Sunday, March 9, 2014

Currently Loving March 2014



Sometimes I struggle to pull together a favourites post, finding nothing is really floating my boat.  Other times, like now, I struggle not to include a million things!!

I've tried to narrow it down to my favourite few things from the past month.

First up is the NARS Narsissist Palette which I purchased online from John Lewis.  I also purchased one as part of my best friend Danielle's birthday present.  There has been mixed reviews of the palette and in the past I have openly criticised NARS palettes because I have felt the quality of the eyeshadows, compared to the single or eyeshadow duos from the permanent range has been substandard.

Not this time.

I am really enjoying the palette and have been using it daily since I got my grubby little mitts on it.  And of course with the packaging being the typical NARS rubberized matte black my grubby little fingerprints are now all over the palette!

I find I am using the middle three columns the most, a lighter colour all over the lid and then a darker complimentary colour on the crease.  There is a good balance between matte and shimmer shades-I am drawn naturally to the more shimmery offerings.

I justified buying this by telling myself it would be great for travelling.  Having taken it to Cairo last week I can confirm it it indeed great for travelling!  You can create so many different looks with this one palette.

The wear time is really good with minimal creasing or fading and they blend really nicely-I think the quality is as good as the permanent range shadows.  I am so pleased I purchased!

The Sleek blush in 'Suede' was a gift from Gemma at Miss Makeup Magpie who was my very generous Secret Santa.  I love love love the shade Gemma picked, it's a very flattering neutral that wears for ages.  It seems to compliment any make up look and because it's matte it's perfect for daytime.  I find myself reaching for it often.

I guess a lash waterproofing top coat is a luxury rather than an essential but Bare Minerals 'Locked and Coated' is an amazing one!  Picked up on a whim, this mascara tube has a very fine, flexible plastic wand and you run it over your lashes after your mascara has dried as if you're applying another layer of mascara.  It's clear so you won't see it on the lashes but it keeps every smudge and flake at bay all day.  No panda eyes, even when crying buckets (trust me it's been tested in the last week!!)

I am not a lip pencil kind of girl to be honest but they do help to stop lipstick bleeding which is a horrible affliction I suffer from!!  The Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat pencil in 'Pillow Talk' is the perfect nude shade.  It's very close to my natural lip colour so it goes with everything but it seems to prolong the wear time of any lipstick and prevent bleeding.  I tend to line my lips with it and then put whatever colour I am wearing on top.  However, for a nude lip, placing the pencil all over the lips and then a gloss or colour on top is absolutely gorgeous.  The formula is perfect, not too hard or soft and the pencil is so easy to work with.

Here it is with the Charlotte Tilbury 'Bardot Beige lip gloss'


Tarte LipSurgence matte lip tint in 'Glee' continues my love for all things pencil shaped this month.  Oh that sounds a bit wrong but let's continue!

These stubby pencils were part of a Tarte gift set at Xmas of matte and gloss lip pencils and the formula is amazing.  The pencil makes application a cinch as you just colour in your lips-the pencil won't tug at all.  For a matte lipstick it isn't drying and it lasts forever.  The colour is so saturated and rich-Glee is a vibrant mid toned pink.

I don't like the gloss ones in the set as much as the matte as they don't offer as much pigmentation but the matte ones are amazing.


And finally I wanted to reach out to you for tips.  I recently bought a light box (which I use when there isn't a cat inside it) but the white background always seems very dull and not as sharp as I would like it to be.  I don't use a DSLR but I one of those quite fancy compact cameras where you can change the ISO, white balance etc.  I would love any tips on using a light box if you use one!


Let me know if you have done a monthly favourites as they're one of my favourites to read!

PS-if you read my post yesterday I have an update on the missing iPad situation.  I was told by my hotel that I had not left it in there which I knew was untrue.  I called and spoke to the Director of Customer Experience this morning and explained the situation.  I received a call this evening to say it has now been found.  I am glad I didn't just accept the email from the Head of Security saying it was not there.  An admittedly somewhat dubious explanation has been offered as to what happened but at least it is safe and I can get it on my next trip in two weeks.  I have confessed to Mike just now and even though it's safe and well he has hit the roof and told me 'I need to sort my life out' (yawn).  Despite the fact we have been together more than 10 years I don't think he has a good understanding of the pressures of my job.  Oh well it's safe, we have another iPad at home so 10 days without it won't hurt and it's not like I did it on purpose!!

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33 comments

  1. Hello lovely! Yes I really find these easy to blend. Some of the MAC shadows are quite difficult to blend and can be quite hard to work with. Am not finding that with these xxx

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  2. Hi Anne! I know it's lovely isn't it! xx

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  3. Yes I really like it too!! I have 3 of the glosses on my wish list now I know the formula is ok! xx

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  4. It's a very lovely nude xx

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  5. It's a fab all rounder! Have an amazing trip Rebecca xxx

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  6. Hi Sandy! Ah which Mac pencil did you go for? Good luck with your dissertation xxx

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  7. It's a bit of a dubious explanation BUT I know it's safe and the people I have spoken to have been great.

    I must check those to blushers out-thank you for the recommendations!! xxx

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  8. Hi Laura! The hotel have been great as soon as I spoke to the right person! At least I know its safe! xxx

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  9. I want to try some more from Sleek-I bought a palette in the UK at XMas but not used it yet-reviews are good though! xx

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  10. I am definitely interested-been eyeing them up on the Boots website!! xxx

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  11. It's all blown over now and the hotel have been super nice once I got to speak to the correct person. I picked up a new Chanel quad yesterday which I have not been a fan of in the past-let's see how I get on with this one! xxx

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  12. Lol its all blown over now-he just has a short fuse!

    V excited about Tarte going to the UK xx

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  13. Honestly Jen you DO need it lol!! The Tarte pencils are fab xx

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  14. Yes I agree and like I say I have criticised Nars before for their palette quality. I do love this one tho xx

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  15. Hi Sunny, I use a lightbox with a daytime bulb. I think I need to play with the ISO and white balance!

    The bare minerals coat is really good-especially as I love the Lancome mascara I am using but it can be a bit smudgy! x

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  16. Hello lovely, I wondered, do the shadows in the NARS palette blend well? I'm finding my new MAC shadows recently purchased hard to graduate so would love to know what you think about this one?


    Nx


    www.nasdiaries.blogspot.com

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  17. The Bardot Beige is just perfect x

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  18. Rebecca Be BeautifulAugust 30, 2014 at 9:48 PM

    I'm beyond tempted to pick up that NARS palette in NYC if I can. Seems like such a good all-rounder.

    Hope you're well lovely!

    Rebecca xx

    www.bebeautiful-beautyblog.com

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  19. That Nars palette... Oh my!
    Lovely favorites Stacey! Glad your Ipad has been found!
    Good evening! xx

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  20. Hi Rach-so am I and the hotel have been very helpful once I spoke to the right person! xxx

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  21. Very nearly picked up the Charlotte Tilbury pencil but went with a MAC prolongwear pencil instead, love the CT lip combo on you though, think I'm going to treat myself to it once I've handed in my dissertation! How convenient that they miraculously found your ipad but amazing none the less! Hope everything's all okay now chick! xx

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  22. Stacey, glad your iPad is safe. Sounds a bit dodgy on the hotel's part though.


    Btw if you love Sleek Suede, then you HAVE to try MAC Gingerly and Cantaloupe blushes. Both absolutely beautiful, matte and go with literally every makeup look :)

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  23. Nars palette is just delish as is your lip colors! I adore sleek blushes and eyeshadows should buy some more really.
    Antonia. Xx

    Abitofmacandcheese.blogspot.co.uk

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  24. Ah Stace you must must must MUST get your hands on the new limited edition Sleek By 3 blush palettes - there are two "Californ.I.A (corals) and Pink Lemonade (pinks)"... they're only £9.99 and contain 3 exclusive full size Sleek blushes inside them. If you loved Suede, you'd LOVE these! xxx

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  25. I've been drooling over that NARS Palette but it won't be happenin' I just can't justify it! :(


    I'm so glad you'll be getting your Mini iPad back but at the same time sorry Mike had that reaction. After all you didn't do it on purpose. Men! *rolls eyes* xoxo

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  26. On The Dressing TableAugust 30, 2014 at 9:48 PM

    Oh hun, im so glad they found the ipad, it sounded like the day from hell! 'Sort your life out' is a bit harsh! Honestly, men sometimes are totally missing a sensitivity chip!! That tarte liptint is stunning on you, cant wait for qvc to stock tarte in the UK :) xx

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  27. Lovely picks! The Narscisist Palette really looks amazing, but I'm trying to convince myself that I don't need any more neutral shadows! Loving the look of that Tarte pencil too :)

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  28. Nice to hear that you are enjoying Narcissist Palette, I can't decide about that one mainly because I don't like their (old) formula, wished it would be like the new duos, buttery smooth and more pigmented. And... wished I could try it out to be able to decide lol.

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  29. Hey Stacey, what sort of lighting do you use? The dull background sounds like the result of insufficient light to me, though I am really not an expert. I'm glad they found your iPad, but I'm so sorry to hear Mike is giving you a hard time! I mean, it's been found so it shouldn't be a big deal!


    I like the idea of a mascara "rain coat," though I haven't tried one. Pillow Talk does look gorgeous on you!

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  30. I love Suede by Sleek, I did a post about it somewhere as I like it so much. I am so glad you found your iPad xx
    Www.beautyqueenuk.co.uk

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  31. I've been really impressed with the CT lip cheat, I'd like a couple more, as I think the texture is great, no dragging. Bardot Beige looks beautiful, I really like the formula of the glosses. xxx

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  32. Thanks Stacey. And I bought nice n spicy, it's quite a dark nude-brown. Works really well. I think I want to get MAC half-red too, have you tried that? xx

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  33. Keep the pouch! Just in case... :D :D :D

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