Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour

Laura Mercier has recently launched another collection for fall consisting of Caviar Stick Eye Colours, Classic Smoky Eye Palette and new shades of Lip Glacé.
I picked up the lightest shade on offer of the Caviar Stick Eye Colours, Amethyst (£20.50).
Amethyst is a rosy/mauve/brown, it does contain micro glitter but I don't find it over the top, nor gritty in feel, indeed the texture is soft and creamy.
The product has great pigmentation, allowing for a sheer or more dramatic look. It sets fast, so you need to blend quick. Once set it does not move at all but it doesn't feel drying or uncomfortable.
I've taken swatches in daylight and with flash so you can see the sparkle
I don't think this is necessarily the best colour for me but I do like the wear and application. Whilst its very good I don't think it beats By Terry Ombre Blackstar which are the best cream stick shadows in my opinion, but it definitely comes a close second.

Ingredients:


I bought this from John Lewis

Cochine Liquid Hand Wash Agarwood & Amber

Cochine is a small collection of candles, lotions, hand wash and reed diffusers, based on 4 scents. The brand has refined packaging and the quality of product is high. The products are made in Vietnam and the brand supports sustainable farming projects (such as the production of Agarwood oil).
I received a liquid hand wash in the Agarwood & Amber scent (£19 for 300ml). The scent is rich, warm and slightly spicy, it consists of Agarwood, White Amber, Tuberose and Patchouli predominately. Its not heavy like a lot of these types of scents usually are.
I was also surprised just how long lasting the scent was, it definitely beats any other hand wash I have tried.

In terms of the formula and performance, I am extremely pleased. Having sensitive skin I am use to having that tight uncomfortable feeling after washing my hands, even with more higher end brands. This liquid wash cleans well and my hands feel comfortable and soft afterwards.

Ingredients:


I’d definitely like to explore Cochine further, I think I will buy a candle, just look at how pretty they are
(Picture from zuneta.com)
I just need to decide which scent to go for, although I''ll likely go for Agarwood & Amber as I think it would be lovely in the home come autumn/winter.

Cochine is available at www.zuneta.com (they ship worldwide)

Disclosure: I was sent this for free.

Estee Lauder Pure Colour Five Colour Eyeshadow Palette Surreal Skies

Estee Lauder has recently brought out six new Pure Colour eye shadow palettes and eight new duos. They are the same good quality as the reformulated Pure Colour single shadows and the same style packaging.
I got the most natural quad, Surreal Skies (£35).
It contains a slightly metallic coppery sand beige, satin finish clay, shimmery slightly mauve rose, shimmery golden ivory and a cool toned matte brown.
The palette creates a slightly warm, glowy natural look.
I really like the reformulated shadows, the texture feels smooth and they have good pigmentation and blend nicely. The revamp of the pure collection range by Tom Pecheux has enlivened the brand and created quality products now on par with some of the other major names.

I bought this from Boots.

Beauty Spotlight Team: Mystery Makeup Bag

It's time for another Mystery Makeup Bag post from the Beauty Spotlight Team. It's only the second post and we've already got some cheating going on! Modesty Brown is bending the rules and showing us what's in her holiday makeup bag. It looks pretty small though, surely that's never going to last a beauty blogger through a ten-day holiday? Let's see what's she's crammed got in there.....

Guerlain Rouge Automatique: Chant D’Aromes,Mitsouko & collection round up

I had to go back and get some more of the Rouge Automatiques (£24.50 each). Its a really hard working formula; good pigmentation,comfortable feel, beautiful shades and long wearing. I have nothing but praise for these.
I picked up #103 Chant D’Aromes (slightly warm beige nude)
#140 Mitsouko (sheer peach with gold shimmer).
Here are all the shades I have L-R: #100 Apres L’Ondee, #101 Voilette de Madame, #103 Chant D’Aromes, #140 Mitsouko #160 Bal de Mai
With Flash (same order as above, starting from top)

Swatches L-R: #160, #140, #103, #101 and #100
Ingredients:

I’ll likely go for some of the darker shades next time, repeat with me “you can never have too many lipsticks”.......


I bought these all from Debenhams

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation

As a fan of the old formula of the liquid light foundation, I had high hopes for the new Skin Base foundation. The shade range is impressive, and the company have put a lot of work in helping the customer pick out their ideal shade with colour comparisons against other brands. I went with shade #2 (£25), its a spot on match for my pale, cool toned skin.
The foundation is inspired by the cult Asian market Beauty Balm creams, although I’ve not yet tried a BB cream, from what I can tell I would class this as a foundation as on me its does not contain a lot of the common attributes of a BB cream such as priming the skin, providing SPF and giving skin care benefits such as brightening and moisturising.

The texture is a medium consistency and feels smooth, it blends quite well and does not settle into pores. It gives medium coverage with a small amount of product. I’d say the finish is neither matte nor luminous, just natural.

Swatches below:Illamasqua on Left, MAC NC15 on right:

They are a few reasons this is not working for me, firstly its not moisturising enough on my dry skin and it really does accentuate dry areas. Secondly its not long lasting, by mid day its really faded and thirdly I do have skin issues every time I use this (I have to mention that my skin is hugely acne prone).
Ingredients:
Even though I have a very poor foundation success rate with most brands, I do feel this product just didn’t perform.

I bought this from www.illamasqua.com

BECCA Mineral Powder Blush: Flowerchild

Part of the summer Halcyon Days collection, Flowerchild is one of two mineral blush releases, the other being Damselfly, which I reviewed here.
The powders feel smooth, they are very pigmented so I apply with the faintest touch. One of the great attributes of these blushers is how long they last, there is no change of colour and I get no colour fade at all.

Flowerchild is a slightly coral pink with subtle golden shimmer, the look is luminous and natural.
Swatches L-R: Flowerchild, Damselfly swiped then Flowerchild, Damselfly blended out
Ingredients:

I bought this from zuneta.com