Front Cover Cosmetics Blogger Event Part 2

 Welcome to the 2nd part of my Front Cover Blogger Launch post!

I always save the best until last - I'd eat my pudding before my main course if it didn't blow people's minds, and always leave my Yorkshire Puddings until last when I'm having a Sunday roast. The kit I'm showing you next is the one I chose to take away with me. I honestly think I was invited to the event because of the launch of the Nail Kits, and I feel exceptionally guilty that I didn't choose to take one of the Nail orientated palettes home with  me (we were allowed to choose only one to take home) as I'm pretty sure that it was expected of me. I have, however, discussed with you that although I think the Nail Art kits would make great gifts, they're nothing special to me, and so I chose the next kit, Style Queen, for a few reasons.

The first reason is that it had a great set of brushes in it. When doing my make-up Leanne used only Front Cover brushes, and they are fantastically soft on the eyelids, really great quality. The second is that it contains the most "every day" type eyeshadow shades, including some more satin finish shadows, as opposed to the really shimmery baked shadows. I wanted to pick something that I would use often, and be able to give a good review, so I chose Style Queen because I would get the most out of it. The third reason is that it is JUST TOO AWESOME. Here it is:

Style Queen - RRP £35.00 (remember, you can click to enlarge!)

OK! Look at all that. the top row are the baked eyeshadow domes, the second row are the satin/matte eyeshadows, and the third row is the lip glosses. Here are the swatches for the baked eyeshadows, in the order they appear in the kit from left to right:

 

I love every single shade here. I will wear them constantly, the darker ones are fabulous for an alternative smokey eye, where as the lighter shades are subtle for every day wear. To get the strongly pigmented you do have to apply them wet or over Shadowbase, which is the only downside. Once you've built that colour, though, they stay put and look brilliantly shimmery. Here are the Satin/Matte swatches (the second row):

More really wearable shades, and slightly less shimmery.

I don't necessarily rate the lipglosses a great deal, they're OK formula-wise, and there is a wide range, but I think I just love my Rimmel Vinyl Gloss in Heartbeat too much. The advantage of these is, however, you can mix them, with the lipbrush provided, to create your own shade. This is probably my favourite from the glosses though, one called Red Moon, and it's 5th from the left:

It;s still a natural colour, just slightly warmer and more red-toned. These are not sticky at all, and I reckon this kit will be so popular, it was half price in Boots last week.

You also get two iridescent pigment powders in this kit, a black and a red-brown, loose eyeshadows that are rich in colour. The black is called Coal Hoal, and the brown is called Saddle Brown. I really like these, the colour goes on so strong, and I hardly got any fall out with the Front Cover brushes:

 

I mentioned the Shadowline product earlier, and I used it to create a brown liquid liner from Saddle Brown iridescent pigment powder. Leanne the Make-up artist showed me the best way to mix them is on the back of your hand, creating the right consistency as you go. It really is easy to use:

I don't rate the mascara much, the brush is tiny and very curved and not a match for the almighty Max Factor False Lash Effect. Sorry, Front Cover. I will however be using the mascara sealer which is on the other end of the wand. It stops your mascara from slipping, which is always useful.

This kit also comes with two other baked domes, one is a bronzer split into three parts, and one is a highlighter, also split into three different shades. The idea is that you sweep over every shade, but you can mix and match depending on the season, or your skin tone, so that's a great idea. These can also be used as eyeshadows. Here is the Bronzer swatched in its different  sections:

 Here is the Highlighter CHeek Dome swatched in it's different sections, designed for sweeping over the cheekbones and brow bone for added shimmer and dimension:

Here is an eye look I created using this kit, I wish the lighting was better for the photographs, but it was dark ALL DAY, that's British winter for you:

Here is the eye again, but with annotations of which products I used from the Style Queen kit, and where they are applied:

 

As you can see, I started with Sandstone on the centre of the lid, and blended the gold area of the Cheekdome into the corners. The two golds really compliment each other and are so easy to blend. I did apply them wet so I could get the richest colour possible. I applied a slight brushing of Brown Cork into the crease of the eye to add depth, and brushed some of the entire Cheekdome across the brow bone to highlight the shape. I added Amber Green under the eye and into the outer corner, making it quite a subtle smokey eye. I hthen used the Shadowline to create a liquid liner out of Saddle Brown Pigment Powder, and ran it along the top lash line, ending in a flick. I added a couple of coats of Front Cover's mascara and it was done! Voila!

Here you can see the Saddle Brown Shadowline detail better, as well as the shading in the crease of the eyelid. The great thing about all of these being to gether in a kit, is that they all compliment eachother perfectly, the hard wok of searching for blendable products, that work together, is done for you. I just wish it was more portable, I cannot take it ANYWHERE. It's even too large for my draws, so it sits permanantly on my dresser. The only drawback.

I hope this has given you a good idea of what Front Cover products are out there, what's new and what's good. Hopefully you can make your own mind up about which one you like the best, and I've shown you the blending capabilities and how easy it is to create a look with them!

Don't forget about my GlossyBox giveaway, enter HERE if you're in the UK and love trying out new Beauty Products!

Vivo Cosmetics at Tesco Review

Hello Everyone!

If you're in the UK, you may have heard that Tesco have launched a new (incredibly affordable) cosmetic range called Vivo, that is designed to celebrate colour and vibrancy. Although the brand is exclusive to Tesco, it is a separate company, and benchmarked as "the MAC of supermarket make-up brands". For a budget-conscious recent Graduate, this brand is right up my street - its affordable, high quality, and I can pick it up with the weekly shop!

I was kindly sent 3 items by Vivo, an eyeshadow, a bronzer and a lipgloss. First up is the Vivo Shimmer and Shine Lip Gloss in Just Peachy:

Retails for £1.99 in Tesco

The wand has a flat applicator, and is very easy to apply. The gloss itself is a bit sticky for my taste, but it lasts absolutely ages. I'm talking hours. It's such a high-gloss, glassy finish with gorgeous gold micro-flecks that really warm the lip and compliment a sunkissed complexion.

The price is utterly unbeatable, and is the best £1.99 lipgloss I've ever tried. You find a better one if you're willing to pay 5 times as much, but for the financially challenged among is, it's high quality with a low price all the way!

although it's called Just Peachy, it's less of a peach colour, and more a light translucent pink. It smells just like peaches though! Yum!

Now for the eyeshadow in Aquamarine - a vibrant, bright turquoise. I used to wear colours like this all the time when I was still at school, but nowadays I wouldn't wear a bright turquoise eye during the day!

you can see where I accidently schmooshed it with my finger! oops!

 Quality-wise, it's not bad at all. I would definitely use it wet, as it goes on more pigmented, and can look a little sheer and flat when applied dry:

Left: applied Dry, RIght: Applied Wet.

It blends rather well, and I did a little comparison with Collection 2000 Tinkerbell, and Boots 17 Viva Diva for a little colour comparison:

left: Vivo Aquamarine, Middle: Collection 2000 Tinkerbell, Right: 17 Viva Diva

 Here's a look I created showing you how easy it is to blend the Vivo shadows:

So, although I wouldn't wear this often, as it is definitely not an everyday colour, the formula is great, and the pigmentation is really strong when applied wet.

Next up is the Bronzer, my favourite. I've never been a fan of bronzer, even before me and my two best friends got too drunk before we applied our going out make-up one night (rookie mistake), and whacked on liberal amounts of bronzer in bad lighting. The photos came back and we looked like we'd fallen face first into the sun. NOT a good look.

Vivo's baked bronzer, however, has taught me that the key to a good bronzer is a good formula and skillful application - less is more. I love this product, and use it often instead of a blusher. I applied it very sparingly, as it is very pigmented and has a gold shimmer that can look a bit TOO metallic if you really pile it on (think C3PO). This is a plus in my books though, as it means this huge bronzer will last you FOREVER. I swept it lightly onto the cheekbones, down the nose, and onto my chin and the top of my forehead.

 

Sunkissed!

My final word - I absolutely recommend Vivo cosmetics, the quality is fantastic for the price, and I can't wait to try their baked eyeshadows next. I approve!

xxx

EOTD - 17 Funfair: Pretty In Pink!

As I said, I'm hoping to introduce a few more general beauty-based posts into the mix, one a week or so, as that was my intention when I first started this blog in February! Here is what I've been playing with recently, a sweet, everyday look using 17 Funfair (available at Boots), a pastel pink shadow flecked with gold microglitter. It's really pretty, and I paired it with 17 Gold Digger in the corners:

sunlight - eyelids are weird when you're that close to them! I look like an old woman! Damn you Macro setting!

 

Foundation: Collection 2000 Lasting Finish

Blusher: Benefit Coralista

Under-eye concealer: Benefit Erase Paste

Lid eyeshadow: 17 Funfair

Corner of eye eyeshadow: 17 Gold digger, lightly tapped on with finger

Liquid Liner: Topshop Felt Pen Liner in Jet

Lips: Rose Tinted Vaseline

I really like this eyeshadow - 17's eyeshadows in general are great, they're really pigmented, affordable and all your favourites come in Trios, with two other complimentary shades that would create dramatic looks. As I wear this look during the day, and it is a softer look, I didn't add a third (darker) shade to the crease of the lid, or any eyeliner to the water line as it would have made it too harsh, in my opinion. The slick of Liquid Liner is enough drama for this 'pretty in pink' look! :D

So there it is, the shadow I'm wearing practically every day at the moment! Let me know what you think everyone, have any of you UK ladies a favourite 17 eyeshadow? Any questions, let me know! :D

All products were purchased by myself!