It's been a while since I wrote a post about Makeup Geek's vegan options and they've had loads of new stuff released since then. So I wrote to them to ask for an updated list.

They confirmed back the eyeshadows that contain carmine, making them unsuitable for vegans. I also went back to confirm which pigments, foiled eyeshadows and blushes are vegan and they have now updated their vegan page accordingly.

Makeup Geek have said the following products are vegan:

• Regular Eyeshadows, excluding the shades listed below
• Foiled Eyeshadows, excluding the shades listed below
• Pigments (as at this date none contain carmine)
• Gel Liners
• Blushes, excluding the shades listed below
• Makeup brushes

NON-Vegan Items:

• Eyeshadows containing carmine: Bitten, Country Girl, Cupcake, Drama Queen, Mango Tango, Razzleberry, Simply Marlena, Twilight, Unexpected, Unicorn
• Eyeshadow Holiday Bundle, as it contains Bitten & Country Girl
• Starter Kit, as it contains Drama Queen & Unexpected
• Ultimate Palette as it contains Bitten, Country Girl, Drama Queen, Mango Tango, Razzleberry & Unexpected.
• Expansion Kit, as it contains Unicorn & Razzleberry.
• Foiled Eyeshadows containing Carmine: Center Stage & Caitlin Rose
• Lipsticks (beeswax)
• Blushes containing carmine: First Love & Romance

Looks like I'll be ordering some foiled eyeshadows then! :)

Have a great weekend everyone.

Love & Stuff
Sal xXx

13:47

Hello?  ERM, long time no post! Sorry about that, life kind of got in the way a bit.  But I have a few posts worth of pic saved up for you and so look out for those over the next week or so.  I'm starting with a Face (and outfit) of the day. Well night, technically.  This the makeup I wore for my boyfriend's birthday meal last weekend.

Party makeup season is pretty much here and this kind of fits in well with that. I wanted something glamorous and a bit sparkly too.  So I went for a shimmery smokey eye and classic red lip.  I kept the hair down and with soft waves so it wasn't really the focus.

 

I've been growing my brows out lately and have been going for a fuller look. They need a bit of grooming, but I'm definitely preferring them this way! A bit more unkempt!

 

Full List of products used:

Face

No 7 Instant Radiance Foundation, shade Warm Ivory - CV

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, Shade 2 Light - CV

Pixi Brightening Peach Corrector - CV

Soap & Glory Glow All Out - AV 

Barry M Natural Dazzle Bronzer - V

Revolution Blush Palette, Sugar & Spice - AV

Revolution Setting Spray - AV

Eyes

Limecrime Eyeshadow Helper - V

B. Vivid Eyeshadow in Cinnamon - V

Makeup Geek Eyeshadow, Peach Smoothie, Mocha, Corrupt - CV

Makeup Geek Pigment, shade Insomnia - AV**, applied wet

Lightest shimmery shade from the MUA Undress Me Too palette on the inner corner and the lightest matte shade to highlight the brow bone - AV

Makeup Geek Gel Liner, shade Immortal - CV

Barry M Lash Vegas Fibres Mascara

Kiss Lashes, easy lashes??  Applied with Duo Lash Glue - CV

Anastasia Brow Wiz, Ash Blonde - AV

GOSH Clear Brow Gel - CV

Lips

OCC Anti Feather Pencil - V

Limecrime Velvetine, Red Velvet (I am 99% sure that is what is on my lips!) - V 

**I'm not 100% sure that this pigment is vegan, I thought it was when I purchased but now just awaiting confirmation from MUG! If not, a similar look would be acheiveable with a brown shadow on the lid and a pigment with a teal reflect patted on top (for example, Concrete Minerals pigment in Wicked or Sugarpill's Lumi).

 

I also tried to take an outfit shot, it's a bit rubbish I know, but I LOVE this dress. It's by Cameo Rose and I got it in New Look.  The shoes are from a little cheapy shop that has since closed down sadly. But they are super blingy and high and I love them!

IF YOU'RE STILL READING....

It's almost party season guys, so I'm thinking I'm going to do a series of posts of ideas for party makeup, maybe even pic or little video tutorials of the eye makeup!  What do you think, would you like to see something like this and if so, what type of looks do you want tutorials on??  Let me know in the comments below or come chat to me on social media - links to the right! :)

Love & Stuff
Sal xXx

14:02

Helloooo, how was everyone's weekend? Outstanding. Swiftly moving on.

The PPK challenged me to try out confetti liner from a picture tutorial that was posted on the forum, so thought I'd have a play with it and a few similar looks to see how easy it was and if I'd actually wear it. It was pretty easy and I would definitely wear something like this as a fun way to jazz up some simple makeup.

For all looks I put the GOSH brow pencil in Grey/Brown (CV) on my brows, put a bit of Collection Lasting Perfection concealer (CV) over the entire lid and set it with loose powder. I put a bit of Barry M bronzer (V) in the crease as well, just lightly.  Then Barry M Lash Vegas with Fibres mascara (V).

I used a Real Techniques silicon liner brush for all the dots you see. I used a Louise Young Synthetic Fine Liner Brush for the gel liner tutorial below and the angle brush I used to clean up with was by Barry M.

Starting with pretty much the look that was on the tutorial. The liners I used were all Limecrime Uniliners (V), shades I used were 6th Element (orange), Citreuse (green), Blue Milk (light blue) and Orchidaceous (purple)

Then I tried putting down a white winged liner first and just using blues/greens.  This is Barry M white kohl pencil eyeliner (V), set with Sugarpill's Tako eyeshadow (V). The colours are Makeup Geek Gel Liners in Fame, Electric & Mystic (CV).

For something a little different I did the same white wing as above, then mixed Sugarpill's Goldilux pigment (V) with Neve's mixing medium (V)

I dotted this on in random splodges

Then turned it into animal print with some Limecrime Quill Uniliner (V)

Lastly I reversed this and did a wing with Limecrime's Quill Uniliner and dotted some white spots on with Illamasqua's Precision Liquid Liner in Scribe.

I also thought I'd do a little pic tutorial for anyone who struggles with eyeliner.  It really is just practice and you'll always have crap days and great days / uneven wings ... blah blah, but in case you need a few tips, here's how I do mine.

This is the same whether I'm doing gel liner with a brush or liquid liner.  If gel, I scrape some of the liner out of the pot with a clean brush tip or spatula and pop it on a palette if it's a client or the back of my hand if it's just for me.  Then load up the brush and kind of twirl it on the back of my hand (or against the neck of the tube if liquid) to get the brush to a point again.

I always start in the middle of my eye with the brush on it's side, short strokes, resting my fingers on my face.

The turn the brush and use the point to get the inner corner and join up to the other line, while you have less product on the brush.

As you can see it doesn't haven't be perfect at this point.

Then draw on the wing, while you still have less product on the brush

And then draw another line to make a triangle and join up with the liner.

Then just fill in the triangle and go backwards, perfecting and smoothing out the top line.  Any wobbles in the wing fixed up with some makeup remover (non oil based works best) and an angle brush.  You can use concealer too, if you prefer.

Eh voila

So there we go, I'm not the world's best liner of eyes but I do ok on the days the eyeliner gods deem me worthy! So hopefully this will help start you off if you struggle a bit with liner.

Love & Stuff
Sal xXx


If you enjoyed this post please consider sharing it via the links below and I'd love to talk to you so feel free to leave me a comment or join me on social media via the links to the right.

12:16

The Sleek Rio Rio Palette & OCC's Hoochie Lip Tar! Full Face of the Day post today, with a list of all the products I used at the bottom of the page.

On Monday I posted swatches from the latest offering from Sleek and here is the makeup that I created with it this past Saturday.  It was probably a bit much for a birthday party in a friend's garden, but hey... I like to overdo.

I started with a purple lip, using OCC's Hoochie Lip Pencil and the Lip Tar of the same name. I absolutely loved this lip, it's a gorgeous colour!  I did end up changing it though.

Artificial light full face

Artificial light:

 Daylight:

Artificial light

Daylight:

 Daylight full face:

As I mentioned above, I actually ended up changing the lip tar out for another OCC produc; their Stained Gloss in Aurora, because the Hoochie was lovely and would've been great for a night out, but was a bit too much for a garden party! haha.  So here it is with the alternative lip (and a moody face).

And a bonus wet hair/concealer highlighting sexeh face!  Hmmm!

Full list of products used:
Face:
No 7 Superlight Foundation in Calico (CV)
OCC Conceal in R1 (to correct my dark circles) and Y1 (blemishes) (V)
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in shade 2 Light (under eyes) and 1 Fair (to highlight as in the above dumb selfie! (CV)
SEVENTEEN Skin Wow Liquid Highlighter (CV)
Makeup Revolution Liquid Blush in O' Boy (AV)
Marks and Spencer Autograph loose translucent powder (CV)

Eyes
OCC Conceal in R0 as a base (CV)
Makeup Geek eye shadows in Peach Smoothie & Latte (crease) (CV)
Sleek Rio Rio i-Divine palette, shades: Sao Conrado on the lid & Bossa Nova in the crease. (AV)
GOSH Velvet Touch Pencil in Sky High on the waterline and lower lash line.  I set the lower lash line with a bit of Leme from the sleek palette too. (CV)
Barry M Single eyeshadow in E1 Cream on the browbone (V)
Limecrime Uniliner in Quill (V)
Barry M Lash Vegas Blackest Black with Fibres Mascara (V)
Anastasia Beverley Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Blonde (AV)

Lips
OCC Hoochie Lip Tar & Hoochie Pencil (V)
(& OCC Stained Gloss in Aurora in the alternative pic) (V)

Happy humpday!

Love & Stuff
Sal xXx

13:10

UPDATE 27 FEBRUARY 2015: PLEASE SEE MY NEW POST DETAILING UP TO DATE LISTING OF VEGAN ITEMS AND CONFIRMATION REGARDING THE PIGMENTS.

UPDATE 05 JULY 2014: Apparently some of the pigments might not be vegan, they don't have carmine but MUG are waiting for confirmation from their lab if the Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate that a few of the colours contain is animal derived or not. I will keep you posted but for now... cross your fingers! :)

My MUG order finally arrived (ordering makeup from the states is a bit of a pain with customs charges and our postal service basically being slow and sucky) but I am very excited to show you some swatches of what I got.

OK first of all, those of you interested in purchasing some MUG stuff (and you won't regret it, I promise), they are a very vegan friendly company.  The lipsticks had beeswax in so were not suitable, but they're not currently producing those.  So the vegan friendly items are:

- Gel Liners
- Pigments (they confirmed none contain carmine, even though ingredients list says 'may contain')
- Eyeshadows, excluding the ones listed below
- Makeup brushes

So re the eyeshadows: I found a list after doing a quick google on another blog and I thought I'd double check it as it was a couple of years old. They confirmed there was just one to add to the list that contained carmine. So as of May, this is the list of the eyeshadows that are NOT vegan due to containing carmine. I have emailed them today to check if any of the new shadows launched last month need to go on this list, so if you're interested in those, check back here real soon, as I'll update this post.

Makeup Geek eyeshadows containing carmine: Bitten, Beaches and Cream, Country Girl, Cupcake, Drama Queen, Mango Tango, Razzleberry, Twilight, Unexpected, Unicorn, and Simply Marlena. (Please see my post dated 27.02.2015, linked above, for updated shade list.)

So let's get on with pics of the stuff that I bought.

Firstly I love the packaging

Here's the pigments I got, clockwise from top left: Insomnia, Utopia & Sweet Dreams.

Swatched on fingers, L-R: Sweet Dreams, Insomnia and Utopia.

In natural light L-R: Sweet Dreams, Utopia & Insomnia.

In artificial light as it shows up the shimmer a bit more.  Insomnia (far right) looks black in the jar but swatches as a beautiful browny/blue duochrome.

  

Utopia is quite a chunky gold glitter and it so beautiful. I'm excited to try this out on Saturday night, when I go out dancing!

Sweet dreams is a gorgeous peachy gold shimmer. This would be gorgeous all over the lid with a flick of black liner for something super pretty but simple with a bold lip!

All 3 of the pigments I got are actually dupes for (or at least very very similar to) MAC pigments. Check out these swatches on the MUG website. Insomnia is very similar to MAC's blue/brown, Utopia is very similar to MAC's Reflects Antique Gold and Sweet Dreams is similar to MAC's Naked pigment.  So if you were looking for cruelty free/vegan dupes for those, now you have it!! :)

Eyeshadows
I haven't swatched them because I didn't buy any exciting colours, I just I bought all rounder colours. By that I mean a couple of blending/transition colours and black. I'm excited for Corrupt because I've heard so many people say it's the blackest, most pigmented black they've ever used.

I also got Cocoa Bear, a warm red-toned brown; Peach Smoothie, a peachy blending shade; Mocha, a dark neutral brown.  I am fairly certain I'll end up ordering loads more of these shadows as I've liked everything I've ever tried from Makeup Geek. I also got the pans rather than pots because I prefer these and just put into my z-palette.

You can buy Makeup Geek from their website.

Well it's my birthday today and so I'm gonna try out one or two of these products when I go out later.  Look out for pics later in the week!

Have a great week all.

Love & Stuff
Sal xXx

14:18

Hello!  This week's wore it wednesday was a fairly simple one. I did my usual black liner (Makeup Geek Immortal Gel Liner (CV) and then over that I put the Collection Glam Crystals glitter line in Rock Chick (CV) over the top. It's subtle but really pretty (unfortunately doesn't show up too well on camera though - FAIL!).

Full face pic (lips are Limecrime's Babette lipstick - V)

Happy Humpday all!

Love & Stuff

Sal xXx

13:12

Double liner!

I do this quite often with all different colours when I want something fun. And in this cade, not too dramatic as I was going for a bright lip.

The gold is Sugarpill's Goldilux pigment mixed with Illamasqua sealing gel. Together these make THE most gorge gold liner. The black is Makeup Geek's Immortal gel liner, my fave.

The lips are Makeup Revolution's Velvet Lacquer in Keep Crying for You, which I love and it stays on all. Night!

Have a fab weekend. I'm off to shake ma booty at salsa!

Love & stuff
Sal xXx

21:26

Saturday night was our salsa club's annual spring ball and it's a great chance to get dolled up (not that I need an excuse) and so I went with a dark smokey eye.  I decided at the last minute to add some sparkle to it also, so after putting down a matte black base, I patted Sugarpills gorgeous Soot & Stars (from the Cold Chemistry collection) on top. I also used Diamond Eyes (the white from the same collection) on the inner corner.  The lower lashline and waterline are also both Sugarpill; it's Tiara loose pigment over Barry M's silver gel liner.

I think the sparkle shows up better in the crappy fake light picture, than the daylight one above.

Unfortunately it also shows that the black gel liner I used to tightline with transferred a bit onto the waterline. Pah, no one's  perfect! :-)

I also added some short & medium individual lashes, instead of strip lashes for a more subtle, flirty look.

Full face + hair crimpage and a bit of the dress I wore!

Full List of Products Used:

Eyes

MUA Eye Primer (AV)

B. Eyeshadow, Cinnamon (crease/transition colour) (V)

Makeup Geek Gel Liner, Immortal (as a base on the lid) (CV)

Matte Black Shadow from one of my Sleek Palettes (AV)

Makeup Revolution Matte Palette (pinky shade to blend out the crease and lightest show on the browbone) (AV)

Sugarpill Soot & Stars Pressed Eyeshadow (lid) (V)

Sugarpill Diamond Eyes Pressed Eyeshadow (inner corner) (V)

Barry M Gel Liner, 2 Silver (waterline/lower lashline) (V)

Sugarpill Chromalust, Tiara (waterline/lower lashline) (V)

Eyeko Skinny Brush Mascara (V)

Ardell Short & Medium knot-less individual lashes

Duo Eyelash Glue (AV)

GOSH Brow Pencil, Grey/Brown (CV)

Face

No.7 Stay Perfect Superlight Foundation in Calico (CV)

SEVENTEEN Skin Wow Highlighter (CV)

ELF HD Blush, Headliner (V)

B. Cheeky Blusher, Candy Cane (V)

Sleek Contour Kit, Light (just the highlighter)

ELF Full Coverage Concealer, Porcelain (V)

Autograph Invisible Finish Loose Powder (CV)

Lips

Limecrime Lipstick, Babette (V)

Happy humpday all! 

Love & Stuff

Sal xXx

20:04

My Wore it Wednesday this week is an eye look I did last night with the new palette from Sleek. I'm not sure if you can even buy this online, I got it in Superdrug and the packaging mentions that it is to celebrate 50 years of Superdrug. If you can find it, it's definitely worth picking up.

The Limited Edition Showstoppers Palette (AV*)

Here are some swatches; I apologise for the lighting, it was late afternoon when I took these and these are the best I could get.

Top Row

L-R: Paraguaya, Sunset, Me, Myself & Eye, Bad Girl, Noir, Ultra Mattes V2

I know it looks like there's only 5 shades here, but the far left shade (Paraguaya) doesn't show up in the pic  because it's almost the same shade as my skin - so great for blending! :o)  

Bottom Row

L-R: Oh So Special, Bohemian, Storm, Sparkle, Au Natural, Graphite

This palette is lovely. I love Graphite, it's a gorgeous bronzey brown and sparkle is a beautiful frosty highlight colour.  

Here's the look I created. I used a light concealer as a base as I don't have a white that'd work and I wanted to make the pink brighter. I think Bohemian (the peachy pink) shows up a little truer to it's actual colour in the swatch above; my camera washed the whole eye makeup look out. Fail.  I used Sparkle for the highlight under my badly-need-to-be-done brows and the inner corner. The waterline is Sleek's Eau La La pencil in Cobalt Blue (V). Gel liner is Makeup Geek's Immortal (CV).

Happy humpday!

Sal xXx

*As always, I have to mark this as appears vegan, because Sleek's customer services are pretty rubbish and do not answer emails, messages, tweets .... etc! I can never find anything in the ingredients lists of the iDivines that is suspect but they are not listed as vegan on Sleek's website (or the list they sent me) and they won't answer why this is.  But when I asked a couple of years ago they said it was due to possible cross-contamination.   FACEPALM!!  

So unless hell freezes over and Sleek actually bother to answer an email/tweet; I will continue to assume this is the case and that makes the palettes vegan to me.

20:16

So I'm thinking of making Wednesdays a day to post something that I've worn over the last week. Whether it's a face of the day, just a eye or lip of the day, my nails that week or some rad earrings. And I'm kicking off with the makeup that I wore last night to salsa and a mini review of the Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Lip pencils (V).

Firstly, I have 3 of these babies but last night I decided to just take pics with 2 different lip options, as I couldn't decide which one to wear.  So here's a lil pic and a swatch of the ones I have:

Top to Bottom: Shade 3, Shade 5, Shade 1 (look at that, I bought all odd numbers!)

I really like these pencils. REALLY LIKE them. In fact I think there are 5 colours and so I will probably have to go get the other two at some point, because one is very orangey and orange lips are totally fetch this season! (Stop trying to make "fetch" happen?)

They are really lovely, glossy, they go on super smooth and they are nicely pigmented.  They feel really comfortable and also stain the lips a bit so they last a bit longer than a regular gloss.

So here's what I did with them. I decided on a super neutral eye so as not to take the focus off the lips. Then I went and added a tonne of black liner and false lashes! Good one, Sal!  But I digress, a full list of products after the pics.

Option 1, with Shade 1

Lip close up

Option 2 with Shade 5, which is the shade I kept on for salsa. It's a lovely bluey pink and it's really wearable for day or night.

Lip close up

Barry M Gelly Pencils are available from Barrym.com, Superdrug, Boots and some Tescos and cost £4.99 each.

Here's an eyeball close up too

And a full list of the products I used for this look:

Face

No.7 Superlight Stay Perfect Foundation - shade Calico (CV)

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - shades 1 & 2 (CV)

MeMeMe Blush Me Box - shade Pink (CV)

Sleek Contour Kit - Light (CV)

Marks & Spencer Autograph Invisible Finish Loose Powder - Translucent (CV)

Eyes

Limecrime Eyeshadow helper (V)

B. Vivid Eyeshadow (single) - shade Cinnamon (V)

MUA Matte Palette (CV)

Makeup Geek Gel Liner - shade Immortal (CV)

Eyeko Skinny Brush Mascara (V)

Duo Eyelash Glue (CV)

Random eyelashes from my makeup case that I reused

GOSH Eye Brow Pencil - shade Grey Brown (CV)

Eyeko Brow Gel (V)

Lips 

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Lip Pencils (V)

As you can see I am not good at taking selfies; in fact most of them make me look like hatchet face! ....

Sorry, I should maybe have put a warning on that!

Happy humpday all.

Love & stuff
Sal xXx

18:57