A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

Budget beautifiers BeautyUK have released a special charity gift set comprising of three super-PINK nail polishes in support of Cancer Research UK.

The set was developed after one of the brand’s fans (who’s Mum was going through her own breast cancer battle) expressed a wish for them to create a range of pink polishes that would not only make her Mum feel pretty but also help raise money to help battle the disease.

And lo it was born…

Hope, Love, and Strength…

The set is priced at £5.99, with £1 from every sale going directly to Cancer Research UK.  The set is available to buy now online and instore nationwide at Superdrug.

Halloween-mad Liloo is passionate about makeup and its effectiveness at allowing people to feel more confident.  The following article is a guest submission, you can read more of Liloo’s writing at Le Petit Jardin de Liloo.

To complement the recent release of their Foils Collection, BeautyUK have launched The Gemstone Collection*, a stunning selection of six pastel polish shades with a difference: a smooth and glittery finish.

If you’re new to the brand, Beauty UK is a British brand of affordable makeup, mainly sold in Superdrug but usually shoved at the back of the shop.  Why is this so?  I really don’t know.  A crying shame for the brand in my opinion, as their nail polishes offer impressive coverage in a minimal amount of coats and are a doddle to apply.  The new Gemstone polishes are no exception to the rule.  In honour of the semi-precious stones where BeautyUK took their inspiration, the Gemstone Posh Polishes are donning a fancy cap for the occasion, reminiscent of Nails Inc. polishes but at a much more budget friendly price of £3.49 each.

They say: Inspired by precious gemstones, these metallized pastels combine subtle hues with a light shimmer and superb coverage to bring a touch of class to any look.  Treat yourself to a bit of posh in any of the six shades – Amethyst (lilac), Sunstone (blush), Topaz (taupe), Silmaril (gold), Elfstone (green) and Moonstone (blue).

The brunette in me had to try the amethyst shade first as I like to think that purple shades really make my brown eyes stand out.

Application for the gemstone polishes was even easier than normal thanks to their forgiving pastel nature. I was able to apply my polish even more sloppily than normal without feeling too self conscious.  All my photos show two coats but I could have gotten away with one.  Drying time was a little slower than usual, but nothing as slow as Boots No.7 Sultry Sands and Golden Palms which have to be the slowest-to-dry polishes known to mankind.

These are Moonstone and Elfstone:

At first glance, the golden shades Silmaril, Topaz and Sandstone will look very similar in their bottles. Wear them all on one hand on a bright sunny day and you’ll be able to marvel at their subtle nuances.

Don’t ask me to choose a favourite. At the beginning, my heart was set amethyst, but looking at the photos again, I just want to wear topaz and sunstone as the same time, in a muted ‘ombre’ kind of manicure.

If you’re fussy about your polishes and want something ultra wearable, subtle but eye catching simultaneously, shimmery/glittery but without the removal nightmare of traditional glitter polishes, pastel shades evocative of the Spring season, *and* inexpensive, the gemstone collection might just well be for you.

*Disclosure: Polishes were sent for review purposes

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There’s nothing like an el-cheapo nail polish to quench that insatiable itch to buy something.  I was walking round town last week and felt the need to scratch.  Still recovering from the new lens purchase (it may be some time), I dived into Superdrug for something that wouldn’t break the bank and emerged triumphant with this little beauty…

…BeautyUK to be precise.  Voodoo – No. 55 (£1.99) is an absolute cracking shade for Autumn, a deep russet with a playful shimmer that glows in the right light.  Two coats to achieve opacity, I did get a tiny bit of bubbling on one nail which made me a little more careful with the application than I might normally be.

After admiring my manicure for half a day, I decided, beautiful though it is, I wanted moar Autumn.  I dug out my Inglot Flakie #205 and slapped on a coat…

Now we’re talking!  I see toffee apples, fallen leaves, crisp afternoons and misty mornings.  Brrr… c’mon Autumn, I’m ready for you!

Are you ready for Autumn?  Digging out your vampier shades yet?

I liked this delicate combo of Beauty UK’s Smokey Lilac with OPI Golden Rainbow on top.  A dusting of holographic sparkle always goes a long way to brightening my day!

Of course, the Beauty UK polish is a bargainous snip at only £2.49 a bottle, though I believe that OPI’s Golden Rainbow might be a little harder to come by I’m sure that the effect can be reproduced with something like Northern Lights Holographic Top Coat.

The above mani shows three coats of the Beauty UK and a single coat of OPI Golden Rainbow.  Pretty!

What are you wearing on your nails today?

I was approached by BeautyUK a little while ago when they asked if I’d be interested in taking a closer look at their range of affordable products.

I’d seen their stands in Superdrug before and own a couple of eyeshadow palettes but I have never paid much attention to the rest of the range.  Infact, I didn’t even realise that they had a website until I was pointed towards it.

With the party season fast approaching, it’s the affordable brands like BeautyUK that will be taking my pennies when I’m on the hunt for party-specific makeup.  I’m not gonna drop £50 on party makeup that I might wear twice a year or a nail polish shade best reserved for C3PO.

So it’s with this in mind that I wondered “Just how sparkly can I get on a budget?”.

BeautyUK Glitter Liquid Eyeliner (£2.99)

With an impressive range of 12 colours (inc. holographic), I had high hopes for the trio I received.

The beauty blogosphere has already picked out a favourite brand for crown of the glitter liner wars but I find the ones from Collection 2000 unwearable.  They’re almost too much of a good thing and make me look trannylicious with their solid, bold lines of glitter.  I want something sparkly but a touch understated.

Out of the three that I was sent, it was only the pink that lived up to my expectations.  The silver was too weak and the base colour on the black insipid and grey.  The pink glitter liner gives a lovely pop of interest along my lashline without screaming WOAH YOU’RE NOT 14 ANYMORE!  I also don’t have to apply it 100x to notice anything (unlike the silver).

BeautyUK Metallic Eye Sparks (£2.49)

These are beautiful right?  I adore the way these chunky pencils look… check out those adorable colour-coded gems stuck to the ends.  If that isn’t cute… I don’t know what is.

They’re soft, pigmented, creamy, apply like a dream and last approximately 3 seconds on the eyelid before creasing.

Aren’t they lovely though?

I make these work by lining my eyes with them and in fairness, that’s enough for me.  I’m loving wearing them just below my lower lashline for a pop of colour.  You may not be able to get away with this if you suffer from watery eyes though.

I did wear a NYX Jumbo Pencil on one eyelid and one of these on the other (both without primer or powder eyeshadow) and the difference between them in terms of longevity was negligible.

If you’re a fan of wearing the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils as bases, these are worth a further look.  Not only that but the shades are really quite exceptional.

BeautyUK Dazzling Lips Lipgloss in PlumFun (£2.99)

I didn’t think that I would be recommending this for one second…. but I am.  I’m not a gloss girl but if I were… for the money, this would be ticking a lot of boxes.

Tacky but not TOO sticky, pigmented, completely tasteless and unscented, doesn’t clump on the lips.

For £2.99, this is a great sparkly party lip gloss.

and finally…

BeautyUK Metallic Gold Nail Varnish (£1.99)

It’s frosty.  Very, very frosty!  But it’s a Christmas cracker!

Opaque in 2 easy to apply coats… what can I say?  You need a gold nail polish that’s gonna look good on all skin tones?  This one is neither too warm nor too cool… it applies beautifully, is super metallic and will give you change from £2!

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Overall

I’m impressed… I thought I’d be fence sitting through this review and constantly reminding myself of the brand’s price point as a justification for it’s shortcomings in quality.  This hasn’t been the case.

Nothing feels luxe but neither does it feel terrible.  All the applicators are good for the job, none of the products have that cheap makeup smell that I associate with… well… cheap makeup and a couple of items really stand out.

If pushed (I like being decisive!) I’d say…

Love: Dazzling Lips and Metallic Eye Sparks

So-So: Nail Varnish

Leave: Glitter Liquid Eyeliner

You can find the above items in your local Superdrug or buy online at BeautyUK – either way, BeautyUK are definitely worth a closer look next time you’re in Superdrug.

No laughing… this has to be the boldest ‘look’ I’ve ever done.  And no, I didn’t leave the house.

This Shu Uemura Painting Liner in Citrine (Part of the Primtribe Fall Collection) is B.E.A.U.TIFUL, but how the hell do I create a toned down look with something so bright?

Is it destined to sit gathering dust?  I love you, beautiful liner… but there aren’t enough Mardi Gras’ in the world for me to wear this look to.

Suggestions most gratefully received!!

Eyes:
BeautyUK Eyeshadow Palette (2)
Boots 17 Solo Eyeshadow (Punky Purple)
Shu Uemura Painting Liner (Citrine)
Rimmel Volume Flash Mousse Mascara
Sleek Ink Pot Eyeliner Gel (Purple Rain)

Face:
Everyday Minerals Foundation (Cool-Fair/Medium)
Cory Cosmetics Mineral Blush (Lava)

Lips:
MAC Lustre Lipstick (Lustering)