Nars Creamy Concealer VS Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer

Hi everyone! I've always liked doing VS posts to help people decide between products however I've never done a high end product vs a drug store one. I've had the Nars creamy concealer for a while now and I've just recently bought the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer and when I used it I found them fairly similar and I actually really loved the Rimmel concealer so I thought I'd do a comparison post on the two!

Obviously the biggest difference between the two is the price, the Nars concealer is a steep £22 compared to the Rimmel concealer which is priced at £5.49 from Superdrug. This is why I was so surprised at how much I liked the Rimmel concealer, I thought it would just be a cheap buy for everyday use that wouldn't compare to my Nars concealer which has been my go to concealer for months now. If anyone is wondering by the way my Nars concealer is in the shade light 2 vanilla and I wear the Rimmel concealer in 10 ivory. 

Nars is on the left and Rimmel is on the right. You can see both have nearly identical doe foot applicators with Nars' being slightly longer, I personally love these applicators for concealers I think they are so much easier to use, and the two here are basically the same. 

The swatches again look almost identical, Nars is on the left and Rimmel is on the right. The formulas however I think are quite different. Obviously as Nars is labelled as a 'creamy' concealer it is a fair bit thicker and isn't runny at all. This is great because I find it gives really good coverage however when it comes to the under eye area for me I find it harder to blend because it is thicker. The Rimmel concealer is a lot runnier and doesn't have as good coverage but I find it so easy to blend in the under eye area and it is buildable. When you're comparing these two shades I find Rimmel a lot more yellow but this works for me as I have yellow undertones, looking back I should have got the Nars concealer in the shade custard for a perfect match but vanilla does work. 

I don't think you can say one is better than the other, I think they are great for different purposes. The Nars concealer is great coverage so I love this for covering blemishes and it lasts absolutely ages. The issue I have is that as an under eye concealer it doesn't work as well for me and after a longer period of time it does start to crease. It does fit it's description of being really luminous though so with more blending it will look great. The Rimmel concealer on the other hand isn't my ideal coverage for blemishes however I absolutely love it for the under eye area, it states it has an anti-fatigue affect which I would agree with and I find it so easy to blend. 

Overall I would say you would get more use out of the Nars Creamy Concealer, it takes a bit more work on the under eye but when done properly it would be great and it is amazing for covering blemishes. Also it lasts absolutely ages so whilst it does seem expensive you will get a lot of value for your money. Rimmel is obviously a lot cheaper so I would say if this is more in your budget then go for it, it really is a good concealer, you just might need more product to get the best coverage. I wouldn't call it a dupe for the Nars product as they are different but it is such a good product at a really affordable price. I definitely do love them both! If I was feeling like treating myself then I would buy the Nars concealer however I'm not reaching for this a lot more than I am the Rimmel concealer, they are both great for different things. Let me know in the comments what you think of these concealers!

The Balm Hot Mama Shadow/Blush

Hi everyone! Last week I was browsing online and saw that Feel Unique were having a sale of up to 50% so I bought a few things I've been eyeing up. Recently I did a post on Mary Lou Manizer by theBalm and how I loved it so much that I was looking for more products, I saw theBalm Hot Mama shadow/blush for sale from £15 to £12 and I thought it looked so pretty so I had to get it! I've seen a lot of posts comparing it so Nars Orgasm but I didn't get it based on that, I just don't own a blush similar to this and it seemed like my ideal colour. 

You get 7.08g of product which is such a good amount, it will last ages. It's packaging has that retro feel to it that theBalm products typically do and you get a little mirror in your compact. I actually really like the size of the packaging, when I ordered it I thought it would be a lot more bulky but I was surprised when I got it. I thought it would be more like the Benefit Box'o'Powders which I love but they just take up so much room! 

I am in love with the colour of this product! The website describes it as a pinky-peach hue with a hint of shimmer which is definitely correct. The great thing is that there isn't an over the top amount of shimmer, it is just a nice subtle hint. I think it is a really flattering colour, my blush collection seems to only consist of corals and darker pinks so I am so happy I finally invested in something a lot lighter, and I probably prefer these colours anyway so I definitely need to stock up on more!

This was a light swatch on my arm, you can see how subtle it is but I think you could build up more product if you want an intense look. I really do like this colour and I think the shimmer is just a nice healthy glow. To be honest I don't think I will be using this as an eyeshadow, only because I love it so much as a blush and I think it is a bit more on the sheer side to use as an eyeshadow but that's just my opinion! I would definitely compare the colour to rose gold, it's so girly and such a pretty colour I would definitely recommend this product if those are the colours you like.

I'm really loving theBalm so far, I saw yesterday that they have a liquid lipstick collection called Meet Matt(e) Hughes, and there is a colour in it called Committed that I am desperate for! I couldn't find them online in the UK until I checked Debenhams but the one I want is out of stock (sad face). They are £13,50 so watch this space, if that one comes back in stock I will definitely buying it and reviewing it on my blog! Let me know in the comments if you have this product and what you think!

Benefit High Beam VS Nars Illuminator Copacabana

Hi everyone! Thought I'd do a post on two highlighters that I have which I actually feel are very similar to each other, Benefit High Beam and Nars Illuminator in the shade Copacabana and my personal preference out of the two.

 High Beam retails at £19.50 compared to Nars at £23 so slightly cheaper however both are still more high end luxury products therefore I felt like a post comparing the two would be helpful for people who are stuck on the highlighter for them rather than wasting your money. The swatch picture below shows how similar these two products are, Nars Illuminator is on the left and High Beam is on the right. 

Starting with High Beam I've had this product for a while now and I do use it quite regularly when I want a more natural dewy glow compared to when I want a more intense look. It goes on nice and is easy to blend, it is quite sheer when you blend it so it does come across as really subtle. I feel like you have to be careful however it can come out a bit messy if you aren't careful and look like splodges on your face if not applied correctly. The picture below is High Beam along my temple down just under my eye. As you can see it leaves a pinky glow definitely not too intense and it looks really pretty in natural light,

I think the main difference between the two products is that Nars Illuminator comes out much more metallic, it has a lot more of a shimmer in the product so a little definitely goes a long way as you can come out looking a bit too sparkly if you aren't careful. In my opinion it does stand out a bit more than High Beam, I think it's better if you want a less natural look, I tested this product on the other side of my face which you can see in the picture below. You can see it definitely shows up more than High Beam, and it gives a more reflective glow which is nice.

In my opinion however I think out of the two I am more inclined to use High Beam, they are so similar to me but I love the natural glow that High Beam gives however if I was doing something more exciting like a nigh out then I would be more likely to use Copacabana. The main issue I have with this product however is that it is very metallic and you need to be really careful when you apply. Since I am such a fan of the natural look I definitely do use High Beam more, at £19,50 it is quite a lot for a highlighter but worth it because you can get so much use out of it and it works with a lot of looks. Thanks for reading and let me know in the comments what your thoughts are and whether you have any of the other Nars Illuminator shades!xxx

Current Top 5 Spring/Summer Lipsticks

Hi everyone! Since we have hit what is supposed to be spring in the UK (I don't know about you but where I live I'm definitely not getting that!) I thought I'd do a post on what my current favourite lip products are for the change in seasons. I find that pinks/nudes are so pretty in spring and summer especially for a nice day time look so I picked out the top 5 that I am currently loving and swatched them for you!

I'll include a swatch picture below which matches the above lipsticks from left to right which will be named further down.

From left to right:

1. MAC Flamingo (£15.50) which is a lustre finish. It's a really nice subtle coral pink it actually shows up a lot brighter than in the swatch picture. It's quite a sheer finish but it can be easily built up, I think it's a really good colour for someone wanting to try something a bit brighter but doesn't want to go too crazy.

2. MAC Creme Cup (£15.50), this is a cremesheen lipstick and it's one of my favourites I think it's such a nice daytime look and it's really natural and not too full on. If you find it too pale for you it works really well with a lip liner that's a little bit darker. It goes on quite opaque but like flamingo you can build it up, and you're left with a really pretty nude pink colour with a dewy finish on the lips.

3. Too Faced Shimmering Marshmallow Bunny (£18 for the standard shades from the Debenhams website), I actually got this from Too Faced's Under The Mistletoe Christmas gift set along with two other colours. This is different from the standard La Creme lipstick, it is available in that collection just as Marshmallow Bunny, however with this one from the limited edition set they are the same shade this just has added shimmer (similar to a frost finish) so I would definitely recommend getting this even as the standard shade as it's such a pretty colour! It is a light-medium yellow toned pink and the pigmentation is so nice! Unlike some of my other lipsticks which rub off so easily I can wear this out, have food and drinks and it stays on really well which is surprising as its a creamy formula, I'd definitely suggest getting this shade from the La Creme lipsticks!

4. Nars Audacious lipstick in the shade Julie (£24). I love this so much I picked it really randomly off the website, the audacious lipsticks are more expensive at £24 but if you find a colour you really like then you should definitely invest because the finish is amazing! It is described as being long wearing but having a luxurious texture to smooth and nourish the lips. I'd definitely agree with this is as matte lipsticks dry out my lips so much and I tend to avoid them but this appears matte yet still making your lips look soft and slightly dewy. It is described as a nude pink however I would say it isn't that nude, it's got a hint of coral to it while still being a very pink shade with warm undertones. 

5. Too Faced Melted Lipstick in the shade Nude (£19 from the Debenhams website). I have the mini sized one as I got it as one of their christmas gift sets along with four other shades. It shows up really dark in the swatch picture but it is lighter on the lips, It's a peachy beige shade, with a satin/matte finish. The pigmentation of these is amazing, at first I actually found them quite hard to get the hang of as I was applying way too much product, definitely important to note that a little goes a long way! It's so long wearing, definitely recommend this for a night out or any other time when you don't want to keep reapplying. It applies as a liquid and dries matte which for me is a nice change and I'm actually really into the liquid lipstick trend and plan on getting lots more! For me this shade is great for a different look to the standard pinks/nudes and again something to try for when you want something different that isn't too crazy. 

Thanks for reading, let me know in the comments what your favourite spring/summer shades are!xxx

Makeup Collection: My Favourite Items

For my first makeup post I thought I'd introduce you guys to my favourite makeup items in my collection! I'm constantly changing my mind over what brands are my favourite however there's always the same go to products that are staple items to my makeup bag. I've picked out my favourite foundation, concealer, mascara, primer, eyeshadow palette and contour products.

Foundation

Firstly I'll start with foundations, it took me a long time to find a foundation that really worked for me and I went through a LOT of them before I found one that I really liked. I actually really struggle to find a foundation that I feel looks good on my skin as I struggle with having really dry dull skin so I need to make sure that I'm happy with it. The one I had before this one was Estee Lauder Double Wear, which I do still occasionally use for when I'm going out on a night as I wanted it to stay on, however if I'm having a particularly bad skin day I feel like it highlights every dry patch on my face (maybe that's just me but it's a real issue I have with it!). Eventually I came across Nars Sheer Glow which I was a bit unsure on at first as to whether I should buy it as it's quite expensive and I don't have a counter close to me so I'd have to buy online. I settled on it eventually and I love it now! I love the dewy finish and I really don't like full coverage so this works so well for me, it is a lot of money but worth the price especially if you have dry skin like me. I wear the shade medium 1 Punjab. 

Concealer

Concealer wise I've only just recently changed to one that I love, I'd being using Boi-ing by Benefit for a long time in the shade 02 however as I said before my skin seemed to get drier and it highlighted a lot of creases in my skin, more recently I'd discovered Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer after seeing it all over YouTube. It works to well for me, I use it to cover my under eye circles and any blemishes, I use this in the shade Vanilla.

Mascara

My current favourite mascara is Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara, I only recently got this for my birthday in February and at first I found it quite hard to get to grips with as I'd previously been using They're Real which comes with a plastic wand and is obviously really different, however when I got the hang of it I absolutely love it now! For someone with straight but long eyelashes I do still think an eyelash curler is necessary but it can create a really dramatic look when used well.

Primer

My absolute favourite primer which I love so much is Illamasqua Hydra Veil, I would recommend this to anyone! I got in when I was in London as they have a store there after hearing lots of good things about it online, it's a bit strange when you first see it a bit like jelly! However once you get used to it it's such a good product especially when you've got dry skin, you have to let it dry a bit after application but I think it makes any foundation looks better and helps keep your make up on well.

(Thought I'd show you a picture of the inside, it reshapes itself after you've used it as well so it never seems like its running out!)

Highlighter

This was a toss up for me as I have two highlighters both from the same brand that I love for different things, both from Benefit I love Watts Up for a night time going out look, whereas I love High Beam for a day time glowy look. Both are amazing it just depends what you want from your highlighter and what look you use more frequently.

Eyeshadow

This is a really obvious choice but my current favourite palette is Urban Decay's Naked3 palette, I got it for Christmas and it was the first of the Naked palettes that I got (I also have Naked2 now), I found it hard to choose one at first but I'm so glad I picked it! I'm really into pink glowy looks and this was perfect for me, the only issue I have with it is that I find you can only make the same looks over and over even though they are so nice. I've actually just ordered the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette however and I may do a first impressions on it when it arrives.

Contour

Again a bit of an obvious choice but for good reason, I love the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Palette, again I got this for Christmas from a website called Beauty Bay, it's expensive at £39 however I love it and I think it's good when you're just introducing yourself to contouring as it has everything you need in one palette, my favourite contour shade in there is Fawn, the great thing about this palette as well is that they are refillable on the Anastasia Beverly Hills website so if you hit pan on your favourite shade you have the option to just buy that particular shade again if you're willing to ship it over from America.

Thanks for reading this post and I hope it gave you an insight into the makeup I'm interested in, if anyone would like to see/hear more about these products don't be afraid to leave a comment!

xxx