Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Anastasia Illuminators in Starlight and Riviera



Anastasia Illuminators in Starlight and Riviera

Highlighters.  Chocolate.  Shoes.  Handbags.  Cocktails that taste like pop.

All things I cannot resist.

I was totally on a no-buy because I literally have like so much make up.  No honestly I have.

Sarah totally encouraged me to buy these.  She wanted me to buy them all but I said no.  But no means yes right?  Cult Beauty then kindly emailed me to tell me they were in stock and curiosity got the better of me and before I could stop myself I had bought two.  Which is restrained as Sarah told me to buy all 4.

Anastasia Illuminators in Starlight and Riviera

I went for icy white gold Moonlight and rose gold Riviera which is probably more suited to darker skintones but it is so beautiful

Anastasia Illuminators in Starlight and Riviera

The packaging is very sturdy-almost to the point of being chunky to be honest but the pan inside is a beauty.  I really like the layered 'stepped' pattern.  When I first swatched them I was convinced these were dupes for the Becca Opal and Moonstone highlighers-they have the same incredibly complex shimmer that is only detected in bright sunlight that you get from the Becca.  But they're not really even close in shade-in fact done of my highlighters duped these two tones.  Moonstone from Becca is more yellow toned than Starlight and Opal is much more golden bronze than Riviera.  When the Becca tones weren't the match I thought they would be I started swatching more and more of my highlighters but nothing was an obvious dupe.

Anastasia Illuminators in Starlight and Riviera
Oops sorry about the typo!

Anastasia Illuminators in Starlight and Riviera

Starlight pulls quite gold on me which I was really surprised given the very silver look in the pan.  So if you have avoided this because of its apparent Tin Man-esque qualities you may find it to be much softer and prettier than you expect.  Riviera is more MAC Soft and Gentle-esque but it's slightly darker and more intense.  But it's not unwearable on my pale (NW15/Mont Blanc) skintone.  If I place it right at the top of my blusher so it blends a little with the blush it adds some serious glow.  I guess it's not for the fainthearted (if you prefer softer highlighters try MAC Soft and Gentle or Charlotte Tilbury Norman Parkinson Dreamy Glow) but it's not quite 'can you see my highlight from space'?  I'd wear it in the day-maybe not to the office but to a brunch or afternoon tea.  Starlight and Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Powder are quite similar but the Kevyn Aucoin is slightly more subtle and lighter.

Neither of the Anastasia highlighters are glittery but they are slightly metallic and shimmery.  I suggest a light hand and building up until you're comfortable with the effect.  They don't settle into pores and of the two, Starlight is the more subtle over its darker and rosier sister Riviera.  I'm definitely going to use these as eyeshadows too-especially Riviera.

I still don't think I need the other two but I am definitely very happy with the two I did buy and can see me reaching for them often.

My understanding is that these are limited edition but they're still in stock now at Cult Beauty for £28 each.  Are you tempted?
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Monday, September 28, 2015

Lip Six


lipstick swatches

Happy Monday and greetings from Cairo!  This weeks lip six is brought to you featuring some bad overdrawing of one side of my lips and a beautiful lipgloss which is now discontinued.  When bad things happen to good lipglosses....

Top row (L) YSL Volupte Tint in Oil in 5 Cherie my cherry (review here!)  (R) Hourglass Femme Nude Stylo in #4 (review here!)

Middle row (L) Bite Frozen Berries Matte Creme lipstick in Juniper (R) YSL Babydoll Kiss and Blush in #5 Rouge Effronte (review here!)

Bottom row (L) Rimmel Apocalips in Nova (R) Belmacz Lip Glow (sadly discontinued)

Loved the Bite lipstick and I wore it twice this week-once to the office and once to brunch on Friday-it has great lasting power and goes great with MAC More to Love Pro Longwear lip pencil

Have a great week!
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Sunday, September 27, 2015

New in! NARS Audacious mascara



NARS Audacious mascara

NARS Audacious mascara

NARS Audacious mascara

To me, NARS have never been known for their mascara.  Did they even do a mascara before this launch?  If they did, I never tried it.  NARS is the brand though that if I could only ever have one make up brand for the rest of my life I would chose.  I could quite happily live with their Sheer Glow foundation, creamy concealer (not my favourite but it's not horrendous), eyeshadows and lipsticks.  I also love their lip glosses and their blushers are some of the best in the business.

So a new mascara launch from NARS is bound to raise a few perfectly threaded eyebrows in the beauty world.  And who better to try it out than a self confessed mascara loving whore than myself??  So when my best friend Dani sent me this from London I immediately put it to the test.

I've done lots of mascara reviews here on Expat Make Up Addict-I love the stuff.  I need it like I need air.  I've reviewed an Almost Perfect mascara, a Perfect mascara, Disappointing mascaras and 6 mascaras on rotation so I have definitely used every mascara-related descriptive word there is.

Let's start with packaging.  Love/hate.  Love the red lid-very Louboutin although I don't know why NARS have gone for that look as it's not their norm.  The wand is supposedly red as well (well it is in the promo pictures), again-why?  It's covered in black mascara.  My 'hate' bit comes from the fact NARS have used their awful rubberised packaging for the tube-I was so sure they were moving away from this but no, and it attracts dust, dirt and fingerprints and is impossible to keep clean.

The wand is hard, stiff plastic with over 200 moulded and lengthening hooks and a tapered tip.  It's quite a thick wand too (why does every mascara wand review sound I am reviewing a penis?)  NARS claim the mascara 'simultaneously separates, lengthens, and amplifies. Its tapered tip finishes off the inner and outer reaches of your imagination, while enhancing lower lashes'.  They also claim that the 'formula offers extreme buildability. Lightweight. Long-wearing.'

So lets break this down:

The brush feels extremely scratchy and harsh on my lashes-I don't like it at all and I find it difficult to get it very close to the roots of my lashes.  I don't generally dislike plastic brushes but I do dislike this one-a lot.  The 'hooks' on the brush are designed to cling to every lash-same as with the Benefit Rollerlash but I really prefer Rollerlash to this mascara-it gives an all round more intense look.  The NARS mascara feels spiky and the wand is really too big to successfully get to the bottom lashes (and to be fair I am afraid of causing myself a serious mascara wand in eye injury.

NARS Audacious mascara



The formula:

Separates?  Yes definitely-no clumpiness at all.  I feel like the mascara makes my lashes look fanned out.
Lengthens?  Yes, I can see definite length. 
Amplifies?  No.  I can't build any volume with this mascara at all, even with several coats, which is really disappointing.
Buildable?  Yes-and you get time to work with the mascara too-it's neither an overly wet nor overly dry formula but it doesn't make your lashes crispy when it dries.  Also, NARS actively promote that you can recoat your lashes later in the day to go from office to bar without any clumpiness.
Lightweight?  It does feel lightweight!  I've never really thought about a mascara being heavy or lightweight but this one feels lightweight on the lashes.
Long wearing?  No qualms here-no flaking or smudging and it stays black all day.  It's a bit of a bugger to remove though at the end of the day.  Although my lashes don't respond well to lash curlers, this mascara definitely does hold any curl I do manage to achieve.

Another plus point-the brush doesn't pull out too much product so there is no excess mascara round the tube.  (I believe the tube opening has something called a 'sphincter guard' (mega lolz) to ensure that the mascara stays inside the tube)

In summary-I really do prefer volumising mascaras and this one sorely disappoints in that area.  If you look for length and separation from your mascara then you will like this-as long as you don't dislike the wand as much as I do.  I've read a few rave reviews of this mascara but for me, it's not to my taste.
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Friday, September 25, 2015

My MAC lip liner collection



MAC lip liner review

More of a pictorial post today than a straight review but it's in response to a request for a post about lip liners from one of the sweetest girls who reads my blog, Stephanie.

I have definitely gotten more and more into lip liners in the couple of years and have amassed a collection of MAC liners.  My collection isn't exclusively MAC but I thought I would start with a MAC post as they represent the lions share and then do a follow up with my other liners if it's of interest.

By far I have most of the MAC Lip Pencils-there are a massive 41 shades in the range and they retail for $16.50/£12.50.  The beauty of a lip pencil is you don't just need to use it to line your lips-often I fill in my whole lip then just add a gloss over the top.  Of if you want a truly matte lip, filling the whole lip with the lip pencil is a great way to go.

My first ever MAC lip pencil was Spice and I was about 17!  My 'going out' lip was always Spice liner all over the lips and then topped with a MAC purple glittery gloss (I wish I could remember the name but I am sure it's discontinued now).  I was obsessed with the vanilla scent of the gloss and it's literally the scent of my late teens!

I actually do not think that the MAC Lip Pencils are the best out there.  There's certainly something for everyone but I find the formula quite stiff and harsh to apply.  I recommend blunting and warming the tip of the liner on the back of your hand before applying it.  But once on they don't slip or slide around and they keep your lipstick inside the lines.  My very favourites are Redd and Beet-perfect and necessary for nailing that bold lip.

MAC lip liner review

MAC lip liner review

MAC lip liner review

MAC lip liner review

But my favourite liners from MAC are the Pro Longwear ones.  Slightly more expensive at $20/£15 but they're so worth it.  Much creamier, they glide on the lips rather than drag like the lip pencils.  The formula is softer yet still firm enough to draw a sharp line and the lasting power is incredible.  But then everything I have tried from the Pro Longwear range is...the clue is in the name I guess.  More to Love is my favourite and I always pair it with any bright pink I am wearing.  I definitely want need to try more of these.

MAC lip liner review

If you're looking to expand your make up repertoire by adding lip pencils then I definitely recommend MAC as a good place to start!

I'd love to know what your favourite lip liners are?  Am always looking to be enabled!


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Wednesday, September 23, 2015

MAC Extra Dimension eyeshadows-they're back and permanent!


MAC Extra Dimension eyeshadow review

MAC Extra Dimension eyeshadow review

MAC Extra Dimension eyeshadow review

MAC Extra Dimension eyeshadow review

MAC Extra Dimension eyeshadow review

MAC Extra Dimension eyeshadow review

Surely MAC's most instagrammable eyeshadows ever?  MAC Extra Dimension eyeshadows are the most amazing formula and now they're back and permanent!  I had a very impromptu splurge on the above five because basically I am weak and they are shiny.

They're beautiful to look at but thankfully they're not style and no substance-the formula is one of the very best I have tried.

MAC describe the formula as a liquid-powder and the shadows are packed with pigment with a metallic finish.  They're incredibly reflective yet don't contain any glitter or microshimmer.  The formula is incredibly smooth and a delight to blend and I just love them.  I wish MAC did palettes of this formula!  They're not dissimilar to the NARS Dual Intensity eyeshadows but I do think the MAC formula has the edge.

The pigment can be intensified by using them wet-this amps up the metallic foil like finish.  I spritz my brush with MAC Fix Plus (newest purchase and addiction) and use the damp brush to pat the shadow onto my lids.  

MAC Extra Dimension eyeshadow review

Have you tried these eyeshadows?  Do you love them as much as I do?
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Monday, September 21, 2015

Lip Six



lipstick swatches

Happy Monday!  I am in a very positive frame of mine at the moment and a huge thank you for all the support I received on Friday which was the first anniversary of going into remission.  I totally spoilt myself that day (evidence on instagram-expatmakeupaddict)

When I got home I was chatting to Tasha and she said to me I hope you bought fabulous shoes to celebrate moving forward' and I actually had!  So I have resolved that each September 18th I will buy myself some fancy shoes to continue to celebrate moving forward.

I love this weeks lip six, make up is really giving me joy at the moment!  It always did but you know when you especially love it-that's me right now.

Top row (L) MAC Amplified lipstick in Impassioned (R) Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G lipstick in Velvet Underground (review here!)

Middle row (L) Armani Rouge Ecstasy CC lipstick in 305 Brick (review here!)  (R) Buxom Full Bodied lipstick in Centrefold (Limited Edition but NARS Anna is a total dupe) Review of the Full bodied formula here because it's amazing!

Bottom row (L) Bobbi Brown Art Stick in Sunset Orange (R) YSL Babydoll Kiss and Blush in #2 Rose Frivole (review here!)

I genuinely shopped my stash this week and these are all lipsticks I actually really love but I have so many that sometimes they don't get the love they deserve.

Which is your favourite??

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Sunday, September 20, 2015

Charlotte Tilbury Norman Parkinson Dreamy Glow Highlighter


Charlotte Tilbury Norman Parkinson Dreamy Glow Highlighter

Charlotte Tilbury Norman Parkinson Dreamy Glow Highlighter

Charlotte Tilbury Norman Parkinson Dreamy Glow Highlighter

I've gotten a tad obsessed with highlighters at the moment and whilst until recently I was using them for 'evening out' make up only, I am now literally piling them on willy nilly on a daily basis.

So when Charlotte Tilbury brought out the Norman Parkinson Dreamy Glow Highlighter I snapped it up.  And it came from Selfridges and hadn't survived the journey. Hashtag cry face.  Selfridges were brilliant though and dispatched another one to me immediately free of charge.

When it came I swooned and ahhed over it, the packaging imagery is really beautiful, well thought out and it reminds me of something my Nan might have had and that's totally fine with me.

In all honesty though I haven't been blown away with the highlighter because it's really really subtle on my skin-even when I go in pretty heavy handed.  If I did that with the Becca highlighter I reviewed recently you'd see me from space!!

But it's sadly barely detectable on my NW15/Mont Blanc skintone.  It doesn't work as an all over finishing powder either as it contains a tad too much shimmer.  As my skin has quite a pink undertone maybe the peachy finish just doesn't work.

I've pulled out some of the other highlighters in my stash for comparison and it is unique in tone-MAC Soft and Gentle is the closest but the Charlotte Tilbury is peachier.

Charlotte Tilbury Norman Parkinson Dreamy Glow Highlighter


I'd love to know if you have tried this and it has worked for you?  Did you pick up anything else from the Norman Parkinson collection?
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Saturday, September 19, 2015

YSL Volupté Tint in Oil-the obsession continues





I feel so torn about writing this review because I love this product so much but the photos just make each shade look the same!  I'm hoping by the end of it though you are compelled to go out and buy at least one!  Yes I know that you are hurtling into winter in the Western world and out of lip gloss season but here in Dubai the fun and tolerable sunny season is just beginning.
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Friday, September 18, 2015

1 year in remission-The best advice I have received in the past 12months


12 months ago today I met with my oncologist for the results of my PET scan and the scan was clear meaning I was officially in remission.  I cried all day.  I literally couldn't get my head around the whole thing and looking back now I can see it was not just physically traumatic but also emotionally traumatic.

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Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Still obsessing




As a person who loves make up it's easy to be incredibly fickle.  Constantly looking for the next best thing and never using anything from more than a week before demoting it to one of my many Muji acrylic drawers to gather dust.

So I thought today I would reflect on my current make up situation and tell you what I am still obsessed with and using almost daily.

They're all things I have reviewed recently but haven't yet been demoted!


#1 NARS The Multiple in Portfolio-(reviewed here)

This is my go to cream blush!  I love the golden pinky tones and it's a dream to blend with fingers or a stippling brush.  It can even be used as a lipstick too.  I use it daily at the moment and it lasts forever!  NB in the review I have linked you'll see I compared this to the Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick-I haven't used the Beach Stick once since!


#2 YSL Le Teint Saharienne Blur Perfector in 02 Sable (reviewed here)

Still totally crushing on this cream bronzer from YSL-it adds the perfect amount of warmth to the skin to stop me looking like Casper.  I have found that if you feel using a stippling brush makes the bronzer look too streaky then using a Beauty Blender to dab the product on works amazingly!


#3 YSL Touche Eclat Blur Primer (reviewed here)

Another gem from YSL, I am still loving this silicone based primer gel.  It really smoothes out the skins surface and my foundation sits really nicely over the top.  I have found that the more hydrated my skin the better my foundation looks so I have ditched the mattifying primers for more hydrating, glow inducing ones.


#4 Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions BB cream (reviewed here)

Every single time I use this I am wowed.  I normally use Estee Lauder Double Wear for work and then this at the weekends and I just love it so much.  Of course it's completely different in texture from the Double Wear which is a dense liquid, this Clinique BB cream is like water on the skin yet provides amazing coverage.  Love love love.


#5 By Terry Densillis Blush in 01 Platonic Blonde (reviewed here)

I raved and swooned about this blush in my first review of it and I still use it at least 4 days a week now.  It may not look as pretty as it did in my first review but it's absolutely my most favourite blush of all time.  It's also the most expensive blush I have ever purchased.  Absolutely no regrets though.


#6 MAC Amber x 9 eyeshadow palette (reviewed here)

I use this little palette every. single. day.  And what surprises me the most is I use the matte shades the most!  Cosy Grey (top left), Georgia Peach (top right) and Cork (middle row far right) are the best crease/transition shades ever.  This little palette is perfect for travelling and I have taken it on every single trip I have been on since I bought it.  I also bought Burgundy x 9 but I haven't even touched it.  Despite using them daily I haven't hit pan at all proving this little pan is small and mighty.

What have you reviewed recently that you're still obsessing over?




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Monday, September 14, 2015

Lip Six


lipstick swatches

Happy Monday!  Here are my last six lip picks.

Top row (L) Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss in 13 Affriolant (review here) (R) Guerlain Kiss Kiss lipstick in Baby Rose (review here)

Middle row (L) NARS Audacious lipstick in Greta (review here) (R) Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy in Defiant Coral (review here)

Bottom row (L) Sephora Rouge Infusion in 19 Peony (awful awful lip gloss, uneven and peeled off my lips) (R) Bite Luminous Creme lipstick in Bellini

Which is your favourite?

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Sunday, September 13, 2015

Sarah Chapman Overnight Exfoliating Booster and Overnight Facial


Sarah Chapman Overnight Exfoliating Booster and Overnight Facial

Whilst I don't profess to have any qualifications in talking about skincare products I do take a very keen interest in what I put on my skin-especially since my skin went all kinds of loopy after my cancer surgery last year.  I talked about my new delightful hormonal adult acne a couple of months ago but I seem to have hit on a combination that is working for me in keeping my skin calm, clear and happy.  I dread publicly saying that my skin is fine because it always seems to bite me on the arse and the next day my skin breaks out horrendously!  But right now as I type this, my skin is the best it has been in ages.  There will be a few more skincare raves coming your way soon.
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Friday, September 11, 2015

Marc Jacobs Beauty (P)Outliner in Honey(bun)

Marc Jacobs Beauty (P)Outliner in Honey(bun)

Marc Jacobs Beauty (P)Outliner in Honey(bun)

I feel like lip liners have come back in fashion in the beauty world, led very much by the buzz surrounding Charlotte Tilbury 'Pillow Talk' and then MAC 'Soar'/Kylie Jenners coverted pout.

I have quite a collection and I find them so useful when wearing a bold lip to help prevent the lip colour escaping outside my natural lip lines.  I never wear a red lip without using a liner first-it's just Stacey Law.

My latest purchase is the Marc Jacobs (P)Outliner in Honey(Bun)-a peachy nude (thanks for the excessive use of brackets there Marc Jacobs).  I really like the formula of this liner-it's gel based so doesn't scratch or drag on the lips.  As much as MAC do an amazing array of shades, their lip liner pencils are really harsh.  The formula also contains collagen to plump fine lip lines and prevent bleeding and it works!

I pulled out a few nude/peach liners from my existing stash; The closest dupe is Charlotte Tilbury 'Pink Venus' but Honey(bun) does lean slightly lighter and more peachy.  The Marc Jacobs and the Charlotte Tilbury liners are definitely comparable in texture.

Marc Jacobs Beauty (P)Outliner in Honey(bun)

It really compliments peachy shades-here are a few I have paired it with.  I genuinely think Honey(bun) with Chantecaille Lucky is my favourite nude glossy lip combo ever!

Marc Jacobs Beauty (P)Outliner in Honey(bun)

What do you think?  Peachy perfection or an unnecessary additional step that doesn't make a difference?  I'm going for the former......

PS-I am thrilled to have been nominated for 'Best International Beauty Blog' in the Bloggers Blog Awards-you can vote for your favourites here.  Massive thanks to Hayley from Tea Party Beauty for all her very hard work with these awards!
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Monday, September 7, 2015

Sephora Haul-all the lipsticks




There's no lip six post this week sorry, due to travelling last week I didn't get the shots I needed but instead I recently placed another Sephora US online order and when it arrived I realised I had basically bought all the lipsticks.  So it's a lipstick post just not lip six. 

Here's what landed in my basket with some swatches.





Give Me Some Lip is a collection of best sellers at an amazing price-a kind of 'try before you buy' if you like.  Who doesn't love miniature lip products?  This worked out at £16.97 which is amazing value for what you get.

Everything in the set I would wear-Lolita from Kat Von D is the only one that looks a little brown for my taste.   I really think they is a great little selection of shades, textures and finishes.



Bite is one of my favourite lip brands-it's such a shame it isn't in the UK or Dubai.  I have tons of their products now but I purchased two new shades from the Frozen Berries collection and I love both!  There was also a 250pt perk which included a Bite mirror, lip gloss and lipstick in the shade Bellini-an uber bright pink.


Lastly I got two more of the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks-I already own Berlin and Bachelorette and the formula is outstanding so I have now added Mother and Beloved-how stunning do these shades look?  I wore Beloved in the evening the other day and it's a beautiful colour and so easy to apply.  Finally I picked up a new lipgloss formula from Sephora's own range.  I am a total sucker for a really glossy gloss!


Have you tried any of these formulas?  Which is your favourite?  Would you like me to review any of the shades?

PS-I am thrilled to have been nominated for 'Best International Beauty Blog' in the Bloggers Blog Awards-you can vote for your favourites here.  Massive thanks to Hayley from Tea Party Beauty for all her very hard work with these awards!
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