridge and they are INCREDIBLE! There was a deal on Lisa’s site that if you purchased two of the new shades you would receive the makeup pouch for free - bonus! The pouch itself so very ‘Lisa’, beautifully simple and in a colour that complements the vivid shades inside.
The lipsticks have been created in two finishes;
Insanely Saturated Demi-Matte
•Rainbow Spill - A bright, red/coral watermelon pink with a muted neon edge.
•Skyscraper Rose - An electrically modern fuchsia pink.
Luxuriously Lucent Semi-Sheer
•Go Lightly - A light, vibrant salmon pink semi-sheer lipstick.
•Love Of My Life - A medium true ‘Rosy Pink’ semi-sheer lipstick.
You can see just how elegant these lipsticks are from the classy cool-gold magnetised casing to the perfectly moulded, soft bevelled lipstick that’s encased within. They each have Lisa’s logo imprinted on the side and come in two distinctly different finishes to the surface of the lipsticks - silky smooth and satisfyingly textured.
I’m a huge fan of Coral shades so ‘Go Lightly’ was a must;
Below is ‘Rainbow Spill’, a beautifully wearable neon! In the close-up image, you can see this lipstick has a textured surface which gives it the appearance of an airbrushed cake (if you’ve ever seen one?) - very delectable!
Go Lightly is much more vivid than I anticipated, not in the same way as Rainbow Spill which is, as described, insanely saturated! However, I would liken it to wearing a perfume rather than eau de toilette; even though it’s a semi-sheer finish it’s definitely more vibrant that a regular semi-sheer lipstick! Both are extremely comfortable to wear and stood the test of time. Go Lightly is creamy whereas Rainbow Spill is more velvety.
I’m incredibly impressed by these, not that expected anything less from Lisa!
I do feel they are worth the money and would even go as far as to say they’re reasonably priced, considering how well made they are!
If you’re a lipstick lover I would most definitely recommend signing up to Lisa’s mailing list for the restock, the first batch sold out in 24 hours.
I’m more of a balm girl myself but I adore Lisa and knew I just had to have these!
Each shade is £26 and can be purchased directly from Lisa’s website.
Shonagh x
LASER HAIR REMOVAL
I thought you might find it interesting to follow my Laser Hair Removal journey with the Pulse Light Clinic since I receive SO many questions whenever I post about it over on my Instagramaccount.
If you suffer from unwanted dark hair, coarse hair, ingrowing hairs, razor rash or post-shaving bumps then laser hair removal will change your life! No more full leg or intimate waxing required before holiday girls, and guys you can also have laser hair removal anywhere on your body, too!
There’s absolutely no reason to feel embarrassed about having the treatment done, after all, the technicians have seen it all before and do this day-in and day-out, so feel completely comfortable knowing that you’re not alone.
If you’re intrigued to hear about the pain aspect, the process, and how many sessions it takes to become hair-free then simply watch my video.
I take you along to two of my sessions at the clinic and show you how I’ve been getting on as well as answering all of your questions about the treatment.
FYI - The treatment is much more affordable than you may think, but there is also the option to spread the cost should you wish. The Pulse Light Clinic offer a 0% finance option over a 12 month period for payments over £450.
- For example; a package like Lower Legs, Bikini Brazilian & Underarms is only £60.72 per month, plus you get 20% off with my discount code which I think you’ll agree is very affordable to become completely hair free!
It’s a bit like paying as you go since you only laser every 6 weeks so it’ll take you roughly 12 months to complete your lasering which is the same amount of time it would take to pay off the finance.
Disclaimer - I wouldn’t encourage anyone to take out finance unless you are able to comfortably afford the repayments, I’m simply giving you all the information.
If you would like to book in for a free consultation or book a package of laser hair removal, you can do so by clicking ‘here’! Don’t forget to use my discount code ShonaghScott20 for 20% off packages.
Shonagh x
HEATLESS VOLUMINOUS CURLS
If you’re not a fan of using heat & tools on your locks then this is the tutorial for you! Whether you have thin, limp hair or wild and unruly curls that need taming, this style is for everyone! It lifts and creates volume in fine hair, while helping to tame and smooth the cuticle in thick coarse hair.
This simple to achieve hairstyle is my go-to on holidays (and at home now it’s Summer here in the UK) I wear it braided throughout the daytime to keep the hair off my face and in the evening I take it out and wear it big and curly!
EASY SLEEP-IN BEACHY WAVES
A couple of weeks ago I uploaded a photo of my beachy waves on my Instagram account and was inundated with requests for the ‘how-to’.
It’s so simple and can be completely heat-less if you forgo using the hairdryer and opt for airdrying instead. To see how to achieve these gorgeous, voluminous waves overnight, watch the video!
Shonagh x
WARM GLITTER MAKEUP TUTORIAL
Here is an easy but effective makeup look, suitable for any special occasion!
You can adapt this look by leaving out the glitter for an all-matte smokey eye.
What’s your favourite, warm or cool toned eyeshadow looks?
Shonagh x
I’ve always been a massive fan of Charlotte Tilbury’s work, even before the brand. As a fellow working professional I’ve admired her skills for most of my 15-year career and once the brand materialised I was hooked!
The packaging exudes ‘Luxury’ and encompasses Charlotte in every way, you can see she has put every ounce of her knowledge and experience into producing the very best of the best!
When it comes to application, makeup is only as good as the skin it sits upon and Charlotte knows this all too well so naturally, she has produced one of the most incredible and dreamy moisturisers, focusing on active ingredients to plump & hydrate the skin ready for makeup application!
HerMagic Cream is a staple in many professional kits worldwide and also adored by avid lovers of the brand.
This award-winning luxury moisturiser contains a combination of 8 oils and actives:
- Hyaluronic Acid for intense hydration, drawing in moisture from the air and locking it in place.
- Vitamin C helps brighten and even the complexion, Vitamin E transforms dull and lacklustre skin.
- BioNymph Peptide Complex helps stimulate collagen, fight free radicals and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
- Rosehip Oil, Camellia Oil, Aloe Vera, Frangipani Extract and Shea Butter have also added for moisture, glow, plumping and nourishment.
I use this luxurious moisturiser on ALL of my clients prior to any other makeup prep/products. Using my fingers, I work this over the entire face and allow it to sink in for a short while before makeup application. You can see how it really does plump the skin; pores are less defined, dry skin is softened and there’s a beautiful glow to the face, all of which makes for a great base!
Magic Cream is available in 3 sizes and comes with a bit of price tag;
30ml £49/$64 (ideal for travel)
50ml £70/$100
150ml £180/$255
Applying a liquid highlighter underneath foundation is the best way to achieve that glow-from-withinappearance to your skin. Charlotte recently launched her Hollywood Flawless Filter which does exactly that! It is a complexion booster, designed to give you a mega-watt glow whilst priming your skin ready for foundation/concealer. This liquid highlighter can be worn alone, underneath your foundation or mixed with your foundation for added dewiness. It contains a blend of ingredients to help achieve a soft-focus feel, creating smoother looking luminous skin that diminishes that appearance of fine lines and pores.
There are 7 shades available in the Hollywood Flawless Filter, ranging from Fair to Dark. The majority of the shades have a neutral undertone with a hint of either Peach, Beige, Golden or Warm. There is something for everyone!
I have two shades which I’ve swatched above for you;
- 1 Fair - Neutral beige complexion booster for very fair skin
- 4 Medium - Neutral golden yellow complexion booster for medium skin tones
One of the key ingredients within this formula is a Glossy Oil; a lightweight moisturising oil that reflects and adds light to your face where you need it.
It looks particularly great under studio lighting when used for editorial purposes, personally, I’m less of a fan of it for everyday use on my own skin because I’m oily. If, however, you have drier skin and the texture is very smooth you can achieve the most beautiful finish! This product used over a bare, well-moisturised face can give you that sought after glass-like skin!
If you do suffer from excessive oil, use this only on the high points of the face.
Going back to ‘texture’, if you have raised bumps or an uneven complexion, applying any product that has light reflecting particles willenhance that texture. So bear that in mind before going all-in.
Hollywood Flawless Filter 30ml - £30/$45
After applying your Magic Cream AND your Hollywood Flawless Filter you should be looking pretty radiant! BUT… sometimes you can find after applying your foundation you look a little flat. Now, I’m referring to the contours of your face rather than the glow, or lack of. Foundation and concealer tend to knock back the shadows as they even out your complexion, which is great when it comes to dark circles but not when it comes to your cheekbones! So we need to redefine these areas by adding back some colour, only this time where we want it.
You can use cool toned products to contour as these mimic shadows, however, we’re slowly but surely coming away from the heavy contouring we’ve known for the past 5 years and are embracing a fresh new approach! Cream sticks are a fantastic way to add a wash of colour to the skin without mattifying it or making it look heavy.
Charlotte Tilbury has created 4 colour-saturated pigments for an irresistible summer glow, known as Beach Sticks, aka blush sticks.
They are super easy to use as they come in a stick-form which can be applied directly from the bullet and simply blended in with your fingertips!
I have three of the four shades available:
- Moon Beach- a luminous, rose-gold iridescent peach shade, the ideal colour to give your skin that radiant ‘golden-goddess’ glow!
- Formentera - a sun-kissed berry colour, perfect for creating a healthy, glowing complexion that looks like you’ve spent the week on a beach.
- Ibiza - a burnished bronze shade, a great way to create dimension to the face by warming up the skin and sculpting the cheekbones.
Ceramidone is a key ingredient within the Beach Sticks which acts like a poly-filler to plump up & refill the skin. What makes this consistency unique are the high melting point waxes that hydrate the skin creating a dewy & supple finish, while light-diffusing spheres soft-focus imperfections & bring radiance to your face. This paired with the glowing, colour-saturated pigments makes for a beautiful all-in-one face stick!
Each Beach Stick is filled with 6.5g of product at a retail value of £30/$45each.
An exciting launch from Charlotte Tilbury is the return of her best-selling Pillow Talk eyeshadow palette, an extension to her ever-growing Luxury Palettes and an accompaniment to her existing (and very popular) Pillow Talk look!
This is your ‘everyday’ eyeshadow palette that will enable you to create subtle but stunning, romantic and feminine eye looks.
The quad consists of 4 shades; 2 matte finishes and 2 satin shimmers.
- Champagne Pink
- Matte Dusky Rose
- Soft Matte Brown
- Rose Gold Sparkle
These are universally-flattering shades designed to enhance all eye colours! The warmer tones will really bring out Blues & Greens, and will really complement Browns and Hazels.
This is a great colour palette for everyone but particularly ideal if you’re not super confident with pairing eyeshadows. It’s colour coded so that you can pair any of these 4 shades together and it’ll work as they’re subtle in tone. You can opt for a barely-there look, or, you can create a warm brown smoke layered with shimmer on the centre of the lid or inner corner of the eye for that something extra special. This would be a beautiful bridal palette, especially if you pulled the entire look together with the Pillow Talk blusher,lip liner&lipstick!
This eyeshadow palette retails at £39/$53, and the Pillow Talk Look which includes the entire 4 piece range is £107/$145.
Shonagh x
METALLIC BLUE FOR BROW EYES
Last week I created this vibrant Blue eyeshadow look with a pop of pink in the centre for a pretty wet-look highlight. I used a mix of pressed shadows and loose pigments - click here for the tutorial.
Complementary Colours
Notice how the Blue really enhances the Brown shade of my eyes? It makes them appear more vibrant and vivid.
Are you familiar with which colours enhance YOUR eye colour?
Check out the colour wheel below to see which shades work best with your iris.
For example, the complementary colour to Blue is Orange! So warm orangey/copper tones will enhance Blue eyes.
ForGreen eyes it’s similar, any eyeshadows that are Orangey/copper, reddish browns and purple/violet tones will bring out the Green.
Brown eyes can wear any colour but in particular, Blues make them appear more intense.
For those of you with the rarer Grey eyes, you have a few choices, you can either enhance the Blue within your Grey or the Green within your Grey.
OR, you can make the Grey appear lighter by wearing a charcoal eyeshadow and smoking out the lash line with Black!
Any questions on this just shout!
Shonagh x
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BETTER THAN ROSES
This week Melt Cosmetics released their Better Than Roses collection and I received their limited edition Valentines Day packaging which is insanely pretty! Pink and White, an uplifting change from the dark and alternative style Melt as known for.
Pictured above are two Digital Dust Highlighters from the collection. This is are extremely pigmented and glide on intensely with one swipe. These are just as alluring on the skin as they are in the pressed form, with that exquisite script imprint.
- Phoenixis a gorgeous rosy copper shade! It would work brilliantly as a highlighter on medium to deep skin tones but this doubles as a blush and therefore suitable for all skin tones. Anyone with a smooth skin texture will adore this shade across the cheeks as it adds both colour and lustre!
*Not Vegan* - Pink Moon is a Rosé Pink that adds a bubbly glow to the cheeks! Again, suitable for everyone and is a nice contrast to Phoenix. This is probably my favourite of the two as it’s more universal and can be worn alone without contour for that Glass-like skin!
*Not Vegan*
There are 3 NEW Liquid Set Lipsticks in this collection and in very contrasting shades. The formula is a comfortable matte finish that doesn’t crack and lasts ALL day! They have a distinctive scent, as with all of Melts liquid lipsticks, I believe it may be Vanilla but it does remind me of playdough.
TIP - I’ve found the easiest and most efficient way to remove these long-lasting lipsticks is run soap (handsoap works best but don’t get it in your mouth, trust me, it doesn’t taste as good as it smells!) onto the lipstick and gently work it in circle motions until it starts to break-up. It may appear as though it’s not going anywhere but wipe over it with a tissue and almost all of it will go in one swipe!
- Gwendolyn is a burn Coral shade, sitting within the nude spectrum it’s one for those of you that like to wear colour but nothing too bright! It’s still punchy and super pigmented but on the nude side - my favourite.
*Vegan* - B Movie is a shocking Pink! You can’t not be noticed when wearing this on your lips, it draws your eyes straight to the lips. This would look fab with Black-winged liner and some fluffy cluster lashes!
*Vegan* - Sequelis a deep Plum shade! Wear this with colour with confidence as it’s a statement lip that is dark & mysterious. It would be amazing for a night out paired with lashings of mascara!
Better Than Roses can be purchased as a collection but Melt also sell the products individually, so if a particular item takes your fancy you can save your pennies rather than splurging on the entire lot.
The collection value is worth $135/£104.76 but is at a steal of $80/£62.08 on the Melt Cosmeticswebsite.
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NATASHA DENONA TRANSFORMATTE FOUNDATION
If you’re on the hunt for the fully mattifying foundation that doesn’tlook and feel cakey or heavy on the skin then this one might just be for you!
WHO’S IT FOR?
It says on the website that this is suitable for sensitive skin. It also says it’s ideal for all skin types but to use the appropriate primer underneath suited to you.
On first appearances, what makes this foundation different is the texture and the formula, it’s much more fluid than a regular matte finish foundation. Even though it has a runnier consistency this doesn’t compromise the coverage, which is a medium to full coverage that minimises the appearance of pores and blemishes. However, I am an oily skin-type by nature and rarely have dry patches, at the moment I have a few due to a new skincare regime and this product enhance and clung to those areas. So I would personally avoid this if you have dry skin.
WHAT’S IN IT?
This is a silicone based foundation and is formulated without parabens. Natasha has made sure that the formula includes skin-loving botanical extracts that work to optimize hydration and minimise shine for photo-flawless skin.
Many makeup products, much like skincare, now include active ingredients aimed at shielding your skin from environmental damages as well as tackling anti-ageing. This foundation is armed with peptides and powerful antioxidants geared to towards doing just that!
PACKAGING
The packaging is synonymous with the entire ND range, clean and professional looking. The tube has a removable white plastic lid that reveals a small pump-action dispenser. I have found that you really do have to continually pump this on your first go, so be cautious as it catches you off guard and squirts out with projection! A major plus to this packaging is that the tube itself is a squeezy tube, so when you get to the end of your foundation you can remove the dispenser and squeeze out the remnants, unlike many glass bottled foundations where you waste what could be another few days of wear!
SHADES
There are a whopping 35 shades available in this range, from Fair to Deep and in a variety of undertones; neutral, warm, yellow and red.
WEAR
A little goes a long way and upon trying this I found it goes on best with a buffing brush rather than a sponge. Although it’s quite fluid it doesn’t slip around easily without buffing and it sets quite quickly, once it’s in place it doesn’t move! It doesn’t leave a streaky finish when using a brush so there’s no need to finish off with a sponge to achieve that airbrushed finished.
It stayed put all day long and covered blemished without the need for a concealer.
WHICH UNDERTONE ARE YOU?
A quick way to tell which undertone you are is to look at the veins on your wrist, the colour they appear will give a good indication as to which undertone you are:
- Blue = warm/pink undertone
- Green = cool/yellow undertone
- both Blue & Green = neutral undertone
SWATCHES
I received 11 of the 35 shades in my PR package and I have swatched them below for you:
PRICE
You get a good amount of product, each tube contains 0.94 FI Oz/ 28 mL.
It’s quite a pricey foundation, it retails at £39.00/$45.00
Makeup can be very much like buying shoes - you get what you pay for!
There are definitely a few gems on the high street that dupe for expensive brands but they are few and far between, if you find you’re an oily girl that is on the hunt for the holy grail matte foundation then save up your pennies and give this a whirl.
WHERE TO BUY
UK & WORLDWIDE: http://bit.ly/2S6asd4
US: http://bit.ly/2S3WEQr
Shonagh xx
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HOLLYWOOD GLAM TUTORIAL - ACNE PRONE SKIN
The tutorial for this makeup look was highly requested after I uploaded the image on Instagram last month! It’s perfect for the festive season and is great for those of you that suffer with acne as the coverage is full without looking cakey.
All the products used have been listed & linked within the description bar of the video on my channel.
Enjoy!
Shonagh
EMILE CORDON - MIRACLE LIP BALMS
If you’ve followed my blog for a while now you may remember that I featured the exquisite brand, Emile Cordon, and 2 of their sumptuous lip balms last year! Well, I have my hands on 6 of their newest launches and I’m super excited to share them with you! (You can find my previous post ‘here’ for more info on Emile Cordon)
If like me you tend to opt for a balm over a lipstick then you’re going to fall in love with these splendid little pots, more so as 4 of the Miracle Lip Balms come as a 2-in-1! Read on…
Thebeauty of the original Cashmere-On Lip Pots went far beyond their appearance, it was the texture, the formula AND their unique scent. The Miracle Lip Balms are equally sublime, and the notable difference between the collections is the new Black & Gold packaging. Still so elegant and attractive in appearance, one that makes you want to carry the box around as it looks too expensive to throw away.
So, within this Miracle Lip Balm range, Emile Cordon has produced a new line known as the ‘Haute Couture’ collection. There are four shades in this line, all of which have an alluring scent of Rose Champagne & Strawberry Leaves, very delectable!
As I mentioned above, what makes these 4 balms unique is that not only can you add a wash of colour to your lips, you can also pop them on to your cheeks for a matching flush! The 2-in-1 lip and cheek tints contain Kukui Nut Oil, Almond Oil, Vitamin E, Squalane to nourish, soften and protect your pout.
The colour payoff varies dependent upon the shade you choose and all four are buildable so you can decide on the intensity.
When I want minimal products on my face I want it to look fresh, dewy and glowy, so I always choose creamy based products and this formula is extremely comfortable to wear, it adds a lovely youthful glow to the cheeks which makes it ideal for that ‘no-makeup makeup’ look! These 2-in-1 pots are a great addition to my makeup bag.
- Charlotte - This appears to be a vivid true Red shade within the pot but is much more subtle upon swatching - which pleases me. It is definitely buildable though and wouldn’t overwhelm the cheeks like you might expect.
- Madison Queen - Much more of an Umber Orange shade, this one is the deepest colour and gave the most colour payoff.
- Chic Chic Boom - Inside the pot, this ones appears to be an intense Coral shade but actually more-so resembles the natural lip colour when applied, which I could see many people really enjoying! This would be my favourite pairing for both the lips and cheeks.
- Powdered Rose- A gorgeous rose pink shade that adds a healthy flush to your lips. I’m not usually a fan of Pink with my complexion, I’m more for the peachy tones but I’ve found this is the one I use the most!
Back row left to right: Madison Queen, Rosé Imperial, Chic Chic Boom
Front row left to right: St. Barts Soleil, Powdered Rose, Charlotte
The last two balms I selected were based on their mouth-watering scents!
Notes:
- St Barts Soleil - Fresh Coconut, Pineapple, Vanilla Accord (this smells like a mix of the tropical Caribbean and a scrumptious cake! It’s my ultimate favourite balm and has no colour, just a high glossy shine)
- Rosé Imperial - Sparkling Rose Champagne, Fresh Tea Rose, Charming Vanilla (very reminiscent of the chilled pink bubbly so many love!)
Attached below are some swatches of the 6 balms on my arm, please note that this image doesn’t do them justice as they sit much more vividly on the lips than they do on the arm.
Left to right: Charlotte, Powdered Rose, St. Barts Soleil, Chic Chic Boom, Rosé Imperial, Madison Queen.
Each pot contains a generous 0.42 .oz/ 12g, and are relatively expensive BUT you most certainly get what you pay for! Emile Cordon doesn’t just produce a ‘lip balm’, it’s an experience. Each pot contains active ingredients to not only add a shine to your lips but to care for them, nourish them and keep them comfortably hydrated all day every day!
The Haute Couture collection retails at $65 each, and the remaining Miracle Lip Balms retails for $54 each. Emile Cordon has kindly given my followers a 10% discount code to use at the checkout: SHONAGH
Enjoy!
Shonagh x
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HOW TO DECORATE THE TREE - FULL ON
This was a highly requested tutorial after I featured a quick time lapse video of me decorating the tree in my vlog last year. So this year I got Tommy to help me film the process to hopefully inspire you all with your own beautiful trees!
Enjoy,
Shonagh x
