Makeup Revolution Pro HD Amplified 35 Palette in Socialite - review and swatches

Makeup Revolution London is a brand known for its affordable makeup and for duping popular or cult products of some high-end brands. As far as I can tell these Pro HD Palettes are not dupes of anything. They have recently came out with 5 of those Pro HD Amplified 35 Palettes in Socialite, Exhilarate, Innovation, Defiant and Smoulder.

Pro HD Amplified 35 Palette in Socialite has 35 eyeshadow pans (each pan contains 0.857 g of product) in different finishes: 9 shimmery shades, 4 satin/matte hybrids and 22 matte shades. As the name Socialite suggests this is a classy looking palette consisting of mostly neutrals with few pops of color.

It comes in a rose gold outer packaging that contains shade names on the back as well as the ingredients list. Palette itself comes in black plastic packaging with see through lid (mine got cracked during transport). It is pretty sturdy and does not feel too cheep.

Now onto shadows themselves. Matte shadows are pigmented and easy to blend, they do have a bit of kick up mind you.They did not get muddied while applied on the eyes and colors stayed true to themselves.  Those weird  satin/ matte shadows with specks of glitter are particularly lovely, they are super creamy and go on like a dream. Shimmery shades go on nicely both with firm synthetic brush or finger and are intense in shine and color without foiling them. Only one shade behaves more like pressed glitter and that is TOFF and I would recommend using a glitter glue with it.They last well without primer and do not budge when used with primer. All in all these are very nice eyeshadows, especially for the price.
They are available on TAMBEAUTY web site for EUR 19.

Swatches were made with finger without a primer, one swipe only except for the lightest shades which I built up a bit to show on my pale skin. Going from top row to the bottom row of the palette. Pardon my translucent skin. It is winter and I am ghost pale.

From left to right: Blaire, Prima Donna, Skinny Latte, Divorcee, Spoilt, Vivacious, Convertible

From left to right: Driver, 1st Class, Plutocracy, TOFF, Debutante, Nouveau Rich, Front Row

From left to right: Pay Slip, Sugar Daddy, Make it Rain, Elite, Blue Blood, High Tea, Throw Shade

From left to right: Rumor Mill, Pyjamas with Heels, Credit Card, Miami Beach, Plastic, Fill It, Video Tape

From left to right: Inheritance, Privileged, Charlie, Cosmopolitan, Nose Job, Let's Do Brunch, Old Money

The eyeshadow names all go along with the theme of socialite and some of them cracked me up (like naming that hot pink shade Plastic).

I found most of the shadow easy to work with and you can get really beautiful both everyday and night out eye looks with this palette. You need to work on blending them a bit more then you would for example with ABH Modern Renaissance Palette or Urban Decay Naked Palettes but the end results are equally beautiful. Matte shadows have some fall out so make sure you tap your brush before applying. I am thoroughly enjoying this palette and would recommend it to anyone that wants a lot of colors to choose from and is not willing to shell out on high end shadows.

PRODUCTS I USED UP

A box full of products I've used up in the last 6 months. Since they are used up I wanted to go through them and write a few thoughts about each. Since there is a lot I decided to divide them into categories to make this easier.

Cleansing products

Illi Total Againg Cleansing Oil -  a hanbang cleansing oil I usually get from ebay, it usually is priced around 19/20 USD. It is really lovely cleansing oil that takes everything off, including eye makeup. It emulsifies really well and is easy to fully rinse off. I will repurchase once I am done with a bunch of other first cleansing products I have.

REN Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Balm -  me and this one were not the bestest of friends. I like the packaging in tube, but there is no emulsification so you have to use it in conjunction with a face flannel. It is a quite thick balm and it had bit of a trouble with waterproof mascara. With a price tag  of around 29/30 EUR it is quite pricey as well. I get my REN products on lookfantastic web site, but I will not be repurchasing this one.

Innisfree Bluberry Rebalancing 5.5 Cleanser - Second or foaming cleanser with lower pH of 5.5. I get it from Jolse and it is a  nice affordable option for second cleanser with around 9 USD price tag for 100ml. It got a bit chemically smelling towards the end so I probably will not repurchase.

shu uemura white recovery brightening cleansing oil - this travel size bottle was a gift with purchase and I enjoyed it well enough. It is a really nice thin oil that cleanses perfectly. It is just so expensive and there are other cheaper oils that do the job just as well. Will not repurchase.

Sunscreen

Hera Sun Mate Daily SPF 35 - the most expensive of these sunscreens and the one I liked the least. It worked perfectly fine I just did not enjoy the slightly greasy texture. You can find it on Jolse for 26 USD.  I will not repurchase.

A'PIEU PURE BLOCK Natural Sun Cream 45 SPF -  I really enjoy this sunscreen, the texture is great, no flashback and so light on the skin. Besides being awesome it is also really affordable, it is around 11 USD on Jolse. Definitely repurchase.

A'PIEU PURE BLOCK Aqua Sun Gel  50 SPF-  Another great sunscreen. Light on the skin, dries fast, no flashback. I prefer using Gel formula during summer. I get it on Jolse for around USD 13. Already have a backup but will definitely repurchase.

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50 - My favorite outdoor activity in summer sunscreen. This one provides sure protection in the hottest summer. It drys down fast, and is not heavy on the skin. This was my last tube of the old formula, I have purchased the new formula already but I will have to see if I like it as much as this one.

Serums and Essences 

su:m 37 Secret Essence  - Travel size 30 ml bottle I purchased to see if I like it before spending money on this luxury product. Unfortunately, I  love it. I have already repurchased it in full 100ml  size which is currently around USD 66 on Jolse.

Huxley Secret of Sahara Essence:Grab Water - A hydrating essence/serum that has a lovely scent and a cooling effect. I really enjoyed using this during summer and I will probably repurchase it once weather gets hot again. You can get Huxley products on Jolse, and this essence is priced around USD 33.

Tosowoong Time Shift Serum - I liked it. It is a nice affordable anti ageing serum chock full of good ingredients, but unfortunately I think it is getting discontinued.

Goodal water oil firming camellia - I love this product. There is a review of it on my Instagram. I would have repurchased it already but I have a really hard time sourcing it. It is sold out in all my usual shops. I sincerely hope it is not getting discontinued.

The Ordinary Niaciamide 10% +Zinc 1% - I've gone through two bottles of this. I am half done with the new one and have another one as backup. This is my holy grail product and I loooove it. It works and it is very affordable. There is a short review of it here. It costs only EUR 5.90 on Deciem site.

The Ordinary Buffet Serum - an anti ageing peptide serum. I enjoyed using it. As all the Oridnary products it is very affordable with price tag of EUR 14.80 on Deciem site. I am trying out its more advanced and more expensive version Hylamide SubQ Anti-age. I am curious how much better is it as it is double the price of Buffet.If I will not see any difference I will go back to Buffet. It is a good, affordable anti-ageing option.

Creams and sleeping masks 

Laneige Time Freeze Firming Sleeping Mask - I remember enjoying this mask, and will probably buy it full size once I use up at least half of numerous sleeping masks I have.

Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream - a lovely hanbang cream with wonderful texture and feel on the skin. Probably my favorite moisturizer. I already have a back up and will repurchase again and again. It is available on Jolse for around USD 17.

the SAEM Urban Eco Harakeke Whitening Cream -Very affordable moisturizer that performs and feels like much more expensive product. I currently have plenty of moisturizers but I would definitely consider repurchasing it once I run out. It is available on Jolse for around USD 13.

The Ordinary Natural Mousturizing Factors + HA - A simple and serviceable moisturizer, does what it is supposed to do and it is perfect for sensitive skin as it has very limited ingredients and is unlikely to cause mess, it is also perfect for travel as it is in a tube and not a heavy glass jar. The only thing I disliked was it small size of 30 ml. However they have now a 100 ml option which is perpetually sold out. Available on Deciem site 30 mil for EUR 5.80 and 100 ml for EUR 7.70. I will definitely repurchase once they have a 100 ml option in stock.

Make up Fixers

Aritaum All Day Make up Fixer - It was an OK make up fixer. Nothing overly exciting but it did its job. There are so many options on the market and I like trying new stuff I probably will not repurchase. Available on Jolse for around USD 10.

SKINDINAVIA the Makeup Primer Spray Oil Control - I love Skinidinavia make up fixers, I used Oil control primer spray before make up during summer. It helps make up to stay put with heat and sweating. This bottle has a black spray dispenser but I'm currently using it on another make up fixer cause their spray dispenser was crap. This is available on SKINDINAVIA  site for USD 35.

SKINDINAVIA make up finishing spray (full size + travel size) - This is the old packaging. I have already repurchased this in new packaging. It is USD 29 on SKINDINAVIA site.

Make up

Innsfree always new auto liner in  no. 4 brown - Brown liners is something I use daily to tight line. I liked the liner itself but hated the packaging. Especially the screw on cap. I always forgot you had to twist and not pull. Annoying. It is available on Jolse for about USD 8. Will not repurchase due to annoying packaging.

stilla smudge stick waterproof eyeliner in damsel - an excellent eyeliner. I used it to tight-line and it went on smooth and did not budge. I never can find this color though. I received it included in the palette. If I could find this color I would repurchase it.

Clio Kill Brow Tattoo-lasting gel pencil in Natural brown - This was perfect for quick brow in a hurry. It went on easily and lasted long time. It is perfect for someone who does not have to do a lot of work on their natural brows except a quick fill in as it is not a precise pencil. I have a lot of brow products I need to go through but I will probably repurchase eventually.

NYX Micro Brow Pencil  in Ash Brown - A supposed dupe for Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz. I don't know if I got a faulty one but it kept breaking off. It worked well, and pencil is really fine so you can draw individual hairs but it kept breaking off. In the end it lasted less then a month. Will not repurchase.

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara -I mean, it was fine I guess. There was nothing bold about its volume though. Clearly, I was not overly impressed so I  will not repurchase.

YSL Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils -  I got this in a set with a perfume. I liked it well enough and one day when I feel like spending an inordinate amount of money on a mascara I might purchase the full size.

Milani Eyeshadow Primer - an excellent budget eyeshadow primer. Already have a back up. Only down side for me is that Milani is not easily available to me.

Nuxe Reve de Miel Stick Levres - not as good as the one in the pot but still an excellent lip balm and essential for handbag. It really sits well under other lip products. Once I use up a bunch of lip balms I have I will definitely repurchase.


I cannot believe I finally finished with this. If you managed to get to the end of this post you deserve a virtual cookie. Now I can finally happily recycle all those bottles and tubes and my husband can stop calling me a hoarder.

TRUE ISLAND HONEY BEE ALL DAY FIXING MIST - REVIEW

If you have been reading this blog you know I love everything that comes from bees. Honey, Propolis, Beeswax, Royal Jelly all of them ingredients that are proven to be beneficial for the skin as they have moisturizing, nourishing and antibacterial properties. So when I received this mist for review purpose I was super excited as it contains Honey, Propolis and Royal Jelly extracts. I use make up fixing mists daily and the idea that they can have additional skincare benefits seemed pretty darn good one and you can never go wrong with honey in my eyes. Adding honey makes everything better.

Ingredients and CosDNA Analysis:

Claims:

All day fixing mist keeps your make up all day and gives your skin a matte look by controlling the skin’s oil and sebum

Skin balancing and hydration mist

Enriched with Jeju honey extract, royal jelly extract and propolis extract this make up fixer provides hydration and balances out the loss of skin moisture

Long-lasting makeup holding power

Refreshing fixing mist secures makeup for all day wear and keeps your skin fresh.

Healthy skin care by improving skin barrier

Lime extract provides vitamin C to the skin and strengthens the natural skin barrier.

Boosts skin radiance and luminosity

Contains terminalia ferdinandiana fruit extract, the richest source of vitamin C, has powerful anti-aging effect and improves skin tone evenness with an overall brightening effect. 

(Translation taken from http://nafura.my/ website)

I have been using this mist every day for the past 10 days and as a make fixer it really does its job. After 10 days it is impossible to tell if it has any skincare benefits but my skin did not react badly to it.

What I liked:

•  takes away the cakey /over-powdered look and significantly prolongs the longevity of my makeup 
• feels comfortable and moisturizing on the skin. 
• has a really mild and pleasant fruity/citrusy scent.
• due to its glycerin content you can use it to foil eye-shadows to prevent fallout and to get more intense color
• it did not mattify my skin just made it look healthy and natural 

What I did not like:

• mist spray/product dispenser 

I don't know if I got a product with a faulty spray dispenser but fact is the spray on my bottle is pretty horrible. While the mist it makes is really fine and not overly wet it pushes it out straight away in this really wide spray that if I used it at the recommended distance of 20 cm not a single drop would end up on my face. I have to use it really close to face and do some hand acrobatics to make sure it ends up on my face, and good portion of it still lands on my clothes. It also leaks when used so bottle gets really wet and drippy with each use. Now I really like the juice, so it annoys me that so much of this good product ends up everywhere but on my face. 

If bottle spray would be better this would be one of my favorite mists, as it is, I still like the mist very much and I will continue to use it despite the fact that the dispenser makes me see red every time I use it.   

*product was provided by http://jolse.com/ for review purpose