Sleek "Storm" Palette

Sleek MakeUP is a UK based lower budget cosmetics brand and is mainly known for their range of 12-colour i-Divine Palettes. You can buy the Sleek palettes at Superdrug in the UK or if you live out of Europe you can get your hands on one of these palettes online, either through EBay or other online cosmetic websites. I got my palette through Crush Cosmetics.

This is my review on the Storm Palette. The palette contains 12 mineral-based eye shadows in gorgeous jewel tones. There are three matte shades (a light brown, dark brown and black) and the rest are highly shimmery, beautifully rich and pigmented shadows. They are slightly smaller than a MAC shadow, and the texture of them is quite different. Although they are pressed powders, they are almost creamy in texture - which gives a lovely metallic finish

Colour descriptions:

Top Row L-R: shimmery pale gold, shimmery light 'champagne' gold, matte light brown, shimmery dirty gold, shimmery light pink, shimmery 'cranberry'.
Bottom Row L-R: shimmery bronze, shimmery grey/blue, shimmery green, shimmery dark blue with hint of purple, matte dark brown, matte black.

Swatches

PRO's

- Great pigmentation and true to the colours as what you see on the pan

- Great selection of colours, it has both neutrals and dramatic colours.

- Has both matte (3x) and shimmery (9x) colours

- Long lasting and doesn't fade easily (when used with base or primer)

- Smooth texture
- Shades are easy to blend, meaning you can control the intensity of the colour
- Very affordable price tag (sells for £4.99 in the UK. I paid AUS$18.95 for mine)

CON's

- A bit powdery so you have to be careful with fallouts
- Shadows are quite soft so could have tendency to break easily when travelling.

- Palette doesn't really have a great brow highlight colour. I personally find the lighter colours a bit too much to use as brow highlight (however great for inner eye highlight!)

Overall I think that if you like neutrals & smokey eyes then the Storm Palette is a fantastic versatile palette to own!  You can easily create a soft neutral eye for the day with the lighter shades or a more dramatic smoky eye with the darker colors.  I can definitely see why the Sleek MakeUP palettes have become so popular. Even though I think that the quality isn't as good as say MAC or other high end brands but for the amazingly low price you get a fantastic selection of colours that are very pigmented and pretty good quality. Good value for money. Expect some FOTD's coming up with this new palette :)

I might consider getting some of their other palette's now like Original or Graphite! Do you own any of the Sleek Palette's? If so which ones and what do you think of them?

Crush Cosmetics Haul

Happy  Friday everyone!

I received my Crush Cosmetics order today which I placed earlier in the week. So happy!! The products I got were:

♥ Sleek iDivine Eyeshadow Palette - Storm

♥ NYX Lip glosses;  Whipped and Sorbet

♥ NYX Orange Soda Round lipstick

♥ NYX Ultra Pearl Mania - Nude

♥ NYX Powder Blush - Angel

♥ NYX Slim lip pencil, Natural & Dolly Pink

♥ NYX Slim Eye pencil - Charcoal

♥ NYX Slim eye pencil - Cafe

♥ China Glaze nail polish- For Audrey

I can't wait to try out these new products and review them!

However, there will be no beauty posts from me this weekend because I am going on a road trip!  I will be completing a massive walk this weekend called the Tongariro crossing in NZ. The crossing passes over the volcanic terrain of the multi-cratered active volcano Mt Tongariro & passing the eastern base of Mt Ngauruhoe.

The 19.4km walk is renowned for its barred yet beautiful "moon like" volcanic landscape, unusual geological features, visible volcanic activity and views of the surrounding country side below.
It should take me and a group of friends about 6-9hrs to complete (yikes!)

I am really looking forward to it but am hoping the weather will be nice and my legs will survive ;) LOL. Wish me luck!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! MWAH xoxo

Mac Pigments +

I love my MAC pigments! I have managed to accumulate quite a collection of colours over the years by buying the small "test" pots online.

What is a pigment some of you may ask? A pigment is a highly concentrated loose colour powder that contains ingredients to help it adhere to the skin. With it you can create a subtle wash of colour or an intense effect. It doesn't streak or cake & is very easy to blend and long-lasting. Pigments are highly versatile because it has numerous uses and is often collected. They come in a variety of finishes varying from matte to a finish similar to lustre eye shadows in loose form. 

♥ How & where can you wear MAC pigments? 

The most common uses for MAC pigments are on the eyes and the lips, but pigments can be used anywhere on the face, décolleté, cheeks, eyes, lips, nails and hair. They can be used as a blush, contour, highlight, to enhance, whatever you want - anything, anywhere.

♥ What techniques are used to wear MAC pigments on the eyes?
Using pigments as a loose eye shadow can be difficult, and it's best to use a base to help them adhere. Many products can be used as a base. The most popular are Urban Decay's Primer Potion, MAC Shade sticks, MAC Paints, MAC Cream Colour Bases, Mixing Mediums, water, or saline drops (such as Visine). Anything that is tacky, or helps the pigment to stick to your skin will help. Not only will this help the pigments stay put, but will aid makeup in lasting all day, and night, if need be. You can also combine a drop of water, mixing medium, visine, or other liquid of your choice with a pigment forming a sort of 'paint' which will create a more metallic, satin or smooth finish. Pigments can also be used as an eyeliner, wash, contour, highlight, all over colour, or however you choose to use them.

♥ What techniques are used to wear MAC pigments on the lips?

There are a few techniques for using pigments in lip colour. You can mix the pigment with clear or coloured lip gloss in a separate jar, or you can apply a bit of pigment to your lips after putting gloss on, blend, and then add another coat of gloss on top.

♥ What techniques are used to wear MAC pigments in nail colour?

You can add pigments to clear nail polish to create your own colour. It is a good idea to use a jar of polish that has the little metal agitator pellet in it. If your polish does not have the agitator ball, you can use a small be-be or ball bearing, which you can generally find at craft stores or hobby shops. Using these metal balls allows you to continue to mix the two elements together. You can also use pigments and glitters by sprinkling them over nail polish before it has dried.

♥ What techniques are used to wear MAC pigments as body shimmer?

You can add pigments to body cream by putting a dab of cream in your hand, sprinkling pigment on top and mixing together to create a beautiful shimmery body lotion. You can also add pigments to any foundation or facial cream to give it a pearlescent or shimmer effect.

♥ What techniques are used to wear MAC pigments as cheek colour? Apply small dabs of the pigment across your cheek like a football player line, and then blend in with your fingers or a brush. 

♥ What techniques are used to wear MAC pigments on hair?

Take your favourite hair styling product (cream, mousse, gel etc.), sprinkle a bit of pigment over it and mix well. Then streak it through your hair, or use all over for a total effect. If pigments or glitters are just dusted over your hair without mixing with something to help them adhere to the hair, they can spill out causing pigment to be everywhere.

Today I created a FOTD with 3 of my favourite MAC pigments; Naked (fleshy beige with pearl), Tan (muted pinky brown bronze) & Cocomotion (golden light brown with shimmer)

♥ Face:

Studio Fix Fluid & Powder in NC20

MAC Peachykeen blush

MAC MSF Sunny by Nature Bronzer

♥ Eyes:
UDPP (base)
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil - Milk (inner corner of eye)
MAC Naked Pigment (inner corner of eye)
MAC Tan Pigment (all over lid & lower lash line)
MAC Cocomotion Pigment (crease & lower lash line)
MAC Brule e/s (brow bone highlight)
MAC Smolder (waterline)
CS Gel Liner - True Black (upper lash line)
MAC Zoom Lash Mascara

♥ Lips:
NYX Acapulco Lipstick
Victoria Secret - Sensual Strawberry clear gloss

Some of my other favourite pigments are: Melon, Nightlight, Jardin Aires, Subtle, Vanilla, Violet, Smoke Signal & Reflects Antique Gold (glitter).
What are your favourite MAC pigments?

Touch of Mauve

NOTD: Revlon nail polish in Touch of Mauve

Natural Light

With flash/sunlight

This is one of my HG polishes that this elegant and perfect for everyday wear. I think it is more of a dusty nude/pink than mauve but I still love it :)