The Marc Jacobs Beauty Airblush Duo Launch

Sometimes an email lands in my inbox, and I squeal a little with excitement. This was definetly the case recently I was invited to L.A, California for the launch of the brand new Marc Jacobs Beauty Airblush Duo.

Set in the goreous Beverly Hills Hotel, the launch took place over brunch in the beautiful hotel gardens, and just oozed old Hollywood glamour.

Gilbert Soliz, head makeup artist for Marc Jacobs Beauty was on hand to give demonstrations using the Airduo Blush range (inspired by one of the first celebrity makeup Artists – Way Bandy) and it was incredible to hear about how Bandy and Jacobs were friends and club kids together back in their heyday.

Inspired by the creative vision and styles of Way Bandy, the range is all about beautifully draped cheeks, using a silky soft air whipped pressed powder. Available in 5 different shades and suitable for all skin tones, the blush contains a fusion of lighter and deeper shades with each palette being hand filled and inspired by vintage cigarette cases.

The Lines and Last Night Airblush Duo is my favourite of the bunch, with it's gorgeous golden peachy tones, it's incredibly flattering on fairer skin tones. Long lasting and buildable to truly sculpt your cheeks for that Way Bandy look, it has been a struggle to go a day without wearing this blush since it has come into my life.

Priced at £28.00 and available exclusively today at John Lewis and in-store on Oxford Street on 1st September in the UK.Also available in Sephora in the US, these blushes are worth checking out and welcoming into your makeup bag.

Em

Pale Test #11 - L'oreal Paris ~True Match La Touch Magique Concealer

I get asked on an almost daily basis which foundations and concealers are the best for pale skin tones, and this series is going to explore all different types of  products from varying brands and at all price levels which will hopefully help you to make a decision on which foundation and concealer is right for you! 

In universal skin tone terms.. I struggle to find a product that suits me. I'm on the hunt for a product that will be the perfect fit for My Pale Skin. 

Product: L'oreal Paris True Match Touch Magique Concealer - Ivory Beige

Price: £8.19

Packaging:  The Concealer has a built in brush applicator, with a twist bottom that brings the product up through the brush. It has a pretty secure lid that clicks shut.

Coverage: I'd say that the product gives a medium coverage which is build-able.

Colour:  There are six shades in the range with Ivory Beige being the lightest cool toned product. It applies fairly yellow on the skin as it's designed to be used as a 'brightening' concealer which can mask and brighten up dark circles.

Finish:  I found the finish to be dewy. It applies evenly, without looking 'cakey'.

Final Verdict:  I wasn't expecting a whole lot with this L'oreal concealer as i'm so used to being disappointed by drugstore offerings shade wise. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised by this offering. I mea like i'm really loving this concealer at the moment. I'm wearing it every day!  It applies extremely easily, blends seamlessly and masks dark circles. The ivory beige is a light yellow shade that is perfect for cooler toned skin tones. I'm super happy to say that the L'oreal Paris True Match Touch Magique Concealer has PASSED the pale test (on my skin) and has well and truly made it's way into my make up bag.

As Always, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this concealer or what you'd like me to try next, let me know in the comments.
Em xxx

Real Techniques Bold Metals Contour Brush Review

I'm never usually one for buying products on their launch day, but late last year on New Years Eve I headed to my local boots in the hope of having a glimpse at the brand new Real Techniques Bold Metals Collection. However, one thing led to another and I walked out of the store with four of the brushes... as well as a whole heap of other products. 

Bourjois Colour Boost - Plum Russian Review

Every time that I try a new Bourjois Make Up product - I worry that their winning streak will come to an end and a product will finally let me down. Luckily that didn't happen on this product, as I feel like I fell in love with it from the moment I opened the tube. The Bourjois Colour Boost, Glossy Finish Lipstick - Plum Russian* is a gorgeous deep berry/plum shade and perfect if you're looking for a new winter lip shade to compliment your pale skin. 

One of the things I love about this lip product, is how convenient it is to use as a 'grab and go' lip colour. They apply incredibly easily, evenly, and they even give you the chance to layer them up to create a stronger colour when needed!

In terms of formula, i'd say it's as easy to apply as a lipbalm - with the shine of a gloss, and the colour of a stain. The texture isn't gloopy, and even after the top layer of 'gloss' has gradually worn off, the stain remains, most importantly in a consistent manner. 

At £7.99 It's an absolute steal, and one you'll be seeing on the blog a lot this season as it's just so versatile and easy to wear.

Have you tried any of the Colour Boost range? I'd love to hear which are your favourites!

Em xxx

New Release: The Real Techniques Bold Metals Collection

This week Real Techniques announced and released their brand new 'Bold Metals Collection'. The range features 7 brand new brushes with new cuts - aimed at those who want a high performance brush which allows for perfect Make Up Application. In the UK these brushes are brand new and exclusive to Boots, and in the USA - Ulta The 7 brushes in the range are broken down into 3 categories:

Gold - Face/Base Brushes.

100 Bold Metals Collection Arched Powder Brush £25.00

101 Bold Metals Collection Triangle Foundation Brush  £22.00

Silver - Eye Brushes 
200 Bold Metals Collection Oval Shadow Brush £15.00

201 Bold Metals Collection Pointed Crease Brush £12.00

202 Bold Metals Collection Angled Liner Brush £10.00

Rose Gold - Finishing Brushes.

300 Bold Metals Collection Tapered Blush Brush £24.00

301 Bold Metals Collection Flat Contour Brush £22.00

When I found out the brushes had hit the stores, I headed straight to my local boots and snapped up 4 out of the 7 available. There aren't many images of the brushes out there in the world, So I wanted to share my brush haul with you, in case you were thinking of buying them too.

Now, before I get into talking about the brushes that I chose - let me just talk about the price. These brushes are very expensive compared to the price of the previous collections - with the entire 7 brush collection coming in at a whopping £130.00 - so do bare that in mind when looking into purchasing them. These are marketed as a 'Luxe' product and they do come with eye watering prices - especially for a drugstore brand. Real Techniques promises softer bristles and thinner weighted handles - easier for use and storing, which should hopefully answer many a girls prayers.

101 Bold Metals Collection Triangle Foundation Brush  £22.00

I feel like I'm always constantly searching for the best way to apply my foundation and I was intrigued to try out a triangle shaped brush having never tried or even seen a brush of this style before.

It's an interesting concept and I'm looking forward to trying it out. I really hope it lives up to my expectations as at this price point - it's worth pointing out that for about £5.00 extra, you can buy a foundation brush from Mac. 

I'll be testing this out over the next few weeks and I can't wait to let you know my thoughts.

200 Bold Metals Collection Oval Shadow Brush £15.00

At £15.00 this brush packs a hefty price for a single brush, and is around the same price point as a Mac brush. The bristles feel soft, although I'm not usually a fan of white bristled eyeshadow brushes due to how dirty they look after one use.
Confession time - I don't actually own any of the original Real Techniques eye brushes as I felt they just looked a little clunky, so this will be my first time using an eye brush from the brand. I much prefer how the bristles appear to be packed in this collection, and I can't wait to use it.

201 Bold Metals Collection Pointed Crease Brush £12.00

Crease Brushes are some of my favourite brushes and I really struggle to do my make up without them. I usually swear by my trusty Crown Brush pointed crease brushes and I'm looking forward to seeing how this one compares. £12.00 felt pretty reasonable to me in terms of price, so let's see how it lives up to it.

301 Bold Metals Collection Flat Contour Brush £22.00

There was one brush that I couldn't wait to get my hands on as soon as I saw the collection and that brush was the Flat Contour Brush. At £22.00, it's one of the more pricey brushes in the collection, and it's worth pointing out that for just £6.50 more, you can buy a Nars Ita Kabuki Contour Brush. I love the beautiful rose gold handle on this brush and I have a feeling that this may just become my most used brush! I can't wait to test this one out.

So those are my picks from the collection, and I can't wait to review them all for you.  Eventually I would like to collect all 7, I'd just like to give the initial 4 a fighting chance as I feel a little uneasy about the high price point. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the collection and the controversial price prices... Would you buy them?  Let me know in the comments. 

Em xxx

Kerastase Elixir Ultime Review

Let's talk about Hair Oils today. Now, Hair Oils are products that I haven't used that often before, but after receiving a bottle of the Kerastase Elixir Ultime* in a goodie bag at an event I went to a while back, I thought I'd give it a try. 

I have bleached hair, and I'm sure as hell that I should be using all the products all the time. Hair dressers like to inform me of this every time I visit the Salon... yet I always come away feeling a little bit miffed, a little bit scorned and a little bit like i've been preached to and overly criticized by the hair dresser. Which, then makes me not want to go back. It's almost like an endless circle of disdain for my hair, but i'm working on it... For instance, my hair is now the longest it's been in years, and is in pretty good shape considering how much it's bleached every month.

I started incorporating the Kerastase Elixir Ultime* into my routine about 3 weeks ago. I like to use the oil on freshly washed, damp hair. To start, I squirt around 3 pumps of product into the palm of my hand. Next, I gently rub my palms in a circular motion. Finally, starting at the ends of my hair, I begin to massage into into my hair working upwards, and concentrating on the ends and midlengths, I find that avoiding the roots means that my hair doesn't get greasy, yet still feels the full effects of the product - Which is great! 

I then blow-dry my hair as usual and when complete, I apply one more pump of product into the ends, and brush it through. I find that applying the product in this way leaves my hair feeling silky soft and gives it a real luxurious feel.

I also can't talk about this product without mentioning the scent. This product smells divine, it's like a mix of fruitiness and a high end perfume and will certainly leave your hair smelling like you've just walked out of a salon.

At £28.40 for 125ml it's not cheap in the slightest... but i'm convinced and converted and absolutely can't live without it now. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on hair oils! Do you use them? Let me know in the comments...

Em xxx

Ciate Speed Coat - Fast Drying Top Coat Review

If there's one area of my beauty regime that I often need a helping hand in, it's nails. As someone who leads a busy life, I often find it hard to find time to sit down and give my nails the love and attention they deserve, and it's not that I don't enjoy painting my nails - it's just the waiting around afterwards that kills me.  The Ciate Speed Coat - Fast Drying Top Coat* is a product that seems like it was created for people like me.

I hate waiting for my nails to dry, i'm slightly clumsy and usually after having them painted I've ruined one within 5 minutes - so when a product like the Ciate Speed Coat* comes along that 'guarantees touch dry nails in 60 seconds' you know that i'm all over it. Retailing at £11.00 this top coat isn't cheap, but  let me tell you this - it works, and is easy to use too.

After painting nails as usual, wait a few minutes for the colour to dry, then apply a slick of Speed Coat* over the top. I found it took a little longer than 60 seconds - more like by time you've listened to a song on the radio, or caught up watching a vlog, your nails will touch dry, leaving you able to carry on life like a functioning human being!

Overall, It's a great product that actually works and makes life easier! With the downside that it's a little bit pricey, and it takes a little longer than 60 seconds to dry. Needless to say, painting my nails should be a lot easier now.

I'd love to hear your top tips for speed drying nail polish! Let me know in the comments..

Em xxx

*PR Sample

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet - Happy Nude Year Review

As you guys may know, I'm a huge fan of the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet line and when I saw they had a new shade being released I was super excited,The Rouge Edition Velvet - Happy New Year* Lipstick - £8.99 is a gorgeous nude shade which has a pinky hue to it. Think of it as a 'my lips but better' product that's suitable for all seasons. 

As usual, the texture of these lip products does not disappoint. They apply wet, and then dry into a velvety smooth texture. I find the formula doesn't dry out my lips and the colour lasts for hours through food and drink and fades naturally - without leaving that dreaded 'lipstick ring' aroun the outer edges of your lips.

I like to apply the product using the doe foot applicator and then roll a clean finger over it to ensure that it's evenly distributed and to give it a subtle barely there look.

Overall, it's a great product and one that I'll certainly be reaching for throughout Autumn and beyond.

Have you tried any of the Rouge Edition Velvet line? Which one is your favourite?

Let me know in the comments!

Em xxx

NV Colour Chunky Eye Shadow Crayon Review

The NV Meadow Chunky Eyeshdaow Crayon* is a retractable twist up eyeshadow crayon that can be worn on it's own or as a 'base' for applying glitter or other shadows over the top. When NV got in touch with me and asked me if I wanted to try a few things from their range, I chose the crayon as I have a soft spot for green eyes and am looking for more ways to experiment.

As honesty is the only policy on My Pale Skin - I have to say that I was a little disappointed with this eye shadow crayon and expected slightly more from it. Although it has a beautiful colour, I found the quality left a little to be desired with crayon itself rattled around in the casing and after a few days, the crayon did actually fall straight out of the casing.

I tested the shadow out over a 2 day period once using the crayon over a neutral eyeshadow, and once straight onto the lid.I found the eyeshadow sadly creased both times. I'm not one for overly negative reviews, but as an honest blogger I find it necessary to point both of those things out. 

Have you tried anything from NV Colour before? 

Let me know in the comments!

Em xxx

October Favourites!

October is well and truly over and we're just that little bit closer to Christmas which makes me so excited. October was a great month. I made some new friends, got to dress up as Elsa for Halloween, tried and tested some new products and hit a new page views record on My Pale Skin. I wanted to share with you the products I've been loving this month, so in no particular order, here are my October Favourites.  

Ardell Demi Wispies Lashes

The Ardell Demi Wispies lashes are new favourites. They give glamour and volume to your lashes without being over the top or unnecessary. If you have hooded eyes like me, then these lashes may do well on your eyes. 

Urban Decay Electric Palette

I bought the Electric Palette back in July, and hadn't really used it that much since if i'm being honest... however, when I decided that I was going to dress up as Elsa for Halloween - I dug this palette out of the drawer and got to work trying to recreate her look. I love how easy this palette makes it to blend eyeshadow. The shades are so pigmented and glide like butter on the eyes. I just wish I was braver to wear it everyday.

Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics

The Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics palette is a great everyday wear. I love how pigmented the shadows are and how easy you can dress it up from day to night. It's a product I've found myself reaching for quite often and one i'm certainly glad I picked up.

L'oreal Wild Stylers-Next Day Hair

The next day hair spray is a product that I found myself reaching for most mornings in October... and if I couldn't find it - that was because my boyfriend had stolen it to use on his hair. It's a great product that you'll find yourself fighting to use in the morning.

Guerlain Ecrin 4 Couleurs Palette

Ever had love at first site with an eyeshdaow palette before? The Guerlain Ecrin 4 Couleurs Palette is quite possibly one of the most beautiful palettes i've laid my eyes on. I love the selection of shades and they're perfect for Autumn eyes... and don't forget to check out my Halo Smokey Eye Tutorial.

So these are my picks for what I've been loving in October! I'd love to hear your thoughts on them if you've tried them, or which ones you'd like to try! Let me know in the comments!

Em xxx