Tuesday T. Bryan: shimmer

Showing posts with label shimmer. Show all posts

Saturday, 14 December 2013

Maybelline ColorShow Nail Lacquer; shades 352 / 3 / 651; review #2 + photos (My 2nd ColorShow review)

I've already reviewed three shades from the massive Maybelline ColorShow Nail Lacquer range, but I recently became the proud owner of three more which I am sharing with you today!

Click here to see my first Maybelline ColorShow review. :)

Image - above: Maybelline ColorShow Nail Lacquer in shades (L-R) "352 Downtown Red", "3 Tutti Fruity", and "652 Cool Blue".

Because I've published a ColorShow review before, I'm not going to go into a huge amount of detail about anything but the shades themselves. To read about the product in more detail, click the link in bold above.

For brief notes on this product's wear, scroll down to the bottom of this blog and read the description to the right of the final photo, which shows my nails in "352 Downtown Red" after three days of wear. For more details, click the link in bold above.

Let's get started!

The shades I'm reviewing today are "352 Downtown Red", "3 Tutti Fruity", and "651 Cool Blue". I chose these because 352 is a perfect classic red shade for this season's nails, 3 is a more delicate and playful option that can be pulled off all year round, and 651 caught my eye because I've recently been expanding my collection of blue nail polishes.

Images - right: These photos show each shade after 1, 2, and 3 coats. Click the image to enlarge.

651 Cool Blue: I love this pastel blue shade. For me, a perfect pastel has to be balanced, not too bright and not too dull. This icy hue is a cool contrast to the classic berry and plum shades we usually see in winter, but it's also bang-on trend for Spring / Summer every year. A great all-rounder!
One coat looks a little patchy, but 2-3 coats will give even and opaque colour.

3 Tutti Fruity: If you're looking for sparkly nails this season, Maybelline may have your perfect match. Tutti Fruity is a soft, shimmering purple shade infused with iridescent glitter with an opalescent finish. This sweet, shimmery, "candy-like" shade reminds me of Parma Violets! I used to love those sweets, but sadly they don't taste the same as they used to, so if you've never tried them (who hasn't?!) don't get too excited.
This polish has a semi-sheer finish, so it would take a lot of coats to get a 100% opaque finish, but I achieved my preferred look in 2-3 shades.

352 Downtown Red: (See below for more photos of "352 Downtown Red). If I had to pick a favorite of these three shades, Downtown Red would probably be the one for me! You just can't go wrong with a shade like this on your nails. For ultimate glamour, pair it with simple eye make up, flawless skin, and a matching lipstick shade. This sexy, seductive, ruby shade is reminiscent of red wine. It's shimmer and sparkle free, and has a deep glossy finish. You can't go wrong with a dark red manicure this season. It's a classic, and it will always be a winner!
2 coats gives an "almost-opaque" finish, which I personally was more than happy with, but opt for 3 coats if you desire.

Image - left: My nails in "352 Downtown Red". Deep, glossy, red wine shades are a classic for Winter nails. This polish is sure to go down a storm in AW13! Here I am wearing 2 shades and a clear top coat.

Brief notes on this product's wear;
Image - right: "352 Downtown Red" after three days of wear. I am wearing 2 coats and a clear top coat with no touch-ups. As you can see, the signs of wear are very minimal. The gloss has faded a bit and the colour has worn off around a little on the tips. Not bad for a £2.99 nail polish! You'll get even better wear out of it if your nails are in better condition than mine (mine are quite thin), or if your hands are a bit less active (mine hands are busy writing, typing, and looking after my birds both indoors and in my garden).

Click here to view the Maybelline Colorwheel, where you can view the Color Show Nail Lacquer shades, view suggested tips and ideas about what to wear with each polish, share your favorite polish via social media sites, and purchase the Color Show shades.

Click here to purchase Maybelline ColorShow Nail Lacquer from the Boots website.

As I've previously mentioned, if you want to read about this product in more detail and see my notes on summery shades 265, 341, and 186, click the link in bold at the top of this page or click here to see my first Maybelline ColorShow Nail Lacquer review. :)

❄ Click here to FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER! ❄ #F4F

❄ Click here to LIKE MY FACEBOOK PAGE! ❄

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

By Tuesday T. Bryan.

Wednesday, 30 October 2013

Rimmel WAKE ME UP Instant Radiance Shimmer Touch; Shades 002 & 004; review + photos

Today I'm reviewing Rimmel WAKE ME UP Instant Radiance Shimmer Touch in two shades, 002 Radiant Rose and 004 Shimmering Sand. When these products arrived at my door I couldn't wait to try them! The blushers I use are usually quite strong, so I was looking forward to giving my cheeks some fresh-faced luminous colour instead. This product can be found in the "Highlighters" section of the Rimmel London website, but 004 Radiant Rose is actually more of a blusher.

"It's time to make you glow!

Lightweight, ultra blendable mousse formula gives an instant touch of radiance and illuminates the skin.
Wakes up skin with a healthy looking glow and a long lasting flush of colour."
- http://uk.rimmellondon.com/

Before even applying the product, the first thing I noticed was the delectable refreshing fragrance! It's a tropical, zingy scent that really does "wake you up"! To me, it's irresistible, and very suited to the name of the product.

Image - right: Swatches of Rimmel WAKE ME UP Instant Radiance Shimmer Touch on the back of my hand. Top swatch - 002 Radiant Rose / bottom swatch - 004 Shimmering Sand.

It's simple to use. I just squeezed a little onto my index finger, then dabbed small dots of product onto the desired area and blended in. Re-apply for a more intense result!

A little goes a long way. Just a few dabs of this product gives a healthy flush of youthful colour and a .
warm luminous glow

This product has a mousse formula. It's feels as smooth as velvet as it glides onto the skin, and, when dry, it feels as-light-as-a-feather and as soft as silk! It's "almost-weightless consistency" allows you to successfully build up the layers without it feeling heavy; great for all year round, but especially good in the Summer heat.

It's staying power is impressive, too. I found that it stayed in place all day without the need for touch-ups. The colour stayed true and the shimmer didn't fade. I also found that it didn't transfer onto clothing, hands, etc etc, unlike most powder blushers and highlighters.

Now let's discuss the results. This product does not give a strong hue, instead it provides a healthy flush of illuminating colour, but it is build-able, so you can add more product to give a stronger result if you wish. It gives the skin a luminous glow with a delicately shimmering finish. It blends perfectly which gives a gorgeous natural look. I really love the simple, youthful, fresh-faced result. It's perfect for daytime make up!

Image - right: 002 Radiant Rose gives a healthy flush of radiant, natural, rosey-pink.

I also love the versatility of this stuff. It can be used as highlighter and/or blusher, day and/or night! To transform this product simply add more layers. As the layers are built up, the colour becomes brighter and the shimmer becomes more intense - an eye-catching radiant evening look!

002 Radiant Rose: Gives the cheeks a healthy flush of radiant, natural, rosey-pink with a lightly shimmering finish. A perfect daytime blusher. (See images - above-right & end of blog.)

004 Shimmering Sand: A subtle nude shade that gives a youthful, shimmering glow. Excellent for highlighting the face and body, or even use in the place of a blusher for a much more delicate result. (See images - right & end of blog.)

Image - right: 004 Shimmering Sand is a subtle nude shade that gives a youthful, shimmering glow

* Top tip! Try wearing the shades together for a glowing complexion and accentuated facial contours. *

As I mentioned at the start of this review, I'm still a sucker for strong blushers, but these delicate mousse alternatives have refreshed my love for the glowing fresh-faced look. The colour, the staying-power, the texture, the fragrance, the versatility, the results - I love everything about it! Nice one, Rimmel!

Click here to view Rimmel WAKE ME UP Instant Radiance Shimmer Touch on the Rimmel London UK website.
Click here to purchase Rimmel WAKE ME UP Instant Radiance Shimmer Touch from the Boots website.

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

By Tuesday T. Bryan.

Image - below: In this photo I've used Rimmel WAKE ME UP Instant Radiance Shimmer Touch in 002 Radiant Rose as a blusher. I love the natural flush of colour. My lip gloss is Avon Ultra Glazewear in "Apple Cinnamon" (click here to read my review!).

Image - below: Here I've used Rimmel WAKE ME UP Instant Radiance Shimmer Touch in 004 Shimmering Sand as a highlighter and on my cheeks instead of blusher. I love the healthy, radiant, fresh-faced glow! My lipstick is No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick in "Classic Rose" (click here to read my review!), my blouse is from New Look, and my bird necklace is from Accessorize. I've had the pearl earrings and gold chain forever, so I can't remember where they're from!

Image - below: Here are the 2 shades used together. I'll upload a better photo soon as this one is rubbish. My lip gloss is Maxfactor Vibrant Curve Effect Lip Gloss in "Majeste". My blouse is from AWear. Again, my bird necklace is from Accessorize.

Friday, 11 October 2013

☆It's my birthday!☆ NEW Avon Colour Trend; Glitter Glam Shimmery Pressed Powder; Review + Photos

☆First of all, it's my birthday today!☆ So, Happy Birthday to me, and thanks you to everyone who has sent me birthday messages and presents. :)
It's 01:58am here in England. I thought I'd get my work done now so I can enjoy my day properly tomorrow. :)

Today I'm reviewing another new product from Avon that hasn't yet been released in the UK, so you can get all the information you need before you decide to make the purchase! The product is Avon Colour Trend Glitter Glam Shimmery Pressed Powder.

Please note; the photos really don't do this product justice. I always find it hard to show highlighting products without over-loading the face with make up (which looks and feels awful) or using a camera flash (which doesn't give an image of what the product looks like in normal lighting).

It's a pressed powder with a subtle shimmery finish that can be used to highlight or to give an all-over glow to the face and body. It's a perfect beauty bargain for the party season; Christmas is coming up fast! It comes in a colourful compact complete with an application sponge, although I found application much easier and more effective with a powder brush.

Let's talk about the product in more detail. The pressed powder itself is almost translucent, it has just a slight tinge of gold to it which gives the skin a beautiful healthy glow, so it would be great for use as a subtle bronzer, too. The powder is infused with fine, light-reflecting, shimmering gold particles. When applied to the skin it gives a healthy, luminous, pearly glow. The result suits all ages and skin tones, and it gives just the right amount of subtle shimmer to add extra glamour to any outfit. It really is a great all-rounder!

The formula of this product is fabulous. It makes the skin feel feather soft, and the powder eliminates any

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

shine. A little goes a long way and the product is build-able, so start off by applying a little and build it up to achieve the desired effect.

Image - right: I tried to use a close-up photo to show the effect that a touch of this product can achieve, but it really doesn't do it justice! Scroll to the end of this review to see a photo of my whole look finished with the Shimmery Pressed Powder.

There are a few ways you can use this product. If you want to use it as a highlighter, apply it to the forehead / cheeks / nose / chin etc (anywhere the sun would naturally hit your face) - I found this easiest with a small blusher brush for precise application. Or, for a more dramatic yet not over-the-top effect, you could apply it all over the face. I love the glowing result this gives the skin; it's a great way to finish your make up. You can use it on the body, too, for some subtle party glamour. I think it looks best applied to the top of the shoulders, the collar bones, and just a little on your breasts - it's a great way to highlight your assets! ;)

Personally, I think there's nothing worse than people over-loading on super-glittery make up and body glitter, a look that seems to be popular for the Christmas Party Season. Please, ladies, don't make yourselves look like disco balls and leave the tinsel for the trees! A product like this gives a much more sophisticated result - you can don the shimmer for the party season and still look fabulous! Plus, this stuff is much more versatile, so you don't need to reserve it just for nights out and Christmas. It's a beauty bargain that you can't afford to miss!

Avon Colour Trend Glitter Glam Shimmery Pressed Powder will be available in the UK from Avon brochure 17. Click here to view the Colour Trend range on avonshop.co.uk.

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

By Tuesday T. Bryan.

Image - below: My radiant glow is the result of Avon Colour Trend Shimmery Pressed Powder. Shame I couldn't get the Party Season sparkles to show up in the photo! I'm wearing different eye make up to what I'd usually wear, certainly not a look I'll be rocking for my birthday! Didn't feel comfortable in it at all, so removed it as soon as I'd finished the photos for this review.

Friday, 6 September 2013

Avon Plump Pout Lip Gloss; 4 shades; review + photos

For many years I never wore lip gloss, I was always a "lipstick only" girl, but this is the wonder-product that converted me.
Trust me, tiger, it's fabulous.♥

"A gorgeous gloss that inflates lips to maximum fullness and enhances your natural lip colour. Feels lusciously moist and tingly fresh. Dermatologist tested." - Avonshop.co.uk

The consensus is that we find full lips very desirable. Plumping lip products are everywhere, and I bet the vast majority of us have several in our make up bags. Luckily, I'm blessed with naturally full lips, so this product doesn't make my lips appear larger. However, it does make the lip surface appear more even.
Like most other lip-plumping products, this gloss gives a "tingling" sensation as it's working, and it has an invigorating minty-fresh scent to match! I think it feels and smells very pleasant and refreshing, unlike some similar products such as Too Faced Lip Injection, which I find gives a harsher sensation.
The consistency is bang-on perfect. It's quite thick, so it holds on to the lips well and provides great staying-power, but it has zero stickiness. It's also ultra-moisturising, so my lips look healthy feel kissably-soft all day!
The lid contains an application wand tipped with a lip brush. It holds the product well and allows for easy, precise application. I like to apply 2 - 3 coats for maximum coverage.

***

Listed below are four of the shades currently available + photos and descriptions. Click the images to enlarge...

Plumping Pearl; Gives the lips an elegant pearly shine, with tiny iridescent flecks of shimmer. This subtle shade goes with all colours, and it's perfect for anytime, anywhere. It's a great go-to lip colour, especially if you're in a rush! See below for 2nd image (end of blog).

Pink Pucker; This is a soft, nude pink shade with a pearly shimmering finish. Again, this gloss goes with everything, so it's a perfect all-round lip colour. Looks nothing like it does on the models in the Avon brochure photos, though! See below for 2nd image (end of blog).

Rose Pucker; An earthy "twig" red. Very sexy and sophisticated. Great for day and night. This shade is perfect for Autumn. This one is my favorite of the four shades, I can't get enough of it! See below for 2nd image (end of blog).

Plumpaccino; The natural bronze hue combined with the cool, tingly freshness reminds my of iced coffee! You can rock this shade all year round, but it would look fab teamed with a golden tan, so keep it in mind for the Summer!

Click here to purchase Avon Plump Pout Lip Gloss from avonshop.co.uk.

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

By Tuesday T. Bryan.

Image - below; A snap of myself wearing Avon Plump Pout Lip Gloss in "Plumping Pearl". I'm not ill, I've just unsaturated the image. I look tired.

Image - below; Another snap of myself. In this one I'm wearing Avon Plump Pout Lip Gloss in "Rose Pucker". I look happy, probably because I was just about to go to Coffee#1 - their Double Macchiatos are rude.

Image - below; Myself wearing Plump Pout Lip Gloss in "Pink Pucker". The nude pink shade pairs well with my pink top. I have hamster cheeks here.

Wednesday, 2 January 2013

Avon Nailwear Pro+; "Berry Shimmer" & "Orchid Splash"; reviews + photos

I hope you all had a killer New Year!

My first review of 2013 is of two nail polishes; Avon Nailwear Pro+ in "Berry Shimmer" & "Orchid Splash". I bought these shades a while back and I've been meaning to review them ever since...better late than never!

The images below show the polishes after one coat, and after two coats and a top coat. Click the images to see them in enlarged and in better quality; you will defiantly need to do this to see the opacity of the different shades!

Berry Shimmer;
I saw some photos of people sporting this shade and instantly wanted it. It's a dusky pink shade packed light-reflecting shimmer, resulting in a warm opalescent hue which I love. It's a beautiful colour for both day and night!
The consistency is quite thin; as I was applying the first coat I was worried that the colour would be spoiled by how translucent it was, but luckily it still became opaque after just two coats. This polish is fairly glossy anyway, but a clear top coat makes it look better still and really sets off that light-reflecting glitter.
The only thing that disappointed me with this product is how quickly it began to peel - I'd only had it on for two days when peeling began to show. I took it off on day three when the peeling got worse, but over those three days I did notice it didn't chip for me. So, good chip resistance and bad peeling resistance.
This isn't actually going to stop me wearing this colour as I usually change my nail polish every few days anyway, but the peeling will be really irritating for some!

Orchid Splash; This shade is a glitter-free, super glossy, pastel lilac colour; it really reminds me of the summer time! It's very pretty and "girly". It's quite bright, but not too bright for those a little shy of "loud colours".
Like "Berry Shimmer" this polish has quite a thin consistency, but unlike "Berry Shimmer", this shade is still very slightly patchy after two coats. This doesn't really bother me as it's barely noticeable, but if you're a complete perfectionist you'll probably want to give it that extra coat. Again, this polish has a glossy finish, but a top coat makes it better still.
Moving onto the wear, there wasn't any sign of peeling for the four days I wore this shade, however I did notice some minor chips around the cuticles and tips, especially on the thinner areas of my nails. Still, this shade is much more hard-wearing than "Berry Shimmer", great for those long summer days!

Avon Nailwear Pro+ is available for £6.00 from your Avon representative.

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

By Tuesday T. Bryan.

Friday, 28 December 2012

Revlon ColourStay Overtime & Maybelline 18h SuperStay - lip colour reviews + photos

To give my lipstick staying power, Lipcoat is an absolute dream (it defiantly needs a review soon). And I pretty much hate lip gloss, the vast majority of them anyway, particularly the "wet look" ones that look like they're melting off your lips.
However, I quite like lip colours that are almost "a cross between lipstick and lip gloss". I understand that sounds quite vague, so I'm writing a review of two of the cosmetics I place in this category. These are Revlon ColourStay Overtime Lip Colour and Maybelline 18h SuperStay, both in two stunning shades of red. The photos just don't show how amazing these colours are. Click the photos to enlarge them and you'll get a better feel for what they're like.
(I've had both these products for quite some time, as the photos show!)

Revlon ColourStay Overtime Lip Colour in "On-Going Flame":
This colour is incredible. It's one of the most classically beautiful shades of red I own, and I own a lot. It's completely matte, so if you like a bit of sparkle this one probably isn't for you. You can also layer the colour; if you only apply a light coat it looks a slightly "pinky-red" colour, or you can apply a full coat to reveal a gorgeous bold red (see the "swatch photo" below for the colour variation).
I also like how quickly the colour dries. Some of these products take ages to dry before you can apply the top coat, which can be a real pain as you're meant to keep your lips apart while it dries, however this is not the case with Revlon's ColourStay.
The glossy top coat is great, too. It's completely clear with no shimmer or sparkle, and it gives a lovely shine to the red. It's non-sticky which is always a winner (I think sticky lip glosses were what made me dislike lip gloss so much).
It has incredible staying power; I apply mine in the morning and take it off before I go to bed, and even after 18+ hours wear that fabulous red is still as good as when I first applied it. You will need to touch up the gloss top coat after you eat, though.

Maybelline 18h SuperStay Lip Colour in "538 Crimson Crystal":

Now, if you're a lady who prefers some sparkle, you have to try this colour. It's the ultimate party shade of red - bright, bold, and packed with hot pink shimmer and has a bronzy undertone. You can layer this colour just as you can with Revlon ColourStay, but this is slightly less opaque so you will need to apply a bit more (again, see the "swatch photo" above for colour variation). I always wear two or three coats before applying the top coat.
Unlike the Revlon's product which drys quick as a flash, this product is pretty slow drying which is quite disappointing.

This colour does actually dry out my lips quite a lot, but this is where the top coat comes in. It's a fantastic moisturising balm which instantly hydrates your lips and gives a healthy looking shine. I prefer it to the Revlon ColourStay gloss top coat by far. I do find myself needing to reapply the top coat a lot throughout the day which can be irritating, but at least you'll never run out as can buy the top coat separately.
This product has some epic staying power, too. It does me proud on my 18+ hour days just as Revlon ColourStay does, however I do find it starts to flake a little if you don't keep reapplying the moisture top coat, especially after eating and/or when I've had it on for about 10 hours.

So, all in all, two great products in two gorgeous shades of red, both with amazing staying power. I love them. If I could combine the two, I'd take the Revlon product and replace the glossy top coat with Maybelline's moisturising top coat!

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

By Tuesday T. Bryan.

Tuesday T. Bryan