Simply Gorgeous Cosmetics An Exclusive Review!

I love to try new products and brands, so when I was offered the opportunity to be the first person in England to review a new line of American cosmetics I literally jumped at the chance! 

Simply gorgeous is a brand new range of cosmetics hot out of New York! 

I was sent a package of various items to try out and review. 

Blusher

The first thing I tried was their gorgeous blusher! The packaging is wonderful, it is matte gold and high end looking with a mirror and mini brush applicator included for on the go touch ups. 

The colour I was sent was 'medium rose'

I'd describe it as a brick red or burnt coral, with pink and brown undertones. 

The texture of the blush is perfect, not too powdery or chalky. Very finely milled and highly pigmented. I was also pleased to read it was fragrance free and contains anti oxidants, so it's actually good for your skin! 

It comes in a generous 8.6g size too! excellent value for money! 

Mascara

The simply gorgeous mascara is also in matte gold packaging with metallic accents, it really looks the part! The mascara I was sent is in Black. It has a dainty wand perfect for adding volume and curl as you can really get into the base of the lashes with it. 

It is a very rich and creamy formula that doesn't clump and the pigmentation is excellent, so your lashes look black and bold. It doesn't say it's waterproof but I've had no issues with it running in the rainy British springtime climate! Great product. 

Lipstick

I was sent the lipstick in the shade 'red alert' which is funny because I am obesessed with red lipstick! How did they know?

Red alert is a true red, bold, rich and fearless, I adore it! The formula is silky and very moisturising and it has a satin sheen finish. No gloss needed on top of this beauty! I also noticed that this lipstick stained my lips so reapplications were few and far between. Definitely comparable to a NYX lipstick in terms of colour payoff and quality. Truly excellent lipstick!

Eyeshadow 

The powder eyeshadow I was sent was in Irish Creme, a beautiful beige. Very neutral and would suit any skintone and hair colour. 

I am astounded at it's excellent colour payoff for such a light neutral shade! The formulation is smooth and silky, much like the blush. Very finely milled for easy application and it is a dream to blend. These single eyeshadows are a huge 3g size too! That DOUBLE the size of a MAC eyeshadow for a fraction of the price, and I honestly see no difference in terms of quality! 

Cream eyeshadow 

The cream eyeshadow I was sent was in Pink Opal. It is the most beautiful colour and would work perfectly on anybody with brown or green eyes. 

I find the texture a little greasy and it can feel a little sticky on the eyelid, I'd recommend using this with an eyeshadow primer to maximise it's staying power and to set it with a little translucent powder. what a stunning summer colour!! 

Lipgloss 

The simply gorgeous lipgloss is fantastic! From the packaging to the applicator I cannot fault it at all! 

This one is in the shade Attitude and I LOVE it! What a stunning spring and summer shade! It boasts excellent colour payoff, long lasting wear and a shine that could put some high end brands to shame!  My advice? Order yourself one now!!

Nail polish

Simply gorgeous nail polishes are already uber popular on Instagram and after using one I'm really not surprised. I was sent the coral red shade called 'gorgeous' and my oh my it is gorgeous! 

It applys better than many of the high end polishes I own! It just glides on and  the brush applicator does not shed any hairs or clump at all! 

The colour payoff is awesome and it has a two dimensional tone that gives off a light shimmer. It wears well and does not chip easily at all, I really do sing it's praises! 

In summary

Simply Gorgeous cosmetics are a welcome addition to the cosmetics industry, they are high quality, well made, affordable and have super cute packaging! 

For a new makeup brand I think they have hit it out of the park in terms of the quality of their products, I wish them every success in the future! 

Go support them and get yourselves Simply Gorgeous too! 

Estée Lauder DayWear Moisturiser

Estée Lauder Daywear is a facial moisturising cream with SPF 15. 

This award winning moisturiser combines the latest anti aging technology with Classic Estée Lauder skincare to produce  a rich, non greasy skin defending cream! 

The SPF 15 is essential for preventing ageing and sun damage whilst the anti oxidants diminish the first signs of ageing. 

I find this moisturiser a must have for underneath Estée Lauder doublewear foundation, it allows for truly easy and flawless application, keeps the skin looking healthy and hydrated and protects from environmental damage to the skin like pollution and sun damage. 

It has a light scent of cucumber which is beautifully refreshing and is rich enough to last all day long. 

This is to be applied morning and evening and comes two formulations for  normal & combination or dry skin. I found the normal to combination variety perfect for my normal to dry skin. 

This moisturiser would be ideal for ladies in their late twenties and thirties as their first step in anti ageing skincare as this is a great prevention product, and we all know that prevention is better than cure! 

RRP £40 available from Tyrers St. Helens 

Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation

This foundation is a favourite amongst women of all ages making it the best selling Estée Lauder product of all time. 

Double Wear is a liquid foundation that claims to wear flawlessly for 15 hours, keep the complexion looking fresh, feel lightweight and comfortable on the skin and have medium to buildable coverage with a Demi matte finish.

Huge claims, but does it deliver? 

I'm pleased to tell you that it does! It really exceeded my expectations. As a beauty blogger I try and test a lot of products and many of them I find are over hyped, so it's refreshing to try something that delivers what it claims. 

Below is a photograph of me without any makeup. 

I have a slightly uneven skintone with some redness / dark circles / blemishes. 

Application 

I applied it to freshly cleansed and moisturised skin (Estée Lauder daywear moisturiser) 

I used a damp beauty blender sponge to apply this product because it's my preferred method, although Estée Lauder recommend the use of a foundation brush, my sponge worked perfectly. 

After application my skintone looked more even, the redness had covered and yet still looked natural and like skin! Not caked in makeup.

I went on to apply the rest of my makeup as usual.

My finished makeup look

I wore the makeup from 10am to 10pm to test out it's longevity, I'm pleased to say it held out really well. I didn't touch up at all! 

12 hours later still looking fresh faced!

My foundation stayed in place beautifully. It did not oxidise, cake, wear off or crease  into my fine lines at all. It remained fresh looking and perfect until bedtime!

It was completely comfortable to wear, it did not feel drying at all and it looked utterly flawless. 

This foundation looks like your skin - but better! 

I would recommend this foundation to ladies of any age, as it has a beautiful natural finish, it would be ideal for women with oily skin who find foundation wears off easily or oil seeps through on their T Zone, or for ladies who have a busy schedule and do not have time to regularly touch up with powder. 

Ladies with dry to very dry skin may want to consider trying this foundation with a rich moisturiser like Estée Lauder Daywear to ensure their skin maintains optimal moisture levels. 

What I find most impressive about this foundation is the level of coverage, because for something so lightweight and natural looking it really does cover a multitude of sins! So much so I can get away without concealer when wearing it! 

This product contains an SPF factor 10 and is oil and fragrance free! 

Available in shades to match any skintone! You can have a colour match consultation for FREE at Tyrers, Bridge Street, St. Helens - say I sent you! 

What are you waiting for? 

New Clinique cheek pop blushers

Cliniques newest line of blushers are my must have product for spring and summer 2014! 

From their sleek packaging to their daisy imprint they made my heart skit a beat when I spotted them! So Chique and pretty! 

I chose to review shade 002 Peach Pop because coral is my go to spring & summer shade when it comes to blushers and lipsticks. 

The product has high pigmentation so a little goes a long way, it has a satin finish which adds a healthy sheen to the cheeks without being shimmery or glittery, it doesn't look powdery and it stays on all day! 

The blush comes in several shades but I honestly cannot recommend this peach shade enough for spring and summer 2014, it is bang on trend. 

I haven't worn any of my other blushes all week since I've had this in my possession, it's safe to say I'm obsessed. 

It is fragrance free and allergy tested so it will work in in perfect harmony with your skin, and best of all it us £16.50 which is very reasonable! 

Get your hands on this blush at Tyrers of St Helens! Also available at other Clinique counters! 

Removing your makeup could save lives!

The recent explosion of no makeup selfies across social networking sites isn't just a trend, it's a revolution! 

I've seen many of my friends makeup free for the first time EVER! 

People might say we look amazing, but being honest most of us just don't feel comfortable without our makeup, so no matter how many comments we receive saying;

"You don't need makeup" 

"You're beautiful"

"Stunning"

"Gorgeous"

We still don't really believe it! 

For me makeup is as essential as clothing, I feel so much more confident when wearing it! 

I feel literally naked without it. However for such an important cause how could I say NO to baring my face? That would just be vein!

So I urge you, no natter how 'ugly' you think you look without your makeup to get it off and get involved! 

The truth is your makeup enhances your looks, but it doesn't change them. You are beautiful with or without makeup! 

No makeup selfies' raised a whopping £2 million for cancer research uk in just 48 hours! So get your makeup remover wipes out, get it off and snap a picture. It could save lives!! 

Text BEAT to 70099 to donate £3 to cancer research uk! 

Stay beautiful, 

Love Helen 

 

Manchester fashion week event

 I was invited to attend a fashion event for Manchester fashion week last night as a blogger, so of course I jumped at the chance. 

The event was held at the swanky Milton Club in Manchesters Deansgate. 

On arrival we were greeted by a shirtless hunk complete with chipendales style bow tie! He was juggling and breathing fire.

We were then checked off the guess list as we entered the venue, our coats were taken by the staff and we we're lead to a press board where we had our photographs taken 

It was all very surreal! We were then handed goody bags and led into the bar, where there were buff shirtless waiters  handing out complimentary champagne. 

The OMG Fashion spring / summer 14 collection was out on display for us to check out, and I photographed a few of my favourite pieces.  We were offered canapés and endless champagne, there were some reality tv stars present too! 

We had an absolutely fantastic evening and loved our red carpet experience! The dresses were beautiful and the colours bang on trend. 

Our goody bags contained Elemis, Yves Rocher, Dove, W7, bourjois, Baobella etc... So they were amazing! 

A wonderful evening for a wonderful fashion brand! 

You can visit their website at www.omgfashion.com 

Top 5 Red Lipsticks for Christmas Time

Hey ladies,

At this time of year its all parties and festivities and we are all on the lookout for the perfect products to give us a party ready pout. Here are my top 5 Christmas lipsticks.



Rimmel Kate Lipstick in Shade 1

This is a gorgeous matte deep red that is perfect for parties. This is a very deep shade which might be a little intimidating if you haven't worn red shades before but trust me, you will look fabulous in this.






ELF Lipstick in Fearless

This was the first red lipstick I ever bought, its a medium red satin shine finish and it is ideal if you are looking to try out a red lipstick for the first time as for £1.50 you don't loose much if you decide it isn't the right shade. Start with this then think about if you would like it to be lighter / darker / more matte and work from there to find the perfect red for you.



Sally Hansen Colorfast Reddy for Anything

This is probably my most worn red lipstick, because it is just SO easy to wear. The pigmentation level is good enough to give a true colour, but not too bold for a daytime trip to the supermarket. It is across between a balm and a lipstick and I love it, super hydrating, glides on and looks glossy!







Essence Lipstick in Rockin' Red

This is a deep blue toned red but with gold flecks of glitter! It is THE perfect lipstick for Christmas parties, its like a festive explosion on your lips! Every time I wear this lipstick I get compliments on it, because it is very unusual to find such a lovely glittery shade of red. This has a smooth formula and the tiny glitter flecks do not scratch or irritate. Lovely hydrating formula doesn't dry or stain the lips.





Sleek Makeup lipstick in Stiletto

I don't own this lipstick but it is next on my wish list because I have swatched it, and it is STUNNING! So I thought I would include it :)