Mac Melba DUPE!

Hi guys!! Long time no blog!

I have been ver ver busy and I'm sorry for the super long gap between blogs ~ today though, I hope I have something to make up for it!

If you have heard of Make Up Revolution, you will know this is a new brand on the shelves that people are going crazy for. 

Excellent pigmentation, palettes that are amazing dupes for Urban Decay Naked 1, 2 AND 3! Oh yes people.

The best bit? The price. This is a budget line that has similar price points to MUA and both are available at Superdrug. 

Yesterday I went shopping to see what the hype was all about and I can safely say... It's the real deal.

On my journey through the MUR stand I spotted the blushers. And I picked up two. 

As soon as I saw them I knew they were similar to Mac Melba - one of the MOST popular blushes at Mac because it suits practically all skin tones and makes you look as healthy as you wish you really were..

 

Here we have the three blushes together. Mac Melba at the top.

The closest dupe is Treat, as seen next to Melba.

And this is the swatch of truth! I think Treat is a fabulous dupe for the £18.50 Melba. At £2 for the Make Up Revolution blush you really cannot complain. Treat is just as soft and buttery and pigmented as it's MAC cousin, however I will say, that Melba is a much deeper shade and you can really intensify the colour by adding more blush. With Treat, what you see is what you get, still a beautiful and pigmented product! 

Love is a much softer shade, this one gives the most beautiful glow to the cheek and I actually popped it just under my cheek bone, I love it a lot.. I can see these two blushes becoming daily favourites. 

So what do you think? I suggest you all put Make Up Revolution on your Christmas lists or go and treat yourself, I can't recommend the products enough. 

See you next time! <3

Ally <3

Find me on Instagram! - xallybeanx

Business Email - allybeanexchange@gmail.com

Mac Heirloom Collection

This year the collections from Mac have been coming thick and fast, with some beauty guru's on You Tube struggling to keep up and remember the names! 

Knowing the high demand for these limited edition collections, I have steered clear since the Spring.. Until now...

Welcome the Heirloom Collection.

This is the "holiday" collection this year and oh my.. It looks special. 

The packaging on most of the products is black, with white/silver specks sorted across it. For some products - the eye shadows and brushes - they have designed cases that exudes cameo-esque vintage glamour. 

It is not just the glamorous packaging but the products themselves... 

 

Blush. Modest Blush is a pale salmon pink, Sweet Sentiment is a rose pink. 

Lipsticks..

Tribalist (deep berry), No Faux Pas (hot pink), Sparks of Romance (true red), Rebel (plum - permanent shade), Salon Rouge (berry red). 

Lipglass..

Ceremonial (hot pink), Seeking Adoration (plum pink), Social Season (violet with blue sparkles), Romantic Overture (clear with sparkles), Courting Chic (berry red with sparkles).

Pressed pigments..

Regal Affair (white, opal pearl), Nostalgic (light salmon beige), Nobel Descent (deep mauve), Victorian Plum (plum with violet), Enchantment (violet and blue sparkles), Modern Majesty (brown with green pearl sheen), Noblesse Oblige (deep frosty brown), Prim and Proper (black with grey sparkles).

Eyeshadow palettes..

There are also nail laquers, fluid lines, eye kohls and glitter pigments available. 

I honestly think this is an incredibly beautiful collection and having looked up swatches it looks like those of us who will be indulging in this collection will not be disappointed!

Will you be picking anything up? What takes your fancy? 

See you next time!

Ally <3

Find me on Instagram - xallybeanx 

Business email - allybeanexchange@gmail.com

<3

Your Purse Friendly Beauty Buys

Choosing make up products in a busy drug store can sometimes, be a little daunting.

You might be a student on a budget, you might need quite a few things and not want to spend too much, whatever the reason there is a huge selection of gorgeous and brilliant products out there for you to enjoy! 

But where to start?! I have put together just a few of my favourite drugstore beauty products, so that if you are off shopping you know where to go for some amazing, purse friendly products! 

 

Foundation - 

For day to day I use my Revlon BB cream, I was not a fan of BB creams until I tried this baby, it gives you a healthy glow and light to medium coverage.

For bad skin days my trusty On the Spot foundation comes out. It's just lovely and contains salicylic acid to help banish those pesky blemishes. Both have SPF.

 Concealer -

 

My favourite concealer by far is the Rimmel match perfection, after I have applied this I look fresh, awake and healthy. 

On the days when I need a bit of extra help, I bust out the war paint... Or Phwoarr Paint! Be warned... This concealer is not for the lightly hearted, this bad boy will cover anything!! 

Powder -

 This powder is far more lovely, than my Stila illuminating powder that I paid £28 for... It's beautiful. Flip up the powder compartment and there is a mirror and sponge. Perfect. I'm currently have four powders on the go so I did not pick this up... You can bet I will have cracked by next week and I will have it in my collection! 

Cream Eyeshadow -

I have included cream eye shadow because it's such an easy way to give your eyes a beautiful wash of colour, in seconds. I use both of these products a huge amount. Chanel, Estée Lauder and other high end make up companies also sell these products because they can look so sophisticated... So for under a fiver you can't go wrong!

Mascara - 

Miss Manga mascara for me is a holy grail, but Seventeen mascaras certainly hold a solid second, Seventeens Baby Doll mascara is also gorgeous for natural, fluttery lashes!

Eye shadow -

Sleek eyeshadows are some of the most pigmented on the market. Intense and buttery soft, shimmery and matte, you have an amazing selection of palettes to choose from! 

Blusher -

Please try them.. Put them on your Christmas list, treat yourself, just try them. Go in with a light hand, both are highly pigmented.. Try Sleeks "Flushed" this winter for a stunning rosey glow.. 

Lips - 

With MUA (exclusive to Superdrug) and Collection lip products you can't go wrong.

Collection has a number of lipsticks to chose from that give beautiful pigmentation and staying power. From nudes to statement brights their formulas are so creamy and lovely you can't possibly regret trying them.

The MUA intense kisses are quite possibly my favourite glosses. Intense is true and they make your lips look plump and luscious and for only £3.. Try the MUA lipsticks if you can, they are £1. Get a few. You'll love them.

And that's it! Pop some of these in your make up bag and baby, you are good to go. 

Do you own any of these products? Let me know what you think of them! <3

See you next time!

Ally x

Find me on Instagram - xallybeanx 

Business contact - allybeanexchange@gmail.com

<3

Boudoir Eye Palette ~ Day Time to Evening Smokey Eye

Using the Too Faced Boudoir Eyes palette I created a slightly different take on a smokey eye, that can take you from day to night just by adding one shade.

To begin, I applied my base using Too Faced Primed and Poreless primer, then mixed the Nourish Illuminating Face Shimmer with my foundation of choice. I set this with the Primed and Poreless powder. 

I then used Sleek blush in "coral" and used a sweep of a bronzer to add more glow to my skin! 

I then prepped my eyelids by using Mac Paintpot in "painterly."

This cancels out any discolouration on my eye lids and I love Painterley because it is matte, and gives me a perfectly blank canvas.

On to the shadow! 

To start I used Fuzzy Handcuffs in my crease, from the outer corner, right to the inside corner, making sure to buff the shadow upwards, but not too far!

Next I took In The Buff and applied this to my brow bone.

I then took Garter Belt and this is where you want a light hand.. I applied this grey toned shadow from the inner corner of my eye, upwards towards my eyebrow, making sure it did not go on to my eyelid.

 

I took the same shadow in Garter Belt on the outer corner but blended it upwards slightly towards my eyebrow, and then took it slightly through the crease.

Pop a bit under the lash line for definition.

Lastly I took Satin Sheets and with my finger, and popped it right on the inside corner of my eyelid, but only up to half way, I just wanted a pop of light and a contrast to the smokey ness of the look. 

On my lips I have Mac Pink Plaid. 

For the transition from day to night, it couldn't be more simple.

I wanted to add a little drama, so from the same Boudoir Eye palette I took French Tickler and gently applied it over the Garter Belt from earlier. Taking time to blend it in with the previous shadows. You can also reapply any of the other shadows to make them more vibrant and fresh.

To change my lips up I used Revlon Moisture Stain in Parisian Passion, I love this because it is long wearing, so I didn't have to worry about reapplying! 

And that's it! I really enjoyed creating this look, don't forget that you can make your own rules with a smokey eye, change things up a little and play around. That's the beauty of make up!

See you next time!

Ally <3

Follow me on Instagram - xallybeanx

Business Email - allybeanexchange@gmail.com

Your Glow To Autumn Look...

Feeling autumn inspiration :-)

I love my Sleek Face Form palette, and I have used it for over a year now. 

Sleek got it's reputation for incredible pigmentation and affordable prices and I looked at my palette this weekend and thought.. Hey baby... There is more to you!

And I did a thing! Let me know what you think!

I started by applying my base of Revlon BB cream and Loreal concealer, I set them in place with Too Faced Pressed and Poreless.

I then applied the contour shade, blush and highlight where I usually would. I applied a little more blusher than usual to give more of a glow.

I then took a crease brush and applied the contour shade to the crease of my eye... Like so...

When I felt I had enough definition, I took my ring finger and took some of the blusher colour all over my eye lids... 

Like that! 

I then took a smaller brush and took the highlight shade to my brow bone and inner corners. 

I also filled in my brows quickly with my Revlon tinted brow gel... 

For my lips I went with a nude Revlon lip gloss, because my eyes were brighter I wanted to keep the look soft and daytime appropriate! 

And there you have it, face and eyes with one palette. It took about 10 minutes which is a record for me! I absolutely love this and I'm really excited to share it with you, I'm experimenting with other ideas that are similar so I will keep you posted!

What do you think? Would you wear it? 

See you next time! 

Ally <3

Find me on Instagram - xallybeanx 

Business email - allybeanexchange@gmail.com

August Favourites and Not So Favourite!!

September is here and Autumn is nearly upon us and our make up and skin care is changing with the seasons.. So what worked for me during the last full summer month?

Let's do this! 

 The Good Things Manuka Honey Creamy Cleanser. Honey has antibacterial properties and along with a lovely group of other fabulous ingredients, this cleanser is something else. Not only does my skin feel really clean and fresh, it's also incredibly soft, and doesn't feel tight and uncomfortable, which is a huge bonus! Big love for this range! 

Next up! The Ole Henriksen Make Up Removing wipes. These wipes were pricey at £12.50. Worth it? Yes. If you can afford to go a little higher up the scale, these wipes have a delicate scent, and have just the right amount of product on, not too wet, not too dry. They are gentle and yet remove make up so throughly, if you are exhausted and just can't face your usual nightly routine, you could use these alone. Just brilliant.

Revlon Lip Products are a bit of an obsession for me at the moment. I've only just bought the Matte Balms and Lacquer Balms.. They are so soft, so comfortable to wear! The colours, so flattering and diverse. Then Revlon released the Moisture Stains in the UK and oh.. Sweet sweet Revlon. They make me so happy. The Moisture Stains go on like a dream, they coat your lips in a buttery layer of a glossy formula, which, depending on how much you apply will eventually settle to a delicate balmy stain. 

I love them. I can't get enough of them.

More for the lips... "Lip Balm" .. £1.99 from H&M these gorgeously packaged, jumbo tubes of balm are magical. Do they have the tears of unicorns in them? I don't know, what I do know is they leave my lips so soft and so happy, that whatever is in them is okay in my book! 

Try the Vanilla Apple, the scent is delicate and sweet and pout perfect! 

I bought this quad from Yves Saint Laurent a few months ago, and I've been enjoying it sure, but this month it's been out every day. The dusky rose shade all over the lid, the lightest shade in my inner corner to brighten my eyes and one of the darker shades just to add a little depth, it's beautiful. I sometimes add a matte shadow in the crease and sometimes I just use the lightest shade, anyway I use this, it's flattering and tasteful. Which I don't always find easy to perfect!

I have also used the lightest shade as a highlight and it is stunning. 

And sadly, my not so favourite...

The Trevor Sorbet Styling Texture Paste. This is a bizarre product, it is a whipped formula, and when I apply it to my newly short hair to style it, it won't hold the style. At least it adds a little friction though right? 

Wrong. After just one hour this product had all but disappeared. There was nothing left! My hair was silky and as if I had just washed it (which I had that morning) so I did not attribute that to the paste! 

I have tried this a number of times now, and it's always the same. For me, it just doesn't work. Goodbye styling paste!

Well that's it! Autumn officially begins on September 22nd, let's enjoy these last few weeks of summer and head into the next season with warm fluffy slippers, scented candles and snuggling up in the cold weather. Who else is excited?? 

See you next time!

Ally <3 

Follow me on Instagram! - xallybeanx 

Find me on Bloglovin' - allybeanexchange

Business email - allybeanexchange@gmail.com

<3

Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stains

Happy September Everyone!!

I bring to you today, a review on the relatively new Colorstay Moisture Stains by Revlon.

                                   

When these first arrived in the U.K I was not impressed. When I swatched the product, the formula seemed almost like a mousse, it applied terribly to my hand, it looked uncomfortable, and so I passed.

But of course, with You Tube reviews and pictures on Instagram, I couldn't resist for very long...

                                                   

Initially I chose three shades, LA Exclusive, Rio Rush, and New York Scene. I later went back for more...

These new lip products are phenomenal. They totally transform your lips and have seriously upped the game in terms of drugstore and high street lip cosmetics.

The official description says that they drench the lips in glossy wet colour, that they are an ultra light creamy lip stain with vitamin E and aloe, and that 88% of woman felt their lips were instantly moisturized without stickiness.

Personally, it does indeed drench my lips in a stunning colour, whatever shade I might chose that day, and it is light weight, and comfortable. After a few hours, the shine dies down and you are left with a balmy stain. It is beautiful, it feels beautiful.
The application has a wide portion, and a fine tip, this means you can swipe the applicator over your lips covering them very quickly and with the fine tip, reach the more delicate areas...




I am finding myself choosing to wear these lip stains over my other favourite products.It seems that people either love this formula or hate it and find it uncomfortable, I think the reason they swatch so differently on the hand, is that it has been formulated to sink into the lips, and create a balm-stain effect. As the skin is so different on the hand to the lips, it behaves differently, so don't let that put you off!

I cannot praise these highly enough and would recommend them to everyone, you can have a sheer wash of colour or build it up, which gives the illusion your lips are fuller. If you haven't already, pick one up. Try it for yourself...

                            

                                                             Happy shopping! <3

See you next time!

Ally <3

Find me on Instagram - xallybeanx
Follow me on Bloglovin - allybeanexchange
Business Enquiries - allybeanexchange@gmail.com

I made a mistake...

Have you ever picked up the wrong product and happily applied it and then...

Mistake number one!



This one stung... I had just shaved my legs and was happily applying oil to my fresh pins and... yeah... I howled. Don't mistake Baby Oil for black head oil!!

Mistake number two!



Picking up my brightening eye cream in the morning to try and help my poor peepers appear more awake... or so I thought. Yes, I had actually picked up the Rimmel Instant Radiance Shimmer Touch. No wonder my eyes looked brighter...

Mistake number three!



I sprayed a moisturizer under my arms instead of my deodorant. It was wet.

Have you ever picked up the wrong product by accident? I really need to pay more attention!

See you next time!

Ally <3

Find me on Instagram - xallybeanx
Follow me on Bloglovin - allybeanexchange
Business Enquiries - allybeanexchange@gmail.com