eyes – Page 4

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Collection Review & Swatches

January 22, 2025 - 10:54 am | January 22, 2025 eyes, lips, makeup

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Estée Lauder x Ladurée Collection Review & Swatches

Estée Lauder has partnered with the renowned French patisserie Ladurée to create a limited edition makeup collection. Here’s everything you need to know about the gorgeous Estée Lauder x Ladurée Collection. This is a super cute makeup collaboration and I have all the photos and swatches for you to check out!

What is in the Estée Lauder x Ladurée Collection?

What's in the Estée Lauder x Ladurée Collection — What’s in the Estée Lauder x Ladurée Collection

This is a super unique collection that celebrates the artistry of French patisserie with iconic house of Ladurée. The pieces are inspired by the scents, textures and colours of the brand. And it is so pretty!

The collection includes:

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Limited Edition Eyeshadow Palette (8 shades) £50
Estée Lauder x Ladurée Limited Edition Lip Oil Collection (3 shades) £59
Estée Lauder x Ladurée Limited Edition Pure Color Lipstick Collection – 2-piece including a full-size refillable lipstick £49

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Swatches

This was a joy to swatch but at the same time it was heartbreaking because it’s almost too pretty to touch! But I did it and I was very happy with the results.

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Limited Edition Eyeshadow Palette Swatches

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Eyeshadow Palette shades

This palette 8 brand new Ladurée -inspired shades in frost and matte finishes. We have soft pink, browns and golds. It is a super wearable collection. The shades have names that all really make me imagine eating those gorgeous macarons! They are:

Petit Pétale – pale pearl pink with a frost finish
Sugared Almond – gilded silver with a frost finish
Champagne – white gold with a frost finish
Framboise Sucrée – rose gold with a frost finish
Rose Meringue – warm rose with a frost finish
Chocolate Crémeux – truffle with a frost finish
Marzipan – taupe with a matte finish
Cocoa Canelle – chocolate with a frost finish

Here are the swatches:

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Eyeshadow Palette swatches

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Limited Edition Lip Oil Collection Swatches

There are three limited edition shades in the Lip Oils, each inspired by the Ladurée confections. The formula offers 12 hours of hydration. The shades are:

Glacé – blush opal with a neutral undertone and sheer finish
Sucré – light baby pink with a neutral undertone and sheer finish
Rosé – mauvy berry with a neutral undertone and sheer finish

Here are the swatches:

And these are the lip swatches:

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Lip Oil - Glace Swatch — Glace Swatch

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Lip Oil - Sucre Swatch — Sucre Swatch

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Lip Oil - Rose Swatch — Rose Swatch

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Limited Edition Pure Color Lipstick Swatches

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Lipstick Collection

This set offers up a refillable Pure Color Creme Lipstick, plus a refill of a different shade. This formula is longwearing and promise 10 hours of wear and resists bleeding, feathering and creasing.

This limited edition collection includes:

420 Rebellious Rose – mid tone rose with a neutral undertone and creme finish). Refillable.
599 Indulgent Refill – nude tea-brown with a warm undertone and crystal shine finish

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Lipstick Rebellious Rose

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Lipstick refill shade - Indulgent — Estée Lauder x Ladurée Lipstick refill shade – Indulgent

Here are the swatches:

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Lipstick swatches

And here are the swatches on the lips:

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Lipstick Rebellious Rose Swatch

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Lipstick refill shade swatch - Indulgent — Estée Lauder x Ladurée Lipstick refill shade swatch – Indulgent

My Review of the Estée Lauder x Ladurée Collection

Before we even talk about the products, let’s take a moment to swoon over the packaging. Inspired by Ladurée’s famous macarons and elegant patisserie boxes, every detail feels super luxurious. Think soft pastels, gold accents, and a chic vintage vibe. It’s the kind of makeup you want to constantly have on display rather than hide in a drawer.

Apparently this baroque aesthetic has been pinpointed as one of the strong trends of 2025 by Pinterest, so this collection could be super popular.

I think the lip oils are my favourite. I love the shades, although I do think they have mixed up the shade descriptions I have been given, so make sure you refer to my swatches rather than the words.

The doe-foot applicator is nice and big, yet defined, so application is really easy.

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Lip Oil Doe Foot Applicator

And the product itself looks and feels great on the lips. They glide on effortlessly, leaving lips nourished and plump with just a hint of colour. Check out all my swatches above.

If you are looking for a more affordable lip oil in a similar format, check out Milk Makeup Kush Lip Oil Review & Swatches.

I also think the lipstick set is really cool. I love how there’s a refill in a different shade that can switch in and out of the packaging depending on what you want to wear that day. I actually think that at £49 for two lipsticks with the limited edition keep-forever packaging, it’s actually a pretty good deal for this EL formula. I suppose it really comes down to whether you like the shades.

Rebellious Rose is a little too pink for me, but I love the nudey brown tones of Indulgent. The design on the bullets and the packaging in general is just stunning.

The formula is what you’d expect from Estée Lauder – super comfortable, hydrating, and long-lasting.

The eyeshadow palette offers up such a pretty range of shades and the packaging is just adorable.

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Eyeshadow Palette

My personal favourite shades are the browns one, Chocolate Crémeux and Cocoa Canelle. I really love the tones and I think they have the most superior formula. Unfortunately, I don’t think every shade is as good as these in terms of texture, so although it is beautiful, and definitely worth picking up as a collector, I don’t think it will be for your real eyeshadow junkie.

Also, personally eight shades is too much for me these days. I tend to be a one and done kind of girl. I basically stick to my REESON Lid Elixir* most days.

When does Estée Lauder x Ladurée launch in the UK?

This limited edition collection is due to launch in March 2025 in the UK. Sign up below for a launch notification.

Where to buy it

The Estée Lauder x Ladurée Collection is available now in the US via the link below. It launches March 2025 in the UK. Sign up above for updates.

Kosas Soulgazer Intensifying Gel Eyeliner Review & Swatches

December 10, 2024 - 11:59 am | December 10, 2024 eyes, makeup

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Kosas Soulgazer Intensifying Gel Eyeliner Review & Swatches

I love a bit of eyeliner when I want a quick look that makes me appear that I have made an effort with my makeup and these gel liners are super easy to use. Here’s a look at the Kosas Soulgazer Intensifying Gel Eyeliner with swatches of all the shades.

What is Kosas Soulgazer Intensifying Gel Eyeliner?

Intense, long-wearing colour
Smooth, creamy texture
Effortless application
Creates bold precise lines
Formula combines rich pigments with Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate the delicate eye area and prevent dryness
Waterproof formula
Retractable liner format
Features a built in sharpener
Smudger tool for smoky effect
Matte and satin finishes

Kosas Soulgazer Intensifying Gel Eyeliner Shades & Swatches

There are a range of shades in collection across matte and satin finishes:

Gravitate – creamy beige matte
Mesmerize – soft lilac matte
Bewitch – night violet satin
Eternal – emerald green satin
Enigma – blackened blue satin
Depth – warm brown matte
Allure – dark brown matte
Orbit – smoky grey matte
Hypnotize – intense matte black
Cosmic – deep aqua satin

Swatches

I have 9 of the shades to show you here, Gravitate, Mesmerize, Bewitch, Eternal, Enigma, Depth, Allure, Orbit, Hypnotize:

My Review

Kosas Soulgazer Intensifying Gel Eyeliner packaging (shade Gravitate)

I have really been enjoying this formula. It is gorgeously creamy yet super long lasting and it is so easy to apply. For a smoky look, you can just scribble it on and then smudge it out, either with the smudger it comes with, or a fluffy brush.

The shade range is really gorgeous. My absolute favourite shade is Depth which is a beautiful brown that’s so soft and flattering. It’s my kind of shade.

I also really like the green called Eternal. I used it in a smoky way and really loved having some sheer colour for a change. I also very much like the brightening shade, Gravitate, which is a really easy way to look more awake if used in the waterline.

The little sharpener and smudger are super handy and mean that you can create a range of different looks, with either sharp lines or diffused colour.

Where to buy Kosas Soulgazer Intensifying Gel Eyeliner

There are 10 shades and they are £20 each. Lots of shades are selling out, so make sure you check out the different retailers. They are available now via the link below:

If you’re still looking for an eyeliner, I love the Victoria Beckham Beauty collection too. Read: Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal Liner Review & Swatches.

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Sweed Beauty Eyelash Growth Serum Review

October 3, 2024 - 10:58 am | October 3, 2024 eyes, makeup

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Sweed Beauty Eyelash Growth Serum Review

For the last few weeks I have been rather haphazardly testing the Sweed Beauty Eyelash Growth Serum and I have to say, I am impressed! Here’s what you need to know.

What is Sweed Eyelash Growth Serum?

Eyelash serum that helps to extend the growth phase of each lash
Works to leave lashes looking longer, stronger and healthier
Typically provides results in four to six weeks
Formulated with a blends of ingredients to support lash growth
Does not contain any prostaglandin
Ideal for use before bed

Key Ingredients

Pumpkin seed extract – to condition and nourish the lashes

Biotin – to improve lash health and strength

Panthenol – to help strengthen lashes

Hyaluronic acid – to nourish and hydrate

Myristoyl pentapeptide-17 – to enhance lash length, thickness and fullness

Keratin – helps to improve the health of the eyelashes.

How to use it

The Sweed Eyelash Growth Serum is really easy to use. It has a lovely fine brush that is easy to swipe along the lash roots.

At night (when I remember!), I apply along the upper lash line after cleansing and then let it dry for a minute or two before doing my skincare.

You can also use it on brows but I haven’t tried that yet.

My Review of Sweed Eyelash Growth Serum

Review: Sweed Beauty Eyelash Growth Serum

So I have been using this for a few weeks, and I haven’t remembered to do it every single night, but I still think that it has made my lashes grow! Every time I apply my mascara, I need less product to get my lashes looking long and fluttery, and they really do look super fluttery!

This is one of those weird ‘looking up’ photos to demonstrate the length of my lashes after a few weeks of use:

Sweed Beauty Eyelash Growth Serum - After Photo — Sweed Beauty Eyelash Growth Serum – After Photo

I think lashes always look longer if you do this, so I will share some more comparison pics later down this post, both with and without mascara, but I have to say, I am very impressed.

I met the Sweed Beauty founder Gabriella a couple of months back, and she said it works really quickly. However, I didn’t expect it to be quite that fast especially as I haven’t been using it quite a religiously as I should have.

I literally just paint it along my lash line at night after cleansing, and then let it do its stuff. It doesn’t sting or irritate my eyes like some lash serums have in the past. It just seems to work!

Before and After Photos

So for complete transparency, I didn’t actually take any before photos as this has been an extremely casual trial!! However, because I am constantly reviewing products and taking before and after photos, I do have lots of photos of my bare lashes. Here is one:

Sweed Beauty Eyelash Growth Serum - before no mascara — Before – no mascara

The above photo is from my Monika Blunder Beauty Architect Eyes Buildable Mascara Review.

And here is a photo of my bare lashes today, after a few weeks of using (I say ‘few’ as I’m not exactly sure how long, and I haven’t remembered every night!):

Sweed Beauty Eyelash Growth Serum - after no mascara — After – No mascara

Now, my lashes don’t ever look like much without mascara anyway, so here’s a photo from the same Monika Blunder Beauty Architect Eyes Buildable Mascara Review, with a light coat of mascara.

Sweed Beauty Eyelash Growth Serum - before with mascara — Before with mascara

And here are my lashes today, with the same Monika Blunder mascara, and probably a lot less of it:

Sweed Beauty Eyelash Growth Serum - after with mascara — After with mascara

I think you can really see how my longer, stronger and healthier the lashes look. What do you think?

I am definitely going to continue using this (when I remember) and see where I get!

Where to buy it

The Sweed Beauty Eyelash Growth Serum seems to be out of stock at most retailers but you can buy it now via the link below:

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L’Oreal Paris Infallible Brow Lamination Review

September 20, 2024 - 10:41 am | September 20, 2024 eyes, makeup

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L'Oreal Paris Infallible Brow Lamination packaging

This is an affordable product I have been loving. Check out the L’Oreal Paris Infallible Brow Lamination brow mascara.

What is L’Oreal Paris Infallible Brow Lamination?

This is a really easy to use brow gel that shapes and tames brows with long wear hold:

Shapes and sets brow hairs
Lightweight formula
Transparent texture
No residue or flakes
No mess application
Angled brush for easy application
Long wear hold

How to use it

This brow gel is so easy to use. Just comb through your brow hairs in the direction you want them to hold. I like to brush them up for a soft, bushy look. You can use it with or without a brow pencil first.

Before & After Photos

Here’s a photo without the brow mascara:

L'Oreal Paris Infallible Brow Lamination - before photo — Before

And here’s a shot with a light coat brushed upwards into the brows:

L'Oreal Paris Infallible Brow Lamination - After photo — After

My Review of L’Oreal Paris Infallible Brow Lamination

L'Oreal Paris Infallible Brow Lamination Review — L’Oreal Paris Infallible Brow Lamination Review

I have really been enjoying using this brow gel because it is so easy to use and super affordable. I love the fine angled brush. It grabs and controls the hairs effortlessly making it very easy to fluff up and shape the brows in no time at all.

L'Oreal Paris Infallible Brow Lamination angled brush — L’Oreal Paris Infallible Brow Lamination angled brush

While it gives a good firm hold to the brows, it doesn’t feel sticky or crispy. The finish is really natural looking too, especially if I use it without a pencil straight on to bare brows.

The L’Oreal Paris Infallible Brow Lamination formula gives the hairs a really soft sheen which adds how natural-looking this product is. I hate it when my brows look matte because it can look really unnatural.

If I want a more defined look, I use a brow pencil first. The ones I like are a bit pricier than this L’Oreal product, but if you are looking for recommendations, check out, MERIT Beauty Brow 1990 Gel Pencil Review & Swatches, and Victoria Beckham Beauty BabyBlade Microfine Brow Pencil Review & Swatches.

Where to buy it

The L’Oreal Paris Infallible Brow Lamination is £11.99 and available to purchase via the links below:

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Victoria Beckham Beauty The Concealer Pen Review & Swatches

September 16, 2024 - 10:57 am | September 16, 2024 eyes, makeup

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Victoria Beckham Beauty The Concealer Pen Review & Swatches

As concealer is one of my absolute favourite makeup products, I was very excited to try out the new Victoria Beckham Beauty The Concealer Pen which has been created in partnership with with skincare genius, Augustinus Bader. I have all the shades here to show you, here’s what you need to know.

What is Victoria Beckham Beauty The Concealer Pen?

Designed to deliver second-skin, light-to-medium buildable coverage
Radiant, real-skin finish
Immediately perfects the skin
Proprietary skincare actives improve your complexion over time
Provides an 8-hour nourishing veil
Resists settling into fine lines or pores
Formulated with TFC8 by Augustinus Bader
Works to reduce the appearance of fine lines, dark circles, eye puffiness, and hyperpigmentation
Uses a calibrated dispenser and tapered brush for easy application
Long-wear formula
Cruelty-free, vegan, silicone-free, soy-free, gluten-free
Dermatologist-Tested
Safe for sensitive Skin
Non-Comedogenic
Available in 16 flexible shades

Key Ingredients

TFC8 by Augustinus Bader – uses a blend of high-grade vitamins, lipids, and high-performing, proprietary peptides that transports key nutrients to the cells for renewal, combatting signs of aging and damage

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 – peptide known to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles brought about by facial expressions

Polyglutamic Acid – keeps skin hydrated and improves elasticity

Squalane – helps to prevent moisture loss, leaving skin feeling supple and more comfortable.

Amino Acid Coated Pigments – provide long-lasting colour payoff

Rosa Damascena Flower Water – to help hydrate, soothe, tone and protect the skin

Hydrolyzed Rice Protein – to strengthen the skin’s natural barrier, improve hydration and enhance elasticity

Victoria Beckham Beauty The Concealer Pen Shades & Swatches

There are 16 flexible shades in the Victoria Beckham concealer collection and they are predominantly neutral undertones designed to be compatible for warm, neutral and rosy undertones:

FL1 – Very Fair Light with neutral undertones
FL2 – Fair light with neutral warm undertones
L1 – Light with neutral undertones
L2 – Light with neutral warm undertones
LM1 – Light medium with neutral warm undertones
LM2 – Light medium with neutral undertones
M1 – Medium with neutral warm undertones
M2 – Medium with golden undertones

Victoria Beckham Beauty The Concealer Pen Swatches

MD1 – Medium Dark with neutral undertones
MD2 – Medium Dark with warm peach undertones
DK1 – Dark with neutral undertones
DK2 – Dark with warm peach undertones
DP1 – Deep with neutral undertones
DP2 – Deep with neutral warm undertones
R1 – Rich with neutral warm undertones
R2 – Rich with neutral undertones

How to use it

You will need to do a few clicks to get the product flowing upon first use, but after that you’ll need one or two clicks to dispense the amount of product you need. You can paint straight on to the skin and then blend with fingertips.

VB Beauty say that for the best results you should apply to well moisturised skin.

For brush cleaning, you can use lukewarm water and a mild soap and then allow the brush to dry before replacing the cap.

Before & After Photos

This is the before photo:

Victoria Beckham Beauty The Concealer Pen - Before Photo — Before Photo

And the below photo shows the shade LF2 applied to the left side as you are looking at it:

Victoria Beckham Beauty The Concealer Pen in LF2 applied to left side of photo

My Review of Victoria Beckham Beauty The Concealer Pen

This post has taken me ages to put together because, 1. it’s Advent Calendar season, 2. I wanted to make sure I swatched all the shades, and 3. at the hefty price tag of £64 for 2.4ml, I wanted to properly test it out before I said a word!

Now, my first concealer-type product super-obsession was the YSL Touche Eclat pen. This worked more as a brightener and highlighter than a traditional concealer, but I religiously used it to conceal and generally pep up my complexion none-the-less. I loved it. I actually still love it. I really do need to use it again soon!

Anyway, I am harping on about that because Victoria Beckham Beauty The Concealer Pen is using a very similar packaging format to Touch Eclat. It is a clicky pen, just like my original favourite and has a very similar brush applicator as the YSL.

Victoria Beckham Beauty The Concealer Pen brush

There is quite a lot of reference to how much work went into the brush on this new concealer, but it doesn’t seem to be very different to the YSL to me, so perhaps I need to get the two products next to each to really compare and contrast. Anyway…

Victoria Beckham Beauty The Concealer Pen packaging

Aside from the packaging, I love that this is a skincare formula; and a skincare formula with none other than Augustinus Bader. I do really like this the skincare products that VB has created so far, and I am a big fan of the Cleansing Protocol, which I have continued to use since I wrote my review on it. I actually think I’ve liked that duo more and more the longer I have been using it. You can read my Cleansing Protocol Review here.

This concealer includes the Augustinus Bader TFC8 formula which promises to be an all-singing all-dancing renewal complex to deliver anti-ageing benefits. I love a makeup skincare hybrid, so this of course got me really excited.

Now, it is important to note that I haven’t been testing this for 4 weeks yet, so I can’t really comment on the skincare claims of this product. However, I will continue to use it, and will update for you when I can. For now, these are my thoughts on it as a concealer.

So, this is a lovely concealer. It has a creamy texture and offers up a buildable coverage. A couple of clicks dispenses a good amount of product and the brush is the perfect size to apply the concealer exactly where you want it.

It is pretty easy to blend, and gives a lovely smooth finish very quickly. I think it has a self-setting quality, and I haven’t felt that I need to powder it. I do find that I need to layer this to get the coverage that I need, which concerns me, because there is only 2.4ml of product in the tube.

I love that it sets itself and I have found it to be really long lasting, even without setting it with powder. It doesn’t settle into lines or wrinkles, and just gives the skin a very smooth look and it very good on pores too.

Victoria Beckham Beauty The Concealer Pen covers really well. It is light to medium, but it is good on the purple tones under my eyes, redness and also pigmentation marks so it’s a great all rounder. I find that if I let it sit on my skin for a bit before blending, you can get a bit more coverage out of it.

I can use a few of the shades. LF2 is a good match for everywhere, and I quite like LF1 under the eyes when I want something super bright. L1 also actually works well under the eyes and I can make it work everywhere. If I had to choose one shade, which I would if I was buying it because each tube is £64, I’d go for LF1.

And while we are on the topic of price, it is definitely something we need to discuss. It is £64 for 2.4ml, which is so expensive. Obviously, the cost reflects that you are getting the Augustinus Bader TFC8 complex in there, but that alone may not be enough to persuade you to part with that much cash for 2.4ml of product.

I am going to continue to use this regularly and see if I can see any of the longer term skincare benefits it promises.

What impresses me most about this is how natural it looks on the skin, how smooth it makes the skin look, and how well it lasts. It barely fades at all, and pretty much stays looking freshly applied all day. It’s impressive.

Where to buy it

Victoria Beckham Beauty The Concealer Pen is £64 for 2.4ml and is available via the link below:

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Tag Archives: eyes

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Collection Review & Swatches

What is in the Estée Lauder x Ladurée Collection?

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Swatches

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Limited Edition Eyeshadow Palette Swatches

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Limited Edition Lip Oil Collection Swatches

Estée Lauder x Ladurée Limited Edition Pure Color Lipstick Swatches

My Review of the Estée Lauder x Ladurée Collection

When does Estée Lauder x Ladurée launch in the UK?

Where to buy it

Kosas Soulgazer Intensifying Gel Eyeliner Review & Swatches

What is Kosas Soulgazer Intensifying Gel Eyeliner?