For me, brows have been the biggest learning curve in my makeup journey, over the years I have tried and failed at many an attempt to fill in, shape and tame my very unruly brows. I have been an over plucker to the point my brows were almost non existent, I have filled them in using what I thought at the time to be a good shade match only to find out that I was so wrong. I think brows can change your entire look, they can look too harsh or too sparse and you can get hung up on trying to make them look exactly the same (this is impossible).
Along with many brow miss-haps I have tried quite a few brow products too, I am blessed (now) with quite thick dark brows and I never attempt to shape them myself. I either have them threaded at my local beauty salon or I go to Benefit to get them waxed and tinted. day to day I don’t use too much product in them but I do always use a tinted brow gel, I find that gives them a good amount of colour, definition and holds them in place.
I tend not to try that many brow products as I am in a good routine and know what works for me but I was very intrigued after seeing Rimmel added some exciting new brow products to their range. I really like Rimmel and find their products are affordable and great quality but I have to say these Brow Shake Filling Powders were not the easiest to get on with.
The Brow This Way – Brow Shake Powders Is marketed as a 3 in 1 product allowing you to Fill, Define, Line your brows. It comes in 4 shades and I have heard people say that the shade range is too narrow and I have to agree. The lightest shade, Light Brown is still pretty dark but two darkest shades, Soft Black and Dark Brown were pretty decent matches for me. I like to use two colours when filling in my brows, I use the darker shade at the start of my brows where they’re thickest and naturally darker then I use a slightly lighter shade to draw them out and add a little more length.
These have loose powder in the bottom that you shake to mix up and then you use the sponge applicator to draw on and fill in your brows. I have to say it is easier said than down. The powder is pigmented (which isn’t a bad thing) but I found there was a lot of fallout, this was a problem for me.
The sponge wasn’t the most precise applicator, when you’re used to using a very small, precise angled brush to fill in your brows this sponge isn’t vey accurate at all. I did take some of the product off the sponge applicator with my trusty angled brush as I really wanted to know if the product itself had staying power.
I found applying the powder using my angled brush I could get a better shape and fill in my brows without any messy fallout. The powder itself is very long wearing, pigmented and didn’t fade throughout the day, so that is a plus. I just think Rimmel need to work on the applicator as no one wants messy brows. So I like the powder just not the applicator.
Brows are so individual and everybody likes to do their brows in a different way so I would love to know what you use to fill in your bows? Do you think you will be trying these new Brow Shake Filling Powders from Rimmel?
I’ve been planning this series for a while, I wanted to celebrate the incredible and diverse beauty brands that are home grown and proudly British. There so many British brands that are sold internationally as well as many smaller lesser known brands. I have 50+ brands to share with you, I’m excited to discover some new brands and share with you quite a few brands that I love. I hope you enjoy this series of posts & let me know if you discover any brands that you didn’t know were British.
Launched this year by Laura out of her love of a good bath, she wanted to share that love with the world & so The Bathory a cute little British brand was born. With their HQ in London & their small factory in a barn in rural Berkshire they let you invent your own blend of bath soak. This is a luxurious way to enjoy a bath and its such an exciting concept for bath lovers everywhere. Their jars of bath soak are £18 so quite pricey but if you like to relax in the bath then these are perfect for that. From their website to the final product this brand has excellent attention to detail and I really like that. I’m excited to see whats next from this brand.I have written a full review of them here.
This is a brand that almost all of us know and love, it was founded by the creator of Bliss Spa, Marcia Kilgore back in 2006, its eye catching packaging and tongue in cheek names are what most people notice first. Soap & Glory are a fun, fresh affordable British brand that have gone from strength to strength. They now have a product range including skincare, haircare makeup, bath & body care. We all have our favourites and mine include The Righteous Butter, Sugar Crush Body Scrub and Hocus Focus Highlighter. This is a brand that is now sold internationally and they always seem to be releasing something new and exciting. I’m secretly hoping they do a line of nail polish. Let me know what your favourite S&G product is. I want to try their new Make Yourself Youthful Sunshield Superfluid SPF50+as I am all about the facial SPF.
Was founded in 1843 by Eugene Rimmel and was originally a perfumery on London’s famous Regent Street. They’ve always been well known for their Mascara & Rimmel actually means Mascara in many languages. Rimmel is such an iconic British Brand that is sold in more than 40 countries and is Britain’s best selling cosmetic brand. They have a great range of affordable products and are still to this day most well known for their mascaras, although I think they have added more to their range. I personally like their Wake Me Up range and their Scandaleyes Waterproof Khol Kajal are a great budget friendly eyeliner – these come in 7 shades & 5 of these shades are a staple in my makeup bag. What are your favourite Rimmel products?
Was founded in 1994 by Jo Malone, ‘who began her career as a facialist, soon becoming one of London’s most sought-after skin care therapists. To thank her original 20 clients, she hand-mixed her own Nutmeg & Ginger Bath Oil. One client ordered 100 bottles as table favours for a prestigious dinner. Instantly, 86 guests wanted more. The Jo Malone London brand was born.‘
It’s now seen as a quintessentially British brand, their stores are a pleasure to shop in and its so hard to leave empty handed. They’re best known for their selection of fragrances but they also have candles, skincare and body products. They package them up beautifully with a cream box and a silky black bow so if you needed a gift these are the ultimate & look luxurious. I had a candle as a leaving gift from a job & I treasured it for months. Let me know what your favourite Jo Malone scent is, mine has to be the classic Lime Basil and Mandarin and their Amber & Patchouli. I could spend hours in their stores testing them all out.
Was founded in 1999 by then fashion editor Thea Green MBE (Services to Beauty Industry) she loved how easy it was in America to get a Manicure and felt there was a huge gap in the market for aUK based fashion forward nail bar, her first salon was started in London. It was famous for the 15 minute mani & demand was high. Nails iNc grew very quickly and can now be found in department stores nationwide. Nails Inc is known for their affordable, luxurious nail care, that’s catwalk inspired and gives you professional quality. True to its British roots the shades are named after London destinations like Spitalfields and Notting Hill Gate. Nails Inc has grown to be Britain’s most successful and popular nail bar chain and they employ 400 people throughout UK & Ireland.
Their products are sold internationally and you can now find Nails Inc nail bars in Sephora in the USA and Canada. I adore Nails Inc polishes & think their formula is so good, the colour range is stunning, They are always at the forefront of new effects and finishes and it is exciting every season to see what new textures and shades they come up with. Among my favourite shades are Basil Street (gorgeous subtle nude) and St James Park (pretty pink). They have an extensive selection & I need to add a few more shades to mine. Let me know what you recommend. Nails Inc not only sell nail polish but also hand-care, foot-care and false lashes.
Is an Anglo – Japanese brand but the product is produced in the UK. STEAMCREAM is an all in one natural moisturiser that is light and gentle enough to be used on your face, body and hands. STEAMCREAM is produced using a STEAM process, The force of the STEAM fuses the ingredients instantly – holding them together in a very gentle and loose emulsion. When it touches your skin, the naturally moisturising ingredients and pure, calming essential oils are released from the light emulsion so they can sink past the surface reaching the areas they are needed fast. Your skin will feel intensively moisturised and softer for longer’.
STEAMCREAM is also a very ethical brand with focus upon its packaging being environmentally friendly and recyclable. It’s also Vegan Friendly, freshly handmade everyday and STEAMCREAM use a minimum amount of preservatives so that the skin’s natural balance of flora can be protected. Low preservative levels also help STEAM CREAM to biodegrade easily. I love using this multi purpose product & have a collection of their cute tins on my vanity. I have written a full review on this here.
Is a British makeup brand launched in 2008, it is a brand which encourages individuality and freedom of expression. Drawing much of its inspiration from the 1920’s Berlin theatre scene and the many alternative scenes that we have seen since. It is a brand thats popular with makeup artists and beauty lovers alike, not conforming to the norm Illamasqua has a flair for the vivid, pigmented and adventurous they never shy away from pushing the boundaries of makeup. I like that it feels quite dark and edgy and that your part of a movement and not just a brand. Its quite exciting. Illamasqua are known for using colour and being bold. I have only tried a few products from them but I was pleased with the quality and their customer service, if you get chance to visit one of their shops or counters you must, their staff are very friendly, helpful and passionate about the brand. So nice to see. Please let me know what products you use & love from them.
Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.
I had some vouchers left over from Christmas & decided it was time I spent them. L’Oreal had 3 for 2 so I had to make the most of that offer. This is what I came home with.
Revlon Photoready Skinlights in 200 Pink Light £11.99 – This is a gorgeous pinky peach highlight. I have seen people use this as a primer all over their face, I think I will be using it on my cheekbones to highlight, it is very pretty. This will be nice for Spring & giving me a healthy glow.
L’Oreal True Match Foundation in Vanilla £9.99 – This is my first L’Oreal foundation and it took me ages to decide on my shade & I’m still not too sure I have the right one. I am sure I will make it work.
L’Oreal Color Rich Smoky Quad in Rose Memories£7.99 – Hello my perfect shades. These are so pretty and very me. They do all have shimmer in them so this won’t be everyones cup of tea, but I am in love with every shade. The packaging of this is slim and compact it looks and feels quite luxurious.
L’Oreal Super Liner Perfect Slim in Intense Black £6.99 – I’ve tried and loved many L’Oreal liquid liners and had to try this one. It has a super find nib and its very very black. I’m smitten, I like to wear eyeliner most days and often I go for a very fine cat flick and this is perfect for that job.
Rimmel Glam Eyes HD 5 Colour Eye Shadow in 022 Brixton Brown £6.99 – Purchased after reading Amy’s post I really liked all the colours & it’s the kind of colours I feel comfortable wearing , this Rimmel one isn’t as shimmery as the L’Oreal Quad & it has a matte shade in there too. Very nice palette indeed.
I bought two NYC polishes as they were on 2 for £2.40. I bought Raindrop which is a lovely pale blue colour & Blue Sky which is a gorgeous sea green shade. These are both perfect summer colours.
BarryM Gelly Hi-Shine in Passion Fruit £3.99 – This is such a bright bold red/pink shade. Its gorgeous & I am hoping as the weather gets a little nicer & warmer I can wear this on my toes. So pretty. I love these BarryM Gelly polishes.
Maybelline Color Show in Green With Envy £2.99 – This is a lovely mint green, I like these little Maybelline polishes and they have such a great selection of colours & some fun glitters too.
I also popped into LUSH & bought 2 things from their Easter range.
Bunny Bubble Bar £3.25- How utterly cute is this little guy. I’m going to be a little sad to put him in my bath.
Fluffy Egg £2.95 – Very pink and cute. This smells so nice & relaxing.
So thats my mini haul. Let me know if you’ve tried any of the products & keep your eyes peeled for reviews on all of these.
As a complete makeup addict I like to change up the products I have in my makeup bag on quite a regular basis, I tend to rotate on a weekly basis. If I love something it tends to stick around a little longer. Im sharing with you the products I have been using these past two weeks.
Dr Jartt Water Fuse Beauty Balm – I bought it before Christmas and have been pretty much using it since. I don’t like to wear a full coverage base as I have quite a few freckles and I like them to show through, otherwise I look like I have no features. This BB Cream gives a very fresh & glowing light coverage. It evens out my skin tone & gives coverage enough to hide the redness around my nose. So I get a lovely natural looking base, this water based BB Cream is aimed at people with more Oily Skin (like me). So if you’re looking for a lightweight base which keeps oil at bay then this is for you. I bought this when it was 1/3 off in Boots.
Soap & Glory Solar Powder– I use this to give my face a slight sun kissed look & a hint of colour. It is a bronzing duo & like to swirl my brush to pick up both shade on my brush & sweep it across my cheeks, temples and down my nose. The lighter shade has a hint of shimmer while the darker of the two is matte.
Seventeen Phwoarr Paint – I have been using this to conceal blemishes and to cover the redness around my nose. It works well for both & if i remember to powder the coverage lasts a good amount of time without having to touchup. This is quite a heavy duty concealer, I warm it up in between my fingers so it is easy to blend and that seems to do the trick. Its a handy concealer to pop in your handbag and the fact it has a little mirror in is perfect for checking its still in place & for applying lipstick! I have the shade Fair.
Inika Kohl Eyeliner 05 Black Caviar* – This is a lovely intense black eyeliner, it is very creamy and great to blend out for a smokey eye.
Miss SportyCat’s Eye Palette in Mineral Earth – This eyeshadow quad is forever in my makeup bag, it is perfect for achieving a pretty neutral eye & the lightest shade makes a pretty inner corner highlight. I urge you to try this, it’s amazing quality and very pretty. Its small and handy for travelling.
Miss Sporty Liquid Concealer – This is another very budget friendly product, like most people I’m on the hunt for a concealer that does everything & more, sadly this isn’t my HG concealer but it is very creamy and hydrating, I have the shade Light & I use it under my eyes to brighten & make it appear that I’ve had 10 hours sleep. It does a pretty good job. I like it more than the Collection one (a lot more) as I find this blends better and is less drying. I have the shade 001 Light.
Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara – This mascara makes my pathetic eyelashes look both long and thick, its a really long wearing mascara and I get no flaking throughout the day. Word of warning, don’t apply too much as your lashes will end up very crispy & spider like (unless thats your thing).
Wet n Wild Blush – Until I used this I wasn’t sure what shade suited my skin tone best & then I realised it was peach toned pinks. This Wet n Wild blush is called Pearlescent Pink and is subtle but so very pretty. It makes my complexion look alive and fresh. It gives my cheeks just enough colour. I adore it and have worn it almost everyday for a whole month. I’ve heard a few people compare this to NARS Deep Throat & I can see the resemblance.
Carmex – The perfect winter lip balm. I go back to this time & time again.
Maybelline Brow Drama – I like how this gives my eyebrows enough colour so they look neat & tidy but not overdone. This is more a day brow product as you aren’t able to get the full brow look using this. It also keeps my brows in place like a brow gel so you get colour & a setting product in one. I use my HD brow palette if I want a more dramatic brow look. I have the shade Medium Brown.
Pink leather pouch is from Zara & is meant to be a clutch bag, but I use it at a makeup bag.
Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.
