the Balm Manizer Sisters Luminizer Trio And My Highlighting Journey

I don't know about you but I'm so over this winter already! Although the weather hasn't been too bad in my little corner of the world, I'm sick of the rain, the wind, and the cold, and I'm spending my free time fantasising about tropical holidays and sunshine! I'm sick of being cold, I'm sick of my achy muscles and I'm sick of looking tired, pasty and ill.

Alas I can't see a tropical beach vacation on the horizon, but spring and summer will be here before we know it, and until then I'm going to wrap up warm, and use a bit of make up to give my skin the healthy glow that it's so desperately lacking.

If you're a new follower or a new reader, then you'll quickly realise that I have quite an obsessive personality when it comes to beauty products, and one of the things that I'm absolutely obsessed with is the humble highlighter. Nowadays you can't open a magazine without being greeted by a strobing tutorial or by a model with perfectly sculpted and shimmering cheekbones. Do you know what though? I was way ahead of the trend and even as a tiny little human I remember playing with a beautiful loose highlighting powder that my mum had from Oriflame, and spilling it all over the carpet!

It's been a long journey, but it's been a fun one, I don't care that my shimmer highlights my pores, I don't care that people say that highlighters are just for teens, I want glimmery cheekbones and I want them now!

Well, given the amount of highlighters, and luminizers that I own, I can have that supermodel look any time that i choose, but up until Christmas 2015 one particular highlighter alluded me, and now that I own it, I'm wondering why on earth I didn't get it sooner.

The product I'm talking about is Mary-Lou Manizer by the Balm. A lot of bloggers and beauty junkies out there own this product and even at first glance it is easy to see why. It's beautiful honey, champagne colour that works on just about any skin tone, and gives it that bathed in light, angelic glow. After seeing it and swatching it in my local Superdrug, I added it to my Christmas list and on Christmas morning 2015, I was lucky enough to receive not only Mary-Lou in my stocking, but her sisters as well.

Packaged in the Balm's signature cardboard packaging, with a magnetic clasp, the Balm's The Manizer Sisters Luminzer Trio, not only contains Mary-Lou Manizer, but it also contains their other two highlighting / luminzing shade, Cindy-Lou Manizer, and Betty-Lou Manizer.

As well as just using them on the cheeks as a highlighter, a bronzer, or a blusher, each of these triple milled powders can also be used as an eye shadow or as an all over face colour, and radiance booster.

The first shade that you get is probably the best known of the three, Mary-Lou Manizer, AKA The Luminizer, as I said before this is a beautiful honey, champagne colour, that gives the skin that real lit from within glow. The next shade is Cindy- Luminizer AKA The Con-tour Artist. This is described as rose pink shade, and whilst I do think that it looks quite pink in the palette, in my opinion it looks warmer and peachier on the skin and when it's swatched. The final colour that you get is Betty-Lou Manizer AKA The Bronzing Bandit. This as the name would suggest is a beautiful deep, copper bronzer shade, with an almost metallic shimmer to it

I've had quite a while to try these out now but unfortunately I still haven't managed to get a good picture of them on my face, so I'm afraid the swatches will have to do for now x All of these shades are actually very different and that's one of the reasons why I think that this palette is so versatile. I've mainly been using Cindy-Lou Manizer as a blush, and the Mary-Lou Manizer on my cheekbones, and at the moment because I'm quite pale I've actually been using the Betty-Lou Manizer as a beautiful coppery, bronze eye colour, with just a hint of the Mary-Lou Manizer to highlight my brow bone.

As you can see from my swatches the pigmentation is fantastic, The triple milling means that these powders are soft soft, and almost creamy to the touch, and whilst they all contain shimmer, they don't contain chunky glitter, and they don't have that gritty feel that you can often associate with some powder highlighters.

For me (and Charlie!) this palette is a winner, and I'm really pleased that I got this, rather than the Mary-Lou Manizer on it's own. The pans admittedly are smaller than full size, with the total weight of this palette being 11.3g compared to each individual full size weighing in 8.5g but for me personally I'll probably get more use out of this whole palette than I would out of one individual luminizer. The three colours are both multi functional, and super versatile, and this palette is definitely something that I'll use all year round.

the Balm Manizer Sisters Luminizer Trio retails are around £24 and is currently available from Debenhams, Look Fantastic, and Feelunique. If the whole palette isn't for you though you can buy each of the colours in the larger sizes individually from various retailers including ASOS, Debenhams, and Superdrug for a variety of differing price points ranging from £15-£20 Have you tried any of these luminizers or any other products from the Balm? Let me know in the comments x

The Balm Nude Dude Eyeshadow Palette Winner Revealed

I hope you're all on the edge of your seats and hanging on to every word that you're reading, because it's the moment that you've all been waiting for! It time to announce the winner of my 9th Blog Birthday giveaway!

It wasn't the most popular giveaway than I've ever held :( but I still received over 1500 entries. Thanks to every single one of you that entered. I've really enjoyed reading through your comments, and I'll definitely be taking a lot of your post suggestions on board, finances permitting ;) Unfortunately there can only be one winner and that winner, who was drawn randomly via Rafflecopter is....

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bryanna S 

Congratulations Bryanna x I'll be sending you an email shortly asking for your details x Thanks again to all of you that entered and I'm only sorry I couldn't give you all a prize. I have plenty more giveaways planned though including some nail polish giveaways and I since I hit 1000 Bloglovin followers during the course of this giveaway, I might hold a giveaway to celebrate that too :) So stay following, and reading for more chances to win.

The Balm Nude Dude Eyeshadow Palette - Review And Giveaway - CLOSED

When I first got into make up I was a compulsive experimenter when it came to eyeshadow I used to play with colour and texture pretty much every time I did my make up. As I've got older though and more experienced with make up, on a daily basis I tend to stick to what I know suits me and I save experimentation and play for special occasions.

So what does suit me? well at the risk of being boring - a nude brown or a smokey eye. It's quick and easy to do and you can use a nude eyeshadow palette to create everything from a simple day look, to a full on smokey, evening look. 

One nude eyeshadow palette would in theory probably fulfil most of my eyeshadow needs, but being the beauty junkie that I am, I have a huge collection of nude, and neutral eyeshadow palettes and singles. What can I say I love choice! I normally alternate my shadows but at the moment I seem to be using  just one palette over and over again.

I received The Balm Nude Dude Volume 2 Nude Eyeshadow Palette, for Christmas and it was love at first sight. 

Like most of the products in The Balm range this palette comes in cardboard packaging with an invisible magnetic fastening. As you  know cardboard packaging isn't always my favourite but in this case I'll make an exception. In my experience they scuff easily and they can look a bit scratty even after only a few uses but this ones comes complete with a removable cardboard sleeve which should keep it a little bit more protected. 

Open the palette up and your greeted with a large mirror, 12 eyeshadow colours and a small double ended shadow / liner brush.

So yeah all of the shadows are supposed to resemble naked men but we'll gloss over that ;) colour wise this is the perfect nude palette, that will take you from to night x 

The shadows themselves range from a beautiful creamy ivory, to golds, coppers, bronzes and pink nudes, to dark chocolate browns and a gorgeous dark, black, grey crammed full of sparkle. There are a couple of matte shades but the majority have a little bit of shimmer or even glitter shot through them. So what do they look like...

Top row from left to right - Fearless, Flawless, Firm, Flirty, Friendly, and Fierce

Bottom row from left to right - Fabulous, Faithful, Fit, Feisty, Funny and Fine.

I've read a few reviews of the first Nude Tude palette and a couple of them talk about chalky shadows and poor pigmentation but that's definitely something that you can't say about this palette. The shadows are velvety soft, and the pigmentation is superb on even the palest, and the matte shades. and they blend together like a dream. There is a little bit of fall out on some of the sparkly and shimmery colours but I can live with that, after all that's what a fan brush is for.

Speaking of brushes this palette also comes with a little double ended shadow and liner brush. Although it's not a full sized brush, it certainly isn't a throw away or an afterthought. The hairs are soft and smooth, and whilst it's soft enough to blend shadows, it's firm enough to use as a liner brush.

I haven't worn a lot of make up over the last month or so but when I have this is the shadow palette that I've reached for. The colours are really wearable and the quality of the shadows makes them quick and easy to use. If you love your nude eyeshadows then this is definitely a palette worth considering. The Balm Nude Dude Eyeshadow Palette retails at around £29.99 and available from the likes of Superdrug, and Debenhams.

Do you love this palette as much as I do? Well on Friday 12th February my blog is 9 years old! Yes I've blogging for nearly 9 years now! More on my blogging journey on Friday but to celebrate my blogging birthday I'm giving one of you the opportunity to win your very own The Balm Nude Dude Eyeshadow Palette. Yeah! aren't I a nice person! All you need to do is fill in the Rafflecopter form below before 6th March 2015 for a chance to win. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Remember the more times and ways you enter the better chance you have of winning. This giveaway is open worldwide and it's open to followers only so make sure you are following in the way you say because I will be checking. I would also appreciate it if you don't share this giveaway on competition sites or on giveaway message boards. I would love a genuine blog reader to win this giveaway if possible x Thanks for reading and if you have any questions please let me know, oh and good luck x 

FOTD and A Play

I'm a roll second post of the day :) this one is a little face of the day for you I filmed a You Tube video so I had another play with my Naked palette :)

OK so I took some pics, filmed my video then I played with my camera and would you believe it I might have found `a way to take some eye pics where you can actually see the colour and texture of the shadows -  it's a work in progress but it's a start sorry it's a bit creasy but you can get a better idea of the colours x

Let me know what you think as I say it's a work in progress xx

Today I Wore

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation - 100 Ivory
The Balm - Time Balm  -Light*
Boots No7 Trio Concealer - 2 lightest shades
Alva Coleur Organic Baked Foundation - Light (to set)*
Bourjois Coupe de Theatre 2 in1 Mascara - 51 Noir Exceptionnel
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil - Whiskey
Urban Decay Eyeshadows - Virgin, Sidecar and Darkhorse (all from the Naked palette)
Boots No7 Lipstick - Nude Rebellion

(*provided for review purposes)

FOTD - A Naked Cover Up

I did some a quick make up before we took the cats to the vets for their jabs this morning, I say super quick because it probably took less than 5 minutes which is a bit of a record for me - it was probably just as well because it took 10 minutes to get Jake into his basket - he ran up and downstairs about 5 times before we managed to catch him, and by that time my make up had just about given up hope! - I don't think it's the vet he dislikes, more the journey in the car he is exactly the same when he goes to the cattery :( Anyways normally I wouldn't have bothered with any make up for such a little journey but last night I tried a little bit of facial waxing - big mistake - my chin was bright red and all flaky, and more than a bit sore :( So I used some mineral make up which is much more gentle and less of an irritant to cover it up, and it seems to have done the job thankfully, I also had another little play with my Naked palette which is perfect for no make up, make up - Enjoy xx

awful FOTD pic




weird eye pics again






Today I Wore

id Bare Minerals Foundation - Medium Beige
ELF Sheer Mineral Booster
Boots No7 Trio Concealer
The Balm Time Balm - Light*
MAC Powder Blusher - Tenderling
MAC MSF -By Candlelight
Urban Decay Eyeshadows - Naked and Hustle (Naked Palette)
GOSH Velvet Touch Eyeliner - Truly Brown
Collection 2000 Big Fake False Lash Effect Mascara - 17 Ultra Black
NYX Lip Lacquer Pot - LLP04 Georgia Peach


Georgia Peach isn't that pigmented but it gives a lovely pale nude glossy glow :) Any questions please ask xx

(* provided for review purposes)

FOTD - You Make Me Feel Naked!!!

Sorry for the crap title lyrics you may not remember but there from a song by Louise "I have a sponsorship with Red magazine I'm in it so often" Redknapp, but never mind onto more positive things ;) today I did an eye look with my Naked palette - I'm sorry I may flirt with colours on my eyes but I am a neutral girl at heart -I love this palette more than I ever thought I would. I also used a palette for my cheeks using a depot from one of my MAC blusher palettes :) See 3rd September and I've dipped into two palettes already - enjoy xx





Sorry for the weird eye pic but you can see the colour better


Nudist Peach on it's own


Gold Charm over the top - I love this tony gold sparkles alas it's nearly bit the dust and is starting to smell weird but I am hanging onto because I love it - my first MAC lip product :)




Today I Wore

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation - 100 Ivory
Boots No 7 Concealer Trio (all colours blended)
The Balm Time Balm Concealer - Light*
Boots No 7 Translucent Loose Powder
MAC Prep + Prime Eye -Light
MAC Powder Blusher - The Perfect Cheek
MAC MSF - By Candleight
Urban Decay Eyeshadow - Sin (all over the lid) and Smog (in the crease and outer corner)-(both from the Naked palette)
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencil - Whiskey
Bourjois Coup de Theatre 2 in 1 Mascara - 51 Noir Excetionnel
Boots 17 Mirror Shine Lipstick - Nudist Peach
MAC Lipglass - Gold Charm

(*provided for review purposes,etc.etc....)

A Review Of L'Oreal Matte Morphose Foundation

I purchased this product a few months ago as part of a rather large Superdrug haul as per usual I was a sucker for a good offer, and snapped it up at an introductory price I've had a good chance to use it for a month or so, so I thought I'd let you know what I think. One of the biggest problems I have with my skin is oil/shine and open pores - this product sounded as though it was was the answer to my prayers - a 12 hour luminous matter finish - pres and wrinkles looking smoother bring it on!

The texture of this product intrigued me L'Oreal describe as a souffle foundation - I have tried mousse and cream foundations before but I've always been less than impressed, they are either to greasy or too dry and cakey on my skin, this though was something different.


It has a lovely light whipped texture which blends easily on the skin, without any caking or streaking, either over moisturiser or over primer. The best way I found of applying it was to apply a blob to the back of my hand and then apply it with a duo fibre type brush - this one is by Ruby + Millie it's a decent brush but it it terrible for shedding - a MAC or Sigma 187 or 131 would also work really well, I then went over it with a foundation sponge for a flawless finish. As you can seen in these pics the coverage really is good

Before

A very scary pic lots of redness, spots and shine

After

A pretty even complexion which is definitely less shiny, even without concealer and powder

I have to admit I tended to powder down my t-zone with this after a few hours so I am not convinced about the 12 hour claim but I still removed make up from my skin about about 12 hours both with and without primer so that has to be a good thing. I only have two main gripes about the foundation, first of all you seem to use a lot of it and you only get 20ml in the jar which means it probably isn't going to last long, and also the colour choice. There is only 6 colours to choose from which isn't the greatest shade range - I got 110 Rose Ivory but to be fair I probably could have got another couple of shades - they seemed to be pretty similar. Having said that I actually really liked this foundation I am not convinced this shade would work for me in the depths of winter but it's a nice foundation and I have already repurchased. L'Oreal Matte Morphose Souffle Foundation is around £11.99 from all L'Oreal stockists. Any questions please let me know x

Face Of Yesterday

I had to pop to the Post Office yesterday so I decided to take my foundation test pics before I went, so I decided to show you the rest of the make up that I wore in a delayed FOTD :) Again no neutral eyes, I went for a shimmery silver / lilac look, pretty pink cheeks, and glossy pink lips - enjoy xx





Yesterday I Wore

L'Oreal Matte Morphose Foundation - 110 Rosy Ivory
Boots No 7 Concealer Trio (all colours blended)
The Balm Time Balm Concealer - Light*
Boots No 7 Translucent Loose Powder
MAC Blush Ombre - Azalea Blossom
Benefit High Beam
Scarlett & Crimson Creme Eyeshadow - Silver Spoon (from The Smokey Trio)
MAC - Idol Eyes
Max Factor False Lash Effect Waterproof Mascara - Black
Avon Daring Definition Cream Eyeliner - Black
Revlon Colorburst - 020 Baby Pink
Random Pale Pink Lancome Juicy Tube

(*provided for review purposes)