Product Rave: Shadowbase from FrontCover Cosmetics

Hi guys,

Long time no speak I know, but I have been so busy and plan to make it up to you with lots of new posts!

To begin with I just want to do a quick rave about a product I was sent to try by FrontCover Cosmetics, it is their Shadowbase. Retailing at £8 this product is a creamy eyeshadow in a stick applicator.

"What's so great about a cream eyeshadow?" I hear you say, we'll this product is made for so much more!

When wearing this product on its own, it is a creamy formula that glides on to leave a shimmery nude even layer of color which dries quickly and doesn't crease,so it is a great product for a quick application when you're in a rush. Plus, because it is in a lipstick style stick there's no need to get your fingers dirty when applying.

But if you want to use this product to the best of its ability, then apply it as a base/primer for your other eyeshadows or pigments. This product creates a creamy base for any other colors to adhere to for a long lasting, bolder application.  To help explain more please check out my photos below:

On the left, MAC's Nylon eyeshadow on its own. On the right, MAC's Nylon on top of FrontCover Cosmetics  Shadowbase.

On the left is MAC's Tall, Dark & Handsome, on the right is MAC's Tall, Dark & Handsome on top of FrontCover Cosmetics Shadowbase.



On the left is MAC's Paradisco, on the right is MAC's Paradisco on top of FrontCover Cosmetics Shadowbase.

You can instantly see the difference in colour when using the Shadowbase, it enhances the strength of the pigment creating a new, bolder colour.

Also, what I love is that you can still blend your colours together, even though you have the base for the products to stick to. This product really reminds me of the MAC Paint pot in Bare study, which I usually use as an eye primer and it does the same job.

In addition to its regular day job, you could also use it as a highlighter across the tops of your cheeks, brow bone and even on the cupids bow. Because of the light golden shimmer it gives, it is a handy multi-tasking product.

I would definitely recommend this product and for £8, it is a bargain as it will last for ages and will help your eyeshadows to stay put and not need re-applying.

For more information and products from FrontCover Cosmetics, take a look at their website here

MAC Glamour Daze Extra Dimension Eye Shadows

So as I was strolling through the House of Fraser in Reading, I spotted the amazing new Glamour Daze Collection stand from MAC and became mesmerized by the pretty colours!

How amazing! Taken with my Iphone

It was so lovely, I just had to treat myself to a couple of the amazing Extra Dimension Eye Shadows.  So I went away and ordered the Eye Shadows in 'A Natural Flirt' and 'Tall, Dark & Handsome'.

'A Natural Flirt' is a soft, peachy, nude colour with a real pearly shimmer to it. This is a great base shadow and highlighter.

'Tall, Dark and Handsome' is a black/charcoal shade with a pearly shimmer. This can be applied very dark or can be blended out for a greyish contour which is great to add definition to your eyes. 

 

I absolutely love these eyeshadows and have been using them almost every day since they arrived! If you get a chance to take a peek at this range, please do as they are a great collection of shades.

This isn't a review, but just me sharing my love so keep an eye out and I will work on a deeper review and some looks for you.

Have you had a chance to try any other shades from this collection?
xxxx

My Beauty Fix: Fading Eyeshadow

Welcome to My Beauty Fix!

This weeks problem is about fading eyeshadow, don't you just hate it when you spend ages applying some lovely colours to your lids, but after a few hours they've disappeared! Well here's my tips on how to keep them looking fresh and smouldering all day long!

Step One: Always apply make-up to clean, we'll moisturised skin. This goes for your whole face, not just the eye area.

Step Two: Apply an eyeshadow primer to the eye area. There are many products on the market that are tailored for this purpose, some of my favourites are Urban Decays Eyeshadow Primer Potion, MAC's Prep and Prime Eye, Benefits Lemon Aid and Too Faced Shadow Insurance Eyeshadow Primer, although there are many more out there.  These work great under your eyeshadows to help them blend and stay put all day.

Alternatively, if you don't want to spend money on a primer just for your eyes, try using a light layer of concealer across your lids, not only will this counteract any colour you may have on your lids, but it will also act as a primer to help the colour last all day.

Another option is to use a product like MAC's paint pots in Painterly (nude matte) or Bare Study (nude with gold shimmer) which I love as they give a lovely wash of colour but also helps keep any other colours in their place.

Step Three: Apply your eyeshadows as normal but make sure you blend well, this will help push the colours into the primer/concealer which will help them last longer.

Step Four: this is an optional step, if you are really concerned about your make-up fading or sliding, try a finishing or setting spray like Urban Decay's All Nighter, MAC's Fix+ (I haven't tried either of these yet so I can't comment how how long they will last but I have heard good things), Collection Cosmetics Fix Me Up or any of the other setting sprays that are out there.  For big events I use the Model in a Bottle setting Spray, but because this is quite heavy I don't recommend it for everyday use, but it works amazingly!

Step Five: If after all of these steps your eyeshadow is still not lasting all day, then there must be something wrong with the product you are applying. If you have had it for a long time it may have gone off, so smell it and see if there is anything funky about it and if there is then please throw it out! It is better to have wasted your money than risk your health, so throw it away and treat yourself to some new eyeshadows!

Now you can practice applying those smouldering eye looks that will last you all day and night!

Thank you for stopping by for My Beauty Fix, if you are having any problems with your beauty regime that you think I may be able to help with then please leave me a comment with your problem or email me at dani@daniduffymakeup.co.uk quoting 'Beauty Fix' in the subject and I will do everything I can to find you a solution!

My Beauty Fix: Eyeshadow Fallout

Hello and welcome to My Beauty Fix!

Welcome to this weeks instalment of My Beauty Fix!  This week, I would like to tackle any problems you have with eyeshadow fallout.  It is always such a shame when you spend ages reaching the point where your skin and base are applied perfectly only to ruin it when you start in your sexy smokey eyes and drop black eyeshadow all over your cheek (I've lost count of how many times its happened to me!). There's nothing you can do about it, every time you wipe it you just smear the blackness all across your face. So what do you do? Here are my quick fixes to help you...

Fix 1: It sounds so simple that you are going to kick yourself for not thinking of it before, but how about applying your eye make-up first! When I first heard this, I couldn't believe how simple the solution was and it really helps! This way you can do whatever you like with your eyes and you can just wipe away any mess you make before applying your base.

Fix 2: If the first fix sounds a bit scary and awkward, or even if you just forget and have applied your base before you remember the fix, then try dusting a heavy amount of translucent powder on your cheeks, just below the eye area. Don't get me wrong, this will look strange but the layer of translucent powder will catch any shadow fallout and allows you to sweep away all of it without it smudging.  But be warned, you need to apply a lot of powder under the eyes, enough that you can see it sat there otherwise it won't work. Also, sweep the powder inwards (towards the nose) as this goes against the hair growth on your face and makes it easier to brush away rather than blend in.

Shadow Shields from www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk

Fix 3: Finally, the other option is an eyeshadow guard. I have seen the girls over at Pixiwoo use them on a few occasions and they seem to help, personally I haven't tried them yet so I can't comment on how good they are but I do believe they could be a solution to this problem. Having scoured the web, I have found them to buy here at Cocktail Cosmetics where you can get 30 for £7.95.

I hope you have enjoyed My Beauty Fix this week and hope my tips can help you stop wasting your time clearing up after the inevitable eyeshadow fallout!

Thank you for stopping by for My Beauty Fix, if you are having any problems with your beauty regime that you think I may be able to help with then please leave me a comment with your problem or email me at dani@daniduffymakeup.co.uk quoting 'Beauty Fix' in the subject and I will do everything I can to find you a solution!

Product Review: Collection Cosmetic's Metallic Cream Eyeshadow

As summer is on its way, its always good to start preparing your look for your holidays or for those rare days where we have some sun in England!  The summers humidity can wreak havoc on your make-up, so it is important to find quick, light products that have great staying power on your summer skin. Which is why I am very excited to tell you about the Metallic Cream Eyeshadow from Collection Cosmetics (formerly Collection 2000)

So let me paint a picture for you....

There I am standing in Superdrug testing all the products from the Collection range on my hand - I always end up walking out looking like I have some multi-coloured disease - and as I'm trying to wipe the rainbow off my hand, I realised that this product had stayed put!  And I mean really stayed put, like superglue!  I was almost blown away.

Could a little pot of cream eyeshadow really have this much staying power for £2.99.... yes it does!!

So I went back to the store to purchase the product and couldn't wait to get home and try it out.

Its the Metallic Cream eyeshadow from Collection Cosmetics (formerly Collection 2000).  Initially, I had glanced at this product and then moved on to something else, mainly because it is a cream product and comes in a lipgloss-style tube with a brush on the end.  I haven't had very much luck with cream eyeshadows in the past and MAC's paint pots are the only ones I have found that don't crease on your eyelids throughout the day. So I hadn't really thought much about this product other than seeing what the colours came out like.

I have to admit, the Collection cosmetics range keeps surprising me and I haven't yet found a product of theirs that I haven't liked. It just shows you can still buy quality make-up that will do what it says (on the tin) for a reasonable price.  Which is great for teenagers and those who don't have a lot of spare cash lying around to spend on cosmetics.

Available in 6 intense colours: Gold Rush, Copper Pot, Emerald City, Platinum Bling, Rock n Rose and Rock Pool. I bought the product in Platinum Bling which is a a browny-silver-grey colour which I love and think it is great to help create a quick and easy smokey eye. This product dries quickly so you have to be quick to blend, but is great for a quick wash of colour, or as a base for a smokey eye!

Here, I have applied the cream eyeshadow all across my eyelid, you can use this as a wash of colour, or you can add other colours to create different styles.

I definitely recommend these eyeshadows as they are fast drying and smudge proof! Perfect for a quick touch of glam before you hit the beach (or anywhere really).

Have you tried the Collection's Metallic Cream Eyeshadows? Tell me what you think of them....