Cloud 10 Beauty | ft. Sleek & Blank Canvas

Cloud 10 Beauty | ft. Sleek & Blank Canvas

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Changing my makeup routine is something that occurs seasonally, especially the transition from the cool winter tones to vibrant summer shades. Summer is all about colour for me - I love to spice up my eyeshadow routine by adding a splash of colour to my crease or applying a dramatic orange lip. Either way, I am always excited to increase my Summer appropriate makeup collection. As you will see throughout the next few months, many of my upcoming posts will show you how I like to style my clothes, what I get up to and of course, my go-to makeup of the ever-loved season of Summer.

Today's post includes a beautiful little palette chaperoned by a very practical blending brush...more onto that later. First, I'm here to talk about Cloud 10 Beauty - an incredible online online retailer, similar to Feel Unique, that sells some of the nation's most popular brands including : Sleek, Bioderma, Bourjois, theBalm, EOS, Eylure, Sigma and many other worldwide favourites. Want to know the products I received in my first ever parcel from Cloud 10 Beauty? Then carry on reading, I'm sure you will love the palette as much as I do... 

Sleek Eyeshadow Palette - Storm

Storm - one of the most raved about palettes since I bought my first product Sleek product. I was ecstatic when I received this; an array of deep colours that push me out of my comfort zone. I'm not one to wear lots of bright, 'out-there' shades, as I don't think they suit me but I do love to add a pop of colour to an Summer outfit. This palette will do just the job because the blue and green shadows are toned down, allowing those who aren't as comfortable at pulling off crazy colour, like myself, the chance to branch out a bit more. Prior to this package, I own and have tried Sleek shadows before so I was expecting great things from this palette. The creamy and highly pigmented formula enabled the product to be applied onto both the lid and the crease with ease. Pigmentation is something I love about eyeshadow; the product can last for ages as you only need the tiniest amount on your brush. Also, the chalky texture allows efficient blending - when I first swatched the Sleek shadows in store, I was scared about the chalky feel. However, the product is easily blendable and simply to work with. I would also recommend applying this before face makeup as you can get a lot of fall out on your cheeks. Finally, the palette is filled with matte and shimmer shades - the shimmer are so pretty for evening wear and the matte shades are insane as transition colours. My favourite shades are Sand Storm (a golden glitter), Perfect Storm (a rose gold) and Storm Cloud (a cool-toned green, not my usual type but I think it will look pretty against dark eyes). 

Blank Canvas Cosmetics - Eye Brush E10

Cloud 10 Beauty clearly thought about practicality when they generously sent a blending brush alongside the palette. This was exciting as I had never used, or heard of, Blank Canvas Cosmetics before; an Irish Cosmetics brand that sell brushes, applicators and makeup products. The brush sent was perfect to fit comfortably in my crease, not too big and not too small. The thin, fluffy bristles allow product to be swept over the lid, creating a soft finish as well as being flexible to fit into the crease. E10 was utilised to my advantage; this is simply because I do not get on with the doe-foot applicators present in drugstore, and even highend, shadow palettes. They always apply products too cakey onto my lid and feel rough against my skin. Fortunately, Blank Canvas Cosmetics had soft-haired brushes that left my lids in good, healthy condition, as they should be! Haha! If you want to pick up a bargain, definitely head over to Cloud 10 Beauty through the link above as all eye brushes are below £10 which is insane for the quality you are given.

Let me know if you wish to see an in-depth eye look revolving around these two products, either on my blog or my upcoming Youtube channel.

Do you own anything from Sleek or Blank Canvas? What is your go-to eye look for the Summer?

Lots of love

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This post is in collaboration with Cloud 10 Beauty; however all opinions are honest and my own.

The Perfect Beauty Guide

The Perfect Beauty Guide

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Rebateszone Scarlet Slipper

Historical evidence suggests that by 8000 BC humans had started domesticating animals. It was also during this time that the concept of agriculture was developed. After these two things had been

achieved, civilization came along naturally. The oldest known human civilization to date is the

Mesopotamian civilization. And even as far back as that beauty was a thing worthy of pursuit. Almond oil, a material used in most modern moisturizers, was the primary moisturizer used to beautify the skin. It was also used as a perfume. Likewise, another popular product today, kohl (eye liner), was used by Mesopotamians for beauty and to treat eye diseases.

After such a long history documenting the pursuit of beauty, it is only natural that we are inclined to

follow in the footsteps of our ancestors. It is not only essential from a purely aesthetic perspective, but also from a health perspective. Taking care of your skin and body will keep you away from awful

diseases and fast aging. However, we understand that beauty was generally considered a pastime of the rich. This is no longer valid. Today we have something which the past generations did not: extensive knowledge of the human body. So, we disagree with the popular perception that pursuing beauty is expensive. But, it does take your time.

The best way to go about it is to make a routine and follow it strictly. Divide activities on a daily, weekly, fortnightly, and monthly basis. Daily activities would cover proper hygiene and a good night’s sleep, along with a good healthy diet. Weekly activities can include yoga sessions, hair care, taking care of your nails, have a spa like experience, etc. Fortnightly activities include hair removal, manicure, pedicure, etc. Of course, most of these are a matter of personal preference and you can devise your own activities along the way. You can buy most of the stuff via these coupons from Groupon.

We have arranged all this and more in a neat little infographic to make it easy for you. Modify it to your needs for maximum benefit.

Ombre Matte Lips ¦ Cailyn Cosmetics

Ombre Matte Lips ¦ Cailyn Cosmetics

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Ombre lips have become an ongoing, increasingly popular trend over the past two years. Being a beauty fanatic, I quite disappointed in myself that I hadn't indulged in this trend sooner as I'm a huge fan of the outcome. I absolutely love the gradient effect as one colour merges into another; bright colours always look incredible. They make your lips pop and give that plumped effect, giving the illusion your lips are bigger than they actually are.

Cailyn Cosmetics are a beauty brand that specialize in cosmetics and skin care. They offer non animal-testing products and the majority do not contain harmful ingredients, like phthalates and petrochemicals. This company derived from the United States and ship internationally. When the people at Cailyn Cosmetics contacted me, I was more than thrilled to receive one of their infamous lip contour kits! Read more to find out how I achieved this ombre lip look and a little insight into the 3 shades...

Bright colours are the 'go' this season so I had no other choice than to opt for the beautiful 'Purple Lilac Trio' from the 8 Blossoms range. Wrapped in a double layer of brand-printed tissue paper, I was excited to see the three different colours and how they complimented each other. Each liquid lipstick is held in a sleek plastic tube with a mirrored lid - the packaging is simplistic which I think gives the brand an appearance of sophistication.

When it comes to the application, the thin doe-foot applicators are easy to use; it took me a while to get used to them, as I had never owned a lipstick/gloss with a flexible wand, but I got the hang of it after a couple of practices. The formula is a huge winner for me! After applying the product, you have to wait 1-2 minutes, which really isn't long at all, for the formula to dry and set. A matte effect is swiftly created, leaving the product feeling secure on the lips. Therefore, the lasting power exceeded my expectations; I have eaten and drank with this lipstick on and nothing moves. Not even a glimpse of purple on the side of my glass. I was impressed that it survived a whole day without budging, although it took a hell of a lot to come off. It took 3-4 cotton pads with cleansing water to take off, which left my lips slightly sore. However, finding a product that lasts on the lips for an entire day without budging is impossible so really, this isn't a negative downfall. 

"High Voltage Colour + Perfectly Matte + Waterproof"

The lightest shade I received was the shade 19 - a blue-toned 'barbie pink' that appears true to the colour in the tube on the lips. This is probably the most wearable of the three shades, if you would prefer to wear them individually for easy, day time use. Although 19 is the lightest shade of the three, the colour is opaque on the lips, only one swipe of product is needed to achieve a single layer. This is such a fun summer shade for those wanting to create a bold look or want to match a vibrant outfit to your makeup. Also, this colour works the best with the lighter purple, as seen in the ombre look above. These two cooperate to form a wearable ombre effect on the lips, without feeling too self conscious.

Out of the trio, this definitely has to be my favourite shade. The deep indigo-purple complements my dark hair and cool complexion. Shade 14 will be perfect for an intense evening look or even to go bold at a festival. This shade is very well-loved already and I know this will be on my lips all summer. Although bright colours are usually a Summer thing, I totally think this can work all seasons!

The darkest shade is this extremely deep purple with navy blue undertones; however, when applied to the lips this can look almost black. All shades are cool-toned so work in favour of one another when applied all together. The purple arises after the formula dries on the lips. If I were to solely wear Shade 16 on its own, I would definitely rock it at a halloween party. I think it will look incredible with a dark purple eye and thick lashes. Despite the dark colour, it is not any more difficult to get off than the other colours.

Above are swatches of all the colours mentioned in order. Let me know in the comments which is your favourite. Overall, my ultimate impression is very high. The formula is impressive with its ability to turn matte after 2 minutes - a lot of companies 'catfish' and say their lipsticks are matte but still have that glossy sheen left on the surface. Additionally, I love how the three colours work together - you are able to pair two colours up, wear them individually or all together. Now, I would absolutely love to try one of the nude sets because I'm yet to try a nude lipstick that stays matte for an entire day.

Are you a fan of the ombre lip trend? Which colour of the Purple Lilac Trio was your favourite?!

Lots of love

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This post is in collaboration with Cailyn Cosmetics. However, all opinions are honest and my own.

Brand Focus : Butter London

Brand Focus : Butter London

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Vibrancy and intensity are always summer 'thing' but this year companies are going crazy to compete for the best, unique range of summer perfect products. For some reason, the sun energizes me and gives me more confidence in my skin and my general being. I'm not sure exactly why that is but I'm sure that there is a scientific reason for it - everyone associates the sun with positivity after all...

Butter London is a brand I'm sure most of you have heard of - they are a company who are infamously known for their buttery, opaque nail polishes. Being rather slow in the grips of social media, I never really knew they sold other makeup products so when I got the opportunity to give some of their cosmetics a test, I was more than merrier to do so. Personally, I'm a huge fan of glossy, bright lips in the summer - moisture is key and I cannot stand matte lipsticks sinking into the crevices of my lips. NO THANK YOU. Instead, I opted for some very 'out there' liquid lipsticks that leave a glossy shine.

Fortunately, Butter London ever so kindly wrapped up two nail polishes to accompany my requested liquid lipsticks. I was thrilled to see varnishes that matched the seasonal colour scheme - bright oranges and yellows are incredibly eye-catching and on the nails, they can add extra warmth to a Summer's day outfit. The two shades I received were CHUFFED and CHEEKY CHOPS. Chuffed is a stunning orange glitter with golden flecks of glitter running throughout. The glitters would complement a gorgeous golden cheekbone highlight - matching nail colour to makeup can really help to enhance your favourite features. As this polish is a glitter, application requires two thin coats to achieve a full opaque coverage. Cheeky chops is bright yellow; it is slightly toned down which makes it more wearable for those not brave enough to rock a crazy fluorescent number. This shade achieves opaque perfection with a single light coat, leaving a glossy finish. Butter London nail varnishes contain vitamins that aid nail strength - something I definitely need with my poor stubby excuses for nails! They also provide a consistent, smooth layer on the nail.  

Liquid lipsticks are an evergrowing trend among the beauty lovers out there; I am a huge fan of this trend - who wouldn't want moisturized, opaque lips in the simple swipe of an applicator? The two shades I received are La Moss and Primrose Hill Picnic. La Moss is a burgundy, red-wine - the coverage lays between an opaque matte lipstick and a lipgloss with a formula rich in shea butter, creating a beautiful moisturized feel on the lips. Primrose Hill Picnic is a tropical pink - I'd say it is in between a fuschia and 'Barbie' pink. The underlying blue tones allow the product to compliment my cool skin tone, which is always a bonus on vibrant colours you are a bit tentative to wear in public. This shade would look insane on holiday - it reminds me all the tropical flowers you would see on a secluded, exotic island. You can tell I've got eternal holiday blues!!!

Don't forget to head over to Butter London to check out all their cosmetics range, as well are their very-loved varnishes. Let me know what you think of them.

Which lip colour is your favourite? Do you own any products from Butter London?

Lots of love

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This post is in collaboration with Butter London, however all opinions are honest and my own.

Brand Focus : Models Own

Brand Focus : Models Own

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Nail painting for me is always a chore. I find it so difficult to paint my short nails and wait for them to dry - I'm waaaay too impatient! However, I can't resist the temptation of buying nail polishes and testing the colours immediately. Therefore, when I got in touch with Model's Own, I was more than happy to share my thoughts and opinions on their products.

Models Own are a cosmetics brand, sold in drugstore like Boots and Superdrug, that sell stunning nail varnishes alongside an evergrowing range of other products (eyeshadow, lipgloss etc). Over a long period of time, I have been a large fan of the company because they produce incredible opaque polishes for a reasonable price. With other drugstore nail polishes, I find that they lack in intensity and require more than one coat to build up to its true potential. However, I've never experienced this flaw in Model's Own formula and find that applying a single layer is all you need, making me extremely happy because I don't have to wait 30 minutes for several layers to dry.

*Disclaimer - my nails are horrendously short and I can't apply nail polish for sh*t so please don't judge the swatches below*

When I received my package, I was thrilled to see 6 summer-perfect polishes awaiting me to test them. All the colours, for me, are wearable because I'm not that fussy with colours matching outfits. Fortunately, I was gifted 4 Hyper Gel polishes in which hold similar qualities to that of a gel-manicure at a salon (high pigmentation, hi-shine etc). Alongside this, I received on of their classic polishes to compare with the gel finish and a 'special effects' Chrome shade from their new range.

Hyper Gel White Light

An simple, classic true white with high pigmentation and shine. The hi-shine effect, derived from the gel formulation, ensures that the nails glisten under the sunlight. This is perfect for the Summer - white looks incredible against dark/tanned skin!

Hyper Gel Summer Solstice

Orange is another colour that always looks beautiful on sunkissed skin. This deep, rustic orange glides on the nails with ease via the precise applicator. Also, Hyper Gel's always seem to last a lot longer on the nails than the original polishes - I definitely think the incredible, thick gel formula has something to do with this!

Sarong Wrap

A bright yellow to match the sun, accompanied by a beach-friendly name. I love brands that come up with appropriate, qwerky names to call their products - it's the little things that matter! Although this is border-line on my comfort zone, I will definitely be wearing this out in the summer to complement the sun (if we ever do get some in England!!) as I'm rather tentative drawing attention to my gross nails.

Hyper Gel Persian Pink

A blue-toned pink that is perfect for everyday wear. Wearing pink polish is something I opt for on a daily basis as the colour is feminine, classy yet simplistic. I also love how the blue undertones have toned down the vibrancy of the pink - this totally makes it more wearable for me as my cool skin tone doesn't look good against the typical 'Barbie' pink.

Hyper Gel Loganberry

The last of the Hyper Gel range I was gifted was this beautiful, deep cherry red. This will look incredible in the Autumnal months accompanied by a dark red lip. The Gel effect specifically showed on this darker colour - the pigmentation was the best and the shine glowed when exposed to light. I cannot wait for Autumn so I can wear this constantly!

Chrome Pink

Finally, my absolute favourite shade - a metallic rose pink with silver, iridescent glimmers. I cannot begin to describe the love I have for this polish - I have not stopped wearing it since I received it. The silver and pink really work together, giving off a glamorous shine under rays of light. Also, I was very impressed with the uniqueness of this range - I was yet to find an intense, metallic polish from the drugstore until I met this collection for Model's Own. You will definitely be seeing more from this range in the future - I cannot wait to go and pick up some other stunning chromes!!

What are you favourite nail polishes? Do you own anything from Models Own?

Lots of love

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*This post is in collaboration with Models Own. However, all opinions are honest and my own.*

Luxury Products You NEED In Your Makeup Bag

Luxury Products You NEED In Your Makeup Bag

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Over my years of makeup hoarding and testing loads of different products, I have come to terms with what works for me and what looks like a complete disaster. Recently, I've been trying to narrow down my makeup into a very small 'ten products you can't live without'. However, I found this too challenging, as I'm a huge lover of both the expensive and affordable makeup. Therefore, I would like to bring to you part 1 of my favourite makeup products of all time. 

Also, I've been thinking about uploading my top 10 drugstore products of all time over on my Youtube Channel to coincide with this blog post. I'm starting a Youtube Channel in the next few months as I am so close to saving up for a new, good quality camera. I cannot wait to start making videos and hopefully receive a positive response, as I've been sooooo scared to do this. If you are interested in watching my future youtube videos, don't hesistate to click on the link above or type 'CharlotteEmilyXXXX' to find my channel and subscribe. Leave a comment below if you do!

On with the fun stuff...

FACE

Without a doubt, I always prioritise my highend base goodies over my (also-very-loved) drugstore ones. Personally, I feel that they provide such a luxurious feel on the skin, alongside creating an effect that lives up to their high prices. I'm 100% a full coverage girl and my NARS Sheer Glow fulfills my every need; with a smooth, silky finish, even complexion and long-lasting power, this foundation is one to settle anyone's 'flawless finish' needs. Accompanying Sheer Glow comes my trusty NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. Nars base products really work on my skin, building a firm base with a glowing radiance that counteracts my dryness. This concealer does my under eye circles wonders - illuminating my dull areas (under eyes, around my nose) and my T zone to highlight the centre of my face. 

Powder products are definitely my safety net when it comes to adding extra definition to my face. Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess, which you are probably sick-to-death hearing about from me, is a dream to blend when contouring, accentuating the hollows of my cheeks and structuring my face. The tiny golden flecks running through the product makes it perfect for the summer months when you want your face to glow under the sunlight. Blush is something I have love-hate relationship with; I am horrendously bad at applying the correct amount to my cheeks so I tend to avoid wearing it. However, after picking up MAC's Melba at the beginning of 2016, creating a soft, flushed effect has never been so easy. The warm, peach undertones form a natural look on my cheeks, something I've been wanting to achieve for months years! Saving the best till last - highlight!!! MAC'S infamous Soft and Gentle and The Balm's Mary Lou Manizer are the highlights you will always find lurking in my makeup bag; I alter between the two depending on my makeup look. If I've chosen cooler tones on my eyes/lips, I will opt for Mary Lou. Alternatively, Soft and Gentle compliments warmer tones so I pop some of that on my cheeks when I'm wearing a copper shadow and I'm good to go :)

EYES

Finding a single eyeshadow palette that I adore with all my heart was a challenge - I own many a shadow palette so it was very difficult to decide which met all my criteria. The Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette won! This was simply because it met everything I could ever want in a shadow palette - a mixture of matter and shimmers, intense pigmentation, all wearable/versatile shades, a variety of colours, a handy mirror and sleek packaging to fit in your makeup bag. I will honestly never stop raving about this palette because I love it soooo freaking much! My most used shadow is definitely Creme Brulee - it creates a gorgeous golden lid colour for those days where you just cant be bothered to spend 113432 hours perfecting your eye makeup.

LIPS

Another very difficult product to condense into my top favourites were my lipsticks. Fortunately, I've managed to narrow my choices to my top 3 lippies - a deep pink, a nude and a dark shade. Starting from the left, Charlotte Tilbury's stunning rose-gold packaging holds my all-time favourite 'your-lips-but-better- shade - BOND GIRL. This cool-toned, mauve pink is perfect for everyday wear but can also look glamorous in the evening too. The versatility of this lipstick is endless and it will never leave my purse/handbag/pocket no matter where I am. Nudes are my fall back if I'm wearing little makeup or don't want to draw any attention to myself - Chanel's Satisfaction is always something I go back to when I acquire a nude lip. The creamy formula feels incredibly luxurious on your lips and lasts for several hours, not something many lip products can do. Lastly, MAC's Dark Side is a more recent discovery; the dark, red/purple undertones really complement my ivory complexion and leave a thin, yet intense, satin finish.

What are you favourite high end makeup products? Do you have any dupes for the products I mentioned above?!

Lots of love