Tuesday T. Bryan: Eyeshadow

Showing posts with label Eyeshadow. Show all posts

Sunday, 4 August 2013

Avon True Colour Technology - reviews + photos - lipstick/lip gloss/eye shadow/brow definer

Unnecessary intro: It's July 29th 2013 (I usually hand-write my notes well before publishing my reviews
online), and I'm sat in my 347 year old house with no lightening conductor, anxiously waiting for today's summer storm to pass (we've had three today already). There's rain water pissing through the old windows and the conservatory is shaking as if an earthquake's on the way, but that's life when you live in a house that was built in 1666 - the same year as The Great Fire of London!
Anyway, writing the notes for this blog entry is basically my shot at taking my mind off the storm (unsuccessfully).

Necessary intro: So there's a lot of hype in the Avon world about their new make up, which features "True Colour Technology". According to Avon, this means that the colour you see is what you will get when applied. They also say their make up contains "self-renewing pigments for long-lasting colour". They've released loads of new shades, and they've updated their packaging; it's Avon's usual sleek and simple design with added practicality, i.e. the lipstick bullets have a "window" in the lid so you can see the shade easily.
I'm going to review 4 lipsticks, 3 lip glosses, one eyeshadow quad, and one Perfect Eyebrow Kit.

Image, above-right: A photo of myself! The cosmetics I'm wearing include Avon True Colour Eyeshadow Quad in "Stone Taupes", Avon Perfect Eyebrow Kit in "Blonde", and Avon Ultraglaze Lip Gloss in "Apple Cinnamon", all of which I am reviewing in this blog entry.
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Let's begin with Avon Ultra Colour Lipstick. It's available in 30 shades with 3 finishes - 12 satin finish, 11 shimmer finish, 7 soft matte finish - all of which have what Avon call a "clear view window" in the lid, as I mentioned earlier. The moisturising formula leaves lips feeling soft, and looking healthy, conditioned and smooth. Avon say "purse lips to reactivate self-renewing pigments for ongoing colour". I'm putting 4 shades to the test... (I apologise in advance for the awkward layout.)

Knockout Pink: This shade is one of the 12 with a smooth "satin" finish. This sexy and sophisticated pink is a great all-round colour. It's actually my favorite of the four shades I've chosen - this is unusual for me as I'm not a huge fan of pink lipsticks, but I love this one!

Oxford Wine: Again, this lipstick has a satin finish. I like this deep, rich, plum shade, but it doesn't suit me at all! The creamy consistency of these lipsticks means applying the dark shades can get messy - I highly advise using a lip liner to make application easier. Avon Glimmerstick Lip Liner is fabulous stuff, but it only comes in four shades and I can't see one online to suit this particular lipstick - maybe it's time they released more shades!

Hibiscus: This lipstick has a soft matte finish. It's a vibrant, fun and flirty shade of "almost-neon" pink. This super-girly shades is perfect for statement summer lips! Pair it with simple eye make up and a flawless but natural complexion to really make the lips stand out.

Scarlet Siren: Soft matte finish. A deep and seductive classic red. I really love how this shade stands out
against my pale skin - it creates a really striking contrast that would look perfect for Autumn / Winter! Again, the moisturising consistency combined with such a dark shade create potential application problems - use a liner to minimise the chance of making mistakes. Avon Glimmerstick Lip Liner in "Red Brick" is a great match for many red shades - trust me, I use it all the time!

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Let's move on to the new Ultra Glazewear Lip Gloss. It comes in 19 high-shine, non-sticky shades that make "lips glisten in every light". These glosses care for your pout, too - the formula is enriched with shea butter for deep moisturisation. Lips look and feel plumper, smoother, hydrated, and youthful. Avon say the new gloss is "infused with colour-awakening pigments that saturate lips in rich, vibrant colour"...

Apple Cinnamon: Sugar, spice, and all things nice! This super-shimmering high-shine gloss is perfect for
Autumn. It's subtle enough for the office, and glittery enough for the dance floor. If you're a lover of nude lipstick, give this shade a try for a more glamorous option.

Strawberry Shine: As I said when commenting on the "Knockout

Pink" lipstick, I'm not usually one for pinks, but this beauty has pleasantly surprised me! It's a summery, sparkly, ultra-feminine pink. The shade is bright and fun, yet still sophisticated and not too "over the top". I love it!

Fiery Red: This bright red shade has a "glass-like shine" finish. If you love the red lip and want to keep it all year round, you'll want a brighter shade for the summer, and this one is perfect. Keep the eye make up simple and the complexion natural yet flawless, this way you can stay true to the classic look yet make it more summer-practical.

***
It's time to talk eyes! First we have the new and improved True Colour Eyeshadow Quad. There are 9 shades available, all of which come as a compact containing a mirror, a double-ended sponge eye shadow applicator, and four beautifully matched shades. The shades are actually numbered and arranged in the compact in such a way to help you apply your eye shadow "like a professional". Of course, you don't have to follow the step-by-step guide; get creative and mix up the order, or use less shades for a subtle daytime look. Avon say that their True Colour Technology means the rich colour you see in the palette is the same colour you'll see when applied. Avon also say the "crease-proof colour stays true without fading", so this stuff is great for us busy bees as it banishes the need for touch-ups. Statistics show that one of the original

Avon quads was sold every 2 seconds*, so these are bound to be a hit!
*Based on actual UK sales, 08/03/12 - 06/03/13.

Stone Taupes: I chose this one as I love neutral eye make up - the earthy browns and taupes suit me down to the ground. If you're not sure what shades of shadow to wear, remember that you can't go wrong with neutral tones as they suit all hair, eye, and skin shades. I love all four of these shades. The colours work together really well and they blend effortlessly. And they're build-able, so you can add more colour for extra drama. Personally, I would have liked shade number 3 to be more metallic to match the shimmer of shade number 2, but other than that I can't fault it!

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Finally, let's discuss the Perfect Eyebrow Kit. We all know how the eyebrows can change the overall look of the face. Not only do they play a vital role in our facial expressions which help with communication of emotions, but they also frame our features. Avon have created this new eyebrow compact which contains wax, colour, a mirror, and a double-ended application brush. There are two smudge-proof shades available, "Soft Brown" and "Blonde" - I opted for "Blonde", of course, which is a perfect match for my brows! There are two steps to the application process: First, smooth the wax over your brows to set them, then you fill in and define your brows with the colour. The result is a natural yet defined look, but you can build the powder for a stronger brow. Avon say this stuff provides better coverage than a pencil, but I prefer their Glimmerstick Brow Definer. The brush included in the compact is okay, but I'd advise you to invest in professional tools. Avon did sell an angled eyeliner brush which would do the job well, but it's recently been discontinued according to the website. I use Mac and Bobbi Brown brushes, and for my brows I'd choose the Mac 266 brush.

All Avon products mentioned in this blog entry are available online from http://avonshop.co.uk/ or from your Independent Avon Representative.

© Tuesday T. Bryan Photography
DO NOT USE IMAGES WITHOUT PERMISSION. Copyrighted material

By Tuesday T. Bryan.

Sunday, 14 July 2013

☆No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour x2 + free No7 Beauty Bag; review + photos☆

When I went to Boots the other day I saw this offer on and I couldn't resist it; buy 2 No7 products and get a free Beauty Bag, worth £30. I've always loved No7 with a passion, and this deal was a dream!!! So, I bought myself (or rather, my partner bought me) 2 Stay Perfect Nail Colours and claimed my free goodies.

Rather than just reviewing the nail polishes I want to share my thoughts on the Beauty Bag - a nice cosmetics bag filled with 5 trial-size summer products (eyeshadow, lip gloss, mascara, tinted moisturiser, primer). They're all available to buy as full-size products, too.

I'm mad about No7, so I can feel good results coming on...

Let's start off with my 2 chosen shades of Stay Perfect Nail Colour. It was love at first sight when I laid eyes on a new shade called "Paradise Love". I was torn between 3 polishes for me second choice, but I finally decided on "Jammy" as I thought my polish collection could do with a new hot pink for the summer. :)

Paradise Love is a soft yet captivating shimmery sky blue shade, packed full of blue glitter and silver sparkles. I fell in love with how pleasantly unique the colour is, it's like no shade I've seen before. It's fun and imaginative, yet still perfectly sophisticated - a great polish for any occasion! The bottle says it has an "ultra-gloss" finish, but really it's pearlescent when dry. The photos show the polish with and without my Rimmel Ultra Shine Top Coat.

Jammy is a bright, nearly-neon, metallic hot pink. It's fun, flirty and girly, and has a high-shine glossy finish. It's bang on for an eye-catching summer manicure or pedicure, perfect for those long days on the beach lounging in the sunshine - as you can see by the photo, I opted for the sexy shade on my toes. A must-have shade for the summer!!!

No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour is quick-drying and has great staying-power. I'd recommend their hard-wearing formula to everyone, especially ladies with a tight schedule who can't be doing with constant polish touch-ups. I always use Avon Nail Experts Gel Strength Base Coat to further prolong the colour.

No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour is available for £6.00 from Boots stores or online at http://www.boots.com/.
Click here to view No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour on the Boots website.

Let's move on the the Beauty Bag. I always get excited about the No7 deals, they're defiantly worth taking advantage of!!! I will write my notes about each product and give you links and prices of the full-size products individually.

If you get these products in the deal, they'll come in a handy cosmetics bag. It's mainly transparent which is practical for seeing what's where, it's plastic which is easy to wipe clean, and it's colourful so it looks fab. :)

No7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow in Pale Pink - I have a fair amount of this eyeshadow now, it's great stuff! The shade included in the Beauty Bag is called Pale Pink (I have to point out how annoying it was having to look up the shade online - it wasn't written on the product, or in store, or on the Beauty Bag contents list - God knows why). It's a pale opalescent "shell" pink, although it looks like a lilac shade in the compact. It's very delicate and feminine, great for subtlety shimmery summer eyes.
I do like the shade a lot, all though it's not one I'd

usually go for and I don't think I'll really wear it as I always wear neutral earthy tones. It has a cashmere-soft velvety texture, and great-staying power with no signs of creasing.

No7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow is available for £7.00 from Boots stores or online at http://www.boots.com/.
Click here to view No7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow on the Boots website.

No7 High Shine Lip Gloss in Coral Kiss - It's amazing how many people forget to care for their skin in the sun, let alone their lips!!! This gorgeous gloss contains SPF15 and has a moisture-rich consistency, so "collagen boosting" for a "voluptuous smoothing shine", and contains "vitamins that protect and care".
you'll be protected from the rays and dry lips. I love this highly-pigmented nude/pink shade with just a touch of shimmer, a winner for subtle summer lips. It's moisturising formula and high-shine finish leaves your lips looking fabulous and kissably soft!!! No7 say it's

No7 High Shine Lip Gloss is available for £8.50 from Boots stores or online at http://www.boots.com/.
Click here to view No7 High Shine Lip Gloss on the Boots website.

No7 Extreme Length Waterproof Mascara in Black - All ladies know that a waterproof mascara is a
summer must-have. If you haven't got one in your make up bag yet then look no further! I've always been a massive fan of the No7 mascaras, and I actually already own the Extreme Length Mascara, but it's the full-size non-waterproof version. This product has fabulous all-day wear, come rain or shine. The plastic brush with multi-length bristles perfectly coats each lash, lengthening and separating them fabulously. One coat does a great job, but it layers up without clumping or flaking. The photos show my lashes after one coat and after two. As you can see, two coats gives a super-glamorous result with fantastic volume and drama - my preferred look. ;)

No7 Extreme Length Waterproof Mascara is available for £12.50 from Boots stores or online at http://www.boots.com/.
Click here to view No7 Extreme Length Waterproof Mascara on the Boots website.

No7 Triple Protection Tinted Moisturiser in Fair/Medium - This is another summer must-have!!! Heavy make up looks dreadful in the heat, so swap it for a tinted moisturiser, a super-light foundation, or a BB Cream. Sun exposure can be very damaging to the skin, and also speeds up the aging process. Absolutely make sure your chosen summer foundation product contains an SPF, but don't rely on the sunscreen in your make up alone to keep your face protected from the rays. This No7 Tinted Moisturiser contains SPF15 and has 5-Star UVA protection. It's suitable for all skin types, too. I thought the fair/medium shade would be too dark for my freckled porcelain skin tone, but it blends and adapts effortlessly. It gave my skin a glorious natural dewy glow, and toned-down imperfections. No7 say: "Light diffusing tinted moisturiser delivers all day hydration and protection".

No7 Triple Protection Tinted Moisturiser is available for £11.50 from Boots stores or online at http://www.boots.com/.
Click here to view No7 Triple Protection Tinted Moisturiser on the Boots website.

No7 Airbrush Away Primer - We all must have heard the hype about primers by now. I already owned a couple before getting this one, but I knew this one would give the best results (although my Avon MagiX Face Perfector comes in at a close second). Without a doubt, using a primer will give you make up a better base to be applied to. When using this one I noticed that my pores appears minimised, imperfections such as uneven skin tone seemed to fade, and it gave my face a matte finish, which gives a great "blank canvas" for your foundation. No7 say: "Magic away signs of aging with this clever primer, containing light diffusing particles, to make you look younger instantly, by putting fine lines and wrinkles into soft focus."

No7 Airbrush Away Primer is available for £19.50 from Boots stores or online at http://www.boots.com/.
Click here to view No7 Airbrush Away Primer on the Boots website.

Below: Here's a photo of me wearing the 5 Beauty Bag products mentioned above - nothing more, nothing less!!! I've cropped it to only partially show my face as I didn't apply make up to both eyes.

© Tuesday T. Bryan Photography
DO NOT USE IMAGES WITHOUT PERMISSION. Copyrighted material

By Tuesday T. Bryan.

Image - below: The shade I've chosen for my toes here is No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in "Paradise Love". It's always a good idea to stay barefoot or wear open-toed sandals for as long as possible (ideally an hour minimum) after your toe nails have been painted. My cute owl sandals are from Mel Shoes (http://www.melshoes.com).

Tuesday T. Bryan

Sunday, 4 August 2013

Avon True Colour Technology - reviews + photos - lipstick/lip gloss/eye shadow/brow definer

Sunday, 14 July 2013

☆No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour x2 + free No7 Beauty Bag; review + photos☆

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