Coming to a Tesco near You! VIVO Cosmetics (Extremely Pic Heavy!)

Your weekly Tesco shop is about to get a little a lot more interesting come September with the launch of new budget make up line Vivo Cosmetics...

I was expecting products along the lines of Superdrug's MUA range (which I love, especially some of the eyeshadows) and while the prices are slightly higher, they are still very purse-friendly (ranging from £1.50 - £6) and the products better quality.  

This post is extremely pic heavy, but I want to show you the breadth of this range, focusing on my top picks.  First shots are from the blogger event, but I've got some better quality ones and swatches further down.

Primark Make Up Sale Haul

I've found some pretty decent bargain make up bits at Primark, so decided to try some I'd had my eye on for a while when they went on sale...looking at them all together now I realise that they're all highlighters of some sort!  Nothing like a bit of fake cheekbones...

These balls are in no way blusher - they're far too pale even for my NW15 skin.  They make a pretty good highlighter, although they're a bit chalky.  I like the novelty of the balls.

Again, these little pink hearts are touted as 'blusher' but they're more like Benefit Highbeam in powder form.  You can use them as a very pale blusher I suppose, giving the effect of a very shiny MAC Well Dressed.

This wasn't in the sale, at £2.50, but at least it's accurately described as highlighter.  I love the twisty packaging.  For some reason I forgot to do swatches.  This one gives a much more subtle effect than the previous two, but with the right brush it give a nice pale golden highlight, in the vein of NARS Albatross.

I'm very into pale, frosty eyeshadow at the moment, and this pencil is so easy to just swipe on in the mornings.  However I also use it as an eyebrow highlight.

Have you picked up anything in the Primark make up sale?

Check out my Primark Accessories Haul over at PortobelloPearls.blogspot.com ...here's a sneak preview:

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Top 10 £1 MUA Eye Shadows (+ MAC Dupe)

Here are my top 10 eye shadow picks from the Superdrug £1 MUA range.  If you are starting out in make up  I strongly recommend you check out this range, especially these eyeshadows.  The best bit is that I got this whole set for £10!

I cannot fault these shadows in terms of weight (you get a whopping 2g), pigmentation, consistency and blendability, not mention the stunning shade range.  You have all your staple neutrals as well as a few bright pops of colour.  I hand on heart prefer the quality of these shadows to MAC (although I'm not a huge fan of MAC's e/s quality, they do have a fantastic array of colours).

I accidentally bought two Shade 2s, and didn't realise they were the same, so there are 11 shadows in the image above and below, but only 10 different shades in total.  They come in two finishes - matte and pearl, the latter being by far the best.

Shade 9 - Pearl: this is the most gorgeous electric purple with a blue duochrome which has actually shown up stronger in the photo that it is in real life.  There is actually a little more pink to it.  It works really well on brown eyes but also enhances my own eyes which are blue.  It might not be wearable for everyday, but it's a stunning colour to have in your collection if you want something a little different.

Shade 4 - Pearl: this pinky lilac compliments shade 9 nicely and makes blue eyes appear to have a green tinge.  

Shade 10 - Pearl: this gun metal purple creates a sophisticated smoky eye with a difference.  It has just enough shimmer to give the look dimension. It also works well in the crease over Shade 10 or 9.  

Shade 3 - Pearl: this is the perfect silver shadow - I have some which don't come off opaque, but this really does.  I sweep it all over my eyelid and finish with a flick of black eye liner.  

Shade 2 - Pearl: this is the pale cream shade I bought twice, but I can use it as a cheek and browbone highlight so I'm going through it pretty fast.  It's also a great inner corner eye highlight.   

Shade 1 - Pearl: this is also a great highlight shadow but has more of a golden tinge so it works better with browns and greens.   

Shade 7 - Pearl: I don't wear a whole lot of green eyeshadow because I have blue eyes, but I couldn't resist this moss green for whenever I have the urge to go green, or St. Patrick's day! 

Shade 11 - Pearl: this was one of the first shadows I picked up from the range.  It's a great soft brown which reminds me of MAC's Satin Taupe.   

Shade 12 - Pearl: I'm not overly impressed with how this shadow has photographed as this one is a great dupe for MAC's Club.  It's a greyish brown to look at but has green duochrome and an ever so subtle hint of a reddish brick shade.  It's a very sophisticated, complex shade for such a budget range.

Shade 14 - Pearl: this greenish gun metal shade is perfect for me as I get my 'green' hit without it clashing with my own eye colour too much.  Another great option for a smoky eye other than boring old black.  

Swatch time!

In natural daylight

From left to right: Shade 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14

With Flash

From left to right: Shade 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14

I cannot recommend these eye shadows enough.  Not all Superdrugs carry the MUA range, but if you're in London check out the ones on Oxford Street, Shepherd's Bush, Queensway or Kilburn as they definitley do. You can also order MUA products online.

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Mini Portobello Market Make Up Haul

Most Saturday mornings I wander around the corner to a couple of make up stalls on Portobello Market and I always pick up some little goody.  I wan't looking for anything in particular, but had been thinking about Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer for a while and wanted to try the Maybelline Dream Matte Powder after Miss Glamorazzi's endorsement.  I've wanted one of these Maybelline Superstay Glosses for ages but the testers in drugstores were usually missing or so gunky I didn't wanted to swatch them on the back of my hand!

I picked up the concealer for £2 and it's in #51 - the lightest in the range - the same as the foundation which is a perfect match for me.  It's a thicker consistency than I expected it to be.

 The coverage is pretty impressive too, however, it's just too dark and yellow toned for me.  It doesn't blend very well and feels dry, while settling into the fine lines under my eyes.  Glad I didn't pay the full highstreet price!

This Maybelline Superstay Gloss in #450 Citrus Glow and is a gorgeous colour.  You have to let the pigmented side dry for 2 minutes before applying the gloss over.  For a long wearing product it's not very drying and I like it without the gloss.  It's was also £2.

Without the clear gloss

With the clear gloss over the top

With the warmer weather approaching (yay!) I'm making sure to set my liquid foundation with a powder to prolong it's life.  Miss Glamorazzi from YouTube named the Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse as her favourite setting powder and when I spotted it yesterday I had to give it a try.  I picked up the lightest shade they had, which is Ivory Light 2-3 for £4.

It has the most unusual opening mechanism I've come across in a powder compact, but it works well.

The powder is extremely light, so I may save this one for the winter months.  For me it's strictly only a setting powder as it doesn't provide enough coverage to work alone, as some powder compacts can, like my e.l.f. studio pressed powder.

So nothing too exciting, but I got all of these for only £8, which is significantly less than what you'd pay for all three in Boots or Superdrug.  All the products are fully sealed so they can't be tampered with.  The only downside is that there aren't any testers, but at the bargain prices I don't mind taking a risk.  The same stall had a few MAC items - single eyeshadows, pigments, blushes, compact foundations at least over 1/3 cheaper than in store, but none took my fancy.

I'm still on a quest to find a new concealer, and it's looking like I'll be repurchasing Collection 2000's Lasting Finish in Fair...I see it's gone up to over £4 - it was only £1.99 last year!

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I've Started Buying Baby Stuff...

Don't worry! I haven't got a 'special announcement' to make! But I have been hanging out in the baby care aisle at Waitrose...again! I went through a tub of this infamous Baby Bottom Butter a few years ago when a ripple of hype went through the beauty world and it was so difficult to track down! I eventually hunted it down in the Marylebone High Street branch.

Beauty editors have been falling over themselves to hail this cream as the next holy grail, I've even seen comparisons to Creme de la Mer, but I can't comment on that as I haven't tried it...yet!  I had extremely high expectations of it so I have to admit I was a little disappointed.  With my oily skin, I can't imagine applying this on my face - I would expect to wake up covered in spots! But if you are prone to dry patches on your face then this butter will be a dream come true for you.  For me it's fabulous on my lips as an overnight treatment and on dry skin patches on my body - especially my elbows, knees, heels and shins.  I sound a right old scaly reptile eh?!

It has a very pleasing clean slightly sweet vanilla scent - a million miles better than the medicated Elizabeth Arden 8 hr cream.  It's free from many of the nasties you see in skincare products and lists its ingredients as simply: olive oil, hydrogenated olive oil, vanillin and chamomile oil, so its very mild as it's made to sooth baby skin.

The best bit of this little wonder pot is the bargain price - £2.54 for 125mls!

I think Waitrose are experiencing issues getting it back in stock online, but you may be lucky enough to nab one from the shelves of your local Waitrose.

I also spotted a new (to me) addition to the baby range - Solid Coconut Massage Oil - also only £2.54 for 125mls.  Its made from coconut oil, vanillin and vitamin E - gorgeous! It has the same scent as the Bottom Butter but it's slightly fainter.  If you have a special someone ;) in your life, you need to get a little pot of this! Massages are lovely but using actual runny oils can be messy and a bit yucky, but with this solid product you just scoop out a lump which liquefies with the heat of your hands and leaves both parties with some seriously soft skin!

Go forth and massage!

With these bargainous babies (har har) on the market, suffering from dry skin should be a consigned to the history books!

Have you tried either of these? What do you think?

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Mini MUA Haul & Swatches #2

Who knew spending £4 could make me so happy?!  I'm almost glad not all Superdrugs carry the £1 Make Up Academy range as my urge to haul from it could start adding up!

Shade 7 is the second MUA lipstick I've picked up and is a paler, brighter pink than shade 6 and suits me better.  It is very glossy and moisturising.  Some of the lipsticks in the range contain chunky glitter so I'd avoid them like the plague!

While similar to Shade 1 from the eye shadow range, shade 2 is paler and make a fabulous highlight for your browbone or inner corner of your eyes.  It's very pigmented and applies smoothly.  Amazing value.

My favourite piece from this haul is this eye brow pencil.  I'd go as far as to say it's becoming a holy grail product.  It's in the shade Blonde and look very natural on my eyebrows.  I adore how soft it is and it sharpens to a nice precise point.  The brush at one end is okay but I always prefer to use a spoolie to comb through my brows.  If you have light brown or reddish brows, you need to check this pencil out.  It even supersedes my love for Rimmel's Hazel brow pencil.

The only downside to this pencil is that I seem to be going through it at a rate of knots! This may be because I've been putting it to some heavy duty usage, but may be because it's so soft, either way, at £1 I will never be without this pencil again!

Now, the dud in this little haul is the nail varnish in Shade 10. I got so over excited by the quality of shades 7 and 15 I wanted to give this one a go because the colour is a like a cafe latte version of GOSH Metallic Purple. However on my nails it looks like a 'granny' shade. Pearlised and bleugh. I suppose I could make it work with 3 coats, but I was so bored by it I gave up at 2!

1 coat

2 coats

I have a number of the eye shadows and blushes, so when I get a chance to take a few snaps I'll get some swatches up here for you.

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