Wednesday 29 October 2014

Illamasqua Glamore Lipstick in 'Rosepout'










I feel like it's been a never ending search to find the perfect nude lipstick.....but now the hunt might be over. Step forward Illamasqua Glamore lipstick in 'Rosepout'.  The first nude lipstick I've been happy with, and my first Illamasqua lipstick too.


I've tried so many different shades this year, but couldn't seem to find a nude that suited me. However, Rosepout is a lovely neutral pink brown shade which is really flattering on most skin tones. This lipstick is just one offering from the Illamasqua Glamore Nudes collection which launched in summer this year. The range contains seven new nude shades to suit cool, neutral and warm skin tones. 


This lipstick weighs in at 4g and retails for £18.50. I love the sleek shiny black packaging and the slight square shape of the casing. 'Rosepout' has a gorgeous satin finish and feels moisturising to wear as it contains Vitamin E. Another bonus for me is the fact that it is paraben free. 

I can get around 4 to 5 hours wear from this lipstick before needing to top it up. It has great opaque coverage - I like this because even though it's a nude colour, you can still have a bold look to your lips.

'Rosepout' is a welcome addition to my growing lipstick collection and I'm already thinking about which Illamasqua lipstick to purchase next!

What do you think of this shade? What's your favourite Illamasqua lipstick?

Sunday 26 October 2014

Naked 2 Basics Eyeshadow Palette Review


You've probably already read about a thousand reviews of the Naked 2 Basics palette but I'm still posting mine as I want to share my thoughts on this newest 'Naked' release with you.

This is my first purchase from the 'Naked' range at Urban Decay (cue loud gasps as I know it's practically a crime for a beauty blogger to not own the full collection of Naked palettes!) It retails for £22 at most retailers but I got mine from Cohorted for £15.40.

With this being my first 'Naked' purchase I was excited to see what these highly praised eyeshadows would be like and, so far, they have not disappointed!

The palette is a cute handy little size whilst still housing six full sized eyeshadows weighing in at 1.3g each. A single Urban Decay eyeshadow would cost you £14 so this palette is amazing value. The casing is neutral toned to match the theme of the eyeshadows inside and also has a rubbery texture which I haven't seen before on other eyeshadow palettes and I actually quite like as it's something different.

The palette contains a mirror in the lid (always a good feature to have, as it's handy for taking on your travels) but doesn't have an eyeshadow brush or applicator - not a big problem though in my opinion. 


Now, on to the eyeshadows! The palette contains one demi-matte and five matte shadows in varying neutral tones:-

Skimp - a demi-matte off white with a satin finish which is great for the inner corner of the eye and highlighting the bow bone.

Stark - a pale pink toned matte finish shadow, perfect for all over the eyelid.

Frisk - a warm toned grey with a matte finish, perfect for all over the eyelid. 

Cover - a brown matte finish shadow with red undertones which is great for applying to the crease of the lid.

Primal - a matte brown/taupe colour which is great for applying to the crease of the lid for a smokey eye look.

Undone - a deep brown with a matte finish, perfect for using as a liner or for applying to the crease of the lid for a dramatic smokey eye.


I'm so impressed with the quality of these eyeshadows and can see why the range is so popular with bloggers and beauty addicts alike. A little goes a very long way and they blend so easily with my Real Techniques and MAC brushes. I've seen quite a few reviews describing them as 'buttery' and after trying them myself I know exactly what they mean as the eyeshadows are so finely milled that they glide onto the eyelid so smoothly. 

I've been wearing these shadows a lot and I'm really liking the matte finish as opposed to the usual shimmery eyeshadow I go for. I've been wearing 'Stark' on the eyelid and 'Cover' in the crease for a subtle smokey daytime look and for a more dramatic evening look I love 'Frisk' on the lid and 'Primal' in the crease. 'Skimp' is lovely for applying as a highlight to the inner corner of the eye and the brow bone. I also really like wearing 'Cover' over the whole eyelid on its own. The palette is really versatile and there are so many different looks that can be created from these six shades. 

What do you think of this palette? What's your favourite product from Urban Decay's 'Naked' range?

Wednesday 22 October 2014

Rare London Blogger Event & Opulence Collection Preview

A couple of weeks ago I was kindly invited to the Rare London Manchester Blogger Event by the lovely girls at Label PR. After reading that the evening would involve gorgeous party dresses, cocktails and a chocolate making class there was no way I could say no!

I headed into Manchester City Centre to the Renaissance Hotel where the event was already in full swing (oops I was a little late!) and I was instantly greeted by Rhian and Carey from Label PR with a cocktail. The function room had been set out with tables in the centre of the room for us all to participate with the chocolate making class, and round the outside were rails of stunning dresses and coats from the new Opulence Collection.


The Opulence Collection is full of perfect party wear for the Christmas and New Year season - think lots of garments adorned with crystals, sequins, feathers and faux fur - there is something for everyone from that little black dress to more daring multi-coloured jewel encrusted items. 




This faux fur monochrome coat was a big favourite with the bloggers at the event. It's so striking and looks really warm and cosy whilst being stylish at the same time. 


The Opulence Collection also includes some seriously stunning accessories to finish off your outfit. Statement jewellery and clutch bags were placed on display tables for us to ooh and ahh over and, again, there were lots of styles to suit everyone's tastes.


Now....on to the chocolate making! I really like attending blogger events where we can get stuck into activities and this chocolate making class was one of my favourites so far. I think it encourages us all to chat and get to know each other and quickly gets rid of any awkwardness. We were shown how to make giant chocolate buttons and chocolate truffles and were then left to our own devices to try an recreate what we'd just seen. At this stage it got VERY messy!! 


I sat with my blogger pals JessGeorgieKatie and Clare and we had a really fun evening catching up, getting covered in chocolate and drinking cocktails!


Here are my finished truffles! I was actually quite pleased with them for my first attempt and they tasted delicious too!

A big thank you to Rare London and Label PR for having me - it was a great event and I loved the fact we got to see the new range before its release!

You can view and purchase items from the Opulence range at Rare London here

Monday 20 October 2014

Chanel Autumn Collection: Joues Contraste Powder Blush #160 'Innocence'

Last month I decided I wanted to start treating myself to more high end beauty products - I started my new job in June which included a decent pay rise and I turned 30 at the beginning of September so I figured that I deserved it! 

First on my list was Chanel. To me, the Chanel brand is the epitome of elegance, style and glamour......and I wanted some of that! I don't own that many blushers so when I saw the gorgeous compacts on the Chanel counter in Boots they instantly went straight to the top of my list. 


Thursday 16 October 2014

200 Follower Giveaway!


Welcome to my first blog giveaway! When I first reached 200 followers I was contemplating a giveaway but never got round to it (oops!) so, even though it's a little bit late, I'm doing one now!

It's my way of saying thank you to each and every one of you that follow, read and comment on my blog - it really does mean a lot! 

With Halloween coming up in a few weeks I thought I'd give away a little make up prize that you can use to create a gorgeous vampy look! One lucky winner will receive:

1 x Essence Smokey Eyes Make Up Box containing 6 gorgeous eyeshadows to create the perfect smokey eye

1 x Set of false eyelashes from The Vintage Cosmetics Company

1 x Essence Multi Action Mascara to create volume, length and curl to your lashes

1 x Essence Colour & Go Nail Polish in Black

1 x Avon Red Sparkle Lipgloss


All you have to do is:

1. Follow my blog on Bloglovin 

2. Follow me on Twitter (@What_Shell_Says) and retweet the photo of the above prize

3. Once you've done the above, leave a comment below with the name(s) that you're following me on

The winner will be selected at random and be announced on Twitter on Monday 20th October.

UK entries only (sorry!) Good luck!

Wednesday 15 October 2014

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick - #19 'Fuchsia in Rage'


I finally did it! I bought my first YSL lipstick after lusting after them for what seems like FOREVER.....and what a beauty it is!


Like most people, I was instantly attracted to the stunning gold casing. I love the intricate detail of the YSL logo through the middle with the lipstick colour behind it. It looks and feels expensive and I love this new addition to my make up bag!


After trying out a few shades I decided on colour number 19 'Fuchsia in Rage'. This bright purple stood out among the rest on the display counter and, although it's brighter than I would normally wear, I felt it suited me well. Upon swatching this on my hand I discovered that the colour isn't as dark or as purple as it appears, but instead has a gorgeous pink hue to it which I think makes it more wearable.


This particular lipstick is from the Rouge Volupte Shine range. It feels moisturising to wear and gives a gorgeous glossy shine to your lips making them look fuller. It glides on really smoothly and it has the most delicious melon scent.

This lipstick has also got major staying power! I apply, blot and then apply again and it literally lasts for hours. I can eat and drink and it barely budges. It also leaves behind a stain on the lips as it gradually wears so you don't get a patchy uneven look. I even have to remove the last traces of this lipstick at the end of the day with some micellar water and a cotton pad as it doesn't wipe off easily at all. 

This YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick definitely gets a 10 out of 10 from me and I think it's worth every penny of the £25 I paid for it from Selfridges. It has stunning packaging, an amazing colour and the best staying power of any lipstick I've ever used - and for that reason it will last me ages as I won't have to keep re-applying.

I'm already deciding which shade to buy next.....

Do you have any YSL lipsticks? Which shade is your favourite? 

Sunday 12 October 2014

New Season - New Coat | Rare London Fur Trim Parka

For me, the start of the Autumn/Winter season signals one thing - a new coat. I love the feeling of picking out a new coat because, let's face it, I'll be getting a lot of wear out of it in cold and rainy Manchester! It's hard to decide on which style to go for as there are so many in the high street shops and online right now, but I knew this time I wanted a parka and as soon as I saw the Black Fur Trim Parka Coat* from Rare London I knew I had to have it!



I love parkas and every year they return to the rails as they're just so popular and easy to wear. A parka can be a really versatile coat and doesn't just have to be dressed down with jeans. I'll be wearing mine with skirts, dresses, tights and heeled boots for a more dressed up daytime look.


This particular parka coat from Rare London is really versatile as it has a detachable fur collar and also a detachable padded gilet which zips onto the inside of the coat. This is a great idea as you can wear it without for the milder Autumn months and then zip it back in for extra warmth when it's needed in the colder Winter months!



I love this coat and will be wearing it loads this season, and with it being black rather than the traditional khaki colour, it will go with pretty much anything! 

Have you got a new coat for the Autumn/Winter season yet? What do you think of this one from Rare London?
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