First Impressions | H&M Beauty

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that Swedish fashion giant H&M, have completely revamped their make up range and we're not just talking packaging-wise, they have come up with a bigger-and-better-than-before range of products.

Sadly, we still don't have an H&M store in Malta so I had to wait for my trip to Barcelona last month to get my hands on some of their products. I tried to get more products on my trip to Sicily last week but the store I went to didn't carry the new range of beauty products so I have to wait yet again till December for our visit to Munich. 

Although I can shop online, the reason why I'm resisting is because I want to experience the products first hand as for example, when I swatched one of the eyeshadow palettes in Barcelona, I didn't like the texture and pigmentation. However, I did settle on four items which I really wanted to try and I wanted to share my first impressions of with you here.

I picked up a Pure Radiance Powder Blusher, a Cream Lip Colour and two nail polishes so far. First off, a word about the packaging. I'm in love with the way the products look but not so much with the way they feel. At a glance, the black/white and gold packaging really gives the illusion of expensive makeup but when you take the products into your hands, you can immediately feel the packaging is made out of cheap, light-weight plastic. Then again, this is a sort of drugstore brand we are talking about so I can't really complain; and they do look nice at the end of the day!

Pure Radiance Powder Blusher in Golden Peach

H&M has two types of blushers in their beauty range, cream (white and gold packaging) and powder (black and gold packaging). I got one of the powder blushes simply because I tend to favour powder formulas more and the shade I chose complements my skin tone perfectly. I wouldn't describe Golden Peach as a true peachy shade as in my eyes, it leans more towards a rosy pink with gold reflects. I like that this lasts all day and for €7.99 (5g of product), this performs really well. I like the hexagonal shape of the compact but it doesn't come with a mirror. The shade name can be found on the bottom of the compact and on the side of the outer box which I think is a nice touch.

Cream Lip Colour in Kombucha

Next is a lipstick which I must say delivers more in terms of packaging as it does feel heavier and sturdier than the blush. As for performance and pigmentation, I should say that both products are on par with each other. However, you do need to carry the lipstick with you as after 4+ hours, it would have faded in the centre of your lips and you would need to re-apply. I would describe Kombucha as a rosy shade with warm undertones that's perfect for summer as it is a little on the bright side. Again you have the name of the shade on the bottom of the lipstick and side of the box it comes it. The price is €9.99 for 3.5g of product.

Here I am wearing H&M Pure Radiance Powder Blush in Golden Peach and H&M Cream Lip Colour in Kombucha

Nail polishes in Cashmere and Carnival

Lastly, I couldn't not pick up some nail polishes but I restrained myself to just two and settled on Cashmere and Carnival. I have already worn Cashmere and it lasted for a week before I could see some tip wear which I think is exceptional for a €4.99 nail polish. Cashmere is a beautiful taupe with fine gold shimmer running through, making it a universally flattering shade. On the other hand, Carnival lives up to it's name - it's a mix of diamond shaped glitter and micro-glitter in turquoise, bronze and purple floating in a clear base. I haven't worn it yet but I look forward to matching it with summer outfits!

Overall, I think that the new H&M beauty line has very good potential and prices are very affordable. I really look forward to expanding my collection, so do leave your recommended products from the line in the comments section :)

First Impressions/Review | Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette

I'm really excited about this post that I have for you today as it is all about the newest palette to join Urban Decay's Naked family - the Naked Smoky Palette!

I got mine three weeks ago from feelunique.com and it was my first time ordering from the website and I am pretty impressed with the timely delivery. Also, nothing got smashed in the mail, not even the outer box!

The palette comes in a box, like the Naked 3 (it's the only one I have from the others so I can only talk about it) and it has a smoke effect all over and shade depictions at the back. The palette itself also has a smoky effect all over it.

It definitely has some weight to it but I think it is lighter than the Naked 3 which has a metal outer casing as opposed to plastic. However, I like more the way the Naked Smoky looks and I feel Urban Decay have outdone themselves this time. Also, I really like the magnetic closure. The palette also comes with a double ended brush and an information leaflet with four tutorials to achieve the perfect smoky eye.

Inside, you get the standard mirror and 12 eyeshadows (9 never seen before shades and 3 exclusives from past palettes). This time, the eyeshadows are organized by finish rather than by colour so you get light shades on both ends and the darker ones in the middle. The palette has a nice mix of warm and cool toned neutrals for a more dimensional smoky eye I guess. 

Like I said, this time the shades are organized by finish, and you get four shimmer shades, four satins and four mattes.

This is how Urban Decay describes the shades in the Naked Smoky palette:

High - champagne shimmer with micro-glitter

Dirtysweet - medium bronze

Radar - metallic taupe with iridescent micro-glitter
Armor - metallic silver-taupe with tonal sparkle

Slanted - light metallic gray

Dagger - medium charcoal with micro-shimmer

Black Market - jet-black satin

Smolder - deep plum-taupe

Password - cool taupe matte

Whiskey - rich brown matte

Combust - soft pink-taupe

Thirteen - light beige satin

I think the pigmentation is excellent for both light and dark shades with the exception of Combust and Thirteen but since they are meant as transitional and highlight shades I don't mind it that much. None of the shades are powdery though - Urban Decay eyeshadows seem to have that signature buttery-soft texture down to a t! If I had to pick some favourites I would go for all four shimmer shades, Smolder and Password. I always use a primer underneath my eyeshadow so I have no problem with the eyeshadows fading.

All Naked Palettes come with a double ended brush and the one in this palette is named the Double- Ended Smoky Smudge/Tapered Crease Brush and honestly, I think it is the perfect brush to accompany such a palette. It also features that same smoky pattern as the box in the middle part and the bristles are very soft on both ends. I have already washed and used this brush and I like that it performs really well in terms of blending and applying colour.

I paid €54.72 for this palette which may seem like a lot to fork out on a single item but if you do the math, each 1.3g eyeshadow comes down to just €4.56 whereas the Urban Decay single eyeshadows that have 1.4g of product retail for a whopping €19! Plus you are getting a brush you will actually use and a nice looking palette so I'd say it is great value for money.  

Would you pick up this palette? Which is your favourite Naked palette?

OPI Muppets Most Wanted | Swatches and First Impressions

OPI have recently released a new collection in celebration of Disney's motion picture Muppets Most Wanted. The collection consists of 8 beautiful shades ranging from delicate nude hues to some serious glitter bombs. I bought myself three shades out of the collection, namely I Love Applause, Gaining Mole-Mentum and Muppets World Tour.

• I Love Applause ~ a crème finish, sweet, sheer pink that is opaque in two to three coats. Personally it reminds me of pink marshmallows and is the perfect pink for spring time.

 

• Gaining Mole-Mentum ~ yellow gold, rose gold and silver flakes in a transparent base mix to produce a unique topper polish to add a touch of sophistication to complimenting plain manicures. Another one-of-a-kind polish that I say everyone should own!



Gaining Mole-Mentum over I Love Applause

• Muppets World Tour ~ a decadent mix of silver microglitter, opaque white and gold small hex glitter and larger blue, Italian pink and rose gold hex glitter that dries to a Liquid Sand textured finish.

Are you tempted to get any shades out of this collection?

Makeup Haul | Essence, E.L.F. & Sleek

Good afternoon everyone :) Today I have a makeup haul for you guys featuring products from three budget friendly brands, Essence, E.L.F. and Sleek. I was waiting till I received the E.L.F. package to do this haul and since I got it over the weekend, I thought I'd share the haul today so maybe you find something you like or want to try out and beat the Monday blues, the online retail therapy way ;)

 

I am going to start with what is probably my favourite purchase from this haul, the Sleek Vintage Romance Collection! I was reading Nina's post and as soon as I saw the swatches, I knew I had to get this palette and blush to go with it! I know Sleek Makeup produce wonderful i-Divine palettes and I knew I wasn't going to be disappointed with this one. The packaged arrived a mere two days after I received the dispatch email and both products were in excellent condition. My only 'disappointment' is that I would have liked the palette to come in the same box as the blush not the usual packaging for the rest of the i-divine palettes.

 

I will review both products in a separate post but here is a rundown of what I think about the palette as I haven't used the blush yet. The palette costs €9.99 (very good value for money) and features 12 beautiful autumn appropriate shades. I have already used some of them and their staying power is amazing! They are all shimmery/glittery with the exception of Propose in Prague and I think this palette will make a very good gift for every occasion but especially now that party season will soon be upon us. The blush is also a good value for money find at €5.49 for 8g of product and I think it will suit all skin tones. It has a ton of shimmer in it so steer clear if you don't like shimmery blushes.

 

Next up is my E.L.F. 50% off haul package. I took the opportunity to try out some new products from E.L.F. while they were having a 50% off code running and I got the following items to try. This time, the order took well over a week to arrive and to be honest I was getting a little worried but now it's here and everything came in one whole piece :)

I have only used the Studio Small Tapered Brush (£3.75) and I can confirm it is excellent for contouring and highlighting! I'm so glad I finally got it!

The Glitter Primer (£2.50 full price) is good to have on hand come Christmas to avoid any glitter eyeshadow fallout. I will have to get back to you on its performance though because I haven't used it yet. Speaking of glitter, I also got two Glitter Mascaras in Silver and Gold (£2.50 each full price) to complement my party looks and I must admit I was drawn to buying these because of their unusual applicator, but more on that in a separate review.
 

As for the Studio Glossy Gloss (£3.38) and Mineral Eyeshadows (£3.00) I already have other variations of each and I expect them to be as good as them. The shades I got are Ballet Slippers for the gloss and Golden and Celebrity for eyeshadows.

Moving on, I have a some new products from Essence!!  I have finally had to chance to get to OVS at Pavi Shopping Complex in Qormi to see the new back-to-back stand that has been installed a few weeks ago. I was keeping my fingers crossed that the stand would be full and luckily, my prayers were answered!!!! There was Daniela from PharmaMT stocking up the stand! I was in makeup heaven and I couldn't contain my excitement! Check out Dyna's post over here to see what the new stand is all about!

Half of the stand is almost entirely dedicated to nail art and the newest products from the brand while the other half houses some more new products and the older products. Here is what I got (I still have to go some other time to get some more products though ;)

These are all the nail related stuff I got, namely:

Colour & Go 154 Pink & Proud - lilac/pink foil (€1.70)
Colour & Go 163 Hey, Nude! - different sized silver glitter in a sheer pink base. Dries to a textured finish, the brand markets as Sparkle Sand Effect (€1.70)
Nail Art Twins Reloaded Glitter Topper 01 Bella - a mix of holographic silver and purple glitter and navy blue square glitter in a clear base (€1.60)
Colour & Go 165 Here's My Number - different sized holographic silver glitter in a dark grey base (€1.70)
Colour & Go 102 Sparkling Water Lily - iridescent sheer white (€1.70)

Freestyle & Tip Painter 14 Glitter Crush - predominantly pink glitter mixed with multi-coloured glitter in a clear base (€1.60)
Freestyle & Tip Painter 13 Marry Berry - dark purple glitter with gold reflects in a dark purple base (€1.60)

Moving on, these are the products I am most excited about and the ones I wanted to try as soon as I learnt of their launch! First up are the Stay Matt Lip Creams and I got two out of the four available shades, namely 01 Velvet Rose and 02 Smooth Berry. The nude one was a little too dark for me while I already have a similar shade to the red from the Guerilla Gardening Trend Edition. I paid €2.10 for each of them.

I also bought two of the new Long Lasting Lipsticks and I have to say I am impressed with the pigmentation and the quality of the packaging over the other lipsticks they have in their permanent line. These cost €2.30 and I got shades 04 On The Catwalk! and 07 Natural Beauty.

To finish off, I got myself a backup of the 2-in-1 Profi File which costs €2 and I also paid a mere €1.40 for the Colour Arts Multitasker which is basically a silicon applicator for glitters and pigments.

I have also received the backup for Wet 'n' Wild Brulee last week and I figured I can feature it in this makeup haul post as well :) If I'm not mistaken, this cost me a little over €5.

That's it for this makeup haul ladies :) Any products you want swatches/reviews of?
 

Initial Impressions | Essence Show Your Feet High Heel Mania Trend Edition

Hello beauties! I'm so excited to be sharing this post with you today! So last Thursday I was able to get my hands on one of the latest Trend Editions from Essence, Show Your Feet High Heel Mania! As soon as I saw this on their website, I was really hoping we get it quick here in Malta and luckily my prayers have been answered!

 

Here are the pictures and initial impressions about the products that makeup this limited edition collection!

 

 

Show Your Feet Toe Nail Polish

 

While I don't get what makes a finger and toe nail polish different, I really liked the bright shades in this collection but since I have similar colours to them, I skipped the nail polishes but one, namely 02 The Pump. It is a beautiful baby pink crème that is opaque in just one coat! I really liked the fact that they named the polishes after different shoes :) The formula is nice and dries fairly quickly so thumbs up! €2.40 for 8ml, available in a total of 5 shades

 

 

Show Your Feet Gel Comfort Pads

 

In my opinion, these are must haves for when you're wearing high heels. The cushions provide a non-slip grip and prevent burning and blisters on the balls of the feet! What's more? They're heart shaped thus suitable for flip flops; and if they lose stickiness, just rinse them with clear water and they're as good as new! €3.60 for 1 pair

 

 

Show Your Feet High Heel Protectors

 

Another innovative product! I'm really in need of these to help prevent ruining my high heels. Basically, these are gel cushions for your heels which just wrap around your heel. Again, if they lose stickiness, you just have to rinse them with clear water! €3.60 for 2 pairs

 

Show Your Feet Designer Sole Sticker

 

This is a fun and innovative product which I knew I would definitely get both varieties of. I'm curious as so see how long these will last and how they will look! €3.60 for 1 pair, available in 01 Into The Wild and 02 Pink Is Beautiful

 

 

Show Your Feet Nail Stickers

 

I loved these so much I got 3 sheets! You get an array of different coloured shoes, stars and hearts, perfect for chic and quick nail art! €2.20 per sheet of 35 stickers

 

Show Your Feet Body Tattoos

 

These body tattoos have been designed for use around the ankles but I will be using them for decorative purposes instead. €2.40 per sheet, available in 2 variations

 

 

 

So, high heel maniacs, Essence got you covered! Will you be getting anything from this collection? In Malta, the High Mania Trend Edition is available at Rotunda Pharmacy, Mosta | Beautika, Siggiewi | Health Plus on Campus.

O.P.I. Oz The Great and Powerful | Swatches and First Impressions

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past couple of months, you would know about Disney's latest flick, Oz The Great and Powerful and their collaboration with nail polish giant O.P.I. I was instantly intrigued by the collection, mostly by the glitter polishes and the new Liquid Sand hue.

Apart from the Liquid Sand, the collection consists of six limited edition nail lacquers that vary from glitter packed shades to softer neutral shades in white, beige and pink.  Here is a press release picture of all the shades in the collection:

I bought three polishes from a US based ebay seller, namely, When Monkeys Fly, Lights Of Emerald City and What Wizardry Is This? I paid $6.95 for the glitter polishes and $7.50 for the Liquid Sand; all bottles are full size (15mL).

• Lights Of Emerald City ~ Opaque white squares and smaller iridescent square confetti in a clear base. Application is ok and the white squares are as frequent as they should be. Truly a unique polish! Swatch is just one coat.

• When Monkeys Fly ~ Large gold hex confetti mixed with different sized holographic hex glitters in a clear base. Another unique polish in this collection with the gold hexagons easily distributed over the nail surface. However, pay attention and smooth them flat as they tend to curl upwards. Swatch is just one coat.

• What Wizardry Is This? Liquid Sand ~ The new Liquid Sand hue was designed for James Franco's character (Oz) and features OPI’s ground-breaking technology for a textured, matte finish infused with reflective sparkle. I am wearing this on my nails right now and I just can't get over how beautiful it looks! The textured finish is not gritty at all and I love how the sparkles shine when they catch the light. I would describe the colour as an almost black deep brown with golden reflects...definitely the shade to make a bold statement with this Spring!! Swatch is two coats.

Finally, like all O.P.I. polishes the ones from the Oz collection are free from DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde and all feature the exclusive ProWide Brush for the best possible application.

Did you buy any shades from this collection?

Initial thoughts: e.l.f. eye products from last haul

Over the weekend I've had some time playing around and experimenting with all my latest purchases from e.l.f. cosmetics and it's time to share my initial thoughts on some of them (reviews will follow at a later date)! First up are the eye products from the regular line (I didn't get anything from the studio line this time).

Eyelid Primer

Preps your eyelid for smoother, longer-lasting and crease-proof eyeshadow. The ultra sheer nude color works to increase eye color longevity. The lightweight liquid formula quickly absorbs into the skin for comfortable wear. ~ e.l.f.'s website

I totally agree with the company's claims that it increases wear of eyeshadow and that it blends quickly. All you need is just 2 - 3 dabs on the eyelid, blend them all over with your fingertip (preferably using the ring finger due to the delicateness of the eye area) and allow a few seconds for it to dry. Then apply eyeshadow as usual.

I tried this product with nude/neutral shades as well as stronger colours and besides the make up lasting until I took it off, I also noticed the colours were more intense, even the lightest shades!

I was so impressed with this product that it is definitely in my must-haves list from e.l.f. cosmetics.

Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara

Glossy, shiny healthy-looking lashes and brows with infused long wearing conditioning agents. Looking pulled together has never been easier! ~ e.l.f.'s website

Again, the description is correct. I use the clear mascara when I want to make my lashes look longer and then apply a regular mascara over them. As for the eyebrows, I use it to arrange them in shape and this makes it easier to see strays when plucking. I also tried going to sleep with the clear mascara on my brows and when I woke up...my brows were picture perfect! Definitely another must-have...especially for unruly brows!

Earth and Water Mascara Duo

Revolutionary Liquid-Flex™ Technology – Long-Lasting, Smudge and Smear Proof. Duo applicator has been designed to be used in dry or wet conditions. ~ e.l.f.'s website

I thought the product was such a bargain (£1.50!) that I got both shades (black & brown).

Basically, on one side, you have a regular mascara and on the other a waterproof version. And they really are waterproof!! I tried them when I went swimming and there was no sign of mascara smears! So yeah definitely a must-have bargain!

Waterproof eyeliner pen

Get no smudge, no budge eyeliner that lasts for hours for a fabulous and fresh look of precision. The smooth pen applicator easily glides on color for very fine to bold lines for effortless beauty. ~ e.l.f.'s website

The last product from the eyes range is the Waterproof eyeliner pen. I also got two shades of this (black & coffee). When I tried to wash the eyeliner swatches I did for the haul article, I confirmed they are really waterproof so I took them off with the make-up remover instead.

The black one persisted and I took more time to remove it (even from my eyes) whilst the brown one came off quite quickly.

The pen format makes it easier to achieve more precise lines for a more professional look. The image below gives an indication of the width of the pen tip as compared to a regular ball-pen.

All of these products, as shown in the photos, come in handy tubes which you can carry around with you and I will definitely buy them again. At such a price they are worth having and they compare really well with the high-end brands!

Stay beautiful :)

Lara xoxo