Milani Baked Powder Blush in Berry Amore and Luminoso Review - Cruelty Free Drug Store Cosmetics

I've been obsessing over blush recently. It was always a neglected area of my makeup collection, I owned a lot but only ever wore one or two of them. Recently I discovered Milani (a brand you have to order online in Scotland), and decided to give a couple of theirs a go as well. 

The two I got were Berry Amore (top left) and Luminoso (bottom right). Also how amazing is the packaging. It is only plastic but it feels sturdy and doesn't look cheap, much love for it. 

And here's what the pans look like. They are so, so pretty. Berry Amore is a gorgeous, soft, taupe based pink with tiny flecks of gold glitter through it. I like it a lot and have worn it almost every day since I bought it. Luminoso is more of a shiny peach colour, it has a sheen but doesn't appear to have any glitter in it. I really like it but Berry Amore is just more my colour,

And here are some finger swatches. As you can see they're very pretty. The powder is really finely milled and blends out beautifully. From experience they also last all day and I feel they are amazing quality for a drug store blush.

My only issue with these blushes is the packaging to blush ratio is insane. You can see from the photos the pan of blush is far smaller than the packaging itself. and is actually really thin. It flips open it reveal a mirror and a tiny, plastic brush that really isn't worth what its made out of. 

I'm never going to use this part of either of them and actually really wish they weren't there. I'm considering gluing this part shut as there's no catch keeping it closed and when you try and open the blush it has a habit of coming open. Its not a deal breaker and it wouldn't stop me buying more. It's just annoying. Also I wish brands would stop including low value, mini applicators with products (like the super cheap brushed that come with some eyeshadow palettes). If we're buying your stuff online and paying shipping and so on, we have a means of applying it to our skin.

Overall, despite my packaging complaints, I do really like these products, am considering getting more next time I order from Milani and would highly recommend them. Each blush contains 3.5g of product and at £7.49 off the Milani Website and £8 off Beauty Bay I think they're fantastic value for money.  If I do get another one soon I think it'll be Rose D'Oro which looks gorgeous. Also the photos of the colours are far better on Beauty Bay, but the direct website (in the UK at least) ships DPD who now deliver to an assortment of high street stores you can pick up from. So it might be worth checking anything you want on Beauty Bay to confirm the colour then ordering direct. One of the shops they deliver to is Matalan so I got my order sent to the Jamaica Street store in the centre, very handy and the staff were really nice (even thought they had to run about and look through their delivery whilst I waited).   

Do you have a favourite Milani product I need to try? Or anything you'd like to see me review? Please let me know in the comments.

XOXO Scruffy

Other blush products

Revolution Blush Queen Palette

Too Faced Love Flush Blush

Collection #BlushAndGlow Palette

Revolution Solo Blush Review

Enquiry? Message me ascruffyduck@gmail.com 

Urban Decay, First Hit Travel Kit. Review and Swatches - Cruelty Free Delux Samples, Perversion Mascara, Primer Potion

If you've read anything I've written, ever, you'll know I'm a sucker for cute things, trying new stuff and tester packs. Urban Decay are a higher end brand that's semi new to me, but since I started buying their stuff I've fallen in love. I now own a good mix of products from them, but I still like trying new things. When I saw this pack (which I got in the same Debenhams order as the Love at First Kiss from Too Faced and a Kat Von D one I need to type up), I knew I wanted it. 

In this you get a mini primer potion, 24/7 Glide On eye pencil in Demolition, Perversion mascara in black, and an All-Nighter setting spray. I've previously tried the setting spray and a different eyeliner from this range and really liked both, several youtubers I follow rave about the eye primer and I've heard lots of good things about the mascara .

Look at how cute these minis are. Perfect for handbags.

So the eyeliner is a really nice dark brown, I've used this a lot, usually on my upper lashes and actually really like it. I will be buying a full sized one of these when this is done as it stays really well, 

The primer potion is a nude colour and although I don't normally use eye primer (I like to just use concealer) I've used this a couple of times under more elaborate eye looks and the shadow has never budged. I don't know if I'd get a full sized version of this, but I would not say no to another sample size to try it out some more. 

So this is the brush from the mascara, its huge compared to the tube and this is the kind of brush I like. Big and traditional. The mascara itself is really good as well, very black, long lasting and dries fast so it doesn't get everywhere if you sneeze right after applying it ( I do this at least once a month so I have to factor it in when choosing mascara).

I didn't take photos of the spray because its a clear spray. I like this setting spray but I'm not 100% sure its worth the money. The NYX one I recently finished as part of my 17 by 2017 project is really good and far cheaper than this. Again I wouldn't say no to another sample. 

The whole box costs £15 and I think its really great value for money. A full 24/7 eye pencil is £15.50 so if you want to try a wide range of Urban Decay products is definitely cost effective. 

Tried out any cute mini sets you think are worth while? Please let me know in the comments so I can check them out. 

XOXO Scruffy

Enquiry? Message me ascruffyduck@gmail.com  

Review: Revolution Blush Queen Palette with arm swatches - Cruelty Free Cosmetics

Ever bought makeup online and when its arrived been like... What did I just buy? This palette was one of those purchases and I initially didn't love it and wasn't going to review it as I didn't want to seem negative. I now feel like we passed that point after the Natural Collection eyeshadow and 7th Heaven Argan Mask reviews. As times gone by I've given this palette more of a shot and don't hate it as much so I thought I'd dive down that rabbit hole.

So I bought this because on the Revolution website it looks like a palette of little planets for your cheeks (link here so you can see for yourself). It's very, very cute and I was excited to have it in my collection because I loved outer-space as a kid.

It's a little used not and the planet look only seems to stand up on the blush's where the accent colour is stronger. Also packing from Revolution comes in two forms, nice or cheap. This falls into the cheap camp, the nicer ones have sturdier plastic and a large mirror in the lid. The only thing that the cheaper packaging has to its advantage is that you can see through it and tell exactly whats in it, making it much easier to find what you're looking for. It just feels so plasticky.

Top Row.

Bottom Row.

All the blushes are sparkly, and some of them are very similar. So even though you're getting 13 grams of product for £6, its not over 8 pans, more like 5 (or maybe six if you really build it up). Also its not so much a blush palette as a blush topper or highlight palette. The only shades that could conceivably be used as blushes are the send and fourth ones on the bottom. 

I think that might have been part of my instant dislike for it. As its called Blush Queen I was, understandably, expecting for it to be filled with blush. Seven out of eight of them are very soft  and easy to use, and all of them blend well. That scary looking bright pink actually sheers out really nicely and gives you a gorgeous, flushed glow.

Would I recommend this as a blush palette? No. Would I recommend it as a cheek and highlight palette? Maybe. There's not a lot of blush options, and everything is baked and sparkly. If that's what you're into then go for it though. 

XOXO Scruffy 

Enquiry? Message me ascruffyduck@gmail.com 

NYX Matte Lipsticks in Tea Rose and Eurotrash Review and Lip Swatches - Cruelty Free Makeup

NYX are a fairly new brand to come to the UK, however over the past 6 months they started to take over my makeup collection, especially in the lip category. 

One of the first products I bought was the matte lipstick in Tea Rose. A gorgeous soft dusky pink shade. I really liked it but it got overshadowed in my collection by the many other matte lip products I own, and to be honest I totally forgot about it. 

Then, a few weeks ago, I was in my local Boots and decided to peruse the NYX counter (still not an experience I enjoy, the standards haven't really improved since my last rant post). I've already got all the shades of Lip Suede, Lip Cream, Lip Lingerie and almost all Butter Lipsticks I could want, so I found myself browsing the other lipstick lines and that's when I noticed Eurotrash and remembered about Tea Rose.

Top Eurotrash and bottom Tea Rose

So there they are. Packaging wise these lipsticks are very similar to the Butter lipsticks, the only difference being the ends of the bullet are all matte black and not coloured plastic that matches the colour of the product. I like this style of packaging, simple and effective. I also think the window is a nice touch as it means you can tell which lipstick is which without having to check the bottom or opening them. On a tangent, I've noticed NYX also print the name of the product down the body of the product as well, which I like too as it saves squinting at the bottom.

And here are the swatches. As you can see Eurotrash is very nude whereas Tea Rose is far more pink. They are both however, very nice wearable everyday colours.

Lip Swatch : Eurotrash

Lip Swatch: Tea Rose

Formula wise these lipsticks are really nice. They're soft and easy to apply with a good pigment pay off. And although they are maybe not truly matte in the same way a liquid lipstick would be, they are far more matte than a standard lipstick and far more comfortable than any liquid lipstick I have tried, even the really comfortable ones.

They don't last a really long time, however they wear off evenly and don't smudge that much when you kiss. They also feel really moisturising and leave my lips feeling in great condition. I've placed these two in my work makeup bag as they're lovely, wearable, "office appropriate" colours (although that never stopped me wearing dark purple). Ideal for applying after lunch when other products have worn off or started to flake and I need something for the afternoon.

I'd be really interested in trying more colours from this range as there are some gorgeous burnt oranges and dark reds. I'm just a bit worried they may suffer from the same formula inconsistancies that other NYX lines do, like the Full Throttle lipsticks where some are lovely and others are waxy and stiff. These two are absolutely lovely regardless.

XOXO Scruffy 

Enquiry? Message me ascruffyduck@gmail.com

Collection #BlushAndGlow Mini Palette Review and Swatches - Cruelty Free Cosmetics

So at the start of last month I went up to my parents, and only realised once I was there I had forgotten any blush or highlighter. This wouldn't normally be a big deal, I don't always wear makeup (especially when I'm at home), and if I was in the city I could nip out and buy more. However I had arranged to meet friends when I arrived back in Glasgow  in a couple of days, so I kind of needed some blush. My options were look incredibly pale, the two tiny makeup stands in the local chemist (neither of which were cruelty free, so therefore not an option), or attempt to find something in Inverness. 

I chose Inverness, however that nearly didn't pay off at all. Maybe it's because I'm so used to Glasgow but I expected more from it. Between the large Boots and Superdrug in the town centre, this was all I could find. I was really hoping for a NYX stand, as I like their solo blushes. Failing that something from MUA or Makeup Revolution as theirs are OK to.

This is the Collection (previous Collection 2000) #BlushAndGlow palette. It cost £4.99 and you get 18g of product, split between four pans. A contour, a highlight and two blush shades. It was the closest thing I could find to what I actually wanted (for less than Urban Decay prices). It looks like great value on paper, however once I got it back to my parents and tried it, my first thoughts were just cheap, cheap, cheap.

The main packaging is cardboard, with a plastic panel, and in times gone by I would have been OK with this. I've been spoiled by the likes of MUA and Makeup Revolution that manage to keep costs low, but still package things up nicely. This just feels wrong. It does have a magnetic closure on it, which I have fun snapping, but that's just because I'm easily amused.

So I did the swatches and photographed them in two different lights. These powders are incredibly stiff, chunky and apply patchily to the skin. Just check the swatches on the far right or far left for this. Also the highlighter really draws attention to any skin texture. 

They also don't apply well with brushes. There's no subtlety, you have to go all in as the powder is so stiff. So if you're pale, with a lot of skin texture and don't like looking like you're at clown academy, I would not recommend this. 

TLDR: Cheap, poor quality packaging. Stiff, chunky powder that doesn't apply well. Not good.

XOXO Scruffy 

Enquiry? Message me ascruffyduck@gmail.com

New MUA LUXE Inked Lip Stains - Thoughts and Swatches

 This is an impromtue post I hadn't planned on writing, but as these are new out and I've ended up with 80%  of the range, I figured why not.

These are from the MUA and are part of the LUXE line. Theres 5 colours, I bought four of them and they cost £4 each. I had only planned on getting two but after picking them up and playing with them I was so impressed I went out and picked up two more. The only colour I didnt get was Dewbury which was insane, and as these are stains I thought I could a lot of damage with that decided not to go with that.

Top-Bottom. Tropicana, Watermelon, Maraschino, Sangria

So I was unsure how to swatch these, as I already made the mistake of swatching Tropicana on my skin in the shop, and yeah. They really stain that was a really bad mistake. So that wasn't happening again.

Best thing I could come up with was this.

Top-Bottom. Tropicana, Watermelon, Maraschino, Sangria

As you can see, they're bright. I've done you some lip swatches for ya'll too, so if you want to see some photos of my mouth then keep scrolling. I have no other make up on in the pictures and managed to smudge Tropica all over my face, so they're a real treat.

Tropicana

Watermelon

Maraschino

Sangria

Couple of things. These have a slight smell, its not much or bad but it is there. Also they apply super runny but dry very quickly. They taste super bad if they get in your mouth so not letting that happen is a good thing.

I had Sangria on yesterday, applied it before lunch and even thought the top layer of product wore, the stain stayed on all day and was still visable at 10pm at night.

In short, these things are amazing. I just need them bring out some more colours, a mid-tone pink would be amazing. All four of them are coming on holiday with me, thought I can see me wearing watermelon most.

MUA is available at Superdrug and online. They're stuff is also cruelty free which is a big bonus.

I bought all the products mentioned in this review myself and all the opinions are mine.

Makeup Revolution Haul June 2016

I buy quite a lot of make up (no more till after my hollibobs in September though) and if I can trust the company I will do it online, because places like Boots and Superdrug (and if I'm feeling sassy and rich Debenhams) are not fun at lunchtimes. Big crowds stress me out and waiting in line is annoying. Also if I get there and they have several of what I want but they're all funked up as people have chosen to open them rather than use a designated tester. No, just no. Why do that? It's just gross and unnecessary.

I fell in love with Makeup Revolution a while ago, however the bay in Superdrug is always heaving with people and out of what I want or they never even stocked it in the first place. So I was over the moon when I trial ordered off their website and it went well. Shipping can be a little (or in the case of my last order, a lot) slow however they are a small UK based company so I'll let them off.

I've now ordered from them four times, and never had any kind of problem except maybe some slow shipping. Everything arrives in a kind of magical bubble-wrap burrito and emerges item by item as you unwrap it. Its like an amazing, infuriating Christmas present that you've ordered yourself.

June's Haul

Top: I <3 Makeup Naked Chocolate Palette, Middle: Unicorns are Real and Mermaids vs Unicorns Palettes, Bottom: 1 Salvation Velvet Lacquer, 2 Ultra Velour Lip Creams and Two Matte Lipsticks

OK so June's haul maybe wasn't the biggest on record (not even close) and that's down to me owning most of what I want already and trying to save money. I set myself a strict budget and took so much out the shopping cart, its amazing how quickly an eyeshadow palette and a couple of £3 lipsticks becomes well over £40 and that was more than I had to play with.

Here's a breakdown of what I got.

I <3 Makeup - Naked Chocolate Palette

This palette is the reason I ended up on the website in the first place and had it been available when I placed my previous order (where I got the original I <3 Chocolate and Chocolate Vice palettes) , I probably wouldn't have even checked the website again. This palette is a glorious collection of nude shades. It is slightly on the satin/shimmery side of things however I find those shades are generally better than the the mattes so I'm totally fine with that.

I know own all the palettes in the I <3 Chocolate range and plan on doing a full post about them in the near future so if eyeshadow is your thing, look out for that.

Unicorns are Real and Mermaids Vs Unicorns Palettes

OK so I may have actually crept on to buy these anyway, even if I already had the Naked palette. A co-worker who I like to talk all things makeup with came in to work wearing one of the shades from Unicorns are Real and it looked so pretty I had to buy them.

 I've never tried the long thin pan type palettes from them before however, I love the salvation eyeshadow palettes which I have in Unicorns Unite and Dia de los Muertos (although the strange neon yellow matte in that one is beyond questionable). These only cost £4 each when I ordered, and I've paid more than that for an eyeshadow single in the past so even if only 3 colours are usable its still fine by me.

Salvation Velvet Lip Lacquer - Keep Lying For You

When it comes to liquid lipsticks I want something with the longevity of LA Splash and the feel of NYX Soft Matte lip cream. In other words I want a the unicorn of liquid lippy and that ain't happening any time soon. I've tried a couple of the velvet lip lacquers before though and honestly they're not bad. They do come off on cups and food and need reapplied more than a higher end brand would. That being said though, they don't dry my lips out anywhere near as much, and they don't seem to peel or flake the way some liquid to matte formulas do so they're a nice compromise.

Keep lying for you just looked like a really pretty muted rose colour. Its a little like Rose Garden by LA Splash (which is one of my favourite lipsticks of all time) however slightly brighter and with a hint of purple to it.

Ultra Velour Lip Cream - Their Eyes Can't Find Us and All I Think About is You

I've never tried the lip creams before but I was curious so I thought I'd try a couple. Inside the box the packaging definitely looks and feel a bit cheaper than the Velvet Lip Lacquers. The font is more basic and the tube just doesn't feel or look as nice. They are actually cheap though, and anyway the packaging isn't such a big deal in the long haul.

Their Eyes Can't Find Us is a nice light "honey nude" kind of shade. I feel some people might describe it as their lips only better, however mine are very rosy red and will probably shine right through. Will keep you posted on how this goes.

All I Think About is You is basically a more pink Keep Lying For You. I also have the Velvet Lacquer in Rebel and all three of them are very similar colours. Definitely don't think I need all three of them but oh well.

When I was swatching these I noticed they have a sweet, artificial, cupcakey (vanilla maybe?) kind of smell. Its not unpleasant but if you're sensitive of lip products with a scent these maybe aren't for you. From memory the Velvet Lacquers don't have a noticeable or at least noteworthy smell so these might be better.

Matte Lipsticks - Duel and Propaganda

A while ago I tried one of their matte lipsticks in the colour Liberty (for the record its bright purple, I love really intense lip colours) and I was so impressed I figured I would try a couple more.

Swatches, Propoganda on the top and Duel on the bottom

I got Propaganda and Duel, both are reds and look virtually the same in the packaging, but when swatched (which I conveniently photographed when I got them, sorry about my raggedy nails) Propaganda shows up as a gorgeous pinky red where as Duel is more of a true red. Also they smell so good, and not that nasty fake watermelon smell you get with some drug store products. I can't describe it but there's something really nice about it. Makes me kind of want to lick them, don't worry though, I haven't given in and tried that yet. Will keep you posted if I do though.

I also got sent the three Iconic Bronze, Blush and Brighten trio palettes they were promoting recently as I spent (pennies) over £25. I'm not sure what I think about these yet. I barely highlight and do not bronze however as they were free, I'll have a play with them and let you know my thoughts.

Tried any of the Makeup Revolution products I bought. Let me know what you think.

XOXO Scruffy

Makeup Revolution - Solo Blush Review

So lets have a little chat about Makeup Revolution.

Makeup Revolution are a UK based brand that have a reputation for making fantastic quality products that rival and often dupe high end brands such as Urban Decay and Too Faced. Their products aren't tested on animals either, which is awesome.

I've been using there stuff for a few months now and I largely find the quality to be amazing with their eye and lip products. Their eyeshadows are usually amazing, nicely pigmented and easy to work with. Sometimes you come across one or two in a palette that aren't as good as the others, but, seeing as I paid under a tenner for 20 shades, I'm not going to loose sleep or claim to be ripped off if one or two are a bit pants.

The only area they have ever disappointed me in was their blush palettes. I own two and just found the quality to be no where near as good, also out of 8 pans you get maybe 3 or 4 that are unique colours and the rest are all very, very similar to each other. Not a fan.

A while ago, in a moment of madness, I picked up one of their single colours in the colour Treat. I say moment of madness as it looks a stunning shade of orange in the pan. I don't know if I genuinely picked up the wrong thing, it looked different in Superdrugs insane lighting or I just spaced and thought pumpkin-chic was in this season.

However, this little guy is the business.

Now, buyer beware, as its orange. When on my face it just gives me a warm peachy glow though. I don't know if this would look good on anyone else. I have really rosy red cheeks so it might be mixing with my skin tone, or it might just be an awesome colour. I don't know but I love it.

I love it so much I went and bought another one. I got Now!. A soft pinky shade that reminds me of Dandelion by Benefit. Its really nice as well. Really, really nice.

Yesterday I went out and bought the other four shades they do so I have them all.

Top Row (ltr) Love & Treat, Middle Row (ltr) Now! and Hot!, Bottom Row (ltr) Sugar and Wow!

As you can see some of the shades are kind of similar and I'm honestly a little scared of putting Hot! anywhere as its so pink. This photo isnt the best colourwise though as its made Love and Sugar look far more similar than they actually are. Love is far more cool and brown and Sugar is more like a warm muted pink.

The only thing I'm really not crazy about is the packaging. It looks and feels really cheap and nasty. The white plastic does nothing for the products (and the only other brand I can think of that used white plastic is Natural Collection, Boots budget line). Honestly, even if all they changed was the white for another colour, I think it would do wonders. MUA (Superdrugs own brand) has it blush in similar packaging but in black, and it looks so much better. Makeup Reveloution's own eyeshadow singles come in the exact same packaging as these but in black as well, and again, so much less cheap and nasty looking.

Also I'd have preferred it if the pans were either round or square as its hard to swirl a big brush into a rectangle, but that's just me moaning.

I'll keep you updated on how I get on with these, especially Hot! and if you want a post with swatches or me to do one about the blush palettes, let me know.

Makeup Revolution is available at Superdrug in the UK and also you can buy it direct from their website (I know they ship to America, Canada and New Zealand but can't be sure about anywhere else). Also I think some of their products are available in Ulta stores, but from watching American Youtubers I think the selection is pretty limited.

XOXO Scruffy